Serratia

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Oct, 31(10), 1031 - 8
Mutational biosynthesis of butirosin analogs . II . 3', 4'-Dideoxy-6'-N-methylbutirosins, new semisynthetic aminoglycosides; Takeda K et al.; A pair of new butirosin analogs was isolated from the fermentation broth obtained by cultivating a neamine-negative mutant of the butirosin-producing organism Bacillus circulans in the medium supplemented with 6'-N-methylgentamine C1a . These antibiotics were characterized and elucidated as 3', 4'-dideoxy-6'-N-methylbutirosins A and B (DMB-A & DMB-B), by chemical and spectroscopic studies . DMB-A and DMB-B exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activities with in vitro potency similar to or slightly less than that for the butirosin A, with the exception of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens against which they exhibited activities equal to or slightly greater than that for butirosin A . As expected, they exhibited stronger activities against butirosin-resistant organisms which contain acetylating enzymes AAC(6')-I and AAC(6')-IV, and phosphorylating enzyme APH(3')-II . They were also active against some of the clinical isolates resistant to butirosins, dibekacin and/or gentamicin . The acute intravenous toxicity in mice of the DMB complex (B:70 APPROXIMATELY 80%) was somewhat less than that of the butirosin A.

C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 1978 Sep 11, 287(4), 383 - 5
{Species specific esterase profiles in the genus Serratia}; Goullet P; Esterases of 62 Serratia marcescens, S . liquefaciens, S . plymuthica and S . marinorubra strains were analysed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide-agarose gel . The comparative distribution of bands showed that the four Serratia species were characterized by distinct electrophoretic patterns of their esterases.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Sep, (9), 14 - 7
{Transforming activity of plasmid R6K DNA on Serratia marcescens strain 20-10 . The behavior of the plasmid in the transformants}; Gnedoi SN et al.; The authors described transformation of S . marcescens, strain 20-10, of the isolated R6K plasmide DNA . As demonstrated by centrifugation in cesium chloride gradient and electrophoresis in agarose, the plasmide was present in the transformants in the form identical to R6K in E . coli K12 . Analysis of the transforming activity of R6K plasmide from Serratia and E . coli K12 strains with a complete and defective restriction system showed S . marsescens, strain 20-10, to possess specific system of restriction and modification . In studying beta-lactamase activity and Serratia and E . coli strains ampicillin and streptomycin resistance revealed differences in the phenotypical expression of the plasmide signs in the heterologous and homologous host.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1978 Sep-Oct, 12(5), 1037 - 49
{Arrangement in chromatin of DNA sites accessible to Serratia marcescens endonuclease}; Pospelov VA et al.; Splitting of DNA in rat thymus nuclei by Serratia marcescens endonuclease has been studied . DNA fragments were analyzed by gel electrophoresis . Obtained data indicate that the internucleosomal DNA interacts with histones octamer and is cut by endonuclease to fragments multiple of 10 nucleotides . Limits digestion of nuclei with Serratia endonuclease (up to 50% of DNA acid solubility) leaves in a nondegraded form the chromatin fragments including DNA pieces up to 1000 bases in size-resistant DNA . Partly, the resistant DNA has properties of single-stranded molecules . These data are interpreted so that Serratia endonuclease is able to hydrolyse with some preference one of the DNA strands in chromatin . It can be considered as an evidence of different modes of interaction of the histone core with the two DNA strands.

Anaesthesist, 1978 Sep, 27(9), 434 - 8
{Increasing incidence of Serratia marcescens bacteraemia in intensive care patients (author's transl)}; Lackner F et al.; The incidence of serratia marcescens in an intensive care unit was investigated in course of several years . After a trial of Cephalosporin-Gentamycin prophylaxis, infection and death due to serratia rose dramatically . The significance of decreased resistance to infection, hygiene regimes as well as mode of administration of antibiotics is related to selection of this rare microorganism causing septicemia.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Sep, 31(9), 868 - 71
The inactivation of gentamicin and netilmicin by carbenicillin: its effect on Serratia marcescens; Flournoy DJ; Ten clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens were tested on Mueller-Hinton agar containing gentamicin or netilmicin with carbenicillin . The isolates grew on plates where inactivation occurred, at higher antibiotic concentrations, but failed at lower concentrations . This growth response was individualistic and not closely related to the minimum inhibitory concentrations.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1978 Aug-Sep, 129B(2), 167 - 73
{Arabinose, melibiose and xylose oxidation and fermentation in "Serratia" (author's transl)}; Piguet JD; The oxidative and fermentative metabolisms of D(+)raffinose, D(-)arabinose, L(+)arabinose, D(+)melibiose and D(+)xylose were compared in 181 strains belonging to the genus Serratia, including collection strains and clinical isolates from various sources . At 30 degrees C, raffinose was neither fermented nor oxidized by S . marcescens, but was fermented by S . liquefaciens and S . rubidaea . D(-)arabinose was oxidized by all strains . L(+)arabinose, melibiose and xylose were fermented by all S . liquefaciens and S . rubidaea, while they were oxidized by most S . marcescens . Two strains of the latter species, however, were able to ferment xylose . The use of Hugh and Leifson's oxidation-fermentation medium containing melibiose or L(+)arabinose can help to differentiate S . rubidaea from pigmented strains of S . marcescens and to differentiate S . liquefaciens from unpigmented strains of S . marcescens.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Aug, 135(2), 318 - 23
Threonine degradation by Serratia marcescens; Komatsubara S et al.; The wild strain of Serratia marcescens rapidly degraded threonine and formed aminoacetone in a medium containing glucose and urea . Extracts of this strain showed high threonine dehydrogenase and "biosynthetic" threonine deaminase activities, but no threonine aldolase activity . Threonine dehydrogenase-deficient strain Mu-910 was selected among mutants unable to grow on threonine as the carbon source . This strain did not form aminoacetone from threonine, but it slowly degraded threonine . Strain D-60, deficient in both threonine dehydrogenase and threonine deaminase, was derived from strain Mu-910 and barely degraded threonine . A glycine-requiring strain derived from the wild strain grew in minimal medium containing threonine as the glycine source, whereas a glycine-requiring strain derived from strain Mu-910 did not grow . This indicates that threonine dehydrogenase participates in glycine formation from threonine (via alpha-amino-beta-ketobutyrate) as well as in threonine degradation to aminoacetone.

Ann Sclavo, 1978 Jul-Aug, 20(4), 558 - 75
{Recent data about microorganisms of the genus Serratia (author's transl}; Marcuccio L et al.; The Authors on the basis of most recent references, expose the epidemiological, cultural, biochemical and taxonomical characteristics of microorganisms of the genus Serratia . In addition the most recent data regarding the typing and the sensitivity to antibacterial agents are discussed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Jul, 8(1), 73 - 83
Biotyping of Serratia marcescens and its use in epidemiological studies; Grimont PA et al.; A Serratia marcescens biotyping system using eight carbon sources (benzoate, DL-carnitine, m-erythritol, 3-hydroxybenzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, lactose, D-quinate, and trigonelline), a tetrathionate reduction test, production of prodigiosin, and horse blood hemolysis was derived from a recent numerical taxonomic study (Grimont et al., J . Gen . Microbiol . 98:39-66, 1977) . A total of 98.6% of 2,210 isolates from various sources could be assigned to 1 of 19 biotypes . Distribution and spread of 1,088 S . marcescens isolates throughout 13 clinical departments of Pellegrin Hospital (Bordeaux, France) were studied from 1968 through 1975 . Except for one that colonized the intestinal tract of newborns, the six pigmented biotypes were seldom isolated . Each of the 13 nonpigmented biotypes showed a particular pattern of distribution and spread . The usefulness of S . marcescens biotyping was shown by relating several isolates recovered from patients and their inanimate environment and by pointing out the possible existence of infections or colonizations by two unrelated biotypes . S . marcescens strains isolated from the natural environment (water) are usually pigmented, and their biotypes are uncommon in hospitals . Biotyping can, therefore, be of help in epidemiological and ecological surveys.

Br J Cancer Suppl, 1978 Jun, 37(3), 29 - 33
A fast kinetics study of the modes of action of some different radiosensitizers in bacteria; Michael BD et al.; Using a fast mixing a irradiation technique, the gas explosion method, with Serratia marcescents, the decay of oxygen-dependent damage is found to consist of a fast and a slow stage, each of which is associated with a sub-component of this damage . In the present work, the interactions of these components with radiosensitizers are examined . At low concentrations O2, TAN (a nitroxyl) and misonidazole all preferentially sensitize the slow-stage damage . At higher concentrations, O2 and TAN sensitize the fast-stage damage by a fixation reaction that competes with its repair; in contrast, misonidazole appears mainly to operate by reaction with an earlier, ever shorter form of oxygen-dependent damage.

Br J Cancer Suppl, 1978 Jun, 37(3), 132 - 5
Metronidazole (flagyl) and misonidazole (Ro 07-0582)" reduction by facultative anaerobes and cytotoxic action on hypoxic bacteria and mammalian cells in vivo; Basag SH et al.; The toxic actions of the "nitro" radiosensitizers, metronidazole and misonidazole on the bacteria E . coli B/r and Serratia marcescens have been investigated under anareobic and aerobic conditions . The rates of reduction of the drugs by suspensions of these bacteria as well as by suspensions microorganisms from the rat caecum have been measured . Both drugs were reduced or were toxic only under anaerobic conditions . In all instances misonidazole was reduced more rapidly than metronidazole but metronidazole was more toxic . It is suggested that these phenomena may model those occurring with hypoxic mammalian cells in vivo and that care should be taken before automatically extrapolating in vitro data to the in vivo situation.

Br J Cancer Suppl, 1978 Jun, 37(3), 111 - 4
Sensitization of ultraviolet radiation damage in bacteria and mammalian cells; Fisher GJ et al.; Bacteria (Serratia marcescens) and mammalian cell (Chinese hamster V79-379A) were irradiated in monolayers with ultraviolet light at 254 nm or 365 nm in the presence or absence of radiosensitizing drugs . At 254 nm, killing is very efficient (D37 approximately 1 J m-2 exposure, or approximately 6 x 10(4) photons absorbed by DNA per bacterium), and sensitizers have no effect . At 365 nm, cells are not killed in buffer, but are inactivated in the presence of nifurpipone or misonidazole . Lethal exposures (approximately 5 x 10(3) J m-2 at 10micrometer misonidazole) correspond to about 10 (7) photons absorbed by sensitizer molecules per bacterium . Toxicity of stabel photoproducts of the drugs is not involved, nor is oxygen required . Hence the transient species formed by photo-excitation of radiosensitizer molecules are capable of killing cells in the absence of other types of radiation damage.

Br J Cancer Suppl, 1978 Jun, 37(3), 103 - 6
Radiosensitization of Serratia marcescens by nitropyridinium compounds; Anderson RF et al.; The two nitropyridinium compounds tested sensitize hypoxic Serratia marcescens to irradiation up to the oxygen enhancement level by two components which can be separated as a function of compound concentration . Sensitization above the initial plateau level is in order of their determined one-electron reduction potentials, Ro 03-5580 (E 7 1 = -335 mV) being more efficient than Ro 03-5637 (E 7 1 = -358 mV) . Additivity in sensitization up to a maximum enhancement level of 2.1 +/- 0.1 is found on combining these hydrophilic compounds at concentrations to give sensitization at the plateau level, with the hydrophobic sensitizer paranitroacetophenone (PNAP) . It is concluded that the nitropyridinium compounds and PNAP sensitize the same site.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Jun, 31(6), 603 - 9
Chemical and electrophoretic changes induced by polymyxin B on outer membrane components from Serratia marcescens; Brown DA et al.; The effects of polymyxin B (PB) on outer membrane (OM) components from resistant (strain 08) and sensitive (strain Bizio) cells of Serratia marcescens were characterized by chemical analysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PGE) in sodium dodecylsulfate . Chemical analysis revealed no major differences in the OM fractions after PB treatment of both strains, except for the loss of protein in PB treated OM of the sensitive strain . The yield and composition between the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the two strains were different both before and after treatment . PGE revealed that there was a complex formation between the LPS of resistant strain and PB but both dissociation and degradation occurred in the LPS components in the sensitive strain . In addition, it was found that the protein components were destabilized by PB with subsequent loss of some of the components from OM of the sensitive strain . The difference in the amount of LPS and their ability to complex with PB may reflect different degrees of antibiotic susceptibility of these two strains of S . marcescens . A sequential multistep mechanism is proposed for the action of PB on outer membranes of this species.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 May, 106(1), 13 - 8
Carboxymethylcellulase produced by facultative bacteria from the hind-gut of the termite Reticulitermes hesperus; Thayer DW; Bacillus cereus RW1 and Serratia marcescens RW3, isolated from the hind-gut of the termite Reticulitermes hesperus, both grew well on mesquite wood and produced moderate amounts of carboxymethylcellulase . Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gels were depolymerized rapidly by B . cereus RW1 and slowly by S . marcescens RW3 . The depolymerization of CMC was pH and temperature sensitive . Depolymerization of gels by growing cultures of B . cereus RW1 and the action of cell-free extracts of B . cereus RW1 on CMC sols were optimum at pH 6.0 and 5.5, respectively . Glucose and cellobiose increased the rate of CMC gel depolymerization . Enzyme synthesis rather than growth was stimulated by the addition of glucose to a culture of RW1 growing on a non-cellulosic substrate . Bacillus cereus RW1 produced both cell-free and cell-bound carboxymethylcellulase.

Mikrobiologiia, 1978 May-Jun, 47(3), 446 - 50
{Effect of low temperatures (-196 degrees) and of cryoprotectors on some bacterial species}; Tsutsaeva AA et al.; The effect of low temperatures (-196 degrees C) and cryoprotectors (PEO-400 and glycerol) on the survival, morphological and functional properties was studied with Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus aureus 209 . When the cells were frozen for a short period of time in liquid nitrogen, the survival and the rate of protein synthesis decreased in the gram-negative bacteria but remained almost the same in Staphylococcus aureus . PEO-400 and glycerol manifested cryoprotecting action on all the bacteria under study at concentrations which did not harm the bacteria.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 May, 35(5), 834 - 40
Threonine production by regulatory mutants of Serratia marcescens; Komatsubara S et al.; beta-Hydroxynorvaline (alpha-amino-beta-hydroxyvaleric acid)-resistant mutants of Serratia marcescens deficient in both threonine dehydrogenase and threonine deaminase were isolated and characterized . One of the mutants, strain HNr21, lacked feedback inhibition of threonine-sensitive aspartokinase and homoserine dehydrogenase, was repressed for the two enzymes, and produced 11 mg of threonine per ml of medium containing a limiting amount of isoleucine . The other mutant, strain HNr59, was constitutively derepressed for aspartokinase and homoserine dehydrogenase . Its kinase was sensitive to feedback inhibition, but its dehydrogenase was insensitive to feedback inhibition . This strain produced 5 mg of threonine per ml of medium containing either a limiting or an excess amount of isoleucine . Diaminopimelate auxotrophs derived from strain HNr59 produced more threonine (13 mg/ml) than the parent strain . However, similar auxotrophs derived from strain HNr21 produced the same amount of threonine as that produced by the parent strain.

Arch Intern Med, 1978 May, 138(5), 713 - 6
Amikacin therapy of gram-negative bacteremia and meningitis . Treatment in diseases due to multiple resistant bacilli; Sklaver AR et al.; The therapeutic efficacy of amikacin was evaluated in patients with serious hospital-acquired infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli susceptible to amikacin, but usually resistant to kanamycin, gentamicin, and tobramycin . The infections for which amikacin was given were Gram-negative bacteremia in 15 patients and Gram-negative meningitis in two patients . Therapy with amikacin resulted in a cure in 13 patients, improvement in 1, and failure in 3 . Continuous intravenous infusion of amikacin yielded a high cerebrospinal fluid to serum ratio of amikacin in one case of meningitis and intrathecally administered amikacin yielded high ventricular fluid levels in another case of meningitis . The emergence of resistance to amikacin was noted in one patient treated with amikacin in whom Serratia bacteremia persisted . Treatment with amikacin was usually tolerated well . This study indicates that amikacin is an effective antibiotic in the treatment of serious Gram-negative infections caused by gentamicin-resistant organisms.

J Lab Clin Med, 1978 May, 91(5), 831 - 9
Bactericidal and opsonic activity of cirrhotic ascites and nonascitic peritoneal fluid; Simberkoff MS et al.; BA and OA of sera and uninfected ascitic fluid from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were assayed against gram-negative enteric bacilli . This was compared with BA and OA in normal serum and in peritoneal fluid obtained at laparoscopy or laparotomy from noncirrhotic patients . Cirrhotic sera showed significantly reduced BA and OA against one of the organisms tested, Serratia marcescens . It had reduced OA but normal BA against E . coli . Ascitic fluid was markedly deficient in BA and OA against all strains tested when compared to both cirrhotic sera and nonascitic peritoneal fluid . Immunoglobulin and complement concentrations in cirrhotic ascites were reduced . Ascites did not inhibit the BA or OA of normal serum . However, replacement experiments suggested that the diminished activity of ascites was largely the result of its reduced complement concentration . The demonstrated deficit in both BA and OA of ascites may be a factor in the frequency of spontaneous enteric bacillary peritonitis in the cirrhotic patient.

Atherosclerosis, 1978 Apr, 29(4), 459 - 66
Distortion of endothelial repair . The effect of hypercholesterolaemia on regeneration of aortic endothelium following injury by endotoxin . A scanning electron microscope study; Reidy MA et al.; Five young male New Zealand White rabbits were fed a semi-synthetic diet containing 0.2% cholesterol for 2 weeks and a control group of 5 animals was fed a normal stock diet . All animals were then injected intravenously with a single dose of endotoxin from Serratia marcescens (200 microgram/kg body weight) and continued on their respective diets for a further 4 weeks . The aortas were then stained with silver nitrate and fixed under pressure for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) . Argyrophilic endothelial cells were present in both groups of animals 4 weeks after endotoxin injections . In the cholesterol-fed animals, however, these cells were often covered with pits and craters . These findings suggest that the hypercholesterolaemia may affect the regeneration of arterial endothelial cells.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Mar, (3), 124 - 7
{Resistance of Serratia marcescens to an etbylene oxide-methyl bromide mixture and the possibility of using it to control the effectiveness of disinfectant measures}; Primushko AP et al.; The authors studied the Serratia marcescens (strain No . 851) resistance to the okcbm mixture by the method of test objects in comparison with the vaccine virus (strain B-51) at a temperature of 20, 30, and 40 degrees C . Resistance of the mentioned bacteria to the okcbm mixture proved to be somewhat greater than that of the vaccine virus at 20 and 30 degrees C, whereas at 40 degrees C their resistance was found to be practically identical . This permits to use Serratia marcescens to control the efficacy of gaseous sterilization of materials.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Mar, 133(3), 1232 - 6
Increased antimetabolite sensitivity with variation of carbon source during growth; Jensen RA et al.; In Serratia marcescens, analogs of leucine (norleucine), methionine (alpha-methylmethionine), histidine (3-amino-1,2,4-triazolealanine), tyrosine (p-aminophenylalanine), and tryptophan (7-methylindole) are conditional inhibitors of growth; inhibition occurs during the metabolism of some carbon sources but not with others . A further increase in sensitivity to growth inhibition by these analogs can be accomplished through the use of particular combinations of carbon sources present in the inoculum and in the subsequent analog-containing culture medium . Variable sensitivity to analog-mediated inhibition of growth observed during growth on glucose, glycerol, fructose, or citrate correlated inversely with the intracellular pool sizes of the amino acids cognate to the analogs used . The above-cited results, in conjunction with previous results obtained with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, involve diverse biochemical pathways and suggest that nutritional manipulation to alter the pattern of carbon flow in microorganisms is a generally useful means to accomplish increased sensitivity to growth inhibition by metabolite analogs.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Feb, 31(2), 131 - 4
Netilmicin synergy with carbenicillin or cefamandole against Serratia; Flournoy DJ; Twenty clinical isolates of Serratia sp . were tested against netilmicin, gentamicin, carbenicillin and cefamandole alone (broth and agar dilution) and in combination (agar dilution) . Broth and agar dilution minimal inhibitory concentrations agreed to within a two-fold dilution in 96% of the tests . Overall, 95% of the isolates were susceptible to netilmicin regardless of susceptibility to gentamicin or carbenicillin . Netilmicin-carbenicillin synergy was seen in 55% of the strains and netilmicin-cefamandole in 70% . These results indicate that combinations of netilmicin with carbenicillin or cefamandole may be clinically useful.

