Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995 Feb, 20(2), 76 - 81 Assignment of Actinomyces pyogenes-like (CDC coryneform group E) bacteria to the genus Actinomyces as Actinomyces radingae sp . nov . and Actinomyces turicensis sp . nov; Wust J et al.; In a previous study the authors reported the characterization of some facultatively anaerobic, Gram-positive, non-sporeforming rods which were found in mixed cultures from various infectious processes, including patients with otitis, empyema, perianal abscesses and decubitus ulcers . Phenotypically these organisms closely resembled Actinomyces pyogenes although their precise taxonomic position remained unknown . In the present investigation the authors have determined the 16S rRNA gene sequences of some representative strains of the Actinomyces pyogenes-like bacteria and report the results of a comparative sequence analysis . On the basis of the results of the present and earlier findings two new Actinomyces species, Actinomyces radingae sp . nov . and Actinomyces turicensis sp . nov . are proposed . The type strains are DSM 9169T and DSM 9168T, respectively. Am J Hematol, 1995 Feb, 48(2), 76 - 81 Role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as adjunct therapy for septicemia in children with acute leukemia; Liang DC et al.; The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been shown to accelerate recovery from severe neutropenia and to decrease the incidence of documented infections after intensive chemotherapy in cancer patients . However, the routine prophylactic use of G-CSF is expensive . This study was conducted to determine the role of G-CSF as adjunct therapy for septicemia following neutropenia caused by chemotherapy in children with acute leukemia . Fifty consecutive episodes of septicemia were studied involving 34 episodes of Gram-negative, 7 episodes of Gram-positive, 5 episodes of polymicrobial bacterial septicemia, one episode of fungemia, and 3 episodes of disseminated fungal infection . In the first 25 episodes, G-CSF was not used (group A) . For the next 16 episodes, G-CSF 200 micrograms per square meter per day subcutaneously was given immediately after the septicemia was documented until the absolute neutrophil count was maintained at more than 1,500 per cubic millimeter (group B) . Thereafter, G-CSF at the same dose as that of group B was prophylactically used in all the children who received high-dose cytosine arabinoside-containing regimens . Nine episodes of septicemia occurred (group C) . The incidences of mortality per episode of septicemia in groups A, B, and C were 12.0% (3/25), 12.5% (2/16) and 0% (0/9), respectively . Statistically, there was no difference between the three groups overall and in pair-wise comparisons (all P > 0.5) . The durations of G-CSF administration in group B ranged from 6 to 26 days with a median of 12 days and the durations of G-CSF administration in group C ranged from 10 to 23 days with a median of 19 days . With or without G-CSF, there may be no significant difference in the mortality of septicemia following neutropenia caused by chemotherapy in children with acute leukemia. J Inflamm, 1995-96, 47(1-2), 39 - 51 Macrophage migration inhibitory factor: a counter-regulator of glucocorticoid action and critical mediator of septic shock; Calandra T et al.; Recent studies have led to the discovery of a mediator that acts as an endogenous counter-regulator of glucocorticoid action within the immune system . Isolated as a product of anterior pituitary cells, this protein was found to have the sequence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), one of the first cytokine activities to be described . Macrophages and T cells release MIF in response both to various inflammatory stimuli and upon incubation with low concentrations of glucocorticoids . The glucocorticoid-induced secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentrations . Once secreted, MIF "overrides" the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of steroids on macrophage and T-cell cytokine production . The physiological role of MIF thus appears to be to counter-balance steroid inhibition of the inflammatory response . Anti-MIF antibodies fully protect animals from experimentally induced gram-negative or gram-positive septic shock, an effect that may be the result of the increased anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids after neutralization of endogenous MIF . Anti-MIF therapeutic strategies are presently under development and may prove to be a means to modulate cytokine production in septic shock as well as in other inflammatory disease states. Cancer Treat Res, 1995, 79, 173 - 84 New and unusual infections in neutropenic patients; Zinner SH; Infections in immunocompromised patients with cancer are common and the primary risk factor is neutropenia, usually induced by chemotherapeutic agents . The spectrum of bacterial infection is shifting from gram-negative to gram-positive . The array of fungal infections in cancer patients is expanding to include organisms previously unknown as invasive human pathogens . New species are being defined to explain extant pathologies, and free living algae are now emerging as pathogens in immunocompromised patients . Physicians must remain alert to these emerging pathogens and to the need to evaluate optimal treatments for the usual and unusual infections in neutropenic and other compromised patients with cancer and allied diseases. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc, 1995, 93, 281 - 308; discussion 308-14 Diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy report of a 21-year retrospective study; Palexas GN et al.; PURPOSE: To review the experience of diagnostic pars plana vitrectomies (PPV) . METHODS: The authors reviewed 405 consecutive diagnostic PPV's performed between November 1973 and October 1994 . RESULTS: Diagnostic vitrectomy was performed in 215 (53%) of 405 eyes for suspected endophthalmitis . Of those 215 cases, acute inflammation was confirmed in 62 (28.8%), 60 (27.9%) had microbial organisms present and 36 (16.7%) were culture-positive . Microbial organisms were observed microscopically in 31 (20%) of 156 patients suspected of postoperative endophthalmitis . Of those 31 cases, 23 (74%) were gram-positive, eleven (37%) of 30 eyes had organisms associated with glaucoma filtering procedures and 20 (16%) of 126 eyes had organisms with non-filtering procedures . The pooled percentage of eyes that developed postoperative endophthalmitis as a complication during the period July 1990 thru June 1994 is 5 (0.046%) out of a heterogeneous group of 10,898 cases operated on at the Wilmer Eye Institute for cataract, glaucoma, corneal transplant, pars plana vitrectomy and retinal detachment . Bacteria were identified microscopically in 6 (18%) of 34 post-traumatic cases . Microbial organisms were identified in 23 (92%) of 25 cases with an endogenous infection . Patients with endogenous infections had the most fungal infections, and the majority were in males . Neoplasms were diagnosed in 58 (14%) of the 405 cases . The most common neoplasm was ocular lymphoma 42 (72%), 69% of which were in females . Only 42 (48.3%) of 87 patients clinically suspected of having ocular lymphoma, actually had ocular lymphoma . Those negative for lymphoma were significantly older (67.4 +/- 10 years) compared to those with lymphoma (60.4 +/- 14 years) (P = 0.01) . CONCLUSION: Diagnostic PPV has proved to be valuable in confirming and establishing various clinical diagnoses. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl, 1995, 210, 53 - 9 Gastric alkalinization, pneumonia, and systemic infections: the controversy; Tryba M et al.; BACKGROUND: Gastric alkalinization has been suspected as a cause of pneumonia in critically ill patients . Although meta-analysis of the available data confirms an association between the administration of antacids/H2-antagonists and the risk of pneumonia, controversy remains whether stress ulcer prophylaxis with sucralfate reduces the risk of pneumonia . We hypothesized that the conflicting study results may be due to differences in patient population and general treatment regimens . RISK FACTORS: Microbiological studies have shown that a gastric pH > 4 is crucial for overgrowth of gastric gram-negative but not gram-positive bacteria . Sucralfate mainly influences the growth of gram-negative bacteria . Thus, in patient groups with a high frequency of gram-positive pneumonia, preservation of gastric acidity does not influence the pneumonia rate . Since 40-60% of critically ill patients show gastric pH values > 4 even without administration of acid-neutralizing agents, an increased risk of nosocomial pneumonia with antacids/H2-antagonists can only be expected if these agents substantially increase the frequency of patients with gastric pH > 4 . No influence of stress ulcer prophylaxis on the pneumonia rate can be expected in patients on enteral nutrition, especially if administered continuously . In non-ventilated patients or in those with a short duration of ventilation no significant influence of stress ulcer prophylaxis on nosocomial pneumonia rate can be expected . The same is true for patient groups where regurgitation of gastric content is prevented, e.g . head-up position in neurosurgical patients . Furthermore, in patient groups with primary lung injury nosocomial pneumonia occurs due to specific pathomechanisms, e.g . lung contusion or inhalation injury . Based on these factors we have developed a scoring system and have performed a regression analysis between the sum of the risk scores and the odds ratio of nosocomial pneumonia of all available stress ulcer studies dealing with nosocomial pneumonia . RESULTS: A highly significant correlation (p < 0.0001) could be demonstrated between the sum of the risk score and the odds ratio for pneumonia . An increased risk of nosocomial pneumonia due to stress ulcer prophylaxis with antacids/H2-antagonists occurred in patient groups with a risk score of > or = 2 . CONCLUSIONS: This analysis supports the hypothesis that gastric alkalinization significantly increases the risk of nosocomial pneumonia in long-term ventilated patients . However, this analysis also shows that only specific subgroups of patients benefit from acid-independent stress ulcer prophylaxis relative to nosocomial pneumonia . Furthermore, recent experimental and clinical studies support the hypothesis that gastric alkalinization may increase the risk of systemic infections and that sucralfate may have significant protective effects. Annu Rev Microbiol, 1995, 49, 367 - 97 Conjugative transposition; Scott JR et al.; Conjugative transposons are important determinants of antibiotic resistance, especially in gram-positive bacteria . They are remarkably promiscuous and can conjugate between bacteria belonging to different species and genera . Transposon-promoted conjugation may be similar to F plasmid-promoted conjugation, as it appears that only one strand of the transposon DNA is transferred from donor to recipient . The recent determination of the entire nucleotide sequence of Tn916 allowed us to make specific predictions about the possible function of different open reading frames and the position of a (hypothetical) origin of transfer . The mechanism of recombination during conjugative transposition differs from that of other transposons, as shown by the absence of a duplication of the target sequence upon integration . The current model for recombination postulates that staggered double-stranded cleavages occur at each end of the transposon . One DNA strand is cut six bases from the end of the transposon, and the other strand is cut immediately adjacent to the end . The ends of the excised transposon are then ligated to form a circular intermediate with a six-base heteroduplex . Staggered cleavages of the circular intermediate and the target DNA allow the transposon to insert into the target, where it is flanked by heteroduplex regions that are resolved by replication . All hosts examined contain preferential target sites: these are not specific sequences but apparently consist of bent DNA . The site-specific recombinases encoded by conjugative transposons belong to the integrase family . Like phage lambda integrase, the integrase of Tn916 has two DNA-binding domains that recognize different sequences, one within the ends of the element and one that includes target DNA . The affinity of Tn916 integrase for target sites correlates with the frequency of integration into a particular site . The similarity between conjugative transposons and phage lambda is striking and suggests that both use the same mechanism of recombination . In lambda, however, recombining sites must be homologous . Homology may be necessary because of branch migration, which is thought to occur during recombination . In conjugative transposition, the recombining sites are nearly always different, and therefore branch migration probably does not occur . This review presents a speculative model for the alignment of the ends of Tn916 during excision that was adapted from one recently proposed for lambda. Microbios, 1995, 83(336), 199 - 205 AH17, a new non-polyenic antifungal antibiotic produced by a strain of Spirillospora; Hacene H et al.; An antibiotic (AH17) was produced by Spirillospora strain 719 . This substance was obtained only from the broth filtrate after precipitation with acetic acid followed by extraction with n-butanol . Its purification was carried out by thin layer chromatography on silica gel followed by HPLC procedures . It showed activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi . The spectroscopic and chemical properties were examined and indicated that AH17 was a quinone . It seems that this is a new antibiotic from Spirillospora. