Clin Exp Immunol, 1981 Dec, 46(3), 640 - 8 Spontaneous cytotoxicity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells for the lymphoblastoid cell line CCRF-CEM: augmentation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Schacter B et al.; Spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity (SCMC) of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells for a poor target, CCRF-CEM, a lymphoblastoid cell line, was rapidly and markedly elevated by E . coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . SCMC for K562, a myeloid cell line sensitive to SCMC, was only slightly elevated by LPS . The cytotoxicities of both adherent and non-adherent mononuclear cells for CCRF-CEM were elevated . A response to LPS was found in Fc gamma R-positive and Fc gamma R-negative T cells . LPS increased the binding of non-adherent cells to both targets, but analysis of the binding suggests that a subsequent step, either triggering of the cytotoxic mechanisms or susceptibility of the target was the basis for the increased SCMC. J Pediatr, 1981 Dec, 99(6), 975 - 9 Diffusion of moxalactam into the cerebrospinal fluid in children with bacterial meningitis; Thirumoorthi MC et al.; We studied the penetration of moxalactam into the cerebrospinal fluid of 16 children (age range one month to 4 1/2 years) who were being treated for bacterial meningitis . Two hours after single intravenous doses of 15 or 25 mg/kg, moxalactam was detectable in the CSF in only one of 11 instances; however, following three doses (50 mg/kg each) moxalactam was detectable in eight of 17 instances . In these eight instances CSF concentrations of moxalactam ranged between 1.5 and 18.9 micrograms/ml (mean 7.7) and the CSF/plasma ratio ranged from 2.6 to 36% (mean 17.7) . There was no relation between the stage of meningitis or the CSF cell count and the diffusion of the drug into the CSF . However, the diffusion of the drug significantly correlated with the CSF protein content . In view of the unpredictability of moxalactam penetration into CSF, caution should be exercised in using it alone in the treatment of meningitis. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1981 Nov 5, 677(3-4), 471 - 6 A new test based on 'salting out' to measure relative surface hydrophobicity of bacterial cells; Lindahl M et al.; A simple method for quantification of the hydrophobic surface properties of bacteria is described . The method is based on precipitation of cells by salts, for instance (NH4)2SO4 . The order in which cells are precipitated is a measure of their surface hydrophobicities, the most hydrophobic cells being first precipitated at low salt concentration . Temperature, pH, time and the bacterial cell concentration were shown to affect the results . When these variables were kept constant the method was highly reproducible . This 'salting out' method was applied to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains with different surface protein antigens (fimbriae, fibrillae and colonization factor antigen, CFA) . These enterotoxigenic E . coli strains were found to have surface hydrophobicity in the following order: CFA/I greater than CFA/II greater than K88 similar to K99 greater than type 1. Biophys Chem, 1981 Nov, 14(3), 283 - 91 Structure and architecture of the bacterial virus fd . An infrared linear dichroism study; Fritzsche H et al.; Oriented gels of intact bacterial virus fd have been invetigated by infrared linear dichroism . Infrared absorption band maxima and dichroism indicate an alpha-helix content of the major coat protein of 95-100% . The alpha-helical rods of the coat protein are aligned parallel to the long axis of the virion with an inclination roughly estimated to approximately 37 degree . The presence of DNA infrared bands at 968, 885, 830 and 799 cm-1, the absence of a band at 860 cm-1 and the perpendicular polarization of the symmetric PO-2 stretching vibration at 1085 cm-1 are all indicative of a B-type backbone conformation in the single-stranded DNA . We find no evidence for specific interaction between aromatic side groups (phenylalanine, tyrosine) and the DNA bases . Our results independently confirm most features of the model of Marvin and co-workers {2,15 } based on low-resolution X-ray diffraction studies . However, our findings contradict their suggestion of an A-type DNA in the bacterial virus fd . Two results are consistent with rigid and stable order in the virus . First, over a 4-day period, 65% of the peptide hydrogens remain unexchanged with deuterium . Second, changes in the relative humidity of the sample do not result in any shifts in the DNA spectrum that are characteristic of free DNA. J Urol, 1981 Nov, 126(5), 670 - 3 Acute focal bacterial nephritis: focal pyelonephritis that may simulate renal abscess; McDonough WD et al.; We report 4 cases of acute focal bacterial nephritis, a solid inflammatory lesion of the kidney . In each patient the findings on excretory urography, when combined with the clinical features, suggested the possibility of a renal abscess . Ultrasonography and computerized tomography aid in distinguishing this solid inflammatory process from that of frank abscess . The possible etiology of acute focal bacterial nephritis, its evolution to abscess formation and its distinguishing features are discussed. Vox Sang, 1981 Nov-Dec, 41(5-6), 327 - 35 Fluorescent bacterial rosetting of lymphocyte subpopulations . II . Identification of human lymphocyte subpopulations; Niemetz AH et al.; In a previous study, fluorochrome-labelled bacteria were found to be a very objective tool to investigate human lymphocyte heterogeneity with regard to bacterial rosette formation . The application of these assay systems (mono-, double- and anti-Ig/bacterial rosetting test) to identify lymphocyte subpopulations is given. Vox Sang, 1981 Nov-Dec, 41(5-6), 319 - 26 Fluorescent bacterial rosetting of lymphocyte subpopulations . I . Methodology; Niemetz AH et al.; Fluorochrome-labelled bacteria were tested for their rosette-forming properties with human lymphocytes in suspension . Acridine orange stained human buffy coat cells or isolated mononuclear cells are rosetted with tetramethyl-rhodamine-isothiocyanate (TRITC)-labelled bacterial strains alone (mono-bacterial rosetting test) or simultaneously with a TRITC-labelled strain and a mutant or taxonomically different strain, labelled with fluorescein-isothiocyanate (double bacterial rosetting test {D-BRT}) . Suspensions are centrifuged, washed, finally counterstained with ethidium bromide and examined by fluorescence microscopy . The bacterial binding properties of B cells may be studied by using anti-Ig pretreated mononuclear cells and TRITC bacteria (anti-Ig/BRT) . In this study the methodology for bacterial staining, mono-, double- and anti-Ig/BRT is given . Estimation of rosette-forming cells is very accurate, easy and quick due to the bright fluorescence of the bacterial 'beads' . Furthermore, broad applicability of the bacterial rosetting phenomenon to study lymphocyte heterogeneity is gained with the fluorescent assay system. Mol Biol (Mosk), 1981 Nov-Dec, 15(6), 1350 - 63 {Structure of chromosomal deoxyribonucleoproteins . XI . Organization of deoxyribonucleoprotein complex in bacterial cells}; Bakaev VV; Isolation of bacterial chromosomes under "mild" conditions enable us to purify a bacterial deoxyribonucleoprotein (DNP) . This DNP is enriched in small basic proteins which are complexed with DNA throughout all the purification steps . The basic proteins are shown to be similar to some heat-resistant proteins of cellular extract and can interact with DNA in vitro . Extensive nuclease digestion of purified DNP of E . coli produced the smallest DNA fragments of 100--120 base pairs in length . The proteins of the DNP and the possible mode of arrangement of basic proteins along the DNA are discussed. Cancer Res, 1981 Nov, 41(11 Pt 1), 4600 - 5 Enhancement of N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene bacterial mutagenicity by the soluble protein fraction from rat liver and partial purification of the enhancement activity; Saccone GT et al.; Bacterial mutagenesis from 2-aminofluorene mediated by washed rat liver microsomes was elevated 2- to 3-fold by addition of the hepatic soluble protein fraction . Enhancement was observed at 2-aminofluorene concentrations between 1 and 20 micrograms/assay but not at 30 to 50 micrograms/assay . The soluble protein fraction (without added microsomes) did not activate 2-aminofluorene for bacterial mutagenesis . However, mutagenesis by N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene or 2-nitrosofluorene was enhanced by the soluble protein fraction, but only when reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate was also present . On the basis of chemical assay, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced 2-nitrosofluorene to N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene and protected the hydroxylamine from oxidation, thus indicating that it was the mutagenicity of N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene (but not 2-nitrosofluorene) which was enhanced by the soluble protein fraction . Without the added soluble protein fraction, mutagenesis by N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene or 2-nitrosofluorene was unaffected by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate . We succeeded in partially purifying a protein fraction with properties of the enhancement activity . The partially purified fraction, which represents a 14-fold increase in specific activity, was assigned a molecular weight of 33,500 by gel filtration through Sephadex G-100 . This fraction was resolved into three components by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; the molecular weights of the three components were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (10%) electrophoresis to be 33,000, 27,000, and 16,250 . The mechanism of mutagenesis enhancement remains unknown. Arch Neurol, 1981 Nov, 38(11), 693 - 5 Auditory evoked potentials in bacterial meningitis; Kotagal S et al.; Auditory evoked potentials obtained on infants and children recovering from bacterial meningitis are effective in early and reliable detection of sensorineural deafness, particularly in those who demonstrate absence of wave I. Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales, 1981 Nov-Dec, 74(6), 622 - 9 {Incidence of bacterial diseases (author's transl)}; Voelckel J; Bacterial diseases world incidence figure is not easily reckoned on account of the lack of reliability from original notifications . However the present situation is characterized by: --the regression of diseases under International Health Regulations; --the great diffusion of sexually transmitted diseases; --the keeping-up of the activity of digestive or respiratory transmitted disease, including tuberculosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1981 Nov, 78(11), 6854 - 7 Amino acid sequences of bacterial cytochromes c' and c-556; Ambler RP et al.; The cytochrome c' are electron transport proteins widely distributed in photosynthetic and aerobic bacteria . We report the amino acid sequences of the proteins from 12 different bacterial species, and we show by sequences that the cytochromes c-556 from 2 different bacteria are structurally related to the cytochromes c' . Unlike the mitochondrial cytochromes c, the heme binding site in the cytochromes c' and c-556 is near the COOH terminus . The cytochromes c-556 probably have a methionine sixth heme ligand located near the NH2 terminus, whereas the cytochromes c' may be pentacoordinate . Quantitative comparison of cytochrome c' and c-556 sequences indicates a relatively low 28% average identity. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1981 Oct 10, 111(41), 1531 - 3 {Bacterial infection and the regulation of in vivo granulopoiesis}; Hartmann D et al.; The mechanism which regulates granulopoiesis was investigated in C 57 BL mice injected i.p . with E.coli . The positive and negative feedback arm of the regulation was studied by correlating the number of bacteria, the number of granulocytes, serum CSF levels and the number of CFU-C in the bone marrow. Scand J Clin Lab Invest, 1981 Oct, 41(6), 551 - 6 Skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase isozymes and fibre composition in viral, mycoplasma and bacterial infections in young and old men; Friman G et al.; The activities of LD isozymes were studied by thermoinactivation in skeletal muscle biopsies from young and old patients suffering from viral, mycoplasma or bacterial infections and from corresponding controls . The activities of LD2-5 decreased 35-45% and that of LD1 17-29% in the muscle of the patients compared to that of the controls . There were no differences between age groups . In the controls good correlations were demonstrated between the relative activities of the LD isozymes and the muscle fibre composition, but such correlations could not be found in the patients . This indicates that the decrease of the activity of muscle LD in these infections is not associated with alterations in any specific muscle fibre type but rather with an effect of a general reduction of the LD activity. J Cell Physiol, 1981 Oct, 109(1), 17 - 24 Regulation of granulopoiesis and distribution of granulocytes in early phase of bacterial infection; Hartmann DW et al.; Studies have been carried out to determine the effect of bacterial infection on CSF production, CFU-C activation, and bacterial clearance by mature granulocytes in mice infected with Escherichia coli . These studies have shown that immediately after bacterial infection (5 minutes), serum colony-stimulating factor (CSF) levels and bone marrow colony-forming units in culture (CFU-C) levels are elevated . This is followed by oscillatory