Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(5), 345 - 50 The role of culture media on the fosfomycin sensitivity of six Serratia strains and their resistant mutants; Drugeon HB et al.; The influence of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) on the fosfomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of six Serratia marcescens strains was determined using two standard media (Muller-Hinton and nutrient agar) and three synthetic media . G6P did not affect fosfomycin MIC when S . marcescens was grown on standard media, but on synthetic media the presence of 5-100 mg/l G6P lowered the MIC by 1-7 log2 . Five fosfomycin-resistant mutants were grown on synthetic media . In the presence of G6P, four of five mutant strains became more sensitive (MICs were 128 mg/l or less) . The fifth mutant strain remained resistant under all culture conditions . The implications of these results are discussed with regard to the mechanism of action of fosfomycin, and the practical determination of the MIC in the clinic. Microbios, 1982, 33(132), 101 - 10 Pigments and antibiogram of transconjugants from nonpigmented mutants of Serratia marcescens; Qian HL et al.; Serratia marcescens produces a characteristic red pigment, prodigiosin, which is formed by the enzymatic coupling of 4-methoxy-2,2'-bipyrrole-5-bipyrrole-5-carboxaldehyde (MBC) and 2-methyl-3-amylpyrrole (MAP) . Many clinical isolates which are resistant to multiple antibiotics are nonpigmented . However, the relationship of pigmentation (or nonpigmentation) to drug resistance of the strains has not yet been established . In this study we demonstrated the pigment synthesizing capability in the transconjugants obtained from nonpigmented mutants WF and 9-3-3 of S . marcescens under the condition of cell-to-cell contact . Mutant WF produces MAP while mutant 9-3-3 synthesized only MBC . After genetic transfer, the color of the recombinant colonies was red indicating the successful transfer of the pigment synthesizing capability . The antibiogram of the transconjugants indicated that they inherited the resistance characteristics to polymyxin B and chloramphenicol from their parent strains . further supportive evidence was obtained by spectroscopic and high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the resulting pigments extracted from the pigmented transconjugants . The pigments produced by the transconjugants were similar, if not identical, to those produced by the wild type strain 08 and those synthesizes syntrophically . The possibility of simultaneous transfer of pigment synthesizing capability and drug resistance remains to be explored . Acta Chir Scand Suppl, 1982, 508, 265 - 9 Primary bacterial contamination of wound track; Tian HM et al.; Forty-four dogs were used . In experimental animals, Serratia marcescens inoculated cloth were placed on the entrance or exist side before shooting, while in control animals no inoculated cloth was placed . Bullet wounding was carried out to both hind legs from a distance of 20 metres . 5.56 mm calibre bullet was used . The impact velocity was 919 m/s or 716 m/s . Bacteriological examination was made immediately or 6 hrs after the shot . The experimental studies showed that primary bacterial contamination of bullet wounds could be resulted immediately after the shot . And it has been verified that the main mechanisms of primary bacterial contamination were two: (1) The bacteria were sucked into the wound by negative pressure of the temporary cavity at both entrance and exit sides . (2) At entrance side, in addition, bacteria could be further carried into the wound tract by contaminated bullet itself. Am J Med, 1982 Jan, 72(1), 164 - 8 Four-valve polymicrobial endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens; Hobbs RD et al.; This report describes what is believed to be the first case of mixed Pseudomonas and Serratia endocarditis, of probable nosocomial etiology, with involvement of all four heart valves in a 56 year old nonaddicted patient . Although both organisms were recovered in culture, infection and tissue invasion were documented by light and electron microscopy . The clinical course in this patient differed from more typical patterns of Pseudomonas or Serratia endocarditis that have been observed as complications of narcotic addiction or compromised cardiac status . Our patient had the rare occurrence of endocarditis with two organisms and four-valve involvement . Clinically, however, this presented as a right-sided endocarditis and behaved as though only a single organism were present. J Surg Oncol, 1982 Jan, 19(1), 59 - 61 The application of tissue adhesives in small bowel anastomoses; Petrelli NJ et al.; One layer everted end-to-end anastomosis was performed on the small bowel of mongrel dogs . Cultures of Serratia marcescens were injected into the lumen . Twenty-four hours later the animals were reexplored, and peritoneal cultures were observed . In animals where Fibrin Seal (consisting of fibrinogen, cold insoluble globulin, factor XIII, platelet growth factor, antiplasmin, thrombin, and calcium chloride) was applied to the suture line, negative cultures were found except for two experiments in which dehiscence or contamination from the Serratia injection site occurred. Arch Otolaryngol, 1982 Jan, 108(1), 34 - 5 Fatal meningitis due to Serratia marcescens after stapedectomy; Jablokow VR et al.; Meningitis and septicemia due to Serratia marcescens developed in a patient postoperatively after stapedectomy . The infection with this organism is rare but has to be considered in differential diagnosis of bacterial meningitis because the early treatment with intrathecal administration of antibiotics may be lifesaving . Most of the reported cases of meningitis due to Serratia were due to S marcescens. Mikrobiologiia, 1982 Jan-Feb, 51(1), 107 - 10 {Characteristics of microorganisms subjected to the action of a vacuum}; Imshenetskii AA et al.; The object of this work was to study the effect of vacuum on Endomyces magnusii, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium luteum . The zone of tolerance to the water activity was determined for the intact cells of E . magnusii and for the cells subjected to vacuum . Suspensions of the above cells were studied by UV spectroscopy with the aim of detecting changes in the permeability of cell membrane after the action of vacuum. Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(6), 434 - 43 Interactions of antimicrobial drugs and combined phagocytic/serum bactericidal activity of defibrinated human blood against Serratia marcescens . II . Aminoglycosides: amikacin, gentamicin, and netilmicin; Traub WH; Minimal bactericidal concentrations of the aminoglycoside antibiotics amikacin, gentamicin, and netilmicin killed intraphagolysosomal test bacteria of selected assay strains of Serratia marcescens, though not as efficiently as rifampin . The system employed consisted of 55 vol% of fresh defibrinated human blood treated with 2 mg/ml of phenylbutazone which permitted ingestion of bacteria, but selectively inhibited microbicidal activity of the peripheral blood leukocytes . Extraphagocytic bacteria were killed with the aid of group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of S . marcescens . Inhibitory and subinhibitory concentrations of amikacin, gentamicin, and netilmicin combined with 55 vol% of defibrinated blood, respectively, yielded additive effects against all test strains of S . marcescens utilized and against Escherichia coli control strain ATCC 25922. Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(9), 795 - 801 An epidemiological study of Serratia marcescens infections by bacteriocin typing; Nasu M et al.; Bacteriocin sensitivity typing according to the method of Traub (Appl . Microbiol . 1971 . 21: 837-840) was carried out on 226 clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens obtained from inpatients at Nagasaki University Hospital during the period from January 1976 to December 1978 . The isolates were divided into 16 different bacteriocin types, mainly 26, 4, and 9 . The distribution of the types suggests that Serratia marcescens infections may be caused by cross infection . Reproducibility of bacteriocin typing and the relationship between serotypes (O-antigen) and bacteriocin types are discussed in regard to the application of this method to the study of nosocomial infections. Mol Gen Genet, 1982, 188(2), 334 - 7 Cloning of rpsO, the gene for ribosomal protein S15 of Escherichia coli; Takata R et al.; The gene for Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S15 (rpsO) was cloned on the vector pBR322 from F-prime JCH55 DNA . The recombinant plasmid was transformed to Serratia marcescens cells and it was proved that E . coli S15 was synthesized and incorporated into ribosome particles in S . marcescens cells . A DNA fragment containing rpsO was also inserted into the vector pRF3, which changes its copy number depending on the growth temperature in a temperature-sensitive polA host . By use of this recombinant plasmid it was shown that the relative synthesis rate of S15 increased about twice even when the copy number of the plasmid increased more than twenty-fold. Mikrobiologiia, 1982, 51(5), 802 - 5 {Lipase localization in Serratia marcescens cells}; Severina LO et al.; The localization of lipase was studied in the cells of Serratia marcescens 345 . When the cells were treated with sodium cholate, the enzyme bound to the cellular structures was released in the solution . The supernatant obtained after the cells were treated with sodium cholate contained no glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a well known endocellular enzyme; therefore, the cytoplasmic membrane was not damaged by the treatment . Ultrathin sections of the intact cells and the cells treated with sodium cholate were examined using electron microscopy, and no disorders were detected in the cytoplasmic and outer membranes . It appears therefore that the lipase of S . marcescens 345 is located mainly on the exterior surface of the outer membrane. Microbios, 1982, 34(137-38), 153 - 8 Prodigiosin, a component of kappa phage receptor complex in Serratia marcescens; Patel KA et al.; Studies on kappa phage inactivation with isolated pigments from Serratia marcescens were carried out . Kappa phage is sensitive to inactivation with diethyl ether, petroleum ether, acetone and methanol, but is quite stable in chloroform and dimethyl sulphoxide . The pigment extract dissolved in chloroform inactivates about 50% of the total suspended phages . The pigment dissolved in acetone and dimethyl sulphoxide inactivates about 96.50% and 64.10% of the phages, respectively . High inactivation values with acetone were partially due to direct inactivation rather than the pigment itself. Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(5), 369 - 80 Interactions of antimicrobial drugs and combined phagocytic/serum bactericidal activity of defibrinated human blood against Serratia marcescens . I . Cotrimoxazole, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, and trimethoprim; Traub WH; Minimal bactericidal concentrations of trimethoprim, nalidixic acid, and nitrofurantoin revealed effective intraphagolysosomal bactericidal activity against several assay strains of Serratia marcescens as determined with phenylbutazone-treated (2 mg/ml) fresh defibrinated human blood (55 vol%), following killing of extraphagocytic test bacteria with group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of S . marcescens . The degree of intraphagocytic killing activity of trimethoprim, nalidixic acid, and nitrofurantoin approximated that of rifampin . Inhibitory and subinhibitory concentrations of cotrimoxazole or trimethoprim combined with 55 vol% of defibrinated blood, respectively, yielded additive effects against all test strains of S . marcescens . However, combinations of nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin with blood, respectively, resulted in essentially indifferent effects against S . marcescens. Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(5), 355 - 62 Combined serum bactericidal and phagocytic activities of defibrinated human blood against Serratia marcescens . Use of phenylbutazone to selectively block phagocytic killing activity and of Group A (phage tail) bacteriocins to kill extraphagocytic bacteria; Traub WH; Fresh, defibrinated human blood (65 vol%) from normal adults reduced cell inocula of Serratia marcescens, comprising 'delayed serum-sensitive', 'pseudo-serum-resistant', and 'non-serum-sensitive' human serum susceptibility categories, by up to approximately 3 log10 units, provided cell inocula did not significantly exceed 10(5) colony-forming units/ml at 0 time . Phenylbutazone (2 mg/ml) antagonized neither serum bactericidal activity nor the biological activity of group A (phage tail) bacteriocins bA+ 16 and bA+ 18 . These bacteriocins were suitable for killing extraphagocytic S . marcescens cells, since they were not internalized by peripheral blood leukocytes . Phenylbutazone at 2 mg/ml failed to interfere with ingestion of S . marcescens by leukocytes; however, this drug inhibited intraphagocytic killing of ingested S . marcescens bacteria . Pilot experiments, utilizing this latter system, disclosed that rifampin effectively killed intraphagolysosomal bacteria. Bioelectromagnetics, 1982, 3(2), 237 - 45 Thin-layer liquid crystal thermometry of cells in vitro during hyperthermal microwave irradiation; Robinson JE et al.; A nonperturbing technique of thin-layer liquid crystal thermometry was developed to quantitate heating of Chinese hamster ovary cells and the bacterium Serratia marcescens when exposed to 2450-MHz microwave fields at 0.2-0.5 W/cm2 . Cells suspended in culture medium were injected into 5-cm glass microcapillary tubes coated on the inside with a thin layer of liquid crystal . The tubes were sealed and placed parallel to the electric field in a watertight waveguide exposure chamber where they were heated by circulating temperature-controlled water . Even at high circulation rates, liquid crystal color changes indicated local microwave capillary tube heating of 0.1-0.25 degrees C . Precision of measurement was 0.02 degrees C . Observations during microwave heating were significantly different from observations without microwaves at the 1% level, and heating increased as circulating water flow was reduced from 300 ml/s to 100 ml/s . The results of a cell survival assay following hyperthermal treatment were in good agreement with expectations based on the observations of microwave heating using liquid crystals. Mol Gen Genet, 1982, 187(2), 265 - 77 Gene expression in Streptomyces: construction and application of promoter-probe plasmid vectors in Streptomyces lividans; Bibb MJ et al.; Promoter-probe plasmid vectors were constructed for Streptomyces lividans using expression of the Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene as an indicator of promoter activity . These vectors have been used to isolate and to study the activity of DNA sequences that contain transcriptional control signals from Streptomyces, Bacillus licheniformis, E . coli, and Serratia marcescens . Studies of these promoter regions in heterospecific hosts indicate that genus or species-specific factors may present barriers to the expression of bacterial genetic material in certain heterologous cellular environments . While promoter regions isolated from E . coli, S . marcescens and B . licheniformis all appear to be recognized by the RNA polymerase of S . lividans, the Streptomyces transcriptional control signals isolated do not appear to function normally in E . coli. Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(5), 363 - 8 Polymyxin B-induced cocarde growth phenomenon of Serratia marcescens due to cationic detergent-like activity of polymyxin B; Traub WH; 14 of 74 test strains of Serratia marcescens yielded reproducible cocarde-like growths (coc+) around 30-micrograms disks of polymyxin B (PB) on Muller-Hinton, brain heart infusion and tryptic soy agar . The coc+ phenomenon was not due to nutrient effects of growth medium nor did it correlate with either group A (phage tail) bacteriocinogeny or colicinogeny as determined with 32 selected test strains; mitomycin C failed to give rise to coc+ growths . The anionic bile salts of MacConkey agar as well as aqueous sodium deoxycholate neutralized the coc+ activity of PB . Benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine digluconate, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by themselves did not produce cocardes . Rather, these cationic detergents enhanced PB activity somewhat against selected coc+ and coc- strains of S . marcescens . It was concluded that the PB-induced growth phenomenon of S . marcescens was due to the cationic detergent-like activity of this polypeptide antibiotic. Gene, 1982 Jan, 17(1), 107 - 12 Efficient transformation of Serratia marcescens with pBR322 plasmid DNA; Reid JD et al.; Eight Serratia marcescens strains tested could be transformed with the plasmid pBR322 . Transformants were selected on the basis of resistance to high levels of ampicillin (400 to 500 micrograms/ml) . For six of the strains, the CaCl2- mediated transformation procedure developed for Escherichia coli was successful . For the other two strains, no transformants were obtained with the CaCl2-mediated transformation procedure unless the cells first received a heat treatment . Transformation frequency was dependent on DNA concentration, and no transformation was detected with linear pBR322 DNA . The stability and copy number of pBR322 were similar in S . marcescens and E . coli . As in E . coli, the pBR322 DNA was amplified in S . marcescens after inhibition of proteins synthesis . Based on these results, cloning in S . marcescens should be possible and pBR322 should be a useful cloning vehicle. Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(1), 6 - 17 An R plasmid of Serratia marcescens transferable to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Olexy VM et al.; Hospital isolates of Serratia marcescens able to transfer resistance to up to 11 antibiotics were found to contain conjugative R plasmids . One set of strains harbors only a single R plasmid with a mass of 89 megadaltons (Mdal) . This plasmid codes for resistance to nine antibiotics including ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, sisomycin, and sulfonamides . The 2nd set of strains harbors 2 R plasmids, 1 with a mass of 89 Mdal, the other 57 Mdal . Analysis of progeny from genetic crosses indicates that the larger R plasmid codes for resistance to the same antibiotics as does the 89-Mdal plasmid described above . The 57-Mdal species codes for resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, kanamycin, neomycin, and tetracycline . The 89- and 57-Mdal R plasmids appear unrelated by a number of genetic and physical criteria . The 89-Mdal plasmid, but not the 57-Mdal species, is transferable by conjugation to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and renders this species stably resistant to carbenicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, and sisomycin. Infection, 1982, 10 Suppl 3, S166 - 7 Acylureido penicillins in neonatal intensive care . Preliminary communication; Nars PW; The antimicrobial sensitivity of 232 bacteria isolated from patients in a newborn intensive care unit was tested . Practically all organisms were sensitive to a combination of mezlocillin-aminoglycoside; a few were resistant to azlocillin-aminoglycoside . Eighteen patients, all severely ill, were treated with the combination acylureidopenicillin-aminoglycoside . Nine patients died, eight due to non-infectious diseases and one very small premature baby due to Serratia marcescens meningitis . The other patients showed good clinical improvement . The only side-effect observed was a macular rash in one patient. Arzneimittelforschung, 1982, 32(6), 595 - 7 {Antibacterial activity of N-formimidoyl-thienamycin in comparison with other beta-lactam antibiotics against clinical problem strains (author's transl)}; Grimm H; The efficacy of N-formimidoyl-thienamycin (MK 0787) has been tested against 549 cultures of different species, which often cause therapeutic problems . Included were 286 mezlocillin-resistant strains, 100 Serratia marcescens and 66 Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The minimal inhibitory concentration ranged between 0.06 and 4 micrograms/ml by means of the agar-dilution-method . Resistant strains were not observed . Among the 11 beta-lactam- and aminoglycoside-antibiotics tested N-formimidoyl-thienamycin was the most effective with the broadest spectrum. Mol Cell Biochem, 1981 Dec 4, 41, 123 - 36 Bactericidal activity of tuftsin; Martinez J et al.; The biological activities of the phagocytosis stimulating tetrapeptide, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg are discussed . A brief account on the stimulation by tuftsin of phagocytosis of various particles, including bacteria was reported . Stimulation of bactericidal activity by this tetrapeptide was investigated in vitro as well as in vivo . The potency of tuftsin to enhance blood clearing of Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens by mouse peritoneal macrophages was demonstrated . Bactericidal activity and effects of tuftsin on this phenomenon were studied in liver and spleen of mice . Tuftsin stimulates these activities . Same experiments were performed in infected leukemic mice by Serratia marcescens or Escherichia coli . Results on blood clearing and bactericidal activities in liver and spleen were reported and compared to those of healthy and leukemic untreated animals . Tuftsin was found to present interesting stimulatory effects on the bactericidal activity of phagocytes. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 42(6), 1093 - 102 Prolonged survival of Serratia marcescens in chlorhexidine; Marrie TJ et al.; During an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections at our hospital, we discovered widespread contamination of the 2% chlorhexidine hand-washing solution by S . marcescens . Examination by electron microscopy of the sides of bottles in which this solution was stored revealed that microorganisms were embedded in a fibrous matrix . Bacteria, free in the liquid, were morphologically abnormal, showing cell wall disruption or cytoplasmic changes . Furthermore, bacteria adherent to the walls of the storage jugs and embedded in this fibrous matrix also had morphologically abnormal cytoplasm . Despite these changes, viable S . marcescens organisms were recovered from the fluid during a storage period of 27 months . The concentration of chlorhexidine required to inhibit these strains of Serratia was 1,024 microgram/ml; however, the organism could survive in concentrations of up to 20,000 micrograms/ml . Additional studies are needed to define the mechanism(s) that allows such bacteria to contaminate and survive in disinfectants. Am J Med, 1981 Nov, 71(5), 836 - 40 Successful treatment of Legionella micdadei (Pittsburgh pneumonia agent) pneumonia with erythromycin; Wing EJ et al.; Optimal treatment of Legionella micdadei pneumonia has not been established, although in vitro studies have shown the pathogen to be sensitive to erythromycin . At our institution, L . micdadei pneumonia was diagnosed in six patients over a one and one-half year period . All patients were immunocompromised and had a typical clinical syndrome; in four of six, diagnosis was made by isolation of the pathogen . All patients received erythromycin (2 to 4 g daily) for 12 to 27 days, and five of six recovered completely . One patient improved initially but died four weeks later from Serratia marcescens pneumonia and septicemia . Although L . micdadei may cause life-threatening pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts, prompt diagnosis and institution of erythromycin therapy can result in a favorable outcome. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Nov-Dec, 50(6), 992 - 5 {Decarboxylase activity of Serratia marcescens utilizing glucose and glycerin}; Kazanskaia TB et al.; The activity of decarboxylase in the cells of slightly coloured and pigmented Serratia marcescens strains was studied as a function of carbon sources in the growth medium and substrates for determining the enzyme activity . The cells of both strains grown in a medium with glucose produced 1.2--3.8 times more CO2 on glucose and sodium pyruvate solutions used as substrates, as compared to the cells that had utilized glycerol . Irrespective of a carbon source contained in the growth medium, the cells evolved the highest amount of CO2 on sodium pyruvate. J Biol Chem, 1981 Oct 10, 256(19), 9901 - 8 Chemical modifications of Serratia marcescens anthranilate synthase component I; Tso JY et al.; Serratia marcescens anthranilate synthase Component I (AS I) was purified from a plasmid-containing Escherichia coli strain . Residues essential for AS I function were studied by chemical modification reactions . Phenylglyoxal and 1,2-cyclohexanedione modified 2-5 arginine residues and inactivated AS I . The substrate chorismate reduced the rate of inactivation . Analysis of inactivation data indicated that 1 arginine residue is essential for activity . Histidine residues in AS I were modified by ethoxyformic anhydride and by photooxidation . Enzyme inactivation accompanied modification of histidine residues . Inactivation was prevented by substrate . Comparison of the number of carbethoxy groups incorporated between substrate-protected and unprotected AS I indicated that 1 histidine residue is required for activity . AS I was also inactivated by bromopyruvate . Substrate retarded inactivation by bromopyruvate . A differential labeling experiment indicated that the loss of AS I activity was correlated with alkylation of 1 cysteine residue . A tryptic peptide containing the essential cysteine residue was isolated . The peptide has the amino acid sequence of Ile-Cys-Gln-Ala-Gly-Ser-Arg. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Oct, 34(10), 1327 - 33 Effect of combination of cefsulodin and beta-lactam antibiotics against Serratia marcescens; Kondo M et al.; The effect of cefsulodin in combination with various beta-lactam antibiotics was examined against Serratia marcescens . In vitro, the optimum ratio for all combinations tested was almost the same (cefsulodin - other antibiotic = 1:1 approximately 1:4) . The combinations of cefsulodin-cefazolin and cefsulodin-cefotiam were found to have a synergistic effect and other combinations, such as cefsulodin-cefmenoxime, -ampicillin and -sulbenicillin, an additive effect with the checkerboard dilution and the fixed combination methods . The synergistic effect of cefsulodin-cefotiam was more potent than that of cefsulodin-cefazolin and the effect of both combinations was clearer with heavy than with light inoculum size . With the killing kinetic method, all combinations tested showed a synergistic effect . In vivo, the optimum combination ratios of cefsulodin-cefazolin and cefsulodin-cefotiam were 1:2 and 1:1, respectively, the protective effect of the latter combination being much stronger than that of the former . With the fixed combination method (cefsulodin - other antibiotic = 1:1 approximately 1:4), the effect of the combination of cefsulodin with all antibiotics except cefazolin and cefotiam was additive. