Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh), 1991 Aug, 69(4), 530 - 2 Tear lysozyme levels in bacterial, fungal and viral corneal ulcers; Lal H et al.; Low levels of tear lysozyme were observed in patients with infective corneal ulcers, when compared with controls . Lowest levels were seen in patients with bacterial corneal ulcers . The levels of tear lysozyme showed a corresponding decrease with the increase in Schirmer test values; meaning thereby, that in ocular conditions associated with increased rate of tear flow, the lysozyme content in tears tends to be low. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Aug, 29(8), 1730 - 1 Reproducibility of a scoring system for gram stain diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis; Joesoef MR et al.; A total of 225 pairs of duplicate Gram-stained slides from three hospitals in Jakarta were evaluated independently by a local (University of Indonesia, Jakarta) and a referral (University of Washington, Seattle) laboratory by the new scoring criteria proposed by Nugent et al . The correlation coefficients of the duplicate Gram stain scores ranged from 0.65 to 0.83 . The kappa statistics for the bacterial vaginosis category (no, score of 0 to 6; yes, score of 7 to 10) ranged from 0.62 to 0.77 . These findings confirm the good to excellent interobserver reliability of the new scoring system and the importance of slide preparation. Curr Opin Immunol, 1991 Aug, 3(4), 480 - 5 Immune mechanisms in bacterial and parasitic diseases: protective immunity versus pathology; Grau GE et al.; The immunological mechanisms that contribute to resistance versus susceptibility to bacterial and parasitic infection are central to the development of improved prophylactic and therapeutic strategies . The delineation of two subsets of CD4+ T cells in the mouse that regulate these responses has provided a tremendous advance in understanding disease pathogenesis . The elucidation of protective immune mechanisms distinct from those that cause tissue damage should lead to the development of appropriate vaccines against these devastating illnesses. Gene, 1991 Jul 31, 104(1), 125 - 31 Identification of transposition proteins encoded by the bacterial transposon Tn7; Orle KA et al.; The bacterial transposon, Tn7, encodes an elaborate array of transposition genes, tnsABCDE . We report here the direct identification of the TnsA, TnsB, TnsC and TnsD polypeptides by immunoblotting . Our results demonstrate that the complexity of the protein information devoted to Tn7 transposition is considerable: the aggregate molecular size of the five Tns polypeptides is about 300 kDa . We also report the sequence of the tnsA gene and of the 5' ends of tnsB and tnsD . This analysis reveals that all five tns genes are oriented in the same direction within Tn7. Hosp Pract (Off Ed), 1991 Jul 15, 26(7), 47 - 56 Recent developments in STDs: I . Bacterial diseases; Handsfield HH; Bacterial pathogens account for a significant portion of the current STD epidemic in the United States . Gonorrhea, syphilis, and chancroid are especially rife in the nation's poverty pockets . Chlamydial infection, the most common bacterial STD, is prevalent at all socioeconomic levels . A recurrent theme in these diseases is coexisting infection, sometimes involving HIV. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1991 Jul 15, 88(14), 6269 - 73 Bacterial chemotaxis signaling complexes: formation of a CheA/CheW complex enhances autophosphorylation and affinity for CheY; McNally DF et al.; We have demonstrated that a complex of the proteins CheA (CheAL and CheAS) and CheW can be isolated and constitutes a functional unit that responds to the signaling state of the chemoreceptors . The autophosphorylation rate of CheAL is much greater when CheAL and CheAS are complexed with CheW . Moreover, the presence of mutant chemoreceptors that cause cells to tumble increases this rate . At wild-type levels of expression, the isolated CheAL/CheAS/CheW complex accounts for about 10% of the total number of CheAL, CheAS, and CheW molecules and exists in a 1:1:1 stoichiometry . This complex is also required for CheAL/CheAS and CheW binding to the phosphorylation substrate, CheY . A separate interaction between CheY and another chemotaxis component, CheZ, was also detected . The CheY-CheZ interaction does not require participation of the CheAL/CheAS/CheW complex. Biochem J, 1991 Jul 15, 277 ( Pt 2), 379 - 85 Bacterial lipopolysaccharide-stimulated GTPase activity in RAW 264.7 macrophage membranes; Tanke T et al.; The molecular mechanisms surrounding the toxicity and high mortality rate that accompany the release of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are unclear, although its potent activity suggests that an amplification system is involved . Because previous studies suggest that a guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) may participate in LPS action, we have evaluated the effects of LPS on GTPase activity in membranes isolated from macrophage (RAW 264.7) and fibroblast (B82L) cell lines . LPS induced substantial GTPase activation (200-300% above basal), and kinetic analyses indicated that the maximal LPS-stimulated increase in velocity is observed within 15 min, that it is a low-Km (for GTP) activity, that it can be enhanced by ammonium sulphate, and that it appears to be pertussis toxin-insensitive . Moreover, the LPS-enhanced GTPase activity was not antagonized by phosphatase/ATPase inhibitors such as p-nitrophenyl phosphate, ouabain, bafilomycin or N-ethylmaleimide, and in fact was potentiated by the addition of ATP or ADP . Conversely, the LPS precursor, lipid X, which can decrease the lethal effects of LPS, was found to dose-dependently inhibit the LPS-mediated stimulation of GTPase activity . Half-maximal inhibition was seen at the same lipid X/LPS ratio known to be effective in vivo, i.e . 1:1(w/w) . These effects appear to be specific because other phospholipids, detergents and glycosides neither stimulated basal, nor inhibited LPS-induced, GTPase activity . These data suggest the involvement of a GTPase in LPS action, and indicate that lipid X may act to directly antagonize LPS at this level. N Engl J Med, 1991 Jul 11, 325(2), 73 - 80 Intravenous immune globulin for the prevention of bacterial infections in children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection . The National Institute of Child Health and Human Developments Intravenous Immunoglobulin Study Group; Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen . Mutagenesis of a catalytic site residue of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Escherichia coli; Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824Site-directed mutagenesis was used to explore the role of Lys-195 in ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Escherichia coli . This residue, which is conserved in every bacterial and plant source sequenced to date, was originally identified as a potential catalytic site residue by covalent modification studies . Mutation of Lys-195 to glutamine produces an enzyme whose Km for glucose 1-phosphate is 600-fold greater than that measured for the wild-type enzyme . The effect on glucose 1-phosphate is very specific since kinetic constants measured for ATP, Mg2+, and the allosteric activator, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, are unchanged relative to those measured for the wild-type enzyme . Furthermore, the catalytic rate constant, Kcat, for the glutamine mutant is similar to that of the wild-type enzyme . Taken together, the results suggest a role for Lys-195 in binding of glucose 1-phosphate and exclude its role as a participant in the rate-determining step(s) in the catalytic reaction mechanism . To further study the effect of charge, shape, size, and hydrophobicity of the amino acid residue at position 195, a series of mutants were prepared including arginine, histidine, isoleucine, and glutamic acid . In every case, the kinetic constants measured for ATP, Mg2+, and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate were similar to wild-type constants, reinforcing the notion that this residue is responsible for a highly localized effect at the glucose 1-phosphate-binding site and also suggesting that the protein can accommodate a wide range of substitutions at this position without losing its global folding properties . Thermal stability measurements corroborate this finding . The mutations did, however, produce a range of glucose 1-phosphate Km values from 100- to 10,000-fold greater than wild-type, which indicate that both size and charge properties of lysine are essential for proper binding of glucose 1-phosphate at the catalytic site . AMP binding was also affected by the nature of the mutation at position 195 . A model for glucose 1-phosphate, ATP, and AMP binding is presented. J Exp Zool, 1991 Jul, 259(1), 1 - 8 Evidence of luminous bacterial symbionts in the light organs of myctophid and stomiiform fishes; Foran D; The myctophids and stomiiforms represent two common groups of luminous fishes, but the source of luminescence in these animals has remained undetermined . In this study, labeled luciferase gene fragments from luminous marine bacteria were used to probe DNA isolated from specific fish tissues . A positive signal was obtained from skin DNA in all luminous fishes examined, whereas muscle DNA gave a weaker signal and brain DNA was negative . This observation is consistent with luminous bacteria acting as the light source in myctophids and stomiiforms and argues against the genes necessary for luminescence residing on the fish chromosomes . To confirm the location of this signal, a bacterial probe was hybridized in situ to sections of a stomiiform . A strong signal was generated directly over specific regions of the fish light organs, whereas no signal was found over other internal or epidermal tissues of the fish . Taken together, these data provide the first indication that luminous bacterial symbionts exist in myctophids and stomiiforms and that these symbionts account for luminescence in these fishes. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1991 Jul, 144(1), 167 - 72 The role of platelet-activating factor in the pulmonary response to inhaled bacterial endotoxin; Lantz RC et al.; Quantitative morphometric analyses were carried out on animals subjected to aerosols of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) to further define the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the development of pulmonary injury . Hamsters were exposed to either saline aerosol or dilute aerosols of LPS (4 micrograms/m3) for standard lengths of time . Within each aerosol exposure group, animals were further subdivided into groups receiving either the PAF receptor binding antagonist, RP 48740, or saline injections . LPS inhalation resulted in decreased fixed lung volume, increased sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and platelets in pulmonary capillaries, increased type I epithelial and endothelial cellular volumes, increased cellular interstitium, and increased endothelial pinocytotic vesicles . Treatment with RP 48740 either attenuated or abolished the ability of inhaled LPS to induce these structural alterations . The PAF antagonist also inhibited LPS-induced increases in pulmonary capillary permeability . It is concluded that PAF is one of the major injury-promoting mediators released upon inhalation exposure to environmentally realistic concentrations of bacterial endotoxin . A major but not exclusive target of this mediator is the pulmonary vascular endothelium. Biotechniques, 1991 Jul, 11(1), 30 - 1 Sequencing PCR DNA amplified directly from a bacterial colony; Hofmann MA et al.; We show that PCR product asymmetrically amplified directly from a bacterial colony can be sequenced to yield results as good as those obtained when purified template DNA is used for the PCR amplification step . With either template, greater than 300 nucleotides can be read from a typical sequencing reaction . Taq DNA polymerase was used for both the PCR amplification and sequencing reactions. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1991 Jul, 110(1), 120 - 31 Glycosphingolipids of human large intestine: detailed structural characterization with special reference to blood group compounds and bacterial receptor structures; Holgersson J et al.; Non-acid glycosphingolipid expression was studied in the large intestines from four individuals with the A1Le(a-b+), BLe(a-b+), and OLe(a-b+) blood group phenotypes . In the A1Le(a-b+) case, specimens were taken from the ascending and sigmoid parts of the large intestine in order to compare the expression of glycolipids in the proximal and distal regions of the intestine . In one blood group OLe(a-b+) individual, epithelial cells were isolated from the residual stroma to compare the glycolipid compositions in these two tissue compartments . GlcCer, GalCer, LacCer, Gb3Cer, and Gb4Cer were the major compounds in all three individuals, as shown by mass spectrometry, proton NMR spectroscopy, and degradation studies . The Lea-5 glycolipid was the major complex blood group glycolipid in all individuals, except in the proximal ascending part of the large intestine of the A1Le(a-b+) case, in which the Leb-6 glycolipid was predominant . There were trace amounts of blood group ABH glycolipids, in agreement with the ABO blood group phenotypes of the donors, Lewis antigens with more than six sugar residues in the carbohydrate chain, and blood group X and Y glycolipid antigens . The epithelial cells were dominated by monoglycosylceramides and the Lea-5 glycolipid, while only trace amounts of di-, tri-, and tetraglycosylceramide structures were present . No reactivity was seen in the epithelial cell fraction with Gal alpha 1-4Gal specific Escherichia coli, anti-Pk, or anti-P antibodies, indicating the absence of the glycolipid-borne Gal alpha 1-4Gal sequence in human large intestinal epithelial cells. Allergy Proc, 1991 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 261 - 5 Chronic cutaneous bacterial hypersensitivity dermopathy: a second case and six year evaluation of the first case; Bernstein JA et al.; A case we described and reported 6 years ago as chronic cutaneous granulomatous dermopathy was believed due to bacterial hypersensitivity . We now report a second case with similar features of chronic recurrent indolent inflammatory skin lesions, nondiagnostic skin biopsies, and failure to respond to antibiotics . In the absence of another diagnosis and because of the remarkably similar appearance to the first case, we initiated a therapeutic trial with corticosteroids, which induced a remission . The initial case has now been observed for 6 years, and the patient remains in remission on 5 mg of prednisone on alternate days . The second case was considered consistent with bacterial allergy because of IgG and IgE antibodies against common cutaneous bacteria . As there were no granulomas in the current patient's skin lesions, a new designation, chronic cutaneous bacterial hypersensitivity, has been assigned . The differential diagnosis and criteria for this clinical entity are discussed . Either a remission from prednisone or control with low-dose prednisone may be achieved in this dermopathy, which is both disfiguring and frightening to patients. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi, 1991 Jul, 95(7), 625 - 34 {The mechanism of corneal ring formation caused by bacterial endotoxin}; Miura F; Corneal ring can be produced experimentally by injection of endotoxin into the rabbit cornea . To clarify this phenomenon, the effects of inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolite were studied on the formation of the corneal ring . Phospholipase A2 inhibitor (dexamethasone) and lipoxygenase inhibitor (TEI-3308) blocked the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the endotoxin-injected cornea, while cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin) enhanced PMN accumulation . This result suggests that products of the lipoxygenase reaction of arachidonic acid are related to the formation of the corneal ring induced by endotoxin . The existence of endotoxin in active form for a long period was also demonstrated immunohistochemically. J Neurol, 1991 Jul, 238(4), 239 - 41 Subacute AIDS-related lumbosacral radiculopathy: a bacterial infection? Igloffstein J, Vogel P. A case of lumbosacral polyradiculitis in an HIV-1-positive man (CDC IIB) leading to a flaccid paraplegia below the level of L4 is reported . A detailed analysis of several cerebrospinal fluid samples led to the suspicion of a bacterial infection . After treatment with antibiotics and tuberculostatic agents the neuropathy improved and the patient has survived for 2 years . In contrast to similar cases that were probably caused by cytomegalovirus in terminal stages of AIDS, it is argued that an unidentified bacterial infection was the cause of the polyradiculitis in the present case. No Shinkei Geka, 1991 Jul, 19(7), 665 - 9 {A case of bacterial aneurysm following Hardy's operation}; Takahashi Y et al.; Intracranial mycotic aneurysm of extravascular origin is reported . A 64 year-old male developed headache and visual disturbance . Computed Tomography (CT) revealed high density mass lesion with contrast enhancement in the intra- and suprasellar lesion . He was then admitted to our hospital under the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma . But he suddenly complained of headache and loss of vision during hospitalization . An emergency operation using the transsphenoidal approach was performed . The pathological diagnosis was craniopharyngioma . Postoperative radiation therapy was carried out using a tumor dose of 50Gy . Two months after the operation, he suffered from rhinorrhea and high fever . He was admitted again and treated with high doses of antibiotics . Two weeks after admission, he suddenly lost consciousness . A CT scan revealed an aneurysm of the anterior temporal artery . Immediately, removal of the hematoma and resection of the aneurysm were performed . Microscopic examination showed that inflammatory cells had infiltrated the aneurysmal wall, and lymphocytes and plasma cells had gathered around the microabscess . This rare case is discussed with other related cases in the literature. J Pathol, 1991 Jul, 164(3), 265 - 71 Histopathological studies on the local reactions induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and synthetic lipopeptide (P3C) conjugates; Wiedemann F et al.; The inflammatory reactions following subcutaneous application of adjuvants revealed characteristic pathological patterns . The injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) resulted in the formation of large lipid deposits encircled by an inflammatory reaction and concentrically arranged collagen bundles . Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused granulomatous aggregations of mononuclear cells with thrombotic vessel occlusions . Inoculation of the lipopeptide adjuvants induced accumulation of mononuclear cells with only minimal fibrotic changes which were resolved after day 28 . Lipopeptide conjugates based on the head group tripalmitoyl-S-glyceryl-cysteinyl-serin (P3CS) can thus be used as effective immunogens and adjuvants without long-term tissue damage. Anal Biochem, 1991 Jul, 196(1), 151 - 5 Filter screening of antibody Fab fragments secreted from individual bacterial colonies: specific detection of antigen binding with a two-membrane system; Skerra A et al.; Recently antibody fragments have been expressed in a functional form from bacteria . We have devised a simple method to detect the binding of antigen to antibody Fab fragments secreted by bacterial colonies . Bacteria harboring plasmid vectors that direct the secretion of Fab fragments into the bacterial periplasm are grown on one membrane . The secreted fragments are allowed to diffuse to a second "capture" membrane coated with anti-globulin, and are probed with antigen . Using enzyme or colloidal gold conjugates, the binding of antigen is detected on the second membrane as a colored spot . The colonies can be regrown on the first membrane, and the antigen binding signal on the second membrane is free of noise contributed by bacterial debris. Dermatol Clin, 1991 Jul, 9(3), 465 - 92 Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections in HIV disease and AIDS; Berger TG et al.; Infectious complications are the most common cutaneous manifestations of HIV infection . In this article, the bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections seen in HIV-infected patients are described and illustrated . The relation of these infections to the overall health of the patient and current therapies that have been found beneficial are outlined. J Clin Pathol, 1991 Jul, 44(7), 596 - 9 Serum C-reactive protein and neopterin concentrations in patients with viral or bacterial infection; Shaw AC; Serum C-reactive protein and neopterin concentrations were measured in samples taken at an early stage in different types of infection to see whether the combination of markers could contribute to the diagnosis of infection and help distinguish between bacterial and viral infections, tuberculosis, and infections due to "other" pathogens . Both markers were significantly raised in all categories of infection compared with controls, and there were significant differences between the means of both markers when comparing several of the categories of infection . Only C-reactive protein concentrations in bacteraemic patients, however, were both sensitive and specific at distinguishing the type of infection . The additional use of neopterin estimation played only a minor part in increasing the specificity of diagnosis in tuberculosis and in viral infections . On the basis of this study it was not considered worth the time and expense of performing neopterin assays in addition to C-reactive protein estimations to differentiate viral from bacterial infection. Br J Ophthalmol, 1991 Jul, 75(7), 438 - 9 Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the maxillary antrum and orbit presenting as acute bacterial orbital cellulitis; Kelly SP et al.; Orbital involvement by plasma cell tumours is rare . Orbital tumours do not generally present as an acute orbital inflammatory disease in adults, though tumours such as rhabdomyosarcoma may cause clinical signs similar to an acute orbital cellulitis in children . We describe a patient with bacterial orbital cellulitis and sinusitis who was found to have an extra-medullary plasmacytoma of the maxillary antrum and orbit and coexisting testicular seminoma. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1991 Jul, 13(1), 32 - 8 A pattern of breath hydrogen excretion suggesting small bowel bacterial overgrowth in Burmese village children; Pereira SP et al.; Breath hydrogen tests (BHTs) were performed on 340 Burmese village children aged 1-59 months . Normalization (correction of breath H2 values to a constant mean O2 level) eliminated the variations in H2 levels due to sleep, storage temperature, or duration of storage . After a 10 g lactulose test meal, 145 (42.6%) children produced less than 10 ppm H2 above basal values (non-H2 producers) . Of 195 H2 producers, a pattern of breath hydrogen excretion suggesting small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO)--recognized as a transient peak at the 20, 40, or 60 min breath samples following the lactulose test meal and distinguishable from the later colonic peak--was observed in 53 (27.2%), being significantly more frequent in male children, and exhibiting an age-prevalence pattern similar to that of acute childhood diarrhea in these villages . Diarrhea did not alter the state of H2 production (non-H2 producers remain non-H2 producers, and H2 producers remain H2 producers) although the magnitude of peak breath H2 changed. Mol Plant Microbe Interact, 1991 Jul-Aug, 4(4), 332 - 40 A lipopolysaccharide mutant of Bradyrhizobium japonicum that uncouples plant from bacterial differentiation; Stacey G et al.; The Tn5-containing fragment from a non-nodulating mutant of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, strain ML142, was introduced into B . japonicum strain 61A101c by marker exchange to construct strain JS314 . Strain JS314 failed to nodulate several soybean varieties tested . However, on a few varieties nodulelike structures were induced to a frequency of 54% of the plants inoculated . The ultrastructure of these nodules was studied in detail by light and electron microscopy . The nodules were devoid of internal bacteria, possessed central vascular tissue (unlike the lateral vascular tissue of a normal nodule), and exhibited localized cell death of epidermal cells . Study of the cell surface polysaccharides of strain JS314 revealed that the exopolysaccharide of this strain was identical to that of the wild type . However, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of strain JS314 showed gross differences from that isolated from the wild-type strain . Specifically, the LPS of strain JS314 appeared to lack the high molecular weight LPS I form, strongly suggesting that the LPS lacks the O-chain . Glycosyl-composition analysis showed that the LPS of mutant JS314 lacked 2,3-di-O-methylrhamnose, 3-O-methylrhamnose, fucose, and quinovosamine . These results indicate that LPS I in B . japonicum is essential for bacterial infection of soybean, but is not required to initiate plant cortical cell division, an early plant response to infection. Med Parazitol (Mosk), 1991 Jul-Aug, (4), 6 - 9 {A comparison of some malarial mosquito species in their reaction to bacterial insecticides}; Rasnitsyn SP et al.; Considerable differences have been detected in the sensitivity of various Anopheles species to bacterial insecticides . These differences might be associated with features in larval nutrition and do not depend on their size and taxonomic species position . An . pulcherrimus or An . sacharovi and An . stephensi species are suggested as the most suitable test objects for the representatives of the given genus. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 1991 Jul, 39(7), 1911 - 3 Isolation, sequence and bacterial expression of a cDNA for chalcone synthase from the cultured cells of Pueraria lobata; Nakajima O et al.; cDNA clones for chalcone synthase (CHS) of Pueraria lobata cultured cells were isolated by screening the cDNA library using CHS cDNA of Phaseolus vulgaris as a probe . Analysis of nucleotide sequences of the cloned cDNA revealed a 1170-bp open reading frame that encoded a 390-amino acid polypeptide with an Mr of 43,000 . The full-length cDNA was cloned into the expression vector pT7-7 . CHS activity was found in the crude extracts of transformed E . coli after induction and two protein bands of ca . 43 and 34 kd were hybridized with anti-persley CHS antiserum. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 1991 Jul, 39(1), 91 - 103 Differential regulation of mouse mammary tumor virus-bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase chimeric gene by human mineralocorticoid hormone-receptor complexes; Govindan MV et al.; The brain tissues of the rat and mouse express two types of corticosteroid binding proteins, the glucocorticoid (GR) and aldosterone (MR) receptors . Unlike the type II (GR) receptor, type I receptor has a high affinity for aldosterone (ALDO) and corticosterone and is structurally similar to the kidney mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) . The results reported in this study provide direct evidence for the interaction of dexamethasone (DEX), triamcinolone acetonide (TA), dexamethasone-21-mesylate (DXM) and 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) with human MR expressed in cells by transient co-transfection of a hMR expression vector . The interactions of hMR with DEX, TA, DXM, DOC, promegestone (R5020) and methyltrienelone (R1881) were measured by trans-activation of mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat fused to bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (MMTV-tk-CAT) in gene co-transfection experiments and by cell free hormone binding assay . The incubation of various steroid hormones in the presence of {3H}ALDO in a competition assay with extracts prepared from HeLa cells co-transfected with hMR expression vector, showed that hMR expressed under these conditions has a high relative affinity for DEX which is similar to ALDO, TA and DOC . Incubation with DXM under these conditions showed very little competition, as was observed with R1881 and R5020 . Incubation of the co-transfected cells with DEX, ALDO, DOC, R5020, TA, R1881 and DXM demonstrated that the level of trans-activation did not reflect the previously observed order of binding affinity for the hMR . The level of transactivation was always higher with DEX and TA compared to ALDO and DOC . Analysis of the binding of labeled glucocorticoid regulatory element (GRE) and hMR incubated with DEX, ALDO and DXM by gel shift analysis demonstrated that the trans-activation of MMTV-tk-CAT by hMR is a result of the interaction of hMR with GRE in the MMTV-LTR. Am J Dis Child, 1991 Jul, 145(7), 746 - 9 Apparent decreased risk of invasive bacterial disease after heterologous childhood immunization; Black SB et al.; To investigate the possibility that there might be an increased risk of heterologous invasive bacterial disease after routine childhood immunization with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine live; diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine; and oral poliovirus vaccine live, a case-control study was conducted within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California pediatric population . Contrary to the premise, an apparent protective effect against invasive bacterial disease was detected after all childhood vaccinations . However, when adjustment was made for frequency of well-care visits and day-care attendance, no significant relationship was seen between receipt of routine childhood immunizations and risk of invasive heterologous bacterial disease for any individual vaccine, although a statistically significant protective effect was detected within 1 or 3 months after the receipt of any vaccine . Since a decreased risk of invasive bacterial disease was also noted to be related to the receipt of routine well-child pediatric care, other preventive health care measures may be responsible for the apparent immunization protective effect. Endocrinology, 1991 Jul, 129(1), 330 - 8 Selective depletion of macrophages prevents pituitary-adrenal activation in response to subpyrogenic, but not to pyrogenic, doses of bacterial endotoxin in rats; Derijk R et al.; The mechanisms by which bacterial endotoxin {lipopolysaccharide (LPS)} stimulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) have not been elucidated . The present study was designed to investigate the involvement of macrophages in plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses to LPS administration in rats using selective in vivo macrophage depletion . Intraperitoneal administration of subpyrogenic doses of LPS to normal rats resulted in elevated plasma ACTH and corticosterone concentrations, measured 2 h later . The response showed a remarkable steep dose relationship, with minimal effective doses between 0.5-1.5 micrograms (ACTH) and 0.5 micrograms or less (corticosterone)/kg BW . Plasma PRL, LH, and catecholamine (norepinephrine, epinephrine) levels were not significantly changed under the conditions used . Only at 6 h after LPS administration was a small elevation of norepinephrine noted . To deplete macrophages, rats were injected with liposomes encapsulated with dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP) . Histochemical (acid phosphatase) and immunocytochemical techniques (monoclonal antibodies to rat macrophages coded ED1 and ED3) were applied to examine the efficiency of macrophage elimination by the Cl2MDP liposomes in cytospins of peritoneal exudates and in sections of the liver and spleen . Since cells of the macrophage lineage are considered to be the main source of IL-1 in the circulation, we also measured circulating levels of immunoreactive interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) concentrations in control and Cl2MDP liposome-treated rats by the use of a newly developed RIA . Reduced numbers of macrophages were seen in peritoneal lavages of Cl2MDP liposome-treated animals, whereas the morphological appearance and numbers of mast cells, granulocytes, and T-cells were unaffected . Similarly, macrophages were effectively eliminated in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and liver, as inferred from the reduction of macrophage staining in these organs . Plasma IL-1 concentrations could only be detected in response to a pyrogenic (2.5 mg/kg, iv) and not to a subpyrogenic (0.025 mg/kg, ip) dose of LPS . The increase in plasma IL-1 concentrations in response to the pyrogenic dose of LPS, reaching levels of 20-40 ng/ml in control rats, was blunted in animals treated with the Cl2MDP liposomes . Macrophage depletion by Cl2MDP liposomes did not affect either resting plasma corticosterone levels or the corticosterone response to ether exposure . At subpyrogenic doses of LPS, plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses were completely prevented by macrophage depletion . In contrast, at pyrogenic doses of LPS, plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses were not significantly affected by depleting macrophages . These data demonstrate that activation of the HPAA by a subpyrogenic dose of LPS is macrophage dependent . However, macrophage-independent mechanisms mediate activation of the HPAA in response to a pyrogenic dose of LPS. J Virol, 1991 Jul, 65(7), 3746 - 58 Overexpression in bacterial and identification in infected cells of the pseudorabies virus protein homologous to herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP18.5; Pederson NE et al.; The ICP18.5 gene (UL28) of herpes simplex virus type 1 is a member of a well-conserved gene family among herpesviruses and is thought to play a role in localization of viral glycoproteins . We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed the entire pseudorabies virus (PRV) ICP18.5 open reading frame in Escherichia coli as a Cro-ICP18.5 fusion protein . Rabbit antiserum against Cro-ICP18.5 immunoprecipitated a 79-kDa protein from PRV-infected cells as well as a 79-kDa protein from in vitro translation of a T7 RNA polymerase transcript of the ICP18.5 gene . ICP18.5 could be detected in infected cells by 2 h postinfection . Analysis by indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that ICP18.5 became associated with the nucleus . Subcellular fractionation confirmed that ICP18.5 synthesized during a pulse-chase experiment appeared in the nuclear fraction with time and was stable for at least 2.5 h after synthesis . Pulse-chase analysis revealed that ICP18.5 was synthesized as a monomer during a 2-min pulse labeling but formed faster sedimenting complexes which were sensitive to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment . The majority of ICP18.5 appeared in complexes with an antigenically unrelated 70-kDa protein . Immunoblot analysis of total infected-cell extracts using polyvalent anti-ICP18.5 serum demonstrated that a 74-kDa cellular protein in addition to the 79-kDa ICP18.5 was detected . This cellular protein was present at similar levels in uninfected cells and in PRV-infected cells at least 12 h into the infectious cycle. J Immunol Methods, 1991 Jun 24, 140(1), 111 - 8 Development of transplantable ascites tumours which continuously produce polyclonal antibodies in pristane primed BALB/c mice immunized with bacterial antigens and complete Freund's adjuvant; Cevenini R et al.; Bacterial immunogens (whole cells of Borrelia burgdorferi, elementary bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis and purified proteins of 22 and 24 kDa of Borrelia hermsii) were emulsified with an excess of complete Freund's adjuvant and injected (i.p.) on days 0, 7, 14 and 21, into BALB/c mice treated with pristane on day 6 . This procedure induced the development of antibody-producing ascites tumours which could be serially transplanted in pristane-conditioned mice . Ascites tumours continued to yield a consistent amount of specific polyclonal antibody after ten serial transplants . The method described appears to be particularly useful for the production of a large amount of antibody when only small amounts of immunogen are available. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 Jun 13, 1089(2), 227 - 33 A eukaryotic nuclear protein of 130 kDa binds to a bacterial cAMP responsive element; Kihara F et al.; It has been known that one of the signal transduction mechanisms in Escherichia coli is mediated by cAMP which binds to the receptor protein (CAP), and that CAP complexed with cAMP facilitates gene expression by binding to the specific sequences . To identify a molecular mechanism in eukaryotes similar to a cAMP-mediated pathway in E . coli, the function of the CAP binding site of lac gene in E . coli and the protein(s) interacting with it were examined in a mammalian system . From transient expression studies of the fusion gene between the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and lac genes, it was found that the lacCAP binding site could act as an enhancer activity on the SV40 promoter, and also as an additive enhancer activity to the SV40 enhancer in HeLa cells . However, the activity was not stimulated by cpt-cAMP (a highly stable analogue of cAMP) in HeLa cells, although it was induced in PC12 cells . These results suggest that a bacterial cAMP responsive element may function also in eukaryotes as a cis-acting element in a cell type dependent manner . Results from gel mobility shift assays showed that a protein(s) exists that specifically binds to the lacCAP binding site in eukaryotic nuclear extracts . As one of the proteins binding to the above site, we have identified a 130 kDa protein by using the Southwestern method . Although a function of the 130 kDa protein has not yet been understood, there is a possibility that the 130 kDa protein may play a role in the regulation of cAMP-dependent gene expression. J Mol Biol, 1991 Jun 5, 219(3), 443 - 50 Bacterial DNA supercoiling and {ATP}/{ADP} . Changes associated with a transition to anaerobic growth; Hsieh LS et al.; Shifting Escherichia coli from aerobic to anaerobic growth caused changes in the ratio of {ATP}/{ADP} and in negative supercoiling of chromosomal and plasmid DNA . Shortly after lowering oxygen tension, both {ATP}/{ADP} and supercoiling transiently decreased . Under conditions of exponential anaerobic growth, both were higher than under aerobic conditions . These correlations may reflect an effect of {ATP}/{ADP} on DNA gyrase, since in vitro {ATP}/{ADP} influences the level of plasmid supercoiling attained when gyrase is either introducing or removing supercoils . When the supercoiling activity of gyrase was perturbed by a mutation in gyrB, a shift to anaerobic conditions resulted in plasmid supercoil relaxation similar to that seen with wild-type . However, the low level of supercoiling in the mutant persisted during a time when supercoiling in wild-type recovered and then exceeded aerobic levels . Thus, changes in oxygen tension can alter DNA supercoiling through an effect on gyrase, and correlations exist between changes in supercoiling and changes in the intracellular ratio of {ATP}/{ADP}. J Immunol Methods, 1991 Jun 3, 139(2), 233 - 40 A convenient human whole blood culture system for studying the regulation of tumour necrosis factor release by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Wilson BM et al.; Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) induces a dose-dependent release of TNF in whole human blood which has been diluted five-fold . It is modulated by interferon-gamma, prostaglandin E2 and indomethacin in the same manner as observed with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) release from human monocyte/macrophage cells cultured in vitro . The whole blood culture system (WBCS) can provide up to 250 samples from 10 ml of venous blood and enables an individual blood to be assessed in terms of TNF inducibility and its modulation by other biological agents . The whole blood culture system was used to demonstrate the individual variation between blood donors . The results demonstrated that the information provided by induced cytokine release and its regulation in the ex vivo system would be a valuable addition to that obtained from in vitro methods. J Trauma, 1991 Jun, 31(6), 867 - 74 Hemorrhagic shock and bacterial translocation in a swine model; Gelfand GA et al.; Bacterial translocation is proposed as an explanation for sepsis associated with hemorrhagic shock . This study attempted to document these events in a large animal model . Male swine were randomly assigned to control (n = 10) or experimental (n = 10) groups . Animals were anaesthetized, and the bladder, portal vein, and a mesenteric lymphatic vessel cannulated . Experimental animals were bled 40% of blood volume . Over the next six hours maintenance fluids were given, and cultures of portal blood and mesenteric lymph taken . Before the swine were killed, cultures were taken from portal and systemic blood, mesenteric lymph, and lymph nodes, and a portion of terminal ileum was resected for histologic study . Experimental animals experienced significant shock as demonstrated by changes in hemodynamic and biochemical variables . Cultures and histologic examination of the terminal ileum showed no significant difference between control and experimental animals . In an unresuscitated swine model, significant bacterial translocation was not demonstrated within six hours of hemorrhagic shock. Crit Care Med, 1991 Jun, 19(6), 785 - 91 Endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation and mucosal permeability: role of xanthine oxidase, complement activation, and macrophage products; Deitch EA et al.; BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Previously, we documented that nonlethal doses of endotoxin injure the intestinal mucosal barrier and promote bacterial translocation from the gut to systemic organs . The current study was performed to determine the role of cytokines and complement activation in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced mucosal injury and bacterial translocation, as well as to quantify the magnitude of endotoxin-induced intestinal mucosal permeability . RESULTS: The frequency of endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation was similar between normal outbred (88%), complement deficient (67%), and macrophage-hyporesponsive (55%) mice, indicating that neither complement nor macrophage activation is necessary for endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation to occur . As early as 2 hrs after endotoxin challenge, there was evidence of a greater than two-fold increase in ileal (p = .008) but not jejunal (p = .11) permeability as measured by the clearance of 51Cr EDTA . Both the increase in endotoxin-induced ileal permeability and the occurrence of bacterial translocation were largely prevented by pretreatment with allopurinol, a competitive inhibitor of xanthine oxidase . CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation, mucosal injury, and ileal permeability are mediated via activation of xanthine oxidase, and not through complement activation or the liberation of macrophage products. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 1991 Jun, 156(6), 1155 - 8 Perivalvular pseudoaneurysm complicating bacterial endocarditis: MR detection in five cases; Akins EW et al.; Bacterial endocarditis usually affects the valve leaflets, but erosion into the valve anulus and adjacent myocardium may form a myocardial abscess . Perivalvular abscesses can drain into the ventricles or aorta, forming a life-threatening pseudoaneurysm . We reviewed our experience with cardiac MR imaging of this disorder . Fourteen patients with complicated bacterial endocarditis underwent ECG-gated spin-echo cardiac MR imaging in addition to conventional duplex two-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) . Angiography was performed in seven patients, six of whom underwent surgery for valve replacement . MR imaging detected the pseudoaneurysms in all five of the surgically proved cases, while 2-D echo detected only three . Clinical follow-up suggested there were no false-negative examinations, but no autopsy data were available for confirmation . Postoperative MR imaging studies were conducted in three patients, revealing two recurrent pseudoaneurysms and one thrombosed aneurysm . Cardiac MR imaging provides useful pre- and postoperative information in patients with perivalvular pseudoaneurysms due to endocarditis. Radiology, 1991 Jun, 179(3), 653 - 8 Differential diagnosis of bacterial myositis in AIDS: evaluation with MR imaging; Fleckenstein JL et al.; Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to assess for the presence of bacterial myositis, rare outside the tropics, in 13 patients with either the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (n = 11) or positive results of serologic tests for the human immunodeficiency virus but without other evidence of AIDS (n = 2) . Bacterial myositis was diagnosed in six patients: in five it was caused by pyogenic bacteria, and in the other, by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; in each patient, little or no subcutaneous tissue alteration occurred . On T1-weighted images in three patients, muscle abscesses showed a rim of increased signal intensity corresponding to margins between drainable pus and edematous muscle . Subcutaneous tissues appeared normal in patients with bacterial myositis but was not in the others, in whom muscle abnormalities tended to be less prominent . The latter group included patients with lymphoma (n = 1), Kaposi sarcoma (n = 2), and carbunculosis (n = 1), and three patients in whom no diagnosis was made; lymphedema was presumed to account for imaging abnormalities in four of the latter group. Immunol Rev, 1991 Jun, 121, 5 - 28 Heat-shock proteins as immunogenic bacterial antigens with the potential to induce and regulate autoimmune arthritis; van Eden W; Heat-shock proteins are ubiquitous and surprisingly immunogenic bacterial proteins . Due to their extensive evolutionary conservation, development of immune reactivity directed at hsp is expected to jeopardize the maintenance of tolerance for "self" . The experimental model of adjuvant arthritis in rats has been illustrative in this respect . In this model disease is induced by immunization to mycobacteria, and by T-cell cloning it appeared that T cells with specificity for the 180-188 sequence of the mycobacterial hsp65 were capable of both inducing the disease or inducing resistance to the disease . Although the exact molecular mimicry relationship of this 180-186 epitope with the proteoglycan moiety of cartilage remains to be elucidated, the crucial significance of hsp65 immunity has been substantiated further, not only in adjuvant arthritis, but also in other models of experimentally induced arthritis . Development of disease is seen to coincide with development of hsp65 reactivity, and in AA to the 180-186 epitope in particular . There is now experimental evidence that responses to hsp65 are subject to regulatory T-cell control, and that such regulatory control may explain the observations that preimmunization with hsp65 induces protection against subsequent development of arthritis . In human arthritis, responses to hsp65 have been seen to occur at the level of synovial fluid-derived T lymphocytes . Especially, in children with juvenile chronic arthritis such responsiveness was seen to be directed at the endogenous "self" hsp60, as it was also found to be expressed at a raised level in the synovial lining cells . Altogether, both from the experimental models and from the human disease, evidence is being collected for hsp65 as a critical antigen which has, in the experimental models, the potential of inducing protective regulatory T-cell control . AA has now offered us some initial possibilities for exploiting this feature of hsp65 in inducing remission of disease . We may hope that, ultimately, such specific immunological intervention in disease will also become a reality in the management of human autoimmune arthritis . The exploitation of the regulatory control mechanisms that normally contain the dangerously autoimmune reactive elements in the system seems to be most attractive for such a purpose . We should not try to modify the outside non-self; however, we should use our understanding of the mechanisms involved in order to stimulate the immune system of the unfortunate to resume control over the management of responses directed at the endogenous "self" . It is possible that further analysis of the role of hsp65 in arthritis will lead to such necessary understanding. Immunobiology, 1991 Jun, 182(3-4), 216 - 33 Bacterial lipopolysaccharide acts synergistically with selected macromolecular polyanions to induce MHC-nonrestricted cytotoxic cells; Winkler DF et al.; We examined whether bacterial lipopolysaccharide, at a dose range extending to less than 1.0 ng/ml, would work with cofactors to induce MHC-nonrestricted cytotoxic cells . To this end, normal mouse splenocytes were cultured for 5 days with LPS and potential cofactors, after which the cells were tested for cytotoxic activity in short-term 51Cr-release assays . We found that LPS can act synergistically with the macromolecular polyanions, dextran sulfate and polyinosinic acid . The effector cells induced by LPS and polyanions showed characteristics of activated NK cells in that they were (1) cytotoxic for widely differing sources of tumor cells, (2) not inhibited by an anti-T cell receptor antibody, and (3) not removed by depletion of CD4+ or CD8+ cells . LPS was active at picogram concentrations when dextran sulfate was included . Exposure of splenocytes to LPS was necessary during the early phase of the 5-day culture, but as little as 1 h of exposure was required, whereas exposure to the macromolecular polyanions during either the first or the last 2 days of a 5-day culture with LPS was effective . As expected with LPS activity, the cytotoxic cell response was prevented by polymyxin B or by the use of splenocytes from LPS non-responder C3H/HeJ mice . Screening of the S . minnesota R mutants and other partial LPS structures revealed that lipid A was closely associated with LPS activity in this assay system and that at least one partially detoxified structure, a deacylated LPS, could substitute for native LPS. Ophthalmic Surg, 1991 Jun, 22(6), 348 - 9 The effect of dexamethasone on the inhibition of pseudophakic bacterial endophthalmitis; Wahl JC et al.; We investigated the effect of dexamethasone on gentamicin prophylaxis of pseudophakic bacterial endophthalmitis in a rabbit model . In 20 eyes treated with gentamicin and either dexamethasone or dexamethasone vehicle, there were no cases of either clinical or culture-positive endophthalmitis. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1991 Jun-Jul, 80(6-7), 654 - 8 Deficiency of IgG subclasses and IgA, and elevation of IgE in children with a past history of bacterial meningitis; Loh RK et al.; Of 44 children who recovered from an attack of bacterial meningitis, 3 (7%) were found to have IgG subclass deficiency, 5 (11%) had IgA deficiency and 22 (50%) had raised IgE levels . These results suggest that immunoglobulin abnormalities may be an important predisposing factor in some cases of bacterial meningitis. Rev Med Chil, 1991 Jun, 119(6), 626 - 32 {Bacterial overgrowth in small intestine in patients with liver cirrhosis}; Chesta J et al.; Hepatic encephalopathy, bacterial infections and endotoxemia in cirrhotic patients have been related to colonic flora . However, an abnormal small bowel bacterial content could also be implied . We investigated small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) by jejunal cultures in 14 cirrhotic patients and 5 control subjects, and indirectly by the lactulose H2 breath test in 22 patients with cirrhosis and 12 controls . SIBO was demonstrated by cultures in 64% of cirrhotic patients and 1 of 5 controls . The breath test was positive for SIBO in 45% of patients with cirrhosis and 8% of controls . No differences were noted between patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease . According to fasting H2 breath levels, SIBO was significantly correlated with the Child-Pugh score for hepatic function (r = 0.45; p < 0.05) . Also, patients with positive criteria for SIBO in jejunal cultures had worse hepatic function in comparison to cirrhotics with normal jejunal bacterial counts (p < 0.05) . Thus SIBO is frequent in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and is associated with impairment in hepatic function. Hua Xi Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao, 1991 Jun, 22(2), 134 - 6 {An analysis of chemical oxygen demand, carbohydrate, IgG and IgA in extracellular fluid of bacterial plaque}; Mao Y et al.; The chemical oxygen demand (COD) of extracellular plaque fluid was measured by potassium dichromate method . Micro-anthrone method and high performance liquid chromatography were used for measuring the carbohydrate content in the fluid . Immunochemistry system was used for measuring IgG and IgA contents in it . The results showed: (1) a high value of COD was found in the extracellular fluid, and it further increased with sugar-intake; (2) during resting stage, the content of carbohydrate measured by microanthrone method or high performance chromatography was very low, and there was no free glucose, fructose or sucrose; (3) no difference of IgG and IgA contents in plaque fluid between caries active (CA) and caries free (CF) subjects was found. J Cell Biochem, 1991 Jun, 46(2), 106 - 14 Bacterial resistances to mercury and copper; Brown NL et al.; Heavy metals are toxic to living organisms . Some have no known beneficial biological function, while others have essential roles in physiological reactions . Mechanisms which deal with heavy metal stress must protect against the deleterious effects of heavy metals, yet avoid depleting the cell of a heavy metal which is also an essential nutrient . We describe the mechanisms of resistance in Escherichia coli to two different heavy metals, mercury and copper . Resistance of E . coli to mercury is reasonably well understood and is known to occur by transport of mercuric ions into the cytoplasmic compartment of the bacterial cell and subsequent reductive detoxification of mercuric ions . Recent mutational analysis has started to uncover the mechanistic detail of the mercuric ion transport processes, and has shown the essential nature of cysteine residues in transport of Hg(II) . Resistance to copper is much less well understood, but is known to involve the increased export of copper from the bacterial cell and modification of the copper; the details of the process are still being elucidated . Expression of both metal resistance determinants is regulated by the corresponding cation . In each case the response enables the maintenance of cellular homeostasis for the metal . The conclusions drawn allow us to make testable predictions about the regulation of expression of resistance to other heavy metals. Electrophoresis, 1991 Jun, 12(6), 439 - 41 Alcian blue fixation allows silver staining of the isolated polysaccharide component of bacterial lipopolysaccharides in polyacrylamide gels; Corzo J et al.; The effect of the cationic dye Alcian Blue on the silver staining of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and its polysaccharide and lipid A portions in polyacrylamide gels was investigated . The polysaccharide was only stained when the gel was previously treated with the dye . The polysaccharide moiety was found to be responsible for the lipopolysaccharide staining with silver, whereas the lipid A seemed unimportant . Treatment with Alcian Blue may prove useful to detect hydrophilic components of lipopolysaccharide samples that could not be stained by the usual silver staining procedures. Inflammation, 1991 Jun, 15(3), 201 - 11 Concurrent lipopolysaccharide enhances chemotactic response of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes to bacterial chemotaxin; Creamer HR et al.; Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) function is thought to be critical in resistance to infectious agents and this implies that the PMN must be able to migrate into, and to function in, environments that may have high levels of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Therefore, we have evaluated the effect of LPS on the in vitro migration of PMNs . Our data reveal that the human PMN is resistant to the deleterious effects of high levels of LPS, that in high concentrations LPS is, itself, a direct chemoattractant for PMNs, and that PMN migration toward a bacterial chemotaxin is enhanced if LPS is also present . Such capabilities suggest that the PMN may be uniquely qualified to migrate into microenvironments that are rich in LPS. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Jun, (6), 11 - 3 {The characteristics of potassium ion transport across the bacterial membranes in a vaccinal culture of Francisella tularensis}; Puchkov EO et al.; The presence of the systems of energy-dependent accumulation of potassium ions and their passive exchange for protons in cytoplasmic bacterial membranes of F . tularensis strain 15 has been demonstrated by means of a K(+)-selective electrode and the turbidimetric method . The kinetic parameters of the energy-dependent K+ transport: Km = 0.83 +/- 0.20 mM K+, Vmax = 0.23 +/- 0.04 mM K+/mg of dry weight . min . Under the conditions of anoxia F . tularensis cannot retain potassium ions in their cytoplasm, and thus they are considered to be incapable of anaerobiosis. J Bacteriol, 1991 Jun, 173(12), 3914 - 7 Bacterial DNA supercoiling and {ATP}/{ADP} ratio: changes associated with salt shock; Hsieh LS et al.; When Escherichia coli K-12 was shifted from a medium lacking salt to one containing 0.5 M NaCl, both the {ATP}/{ADP} ratio and negative supercoiling of plasmid DNA increased within a few minutes . After about 10 min both declined, eventually reaching a level slightly above that observed with cells growing exponentially in the absence of salt . Since in vitro the {ATP}/{ADP} ratio influences the level of supercoiling generated by gyrase (H . Westerhoff, M . O'Dea, A . Maxwell, and M . Gellert, Cell Biophys . 12:157-181, 1988), the physiological response of supercoiling to salt shock is most easily explained by the sensitivity of gyrase to changes in the intracellular {ATP}/{ADP} ratio . This raises the possibility that the {ATP}/{ADP} ratio is an important factor in the control of supercoiling. N Engl J Med, 1991 May 30, 324(22), 1525 - 31 The beneficial effects of early dexamethasone administration in infants and children with bacterial meningitis; Odio CM et al.; BACKGROUND . In experimental models of meningitis and in children with meningitis, dexamethasone has been shown to reduce meningeal inflammation and to improve the outcome of disease . METHODS . We conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of dexamethasone therapy in 101 infants and children admitted to the National Children's Hospital, San Jose, Costa Rica, who had culture-proved bacterial meningitis or clinical signs of meningitis and findings characteristic of bacterial infection on examination of the cerebrospinal fluid . The patients were randomly assigned to receive either dexamethasone and cefotaxime (n = 52) or cefotaxime plus placebo (n = 49) . Dexamethasone (0.15 mg per kilogram of body weight) was given 15 to 20 minutes before the first dose of cefotaxime and was continued every 6 hours thereafter for four days . RESULTS . The demographic, clinical, and laboratory profiles were similar for the patients in the two treatment groups . By 12 hours after the beginning of therapy, the mean opening cerebrospinal pressure and the estimated cerebral perfusion pressure had improved significantly in the dexamethasone-treated children but worsened in the children treated only with cefotaxime (controls) . At 12 hours meningeal inflammation and the concentrations of two cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and platelet-activating factor) in the cerebrospinal fluid had decreased in the dexamethasone-treated children, whereas in the controls the inflammatory response in the cerebrospinal fluid had increased . At 24 hours the clinical condition and mean prognostic score were significantly better among those treated with dexamethasone than among the controls . At follow-up examination after a mean of 15 months, 7 of the surviving 51 dexamethasone-treated children (14 percent) and 18 of 48 surviving controls (38 percent) had one or more neurologic or audiologic sequelae (P = 0.007); the relative risk of sequelae for a child receiving placebo as compared with a child receiving dexamethasone was 3.8 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 11.5) . CONCLUSIONS . The results of this study, in which dexamethasone administration began before the initiation of cefotaxime therapy, provide additional evidence of a beneficial effect of dexamethasone therapy in infants and children with bacterial meningitis. J Biol Chem, 1991 May 25, 266(15), 9746 - 53 Sites of deamidation and methylation in Tsr, a bacterial chemotaxis sensory transducer; Rice MS et al.; The sensory transducer proteins in bacterial chemotaxis undergo two covalent modifications, deamidation and reversible methylation, in response to attractants and repellents . Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to alter putative methylation and deamidation sites in one of the transducers to further define these sites and their role in chemotaxis . The mutations, in combination with peptide maps and Edman analysis, have clarified the sites of covalent modification in Tsr . Tsr contains six specific glutamates and glutamines that serve as methyl-accepting sites . An arginine-containing tryptic peptide (R1) has two sites, one at glutamate 493 and a newly located site at glutamate 502 . A lysine-containing peptide (K1) has four methyl-accepting sites . Two of the lysine peptide sites are glutamates and can accept methyl groups without deamidation . The other two sites are glutamines and two methyl-accepting sites are created by two distinct deamidations . Both deamidations can occur on the same polypeptide chain . Single glutamate mutants have shown that one deamidation (at glutamine 311) proceeds rapidly, while the other deamidation (at glutamine 297) has a half-life of approximately 60 min under our experimental conditions. J Biol Chem, 1991 May 25, 266(15), 9764 - 70 Reconstitution of the bacterial chemotaxis signal transduction system from purified components; Ninfa EG et al.; In bacterial chemotaxis, transmembrane receptor proteins detect attractants and repellents in the medium and send intracellular signals that control motility . The cytoplasmic proteins that transduce information from the receptors to the flagellar motor have previously been purified and many of their enzymatic activities have been identified . Here we report the reconstitution of the complete signal transduction system from purified components . The protein kinase, CheA, plays a central role in both the initial excitation response to stimuli as well as subsequent events associated with adaptation . This kinase provides phosphoryl groups to two acceptor proteins, CheY, which interacts with the flagellar motor, and CheB, which demethylates the receptors . The purified aspartate receptor, Tar, reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles, acts in conjunction with an auxiliary protein, CheW, to stimulate the rate of kinase autophosphorylation greater than 10-fold . This stimulation is inhibited by aspartate . The activity of the kinase is increased by increased levels of receptor methylation . This effect provides a mechanism that explains how changes in receptor methylation mediate adaptive responses to attractant and repellant stimuli. J Biol Chem, 1991 May 25, 266(15), 9885 - 92 cDNA sequence and bacterial expression of mouse liver sterol carrier protein-2; Moncecchi D et al.; Sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) is an intracellular protein of Mr 13,096 . In vitro studies have shown that it is involved in the transport and metabolism of cholesterol . This protein is believed to participate in these activities by forming a stoichiometric complex with the sterol . Because these activities occur in different intracellular locations, i.e . mitochondria, peroxisomes, and cytosol, it can be predicted that SCP-2 targets to these sites . In this report we show that a mouse cDNA (785 base pairs) encodes a precursor form of SCP-2 containing a N-terminal presequence and an additional C-terminal residue . These additional amino acid residues are found in proteins targeted to the mitochondria and peroxisomes, respectively . These signals are not found in SCP-2 purified from rat liver cytosol which is believed to be a cytosolic form . Northern analysis shows that there are four species of mRNA which hybridize to a SCP-2-specific probe at 1.0, 1.7, 2.2, and 2.9 kilobases . Southern analysis shows that the gene is distributed over a large amount of DNA or that there are multiple genes . We have cloned the cytosolic/peroxisomal form of mouse SCP-2 into the Escherichia coli expression vector pKK233-2 and have expressed and purified recombinant mouse SCP-2, Mr 13,034 . The purified recombinant SCP-2 is immunoreactive to rabbit anti-rat SCP-2 antibody . It also has biological activity equivalent to homogeneous rat liver SCP-2 in stimulating the microsomal conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol and in the esterification of cholesterol by acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase by rat liver microsomes. Eur J Biochem, 1991 May 23, 198(1), 93 - 9 The chloroplast transcription apparatus from mustard (Sinapis alba L.) . Evidence for three different transcription factors which resemble bacterial sigma factors; Tiller K et al.; A chloroplast protein fraction with sigma-like activity {Bulow, S . & Link, G . (1988) Plant Mol . Biol . 10, 349-357}, was further purified and characterized . Chromatography on heparin-Sepharose, DEAE-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-300 led to the separation of three sigma-like factors (SLF) polypeptides with Mr 67,000 (SLF67), 52,000 (SLF52) and 29,000 (SLF29) . None of these polypeptides bind to DNA itself, but each one confers enhanced binding and transcriptional activity when added to Escherichia coli RNA-polymerase core enzyme and DNA fragments carrying a chloroplast promoter . SLF67, SLF52, and SLF29 differ in their ionic-strength requirements for activity . They each mediate the binding to promoters of the chloroplast genes psbA, trnQ, and rps16, with different efficiencies . It is suggested that chloroplast transcription in vivo might be controlled at least in part by these functionally distinct factors. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 May 23, 1058(1), 42 - 7 Sequence variability in bacterial cytochromes c; Ambler RP; Cytochromes c are proteins that can be defined both phenotypically and by their possession of a characteristic sequence motif . Many sequences from bacterial sources are known, and new ones are being reported every year . An analysis can be made as to what fraction of new sequences are members of already known classes or subclasses, and how many map into previously uninhabited regions of sequence space. Rev Prat, 1991 May 21, 41(15), 1345 - 9 {Biological indicators of bacterial infection in newborn infants}; Messer J et al.; Biological markers of neonatal bacterial infection are useful if they bring early indications and if they are sensitive and specific . There are two kinds of tests: hematological signs and acute phase proteins . The most specific hematological signs are, in chronological order: leuconeutropenia--myelemia--neutrophilic polynucleosis . Gestational and post-natal ages have to be taken in consideration for correct interpretation of white cell count and differential . Several acute phase proteins increase in infected newborns: fibrinogen, C reactive protein, orosomucoid . If determined quantitatively, C reactive protein is a sensitive, specific and early marker allowing, in addition, to follow the reaction to treatment: the return to normal range of CRP and later of orosomucoid attest for recovery . These biological tests have to be sequentially determined during the first days in order to obtain a maximal information. J Mol Biol, 1991 May 20, 219(2), 165 - 74 Bacterial expression of rat liver succinyl-CoA synthetase alpha-subunit . Factors that contribute to blocked translation of transcripts encoding a mitochondrial signal sequence; Ryan DG et al.; This study comprises a detailed evaluation of factors that are necessary to achieve high levels of expression of eukaryotic proteins in bacterial systems . We attempted to express a rat liver cDNA clone encoding the precursor to the alpha-subunit of succinyl-CoA synthetase in an Escherichia coli expression system, without success . Removal of the region encoding the mitochondrial signal peptide (115 nucleotides) allowed efficient expression of the mature protein . This nucleotide sequence was shown to block expression at the level of translation . Two regions within this fragment were able to block the expression of other genes such as E . coli lacZ . Inhibition of expression was due to the close proximity of these inhibitory sequences with the translation initiation region (TIR) . Insertion of a spacer between the inhibitory sequence and the TIR relieved the block in translation . Analysis of the 115-nucleotide fragment identified sequences capable of extensive base-pairing with the Shine-Dalgarno and surrounding sequences . Such secondary structures are capable of blocking the formation of competent translation initiation complexes. Med Clin (Barc), 1991 May 18, 96(19), 721 - 6 {Protected bronchoalveolar lavage: a new endoscopic method in the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia}; Castella J et al.; BACKGROUND: The identification of causative microoganisms in severe pneumonias is a usually difficult problem . Protected brushing (PB) has a good specificity but a limited sensitivity . Conventional bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL-C) has an excellent sensitivity but a doubtful specificity . The investigation of a new technique such as the protected bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL-P) appears as logical, as it should combine the advantages of PB and BAL-C without their drawbacks . METHODS: In 15 patients without bacterial or fungal infections and in 23 with bacterial or fungal pneumonia, quantitative cultures were carried out in the samples obtained with PB, BAL-P and BAL-C . PB and BAL-C were performed with the usual technique . BAL-P was performed through the internal catheter of a telescoped double catheter with reabsorbable distal cap within the fibroscope channel . 40 ml of saline were instillated for the lavage . RESULTS: With BAL-P sensitivity was 95% and specificity 89% . These were, respectively, 55% and 94% with PB, and 95% and 42% with BAL-C . The technique of BAL-P was more complex an longer than that of PB . CONCLUSIONS: If these results are confirmed in further studies, BAL-P might become a method of choice for the bacterial pneumonias where now PB is indicated . However, in patients with hypersecretion or when bronchoscopy should be rapidly carried out, PB is technically more feasible. J Immunol, 1991 May 15, 146(10), 3617 - 25 Purification and characterization of the 65-kDa protein phosphorylated in murine macrophages by stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Shinomiya H et al.; Modification of cellular proteins via phosphorylation is known to be a major regulatory mechanism whereby external stimuli control intracellular events . We demonstrated that bacterial LPS induced a distinct set of phosphorylated protein (pp) in murine peritoneal macrophages, and that the LPS-induced pp were specifically located in cytosol and/or membrane fractions . One of the most heavily phosphorylated substrate proteins with a molecular mass of 65 kDa (pp65) was purified to homogeneity via SDS-PAGE analysis and autoradiography by sequential chromatography on Sephacryl S-200, HPLC anion exchange, and hydroxyapatite HPLC . Our pp65 is apparently the first purified LPS-induced pp, and is thought to be a novel protein . Serine residues on pp65 were found to be exclusively phosphorylated, indicating a contribution by LPS-inducible serine kinase . Interestingly, LPS-induced phosphorylation of pp65 was not observed in macrophages from a LPS-nonresponsive C3H/HeJ strain of mice, although their macrophages had about the same amounts of unphosphorylated p65 as normal macrophages when detected under Western blot analysis by using polyclonal anti-pp65 antibodies . This suggests that the functional defect of C3H/HeJ macrophages exists somewhere in the process before the pp65 phosphorylation . Moreover, the degree of the pp65 phosphorylation in macrophages stimulated with LPS or lipd A correlated well to that of cellular responses such as IL-1 production in the same macrophages . Considering these observations, the pp65 seems to play a crucial role in macrophage activation, and the studies on the structure and function of the pp65 should lead to progress in our understanding of the mechanisms of macrophage activation by LPS. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1991 May 15, 88(10), 4538 - 42 Allergen- and bacterial antigen-specific T-cell clones established from atopic donors show a different profile of cytokine production; Parronchi P et al.; We have established a large panel of T-cell clones (TCCs) specific for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Lolium perenne group I grass pollen allergens (total, 61) and for tetanus toxoid and protein purified derivative bacterial antigens (total, 38) from the peripheral blood of two atopic individuals and then analyzed their ability to produce interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) . Upon stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus anti-CD3 antibody, the great majority of TCCs specific for bacterial components was able to produce both IL-4 and IFN-gamma, whereas most D . pteronyssinus- and L . perenne group I-specific TCCs produced IL-4, but no, or limited, IFN-gamma . Moreover, the mean amounts of IL-4 and IFN-gamma released by allergen-specific TCCs were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than the mean amounts produced by TCCs specific for bacterial components . Under the same experimental conditions, virtually all allergen-specific TCCs, but only one-third of tested TCCs specific for bacterial components, expressed IL-5 RNA and secreted IL-5 in their supernatants . Eighteen TCCs (nine specific for allergens and nine specific for bacterial components) were also assessed for their ability to induce IgE synthesis by autologous B cells in response to stimulation with the specific antigen . Under these experimental conditions, all allergen-specific TCCs, but only one-third of TCCs specific for bacterial components that produced IL-4 but no, or little, IFN-gamma induced the synthesis of detectable amounts of IgE . The demonstration that most allergen-specific helper T cells in atopic individuals are able to produce high amounts of IL-4 (and IL-5), but no IFN-gamma, may explain why allergens induce production of IgE antibodies and increase eosinophils. Biochemistry, 1991 May 14, 30(19), 4648 - 54 Primary donor structure and interactions in bacterial reaction centers from near-infrared Fourier transform resonance Raman spectroscopy; Mattioli TA et al.; Preresonance Raman and resonance Raman spectra of the primary donor (P) from reaction centers of the Rhodobacter (Rb.) sphaeroides R26 carotenoidless strain in the P and P+ states, respectively, were obtained at room temperature with 1064-nm excitation and a Fourier transform spectrometer . These spectra clearly indicate that the chromophore modes are observable over those of the protein with no signs of interference below 1800 cm-1 . The chromophore modes are dominated by those of the bacteriochlorophylls (BChl a), and it is estimated that, in the P state, ca . 65% of the Raman intensity of the BChl a modes arises from the primary donor . This permits the direct observation of a vibrational spectrum of the primary donor at preresonance with the excitonic 865-nm band . The Raman spectrum of oxidized reaction centers in the presence of ferricyanide clearly exhibits bands arising from a BChl a+ species . The magnitude of the frequency shift of a keto carbonyl of neutral P from 1691 to 1717 cm-1 upon P+ formation strongly suggests that one BChl molecule in P+ carries nearly the full +1 charge . Our results indicate that the unpaired electron in P.+ does not share a molecular orbital common to the two components of the dimer on the time scale of the resonance Raman effect (ca . 10(-13) s). Eur J Biochem, 1991 May 8, 197(3), 707 - 16 Molecular modelling of bacterial deep rough mutant lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli; Katowsky M et al.; Molecular modelling techniques have been applied to compute the conformation accessible to bacterial deep rough lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli (Re-LPS) . Analyses of the results showed that the models typically exhibit a tilt of the diglucosamine backbone with respect to the membrane normal of 53 +/- 7 degrees while both the glucosamine ring planes are oriented approximately parallel to the membrane normal . Different models were found to show compact and elongated types of acyl chain arrangements, both producing anisotropic lateral dimensions of the models of 1.0-1.1 nm and 1.7-2.0 nm for the shorter and the longer side, respectively . The conformationally allowed range of the isolated dOclA(alpha-2-4)dOclA disaccharide (dOclA = 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid) was found to be extremely limited . It appeared that the dOclA disaccharide (dOclA)2 is centred at the top of the Re-LPS molecule preferring two orientations stabilized by hydrogen bonds involving only one phosphate group of the lipid A moiety at a time . The effect of charges on the Re-LPS conformations has been studied in separate calculations . From these calculations it was obvious that charges have no significant effects on the conformations of the isolated lipid A and (dOclA)2 moieties . However, it was found that the orientation of (dOclA)2 with respect to the lipid A part is highly sensitive to charges, i.e . in the charged models the proximity of phosphate and carboxyl groups is prevented by strong electrostatic repulsion between these negatively charged groups . In order to rationalize the acyl chain packing of the models, a simple geometrical model which correlates the tilt of the diglucosamine backbone with the energically favoured close packing of the acyl chains is proposed . Furthermore, the possibility of a chelate-like complexation of divalent cations and its contribution to head group mobility is discussed. J Infect, 1991 May, 22(3), 263 - 8 Multiple episodes of bacterial endocarditis occurring over 9 years; Khoo SH et al.; We present a patient who was treated for bacterial endocarditis on 10 occasions in 9 years . In all but one of these episodes blood cultures were positive and the last two recurrences occurred on an aortic valve homograft . The pathogenesis of recurrent infective endocarditis in non-intravenous drug abusers is unclear and prevention of recurrences poses a difficult problem. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1991 May 1, 198(9), 1655 - 61 Relations among synovial membrane histopathologic findings, synovial fluid cytologic findings, and bacterial culture results in horses with suspected infectious arthritis: 64 cases (1979-1987); Madison JB et al.; A retrospective evaluation of 64 cases of suspected infectious arthritis in horses was undertaken to determine the relations among histopathologic findings in synovial membrane specimens, cytologic findings in synovial fluid samples, and bacterial culture results . Positive cultures were obtained from 55% of the joints, and 18 different bacterial organisms were cultured . Culturing of synovial fluid yielded bacterial growth more often than did culturing of synovial membrane . Histologic evaluation (H&E and Gram stain) of synovial membrane specimens provided little information to help distinguish infected from culture-negative joints . We do not advocate the routine use of closed synovial biopsy in suspected cases of equine septic arthritis. J Trauma, 1991 May, 31(5), 639 - 43; discussion 643-4 Bacterial translocation and its relationship to visceral blood flow, gut mucosal ornithine decarboxylase activity, and DNA in pigs; Saydjari R et al.; The relationship of bacterial translocation to gut blood flow and mucosal integrity was studied in pigs . Three groups of miniature pigs were studied: sham injured (controls) (n = 7), 50% mechanical reduction in blood flow to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and celiac artery (CA) (n = 6), and a 40% third-degree cutaneous flame burn (n = 9) . Forty-eight hours after injury, animals were killed and organ samples obtained for analysis . Bacteria of the same biotype as that found in the intestinal lumen were present in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of 9 of 9 burned pigs and 5 of 6 pigs undergoing partial vascular occlusion . The DNA content and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity were increased in the colon mucosa of animals from both the reduced-flow and burn-injured groups compared with control animals . Decreased blood flow to the gut may contribute to the development of bacterial translocation . In addition, intestinal regenerative capacity remains intact 48 hours after injury. J Leukoc Biol, 1991 May, 49(5), 474 - 82 Tumor-derived products induce Il-1 a, Il-1 b, Tnf a, and Il-6 gene expression in murine macrophages: distinctions between tumor- and bacterial endotoxin-induced gene expression; Evans R et al.; The ability of progressing tumors to regulate host physiology is an important consideration in our understanding of tumor-host relationships . Previous data indicated that several lines of murine sarcoma cells produced one or more activities that were able to regulate both Il-1 a and Il-1 b gene transcription in macrophages (MO) . We now describe an indepth analysis using Northern analysis and bioassays and show that two of these tumors produce one or more activities that when incubated with peritoneal MO result in the transcription of the Il-1a, Il-1 b, Tnf a, and Il-6 genes . Concordant with the Northern analyses was the finding that interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biological activities were detected in lysates of induced MO, fixed MO, and supernates of MO cultures . Induction of gene expression was shown to be distinct from that induced by bacterial endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide by a number of criteria . The data suggest that tumor cell products may play an important role in regulating several host physiological processes, particularly those involving Il-1a, Il-1 b, Tnf a, and Il-6 gene expression. Cesk Gynekol, 1991 May, 56(4), 247 - 52 {Epidemiology and diagnosis in the vaginal environment . III . Diagnosis and epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis}; Unzeitig V et al.; In a group of 600 examined women clue cells were detected in the native preparation in 72 women (12%), a positive amine test was recorded in 81 women (13.5%) . 