rises in both of these parameters and the appearance of granulocytes in the infected site . With clearance of bacteria, CSF and CFU-C levels return to normal . These studies have indicated further that bacterial infection is a major stimulus for granulocyte production through the CSF-CFU-C system and that clearance of bacteria by mature granulocytes may serve as a negative feedback regulatory arm. Biophys J, 1981 Oct, 36(1), 203 - 19 Quasielastic light scattering from migrating chemotactic bands of Escherichia coli . II . Analysis of anisotropic bacterial motions; Wang PC et al.; Chemotactic effects of dissolved oxygen on motions of Escherichia coli in a motility buffer solution have been studied by measurements of quasielastic light scattering . Under conditions where the bacteria form a sharp band in an oxygen concentrations gradient created by their metabolism, components of motions along the direction of the gradient and perpendicular to it were studied separately at each point within the band profile . A theoretical model for bacterial self correlation function based on two-state motions has been developed to extract the mean square speed of run motion and the relative probability of twiddle vs . run at each point of the band profile . A combined novel experimental set-up and new data analysis method allowed us to extract also the mean square displacements at short times along and perpendicular to the direction of the gradient . Parameters extracted from the measured correlation functions have been discussed in the framework of the established picture of bacterial motions under chemotaxis. J Immunol, 1981 Oct, 127(4), 1596 - 600 The induction of a unique procoagulant activity in rabbit hepatic macrophages by bacterial lipopolysaccharides; Maier RV et al.; Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a common occurrence during clinical sepsis and can be induced in the experimental host by LPS . Fibrin deposition in the hepatic microcirculation has been observed within 30 min of i.v . injection of LPS . Because mononuclear phagocytes have been shown to produce a PCA after exposure to LPS, we have examined the ability of a homogeneous population of explanted hepatic macrophages to express PCA . Addition of as little as 10 ng/ml of LPS stimulated a 15- to 20-fold increase in PCA over control culture levels within 7 1/2 hr post-treatment . The PCA was found to be membrane-associated, with approximately 90 to 95% of the total PCA present in the cellular lysates, and more than 85% was inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with the diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid, an inhibitor of ecto-enzymes . In contrast to tissue thromboplastin produced by other M phi populations, the H-M phi PCA was found to be markedly sensitive both to heat inactivation at 56 degrees C and to inhibition by 1 mM DFP . Additionally, assays involving both a 1-stage coagulation test as well as an enzyme assay with a Factor Xa-specific substrate (using normal and deficient human plasmas) demonstrated that the H-M phi PCA appears to activate Factor X directly . Unlike tissue thromboplastin, the H-M phi PCA is non-dependent of Factor VII activation . These studies: 1) demonstrate the LPS induces a unique PCA in the H-M phi, and 2) support a role for the H-M phi in the initiation of DIC in endotoxemic shock. Biokhimiia, 1981 Oct, 46(10), 1887 - 95 {Limited accessibility of DNA methylation sites for bacterial methylases M . Eco RII and M.Eco dam in chromatin at different levels of organization}; Kir'ianov GI et al.; The bacterial methylases M . Eco RII and M . Eco dam can methylate DNA in rat liver chromatin to form the 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and N6-methyladenine (m6A) residues, respectively . The CH3-accepting capacity of DNA in chromatin (mono- and dinucleosomes, mono- and dinucleomers) is 15 - 30 times less than that of free total DNA in rat liver . Such a low level of DNA methylation in chromatin in vitro suggests that the accessibility and recognition of methylation sites by DNA-methylases are decreased in comparison with free DNA both in the core-particle DNA and in the internucleosomal DNA . The degree of DNA methylation in chromatin particles depends on the ionic strength and Mg2+; when the former is decreased from 0.515 down to 0.176, the DNA methylation by both enzymes is increased 2-fold . An addition of Mg2+ (1 - 2 mM) decreases the CH3-accepting capacity of nucleomeric DNA, that of nucleosomal DNA remains unchanged . Thus, the accessibility of DNA for methylases is variable depending on the conformational changes of chromatin . The values of the m6A to m5C ratio for free and nucleosomal DNAs formed by methylation with a methylation of nucleomeric DNA, i . e . 1.01, 0.92 and 0.51, respectively . As Mg/4 concentration rises, the m6A/m5C ratio for nucleosomal and nucleomeric DNA is increased . It seems therefore that at different levels of organization and upon certain conformation changes the number and, probably, the nature of exposed DNA methylation sites in chromatin are different . Bacterial DNA-methylases can be used as an effective probe for a fine analysis of chromatin ultrastructure, in particular at its different functional states. J Bacteriol, 1981 Oct, 148(1), 391 - 3 Enzymatic sorting of bacterial colonies on filter paper replicas: detection of labile activities; Bulawa CE et al.; To utilize autoradiographic colony-sorting techniques (C . R . H . Raetz, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 72:2274-2278, 1975) for the isolation of mutants with unstable enzymes, we report a new desiccation-induced lysis method, compatible with low temperatures . Furthermore, a general, two-step protocol is presented for clonal detection of hydrolytic reactions . The advantages of these critical modifications are demonstrated with the membrane enzymes glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase and cytidine 5'-diphosphate-diglyceride hydrolase. Biochemistry, 1981 Sep 15, 20(19), 5524 - 8 Binding of 2,2-diphenylpropylamine at the aldehyde site of bacterial luciferase increases the affinity of the reduced riboflavin 5'-phosphate site; Holzman TF et al.; We have found a new class of inhibitors of the bacterial bioluminescence reaction, the N,N-diphenylalkylamines and acids . We have studied the action of one of these compounds 2,2-diphenylpropylamine . The amine was competitive with the long-chain aliphatic aldehyde substrate (Ki congruent to 0.1 mM) but caused an increase in the affinity of the enzyme for reduced riboflavin 5'-phosphate (FMNH2) . The inhibitor was attached to Sepharose 6B by a bis(oxirane) spacer, and the interactions of bacterial luciferase with the immobilized ligand were analyzed . The binding of luciferase to the immobilized inhibitor was enhanced by FMNH2 and was decreased by decanal . The results of these studies showed that the 2,2-diphenylpropylamine-luciferase complex has an increased affinity for FMNH2 . Likewise, the FMNH2-luciferase complex has an increased affinity for 2,2-diphenylpropylamine . The inhibitor also binds to the enzyme-4a-peroxydihydroflavin complex to block the binding of the aldehyde substrate, while binding of the aldehyde substrate to either the free enzyme or the enzyme-4a-peroxydihydroflavin complex blocks binding of 2,2-diphenylpropylamine. J Biol Chem, 1981 Sep 10, 256(17), 9229 - 34 Structure of N-acetyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine hydrate . An analogue of the COOH-terminal segment of peptidoglycan of bacterial cell walls; Benedetti E et al.; The solid state conformational analysis of Ac-D-Ala-D-Ala-OH.H2O, carried out by infrared absorption and X-ray diffraction, has indicated that the molecules are not extended in a regular beta conformation, but rather that they are partially folded, the phi, psi torsional angles of the COOH-terminal residue in particular being in the region of the left-handed alpha helix of the Ramachandran map . The acetylamino and peptide groups ar found in the usual trans conformation, the latter, however, exhibiting a deviation from rigid planarity . Only intermolecular hydrogen bonds occur in the crystal state . The solution conformational analysis, performed by infrared absorption and CD, has revealed that the amount of intramolecular N--H .. . O==C hydrogen-bonded folded forms, if any, should be extremely small, even in deuteriochloroform at high dilution . In water, solvated, unordered species largely predominate. Res Vet Sci, 1981 Sep, 31(2), 259 - 61 Bacterial endotoxins and the pathogenesis of fatty liver--haemorrhagic syndrome in the laying hen; Pearson AW et al.; A high energy maize diet produced a higher incidence of fatty liver-haemorrhagic syndrome than a low energy barley diet when the diets were fed during the summer . The triglyceride content of the liver increased with the liver haemorrhage score and in hens with the highest scores there was evidence of hepatic hyperplasia . They also had high activities of aspartate transaminase and cholinesterase in the plasma and a low activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase . There was no increase in plasma endotoxin levels as the syndrome developed or any significant variation in these levels with the haemorrhage score, the triglyceride content of the liver or plasma enzyme activities . It was concluded that the steatosis does not impair the ability of the liver to inactivate endotoxins of enteric bacteria and that these toxins are not involved in the pathogenesis of the syndrome. Chest, 1981 Sep, 80(3), 254 - 8 Diagnosis of nosocomial bacterial pneumonia in acute, diffuse lung injury; Andrews CP et al.; Nosocomial bacterial pneumonia as a complication of acute, diffuse lung injury may be difficult to distinguish clinically from other pathologic processes . To determine the reliability of findings commonly used to diagnose pneumonia in this setting, we compared clinical predictions of bacterial pneumonia with postmortem histology . Pneumonia was present histologically in 58 percent of the study patients, 36 percent of whom had been thought to have only lung injury . Among patients who had only diffuse lung injury histologically, 20 percent were thought to have pneumonia by clinical evaluation . Overall, 29 percent of cases were misdiagnosed . Improved diagnostic techniques will be required before the efficacy of preventive or therapeutic measures for pneumonia in the setting of acute, diffuse lung injury can be accurately determined. Cancer Res, 1981 Sep, 41(9 Pt 2), 3778 - 80 Diet and the human intestinal bacterial flora; Hill MJ; In this review, the factors thought to be important in determining the composition of the gut bacterial flora are discussed . In the light of these, the effects of various dietary manipulations on the composition and metabolic activity of the gut flora are described . In general, the main effects of diet would be expected to be manifested in the right colon, whereas the material available for investigation is feces . Consequently, the data that are available tend to underestimate the effects of diet. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K, 1981 Sep, 101 (Pt 3)(3), 312 - 6 Bacterial and protozoal uveitis; Schlaegel TF Jr; Tuberculosis and syphilis are often missed by ophthalmologists . The remedy is to perform complete PPD and FTA-ABS testing in all cases of uveitis in which the diagnosis is not apparent . Ocular toxoplasmosis should never be treated with corticosteroids alone but should be covered by at least one antitoxoplasmic agent . From none to four systemic medications may be used depending on the position and severity of the retino-choroiditis . There are currently two schools of thought in the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis . It is suggested that each school should combine their minimal diagnostic criteria as a start in developing common diagnostic measures. Z Rheumatol, 1981 Sep-Oct, 40(5), 228 - 31 The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with OM-8930, a bacterial immunostimulating agent; Rosenthal M et al.; OM 8930, a bacterial product with immunostimulatory capacities, was studied for its efficacy in the long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . Ten (10) patients with active seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were treated intermittently for six months with the agent and were evaluated according to clinical, laboratory and immunological parameters . OM-8930 has been demonstrated to be an effective drug in reducing arthritic activity in rheumatoid arthritis . It is slow acting without any anti-inflammatory capacities and resembles other slow acting agents like Levamisol, Penicillamin, etc . OM-8930 provoked a long lasting immunological stimulation allowing a normalization of lymphocytes counts, increasing the number of active T-cells and enhancing lymphocyte mitogenic response . No adverse clinical-laboratory reactions were recorded throughout the study, which indicates that the agent is suitable for long-term use in humans. Dig Dis Sci, 1981 Sep, 26(9), 773 - 7 Identification of bacterial glycosidases in rat cecal contents; Prizont R et al.; Cecal contents of conventional and germfree rats were examined for glycosidases which may have a role in degrading glycoprotein oligosaccharides . Utilizing p-nitrophenylglycosides as substrates, we identified glycosidases in bacteria-free supernatants from cecal contents which act on beta-linkages . These cecal glycosidases appear to be of bacterial origin since: (1) direct comparisons of the enzymes in similar contents from germfree rats showed negligible activities; (2) most of the glycosidase levels in bacterial extracts were at least as high as those of soluble supernatants; and (3) disk gel electrophoresis of contents and bacterial extracts revealed in both preparations a beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase band with similar Rfs . Also, the blood group B antigenicity of germfree cecal glycoproteins was greatly decreased by conventional cecal contents . These findings indicate that beta-galactosidase and beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase in cecal contents are bacterial in origin, and they may have a role in the bacterial catabolism of intestinal glycoproteins. J Bacteriol, 1981 Sep, 147(3), 711 - 9 Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen: activator specificity of the adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylases from the genus Rhodospirillum; Preiss J et al.; The adenosine diphosphate (ADP) glucose pyrophosphorylases from Rhodospirillum fulvum, Rhodospirillum molischianum, and Rhodospirillum tenue were partially purified, and their kinetic properties were studied . The enzyme from the three organisms was found to be activated by pyruvate and thus was similar to the Rhodospirillum rubrum enzyme that had been previously studied (C . E . Furlong, and J . Preiss, J . Biol . Chem . 