Arch Intern Med, 1978 Feb, 138(2), 201 - 5
Gentamicin-resistant bacillary infection . Clinical features and amikacin therapy; Leonard JM et al.; Infections caused by gentamicin sulfate-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens have occurred in multiple areas of our hospitals and have caused serious clinical illness and death . Isolates of Pseudomonas organisms were sensitive to some alternative drugs including collstin sulfate, but isolates of Serratia organisms were often resistant to all commercially available parenteral antimicrobiais . All isolates were inhibited by amikacin sulfate, and 95% were killed by concentrations achievable in serum with recommended doses . Twenty patients with hospital-acquired infections, including ten with septicemia, were treated with amikacin . Eighteen of the 20 patients had a good clinical and bacteriologic response . Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity each occurred in one patient.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 35(2), 231 - 6
Construction of a urocanic acid-producing strain of Serratia marcescens by transduction; Kisumi M et al.; In Serratia marcescens, the mutation responsible for triazolealanine (TRA) resistance was transferred from a TRA-resistant mutant to a urocanase-less mutant by PS20-mediated transduction . The two crosses were performed using as donors two TRA-resistant mutants, whose phenotypes included increased levels of histidine-biosynthetic enzymes and feedback-insensitive phosphoribosyltransferase . In one cross, TRA-resistant transductants were urocanase-less mutants having only increased levels of the enzymes and barely detectable levels of urocanic acid . In the other cross, the transductants were urocanase-less mutants having both phenotypes of the donor, and most produced high concentrations (10.5 mg/ml) of urocanic acid.

Intensive Care Med, 1978 Jan, 4(1), 35 - 9
Treatment of mediastinitis in children after cardiac surgery . A study of 20 cases; Barois A et al.; Twenty-three cases of mediastinitis after cardiac surgery in children were treated by us between 1973 and 1976 . Three patients died within 6 hours of admission . Treatment used in the tweny other cases are discussed . The mean age of the patients was three years and three months . The mediastinitis was evident an average of twelve days after extracoporeal circulation . A staphylococus was always responsible for the infection . Treatment was a combination of surgery, antibiotics and respiratory and nutritional supplies . The surgical treatment consisted of a careful mediastinal cleansing with resection of the sternal edges . In fifteen patients the thorax was closed after surgery, and an irrigation system installed using a solution of 4% Dakin in physiologic saline . Recovery was simple in 5 patients . In the 10 other patients of this group the thorax had to be reopened; one patient died after 90 days from Serratia marcescens endocarditis . The thorax was left open initially in five patients: one patient of this group died from candida endocarditis . All patients needed endotracheal ventilation through a nasotracheal tube (7 to 90 days of ventilation) . Treatment with bactericidal antibiotics was pursued for three months and a monotherapy was kept for nine months . After reviewing the observed complications, our methods and results are compared with others in the literature.

Clin Pharmacol Ther, 1978 Jan, 23(1), 63 - 7
Hand-washing degerming: a comparison of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine; Dineen P; Two antiseptic preparations for hand washing were compared by the glove-juice method in a crossover study on 10 volunteers . The reference preparation was 7.5% povidone-iodine (Betadine Surgical Scrub); the test agent was 4% chlorhexidine gluconate combined with 4% isopropyl alcohol (Hibiclens) . The experimental model included inoculation of the hands with a mixture of Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Providentia stuartii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The reference preparation achieved a reduction ratio in colony counts of 695 to 1 under the conditions of this study . The average postwash colony count after use of 7.5% povidone-iodine was significantly less than the preinoculation colony count . Logarithmic values, and the paired t test applied to them, showed a highly significant difference (p = less than 0.001) in favor of the degerming ability of the reference agent compared to the test agent . These data are of value in the selection of preparations for hand washing and may point the way to quantitative methods for other degerming studies.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1978 Jan-Mar, 23(1), 27 - 36
{Sensitivity of Serratia marcescens to chemotherapy}; Negut M et al.; The sensitivity of 112 S . marcescens strains, isolated under various clinico-epidemiologic conditions, was tested by the dilution in agar method against 10 different antibiotics and sulfonamides active against Gram-negative bacteria . With the maximum concentrations used only Gentamycin and nalidixic acid were active against a high proportion of the strains tested, i.e . 96.4% and 91.1% . Kanamycin, Neomycin, Chloramphenicol, Streptomycin and Tetracyclin had an inhibitory effect against less than 25% of tested strains . One strain was resistant to all the antibiotics, 49.1% were only sensitive to 2 antibiotics and 33.9% to 3 antibiotics . Among tested strains 22 different antibiotypes were established . Evidence of 2 or more types of resistance within the same epidemic outbreaux, reduces the value of the "antibiotype" as epidemiologic indicator within this species . The readily acquired transfer factors of resistance might be responsible for the marked "mobility" of the antibiotypes, as well as for the spread of S . marcescens in hospital pathology.

Infect Immun, 1978 Jan, 19(1), 204 - 11
Role of complement in lethal bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced hypotensive and coagulative changes; Ulevitch RJ et al.; The effect of C3 depletion on the multiple pathophysiological changes produced by a lethal dose of Serratia marcescens lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was evaluated . The injection of this LPS into rabbits resulted in biphasic hypotensive changes and thrombocytopenia . These changes were characterized by an acute, transient decrease occurring within minutes after injection followed by a second more gradual decrease beginning 30 to 60 min post-LPS . Prior depletion of C3, with the anticomplementary protein from cobra venom (CoF), did not alter the extent of either the gradual hypotensive and platelet changes or the coagulative and metabolic changes when normal and C3-depleted rabbits were compared . Importantly, the lethal effects of S . marcescens LPS were not reduced by prior depletion of C3 . Only the immediate, reversible thrombocytopenia and hypotension were abrogated by C3 depletion.

Klin Wochenschr, 1977 Dec 15, 55(24), 1185 - 90
{Hospital infections from a bacteriological viewpoint}; Caselitz FH et al.; In spite of the successful treatment of bacteriological infections combined with progress in hospital hygiene there remain still problems of infective hospitalism in certain sections of the hospital . Generally, the causative bacteria are nosoparasites not being dangerous to human beings in good condition . From this point of view Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens are the most important species . A successful challenge against infective hospitalism is only possible under the supervision of the bacteriologist . It is his task to isolate and differentiate the bacteria and to carry out the sensitivity tests against antibiotics . Besides this, he has to treat epidemiological and hygienic problems . Special kinds of methods sometimes have to be used to find out the sources and the routes of spreading of the infections in a hospital e.g . bacteriophage typing, bacteriocin typing and analysis of the antigenic structure . Likewise, the transmission of bacteria by air has to be studied and continuous controlling measures and monitoring are required . The bacteriologist is also responsible for preparing hygiene instructions . There always has to exist a good cooperation between the bacteriologist, the clinical doctors, the nurses and the technical staff . The whole problem can only be handled by special teams.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1977 Dec, 165(3-4), 251 - 9
{The influence of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants on the resistance against infectious diseases (author's transl)}; Schlipkoter HW et al.; Groups of female NMRI-mice inhaled nine weeks 12.4 or 81.8 microgram Pb/m3 24 h per week, while other groups inhaled 0.3 mg NO2 + 5 mg flame soot/m3 or 5 mg NO2 + 0.3 mg flame soot/m3 for 45 h/week . Five animals of each group were randomly selected in weekly intervals and bacterial elimination determined 5 hours after inhaling a Serratia marcescens-aerosol . Bacteria in lung sections were determined by means of the "sandwich-method", using an anti-Serratia-serum and a FITC-loaded antirabbit-gammaglobuline . Inhalation of leadchloride caused a time and dose-dependent deterioration of bacterial elimination, which showed to be statistically significant already after three days of treatment with 81.8 microgram Pb/m3 . A time dependent function between bacterial elimination and exposure could not be shown under treatment of the mixed pollutants NO2 and flame soot, although the lung clearance was deteriorated especially in the group treated with 5 mg NO2 + 0.3 mg flame-soot/m3 . The experiments give evidence that lead exhibits a cyto-toxic effect on alveolar macrophages while the combined pollutants NO2 and flame-soot exhibit their adverse effect on the mucociliary-system . Nitrogen dioxide is shown to be a more hazardous pollutant than flame-soot within the given combination.

Nord Vet Med, 1977 Dec, 29(12), 529 - 32
{Serratia marcescens in bovine mastitis . Bibliography and a case study (author's transl)}; Lium ER; The literature concerning Serratia marcescens in bovine mastitis is reviewed, and a case of acute mastitis at the Department of Obstetrics, The Veterinary College of Norway, in which Serratia marcescens was isolated in pure culture, is described . Serratia marcescens usually causes only moderately severe symptoms of mastitis, but relapses are common and cases tend to become chronic in nature . The bacterium produces an endotoxin, and this toxin has caused acute mastitis on experimental inoculation into pathogen free udders.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Dec, 34(6), 647 - 53
Enhancement of isoleucine hydroxamate-mediated growth inhibition and improvement of isoleucine-producing strains of Serratia marcescens; Kisumi M et al.; Growth inhibition by isoleucine hydroxamate in Serratia marcescens was significantly enhanced by adding valine plus leucine and by using glycerol as the carbon source . Isoleucine hydroxamate-resistant mutants were isolated under conditions in which growth inhibition was enhanced . One of the mutants, strain GIHVLr2179, lacked both feedback inhibition and repression of threonine deaminase . An alpha-aminobutyric acid-resistant mutant derived from strain GIHVLr2179, strain GIHVLAr2795, produced 12 mg of isoleucine per ml in the medium containing glucose and urea as carbon and nitrogen sources (a twofold increase over prior reports) . This strain had increased activities of threonine deaminase, acetohydroxy acid synthase, aspartokinase, and homoserine dehydrogenase.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1977 Nov, 34(11), 1196 - 1200
Effect of refrigeration on bactericidal activity of four preserved multiple-dose injectable drug products; Lehmann CR; The influence of refrigeration on the bactericidal capability of preservative systems in multiple-dose injectable drug products was studied . Commercially available multiple-dose injectable drug products containing preservatives--atropine/phenol, lidocaine/methylparaben, cyanocobalamin/benzyl alcohol and diphenhydramine/benzethonium chloride--were divided into two groups, one to be maintained under refrigeration (5C) and the other to be maintained at room temperature (25C) . In separate tests the multiple-dose vials (MDVs) were individually inoculated with the following organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Serratia marcescens, and cultured to establish bacterial concentrations at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours . Bacteria in the preservative systems tested remained viable significantly longer under refrigeration . (Data for diphenhydramine/benzethonium were not obtainable with the methodology used.) It is recommended that sterile medications maintained in preserved MDVs be stored at romm temperature after initial use (i.e., after exposure to possible contamination) unless drug stability considerations dictate otherwise.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Nov, 34(5), 465 - 72
L-Histidine production by histidase-less regulatory mutants of Serratia marcescens constructed by transduction; Kisumi M et al.; 2-Methylhistidine (2MH) and 1,2,4-triazole-3-alanine (TRA) inhibited the growth of Serratia marcescens . These inhibitory effects were counteracted by L-histidine . Enzymatic studies showed that 2MH acts as a false feedback inhibitor and TRA acts as both a false feedback inhibitor and a repressor . Mutants resistant to each analog were isolated from a histidase-less mutant, because the wild-type strain possesses a potent histidase activity . 2MH-resistant mutants had a feedback-insensitive phosphoribosyltransferase, but they produced only small amounts of L-histidine . TRA-resistant mutants were divided into two types according to their histidine productivity . A mutant of one type produced about 8 mg of L-histidine per ml and had about a 10-fold increase in the enzyme levels of histidine biosynthesis . Moreover, this mutant had a partially feedback-insensitive phosphoribosyltransferase . A mutant of the second type produced only a small amount of L-histidine and had only derepressed enzyme levels . Accordingly, strains possessing the genetic alterations in both 2MH- and TRA-resistant mutants were constructed by PS20-mediated transduction . They had both feedback-insensitive phosphoribosyltransferase and derepressed enzyme levels . The representative strain HT-2604 produced about 17 mg of L-histidine per ml.

Int J Radiat Biol Relat Stud Phys Chem Med, 1977 Nov, 32(5), 471 - 9
Radiosensitization of Serratia marcescens by bipyridinium compounds; Anderson RF et al.; Bipyridinium compounds (viologens) have been shown to radiosensitize hypoxic Serratia marcescens cells by two components . These can be separated on the basis that only the one-electron reduced form of the compounds can penetrate the bacterium cell wall . One component is associated with sensitization at the membrane and the other with an internal site . The efficiency of sensitization at the membrane-associated site follows the order of increasing one-electron reduction potentials of the compounds . The one-electron reduced forms of the bipyridinium compounds are involved in a mechanism that reduces the initial level of sensitization . No additivity in sensitization is found on combining the bipyridinium compounds with other radiosensitizers, PNAP and Ro 07-0582 at concentrations of each, which will give sensitization to the level associated with the membrane site . It is concluded that all these electron-affinic compounds sensitize this site . The protective effect of added glycerol on sensitization by viologens is related to protection at the membrane-associated site.

Med J Aust, 1977 Oct 8, 2(3 Pt 2 Suppl), 27 - 9
Infection in the intensive care unit; Clarke BG; An epidemic of infection associated with Serratia marcescens and other Gram-negative organisms resistant to aminoglycosides and other chemotherapeutic agents occurred in the intensive care unit of St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, and spread to other areas of the hospital . This paper describes the problems of sepsis in the critically ill patient, outlines the occurrence of organisms in the patients concerned in this epidemic, and discusses the policies adopted to control the incidence of life-threatening infection caused by bacteria resistant to all other agents.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 Oct, 23(10), 1319 - 26
Inhibition of diptheroid esterase by Micrococcus luteus; Bibel DJ et al.; Micrococcus luteus produced a diffusible, esterase inhibitory factor (EIF) which inhibited the activity of cutaneous diphtheroid esterases on Tween 80-CaCl2 agar media . Esterases of Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, and Serratia were not susceptible . EIF did not appear to combine with the substrate or to prevent enzyme synthesis; it was unable to reverse the precipitation of calcium oleate . The composition of the medium, especially peptones, influenced the production of EIF . EIF was synthesized in the absence of diphtheroids, but production required the presence of Tween . The interaction was observed on agar medium of pH 5.5-8.5, at 25-43 degrees C, under an atmosphere of 10-20% CO2, in the presence of urea, but not after the addition of NaCl or dextrose . Supernatants of broth cultures had to be concentrated to detect EIF . Crude dialyzed and concentrated preparations of EIF withstood 60 degrees C for 60 min but were inactivated after 100 degrees C for 10 min . EIF may possibly be associated with a lipoid substance, since it did not precipitate in ethanol.

Arch Surg, 1977 Oct, 112(10), 1220 - 4
Serratia marcescens pneumonia; Carlon GC et al.; Though rare, Serratia marcescens pneumonia is being reported with increasing frequency, especially in patients in intensive care units . We report three cases of S . marcescens pneumonia that presented striking similarities for age, group, type of surgical procedure, and microbiological, hemodynamic, and respiratory patterns . All patients survived after prolonged ventilatory support.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Oct, 239(2), 213 - 30
{Ultrastructural study of lipopolysaccharide and of polymyxin B-induced changes of the outer membrane of Serratia marcescens (author's transl)}; Acker G; Electron micrographs of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Serratia marcescens which have been extracted with phenol/water, suspended in dist . water and subsequently negatively stained reveale round to ovoid particles besides singular ribbon-like structures . These structures are interpreted as collapsed LPS-strands of the outer membrane (OM) . Fine structure investigations were carried out on strand-like structures which had been obtained by light alcalization of the particle suspension . Partial denaturation of LPS in ethylene-diaminotetracetic acid with polymyxin B (PB) gave rise to broad bends with periodic 180 degrees-torsions, indicating a helical structure . Chemically fixed LPS in phosphate buffer which were only partial transformed into LPS-strands, additionally revealed that a given LPS-strand consists of two electron-microscopic identical sub-strands which form a double helix . After short times of exposure to PB, negatively stained cells of Serratia marcescens show strand-like cell wall components on the cell surface consisting of longitudinal fibrils . In a further stage of denaturation, the strand-like structures form "projections" of the OM or are completely loosened . Based on a helical arrangement in the negative staining preparations as well as in the thin sections, they are identified as LPS-strands . Presumably, the LPS in the OM exists as contiguous strains . The development of the "double track"-aspect of the LPS in thin sections may be explained as a result of the projections of the helical longitudinal fibrils into the image plane.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Oct, 34(4), 424 - 32
Bacterial lipopolysaccharides as inducers of disease resistance in tobacco; Graham TL et al.; The cell wall component of Pseudomonas solanacearum that induces disease resistance in tobacco was highly heat stable at neutral or alkaline pH but highly labile at acid pH . Activity was unaffected by nucleases and proteases but destroyed by a mixture of beta-glycosidases . Washing of bacterial cell walls released a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fraction with high inducer activity . Purified LPS, extracted by a variety of procedures from whole cells, isolated cell walls, and culture filtrates of both smooth and rough forms of P . solanacearum, induced disease resistance in tobacco at concentrations as low as 50 microgram/ml . The LPS from the non-plant pathogens Escherichia coli B, E . coli K, and Serratia marcescens was also active . Cell wall protein, free phospholipid, and nucleic acids were not necessary for activity . Moreover, since LPS from rough forms was active, the O-specific polysaccharide of the LPS was not required for activity . Hydrolysis of the remaining core-lipid A linkage or deacylation of lipid A destroyed inducer activity . When injected into tobacco leaves, purified LPS attached to tobacco mesophyll cell walls and induced ultrastructural changes in the host cell similar to those induced by attachment of whole heat-killed bacteria.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1977 Sep 23, 102(38), 1350 - 2
{An epidemic caused by serratia marcescens in an intensive-care unit for premature and other newborns (author's transl)}; Rosenthal E et al.; An epidemic caused by Serratia marcescens occurred in intensive care unit of the Children's clinic in Essen, with three deaths . Although there was good sensitivity of the strain to gentamicin in vitro, there was no noticeable clinical improvement when it was administered . But cotrimoxazole, given systemically and locally, and colistin locally cured the disease.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Sep, 136(3), 449 - 52
Patterns and mechanisms of emergence of resistance to amikacin; Meyer RD; Emergence of gram-negative bacilli resistant to amikacin occurred in five of 96 patients treated . Three of the five instances were associated with clinical failure and arose during therapy for an infection caused by a pathogen also susceptible to gentamicin . The other two episodes were associated with colonization . The enzyme aminoglycoside-6'-acetyltransferase, which inactivates amikacin, was found in Serratia marcescens . Decreased permeability to amikacin was shown in four isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The emergence and existence of these organisms is of great epidemiologic importance . Judicious use of amikacin and adherence to general principles of infection control are advised.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 Sep-Oct, 46(5), 926 - 30
{The effect of glucose on induced synthesis of exocellular protease of Serratia marcescens}; Loriia ZhK et al.; The sensitivity of induced synthesis of exocellular protease to catabolyte repression was studied in Serratia marcescens growing on media containing inductors, viz . leucine and albumin . A lower sensitivity of the leucine-induced synthesis of the enzyme to glucose as compared to that induced by albumin seems to be caused by the penetration of leucine into the cell prior to the appearance in the medium of organic acids, possible inhibitors of its transport, whereas on the medium containing albumin, leucine appears only after hydrolysis of the protein by the "basal" enzyme.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 34(3), 292 - 6
Evidence for incorporation of thymidine into deoxyribonucleic acid in airborne bacterial cells; Straat PA et al.; As part of an effort to discover whether bacteria might propagate within airborne particles, we studied the incorporation of thymidine into the trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction of airborne cells of Serratia marcescens to seek evidence of the possible formation of new DNA . Two aerosols, one of S . marcescens and another of {3H}thymidine ({3H}dT) suspended in growth medium were caused to aggregate in air just prior to directing the aerosols into rotating-drum aerosol storage chambers . The age of the S . marcescens culture and other conditions for maximizing ({3H}dT) uptake were selected on the basis of prior in vitro trials . With 10-h cultures and addition of 2-deoxyadenosine to the {3H}dT, we showed that {3H}dT is incorporated into the trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction of cells recovered 6 h after aerosols were stored under the conditions of high humidity and 30 degrees C . Tests conducted in the same manner with Formalin-killed S . marcescens ruled out the possibility of adsorptive carry-over of {3H}dT . As much as 20 times more activity was found in the trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction of live cells than of dead cells.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1977 Sep, 4(9), 3267 - 79
Structure of chromatin subunits: an endonuclease Serratia marcescens study; Pospelov VA et al.; Electrophoretic properties of chromatin subunits--nucleosomes--obtained by treatment of chromatin with the Serratia marcescens endonuclease have been studied . Double-stranded breaks of DNA between adjacent nucleosomes do not necessarily lead to their disjunction . Fragmentation of the DNA within the nucleosomes may proceed simultaneously with the breakdown of the DNA between the nucleosomes at early stages of the endonuclease digestion . Electrophoretic mobility and chromatographic properties of mononucleosomes, their dimers and trimers with internally degraded DNA was not changed . It has been deduced that the integrity of chromatin particles with internally fragmented DNA is supported by histone interaction inside and between the nucleosomes.

