Bacteriological

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 not recovered upon treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol (thiolysis), demonstrating that the inactivation was the result of reaction with one or more amino groups . The dinitrophenyl (DNP) moiety was incorporated into the alpha subunit approximately twice as fast as it was incorporated into the beta subunit; the rate of inactivation was nearly identical with the rate of incorporation into the alpha beta dimer . The incorporation of 1 mol of DNP/alpha beta resulted in complete inactivation, demonstrating that modification of either alpha or beta is sufficient to cause inactivation . Incorporation of DNP into one subunit appeared to either block or decrease the rate of incorporation of DNP into the other subunit . The luciferase was protected from inactivation by binding of long-chain aldehydes or FMN . Following modification by FDNB, the enzyme had lost measurable FMNH2 binding . The apparent pKa of the amino groups, determined by analysis of the pH dependence of the inactivation reaction, was 9.4 . This value is too high to allow correlation with the pH-activity profile of the enzyme {Nicoli, M . Z., Meighen, E . A., & Hastings, J . W . (1974) J . Biol . Chem . 249, 2385-2392} . The catalytic function, if any, for the reactive amino groups remains unknown.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Feb, 19(2), 312 - 5
Peritoneal fluid concentrations of gentamicin in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Richey GD et al.; Simultaneous peritoneal fluid and serum gentamicin assays were performed at 1- or 4-h intervals after the intravenous administration of gentamicin (3 to 5 mg/kg per day) during nine episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients . Mean peritoneal fluid levels were 4.2 micrograms/ml, whereas simultaneous mean serum levels were 6.1 micrograms/ml (mean percent diffusion into ascites of 67.8%) . Three additional patients with uninflamed ascites demonstrated lower levels of diffusion . Regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between simultaneous serum and peritoneal fluid levels . We conclude that diffusion of gentamicin from serum into peritoneal fluid during spontaneous peritonitis is therapeutically adequate if sufficient serum levels are maintained.

J Biomech Eng, 1981 Feb, 103(1), 32 - 7
Absorption by bacterial cells: interaction between receptor sites and the effect of fluid motion; Brunn PO; The absorption of some species X by a bacterial cell depends (i) on the concentration of receptors for species X and (ii) on the state of motion of the surrounding medium . The latter problem is particularly interesting, since without any restriction on the type of fluid, details of the flow field or kind of cell, an explicit expression for the increase in uptake is obtained . To study the interaction between neighboring receptor sites we concentrate on the limit of small area fraction . The result obtained correlates quite well with experimental data.

Biokhimiia, 1981 Feb, 46(2), 361 - 7
{Kinetics of the NADH regenerating system using bacterial formate dehydrogenase}; Egorov AM et al.; The main kinetic regularities of the NADH regeneration system functioning was studied . A theoretical interpretation of the dependence of the stationary reaction rate in a two-enzyme system with a common cofactor on the enzyme, cofactor and substrate concentrations and the catalytic parameters of individual enzymatic processes was obtained . A mathematical analysis of the dependences of the stationary rate on the content of each enzyme in the system at different activity ratios of each enzyme and within a broad range of initial cofactor concentrations was carried out . The kinetics of regeneration of native NADH and the NADH immobilized on a water-soluble 4-vinylpyridine and acroleine copolymer in a model two-enzyme formate dehydrogenase--NADH dehydrogenase system were investigated.

Biokhimiia, 1981 Feb, 46(2), 234 - 9
{Inhibition of bacterial luminescence by cytochrome P-450 substrates}; Ismanlov AD et al.; The mechanisms of luminescence quenching by various drugs, e.g . dimethylaniline, ethylmorphine, hexobarbital and aminopyrine, which are effective inhibitors of luminescence both in intact cells and in bacterial luciferase, were studied . It was shown that the inhibition of luminescence occurs due to competition of the bacterial luminescence system substrate--aliphatic aldehyde in cytochrome P-450 . The functional similarity of the bacterial luminescence system to the microsomal hydroxylation system is postulated.

Mutat Res, 1981 Feb, 88(2), 135 - 45
Enhancement of hepatic microsome-mediated bacterial mutagenesis by the rat liver soluble protein fraction; Saccone GT et al.; Bacterial mutagenesis from aflatoxin B1, 2-aminofluorene and benzo{a}-pyrene, mediated by washed rat liver microsomes using the assay system of Ames, is elevated 2--4-fold by the liver soluble protein fraction . Enhancement results from an apparent stimulation of one (or possible more) biochemical steps leading to mutagenesis in this system . Enhancement is observed over a wide range of NADPH concentrations and is present in dialyzed preparations of liver soluble proteins . Enhancement activity is stable when the soluble protein fraction is stored for 18 h at pH 5-9 (4 degrees C); when stored for 18 h at 25 degrees C or 37 degrees C (pH 7.8), and when heated for 10 min at 56 degrees C . The activity is labile when heated for 10 min at 100 degrees C.

Can J Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 27(2), 168 - 74
Determination of the total rates of synthesis and degradation of RNA in a bacterial culture; Yamazaki H et al.; A radioactive method for determining the total rates of synthesis and degradation of RNA in a bacterial culture has been developed . The rates (which are expressed as moles of AMP residue transferred per unit DNA per unit time) are calculated from the amount of radioactivity accumulated in the RNA pool by taking into account (i) the increasing specific activities of a precursor triphosphate and RNA, (ii) the withdrawal of radioactivity from the RNA pool by degradation, and (iii) the increasing DNA content of the culture . The method is applicable not only to "balanced" accumulation where DNA and RNA accumulate in a constant proportion, but also to "unbalanced" accumulation . Examples illustrating the application of this method are described.

J Pediatr, 1981 Jan, 98(1), 20 - 4
Is the CSF lactate measurement useful in the management of children with suspected bacterial meningitis?
Rutledge J, Benjamin D, Hood L, Smith A.
The role of the cerebrospinal fluid lactate measurement was evaluated for the management of children with suspected bacterial meningitis . Although CSF lactate can be precisely measured, it provided no additional information over that which can be obtained from a CSF cell count . Reliance on the CSF lactate concentration alone would have increased the number of children being treated unnecessarily with antibiotics . There was neither clinical nor experimental evidence to suggest that the test should be used in the early diagnosis of meningitis . In patients with equivocal clinical and CSF findings, it failed to differentiate bacterial from nonbacterial infection . The data do not support the view that the measurement of CSF lactate has significant role in the management of children with suspected meningitis.

Vet Med Nauki, 1981, 18(10), 65 - 70
{Chemical composition of the meat and liver of pigs fattened with mixtures containing a bacterial protein supplement}; Ionova I et al.; The chemical composition of the meat and liver of pigs fattened under production conditions was established with the addition of 3, 4, and 5 per cent bacterial protein to three experimental groups of animals, respectively . A control group of pigs was also used fed with no biomass in their feed . The trial lasted 104 days, the liveweight of the animals in the beginning of the experiment being about 35-40 kg, and at the end of it--100--115 kg . It was found that by the contents of water, total, extractable and protein nitrogen, fats, ash, essential and common proteins, tryptophane, and hydroxyproline and the index of their ratio, the pH value and calories as well as by organoleptic evaluation the samples of the investigated m . longissimus dorsi and liver of the test animals did not differ essentially (P greater than 0.05) from the respective values of the controls.

G Ital Cardiol, 1981, 11(8), 1160 - 6
{Aortic aneurysms as complication of bacterial endocarditis . Report of two cases (author's transl)}; Martinelli L et al.; The authors report on two cases, one of supravalvular aortic aneurysm and one of subvalvular aortic aneurysm . Both patients suffered from bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve, superimposed on previous rheumatic valvular disease . The authors believe that such aneurysms represent typical though rare complication of bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve . Subvalvular aneurysms should be the consequence of the systolic stress acting on the myocardial wall involved by endocarditis, whereas supravalvular aneurysms could result from the jet-lesion through the affected valve.

Eur Surg Res, 1981, 13(5), 339 - 43
Improvement of the splenectomized rat model for overwhelming pneumococcal infection . Standardization of the bacterial inocula; Alwmark A et al.; Studies conducted on rats have shown an increased susceptibility after splenectomy to intravenously introduced pneumococci . One of the main obstacles in such experiments, as regards reproducibility, is the maintenance and handling of the bacteria . A procedure is described for the preparation of standardized inocula and preservation of the bacteria at -80 degree C . No change in viability or virulence was observed after storage for at least 6 months . A pronounced difference in susceptibility to type 1 pneumococci was found between sham-operated (LD100 greater than 2 X 10(4) colony-forming units) and splenectomized rats (LD100 less than 2 X 10(2) colony-forming units); in the latter group, the survival time was inversely correlated to the quantity of bacteria injected.

Acta Biol Med Ger, 1981, 40(6), 889 - 92
{Simple technic for the specific detection of the protective effectiveness of bacterial antigens}; Rothe F; A simple method is given for the specific proof of protective immunogenicity of bacterial antigens . Antibody-antigen-complexes isolated by immunoelectrophoresis are applied for immunization of mice . The subsequent challenge with live virulent bacteria gives information about the protective immunity of the mice . When using that technique, special isolation and purification of the antigens is not necessary.

Urol Int, 1981, 36(5), 335 - 40
Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis . An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study on the occurrence of bacteria and bacterial antigen; Nielsen HO et al.; Nine kidneys with typical xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XP) involvement were investigated on the occurrence of bacteria, bacterial fragments and antigen, in light microscopy using Gram staining and immunohistochemistry, and by electron microscopy . The present study did not reveal any occurrence of bacteria, bacterial fragments or antigen . It is concluded that the xanthogranulomatous reaction in man represents a resorption phenomenon, and not an immunological reaction to bacteria or bacterial antigen.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1981, 13(3), 237 - 8
Cerebrospinal fluid and serum ampicillin levels in bacterial meningitis patients after intravenous and intramuscular administration; Mikhail IA et al.; 28 patients with bacterial meningitis received ampicillin by the intramuscular (IM) route and 16 patients by the intravenous (IV) route . The mean cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ampicillin levels were similar in the two groups 1 h after a dose given on the first or second day of treatment, but they were higher in the IM group on both days 4 h after a dose . CSF/serum ratios were similar in both groups but considerably higher at 4 h than at 1 h.

Prog Clin Biol Res, 1981, 63, 399 - 403
Functional implications of secondary structure analysis of wild type and mutant bacterial signal peptides; Bedouelle H et al.; The N-terminal extension found in the precursor form of many exported proteins in bacteria--the so called signal peptide--plays an essential role in the exportation process . Analysis of the secondary structure of several bacterial signal peptides by predictive methods shows that the predicted structures are essentially periodical and define a preferential axis . We assume that at least one step in export depends directly on the length of the hydrophobic core of the signal peptide measured along this axis . We call this parameter the Hydrophobic Axis Length or HAL . Examination of the available mutations located in bacterial signal peptides and blocking export permits us to define a minimum functional HAL value (the threshold HAL) under which little or no export occurs . A mutation of the lipoprotein signal peptide leaves an HaL above the threshold: this accounts readily for the fact that export of the protein is not strongly affected . The value calculated for the threshold HAL, ie, 18 A, corresponds to half the size of the lipid bilayer of the membrane.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1981, 60(1), 41 - 5
{A practical method for the observation of bacterial flagelli}; Callerio D et al.; Flagellar filaments traited with ferrotannic mixture and impregnated with ammoniacal silver solution, observed at microscope by reflected light, present a striking brightness and a neat aspect . We think that the constancy of the results obtained by this method, can facilitate in various experimental conditions, the study of bacterial flagella.

ISA Trans, 1981, 20(1), 29 - 33
Use of the luminescent bacterial system for the rapid assessment of aquatic toxicity; Bulich AA et al.; A simple and reliable method for monitoring the toxicity of aquatic samples has been developed . The assay is based on changes in the light output of luminescent bacteria, as measured by a temperature controlled photometric device . The new assay method described here correlates well with other bioassays yet requires less than thirty minutes to obtain a complete reportable assay . The assay system is an instrumental approach in which the bioassay organisms are handled like a chemical reagent . Data are presented which verify the sensitivity of this toxicity test . Data comparing this assay method with conventional procedures such as fish toxicity assays are also present . Various applications of this new test method, Microtox TM, are discussed.

Acta Med Scand, 1981, 209(4), 285 - 8
Surgical treatment of bacterial endocarditis . A review and follow-up of 36 patients; Anker E et al.; Prosthetic valve implantation was performed in 36 patients with bacterial endocarditis . Thirty-two of them were in functional class III or IV (NYHA) . The early mortality rate was 16.7% . In six patients perivalvular fistulas occurred and were of haemodynamic significance in three of them . At follow-up after 44 months on average, the clinical condition was excellent (functional class I or II) in 20 of the 26 survivors . The results encourage an active attitude towards surgical intervention in patients with valvular insufficiency due to bacterial endocarditis.

Z Rechtsmed, 1981, 86(3), 195 - 203
{The kinetics of the postmortal bacterial metabolism of the glutamic acid in brain (author's transl)}; Daldrup T; This paper gives a brief report on investigations on bacterial enzyme activities in putrefied brain tissue . The effects of temperature changes (5--30 degrees C) and pH-changes (3--8) on the rate of the glutamic acid reactions, especially proteolysis and alpha- resp . gamma-decarboxylation, were examined to reveal to which extent a temperature and pH-independence is valid for the previously developed time of death formula: (formula: see text) . The present investigation demonstrates the independence of the mentioned formula for the important pH-range of 6--7.2 and for a temperature range of 17.5--25 degrees C (room temperature) . A second important result is that in these ranges a high proteolytic activity is observed so that the continuation of the reaction sequences will be maintained . These results reveal that the postmortal metabolism of the glutamic acid may be suitable to determine the time of death.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1981 Jan, 38(1), 47 - 9
{Mitral insufficiency due to bacterial endocarditis in a 20 months old infant with normal heart (author's transl)}; Valleur G et al.; A case of severe cardiac failure with fever and massive mitral insufficiency in a 20 months-old infant is reported . Rupture of mitral chordae tendinae together with valvar vegetations were documented by echocardiography . Surgical mitral reconstruction was performed with an excellent hemodynamic result two years later.