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Oct, 34(10), 1283 - 9 Biosynthetic pathway of beta-methylnorleucine, an antimetabolite produced by Serratia marcescens; Sugiura M et al.; beta-Methylnorleucine biosynthesis was examined in Serratia marcescens using regulatory mutants of branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis . The accumulation of beta-methylnorleucine from norvaline in the wild-type strain was inhibited by the simultaneous additions of isoleucine, valine and leucine, although its accumulation in the derepressed mutant of isoleucine, valine and leucine biosynthesis was markedly increased and was not inhibited by additions of these amino acid . Accumulation of this compound was not observed in an isoleucine-valine auxotroph, although its accumulation was not affected in an isoleucine or leucine auxotroph . Transaminase B catalyzed the conversion of alpha-keto-beta-methylcaproate to beta-methylnorleucine . These results suggest that beta-methylnorleucine is formed from alpha-ketovalerate, alpha-ketoacid corresponding to norvaline, by enzymes of the isoleucine-valine biosynthetic pathway. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Oct, 34(10), 1278 - 82 beta-methylnorleucine, an antimetabolite produced by Serratia marcescens; Sugiura M et al.; An amino acid was formed by alpha-aminobutyrate-resistant mutants of Serratia marcescens grown in a medium containing norvaline . This amino acid was identified as erythro-beta-methyl-L-norleucine {(2S,3S)-2-amino-3-methylhexanoic acid} by instrumental analyses . beta-Methylnorleucine inhibited the growth of several bacteria in synthetic medium. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Oct, 126(Pt 2), 491 - 6 Nitrofurantoin prompts the stringent response in Bacillus subtilis; Lopez JM et al.; Nitrofurantoin causes the stringent response in Bacillus subtilis . After exposure of a stringent strain to this drug, the intracellular concentrations of guanosine 3'-diphosphate 5'-diphosphate (ppGpp), guanosine 3'-diphosphate 5'-triphosphate (pppGpp) and ATP increased, while that of GTP decreased . In a relaxed strain no accumulation of ppGpp or pppGpp was observed, but both GTP and ATP declined after the addition of nitrofurantoin . Protein synthesis was equally sensitive to nitrofurantoin in both the stringent and relaxed strains, but the drug inhibited RNA accumulation only in the stringent strain, not in the relaxed strain . Nitrofurantoin also caused the accumulation of ppGpp in Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1981 Oct, 68(4), 267 - 72 Desensitization of anaphylactic hypersensitivity specific for the penicilloate minor determinant of penicillin and carbenicillin; Gorevic PD et al.; A 68-yr-old man with a history of a morbilliform rash caused by intravenous penicillin required carbenicillin (CB) therapy for refractory Serratia marcescens septicemia . Skin testing showed a positive immediate skin test to the penicilloate minor determinant in the presence of negative tests to benzylpenicilloylpolylysine (BPL) and penicillin G (PG), as well as cross-reactivity between the penicilloate derivatives of PG and CB . True densensitization was accomplished by gradual administration of CB intravenously and was accompanied by a diffuse flush reaction . There was specific loss of wheal-and-flare reactivity as well as of specific serum reaginic antibody activity during the procedure, and there was no evidence of activation of serum complement . This case illustrates the usefulness of skin tests in the prediction and management of penicillin allergy and presents data pertaining to immunologic mechanisms involved in true desensitization. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981 Sep, 250(3), 307 - 11 Serotyping of Serratia marcescens: confirmation of five recently described new O-antigens and characterization of an additional O-antigen; Traub WH; Five new Serratia marcescens O-antigens (O16--O20) of Le Minor and Pigache were confirmed . An additional O-antigens (O21) was found and characterized . All six O-antigens cross-reacted with previously established O-antigens of S . marcescens, necessitating the employment of cross-absorbed rabbit anti-O immune sera for definitive O-antigen analyses. Infect Immun, 1981 Sep, 33(3), 927 - 32 Characterization of rabbit corneal damage produced by Serratia keratitis and by a serratia protease; Lyerly D et al.; The structural alterations elicited in the rabbit corneal stroma by experimental Serratia marcescens keratitis and by a highly purified serratia protease preparation were compared by gross observation, biochemical analyses, and electron microscopic examination of the affected tissue . Acute inflammation, liquefactive necrosis of the cornea, and descemetocele formation occurred during the development of the infection and after the intracorneal injection of submicrogram amounts of the protease . In vitro incubation of insoluble corneal stromal tissue with the bacterium or with the protease resulted in solubilization of the stromal proteoglycan ground substance; however, specific collagenase activity was not detected . Electron microscopic examination of corneas damaged by the bacterial infection and by the protease revealed loss of ruthenium red staining of the proteoglycan ground substance and dispersal of ultrastructurally normal collagen fibrils . Thus, our findings indicate that the major corneal damage which occurs during serratia keratitis and after the injection of the serratia protease is caused by solubilization and loss of the ground substance of the tissue . In addition, the observation that the major structural alterations observed during serratia keratitis can be reproduced by the bacterial protease supports the idea that the enzyme is involved, at least in part, with the production of severe corneal damage by the bacterium. Crit Care Med, 1981 Sep, 9(9), 633 - 6 Amikacin treatment of Serratia septicemia in critically ill patients; Mosquera JM et al.; Serratia marcescens septicemia represents a serious problem in high risk critical care patients . Treatment is difficult because Serratia is usually resistant to most antibiotics . Amikacin is at present the most effective antibiotic in vitro against gentamycin-resistant Serratia, although significant loss of activity may occur in vivo in the group of compromised patients, whose ultimate prognosis may depend eventually upon other associated conditions . In this Medical ICU, 15 patients with Serratia septicemia who were treated with in vitro effective antibiotics (14 were given amikacin) had a mortality of 60%, while 5 patients who received ineffective in vitro antibiotics had a mortality of 100% . In this ICU, 80% of the Serratia isolates were resistant to gentamycin, while only 2.8% were resistant to amikacin . Because amikacin-resistant strains of Serratia have already emerged, appropriate use of this antibiotic is essential in order not to promote the selection of amikacin-resistant strains. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Sep, 20(3), 351 - 5 Moxalactam therapy of infections caused by cephalothin-resistant bacteria: influence of serum inhibitory activity on clinical response and acquisition of antibiotic resistance during therapy; Platt R et al.; Thirty patients infected predominantly by Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated in an open trial with moxalactam, a broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic . Twenty-three (76%) had a satisfactory microbiological or clinical response . Among 25 patients for whom serum inhibitory concentrations were measured, those with favorable microbiological responses had significantly higher values than those with poor responses (reciprocal geometric mean concentrations, 49 versus 4.9; P less than 0.01) . A serum inhibitory concentration of greater than 1:8 correlated significantly with a favorable outcome (17 of 18 versus 2 of 7 responses; P less than 0.01) . Although the overall clinical efficacy of moxalactam was good, resistant organisms of species identical to those of the original infecting isolates were recovered during therapy in seven cases, including five caused by Pseudomonas organisms and two caused by Serratia organisms. Biokhimiia, 1981 Sep, 46(9), 1660 - 6 {Serratia marcescens endonuclease . Properties of the enzyme}; Filimonova MN et al.; Some physico-chemical properties of endonuclease (EC 3.1.4.9) from Serratia marcescens were studied and the amino acid composition of the enzyme was determined . The protein molecule was shown to contain one SH-group and one S-S-bond, which renders it different from the well studied nuclease (EC 3.1.4.7) from Staph . pyogenes . The conditions for reconstitution of the S-S-bond by dithioerythritol for quantitative estimation of cysteine residues of the endonuclease molecule were selected . The N-terminal amino acid was found to be threonine . The UV spectra for the enzyme are typical for proteins; A 0,1% 1cm,280nm is 1.46, epsilon 25 degrees 280nm,pH7,4 is 47292 M-1 cm-1 . The sedimentation coefficient in phosphate buffer sW, 20 degrees is 3.4 S, pI is 6.5 and 7.5. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Aug, 14(2), 234 - 6 Serratia ficaria isolated from a human clinical specimen; Gill VJ et al.; The first isolation of Serratia ficaria from a human source is reported . Investigation into the eating habits of the patient revealed the probable source as figs, which are one of the natural reservoirs of this organism . How this and other normally saprophytic Serratia species can be distinguished from Serratia marcescens is reviewed. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Aug, 14(2), 157 - 60 Nosocomial transmission of Serratia marcescens in a veterinary hospital due to contamination by benzalkonium chloride; Fox JG et al.; During a 1-year period, Serratia marcescens was isolated from 50% of all contaminate intravenous catheters from dogs and cats in a large veterinary hospital . S . marcescens was also isolated from respiratory tracts, genitourinary tracts, skin, and other sites in hospitalized animals . A total of 55% of the clinical isolates and 66% of the intravenous catheter isolates had the same API biochemical profile . The source of the S . marcescens was determined to be aqueous benzalkonium chloride (0.025%) sponge pots located in the intensive care unit, surgery rooms, and outpatient clinic areas of the hospital . Of the 11 S . marcescens isolates submitted to the Centers for Disease Control for serotyping (6 from aqueous benzalkonium chloride sponge pots, 5 from intravenous catheters), 8 were identified as serotype O10:H11 . All S . marcescens isolates tested for antibiotic susceptibilities were multiply resistant; isolates were most frequently resistant to streptomycin, cephalothin, and ampicillin . This study demonstrates that improper use of disinfectants plays an important role in the nosocomial transmission of S . marcescens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Aug, 20(2), 239 - 43 Comparative in vitro synergistic activity of new beta-lactam antimicrobial agents and amikacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens; Kurtz TO et al.; The in vitro synergistic activities of moxalactam, cefoperazone, or cefotaxime in combination with amikacin or piperacillin were compared against aminoglycoside-susceptible and aminoglycoside-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens by the checkerboard agar dilution method . All antimicrobial combinations demonstrated some synergy, and no antagonism was observed . Moxalactam plus amikacin and piperacillin plus amikacin were most frequently synergistic (two-thirds of the isolates inhibited synergistically by each combination), whereas combinations of moxalactam, cefotaxime, or cefoperazone with piperacillin were synergistic against only 18 to 25% of the isolates . Moxalactam plus amikacin was the combination most often synergistic for amikacin-susceptible P . aeruginosa, and piperacillin plus amikacin was the combination most frequently synergistic for amikacin-resistant P . aeruginosa and amikacin-susceptible S . marcescens . These results demonstrate frequent in vitro synergistic activity between the new beta-lactam agents and amikacin (especially moxalactam or piperacillin with amikacin), but comparative clinical trials are needed to establish the relative efficacy and toxicity of these combinations. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Aug, 34(8), 1046 - 54 Light and electron microscopy of the morphological response of Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens to cefmenoxime (SCE-1365), a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin; Nakao M et al.; The morphological response of Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens to cefmenoxime (SCE-1365), 7 beta-{2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-(Z)-2-methoxyminoacetamido}-3-{(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)thiomethyl}ceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid, a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin, was investigated . The action of cefmenoxime was bactericidal against both E . coli and S . marcescens even at rather low concentrations . The pattern and the rate of the decrease of colony-forming units (CFU) were similar over a fairly wide range of concentration; this was especially noticeable in S . marcescens . In E . coli filamentous cells were induced at low concentrations of the cephalosporin . Spheroplasts appeared at higher concentrations, and they lysed later . A bulge was formed at the middle of the cell at concentrations near the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), and vacuole-like structures surrounded by membrane were also observed in the cytoplasm of the filamentous cells . In S . marcescens filamentation of cells occurred over a considerable range of concentration . With longer times of incubation, granular structures and fused nuclear regions were noticed in the sparse cytoplasm. J Bacteriol, 1981 Jun, 146(3), 861 - 6 Expression of the Serratia marcescens lipoproteins gene in Escherichia coli; Lee N et al.; The lipoprotein gene (lpp) of Serratia marcescens was cloned in a lambda phage vector (K . Nakamura and M . Inouye, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 77: 1369-1373, 1980) . This lpp gene was recloned in plasmid vectors pBR322 and pSC101 . When a lipoprotein-deficient (lpp) mutant of Escherichia coli was transformed with pBR322 carrying the S . marcescens lpp gene, cells became nonleaky for ribonuclease, resistant to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and sensitive to globomycin . The lipoprotein was found exclusively in the outer membrane fraction . These results indicate that the S . marcescens lipoprotein was normally secreted across the cytoplasmic membrane, modified, and assembled in the E . coli outer membrane . The amount of the free-form lipoprotein produced in this system was three times higher than that produced in lpp + C . coli cells, whereas there was no difference in the amount of the bound-form lipoprotein . On the other hand, lpp E . coli cells which harbored pSC101 carrying the S . marcescens lpp gene produced only one-third of the free-form lipoprotein produced in lpp E . coli cells which harbored pSC101 carrying the E . coli lpp gene . One of the major factors causing this difference in efficiency of gene expression between the lpp genes of S . marcescens and E . coli appears to be a deletion mutation at the transcription termination region found in the cloned S . marcescens lpp gene . The functional half-life of the S . marcescens lpp messenger ribonucleic acid in E . coli was found to be found half that of the E . coli lpp messenger ribonucleic acid. Am J Dis Child, 1981 May, 135(5), 413 - 4 A nursery outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection . Evidence of a single source of contamination; Anagnostakis D et al.; An outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection occurred in a special neonatal unit . The epidemic involved seven newborns, one of whom died . Contaminated hand-washing brushes were implicated in the epidemic; their removal resulted in a dramatic elimination of the infection. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1981 May-Jun, 132(3), 239 - 52 {New O (O21) and H (H21-H25) antigenic factors of "Serratia marcescens": subdivision of O factors 5, 10 and 16 (author's transl)}; Le Minor S et al.; Five new H factors (H21 to H25) and a new O factor (O21) of Serratia marcescens are described . Factors O5, O10 and O16 were subdivided, and a factor common to groups O2 and O3 was specified . The methods used to prepare specific antisera for O and H identification are also described . Antigenic formula of actually known serovars are reported. Drug Intell Clin Pharm, 1981 Apr, 15(4), 284 - 6 Amikacin penetration into synovial fluid during treatment of septic arthritis; Honda DH et al.; The concentration of amikacin from simultaneous synovial fluid and serum samples was measured on four separate occasions in a patient treated for Serratia marcescens septic arthritis . Synovial fluid levels were between 12.5 and 24.4 micrograms/ml, with concurrent serum levels of 12.1-21.0 micrograms/ml . Parenterally administered amikacin readily distributed into synovial fluid . Failure to eradicate the patient's Serratia septic arthritis with amikacin and daily arthrocentesis may have been a result of inactivation of the antibiotic arising from acidosis occurring in the synovial fluid. J Hyg (Lond), 1981 Apr, 86(2), 203 - 8 Evaluation of a portable air purifier; Lawrence JC et al.; A portable air purifier significantly reduced mal odour in a small room . If the atmosphere was deliberately contaminated with Serratia marcescens the unit rapidly removed this organism . However, if incorrectly sited, the purifier could disperse organisms into the atmosphere. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1981 Apr, 89(4), 1231 - 7 Interaction between Serratia protease and human plasma alpha 2 macroglobulin; Miyata K et al.; Serratia protease (TSP) {EC 3.4.24} was bound stoichiometrically to alpha 2 macroglobulin (alpha 2M), which was purified and crystallized from human plasma, but apo TSP was not bound . On formation of the TSP-alpha 2M complex the enzymatic activity of the bound TSP was affected with respect to substrates; Km values of the bound TSP were unchanged but Vmax values were reduced . alpha 2M was cleft at the mid-region of its subunits chains by TSP, which resulted in a conformational change of the alpha 2M molecule with TSP. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Mar, 19(3), 397 - 401 beta-Lactam resistance in Serratia marcescens: comparison of action of benzylpenicillin, Apalcillin, Cefazolin, and ceftizoxime; Takata N et al.; The intrinsic mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Serratia marcescens IFO 12648 were investigated, comparing the action of benzylpenicillin, apalcillin, cefazolin, and ceftizoxime . The minimal inhibitory concentrations for this strain were 1,600, 3.13, 6,400, and 0.05 microgram/ml, respectively . The addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid markedly reduced the minimal inhibitory concentrations of benzylpenicillin and cefazolin, whereas those of apalcillin and ceftizoxime were not influenced . S . marcescens IFO 12648 produced only a low level of beta-lactamase activity constitutively, and the production was considerably increased by the addition of benzylpenicillin . Cefazolin was hydrolyzed rapidly by beta-lactamase activity, whereas benzylpenicillin, apalcillin, and ceftizoxime were poorly hydrolyzed . Peptidoglycan synthesis in ether-treated strain IFO 12646 cells was inhibited by a concentration of ceftizoxime markedly lower than that of cefazolin and by a concentration of apalcillin moderately lower than that of benzylpenicillin. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Mar, 41(3), 664 - 9 Chitinase-overproducing mutant of Serratia marcescens; Reid JD et al.; Genetic modification of Serratia marcescens QMB1466 was undertaken to isolated mutants which produce increased levels of chitinolytic activity . After mutagenesis with ultraviolet light, ethyl methane sulfonate or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 19,940 colonies were screened for production of enlarged zones of clearing (indicative of chitinase activity) on chitin-containing agar plates . Forty-four chitinase high producers were tested further in shake flask cultures . Mutant IMR-1E1 was isolated which, depending on medium composition, produced two to three times more than the wild type of the other components of the chitinolytic enzyme system--a factor involved in the hydrolysis of crystalline chitin and chitobiase . After induction by chitin, endochitinase and chitobiase activity appeared at similar times for both IMR-1E1 and QMB1466, suggesting possible coordinate control of these enzymes . The results are consistent with IMR-1E1 containing a regulatory mutation which increased production of the components of the chitinolytic enzyme system and/or with IMR-1E1 containing a tandem duplication of the chitinase genes . The high rate of reversion of IMR-1E1 to decreased levels of chitinase production suggests that the overproduction of chitinase by IMR-1E1 is due to a tandem gene duplication. Bull Tokyo Med Dent Univ, 1981 Mar, 28(1), 7 - 21 Evaluation of the commercial bacterial air samplers by the new bacterial aerosol generator; Furuhashi M et al.; Of late microbiological air samplers of various types have been developed in monitoring the critical areas in the hospitals and pharmaceutical plants . It has not been clarified, however, that a commercial air sampler is the most suitable for such a purpose . The present studies were conducted to investigate the bacterial collection efficiency of these air samplers . The new experimental apparatus basically consists of a bacterial aerosol generator and an isokinetic sampling steel air duct . Serratia marcescens was used as the test bacteria, and then the bacterial collection efficiency of the three kinds of commercial air samplers (Andersen air sampler, Pin-hole air sampler and M/G air sampler) was examined . It was found that in these experiments these three air samplers had a high bacterial collection efficiency . All except 0.3 to 2.0% of the small bacterial particles (1 to 5 micrometer) were trapped by these tested air samplers . Furthermore, in these three air samplers it was also confirmed that for collecting the hospital airborne bacteria the bacterial collection efficiency was more than 99.9% . The authors' findings showed that these three air samplers were designed according to Ranz and Wong's theoretical and experimental results. J Lab Clin Med, 1981 Mar, 97(3), 379 - 89 The effect of extracellular proteases from gran-negative bacteria on the interaction of von Willebrand factor with human platelets; Cooper HA et al.; FWPs are usually stable for several months . However, in less than a week, one lot of FWPs lost its ability to aggregate with bovine PAF or human vWF plus ristocetin . Initial experiments suggested that the loss of aggregability was caused by contamination of the FWPs with an extracellular protease of Serratia marcescens . Highly purified protease preparations from the culture filtrates of S . marcescens (SP), as well as from two strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, destroyed the aggregability of FWPs as a function of time and concentration . On the basis of azocasein units, the SP was found to be at least eight times more potent against FWPs as a substrate than either of the P . aeruginosa proteases . The effect of SP on FWP aggregability was inhibited by prior EDTA treatment and was restored by addition of Zn2+ in slight molar excess . Purified PAF, but not dilutions of bovine plasma, lost all PAF activity when incubated with SP . SP-treated FWPs would still aggregate with 10 microgram/ml polylysine . SP digestion of FWPs was more selective than digestion with trypsin or chymotrypsin, on the basis of both the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern and the amount of protein in the platelet digest supernatant . SP does not aggregate fresh washed platelets or initiate the release reaction but renders them unaggregable with vWF . SP and related proteases may be useful in the study of platelet membranes. J Hosp Infect, 1981 Mar, 2(1), 85 - 91 Serratia cross-infection in an intensive therapy unit; Mutton KJ et al.; During a 10-week period, 11 patients were involved in an outbreak of cross-infection with a non-pigmented strain of Serratia marcescens resistant to sulphonamides, trimethoprim, ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, cephalexin, gentamicin, tobramycin, colistin, ticarcillin and kanamycin . The problem was confined to the intensive therapy areas of the hospital . The organism was apparently spread by a nursing sister who harboured it in a paronychial lesion . Prolonged carriage of S . marcescens was demonstrated . Methods of investigation of the outbreak and the measures adopted to terminate it are described. Am J Med, 1981 Feb, 70(2), 445 - 8 Evolution of antimicrobial resistance and nosocomial infection . Lessons from the Vanderbilt experience; Schaberg DR et al.; The development of antimicrobial resistance by bacteria has had profound effects of the clinical use of antibiotics, especially in hospital-acquired infections . In 1973, a large outbreak of nosocomial infections due to Serratia marcescens began at the Vanderbilt University medical complex, a major characteristic of which was high-level resistance to gentamicin and carbenicillin . Investigation of the outbreak and subsequent in vitro studies have shown that the evolution and epidemiology of this high-level resistance operated at three levels of organizations: (1) dissemination of individual strains, (2) dissemination of a plasmid among different strains and (3) movement of a discrete genetic element, or transposon, between plasmids . The investigations of this outbreak and other studies reviewed support the concept that resistant strains can evoke as a result of R-plasmid exchange within the hospital environment, providing an opportunity for control of this exchange can be interrupted. J Infect Dis, 1981 Feb, 143(2), 170 - 81 Evolution of a plasmid mediating resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents during a prolonged epidemic of nosocomial infections; Rubens CE et al.; At the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, resistance to gentamicin was encountered with increasing frequency among several species of gram-negative bacilli between 1973 and 1977 . Representative strains were screened for plasmid DNA content using agarose gel electrophoresis . In strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serrati marcescens isolated early in the outbreak, gentamicin resistance was mediated by a common 9.8-megadalton nonconjugative plasmid . Either an 80- or a 100-megadalton transferable plasmid coexisted with the nonconjugative plasmid in the isolates of Serratia . Transposition between the 100- and 9.8-megadalton plasmids in this species resulted in the formation of a 105-megadalton conjugative plasmid that mediated gentamicin resistance; this was observed in strains of Serratia and Klebsiella isolated in 1976-1977 . Thus, during this five-year investigation separate outbreaks of nosocomial infections that were caused by different bacterial species were shown to be related by the presence of plasmids that contained a common transposable DNA sequence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Feb, 19(2), 218 - 21 Moxalactam (LY127935) in treatment of meningitis due to gram-negative bacilli; Fisher JF et al.; Moxalactam (LY127935; 6059S), a new broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic, was used successfully with an aminoglycoside in a patient with Serratia marcescens meningitis complicating a neurosurgical procedure . With a bioassay method, peak and trough serum and cerebrospinal; fluid concentrations of moxalactam were determined during therapy . Mean peak and trough serum levels were 100.6 and 35.5 micrograms/ml, respectively . Corresponding mean peak and trough cerebrospinal fluid levels were 12.4 and 10.38 micrograms/ml . Cerebrospinal fluid levels of moxalactam exceeded the minimal bactericidal concentration for the infecting organism by more than 30-fold throughout therapy . No untoward effects of moxalactam were observed . Moxalactam may be a useful agent in the treatment of meningitis due to susceptible gram-negative bacilli. Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(11), 1101 - 8 Relationship between pigment producibility and drug resistance in Serratia marcescens; Muto Y et al.; Among the clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens, non-pigmented cells appeared more frequently from pigmented, drug-resistant strains than from pigmented, drug-sensitive strains . Transfer of R plasmid from Escherichia coli to pigmented strains caused spontaneous loss of pigment producibility, whereas such spontaneous loss never occurred in fresh cultures of drug-sensitive strains . The non-pigmented strain was a better recipient of R plasmid from E . coli than was the pigmented strain . R plasmid was transferred from the non-pigmented strain to the pigmented strain at a higher frequency than from E . coli to the pigmented strain . The results of the present investigation suggest that transfer of R plasmid may be one of the reasons for the significant increase of non-pigmented, drug-resistant strains of S . marcescens in nature. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981, 250(1-2), 92 - 103 Phagocytosis of Serratia marcescens by leukocytes of fresh defibrinated human blood: failure of "natural" human specific anti-O IgG antibodies to enhance phagocytosis; Traub WH; Defibrination of fresh, peripheral, venous blood from three human adult volunteers resulted in the removal of from 1/5 to 1/2 of leukocytes, as compared with EDTA-anticoagulated aliquots from identical blood samples . However, differential white blood cell proportions were altered only marginally . Bacterial inocula (approximately 1.5 X 10(4) bacteria/ml at 0 time) of selected assay strains of Serratia marcescens were killed by 65 vol% of fresh, defibrinated human blood to the extent of greater than or equal to 97% within 2 hours after exposure, regardless of serum susceptibility or -resistance of the test strains . The addition of 25 vol% of either undiluted or 1:2 diluted commercially available, intravenously applicable, human IgG immunoglobulin preparations . (Gamma-Venin, Sandoglobulin) ot 65 vol% of fresh, defibrinated blood from all three human volunteers failed to enhance combined phagocytic and serum bactericidal activity against all assay strains of S . marcescens examined, despite documented O-agglutinin activity of the IgG immunoglobulin preparations against the majority of the test strains . It was concluded tentatively that "natural" human specific anti-O IgG antibodies failed to enhance phagocytosis in this in vitro system. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981, 250(1-2), 84 - 91 Human serum bactericidal activity against Serratia marcescens: failure of human, "natural," specific anti-O IgG antibodies to enhance serum bactericidal activity; Traub WH; A commercial, low pH-derived, intravenously applicable human IgG immunoglobulin preparation (Sandoglobulin) revealed O-agglutinin activity against 16 of the 21 O-antigens of Serratia marcescens, although at low titers; this IgG preparation lacked H-immobilizing antibodies against this microorganism . The bactericidal activity of 65 vol% of normal, fresh human serum was neither enhanced nor significantly antagonized following addition of 25 vol% of undiluted or 1:4 diluted . Sandoglobulin, as determined with test strains of S . marcescens that represented various human serum susceptibility categories . This indifferent effect was obtained despite documented O-agglutinin activity directed against several of the assay strains . It was concluded tentatively, that human, "natural" anti- S . marcescens IgG antibodies failed to augment human serum bactericidal activity in vitro against this opportunistic-pathogenic microorganism. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1981, 21(4), 333 - 42 Genetic analysis of prophage effects on heteroimmune superinfection in Serratia marcescens; Steiger H; Plaque formation of phage kappa on Serratia marcescens strain HY normally depends on the presence of either a psi or y prophage in the indicator bacteria . Bacterial ink mutants allowing kappa growth in the absence of either prophage were isolated from the doubly cured strain HY (psi, y)-- . By means of a kappa mutant, named gdy, an active participation of kappa in antagonizing inhibition of its own growth on HY (psi, y)-- was demonstrated . The gdy mutation is closely linked to gene cIII coding for the kappa repressor . The prophages psi and y enable kappa to grow undisturbed probably by modifying the kappa DNA during replication in such a way that it is not susceptible to the ink+ effect . Whereas kappa grown on HY (psi, y)--ink-- gave only rare productive infections of HY (kappa, y)--, psi and y grown on the same strain were fully infective . The interference exerted by a kappa prophage on vegetative propagation of y is based upon a multi-component mechanism, the interference being removed, or diminished by mutations residing either inside or outside of the kappa prophage . The responsive phage gene iny+ is dominant over its mutant allele iny--; hence it codes for a diffusible product . Both on the vegetative and the prophage genome iny is located near gene lI responsible for lysogenic conversion of bacteria to non-adsorption of kappa . The restriction-modification system of HY is not involved in the growth inhibition of kappa by HY (psi, y)-- . Contrary to the other phages used in this work y is refractory to restriction. Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(4), 333 - 44 A possible role of R plasmids in bacterial permeability for beta-lactam antibiotics; Ikeuchi T et al.; Four strains of clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens (13039, 13090, 13093, 14093) harboring R plasmids were highly resistant to ampicillin (ABPC) and cephaloridine (CER) . With elimination of R plasmids from these strains by acriflavine treatment, ABPC-resistance levels of these strains were markedly reduced . Reduction of CER-resistance levels was also demonstrated in strains 13039 and 13093, but not in strains 13090 and 14093 . The permeability of the former strains for CER was also decreased, but not in the latter strains . At the same time, beta-lactamase activity of these strains also almost completely disappeared when the R plasmids were eliminated . By broth matings with these strains . The recipient strains of S . marcescens 13031 (rif), Escherichia coli K-12 (rif), and E coli 15046 (rif) all acquired a high permeability barrier against CER with inheritance of the R plasmids from strains 13039 and 13093, but not from strains 13090 and 14093 . The transconjugant of strain 13031 that inherited R plasmid 13093 was resistant not only to CER but also to cefazolin, cephalothin, and cephalexin . Its permeability to these antibiotics was significantly lower than that of the original strain . This fact suggest the possibility that the R plasmid from strain 13093 may be involved not only in production of beta-lactamases, but also in regulation of bacterial permeability for cephalosporins. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1981 Jan, 133(1), 33 - 43 Bacteriocin (marcescin) typing of clinically isolated Serratia marcescens; Nasu M; A study of bacteriocin (marcescin) typing was carried out by an agar cross streaking method (without any induction reagent) with 654 strains of Serratia marcescens recently isolated from clinical materials in Nagasaki University Hospital . In a complete checker board experiment with 80 strains on bacteriocin production and sensitivity, 43 strains (54%) were productive, 74 (93%) were sensitive and 4 (5%) were negative . Immunity was confirmed in all strains . Eight out of 80 strains of Serratia marcescens were selected as indicators in order to achieve the best differentiation of strains in bacteriocin typing, and 654 strains were classified into 30 types by bacteriocin production typing and into 49 types by bacteriocin sensitivity typing; the former showed more stable results than the latter in reproducibility . Bacteriocins produced by this method were considered to be high molecular, phage tail-like group A bacteriocins reported by Prinsloo (1966) . Bacteriocin production typing was more useful for classification and subdivision of strains than serotyping (0-group). Infect Control, 1981 Jan-Feb, 2(1), 31 - 7 Gentamicin treatment associated with later nosocomial gentamicin-resistant Serratia marcescens infections; Graham DR et al.; During a hospital epidemic of infections with gentamicin-resistant Serratia marcescens (GRS), we studied the relation between receiving antibiotics and acquiring GRS . In a five-month period, 22 patients acquired GRS, whereas 18 patients acquired gentamicin-sensitive Serratia (GSS) . When compared with patients with nosocomial GSS infection, patients with nosocomial GRS had been in the hospital (p = 0.04) and the intensive care unit (p = 0.003) longer before infection and more had received gentamicin (p = 0.001) or ampicillin (p = 0.02) before infection . To control for the influence of underlying disease, we matched all 12 ICU patients with GRS infection and 12 patients without GRS infection for underlying illness and duration of intensive care . Use of any antibiotic (p = 0.04), or a combination of gentamicin plus ampicillin or cephalosporin (p = 0.047) was more common among patients with GRS infection . The hospital had not significantly increased the use of aminoglycosides from the previous year . We conclude that for the individual patient antimicrobial therapy, especially with gentamicin or ampicillin, creates a risk for later infection by GRS that is independent of the severity of the underlying illness. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1981, 370, 179 - 90 Proteolysis of human fixed, washed platelets by gram-negative bacterial metalloproteases: effect on von Willebrand factor-human platelet interactions; Cooper HA et al.; Fixed, washed platelets (FWP) are usually stable to aggregation with von Willebrand factor (vWF) from human and certain animal plasmas over several months of storage . When one lot of FWP lost its stability in less than 1 week, studies demonstrated contamination with Serratia marcescens . Extracellular proteases produced by S . marcescens, as well as by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, were found to cause loss of FWP aggregability . Purified proteases were prepared from cell-free culture filtrates of S . marcescens and two different strains of P . aeruginosa . They were used to study the effect on the interaction of FWP and vWF . All three purified proteases destroyed FWP aggregability in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion . The protease produced by S . marcescens (SP) was found to be at least eight times more potent against FWP as a substrate than either of the two P . aeruginosa enzymes . The ability of SP to destroy FWP aggregability was prevented by EDTA and could be restored by the addition of Zn2+ in slight molar excess . When compared with trypsin and chymotrypsin, SP was found to be highly selective in digesting the FWP membrane, even at concentrations greater than that established to give a similar loss of FWP aggregability . SP does not induce aggregation of fresh, washed platelets or PRP, but renders them unaggregable with vWF . These proteases may be useful research tools for studying membranes and vWF-platelet interactions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jan, 19(1), 190 - 2 In vitro comparison of dibekacin and gentamicin activities; Hill CD et al.; Dibekacin, a new parenteral aminoglycoside, was compared with gentamicin in vitro against 221 clinical isolates . Tests for minimum inhibitory concentrations, performed in agar, demonstrated that dibekacin was comparable to gentamicin against most isolates tested . Dibekacin was slightly more active than gentamicin against some isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but was significantly less active against strains of Serratia. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jan, 19(1), 114 - 6 In vitro activity of N-formimidoyl thienamycin (MK0787) against resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens, and Enterococcus spp; Livingston WK et al.; The in vitro activities of N-formimidoyl thienamycin (MK0787) and nine other antibiotics were tested against 129 clinical isolates, including 71 of enterococci, 34 of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 17 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 7 of Serratia marcescens . These isolates exhibited a variety of resistant patterns: 97% of the enterococci were resistant to moxalactam; 71 and 81% of the S . epidermidis isolates were resistant to methicillin and penicillin, respectively; 47, 53, and 53% of the P . aeruginosa isolates were resistant to carbenicillin, cefotaxime, and moxalactam, respectively; and all S . marcescens isolates were resistant to amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin . With respect to concentrations required to inhibit growth of 90% of the isolates, N-formimidoyl thienamycin was more active than any compound tested . Determination of the concentration required to inhibit growth of 50% of the isolates showed N-formimidoyl thienamycin to be more active than any other agent against S . epidermidis, S . marcescens, and enterococci, but against Pseudomonas isolates it was less active than amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin . This preparation is potentially useful for patients with serious infection caused by resistant bacteria; enterococcal and S . epidermidis endocarditis infections may be special situations which merit clinical trials. Clin Ther, 1981, 4(3), 164 - 74 Clinical and laboratory evaluation of cefoperazone; Sarver DK et al.; Cefoperazone, a third-generation cephalosporin derivative, has been reported to have excellent antibacterial activity against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We treated 54 patients with a variety of clinical infections with cefoperazone and determined the susceptibilities of their 90 bacterial isolates . An additional 25 aerobic isolates obtained from patients treated with cefamandole in a comparison study were also tested for susceptibility to cefoperazone . Thus a total of 115 isolates were studied in vitro . One hundred nine (95%) of 115 bacterial isolates, including gram-positive and gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes, were susceptible to less than or equal to 32 microgram/ml . Only four isolates (three Escherichia coli and one Serratia marcescens) were highly resistant (minimal inhibitory concentration greater than or equal to 128 microgram/ml) . We were able to assess clinical outcome of cefoperazone therapy in 53 patients; favorable responses (cure of improvement) were found in 48 (91%) . P . aeruginosa was a major pathogen in three patients treated with cefoperazone; all three showed a favorable response . Side effects of cefoperazone therapy were noted in seven (13%) patients, and laboratory abnormalities were observed in 11 (20%) patients; all of these were mild and readily reversible . Cefoperazone thus appears to be safe, well tolerated, and suitable for use in a variety of human infections. Drugs, 1981, 22 Suppl 1, 15 - 9 Comparison of the activity of cefoperazone, cefuroxime and cefoxitin against Gram-negative bacilli and synergy studies with cefoperazone and ticarcillin; Miles HM et al.; 83% of at least 11 different species of Gram-negative aerobic bacilli, comprising 270 clinical isolates, were inhibited by 3.1 microgram cefoperazone per ml . 55% and 48% were inhibited by 3.1 micrograms/ml of cefuroxime and cefoxitin, respectively . In addition, cefoperazone inhibited 83 of 96 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates at a concentration of 6.2 microgram/ml . Cefoperazone/ticarcillin combinations were shown to be synergistic for 47/96 (49%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates studied, when lowering of the minimum bactericidal concentrations of the 2 drugs was the criterion for enhancement of activity . Cefoperazone/ticarcillin combinations were also shown to be synergistic against 15/30 Serratia marcescens isolates . We discuss the possible advantages of synergistic combinations of drugs of relatively low toxicity, for the management of complicated infections. Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(11), 1119 - 27 Comparative activity of N-formimidoyl thienamycin with third generation cephalosporins and ureido penicillins against multiple resistant Serratia marcescens; Miller MA et al.; Twenty multiple resistant clinical isolates were tested with N-formimidoyl thienamycin, moxalactam, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, and the three ureidopenicillins: azlocillin, mezlocillin, and piperacillin . A concentration of less than 0.97 microgram/ml inhibited 100% of organisms for N-f-thienamycin and cefotaxime, 90% for moxalactam, and 60% for cefoperazone . An increase in inoculum from 10(3) to 10(6) cells reduced activity fourfold for 95% of isolates with cefoperazone, 70% with N-formimidoyl thienamycin, 65% for cefotaxime, but only 15% for moxalactam . For ureidopenicillins, 85% of strains tested had MIC's less than or equal to 15.6 micrograms/ml . An inoculum effect was observed in only 35-50% . At 10(3), the cidal concentration was the same or twofold greater than the inhibitory level for N-f-thienamycin and cephalosporins in 70% of strains tested and 65% for penicillins . With 10(6), the 70% value remained for N-f-thienamycin but was reduced to 45% for cefotaxime and 25% for moxalactam; 85% demonstrated greater than eightfold differences with cefoperazone . Single step high-level resistance was observed to moxalactam (20%) . Carbenicillin resistant strains were cross-resistant to the ureidopenicillins . N-f-thienamycin and cefotaxime appeared comparable, although important differences between morphological alteration and metabolism may influence their therapeutic effectiveness. Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 183(1), 107 - 14 Inactivation of the Serratia marcescens gene for the lipoprotein in Escherichia coli by insertion sequences, IS1 and IS5; sequence analysis of junction points; Nakamura K et al.; A pBR322-derived plasmid pKEN221 carrying a Serratia marcescens lpp gene overproduces the outer membrane lipoprotein in an Escherichia coli lpp- cell . However, when this strain was continuously cultured in a rich medium for about thirty generations, many Lpp- mutants were accumulated . Out of six mutants analyzed, three were found to carry insertion mutation in the lpp gene in pKEN221 . From resistance enzyme mapping and hybridization analysis of the mutant plasmid DNA, it was found that two mutants were caused by insertion sequence IS1 and one by IS5 . Nucleotide sequence analysis of these mutant DNAs revealed that both IS1 and IS5 insertions occurred in the A-T rich 5' untranslated region of the lpp gene . While the IS1 insertion resulted in a direct duplication of a nine-base-pair sequence in the original pKEN221 DNA at the junction with IS1, the IS5 insertion resulted in a direct duplication of a four-base-pair sequence . IS5 was found to contain inverted-repeat sequences of twelve nucleotides at its exact ends . This is the first example of the nucleotide sequence analysis of an IS5 insertion mutation . By Southern blot hybridization, the E . coli chromosomal DNA was found to contain about ten copies of IS5. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981, 249(4), 504 - 11 Failure of a commercial, intravenously applicable IgG F (ab)2 preparation (Gamma-Venin) to enhance human serum bactericidal activity against Serratia marcescens; Traub WH; A commercially available, intravenously applicable, pepsin-derived human IgG F (ab)2-fragment preparation (Gamma-Venin) revealed O-agglutinin activity against 12 of the 21 currently established O antigens of Serratia marcescens; however, this preparation lacked H-immobilizing antibodies against all 20 H antigens of this microorganism . The addition of 25 vol% of the IgG F (ab)2-fragment preparation of 65 vol% of fresh human serum neither enhanced nor antagonized serum bactericidal activity against selected assay strains of S . marcescens that represented various human serum susceptibility categories . This indifferent effect was obtained despite documented O-agglutinin activity against the O antigens of several of the "delayed-serum sensitive" and "pseudo-serum resistant" assay strains and against the O antigen of a "genuinely serum-resistant" test strain of S . marcescens. Lancet, 1980 Dec 13, 2(8207), 1289 - 92 Antibiotic-sensitive Serratia marcescens infections complicating cardiopulmonary operations: contaminated disinfectant as a reservoir; Ehrenkranz NJ et al.; A cluster of Serratia marcescens infections complicating cardiopulmonary bypass operations was traced to contaminated quaternary ammonium disinfectant . Failure of hospital personnel to clean the disinfectant spray bottles before refilling them had enabled the organisms to survive and contaminate the environment, including the extracorporeal circulator . The organisms grew in two of four formulations of quaternary ammonium disinfectant . Serratia sensitivity to ampicillin and tetracycline was an epidemiological marker of a common-source outbreak. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Nov 18, 602(3), 506 - 10 Cell surface energy, contact angles and phase partition . III . Adhesion of bacterial cells to hydrophobic surfaces; Gerson DF et al.; The densities of adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens to five types of plastics were studied in relation to interfacial free energies at the aqueous interfaces of both the bacteria and the plastics . The free energy of adhesion of bacteria to plastic in an aqueous medium is a linear function of partititon of the bacteria between the solid surface and the liquid phase . These results show that the thermodynamics of the partitioning of a suspended particle between two immiscible liquid phases also apply to partitioning between a liquid and a solid phase. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Nov, 18(5), 651 - 5 Comparative susceptibilities of clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens to newer cephalosporins, alone and in combination with various aminoglycosides; Markowitz SM et al.; We examined 100 clinically significant isolates of Serratia marcescens for susceptibility to newer cephalosporin and cephamycin antibiotics, alone and in combination with various aminoglycosides . Moxalactam and cefotaxime were the most effective agents; all isolates were inhibited by 25 and 50 micrograms/ml, respectively . All strains were susceptible to amikacin at concentrations safely achievable in serum, whereas gentamicin, netilmicin, and tobramycin inhibited 63, 63, and 16% of the isolates, respectively . Moxalactam, cefotaxime, and amikacin were active against gentamicin-susceptible and gentamicin-resistant strains . Studies of synergy revealed that moxalactam and cefotaxime, in combination with netilmicin or amikacin, were often synergistic and infrequently antagonistic against cephalothin- and gentamicin-resistant strains . These results suggest that moxalactam and cefotaxime, alone or in combination, may be efficacious in treating infections due to multiply antibiotic-resistant S . marcescens. Radiology, 1980 Nov, 137(2), 309 - 11 Serratia pneumonia; Balikian JP et al.; The clinical and radiological manifestations were correlated with the necropsy findings in the lungs of 18 patients who died of Serratia marcescens infection . Ten died during a hospital epidemic affecting 74 patients . In 14, only Serratia was identified at autopsy; in 4, other organisms were also cultured . Ten patients had septicemia . The predominant radiological findings were focal bronchopneumonia in 13, lobar consolidation in 2, and diffuse nonhomogeneous infiltrates in 10 . Small radiolucent areas within the infiltrates were seen in 5, a large pulmonary abscess in 1, and pleural effusion in 7 . The predominant pathological findings were focal necrotizing bronchopneumonia (sometimes with microscopic abscesses) in 14 and diffuse hemorrhage in 3 . Three patients had endocarditis and 3 others showed dissemination to the brain or kidneys. J Trauma, 1980 Nov, 20(11), 1007 - 8 Serratia marcescens osteomyelitis: report of two cases; Garroway RY et al.; Serratia marcescens is a frequently recovered contaminant following major open injuries of the extremities . This paper presents two cases in whom this organism was identified as the primary pathogen . The importance of early diagnosis, thorough surgical debridement, and appropriate antibiotic therapy is emphasized. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1980 Nov, 19(11), 746 - 8 Bacteremia in patients with cystic fibrosis; McCarthy MM et al.; Bacteremia in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been previously reported, a fact probably attributable to activated systemic immunity in the presence of chronic bronchopulmonary infection . We have observed two CF patients under a year of age with documented bacteremia, and a teen-aged patient with autopsy evidence of premortem bacteremia . Organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, having presumably spread from the lower respiratory tract in both patients . None of the patients had historical or laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency . The true incidence of bacteremia in CF patients is unknown, and the circumstances under which it occurs have not yet been defined. Biokhimiia, 1980 Nov, 45(11), 2096 - 104 {Isolation and physico-chemical properties of homogenous nuclease from Serratia marcescens}; Filimonova MN et al.; A simplified procedure for purification of nuclease from Serratia marcescens, including chromatography on DEAE- and phosphocellulose in a stationary regime has been developed . The method described results in a physically homogenous enzyme, which does not contain phosphatase, phosphodiesterase or proteinase admixtures . The molecular weight of the enzyme as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is 33 000 +/- 10% . p-Chloromercurybenzoate (10(-2) M) completely inactivates the enzyme, while beta-mercaptoethanol (0,64 M) in the presence of 2 M urea causes only partial inactivation of the enzyme . Urea (4 or 7 M), when added to the reaction mixture, increases the enzyme activity 2,2-, 1,7- and 1,4-fold as compared to native, denaturated DNA and RNA, respectively. Respir Care, 1980 Nov, 25(11), 1127 - 35 Performance of bacteria filters; Dryden GE et al.; Several kinds and brands of bacteria filters are commercially available for use in anesthesia and respiratory therapy applications . Clinical experience of high airflow resistance, ruptured media, failure to retain visible dust particles, and lack of consistent performance statements or warranties by manufacturers about their bacteria filters prompted a study of the performance of 13 different filters . The filters were challenged by mineral oil droplets, Serratia marcescens and Excherichia coli bacteriophages T4 and T7, tobacco smoke, nebulized india ink, dioctylphthalate smoke (DOP), and water . Results showed that viable bacterial