J Immunol, 1977 Sep, 119(3), 855 - 60
Immunocycte stimulation in vitro by nontoxic bacterial lipopolysaccharide derivatives; Frank S et al.; Intact lipopolysaccharides (LPS), considered nonspecific enhancers of B cell responses, as well as nontoxic derivatives from Serratia marcescens LPS, were studied with regard to their ability to stimulate in vitro immune responses to a T-dependent antigen, sheep erythrocytes . Intact LPS, at a dose of 10 to 50 microgram, consistently enhanced the in vitro anti-SRBC immune response by normal splenocytes . The LPS also increased the background PFC response to SRBC in nonimmunized cultures . A chemically detoxified preparation derived from LPS (Mex B) had no stimulatory activity in vitro . A completely nontoxic, relatively small m.w., polysaccharide-rich preparation (PS), free of detectable lipid and protein, was stimulatory in vitro and at a dose of 10 microgram resulted in a 40 to 70% enhancement of the anti-SRBC response . The PS also stimulated an enhanced background response to SRBC as well as several other RBC species in nonimmunized cultures . PS had no mitogenic effect in vitro since addition of this bacterial derivative failed to stimulate thymidine incorporation into mouse splenocytes, as occurred with the intact LPS . The use of nontoxic preparations from gram-negative bacterial LPS for dissecting the stimulatory vs antigenic properties of bacterial products provides a model system for determining the role of a mitogenic stimulus in B cell activation.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Aug, 34(2), 135 - 8
Norleucine accumulation by a norleucine-resistant mutant of Serratia marcescens; Kisumi M et al.; A norleucine-resistant mutant was derived from an isoleucine-valine auxotroph of a leucine accumulator of Serratia marcescens . The norleucine-resistant mutant could accumulate norleucine from norvaline in the medium without the addition of methionine, which antagonized norleucine . This mutant constitutively formed homoserine-O-transsuccinylase.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1977 Aug-Sep, 128(2), 207 - 14
{Antigenic study of Serratia marcescens isolated in France . I.--Antigens: individualization of six new H factors (author's transl)}; Le Minor S et al.; The H antigens of 469 strains of Serratia marcescens have been studied . A specific immobilization test in soft agar with antiserum is described . Being more quickly carried out than tube agglutination, it has the same specificity . The most frequently identified H antigen is H:12 . Six new H antigens (H:14 to H:19) have been individualized, one of them--H:17--frequently occurring in strains isolated in France.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 Jul-Aug, 46(4), 647 - 50
{Correlation between the synthesis of extracellular proteases and the synthesis of the red pigment prodigiosin in Serratia marcescens}; Loriia ZhK et al.; A correlation has been established between synthesis of exocellular protease and synthesis of a red pigment prodigiosine by Serratia marcescens . Chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, inhibits also synthesis of the pigment . Leucine, an inductor of synthesis of the exocellular protease by Serratia marcescens VI, induces also synthesis of the pigment . A mixture of 18 natural amino acids, asparagine and ammonium ions represses both synthesis of the enzyme and the pigment.

Urology, 1977 Jul, 10(1), 44 - 6
Bilateral chronic ureteritis associated with Serratia marcescens; Braf ZF et al.; To our knowledge this is the first case of bilateral obstructive uropathy caused by nonspecific chronic ureteritis to be reported . Prior to operation the bilateral involvement was throught to be due to a tuberculous infection or retroperitoneal fibrosis . The diagnostic difficulties were similar to those previously reported in the unilateral involvement . The focus of the infective organism found was Serratia marcescens which originated in the right kindey.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1977 Jul, 82(1), 95 - 103
Pathway for isoleucine formation form pyruvate by leucine biosynthetic enzymes in leucine-accumulating isoleucine revertants of Serratia marcescens; Kisumi M et al.; Leaky revertants isolated from isoleucine auxotrophs of Serratia marcescens mutant resistant to alpha-aminobutyric acid were previously reported to accumulate leucine in the medium, due to the absence of both feedback inhibition and repression of leucine biosynthesis . Growth of the revertant was accelerated by pyruvate, D(-)-citramalate, citraconate, and alpha-ketobutyrate, but not by threonine . Extracts of the revertant exhibited high activities of pyruvate-dependent coenzyme A liberation from acetyl-coenzyme A, hydration of citraconate, and conversion of citraconate to alpha-ketobutyrate, but showed no threonine-deaminating activity . In the leucine-accumulating revertants the above three activities were not affected by leucine, but in the wild strain and other revertants accumulating no leucine all or one of these activities was controlled by leucine . A leucine auxotroph isolated from the leucine-accumulating revertant showed isoleucine auxotrophy as well . From these data, it is concluded that, in leucine-accumulating revertants, of S . marcescent, isoleucine, is synthesized from alpha-ketobutyrate via citramalate formed from pyruvate annd acetyl-coenzyme A by leucine biosynthetic enzymes, as a result of desensitization of alpha-isopropylmalate synthetase to feedback inhibition.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 May, 33(5), 1092 - 6
Toxic effect of water-soluble fractions of crude, refined, and weathered oils on the growth of a marine bacterium; Griffin LF et al.; The water-soluble fractions of three crude and two refined oils reduced the growth rate and maximum cell density of the marine bacterium Serratia marinorubra grown in batch culture . The weathering of a crude and a refined oil was simulated in the laboratory . The water-soluble fractions remaining from this process were more toxic to S . marinorubra than were the parent unweathered oils . Increases in the magnitude of toxic effect of 3 to 30 times were observed as a function of decreasing the concentration of yeast extract in the cultures from 0.1 to 0.05 and 0.01% . The toxicity did not correlate with the concentration of total water-soluble fraction or of aromatic hydrocarbons in the water-soluble fraction . Affected cultures did not exhibit a residual toxicity after being back-inoculated into control media.

Arch Intern Med, 1977 May, 137(5), 581 - 4
Sequential hospitalwide outbreaks of resistant Serratia and Klebsiella infections; Thomas FE et al.; Late in 1973 at the Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital, an intrusion of Serratia marcescens infections that were resistant to gentamicin sulfate and other antimicrobial agents occurred . This abated somewhat, only to be superseded by another wave of multiply-resistant infections due to Klebsiella pneumoniae beginning in the spring of 1974 . Approximately 400 patients had substantial infections with these organisms during the 2 1/4 year period, imposing considerable morbidity and mortality . Due to the serious and lasting impact that these events imposed on patient care in our hospital, we sought explanations for the sequential infectious outbreaks . Both may have arisen because of the same persisting pressures favoring prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria . Indirect evidence including the sequential order of the outbreaks, similarity of antibiotograms, transferable multiple drug resistance from Serratia to Klebsiella, and possession of approximately equal molecular weight plasmids supported the notion that the two outbreaks were causally related.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1977 May, 73(5), 796 - 800
Septicemia secondary to impacted infected pacemaker wire . Successful treatment by removal with cardiopulmonary bypass; Chavez CM et al.; Infection of an intravenous pacemaker electrode developed in a 78-year-old man after multiple replacements and revisions of the pulse generator and the pacemaker lead . Spread of the infective process to the endocardium was followed by septicemia with Serratia marcescens and Staphyloccus epidermids . Failure of medical treatment and external traction on the pacemaker electrode led to thoracotomy and removal of the pacemaker electrode wires with the use of extracorporeal circulation . The tip of one of the pacemaker electrodes was found imbedded in the wall of the right ventricle and attached to the base of the tricuspid valve . Cultures from the endocardium removed with the electrode rendered the same organisms as cultured preoperatively . There has been no recurrence after 2 years following the removal of the infected electrodes . Although the problem described herein is not frequently found, radical treatment becomes necessary whenever infection and septicemia develop.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 May, 33(5), 1042 - 6
Phosphate inhibition of secondary metabolism in Serratia marcescens; Witney FR et al.; The synthesis of prodigiosin by non-proliferating cells of Serratia marcescens was examined in the presence of a wide range of concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi) . A high elevation of pigment formation was obtained at less than or equal to 0.3 mM, and a broader but much lower elevation was obtained at 10 to 250 mM Pi . The synthesis of two immediate precursors of the pitment also was inhibited by Pi . The mechanism of action of Pi did not involve changes in pH or accumulation of the trace metal nutrient iron or zinc . Inhibition was most pronounced when Pi was added to the induction system before the onset of pigment formation . The inhibitor also diminished the burst of alkaline phosphatase activity that occurred in the period between the start of induction and appearance of prodigiosin.

Br J Ophthalmol, 1977 Apr, 61(4), 250 - 4
Infective keratitis in soft contact lens wearers; Cooper RL et al.; Eight cases of infective keratitis are reported in wearers of soft contact lenses . Four of them had normal eyes and were wearing lenses on a continual basis . One was wearing a lens continually for therapeutic reasons . Three others were wearing lenses daily or intermittently . The four latter cases were using contaminated lens solutions . Two of the continual lens wearers lost vision to the point of blindness . A significant factor in their bad outcome was the fact that both lived in areas remote from adequate ophthalmic services . Serratia liquefaciens was implicated in one case . This is thought to be the only reported case of corneal abscess due to this organism in the past 16 years . S . marcescens was grown in another case from the lens solutions and carrying case.

Infect Immun, 1977 Mar, 15(3), 978 - 87
Cell wall studies of Histoplasma capsulatum and Blastomyces dermatitidis using autologous and heterologous enzymes; Davis TE Jr et al.; Enzymes capable of hydrolyzing cell walls of Blastomyces dermatitidis and chemotypes I and II of Histoplasma capsulatum were prepared in the laboratory or obtained from commercial sources . They included chitinases, beta-1,3-glucanases, beta-1,6-glucanase, and Pronase . Monosaccharides and disaccharides of glucose released from the cell walls by the enzymes were determined qualitatively by paper and gas-liquid chromatography, and monosaccharides were quantitated by the latter technique as well . An enzyme system isolated from Streptomyces sp . containing both chitinase and glucanase released maximum amounts of glucose and N-acetylglucosamine from the cell walls of H . capsulatum chemotype I . A chitinase preparation, free of glucanase, from Serratia marcescens released only chitobiose and N-acetylglucosamine from chemotype I cell walls, but the total quantity of N-acetylglucosamine released was about 60% less than that released by the Streptomyces system . A beta-1,3-glucanase from Bacillus circulans hydrolyzed the cell walls of H . capsulatum chemotype I, but a beta-1,6-glucanase failed to release glucose from the same walls . Autolytic enzymes, viz., beta-1,3-glucanases and several glycosidases were detected as constitutive enzymes in both yeast and mycelial phases of B . dermatitidis and H . capsulatum chemotypes I and II . No difference in the amount of activity was found between cell sap and culture filtrate preparations . The beta-glucanases prepared from the Histoplasma and Blastomyces strains were active on the cell walls of the yeast phases of H . capsulatum chemotypes I and II, releasing laminaribiose and glucose, but were essentially inactive on the cell walls of B . dermatitidis . Chitinase, beta-1,6-glucanase, alpha-glucanase, and alpha-glucosidase activities were absent from these fungal enzyme preparations.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 Mar-Apr, 46(2), 245 - 51
{Prodigiosin as a possible inhibitor of Serratia marcescens nuclease}; Insupova DV et al.; Preparations of prodigiosin inhibited the activity of nuclese of Serratia marcescens . The preparations were fractionated on an alumina column . The activity of nuclease was inhibited by both fractions containing pyrryldipyrrylmethene compounds and fractions in which these compounds were not found by spectrophotometry . The inhibitor was isolated also from the cells of a pigmentless strain . Therefore, the inhibition is exhibited by compounds that are extracted from the cells with acetone and petroleum ether, rather than by prodigiosin.

Int J Radiat Biol Relat Stud Phys Chem Med, 1977 Mar, 31(3), 237 - 50
Radiosensitization of hypoxic cells by a nitrofuran; dose-modifying and shoulder effects; Watts ME; The radiosensitizer nifurpipone dihydrochloride (5-nitro-2-furaldehyde N-methyl piperazino acetyl hydrazone dihydrochloride) sensitizes hypoxic V79 mammalian cells by at least two mechanisms . Sensitization is by a reduction of n in addition to an increase in slope . Both these affects are absent under oxygenated conditions . When hypoxic V79 cells are irradiated in the presence of nifurpipone dihydrochloride combined with Ro-07-0582, sensitization greater than that due to air alone is observed; this effect is due to a reduction in n and an increased slope . Again this effect is absent under oxygenated conditions . Rapid-mix studies using Serratia marcescens show that full senitization occurs with a pre-irradiation contact time of 4 msec; this contrasts with data for V79 cells where a pre-irradiation contact time of 40 msec is insufficient for any sensitization to occur . This sensitizer also exerts a differential toxic effect, being more toxic to hypoxic cells than to oxygenated ones . It is concluded from these results that nifurpipone dihydrochloride sensitizes by at least two mechanisms, one of which resembles that of the electron-affinic type.

Atherosclerosis, 1977 Mar, 26(3), 319 - 28
Scanning electron microscopy: morphology of aortic endothelium following injury by endotoxin and during subsequent repair; Reidy MA et al.; A single injection of endotoxin P45 Poly Serratia marcescens was used to induce endothelial injury in rabbits . The aortic endothelium was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), at various times after administration of endotoxin, using the technique of silver staining and pressure fixation . Within one hour after injection, some endothelial cells were curled-up and spindle-shaped in appearance . Areas of aorta devoid of endothelial cover were occasionally observed and platelets were sometimes found adhering to these sites . Two and four weeks after initial injury no spindle-shaped cells were found . Instead, some endothelial cells were heavily stained with silver . Small denuded zones were still found and these were surrounded by brightly silver-stained cells . This study confirms that endotoxin rapidly causes endothelial injury and suggests that regenerating endothelial cells which were formed following injury are avidly stained by silver salts and appear as bright cells by SEM.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1977 Mar, 73(3), 404 - 7
Retention of pacemaker electrode complicated by Serratia marcescens septicemia . Removal with total cardiopulmonary bypass; Saab SB et al.; A case in which Serratia marcescens septicemia complicated the insertion of a transvernous pacemaker unit is reported . Appropriate antibiotic therapy and removal of the pacemaker electrode are two essential steps to achieve a complete cure in this stimulation . Open cardiotomy with total cardiopulmonary bypass provides a safe approach for withdrawal of an incarcerated electrode and is justified because of the lethal potential of systemic Serratia infections, particularly those superimposed on intracardiac prostheses.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Mar, 5(3), 278 - 84
Inactivation of classical and alternative pathway-activated bactericidal activity of human serum by sodium polyanetholsulfonate; Traub WH et al.; Sodium polyanetholsulfonate (SPS) at a final concentration of at least 250 microng/ml (0.025%) was required for inhibition of the bactericidal activity of 80% (vol/vol) of fresh human serum against "promptly serum-sensitive" strains of Serratia marcescens and control strain Escherichia coli C, i.e., for inhibition of the classical pathway of complement activation . In contrast, SPS at 125 microng/ml (0.0125%) was sufficient for neutralization of the bactericidal activity of 80% (vol/vol) fresh human serum against "delayed serum-sensitive" strains of S . marcescens known to activate the alternative pathway of human complement . Addition of up to 500 microng of SPS per ml to 80% (vol/vol) fresh human serum failed to neutralize transferrin-mediated, "late" bacteriostasis against control strain E . coli C, an effect that was demonstrable only after prolonged, i.e., overnight, incubation of the test strain . However, this late inhibitory effect against E . coli C was not observed in SPS-treated 20% (vol/vol) fresh human serum or in 10 or 20% (vol/vol) conventionally heat-inactivated human serum . Immunoelectrophoretic examination disclosed that SPS did not precipitate transferrin from either fresh or heat-inactivated human serum . Thus, SPS, at 250 microng/ml, was demonstrated to be sufficient for the inhibition of both classical and alternative complement pathway-activated bactericidal activity of 80% (vol/vol) human serum . However, SPS at a concentration of 500 microng/ml failed to antagonize one antimicrobial system of 80% (vol/vol) human serum, namely transferrin-mediated bacteriostasis.

Biochem Genet, 1977 Feb, 15(1-2), 173 - 93
Pyrimidine biosynthesis in Serratia marcescens: polypeptide interactions of three nonsequential enzymes; Wild JR et al.; Orotidine-5'-monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (OMPppase, E.C . 2.4.2.10) and orotidylate decarboxylase (OMPdecase, E.C . 4.1.1.23) were purified from Serratia marcescens HY . These enzymes required physical association for maximal catalytic activities and formed a fragile complex with dihydroorotase (DHOase, E.C . 3.5.2.3) . OMPppase reversibly lost 50% of its activity upon separation from DHOase . The kinetic characteristics of OMPppase were modified by this separation . In the presence of DHOase, the Kms for PRPP and orotate were stoichiometric: 2.3 X 10(-6) M and 2.6 X 10(-6) M, respectively . Following separation, the Kms were significantly different: 1.3 X 10(-6) M for PRPP and 4.1 X 10(-6) M for orotate . OMPppase and OMPdecase could be reversibly separated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, but the separation was accompanied by a loss of catalytic efficiency for both enzymes . DHOase readily associated into multiple molecular forms and could not be purified . The DHOase-OMPppase-OMPdecase interactions demonstrate that a weakly aggregated, multifunctional enzyme complex participates in the biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides in S . marcescens . This unique association of non-sequential biosynthetic enzymes may represent a larger complex which provides a channeling or regulatory unit.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Feb, 5(2), 115 - 21
Serotyping of Serratia marcescens: evaluation of Le Minor's H-immobilization test and description of three new flagellar H antigens; Traub WH et al.; The H-immobilization test of Le Minor for determining flagellar (H) antigens was evaluated and compared with tube and slide H-agglutination tests . The test proved specific and easy to perform, and titration end points were clearly discernible . The degree of serological cross-reactivity between H antigen reference strains of Serratia marcescens was low . Consequently, this test was adopted for routine serological analysis of H antigens, using unabsorbed rabbit immune anti-H sera . As a result of using this procedure, three new provisional H antignes, designated H14, H15, and H16, are proposed.