Acta Biol Med Ger, 1981, 40(10-11), 1375 - 84
Relative stability of intracellular proteins in bacterial cells; St John AC et al.; The relative stabilities of soluble and membrane proteins were examined in growing Escherichia coli cells . In contrast to mammalian cells, we found no correlations between the isoelectric points or molecular weights of E . coli proteins and their degradative rates . The soluble proteins with short half-lives tended to be degraded preferentially in vitro by trypsin or chymotrypsin . The stability of membrane proteins in vivo was correlated with in vitro sensitivity to chymotrypsin but not to trypsin . In the total membrane fraction, endogenous proteolytic activity varied with growth conditions . This activity was inhibited by o-phenanthroline, EDTA and dithiothreitol suggesting that one or more metallo-proteinases were present . Membrane proteinase activity was also inhibited by phenethyl alcohol, a membrane perturbant . The abundance of the membrane proteins that were most labile in vivo was dependent on growth conditions . The most labile protein accumulated in the outer membrane with an inverse relationship to growth rate.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1981, 132(8), 554 - 8
{Acute neutropenia in adult severe bacterial infections . Six cases (author's transl)}; Roullet E et al.; A transient neutropenia (duration : less than 48 hours) occurred in 6 patients with severe bacterial infections . The bone marrow myeloid cellularity was high or normal; a maturation arrest of the myeloid cells - at a variable stage - was present in each case, as well as circulating granulocyte precursors . Other causes of neutropenia were excluded . A general survey of the literature is made and the mechanisms of this bacterial neutropenia are considered : bone marrow failure seems mostly improbable ; the few previously reported cases, the experimental bacterial neutropenias, the peculiar, transient, evolution we observed, all favor a peripheral mechanism ; the bacterial infection seems to act by; two ways : in septicemia (especially during septic shock) by enhancing leucocyte margination along vascular walls ; in large septic foci (mostly pulmonary) by an important destruction of polymorphonuclear neutrophils . Such bacterial infections share a bad prognosis but the neutropenia itself needs no specific treatment.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 183(2), 326 - 32
Protein H encoded by plasmid Clo DF13 involved in lysis of the bacterial host . II . Functions and regulation of synthesis of the gene H product; Hakkaart MJ et al.; We studied the expression of gene H, located between 9.3% and 11% on the CLo DF13 genome, as well as the functions of the gene product . We found that treatment of bacterial cells with mitomycin-C results in the induced synthesis of three Clo DF13 specified proteins namely cloacin DF13, immunity protein and protein H . Evidence was obtained that the genes encoding these proteins form one, mitomycin-C induceable, operon; the promoter at 32% in front of the cloacin gene is essential for the induced expression . Furthermore we could demontrate that protein H is involved in the lethal effect of mitomycin-C treatment of bacteriocinogenic cells . The data in this paper show that a high concentration of protein H in cells, due either to an induced expression of gene H (mitomycin-C induction) or to a gene dosage effect (Clo DF13 copl Ts copy control mutant), results in the lysis of bacterial cells . The implication of these data are discussed.

Nucleic Acids Symp Ser, 1981, (10), 165 - 8
Interaction of fMet-tRNAfMet, Met-tRNAfMet, and Met-tRNAmMet with bacterial elongation factor Tu:GTP complex: discrimination against fMet-tRNAfMet; Tanada S et al.; Dissociation constant of aminoacyl-tRNA:EF-Tu:GTP complex into aminoacyl-tRNA and EF-Tu:GTP was estimated by the RNase-resistance assay developed by us . The experimental results showed that EF-Tu:GTP has a high affinity for Met-tRNAfMet (E . coli) and Met-tRNAmMet, but not fMet-tRNAfMet . The process of the formylation for Metm-tRNAfMet may provide a security against incorrect translation at GUG (valine) and UUG (leucine) codons in the elongation step.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1981, 136(4), 291 - 4
{Bacterial numbers of a running water (author's transl)}; Kunze C et al.; Aerobic heterotrophic, pigment-producing lipolytic, coliform bacteria and E . coli were isolated at different sites of a small running water . After villages the bacterial numbers highly increased, whereas they decreased in the self-purification reaches between the villages . Significant differences between the numbers of heterotrophs at adjacent locations were observed . At relatively low polluted sites high correlation coefficients between the numbers of heterotrophs and those of E . coli were found.

Immunobiology, 1981, 159(4-5), 349 - 65
In-vivo phagocytosis: enhancement of bacterial clearance by native and enzyme-treated immunoglobulins; Ax W et al.; The enhancement of bacterial blood clearance in mice by native and enzymatically derived fractions of rabbit anti-E . coli hyperimmune serum was tested . Native immune serum, the corresponding IgG, F(ab')2 and Facb fractions strongly augmented the phagocytosis rate of bacteria, whereas Fab/Fc, Fab, Fc fragments, corresponding preparations from normal serum, and E . coli-absorbed preparations showed no marked enhancing capacity . In one experiment opsonization by IgM was demonstrable . Mice that were injected with fatal doses of bacteria could be protected by subsequent treatment with IgG or F(ab')2 preparations of rabbit anti-E . coli serum . Conclusion is drawn that the Fc region of the IgG molecule is not predominantly responsible for opsonized clearance while the intact divalent antigen cross-linking F(ab')2 fragment - presumably by virtue of complement activation via the alternate pathway - could mediate enhanced bacterial clearance.

Prog Clin Biol Res, 1981, 62, 133 - 55
Interactions of bacterial lipopolysaccharides with tissue macrophages and plasma lipoproteins; Maier RV et al.; Several of the cellular and molecular interactions of LPS within the experimental host have been examined in an attempt to elucidate the potential role of these interactions in initiating the pathophysiologic events of endotoxemia . Using 125I-LPS, the clearance of LPS from the blood and its tissue, cellular and subcellular localization was established . The H-Mo was found to be the major host site of intravenous LPS localization and, subsequently, the effect of LPS on explanted H-Mo was demonstrated to be both directly cytotoxic and stimulatory of a selective increase in several cellular enzymes . Both the depression in H-Mo function and the stimulation of release of local and systemic mediators by LPS give the H-Mo a potential central role in initiating endotoxemic shock and DIC . Finally, the marked reduction in the clearance rate of LPS remaining in plasma after the initial rapid tissue localization was found to coincide with a density shift to less than 1.2 g/cm3 for the parent LPS . This density shift was found to be dependent upon binding of the LPS to HDL in the serum or plasma and, with the presence of cellular HDL receptors, accounts for a shift in tissue localization to the adrenals . A postulated effect of direct adrenal damage by LPS can thus be invoked as contributing to the endotoxemic syndrome.

Carcinogenesis, 1981, 2(5), 425 - 9
Quandtitative correlation among DNA damaging potency of six N-nitroso compounds and their potency in inducing tumor growth an bacterial mutations; Brambilla G et al.; Six N-nitroso compounds (N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine, N-nitroso-N-methylurea, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, and N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine) were tested in rats for liver DNA damaging activity by the alkaline elution technique . On molar basis their DNA damaging potency was found to decrease in the above order, and to vary over a 28-fold range . The elaboration of homogenous data available from literature showed that the carcinogenic potency of the 6 N-nitroso compounds varied over an 18-fold range, and that their mutagenic potency varied over a 490-fold range . Regression analysis indicated that correlation between carcinogenic and DNA damaging potencies was positive but at a low significance level, while the correlation between carcinogenic and mutagenic potencies was negative.

Environ Mutagen, 1981, 3(1), 11 - 32
Chemically-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in primary rat hepatocyte cultures: a comparison with bacterial mutagenicity using 218 compounds; Probst GS et al.; The autoradiographic identification of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes (HPC) has been proposed as a predictive test for mutagens/carcinogens . To assess the predictive value of this test, results in the hepatocyte UDS assay were compared with data for bacterial mutagenicity using a modified Ames test . Over 200 compounds representing a variety of chemical classes consisting of procarcinogens, ultimate carcinogens, and noncarcinogens were tested in each system . The accurate discrimination of many carcinogens/noncarcinogens was demonstrated by both systems . The induction of UDS in hepatocytes showed an excellent correlation with bacterial mutagenesis in response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, biphenyls, nitrosamines, carbamates, azo-compounds, acridines, halogenated compounds, nitrosureas, quinolines, pyridines, purines, pyrimidines, esters and carbamates . Nitrocompounds, although active in bacteria, were poor inducers of UDS . The results support the complementary and confirmatory nature of these tests for genotoxic chemicals and indicate the usefulness of the hepatocyte UDS system as a component in a battery of short-term predictive tests for mutagens/carcinogens.

Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(1), 51 - 62
Effect of muramyldipeptide, a synthetic bacterial adjuvant, on enzyme release from cultured mouse macrophages; Imai K et al.; Monolayer cultures of macrophages obtained by peritoneal lavage of normal or thioglycollate-stimulated mice spontaneously secreted lysosomal enzymes into the culture medium . When the elicited macrophages were cultured in the presence of muramyldipeptide (MDP), a 20-30% increase in the release of beta-glucuronidase was consistently observed and the intracellular activity decreased to about 45% of that of control cells after 6-8 days' culture . A stimulatory effect of MDP on lysozyme secretion, though less profound, was also observed . In contrast, release of neither enzyme was stimulated in resident macrophages by the addition of MDP . A neutral alpha-glucosidase, which has recently been found to localize also in granules of macrophages, remained inside the cells and neither its activity nor its release was affected by the addition of MDP to either type of macrophages . A large amount of lactic dehydrogenase was released only when the resident, not the elicited, macrophages were cultured for 3-4 days and then phagocytosed zymosan.

Peptides, 1981 Spring, 2(1), 51 - 9
Bacterial peptides with C-terminal similarities to bovine neurotensin; Bhatnagar YM et al.; Using radioimmunoassay, peptides resembling the C-terminal region of bovine neurotensin (NT) have been demonstrated in acid/acetone extracts of Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Escherichia coli, and Caulaobacter crescentus . The NT-like bacterial components were shown to behave as peptides of small molecular weight (less than 2000) which were stable to acid and heat but labile to proteolytic digestion . In the radioimmunoassay toward NT they displayed dose-response curves parallel to standard and gave results indicating a competitive type of interaction with NT binding sites on antibody . The bacterial extracts did not register in a control radioimmunoassay toward rat luteinizing hormone . Some of the NT-like immunoreactivity could also be bound to an retrieved from anti-NT-antibody-Sepharose preparations . Since the C-terminal region of NT constitutes its biologically active core, these results suggest that presence of biologically important congeners of NT in bacteria.

J Surg Oncol, 1981, 18(4), 323 - 9
Enumeration of lymphocytes and their subpopulations identified by bacterial adherence in blood smears of patients with breast tumors; Felix E et al.; Peripheral blood lymphocyte counts were determined in 57 breast clinic patients . These patients were grouped into four clinical/pathological groups: 18 had benign breast disease, 13 had a history of breast cancer but were free of disease at the time of the study, 7 had a history of breast cancer and were free of disease at the time of the study but were on adjuvant chemotherapy, and 19 had active metastatic breast cancer . Two parameters were investigated in a double blind study: 1) the absolute lymphocyte counts and 2) the percentages of lymphocytes that bound different bacteria as markers of lymphocyte subpopulations in conventionally stained blood smears . A significant reduction in mean lymphocyte counts was demonstrated in patients with advanced disease . A significant increase in these counts was found in patients who were free of disease following surgical treatment alone . The T1T2 cells (our denomination), the subpopulation of cells responsible for specific killing in vitro and for suppression of natural cytotoxic cells, was significantly reduced in patients with advanced disease under treatment . The T/B cell ratio in all groups was the same and within normal range . These observations suggest that the observed decrease in the total lymphocytes is due not only to an overall decrease in all classes of lymphocytes but especially in those responsible for specific cell-mediated reactions . They also show that bacteria can be used as reliable reagents for the identification of lymphocyte subpopulations in blood smears.

J Immunol, 1981 Jan, 126(1), 276 - 81
Identification and separation by bacterial adherence of human lymphocytes that suppress natural cytotoxicity; DeBoer KP et al.; Human lymphocyte subpopulations (B1, B2T1, T2T3, and T4, our denomination) have been previously identified by bacterial adherence, and differences in functions (mitogen responses, specific cytotoxicity, and natural killing activity) have been associated with some of these subpopulations . The natural killing activity (NK) was located in the T4 lymphocyte subpopulation . Here we investigated the possibility that lymphocytes capable of suppressing the NK activity of the T4 cells could be identified and isolated from one of the other lymphocyte subpopulations . Freshly isolated, monocyte-depleted human peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) were separated into adherent and nonadherent cells after centrifugation against various bacterial monolayers . The PBL and the resulting subpopulations of PBL were tested as effector cells in a 4-hr cytotoxicity assay against the CEM lymphoblastoid cell line . The addition of viable T2 lymphocytes to either PBL or T4 lymphocytes resulted in a significant decrease in NK activity, whereas no decrease was seen when T1, T1T3, or killed T1T2 cells were added . This decrease in NK activity was not due to a simple dilution of the active NK cells, to alteration of the lymphocytes by their processing on the bacterial monolayers, or to a competition for binding to the target cells . We concluded that the T2 lymphocyte subpopulation contains the cells capable of suppressing the ability of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (T4 subpopulation) to perform natural killing.

Chemotherapy, 1981, 27(3), 188 - 91
Prevention of emergence of bacterial resistance: no advantage in combining rifampicin and tetracycline over use of tetracycline alone; Gruneberg RN et al.; Experiments have been performed using rifampicin (RIF) and tetracycline (TET) to establish whether the use of the combination prevents the emergence of bacterial resistance to either drug . Experiments were performed using repeated 4-hour cycles of exposure of large bacterial populations to varying concentrations of antibiotics in order to reproduce in vitro the conditions of treatment of a systemic infection in man . When exposed to both RIF and TET the doubly-sensitive test organism was eliminated from the test cultures in 92 h without emergence of resistance . When the organism was exposed to RIF alone it became massively RIF-resistant in 20 h . The organism was eliminated in 104 h when exposed to TET alone . Under the test conditions there was no significant difference in experimental outcome when RIF was added to TET compared to that when TET alone was used.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 391 - 7
Vectorial and nonvectorial transphosphorylation catalyzed by enzymes II of the bacterial phosphotransferase system; Saier MH Jr et al.; Vectorial transphosphorylation of hexitols, catalyzed by enzymes II of the bacterial phosphotransferase system, was studied in intact cells and membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli . In strains depleted of phosphoenolpyruvate and unable to metabolize the internal hexitol phosphate, internal mannitol-1-phosphate stimulated uptake of extracellular {14C}mannitol, whereas external mannitol stimulated release of {14C}mannitol from the intracellular {14C}mannitol-1-phosphate pool . The stoichiometry of mannitol uptake to mannitol release was 1:1 . Glucitol did not promote release of {14C}mannitol from the mannitol phosphate pool but stimulated release of {14C}glucitol from internal glucitol phosphate pools when the glucitol enzyme II was induced to high levels . In E coli cells and membrane vesicles, both vectorial and nonvectorial transphosphorylation reactions of hexitols and hexoses were demonstrated . The nonvectorial reactions, but not the vectorial reactions, catalyzed by the mannitol and glucose enzymes II, were inhibited by p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate, a membrane-impermeable sulfhydryl reagent which inactivates enzymes II . Similarly, glucose-6-sulfate, an inhibitor of the glucose enzyme II-catalyzed transphosphorylation reaction, specifically inhibited the nonvectorial reaction . This compound was shown to be a noncompetitive inhibitor of methyl alpha-glucoside phosphorylation employing phospho-HPr as the phosphate donor . It apparently exerts its inhibitory effect by exclusive binding to the sugar phosphate binding site on the enzyme II complex . The results are consistent with the conclusion that enzymes II can exist in two distinct dispositions in the membrane, one of which catalyzes vectorial transphosphorylation, and the other catalyzes nonvectorial transphosphorylation.

Acta Med Scand, 1981, 210(4), 329 - 31
Severe backache as a presenting sign of bacterial endocarditis; Harkonen M et al.; We report on two patients whose presenting sign of bacterial endocarditis was a sudden and severe backache . According to the literature, 25-44% of patients with bacterial endocarditis have musculoskeletal symptoms and in about 27% these symptoms are the first sign of the disease . The most probable pathogenetic mechanism of these symptoms is arterial microembolization consisting of bacteria and immune complexes.

