Microbiological

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1987, 109(5), 300 - 4
{Bacterial vaginitis within the scope of gynecologic consultation}; Barten G; Examinations about bacterial vaginosis have been done in 384 fertile women according the following diagnostic criteria: Homogenous gray flour, typical fish smelling, clue cells and pH of 5 in vaginal content . Clue cells could be detected in 233 (60.6 per cent) women . Bacterial vaginosis with three of the above mentioned criteria could be found in 40.4 per cent . The cure rate following oral metronidazole therapy (twice daily 500 mg metronidazole for 5 days) was 75.2 per cent . In cases with therapy failure or frequent recurrences treatment of sexual partners is indicated, because bacterial vaginosis is a sexually transmitted disease.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(3), 181 - 9
In-vitro urea-dependent pH-changes by human salivary bacteria and dispersed, artificial-mouth, bacterial plaques; Sissons CH et al.; The pH effects of urea metabolism were studied in washed salivary-sediment bacteria from subjects that had up to 10-fold variation in oral ureolytic activity, and in dispersed artificial-mouth plaques . Adequate evaluation required analysis of the {OH-} as well as the pH curve . An initial constant rate of pH-change, lasting until pH 7.8, was derived from the pH curve; this gave the best correlation (r = 0.95) with the ureolysis rate . From the {OH-}-curve, between pH 7.8 and 8.3 (approx.), a constant and maximal rate of change in {OH-} was determined . Although theoretically this was directly related to the rate of ammonia release, it was 10(-2) to 10(-3) times its value and correlated less well (r = 0.83) with ureolysis . Together with the initial and final pH, these two rates largely described urea-induced pH changes . After 12.5-fold dilution of the cells, changes in the pH curve were minor . Although the rate of ureolytic ammonia release was proportional to cell-protein concentration, the reduction in ureolytic activity was compensated by a corresponding reduction in cell pH-buffering . Consequently, in order to relate pH and {OH-} changes to ureolysis, it was necessary to control, or correct for, variations in the cell mass present . Buffering capacity in plaques was greater than in sediments . The 10-fold range in oral ureolytic activity by salivary bacteria gave a 10-20-fold range in base changes.

J Clin Periodontol, 1987 Jan, 14(1), 22 - 8
Bacterial penetration of pocket soft tissues in chronic adult and juvenile periodontitis cases . An ultrastructural study; Liakoni H et al.; This study investigates bacterial invasion of the soft tissue walls of deep pockets from cases with adult (AP) and juvenile periodontitis (JP) . Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine pocket soft tissue walls removed from extracted teeth from 5 patients with AP and 2 patients with JP . Bacteria were sparse throughout the epithelium and connective tissue, regardless of the level of tissue breakdown . However many inflammatory cells were seen, and these did appear to be located in regions of marked collagen loss . Accumulations of large numbers of bacteria were extremely rare and found only on the epithelial surface or in artefactual spaces within the deeper tissues . The findings indicate that the tissue destruction associated with periodontitis is not directly related to bacterial invasion . The sparse organisms within the pocket tissues probably result from passive entry rather than an invasive action . Under these circumstances, it would seem reasonable to suggest that bacterial metabolic products rather than the micro-organisms themselves penetrate the tissues in periodontitis.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1987, 138(8), 610 - 4
{Surgery of bacterial aortic insufficiency . Indications and results}; Michel PL et al.; Seventy nine patients were operated for aortic regurgitation due to bacterial endocarditis confirmed anatomically at surgery between 1968 and 1984 . They were classified into 3 groups according to the stage of endocarditis at the time of operation: progressive endocarditis (21 cases), recent endocarditis (39 cases) and late endocarditis (19 cases) . The patients were adults (21 to 70 years) and predominantly male (82 p . 100) . Previous valvular disease was found in 38 cases, bicuspid aortic valves were found in 21 cases . Most of the patients operated early (recent progressive endocarditis) had cardiac failure and the surgical indication was nearly always poor haemodynamic tolerance . In addition, this indication was also retained in late forms of the disease in patients usually panci-symptomatic in the presence of signs of increasing left ventricular dysfunction . The aortic lesion was the only pathology in 55 cases and was associated with periannular abscess in 8 cases, septal abscess in 5 cases including one with septal perforation, and mitral endocarditis in 12 cases . Seven patients died during surgery, in low output states in 6 cases (global mortality 8.9 p . 100) . The 72 survivors were followed up for an average period of 5 years (4 to 168 months); three patients were lost to follow-up . The actuarial survival rate including the operative mortality was 77 p . 100 at 5 years and 64.6 p . 100 at 10 years . Valve dehiscence was common (52 p . 100); although the perivalvular leak was usually small, in 11 cases it was quite severe and 7 patients had to be reoperated . An excellent functional result was observed in 30 cases, especially in those patients operated early.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1987, 9(4), 421 - 8
No evidence for an interaction of the bacterial immunomodulator trehalose dimycolate (TDM) with liver drug-metabolizing system in mice; Zidek Z et al.; Trehalose dimycolate (TDM), an immunomodulatory glycolipid component of Mycobacteria, was tested from the point of view of possible effects on drug metabolism . TDM was given intraperitoneally as a single 0.1 mg dose to mice . Basic parameters of the liver mixed-function oxidase system were assayed 1 or 7 days later . No significant changes were found in contents of cytochromes P-450 and b5, as well as in specific activities of microsomal enzymes--aniline hydroxylase, ethylmorphine demethylase, and glucuronide transferase . Similarly, liver microsomal protein concentration and activities of serum aspartate and alanine transaminases remained unchanged . The susceptibility of microsomal membranes to lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased 7 days after TDM administration . TDM may thus be presumed not to influence range and magnitude of effects of concurrently administered drugs.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1987, 66(3), 247 - 53
{Multicenter study of the immunostimulating activity of a bacterial lysate}; Pellegrino M et al.; The Authors report the results obtained within a multicentrical trial, weighing the immunostimolant effect of bacterial lysate on 157 patients . The drug (bacterial lysate) has induced an immunitary reaction, making significantly higher either the salivary IgA values or the serum IgA, IgG and IgM values . Also excellent tolerability is peculiar to this new immunostimolant.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1987, 13(8), 497 - 500
Ceftriaxone compared with a combination of ampicillin and chloramphenicol in the treatment of bacterial meningitis in adults; Girgis NI et al.; Thirty patients, 25 males and 5 females, aged 16-30 years (mean 21.8 years) with bacterial meningitis were assigned randomly into one of two therapeutic regimens . Patients in Group I received ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg (max 4 g) intravenously (i.v.) once daily . Those in Group II received ampicillin i.v . 160 mg/kg/day plus chloramphenicol i.v . 100 mg/kg/day every 6 h . Of the 15 patients in Group I, N . meningitidis was isolated from 11 patients and S . pneumoniae from 4; and of the 15 patients in Group II, N . meningitidis was isolated from 10 patients and S . pneumoniae from 5 . Response to therapy as measured by mortality, time taken for defervescence and for patients to regain full consciousness were comparable in the two groups . One patient in each group died; both died within 24 h of initiation of therapy . The mean no . of days taken to become afebrile were 3.4 and 3.5 and to regain full consciousness were 3.9 and 3.5 for Groups I and II respectively . Ceftriaxone given i.v . appears to be as effective as a combination of ampicillin and chloramphenicol in the treatment of adult patients with meningitis due to N . meningitidis and S . pneumoniae . However, the once-daily schedule of ceftriaxone is more convenient, saving nursing time and expense.

Ann Chir Main, 1987, 6(3), 181 - 8
Bacterial flexor tenosynovitis in the hand . A series of 68 cases; Sokolow C et al.; The authors report 68 cases of bacterial tenosynovitis (BT) that is the largest international series dealing with this pathology since the introduction of antibiotics . Their study stresses the connection between the quality of the final result and the stage at which the condition is treated . The speed at which the tenosynovitis becomes established depends on the mechanism of infection . One can dissociate BT by direct inoculation with violation of the tenosynovial sheath, from the BT by diffusion through an undamaged sheath . The former progress within a few hours to a few days, the latter slowly in a few days to a few weeks, with a slower onset masked by the clinical signs of the initial infection . They propose a new classification which allows the choice of proper surgical therapy taking into account the type of onset of the BT and the intraoperative findings.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 1987, 66(4), 365 - 7
C-reactive protein: an early marker for neonatal bacterial infection due to prolonged rupture of amniotic membranes and/or amnionitis; Salzer HR et al.; The C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was determined in 25 infants whose mothers had presented with prolonged rupture of amniotic membranes (PROM) and/or amnionitis . CRP was positive (i.e . greater than or equal to 6 mg/l) within the first 6 hrs of life in 10 and negative in 15 infants . Clinically, all infants with positive CRP developed symptoms suggesting bacterial infection and both the absolute immature neutrophil counts as well as the ratio immature/total neutrophils were significantly higher in them on day 2 of life than in infants with negative CRP . Blood cultures were only positive in infants with positive CRP . Thus CRP can be regarded as an early marker for neonatal bacterial infection due to PROM and/or amnionitis.

Mol Endocrinol, 1987 Jan, 1(1), 5 - 14
Human preproparathyroid hormone synthesized in Escherichia coli is transported to the surface of the bacterial inner membrane but not processed to the mature hormone; Born W et al.; cDNA encoding human preproPTH (hpreproPTH) was expressed in Escherichia coli to study the processing of the precursor to hPTH and its secretion by the bacterial secretory apparatus . We first constructed hybrid genes that differed randomly in the distance between the E . coli lac promoter's ribosomal binding site and DNA encoding a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase activity and the prepro sequence of hpreproPTH on the aminoterminus . Starting with clones identified as efficient producers of beta-galactosidase on indicator agar plates, the coding sequence for hpreproPTH was reconstituted intact . In a different construction we placed the hpreproPTH coding sequence downstream from the lac promoter at a distance of 12 base pairs from the ribosomal binding site . PTH immunoreactive proteins from multiple clones were identified by protein gel electrophoresis and by protein microsequencing . PTH-related proteins encoded by different plasmids were shown to be hpreproPTH with amino-terminal extensions of either two or four amino acids and as authentic hpreproPTH . Two hPTH fragments, hPTH(3-84) and hPTH(8-84), were also observed . The trypsin accessibility of hpreproPTH and of the two hPTH fragments in pulse-chase, cell-fractionation experiments using intact and lysed spheroplasts lets us conclude that the mammalian signal sequence directs hpreproPTH to the surface of the spheroplast membrane but is not appropriately cleaved by the signal peptidase.

Lymphokine Res, 1987 Fall, 6(4), 351 - 5
IL 1 and bacterial lipopolysaccharide increase the ability of human endothelial cells to bind peripheral blood monocytes; Downs EC et al.; Human endothelial cells (EC) exposed to human recombinant IL 1 and to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) demonstrated a time dependent increase in their ability to bind peripheral blood monocytes (M0) . The enhancement of endothelial-M0 interactions was shown to represent a direct alteration of EC and was not explained by IL 1 and LPS affecting M0 . Other experiments indicated that the enhancement represented an acceleration in EC binding of M0 suggesting that EC may play a role in initiating proinflammatory events prior to the recruitment of inflammatory cells by chemotactic peptides.

Environ Mol Mutagen, 1987, 10(4), 411 - 24
Mutagenic and clastogenic properties of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone: a potent bacterial mutagen in drinking water; Meier JR et al.; 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) was found to be a direct-acting mutagen in the Ames test for strains TA1535, TA1538, TA92, TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102 . The highest mutagenic response (approximately 13,000 revertants/nmol) was seen in strain TA100 . The TA100 response was six- to tenfold higher than in TA98, TA97, and TA102, and 100- to 500-fold higher than in TA1535, TA92, and TA1538 . The addition of a 9,000 x g supernatant fraction (S-9) from livers of polychlorinated biphenyl-treated rats, along with cofactors for NADPH generation, resulted in a 90% reduction in the TA100 mutagenicity . MX induced chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells after 6-8 hr exposure without S-9 at a dose as low as 4 micrograms/ml, and after 2 hr exposure with S-9 at a dose of 75 micrograms/ml . The oral dose of MX lethal to 50% (LD50) in Swiss-Webster mice was determined to be 128 mg/kg . MX did not induce micronuclei in mouse bone marrow when administered by oral gavage at doses up to 70% of the LD50.

Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 1987, 244(2), 88 - 90
Effects of bacterial endotoxin on the ciliary activity in the in vitro eustachian tube; Ohashi Y et al.; We have used a tissue culture technique and a photoelectric method to examine the direct effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the ciliary activity present in the eustachian tube . Since LPS possesses the major part of the biological activity of endotoxin, our results show clearly that LPS deteriorates the ciliary activity in a dose-response fashion: LPS does not deteriorate the ciliary activity up to 168 h if its concentration is 1 ng/ml or less; 10 ng/ml LPS can cause deterioration of the ciliary activity with extended exposure (more than 96 h); LPS can cause dysfunction of the cilia rather quickly if the concentration is 100 ng/ml or more . Our results show that the ciliary activity in the eustachian tube under clinical conditions can be affected by endotoxin.

Gene, 1987, 54(2-3), 275 - 80
Promoter selection by a bacterial enhancer-like activator element (BELE) in Escherichia coli; Garciarrubio AA et al.; The Escherichia coli glnA gene promoter glnAp2 is activated by an element able to act bidirectionally and at variable distance over the DNA . We demonstrate here that this activating element does not influence another promoter, 82p, adjacent to it, from which a gene is transcribed in opposite direction to glnA . Thus, although it displays a great flexibility, this element can activate selectively . The unresponsive promoter and glnAp2 are recognized by RNA polymerases complexed to two different sigma factors . Therefore, we argue that promoter selection by this element is dependent upon distinguishing the proper sigma factor.

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1987, 503, 251 - 60
Bacterial viruses, prophages, and plasmids, reconsidered; Sonea S; Prophages and plasmids offer to the bacterial cells generalized access to each other's genes . The result is an extremely rich, available gene bank . It has successfully supported the original bacterial life since its beginnings and therefore it has conditioned all bacterial cells . Thus, most of the basic mechanisms for the living world, the richest variety of new genes, and particularly the improved ways of using DNA as an extremely adaptable genetic material happened in bacteria with the help of prophages and plasmids . This fact has profoundly marked all the biosphere . The ancestor of the nucleus probably started as an accumulation of prophages and plasmids integrated in the growing "chromosome" of the outer symbiont of the first eukaryotes . Many bacterial vestiges were probably retained in eukaryotes, mostly those related to the dominant and lasting role of small replicons in all their bacterial precursors . These vestiges may, for example, serve as an endogenic source for some DNA viruses in eukaryotes . The other animal and plant viruses seem to derive directly or indirectly from prophages or plasmids . In the case of RNA viruses they may have originated from probable RNA small replicons present in the first forms of life on earth . Some confusion arose in biology, as viruses were discovered first and therefore their most probable ancestors, the plasmids and the prophages which were discovered later, were thought to be viruslike, or viruses, as is the case with prophages.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(3), 309 - 12
Culture from epipharynx of little value in bacterial pneumonia; Steinum O et al.; In 75 patients with acute pneumonia of moderate severity a comparative study between transtracheal aspiration (TTA), sputum culture and epipharynx culture was carried out . Organisms considered as the probable etiological agent were found in 53% with TTA . The same organisms were found in only 27% in sputum samples and in 21% in epipharynx samples . No serious complications with TTA was noted.

Arkh Patol, 1987, 49(3), 37 - 44
{Morphologic manifestations of intestinal lesions of bacterial and mycotic etiology developing in association with acute respiratory infections}; Shastina GV; By means of light and immunofluorescent microscopy the intestines of 34 children were studied, whose bacterial or mycotic enterocolitis most often combined with acute respiratory infections . Intestinal lesions were caused either by virus (sometimes by Mycoplasma), or by bacteria and fungi . Such changes developed in the debilitated children and their course was more severe, than in monoinfections because of the impaired systemic and local immunity, and probably due to formation of viral-bacterial complexes . Viral intestinal lesions were most often caused by a single virus, but not by multiple ones, as in pulmonary infections, which is explained by interferon production and the intensive therapy used . The alternative component in a viral lesion is enhanced due to the presence of lactic acid in the intestine and therefore it is inhibited when acute viral respiratory infection develops against the background of bacterial or mycotic enterocolitis due to dysbacteriosis . Changes in mucosal stroma and intestinal lymphatic system in different infections depend on the duration of the intestinal lesion.

Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 1987, 4(2), 131 - 6
Bacterial endocarditis in a child with a Broviac catheter; Becton DL et al.; Broviac and Hickman catheters facilitate the care of children with cancer but provide a source of potential infection . We describe a child with a Broviac catheter who developed left-sided bacterial endocarditis in whom right-to-left atrial shunting was documented following catheter flushing . Following removal of the catheter and administration of prolonged intravenous antibiotics, recovery was complete and cardiac function returned to normal.

J Mol Evol, 1987, 26(3), 257 - 67
Examination of protein sequence homologies: IV . Twenty-seven bacterial ferredoxins; Otaka E et al.; Sequence homologies of 27 bacterial ferredoxins were examined using a computer program that quantitatively evaluates extent of similarity as a correlation coefficient . The results of a similarity search among the sequences demonstrated that the basal sequence consists of a pair of extremely similar segments of 26 amino acids connected by a three-amino acid group . The segment pairs, which would have arisen from gene duplication, are termed the first and second units . Because of the gene duplication, the connector sequence appears to have been introduced as a structurally important chain reversal . Each of the two units contains four cysteine residues, which are inserted one by one among seven, two, two, three, and eight amino acid alignments, respectively . The bacterial ferredoxins were categorized with regard to basal constitution as follows: group 1, in which both units closely conform to the basal structure; group 2, in which the second unit is modified in a characteristic manner among members; group 3, in which the first unit is modified in a characteristic manner, while the conforming second unit is accompanied by a long accessory sequence; group 4, in which there are modifications before and/or after the units, of which the respective central domains remain nearly intact; and group 5, where only the former of two Fe:S cluster ligation sets of four cysteines is estimated to remain intact, whereas the latter set is extremely modified . It is noteworthy that throughout all bacterial ferredoxins, one of two cysteine sets never fails to be completely intact and, moreover, the connector of three amino acids also exists intact . Based on this grouping and on the correspondences among the groups, average correlation coefficients among all members were computed, and the respective evolutionary relationships were examined . The results supported the proposition that transposition had occurred in the Azotobacter-type ferredoxins of group 3.

J Mol Evol, 1987, 26(3), 187 - 97
The distributions of nucleotides near bacterial transcription initiation and termination sites show distinct signals that may affect DNA geometry; Nussinov R et al.; Compilation and analysis of all bacterial sequences which are aligned by their transcription initiation sites show a dramatic behavior of the four nucleotides . Large peaks of T and A are observed . This highly nonrandom distribution is likely to affect the DNA geometry in addition to affecting the strength of binding between the two DNA strands . Following this site, the G and C rise above their overall bacterial mean . Alignment by transcription termination sites indicates that this behavior continues till the mRNA 3' termini . At this site the concentrations of A and T rise again above the mean . Analysis of the distributions of the 256 quartets in the 1000 nucleotide regions surrounding both transcription initiation and termination sites has been carried out . Some A/T combination sequences may serve as signals to the bacterial transcription machinery, in addition to the well-established TTGACA and TATAAT at positions -35 and -10, respectively, and a run of Ts at the transcription termination site . The frequent occurrences of (dA)/(dT) runs in the vicinity of these sites may result in curved DNA structures, affecting recognition and the nature of the interaction between the RNA polymerase and the DNA.

Cornea, 1987, 6(4), 283 - 5
Secondary bacterial keratitis in herpes zoster ophthalmicus; Lyon DB et al.; We report a case of an unusual complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, secondary bacterial keratitis . Compared with previously reported cases, ours is unique in its early occurrence in the course of zoster and the lack of predisposing factors such as steroid use, contact lens use, or prior corneal disease or surgery . The opportunistic pathogen Branhamella cattarhalis responded well to medical therapy . We feel that bacterial superinfection must always be a concern in patients with herpes zoster keratitis, even early in their often prolonged chronic disease.

Can J Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 33(1), 6 - 11
Analysis of microcalorimetric curves for bacterial identification; Lopez D et al.; A numeric method is suggested for the treatment of microcalorimetric curves of bacterial growth to provide a new tool for their automatic identification . In this method the microcalorimetric curves are searched against certain reference profiles (stored in a library) by means of a cross-correlation analysis and a parametric comparison . The matching between the new curve and each reference profile is evaluated by means of a specific identification coefficient which provides an objective criterion for the identification of each species . The reliability of the method is discussed.

Kidney Int, 1987 Jan, 31(1), 77 - 84
Interaction of Tamm-horsfall protein with bacterial extracts; Shachner MS et al.; Crude extracts of uropathic Escherichia coli have been reported to inhibit the binding of human Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) to homologous and heterologous anti-THP antibody in immunoassays . This phenomenon was believed to be due to immunologic cross reactivity between THP and the bacterial antigens for the same antibody . Our attempts to further purify and characterize these "cross reactive" antigens with ion exchange and molecular sieve chromatography were unsuccessful . When purified anti-THP antibody was conjugated to sepharose beads forming an immunoadsorption column capable of isolating THP and cross reactive antigens from solution, the bacterial extracts did not react with the affinity column . However, binding between THP and the bacterial extracts and between THP and whole bacteria were demonstrated . These findings suggest that the cross reactivity seen in the immunoassays is caused by the interaction between the bacterial extracts and THP, and is not representative of true immunologic cross reaction for a common antibody.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 53(1), 211 - 3
Specific and sensitive plate assay for bacterial lipases; Kouker G et al.; A plate assay to detect bacterial lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) in a medium containing trioleoylglycerol and the fluorescent dye rhodamine B is presented . Substrate hydrolysis causes the formation of orange fluorescent halos around bacterial colonies visible upon UV irradiation . The logarithm of lipase activity from cell-free culture supernatants is linearly correlated with the diameter of halos, thereby allowing quantitation of lipase activities ranging from 1 to 30 nkat.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1987 Jan, 78(1), 121 - 4
Gamma interferon priming of mouse and human macrophages for induction of tumor necrosis factor production by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Gifford GE et al.; Priming of macrophages from both murine and human sources by recombinant immune interferons from Escherichia coli (r-IFN-gamma s) and activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) . r-IFN-gamma alone did not induce TNF production by macrophages; for this to occur, the second signal provided by small amounts (nanograms) of LPS was required . The small amounts of LPS alone were insufficient to activate the macrophages for TNF production . Priming by r-IFN-gamma was not necessary when larger amounts of LPS were employed, although an enhancement of yield resulted . Priming could also be demonstrated in vivo . Inoculation of r-IFN-gamma into mice resulted in increased yields of TNF following LPS challenge 12 hours later.

J Gen Virol, 1987 Jan, 68 ( Pt 1), 247 - 52
Stability of a bacterial gene in a bovine papillomavirus-based shuttle vector maintained extrachromosomally in mammalian cells; MacGregor GR et al.; In order to analyse the stability of cloned genes in a viral vector we have constructed a shuttle vector based on bovine papillomavirus and the Escherichia coli gene lacZ . Propagation of this vector in mouse C127 cells and analysis of vector sequences in bacteria produced no detectable mutations in the lacZ gene in over 6137 clones analysed . This is 100-fold less than the mutation frequency observed when the same and similar target genes are replicated in monkey COS cells using a simian virus 40-based shuttle vector.

J Neuroimmunol, 1987 Jan, 13(3), 259 - 71
Analysis of Ia induction on Lewis rat astrocytes in vitro by virus particles and bacterial adjuvants; Massa PT et al.; Viral particles of a neurotropic murine hepatitis virus (JHM) and various substances known to have immunoregulatory effects, including bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and synthetic adjuvant peptide (muramyl dipeptide) (AP), were tested for their ability to induce Ia antigen expression on Lewis rat astrocytes in vitro . JHM virus, LPS and AP are all capable of inducing Ia molecules on astrocytes, however, in a pattern and kinetics distinct from recombinant rat gamma interferon (gamma-IFN) . Whereas gamma-IFN induced Ia expression on astrocytes and all macrophages after 48 h treatment, JHM virus, LPS and AP required 4-7 days for maximal induction of Ia on astrocytes, but had little to no effect on the macrophage population . This indicates that astrocytes are uniquely reactive to components derived from infectious agents and that these components are immunoregulatory with respect to Ia expression on astrocytes . We have also attempted to determine possible mechanisms by which these agents induce astrocyte Ia and show that phorbol myristate acetate and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 have similar effects . These findings suggest that infectious agents may directly stimulate antigen presenting functions of astrocytes in the brain through gamma-IFN-independent mechanisms.

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 1987 Jan-Mar, 82(1), 87 - 90
Endocytosis-inducer adhesins produced by enteropathogenic serogroups of Escherichia coli participate on bacterial attachment to infant enterocytes; Andrade JR et al.; Enteropathogenic E . coli (EPEC) infection of Hep-2 cells proceeds through bacterial attachment to cell surface and internalization of adhered bacteria . EPEC attachment is a prerequisite for cell infection and is mediated by adhesins that recognize carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell membrane . Such endocytosis-inducer adhesins (EIA) also promote EPEC binding to infant enterocytes, suggesting that EIA may have an important role on EPEC gastroenteritis.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1987, 53(6), 447 - 53
Three dimensional structure of bacterial pili; Parge HE et al.; Crystallographic and associated biochemical and structural studies are in progress on the fiber-forming pilin proteins of the gonococcal pilus . Preparative scale purification procedures have been developed for the gonococcal pilin protein, which appear generally applicable to bacterial pilins . For three gonococcal pilin protein strains, we have obtained both reassembled pilus fibers and three-dimensional crystals . One needle-shaped crystal form of gonococcal C30 pilin diffracts beyond 3 A resolution using synchrotron x-ray radiation . A diffraction data set to 3.5 A resolution has been collected on these needle-shaped crystals (lattice spacings a = 125.4(3) b = 120.4(3), c = 26.61(4) A) in which the packing arrangement of the pilin subunits appears to resemble that seen in the pilus fibers using electron microscopy . X-ray diffraction data confirm our proposed model for the overall polypeptide fold of a pilin subunit, which is an antiparallel 4-alpha helix bundle similar to tobacco mosaic virus coat protein and myohemerythrin.

Comp Biochem Physiol A, 1987, 88(3), 519 - 21
Bacterial endotoxin and infection cause behavioural hypothermia in infant mice; Lagerspetz KY et al.; 1 . When placed in a temperature gradient, 3-10 day old mice injected with living Escherichia coli or with E . coli endotoxin, select 2-3 degrees C lower temperatures than their litter-mate controls injected with saline . 2 . At the lower selected temperature (32 degrees C) young mouse pups resist bacterial infection for longer and tolerate higher doses of endotoxin than at the temperature selected by the controls (35 degrees C) . 3 . It is possible that a controlled hypothermic state, here called cryexia, is in small mammals an alternative strategy to fever for coping with infections.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1987, 32(5), 368 - 75
Mini-Mu transposition of bacterial genes on the transmissible plasmid; Weiserova M et al.; Using the pRM30 plasmid, an Aps deletion derivative of broad host range plasmid RP4 with integrated new miniMu 5 (11 kb), we followed the transfer of Escherichia coli chromosomal genes to the recipient strain . The miniMu 5-mediated transposition of chromosomal genes occurs onto the plasmid with integrated miniMu 5 rather than onto the "recipient" plasmid pNH602 . The plasmid DNA in recipient cells was detected by electrophoresis . One of the acquired hybrid plasmids pTB2 was analyzed genetically and by restriction endodeoxyribonuclease digestion . A structure consisting of miniMu-chromosomal segment-miniMu as a product of Mu-mediated transposition was detected.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 1987, 216A, 673 - 83
Development of intestinal mucosal barrier function to antigens and bacterial toxins; Israel EJ et al.; In this paper, we have tried to provide evidence for the association between the microvillus membrane immaturity of young infants/animals and the enhanced attachment and uptake of intestinal antigens and toxins . Finally, we have reviewed observations that growth factors that alter the newborn MVM composition towards maturity may also affect the handling of antigens by the intestinal surface.

Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol, 1987, 411(3), 257 - 65
Microvascular injury and repair in acute human bacterial pyelonephritis; Ivanyi B et al.; Acute inflammatory cell-capillary endothelial cell interactions, related to injury and repair, were investigated light and electron microscopically in acute human bacterial pyelonephritis . In inflammatory infiltrate-adjacent microvessels, the small capillaries were completely occluded by leukocyte plugs and the large capillaries were densely filled with acute inflammatory cells adhering to the endothelium . Severe damage to small and large capillaries was observed around endothelium adherent, degranulated neutrophil granulocytes containing phagocytosed bacteria . There were spaces in the endothelium, degradation of the vascular basement membrane, of the perivascular interstitial matrix and of collagen fibrils, with fibrin deposition and vessel wall fragmentation . In the small capillaries relatively distant from the interstitial infiltrates, emigration of leukocytes was frequently seen . Around the escaping cells the endothelial lining displayed occasional discontinuities, allowing leakage of vascular fluid into the interstitial space . Some small capillaries not related to the infiltrate were occluded by fibrin thrombi with apparent damage to the endothelial cells and disruption of the capillary wall . Various reparative changes were noticed in association with this change including capillary neovascularization . The findings confirm the existence of polymorphonuclear leukocyte-mediated injury of capillaries during the development of inflammatory responses in acute pyelonephritis.