244:2539-2548, 1979) . The enzymes from R . fulvum, R . molischianum, and R . tenue were also activated by oxamate, an analog of pyruvate . Other alpha-keto acids, alpha-ketobutyrate and hydroxypyruvate, activated to a smaller extent . The presence of pyruvate increased the apparent affinity for adenosine 5'-triphosphate and MgCl2 for all three enzymes . The R . molischianum enzyme has very little sensitivity to inhibition by adenosine 5'-monophosphate, ADP, or inorganic phosphate . However, R . tenue ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase is very sensitive to inhibition by adenosine 5'-monophosphate, and the R . fulvum enzyme is inhibited by ADP . Increasing pyruvate concentration reversed the inhibition caused by adenosine 5'-monophosphate or ADP . Since ADPglucose is the glycosyl donor for synthesis of glycogen, it is possible that in vivo glycogen synthesis is regulated by the concentration of pyruvate and, in the case of R . fulvum and R . tenue, by the ratio of pyruvate concentration to inhibitor concentration. Clin Chem, 1981 Aug, 27(8), 1431 - 4 Early (chemical) diagnosis of bacterial meningitis--cerebrospinal fluid glucose, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase compared; Knight JA et al.; Both lactate and lactate dehydrogenase are more sensitive as early indicators of bacterial meningitis than is glucose, and both appear to help differentiate aseptic from bacterial meningitis . In selected cases, lactate dehydrogenase may be more sensitive than lactate . We also give reference intervals for cerebrospinal fluid cell count, glucose, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase. Br J Surg, 1981 Aug, 68(8), 569 - 71 The laboratory assessment of a new fabric for reducing bacterial penetration of operating theatre apparel; Goldthorp SL; A one-piece experimental suit was made up from Gore-Tex fabric and assessed in an environmental chamber using 20 male volunteers with respect to reducing airborne contamination . Comparison was made with a similar cotton suit, a two piece short-sleeved cotton suit (blues) and "Y-front' underpants (briefs) . The Gore Tex suit produced a reduction in contamination (with 95 per cent confidence limits) of 85.9 +/- 5.9 per cent over the cotton suit and over the blues and briefs at similar levels . Scanning electron microscopy showed that bacterial penetration would not occur. Am J Med, 1981 Aug, 71(2), 217 - 20 Cerebrospinal fluid to serum glucose ratios in diabetes mellitus and bacterial meningitis; Powers WJ; Although calculation of the cerebrospinal fluid to serum glucose ratio is widely recommended as a way to identify pathologic hypoglycorrhachia, few data are available to document its accuracy . In order to provide a better basis for interpretation of this quotient, simultaneous cerebrospinal fluid and serum glucose concentrations from patients with diabetes mellitus and noninflammatory cerebrospinal fluid and patients with acute bacterial meningitis were compared . Cerebrospinal fluid to serum glucose ratios were significantly lower in the patients with meningitis (Mann-Whitney U Test, p less than 0.001) . A ratio of 0.31 provided the best differentiation between the two groups . Ratios were below this level in 25 of 64 patients with meningitis, including 10 in whom the absolute cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration was not below 40 mg/dl . In 35 of 36 uninfected diabetic subjects, ratios were 0.31 or greater . In the sole exception, concentrated glucose solution had been given intravenously shortly before lumbar puncture, Use of the cerebrospinal fluid to serum ratio, in addition to the absolute cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration, increases sensitivity in detecting pathologic hypoglycorrhachia with little loss in specificity. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Aug, 42(2), 375 - 7 Bacterial adherence to polystyrene: a replica method of screening for bacterial hydrophobicity; Rosenberg M; A simple replica method is described for the rapid identification of colonies of bacteria which adhere to polystyrene . A correlation was found between the adherence of bacterial strains to polystyrene and cell surface hydrophobicity, suggesting the use of this technique in screening for cell surface mutants and in the isolation of hydrophobic bacteria from nature. Infect Immun, 1981 Aug, 33(2), 519 - 22 Regulation of the immune response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide by adherent cells; Citron MO et al.; Immune response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide is usually short lived, but it often reappears without additional stimulus in a cyclic fashion . Activated adherent cells, presumably macrophages, were found to have a role in the reduction of the immune response to Escherichia coli O127 lipopolysaccharide . The suppressive activity of the adherent cells was abrogated before renewal of the responsiveness. Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Aug, 76(2), 227 - 31 Bacterial infection stimulating granulocytic sarcoma of the small bowel; Kraemer BB et al.; A 57-year-old white man who had abdominal pain and distension, died after a short hospitalization for increasing ascites, anorexia, and deteriorating mental status . At autopsy, the principal gross finding was a dilated, hyperemic, thickened proximal jejunum that by light microscopy consisted of a transmural infiltrate of large mononuclear cells . Intense naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase (NASD) positivity was observed within most of the cells, suggesting granulocytic sarcoma . However, bacterial strains and electron-microscopic examination revealed that the massive jejunal infiltrate was composed of macrophages containing numerous phagocytosed bacteria . Although occasional cells had primary and secondary granules characteristic of myeloid precursors present within their cytoplasm, most cells lacked specific granules . Attempts to reproduce this markedly enhanced NASD result experimentally in peritoneal macrophages of mice were unsuccessful . This case shows that intense NASD cytoplasmic staining may occasionally occur macrophages that have phagocytosed large numbers of bacteria. Biochemistry, 1981 Jul 21, 20(15), 4325 - 33 Mechanistic studies on reactions of bacterial methionine gamma-lyase with olefinic amino acids; Johnston M et al.; Methionine gamma-lyase (EC 4.4.1.11), which catalyzes the formation of methanethiol, alpha-ketobutyrate, and ammonia from L-methionine (eq 1), promotes the oxidative deamination of several four- and five-carbon olefinic amino acids (1-5) . With the exception of vinylglycine (1), the Vmax rates of keto acid formation from the unsaturated substrate analogues are substantially lower than that for processing of methionine to alpha-ketobutyrate; vinylglycine is deaminated to ketobutyrate and ammonia with a Vmax twice that for L-methionine turnover . L-Allylglycine, L-2-amino-3-trans-pentenoate, and L-2-amino-3-cis-pentenoate (2, 4, 5) are all converted to 2-keto-pentanoic acid (alpha-ketovalerate) . L-2-Amino-3-cis-pentenoate (5) is also a time-dependent, irreversible inactivator of the enzyme . None of the other substrate analogues tested appears to inactivate the enzyme . Spectral analysis of the enzymatic reaction with cis isomer 5 reveals the formation of a high-wavelength chromophore (lambda max = 550 nm ) which implies that a beta, gamma-unsaturated pyridoxal p-quinoid (VI) accumulates . No such absorbing species appears to form during the reaction of trans isomer 4 with methionine gamma-lyase . But a 550-nm chromophore develops when both 4 and 5 are reacted with Al(NO3)3 and pyridoxal methochloride in methanolic KOH . It would appear that the geometry of the protein and the olefinic amino acid as an intermediate enzyme-substrate adduct controls the kinetics of reaction, such that azaallylic isomerization becomes selectively rate determining for reaction with 5 . When this isomerization is slow, an accumulating Michael-type acceptor (VI) could lead to the observed irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. Biochem J, 1981 Jul 15, 198(1), 101 - 6 Commitment of bacterial spores to germinate . A measure of the trigger reaction; Stewart GS et al.; The rate of commitment of bacterial spores to germinate after short exposure to L-alanine increases exponentially from the time of addition of L-alanine . This absence of a lag facilitates kinetic analysis and allows the dependence of commitment on temperature and pH to be determined . The pH profile of commitment has been compared with that obtained from measurements of absorbance decreases during germination, and the two profiles exhibit differing pK values . It is suggested that because the decrease in A600 of spore suspensions is a late event in germination, it is an unsuitable parameter for studying germination-triggering reactions . Commitment has been shown to be temperature-dependent, with an optimum at approx . 37 degrees C and an activation energy (mu) of 1.08 X 10(5) J/mol . The data obtained from the present studies have been used to develop a model for the triggering of germination. Ann Immunol (Paris), 1981 Jul-Aug, 132D(1), 111 - 24 Skin Langerhans cells failure to trap bacterial antigen in non-sensitized guinea-pig; Barbey S et al.; We have studied by ultrastructural histo-autoradiography, in a primary immunological response, the behavior of three types of guinea-pig histiocytic cells exposed to 125I-flagellin, lymph node histiocytes, alveolar macrophages and skin Langerhans cells, making use of the experimental model of Nossal et al . (1964) . Whereas latero cave lymph node histiocytes exposed to 125I-flagellin by in vivo injection of the labelled antigen into the hind foot of the guinea-pig trap the flagellin as do 20% of alveolar macrophages incubated in vitro in a culture medium containing 125I-flagellin, skin Langerhans cells exposed in vivo (intradermal and hypodermal injection of the antigen) and in vitro, as was done for alveolar macrophages, are never labelled . These results suggest that, despite the fact that it belongs to the mononuclear phagocytic system, the Langerhans cell is not a common essentially phagocytic macrophage but represents a cell lineage involved in more complex immune reactions requiring the cooperation of sensitized lymphocytes. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1981 Jul, 134(3), 273 - 9 Prophylaxis of bacterial infection by sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) during chemotherapy in patients with childhood acute leukemia; Tono-oka T et al.; A combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim was given orally to 13 children with acute leukemia on 16 occasions of hospitalization during remission induction chemotherapy for the prophylaxis of bacterial infection . Frequency of episodes of persistent fever in this group of patients was markedly low, namely 0.38 per one hospitalization, whereas that in control group which was given no drug was 0.98 . Furthermore, frequency of episodes of definite bacterial infection in the patients given SMX-TMP was 0.25 per one hospitalization . This was significantly low as compared with control patients whose frequency was 0.84 . Although, there occurred slight rash and liver dysfunction as the side effects, they were reversible . These results suggest that the prophylactic use of SMX-TMP in children with acute leukemia during chemotherapy is effective and valuable for the protection from bacterial infection. Can J Ophthalmol, 1981 Jul, 16(3), 151 - 2 Bacterial endophthalmitis and traumatic hyphema resulting from ocular injuries during dental procedures; Folk JC et al.; Case reports of bacterial endophthalmitis and of traumatic hyphema resulting from injuries sustained during dental procedures are presented . Protective eye shields or glasses are recommended for both the dental team and the patient. Am Heart J, 1981 Jul, 102(1), 66 - 75 M-mode echocardiographic observations in active bacterial endocarditis limited to the aortic valve; Sheikh MU et al.; Analysis of 37 M-mode echocardiograms recorded during the period of active bacterial endocarditis (ABE) involving the aortic valve (AV) in 17 patients disclosed one or more echocardiographic abnormalities involving the aortic valve cusps or their immediate vicinity in 15 (88%), including "shaggy" echoes indicative of vegetations in 12 (71%) . Of the 12 patients with echocardiographic evidence of AV vegetation, 11 developed overt congestive heart failure (CHF) and either died or had AV replacement, and seven had clinical events compatible with systemic emboli; of the five patients without echo-demonstrated vegetations, only one had CHF, none had AV replacement, two died, and one had a systemic embolus . In comparison to our previously reported echocardiographic observations in patients with ABE involving either the mitral (29 patients) or tricuspid valve (23 patients), infection involving the AV was far more liable to produce overt CHF and systemic emboli, to necessitate valve replacement, and to cause death during the period of active infection. Pediatrics, 1981 Jul, 68(1), 8 - 13 Ataxia and deafness in children due to bacterial meningitis; Kaplan SL et al.; Eight children with postmeningitis ataxia had detailed neurologic, audiologic, and neurovestibular evaluations . Prolonged fever, prolonged hyponatremia, or septic arthritis occurred in six during hospitalization . Severe to profound sensorineural hearing losses were present in seven of the children . Electronystagmography was abnormal in three of seven children . In seven children, the ataxia has persisted, but steady improvement has been observed during the course of repeated examinations . Hearing should be evaluated routinely in any child who develops meningitis. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1981 Jul, 15(2), 131 - 9 {The value of throat and nasopharyngeal cultures in acute bacterial otitis media in childhood}; Belen A et al.; One hundred children suffering from acute bacterial otitis media in Hacettepe Children's Hospital were investigated in two groups . Simultaneous throat and nasopharyngeal cultures were taken from 75 children of the first group, showing hyperaemic and hypertrophic tympanic membrane in one or both sides . In 42 of 75 throat cultures, same bacteria were grown as in nasopharyngeal cultures . From the second group, showing perforated tympanic membrane in the first 6 weeks, cultures were also taken . Same bacteria were grown again in the cultures of throat and ear discharges in 19 of 25 children . This high percentages denote the necessity and usefulness of taking also simultaneous throat cultures in acute otitis media cases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1981 Jul, 78(7), 4397 - 401 Induction of high serum levels of retroviral env gene products (gp70) in mice by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Hara I et al.; In the present study, mice each given a single intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responded with increased serum levels of the major envelope glycoprotein, gp70, of endogenous retrovirus . Concentrations of gp70 in their sera began to increase 4 hr after LPS injection, reached maximal 5- to 15-fold increases after 12--24 hr, and returned to the preinjection levels within 3 days . This response occurred only in the strains characterized by high base line levels of serum gp70 (greater than 10 micrograms/ml) such as NZB, NZB X NZW F1, BXSB, MRL, NZW, DBA/2, LG, 129(GIX+), and C57BL/6(GIX+) . However, strains such as DBA/1, C3H/St, BALB/c, C57BL/6(GIX-), and 129(GIX-) with lower base line levels of serum gp70 (less than 5 micrograms/ml) made little or no response . This serum gp70 induced by LPS was structurally similar to the gp70 of NZB xenotropic virus that is dominantly expressed in sera from virtually all strains of mice . However, (i) the induced gp70 was virion-free; (ii) xenotropic virus was not isolatable from BXSB, MRL/1, or 129(GIX+) mice injected with LPS; and (iii) amounts of the major structural viral protein, p30, did not increase correspondingly in sera . All of these findings indicate that the increased expression of serum xenotropic viral gp70 in response to LPS did not result from activation of replication-competent xenotropic virus . In addition, the serum gp70 response to LPS was abolished by simultaneous inoculation of an inhibitor of protein synthesis, D-galactosamine . These results strongly suggest that LPS selectively stimulates synthesis of the env gene product, gp70, of NZB xenotropic virus but other viral gene products. Mutat Res, 1981 Jul-Sep, 91(4-5), 285 - 90 Evaluation of the genotoxicity of some natural food colours using bacterial assays; Haveland-Smith RB; The genotoxicity of 5 natural food colours currently permitted within the European Economic Community has been studied . Ability to induce DNA damage was investigated by the use of a recently-developed E . coli rec assay . The induction of reverse mutations in E.coli WP2 trp uvrA and S.typhimurium TA1538 his rfa uvrB was detected in fluctuation assays . Both types of assays were conducted with and without metabolic activation using caecal extracts and liver microsomes from rats . Results obtained in these systems suggest that none of the colourings screened induced detectable genotoxicity. Ann Surg, 1981 Jul, 194(1), 35 - 41 Bacterial adherence to surgical sutures . A possible factor in suture induced infection; Katz S et al.; Surgical sutures are known to potentiate the development of wound infection . The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the capability of bacteria to adhere to various types of sutures has a significant effect on their ability to cause infections . Bacterial adherence to sutures was quantitatively measured using radiolabeled bacteria . In vitro adherence assays revealed remarkable variations in the affinity of bacteria to the various sutures: nylon bound the least bacteria while bacterial adherence to braided sutures (silk, Ti-cron, Dexon) was five to eight folds higher . The degree of infection obtained in mice in the presence of different sutures nicely correlated with their adherence properties . The different removal rate of adherent bacteria (glutaraldehyde-fixed) from various sutures by the tissue factors in mice supports the hypothesis that bacterial adherence to suture materials plays a significant role in the induction of surgical infection . Our observation points out at the need for careful suture selection in contaminated wounds . The adherence properties of sutures should be considered in any future surgical suture design. Eur J Biochem, 1981 Jul, 117(3), 483 - 9 Fast stages of photoelectric processes in biological membranes . III . Bacterial photosynthetic redox system; Drachev LA et al.; Chromatophores of photosynthetic bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and Chromatium minutissimum were associated with a collodion film impregnated with a decane solution of asolectin . A very short light flash inducing a single turnover of the chromatophore photosynthetic redox system was found to induce the formation of an electrical potential difference amounting to 60 mV, directed across the film as measured with an orthodox electrometer technique . The main phase of the photoelectric response had a tau value of less than 200 ns . Addition of menadione and some other redox mediators increases the main phase amplitude and induces a slower phase (tau = 200 microseconds) . In Ch . minutissimum chromatophores that retained their endogenous cytochrome c pool, one more electrogenic phase was revealed (tau = 20 microseconds) . Redox titrations of the electric response and bacteriochlorophyll absorption at 430 nm as well as measurements of the kinetics of cytochrome c oxidation have indicated that the fastest electrogenic phase is due to electron transfer from bacteriochlorophyll to Fe-ubiquinone, the 20-microseconds phase to cytochrome c2+ - bacteriochlorophyll+ oxidoreduction, and the 200-microseconds phase to Fe-ubiquinone- oxidation by a secondary quinone . In the decay of the photoelectric response, a 30-ms phase was identified which was explained by a reverse electron transfer from reduced Fe-ubiquinone to oxidated bacteriochlorophyll . The difference in the fast kinetics of photoelectric generation by the bacteriochlorophyll system from those by bacterial and animal rhodopsins has been discussed. Postgrad Med J, 1981 Jul, 57(669), 457 - 8 Malignant islet-cell tumour of the pancreas presenting with non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis and eosinophilia; O'Boyle CP et al.; A case of severe persistent eosinophilia and non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis complicating a malignant islet-cell tumour of the pancreas is documented . Although these are well recognized complications of malignant tumours, they do not appear to have been previously documented from the same patient . These complications probably reflect ectopic synthesis and are unlikely to be causally interrelated. J Immunol, 1981 Jul, 127(1), 16 - 20 Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats: inhibition by bacterial lipopolysaccharides and acquired resistance to reinduction by challenge with myelin basic protein; Raziuddin S et al.; In 2-mo-old Lewis rats immunized with bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) precomplexed to guinea pig myelin basic protein (BP), the clinical and histologic manifestations of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) were diminished compared with BP-treated controls . Similarly, in animals immunized with BP and challenged with BP-LPS at the same time or as long as 5 days after, the immunization with BP also inhibited the disease . That this capacity to reduce the incidence of BP-induced EAE is a unique property of LPS was suggested by the fact that other negatively charged molecules, such as DNA, RNA, and dextran sulphate, were not effective in inhibiting the clinical signs of EAE . After recovery from EAE induced by BP, some animals develop a recurrence of the disease if challenged with BP at appropriate intervals . However, after recovery from mild EAE induced by BP-LPS and after challenges with EAE-initiating BP antigens, secondary EAE was inhibited significantly. J Immunol, 1981 Jul, 127(1), 13 - 6 Prevention of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by bacterial lipopolysaccharides: inhibition of cell-mediated immunity; Raziuddin S et al.; The immunization of Lewis rats with bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) precomplexed to guinea pig myelin basic protein (BP) in complete Freund's adjuvant inhibits the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in these animals . These protected animals fail to manifest significant in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests and in vitro lymphocyte proliferative responses to BP . Our results indicated that LPS induces a nonspecific reduction in immune reactivity of BP in Lewis rats. Nucleic Acids Res, 1981 Jun 25, 9(12), 2675 - 89 Construction of bacterial plasmids containing sequences complementary to chicken alpha-tropomyosin mRNA; MacLeod AR; Recombinant plasmids have been constructed with contain sequences complementary to the mRNA coding for skeletal muscle alpha-tropomyosin . These recombinants were detected initially using a selective cDNA probe and subsequently using a messenger RNA selection assay . alpha-TM plasmids hybridize to a singly mRNA species smaller than 18S ribosomal RNA and found only in skeletal muscle . Cross-hybridization with mRNA's coding for other tropomyosins could not be detected under normal conditions . However, under conditions of reduced stringency alpha- TM plasmids cross-hydridize with an RNA species in heart muscle which may code for cardiac tropomyosin. Nucleic Acids Res, 1981 Jun 11, 9(11), 2629 - 40 Iron-related modification of bacterial transfer RNA; McLennan BD et al.; Transfer RNAs isolated from E . coli grown in media where ferric iron is not freely available show well characterized chromatographic changes due to the absence of the methylthio moiety of ms2i6A . The altered tRNA molecules include tRNA trp tRNA tyr, tRNA phe and two minor tRNA ser species . It has been suggested that methylthiolation of tRNA affects its function in regulation . We now show iron-related changes in tRNA trp from S . typhimurium, Ps . aeruginosa and K . pneumoniae . tRNA trp from S . typhimurium contains ms2i6A and it seems probable that the availability of iron affects the synthesis of ms2i6A-tRNA trp from i6A-tRNA trp in this organism . An iron-related methylthiolating system may also be operative in K . pneumoniae . S . marcescens tRNA trp, however was not affected by the availability of iron . Neither ms2i6A nor i6A was found in S . marcescens tRNA, although an, as yet unidentified, hydrophobic nucleoside was present. J Biol Chem, 1981 Jun 10, 256(11), 5792 - 7 Primary structure of the major coat protein of the filamentous bacterial viruses, If1 and Ike; Nakashima Y et al.; The primary structures of the major coat proteins from If1 and Ike filmentous coliphages have been determined by automated Edman degradation before and after cyanogen bromide cleavage and by manual sequencing of certain tryptic peptides . Carboxypeptidase A and B digestion was also used to determine the sequence of the COOH termini of these proteins . A comparison of the major coat proteins from these two phages with those from other filamentous phages show that they all share several common features, namely an asymmetric distribution of positively and negatively charged amino acid residues, which are clustered with the COOH-terminal and NH2-terminal regions respectively, and a region of 19 residues which is located in the middle of the polypeptide chain . The consequences of this charge distribution for a possible mechanism of virus maturation are discussed. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1981 Jun 5, 106(23), 739 - 43 {Chloramphenicol concentrations in serum and CSF in newborn infants and babies with bacterial meningitis (author's transl)}; Windorfer A et al.; Serum and CSF levels of chloramphenicol were determined repeatedly during the course of treatment in 24 premature and full term babies and infants with bacterial meningitis . Variations in chloramphenicol concentrations were caused in the premature babies by a small dose increase or by interaction with other drugs . In the fullterm newborn babies a higher dose could be given but even in these children the increase in concentration after small changes in dosage was marked . Chloramphenicol doses of 100 mg/kg daily could only be given after the sixth or eighth weeks of life . In the mature newborns and in the older babies inaccuracies in the administration of the drug may be a cause of marked variations of serum and CSF concentrations. Jpn J Pharmacol, 1981 Jun, 31(3), 425 - 31 Interactions between bacterial pyrogen and proteolipid extracted fom the cerebrum (II); Ogawa Y et al.; Our previous finding that the cerebral proteolipid could inactivate the pyrogenicity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro was also studied by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and the following results were obtained . When rabbit cerebral proteolipid was chromatographed, two main protein peaks were obtained . One appeared in the chloroform (C)/methanol (M) 6:1 and the other C/M 4:1 effluent, designated as fraction IV and fraction V, respectively . When the incubation mixture of proteolipid and LPS was chromatographed, a new protein peak appeared in the C effluent . The new protein peak was suggested to be a complex of proteolipid protein and LPS, because pyrogenicity could be detected in the protein fractions only after treatment with 2% SDS . Fraction V but not fraction IV inactivated the pyrogenicity of LPS in vitro . By re-chromatography of the incubation mixture of fraction V and LPS, a complex of protein and LPS was also eluted in the C effluent . On the other hand, by rechromatography of the incubation mixture of fraction IV and LPS, such a complex was not detected in the C effluent . The present results suggest that the proteolipid apoprotein eluted in the C/M 4:1 effluent on a Sephadex LH-20 column plays an important role in the inactivation of the pyrogenicity of LPS. Jpn J Pharmacol, 1981 Jun, 31(3), 419 - 24 Interactions between bacterial pyrogen and proteolipid extracted from the cerebrum (I); Kanoh S et al.; As proteolipid of the myelin sheath and its parent glial membrane may possible interact with bacterial pyrogen (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) during penetration into the brain, we investigated the interaction of LPS with proteolipid derived from the cerebrum of rabbits, rats and chickens . Intravenous administration of LPS (1 microgram/kg) produced a febrile response in rabbits, but not in rats and chickens . Marked hyperthermia was observed in these three species after intracisternal administration of LPS (0.01-0.1 microgram/kg) . Dinitrophenol (30 mg/kg s.c.) induced a high fever in these three species tested, particularly in the chickens . The pyrogenicity of LPS given intravenously to rabbits was inactivated by incubation of LPS with proteolipid in vitro . Inactivation effects of proteolipid extracted from the three species was in the order of: chickens, rats and rabbits . In rats, the inactivation effects of proteolipid from the adult animal were more potent than in the case of newborn animals . The febrile response induced by dinitrophenol and leucocytic pyrogen in rabbits, however, was not suppressed by incubation with proteolipid extracted from the rabbit brain . These results suggest that proteolipids do play an important role in the mechanism of penetration of LPS into the brain. South Med J, 1981 Jun, 74(6), 716 - 8 Bacterial colonization of human milk; Boer HR et al.; Because human milk is being used more and more for feeding neonates, many hospitals are struggling with the issue of culturing . The literature indicates that human milk is hardly ever sterile . Since there has been much debate concerning protocols and frequency of culturing milk specimens, we evaluated our facility's protocol, the aim of which was to assure clean collection and transportation of the mothers' milk . We studied two large sectors of patients; private and nonprivate (service) . Both sectors had a similar contamination rate with the same type of organisms . Private pediatricians generally ordered more cultures per patient than did the service (nonprivate) pediatrician . We challenge the need for all these cultures, which increase the patients' cost. Cutis, 1981 Jun, 27(6), 653 - 6 Chronic urticaria associated with bacterial infection . A case of dental infection; Tanphaichitr K; In most cases of chronic urticaria, a specific etiology cannot be determined . This should not discourage the physician from continuing to search for its underlying cause . Infection has long been considered a cause of urticaria, although the incidence is probably low when all other common causes are considered . A case of chronic urticaria of five years duration, which was associated with chronic extensive dental infection and periodontal disease, is presented to show the importance of infection as a trigger mechanism of urticaria. Mutat Res, 1981 Jun, 89(2), 137 - 44 The mutagenic properties of hexachloroacetone in short-term bacterial mutagen assay systems; Zochlinski H et al.; Hexachloroacetone, CCl3--CO--CCl3, reverts the Ames strains TA98 and TA100 but not the non-plasmid strains TA1537, TA1535 and TA1538 . In the absence of solvent, the number of revertant colonies is 5 times the spontaneous reversion rate for TA100 and 10 times the spontaneous reversion rate for TA98 with 26 mg hexachloroacetone per plate . This effect is seen in the absence of rat liver microsomes . In dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution a more complicated pattern is seen . In DMSO solution cooled between 18 and 20 degrees C, The maximum nuber of revertants is similar to that found in the absence of DMSO, but only 1.75 mg hexachloroacetone per plate is needed . When DMSO solution of hexachloroacetone is warmed above 20 degrees C, a yellow color develops and the solution becomes more toxic to the test bacteria . The maximum number of revertants is then produced at about 0.5 mg hexachloroacetone per plate . Hexachloroacetone is found to be active, without microsomal activation, in the E . coli WP-2 and E . coli rec-BC test systems . Hexachloroacetone readily reacts with water in DMSO solutions to form the non-mutagenic hexachloroacetone hydrate. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1981 Jun, 52(2), 119 - 22 Bacterial contamination of warm carcase surfaces: the relation of total aerobic and coliform counts to the recovery of Escherichia coli I; McCulloch B et al.; By an indirect contact method, the total numbers of aerobic and coliform bacteria and of Escherichia coli I per cm2 on the surfaces of warm carcases of 498 cattle, 426 sheep and 499 pigs were established . Total and E . coli I counts were classified in geometric progression, the classifications being used to monitor levels of contamination . The highest levels were found on pigs, E coli I was frequently isolated from pig surfaces and only sporadically from sheep and cattle . The recovery of E coli I was related to the overall extent of bacterial contamination . Levels of contamination and the prevalence of E . coli I are illustrated by bar-graph arrangements. Biochemistry, 1981 May 26, 20(11), 3263 - 6 Functional role of acidic ribosomal proteins . Interchangeability of proteins from bacterial and eukaryotic cells; Sanchez-Madrid F et al.; Core particles derived from yeast ribosomes by treatment with 50% ethanol and 0.4 M NH4Cl (P0.4 cores) are derived of the acidic proteins L44/45 functionally equivalent to the bacterial proteins L7 and L12 . These bacterial proteins are able to reconstitute the EF-2-dependent GDP binding capacity of the yeast cores but not their GTPase activity . On the other hand, yeast particles prepared in similar conditions but in the presence of 1 M NH4Cl (P1.0 cores) lose proteins L44/45, L15, and S31 . These particles are able to reconstitute both activities by the bacterial proteins L7 and L12 . Proteins L15 and S31 somehow affect the interaction of bacterial proteins L7 and L12 with the yeast particles . Indeed, in their presence only one dimer of L7 and L12 is bound to the P0.4 cores, while in their absence (P1.0 cores) the amount of bacterial proteins retained by the yeast particles is doubled . Elongation factor EF-2 seems to play an important role in the binding of the bacterial proteins to the yeast cores . Our results suggest that the two dimers of L7 and L12 normally present in the ribosomes might play a different functional role, one of the dimers being related to the binding of the substrate and the other one involved in the GTPase active center. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 May, (5), 57 - 62 {Structural features of the elementary bodies of bacterial L-forms}; Kats LN et al.; Elementary bodies have been detected in the L-forms of various bacteria, irrespective of their strain, the phase of development and stabilization of their culture . Elementary bodies have been found to have all organoids peculiar to other L-culture cells (the unit membrane, the nucleoid, ribosomes, more seldom mesosome-like structures and the outer membrane of the cell wall), which is indirectly indicative of their possible viability . The cytoplasmic membrane of elementary bodies contains dehydrogenases (detected in the NBT test), has the hydrophobic layer structure typical of bacterial membranes and, judging by the results of the ferritin test, possesses the same antigenic properties as the cytoplasmic membrane of other L-culture cells . Nevertheless, the above-mentioned properties are far from being the attribute of every elementary body, and the completeness of their manifestation is not directly related with the size of elementary bodies. Biomedicine, 1981 May, 35(2), 46 - 9 Effect of bacterial endotoxin on lysosomal enzyme activities of normal and mucolipidosis III fibroblasts; Di Natale P et al.; The effect of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) on lysosomal enzyme activities of fibroblasts from normals and mucolipidosis III patients was investigated . Exposure of normal fibroblasts to LPS for 24 hours resulted in enhanced intracellular activities of beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-L-iduronidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase . Endotoxin also led to an increased extracellular activity of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase . In contrast, mucolipidosis III fibroblasts did not show either intracellular or extracellular increase of lysosomal hydrolases after LPS treatment . Difference in cellular responsiveness to LPS may be related to the mechanism of LPS-cell interaction. Clin Chem, 1981 May, 27(5), 721 - 6 Laser nephelometry of orosomucoid in serum of newborns: reference intervals and relation to bacterial infections; Bienvenu J et al.; Orosomucoid was evaluated by laser-nephelometry in 1790 sera collected from 1170 newborns . Within-run precision (CV) was 2.1 to 4.2%, between-run 2.9 to 5.2% . Results correlated well with radial immunodiffusion (r = 0.989) . Results can be obtained within 1 h . Orosomucoid concentrations in serum at birth range from 130 to 200 mg/L and are influenced by gestational age during the first two days of postnatal life . Thereafter, the values increase very rapidly in the first week of life, concentrations being the same as in adults by about 10 months . In 66 of 78 cases of severe bacterial infections, orosomucoid concentrations were above normal . Evidently, serum orosomucoid constitutes an useful index in diagnosis and monitoring of bacterial infections in the neonatal period. Anesthesiology, 1981 May, 54(5), 364 - 8 Failure of bacterial filters to reduce the incidence of pneumonia after inhalation anesthesia; Garibaldi RA et al.; The authors prospectively studied 520 patients undergoing inhalation anesthesia to evaluate the efficacy of low resistance 0.22-micron bacterial filters in preventing postoperative pneumonias . Patients undergoing elective thoracic, upper abdominal and lower abdominal surgeries were randomly assigned preoperatively to filtered and nonfiltered anesthesia circuits by a study nurse . A second study nurse, who was unaware of patient assignments, followed each patient for five postoperative days to identify possible pulmonary complications . Both groups of patients were similar in age, sex distribution, smoking history, prior pulmonary disease, types and duration of surgery, ASA physical status classification, and receipt of intraoperative antibiotics . No differences in rates of postoperative pneumonia were observed between patients assigned to filtered and nonfiltered circuits (16.7 per cent vs . 18.3 per cent, respectively, P = 0.73) . Also no differences were observed when the incidences of other outcome criteria such as postoperative fever, abnormal chest x-ray, sputum production, or abnormal pulmonary physical exam findings were evaluated . The results suggest that bacterial gas filters do not influence the incidence of postoperative pneumonias and that routine use of these devices for this purpose is not cost-effective. Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1981 May 1, 36(9), 277 - 81 {Schematic principles in the therapy of bacterial inflammation of the brain and meninges}; Duniewicz M; Bacterial diseases of the central nervous system develop per continuitatem of haematogenically . Each of these two groups can further be subdivided . As an initial therapy when an unknown agent is present chloramphenicol in high doses (200 mg/kg KM) stood the test for adults and older children and ampicillin (200 to 400 mg/kg KM), respectively, for babies and infants . In case of need, this therapy is correlated according to the findings of the culture and the antibiogramme . In secondary meningitides the surgical cure of the focus should be performed only after improvement of the general condition . Recidivating meningitides undergo an operation when liquor fistulae are proved . In an unclarified cause a long-term therapy with oxacillin or lincomycin over 3-6 months is possible . In the meningitis of newborn the combination of ampicillin, carbenicillin or colistin with gentamycin is necessary, intravenously and intrathecally . Hydrocortisone and streptokinase shall prevent the transfer of the liquor spaces . Of great importance is the combat against the cerebral oedema . In mycetogenous meningitis amphotericin B, eventually in combination with 5-fluorocytosine, can be used . There are still no effective remedies against the amoebic meningo-encephalitis. Rev Infect Dis, 1981 May-Jun, 3(3), 470 - 8 The importance of lactic acid levels in body fluids in the detection of bacterial infections; Brook I; Lactic acid can be formed as a "blind alley" in the metabolic degradation of glucose, especially under anaerobic conditions . The presence of bacterial infection in a closed body cavity induces elevated levels of lactic acid, as is evident in bacterial and fungal infections inthe meninges, joints, peritoneum, and pleura . Although measurement of lactate levels is not a test without faults, it is still a valuable tool in the early recognition of bacterial infections of various body cavities and can assist in the differentiation between infectious and noninfectious conditions . False-positive readings can be obtained with severe anoxia of the CNS, and with irritation of the peritoneal or pleural cavities due to metastases . False-negative values can be obtained in gonococcal arthritis . Table 1 presents accepted normal values for lactic acid in various body sites and the levels of lactic acid than can signify the presence of infection . Further work is still needed to provide better understanding of the mechanisms that cause changes in concentrations of lactic acid. Immunology, 1981 May, 43(1), 177 - 82 In vitro synthesis of antibody to specific bacterial lipopolysaccharide by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis; Mutchnick MG et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibody to specific bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in serum and in pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulated culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from four patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) . Antibody to LPS (derived from a single strain of Escherichia coli isolated from each patient's stool), was detected in the sera of each patient to a 10(-4) dilution . Only one of four control sera was positive at the 10(-4) dilution, with the others positive at 10(-3) dilution . Antibody to LPS was detected in the culture supernatants in three of the four patients and in none of the control subjects . Supernatants from patient cultures pretreated with mitomycin C or harvested after 1 day of incubation did not have detectable antibody . These results indicate that we can expand, in vitro, the population of peripheral blood B lymphocytes obtained from patients with AC and cause them to synthesize antibody against specific LPS from their own gut flora. Dig Dis Sci, 1981 May, 26(5), 402 - 8 Biliary lipid and bile acid composition in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus . Arguments for increased intestinal bacterial bile acid degradation; Meinders AE et al.; Bile cholesterol saturation and bile acid composition was studied in 12 nonobese male insulin-dependent diabetics and 28 controls . The total bile lipid concentration in the bile rich duodenal aspirate was lower in the diabetics . The bile cholesterol saturation index was lower in the diabetics if calculated according to Thomas and Hofmann, but not if calculated according to Carey's critical tables . A negative correlation was observed between the cholesterol saturation index of the bile of the diabetics and their long-term metabolic control, as measured by the percentage HbA1c . No correlation existed between the saturation index and the metabolic control at the time of bile sampling as measured by serum glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, and triglycerides . There was also a negative correlation between the cholesterol saturation index and the serum cholesterol concentrations . The glycine-taurine ratio of the conjugated bile acids was increased in the diabetics, as was the percentage concentration of secondary bile acids (deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid) . No correlation was found between the metabolic control of the diabetic state and either the glycine-taurine ratio or the percent concentration of secondary bile acids . These results do not favor a higher incidence of cholesterol gallstones in male juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetics . The increased glycine-taurine ratio of the conjugated bile acids and the elevated concentration of secondary bile acids may be due to increased bacterial invasion of the small intestine or decreased absorption of bile acids in the terminal ileum in these insulin-dependent diabetics. Biophys J, 1981 May, 34(2), 325 - 44 The balance between primary forward and back reactions in bacterial photosynthesis; Rademaker H et al.; The temperature dependence of the bacteriochlorophyll fluorescence and reaction center triplet yield in while cells of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides strain 2.4.1 and of the magnetic field-induced fluorescence increase are calculated, taking into account rate constants of losses in the antenna system and of charge separation and recombination in the reaction center . Triplet and singlet yield after recombination in the reaction center are described by the radical pair mechanism . Good fits of the theoretically calculated temperature dependence with published experimental results could be obtained, assuming that ks, the rate constant for recombination of the charges on the primary donor P+ and the reduced intermediate acceptor I- to the lowest excited singlet state P*I of the reaction center bacteriochlorophyll, is temperature-dependent via the Boltzmann factor Kso exp(-delta E/kT), where delta E is the energy difference between P*I and P+I- and kso is the frequency factor . kg and/or kt, the rate constants for recombination to the singlet ground and triplet states, respectively, were assumed to be temperature-independent, or temperature-dependent via their exothermicity factors ki = CiT-1/2 exp(-Ei/kT) with i = g, t . Depending on the particular choice for the temperature dependence of kg and kt, best fits were obtained for delta E = 45-75 meV and recombination rate constants at 300 K of ks = 0.4-0.8 ns-1, kg = 0.08-0.12 ns-1, and kt = 0.3-0.5 ns-1 . The model predicts a lifetime of the radical pair P+I- that is somewhat larger than that of delayed fluorescence; a magnetic field increases both. Mol Biol (Mosk), 1981 May-Jun, 15(3), 589 - 600 {Kinetics of ubisemiquinone redox changes in primary reactions of bacterial photosynthesis}; Verkhovskii MI et al.; Absorbance changes at 450 nm of the semiquinone form of the secondary electron acceptor were studied in chromatophores of Rhodospirillum rubrum . When chromatophores are illuminated by a series of single turnover flashes ubisemiquinone is formed and destroyed on alternate flashes at ambient redox potential from 100 to 250 mV . A simple kinetic model of the binary oscillations is suggested . On the base of the model it is shown that the rate constant of electron transfer from primary to secondary quinone after the first flash is larger that after the second flash . Cooperativity in electron transfer from primary to secondary quinone can be explained by electrostatic interactions of charged carriers. Poult Sci, 1981 May, 60(5), 1092 - 3 Effect of three routes of spectinomycin injection in neonatal turkeys with mixed bacterial contamination; Christensen VL et al.; Neonatal poults diagnosed to have mixed bacterial contamination were injected with spectinomycin in one of three different routes: yolk sac, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously . An additional group was uninjected controls . Yolk sac injections, but not other routes, resulted in significantly heavier birds. Vox Sang, 1981 May, 40(5), 329 - 37 Pepsin-treated human gamma globulin in bacterial infections . A randomized study in patients with septicaemia and pneumonia; Lindquist L et al.; 59 patients with suspected or verified septicaemia and 87 patients with suspected or verified bacterial pneumonia were treated with either antibiotics alone or antibiotics combined with a pepsin-treated human gamma globulin (Gamma-Venin) . The gamma globulin was given intravenously in repeated doses of 0.15 g/kg body weight . Extensive clinical and laboratory investigations were performed repeatedly in a strictly standardized fashion . Neither the septicaemia group nor the pneumonia group presented significant differences between treated patients and controls for any of the clinical and laboratory variables studied . Hospital stay, duration of fever and symptoms were also unaffected by the gamma globulin treatment . Subdivision of the material according to aetiology provided no additional information . In 9 patients adverse reactions were seen, e.g., shock in 2 individuals. Mol Cell Biol, 1981 May, 1(5), 449 - 59 Factors governing the expression of a bacterial gene in mammalian cells; Mulligan RC et al.; Cultured monkey kidney cells transfected with simian virus 40 (SV40)-pBR322-derived deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vectors containing the Escherichia coli gene (Ecogpt, or gpt) coding for the enzyme xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (XGPRT) synthesize the bacterial enzyme . This paper describes the structure of the messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNA's) formed during the expression of gpt and an unexpected feature of the nucleotide sequence in the gpt DNA segment . Analyses of the gpt-specific mRNA's produced during infection of CV1 cells indicate that in addition to the mRNA's expected on the basis of known simian virus 40 RNA splicing patterns, there is a novel SV40-gpt hybrid mRNA . The novel mRNA contains an SV40 leader segment spliced to RNA sequences transcribed from the bacterial DNA segment . The sequence of the 5'-proximal 345 nucleotides of the gpt DNA segment indicates that the only open translation phase begins with an AUG about 200 nucleotides from the end of the gpt DNA . Two additional AUGs as well as translation terminator codons in all three phases precede the XGPRT initiator codon . Deletion of the two that are upstream of the putative start codon increases the level of XGPRT production in transfected cells; deletion of sequences that contain the proposed XGPRT initiator AUG abolishes enzyme production . Based on the location of the XGPRT coding sequence in the recombinants and the structure of the mRNA's, we infer that the bacterial enzyme can be translated from an initiator AUG that is 400 to 800 nucleotides from the 5' terminus of the mRNA and preceded by two to six AUG triplets. Eur J Pharmacol, 1981 Apr 24, 71(1), 105 - 15 Induction of beta 1-receptors for kinins in the rabbit by a bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Regoli DC et al.; The intravenous injection of 10 microgram of a lipopolysaccharide extracted from E . Coli to rabbits leads to the appearance of a hypotensive effect for des-Arg9-BK and increases significantly the vasodilator effect of this peptide in isolated hearts and its contractile effects in strips of large arteries and veins . LPS elicits these responses when administered 5 or 20 h before anesthesia; the hypotensive response of animals receiving LPS just before anaesthesia is similar to that of untreated rabbits . All actions of des-Arg9-BK in vivo, in isolated hearts and in isolated tissues are blocked by des-Arg10,{Leu9}-kallidin (KD), a specific inhibitor of kinins B1-receptor . These data are taken as evidence of the appearance of B1-response to kinins in the few hours following LPS injection . The response of the animals, perfused organs and isolated tissues to other agonists, such as substance P or {Tyr(Me)8}-BK (an activator of B2-receptors for kinins) are not affected by the treatment with LPS nor are they modified by the antagonist des-Arg10,{Leu9}-KD . The present data, together with previous studies on the sensitization mechanism of B1-receptor containing preparations, suggest that LPS induces the formation of B1-receptors in the rabbit, within a few hours . The activation of B1-receptors by des-Arg9-BK produces hypotension, coronary vasodilation and stimulation of large arteries and veins isolated and suspended in vitro . Some large arteries and veins (e.g . the aorta and the anterior mesenteric vein) as well as some peripheral vascular beds (e.g . the coronary vessels) have the ability of generating B1-receptors, while other organs (e.g . the external jugular vein) have not or very little . The reason for this phenomenon as well as the intimate mechanism by which LPS induces the formation of B1-receptors remain to be elucidated. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1981 Apr 22, 643(1), 17 - 29 The affinity of bacterial polysaccharide-containing fractions for mammalian cell membranes and its relationship to immunopotentiating activity; Davies M et al.; The natural affinity of various bacterial glycopeptides and lipopolysaccharides for mammalian cell membranes was estimated quantitatively by comparison with the adsorption of lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli NCTC 8623 to erythrocytes, thymocytes, bone marrow cells, spleen cells, peritoneal lymphocytes and macrophages . Immunopotentiating activity was estimated by measuring the ability of the bacterial fractions to stimulate a humoral response to ovalbumin in HAM/1CR mice . When the affinity for mammalian cell membranes was compared with the stimulation of the antibody response, it was found that a negative correlation for peritoneal macrophages (rs = -0.94, P less than 0.0005) and a positive correlation for peritoneal lymphocytes (rs = +0.97, P less than 0.0005) and spleen cells (rs = +0.76, P less than 0.005) existed. Nucleic Acids Res, 1981 Apr 10, 9(7), 1533 - 49 The 3'-terminal region of bacterial 23S ribosomal RNA: structure and homology with the 3'-terminal region of eukaryotic 28S rRNA and with chloroplast 4.5s rRNA; Machatt MA et al.; The sequence of the 110 nucleotide fragment located at the 3'-end of E.coli, P.vulgaris and A.punctata 23S rRNAs has been determined . The homology between the E.coli and P.vulgaris fragments is 90%, whereas that between the E.coli and A.punctate fragments is only 60% . The three rRNA fragments have sequences compatible with a secondary structure consisting of two hairpins . Using chemical and enzymatic methods recently developed for the study of the secondary structure of RNA, we demonstrated that one of these hairpins and part of the other are actually present in the three 3'-terminal fragments in solution . This supports the existence of these two hairpins in the intact molecule . Indeed, results obtained upon limited digestion of intact 23S RNA with T1 RNase were in good agreement with the existence of these two hairpins . We observed that the primary structures of the 3'-terminal regions of yeast 26S rRNA and X.laevis 28S rRNA are both compatible with a secondary structure similar to that found at the 3'-end of bacterial 23S rRNAs . Furthermore, both tobacco and wheat chloroplast 4.5S rRNAs can also be folded in a similar way as the 3'-terminal region of bacterial 23S rRNA, the 3'-end of chloroplast 4.5S rRNAs being complementary to the 5'-end of chloroplast 23S rRNA . This strongly reinforces the hypothesis that chloroplast 4.5S rRNA originates from the 3'-end of bacterial 23S rRNA and suggests that this rRNA may be base-paired with the 5'-end of chloroplast 23S rRNA . Invariant oligonucleotides are present at identical positions in the homologous secondary structures of E.coli 23S, yeast 26S, X.laevis 28S and wheat and tobacco 4.5S rRNAs . Surprisingly, the sequences of these oligonucleotides are not all conserved in the 3'-terminal regions of A.punctata or even P.vulgaris 23S rRNAs . Results obtained upon mild methylation of E.coli 50S subunits with dimethylsulfate strongly suggest that these invariant oligonucleotides are involved in RNA tertiary structure or in RNA-protein interactions. Fortschr Med, 1981 Apr 9, 99(14), 517 - 9 {Metronidazole as the therapeutic choice in bacterial leukorrhea . Report from a gynecologic practice on the diagnosis and therapy of non-physiologic bacterial discharge}; Von Schubert W; Diagnosis and therapy of different kinds of fluor in gynaecological practice are reported . Subjective criteria are completed by investigations with phase-contrast-microscope . Unphysiological bacterial fluor has been found most frequently and was treated by metronidazole (Rathimed N) per os during one day without regard of bacteria species . Of 239 patients 83.7 per cent were cured, 11.3 per cent got better and only 5 per cent were not cured . According to these results metronidazole therapy is one of the shortest and most effective therapeutical methods in fluor treatment. Minerva Med, 1981 Apr 7, 72(14), 875 - 92 {Pharmacokinetics of intravenous rifampicin (RMP) and its clinical evaluation in purulent bacterial meningitis}; Di Nola F et al.; A combined kinetic and clinical study showed that rifampicin displays good tissue diffusibility, though it may have a tendency to accumulate . A liquor transfer sufficient for the bacteria most commonly responsible for meningeal inflammation was observed; 15/18 cases of purulent bacterial meningitis treated were clinically cured without sequelae, while 1 displayed considerable improvement . Two patients died from unforseen, uncontrollable complications that were not related to administration of the drug. Lab Anim, 1981 Apr, 15(2), 107 - 10 Studies on the hygiene of drinking water for laboratory animals . 1 . The effect of various treatments on bacterial contamination; Tober-Meyer BK et al.; Daily autoclaving of drinking-water bottles or daily replacement of their contents resulted in drinking water hygienically acceptable for laboratory rats . However, daily autoclaving of the bottles imposes an additional workload which many institutions cannot afford . The daily replacement of the drinking water is not desirable, since with the usual routines it is virtually impossible to guarantee a bottle is returned to the same cage . A reliable method of preventing bacterial growth for more then 1-2 days in the drinking water of conventional laboratory rats is its acidification with hydrochloric acid to pH 2.3-2.5. J Urol, 1981 Apr, 125(4), 509 - 15 The detection of a local prostatic immunologic response to bacterial prostatitis; Shortliffe LM et al.; Although local antibody responses at bronchial, pulmonary and intestinal surfaces have been studied previously a similar response from the prostatic surface has never been described . This investigation demonstrates a distinct local antibody response in the prostatic fluid of 2 patients with bacterial prostatitis . Levels of antigen-specific and total non-specific immunoglobulins A and G were measured at intervals during and following infection for at least 2 years . These studies show that local prostatic immunologic responses are independent of serum responses and specific for the infecting organism . Furthermore, local secretory immunoglobulin A is the predominant immunoglobulin involved in the response to prostatic infection . Serum antigen-specific antibody and total serum or prostatic fluid immunoglobulin measurements are in adequate reflections of the prostatic immune response. Cancer Lett, 1981 Apr, 12(3), 181 - 93 A study of antitemplate inhibition of mammalian, bacterial and viral DNA polymerases by 2- and 2'-substituted derivatives of polyadenylic acid; Chandra P et al.; In the present study, effects of various 2- and 2'-substituted polyadenylic acid analogs on eukaryotic, bacterial and viral DNA polymerases were investigated . The polymer containing 2'-deoxy-2'fluoroadenosine, (dAfl)n, showed a concentration dependent stimulation of (rA)n . (dT)12-catalyzed reverse transcriptase reaction from Rauscher Leukemia Virus (RLV) . A similar stimulation of the (rA)n . (dT)12-catalyzed DNA polymerase-gamma reaction was also observed . However, the (rC)n . (dG)12-dependent reverse transcriptase activity was inhibited by (dAfl) . The DNA polymerase-beta activity catalyzed by (dA)n . (dT)12 was also inhibited by (dAfl)n . The reported data indicate that (dAfl)n closely resembles (rA)n as a functional template . In contrast, the 2-substituted derivatives, poly(2-methylthioadenylic acid) and poly(2-ethylthioadenylic acid), are not able to discriminate between the reactions catalyzed by different templates . For example, both derivatives inhibit (rA)n . (dT)12- and (rC)n . (dG)12-catalyzed reverse transcriptase reaction to the same extent; though the methylthio derivative is a much better inhibitor than the ethylthio analog . The DNA polymerase-alpha was less sensitive to these inhibitors; whereas the bacterial DNA polymerase (Kornberg enzyme; DNA polymerase I) was completely resistant to the action of all the derivatives used in this study. J Exp Med, 1981 Apr 1, 153(4), 1021 - 6 Adjuvant polyarthritis . V . Induction by N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, the smallest peptide subunit of bacterial peptidoglycan; Chang YH et al.; N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), an apparently nonimmunogenic bacterial peptidoglycan-derived small peptide, was found to induce a polyarthritis the rat similar to that induced by Freund's complete adjuvant when injected in the form of an oil emulsion . An oil emulsion of its isomer, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-L-isoglutamine, which unlike MDP has no immunostimulatory activity, failed to induce the disease. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1981 Apr, 66(4), 745 - 53 Increased susceptibility to lethal effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in mice with B-cell leukemia; Muirhead MJ et al.; Susceptibility to the lethal effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased more than one hundredfold in BALB/c mice given syngeneic B-cell tumor transplants . The increased susceptibility to LPS that developed during the following weeks paralleled tumor growth in the liver and spleen . The tumor-bearing animals also developed an enhanced capacity to clear colloidal carbon from the blood, consistent with increased activity of the reticuloendothelial system . Although hypersusceptibility to LPS has been reported to a number of animal models, our experiment was th first demonstration in a tumor model that susceptibility correlates with tumor burden. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1981 Apr, 78(4), 2120 - 4 Turnover of bacterial glutamine synthetase: oxidative inactivation precedes proteolysis; Levine RL et al.; We partially purified a preparation from Escherichia coli that proteolytically degrades the enzyme glutamine synthetase {L-glutamate:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.1.2} . The degradation is at least a two-step process . First, the glutamine synthetase undergoes an oxidative modification . This modification leads to loss of catalytic activity and also renders the protein susceptible to proteolytic attack in the second step . The oxidative step displays characteristics of a mixed-function oxidation, requiring both molecular oxygen and a reduced nucleotide . This step can also be catalyzed by a purified, mammalian cytochrome P-450 system, as well as by a model system consisting of ascorbic acid and oxygen . Catalase blocks this oxidative modification step . Thus, the overall process of proteolytic degradation can be observed only if care is taken to remove catalase activity from the extracts . The inactivation reaction is dependent on the state of adenylylation of the glutamine synthetase, suggesting that this a physiologically important reaction . If so, then mixed-function oxidases are now implicated in the process of intracellular protein turnover. Nature, 1981 Mar 19, 290(5803), 217 - 21 A plasmid DNA primase active in discontinuous bacterial DNA replication; Wilkins BM et al.; A DNA primase encoded by an IncI alpha plasmid promotes efficient DNA replication in a primase-defective mutant of Escherichia coli . This finding implies that the plasmid enzyme can prime discontinuous DNA synthesis of the bacterial chromosome . The plasmid gene encodes two large, antigenically related proteins which differ from E . coli primase. Carbohydr Res, 1981 Mar 2, 89(2), 279 - 88 Synthesis of 2-methyl-{2-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-6-O-benzyl-3-O-(2-butenyl)-1,2-dideoxy-alpha-D -glucopyrano}-{2,1-d}-2-oxazoline, a versatile intermediate for the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides of bacterial cell-wall, human milk, and blood-group substances; Durette PL et al.; 2-Methyl-{2-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-6-O-benzyl-3-O-(2-butenyl)-1,2-dideoxy-alpha-D-glucopyrano}-{2,1-d}-2-oxazoline (2), a glycosylating agent in which the three hydroxyl groups are blocked with protecting groups of differing "persistence", is of utility in the synthesis of oligosaccharides containing highly branched 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucosyl residues, and it was synthesized in a ten-step sequence from 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose via allyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) . Alkylation of 3 with 2-butenyl (crotyl) bromide, hydrolysis of the benzylidene acetal group, benzylation of the 6-hydroxyl group, and acetylation of the 4-hydroxyl group afforded allyl 2-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-6-O-benzyl-3-O-(2-butenyl)-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside(10) . Treatment of 10 with chlorotris(tri-phenylphosphine)rhodium(I) gave mainly the corresponding 1-propenyl beta-glycoside, which was converted into oxazoline 2 by the action of mercuric chloride-mercuric oxide in acetonitrile . Glycosylation of benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside with 2, and subsequent O-deacetylation at O-4' gave a glycosyl acceptor, benzyl 2-acetamido-4-O-{2-acetamido-6-O-benzyl-3-O-(2-butenyl) -2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl}-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside . Arch Surg, 1981 Mar, 116(3), 311 - 4 Bacterial endocarditis in the critically ill surgical patient; Powell DC et al.; The association of endocarditis with persistent intraperitoneal sepsis and right-sided heat catheterization (Swan-Ganz catheter and central venous catheter) was found in four (27%) of 15 patients with endocarditis identified at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, during a 14-year period . These four patients had (1) intra-abdominal abscesses as a persistent source of sepsis, (2) documented septicemia, (3) long-term use of right sided heart catheters, and (4) prolonged hospitalization with a fatal outcome . In each case, endocarditis with persistent septicemia was considered a major factor contributing to a fatal outcome . Identification of a new cardiac murmur associated with septicemia was the most reliable means of diagnosis in these patients . The best form of treatment seems to be prevention by (1) eliminating septic foci, (2) using central catheters for specific indications for as short a period