Biosystems, 1981, 14(1), 49 - 56
Stepwise molecular evolution of bacterial photosynthetic energy conversion; Baltscheffsky H; The concept of continuity in molecular evolution implies a stepwise formation of metabolic systems and processes . In this manner, chemical and biological evolution have given rise, step by step, to such complicated systems as the photosynthetic apparatus and thus, such elaborate processes as photosynthesis in the living cell . Among currently living organisms, the bacteria contain a much less complex photosynthetic system than the algae and higher plants, which uniquely are capable fo splitting H2O . But also the bacterial system is a very highly evolved and sophisticated, membrane-bound apparatus for the transformation of light energy to other biologically useful energy forms . The study of its molecular evolution is here undertaken by the method of attempting to break down the system into its main components and functions in order to elucidate how they had originated and evolved, and how, by divergent and convergent evolutionary steps, the stage was set for the arrival of bacterial photophosphorylation.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 183(2), 318 - 25
Protein H encoded by plasmid Clo DF13 involved in lysis of the bacterial host . I . Localisation of the gene and identification and subcellular localisation of the gene H product; Hakkaart MJ et al.; The gene expression of the Clo DF13 "replication region", located between 1.8% and 12% on the plasmid genome, was studied using newly constructed Clo DF13 insertion and deletion mutants . We were able to detect a Clo DF13 specified protein of 6 kilodaltons (kd) by electrophoretic analysis of plasmid proteins, synthesized in Escherichia coli minicells, on 14-25% gradient polyacrylamide gels . The gene encoding this protein was mapped between 1.8% and 12% on the Clo DF13 genome . The nucleotide sequence of this region, as determined by Stuitje et al . (1980), revealed three open reading frames each potentially coding for a protein of 6 kd . Since these three proteins differ in amino acid composition we could distinguish which of these proteins was actually synthesized, by labeling Clo DF13 proteins with specific 14C-labeled amino acids . We found that gene H, located between 9.3% (bp 744) and 11% (bp 893), encodes the observed protein of 6 kd (denominated protein H) . With respect to the subcellular localization we observed that protein H, which contains a large hydrophobic region at its C-terminal part, is predominantly present in the bacterial membrane . Although gene H is located close to the region known to be involved in Clo DF13 replication, its gene product, protein H, is not essential for the plasmid DNA replication process . The possibility of the existence of a comparable protein encoded by the related plasmid Col E1 will be discussed.

Ann Acad Med Singapore, 1981 Jan, 10(1), 69 - 78
Acute non-bacterial infections of the respiratory tract in Singapore children: an analysis of three years' laboratory findings; Doraisingham S et al.; A retrospective study of the laboratory results on respiratory specimens received from children under 12 years of age between January 1977 and December 1979 was carried out . These children were either hospital patients, usually with lower respiratory infections, or outpatients on the Influenza Surveillance Programme . The overall virus isolation rate was 26.8%, and the isolation rate among hospital patients, 38.5% . Epidemics or outbreaks were associated with infections due to the influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the parainfluenza viruses and the enteroviruses . RSV, parainfluenza virus types 1 and 3, and the adenoviruses caused infection mainly in young children under 3 years of age, while the influenza viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae caused infection more frequently in older, school-aged children . There was a strong clinical association of bronchiolitis with RSV and the rhinoviruses, of laryngitis or laryngotracheobronchitis with parainfluenza virus types 1 and 2, of pneumonia with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and of upper respiratory infection or "flu" with the influenza viruses . The significance of some of these findings is discussed.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 122 - 8
Mitogenic response of C3H/HeJ mouse lymphocytes to polyanionic polysaccharides obtained from Bordetella pertussis endotoxin and from other bacterial species; Girard R et al.; Lipopolysaccharide extracted from Bordetella pertussis was mitogenic for spleen cells of endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice . Although endotoxic lipid A was inactive, mitogenic activity of lipopolysaccharide was exhibited by purified preparations of polysaccharides I and II, which constitute the carbohydrate moiety of the macromolecule . These low-molecular-weight (2,800 and 3,600) polysaccharides, containing carboxyl groups, were not mitogenic for thymocytes and splenic T-cells of C3H/HeJ mice, but did show mitogenic activity for splenic B-cells of C3H/HeJ mice and for spleen cells of C57BL/6 athymic nude mice . The mitogenic activities of polysaccharides I and II were also compared with those of other polyanionic polysaccharides, and the results indicate that high molecular weight is not necessary, and negative charges are not sufficient, for mitogenicity.

Exp Pathol, 1981, 19(1), 24 - 30
The dynamics of experimental bacterial infections in muscles of mice and the influence of hog gastric mucin; Haag R et al.; NMRI-mice were infected in the posterior of the thigh muscles of the right hind leg by injecting one of two isogenic strains of E . coli, one of which was passaged from mouse to mouse for 20 years {mouse-pathogenic (MP) strain}, whereas the other was transferred on agar slants only for the same period of time (lab strain) . Both strains cause persistent infections only if given as undiluted overnight culture, the MP-strain seeming slightly more virulent . Injection of lower numbers of bacteria results in a corresponding decrease of bacterial cell counts in the animals' thighs . The elimination of the bacteria seems to be all the more rapid the smaller the inoculum . If the infection was administered in mucin suspension, the MP-strain multiplies in the host tissue to a greater degree than the lab strain, irrespectively of the dose injected . The number of cells per muscle reaches a maximum level of about 10(9) even after injecting 10(2) cells of the MP-strain in mucin . To reach the same level, 10(5) cells of the lab strain are needed . Four days after infection, the bacteria start to die off in those animals originally receiving the lower infection doses . Possible reasons are discussed.

S Afr Med J, 1980 Dec 20, 58(25), 1004 - 6
Nutritional status of children with bacterial meningitis; Rosen EU et al.; A study undertaken to determine whether there is any association between nutritional status and bacterial meningitis showed that of 304 children with bacterial meningitis seen in a 2-year period at Baragwanath Hospital, only 20,4% had protein energy malnutrition (PEM), whereas 34% of all children admitted had avert malnutrition . Relating these figures to the nutritional status of the population served by this hospital showed that the prevalence of PEM in children with meningitis did not differ from that in the community in which they lived . Possible reasons for the absence of an association between PEM and malnutrition are discussed.

Chirurg, 1980 Dec, 51(12), 774 - 6
{Effectiveness of continuous drainage in diffuse bacterial peritonitis}; Esser G et al.; From 1975 to 1977 we carried out postoperative, continuous peritoneal lavage of th abdomen in 41 patients with diffuse bacterial peritonitis . Although the peritonitis was arrested more frequently and earlier, comparison to 71 patients treated conventionally since 1970 showed an increase of wound complications and a prolongation of hospital stay from 25 to 44 days . The higher frequency of complications led to increased lethality from 42% to 54% . The harm by continuous peritoneal lavage out-weights the advantages, except for stercoraceous peritonitis.

Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 1980 Dec, 47(4), 263 - 7
The pathology of bacterial infection of the genitalia in rams; Jansen BC; Details are given of the macroscopic and histopathological changes brought about by infection of the genitalia of rams by bacteria other than Brucella ovis . Lesions of the seminal vesicles and ampullae are described which, in addition to the clinically evident lesions of the testes and epididymis, could be an important reasons for impaired fertility . The name "bacterial infection of the genitalia", abbreviated to BIG, is suggested as a more appropriate designation for this condition than "ram epididymitis".

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 Dec 1, 138(7 Pt 2), 1003 - 5
Host defenses in acute pelvic inflammatory disease . I . Bacterial clearance in the murine uterus and oviduct; Chow AW et al.; Bacterial clearance in the uterine horn and oviduct as a host defense in acute pelvic inflammatory disease was studied in 8- to 12-week-old virgin Balb/c mice . Quantitative cultures of organ homogenates were determined at various intervals following intrauterine injection of a standard inoculum of E . coli by micropuncture technique . The effect of uterine horn ligation and of estrus cycle of inoculated mice was evaluated also . Mean bacterial counts in the uterine horn were significantly higher than in the contiguous oviduct (p less than 0.005), suggesting a barrier function of the uterotubal junction for bacterial passage into the oviduct . Our data suggest a protective role for the uterotubal junction, and demonstrate the influence of uterine obstruction and estrus cycle on bacterial clearance of the oviduct.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 Dec, 88(6), 1739 - 55
Solvent accessibility and microenvironment in a bacterial protein proteinase inhibitor SSI (Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor); Satow Y et al.; Solvent accessibility (Lee, B . & Richards, F.M . (1971) J . Mol . Biol . 55, 379-400) was calculated for each atom of a bacterial protein proteinase inhibitor SSI (Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor) based on crystallographic coordinates . Mainly based on this information, various chemical and spectroscopic (UV, Raman, NMR) observations made on the microenvironments of cystines, methionines, tryptophan, histidines, and tyrosines of SSI in solution were evaluated . Crystallographic data and the latter two sets of data were mainly at least qualitatively consistent with each other . These data include (1) the conformation of the two disulfide bridges, (2) the flexibility of the three methionyl side chains, (3) the extent of exposure of the indole ring of a tryptophan, (4) the environment of the two histidines, (5) the environment of the tyrosines, and (6) the hydrogen-deuterium exchangeability of peptide NH's . However, the extents of exposure of tyrosines deduced by solvent perturbation UV difference spectroscopy were significantly larger than those based on solvent accessibility calculations . Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1980 Dec, 42(3), 506 - 14
Demonstration of a local exhaustion of complement components and of an enzymatic degradation of immunoglobulins in pleural empyema: a possible factor favouring the persistence of local bacterial infections; Lew DP et al.; Local bacterial infections such as abscesses or purulent exudates most often contain numerous, easily culturable bacteria despite an intense inflammatory reaction characterized by the ingress of polymorphonuclear leucocytes . In order to understand the mechanisms leading to such a persistent infection, we used pleural empyema as a model and measured the levels and catabolism of complement as well as of immunoglobulins in 28 infectious pleural effusions associated with either a positive or with a negative bacterial culture . Classic and alternative pathway haemolytic activities, factor B and C4 haemolytic activities as well as native C3 were markedly decreased or undetectable in most culture-positive effusions when compared to culture-negative effusions (P less than 0.005); breakdown products of factor B and C3 were markedly increased in culture-positive fluids . Eleven out of 14 culture-positive fluids exhibited IgG breakdown as opposed to none of the culture-negative fluids . In seven out of 14 culture-positive fluids, incubation with 125I-IgG led to their in vitro breakdown . This proteolytic activity could be abolished by preincubation of the culture-positive fluids with normal sera . Thus, increased catabolism of complement and breakdown of immunoglobulins, both leading to local consumption of immune reactants, could be one of the causes for bacterial persistence in pleural empyema.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Dec, 77(12), 7157 - 61
Receptor structure in the bacterial sensing system; Wang EA et al.; The primary receptors for aspartate and serine in bacterial chemotaxis have been shown to be the 60,000-dalton proteins encoded by the tar and tsr genes . The evidence is: (i) overproduction of the tar gene product at various levels by recombinant DNA techniques produces proportionate increases in aspartate binding; (ii) aspartate binding copurifies with {3H}methyl-labeled tar gene product; (iii) antibody to tar and tsr protein fragments precipitates a single species of protein (60,000 daltons) which retains binding capacity and {3H}carboxymethyl label . Partially purified tar gene product can be reconstituted into artificial vesicles and retains aspartate binding and aspartate-sensitive methylation and demethylation . These results show that the aspartate and serine receptors are transmembrane proteins of a single polypeptide chain with the receptor recognition site on the outside of the membrane and the covalent methylation site on the inside.

Int J Epidemiol, 1980 Dec, 9(4), 355 - 9
Rotavirus and non-bacterial infantile gastroenteritis in Kuwait; Al-Nakib W et al.; The role of rotavirus in non-bacterial gastroenteritis in Kuwait was investigated . Employing electronmicroscopy (EM) and enzyme-linked-immuno-sorbent-assay (ELISA) techniques, the virus was detected in the stools of 42 of 274 (15.3%) infants with the disease . A statistically significant association (P less than 0.05) was found between virus excretion and age since 37 of 42 (88.1%) of rotavirus positive cases were aged 2-12 months . 57.1% of all rotaviruses detected were among specimens collected during the first 3 days since onset of clinical symptoms . In addition a highly significant relationship (P less than 0.01) was found between virus excretion and seasonal variation since highest virus excretion rates (76.1%) were detected in specimens collected during the autumn and early winter months, and coincided with the annual gastroenteritis season in Kuwait . Diarrhoea and vomiting were the most frequently encountered clinical symptoms being present in 92.9% and 76.2% of all rotavirus positive patients, respectively.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Dec, 77(12), 7010 - 3
Construction and identification of bacterial plasmids containing nucleotide sequence for human leukocyte interferon; Maeda S et al.; Bacterial plasmids containing human leukocyte interferon sequences were constructed and identified . Identification was confirmed by correspondence of the nucleotide sequence with out amino acid sequence of human leukocyte interferon . The finding of bacterial recombinants containing distinct leukocyte interferon sequences is consistent with our purification of different leukocyte interferon species . We conclude that what has been designated human leukocyte interferon is, indeed, a class of homologous proteins . Preliminary indications suggest that their diversity appears to be represented by individual genomic equivalents . Each of the individual species exhibits characteristic activities . The structural modulation of these biological activities has immense significance for understanding the natural role of the interferons and for refining and developing their ultimate therapeutic potential.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Nov 4, 602(2), 281 - 4
Cell surface energy, contact angles and phase partition . II . Bacterial cells in biphasic aqueous mixtures; Gerson DF et al.; Partition coefficients in biphasic mixtures of poly(ethylene glycol) and Dextran are compared to cell surface energies obtained from contact angles of each liquid phase on cell layers . Linear relationships are observed between these two independent measurements for a variety of bacterial cells . The results demonstrate the importance of interfacial phenomena and contact angles in the phase-partition process.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Nov, 142(5), 708 - 15
Effect of indomethacin on increased resistance to bacterial infection and on febrile responses induced by muramyl dipeptide; Parant M et al.; The pyrogenicity in the rabbit and the ability to stimulate nonspecific resistance to bacterial infection in the mouse of muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a synthetic immunoadjuvant, are known to be enhanced when the glycopeptide has been conjugated to a carrier . The effects of indomethacin on fever induced by MDP or its conjugated derivative were studied . Indomethacin reduced febrile responses to MDP or its derivative, although it did not decrease production of endogenous pyrogen in vivo or in vitro . When incubated with rabbit peritoneal cells, indomethacin suppressed the elevation in prostaglandin levels usually induced by MDP . When administered to mice, indomethacin alone stimulated resistance to bacterial infection and, under appropriate conditions, had a strong synergistic effect when combined with free or conjugated MDP . The results demonstrate that neither pyrogenicity nor increased prostaglandin levels are prerequisites for immunopotentiation by synthetic glycopeptides.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 12(5), 644 - 50
Principles of a quantitative assay for bacterial endotoxins in blood that uses Limulus lysate and a chromogenic substrate; Webster CJ; Some factors affecting the use of chromogenic substrates with Limulus lysate for assaying bacterial endotoxins in blood have been assessed . It was found that endogenous amidases, which degrade the substrate, could be inactivated by heating serum at 60 degrees C for 15 min . Endotoxin was found not to be removed from serum during clotting . A potent inhibitor of the activated lysate was found to be anti-thrombin II, but specific absorption of anti-thrombin II from plasma reduced only marginally the inhibition of lysate by plasma . The presence of specific antibody to the endotoxin was found not to affect its ability to activate lysate . Inactivation of endotoxin by serum enzymes was biphasic in unheated serum, and most of the activity was destroyed in 3 h at 37 degrees C or in 24 h at 5 degrees C . The relevance of these findings to the objective quantitation of endotoxin activities is discussed.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1980 Nov-Dec, 88(6), 783 - 94
Myringotomy tube materials: bacterial adhesion and infection; Karlan MS et al.; Postoperative infection after placement of myringotomy tubes is common . Surgeons and manufacturers of surgical devices have frequently substituted one material for another in middle ear prostheses without analyzing the interaction of material and infection . Implant material attributes are reviewed . Scanning electron micrographs are presented that demonstrate characteristic surface differences between materials and between the same material of different manufacturers . A preliminary clinical controlled study of the covariance of purulence with silicone vs fluorocarbon tubes demonstrates statistically significant differences . The implications of this information are discussed.

