Microbial

Med Trop (Mars), 1988 Apr-Jun, 48(2), 127 - 31
{Malaria in the Republic of Djibouti . Strategy for control using a biological antilarval campaign: indigenous larvivorous fishes (Aphanius dispar) and bacterial toxins}; Louis JP et al.; The authors take stock of the present situation of malaria in the Republic of Djibouti which, after several decades of silence, seems to have been reintroduced at the beginning of the seventies . Actually it is hypo-endemic malaria with Plasmodium falciparum of which the only vector seems to be Anopheles arabiensis, gambiae complex . The specificity of the larvae nests allows a control strategy based on the only treatment of larvae sites by biological control: larvivorous fishes (Aphanius Dispar) and in addition the pin-point use of bacterial toxins as a complementary measure . The first results obtained in the rural zones around the capital are encouraging and permit to envisage the extensions of such a strategy to the whole of the territory of the Republic.

Behring Inst Mitt, 1988 Apr, (82), 35 - 42
Synthesis of human factor XIIIa in bacterial cells; Amann E et al.; The coding sequence for human factor XIIIa (FXIIIa) was introduced into Escherichia coli expression vectors . Bacterial cells transformed with the recombinant plasmids synthesized fusion proteins of the expected molecular weights and the proteins were shown to be immunoreactive with anti-FXIII antibodies . Furthermore, with the help of oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis, we constructed a plasmid which directs the synthesis of the human FXIIIa protein in the unfused form . Sequence determination at the aminoterminus of this protein revealed the identical sequence compared to placental FXIIIa . The protein is expressed intracellularly in a denatured and biologically inactive form . It constitutes approximately 2% of total cellular protein and can easily be purified by standard methods.

J Hosp Infect, 1988 Apr, 11(3), 271 - 7
Assessment of the suitability of food colouring materials as indicators of bacterial contamination of enteral feeds; Anderton A; The suitability of using food colouring materials in enteral feeds as indicators of bacterial contamination was examined . Experiments using Triosorbon, Clinifeed ISO or Vivonex Standard plus amaranth, carmoisine, ponceau 4R, sunset yellow FCF, tartrazine or erythrosine demonstrated that although the change in appearance of coloured feed could be linked with the presence of high numbers of bacteria in the feed, the converse was not always true.

Mol Gen Genet, 1988 Apr, 212(1), 120 - 3
Transformation of Phycomyces with a bacterial gene for kanamycin resistance; Suarez T et al.; Phycomyces protoplasts transformed with a plasmid containing the bacterial gene for kanamycin resistance grow in the presence of G418, a kanamycin analogue . The plasmid also contains a Phycomyces DNA sequence that supports autonomous replication in yeast . We obtained about 250 transformants per microgram DNA or one per 5000 viable protoplasts . The transformant phenotype is retained under selective conditions and lost in the majority of the vegetative spores . Recovered plasmids and Southern analysis indicate that the plasmid probably replicates autonomously in Phycomyces.

Can J Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 34(4), 541 - 6
Use of DNA reassociation in bacterial classification; Grimont PA; The reassociation properties of DNA provide invaluable taxonomic tools . Different methods may give different reassociation values . However, the thermal stability of reassociated DNA strands (a measurement that seems independent of method) is useful in delineating genomic species . Although many phenotypically defined species have been confirmed by DNA reassociation, some medically important genomic species previously had been split into several nomenspecies on the basis of a few characteristics whereas some environmental genomic species had been lumped into unidentifiable aggregates . It might take some time before the nomenclature can be adapted to new taxonomic findings.

Can J Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 34(4), 536 - 40
Bacterial classification: an overview; Krieg NR; Classification of bacteria evolved from limited subjective groupings to general, more objective arrangements based on overall phenotypic similarities . However, classifications based on phenotypic characters lack stability, whereas those based on genetic relatedness tend to be stable . DNA-DNA hybridization has proven to be extremely useful in resolving taxonomic problems at the species level . Broad relationships among bacteria have been identified by comparing ribosomal RNA cistrons; however, many groups based on ribosomal RNA analysis are not easily definable in terms of phenotypic similarities . Unless resolved, these problems could lead to the establishment of two separate classification systems, one phylogenetic and the other practical.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Mar 30, 933(1), 70 - 84
Photoelectric currents across planar bilayer membranes containing bacterial reaction centers: the response under conditions of multiple reaction-center turnovers; Packham NK et al.; The characteristics of the photocurrent response activated by continuous illumination of planar bilayer membranes containing bacterial reaction centers have been resolved by voltage clamp methods . The photocurrent response to a long light pulse consists of an initial spike arising from the fast, quasi-synchronous electron transfer from the reaction center bacteriochlorophyll dimer, BChl2, to the primary quinone QA . This is followed by a slow relaxation of the current to that promoted by secondary, asynchronous multiple electron transfers from the reduced cytochrome c through the reaction centers to the ubiquinone-10 pool . Currents derived from cytochrome c oxidation that occurs when cytochrome c is associated with the reaction center or when limited by diffusional interaction from solution are recognized . Changes of the ionic strength and pH in the aqueous phase, and the clamped membrane potential (+/- 150 mV), affect the electron-transfer rate between cytochrome c and BChl2 . In contrast, the primary light-induced charge separation between BChl2 and QA, or electron transfer between QA on the ubiquinone pool are unaffected . During illumination of reaction center membranes supplemented with cytochrome c and a ubiquinone pool, there is a small but significant steady-state current which is considered to be caused by the re-oxidation of photoreduced quinone by molecular oxygen . In the dark, after illumination of reaction centers supplemented with cytochrome c and a ubiquinone pool, there is a small amount of reverse current resulting from the movement of charges back across the membrane . This reverse current is observed maximally after 400 ms illumination while prolonged illumination diminishes the effect . The source of this current is uncertain, but it is considered to be due to the flux of anionic semiquinone within the membrane profile; this may also be the species that interacts with oxygen giving rise to the steady-state current . It is postulated that when the reaction centers are contained in an alkane-containing phospholipid membrane, in contrast to the in vivo situation, the semiquinone anion formed in the QB site is not tightly bound to the site and can, by exchange-diffusion with the membrane-quinone pool, move away from the site and accumulate in the membrane . However, in the absence, more quantitative work superoxide anion, resulting from O2 interaction with semiquinone of QA, QB or pool cannot be excluded.

Immunobiology, 1988 Mar, 176(4-5), 410 - 22
The effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on high endothelial venules and interdigitating cells in mouse lymph nodes; Twisk AJ et al.; Migration of lymphocytes into lymph nodes is directly controlled by interaction of lymphocytes with the high endothelial venules (HEV), located in T cell-dependent areas of lymph nodes . Little is known about the mechanisms that regulate the activity of the HEV and the specificity of interaction with lymphocytes in various lymphoid organs . It has been suggested that the non-lymphoid interdigitating cells (IDC) play a role in maintaining the integrity of T cell areas . We therefore wished to determine whether the function of the HEV could be influenced by disturbing the integrity of the T cell area . This was assayed in mice by injecting bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the hind footpad . The T cell-dependent areas of mouse popliteal lymph node were studied using immunohistochemistry, and attention was paid to the HEV specificity using short-term in vivo localization assays and in vitro lymphocyte binding assays . After LPS administration, apparent changes in the number of interdigitating cells and T cells in the draining lymph node were found . In addition, interdigitating cells lost their typical dendritic appearance . However, after LPS treatment, neither size, localization nor receptor specificity for lymphocyte subsets of HEV differed from control HEV . Although administered subcutaneously in the footpad, the effect of LPS on T cells and IDC was much more dramatic in the spleen than in the draining lymph nodes . This points to a difference in the processing of the endotoxin in the two organs.

Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi, 1988 Mar, 63(2), 207 - 12
Deferoxamine mesylate inhibits bacterial growth in vivo; Ando Y et al.; Iron is one of the essential element for bacterial growth . To study the effect of chelation of iron on bacterial growth, 17 different strains of bacteria were cultured in chocolate-agar medium in the presence or absence of deferoxamine methylate (DM), a potent chelating agent for iron . A fairly low concentration of DM (10 mg/ml) in the culture medium markedly inhibited the growth rates of the three bacterial strains, B . catarrhalis, N . meningiditis and N . gonorrhoeae . In vivo effect of DM was also tested in mice that were intraperitoneally inoculated with a lethal number of N . meningiditis (2 x 10(8)/animal) . After 40 h of inoculation, more than 90% of the control animals died for acute peritonitis . In contrast, animals which were intraperitoneally administered with DM showed a marked resistance to the inoculated bacteria without showing toxic effects of the agent: less than 30% of animals died of acute peritonitis caused by infection within 40 h . The results suggest that, in addition to the currently used antibiotics . DM might also be an useful therapeutic agent for treatment of bacterial infection.

J Anim Sci, 1988 Mar, 66(3), 758 - 63
Comparison of D-alanine and diaminopimelic acid as bacterial markers in young calves; Quigley JD 3rd et al.; D-alanine (DAL) and diaminopimelic acid (DAP) were compared as markers to estimate proportion of bacterial N in total N reaching the abomasum of young calves . Sixteen Holstein bull calves fed complete pelleted starter or unpelleted starter plus hay and weaned at 4 or 8 wk of age were fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulas and sampled twice weekly from 2 to 11 wk of age . Isolated ruminal bacterial cells contained more DAL than DAP at all weeks and averaged 7.0 and 5.4 mg N/g N, respectively . Weekly mean marker concentrations were highly correlated (.89) in ruminal bacteria, except at 3 wk of age . Concentration of DAL in abomasal digesta was greater than that of DAP at all weeks and averaged 5.2 and 2.4 mg N/g N, respectively . Weekly mean DAL correlated with DAP .61 in abomasal digesta and correlated .57 and .89 with starter intake, respectively . The proportion of bacterial N in total abomasal N was greater at all weeks when estimated by DAL than by DAP and averaged 77% and 46%, respectively . Estimates by DAL exceeded 100% in several cases and reflected large variation in analytical estimates . Estimates by DAL and DAP correlated .33 and .92 with starter intake . D-alanine was not an acceptable bacterial marker in this study.

Pediatr Emerg Care, 1988 Mar, 4(1), 15 - 7
Bacterial meningitis concurrent with salicylism; Singer JI; Repetitive administration of therapeutic salicylate over 72 hours for amelioration of headache produced severe central nervous system manifestations in an adolescent . The simultaneous occurrence of bacterial meningitis was not promptly diagnosed . Treatment directed at correcting fluid and metabolic derangements of salicylism may have contributed to a morbid outcome.

Am Fam Physician, 1988 Mar, 37(3), 223 - 8
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Davenport J; Characteristics that make spontaneous bacterial peritonitis clinically noteworthy are its increasing prevalence, its tendency to present with few reliable clinical signs and its high mortality rate . Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis almost always occurs in the presence of ascites, and analysis of ascitic fluid is essential for diagnosis.

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 1988 Mar, 18(2), 365 - 74
Tropical fish medicine . Bacterial culture and evaluation of diseases of fish; de Guzman E et al.; Bacteria are ubiquitous in nature . Fish are constantly exposed to bacteria, and usually only succumb to an infection after having been exposed to prolonged periods of stress . Before making a diagnosis of a bacterial disease, it is necessary to eliminate the possibility of environmental or parasitic problems . Environmental factors may act as stressors and can predispose a fish to bacterial disease while affecting the fish simultaneously . Clinical signs caused by the various bacterial pathogens are very similar . Therefore, to make a definitive bacterial diagnosis, it is necessary to culture and identify the organisms involved.

Comput Methods Programs Biomed, 1988 Mar-Apr, 26(2), 145 - 52
BACTID: a microcomputer implementation of a PASCAL program for bacterial identification based on Bayesean probability; Jilly BJ; A computer program (BACTID) is described which enables the identification of bacteria based on a priori data and Bayesean probability testing . The program is not limited to a specific format, has a short execution time, can be easily applied to a variety of situations, and can be run on almost any microcomputer system operating under either 8-bit CP/M or 16-bit MS-DOS or PC-DOS . Additionally, BACTID is not limited to one type of computer (hardware independent); is not limited by size of the computer's random access memory (RAM independent); can recognize various database matrices (format independent); is able to compensate for missing data; and allows for various methods of data entry . The efficacy of the program was checked against a commercially available test system and a 99.34% agreement was obtained . Also, the execution time for a 46 x 21 data matrix was as little as 3.5 seconds . These results show that microcomputer identification programs not only are viable alternatives to code-book registers, but also offer flexibility which is not found in commercial systems.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Mar, 170(3), 1092 - 102
Control of bacterial alkaline phosphatase synthesis and variation in an Escherichia coli K-12 phoR mutant by adenyl cyclase, the cyclic AMP receptor protein, and the phoM operon; Wanner BL et al.; Mutant phoR cells show a clonal variation phenotype with respect to bacterial alkaline phosphatase (BAP) synthesis . BAP clonal variation is characterized by an alternation between a Bap+ and Bap- phenotype . The switching is regulated by the phoM operon and the presence of glucose; the pho-510 mutant form of the phoM operon abolishes both BAP clonal variation and the effect of glucose (B.L . Wanner, J . Bacteriol . 169:900-903, 1987) . In this paper we show that a mutation of the adenyl cyclase (cya) and the cyclic AMP receptor protein (crp) gene also abolish BAP clonal variation; either simultaneously reduces the amount of BAP made in phoR mutants . Also, the pho-510 mutation is epistatic; it increases BAP synthesis in delta cya phoR and delta crp phoR mutants . These data are consistent with the wild-type phoM operon having a negative, as well as a positive, regulatory role in gene expression . Furthermore, the data suggest that adenyl cyclase and Crp indirectly regulate BAP synthesis in a phoR mutant via an interaction with the phoM operon or its gene products . However, phoM operon expression was unaffected when tested with phoM operon lacZ transcriptional fusions . In addition, the switching Bap phenotype was not associated with an alternation in phoM operon expression.

Microbiol Sci, 1988 Mar, 5(3), 88 - 91
Genetic analysis of bacterial cell division; Lutkenhaus J; A relatively small number of cell division genes have been identified in Escherichia coli . The available evidence, however, suggests that several of these genes play a crucial role in the process.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1988 Mar, (3), 19 - 24
{Physical mapping of the plasmid R205 and identification of a site responsible for increased UV-induced mutability of the bacterial host}; Kalinina NA et al.; A physical map of the conjugative IncN plasmid R205 (56.1 kb) was constructed . The distribution of cleavage sites for investigated restriction enzymes is asymmetric . It was found that R205 suppresses the mutant phenotype of E . coli K12 umuC or umuD strains deficient in UV-induced mutagenesis . A mini-derivative of R205, designated pMU4 (15.1 kb) preserves the ability of the parent plasmid to increase the survival and induced mutagenesis of UV-irradiated host cells . A region of R205 located between 0 and 2.0 kb-on the plasmid map seems to contain information necessary for complementation of mutation in the host genes umuD/C, Hybridization between this region of pMU4 and plasmid pGW1700 bearing mucAB genes of pKM101 was observed.

Mol Gen Genet, 1988 Mar, 211(3), 538 - 40
A dominant mutation in Escherichia coli OmpR lies within a domain which is highly conserved in a large family of bacterial regulatory proteins; Ikenaka K et al.; We have fortuitously created an in-frame insertion mutation in the cloned ompR gene of Escherichia coli in the course of an experiment involving linker insertion mutagenesis . According to the DNA sequence, the mutant protein has an insertion at the 53rd amino acid residue, which replaced the original valine, with the sequence Ala-Leu-Glu . The expression level of the mutant protein, OmpRX6, in a minicell system, is similar to that of the wild-type protein and the size of the mutant is slightly larger than the wild type by approximately 300 daltons . This mutant was completely unable to activate porin expression as the wildtype does, and in addition, this phenotype was shown to be dominant over the wild type . Comparison of the amino acid sequence of OmpRX6 with those of a family of homologous bacterial regulatory proteins revealed that the mutation lies in a domain which is highly conserved among these proteins.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Mar, (3), 69 - 71
{Specific reaction of neutrophils to bacterial chemoattractants}; Dolgushin II et al.; The influence of bacteria and supernatants, obtained from the cultures of neutrophils preincubated with these bacteria, on the chemotaxis of neutrophils has been studied . Neutrophils preincubated with bacteria acquire the capacity for specific chemotactic deactivation in response to the contact with the culture of the same bacteria . During the phagocytosis of bacteria neutrophils secrete factors selectively attracting only those neutrophils which have been activated by bacteria of the same species.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1988 Feb 15, 113(4), 204 - 6
{Bacterial count of milk, pin-points and udder health in dairying herds}; Vellinga O et al.; The pin-point colonies in bacterial counts of bulk milk were examined for the causative agents of mastitis . Udder health in herds showing unduly high bacterial counts as a result of pin-points was found to be reduced . There was no relationship between the organism isolated from the pin-points and the most important udder pathogen in the herd . The dairy farmers should be informed of the presence of pin-points when the bacterial counts are too high because of their presence.

J Biol Chem, 1988 Feb 15, 263(5), 2532 - 5
Bacterial synthesis of active rat stearyl-CoA desaturase lacking the 26-residue amino-terminal amino acid sequence; Strittmatter P et al.; Two clones containing inserts in pBR322 that together include the entire 1074-base open reading frame coding for the 358 amino acids of rat liver stearyl-CoA desaturase have been used to construct expression vectors for residues 3-358 and 27-358 fused to the first 6 residues of beta-galactosidase and several amino acids of the multiple cloning site of pUC8 . Growth of transformed Escherichia coli under conditions for suppression of the lac promoter, followed by subsequent induction of these cultures results in the synthesis of higher levels of desaturase proteins than those found in induced rat liver . The proteins are almost completely associated with the membrane fraction of cell homogenates . Posttranslational iron insertion into the apoproteins, either in vitro with membrane preparations or by iron addition during induction, results in the formation of active holoenzyme which can be reconstituted with NADH cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 to form an active stearyl-CoA desaturase system . The deletion of the first 26 amino-terminal amino acid residues does not affect either enzyme activity or membrane binding . Therefore, the unusual sequence of 11 residues containing 10 amino acids with hydroxyl groups plays no apparent significant role in either protein insertion into membranes or iron chelation . Since the protein product for residues 3-358 is processed even further to delete the initial 33 amino-terminal residues, the limiting polypeptide primary structure required for an active membrane-bound catalyst is even smaller than this initial deletion mutation indicates.

FEBS Lett, 1988 Feb 8, 228(1), 172 - 4
Limited proteolysis of actin by a specific bacterial protease; Khaitlina SYu et al.; A 36 kDa fragment of rabbit skeletal muscle actin resistant to further proteolytic breakdown was obtained with a new bacterial protease . This fragment was the only cleavage product obtained from native actin whereas proteolysis of heat-inactivated actin was unlimited . The 36 kDa fragment failed to polymerize and to inhibit DNase I activity . Binding to DNase I protects actin against proteolysis by protease . The results on actin proteolysis by different proteases are compared.

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 1988 Feb, 15(1), 79 - 86
Audiological management in the recovery phase of bacterial meningitis; Smyth V et al.; During a specified 12-month period, a prospective study of all children admitted to a 139-bed city children's hospital with confirmed bacterial meningitis enabled assessment audiologically at 48 h, 6 weeks and 12 weeks post-admission using a test battery approach including auditory brainstem evoked responses and tympanometry . Results suggested conductive dysfunction to be a major cause of fluctuating hearing loss within the group . The incidence of sensori-neural loss was 16.6% of ears tested at final outcome . Results are discussed with reference to their implications for audiological management.

Dan Med Bull, 1988 Feb, 35(1), 92 - 5
Neurological sequelae and fatality as prognostic measures in 875 cases of bacterial meningitis; Bohr VA et al.; Based on a review of medical records, we have analysed the outcome after bacterial meningitis among 875 patients admitted during the period 1966-1976 . The outcome was evaluated not only by fatality during admission or within 4 weeks after discharge, but also by neurological sequelae at the time of discharge . These two types of outcome were determined and compared in subgroups of patients categorised according to a number of features of prognostic significance . This has allowed us to quantify the clinical conditions and features with regard to the severity of the prognosis . In most subgroups of patients, the frequencies of fatality and sequelae followed the same patterns: High frequencies were associated with pneumococcal meningitis, rare bacterial aetiologies, increasing age, affected consciousness on admission, pneumonia on admission, convulsions during admission, and respiratory problems during admission . For some prognostic features, a correlation could be established with high sequelae rates, but not with high fatality rates . This was the case with increased duration of disease symptoms before admission, with alcoholism and with previous head trauma . Thus, this correlation revealed the importance of early hospitalisation . We find that the analysis of sequelae not only supports, but also adds important prognostic information to the results obtained by an analysis of fatality itself in this large retrospective clinical study.

J Clin Invest, 1988 Feb, 81(2), 601 - 5
Low density lipoproteins transfer bacterial lipopolysaccharides across endothelial monolayers in a biologically active form; Navab M et al.; Rabbit aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were grown on micropore filters in a device that allowed in situ determination of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) . Incubation of confluent RAEC monolayers with 2 ng.ml-1 of bacterial LPS for 3 h did not change the protein content or the number of cells on the filters, but resulted in a marked decline in TEER (from 14.1 +/- 0.9 to 5.1 +/- 0.6 omega.cm2) and a significant increase in LDL transport across the monolayers (from 154 +/- 13 to 456 +/- 41 ng . h-1 per cm2) . In contrast, exposure of RAEC monolayers for 3 d to as much as 5 micrograms.ml-1 of LPS complexed to LDL (LPS-LDL) did not alter the TEER or LDL transport . LPS-LDL was transported across the monolayers at the same rate as LDL . While microgram quantities of LPS complexed to LDL did not disrupt the integrity of the endothelial monolayer, incubation of RAECs with transported LPS-LDL at concentrations of 25-100 ng LPS.ml-1 resulted in a two- to ninefold increase in the secretion of monocyte chemotactic activity by these cells . Incubation of rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells with transported LPS-LDL at concentrations of 25-100 ng LPS.ml-1 resulted in a two- to threefold increase in the secretion of monocyte chemotactic activity . We propose that LDL protects endothelial cells from the acute toxicity of LPS but the resulting complexes are transported across the endothelium in a biologically active form that can initiate an inflammatory response.

J Hepatol, 1988 Feb, 6(1), 80 - 4
Low C3 in cirrhotic ascites predisposes to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Such J et al.; The risk of developing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in relation to the concentration of C3 in ascitic fluid (AF) has been studied prospectively in 33 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, seven of whom had one or more episodes of SBP during hospitalization . C3 concentrations in the AF of patients who developed infection (9.0 +/- 2.67 mg/dl) were significantly lower than in those who did not (18.26 +/- 8.11 mg/dl) (P less than 0.01) . C4 concentrations were similar in both groups . A direct correlation was found between AF C3 and total protein concentrations (P less than 0.001) . We conclude that a low C3 concentration in AF may predispose to SBP.

FASEB J, 1988 Feb, 2(2), 124 - 30
Molecular basis of bacterial resistance to organomercurial and inorganic mercuric salts; Walsh CT et al.; Bacteria mediate resistance to organomercurial and inorganic mercuric salts by metabolic conversion to nontoxic elemental mercury, Hg(0) . The genes responsible for mercury resistance are organized in the mer operon, and such operons are often found in plasmids that also bear drug resistance determinants . We have subcloned three of these mer genes, merR, merB, and merA, and have studied their protein products via protein overproduction and purification, and structural and functional characterization . MeR is a metalloregulatory DNA-binding protein that acts as a repressor of both its own and structural gene transcription in the absence of Hg(II); in addition it acts as a positive effector of structural gene transcription when Hg(II) is present . MerB, organomercury lyase, catalyzes the protonolytic fragmentation of organomercurials to the parent hydrocarbon and Hg(II) by an apparent SE2 mechanism . MerA, mercuric ion reductase, is an FAD-containing and redox-active disulfide-containing enzyme with homology to glutathione reductase . It has evolved the unique catalytic capacity to reduce Hg(II) to Hg(0) and thereby complete the detoxification scheme.

Pediatr Clin North Am, 1988 Feb, 35(1), 69 - 87
Bacterial gastroenteritis; Bishop WP et al.; Acute diarrhea is a major cause of childhood morbidity . Important advances in the understanding of bacterial gastroenteritis have been made in the past two decades . This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and methods of diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis . Bacterial enteric pathogens common to North America are discussed in more detail.

Eur J Clin Invest, 1988 Feb, 18(1), 87 - 91
Tamm Horsfall glycoprotein interferes with bacterial adherence to human kidney cells; Dulawa J et al.; The effect of Tamm Horsfall protein (THP) of 18 healthy subjects and 14 diabetics on adherence of Escherichia coli (06:K13) 2699 strain to human kidney cells (HUK) was studied . Adhesion of bacteria (without additions: 100 bacteria per cell) was reduced dose-dependently by THP, half maximal inhibition occurring with 250 micrograms THP ml-1 . Maximal inhibition (-84% at 1000 micrograms ml-1) exceeded inhibition by alpha-methyl-mannoside (36% at 50 mM), was specific (not reproduced by other glycoproteins, e.g . ovalbumin, mucin or thyroglobulin) and reversible (abolished by washing THP off HUK cells) . Anti-adherence property of THP was not abolished by neuraminidase treatment . No significant difference of anti-adherence activity of THP was found between controls and diabetics, despite altered carbohydrate composition of THP in diabetes.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Feb, 170(2), 834 - 41
Characterization of the bacterial magnetosome membrane; Gorby YA et al.; Intact magnetosomes of Aquaspirillum magnetotacticum were purified from broken cells by a magnetic separation technique . Electron microscopic and chemical analyses revealed the magnetite to be enclosed by a lipid bilayer admixed with proteins . Lipids were recovered in fractions expected to contain (i) neutral lipids and free fatty acids, (ii) glycolipids and sulfolipids, and (iii) phospholipids (in a weight ratio of 1:4:6) . Phospholipids included phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine . Two of the numerous proteins detected in the magnetosome membrane were not found in other cell membranes or soluble fractions.

Science, 1988 Jan 15, 239(4837), 276 - 8
Bacterial motility: membrane topology of the Escherichia coli MotB protein; Chun SY et al.; The MotB protein of Escherichia coli is an essential component of the force generators that couple proton movement across the cytoplasmic membrane to rotation of the flagellar motors . The membrane topology of MotB was examined to explore the possibility that it might form a proton channel . MotB--alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins were constructed to identify likely periplasmic domains of the MotB molecule . Fusions distal to a putative membrane-spanning segment near the amino terminus of MotB exhibited alkaline phosphatase activity, indicating that an extensive carboxyl-terminal portion of MotB may be located on the periplasmic side of the membrane . Protease treatment of MotB in spheroplasts confirmed this view . The simple transmembrane organization of MotB is difficult to reconcile with a role as a proton conductor.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1988 Jan, 38(1), 111 - 5
Enhanced lymphocyte stimulation by bacterial lysates after treatment of probands; Petzl-Erler ML et al.; The proliferative response of lymphocyte cultures upon the addition of a mixture of antigens from the lysates of different bacteria (Paspat) to the culture medium was investigated using lymphocytes of groups of probands that investigated using lymphocytes of groups of probands that had been treated with the i.c . test preparation (T.P.1, group I), the lyophilized test preparation given orally (T.P.2, group II), a commercially available lyophilized bacterial lysate of similar composition given orally (T.P.3, group III), or with placebo (group IV) . Lymphocyte cultures were set up on day 0 (before treatment), day 40 and day 70 (after treatment) . The results show, that T.P.1 and T.P.2 produce a dose dependent proliferative response in lymphocyte cultures with a peak reactivity between 70 and 210 micrograms/ml . The degree of stimulation obtained with the bacterial lysate in different concentrations is increased in groups I and II over the stimulation obtained before treatment . Groups I and II which were treated with T.P.1 (i.c.) and T.P.2 (orally) are significantly different in their response to the bacterial lysate from the groups treated with T.P.3 or placebo on days 40 and 70 . Evidence is presented that the stimulation obtained is predominantly a proliferation of T-cells.

Biophys J, 1988 Jan, 53(1), 53 - 65
Torque and rotation rate of the bacterial flagellar motor; Lauger P; This paper describes an analysis of microscopic models for the coupling between ion flow and rotation of bacterial flagella . In model I it is assumed that intersecting half-channels exist on the rotor and the stator and that the driving ion is constrained to move together with the intersection site . Model II is based on the assumption that ion flow drives a cycle of conformational transitions in a channel-like stator subunit that are coupled to the motion of the rotor . Analysis of both mechanisms yields closed expressions relating the torque M generated by the flagellar motor to the rotation rate v . Model I (and also, under certain assumptions, model II) accounts for the experimentally observed linear relationship between M and v . The theoretical equations lead to predictions on the relationship between rotation rate and driving force which can be tested experimentally.

