Klin Mikrobiol Infekc Lek, 2004 Dec, 10(6), 279 - 283 {Chemical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage in diagnostics of pneumonia.}; Julak J et al.; Samples of bronchoalveolar lavages, obtained from 182 patients hospitalised at Vseobecna fakultni nemocnice and Nemocnice Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, were analysed using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography . At least 9 %, using less strong criteria up to 20 % of samples, contained higher volatile fatty acids (VFA), indicating the presence of fermenting anaerobic bacteria, found neither by cultivation nor by microscopy . Further compounds appeared in most of chromatographic examinations, tentatively labelled as "alcohol" and "acetoin" . The second one occurred almost solely in samples from patients receiving the intensive care including mechanical ventilation . If characterised more precisely, it may serve as a potential marker of patients' status. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 2004 Nov, 99(7), 717 - 20 Epub 2005 Jan 12. Alteration in the endogenous intestinal flora of Swiss Webster mice by experimental Angiostrongylus costaricensis infection; Nobre V et al.; The association between worm infections and bacterial diseases has only recently been emphasized . This study examined the effect of experimental Angiostrongylus costaricensis infection on endogenous intestinal flora of Swiss Webster mice . Eight mice aging six weeks were selected for this experiment . Four were infected with A . costaricensis and the other four were used as controls . Twenty eight days after the worm infection, all mice in both groups were sacrificed and samples of the contents of the ileum and colon were obtained and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . In the mice infected with A . costaricensis there was a significant increase in the number of bacteria of the endogenous intestinal flora, accompanied by a decrease in the number of Peptostreptococcus spp . This alteration in the intestinal flora of mice infected by the nematode may help to understand some bacterial infections described in humans. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2005 Jan, 55(Pt 1), 473 - 8 Carnobacterium pleistocenium sp . nov., a novel psychrotolerant, facultative anaerobe isolated from permafrost of the Fox Tunnel in Alaska; Pikuta EV et al.; A novel, psychrotolerant, facultative anaerobe, strain FTR1(T), was isolated from Pleistocene ice from the permafrost tunnel in Fox, Alaska . Gram-positive, motile, rod-shaped cells were observed with sizes 0.6-0.7x0.9-1.5 mum . Growth occurred within the pH range 6.5-9.5 with optimum growth at pH 7.3-7.5 . The temperature range for growth of the novel isolate was 0-28 degrees C and optimum growth occurred at 24 degrees C . The novel isolate does not require NaCl; growth was observed between 0 and 5 % NaCl with optimum growth at 0.5 % (w/v) . The novel isolate was a catalase-negative chemoorganoheterotroph that used as substrates sugars and some products of proteolysis . The metabolic end products were acetate, ethanol and CO(2) . Strain FTR1(T) was sensitive to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, kanamycin and gentamicin . 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed 99.8 % similarity between strain FTR1(T) and Carnobacterium alterfunditum, but DNA-DNA hybridization between them demonstrated 39+/-1.5 % relatedness . On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, it is proposed that strain FTR1(T) (=ATCC BAA-754(T)=JCM 12174(T)=CIP 108033(T)) be assigned to the novel species Carnobacterium pleistocenium sp . nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2005 Jan, 55(Pt 1), 245 - 50 Cryptanaerobacter phenolicus gen . nov., sp . nov., an anaerobe that transforms phenol into benzoate via 4-hydroxybenzoate; Juteau P et al.; An anaerobic bacterium that transforms phenol and 4-hydroxybenzoate (4-OHB) into benzoate, strain LR7.2(T), was isolated from a culture originating from a mixture of swamp water, sewage sludge, swine waste and soil . Cells of strain LR7.2(T) are Gram-positive short rods (1x2 mum) that are electron-dense when observed by electron microscopy . The optimum pH and temperature for growth and transformation activity of 4-OHB are 7.5-8.0 and 30-37 degrees C, respectively . The bacterium does not use sulphate, thiosulphate, nitrate, nitrite, FeCl(3), fumarate or arsenate as an electron acceptor . It does not normally use sulphite, although stimulation of growth and 4-OHB transformation activity at a low concentration (up to 2 mM) has been reported previously under different culture conditions . The presence of 4-OHB or phenol is essential for growth; transformation of 4-OHB or phenol into benzoate is used to produce energy for growth . Using {(6)D}-phenol, 4-OHB was shown to be an intermediate in the transformation of phenol into benzoate . No spore was observed . The bacterium has a DNA G+C content of 51 mol% and its major membrane fatty acid is anteiso-C(15 : 0) . The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain LR7.2(T) shows only 90 % similarity to its closest relative (Pelotomaculum thermopropionicum) . From these results, a new taxon is proposed: Cryptanaerobacter phenolicus gen . nov., sp . nov . The type strain is LR7.2(T) (=ATCC BAA-820(T)=DSM 15808(T)). FEMS Microbiol Rev, 2005 Jan, 29(1), 119 - 44 Iron and heme utilization in Porphyromonas gingivalis; Olczak T et al.; Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium associated with the initiation and progression of adult periodontal disease . Iron is utilized by this pathogen in the form of heme and has been shown to play an essential role in its growth and virulence . Recently, considerable attention has been given to the characterization of various secreted and surface-associated proteins of P . gingivalis and their contribution to virulence . In particular, the properties of proteins involved in the uptake of iron and heme have been extensively studied . Unlike other Gram-negative bacteria, P . gingivalis does not produce siderophores . Instead it employs specific outer membrane receptors, proteases (particularly gingipains), and lipoproteins to acquire iron/heme . In this review, we will focus on the diverse mechanisms of iron and heme acquisition in P . gingivalis . Specific proteins involved in iron and heme capture will be described . In addition, we will discuss new genes for iron/heme utilization identified by nucleotide sequencing of the P . gingivalis W83 genome . Putative iron- and heme-responsive gene regulation in P . gingivalis will be discussed . We will also examine the significance of heme/hemoglobin acquisition for the virulence of this pathogen. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2005 Jan, 71(1), 214 - 9 Enantioselective synthesis of s-equol from dihydrodaidzein by a newly isolated anaerobic human intestinal bacterium; Wang XL et al.; A newly isolated rod-shaped, gram-negative anaerobic bacterium from human feces, named Julong 732, was found to be capable of metabolizing the isoflavone dihydrodaidzein to S-equol under anaerobic conditions . The metabolite, equol, was identified by using electron impact ionization mass spectrometry, (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and UV spectral analyses . However, strain Julong 732 was not able to produce equol from daidzein, and tetrahydrodaidzein and dehydroequol, which are most likely intermediates in the anaerobic metabolism of dihydrodaidzein, were not detected in bacterial culture medium containing dihydrodaidzein . Chiral stationary-phase high-performance liquid chromatography eluted only one metabolite, S-equol, which was produced from a bacterial culture containing a racemic mixture of dihydrodaidzein . Strain Julong 732 did not show racemase activity to transform R-equol to S-equol and vice versa . Its full 16S rRNA gene sequence (1,429 bp) had 92.8% similarity to that of Eggerthella hongkongenis HKU10 . This is the first report of a single bacterium capable of converting a racemic mixture of dihydrodaidzein to enantiomeric pure S-equol. Compend Contin Educ Dent, 2004 Oct, 25(10 Suppl 1), 21 - 7 Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic effects in gingival crevicular fluid from re-dosing during brushing; Barlow AP et al.; The IntelliClean System from Sonicare and Crest combines a rechargeable sonic power toothbrush and a novel liquid toothpaste into one integrated system, providing the opportunity to re-dose with toothpaste during the brushing cycle . The purpose of this study was to investigate cleaning effects from in-mouth re-dosing with toothpaste during the brushing cycle vs conventional bolus dosing . This was a randomized, examiner-blind, six-period, crossover clinical study . Eighteen adult subjects used an experimental integrated system employing either a re-dosing regimen (2 doses at the start of brushing with 1 additional in-mouth dose during the last 30 seconds of brushing {2+1}) or a conventional regimen (2 doses at the start of brushing only {2+0}) . Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was sampled at the final brushing quadrant from a preselected site in the gingival sulcus using filter strips at baseline and at 4, 15, and 120 minutes postbrushing . Mean change from baseline in the concentrations of total facultative anaerobes (TFAs) and gram-negative anaerobes (GNAs) in the GCF at 120 minutes posttreatment were modeled separately using general linear mixed models . Area under the curve of surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate {SDS}) in GCF over 2 hours postbrushing was calculated and modeled using an analysis of variance model . All hypotheses were tested 2-sided at the 5% significance level . Relative to the conventional regimen, the re-dosing (2+1) regimen produced a significantly greater reduction in log10 (TFA colony-forming units {CFU}/microL GCF) after brushing, 0.99+/-0.12 vs 0.65+/-0.12 (mean change +/- standard error), and a significantly greater reduction in log10 (GNA CFU/microL GCF) after brushing, 0.75 +/-0.14 vs 0.45 +/- 0.14 . The re-dosing regimen led to significantly more SDS in GCF relative to the conventional regimen over the 2-hour time period . Re-dosing of liquid toothpaste during the brushing cycle with the IntelliClean System leads to a significantly increased cleaning effect, as defined by a reduced bacterial count in GCF, and significantly higher levels of surfactant in the GCF up to 2 hours after the brushing event. J Periodontol, 2004 Nov, 75(11), 1500 - 8 Effect of subantimicrobial dose doxycycline as an effective adjunct to scaling and root planing; Lee JY et al.; BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a subantimicrobial dose of doxycycline (SDD) in conjunction with scaling and root planing (SRP) . METHODS: The study was a 9-month, double masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial . A total of 41 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis who received SRP were randomly allocated to receive either a doxycycline hyclate or a placebo 2 weeks after SRP . Clinical attachment level (CAL), the probing depth (PD), gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 and -13 levels were measured throughout the study . The effect of SDD in conjunction with SRP on the dynamics of the periodontal microflora was also assessed using dark-field microscopic and culture analysis . Information on adverse events was collected throughout the study . RESULTS: During the treatment period, per-patient reductions in PD and CAL were demonstrated for both treatment groups, with a significantly greater reduction for the SDD group . The mean value of per-patient change in the GCF was much greater for the SDD group . Microbial analysis showed there were a general tendency for cocci, non-motile rods, and aerobes to increase with increasing treatment duration and a general decreasing tendency for spirochetes, motile rods, and anaerobes and black pigmented bacteria in both treatment groups, but no significant difference between the groups . The MMP-8 and -13 levels of the SDD group gradually reduced with time, and the mean perpatient average was significantly higher than in the placebo group . The adverse events in the SDD group were similar to those in the placebo group . CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a submicrobial dose of doxycycline as an adjunct therapy with SRP might be safe and effective in the long-term management of chronic periodontitis. BMC Gastroenterol . 