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 Esch