Folia Biol (Praha), 1988, 34(2), 72 - 83
Polyclonal B cell anergy induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and cyclophosphamide; Fontalin LN et al.; Tolerogenic treatment of mice by successive injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E . coli or S . marcescens and cyclophosphamide (CY) decreased both the specific and polyclonal responses to tolerogen and to irrelevant LPS from Br . abortus as well as the specific immune response to sheep red blood cells . Splenocytes of tolerant mice were unresponsive to polyclonal challenge when transferred to irradiated syngeneic recipients . Spleen cells or blood serum from tolerant mice did not suppress the polyclonal response of intact mice to LPS . Possible reasons for the polyclonal B cell anergy were analyzed.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(2), 137 - 9
Cultivation on cellophane agar as a method for the assay of bacterial enzymes; Vrany B et al.; Production of bacterial enzymes in a liquid medium and on cellophane-agar plates is compared . Using neutral proteinase, urease, alpha-amylase and thiosulfate sulfurtransferase as examples it was demonstrated that the cultivation on cellophane-agar plates yields higher concentrations of the enzymes and that the enzyme production is detected in a higher number of cultures . The method might be useful for the characterization of bacterial communities.

Gene, 1988, 62(2), 197 - 207
Nucleotide sequences of the Escherichia coli nagE and nagB genes: the structural genes for the N-acetylglucosamine transport protein of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system and for glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase; Rogers MJ et al.; The genes coding for the enzymes of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) uptake and metabolism (nagA, nagB, and nagE) are located next to glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase gene (glnS) in the Escherichia coli genome . We determined the nucleotide sequence of the nagE (ptsN) gene, encoding the GlcNAc-specific enzyme II (NagE) of the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system, and the sequence of the putative nagB gene, for glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase . S1 mapping identified the mRNA transcript for nagE, indicating that nagE might be a sole constituent of the nagE operon, and divergent transcripts which are probably of the nagB, nagA genes . An evaluation of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of NagE shows characteristics of a membrane protein . Also, NagE shows homologies to lactose permease and to the glucose-specific transport protein (enzyme IIGlc), and the glucose-specific phosphoryl carrier protein (enzyme IIIGlc) . The latter two homologies are particularly interesting since no enzyme III-like protein for GlcNAc transport has been reported and enzyme IINag is of similar size as the combined enzymes IIGlc plus IIIGlc . This supports the idea that these two transport and phosphorylation systems may have evolved from a common ancestral gene.

Int J Biochem, 1988, 20(4), 371 - 4
Expression of the mouse lactate dehydrogenase-A promoter fused with the bacterial gpt gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells; Hou EW et al.; The promoter region of the cloned mouse lactate dehydrogenase-A gene was fused with the gpt gene of Escherichia coli, and this fusion gene was shown to express in Chinese hamster ovary cells . This result demonstrates that the cloned LDH-A promoter is indeed functional.

Bull Cancer, 1988, 75(2), 147 - 66
{Mutagenesis and responses induced by DNA damage in Escherichia coli: principle of bacterial tests for detecting carcinogenic or antitumoral substances}; Moreau PL; Various bacterial tests are used for the detection of potential carcinogenic or antitumoral agents . These so-called short-term tests measure different processes triggered by DNA damage: mutagenesis ("Mutatest"), induction of genes that belong to the recA-lexA regulon ("Umu-test" and "SOS-chromotest"), and induction of provirus ("Inductest") . Although these tests share common properties, each exhibits characteristic properties which are revealed by analyzing the various DNA repair mechanisms brought about in E . coli.

Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1988 Jan, 192(1), 40 - 3
{Bacterial flora of the eyelids following preoperative disinfection}; Behrens-Baumann W et al.; After careful preoperative disinfection of the periorbita, the eye, and the lids, cultures were taken from the upper and lower lash bases of 100 patients waiting for intraocular operations . Despite the careful disinfection 36% of the cultures from the upper and 48% of those from the lower lash bases were positive . A method of covering the lids adequately with adhesive material is recommended as a means of avoiding this potential source of infection.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1988 Jan, 137(1), 100 - 5
Mediators of pulmonary injury induced by inhalation of bacterial endotoxin; Burrell R et al.; The purpose of this study has been to further define the pathophysiologic aspects of lung injury caused by the inhalation of endotoxin (LPS) using the morphometric approach to identify mediators that influence distal lung structure and function . Hamsters were divided into 3 groups 24 h prior to low dose LPS inhalation exposure (4 micrograms/m3 for 5 h): (1) pretreated with cobra venom factor to deplete complement in vivo, (2) pretreated with indomethacin to block prostaglandin production, and (3) untreated control group . Both pretreatments abolished LPS-induced decreases in lung volume as well as increases in capillary PMN and platelets seen in untreated control animals . Neither pretreatment had any effect on the LPS-induced decreases of other capillary leukocytes . Similarly, both methods of pretreatment failed to block increases in cellular interstitium of distal capillary septa induced with LPS alone . LPS provoked changes in capillary endothelium, especially seen as an increase in numerical density of endothelial pinocytotic vesicles . Decomplementation failed to alter this increase, but indomethacin pretreatment blocked the effect . Neither treatment had any effect on their size . Low dose LPS inhalation also altered pulmonary capillary permeability to a 125I-BSA probe, which was found in significantly greater amounts in LPS-exposed lungs than in those of saline aerosol control lungs, but was not present in the air space as evidenced by negligible counts in bronchoalveolar lavages . It is evident that endotoxin on the epithelial side of the air-blood barrier leads to changes on the other side of that barrier.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Am J Physiol, 1988 Jan, 254(1 Pt 1), E16 - 22
Adrenergic blockade does not abolish elevated glucose turnover during bacterial infection; Hargrove DM et al.; Infusions of adrenergic antagonists were used to investigate the role of catecholamines in infection-induced elevations of glucose kinetics . Infection was produced in conscious catheterized rats by repeated subcutaneous injections of live Escherichia coli over 24 h . Glucose kinetics were measured by the constant intravenous infusion of {6-3H}- and {U-14C}glucose . Compared with noninfected rats, infected animals were hyperthermic (+1.4 degrees C) and showed increased rates of glucose appearance (45%), clearance (43%), and recycling (140%) as well as mild hyperlacticacidemia . Plasma catecholamine concentrations were increased by 50-70% in the infected rats, but there were no differences in plasma glucagon, corticosterone, and insulin levels . Adrenergic blockade was produced by primed constant infusion of both propranolol (beta-blocker) and phentolamine (alpha-blocker) . A 2-h administration of adrenergic antagonists did not attenuate the elevated glucose kinetics or plasma lactate concentration in the infected rats, although it abolished the hyperthermia . In a second experiment, animals were infused with propranolol and phentolamine beginning 1 h before the first injection of E . coli and throughout the course of infection . Continuous adrenergic blockade failed to attenuate infection-induced elevations in glucose kinetics and plasma lactate . These results indicate that the adrenergic system does not mediate the elevated glucose metabolism observed in this mild model of infection.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1988 Jan, 11(1), 36 - 42
Acute focal bacterial nephritis; Nosher JL et al.; Clinical and radiographic characteristics of 12 patients with acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) are presented along with review of the literature . Most patients presented with symptoms of an inflammatory or infectious process . Fever and pyuria were the most frequently encountered clinical characteristics . Imaging modalities that were used to establish a definitive diagnosis of focal bacterial nephritis included ultrasound, computed tomography, and intravenous urography with nephrotomography . Ultrasound was found to be the most effective and least costly method of diagnosis . Misdiagnosis of AFBN as abscess or tumor, which it may stimulate, could lead to inappropriate surgical therapy.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jan, 170(1), 446 - 8
ATP-liganded form of aspartate transcarbamoylase, the logical regulatory target for allosteric control in divergent bacterial systems; Wild JR et al.; In Escherichia coli, the mechanism for regulatory control of aspartate transcarbamoylase is clear; CTP allosterically inhibits catalysis in direct competition with ATP . However, both CTP and ATP may be activators or may have no effect on aspartate transcarbamoylases from other enteric bacteria . A common regulatory logic observed was that the ATP-activated enzymes were rendered less active as the result of competition with CTP, regardless of the independent effects.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jan, 170(1), 359 - 64
Bacterial catalysis of nitrosation: involvement of the nar operon of Escherichia coli; Ralt D et al.; We have developed a rapid and sensitive fluorimetric method, based on the formation of a fluorescent product from nitrosation of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene, for measuring the ability of bacteria to catalyze nitrosation of amines . We have shown in Escherichia coli that nitrosation can be induced under anaerobic conditions by nitrite and nitrate, that formate is the most efficient electron donor for this reaction, and that nitrosation may be catalyzed by nitrate reductase (EC 1.7.99.4) . The narG mutants defective in nitrate reductase do not catalyze nitrosation, and the fnr gene is essential for nitrosation . Induction by nitrite or nitrate of nitrosation, N2O production, and nitrate reductase activity all require the narL gene.

Acta Stomatol Croat, 1988, 22(3), 169 - 75
{Scanning electron microscope study of early bacterial penetration of human enamel in initial caries}; Stanicic T et al.; Bacterial penetration of enamel during initial manifestations of the carious process was studied in intact buccal enamel of 8 impacted third permanent molars . After cleaning them from organic plaque, each buccal plane was cut into five segments, one of them serving as a control specimen and the other four being fixed into slots on partial prostheses of our volunteers . The specimens were left in oral cavity for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, where they were exposed to the action of cariogenic factors . After removal of the organic plaque, the specimens were broken in two and the bacterial penetration into enamel was observed on the fractured cross-section using scanning electron microscope . In 4 specimens from the group orally exposed during a 7-day period, individual coccoid or bacilliform bacteria were found to have penetrated 5-10 microns deep . The number of bacteria and the depth of their penetration into enamel increased with the duration of oral exposition . Among the specimens orally exposed during 28 days, bacteria were observed to be present both individually and in colonies, penetrating to the depth of 60-90 microns . These bacteria could quite easily communicate with saliva and plaque via the pore system, which allowed them to produce metabolites, including lactic acids . This, in turn, allowed them to penetrate through the enamel, thus altering both the course and rate of the carious process progression.

J Mol Cell Immunol, 1988, 4(1), 9 - 19
Regulation of B-cell differentiation: anti-mu antibodies have opposite effects on differentiation stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and 8-mercaptoguanosine; Rollins-Smith LA et al.; The mechanisms by which proliferation and differentiation are independently regulated are among the most interesting and complex problems in cell biology . Polyclonal activation of mouse B cells by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has served as a useful model for study of these phenomena . Treatment of LPS-stimulated cells with high concentrations of bivalent antibodies to the IgM receptor uncouples these normally linked processes, enhancing proliferation while suppressing differentiation . A consensus summary of recent results from several laboratories suggests that modulation of the IgM receptor greatly reduces mRNA levels for mu and k chains, primarily by blocking the increased rate of transcription usually triggered by LPS . The expression of other differentiation-linked proteins, for example J chain and endogenous retroviral proteins, is similarly downregulated . Basal transcription of the mu-delta complex and other constitutively expressed genes, such as Class I and Class II MHC genes, is not affected . Both suppression of differentiation and enhancement of proliferation in this system depend upon the simultaneous presence of anti-mu and LPS--cells treated with saturating concentrations of anti-mu, washed, and then cultured in LPS are not suppressed, while cells pulsed briefly with both agents before culture with LPS are suppressed . These observations have led us to examine interactions of anti-mu antibody with another potent polyclonal B cell activator, 8-mercaptoguanosine (8SGuo) . In this report, we show that anti-mu antibodies have polar effects on B-cell differentiation induced by 8SGuo and LPS . Differentiation induced by the former is strongly enhanced, while that induced by the latter is suppressed . The signal induced by co-stimulation with LPS and anti-mu is dominant, as suppression occurs when LPS is added to cells stimulated with 8SGuo and anti-mu at initiation or as late as 48 hours of a 96-hour culture . We present preliminary evidence that augmented B-cell differentiation caused by combined stimulation with 8SGuo and anti-mu is dependent upon a soluble factor released during the first 24 hours of culture . These results provide additional evidence that suppression of LPS-driven B-cell differentiation is an active process, probably mediated by a trans-acting repressor of transcription . The mechanisms by which 8SGuo and anti-mu interact to enhance B-cell differentiation remain to be determined.

Blood Purif, 1988, 6(3), 188 - 206
Structural requirements of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides and bacterial cell walls in induction of interleukin-1; Takahashi I et al.; A variety of compounds, synthetic, semisynthetic or bacterial, which corresponds to structural components of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans were studied for their activity to enhance interleukin-1 (IL-1) production of murine peritoneal macrophages and the ability to activate the complement cascade in fresh adult human serum . Not only bacterial LPS and cell walls or peptidoglycans but also their structural components with appropriate size and structure induced IL-1 production by macrophages and activated the human complement cascade, which may lead to the IL-1 production by monocytes/macrophages.

Hepatology, 1988 Jan-Feb, 8(1), 27 - 31
Recurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis: frequency and predictive factors; Tito L et al.; We investigated whether spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis is a recurrent process and attempted to identify possible predictors of recurrence in 75 consecutive cirrhotics who had recovered from a first episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis between January, 1981 and December, 1984 and who were followed closely throughout their illness (follow-up period 10 +/- 13 months; mean +/- S.D.) . Thirty-eight patients (51%) developed one or more episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis during follow-up, the probability of recurrence (Kaplan-Meier's method) being 43% at 6 months, 69% at 1 year and 74% at 2 years . Twenty-three variables (age, sex, etiology of cirrhosis, standard liver and renal function tests and characteristics of the first spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) were analyzed as possible predictors of recurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . In univariate analysis (curves of Kaplan-Meier compared with Mantel-Cox's method), serum bilirubin greater than 4 mg per dl, prothrombin less than or equal to 45% and protein concentration in ascitic fluid less than or equal to 1 gm per dl were significantly (p less than 0.05) associated with a high risk or recurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . In multivariate analysis (Cox multiple regression model), only ascitic fluid protein concentration (p = 0.005) and prothrombin activity (p = 0.009) were found to be independent predictors of recurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . Fifty-nine patients (79%) died during follow-up, 18 of them (31%) secondary to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . The 1-year survival probability in the whole series of patients was 38%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Eye, 1988, 2 ( Pt 5), 517 - 22
Arborescent bacterial keratopathy (infectious crystalline keratopathy); Watson AP et al.; Bacterial colonisation of the cornea is described in two cases, one bilateral . Discreet, white, branching opacities are produced without associated inflammation . It is suggested that due to its aetiology "arborescent bacterial keratopathy" is a better name for this condition than "infectious crystalline keratopathy".

Reprod Nutr Dev, 1988, 28 Suppl 1, 117 - 8
{Relative contribution of rumen bacteria, free and fixed to particles, on bacterial flow into the duodenum in the dairy cow}; Legay-Carmier F et al.; Mean duodenal flow of bacterial DM (5130 +/- 358 g/d) represented 60% of total duodenal DM flow in dairy cows fed hay and concentrate (50/50) . Contribution of solid-adherent bacteria (SAB) to the total bacteria entering the small intestine amounted to 71% . It must be taken into account in the estimation of the duodenal flow of bacterial compounds.

Reprod Nutr Dev, 1988, 28 Suppl 1, 113 - 4
{In sacco and in vitro study of the diminution in bacterial level in forages and concentrated feeds during their passage through the abomasum}; Marvalin O et al.; The detachment of adherent bacteria from feed particles in the abomasum of sheep was assessed by in sacco and in vitro trials using 15N labelled bacteria . This detachment was similar amongst the feed residues tested (40.5%) . However, bacteria were found to stick stronger on small (less than 250 microns) than on large particles.

Chemotherapy, 1988, 34 Suppl 1, 16 - 20
Ceftriaxone alone compared to ampicillin and chloramphenicol in the treatment of bacterial meningitis; Girgis NI et al.; One hundred patients (71 males and 29 females) with bacterial meningitis were randomly assigned into two therapeutic regimens . Patients in group I were intravenously given ceftriaxone (CRO: Rocephin) to adults and intramuscularly to children once daily in a dose of 100 mg/kg/day . Patients in group II received ampicillin 160 mg/kg/day and chloramphenicol (AMCL) 100 mg/kg/day (i.v . to adults and i.m . to children) every 6 h . No significant difference was observed between the two therapeutic regimens with regard to mortality, time taken to become afebrile, fully alert and sequelae . Seven patients in the CRO group died compared to 10 in the AMCL group . The mean number of days taken to become afebrile were 3.4 and 3.5, and to become fully alert 3.9 and 3.5 for groups I and II, respectively . CRO administered in a single daily dose appears to be as effective as a combination of ampicillin and chloramphenicol given every 6 h in the treatment of acute bacterial meningitis . However, the once daily dose is more appropriate for use especially in areas where nursing care is limited.

Ter Arkh, 1988, 60(10), 100 - 3
{Treatment of patients with chronic catarrhal bronchitis using bacterial polysaccharides as a way to correct secondary immunologic deficiency}; Kokosov AN et al.; In mild exacerbation of chronic catarrhal bronchitis secondary immune deficiency manifests itself in a reduced level of the main classes of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) and lowered function of neutrophilic leukocytes . Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (prodigiozan, pyrogenal) are recommended for the correction of the above disorders.

Braz J Med Biol Res, 1988, 21(2), 285 - 8
A new model for studying bacterial adherence to the respiratory epithelium; Plotkowski MC et al.; The frog palate mucosa was used as a new model for studying bacterial adherence to the respiratory epithelium . The main advantage of this model is that the mucus blanket, normally present on airway mucosa, can be preserved during the assays . The adherence of radiolabeled pneumococci to mucus-coated mucosa was five times higher (P less than 0.001) than the adherence to mucus-depleted mucosa . In the latter case, bacteria were never seen attached to ciliated cells but could be detected on small remaining patches of mucus . These results demonstrate that respiratory mucus plays a major role in bacteria-mucosa interactions.

Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1988, 143(8), 645 - 9
SOS chromotest, a quantitative short-term bacterial assay for the detection of genotoxic compounds in an automated version adapted to Bioscreen Analyzer System; Janz S et al.; The SOS chromotest is a simple quantitative short-term bacterial assay for the detection of genotoxic activity of pure chemicals or complex samples . The test is based on the measurement of the induction of the SOS response by xenobiotics which cause damage in replicating or non replicating DNA . The assay has been originally developed as a test-tube method but has recently been modified and extensively evaluated (Quillardet and Hofnung 1985, Quillardet et al . 1985) . In an attempt to automate the SOS chromotest a manual test procedure based on microtiter plates (Orgenics Ltd . 1986) has been further adapted to Bioscreen analyzer system (Labsystems OY, Helsinki, Finland) . In this application the test is controlled by a self-contained, interactive programme and makes use of a kinetic measure principle for quantifying the enzymatic activities to be evaluated . The present experiences with the automated version of the SOS chromotest indicate its usefulness as primary screening method or part of a battery of bacterial short-term tests for genotoxins and point out its remarkable practical advantages.

Ann Rech Vet, 1988, 19(1), 65 - 7
Virulence of Brucella: bacterial growth and decline in mice; Plommet M et al.; Virulence may be expressed by a bacterial count in selected tissue of an animal host inoculated and autopsied in specified conditions . Time courses of splenic infection in DBA/2 mice intravenously challenged with (1) the virulent reference Brucella abortus strain 544 or with (2) the low virulent vaccinal B abortus strain 19 evidenced a one hundred times higher initial growth of the vaccine strain, followed by a steadily decrease that contrasts with the plateau phase of the virulent strain . Thus, in vivo phases of growth and decline behave independently in which immune mechanisms involved may differ.

Nephrologie, 1988, 9(1), 29 - 32
{Hypersensitivity reactions during hemodialysis . Role of high permeability, retrofiltration and bacterial contamination of the dialysate}; Montagnac R et al.; Since the more frequent use of highly permeable membranes and bicarbonate dialysate, hypersensitivity reactions are more often described during hemodialysis and raise the question of the entry of pyrogens from dialysate towards blood due to high permeability of membranes and to possible backfiltration . During dialysis sessions with such membranes, authors observed a severe collapse in a patient on bicarbonate fluid and a repeated Quincke's edema in another on acetate fluid . After exclusion of other causes of such hypersensitivity accidents, they discuss the role of bacterial contamination of dialysis fluid . They analyse the phenomenons of bidirectional high permeability and of backfiltration linked to these new membranes . They recall the different causes of dialysate contamination and give some means of avoiding these inconveniences which expose on one hand to acute severe reactions and on the other are prejudicial in the long term for the patients because of interleukin 1 production.

Intensive Care Med, 1988, 14(1), 39 - 43
A comparison of three severity score indexes in an evaluation of serious bacterial pneumonia; Durocher A et al.; Two non specific severity scoring systems, acute physiological score (APS) and simplified acute physiological score (SAPS) are compared with a specific index (Sc) in an evaluation of 96 ICU patients with "serious" bacterial pneumonia . The three scores were measured during the first 24 h following ICU admission . There is a good correlation between APS, SAPS or Sc . Accuracy and efficiency of the non specific scoring indexes and Sc are similar . There is no statistical difference in sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, receiver operating characteristic curves of the three indexes . Simple and reliable non specific index such as SAPS, valid for a variety of pathologies, can be used in an evaluation of mortality and comparative studies of groups of patients with serious bacterial pneumonia.

J Am Diet Assoc, 1988 Jan, 88(1), 35 - 7
Bacterial safety of a closed-administration system for enteral nutrition solutions; Vaughan LA et al.; The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial integrity of a newly designed closed-administration system for enteral formula delivery . Three clinical simulations, designated Phases I, II, and III, were tested: dispersal of (I) 3 L formula over a 24-hour period, (II) 2 L formula over a 24-hour period, and (III) 2 L formula over a 48-hour period . Within each 24- or 48-hour simulation phase, a single administration set was used . Samples were withdrawn for bacterial analysis at 4- or 8-hour intervals . Simulations and samplings were completed under controlled, but not aseptic, conditions . Results indicated that bacterial growth was insignificant across all three simulation phases . Re-utilization of the administration set did not introduce bacterial contamination into subsequent liters of formula . Alcohol cleansing of the administration set was not found to be necessary for maintenance of bacterial closed integrity . Even when administered over a 24- or 48-hour period, the formula dispersed through this closed system did not develop any significant degree of bacterial growth . Results of this study suggest that this newly designed system for the administration of enteral formula significantly minimizes the risk of bacterial contamination.

Infect Immun, 1988 Jan, 56(1), 191 - 6
Partial purification of a bacterial lectinlike substance from Eikenella corrodens; Yamazaki Y et al.; A bacterial lectinlike substance, which is considered to participate in the adherence of Eikenella corrodens to various host cells, was purified from E . corrodens cells . The substance was extracted in 1% Triton X-100 with sonication from the cell envelope of E . corrodens 1073 and partially purified by galactosamine affinity chromatography and gel filtration chromatography based on its hemagglutination (HA) activity . The lectinlike substance was purified about 256-fold as evaluated by its specific HA activity . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the partially purified lectinlike substance (PPL) produced a single protein band of large molecular weight when it was applied to the gel without the addition of beta-mercaptoethanol and heating . Chemical analysis showed that PPL contained 14.4 micrograms of hexose per 100 micrograms of protein and that it did not contain muramic acid, glucosamine, or 2,6-diaminopimelic acid, which are characteristic of peptidoglycans . The HA activity of PPL was inhibited by EDTA but restored by adding Ca2+ . The HA activity was remarkably inhibited by sugars containing N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and D-galactose . These results indicate that the lectinlike substance on the E . corrodens cells is an essential factor for the adherence to host cells.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1988, 13 Suppl, 143 - 4
Invasive bacterial infections during an efficacy trial of acellular pertussis vaccines--implications for future surveillance in pertussis vaccine programmes; Olin P et al.; During a placebo controlled trial of acellular pertussis vaccines a cluster of invasive bacterial infections with fatal outcome occurred among vaccinated children as compared with unvaccinated Swedish children of the same birth cohort (4) . Clinical and immunological studies did not support the hypothesis of an immunosuppressive effect of the vaccines, which would explain the deaths, but the hypothesis could not be refuted by the data . To evaluate the safety of acellular pertussis vaccines regarding rare severe events--in particular invasive infectious diseases--prospective studies seem to be needed, comparing very large groups . A coordinated and controlled vaccine programme during 1-2 years in most of Sweden combined with national reports of invasive infections may serve as a basis for such a study . A possible study design is given below.

Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol, 1988, 53 Pt 1, 1 - 9
A physicist looks at bacterial chemotaxis; Berg HC; What is distinctive about bacterial chemotaxis, as compared to, for example, taste in the elephant, is the time over which decisions must be made . The lower limit is set by diffusion of chemicals to and from the cell surface, which demands long times for statistically significant counts . The upper limit is set by diffusion of the cell itself, which demands short times for well-defined swimming paths . For an organism the size of E . coli, temporal comparisons of the concentrations of chemicals in the environment must be made within a few seconds . Although such short time spans might be difficult for the biochemist, they are not so difficult for E . coli, because diffusion can carry a small molecule across the cell in about 1 msec . E . coli has the opposite problem: How does it integrate inputs from many receptors over periods 1000 times as long? The mechanisms for this signal processing are beginning to be understood . We know how most chemical attractants are identified, how temporal comparisons might be made, and how the behavioral output is effected . We know less about how sensory information crosses the cytoplasmic membrane, how the reactions that link the receptors to the flagella generate such high gain, and what actually controls the direction of flagellar rotation . One thing is quite clear: E . coli demands our admiration and respect.

Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales, 1988, 81(5), 811 - 8
{Ultrastructural changes induced by antiseptics in various bacterial species}; Ryter A et al.; Due to the succinate-neotetrazolium technique, the authors were able to photograph with electronic microscopy, for the first time, different antiseptics, including "Javelle Water", attacking bacteria.

Scand J Rheumatol Suppl, 1988, 75, 300 - 8
Rheumatoid factors in subacute bacterial endocarditis and other infectious diseases; Williams RC; Rheumatoid factors (RF) occur during the course of various infections such as leprosy, infective endocarditis, tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis, visceral larva migrans, infectious mononucleosis, influenza A, hepatitis A or cytomegalovirus . When first described it seemed logical to assume that host-self-immunization with autologous immune complexes provided the initial stimulus for RF production . Subsequently extensive characterization of bacterial, parasitic and viral Fc receptors has suggested an alternative explanation for rheumatoid factor associated with infections . It seems possible that patients make an initial immune response to infecting agent Fc receptors and that anti-anti-Fc receptors or anti-idiotypes either then directly stimulate rheumatoid factor production or are themselves rheumatoid factors . Such a hypothesis might also be applied to rheumatoid arthritis itself where either infecting agent or autologous cell Fc receptors could be the initial immunizing epitopes involved in rheumatoid factor production.

Arq Gastroenterol, 1988 Jan-Mar, 25(1), 29 - 32
{Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in a patient with congenital hepatic fibrosis and Caroli's disease}; Pereira-Lima JE et al.; The authors describe by the first time in the literature a patient with congenital hepatic fibrosis and Caroli's disease complicated by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . The possible routes of ascitic infection are discussed.

Z Exp Chir Transplant Kunstliche Organe, 1988, 21(6), 313 - 21
{The cell morphology of peritoneal exudate in the course of bacterial peritonitis (experimental animal studies)}; Dittrich I et al.; According to diagnosis of the liquor cerebrospinalis in inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system there shall be demonstrated a method to support diagnosis and control of an efficient therapy of diffuse bacterial peritonitis . Mice were infected intraperitoneal with Escherichia coli suspension without complement . At intervals of 12 hours there was carried out a peritoneal lavage . The peritoneal lavage fluid was given into the sedimentary chamber according to Sayk . The sediment was coloured according to Pappenheim and differentiated under microscope . With help of the described method it is possible to take valuable informations about inflammation in peritoneal cavity by means of cellular composition of the peritoneal fluid in different times post infection . Of greatest importance is the number of polymorphonuclear cells in the exudate.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1988, 20(6), 625 - 31
Norfloxacin for prevention of bacterial infections during severe granulocytopenia after bone marrow transplantation; Schmeiser T et al.; 48 patients treated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) received the quinolone norfloxacin (NOR) in a total decontamination (TD-NOR, n = 36) or selective decontamination (SD-NOR, n = 12) regimen and were compared with a historical control group of 48 BMT patients receiving oral non-absorbable antibiotics (TD-NAA, n = 31 and SD-NAA, n = 17) . 17/36 patients (47%) of group TD-NOR and 16/31 patients (52%) of group TD-NAA remained free of febrile episodes and infections . 4/12 patients (33%) of group SD-NOR and only 1/17 patients (6%) of group SD-NAA remained free of fever and infections . The use of norfloxacin in selective decontamination resulted in a statistically significant lower incidence of fever days than in patients receiving SD-NAA (p less than 0.001) . These data suggest that norfloxacin may replace non-absorbable antibiotics in total and in selective decontamination regimens used for infection prophylaxis in BMT recipients.