Arch Inst Cardiol Mex, 1980 Nov-Dec, 50(6), 671 - 8
{Hepato-splenic scintigraphy in finding indications of bacterial endocarditis . Preliminary report}; De Garay R et al.; Hepato-splenic scintigraphy with 99mTc-S-colloid was performed in twelve patients with bacterial endocarditis . These images showed that the size of the liver varied from normal to a severe hepatomegaly, depending on the presence of congestive heart failure . Intrahepatic distribution of the radiocolloid was slighty irregular in all cases . The spleen was conspicuously enlarged, and showed irregular distribution of the radiopharmaceutical . In some cases intrasplenic concentration defects caused by infarcts, abscesses or cysts, were observed . The relative uptake of radiocolloid by the spleen, varied from hypo- to hyperconcentration according to the degree of lymphoid hyperplasia caused by the infection . In two cases, both with congestive heart failure, concentration of the radiocolloid was evident in the bone marrow . The scintigraphic pattern observed in these patients with bacterial endocarditis can be easily differentiated from that caused by only congestive heart failure, which is similar to the observed in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and/or portal hypertension.

Res Vet Sci, 1980 Nov, 29(3), 378 - 82
Bacterial endotoxins and liver haemorrhage in the oestrogenised chicken; Curtis MJ et al.; Hepatic steatosis and haemorrhage in oestrogenised chickens were not associated with any increase in the endotoxin content of the plasma . The haemorrhage was not ameliorated by suppressing enteric bacteria with neomycin or exacerbated by the repeated injection of Escherichia coli O111 endotoxin and there were no relevant changes in plasma enzyme activities that are indicators of liver damage . These results therefore do not support the hypothesis that, as in the choline deficient rat, hepatic steatosis impairs the ability of the oestrogenised chicken to dispose of bacterial endotoxins and that these then damage the liver.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 40(5), 907 - 11
Relative effects of bacterial and protozoan predators on survival of Escherichia coli in estuarine water samples; McCambridge J et al.; The relative effect of protozoan and bacterial predators on the survival of Escherichia coli in estuarine water samples was examined . Predacious protozoa exerted their major influence on E . coli destruction during the first 2 days of a 10-day-decline period . Inhibition of protozoa after day 2 had little effect on E . coli survival . Bacterial predators also contributed to E . coli destruction but in natural estuarine water samples were maintained at lower levels due to "grazing" by predacious protozoa.

Infect Immun, 1980 Nov, 30(2), 370 - 4
Correlation between measurements of the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence response and bacterial susceptibility to phagocytosis; Welch WD; The generation of chemiluminescence by phagocytosing leukocytes has been suggested to reflect concomitant microbicidal activity . Correlation between measurements of the chemiluminescence response and susceptibility of bacteria to phagocytosis, however, has not been studied . To examine and compare a range of responses in the two assays, four Escherichia coli serotypes were chosen as test organisms with degrees of susceptibilities to phagocytosis ranging from 0 to 100% bacteria killed . No complete correlation between peak, slope, or curve area integral measurements of the chemiluminescence response and bacterial susceptibility to phagocytosis were found, although a correlation between the two assays could be made after using specific opsonization procedures like the addition of antiserum to selected serotypes . Intrinsic differences present among the bacterial serotypes may be responsible for the observed lack of correlation between the two assays.

J Trauma, 1980 Nov, 20(11), 959 - 66
Bacterial endotoxin and the generation of suppressor T cells following thermal injury; Ninnemann JL et al.; Patients with several thermal injuries often display an impaired cell-mediated immune response . Clinically, this expressed as an increased susceptibility to infection and, occasionally, as a decreased ability to reject unmatched allograft skin . Experimentally, patient serum is suppressive to the PHA response of normal human lymphocytes, which we have found to be mediated through B cell participation in the generation of suppressor T cells . We herein document the ability of bacterial endotoxin to produce these effects, both in vivo and in vitro.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Nov, 142(5), 660 - 4
A two-year study of bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents associated with diarrhea in rural Bangladesh; Black RE et al.; Enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea were studied for two years at a diarrhea treatment center in rural Bangladesh . Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was the most frequently identified pathogen for patients of all ages . Rotavirus and ETEC were isolated from approximately 50% and approximately 25%, respectively, of patients less than two years of age . A bacterial or viral pathogen was identified for 70% of these young children and for 56% of all patients with diarrhea . Most ETEC isolates were obtained in the hot dry months of March and April and the hot wet months of August and September . Rotavirus identification peaked in the cool dry months of December and January, but infected patients were found year-round . The low case-fatality rates for patients with watery diarrhea and substantial dehydration further document the usefulness of treating patients with diarrhea with either a glucose- or sucrose-base electrolyte solution such as those used in this treatment center.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Nov, 77(11), 6879 - 83
DNA gyrase on the bacterial chromosome: possibility of two levels of action; Drlica K et al.; In previous studies we have shown that oxolinic acid, a specific inhibitor of the A subunit of DNA gyrase, induces DNA cleavage at 100,000-base-pair intervals on the Escherichia coli chromosome . At subsaturating drug concentrations, cleavage is induced at a fraction of these sites and DNA synthesis is partially inhibited . This partial inhibition is surprisingly rapid even when few sites have been inactivated . We now report kinetic measurements suggesting that inactivation of 100,000-base-pair gyrase sites by oxolinic acid does not inhibit DNA synthesis by simply producing barriers to replication fork movement . Slowing the rate of fork movement, thus increasing the time for a fork to reach a barrier, fails to proportionately slow inhibition of DNA synthesis . Moreover, the initial, rapid phase of inhibition is followed by a slower decline that is not accelerated by increasing the frequency of barriers by raising drug concentrations . These data, when added to the observation that additional oxolinic acid-induced cleavage occurs in replicating regions of the chromosome, suggest that gyrase may function at replication forks as well as at 100,000-base-pair intervals on the chromosome.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Nov, 77(11), 6339 - 43
Construction of a flash-activated cyclic electron transport system by using bacterial reaction centers and the ubiquinone-cytochrome b-c1/c segment of mitochondria; Packham NK et al.; Single-turnover electron transfer within the mitochondrial complex III has been studied by combining, in solution, the isolated complex from bovine heart with detergent-solubilized reaction centers of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides . Initiation of electron transfer by short flash activation resulted in the prompt oxidation of cytochrome c and reduction of cytochrome b . The subsequent reduction of ferricytochrome c was observed to be concomitant with the oxidation of the ferrocytochrome b, both reactions being inhibited by the addition of actimycin A . The rate of electron transfer through complex III is dependent upon the ambient redox potential poise in a way that is consistent with the presence of a redox component, presumably analogous to the photosynthetic ubiquinone Qz, which is an obligatory intermediate in electron transfer between cytochromes b and c . These results demonstrate cyclic electron transfer in a constructed assembly of mitochondrial complex III, cytochrome c, and photochemical reaction centers.

Immunology, 1980 Nov, 41(3), 617 - 21
Effects of feeding bacterial lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulphate on the development of oral tolerance to contact sensitizing agents; Newby TJ et al.; The effect of feeding the B-cell mitogens Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulphate on the development of orally induced tolerance to the contact sensitizing agent picryl chloride was studied in mice . Feeding either agent throughout the experiment or during tolerization, increased the tolerizing effect of a single feed of picryl chloride.

Lancet, 1980 Oct 18, 2(8199), 819 - 20
Diminished bacterial defences with intralipid; Fischer GW et al.; 'Intralipid', a lipid emulsion used in parenteral nutrition, impaired bacterial clearance and enhanced bacterial virulence in mice . In addition it inhibited the chemotaxis of human neutrophils in vitro . Intralipid may enhance the risk of bacterial sepsis in certain patients.

Tohoku J Exp Med, 1980 Oct, 132(2), 173 - 8
Dissociated chemotactic responses to zymosan activated serum and bacterial chemotactic factor observed in a variety of diseases; Tono-oka T et al.; Chemotactic responses of patients with a variety of diseases to two different types of chemotactic factors were analyzed . Granulocytes were obtained from the patients with childhood malignant diseases during chemotherapy, the patients with measles, the adult patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis, and newborn infants . 22 out of all the 38 patients (58%) showed decreased chemotactic response to zymosan activated human serum (ZAS), whereas only 9 patients (24%) showed decreased response to Escherichia coli-derived chemotactic factor (bacterial chemotactic factor: BCF) . Furthermore, only 6 out of 22 patients who showed decreased chemotaxis to ZAS showed decreased chemotaxis to BCF . Analogous results were also obtained with cord blood granulocytes . These facts suggest that various kinds of chemotactic factors activate granulocytes in different ways, and that the evaluation of chemotactic response in a patient should be made simultaneously using more than two different types of chemotactic factor.

Plast Reconstr Surg, 1980 Oct, 66(4), 596 - 8
Comparison of the bacterial clearing effects of different biologic dressings on granulating wounds following thermal injury; Salisbury RE et al.; In 16 patients with thermal injury, no difference in bacterial clearing was noted when wounds were dressed with cadaver homograft skin, porcine skin, either mesh or sheet, and with amnion . Because of cost and ease we prefer fresh porcine skin for second- and third-degree burns.

J Cell Physiol, 1980 Oct, 105(1), 143 - 52
The responses of hemopoietic precursor cells in mice to bacterial cell-wall components; Staber FG et al.; The influence upon different cellular and humoral parameters of hemopoiesis of three structurally unrelated, highly purified bacterial cell-wall components (BCWC) was investigated . The spleens of C57BL/6 mice assayed 6 days after the injection of either lipid A or outer-membrane lipoportein, but not murein, showed a marked increase in granulocyte-macrophage, eosinophil, and megakaryocyte progenitor cell levels . The number of pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) also increased in the spleens of mice treated with either lipid A or lipoprotein . Similar results were obtained following the injection of lipoprotein or lipid A into CBA or C57BL/6.nu mice . Genetically anemic Wf/Wf mice were found to have spontaneously elevated numbers of splenic progenitor cells, which increased further after the injection of lipid A . The proportions of the different splenic progenitor cell types were similar in both untreated and lipid A treated Wf/Wf mice, and in normal littermate controls . When tested in vitro, unfractionated or partially purified post-lipid A serum was found to stimulate the growth of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (GM-CFC), but no detectable stimulation of eosinohphil, megakryocyte, or erythroid progenitor cells was observed . The data suggest that the rise in splenic levels of the different progenitor cells is not mediated by the corresponding types of CSF, but more likely by proliferation and differentiation of CFU-S.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Oct, 40(4), 701 - 5
Purification and characterization of polyethylene glycol dehydrogenase involved in the bacterial metabolism of polyethylene glycol; Kawai F et al.; Polyethylene glycol (PEG) dehydrogenase in crude extracts of a PEG 20,000-utilizing mixed culture was purified 24 times by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, solubilization with laurylbetaine, and chromatography with diethylamino-ethyl-cellulose, hydroxylapatite, and Sephadex G-200 . The purified enzyme was confirmed to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The molecular weight of the enzyme, which appeared to consist of four identical subunits, was 2.4 X 10(5) . The enzyme was stable below 35 degrees C and in the pH range of 7.5 to 9.0 . The optimum pH and temperature of the activity were around 8.0 and 60 degrees C, respectively . The enzyme did not require any metal ions for activity and oxidized various kinds of PEGs, among which PEG 6,000 was the most active substrate . The apparent Km values for tetraethylene glycol and PEG 6,000 were about 10.0 and 3.0 mM, respectively.

JAMA, 1980 Sep 26, 244(13), 1469 - 71
'Normal' CSF in bacterial meningitis; Onorato IM et al.; Cerebrospinal fluid with a normal cell count, glucose and protein values, and a negative Gram's stain smear is usually assumed to exclude the possibility of meningitis . We describe four patients and review from literature 19 patients with pyogenic meningitis in whom the CSF initially appeared normal . Thus, finding minimal or no initial CSF abnormality is consistent with early or developing bacterial meningitis . Repeated lumbar puncture and CSF examination within 24 hours should be considered in all febrile patients in whom the clinical features remain compatible with meningitis.

Science, 1980 Sep 19, 209(4463), 1422 - 7
Expression of a bacterial gene in mammalian cells; Mulligan RC et al.; Transfection of cultured monkey kidney cells with recombinant DNA constructed with a cloned Escherichia coli gene that codes for xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and several different SV40 DNA-based vectors, results in the synthesis of readily measurable quantities of the bacterial enzyme . Moreover, the physiological defect in purine nucleotide synthesis characteristic of human Lesch-Nyhan cells can be overcome by the introduction of the bacterial gene into these cells.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1980 Sep, 4(2), 103 - 6
Acceleration of glomerulonephritis in NZB x NZW mice by early immunization with DNA and injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide . Experimental approach to the treatment of lupus nephritis by use of the accelerated model of NZB x NZW mouse disease; Fournie GJ et al.; The effects of early immunization with DNA and of injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the glomerulonephritis of NZB x NZW mice were studied . Combined injections of DNA complexed to methylated bovine serum albumin (DNA-mBSA) and of LPS appeared to be more efficient in accelerating the disease in NZB x NZW mice than injections of DNA-mBSA or LPS alone . A rapid increase in levels of anti-DNA antibodies, an early appearance of severe renal lesions and a shortened survival were observed in mice injected with both DNA-mBSA and LPS . This new model was found to be suitable for therapeutic studies in mice with accelerated disease treated with cyclophosphamide and heparin . The efficacy of cyclophosphamide for the treatment of NZB x NZW mouse disease was shown by immunological and histological studies in mice younger than 4 months . Heparin appeared to have a beneficial effect by preventing the endocapillary cellular proliferation induced by injections of DNA-mBSA and LPS . The accelerated model of NZB x NZW mouse disease might be a useful tool for experiments on the treatment of lupus nephritis.

Biokhimiia, 1980 Sep, 45(9), 1554 - 9
{Role of sulfhydryl groups in the inactivation mechanism of bacterial formate dehydrogenase}; Kikov MM et al.; Inactivation of formate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.2) from gramnegative methanol-utilizing bacteria was studied . It was shown that the thermal inactivation of the enzyme occurs at temperatures above 50 degrees; at temperatures below 40 degrees the inactivation is due to metal ion-catalyzed oxidation of its sulfhydryl groups . A possible general mechanism of the enzyme inactivation is proposed.