Immunology, 1977 Feb, 32(2), 121 - 9
Effect of an acidic polysaccharide produced by Serratia piscatorum on immune responses im mice II . Stimulatory effects in normal and immunologically impaired animals; Matsumoto T et al.; An acidic polysaccharide (PS) of Serratia piscatorum enhances the IgM PFC responses against heterologous erythrocytes in mice . Early and late IgM responses were increased significantly by increasing the number of immunizing erythrocytes and the dose of PS, whereas the IgM PFC response was suppressed by higher dose of PS and antigen . A stimulatory doses of PS significantly increased the secondary IgM and IgG responses against sheep erythrocytes . PS restored the reduced PFC response against sheep erythrocytes in adult-thymectomized, 60Co-irradiated and bone marrow-transferred mice (ATXBM) and nude mice (nu/nu), and thus the stimulatory effect of PS appeared greater in immunologically impaired mice than in normal ones . Spleen cells taken at the time of the peak PFC response from mice treated with higher doses of sheep erythrocytes and PS, suppressed the primary IgM production of normal syngeneic spleen cells against sheep erythrocytes in vitro . The suppressing activity of the spleen cells was increased by prior treatment with anti-theta serum and complement, while it was reduced by treatment with anti-mouse Ig serum and complement . These results suggested that immunoglobulin-bearing cells may have a role on the suppressing activity of spleen cells.

Biochem Genet, 1977 Feb, 15(1-2), 157 - 72
Pyrimidine biosynthesis in Serratia marcescens: a possible role for nonsequential enzyme interactions in mimicking coordinate gene expression; Wild JR et al.; The coordinate expression of four sequential enzymes in the de novo pyrimidine pathway may result from the interaction of the various polypeptides of the pathway in Serratia marcescens rather than represent some unit of transcriptional regulation . These interactions were defined by examining the polypeptide association observed in extracts of parental and mutant strains in a series of pleiotropic pyrimidine auxotrophs . Extracts of pyrE auxotrophs {processing dihydroorotate (DHOase) activity but no orotidine-5'-monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (OMPppase) activity} stimulate OMPppase activity in extracts of pyrC auxotrophs (posessing reduced OMPppase activity but no DHOase activity) . Separation by molecular weight on Sephadex G200 has suggested an aggregation between the final two enzymes, OMPppase and OMPdecarboxylase (OMPdecase), and the earlier enzyme, DHOase . The reduction of OMPppase activity in pyrC auxotrophs (encoding either a defective polypeptide or reduced levels) is explained by the lack of adequate levels of DHOase for aggregate formation . Such polypeptide interactions appear to mimic the coordinate formation of polypeptides which are controlled as a unit of regulation . The measurable levels of enzymatic activity vary in a quantitatively identical manner, but the variation does not result directly from the regulation of polypeptide formation.

J Supramol Struct, 1977, 7(1), 49 - 59
The inhibitory effect of the artificial electron donor system, phenazine methosulfate-ascorbate, on bacterial transport mechanisms; Eagon RG et al.; The artificial electron donor system, phenazine methosulfate (PMS)-ascorbate, inhibited active transort of solutes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa irrespective of whether the active transport systems were shock sensitive or shock resistant . N,N,N',N'-tetramethylphenylenediamine could be substituted for PMS but a higher concentration was required . PMS-ascorbate also inhibited active transport in several other bacterial species with the exception of Escherichia coli and of a nonpigmented strain of Serratia marcescens . PMS-ascorbate previously has been shown to energize active transport in isolated membrane vesicles, even those prepared from the same bacterial species in whose intact cells active transport was inhibited . The apparent Km of glucose active transport in untreated cells of P . aeruginosa was 40 micron while the Km of glucose transport in cells incubated with PMS-ascorbate was 25 mM, and PMS-ascorbate had no effect on efflux of accumulated glucose . These results strongly suggested that facilitated diffusion resulted upon exposure of the cells to PMS- ascorbate . Thus, PMS-ascorbate appeared to have an uncoupler-like effect on cells of P . aeruginosa . The experimental data also pointed out that there are fundamental differences between the response of intact cells and membrane vesicles to exogenous electron donors.

Q J Med, 1977 Jan, 46(181), 63 - 71
Serratia marcescens in a general hospital; Ball AP et al.; Fourteen patients with infections caused by Serratia marcescens were seen over an eight-month period in a large general hospital . Predisposing factors suggested an 'opportunistic' pattern similar to that previously described in the United States . S . marcescens is an important pathogen which may be increasing in significance in the United Kingdom . Multiple resistance of the organism to antibiotics other than gentamicin makes the finding of apparent sensitivity to co-trimoxazole of potential therapeutic value.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Jan, 30(1), 111 - 7
Norvaline accumulation by regulatory mutants of Serratia marcescens; Kisumi M et al.; A gene coding for desensitized L-threonine dehydratase was transduced with phage PS20 into a leucine accumulator of Serratia marcescens Sr41 . The transductant converted L-threonine to alpha-ketobutyrate, a precursor of both norvaline and isoleucine . An isoleucine-valine auxotroph of the transductant accumulated large amount of norvaline from L-threonine as well as from D-threonine.

Clin Orthop, 1977 Jan-Feb, (122), 228 - 30
Serratia marcescens arthritis in heroin addicts; Oh I; Serratia appears as a pathogen of increasing frequency and clinical significance in bone and joint infections in heroin users . This is the fifth case report of septic arthritis due to Serratia marcescens in intravenous heroin users . The clinical and laboratory features were not different from other acute pyogenic arthritides . Signs of infection were obscure even in the presence of debilitating disease . Although Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus are more common organism in bone and joint infections of heroin users, Serratia should be considered as a possible pathogen in such patients . In the present case, immediate open drainage followed by systemic Gentamicin treatment gave rapid relief of pain and restoration of full range of motion of the joint.

Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 416 - 22
Antibiotherapy of Serratia marcescens septicemia in children; Baquero F et al.; The clinical and bacteriological response of 38 treatments performed on 24 children (11 of them neonates) carrying out separate treatments with carbenicillin (2 treatments), gentamicin {4}, fosfomycin {6}, and associated treatments with gentamicin plus carbenicillin {6}, fosfomycin plus gentamicin {18} and fosfomycin plus carbenicillin {2} are considered . The clinical cure was obtained in 21 children (87.5%) . The most effective treatment was fosfomycin plus gentamicin; both antibiotics showed synergism in vitro on isolated Serratia strains . A dosage of 75 mg/kg fosfomycin enables serum levels of about 32 mug/ml during 4-5 h, being this level higher to the MIC of all isolated strains of S . marcescens.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 124 - 30
Biosynthesis of prodigiosin by non-proliferating wild-type Serratia marcescens and mutants deficient in catabolism of alanine, histidine, and proline; Lim DV et al.; Mutants of Serratia marcescens Nima, designated as Aut, Hut, or Put, did not utilize L-alanine, L-histidine, or L-proline, respectively, as a sole carbon source but did utilize other amino acids or glycerol as carbon sources . The bacteria were permeable to alanine, histidine, and proline but lacked the enzymes responsible for degradation of these amino acids . The Aut mutant contained no L-alanine dehydrogenase activity, whereas the Hut and Put mutants contained only 7 and 4% of the histidase and proline oxidase activities, respectively, found in the wild-type strain . Rates of oxygen uptake and protein synthesis were significantly lower when the mutants were incubated in the presence of amino acids they could not degrade . Studies of L-{14C}alanine, L-{14C}histidine, and L-{14C}proline incorporation into prodigiosin synthesized by these mutants and the wild-type strain revealed that proline was incorporated intact, whereas all of alanine except the carboxyl group was incorporated into the pigment molecule . Histidine did not enter prodigiosin directly . These data suggested that the presence of unique biosynthetic pathways, independent of primary metabolism, leads to formation of prodigiosin from specific amino acids.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1976 Dec 10, 13(3), 131 - 6
The extracellular metalloprotease of Serratia marcescens . 2 . Comparison with trypsin and substrate specificity; Aiyappa PS et al.; The proteolytic activity of the extracellular protease of Serratia marcescens was compared with that of trypsin on N, N-dimethyl casein . The peptides produced from exhaustive hydrolysis of alpha casein by the protease and by trypsin were of similar size as measured by gel filtration on P-10 Agarose . We conclude that the protease of S . marcescens in an endopeptidase with trypsin-like activity on proteins, producing oligopeptides . End group analysis of the peptides formed by the S . marcescens protease suggests that the protease has a unique substrate specificity, hydrolyzing only a peptide bond whose carboxyl group is donated by proline . The protease was inactive on the synthetic peptides with proline donating the carboxyl group, but hydrolyzed various types of natural proteins . Its narrow and novel substrate specificity makes this enzyme a potential tool for the determination of the primary structure of proteins.

Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Dec 8, 149(2), 159 - 65
Genetic studies of the ribosomal proteins in Escherichia coli . X . Mapping of the ribosomal proteins, L21 and S15, by intergeneric mating experiments between Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli K12; Takata R et al.; Episomes of E . coli, which cover argG but not the str region, were transferred to Serratia marcescens . Ribosomal proteins from these hybrid strains were analyzed with phospho-cellulose or carboxy-methyl-cellulose column chromatography . Two E . coli ribosomal proteins, L21 and S15, could be detected in the ribosome from the hybrid strains in addition to the ribosomal proteins of S . marcescens.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1976 Dec, 114(6), 1198 - 9
A rapid method of disinfecting the bronchofiberscope; Suratt PM et al.; A method of disinfecting the bronchofiberscope that requires 5 minutes was tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, influenza virus, and rhinovirus . The bronchofiberscope was contaminated with either sputum or mucin containing the microorganism . Disinfection was performed by washing the inner channel and the outer sheath with a hexachlorophene detergent followed by a solution containing povidone-iodine, ethanol, and water . A total of 76 specimens was tested; all postdisinfection cultures were sterile with the exception of one containing less than 102 colonies per ml of S . aureus.

Arch Microbiol, 1976 Dec 1, 111(1-2), 175 - 83
{Intracellular organisation of bacteriophage tail-like bacteriocins of group A in Serratia marcescens (author's transl)}; Acker G; The biosynthesis of a phage tail-like Bacteriocin by cells of the group A-bacteriocinogenic (bA+) Serratia marcescens strain no . 16 after induction with mitomycin C (MC) was examined electron-microscopically . This bacteriocin (total length 117 nm) consists of a hollow core and a contractile sheath . At 60 min following induction, rod-like bacteriocin-particles were identifiable in ultrathin sections . The particles were found to comprise three morphologically different forms of aggregation: 1 . hexagonal inclusions, 2 . contiguous, band-like particles, and 3 . staples of superimposed layers of bacteriocin particles . At 120 min after induction bA+ cells revealed maximally 450 bacteriocin particles . Similarly, the phage tail particles could be demonstrated with the "in situ lysis technique" at 60 min following induction . Occasionally, phage heads were demonstrable, but in no instance were complete phage particles discenible . Dividing cells of the bA+ strain of S . marcescens maintained their rod-form following induction with MC until intracellular phage tail bacteriocin particles were seen . However, at 120 min after induction, the swollen, sphaeroplast-like cells lysed, an event that could be correlated with fine structural alterations of the cell wall.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1976 Nov 30, 13(2), 95 - 100
The extracellular metalloprotease of Serratia marcescens: I . Purification and characterization; Aiyappa PS et al.; An extracellular protease of Serratia marcescens produced during growth on skim milk medium was isolated by ethanol precipitation . The protease was purified by salt fractionation, DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography on Agarose P-100 . It has a broad optimum from pH 6.0 to 9.0 and a temperature optimum of 45 degrees C for proteolytic activity on casein . It was classified as a metallo-protease by virtue of its inactivation by metal-ion chelators and reactivation by ferrous ions . Proteolytic activity was not affected by diiso-propylfluorophosphate, p-chloromercuribenzoate and dithiothreitol.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1976 Nov, 143(5), 789 - 92
Safety and efficacy of the antiseptic chlorhexidine gluconate; Rosenberg A et al.; Chlorhexidine gluconate, an antiseptic for the skin, has recently been investigated in a series of clinical studies on its safety and efficacy . By using standard methods, Hibiclens, Hibitane tinted tincture and 0.5 per cent aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate were shown to have an extremely low potential for the production of irritation, allergic contact sensitization, photoallergic contact sensitization and phototoxicity . In the glove fluid test for efficacy against resident flora of the hand, Hibiclens produced log10 reductions over the control of 1.9398, 2.5371 and 2.6885 for test days 1, 2 and 5, respectively . Corresponding reductions for Hibitane tinted tincture were 3.6903, 4.0984 and 4.1253 and for the aqueous formulation, 1.5003, 1.5721 and 1.8692 . In a transient flora skin contamination study, Serratia marcescens was applied at an average level of 6.8363 log10 organisms per milliliter to persons' hands, after which a 15 second Hibiclens hand wash was performed . Following five of these contaminations and hand washes, there was an over-all log10 reduction in recoverable Serratia of 3.8500 . Counts were further determined after ten, 15, 20 and 25 contaminations and hand washes, resulting in corresponding reductions of 4.2649, 4.6661, 4.8501 and 5.1725, respectively . Chlorhexidine gluconate offers an alternative to available antiseptics for the skin . It has been shown to be a fast acting, broad spectrum antimicrobial agent, with an extremely low potential for eliciting dermal reactions.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Nov, 134 SUPPL, S412 - 9
Use of Amikacin in a hospital for children: microbiological and clinical studies; Marget W et al.; Trends in relative susceptibility of clinical isolates, mostly from newborns with nosocomial infections, to the aminoglycosides in use in a hospital for children are described and related to practical therapeutic aspects . Currently, amikacin is the most effective of the available antibiotics against many gram-negative bacterial species, and its administration appears to be as complicated as that of other aminoglycosides . With 5 mug/ml taken as the cut-off point for susceptibility in vitro, 90% of 211 clinical isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Serratia, and other species) could be considered sensitive to amikacin; the respective figures for sensitivity to sisomicin, gentamicin, and tobramycin were 80.5%, 66%, and 70% . Cross-resistance of microorganisms to amikacin and gentamicin, sisomicin, or tobramycin has not been demonstrated . Treatment with amikacin was successful in 13 of 15 children (premature and normal newborns with primarily septicemia); death of two patients was attributable to the underlying disease . For neonatal infections we recommend 12 mg of amikacin/kg per day; determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration for the causative pathogen and monitoring of serum concentrations are desirable.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Nov, 32(5), 671 - 8
Microbiological hazard from the exhaust of a high-vacuum sterilizer; Barbeito MS et al.; Data are presented which show the potential for release of viable microorganisms into the atmosphere from high-vacuum steam sterilizers during the evacuation cycle preceding application of steam under pressure . Bacillus subtilis var . niger spores, Serratia marcescens cells, and T1 coliphage disseminated into the sterilizer chamber as small particles from liquid suspensions, and dried spores of B . subtilis var . niger distributed on bulk discard materials were recovered from the atmosphere around pipes venting steam from the steam ejectors used to create chamber vacuum . Evaluation of the hazard involved is discussed, and the design, fabrication, and installation of a valved filter system for preventing release of viable microorganisms are presented . The filtration system utilized an F-700 water-resistant filter and was shown to eliminate the release of viable airborne microorganisms from a high-vacuum sterilizer . A method is presented for determining size requirements for an atmospheric vent filter in relation to the volume of a sterilizer.

JAMA, 1976 Nov 1, 236(18), 2073 - 5
False-positive blood cultures . Association with nonsterile blood collection tubes; Hoffman PC et al.; A substantial increase in blood cultures positive for a Serratia marcescens strain unusually sensitive to antibiotics was noted in two large hospitals within six months . Because the patients' illnesses seemed incompatible with Serratia bacteremia, contamination of blood cultures was suspected . Investigation suggested that pediatric-sized vacuum tubes containing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) were the source of the organisms, and the epidemic strain of Serratia was recovered from 41 (35%) of the 116 tubes cultured . Mock trials showed that reflux from tube to syringe can occur while vacuum tubes are being filled . Because contaminated EDTA tubes were sometimes inoculated before blood culture bottles in these hospitals, cross-contamination occurred . Most evacuated specimen tubes are not guaranteed sterile by the manufacturer . False-positive blood cultures stemming from the use of nonsterile tubes can be eliminated by inoculating blood culture bottles before other specimen tubes . Because false-positive blood cultures may lead to unnecessary antibiotic therapy, health-care workers should guard against the potential hazard associated with use of these tubes.

Aust N Z J Surg, 1976 Nov, 46(4), 318 - 21
Infection in the intensive care unit; Clarke B; An epidemic of infection associated with Serratia marcescens and other Gram-negative organisms resistant to aminoglycosides and other chemotherapeutic agents occurred in the Intensive Care Unit, and spread to other areas of the hospital . This paper describes the problems of sepsis in the critically ill patient, outlines the occurrence of organisms in the patients concerned in this epidemic, and discusses the policies adopted to control the incidence of life-threatening infection caused by bacteria resistant to all other agents.

Mikrobiologiia, 1976 Nov-Dec, 45(6), 979 - 83
{Dynamics of accumulation of extracellular proteins of Serratia marcescens and their nuclease activity during cell growth}; Iasnova LN et al.; Serratia marcescens, strain B-10 M-1, liberates an unspecific endonuclease into the extracellular nutrient solution . Two peaks of the enzyme activity were found in the cultural broth during growth of the cells . The dynamics of accumulation of protein fractions in the cultural broth was studied, and the relative electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme-active part of the proteins was established.

Arch Intern Med, 1976 Nov, 136(11), 1323 - 5
Serratia marcescens - caused arthritis with negative and positive birefrengent crystals; Mayer JW et al.; We encountered an unusual case of arthritis caused by Serratia marcescens, with both positive and negative birefringent crystals in the same inflammatory synovial fluid . This combination of events is most likely to occur in men over 40 years old who have a predisposing illness or are receiving immunosuppressive drugs . This case shows the need to consider multiple pathological processes occurring in the same joint.

J Urol, 1976 Nov, 116(5), 613 - 5
Serratia marcescens and the urologist; Madduri SD et al.; Serratia marcescens, long considered a non-pathogen, is now found to be responsible for outbreaks of nosocomial infections . An outbreak of Serratia infection at 2 institutions is reported, in which 253 cultures of Serratia were grown and 115 patients were involved . The 3 most important conditions that preceded isolation of Serratia were the use of indwelling urethral catheters, antibiotic therapy and operation . All infections were acquired in the hospital . An epidemiological survey showed that the organism is present in the environment, even in the absence of active infection.