Perception, 1988, 17(1), 119 - 33
A mechanism for the direct perception of change: the example of bacterial chemotaxis; Pittenger JB et al.; The relationship between the behavior of single-celled organisms and cognition in higher animals is explored . Recent research and theory in bacterial chemotaxis are presented, together with a discussion of the implications of chemotaxis for perceptual theory . A number of parallels between chemotaxis and perception in higher organisms are drawn . It is suggested that Koshland's model of the chemical processes controlling chemotaxis is an example of a mechanism for direct perception of change and can help elucidate Runeson's work on 'smart mechanisms' of perception . It is argued, more generally, that the growing body of knowledge about the perceptual activities of lower organisms should be used to broaden the factual base on which theories of perception are constructed: eg explication of perceptual parallels between humans and lower organisms should help clarify the nature of these phenomena in humans and, perhaps, help in the development of theories of greater generality . Also, the debate between direct and indirect theories of perception may be advanced by analysis of the specific mechanisms used by lower organisms . Contrasts to mediated perception are pointed out and arguments for the relative simplicity and explanatory power of theories of direct perception are provided.

Crit Rev Microbiol, 1988, 16(1), 1 - 14
Bacterial alternative nitrogen fixation systems; Joerger RD et al.; The introduction briefly reviews some of the salient features of the well-characterized conventional molybdo-enzyme system for N2 fixation . This is followed by a brief account of the discovery of an alternative N2 fixation system that does not require molybdenum in the N2-fixing bacterum Azotobacter vinelandii . The next section cites observations from the early literature on N2 fixation suggesting may not always require molybdenum . Next, recent evidence for an alternative N2 fixation system in A . vinelandii is discussed . A brief description of our discovery of an alternative nitrogenase which is not a molybdenum or vanadium enzyme is presented, followed by a summary of recent papers describing an alternative vanadium-containing nitrogenase . Available information on the genetics and regulation of alternative N2 fixation systems is discussed . Finally, the possible/probable presence of alternative N2 fixation systems in bacteria other than Azotobacter species is covered.

Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, 1988, 10(1-2), 38 - 46
Analysis of bacterial flagellar rotation; Khan S; Bacterial flagella have rotary motors at their base; embedded in the cytoplasmic membrane and powered by transmembrane ion gradients instead of ATP . Assays have been developed to measure the torque output of individual motors over a wide regime of load, to correlate the energizing proton flux with rotation speed and relate through genetic analysis motor structure to function . These assays promise substantial advances in understanding mechanochemical coupling in these motors . Here, I summarize the present status of our understanding of energy transduction in bacterial flagella and compare this with the case for muscle.

Cancer Detect Prev, 1988, 12(1-6), 609 - 19
Management of bacterial and fungal infections in bone marrow transplant recipients and other granulocytopenic patients; Heidt PJ; A review of studies on the effect of different types of gastrointestinal decontamination and protective environment on infectious complications in granulocytopenic patients is given, and the effect of these measures on graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is discussed . It is concluded that complete gastrointestinal decontamination of patients nursed under conditions of strict reverse isolation will maximally prevent infections, graft-versus-host disease, and lung complications and therefore is the treatment to be preferred for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation . Since selective decontamination is as effective in preventing bacterial and fungal infections as is complete decontamination, this treatment is to be preferred for other patients with a greatly reduced resistance to these infections . The reason is that, for this type of patient, selective decontamination can be performed without the use of strict isolation facilities and in this way is less laborious and less of a burden for the patient . Besides this, the number of patients that can be treated will not be limited by the number of available facilities for strict reverse isolation, which can be reserved for bone marrow transplant patients.

Curr Med Res Opin, 1988, 11(4), 227 - 31
Trimethoprim-polymyxin B sulphate ophthalmic ointment in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis: a double-blind study versus chloramphenicol ophthalmic ointment; Behrens-Baumann W et al.; Forty-two patients with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind trial . Patients were treated with either trimethoprim-polymyxin B sulphate or chloramphenicol ophthalmic ointments 4-times a day for 7 days . Analysis of clinical evaluation data showed that both treatments were effective and well tolerated, and that there were no statistically significant differences between them with regard to eradication of organisms or clinical improvement.

Arch Oral Biol, 1988, 33(5), 341 - 6
Altered bacterial aggregation and adherence associated with changes in rat parotid-gland salivary proteins induced in vivo by beta-adrenergic stimulation; Kousvelari EE et al.; Reduced adherence and aggregation were associated with protein alterations in parotid saliva after chronic treatment with the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol . In contrast, saliva from animals treated with the beta-antagonist, propranolol, did not cause such changes; the protein composition of this saliva was similar to that of controls . SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of protein in saliva samples before and after they were mixed with 10 mg of spheroidal hydroxyapatite beads (HA), as well as protein adsorbed and recovered from the HA, showed that an acidic, proline-rich protein with a molecular weight of approx . 40,000 was the predominant protein adsorbed . This protein was significantly diminished in saliva from isoproterenol-treated rats . Proteins with molecular weights between 44,000 and 48,000 and unique to the saliva from isoproterenol-treated animals were also adsorbed to HA . Thus alterations in proline-rich proteins of parotid saliva may influence the adherence and aggregation of oral bacteria, two processes considered important for in-vivo colonization of oral surfaces.

J Basic Microbiol, 1988, 28(1-2), 45 - 53
A simple method of distinguishing the bacterial viruses T3 and T7, and a critical reevaluation of their heterologous and homologous exclusion; Kruger DH et al.; A method is presented allowing a clear distinction between bacterial viruses T3 and T7 by plating on selectively permissive host cells . The indicator strains are Escherichia coli cells containing either cloned pif genes (exclusively permissive for T3) or the EcoRV DNA restriction system (permissive only for T7): The efficiencies of plating of the two phages on these hosts differ by more than 8 orders of magnitude . This method was applied to reinvestigate the controversial question of mutual exclusion between T3 and T7 . Under single-burst conditions, about 50% of coinfected cells (permissive for both viruses) produced T3 and T7 progeny while about 25% reproduced only T3 and about 25% only T7 . The burst size of co-infected cells was slightly reduced, compared to controls infected with only one virus type . Homologous exclusion among T3 phages was also not seen; rather, there was a gene dosage effect: T3-encoded RNA polymerase activity as well as T3-specific RNA synthesis increased proportionally to the multiplicity of infection (2.5-20 plaque-forming units/cell).

Rofo, 1988 Jan, 148(1), 54 - 7
{Computed tomography of acute bacterial nephritis}; Derouet H et al.; Five case reports are used to illustrate that it is possible by computed tomography to differentiate between acute diffuse, acute focal and abscess-forming types of renal infection . In acute diffuse renal inflammatory disease, intravenously injected contrast medium remains in various parts of the renal tissue after an interval of two to six hours following injection . Acute focal inflammatory disease and abscesses produce localised hypodense or isodense lesions . Sequential increase in density following a contrast bolus injection permits the distinction of focal nephritis from an abscess . These findings provides information concerning the type and duration of treatment.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1988, 13 Suppl, 217 - 22
Engineering bacterial toxin for the development of new vaccine against pertussis; Bartoloni A et al.; Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough . The cellular pertussis vaccine introduced in the forties is highly effective and is widely used, but its reactogenicity has led to public concern regarding its safety . The attempts to reduce the side effects associated with pertussis immunization have led to the preparation of acellular B . pertussis products: one composed of detoxified pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA), another one composed only of detoxified PT and a third vaccine composed of detoxified PT, FHA and serotypes 1, 3 of fimbriae . In our laboratories we have approached the study of pertussis toxin, the molecule present in all the proposed acellular pertussis vaccines and one of the main virulence factors of B . Pertussis, with the aim of producing new acellular pertussis vaccines by using recombinant DNA techniques.

Reprod Nutr Dev, 1988, 28 Suppl 1, 115 - 6
{Differences in nitrogen and RNA contents between free bacteria and bacteria fixed to food particles in the rumen contents, in the case of different diets; consequences for estimating the ratio of bacterial nitrogen in duodenal nitrogen}; Poncet C et al.; Differences in nitrogen and RNA contents were found between liquid-associated and solid-adherent bacteria isolated from the reticulo-rumen of ruminants offered various diets . Consequences on the estimation of the bacterial nitrogen flow to the duodenum are discussed.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1987 Dec 16, 149(2), 815 - 22
Modulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha cytotoxicity in L929 cells by bacterial toxins, hydrocortisone and inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism; Hepburn A et al.; L929 cells were incubated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the presence or absence of various inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism . The addition of either hydrocortisone or nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) decreased the cytotoxic effect of TNF-alpha but exogenously added arachidonate or linoleate, indomethacin and eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) were without effect . While it was found that TNF-alpha stimulated arachidonic acid release, no metabolites of this fatty acid could be evidenced . Cytotoxicity of TNF-alpha could also be decreased by the addition of either cholera or pertussis toxin . These results suggest that a GTP-binding protein is involved in the cytotoxic action of TNF-alpha . Arachidonic acid, released possibly by a phospholipase A2, might also play a role, but probably not via its conversion to known metabolites.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Dec, 6(12), 1102 - 6
Spontaneous and inducible interleukin 1 production from peripheral blood monocytes in bacterial and viral infections in children; Helminen M et al.; Peripheral blood monocytes from children with severe bacterial infection showed a high level of spontaneous (unstimulated) production of interleukin 1 (IL-1) . In viral respiratory or gastrointestinal infections there usually was little or no spontaneous IL-1 production from monocytes, and the values did not differ from those of children with no infections or inflammatory disease . Lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-1 production from monocytes was slightly but not significantly greater in bacterial infections than in viral infections and controls . Tuberculin (purified protein derivative)-induced IL-1 production from monocytes of patients with viral infections was significantly less than in bacterial infections and also slightly less than in controls . These results indicate that systemic bacterial infections activate spontaneous release of IL-1 from monocytes whereas uncomplicated viral infections usually do not . Tuberculin-inducible IL-1 activity of monocytes appears decreased in viral infections; this might be associated with suppressed cell-mediated immunity in such infections.

J Immunol, 1987 Dec 1, 139(11), 3570 - 2
Induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity by the T cell line specific to bacterial peptidoglycans; Katsuki M et al.; A T cell line specific for the chemically well-defined peptidoglycan of bacterial cell wall, disaccharide tetrapeptide, was established from Lewis rats immunized with the antigen covalently linked to the autologous rat serum albumin . The antigen specificity was examined with various analogues or derivatives of the peptidoglycan . The cell line was reactive to analogues with the COOH-terminal D-amino acid, but least reactive to those with L-amino acid as COOH terminus . Transferring of the T cell line into X-irradiated normal Lewis rats induced delayed-type hypersensitivity in an antigen specific manner.

J Periodontol, 1987 Dec, 58(12), 837 - 46
Bacterial invasion in experimental gingivitis in man; Saglie FR et al.; Gingival biopsies of the mesial papilla area of the first molar were obtained from each patient at 0-, 14- and 21-day intervals during plaque formation . The biopsies were fixed, serially sectioned, and Gram-stained . The incidence and distribution of the bacteria-like structures were studied by microscopy . In all the specimens the bacterial nature of Gram-stained material was substantiated . In the epithelium the highest number of bacteria was found at the outer layer of marginal oral epithelium, sulcular epithelium and apical oral epithelium along with a decreasing pattern of penetration progressing deeper into the layers of tissue . For junctional epithelium the situation was just the opposite . Each subject had significantly higher counts at Day 21 than at Day 14 for both epithelium and connective tissue . Also significantly higher counts were found in connective tissue compared with epithelium . The higher bacterial density of intragingival bacteria was associated with the higher gingival and plaque indices . This study suggests that early stages of gingival inflammation may be mediated by invasion of bacteria.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1987 Dec, 102(6), 1451 - 7
Active site organization of bacterial type I fatty acid synthetase; Morishima N et al.; Four kinds of active sites of bacterial fatty acid synthetase were mapped on distinct regions within a subunit . Active sites were specifically labeled with radioactive substrates and active-site-directed inhibitors . Labeled enzymes were cleaved with proteases, and the fragments thus produced were identified with respect to specific labels by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a fluorographic technique . The linear alignment of such fragments in the original subunit was established and when the results were combined with those of our previous work, five active sites were located in three regions as follows . Starting from the N-terminal of the subunit, we located acetyl, malonyl and palmitoyl transferases in the first region, the acyl carrier site in the second region (Morishima & Ikai (1985) Biochim . Biophys . Acta 832, 297-307), and beta-ketoacyl synthetase in the third region . The observed order of active sites of bacterial fatty acid synthetase can be correlated with that of the yeast enzyme, which has two kinds of subunits.

J Biochem Biophys Methods, 1987 Dec, 15(3-4), 215 - 27
Electron probe X-ray microanalysis of bacterial DNA; Sigee DC et al.; X-ray microanalysis provides a potentially useful technique for the detection, quantitation and statistical analysis of cation levels in microsamples of freshly-isolated bacterial DNA . The dilution of the sample deposited on the electron microscope grid is important both for the visualisation of discrete macromolecules and also for the microanalytical detection of a full range of divalent cations . Approximately 50 detectable cations (30 monovalent, 20 divalent) were present per 100 phosphorus atoms, which is equivalent to one detectable cation per 2 nucleotides . Significant correlations in the occurrence of K, Ca, Ni and Zn with continuum and also with phosphorus suggests that these cations are distributed homogeneously in the sample, while Mn, Fe and Cu showed no such correlations . The occurrence of K in the different spectral analyses did not show any significant correlation with any divalent cations, whereas significant correlations did occur between divalent cations . This suggest that fundamental differences occur between monovalent and divalent cations in their association with the DNA molecule.

Am J Infect Control, 1987 Dec, 15(6), 231 - 7
Bacterial growth under a transparent dressing; Callahan JL et al.; The frequency of dressing changes for transparent dressings used on central lines is a critical issue in maintenance protocols aimed at prevention of catheter-related sepsis . Organisms migrating from the skin down the catheter have been implicated in causing catheter-related sepsis . Bacterial growth patterns under the transparent dressing are important in establishing protocols of care.

Biophys J, 1987 Dec, 52(6), 1071 - 5
The photochemical reactions of bacterial sensory rhodopsin-I . Flash photolysis study in the one microsecond to eight second time window; Bogomolni RA et al.; Halobacterium halobium Flx mutants are deficient in bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and halorhodopsin (hR) . Such strains are phototactic and the light signal detectors are two additional retinal pigments, sensory rhodopsins I and II (sR-I and sR-II), which absorb maximally at 587 and 480 nm, respectively . A retinal-deficient Flx mutant, Flx5R, overproduces sR-I-opsin and does not show any photochemical activity other than that of sR-I after the pigment is regenerated by addition of all-trans retinal . Using native membrane vesicles from this strain, we have resolved a new photointermediate in the sR-I photocycle between the early bathointermediate S610 and the later intermediate S373 . The new form, S560, resembles the L intermediate of bR in its position in the photoreaction cycle, its relatively low extinction, and its moderate blue shift . It forms with a half-time of approximately 90 microseconds at 21 degrees C, concomitant with the decay of S610 . Its decay with a half-time of 270 microseconds parallels the appearance of S373 . From a data set consisting of laser flash-induced absorbance changes (300 ns, 580-nm excitation) measured at 24 wavelengths from 340 to 720 nm in a time window spanning 1 microsecond to 8 s we have calculated the spectra of the photocycle intermediates assuming a unidirectional, unbranched reaction scheme.

Am J Infect Control, 1987 Dec, 15(6), 249 - 65
Nosocomial bacterial pneumonia: an overview; Pugliese G et al.; Nosocomial pneumonia accounts for 10% to 20% of all nosocomial infections and represents one of the most serious complications of hospitalization . This review focuses on the etiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of nosocomial pneumonia, with emphasis on infection control procedures to prevent and minimize its occurrence.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 Dec, 35(10 Pt 2), 1365 - 9
{Bacterial adhesion: its consequences in antibiotherapy}; Chabanon G; The aim of the present review is to analyze the influence of antibiotics on bacterial adhesion and to anticipate this approach as an alternative possibility of prophylactic or therapeutic interference with the infectious process . Adhesive interactions between bacteria and substratum including solid and cellular surfaces were briefly documented . Bacteria displays a very large variety of adhesins and this implies complex mechanisms in the adhesion process . Anti-adhesive therapy must take into account several factors: particularly interference with the colonization of mucosal surfaces by normal flora and phagocytic defense system in which adhesion plays a very important role as well.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Dec, 6(12), 1091 - 4
Fever response to acetaminophen in viral vs . bacterial infections; Weisse ME et al.; The effect of acetaminophen on fever in bacterial vs . viral infections was tested in 100 children ages 9 days to 17 years who presented to the Pediatric Service with a rectal or oral temperature of 102 degrees F (38.9 degrees C) or greater . All patients were given acetaminophen, 15 mg/kg, and their temperatures were rechecked at 1 hour . Laboratory tests were ordered at the discretion of the examining physician and usually included viral and bacterial cultures and total white blood cell counts . Sixteen patients had proved viral illnesses and 17 patients had serious bacterial infections . There was a significant difference (P less than 0.02) in the white blood cell count between the two groups, with the higher values in patients with bacterial infections . There was, however, no significant difference in the fever response to acetaminophen between the two groups (P = 0.37) . The remaining 67 patients were then placed into one of the two groups based on their clinical illness and outcome . The mean temperature change was then calculated between the two groups, and again the difference was found to be statistically insignificant (P = not significant (t = 0.19} . We conclude that there is no correlation between a child's fever response to acetaminophen and the etiology of the fever.

Klin Wochenschr, 1987 Dec 1, 65(23), 1132 - 8
Cooperative Group of Additional Immunoglobulin Therapy in Severe Bacterial Infections: results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial in cases of diffuse fibrinopurulent peritonitis; Jesdinsky HJ et al.; A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial, which was carried out in 10 hospitals in the Federal Republic of Germany between 1979 and 1983, studied the influence of i.v . immunoglobulin G on the mortality in patients with diffuse acute fibrinopurulent peritonitis . Altogether 288 patients were enrolled in the trial . There was no statistically significant difference in the mortality rates within the treated group (46%) vs the control group (41%) . The power of the statistical test to detect a decrease of the mortality by 20% was calculated to be 0.93 . This result did not change when we eliminated 50 patients not strictly obeying the entrance criteria of the analysis, or when we focused on a subgroup of patients with initial deficiency of immunoglobulin G . Factors influencing mortality were a preceding laparotomy, serum creatinine level above 2 mg/100 ml, and necessity for artificial respiration . These factors, reflecting the surgical situation and the severity of shock, essentially explain the mortality differences observed between the participating hospitals.

Genitourin Med, 1987 Dec, 63(6), 386 - 9
Bacterial vaginosis in women attending STD clinic: diagnostic criteria and prevalence of Mobiluncus spp; Hallen A et al.; The diagnostic criteria of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and the prevalence of Mobiluncus spp as detected by monoclonal antibodies were investigated in all new women patients attending the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Uppsala during a four month period . Of 455 patients, 164 fulfilled the generally accepted criteria for BV, but in 57 of them simultaneous infection with a recognised pathogen was diagnosed . BV was thus the only clinical diagnosis in 107 (24%) of the women . The sniff test and clue cells in the wet smear were the two criteria most relevant for the diagnosis of BV . The sniff test was positive in 95% (156) of the 164 patients with BV and negative in all other cases . The corresponding figure for the clue cells was 98% (160 of 164), but clue cells were also detected in 19 patients without BV . Though 99% (162) of women with BV had a vaginal pH of more than 4.5, so did 83 women without BV . Only 59% (96) of women fulfilling the criteria of BV had a characteristic discharge . Mobiluncus spp were present in 20% (90) of the 455 women and in 50% (53) of the 107 women with BV only . Of the 90 Mobiluncus spp isolates, M curtisii comprised 44% (40), M mulieris 34% (31), and both strains together 21% (19) . Mobiluncus spp were detected with monoclonal antibodies in 35 women who had no motile curved rods on wet smear microscopy . Furthermore, Mobiluncus spp were often detected in women infected with recognised pathogens, as well as in a few women without signs of genital infection.

Mutat Res, 1987 Dec, 189(4), 363 - 73
Studies on the potent bacterial mutagen, 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone: aqueous stability, XAD recovery and analytical determination in drinking water and in chlorinated humic acid solutions; Meier JR et al.; 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) was detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in drinking water samples from 3 locations in the U.S.A., and also in a chlorinated humic acid solution . MX appears to account for a significant proportion of the mutagenicity of these samples, as measured in the Ames test using strain TA100 without metabolic activation . Studies on recovery of MX from spiked water samples by XAD-2/8 resin adsorption/acetone elution indicated that sample acidification prior to resin adsorption was essential to the effective recovery of MX . The stability of MX in aqueous solution was pH and temperature dependent . At 23 degrees C the order of stability, based on persistence of mutagenic activity was found to be: pH 2 greater than pH 4 greater than pH 8 greater than pH 6 . The half-life at pH 8 and 23 degrees C was 4.6 days . One of the degradation products has been tentatively identified as 2-chloro-3-(dichloromethyl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid, an open form of MX which appears to be in the "E" configuration . Overall, these results suggest that MX is formed during water chlorination as a result of reaction of chlorine with humic substances, and that a substantial fraction of the MX formed is likely to persist throughout the distribution system.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Dec, 95(6), 363 - 9
The specificity of antisera against Bordetella pertussis examined by bacterial agglutination; Fredriksen JH et al.; The specificity of conventional, adsorbed antisera against agglutinogens 1, 2, and 3 of Bordetella pertussis was examined by slide agglutination and by agglutination in microtitre wells . Unadsorbed hyperimmune sera showed higher agglutinating activity against autologous or homologous cells than against cells of heterologous serotype . Adsorption of sera with heterologous cells increased the serotype specificity considerably . In spite of extensive adsorption, these anti-agglutinogen sera were still found to cross-react with B . parapertussis and/or B . bronchiseptica strains . Adsorption experiments with B . pertussis hyperimmune sera against serotype 1-, 1.2-, and 1.3-organisms demonstrated that the cross-reacting surface antigens differed from the agglutinogens 1, 2, and 3 . Thus, in making species-specific reagents for diagnostic use it may be of value to include adsorption with B . parapertussis and probably with B . bronchiseptica . Limited data indicated that there is no need to use B . avium for adsorption . The agglutination assays were also used to test three monoclonal antibodies stated to be specific for the agglutinogens 1, 2, and 3, respectively . Some anomalous behaviour for the anti-agglutinogen 1 reagent was found, whereas the anti-agglutinogen 2 and 3 reagents corresponded well with the present polyclonal factor sera.

J Bone Miner Res, 1987 Dec, 2(6), 505 - 16
Utilization of FPLC-purified bacterial collagenase for the isolation of cells from bone; Hefley TJ; Crude bacterial collagenase is essential for the enzymatic isolation of cells from the membranous bone of neonatal mouse calvaria . We have employed the newly developed methodology of fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) to separate and quantify the isozymes of collagenase so that their role in the enzymatic isolation of cells might be determined . FPLC resolved as many as six protein peaks in less than 30 min using a single anion exchange column and separated collagenase isozymes into two classes . The Class I isozymes had a preference for the substrate Azocoll, a denatured collagen substrate, and the Class II isozymes had a preference for Hexapeptide, a synthetic substrate . Two preparations of chromatographically purified collagenase (CGN-A and CGN-B) were tested for their ability to release viable cells from bone . Both preparations of purified collagenase completely digested the calvaria in 120 min . The total cell yield obtained with CGN-A was 0.34 million cells per calvarium . The yield obtained with CGN-B was 1.01 million cells per calvarium . Each preparation of purified collagenase was analyzed using FPLC . CGN-A contained only Class I collagenase isozymes, whereas CGN-B contained a mixture of both Class I and Class II isozymes . The collagenase isozymes of CGN-B were separated by FPLC and then combined in a 4:1 ratio of Class II: Class I isozymes . Utilization of FPLC-separated collagenase isozymes for the cell isolation increased the total cell yield to 1.50 million cells/calvarium . We have concluded that there are many combinations of collagenase isozymes that will completely digest the extracellular matrix of bone . However, only a combination which favors the Class II isozymes will result in a low rate of cell destruction and high cell yields.

Gen Physiol Biophys, 1987 Dec, 6(6), 593 - 608
Osmium tetroxide recognized structural distortions at junctions between right- and left-handed DNA in a bacterial cell; Palecek E et al.; It was shown for the first time that the structural distortions at the junctions between contiguous right-handed and left-handed Z-DNA segments can be recognized in bacterial cells . E . coli containing recombinant plasmid pPK1 (a derivative of pUC19 containing (dC-dG)13 and (dC-dG)16 blocks) were treated with osmium tetroxide, 2.2'-bipyridine (Os,bipy); after this treatment pPK1 DNA was isolated by the boiling method . pPK1 DNA was then cleaved with BglI, and inhibition of BamHI (with its recognition sequence GGATCC lying on the boundary between the (dC-dG)n segments and the pUC19 nucleotide sequence) cleavage was tested . Treatment of cells with 2 mmol/l Os,bipy resulted in a strong inhibition of BamHI cleavage at both restriction sites showing a site-specific osmium modification at the B--Z junction . About the same inhibition of BamHI cleavage was observed after treatment of isolated pPK1 DNA with 0.2 mmol/l Os,bipy.

Tsitologiia, 1987 Dec, 29(12), 1385 - 91
{Transformation of the cells of transplantable teratocarcinoma CBA9H6 by a bacterial dihydrofolate reductase gene}; Tomilin NV et al.; A plasmid containing the bacterial gene of methotrexate-resistant dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr), under the control of early SV40 promoter, was introduced into murine teratocarcinoma CBA9H6 cells . From the whole pool of teratocarcinoma cells, which survived after transient methotrexate selection in vivo, the individual cells were isolated to give rise to 15 clones of tumors . Six of the 15 clones displayed nucleotide sequences of the original vector containing pBR322 sequences and the early SV40 promoter region; however, the bacterial dhfr gene was absent from the transformant clones . Possible causes of the loss of introduced dhfr gene from teratocarcinoma cells under non-selective conditions are discussed.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1987 Dec, 24(4), 193 - 8
Dose-dependent changes in the antigenicity of bacterial endotoxin exposed to ionizing radiation; Csako G et al.; The antigenic properties of the highly purified US reference standard endotoxin (RSE) exposed to varying doses of ionizing radiation were studied with double immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis and immunoblotting . Rabbit RSE antisera identified 2 distinct major antigenic components for untreated RSE: one related to the O-polysaccharide side chain ("O-antigenic specificity"), the other to the R-core . Based on a serologic cross-reactivity of R-core of RSE (Escherichia coli 0113) with the R-core of the lipopolysaccharide from E . coli 0111, the core type of E . coli 0113 was identified as coli R3 . Increasing exposure of RSE to ionizing radiation progressively destroyed all antigenic reactivities: at lower doses of radiation the rate of elimination differed for the 2 antigen classes . The O-polysaccharide was more sensitive to gamma-radiation than the R-core and the O-antigenicity was lost before that of the R-core . Endotoxin molecules containing incomplete R-core (radiation-induced or mutant) did not react with the RSE antiserum.

Anal Biochem, 1987 Dec, 167(2), 245 - 60
Determination of synthesis rate and lifetime of bacterial mRNAs; Baracchini E et al.; A method has been developed to determine the synthesis rate and lifetime of bacterial mRNAs, either bulk mRNA or specific mRNAs, with a minimum of physiological disturbance . The method uses hybridization of pulse-labeled RNA to specific probes followed by an evaluation based on a computer simulation of the labeling kinetics of different classes of RNA . The method was applied to the determination of bulk mRNA in Escherichia coli growing in glucose minimal medium: 60% of the instantaneous rate of RNA synthesis, or 2.3% of the total amount of RNA, was found to be mRNA with an average lifetime of 1.0 +/- 0.2 min (= 0.7 min half-life).