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther, 1995 Spring, 11(1), 57 - 63 Availability of 0.3% ofloxacin ointment and solution in human conjunctiva and aqueous humor; Tang-Liu D et al.; Ofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution or ointment was administered preoperatively to 13 patients undergoing cataract surgery . Mean drug concentrations in conjunctival biopsies were 2.62 and 6.55 micrograms/gm and in aqueous humor samples were 0.36 micrograms/mL and 0.43 micrograms/mL, for ointment and solution respectively . Mean conjunctival concentrations of ofloxacin achieved MIC90 values for 419 gram-positive and gram-negative organisms previously analyzed. Nord Med, 1995, 110(12), 320 - 1 {Infections following bone marrow transplantation}; Ljungman P et al.; Recent years have witnessed a reduction in the frequency of infectious complications both in allogeneic and in autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) . With a frequency of 30-40 percent, septicaemia is the predominant problem during the aplastic phase . Owing to the introduction of prophylaxis with quinolones, there has been a shift in the aetiological spectrum toward Gram-positive infections, and Gram-negative infections now account for less than 10 percent of all cases . In turn, this has been accompanied by reduced mortality . Early institution of treatment based on viraemia diagnosis has radically reduced the substantial morbidity and mortality formerly due to cytomegalovirus infection during the first three months after BMT . Antibiotic prophylactic treatment for Pneumocystis carinii infection during the first year, and against pneumococcal infections thereafter, has also been highly successful . The remaining problems are the diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infections and the increased susceptibility to infection among those who develop graft-versus-host disease. Microbiology, 1995 Jan, 141 ( Pt 1), 51 - 8 Identification and characterization of phosphoenolpyruvate:fructose phosphotransferase systems in three Streptomyces species; Titgemeyer F et al.; Streptomyces lividans, S . coelicolor and S . griseofuscus were examined for the presence of the enzymes of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) . All three species were shown to possess Enzyme I, HPr and fructose-specific Enzyme II (IIFru) activities . In S . lividans and S . coelicolor, all three PTS enzymes were fructose-inducible, but in S . griseofuscus the system was expressed constitutively . These organisms apparently lack the HPr(Ser) kinase and HPr(Ser-P) phosphatase that characterize low-GC Gram-positive bacteria. J Infect Dis, 1995 Jan, 171(1), 225 - 8 Increase in interleukin-6 serum level preceding fever in granulocytopenia and correlation with death from sepsis; Steinmetz HT et al.; Serum interleukin (IL)-6 levels measured by ELISA were correlated with the clinical course of 53 adults with hematologic malignancies in 95 episodes of chemotherapy-induced leukocytopenia (< 1000/microL) . The median IL-6 level was 15 pg/mL (range, < 3-123) in 27 episodes without fever . This level was 14.5 pg/mL (range, < 3-187) 72-48 h before onset of fever, 78 pg/mL (range, < 3-170) 24 h before fever in episodes with unexplained fever (FUO), and 182 pg/mL (range, 63-1076) 24 h before fever in episodes with positive blood cultures (P < .001) . Within 24 h after onset of fever, median IL-6 level was 171 pg/mL (range, 53-1134) in episodes of FUO, 444 pg/mL (range, 38-7973) in episodes with gram-negative bacteremia, and 2017 pg/mL (range, 76-7253) with gram-positive bacteremia (P < .01) . IL-6 levels increased before death in all 13 patients who died of sepsis . Median level was 7253 pg/mL (range, 445-95,906) within 3 days of death . Determination of IL-6 may be useful for early assessment and as a prognostic tool in leukocytopenic fever. Pharmacotherapy, 1995 Jan-Feb, 15(1), 85 - 91 Association of vancomycin serum concentrations with outcomes in patients with gram-positive bacteremia; Zimmermann AE et al.; We attempted to determine if an association exists between vancomycin serum concentrations resulting from traditional dosing regimens, and efficacy and toxicity outcomes . We reviewed the medical charts of 273 consecutive patients prescribed 273 courses of vancomycin therapy for documented, gram-positive bacteremia . Of the 273 courses of therapy, 45 and 31 patients met all criteria and were evaluated for toxicity and efficacy, respectively . The duration of fever and abnormal white blood cell counts, length of hospital stay, overall mortality, serum creatinine, and serum vancomycin concentrations were evaluated retrospectively . No association between initial peak or trough levels with mortality was noted . However, patients were more likely to become afebrile within 72 hours if peak and trough concentrations were 20 micrograms/ml or greater and 10 micrograms/ml or greater, respectively (p < 0.01) . Patients were also more likely to have their white blood cell count return to normal within 72 hours if trough concentrations were 10 micrograms/ml or above (p < 0.01) . No statistically significant correlation between nephrotoxicity and initial serum creatinine, days of hospital stay, or days of vancomycin therapy were found . Serum concentrations of vancomycin, assessed before the development of nephrotoxicity, were significantly higher in patients who became nephrotoxic . Mean (SD) trough concentrations were 23.2 (2.5) micrograms/ml and 10.2 (3.8) micrograms/ml in nephrotoxic and nonnephrotoxic patients, respectively . Our results suggest that the commonly accepted therapeutic range for vancomycin trough concentrations (< 10 micrograms/ml) may be too restrictive in patients receiving vancomycin therapy alone. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed, 1995 Jan, 196(5), 399 - 415 {Burden of fattening pigs and the environment of the pig fattening farms caused by lung-passing dust particles, pig stall specific bacteria and ammonia}; Platz S et al.; According for their topographic and isolated locations (no built-up area or trees down-wind) 13 fattening pig pens with an average stocking rate of 737 (360-2500) have been investigated for burden by immission of animals and the environment outside the stables up to a distance of 100m downwind of the source . These studies have been carried out between June 1988 and April 1989 in monthly intervals . The investigated parameters have been: dust of particle size < 5 microns, stable specific bacteria, ammonia and symptoms of animals respiratory diseases . In the stalls could be shown an significant seasonal influence on bacteria, lung passing dust content and ammonia concentration with a maximum during December/January (1.1 x 10(6) CFU/m3; 0.26 mg/m3; 27 ppm) and minimum during June/July (5.7 x 10(5) CFU/m3; 0.075 mg/m3; 11 ppm) . In the environment outside the pigsties a significant seasonal influence could be found only for the stable specific bacteria up to the distance of 100m of the source of emission, showing a maximum during fall and winter (1.7 x 10(3) CFU/m3) and minimal concentration during spring and summer (9.3 x 10(2) CFU/m3) . Due to emission of spent air a high significant reduction of the stable specific bacteria and lung passing dust concentration could be established outside the stables within a distance of 10 m . The content of stable specific bacteria come to 0.2% (1941 CFU/m3) compared with the amount measured at the air outlet of the spent air shaft . At this distance the lung passing dust concentration has been reduced to 11% (0.016 mg/m3) of the concentration at the emission source . In comparison to the examined "neutral air" upwind, the content of lung passing dust downwind has not been heightened significantly at any measuring point or time of the year, whereas the content of stable specific bacteria downwind was significantly higher up to a distance of 50 m (p < or = 0.01) . The stable specific bacteria that were isolated from the air outside the pigsties, mostly gram positive cocci, had in part a strong resistance against Erythromycin, Penicillin, Tetracyclin and Ampicillin . The fact that in all investigated farms irritations or diseases of the animals respiratory tract in different degrees of intensity could be determined shows the urgency to minimize the burden by optimizing the hygienic situation inside the stalls . This means especially the colder period of the year, because a high frequency of transgression of the ammonia threshold value according to German regulations for pig housing could be found in this time. Am J Otolaryngol, 1995 Jan-Feb, 16(1), 78 - 80 Costal osteomyelitis after pectoralis major myocutaneous flap use in head and neck reconstruction; Stack BC Jr et al.; Costal osteomyelitis and chondritis are rare complications of PMMF usage . They probably represent a secondary complication of a donor-site infection . This diagnosis must be considered in cases of PMMF donor-site infections, which fail to resolve with local wound care and antibiotics . Antibiotic coverage in these cases should be taylored to culture results, while having broad gram-positive activity . Workup of these patients should include CT and biopsy to rule out a neoplastic process. Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 1995 Jan-Feb, 12(1), 73 - 7 Prevention of gram-positive infections in patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation: a randomized controlled trial of vancomycin; Teinturier C et al.; Between January 1986 and June 1988, 155 patients (73 children and 82 adults), who were candidates for bone marrow transplantation, were included in a randomized controlled trial (75 patients in vancomycin group and 80 patients in the group without vancomycin) to evaluate the efficiency of a short course of vancomycin (10 mg/kg i.v . every 6 hours, day-5 to +1) in decreasing the incidence of Gram-positive infections during aplasia after high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation . There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of documented septicemia, documented coccus Gram-positive infections, or fever of unknown origins during aplasia in the 2 groups . Thus, short prophylactic treatment with vancomycin proved inefficient in reducing morbidity due to infection after high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Nephrologie, 1995, 16(1), 55 - 69 {How to diagnose and treat peritoneal infections in patients with terminal chronic renal insufficiency treated by peritoneal dialysis}; Michel C et al.; There have been improvements in the technique of peritoneal dialysis (PD) over the last ten years . However, peritoneal infections remain the major complication associated with this treatment, and the risk of infection cannot be accurately predicted . Nevertheless, it is widely accepted that simple connections should be replaced by improved systems of connection, and that patient training is important . Peritoneal infection should be suspected when the dialysate is turbid, whether or not associated with peritoneal irritation . None of the various techniques used for the culture of dialysates has been shown to be either more sensitive or more specific than any of the others . Thus, collaboration between the physicians supervising the dialysis and microbiologists is necessary to choose the culture techniques best adapted . The sensitivity should be at least 85 to 90% . If the sensitivity is lower, the techniques used should be reconsidered . There have been several hundred publications assessing treatments of peritoneal infections associated with PD . However, no particular antibiotic treatment has been demonstrated to be systematically superior . The use of associated antibiotics seems to be preferable initially, until the causative agent has been identified . For example, vancomycin with a third generation cephalosporin seems to be the association of choice, because of its efficacy, tolerance and ease of use . The optimal duration of treatment has not been established by randomised study, but 10 days is commonly used for Gram-positive infections, and longer for Gram-negative . Whatever the treatment used, the success rate should be at least 80 to 90% . Randomised trials with sufficiently large numbers of patients are required to determine the indications and delay before withdrawal of the DP catheter in cases of peritonitis which do not respond to antibiotics. Clin Orthop, 1995 Jan, (310), 208 - 10 Efficacy of immediate postirrigation culture in the treatment of upper-extremity abscesses; Schnall SB et al.; A retrospective chart review of 192 patients of the musculoskeletal infection ward at the authors' facility was performed to assess the value of immediate postirrigation cultures in the treatment of acute soft tissue infections of the upper extremity . Twenty-two patients (11.5%) had postirrigation cultures with an organism that was not present in the preirrigation cultures . All of those organisms not previously found were gram-positive organisms, and no changes were necessary in the initial antibiotic regimes . Immediate postirrigation cultures did not prove to be effective in the information they provided related to treatment of acute soft tissue infections of the upper extremity. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1995 Jan-Mar, (1), 3 - 8 {Lectins in microbiological diagnostic reagents: a universal means or just a test for glycosylation}; Kalinin NL; The author analyzes published and his own experimental data on interspecies, interstrain, and intrastrain differences in groups of some gram negative and gram positive bacteria, protozoa, and viruses in their interactions with lectins . An attempt to analyze the available material from the glycobiology viewpoint is made, by connecting the problem of a microbiologic diagnostic agent with the problem of biomolecular recognition. Crit Rev Microbiol, 1995, 21(1), 19 - 30 Rifamycins: strain improvement program; Lal R et al.; Rifamycins are primarily produced by Gram-positive bacterium Amycolatopsis mediterranei, which belongs to the order Actinomycetales . These antibiotics, apart from their application against pathogens of tuberculosis and leprosy, have also been found to be effective against several other pathogens including Mycobacterium avium and Pneumococcus . Because of the importance of rifamycin, the producer strain A . mediterranei has been genetically manipulated since 1957 in order to develop a strain that can either produce larger amounts of rifamycin or derivatives of rifamycin . In this article, the importance of the producer strain, traditional methods (mutations and recombination) of strain improvement, their limitations, and the development of a cloning vector and transformation methods that have made recombinant DNA techniques accessible for genetic manipulations of A mediterranei are discussed. Int Rev Cytol, 1995, 161, 263 - 331 Bacterial stimulators of macrophages; Hauschildt S et al.; Our current understanding of the interaction between bacteria and macrophages, cells of the immune system that play a major role in the defense against infection, is summarized . Cell-surface structures of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria that account for these interactions are described in detail . Besides surface structures, soluble bacterial molecules, toxins that are derived from pathogenic bacteria, are also shown to modulate macrophage functions . In order to affect macrophage functions, bacterial surface structures have to be recognized by the macrophage and toxins have to be taken up . Subsequently, signal transduction mechanisms are initiated that enable the macrophage to respond to the invading bacteria . To destroy bacteria, macrophages employ many strategies, among which antigen processing and presentation to T cells, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and different bactericidal mechanisms are considered to be the main weapons. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1995 Jan, 48(1), 26 - 30 The tartrolons, new boron-containing antibiotics from a myxobacterium, Sorangium cellulosum; Irschik H et al.; New antibiotics were isolated from the culture broth of the myxobacterium, Sorangium cellulosum, strain So ce 678 . The antibiotics were active against Gram-positive bacteria and mammalian cells . They were named tartrolon A and B . Tartrolon B contains a boron atom . The boron binding region of tartrolon is identical with that of boromycin and aplasmomycin. Anal Biochem, 1994 Dec, 223(2), 185 - 90 Sequence analysis of lantibiotics: chemical derivatization procedures allow a fast access to complete Edman degradation; Meyer HE et al.; Lantibiotics are antibiotic peptides produced via ribosomal synthesis of precursor proteins by gram-positive bacteria . They contain various unusual post-translational modifications, which include the formation of sulfide rings by lanthionine or beta-methyllanthionine, and 2,3-didehydroamino acids . The N-terminus may be blocked by a 2-oxobutyryl group and the C-terminus may be inaccessible in some of the lantibiotics . Due to these modifications the analysis of such peptides is very tedious . Chemical modifications using an ethanethiol-containing reaction mixture and/or trifluoroperacetic acid treatment were used to solve these analytical problems . Investigating the tetracyclic 22-peptide gallidermin and the N-terminally blocked tricyclic 34-peptide Pep5 as examples, a novel access to the primary structure of lantibiotics is demonstrated. Clin Pharmacokinet, 1994 Dec, 27(6), 418 - 46 Pefloxacin clinical pharmacokinetics; Bressolle F et al.; Pefloxacin has a broad spectrum of activity against a great number of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria . It is also capable of penetration into cells, yielding high tissue:serum ratios, with implications for the treatment of infections caused by intracellular pathogens . Pefloxacin is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract . Its elimination half-life ranges from 6.2 to 12.4 hours . After repeated administration, a major change in pharmacokinetic parameters is observed . Pharmacokinetic parameters are minimally altered or not altered in patients with impaired renal function . Altered plasma pharmacokinetics in patients with liver insufficiency and in elderly patients are observed, so dosage adjustments are necessary . In addition, pefloxacin interacts with a number of other compounds at hepatic (e.g . theophylline and cimetidine) and gastrointestinal (e.g . antacids) sites . With the exception of saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, aqueous humor, vitreous fluid and amniotic fluid, body fluid concentrations reach plasma concentrations . Studies on tissue penetration show that concentrations exceeding plasma concentrations are obtained in most tissues . The highest tissue:plasma concentration ratios are achieved in lung and kidney, whereas concentrations in fat are considerably lower than those in plasma. Clin Nephrol, 1994 Dec, 42(6), 389 - 97 Teicoplanin pharmacokinetics and dosage recommendations in chronic hemodialysis patients and in patients undergoing continuous veno-venous hemodialysis; Wolter K et al.; Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic against gram-positive infections, were studied in 9 chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and in 7 patients with an acute renal failure (ARF) treated by continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD) . After a loading dose of 800 mg i.v . the 400 mg maintenance doses were administered according to a target trough concentration of 5-15 mg/l . Using the Bayesian estimation method implemented in the computer program Abbottbase Pharmacokinetic System (PKS), we defined an open three-compartment kinetic model for teicoplanin and calculated the individual pharmacokinetics . The mean terminal elimination half-life was 176 +/- 41.3 h in the HD group and 99 +/- 22.3 h in the CVVHD group (p < 0.005) . The total body clearance (CL) was 4 +/- 1.2 ml/min and 9.2 +/- 1.7 ml/min in the HD and CVVHD patients respectively (p < 0.001) . The mean reduction of the serum levels during a HD session was 9.1% in the patients dialysed with a F8 filter and 20.2% with a high-flux F60 filter (p < 0.001) . The resulting extraction rate was 10 +/- 3.6% (F8) which is similar to the unbound fraction . The elimination of teicoplanin during CVVHD therapy strongly depended on the ultrafiltration rate (UFR) (r = 0.923, p < 0.05) . An UFR of 15.6 l/24 h resulted in a removal of 32%/24 h of a 400 mg dose and an UFR of 6.2 l/24 h in 9.5%/24 h respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Analyst, 1994 Dec, 119(12), 2577 - 9 Determination of tilmicosin in ovine milk using high-performance liquid chromatography; Parker RM et al.; Tilmicosin is a novel macrolide antibiotic with a wide range of therapeutic uses against gram positive (+ve) and gram negative (-ve) bacteria and mycoplasmae causing pneumonia and mastitis and can be used to treat these diseases in sheep . After its use there may be residues present in ovine milk that interfere with cheese making and processing of other milk products . It is important to monitor for the presence of tilmicosin in ovine milk and a method has been optimized and validated for its determination . Tilmicosin is extracted from milk into methanol . The methanol extract is acidified and non-polar co-extractives removed using hexane followed by carbon tetrachloride . The pH is adjusted to 9.0 and the tilmicosin partitioned into chloroform . The chloroform extract is evaporated to dryness and the residue resuspended in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mobile phase . Tilmicosin is determined using reversed-phase HPLC and ultraviolet (UV) detection at 280 nm . Recovery of tilmicosin from ovine milk fortified over the range 50 to 250 micrograms l-1 is in the range 84.3-104.8%, with a relative standard deviation ranging from 6.6 to 12.9% . The proposed procedure allows the determination of residues of tilmicosin in ovine milk at levels less that 50 micrograms l-1 and satisfies the quality criteria specified in European Commission Decision 93/526/EEC with the exception of reproducibility data from interlaboratory trials. Arch Pharm (Weinheim), 1994 Dec, 327(12), 799 - 804 {Isochromanylpencillins}; Unterhalt B et al.; (R/S)-Isochroman-1-carboxylic acid (1) is resolved to its enantiomers and as well as these reacted with 6-aminopenicillanic acid to the title compounds 2 . The activity of the new penicillin-derivatives against gram positive and gram negative bacteria is compared with that of benzyl penicillin. FEMS Microbiol Rev, 1994 Dec, 15(4), 355 - 67 Resistance to arsenic compounds in microorganisms; Cervantes C et al.; Arsenic ions, frequently present as environmental pollutants, are very toxic for most microorganisms . Some microbial strains possess genetic determinants that confer resistance . In bacteria, these determinants are often found on plasmids, which has facilitated their study at the molecular level . Bacterial plasmids conferring arsenic resistance encode specific efflux pumps able to extrude arsenic from the cell cytoplasm thus lowering the intracellular concentration of the toxic ions . In Gram-negative bacteria, the efflux pump consists of a two-component ATPase complex . ArsA is the ATPase subunit and is associated with an integral membrane subunit, ArsB . Arsenate is enzymatically reduced to arsenite (the substrate of ArsB and the activator of ArsA) by the small cytoplasmic ArsC polypeptide . In Gram-positive bacteria, comparable arsB and arsC genes (and proteins) are found, but arsA is missing . In addition to the wide spread plasmid arsenic resistance determinant, a few bacteria confer resistance to arsenite with a separate determinant for enzymatic oxidation of more-toxic arsenite to less-toxic arsenate . In contrast to the detailed information on the mechanisms of arsenic resistance in bacteria, little work has been reported on this subject in algae and fungi. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1994 Dec, 47(12), 1385 - 94 Novel antibiotics SF2738A, B and C, and their analogs produced by Streptomyces sp; Gomi S et al.; Three new antibiotics SF2738A, B and C, and their analogs were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp . The antibiotics are active against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, and exhibited cytotoxic activity against P388 murine leukemia cells with IC50 values of 0.08, 0.25 and 7.5 micrograms/ml, respectively . Their structures were determined by spectral analyses and chemical conversion . Especially, the structure of SF2738A was confirmed to be (E)-((4-methoxy-5-methylthio-2-(2-pyridyl)pyridin-6-yl)methylene)azan ol by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Vnitr Lek, 1994 Dec, 40(12), 765 - 9 {Complications of central venous catheterization in hematologic patients--prospective study of 193 catheterizations}; Faber E et al.; A Prospective Study of 193 Catheterizations 193 central venous catheters introduced in 142 patients with haematological diseases were studied prospectively for complications in 1984-1992 . 165 polyethylene, 14 Hickman and 14 polyurethane catheters were inserted into subclavian vein via infraclavicular access using Seldinger technique exclusively . Except bleeding, that was not serious, immediate complications occurred in 4% . Cumulative duration of catheterizations was 6370 days with median duration of one cannulation of 15 days, range 1 to 489 days . In polyethylene catheters duration of catheterization was influenced significantly by tunnelization . More than half of cannulations were accompanied by technical complications . Incidence of clinical thrombosis was 6.7% . Infectious complications were the most serious with the incidence of proven and suspected catheter-related sepsis of 25.8%, local inflammation of 41.4% and tunnel inflammation of 12.8% . They were caused in 82% of cases by gram-positive bacteria . Catheter-related sepsis was significantly associated with local inflammation, duration of cannulation and leukopenia and application of parenteral nutrition . Hickman catheters had the best "complication to catheterization duration" ratio, that give reasons for using these catheters in this group of patients. Ann Med, 1994 Dec, 26(6), 411 - 8 The pathophysiology of pneumococcal meningitis; Spellerberg B et al.; The interactions between pneumococcal surface components and host defence systems that initiate pneumococcal meningitis have been studied in considerable molecular detail over the past decade . In this sense, the pneumococcus has served as a prototype for the unravelling of the genesis of inflammation caused by gram-positive bacteria . This review outlines the progression of these early events involving the cytokine cascade, the coagulation cascade, and leukocyte migration, and relates these processes to the production of blood-brain barrier permeability, the hallmark of injury in meningitis . This new understanding has radically altered the therapy of disease with the promise of greatly improved outcome. APMIS, 1994 Dec, 102(12), 931 - 42 Immunoelectrophoretic characterization and cross-reactivity of Rochalimaea henselae, Rochalimaea quintana and Afipia felis; Engbaek K et al.; The soluble antigens of Rochalimaea henselae, Rochalimaea quintana and Afipia felis were characterized by crossed immunoelectrophoresis using bacterial sonicates as antigens against pooled hyperimmune rabbit sera . A precipitin pattern was drawn for each bacterium and shown to be reproducible and stable even when normal or preimmune rabbit serum was incorporated in the intermediate gel . By this technique 56 antigens were identified from R . henselae, 49 from R . quintana, and 39 from A . felis . The serological cross-reaction between R . henselae, R . quintana and A . felis, and between these 3 bacteria and 32 pathogenic bacteria was analysed by rocket-line immunoelectrophoresis, crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis, and tandem-crossed electrophoresis . It was concluded that (i) 4-7 antigens distinguish R . henselae, R . quintana and A . felis from each other, (ii) both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria cross-react with R . henselae, R . quintana and A . felis antisera, (iii) the cross-reacting antigens of Gram-negative bacteria have both precipitating and non-precipitating specificities, whereas Gram-positive bacteria have mainly non-precipitating specificities, (iv) the cross-reacting antigens are common to several species, and (v) fewer cross-reacting antigens are found in phylogenetically disparate species than in more closely related species. Ann Surg, 1994 Nov, 220(5), 601 - 9 Randomized phase I/II trial of a macrophage-specific immunomodulator (PGG-glucan) in high-risk surgical patients; Babineau TJ et al.; OBJECTIVE: The safety and efficacy of PGG-glucan in surgical patients at high risk for postoperative infection who underwent major thoracic or abdominal surgery were determined . SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Recent studies have reported a 25% to 27% infectious complication rate in patients undergoing major surgery with an average cost per infected patient of $12,000 . The efficacy of PGG-glucan pretreatment in prevention of sepsis has been demonstrated in rodent models for gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial and yeast infections . In vitro studies have demonstrated enhanced microbial killing by monocytes and neutrophils in healthy volunteers after PGG-glucan administration . Thus, PGG-glucan may play a role in decreasing the infectious complication rate in patients undergoing major surgery . METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study was performed in 34 high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal or thoracic surgery . RESULTS: There were no adverse drug experiences associated with PGG-glucan infusion . Patients who received PGG-glucan had significantly fewer infectious complications (3.4 infections per infected patient vs . 1.4 infections per infected patient, p = 0.05), decreased intravenous antibiotic requirement (10.3 days vs . 