Scand J Urol Nephrol, 1987, 21(2), 81 - 8
Effects of sodium pentosanpolysulphate on symptoms related to chronic non-bacterial prostatitis . A double-blind randomized study; Wedren H; A therapeutical trial was conducted with pentosanpolysulphate (Elmiron) in 24 patients with chronic non-bacterial prostatitis . The study was double-blind and 10 patients received Elmiron 200 mg X 2 daily while 14 received a placebo . A beneficial effect (p less than 0.01) was registered on symptoms from muscles and joints . A side-effect observed was a tendency to develop diarrhoea in a few patients prone to gastrointestinal disturbances previously.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Dec 15, 261(35), 16398 - 403
Glucose-permease of the bacterial phosphotransferase system . Gene cloning, overproduction, and amino acid sequence of enzyme IIGlc; Erni B et al.; The glucose-permease (IIGlc) of the bacterial phosphotransferase system mediates sugar transport across the cytoplasmic membrane concomitant with sugar phosphorylation . It also functions as a receptor for bacterial chemotaxis . The structural gene of the permease, ptsG, has been cloned on a multicopy plasmid, and transformants constitutively overproducing the protein 10-15 times over wild-type level have been isolated . Overproduction is slightly inhibited if transformants are grown in a glucose-containing medium . The complete amino acid sequence of the glucose-permease is deduced from the nucleotide sequence . It consists of 477 residues and is moderately hydrophobic . A comparison of the glucose-permease with the mannitol-permease (Lee, C . A., and Saier, M . H., Jr . (1983) J . Biol . Chem . 258, 10761-10767) does not reveal any obvious homology at the level of amino acid sequence.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Dec 5, 261(34), 16256 - 9
Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen . Primary structure of Escherichia coli ADP-glucose:alpha-1,4-glucan, 4-glucosyltransferase as deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the glgA gene; Kumar A et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the glgA gene, coding for glycogen synthase (EC 2.4.1.21) was elucidated . It consists of 1431 base pairs specifying a protein of 477 amino acids . The deduced amino acid sequence was consistent with the amino acid analysis obtained with the pure protein as well as with the molecular weight as determined from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The deduced amino acid sequence was also consistent with the amino-terminal acid sequence and amino acid sequence analysis of various peptides obtained from CNBr degradation of purified glycogen synthase.

J Mol Biol, 1986 Dec 5, 192(3), 529 - 47
Regulation of IncFII plasmid DNA replication . A quantitative model for control of plasmid NR1 replication in the bacterial cell division cycle; Womble DD et al.; A quantitative model for the regulation of replication of the low copy number IncFII plasmid NR1 in the Escherichia coli cell division cycle has been developed . The initiation of NR1 replication requires a cis-acting initiator protein whose synthesis is regulated by several mechanisms . The NR1 regulatory processes include co-operative protein-protein interactions in the formation of an active transcription repressor, the interaction of repressor with a rightward operator site in the control of transcription of the initiator gene, and the interaction of an inhibitor RNA transcript with the initiator mRNA in the control of translation of the initiation protein . 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 the events of the cell cycle, such as initiation of 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 the intracellular concentrations of repressor protein and mRNA agreed with experimentally determined estimates . A number of different copy number mutants that have altered one or another of the regulatory processes were simulated by the model . The contributions of each of the regulatory processes toward the overall stability of inheritance of plasmid NR1 in a population of cells in culture were examined . These simulations predict a very stable pattern of inheritance for plasmid NR1 despite its low copy number, in agreement with experimental observation.

Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1986 Dec, 63(4), 481 - 512
{Bacterial pollution of the littoral waters of the north of Tunisia (Tabarka and Bizerte regions) and of Lake Bizerte}; Chadli A et al.; The inshore areas of Tabarka and Bizerte are not submitted to the bacterian pollution . The "Old Port" of Bizerte is mainly contaminated all the year round and sometimes polluted the neighbouring urban beach . The lagoon of Bizerte presents any bacterian pollution and could be adapted to the conchyliculture and to the stabulation of Bivalves, with before some important precautions.

Eur J Biochem, 1986 Dec 1, 161(2), 415 - 9
Methylamine oxidase from Arthrobacter P1 . A bacterial copper-quinoprotein amine oxidase; van Iersel J et al.; Methylamine oxidase from Arthrobacter P1 was purified to homogeneity . The enzyme oxidizes primary amines but not tyramine or polyamines like spermine and putrescine . The enzyme activity has a pH optimum of 8.0 with methylamine, and is inhibited by certain cations as well as anions at rather low concentrations . The enzyme has an Mr of 167900, an isoelectric point of 4.6, consists of two (probably identical) subunits (Mr 82250) and contains two copper atoms but no sugar residues . The visible absorption spectra of the enzyme as it is isolated (broad maximum at 480 nm), that of its reduced form obtained on addition of excess of methylamine (maximum at 470 nm) and that of phenylhydrazine-inhibited enzyme (maximum at 440 nm) are very similar to those of eucaryotic copper-containing amine oxidases (EC 1.4.3.6) . Also the stoichiometry of inhibition with carbonyl group reagents is similar since the enzyme reacted with only one methylhydrazine . The adduct isolated from copper-free enzyme, treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, was identical to that found in bovine serum amine oxidase treated with this compound after copper removal . This indicates that the enzyme is a copper-quinoprotein amine oxidase, the first example from bacterial origin.

Gastroenterology, 1986 Dec, 91(6), 1476 - 82
Folic acid malabsorption in atrophic gastritis . Possible compensation by bacterial folate synthesis; Russell RM et al.; Folic acid absorption was studied in 12 elderly subjects with atrophic gastritis and 10 elderly normal controls using tritium-labeled pteroylmonoglutamic acid . Two folic acid absorption tests were carried out on each subject with 120 ml of either water or 0.1 N HCl . Folic acid absorption was significantly lower in subjects with atrophic gastritis than in normal controls (31% vs . 51%, respectively; p less than 0.01) . In subjects with atrophic gastritis, folic acid absorption rose significantly to 54% (p less than 0.001) when administered with acid, but did not change in normal controls (50%) . Serum folate levels were normal in all subjects . Proximal small intestinal pH was higher in atrophic gastritis subjects than in normal controls (7.1 vs . 6.7, respectively; p less than 0.05), as were bacterial counts of small intestinal fluid (p less than 0.01) . Bacteria cultured from the aspirates of subjects with atrophic gastritis were able to synthesize folate in vitro when incubated in a folate-free medium . Atrophic gastritis results in folic acid malabsorption but not in folate deficiency, possibly due to increased bacterial synthesis of folate in the small intestine.

Gastroenterology, 1986 Dec, 91(6), 1447 - 51
Comparison of the 1-gram {14C}xylose, 10-gram lactulose-H2, and 80-gram glucose-H2 breath tests in patients with small intestine bacterial overgrowth; King CE et al.; The sensitivity of three breath tests (1-g {14C}xylose, 10-g lactulose-H2, and 80-g glucose-H2) was studied in 20 subjects with culture-documented small intestine bacterial overgrowth . Elevated breath 14CO2 levels were seen within 30 min of {14C}xylose administration in 19 of 20 subjects with bacterial overgrowth and 0 of 10 controls . In contrast, H2 breath tests demonstrated uninterpretable tests (absence of H2-generating bacteria) in 2 of 20 subjects with bacterial overgrowth and 1 of 10 controls and nondiagnostic increases in H2 production in 3 of 18 glucose-H2 and 7 of 18 lactulose-H2 breath tests in subjects with bacterial overgrowth . These findings demonstrate continued excellent reliability of the 1-g {14C}xylose breath test as a diagnostic test for bacterial overgrowth, indicate inadequate sensitivity of H2 breath tests in detecting bacterial overgrowth, and suggest the need for evaluation of a 13CO2 breath test having the same characteristics as the {14C}xylose test (avidly absorbed substrate having minimal contact with the colonic flora) for nonradioactive breath detection of bacterial overgrowth in children and reproductive-age women.

Gastroenterology, 1986 Dec, 91(6), 1343 - 6
Low-protein-concentration ascitic fluid is predisposed to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Runyon BA; To assess the risk of development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in relation to the ascitic fluid total protein concentration, routine admission abdominal paracentesis was performed on a group of 107 patients during 125 hospitalizations . The paracentesis was repeated if evidence of peritonitis developed during hospitalization . Twenty-one episodes of spontaneous peritonitis (or its culture-negative variant) were documented in 17 patients . The ascitic fluid protein concentration in the spontaneous peritonitis group (0.72 +/- 0.53 g/dl) was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than that in the group of patients with sterile portal hypertension-related ascites (1.36 +/- 0.89 g/dl) and was significantly lower than that of patients with ascites due to miscellaneous causes . Of the patients whose initial sterile ascitic fluid protein concentration was less than or equal to 1.0 g/dl, 7 of 47 (15%) developed spontaneous peritonitis during their hospitalization; whereas only 1 of 65 (1.5%) patients who had an initial sterile ascitic fluid protein concentration greater than 1.0 g/dl developed spontaneous peritonitis . This difference in risk of development of peritonitis in relation to initial ascitic fluid protein concentration was also significant (p less than 0.01) . Low-protein-concentration ascitic fluid predisposes to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Adv Contracept, 1986 Dec, 2(4), 363 - 9
Metronidazole-containing vaginal sponges for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis; Brenner WE et al.; Currently, there is no FDA approved treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV), although various oral dosages of metronidazole are used to treat this condition . A vaginal therapeutic sponge (VLI Corporation) that releases metronidazole over a 24 h use period has been developed for the treatment of BV . Each sponge contains 250 mg of metronidazole . The safety and effectiveness of using one or three metronidazole-containing vaginal sponges for the treatment of BV was evaluated in 40 patients . Use of a single sponge resulted in a cure rate of 38.9% . With three sponges the cure rate was 94.4% . Cure was defined as the absence of signs and symptoms (vaginal discharge, elevated pH, KOH prep odor, and 'clue' cells) at the one and four week follow-up visits . The sexual partners of most women were also treated with metronidazole (2 g po in one dose) . None of the women were discontinued from treatment because of any adverse effects . Side-effects were minimal and required no treatment . The cure rate with the three vaginal sponge dosage appears to be similar to that associated with oral dosages of metronidazole.

EMBO J, 1986 Dec 1, 5(12), 3195 - 200
Complementation of sensitivity to alkylating agents in Escherichia coli and Chinese hamster ovary cells by expression of a cloned bacterial DNA repair gene; Kataoka H et al.; Dual expression vectors derived from pSV2gpt and encoding all or part of the Escherichia coli ada+ gene have been constructed . Following transformation into an E . coli ada strain or transfection and stable integration into the genome of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, plasmid vectors containing the whole ada+ gene conferred resistance to both killing and mutagenesis by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) . Thus, the bacterial DNA repair gene was functionally expressed in the mammalian cells . Plasmids containing an N-terminal fragment of the ada+ gene which encoded only one of the two methyltransferase activities of the Ada protein did not significantly protect E . coli or CHO cells against MNNG . These results are consistent with the central role of the intact ada+ gene in controlling the adaptive response to alkylating agents in E . coli . However, the data further suggest that some alkylation lesions in DNA, such as O6-methylguanine, may exert partly different biological effects in E . coli and mammalian cells.

Thromb Res, 1986 Dec 1, 44(5), 565 - 73
Effects of bacterial endotoxin and platelet activating factor (PAF) on human platelet aggregation in native whole blood; Davis RB et al.; The effect of bacterial endotoxins E . coli 0111:B4 or S . minnesota and platelet activating factor (1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-SN-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine) on platelet aggregation in native whole blood (NWB) were evaluated by impedance aggregometry . In the absence of anticoagulants the patterns of impedance changes associated with aggregation were distinct from those of clotting . Both E . coli 0111:B4 and S . minnesota endotoxins shortened the time to clot formation, but impedance changes suggestive of accelerated platelet aggregation were minimal or absent . In contrast, PAF caused an increased impedance, with oscillations characteristic of aggregation, which in some instances was superseded by the smooth impedance change associated with clotting . E . coli 0111:B4 endotoxin blocked aggregation and delayed the onset of clotting after PAF, whereas S . minnesota endotoxin accelerated platelet aggregation by PAF in ten of thirteen experiments . Incubation of E . coli 0111:B4 endotoxin and PAF markedly enhanced aggregation by PAF, whereas the effect of S . minnesota was variable . Although E . coli 0111:B4 and S . minnesota endotoxins accelerated clotting but not platelet aggregation of human NWB in vitro, their interaction with PAF is complex, depending on the type of endotoxin and individual reactivity . The findings suggest that endotoxin could interact with PAF to significantly augment possible hemorrhagic and/or thrombotic complications of septic shock in humans.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Dec, 83(24), 9561 - 5
Rho-dependent transcription termination of a bacterial operon is antagonized by an extrachromosomal gene product; Lagos R et al.; The psu gene product of "phasmid" (phage-plasmid) P4 acts as a transcription antitermination factor in trans and in cis, respectively, within the morphogenic operons of its P2 phage helper during lytic viral development and on P4 itself during the establishment stage of its alternative mode of propagation as a plasmid . Here we show that psu also antagonizes activity of the Escherichia coli transcription termination factor rho at the terminator of the trp operon . Such a finding provides to our knowledge the first direct evidence for antitermination activity at a known rho-dependent site by the psu gene product . It also reveals an example of an extrachromosomal gene product that acts on specific sites of three different genomes to regulate expression of unlinked families of genes.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Dec, 83(24), 9443 - 7
Synthesis, bacterial expression, and mutagenesis of the gene coding for mammalian cytochrome b5; Beck von Bodman S et al.; We have totally synthesized a gene that codes for rat hepatic cytochrome b5 . The 5' flanking region was designed for efficient expression of this gene in Escherichia coli by incorporating an optimum ribosome binding site and spacer region . Both a soluble form, analogous to the protease-treated microsomal protein, as well as the complete cytochrome with hydrophobic membrane anchor, was constructed and expressed . Transformants with the gene for the soluble protein overproduce authentic cytochrome b5 to a level of 8% of the total cell protein . The complete cytochrome is expressed to a lesser extent with most of the protein found in the cell membrane fraction . This represents complete synthesis and bacterial expression of a mammalian metalloprotein gene . Cytochrome b5 is normally a six-coordinate low spin heme protein with histidine-39 and histidine-63 as axial ligands . We have replaced histidine-63 with a methionine residue by cassette mutagenesis, utilizing specific restriction enzyme sites engineered into the synthetic gene . The resultant protein has histidine-39 as sole axial ligand and is five-coordinate high spin in the ferric resting state, as indicated by optical and electron spin resonance spectroscopy . The ability to generate mutant cytochrome b5 in high yield is a crucial step in understanding heme protein folding, protein-protein recognition and binding, and biological electron transfer processes.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Dec, 168(3), 1466 - 7
Determination of bacterial cell volume with the Coulter Counter; Kubitschek HE et al.; Two methods were used to determine mean volumes of cells of Escherichia coli B/rA in both stationary- and exponential-phase cultures, i.e., electronic measurement with a Coulter Counter-Analyzer system and biophysical measurement of the total volume and number of cells in sedimented cell pellets . Within experimental errors, the methods gave the same mean cell volumes.

Fertil Steril, 1986 Dec, 46(6), 1128 - 32
Removal of bacterial contaminants from semen for in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination by the use of buoyant density centrifugation; Bolton VN et al.; Buoyant density centrifugation of semen produces the accumulation of populations of highly motile, morphologically normal spermatozoa in the lowermost 1 ml of Percoll (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals AB, Uppsala, Sweden) density gradients . In addition, the majority of bacteria present in semen are retained in the seminal plasma at the top of the gradients . Of 40 semen samples examined, 37 contained detectable bacteria, but after buoyant density centrifugation, the spermatozoal populations collected from the lowermost 1 ml of the Percoll columns were found to contain few or no bacteria . When preparations were collected using sterile technique (by boring a hole through the bottom of the centrifuge tube), 14 of the 20 preparations were found to be bacteria-free . When preparations were collected by passing a spinal needle from the surface through the seminal plasma to the bottom of the centrifuge tube, the sterility of the final spermatozoa preparations was not maintained, with only 5 of the 20 samples completely free of bacteria . The residual bacterial contamination of the remaining 15 samples was, however, very low (less than 5 colonies after a 48-hour culture period).

Am J Gastroenterol, 1986 Dec, 81(12), 1156 - 61
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: clinical and laboratory features with reference to hospital-acquired cases; Carey WD et al.; A review of a large secondary and tertiary care hospital's experience with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) over 7 yr revealed that in most cases this complication emerges after the patient is admitted to the hospital . Compared with a hospitalized control group, SBP patients were more likely to have gastrointestinal bleeding and renal failure and to require invasive procedures or therapies . Thus, hospitalized cirrhotics with ascites who develop SBP are more debilitated before development of SBP . The clinical signs and symptoms of this disorder are diverse; simple tests of ascitic fluid properties (white blood cell count, polymorphonuclear cell count, and lactate dehydrogenase) correlate closely with positive cultures, affording the clinician a chance to make an early presumptive diagnosis . Recognition of nosocomial SBP has important implications for the management of hospitalized cirrhotic patients . Further study is needed to determine if invasive procedures actually cause some cases of SBP or if the apparent association is simply due to identification of a sicker, more debilitated group of patients.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Dec, 18 Suppl E, 131 - 40
Imipenem in the treatment of severe bacterial infections in seriously ill patients; Garau J et al.; A multicentre, non-comparative study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of imipenem/cilastatin given iv to 53 seriously ill patients with severe bacterial infections, including 16 episodes of UTI, 12 pleuropulmonary, eight intra-abdominal, seven osteoarticular, and two soft tissue infections, three episodes of catheter related sepsis, two primary bacteraemias, one case of endocarditis, one of endophthalmitis, and one of disseminated gonococcal infection . Twenty-five patients were bacteraemic . The overall rate of clinical response was 94% of treated episodes; three cases failed to respond . Adverse reactions were mild and comparable with those reported with other beta-lactams . No patient had clinical superinfection; colonization occurred in seven patients . Imipenem is effective and safe as a single drug therapy for a wide range of infections in seriously ill patients.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Dec, 83(23), 8987 - 91
Temporal comparisons in bacterial chemotaxis; Segall JE et al.; Responses of tethered cells of Escherichia coli to impulse, step, exponential-ramp or exponentiated sine-wave stimuli are internally consistent, provided that allowance is made for the nonlinear effect of thresholds . This result confirms that wild-type cells exposed to stimuli in the physiological range make short-term temporal comparisons extending 4 sec into the past: the past second is given a positive weighting, the previous 3 sec are given a negative weighting, and the cells respond to the difference . cheRcheB mutants (defective in methylation and demethylation) weight the past second in a manner similar to the wild type, but they do not make short-term temporal comparisons . When exposed to small steps delivered iontophoretically, they fail to adapt over periods of up to 12 sec; when exposed to longer steps in a flow cell, they partially adapt, but with a decay time of greater than 30 sec . cheZ mutants use a weighting that extends at least 40 sec into the past . The gain of the chemotactic system is large: the change in occupancy of one receptor molecule produces a significant response.

J Vasc Surg, 1986 Dec, 4(6), 567 - 77
Adult human endothelial cell enzymatic harvesting . Estimates of efficiency and comparison of crude and partially purified bacterial collagenase preparations by replicate microwell culture and fibronectin degradation measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Sharefkin JB et al.; Reliable enzymatic endothelial cell (EC) harvest methods are required for clinical EC seeding of vascular prostheses by methods analogous to those demonstrated in dogs . But crude collagenases used for EC harvest vary in efficacy and cytotoxicity, and purified collagenases reportedly give low EC yields . To compare different harvest methods, we studied growth curves of primary adult human saphenous vein EC (HSVEC) harvests plated in replicate microwell cultures . The EC yield, defined as attachment-capable ECs obtained per square centimeter of vein lumen, was estimated from the lowest number of ECs counted in lag phase before exponential growth began . With the use of morphometric studies of HSVs that were perfusion-fixed at their original dimensions, the baseline in situ density of ECs available for harvest from HSV was estimated at 1.3 X 10(5) EC/cm2 . Crude (CBC) and partially purified bacterial collagenase (PBC) solutions at concentrations with equal levels of basement membrane lysis activity (BMLA) were compared by the replicate microwell method in a series of 21 harvests (six CBC, eight PBC, and seven enzyme-free control harvests) . All 14 enzymatic harvests produced confluent EC cultures with no significant difference in mean harvest efficiency between CBC (12% of in situ EC number) and PBC (15%) . However, PBC caused less degradation of human fibronectin (p less than 0.0001) as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay employing a fibronectin-specific monoclonal antibody . These data suggest that chemically defined mixtures of pure enzymes with BMLA equal to the BMLA of crude collagenase might allow reliable EC harvesting without sacrifice in EC yield but with improved preservation of structures at the EC periphery . EC losses during initial vein dissection may have contributed to the low 12% to 15% efficiency we observed.

Infect Immun, 1986 Dec, 54(3), 886 - 92
Role of Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin and bacterial adherence in infection: requirement for release of inflammatory mediators from granulocytes and mast cells; Konig B et al.; We investigated the role of bacterial mannose-resistant fimbriation of S fimbriae (Fim), mannose-resistant hemagglutination (S-Mrh), and hemolysin (Hly) production by an Escherichia coli parent and genetically cloned strains as regards their effect on histamine release from rat mast cells and generation of the chemiluminescence response, leukotriene, and enzyme release from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes . These mediators are involved in the induction of inflammatory disease processes and lead, e.g., to the enhancement of vascular permeability, chemotaxis, aggregation of granulocytes (leukotriene B4), lysosomal enzyme release, and smooth-muscle contraction (leukotrienes C4, D4, and E4) . The content of azurophilic and specific granules in polymorphonuclear granulocytes consists of highly reactive enzymes which amplify inflammatory reactions . Washed bacteria (E . coli 764 Hly+/-, E . coli 21085 Hly+/- Fim+/- Mrh+/-), as well as their culture supernatants, were analyzed at various times during their growth cycle . No differences exist between parent and cloned or mutant strains with respect to their outer membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharide pattern . Washed bacteria {E . coli 764 and 21085(pANN202-312)} which produced hemolysin, unlike Hly- strains, induced high levels of histamine release from rat mast cells and led to a significant chemiluminescence response and enzyme and leukotriene release from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes . Bacterial culture supernatants from Hly+ and secreting strains showed similar results with the exception of E . coli 21085(pANN202-312), which is a hemolysin-producing but not a secretory strain . Our data suggest a potent role for hemolysin as a stimulus for noncytotoxic mediator release from various cells . Furthermore, we showed that the presence of Fim and S Mrh potentiates mediator release . The simultaneous presence of Mrh and Fim {E . coli 535/21(pANN801-4)} increased mediator release compared with Mrh+ Fim- strains {E . coli 536/21(pANN801-1)} . E . coli 536/21 (Msh- Mrh- Fim- Hly-) did not induce mediator release.

Respir Care, 1986 Dec, 31(12), 1207 - 10
Bacterial colonization of ultrasonic nebulizers: implications for frequency of circuit changing; Witek TJ Jr et al.; We conducted a prospective study of 50 consecutive postoperative patients over a 5-month period to characterize the bacterial contamination of ultrasonic nebulizers (USNs) after 24, 48, and 72 hours (h) of use . Methods: Samples of the USN effluent mist and reservoir fluid were cultured and the results were correlated with clinical data from patient records, especially indications of pneumonia or related infections . Results: Two thirds of the USNs were bacteria-free at the three times they were tested . After 24 h, cultures of the mist revealed bacterial growth in only 1 of the 50 patients . After 48 and 72 h, cultures of the mist showed bacterial growth in 6 instances (12%) . Colonization of the reservoir fluid was also limited to 1 patient after 24 h . Reservoir-fluid cultures were positive in 10% of the USNs at 48 h and in 18% at 72 h . No clinically significant signs of pneumonia developed in any patient . Conclusions: These results suggest that colonization of USNs is minimal during the first 72 h of use by postoperative patients with uncomplicated clinical courses and that clinical consequences are unlikely in such patients even when the USN is found to have been colonized . Although the Centers for Disease Control has recommended daily changing of USN circuits, this practice may not be warranted in all clinical settings . Further studies are needed to determine the colonization of USNs used by patients with more complicated clinical courses.

Biochemistry, 1986 Nov 4, 25(22), 7192 - 200
Mechanistic studies of a protonolytic organomercurial cleaving enzyme: bacterial organomercurial lyase; Begley TP et al.; Mechanistic studies of the protonolytic carbon-mercury bond cleavage by organomercurial lyase from Escherichia coli (R831) suggest that the reaction proceeds via an SE2 pathway . Studies with stereochemically defined substrates cis-2-butenyl-2-mercuric chloride (1) and endo-norbornyl-2-mercuric bromide (2) reveal that a high degree of configurational retention occurs during the bond cleavage, while studies with exo-3-acetoxynortricyclyl-5-mercuric bromide (3) and cis-exo-2-acetoxy-bicyclo{2.2.1}hept-5-enyl-3-mercuric bromide (4) show that the protonolysis proceeds without accompanying skeletal rearrangement . Kinetic data for the enzymatic reactions of cis-2-butenyl-2-mercuric chloride (1) and trans-1-propenyl-1-mercuric chloride (6) indicate that these substrates show enhanced reaction rates of ca . 10-200-fold over alkylvinylmercurials and unsubstituted vinylmercurials, suggesting that the olefinic methyl substituent may stabilize an intermediate bearing some positive charge . Enzymatic reaction of 2-butenyl-1-mercuric bromide (5) yields a 72/23/5 mixture of 1-butene/trans-2-butene/cis-2-butene, indicative of intervening SE2' cleavage . The observation of significant solvent deuterium isotope effects at pH 7.4 of Vmax (H2O)/Vmax(D2O) = 2.1 for cis-2-butenyl-2-mercuric chloride (1) turnover and Vmax(H2O)/Vmax(D2O) = 4.9 for ethylmercuric chloride turnover provides additional support for a kinetically important proton delivery . Finally, the stoichiometric formation of butene and Hg(II) from 1 and methane and Hg(II) from methylmercuric chloride eliminates the possibility of an SN1 solvolytic mechanism . As the first well-characterized enzymatic reaction of an organometallic substrate and the first example of an enzyme-mediated SE2 reaction the organomercurial lyase catalyzed carbon-mercury bond cleavage provides an arena for investigating novel enzyme structure-function relationships.

Obstet Gynecol, 1986 Nov, 68(5), 682 - 5
Trimethylamine: the substance mainly responsible for the fishy odor often associated with bacterial vaginosis; Brand JM et al.; The vaginal discharge of women with bacterial vaginosis often has a prominent fishy odor . Intensification of this fishy odor by the addition of strong base to the vaginal discharge suggests that it could be due to trimethylamine, the substance responsible for the characteristic odor of spoiling fish . Samples were collected from 11 women with a vaginal discharge having a fishy odor and from 10 women with no detectable odor . Gas chromatographic analysis of headspace samples of alkalinized vaginal discharges indicated the presence of trimethylamine in all 11 samples with the fishy odor but not in the other samples . The chemical identity of trimethylamine was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of headspace samples from two vaginal discharge samples . It is concluded that trimethylamine is the primary cause of the fishy odor associated with bacterial vaginosis.

Mikrobiologiia, 1986 Nov-Dec, 55(6), 962 - 5
{Reduction of chromium (VI) by reference bacterial strains}; Gvozdiak PI et al.; Collection bacterial strains were found to be capable of chromium (VI) reduction although they had not been in contact with chromium compounds before . Strains capable of nitrate respiration could use bichromate ions as a terminal electron acceptor in the absence of competing acceptors . Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) when bichromate was added to the cultural broth whose redox potential reached -140 mV.

Gastroenterol Clin Biol, 1986 Nov, 10(11), 712 - 7
{Role of the digestive tract immune system in the control of bacterial translocation in gnotoxenic mice}; Debure A et al.; The aim of this work was to study the role of gut associated lymphoid tissue in the control of bacterial translocation . Two strains of Escherichia coli were orally inoculated to 71 axenic mice . Ten days after, the 2 initial strains and 2 others, resulting from plasmidic exchanges, were present in the digestive tract of the mice which were divided in two groups: the first group (n = 41) received one intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide 100 mg/kg; the second control group (n = 30) received isotonic saline . The following parameters were studied 3, 5 and 9 days after the injection: the population level of the 4 strains in the caecum, their translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen and circulating blood, the density per unit surface of lamina propria plasma cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes in duodenal and caecal mucosae . The population in each strain found in the caecum was different from the 3 others but similar within the two groups of animals and remained unchanged with time . In the control group, bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes decreased (p less than 0.01), while the density of plasma cells increased (p less than 0.01) from the 3rd to the 9th days . In the cyclophosphamide treated group, translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes increased (p less than 0.01), while the density of intestinal plasma cells decreased (p less than 0.05) from the 3rd to the 9th days . Density of intraepithelial lymphocytes did not vary with time in each group and from one group to another . Bacterial translocation to liver, spleen and systemic blood was weak and did not increase in the treated group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Radiat Res, 1986 Nov, 108(2), 158 - 66
The concentration, physical state, and purity of bacterial endotoxin affect its detoxification by ionizing radiation; Csako G et al.; Increasing concentrations of a highly purified bacterial lipopolysaccharide preparation, the U.S . Reference Standard Endotoxin, were exposed to increasing doses of ionizing radiation from a 60Co source . At identical radiation doses both the structural change and Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) reactivity were progressively smaller with increasing concentrations of the lipopolysaccharide in an aqueous medium . Under the experimental conditions used, there was a linear relationship between the endotoxin concentration and radiation dose for the structural changes . In contrast to endotoxin in aqueous medium, endotoxin irradiated in its dry state showed no decrease in LAL reactivity and rabbit pyrogenicity . Endotoxin exposed to radiation in water in the presence of albumin showed a much smaller decrease in LAL and pyrogenic activities than expected . The results show that the concentration, physical state, and purity of endotoxin influence its structural and functional alteration by ionizing radiation.

Mutat Res, 1986 Nov, 163(2), 109 - 14
Metabolic conversion of IQ and MeIQ to bacterial mutagens; Alldrick AJ et al.; The metabolic conversion of 2-amino-3-methyl- and 2-amino-3,4-dimethyl-imidazo{4,5-f}quinoline (IQ and MeIQ respectively) to bacterial mutagens was studied using a bacterial mutation assay . Studies were performed using S9 fractions derived from either corn oil (uninduced) or Aroclor-1254-treated Sprague-Dawley rats . Aroclor 1254 treatment lowered the S9 protein concentration required for optimum levels of mutagenesis, enhanced the numbers of mutants observed and altered the effects of metabolic inhibitors and cofactors added to the assay . Studies with uninduced preparations revealed that IQ and MeIQ exhibited similar responses to the effects of metabolic inhibitors and cofactors involved in detoxication reactions . Both IQ and MeIQ activation appeared to be inhibited by the biogenic amines tryptamine and tyramine and inactivated by conjugation with either acetyl coenzyme A or glutathione.

Int J Cell Cloning, 1986 Nov, 4(6), 415 - 23
Effect of hydrocortisone and bacterial lipopolysaccharide on colony-stimulating activity production from mouse marrow adherent cells, spleen cells and peritoneal macrophages in vitro; Aizawa S et al.; The effect of hydrocortisone (HC) on colony-stimulating activity (CSA) production from mouse bone marrow adherent cells, spleen cells and peritoneal macrophages with or without bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation was studied . CSA in the supernatant from bone marrow adherent cells incubated with HC was found to be five times higher than CSA from cultures without LPS stimulation . In contrast, the CSA production by spleen cells and peritoneal macrophages were significantly suppressed by HC in both LPS-stimulated and non-stimulated cultures . These studies suggest that the effect of HC on CSA production was quite different depending on the target cells.