Vet Rec, 1987 Nov 28, 121(22), 519 - 21
Fibrinogen levels in mammals suffering from bacterial infections; Hawkey CM et al.; In a retrospective survey of fibrinogen levels and neutrophil counts in 388 blood samples from mammals suffering from bacterial infection, the combined results of the two tests provided positive confirmation of infection in a greater percentage of samples than did the results of either test alone . In Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla and Proboscidea, the fibrinogen level was abnormal more often than the neutrophil count . It was concluded that a fibrinogen estimation is a valuable addition to routine haematological screening procedures in mammals.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Nov 25, 262(33), 15900 - 7
Sugar transport by the bacterial phosphotransferase system . The intrinsic fluorescence of enzyme I; Neyroz P et al.; Enzyme I of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate: glycose phosphotransferase system has 2 tryptophan residues/monomer, as determined spectrophotometrically . The tryptophan fluorescence has been investigated with the aid of nanosecond time-resolved techniques . The decay of the fluorescence intensity was analyzed in terms of a biexponential function . The contribution of the emission associated with the shorter decay constant increases from 17-19% at 1 degree C to 43-44% at room temperature . Decay-associated spectra obtained with Enzyme I indicate different spectral distributions associated with the two decay constants . The measurement of tumbling of Enzyme I as a function of temperature revealed a transition of rotational rates between 5 and 15.5 degrees C . Global analysis allowed decomposition of the anisotropy decay into a formulation consistent with monomer and dimer rotational contributions.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Nov 25, 262(33), 16241 - 53
Sugar transport by the bacterial phosphotransferase system . Molecular cloning and structural analysis of the Escherichia coli ptsH, ptsI, and crr genes; Saffen DW et al.; Specialized lambda-transducing phages that carry the Escherichia coli genes ptsH, ptsI, crr, cysM, and cysA have been isolated, and the genes were subcloned in plasmid pBR322 . Subcloning and restriction mapping data gave the following clockwise order of genes located at about 52 min on the E . coli genetic map: lig, cysK, ptsH, ptsI, crr, cysM, cysA . The nucleotide sequences of ptsH, ptsI, and crr and the corresponding flanking regions have been determined . These genes encode three cytoplasmic proteins of the phosphoenol-pyruvate:glycose phosphotransferase system: HPr, Enzyme I, and IIIGlc, respectively . The deduced amino acid sequences are consistent with amino acid composition and Edman degradation analyses obtained with the purified proteins . The calculated subunit molecular weight values (9,109 for HPr, 63,489 for Enzyme I, and 18,099 for IIIGlc) also agree well with values obtained with the proteins . Results of gamma delta-transposon insertional studies provided definitive evidence that IIIGlc is the gene product of crr, and therefore that IIIGlc plays a critical role in regulating the metabolism and uptake of certain non-PTS sugars (see accompanying papers: Mitchell, W.J., Saffen, D.W., and Roseman, S . (1987) J . Biol . Chem . 16254-16260; Misko, T.P., Mitchell, W.J., Meadow, N.D., and Roseman, S . (1987) J . Biol . Chem . 16261-16266) . The gamma delta transposon studies also suggest that crr is transcribed from an independent promoter located within the ptsI gene . Putative regulatory sequence features include a catabolite gene activator protein-cAMP-binding site and two regions of 2-fold rotational symmetry adjacent to the potential promoter upstream from the HPr structural gene, several ribosome-binding sites, and a rho-independent RNA polymerase termination site downstream from crr . In addition, the ptsI gene contains two highly conserved direct repeats . The significance of these sequence features is discussed with respect to possible multiple forms of pts regulation.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1987 Nov 5, 916(1), 89 - 93
A simple method for the rapid determination of the stereospecificity of NAD-dependent dehydrogenases applied to mammalian IMP dehydrogenase and bacterial NADH peroxidase; Cooney D et al.; The stereospecificity of IMP dehydrogenase (IMP:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.205) from two different sources was determined . The enzyme preparations were obtained from murine lymphoblasts and from Escherichia coli . Both enzymes transferred the 2-3H of IMP to the pro-S position of carbon atom C-4 of the nicotinamide ring in NAD . Thus, B-sided stereospecificity is common to the enzyme from two very different species . In addition, the studies described here demonstrate that alcohol dehydrogenase and NADH peroxidase, used as auxiliary enzymes, in combination with a microdistillation procedure, should permit rapid determination of the stereospecificity of any NAD-dependent dehydrogenase for which the appropriate tritiated substrate is available.

Am J Emerg Med, 1987 Nov, 5(6), 488 - 91
Clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis; Nelson MS; Bacterial vaginosis (often called nonspecific vaginitis or gardnerella vaginitis) is an incompletely understood disease whose initial diagnosis is often one of exclusion made when no trichomonads, yeast, or evidence of cervicitis is found during the initial examination of a woman complaining of a vaginal discharge . To increase the accuracy of the initial diagnosis, specific criteria were used before the clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made . The presence of three of the following four criteria was necessary: 1) vaginal pH greater than 4.5; 2) clue cells on the saline wet mount; 3) thin, homogeneous-appearing discharge; or 4) positive potassium hydroxide "whiff test." A study on 100 consecutive women presenting to the emergency department with vaginal symptoms was done . Of those women meeting the criteria, 93% (54/58) obtained relief of their symptoms by treatment with metronidazole . Of those women not meeting the criteria, only 24% (10/42) were cured (P less than .001) . The sensitivity, specificity, and total error rates of these criteria were 84, 89, and 14%, respectively.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Nov, (11), 68 - 72
{Characteristics of the mechanisms of the immune response in typhoid fever and the bacterial carrier state}; Pogorel'skaia LV et al.; During the acute period of typhoid fever, as well as in the early and, partially, late convalescence periods, a considerable increase in the level of T-lymphocytes and their helper activity and, in some cases, in the number of B- and D-cells and the populations of neutrophils with receptors for C3 and Fc IgG was observed . In chronic carriers immune shifts of a different character have been recorded: an increase in suppressor activity and a decrease in the number of the above-mentioned neutrophils . These data prompt the use of immunological criteria for the prediction of chronic carrier state in typhoid fever.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1987 Nov, 20(4), 319 - 26
Bacterial adhesion onto particulate substrates; Wang HH et al.; The adhesion of anaerobic saccharolytic bacteria onto cellulose powder and raw starch granules through scanning electron microscope were observed . The adhering bacteria had a tendency to penetrate the granule surface; colonization was observed to occur on both the surface and inside the starch granule . The inner material of the starch granules was first digested, resulting in a shell type of structure at this stage . This implied that the surface of starch granules might have a different structure from its inner material . Bacterial adhesion and substrate digestion were found to be affected by operating temperature.

Acta Otolaryngol, 1987 Nov-Dec, 104(5-6), 495 - 9
Effects of bacterial endotoxin on the ciliary activity in the in vitro middle ear mucosa; Ohashi Y et al.; In the present study, we have examined the hitherto unknown effects of long-term exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), possessing the major parts of biological activity of endotoxin, on ciliary activity in the middle ear . Our results show that LPS can affect the ciliary activity in a dose-response fashion: 1) LPS does not impair the ciliary activity up to 168 h if the concentration is 1 ng/ml or less; 2) 10 ng/ml of LPS does not impair ciliary activity in the middle ear close to the tympanic orifice up to 168 h, but can cause reduced activity distal to the orifice after extended exposure (more than 96 h); 3) 100 ng/ml or more of LPS can cause dysfunction of cilia in the tympanic cavity, and in particular 1 microgram/ml or more of LPS can quickly disable the ciliary activity in the middle ear distal to the orifice.

Mikrobiologiia, 1987 Nov-Dec, 56(6), 1001 - 5
{Possible mechanisms of the formation of structures in bacterial populations consisting of motile cells}; Novikova IIu; The formation of fixed and moving structures was studied in Escherichia coli populations . The moving and fixed structures were shown to be formed only by bacteria with a taxis system . The moving structures caused an uneven distribution of the substrate concentration . Bacterial growth on agar with the unevenly distributed substrate led to the appearance of fixed structures . Mechanisms responsible for the formation of bacterial structures remain obscure.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Nov, 31(11), 1859 - 60
Correction for bacterial loss in in vitro dilution models; White CA et al.; A new method to correct for bacteria lost to dilution in in vitro kinetic models is presented which includes the influence of the stationary bacterial growth phase . The method imposes an upper limit on bacterial density, in contrast to previous methods.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1987 Nov 1, 258(2), 564 - 73
Bacterial expression and isolation of Petunia hybrida 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase; Padgette SR et al.; 5-enol-Pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP synthase, EPSPS), an in vivo enzyme target of the herbicide glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine), was purified from a Petunia hybrida suspension culture line, MP4-G, by a small-scale high-performance chromatographic purification procedure . The cDNA encoding the mature petunia EPSPS (lacking the chloroplast transit sequence) was cloned into a plasmid, pMON342, for expression in Escherichia coli . This clone complemented the EPSPS deficiency of an E . coli aroA- mutant, and the plant enzyme constituted approximately 1% of the total extractable protein . Large-scale purification of the enzyme from E . coli cells resulted in a highly active protein which was homogeneous as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino terminal sequencing . Antibodies raised against the purified enzyme also reacted with the E . coli EPSPS in Western analyses . The availability of large quantities of the plant enzyme will significantly facilitate mechanistic investigations as well as a comparative study with EPSPS from bacteria and fungi.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Nov, 84(21), 7609 - 13
Protein phosphorylation is involved in bacterial chemotaxis; Hess JF et al.; The nature of the biochemical signal that is involved in the excitation response in bacterial chemotaxis is not known . However, ATP is required for chemotaxis . We have purified all of the proteins involved in signal transduction and show that the product of the cheA gene is rapidly autophosphorylated, while some mutant CheA proteins cannot be phosphorylated . The presence of stoichiometric levels of two other purified components in the chemotaxis system, the CheY and CheZ proteins, induces dephosphorylation . We suggest that the phosphorylation of CheA by ATP plays a central role in signal transduction in chemotaxis.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1987 Nov, 97(5), 469 - 73
Acute bacterial sinusitis and diabetes mellitus; Jackson RM et al.; Diabetes mellitus has deleterious effects on the immune system which may lead to infection that is more serious and difficult to treat . Fifteen diabetic patients with acute bacterial sinusitis are reviewed . Diabetic pathophysiology and its relationship to infection are discussed . A protocol for treatment is outlined, with emphasis on the importance of intravenous antibiotics.

Biochemistry, 1987 Oct 20, 26(21), 6689 - 96
Bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system: association state of membrane-bound mannitol-specific enzyme II demonstrated by inactivation; Pas HH et al.; The quaternary structure of the membrane-bound mannitol permease (EIIMtl) of the bacterial phosphotransferase system in Escherichia coli has been investigated in the membrane by using the radiation inactivation method . The experiments reveal two distinct but interconvertible forms of the permease . The first state is a dimer, and the second state consists of a less active higher molecular weight complex involving the dimer . The equilibrium between these two forms in the membrane can be shifted by changing the pH . At pH 8.1 the dimer is the dominant form . Decreasing the pH results in increased binding of a regulatory protein to the dimer, thus increasing the amount of the higher molecular weight form involving the dimer . Cross-linking EIIMtl in situ, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, resulted in the formation of two cross-linked forms . One is the dimer, and the other has a higher molecular weight . Two-dimensional electrophoresis using a reversible cross-linker revealed no other protein except EIIMtl in these complexes.

Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1987 Oct, 191(4), 260 - 3
{Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis in bacterial epibulbar infections}; Bialasiewicz AA et al.; Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis is now a rare clinical entity . Histologic staging has been updated by infection-immunological findings: phlyctenules have been identified as delayed-type cellmediated immune responses involving bacterial, mycobacterial, chlamydial, fungal or parasitic pathogens . Establishment of a correct diagnosis should include conjunctival and systemic work-ups for pathogenic agents . Case reports of three patients are presented.

Can J Microbiol, 1987 Oct, 33(10), 929 - 32
{Degradation of a commercial surface-active agent, in the presence of a complementary source of carbon, by a selected bacterial colony in a marine environment}; Sigoillot JC et al.; Bacterial communities that can degrade surfactants have been selected from coastal seawaters contaminated by urban sewages . Only the linear fraction of commercial anionic surfactants was quickly degraded, and a residual fraction representing 10% of the initial concentration always remained . The highest concentrations of surfactant tolerated by these communities depend on the nature of the co-substrate and on the degree of adaptation of the selected bacteria.

Am J Med, 1987 Oct, 83(4), 746 - 56
Cerebral infarction from non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis . Clinical and pathological study including the effects of anticoagulation; Rogers LR et al.; The clinical and pathologic findings in 42 autopsy proved cases of cerebral infarction from cancer-associated non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis were reviewed . Carcinoma of the lung was the most common malignancy . Most patients had disseminated cancer, but in six patients, the condition was stable or in remission, and six patients had localized cancer; two patients were not known to have cancer until neurologic symptoms developed . Neurologic symptoms were focal, suggesting stroke in 18; diffuse, suggesting metabolic encephalopathy in nine; and mixed in five . Neurologic signs were often the only evidence of thromboembolism . The definitive diagnostic test was cerebral angiography showing multiple arterial occlusions . Anticoagulation with heparin appeared to help some patients and did not promote brain hemorrhage . Early diagnosis and vigorous treatment of non-bacterial endocarditis may prevent severe neurologic disability.

Blood, 1987 Oct, 70(4), 1180 - 5
Chloramphenicol-induced bone marrow injury: possible role of bacterial metabolites of chloramphenicol; Jimenez JJ et al.; To explore the potential role of some bacterial metabolites of chloramphenicol (CAP) in CAP-induced hematotoxicity, we examined their cytotoxic effects on bone marrow cells in vitro using a number of cytotoxicity parameters . Among the metabolites tested, dehydro-CAP (DHCAP) and p-nitrophenyl-2-amino-3 hydroxypropanone-HCI (NPAP) were more toxic than CAP . DHCAP was at least as toxic as nitroso-CAP . At concentrations of less than or equal to 10(-4) mol/L, DHCAP caused total irreversible inhibition of myeloid colony (CFU-GM) growth and 80% inhibition of DNA synthesis in human bone marrow . Incubation of human bone marrow cells with 10(-4) mol/L nitroso-CAP or DHCAP for 24 hours resulted in 75% and 65% cell death respectively . Although DHCAP was 10- to 20-fold more cytotoxic than CAP, it was only one third as effective in inhibiting mitochondrial protein synthesis, indicating that DHCAP exerts its toxic effect by alternate mechanisms . The cytotoxicity of DHCAP and its relative stability, compared to the unstable nitroso CAP, suggest that this bacterial metabolite of CAP, and possibly others, may play a significant role in CAP-induced hematotoxicity.

J Clin Periodontol, 1987 Oct, 14(9), 515 - 8
The effect on early plaque formation, gingivitis and salivary bacterial counts of mouthwashes containing hexetidine/zinc, aminefluoride/tin or chlorhexidine; Hefti AF et al.; This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of mouthwashes containing hexetidine/zinc (HZA) or tin (ASF) in inhibiting plaque formation and gingivitis in humans . 24 dental students and assistants participated in the study (latin square design) with 7-day test periods . They rinsed twice daily for 1 min with one of the following formulations: HZA = 750 ppm hexetidine/750 ppm zinc acetate, ASF = 100 ppm aminefluorid/310 ppm stannous fluoride, CHX = 0.1% chlorhexidine and M = negative control . Plaque accumulation was determined planimetrically and gravimetrically . Gingivitis was evaluated with the papillary bleeding index . Total colony forming units and S . mutans counts were estimated from saliva samples . The results showed that HZA and CHX almost completely inhibited plaque accumulation and gingivitis . ASF was less effective than HZA and CHX but still reduced plaque significantly compared to the negative control . Furthermore, CHX reduced salivary S . mutans counts.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1987 Oct, 64(4), 466 - 74
Bacterial contamination as a factor influencing the toxicity of materials to the exposed dental pulp; Watts A et al.; Three materials, which had been previously found to be toxic when applied as pulp-capping agents in conventional rat molar pulps, were retested in germ-free rats . All produced much more favorable responses in the pulp, with a lack of inflammation and the presence of dentine bridges in the majority of teeth . It appears that much of the pulp damage previously attributed to the chemical toxicity of materials may be caused by the presence of bacteria . The design of studies intended to evaluate the response of the pulp to materials should include staining techniques that will detect the presence of bacteria on the floors of test cavities.

J Submicrosc Cytol, 1987 Oct, 19(4), 651 - 6
Chronic leucocytoclastic bacterial vitritis . A lymphocyte transmission electron microscopic study; Wirostko E et al.; Ultrastructurally unique and distinctive non-cultivable human and mouse uveitis and vitritis producing bacteria (B) that parasitise, differentiate into both cell walled and cell wall deficient variants within, and destroy polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) were recently reported to be commonly present in the vitreous of chronic idiopathic vitritis patients . In this transmission electron microscopic restudy of the lymphocytes in 8 human and 3 mouse chronically inflamed ocular specimens, all of which had demonstrated those B within PMNL, in each specimen about 3-15% were larger atypical variants and 0.5-1.0% also harbored those B . The earliest detectable B, the 0.005-0.010 micron spherical elemental particles, had a paranuclear cytoskeletal location, where they produced cytoskeletal lysis and nuclear envelope and chromatin lesions . From that site the elemental particles proliferated, elongated, branched, and enlarged into tightly coiled 0.03-0.05 micron in diameter cell wall deficient tubules and elaborated ultrastructurally distinctive 0.5-0.7 micron cell walled B, eventually replacing the cytoskeleton and destroying the lymphocyte.

Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi, 1987 Oct, 39(10), 1749 - 55
{Study on the possibility of bacterial infection through pelvic suction drainage via the vagina set after radical hysterectomy}; Kobayashi H et al.; This study was aimed at clarifying the possibility of bacterial infection through pelvic drainage via the vagina set in the bilateral dead spaces created by radical hysterectomy with lymphnode dissection . Thirty seven patients with uterine cancer underwent radical hysterectomy with lymphnode dissection . Four patients with uterine cancer underwent modified-radical hysterectomy with lymphnode dissection . Silicon suction drains were set in the bilateral dead spaces via the vagina for 3 days . Exudate from the vaginal vault and exudate from each dead space collected aseptically and cultured under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, and the bacterial species were isolated and identified . Bacterial species were found in 75.6% of the vaginal vaults, 42.5% of the right dead spaces and 33.3% of the left dead spaces . When these bacterial species were isolated and identified from dead spaces, it was discovered that the same bacterial species were found in 76.5% of the right dead spaces as in the vaginal vaults and 90.9% in case of the left dead spaces . These results suggest that the pelvic suction catheter introduced via the vagina acts as a vehicle of bacterial infection.

Can J Vet Res, 1987 Oct, 51(4), 525 - 7
Pulmonary bacterial deposition and clearance during ascarid larval migration in weanling pigs; Curtis SE et al.; Pulmonary deposition and clearance of bacteria were measured in weanling pigs, half of which had been inoculated at age 31 days with larvated Ascaris suum ova . Seven days later, when breathing signs of larval migration were pronounced, all pigs were exposed to aerosolized Escherichia coli (strain B) . Then, either immediately after aerosol exposure (for deposition assessment) or immediately after a 120 minute period in filtered air (for clearance), bacteria in the pigs' lungs were counted . Ascarid ova-inoculated pigs did not differ significantly from control pigs for number of bacteria in the lungs after aerosol exposure, but after the 120 minute clearance period they had 7.2 times more than did the control pigs . Thus, in weanling pigs, the breathing-pattern changes that were evident during ascarid-larval migration did not affect pulmonary deposition of inhaled bacteria significantly, but the presence of ascarid larvae in the lungs was associated with impaired pulmonary bacterial clearance.

Am J Vet Res, 1987 Oct, 48(10), 1534 - 9
Profiles of type-II pneumocytes in rats inoculated intratracheally with bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Lopez A et al.; Ultrastructural and morphometric profiles of type-II pneumocytes (P-II) were investigated in rats killed 18 or 24 hours after a single intratracheal inoculation of bacterial (Escherichia coli) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Inoculation with LPS induced pulmonary injury and inflammation, as measured by increased lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities and increased numbers of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in fluid collected by bronchoalveolar lavage . Marked ultrastructural changes and desquamation of a few P-II developed at the time of high activity of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid . Ultrastructural changes included swollen mitochondria and localized cisternal dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum in which was contained membrane-bound homogenous material of medium electron density . Twenty-four hours after LPS inoculation, point-count stereologic analysis and digitizing morphometry revealed greater than 50% increase in P-II size . Changes in cell size corresponded with ultrastructural finding of swollen cells . Results obtained by point-count stereologic analysis and digitizing morphometry were highly correlated (r = 0.95) . Lamellar bodies (LB) comprised 12 to 15% of P-II volume . Volume density and number of LB remained unaltered in LPS-injured P-II, and evidence of accelerated release of LB was not detected after LPS inoculation . Exudated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and pulmonary alveolar macrophages were involved actively in the phagocytosis of LB originating from necrotic and desquamated P-II . On the basis of measurement of enzyme activity (enzymes released into the bronchoalveolar space), considerable ultrastructural alterations developed in P-II when maximal LPS-induced pulmonary cell injury took place.

Toxicol Lett, 1987 Oct, 38(3), 279 - 90
The effect of solvent and extraction methods on the bacterial mutagenicity of sidestream cigarette smoke; Morin RS et al.; The mutagenic activity of sidestream cigarette smoke particles was estimated by testing sidestream cigarette smoke particles which had been collected under controlled burning conditions in the laboratory . Two different extraction methods (Soxhlet and ultrasonic agitation) and 3 different solvents (dichloromethane, methanol, and acetone) were compared for their efficiencies in the extraction of compounds from sidestream cigarette smoke particles which are mutagenic in the Ames test . The mutagenic activity of the sidestream smoke particles was estimated to be 15,000-20,000 revertants per cigarette in TA98 with metabolic activation and 12,000-17,000 revertants per cigarette in TA100 without metabolic activation . Only weak mutagenic activity was detected in TA98 without activation and in TA100 with activation . Under test conditions used, ultrasonic agitation produced the most consistent results and acetone extraction produced the highest levels of mutagenic activity.

Mutat Res, 1987 Oct, 192(2), 99 - 104
Effect of bacterial growth-inhibiting ingredients on the Ames mutagenicity of medicinal herbs; Lee HK et al.; A solvent fractionation method was introduced to screen for mutagenicity in 10 medicinal herbs being consumed in Korea . The Ames mutagenicity test result of Scutellariae and Rhei was significantly increased by eliminating growth-inhibiting substances through solvent fractionation of the crude extract . It is suggested that a physicochemical pretreatment should reduce the false-negative results which are caused by the presence of growth-inhibiting substances in complex mixtures.

Presse Med, 1987 Sep 12, 16(29), 1420 - 3
{Intracranial hypertension in comatose bacterial meningitis}; Gaussorgues P et al.; The intracranial pressure of 31 patients with bacterial meningitis, in a comatose state and with a score lower than 6 on Glasgow's scale, was monitored by means of an extradural captor in order to detect intracranial hypertension and optimize its treatment . All patients had intracranial hypertension during the first 48 hours . Brain perfusion pressure was inferior to 50 mmHg in 5 cases . Computed tomography of the brain showed cerebral oedema in 16 cases . Twenty (64%) of the patient survived, 15 of them without sequelae . Monitoring intracranial pressure in patients with bacterial meningitis and coma makes it possible to optimize treatment and shows that a less than 50 mmHg brain perfusion pressure is associated with a 100% death rate.

Biophys J, 1987 Sep, 52(3), 413 - 9
The stall torque of the bacterial flagellar motor; Meister M et al.; The bacterial flagellar motor couples the flow of protons across the cytoplasmic membrane to the rotation of a helical flagellar filament . Using tethered cells, we have measured the stall torque required to block this rotation and compared it with the torque of the running motor over a wide range of values of proton-motive force and pH . The stall torque and the running torque vary identically: both appear to saturate at large values of the proton-motive force and both decrease at low or high pH . This suggests that up to speeds of approximately 5 Hz the operation of the motor is not limited by the mobility of its internal components or the rates of proton transfer reactions coupled to flagellar rotation.

Ann Surg, 1987 Sep, 206(3), 242 - 50
Pigment gallstones form as a composite of bacterial microcolonies and pigment solids; Stewart L et al.; Although previous studies have suggested that bacteria may contribute to pigment gallstone formation, the current experiments provide evidence that bacteria have a central role in this process . The studies included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of gallstones, measurements of bacterial adherence to gallstones in vitro, and determination of glycocalyx elaboration by biliary bacteria . Gallstones from 85 patients were studied under SEM . Twenty-five (78%) of 32 pigment stones had evidence of bacterial microcolonies throughout the interior of the stones . Bacteria were absent from the interior of all 35 cholesterol stones studied . Composite stones (stones with separate pigment and cholesterol portions) showed evidence of bacteria within the pigment portions in 14 (78%) of 18 cases . Biliary bacteria adhered to the surface of pigment gallstones in vitro in 35 (90%) of 39 cases, compared with three (8%) of 39 cholesterol stones . Glycocalyx was elaborated by bacteria isolated from nine (82%) of 11 patients with either pigment or composite gallstones . One (33%) of three bacterial species from patients with cholesterol gallstone disease produced glycocalyx . These studies indicate that most pigment gallstones obtained from patients in Western cultures form as a composite of bacteria, bacterial glycocalyx, and pigment solids . Bacteria were found in the majority of black as well as brown pigment stones . These findings serve as the basis of a new theory of pigment stone formation in which bacteria and glycocalyx are postulated to be responsible for the precipitation and subsequent agglomeration of bilirubin pigment . These results also suggest that sepsis is more common in pigment gallstone disease because the stones can serve as a sanctuary for bacteria.

Pediatrics, 1987 Sep, 80(3), 342 - 3
Acute illnesses in the 2 weeks after hospitalization for bacterial meningitis; Powell KR et al.; The hospital records of 118 2-month-old to 3-year-old children who had been treated for bacterial meningitis were reviewed . Within 2 weeks after hospitalization, one fourth of the patients sought medical attention for an acute illness, but only one was treated for the possible relapse or recurrence of meningitis . Because only five of the 113 patients with available follow-up information required a diagnostic lumbar puncture procedure, it is not recommended that a lumbar puncture be performed following treatment of bacterial meningitis to provide end-of-treatment baseline information.

J Dent Res, 1987 Sep, 66(9), 1449 - 55
Bacterial endotoxin inhibits migration, attachment, and orientation of human gingival fibroblasts in vitro and delays collagen gel contraction; Pitaru S et al.; The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of endotoxin adsorbed to dental surfaces and to collagen type I on the migration, attachment, and orientation of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) . Transversely cut porcine tooth root slices (RS), 200 micron thick, were prepared . Half of the RS obtained were partially demineralized in EDTA . Half of the demineralized and non-demineralized RS were incubated with 400 micrograms/mL of endotoxin for 24 hr, whereas the other half were maintained in PBS and served as controls . Experimental and control RS were placed on confluent layers of HFG and cultured for six days . Cell migration toward and cell attachment to the periphery of the RS and the formation of oriented cell sheets were assessed by means of photographic techniques . Additionally, six-day-old cultures were fixed and processed for SEM observation . In separate experiments, the effect of endotoxin on cell attachment to collagen type I and on contraction of three-dimensional collagen gels was assessed . It was found that: (i) bacterial endotoxin inhibited migration and attachment of HGF to both demineralized and non-demineralized cementum and interfered with the development of oriented cellular structure: (ii) the inhibitory effect was significantly more pronounced for non-demineralized than for demineralized cementum: (iii) the morphology of HGF attached to endotoxin-treated dental surfaces was altered compared with that of their controls: and (iv) bacterial endotoxin inhibited cell attachment to collagen type I and delayed the contraction of collagen gel.

Rev Med Interne, 1987 Sep-Oct, 8(4), 362 - 71
{Bacterial endocarditis on prosthetic valves}; Chapelon C et al.; Bacterial endocarditis is a rare, but often lethal, complication of cardiac valve replacement . The endocarditis is called "early" when it occurs within 2 months of the operation, and "late" when it develops after that period . Contamination of the prosthesis with bacteria may occur intra-operatively or post-operatively . The clinical diagnosis is often difficult in early endocarditis when another focus of infection is present and in late endocarditis in the absence of fever and positive blood cultures . Isolation of the pathogen from blood cultures is essential to the diagnosis and treatment . Therapeutic surgery now has wider indications than formerly . The incidence of this dangerous complication can only be reduced by well-planned and well executed prophylactic measures.