Biokhimiia, 1976 Nov, 41(11), 2077 - 81
{A mechanism of mononucleotide formation under endonuclease hydrolysis}; L'vova TH et al.; It has been shown under poly-A hydrolysis by endonuclease A236 in the presence of large amounts of E . coli phosphatase that the formation of mononucleotides requires the presence of terminal 5'-P in the substrate . Simultaneously, it has been found for endonuclease A236 and nuclease of Serratia marcescens that the products of exhaustive hydrolysis carried out in the presence of excess amounts of phosphatase contain an additional nucleoside residue as compared to the ordinary products of exhaustive hydrolysis, the number of phosphate groups being equal in both cases.

Mikrobiologiia, 1976 Nov-Dec, 45(6), 1045 - 8
{Various physiological aspects of Serratia marcescens pigmented strains and their pigmentless variants with an elevated nuclease activity}; Porfir'eva OV et al.; Some aspects of physiology of Serratia marcescens pigmentless variants with elevated nuclease activity were studied . The variants are characterized by a higher respiration rate when glucose, glycerol, inositol or maltose are used as an energy substrate, a higher respiration quotient, a lower growth rate, a lower economic coefficient, and a lower thermogenesis . The growth of Serratia marcescens pigmentless strains is presumed to be unbalanced.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 32(4), 561 - 6
Role of L-proline in the biosynthesis of prodigiosin; Scott RH et al.; Nonproliferating cells of Serratia marcescens, wild-type strain Nima, synthesized the pigment, prodigiosin, when saline suspensions were incubated with aeration at 27 degrees C in the presence of proline or alanine . Mutants PutS1 and PutS2 derived from strain Nima formed prodigiosin from alanine, but not from proline, unless alanine also was added . Strain Nima utilized proline as a sole source of carbon and of nitrogen for growth, whereas Put mutants did not . Investigation of enzymes degrading proline showed that the wild-type strain contained proline oxidase, which was absent in Put mutants . The wild type, as well as the mutants, utilized alanine as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen for growth . Although nonproliferating cells of Put mutants failed to synthesize prodigiosin from proline, addition of L-{U-14C}proline to suspensions metabolizing and synthesizing the pigment because of addition of alanine resulted in the incorporation of radioactive label into prodigiosin, as well as into cellular protein . Since Put mutants could not catabolize proline, the incorporation of {14C}proline into the prodigiosin molecule indicated that proline was incorporated directly into the pigment.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Sep, 134(3), 245 - 51
beta-Lactamases and resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins in Serratia marcescens; Farrar WE Jr et al.; Strains of Serratia marcescens fall into one of two groups with respect to their resistance to to beta-lactum antibiotics . Most strains are highly resistant to cephalosporins but are significantly more susceptible to ampicillin and carbenicillin, whereas other strains are highly resistant to both penicillins and cephalosporins . Strains in the former category produce small amounts of an inducible cephalosporinase, which appears to be chromosomally mediated . Strains in the latter class also elaborate large amounts of a noninducible penicillinase-cephalosporinase, which is plasmidmediated . Ability to produce this type of enzyme can be transferred to Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli and may be lost spontaneously or after exposure of S . marcescens to "curing" agents.

J Virol, 1976 Sep, 19(3), 1006 - 11
Cleavage of lambda DNA by a site-specific endonuclease from Serratia marcescens; McParland RH et al.; Three sites recognized by SmaI endonuclease, purified from Serratia marcescens SB, have been located on lambda DNA at 0.406, 0.656, and 0.825 fractional lengths from the left end of the DNA molecule.

J Bacteriol, 1976 Sep, 127(3), 1070 - 9
Outer membrane of Escherichia coli K-12: differentiation of proteins 3A and 3B on acrylamide gels and further characterization of con (tolG) mutants; Manning PA et al.; Two classes of mutants, con and tolG, that appeared to be very similar in a number of respects have been shown to be identical and cotransducible with pyrD . By diethylaminoethyl-cellulose chromatography of the outer membranes, we have shown that the mutants are missing only protein 3A and retain protein 3B . Using con mutants, we were thus able to identify protein 3B on the pH 7.2 gel system of Maizel where it runs separately from protein 3A if unheated samples are used . tolG mutants were shown to be identical to con mutants in being conjugation defective with most F-like plasmid donors but not with I-like plasmid donors, and in their resistance pattern to bacteriophages and colicins . During the course of this study, it was observed that the bacteriocin produced by Serratia marcescenc JF246 was identical in its activity spectrum to colicin L-398 and is now considered to be a colicin of type L.

Lancet, 1976 Aug 28, 2(7983), 455 - 9
Detection of Serratia outbreaks in hospital; Farmer JJ 3rd et al.; Infections due to Serratia marcescens were studied in 23 different hospitals . A retrospective study was done in 4 hospitals; all isolates were compared by serological typing, antibiograms, bacteriocin production, and bacteriocin sensitivity . 2 of the hospitals were having cross-infection problems due to antibiotic-resistant strains, but the other 2 had little or no cross-infection . Outbreaks were studied in 19 other hospitals . 9 of these outbreaks were classified as "common source" since contaminated "sterile solutions" were incriminated as the cause in each . One hospital had a "pseudo-outbreak," in which Serratia from E.D.T.A . blood-collecting tubes contaminated blood-cultures as they were collected . All 10 of these strains from common-source outbreaks were generally sensitive to antibiotics . Outbreaks in 9 other hospitals resulted from cross-infection and were caused by strains which were very resistant to antibiotics . Guidelines for detecting outbreaks are given and control measures are suggested.

Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Aug 2, 146(3), 233 - 8
Genetic studies of the ribosomal proteins in Escherichia coli . IX . Mapping of the ribosomal proteins, S2 and S20, by intergeneric mating experiments between Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli K12; Takata R; Episomes of E . coli K12, which cover thrleu region of the chromosome, were transferred to Serratia marcescens . Ribosomal proteins from these hybrid strains were analyzed with phosphocellulose column chromatography . Two E . coli 30S ribosomal proteins, S2 and S20, could be detected in the ribosome of the hybrid strain in addition to all ribosomal proteins of S . marcescens.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134 Suppl, S182 - 6
Clinical evaluation of tobramycin in respiratory and systemic infections in immunodepressed and normal patients; Altucci P et al.; Twelve patients with acute or chronic pneumonia due mainly to gram-negative bacilli, two patients with pseudomonas endocarditis, and two patients with seratia sepsis were treated with 80-160 mg of tobramycin in two daily doses . Fourteen infected patients with underlying leukemia or lymphoma received this dose of tobramycin combined with cefazolin or penicillin . Most respiratory infections were cured or markedly improved . with eradication or significant reduction in the number of infecting organisms . One case of pseudomonas endocarditis and both cases of serratia sepsis were also cured . Combined treatment with tobramycin and beta-lactam antibiotics resulted in clinical and bacteriological improvement in 50% of systemic immunodepressed patients with sepsis and/or pneumonia.

J Clin Pathol, 1976 Aug, 29(8), 752 - 5
Absence of bacterial resistance to povidone iodine; Houang ET et al.; Povidone iodine is now being increasingly used in hospitals as an antiseptic . The possible habituation of bacteria to iodine was studied by serial passage of two strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two strains of Escherichia coli, two strains of Klebsiella aerogenes, and one strain of Serratia marcescens in subinhibitory concentrations . After 20 passages, no significant change was observed in the minimal inhibitory concentration, minimal bactericidal concentration, and killing times between parent strains and 20th subcultures under standardized conditions.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1976 Aug, 80(2), 333 - 9
Biosynthesis of norvaline, norleucine, and homoisoleucine in Serratia marcescens; Kisumi M et al.; The biosynthetic pathways of norvaline homoisoleucine were examined using regulatory mutants of leucine biosynthesis in Serratia marcescens . alpha-Isopropylmalate synthetase {EC 4.1.3.12}, the first enzyme of leucine biosynthesis, catalyzed the condensations of acetyl-CoA with pyruvate, alpha-ketobutyrate, alpha-ketovalerate, or alpha-keto-beta-methylvalerate as well as alpha-ketoisovalerate . These condensations were inhibited by leucine in the alpha-aminobutyrate-resistant mutant, a mutant with derepressed leucine biosynthetic enzymes . However, these condensations were coordinately desensitized in the isoleucine leaky revertant, a leucine accumulator . The formation of norvaline or homoisoleucine was greater in the leucine accumulator, but its leucine auxotroph did not form these unnatural amino acids . Thus, norvaline and homoisoleucine are considered to be formed from alpha-ketobutyrate and alpha-keto-beta-methylvalerate by the leucine biosynthetic enzymes . This view was confirmed by the findings that a norvaline accumulator could be obtained by derivation of the leucine accumulator into an isoleucine-valine auxotroph . Norleucine was also found to be formed from alpha-ketovalerate, an alpha-ketoacid corresponding to norvaline.

Eur J Biochem, 1976 Aug 1, 67(1), 31 - 6
Purification, subunit structure and partial amino-acid sequence of anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase from the enteric bacterium Serratia marcescens; Largen M et al.; The enzyme anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase from Serratia marcescens was purified to apparent homogeneity . The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex gel filtration and hydroxyapatite chromatography . The molecular weight of the native protein as determined on a calibrated Sephadex G-200 column was 45000 . Dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of reducing agent revealed a subunit molecular weight of 43000 +/- 900, suggesting that the enzyme exists as a monomer . The sequence of the amino-terminal 38 residues revealed that three amino amino acids, glutamine (six residues), glutamic acid (five residues) and serine (five residues) comprised 42% of the sequence composition.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1976 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 581 - 6
{Chitinase from Serratia marcescens BKM B-851}; Chigaleichik AG et al.; The chitinase biosynthesis was studied during the cultivation of the strain of Serratia marcescens BKM B-851 with a high chitinolytic activity . Under submerged cultivation of bacterial cells on the medium containing demineralized crab shell extracellular chitinase showed maximum activity on the 3rd day . Cells of S . marcescens BKM B-851 synthesized chitinase as an adaptive enzyme . Chitinase obtained from the culture liquid by ammonium sulphate precipitation was then dialyzed and liophylized . It displayed optimum hydrolysis of colloid chitin at pH 7-8 and 50 degrees C and of native chitin at 30 degrees C.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1976 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 544 - 7
{Activity of intracellular and extracellular nuclease according to the phases of growth of pigment and pigment-free strains of Serratia marcescens}; Agliullina DG et al.; Changes in the activity of intracellular and extracellular nuclease of pigment and pigment-free strains of Serratia marcescens were studied . The activity of intra- and extracellular nuclease of the pigment-free strain was higher than that of the pigment strain at all growth stages of the microorganism . The activity of intracellular nuclease in the lag-phase was higher than in the phase of exponential growth of both strains . Prior to cell division the enzyme activity declined in both strains . At the beginning of the stationary phase the activity of intracellular nuclease was relatively stable in both strains . By the end of the stationary phase the activity of intracellular nuclease of the pigment-free strain increased 4--6 fold and that of the pigment strain remained unchanged . Simultaneously the activity of extracellular nuclease of the pigment-free strain increased and that of the pigment strain grew but slightly.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1976 Jul, 66(1), 96 - 100
Comparison of methods for differentiating among Serratia marcescens isolated from clinical specimens; Roemisch E et al.; Serotyping, biotyping and antibiotic resistance patterns were found to give consistent results for routine hospital surveillance of Serratia marcescens isolates . Bacteriocin typing showed variation between trials and was considered too variable and time-consuming for routine hospital surveillance.

J Pediatr, 1976 Jul, 89(1), 96 - 9
A nursery outbreak caused by Serratia marcescens--scalp-vein needles as a portal of entry; Stamm WE et al.; Serratia marcescens rarely causes infections in newborn infants . We recently studied an epidemic caused by a multiply-resistant, serotype 014:H12 Serratia marcescens that involved 42 infants . Cutaneous abscesses at previous intravenous infusion sites occurred nine times, usually required surgical drainage, and were the most striking infections during the outbreak . Six infants developed Serratia bacteremia and two died with Serratia meningitis; 34 patients were colonized with Serratia but remained uninfected . An epidemiologic investigation of the 83 infants at risk in the nursery assessed factors predisposing them to colonization or infection with the epidemic organism . Colonization of the throat, umbilicus, gastrointestinal tract, or skin was frequent among infants as was carriage of Serratia on nursey employees' hands . Infected and colonized infants were the most important reservoir for Serratia in the nursery and cross-infection between infants readily occurred . Scalp-vein needles appeared to provide a portal of entry of Serratia in colonized infants, predisposing them to abscess formation and bacteremia.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Jul, 29(7), 735 - 42
Evidences for complex formation between polymyxin B and lipopolysaccharides from Serratia marcescens; Tsang JC et al.; In vitro and in vivo complex formations of polymyxin B and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from resistant and sensitive cells of Serratia marcescens were studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and electron microscopy . In vitro treatment of LPS from resistant cells with polymyxin B gave two populations of spherical complexes of differnt molecular weights as determined electrophoretically . Similar treatment of LPS from sensitive cells resulted in dissociation of the LPS-protein and subsequent complexing with the LPS moiety into stable spheres . In vivo treatment of resistant cells with polymyxin B resulted in LPS-polymyxin B complexes which were comparatively smaller and existed in two morphological forms; spheres and linear ribbons . LPS from the sensitive cells were degraded extensively into small rods and an amorphous mass by the in vivo polymyxin B treatment . In both systems, the electrophoretic results consistently matched the electron microscopic evidences for complex formation of LPS with polymyxin B . It is suggested that the disruptive effects of polymyxin B on LPS in the outer membrane of S . marcescens may be the explanation for the change in permeability barrier in the resistant cells and disorganization of the outer membrane and subsequent death in the sensitive cells . Furthermore, the ability of the LPS to complex with the polymyxin B molecules in resistant cells may be the basis of their resistance to the antibiotic.

J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Jun, 3(6), 582 - 5
Combined serotyping and biotyping of Serratia marcescens; Rubin SJ et al.; The API (Analytab Products, Inc., New York, N.Y.) biotypes of 117 clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens were determined and fell into 13 different patterns . The O and H antigens were determined by tube agglutination, and 27 serotypes were identified . The biotype and serotype appeared to vary indepently . Serotyping and biotyping combined divided these isolates into 56 different types . There was a problem interpreting the end points for inositol fermentation and urease production, which could affect reproducibility of API biotypes . Biotyping is a simple way of screening for possible nosocomial outbreaks of S . marcescens.

Mikrobiologiia, 1976 May-Jun, 45, 420 - 4
{Nucleic acids utilized as the main source of bacterial nutrition}; Beliaeva MI et al.; Secretion of DNases and RNases, respectively, was found in saprophyte bacteria isolated from nature and growing on media containing DNA and RNA . Serratia marcescens and Bacillus subtilis with a high nuclease activity can assimilate RNA and DNA as the main source of nutrition . Ser . marcescens with a nuclease which attacks both DNA and RNA can grow equally well on these acids . Bac . subtilis has a higher activity of RNase and grows better on RNA.

Infect Immun, 1976 May, 13(5), 1343 - 6
Selective activation of classical and alternative pathways of human complement by "promptly serum-sensitive" and "delayed serum-sensitive" strains of Serratia marcescens; Traub WH et al.; Chelation of fresh human serum with 0.01 M MgCl2 (Mg) plus 0.01 M ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid failed to abrogate the bactericidal activity against "delayed serum-sensitive" strains of Serratia marcescens, whereas previously "promptly serum-sensitive" strains of S . marcescens and control strain Escherichia coli C were killed after an extended period of incubation . The addition of 0.01 M ethylenediametetracetate to fresh human serum neutralized bactericidal activity against S . marcescens of either serum sensitivity category.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1976 May, 79(5), 1021 - 8
L-Norvaline and L-homoisoleucine formation by Serratia marcescens,; Kisumi M et al.; Two unnatural amino acids were found as by-products in isoleucine fermentation from threonine by Serratia marcescens . These amino acids were identified as L-norvaline (2-aminopentanoic acid) and L-homoisoleucine (2-amino-4-methylhexanoic acid) . Formation of L-norvaline and L-homoisoleucine was not observed when L-leucine was added to the medium . The leucine auxotroph derived from the isoleucine accumlator did not produce L-norvaline or L-homoisoleucine even during the accumulation of large amounts of isoleucine . It is suggested that L-norvaline and L-homoisoleucine formation is closely related to leucine biosynthesis.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 May, 234(4), 528 - 35
Studies on group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of Serratia marcescens . VI . Calcium ion-dependent biological activity of subgroup II bacteriocins; Traub WH et al.; The biological activity of subgroup II group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of Serratia marcescens against susceptible indicator cells was completely abolished on two defined, Agarose-containing media . The addition of 0.002 M CaC12 to these two media fully restored the lethal activity of these phage tails . Subgroup I phage tail bacteriocins, on the other hand, were found to have no requirement for divalent cations . These observations furnished an additional biological criterion for the differentiation of subgroup I and II phage tail bacteriocins of S . marcescens.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 May, 234(4), 521 - 7
Studies on group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of Serratia marcescens . V . Serological characterization of subgroup I and II bacteriocins; Traub WH et al.; Neutralization tests with rabbit hyperimmune sera revealed a close, if not identical, serological relationship among 7 group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of Serratia marcescens of subgroup I, and among 3 phage tail bacteriocins of subgroup II, respectively . On the other hand, subgroup I and II phage tail bacteriocins were found to be serologically unrelated, as determined with neutralization tests and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion experiments . Immunoelectrophoretic tests, employing a representive phage tail bacteriocin of each of the two subgroups, disclosed the electrophoretic mobility of bacteriocin no . 5 (subgroup I), whereas bacteriocin no . 16 (subgroup II) remained stationary . Thus, two additional differential criteria, i.e., differences in antigenicity and electrophoretic mobility, were obtained for the characterization of subgroup I and II group A (phage tail) bacteriocins of S . marcescens.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 May, 31(5), 738 - 42
Incorporation of proline into prodigiosin by a Put mutant of Serratia marcesens; Lim DV et al.; A Put mutant of Serratia marcescens, deficient in proline oxidase and therefore unable to degrade proline, was used to assay for an enzymatic reaction responsible for incorporation of proline into prodigiosin . The reaction had a pH optimum of 7.5 and a Km of 1.1 X 10(-4) M at 27 C . At temperatures above 27 C, the velocity of the reaction decreased with increasing temperature and little activity was detected at 42 C . Activity of the enzyme was directly proportional to the quantity of pigment formed and was inhibited by thioproline, a substrate analog . These data suggested the presence of a unique and specific enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway for prodigiosin.

Experientia, 1976 Apr 15, 32(4), 439 - 40
Inhibition of prodigiosin formation in Serratia marcescens by adenosine triphosphate; Lawanson AO et al.; ATP, inorganic phosphate and ribose inhibited prodigiosin formation in Serratia marcescens, but adenine did not . ATP was not hydrolyzed by the organism during the experiment.