0.4 days, p = 0.04) and shorter intensive care unit length of stay (3.3 days vs . 0.1 days, p = 0.03) . CONCLUSIONS: PGG-glucan is safe and appears to be effective in the further reduction of the morbidity and cost of major surgery. J Exp Med, 1994 Nov 1, 180(5), 1693 - 703 Spontaneous elaboration of transforming growth factor beta suppresses host defense against bacterial infection in autoimmune MRL/lpr mice; Lowrance JH et al.; Infection with gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria remains a leading cause of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), even in the absence of immunosuppressive therapy . To elucidate the mechanisms that underly the increased risk of infection observed in patients with systemic autoimmunity, we have investigated host defense against bacterial infection in a murine model of autoimmunity, the MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mouse . Our previous study implicated transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in a novel acquired defect in neutrophil function in MRL/lpr but not congenic MRL/Mp-+/+ (MRL/n) mice (Gresham, H.D., C.J . Ray, and F.K . O'Sullivan . 1991 . J . Immunol . 146:3911) . We hypothesized from these observations that MRL/lpr mice would have defects in host defense against bacterial infection and that they would have constitutively higher local and systemic levels of active TGF-beta which would be responsible, at least in part, for the defect in host defense . We show in this paper that spontaneous elaboration of active TGF-beta adversely affects host defense against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial infection in MRL/lpr mice . Our data indicate that MRL/lpr mice, as compared with congenic MRL/n mice, exhibit decreased survival in response to bacterial infection, that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from MRl/lpr mice fail to migrate to the site of infection during the initial stages of infection, that MRL/lpr mice have a significantly increased bacterial burden at the site of infection and at other tissue sites, and that this increased bacterial growth occurs at a time (> 20 h after infection) when PMN influx is greatly enhanced in MRL/lpr mice . Most intriguingly, the alteration in PMN extravasation during the initial stages of infection and failure to restrict bacterial growth in vivo could be duplicated in MRL/n mice with a parenteral injection of active TGF-beta 1 at the time of bacterial challenge . Moreover, these alterations in host defense, including survival in response to lethal infection, could be ameliorated in MRL/lpr mice by the parenteral administration of a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the activity of TGF-beta . These data indicate that elaboration of TGF-beta as a result of autoimmune phenomenon suppresses host defense against bacterial infection and that such a mechanism could be responsible for the increased risk of bacterial infection observed in patients with autoimmune diseases. Mol Microbiol, 1994 Nov, 14(3), 463 - 71 The pAM beta 1 CopF repressor regulates plasmid copy number by controlling transcription of the repE gene; Le Chatelier E et al.; pAM beta 1 is a low-copy-number, promiscuous plasmid from Gram-positive bacteria that replicates by a unidirectional theta-type mode . Its replication is initiated by an original mechanism, involving the positive rate-limiting RepE protein . Here we show that the pAM beta 1-encoded CopF protein is involved in negative regulation of the plasmid copy number . CopF represses approximately 10-fold the transcription initiated at the promoter of the repE gene and binds to a 31 bp segment which is located immediately upstream of the -35 box of the repE promoter . We propose that CopF inhibits initiation of transcription at the repE promoter by binding to its operator. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1994 Nov, 38(11), 2564 - 7 Bacteria: a major pathogenic factor for anastomotic insufficiency; Schardey HM et al.; The aim of this study was to determine the influence of bacteria on the development of anastomotic insufficiency following gastrectomy in the rat . Fifty-seven male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups and subjected to gastrectomy . Group I (n = 20) was orally inoculated with 10(9) Pseudomonas aeroginosa organisms on postoperative day 1 . Group II (n = 20) served as the control group . Group III (n = 17) was decontaminated with 320 mg of tobramycin, 400 mg of polymyxin B, and 500 mg of vancomycin per liter of fluid administered from preoperative day 7 to postoperative day 10 . Swabs from the oropharynx and rectum were cultured and analyzed daily for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria . Surviving animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 10 . All animals were autopsied immediately following death . Anastomotic insufficiency was defined as a histologically proven transmural defect at the suture line . Along with an effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria colonizing the oropharynx, the rate of anastomotic insufficiency could be reduced significantly, to 6% in decontaminated animals compared with 80% in controls (P < 0.001 by Fisher's exact test) . Inoculation of group I animals with P . aeruginosa led to an increase of anastomotic insufficiency up to 95% and a significant increase in mortality (P < 0.05) . We conclude that bacteria play a major role in the pathogenesis of anastomotic insufficiency following gastrectomy in the rat. Ann Pharmacother, 1994 Nov, 28(11), 1250 - 4 Rifabutin: a review with emphasis on its role in the prevention of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection; Maddix DS et al.; OBJECTIVE: To discuss the mechanism of action, in vitro and in vivo activity, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, adverse effects, drug interactions, and dosage guidelines of rifabutin . DATA SOURCES: Pertinent literature published between 1982 and 1993 was identified via a MEDLINE search . Published proceedings of selected conferences were also reviewed . STUDY SELECTION: Selected basic science, microbiologic, and pharmacokinetic articles were evaluated . Because only limited data regarding rifabutin were available in the literature, all clinical trials involving the use of rifabutin in the prevention of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in AIDS patients were reviewed . DATA SYNTHESIS: Rifabutin is a rifamycin derivative that was approved recently for the prevention of disseminated MAC disease in patients with advanced HIV infection . The drug has in vitro and in vivo activity against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and mycobacteria . Two prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trials demonstrated that rifabutin decreased the progression to MAC bacteremia in AIDS patients by about 50 percent . Adverse effects that resulted in the discontinuation of rifabutin prophylaxis occurred in 16 percent of patients . Rifabutin induces hepatic enzymes to a lesser extent than does rifampin, but dosage adjustment of drugs that are known to interact with rifampin may be required . CONCLUSIONS: Rifabutin is the only drug shown to be effective in the prevention of MAC bacteremia in AIDS patients; therefore, it should be made available as a formulary agent . It may be reasonable to delay initiation of rifabutin prophylaxis until CD4 lymphocyte counts are less than 75-50/mm3. J Ind Microbiol, 1994 Nov, 13(6), 344 - 50 Cloning and sequencing of an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase gene mcenA from Micromonospora cellulolyticum 86W-16; Lin F et al.; Endo-beta-1,4-glucanase gene mcenA of Micromonospora cellulolyticum 86W-16 was cloned, and the nucleotide sequence was determined . An open reading frame (ORF) of 1374 bases, coding for a peptide (McenA) of 457 amino acids and 46,742 Da, was found . It is preceded by a Gram-positive type of ribosome-binding site and followed by an imperfect inverted repeat . A putative signal peptide containing 23 amino acids is at the N-terminus and a linker region possessing 37 amino acids is in the midpart of McenA . The N-half of McenA functions as the catalytic domain and the C-half might serve as a cellulose-binding domain (CBD) . Deletion of the latter did not decrease the CMCase activity of McenA . Significant similarity (70%) was found between the amino acid sequences of McenA and MbcelA, an endoglucanase from Microbispora bispora. Plasmid, 1994 Nov, 32(3), 270 - 9 IS1237, a repetitive chromosomal element from Clavibacter xyli subsp . cynodontis, is related to insertion sequences from gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria; Laine MJ et al.; We describe here a repetitive chromosomal element, which appears to be an insertion sequence, isolated from Clavibacter xyli subsp . cynodontis, a gram-positive plant-associated bacterium . The element, IS1237, is 905 bp in size, is bounded by 19-bp perfect inverted repeats and 3-bp direct repeats, and appears at least 16 times in the genome . It contains three open reading frames which show similarity to open reading frames from various other insertion sequences . We have found that there are two groups of related mobile elements: one in which two open reading frames are read separately and the other in which these two open reading frames are fused together to give one predicted protein product . Using one of these open reading frames to search amino acid sequence databases, we found two instances in which similar reading frames flank genes carried on plasmids . We believe therefore that these plasmid-borne genes may be parts of previously unidentified mobile elements . For IS1237, a frameshift in two of the open reading frames and a stop codon in the third may indicate that this particular copy of the element is no longer active in transposition . The similarity of IS1237 to other elements from both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria provides further evidence that mobile elements have been transferred between these two bacterial groups. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1994 Oct 15, 123(1-2), 193 - 9 Selective growth inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis by bestatin; Grenier D et al.; Recent work in our laboratory indicates that selected protease/peptidase inhibitors interfere with the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis . The aim of the present study was to further investigate the inhibitory effect of bestatin on the growth of P . gingivalis . Complete growth inhibition of P . gingivalis (11 strains) was observed when bestatin was incorporated at 2.5 micrograms ml-1 in a complex broth medium . Fifty percent inhibition was still obtained with bestatin at a final concentration of 0.5 microgram ml-1 . The inhibitory effect of bestatin was highly specific as the growth of 20 different oral bacterial species, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative as well as saccharolytic and asaccharoltic bacteria, was not affected even at bestatin concentrations up to 50 micrograms ml-1 . Bestatin did not significantly affect the viability of P . gingivalis indicating that it has a bacteriostatic rather than a bactericidal effect . Growth assays using other specific inhibitors suggested that the effect of bestatin on the growth of P . gingivalis was unlikely to be related to its aminopeptidase inhibitor activity . Cultivation of P . gingivalis with a subinhibitory concentration of bestatin did not modify the cell envelope protein profile, as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis, but significantly decreased the number of extracellular vesicles produced . The present study indicated that bestatin is a highly effective inhibitor of cell growth of P . gingivalis . Additional studies will indicate whether bestatin should be considered as a potential drug in the control of P . gingivalis, a suspected pathogen in adult chronic periodontitis. Immun Infekt, 1994 Oct, 22(5), 187 - 8 {Endocarditis from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae}; Wullenweber J et al.; Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae only seldom causes cases of endocarditis . Contact with infectious animals leads to endocarditis of the left heart with high lethality . Vancomycin and aminoglycosides, which are often used in gram-positive endocarditis, show no effect. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1994 Oct, 47(10), 1116 - 22 Biosynthetic capacities of actinomycetes . 