Radiobiologiia, 1987 Sep-Oct, 27(5), 708 - 11
{Relation between the radioprotective effect of helium-neon laser radiation on bacterial cells and the time period between 2 types of irradiation}; Voskanian KSh et al.; The effect of helium-neon laser radiation (lambda = 633 nm) given to E . coli K-12 cells of various genotypes 4 h following X- or alpha-irradiation was shown to increase the number of viable cells . The irreversible ingradient of a radiation injury to cells remained invariable during the first 60 min after irradiation its values being minimal.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1987 Sep, 135(9), 628 - 31
{Detection of pathogens in bacterial meningitis . Comparison of Gram staining, culture, latex agglutination test and counterimmunoelectrophoresis}; Storm W; To look for the etiologic agent in cerebrospinal fluids of 44 children with meningitis, Gram stain, traditional culture, latex agglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoresis were simultaneously performed . The sensitivity of all four methods was roughly equal . The outstanding importance of the Gram technique has to be emphasized, however . Differences with regard to antigen detection could be observed in patients previously treated with antibiotics, where etiologic agents could still be detected by latex agglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoresis, but not by traditional cultures . A further advantage of the two methods is that they provide results rapidly . The use of all four methods simultaneously allows for optimal results in the detection of causative organisms in cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis.

Infect Immun, 1987 Sep, 55(9), 2148 - 54
Bacterial antigens induce collagenase and prostaglandin E2 synthesis in human gingival fibroblasts through a primary effect on circulating mononuclear cells; Heath JK et al.; Our previous work suggests that one mechanism through which connective tissue breakdown might occur in periodontal diseases is the production of metalloproteinases, including collagenase, by gingival fibroblasts . In this study we investigated whether highly purified preparations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from a number of putative periodontal pathogens could induce monolayer cultures of human gingival fibroblasts to synthesize collagenase and prostaglandin E2 . Using both biochemical assays and immunocytochemical techniques, we found that cells synthesized only very small amounts of collagenase in direct response to LPS or LTA (0.1 to 20.0 micrograms/ml) . At the highest dose of both antigens, prostaglandin E2 production was increased . We then studied whether LPS and LTA could signal collagenase production by interacting primarily with a different cell type . Our results show that LPS and LTA were each able to stimulate cultures of human blood mononuclear cells (greater than 95% monocytes) to release collagenase-inducing cytokines . By indirect immunocytochemistry, we found that a large proportion of human gingival fibroblasts was activated to produce collagenase by supernatants from LPS- and LTA-stimulated mononuclear cells, whereas gingival fibroblasts cultured with supernatants from unstimulated mononuclear cells were not . Furthermore, in a population of activated fibroblasts we demonstrated, using a double-labeling technique, that some cells made collagenase and the specific tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) simultaneously . As yet, the collagenase-inducing signals remain poorly characterized but the interleukins-1 and tumor necrosis factors seem likely candidates.

J Theor Biol, 1987 Aug 7, 127(3), 361 - 72
Bacterial DNA segregation: its motors and positional control; Cavalier-Smith T; A model for DNA segregation in bacteria is proposed which involves not merely growth of the cell membrane and wall, as previously assumed, but also the active movement of one of the two chromosome sister origins by a DNA helicase enzyme and of the chromosome termini and the bulk of the chromosomes by supercoiling tension exerted by DNA gyrase . This provides a unified mechanism for DNA chromosome movement in prosthecate budding bacteria as well as for bacteria that undergo binary fission . The positional control of DNA segregation and the plane of cell division depend, I suggest, on four things: (1) the attachment of the daughter chromosome termini to the cell wall in a position adjacent to the new cell poles at about the time of septation, (2) the displacement of the parental chromosome terminus from this attachment site by the mobile origin, which attaches itself instead to the wall at that point, (3) the movement of the chromosome terminus to a new location in between the daughter origins by the tension of supercoiling, and (4) the determination of the location of the future septum at the position occupied by the chromosome terminus at the time of septal initiation; septum-initiation proteins are postulated to achieve this by binding directly or indirectly to the chromosome terminus . This mechanism automatically ensures ordered DNA segregation in rapidly growing bacteria with more than two sister origins of replication.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 53(8), 1898 - 901
Electrophoretic mobility and hydrophobicity as a measured to predict the initial steps of bacterial adhesion; van Loosdrecht MC et al.; The relationship between physiochemical surface parameters and adhesion of bacterial cells to negatively charged polystyrene was studied . Cell surface hydrophobicity and electrokinetic potential were determined by contact angle measurement and electrophoresis, respectively . Both parameters influence cell adhesion . The effect of the electrokinetic potential increases with decreasing hydrophobicity . Cell surface characteristics determining adhesion are influenced by growth conditions . At high growth rates, bacterial cells tend to become more hydrophobic . This fact can be of ecological significance for controlling the spread of bacteria throughout the environment.

J Clin Pathol, 1987 Aug, 40(8), 849 - 52
Unresponsiveness to skin testing with bacterial antigens in patients with haemophilia A not apparently infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Sharp RA et al.; Unresponsiveness to skin testing with PPD and tetanus toxoid was commonly seen in patients with haemophilia A but not infected with human immunodeficiency virus but was uncommon in controls . Vaccination history indicated that the unresponsive patients had not been immunised in childhood . Other tests of immune competence (skin tests with other antigens, lymphocyte stimulation with mitogens and antigens, and viral serology) showed that the haemophilia A patients had an adequate response to pathogens to which they had been exposed . Five of 12 such patients had a mild T4 lymphopenia, and this may have been related to parenteral administration of large quantities of protein.

J Periodontol, 1987 Aug, 58(8), 553 - 8
Recurrent periodontal disease and bacterial presence in the gingiva; Pertuiset JH et al.; Previous investigations have shown that, in biopsies taken from untreated sites of periodontitis, bacteria were present between the epithelial cells and within the connective tissue . In the present study we have examined Gram-stained sections of diseased gingival sites where the disease had recurred after surgical periodontal treatment . The six subjects chosen for the study were patients who had undergone surgical therapy for the treatment of periodontitis and who, upon subsequent recall visits, showed evidence of at least one site recurrent after treatment as detected by bleeding on probing and increased pocket depth of 5 mm or more . A normal control site from the same patient was chosen, preferably contralaterally, showing positive response to treatment with no signs of disease . Sections were stained with either hematoxylin and eosin for tissue survey or Gram for assessment of bacteria and examined by light microscopy . In many specimens, the bacterial nature of Gram-stained material was substantiated . Preliminary results showed a significantly increased number of bacteria in the refractory sites when compared with control sites which responded positively to treatment . The results of this investigation provided further evidence that bacterial presence inside the periodontal tissue may be an important pathogenic factor in periodontal disease.

Arkh Anat Gistol Embriol, 1987 Aug, 93(8), 82 - 4
{Role of bacterial lipopolysaccharide pyrogenal in the development of congenital defects in embryos of second-generation Syrian hamsters}; Bandazhevskii IuI; Effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (pyrogenal) on development of golden hamster embryos of the second generation has been studied . The female hamsters are given pyrogenal once--intramuscularly 500-625 mpd/kg on the 9th-14th day of pregnancy . The embryos of the second generation are examined on the 15th day of pregnancy . The external observation is performed, body mass is estimated, state of the internal organs is studied . Death and congenital defects of development are essential among the embryos after implantation . Among alive embryos the congenital defects are noticed in 30% of cases, among the dead ones--in 63% . In the control group the congenital defects are found in 1.7% of cases.

Immunobiology, 1987 Aug, 174(4-5), 460 - 72
C5a-specific modulation of phagocyte functions in patients with localized bacterial infections; Mrowietz U et al.; Chemotaxis, enzyme release and superoxide-anion (O2-) generation of purified peripheral blood neutrophils (PMN) and monocytes were studied in a total of 87 patients suffering from localized bacterial infections . Shortly after disease onset, single or several PMN functions became non-responsive to the complement split product C5a . Functional activities elicited by the synthetic peptide f-met-leu-phe or leukotriene B4 remained unaltered . C5a-specific impairment lasted one to several days and returned to normal with the subsidence of the disease . C5a elicited release of beta-glucuronidase as well as generation of superoxide-anions was seen more often to be impaired as compared to chemotactic migration . In contrast to PMN, monocytes from the same patients failed to show paralleling C5a-specific functional alterations . There was no correlation between impairment of PMN functions and plasma levels of the complement split-products C3a and C4a as determined by RIA . It is concluded that in acute infectious disease a graded C5a-specific modulation of PMN functions may be present . This phenomenon is transient and not paralleled by functional alterations of monocytes or changes in plasma complement levels.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 53(8), 1893 - 7
The role of bacterial cell wall hydrophobicity in adhesion; van Loosdrecht MC et al.; In this study, the adhesion of bacteria differing in surface hydrophobicity was investigated . Cell wall hydrophobicity was measured as the contact angle of water on a bacterial layer collected on a microfilter . The contact angles ranged from 15 to 70 degrees . This method was compared with procedures based upon adhesion to hexadecane and with the partition of cells in a polyethylene glycol-dextran two-phase system . The results obtained with these three methods agreed reasonably well . The adhesion of 16 bacterial strains was measured on sulfated polystyrene as the solid phase . These experiments showed that hydrophobic cells adhered to a greater extent than hydrophilic cells . The extent of adhesion correlated well with the measured contact angles (linear regression coefficient, 0.8).

Nature, 1987 Jul 23-29, 328(6128), 340 - 2
Targeting of bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase to mitochondria in transgenic plants; Boutry M et al.; Most mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and are synthesized as precursors containing a presequence at the N terminus . In yeast and in mammalian cells, the function of the presequence in mitochondrial targeting has been revealed by chimaeric gene studies . Fusion of a mitochondrial presequence to a foreign protein coding sequence enables the protein to be imported into mitochondria in vitro as well as in vivo . Whether plant mitochondrial presequences function in the same way has been unknown . We have previously isolated and characterized a nuclear gene (atp2-1) from Nicotiana plumbaginifolia that encodes the beta-subunit of the mitochondrial ATP synthase . We have constructed a chimaeric gene comprising a putative atp2-1 presequence fused to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) coding sequence and introduced it into the tobacco genome . We report here that a segment of 90 amino acids of the N terminus of the beta-subunit precursor is sufficient for the specific targeting of the CAT protein to mitochondria in transgenic plants . Our results demonstrate a high specificity for organelle targeting in plant cells.

J Immunol, 1987 Jul 15, 139(2), 526 - 33
Effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate in murine peritoneal macrophages; Prpic V et al.; LPS and lipid A initiated enhanced hydrolysis of PIP2 in macrophages . When murine peritoneal macrophages were labeled with {2-3H}myoinositol and stimulated with either LPS or lipid A, a rapid (within 10 sec) rise in Ins(1,4,5)P3 was observed . The breakdown pattern of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was complex; this included breakdown of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and formation of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (approximately 10 to 30 sec), and ultimately formation of Ins(1,3,4)P3 (approximately 60 sec) . Within 10 sec after treatment, LPS caused an average increase of about fourfold to fivefold in Ins(1,4,5)P3, which declined over 5 min . When the total isomers of InsP3 were measured, levels rose about twofold in response to LPS or to lipid A and remained elevated for as long as 5 min . Lipid A, in the concentration range of 0.1 to 10 micrograms/ml, induced elevated intracellular levels of Ca2+ as quantified by fluorescence with Quin 2 or with Fura 2 . When single, adherent Fura 2-loaded macrophages were treated with lipid A, basal levels of calcium rose over 10 sec from approximately 55 nM to almost 600 nM . LPS, paradoxically, did not cause such substantial increases in intracellular calcium (i.e., increases of approximately 26 nM) when judged by Fura 2 fluorescence . LPS treatment led to enhanced phosphorylation of a characteristic set of proteins, similar to those induced by stimulating protein kinase C (PKC) with phorbol myristate acetate as previously reported . The enhanced phosphorylation of pp28, pp33, and pp67 in macrophages was evident by 15 min and optimal by 30 min . Taken together, these observations indicate that LPS and lipid A cause increased breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, which led to enhanced intracellular levels of calcium and also to enhanced protein phosphorylation, presumably mediated by PKC . The data thus suggest that one major intracellular signal transduction mechanism, initiated by LPS and lipid A in macrophages, is the rapid breakdown of PIP2.

Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Jul-Aug, 37(7-8), 569 - 82
{Effect of thermal treatment of potato products on nutrient decomposition in the digestive tract of swine . 2 . Nutrient content and bacterial activity in various parts of the intestine}; Meinl M et al.; Dry matter (DM), starch, crude protein (CP), amino acids (AA) and diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) were estimated in the contents of the digestive tract of slaughtered pigs, which were fed a basal diet with raw (rKSt) or with cooked (QuSt) potato starch . When fed rKSt, there was larger quantities of starch and DAPA in the content of the distal small intestine and also of DM, CP, AA and DAPA in the contents of caecum and proximal colon, compared to QuSt . The bacterial breakdown of the raw potato starch granules in the proximal large intestine is shown by microscopic examinations . It is suggested, that the quantity of bacterial protein excreted in the faeces did not allow to quantify the extent of the bacterial activity in the different segments of the digestive tract.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Jul, (7), 74 - 7
{Changes in the functional activity of the liver cells in rabbits during a bacterial infection}; Korinteli VI et al.; In the process of the development of bacterial infections, the activity of marker enzymes in the membrane structure of liver cells has been studied in rabbits by biochemical and electron-histochemical methods . The results of these studies have shown that, simultaneously with the progressing course of cell pathology and inhibition of the function of mitochondria, microsomes and peroxisomes, the lysosomes activate for the realization of the protective function formed in the course of evolution . At the same time the excessive labilization of lysosomal membranes facilitates the development of cell pathology, which is confirmed by the accumulation of residual bodies in the cytoplasm.

Infection, 1987 Jul-Aug, 15(4), 232 - 6
Early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: values of ascitic fluid variables; Lee HH et al.; In a search for clinical and laboratory factors that would aid in early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, we identified two groups of patients with chronic liver disease and ascites: 1) 38 patients with 40 episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and 2) 39 randomly selected patients with 40 sterile paracenteses who were matched for severity of liver dysfunction as a reference group . A variety of clinical and laboratory features were examined . The absolute lymphocyte count in peripheral blood was lower for the spontaneous bacterial peritonitis group (mean = 703/mm3 vs . 1,212/mm3, p less than 0.005) . Four ascitic fluid variables, i.e., a white blood cell count of greater than or equal to 300/mm3, a polymorphonuclear leukocyte count of greater than or equal to 240/mm3, an ascitic fluid/serum LDH ratio of greater than or equal to 0.4, or an ascitic fluid/serum glucose ratio of less than or equal to 1.0, could separate the spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and reference groups with both sensitivity and specificity of greater than 70% . Although ascitic fluid total leucocyte and polymorphonuclear leucocyte counts are appropriate indicators for the early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, the possibility of their false positivity should be warranted . The use of multiple tests including ascitic fluid/serum LDH and glucose ratios has better positive predictive value than a single test alone.

Immunol Lett, 1987 Jul, 15(3), 261 - 5
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide suppresses the expression of lipoprotein lipase in murine macrophages: a process independent of tumor necrosis factor or interleukin 1; Sopher O et al.; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modulates macrophage functions and induces the synthesis and secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) in these cells . The latter two factors but not LPS suppress lipoprotein lipase (LPL) synthesis and secretion in adipocytes . Since the regulation of LPL secretion in macrophages is rather poorly understood, we investigated the effect of the macrophage activator LPS on LPL secretion by macrophages . LPS suppressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner the heparin-induced secretion of LPL from the macrophage-like tumor cell line J774.1 and from bone marrow derived mononuclear phagocytes (BMM) . Suppression of LPL secretion from J774.1 and that from BMM reached about 66 and 50%, respectively, within 8 h of exposure to 500 ng/ml LPS . LPS did not inhibit the enzymic activity of LPL when added directly to the cell free enzyme assay system . Human recombinant TNF (1000 U/ml) and murine recombinant IL-1 (100 U/ml) did not affect LPL secretion or cell proliferation in the J774.1 cell line over a period of 72 and 24 h, respectively . Thus LPS regulates macrophage secretion of LPL in a mechanism independent of the induction of autocrine production of TNF and IL-1, and possesses a disparate pattern of regulation to that expressed by adipose tissue cells.

Cell Immunol, 1987 Jul, 107(2), 263 - 72
Increased activation of antigen-primed or memory B cells by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Fauntleroy MB et al.; Treatment with bacterial lipopolysaccharide elicits the appearance of greater numbers of background antigen-specific plaque-forming cells (PFC) in the spleens of mice previously exposed or primed to subimmunogenic amounts of various non-cross-reacting antigens so as to generate detectable immunological memory . These findings suggest that treatment with lipopolysaccharide results in the activation of increased numbers of antigen-primed or memory B cells in mice previously exposed to antigen.

J Immunol, 1987 Jul 1, 139(1), 10 - 7
B cell stimulatory factor-1 (interleukin 4) prepares resting murine B cells to secrete IgG1 upon subsequent stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Snapper CM et al.; B cell stimulatory factor-1 (BSF-1)/interleukin 4 markedly enhances IgG1 and IgE secretion by B cells stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . We show that preincubation of resting B cells with BSF-1 alone prepares them to secrete IgG1, but not IgE, on subsequent stimulation with LPS . The ability of BSF-1 preincubation to increase overall viable cell yield on the subsequent addition of LPS only partially accounts for this enhancement . The degree of enhancement is dependent on the duration of preincubation, up to at least 48 hr . BSF-1 exerts this effect on resting B cells which have been selected for absence of surface IgG and in the presence of the reversible DNA synthesis inhibitor, hydroxyurea . BSF-1 can act to significantly enhance the IgG1 response when added for 48-hr periods before, at the same time as, or after the addition of LPS . These results suggest strongly that the mode of action of BSF-1 in preparing for the secretion of IgG1 is independent of that of LPS.

Kidney Int, 1987 Jul, 32(1), 31 - 8
Procoagulant activity in kidneys of normal and bacterial lipopolysaccharide-treated rabbits; Brukman J et al.; Fibrin formation in the kidney is frequently associated with clinically-significant renal dysfunction . We therefore measured and characterized the procoagulant activity (PCA) which is present in normal kidneys and in kidneys of rabbits with the Shwartzman phenomenon induced by two injections of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; E . coli LPS 055:B5,25 micrograms/kg and 50 micrograms/kg administered 24 hrs apart with rabbits sacrificed 12 hrs after the second injection) . PCA was measured in sonicated tissue by one-stage coagulation assay . In normal kidneys the amounts of PCA in the inner medulla, outer medulla and inner cortex were 18.2 +/- 3.2, 44.1 +/- 3.8 and 78.5 +/- 5.7 percent, respectively, of that in the outer cortex (N = 31) . Glomeruli (purified by the iron oxide magnetic method to greater than 95 percent homogeneity) contained 21.6 +/- 8.8 arbitrary units/micrograms protein compared with tubular fragments which contained 13.9 +/- 2.6 U/micrograms protein (N = 9) . In LPS-treated rabbits PCA (in units/micrograms) increased in outer cortex from 33.7 +/- 3.9 (control) to 73.4 +/- 10.4 (LPS, P less than 0.01), in inner cortex from 26.7 +/- 2.9 (control) to 83.3 +/- 17 (LPS, P less than 0.02), in outer medulla from 12.9 +/- 2.4 (control) to 54.5 +/- 16.5 (LPS, P less than 0.05), and in inner medulla from 12.2 +/- 2.4 (control) to 32.1 +/- 4.9 (LPS, P less than 0.01) . Glomerular PCA increased from 21.6 +/- 8.8 (control) to 88.8 +/- 20.7 (LPS) units/micrograms (P = 0.01), while tubular fragment preparation PCA increased from 13.9 +/- 2.6 (control) to 44.6 +/- 12.7 (LPS) U/micrograms (P = 0.02) (N = 9 per group).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Forensic Sci, 1987 Jul, 32(4), 888 - 99
Evidence that "vaginal peptidase" is a bacterial gene product; Blake ET et al.; A peptidase has been described in vaginal samples, termed "vaginal peptidase." This enzyme has been proposed as a tissue specific marker for vaginal debris . We have explored the presence of this enzyme in vaginal swabs from alleged sexual assault victims and volunteer donors as well as bacterial cultures . These studies reveal that "vaginal peptidase" is composed of a family of peptidase isozymes that originate from several bacterial species . The characterization of "vaginal peptidase" as a tissue specific marker for vaginal debris is premature.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jul, 184(5), 412 - 23
{Dynamics of endogenous bacterial nitrite formation in the stomach . 6 . Redox potential and nitrite formation in stomach secretions}; Mueller RL et al.; The redox potential depending on the pH-value and the concentration of nitrite was examined in the fasting gastric juice samples of 132 anamnestically healthy, young, voluntary test-persons . It turned out that small pH-values (acid) are associated with high redox potentials and big pH-values (neutral) with smaller redox potentials . Therefore the hydrogen ion pressure (rH-value) resulting from these two quantities generally is situated in the indifferent range . Reducing properties of the whole juice can only occasionally be found, and apparently only then, if a neutral juice is acidified . Oxidizing properties have to be classified as exceptional cases . It cannot absolutely be traced on behalf of the findings, that can be raised with natural juices, if and when answered affirmatively, which effects the redox potential has on the formation of bacterial nitrite.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jul, 184(5), 403 - 11
{Dynamics of endogenous bacterial nitrite formation in the stomach . 5 . Dependence of the nitrate concentration on the pH value of the stomach secretion}; Mueller RL; The content of nitrate and nitrite was examined in the fasting gastric juice samples of 54 anamnestically healthy, young voluntary test-persons after at least 12 h of food abstinence . The analysis was made separately each time for the proper watery gastric juice as well as for the gastric mucus . It could be shown that significant differences exist between the concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the juice and the gastric mucus, that there is a pH-dependence in the concentration of nitrate in the juice and that the already earlier described gastric source of nitrate by the enrichment of nitrate ions in the juice producing glands of the gastric lining can be confirmed here too.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jul, 184(5), 386 - 402
{Dynamics of endogenous bacterial nitrite formation in the stomach . 4 . Localization and reciprocal action of nitrate and nitrite in the healthy human stomach}; Mueller RL et al.; The nitrate and nitrite concentrations of 42 fasting gastric juice samples of young healthy human volunteers were analysed . It could be shown by separate determination of the concentration in the real secrete and the mucous gel that the amount of nitrate in the gel is about ten times higher than in the real secrete . The former conception, after which nitrate only gets by swallowed saliva into the stomach, has to be completed . It is obvious that the mucigenous glands of the stomach, like the saliva glands, are also able of nitrate enrichment and secretion . These results are very important for the evaluation of nitrate as a precursor of cancerogenic N-nitroso compounds.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jul, 184(5), 376 - 85
{Dynamics of endogenous bacterial nitrite formation in the stomach . 3 . Dependence of nitrate and nitrite concentration on secretion volume}; Mueller RL et al.; The nitrate and nitrite concentration of 96 fasting gastric juice samples of young healthy volunteers were analysed . Two different methods have been used to take the gastric juice: 54 secrete samples were taken directly from the stomach, 42 secrete samples were taken after instillation of 500 ml sterile nitrite and nitrate free NaCl solution ("gastric-washing") . It could be shown that the expected high dilution of nitrite and nitrate concentration after gastric washing does not occur . A possible explanation might be that the solubilisation we could formerly observe in a biological pattern leads to a release of ions . This fact is very important for the question of endogen synthesis of cancerogenic N-nitroso compounds, because high nitrite and nitrate concentrations are subjects of interests as precursors of these compounds.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jul, 184(5), 359 - 75
{Dynamics of endogenous bacterial nitrite formation in the stomach . 2 . Follow-up observations with standardized secretion from the porcine stomach}; Mueller RL et al.; The bacterial nitrite synthesis in gastric juice from porcine stomach mucin and the decrease of nitrite after adding acid, which has often been described in literature-results of an examination with a standardizable biomodel . A decrease of nitrite concentration was only seen after adding a small volume acid of high concentration . Simulating the acid secretion by a large volume of low concentrated acid mixed with pepsin-solution (artificial gastric secrete, DAB 8) a considerable increase of nitrite concentration can be observed . An explanation can be the structure of stomach mucous gel can be solubilized in water and thus the ions are liberized inside of the stomach mucin . In the discussion of the endogenous synthesis of cancerogenic N-Nitroso-compounds it must be considered if this phenomena also can be observed in human secretes.

J Lipid Res, 1987 Jul, 28(7), 856 - 63
7-Methyl bile acids: 7 beta-methyl-cholic acid inhibits bacterial 7-dehydroxylation of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid in the hamster; Kuroki S et al.; The effect of dietary 7 beta-methyl-cholic acid {0.075% in rodent chow (6.4 mg/animal per day)} on cholesterol and bile acid metabolism was studied and compared with that of cholic acid in the hamster . Following oral administration of 7 beta-methyl-cholic acid for 3 weeks, the glycine-conjugated bile acid analog became a major constituent of gallbladder bile . Biliary cholic acid concentration decreased significantly, while that of chenodeoxycholic acid remained unchanged . Serum and liver cholesterol levels were increased by dietary 7 beta-methyl-cholic acid and by cholic acid . Hepatic microsomal HMG-CoA reductase activity was inhibited (30% of the control value) by both bile acids; cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was not affected . In chow controls and cholic acid-fed animals, bacterial 7-dehydroxylation of {14C}chenodeoxycholic acid and {14C}cholic acid was nearly complete . In contrast, dietary 7 beta-methyl-cholic acid effectively prevented the 7-dehydroxylation of the two primary bile acids . These results show that dietary 7 beta-methyl-cholic acid is preserved in the enterohepatic circulation and has an effect on serum and liver cholesterol concentrations similar to those produced by the naturally occurring cholic acid . 7 beta-Methyl-cholic acid is an efficient inhibitor of the bacterial 7-dehydroxylation of the primary bile acids in the hamster.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1987 Jul, 69(1), 68 - 78
Defective degradation of bacterial DNA by phagocytes from patients with systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus; Roberts PJ et al.; The digestion of bacterial DNA by peripheral blood monocytes was impaired both in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) . The monocytes of these patients had both a small quantitative defect in the solubilization of DNA and a marked qualitative defect in the extent to which this DNA was degraded . In addition, neutrophils from patients with SLE released significantly less high molecular-weight DNA than control cells . Digestion of bacterial RNA and protein by phagocytes was not defective in either disease . The reduced digestion of DNA by phagocytes resulted in concomitantly larger amounts of high molecular-weight DNA remaining in these cells . Such sequestration of DNA may contribute to the persistence of fairly large DNA fragments in the tissue of patients with lupus erythematosus.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Jul, 84(14), 4811 - 5
Engineered defective interfering RNAs of Sindbis virus express bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase in avian cells; Levis R et al.; We are investigating the feasibility of using the positive-strand RNA virus Sindbis virus and its defective interfering (DI) particles as vectors for introducing foreign genes into cells . In previous work we showed by deletion mapping of a cloned cDNA derived from one of the DI RNAs that only nucleotides at the 3' and 5' termini of the RNA are essential for the DI RNA to be amplified after it is transfected into cells in the presence of helper virus . As a first step in developing a vector we replaced 75% of the internal nucleotides of this DI cDNA with foreign sequences including the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT; EC 2.3.1.28) gene . DI RNAs transcribed from this cDNA were replicated and packaged by helper Sindbis virus and became a major viral RNA species in infected cells by the third passage after transfection . They were also translated to produce enzymatically active CAT . CAT activity was measured at passage 3 but could also be detected in transfected cells . DI RNAs containing the CAT gene were translated in vivo and in vitro to produce two polypeptides immunoprecipitable by anti-CAT antibodies . One polypeptide was identical in size to the authentic CAT polypeptide; the other was the size expected for a protein initiated at an upstream, viral-specific AUG in frame with the CAT AUG . These studies establish that DI genomes of Sindbis virus can tolerate the insertion and direct the expression of at least one foreign gene.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1987 Jun 30, 145(3), 1315 - 20
Inhibitors of protein kinase C block activation of B lymphocytes by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Rush JS et al.; Activation of murine splenic B lymphocytes (B cells) by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was found to be markedly inhibited by 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) and N-{2-(methylamino)ethyl}-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-8), two potent inhibitors of protein kinases . The higher sensitivity of DNA synthesis, RNA synthesis and protein N-glycosylation activity to H-7, relative to H-8, strongly supports the proposal that protein kinase C plays a critical role in the activation of B cells . A kinetic study on the time of addition of H-7 indicated that protein kinase C promoted the activation process continuously after the addition of LPS.

Nature, 1987 Jun 18-24, 327(6123), 635 - 8
A novel calcium binding site in the galactose-binding protein of bacterial transport and chemotaxis; Vyas NK et al.; The refined 1.9-A resolution structure of the periplasmic D-galactose-binding protein (GBP) reveals a calcium ion surrounded by seven ligands, all protein oxygen atoms . A nine-residue loop (amino-acid positions 134-142), which is preceded by a beta-turn and followed by a beta-strand, provides five ligands from every second residue . The last two ligands are supplied by the carboxylate group of Glu 205 . The entire GBP Ca2+-binding site adopts a conformation very similar to the site in the 'helix-loop-helix' or 'EF-hand' unit commonly found in intracellular calcium-binding proteins, but without the two helices . Structural analyses have also uncovered the sugar-binding site some 30 A from the calcium and a site for interacting with the membrane-bound trg chemotactic signal transducer approximately 45 A from the calcium . Our results show that a common tight calcium binding site of ancient origin can be tethered to different secondary structures . They also provide the first demonstration of a metal-binding site in a protein which is involved in bacterial active transport and chemotaxis.

