J Bacteriol, 1981 Aug, 147(2), 350 - 3 Assimilatory sulfur metabolism in marine microorganisms: a novel sulfate transport system in Alteromonas luteo-violaceus; Cuhel RL et al.; The sulfate transport mechanism of a marine bacterium, Alteromonas luteo-violaceus, was unique among microorganisms in its extremely low affinity for the sulfate analog thiosulfate . Distinguishing characteristics included weak inhibition of sulfate transport by thiosulfate, inability to transport thiosulfate effectively, poor growth using thiosulfate as the sole source of sulfur, and a mild effect of the sulfhydryl reagent para-hydroxymercuribenzoate . In contrast, sulfate transport by a marine pseudomonad, Pseudomonas halodurans, was strongly inhibited by thiosulfate, and para-hydroxymercuribenzoate reversibly but completely blocked sulfate transport. J Bacteriol, 1981 Aug, 147(2), 340 - 9 Assimilatory sulfur metabolism in marine microorganisms: characteristics and regulation of sulfate transport in Pseudomonas halodurans and Alteromonas luteo-violaceus; Cuhel RL et al.; Sulfate transport capacity was not regulated by cysteine, methionine, or glutathione in Pseudomonas halodurans, but growth on sulfate or thiosulfate suppressed transport . Subsequent sulfur starvation of cultures grown on all sulfur sources except glutathione stimulated uptake . Only methionine failed to regulate sulfate transport in Alteromonas luteo-violaceus, and sulfur starvation of all cultures enhanced transport capacity . During sulfur starvation of sulfate-grown cultures of both bacteria, the increase in transport capacity was mirrored by a decrease in the low-molecular-weight organic sulfur pool . Little metabolism of endogenous inorganic sulfate occurred . Cysteine was probably the major regulatory compound in A . luteo-violaceus, but an intermediate in sulfate reduction, between sulfate and cysteine, controlled sulfate transport in P . halodurans . Kinetic characteristics of sulfate transport in the marine bacteria were similar to those of previously reported nonmarine systems in spite of significant regulatory differences . Sulfate and thiosulfate uptake in P . halodurans responded identically to inhibitors, were coordinately regulated by growth on various sulfur compounds and sulfur starvation, and were mutually competitive inhibitors of transport, suggesting that they were transported by the same mechanism . The affinity of P . halodurans for thiosulfate was much greater than for sulfate. Arch Intern Med, 1981 Aug, 141(9), 1172 - 3 Peritoneal fluid eosinophilia in patients undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis; Humayun HM et al.; In ten patients undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis, large numbers of eosinophils were found in the peritoneal fluid . A few of the affected patients complained of episodic abdominal pains, but there was no correlation between abdominal symptoms and the number of peritoneal fluid eosinophils . Microorganisms failed to grow on cultures of the peritoneal fluids, and results of tests for endotoxin were negative . The cause of eosinophilia could not be determined . Peritoneal fluid eosinophil counts were noted to be elevated soon after catheter insertion and initiation of peritoneal dialysis . In some patients, peritoneal fluid eosinophil counts spontaneously returned to normal despite continued peritoneal dialysis. J Dent Res, 1981 Aug, 60(8), 1386 - 95 Salivary calculi: ultrastructural morphology and bacterial etiology; Lustmann J et al.; Ultrastructural morphology of 16 salivary calculi was studied by means of transmission and scanning electron microscopy . The external surface was mostly globular or coarse, and on high magnifications and features could be divided into four main groups: a) amorphic calcified deposits covering extensive areas, b) other areas covered with crystals in a variety of arrangements, c) heavy accumulations of calcified rod-like and filamentouslike microorganisms, and d) platelet crystals in juxtaposition to calcified microorganisms in several areas . In most calculi the split area was found to be laminated . It is suggested that microorganisms have an important role in the formation and growth of salivary calculi. Blood, 1981 Aug, 58(2), 293 - 9 Monocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity: the role of the metabolic burst; Koller CA et al.; Human monocytes respond to opsonized microorganisms with a "metabolic burst" composed of an increase in oxygen consumption, an increase in hexose monophosphate shunt (HMPS) activity, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) . We investigated the role of the metabolic burst in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by human monocytes toward anti-D coated erythrocyte target cells because recent studies suggested a role for oxygen-dependent bactericidal mechanisms in ADCC . In normal monocytes, we found that ADCC was nearly halved under hypoxic conditions . Several agents known to impair activation of the burst, such as vincristine, cation chelators, and a sulfhydryl reagent, all decreased cytotoxicity if added before initiation of contact between target and effector cells . Cytotoxicity was inhibited by 2-deoxyglucose but not fluoride, suggesting a nonglycolytic role for glucose in ADCC, perhaps in the HMPS pathway . Although these data suggested a role for the metabolic burst in ADCC, scavengers of ROS did not impair cytotoxicity, and monocytes from chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients who had a defective metabolic burst had normal levels of ADCC . We conclude that ADCC toward anti-D coated erythrocyte target cells was the result of at least two independent but closely related cytotoxic pathways . Although one of these pathways appeared to involve the metabolic burst, the potentially cytotoxic reactive oxygen species did not appear to play a role in this system. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Aug, 14(2), 201 - 5 Comparison of acridine orange and Gram stains for detection of microorganisms in cerebrospinal fluid and other clinical specimens; Lauer BA et al.; Acridine orange, a fluorochrome strain, is potentially superior to the Gram stain in the direct microscopic examination of clinical specimens because it gives striking differential staining between bacteria and background cells and debris . Its value in clinical laboratories was evaluated by testing 209 cerebrospinal fluids and 288 other body fluids, tissues, and exudates by both techniques . Smears were made in duplicate, fixed with methanol, stained, and examined without knowledge of the result of the companion smear or culture . Overall, acridine orange was slightly more sensitive than the Gram stain (acridine orange, 59.9%; Gram stain, 55.8%) and equally specific in detecting microorganisms . One smear was falsely positive by the Gram stain; none was falsely positive by the acridine orange stain . We conclude that acridine orange staining is a sensitive method for screening clinical specimens and reviewing selected specimens that are purulent, but negative by the Gram stain . Bloody fluids, thick exudates, and other normally difficult-to-read specimens were easily and quickly examined . We recommend, however, that positive smears be reexamined with the Gram stain to confirm the result and determine the Gram reaction of the microorganisms. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1981 Jul 17, 675(3-4), 386 - 91 Isolation and characterization of an adenylyl-protein complex formed during the incubation of membranes from Dictyostelium discoideum with ATP; Rossomando EF et al.; When tritiated ATP is incubated with a membrane-enriched fraction prepared from the eukaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum significant levels of radioactivity can be precipitated with cold, 10% trichloroacetic acid . Reaction product was formed from ATP and dATP but not from GTP, CTP and UTP . Other studies showed that the maximum amount of the acid-insoluble product was formed about 1 min after the addition of the membranes and that, with further incubation, this reaction product was degraded . The rate of degradation of the reaction product was greatly reduced when the temperature was reduced to 4 degrees C, and when either NaF, Na2SO4 or dithiothreitol was added to the reaction mixture . These additions or conditions had no effect on the product-formation reaction . The rate of degradation was also reduced following the addition of adenosine to the reaction and this result did not occur following the addition of ADP, AMP or cyclic AMP . The acid-insoluble reaction product could be solubilized with SDS and analysis by gel-filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-75 revealed that the radioactivity was associated with a macromolecule that was not sensitive to RNAase or DNAase but was degraded by pronase . The nucleotide-protein complex was stable at room temperature but radioactivity was released in hot acid, which, after analysis by thin-layer chromatography, was found to co-migrate with authentic AMP, suggesting the formation of an adenylyl-protein complex as the reaction intermediate . The complex bond was stable at neutral and alkaline pH, suggesting a phosphoamide linkage between the protein and the adenylyl moiety. Cancer, 1981 Jul 15, 48(2 Suppl), 472 - 83 Immunologic aspects of gynecologic cancer; Barber HR et al.; All vertebrates have a defense mechanism, the immune defense system, that protects them from disease-causing microorganisms . Its deliberate exploitation has conquered many infectious diseases and has been a major achievement of medical science in preventing suffering and saving lives . At the beginning of this century, hope was held that dissimilarities between normal and neoplastic cells could be demonstrated by immunologic methods and that vaccination against cancer might become possible . When it was recognized that the many claims of tumor=specific antigenicity were based on experiments in which an immunity to normal alloantigens, rather than tumor-specific antigens, had been demonstrated, the field of tumor immunology came into disrepute . The work of Gross in 1943 and Prehn and Main in 1957 rekindled interest in tumor immunology . Many contributions have advanced the concept of tumor immunology . They are the following: (1) an abundant supply of highly inbred (syngeneic) animals; (2) extensive work on experimental transplantable tumors; (3) an understanding of the mechanism causing rejection of grafted normal and cancerous tissues in animals; (4) identification of the function of the humoral and cell-mediated mechanisms following organ transplantation; (5) the observation that cancers do arouse a specific immune response in the organisms in which they appear; (6) antigenic differences represent the first known qualitative distinction between cancer cells and their normal counterparts; (7) the application of improved technology--columns, use of fluorescein-tagged antibodies, urea as a chaotropic agent, nephelometer; (8) hybridoma to produce a supply of monoclonal antibodies; (9) new vaccines directed against invasive tumors, and (10) the exploration of the role of immune complexes in oncology . The areas of promise and the future of cancer immunology have once again challenged the minds of scientists. Rev Infect Dis, 1981 Jul-Aug, 3(4), 760 - 9 Environmental factors in nosocomial infection-a selective focus; McGowan JE Jr; For many years attempts to control nosocomial infection consisted of programs to measure and then reduce the number of microorganisms present in the hospital environment . Recently, however, investigation of documented episodes of infection in hospital patients or personnel has been emphasized, and the role of routine microbiologic monitoring has been minimized . Further improvements in infection control will require a better understanding of the relative importance of objects in the animate and inanimate environment as reservoirs and vectors for infection rather than development of newer and better ways to culture the environment. J Anim Sci, 1981 Jul, 53(1), 226 - 30 Effects of primary, secondary and tertiary amines on in vitro cellulose digestion and volatile fatty acid production by ruminal microorganisms; Baldwin KA et al.; Decanamine hydrochloride (a C10 primary amine), N-methylundecanamine (a C11 secondary amine) and N, N-dimethyldodecanamine (a C12 tertiary amine) were tested for their effects upon in vitro cellulose digestibility by unadapted ruminal microorganisms . The three amines exhibited similar patterns of inhibition of cellulose digestibility in 48-hr in vitro incubations . Cellulose digestion was depressed to 97, 89, 31, 11 and 12% of the control value by 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 ppm of the amines, respectively . Total volatile fatty acid production was depressed to 89, 85, 61, 40 and 32% of the control value by 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 ppm of the amines, respectively . Propionate production was inhibited to a greater extent than was acetate production, and acetate to propionate ratios increased in the presence of the amines . The results demonstrate that these primary, secondary and tertiary amines inhibit those microorganisms which digest cellulose in the rumen. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Jul-Aug, 50(4), 619 - 25 {3-oxosteroid-delta 1-dehydrogenase localization in Mycobacterium rubrum and Arthobacter globiformis cells}; Lestrovaia NN; Osmotically susceptible forms were obtained from Mycobacterium rubrum and Arthrobacter globiformis (Mycobacterium globiforme) cells . The activity of 3-oxosteroid-delta 1-dehydrogenase was comparatively estimated in subcellular fractions after differential centrifugation of cell homogenates prepared either mechanically or by lysis of osmotically susceptible forms . The results indicate that the enzyme is located in the cells of the above microorganisms in both the free state (in the fraction of soluble proteins) and the membrane-bound form. Isr J Med Sci, 1981 Jul, 17(7), 616 - 21 Mycoplasmal arthritis in man; Taylor-Robinson D; Naturally occurring mycoplasmal arthritis in various animals species and the ability to induce mycoplasmal arthritis experimentally have been the main reasons for searching for evidence of mycoplasmal infection in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis . However, reliable reports of the isolation of mycoplasmas from synovial fluids and tissue of such patients do not exist, and measurements of specific antibodies have not proved rewarding . There is some evidence that infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae occasionally has an arthritic sequela, although the microorganism has not been isolated from the joints of immunocompetent patients . In contrast, this and other mycoplasmas, including ureaplasmas, have been isolated from the arthritic joints of several hypogammaglobulinemic patients, and there is some evidence to indicate that the organisms are responsible for the disease . A relationship between mycoplasmas and sexually acquired Reiter's disease is unproven, but deserves thorough investigation in view of the link between ureaplasmas and nongonococcal urethritis . Furthermore, as new media and techniques become available, the possibility the mycoplasmas may have some role in rheumatoid arthritis should be reappraised. J Immunol, 1981 Jul, 127(1), 1 - 5 In vitro killing of S . mansoni schistosomula by lymphokine-activated mouse macrophages; Bout DT et al.; Inflammatory macrophages from mice i.p . injected with FCS 24-hr before harvesting, activated by partly purified MAF from Con A-stimulated spleen cells, were shown to kill an average of 60.9% (SE +/- 5.3) of the parasites in cultures of Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula . On the contrary, resident macrophages were not cytotoxic under the same conditions . The degree of macrophage activation for the killing was dependent upon both lymphokine concentration and time of incubation in lymphokine . The capacity of macrophages to be activated to kill schistosomula as well as the schistosomulicidal activity of the lymphokine-activated macrophages were short-lived properties . The killing was strongly influenced by the effector-to-target ratio . The results are consistent with other data on the immune response in experimental infection and particularly the development of the delayed hypersensitivity . Therefore, among the immune mechanisms that participate in immunity to reinfection, cell-mediated immunity that involves inflammatory macrophages should no longer be restricted to microorganisms and protozoans and could be extended to multicellular parasites like schistosomes. Can J Microbiol, 1981 Jul, 27(7), 646 - 50 Identification of rumen bacteria that anaerobically degrade aliphatic nitrotoxins; Majak W et al.; Of 33 pure stains of rumen bacteria from the Lethbridge laboratory collection, 5 degraded both 3-nitropropanol (NPOH) and 3-nitropropionic acid (NPA) under anaerobic conditions, and another 5 strains degraded only NPA . The nitroacid was metabolized at a faster rate than the nitroalcohol by both pure cultures of rumen bacteria and mixed rumen microorganisms . Nitrite was detected during incubation of NPOH and of NPA with resting cells but not with growing cultures of active strains of rumen bacteria . Nitrite was metabolized much faster than the nitrotoxins by both pure cultures of rumen bacteria and mixed rumen microorganisms . The results suggest that the nitro moiety of NPA or NPOH is metabolized to inorganic nitrite and nitrite is reduced to ammonia by rumen microorganisms, thereby resulting in its detoxification. Isr J Med Sci, 1981 Jul, 17(7), 654 - 5 Laboratory diagnosis of animal mycoplasma infections; Gourlay RN; Laboratory diagnosis of animal mycoplasma infections is generally based on isolation of the mycoplasmas from the diseased tissues, followed by biochemical and serological identification of the isolates . However, the presence of serum antibodies and the demonstration of circulating antigen or antigen in infected lung tissue has also proved invaluable in the diagnosis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia . The isolation of a particular mycoplasma from a diseased tissue does not necessarily imply a causal relationship . It is important to know the pathogenicity potential of the mycoplasma in question, the number of mycoplasmas present, the presence of any other potentially pathogenic microorganisms and any other relevant information before the role of the mycoplasma can be assessed and a diagnosis of mycoplasma infection given. Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1981 Jul-Aug, 17(4), 477 - 93 {Live immobilized cells as biocatalysts of transformation and biosynthesis of organic compounds: a review}; Koshcheenko KA; The paper reviews the data concerning immobilization of liver microorganisms obtained by the author and found in the literature . The paper discusses different immobilization techniques maintaining cell viability (at least, in part): adsorption, covalent binding, incorporation into different gels (alginates, collagen, polyacrylamide gel, carrageens, etc) . The paper summarizes the information about physiology and morphology of resting and growing immobilized cells . It describes the relationship between the level of stability of enzymic activity and cell viability in the course of semi--continuous and continuous transformations . It is emphasized that live immobilized cells can be widely used as highly active polyenzymic systems requiring no exogenous cofactors. Infect Immun, 1981 Jul, 33(1), 115 - 9 Proliferative responses of central and peripheral rat lymphocytes elicited by cord factor (trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate); Kierszenbaum F et al.; Cord factor--a mixture of 6,6'-diesters of alpha, alpha-D-trehalose with natural mycolic acids--which is purified from mycobacteria and other microorganisms, is known to have adjuvant activity as well as to enhance nonspecific resistance to infections and tumor development . In this work, trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) was found to induce proliferative responses in rat thymus and lymph node cells . With the thymus cells, TDM responses were greater after removal of the adherent cell subpopulation . Consistent with this observation was the finding that addition of phagocytic cells purified from peritoneal or lymph node cell suspensions to nonadherent thymocytes abrogated the response of thymocytes to TDM . With the lymph node cells, the presence or removal of adherent cells had no major consequence on the TDM-induced proliferative response, since similar increases in deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis were observed with unfractionated and nonadherent cells . The difference between the sensitivities of thymus cells and lymph node cells to regulation by adherent cells indicated the existence of more than one type of TDM responder cell in rats . TDM also displayed marked stimulatory activity on thymus and lymph node cells from germ-free rats, ruling out the possibility that TDM might have triggered a specific, secondary, in vitro immune response . Expansion of a selected cell population(s) triggered by TDM may be involved in the manifestation of adjuvant activity and possibly other immunological properties of cord factor. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1981 Jul, 675(2), 281 - 4 Synthesis of L-fucose in thyroid tissue; Overton K et al.; A de novo pathway for L-fucose synthesis has been detected in porcine thyroid tissue . This system uses guanosine diphospho-alpha-D mannose as a precursor and forms guanosine diphospho-beta-L-fucose as product . The system seems similar to those reported by others to exist in microorganisms and plants in that the first step of the pathway involves a 4-keto sugar nucleotide intermediate . The first enzyme of the pathway, guanosine diphospho-alpha-D-mannose oxidoreductase has been purified 57-fold from crude extracts by virtue of its affinity for Blue Sepharose. Br J Dermatol, 1981 Jun, 104(6), 687 - 95 Sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis: a lymphangiofibrosis thrombotica occlusiva; Marsch WC et al.; Three patients with so-called non-venereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis are presented . Light and electron microscopy of one case revealed a lymphatic collecting vessel with a fibrin thrombus in the process of recanalization and vessel wall fibrosis due to hyperplasia of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts . The term 'lymphangiofibrosis thrombotica occlusiva' is proposed . Lymph stasis is suggested as a provoking factor for the dilatation and clinically striking firm thickening of the affected collecting vessel . No microorganisms were recognized . Within the fibrin thrombus, sprouts of endothelial cells showed intracellular vacuoles, probably indicating the first identifiable step in lymph capillary lumen formation . Signs of collagen remodelling were encountered in the thickened vessel wall. Laryngoscope, 1981 Jun, 91(6), 965 - 70 Malignant external otitis: early histopathologic changes and pathogenic mechanism; Ostfeld E et al.; The histopathologic changes during the early stage of malignant external otitis (MEO) were studied in two patients, one a non-diabetic . The specimens were obtained by an en bloc excision of the diseased tissue of the external ear canal through a retroauricular approach . The most prominent histologic features of the early stage of MEO consist of a thick layer of almost acellular, partly degenerated, collagen extending from the cartilage into the dermis, which most likely existed prior to the penetration of the microorganism . This finding supports our concept that MEO is a disease which develops as a results of invasion of opportunistic organisms into tissue previously devitalized, probably due to vascular compromise and that these latter features constitute the basic mechanism of the entire disease process. Am Fam Physician, 1981 Jun, 23(6), 133 - 6 Prescribing antibiotics; Ellenbogen C et al.; A specific antibiotic is prescribed not for its effect on the patient but for its effect on the microorganism . Antibiotics have a unique toxicity because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the patient . Lack of response to the antibiotic may be due to selection of the wrong drug, inadequate dosage, inappropriate route of administration, failure of the drug to be distributed to the infected site, or metabolism and excretion so that no active drug is present. Surg Clin North Am, 1981 Jun, 61(3), 681 - 90 Nutritional support in sepsis; McLean AP et al.; Sepsis induces a complex series of host metabolic adjustments, involving muscle proteolysis and hepatic gluconeogenesis . Successful hemodynamic management of the initial phase of shock has lead to survivors who face the prospect of eventual mortality (50 per cent) from this septic episode one to two weeks later . Surgery and use of antibiotics may minimize the invasive infection and eradicate the source . Continued support in the form of cardiorespiratory, renal, and nutritional support provide time, but these measures are only supportive . Nutrition does allow for important protein synthesis . Essential to eventual survival is the ability of the host to contain and resolve the infective microorganism. Infect Immun, 1981 Jun, 32(3), 1211 - 5 Tumor-associated bacteria capable of producing a human choriogonadotropin-like substance; Backus BT et al.; Aerobic microorganisms were isolated and identified from 9 of 10 malignant tissues aseptically obtained from surgical patients . The organisms isolated are species commonly associated with the flora of the human body . When these cancer-associated organisms were grown in Trypticase soy broth (BBL Microbiology Systems), a protein substance was isolated from the culture filtrates by acetone precipitation . The acetone precipitates of 12 of 14 organisms tested were positive when assayed by radioimmunoassay for the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) . All but one of the bacterial isolates from the malignancies were capable of producing the hCG-like substance, but in varying quantities . Control organisms (not isolated from a malignancy) and uninoculated Trypticase soy broth were either completely negative in the radioimmunoassay for beta hCG or had levels of beta hCG near the limit of the sensitivity of the method . These results suggest the possibility that bacteria-tumor relationships do exist and are in agreement with the findings of other workers . Investigation of these relationships may have important and provocative implications in the study of neoplastic diseases. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Jun, (6), 71 - 4 {Immunocytoadherence indices in evaluating the specificity and activity of an inflammatory process}; Autenshlius AI et al.; A method for determination of specificity and activity of the inflammatory process is described . The method is based on the reaction of immunocytoadherence between granulocytes with the round nucleus (nuclei) and microorganisms . The method is sensitive, as the phagocytic reaction is inhibited and the patient's blood cells interact with microbial cells due to the presence of immunoglobulins or receptors of the immunoglobulin nature, active against the causative agent of the disease, on the blood cell surface . The values of immunocytoadherence in tuberculosis, brucellosis and pneumonia are presented. Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1981 Jun-Jul, 15(4), 44 - 5 {Effectiveness of the aerobic decomposition of plant wastes by microorganisms}; Chernovich IL et al.; Degradation of plant wastes by means of microbial coenosis under aerobic conditions was studied . Efficiency of the process increased with increase in time and temperature . Microbial degradation of vegetable wastes was more complete than that of wheat wastes. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1981 May, 123(5), 560 - 4 The tadpole-shaped structures in human non-necrotizing granulomas; Wang N et al.; We scrutinized the secondary lysosomal vesicle of the epitheloid cell from 9 patients whose biopsy specimens show multiple non-necrotizing granulomas by light microscopy (LM) . In 4 of the 9 patients, we found tadpole-shaped structures (TSS) approximately tenfold larger than the size of the mycobacteriophage by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) . In addition, we used a plasma etching method on epon-embedded tissue and successfully demonstrated the stereoscopic appearance of the TSS by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) . The identified TSS were further analyzed with an X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer for their microchemistry . The TSS appeared to be integral structures by TEM and SEM and did not contain any nonbiologic elements when analyzed with the X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer . Their location as well as their morphologic features and microchemistry suggested that the TSS are a microorganism and related to the formation of the granulomas in our 4 patients. Rev Infect Dis, 1981 May-Jun, 3(3), 508 - 20 Direct effects of hyperthermia on pathogenic microorganisms: Teleologic implications with regard to fever; Mackowiak PA; Fever recently has been the subject of numerous reviews in the clinical literature . Although most of these reviews have devoted considerable attention to studies concerned with the effect of temperature on the immunologic responses of higher animals, they generally have ignored data concerned with the direct effects of physiologic variations in temperature on pathogenic microorganisms . This review summarizes the current status of our knowledge of the reactions of clinically important microorganisms to variations in temperature within the physiologic range and attempts to relate data obtained from in vitro studies of these reactions to the still-unresolved question of the teleologic significance of fever. Rev Infect Dis, 1981 May-Jun, 3(3), 422 - 69 The immunology of leprosy: speculations on the leprosy spectrum; Sansonetti P et al.; Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae . The disease presents a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from lepromatous to tuberculoid leprosy; each form may be punctuated by episodes of acute exacerbation, called reactional states . These polar forms and reactional states appear to be determined by immunologic interactions between the host and the microorganism . This review describes the different measurable parameters that permit the classification of a particular form according to clinical, bacteriologic, histologic, and immunologic spectra . Secondly, the current state of knowledge on essential immunologic features of leprosy is presented, with a description of the various alterations of cellular and humoral immune responses that can be tested by specific and nonspecific methods . The last part of the review is devoted to an analysis of the leprosy spectrum and to speculations about a number of possible factors that may influence the immune response of the host in a manner analogous to that observed in experimental models. J Pediatr, 1981 May, 98(5), 691 - 5 Respiratory infections in infants on mechanical ventilation: the immune response as a diagnostic aid; Giacoia GP et al.; A prospective study was undertaken in 41 newborn infants receiving artificial respiration for evaluation of the incidence of respiratory infections . Clinical and radiologic evidence of pneumonia was compared with the appearance of serum antibodies against antigens prepared from microorganisms isolated from bronchial aspirates, and with serum and bronchial immunoglobulin M values . A significant specific immune response was documented in 24% of the patients studied . The data indicate that by correlating the clinical and radiographic findings with specific antibodies and IgM antibody responses, it is possible to document a significant number of respiratory infections . One implication of this study is that subclinical infections may not be uncommon . The significance of the presence and changes in concentration of IgM in bronchial aspirate requires further study. J Immunol, 1981 May, 126(5), 1810 - 3 Human B lymphocytes activated by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or by mitogens suppress mitogen-induced immunoglobulin production; Tsukuda K et al.; Polyclonal activation of human B lymphocytes by LPS or protein A, alone or in combination or by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), generates suppressive conditions that inhibit the response of human B lymphocytes to pokeweed mitogen (PWM), measured by the induction of immunoglobulin-secreting cells (PFC) . Moreover, EBV-transformed B cell lines of normal or neoplastic (Burkitt lymphoma) origin also suppressed the PWM-induced immunoglobulin production of normal B cells . Cell separation experiments have shown that mitogen activated autologous B cells stimulate suppressor T cells in a similar way as B cell-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines . The significance of this phenomenon is considered in relation to the escape of the activating microorganism or virus from immune control and the occurrence of network interactions within the immune system. Nature, 1981 Apr 30, 290(5809), 800 - 2 Molecular cloning of foot and mouth disease virus genome and nucleotide sequences in the structural protein genes; Boothroyd JC et al.; Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), of the family Picornaviridae, consists of a single-stranded RNA (approximately 8,000 nucleotides), the translation of which is initiated on the 3' side of a 150-nucleotide poly(C) tract and yields a single polyprotein which is processed by host cell proteases into four primary products (Fig . 1) . One or more virus-specified proteases further cleave these into the final products, the capsid proteins (VP1-4) being derived from the precursor p88 (for review see ref . 5) . There are seven serotypes of the virus and as it has been shown that the immunizing activity of FMDV particles is associated primarily with VP1 (refs 6, 7), it seems likely that antigenic variation in FMDV is a result of changes in the structure of this protein . To further our understanding of this variation and as a first step in the possible development of FMDV vaccines from genetically manipulated microorganisms, we report here the construction and analysis of recombinant plasmids containing cDNA copies of the RNA . Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the known polypeptide sequences shows that the NH2-termini of VP2 and VP3 are conserved between the A and O serotypes whereas that of VP1 (the immunizing antigen) varies by as much as 42% between serotypes. J Biol Chem, 1981 Apr 10, 256(7), 3598 - 603 Characterization of a novel calmodulin from Dictyostelium discoideum; Bazari WL et al.; We have purified calmodulin from the eukaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum (Clarke, M., Bazari, W . L., and Kayman, S . C . (1980) J . Bacteriol . 141, 397-400) and have compared it to calmodulin purified from bovine brain . The two proteins behaved almost identically during fractionation on ion exchange and gel filtration columns and on isoelectric focusing gels . Dictyostelium calmodulin had one-third the specific activity of brain calmodulin in the Ca2+-dependent activation of brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase; this activation was inhibited for both proteins by 25 microM trifluoperazine . Dictyostelium calmodulin also activated erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and interacted with the inhibitory subunit of skeletal muscle troponin . Competition radioimmune assays showed that Dictyostelium calmodulin could compete with brain calmodulin for antibodies to brain calmodulin . These similarities indicate a close relationship between Dictyostelium and brain calmodulin and suggest that the functional capabilities of the protein have been conserved even among evolutionarily distant species . However, substantial differences in primary structure were detected by amino acid analyses and peptide mapping . Most interesting is the lack of trimethyllysine in Dictyostelium calmodulin . This unusual amino acid, which is commonly found in calmodulins, is therefore not essential for interaction between calmodulin and the calmodulin-regulated proteins tested here. Med Biol, 1981 Apr, 59(2), 92 - 8 Gallstone formation in guinea pigs under different dietary conditions . Effect of vitamin C on bile acid pattern; Bergman F et al.; Guinea pigs formed gallstones when fed chow supplemented with cholesterol and cholic acid . Although the stones contained little or no cholesterol the changes in biliary bile acid and lipid composition were similar to those observed in other rodents under conditions of cholesterol gallstone formation . Addition of cholestyramine to chow had a midly lithogenic effect . Hypovitaminosis C in animals given cholesterol and cholic acid resulted in an increase of the cholesterol content of the gallstones . The composition of biliary bile acids was markedly changed . Reductive formation of deoxycholic acid decreased and oxidative formation of ketonic bile acid increased . The results show that vitamin C may influence the redox state of the intestinal microorganisms microorganisms responsible for these conversions. Can J Microbiol, 1981 Apr, 27(4), 432 - 43 Microbial degradation of aromatics and saturates in Prudhoe Bay crude oil as determined by glass capillary gas chromatography; Fedorak PM et al.; Water samples obtained from three different marine environments (including a commercial harbor, a pristine area, and an oil tanker dock area) from the coast of Washington State were challenged with Prudhoe Bay crude oil under shake-flask conditions at 8 degrees C . Replicate cultures were grown with and without nitrogen (NO3-, NH4+) and phosphate supplementation . After varying incubation periods, the residual oil was extracted and separated on silica gel columns into saturate aromatic fractions and these were analyzed by glass capillary gas chromatography to detect the degradation of various compounds . After 27 days of incubation, both the aromatic and saturate fractions were extensively degraded by the microorganisms from these environments when supplemented with nitrogen and phosphorus . Without nutrient supplementation, the aromatics were more readily attacked than the saturates by the populations from the pristine environment and from the commercial harbor area . Under these limited nutrient conditions, samples from near oil tanker docks showed moderate degradation of both the saturate and aromatic fractions . Time course studies, using nutrient-supplemented marine samples, showed that the simple aromatics (e.g., naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene) were more readily degraded than the n-alkanes . However, once the breakdown of these saturates commenced, these were quickly removed from the oil . The aromatic degradation continued to progress from lower molecular weight, less complex molecules to larger, more complex molecules in the approximate series C2 naphthalenes; phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene; C3 naphthalenes and methylphenathrenes; C2 phenanthrenes. Can J Microbiol, 1981 Apr, 27(4), 390 - 9 A scanning electron microscopy study of the invasion of leaflets of a bloat-safe and a bloat-causing legume by rumen microorganisms; Fay JP et al.; A newly developed technique using ruthenium red to detect foci of bacterial digestion in mounts of whole leaflets that had been incubated with rumen bacteria was used to compare the digestion of alfalfa, a bloat-causing legume, and sainfoin, a bloat-safe legume . When whole leaflets were suspended in an artificial rumen medium and inoculated with rumen bacteria, massive bacterial adhesion and proliferation were noted at the stomata of alfalfa leaflets after 6 h of incubation, whereas only a few isolated bacteria adhered near the stomata of sainfoin leaflets After 22 h of incubation, the epidermal layers of alfalfa leaflets had peeled away in many areas, revealing an extensive bacterial invasion of the underlying mesophyll tissue in which large bacterial microcolonies had formed in intercellular spaces, and in intracellular spaces in several areas where plant cell walls had broken down . After 22 h of incubation, the surface of sainfoin leaflets resembled that of alfalfa leaflets at 6 h, with bacterial microcolonies adhering to the area surrounding the stomata, but without sloughing of the epidermis . Uninoculated control leaflets of both species showed no surface alteration but part of their normal bacterial flora had proliferated to form microcolonies on the surface after 22 h incubation . Dry matter loss due to leaching or bacterial digestion when whole leaflets of legumes were suspended in an artificial rumen medium, alone or with rumen bacteria, was significantly higher in the bloat-causing group . Values of leaching and of bacterial digestion were positively correlated . We conclude that reported differences in plant anatomy, and in cell wall chemistry, produce distinct rates or organic nutrient release from legume leaflets, and that these same differences produce an equally distinct susceptibility of leaflets to bacterial invasion, plant cell rupture, and the consequent release of intracellular plant components . The rate of release of organic nutrients from legume leaflets may be important in the etiology of foamy pasture bloat . This technique of in vitro digestion of whole leaflets followed by ruthenium red staining shows some promise of providing a rapid and qualitative test to distinguish, within a species, cultivars that may differ in their bloat-related characteristics. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1981 Apr, 89(2), 57 - 60 Microbial conversion of bilirubin to urobilins in vitro and in vivo; Midtvedt T et al.; No urobilins are formed from bilirubin in germ-free rats . To isolate and investigate the strains of intestinal microorganisms responsible for this transformation, a suitable test medium was adopted . The strength of the medium and a rather high initial pH were found to be of importance . In this medium, suspensions of rat faeces and a single strain, Cl . ramosum (G62), converted bilirubin to urobilins . Cultivations of Cl . ramosum (G62) together with E . coli significantly enhanced the conversion, whereas addition of 4 other bacterial strains was without the influence . The highest in vitro formation of the urobilins was about 10% of the bilirubin present . When the 6 strains investigated in vitro were established in EXG rats, the in vivo conversion of bilirubin to urobilins was found to be about 15%, compared to 70% in CONV rats. Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Apr, 75(4), 532 - 7 An evaluation of burn wound quantitative microbiology . I . Quantitative eschar cultures; Woolfrey BF et al.; The reliability of quantitative data from burn wound biopsy cultures was investigated . This was done by comparing the recovery of microorganisms from a series of burn wound eschar biopsy specimens that were each divided into two approximately equal portions and cultured in parallel . The results indicate that a microorganism present in the burn wound site in any quantity has at least a 25% chance of being missed by a single quantitative eschar culture . For recovery levels corresponding to quantitative breakpoints that have been proposed to be predictive of burn wound sepsis, only 38% of paired quantitative results agreed within the same log10 unit, and 44% differed by +/- 2 log10 units or more . These findings indicate that quantitative results derived from burn wound biopsy cultures are unreliable and may be significantly misleading when used for decision-making relative to patient care. Laryngoscope, 1981 Apr, 91(4), 520 - 8 Immunosuppression and the development of malignancies of the upper airway and related structures; Harris JP et al.; In the general population, 90% of the malignancies developing in the upper respiratory tract are squamous cell carcinomas . Analysis of 1081 neoplasms in 1023 renal transplant patients reported to the Denver Transplant Tumor Registry indicates that squamous cell carcinoma remains the predominant malignancy which develops in the upper respiratory tract of immunosuppressed individuals . Comparing the incidence of cancers of the oral cavity (excluding lip cancers) in the immunosuppressed population with the general population it is rather similar (3.5% vs . 4%) . When lip cancers are included, one sees a great excess of tumors developing in transplant patients (15% vs . 4.6%) . Thus the excess of head an neck epithelial malignancies among these patients is confined to neoplasms of the lip . Examination of the 25 patients reported in this study reveals an unusually young age of the patients, the average age being 41.8 years compared with the general population where most head an neck tumors occur in the 55-65 age group . The average time post-transplantation when cancer developed was 5.3 years, supporting the concept that the more effective the immunosuppressive regimen for prevention of graft rejection, the greater the susceptibility for the development of cancer . Since 90% of transplant patients have serological or clinical evidence of active herpes virus infection, it is possible that this microorganism may play a role in the development of certain head and neck malignancies, especially those involving the lips. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Apr, 13(4), 637 - 42 Detection of Legionella pneumophila capsular-like envelope antigens by counterimmunoelectrophoresis; Smith RA et al.; The capsular-like envelope of Legionella pneumophila strains Togus 1 (serotype 2) and Philadelphia 1 (serotype 1) was isolated and purified by column chromatography on Sepharose 6B . Antibody raised in rabbits to these two antigenic materials did not cross-react in gel diffusion . Upon electrophoresis followed by gel diffusion, the majority of both envelope materials was found to migrate towards the cathode . A minor antigenic component of each envelope only migrated slightly towards the anode . Using the envelope antigens and the two anti-envelope sera in a counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) assay, positive results were only obtained when the antigenic materials were placed in the cathodal well . The Togus 1 and Philadelphia 1 antigens did not cross-react in CIE . The sensitivity of the CIE assay was poor (15.6 micrograms/ml by carbohydrate content) compared to its sensitivity in other microbial systems . Although CIE may not be a useful diagnostic aid in identifying Legionella species due to its low sensitivity, it may be of value in serotyping the microorganism since we did not see cross-reactivity between the two strains when anti-envelope sera were used. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1981 Apr, 89(2), 93 - 101 Extracted protective antigen of Bordetella pertussis . I . Preparation and properties of the solubilized surface of components; Helting TB et al.; Bordetella pertussis microorganisms were treated with several extracting agents followed by ultracentrifugation to remove particulate matter . Analysis of the resulting supernatants by SDS gel electrophoresis showed one major component after simple salt extraction, and much more complex, although consistent pattern following detergent treatment . The yield of the solubilized protein in detergent extracts exceeded by far the values recorded for salt extracts . In order to prevent irreversible precipitation of the solubilized proteins upon removal of the denaturing agent, a novel procedure was developed . After extraction with urea-salt, the solubilized material was absorbed on a mineral carrier prior to the separation of the denaturing agent . The resulting absorbed vaccine was highly potent in the mouse-protection test, whereas the toxic reactions, elicited upon injection into experimental animals, were reduced in the comparison to the starting material . This diminished reactogenic potential was accompanied by the partial loss of the leukocytosis-promiting factor, whose activity was greatly diminished by urea-salt at alkaline pH-values . The procedure described may be applied to large-scale processing of Bordetella persussis microorganisms . Clinical trials now in progress should confirm or rebut the thesis that increased tolerability of the product, inferred from animal experiments, is reflected by fewer adverse reactions in humans . In the former case, the detergent extract vaccine may constitute a realistic alternative to conventional whole-cell vaccines against whooping-cough. J Virol Methods, 1981 Apr, 2(5), 251 - 60 Measurement of the electrokinetic properties of vaccinia and reovirus by laser-illuminated whole-particle microelectrophoresis; Taylor DH et al.; The electrokinetics of vaccinia virus and reovirus type 3 were studied in dilute electrolyte solutions by whole-particle microelectrophoresis with dark-field laser illumination . The electrophoretic mobilities were dependent upon pH and electrolyte composition . The isoelectric point of vaccinia virus in dilute NaCl was 4.8 +/- 0.1; that of reovirus was 3.8 +/- 0.1 . The mobility of reovirus was -2.65 +/- 0.30 micrometer . S-1 . V-1 . cm-1 . Treatments known to cause irreversible changes in the structure of vaccinia, such as heating to 90 degrees C or exposure to pH 10, altered the virus's mobility under the reference conditions . The practical range of whole-particle microelectrophoresis thus extends to microorganisms as small as reovirus, allowing their electrokinetic and related surface properties to be studied. Lancet, 1981 Mar 21, 1(8221), 653 - 7 C-reactive protein fifty years on; Pepys MB; The discovery of C-reactive protein (CRP) half a century ago led to the description of the acute-phase reaction which is a fundamental response of the body to injury . Recent work on the structure and function of CRP has revealed the existence of a unique plasma protein family, including CRP and serum amyloid P component (SAP) . These proteins have been conserved throughout vertebrate evolution . CRP binds specifically to a wide range of substances derived both from damaged autologous cells and from microorganisms . Complexed CRP can activate the complement system and, by virtue of its dramatically increased production in response to tissue injury, it probably acts primarily as a protective mechanism . However, in some circumstances CRP may also initiate or exacerbate inflammatory lesions . Clinical measurement of serum CRP is valuable as a screening test for organic disease and as a sensitive object index of disease activity and response to therapy in some inflammatory, infective, and ischaemic conditions . SAP closely resembles CRP in structure but not an acute-phase reactant in man . An apparently identical protein, amyloid P component (AP), is always found in amyloid deposits . AP is also found in normal tissues, as an integral constituent of vascular basement membranes and is located on the peripheral microfibrillar mantle of elastic fibres throughout the body. Science, 1981 Mar 6, 211(4486), 1002 - 13 Clocked cell cycle clocks; Edmunds LN Jr et al.; The cell division cycle of both mammalian cells and microorganisms, which apparently has both deterministic and probabilistic features, is a clock of sorts in that the sequence of events that comprise it measures time under a given set of environmental conditions . The cell division cycle may itself be regulated by a programmable clock that, under certain conditions, can generate circadian periodicities by interaction with a circadian pacemaker . These clocks must insert time segments into the cell division cycle in order to generate the observed variability in cellular generation times. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Mar-Apr, 50(2), 299 - 304 {Development of hydrogen bacteria on hard surfaces}; Kriukov VR; A simple model system stimulating the physical conditions of hydrogen bacterial growth in soil and loose rocks was studied . Hydrogen bacterial cells grown under the autotrophic conditions were applied to the surface of coarse-grained silica gel, crushed brick and peat, and constantly supplied with a mixture of H2:O2:CO2 (7:2:1) . It was shown that Nocardia opaca Z-766, when cultivated on well-developed solid surfaces with a small quantity of mineral medium, produced an active bacterial film at the whole surface and was capable of oxidizing hydrogen over 100 days . The rate of gas consumption had a maximum and then sharply decreased to a level of one-third--one-fifth of the maximal rate . The same was true of Pseudomonas carboxydoflava Z-352 and Nocardia autotrophica Z-1046; apparently, this is a common characteristic of all organisms growing on solid surfaces and fed with gases . The results suggest that microorganisms oxidizing hydrogen can grow on solid surfaces for a long period of time, serving as a bacterial filter which effectively removes a gaseous substrate. J Infect Dis, 1981 Mar, 143(3), 386 - 90 Infections with Legionella pneumophila in children; Andersen RD et al.; To learn the role of Legionella pneumophila, the agent of Legionnaires' disease, in childhood illness, a prospective study was conducted among 52 children younger than four years of age with acute disease of the lower respiratory tract . Viral, mycoplasmal, and bacterial cultures and acute- and convalescent-phase sera were obtained during 64 episodes of acute illness; additional sera were drawn annually for three to five years . On the basis of serologic evidence, none of the acute episodes appeared to be due to L . pneumophila serogroup 1 or 2 . However, examination of annual serum specimens showed that 27 (52%) of the children had rises in titer of indirect immunofluorescent antibody (a fourfold or greater rise to a reciprocal titer of greater than or equal to 128) . Most rises in titer were in response to the serogroup 2 antigen . These results suggest that L . pneumophila is not a common cause of acute respiratory disease in early childhood in the study area but that children are frequently exposed to the organism . Alternatively, the serologic responses might be to unrelated cross-reacting microorganisms. Am J Ophthalmol, 1981 Mar, 91(3), 362 - 72 Demodicosis of ophthalmic concern; English FP et al.; Hair-follicle mites are the only metazoan organism commonly found in the pilosebaceous components of the eyelid of man . Our study showed that Demodex folliculorum in all stages is found in the small hair follicles and the eyelash hair follicles . This species, in adult and immature forms, consumes epithelial cells, produces follicular distension and hyperplasia, and increases keratinization leading, in eyelashes, to cuffing consisting of keratin and lipid moieties . Demodex brevis (in all stages) is present in the eyelash sebaceous glands, small hair sebaceous glands, and in the lobules of the meibomian glands . Adults and immature forms consume the gland cells in all of these loci and, when infestations are heavy, can affect the formation of the superficial lipid layer of the tear film coacervate . Comparative studies of demodicids from man and other mammals suggest that keratinization, hyperplasia, distension, and melanocyte aggregation may be even more extensive if large populations of D . folliculorum build up in the follicles of the eyelid . Large populations of D . brevis may destroy the glandular cells, produce granuloma in the eyelid, and plug the ducts of the meibomian or sebaceous glands . Further studies may incriminate either or both species, in conjunction with microorganisms, as transfer agents or synergists, or both, in producing ocular disease in man . Prevention and control of these mites must await experimental studies with infested laboratory animals (such as the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus) . These mites are probably most vulnerable during transfer stages, when they leave their glandular or follicular habitats. Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1981 Mar-Apr, 15(2), 51 - 60 {Biological research in space}; Tairbekov MG et al.; The paper presents the results of investigations carried out during the last two decades on various biological objects--microorganisms, plant seeds, insects, higher and lower plants, fish and amphibians--in real and simulation space flights . The paper discusses the current knowledge of the biological role of gravity and possible mechanisms of adaptation to weightlessness as well as the suitability of different biological objects for further space studies . Most experiments conducted in real space flights have lent support to the theoretical studies of the level and limits of weightlessness effects upon biological systems . Analysis of the data obtained in space and ground-bound experiments suggests that molecular processes are indifferent to an altered gravity and that energy metabolism plays an important role in adaptation of biological systems to zero-g. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Mar, 19(3), 465 - 9 Microbial transformation of N-methylcolchiceinamide; Davis PJ; Seventy-seven microorganisms were examined for their ability to metabolize the antineoplastic agent N-methylcolchiceinamide, an analog of colchicine . Five streptomycetes exhibited significant metabolism, and Streptomyces griseus NRRL B-599 completely converted the substrate to three metabolites . In preparative-scale studies, N-dealkylation resulted in the production of colchiceinamide, the major metabolite (65%), which was characterized by chemical, spectroscopic, and chromatographic comparisons with the standard compound . Two phenolic metabolites resulting from )-dealkylation were also isolated and identified as 2 and 3-O-demethyl-N-methylcolchiceinamide. Br J Nutr, 1981 Mar, 45(2), 441 - 9 The influence of microorganisms and of stress on the chick's requirement for pantothenic acid; Latymer EA et al.; 1 . The responses of germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) chicks to suboptimal amounts of dietary calcium pantothenate (CaPa) were compared . At the lower levels of supplementation the signs of deficiency were more severe in the CV chicks . 2 . Calculations based on mean body-weights of chicks given graded dietary supplements of calcium pantothenate (CaPa) in both environments showed that, to achieve the same body-weight and freedom from signs of deficiency, the GF birds required only approximately two-thirds the amount of CaPa as was needed by corresponding CV birds . 3 . Increasing the dietary supplement of CaPa resulted in increased contents of PaA in the livers . GF birds had more PaA per liver than their CV counterparts . In both instances the effect was due to the larger liver size . Concentration of PaA in the liver was not affected by dietary supplement nor by the environment . 4 . CV birds were deemed to be under greater stress than GF birds because their adrenal glands were heavier and contained less cholesterol . 5 . CV chicks deliberately stressed by injections of adrenocorticotrophic hormone had heavier adrenals with lower cholesterol contents than unstressed controls, but the condition was not altered by increasing the dietary supply of CaPa. Vet Rec, 1981 Feb 28, 108(9), 183 - 7 Weather and infectious disease in cattle; Webster AJ; The incidence and severity of many diseases of cattle, particularly the endemic enteric and respiratory diseases, appear from clinical impression or epidemiological survey to be associated with particular types of weather . Infectious diseases of cattle (excluding parasitic ones) for which there appears to be a real association between climate, weather and disease are reviewed . Effects of weather on survival and spread of microorganisms, local resistance to infection and systemic resistance to disease are discussed . Factors such as cold, heat, relative humidity and air pollution are considered with particular reference to the aetiology of respiratory diseases. Nature, 1981 Feb 19, 289(5799), 646 - 50 Control of vascular permeability by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in inflammation; Wedmore CV et al.; Polymorphonuclear leukocytes infiltrate tissues in response to an inflammatory stimulus to remove invading microorganisms and cell debris . We present eivdence that these scaveging cells have another, more sophisticated role in that they are involved in the control of fluid efflux through the blood vessel wall which leads to tissue oedema. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1981 Feb 7, 111(6), 182 - 6 {Humidifier lung}; Gerber P et al.; Breathing air from a humidifier or an air conditioning unit contaminated by various microorganisms can cause an acute lung disease involving fever, cough and dyspnea, termed "humidifier fever" . This type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis was first described in 1959 by PESTALOZZI in the Swiss literature and subsequently by BANASZAK et al . in the Anglo-American . Here a chronic form of this disease which led to pulmonary fibrosis is described: A 37-year-old woman who works in a cheese shop presented with dyspnea which had been progressive over two years, weight loss, a diffuse reticular pattern radiographically and a severe restrictive defect in lung function tests . Open lung biopsy revealed chronic interstitial and alveolar inflammation with non-caseating granulomas and fibrotic changes . Circulating immune complexes and precipitins against the contaminated humidifier water and cheese mites were found, but no antibodies suggesting legionnaires' disease . Two out of five otherwise healthy employees of this cheese shop, where a new humidifying system had been installed 7 years earlier, also had precipitins against the contaminated water from the humidifier and the cheese mites . Despite ending of exposure and longterm steroid and immunosuppressive therapy, the signs and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis persisted . Contrary to the acute disease, this chronic form is termed "humidifier lung" . The importance is stressed of investigating the possibility of exposure to contaminated humidifiers or air conditioning units in all cases of newly detected pulmonary fibrosis. Toxicol Lett, 1981 Feb, 7(4-5), 341 - 6 Observations, in vitro, on N-nitrosation by intracellular extracts of some microorganisms isolated from palm wine; Maduagwu EN; Soluble fractions of sonicates derived from cell suspensions of some bacteria and yeasts, which contaminate palm sap, enhanced nitrosamine formation when each fraction was incubated, under sterile conditions, at a pH of 7.0 +/- 0.2, with either diphenylamine, dimethylamine or diethylamine and sodium nitrite and glucose as substrates . The intrinsic factor in the extracts, which was responsible for the N-nitrosation reactions, was heat labile and might be an enzyme; a so-called 'N-nitrosatase'. J Pharm Sci, 1981 Feb, 70(2), 155 - 8 Metabolism of phencyclidine by microorganisms; Hufford CD et al.; A number of microorganisms were screened for their ability to metabolize phencyclidine . Two microorganisms, Beauveria sulfurescens and Cunninghamella echinulata, produced hydroxylated metabolites, which were identified as 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine and 4-phenyl-4-piperidinocyclohexanol by high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis. J Pharm Sci, 1981 Feb, 70(2), 151 - 5 Metabolism of imipramine by microorganisms; Hufford CD et al.; The microbial metabolism of imipramine was studied using selected fungal organisms . The major microbial metabolites were isolated, and their structures were established by spectroscopic analyses (particularly 13C-NMR) and by comparison with authentic samples . The microbial metabolites identified included 2-hydroxyimipramine, 10-hydroxyimipramine, iminodibenzyl, imipramine-N-oxide, and desipramine; these metabolites also have been found in mammalian metabolism studies. Biosci Rep, 1981 Feb, 1(2), 141 - 50 Improved technique for investigation of cell metabolism by 31P NMR spectroscopy; Jacobson L et al.; 31P NMR studies on microorganisms have been carried out with the cells embedded in agarose gel . The novel use of the gel for the NMR studies has advantages over the usual liquid suspensions in terms of improved reproducibility of data and cell viability, with no net loss of spectral quality . Polyphosphate formation in Escherichia coli was monitored continuously for up to 24 h and metabolic changes in yeast for 6 h . Changes of the intracellular pH during glycolysis in yeast were determined from the chemical shift of the internal Pi . NMR titration curves of Pi in the presence of Mg2+ indicate uncertainties in internal pH values estimated by this technique. Antibiotiki, 1981 Feb, 26(2), 97 - 101 {Changes in microorganism sensitivity to antibiotics as affected by divalent metal ions}; Chaikovskaia SM et al.; Ca+ and Mg+ in nutrient media significantly influence the results of antibiotic sensitivity determination in microorganisms . The data of the study are indicative of a necessity for the media standardization with respect to the content of bivalent metal ions . It is recommended that agar-agar manufactured by the South Sea Factory (tafuinsky) be used for preparation of nutrient media for determination of microbial sensitivity to antibiotics and Hottinger meat pancreatic digest as the nitrogen source providing the content of 120 mg per cent of amine nitrogen in the medium. Nature, 1981 Jan 29, 289(5796), 409 - 11 Phagocytosis requires repeated triggering of macrophage phagocytic receptors during particle ingestion; Shaw DR et al.; The phagocytic functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear phagocytes are crucial elements in host defence against a variety of invading microorganisms . Phagocytosis is a highly selective process, requiring specific interactions between the surface of the particle to be ingested and the plasma membrane of the phagocytic cell . The phagocyte can therefore discriminate between 'ingestible' and 'non-ingestible' particles even when the different particles are located in close proximity on the plasma membrane of the phagocytic cell . Previous work has demonstrated that these specific interactions between particle and phagocyte are required not only for the initiation of phagocytosis--that is, attachment of the particle to the phagocytic cells and generation of a signal to trigger phagocyte pseudopod extension--but also for the subsequent progression of pseudopods over the entire surface of the particle . We present evidence here that the continued interactions between phagocyte plasma membrane receptors and particle-bound ligands do not function merely to direct otherwise random phagocyte pseudopod movement, but instead are required for the repeated generation of intracellular phagocytic signals during the entire ingestion process. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1981 Jan 24, 111(4), 123 - 5 {Bactericidal activity against P . aeruginosa in serum and bronchial secretion in patients under continuous infusion of azlocillin}; Mombelli G et al.; The azlocillin level and killing activity in serum and bronchial secretions against 10 strains of P . aeruginosa were studied in 7 intubated or tracheotomized patients with severe bronchial infection who were receiving the drug as continuous i.v . infusion . In 5 out of 7 patients azlocillin was absent or present only in traces in bronchial secretions in spite of plasma levels ranging between 170 to 340 micrograms/ml . In the other 3 patients azlocillin levels of 23 and 39 micrograms/ml and moderate bactericidal activity against P . aeruginosa could be detected in bronchial secretions . Penicillinase producing strains of Staph . aureus were isolated from the sputum of the 5 patients with extremely low azlocillin level in bronchial secretions . The strain of Staph . aureus isolated from one patient was shown to destroy azlocillin rapidly . In bronchopulmonary infections, Staph . aureus may not only be directly pathogenic but also interfere with the action of beta-lactamase unstable drugs against other microorganisms. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1981 Jan 14, 634(1), 41 - 51 Characterization of a new type of ferredoxin from Desulfovibrio africanus; Hatchikian EC et al.; A new ferredoxin designated ferredoxin III has been isolated from Desulfovibrio africanus grown on media high in iron . Native ferredoxin III is a dimer constituted by two identical subunits of approx . 7500 . It is distinguished from the two other ferredoxins (I and II) isolated from this microorganism by its amino acids composition, N-terminal sequence, spectral properties and iron-sulfur content . The amino acid composition of D . africanus ferredoxin III is typical of ferredoxins with an excess of acidic over basic residues and the absence of histidine and arginine residues . The absorption spectrum of ferredoxin III exhibits two maxima, at 408 nm (epsilon = 58.5 . 10(3) M-1 . cm-1) and 285 nm (epsilon = 82 . 10(3) M-1 . cm-1), with a shoulder at 305 nm (epsilon = 75 . 10(3) M-1 . cm-1) . Its A408/A285 absorbance ratio is 0.78 . Ferredoxin III contains approx . 