Int J Radiat Biol Relat Stud Phys Chem Med, 1980 Sep, 38(3), 247 - 56
Stimulation of DNA synthesis in bacterial DNA--membrane complexes after low doses of ionizing radiation; Watkins DK; DNA--membrane complexes from three strains of E . coli were irradiated and changes in the rates of DNA synthesis were observed . Doses from 1--10 krad to complexes from W3110 and pol A1 strains gave up to a 100 per cent increase in DNA synthesis; under the same conditions, no change was observed in Bs-1 . The degree of stimulation did not depend on the presence of oxygen during irradiation, and a post-irradiation incubation was necessary to achieve activation . The properties of all three complexes were similar when unirradiated . Irradiation of intact organisms under conditions which produced marked, oxygen-dependent inhibition of the Bs-1 complex had no significant effect on those from W3110 and Pol A1 . Enhanced DNA synthesis is concluded to be due wholly to repair of preexisting DNA . It is further postulated that DNA synthesis in untreated complexes (E . coli B's, W3110 and Pol A1) is mainly of the repair-type and does not necessarily take place at the site of DNA--membrane attachment.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Sep, 77(9), 5492 - 6
Lasting damage to bacterial ribosomes by reversibly bound virginiamycin M; Parfait R et al.; The M and S components of virginiamycin (VM and VS) inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria--reversibly when a single component is present and irreversibly when both are present . In cell-free systems, each factor binds to the large ribosomal subunit, and the affinity of ribosomes for VS is enhanced in the presence of VM . The present work shows that the action of VM (a 500-dalton modified depsipeptide) in vivo and in vitro persists upon its removal . The in vivo demonstration is based on the loss of viability of uninfected bacteria, and on the irreversible inactivation of virus-infected cells, that are caused by a sequential incubation with VM and VS (the inhibitory action of either component alone is reversible) . In vitro, the binding of labeled VM to ribosomes, followed by its detachment, yields particles unable to perform poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis . Also, the association constant for the binding of VS to these particles is equal to that of particles incubated with a mixture of VM and VS . Our findings indicate that VM action is catalytic rather than stoichiometric, and suggest the occurrence of two states of the large ribosomal subunit, a situation leading to a complex equilibrium with multiple transitional steps in the presence of virginiamycin.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1980 Aug 29, 32(1), 5 - 12
Photokinetic microanalysis of NADP+, using bacterial luciferase; Brolin SE et al.; Bioluminescence photokinetic assay of NADP+ is described, using the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase reaction for conversion to its reduced form and subsequent measurement of this with luciferase extracts of Vibria fisherii . the analyses were applied to the determination of the activity of minute amounts of glutathione reductase using NADP+ as measurable product and for nucleotide assay in cell samples of 0.5--10 microgram dry weight . The sensitivity was sufficient for determining 0.5 picomoles NADP+ . Previously, FMN, NADH, NAD+ and NADH have been analysed with the bacterial luciferase system . Its applicability has not been extended by the assay of NADP+.

Med J Aust, 1980 Aug 23, 2(4), 209 - 11
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: reversible cause of deterioration in patients with cirrhosis; Macrae FA et al.; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients with ascites carries a mortality rate ranging from 50% to 90% . Eleven patients were diagnosed at The Royal Melbourne Hospital over a 25-year period . Fever was present in eight, abdominal pain in eight, rebound tenderness in six and pre-coma in four . In two, the peritonitis was silent . All five diagnosed by paracentesis survived, but the three patients first diagnosed at laparotomy died . The experience shows that SBP can be successfully treated with antibiotics . Because of the variable clinical features, a diagnostic paracentesis is recommended in all cirrhotic patients presenting with ascites.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Aug 5, 592(1), 38 - 52
The induction kinetics of bacterial photophosphorylation . Threshold effects by the phosphate potential and correlation with the amplitude of the carotenoid absorption band shift; Melandri BA et al.; 1 . ATP synthesis (monitored by luciferin-luciferase) can be elicited by a single turnover flash of saturating intensity in chromatophores from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata, Kb1 . The ATP yield from the first to the fourth turnover is strongly influenced by the phosphate potential: at high phosphate potential (-11.5 kcal/mol) no ATP is formed in the first three turnovers while at lower phosphate potential (-8.2 kcal/mol) and the yield in the first flash is already one half of the maximum, which is reached after 2-3 turnovers . 2 . The response to ionophores indicates that the driving force for ATP synthesis in the first 20 turnovers is mainly given by a membrane potential . The amplitude of the carotenoid band shift shows that during a train of flashes an increasing delta psi is built up, which reaches a stationary level after a few turnovers; at high phosphate potential, therefore, more turnovers of the same photosynthetic unit are required to overcome an energetic threshold . 3 . After several (six to seven) flashes the ATP yield becomes constant, independently from the phosphate potential; the yield varies, however, as a function of dark time (td) between flashes, with an optimum for td = 160-320 ms . 4 . The decay kinetics of the high energy state generated by a long (125 ms) flash have been studied directly measuring the ATP yield produced in post-illumination by one single turnover flash, under conditions of phosphate potential (-10 kcal/mol), which will not allow ATP formation by one single turnover . The high energy state decays within 20 s after the illumination . The decay rate is strongly accelerated by 10(-8) M valinomycin . 5 . Under all the experimental conditions described, the amplitude of the carotenoid signal correlates univocally with the ATP yield per flash, demonstrating that this signal monitores accurately an energetic state of the membrane directly involved in ATP synthesis . 6 . Although values of the carotenoid signal much larger than the minimal threshold are present, relax slowly, and contribute to the energy input for phosphorylation, no ATP is formed unless electron flow is induced by a single turnover flash . 7 . The conclusions drawn are independent from the assumption that a delta psi between bulk phases is evaluable from the carotenoid signal.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1980 Aug, 41(2), 290 - 6
The antibody response to bacterial gastroenteritis in serum and secretions; La Brooy JT et al.; The antibody responses to bacterial gastroenteritis in jejunal aspirates and sera from sixteen adults and nine children were examined using a radioimmunoassay . Twelve adults served as controls . A clear antibody response was apparent in both intestinal aspirates and sera . While the absolute concentrations of antibody were much higher in sera, the proportion of immunoglobulin committed to specific antibodies was similar in both the intestinal fluids and sera . The antibody responses in the intestine and in the serum were very similar in the group as a whole, but they varied widely in individual subjects . Over a period of 1 month intestinal antibody levels in adults remained constant but in children they showed a decrease . In two subjects high levels of intestinal antibody were still apparent after 1 year . The organism responsible for the infection was still present in the gut of five subjects 1 month after clinical recovery from infection in the presence of local antibody . The relevance of these results and their implications for further study of the immune response to bacterial gastroenteritis are discussed.

Angiology, 1980 Aug, 31(8), 570 - 2
Bacterial endocarditis on calcification on the mitral anulus fibrosus: report of an unusual case; Chaitin B et al.; Endocarditis restricted to the base of the mitral valve and an adjacent calcified anulus is rare . This report describes a hitherto unrecorded complication: massive intramural hemorrhage of the left atrium.

Circulation, 1980 Aug, 62(2 Pt 2), I164 - 7
Echocardiographic and surgical correlations in bacterial endocarditis; Strom J et al.; The results of preoperative echocardiography were compared with the pathologic findings at the time of surgery in 24 patients undergoing valve surgery for endocarditis . Of the 32 valves involved by vegetations, 27 (84%) were identified preoperatively . Valve destruction was correctly predicted in 16 of 18 cases . Myocardial abscess formation was detected in only one of the five patients in whom it occurred . Overall, the echocardiograms satisfactorily predicted the pathologic anatomy in 20 cases . In the remaining four patients, the echocardiographic description was seriously incomplete or misleading . Thus, surgery can be recommended on the basis of the clinical and echocardiograhic findings for patients with endocarditis . Cardiac catheterization is reserved for patients in whom significant coronary artery disease or intracardiac shunts are suspected or in whom a satisfactory echocardiogram cannot be obtained.

J Bioenerg Biomembr, 1980 Aug, 12(3-4), 95 - 110
Structural requirements of quinone coenzymes for endogenous and dye-mediated coupled electron transport in bacterial photosynthesis; Baccarini-Melandri A et al.; Electron transport in continuous light has been investigated in chromatophores of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata . Ala pho+, depleted in ubiquinone-10 and subsequently reconstituted with various ubiquinone homologs and analogs . In addition the restoration of electron transport in depleted chromatophores by the artificial redox compounds N-methylphenazonium methosulfate and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine was studied . The following pattern of activities was obtained: (1) Reconstitution of cyclic photophosphorylation with ubiquinone-10 was saturated at about 40 ubiquinone molecules per reaction center . (2) Reconstitution by ubiquinone homologs was dependent on the length of the isoprenoid side chain and the amount of residual ubiquinone in the extracted chromatophores . If two or more molecules of ubiquinone-10 per reaction center were retained, all homologs with a side chain longer than two isoprene units were as active as ubiquinone-10 in reconstitution, and the double bonds in the side chain were not required . If less than two molecules per reaction center remained, an unsaturated side chain longer than five units was necessary for full activity . Plastoquinone, alpha-tocopherol, and naphthoquinones of the vitamin K series were relatively inactive in both cases . (3) All ubiquinone homologs, also ubiquinone-1 and -2, could be reduced equally well by the photosynthetic reaction center, as measured by light-induced proton binding in the presence of antimycin A and uncoupler . Plastoquinone was found to be a poor electron acceptor . (4) Photophosphorylation could be reconstituted by N-methylphenazonium methosulfate as well as by N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine in an antimycin-insensitive way, if more than two ubiquinones per reaction center remained . These compounds were active also in more extensively extracted particles reconstituted with ubiquinone-1, which itself was inactive.

Scand J Dent Res, 1980 Aug, 88(4), 296 - 300
Correlation between marginal adaptation of composite resin restorations and bacterial growth in cavities; Qvist V; The purpose of the present study was to correlate the marginal adaptation of composite fillings to the bacterial growth in the cavities . Forty-three cavities prepared in vivo on human third molars were acid etched and filled with the composite resin Concise . After 4 months the teeth were extracted and examined for marginal leakage along the restorations . After histologic preparation an average of 38 sections from each cavity were stained and investigated for bacteria on the cavity walls and in the exposed dentinal tubules . General marginal leakage was found in 14 of the restorations and bacterial growth in 12 . For 35 of the 43 restorations there was a agreement between marginal leakage and bacterial growth (P = 0.0002) . Based on the results it is concluded that bacteria in a cavity can be used as an indicator of marginal leakage along the restoration.

J Dent Res, 1980 Aug, 59(8), 1398 - 403
Bacterial penetration of human dentin in vitro; Michelich VJ et al.; The ability of bacteria to penetrate acid-etched and unetched human dentin was examined in vitro using a split chamber . Results indicate that bacteria can grow through or be filtered by pressure through acid-etched dentin . Unetched dentin, while permitting fluid filtration, restricts bacterial penetration . Penetration of dentin tubules by bacteria reduces the rate of fluid filtration across dentin.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1980 Aug, 61(4), 369 - 75
Experimental bacterial infection of the biliary tract; Jackaman FR et al.; The bacterial species commonly found in the human obstructed biliary tract were studied in an animal model of acute hepato-cholangitis . A rank order of their virulence and persistence in the bile and liver was shown which corresponded well to the clinical effects in the animals and also to the prevalence of bile bacteria in the benign bile duct stricture of man . Anaerobic organisms were found to be of low pathogenicity.

Gene, 1980 Aug, 10(3), 205 - 18
Construction and characterization of a bacterial clone containing the hemagglutinin gene of the WSN strain (HON1) of influenza virus; Davis AR et al.; A synthetic dodecadeoxynucleotide primer has been used to prepare a double-stranded DNA form of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of a human influenza virus (WSN strain, HON1) . This DNA has been inserted in plasmid pBR322 and cloned in bacterial cells . The insert contains nearly the complete hemagglutinin gene . A restriction map of this insert has been determined and structurally important areas of the HA gene have been sequenced . Amino acid sequences of several regions of the HA protein were deduced from the DNA sequences and compared to the known amino acid sequences of other influenza A viruses . WSN HA shows extensive homology to all influenza A viruses in a few regions, namely the first 17 amino acids of the N-terminus of HA1 (N-terminal polypeptide of HA) and the first 24 amino acids of the N-terminus of HA2 (C-terminal polypeptide of HA) . The sequence diverges extensively from other influenza A viruses in most other areas . The sequence of WSN virus HA is similar to that of other HON1 viruses with the exception of the C-terminus of the HA1 peptide . The change in this area may contribute to some of the unique properties of WSN virus among the HON1 viruses . In addition, WSN HA contains a 17-amino-acid precursor before the N-terminus of HA1 and a single amino acid, arginine, connecting HA1 and HA2.

Br J Pharmacol, 1980 Aug, 69(4), 551 - 4
Biological effects of degradation products of collagen by bacterial collagenase; Buczko W et al.; 1 Collagen degradation products (CDP) resulting from bacterial collagenase digestion were fractionated by gel filtration and their biological activities in rats were estimated . 2 CDP induced the following kinin-like effects: increase in permeability of skin blood vessels, contraction of the isolated intestine of the rat, depression of locomotor activity and of motor coordination . 3 The most active CDP fraction was CDP III containing peptides of mol . wt . < 1000 D with a high percentage of hydroxyproline . 4 As compared with bradykinin, CDP III was less active in the skin permeability test and was 15,000 to 20,000 fold less effective in induction of isolated intestine contraction . 5 Depression of the CNS induced by 30 microgram of CDP III administered into the brain ventricle was similar to that observed after 4 microgram of bradykinin given by the same route . 6 CDP III prolonged the duration of sleep evoked by thiopentone and enhanced the threshold of convulsion induced by pentazol . 7 The activity of CDP in comparison to other low molecular weight peptides is discussed.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Aug, 77(8), 4847 - 51
Genetic recombination of bacterial plasmid DNA: electron microscopic analysis of in vitro intramolecular recombination; Kolodner R; a tetramer of pMB9 DNA containing a single EcoRI site per tetramer was used to investigate intramolecular recombination in Escherichia coli . When transformed into wild-type E . coli strains, the tetramer was converted into dimers and a small proportion of trimers and monomers . The conversion was blocked in recA strains and rec B recC recF strains but not in recB recC strains or recF strains . Extracts of E . coli converted the tetramer into dimers, trimers, and monomers . Figure of 8 molecules and catenanes were minor products . The proportion of recombinant molecules ranged from 7% to 14% . Intramolecular recombination in vitro was blocked in extracts of recA strains and recB recC recF strains but not significantly blocked in extracts of recB recC strains and recF strains . recA protein restored activity to recA extracts; activity in recB recC recF extracts was restored by purified exonuclease V (recBC nuclease) or a recF protein donor extract . Novobiocin and oxolinic acid inhibited the reaction by 70-80%.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1980 Aug, 88(4), 249 - 51
A possible association between CFA (I) fimbriae and K99 fimbriae on Escherichia coli and bacterial adherence to human lymphocytes; Feilberg Jorgensen NH et al.; We have explored a possible association between Escherichia coli binding to human lymphocytes and plasmid coded fimbriae on the bacterial surface . E . coli with or without the plasmid coded membrane CFA(I), K99 and K88 were mixed with freshly-drawn human peripheral blood lymphocytes . When the lymphocytes were mixed with E . coli possessing the CFA(I) fimbriae, 59% of the lymphocytes bound bacteria onto the surface, whereas only 22% of the lymphocytes bound the CFA(I)- derivative . The lymphocytes bound 53% and 56% of two K9+ strains, whereas 22% and 8% of the lymphocytes adhered the same strains without the K99 fimbriae . Twelve per cent and 7% of lymphocytes bound bacteria when the strain was K88+ or K88-, respectively . Likewise a low (8%) adherence to lymphocytes was found when the E . coli did not possess fimbriae or flagella.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Jul 10, 614(1), 25 - 30
2,4-diamino-5-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-substituted)-benzyl-pyrimidines as ligands in affinity chromatography of bacterial dihydrofolate reductases; Then RL; Inhibitors of the trimethoprim-type, bearing terminal amino, hydroxyl or carboxyl groups in position 4 of the benzene ring as well as methotrexate were coupled to either CH-Sepharose 4B, epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B or AH-Sepharose 4B, respectively . In contrast to the methotrexate-affinity gel, trimethoprim-like ligands retained bacterial but not mammalian dihydrofolate reductases . The affinity gels prepared with these ligands could be used for effective purification of bacterial dihydrofolate reductases (EC 1.5.1.3), but differed in their affinity for this enzyme.