2 . Juglomycin Z, a new naphthoquinone antibiotic from Streptomyces tendae; Fiedler HP et al.; A new juglomycin-type antibiotic was identified by a HPLC-diode array screening technique in the culture filtrate of Streptomyces tendae Tu 901/8c . Juglomycin Z (1) differs from all other known juglomycin compounds by an additional methyl group in position 3 of the naphthoquinone ring system . Juglomycin Z is antibiotically active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and against yeasts. Ann Surg, 1994 Oct, 220(4), 461 - 9; discussion 469-71 Selective preservation of infected prosthetic arterial grafts . Analysis of a 20-year experience with 120 extracavitary-infected grafts; Calligaro KD et al.; OBJECTIVE: The authors report on their 20-year experience with 120 patients with infected extracavitary prosthetic arterial grafts (95 polytetraflouroethylene, 25 Dacron) . Throughout this experience, an effort was made, when appropriate, to salvage all or a portion of these infected grafts . METHODS: When patients had arterial bleeding (20 cases) or systemic sepsis (6 cases), immediate graft excision was performed . When the infected graft was occluded (43 cases), subtotal graft excision was performed, leaving an oversewn 2- to 3-mm graft remnant to maintain patency of the artery . Complete graft preservation was attempted in 51 cases in which the graft was patent, the patient was not septic, and the anastomoses were intact . Aggressive operative wound debridement was repeated, as necessary, to achieve wound healing . The preferred method of revascularization, when necessary, included secondary bypasses tunneled through uninfected (often lateral) routes . Follow-up averaged 3 years (range, 1 month-20 years) . RESULTS: This strategy resulted in a hospital mortality of 12% (14/120) and a hospital amputation rate in survivors of 13% (14/106 threatened limbs) . Of the surviving patients treated by complete graft preservation, the hospital amputation rate was only 4% (2/45) and long-term complete graft preservation was successful in 71% (32/45) of cases . Partial graft preservation also proved successful in 85% (35/41) of surviving patients who had occluded grafts . Successful complete graft preservation was as likely when gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria were cultured from the wound, with the exception of Pseudomonas (successful graft preservation in only 40% {4/10} of cases) . CONCLUSION: Based on this 20-year experience, the authors conclude that selective partial or complete graft preservation represents a simpler and better method of managing infected extracavitary prosthetic grafts than routine total graft excision. Eur J Biochem, 1994 Oct 1, 225(1), 341 - 6 Gene XV of bacteriophage PRD1 encodes a lytic enzyme with muramidase activity; Caldentey J et al.; Bacteriophage PRD1 is a lipid-containing virus that infects a variety of Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli . The phage lyses its host by virtue of a virally-encoded lytic enzyme, the synthesis of which has been assigned to gene XV on the basis of complementation analysis and experiments with mutant phages . We report here the cloning of gene XV into an expression plasmid and the purification of its product, protein P15, to near homogeneity . The purified protein P15, identified by N-terminal sequence analysis, showed a strong lytic activity against chloroform-treated Gram-negative cells . No activity against Gram-positive bacterial species could be detected . The pH optimum of the enzyme was between 7.0-8.0 . Protein P15 was readily inactivated at temperatures above 4 degrees C, as well as by increasing the ionic strength of the buffers . The analysis of cell wall digests indicated that P15 is a glycosidase that cleaves the beta (1-4) linkage between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, thus displaying muramidase activity. Pathology, 1994 Oct, 26(4), 435 - 8 Two cases of idiopathic acute gastric necrosis; McKelvie PA et al.; Two cases of acute hemorrhagic gastric necrosis are presented . The first patient was a 62 yr old man with a past history of chronic gastritis, Parkinson's disease and dementia . The second case was a 25 yr old woman with recent abuse of oral analgesic agents . Both presented with an acute abdomen and peritonitis, and underwent urgent gastrectomy for gastric necrosis with perforation . The first patient died, whereas the second recovered . Histology of the gastrectomy specimens showed severe hemorrhagic transmural gastric necrosis with minimal inflammatory changes . Only occasional Gram positive rods were seen in case 1, and microbiological cultures were negative . The etiology of the gastric necrosis in these 2 cases is unclear. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 1994 Oct, 9(4), 287 - 97 Guinea pigs prepared with various bacteria and their components to induce a necrotic reaction provoked with muramyldipeptide; Kawabata Y et al.; Guinea pigs were given a preparatory injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a water-in-mineral oil emulsion into the footpads . A provocative injection of muramyldipeptide given 3-8 weeks later into the flanks, caused severe inflammation, with hemorrhage and necrosis and necrosis at the footpads . In this study, we determined the features of the preparatory injection required to prepare the necrotic reaction . Most mycobacteria-related and Gram-negative bacteria were capable of preparing guinea pigs for the necrotic reaction upon provocative injection with muramyldipeptide, whereas Gram-positive bacteria did not . Boivin- and Morrison-type lipopolysaccharides, which have a high content of bacterial protein, induced the susceptibility, whereas Westphal-type lipopolysaccharide, which has a low level of the protein, did not . Moreover, the latter adjuvant-active lipopolysaccharide and muramyldipeptide together with ovalbumin also exerted the activity . The development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to the protein antigen seemed to be important for inducing the necrotic reaction . Mice, rats, rabbits and monkeys were injected in the same way as the guinea pigs . The necrotic reaction occurred in the flanks of the monkeys, but not in the other animals . A similar necrotic reaction also occurred in the flanks of guinea pigs given live BCG cells in phosphate-buffered saline as well as the heat-killed M . tuberculosis in water-in-mineral oil emulsion upon provocative injection with muramyldipeptide . These findings suggested that the induction is associated with the development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to the protein antigen administered in the preparatory injection {corrected}. Trends Microbiol, 1994 Oct, 2(10), 353 - 7 Epidemiology of tetracycline-resistance determinants; Roberts MC; Resistance to tetracycline is generally due either to energy-dependent efflux of tetracycline or to protection of the bacterial ribosomes from the action of tetracycline . The genes that encode this resistance are normally acquired via transferable plasmids and/or transposons . Tet determinants have been found in a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and have reduced the effectiveness of therapy with tetracycline. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 1994 Oct, 6(5), 752 - 8 Microbial adhesins recognizing extracellular matrix macromolecules; Patti JM et al.; Microorganisms express a family of cell-surface adhesins that specifically recognize and bind components of the extracellular matrix . Adhesion of microorganisms to host tissues represents a critical phase in the development of many types of infections . Recent studies have focused on the mechanisms of microbial attachment at a molecular level, including the identification of ligand-binding domains in several cell-surface adhesins from Gram-positive bacteria and the construction of adhesin-deficient isogenic mutants. Mol Microbiol, 1994 Oct, 14(1), 115 - 21 Proteolytic cleavage and cell wall anchoring at the LPXTG motif of surface proteins in gram-positive bacteria; Navarre WW et al.; Many surface proteins are thought to be anchored to the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria via their C-terminus . Cell wall anchoring requires a specific sorting signal, normally located at the predicted C-terminus of surface proteins . Here we show that when placed into the middle of a polypeptide chain, the sorting signal causes the specific cleavage of the precursor as well as the cell wall anchoring of its N-terminal fragment, while the C-terminal fragment remains within the cytoplasm . N-terminal sequencing of the C-terminal cleavage fragment suggests that the cleavage site is located between threonine (T) and glycine (G) of the LPXTG motif, the signature sequence of cell wall sorting signals . All surface proteins harbouring an LPXTG sequence motif may therefore be cleaved and anchored by a universal mechanism . We also propose a novel hypothesis for the cell wall linkage of surface proteins in Gram-positive bacteria. J Indian Med Assoc, 1994 Oct, 92(10), 328 - 30 Infection in haematological malignancies; Das PK et al.; Fifty-six febrile episodes in 30 haematological malignancy cases were evaluated . Of these episodes 60.7% were in leukaemia cases . Clinical evaluation and investigation suggested infection in 42 episodes (75%) of fever and in rest 14 (25%) no identifiable cause could be found . Bacterial infection predominated with an incidence of 80.9% followed by fungal infection in 11.9% and parasitic infection in 7.1% of the febrile episodes . Gram-negative bacteria were more frequently isolated (22/34) than Gram-positive bacteria (12/34) . Staph aureus was the commonest Gram-positive organism . Kl pneumoniae and Esch coli were the common Gram-negative pathogens . The commonest organisms were sensitive to cephalosporin and gentamicin . Incidence of fever due to infection was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with absolute neutropenia, in whom the mortality rate was significantly higher (p < 0.001). Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1994 Oct, 41(7-8), 548 - 53 Specificity of the immunohistochemical demonstration of mycobacterial antigens; Geisel O et al.; The specificity of immunohistological reactions of commercial polyclonal antibodies to antigens of various mycobacteria (Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium duvalii and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis) was tested in connection with a number of pathogens and with the help of the indirect immunoperoxidase technique . Positive reactions occurred with various mycobacterial antigens and some Gram-positive bacteria and fungi . These investigations indicate that when the above antibodies are used in histopathological diagnostics, false-positive results can be expected. South Med J, 1994 Sep, 87(9), 875 - 80 Randomized comparison trial of teicoplanin i.v., teicoplanin i.m., and cefazolin therapy for skin and soft tissue infections caused by gram-positive bacteria; Chirurgi VA et al.; Teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic chemically related to the vancomycin-ristocetin group of antibiotics, has potent activity against aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive bacteria . In this study, we examined the efficacy and safety of teicoplanin for parenteral treatment of skin and soft tissue infections caused by gram-positive bacteria . Ninety-six hospitalized adults with moderate to severe skin and soft tissue infections were randomized to receive either teicoplanin intravenously (i.v.) once a day, teicoplanin intramuscularly (i.m.) once a day, or cefazolin i.v . every 8 hours . We evaluated patients' clinical and microbiologic status and assessed clinical and laboratory adverse events . Of 76 clinically assessable patients, 26 of 26 (100%) given teicoplanin i.v., 21 of 22 (95%) given teicoplanin i.m., and 26 of 28 (93%) given cefazolin showed improvement or cure . Of 60 microbiologically assessable patients, 22 of 22 (100%) given teicoplanin i.v., 16 of 18 (89%) given teicoplanin i.m, and 18 of 20 (90%) given cefazolin were cured . Of 96 patients assessable for adverse events, 7 of 34 (21%) given teicoplanin i.v., 4 of 31 (13%) give teicoplanin i.m., and 1 of 31 (3%) given cefazolin had adverse events . In this study, once daily teicoplanin appeared to be safe and effective therapy for skin and soft tissue infections. Eur Respir J, 1994 Sep, 7(9), 1712 - 3 Bacterial pseudomycosis: a rare cause of haemoptysis; Multz AS et al.; Pulmonary bacterial pseudomycosis, also referred to as botryomycosis, is a very rare, indolent illness that has been described mostly in patients with immunological problems . The histological appearance is similar to that of actinomycosis; however, various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have been implicated in the pathogenesis . We illustrate a rapidly progressive case of pulmonary bacterial pseudomycosis in a normal host whose presenting complaint was haemoptysis. Jpn J Antibiot, 1994 Sep, 47(9), 1210 - 8 {A clinical study on the efficacy of ceftazidime and aspoxicillin in chorioamnionitis . Abdominal Infections Research Group}; Chimura T et al.; Chorioamnionitis as a complication of threatened abortion and preterm labor and preterm PROM were treated with ceftazidime (CAZ) and aspoxicillin (ASPC) as a primary therapy . The following results were obtained . 1 . Cases of threatened abortion and preterm labor (n = 25) and preterm PROM (n = 5) were treated with 2-4 g CAZ/day alone (n = 14) or in combination with 4 g ASPC/day (n = 16) along with a uterine contraction inhibitor (ritodrine hydrochloride etc . n = 28) and clinical evaluation was made . 2 . In the cases of threatened abortion and preterm labor the efficacy ratio was 24/25 (96%) . In the cases of preterm PROM, the latent period-delaying effect was observed in five out of the five patients . Upon analysis of the tocolysis index in the group of threatened abortion and preterm labor, the index values > or = 5 were observed in 12 out of 25 (60%), and the delivery incidence before the 35th week of gestation was 4/25 (16%) . In all patients, the incidence of delivery after the 36th week of gestation was 24/30 (80%) . 3 . Bacteriological examinations showed a high detection rate for Gram-positive bacteria, and the combination effect between ASPC and CAZ was demonstrated against all 9 isolates examined . The above results indicated a high efficacy as well as safety of the combination of CAZ and ASPC as a primary therapeutic means against chorioamnionitis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1994 Sep, 15(9), 582 - 4 Comparative risk of bloodstream infection in organ transplant recipients; McClean K et al.; To determine relative rates and sources of nosocomial bloodstream infection in solid organ transplant recipients, concurrently collected data on 277 consecutive patients were reviewed . Twenty-eight patients developed 40 infections . Liver recipients experienced a higher rate (28%) than either kidney (5%) or heart, heart-lung (10%) . Primary infections (60% overall) caused by gram-positive bacteria (59% overall) predominated at all three sites. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1994 Sep, 13(9), 768 - 71 Pharmacokinetics and suction blister fluid penetration of a semisynthetic injectable streptogramin RP 59500 (RP 57669/ RP 54476); Bernard E et al.; RP 59500 is a new semisynthetic injectable streptogramin with excellent activity against most gram-positive bacteria . In order to assess its potential for the treatment of tissue infections, the pharmacokinetics and penetration into suction blister fluid were studied in a pilot phase I study in six male volunteers following a single infusion of 12 mg/kg over 1 h . Plasma and suction blister fluid concentrations were determined by microbiological assay . The mean peak concentration in plasma was 8.65 mg/l at the end of infusion . The mean plasma elimination half-life was 1.48 h . The mean peak concentration in interstitial fluid was 2.41 mg/l and was reached after 1 h in two volunteers and after 2 h in the other four . The mean percentage penetration for the interval 0-6 h was 82.5% . RP 59500 was still detectable in interstitial fluid at 6 h at a mean concentration of 0.92 +/- 0.25 mg/l . The data of this pilot study demonstrate good penetration of RP 59500 into non-inflammatory interstitial fluid. Mol Microbiol, 1994 Sep, 13(5), 843 - 54 DNA polymerase III of Mycoplasma pulmonis: isolation and characterization of the enzyme and its structural gene, polC; Barnes MH et al.; Mycoplasmas have originated from Gram-positive bacteria via rapid degenerative evolution . The results of previous investigations of mycoplasmal DNA polymerases suggest that the process of evolution has wrought a major simplification of the typical Gram-positive bacterial DNA polymerase profile, reducing it from three exonuclease (exo)-positive enzymes to a single exo-negative species . The objective of this work was to rigorously investigate this suggestion, focusing on the evolutionary fate of DNA polymerase III (Pol III), the enzyme which Gram-positive bacteria specifically require for replicative DNA synthesis . The approach used Mycoplasma pulmonis as the model organism and exploited structural gene cloning, enzymology, and Pol III-specific inhibitors of the HPUra class as investigative tools . Our results indicate that M . pulmonis has strongly conserved a single copy of a structural gene homologous to polC, the Gram-positive bacterial gene encoding Pol III . M . pulmonis was found to possess a DNA polymerase that displays the size, primary structure, exonuclease activity, and level of HPUra sensitivity expected of a prototypical Gram-positive Pol III . The high level of sensitivity of M . pulmonis growth to Gram-positive Pol III-selective inhibitors of the HPUra type strongly suggests that Mycoplasma has conserved not only the basic structure of Pol III, but also its essential replicative function . Evidence for a second, HPUra-resistant polymerase activity in M . pulmonis is also described, indicating that the DNA polymerase composition of Mycoplasma is complex and closer to that of Gram-positive bacteria than previously thought. Phytochemistry, 1994 Sep, 37(1), 159 - 61 Cannabiorci- and 8-chlorocannabiorcichromenic acid as fungal antagonists from Cylindrocarpon olidum; Quaghebeur K et al.; Cannabiorcichromenic acid and 8-chlorocannabiorcichromenic acid {8-chloro-5-hydroxy-2,7-dimethyl-2-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran -6- carboxylic acid} were identified as active components in cultures of Cylindrocarpon olidum which antagonized various other fungi . Experiments performed with the purified acids confirmed the antifungal activity; in addition, they revealed that the acids had antibiotic properties towards gram-positive bacteria and were toxic to nematodes. Immunity, 1994 Sep, 1(6), 509 - 16 CD14 is a pattern recognition receptor; Pugin J et al.; Septic shock caused by a diverse group of bacterial pathogens is a serious human disease . Recognition of bacterial envelope constituents is one mechanism used by mammalian cells to initiate responses leading to bacterial killing or, unfortunately, responses that also cause fatal septic shock . Here we show that CD14 plays a key role in initiating cell activation by a group of bacterial envelope components from Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms, as well as mycobacteria . We propose that CD14 is a receptor used by mammalian cells to recognize and signal responses to a diverse array of bacterial constituents . This finding defines the molecular basis for innate microbial immunity; implicit in these findings are new possibilities for therapeutics. J Mol Biol, 1994 Aug 5, 241(1), 7 - 17 Correlation between DNA bending and transcriptional activation at a plasmid promoter; Perez-Martin J et al.; Plasmid pLS1 replicates in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . One of the elements controlling plasmid replication is an antisense RNA (ctRNA II), transcribed from promoter PctII, which should be expressed in all the hosts where the plasmid replicates . We show here that expression from PctII and the presence of curved DNA regions located upstream of this promoter are related . DNA fragments containing these upstream regions exhibit anomalous electrophoretic mobility, and their presence increases in vivo and in vitro transcription, apparently with an independence of any activator protein . RNA polymerase is able to bend a DNA fragment containing PctII, suggesting that an increase in the RNA polymerase-DNA contacts is an important step in transcription initiation . Furthermore, the upstream activating region could be substituted by targets of unrelated DNA-bending proteins . This finding supports the role of curved DNA as a transcriptional modulator. J Pediatr, 1994 Aug, 125(2), 253 - 8 Prevention of gram-positive sepsis in neonates weighing less than 1500 grams; Kacica MA et al.; A prospective, randomized study to evaluate the effectiveness of a continuous low-dose vancomycin infusion to prevent nosocomial gram-positive bacteremia was initiated within the first 2 weeks of life in neonates weighing < 1500 gm . Seventy-one infants received constant infusion of vancomycin (25 micrograms/ml) mixed with their total parenteral nutrition solution; 70 infants served as control subjects . The groups were clinically similar in birth weight, estimated gestational age, and severity of illness . Administration of vancomycin was begun at a mean age of 5.4 +/- 2.9 days . Infants had mean serum vancomycin concentrations of 2.4 micrograms/ml, and received vancomycin for a mean of 11 +/- 7 days . No vancomycin-resistant organisms were detected in surveillance cultures during the 2-year study period . Twenty-four of seventy control infants, in comparison with 1 of 71 infants receiving vancomycin, had gram-positive bacteremia (p < 0.001) . The addition of a low dose of vancomycin to alimentation fluids virtually eliminated the incidence of gram-positive bacteremia in an at-risk population of very low birth weight infants . However, the widespread use of vancomycin in total parenteral nutrition solution is not recommended until better data on the emergence of vancomycin-resistant organisms are available. Aust N Z J Med, 1994 Aug, 24(4), 374 - 7 Trends in bacterial infections in febrile neutropenic patients: 1986-1992; Gibson J et al.; BACKGROUND: Bacterial infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neutropenic patients . AIMS: (1) To review patterns and trends in bacterial infections in three cohorts of febrile neutropenic patients managed by a single unit over a seven year period . (2) To relate any changes to the use of central venous (Hickman's) catheters and high-dose cytosine arabinoside chemotherapy . METHODS: Retrospective review of the results of initial bacteriological work-up performed on 344 episodes of febrile neutropenia . The three cohorts were 1986-87 (n = 102), 1989-90 (n = 92) and 1991-92 (n = 150) . RESULTS: (1) The ratio of gram-negative to gram-positive bacteraemias fell from 1.36 in the first cohort to 1.05 in the second and 0.40 in the third (p = 0.03) . There was a fall in both percentage and number of gram-negative isolates coupled with a rise in the frequency of gram-positive isolates . (2) Coincidentally there was a rise in the frequency of positive cultures from Hickman catheter entry wounds and an increasing frequency of simultaneous isolation of the same organism from the catheter entry site and the blood . The types of organisms isolated from catheter entry wounds showed a trend towards fewer gram-negative and more gram-positive . (3) A relationship was observed between the use of high-dose cytosine arabinoside chemotherapy and the incidence of bacteraemia (p = 0.025) but not with the change in types of organisms . CONCLUSIONS: Over seven years we have documented a major change in the types of infections, particularly bacteraemias, seen in febrile neutropenic patients . In our institution the more widespread use of intravenous catheters and high-dose cytosine arabinoside chemotherapy have been identified as two possible contributing factors. Kidney Int, 1994 Aug, 46(2), 475 - 81 Interferon-gamma levels in peritoneal dialysis effluents: relation to peritonitis; Dasgupta MK et al.; As peritoneal macrophages require Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for bacterial lysis, IFN-gamma levels were measured in peritoneal dialysis effluents . (PDE) by a specific radioimmunoassay . High IFN-gamma levels were found in patients with peritonitis compared to low levels in patients without peritonitis (mean 9.73 +/- 2.63 SE U/ml, N = 39 vs . 0.25 +/- 0.04, N = 32) . IFN-gamma levels varied among different bacteria: Staph . aureus (highest: 23.4 +/- 5.7, N = 14), Staph . epidermidis (lower: 3.2 +/- 0.8, N = 13), other gram-positive (1.06 +/- 0.32, N = 6), gram-negative bacteria (lowest: 0.57 +/- 0.30, N = 6) . After treatment of peritonitis levels decreased . In corresponding blood and PDE samples, by comparing IFN-gamma levels in 10 peritoneal dialysis patients (5 with peritonitis, 5 without), levels were raised only in PDE of patients with peritonitis, implying local IFN-gamma production . Total lymphocytes, T, B and monocyte subsets in patients' plasma and PDE did not differ, except for a higher number of mononuclear cells in PDE of patients with peritonitis (P < 0.05) . Further investigation of in vitro IFN-gamma production in PDE with peritoneal monocytes, syngeneic host lymphocytes, and bacteria showed that Staph . aureus induced the highest levels of IFN-gamma and E . coli the lowest, in experiments with T cell enriched host lymphocytic fractions . We conclude that Staph . aureus peritonitis induces high levels of IFN-gamma in PDE, possibly by a T cell dependent superantigen response. J Dermatol, 1994 Aug, 21(8), 604 - 8 Oral minocycline improved keratosis follicularis squamosa (Dohi) and related disorder: bacterial factors are possibly involved in abberant keratinization; Katayama I et al.; Three cases of keratosis follicularis squamosa (Dohi) and one case of papillomatose confluente et reticulee were successfully treated with oral minocycline (50-100 mg/day) . The clinical effect first appeared at 2 weeks after the initiation of therapy and no recurrence was observed for more than 3 months without minocycline . Gram positive cocci were demonstrated inside the hair follicle and horny layers in all 4 case . Minocycline might modulate abberant keratinization through its bactericidal effects in these keratinizing disorders. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1994 Aug, 47(8), 881 - 6 Crocacin, a new electron transport inhibitor from Chondromyces crocatus (myxobacteria) . Production, isolation, physico-chemical and biological properties; Kunze B et al.; Crocacin was isolated from the biomass of the myxobacterium Chondromyces crocatus, strain Cm c3 . It inhibited the growth of a few Gram-positive bacteria and a wide spectrum of yeasts and molds . In beef heart submitochondrial particles, crocacin blocked the electron transport within the bc1-segment (complex III) and caused a red shift in the reduced spectrum of cytochrome b with a maximum at 569 nm. J Invertebr Pathol, 1994 Jul, 64(1), 52 - 61 Biomphalaria glabrata hemolymph lectins: binding to bacteria, mammalian erythrocytes, and to sporocysts and rediae of Echinostoma paraensei; Hertel LA et al.; Polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits to two groups of diffusely staining M line Biomphalaria glabrata plasma polypeptides, of 150-210 and 70-120 kDa, designated as Group 1 molecules (G1M) and group 2 molecules (G2M), respectively . G1M and G2M are known to increase in abundance and to become more diverse following infection of B . glabrata with the digenetic trematode Echinostoma paraensei . These antibodies were used in conjunction with immunoblotting and slot blotting procedures to document binding of G1M/G2M from plasma of unexposed control snails (C plasma) or plasma from snails with 8-day infections of E . paraensei (I plasma) to various targets . Binding of G1M/G2M to both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, human A, B, and O and rabbit erythrocytes, and to sporocysts and rediae of E . paraensei was documented . Immunoblots revealed that erythrocytes are bound by a particular G2M band of 100-120 kDa present in I plasma that is in low concentration or lacking in C plasma . This explains previous results indicating that I plasma agglutinates all 4 erythrocytes examined whereas C plasma agglutinates only rabbit erythrocytes . More G1M/G2M binding to sporocysts occurred if I plasma rather than C plasma was used for incubations . Also, monosaccharide inhibition of G1M/G2M binding to sporocysts was observed in I plasma but not in C plasma . The results indicate that infection with E . paraensei induces production by B . glabrata of unique plasma polypeptides and that molecules present in I plasma can bind to the surfaces of non-self objects including E . paraensei larvae in a lectin-like fashion. J Leukoc Biol, 1994 Jul, 56(1), 95 - 103 Role of endotoxin in mononuclear phagocyte-mediated inflammatory responses; Watson RW et al.; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is derived from the cell wall of gram-negative and some gram-positive bacteria, plays a major role is the pathogenesis of septic shock . Initiation of these responses depends on LPS interaction with a number of immune cells, not least the mononuclear phagocyte (MP) . Mononuclear phagocytes bind the LPS/lipopolysaccharide-binding protein complex through the CD14 receptor and thus mediate the release of a wide range of inflammatory mediators . Release of these mediators is teleologically beneficial but under certain circumstances may be detrimental, resulting in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome . The development of this syndrome is not clearly understood but appears, in part, to be dependent on the ability of the host to respond to these mediators . This review evaluates the mechanisms of LPS-MP interaction and the therapeutic strategies aimed at inhibiting this interaction. J Bacteriol, 1994 Jul, 176(14), 4459 - 62 Transformation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum with Tn916, Tn4001, and integrative plasmid vectors; Cao J et al.; Mycoplasma gallisepticum causes respiratory disease in avian species, but little is known about its mechanism(s) of pathogenesis . These studies were undertaken in order to develop genetic systems for analysis of potential virulence factors . M . gallisepticum was transformed with plasmids containing one of the gram-positive transposons Tn916 or Tn4001, which inserted randomly into the mycoplasmal chromosome . Plasmids containing cloned chromosomal DNA were also constructed and tested for integration into regions of DNA homology derived either from chromosomal fragments or from the gentamicin resistance marker from Tn4001 . These studies demonstrate that M . gallisepticum is amenable to transformation with both transposons and integrative vectors. J Bacteriol, 1994 Jul, 176(13), 4157 - 9 Physical map of Mycoplasma gallisepticum; Tigges E et al.; Physical chromosomal maps of two Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains, R and ATCC 19610, were constructed by using field inversion gel electrophoresis . To assist in the