Experientia, 1976 Apr 15, 32(4), 421 - 2
The reversal of glucose repressed prodigiosin production in Serratia marcescens by the cyclic 3'5'-adenosine monophosphate inhibitor theophylline; Clements-Jewery S; Glucose was found to cause severe repression of prodigiosin production in Serratia marcescens and a dose related partial reversal was demonstrated by theophylline . It is suggested that this reversal is due to the inhibition of cAMP phosphodiesterase and the concomitant increase in cellular cAMP concentration.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1976 Apr, 113(4), 413 - 8
Ultraviolet susceptibility of BCG and virulent tubercle bacilli; Riley RL et al.; To test the effectiveness of irradiating the upper air of a room with ultraviolet light at reducing the concentration of airborne tubercle bacilli, the susceptibility to the germicidal effects of ultraviolet light, Z, was determined for various mycobacteria . Virulent tubercle bacilli and bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) were equally susceptible to ultraviolet radiation, whereas Mycobacterium phlei had 10 times their resistance (Z, approximately one-tenth that for M . tuberculosis) . The effectiveness against BCG of upper air ultraviolet irradiation in a room was tested directly by nebulizing BCG into the air of the room and monitoring its rate of disappearance . With one 17-watt fixture operating, the rate of disappearance increased 6-fold; with 2 fixtures operating (46 watts total), the rate of disappearance increased 9-fold . This implies that under steady-state conditions, the concentrations of airborne organisms with ultraviolet light(s) on would have been one-sixth and one-ninth, respectively . The increase in rate of decay of the airborne organisms using 1 fixture was equivalent to 10 air changes per hour, whereas that using 2 fixtures was approximately 25 air changes per hour (range: 18 to 33 air changes per hour) . These increments are less than those reported previously for Serratia marcescens, because the Z value for BCG is approximately one-seventh that for serratia . These findings with BCG are believed to be directly applicable to virulent tubercle bacilli.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Apr, 234(3), 384 - 92
{Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides in gram negative bacteria . 2 . Mechanism of resistance (author's transl)}; Schmid B et al.; In a preceding paper the genetics of resistance of 2 representative strains exhibiting resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, catbenicillin, cephalothin) to aminoglycosides (kanamycin, neomycin, paromomycin, gentamycin, sisomycin, tobramycin, streptomycin, spectinomycin) and further antimicrobials (tetracycline, chloramphenicol, suphonamides) were described . This paper reports about the mechanism of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides in these strains . Enzymatic extracts from K . pneumoniae 1 and Serratia marcescens 2 were produced by the osmotic shock procedure . Incubation of these extracts with aminoglycoside antibiotics, to which the strains are resistant, and ATP resulted in the total inactivation of the antimicrobials, as measured with a Bacillus subtilis assay . Analysis of this inactivation with the radioactive methods of Davies and his colleagues revealed that the kanamycins, neomycins, paromomycin and gentamycin A were phosphorylated . Because butirosin was not a substrate for the phosphorylating enzyme, it was concluded that the strain produced the neomycin/kanamycin phosphototransferase I . Furthermore, it was found that streptomycin and spectinomycin were adenylylated by the enzymatic extracts as well as gentamycin C1a, C1, C2, A, tobramycin, sisomycin and the kanamycins . This substrate profile indicated the presence of two adenylylating enzymes: streptomycin/spectinomycin-adenylyl-transferase and gentamycin-adenylyltransferase . After transfer of multiple drug resistance by conjugation from both strains into C . coli K-12, sonified extracts were prepared and examined for enzymatic activity splitting beta-lactam antibiotics . The relative rates of inactivation of benzylpenicillin, ampicillin and cephaloridine as well as the inhibitory effect of cloxacillin, but not of p-chloro-mercuri-benzoate on the inactivation of cephaloridine indicated that both strains produced a class III/type a (TEM type) beta-lactamase . It is discussed that the increasing frequency of gram-negative organisms form the university hospital with identical resistant phenotypes as the strains examined is the result of the spread of an R-factor among the hospital bacterial flora.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1976 Apr, 24(4), 257 - 64
{Antibacterial activity of minocycline alone and associated with other antibiotics (author's transl)}; Joly BH et al.; The authors study in vitro effects of minocycline and compare its activity with tetracycline . 909 strains of cocci and bacilli selected among strains isolated from Clermont-Ferrand Hospital Center during the third trimester 1974 were used . Study involves 3 parts : comparison between bacteriostatic activity of both antibiotics ; evaluation of R-factor resistance ; evaluation of bactericidal activity of antibiotic associations including minocycline . M.I.C . study included all strains . A better bacteriostatic activity was noted with minocycline against multi-resistant strains of staphylococcus, streptococcus, E . coli, Serratia and Moraxella . R-factor resistance has been studied upon 27 strains of Gram-negative bacilli selected for their high M.I.C . to tetracycline (M.I.C . greater than or equal to 64 mcg/ml) and to minocycline (M.I.C . greater than or equal to 32 mcg/ml) . Both types of transferable tetracycline resistance characters Ta and Tb have been found . More than 250 bactericidal associations were studied upon 38 strains.

J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 3(4), 393 - 6
Medium-dependent inhibition of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius by sodium polyanetholsulfonate in blood culture media; Wilkins TD et al.; Of 13 species of anaerobic cocci, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was the only species tested that was sensitive to 0.1% sodium polyanetholsulfonate (SPS) . However, the sensitivity of P . anaerobius to SPS varied according to the media in which the cultures were grown . In supplemented peptone (B-D) and brain heart infusion media, most strain of P . anaerobius were not inhibited by SPS . Gelatin and proteose peptone were the medium components which were protective . The minimal inhibitory concentration of SPS for P . anaerobius was approximately 60-fold higher in media . However, the concentration of SPS required to neutralize the bactericidal properties of human serum was only four fold higher in media containing geltain . In a commerical medium containing SPS (0.03%) and gelatin (1.2%), SPS-sensitive strains of P . anaerobius were not inhibited by SPS, and the bactericdal action of human blood on Escherichia coli C and Serratia marcescens SM 29 was eliminated.

Eur J Biochem, 1976 Apr 1, 63(2), 321 - 9
Functional hybrid enzymes reconstituted from Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens RNA polymerase subunits; Konze-Thomas B et al.; RNA polymerase was isolated from Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens . The subunits of both enzymes were separated by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate sheets in the presence of urea . Under conditions favouring reconstitution of the RNA polymerases, stoichiometric amounts of the subunits were allowed to interact . Active hybrid enzymes were formed if corresponding subunits of both enzymes were mutually exchanged . The analysis of the RNA products synthesized showed that the reconstituted enzymes are able to recognize the promoters for transcription and the termination signals on the DNA template . The transcription products can serve as messengers for cell-free protein synthesis.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 31(4), 609 - 11
Surface balance study of the interaction between microorganisms and lipid monolayer at the air/water interface; Kjelleberg S et al.; Using the surface balance technique, we have compared the interaction between Acholeplasma laidlawii and some marine bacteria towards different types of monolayered lipid films . Cells from A . laidlawii and Serratia marinorubra penetrate the film, whereas cells from Psuedomonas fluorescens form a layer underneath the film . The forces that bind microorganisms to the air/water interface are not strong enough to scatter a condensed monolayer but increase the strength of loosely packed monolayers.

Radiology, 1976 Mar, 118(3), 725 - 6
Radiosensitization of Serratia marcescens by cetylpyridinium chloride . Evidence for membrane-associated events; Redpath JL et al.; Cetylpyridinium chloride has been shown to be an effective radiosensitizer of both oxic and anoxic suspensions of Serratia marcescens in buffer . The related compounds ethylpyridinium bromide and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride exhibited no such radiosensitizing properties at comparable concentrations . It is suggested that the efficiency of cetylpyridinium chloride is due to the combination of lipid-soluble (cetyl) and electron-affinic (pyridinium) moieties within the same molecule, and that these may provide for interaction with a membrane-associated target . Cetylpyridinium chloride did not radiosensitize bacteria suspended in nutrient broth.

J Lab Clin Med, 1976 Feb, 87(2), 206 - 17
Host resistance to Serratia marcescens infection: serum bactericidal activity and phagocytosis by normal blood leukocytes; Simberkoff MS et al.; Serratia marcescens strains isolated from clinical specimens can be divided into those which are sensitive or resistant to the bactericidal activity of normal human serum . Serum bactericidal activity is heat labile, cation dependent, and is absorbable by whole, serum-sensitive Serratia or ethanol-insoluble extracts of these organisms . Bacteremic Serratia infection is invariably caused by the serum-resistant strains . Serum resistant Serratia are ingested and killed by normal human leukocytes and fresh normal serum . Heating or preabsorption of serum with whole, heat-killed, or ethanol-insoluble antigen extracts of the serum-resistant Serratia diminishes opsonization and phagocytosis . Serratia opsonins in the serum of healthy individuals are type-specific IgM globulins which combine with the organism and activate complement by the alternate pathway.

Ann Intern Med, 1976 Jan, 84(1), 29 - 35
Serratia marcescens endocarditis: a regional illness associated with intravenous drug abuse; Mills J et al.; From 1969 to 1974, 19 cases of Serratia marcescens endocarditis were observed in the San Francisco Bay Area . Seventeen patients were intravenous drug users, and Serratia caused 14% of all addict-associated endocarditis in San Francisco . Serratia strains were nonpigmented and had typical antibiotic sensitivities, except that 9 of the isolates exhibited colonial variation, with each variant having different antibiotic sensitivities . Aortic or mitral valves were involved in 13 patients, and heart failure developed in 9 of these . Twelve patients had embolic episodes to brain, iliofemoral arteries, or lung . Five of 6 patients with tricuspid valvulitis were cured by antibiotics either with (1) or without excision of the valve . All 12 patients with aortic or mitral valvulitis treated medically died; 11 had unremitting sepsis . Aortic valve replacement and antibiotics were effective in 1 . Gentamicin combined with either carbenicillin or chloramphenicol was the most effective treatment regimen.

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 1976, 22(5), 365 - 73
Some characteristics of the dihydrofolate synthetase from Serratia indica; Ikeda M et al.; Dihydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.2.12) from Serratia indica IFO 3759 require a divalent cation and a univalent cation for its activity . The divalent cation requirement was satisified by magnesium ion, manganese ion or ferrous ion . High activity was obtained with 5 mM of magnesium ion . The effect of manganese ion was weak . The univalent cation requirement was satisfied by potassium ion, ammonium ion or rubidium ion, and high activity was obtained with 100 mM of each univalent cation . Increase in the potassium concentration lowered Km values for dihydropteroate and L-glutamate, and raised V max for ATP and dihydropteroate . Potassium ion had little effect on Km value for ATP . These results suggest that potassium ion may function on the affinities of dihydropteroate and L-glutamate to the enzyme . Dihydrofolate synthetase was inhibited by the addition of reduced forms of homopteroic acid . Stronger inhibition was observed by dihydrohomopteroate than by tetrahydrohomopteroate.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Jan, 31(1), 70 - 7
Macromolecular syntheses during biosynthesis of prodigiosin by Serratia marcescens; Williams RP et al.; Amino acids that were utilized as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen for growth of Serratia marcescens Nima resulted in biosynthesis of prodigiosin in non-proliferating bacteria . Addition of alanine, proline, or histidine to non-proliferating cells incubated at 27 C increased the rate of protein synthesis and also caused biosynthesis of prodigiosin . No increase in the rate of protein synthesis was observed upon the addition of amino acids that did not stimulate prodigiosin biosynthesis . Increased rates of synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (a small amount) also occurred after addition of amino acids that resulted in biosynthesis of prodigiosin . After incubation of 24 h, the total amount of protein in suspensions of bacteria to which alanine or proline was added increased 67 and 98%, respectively . Total amounts of DNA and of RNA also increased before synthesis of prodigiosin . The amounts of these macromolecules did not increase after addition of amino acids that did not induce biosynthesis of progidiosin . However, macromolecular synthesis was not related only to prodigiosin biosynthesis because the rates of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis also increased in suspensions of bacteria incubated with proline at 39 C, at which temperature no prodigiosin was synthesized . The quantities of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesized were lower in non-proliferating cells than in growing cells . The data indicated that amino acids causing biosynthesis of prodigiosin in non-proliferating cells must be metabolized and serve as sources of carbon and of nitrogen for synthesis of macromolecules and intermediates . Prodigiosin was synthesized secondarily to these primary metabolic events.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1976, 8(1), 57 - 60
Intraventricular treatment of Serratia marcescens meningitis with gentamicin . Pharmacokinetic studies of gentamicin concentration in one case; Kourtopoulos H et al.; A neurosurgical patient with postoperative meningitis caused by Serratia marcescens was treated with intraventricular as well as intramuscular gentamicin . Gentamicin concentration in serum and CSF was determined at different times after the administration . Serratia marcescens could not be isolated from CSF after 3 days of therapy . Determination of gentamicin concentrations in CSF showed that gentamicin should not be given intraventricularly more than once a day to avoid accumulation of the drug . No adverse effect was noticed although the CSF concentration reached 450 mug/ml.

Chemotherapy, 1976, 22(1), 43 - 54
In vitro sensitivity of hospital strains of Serratia marcescens to chemotherapeutic agents; Verbist L et al.; The susceptibility of 83 non-pigmented Serratia marcescens strains was determined by an agar dilution technique . They originated from miscellaneous pathological specimens submitted to the diagnostic laboratory during a nosocomial infection outbreak in 1974 . All strains were completely resistant to 128 mug/ml of cephalothin, colistin sulphomethate, lincomycin and penicillin G . They were also resistant to clinically attainable concentrations of ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, novobiocin and tetracycline . With regard to drugs with some activity 84% of the strains were susceptible to nalidixic acid, 48% to sulphamethoxazole, 57% to streptomycin, 60% to kanamycin, 61% to gentamicin, 85% to co-trimoxazole and 100% to amikacin . Environmental strains isolated from the infected units were strikingly more sensitive than the patient strains.

Microbios, 1976, 17(68-69), 149 - 61
Effect of polymyxin B on outer membranes of Serratia marcescens: morphological alterations of the outer membranes and their lipopolysaccharide components; Weber DA et al.; The in vitro or the in vivo treatment of outer membranes and their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) components from Serratia marcescens with the antibiotic polymyxin B appeared to alter their normal morphology in a sequential manner . The normal spherodial morphology was destablized into a flattened structure after the in vitro treatment of either the resistant strain 08 or the sensitive strain Bizio . The more severe in vivo treatment of the outer membranes from the resistant strain converted the flattened forms further into spheres with undefined periphery and diminished sizes . On the other hand, the same treatment of the outer membranes from the sensitive strain resulted in numerous incomplete spheres and short rods, which were similar to the various morphological forms of the LPS components after polymyxin B treatment . The difference in the morphological changes of the outer membranes and their LPS components of the resistant and sensitive strains after polymyxin B treatment may be explained by the variation of the susceptiblity of the membrane components to the degradative effects of the antibiotic.

Microbios, 1976, 15(61-62), 153 - 64
Comparative release of alkaline phosphatases from Serratia marcescens by osmotic shock and polymyxin B treatment; Page LV et al.; The comparative release of periplasmic enzymes and proteins from two strains of Serratia marcescens by osmotic shock and polymyxin B treatment was studied . There were significant qualitative and quantitative differences in the materials released by these two techniques . The osmotic shock procedure released a higher level of alkaline phosphatase activity and a greater number of protein components than the polymyxin B treatment . The molecular weights of the active components released by the two techniques were shown to be 190,000 +/- 10,000 (A'), 140,000 +/- 10,000 (A) and 110,000 +/- 10,000 (B) daltons . Components released by polymyxin B were also released by osmotic shock . However, the reverse was not true . Component B in the osmotic shock fluids was by far the most active . The differences in the release mechanisms of the two techniques were discussed . It is suggested that polymyxin B treatment is the method of choice because of its selectiveness and mildness, despite the rather low level of activity of alkaline phosphatase released.

Microbios, 1976, 15(61-62), 165 - 75
Effect of saline on the releasability of alkaline phosphatase from cells of Serratia marcescens; Kranz DM et al.; The effect of 0.9% sodium chloride solution on the release of alkaline phosphatases from cells of four strains of Serratia marcescens was studied . Saline had a greater action in the releasability of the enzyme on cells of the polymyxin B sensitive strains than those of the polymyxin B resistant strains . SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the released materials showed the presence of proteins and lipopolysaccharide components of the outer membrane as well as enzyme activity in all four strains . Cells from strains harvested under higher temperatures contained more releasable activity in the salin wash fraction than those harvested under refrigerated condition . Active components with molecular weights of 190,000 and 110,000 daltons were either absent or present to a lesser degree in the extracts released by the polymyxin B treatment of the washed cells . However, active components not released by saline were found in the polymyxin B extracts . Contrary to other reports, results of this study clearly showed the ubiquitous nature of alkaline phosphatase in S . marcescens . It appears that their releasability is related to the polymyxin B susceptibility as well as the instability of the outer membrane of the cell envelope.

Chemotherapy, 1976, 22(5), 297 - 312
Characterization of a nosocomially significant, multiple drug-resistant strain of Serratia marcescens; Traub WH et al.; A multiple drug-resistant strain of Serratia marcescens (bacteriocin type 18) was isolated from three clinical patients . The isolates were found to carry a conjugally nontransferable, nonmobilizeable resistance plasmid (R-plasmid) with resistance-(r)-determinants against ten antimicrobial drugs: ampicillin, carbenicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, tobramycin, triple sulfonamides, cotrimoxazole, and--possibly--nalidixic acid, as determined with exposure to 'curing' agents (ethidium bromide, acridine orange, and sodium dodecyl sulfate) and by the high rate of spontaneous loss of r-determinants . Dyebuoyant density centrifugation allowed recovery of R-plasmid DNA that measured roughly 24 mum in contour length; after 'curing' with concomitant loss of 9 r-determinants, the contour length of the R-plasmid DNA of one isolate (No . SE 154) had decreased to roughly 15 mum, and none was detected in the sole variant of the isolate that spontaneously had lost 11 r-determinants.

Chemotherapy, 1976, 22(2), 104 - 13
Ultrastructural surface alterations of serratia marcescens after exposure to polymyxin B and/or fresh human serum; Traub WH et al.; Exposure of Serratia marcescens cells to 10, 5, and 2.5 mug/ml of polymyxin B resulted in outer cell surface alterations that consisted of coarse, pleomorphic projections which revealed a double-contoured membrane structure . In contrast, fresh, but not heat-inactivated human serum caused the deposition of very fine, thread-like aggregates on the outer cell surface of exposed cells . The combination of polymyxin B and fresh human serum caused clearly discernible ultrastructural changes of the polymyxin and the fresh serum type, respectively.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1976, 21(6), 465 - 73
Exocellular proteases of Serratia marcescens and their toxicity to larvae of Galleria mellonella; Kaska M et al.; Out of 18 strains of Serratia marcescens producing exocellular proteases the strain Serratia marcescens CCEB 415 was selected according to preliminary experiments . It could be shown that the train exhibits proteolytic activity reaching up to 10 TU per 1 ml of the culture filtrate in a medium with gelatine and peptone . Two proteolytic enzyme could be demonstrated by means of specific inhibitors EDTA and diisopropyfluorophosphate: metalprotease with optimum activity at pH 7.5 and serine protease with pH optimum of 10.9 . The enzymes were purified on Sephadex and DEAE cellulose columns and by means of gel electrophoresis . However, it was not possible to separate them . The optimum temperature for activity of the mixture of the two enzymes was 50degrees C, molecular weight varied around 37000 (according to gel filtration); certain kinetic characteristics of their activity were determined . Excess subtrate (casein) inhibited activity of the enzyme mixture . Toxicity of proteases expressed as LD50 units equals 78 - 10(3) TU per larva of Galleria mellonella.

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 1976, 22(3), 235 - 48
Purification and properties of the dihydrofolate synthetase from Serratia indica; Ikeda M et al.; The dihydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.2.12) responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid from dihydropteroic acid and L-glutamic acid was purified about 130-fold from extracts of Serratia indica IFO 3759 by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography . The enzyme preparation obtained was shown to be homogeneous by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and ultracentrifugal analysis . The sedimentation coefficient of this enzyme was 3.9 S, and the molecular weight was determined to be about 47,000 by Sephadex G-100 . The optimum pH for the reaction was 9.0 . The enzymatic reaction required dihydropteroate, L-glutamate and ATP as substrates, and Mg2+ and K+ as cofactors . gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-glutamic acid cannot replace L-glutamic acid as the substrate . Neither pteroic acid nor tetrahydropteroic acid can be used as the substrate . ATP was partially replaced by ITP or GTP . The enzyme reaction was inhibited by the addition of AD, but not by AMP . One mole of dihydrofolate, 1 mole of ADP and 1 mole of orthophosphate were produced from each 1 mole of dihydropteroic acid, L-glutamic acid, and ATP by the following equation: 7,8-Dihydropteroic acid ml-Glutamic acid matp Mg2+, K+ leads to Dihydrofolic acid + ADP + Pi . These results suggest that the systematic name for the dihydrofolate synthetase is 7,8-dihydropteroate: L-glutamate ligase (ADP).