J Leukoc Biol, 1986 Nov, 40(5), 525 - 32
Effect of bacterial flora and mouse genotype (euthymic or athymic) on scrapie pathogenesis; Wade WF et al.; Euthymic and athymic female BALB/c mice, reared under either germfree or defined flora conditions, were used to investigate the pathogenesis of scrapie after intracerebral or intraperitoneal inoculation . Time in days to onset of clinical signs (Stage I), to endstage (Stage II), and the time interval between Stage I and Stage II were compared among groups . In addition, scrapie agent titers in spleen were determined at 28 and 90 days after infection, as were agent titers in spleen and brain at Stage II . Three-way analysis of variance indicated that the bacterial flora, the presence or absence of a thymus, and the route of agent inoculation interact to produce significant differences in the pathogenesis of disease . The three factors in the experimental design also influenced the spleen titers of scrapie infectivity . The variation in scrapie pathogenesis among the groups of mice is likely to be mediated by differences in their reticuloendothelial systems . These differences may alter the agent's adsorption in spleen and/or route of transport from spleen to brain.

Gut, 1986 Nov, 27 Suppl 1, 56 - 7
Bacterial contamination of enteral diets; de Leeuw IH et al.; Enteral feeding solutions can be contaminated by bacterial micro-organisms already present in the ingredients, or introduced during preparation or transport, or in the hospital ward . During jejunostomy feeding without pump or filter, ascending bacterial invasion of the feeding bag is possible . In patients with lowered immune response contaminated feedings can cause serious septic clinical problems . The progressive loss of the nutritional value of the enteral feeding solution by bacterial contamination has to be considered for all patients.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Nov, 83(21), 8137 - 41
Linking functional domains of the human insulin receptor with the bacterial aspartate receptor; Ellis L et al.; A hybrid receptor has been constructed that is composed of the extracellular domain of the human insulin receptor fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the bacterial aspartate chemoreceptor . This hybrid protein can be expressed in rodent (CHO) cells and displays several functional features comparable to wild-type insulin receptor . It is localized to the cell surface, binds insulin with high affinity, forms oligomers, and is recognized by conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies . Although most of the expressed protein accumulates as a 180-kDa proreceptor, some processed 135-kDa receptor can be detected on the cell surface by covalent cross-linking . Expression of the hybrid receptor inhibits the insulin-activated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose by CHO cells . Thus, this hybrid is partially functional and can be processed; however, it is incapable of native transmembrane signaling . The results indicate that the intact domains of different types of receptors can retain some of the native features in a hybrid molecule but specific requirements will need to be satisfied for transmembrane signaling.

J Immunol, 1986 Oct 15, 137(8), 2711 - 5
Treatment of murine peritoneal macrophages with bacterial lipopolysaccharide alters expression of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes; Introna M et al.; Expression of the c-fos, c-myc, and c-fms proto-oncogenes has been studied in thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . After incubation with LPS (20 ng/ml), a transient and rapid induction of the expression of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes could be observed, whereas the RNA levels for c-fms were not affected . Treatment with lipid A, the active moiety of the LPS molecule, increased the c-fos and c-myc expression to a comparable degree . Similar induction of c-fos and c-myc was observed after treatment with phorbol myristate acetate, suggesting that this effect of LPS on murine macrophages might be mediated through stimulation of protein kinase C . Under similar experimental conditions, LPS treatment of macrophages did not trigger DNA synthesis . Treatment with LPS blocked DNA synthesis in macrophages treated with L cell-conditioned medium containing colony-stimulating factor . Thus changes in c-fos and c-myc expression may be elements in the complex series of biochemical events that contribute to macrophage activation and are not necessarily related to induction or priming for cellular proliferation.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Oct 15, 261(29), 13498 - 503
Phosphate transfer between acetate kinase and enzyme I of the bacterial phosphotransferase system; Fox DK et al.; Interactions between homogeneous acetate kinase and proteins of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glucose phosphotransferase system (PTS) were studied . The phosphorylation of D-glucose was followed spectrophotometrically using a coupled assay system, and acetate kinase and GTP were found to substitute for phosphoenolpyruvate provided that each of the PTS proteins was present in the mixture . To further define the phosphoryl transfer reaction pathway, the system was simplified to include only the homogeneous, soluble PTS proteins . 32P was transferred from {gamma-32P}ATP to the protein IIIGlc, but this transfer reaction required acetate kinase, and the PTS proteins Enzyme I and HPr . These results suggested that acetate kinase interacts with the first protein in the PTS sequence, Enzyme I . Acetate kinase was therefore incubated with {32P} phospho-Enzyme I, and a direct transfer of the phosphoryl group was observed without the addition of any other protein . These results show that there is a reversible transfer of the phosphoryl group between Enzyme I and acetate kinase . The possible role of this interaction in regulating sugar uptake by the Krebs cycle is discussed.

J Mol Biol, 1986 Oct 5, 191(3), 367 - 82
Regulation of lambda dv plasmid DNA replication . A quantitative model for control of plasmid lambda dv replication in the bacterial cell division cycle; Womble DD et al.; A quantitative model for the regulation of replication of plasmid lambda dv in the Escherichia coli cell division cycle has been developed . The regulatory processes include the interactions of cro repressor proteins with the rightward operator DNA sites, the transcriptional activation of the lambda dv replication origin, and the interaction of initiation proteins with activated origins to form functional replication initiation complexes . 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 the events of the cell cycle such as initiation of 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 . Simulated deviations from regular segregation of the various components at cell division, such as plasmid copies and free and bound repressor proteins, suggest that lambda dv replication control responds only slowly to these perturbations . The consequence of this slow response to perturbations, which are expected at a random frequency, was simulated for a population of lambda dv-containing cells in a growing culture . This simulation predicts instability of inheritance of lambda dv plasmids in the population, despite the very high plasmid copy number, in agreement with experimental observation.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1986 Oct, 94(5), 325 - 8
Collection of bacterial aerosols by means of slit-sampler: a face-mask study; Melvaer KL et al.; A simple experimental set-up, using a slit-sampler, was tried in order to measure the effect of wearing face-masks . During the experiments we discovered that when talking unmasked, the number of bacteria collected by the slit-sampler was considerably lower than the number actually spread . When speaking, the contamination spread was mainly in the form of bacterial clusters . These were not sampled on the agar plate but withheld in the sampling equipment (wall loss) or lost . The advantage of using a slit-sampler when comparing face-masks is discussed.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1986 Oct, 61(4), 263 - 8
Use of conductance methods to predict bacterial counts in fish; Ogden ID; Conductance methods to measure bacterial growth are more rapid than conventional methods for assessing the load of spoilage bacteria in fish . With the correct choice of medium, an estimate of the count can be obtained within 24 h which shows a very good correlation with the conventional methods . Moreover, the conductance changes correlate better with counts of those organisms thought to be responsible for spoilage . The Malthus conductance instrument provides an automated system capable of the simultaneous monitoring of 128 different samples, resulting in considerable savings of time and effort over traditional plate counting techniques.

J Urol, 1986 Oct, 136(4), 844 - 5
Seminal vesiculography in chronic bacterial prostatitis; Baert L et al.; A total of 15 patients with proved chronic bacterial prostatitis underwent bilateral seminal vesiculography to determine the morphological appearance of the seminal vesicles and the ampulla ducti deferentis in this condition . A pathological condition, such as segmental stenosis or complete shriveling of the seminal vesicles, was obvious in 21 of 24 vesiculograms (87.5 per cent), while malformations of the ampulla were seen in 7 (29.1 per cent) . The role of chronic bacterial prostatitis as an important pathogenetic factor in the history of epididymo-orchitis is discussed.

J Neuroimmunol, 1986 Oct, 12(4), 299 - 310
Immunoglobulin abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid during bacterial meningitis; Forsberg P et al.; 11 patients with bacterial meningitis, examined during the course of the disease for immunoglobulin (Ig) abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), all had an increased CSF IgM index equal to (CSF/serum IgM):(CSF/serum albumin), indicating intrathecal IgM production . Seven patients had a slightly increased CSF IgG index, and 7 a slightly increased IgA index . Six of the 11 patients had an increased IgM index in the presence of normal indices for IgG and IgA . Follow-up revealed the return of these values to normal . Four patients had identical oligoclonal IgG bands in the CSF and serum, probably representing a systemic immune response, but in only one case were oligoclonal bands suggestive of intrathecal IgG production found . No oligoclonal IgA response was demonstrable in the 4 patients examined . Antigen-immunofixation or antigen-absorption studies revealed evidence of a specific, intrathecal IgG antibody response in only 2 patients, while a search for IgG antibodies against aetiologically unrelated bacterial and viral antigens was negative . With the exception of IgM production, therefore, a humoral intrathecal immune response is less common in bacterial than in aseptic meningitis.

Fed Proc, 1986 Oct, 45(11), 2534 - 40
Chemical structure and biological activity relationship of bacterial cell walls and muramyl peptides; Kotani S et al.; The biological activities of the cell walls of bacteria having different types of peptidoglycans, and those of stereoisomers and analogs of muramyl dipeptide (MDP), of N-acetylglucosaminyl-beta(1-4)-N-acetylmuramyl tetrapeptides having different L- and D-amino acids at the COOH-terminus, and of 6-O-acyl-MDPs were examined to elucidate the relationship between structure and activity . Replacement of the L-alanine residue of MDP with glycine and replacement of the D-isoglutamine residue with L-isoglutamine, L-glutamic acid, and D-isoasparagine, but not with D-glutamic acid, caused a marked decrease in the biological activities of the MDP molecule . Test disaccharide tetrapeptides, irrespective of the configuration of COOH-terminal amino acid, showed strong immunoadjuvant activity and stimulation of macrophages, whereas those having COOH-terminal L-amino acids exhibited greater pyrogenicity, induction of acute joint inflammation, and hemorrhagic necrosis at a primed site than those having COOH-terminal D-amino acids . Introduction of an alpha-branched higher fatty acid to the muramic acid residue resulted in the disappearance of pyrogenicity after i.v . injection, an increase of adjuvanticity, and a loss of dependence on administration vehicles . The lack of the immunopotentiating activity (adjuvanticity) in cell walls from group B-type bacterial species was explained by the combined inhibitory effects of the replacement of the L-alanine residue by glycine and involvement of the alpha-carboxyl group of the D-glutamic acid residue in linking with neighboring peptide subunits.

Anal Biochem, 1986 Oct, 158(1), 179 - 88
Preparative ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography of bacterial ribosomal proteins; Capel M et al.; We have developed analytical and preparative ion-exchange HPLC methods for the separation of bacterial ribosomal proteins . Proteins separated by the TSK SP-5-PW column were identified with reverse-phase HPLC and gel electrophoresis . The 21 proteins of the small ribosomal subunit were resolved into 18 peaks, and the 32 large ribosomal subunit proteins produced 25 distinct peaks . All peaks containing more than one protein were resolved using reverse-phase HPLC . Peak volumes were typically a few milliliters . Separation times were 90 min for analytical and 5 h for preparative columns . Preparative-scale sample loads ranged from 100 to 400 mg . Overall recovery efficiency for 30S and 50S subunit proteins was approximately 100% . 30S ribosomal subunit proteins purified by this method were shown to be fully capable of participating in vitro reassembly to form intact, active ribosomal subunits.

Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler, 1986 Oct, 367(10), 1085 - 94
Binding of a synthetic analogue of mitogenic bacterial lipoprotein to murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products; Scheuer WV et al.; Lipoprotein from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli and a synthetic analogue of its N-terminal lipopeptide part, tripalmitoyl-pentapeptide, constitute potent mitogens and polyclonal activators of murine B-lymphocytes in vitro . When entering the circulation after intravenous administration in experimental animals, they interact with the humoral and cellular elements of the blood, which results in splenomegaly and B-lymphocyte activation in vivo . We investigated lipopeptide-binding proteins in normal mouse serum and on splenocytes . By affinity chromatography using an affinity adsorbent prepared by coupling the lipoprotein analogue to CPG-aminopropyl derivatized glass beads, we could enrich one major binding protein for tripalmitoyl-pentapeptide from mouse serum, which was identified as albumin . Binding proteins on lymphocytes were determined as follows: Spleen cells of C3H/HeJ mice were activated by the B cell mitogen lipoprotein, biosynthetically labelled with {3H}leucine, and solubilized by the nonionic detergent Nonidet P40 . From the cell lysate, binding proteins were isolated by affinity chromatography: As analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography, proteins with molecular masses of 24, 27, 33, 45, 53, 61 and 71 kDa were eluted from the tripalmitoyl-pentapeptide adsorbent . The eluted material was further enriched for glycoproteins by Lens culinaris lectin affinity chromatography, and immunoprecipitation studies were performed with the glycoprotein fractions using alloantisera specific for class I and class II gene products of the H-2k haplotype . We could show that both class I and class II MHC glycoproteins could be enriched on the tripalmitoyl-pentapeptide column . This finding might suggest that, among other proteins, MHC-encoded proteins are involved in lymphocyte activation by a mitogenic lipopeptide.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1986 Oct, 27(10), 1541 - 3
Vitreous glucose in bacterial and sterile endophthalmitis; Garretson BR et al.; Bacterial or sterile endophthalmitis was induced in rabbits . The vitreous glucose levels were then assayed . Severe intraocular inflammation, whether bacterial or sterile, resulted in marked lowering of vitreous glucose as compared to control levels . Moderate or mild inflammation failed to reduce the vitreous glucose . These data suggest that determination of vitreous glucose is not of value in the differentiation of bacterial from sterile endophthalmitis.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Oct, 83(20), 7713 - 7
Introduction and expression of the bacterial PaeR7 methylase gene in mammalian cells; Kwoh TJ et al.; An approach is devised for studying the role of DNA methylation in eukaryotic gene expression . The approach is based on the expression of site-specific bacterial methylase genes in animal cells . A model system using the cloned PaeR7 (an isoschizomer of Xho I) methylase gene was constructed to test the feasibility of this approach . Expression plasmids for the PaeR7 methylase gene were introduced into mouse Ltk- cells by cotransfection with the cloned chicken thymidine kinase (tk) gene . Several of the cell strains derived from Tk+ colonies were found to express the PaeR7 gene as judged by four criteria: the cellular DNA of these strains showed increased resistance to cleavage by Xho I; these strains contained cellular proteins that comigrated with pure PaeR7 methylase protein, as visualized by immunoblotting; PaeR7 methylase activity was found in vitro in crude extracts of total cellular protein from these strains; and murine adenovirus genomes grown on cells expressing PaeR7 methylase showed resistance to cleavage to PaeR7 endonuclease . The potential applications of this approach for the study of cellular and viral gene regulation, DNA repair, and restriction modification are discussed.

J Leukoc Biol, 1986 Oct, 40(4), 433 - 43
Tumor growth stimulatory macrophages induced by a subclinical bacterial infection in vivo; De Groot JW et al.; Nonelicited peritoneal macrophages obtained from normal mice from our animal house unexpectedly expressed a strong tumor growth stimulatory effect in vitro . Macrophages expressing this stimulatory effect had an aberrant morphology compared to the morphology of normal macrophages as observed by electron microscopy . The results of immunization of these affected mice with tumour cells led to the usual lymphocyte sensitization . No external symptoms were observed, and the mice looked healthy . Treatment of the affected macrophage donors with antibiotics resulted in the abolishment of the tumor growth stimulatory effect by the macrophages . Thus, this tumor cell growth stimulation by macrophages was probably due to a subclinical infection of the mice.

J Wildl Dis, 1986 Oct, 22(4), 511 - 4
Antibodies to bovine bacterial and viral pathogens in pronghorns in Alberta, 1983; Kingscote BF et al.; Sera from 210 pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) ranging in southeastern Alberta were tested for antibodies to disease agents present in indigenous cattle . No antibodies to Brucella abortus, Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona, hardjo, or grippotyphosa, or infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus were found . Antibodies at prevalences of 43.8% and 49.2% were detected to bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) and parainfluenza type 3 (PI-3) viruses, respectively . The much higher prevalence of BVD virus antibodies in cattle than in pronghorns, and the occurrence of clinical bovine PI-3 infection in the study area, suggest that cattle may be a source of infection to the pronghorns.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Sep 25, 261(27), 12907 - 10
The secY protein can act post-translationally to promote bacterial protein export; Bacallao R et al.; Conditionally lethal Escherichia coli mutants in secY (prlA) show defective export of proteins to the periplasm and outer membrane . It has been proposed that this gene and other sec genes must act on pro-OmpA at an early stage of protein synthesis in order to allow later translocation to occur . We have described a temperature-sensitive mutation in which the secYts function is impaired at the nonpermissive temperature (Ito, K . (1984) Mol . Gen . Genet . 197, 204-208) . A plasmid bearing the wild-type secY gene under the control of the lactose operon (Shiba, K., Ito, K., Yura, T., and Cerretti, D . P . (1984) EMBO J . 3, 631-635) has been introduced into this mutant strain . We now report that the in vivo chase of pulse-labeled full length pro-OmpA to mature OmpA is accelerated by inducing the synthesis of the wild-type secY protein at the end of the period of pulse labeling . We have also assayed the requirements for secY function for in vitro protein translocation . Membranes derived from secY ts cells which were incubated at 42 degrees C were inactive in vitro in the post-translational uptake and processing of pro-OmpA . Thus, the secY protein can act post-translationally, enhancing the translocation of completed pro-OmpA polypeptide chains across the plasma membrane.

J Mol Biol, 1986 Sep 5, 191(1), 85 - 95
Enhancement of bacterial gene expression by insertion elements or by mutation in a CAP-cAMP binding site; Reynolds AE et al.; The regulatory region (bglR) of the cryptic bgl operon was characterized by DNA sequence analysis and transcription mapping . Bgl(-)-specific transcription was found to occur in both the wild-type Bgl- and mutant Bgl+ cells . However, the steady-state level of bgl RNA was much higher in the Bgl+ mutant than in the wild-type . Activation of the bgl operon by insertion sequence-mediated bglR mutations or point mutations in bglR is therefore the result of increased transcription . The ethylmethane sulfonate-induced point mutations in bglR are alterations in a single base in the cAMP binding protein (CAP) binding site, leading to a stronger binding of the CAP-cAMP complex . The IS1 and IS5-mediated bglR mutations analyzed show that the insertion sequences can activate the bgl operon by integration 78 to 125 base-pairs upstream from the transcription initiation site . The role of the insertion sequences in activation of the bgl operon is discussed.

Nature, 1986 Sep 4-10, 323(6083), 71 - 3
In vitro synthesized bacterial outer membrane protein is integrated into bacterial inner membranes but translocated across microsomal membranes; Watanabe M et al.; The LamB protein is an integral membrane protein of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli . We have now found that, when synthesized in an E . coli cell-free translation system supplemented with inverted vesicles derived from the E . coli inner membrane, LamB protein is integrated into the vesicle membrane as assayed by its resistance to extraction at alkaline pH . These data suggest that the inner membrane is the primary site for integration of LamB protein prior to subsequent sorting to the outer membrane . When synthesized in a wheat germ cell-free translation system supplemented with canine microsomal membranes, LamB protein is glycosylated at one or two cryptic sites, and surprisingly, it is translocated across instead of being integrated into the vesicle membrane . We suggest that the translocation machinery of the microsomal membrane, although able to recognize the signal sequence(s) of LamB, is unable to recognize its stop-transfer sequence(s), thereby yielding translocation instead of integration.

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 1986 Sep-Oct, 14(5), 383 - 91
Immunotherapy with standard bacterial and bacterial ribosomal antigens in childhood bronchial asthma; Sanchez Palacios A et al.; In this study we compared the therapeutic effectiveness of a lyophilized bacterial vaccine (LBV) with that of a vaccine prepared from bacterial ribosomal antigens (ARB) in 150 children with bacterial bronchial asthma . The immunological response of the patients was assessed clinically at 6 months, 1 year and 3 years, by determining the intensity and frequency of the bronchospasm . The serum immunoglobulin levels, the only immunologic parametres studied, were determined at basal conditions and following immunotherapy . Clinical results: after 360 days we detected a better clinical response in those patients who received the ribosomal vaccine (ARB), whereas after 3 years there was no difference in the clinical response between this group of patients and the group who received the bacterial vaccine (LBV) . Immunological results: we were not able to show a statistically significant increase in immunoglobulin levels during the three years of immunotherapy with the two vaccines . However, those patients who possessed a deficit in IgG displayed a statistically significant increase in IgG levels after 360 days (t = 3.58, p less than 0.01), and an even greater increase after 1080 days (t = 7.86, p less than 0.001), of treatment with the standard bacterial vaccine . The ribosomal vaccine produced a significant increase in IgG levels (t = 9.59, p less than 0.001) after 1080 days also in patients with a deficit in IgG . In patients with a previous deficit in IgA we did not observe an increase in serum IgA levels during immunotherapy with the bacterial vaccine, but with the ribosomal vaccine these patients displayed significantly higher levels of IgA (t = 13.09, p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Appl Physiol, 1986 Sep, 61(3), 982 - 7
Effects of bacterial endotoxin on protecting copper-deficient rats from hyperoxia; Spence TH Jr et al.; The administration of very low doses of bacterial endotoxin protects rats during exposure to hyperoxia and is associated with the induction of lung antioxidant enzyme activities . Copper-deficient rats have increased susceptibility to O2 toxicity, which may be related to their decreased lung superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) or decreased plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations . To determine whether endotoxin can protect against hyperoxia in this susceptible model, we exposed copper-deficient and control rats to a fractional inspiratory concentration of O2 greater than 0.95 for 96 h after pretreatment with 500 micrograms/kg of bacterial endotoxin or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) . Mortality in the copper-deficient and control rats given PBS and exposed to O2 for 96 h was 100% . Copper-deficient rats died significantly earlier during the exposure than controls . No mortality occurred in either group treated with endotoxin and hyperoxia despite the decreased activity of copper-dependent enzymes in the copper-deficient rats . Copper-deficient rats treated with endotoxin and exposed to hyperoxia did increase lung Cu-Zn-SOD activity, but activity remained below levels found in air-exposed controls . Mn-SOD activity was found to be induced above air-exposed controls in the copper-deficient rats treated with endotoxin and exposed to hyperoxia . Hyperoxic exposure resulted in a marked increase in plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations in the control rats, but no increases in ceruloplasmin occurred in the copper-deficient animals . Endotoxin protects copper-deficient rats from hyperoxia despite their decreased lung Cu-Zn-SOD activity, and decreased plasma ceruloplasmin.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1986 Sep-Oct, 137B(2), 133 - 43
Bacterial growth measurement using an automated system: mathematical modelling and analysis of growth kinetics; Corman A et al.; The reliability of automated systems was assessed by simultaneously using an MS2 and a methodology of data interpretation/mathematical modelling . Two experimental situations were analysed . Bacterial growth both in synthetic and in complex media could be well described by Monod's model and the logistic model . In the two cases, the fit of the models to the data was satisfactory.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1986 Sep, 75(5), 846 - 8
C-reactive protein--an indicator of generalized bacterial infection in children with nephrotic syndrome; Eskola J et al.; The usefulness of C-reactive protein for detecting bacterial infections in children with nephrotic syndrome was studied in 12 children who had a total of 29 episodes of infection . Four episodes were septic, with CRP values of 127-270 mg/l and 25 superficial or focal with all CRP values below 47 mg/l; 13 were below 10 mg/l . CRP thus discriminated the invasive bacterial diseases from other infections . It was not affected by the nephrotic syndrome activity.

Am J Surg, 1986 Sep, 152(3), 329 - 37
Immunologic effects of blood transfusion upon renal transplantation, tumor operations, and bacterial infections; George CD et al.; Blood transfusions appear to exert a suppressive effect on many aspects of the immune system . In transplantation, this has been used to advantage; in other areas, the consequences can be deleterious . It is likely that various components of the immune system are affected by different mechanisms and possibly by different components of transfused blood . Before rational strategies can be evolved for minimizing the deleterious effects of blood transfusions, it is essential that these mechanisms be clearly defined . Studies must take into account any influence the underlying disease state might have on the immune system . In the absence of any satisfactory substitute, blood transfusion remains an essential therapeutic modality in the management of surgical patients . With current evidence, however, it seems reasonable to avoid the administration of small-volume transfusions whenever possible and encourage the use of autodonated blood for elective surgery.

Pediatr Neurol, 1986 Sep-Oct, 2(5), 276 - 9
Bacterial meningitis as an etiology of perinatal cerebral infarction; Ment LR et al.; Despite significant improvement in mortality rate, survivors of neonatal bacterial meningitis experience a significant incidence of neurodevelopmental sequelae . Neuropathologic studies have demonstrated vasculitis, arachnoiditis, and ventriculitis with secondary edema and encephalomalacia . Areas of cerebral infarction, most commonly thought to be venous in origin, have been reported as well . We performed cranial computed tomographic scans on all eight neonates with bacterial meningitis admitted to our Newborn Special Care Unit within the past 36 months and demonstrated abnormalities in seven . Six of these infants were found to have large areas of infarction related primarily to major arterial vascular distributions . We suggest computed tomographic studies for all neonates with bacterial meningitis and subsequent scans at 4-6 months of age in those with abnormal neonatal scans in order to plan better for early intervention services.

J Clin Periodontol, 1986 Sep, 13(8), 748 - 51
The distribution of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) in relation to periodontally involved root surfaces; Moore J et al.; The distribution of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in periodontally involved root surface associated materials has been investigated using improved methods of identification and quantification . 39% of the LPS could be removed by gently washing in water for 1 min and 60% by brushing for 1 min with a slowly rotating bristle brush . The finding that 99% of the LPS can be removed by comparatively gentle procedures suggests that effective root surface debridement may be achieved by methods other than traditional hand instrumentation.

Rofo, 1986 Sep, 145(3), 245 - 9
{Acute focal bacterial nephritis}; Schmidt H et al.; Acute focal bacterial nephritis is a very rare type of infective nephritis . It is characterised by groups of abscesses of 1 to 5 mm . situated in the renal cortex with pus tracking to the papillae . Urography is normal or suggests a non-specific enlargement . On sonography, non-homogeneous foci with reduced echogenicity are observed . Unenhanced CT shows indefinite lesions of reduced density, which do not enhance as much as the surrounding parenchyma after contrast injection . On angiography these areas appear as hypovascular lesions . The disease must be differentiated from a malignant renal tumour and from an acute renal abscess . The clinical findings and the results of sonographic and radiological observations on five patients with acute focal bacterial nephritis are described.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Aug 25, 261(24), 11369 - 73
The receptor-binding domain of human alpha 2-macroglobulin . Isolation after limited proteolysis with a bacterial proteinase; Van Leuven F et al.; Limited proteolysis of human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) by a novel bacterial proteinase resulted in the isolation of a soluble 20-kDa domain . The isolated fragment contained the receptor recognition site, expressed on alpha 2M complexes, as it competed effectively with alpha 2M-trypsin for binding to the receptor on skin fibroblasts . The fragment also reacted with two monoclonal antibodies which define epitopes that are part of the receptor recognition site . Characterization of the 20-kDa domain showed it to contain an intact disulfide bridge, while its susceptibility to N-glycanase and reaction with concanavalin A indicated the presence of N-linked carbohydrate . The NH2-terminal sequence (Glu-Glu-Phe-Pro-Phe-Ala-Leu-Gly-Val-Glu-Thr-Leu-Pro-Glu-Thr-Cys-Asp-Glu -Pro) proved this fragment to constitute the COOH terminus of human alpha 2M . Proteolysis occurred at Lys1313-Glu which together with the observation that tosyllysine chloromethyl ketone was an effective inhibitor of the bacterial proteinase, would indicate the latter to hydrolyze preferentially peptide bonds carboxyl-terminal to lysine residues.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Aug 15, 261(23), 10891 - 8
A pH-induced increase in hydrophobicity as a possible step in the penetration of colicin E3 through bacterial membranes; Escuyer V et al.; Exposure to low pH triggers an increase in the hydrophobicity of the colicin E3 molecule . Using a {3H} Triton X-100 binding assay we have shown that the amount of detergent (at supramicellar concentrations) associated with colicin E3 increased dramatically at pH 3.8 and below . Interaction of colicin E3 with asolectin vesicles was monitored by following its cross-linking with two different photoactivatable radioactive phospholipid analogues . At neutral pH colicin E3 was cross-linked with the phospholipid probing the membrane surface whereas at pH 4.5 and below, the bacteriocin reacted with the phospholipid probing the hydrophobic core of the bilayer . With the use of phase partitioning of proteins in Triton X-114 it was shown that at acidic pH whole colicin E3 and its immunity protein segregated in the detergent phase . After trypsin digestion of the colicin-immunity complex, the N-terminal portion of E3 (T1) and the immunity partitioned in the detergent phase at low pH . In contrast, the enzymic domain of the colicin (T2) remained in the aqueous phase and was recovered in a highly active form as a consequence of its dissociation from the immunity protein . These results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of entry of colicin E3 into bacterial cells.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Aug 14, 138(3), 1106 - 9
pH measurements by 31p NMR in bacterial suspensions using phenyl phosphonate as a probe; Thoma WJ et al.; Phenylphosphonate was used as an internal reference for 31p NMR measurements of E . coli cytoplasmic pH . Phenylphosphonate diffused into the cells allowing determination of pH, independent of magnetic susceptibility differences between intercellular and extracellular pools . Phenylphosphonate was used to measure pH changes during succinate uptake and metabolism, as well as during uncoupling of the transmembrane pH gradient by pentachlorophenol.

Science, 1986 Aug 8, 233(4764), 647 - 9
Tandem regions of yeast DNA topoisomerase II share homology with different subunits of bacterial gyrase; Lynn R et al.; The nucleotide sequence for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene TOP2, which encodes DNA topoisomerase II, was compared with the sequence for bacterial DNA gyrase . The amino and carboxyl terminal halves of the single-subunit yeast enzyme showed homologies with the B and A subunits of bacterial gyrase, respectively, at corresponding positions along the polypeptide chains . Although the two enzymes differ in both quaternary structure and activity, the homology between the two proteins indicates mechanistic as well as structural similarities, and a probable evolutionary relationship.

Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1986 Aug, 40(2), 209 - 13
Splenic immune deposits in bacterial endocarditis; Nast CC et al.; Splenic and renal tissues from a 61-year-old man with subacute bacterial endocarditis and acute renal failure were studied . Immune complex deposits were found both within glomeruli and splenic venous sinus basement membranes, substantiating the systemic nature of the immune injury in this disorder . The splenic deposits may, in part, be responsible for the splenomegaly often present in endocarditis.

Immunology, 1986 Aug, 58(4), 677 - 83
Divergent effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on immunity to orally administered protein and particulate antigens in mice; Mowat AM et al.; We have investigated whether bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) influences immune responses to dietary protein antigens in experimental animals . Simultaneous intravenous administration of LPS to normal mice fed ovalbumin (OVA) prevented the induction of tolerance for serum IgG antibody responses but did not alter the tolerance of systemic delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) . In addition, exogenous LPS did not enhance the ability of spleen accessory cells to present OVA to primed T cells . LPS-unresponsive C3H/HeJ mice developed full tolerance of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity after feeding a range of doses of OVA that was equal in degree and persistence to that seen in normal, congenic C3H/HeOla mice and also had normal antigen-presenting cell (APC) activity for OVA . In contrast, C3H/HeJ mice were primed by feeding SRBC instead of developing the systemic tolerance found in normal C3H mice . Our results indicate the complexity of mechanisms that may regulate systemic immunity to orally administered antigens of different forms . Nevertheless, LPS does not modulate DTH responses to fed OVA and does not enhance APC activity, and we conclude that bacterial LPS may be unable to influence hypersensitivity to dietary proteins in man.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Aug, 83(16), 5817 - 21
Bacterial lipopolysaccharides, phorbol myristate acetate, and zymosan induce the myristoylation of specific macrophage proteins; Aderem AA et al.; We demonstrate stimulus-dependent incorporation of exogenously added {3H}myristic acid into specific macrophage proteins . In control unstimulated cells an 18-kDa protein is the major acylated species . In cells incubated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or its monoacyl glucosamine phosphate derivative, fatty acid is incorporated into proteins with molecular mass of 68 kDa and a doublet of approximately 42-45 kDa . Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or a phagocytic stimulus (zymosan) promotes the acylation of a similar array of proteins . However, PMA and zymosan also promote the myristoylation of unique proteins of 92 and 50 kDa . The fatty acid associated with each of the acylated proteins is myristic acid . The myristate is probably linked to the proteins through amide bonds, since it is not released by treatment with hydroxylamine . Palmitate and arachidonate are not incorporated into proteins in the same manner . Temporal analysis revealed that LPS-induced proteins are myristoylated by 30 min, while the 50-kDa protein myristoylated in response to PMA is labeled later . Most myristoylated proteins appear to be associated with the membrane fraction . Macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice, which do not respond to LPS, do not show any LPS-dependent protein acylation . Interestingly, zymosan and PMA induce the myristoylation of the 50-kDa protein in C3H/HeJ macrophages, but not the acylation of the 68-kDa and 42-kDa doublet species . We suggest that myristoylation of specific proteins is an intermediary in the capacity of LPS, PMA, and zymosan to alter macrophage functions such as arachidonic acid metabolism.

Microbiol Sci, 1986 Aug, 3(8), 252 - 4
Methods for isolating large bacterial plasmids; Gowland PC et al.; In recent years, increasingly large plasmids have been isolated . This has been the result of improved methods for purifying large plasmids, some of which are reviewed in this article.

Immunobiology, 1986 Aug, 172(1-2), 110 - 9
Human monocytes tumoricidal activity: the role of interferon-gamma and bacterial lipopolysaccharide in its stimulation, preservation and decay; Fischer DG et al.; The effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the cytotoxic activity of cultured monocytes was studied in a 6-h51Cr release assay with Actinomycin-D-treated tumor cells as targets . In this system, the lysis of target cells is mediated by a soluble factor (CF) which is similar or identical to human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) . The spontaneous cytotoxic activity of freshly isolated monocytes declined after their maturation to macrophages during in vitro culturing . The decrease in the ability of cultured monocytes to lyse the targets is explained by a decrease in their ability to produce the soluble cytolytic factor . Both LPS and IFN-gamma modulated the effect of culturing . LPS exhibited a dual effect . Within 2-3 h after its addition, LPS enhanced the cytotoxic activity of monocytes by increasing the synthesis of CF . However, upon a longer incubation, the decay of the activity was more pronounced in the presence of LPS . IFN-gamma did not augment the cytotoxic activity of monocytes above the basal level, yet it prevented the loss of activity which accompanies the process of monocyte maturation to macrophages.

Am J Pathol, 1986 Aug, 124(2), 226 - 37
Ultrastructural morphometric analysis of Brucella abortus-infected trophoblasts in experimental placentitis . Bacterial replication occurs in rough endoplasmic reticulum; Anderson TD et al.; Trophoblasts in normal and Brucella abortus-infected caprine placentas were examined by ultrastructural morphometric analysis to establish structural relationships of B abortus with cytoplasmic organelles; brucellae were identified with colloidal gold-labeled anti-B abortus bovine IgG . Cytotrophoblasts had large numbers of B abortus in cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum; binucleate trophoblasts did not contain bacteria . In infected trophoblasts there was a significant hypertrophy of B abortus-filled rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and a corresponding reduction in normal-appearing RER . Volume and surface density of RER in trophoblasts were: normal placentas (control), 2.8% and 0.30 sq mu; infected placentas, 27.9% (27.4% of which contained B abortus) and 0.56 sq mu (cells containing B abortus) and 3.3% and 0.34 sq mu (cells not containing B abortus) . These data suggest that B abortus replicates within the RER of trophoblasts, possibly for synthesis and glycosylation of bacterial membrane proteins.

Exp Parasitol, 1986 Aug, 62(1), 142 - 8
Entamoeba histolytica: effect of growth conditions and bacterial associates on isoenzyme patterns and virulence; Mirelman D et al.; In xenic culture, isolates of Entamoeba histolytica from asymptomatic carriers are characterized, with rare exception, by possession of a nonpathogenic zymodeme . During the process of axenizing such an isolate, strain CDC:0784:4, a change in the pattern of the isoenzymes from nonpathogenic zymodeme I to pathogenic zymodeme II was observed 40 days after the amebae had been transferred from a medium for xenic cultivation to one used for axenic cultivation, but before axenization of the amebae had actually occurred . Axenization was accomplished by feeding the amebae lethally irradiated bacteria while suppressing and finally eradicating with antibiotics the bacterial flora accompanying the amebae in the original xenic culture . The change in zymodeme was accompanied by a change in virulence as evidenced by the ability of the amebae to produce hepatic abscesses in hamsters and to destroy monolayers of tissue culture cells . Two explanations are offered for the observed changes in zymodeme and virulence: a zymodeme is not a stable inherent property of the ameba . Alternatively, the original isolate consisted of two zymodeme populations and the conditions of growth selected for one or the other of the populations . In either case, our results suggest that the finding of a particular zymodeme in a culture of E . histolytica isolated from an asymptomatic carrier of the parasite cannot be used to predict a clinical condition or serve as a basis for the recommendation of therapy.

Eur J Immunol, 1986 Aug, 16(8), 957 - 62
The immune response to bacterial dextrans . III . Ontogenic development and strain distribution of specific clonal precursors; Lundkvist I et al.; The frequencies of B512 dextran (Dex)-specific B cell precursors were determined by limiting dilution analysis in a number of mouse strains originally described as "high responder", "low responder" and "nonresponder" to this antigen . No significant difference in the frequencies of Dex-specific precursors was found in C57BL/6, B10.BR, C3H/Tif, BALB/c and A/Sn adult mice . Together with the large intra-strain variability in the magnitude of anti-Dex PFC responses in vivo, these results established that differential reactivity in vivo cannot be ascribed to genetically controlled absence or wide variation in the frequency of Dex-specific immunocompetent precursors . A similar analysis of the Dex-specific precursor frequency was carried out in C57BL/6 mice between 1 week and 3 months of age . While no Dex-specific antibody response was detected in vivo before the age of 3 weeks, clonal precursor analysis revealed that the appearance of these specificities parallels the development of competent (IgM-producing) B lymphocyte clonal precursors, such that no significant difference in absolute frequencies of Dex-specific precursors could be observed among these age groups . This is interpreted to suggest that the late development of the Dex-specific antibody responses is regulatory rather than due to late rearrangement and activation of the appropriate V genes and a sequential expression of antibody specificities in ontogenic development.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Jul 5, 261(19), 8738 - 43
Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen . Primary structure of Escherichia coli 1,4-alpha-D-glucan:1,4-alpha-D-glucan 6-alpha-D-(1, 4-alpha-D-glucano)-transferase as deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the glg B gene; Baecker PA et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the glg B gene, coding for branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18), was elucidated . It consists of 2181 base pairs specifying a protein of 727 amino acids . The deduced amino acid sequence was consistent with the amino acid analysis that was obtained with the pure protein as well as with the molecular weight determined from sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis . The deduced amino acid sequence was also consistent with the amino-terminal amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence analysis of various peptides obtained from CNBr degradation of purified branching enzyme.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Jul 5, 261(19), 8604 - 7
Effect of the bacterial DNA gyrase inhibitors, novobiocin, nalidixic acid, and oxolinic acid, on oxidative phosphorylation; Gallagher M et al.; When incubated with isolated intact rat liver mitochondria, novobiocin and nalidixic acid act as uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation; they stimulate oxygen uptake and inhibit ATP synthesis . Novobiocin is about as powerful an uncoupler as is 2,4-dinitrophenol, nalidixic acid is somewhat less powerful, and oxolinic acid exerts no inhibition whatsoever at the concentrations used . The three inhibitors are without effect on oxidative phosphorylation in Escherichia coli nor does novobiocin affect this process in a novobiocin-permeable mutant of yeast . While it would appear that oxolinic acid may be a relatively specific tool for the manipulation of the superhelicity of DNA in complex systems such as mammalian mitochondria and intact mammalian cells, the specificity of each of these inhibitors may depend upon the particular conditions and species used and such experiments require adequate controls on oxidative phosphorylation.

J Pediatr Surg, 1986 Jul, 21(7), 636 - 9
Management of vascular complications of bacterial endocarditis; Nakayama DK et al.; Peripheral arterial emboli that result from bacterial endocarditis may be silent or catastrophic . Cardiac surgical intervention may prevent embolism, but the guidelines for timing of intervention are unclear . An accepted approach is to intervene only if two episodes of peripheral embolism occur . Our recent experience suggests a more refined approach is in order . Eight children with active bacterial endocarditis have been treated with embolic complications . One patient with abdominal pain and GI bleeding was treated with heparin for multiple peripheral mesenteric emboli . Four patients had femoral embolectomies, one twice . Three patients developed embolomycotic aneurysms of the aorta in two cases and the common iliac in one; all were ruptured and two survived with staged reconstruction in one and extra-anatomic bypass in the other . Staph aureus and Strep viridans were the organisms involved most often . A review of the details of care in these patients leads to the following conclusions: angiographic survey reveals that most patients have multiple emboli; early embolectomy may prevent formation of infected aneurysms; Staph aureus infected patients are at risk for development of infected aneurysms; patients with large floppy vegetations in the left heart on echocardiography are at high risk for embolism; and 2 to 3 weeks from onset of endocarditis is the peak time for embolic risk.

Anal Biochem, 1986 Jul, 156(1), 189 - 93
Metachromatic assay for the quantitative determination of bacterial endotoxins; Keler T et al.; A metachromatic dye, 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMB) reacts with bacterial endotoxins . This interaction results in a shift of the absorption maximum of DMB to shorter wavelengths . The findings indicate that the negatively charged lipid moiety of the endotoxic lipopolysaccharide reacts with DMB . The lowest amount of endotoxin detectable by the procedure described here is approximately one microgram . The dye could not be used in the presence of serum components . DMB mixed to column chromatographic effluent showed good resolution in continuous monitoring of endotoxin components leaving the column.

J Infect, 1986 Jul, 13(1), 37 - 9
Anaerobic bacterial meningitis; Stephenson JR et al.; We report a case of anaerobic bacterial meningitis in which a rapid diagnosis was achieved by direct gas-liquid chromatography of cerebrospinal fluid.

J Biomed Mater Res, 1986 Jul-Aug, 20(6), 827 - 38
Comparison of in vitro bacterial bioluminescence and tissue culture bioassays and in vivo tests for evaluating acute toxicity of biomaterials; Burton SA et al.; The sensitivity of a bacterial bioluminescent acute toxicity test was compared to the sensitivity of the USP mouse safety, rabbit intramuscular implantation, rabbit intracutaneous, mouse systemic injection, and the MEM elution tissue culture tests . A variety of industrial plastics were used to evaluate the comparative sensitivities . Additional tests were conducted on low-density polyethylene containing a range of dibutyltin dichloride or trans-cinnamic acid concentrations . The bacterial bioluminescent test was more sensitive than any of the in vivo acute toxicity tests . The luminescent bacterial test was generally more sensitive than the tissue culture acute toxicity assay . The bacterial bioluminescent test offers a sensitive, rapid, uncomplicated, and inexpensive means for preliminary compatibility evaluation of biomaterials.

Clin Gastroenterol, 1986 Jul, 15(3), 529 - 43
Bacterial toxins and diarrhoea; Moriarty KJ et al.; Bacteria and their toxins are responsible for an enormous burden of diarrhoeal disease . Knowledge about the toxins and their mechanisms of action is limited . Thus, although considerable information is available about the mechanism of action of cholera toxin and a small number of heat-stable enterotoxins, information on the role and action of many others is incomplete . The demonstration of a toxic effect in a test system does not necessarily imply that that activity is relevant to the pathogenesis of the diarrhoea . On the other hand, the absence of a toxic effect in experimental systems does not eliminate the possibility that a toxin is responsible for a particular organism's clinical effects . This is a field of active research and much more work is clearly required.

Transfusion, 1986 Jul-Aug, 26(4), 388 - 90
Bacterial proliferation in platelet concentrates; Heal JM et al.; Growth curves of bacteria in platelet concentrates were studied to determine whether increasing the shelf-life of platelets from 3 to 7 days might have contributed to the increased number of deaths caused by contaminated platelets that have been reported to the FDA since 1980 . Platelets inoculated with 10(3) organisms or more showed logarithmic bacterial growth throughout the 7 days of storage or until the platelets became visibly abnormal . With an inoculum of 10(2) organisms or less, proliferation patterns were variable: 20 percent (%) showed uninhibited logarithmic growth and 50 percent (%) remained sterile throughout the 7 days . In another 30 percent (%), bacterial growth was temporarily suppressed for 5 to 6 days before bacteria actively proliferated . These data support the hypothesis that bacterial contamination of platelets not clinically significant at 3 days of storage might become so during the current 7 day shelf life.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Jul, 167(1), 12 - 7
Role and specificity of plasmid RP4-encoded DNA primase in bacterial conjugation; Merryweather A et al.; The role of the DNA primase of IncP plasmids was examined with a derivative of RP4 containing Tn7 in the primase gene (pri) . The mutant was defective in mediating bacterial conjugation, with the deficiency varying according to the bacterial strains used as donors and recipients . Complementation tests involving recombinant plasmids carrying cloned fragments of RP4 indicated that the primase acts to promote some event in the recipient cell after DNA transfer and that this requirement can be satisfied by plasmid primase made in the donor cell . It is proposed that the enzyme or its products or both are transmitted to the recipient cell during conjugation, and the role of the enzyme in the conjugative processing of RP4 is discussed . Specificity of plasmid primases was assessed with derivatives of RP4 and the IncI1 plasmid ColIb-P9, which is known to encode a DNA primase active in conjugation . When supplied in the donor cell, neither of the primases encoded by these plasmids substituted effectively in the nonhomologous conjugation system . Since ColIb primase provided in the recipient cell acted weakly on transferred RP4 DNA, it is suggested that the specificity of these enzymes reflects their inability to be transmitted via the conjugation apparatus of the nonhomologous plasmid.

Br J Ophthalmol, 1986 Jul, 70(7), 502 - 6
Use of penetrating keratoplasty in acute bacterial keratitis; Hill JC; Twenty-three patients with bacterial keratitis had penetrating keratoplasties performed for deep indolent ulceration or descemetoceles, during the acute period . The period in hospital (17.6 days) was significantly lower than for a control group (35.4 days) who were treated medically and had subsequent grafts . The number of grafts remaining clear was similar, 70% and 72% respectively . Eleven patients (48%) of those who had an acute graft achieved corrected visual acuities of 6/12 or better . No cases of reinfection occurred and no eyes were lost.

Immunology, 1986 Jul, 58(3), 343 - 50
Presentation of a soluble bacterial antigen and cell-surface alloantigens by large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in comparison with monocytes; Brooks CF et al.; The ability of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) to function as antigen-presenting cells (APC) in the proliferative response to the soluble bacterial antigen streptolysin O (SLO) was investigated . Despite the fact that a subset of LGL isolated by sorting peripheral blood lymphocytes with the B73.1 monoclonal antibody on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS-IV) expressed MHC Class II molecules of the DP, DQ and DR subregion loci, presentation of SLO by LGL was not demonstrated . Thus, T-cell populations containing LGL but carefully depleted of monocytes, isolated either by sorting using the FACS-IV or by SRBC-rosetting, were unresponsive to antigenic stimulation with SLO . Application of exogenous interleukin-1 to FACS-IV-isolated LGL-containing T-cell populations did not elicit presentation of SLO by the LGL . In vitro activation with phytohaemagglutinin and interleukin-2, which induced Class II expression in T-cell populations, resulted in an increased expression of Class II molecules of the DP, DQ and DR specificities on LGL . Although such activated T-cell and LGL populations were incapable of presenting SLO to freshly isolated antigen-non-responsive T cells, both activated populations were able to act as stimulators in an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction . The ability of highly Class II-positive activated LGL to present membrane-bound antigens suggests that their inability to present a soluble antigen may be related to the absence of effective antigen sequestration and/or processing mechanisms.

Rev Infect Dis, 1986 Jul-Aug, 8 Suppl 4, S396 - 400
Protective and opsonic activities of a native, pH 4.25 intravenous immunoglobulin G preparation against common bacterial pathogens; Hill HR et al.; The in vitro opsonic activity of a native, pH 4.25 immunoglobulin G preparation modified for intravenous use (IGIV pH 4.25) was compared with the activities of a standard reduced and alkylated, pH 6.8 preparation (IGIV-R/A pH 6.8) and a reduced and alkylated, pH 5.25 preparation (IGIV-R/A pH 5.25) against a variety of common bacterial pathogens . In most instances the opsonic titers of IGIV pH 4.25 equaled or exceeded that of IGIV-R/A pH 6.8; IGIV-R/A pH 5.25 usually had an intermediate level of activity . The protective activity of IGIV pH 4.25 against Escherichia coli in a neonatal rat model was also greater than that of IGIV-R/A pH 6.8 . Thus, the functional activity of the new IGIV pH 4.25 apparently equals or exceeds that of standard reduced and alkylated preparations.

J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Jul, 24(1), 86 - 8
Elucidation of Strongyloides stercoralis by bacterial-colony displacement; Panosian KJ et al.; Two cases of unsuspected Strongyloides stercoralis infection were elucidated by the displacement of bacterial colonies on primary plating media . Observation of primary plates inoculated for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia or gastroenteritis revealed that normal flora colonies had been moved and were aligned in a pathway, or track . This unusual colony alignment prompted us to request a stool for the examination of parasites, and S . stercoralis was found . It was concluded that the parasite is capable of motility on agar surfaces, resulting in the displacement of bacterial colonies that make up the normal flora.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Jul, 83(14), 4988 - 92
Enhanced expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in mouse cells cotransfected with synthetic polynucleotides able to form Z-DNA; Banerjee R et al.; Recent studies have demonstrated that the left-handed, Z-DNA conformation is favored in polymers containing alternating purine/pyrimidine sequences that can exist in vivo and may play a role in gene expression . On the basis of this assumption, we have studied the effect of various cotransfected polynucleotides on the transient expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene in thymidine kinase-deficient murine L cells . Cotransfections were performed by calcium phosphate coprecipitation of CAT gene plasmids with various polymers, and the CAT enzymatic activity was measured in cell lysates after 48 hr . About 2- to 10-fold stimulation of CAT gene expression was observed when the cells were cotransfected with 10 micrograms (per 10-cm culture dish) of plasmid pSV2cat, which contains simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter and enhancer sequences, and 2-10 micrograms of polymers that can form Z-DNA, such as poly(dG-m5dC) X poly(dG-m5dC) or poly(dG-dC) X poly(dG-dC), as compared to transfection with pSV2cat alone . Further, enhanced CAT gene expression was also observed when cotransfections were performed with these polymers and two other plasmid vectors, one containing the SV40 promoter but no enhancer and the other lacking any SV40 regulatory sequences . However, poly(dA-dC) X poly(dG-dT), which can form Z-DNA, did not induce any stimulation . Similarly, no or very little stimulation was observed after cotransfection of pSV2cat with either poly(dG) X poly(dC) or poly(dA-dT) X poly(dA-dT), which do not adopt the Z conformation . These results suggest that certain polynucleotides may enhance transcription of the CAT gene.

J Exp Med, 1986 Jul 1, 164(1), 165 - 79
Bacterial lipopolysaccharides prime macrophages for enhanced release of arachidonic acid metabolites; Aderem AA et al.; Preincubation of resident peritoneal macrophages with 10-100 ng/ml LPS for 60 min resulted in the cells becoming primed for enhanced (three-to eightfold higher) arachidonic acid (20:4) secretion in response to a variety of triggers . The half-maximal concentration of LPS required for priming was 10 ng/ml irrespective of whether the trigger was particulate (examples: zymosan or immune complexes) or soluble (such as PMA or A23187) . Similarly, the time required for half-maximal priming of macrophages was 20 min irrespective of which trigger was used . The primed state persisted for at least 30 h . LPS-priming of macrophages also affected the kinetics of 20:4 metabolite secretion . The lag phase characteristically observed when 20:4 secretion is triggered was reduced in LPS-primed cells . Furthermore, LPS-primed cells secreted 20:4 metabolites when challenged with latex beads, while unprimed cells did not . These data suggest that stimuli such as zymosan, which elicit 20:4 secretion in macrophages, promote two signals, a priming signal and a triggering signal . LPS is capable of establishing the priming signal but not the triggering signal, while latex promotes the triggering signal but is unable to prime the cells for 20:4 release . LPS did not effect the profile of 20:4 metabolites secreted in response to any of the triggers, nor did it effect the profile of products synthesized from exogenously added 20:4, suggesting that it did not regulate the 20:4 cascade at the level of either the cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase pathways . Macrophages respond to LPS without the intervention of T lymphocytes, since the macrophages from nude mice could be primed for enhanced 20:4 secretion.

Biochemistry, 1986 Jun 17, 25(12), 3655 - 9
Small-angle neutron scattering study of the ternary complex formed between bacterial elongation factor Tu, guanosine 5'-triphosphate, and valyl-tRNAVal; Antonsson B et al.; The formation of the ternary complex between bacterial elongation factor Tu, GTP, and valyl-tRNAVal has been studied by small-angle neutron scattering . Titrations of the protein with amino-acyl-tRNA solutions in both H2O and 70% D2O confirm the expected stoichiometry . The molecular weight obtained for the protein alone is significantly higher than expected and can be explained by postulating a monomer-dimer equilibrium . The titration data are then internally consistent with a dissociation of the dimer on ternary complex formation . The radius of gyration for the ternary complex and the calculation of the separation of the centers of mass of the protein and tRNA components suggest a compact model for the ternary complex.

J Immunol, 1986 Jun 15, 136(12), 4525 - 30
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced interferon-gamma production: roles of interleukin 1 and interleukin 2; Le J et al.; Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . Monocytes play a mandatory accessory role in this process, because purified T lymphocytes failed to produce IFN-gamma in response to LPS and the addition of 2% monocytes to T cell cultures resulted in an optimal LPS-induced IFN-gamma production . IFN-gamma production was abolished in the presence of monoclonal antibodies specific for HLA-DR antigen . Addition of exogenous interleukin 2 (IL 2) markedly enhanced IFN-gamma secretion by PBMC induced with LPS . The addition of anti-Tac antibody specific for IL 2 receptors abrogated IFN-gamma production, suggesting that an interaction of IL 2 with IL 2 receptors was involved . By using a specific antibody binding assay, LPS was shown to amplify IL 2 receptor expression on PBMC, whereas exogenous IL 2 showed only a negligible enhancing effect on the expression of its own receptors . Interleukin 1 (IL 1), a product of LPS-stimulated monocytes, potentiated IL 2-induced IFN-gamma production in the absence of LPS . Neither IL 1 nor IL 2 alone induced IFN-gamma production in purified T lymphocyte cultures . When added together, however, substantial levels of IFN-gamma were induced . An enhanced IL 2 receptor expression on T cells was also demonstrated as a result of the combined action of IL 1 and IL 2 . These results suggest that induction of IFN-gamma by LPS is due mainly to the generation of IL 1 and an enhanced expression of IL 2 receptors.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Jun 13, 137(2), 729 - 35
A bacterial-induced lectin which triggers hemocyte coagulation in Manduca sexta; Minnick MF et al.; An inducible hemagglutinin termed M13, was purified from M . sexta hemolymph . M13 is a glucose-specific lectin which in addition to erythrocyte agglutination, can activate dedifferentiation of various hemocytes into a filamentous coagulation network . When lectin activity was inhibited with glucose or antiserum, neither erythrocyte agglutination or hemocyte coagulation occurred . When M13 was boiled or trypsin treated, hemocyte activation was lost, but erythrocyte agglutination remained . Hence M13 activity appears to be bimodal, possessing both a lectin activity and a hemocyte-coagulating activity.

Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1986 Jun-Sep, 63(2-3), 201 - 31
{Bacterial pollution of the littoral waters of the northern suburbs of Tunis}; Capape C et al.; The authors present in this paper a study of the bacterial pollution of inshore waters of northern suburbs of Tunis, on the basis of 180 sampled collected in 15 different stations, 15 monthly (one for each station) . Three districts have been considered: Raouad-Gammarth, La Marsa-Carthage and La Goulette . This last district is mostly submitted to the bacterial pollution, caused by its neighbourhood of the lagoon of Tunis "reserve of pollution" and of the city of Tunis.

J Clin Chem Clin Biochem, 1986 Jun, 24(6), 399 - 403
Automatic bioluminescent glucose determination using commercially available reagent kits coupled to the bacterial NAD(P)H-linked luciferase system; Wieland E et al.; A sensitive and specific automatic bioluminescent method is described for glucose determination in serum samples using commercially available reagent-kits . The Boehringer Gluco-quant kit, originally designed for spectrophotometric measurement, was successfully coupled to the bacterial luciferase NAD(P)H-linked system . The method's validity was proven by comparison with a spectrophotometric method . Correlation was excellent (r = 0.98, n = 50) . Precision attained by 30 assays was good (CV 1.19%) . The assay was verified by determining the glucose concentrations of more than 1000 serum samples . Using a microcomputer-controlled automatic luminescence analyser (Berthold LB 950 T) and reagent kits for luminometry (Boehringer Mannheim, LKB Wallac, Lumac/3M), the complete assay can be performed fully automatically with commercially available reagent kits . More than 200 samples can be assayed by one individual per day . The bioluminescence method is at least 100 times more sensitive than spectrophotometric measurements . Other reagent kits tested (Behring, Merck, Sigma) are also suitable for coupling to the NAD(P)H-linked luciferase system.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1986 Jun, 45(6), 458 - 63
Bacterial arthritis in an English health district: a 10 year review; Cooper C et al.; Bacterial arthritis continues to present a difficult clinical and therapeutic problem, necessitating prompt diagnosis and intensive therapy . This study comprises a 10 year review of the condition in an English health district, with particular reference to aetiology, presentation, treatment, and outcome . Although the causative organisms remain qualitatively unchanged, increasing numbers of patients are elderly, immunosuppressed, or have underlying arthropathy . Factors which influence outcome include age, causative organism, joint involved, and delay in diagnosis . Attention is drawn to the notably poor outcome of hip infections in the elderly.

Am J Vet Res, 1986 Jun, 47(6), 1287 - 92
Injury versus inflammatory response in the lungs of rats intratracheally inoculated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Lopez A et al.; The relationship between acute pulmonary cell injury and inflammatory response was investigated in rats killed 1, 3, and 7 days after intratracheal inoculation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and bronchoalveolar cell (BAC) lysate supernatants were used as indicators of cell injury in the lung . Concentrations of protein in BAL fluid and the number and types of BAC were used as indicators of pulmonary inflammatory response . The magnitude of inflammation and cell injury was calculated as the percentage difference of cellular and biochemical values, compared with values of nontreated controls . Inoculation with LPS induced a significant and dramatic (greater than 18,000%) influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and a mild (approx 250%) increase in pulmonary alveolar macrophages . A moderate, significant and time-dependent increase in LDH (up to approx 260%) and AP (up to approx 220%) was detected in BAL fluid and BAC lysate supernatants after LPS inoculations . Inoculation with saline solution alone resulted in increased PMN (approx 975%), but did not alter LDH and AP values . In all rats evaluated, protein concentrations did not change . Numbers of PMN significantly and positively correlated with activities of LDH and AP . Protein concentrations and PMN counts had a negative nonsignificant association . Evidence of further cell injury was not detected after massive influx of PMN into the bronchoalveolar space . Therefore, the cellular influx of PMN induced by LPS probably was disproportionate to the magnitude of pulmonary cell injury.

Anal Biochem, 1986 Jun, 155(2), 365 - 70
Isolation and analysis of bacterial cobamides by high-performance liquid chromatography; Stupperich E et al.; Cyanocobamides were extracted from diverse bacterial species, purified by XAD-4 and neutral aluminum oxide column chromatography, and separated by isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . Retention times are given for seven cobamide types: dicyanocobinamide (factor B), Co alpha-(alpha-benzimidazolyl)-Co beta-cyanocobamide, Co alpha-(5-hydroxybenzimidazolyl)-Co beta-cyanocobamide (factor III), Co alpha-(5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)-Co beta-cyanocobamide (factor IIIm), Co alpha-(5-methylbenzimidazolyl)-Co beta-cyanocobamide, cyanocob(III)alamin (vitamin B-12) and Co alpha-(naphthimidazolyl)-Co beta-cyanocobamide . Other Co beta-ligandyl-cobamides such as hydroxycobamide and the light-sensitive methyl-, acetyl-, propyl-, and adenosylcobamides were separated by HPLC in a gradient mode . The recovery of total cell cobamide after extraction, purification, and separation was 75-80% . The method was useful in preparative and analytical work . Less than 10 ng cyanocobamide was detectable.