2005 Jan 4;5(1):1 {Epub ahead of print} A rare case of ascending colon actinomycosis mimicking cancer; Filippou D et al.; BACKGROUND: Actinomycosis is a rare inflammatory disease caused by an anaerobic bacterium that can rarely affect the large intestine . Case Presentation We present a rare case of a cecum and ascending colon actinomycosis in a 72 years old woman, mimicking clinically a malignant inflammatory tumor of the right colon . The patient complained of right lower quadrant pain . Although our first thought was a peri-appendiceal abscess, CT scan suggested a right colon tumor . The patient underwent a right colectomy and the histological examination of the specimen revealed colon actinomycosis . CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative diagnosis in colon actinomycosis is difficult to achieve . Treatment of choice is antibiotics administration . A review of the possible pathogenesis and therapeutic modalities is also presented. Antibiot Khimioter, 2004, 49(6), 20 - 4 {Optimization of tuberculosis complex chemotherapy with the use of moxifloxacin}; BALF nitrite as an indicator of inflammation in children with cystic fibrosis; Department of Pediatric Chest Diseases, Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TurkeyBACKGROUND: A unique substance reflecting the degree of inflammation localized to the lower respiratory tract in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been the concern of several investigators and nitric oxide has gained interest for this purpose in the last decades . OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytokine and nitrite levels by showing the relationship between them in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with CF and patients in which flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) was applied because of indications other than infection . METHODS: 20 children with CF with mean age 8.2 years and 10 children as control group with mean age 4.2 years were included in the study . Cultures for aerobes, anaerobes, fungi and mycobacteria, cell differentials, cytokine and nitrite measurements were made from BALF specimens . White blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), quantitative C-reactive protein (QCRP), cytokine and nitrite levels were measured from serum samples . RESULTS: BALF neutrophil, TNF-alpha, IL-8 and nitrite levels were significantly higher in patients with CF than control patients . There was no correlation between serum and BALF cytokine and nitrite levels . However, there was a significantly positive correlation between BALF IL-8 and nitrite levels in patients with CF (r = 0.5) and also in control patients (r = 0.6) . CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that BALF nitrite levels reflect the degree of inflammation localized to lower respiratory tract and may be a useful indicator of airway inflammation for patients with CF. Environ Health Perspect, 2005 Jan, 113(1), 62 - 7 Metabolic biomarkers for monitoring in situ anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation; Young LY et al.; During the past 15 years researchers have made great strides in understanding the metabolism of hydrocarbons by anaerobic bacteria . Organisms capable of utilizing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been isolated and described . In addition, the mechanisms of degradation for these compounds have been elucidated . This basic research has led to the development of methods for detecting in situ biodegradation of petroleum-related pollutants in anoxic groundwater . Knowledge of the metabolic pathways used by anaerobic bacteria to break down hydrocarbons has allowed us to identify unique intermediate compounds that can be used as biomarkers for in situ activity . One of these unique intermediates is 2-methylbenzylsuccinate, the product of fumarate addition to o-xylene by the enzyme responsible for toluene utilization . We have carried out laboratory studies to show that this compound can be used as a reliable indicator of anaerobic toluene degradation . Field studies confirmed that the biomarker is detectable in field samples and its distribution corresponds to areas where active biodegradation is predicted . For naphthalene, three biomarkers were identified {2-naphthoic acid (2-NA), tetrahydro-2-NA, and hexahydro-2-NA} that can be used in the field to identify areas of active in situ degradation. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants, 2004 Nov-Dec, 19(6), 803 - 9 Attachment of oral gram-negative anaerobic rods to a smooth titanium surface: an electron microscopy study; Kuula H et al.; PURPOSE: Attachment of bacteria to titanium may differ not only between bacterial species but also between strains within a species . The aim of the present in vitro study was to examine differences in bacterial attachment using 4 gram-negative anaerobic species of bacteria that are considered potential periodontal pathogens . MATERIALS AND METHODS: The attachment of clinical and laboratory strains (n = 23) representing 2 Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia to smooth, commercially pure titanium was examined using scanning electron microscopy . RESULTS: All bacterial strains were attached to the smooth titanium surface by their outer membrane . F nucleatum cells were poorly attached to the titanium, unlike P gingivalis or P intermedia cells, but only slight differences were observed in the quantity of attached cells between the strains within each bacterial group . DISCUSSION: In favorable conditions, some anaerobes can attach directly to an inert titanium surface . Microbial adhesion and subsequent colonization on the dental implant surface can lead to infection of the peri-implant tissue . CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the avidity of bacterial attachment to a smooth titanium surface varies between species of oral gram-negative anaerobes but not between strains. Med Hypotheses, 2005, 64(3), 543 - 6 Selective stimulation of the growth of anaerobic microflora in the human intestinal tract by electrolyzed reducing water; Vorobjeva NV; 96-99% of the "friendly" or residential microflora of intestinal tract of humans consists of strict anaerobes and only 1-4% of aerobes . Many diseases of the intestine are due to a disturbance in the balance of the microorganisms inhabiting the gut . The treatment of such diseases involves the restoration of the quantity and/or balance of residential microflora in the intestinal tract . It is known that aerobes and anaerobes grow at different oxidation-reduction potentials (ORP) . The former require positive E(h) values up to +400 mV . Anaerobes do not grow unless the E(h) value is negative between -300 and -400 mV . In this work, it is suggested that prerequisite for the recovery and maintenance of obligatory anaerobic microflora in the intestinal tract is a negative ORP value of the intestinal milieu . Electrolyzed reducing water with E(h) values between 0 and -300 mV produced in electrolysis devices possesses this property . Drinking such water favours the growth of residential microflora in the gut . A sufficient array of data confirms this idea . However, most researchers explain the mechanism of its action by an antioxidant properties destined to detox the oxidants in the gut and other host tissues . Evidence is presented in favour of the hypothesis that the primary target for electrolyzed reducing water is the residential microflora in the gut. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2005 Jan, 49(1), 438 - 40 Effect of parenteral antibiotic administration on establishment of intestinal colonization by Candida glabrata in adult mice; Pultz NJ et al.; We examined the effect of antibiotic treatment on establishment of intestinal colonization by Candida glabrata in adult mice . Subcutaneous ceftriaxone, piperacillin-tazobactam, clindamycin, and metronidazole promoted increased density of stool colonization, whereas cefepime, levofloxacin, and aztreonam did not . These findings suggest that antibiotics that inhibit intestinal anaerobes promote C . glabrata colonization. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2005 Jan, 49(1), 183 - 7 Induction of {beta}-defensin resistance in the oral anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis; Shelburne CE et al.; Induction of resistance of oral anaerobes to the effects of human beta-defensin 1 (hbetaD-1) to hbetaD-4 was investigated by pretreating cells with either sublethal levels of defensins or environmental factors, followed by a challenge with lethal levels of defensins . Cultures of Porphyromonas gingivalis were (i) pretreated with defensins at 1 ng/ml, (ii) heated to 42 degrees C (heat stress), (iii) exposed to normal atmosphere (oxidative stress), or (iv) exposed to 1 mM hydrogen peroxide (peroxide stress) . Samples (10 microl) were distributed among the wells of sterile 384-well plates containing hbetaD-1 to -4 (100 microg/ml) . Plates were incubated at 37 degrees C for 36 h in an anaerobe chamber . Growth inhibition was determined by a system that measures the total nucleic acid of a sample with a DNA binding dye . The MICs of the four defensins for P . gingivalis were 3 to 12 microg/ml . We found that sublethal levels of the defensins and heat and peroxide stress, but not oxidative stress, induced resistance to 100 microg of defensin per ml in P . gingivalis . Resistance induced by sublethal levels of hbetaD-2 lasted 90 min, and the resistance induced by each defensin was effective against the other three . Multiple strains exposed to hbetaD-2 all evidenced resistance induction . Defensin resistance is vital to the pathogenic potential of several human pathogens . This is the first report describing the induction of defensin resistance in the oral periodontal pathogen P . gingivalis . Such resistance may have an effect on the ability of oral pathogens to persist in the mouth and to withstand innate human immunity. J Infect Chemother, 2004 Dec, 10(6), 343 - 7 Can BacT/Alert FA and FN blood culture bottles increase the recovery of microorganisms in the clinical laboratory? Saito T, Iinuma Y, Takakura S, Fujihara N, Kudo T, Ichiyama S. To evaluate whether the use of BacT/Alert FA and FN blood culture bottles increases the yield of microorganisms, we performed a before-after study . BacT/Alert standard aerobic (AE) and anaerobic (AN) bottles were used from January 1999 to May 2001 (before period) . FA and FN bottles were used from May 2001 to March 2003 (after period) . A total of 7796 AE, 7807 AN, 4798 FA, and 4787 FN bottles were processed . There were 742 (9.5%) AE-, 598 (7.7%) AN-, 521 (10.7%) FA-, and 396 (8.3%) FN-positive bottles . From these positive bottles 776, 631, 585, and 487 microorganisms were isolated, respectively . Among the isolated microorganisms, 58 (7.5%) and 59 (10.1%) Candida species were isolated from AE and FA bottles, respectively, and 17 (2.7%) and 21 (4.3%) obligate anaerobes were isolated from AN and FN bottles, respectively . We conclude that BacT/Alert FA and FN bottles showed a higher percentage of positivity for microorganisms, in particular for Candida species and obligate anaerobes. Arch Dis Child, 2005 Jan, 90(1), 70 - 3 Empyema: the use of broad range 16S rDNA PCR for pathogen detection; Saglani S et al.; BACKGROUND: An increase in the incidence of thoracic empyema in children has been reported . The causative pathogen is often unknown as pleural fluid is frequently sterile at the time of culture . The role of unusual organisms is unclear . AIMS: (1) To compare the detection of organisms in pleural fluid from children with empyema using a molecular technique (16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) and bacterial culture . (2) To compare the concordance of organisms identified using the two techniques and the influence of prior antibiotic treatment on positive detection rate . METHODS: Pleural fluid from children admitted with empyema between January 2000 and February 2002 was cultured and additionally analysed using broad range 16S rDNA PCR . RESULTS: Pleural fluid was cultured from 32 patients, aged 1 month-16 years . Median duration of previous antibiotic therapy was 8 days (range 1-42 days) . Six samples were culture positive and 22 were PCR positive . A causal organism was detected by PCR alone, after considering results from the local hospital, in 14 patients . There was complete concordance in organisms cultured and detected by PCR . Additional organisms detected by PCR were predominantly S pneumoniae, S pyogenes, and anaerobes . CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of pleural fluid by broad range 16S rDNA PCR in addition to culture, increases organism identification in empyema. Int Braz J Urol, 2004 Sep-Oct, 30(5), 367 - 76 Pelvic actinomycosis . Urologic perspective; Marella VK et al.; PURPOSE: Actinomycosis is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by the gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, Actinomyces israelli . This paper reviews the etiology and clinical presentation associated with Actinomycosis that often presents as a pelvic mass that mimics a pelvic malignancy . MATERIALS AND METHODS: A combination of patients treated by the authors in the recent past and a literature review of patients with pelvic Actinomycosis were assessed for demographic, clinical and predisposing co-factors . An analysis is made of age distribution, gender, diagnostic methods and treatment concepts . RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included in the study that included 2 current patients and 31 obtained from literature review . There were 27 females (age range 16 - 69 years, mean 38 years) and 6 males (16 - 55 years, mean 36 years) . Presenting signs and symptoms were lower abdominal mass in 28 (85%); lower abdominal pain in 21 (63%); vaginal discharge or hematuria in 7 (22%) . Two patients developed fistulae (entero-vesico 1; vesico-cutaneous 1) . Nineteen (70%) of the 27 female patients had intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUD) . Four patients (12.5%) (3 males and 1 female) had urachus or urachal remnants . Cystoscopy in 12 patients noted an extrinsic mass effect, bullous edema and in one patient " vegetative proliferation " proven to be a chronic inflammatory change . Exploratory laparotomy was performed in 32 of the 33 patients who had excision of mass and involved organs . Diagnosis was established by histologic examination of removed tissue . Penicillin (6 weeks) therapy was utilized to control infections . CONCLUSION: Pelvic actinomycosis mimics pelvic malignancy and may be associated with the long-term use of intra-uterine contraceptive devices, and persistent urachal remnants . Removal of infected mass and antibiotic therapy will eradicate the inflammatory process. Gerodontology, 2004 Dec, 21(4), 209 - 15 Oral health and reduction in respiratory capacity in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly people: a population-based 5-year follow-up study; Hamalainen P et al.; OBJECTIVES: Several anaerobic bacteria originating in periodontal pockets have been isolated from infected lungs and pharyngeal microflora . Increased bacterial load in lungs is known to be a risk factor for decline in forced expiratory volume during the first second . The aim was to evaluate both cross-sectionally and longitudinally the association between oral health status and forced expiratory volume during the first second (FEV1) in older residents of the city of Jyvaskyla, Finland . DESIGN: Cross-sectional and prospective cohort study over a 5-year follow-up . SETTING: Research laboratory of the University of Jyvaskyla . PARTICIPANTS: In 1990 dental status and FEV1 were examined in 203 80-year-old people, of whom 88 survivors were retested 5 years later . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: dental status and FEV1 . Secondary: existence of pulmonary diseases, height, handgrip strength, smoking, and length of education . RESULTS: Participants were regrouped into three categories according to their baseline oral health status . At baseline, men with complete prostheses had the lowest FEV1 . Five years later the greatest reduction in FEV1 was seen in subjects with poor periodontal status or complete prostheses (-9.4%) while those with healthy periodontal status showed no reduction in FEV1 values (+1.0%, p = 0.006) . CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal infections and complete prostheses may be reservoirs for pathogens which may be harmful and partly explain the observed reduction in FEV1 during ageing. Bull Acad Natl Med, 2004, 188(3), 473 - 86; discussion 486-90 {Necrotizing soft tissue infections: role of the localization for the antibiotic management}; Wattel F et al.; Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) are infrequent but life-threatening, and require prompt empirical antibiotic therapy . Current nosologic classifications have limited value because the criteria used are imprecise and their bacteriological specificity is uncertain . The aim of this study was to describe the bacterial flora and its antibiotic sensitivity in a cohort of patients with NSTI, and to derive guidelines for the choice of antimicrobial chemotherapy . This prospective study involved 120 patients . Aerobic and anaerobic bacteriological samples were taken from infected soft tissues . The species distribution and susceptibility of the isolates to various antibiotic (ATB) combinations were analyzed . The data were analyzed according to the type (cellulitis versus myonecrosis) and anatomical location of NSTI (abdomen and perineum; uterine cervix; limbs) . The chi-square test was used to analyze qualitative variables, and Student's t test was used for quantitative variables . A total of 232 samples yielded bacterial isolates (122 aerobic, 110 anaerobic) . The species distribution of anaerobes did not differ according to the nature of the involved tissue or the anatomic location . Gram-negative aerobes were more frequently isolated from abdominal, perineal and limb sites than from the cervix (p<0.05), while gram-positive aerobes showed the reverse distribution (p<0.05) . Metronidazole was more effective than clindamycin on cervical isolates (95% vs 88%, p=0.0093) . Among the broad-spectrum antibiotics tested, imipenem/cilastatin and piperacillin/tazobactam were equally effective against the different groups of bacteria (94% vs 88%, p=0.14), and were clearly more active than the other antibiotics (p<0.05), whatever the site of isolation, the bacterial species, and the type of NSTI . The five antibiotics tested showed similar efficacy against cervical isolates . These results suggest that the choice of antibiotic therapy for NSTI should depend on the anatomical site of involvement rather than the nature of the infection . For abdominal, perineal and limb NSTI, we recommend first-line treatment with a betalactam-inhibitor combination (piperacillin/tazobactam or ticarcillin/clavulanate) plus an agent active on gram-negative species (aminoglycoside or fluoroquinolone) . For cervical NSTI, we recommend penicillin G/metronidazole, or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. J Clin Microbiol, 2004 Dec, 42(12), 5940 - 3 Peripartum bacteremias due to Leptotrichia amnionii and Sneathia sanguinegens, rare causes of fever during and after delivery; De Martino SJ et al.; We report three cases of delivery and postpartum bacteremia due to unusual anaerobic bacteria in healthy young women . Leptotrichia amnionii bacteremia occurred during delivery in two mothers and was associated with fetal distress during labor . Conversely, Sneathia sanguinegens bacteremia occurred postpartum, 2 days after delivery, without consequence for the neonate. J Clin Microbiol, 2004 Dec, 42(12), 5892 - 4 Use of species-directed 16S rRNA gene PCR primers for detection of Atopobium vaginae in patients with bacterial vaginosis; Ferris MJ et al.; Recent studies suggest that the association between a metronidazole-resistant anaerobe, Atopobium vaginae, and bacterial vaginosis (BV) warrants further investigation . In the present study, specific primers enhanced detection of A . vaginae and provided additional evidence that this bacterium is prevalent among patients with BV but absent among patients with normal vaginal flora. Biochemistry, 2004 Dec 14, 43(49), 15480 - 93 Multiple orientations in a physiological complex: the pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase--ferredoxin system; Pieulle L et al.; Ferredoxin I from Desulfovibrio africanus (Da FdI) is a small acidic {4Fe-4S} cluster protein that exchanges electrons with pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), a key enzyme in the energy metabolism of anaerobes . The thermodynamic properties and the electron transfer between PFOR and either native or mutated FdI have been investigated by microcalorimetry and steady-state kinetics, respectively . The association constant of the PFOR-FdI complex is 3.85 x 10(5) M(-1), and the binding affinity has been found to be highly sensitive to ionic strength, suggesting the involvement of electrostatic forces in formation of the complex . Surprisingly, the punctual or combined neutralizations of carboxylate residues surrounding the {4Fe-4S} cluster slightly affect the PFOR-FdI interaction . Furthermore, hydrophobic residues around the cluster do not seem to be crucial for the PFOR-FdI system activity; however, some of them play an important role in the stability of the FeS cluster . NMR restrained docking associated with site-directed mutagenesis studies suggested the presence of various interacting sites on Da FdI . The modification of additional acidic residues at the interacting interface, generating a FdI pentamutant, evidenced at least two distinct FdI binding sites facing the distal {4Fe-4S} cluster of the PFOR . We also used a set of various small acidic partners to investigate the specificity of PFOR toward redox partners . The remarkable flexibility of the PFOR-FdI system supports the idea that the specificity of the physiological complex has probably been "sacrificed" to improve the turnover rate and thus the efficiency of bacterial electron transfer. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 2004, 9 Suppl, 69 - 74; 63-9 Periimplantitis; Sanchez-Garces MA et al.; Orodental rehabilitation through the use of implants offers very high success rates . In this paper, we describe some of the complications involved with this technique, such as periimplant disease and, within this category, periimplantitis, an inflammatory reaction in which there is a loss of the bony support of the implant accompanied by inflammation . The aetiology of the disease is conditioned by the status of the tissue surrounding the implant, implant design, degree of roughness, the poor alignment of implant components, external morphology and excessive mechanical load . The microorganisms most commonly associated with implant failure are spirochetes and mobile forms of Gram-negative anaerobes, unless the origin is the result of simple mechanical overload . Diagnosis is based on changes of colour in the gum, bleeding and probing depth of periimplant pockets, suppuration, x-ray and gradual loss of bone height around the tooth . Treatment will differ depending upon whether it is a case of mucositis or periimplantitis . Therapeutic objectives focus on correcting technical defects by means of surgery and decontamination techniques (abrasion with carbon particles, citric acid solution, topical tetracycline application and laser surgery) . This study also presents a microbiological study of periimplantitis conducted by the Barcelona School of Dentistry that determined that the antibiotic therapy proven to be most efficacious in the antibiogram was the association of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 2004, 9 Suppl, 122 - 5; 120-2 Third molar infections; Gutierrez-Perez JL; Pericoronitis is an infectious disease often associated with the eruption of a third molar . It can be either acute (serous and suppurative) or chronic . Pain is usually the predominant symptom in acute stages, whereas chronic forms of the disease may display very few symptoms . Both present exudate . The infection is multimicrobial, predominantly caused strictly by betalactamase-producing anaerobeic microorganisms . Treatment measures are symptomatic, antimicrobial and surgical . Antimicrobial treatment is indicated for preoperative prophylaxis when there is a high risk of postoperative infection and, during the acute stages of suppurative pericoronitis when surgery must be postponed . First-line treatment in this case consists of amoxicillin with associated clavulanic acid . Although surgical treatment of pericoronitis presenting at the third molar is indicated as a Grade C recommendation for extraction, it is the most common indication for extraction of a retained third molar, owing to the improved quality of life it can offer the patient. Nature, 2004 Dec 2, 432(7017), 618 - 22 Trichomonas hydrogenosomes contain the NADH dehydrogenase module of mitochondrial complex I; Hrdy I et al.; Hydrogenosomes are double-membraned ATP-producing and hydrogen-producing organelles of diverse anaerobic eukaryotes . In some versions of endosymbiotic theory they are suggested to be homologues of mitochondria, but alternative views suggest they arose from an anaerobic bacterium that was distinct from the mitochondrial endosymbiont . Here we show that the 51-kDa and 24-kDa subunits of the NADH dehydrogenase module in complex I, the first step in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, are active in hydrogenosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis . Like mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase, the purified Trichomonas enzyme can reduce a variety of electron carriers including ubiquinone, but unlike the mitochondrial enzyme it can also reduce ferredoxin, the electron carrier used for hydrogen production . The presence of NADH dehydrogenase solves the long-standing conundrum of how hydrogenosomes regenerate NAD+ after malate oxidation . Phylogenetic analyses show that the Trichomonas 51-kDa homologue shares common ancestry with the mitochondrial enzyme . Recruitment of complex I subunits into a H2-producing pathway provides evidence that mitochondria and hydrogenosomes are aerobic and anaerobic homologues of the same endosymbiotically derived organelle. Biol Chem, 2004 Nov, 385(11), 1041 - 7 Roles of Arg- and Lys-gingipains in coaggregation of Porphyromonas gingivalis: identification of its responsible molecules in translation products of rgpA, kgp, and hagA genes; Abe N et al.; Arg- (Rgp) and Lys-gingipains (Kgp) are two individual cysteine proteinases produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis , an oral anaerobic bacterium, and are implicated as major virulence factors in a wide range of pathologies of adult periodontitis . Coaggregation of this bacterium with other oral bacteria is an initial and critical step in infectious processes, yet the factors and mechanisms responsible for this process remain elusive . Here we show that the initial translation products of the rgpA , kgp and hemagglutinin hagA genes are responsible for coaggregation of P . gingivalis and that the proteolytic activity of Rgp and Kgp is indispensable in this process . The rgpA rgpB kgp- and rgpA kgp hagA -deficient triple mutants exhibited no coaggregation activity with Actinomyces viscosus , whereas the kgp -null and rgpA rgpB -deficient double mutants significantly retained this activity . Consistently, the combined action of Rgp- and Kgp-specific inhibitors strongly inhibited the coaggregation activity of the bacterium, although single use of Rgp- or Kgp-specific inhibitor significantly retained this activity . We also demonstrate that the 47- and 43-kDa proteins produced from the translation products of the rgpA , kgp , and hagA genes by proteolytic activity of both Rgp and Kgp are responsible for the coaggregation of P . gingivalis. Hinyokika Kiyo, 2004 Oct, 50(10), 717 - 20 {A case of retroperitoneal abscess by anaerobic bacteria}; Kamoto A et al.; A case of retroperitoneal abscess with an unknown origin is presented . A 60-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of fever and right flank pain . Abdominal computed tomography and ultrasound examination revealed retroperitoneal abscess posterior to right kidney . Percutaneous drainage and administration of antibiotics were performed . Then, both symptoms were improved . The fluid culture proved to be anaerobic bacteria, Peptostreptococcus species and Porphyromonas asaccharolytica . She had no history of surgery or diabetes mellitus . The origin of this abscess was unknown. Respir Care, 2004 Dec, 49(12), 1530 - 41 Appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy of nosocomial pneumonia: the role of the carbapenems; Kollef MH; Nosocomial pneumonia is the leading cause of death in patients with hospital-acquired infections . The development of nosocomial pneumonia prolongs hospitalization, which may cause additional days in the intensive care unit, thereby increasing overall health care costs . Empiric treatment of nosocomial pneumonia with therapies that are subsequently shown to be inappropriate therapy (defined as antimicrobial therapy that does not cover the infecting pathogens) has a detrimental effect on patient survival and can increase morbidity, length of hospital stay, and mortality . Delayed therapy can also have similar consequences . Therefore, it is necessary to begin treatment with the most appropriate regimen as soon as possible . This review considers the early use of appropriate, broad-spectrum empiric antimicrobial therapy for treating patients with nosocomial pneumonia and describes where and when the carbapenems are particularly useful . The carbapenems are active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including anaerobes; resistance to carbapenems remains rare. Transfus Med, 2004 Dec, 14(6), 391 - 8 A novel method for the detection of bacteria in platelet concentrates utilizing oxygen consumption as a marker for bacterial growth; McDonald CP et al.; Bacterial transfusion-transmission remains a significant problem in transfusion medicine . Diversion and improved donor arm disinfection has been introduced by blood services to reduce bacterial transmissions . These interventions are not 100% effective and, therefore, there is still a requirement to screen blood donations, particularly platelet concentrates which are responsible for the majority of transmissions . Pall BDS, a