passed through some filters, many filters were unable to retain visible ink or tobacco smoke particles, and resistance to airflow was increased two-fold or more in many filters when the filters were laden with 10 ml of water . Conflicting data resulted from two different types of DOP testing machines . There was a wide variation in performance among the different brands of filters; variable results also were seen within a given brand . Five brands of filters met the federal DOP standards for HEPA filters, but the wide variation in DOP testing results with two different kinds of DOP machines indicates a need for better standards . The DOP 0.3-micron bubble test is the most readily available nontoxic test to rate filtration efficiency; however, the DOP efficiency rating cannot be used to equate equivalent performance against infectious organisms. J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Sep, 120(1), 173 - 81 Insect pathogenic properties of Serratia marcescens: phage-resistant mutants with a decreased resistance to Cecropia immunity and a decreased virulence to Drosophila; Flyg C et al.; A non-pigmented strain of Serratia marcescens (Db10) was isolated from moribund Drosophila flies . From this strain were isolated spontaneous mutants resistant to streptomycin (Db11) and nalidixic acid (Db12) . Mutant Db11 was used for the isolation of two phages, phi J and phi K, which grew on Db10, Db11 and Db12, but not on three reference strains of S . marcescens . Mutant Db11 was demonstrated to fulfil koch's postulates . Strain Db10 and its antibiotic-resistant derivatives were lethal to Drosophila whether given in the food or by injection . Evidence for toxin(s) was found only in sterile supernatants from 7 d cultures . Such extracts contained proteolytic activity and inactivated the antibacterial activity in immune haemolymph from Cecropia . Phages phi J and phi K were used to isolate phage-resistant mutants of Db11 . Three such mutants and their parental strain were investigated for their susceptibility to immune haemolymph from Cecropia . The parental strain was resistant to incubation with 90% haemolymph for 2 h at 37 degrees C; all phage-resistant mutants were susceptible to the immune haemolymph with "killing times" (i.e . the time required to kill 90% of the viable cells) ranging from 15 to 55 min . When the same strains were compared for their virulence to Drosophila, the phage-resistant mutants had significantly reduced virulence . It is concluded that resistance to insect immunity plays an important role in the overall pathogenicity of S . marcescens. Arch Environ Health, 1980 Sep-Oct, 35(5), 303 - 7 Water deprivation and food restriction on pulmonary bacterial defenses in mice; Baetjer AM et al.; Mice deprived of water for 48 hr, mice allowed water but restricted in food intake to equal that consumed by the water-deprived mice, and control mice were exposed for 30 min to an aerosol of Serratia marcescens . Comparison of the number of organisms in the lungs of mice killed immediately after infection and those killed 4 hr later showed a normal reduction over the 4-hr period in the control mice . A significant increase, however, was observed in the water-deprived mice and an even greater increase in the food-restricted mice allowed water . The results did not correlate directly with the lung weight or lung water content . This reduction in bacterial defense could not be assigned solely to either water or food restriction. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1980 Sep-Oct, 37(5), 871 - 7 {Hospital infection due to Serratia marcescens and its sensitivity to antibiotics}; Filloy L et al.; A total of 164 isolations of Serratia marcescens achieved during 1978-1979 at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico in children with various pathology due to this bacteria were studied . Most of the cases were debilitated patients from the newborns and prematures wards and contagious and surgery departments . The most frequent isolations were from wounds and abscesses (76 cases), the same as from meningitis (22 cases) and sepsis (12 patients) . Serratia marcescens showed a high degree of resistance (87-100%) to the following antibiotics: carbenicillin, colimycin, chloramphenicol, phosphomicin, ampicillin and cephalothin . To gestamicin and kanamycin, 42% of strains were sensitive . Amikacin was the most effective drug with 92% of strains susceptible to it . The history of this bacteria, its mode of transmission, frequency of infections and resistance to antibiotics found in foreign institutions are commented . Likewise, the difficulty for the precision bacteriologic diagnosis is emphasized as the possible main cause for the ignorance in Mexico of infections due to this bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Aug, 18(2), 215 - 9 Plasmid-determined resistance to fosfomycin in Serratia marcescens; Mendoza C et al.; Multiple-antibiotic-resistant strains of Serratia marcescens isolated from hospitalized patients were examined for their ability to transfer antibiotic resistance to Escherichia coli by conjugation . Two different patterns of linked transferable resistance were found among the transconjugants . The first comprised resistance to carbenicillin, streptomycin, and fosfomycin; the second, and more common, pattern included resistance to carbenicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulfonamide, and fosfomycin . The two types of transconjugant strains carried a single plasmid of either 57 or 97 megadaltons in size . Both of these plasmids are present in parental S . marcescens strains resistant to fosfomycin . The 57-megadalton plasmid was transformed into E . coli. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1980 Aug, 88(4), 189 - 92 Sensitivity of Serratia to tetracycline; Siboni K; S . marcescens had two levels of resistance to tetracycline, bacteriostatic end-points 32 and 180 microgram/ml; the latter group consisted of strains resistant to carbenicillin and to streptomycinl S . plymouthica, S.l liquefaciens, and S . marinorubra were sensitive to tetracycline with the last-named as the least sensitive species . Less difference was found between the bactericidal end-points of the four species, but there was still 1-2 two-fold steps between S . marcescens and the remaining three species. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 1980 Aug, 62(3), 389 - 90 Serratia marcescens in mixed aerobic infections of bone . A report of two patients; Thomas JM et al.; Two patients with acute osteomyelitis of the foot caused by mixed aerobic organisms are described; sources of infection and predisposing factors are discussed . Serratia marcescens was isolated in each instance . Antimicrobial therapy which did cover this organism failed; a change to treatment directed against it succeeded. J Bacteriol, 1980 Aug, 143(2), 588 - 93 Regulation of carbamylphosphate synthesis in Serratia marcescens; Crane CJ et al.; Serratia marcescens HY possessed a single carbamylphosphate synthase (CPSase) which was subject to cumulative repression by arginine and a pyrimidine . CPSase did not appear to be a part of a multifunctional enzyme complex as is the case for other enzymes of pyrimidine biosynthesis in this organism . CPSase was purified to homogeneity . The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 167,000 by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation . The double-reciprocal plot for magnesium adenosine triphosphate was linear, yielding a Km value of 2.5 mM . The enzyme utilized either glutamine (Km, 0.1 mM) or NH3 (Km, 10.5 mM) as a nitrogen donor in the reaction . CPSase activity was subject to activation by ornithine and feedback inhibition by uridine monophosphate, as is the case for other enteric bacteria . Carbamate kinase activity, detected in crude extracts of S . marcescens, was shown to be due to a constitutive acetate kinase . The absence of carbamate kinase from S . marcescens HY is consistent with the inability of this organism to utilize arginine as a source of energy under anaerobic conditions. J Biol Chem, 1980 Jul 25, 255(14), 6734 - 8 Mechanism of inactivation of glutamine amidotransferases by the antitumor drug L-(alpha S, 5S)-alpha-amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid (AT-125); Tso JY et al.; L-(alphaS, 5S)-alpha-Amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid (AT-125), an antitumor drug isolated from Streptomyces sviceus, is an active site-directed affinity analog of glutamine . It selectively inactivates the glutamine-dependent activities of two bacterial glutamine amidotransferases, anthranilate synthase and glutamate synthase . A reversible noncovalent complex is formed prior to irreversible enzyme modification . Inactivation of anthranilate synthase results from incorporation of approximately 1 eq of AT-125/enzyme protomer . Active site cysteine-83 in Serratia marcescens anthranilate synthase Component II is the residue alkylated by AT-125 . Anthranilate synthase is rapidly inactivated by AT-125 IN S . marcescens cells . In vivo inactivation is by the same mechanism as in vitro. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Jul, 40(1), 80 - 3 Infection of mice by aerosols of Klebsiella pneumoniae under hyperbaric conditions; Heckly RJ et al.; Both the physical behavior of aerosols and survival of airborne Serratia marcescens in hyperbaric chambers with a helium-air mixture at 20 atm of pressure was approximately the same as in the system at ambient pressures . Exposure of mice to aerosols of Klebsiella pneumoniae at 1-, 2-, and 17-atm (ca . 101-, 203-, and 1,722-kPa) pressures of helium-oxygen mixture showed that the number of viable organisms constituting a 50% lethal dose was not significantly affected by the hyperbaric conditions. Arch Ophthalmol, 1980 Jul, 98(7), 1221 - 3 Gentamicin-resistant Serratia marcescens endophthalmitis; Gammon JA et al.; In a case of metastatic Gram-negative endophthalmitis caused by Serratia marcescens, the bacterial isolate was resistant to gentamicin sulfate and tobramycin but sensitive to amikacin sulfate, a new semisynthetic aminoglycoside approved for systemic use . The importance of antibiotic-resistant S marcescens as a systemic and ocular pathogen is reviewed. J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Jul, 119(1), 51 - 61 Transductional construction of an isoleucine-producing strain of Serratia marcescens; Komatsubara S et al.; Strain GIHVLr6426 was isolated as an isoleucine hydroxamate-resistant mutant from the wild-type strain of Serratia marcescens Sr41 . This mutant had high activities of threonine deaminase and acetohydroxyacid synthase, both of which were insensitive to feedback inhibition . Genetic analysis revealed that strain GIHVLr6426 carried two regulatory mutations located in the ilv region . Strain T-693, a threonine-producing strain which was previously reported to carry four regulatory mutations for threonine biosynthesis, had an increased activity of acetohydroxyacid synthase . Transductional analysis revealed that one of the four mutations carried by strain T-693 was responsible for constitutive synthesis of both isoleucine and threonine biosynthetic enzymes . Strain GIHVLr6426 into strain T-693 . The constructed strain had the six regulatory mutations for threonine and isoleucine biosyntheses, and produced about 25 mg isoleucine ml-1 in a medium containing sucrose and urea. South Med J, 1980 Jun, 73(6), 719 - 22 Bacteremia related to IV cannulation: variability of underlying venous infection; Harris LF et al.; During 1977, 22 of 66 cases of nosocomial bacteremia in our hospital were directly or indirectly attributable to infection from the intravenous (IV) site . IV-site-related bacteremia (IVSRB) occurred most frequently in patients with serious underlying disease . The characteristic clinical picture was one of fever, tachycardia, and hypotension . Signs at the IV site appeared most commonly at the onset of IVSRB but varied in time of appearance from six days before to 11 days after bacteremia . The degree of abnormality at the IV site accompanying IVSRB varied from none detectable through uncomplicated cellulitis and phlebitis to vein suppuration . Short percutaneous plastic catheters were incriminated in most cases, and gram-negative rods, especially Klebsiella and Serratia, were the most frequent infecting bacteria . Initial treatment consisted of removal of the IV cannula and administration of parenteral antibiotics . Although no deaths could be attributed to recognized and treated IVSRB, it resulted in significant morbidity including the need for excision of veins contiguous with the IV site in six patients. Am J Ophthalmol, 1980 Jun, 89(6), 854 - 7 Subconjunctival corticosteroid therapy complicated by hyperinfective strongyloidiasis; West BC et al.; A 57-year-old man was treated for a corneal ulcer with a penetrating keratoplasty, followed by six weeks of a regimen of 4 to 8 mg of dexamethasone injected subconjunctivally daily . Before therapy, he was clinically well and 10% eosinophils were noted on his differential white blood cell count . He developed a gastric peptic ulcer with hemorrhage and severe strongyloidiasis of the stomach and duodenum that worsened as the ulcer responded to medical therapy . The strongyloidiasis resulted in physiologic gastric outlet obstruction by decreasing gastrointestinal motility . There was evidence of hyperinvasive and disseminated strongyloidiasis, complicated by meningitis and Serratia marcescens bacteremia . He survived and received thiabendazole treatment for strongyloidiasis, which was successful . Subconjunctival corticosteroids caused a systemic effect that changed asymptomatic Strongyloides infection into hyperinvasive strongyloidiasis. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1980 Jun, 121(6), 921 - 9 Immune stimulation of lung bactericidal activity: evidence for both cellular and humoral participation after immunization with Serratia marcescens; LaForce FM et al.; Mice were immunized by aerosol or by a parenteral route with Serratia marcescens, and subsequently challenged by aerosol with both Staphylococcus aureus and S . marcescens . After a single aerosol immunization, intrapulmonary bactericidal activity was initially enhanced against both organisms . Repetitive aerosol immunization caused the same initial response; however, after antistaphylococcal activity returned to normal, enhanced antiserratia activity was still demonstrable . Parenteral immunization was associated with increased in situ bactericidal activity against both organisms with more pronounced antiserratia activity . Intracellular bactericidal activity against S . aureus of lung phagocytes harvested from mice after aerosol immunization with serratia paralleled the above findings . Aerosol immunization also resulted in recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . These data suggested that macrophage activation, leukocyte recruitment, and local antibody are important contributing factors to heightened lung antibacterial activity after aerosol immunization with S . marcescens. Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1980 May-Jun, 16(3), 315 - 26 {Isolation and characterization of intracellular lipase from Serratia marcescens 345}; Bachkatova NA et al.; Lipase was extracted from cells of Serratia marcescens 345 treated with 0.8% Na cholate for 30 min at 37 degrees C . The mixture was then centrifuged and lipase was isolated from the supernatant . The preparation was purified by ammonium sulfate protein precipitation and subsequent dialysis, ultrafiltration of the protein solution through the membrane filter UAM-200 and gel filtration through Sephadex G-200 . The effect of metal ions, inhibitors and bile salts as well as temperature and pH on the resultant lipase activity was studied . The substrate specificity of the enzyme was examined . The temperature optimum for the lipase activity was 45 degrees C and pH optimum 6.0--6.3 . The enzyme was activated only by Mg2+ at a concentration of 1.10(-4)M in the reaction mixture . Lipase was inhibited by Ni2+, Zn2+, Fe2+ and particularly Cu2+ and Hg2+ . Out of the inhibitors tested the strongest were EDTA, o-phenanthrolin and alpha,alpha-dipyridil . Lipolysis was activated by bile salts at a concentration over 0.5% . Intracellular lipase from S . marcescens 345 was able to hydrolyze glycerol esters containing both unsaturated fatty acids (vegetable oils) and saturated fatty acids with a short and a long carbon chain. J Med Microbiol, 1980 May, 13(2), 341 - 3 Phase variation in the genus Serratia; Young VM et al.; During an investigation of the serotypes of Serratia marcescens present in a cancer centre, it was found that 8.7% of 241 strains had more than one H antigen . There were 19 diphasic and two triphasic strains . Antigen H1 was a component of the phases in the approximately half of the strains with multiple phases . This is the first report of such phases in the genus Serratia. J Med Microbiol, 1980 May, 13(2), 333 - 9 Distribution of Serratia marcescens serotypes in cancer patients; Young VM et al.; A study of 1314 patients with malignancies was made to determine the prevalence of Serratia marcescens in surveillance, diagnostic, and environmental cultures . Sera obtained from a commercial source were used to determine serotypic distributions of the S . marcescens strains isolated during a 51-month period . S . marcescens was isolated from 19% of patients with haematological neoplasms, from 5% of patients with lymphoma, and from 6% of those with solid tumours . Among carriers, rectal cultures were the commonest source in patients with lymphoma (32%); rectal and gingival cultures in patients with leukaemia (43% and 39%, respectively), and gingival cultures in patients with solid tumours (30%) . Bacteraemias (.07%) were infrequent sources . Although seldom isolated from environmental or food samples, S . marcescens may occasionally be abundant in fresh fruit and vegetables . Serotyping of 220 strains of S . marcescens demonstrated 38 distinct antigenic types . The predominant serotype, O14:H12, was present in the upper respiratory tract of half of the persons who carried this serotype . Serotyping is a readily reproducible method of subspeciating S . marcescens; it can be satisfactorily used as an epidemiological tool. J Bacteriol, 1980 May, 142(2), 729 - 31 Interspecies hybrid tryptophan synthase-modified beta 2 protein formed from separate folding regions of the beta monomer; Rocha V et al.; Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens tryptophan synthase beta 2 protein (EC 4.2.1.20) was subjected to mild trypsin proteolysis . Two separate folding regions (domains) of the E . coli (EF1 and EF2) and the S . marcescens (SF1 and SF2) enzyme were shown to form interspecies hybrid reconstituted molecules {(EF1-SF2)2 and (SF1-EF2)2} and intraspecies reconstituted molecules {(EF1-EF2)2 and (SF1-SF2)2} with equal efficiency . The data suggest that structural regions, associated with beta monomer assembly, exist somewhere on the domain fragments and that these regions are conserved. J Infect Dis, 1980 May, 141(5), 625 - 36 Molecular analysis of R-factors from multiresistant nosocomial isolates; Tompkins LS et al.; During an epidemic of infections at the Seattle Veterans Hospital, Washington, due to a multiresistant strain of Serratia marcencens, other enteric species were isolated that had antibiograms nearly identical to those of the epidemic S . marcescens . In 11 instances, these multiresistant species were isolated from specimens that also contained the epidemic serratia strain . All isolates of the epidemic serratia strain contained a conjugative 45-megadalton R-factor (pLST1000) coding for intermediate resistance to three amino-glycosides (minimal inhibitory concentrations, 4--8 micrograms/ml) and high-level resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, streptomycin, and sulfonamide . With the use of agarose gel electrophoresis and restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns after digestion with EcoRI, BamH1, and HindIII, it was determined that eight different enteric strains of six different species isolated from the patients contained an R-factor that was molecularly identical to the one isolated from the epidemic strain of S . marcescens . Thus, the epidemic of multiresistant infections at this hospital was caused both by the spread of an epidemic strain and an "epidemic plasmid." The molecular characteristics of pLST1000 appear to be different from previously described multiresistant plasmids. J Hyg (Lond), 1980 Apr, 84(2), 269 - 83 The epidemiological type identification of Serratia marcescens from outbreaks of infection in hospitals; Pitt TL et al.; A study of serological, bacteriocine and phage typing of Serratia marcescens was made . Specific O-antisera of adequate titre were relatively simple to prepare but H-antisera exhibited many heterologous agglutination reactions amongst the type strains . Most of these cross-reactions were not reproduced when immobilization tests with H-sera were performed . Direct haemagglutination tests were used to establish the presence of fimbriae amongst the H-type strains and the results of agglutination tests with non-fimbriate variants of strains indicated that fimbrial antibody in high titre was present in some sera . Replicate typing of 100 pairs of cultures by the phage-typing method indicated that small variations in pattern were common and that larger variations occurred occasionally . Therefore differences in pattern of less than two strong reactions should not be taken as evidence that strains can be distinguished . Cultures of S . marcescens, 273 in total, from six outbreaks of infection in British and European hospitals were typed by O-serology, H agglutination and immobilization tests, phage typing and bacteriocine susceptibility by a cross-streaking method . The typability of strains by each method was high but the results suggested that no single method was sufficiently discriminating to be used alone for typing . Comparison of the H-type and typing patterns of members of the same O serogroup from incidents of infection showed that reliable results were obtained by H-typing or by phage and bacteriocine typing after the application of the appropriate 'difference' rule . The greatest discrimination between strains of the same O-group was obtained by the use of H-typing or phage typing. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980 Mar, 246(3), 336 - 43 {Studies of lipase and antilipase on different strains of the genera Serratia, Aeromonas and Vibrio (author's transl)}; Caselitz FH et al.; Lipase and antilipase were studied in the following genera: Serratia, Aeromonas and Vibrio . Numerous comparative investigations showed that the Jipase of Serratia marcescens is not of a uniform antigenic structure as not all antilipase-sera of Serratia marcescens have the ability to neutralize the lipase of all studied strains of this species . Cross-reactions were seen between the genera Serratia and Aeromonas . A special reaction of the antilipase sera of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas punctata could be demonstrated on the lipase of one strain of Serratia marcescens . Those Aeromonas sera could neutralize the lipase of one strain of Serratia marcescens. Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Mar-Apr, 49(2), 319 - 22 {Comparative study of the energy metabolic enzymatic activity of pigmented and pigment-free strains of Serratia marcescens}; Porfir'eva OV et al.; The activity of enzymes involved in energy metabolism was investigated in the pigmented strain of Serratia marcescens and in its pigmentless variant with an elevated activity of nuclease . The pigmentless strain was found to exhibit a higher specific activity of several enzymes participating in glycolysis, the pentose phosphate cycle, and the citric acid cycle . The pigmentless strain accumulated lesser amounts of lactic acid in the medium and was characterized by the negative Voges--Proskauer reaction. J Infect Dis, 1980 Mar, 141(3), 346 - 50 Loss of an aminoglycoside resistance plasmid by Serratia marcescens during treatment of meningitis with amikacin; Rubens CE et al.; During prophylaxis with gentamicin and amoxicillin following surgical repair of a meningomyelocele in a newborn infant, a cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred and fever ensued . Cultures of ventricular fluid yielded Serratia marcescens resistant to several antibiotics, including gentamicin and tobramycin, but sensitive to amikacin . When therapy with amikacin was substituted for that with gentamicin and amoxicillin, cultures yielded an additional colony type of S . marcescens, which was antibiotic-sensitive but of the same serotype as the original isolate, that eventually replaced the original resistant organism . The resistant S . marcescens was shown to possess a 105 X 10(6)-dalton plasmid not observed in the sensitive variant . The sensitive variant may have originated by loss of the plasmid from the resistant organism, possibly by removal of the selection pressure of antibiotics, which favored the emergence of a bacterial population that did not harbor resistance plasmids during clinical therapy. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1980 Feb, 150(2), 165 - 70 Scanning electron microscopy of moist bacterial strike-through of surgical materials; Laufman H et al.; Scanning electron microscopy was used to demonstrate the process of moist bacterial strike-through of woven and nonwoven surgical materials . Three woven and three nonwoven materials were challenged with an aqueous suspension of Serratia marcescens . The results of these studies confirmed that relatively new, less than 100 cycles of washing and sterilizing, 270 thread Quarpel treated Pima cotton prevents moist bacterial penetration . However, this same woven material when washed and sterilized more than 100 times allowed bacterial penetration . Nonwoven materials prevented penetration only when they were impregnated with plastic or reinforced with a plastic film . Prevention of moist bacterial strike-through of surgical materials, whether they be woven or nonwoven, is dependent upon the effectiveness of their waterproof quality . In woven materials, we have confirmed our previous findings indicating that loss of waterproof characteristics, which occurs after 75 washing-sterilizing cyclings, leads to permeability and to moist bacterial strike-through, regardless of the weave density . In nonwoven materials, dependable resistance to moist bacterial strike, through was achieved only when all moisture penetration was prevented by reinforcement with waterproof plastic film. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1980 Feb, 89(2), 214 - 5 {Characteristics of the opsonin factors according to the reaction of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by human neutrophils}; Viksman ME et al.; A method for studying the general opsonic function in human neutrophil phagocytosis is proposed . It is based on the estimation of neutrophil metabolic stimulation with heat-killed cells of Serratia marcescens in the presence of an opsonic substrate . The opsonic activity levels have been determined in 44 healthy donors. Arch Intern Med, 1980 Feb, 140(2), 199 - 202 Serratia endocarditis . A follow-up report; Cooper R et al.; Seventeen new cases of Serratia marcescens endocarditis observed in the San Francisco Bay Area since June 1974 are presented . Fifteen patients had a history of illicit intravenous drug use and four patients had prosthetic heart valves . Seven patients with infection of right-sided heart valves did well, although surgery was required in two for persistent fever or recurrent pulmonary emboli