Med Hypotheses, 1986 Jun, 20(2), 125 - 32
Ulcerative colitis: the result of an altered bacterial metabolism of bile acids or cholesterol; Bennet JD; It is proposed that in genetically susceptible individuals ulcerative colitis is caused by a bacterial metabolite of bile acids or cholesterol and that this substance is similar or identical to the bacterial metabolites implicated in the development of colon cancer . Since the responsible bacterial reactions may be dependent on vitamin K as an electron acceptor it is suggested that poorly absorbed vitamin K antagonists, specifically alpha-tocopherylquinone, may be capable of inhibiting these reactions and may therefore prove effective in treating ulcerative colitis and in preventing the development of colon cancer.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1986 Jun, 67(3), 371 - 81
Modulation of anti-tumour immunity and the effect of bacterial endotoxin on the growth of different syngeneic tumours from small inocula in mice; Kearney R et al.; Studies were undertaken to determine the influence of E . coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the growth of various doses of two antigenically-distinct syngeneic murine fibrosarcomas designated H1 and H7 . The 'weakly' antigenic H1 tumour injected subcutaneously (s.c.) along the abdominal wall was profoundly susceptible to the growth-potentiating effects of a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 2 micrograms LPS, administered concurrently . 'Sneaking through' effects in control mice were observed with doses of 10 and 100 H1 tumour cells . Rejection of medium-sized inocula 25 or 500 H1 tumour cells were abolished by the administration of LPS . In contrast, the 'strongly' antigenic H7 tumour did not exhibit the 'sneaking through' phenomenon and its growth was only temporarily affected by LPS . Studies were also performed to determine the effect of LPS on the kinetics of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) induced by mitomycin C-treated (MCT) H1 or H7 tumour cells inoculated s.c . into the footpads of mice . The 'strongly' antigenic MCT H7 tumour cells induced consecutive waves of footpad swelling of diminishing intensity and corresponded to periods of anti-tumour resistance . The specific phase of MCT H7-induced footpad swelling, maximal at day 6, was delayed in its induction if LPS was administered concurrently with MCT H7 tumour cells . In contrast, the 'weakly' antigenic MCT H1 tumour cells induced only one specific phase of footpad swelling which was rapidly down-regulated . The induction of immunity by MCT H1 tumour cells was also delayed by the concomitant administration of LPS . Because the 'weakly' antigenic H1 tumour was unable to sustain consecutive waves of anti-tumour immunity, the delay in the expression of such immunity by LPS allowed the H1 tumour cells to multiply to eventually overwhelm a rapidly down-regulated immune response . In contrast, the incidence of tumours arising from the 'strongly' antigenic H7 tumour cells was not significantly affected in LPS-treated mice because the tumour cells which escaped the first encounter with delayed anti-tumour immunity, succumbed to subsequent waves of resistance in both normal and LPS-treated mice injected with fewer than 1 X 10(5) H7 tumour cells.

Immunology, 1986 Jun, 58(2), 285 - 90
The differential effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on splenic non-lymphoid cells demonstrated by monoclonal antibodies; Groeneveld PH et al.; In the present study, the effect of LPS on different splenic non-lymphoid cells was investigated . Marginal zone (MZ) macrophages, marginal metallophils and interdigitating cells (IDC) were demonstrated using specific monoclonal antibodies in a two-step immunoperoxidase procedure in combination with enzyme histochemistry . The results indicate that the number of marginal zone macrophages decreases markedly after LPS treatment, but is followed by a rapid repopulation as observed by monoclonal antibody staining and selective uptake of FITC-Ficoll . Marginal metallophils are normally located at the inner border of the marginal sinus and can specifically be identified by the monoclonal antibody MOMA-1 . Following LPS stimulation, many MOMA-1-positive cells were present in the corona and central parts of the follicles, with decreasing numbers near the marginal sinus . These findings strongly suggest that LPS induces a migration of marginal metallophils towards the follicle centres . Most of the tangible body macrophages in the follicle centres appeared to be slightly MOMA-1-positive, which indicates that marginal metallophils may, at least under certain circumstances, differentiate into tangible body macrophages . In the inner PALS, many interdigitating cells, NLDC-145-positive cells, can be found . The number of NLDC-145-positive cells was shown to be severely decreased at later time-intervals after LPS administration, resulting in an almost unstained inner PALS at 2 days . In contrast to the above-mentioned splenic non-lymphoid cells, the red pulp macrophages are only minimally affected by LPS.

AJR Am J Roentgenol, 1986 Jun, 146(6), 1173 - 7
Hemorrhagic focal bacterial nephritis: findings on gray-scale sonography and CT; Rigsby CM et al.; Five patients with acute focal bacterial nephritis and hematuria had sonographic and CT findings atypical for renal infection . Sonographically, each presented with an echogenic focus in the renal parenchyma . Noncontrast CT images showed an area of increased density in the corresponding segment of the kidney in three patients, mixed high and low density in one patient, and low density alone in the remaining patient . It is proposed that these appearances result from the presence of hemorrhage at different stages, associated with focal infection . Venous compromise is suggested as the etiology.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 Jun, 64(3), 656 - 64
Characteristics of bacterial lipopolysaccharide induction of interleukin 1 synthesis and secretion by human monocytes; Arend WP et al.; The objective of these studies was to characterize some aspects of interleukin 1 (IL-1) synthesis and secretion by human monocytes after stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) . Various molecular species of LPS were incubated with adherent monocytes for 24 h . IL-1 activity in monocyte supernatants (secretion) and lysates (synthesis) was determined by stimulation of collagenase production in rabbit articular chondrocytes and augmentation of mitogen-induced proliferation of murine thymocytes . The presence of cytochalasin B enhanced LPS-induced IL-1 secretion without altering IL-1 synthesis . Monocytes preincubated in dexamethasone or hydrocortisone failed to exhibit any IL-1 activity in supernatants after LPS stimulation but the cell lysates still possessed 50% of control IL-1 activity . Studies with different LPS preparations indicated that the presence of diphosphoryl groups in lipid A enhanced the IL-1-inducing activities . Butanol-extracted LPS preparations, containing associated proteins, were not completely inhibited by 5 micrograms/ml polymyxin B in induction of IL-1 production at LPS concentrations of 10 or 100 ng/ml . These results indicate that the failure of polymyxin B to inhibit stimulation of IL-1 production by tests materials cannot be assumed to mean an absence of contaminating LPS.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1986 Jun, 57(2), 115 - 6
Bacterial myocarditis secondary to parvovirus enteritis in a puppy; Van Rensburg IB et al.; A purulent bacterial myocarditis, secondary to parvovirus enteritis was diagnosed in a 3-month-old St Bernard puppy . The clinical course was of 2 days duration and was characterized by pyrexia, severe vomition, haemorrhagic diarrhoea and dehydration . Post mortem examination revealed a haemorrhagic enteritis and multifocal purulent myocarditis . Histopathological examination proved that the latter was of bacterial origin . It is postulated that this resulted from a bacteraemia secondary to the intestinal lesions caused by parvovirus infection.

Inflammation, 1986 Jun, 10(2), 119 - 30
Oxygen radical production by neutrophils from patients with bacterial infection and rheumatoid arthritis . Measurement of hydrogen peroxide may most accurately represent enhancement of oxygen radical production during infection; Ozaki Y et al.; The production of three kinds of oxygen radicals (superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals) by neutrophils from patients with bacterial infection or rheumatoid arthritis was measured . The stimulators used in this study were opsonized zymosan (1 mg/ml), phorbol myristate acetate (20 ng/ml), A23187 (1 microM), and platelet activating factor (1 microM) . Oxygen radical production by neutrophils from patients with rheumatoid arthritis was not significantly different from that of the control group . Hydrogen peroxide production by the neutrophils from patients with bacterial infection was significantly enhanced by only opsonized zymosan, but the production of the other kinds of oxygen radicals was not . Cytochalasin B reduced the production of hydrogen peroxide induced by opsonized zymosan more markedly than that of any other kind of oxygen radical . The measurement of hydrogen peroxide is suggested to be the most accurate indicator of the enhancement of intracellular production of oxygen radicals by neutrophils during infection.

Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom, 1986 Jun, 13(6), 273 - 6
Heterogeneity of bacterial antigenic lipooligosaccharides determined by californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry; Jardine I et al.; Californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometric analysis of complex lipooligosaccharide antigens from Mycobacterium kansasii has provided molecular weight information . From the spectra obtained and from other data it can be concluded that these lipooligosaccharides generally contain three 2,4-dimethyltetradecanoyl groups, and considerable heterogeneity in the attached acyl functions is apparent.

J Biol Chem, 1986 May 15, 261(14), 6433 - 7
Comparison of the subsite specificity of the mammalian neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (enkephalinase) to the bacterial neutral endopeptidase thermolysin; Hersh LB et al.; A comparison has been made of the specificity of the mammalian neutral metalloendopeptidase, endopeptidase 24.11, with that of the bacterial neutral metalloendopeptidase thermolysin . A series of synthetic oligopeptides which have previously been studied as substrates for thermolysin and used in computer modeling were examined as substrates for the mammalian enzyme . It was found that P1, P2, and P'3 subsite interactions in the mammalian enzyme, although similar to those found in thermolysin, are less restrictive spatially and are considerably less dependent on hydrophobic interactions . This difference was maximally expressed with the synthetic substrate dansyl-D-alanylglycylnitrophenylalanylglycine which is a substrate for the mammalian enzyme, but not for the bacterial enzyme . A comparison of substrates in the free acid form with their corresponding amides showed that binding to the mammalian enzyme is dependent in part on an ionic interaction between the substrate carboxylate group and the enzyme . Such an ionic interaction was not observed with the bacterial enzyme.

Minerva Med, 1986 May 12, 77(20), 873 - 82
{Diagnostic problems in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis}; Colloredo G et al.; In spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) the ascitic fluid culture (certain criterion of diagnosis) may be negative despite an evident clinical and biochemical picture . Therefore the diagnosis may be sometimes more "probable" than "certain" . The authors performed a comparative analytical study--from a clinical, biochemical and prognostic point of view--between a group of 10 "probable" SBP (10 cirrhotic pts.) and 9 "certain" SBP (9 cirrhotic pts.) . 115 "normal ascitic fluids" (negative culture in absence of any SBP-symptoms), collected from 82 cirrhotic pts., were used as control group . The ascitic concentration of white blood cells (WBC)/mmc and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN)/mmc was significantly different between the SBP and control group (p less than 0.001) and between the "certain" and "probable" SBP (p less than 0.02) . The latter have a mean WBC and PMN/mmc count that is lower than the "certain" SBP and on the contrary a significantly higher ascitic glucose content (p less than 0.05) . Probably that means a lower ascitic bacterial inoculum, which is below the threshold of detectability by current culture techniques . Serum laboratory tests showed no differences between the "probable" and the "certain" SBP groups, although, however they were worse than the control group . The symptoms and the prognosis resulted nearly the same in both groups . In spite of a high rate of recovery (57.9%) the global survival at the follow-up (10 +/- 5.2 months, range 6-19) was only 26.3% . The wide clinical, biochemical and prognostic overlap of the two groups leads us to consider as "certain" all the cases of "probable" SBP . Owing to the fact that only an early recognition and therapy are known to affect the prognosis significantly, the obvious conclusion is that in the SBP the suspicion is more important that the diagnostic certainty . Furthermore--in agreement with previous studies--the cutoff limit of 250 PMN/mmc has shown the best statistical diagnostic value for a rapid diagnosis (sensibility 100%, diagnostic accuracy 92.5%, negative predictive value 100%, likelihood ratio 1.9).

Gastroenterology, 1986 May, 90(5 Pt 1), 1247 - 54
Immediate diagnostic criteria for bacterial infection of ascitic fluid . Evaluation of ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leukocyte count, pH, and lactate concentration, alone and in combination; Stassen WN et al.; We prospectively evaluated the ascitic fluid (AF) polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) count, pH, and lactate concentration in single ascitic fluids from 60 patients to determine their relative predictive values for the immediate diagnosis of ascitic fluid infection . Nine of the 60 ascitic fluids were malignant . Of the remaining 51 samples, nine from cirrhotic patients were infected . The mean AF pH, lactate concentration, and PMN count in the infected group were 7.20 +/- 0.19, 80 +/- 51 mg/dl, and 18,199 +/- 19,650 cells/mm3, respectively, and all were significantly different from the corresponding values in noninfected ascites . Mean arterial blood-ascitic fluid (B-AF) pH and lactate gradients in the infected group were 0.23 +/- 0.17 and -46 +/- 31 mg/dl, respectively, and were significantly different from the corresponding values in noninfected ascites (p less than 0.05) . Significant differences were not found between infected and malignant ascites, except for the AF PMN count (p less than 0.001) . In cirrhosis with ascites, an AF pH less than or equal to 7.34 was the most specific single test (100%) and had the highest diagnostic accuracy (98%) . In the larger group of patients with ascites of diverse etiology, a B-AF pH gradient greater than or equal to 0.10 or an AF PMN count greater than or equal to 500 cells/mm3 were the single tests with the highest diagnostic accuracy (92%) . Combining an AF PMN count greater than 500 cells/mm3 with any of the other diagnostic criteria increased the specificity and diagnostic accuracy (up to 98%) compared to the best single criterion . Although our data support the use of a number of different combinations of AF measurements for the immediate diagnosis of infection, the simplest and most readily obtainable measurements are the pH and PMN count . Therefore, in the clinical setting we recommend the use of either an AF pH less than or equal to 7.34 or a B-AF pH gradient greater than or equal to 0.10 in combination with an AF PMN count greater than 500 cells/mm3 to obtain the highest degree of accuracy in the immediate diagnosis of ascitic fluid infection.

Helv Paediatr Acta, 1986 May, 41(1-2), 7 - 17
{Prospective placebo-controlled double-blind study using a bacterial lysate in infections of the respiratory tract and ENT region in children}; Schaad UB et al.; 94 children suffering from frequent infections of the respiratory tract and of the ear, nose and throat were treated under double-blind conditions with either a bacterial lysate (n = 45) or a placebo (n = 49) . During the 6 months of the trial both treatments brought about a significant decrease in the incidence and duration of these infections as well as in the duration of concomitant antibiotherapy in comparison to the corresponding prior 6-month reference period . As these positive results recorded under the bacterial lysate and the placebo could not be differentiated statistically, the influence of meteorological and epidemiological factors as well as of the age of the children is discussed.

Radiobiologiia, 1986 May-Jun, 26(3), 323 - 8
{Comparative study of the biological properties of various bacterial polysaccharides}; Strel'nikov IuE et al.; It was shown that different polysaccharides markedly vary in their toxicity, exert a radioprotective effect when administered both 24 h and 1-4 h before irradiation, enhance and prolong the radioprotective action of S-containing radioprotective agents, and inhibit DNA synthesis in bone marrow which, in all appearance, plays a certain role in the mechanism of their radioprotective action.

Eur Heart J, 1986 May, 7(5), 449 - 51
Bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve with septic coronary embolism and myocardial infarction in a 4-month old baby; Ueda M et al.; A 4-month old baby, who developed infective endocarditis of the aortic valve following purulent arthritis of the hip joint, is presented . The baby developed signs of myocardial infarction and died suddenly at the age of 6 months . Autopsy revealed a localized healed coronary arteritis, almost certainly due to an infected embolus, as the underlying cause.

Forensic Sci Int, 1986 May, 31(1), 35 - 9
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the non-cirrhotic individual; Copeland AR; A case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is reported . A methodical postmortem examination failed to disclose cirrhosis or other liver pathology; nor, was any anatomic alteration of the immune system noted . Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was likewise discounted . A discussion ensues concerning recognition of this entity.

Hepatology, 1986 May-Jun, 6(3), 396 - 9
Diuresis of cirrhotic ascites increases its opsonic activity and may help prevent spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Runyon BA et al.; Serial ascitic fluid samples were obtained during diuresis in seven patients with portal hypertension-related ascites . The samples were tested for concentrations of total protein, CH100, C3 and C4 as well as for in vitro opsonic activity . These parameters were all found to increase to a statistically significant degree when the initial specimen was compared to the final specimen: total protein = 1.5 vs . 2.7 gm per dl; CH100 = 9.3 vs . 20.2 units per ml; C3 = 13.4 vs . 23.8 mg per dl; C4 = 1.9 vs . 3.6 mg per dl, and opsonic activity = 0.8 vs . 1.9 log kill . This increased opsonic activity resulted in a greater than 10-fold increase in bacterial killing . This study demonstrates that diuresis of patients with cirrhotic ascites increases the concentrations of ascitic fluid complement components and increases the opsonic activity of ascitic fluid and may help protect patients from bacterial infection of their ascites.

Carbohydr Res, 1986 May 1, 148(2), 221 - 34
Synthesis of 2-deoxy-4-O-phosphono-3-O-tetradecanoyl-2-{(3R)- and (3S)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanamido}-D-glucose: a diastereoisomeric pair of 4-O-phosphono-D-glucosamine derivatives (GLA-27) related to bacterial lipid A; Kiso M et al.; The diastereoisomeric, 4-O-phosphono-D-glucosamine derivatives named in the title have been synthesized, starting from benzyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside and (3RS)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid.

Plast Reconstr Surg, 1986 May, 77(5), 785 - 94
Comparison of the effect of bacterial inoculation in musculocutaneous and fasciocutaneous flaps; Calderon W et al.; The skin fascial flap is now recognized as a reliable flap for use in reconstructive surgery . The fasciocutaneous flap has been advocated for coverage of chronic infected wounds after debridement as an alternative to the musculocutaneous flap . Previous experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the superior resistance of the musculocutaneous flap as compared to the random-pattern flap to bacterial inoculation . A canine model is presented for comparison of the effect of bacterial inoculation in fasciocutaneous and musculocutaneous flaps of similar dimensions . The area of skin necrosis secondary to bacterial inoculation was similar in these two flap types despite greater blood flow and skin oxygen in the fasciocutaneous flap . In a study of closed wound spaces formed by the deep surface of these two flap types, a greater degree of inhibition and elimination of bacterial growth and more collagen deposition are observed in the musculocutaneous wound space than in the fasciocutaneous flap.

J Pediatr, 1986 May, 108(5 Pt 1), 665 - 70
Quantitative levels of C-reactive protein in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with bacterial meningitis and other conditions; Gray BM et al.; We measured levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the cerebrospinal fluid in 145 children, using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay . The CRP levels in 49 patients with culture-proved bacterial meningitis ranged from 0 to 51,000 ng/ml (median 1460 ng/ml) . In 33 patients with aseptic meningitis, values were much lower range 0 to 438 ng/ml; (median 17 ng/ml) . In patients with CSF pleocytosis (greater than 10 WBC/microliter), CRP greater than 100 ng/ml was 95% accurate in identifying those with bacterial meningitis . However, a few patients with bacterial meningitis and little or no CSF pleocytosis had low levels of CRP at admission . Among the 63 patients with nonmeningitic conditions, those with bacterial infections frequently (10 of 13 had CRP greater than 100 ng/ml, whereas CRP elevations were infrequent (seven (18%) of 40) in patients with viral infections and other conditions . CRP diffuses into the CSF as readily as other proteins, but in bacterial meningitis the CSF/serum ratio of CRP was lower than that of albumin and IgG . The measurement of CRP in CSF is potentially a very useful diagnostic tool, but certain inherent limitations must be recognized, because some patients may fail to mount a prompt inflammatory response.

J Cell Biol, 1986 May, 102(5), 1606 - 14
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide suppresses the production of catalytically active lysosomal acid hydrolases in human macrophages; Riches DW et al.; Sub-microgram quantities of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been found to substantially reduce the intracellular catalytic activities of three representative lysosomal enzymes (namely, acid phosphatase, hexosaminidase, and beta-glucuronidase) in human monocyte-derived macrophages . This response was not associated with a concurrent increase in enzyme catalytic activity in the culture supernatant, and hence, could not be explained by mobilization of preformed material . By conducting experiments in the presence and absence of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, the reduction in lysosomal enzyme catalytic activities was shown not to be dependent on the ability of LPS to induce prostaglandin E2 production . The response was not found to be the result of a more generalized LPS-dependent reduction in the ability of the cells to synthesize protein, since the presence of LPS in macrophage cultures did not appreciably affect the amount of {35S}methionine incorporated into total cellular proteins . A kinetic analysis of the effect of LPS on the down-regulation of enzyme catalytic activities indicated that this was an early response of the cells to LPS exposure . An investigation of the effects of blockade of enzyme catabolism (using the lysosomotropic weak-base, methylamine) indicated that the reduction of catalytic enzyme activities in response to LPS was probably due to a decreased rate of production of active product, rather than an enhanced rate of enzyme catabolism . This suggestion was confirmed by experiments in which the synthesis of pro-hexosaminidase (measured by biosynthetic labeling with {35S}methionine and specific immunoprecipitation of labeled pro-hexosaminidase) was found to be reduced by 42% after a 24-h exposure to LPS (although the synthesis of complement component C3 was stimulated by a factor of 4.5) . It is suggested that the ability of LPS to regulate the functional expression of protein products contributes to changes in the overall functional status of these cells in response to this bacterial product.

Br J Nutr, 1986 May, 55(3), 557 - 69
Supplemental protein degradation, bacterial protein synthesis and nitrogen retention in sheep eating sodium hydroxide-treated straw; Amaning-Kwarteng K et al.; 1 . Alkali (sodium hydroxide)-treated wheat straw was given to six rumen- and abomasal-cannulated sheep to study the rumen degradation of cotton-seed meal (CSM) and barley (B), and the effects of these supplements on nitrogen retention and efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis were measured . 2 . N degradation, using porous synthetic (nylon) bags incubated within the rumen (P), and in vivo measurement determined from the abomasal flow of N (V), distinguished quantitatively between the two supplements . Estimates of P, corrected for fractional outflow rates/h (FOR), underestimated estimates of V when FOR of undegraded protein from the rumen (k) of 0.05 and 0.08 were used . Estimates of V for CSM and B were 70.9 and 80.8% respectively . 3 . Intakes of alkali-treated straw were not affected by the supplements . Intakes of digestible organic matter (DOM) for the diets comprising alkali-treated straw alone (W), straw plus CSM (WC) and straw plus barley (WB) were 477, 575 and 590 g/d respectively (P less than 0.05) and organic matter (OM) apparently digested in the rumen (OMADR) was 339, 399 and 435 g/d respectively (P less than 0.05) . 4 . On W, WC and WB respectively, flows at the abomasum were 11.0, 14.0 and 13.3 g/d for bacterial N (P less than 0.05) and 0, 2.8 and 0.5 g/d for dietary supplemental N; g bacterial N/kg OMADR were 32.4, 35.6 and 30.9 (P greater than 0.05) and N balances were 2.37, 4.27 and 3.29 g/d (P less than 0.05) on the respective treatments . It was suggested that supplements increased total OM intake as a result of increased OM digested in the rumen rather than OM flow from the rumen.

Infect Control, 1986 May, 7(5), 268 - 72
The efficacy of several new handwashing agents for removing non-transient bacterial flora from hands; Morrison AJ Jr et al.; Forty subjects participated in a study of four handwashing agents evaluated for their efficacy in removing non-transient bacteria: 70% isopropanol, 0.05% stabilized iodine, 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, and 1% para-chloro-meta-xylenol . Each subject performed a non-medicated handwash to remove transient flora . Afterwards, three consecutive experimental handwashes were performed using a 10-second contact time, and a fourth handwash employed a 1-minute contact time . Quantitative post-handwash cultures were obtained using the sterile bag technique incorporating an effective agent neutralizer . Significant mean log10 reductions were documented for chlorhexidine gluconate, but only after the third (P = .05) and fourth (p = .004) handwash; however, the total log10 reduction was less than 1.0 for any single agent . Subsequently, three evaporative handwash agents, including 70% isopropanol, 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropanol, and a 60% isopropanol formulation containing evaporative retardants, were tested in 14 subjects . Contact time was prolonged to the point of evaporation prior to culturing . Four consecutive post-handwash cultures were obtained after performing a baseline pre-handwash culture . When compared with the other two evaporative agents, the 60% isopropanol formulation demonstrated significant mean log10 reductions for each handwash (p less than or equal to .03), with a total log10 reduction of 2.9 over all four handwashes (p = .0001) . The brief contact time incorporated in our handwashing technique reflects clinical usage patterns . The marked bacterial reduction demonstrated by the 60% isopropanol formulation warrants further study.

Anal Biochem, 1986 May 1, 154(2), 682 - 90
A differential scanning calorimeter for ice nucleation distribution studies--application to bacterial nucleators; Parody-Morreale A et al.; A differential scanning calorimeter has been developed for the automatic detection and measurement of dropwise freezing within a sample of 100-200 water drops . A typical drop size of 1 microliter is employed . The sample is distributed on flat, square (4-cm) thermoelectric sensors and the temperature is scanned downward by conductive cooling to a liquid nitrogen bath . The rate of cooling, typically 1 degree C/min, is set by the choice of a heat conduction rod between the calorimeter and the liquid nitrogen bath . The voltages from the thermopiles along with a system temperature-measuring thermocouple are continuously monitored by digital voltmeters and recorded every half-second in a computer memory . A freezing event in a drop is detected by a characteristic voltage signal whose integral with time is proportional to the size of the drop and its heat of fusion . The half-life of a freezing event signal is 10 s for a 1-microliter drop . The integrated signal produced from multiple freezing events is shown to provide a direct measure of the number of drops frozen at a given temperature . A distribution curve and its smoothed derivative can be constructed directly from these measurements . The instrument, which is termed an "ice nucleometer," is illustrated in determining the ice nucleation distribution in a population of Escherichia coli harboring cloned ice nucleation genes.

Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 May-Jun, 5(3 Suppl), S164 - 7
The role of specific antibody in neonatal bacterial infections: an overview; Anthony BF; Neonatal infections caused by GBS are commonly associated with a deficiency of IgG antibody to the type-specific polysaccharide of the infecting organism . The prevalence and importance of human antibody to specific surface proteins, which are very common in clinical GBS strains, are unknown . Type-specific antibody is sufficiently prevalent that immunoglobulin preparations for both intramuscular and intravenous use contain animal-protective, opsonic antibody for many GBS strains . The availability of polysaccharide vaccines suggest that even more potent, "hyperimmune" preparations can be prepared from immunized volunteers . The importance of selective antibody deficiency in K1 E . coli infections of newborns is less clear . Protective, opsonic antibody is more difficult to demonstrate in human serum, but activity has been shown in some IGIV preparations . The specificity of the active antibody and the feasibility of producing hyperimmune IGIV against K1 E . coli are unknown at this time.

Genetics, 1986 May, 113(1), 13 - 33
Hyper-recombining recipient strains in bacterial conjugation; Feinstein SI et al.; Using a direct enrichment and screening procedure, mutants of Escherichia coli have been isolated in which recombination frequencies for several intragenic Hfr X F- crosses are significantly higher (twofold to sixfold) than in the parental strains . These hyper-recombination mutations comprised five new mutS- and one new mutL- allele . Together with other known mut- alleles, they were analyzed for effects on intragenic recombination using several types of crosses . Hyper-recombination was found for mutS-, mutL-, mutH (= mutR)- and mutU (= uvrD)-, with the largest effects seen for certain alleles of uvrD; these resulted in over 20-fold excesses in recombinant production for Hfr X F- crosses and F'-chromosome homogenotization . Spontaneous mutator ability was not always correlated with degree of hyper-recombination.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 May, 64(2), 311 - 7
Bacterial peptidoglycan induces in vitro rheumatoid factor production by lymphocytes of healthy subjects; Levy RJ et al.; The present studies were carried out to further characterize the polyclonal B cell activating properties of bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) and to determine if this ubiquitous agent induces in vitro IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) production by lymphocytes from healthy volunteers . Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured in the presence of peptidoglycan, pokeweed mitogen (PWM), a standard polyclonal B cell activator, or additional culture medium . Supernatants were harvested on days 7-8 for determination of total IgM, total IgG, and IgM RF by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . PG and PWM induced comparable amounts of total IgM production but PG was a less potent stimulant of total IgG production . PG induced in vitro IgM-RF production in 9/33 experiments, a frequency of response of less than that observed in corresponding PWM stimulated cultures (22/33 experiments) . PG-induced IgM-RF production depended upon active protein synthesis and did not correlate with the magnitude of PG-induced total IgM production . The latter finding suggests that PG-induced IgM-RF may not merely reflect polyclonal B cell activation . These results add to a growing list of PG's functional properties and provide further impetus for considering this ubiquitous agent as a potential stimulant for in vivo RF production.

J Hosp Infect, 1986 May, 7(3), 261 - 8
Studies on the bacterial permeability of non-woven fabrics and cotton fabrics; Nagai I et al.; The permeability of cotton and non-woven fabrics to bacteria, air and water was studied . Non-woven fabrics, even when wet, showed low resistance to air, and high resistance to permeation of water and bacteria . Water-repellent cotton fabrics were resistant to permeation of water, air and bacteria, but these properties decreased on washing . Non-water-repellent cotton fabrics were poor bacterial barriers even when new.

J Hosp Infect, 1986 May, 7(3), 250 - 60
The use of the Reuter centrifugal air sampler for the estimation of bacterial air counts in different hospital locations; Casewell MW et al.; The convenience and portability of the Reuter centrifugal air sampler (RCS) encouraged us to determine a range of 'expected values' for bacterial air counts in nine hospitals at 13 defined locations . Results were recorded as the number of cfu per strip per 4 min . Bacterial air counts were comparable from hospital to hospital; in operating theatres the overall median RCS counts for air-inlets and in empty operating rooms were 13 and 9.8 cfu per strip per 4 min respectively . For surgical wards the median value was 141 and 180 cfu per strip per 4 min with, and without, air conditioning . Increased counts were readily demonstrated during surgical operations, and during bedmaking in wards . Conversion of RCS counts to cfu m-3 of air usually yielded values higher than those established by other methods . Our findings, however, demonstrate that this instrument may replace some of the applications of the slit sampler and facilitate examination of epidemiological problems.