Biochemistry, 1987 Jun 16, 26(12), 3347 - 54
Optically detected magnetic resonance of tryptophan residues in complexes formed between a bacterial single-stranded DNA binding protein and heavy atom modified poly(uridylic acid); Khamis MI et al.; Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) methods were employed to study three single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) proteins encoded by plasmids of enteric bacteria: pIP71a, R64, and F . Equilibrium binding isotherms obtained by fluorescence titrations reveal that the complexes of the plasmid SSB proteins with heavy atom modified polynucleotides are readily disrupted by salt . Since all the plasmid SSB proteins show limited solubility at low ionic strength (pIP71a greater than R64 greater than F), we were able to bind only the pIP71a protein to mercurated poly(uridylic acid) {poly(5-HgU)} and brominated poly(uridylic acid) {poly(5-BrU)} . ODMR results reveal the existence of at least one heavy atom perturbed, red-shifted, stacked Trp residue in these complexes . Amplitude-modulated phosphorescence microwave double resonance spectra display selectively the phosphorescence associated with Hg-perturbed Trp residue(s) in the pIP71a SSB protein-poly(5-HgU) complex, which has a broad, red-shifted 0,0-band . Our results suggest that Trp-135 in Escherichia coli SSB, which is absent in the plasmid-encoded SSB proteins, is located in a polar environment and is not involved in stacking interactions with the nucleotide bases . Phosphorescence spectra and lifetime measurements of the pIP71a SSB protein-poly (5-BrU) complex show that at least one Trp residue in the complex does not undergo stacking . This sets a higher limit of two stacking interactions of Trp residues with nucleotide bases in complexes of pIP71a SSB with single-stranded polynucleotides.

J Immunol, 1987 Jun 15, 138(12), 4395 - 401
The immune response to bacterial dextrans . V . A "dominant" idiotype in IgCHb mice; Lundkvist I et al.; A battery of syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies was prepared against a monoclonal C57BL/6 anti-Dextran B512 antibody (17-9) . Two such anti-idiotypes were shown to bind to sites on the 17-9 molecule which are related to the Dex-binding site and were used to characterize the anti-Dex antibody response in a number of inbred mouse strains . The results show that the 17-9 idiotype is recurrently expressed by all mice carrying the IgCHb haplotype, regardless of H-2 or background genes, and that this idiotype accounts for roughly one-half of the primary, specific response to Dex B512 in C57BL/6 mice . Backcross analysis confirmed the allotype-linkage of idiotype expression in the antibody response . Mice carrying other allotypes, however, had detectable levels of the 17-9 idiotype in normal sera, which was not associated with anti-Dex antibody activity and was not raised by specific immunization . Together with previous observations, these results characterize a second "recurrent" idiotype in the anti-alpha,1-6 response of IgCHb mice, both of which are expressed in the normal serum of all mouse strains tested.

J Immunol, 1987 Jun 15, 138(12), 4175 - 9
Regulation by interferons of the local inflammatory response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Heremans H et al.; Footpad swelling developing in mice after local injection of LPS (S . marcescens) was found to consist of two phases with peaks occurring on days 2 to 3 and 6 to 8, respectively . Histopathologically, the reaction was characterized by edema and mononuclear cell infiltration; the second peak was associated with intravascular thrombosis as is typically described for the Shwartzman reaction to LPS . Recombinant DNA-derived IFN-gamma, administered by i.p . injection, had a suppressive effect on the development of the reaction . The same effect was seen with recombinant DNA-derived IFN-alpha 1 and with the natural mixture of IFN-alpha and -beta . In mice pretreated with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to IFN-gamma, the footpad response to LPS was modified in that a delayed monophasic rather than a biphasic response occurred . These data indicate that LPS induces local production of IFN-gamma, which acts as a trigger or positive regulator of the reaction . The effect of a single pretreatment with neutralizing anti-IFN-gamma antibody was found to last for as long as 6 wk . Experiments in which antibody administration was delayed till after LPS challenge indicated that endogenous IFN-gamma was also involved in the late phases of the inflammation . The results show that regulation of inflammation by interferons is complex in that local IFN-gamma acts as a positive factor, whereas systemic IFN-alpha 1 and -gamma, probably through indirect mechanisms, downregulate inflammation.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1987 Jun, 37(6), 713 - 6
Bacterial pyrogens of different origin and pharmacokinetics of rifampicin; Lavicky J et al.; Changes of pharmacokinetics of rifampicin (RFP, Rifadin were investigated on endotoxin pretreated still not ruminant calves . The animals served as their own controls and drug administration twice in a 1-week interval gave the same results . Endotoxin 0.02 micrograms kg-1 given intravenously 1 h prior to the oral administration of RFP (20 mg kg-1) induced considerable pharmacokinetic changes . The serum levels of the total drug were significantly lower after the endotoxin administration . The pharmacokinetic analysis revealed significant changes mainly in the distribution phase . When both toxin and drug were administered intravenously, the drug levels were higher . The results are discussed with reference to the pathophysiological endotoxin changes . After the toxin administration the bioavailability of oral RFP was 4-fold lower.

Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 1987 Jun, 54(2), 107 - 11
The relationship between the skin and some bacterial species occurring on it in the Merino; Jansen BC et al.; Ten bacterial species were isolated from areas on the skin of Merino sheep affected by a chronic scaly condition leading to retarded wool growth . The growth requirements of the bacteria were studied and it was shown that they could multiply under the conditions prevailing on the skin if moisture was provided . All the bacteria isolated have the ability to stimulate the infiltration of round cells into the dermis, which is the essential feature of the pathological changes in the naturally affected skin . It was concluded that the bacteria have a decided aetiological role.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 25(6), 1129 - 30
Diagnosis of ear canker in dogs by bacterial-colony displacement; Goldsmid JM et al.; The diagnosis of a case of ear canker in a dog by bacterial-colony displacement is described . In this case, the causative mite was detected on the primary plates inoculated from a bacterial swab . This result indicates that the phenomenon of bacterial-colony displacement should be noted and investigated in diagnostic laboratories, as it indicates the presence of a range of motile metazoan parasites which may prove to be of clinical significance.

Blood, 1987 Jun, 69(6), 1622 - 30
Deficiency of leukocyte surface glycoproteins Mo1, LFA-1, and Leu M5 in a dog with recurrent bacterial infections: an animal model; Giger U et al.; A dog with severe recurrent bacterial infections, impaired pus formation, delayed wound healing, and severe persistent leukocytosis was the result of a mother-son mating . Assessment of leukocyte function revealed profound abnormalities in adherence-dependent activities including impaired granulocyte adhesion to glass/plastic surfaces or nylon wool, decreased granulocyte aggregation and chemotaxis, and diminished lymphocyte blastogenesis, but normal neutrophil oxidative activity, serum immunoglobulin, and complement levels . By immunofluorescence analysis, CD11b and CD18 monoclonal antibodies specific for the 155-kd alpha polypeptide of Mo1 (gp 155, 94) and the 94 kd beta peptide common to Mo1, LFA-1 (gp 170, 94), and Leu M5 (p 150, 94) (surface molecules that promote leukocyte adhesion) failed to bind to unstimulated and A23187 calcium ionophore-stimulated granulocytes or mononuclear cells of the affected dog as compared with strong specific binding to canine control cells . The Mo1 glycoproteins were only barely detectable by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of immunoprecipitates from lysates of 125I surface-labeled neutrophils from the affected dog as compared with intense bands seen with canine control cell precipitates . We conclude that this dog has a severe leukocyte surface glycoprotein deficiency syndrome that is similar, if not identical, to that recently recognized in humans . Dogs with deficiency of leukocyte Mo1, LFA-1, and Leu M5 expression may represent a useful animal model to characterize further the molecular basis for an inherited disorder in leukocyte effector function.

J Am Dent Assoc, 1987 Jun, 114(6), 783 - 6
An evaluation of a glass ionomer luting agent: bacterial leakage; Fitzgerald M et al.; This study quantitatively evaluates the bacterial leakage beneath crowns cemented with a glass ionomer cement compared with those cemented with a polycarboxylate cement or a varnish plus zinc phosphate cement . Bacterial samples were taken from beneath full crowns cemented with the test luting agents 3, 10, and 56 days after cementation . Two-way analysis of variance of the resultant data showed a significant increase in bacterial counts for zinc phosphate, a significant decrease for polycarboxylate, and no change for glass ionomer . These findings suggest that bacterial leakage may not be the reason for the reported poor clinical response associated with glass ionomer luting agents.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jun, 265(1-2), 82 - 98
{Comparison of 4 methods of bacterial count determination in burn wounds}; Winkler M et al.; The present study includes twelve patients with second and third degree fresh burns involving 10-70 per cent total body surface area . Standardized surface swab, gaze pad contact, Rodac plates, and burn wound biopsy cultures were obtained twice per week . The various techniques were compared by 48 independent measurements . Confluent growth occur in more than 70 per cent of the Rodac agar plates . There was a significant (alpha less than 1%) correlation between the results of the surface swab and the gaze pad method . A comparison of the number of viable bacteria detected with the burn wound biopsy technique and the surface methods (gaze pad and surface swab) showed no significant correlation . In addition, the number of colony forming units in 8 parallel cultures obtained from different sites of the burn wound was determined . The standard error of mean (SEM) varied between 1.01 log (biopsy), 0.91 log (gaze pad) and 0.61 log (surface swab) . Several case reports emphasize that the quantitative biopsy culture seems to give most reliable data in predicting burn wound sepsis.

Helv Paediatr Acta, 1987 Jun, 42(1), 55 - 7
Transient paraparesis following bacterial meningitis; Nadal D et al.; Transient paraparesis in a nine-year-old girl with pneumococcal meningitis is reported . The literature about the rare involvement of spinal cord in meningitis is reviewed.

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1987 Jun, 15(1), 35 - 51
Immobilized bacterial luciferase and its applications; Ugarova NN et al.; This review discusses the properties of the bioluminescent bacterial system as well as the methods for immobilization of bacterial luciferases and for their co-immobilization with other enzymes . The analytical systems using immobilized bacterial luciferases and their applications in analytical biochemistry and biotechnology have been described.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jun, 184(3-4), 280 - 6
{Pilot study of the nitrate, nitrite and bacterial content of human saliva as a function of environmental factors}; Broschinski L et al.; In a random sample comprising 160 test persons nitrate (12.4 +/- 7.6 mg/l) and nitrite (5.7 +/- 4.0 mg/l) concentrations as well as bacteria counts in saliva were determined . No dependence of the values from age and sex could be detected, whereas smokers have lower concentrations of both nitrate and nitrite . Persons suffering from inflammatory diseases did not have enhanced nitrate concentrations . Role of bacteria for nitrite production is confirmed . Patients, regularly taking nitro-remedies, showed enhanced NO3--(25.8 mg/l) and NO2--(8.4 mg/l)-values.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jun, 184(3-4), 229 - 52
{Aerosol disinfection of bacterial spores}; Theilen U et al.; The present investigations are divided into two parts . First it is tested which commercial disinfectants are efficient in aerosol disinfection of bacterial spores . This part is carried out in an aerosol chamber with airborne spores (laboratory experiments) . The best results are obtained with peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and formaldehyde are effective with some restrictions . With these disinfectants it is tested in the second part if the aerosol disinfecting-method is capable for disinfecting rooms with electronic equipment . This part is carried out in a vessel under open air conditions (field experiments) . Bacterial spores dried on germ carriers of limewood, aluminium and rusty iron are exposed to disinfectant aerosols under those temperature and relative humidity conditions which are representative for the four seasons in Germany . In these investigations there are also included germ carriers with spores, that have been lyophilized without any protective substances respectively with Bentonite, Mixtura desiccans and Silicagel + Serum as protective substances . To check the corrosive effect of disinfectant aerosols electronic pocket calculators and pocket transistor receivers have been exposed to the aerosols . The best results are obtained with formaldehyde at temperatures above 10 degrees C and relative humidities within 65% to 95% . At temperatures and relative humidity conditions outside of this optimal range the effectiveness of formaldehyde tends to zero . Hydrogen peroxide is capable for disinfecting spores on germ carriers of limewood and aluminium at all temperature and relative humidity conditions; on germ carriers of rusty iron the effectiveness is reduced strongly . Same results could be obtained with peracetic acid respectively a mixture of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide . With these disinfectants a decontamination of rusty iron surfaces is impossible too except the germ concentration on the surface is below 10(4) CFU/cm2 . As to the protective substances used in the lyophilization process Bentonite and Mixtura desiccans cause hardly any change in the disinfectant resistance of bacterial spores . Silicagel + Serum in comparison to that protects the imbedded spores that far, that no disinfection of these germ carriers was achieved with the oxidizing agents . As about 15 disinfection runs with each disinfectant did not cause permanent damages to the pocket calculators and transistor receivers it can be emphasized as result of these investigations that aerosol disinfection is an effective method in disinfecting rooms with electronic equipment under middle European climate conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 Jun, 62(6), 551 - 4
A modified Kelsey-Sykes method for testing disinfectants with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride reduction as an indicator of bacterial growth; Mattila T; Different dilutions of chlorhexidine gluconate were tested by the Kelsey-Sykes procedure . The method was further modified on microtitration plates using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduction as an indicator of bacterial growth . There was a good correlation with the results based on TTC reduction and the conventional method based on turbidity changes caused by bacterial growth . Furthermore, the modified method using TTC reduction is more rapid and can be read by the naked eye because of the red colour.

J Card Surg, 1987 Jun, 2(2), 265 - 74
Surgical techniques for treatment of bacterial endocarditis of the mitral valve; Cachera JP et al.; Bacterial endocarditis of the mitral valve appears to be much less common than bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve . One of the main etiologic factors is the presence of degenerative lesions of the mitral apparatus, ballooning or mitral floppy valve . The surgical anatomy of the lesions is described: vegetations, perforations, rupture of chordae tendinae, abscess of the mitral ring observed in the isolated mitral endocarditis, mitral-aortic dislocation, abscesses and aneurysms of the mitral-aortic fibrosa and jet lesions on the anterior mitral leaflet . In the isolated primitive mitral infective lesions, all the technical skills are directed toward the prevention of the perivalvular leakage of the prostheses . Special procedures are described for the management of the abscesses of the mitral ring . In patients with mitral-aortic lesions, the main problem is treatment of the dislocation of the annuli or aneurysms of the mitral-aortic fibrosa . Despite technical advances, the surgical prognosis of the mitral endocarditis remains severe . In a personal series, the authors recorded a mortality of 12% in isolated mitral cases and 42% in the combined mitral-aortic patients . Early surgical treatment remains the most significant factor in decreasing the fatality of such lesions.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 May 15, 165(1), 177 - 83
Coreconstitution of bacterial ATP synthase with monomeric bacteriorhodopsin into liposomes . A comparison between the efficiency of monomeric bacteriorhodopsin and purple membrane patches in coreconstitution experiments; Wagner N et al.; The conditions for coreconstitution of a bacterial ATP synthase and bacteriorhodopsin into lecithin liposomes and for light driven ATP synthesis have been optimized . A rate of maximally 280 nmol ATP min-1 mg ATP synthase-1 was achieved with monomerized bacteriorhodopsin compared with a rate of up to 45 nmol ATP min-1 mg-1 found for proteoliposomes containing bacteriorhodopsin in the form of purple membrane patches . The different rates are explained by the finding that monomeric bacteriorhodopsin is more homogeneously distributed among the liposomes than the purple membrane patches . The final activities depended on both the purification method for the two proteins and the coreconstitution procedure . Furthermore, the ratio (lipid to bacteriorhodopsin to ATP synthase) could be optimized . Light-driven ATP synthesis depends also on the type of detergent used . The best result was obtained by deoxycholate . Also the relationship between proton translocation (by bacteriorhodopsin) and ATP synthesis activity was measured . A constant H+/ATP ratio was found at higher light intensities . This ratio increased strongly at lower light intensities.

J Mol Biol, 1987 May 5, 195(1), 99 - 113
Regulation of mini-F plasmid DNA replication . A quantitative model for control of plasmid mini-F replication in the bacterial cell division cycle; Womble DD et al.; A quantitative model for the regulation of replication of plasmid mini-F in the Escherichia coli cell division cycle has been developed . The essential repE gene of mini-F encodes a polypeptide that serves both as a positive replication initiation protein and as a regulatory repressor protein . The mini-F regulatory processes include the interaction of repressor with an operator site in the autogenous control of transcription of the repE gene, and the binding of initiator to repeated DNA sequences located both downstream from the repE gene and at the replication origin . A statistical thermodynamic model was used to predict probable configurations of the regulatory processes in a single growing cell . These probabilities were coupled by a kinetic model to events of the cell cycle such as mRNA transcription and protein translation, and the initiation of plasmid DNA replication . Parameter values were chosen so that the simulated values for plasmid copy number and repressor and initiator protein concentrations of the model agreed with experimentally determined estimates for mini-F . Simulations of deviations from regular segregation of plasmid copies at cell division and of premature or delayed initiation of plasmid replication suggest that mini-F replication control responds rapidly and precisely to these perturbations . The simulations also accurately mimic the response of plasmid mini-F to various plasmid copy number mutations and to various mini-F regulatory elements provided in trans . These simulations predict a stable pattern of inheritance for plasmid mini-F despite its low plasmid copy number, in agreement with experimental observation.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 May, (5), 83 - 8
{Morphological changes in the liver cells of rabbits with a bacterial infection}; Dzhidzheishvili LSh et al.; In the process of bacterial infection in rabbits, their livers have been studied by means of light and electron microscopy, as well as by morphometric analysis . The results evidence pathomorphologic and ultrastructural changes occurring in liver cells . These changes, probably, cause different metabolic disturbances and thus facilitate the development of destructive processes in vital organs.

Farmakol Toksikol, 1987 May-Jun, 50(3), 67 - 8
{Effect of the bacterial polysaccharide pyrogenal on embryogenesis in noninbred white rats}; Bandazhevskii IuI; Pyrogenal was administered intramuscularly to albino rats in different terms of pregnancy in a single dose of 1000-1250 MTD/kg, twice with a 24-hour interval in a dose of 500-625 MTD/kg and repeatedly on 3rd-18th days of pregnancy in doses of 1.0-1.2, 5.0-6.3, 50.0-63.0 MTD/kg . Fetuses were studied on 20th day of pregnancy . Pyrogenal produced in embryos depending on the time of administration and dose congenital developmental defects, a decrease of body weight, thrombohemorrhagic syndrome, and erythrocytic hemolysis.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1987 May, 76(3), 533 - 8
C2 deficiency, moderately low IgG2 concentrations and lack of the G2m(23) allotype marker in a child with repeated bacterial infections; Sjoholm AG et al.; C2 deficiency was demonstrated in an 11-year-old boy with a past history of recurrent purulent otitis media, pneumonia, H . influenzae meningitis and S . pneumoniae septicaemia . The major histocompatibility complex haplotypes present, A10, B18, DR2, BF*S, C2*QO, C4*A4, C4*B2 and A28, B18, DR2, BF*S, C2*Q0, C4*A4, C4*B2, were in accord with previous observations in C2 deficiency . The concentrations of C1q, C5, factor B and factor D were in the low normal range and the hemolytic activity of the alternative pathway was slightly decreased . In addition, the patient showed moderately low IgG2 concentrations and lacked the IgG2 subclass marker G2m(23) . The findings indicate that the patient's susceptibility to bacterial infections may be due to C2 deficiency in combination with the presence of an IgG allotype associated with impaired antibody responses to carbohydrate antigens.

Am J Emerg Med, 1987 May, 5(3), 224 - 6
Bacterial tracheitis: a resurfacing airway emergency; McNamara RM et al.; Children presenting to the emergency department with symptoms of upper respiratory distress represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge . An acute onset associated with fever most often indicates epiglottitis or laryngotracheobronchitis . Presented here is a case of acute bacterial tracheitis, a life-threatening entity that apparently has reemerged recently . Prompt recognition is essential but can be difficult . Historical perspectives, clinical features, and pitfalls in diagnosis and management are discussed.

Am J Gastroenterol, 1987 May, 82(5), 463 - 6
Chylous ascites and encapsulating peritonitis: unusual complications of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Leport J et al.; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was diagnosed in a 36-yr-old woman 3 wk after she had delivered . The patient had no past history of abdominal or pelvic disease . Ampicillin therapy was started and determined complete resolution of infectious manifestations . Ten days later, chylous ascites and chyluria were evidenced . Thereafter an ascitic effusion persisted for 2 months, when an occlusive syndrome developed, requiring emergency surgery . An encapsulating peritonitis was recognized, encasing small bowel loops, stomach and partially, pelvic organs . In this case, encapsulating peritonitis was most likely a consequence of simultaneous bacterial infection and transient lymphatic blockade . Both mechanisms should be considered in the development of this rare and usually unexplained disease.

J Infect Dis, 1987 May, 155(5), 862 - 9
Diagnosing bacterial respiratory infection by bronchoalveolar lavage; Kahn FW et al.; We prospectively evaluated 75 patients by fiber-optic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for the presence of bacterial lower-respiratory-tract infection . BAL specimens were cultured quantitatively for aerobic bacteria, and a cell differential was obtained of the BAL cell population . In 18 "control" patients without evidence of respiratory infection, the presence of greater than 1% squamous epithelial cells (SECs) in the BAL sample accurately predicted the presence of heavy contamination of the sample by oropharyngeal flora . In the remaining "study" patients with potential infection, polymorphonuclear leukocytes were readily identified, and potential lower-respiratory-tract pathogens were recovered in concentrations greater than 10(5) colony-forming units (cfu) per milliliter in 16 of 18 patients with bacterial infection (none had greater than 1% SECs in their BAL sample) . No patients without evidence of bacterial infection and with less than or equal to 1% SECs had greater than 10(5) cfu/ml in BAL cultures . These studies establish the ability of BAL techniques to diagnose bacterial respiratory infection.

J Bacteriol, 1987 May, 169(5), 2055 - 62
Use of on-section immunolabeling and cryosubstitution for studies of bacterial DNA distribution; Hobot JA et al.; Escherichia coli cells were very rapidly frozen and substituted at a low temperature with 3% glutaraldehyde in acetone . Infiltration and embedding with Lowicryl K4M were carried out at -35 degrees C . This procedure resulted in good structural preservation of both the nucleoid morphology and its DNA plasm, such that immunolabeling with the protein-A gold technique could be carried out . With antibodies specific for either double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) or single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), it was shown that dsDNA was present throughout the nucleoid but that ssDNA was located on the nucleoid periphery . Chloramphenicol-treated cells, in which protein synthesis but not DNA replication is stopped, produced a characteristic ringlike nucleoid shape and had both dsDNA and ssDNA present throughout the annular section of the DNA plasm . The relationship between metabolically active DNA and overall bacterial genome organization is discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1987 May, 169(5), 1878 - 85
Reconstitution of signaling in bacterial chemotaxis; Wolfe AJ et al.; Strains missing several genes required for chemotaxis toward amino acids, peptides, and certain sugars were tethered and their rotational behavior was analyzed . Null strains (called gutted) were deleted for genes that code for the transducers Tsr, Tar, Tap, and Trg and for the cytoplasmic proteins CheA, CheW, CheR, CheB, CheY, and CheZ . Motor switch components were wild type, flaAII(cheC), or flaBII(cheV) . Gutted cells with wild-type motors spun exclusively counterclockwise, while those with mutant motors changed their directions of rotation . CheY reduced the bias (the fraction of time that cells spun counterclockwise) in either case . CheZ offset the effect of CheY to an extent that varied with switch allele but did not change the bias when tested alone . Transducers also increased the bias in the presence of CheY but not when tested alone . However, cells containing transducers and CheY failed to respond to attractants or repellents normally detected in the periplasm . This sensitivity was restored by addition of CheA and CheW . Thus, CheY both enhances clockwise rotation and couples the transducers to the flagella . CheZ acts, at the level of the motor, as a CheY antagonist . CheA or CheW or both are required to complete the signal pathway . A model is presented that explains these results and is consistent with other data found in the literature.

Immunology, 1987 May, 61(1), 29 - 34
Polyclonal B-cell activation by a synthetic analogue of bacterial lipoprotein is functionally different from activation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Kleine B et al.; The reactivity of 38 murine strains to a synthetic analogue of bacterial lipoprotein, tripalmitoyl-pentapeptide (TPP), was tested and compared with the reactivity to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . These strains include common laboratory mice and H-2 recombinant inbred lines, as well as some newly bred lines originating from animals recently captured in different regions of Europe . All animals analysed were reactive to TPP and polyclonally activated to proliferation and immunoglobulin synthesis . Large differences in mitogen reactivities of various H-2 recombinant inbred strains suggest that MHC or closely linked gene products influence the reactivity to the LPS and TPP mitogens . By analysing the frequencies of precursor cells reactive to TPP or LPS and the isotype patterns obtained after stimulation, we demonstrated that both mitogens activate individual B cells in different ways.

Radiobiologiia, 1987 May-Jun, 27(3), 408 - 11
{Electrophoretic mobility of UV-irradiated bacterial cells}; Sigaeva VA et al.; Electrophoretic mobility of Escherichia coli cells exposed to various doses of UV-radiation was investigated . The method of free flow electrophoresis was used to study a correlation between membrane protein charge and cell surface electric charge . The change in the cell surface charge and electrophoretic motility was associated with the damage to membrane proteins and the survival of UV-irradiated bacteria.

J Surg Res, 1987 May, 42(5), 528 - 35
Effect of blood transfusion and anesthesia on resistance to bacterial peritonitis; Waymack JP et al.; Patients who undergo gastrointestinal operations and require prolonged anesthesia or blood transfusions have been reported to have a higher incidence of infectious complications . A rat peritonitis model was used to determine if the increased rate of infection was due to the severity of their underlying disease process or to possible immunosuppressive effects of transfusions and anesthesia . Four hundred adult Lewis rats were divided into four groups . Each group received either 0.5 ml of allogenic blood, 0.5 ml of syngeneic blood, metaphane anesthesia, or 1.5 ml of saline . They were challenged with either 1 X 10(8) or 1 X 10(7) Escherichia coli on the day of transfusion or 4 days after transfusion . Survival rates and mean survival times were determined . Syngeneic transfusions were found not to significantly impair survival . Anesthesia administration resulted in a moderate impairment in survival . Allogeneic blood transfusions caused the most severe impairment with a greater than 50% decrease in survival rates compared to controls in three of the four groups tested . Blood transfusions would thus appear to impair resistance to bacterial infections to an even greater degree than anesthesia . Unnecessary transfusions should therefore be avoided.

J Immunol, 1987 May 1, 138(9), 2935 - 40
The production of tumor necrosis factor by mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide and a chemically synthesized monosaccharide precursor; Sayers TJ et al.; Lipid X, a monosaccharide biosynthetic precursor of lipid A, has been chemically synthesized and was shown to induce bone marrow-derived macrophages to release tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in vitro . However, relatively high amounts of lipid X were necessary for induction, and the levels of TNF were much less than those induced by small amounts of lipid A itself or LPS . Lipid X prepared by extraction of Escherichia coli mutants induced higher levels of TNF than the chemically synthesized material, but this is probably partially due to amounts of impurities in the extracted material . Pretreatment of macrophages with IFN-gamma resulted in the release of higher amounts of TNF on subsequent induction with either LPS or lipid X . In contrast, pretreatment of macrophages with LPS induced hyporesponsiveness for TNF production on subsequent rechallenge with LPS . Lipid X, on the other hand, was incapable of making macrophages hyporesponsive for TNF production.

Br J Urol, 1987 May, 59(5), 423 - 6
The effect of pentosanpolysulphate and carbenoxolone on bacterial adherence to the injured urothelium; Pantazopoulos D et al.; The effect of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer on the adherence of Escherichia coli to the bladder urothelium of rats has been studied . The study was performed by destroying the GAG layer and the changes were observed using the electron microscope . Bacterial adherence to the bladder with a destroyed GAG layer was much higher than to the normal bladder . Following the destruction of the GAG layer, the instillation of sodium pentosanpolysulphate significantly reduced the adhesion of bacteria . Prophylactic intramuscular administration of carbenoxolone increased the speed of regeneration of the destroyed GAG layer.