ordering of chromosomal fragments and the construction of the chromosomal maps, the gram-positive transposon Tn4001 was modified to serve as a mobile restriction site . The total sizes of the M . gallisepticum R and ATCC 19610 genomes were estimated to be 1,037 and 998 kb, respectively . The restriction enzyme locations for EagI and SmaI were determined along with several transposon insertion sites . The two strain maps were similar except for three small deletions and one additional EagI site in strain ATCC 19610. Am J Perinatol, 1994 Jul, 11(4), 282 - 5 Neonatal tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 response to infection; Ozdemir A et al.; Various studies have shown that in vitro production of cytokines by leukocytes from the newborn are normal, decreased, or increased . We investigated the blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) simultaneously to assess the cytokine response to systemic infection during the neonatal period . One or more cytokine levels were elevated in all of the newborns with sepsis . Serum TNF levels in the newborns with sepsis were significantly higher than the two control groups (P < 0.002) . Serum IL-6 levels in the study group were also found to be significantly higher than the control groups (P < 0.0004 for sepsis vs adult controls and P < 0.03 for sepsis vs newborn controls) . We could not find statistically significant correlation between any of the cytokine levels, C-reactive protein, white blood cells, and platelet counts and the outcome . Gram-negative bacteria were the main causative agents in these patients, although one of them was infected with gram-positive bacteria, besides one premature infant (29 weeks) with Candida sepsis also had significantly elevated TNF, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 levels . Our data show that both mature and premature neonates were able to produce and significantly increase the blood levels of the cytokines in response to sepsis . Because the biologic relevance of cytokine levels is not known, further prospective and sequential studies on cytokine levels simultaneously and correlation with clinical parameters are needed to clarify the biological role of this important component of the host defense system. Pediatr Res, 1994 Jul, 36(1 Pt 1), 115 - 21 Occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis may be dependent on patterns of bacterial adherence and intestinal colonization: studies in Caco-2 tissue culture and weanling rabbit models; Panigrahi P et al.; Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the leading causes of death in neonatal intensive care units . The underlying pathophysiology of NEC is poorly defined, although there is a suggestion that bacterial agents play an important role in the process . In this study, we evaluated bacterial isolates from 17 NEC cases and matched asymptomatic control infants . Isolates from NEC patients were no more likely than control isolates to be adherent to enterocytes, as assessed by a Caco-2 cell tissue culture model . Adherent Escherichia coli isolates, from both NEC cases and controls, were able to cause pathologic changes typical of NEC in a weanling rabbit ileal loop model . Adherence of E . coli strains to Caco-2 cells, and subsequent production of disease in weanling rabbits, could be blocked by coinfection with Gram-positive isolates from control children . In contrast, in three of four instances, adherent E . coli from NEC cases retained their adherence and caused illness in rabbits when coinfected with Gram-positive isolates from the homologous child . Our data suggest that patterns of intestinal adherence, as influenced by the underlying intestinal microbial ecology, play a role in the pathophysiology of NEC. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1994 Jul-Aug, 18(4), 297 - 302 Catheter-related infections associated with home parenteral nutrition and predictive factors for the need for catheter removal in their treatment; Buchman AL et al.; The inpatient and outpatient records were reviewed for 527 patients, including 138 children, who were discharged on home total parenteral nutrition and followed by the University of California, Los Angeles, home total parenteral nutrition service for a minimum of 1 week between April 1973 and October 1991 . The total follow-up time was 1154 patient years; the median follow-up time was 206 days (range 7 to 6344 days) . Thirty-six patients were followed for more than 10 years (median 12.7 years) . Three hundred fifteen adults (but only four children) were never infected . A total of 427 catheter-related infections occurred, giving an overall infection rate of 0.37 per patient year (0.51 per patient year in children and 0.28 per patient year in patients followed for more than 10 years) . Seventy percent of the infections overall were sepsis (0.26 per patient year); of those, 17% were exit site (0.06 per patient year), and 2% were tunnel (0.01 per patient year) infections . In children, 67% of the infections were sepsis (0.37 per patient year) and 24% were exit site (0.13 per patient year) . Fifty-four different organisms were responsible, and 12% of the infections were polymicrobial in origin . Sixty percent of sepsis in all patients was caused by Gram-negative organisms (44% of the catheters were removed) . Forty-three percent of sepsis in children was caused by Gram-negative organisms . Twenty-six percent of sepsis in all patients was caused by Gram-positive organisms (40% of the catheters were removed) . Thirty-six percent of sepsis in children was caused by Gram-positive organisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Phytochemistry, 1994 Jul, 36(5), 1273 - 6 Production of an isonitrile antibiotic by an UV-induced mutant of Trichoderma harzianum; Faull JL et al.; Production of the antibiotic, homothallin II, by a UV-induced mutant strain of Trichoderma harzianum is reported, the wild-type parent of which was not an isonitrile antibiotic-producer . The compound has broad antibiotic activity against Oomycete, Ascomycete and Basidiomycete fungi, and both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria . The significance of the induction of homothallin II is discussed. Curr Microbiol, 1994 Jul, 29(1), 23 - 9 Cloning and sequencing of the replication origin (oriC) of the Spiroplasma citri chromosome and construction of autonomously replicating artificial plasmids; Ye F et al.; A 5.6-kbp fragment of Spiroplasma citri DNA containing the dnaA gene has been cloned and sequenced . Nucleotide sequence analysis shows that this fragment harbors the genes for the replication initiator protein (dnaA), the beta subunit of DNA polymerase III (dnaN), and the DNA gyrase subunits A and B (gyrA and gyrB) . The arrangement of these genes, dnaA-dnaN-gyrB-gyrA, is similar to that found in all Gram-positive bacterial genomes studied so far, except that no recF gene was found between dnaN and gyrB . Several DnaA-box consensus sequences were found upstream of dnaA and in the dnaA-dnaN intergenic region . The dnaA region with the flanking DnaA-boxes and the tetracycline resistance determinant, tetM, were linked into a circular recombinant DNA . This DNA was able to replicate autonomously when introduced by electroporation into S . citri cells . These experiments show that the dnaA region with the DnaA-boxes is the origin of replication of S . citri and can be used to construct gene vectors. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1994 Jul-Dec, 153(7-12), 31 - 5 {Lavage of the infected peritoneal cavity using agarose-based immunoaffinity gel sorbents}; Bol'shakov IN et al.; In the paper antistaphylococcus and polymixine liquid sorbents are used to lavage infected rat abdominal cavity against gram-positive and gram-negative microfloral toxins . Sorbents have been revealed to remove erythrocyte antigens from the surface, that are affine to immobilized ligands on the matrix . Polymyxine affine sorbent arises quality of the usual lavage of the infected abdomen . 3 hour lavage by fresh portions of the affine sorbent removes fixed toxins from the abdominal surface . Sorbent injection into purulent abdomen for 24 hours provides blood detoxication. Infect Immun, 1994 Jul, 62(7), 2715 - 21 Gram-positive cell walls stimulate synthesis of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 by human monocytes; Heumann D et al.; Purified cell walls representing a wide variety in teichoic acid and peptidoglycan structure prepared from eight different gram-positive bacterial species induced the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 from human monocytes in the presence of 10% plasma or serum . Significant amounts of cytokines began to be produced at concentrations above 100 ng to 1 microgram of cell walls per ml, with maximal production requiring 10 to 100 micrograms of cell wall material per ml . In the absence of plasma, the cytokine-inducing capacity of cell wall preparations was lower by at least an order of magnitude . The serum-derived cofactor was inactivated by heating at 90 degrees C for 30 min, suggesting that the activity is associated with a protein . On the other hand, replacement of normal with hypogammaglobulinemic plasma, inactivation of complement (at 56 degrees C), and blockade by the monoclonal antibody MY4 of the CD14 receptors on monocytes did not inhibit the production of TNF-alpha induced by whole cell walls . Cell walls also stimulated production of TNF-alpha induced by whole cell walls . Cell walls also stimulated production of TNF-alpha in the presence of polymyxin B, and macrophages derived from the lipopolysaccharide-insensitive cell line of C3He/HeJ mice also produced this cytokine when stimulated by cell walls . Both peptidoglycan and the soluble glycan-teichoic acid component prepared by an enzymatic method from the same wall preparation exhibited a serum-dependent induction of TNF-alpha from monocytes, while stem peptides and disacharride peptides had only poor, if any, activity . Cell walls may contribute to the septic shock induced by gram-positive bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1994 Jun 15, 119(3), 303 - 8 Comparison of phylogenetic relationships based on phospholipid fatty acid profiles and ribosomal RNA sequence similarities among dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria; Kohring LL et al.; Twenty-five isolates of dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria were clustered based on similarity analysis of their phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids (PLFA) . Of these, 22 showed that phylogenetic relationships based on the sequence similarity of their 16S rRNA directly paralleled the PLFA relationships . Desulfobacter latus and Desulfobacter curvatus grouped with the other Desulfobacter spp . by 16S rRNA comparison but not with the PLFA analysis as they contained significantly more monoenoic PLFA than the others . Similarly, Desulfovibrio africanus clustered with the Desulfovibrio spp . by 16S rRNA but not with them when analyzed by PLFA patterns because of higher monoenoic PLFA content . Otherwise, clustering obtained with either analysis was essentially congruent . The relationships defined by PLFA patterns appeared robust to shifts in nutrients and terminal electron acceptors . Additional analyses utilizing the lipopolysaccharide-lipid A hydroxy fatty acid patterns appeared not to shift the relationships based on PLFA significantly except when completely absent, as in Gram-positive bacteria . Phylogenetic relationships between isolates defined by 16S rRNA sequence divergence represent a selection clearly different from the multi-enzyme activities responsible for the PLFA patterns . Determination of bacterial relationships based on different selective pressures for various cellular components provides more clues to evolutionary history leading to a more rational nomenclature. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1994 Jun, 38(6), 1408 - 12 Tetracycline resistance determinants in Mycobacterium and Streptomyces species; Pang Y et al.; Two of seven tetracycline-resistant (Tcr) Mycobacterium fortuitum group isolates and six Tcr clinical Streptomyces isolates carried gram-positive Tcr determinants (Tet K and Tet L) and Streptomyces resistance determinants (Otr A, Otr B, and Otr C) . This represents the first documentation of the acquisition by mycobacteria of determinants coding for antibiotic resistance and suggests the potential for the spread of antibiotic resistance determinants within mycobacterial species. Ophthalmic Surg, 1994 Jun, 25(6), 356 - 60 Microbial keratitis following penetrating keratoplasty; Tavakkoli H et al.; A retrospective study of 36 cases of infectious keratitis in the graft following 885 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties was conducted to evaluate the spectrum of pathogens and the factors affecting graft survival . Gram positive cocci and gram negative rods were equally responsible (47% in both cases) for 94% of the infections . Epithelial defects were responsible for 64% of the ulcers; suture-related infections, for 36% . After the infectious keratitis resolved, only 50% of the patients had a clear graft . Because the visual prognosis is poor once infectious keratitis develops, aggressive treatment is essential as soon as any sign of infiltration appears. Ther Drug Monit, 1994 Jun, 16(3), 293 - 7 Column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of vancomycin in serum; Demotes-Mainard F et al.; Concentrations of vancomycin in serum were measured by an automatic high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) micromethod . Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with broad application in the therapy of gram-positive infections . As this drug is potentially nephro- and ototoxic, a method to maximize its therapeutic benefit while minimizing the risk of toxicity is desirable . This fully automated HPLC method did not involve a sample pretreatment step . The configuration of the apparatus permitted a solid phase extraction of the serum sample on two precolumns filled with a reversed-phase material, followed by a chromatographic separation of the sample constituents on an analytical column . The reversed phase analytical column (muBondapak C18) was flushed with a mobile phase of water-acetonitrile-triethylamine, 870: 130: 4 (vol/vol/vol); the pH was adjusted to 3.0 with orthophosphoric acid . Precision was expressed as the coefficient of variation (CV), which was always < or = 4.13% for intra- and inter-assays (n = 10) in the range 2-50 micrograms/ml . We compared this specific HPLC determination to an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay (EMIT) . Fifty clinical samples obtained from patients under vancomycin therapy were assayed by each method and results compared using a linear regression analysis . There was a significant correlation between results from HPLC and EMIT: EMIT = 0.51 + 1 x HPLC (r = 0.963; p < 0.0001) . The rapidity and specificity of this HPLC micromethod make it suitable for use in the monitoring of serum levels of vancomycin and for use in pharmacokinetic studies of this antibiotic. Brain Behav Immun, 1994 Jun, 8(2), 163 - 9 Stress-induced alteration of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function in rats; Shurin MR et al.; We have used a laboratory model of footshock stress in rats to determine whether stressor-induced alterations can be induced in polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function . We studied the ability of peripheral blood PMN to ingest and kill gram-positive bacteria . A single, 1-h session of footshock stress did not alter the ability of PMN to ingest or kill bacteria . However, 3 consecutive days of a 1-h session of footshock stress significantly enhanced the phagocytic activity of PMN but suppressed the ability of PMN to kill bacteria . Thus, this experimental model suggests that both the phagocytic and killing functions of PMN can be altered by repeated exposure to a stressor. Nippon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi, 1994 Jun, 42(6), 946 - 50 {A case of perforated mitral valve aneurysm following aortic valve replacement associated with infective endocarditis}; Takahashi J et al.; A case of perforated mitral valve aneurysm following aortic valve replacement associated with infective endocarditis was reported . The patient was a 29-year-old man, who was suffering from high fever, Osler's nodules and headache . A brain abscess was recognized in a computed tomography and 3rd grade aortic regurgitation was recognized in echocardiogram and aortography . Hematological studies suggested the inflammation and gram-positive cocci was incubated from his arterial blood . Then infective endocarditis with aortic regurgitation was diagnosed . AVR was performed following 8 weeks treatment with antibiotics, when he had negative CRP and his blood culture . After the operation, he was received the intravenous antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks and oral antibiotic drugs was given following his hospital discharge . At 6 months after AVR, mitral valve aneurysm was recognized in his echocardiogram . At 30 months after AVR, the perforation of it was revealed and mitral valve replacement was performed with his negative blood culture . The patient was discharged 28th day after MVR . There has been no active inflammation from his first hospital discharge and following days, the mitral valve aneurysm and the perforation was caused by weakened tissue of the anterior mitral leaflet due to sibilant inflammatory change. Parasitology, 1994 Jun, 108 ( Pt 5), 533 - 42 Molecular characterization of two Schistosoma mansoni proteins sharing common motifs with the vif protein of HIV-1; Khalife J et al.; We have previously described a rat mAb directed against a peptide derived from the vif protein of HIV-1 that recognized two Schistosoma mansoni (Sm) antigens with a major band at 65 kDa . Epitope mapping of this mAb using overlapping hexapeptides derived from the vif peptide revealed that the motif recognized was PLPSVT . The screening of a Sm cDNA library led to the identification of two clones, Sm70 and Sm65 . The two deduced protein sequences did not share any common structural features apart from the epitope recognized by the mAb (see below), and did not show significant identity to sequences present in the data bases . However, the N terminus of the deduced sequence of the Sm70 protein exhibits a consensus sequence known to be an ATP/GTP binding site . Furthermore, the C terminus of the deduced Sm65 protein sequence was found to contain a conserved hexapeptide with a consensus sequence LPETGE reported to be an important motif of the surface proteins of gram-positive cocci . Both proteins exhibit a peptide sequence (PLRSVT for Sm70 and PVGSVT for Sm65) similar to the epitope recognized by the mAb anti-vif . Western blotting experiments showed that the mAb anti-vif reacted with both proteins . However, only Sm65 was recognized by sera from HIV-1-seropositive individuals, whereas both proteins were recognized by S . mansoni-infected patients. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1994 Jun, 47(6), 688 - 96 Structural studies of new macrolide antibiotics, shurimycins A and B; Kumazawa S et al.; The structures of new antibiotics, shurimycins A and B produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus A1491, were elucidated from the physico-chemical properties, 2D NMR techniques and chemical degradation experiments to be 36-membered macrolides related to azalomycins, scopafungin and guanidylfungins . Shurimycins were active against fungi and Gram-positive bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1994 Jun 1, 119(1-2), 83 - 8 Isolation of glucosinolate degrading microorganisms and their potential for reducing the glucosinolate content of rapemeal; Brabban AD et al.; A range of microorganisms were assessed for their ability to degrade glucosinolates, using sinigrin (2-propenyl glucosinolate) as a model compound . Eight different species capable of growing on sinigrin as a sole carbon source were isolated . These were predominantly Gram-positive bacteria which also degraded the natural glucosinolates within rapemeal . Growth of the majority of these organisms in a sinigrin/glucose liquid medium wass biphasic; glucose was utilised during the initial rapid phase of growth . The ability to degrade sinigrin was found to be unstable and was rapidly and irreversibly lost when organisms were cultured on sinigrin-free media. Mycopathologia, 1994 Jun, 126(3), 131 - 6 First reported Nocardia otitidiscaviarum infection in an AIDS patient in Italy; Castelli L et al.; Nocardiosis is a well-described infection in immunocompromised patients, and has been rarely documented in patients with AIDS . Nocardia asteroides is the most frequently isolated etiologic agent . Rare cases are due to N . brasiliensis and N . otitidiscaviarum . This work describes the first case of nocardiosis in Italy caused by N . otitidiscaviarum in an AIDS patient . A 31 year-old intravenous drug abuser with a diagnosis of full-blown AIDS, presented with high fever and lymphadenitis with a fistula draining copious purulent discharge . Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated, but the patient did not shown any improvement . Direct examination of the pus revealed numerous gram positive rods . When cultured N . otitidiscavarium was isolated and identified by morphological and biochemical tests. J Spinal Disord, 1994 Jun, 7(3), 206 - 15 The fate of autogenous bone graft in surgically treated pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis; McGuire RA et al.; A retrospective study of all surgically treated patients with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis grafted with autogenous bone for stability from 1980 to 1985 at the University of Miami and from 1985 to 1987 at Portsmouth Naval Hospital was performed . Eradication of infection occurred in all patients . Infection resolution occurred equally well in cases caused by gram-positive, gram-negative, and multiple organisms . In those patients requiring surgical treatment for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis, we found placement of autogenous bone graft at the time of primary debridement not to hinder eradication of infection . Arthrodesis occurred in 96% of the cases (26 of 27 patients). J Clin Microbiol, 1994 Jun, 32(6), 1526 - 31 Direct and rapid detection of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae DNA in animals by PCR; Makino S et al.; Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a gram-positive rod capable of causing erysipelas in swine . To establish a method for specifically detecting E . rhusiopathiae for practical applications, such as for the inspection of slaughterhouses, the feasibility of using primers derived from the DNA sequence coding for 16S rRNA in a PCR-specific detection system was investigated . Oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a 407-bp DNA fragment by PCR . The amplification was specific to the Erysipelothrix DNA but not to that of other bacterial genera tested . This PCR-based method efficiently and specifically detected the Erysipelothrix DNA sequence in joint and spleen samples from mice within 6 h, and application of the 407-bp DNA segment from samples containing very low numbers of bacteria (< 20 bacteria per spleen from mice) was possible . Although this PCR amplification is specific for the Erysipelothrix genus, which contains at least two species, E . rhusiopathiae and E . tonsillarum, it can be concluded that all Erysipelothrix strains detected by this PCR system in diseased pigs are E . rhusiopathiae because only E . rhusiopathiae is virulent for pigs . These results show that this PCR amplification system using the DNA sequence coding for 16S rRNA is very rapid and reliable and avoids cumbersome and lengthy cultivation steps, demonstrating that this system could be used for practical applications. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1994 May 15, 118(3), 283 - 9 Sequence analysis of cohesive ends of the actinophage RP3 genome and construction of a transducible shuttle vector; Kinner E et al.; The sequence of the cohesive ends of actinophage RP3 DNA has been determined . As with all other phages of Gram-positive bacteria that have been studied sofar, RP3 DNA has 3'-protruding ends . A shuttle cosmid has been constructed containing this cos area which can be efficiently transduced by phage RP3 to host cells of Streptomyces rimosus. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1994 May 2, 721, 386 - 98 Cloning and analysis of the genes for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation; Zylstra GJ et al.; Bacterial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons initially proceeds through monooxygenase or dioxygenase attack on the aromatic ring . The dihydroxylated compounds formed are substrates for ring cleavage and further catabolism to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates . A number of microbial strains, both gram positive and gram negative, have been isolated that have the metabolic capability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water . In addition, many of these strains have the ability to cometabolize structurally similar aromatic compounds that may not normally serve as metabolic inducers or as carbon sources . The genes from several of these strains have been cloned for the purpose of analyzing in more detail their structure and function . The cloned genes were used to determine the range of substrates that can be metabolized by the genetically encoded pathway . For instance, the cloned genes from Pseudomonas sp . XPW-2 placed in E . coli encoded for the oxidation of such polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as naphthalene, biphenyl, anthracene, phenanthrene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, fluoranthene, chrysene, and pyrene . The cloned genes were also used as genetic probes to determine the degree of homology, if any, there is between different microbial strains capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons . These experiments indicated significant homology among the class of terrestrial naphthalene and phenanthrene-degrading strains . Nevertheless, little homology was seen across species lines or among strains capable of degrading higher molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons . This indicates that there is a diversity of genetically distinct pathways for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation. J Bacteriol, 1994 May, 176(9), 2706 - 17 Complete nucleotide sequence of a circular plasmid from the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi; Dunn JJ et al.; We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of a small circular plasmid from the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Ip21, the agent of Lyme disease . The plasmid (cp8.3/Ip21) is 8,303 bp long, has a 76.6% A+T content, and is unstable upon passage of cells in vitro . An analysis of the sequence revealed the presence of two nearly perfect copies of a 184-bp inverted repeat sequence separated by 2,675 bp containing three closely spaced, but nonoverlapping, open reading frames (ORFs) . Each inverted repeat ends in sequences that may function as signals for the initiation of transcription and translation of flanking plasmid sequences . A unique oligonucleotide probe based on the repeated sequence showed that the DNA between the repeats is present predominantly in a single orientation . Additional copies of the repeat were not detected elsewhere in the Ip21 genome . An analysis for potential ORFs indicates that the plasmid has nine highly probable protein-coding ORFs and one that is less probable; together, they occupy almost 71% of the nucleotide sequence . Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the ORFs revealed one (ORF-9) with features in common with Borrelia lipoproteins and another (ORF-2) having limited homology with a replication protein, RepC, from a gram-positive plasmid that replicates by a rolling circle (RC) mechanism . Known collectively as RC plasmids, such plasmids require a double-stranded origin at which the Rep protein nicks the DNA to generate a single-stranded replication intermediate . cp8.3/Ip21 has three copies of the heptameric motif characteristically found at a nick site of most RC plasmids . These observations suggest that cp8.3/Ip21 may replicate by an RC mechanism. J Bacteriol, 1994 May, 176(9), 2603 - 10 Influence of transcriptional and translational control sequences on the expression of foreign genes in Caulobacter crescentus; Yap WH et al.; The influence of expression control sequences (ECSs; promoters and ribosome-binding sites {RBSs}), transcriptional terminators, and gene orientation on the expression of the Escherichia coli lacZ gene in the gram-negative microorganisms Caulobacter crescentus and E . coli was investigated . A series of broad-host-range expression vectors, based on the RK2 plasmid derivative pRK248, were constructed . The ECSs included the tac promoter, the promoter for the surface layer protein of C . crescentus, and promoters from a number of gram-positive bacteria together with their associated RBSs . In addition, synthetic ECSs were constructed by using diff