Isr J Med Sci, 1986 May, 22(5), 393 - 6
Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy with severe bacterial infections and persistent IgA deficiency; Benderly A et al.; A 1-year-old boy who had had recurrent episodes of sepsis was found to have transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy and was treated with gammaglobulin supplements . He subsequently remained IgA deficient and a regulatory T cell imbalance was found.

J Virol, 1986 May, 58(2), 263 - 70
Use of bacterial expression cloning to define the amino acid sequences of antigenic determinants on the G2 glycoprotein of Rift Valley fever virus; Keegan K et al.; Four distinct antigenic determinants along the G2 glycoprotein encoded by the M segment RNA of the Phlebovirus Rift Valley fever virus were localized . These epitopes were defined by four monoclonal antibodies, three of which were capable of neutralizing virus infectivity; one was nonneutralizing . Immunoprecipitation by these monoclonal antibodies of either denatured or native antigen characterized the epitopes as having linear or higher order structure . Molecular cloning of G2 glycoprotein-coding sequences into a bacterial expression plasmid utilizing a beta-galactosidase fusion protein system was employed for epitope localization . A nuclease BAL 31 plasmid expression library, in which processive regions of the 3' end of the G2 glycoprotein coding sequences were deleted, allowed for approximation of the carboxy-terminal limit of the antigenic determinants . Further subcloning of limited G2 polypeptide sequences into the bacterial expression vector permitted more refined localization of the epitopes . The characteristics of the immunoreactivity of these small peptide regions (between 11 and 34 amino acids) produced in bacteria as G2-beta-galactosidase fusion proteins were similar to those of the authentic Rift Valley fever virus G2 glycoprotein . These defined antigenic determinants and their importance in virus infectivity are discussed.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Apr 29, 136(2), 463 - 9
Bacterial adenylate cyclase increases cyclic AMP and hormone release in pituitary tumor cells; Weiss J et al.; Calmodulin-activated, adenylate cyclase toxin, a virulence factor produced by the human respiratory pathogen Bordetella pertussis, elicits marked accumulation of cyclic AMP in cell lines from rat pituitary tumors . This effect is associated with and apparently responsible for an enhanced release of prolactin and/or growth hormone from GH3, GH4C1 and 235-1 cells . The utility of this novel toxin in probing cyclic AMP-mediated responses is supported by these observations and studies with pertussis and cholera toxins.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Apr 25, 261(12), 5241 - 4
A bacterial and silkworm aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase have a common epitope which maps to the catalytic domain of each; Regan L et al.; We report here the identification of a common immunological determinant in Escherichia coli and Bombyx mori (silkworm) alanine tRNA synthetases . The E . coli protein is a tetramer of identical Mr = 95,000 chains, and the silkworm enzyme is a monomer of Mr = 115,000 . Antibodies against the silkworm enzyme react with E . coli Ala-tRNA synthetase . Analysis of 10 fragments of the E . coli enzyme has mapped the cross-reacting epitope to between amino acids 350 and 385 . This is within the part of the enzyme which is essential for alanyladenylate synthesis . The anti-B . mori Ala-tRNA synthetase antibodies which cross-react with the E . coli enzyme were affinity-purified . They react specifically with the catalytic domain of the silkworm enzyme and not with the remaining dispensable segment of 500 amino acids . The results support the concept that the core catalytic structural elements, and not the dispensable portions, are the most related among the synthetases.

Arkh Anat Gistol Embriol, 1986 Apr, 90(4), 63 - 5
{Effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide pyrogenal on the development of the Syrian hamster embryo}; Bandazhevskii IuI et al.; Pyrogenal is injected to female hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) at various time of pregnancy twice, with a 24 hour's interval: at first 100 or 50, and then--50 or 25 minimal pyrogenic doses . The embryos are examined on the 15th day of the intrauterine development by means of main teratologic methods . Pyrogenal injected on the 9th--10th day of the embryonal development produces hydrocephaly, micrognathia, retardation in development, hemorrhagic syndrome . Pyrogenal injected during some other time of pregnancy produces hemolysis of erythrocytes . This is proved by presence of hemosiderin in the foetal liver.

Biosci Rep, 1986 Apr, 6(4), 363 - 73
The alpha 2 cDNA sequence of human haptoglobin carries a bacterial promoter functional in vivo; van der Straten A et al.; Various constructions of human haptoglobin (Hp) cDNA coding either for the complete alpha 2FS beta precursor protein or only for the beta subunit have been placed under the control of the lambda PR promoter in the bacterial expression vector pCQV2 (Queen, 1983) . In addition to the expected 45,000 dalton polypeptide synthesized after induction of the PR promoter, the complete alpha 2FS beta constructions constitutively express a smaller polypeptide of approximately 30,000 dalton corresponding to a truncated Hp protein . Computer analysis of the HpcDNA revealed the presence of two strong potential bacterial promoters (alpha 2 PF and alpha 2 PS) located in the duplicated alpha 2FS sequence . Both Hp promoter signals are followed by potential mRNA start sites and ribosome binding sites at a compatible distance from initiation codons . In addition, the Hp alpha 2 cDNA sequence, when fused upstream to the cDNA coding for alpha 1-antitrypsin, constitutively promotes in vivo the efficient expression of an hybrid protein specifically recognized by antibodies raised against alpha 1-antitrypsin or haptoglobin.

DNA, 1986 Apr, 5(2), 137 - 48
Novel modified beta-interferons: gene cloning, expression, and biological activity in bacterial extracts; Porter AG et al.; A series of novel, modified interferons based on the structure of human beta-interferon have been expressed in Escherichia coli . Modified interferon genes were constructed from sequences derived from the natural beta-interferon gene, a synthetic beta-interferon gene, or a specific combination of the two . A total of 23 out of the 25 novel interferons exhibited antiviral (AV) and antiproliferative (AP) activity which varied from 3 to 230% and 8 to 490% of the values for beta-interferon, respectively . None of the novel interferons had only AV or AP activity, although one had a much reduced ratio of AV/AP activity compared with beta-interferon . Substitution of beta-interferon amino acids 2-7 or 28-46 resulted in interferons with significantly increased AP activity on Daudi lymphoblastoid cells (four- to fivefold) . All the novel interferons except two with modifications in the 82-105 region reacted with a neutralizing beta-interferon monoclonal antibody.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Apr, 83(8), 2704 - 8
The role of lipoproteins and receptor-mediated endocytosis in the transport of bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Van Lenten BJ et al.; The addition of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 to human monocyte-macrophages cultured in serum results in suppression of scavenger receptor activity . The present studies were performed to examine if the effect on scavenger receptor activity was mediated by LPS alone or by LPS in association with lipoproteins . Radioiodinated LPS (125I-LPS) was added to human plasma in vitro and to normal and hyperlipidemic rabbit plasma in vitro and in vivo to determine the distribution of 125I-LPS among the lipoprotein classes . It was found that all lipoprotein classes bound LPS in direct proportion to their plasma cholesterol concentration . LPS alone was compared to LPS bound to low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein, or reductively-methylated LDL for their abilities to suppress scavenger receptor activity in monocyte-macrophages in lipoprotein-free serum . Only LPS bound to LDL (LPS-LDL) demonstrated an effect similar to that observed when LPS was added to cells in serum . Either unlabeled LDL or unlabeled LPS-LDL complexes competed with the uptake of 125I-LPS-LDL complexes, which appeared to proceed by receptor-mediated endocytosis . In contrast to the uptake of 125I-LDL, the uptake of 125I-LPS-LDL by cultured monocyte-macrophages was not followed by its hydrolysis and the release of its radioactive degradation products into the medium . The association of LPS with lipoproteins was very stable and appeared to be mediated by a lipid-lipid interaction . We hypothesize that LPS bound to lipoproteins may be transported into the artery wall and may initiate the atherosclerotic reaction.

Clin Nucl Med, 1986 Apr, 11(4), 276 - 8
Detection of postcardiotomy bacterial pericarditis with gallium-67 citrate; Zuckier LS et al.; A 46-year-old man who had undergone apical cardiac aneurysmectomy with a ventriculotomy graft and implanted automatic cardioverter-defibrillator electrodes, presented with fever, left-sided pleuritic chest pain, and a draining sinus . A Ga-67 scan was performed to aid in determining whether the infection was limited to the chest wall or if it had penetrated deeper to the cardiac structures . Uptake of gallium within the cardiac region, in association with minimal rib uptake of Tc-99m MDP, strongly supported the existence of infection within the pericardium . CT scan demonstrated a pericardial collection which under CT-guided aspiration proved to be purulent . Definitive surgical drainage was performed, and the patient was discharged 4 weeks postoperatively . Ga-67 imaging can provide an accurate and relatively rapid means of localizing infection in the postcardiotomy patient . A thorough bibliography of pericardial gallium uptake is provided.

Comput Appl Biosci, 1986 Apr, 2(1), 23 - 7
A discrete model of bacterial metabolism; Watson MR; This paper describes a computer model of the intermediary metabolism of bacteria during steady-state growth and during adaptations, e.g . to new carbon sources . Metabolic regulation is represented as a process of optimisation, in which the trend is towards improved metabolic performance . The model uses linear programming techniques for the optimisation . The implementation falls into four phases: (i) assembly of model parameters; (ii) calculations; (iii) storage of solutions and (iv) projection of solutions . The use of a commercial database and a commercial spreadsheet has proved to be of great assistance in the first and third phases . A metabolic map format, with the optional addition of conversion values, names of enzymes or co-factors has been used to project the results in a form convenient for inspection.

Am J Physiol, 1986 Apr, 250(4 Pt 1), E470 - 4
Pituitary-dependent and -independent secretion of CS caused by bacterial endotoxin in rats; Suzuki S et al.; Injection of bacterial endotoxin {lipopolysaccharide (LPS)} or immobilization stress increased serum levels of ACTH with a concomitant increase in the levels or corticosterone (CS) of rats . LPS also caused a significant increase in the serum CS levels of hypophysectomized rats . In contrast, immobilization stress-induced CS release was abolished completely in these rats . Injection of histamine, a possible mediator of LPS-induced CS secretion, provoked a significant increase in the serum CS levels of hypophysectomized rats . Neither histamine nor LPS had any appreciable effect on production or release of CS by cultured adrenal cells . These results suggest that LPS-induced CS secretion is largely dependent on hypophysial ACTH release but it also depends, in part, on an extrapituitary mechanism and that the LPS-induced pituitary-independent secretion of CS is mediated by histamine produced in the peripheral tissues . On the other hand, stress-provoked CS secretion is absolutely dependent on the pituitary-adrenocortical system.

Mol Gen Genet, 1986 Apr, 203(1), 143 - 9
Effect of the bacterial growth rate on replication control of plasmid pBR322 in Escherichia coli; Lin-Chao S et al.; The concentration of plasmid pBR322, of its replication inhibitor, RNAI, and preprimer, RNAII, were observed in E . coli as functions of the bacterial growth rate . At growth rates between 0.6 and 2.5 doubling/h, the copy number (number of plasmids per genome equivalent of chromosomal DNA) decreased from 32 to 15, the number of plasmids per cell increased from 39 to 55, and the plasmid concentration decreased from 4.6 to 1.1 X 10(10) plasmids per OD460 unit of cell mass . The concentrations of RNAI and RNAII also decreased with increasing growth rate, but differently, such that their ratio, RNAI/RNAII, increased . In glycerol minimal medium both RNAI and RNAII had the same halflife, 0.55 min, and were synthesized at a ratio of about 3 RNAI transcripts per every RNAII transcript . These results were interpreted on the basis of the negative control model and suggest that the activities of the RNAI and RNAII promoters, and the efficiency with which RNAI inhibits plasmid replication, are controlled by the growth rate.

Biochemistry, 1986 Mar 25, 25(6), 1292 - 9
Substrate and inhibitor studies of thermolysin-like neutral metalloendopeptidase from kidney membrane fractions . Comparison with bacterial thermolysin; Pozsgay M et al.; The inhibitory constants of a series of synthetic N-carboxymethyl peptide inhibitors and the kinetic parameters (Km, kcat, and kcat/Km) of a series of model synthetic substrates were determined for the membrane-bound kidney metalloendopeptidase isolated from rabbit kidney and compared with those of bacterial thermolysin . The two enzymes show striking similarities with respect to structural requirements for substrate binding to the hydrophobic pocket at the S1' subsite of the active site . Both enzymes showed the highest reaction rates with substrates having leucine residues in this position while phenylalanine residues gave the lowest Km . The two enzymes were also inhibited by the same N-carboxymethyl peptide inhibitors . Although the mammalian enzyme was more susceptible to inhibition than its bacterial counterpart, structural variations in the inhibitor molecules affected the inhibitory constants for both enzymes in a similar manner . The two enzymes differed significantly, however, with respect to the effect of structural changes in the P1 and P2' positions of the substrate on the kinetic parameters of the reaction . The mammalian enzyme showed the highest reaction rates and specificity constants with substrates having the sequence -Phe-Gly-Phe- or -Phe-Ala-Phe- in positions P2, P1, and P1', respectively, while the sequence -Ala-Phe-Phe- was the most favored by the bacterial enzyme . The sequence -Gly-Gly-Phe- as found in enkephalins was not favored by either of the enzymes . Of the substrates having an aminobenzoate group in the P2' position, the mammalian enzyme favored those with the carboxyl group in the meta position while the bacterial enzyme favored those with the carboxyl group in the para position.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Eur J Biochem, 1986 Mar 3, 155(2), 377 - 82
Formation and metabolism of leukotriene C4 in macrophages exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Luderitz T et al.; Lipopolysaccharide (10 micrograms/ml) was found to stimulate resident mouse peritoneal macrophages to produce leukotriene C4 (36 +/- 1.3 ng/10(6) cells, SEM, n = 20) within 16 h . Spontaneous synthesis in control cultures without lipopolysaccharide was less than 1.6 ng/10(6) cells . Leukotriene C4 was characterized by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet spectrometry and radioimmunoassay . When the macrophages, prelabeled with {3H}arachidonic acid, were treated with lipopolysaccharide radioactivity was incorporated into leukotriene C4 . The amount produced varied with the method of macrophage preparation and incubation conditions and was dependent on the amount of lipopolysaccharide added (0.5-60 micrograms/ml), on cell counts and on the incubation time (4-16 h) . The released leukotriene C4 was converted to a compound identified as a C6-cysteinylleukotriene, indicating metabolism of the leukotriene by the macrophages . Parallel determinations of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha by radioimmunoassay demonstrated that leukotriene C4 and prostaglandin E2 are formed by mouse peritoneal macrophages to a similar degree.

Atherosclerosis, 1986 Mar, 59(3), 307 - 12
Effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on serum lipids and on the development of aortic atherosclerosis in rabbits; Kerttula Y et al.; The effect of repeated intravenous administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on serum lipids and on aortic atherosclerosis was studied in rabbits on basal diet and on hypercholesterolemic diets containing 0.15-1.0% cholesterol . LPS (10 or 100 ng/kg body weight) was administered 3 times per week for 3 or 6 weeks . No difference was observed in serum lipid levels or in aortic atherosclerosis between LPS- and saline-treated animals . These observations do not support the hypothesis that LPS has an effect on the progression of atherosclerosis.

Chest, 1986 Mar, 89(3), 461 - 3
Transient hilar lymphadenopathy due to bacterial endocarditis; Mirvis SE et al.; Transient hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy accompanying right-sided bacterial endocarditis without concurrent roentgenographically-demonstrable pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported . The roentgenographic finding of hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy should not be considered incompatible with the diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis in the appropriate clinical setting . Possible mechanisms for the development of lymphadenopathy secondary to bacterial endocarditis are discussed.

Infection, 1986 Mar-Apr, 14(2), 55 - 9
Mortality in the years following bacterial meningitis; Kjersem H et al.; During the years 1966-1976, 875 patients were treated for bacterial meningitis at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen . By about January 1, 1980, all 782 surviving patients had been traced . 87 had died in the observation period of four to 15 years . Mortality in the years following meningitis was studied by means of a comparison with the expected mortality in a matched normal population, using a computer program for the determination of late excess mortality . Late excess mortality was significantly increased during the first two years following discharge after meningitis and was of the same magnitude in the major etiological groups . The cumulative five-year late excess mortality rate was higher in the group of patients between 30 and 60 years, in those transferred from other hospitals, in those in coma or somnolence on admission and in those developing convulsions during hospitalization . In the group of patients aged 30 to 60 years, 11 patients died during the first two years after discharge . In nine of these cases, the main cause or the concomitant causes of death were conditions predisposing to infections or bacterial meningitis . The frequency of the causes of death in the 87 patients who died was not significantly different from that among the general Danish population.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1986 Mar, 39(3), 853 - 86
{A double blind comparative study on the efficacy of S6472, cefaclor and amoxicillin, in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia}; Shibaki H et al.; The S6472 is a 4:6 mixture of 2 types of granules of cefaclor (CCL) coated with different films; one type of granules is soluble at low pH's and absorbed in the stomach while the other type is soluble at high pH's and absorbed in the intestine . The difference in absorption sites makes it possible to maintain blood concentrations of the drug at clinically efficient levels for a longer period of time compared with ordinary CCL . The efficacy, safety and usefulness of S6472 in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia was compared with those of ordinary CCL and of amoxicillin (AMPC) by the blind method . The patients entered in this trial were those who had bacterial pneumonia or lung abscess and were 16 years or above of age . The S6472 was given orally for 14 days at a daily dose of 1,500 mg (750 mg each after breakfast and supper), CCL was given at a daily dose of 1,500 mg (500 mg each after every meal), and AMPC at 2,000 mg (500 mg each after every meal and at the bedtime) . To make the study blind, placeboes were matched with the test drug so that patients in every treatment group took 4 doses per day . Out of a total of 195 patients thus treated, 179 patients (55 in S6472 group, 62 in CCL group and 62 in AMPC group) were adopted for the evaluation by committee members while 185 patients (58 in S6472 group, 63 in CCL group and 64 in AMPC group) by controllers . When clinical results of the 3 treatment groups were compared, no statistically significant differences were observed in efficacy rates (cure rates), incidences of side effects nor abnormal findings of laboratory tests . From these results of this trial, it is concluded that oral administration of 750 mg of S6472 twice a day (1,500 mg per day) is as effective and useful as that of 500 mg of ordinary CCL 3 times a day (1,500 mg per day) or 500 mg of AMPC 4 times a day (2,000 mg per day) in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia or lung abscess.

Mol Gen Genet, 1986 Mar, 202(3), 461 - 6
Inhibition of bacterial segregation by early functions of phage mu and association of replication protein B with the inner cell membrane; Boeckh C et al.; Infection of Mu-sensitive bacteria with a recombinant lambda phage that carries the EcoRI.C fragment from the immunity end of wild type Mu DNA causes filamentous growth . Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cell-division cycle was inhibited at, or prior to, the initiation of septation . The filamentation does not occur after infection of Mu-immune bacteria or after infection with a phage carrying the same EcoRI.C fragment, but with an IS1 insertion in gene B of Mu, showing that either gpB and/or some non-essential functions (e.g . kil) mapping downstream from the insertion are required for the inhibition of cell division . These data and previously published evidence suggest that in the "killing" of E . coli K12 by early Mu functions expressed from the cloned EcoRI.C fragment, two components have to be distinguished: one, a highly efficient elimination of plasmid DNA carrying the early Mu genes, and second, a series of interactions with host functions conducent to an inhibition of cell division . It is suggested that functions normally involved in the SOS reaction participate in the inhibition of cell division by early Mu functions . Infected bacteria synthesize the replication protein B (MR 33000) of Mu, which was found by cell fractionation experiments to be associated with the inner cell membrane . The role of this association for filamentous growth and for the integrative replication of the phage is discussed . The recombinant phage might be useful as a tool for the study of the E . coli cell division cycle.

Hepatology, 1986 Mar-Apr, 6(2), 244 - 7
Is the acidity of ascitic fluid a reliable index in making the presumptive diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
Pinzello G, Virdone R, Lojacono F, Ciambra M, Dardanoni G, Fiorentino G, Riccobono L, Pagliaro L.
Ascitic fluid pH and arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient were compared to ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear cell count in 84 patients with cirrhotic ascites and in 12 with malignant ascites to assess their role as diagnostic tests for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and to clarify the relationship between ascitic fluid pH and lactate . Ascitic fluid pH was significantly lower (pH 7.30) in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n = 18) and probable spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n = 12) than in sterile ascites (pH 7.41; n = 54) . Since blood pH levels were not different in the presence of infection, arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient was significantly higher in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and probable spontaneous bacterial peritonitis than in sterile ascites (0.12 vs . 0.02) . The close correlations between arterial-ascitic pH gradient and lactate (r = 0.77, p less than 0.0001), lactate and bicarbonate gradient (r = 0.64, p = 0.003) and arterial-ascitic pH gradient and pCO2 gradient (r = -0.90, p less than 0.0001) suggest that the low ascitic fluid pH may be due to an increase in lactate and CO2 . Patients with Escherichia coli-induced spontaneous bacterial peritonitis had significantly lower ascitic fluid pH and higher lactate than those with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis by other organisms . Values of ascitic fluid pH, lactate and arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient in malignant ascites were similar to those of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and probable spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . Cutoff points, selected by receiver operating characteristic curves analysis, of 450 per mm3 for polymorphonuclear cells and of 0.07 for arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient, allow high positive and negative predictive values for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Farmakol Toksikol, 1986 Mar-Apr, 49(2), 13 - 5
{Effect of histamine and H1-receptor blockaders on bacterial endotoxin-induced thrombocyte aggregation}; Shenkman BZ; Histamine and dimedrol exerted in vitro inhibitory effects on endotoxin-induced platelet aggregation . When administered at high concentrations pyrilamine potentiated aggregating influence of endotoxin . The experimental results indicate difference in effects of dimedrol and pyrilamine falling into the same group of H1-blockers in relation to induced platelet aggregation.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1986 Feb 14, 869(3), 275 - 85
Mechanism of inhibition of dihydrofolate reductases from bacterial and vertebrate sources by various classes of folate analogues; Stone SR et al.; Different classes of folate analogues have been examined with respect to the mechanism of their inhibition of dihydrofolate reductases from Escherichia coli and chicken liver . In addition, the degree of synergism between the binding of these compounds and NADPH has been investigated . Methotrexate acts as a slow, tight-binding inhibitor of both enzymes whereas trimethoprim is a slow, tight-binding inhibitor of the enzyme from E . coli and a classical inhibitor of the chicken-liver enzyme . Pyrimethamine, 2,4-diamino-6,7-dimethylpteridine, a phenyltriazine, folate and folinate exhibit classical inhibition . The degree of synergism between the binding of NADPH and the inhibitor varied from low for pyrimethamine and folate to very large for the phenyltriazine which binds to the chicken-liver enzyme almost 50 000-times more tightly in the presence of NADPH . The degree of synergism is reflected in the type of inhibition that the folate analogues yield with respect to NADPH . Compounds which exhibit slight synergism give noncompetitive inhibition whereas those with a high degree of synergism yield uncompetitive inhibition . With the exception of folinate, all compounds that act as classical inhibitors give rise to competitive inhibition with respect to dihydrofolate . Folinate exhibits competitive inhibition against NADPH and noncompetitive inhibition against dihydrofolate . These results are consistent with the formation of an enzyme-dihydrofolate-folinate complex . The (6S, alphaS)-diastereoisomer of folinate was bound at least 1000-times more tightly than the (6R, alphaS)-diastereoisomer . Consideration has been given to the possible interactions that occur between residues on the enzyme and groups on the inhibitor that give rise to slow-binding inhibition.

Anal Biochem, 1986 Feb 1, 152(2), 376 - 85
A small-scale five-hour procedure for isolating multiple samples of CsCl-purified DNA: application to isolations from mammalian, insect, higher plant, algal, yeast, and bacterial sources; Weeks DP et al.; A rapid and simple procedure is described for obtaining CsCl-purified DNA from multiple small samples of cells or tissue . The DNA is recovered in a high-molecular-weight form (greater than or equal to 50 kb) that is readily cleaved with restriction enzymes . Sufficient quantities of DNA (10-50 micrograms) are recovered to allow multiple analyses by Southern blotting and most cloning procedures . The isolation procedure involves addition of intact cells or powders of frozen tissues directly to a simple lysis buffer containing detergent (sodium dodecyl sulfate or sodium sarcosinate) and high concentrations of EDTA . Ultra-high-speed centrifugation of CsCl gradients allows the isolation of DNA from 10 different samples in as little as 5 h . Applications are described for mammalian cells (HeLa cells), insect tissues (Drosophila melanogaster adults and pupa, Manduca sexta pupa, and Musca domestica pupa), higher plant tissues (Vicia faba leaves and meristems), algal cells (walled and wall-less Chlamydomonas reinhardi), yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and bacterial cells (Escherichia coli spheroplasts for preparation of both chromosomal and plasmid DNA) . The procedure can be scaled up with larger sample sizes and longer centrifugation times to provide bulk quantities of DNA.

Anaesthesia, 1986 Feb, 41(2), 148 - 50
Bacterial contamination of compressed air for medical use; Bjerring P et al.; The present study demonstrates a previously unnoticed source of bacterial contamination of locally manufactured compressed air for medical use . Air samples were drawn into a specially constructed device, and bacterial contents were identified from growth on agar plates . Various factors contributing to bacterial contamination of compressed air during production are mentioned and preventive measures are discussed.

Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 414 - 8
Relationship of critical micelle concentrations of bacterial lipoteichoic acids to biological activities; Courtney HS et al.; The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was investigated with two dyes, rhodamine 6G and Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 . Both dyes gave similar values for the CMC of LTA . The CMC of LTA from several species of bacteria ranged from 28 to 60 micrograms/ml in phosphate-buffered saline . The CMC values for the LTAs are in the range expected for an amphiphile containing a single, 16-carbon fatty acid residue . Formation of micelles was not detected with deacylated LTA . Salt decreased the CMC of LTA from 380 micrograms/ml in distilled water to 37 micrograms/ml in 0.5 M NaCl . At concentrations greater than the CMC, LTA induced the lysis of sheep erythrocytes and was cytotoxic for Girardi heart cells . The data suggest that LTA in the micellar state may cause disruption of the erythrocyte membrane and may be cytotoxic for cells in culture.

Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1986 Feb, 8(2), 117 - 25
Enhancement of serum antibody production in mice by oral administration of lipophilic derivatives of muramyl peptides and bacterial lipopolysaccharides with bovine serum albumin; Ogawa T et al.; Lipophilic derivatives of muramyl peptides, namely N alpha-(N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl)-N epsilon-stearoyl-L-lysine {MDP-Lys (L18)} and 6-O-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl) -MDP (B30-MDP) were demonstrated to significantly enhance anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) antibody production when they were incorporated in liposomes with BSA and administered by gastric intubation to BALB/c mice on days 0 and 1 (the primary immunization) and on days 27 and 28 (booster) . N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) itself showed negligible activity under the same experimental conditions . A stearoyl derivative of sodium beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-(1-4)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl (D)-meso-diaminopimelic acid-(D)-amide-D-alanine (GM-53) that was isolated by enzymatic degradation of L . plantarum cell wall peptidoglycans also showed a powerful adjuvant effect by oral administration in liposomes with BSA . Similar or stronger adjuvant effects were observed by oral administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations, KO3 LPS isolated from K . pneumoniae (a noncapsulated mutant, LEN-1), Bacto lipopolysaccharide W derived from . E . coli (O127:B8) and BIOSTIM F1 fraction derived from K . pneumoniae (O1:K2) Liposomes as a vehicle for oral administration were not always required for the manifestation of the adjuvant effects of MDP-Lys (L18) and BIOSTIM F1 . These compounds, but not B30-MDP, showed a powerful adjuvant effect when orally administered with BSA in phosphate buffered saline.

J Clin Gastroenterol, 1986 Feb, 8(1), 79 - 81
Mural thrombi of the right atrium and acute bacterial endocarditis complicating a LeVeen shunt; Simonsen R et al.; A cirrhotic woman with a LeVeen shunt developed right atrial thrombi, acute bacterial endocarditis, and a major pulmonary embolus . The right atrial mural thrombi and resultant pulmonary emboli arose as a result of the placement of the venous end of the LeVeen shunt within the right atrium . This untoward event must be added to the growing list of complications associated with the placement of such catheters.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 Feb, 63(2), 359 - 66
Circulating immune complexes associated with decreased complement-mediated inhibition of immune precipitation in sera from patients with bacterial endocarditis; Kerr MA et al.; The sera of patients with bacterial endocarditis frequently contain high levels of circulating immune complexes . In in vitro assays these sera have been shown to be deficient in the complement mediated inhibition of immune precipitation (immune complex solubilization) although C3 and C4 levels were often normal . The deficiency is due to the presence of a factor which also inhibits the ability of normal serum to solubilize immune complexes . This inhibitor is possibly rheumatoid factor which is frequently detected in endocarditis . Serial studies on 16 patients showed the levels of immune complexes, the ability to prevent immune precipitation and rheumatoid factor to correlate with disease activity . The similarity of the findings to those in rheumatoid arthritis are discussed.

Neurol Clin, 1986 Feb, 4(1), 91 - 114
Bacterial infections of the central nervous system in neurosurgery; Tenney JH; CNS infections following clean neurosurgery are uncommon but occur with increased frequency following neurotrauma and placement of CSF shunts and ventriculostomies . When faced with the possibility of meningitis or brain abscess in these settings, the clinician must aggressively seek definitive diagnostic information by means of CT scanning and cell counts, Gram stain, and culture of the CSF . Appropriate empiric therapy should then be administered promptly to achieve cidal activity in the CSF against the most likely infecting pathogens . Prophylaxis for clean neurosurgery and for placement of CSF shunts has been advocated by several investigators . However, regimens are many, and data are few and conflicting . When given, prophylaxis should be administered only during the intraoperative period . There is, at best, a weak scientific basis for what remains a widespread practice.

Toxicol Lett, 1986 Feb, 30(2), 181 - 7
Comparative induction of hepatic zinc-thionein and increase in tissue calcium by bacterial endotoxin in endotoxin-sensitive (C3H/HeN) and endotoxin-resistant (C3H/HeJ) mice; Maitani T et al.; Induction of zinc-thionein (Zn-Th) by endotoxin was studied in mice using an endotoxin-sensitive C3H/HeN strain and an endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ strain to find a relation between the sensitivity of these strains to endotoxin and the inducibility of hepatic Zn-Th by the endotoxin . Both strains of female mice were injected with endotoxin at two doses and the increase in hepatic Zn-Th levels was examined after 24 h . At the lower dose (0.25 mg/kg body weight), C3H/HeJ mice induced Zn-Th at a markedly lower level than C3H/HeN mice . However, both strains exhibited a comparable amount of Zn-Th when a higher dose (10 mg/kg body weight) of endotoxin was used . A parallel increase in hepatic calcium concentration was observed with the induction of hepatic Zn-Th in both strains . The injection of a spleen supernatant fraction from C3H/HeJ mice into C3H/HeN mice did not reduce the Zn-Th induction by endotoxin in C3H/HeN mice.