Biochemistry, 1980 Jul 8, 19(14), 3322 - 7
Oxidation of cytochromes c and c2 by bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers in phospholipid vesicles . 1 . Studies with neutral membranes; Overfield RE et al.; The oxidation of cytochrome c2 by photosynthetic reaction center isolated from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and incorporated into unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles was found to be kinetically similar to that observed earlier for reaction centers in low detergent solution {Overfield, R.E., Wraight, C.A., & DeVault, D . (1979) FEBS Lett . 105, 137-142} . At low ionic strength the kinetics were biphasic . The fast phase indicated the formation of a cytochrome-reaction center complex with an apparent binding constant, KB, of about 10(5) M-1 . However, KB decreased dramatically with increasing salt concentration, and no fast oxidation was detectable in 0.1 M NaCl . The slow cytochrome oxidation was first order in both cytochrome and reaction centers and, thus, second order overall . Deviations from theoretical second-order behavior were observed when the rate of the first-order back reaction of the primary photoproducts was significant compared to the cytochrome oxidation . This can cause serious overestimation of the second-order rate constant . The slow oxidation of cytochrome c2 by reaction centers in phosphatidylcholine vesicles exhibited a 40% lower encounter frequency than with the solubilized reaction center . This was attributed to the much lower diffusion coefficient of the reaction center in the vesicle membrane than in solution . No effects of diminished dimensionality were detected with neutral vesicles . An activation energy of 8.0 +/- 0.4 kcal x mol-1 was determined for the slow phase of cytochrome c2 oxidation by reaction centers in solution and in vesicles of several different phosphatidylcholines, including dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine above and below its phase transition temperature . Thus, the physical state of the lipid did not appear to affect any rate-limiting steps leading to cytochrome oxidation . The ionic strength dependence of the slow kinetics of oxidation of cytochromes c and c2 confirmed the electrostatic nature of the cytochrome-reaction center interaction, and the pH dependence indicated the titration of a group or groups, important to this interaction, at pH 9.5.

Lab Anim, 1980 Jul, 14(3), 221 - 4
Bacterial contamination in feed ingredients, formulated chicken feed and reduction of viable bacteria by pelleting; Furuta K et al.; The number of bacteria in steam-pelleted or crumbled chicken food was compared with the number in individual ingredients and in mash . A few bacteria were detected in white-fish meal processed Alaska pollack . Highest yields were from alfalfa meal . Colonies numbering 3.5 x 10(3)-4.2 x 10(5) were obtained by heart-infusion agar culture, and 2.1 x 10(2)-7.0 x 10(4) with deoxycholate hydrogen sulphide lactose agar, from 1 g mash . After pelleting or crumbling the number of colonies in 1 g was reduced to 0-1.9 x 10(3) and 0-3.0 x 10(0) respectively . Bacteria in the lactose medium, mostly coliform, were observed in only 1 of 18 samples.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jul, 29(1), 70 - 5
Arthritis-inducing ability of a synthetic adjuvant, N-acetylmuramyl peptides, and bacterial disaccharide peptides related to different oil vehicles and their composition; Kohashi O et al.; A synthetic adjuvant, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), failed to produce polyarthritis with a wide dose range in a water-in-oil emulsion of mineral oil such as liquid paraffin, Drakeol, or heavy mineral oil . MDP, however, produced moderate to severe arthritis with almost 100% incidence in a water-in-oil emulsion made up of Difco incomplete adjuvant, which consists of Bavol F as an oil vehicle and Arlacel A as an emulsifier . N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-L-isoglutamine did not produce arthritis, whereas 4,6-diacetyl-MDP produced the disease . Bacterial peptidoglycans, such as disaccharide peptides which were N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-meso-diaminopimelyl-D-alanine and N-acetylglucosaminyl-6,o-acetyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-meso-diaminopimelyl-D-alanine, also produced polyarthritis with low incidence in Difco oil but not in the other mineral oils described above . MDP and bacterial disaccharide peptides were able to produce the disease even in the latter mineral oil only when the concentration of Arlacel A was increased from 15% to 20 to 30% in the oil . We concluded that one of the minimal essential structures responsible for development of this disease is MDP, although the role of the oil vehicle remained uncertain, and there is no direct correlation between granulona formation and arthritogenicity of MDP.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1980 Jul-Aug, 16(4), 621 - 3
{Rate of iron (Fe 2+) bacterial oxidation at different temperatures and concentrations of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells}; Mikhailova TL et al.; The rate of iron oxidation by bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was measured at different temperatures (5 and 23 degrees C) and concentrations of bacterial cells (10(8)/ml and less) . At a cell concentration of 10(7)--10(8)/ml the rate of bacterial oxidation remained at a relatively high level at a lowered temperature . At a low cell concentration (10(6)/ml and less) the rate of bacterial oxidation was reduced at a temperature of 5--6 degrees C.

Biokhimiia, 1980 Jul, 45(7), 1175 - 81
{Mechanism of action of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene on bacterial luminescence in vitro}; Kratasiuk VA et al.; 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) changes the parameters of the bioluminescent reaction involving two enzymes, i.e . NADH: FMN-oxidoreductase and luciferase, by decreasing the maximal intensity of luminescence and increasing the time of maximal intensity . Modification of the proteins does not affect the changes of the reaction parameters . The effects of DNFB on each one of the reactions, i.e . reduction of FNM and light emission, were studied . DNFB does not inhibit the reaction of FMN reduction . It was shown that the mechanism of DNFB effect of bioluminescence consists in uncoupling of FMN reduction and light emission due to competitive inhibition of the FMNH2 active center by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Jul, (7), 54 - 8
{Advantages of using pharmacologic tests to characterize bacterial vaccines}; Koval'skaia SIa et al.; The possibility of using pharmacological tests to determine side effects produced by adsorbed DPT vaccine and chemical typhoid vaccine was studied . Both vaccines were shown to be capable of prolonging sleep induced by hexenal or thiopental in experimental animals . The following difference in the action of these two preparations was revealed on the model of "chemical convulsions" induced by the injection of thiosemicarbazide: while immunization with DPT vaccine acitivated thiosemicarbazide-induced convulsive syndrome in mice, no such stimulating effect was observed after the injection of typhoid, vaccine . The study of pharmacological effects allowed to evaluate some aspects of the side effects producted by prophylactic preparations.

Cytometry, 1980 Jul, 1(1), 32 - 6
Bacterial growth studied by flow cytometry; Steen HB et al.; The feasibility of flow cytometry for measurements on bacteria has been demonstrated by measurements of DNA-associated fluorescence of Escherichia coli K-12 in various phases of cell growth . Bacteria were stained with a combination of ethidium bromide and mithramycin after fixation in 70% ethanol . Cultures grown to stationary phase accumulated in two peaks representing cells with two and four chromosomes . Qualitatively similar histograms were obtained with cells grown in the presence of chloramphenicol, whereas cells of the temperature sensitive strain E 177 (dnaA) ended up with only one chromosome per cell at the restrictive temperature . The fluorescence intensity of cells with one chromosome was about 10(3) times smaller than that of human diploid cells . Instrumental resolution at this level of intensity was CV = 5%, whereas peak widths corresponded to CV = 7-8% . Dyes bound to RNA did not appear to contribute significantly to the fluorescence.

Invest Urol, 1980 Jul, 18(1), 77 - 9
Effect of bacterial metabolic state on vesical mucosal adherence; Shrom SH et al.; 14C-labeled Escherichia coli was introduced into acid-treated and intact rabbit bladders in vivo . Live, dead, and metabolically inhibited bacteria displayed similar interaction with the urothelium with and without intact surface mucoprotein . Disruption of the mucoprotein layer by acid reduced the defense potential in each group to a similar degree . Neither active metabolism nor bacterial cell death seems to enhance bacterial adherence to bladder mucosa.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jul, 29(1), 66 - 9
Bacterial adherence to eucaryotic cells: isolation of lymphocyte-binding mutants; Mayer EP et al.; A procedure for obtaining bacterial mutants that bind to eucaryotic cells is described . This procedure takes advantage of the ability of the mutants to obtain a required nutrient from the eucaryotic cells . We used this procedure to isolate mutants of Escherichia coli that bind to mouse lymphocytes . We show that the mutants identify some immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes and some non-immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes.

J Neurol Sci, 1980 Jul, 47(1), 21 - 34
The process dynamics of viral and bacterial diseases of the central nervous system; Felgenhauer K et al.; Several patients with herpes simplex encephalitis developed a prolonged humoral immune reaction within the central nervous system, which was evaluated by the measurement of locally synthesized immunoglobulin fractions in cerebrospinal fluid . Such phasic immune responses seem to occur predominantly in CNS infections with herpes and myxo/paramyxo viruses . In many cases the B-cell response follows a primary neutrophilic and a secondary mononuclear phase . Most benign viral encephalomeningitis cases lack this type of strong local B-cell activity . This is also true in most cases of bacterial meningitis, that recover after a strong neutrophilic attack and a minor mononuclear reaction . The initial phase of a purulent meningitis is characterized by a complete breakdown of the blood-CSF barrier . This occurs also in some cases of "apurulent bacterial meningitis", that are characterized by very low CSF-cell counts in spite of a totally broken barrier . The "compartmental leucopenia" is interpreted as an imbalance between the supply from the blood and an intense phagocytic consumption within the CSF space . The influence of the hydrodynamic size of viruses on the mode of entry into the central nervous system and on the dynamics of the inflammatory reactions is discussed.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Jul, 77(7), 4322 - 5
Cellular and molecular basis of the increased splenic hemopoiesis in mice treated with bacterial cell wall components; Staber FG et al.; An analysis was made of the mechanisms responsible for the increased splenic hemopoiesis occurring in mice after the injection of the bacterial cell wall components lipid A and outer membrane lipoprotein . No evidence was obtained for the presence of functional lipid A receptors on hemopoietic precursor cells . Serum from lipid A-injected mice, on injection into normal mice, induced in the spleen an increased content of all hemopoietic progenitor cells . The magnitude of the response was dependent on the dose of lipid A used and the volume of serum transferred to the recipients . C3H/HeJ mice unresponsive to lipid A exhibited similar spleen changes when injected with active post-lipid A sera . Progenitor cells of all hemopoietic lineages, including multipotential hemopoietic stem cells, were involved in the response . The results suggest that a humoral factor mediates the lipid A-induced increase of splenic hemopoiesis.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Jul, 77(7), 4011 - 5
Nucleotide sequence of the bacterial transposon Tn1681 encoding a heat-stable (ST) toxin and its identification in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains; So M et al.; the Escherichia coli heat-stable toxin (ST I) is encoded within a transposon (Tn1681) flanked by inverted repeats of insertion sequence 1 (IS1) {So, M., Heffron, F . & McCarthy, B . J . (1979) Nature (London) 277, 453-456} . By subcloning restriction fragments and by insertion mutagenesis, we located precisely the gene for ST I within the transposon . We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the central portion of Tn1681 (i.e., that part flanked by IS1) and identified the coding sequence of the toxin . From the nucleotide sequence, we deduced a probable amino acid sequence for ST I . The NH2-terminal portion of the amino acid sequence is extremely hydrophobic and bears a striking resemblance to the signal sequence of the fd phage minor coat protein . By using a subcloned restriction fragment containing the gene for ST I but no IS1 sequences, we determined (i) that the ST toxin with activity assayable in suckling mice (ST I) is genetically distinct from the St toxin assayable in ligated ileal loops (ST II) and (ii) that ST I can be responsible for diarrheal disease in different animals.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Jul, 143(1), 355 - 65
Conservation and variation of nucleotide sequences within related bacterial genomes: Escherichia coli strains; Anilionis A et al.; Changes in the patterns produced by annealing restriction endonuclease digests of bacterial genomes with probe deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) containing small portions of a bacterial genome provide sensitive indicator of the degree of nucleotide sequence relatedness that exists in localized regions of the genomes of closely related bacteria . We have used five probe DNAs to explore the relatedness of parts of the genomes of six laboratory Escherichi coli strains . A range in in the amount of variability in the positions of restriction enzyme cleavage sites in the selected portions of the genomes was found . Portions of the genome that are believed to be inacative were more variable than portions that contained functional genes: the sites in and near regions of homology to phage lambda DNA in the genome showed the greatest variability . These regions probably represent remnants of cryptic prophages . Variability was assessed pairwise among four of the E . coli strains and ranged from 5 to > 25% base pair substitutions in the lambda-related regions . In contrast, the endonuclease cleavage sites in the trp, tna, lac, thy regions, and one other as-yet-unidentified segment of the genome were more highly conserved . It seems likely that these sites lie in genetic locations that are subject to functional constraints.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 Jul, 108(2), 337 - 43
Mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes . Studies on the exchangeability of polypeptide chain elongation factors from bacterial and mitochondrial systems; Ulbrich B et al.; Mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes from rat liver synthesised poly(phenylalanine) from {14C}-Phe-tRNA in the presence of a homologous 10(5) X gav supernatent fraction . The activity depended on the addition of synthetic template and was resistant to cycloheximide . The polyanion spermidine had a stimulatory effect on peptide synthesis in vitro . In contrast to Escherichia coli ribosomes, which also functioned with heterologous supernatant fractions, 55-S mitochondrial ribosomes were inactive when supplemented with heterologous supernatant fractions from E . coli or with purified bacterial elongation factors . EF-T slightly stimulated polyphenylalanine synthesis when added in combination with mitochondrial supernatant fractions . Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of the protein content of both supernatant fractions revealed considerable differences in the distribution of the species-specific proteins according to their isoelectric points . The mitochondrial supernatant proteins were in general more basic, and the few acidic proteins did not co-migrate with EF-Tu or EF-G from E . coli.

Nature, 1980 Jun 19, 285(5766), 550 - 4
Sequence of retrovirus provirus resembles that of bacterial transposable elements; Shimotohno K et al.; The nucleotide sequences of the terminal regions of an infectious integrated retrovirus cloned in the modified lambda phage cloning vector Charon 4A have been elucidated . There is a 569-base pair direct repeat at both ends of the viral DNA . The cell-virus junctions at each end consist of a 5-base pair direct repeat of cell DNA next to a 3-base pair inverted repeat of viral DNA . This structure resembles that of a transposable element and is consistent with the protovirus hypothesis that retroviruses evolved from the cell genome.

Biochem J, 1980 Jun 15, 188(3), 799 - 805
The determination of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide and metabolic intermediates in picomole amounts with bacterial luciferase; Golden S et al.; Methods that use bacterial luciferase for the assay of NADH in the range from 1 pmol to 1 nmol are described . Optimal conditions for the assay of glycolytic intermediates, tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates and related amino acids from milligram amounts of tissue are presented . The whole spectrum of these intermediates can be determined on about 10 mg of liver tissue . The methods are simple, are suitable for routine use, and the instrumentation is inexpensive . The concentrations of glycolytic intermediates in rat livers were determined by conventional spectrometric methods and with luciferase, and the results found to be in good agreement.

Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1980 Jun 15, 56(11), 1164 - 8
"In vivo" and "in vitro" effects of a bacterial extract on Herpes Simplex Virus; Bonina L et al.; The present studies were designed to evaluate the effects of substance or substances extracted from Escherichia coli on Herpes Simplex Virus . The "in vivo" assays show that bacterial extract introduced i.p . in mice simultaneously with HSV2 brought about 100% of survival, but the inoculation of crude extract after virus challenge brought about complete mortality of mice . "In vitro" assays show that the crude extract reduced significantly the numbers of PFU; better results were obtained when the crude extract was inoculated before the virus inoculation.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1980 Jun 11, 8(11), 2537 - 46
A bacterial cell that synthesizes a protein containing the antigenic determinants of rat prolactin; Erwin CR et al.; Bacterial minicells containing three different recombinant plasmids with rat prolactin cDNA sequences inserted at the Pst I site of pBR322 via the poly(dG):poly(dC) joining technique were examined for the expression of rat prolactin antigenic determinants . The three prolactin coding sequences were in the same orientation as the coding sequence of the ampicillin-resistance gene of pBR322 . The presence of each of the three recombinant plasmids induced some prolactin synthesis by the bacteria as measured by immunoprecipitation with anti-prolactin antisera . About 10% of the protein synthesized from one of the plasmids, prl 3, precipitated with the antisera . These prolactin antigenic determinants were part of a larger fused protein.

Nature, 1980 Jun 5, 285(5764), 399 - 400
Independent effects of the pineal and a bacterial pyrogen in behavioural thermoregulation in lizards; Firth BT et al.; The pineal complex of lizards is comprised of an extracranial photoreceptive structure known as the parietal eye, and an intracranial pineal organ which is homologous to the pineal gland of birds and mammals . Studies have shown that removing the parietal eye or severing the parietal nerve causes lizards to select higher temperatures when allowed to thermoregulate behaviourally in thermal or photothermal laboratory gradients . Although comparable studies involving removal of the lizard pineal organ have not previously been attempted, field data indicate that pinealectomy may have an antagonistic effect to parietalectomy . We present evidence here which shows that (1) following pinealectomy, collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) behaviourally select or prefer lower temperatures than their controls in thermal laboratory gradients, and (2) the effect of surgical treatment is independent of the effects of a behavioural fever-inducing substance which elevates by a fixed amount the environmental temperatures selected.

J Math Biol, 1980 Jun, 9(4), 369 - 87
Transition phenomena in bacterial growth between logarithmic and stationary phases; Funakoshi H et al.; A method to calculate the age distribution of the cells in the transition phase starting from that of the cells in logarithmic phase is described . It is clarified that two transition phenomena (decrease in the growth rate of cell number and partial synchronization) in the transition phase come, mathematically, from the fact that dag/dt > 0 (ag = generation time) . The cell age at which septum becomes observable is estimated from the age distribution of the cells and the ratio of septated cells at each time in the transition phase . The result suggests that the cell age at which septum synthesis starts increases in the transition phase and that the mode of septum synthesis changes during that phase.

Arch Dis Child, 1980 Jun, 55(6), 471 - 3
Homozygous deficiency of the second component of complement presenting with recurrent bacterial meningitis; Thong YH et al.; A girl presented with purulent meningitis at ages 6, 8, and 11 years . She was in good health between these three episodes . When aged 16 one of her brothers also experienced an attack of pneumococcal meningitis . Complement studies showed lack of C2 in the patient and the brother, and intermediate values in the mother and a sister . No other member of the family was available for study.

An Esp Pediatr, 1980 Jun, 13(6), 487 - 96
{N.B.T.-test in diagnosis of paediatric bacterial meningitis (author's transl)}; Aristegui J et al.; Usefulness of N.B.T.-test (absolute values and percentages) has been tested in the diagnosis of "acute meningitis" in pediatric age . A total of 210 children of different ages have been divided in 3 groups: group A, consisting of 105 children with bacterial meningitis . Group B, 36 children with viral meningitis and group C formed by 69 health children . Differences between groups A and B were statistically significant (p less than 0.001) on both percentage and absolute values, while they were non-significant (p less than 0.001) on both percentage and absolute values, while they were non-significant between B and C groups . On serial controls of N.B.T . test percentage value during follow-up of the disease, a progressive normalization was observed which authors think had value for evaluation of the efficacy of the treatment as well as for prognostic significance . Results were tabulated on the normogram of Feign et al., with significant areas for each group.

Clin Nucl Med, 1980 Jun, 5(6), 268 - 71
Bacterial meningitis complicated by spinal arachnoiditis: diagnostic contribution of Tc-99m-inulin myeloscintigraphy; Delcourt E et al.; Six cases of bacterial meningitis with myeloscintigraphic evidence of medullary arachnoiditis are reported . Four patients has tuberculous meningitis, another showed severe myelopathy, and the last was suspected to have hydrocephalus . Arachnoiditis is suspected when the earliest images show a sharp decrease of tracer concentration . Scintigraphy began 2 hours after lumbar injection of Tc-99m-Polyfructosan and imaging was performed at intervals of 2, 4, and 6 hours . This method has proved easy, innoculous, reproducible, and, owing to the small amount of irradiation, studies may be repeated during and after therapy . Scintigraphy is superior to the Queckenstedt test becaise it detects partial blocks and localizes lesions.

J Neurosurg, 1980 Jun, 52(6), 772 - 5
Susceptibility of brain and skin to bacterial challenge; Mendes M et al.; The brain is a uniquely protected organ . Once the protective barriers are overcome, the brain is susceptible to bacterial infection . Using a reproducible rat model, the susceptibility of brain tissue to challenge by S . aureus or E . coli was quantitatively compared to that of skin . Brain was significantly more susceptible to the presence of bacteria than was the skin of the scalp . The development of infection in skin required at least 10(5) organisms, while brain infection could be produced with as few as 100 organisms.

Ann Neurol, 1980 Jun, 7(6), 524 - 8
Cerebral herniation in bacterial meningitis in childhood; Horwitz SJ et al.; Among 302 infants and children with acute bacterial meningitis, the syndrome of cerebral herniation occurred in 3 of 10 fatal cases and in 15 patients who survived . The interval from time of admission to herniation was 8 hours or less, and no predictive factors could be determined . Seizures occurring immediately prior to cerebral herniation made diagnosis more difficult . Early recognition of cerebral herniation and prompt treatment with osmotic diuretics can reduce the mortality of bacterial meningitis.

Cell, 1980 Jun, 20(2), 529 - 42
Partitioning of bacterial plasmids during cell division: a cis-acting locus that accomplishes stable plasmid inheritance; Meacock PA et al.; We have identified and characterized a genetic function (designated par, for partition) that is required for stable maintenance of plasmids within exponentially growing cell populations . This function, which accomplishes the active distribution of plasmid DNA molecules to daughter cells, has been localized within the pSC101 plasmid to a 270 bp segment adjacent to the replication origin . The par locus, which appears to be functionally equivalent to the centromere of eucaryotic cells, is able to rescue unstable pSC101-derived replicons or an unrelated par- P15A-derived multicopy replicon in the cis, but not the trans, configuration . It is independent of copy number control and dose not specify plasmid incompatibility . Furthermore, it is not associated directly with plasmid replication functions.

MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1980 May 30, 122(22), 832 - 5
{Efficacy of intravenous gammaglobulin in bacterial infections in Surgical Patients . Results of a controlled, randomized clinical study (author's transl)}; Duswald KH et al.; The efficacy of intravenous gammaglobulin injections against postoperative bacterial infections was investigated in a prospective randomized, controlled clinical trial in 150 patients . It was found that after postoperative administration of 20 g i . v . gammaglobulin (Intraglobin) the preoperative serum levels had already been attained on the third day (without gammaglobulin they were lower than before operation on the 8th postoperative day) . By means of this substitution it was possible to reduce the number of local infections (p less than 0.01) where moderate risk existed . With more persistent infections the incidence of septicemic complications were lower (p less than 0.05) . On the basis of these results the application for certain indications of high doses of intravenous gammaglobulin discussed.

Biochemistry, 1980 May 13, 19(10), 2108 - 12
Aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid binding site of the bacterial elongation factor Tu; Pingoud A et al.; Hydrolysis protection experiments were used for a quantitative determination of the binding of several aminoacyl-tRNAs to the Escherichia coli elongation factor Tu . The observed differences could not be rationalized in terms of structural properties of the tRNAs . The experimental results support, however, a model according to which the differences in the affinity of naturally occurring aminoacyl-tRNAs are determined mainly by the nature of the amino acid esterified to the tRNA . Aminoacyl-tRNAs with polar amino acid side chains are bound less strongly than those with apolar ones . This model is substantiated by results obtained with misacylated and modified aminoacyl-tRNAs . Furthermore, it could be shown that the aminoacyl group of the aminoacyl-tRNA must be in the L configuration; EF-Tu in this way prevents blocking of the ribosomal A site or even incorporation of D-amino acids into protein . The data have been used for a schematic description of the structure of a part of the aminoacyl-tRNA binding site of the bacterial elongation factor Tu.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 May, 39(5), 1076 - 7
Development of bacterial spoilage at adipose tissue surfaces of fresh meat; Gill CO et al.; Adipose tissue contains low-molecular-weight soluble substances which are utilized in preference to lipid for bacterial growth . These components are present in low concentration at the surface of adipose tissue, and the pH of the surface is high (greater than 7.0) . Bacteria growing on a thin layer of agar over an adipose tissue surface utilized glucose preferentially, but this was soon exhausted in the vicinity of colonies . Amino acids were then attacked, producing malodorous substances which were detectable as spoilage odors when the cell density was about 10(6)/cm2 . Growth ceased at a cell density approaching 10(8)/cm2 because of substrate limitation . Bacterial lipolytic activity is not necessary for the development of bacterial spoilage of adipose tissue.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 May, 11(5), 492 - 5
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to a group IIk-2 strain; Dhawan VK et al.; This paper describes a patient with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by a group IIk-2 strain . No other organism was isolated from the peritoneal fluid cultured aerobically and anaerobically.

South Med J, 1980 May, 73(5), 582 - 6
Bacterial endocarditis with aortic regurgitation: implications of embolism; Stiles GL et al.; We studied 16 patients with 18 episodes of bacterial endocarditis and aortic regurgitation to learn the frequency and characteristics of systemic embolism . Seven patients had eight episodes of clinically apparent emboli, with a mortality of 43%; in those without emboli there was no mortality . The influences of congestive heart failure, type of infection, and echocardiographic findings on the embolic complications are discussed . The close association among embolism, congestive heart failure, and echocardiographic vegetation suggests that early operation is warranted in patients with any of these features in order to prevent emboli.

J Pediatr, 1980 May, 96(5), 820 - 3
Computed tomography in childhood bacterial meningitis; Stovring J et al.; Computed tomography has been applied to childhood bacterial meningitis in an attempt to analyze the structural basis for neurologic complications . The CT findings in meningitis patients include acute cerebral swelling; moderate widening of basal cisterns, interhemispheric fissue, and subarachnoid convexity space; ventricular widening; subdural collection; focal cortical necrosis; cerebral infarcts; contrast enhancing basal meninges, ependymitis, and generalized cerebral atrophy . Bacterial meningitis in childhood is more than an inflammation of the subarachnoid space . It is a disease process which often exerts a profound effect on the brain parenchyma.

Cancer Lett, 1980 May, 9(3), 251 - 5
The hematopoietic protective effect of bacterial endotoxin prior to nitrogen mustard in the mouse and dog; Pfrimmer WJ et al.; Bacterial endotoxin was given to mice 24 h before nitrogen mustard (HN2) . Total nucleated cells and peroxidase positive cells/humerus were significantly higher during the recovery phase in endotoxin-treated mice compared to controls given HN2 alone . Endotoxin was also given prior to HN2 in dogs, and a suggestive hematopoietic protective effect was found.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 May, 87(5), 1371 - 7
Studies on bacterial chemotaxis . VI . Effect of cheX mutation on the methylation of methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein of Escherichia coli; Minoshima S et al.; A membrane from Escherichia coli cheX mutants failed to accept the methyl-moiety when incubated with a cytoplasm of wild type bacteria . The possibility of reduced production of methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP) as a result of the effect of cheX mutation was considered . However, analysis of sulfur labeled proteins from cheX mutants by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that the proportion of non-esterified MCP increased in cheX mutants while the total amount of MCP was not seriously affected . Thus the decreased methylation of MCP in cheX mutants, as detected by the methyl-labeling experiment, is not caused by an effect of cheX mutation on the production of MCP back-bone protein but by a defect in the device for methylation . The presence of four species of MCP's whose extent of methylation was affected by cheX mutation as well as cheB mutation was also shown by this experiment.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 May, 87(5), 1365 - 70
Studies on bacterial chemotaxis . V . Possible involvement of four species of the methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein in chemotaxis of Escherichia coli; Koiwai O et al.; Chemotactic Escherichia coli contains five major methyl-accepting proteins . Three of them were identified as the product of tsr gene, tar gene and peptide elongation factor Tu . Electrophoretic analysis of sulfur-labeled proteins and methyl-labeled proteins from trg mutants, which lost the ability of chemotaxis only towards ribose, galactose and their analogs, showed that the product of trg gene was another methyl-accepting protein i.e . a methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein for ribose and galactose (trg-MCP) . The last methylatable protein, named as MCP-IV, seems to be involved in chemosensory transduction (accompanying paper) . Thus, it is possible that chemosensory transduction in E . coli involves four species of MCP, although no genetic evidence for MCP-IV has yet been found . A hypothesis relating a change in the methylation of MCP with a movement of ions is presented.

Gene, 1980 May, 9(3-4), 233 - 46
Cloning of carp preproinsulin cDNA in the bacterial plasmid pBR322; Liebscher DH et al.; The successful cloning of recombinants between cDNA from fractionated poly(A)+-RNA of Brockmann bodies of the carp and the plasmid pBR322 in Escherichia coli chi 1776 is reported . One of the recombinant clones has been identified as a preproinsulin-cDNA recombinant by the hybrid-arrest translation assay . Recombination was at the PstI site of pBR322; reconstitution of this site was by 3'-tailing of the vector with dGn . The transformants were screened by in situ hybridization with kinase-labeled poly(A)+-RNA sedimenting at 9S from Brockmann bodies . Restriction analysis was performed on 26 of the strongly hybridizing clones to estimate the size of the inserted cDNA . Six of the recombinants studied contain inserts of a size approximating to full length 9S preproinsulin mRNA . The hybrid-arrest translation assay on selected clones identified one as a recombinant containing the preproinsulin cDNA sequence.