93.1% patients (67) with the finding of clue cells had a positive amine test . The values of the vaginal pH vary between 4.8 and 5.5 . According to the accepted diagnostic concept bacterial vaginosis was detected in 68 women (11.5%) . The most frequent concurrent infection was trichomoniasis . Finally the authors recommend to transfer the diagnosis of vaginal discharge from laboratories to surgeries, from fixed stained smears to native smears supplemented by the amine test and assessment of vaginal pH. Int Immunol, 1991 May, 3(5), 445 - 52 Susceptibility to infection with Mycobacterium avium is paradoxically correlated with increased synthesis of specific anti-bacterial antibodies; Ferreira P et al.; A comparison was made between the levels of splenic and intestinal (Peyer's patches and thin intestinal epithelium) Ig production of C57BL/6 germ free and conventional C57BL/6, BALB/c, DBA/2 and C3H/He mice and the susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium infection, evaluated by the number of bacterial colony-forming units (CFU) found in the liver and in the spleen of the animals . Mice received an i.p . injection of either 5 x 10(6), 10(7) or 10(8) bacteria, or were given the larger inoculum intragastrically . Alternatively, mice were treated with an i.p . injection of M . avium bacterial sonicates . A marked increase of splenic IgA production, quantitatively associated with the size of the inoculum and thus with the degree of infection, was observed in susceptible compared to relatively resistant mice . This increase was observed at an earlier time following infection with the larger rather than with the smaller inocula . Consistent significant increases in splenic production of IgG isotypes were only observed in the susceptible mice after infection with the intermediate and larger inocula whereas a comparative increase of IgM was only clearly observed after infection with the larger inoculum . Intestinal Ig production remained unchanged, however, in both susceptible and relatively resistant mice after i.p . infection . Also, all mice were resistant to M . avium infection by the intragastric route and with this site of entry splenic and intestinal Ig production remained unchanged . Susceptibility to M . avium infection was also quantitatively associated with increased levels of circulating specific anti-bacterial antibodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1991 May, 111(5), 516 - 8 {"Masked" autoantibodies from the serum of healthy blood donors cross-reacting with DNA and bacterial lipopolysaccharides}; Lekakh IV et al.; The "masked" autoantibodies with polyspecific activity were found in the serum of healthy donors . It is shown that these antibodies are able to react with antigens after the ion exchange chromatography with QAE-sephadex . It was found that these "masked" antibodies are able to cross-react with DNA and lipopolysaccharides of wide-spread species of bacteria . The possible role of these antibodies as in protection of organism from the external antigens as in the origin of autoimmune diseases is discussed. J Bacteriol, 1991 May, 173(10), 3047 - 59 Introduction of proteins into living bacterial cells: distribution of labeled HU protein in Escherichia coli; Shellman VL et al.; Growing bacterial cells forming division septa have sites near the septa that are sensitive to EDTA shock . Cells treated with EDTA incorporate proteins and other molecules from the surrounding medium, probably via vesiclelike lesions at the septa that are induced by EDTA . The amount of protein taken up is proportional to the protein concentration in the permeabilization medium . Incorporated molecules equilibrate throughout the cytoplasm, and those with affinity for DNA bind to the nucleoid . Conditions that promote the viability of permeabilized cells and help to avoid otherwise irreversible effects of EDTA are defined . Procedures for selecting cells that have incorporated protein and for studying the distribution of the protein and its effects in growing-dividing cells are described . The procedure may have several applications to molecular and cellular biology; however, we describe here the localization in living cells of the histonelike protein HU . Fluorescence microscopy of cells containing different amounts of fluorescein-labeled HU (varied from approximately 10(3) to 10(5) molecules per cell) showed that the HU concentrates in the nucleoid and is uniformly distributed throughout this structure . Control experiments demonstrated that unlabeled interior parts of the nucleoid can be resolved when labeled proteins that do not bind DNA or enter the nucleoid are introduced into living cells . It was concluded that in vivo added HU binds primarily DNA and that there are no intrinsic restrictions on major regions of the nucleoid to which the added HU protein may bind. Minerva Ginecol, 1991 May, 43(5), 245 - 51 {Tetridamine in the therapy of bacterial vaginosis}; Pugliares S et al.; In this study 14 women suffering from symptomatic bacterial vaginosis were treated with tetridamine at a dose of 2 lavages/day for 7 days . The results obtained confirmed the value of tetridamine on account of the high percentage of recovery, the rapid diminution in the degree of bacterial infection and the excellent tolerability of the product. J Foot Surg, 1991 May-Jun, 30(3), 253 - 63 Periungual bacterial flora in the human foot; Wolf EW et al.; Proper presurgical preparations are presumed to eliminate organisms from the skin, nails, and nail grooves . It has not been documented as to whether surgical scrubs reduce the types and numbers of bacteria and thereby affect the incidence of infection in performing toenail surgery . This study, performed pre- and postsurgical scrub cultures of four sites on 40 subjects . Similar cultures from ten additional patients who underwent nail surgery were also performed . The later set had an additional set of cultures performed after avulsion of the nail plate and the beginning of the actual surgical procedure . Blood cultures were done intraoperatively on the surgical patients . Results revealed that nail grooves are difficult, if not impossible, to antisepticize . The usual presurgical scrub does not eradicate bacteria in these areas . As such, nail surgery must certainly be considered dirty surgery and precautionary measures must be considered. Klin Med (Mosk), 1991 May, 69(5), 74 - 8 {Clinico-morphological characteristics of disseminated intravascular coagulation in bacterial meningoencephalitis}; Anisimova IuN et al.; Clinical, laboratory and morphological manifestations of impaired hemostasis due to CNS bacterial infections varying in etiology were studied in 144 patients and 32 cadavers . Etiologic and age-specific features of hemocoagulatory homeostatic disorders displayed multidirectional procoagulatory, coagulatory and fibrinolytic components . Correlation of morphological evidence for the brain and viscera with clinical-laboratory findings showed that in 69% of the patients who had died of bacterial meningoencephalitis (a generalized form) there were signs of DIC syndrome . These did not always agree clinically with the picture of hemocoagulatory disturbances creating difficulties for its diagnosis . As a result, an intravital diagnosis of DIC syndrome was made in 9% of the patients only. Indian Pediatr, 1991 May, 28(5), 513 - 9 Cerebrospinal fluid N-acetyl neuraminic acid estimation for early diagnosis and differentiation of bacterial meningitis; Darbari A et al.; Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for free, bound and total N-Acetyl Neuraminic Acid (NANA) as well as serum NANA was done in 68 patients of bacterial meningitis, of which 37 cases were of pyrogenic meningitis and 31 of tuberculous meningitis . Ten patients were included in the control group . The free NANA levels were increased in only pyogenic meningitis, independent of protein levels but the bound form increased with the increase in CSF proteins . The increase of free NANA in CSF of pyogenic meningitis patients was not related to the cell count or sugar content in CSF or to the duration or severity of illness . This finding can be of great help in differentiating cases of pyogenic meningitis, particularly partially treated patients, who may have ambiguous pictures of CSF analysis, from the cases of tuberculous meningitis. Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1991 May, 59(2), 288 - 300 Specificity of anti-DNA antibodies induced in normal mice by immunization with bacterial DNA; Gilkeson GS et al.; To determine the specificity of anti-DNA antibodies induced in normal mice by immunization with bacterial DNA, sera from BALB/c mice immunized with single-stranded DNA from Escherichia coli (EC) were tested for binding to a panel of synthetic DNA and RNA homopolymers as well as duplexes . Results of these studies indicate that sera from EC DNA immunized mice preferentially bind certain DNA and RNA homopolymers as well as DNA duplexes . Furthermore, the specificity of the antibodies from immunized mice resembled those of sera from autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mice in terms of the synthetic antigens recognized, although some differences were noted in the magnitude of the response to individual duplexes . These results suggest that anti-DNA antibodies induced by bacterial DNA bind to DNA structures dependent on both the base and the sugar phosphate moieties of the nucleic acid antigen and may resemble some anti-DNA antibodies expressed in spontaneous autoimmune disease in these binding properties. J Immunol Methods, 1991 Apr 25, 138(2), 201 - 9 Detection of rheumatoid-like factors in serum of chickens immunized with bacterial immunoglobulin binding proteins; Raeder R et al.; A simple, rapid two-stage competitive binding radioimmunoassay is described for detecting rheumatoid factor-like antibodies in the serum of chickens immunized with bacterial immunoglobulin binding proteins . The assay could be adapted to determine the species specificity of any rheumatoid factor-like antibody by changing the species of immobilized IgG used . This assay has important practical implications for selecting suitable antibodies for detection of bacterial immunoglobulin binding proteins leaching from affinity columns in the presence of a large molar excess of IgG, and in determining the relationship between antibodies to bacterial IgG binding proteins and rheumatoid factor production. J Biol Chem, 1991 Apr 25, 266(12), 7793 - 803 Discovery and sequence analysis of bacterial genes involved in the biogenesis of c-type cytochromes; Ramseier TM et al.; We report the DNA sequence and mutational analysis of a novel cluster of six Bradyrhizobium japonicum genes of which at least three (designated cycV, cycW, and cycX) are essential for the formation of all cellular c-type cytochromes . Mutants having insertions in these genes were completely devoid of any soluble (periplasmic) or membrane-bound c-type cytochromes; even the apo form of cytochrome c1 was not detectable, neither in the membrane nor in the soluble fraction . As a consequence, the mutants had pleiotropic phenotypes such as defects in nitrate respiration, H2 oxidation, electron transport to cytochrome alpha alpha 3, and microaerobic respiration during symbiosis . A fourth open reading frame (ORF132) encoded a protein that might also be concerned with cytochrome c formation, but perhaps only indirectly . The other two open reading frames did not appear to function in this process . The predicted amino acid sequences of the cycW and cycX gene products suggested that these proteins were membrane-bound . The cycV gene product showed extensive similarity to the ATP-binding subunit of a superfamily of membrane-associated transport systems . The predicted ORF132 product was strikingly similar to bacterial thioredoxins and eukaryotic protein disulfide isomerase . Based on these findings it is possible that these proteins are members of a complex transport system involved in the biogenesis of all cytochromes c. J Biol Chem, 1991 Apr 25, 266(12), 7633 - 7 Ca2(+)-enhanced phosphorylation of a chimeric protein kinase involved with bacterial signal transduction; Rampersaud A et al.; The Tar-EnvZ hybrid molecule (Taz1) is an inner membrane transducer that activates OmpR, a transcriptional activator for porin gene expression (ompC), in response to an aspartic acid signal . Signal transduction by Taz1 most likely involves a phosphorylated Taz1 intermediate that donates its phosphate to OmpR . Phosphorylated OmpR has already been implicated in transcriptional activation of porin genes . Using a cell-free system containing Taz1-enriched membrane fractions, we have examined the phosphorylation properties of Taz1 and the stimulatory effects of divalent and monovalent ions . Highest activation of Taz1 phosphorylation was observed with CaCl2, and its stimulation could be observed with as low as 60 microM of CaCl2 . Phosphorylated Taz1 could readily donate its phosphate group to OmpR in the presence of calcium . CaCl2 was also able to enhance phosphorylation of intact membrane-bound EnvZ and a cytoplasmic fragment of EnvZ lacking the receptor and transmembrane domains . These results indicate that the site for CaCl2 stimulation is within the cytoplasmic region of EnvZ and probably involves an enhanced rate of EnvZ phosphorylation. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Apr 15, 63(2-3), 141 - 6 Detection and identification of substituted phenols as intermediates of concurrent bacterial degradation of the phenoxy herbicides MCPP and 2,4-D; Oh KH et al.; The concurrent bacterial degradation of 2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)propionic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was studied using a stirred tank reactor and a bacterial culture which had been originally derived by enrichment with MCPP . High pressure liquid chromatographic methodology was used to measure both herbicides and it also resolved the corresponding phenols as intermediates, i.e., 2-methyl-4-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol . Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to verify the intermediates . UV scans of spent cultures showed that the wave-length of maximum absorption shifted from 282 nm to 280 nm toward the end of incubation, but the characteristic peaks of maximum absorption of these compounds could not be used resolved because of the overlap. J Biol Chem, 1991 Apr 15, 266(11), 6888 - 93 Identification of the site of autophosphorylation of the bacterial protein kinase/phosphatase NRII; Ninfa AJ et al.; Previous studies have established that the Escherichia coli protein kinase/phosphatase nitrogen regulator II (NRII also known as NtrB) becomes autophosphorylated on a histidine residue when incubated with ATP . We show that the major site at which NRII was autophosphorylated was contained within a peptide consisting of amino acid residues 136-142 of NRII, and thus probably corresponds to His-139 . A minor site of phosphorylation, accounting for about 2% of the phosphate in NRII-P, was found in a peptide that corresponds to residues 158-169. FEBS Lett, 1991 Apr 9, 281(1-2), 245 - 9 Phytochromes and bacterial sensor proteins are related by structural and functional homologies . Hypothesis on phytochrome-mediated signal-transduction; Schneider-Poetsch HA et al.; Phytochrome and bacterial sensor proteins are related by functional and structural homologies . They are both sensors of environmental stimuli and share structural homologies which comprise a domain of about 250 amino acids (about 28 kg.mol-1) . This domain is C-terminal in phytochromes and in several bacterial sensor proteins . In both groups of sensors this domain undergoes conformational changes which are caused by the N-terminal part sensing the stimulus . In the case of bacterial sensors, the conformational alteration is, regulated by additional proteins, conferred to a corresponding regulator protein which then acts on transcription . The coincidences between the two groups of sensors are striking enough to assume phytochrome to transduce signals in a way comparable to the bacterial two-component systems. Postgrad Med J, 1991 Apr, 67(786), 377 - 9 Recurrent bacterial meningitis occurring five years after closed head injury and caused by an intranasal post-traumatic meningo-encephalocele; Giunta G et al.; A case of atypical presentation of a post-traumatic intranasal meningo-encephalocele is described in a patient with a history of recurrent bacterial meningitis occurring 5 years after closed head injury . The usefulness of the CT and MRI findings in diagnostic evaluation of this lesion is emphasized. J Prosthet Dent, 1991 Apr, 65(4), 496 - 9 Bacterial contamination in irreversible hydrocolloid impression material and gingival retraction cord; Rice CD et al.; This study tested two dental materials in factory-sealed containers for the presence of bacteria that may be a source of infection . Twenty samples of two dental materials found to have contamination in a pilot study were taken from unopened containers using a sterile technique . The samples were inoculated onto chocolate agar plates and into thioglycolate broths with appropriate controls . Plates were examined, colonies were enumerated, Gram stained, and identified . The resulting contamination frequencies were compared for statistical significance using Fisher's exact test . Organisms were isolated from 10% of the negative inoculation control agar plates, while none of the control broths showed contamination . The alginate (irreversible hydrocolloid) showed contamination in 50% of the plates and in 65% of the broths (p less than 0.05) . The retraction cord had a small sample size and yielded organisms on 5% of the sample plates and in 20% of the thioglycolate broths (p greater than 0.05). J Virol Methods, 1991 Apr, 32(1), 109 - 14 Rapid screening for bacterial colonies harbouring tandem hepatitis B virus sequences by an oligonucleotide probe; Tong SP et al.; Transfection of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome requires the cloning of tandem HBV sequences into a plasmid vector, which is usually screened for by restriction enzyme digestion of plasmid minipreparations from at least a dozen bacterial colonies . We describe a simple alternative screening method based on in situ hybridization of bacterial colonies with a {32P}-labelled synthetic oligonucleotide which spans the head-to-tail junction site of two tandem HBV molecules . The accurate detection by the oligoprobe is confirmed by enzymatic digestion. J Pediatr Surg, 1991 Apr, 26(4), 401 - 5; discussion 405-6 Impaired hepatic bacterial clearance is reversed by surgical relief of obstructive jaundice; Katz S et al.; Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants with cholestatic jaundice . Previous studies have shown that biliary obstruction in rats causes a significant decrease in hepatic phagocytosis of viable Escherichia coli . This study tests this hypothesis and further evaluates whether the impaired function of the reticuloendothelial system of the liver (Kupffer cells) can be reversed by the relief of the biliary obstruction . Male Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 140 to 150 g) were placed in three groups . Group I (n = 10) consisted of sham-operated controls . In Group II (n = 30), ligation and division of distal common bile duct (CDL) was performed . Group III (n = 30) underwent choledochoduodenostomy 2 weeks following ligation and division of common bile duct . At 1, 2, and 3 weeks following the operation, 10(9) 35S-radiolabeled viable E coli were injected intravenously via the tail vein . At 10 minutes, bacterial distribution in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs was determined . Tissue samples (50 to 100 mg) from each organ were processed for liquid scintillation counting . The final distribution of bacteria was calculated from the input specific activity (dpm/bacteria) and expressed as the mean percentage of injected viable E coli per gram of tissue and per total organ weight . There was a significant decrease in the trapping of bacteria by the liver's Kupffer cells in rats in group II, at 2 and 3 weeks following CDL (45.0% +/- 14.0% and 15.1% +/- 4.9%, respectively, v controls 75.9% +/- 13.7%; P less than .005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Rev Esp Enferm Dig, 1991 Apr, 79(4), 249 - 53 {Immunological and biochemical factors associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis}; Garcia Reinoso C et al.; A prospective study (June 1988-December 1989) of all patients admitted with ascites due to cirrhosis was undertaken: Biochemical and immunological factors which may have significance in the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were determined . Among 56 patients (44 males and 12 females) SBP developed in 16% of the group . No age differences were found and the etiology of the cirrhosis was mainly alcoholic . Patients with SBP had lower alpha-2 globulin concentrations: 0.43 +/- 0.12 vs . 0.60 +/- 0.18 g/dl (p less than 0.05) and a lower prothrombin time: 41 +/- 13% vs . 69.5 +/- 13 vs . 69.5 +/- 21% (p less than 0.001) . Patients with SBP had also lower ascitic fluid total protein 0.99 +/- 0.4 vs . 1.64 +/- 1.1 g/dl (p less than 0.01) as well as lower alfa-2 globulin: 0.065 +/- 0.012 vs . 0.096 +/- 0.067 g/dl (p less than 0.05); beta globulin, 0.11 +/- 0.047 vs . 0.2 +/- 0.17 g/dl (p less than 0.05); gamma globulin, 0.32 +/- 0.1 vs . 0.52 +/- 0.4 g/dl (p less than 0.05); IgG, 275 +/- 157 vs . 477 +/- 335 g/dl (p less than 0.05); C3, 9.2 +/- 3.2 vs . 17 +/- 13 mg/dl (p less than 0.01) and C4, 2.83 +/- 1.5 vs . 4.66 +/- 3.9 mg/dl (p less than 0.05) than patients without this complication. J Bioenerg Biomembr, 1991 Apr, 23(2), 211 - 25 Bacterial NADH-quinone oxidoreductases; Yagi T; The NADH-quinone oxidoreductases of the bacterial respiratory chain could be divided in two groups depending on whether they bear an energy-coupling site . Those enzymes that bear the coupling site are designated as NADH dehydrogenase 1 (NDH-1) and those that do not as NADH dehydrogenase 2 (NDH-2) . All members of the NDH-1 group analyzed to date are multiple polypeptide enzymes and contain noncovalently bound FMN and iron-sulfur clusters as prosthetic groups . The NADH-ubiquinone-1 reductase activities of NDH-1 are inhibited by rotenone, capsaicin, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide . The NDH-2 enzymes are generally single polypeptides and contain noncovalently bound FAD and no iron-sulfur clusters . The enzymatic activities of the NDH-2 are not affected by the above inhibitors for NDH-1 . Recently, it has been found that both of these types of the NADH-quinone oxidoreductase are present in a single strain of bacteria . The significance of the occurrence of these two types of enzymes in a single organism has been discussed in this review. Hepatology, 1991 Apr, 13(4), 766 - 72 Biliary tract disease in rats with experimental small bowel bacterial overgrowth; Lichtman SN et al.; Small bowel bacterial overgrowth, which develops in surgically created jejunal self-filling blind loops, is associated with hepatic injury in susceptible rat strains . The histological findings are portal tract inflammation and bile duct proliferation and destruction . In this study, evidence of injury to the extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts in susceptible and resistant inbred rats with self-filling blind loops was determined by bile flow rates, histological appearance of cross-sections of bile ducts and cholangiography . Lewis and Wistar rats with self-filling blind loops had thickening of the cross-sectional area of the extrahepatic bile ducts compared with controls and nonsusceptible Buffalo rats (p less than 0.001) . Daily metronidazole therapy significantly reduced thickening of bile ducts in Lewis and Wistar rats with self-filling blind loops . Bile flow was increased in Lewis and Wistar rats with blind loops compared with controls (p less than 0.05) . Cholangiograms of Lewis and Wistar rats with self-filling blind loops demonstrated extrahepatic ductal dilatation and ectasia with irregular, beaded, rapidly tapering and tortuous intrahepatic ducts . Blinded cholangiographical scores of susceptible rat strains with self-filling blind loops were higher (score = 5.9 +/- 2.3) than those of controls (1.2 +/- 0.4), rats with blind loops treated with metronidazole (0.8 +/- 1.3) and nonsusceptible Buffalo rats with blind loops (0.6 +/- 0.9) (p less than 0.01) . Biliary histological and cholangiographical abnormalities found in this rat model resemble features of primary sclerosing cholangitis . This animal model will be useful in exploring mechanisms of the association of hepatobiliary inflammation with intestinal injury and investigating potential therapeutic agents. J Dev Physiol, 1991 Apr, 15(4), 229 - 35 Fever in young lambs: temperature, metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses to a small dose of bacterial pyrogen; Fewell JE et al.; Experiments were done on ten lambs ranging in age from 15 to 25 days to define the temperature, metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses to intravenous administration of a small dose of bacterial pyrogen (SAE) . Administration of SAE but not normal saline produced a short-lived fever of about 0.7 degrees C . The increase in body-core temperature was preceded by a surge in total body oxygen consumption and the onset of shivering which was influenced by behavioral state (ie, shivering was inhibited during active sleep) . The increase in total body oxygen consumption was initially met by an increase in total body oxygen extraction and then by an increase in systemic oxygen delivery . Systemic arterial blood pressure did not change significantly during the febrile response; however, pulmonic arterial blood pressure increased significantly . Thus, our experiments provide new data on oxygen supply and demand during the development of fever and that shivering thermogenesis is inhibited in active sleep following the administration of bacterial pyrogen in young lambs . The influence of active sleep on the overall febrile response, and whether or not there is a shift from shivering thermogenesis to non-shivering thermogenesis remains to be determined. Biochem Cell Biol, 1991 Apr, 69(4), 297 - 302 Sequences of the variable regions of three monoclonal antibodies specific for histidine-containing protein of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system; Steeves T et al.; The variable regions of three monoclonal antibodies, Jel 42, Jel 44, and Jel 324, specific for the histidine-containing protein o