Eur J Immunol, 1986 Feb, 16(2), 205 - 8
Defective membrane expression of the LFA-1 complex may be secondary to the absence of the beta chain in a child with recurrent bacterial infection; Lisowska-Grospierre B et al.; Membrane and intracellular processing of the LFA-1 macromolecular complex, known to be involved in cytolytic function of T lymphocytes, was investigated in a child with recurrent bacterial infections, impaired natural killer activity, T cell-mediated lymphocytolysis and absent adhesion and migration of phagocytic cells . Monoclonal antibodies to the LFA-1 alpha and beta subunits, able to precipitate the LFA-1 alpha, 180-kDa chain, the p151 chain and beta 94-kDa chain (shared by both alpha chains), were used in immunoprecipitation studies of patient and control phytohemagglutinin-blasts . Neither of the alpha chains nor the beta chain were found in precipitates obtained from 125I-surface-labeled patient cells in contrast to controls . However, the precursor of the LFA-1 alpha chain, a 170-kDa polypeptide, was identified in lysates of biosynthetically labeled patients' cells . These results suggest that the defective membrane expression of the LFA-1 complex may be secondary to the absence of the mature beta chain.

Jpn J Cancer Res, 1986 Feb, 77(2), 212 - 8
Augmentation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide of antitumor potency of murine recombinant interferon-gamma against Lewis lung adenocarcinoma; Nagao S et al.; Stimulation by recombinant murine interferon-gamma (rMuIFN-gamma) of host defenses against the growth of Lewis lung adenocarcinoma, cell line 3LL, in the lung was examined . 3LL cells were resistant to in vitro antiproliferative activities of rMuIFN-gamma . On the other hand, rMuIFN-gamma augmented the killer activities of the non-adherent population of spleen cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vivo, and the IFN also stimulated the cytostatic activities of peritoneal and splenic macrophages, but not alveolar macrophages . The combination of rMuIFN-gamma with LPS synergistically activated macrophages from the lung, as well as the peritoneal cavity and the spleen, to become both cytostatic and cytolytic against 3LL cells . The macrophages activated in vitro by simultaneous incubation with these agents markedly suppressed the growth of 3LL cells in vivo . The growth in the lung of 3LL cells implanted iv was significantly (P less than 0.05) suppressed by combination therapy with rMuIFN-gamma and LPS, but not by either agent alone . These results indicate that the potency of rMuIFN-gamma action against 3LL cells can be augmented by combination with LPS, mainly through synergistic macrophage activation.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Feb, 83(4), 1001 - 5
Stimulation of hematopoiesis in vivo by recombinant bacterial murine interleukin 3; Kindler V et al.; Mouse interleukin 3 (IL-3) cDNA was cloned into a plasmid construction, allowing the synthesis of very high quantities of IL-3 in Escherichia coli . The recombinant (r) IL-3, purified to homogeneity, was active in vitro on the proliferation and differentiation of various hematopoietic progenitor cells at 1 pM . To maintain detectable blood levels of IL-3, osmotic pumps containing rIL-3 or control solutions were placed under the skin of normal and irradiated C3H/HeJ and (BALB X B10) F1 mice . The effect of IL-3 on hematopoietic progenitor cell numbers in spleen and bone marrow was evaluated 3 and 7 days later by using an in vitro clonal assay . The results demonstrated the following: (i) Doses of IL-3 infused at the rate of 2.5-5 ng per g of body weight per hr were sufficient to increase the numbers of hematopoietic progenitors in normal mice by at least 2-fold within 3 days . (ii) In mice with progenitor cell levels depressed by sublethal irradiation, 7-day treatment with IL-3 resulted in a 10-fold increase to near normal levels . (iii) The erythroid and myeloid lineages appeared to be enhanced to the same extent . (iv) Enhancement of hematopoiesis occurred primarily in spleen, but hematopoietic foci were also evident in the liver; in contrast, total cell and progenitor cell numbers were decreased in the bone marrow.

Immunology, 1986 Feb, 57(2), 319 - 24
Isoelectric focusing spectra of anti-bacterial alpha-amylase antibody unique for antigen-induced suppression; Nakashima S; The effect of intravenous (i.v.) administration of bacterial alpha-amylase (B alpha A) on the IgG antibody response to a subsequent challenge with B alpha A in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) varied with the difference in responsiveness of the parental strains . High-responder C3H/He (C3) mice given injections of either 200 or 4 micrograms of B alpha A, which alone were unable to trigger a detectable IgG antibody response, generated an enhanced response to an immunogenic challenge given 25 days after the last i.v . injection . The response of low-responder C57BL/6 (B6) mice previously exposed to B alpha A, following a different kinetic course depending on the exposing dose, reached a plateau lower than the levels of control responses (tentatively designated as high- and low-zone suppression) . Prior exposure of (B6 X C3)F1 hybrids to 200 micrograms led to the enhanced response, whereas pretreatment with 4 micrograms rendered them partially tolerant to a subsequent challenge . These results suggest that the capacity to achieve low-zone suppression is inherited as a dominant trait . Isoelectric focusing (IEF) analysis revealed that these enhanced responses expanded antibody heterogeneity in a strictly restricted, strain-specific manner as observed during the normal antibody response, although the rate of expansion was accelerated . The specific antibodies produced by individual high-zone suppressed B6 mice were focused as a limited set of bands in a narrow pH range where the specific antibodies produced early in the normal response were focused . In contrast, the response of low-zone suppressed B6 and F1 hybrid mice was characterized by a unique process of heterogeneity expansion.

Pharmazie, 1986 Feb, 41(2), 131 - 2
Inhibition of bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerases and restriction endonuclease by UV-absorbing components from propolis; Simuth J et al.; Several UV-absorbing substances inhibiting the DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of Escherichia coli and Streptomyces aureofaciens, as well as the restriction endonuclease Eco RI have been isolated from the water-soluble extract of Propolis by two-dimensional paper chromatography . The inhibition of bacterial RNA-polymerases by the components of Propolis was probably due to the loss of their ability to bind to DNA . The general characteristic of the UV-absorbing component of Propolis with the most pronounced inhibitory effect upon transcription in vitro is described.

Biophys J, 1986 Feb, 49(2), 479 - 83
Chromophore/protein interaction in bacterial sensory rhodopsin and bacteriorhodopsin; Spudich JL et al.; Retinal analogues with altered conjugated double bond systems or altered stereochemistry were incorporated into the phototaxis receptor sensory rhodopsin (SR) and the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin (BR) from Halobacterium halobium . Wavelength shifts in absorption ("opsin shifts") due to analogue interaction with the protein microenvironment demonstrate that the same overall electrostatic and steric properties of the retinal binding-site structures exist in both proteins despite their different functions . pi-Electron calculations from the opsin shifts lead to a new description of protein charge distribution that applies to the binding sites of both SR and BR . The new data extends the previously proposed external point charge model for BR to include an ion-pair protein/chromophore interaction near the beta-ionone moiety . The new data modifies the previously proposed external point-charge model, the derivation of which involved an experimentally erroneous opsin shift for one of the BR analogues.

S Afr Med J, 1986 Jan 4, 69(1), 39 - 42
Cerebrospinal fluid lactate and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis; Donald PR et al.; The value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) activity in the rapid diagnosis of meningitis was investigated in three groups of patients--a 'no meningitis', an aseptic meningitis and a bacterial meningitis group . The sensitivity achieved in the detection of bacterial meningitis by CSF lactate values of 2.85 mmol/l (93.8%) and 3.9 mmol/l (89.6%) was greater than that reached by conventional chemical investigations using a CSF protein value of 1 g/l (81.5%) or a CSF glucose value of 2.2 mmol/l (68.8%) as the indicator . The sensitivity of an absolute CSF LD value of 40 U/l (86.3%) in the detection of bacterial meningitis was slightly lower than that of a CSF protein value of 1 g/l (87%) and better than the sensitivity of either a CSF/serum LD ratio of 0.1:1.0 (83.9%) or a CSF glucose level of 2.2 mmol/l (76.3%) . As with conventional CSF chemistry, both investigations may give normal values in the presence of bacterial meningitis.

Eur Neurol, 1986, 25(2), 110 - 6
Cerebrospinal fluid alterations in bacterial meningitis; Maida E et al.; 239 matched cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples of 50 patients with bacterial meningitis were investigated during the course of the disease . Special attention was drawn to thecal immunoglobulin (Ig) production, which was determined by Link's index and by Reiber's formula with a modification for IgM and IgA being more sensitive for these two Igs than Link's index . A correlation was found between the duration of local IgM production and the outcome of the disease.

Br J Haematol, 1986 Jan, 62(1), 7 - 12
Megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: possible role of vitamin B12 analogues; Murphy MF et al.; Megaloblastic anaemia due to bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine is due to vitamin B12 malabsorption . This report describes a patient with bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine who had megaloblastic anaemia and malabsorption of vitamin B12, but persistently normal levels of serum vitamin B12 and normal serum and red cell folate levels . However, there was evidence of vitamin B12 deficiency as shown by an abnormal deoxyuridine suppression test and by the response to treatment with physiological doses of vitamin B12 . A relative increase in biologically inactive vitamin B12 analogues may be the explanation for the normal vitamin B12 level in this patient.

Digestion, 1986, 35(4), 199 - 204
Detectable colonic nitrite levels in inflammatory bowel disease--mucosal or bacterial malfunction?
Roediger WE, Lawson MJ, Nance SH, Radcliffe BC.
In the healthy colon, sodium nitrite stimulates mucosal metabolism of short-chain fatty acids and absorption of ions, both functions that are impaired in the mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) . To assess the role of nitrite in colonic inflammatory disease, sodium nitrite was measured in rectal dialysate of 49 subjects (18 controls, 23 UC and 8 other colitis) . None of the control or quiescent UC patients had measurable levels of nitrite while 78% of patients with acute UC and 38% of patients with other colitis had measurable nitrite levels (acute UC vs . other colitis chi 2 = 5.555, p less than 0.02) . Functional activity of the colonic mucosa, judged by bicarbonate output, was impaired in all subjects with measurable nitrite levels in UC . Detection of nitrite in acute colitis suggests impaired oxidation of nitrite to nitrate in the colonic mucosa or impaired luminal reduction of nitrite to NH4 by bacteria.

Langenbecks Arch Chir, 1986, 369, 693 - 7
{Bacterial peritonitis}; Eigler FW; In bacterial peritonitis the cause, the time of occurrence--independent of surgery or postoperative-and the duration are relevant factors for therapeutic results . The multiplicity of possible combinations makes judgement difficult about different therapeutic concepts . Accepted general principles are: Antibiotics against aerobics and anaerobics . Pre- and postoperative intensive care (fluid replacement!) . Treatment of source by the most secure method . Management of peritonitis by intraoperative cleansing and postoperative lavage, scheduled reoperations or open package.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1986, 30(4), 377 - 85
Bacterial lysate (I.R.S . 19) applied intranasally in the prevention of acute respiratory diseases in children: a randomized double-blind study; Sramek J et al.; A controlled trial was undertaken to test I.R.S . 19 (a commercial intranasal spray) versus placebo in the prevention of acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in 825 maternity-school children in three cities; another control group of 327 children received neither I.R.S . 19 nor placebo . The spraying was done twice a day for a total of 20 spraying days in each child; sprayings were interrupted on weekends and during absence, the mean spraying period being 34 calendar days . During the 6-month study (1 November to 30 April) the children were monitored for ARD morbidity causing absence from school . A total of 1,585 such ARD cases occurred; their etiology was not investigated . The indices evaluated were: total duration of ARD-associated absence, ARD incidence, and mean duration of one illness . With the administration schedule used, I.R.S . 19 did not, in an overall evaluation, surpass placebo in any of these indices in either normal children or a subgroup of children with presumed enhanced ARD susceptibility.

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 1986, 9(2-3), 137 - 41
Immunomodifiers of bacterial origin; Le Garrec Y; A number of compounds have been isolated from bacteria able to induce immunomodulation . Among them, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the active structure Lipid A are presented here as a model . In addition, other natural compounds among the best defined are briefly described . The knowledge of these chemical structures has now opened the field for synthetic compounds, allowing the preparation of related derivatives and the study of structure-activity relationship . Lipid A analogs are currently under investigation . Muramyldipeptide which was described as the smallest compound capable of substituting for mycobacteria in Freund complete adjuvant has been synthesized . A number of muramylpeptides are endowed with adjuvant, anti-infectious, anti-tumoral properties without inducing side-effects . So, compounds of bacterial origin constitute a promising source for potentiation of the immune system.

Ann Clin Res, 1986, 18(4), 191 - 4
Three different pathogenic mechanisms for paraparesis in association with bacterial infections; Syrjanen J et al.; Three different pathogenic mechanisms are apparent for paraparesis in association with a bacterial infection: a spinal cord compression caused by either an epidural abscess or a vertebral collapse due to spondylitis, an ischaemic spinal cord lesion as a result of septic thromboembolus in abdominal aorta, and a nonspecific, probably immunological, cause in association with reactive polyarthritis . An example of each of these mechanisms is described by means of case histories.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1986, 18(5), 465 - 7
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production by eight common bacterial pathogens; Minuk GY; Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a potent amino acid neurotransmitter that suppresses normal neuronal activity in the central nervous system . Recently it has been suggested that GABA may play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy . In the present study GABA production by 8 common bacterial pathogens was measured during mid-log, stationary and mid-death phases of growth . All bacteria produced some GABA (range: 160-50 250 pmole/ml) with the majority of GABA production occurring during the mid-death phase of growth . These results suggest that the depressed levels of consciousness seen in patients with overwhelming sepsis or advanced liver disease and extraintestinal infection may in part be secondary to increased bacterial GABA production.

Ter Arkh, 1986, 58(7), 137 - 9
{Rheumatic masking of bacterial endocarditis}; Balaban SIa et al.; In 36 patients with bacterial endocarditis (BE) rheumatic symptoms were detected in 61.1% . Arthralgias and arthritides having some distinctive features typical of this disease, myalgia, rheumatoid factor and LE cells (less frequently) were observed in the overwhelming majority of the patients . The authors described 3 cases where rheumatic symptoms obscured a clinical picture of BE for a long time resulting in late diagnosis and inadequate therapy.

Eur J Immunol, 1986 Jan, 16(1), 63 - 8
Induction of rheumatoid factors in mice by immune complexes of bacterial lipopolysaccharide with mouse IgG antibody; Kanoh M et al.; Administration of 2,4,6-trinitrophenylated E . coli lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS) complexed with mouse IgG antibody to TNP specifically gave rise to a marked production of rheumatoid-like factors (RF) in the recipient mice, in contrast to the low and nonspecific RF production via polyclonal B cell activation by the same dosage of LPS or TNP-LPS alone . The RF activity induced by the LPS immune complexes was associated with both IgG and IgM and directed primarily to the C gamma 2 region as judged by the heterophilic reactivity toward fragments of rabbit IgG . The results suggest that antibody molecules attached to LPS constitute novel epitopic groups on the mitogenic carrier and stimulate B cells in a specific manner to induce the autoantibodies.

Tierarztl Prax, 1986, 14(2), 283 - 9
{Bacterial kidney disease in salmonids}; Hoffmann R et al.; Bacterial kidney disease (BKD) is the most important bacterial infection in salmonid fish . Clinics, pathomorphology, distribution and possibility of therapy of BKD are discussed regarding results of literature as well as own experiences.

Pediatr Radiol, 1986, 16(4), 278 - 84
Viral vs . bacterial pulmonary infections in children (is roentgenographic differentiation possible?); Swischuk LE et al.; This study was conducted to determine whether one could identify viral and bacterial pulmonary infections with confidence . It has been our impression for some time that one could differentiate viral from bacterial pulmonary infections on the basis of roentgenographic findings alone and to test this hypothesis, we conducted this study where the roentgenographic findings first were categorized as being due to viral or bacterial infection and then compared with clinical results . The overall accuracy was just over 90% and our method of analysis is presented.

Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1986 Jan, 8(1), 19 - 26
Enhancement of serum antibody production in mice by oral administration of lipophilic derivatives of muramylpeptides and bacterial lipopolysaccharides with bovine serum albumin; Ogawa T et al.; Lipophilic derivatives of muramylpeptides, namely N alpha-(N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl)-N epsilon-stearoyl-L-lysine {MDP-Lys (L18)} and 6-O-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-MDP (B30-MDP), were demonstrated to significantly enhance anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) antibody production when they were incorporated in liposomes with BSA and administered by gastric intubation to BALB/c mice on days 0 and 1 (the primary immunization) and on days 27 and 28 (booster) . N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) itself showed negligible activity under the same experimental conditions . A stearoyl derivative of sodium beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-(1-4)-N-acetylmuramyl- L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-(L)-stearoyl(D)-meso-diaminopimelic acid-(D)-amide-D-alanine (GM-53) that was isolated by enzymatic degradation of L . plantarum cell wall peptidoglycans showed a powerful adjuvant effect by oral administration in liposomes with BSA . Similar or stronger adjuvant effects were observed by oral administration of LPS preparations, KO3 LPS isolated from K . pneumoniae (a noncapsulated mutant, LEN-1), Bacto lipopolysaccharide W derived from E . coli (O127:B8) and BIOSTIM F1 fraction derived from K . pneumoniae (O1:K2) . Liposomes as a vehicle for oral administration were not always required for the manifestation of the adjuvant effects of MDP-Lys (L18) and BIOSTIM F1 . These compounds, but not B30-MDP, showed a powerful adjuvant effect when orally administered with BSA in phosphate buffered saline.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1986 Jan-Jun, 79(1-6), 144 - 53
{Presence of bacterial endotoxins in drinking and bottled water, with monitoring of eventual contaminations}; Caramello S et al.; 83 samples of drinking water of different source were examined with LAL-test, valuing some characteristics of the water (bacterial count, Coliform, pH, dissolved CO2) which might influence the test . Quantity higher than 0.5 ng/ml of endotoxin were detected in 40 of 44 mineral water samples and 37 of 39 tap water samples . The results are discussed.

Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1986 Jan 1, 41(1), 16 - 20
{Acute bacterial meningitis in adults--a therapeutic problem}; Bernasowski A et al.; Even with reference to the available modern chemotherapeutics the acute bacterial meningitis represents a therapeutic problem . References to indication and dosage of several chemotherapeutics are given on the basis of recent knowledge of liquor metabolism as well as clinical and experimental findings . The used doses in medical practice are mostly situated below the necessary doses and could be the cause for a non-sufficient reaction among other things.

Clin Exp Neurol, 1986, 22, 123 - 32
Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis and stroke; Macdonell RA et al.; Two cases of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis are described associated with stroke . This is followed by discussion of the pathophysiology of the disorder.

J Math Biol, 1986, 24(3), 313 - 25
Coexistence of incompatible plasmids in a bacterial population living under a feast and famine regime; Van der Hoeven N; A model is formulated to examine the possibility of (co)existence of plasmids of the same incompatibility and surface exclusion group in a bacterial population living under a feast-and-famine regime . The condition is given under which a growth rate decreasing plasmid can invade a bacterial population . It appears that in case only one plasmid type is present, the frequency of plasmid bearers will tend to a stable equilibrium if the food supply at each growth site gets exhausted and if both plasmid-free and plasmid-bearing bacteria need an equal quantity of food per cell division . If these two conditions are not satisfied, the frequency of plasmid-bearers might oscillate . Two plasmids will sometimes be able to coexist, but only if they follow different survival strategies; one with a high conjugational transfer rate and a lower fitness of its host, and the other with a low transfer rate and a higher host fitness . Coexistence of three plasmids of the same surface exclusion group is impossible.

J Immunopharmacol, 1986, 8(3), 315 - 25
Effect of a bacterial extract on cellular and humoral immune responses in humans; Rosenthal M; A lyophilized extract from E . coli (OM-89) was studied for its immunomodulating properties and tolerance in humans . Its oral administration to healthy volunteers produced a selective increase in the active T-cell population without changes in other lymphocyte populations . A significant increase in the proliferative response to concanavalin A and phytohemagglutin was recorded, but not to pokeweed mitogen . No significant changes were observed in the serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM . The clinical and biological tolerance of OM-89 was excellent, without any adverse side-effects or production of circulating immune complexes or of autoantibodies, while the in vitro investigation showed that it is not a mitogen . Thus in healthy subjects OM-89 seems to act mainly on the cell-mediated immune responses.

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 1986, 111(3), 196 - 202
The effect of mixed-function oxidase and amine oxidase inhibitors on the activation of dialkylnitrosamines and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine to bacterial mutagens in mice; Kerklaan PR et al.; The effect of the mixed-function oxidase inhibitor phenylimidazole (PI) and the amine oxidase inhibitors iproniazid (IPRO) and aminoacetonitrile (AAN) on the mutagenic activity of various carcinogens was determined in intrasanguineous host-mediated assays, using mice as hosts and E . coli 343/113 as an indicator of mutagenic activity . The carcinogenic compounds dimethyl-, diethyl-, methylethyl-, and diethanolnitrosamine (DMNA, DENA, MENA, and DELNA respectively) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (SDMH) were administered i.p . to mice pretreated or not with one of the inhibitors . After 4 h exposure to each of the carcinogens, E . coli cells recovered from the liver of non-pretreated mice showed considerable induction of VALr mutations; after pretreatment of the hosts with the three inhibitors, significant reduction of the amounts of induced mutants in vivo was observed . Particularly, PI proved a very efficient inhibitor of DENA, MENA, DELNA, and SDMH mutagenicity (93%-97% reduction), suggesting that these carcinogens are mainly activated by cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes . However, since PI might also inhibit the NAD-mediated activation of DELNA by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the present experiments do not rule out an additional role of ADH in the in vivo mutagenic activation of DELNA . AAN and IPRO were less and much less effective, respectively, in reducing the mutagenic activity of all compounds . Surprisingly, PI showed less inhibition of the mutagenic activity of DMNA (60% reduction), as compared to the other carcinogens; this indicates that metabolic routes other than the cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme system may be important for the activation of DMNA.

Avian Dis, 1986 Jan-Mar, 30(1), 28 - 36
Development of vaccines for bacterial diseases using recombinant DNA technology; Isaacson RE; A vaccine was prepared using recombinant DNA techniques to prevent fatal enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea in swine . The product, which is a subunit vaccine, was prepared by mechanical and chemical removal of pilus adhesins from the surface of genetically engineered strains of E . coli . The vaccine contains the pilus adhesins K88, K99, and 987P plus an adjuvant . The genes responsible for production of K88 and K99 were separately cloned into the multicopy vector pBR322 . K88 was found to be encoded on a 7.6-kilobase HindIII-EcoRI fragment, and K99 was found to be encoded on a 7.15-kilobase BamHI fragment . Strains containing the recombinant plasmid for K99 produced up to ten times more K99 than strains containing the wild-type plasmid . Vaccination of pregnant pigs with the vaccine led to production of pilus-adhesin-specific antibodies that were transferred to the piglets in colostrum and milk . Pilus-adhesin-specific antibodies neutralized the adhesiveness of the pili on enterotoxigenic E . coli, thus preventing attachment, colonization, and disease . Mortality of pigs in litters from vaccinated pigs due to experimentally induced enterotoxigenic E . coli diarrhea was reduced 10-to-20-fold (depending upon the challenge strain), and the incidence, severity, and duration of diarrhea were also reduced.

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec, 1986, 48(4), 226 - 32
Efficacy of endonasal neomycin-tixocortol pivalate irrigation in the treatment of chronic allergic and bacterial sinusitis; Cuenant G et al.; 60 patients, aged 15-51 years, with chronic allergic or bacterial maxillary sinusitis, were entered in a controlled, double-blind study comparing the efficacy of endonasal irrigations of tixocortol pivalate (Pivalone)-neomycin and neomycin . The treatment lasted 11 days and was administered once daily . A ventilometric measurement of sinus pressure was performed every two endonasal irrigations to assess treatment efficacy . The percentage of nasal deobstruction was significantly higher with tixocortol pivalate-neomycin than with neomycin alone by the fifth examination (9th day) regardless of the etiology of the sinusitis (allergic or bacterial) . After 11 days of treatment, significantly better results were obtained in cases of bacterial sinusitis (94% deobstruction with tixocortol pivalate-neomycin versus 74% with neomycin) than in cases of allergic sinusitis (69% deobstruction with tixocortol pivalate-neomycin versus 36% with neomycin).

Dermatol Clin, 1986 Jan, 4(1), 3 - 21
Bacterial and candidal cutaneous infections in the neonate; Hebert AA et al.; The skin and oral cavity of the neonate are colonized by a variety of organisms during the first few days of life . Some of these organisms constitute normal flora, but others are true pathogens or are capable of pathogenicity when host or environmental factors are altered in their favor . Cutaneous bacterial and yeast infections that afflict the newborn are discussed in terms of clinical presentation, laboratory evaluation, and appropriate management.

Gene, 1986, 41(2-3), 135 - 44
Expression of the Plasmodium knowlesi circumsporozoite antigen in Escherichia coli directed by Plasmodium bacterial-like promoter sequences; Ruiz i Altaba A et al.; The Plasmodium knowlesi circumsporozoite (CS) gene is expressed in Escherichia coli directly from a parasite genomic DNA fragment, using promoter and ribosome-binding site (RBS) sequences present in this fragment . Transcription of the CS gene in E . coli is directed by tandem Plasmodium bacterial-like promoter elements located within the 0.5-kb EcoRI-HindIII fragment roughly 2.5 kb 5' from the CS gene within the 11-kb EcoRI parasite genomic DNA fragment . No readthrough from vector promoters or fortuitous promotion from plasmodial A + T-rich sequences was observed . The endogenous Plasmodium promoter of the CS gene does not seem to be recognized by E . coli RNA polymerases . Two tandem E . coli-recognized promoters are relatively strong judging by their ability to drive the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) gene . Translation of the message must be achieved by utilising an AAGAA sequence 4 bp 5' from the ATG initiation codon as RBS.

Free Radic Res Commun, 1986, 2(1-2), 1 - 5
Free radical participation in bacterial bioluminescence; Matheson IB et al.; The metastable intermediate II produced on reaction of bacterial luciferase with reduced flavin mononucleotide and O2, reacts with any of several stable free radicals to produce bioluminescence . The bioluminescence spectrum is very similar to that from the well-studied intermediate II and aldehyde reaction, and the number of photons per luciferase molecule reacted is at least 40% of the aldehyde reaction.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1986 Jan, 27(1), 115 - 8
Anaerobic bacterial endophthalmitis in the rabbit; Ormerod D et al.; Anaerobic bacterial endophthalmitis was studied in rabbits following intravitreal injection of live Fusobacterium necrophorum . Clinical response, bacterial recovery, and histopathology were studied . An inoculum of approximately 50 organisms produced endophthalmitis in 59% of injected eyes, while 1000 or more organisms produced endophthalmitis in 100% of injected eyes . The course and severity of disease seemed to be independent of the concentration of bacteria above a minimal inoculum size . Affected eyes showed progressive endophthalmitis . Histopathologic changes corresponded to the clinical gradation of endophthalmitis, including progressive retinal necrosis.

Gene, 1986, 50(1-3), 161 - 71
Human adenovirus cloning vectors based on infectious bacterial plasmids; Ghosh-Choudhury G et al.; By making use of the fact that human adenovirus DNA circularizes in infected cells, and that circular forms of the viral genome are infectious, we have developed an improved adenovirus-based cloning system . A deletion mutant of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) with deletions in early regions 1 (E1) and 3 (E3) was converted to a bacterial plasmid which can regenerate infectious virus following transfection into human 293 cells . A single XbaI recognition site in the deleted E3 region serves as a site for the insertion of foreign DNA . We have used this system to clone a number of genes into the Ad5 genome and describe the insertion of the neomycin/G418 resistance marker into Ad5 as an example.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1986, 45(9), 1105 - 9
Dinucleotide frequencies in different reading frame positions of coding bacterial DNA sequences; Santibanez-Koref M et al.; Results of the analysis of the dinucleotide frequencies in different frame positions of coding bacterial sequences are presented . They are compared with those obtained in mammalian sequences . It is concluded that the dinucleotide frequencies in both types of sequences are caused by different influence factors.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1986, 18(6), 539 - 45
Dyslipoproteinemia in patients with severe bacterial infections; Akerlund B et al.; Infection induces changes in the serum lipoprotein pattern in man . In this report the concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides in the major serum lipoprotein classes were followed in 9 patients with severe bacterial infections . Blood samples for lipoprotein analysis were obtained in the fasting state the first 4 days after admission to the hospital and after 2-3 weeks and 2 months . The serum lipoprotein concentrations of the patients were compared with those from a group of healthy subjects . The total serum cholesterol concentration was lowered during the acute stage of the disease and remained low the first days in hospital . The very low (VLDL) density lipoprotein cholesterol level in serum was mainly within the normal range . The low (LDL) density lipoprotein cholesterol values in serum were low during the first 4 days in hospital . The high (HDL) density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration values were extremely decreased on the first day in hospital and had a tendency to further reduction from day 1 to day 4 . Both the LDL and the HDL serum cholesterol were normalized after recovery.

Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K, 1986, 105 ( Pt 1), 69 - 77
Therapy for ocular bacterial infection; Baum J; This paper presents in large part the author's views on the treatment of a variety of bacterial infections of the eye . Emphasis is placed on the management of bacterial corneal ulcers and endophthalmitis.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1986, 33(4), 301 - 4
The effect of bacterial endotoxin of phagocytosis of Tetrahymena and serotonin induced imprinting; Kovacs G et al.; Endotoxin inhibited the phagocytosis of Tetrahymena pyriformis after a short exposure and, to a lesser degree, after repeated treatments during one week (about 35 generations) . Endotoxin also prevented the development of serotonin imprinting . Detoxified endotoxin (Tolerin) affected the phagocytosis of Tetrahymena much less, indicating that the lipid-A part of the molecule may account for the membrane-toxic effect.