J Pediatr Surg, 1975 Dec, 10(6), 935 - 8
First reported successful management of Serratia marcescens bacteremia after open heart surgery in a child; Saxena NC et al.; A 7 and one-half yr-old girl developed bacteremia from S . marcescens following debanding of the pulmonary artery and closure of multiple ventricular septal defects with a Dacron patch and multiple Teflon pledgets . The site of entry was probably a radial arterial catheter left in place for 8 days . Infection was eradicated by a combination of gentamicin and carbenicillin over a 4-wk period . Of 12 cases of postoperative Serratia bacteremia in adults following valve replacement, only four survived . Antibiotics of proven effectiveness against the specific isolated Serratia strain, prompt therapy sustained for 6 wk offers the prospect for cure of this serious complication of cardiac surgery.

S Afr Med J, 1975 Dec 6, 49(52), 2151 - 2
Carbenicillin in acute renal failure; Kies BM et al.; Three septicaemic patients with acute renal failure required carbenicillin . Septicaemia was caused by Pseudomonas in 2 patients and by Serratia marcescens in the third . Therapy in the first 2 patients was complicated by massive gastro-intestinal and uterine bleeding . Septicaemia in the third patient was initially uncontrolled owing to inadequate serum levels of carbenicillin, despite increased dosage as renal function improved . The problems and indications for the use of carbenicillin in renal failure are discussed and the possible relationship to bleeding diathesis is considered.

J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1975 Dec, 57(8), 1158 - 60
Serratia arthritis in heroin users; Ross GN et al.; Septic arthritis due to Serratia species was seen in four users of intravenous heroin . In all cases, the organism was cultured from joint aspirates . Both the clinical presentation and the involvement of the sacro-iliac and knee joints were notably similar to the Pseudomonas septic arthritis encountered in other heroin users . All four patients responded satisfactorily to therapy although one had a residual flexion contracture of the knee . Twelve previously reported cases of Serratia arthritis are reviewed.

Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1975 Dec, 150(3), 801 - 6
Effects in the rat of intradermal injection of purified proteinases from streptococcus and Serratia marcescens; Conroy MC et al.; Purified streptococcal proteinase and Serratia proteinase are potent permeability factors in rat skin and initiate histopathological evidence of an acute inflammatory response . These effects appear to be largely independent of terminal components of complement, histamine, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1975 Nov 7, 100(45), 2324 - 8
{Contaminated infusions as cause of nosocomial Serratia marcescens septicaemia in children (author's transl)}; Daschner F et al.; At the University Children's Clinic at Munich 25 cases of Serratia marescens septicaemia (mainly bacteriocin types 18 and 44) occurred within one year, predominantly in newborns and infants . Almost all of the children were seriously ill from an underlying illness or had been operated on . Two thirds had received antibiotics before the septicaemia occurred but they were ineffective . Of a total of nine antibiotics tested against 51 Serratia marcescens strains, nalidixic acid (99% sensitivity) and amikacin (100%) proved the most effective . Main source of the septicaemia were contaminated infusions, from which in as many as 35% of cases microorganisms, usually Serratia marcescens, had been isolated . Intensive hygienic measures at once terminated this "sepsis wave".

J Lab Clin Med, 1975 Nov, 86(5), 853 - 62
Comparison of methods for assessing in vitro antibiotic synergism against Pseudomonas and Serratia; Weinstein RJ et al.; Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens are often difficult to treat because of the narrow therapeutic ratio of available antimicrobials . Synergistic inhibitory and bactericidal activity for gentamicin and carbenicillin against P . aeruginosa has been documented in vitro . The purpose of this study was to compare 4 methods of determining in vitro synergism between several aminoglycosides and penicillins . The agar dilution method using an inoculum replicator was employed, and a drug combination showing inhibition equal to or less than one-fourth of the individual minimal inhibitory concentrations was termed synergistic . Combinations using amikacin and BL-P1654 showed synergism against a greater per cent of strains of P . aeruginosa and S . marcescens than combinations using gentamicin or carbenicillin . Additionally, the "checkerboard" broth dilution method using both minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration as endpoints and killing curves according to the methods of Jawetz was studied . Comparison of the results of these 4 methods showed excellent correlation, verifying the consistency of the 4 techniques for determining in vitro synergism.

J Bacteriol, 1975 Oct, 124(1), 424 - 34
Effects on specific antibodies on the catalytic activity of L-asparaginase from Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli; Ferguson DA Jr et al.; Rabbit antisera against highly purified L-asparaginase from Serratia marcescens and from Escherichia coli showed up to 60% inhibition of the catalytic amidohydrolysis of L-asparagine when combined with the homologous enzyme . This inhibition was diminished somewhat against the heterologous enzyme . Kinetic studies in the presence of these antisera showed an increased Kmapp for both homologous and heterologous enzymes using L-asparagine as substrate . In contrast, kinetic studies employing the poor substrate, L-glutamine, showed activation attributable to specific antibodies . This was seen in lower Kmapp values and up to twofold increases in the Vmax over the normal rabbit serum controls . The high degree of cross-inhibition (approximately 80%) and the low degree of cross-reactivity in the quantitative precipitin test (approximately 34%) suggest that these two enzymes possess structural similarities located mainly in the regions of the catalytic sites.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1975 Oct, 141(4), 552 - 4
The role of the nurse epidemiologist in infection control and continuing education; Flower M et al.; A university affiliated Veterans Administration Hospital had an increase in the number of serratia isolates . An epidemiologic investigation, including personnel and environmental prevalence study, helped correct errors in technique, management and judgment . A nurse epidemiologist prevented a cluster of infections from becoming an epidemic.

J Med Chem, 1975 Oct, 18(10), 986 - 92
Chemistry of cephalosporin antibiotics . 28 . Preparation and biological activity of 3-(substituted)vinyl cephalosporins; Webber JA et al.; 3-(Substituted)vinylcephem nuclei have been prepared by the reaction of 3-formylcephem derivatives with stabilized phosphoranes . Appropriate synthetic steps allowed preparation of a series of 3-ethoxycarbonylvinyl- and 3-carboxyvinylcephem derivatives bearing a variety of 7-acylamino functions . The phenoxyacetyl and thiopheneacetyl derivatives of the 3-cyanovinylcephem nucleus were also prepared . Although general gram-positive activity was comparable to cephalothin in many cases, against penicillin G resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the new cephalosporins were of low effectiveness . The 3-(substituted)vinyl cephalosporins had good activity against a number of gram-negative organisms . In some cases, this activity was excellent . The N-acetyl analogs had surprisingly good activity relative to N-acetyl-7-ACA . The phenylmalonoyl side-chain derivatives were shown to have an unusual antibacterial spectrum expansion (relative to previously known cephalosporins) to include activity against Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Can Med Assoc J, 1975 Aug 9, 113(3), 208 - 13
Evacuated blood-collection tubes--the backflow hazard; Katz L et al.; Five cases of nosocomial infection caused by Serratia marcescens were traced to backflow of blood from nonsterile evacuated blood-collection tubes . The mechanism of backflow was investigated theoretically and the conditions were determined under which backflow can occur . The theory was confirmed by experiments conducted on a simulated venous system and by measurements of the venous pressure in the brachial vein of a patient during application and removal of a tourniquet . Various possible solutions to the backflow hazard include strict adherence to correct venipuncture technique, sterilization of all blood-collection tubes, improvement of the vacuum in the tubes and incorporation of a check valve into the system.

Can J Biochem, 1975 Jul, 53(7), 819 - 22
Some distinctive characteristics of the alkaline phosphatase of Serratia marcescens; Bhatti AR; A mutant strain of Serratia marcescens produces a constitutive enzyme (phosphatase F), which differs from the alkaline phosphatase of Escherichia coli in the following characteristics: one enzyme species with higher mobility on electrophoresis, less heat stability, no rapid reactivation following exposure to high hydrogen ion concentrations, no hybridization with E . coli enzyme in vitro, little activation at increased ionic strength, greater sensitivity to EDTA inhibition, and no cross reaction of rabbit anti-serum with the E . coli enzyme.

Arch Microbiol, 1975 Jun 22, 104(2), 189 - 96
Mutants of Serratia marcescens lacking cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity and requiring cyclic 3',5'-AMP for the utilization of various carbohydrates; Winkler U et al.; Adenine requiring mutants of Serratia marcescens SM-6-F'lac+ have been found to grow well in minimal-glucose medium solely supplemented with cAMP . From one of these ade strains double mutants (called ade cpd) were isolated which could no longer utilize cAMP but which still grew on 5'AMP . Dialyzed cell extracts (soluble fraction) of the double mutants, assayed for cAMP phosphodiesterase, were unable to hydrolyze cAMP whereas cell extracts of the parental strains yielded 5'AMP at a rate of 1.6-2.0 mumoles min-1 mg-1 protein . The loss of the phosphodiesterase activity in S . marcescens cpd W 1181 did not cause an accumulation of large amounts of cAMP as was found for the diesterase-negative mutant AB257pc-1 of Escherichia coli . The induced synthesis of beta-galactosidase in mutant cpd W 1181 showed about the same sensitivity to transient and permanent catabolite (glucose) repression as the corresponding cpd+ strain . Starting from S . marcescens cpd W 1182 three independent double mutants (called cpd cya) were isolated which required exogenous cAMP for utilizing various carbohydrates as carbon source, for motility and for the formation of extracellular lipase and the red pigment prodigiosine . The intracellular concentration of cAMP in these mutants, grown in nutrient broth, was 40-60% of that of the parental strain which is about 4 x 10(-4) M . However, the adenylate cyclase in cell extracts of the mutants W 1237 and W 1270 was like that of the corresponding cya+ strain (about 2 x 10(-2) mumoles min-1 mg-1 protein).

Gann, 1975 Jun, 66(3), 317 - 8
Antitumor activity of polysaccharides from Serratia marcescens; Ikekawa T et al.; A lipopolysaccharide (serratigen) and a polysaccharide (serratimannan) were isolated from Serratia marcescens, red strain No . 51 . They were different from any other polysaccharides previously reported . The antitumor activity of these polysaccharides was determined . Serratimannan showed 63% tumor inhibition and serratigen 38%, at a dose of 150 mg/kg, against solid tumor of sarcoma-180 using ICR mice . The fraction obtained by removal of proteins from the crude extract by the Sevag method showed a high antitumor activity against solid tumor of sarcoma-180 using Swiss albino mice, but did not show so high an activity using ICR mice . In total packed cell volume method, these polysaccharides exhibited a high rate of antitumor activity against ascites tumor of sarcoma-180.

Jpn J Microbiol, 1975 Jun, 19(3), 219 - 24
Amoxycillin and ampicillin . A comparative study of in vitro sensitivity and induced morphological alterations in Serratia marcescens; Miller MA et al.; In vitro antibacterial activities of ampicillin and amoxycillin were compared against pigmented and non-pigmented strains of Serratia marcescens . Ampicillin appeared more effective than amoxycillin; three-fourths of all strains consistently exhibited an ampicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of at least one tube less than that recorded for amoxycillin . Complete cross resistance was not observed as has previously been inferred . Further, greater bactericidal activity was demonstrated with ampicillin; minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were either the same as or one tube greater than the MIC . MBC's for amoxycillin, however, were significantly higher; often four to five times greater than the MIC . Ampicillin exhibited greater bactericidal activity as inferred from differences observed in the biological lesions induced, as recorded through observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) . Spheroplasts were the predominant morphological alteration induced by ampicillin . In contrast, only filament formation, which demonstrated a degree of reversibility, was induced by amoxycillin.

Prakt Anaesth, 1975 Jun, 10(3), 119 - 25
{Serratia marcescens infection in intensive care units (author's transl)}; Freitag V et al.; The increased incidence of Serratia marcescens infection at the intensive care unit of the Department of Anaesthetics, General Hospital Altona, was investigated . The properties of this microorganism are described and its role in cross infections is discussed . The frequent occurrence of Serratia marcescens in mixed infections and its tendency to grow on tissue surfaces are pointed out . The presence of Serratia marcescens was demonstrated in 23 of 107 patients treated in the intensive care unit; an infection with Serratia was established in 13 of the 23 cases . Four patients died . As vital functions were severely impaired in these cases death could not be attributed solely to the Serratia infection . Preventive and therapeutic measures are reviewed.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1975 Jun, 232(1), 73 - 82
Influence of Bordetella pertussis and bacterial endotoxins on the immunological reactivity of germfree mice; Hof H et al.; As compared to specifically pathogen-free NMRI mice, in principle, the immunological reactivity of germfree mice of the same strain and age was not found to be reduced . This is documented by the cellular kinetics of the primary immune responses, evoked by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of either a "saturated" dose of 4 times 10(8) sheep erythrocytes (SE) or the simultaneous injection of 4 times 10(8) SE and 3 times 10(9) killed Bordetella pertussis organisms (PO) . Thereby, adjuvancy of PO was not found to be reduced in germfree mice . The only difference consisted in the demonstration of significantly reduced numbers of both direct and indirect plaque-forming spleen cells (PFC) on the 4th day after primary antigenic stimulation . This is suggested to be due to a lack of sufficient training of the immunological apparatus of germfree mice . Both in germfree and conventional mice significant splenomegaly, blood leukocytosis as well as increase in the numbers of pre-existing "background" PFC became detectable following a single i.p . injection of 3 times 10(9) PO without SE . Similarly, the injection of endotoxin from Serratia marcescens produced a moderate increase in the numbers of "background" PFC . From the data presented it is suggested that strict gnotobiotic conditions do not cause noteworthy deficiency in immunological competence.

Biochemistry, 1975 May 20, 14(10), 2064 - 72
Construction and characterization of a chimeric plasmid composed of DNA Pfrom Escherichia coli and Drosophila melanogaster; Tanaka T et al.; A chimeric plasmid has been constructed in vitro from colicin E1 factor (Col E1), nontransmissible R-factor RSF-1010, and Drosophila melanogaster DNAs by the sequential action of Escherichia coli endonuclease RI(Eco RI) and T4 phage DNA ligase . The chimeric plasmid was assembled in two stages--first, a composite plasmid consisting of Col E1 and RSF 1010 was constructed, followed by partial digestion of the composite with Eco RI (in order to open one of the susceptible cleavage sites) and ligation with an Eco RI-digested D . melanogaster DNA preparation . The chimeric plasmid was selected and amplified in vivo by sequential transformation of E . COLI C with the ligated mixture, selection of transformants in medium containing streptomycin plus colicin E1, followed by amplification in the presence of chloramphenicol and purification of the extracted plasmid by dye-buoyant density gradient centrifugation in ethidium bromide-CsCl solution . Treatment of the chimeric plasmid with Eco RI yields three fragments with mobilities corresponding to the linear forms of the constituents--COL E1, mol wt 4.2 times 106, RSF 1010, mol wt 5.5 times 106 and D . melanogaster DNA, mol wt 4.0 times 106 . The buoyant densities of the three constituents are respectively 1.706, 1.719, and 1.697 g/cm3, while the buoyant density of the composite factor is 1.712 and that of the chimeric plasmid is 1.705 . Serratia marscesens endonuclease R (Sma) which introduces a single cut in Col E1, but not in RSF 1010, converts the chimeric plasmid to a single linear molecule (mol wt 13.7 times 106) and sequential digestion with both Sma and Hin III yields two distinct fragments, mol wt 3.7 and 10.0 times 10.6, respectively; this implies that the two sites are unique and occur at distinctly different positions . Sequential digestion with both Hin III and Eco RI reveals that the Hin III cut is in the D . melanogaster segment; neither Col E1 nor RSF 1010 contain sites susceptible to digestion with Hin III . In the presence of chloramphenicol, the chimeric plasmid continues toreplicate for 9 hr while bacterial chromosomal DNA replicates at a much slower rate . As in the case of the composite plasmid, continued synthesis is the presence of chloramphenicol suggests that the replicator of Col E1 is functional in the chimeric plasmid as well . Examination of the chimeric plasmid by partial denaturation mapping permits identification of its constituents, each of which presents a characteristic profile . The D . melanogaster segment reveals a wealth of detail at the molecular level pertaining to the distribution of AT-rich regions.

CRC Crit Rev Microbiol, 1975 May, 3(4), 469 - 85
Prodigiosin-like pigments; Gerber NN; Prodigiosin, the bright red tripyrrole pigment from Serratia marcescens, has also been identified in Pseudomonas magnesiorubra, Vibrio psychroerythrus, and two Gram-negative rod-shaped mesophilic marine bacteria not members of the genus Serratia . Prodigiosin is sometimes bound to proteins; thus, extracts may require acid treatment before isolation of the pigment . Higher homologs of prodigiosin have been detected by mass spectroscopy . A mutant strain of S . marcescens produced nor-prodigiosin, in which the methoxy group of prodigiosin is replaced by a hydroxy group . Another mutant strain produced a blue tetrapyrrole pigment whose structure is a dimer of prodigiosin's rings A and B . Three novel biosynthetic analogs of prodigiosin have been obtained using a colorless mutant which does make rings A and B but not ring C and which can couple rings A and B with some added monopyrroles similar to ring C . The structures of three prodiginine (prodigiosin-like) pigments from streptomyces have been elucidated . All have the methoxytripyrrole aromatic nucleus of prodigiosin and all have an 11 carbon aliphatic side chain attached at carbon 2 of ring C . In two of the pigments the side chain is also linked to another carbon of ring C . The earlier literature about prodiginine pigments from actinomycetes has been interpreted and evaluated in light of the most recent findings . The structure elucidation of six prodiginine pigments from Actinomadurae (Nocardiae) has been completed . Only one, undecylprodiginine, is the same as from a streptomycete . For three of the six pigments, nine carbon side chains are observed and in four of them the side chain is attached to carbon 5 of ring A as well as carbon 2 of ring C so that a large ring is formed which includes the three pyrrole moieties . A section on identification summarized useful methods and presents information with which any known prodiginine pigment can be identified . The final step in the biosynthesis of prodigiosin was known to be the coupling of methoxybipyrrolecarboxaldehyde (rings A and B) with methylpentylpyrrole (ring C) . Recent work using 13C-labeled precursors and Fourier transform 13C nuclear magnetic resonance has shown the pattern of incorporation for acetate, proline, glycine, serine alanine, and methionine into prodigiosin . Each pyrrole ring is constructed in a different way . Two of the streptomyces pigments have also been investigated; the pattern of incorporation is similar to that for prodigiosin . The biological activities of some prodiginine pigments are summarized . All show activity against several Gram-positive bacteria; some have anti-malarial activity . Prodigiosin has been tested clinically against coccidioidomycosis.

Ann Thorac Surg, 1975 May, 19(5), 503 - 13
Outbreaks of Serratia marcescens infections in a cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit; Richards NM et al.; An outbreak of infections with pigmented Serratia marcescens involving 3 patients in a cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit is reported . A respirator is thought to have been the source of pneumonia in 2 patients, and fomite spread from 1 of these is considered responsible for the induction of fatal endocarditis in the third patient . This outbreak demonstrates the rapid dissemination of a bacterial strain within the unit, several methods of dissemination, the wide variation in apparent virulence of the organism, the alterations of antibacterial host defense which made bacterial disease possible and which determined the site of infection, and the difficulties of adequate therapy . The third patient is the seventh reported with serratia infection of a prosthetic heart valve.