12--13 atoms each of iron and labile sulfur . This is in agreement with the high value of the extinction coefficient at 408 nm, which is slightly higher than 3-fold that of one {4Fe-4S} cluster . However, the number of cysteine residues of the protein (six residues), which is about the half that of iron atoms, is indicative of the presence of a new type of iron-sulfur cluster in ferredoxin III . The protein is unstable in a low ionic strength environment; the addition of neutral salts stabilizes the protein conformation . The data on the biological activity of ferredoxin III as compared to the two other ferredoxins from D . africanus show that the three iron-sulfur proteins function with equal effectiveness as electron carrier in the phosphoroclastic reaction and the H2-sulfite reductase system. Arch Dermatol, 1981 Jan, 117(1), 20 - 2 Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy; Zoberman E et al.; We studied the clinical and pathologic features of a pruritic, erythematous, papular eruption occurring in six pregnant women between the fourth and ninth months of gestation . All patients were in good health and without symptoms associated with the eruption . The lesions were generalized except in one patient . The clinical diagnosis in each case was papular dermatitis of pregnancy . The histopathologic feature of acute folliculitis was observed in five of the six women . The sixth patient demonstrated parakeratosis limited to the acrotrichium . No microorganisms were found in the six patients, and direct immunofluorescence microscopy was negative for deposition of immunoreactants in the four patients that were observed . Deliveries were normal, and all infants were healthy . The lesions cleared spontaneously at delivery or in the postpartum period . We believe that papular skin lesions in pregnant women should undergo biopsy to obtain further data regarding the dermatitis and its natural history. Acta Biochim Biophys Acad Sci Hung, 1981, 16(3-4), 135 - 44 The purification of polynucleotide phosphorylase from Thermus aquaticus by the use of heparin-sepharose 4B affinity chromatography; Bauer PI et al.; The polynucleotide phosphorylase of Thermus aquaticus was purified using ammonium sulfate fractionation and column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose 4B and DEAE-Sephadex A25 . The enzyme was purified 1500-fold and was 90-95% homogeneous as checked by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . It has a molecular weight of 275 000 and consists of four identical subunits . The Km values for the enzyme as determined in polymerization (ADP, GDP, UDP) and phosphorolytic reactions (poly A, poly U) are in the same concentration range as in the case of the enzyme deriving from mesophilic microorganisms . Furthermore, the enzyme is primer dependent and its activity is lost gradually at temperatures higher than 65 degrees C . In the base ratio of the copolymers followed the input base ratio polymerization reactions with polyUA, while with polyAG and polyUG a marked difference between the initial base ratio and the base composition of copolymers was observed. Vet Med Nauki, 1981, 18(6), 64 - 8 {Optimal irradiation dosage for microorganisms in cow's milk}; Filipov Zh; Comparative experimental investigations were carried out to establish the effect of ultra violet rays on the total count of organisms in pooled cow's milk at various irradiation rates (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min) . The milk was intended for feeding calves . Results showed that with increasing the time of ultra violet treatment the microbial contamination of milk dropped . With the irradiation method used by the authors best bactericidal effects were obtained at 60 min treatment. Scan Electron Microsc, 1981, (Pt 3), 55 - 64 Scanning electron microscopy of Legionella pneumophila in clinical tissue; Watson JH et al.; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a valuable technique for rapid detection of the presence of microorganisms, for determination of their three-dimensional morphology and topology and for identification of their anatomical sites . It has been used for these purposes in Legionnaires' disease with three patients at autopsy in an investigation of Legionella pneumophila in situ . In two cases the study was restricted to lung, and in the third case tissues from extra-pulmonic sites were examined in addition to lung . Microorganisms in good condition of surface preservation were found in lung, tracheal lymph node and heart . The work has shown that the bacterium is pleomorphic, that it can be either rod or sausage-shaped and that it can possess a smooth, dimpled or wrinkled surface, with or without small terminal or lateral blebs . Binary fission was often seen and there was some minimal evidence of flagella in clinical specimens . Well preserved bacteria were found in lung both intra- and extracellularly. Rev Environ Health, 1981, 3(3), 277 - 91 Health hazards associated with solid waste disposal; Gaby WL; The landfilling and disposal of domestic solid waste should be considered as great or greater a public health hazard as raw sewage . Solid waste is toxic and contains a greater variety of pathogenic microorganisms than does sewage sludge . Of all the procedures for solid waste disposal, landfills have and will continue to give rise to serious public health problems of land and water pollution . Although the general public is opposed to landfilling our inept health officials have offered small communities and cities no choice . Small communities do not have the technical knowledge or the funds to initiate alternative procedures . As the volume of solid waste increases each year the magnitude of the health hazards will eventually force public health agencies to implement correct disposal procedures ultimately resulting in recycling. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1981, 21(6), 457 - 68 Enzymes of glucose isomerization in various microorganisms; Suekane M et al.; Screening tests for glucose-isomerizing strains of various type, reference and laboratory strains of bacteria including actinomycetes, and yeasts were carried out . The ability to convert glucose to fructose was found to be widely distributed among various microorganisms . It was shown that glucose-isomerizing ability was most prevalent in the genera Aerobacter and Escherichia, but was not found in the bacterial genera belonging to the order Pseudomonadales . Although their activities were not very high (probably due to unsuitable culture conditions) more than 70% of the actinomycetes and 60% of the yeasts grown on xylose possessed glucose-isomerizing activity. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1981, 26(4), 321 - 7 Effect of fire on soil microorganisms in a Meghalaya pine forest; Sharma GD; The effect of man-made fire on soil microbial population in a natural subtropical pine forest eco-system, was studies . a nearly fifty years old pine (Pinus kesiya Royle) forest was cut and burnt in March 1977 . Another half of this pine forest was left uncut and unburnt . Microbial population was destroyed completely just after the burning and recolonization occurred after some days . Bacteria and actinomycetes were found to be the first colonizers followed by fungi . Burning initiated better growth and higher population of bacteria after two or three showers . Bacterial population was highest in July in burnt and in May in unburnt forest . Maximum fungal population in burnt site was recorded in July while it was highest in april and May in unburnt site . Penicillium spp., Cladosporium sp . and Trichoderma sp . were found to be first colonizing fungi just after the burning . In unburnt forest eco-system Absidia sp., Trichoderma sp., Fusarium sp . and Penicillium spp . were found to be dominant. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1981, 21(2), 65 - 76 {Geomicrobiological studies . XIV . Heavy metal tolerance of desulfurizing bacteria under various ecological conditions}; Brecklinghaus J et al.; Tolerance and adaptation to heavy metals of Desulfovibrio- and Desulfotomaculum-strains of different origin have been investigated in enrichment cultures under different conditions of sulphate supply . Three groups of low, medium, and high toxicity were found with As, V, and Mo in the first, Ni, Sb, Co, and Hg in the second, and Cd, Zn, U, and Cu in the third group . If the SO"4-supply was restricted to heavy metal sulphates with a relation of 1:1 of heavy metal- and SO"4 -ions (2:3 with Sb2(SO4)3) the tolerance was somewhat lowered . Adaptation to higher concentrations of heavy metals was possible, if the strains had not yet been exposed and adapted to higher concentration levels at their natural habitats . The tolerance range of desulfurizers has been compared with the tolerance range of different biochemical types of microorganisms. Acta Orthop Scand, 1981, 52(2), 155 - 70 Osseointegrated titanium implants . Requirements for ensuring a long-lasting, direct bone-to-implant anchorage in man; Albrektsson T et al.; A total of 2895 threaded, cylindrical titanium implants have been inserted into the mandible or the maxilla and 124 similar implants have been installed in the tibial, temporal or iliac bones in man for various bone restorative procedures . The titanium screws were implanted without the use of cement, using a meticulous technique aiming at osseointegration--a direct contact between living bone and implant . Thirty-eight stable and integrated screws were removed for various reasons from 18 patients . The interface zone between bone and implant was investigated using X-rays, SEM, TEM and histology . The SEM study showed a very close spatial relationship between titanium and bone . The pattern of the anchorage of collagen filaments to titanium appeared to be similar to that of Sharpey's fibres to bone . No wear products were seen in the bone or soft tissues in spite of implant loading times up to 90 months . The soft tissues were also closely adhered to the titanium implant, thereby forming a biological seal, preventing microorganism infiltration along the implant . The implants in many cases had been allowed to permanently penetrate the gingiva and skin . This caused no adverse tissue effects . An intact bone-implant interface was analyzed by TEM, revealing a direct bone-to-implant interface contact also at the electron microscopic level, thereby suggesting the possibility of a direct chemical bonding between bone and titanium . It is concluded that the technique of osseointegration is a reliable type of cement-free bone anchorage for permanent prosthetic tissue substitutes . At present, this technique is being tried in clinical joint reconstruction . In order to achieve and to maintain such a direct contact between living bone and implant, threaded, unalloyed titanium screws of defined finish and geometry were inserted using a delicate surgical technique and were allowed to heal in situ, without loading, for a period of at least 3--4 months. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 1981, 10(2), 193 - 201 Studies on the sorption of elemental mercury vapor by soils; Fang SC; Mercury vapor sorption by soil increased curvilinearly with the increase of soil moisture content until a maximum was reached . A further increase of moisture content caused a decline in mercury sorption . The percent moisture contents which gave maximal increase of 203Hg vapor sorption in these soils coincide quite closely with their water-holding capacity values at 1/3 bar . Soil microorganisms may play a part in moist soil for the increase of elemental mercury vapor sorption and subsequent transformation to mercuric form . Mercury vapor diffused into both dry and moist soil columns and the diffusion profile can be described by an exponential function of the form, y = ae-bx, where "a" is the adsorption characteristics of the soil, "b" is the diffusivity coefficient and x is the depth of soil . The diffusivity coefficient for mercury vapor varied with the soil type and its moisture content. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1981, 21(1), 3 - 6 Steroid transformation with immobilized microorganisms . VI . The reverse reaction of steroid-1-dehydrogenases from different micoorganisms in immobilized state; Atrat P et al.; Whole cells of Nocardia erythropolis, N . opaca and Mycobacterium phlei containing 4-en-3-oxosteroid: (acceptor)-1-en-oxidoreductase activities were immobilized by adsorption on DEAE-cellulose and silica and by entrapment in polyacrylamide gel . The obtained biocatalysts were used in an anaerobic continuous column process to transform 1,4-dien-3-oxo-steroids into 4-en-3-oxo- steroids . The half life of steroid-1(2)-reductase activity of the N . erythropolis was found to be up to 15 days . The DEAE-cellulose-adsorbed cells showed a slightly higher relative activity than free cells . The influence of substrate concentration and the action of dimethylformamide were also investigated. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Jan-Feb, 50(1), 62 - 8 {Metabolite excretion by yeasts of the genus Candida in media lacking sources of N, P, S, or Mg and having different carbon sources}; Mandeva RD et al.; The purpose of this work was to study the effect produced by limiting the growth of yeasts belonging to the genus Candida on the excretion of cell metabolites . Changes in the composition and quantitative ratios between substances excreted depending on the carbon source (glucose, ethanol, hexadecane) and factors limiting growth of the cultures (N, P, S or Mg sources) were examined . It has been shown that (a) limitation of the yeast growth results in the majority of cases (but not always) in the excretion of macroquantities of these or other metabolites; (b) many microorganisms differ substantially from one another in their capacity to excrete metabolites; (c) the total number of metabolites found in the medium in macroquantities in different variants of the experiment is relatively small, and all of them belong to these or other intermediates of the oxidative metabolism of the carbon source (the acids of the citric acid cycle etc.) or are involved in the process of gluconeogenesis (polyols); (d) the composition and quantitative proportions of the excreted metabolites depend on the organism, carbon source and growth limiting factor. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Jan-Feb, 50(1), 183 - 5 {Relationship between the dynamics of the numbers of nodule bacteria in the soil and the stage of microbial succession}; Polianskaia LM et al.; The survival of a population of nodule bacteria after its introduction into soil depends on the ratio between favourable and unfavourable microzones . This ratio does not remain constant in one and the same soil at different stages of microbial succession even if the succession is caused by simple humidification of the soil without any introduction of additional substrates . The dynamics of the incidence of nodule bacteria introduced, at one and the same level, into soil samples of different growth stages of a complex of soil microorganisms significantly differed . Successful nitragination may be assisted by determining the growth stage of a microbial system when the population is being introduced and by changing the environment in the soil. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1981, 47(2), 107 - 19 Influence of carbon and nitrogen sources on the transition from yeast-like cells to chlamydospores in Aureobasidium pullulans; Bermejo JM et al.; The transition from yeast-like cells to chlamydospores of Aureobasidium pullulans can be induced by growing the microorganism on a glucose medium with a limiting nitrogen source and a low buffer capacity . When glucose is used as the carbon source, a concentration higher than 3% (w/v) is required to induce the transition . On the other hand, growth limiting concentrations of the N source (ammonium sulphate) are not required, and higher concentrations actually stimulate the appearance of chlamydospores . Other N sources, such as glutamate or ammonium phosphate, do not induce the transition from yeast-like cells to chlamydospores. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Jan-Feb, 50(1), 156 - 62 {Role of microscopic fungi in the process of weathering of pegmatite deposit rocks and minerals}; Avakian ZA et al.; The object of this work was to study the effect of microscopic fungi isolated from the weathering zone of a pegmatite deposit on the transport of elements and the degradation of rocks and minerals . Regardless of the chemical composition of rocks and minerals, microscopic fungi accelerated the leaching of elements as compared to the purely chemical process . The extraction of Li, Si, Al and Fe under the action of microorganisms increased by factors of 1.4-1.7, 2.7-4.0, 5.0-8.7 and 4-18, respectively . In the case of chemical weathering, the extraction of elements occurred at a high rate only at the beginning; then the process either decelerated or stopped . The mechanism of action of microscopic fungi on rocks and minerals is discussed as well as the role of these microorganisms in the weathering of spodumene and the surrounding rocks, pegmatites an shales, which occurs in the zone of hypergenesis. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1981, 47(6), 539 - 45 Survival of microorganisms after drying and storage; Antheunisse J et al.; Bacteria, yeasts and fungi suspended in a dextran solution were added to ampoules containing strips of filter paper which were dried without vacuum conditions . The ampoules were sealed and stored in the dark at room temperature . Viability counts were made of the original suspension immediately after drying and after storage periods of 3-48 months . Although bacterial cultures of many general did not show much resistance against dry conditions, bacteria of 13 other general had survived well or moderately after 4 years of storage . Most of the dried yeast cultures had survived after this period . Of the 16 fungal genera tested, species of 6 genera exhibited growth after 4 years . Results of this study were compared with those of two other preservation methods by which the same microorganisms were used. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1981, 21(10), 729 - 37 {Leaching of ores with heterotrophic microorganisms . Development of a screening method}; Klages D et al.; Besides leaching of sulfide ores with thiobacilli, a second way of microbial leaching is tested with carbon-heterotrophic fungi and bacteria for those types of ores, where thiobacilli fail to work . The active agents are metabolic products, f . i . organic acids, which are released into the medium producing water soluble compounds with heavy metals . A screening method is described for recognizing active strains in samples of soil, metal-containing sites, mining heaps and other biocoenoses, using the dilution method in plates with different media . The critical signs of supposed leaching activity are halo formations around growing colonies in turbid agar media with suspended particles of Ca carbonate or Ca phosphates of low solubility, and in a second group of experiments with insoluble compounds of heavy metals, f . i . oxides . The leaching activity was tested with metal compounds suspended in liquid media and inoculated with active strains of the screening program . First results were reached with oxides of copper (CuO), uranium (U3O8) and an uranium-containing phosphorite. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1981, 26(4), 314 - 6 Fatty acid composition of oil synthesized by Aspergillus nidulans; Sharma ND et al.; The filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans Eidam strain 300 was found to be capable of synthesizing 24.9% oil or remarkably low free fatty acidity, in a chemically defined medium with 34% glucose as sole carbon source . although the total content of oil synthesized was less, utilization of the carbon source is better as shown by the high (8.4) fat coefficient . The major component fatty acids of the oil were palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic and are influenced by the source of carbon . Palmitoleic acid is present in traces, confirming thereby the general observation that high oil formers produce oil of low hexadecenoic acid content . The relatively high stearic acid content of the oil distinguishes it from those of other microorganisms and resembles the oil produced by certain tropical plants, such as Madhuca latifolia. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci, 1981, 14(2), 133 - 61 Gas chromatography in the identification of microorganisms and diagnosis of infectious diseases; Edman DC et al.; Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) continues to find increasing applications in the characterization of microorganisms and the diseases associated with them . GLC has been used to characterize microorganisms through qualitative and quantitative analyses of cellular structural components and soluble extracts and metabolic by-products . Chromatographic patterns, or fingerprints, can be used to differentiate between very closely related microorganisms, even strain differences, and provides a potentially powerful tool for future taxonomic studies and more precision in definitive microbial classification . However, the most valuable use of GLC is in the identification of disease through patterns obtained by direct analysis of body fluids . Chromatographic fingerprints of microbial metabolites and compounds associated with the host response to infection and even noninfectious disease can be used to develop relatively simple GLC diagnostic methods . These methods are specific, sensitive, and rapid . This review examines the use of GLC for identification of infectious diseases through the analysis of body fluids, spent culture media, and cellular materials and suggest other clinical areas where its diagnostic potential has yet to be developed. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Jan-Feb, 50(1), 176 - 82 {Use of the fluorescence method to detect and quantitatively determine lipids in the cells of microorganisms}; Pomoshchnikova NA et al.; Techniques have been developed for the detection and quantitative determination of lipids in the living cells of microorganisms (after their fixation by heating) using benzimidazole luminophores synthesized by Monocrystalreactive (USSR) . When the yeast cells are stained by a luminophore, the latter is selectively bound to cellular lipids producing a brightly fluorescent complex . The intensity of fluorescence increases proportionally to an increase in the concentration of lipids in the microbial mass . The intensity of fluorescence of a microbial suspension is recorded using a spectrofluorimeter at the excitation and fluorescence maxima of 405 and 475 nm respectively . In order to assay the content of lipids in microorganisms which do not produce a homogeneous suspension, the luminophore bound to lipids is extracted from the cells with hot octane . The absolute content of lipids in the biomass is determined using a standard curve which shows the intensity of fluorescence of microorganisms and their octane extracts as a function of the lipid content in the cell. Mikrobiologiia, 1981 Jan-Feb, 50(1), 171 - 5 {Study of microorganism respiration according to the parameters of their delayed fluorescence}; Petukhov VG et al.; A method for studying microbial respiration of low oxygen concentrations (10(-5)--10(-7) M) is described . The method was used for examining the respiration chain of the bacterium Escherichia coli and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The following constants of the respiration chain for oxygen were calculated using the parameters of delayed bacterial fluorescence: the rate of respiration, the Michaelis constant, the concentration of oxygen critical for respiration . The decrease in the rate of respiration of low oxygen concentrations consists of two phases; this is related to the existence of two different pathways of oxidation in the terminal region of the respiration chain. Mutat Res, 1981 Jan, 88(1), 53 - 9 The pH dependence of the mutagenicity of methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) towards Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter and Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis & Arth; Nirenberg HI et al.; The ability of methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) to induce point mutations to carboxin and MBC resistance in Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter and Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis & Arth . was dependent upon the pH value of the agar medium into which it had been incorporated . The relevance of this in relation to testing chemicals for a possible mutagenic activity with microorganisms is discussed. Ciba Found Symp, 1981, 80, 94 - 7 An in vivo model for studying adherence of intestinal pathogens; Katz S et al.; A new method for preparing an isolated colonic loop in a living rabbit is described . The loop with its intact neurovascular supply can be used as as a "living test tube" to study the adherence of microorganisms to intestinal mucosa . Moreover, the clear colonic mucus produced by the loop can be used to study its physiochemical nature and protecting properties in health and disease. Swed Dent J, 1981, 5(5-6), 225 - 34 A comparison of the effect of phenoxymethylpenicillin and azidocillin on postoperative complications after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars; Bystedt H et al.; Postoperative complications after surgical removal of mandibular third molars are still a clinical problem . Sixty patients undergoing operations for removal of an impacted third mandibular molar, were included in a double blind study . Phenoxymethylpenicillin 800 mg, azidocillin 750 mg, or placebo were given to the patients pre-operatively and then twice per day for the following seven days . The concentrations of phenoxymethylpenicillin and azidocillin in serum and alveolar serum were measured and the postoperative courses - pain, trismus, swelling and wound-healing - were recorded . The 40 patients in the antibiotic groups responded significantly better with respect to wound-healing than the 20 patients in the placebo group, and there were no differences between phenoxymethylpenicillin and azidocillin . Antibiotics significantly reduced pain on day 7 postoperatively . There were no differences between antibiotic groups and placebo with respect to trismus and swelling . When the dental alveolar serum concentrations of phenoxymethylpenicillin 3.0 microgram/ml and azidocillin 7.9 microgram/ml were related to their range of inhibitory concentrations for microorganisms isolated from orofacial infections, it was noticed that the two drugs achieved levels sufficient to inhibit most strains . The effect of phenoxymethylpenicillin and azidocillin on postoperative infections can be of value after traumatic oral surgery or after operations on patients especially susceptible to infections. Rev Neurol (Paris), 1981, 137(6-7), 393 - 413 {Acute, recent and sometimes persistent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections associated with neurologic manifestations . Discussion of causal relations}; Michel D et al.; Neurological disorders associated with recent and sometimes persistent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections were present in 9 patients, examined within the course of a year, during the 1980 epidemic in Saint-Etienne, France . Cases included 5 with acute polyneuritis, 2 with lymphocytic meningitis, 1 with a bilateral optic neuritis, and 1 with mild encephalitis presenting as an amnesic disorder . Causal relationships are examined with respect to semiological, biological, therapeutic and epidemiological data . Clinically an initial infection compatible with the mycoplasmic etiology and its time relationship with the nervous system lesion appear to be more significant than the inflammatory neurological symptoms and signs . It is often impossible to ascertain the efficiency of the antibiotic therapy, which thus cannot help to the aetiological diagnosis . From the biological point of view, though seroconversion by complement fixation test remains the basis of the diagnosis, it has been completed by the isolation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the blood of 3 of the patients, and by a longitudinal study of specific blood IgM levels in the 6 others . Presence in the CSF of these locally synthesised specific IgM during the early stages of the neurological disorders in 2 patients, constitutes a new significant fact for the physiopathological discussions and a basic fact to clarify the aetiological diagnosis . The concept of persistent infection is discussed with respect to the isolation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the blood at a late stage, and the abnormally long presence of high levels of specific serum IgM levels . This biological persistence does not always correspond to a chronic course of the clinical disease which was observed in only 3 of the patients . The mixed viral infection, present in 3 cases, is linked with immunity disorders due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which are mainly a cell immunity depression: this markedly complicates the analysis of causal relationships . Finally, the chronological order of the clinical and biological events remains of prime importance when studying each case individually, whereas epidemiological data are essential for establishing a posteriori that the neurological manifestations were true complications of the microorganism. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981, 173(5), 346 - 55 {Microbial settlement of paint- and building-materials in the sphere of drinking water . 7 . Communication: long time observations in two drinking water reservoirs coated by epoxy resin (author's transl)}; Schoenen D et al.; In two potable water reservoirs with an epoxy resin lining an increase of the colony count in the water and a visible microbial growth on the surface could be observed . The slime consists of bacteria and fungi . In one case higher organisms like protozoa were found too . The growth of microorganisms is caused by organic compounds of the epoxy resin which can be deteriorated by microorganisms . After a period of 3 years both materials still promote microbial growth on the surface. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1981, 26(1), 14 - 8 Production of beta-glucosidase, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase and endo-beta-1,4-glucanase by selected microscopic fungi; Augustin J et al.; Production of beta-glucosidase, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase and endo-beta-1,4-glucanase was screened in 58 species of imperfect fungi, mucoral fungi and some ascomycetes . beta-Glucosidase activity was found in all of the tested microorganisms, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity in 23, and endo-beta-1,4=glucanase activity in 38 microorganisms . Growth on cellobiose was found in all tested microorganisms, growth on carboxymethylcellulose in in 38 tested strains. Nutr Cancer, 1981, 2(4), 217 - 23 Carcinogens occurring naturally in food; Hilker DM; Carcinogens naturally occurring in food include metabolites of microorganisms which infect plants during harvesting and storage; products of the normal metabolism of plants and products of chemical changes occurring during processing, preservation, preparation or which are picked up from the environment, including contaminated water or soil . Some examples of these types of carcinogens are: fungal metabolites such as aflatoxins in peanuts stored under improper conditions; safrol from the oil of various plants; tannin in tea, grain and grapes; and polycyclic hydrocarbons including benzo (a) pyrene formed by smoking meat and fish . Epidemiological studies indicate that there is a high incidence of gastric cancer in the areas of the world where smoked fish are common in diets . Vitamin A may play a role in preventing the carcinogenic action of polycyclic hydrocarbons. J Membr Biol, 1981, 61(1), 1 - 11 The use of gene fusions of study bacterial transport proteins; Shuman HA; The transport of solutes by bacteria has been studied for about thirty years . Early experiments on amino acid entry and galactoside accumulation provided concrete evidence that bacteria possessed specific transport systems and that these were subject to regulation . Since than a large number of transport systems have been discovered and studied extensively . Many of these use entirely different strategies for capturing or accumulating substrates . This diversity reflects variation in the availability of nutrients an ions in the different environments tolerated and inhabited by microorganisms . Examination of a few bacterial transport systems provides an opportunity to gain insight into a wide range of topics in the area of membrane transport . These include: the identification of carrier proteins and their arrangement in the membrane, the regulation of transport protein synthesis by environmental factors, and the localization of transport proteins to their extracytoplasmic destinations . It has been possible to construct a number of bacterial strains in which the gene (lacZ) which codes for the cytoplasmic enzyme beta-galactosidase is fused to genes which code for transport proteins . The following article is intended to illustrate how these gene fusions have been used to study the regulation and structure of transport proteins in Escherichia coli. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh), 1981, 95, 40 - 2 Seborrhoeic dermatitis and napkin dermatitis; Thomsen K; Seborrhoeic dermatitis is described clinically and histologically with emphasis upon the vague definition of the disease . The relationship between pityriasis asteatosa and psoriasis is discussed . Napkin dermatitis is subdivided into infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis and true napkin dermatitis . The relationship between the former and psoriasis is unsettled . The role of microorganisms is stressed . Granuloma gluteale infantum is a condition caused by potent topical steroids and C . albicans. Lancet, 1980 Dec 6, 2(8206), 1257 - 8 Disinfection of oral rehydration solutions by sunlight; Acra A et al.; PIP: The use of a salt/sugar oral solution for rehydration in cases of diarrhea is being encouraged by the World Health Organization for developing areas . 1 problem so far with this treatment has been a question as to their safety when prepared with contaminated water or stored in contaminated vessels . An experiment was tried in which the recommended solution was mixed with contaminated water . Some of the containers were exposed to direct sunlight, some kept in the dark, and some stored in normal room conditions . Although the heat in the containers stored in sunlight did not rise significantly, the solutions were found to be purified . It is speculated that the germicidal action resulted from solar radiation near the ultraviolet range . The solution, itself, did not change composition . The microorganisms were not able to regrow within 24 hours after solar irradiation . 50 additional experiments confirmed the findings . It is concluded that this technique of solar irradiation of contaminated solutions will be effective . All types of containers were effective . Biokhimiia, 1980 Dec, 45(12), 2115 - 20 {Localization of secreted enzyme-induced repression of its synthesis by the cells}; Iurkevich VV et al.; It was shown that under conditions of regulation of secreted enzyme synthesis by its concentration in microorganisms, the repression of synthesis of the enzyme protein polypeptide chain and the concomitant partial repression of labelled amino acid transport into the cells occur . The regulatory effect can be exerted in the absence of transcription as well . These effects are not realized at the post-transcription or post-translation levels. J Parasitol, 1980 Dec, 66(6), 948 - 53 Ultrastructure of the epimastigotes of the fish trypanosome Trypanosoma cobitis Mitrophanow 1883, in the crop of the leech vector, Hemiclepsis marginata; Lewis JW et al.; The ultrastructure of the epimastigote of Trypanosoma cobitis in the crop of the leech vector Hemiclepsis marginata is described . Microorganisms, closely resembling endosymbiotic bacteria, seen in monoxenous trypanosomatids, were present in the cytoplasm . Also, within the cytoplasm were ribosomes, sparse endoplasmic reticulum, a Golgi apparatus, and a wide variety of other inclusions, in particular multivesiculate bodies which appeared to contain waste material . The well-developed branched mitrochondrion had platelike cristae and an expansion near the nucleus which contained the kinetoplast DNA . A cytostomal opening situated near the flagellar pocket leads to a cytopharynx surrounded by five microtubules. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1980 Dec, 48(4), 426 - 30 Lactate dehydrogenase zymograms of skin biopsies in patients with leprosy . A preliminary report; Saoji AM et al.; LDH isoenzymes were studied in tissue extracts of 78 cases of leprosy . All 25 control tissues showed five LDH isoenzymes corresponding to those of human sera . All tissues from the leprosy cases showed five similar bands . Seventeen cases showed additional LDH isoenzymes (anomalous bands) . In 12 cases there was a single extra band with an eF value of either 0.125 +/- 0.015 or 0.525 +/- 0.015, and five cases showed both these bands . Additional bands were observed only in cases positive for acid-fast microorganisms (17 of 27 cases), and their presence correlated well with bacterial load (as judged by the BI) and viable organisms (as judged by the MI) . Four cases with a high BI and MI did not show anomalous bands, however . A plausible explanation for these bands is that they originate from viable M . leprae. Nurs Clin North Am, 1980 Dec, 15(4), 715 - 27 Upper and lower respiratory tract infections . Nursing intervention; Shell G; Proper nursing intervention can assist in the reduction of nosocomial respiratory tract infections . Maintaining the integrity of the patient's respiratory defense mechanisms and/or augmenting those that are impaired helps to control endogenous factors that can contribute to infection . Nursing implications in controlling endogenous factors include mobilization of secretions, prevention of aspiration, and reduction of oral resident microorganisms . Strict aseptic technique in caring for artificial airways and respiratory assistance equipment is essential . Advocacy of a patient's right to protection from harm should be exercised if breaks in proper technique by others are observed . The care that nurses provide is relevant to infection control. Nurs Clin North Am, 1980 Dec, 15(4), 825 - 31 Prevention of infection in the nursery; Hazuka BT; Most infants are "sterile" when admitted to the newborn nursery . Rapid colonization of microorganisms in the infant then occurs . Colonization of virulent microorganisms can overwhelm the immature local and systemic immunity of a newborn infant . Cannulae, catheters, and assisted ventilation can bypass these fragile defenses . Effective infection control in the nursery attempts to reduce the exposure of the neonate to harmful microorganisms . Important measures include (1) the reduction of bacterial colonization through appropriate care of the umbilical stump and skin of the patient; (2) handwashing before and after contact with a patient; (3) low nurse-to-patient ratios; (4) cohorting of newborn infants; (5) isolation and cohorting of infected babies; (6) good hygiene among personnel; and (7) use of aseptic technique . Neonatal intensive care units have extraordinarily high infection rates . Most infants are on ventilators . Daily decontamination of respiratory equipment is essential . Regular monitoring of endotracheal cultures is useful, particularly when bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics emerge. Nurs Clin North Am, 1980 Dec, 15(4), 655 - 69 Microbiology . A concern for nursing; McArthur BJ; As nurses become aware, once again, of the devastating effects of nosocomial infection on the patient in terms of morbidity, permanent disability, mortality, excess hospital costs, and law suits, attention is being directed toward its prevention and control . Florence Nightingale intimated that a person should not become sicker in the hospital after admission than before entry as the result of infection . We still need to heed her admonitions . The other articles in this issue will deal with microorganisms in regard to specific patients, anatomic sites, treatment regimens, and infectious diseases . Hopefully, the reader will be provided with enough information to reduce the nosocomial infection rate on her or his nursing unit to nearly zero. Biokhimiia, 1980 Dec, 45(12), 2198 - 205 {Streptomycin-3"-phosphotransferases from streptomycin-resistant cells of Escherichia coli strains}; Ganelin VL et al.; Streptomycin-3"-phosphotransferases were isolated and purified from E . coli cells containing plasmids 836, pBS52 or R6K, which determine the microorganisms resistance towards streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin . Phosphorylation of the 3"-hydroxylic group of dihydrostreptomycin was demonstrated by {13C}-NMR spectrometry . It was shown that streptomycin-3"-phosphotransferase, whose synthesis is determined by plasmid 836 (as well as by plasmid R6K), differs from the analogous enzyme, whose synthesis is operated by plasmid pBS52 in some properties, e . g . dependence of the initial reaction rate on concentrations of antibiotics and ATP, pH-optimum, sensitivity to the buffer ionic strength, stability, etc . Besides, the antiserum against streptomycin-3'-phosphotransferase detected by plasmid pBS52 does not produce cross immunological reactions with the other enzyme. Surgery, 1980 Nov, 88(5), 658 - 60 Cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine cream in the treatment of burns: a prospective evaluation; Munster AM et al.; In a prospective, randomized study of patients with major burns, the efficacy of cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine cream was compared with that of silver sulfadiazine cream alone . Sixty patients wer