Ciba Found Symp, 1986, 118, 196 - 210
Bacterial lipopolysaccharides modify signal transduction in the arachidonic acid cascade in macrophages; Aderem AA et al.; Macrophages are a potent source of arachidonic acid (20:4) metabolites . When macrophages interact with an appropriate stimulus, phospholipase activity is induced, resulting in the liberation of 20:4 from the membrane phospholipid and its quantitative oxygenation via either the lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase pathways . We have attempted to dissect the molecular events coupling the initial membrane-perturbing signal to the phospholipase activity . Using a variety of stimuli and uncoupling agents we have found that receptor-mediated 20:4 release is triggered by a series of sequential signals, including ligand-receptor binding, receptor clustering, Na+-dependent events, the synthesis of a rapidly turning over protein and finally an influx of Ca2+ into the cell . Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are poor triggers of the 20:4 cascade . However, pretreatment of cells with LPS leads to the establishment of a 'primed' or 'intermediate' state which can act synergistically with subsequent signals . Hence, the amount of 20:4 metabolites secreted in response to a variety of triggers is increased 3-10-fold in LPS-primed cells, and the lag phase usually observed in 20:4 secretion disappears . The observations presented suggest a two-stage mode of signalling in the receptor-mediated induction of the 20:4 cascade.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 Jan, 63(1), 111 - 7
Cell mediated immunity cross-reactions of mycobacteria: polymorphism of target bacterial antigens; Kulkarni S et al.; Swiss white mice were immunized with different mycobacteria and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses were studied by the foot-pad swelling technique of Gray and Jennings (1955) . Extensive cross-reactions in DTH, outside the limits of Runyon's groups were observed . As a general trend slow growing mycobacteria showed greater cross-reactivity with slow growers than with rapid growers and vice versa . The implied cross-protective significance of DTH cross-reactions was further confirmed by demonstration of the ability of DTH cross-reacting sonicates to generate activated macrophages in M . avium immunized mice . An antiserum was raised against the earlier reported DTH eliciting antigen of M . tuberculosis H37Rv (DTH-H37Rv) . The sero-reactivity of anti-DTH-H37Rv against the sonicates of different mycobacteria was studied with the objective of investigating the molecular basis of DTH cross-reactivity . Immunoprecipitation reactions of different mycobacterial sonicates with anti-DTH-H37Rv showed that the antigen was shared by all the mycobacteria tested irrespective of their cross-reactivity in a DTH response . All of the slow growers showed reactions of total identity with DTH-H37Rv . However with rapid growers DTH-H37Rv showed only a partial identity . From these data it was concluded that an antigen participating in DTH response is shared by all mycobacteria and that it is polymorphous, having genus specific and group specific (as slow and rapid grower groups) determinants.

Anal Biochem, 1986 Jan, 152(1), 78 - 82
Determination of bacterial ammonia pools using Myxococcus virescens as an example; Gerth K et al.; Samples (150 microliters) from liquid cultures of known cell density of Myxococcus virescens (Myxobacterales) were used for the determination of the intracellular NH3/NH+4 concentrations (= total ammonia) . The cells were separated from the culture broth within 30 s by centrifugation through a silicone layer and were lysed immediately with 20 microliters of a disintegration liquid at the bottom of the centrifugation tube . The ammonia concentrations of the lysates were determined with a Dohrmann nitrogen analyzer . The intracellular ammonia concentrations were calculated after corrections for trapped supernatant had been made by adding radioactive glucose, which cannot be taken up by the organism . Control experiments with permeabilized cells and radioactive methylamine corroborated the reliability of the method.

Eksp Onkol, 1986, 8(4), 54 - 6
{Antimetastatic action of bacterial endotoxins and changes in the activity of the enzymes of purine metabolism in macrophages}; Umanskii VIu et al.; The antimetastatic action of bacterial endotoxins (BET), E . coli 0111:B4, B in particular, as well as their influence on the adenosine deaminase and 5'-nucleotidase activity were studied in peritoneal macrophages of mice bearing lung Lewis carcinoma . BET inhibition of lung metastasis growth was found to be due to such changes in macrophage adenosine metabolism, that testifies to the rise of their functional activity . The change in the level of macrophage purine metabolism can be considered as an important evidence of the effectiveness of the drugs capable to inhibit the metastasis growth.

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1986, 44(2), 168 - 75
{Structure and properties of animal and bacterial collagenases}; Keil B; Everywhere is found collagen, collagenases are also found . The author reviews the properties of these collagenases: structure, biosynthesis, activity, inhibition . The therapeutical applications are also discussed . They seem promising since a collagenase I, Achromase can be industrially produced and has been shown interesting both in laboratory studies and in clinical trials.

J Cell Biochem, 1986, 31(2), 97 - 105
The bacterial phosphotransferase system: kinetic characterization of the glucose, mannitol, glucitol, and N-acetylglucosamine systems; Grenier FC et al.; The kinetic mechanisms by which the glucose, glucitol, N-acetylglucosamine, and mannitol enzymes II catalyze sugar phosphorylation have been investigated in vitro . Lineweaver-Burk analyses indicate that the glucose and glucitol enzymes II catalyze sugar phosphorylation by a sequential mechanism when the two substrates are phospho-enzyme III and sugar . The N-acetylglucosamine and mannitol enzymes II, which do not function with an enzyme III, catalyze sugar phosphorylation by a ping-pong mechanism when the two substrates are phospho-HPr and sugar . These results, as well as previously published kinetic characterizations, suggest a common kinetic mechanism for all enzymes II of the system . It is suggested that all enzymes II and enzyme II-III pairs arose from a single (fused) gene product containing two sites of phosphorylation and that phosphoryl transfer from the second phosphorylation site to sugar can only occur when the enzyme II-III pair is present in the associated state.

J Recept Res, 1986, 6(2), 95 - 126
Bacterial toxins and the role of ADP-ribosylation; Wreggett KA; Studies on the pathogenesis of "Whooping Cough" and cholera have resulted in the discovery of important pathways in the regulation of cellular metabolism leading to the realization of a complex family of proteins that appear to play central roles in the regulation of hormonal responses and which utilize guanine nucleotides in their mechanism of action . The fact that these bacterial toxins interfere so precisely with the complex regulation of eukaryotic cellular metabolism and the discovery of analogous enzymes within the cytosol of eukaryotic cells suggests that ADP-ribosylation may be an important pathway through which the cell can establish its responsiveness to its environment . Clearly, future work directed towards the role of ADP-ribosylation and towards the mechanisms of the regulation of these endogenous ADP-ribosyltransferases and lyases may provide great insights into the mechanisms of hormone action.

Gene, 1986, 41(2-3), 289 - 97
Use of bacterial DHFR-II fusion proteins to elicit specific antibodies; Vermersch PS et al.; Plasmids containing the coding region of the type II dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) specified by R388 have been used to alter the amino acid (aa) sequence at the C-terminus of this protein . These plasmids have a unique cloning site in the C-terminal portion of the 78-aa coding region . Insertions of DNA fragments into this site produced plasmids that code for proteins with 6- to 80-aa extensions . The vectors were constructed to terminate translation in all three phases beyond the position of insertion of foreign DNA . Random DNA fragments from the major sperm protein (MSP) gene of Caenorhabditis elegans produced by DNase I cleavage were inserted into these vectors . Cell extracts from colonies containing MSP sequences were examined by gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting . One of the hybrid DHFR-MSP proteins was isolated and antibody was prepared to it . This antibody preparation reacted with MSP in immunoblots of purified MSP and whole cell extracts of the worm . A rapid purification procedure for the DHFR is presented.

Allerg Immunol (Leipz), 1986, 32(3), 175 - 83
{Influence of the immune response by bacterial antigens . II . Effect of Vi-antigen on the IgM response against sheep erythrocytes}; Dorfling P et al.; Vi-antigen enhances the IgM response against sheep erythrocytes in vitro, in contrast to in vivo . This is true for both the specific and unspecific (background) response . In the presence of 10 micrograms Vi-antigen the IgM response reaches already after 3 d the optimum . After separation or elimination of the greatest part of macrophages, Vi-antigen stimulates the humoral immune response not only in vitro but also in vivo . The influence of Vi-antigen is optimal, if the Vi-antigen were added during the first 24 h of the culture . The influence is demonstrable however still after later addition . The effect of Vi-antigen is partially explicable via stimulation of the IL 1 production in the macrophages.

J Cell Biochem, 1986, 32(1), 51 - 8
Inactivation of human plasma serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins) by limited proteolysis of the reactive site loop with snake venom and bacterial metalloproteinases; Kress LF; Human plasma serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins) gradually lost activity when incubated with catalytic amounts of snake venom or bacterial metalloproteinases . Electrophoretic analyses indicated that antithrombin III, C1-inhibitor, and alpha 2-antiplasmin had been converted by limited proteolysis into modified species which retained inhibitory activity . Further proteolytic attack resulted in the formation of inactivated inhibitors; alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-antitrypsin) and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin were also enzymatically inactivated, but active intermediates were not detected . Sequence analyses indicated that the initial, noninactivating cleavage occurred in the amino-terminal region of the inhibitors . Inactivation resulted in all cases from the limited proteolysis of a single bond near, but not at, the reactive site bond in the carboxy-terminal region of the inhibitors . The results indicate that the serpins have two regions which are susceptible to limited proteolysis--one near the amino-terminal end and another in the exposed reactive site loop of the inhibitor.

Ciba Found Symp, 1986, 119, 184 - 99
Synthetic peptides with antigenic specificity for bacterial toxins; Sela M et al.; The attachment of a diphtheria toxin-specific synthetic antigenic determinant and a synthetic adjuvant to a synthetic polymeric carrier led to production of a totally synthetic macromolecule which provoked protective antibodies against diphtheria when administered in aqueous solution . When peptides related to the B subunit of cholera toxin were synthesized and attached to tetanus toxoid, antibodies produced against the conjugate reacted in some but not all cases with intact cholera toxin and (especially with peptide CTP 3, residues 50-64) neutralized toxin reactivity, as tested by permeability in rabbit skin, fluid accumulation in ligated small intestinal loops and adenylate cyclase activation . Polymerization of the peptide without any external carrier, or conjugation with the dipalmityl lysine group, had as good an effect in enhancing the immune response as its attachment to tetanus toxoid . Prior exposure to the carrier suppressed the immune response to the epitope attached to it, whereas prior exposure to the synthetic peptide had a good priming effect when the intact toxin was given; when two different peptides were attached to the same carrier, both were expressed . Antisera against peptide CTP 3 were highly cross-reactive with the heat-labile toxin of Escherichia coli and neutralized it to the same extent as cholera toxin, which is not surprising in view of the great homology between the two proteins . A synthetic oligonucleotide coding for CTP 3 has been used to express the peptide in a form suitable for immunization . It led to a priming effect against the intact cholera toxin.

Chem Biol Interact, 1986 Jan, 57(1), 73 - 83
Irreversible binding with biological macromolecules and effects in bacterial mutagenicity tests of the radical cation of promethazine and photoactivated promethazine . Comparison with chlorpromazine; De Mol NJ et al.; The irreversible binding of the radical cation of promethazine (PMZ+.) to DNA and protein in vitro and bacterial macromolecules in situ has been studied . Binding experiments were performed with synthesized {35S} promethazine . The results are compared to those with the chlorpromazine radical cation (CPZ+.) . Secondary reaction products which result from fission of the alkylamino side chain are involved in the macromolecular binding of PMZ+ . Compared to CPZ+ . the covalent DNA binding of PMZ+ . is significantly less . A larger amount of PMZ+ . binds to single-stranded DNA than to double-stranded DNA . The extent of binding to proteins and RNA is of the same order as that of CPZ+ . Bacterial mutagenicity tests show that the low genotoxicity of PMZ+ . is related to the low DNA binding . The bacterial cytotoxicity is possibly related to the covalent protein binding . Similar results have been obtained with photoactivated promethazine (PMZ) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) . The role of radical cations in the photosensitization and metabolic activation of phenothiazine drugs is discussed.

Lancet, 1985 Dec 14, 2(8468), 1331 - 3
Effect of bacterial products on prostaglandin E production by amnion cells; Lamont RF et al.; An in-vitro model was set up to study a possible causal relation between bacterial colonisation of extraplacental membranes and spontaneous preterm labour . When amnion cells in tissue culture were exposed to bacterial products, their prostaglandin E output rose considerably . The degree of response varied with the organism . These findings support the theory that bacterial products may be responsible for the premature onset of labour.

J Biol Chem, 1985 Dec 5, 260(28), 15068 - 74
Synthesis and biochemical characterization of a photoactivatable, iodinatable, cleavable bacterial lipopolysaccharide derivative; Wollenweber HW et al.; A method for the synthesis of a photoactivatable, iodinatable, and thiol-cleavable derivative of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is described using sulfosuccinimidyl 2-(p-azidosalicylamido)-1,3'-dithiopropionate . The method described is applicable to LPS from both smooth and rough bacteria . Evidence is presented that the coupling reaction occurs primarily to phosphoethanolamine residues localized to the inner core region of the LPS . Radioiodination of the derivatized LPS results in a product with a specific activity of 1.8-2.5 microCi/micrograms . Experiments comparing the activity of native and derivatized S-form LPS suggest that the synthesis has not introduced major alterations in the biological properties of the LPS . The feasibility of this derivatized LPS as a molecular probe to investigate LPS binding targets in biological systems is suggested by experiments showing ultraviolet light-dependent cross-linking, thiol-dependent cleavage, and subsequent transfer of radioiodine to both monoclonal anti-LPS antibody and bovine serum albumin . The latter interaction has been demonstrated to be highly selective in protein mixtures containing serum albumin in solution with LPS.

J Laryngol Otol, 1985 Dec, 99(12), 1233 - 44
Relevance of the conventional Waters' view in evaluating chronic bacterial maxillary sinusitis; Elwany S et al.; Considerable controversy exists as to whether X-ray examination of the sinuses is a reliable diagnostic guide or not, in cases of chronic bacterial maxillary sinusitis, as many factors apart from infection in the sinuses may produce radiographic signs on the X-ray film . With those facts in mind, it was decided to investigate the diagnostic reliability of Waters' view in these cases . The present work showed that radiographic signs of chronic maxillary sinusitis have different diagnostic and predictive reliabilities ranging from the almost complete inaccuracy of reduced translucency or 'veiling' of the sinus to the perfect validity of 'fluid levels' or polyps within the sinus . In general, while Waters' view undoubtedly yields valuable information regarding maxillary sinus pathology, nevertheless the presence of various sources of error while exposing and reading the film should make one appreciate that radiographic diagnosis is not absolute and should only be considered in the light of the clinical findings and possibly other investigations.

Scand J Gastroenterol, 1985 Dec, 20(10), 1267 - 75
Diagnosis of bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine . Comparison of the 14C-D-xylose breath test and jejunal cultures in 60 patients; Rumessen JJ et al.; Sixty consecutive patients suspected of having bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine (BOG) had aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures made of fasting upper jejunal fluid and also a 14C-D-xylose breath test (XBT) . Culture-proven BOG was present in 23 patients . In another 15 patients the presence of BOG was ruled out (diagnoses: irritable bowel syndrome, 8; chronic diarrhoea, 6; and lactose malabsorption, 1) . These patients were used as controls . The other 22 of the 60 patients could not be placed in either group owing to the presence of factors known to predispose for BOG; none of them had abnormal jejunal cultures, but several had strong clinical suspicion of BOG . An abnormal XBT, defined as values exceeding upper 90% confidence limits (upper range) of the 15 patient control values within a 4-h period, was observed with the following frequencies in the 23 patients with BOG: after 60 min, 35%; after 120 min, 44%; after 180 min, 61%; and after 240 min, 65% . An abnormal XBT was observed in 41% of the 22 patients with normal jejunal cultures but with predisposition for, and clinical suspicion of, BOG . It is concluded that, compared with a relevant control material, the XBT tends to be rather insensitive and that a negative outcome of jejunal cultures is inadequate to exclude the presence of BOG.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1985 Dec, 82(24), 8364 - 8
Compensatory mutations in receptor function: a reevaluation of the role of methylation in bacterial chemotaxis; Stock J et al.; During bacterial chemotaxis membrane receptor proteins are methylated and demethylated at glutamate residues . The generally accepted view is that these reactions play an essential role in the chemosensing mechanism . Strains may be isolated, however, that exhibit chemotaxis in the complete absence of methylation . These are readily obtained by selecting for chemotactic variants of a mutant that completely lacks the methylating enzyme . Methyltransferase activity is not restored; instead, the sensory-motor apparatus is genetically restructured to compensate for the methylation defect . Genetic and biochemical analyses show that the compensatory mutational locus is the structural gene for the demethylating enzyme . Thus, although mutants lacking either the methylating or demethylating enzymes are nonchemotactic, strains defective in both activities exhibit almost-wild-type chemotactic ability.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Dec, 22(6), 1063 - 5
Supplementary rapid biochemical test panel for the API 20E bacterial identification system; Edinger RC et al.; The API 20E Analytical Profile Index typically suggests three or four conventional biochemical tests to complete the identification of strains either identified to genus only or that have multiple genera consistent with the profile number . We compiled a simple panel of eight rapid (4-h) tests that can substitute for the supplementary biochemical tests recommended by Analytab Products (Plainview, N.Y.) . The rapid test panel (RTP) consisted of adonitol, cellobiose, lactose, raffinose, rhamnose, and xylose utilization, lysine decarboxylase activity, and motility . A total of 114 consecutive clinical isolates that required additional tests to complete the identifications were each tested with the complete RTP, as well as with the recommended conventional biochemicals . All discordant identifications were resolved by using an expanded series of conventional biochemical tests . Overall, 110 (96%) strains were identified to the correct genus, and 109 (95%) strains were identified to the correct species by using the RTP, as compared with 105 (92%) identified to the correct genus and 90 (79%) identified to the correct species with the recommended tests . The identifications based on the two supplementary test systems did not agree for 7 (6.1%) strains . Four discrepancies were resolved in favor of the RTP, and three were resolved in favor of the recommended tests . We were unable to identify five (4.4%) strains with the recommended tests and only one (0.9%) with the RTP . A majority (86%) of the test strains were identified to the species level with the RTP after only 4 h of incubation.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Dec, 16(6), 751 - 5
Penetration of imipenem and cilastatin into cerebrospinal fluid of patients with bacterial meningitis; Modai J et al.; The penetration of imipenem and cilastatin into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was determined in patients with bacterial meningitis . Four 1000 mg doses {corrected} of both imipenem and cilastatin were infused intravenously over 20-30 min at 6 h intervals, first between days 2 and 4, and again, whenever possible, between days 11 to 20, in 12 patients with bacterial meningitis undergoing treatment with other antibiotics . Concentrations of imipenem and cilastatin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained either at 60, 90 or 120 min following the fourth dose were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography . Concentrations of imipenem in CSF ranged from 0.5 to 11 mg/1 and concentrations of cilastatin ranged from 1.1 to 10.5 mg/1, depending on the sampling time and the time elapsed since the onset of the disease.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1985 Dec, 82(23), 7815 - 9
Lens-specific expression and developmental regulation of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene driven by the murine alpha A-crystallin promoter in transgenic mice; Overbeek PA et al.; Two lines of transgenic mice with one to two copies of a DNA fragment containing nucleotides -364 to +45 of the murine alpha A-crystallin gene linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene expressed the CAT gene only in their eye lenses . Both CAT activity and alpha A-crystallin were first detected in eyes at approximately 12.5 days of embryonic development, suggesting that the alpha A-CAT fusion gene and the endogenous alpha A-crystallin gene are co-regulated during lens development in the transgenic mice . These experiments show that the murine alpha A-crystallin gene contains a short, cis-acting, tissue-specific regulatory sequence at its 5' end that can target the expression of the bacterial CAT gene, and probably foreign eukaryotic genes, specifically to the ocular lens.

Infect Immun, 1985 Dec, 50(3), 660 - 6
Lymphoid procoagulant response to bacterial endotoxin in the rat; Lando PA et al.; A number of species respond to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide {LPS}) wherein cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage are rapidly induced either directly or via T-cell collaboration to initiate the extrinsic coagulation protease pathway . This results in fibrin formation and deposition as well as consumption of plasma coagulation proteins . It has been claimed that this cellular response, basic to the Shwartzman reaction, is lacking in rats and may account for the more limited severity of the Shwartzman reaction in this species . We examined the in vitro lymphoid procoagulant response in Fischer 344, Brown Norway, and Lewis rats . When peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) were stimulated in vitro with LPS, a procoagulant activity (PCA) response was observed when assayed by acceleration of clotting of recalcified human or rat platelet-poor plasma . The response was rapid, with a maximum achieved at 4 h . PCA was not physically dissociated from viable PBM by 5 mM EDTA, which is consistent with the presence of an intrinsic plasma membrane initiator molecule rather than calcium-bound gamma-carboxylated glutamic acid-containing proteases . The induction of monocyte PCA was prevented by incubation of cells with cycloheximide or actinomycin D, implicating a new biosynthetic requirement . Cultivation of PBM with warfarin did not diminish the function of the effector PCA, nor did vitamin K augment the function of the endotoxin-induced PCA, indicating that the functional activity was not attributable to gamma-carboxylated glutamic acid-containing proteins . No inhibition of the cellular PCA molecule was produced by serine protease inhibitors . The LPS-induced PCA appeared to involve a tissue factor-like molecule since both factors X and VII were required in mediating PCA . Isolation of monocytes and T lymphocytes from LPS-stimulated PBM demonstrated that PCA was present in the monocyte-rich fraction . When isolated rat T lymphocytes and monocytes were separately exposed to LPS, PCA was not induced . In contrast, when the cells were combined, LPS induced PCA, indicating that the PCA response involved cellular collaboration between cells present in T lymphocyte and monocyte populations.

Vet Microbiol, 1985 Dec, 10(6), 541 - 8
Comparison of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae isolates using bacterial restriction endonuclease DNA analysis and SDS-PAGE; Mew AJ et al.; Sixteen isolates of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae recovered from the nasal tract or lungs of sheep from different flocks in New Zealand were examined by bacterial restriction endonuclease DNA analysis (BRENDA) using EcoR1 and by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) . All isolates gave BRENDA patterns which differed entirely from one another . Following 20 serial passages (corresponding to approximately 67 generations) of an isolate, no change was detected in the BRENDA pattern . When eight isolates were examined by SDS-PAGE most bands were common but, nevertheless, each isolate was unique in the sense that they differed from one another in one or more bands . The marked heterogeneity of patterns observed when strains of M . ovipneumoniae are compared by BRENDA, together with the stability of such patterns over many generations, will enable this approach to be used to study the epidemiology of individual strains of M . ovipneumoniae within a flock.

EMBO J, 1985 Dec 1, 4(12), 3351 - 6
The SecY membrane component of the bacterial protein export machinery: analysis by new electrophoretic methods for integral membrane proteins; Akiyama Y et al.; The product of the secY (prlA) gene (the SecY protein) involved in protein export in Escherichia coli was overproduced and localized in the cytoplasmic (inner) membrane . Because of its strong interaction with a non-ionic detergent (NP40), it partitioned into the detergent layer during electroblotting through a NP40-containing gel (detergent blotting), and it formed a horizontal streak in the O'Farrell two-dimensional gel electrophoretic system . Consequently, we developed an alternative two-dimensional gel procedure, which proved useful for analysis of integral membrane proteins, especially in combination with detergent blotting . SDS-gel electrophoresis was carried out successively through gels of lower (first dimension) and higher (second dimension) sieving effects . Many membrane proteins, unlike soluble proteins, formed spots off and above the diagonal line, and all of these spots partitioned exclusively into the detergent layer . A characteristic pattern of integral membrane proteins of E . coli was thus obtained and the spot of the SecY protein in the cytoplasmic membrane was identified even when it was not overproduced . These results show that the gene secY specifies an integral membrane component of the protein export machinery.

Pediatr Res, 1985 Dec, 19(12), 1278 - 82
Neutrophil myeloperoxidase concentration: changes with development and during bacterial infection; Christensen RD et al.; In experimental animals, the quantity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in a volume of whole blood, and the neutrophil concentration in that same volume, were determined and the results expressed as units of MPO (10(-7))/neutrophil . Two situations are reported in which the concentration of MPO/neutrophil was found to change; during the growth and development of animals and during bacterial infection . Premature and newborn rats had only 25% of the MPO/neutrophil found in adults . One to three wk olds had 50% of the adult enzyme concentration . During fatal bacterial infection, MPO/neutrophil fell rapidly, often to undetectable levels, but during sublethal infections, following a 24-h lag period in adults and a 48-h lag in neonates, the concentration increased to twice normal.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1985 Dec, 82(23), 7955 - 9
Binding of pea cytochrome f to the inner membrane of Escherichia coli requires the bacterial secA gene product; Rothstein SJ et al.; Various sequences from the 5' end of the pea chloroplast gene for cytochrome f have been fused in the correct reading frame with lacZ, and the cellular location of the hybrid polypeptides in Escherichia coli has been examined . Hybrid polypeptides containing N-terminal parts of cytochrome f are located in the cytoplasmic membrane of E . coli . Membrane localization is most efficient when the intact signal sequence of cytochrome f is present at the N-terminal end of the fusion proteins . Fusion within the signal sequence, so that the processing site is absent, reduces the efficiency of membrane binding . Membrane insertion of fusion proteins containing signal sequences is prevented in a temperature-sensitive secA strain at the nonpermissive temperature and the hybrid proteins accumulate in the cytoplasm . This indicates that specific recognition of the chloroplast signal sequence occurs in the bacterial secretory pathway.

J Clin Invest, 1985 Dec, 76(6), 2385 - 92
Deficiency of the adhesive protein complex lymphocyte function antigen 1, complement receptor type 3, glycoprotein p150,95 in a girl with recurrent bacterial infections . Effects on phagocytic cells and lymphocyte functions; Fischer A et al.; A patient presenting delayed umbilical cord detachment, severe recurrent bacterial infections, and inability to form pus exhibited a profound defect in the expression of alpha- and beta-chains of the receptor for the C3bi fragment of C3 (CR3), lymphocyte function antigen 1 (LFA-1) molecule, and the p150,95 molecule found on neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocyte membranes . This was shown by immunofluorescence studies using specific monoclonal antibodies, rosette formation with C3bi-coated erythrocytes, and immunoprecipitation for the LFA-1 complex . These membrane defects were responsible for abnormal phagocytic cell functions including adherence to nylon wool, cell movement, phagocytosis, and opsonized particle-induced oxidative response and for defective natural killer cell activity . In addition, lymphocyte function deficiencies previously unobserved in this disease were found . Cytolytic T lymphocyte activity was profoundly reduced; alpha- and gamma-interferon production were impaired . Finally, there was no antibody production to vaccinal antigens whereas the antibody responses to polysaccharides and to cytomegalovirus were found to be normal . The cytotoxic T cell deficiency could be expected from previous blocking experiments of this function with monoclonal antibodies to LFA-1 and is probably related to an extremely severe deficiency in LFA-1 expression in this patient . Anomalies in interferon and in antibody production suggest additional role(s) of the LFA-1 complex in monocyte/T lymphocyte/B lymphocyte cell interactions that have not yet been envisaged.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1985 Dec, 82(24), 8587 - 91
Insertion of a bacterial gene into the mouse germ line using an infectious retrovirus vector; Huszar D et al.; Using a Moloney leukemia virus vector containing the bacterial neo gene, we demonstrate that retrovirus vectors can be used to introduce genes into the mouse germ line . Infection of preimplantation embryos with the vector MLV-NEO.1 resulted in integration of neo sequences in approximately equal to 10% of the progeny mice . One of these animals, mouse F.2, contained approximately six MLV-NEO.1 proviruses at independent integration sites, each present at less than a single copy per cell . This mosaic mouse transmitted one of these proviruses to her offspring, producing a line of transgenic mice carrying a full-length, unrearranged MLV.NEO.1 provirus at a single chromosomal integration site . Mice homozygous at this MLV-NEO.1 locus have also been produced . No expression of the neo gene has been detected in the transgenic mice, either by screening of primary bone marrow or lung cells for resistance to G418 or by RNA transfer blot analysis of RNA from several tissues . In addition, the neo gene was found to be extensively methylated in the transgenic mice; however, treatment of primary cells with 5-azacytidine did not induce G418 resistance . The inactivity of the MLV-NEO.1 provirus in transgenic mice and potential means of eliciting neo expression under these conditions are discussed.

Am J Med, 1985 Nov 29, 79(5B), 106 - 15
Overview of bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissue and clinical experience with ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium in their treatment; Pankey GA et al.; The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of skin and soft tissue infections are discussed, and the results of clinical experience with ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium in these diseases at one clinic are reported . In a randomized and controlled clinical trial, the safety and effectiveness of ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium and cefazolin were compared in the treatment of soft tissue infections in 20 patients . The 12 patients in the group treated with ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium included 10 men and two women, with a mean age of 61 years; the eight patients in the group treated with cefazolin were five men and three women, with a mean age of 63.8 years . Ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium was administered for four to 26 days (mean 12.5 days), and cefazolin for four to 20 days (mean 12 days) . There were 29 evaluable pathogens in the group receiving ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium and 22 in the group receiving cefazolin . Of the 29 pathogens in the former group, 22 were eradicated; three reinfections or superinfections occurred but were ultimately eradicated, and four pathogens persisted . Eighteen of the 22 pathogens in the cefazolin-treated group were eliminated and the other four persisted . Clinically, six of the 12 patients in the ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium-treated group had cures, four showed improvement, and two failed to show a response . In the cefazolin-treated group, five of the eight patients had cures, one showed improvement, and two failed to show a response.

J Immunol Methods, 1985 Nov 28, 84(1-2), 53 - 63
In situ enzyme immunodetection of surface or intracellular bacterial antigens using nitrocellulose sheets; Guesdon JL et al.; We describe an immunological method which allows the in situ colorimetric detection of translated DNA fragments in bacteria . In the absence of lysis only cell surface proteins are detected . For cytoplasmic proteins, lysis is required . The procedure comprises the following steps: bacteria are lysed, the proteins are transferred onto a disc of nitrocellulose sheet, the remaining protein sites are blocked, the disc is successively soaked in a solution of antibodies specific for the protein to be detected and in a solution of peroxidase-labelled anti-IgG antibody solution . Finally, the immune complexes are made visible by enzyme substrate incubation . We describe the application of this method to the detection of the LamB protein, the LacZ protein, and a LamB-polio VP1 chimera translated from cloned DNA fragment in E . coli.

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