Mutat Res, 1987 May, 183(3), 213 - 7
A bacterial strain for detecting agents that produce free radical-mediated DNA strand breaks; Salles B et al.; In an E . coli strain carrying two mutations, one in the dnaC gene involved in initiation of DNA replication and another in the uvrB gene which affects the excision-repair system, it has been shown that the SOS response cannot be induced by UV . This is probably due to the absence of any inducing signal (Salles and Defais, 1984) . The capacity to induce the SOS network was followed using RecA protein amplification as a probe . When breaks were produced in DNA, RecA protein induction was restored . We describe here a strain in which both RecA protein and beta-galactosidase from a sfiA::lacZ fusion can be measured simultaneously in the same bacterial extract . In conditions in which no replication proceeds, this strain can be used to detect the ability of chemicals to produce free radical-mediated DNA breaks in vivo.

Carbohydr Res, 1987 Apr 15, 162(1), 127 - 40
Synthesis of the optically active 4-O-phosphono-D-glucosamine derivatives related to the nonreducing-sugar subunit of bacterial lipid A; Kiso M et al.; The optically active lipid A-subunit homologs named GLA-46, GLA-47, GLA-59, and GLA-60 have been synthesized stepwise by successive acylation at N-2 and O-3 of benzyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside with the 3-9O-(benzyloxy)methyl or 39O-tetradecanoyl derivative of optically active 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, and phosphorylation at O-4 of the D-glucosamine residue.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Apr 15, 262(11), 5100 - 5
Neutron scattering analysis of bacterial lipopolysaccharide phase structure . Changes at high pH; Hayter JB et al.; The aggregate structure of lipopolysaccharide isolated from an Re strain of Escherichia coli was examined at different pH values using small angle neutron scattering . At pH values of 6 and 7.4, angle-averaged scattering of the sodium salt of this isolate was consistent with randomly coiled tubular micelles approximately 100 A in diameter . At pH 9.1, however, Kratky analysis of the scattering data was distinctly different and consistent with pairing of uniform tubular micelle sections of length 1440 and 110 A in diameter . Contrast variation measurements of the micelles yielded an average micellar weight of the sample at pH 9.1 of approximately 1.11 X 10(7) daltons and suggested that the aggregates were tubular micelles of size and length similar to that derived from the scattering intensity data . Anisotropic scattering patterns of samples under shear indicated a rigidification of the micelles as the pH was increased to 9.1 and the temperature decreased from 25 to 10 degrees C . The rotational diffusion constants deduced from the observed shear anisotropy indicate that the structure at pH 9.1 must have smallest and largest dimensions which differ by at least an order of magnitude, ruling out spherical or moderately ellipsoidal structures . Analysis of the shear rate needed to induce anisotropic scattering indicated that the stiffness length of the micelles at pH 9.1 was approximately 1000 A and decreased at higher and lower pH values.

FEBS Lett, 1987 Apr 6, 214(1), 92 - 6
Near-infrared-excitation resonance Raman spectra of bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers . Implications for path-specific electron transfer; Bocian DF et al.; The first near-infrared (Qy)-excitation resonance Raman spectrum of photosynthetic reaction centers (Rb . sphaeroides wild type) is reported . This spectrum exhibits features which are not observed with excitation into either the Qx or Soret absorption bands . The spectral data indicate that the partial double-bond character is induced in the C9C10 bond of the isocyclic ring of one of the pigments via interactions with the protein . It is proposed that this modified pigment is the L-subunit bacteriopheophytin and that the preference for electron transfer to this molecule could be in part due to the change in electronic structure induced by the site-specific pigment-protein interaction.

FEBS Lett, 1987 Apr 6, 214(1), 117 - 21
Evidence for N coordination to Fe in the {2Fe-2S} center in yeast mitochondrial complex III . Comparison with similar findings for analogous bacterial {2Fe-2S} proteins; Telser J et al.; Yeast mitochondrial complex III contains a subunit with a {2Fe-2S} cluster (the Rieske center) that has unusual physical and chemical properties . For apparently similar centers isolated from bacteria, it has been shown by electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) measurements that these {2Fe-2S} centers are coordinated by at least one and probably two nitrogen ligands . This work describes similar ENDOR and ESEEM studies on the intact mitochondrial complex . We find that this {2Fe-2S} cluster exhibits ESEEM and ENDOR properties that appear to be indistinguishable from those observed with the isolated bacterial systems . Furthermore, changes in EPR lineshape that occur as complex III is progressively reduced are not accompanied by any changes in the nitrogen coupling parameters . This spectroscopic evidence for nitrogen coordination is supported by published sequence data on four Rieske iron-sulfur subunits . It seems likely that this is a general characteristic of such {2Fe-2S} redox active centers.

Pathol Res Pract, 1987 Apr, 182(2), 255 - 60
Adhesion of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae to cultured rat aortic endothelial cells . Role of bacterial neuraminidase in the induction of arteritis; Nakato H et al.; The adhesion of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (E . rhusiopathiae) to the cultured confluent monolayer of rat aortic endothelial cells (EC) and the role of neuraminidase in the interaction between EC and E . rhusiopathiae were examined . One EC line was obtained by collagenase treatment of rat aorta . The EC showed a typical cobblestone appearance and possessed the factor VIII related antigen . When cultured more than two weeks after reaching confluence, the EC formed a vascular plexus-like appearance . E . rhusiopathiae began to adhere to EC within 2 minutes after the beginning of culture and adhered at a constant rate for 20 minutes . The adhesion of bacteria to EC was closely related to the release of sialic acid from the EC . Significantly more bacteria adhered to neuraminidase treated EC, and bacterial adhesion was inhibited dose-dependently by N-acetylneuraminic-lactose, which is the substrate of bacterial neuraminidase . It is concluded that bacterial neuraminidase plays an essential role in initiating the interaction between EC and E . rhusiopathiae, which would contribute to the genesis of arteritis.

Mol Immunol, 1987 Apr, 24(4), 319 - 31
Activation of human serum complement by bacterial lipopolysaccharides: structural requirements for antibody independent activation of the classical and alternative pathways; Vukajlovich SW et al.; A variety of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations with highly defined primary polysaccharide chemical structure and/or aggregate macromolecular composition have been employed to examine the molecular requirements for activation of the classical and alternative pathways of human serum complement . Evidence is presented for two independent modes of polysaccharide dependent activation of the APC by LPS . One mechanism is dependent upon specific O-antigen polysaccharides and the second is defined by a specific L-glycero-D-mannoheptose/glucose region of the core oligosaccharide . LPS O-antigen polysaccharide but not core oligosaccharide determinants can convert sheep erythrocytes to cells capable of initiating the APC . The data presented provide convincing evidence that the tertiary assembly of individual LPS subunits into an aggregate macromolecule is a critical determinant in the expression of APC activity by LPS . The results of these studies provide strong evidence that CPC activation by LPS is restricted to the Re-chemotype and isolated lipid A . LPS isolated from other R-chemotypes as well as native wild type LPS preparations do not activate the CPC, in spite of the fact that the former LPS preparations contain more lipid A than polysaccharide on a percentage by wt basis . The presence of core polysaccharide L-glycero-D-mannoheptose, which provides a critical recognition role for activation of the APC, appears to negatively regulate CPC activation in a similar inverse relationship . In addition, the presence of polysaccharide containing LPS subunits in synthetic mixed LPS micellar aggregates can also restrict CPC activation by Re LPS subunits, most probably by steric hindrance at the LPS macromolecular surface . Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that activation of either pathway of human serum complement by a given LPS preparation is a mutually exclusive event dictated by the presence or absence of L-glycero-D-mannoheptose.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Apr, 32(4), 243 - 7
{Isolation and analysis of human leukocyte interferons synthesized by bacterial producer strains}; Kostrov SV et al.; Rapid and sensitive methods for immunochemical estimation of bacterially-made human leukocytic interferons were developed . A large number of strains producing such interferons was analyzed with these methods and optimal ones capable of synthesizing up to 10(10), 10(8), 10(9) and 10(9) IU/l of interferons alpha A, alpha N, alpha F and alpha I1 respectively were selected . The proteins were isolated in homogenous state and their main physico-chemical parameters were characterized . Interferon oligomers were detected . Their formation was partially due to intermolecular disulphide exchange . The effect on interferon alpha A of retinal (vitamin A) and its derivatives efficiently interacting with this protein was studied.

Avian Dis, 1987 Apr-Jun, 31(2), 241 - 8
Tracheal mucus transport rate and bacterial clearance in turkeys exposed by aerosol to La Sota strain of Newcastle disease virus; Ficken MD et al.; Tracheal mucus transport rate (TMTR) and quantitative clearance of aerosolized Escherichia coli from the trachea, lung, and air sac were measured in healthy unanesthetized turkeys and in turkeys exposed by aerosol to a La Sota vaccine strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) . The TMTR of uninfected turkeys was 42.4 +/- 14.7 cm/min . The TMTR of NDV-infected turkeys was depressed on days 3 through 7 postexposure (PE); depression was significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) on day 7 PE . Tracheal E . coli clearance in NDV-infected turkeys was reduced on days 4 through 9 PE, significantly so on day 5 PE (P less than or equal to 0.01) . Depression of TMTR and tracheal E . coli clearance were associated histologically with replacement of normal pseudostratified columnar epithelium by 3 to 8 layers of immature nonciliated cells . E . coli clearance by the lung and air sac of NDV-infected turkeys was depressed on days 5 through 9 PE.

Virologie, 1987 Apr-Jun, 38(2), 95 - 101
{Effect of immunization with an inactivated influenza vaccine, NIVGRIP, on the viral population and clinical course of patients with chronic non-bacterial pharyngitis}; Isaia G et al.; Study was conducted on 20 subjects with non bacterial chronic rhinopharyngitis . Forty-one virus strains, mainly adenoviruses, type 3 parainfluenza virus, influenza and type 1 herpes viruses, as well as enteroviruses were isolated from samples collected at regular intervals . After the NIVGRIP (R) vaccination, the number of subjects with viruses present in the pharynx decreased by 75% (from 20 to 5 positive patients) and that of isolates from 41 to 6 (80% positive samples before vaccination against 10% after immunization).

Genetika, 1987 Apr, 23(4), 643 - 52
{Isolation and genetic analysis of bacterial mutations gpr blocking the replication of various lambda phages}; Odoevskaia ER et al.; Bacterial mutations affecting phi 80 DNA replication have been isolated and designated gpr2, 27 . The main difference between gpr2, 27 and groP, grp mutations described earlier is that mutations gpr2, 27 are not essential for lambda replication . The mutations have been mapped between thr and leu loci in the vicinity of mutations groPC756 (dnaK gene) and groPC259 (dnaJ gene), their order being: thr-gpr2-groPC756-groPC259-gpr27 . Complementation analysis using transducing phages suggested that mutations gpr2, 27 are localized in genes unknown earlier, outside dnaK and dnaJ genes.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1987 Mar 27, 112(13), 498 - 503
{Heart surgery in acute bacterial endocarditis without preoperative heart catheterization . Long-term observation of 40 patients}; Becher H et al.; In 40 patients with acute bacterial endocarditis, the indication for cardiac valve replacement was established exclusively on the basis of the echocardiographic and clinical findings . The patients had an average age of 42 years and were under followup observation for an average of 2.2 years . The endocarditis involved the aortic valve 32 times, the mitral valve once, the tricuspid valve in two cases and the aortic and mitral valve together in five cases . In addition to the valve replacement, a ventricular septum defect and aneurysm of the ascending aorta had to be dealt with surgically in two cases each . The intraoperative and perioperative lethality was 2.5% (n = 1) . The postoperative lethality was 12.5% (n = 5) . In the surviving 34 patients, a recurrence of the endocarditis has not occurred up to now in any case . According to the NYHA classification, six of the surviving patients were to be classified as stage II and 28 as stage I, whereas stage III or IV had been present preoperatively in all cases . The postoperative echocardiographic investigation revealed a significant decrease of the left ventricular enddiastolic diameter (from 61 +/- 8 mm to 51 +/- 5 mm; P less than 0.001) . In four cases, a slight insufficiency of the artificial valve could be detected . Reoperation was not necessary in any of these patients.

Biochem J, 1987 Mar 15, 242(3), 721 - 8
The characteristics and site of inhibition of gluconeogenesis in rat liver cells by bacterial endotoxin . Stimulation of phosphofructokinase-1; Knowles RG et al.; The characteristics and site of inhibition of gluconeogenesis by endotoxin were investigated in liver cells isolated from control and endotoxin-treated rats . Endotoxin treatment was associated with inhibition (40-50%) of gluconeogenesis from lactate plus pyruvate over a range of concentrations of substrate and of oleate and with or without glucose or glucagon . Similar inhibition was observed with asparagine, proline, glutamine, alanine and a substrate mixture, but not with glycerol, glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone or endogenous substrates . There was no change in cellular ATP content or in the rates of ketogenesis or ureogenesis from asparagine, proline or glutamine . Other effects on isotopic fluxes, metabolite contents, enzyme activities and control coefficients were consistent with the suggestion that the effects of endotoxin on gluconeogenesis are exerted at the level of phosphofructokinase-1, and not at phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, pyruvate kinase, pyruvate carboxylase or glucokinase.

Postgrad Med, 1987 Mar, 81(4), 194 - 8, 203-10
Suppurative (bacterial) sinusitis; Kern EB; Upper respiratory tract (viral) infection is the most common predisposing cause of suppurative sinusitis . Acute disease is manifested by pain, nasal discharge, systemic manifestations, and nasal obstruction . In chronic disease (greater than 3 months' duration) nasal airway obstruction and postnasal discharge may be the only symptoms . Diagnosis is made on the basis of the history and physical examination, supported by roentgenographic findings and, if necessary, cultures . Acute infection is treated with antibiotics, decongestants, and analgesics . If medical management fails, surgery is necessary . Complications of suppurative sinusitis include cellulitis, abscess, meningitis and cavernous sinus thrombosis, osteomyelitis, and oroantral fistula.

J Am Coll Cardiol, 1987 Mar, 9(3), 588 - 91
Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm complicating bacterial endocarditis in an infant: diagnosis with two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography; Shaffer EM et al.; Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare complication of bacterial endocarditis in infancy and childhood . This report describes an infant with congenital aortic stenosis who developed bacterial endocarditis after abdominal surgery and placement of indwelling central venous catheters for long-term parenteral nutrition . Bacterial endocarditis in this infant was complicated by the development of an aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva . Surgical intervention was necessary because of gradual expansion of the aneurysm with compression of the adjacent right pulmonary artery and descending aorta . Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography proved useful for the initial diagnosis and serial follow-up of this unusual disorder and for its successful surgical management.

Infect Immun, 1987 Mar, 55(3), 758 - 61
Induction of human granulocyte chemiluminescence by bacterial lipopolysaccharides; Kapp A et al.; Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been reported to influence the oxidative response of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) . However, results sometimes conflict . In the present study, we demonstrated that activation of human PMN by LPS depends on the class (smooth {S} or rough {R}) to which the LPS belongs . Lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence was used to assay oxygen radical production . Twenty different S- and R-form LPS and free lipid A were tested in concentrations of 0.01 to 100 micrograms/ml . S-form LPS activated PMN only at maximal concentrations and to a low extent . R-form LPS and free lipid A were potent inducers of granulocyte chemiluminescence even at a concentration of 0.1 microgram/ml . The results indicated that R-form LPS are very effective in inducing granulocyte chemiluminescence, whereas true S-form preparations are inactive . It is not known at present whether this higher activity is due to a more lipophilic character of R-form LPS or whether the presence of the O polysaccharide in S-form LPS exerts an inhibitory effect on their action on granulocytes.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1987 Mar, 22(3), 139 - 43
Effects of mixed bacterial toxins on immune response; Grossman CJ et al.; Mixed bacterial toxin (MBT) is an experimental substance for treatment of certain forms of cancer . To ascertain if the cancer regression affects reported for MBT might be mediated via immunoendocrine interactions, MBT was tested in vivo in male Wistar rats or in vitro on Thymic (Tc) or Splenic (S) lymphocytes prepared from these same animals . In order to evaluate gonadal steroid effects on this process, certain groups of these rats were also castrated before treatment . Tc or S lymphocytes were prepared from these groups and cell responsiveness was monitored by in vitro blastogenic assays . Certain assay wells also contained Concanavalin A as a mitogen . The addition of MBT in vitro significantly stimulated Tc-cell responses (p less than 0.05) for all experimental groups except for certain groups of castrate MBT injected rats . Furthermore, S cells did not respond in the presence of MBT added in vitro except after castration and pretreatment with MBT where in vitro addition of MBT to cultures significantly stimulated blastogenic responses (p less than 0.02) . The results of these assays are consistent with the hypothesis that the anticancer effects attributed to MBT result from the ability of MBT to act as a nonspecific mitogen-like stimulator of immature Tc-cells and mature S-cells . These results also suggest that MBT may modulate a serum factor under the control of gonadal steroids and possibly of thymic origin which can effect T-cell responsiveness.

Anal Biochem, 1987 Mar, 161(2), 311 - 5
Spurious DNA blot hybridization resulting from bacterial contamination of primary tissue preparations; Howell MD et al.; We have observed, by Southern blot hybridization, numerous episomes in DNA prepared from tumors grown as athymic mouse xenografts . These extrachromosomal DNAs were present in multiple copies and existed as relaxed and supercoiled conformational isomers . The episomes were readily detected with pBR322 plasmid probes, but not with purified plasmid inserts . Subsequently, four species of bacteria were isolated from tumor xenografts, suggesting that the pBR322 related episomes which we observed were bacterial DNAs, copurified during the isolation of xenograft DNA . This finding illustrates a potential problem which may be encountered in blot hybridizations utilizing nucleic acids from primary tissue preparations.

Rhinology, 1987 Mar, 25(1), 17 - 22
In vitro histamine release from nasal mucosa upon bacterial antigens; Baenkler HW et al.; Polyposis of the nose has been discussed as to be caused by hypersensitivity . Therefore, in vitro histamine release from nasal mucosa upon different bacterial and synthetic antigens was measured using a radioenzymatic assay . Also anti-human IgE mediated and basic release from specimens were determined . In total, 12 patients with polyposis and 21 patients with septal deviation or conchal hyperplasia were tested . Histamine release was significantly increased upon anti-IgE in polyposis only . The incubation of mucosal biopsies with the antigens on the average caused a slight elevation of histamine release in the same group . In contrast, specimens of patients with other diseases did not respond to anti-IgE or bacterial antigens . The specific increase of histamine-release from polyps after challenge with anti-IgE and similar spontaneous release in all tested individuals indicate a different pattern of mucosal reactivity in patients suffering from nasal polyposis.

Clin Chest Med, 1987 Mar, 8(1), 119 - 34
Diagnosis of bacterial infections of the lung; Bartlett JG; This report reviews basic principles behind the choice of specimens in the identification of respiratory bacterial pathogens . It then reviews the major bacterial pathogens and specific specimen sources, covering the strong points, drawbacks, and controversies surrounding the various diagnostic techniques such as sputum Gram stain and culture, transtracheal aspiration, transthoracic needle aspiration, and bronchoscopy.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Mar, 169(3), 1307 - 14
Roles of cheY and cheZ gene products in controlling flagellar rotation in bacterial chemotaxis of Escherichia coli; Kuo SC et al.; To understand output control in bacterial chemotaxis, we varied the levels of expression of cellular cheY and cheZ genes and found that the overproduction of the corresponding proteins affected Escherichia coli swimming behavior . In the absence of other signal-transducing gene products, CheY overproduction made free-swimming cells tumble more frequently . A plot of the fraction of the population that are tumbling versus the CheY concentration was hyperbolic, with half of the population tumbling at 30 microM (25,000 copies per cell) CheY monomers in the cytosol . Overproduction of aspartate receptor (Tar) by 30-fold had a negligible effect on CheY-induced tumbling, so Tar does not sequester CheY . CheZ overproduction decreased tumbling in all tumbling mutants except certain flaAII(cheC) mutants . In the absence of other chemotaxis gene products, CheZ overproduction inhibited CheY-induced tumbling . Models for CheY as a tumbling signal and CheZ as a smooth-swimming signal to control flagellar rotation are discussed.

Comput Appl Biosci, 1987 Mar, 3(1), 45 - 8
Programs for evaluating and characterising bacterial taxonomic data; Bryant TN; Three programs are described for evaluating and characterising data collected during numerical taxonomic studies of bacteria . The program VARIANCE compares replicate cultures and evaluates the reproducibility of each character . Also it identifies those characters that should be excluded from subsequent taxonomic analysis because of their poor reproducibility . GPROPS summarises the properties of clusters of strains that have been defined from a cluster analysis, it can produce a probabilistic identification matrix and compares each strain within a cluster with the Hypothetical Mean Organism (HMO) of that cluster . OVCLUST is an implementation of the program described by Sneath (1979) which calculates overlap statistics between major clusters . These programs are designed to complement the CLUSTAN package (Wishart, 1982) which is often used for cluster analysis of bacterial taxonomic data . The programs were written in FORTRAN 77 and implemented on an IBM PC using MS-DOS.

Immunobiology, 1987 Mar, 174(2), 162 - 76
Transcriptional control of mu- and kappa-gene expression in resting and bacterial lipopolysaccharide-activated normal B cells; Chen-Bettecken U et al.; When murine resting B cells are polyclonally stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro for a short period of 4 days, they are activated to DNA synthesis and cell division, and they also differentiate to immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting plasma cells . These two events are accompanied with several qualitative changes at the Ig mRNA level: the disappearance of delta mRNA after stimulation, the switch from membrane to secretory form of mu-mRNA, and the late appearance of IgM joining chain (J-chain) mRNA . There is also a quantitative increase of Ig-gene expression at the level of: Ig gene transcription, mu-, kappa- and J-chain mRNA accumulation, and Ig translation and secretion . A comparison of Ig transcription rates before and in the course of LPS stimulation, as determined by in vitro transcriptional run-on assays, has shown that there is a large increase of the RNA polymerase density on both mu- and kappa-loci (30-60-fold), which is quantitatively comparable with the accumulation of both mu- and kappa-mRNAs at the steady state mRNA level . These data therefore suggest that former results obtained with tumor cells regarding post-transcriptional control of Ig gene expression do not reflect the physiological behavior of normal B cells with respect to the molecular events of B cell triggering . We also propose that additional molecular events such as RNA processing and the transcriptional activation of J-chain gene might be essential for controlling the maximal transcriptional rate across the Ig loci.

Transplantation, 1987 Mar, 43(3), 393 - 8
Variables predicting bacterial and fungal infections after allogeneic marrow engraftment; Paulin T et al.; Sixty-seven consecutive patients with aplastic anemia or leukemia who had been treated by allogeneic marrow transplantation and had survived for more than 1 month were surveyed in order to determine the incidence of nonviral infections occurring from 1 month to 3 years after transplantation . Twenty-eight of the 67 patients had one or more infections during this period . Around 20% suffered from pulmonary infections and 20% were classified as having a systemic infection . Ten patients died of bacterial or fungal infection, of whom 6 had graft-versus-host disease . In multivariate analyses acute graft-versus-host disease (P less than 0.0009), splenectomy (P less than 0.02), cytomegalovirus infection (P less than 0.05), and a low marrow cell dose (P less than 0.07) were correlated with nonviral infections.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Mar, 169(3), 939 - 43
N4-methylcytosine as a minor base in bacterial DNA; Ehrlich M et al.; The DNA base composition, including the minor base content, of 26 strains of bacteria was determined . The studied bacteria are sources of widely used restriction endonucleases . Approximately 35% of the bacterial DNAs contained N4-methylcytosine, about 60% contained 5-methylcytosine, and about 90% had N6-methyladenine.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Feb 25, 262(6), 2636 - 41
HPr/HPr-P phosphoryl exchange reaction catalyzed by the mannitol specific enzyme II of the bacterial phosphotransferase system; Sutrina SL et al.; The mannitol specific Enzyme II of the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system of Escherichia coli catalyzes an exchange reaction in which a phosphoryl moiety is transferred from one molecule of the heat stable phosphocarrier protein HPr to another . An assay was developed for measuring this reaction . Unlabeled phospho-HPr and 125I-labeled free HPr were incubated together in the presence of Enzyme IImtl, and production of 125I-labeled phospho-HPr was measured . The reaction was concentration-dependent with respect to Enzyme IImtl and did not occur in its absence . The reaction occurred in the absence of Mg2+ in the presence of 10 mM EDTA . Treatment of Enzyme IImtl with the histidyl reagent diethylpyrocarbonate inactivated it with respect to the exchange reaction . Levels of N-ethylmaleimide which inactivate Enzyme IImtl with respect to both P-enolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of mannitol and mannitol/mannitol-1-P transphosphorylation did not affect its activity in the exchange reaction; however, treatment with another sulfhydryl reagent, p-chloromercuribenzoate, resulted in partial inactivation . The pH optimum for the Enzyme IImtl-catalyzed exchange reaction was about 7.5 . Enzyme I and the glucose specific Enzyme III, two other E . coli phosphotransferase system proteins which, like Enzyme IImtl, interact directly with HPr, were also shown to catalyze 125I-HPr/HPr-P phosphoryl exchange.

J Theor Biol, 1987 Feb 21, 124(4), 495 - 504
Stochastic modeling of bacterial adhesion: a two-step mechanism with linear adhesion rate; Hsu JP; Stochastic analysis of bacterial adhesion onto the surface of solid substrate is presented . Bacterial adhesion is assumed to occur in two steps: (i) a reversible adhesion between bacteria and solid surface; bacteria on the surface are weakly bound during this period, followed by (ii) an irreversible surface reaction which results in a strong binding force between bacteria and the surface; bacteria are considered to be in adhered form at this stage . The stochastic representation provides both the macroscopic and fluctuating information about the transient behavior of the phenomenon under consideration.

J Theor Biol, 1987 Feb 21, 124(4), 405 - 13
Kinetics of bacterial adhesion--a stochastic analysis; Hsu JP et al.; In a previous work (Hsu & Wang, 1986), a birth-death type of stochastic model was proposed to analyze bacterial adhesion onto the substrate surface . The model is based upon the assumption that the number of available active sites on the substrate surface is relatively large compared to that of the cells in the system . This assumption is relaxed in the present study, and thus, the problem is considered in a more rigorous manner . The transient behavior of bacterial adhesion is examined through simulation studies . It is found that the present stochastic model should be employed when the number of available active sites is less than or on the same order of magnitude as that of the cells.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1987 Feb 21, 117(8), 265 - 9
{Glomerulonephritis in chronic bacterial infections}; Probst W et al.; Five patients with chronic bacterial infections (two with osteomyelitis, two with infected vascular prostheses, one with soft tissue abscess), but without endocarditis, developed signs of glomerulonephritis and renal failure . Histological examination in three revealed mainly proliferative glomerular alterations . The outcome of glomerulonephritis paralleled the course of infection . Recovery or marked improvement occurred in three patients in whom the infection was cured, one case with smoldering infection eventually developed endstage renal failure, and one with persistent infection died from severe complications with acute renal failure . If renal failure occurs in the setting of suppurative infection, so-called infection-associated glomerulonephritis must be considered . Prompt and effective eradication of infection has an important bearing on the course of renal function.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1987 Feb 18, 927(2), 149 - 57
Prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin E1 and thromboxane B2 release from human monocytes treated with C3b or bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Nichols FC et al.; C3b or lipopolysaccharide treatment of human peripheral blood monocytes in culture stimulates an early release of thromboxane B2 and a delayed release of prostaglandin E into culture supernatants . Immunoreactive thromboxane B2 release is maximal from 2-8 h, whereas prostaglandin E release is maximal from 16-24 h after stimulation of monocytes in culture . We further examined this process by comparing the time course of labelled prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin E1 and thromboxane B2 release from human monocytes which were pulse or continuously labelled with {3H}arachidonic acid and {14C}eicosatrienoic acid . The release of labelled eicosanoids was compared with the release of immunoreactive prostaglandin E and thromboxane B2 . The time course of prostaglandin E2 release was virtually identical to the release of prostaglandin E1 in all culture supernatants regardless of labelling conditions . However, release of immunoreactive prostaglandin E paralleled the release of labelled prostaglandin E1 and E2 only for continuously labelled cultures . The release of labelled prostaglandin E1 and E2 from pulse labelled cultures paralleled the release of thromboxane B2 and not immunoreactive prostaglandin . In contrast, labelled and immunoreactive thromboxane B2, quantitated in the same culture supernatants, demonstrated similar release patterns regardless of labelling conditions . These findings indicate that the differential pattern of prostaglandin E and thromboxane B2 release from human monocytes is not related to a time-dependent shift in the release of prostaglandin E1 relative to prostaglandin E2 . Because thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin E2 are produced through cyclooxygenase mediated conversion of arachidonic acid, these results further suggest that prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 are independently metabolized in human monocyte populations.