J Immunol, 1975 May, 114(5), 1574 - 80
Effects of an acidic polysaccharide procuced by Serratia piscatorum on immune responses in mice . I . mitogenicity and stimulation of plaque-forming cells (PFC) in vitro; Matsumoto T et al.; An acidic polysaccharide of Serratia piscatorum, consisting of L-rhamnose, D-galactose and D-galacturonic acid, stimulated the primary IgM PFC response of spleen cell cultures against sheep erythrocytes . The polysaccharide (PS) caused dose-dependent stimulation of 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of spleen cell cultures and the maximum response was seen after about 48 hr . Nonadherent B (ATXBM) cells were strongly reactive to PS, whereas adherent spleen cells were less reactive . Higher doses of PS suppressed the peak PFC response, but enhanced the earlier PFC responses . Lower doses of PS stimulated the PFC responses significantly throughout the period of PFC production . The optimal dose (0.1 mug/ml) of PS increased the PFC responses in mixed cell cultures containing spleen cells and either B cells, T cells activated with a different antigen, or hydrocortisone-resistant thymus cells of syngeneic origin . However, this dose of PS interfered with the enhanced PFC response of spleen cells due to addition of antigen-primed T cells . Since these characteristic activities of PS were like those of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), this acidic polysaccharide may be useful for further elucidating the modes of LPS action.

Infect Immun, 1975 Apr, 11(4), 758 - 66
Effects of human and rabbit serum on viability, permeability, and envelope lipids of Serratia marcescens; Beckerdite-Quagliata S et al.; The major action of serum on gram-negative organisms is thought to be on the microbial envelope . We compared the effects of normal human and rabbit serum on the envelope lipids of two strains of Serratia marcescens, one sensitive and one resistant to the bactericidal effects of serum . During killing by either serum, the sensitive strain underwent rapid permeability changes coincident with degradation of microbial phospholipids . The resistant strain exhibited none of these effects . The phospholipid degradation that accompanies killing of the sensitive strain by serum could be caused by phospholipases present in serum or by Serratia's own phospholipid-splitting enzymes . The results indicate that phospholipid breakdown is caused by activation of bacterial of bacterial phospholipases and not by serum phospholipases . This conclusion is based upon the following findings.(i1 Although rabbit serum phospholipase A was at least 10 times more active than human serum phospholipase A, phospholipid degradation in the sensitive Serratia strain was comparable during (equally rapid) killing by human or rabbit serum . (ii) Heat treatment (56 C) of both sera eliminated bactericidal activity as well as microbial lipid degradation but abolished phospholipase activity of human serum only . (iii) Virtually complete removal of phospholipase A activity from human serum by adsorption onto autoclaved Micrococcus lysodeikticus had no effect on the extent of phospholipid hydrolysis or on bactericidal activity . Activation by serum of endogenous phospholipase activity in S . marcescens was accompanied by enhanced incorporation of lipid precursors into bacterial lipids . No evidence was found for increased turnover of protein or ribonucleic acid during killing by serum.

Poult Sci, 1975 Mar, 54(2), 479 - 82
Reduction of airborne microorganisms by filtering recycled air in a chick hatcher; Avens JS et al.; An experimental chick hatcher designed to filter recycled ventilation air was tested for its effectiveness in reducing the number of viable airborne microorganisms . Chicks in a filtered hatcher and a control hatcher (no filter) were artificially contaminated with Serratia marcescens as ventilation air was recycled in the hatchers for twelve hours . The number of viable S . marcescens particles in the filtered air of the conditioning chamber was less than detectable . The number of viable airborne S . marcescens particles in the hatching chamber of the filtered hatcher indicated a reduction of greater than 90 percent over the number in the unfiltered hatcher . The filter was effective in reducing the number of airborne particles carrying viable S . marcescens organisms in the hatcher.

Phys Med Biol, 1975 Mar, 20(2), 225 - 34
Infrared scattering: a method for evaluating the mass and size of bacteria; Coles HJ et al.; In the realm of biophysics and biochemistry, light scattering is used extensively to evaluate the molecular weight and size of macromolecules and particles in suspension . Bacteria scatter strongly but are too large for the conventional procedures . By extending the wavelength lambda of the incident radiation into the infrared, we show that the effective size of the bacteria (relative to lambda) is reduced, and the usual Zimm plot measurements and procedure can be applied to evaluate the molecular weight and size . Details of the apparatus, its alignment, calibration and use are given along with data for aqueous suspensions of the three species Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans . The method has the advantages of being suitable for rod-like or ellipsoid-like bacteria as well as spheres, for polydisperse samples and for monitoring the effects of environment, antibodies and chemical therapeutic agents on the bacteria.

Int J Radiat Biol Relat Stud Phys Chem Med, 1975 Mar, 27(3), 259 - 70
Studies of the mechanisms of radiosensitization of bacterial and mammalian cells by Diamide; Watts ME et al.; Diamide sensitizes bacterial and mammalian cells to radiation by at least two mechanisms . Sensitization of V79-GL1 Chinese Hamster cells is due mainly to a reduction of a reduction of the survival-curve shoulder, is observed both in oxygen and in hypoxia,and is additive to the sensitization of hypoxic cells by some nitroimidazoles . In contrast, sensitization of the radioresistant organism, Micrococcus sodonensis, which has apronounced shoulder, is entirely dose-modifying . In a rapid-mix study using Serratia marcescens, two mechanisms of sensitization have been identified . After 4 to 40 msec preirradiation contact with Daimide, the enhancement ratio is constant at 1.6; after 10min contact, it is 2.5 . With V79-GL1 cells, no sensitization occurs in the short-time-range; likewise non is seen when Diamide is added to bacteria or mammalian cells 4 msec after irradiation . It is concluded that Diamide sensitizes by at least two mechanisms, one of which resembles that of the electron-affinic type.

Invest Ophthalmol, 1975 Mar, 14(3), 190 - 8
Cornea-damaging proteases of Serratia marcescens; Kreger AS et al.; Fractionation of the culture supernatant fluids of Serratia marcescens, strain BG, by ammonium sulfate precipitation, isoelectric focusing, ion-exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite adsorption chromatography, and gel filtration failed to separate the rabbit cornea-damaging activity and the in vitro protease activity of the preparations . Two proteases having similar molecular weights (44,000), estimated by gel filtration, and isoelectric points of approximately 5.0 and 5.3 were obtained free of detectable amounts of other known extracellular serratia enzymes . Heating a mixture of the two proteases for 15 minutes at 60 degrees C . resulted in complete loss of protease and cornea-damaging activities . Production of protease and cornea-damaging activities was inhibited by ammonium sulfate . The results support the conclusion that extracellular proteases produced in vitro by S . marcescens can elicit rapid and extensive damage to the rabbit cornea.

Appl Microbiol, 1975 Mar, 29(3), 335 - 9
Improved large-volume sampler for the collection of bacterial cells from aerosol; White LA et al.; A modified large-volume sampler was demonstrated to be an efficient device for the collection of mono-disperse aerosols of rhodamine B and poly-disperse aerosols of bacterial cells . Absolute efficiency for collection of rhodamine B varied from 100% with 5-mum particles to about 70% with 0.5-mum particles . The sampler concentrated the particles from 950 liters of air into a flow of between 1 and 2 ml of collecting fluid per min . Spores of Bacillus subtilis var . niger were collected at an efficiency of about 82% compared to the collection in the standard AGI-30 sampler . In the most desirable collecting fluids tested, aerosolized cells of Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, and Aerobacter aerogenes were collected at comparative efficiencies of approximately 90, 80, and 90%, respectively . The modified sampler has practical application in the study of aerosol transmission of respiratory pathogens.

Mycopathologia, 1975 Feb 28, 55(1), 1 - 4
{Antibiosis shown by a strain of Byssochlamys nivea Westling, 1909 . II . Activity spectrum}; Percebois G; A strain of Byssochlamys nivea cultivated in a liquid medium (Saccharose: 50 g: NaNo3: 2 g; KH2PO4: 1 g; KCL: 0.5 g; MgSO4, 7H2O: 0.5 g; water to 1000 ml) produces, at 24 degrees C, an antibiotic substance which appears after several days of growth (10-12 days) . Among 43 strains of Bacteria Gram (minus) belonging to 10 genera none was resistant . The most was susceptible, save Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Moraxella glucidolytica . On the the great bulk of the Bacteria (Gram +) tested was little influenced, except certain strains of Bacillus . The filtrate is ineffectual against Mycobacteria and Fungi (yeast or mould) at the concentration used . This substance seemed to be different of those produced by Byssochlamys fluva (byssochlamic acid) and by some species of Paecilomyces (P . varioti, P . persicinus, P . elegans, P . variabilis, P . fusidioides).

J Infect Dis, 1975 Feb, 131(2), 88 - 96
Computer surveillance of shifts in the gross patient flora during hospitalization; O'Brien TF et al.; Data accumulating routinely in a hospital microbiology laboratory were computer-plotted according to the number of days the patient had been in the hospital when each culture was obtained . The rate at which patients were cultured fell slightly during hospitalization, while the rate at which isolates were obtained from them increased gradually . For some species, such as Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus, isolation rates changed little during hospitalization . They rose as much as sevenfold for other species, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Serratia marcescens, or for a particular antibiotype of Klebsiella pneumoniae while it was an endemic nosocomial problem . These differences persisted after deletion of repeat isolates from the same patient . They appeared to reflect general shifts in composition of patient flora during hospitalization . These shifts paralleled shifts in infecting flora as represented by similar plots of isolates from blood cultures.

Can J Microbiol, 1975 Feb, 21(2), 213 - 20
Toxigenic studies with the antibiotic pigments from Serratia marcescens; Kalesperis GS et al.; Prodigiosin, obtained from the bacterium, Serratia marcescens, was extracted in five organic solvents, petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol, and methanol, and the fractions were labeled PE-1, C-2, A-3, E-4, and M-5 respectively . The effects of prodigiosin and its fractions on embryogenesis showed the whole pigment and C-2 fraction to be highly toxigenic while other fractions demonstrated toxicities approaching LD50 values of 26-30 mug/egg when dissolved in 100% dimethyl sulfoxide . The E-4 fraction in DMSO was least toxic . Ninety-five percent ethanol proved to be highly toxic at a dose level of 0.1 ml/egg indicating that it was an unsuitable solvent for studies of this nature . Disc-agar diffusion sensitivity studies were performed against E . coli, E . aerogenes, S . aureus, B . subtilis, and P . aeruginosa with prodigiosin and fractions dissolved in 100% DMSO . The solvent was found to have no diffusible bacteriostatic activity in vitro . However, prodigiosin and the ethanol (E-4) and methanol (M-5) fractions produced inhibition zones with every organism tested . Data presented below indicate that prodigiosin extracts have toxigenic effects on chick embryos and inhibit the growth of several species of bacteria.

Am J Med, 1975 Feb, 58(2), 209 - 15
Gram-negative bacillary endocarditis . Interpretation of the serum bactericial test; Bryan CS et al.; Although the serum bactericidal test is commonly used in the management of infective endocarditis, little has been written about its validity or limitations . We report three cases of gram-negative bacillary endocarditis (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio fetus and Serratia marcescens) encountered in 1 year at a Veterans Administration hospital . Serum bactericidal titers were considered necessary to identify inadequate antibiotic regimens or to avoid unnecessary drug toxicity . The limitations of the test, particularly those pertaining to gram-negative infections, are reviewed . Misleading results during treatment with aminoglycoside antibiotics could be due to the tendency of serum to become alkaline on standing . A detailed study of the interaction of the complement-dependent bactericidal system of serum with eight antibiotics is presented . In the context of the serum bactericidal test, the interaction was additive or synergistic in 15 of 16 determinations, indicating the need to include a control study of serum sensitivity of the infecting microorganism in each case.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1975, 15(4), 275 - 80
Different types of thermoconditional clear plaque-mutants and prophage induction by heat or cold of Serratia phage kappa; Schimff W et al.; Phage kappa of Seratia marcescens was treated with different mutagens to induce thermoconditional clear plaque-mutants . 176 mutants obtained were analysed by crosses and found to be located in clear plaque-region III . Two types resembling the mutants t2 and t1 of phage lambda were identified . Lysogens for the mutant 126 can be induced by heat and even by cold whereas they are scarcely inducible by uv . Nevertheless, a 126 prophage like a uv inducible ct 163 prophage can be sensitized to thermoinduction by short preirradiation if the cells are incubated for 30 to 45 min between uv exposure and heating . With ct 163 this time corresponds to the minimum extension of latent period after uv induction compared with infection at low moi . A mutant of clear plaque-region II, c154, shows an inverted thermoconditional behaviour forming clear plaques at 30 degrees C and turbid plaques due to lysogenization at 37 degrees C.

Infection, 1975, 3(2), 74 - 7
{Antibody detection in infections with Serratia marcescens (author's transl)}; Freitag V et al.; A report is given on the detection by agglutination and precipitation of antibodies against homologous strains in infections with Serratia marcescens . The results of the investigation indicate that antibody formation is likely if invasive forms are present . The agglutination titers were between 1:40 and 1:640 . It can be presumed that, in addition to the patient's antibodies against the O antigen, antibodies are also formed against certain antigens with the character of ferments or toxins.

J Bacteriol, 1975 Jan, 121(1), 354 - 62
Construction of a colicin E1-R factor composite plasmid in vitro: means for amplification of deoxyribonucleic acid; Tanaka T et al.; A composite plasmid has been constructed in vitro from colicin E1 factor (mass of 4.2 megadaltons {Md}) and nontransmissible resistance factor RSF 1010 (mass, 5.5 . Md) deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) by the sequential action of Escherichia coli endonuclease (RI (Eco RI) and T4 phage DNA ligase on the covalently closed circular forms of the constituents . The composite plasmid was selected and amplified in vivo by sequential transformation of E . coli C600 with the ligated mixture and selection of transformants in medium containing streptomycin plus colicin E1, followed by amplification in the presence of chloramphenicol and purification of the extracted plasmid by dye-buoyant density gradient centrifugation in ethidium bromide-cesium chloride solution . Treatment of the composite plasmid with Eco RI yielded two fragments with mobilities corresponding to the linear forms of the parental plasmids, whereas Serratia marscesens endonuclease R (SmaR), which introduces a single scission in the colicin E1 factor but not in RSF 1010, convErted the composite plasmid to a single linear molecule (mass, 9.7 Md) . Sequential degradation of colicin E1 factor with Sma R and Eco RI produced two fragments with masses of 3.5 and 0.7 Md; sequential degradation of RSF 1010 produced only one fragment (due to the cleavage with Eco RI), and sequential degradation of the composite plasmid produced the expected three fragments--an RSF 1010 Eco RI linear and the two expected products from the colicin E1 factor moiety . The composite plasmid conferred on the host cell resistance to streptomycin, sulfonamides, and colicin E1, but colicin E1 itself was not synthesized . In contrast, colicin E1 was synthesized by cells containing simultaneously both colicin E1 factor and RSF 1010 as separate entities . In the presence of chloramphenicol, the composite plasmid continued to replicate for 6 h . whereas replication of RSF 1010 and chromosomal DNA stopped within 2 h . Continued replication in the presence of chloramphenicol suggests that the replicator of the colicin E1 factor is functional in the composite plasmid.

J Gen Microbiol, 1975 Jan, 86(1), 88 - 92
R factors from Serratia marcescens; Hedges RW et al.; In recent years, Serratia marcescens has become established in certain localities as an agent of hospital infection and cross-infection (Clayton & von Graevenitz, 1966; Wilfert, Barrett & Kass, 1968; Davis, Foltz & Blakemore, 1970; Wilkowske, Washington, Martin & Ritts, 1970) . In general, strains of S . marcescens isolated from infective lesions differ from those from other sources in being non-pigmented and antibiotic resistant (Ewing, Johnson & David, 1962; Clayton & von Graevenitz, 1966) . Medeiros & O'Brien (1969) and Schaefler et al . (1971) described strains of S . marcescens, isolated from hospital patients, which were able to transfer R factors to Escherichia coli . Transfer of resistance to E . coli has also been reported from strains of S . marcescens isolated in France (Grimont & Dulong de Rosnay, 1972; Scavizzi, 1972; Lemosquet-Villemon, Morel & Freymuth, 1973)9 We have collected strains of S . marcescens, most, but not all, clinical isolates, from widely separate geographical areas; each strain was tested for antibiotic resistance and for R factors transmissible to E . coli K129 The R factors were classified by compatibility in K12 (Datta, 1974) . Our purpose was to find out how much of the antibiotic resistance observed in S . marcescens is characteristic of that genus and to what extent it is shared with other bacterial genera (Coetzee, Datta & Hedges, 1972; Datta & Hedges, 1972a; Hedges, 1974) . The R factors described by Medeiros & O'Brien (1969) and Lemosquet-Villemon et al . (1973) were included in this study.

J Clin Invest, 1975 Jan, 55(1), 33 - 42
Partial characterization and purification of a rabbit granulocyte factor that increases permeability of Escherichia coli; Weiss J et al.; Recently we reported that rapid killing of Escherichia coli by granulocytes or granulocyte fractions is accompanied by an equally rapid and discrete increase in permeability of the microbial envelope (Beckerdite, Mooney, Weiss, Franson, and Elsbach . 1974 . J . Exp . Med . 140: 396-409) . Most of this permeability-increasing activity (PI) is found in a crude granule preparation . PI is quantitatively recovered in a 23,000-g supernatant fraction (Sup II) after sulfuric acid extraction of granulocyte homogenates prepared in water . PI is nondialyzable, destroyed by pronase and trypsin, stable at 4degreesC for at least 2 mo, and destroyed by heating at 94degreesC . Anionic substances, such as heparin sulfate and isolated E . coli lipopolysaccharide, bind to and inhibit PI . PI has been purified up to 1,000-fold from homogenate in a yield of 50percent by acid extraction and carboxymethyl-Sephadex chromatography . Such purified fractions have bactericidal activity that equals that of disrupted granulocytes and Sup II, are similarly enriched with respect to granule-associated phospholipase, and protease activities . Whereas E . coli, sensitive to PI, binds or inactivates solubilized PI, a resistant strain of Serratia marcescens does not . Binding of PI to sensitive microorganisms seems to be necessary for expression of its biological activity since both the apparent binding to and the biological effect of PI on E . coli are completely blocked by 10-20 mM Mg2+ or Ca2+ . Mg2+ or Ca2+ can reverse the effect on E . coli permeability produced by Sup II or the carboxymethyl-Sephadex fraction but not that produced by granulocyte homogenate . The close association of bactericidal, phospholipase A2, and permeability-increasing activities towards several gram-negative bacterial species suggests that they may be related.

Chemotherapy, 1975, 21(3-4), 189 - 204
Studies on the additive effect of polymyxin B and the bactericidal activity of human serum against Serratia marcescens; Traub WH et al.; Two of twelve examined S . marcescens strains were promptly killed by 80% (v/v) fresh human serum (within 20 min), analogous to a serum-sensitive control strain of Escherichia coli; ten strains, however, were killed by fresh serum only after extended incubation (2-4 h) . The combination of therapeutically achievable concentrations of polymyxin B (range 5 to 1.25 mug/ml) and fresh, but not heat-inactivated human serum was found to exert an accelerated, additive effect against 9 of 10 'delayed serum-sensitive' isolates of S . marcescens, an organism that is characterized by intrinsic resistance against polymyxins . The combination of 80% (v/v) fresh, defibrinated human blood and polymyxin B likewise resulted in an additive effect . Polymyxin B treatment of S . marcescens strains caused a prompt, marked, though reversible bile salt susceptibility of the cells; in contrast, the effect induced by fresh serum was slight and not apparent until several hours after exposure.

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