novel bacterial testing system, detects the presence of bacteria in platelet concentrates by measuring the reduction in oxygen content associated with bacterial growth . Buffy coat-derived pooled platelet concentrates were spiked with 12 aerobic and two anaerobic organisms (one species per bag, n = 10) at 100-700 cfu mL(-1) . Samples were taken into Pall BDS sample pouches and incubated for 0, 24, 30 and 48 h . An initial incubation was undertaken at 35 degrees C for 24 h and subsequent incubation was at 22 degrees C . At the end of the incubation period the oxygen content in the Pall BDS pouches was measured using a gas analyser . An oxygen content less than or equal to 19.5% was deemed to be positive . Pall BDS pouches tested positive in 80, 94 and 98% units spiked with aerobic bacteria at 24, 30 and 48 h, respectively . Anaerobic bacteria were not detected by the system . Positive BDS pouches contained 10(6) cfu mL(-1) or greater . The system was simple and easy to perform . Pall BDS has a closed sampling system which prevents exogenous contamination . This initial study indicates that the Pall BDS offers a practicable system for detecting bacteria present in leucodepleted platelet concentrates. Water Sci Technol, 2004, 50(8), 185 - 92 Pretreatment of silk-dyeing industrial wastewater by UASB reactor; Karnchanawong S et al.; The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor as the pretreatment system for silk-dyeing wastewater . Two laboratory-scale UASB reactors, with working volume of 15.59 I, were used during May 1998 to June 1999 . The actual wastewater was diluted to reduce ammonium ion toxicity on anaerobic bacteria . The experiments were conducted at the organic loading rates (OLRs) of 0.52, 1.01, 1.04, 1.54 and 2.56 kgCOD/(m3 x d), treating only wastewater generated from the acid-dye process of mixed-species raw silk . It took approximately 4 1/2 months to reach the steady-state conditions . It was found that the COD removal was in the ranges of 74.1-85.3%, except at OLR 2.56 kgCOD/(m3 x d) where efficiency significantly dropped to 55.2% . The apparent color removal was in the similar trend as COD . During the study periods, wastewater input had various color shades while the effluent generally looked pale yellowish . The methane generation rates ranged from 0.18-0.31 m3/kg COD removed, with methane composition 81.0-88.1% in biogas . The average granule size in the sludge bed had slowly increased to 0.73 mm in the last experiment . It can be concluded that the UASB reactor is suitable as a pretreatment system for silk-dyeing wastewater . An OLR of 1 kgCOD/(m3 x d) and an influent concentration diluted to 2,600 mgCOD/l are suggested while COD and apparent color removal efficiency of 80% and 70%, respectively, can be expected. J Periodontol, 2004 Oct, 75(10), 1343 - 9 Killing of periodontopathogenic bacteria by photodynamic therapy; Pfitzner A et al.; BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate a new approach for killing periodontopathogenic bacteria using photodynamic therapy (PDT) . METHODS: In this study, we investigated the photosensitizers chlorin e6, BLC 1010, and BLC 1014 by three different methods for their effect in PDT on the viability of periodontopathogenic bacterial species . The methods included examination of inhibition zones on agar plates, determination of colony-forming units (CFU), and the use of a bacterial viability kit . RESULTS: Using the CFU method, we were able to demonstrate that the anaerobic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Capnocytophaga gingivalis can be photoinactivated completely by illumination with an intensity of 5.3 J/cm2 in the presence of 10 microM chlorin e6 and 10 microM BLC 1010 . With the photosensitizers chlorin e6 and BLC 1010, we were able to induce zones of inhibition on agar plates . BLC 1014 failed to produce a zone of inhibition . The results of the bacterial viability test also showed that the photosensitizer BLC 1014 provides the lowest photodynamic effect in comparison to the others . CONCLUSION: The data collected to date suggest that photodynamic therapy with chlorin e6 and BLC 1010 is advantageous for suppressing periodontopathogenic bacteria. J Laryngol Otol, 2004 Oct, 118(10), 771 - 7 Cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis: can we expect a favourable outcome? Panda NK, Simhadri S, Sridhara SR. Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck is an uncommon, progressive, destructive soft tissue infection of mixed aerobic and anaerobic organisms, having high mortality if left untreated (22 to 100 per cent) . This study makes an attempt to analyse various factors and management methods determining the overall prognosis . A retrospective analysis of all cases of necrotizing fasciitis involving the head and neck, with exclusion of those involving the eyelid and the scalp, was undertaken . Various parameters such as demography, aetiology, complications, management and outcome were studied . Males outnumbered the females with the latter having a greater risk of involvement after 60 years . Odontogenic infection was the primary source of infection . Anaerobes were cultured in seven out of 17 cases, with six others showing mixed Gram positive and Gram negative organisms . Anaemia was the most commonly associated illness, with diabetes affecting four out of 17 cases . Aggressive surgical debridement with triple antibiotic therapy was used in the management of necrotizing fasciitis with an overall mortality of 11.8 per cent . Patients having late referral, anaemia and one or other complication had increased duration of total hospital stay . Better results can be obtained with proper control of infection by early diagnosis, aggressive surgical debridement and triple antibiotic therapy, along with timely control of complications and associated illnesses. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 2004 Oct, 86(3), 283 - 5 Shewanella putrefaciens in a fuel-in-water emulsion from the Prestige oil spill; Martin-Gil J et al.; Microorganisms that colonize the fuel-in-water emulsion from the Prestige spill have been compared with those from Exxon-Valdez . Both emulsions contained non-fermentative gram-negative rods but unlike Exxon-Valdez's, the Prestige's spill contained anaerobic bacteria and no fungi . Our main finding has been the identification of Shewanella putrefaciens , a bacterium promising for bioremediation. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 2004 Oct, 86(3), 241 - 7 Pectinatus portalensis nov . sp., a relatively fast-growing, coccoidal, novel Pectinatus species isolated from a wastewater treatment plant; Gonzalez JM et al.; The genus Pectinatus is currently composed by two species, Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus and Pectinatus frisingensis , both asociated with beer spoilage . This study describes a novel isolate (strain B6) retrieved from a wastewater treatment plant collecting residues from a large number of wineries . Based on similarity analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain B6 belongs to the genus Pectinatus . Strain B6 is a strict anaerobe like other Pectinatus species and it presents non-motile, coccoid cells showing a slight oval shape . Strain B6 shows marked physiological differences with other Pectinatus species both in fatty acid composition and carbon source utilization . The most abundant fatty acids found in strain B6 were 18:1 (42.8%) and 16:0 (18.3%) representing a total of over 61% of fatty acids in this microorganism while these fatty acids represented 41.3% in P . cerevisiiphilusT and 2.4% in P . frisingensisT of their total . Fatty acid 15:0 was not significant in strain B6 and represented 28.6% and 13.3% for P . cerevisiiphilusT and P . frisingensisT, respectively . Strain B6 showed a faster growth rate and higher optimum temperature than its relatives P . cerevisiiphilus and P . frisingensis . Strain B6, P . cerevisiiphilus and P . frisingensis could be clearly differentiated by acid production tests from substrates such as esculine and gluconate, and the lack of acid production from rhamnose and fucose among others . G+C mol% content in strain B6 is 36.5% . Based on genotypic and phenotypic differences, strain B6 is proposed as a novel Pectinatus species, P . portalensis nov . sp . Both strain B6 and the two described species of Pectinatus grow on beers and wines . These results provide insights about the origin and reservoirs of Pectinatus species and spoiling alcoholic beverages. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2005 Jan, 66(4), 356 - 66 Epub 2004 Nov 05. Biotechnology of desulfurization of diesel: prospects and challenges; Gupta N et al.; To meet stringent emission standards stipulated by regulatory agencies, the oil industry is required to make a huge investment to bring down the sulfur content in diesel to the desired level, using conventional hydrodesulfurization (HDS) technology, by which sulfur is catalytically converted to hydrogen sulfide in the presence of hydrogen . These reactions proceed rapidly only at high temperature and pressure and therefore the capital cost as well as the operating cost associated with HDS very high . Biological desulfurization has the potential of being developed as a viable technology downstream of classical HDS . Various attempts have been made to develop biotechnological processes based on microbiological desulfurization employing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . However, there are several bottlenecks limiting commercialization of the process . This review discusses various aspects of microbial desulfurization and the progress made towards its commercialization. Bull Tokyo Dent Coll, 2004 May, 45(2), 77 - 85 Colonization by Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia from teeth to osseointegrated implant regions; Takanashi K et al.; Colonization by periodontopathic bacteria is a risk factor for peri-implantitis . The purpose of this study was to investigate the colonization by black-pigmented anaerobic bacteria that occurs between the time before fixture installation and 6 months after inserting superstructures in implant treatment in partial edentulous cases . Dental plaque was serially collected from around the natural teeth and implants in 12 patients in whom a dental implant was indicated, and Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) . One month after connecting the abutment, the detection rate of P . gingivalis per site from around the implants was 63.7% and that of P . intermedia was 50.8% . Six months after superstructure setting, the detection rate per site of P . gingivalis from around the implants was 56.8% and that of P . intermedia was 41.1% . When chromosomal DNA segmentation patterns in the isolated P . gingivalis and P . intermedia were compared using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), the patterns in the natural teeth were in accordance with those in the implants in 3 of 4 cases (75.0%) in P . gingivalis and all cases in P . intermedia . This finding suggested that bacterial colonization around implants occurred early after the implant region was exposed to the intraoral cavity and that the bacteria were transmitted from the area around the natural teeth. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 2004 Oct, 113(10), 830 - 4 Role of anaerobic bacteria in infections following tracheostomy, intubation, or the use of ventilatory tubes in children; Brook I; Colonization of the tracheobronchial tree with microorganisms almost always follows tracheal intubation, tracheostomy, or the use of ventilatory tubes . Infection of the tracheostomy wound site frequently occurs after prolonged use of the tracheostomy . The long-term-ventilated child is at high risk for developing tracheobronchitis or nosocomial pneumonia, generally involving aerobic gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria . Several studies have illustrated the role of anaerobic bacteria in lower respiratory tract and tracheostomy wound site infection in intubated children . The predominant anaerobic bacteria were Peptostreptococcus spp and pigmented Prevotella and Porphyromonas spp . Most of these infections are due to polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic bacterial flora . Appropriate management of mixed pulmonary aerobic and anaerobic infections requires the administration of antimicrobials that are effective against both the aerobic and anaerobic components of the infection. Microbiology, 2004 Nov, 150(Pt 11), 3821 - 9 Comparative proteome analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis grown under aerobic and anaerobic conditions; Starck J et al.; Data are presented from two-dimensional (2-D) PAGE analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Harlingen grown during aerobic and anaerobic culture, according to a modified Wayne dormancy model . M . tuberculosis cultures were grown to the transition point between exponential growth and stationary phase in the presence of oxygen (7 days) and then part of the cultures was shifted to anaerobic conditions for 16 days . Growth declined similarly during aerobic and anaerobic conditions, whereas the ATP consumption rapidly decreased in the anaerobic cultures . 2-D PAGE revealed 50 protein spots that were either unique to, or more abundant during, anaerobic conditions and 16 of these were identified by MALDI-TOF . These proteins were the alpha-crystalline homologue (HspX), elongation factor Tu (Tuf), GroEL2, succinyl-CoA : 3-oxoacid-CoA transferase (ScoB), mycolic acid synthase (CmaA2), thioredoxin (TrxB2), beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KasB), l-alanine dehydrogenase (Ald), Rv2005c, Rv2629, Rv0560c, Rv2185c and Rv3866 . Some protein spots were found to be proteolytic fragments, e.g . HspX and GroEL2 . These data suggest that M . tuberculosis induces expression of about 1 % of its genes in response to dormancy. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol . 2004 Nov 4; {Epub ahead of print} Luminal Bacterial Flora Determines Physiological Expression of Intestinal Epithelial Cytoprotective Heat Shock Proteins, Hsp 25 and Hsp 72; Arvans DL et al.; Heat shock proteins (Hsp), Hsp25 and Hsp72 are expressed normally by surface colonocytes, but not by small intestinal enterocytes . We hypothesized that luminal commensal microflora, maintain the observed colonocyte Hsp expression . The ability of the small intestine to respond to bacteria and their products and modulate hsps has not been determined . The effects of luminal bacterial flora in surgically-created mid-jejunal self-filling (SFL) versus self-emptying (SEL) small bowel blind loops on epithelial Hsp expression were studied . Hsp25 and Hsp72 expression were assessed by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry . SFL were chronically colonized, whereas SEL contained levels of bacteria normal for the proximal small intestine . SFL creation significantly increased Hsp 25 and 72 expression relative to corresponding sections from SEL . Metronidazole treatment, which primarily affects anaerobic bacteria, as well as a diet lacking fermentable fiber, significantly decreased SFL Hsp expression . Small bowel incubation with butyrate ex vivo induced a sustained and significant up-regulation of Hsp25 and altered Hsp72 expression, confirming the role of short chain fatty acids . To determine if Hsps induction altered responses to an injury, effects of the oxidant, monochloramine, on epithelial resistance (R) and short circuit (Isc) responses to carbachol and glucose were compared . Increased SFL Hsp expression was associated with protection against oxidant-induced decreases in transmural resistance and short-circuit responses to glucose, but not secretory responses to carbachol . In conclusion, luminal microflora and their metabolic byproducts direct expression of Hsps in gut epithelial cells, an effect that contributes to preservation of epithelial cell viability under conditions of stress. Adv Microb Physiol, 2004, 49, 175 - 218 Bacterial Na+ - or H+ -coupled ATP synthases operating at low electrochemical potential; Dimroth P et al.; In certain strictly anaerobic bacteria, the energy for growth is derived entirely from a decarboxylation reaction . A prominent example is Propionigenium modestum, which converts the free energy of the decarboxylation of (S)-methylmalonyl-CoA to propionyl-CoA (DeltaG degrees =-20.6 kJ/mol) into an electrochemical Na(+) ion gradient across the membrane . This energy source is used as a driving force for ATP synthesis by a Na(+)-translocating F(1)F(0) ATP synthase . According to bioenergetic considerations, approximately four decarboxylation events are necessary to support the synthesis of one ATP . This unique feature of using Na(+) instead of H(+) as the coupling ion has made this ATP synthase the paradigm to study the ion pathway across the membrane and its relationship to rotational catalysis . The membrane potential (Deltapsi) is the key driving force to convert ion translocation through the F(0) motor components into torque . The resulting rotation elicits conformational changes at the catalytic sites of the peripheral F(1) domain which are instrumental for ATP synthesis . Alkaliphilic bacteria also face the challenge of synthesizing ATP at a low electrochemical potential, but for entirely different reasons . Here, the low potential is not the result of insufficient energy input from substrate degradation, but of an inverse pH gradient . This is a consequence of the high environmental pH where these bacteria grow and the necessity to keep the intracellular pH in the neutral range . In spite of this unfavorable bioenergetic condition, ATP synthesis in alkaliphilic bacteria is coupled to the proton motive force (DeltamuH(+)) and not to the much higher sodium motive force (DeltamuNa(+)) . A peculiar feature of the ATP synthases of alkaliphiles is the specific inhibition of their ATP hydrolysis activity . This inhibition appears to be an essential strategy for survival at high external pH: if the enzyme were to operate as an ATPase, protons would be pumped outwards to counteract the low DeltamuH(+), thus wasting valuable ATP and compromising acidification of the cytoplasm at alkaline pH. Obstet Gynecol, 2004 Nov, 104(5 Pt 2), 1161 - 4 Necrotic leiomyoma and gram-negative sepsis eight weeks after uterine artery embolization; Aungst M et al.; BACKGROUND: Uterine artery embolization for symptomatic leiomyomata is generally safe, but rare life-threatening complications, including sepsis, can result . CASE: A 39-year-old woman with primary antiphospholipid syndrome, who was on chronic warfarin therapy, underwent uterine artery embolization for severe menorrhagia and a 12-cm intracavitary leiomyoma . Eight weeks postembolization, the patient, who had been essentially asymptomatic, presented in septic shock from gram-negative anaerobic bacteria . She underwent hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for a large infarcted necrotic leiomyoma and partial uterine necrosis . The patient's 8-day hospitalization required extended care in the intensive care unit and blood transfusion and resulted in surgical menopause in a patient who is not a candidate for hormone therapy . CONCLUSION: Uterine artery embolization is a procedure not without significant risks . From published case reports, it appears that patients most at risk for severe infection of an infarcted leiomyoma after this procedure are those with a large dominant leiomyoma. J Obstet Gynaecol, 1997, 17(6), 573 - 5 Treatment of Gardnerella vaginalis infection; I B Adinma N R Okwoli C N Unaeze J; Summary This review of the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Gardnerella vaginalis culture isolates shows that the drugs found sensitive to G . vaginalis cultures include the new antimicrobial agents- ciprofloxacin, cefuroxine and ceftazidine, and some older antibiotics- ceftriaxone, cloxacillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and metranidazole . Streptomycin and augmentin showed intermediate sensitivity while penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline and gentamycin exhibited resistance to G . vaginalis isolates . Metronidazole is currently the first-line drug of choice for the treatment of G . vaginalis and its related infections because of its effectiveness not just against G . vaginalis but also against anaerobes . It can be administered orally, parenterally and intravaginally as gel or sponge . The advantages and drawbacks to the use of these G . vaginalis - sensitive drugs, and the place of alternative drugs in the management of G . vaginalis - associated infections are discussed. J Obstet Gynaecol, 1997, 17(2), 171 - 5 Bacterial vaginosis and lower genital tract infections in women attending out-patient clinics at a tertiary institution serving a developing community; B M Kharsany A A Hoosen And J Moodley A; The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and other lower genital tract infections were determined in women from a developing community . Patients were recruited from four out-patient clinics of a large urban tertiary referral hospital serving the indigent Black population of KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa . A total of 208 women attending the sexually = = transmitted diseases (STD) (n 51), colposcopy (n 50), = = family planning (n 52) and antenatal (n 55) clinics were investigated . Endocervical and vaginal specimens were collected for microbiological investigation of recognised sexually transmitted pathogens . Estimation of vaginal pH, amine test and wet smear microscopy were performed at the bedside . Peripheral venous blood was obtained for serological tests for syphilis, hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) . Vaginal infections were detected in a total of 50% (104) of women, endocervical infections alone in 9% (18) and concurrent vagino-endocervical infections in 20% (41) . Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was diagnosed in 35% (73) and its prevalence amongst different clinic populations ranged from 25% to 41% with no significant differences between any groups . Trichomoniasis was detected significantly more often in women attending the STD and antenatal clinics . Endocervical infections were found mainly in women attending the STD clinic, though the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis amongst the other clinic attenders ranged from 13% to 20% . Micro-organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, anaerobes and curved Gram-negative rods were found in significantly higher number of women with BV . This study confirms the high prevalence of vaginal, endocervical and mixed vagino-endocervical infections in women from developing communities . The high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis as a single infection and its association with other recognised sexually transmitted pathogens in a large proportion of women, is of significance since such infections not only predispose to ascending upper genital tract infections but are also associated with complications in pregnancy such as premature rupture of membranes, preterm labour and endometritis. J Obstet Gynaecol, 1997, 17(1), 90 - 91 Gardnerella vaginalis causing tubo-ovarian abscess; 1 S P Burgess O Daramola And S Lacey 2 1; Gardnerella vaginalis is associated with the condition of bacterial vaginosis . In this condition, it is believed that G . vaginalis and non-sporing anaerobes work together to produce a true mixed infection, and that G . vaginalis serves at least as a marker for bacterial vaginosis . In addition to vaginosis, Gardnerella associated disease has been described as a risk factor for the development of post-caesarean section endometritis, chorioamnionitis and post-hysterectomy vaginalcuff cellulitis (Eschenbach, 1993) . Hence, it has been associated with a variety of upper genital tract infections . However, we could find no reports in the literature in which G . vaginalis and its associated anaerobes had been described as a cause of a posthysterectomy tubo-ovarian abscess. J Obstet Gynaecol, 1997, 17(1), 82 - 5 A prospective study of the correlation between genital pathogens and morbidity following diathermy loop excision of the transformation zone; K Sarkar C A Rodgers And P Mannion P; A prospective study of 48 women was carried out to estimate the incidence of common genital pathogens in women referred to colposcopy clinic requiring diathermy loop excision and to compare patient morbidity in the subgroups with and without genital pathogens . Of the 43 women included in the analysis, genital pathogens were present in 24 cases (56%) and absent in 19 (44%) of the 24 positive cases, 19 (79%) women had pathogen(s) on the cervical swab, 24 (100%) had pathogen(s) on the high vaginal swab and 15 (63%) had both a positive cervical and high vaginal swab (HVS) . The most frequently isolated groups of organisms were mixed anaerobes, alone (four HVS and four cervical) or in combination with Gardnerella vaginalis (four HVS and three cervical) or coliforms (two HVS and two cervical) . The mean duration of bleeding and vaginal discharge in the two study groups was not statistically significant (t value 1.97, P 0.05; and t value 0.48, P 0.5, respectively) . However, the mean duration of bleeding graded by the patient as being moderate to severe was significantly different in the two groups (t value 3.18 P 0.01) . Fifty-six per cent of the women in the study had confirmed genital pathogens, predominantly anaerobes, and the prolonged moderate-to-severe bleeding in this group suggests a potential role for prophylactic bacteriocides, although the study size was unable to implicate a single pathogen. Int Dent J, 2004, 54(5 Suppl 1), 291 - 8 The role of Triclosan in dentifrice formulations, with particular reference to a new 0.3% Triclosan calcium carbonate-based system; Brading MG et al.; AIM: To discuss the role of Triclosan in dentifrice systems and demonstrate the enhanced efficacy of Triclosan in calcium carbonate-based systems when the level of the antimicrobial agent is raised from 0.2% to 0.3% . Triclosan is the most commonly used antimicrobial agent in oral care products, being compatible with a wide range of ingredients found in toothpaste formulations, whilst having no negative sensory features (e.g . taste, staining) that are associated with some other antimicrobial/anti-plaque agents . Triclosan is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent, with additional anti-metabolic and anti-inflammatory properties . When delivered to the mouth in oral care products, Triclosan can selectively inhibit Gram negative anaerobic bacteria implicated in gingivitis and periodontal diseases, while leaving species associated with oral health relatively unaffected . Worldwide, attempts have been made to boost delivery/activity of Triclosan, either by use of copolymers or by combination with other agents such as zinc citrate . However, Triclosan has also been shown to maintain clinical efficacy against plaque and gingivitis when present as the sole antimicrobial in toothpaste formulations. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2004 Oct, 191(4), 1339 - 45 Clinical significance of intra-amniotic inflammation in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes; Shim SS et al.; OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the frequency and clinical significance of intra-amniotic inflammation in patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes . STUDY DESIGN: Amniotic fluid was retrieved from 219 patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes; the fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mycoplasmas and assayed for neutrophil collagenase, which is also known as matrix metalloproteinase-8 . Matrix metalloproteinase-8 was used because previous studies indicated that this was a sensitive and specific index of inflammation and that is correlated with the amniotic fluid white blood cell count . Intra-amniotic inflammation was defined as an elevated amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentration (>23 ng/mL) . Nonparametric and survival techniques were used for statistical analysis . RESULTS: The overall rate of intra-amniotic inflammation was 42% (93/219 samples); proven intra-amniotic infection was detected only in 23% (50/219 samples) . Intra-amniotic inflammation with a negative amniotic fluid culture for micro-organisms was found in 23% (51/219 samples) and was as common as proven intra-amniotic infection . Pregnancy outcome was worse in patients with intra-amniotic inflammation and a negative culture than in those patients with a negative culture and without inflammation . There were no differences in the interval-to-delivery or rate of complications between patients with intra-amniotic inflammation and a negative culture and patients with proven amniotic fluid infection . CONCLUSION: We conclude that intra-amniotic inflammation, regardless of culture result, is present in 42% of patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and that it is a risk factor for impending preterm delivery and adverse outcome . We propose that intra-amniotic inflammation, rather than infection, be used to classify and treat patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2004 Oct, 191(4), 1124 - 9 Antimicrobial resistance associated with the treatment of bacterial vaginosis; Beigi RH et al.; OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility of vaginal anaerobic bacteria before and after treatment of bacterial vaginosis . STUDY DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial of 119 nonpregnant women with bacterial vaginosis receiving either intravaginal metronidazole for 5 days or clindamycin for 3 days was performed . Women had 1 baseline and 3 follow-up visits at which quantitative vaginal cultures were performed . Anaerobic isolates underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing . RESULTS: Complete susceptibility data was available on 95 women (47 metronidazole and 48 clindamycin) . Of 1059 anaerobic bacterial isolates, less than 1% demonstrated resistance to metronidazole . In contrast, 17% demonstrated baseline clindamycin resistance, and 53% demonstrated resistance to clindamycin after therapy . Women exposed to clindamycin (but not metronidazole) had high frequencies (80%) of clindamycin-resistant anaerobic bacteria that persisted for 90 days after treatment . CONCLUSION: Treatment of bacterial vaginosis with clindamycin is associated with marked evidence of antimicrobial resistance among vaginal anaerobic bacteria . This may increase the vaginal reservoir of macrolide-resistant bacteria. J Dent Res, 2004 Nov, 83(11), 823 - 31 Hypochlorous acid and taurine-N-monochloramine in periodontal diseases; Mainnemare A et al.; Chronic periodontitis is a multi-factorial disease involving anaerobic bacteria and the generation of an inflammatory response, including the production of metalloproteinases, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and eicosanoids . Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and taurine-N-monochloramine (TauCl) are the end-products of the neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) respiratory burst . They act synergistically to modulate the inflammatory response . In the extracellular environment, HOCl and TauCl may directly neutralize interleukin 6 (IL-6) and several metalloproteinases, while HOCl increases the capacity of alpha(2)-macroglobulin to bind Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, IL-2, and IL-6, and facilitates the release of various growth factors . TauCl inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators, prostaglandins, and nitric oxide . HOCl activates tyrosine kinase signaling cascades, generating an increase in the production of extracellular matrix components, growth factors, and inflammatory mediators . Thus, HOCl and TauCl appear to play a crucial role in the periodontal inflammatory process . Taken together, these findings may offer opportunities for the development of novel host-modulating therapies for the treatment of periodontitis. Vet Rec, 2004 Sep 25, 155(13), 383 - 7 Minimum inhibitory concentrations of some antimicrobial drugs against bacteria causing uterine infections in cattle; Sheldon IM et al.; The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of oxytetracycline, cephapirin, cephapirin/mecillinam, cefquinome, ceftiofur and enrofloxacin, candidate antibiotics for the principal bacteria associated with uterine infections: Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes and the anaerobic bacteria Fusobacterium necrophorum and Prevotella melaninogenicus, were determined by the agar dilution method . The bacteria were isolated from animals with clinical metritis and/or endometritis . For E coli, cefquinome and enrofloxacin had the lowest MIC90 and MIC50 values (< 0.06 microg/ml), and oxytetracycline and cephapirin had the highest values . For A pyogenes, oxytetracycline had the highest MIC50 value (16 microg/ml), but all the cephalosporins had values below 0.06 microg/ml . For the anaerobic bacteria, enrofloxacin and oxytetracycline had the highest MIC50 values but all the cephalosporins had values of 0.06 microg/ml or below. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2004 Oct 18;(4):CD001067. Antibiotic regimens for endometritis after delivery; French L et al.; BACKGROUND: Postpartum endometritis, which is more common after cesarean section, occurs when vaginal organisms invade the endometrial cavity during labor and birth . Antibiotic treatment is warranted . OBJECTIVES: The effect of different antibiotic regimens for the treatment of postpartum endometritis on failure of therapy and complications was systematically reviewed . SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's trials register (30 January 2004) . SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized trials of different antibiotic regimens for postpartum endometritis, after cesarean section or vaginal birth, where outcomes of treatment failure or complications were reported were selected . DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We abstracted data independently and made comparisons between different types of antibiotic regimen based on type of antibiotic and duration and route of administration . Summary relative risks were calculated . MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-eight trials with 3983 participants were included . Fifteen studies comparing clindamycin and an aminoglycoside with another regimen showed more treatment failures with the other regimen (relative risk (RR) 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15 to 1.80) . Failures of those regimens with poor activity against penicillin resistant anaerobic bacteria were more likely (RR 1.94; 95% CI 1.38 to 2.72) . In three studies that compared continued oral antibiotic therapy after intravenous therapy with no oral therapy, no differences were found in recurrent endometritis or other outcomes . In four studies comparing once daily with thrice daily dosing of gentamicin there were fewer failures with once daily dosing . There was no evidence of difference in incidence of allergic reactions . Cephalosporins were associated with less diarrhea . REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: The combination of gentamicin and clindamycin is appropriate for the treatment of endometritis . Regimens with activity against penicillin- resistant anaerobic bacteria are better than those without . There is no evidence that any one regimen is associated with fewer side effects . Once uncomplicated endometritis has clinically improved with intravenous therapy, oral therapy is not needed. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2004 Oct, 130(10), 1201 - 4 The risk of development of antimicrobial resistance in individual patients with chronic rhinosinusitis; Bhattacharyya N et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine if individual patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) demonstrate an increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance over time . PATIENTS: A prospectively maintained database of microbiologic culture results for adult patients with CRS was sequentially analyzed, extracting patients who underwent multiple serial sinus cultures over time . Antimicrobial resistance patterns were identified and quantified for each bacterium . Sequential culture results were compared for individual patients to determine if increasing overall bacterial resistance, gram-positive resistance, gram-negative resistance, or a shift toward gram-negative organisms was manifested within individual patients . RESULTS: During a 7-year period, 90 adult patients were identified with 224 serial cultures (mean, 2.5 cultures per patient) obtained, with a median time between cultures of 157 days . Four hundred twenty-nine organisms were isolated from these serial cultures, consisting of 255 gram-positive organisms, 120 gram-negative organisms, 48 anaerobes, and 6 fungi . Pairwise analysis of sequential cultures revealed no significant trend toward increasing bacterial resistance within individual patients (P = .57, runs test) . Similarly, no significant trend toward increasing gram-positive or gram-negative resistance was demonstrated . There was no shift toward gram-negative organisms (P>.15 for all) . CONCLUSIONS: Individual patients with CRS do not necessarily develop increasing levels of bacterial resistance over time . The use of culture-directed antimicrobial therapy may "protect" against the development of sequentially increasing antimicrobial resistance for patients with CRS. Arch Microbiol, 2004 Dec, 182(6), 498 - 504 Epub 2004 Dec. Studies on hydrogenase activity and chlorobenzene respiration in Dehalococcoides sp . strain CBDB1; Jayachandran G et al.; Hydrogen oxidation and electron transport were studied in the chlorobenzene-utilizing anaerobe Dehalococcoides sp . strain CBDB1 . While Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) ions irreversibly inhibited hydrogenase activity in intact cells, Ni(2+) ions inhibited reversibly . About 80% of the initial hydrogenase activity was inactivated within 30 s when the cells were exposed to air . In contrast, hydrogenase was active at a redox potential of +10 mV when this redox potential was established anoxically with a redox indicator . Viologen dyes served both as electron acceptor for hydrogenase and electron donor for the dehalogenase . A menaquinone analogue, 2,3-dimethyl 1,4-naphthoquinone, served neither as electron acceptor for the hydrogenase nor as electron donor for the dehalogenase . In addition, the menaquinone antagonist 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide had no effect on dechlorination catalyzed by cell suspensions or isolated membranes with hydrogen as electron donor, lending further support to the notion that menaquinone is not involved in electron transport . The ionophores tetrachlorosalicylanilide and carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone did not inhibit dechlorination by cell suspensions, indicating that strain CBDB1 does not require reverse electron transport . The ATP-synthase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibited the dechlorination reaction with cell suspensions; however, the latter effect was partially relieved by the addition of tetrachlorosalicylanilide . 1,2,3,4-Tetrachlorobenzene strongly inhibited dechlorination of other chlorobenzenes by cell suspensions with hydrogen as electron donor, but it did not interfere with either hydrogenase or dehalogenase activity. Annu Rev Microbiol, 2004, 58, 43 - 73 Anaerobic microbial dehalogenation; Smidt H et al.; The natural production and anthropogenic release of halogenated hydrocarbons into the environment has been the likely driving force for the evolution of an unexpectedly high microbial capacity to dehalogenate different classes of xenobiotic haloorganics . This contribution provides an update on the current knowledge on metabolic and phylogenetic diversity of anaerobic microorganisms that are capable of dehalogenating--or completely mineralizing--halogenated hydrocarbons by fermentative, oxidative, or reductive pathways . In particular, research of the past decade has focused on halorespiring anaerobes, which couple the dehalogenation by dedicated enzyme systems to the generation of energy by electron transport-driven phosphorylation . Significant advances in the biochemistry and molecular genetics of degradation pathways have revealed mechanistic and structural similarities between dehalogenating enzymes from phylogenetically distinct anaerobes . The availability of two almost complete genome sequences of halorespiring isolates recently enabled comparative and functional genomics approaches, setting the stage for the further exploitation of halorespiring and other anaerobic dehalogenating microbes as dedicated degraders in biological remediation processes. Mol Biol Evol . 2004 Oct 13; {Epub ahead of print} Selenoproteins and the Metabolic Features of the Archaeal Ancestor of Eukaryotes; Foster CB; In all three branches of life some organisms incorporate the rare amino acid selenocysteine . Selenoproteins are relevant to the controversy over the metabolic features of the archaeal ancestor of eukaryotes because among archaea several known selenoproteins are involved in methanogenesis and autotrophic growth . Although the eukaryotic selenocysteine specific translation apparatus and at least one selenoprotein appear to be of archaeal origin, selenoproteins have not been identified among sulfur metabolizing crenarchaeotes . In this regard both the phylogeny and function of archaeal selenoproteins are consistent with the argument that the archaeal ancestor was a methanogen . Selenium, however, is abundant in sulfur rich environments and some anaerobic bacteria reduce sulfur and have selenoproteins similar to those in archaea . As additional archaeal sequence data becomes available, it will be important to determine whether selenoproteins are present in non-methanogenic archaea, especially the sulfur metabolizing crenarchaeotes. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2004 Oct, 2(5), 695 - 705 Tinidazole: from protozoa to Helicobacter pylori--the past, present and future of a nitroimidazole with peculiarities; Manes G et al.; Tinidazole (Fasigyn, Pfizer Ltd), like metronidazole - to which it is structurally related - was initially introduced for treating protozoal infections . However, both of these nitroimidazole compounds are active against most clinically important obligate anaerobes . In the last few years, the discovery of Heliobacter pylori and of its susceptibility to nitroimidazoles focused new attention on these drugs . Tinidazole, as a part of this class of drugs, shares the characteristics and indications of other nitroimidazoles . However, it has a number of desirable features that could potentially make it very successful: a better pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, a better safety and tolerability spectrum, and a preserved activity against some bacteria that are resistant to metronidazole. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2004 Feb, 2(1), 153 - 8 Management of anaerobic infection; Brook I; The management of anaerobic infection needs to be prompt and appropriate in order to ensure recovery . Management includes the use of hyperbaric oxygen, surgical methods and antimicrobial therapy . Various factors, such as efficacy, bacterial antimicrobial resistance, ability to reach appropriate antimicrobial levels at the infected site, toxicity and stability need to be taken into account in choosing antimicrobial agents . Some antimicrobials have poor activity against anaerobic bacteria . The more suitable agents include penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, metronidazole, macrolides, glycopeptides, tetracyclines and quinolones. Mol Microbiol, 2004 Oct, 54(2), 546 - 60 A regulation cascade controls expression of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae via the FimR response regulator; Nishikawa K et al.; Little is known about how Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative oral anaerobe, senses environmental changes, and how such information is transmitted to the cell . The production of P . gingivalis surface fimbriae is regulated by FimS-FimR, a two component signal transduction system . Expression of fimA, encoding the fimbrilin protein subunit of fimbriae, is positively regulated by the FimR response regulator . In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms of FimR regulation of fimA expression . Comparative transcription profiling of fimR wild-type and mutant strains shows that FimR controls the expression of several genes including five clustered around the fimA locus . Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays identify and confirm that FimR binds to the promoter region of the first gene in the fimA cluster . Gene expression analyses of mutant strains reveal a transcriptional cascade involving multiple steps, with FimR activating expression of the first gene of the cluster that encodes a key regulatory protein. Chang Gung Med J, 2004 Jun, 27(6), 459 - 63 Cavernous sinus thrombosis and cerebral infarction caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum infection; Chang CS et al.; We report an unusual case of fusobacterial infection with secondary intracranial invasion . The condition was complicated by a cavernous sinus thrombosis and ischemic stroke . The patient was a 63-year-old woman with no history of systemic disease who had undergone a tooth extraction before the onset of symptoms . She initially suffered from sphenomaxillary sinusitis and a cavernous sinus thrombosis, and subsequently developed meningitis . Cerebrospinal fluid examination suggested a pyogenic infection . Anaerobic culture revealed Fusobacterium nucleatum . However, despite immediate antibiotic therapy, her condition remained unstable over the next few days, and she eventually developed an ischemic stroke . We describe our experience in the management of this case of anaerobic meningitis and the unusual complication of ischemic stroke; this case suggests that more aggressive therapy in addition to empirical antibiotics may be warranted. Biophys J, 2004 Oct, 87(4), 2148 - 63 Torque generation by the Fo motor of the sodium ATPase; Xing J et al.; Based on recent structural and functional findings, we have constructed a mathematical model for the sodium-driven Fo motor of the F1Fo-ATPase from the anaerobic bacterium Propionigenium modestum . The model reveals the mechanochemical principles underlying the Fo motor's operation, and explains all of the existing experimental data on wild-type and mutant Fo motors . In particular, the model predicts a nonmonotonic dependence of the ATP hydrolysis activity on the sodium concentration, a prediction confirmed by new experiments . To explain experimental observations, the positively charged stator residue (R227) must assume different positions in the ATP synthesis and hydrolysis directions . This work also illustrates how to extract a motor mechanism from dynamical experimental observations in the absence of complete structural information . Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol, 2004, 90, 63 - 87 High rate production of hydrogen/methane from various substrates and wastes; Nishio N et al.; To treat soluble and solid wastes and recover energy from them, high rate methane fermentation, especially using the UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket) reactor, and hydrogen fermentation using various microorganisms and microbial consortia have been investigated intensively in Japan . In this chapter, recent works on high rate methane fermentation in Japan are reviewed, focusing on: 1) basic studies into the applicability of the UASB reactor for various substrates such as propionate, lactate, ethanol, glucose and phenol; 2) its applications to unfeasible conditions, such as lipid and protein containing wastes, low temperature and high salt-containing wastes; 3) progress made in the field of advanced UASB reactors, and; 4) research into methane fermentation from solid wastes, such as from cellulosic materials, municipal sewage sludge, and mud sediments . Following this, although hydrogen fermentation with photosynthetic microorganisms or anaerobic bacteria was researched, for this review we have focused on fermentative hydrogen production using strictly or facultative anaerobes and microbial consortia in Japan, since high rate production of hydrogen-methane via a two-stage process was judged to be more attractive for biological hydrogen production and wastewater treatments. Curr Opin Chem Biol, 2004 Oct, 8(5), 454 - 61 Glycine reductase mechanism; Andreesen JR; The ability of some anaerobic bacteria to conserve energy via a soluble substrate level phosphorylation system by reducing glycine to acetyl-phosphate has been an intriguing mechanism for about half a century . The genes implicated in this system have been sequenced and form an operon structure with those of the thioredoxin system . The deduced proteins exhibit high degrees of similarity with glycine reductase from other bacteria . Faster progress in understanding the exact mechanisms is hampered, for example, by some unique reactions involving selenoethers and redox active selenocysteines, which do not allow an easy heterologous formation in Escherichia coli . Further major obstacles are the processing of a substrate-specific pro-protein to a new carbonyl/pyruvoyl group in one of the two peptides formed that stabilize the substrate-binding selenoprotein, which contains an additional rather unstable carbonyl group. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult, 2004 Jul-Aug, (4), 21 - 4 {Characteristics of microflora isolated in chronic adnexitides and effects of balneotherapy on biological properties of microorganisms in experimental and clinical conditions}; Degradation of 4-nitrophenol by the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium; Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, 812-8581, Fukuoka, JapanThe fungal metabolism of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was investigated using the lignin-degrading basidiomycete, Phanerochaete chrysosporium . Despite its phenolic feature, 4-NP was not oxidized by extracellular ligninolytic peroxidases . However, 4-NP was converted to 1,2-dimethoxy-4-nitrobenzene via intermediate formation of 4-nitroanisole by the fungus only under ligninolytic conditions . The metabolism proceeded via hydroxylation of the aromatic ring and methylation of phenolic hydroxyl groups . Although the involvement of nitroreductase in the metabolism of 2,4-dinitrotoluene by many aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms including P . chrysosporium has been reported, no formation of 4-aminophenol was observed during 4-NP metabolism . The formation of 1,2-dimethoxy-4-nitrobenzene was effectively inhibited by exogenously added piperonyl butoxide, a cytochrome P450 inhibitor, suggesting that cytochrome P450 is involved in the hydroxylation reaction . Thus, P . chrysosporium seems to utilize hydroxylation and methylation reactions to produce a more susceptible structure for an oxidative metabolic system. Infect Immun, 2004 Oct, 72(10), 5791 - 8 Reduced expression of gamma interferon in serum and marked lymphoid depletion induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis increase murine morbidity and mortality due to cytomegalovirus infection; Stern J et al.; Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative anaerobe, is a major etiological agent of severe forms of periodontal disease . Although periodontal disease is considered a localized disease, accumulating evidence indicates that it may lead to a predisposition to a decline in immunocompetence . Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) commonly infects all human populations without producing significant clinical symptoms . Immunocompromised patients usually develop a primary or reactivated CMV infection, which is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality . The aim of this study was to determine whether P . gingivalis increases animal susceptibility to CMV infection . Mice were inoculated with CMV and infected locally with P . gingivalis 3 days after the virus inoculation . Mortality rates were monitored, and traces of viral DNA and bacterial infection were detected systemically by using real-time PCR . Local and systemic cytokine secretion was measured, and histological sections were used to assess the pathological state of infected organs . P . gingivalis- and CMV-coinfected mice showed dramatically higher mortality rates than mice infected with P . gingivalis or CMV only . Although the organs of coinfected mice exhibited decreased viral titers, distinct necrosis and tissue damage were more evident in the livers and spleens of these mice than in those of mice infected with CMV only . Furthermore, systemic gamma interferon levels were decreased in coinfected mice, and marked lymphoid depletion was observed in their necrotic organs . In parallel control Escherichia coli-CMV coinfection experiments, the mortality and pathological results were the same as those found in mice infected with CMV only . Our results suggest a specific influence of P . gingivalis on the mouse immune response, causing increased susceptibility to CMV infection. Environ Sci Technol, 2004 Aug 15, 38(16), 4300 - 3 Anaerobic microbial reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene to predominately trans-1,2-dichloroethene; Griffin BM et al.; While most sites and all characterized PCE and TCE dechlorinating anaerobic bacteria produce cis-DCE as the major DCE isomer, significant amounts of trans-DCE are found in the environment . We have obtained microcosms from some sites and enrichment cultures that produce more trans-DCE than cis-DCE . These cultures reductively dechlorinated PCE and TCE to trans-DCE and cis-DCE simultaneously and in a ratio of 3(+/-0.5):1 that was stable through serial transfers with a variety of electron donors and occurred in both methanogenic and nonmethanogenic enrichments . Two sediment-free, nonmethanogenic enrichment cultures produced trans-DCE at rates of up to 2.5 micromol L(-1) day(-1) . Dehalococcoides populations were detected in both trans-DCE producing cultures by their 16S rRNA gene sequences, and trans-DCE was produced in the presence of ampicillin . Because trans-DCE can be the major product from PCE and TCE microbial dechlorination, high fractions of trans-DCE at chloroethene-contaminated sites are not necessarily from source contamination. G Chir, 2004 May, 25(5), 167 - 70 {Necrotizing fasciitis: our experience}; Angelici AM et al.; Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare and dramatic soft-tissue; infection starting from the subcutaneous tissue, involving the fascia and the underlying muscle and causes necrosis and, suddenly, gangrene . Most frequently the necrotizing fasciitis is localized in anorectal or genitourinary region and in traumatized muscles . Its mortality rate is 20% . Predisposing factors for these infections have included advanced age, obesity, hypertension, atherosclerosis, malnutrition, renal failure, immunosuppression and, primarily, diabetes mellitus . The infection is caused by a lot of gram +, gram -, and anaerobic bacteria that act synergistically . The early diagnosis, a correct chemotherapy, an aggressive surgical treatment of the necrotic area and hyperbaric oxygen treatment allow the patient's recovery, dramatically reducing the functional consequences . The Authors analyze retrospectively five cases of necrotizing fasciitis observed in the last two years (August 2001-August 2003) and stress clinical findings and surgical treatment. Curr Med Chem Anti-Canc Agents, 2004 Sep, 4(5), 395 - 9 Prospects for hypoxia-activated anticancer drugs; Denny WA; The occurrence of hypoxic cells in solid tumors, and their resistance to radiotherapy and many chemotherapeutic drugs, has engendered an interest in non-toxic prodrugs that can be activated selectively under hypoxic conditions . Despite this, no such compounds are yet registered for clinical use, due to the difficulty of their design and of measuring the extent of hypoxia clinically, and the failure of early examples . A new appreciation of the critical importance of the extravascular diffusion of the parent prodrug from the blood vessels to the remote hypoxic cells, and the back-diffusion of the activated cytotoxin from the hypoxic cells to surrounding tumor cells, is now guiding drug design in this area . New principles for the selective activation of prodrugs have also been reported, including using the reducing species generated in cells by radiotherapy itself, and using non-pathogenic anaerobic bacteria as a hypoxia-dependent vector for the delivery of prodrug-activating enzymes in a suicide gene therapy context. Acta Vet Hung, 2004, 52(3), 267 - 73 Comparative study of biochemical methods for the identification of Dichelobacter nodosus; Jimenez R et al.; The aim of this study was to compare four identification procedures to detect Dichelobacter nodosus and develop a rapid, simple and effective method to identify D . nodosus strains isolated from cases of ovine footrot . The four methods used were: (a) the classic guidelines set down by Holdeman et al . (1977) and Summanen et al . (1993) which are based on gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and different biochemical tests, this method was considered as landmark; (b) Baron and Citron's flowchart for the rapid identification of Gram-negative rod-shaped anaerobes (1997); (c) the API rapid 32 A system (bio Merieux), and (d) Mast ID Anaerobe ID Ring (MID8) (Mast Diagnostics) . None of the four methods used allowed us to correctly identify the D . nodosus strains (neither the strains isolated from cases of ovine footrot nor those originating from type collection) . Because of the difficulties encountered in obtaining a correct identification of D . nodosus, we propose a simple, rapid and effective way to achieve this task . Our flowchart will provide the means to identify this microorganism in any laboratory of general microbiology without having to use any specialised equipment. Nature, 2004 Sep 16, 431(7006), 291 - 4 Anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation in deep subsurface oil reservoirs; Aitken CM et al.; Biodegradation of crude oil in subsurface petroleum reservoirs is an important alteration process with major economic consequences . Aerobic degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons at the surface is well documented and it has long been thought that the flow of oxygen- and nutrient-bearing meteoric waters into reservoirs was necessary for in-reservoir petroleum biodegradation . The occurrence of biodegraded oils in reservoirs where aerobic conditions are unlikely, together with the identification of several anaerobic microorganisms in oil fields and the discovery of anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation mechanisms, suggests that anaerobic degradation processes could also be responsible . The extent of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation processes in the world's deep petroleum reservoirs, however, remains strongly contested . Moreover, no organism has yet been isolated that has been shown to degrade hydrocarbons under the conditions found in deep petroleum reservoirs . Here we report the isolation of metabolites indicative of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation from a large fraction of 77 degraded oil samples from both marine and lacustrine sources from around the world, including the volumetrically important Canadian tar sands . Our results therefore suggest that anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation is a common process in biodegraded subsurface oil reservoirs. Korean J Intern Med, 2004 Jun, 19(2), 121 - 3 Eosinophilic peritonitis in a patient with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD); Oh SY et al.; Eosinophilic peritonitis is defined as when there are more than 100 eosinophils present per milliliter of peritoneal effluent, of which eosinophils constitute more than 10% of its total WBC count . Most cases occur within the first 4 weeks of peritoneal catheter insertion and they usually have a benign and self-limited course . We report a patient of eosinophilic peritonitis that was successfully resolved without special treatment . An 84-year-old man with end stage renal disease secondary to diabetic nephropathy was admitted for dyspnea and poor oral intake . Allergic history was negative . and physical examination was unremarkable . Complete blood count showed a hemoglobin level of 11.1 g/dL, WBC count was 24,500/mm3 (neutrophil, 93%; lymphocyte, 5%; monocyte, 2%), platelet count was 216,000/mm3, serum BUN was 143 mg/dL, Cr was 5.7 mg/dL and albumin was 3.5 g/dL . Creatinine clearance was 5.4 mL/min . Three weeks after peritoneal catheter insertion, he was started on peritoneal dialysis with a 6-hour exchange of 2L 1.5% peritoneal dialysate . After nine days, he developed turbid peritoneal effluents with fever (38.4 degrees C), abdominal pain and tenderness . Dialysate WBC count was 180/mm3 (neutrophil, 20%; lymphocyte, 4%; eosinophil, 76% {eosinophil count: 136/mm3}) . Cultures of peritoneal fluid showed no growth of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, or of fungus . Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was commenced, and he was started on intraperitoneal ceftazidime (1.0 g/day) and cefazolin (1.0 g/day) . After two weeksr, the dialysate had cleared up and clinical symptoms were improved . Dialysate WBC count decreased to 8/mm3 and eosinophils were not detected in peritoneal fluid . There was no recurrence of eosinophilic peritonitis on follow-up evaluation, but he died of sepsis and pneumonia fifteen weeks after admission. Annu Rev Microbiol . 2004 Mar 26; {Epub ahead of print} Anaerobic Microbial Dehalogenation; Smidt H et al.; The natural production and anthropogenic release of halogenated hydrocarbons into the environment has been the likely driving force for the evolution of an unexpectedly high microbial capacity to dehalogenate different classes of xenobiotic halo-organics . This contribution provides an update on the current knowledge on metabolic and phylogenetic diversity of anaerobic microorganisms that are capable of dehalogenatingor completely mineralizinghalogenated hydrocarbons by fermentative, oxidative, or reductive pathways . In particular, research of the past decade has focused on halorespiring anaerobes, which couple the dehalogenation by dedicated enzyme systems to the generation of energy by electron transport--driven phosphorylation . Significant advances in the biochemistry and molecular genetics of degradation pathways have revealed mechanistic and structural similarities between dehalogenating enzymes from phylogenetically distinct anaerobes . The availability of two almost complete genome sequences of halorespiring isolates recently enabled comparative and functional genomics approaches, setting the stage for the further exploitation of halorespiring, and other anaerobic dehalogenating microbes as dedicated degraders in biological remediation processes . Expected online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology Volume 58 is September 8, 2004 . Please see for revised estimates. J Small Anim Pract, 2004 Aug, 45(8), 421 - 3 Meningitis in a dog caused by Prevotella oralis; Allan R et al.; Prevotella oralis, an obligate Gram-negative anaerobe, was shown to be the cause of meningitis in a two-year-old crossbreed dog . The dog had a six-week history of lethargy and neck pain . On presentation, the animal was reluctant to walk, had a stiff gait and neck pain on flexion . Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid documented a neutrophilic pleocytosis (7488 cells/microl) and the presence of occasional intracellular bacterial coccobacilli . The aetiological diagnosis was confirmed by routine aerobic and anaerobic culture, and identification of the isolates . This report also reviews the literature of the documented cases of bacterial meningitis in dogs. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol . 2004 Sep 4; {Epub ahead of print} Isolation and characterization of autotrophic, hydrogen-utilizing, perchlorate-reducing bacteria; Shrout JD et al.; Recent studies have shown that perchlorate (ClO(4)(-)) can be degraded by some pure-culture and mixed-culture bacteria with the addition of hydrogen . This paper describes the isolation of two hydrogen-utilizing perchlorate-degrading bacteria capable of using inorganic carbon for growth . These autotrophic bacteria are within the genus Dechloromonas and are the first Dechloromonas species that are microaerophilic and incapable of growth at atmospheric oxygen concentrations . Dechloromonas sp . JDS5 and Dechloromonas sp . JDS6 are the first perchlorate-degrading autotrophs isolated from a perchlorate-contaminated site . Measured hydrogen thresholds were higher than for other environmentally significant, hydrogen-utilizing, anaerobic bacteria (e.show $132#g., halorespirers) . The chlorite dismutase activity of these bacteria was greater for autotrophically grown cells than for cells grown heterotrophically on lactate . These bacteria used fumarate as an alternate electron acceptor, which is the first report of growth on an organic electron acceptor by perchlorate-reducing bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2004 Sep, 70(9), 5595 - 602 Alkaline anaerobic respiration: isolation and characterization of a novel alkaliphilic and metal-reducing bacterium; Ye Q et al.; Iron-reducing enrichments were obtained from leachate ponds at the U.S . Borax Company in Boron, Calif . Based on partial small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences (approximately 500 nucleotides), six isolates shared 98.9% nucleotide identity . As a representative, the isolate QYMF was selected for further analysis . QYMF could be grown with Fe(III)-citrate, Fe(III)-EDTA, Co(III)-EDTA, or Cr(VI) as electron acceptors, and yeast extract and lactate could serve as electron donors . Growth during iron reduction occurred over the pH range of 7.5 to 11.0 (optimum, pH 9.5), a sodium chloride range of 0 to 80 g/liter (optimum, 20 g/liter), and a temperature range of 4 to 45 degrees C (optimum, approximately 35 degrees C), and iron precipitates were formed . QYMF was a strict anaerobe that could be grown in the presence of borax, and the cells were straight rods that produced endospores . Sodium chloride and yeast extract stimulated growth . Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene indicated that the bacterium was a low-G+C gram-positive microorganism and had 96 and 92% nucleotide identity with Alkaliphilus transvaalensis and Alkaliphilus crotonatoxidans, respectively . The major phospholipid fatty acids were 14:1, 16:1omega7c, and 16:0, which were different from those of other alkaliphiles but similar to those of reported iron-reducing bacteria . The results demonstrated that the isolate might represent a novel metal-reducing alkaliphilic species . The name Alkaliphilus metalliredigens sp . nov . is proposed . The isolation and activity of metal-reducing bacteria from borax-contaminated leachate ponds suggest that bioremediation of metal-contaminated alkaline environments may be feasible and have implications for alkaline anaerobic respiration. Arch Microbiol, 2004 Oct, 182(2-3), 226 - 35 Epub 2004 Aug 31. Characterisation of a thermoalkali-stable cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from the anaerobic thermoalkaliphilic bacterium Anaerobranca gottschalkii; Thiemann V et al.; The thermoalkaliphilic anaerobic bacterium Anaerobranca gottschalkii produces an extracellular CGTase when grown on starch at 55 degrees C and pH 9.0 . The gene encoding this CGTase was cloned and successfully expressed in Escherichia coli . It encodes a protein consisting of 721 amino acids with a signal sequence of 34 amino acids . On SDS-polyacrylamide gels, the purified CGTase from A . gottschalkii displayed the expected molecular mass of 78 kDa . The recombinant enzyme was purified with a yield of 13.5% and displayed a specific activity of 210 units/mg . This CGTase, which represents the first report of a CGTase from an anaerobic thermoalkaliphile, was active at a broad range of temperature and pH, namely 55-70 degrees C and pH 5-10 . It completely converted amylose, amylopectin and native starch to cyclodextrins, preferentially alpha-cyclodextrin . With a longer incubation period, the alpha-cyclodextrin to beta-cyclodextrin ratio declined . Variations in substrate type and concentration influenced the product pattern . Increasing the substrate concentration (0.5-20.0%) and glucans containing branching points (alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages) shifted the product pattern to: beta-cyclodextin > alpha-cyclodextrin > gamma-cyclodextrin . In addition to these cyclodextrins, larger cyclodextrins (>8 glucose units) were formed in the initial reaction period . The CGTase was stabilised against thermal inactivation by calcium ions and high substrate concentrations; and 5 mM of CaCl(2) shifted the apparent melting point of the enzyme from 60 degrees C to 69 degrees C. J Chemother, 2004 Jun, 16(3), 227 - 9 In vitro activity of ABT-492 against anaerobic bacteria; Sillerstrom E et al.; The purpose of the study was to determine the in vitro activity of ABT-492 compared with that of other antimicrobial agents against anaerobic bacteria . The activity of ABT-492 was investigated against 369 clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria by the agar dilution method and was compared with that of moxifloxacin, piperacillin, cefoxitin, imipenem, clindamycin and metronidazole . ABT-492 and imipenem were the most active antimicrobial agents tested. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2004 Aug 31, 101(35), 12854 - 9 Epub 2004 Aug 23. Crystal structure of an oxygen-binding heme domain related to soluble guanylate cyclases; Pellicena P et al.; Soluble guanylate cyclases are nitric oxide-responsive signaling proteins in which the nitric oxide sensor is a heme-binding domain of unknown structure that we have termed the heme-NO and oxygen binding (H-NOX) domain . H-NOX domains are also found in bacteria, either as isolated domains, or are fused through a membrane-spanning region to methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins . We have determined the crystal structure of an oxygen-binding H-NOX domain of one such signaling protein from the obligate anaerobe Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis at 1.77-angstroms resolution, revealing a protein fold unrelated to known structures . Particularly striking is the structure of the protoporphyrin IX group, which is distorted from planarity to an extent not seen before in protein-bound heme groups . Comparison of the structure of the H-NOX domain in two different crystal forms suggests a mechanism whereby alteration in the degree of distortion of the heme group is coupled to changes on the molecular surface of the H-NOX domain and potentially to changes in intermolecular interactions . Med Hypotheses, 2004, 63(4), 659 - 61 Was isolation of Veillonella from spinal osteomyelitis possible due to poor tissue perfusion? Bongaerts GP, Schreurs BW, Lunel FV, Lemmens JA, Pruszczynski M, Merkx MA. From a needle biopsy of the body of the 12th thoracic vertebra in a 74-year-old man with spinal osteomyelitis a Veillonella parvula was isolated . The significance of