Carbohydr Res, 1987 Feb 15, 160, 303 - 16
The influence of sidechains on the calculated dimensions of three related bacterial polysaccharides; Talashek TA et al.; The effect of van der Waals interactions between sidechain and backbone on the shape of three bacterial polysaccharides in solution has been investigated . The three polymers, namely, gellan, welan, and rhamsan, share the same four-sugar backbone repeating-unit . Gellan is unbranched, whereas welan and rhamsan display comblike branching . Consequently, the effect of chain branching on backbone conformation may be investigated . Van der Waals repulsive interactions of sidechain and backbone serve to limit, somewhat, the range of conformational freedom of the welan backbone in comparison to that of gellan . Attractive side-chain-backbone interactions, which may be as significant as 2-3 kcal/mol, predominate over much of the accessible conformational space of the welan backbone . Despite the strength of these interactions, the unperturbed shape of welan in solution is calculated to be very similar to that of the unbranched gellan . Attractive sidechain-backbone interactions in rhamsan have a modest influence on the conformational characteristics of the rhamsan backbone . The calculated, unperturbed conformation in solution is slightly more extended than that of gellan and welan, but the fundamental shape of the chain is changed only slightly . Significant differences in the physical properties of these polymers seem not to arise from differences in their random-coil conformations provoked by van der Waals interactions of sidechain and backbone . Other contributions to the sidechain-backbone interaction, e.g., hydrogen bonding, could be involved; interchain interactions are also likely to be important.

Biochem J, 1987 Feb 15, 242(1), 69 - 74
Catalytic irreversible inhibition of bacterial and plant arginine decarboxylase activities by novel substrate and product analogues; Bitonti AJ et al.; Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) activity from Escherichia coli and two plant species (oats and barley) was inhibited by five new substrate (arginine) and product (agmatine) analogues . The five compounds, (E)-alpha-monofluoromethyldehydroarginine (delta-MFMA), alpha-monofluoromethylarginine (MFMA), alpha-monofluoromethylagatine (FMA), alpha-ethynylagmatine (EA) and alpha-allenylagmatine (AA), were all more potent inhibitors of ADC activity than was alpha-difluoromethylarginine (DFMA), the only irreversible inhibitor of this enzyme described previously . The inhibition caused by the five compounds was apparently enzyme-activated and irreversible, since the loss of enzyme activity followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, was time-dependent, the natural substrate of ADC (arginine) blocked the effects of the inhibitors, and the inhibition remained after chromatography of inhibited ADC on Sephadex G-25 or on overnight dialysis of the enzyme . DFMA, FMA, delta-MFMA and MFMA were effective at very low concentrations (10 nM-10 microM) at inhibiting ADC activity in growing E . coli . FMA was also shown to deplete putrescine effectively in E . coli, particularly when combined with an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, alpha-monofluoromethyl-putrescine . The potential uses of the compounds for the study of the role of polyamine biosynthesis in bacteria and plants is discussed.

Lancet, 1987 Feb 14, 1(8529), 351 - 4
Effect of indomethacin on arterial oxygenation in critically ill patients with severe bacterial pneumonia; Hanly PJ et al.; The effect of indomethacin (1 mg/kg) on gas exchange was studied in ten patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure precipitated by bacterial pneumonia . Mean arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) improved significantly (79 +/- 16 mm Hg to 98 +/- 20 mm Hg) but the response varied between patients: five showed substantial responses (27-42 mm Hg), three lesser responses (7-9 mm Hg), and two no response . Similar changes were found in the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and the ratio of PaO2 to fractional inspired oxygen concentration . In two responders studied further, PaO2 had fallen to baseline values 4-6 h later and a repeat indomethacin challenge again increased PaO2 by greater than 25 mm Hg with concomitant changes in pulmonary shunt . There were no significant changes in the other gas-exchange or haemodynamic variables measured and there was no clear reason for the variability in response to indomethacin . These results suggest a role for products of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in the pathogenesis of hypoxaemia in patients with severe bacterial pneumonia.

Nature, 1987 Feb 12-18, 325(6105), 641 - 3
Mammalian and bacterial sugar transport proteins are homologous; Maiden MC et al.; The uptake of a sugar across the boundary membrane is a primary event in the nutrition of most cells, but the hydrophobic nature of the transport proteins involved makes them difficult to characterize . Their amino-acid sequences can, however, be determined by cloning and sequencing the corresponding gene (or complementary DNA) . We have determined the sequences of the arabinose-H+ and xylose-H+ membrane transport proteins of Escherichia coli . They are homologous with each other and, unexpectedly, with the glucose transporters of human hepatoma and rat brain cells . All four proteins share similarities with the E . coli citrate transporter . Comparisons of their sequences and hydropathic profiles yield insights into their structure, functionally important residues and possible evolutionary relationships . There is little apparent homology with the lactose-H+ (LacY) or melibiose-Na+ (MelB) transport proteins of E . coli.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 Feb 2, 162(3), 651 - 7
Interaction of mitogenic bacterial lipoprotein and a synthetic analogue with mouse lymphocytes . Isolation and characterization of binding proteins; Biesert L et al.; Lipoprotein from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli constitutes a potent mitogen and polyclonal activator for B lymphocytes of different species . The binding of lipoprotein to murine spleen cells was investigated using water-soluble 125I-labelled citraconylated lipoprotein from E . coli B/r . Our results indicate that the binding of this B-cell mitogen to splenocytes is a saturable, time- and dose-dependent, reversible process; about 9.7 X 10(8) lipoprotein molecules were bound to each cell . The mechanism of the binding of lipoprotein to lymphocytes was investigated by using the synthetic analogue of its N-terminal part, S-{2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl}-N-palmitoyl-(R)-cysteinyl-( S)-seryl- (S)-seryl-(S)-asparaginyl-(S)-alanine (tripalmitoyl pentapeptide) . This compound had been shown by us previously to be the molecular part of lipoprotein responsible for mitogenicity and exhibited, in all experiments performed, a stimulatory activity towards B lymphocytes comparable, or even superior, to native lipoprotein . Binding proteins for the synthetic N-terminus were enriched by affinity chromatography, using an affinity column prepared by coupling the mitogenic compound to CPG-aminopropyl controlled-pore glass beads by the carbodiimide method . {3H}Leucine-labelled murine spleen cells were solubilized by the nonionic detergent NP40 and applied to the affinity adsorbent . Proteins bound to the column were selectively eluted by a solution of tripalmitoyl pentapeptide, and the fractions were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography . Our results indicate the presence of a major binding protein of Mr 35000 on mouse primary lymphocytes for the biologically active N-terminal structure of lipoprotein, which might play a role as membrane receptor in mitogenic B lymphocyte activation.

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1987 Feb, 113(2), 204 - 5
Bacterial tracheitis in adults; Johnson JT et al.; Bacterial tracheitis is characterized by acute upper airway obstruction in which indirect laryngoscopy is normal . Roentgenograms reveal an irregular tracheal air column . Endoscopic evaluation demonstrates a normal supraglottic and glottic larynx with purulent debris, mucosal ulcerations, and edema of the subglottic larynx and trachea . To our knowledge, this entity has not been previously described in an adult . We report herein three cases of bacterial tracheitis in adults.

Med Hypotheses, 1987 Feb, 22(2), 211 - 22
Hypothesis: common bacterial toxins are a possible cause of the sudden infant death syndrome; Morris JA et al.; It is hypothesised that common toxins produced by bacteria growing in the respiratory tract following a viral infection are a cause of SIDS . This hypothesis is consistent with evidence that viral infections pre-dispose to SIDS, minimal morphological change at autopsy, maximum incidence during sleep and the age incidence of this disease . We present evidence of nasopharyngeal bacterial overgrowth in victims of SIDS and have developed a mathematical model based on the hypothesis which closely predicts the age distribution . The model predicts other age distribution patterns for less common toxins and these may apply to other diseases of childhood . The hypothesis can be tested and if sustained would offer hope of prevention.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Feb, 19(2), 239 - 48
Comparative efficacy and safety of ceftizoxime, cefotaxime and latamoxef in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in high risk patients; Yangco BG et al.; One hundred and thirty-five patients with bacterial pneumonia who had risk factors (alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, corticosteroid therapy diabetes mellitus, advanced age, solid tumours) were randomly allocated in a double-blind fashion to receive either ceftizoxime (2-4 g every 8 h), cefotaxime (1-2 g every 4 h), or latamoxef (2-4 g every 8 h) . Of the 84 patients evaluable for efficacy, clinical cure was achieved in 91%, 85%, and 89% of ceftizoxime- (20/22), cefotaxime-(23/27), and latamoxef-treated (31/35) patients, respectively . Adverse reactions occurred in one of 45 ceftizoxime-treated patients, one of 43 cefotaxime-treated patients, and seven of 47 latamoxef-treated patients . Abnormal laboratory values during therapy were seen in 50% of latamoxef-treated and 43% of cefotaxime-treated patients and in 29% of ceftizoxime-treated patients . Hypoprothrombinaemia occurred in five latamoxef-treated patients and one of these patients experienced an episode of haematemesis . In this study, ceftizoxime, cefotaxime, and latamoxef were similarly effective; however, the incidence of side effects was most frequent with latamoxef.

J Med Chem, 1987 Feb, 30(2), 325 - 33
Structure-activity relationships of sparsomycin and its analogues . Inhibition of peptide bond formation in cell-free systems and of L1210 and bacterial cell growth; van den Broek LA et al.; The biological activity of 14 analogues of sparsomycin (1) was studied in cell-free systems of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Sulfolobus solfataricus by measuring the inhibition of protein synthesis . The inhibition of L1210 colony formation in soft agar and bacterial cell growth in solid as well as in liquid medium was also examined . Each analogue possesses not more than two structural modifications of the sparsomycin molecule . This enabled us to determine unambiguously several structural and stereochemical features that are required for an optimal biological activity in these assays . Sparsomycin, having the SCRS chirality, is the most potent of the four possible stereoisomers . The results obtained with compounds 5-7 indicate that the presence of an oxygen atom on the S (alpha) atom is essential . Substitution of the bivalent sulfur atom by a CH2 group (10) or of the SCH3 moiety by a Cl atom (12) affects the activity of the molecule partially . Compound 12 is surprisingly active against intact cells . Substitution of the C(6)-CH3 group by a H(14) reduces the activity of the molecule . Isomerization of the trans double bond into the cis double bond yields cis-sparsomycin (15), which is inactive . The hydrophobic derivatives 8, 9, and 11 are considerably more active than sparsomycin; thus the ribosomal binding site for sparsomycin may have a hydrophobic character.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Feb, 169(2), 900 - 3
Control of phoR-dependent bacterial alkaline phosphatase clonal variation by the phoM region; Wanner BL; phoR mutants with the wild-type Escherichia coli K-12 Var+ phoM region showed clonal variation of bacterial alkaline phosphatase synthesis, whereas mutants with the pho-510 Var- allele did not . The pho-510 mutation is responsible for the phoR mutant constitutive phenotype and probably arose in E . coli K-12 58F+ after X-ray mutagenesis over 40 years ago . I propose that the phoM region controls a change in state of bacterial alkaline phosphatase synthesis, at least in phoR mutants . Four possible molecular mechanisms for how phoM may act are discussed.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1987 Feb, 63(2), 202 - 7
Bacterial plug versus pseudocyst of the tonsils; Giunta JL; This article presents several cases of two types of yellow lesions of the tonsils . The bacterial plug is a small, sometimes symptomatic lesion composed of mats of bacteria that fill a tonsillar crypt and is treated by dislodging the plug . The pseudocyst is a small, mostly asymptomatic smooth, epithelium-covered lesion that can regress spontaneously and need not be surgically removed for diagnosis . Both lesions are compared and contrasted to delineate diagnostic features and to suggest management . Terms are differentiated, and the relationship to the lymphoepithelial cyst is discussed.

Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1987 Feb, 9(1), 12 - 9
Analysis of bacterial exopolysaccharides; Kennedy AF et al.; Extracellular polysaccharides have been isolated from cultures of freshwater and marine bacteria originally isolated from material adhering to surfaces and underivatized hydrolysates have been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography methods . A scheme has been developed whereby the uronic acids can be identified on strong anion-exchange columns, while neutral monosaccharides can be separated and identified using aminobonded columns or cation-exchange adsorbent loaded with a heavy metal ion . The methods permit rapid and accurate comparison of polysaccharides with differing chemotype . The strains studied show a range of different chemotypes, all containing a uronic acid and several neutral monosaccharides . Some of the polysaccharides isolated from marine bacteria possessed a very high acetyl content.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Feb, 64(2), 552 - 64
Characterization of in situ nitrogen and fiber digestion and bacterial nitrogen contamination of hay crop forages preserved at different dry matter percentages; Nocek JE et al.; Alfalfa, red clover, orchardgrass and timothy were harvested in the vegetative stage, wilted and stored as hay, or ensiled in small batch silos (20 kg) at 60, 40 or 20% (direct cut) dry matter and were analyzed for compositional differences . A ruminally cannulated lactating cow, consuming 50% of her dry matter intake from hay crop silage, was used to measure in situ dry matter, N, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber disappearance . Diaminopimelic acid was used as a bacterial marker to correct for bacterial N contamination for in situ residual N . Fibrous components tended to become concentrated as percent dry matter at preservation decreased, presumably associated with leaching of water solubles during storage . For most forages, as dry matter percentage of preservation decreased, water soluble dry matter and N increased, with a concomitant increase of ruminally nondigested dry matter . Specific trends in coefficients of digestion associated with forage type or preservation dry matter percentage were not observed for dry matter, N, neutral detergent fiber or acid detergent fiber . Correction for contamination by bacterial N decreased lag time in digestion and altered rates of N digestion compared with noncorrected rates . Linear and quadratic bacterial N contamination profiles were observed with time of ruminal incubation . Rate of digestion of N was highly correlated with fibrous component concentration, and to a lesser extent to rate of neutral and acid detergent fiber digestion . Dry matter percentage at preservation had a variable effect on ruminal digestion rate of dry matter and N, which varied with forage type and had no effect on neutral detergent and acid detergent fiber digestion rates . Correction for bacterial N contamination should be considered when establishing N digestion rates for forage by the in situ technique.

J Trauma, 1987 Feb, 27(2), 161 - 6
Endotoxin but not malnutrition promotes bacterial translocation of the gut flora in burned mice; Deitch EA et al.; Previously we have shown that under certain conditions, bacteria can pass through the intact epithelial mucosa to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, spleen, and bloodstream to cause infection, a process termed bacterial translocation . To extend these studies, we determined the influence of protein malnutrition and endotoxemia on bacterial translocation in burned (25% TBSA) and unburned mice . The results of these experiments documented that protein malnutrition did not promote bacterial translocation from the gut in either burned or unburned animals, although it did disrupt the normal indigenous gut flora . In contrast, a nonlethal dose of endotoxin (IP) promoted bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes in burned and unburned mice, but only in burned mice did the bacteria translocate from the gut to other systemic organs (p less than 0.01) . Furthermore, the mortality rate of mice receiving only endotoxin or burn was less than 10%, while the combination of endotoxin plus a thermal injury increased the mortality rate to 100% (p less than 0.01) . These studies support the concept that bacteria may translocate from the gut to other organs and be a potential source of lethal infections after thermal injury.

Minerva Med, 1987 Jan 15, 78(1), 1 - 19
{Bacterial meningitis}; Di Nola F; After a presentation of purulent and liquoral bacterial meningites with an examination of their pathogenesis, a personal case series is presented . Particular attention is paid to the liquoral transfer of antibiotics and it is considered that the treatment of purulent bacterial meningitis cannot be standardised . In contrast tubercolar meningitis can be subjected to standardised treatment . Currently the results obtained in the treatment of purulent bacterial meningitis are less satisfactory than those obtained in tubercular meningitis though certainly better than in the recent past.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Jan 5, 262(1), 29 - 31
Active site of the enzyme which demethylates receptors during bacterial chemotaxis; Simms SA et al.; The CheB methylesterase catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutamyl methyl esters in bacterial chemoreceptor proteins . Studies with residue-specific inhibitors suggest that a cysteine residue is required . The nucleotide sequence of the cheB gene predicts a 349-amino acid protein with cysteine residues at positions 207 and 309 . Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to change each cysteine to an alanine . Whereas the Cys207-Ala mutation had essentially no effect on esterase activity, the Cys309-Ala mutation caused a complete inactivation of the enzyme . Cys309 is located adjacent to a sequence of amino acids which is characteristic of the beta-alpha-beta motif found in a number of nucleotide binding proteins associated with receptor function in vertebrate tissues . A central feature of this structure is Gly-X-Gly-X-X-Gly . Mutation of the second glycine in this region (Gly284) to a valine also caused a complete loss of esterase activity.

J Anim Sci, 1987 Jan, 64(1), 295 - 302
Duodenal bacterial and nonbacterial protein supply in steers fed forage and grain diets; Wanderley RC et al.; Four beef steers (avg wt 300 kg) fitted with duodenal re-entrant cannulae were used to study the effect of dietary concentrate to forage ratio on bacterial and nonbacterial N flow in the duodenum . According to a change-over design, the steers were designated to receive an all forage (83% alfalfa hay and 17% wheat straw) and an 80% sorghum grain diet . Lignin (ADL) and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) ratio techniques were compared with automated total collection (ATC) of digesta for quantitating duodenal protein flow and efficiency of bacterial N yield in the rumen . Estimates of bacterial protein synthesis and ruminal escape of feed protein based on Cr2O3 and lignin tended to be higher by 8 to 16% than those obtained by ATC . Efficiency of ruminal bacterial protein yield estimated by these two markers tended to be greater than that based on ATC (16 vs 12 g of bacterial protein/100 g ruminal true digestion of dry matter corrected for bacterial cell synthesis) . Efficiency values did not differ between diets . Crude protein flow into the duodenum was about 33% greater (P less than .01) for the grain than the forage diet, although protein intake was about 10% less on the grain diet . Duodenal bacterial protein, rather than feed protein escaping ruminal degradation, accounted for most of this difference . Average duodenal flow of N, expressed as g/Mcal metabolizable energy (ME) intake, was 11.9 for the forage diet and 10.3 for the grain diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1987 Jan-Apr, 64(1-2), 59 - 88
{The bacterial pollution of coastal waters of the southern suburbs of Tunis}; Capape C et al.; The authors present in this paper a study of the bacterian pollution of inshored waters of southern suburbs of Tunis, on the basis of 180 samples collected in 15 different stations, 15 monthly (one for each station) . Two districts have been considered: Ez-Zahra and Hammam-Lif . The two districts are submitted to an important bacterian pollution, mainly due to human factor but also to geographical and geomorphological data, to physico-chemical parameters and to some biological characters.

Vet Med Nauki, 1987, 24(4), 79 - 83
{Effect of the bacterial count in the air on chickens and laying hens raised commercially}; Naneva G et al.; Investigations were carried out to establish the amount of bacteria in the air on the premises for raising young birds and laying hans as well as in the respiration organs of the birds . Attempts were made to lower the microbism on the premises through the aerosol spray of Lugol solution . It was found that under industrial conditions there existed a rising trend with microbism both on the premises and in the respiratory organs of the birds, parallel to the advance in age which contributed to the enhancement of mortality rate and the drop of productivity . The use of Lugol solution in the form of spray was shown to produce a favourable effect on the health and productivity of birds.

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 1987, 113(5), 437 - 45
Therapeutic ratio of mono or combination bacterial lipopolysaccharide therapy in methylnitrosourea-induced rat mammary carcinoma; Berger MR et al.; Four experiments investigating the antitumor activity of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) against the autochthonous methylnitrosourea-induced mammary carcinoma are summarized . Administration of LPS alone i.v . caused distinct regression of small tumors following its first injection . This therapeutic effect, however, was short-lived and could not be maintained by administering a second dose . The observed antineoplastic activity of LPS was dose-related, whereas no dose-response relationship was observed with respect to its toxicity . A series of experiments in which LPS was combined with other compounds to possibly exploit its activity while reducing the toxicity were performed . Neither the combination with cytotoxic drugs such as 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methansulfone-m-aniside or cyclophosphamide nor that with 1-octadecyl-2-methoxy-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine or hexadecylphosphocholine showed sufficient anticancer activity at acceptable toxicity . In all experiments promising efficacy was observed at high dosages but also high toxicity . When the dosages were reduced, diminished antineoplastic activity was found together with overproportionally high mortality . It might therefore be concluded that the active dose range of LPS cannot be reached clinically because of its inherent toxicity.

Ter Arkh, 1987, 59(3), 84 - 8
{Hemodynamics in viral-bacterial pneumonia in middle-aged patients}; Ermakov EV et al.; Clinico-instrumental investigations were performed in 52 patients with virus-bacterial pneumonia in different periods of disease and 10-12 mos after discharge from hospital . Considerable changes in the hemodynamics of the lesser and greater circulation and left ventricular myocardial contractility preserving for a long time, particularly in a grave form of disease, were revealed . In long-term periods hypertension in the pulmonary artery system persisted . It could result in the occurrence of occult heart failure.

Eur Urol, 1987, 13(1-2), 116 - 7
Two-balloon and four-channel silicone rubber catheter for drug injection in the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis; Cheng HJ et al.; A new type of silicone rubber catheter with two balloons and four channels is introduced for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis . Through this specially conceived catheter, a drug can be instilled in the posterior urethra, the two balloons blocking the drug from passing either into the bladder or the membranous urethra . Treatment has been applied in 212 cases of chronic bacterial prostatitis with very good results.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1987 Jan, 101(1), 279 - 82
Enhancement of light emission in the bacterial luciferase reaction by H2O2; Watanabe H et al.; In the bacterial luciferase reaction, light emission is due to the mixed function oxidation of FMNH2 and long chain aldehydes, which leads to the formation of an electronically excited product species, postulated to be luciferase-bound 4a-hydroxy flavin . In the present work it was found that H2O2 stimulates an additional and kinetically distinct luminescence . The stimulation is more apparent in reactions inhibited by long chain alcohols, and the H2O2 is effective even if added secondarily . The stimulation requires H2O2 only at the outset; its subsequent destruction by catalase does not diminish the response, appreciably.

Cell Tissue Kinet, 1987 Jan, 20(1), 29 - 36
Role of splenic stroma in the action of bacterial lipopolysaccharides on radiation mortality: a study in mice carrying the Slj allele; Ploemacher RE et al.; Slj/+ mice display a slight macrocytic anaemia due to a defect in their haemopoietic organ stroma . They have a deficient endogenous spleen colony (CFU-end) formation following sublethal doses of gamma-radiation compared with their normal +/+ littermates, which is likely to be due to the low pre-irradiation CFU-S content of the Slj/+ spleen . CFU-S in these congenic mice do not differ in their sensitivity to gamma-irradiation or stem cell-activating factor . While injection of +/+ mice with 10 micrograms of lipopolysaccharide-W (LPS) one day prior to irradiation led to a substantial increase in their survival, the survival of Slj/+ mice was only slightly increased . Irradiation induced a similar dose-related reduction in the numbers of CFU-S in the spleen and femora of LPS-injected Slj/+ mice compared to similarly treated +/+ mice when measured directly after irradiation . At Day 9 after irradiation, injection of LPS led to a significantly higher CFU-end formation and higher numbers of CFU-S and nucleated cells in the Slj/+ spleens compared to LPS-injected +/+ mice . No such differences in the radioprotective effect of LPS were observed in the +/+ and Slj/+ mice with respect to the splenic and femoral 59Fe-incorporation and the femoral CFU-S numbers at Day 9 . These data strongly suggest a contribution by immigrating CFU-S to the CFU-S numbers and endogenous colony formation in at least the Slj/+ spleen after LPS injection and subsequent sublethal irradiation . The observations also imply that the splenic organ stroma may play a mediatory role in the radioprotective action of LPS . In addition, the data represent an extreme example of a lack of correlation between animal survival and haemopoietic parameters . Caution should be taken when applying endogenous colony counts as a means of screening potential anti-radiation drugs.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(1), 29 - 34
Multivariate prognostication in bacterial meningitis of childhood; Valmari P et al.; A multivariate method for prognosticating the outcome of bacterial meningitis was computerized on the basis of initial clinical and laboratory data in 123 patients . The model, based on likelihood ratios, is simple and rapid . At the time of diagnosis, it predicted the outcome correctly in 104/123 cases (85%) in the basic group and in 67/98 independent controls (68%) . The sensitivity of the method in predicting death or mild to severe neurological sequelae was 83% in both groups . The predictive value of a calculated good prognosis was 94% in the basic group and 97% in the control group, and that of a calculated poor prognosis was 63% and 26%, respectively . The predictive system can be used for rapid assessment of prognosis in individual patients and for comparisons between groups.

Microbios, 1987, 49(198), 25 - 9
Attempts to isolate parvovirus from human acute non-bacterial gastro-enteritis cases; Wosu LO; It has been suggested that the causative agent of human acute non-bacterial gastro-enteritis, based on morphology, buoyant density in caesium choloride, resistance to acid, and reactions to ether and heat, may be a parvovirus . Using conditions optimal for parvovirus multiplication, attempts were made to isolate a parvovirus from such specimens . Results were negative indicating that the agent is not a parvovirus.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1987 Jan-Feb, 21(1), 5 - 22
{Regulation of the replication of bacterial plasmids}; Zverev VV et al.; This is a survey of the available data on the structure of the replication apparatus and the control mechanisms of bacterial plasmids replication . All plasmids are classified as having three types of replicons according to the mechanisms of replication initiation . The role of plasmid--determined positive and negative regulatory elements involved in controlling the number of copies and incompatibility is discussed.

Infection, 1987 Jan-Feb, 15(1), 11 - 5
{Immunoglobulins in the treatment of bacterial meningitis in childhood}; Noack R et al.; In a prospective, clinical study forty-four children with bacterial meningitis were treated with antibiotics and underwent a special intravenous treatment with 7-S-immunoglobulins . The children's age ranged between two days and thirteen years . Two of the children died . The other forty-two children did not show any signs of neurological deficiencies upon release from the hospital . The apparently improved prognosis, due to the immunoglobulin therapy, was confirmed by a retrospective study of thirty-six patients, that had an unfavorable prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis . All fourteen patients that had acquired pneumococcal meningitis, and had been treated with immunoglobulins, were clinically cured, whereas in comparison, the sixteen patients of the other group exhibited severe sequelae, and two of them died.

Can J Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 33(1), 52 - 6
Comparison of bacterial counts obtained from naturally contaminated foods by means of Stomacher and blender; Purvis U et al.; Four Regional Health Protection Branch laboratories each compared aerobic colony counts obtained after "stomaching" and blending, for a minimum of 10 samples in each of the seven food groups: dry pastas; chocolate and cocoa powders; frozen entrees (macaroni and cheese, chow mein, chop suey, fried rice, seafood casseroles, and Salisbury steak); nonfat dry milk; shrimp and crabmeats; spices; and breakfast sausages . Overall, counts obtained after using the Stomacher were equivalent to or higher than counts obtained after using the blender in 73% of the comparisons (alpha = 0.05) . Where differences existed, counts obtained after using the Stomacher tended to be higher than counts obtained after using the blender from milk powder and lower from sausage . Aerobic colony counts from these foods are not unacceptably biased when obtained by Stomacher.

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 1987 Jan, 17(1), 241 - 7
Bacterial diseases of fish associated with human health; Shotts EB Jr; As this country continues to increase its food fish output without increasing the water acreage, and environmental wastes continue to plague fish production, we can expect to encounter more zoonotic organisms, especially enteric-like organisms . Since 1972, the number of enteric genera has doubled and the species have tripled . The veterinarian engaged in aquatic animal medicine should be aware that aquatic pets or food fish can be associated with human disease and respond accordingly . In such cases, the veterinarian plays a major role in maintaining human health.

Arch Intern Med, 1987 Jan, 147(1), 73 - 5
Inoculation of blood culture bottles with ascitic fluid . Improved detection of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Runyon BA et al.; The observation that only 42% of the cases of suspected spontaneous bacterial peritonitis at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, had positive cultures prompted a change in ascitic fluid culture technique such that a large volume (10 mL in toto) of ascitic fluid was inoculated into blood culture bottles at the bedside . This new method of culture increased the percentage of cases with positive cultures to 91% and decreased the interval between inoculation of the culture and detection of bacterial growth . This is a more sensitive method of culture than the conventional method in detecting spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Am J Gastroenterol, 1987 Jan, 82(1), 66 - 8
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in Wilson's disease; Person JL et al.; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis associated with Wilson's disease has been previously reported in only one case . We report two cases where this infection developed and seriously complicated the course of illness . As with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurring with other underlying diseases, early diagnosis and treatment are critical to improved outcome . Recognition that it can occur with Wilson's disease is important, and paracentesis should be performed without delay when suspicious features are present.

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