as possible, and (3) promptly discontinuing use of the catheter when septicemia is suspected. J Clin Hosp Pharm, 1981 Mar, 6(1), 57 - 61 The Hereford Hospitals prescribing study . Changes in the prescribing patterns of anti-bacterial agents in the medical wards of a district general hospital over four years; Alexander AM et al.; Analysis of the prescribing of systemic anti-bacterial drugs in the medical wards of a district general hospital from April 1975 to March 1979 showed that 26% of patients received these drugs and that ampicillin, amoxycillin and cotrimoxazole were prescribed much more frequently than other agents . During this time, there were considerable changes in prescribing habits, with increases noted in amoxycillin, flucloxacillin and metronidazole . These changes were paralleled by decreases in ampicillin, cloxacillin and clindamycin usage. J Clin Gastroenterol, 1981 Mar, 3(1), 79 - 81 Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis presenting as a perforated viscus; Swamy AP et al.; A young man with severe nephrotic syndrome and symptoms suggestive of peptic ulcer disease treated with steroids developed symptoms and signs of peritonitis and pneumoperitoneum . Laparotomy and ascitis fluid culture revealed B . fragilis peritonitis without any perforation, suggesting a diagnosis of spontaneous primary peritonitis. Eur J Pediatr, 1981 Mar, 136(1), 9 - 12 CSF lysosomal hydrolase activity as an aid in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis; Diven WF et al.; The activity of the lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, alpha-mannosidase and hexosaminidase were determined in CSF obtained from patients with proven bacterial meningitis and from patients with various other diagnoses . The mean value for CSF beta-glucuronidase from bacterial meningitis was elevated 73-fold when compared to the aggregate mean of all control groups . Acid phosphatase and alpha-mannosidase means were 26-fold and 33-fold elevated respectively while hexosaminidase was threefold elevated . Measurement of CSF acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase should prove a rapid useful test in establishing the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis . Chromatography of CSF samples on DEAE Sephadex allowed the resolution of hexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase into individual isozymes . The ratio of hexosaminidase A to hexosaminidase B was generally higher in CSF from patients with bacterial meningitis but was very variable . The isozyme distribution for beta-glucuronidase was identical to that found in serum and no differences in pattern were found between patients and control subjects. J Infect, 1981 Mar, 3(1 Suppl), 71 - 9 Immunisation against bacterial meningitis; Beuvery EC; The vaccine potential of different surface antigens of encapsulated bacteria is considered . It is concluded that only the capsular polysaccharides provide good protection . Polysaccharides are, however, thymus-independent antigens and the antibody response is strongly influenced by the age of the recipient and his naturally acquired immunity . For a long-lasting immunity the induction of mainly IgG antibodies is essential . Such a response can easily be induced by conjugates in which the polysaccharides have been attached to thymus-dependent carriers. J Infect Dis, 1981 Mar, 143(3), 325 - 45 Bacterial adherence: adhesin-receptor interactions mediating the attachment of bacteria to mucosal surface; Beachey EH; Recent studies have indicated that the attachment of bacteria to mucosal surfaces is the initial event in the pathogenesis of most infectious diseases due to bacteria in animals and humans . An understanding of the mechanisms of attachment and a definition of the adhesive molecules on the surfaces of bacteria (adhesins) as well as those on host cell membranes (receptors) have suggested new approaches to the prevention of serious bacterial infections: (1) application of purified adhesion or receptor materials or their analogues as competitive inhibitors of bacterial adherence; (2) administration of sublethal concentrations of antibiotics that suppress the formation and expression of bacterial adhesins; and (3) development of vaccines against bacterial surface components involved in adhesion to mucosal surfaces . Progress has already been made in the development of antiadhesive vaccines directed against the fimbrial adhesins of several human bacterial pathogens. J Clin Invest, 1981 Mar, 67(3), 790 - 9 Use of a solid-phase radioimmunoassay and formalin-fixed whole bacterial antigen in the detection of antigen-specific immunoglobulin in prostatic fluid; Shortliffe LM et al.; The prostatic fluid of two patients with Escherichia coli bacterial prostatitis was analyzed for evidence of a local immune response to bacterial infection . A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was modified to measure the immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG antigen-specific antibody responses to infecting bacteria in serum and prostatic fluid from patient . Formalin-fixed whole E . coli were used as antigen . In one patient with acute E . coli prostatic infection, measurements of antigen-specific antibody confirm the presence of a systemic and local immune response . However, in another patient with a chronic E . coli prostatitis, a primarily local immune response was demonstrated . The response measured in the prostatic fluid appears to be locally stimulated and specific for the infecting bacteria . Furthermore, IgA was the predominant immunoglobulin involved in the local prostatic immune response to infection . Although elevations of serum IgA antigen-specific antibody levels were short-liver after treatment of prostatic infection, local IgA antigen-specific antibodies were detected for as long as 1 yr after the initial infection in both patients studied. Arch Microbiol, 1981 Mar, 129(1), 67 - 71 Factors affecting the cellular expression of bacterial luciferase; Ulitzur S et al.; The in vivo expression of cellular bacterial luciferase has been defined as the luciferase expression quotient, measured as the ratio of the bioluminescence intensity in vivo to the in vitro activity of luciferase in crude cell extracts . The expression is greater in the presence of inhibitors of the electron transport system such as cyanide and N-heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline and also at lower oxygen tensions . The higher expression of the cellular luciferase under these conditions is postulated to be due to an increase in the intracellular levels of reduced coenzymes which enhance both the reduction of flavin and the reduction of fatty acid to aldehyde . Both FMNH2 and aldehyde are substrates in the light emitting reaction. Mutat Res, 1981 Mar, 81(1), 21 - 6 Mutagenic activities of simple nitrofuran derivatives . I . Comparison of related compounds in the phage inductest, chloroplast-bleaching and bacterial-repair and mutagenicity tests; Soska J et al.; Several simple furan and nitrofuran compounds were tested for mutagenicity and related biological activities, in the Ames test, the bacterial repair test, the prophage-induction test and the chloroplast-bleaching test . Only those compounds having the nitro-group were found to be active in the test . If the nitro-group was in the beta instead of the alpha position, the mutagenic activity was much reduced (0.3 revertants per nanomole, the other simple nitrofurans producing 5-15 reversions per nanomole, as did 5-nitrofuran and 5,2-dinitrofuran) . The vinyl-group-containing compound, 5-nitro-2-furylacrylic acid, was by one decadic order more effective both in the Ames test and in the prophage-induction test . In the repair tests all nitrofurans displayed a much higher dependence on the recA-repair system than on the uvrA system . For 2 compounds, the dinitrofuran and, especially, the 5-nitrofuraldehyde, the urA cells were even less sensitive than the wild-type cells. J Immunol, 1981 Mar, 126(3), 938 - 42 Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) interferes with the induction of tolerance and primes thymus-derived lymphocytes; Parks DE et al.; The injection of deaggregated human gamma-globulin (DHGG) into mice results in the establishment of specific immunologic unresponsiveness in T and B lymphocytes . However, the additional injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 3 hr later converts the tolerogenic DHGG into an immunogen for both helper T and B cells . This generation of immunocompetence to HGG during interference with tolerance induction by LPS is demonstrated by both a primary plaque-forming cell response to DHGG + LPS and a secondary antibody response to a subsequent antigenic challenge . The secondary response to antigen stimulation in the B cells is, however, T cell dependent . Interference with tolerance induction in antigen-specific helper T cells can be demonstrated by challenge with the DNP-HGG hapten-carrier conjugate or by adoptive cell transfer with primed B cells and subsequent challenge with immunogenic HGG . Furthermore, helper T cells in the spleen and thymus become primed by DHGG + LPS as evidenced by their cooperation with primed B cells in the adoptive transfer assay . In addition to its interference with tolerance induction, LPS injected with either tolerogenic or immunogenic HGG also facilitates priming of helper T cells for the response to DNP-HGG . These data indicate that exposure of antigen-specific helper T and B cells to antigen alone results in the induction of tolerance, whereas induction of immunocompetence in these cells requires at least 2 signals, 1 provided by interaction with antigen and a 2nd delivered by a nonspecific stimulus similar to that provided by LPS in the present experiments. Nature, 1981 Feb 26, 289(5800), 814 - 6 Structure of the protein and DNA in fd filamentous bacterial virus; Banner DW et al.; The virion of filamentous bacterial viruses comprises a cylindrical protein shell of o.d . approximately 60 A and i.d . 20A, containing a single-stranded circular DNA molecule which has two oppositely directed but not base-paired strands extending the length of the virion . The assembly of the virion involves an intracellular prepackaging of the DNA with a viral DNA-binding protein which is then displaced by the coat protein as the growing virion crosses the bacterial membrane . Studies of the virion by X-ray fibre diffraction show that the protein coat consists largely of alpha-helices oriented roughly parallel to the axis of the virion . As the normal to a planar peptide tends to align normal to a magnetic field, it is possible to improve significantly the orientation of virions in fibres using a strong magnet . The success of this technique with the Pf1 strain of virus led us to apply it to the better-known fd (f1, M13) strain . We report here new information about the arrangement of protein and DNA in the fd virion obtained from the improved diffraction pattern (Fig . 1). Nature, 1981 Feb 26, 289(5800), 751 - 8 Attenuation in the control of expression of bacterial operons; Yanofsky C; Bacterial operons concerned with the biosynthesis of amino acids are often controlled by a process of attenuation . The translation product of the initial segment of the transcript of each operon is a peptide rich in the amino acid that the particular operon controls . If the amino acid is in short supply translation is stalled at the relevant codons of the transcript long enough for the succeeding segment of the transcript to form secondary structures that allow the transcribing RNA polymerase molecule to proceed through a site that otherwise dictates termination of transcription . This site is the attenuator; the process is attenuation. C R Seances Acad Sci III, 1981 Feb 23, 292(8), 533 - 6 {Response of splenic lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin and bacterial lipopolysaccharide in mice, sensitive and resistant to mouse hepatitis virus 3 (MHV3)}; Grollemund E et al.; The responsiveness of splenic cells to phytohemagglutinin but not to bacterial endotoxin was inhibited during MHV3 infection of both sensitive (C57Bl6) and resistant (A/J) Mice . This result could be interpreted as the consequence of an inhibition that selectively affects the T lymphocytes during infection . In C57Bl6 sensitive Mice the inhibition could be a consequence of the destruction of splenic T lymphocytes . In A/J resistant Mice, no splenic lesions have been observed; therefore another mechanism must be considered in order to explain the inhibition of the responsiveness of splenic cells to phytohemagglutinin. Nucleic Acids Res, 1981 Feb 11, 9(3), 731 - 41 Bacterial synthesis of a novel human leukocyte interferon; Yelverton E et al.; A novel human leukocyte interferon cDNA clone (LeIF B) was identified in a cDNA library prepared using polyadenylated mRNA of a myeloblastoid cell line . The nucleotide sequence of LeIF B differs significantly from other published leukocyte interferon cDNA sequences . An expression plasmid was constructed which directs the synthesis in E . coli of 8 x 10(7) interferon units per liter of culture . LeIF B exhibits markedly different specificities from another bacterially synthesized human leukocyte interferon, LeIF A. Biochemistry, 1981 Feb 3, 20(3), 512 - 7 Active center studies on bacterial luciferase: modification of the enzyme with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene; Welches WR et al.; Bacterial luciferase catalyzes the mixed-function oxidation of a long-chain saturated aldehyde and FMNH2 to yield the carboxylic acid, FMN, and blue-green light . The enzyme was inactivated by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (FDNB) with an observed second-order rate constant (k2(obsd) of 157 M-1 min-1 at pH 7.0, 25 degrees C; activity was n