Am J Pathol, 1980 May, 99(2), 451 - 61
Stimulation of peritoneal cell arginase by bacterial lipopolysaccharides; Ryan JL et al.; The conditions under which bacterial endotoxins stimulate arginase production in mouse peritoneal macrophages have been defined . Both lipid-A and lipid-A-associated protein are potent activators . Fetal calf serum and normal mouse serum enhance macrophage arginase levels in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . LPS in the amount of 10(-1) microgram/ml represents a maximal stimulus for macrophage arginase production and release . Thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal cells have increased arginase activity, compared with resident cells . This activity can be stimulated further by the addition of LPS . Arginase levels may alter the outcome of in vitro immunologic processes by depleting arginine and may also serve as a useful indicator of the state of activation of macrophages.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 May, 106(2), 431 - 7
Kinetic and steady-state investigations of solute accumulation in bacterial membranes by continuously monitoring the radioactivity in the effluent of flow-dialysis experiments; Hellingwerf KJ et al.; The flow-dialysis technique for studies of solute accumulation by membrane preparations has been made more suitable for routine measurements by recording continuously the radioactivity in the effluent of a flow-dialysis vessel with a homogeneous flow-monitoring device for beta-emitters . This modification not only decreases the time and cost of a flow-dialysis experiment but also allows the investigator to react directly on the outcome of his experiments . Analysis of the kinetics of this automated flow-dialysis system shows that this technique can also be used for the determination of the rate of uptake of solutes into bacterial membranes . This has been confirmed in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides by comparing the results of Rb+ and inorganic phosphate uptake studies performed by automated flow-dialysis and by the conventional filtration procedure . This application has the limitation that solute uptake has to proceed linearly for a period of about five times the half-time of the response of the flow-dialysis system . The two described applications make automated flow-dialysis very well-suited for experiments on the bioenergetics and regulation of solute uptake into bacterial membranes . Both driving force and rate of solute uptake can now be determined in one experiment.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1980 May, 49(5), 451 - 4
Evaluation of methods of transport and cultivation of bacterial specimens from infected dental root canals; Carlsson J et al.; Five different methods of transport and cultivation of bacteria from dental root canal specimens were evaluated . Bacteria were recovered from 29 percent of the specimens when they were transported in VMG IV and subcultured in PRAS medium or on the surface of blood agar in an anaerobic box . When a PRAS-peptone-yeast extract broth was used for transport and the specimens were initially subcultured in the broth, bacteria were recovered from 49 percent of the specimens . When fluid thioglycollate medium USP (BBL) and Clausen medium (Oxoid) were used for transport as well as for initial subculture, bacteria were recovered from 58 percent and 47 percent of the specimens, respectively . The high recovery of bacteria by these media could to a significant degree be ascribed to the use of the media for initial subculture of the specimens . Recovery of bacteria by fluid thioglycollate medium USP was as good or even better as with the more elaborate PRAS medium . Fluid thioglycollate medium USP in screw-capped vials requires no special equipment in the dental clinic and is recommended for use in routine dental practice.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1980 May, 40(2), 383 - 7
Capillary tube leucocyte adherence inhibition assay for cell-mediated immunity: effects of transient bacterial infection in guinea-pigs; Ballard CM et al.; Adherence of guinea-pig leucocytes to glass, and changes of adherence caused by antigen challenge, were measured during a 3-month period in which an idiogenic, fortuitous bacterial infection passed though the main guinea-pig colony . Expected responses were found in SPF animals, and, at the beginning and end of this period, in stock animals and those immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant with or without added keyhole limpet haemocyanin . During active infection, all non-SPF animals showed enhanced adherence changes whilst SPF animals continued to give expected responses . The implications for use of leucocyte adherence inhibition tests with human subjects are discussed.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 May, 77(5), 2429 - 33
Multiple methylation in processing of sensory signals during bacterial chemotaxis; DeFranco AL et al.; The multiple banding pattern on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide electrophoresis of a subset of the signal transduction proteins involved in bacterial chemotaxis has been shown to be caused by multiple methylation of a single gene product . At least four methyl groups are introduced per molecule of the sensing membrane protein to give a total of five bands . The separation of the bands appears to correspond to a Mr difference of 1500, probably caused by the binding of different amounts of DodSO4 molecules as carboxyl groups are modified . Multiple methylation, similar to multiple phosphorylation in other systems, appears to offer advantages in control and sensory processing.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 Apr, 87(4), 1257 - 9
Application of Mössbauer spectroscopy to wet bacterial cells; Utuno M et al.; Although Mossbauer spectroscopy has been applied only to samples in the dry or frozen state, we present evidence showing that this spectroscopy is applicable to biological iron compounds in the wet state if they are tightly bound to the cell membrane or cell wall.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Apr, 11(4), 389 - 93
Bacterial abundance on hands and its implications for clinical trials of surgical scrubs; Spradlin CT; The numbers of bacteria on the hands of 157 subjects volunteering for a clinical trial of a surgical scrub preparation were evaluated statistically . Differences among the volunteers with respect to day-to-day variability in bacterial counts were the most important source of variation in these counts . Generally, more bacteria were found on the left hand than on the right . The experimental plan, proposed by the U.S . Food and Drug Administration, contained criteria for acceptability of subjects which were found to exclude at least as many suitable volunteers as they admitted . The plan was also found to require more testing on more volunteers than was necessary to establish the efficacy of the surgical scrub.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Apr, 11(4), 380 - 4
Bacterial antigen detection in body fluids: methods for rapid antigen concentration and reduction of nonspecific reactions; Doskeland SO et al.; We sought procedures which would allow a rapid concentration in high yield of bacterial antigens from tissue fluids of patients and which could be applied also to protein-rich fluids like serum . Ethanol precipitation at a subzero temperature with albumin added as an antigen coprecipitant made it possible to achieve a more than 20-fold concentration of antigen in 15 min and a 200-fold concentration in 45 min . Heat-stable antigens could be concentrated from protein-rich fluids (like serum) after the sample had been deproteinized by boiling . Such heating (100 degrees C, 3 min) also liberated bacterial polysaccharides from antibody complexes and elminated the nonspecific interference of serum in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Cutis, 1980 Apr, 25(4), 394 - 5, 400
Skin manifestations of subacute bacterial endocarditis . Case report of subacute bacterial endocarditis mimicking Tappeiner's angioendotheliomatosis; Eisert J; SBE manifests many skin findings including petechiae, splinter hemorrhages of the nails, Osler's and laneway lesions, clubbing of the fingers, and findings suggestive of angiitis . Another case with similar histopathologic findings to those originally described by Tappeiner and Pfleger is described, but with positive blood cultures to corroborate the clinical identification of SBE.

Ophthalmic Surg, 1980 Apr, 11(4), 250 - 2
Bacterial contamination of corneal donor tissue; Sugar J et al.; We studied bacterial contamination of corneal donor material following processing by two techniques prior to immersion in McCarey-Kaufman medium . If the whole eye was immersed in Neosporin, 24.5% of cultures were positive . If eyes were only rinsed with Neosporin, 47.5% of cultures were positive . No eyes receiving this tissue developed infections . Cultures were much more likely to be positive if the donors had been on a respirator prior to death.

Mutat Res, 1980 Apr, 70(2), 167 - 71
Natulan, a bacterial mutagen requiring complex mammalian metabolic activation; Solt AK et al.; Following administration of Natulan and Escherichia coli to mice a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of induced bacterial mutations was observed . This mutation response was dependent on the route of Natulan administration and, following short exposures, was limited by the rate of metabolic activation of the compound.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Apr, 142(1), 1 - 7
Characterization of different plasmid-borne dihydropteroate synthases mediating bacterial resistance to sulfonamides; Swedberg G et al.; Plasmid-borne resistance to sulfonamides was studied in both newly isolated and earlier characterized R plasmids . Two different classes of drug-resistant dihydropteroate synthases were found to be responsible for most cases of plasmid-mediated sulfonamide resistance . The plasmid-coded enzymes could be completely separated from their chromosomal counterpart and also showed differences in heat stability and molecular size . The resistant and chromosomal enzymes could bind the normal substrate, p-aminobenzoic acid, with equal efficiency . In contrast, sulfonamide binding was about 10,000 times lower with the plasmid-coded enzymes than with the chromosomal enzyme . Another substrate analog, p-aminosalicylic acid, on the other hand, inhibited chromosomal and plasmid-mediated enzymes to a similar extent . Evidence was also found for the existence of a plasmid-borne resistance mechanism independent of drug-insensitive enzymes.

Gene, 1980 Apr, 9(1-2), 87 - 97
Immunoglobulin gamma 1 heavy chain gene: structural gene sequences cloned in a bacterial plasmid; Obata M et al.; Immunoglobulin gamma 1 heavy chain cDNA was cloned into an Escherichia coli plasmid pCR1 and its nucleotide sequence was determined . The hybrid plasmid contained approx . 900-bases-long gamma 1 chain cDNA sequence, including the complete sequence of the CH2 and CH3 domains and the 3' untranslated region, and partial sequence of the CH1 domain . The nucleotide sequence predicts an extra lysine at the carboxyl-terminus of the gamma 1 chain . Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of 3' untranslated regions of the immunoglobulin gamma 1 chain and kappa light chain showed a significant homology although lengths are quite divergent.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Apr, 39(4), 709 - 19
Differential carbohydrate media and anaerobic replica plating techniques in delineating carbohydrate-utilizing subgroups in rumen bacterial populations; Leedle JA et al.; A basal (BC) medium devoid of added carbohydrates, a complete (CC) medium containing nine carbohydrates were developed for enumerating rumen bacteria . The colony counts on the BC medium were 85 to 100% of those obtained on the CC medium . These colonies were pinpoint size (less than or equal to mm in diameter) but increased in size (2 to 5 mm in diameter) when carbohydrates were subsequently added . With the CC medium or other media tested, the colony counts were 20 to 50% higher on plates than on roll tubes and were about 35% of the direct cell counts . The lower colony counts on roll tubes were shown to result primarily from the loss of viability due to heat stress . The DC media were found by plating techniques to be suitable for differentiating mixed rumen bacterial populations into subgroups based upon carbohydrate utilization as shown by differences in subgroup profiles found within solid and liquid fractions of rumen contents, within rumen contents from animals fed high-forage and high-grain diets, and by correct colony formations by pure cultures of rumen bacteria on appropriate DC media . With simple modifications and use of an anaerobic glove box, replica plating methods and the CC and DC media were found to be a suitable means of rapidly determining the range of utilizable carbohydrate energy sources of rumen bacteria.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1980 Mar 25, 8(6), 1231 - 41
Mouse immunoglobulin genes: a bacterial plasmid containing the entire coding sequence for a pre-gamma 2a heavy chain; Auffray C et al.; A DNA sequence complementary to the entire coding part of a mouse gamma 2a immunoglobulin heavy chain mRNA isolated from a myeloma producing a levan binding protein (UPC 10), has been cloned in the PstI site of pBR 322 . Transformants containing sequences complementary to purified gamma 2a heavy chain mRNA were selected . One transformant, pG2a-10-21, containing a 1750 nucleotide insert, has been characterized by hybrid-arrested translation and purification of gamma 2a heavy chain mRNA on DNA-DBM cellulose filters . Restriction enzyme analysis and partial sequencing demonstrate that the pG2a-10-21 contains the complete structural sequence for the gamma 2a heavy chain and predicts the sequence of a 18 amino acid hydrophobic amino terminal extra piece segment.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Mar 25, 255(6), 2612 - 5
Construction of a recombinant bacterial plasmid containing pro-alpha 1(I) collagen DNA sequences; Yamamoto T et al.; A partially purified mRNA preparation enriched for chick collagen messenger RNA activity was used as template for the synthesis of double stranded cDNA . The cDNA was ligated into the HindIII site of the plasmid vector pBR322 and used to transform Escherichia coli x1776 . One plasmid with an 800-base pair insert was shown to contain DNA sequences corresponding to Type I pro-alpha 1 collagen.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1980 Mar, 37(3), 163 - 6
{The value of fibrinogen concentrations in neonatal bacterial infections of maternal origin (author's transl)}; de Gamarra E et al.; The changes of fibrinogen levels in the neonatal period have been systematically studied in the neonatal intensive care unit at Port-Royal Hospital . A prospective study has been performed in 29 children with bacterial infections which were definitely of maternal origin . High fibrinogen levels persist as long as the infection remains active . Return of fibrinogen levels to normal could be considered as a criterion, if not of cure, at least of the efficacy of treatment.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Mar, 17(3), 327 - 33
Parameters controlling interbacterial plasmid spreading in a gnotoxenic chicken gut system: influence of plasmid and bacterial mutations; Sansonetti P et al.; Conjugative transfer of R plasmids R64 and R64drd-11 has been compared in vitro and in vivo without selective pressure by antibiotics in a simplified experimental system; the ecosystem was the bowel of germfree chickens, with the host bacteria almost isogenic, and the plasmids differing only in their conjugative transfer frequency . The spread of repressed and derepressed (drd) R plasmids in recipient bacterial populations was very extensive . The repressed phenotype had only a transient effect during the first 4 h . The level of implantation of the donor bacterial population seems to be of minor importance . Only with a poor recipient (con strain) could the spread of R plasmids be reduced and a steady state with a predominantly sensitive bacterial population be established . It is suggested that this steady state results from an equilibrium between the frequencies of R plasmid transfer and loss.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 39(3), 656 - 8
New methods to assess bacterial injury in water; Zaske SK et al.; Two methods are described for measurement of bacterial injury in water . Laboratory time preceding cell division measured with slide cultures and spheroplast formation after lysozyme treatment were accurate and rapid measurements of bacterial damage.

JOGN Nurs, 1980 Mar-Apr, 9(2), 73 - 5
Bacterial colonization in neonates with sibling visitation; Umphenour JH; The effect of postpartum sibling visitation on the incidence of bacterial colonization in neonates was investigated in a 25-bed ob/gyn unit at a military hospital . The visitation policy allowed siblings to visit with the infant at the mother's bedside, and siblings were allowed unrestricted contact with the infant after handwashing with an iodine scrub preparation . Data comparison revealed bacterial colonization on discharge in 70% of 214 control infants (admitted prior to sibling visitation program) and 67% of 182 study infants . It was concluded that postpartum sibling visitation did not increase the incidence of bacterial colonization in neonates.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 11(3), 305 - 7
Use of preserved organisms for individual test-use quality control of bacterial typing antisera; Wright DN et al.; Bacterial antigens representing 14 of the most common clinical isolates requiring serological confirmation for identification were prepared . These antigens were stable for periods in excess of 5 months, readily available, and sero-specific . Use of these antigens for quality control of bacterial typing antisera increased the accuracy, reduced the technician time, and obviated the delay which otherwise occurred while stock isolates were subcultured to provide a sero-specific control for this procedure.

Int J Radiat Biol Relat Stud Phys Chem Med, 1980 Mar, 37(3), 321 - 9
Breaking survival curves and oxygen removal times in irradiated bacterial spores; Ewing D; Although there are ambiguities about these results and their interpretations, this unambiguous experimental observation was made: the two kinds of experiments designed to measure deoxygenation times did not give the same answer, for a given N2 flushing rate, unless t-butanol was present . The addition of t-butanol caused large changes in the positions of the survival curve breakpoints, but only small changes in the 'times to anoxia' in the pre-irradiation glushing experiments . Although careful additional work is needed, these initial results suggest that in the spore, the survival curve breakpoint probably does not represent the dose at which anoxia is reached unless t-butanol is present.

Ann Immunol (Paris), 1980 Mar-Apr, 131C(2), 177 - 84
Comparative effects of an inflammatory reaction on the resistance of mice to bacterial and viral infections; Zerial A et al.; The induction in mice of a sterile subcutaneous granuloma exerted no influence upon the mortality following their infection with herpes type 1, murine hepatitis or encephalomyocarditis viruses . Attempts to reproduce the resistance -- which has been found to occur as a result of the granulomatous reaction, in the case of bacterial, fungal or protozoa infections and tumour invasions -- by varying the route and timing of the virus inoculation or the strain of mice have failed . We conclude that it is not merely through their inflammatory properties that some non-specific immunostimulating substances enhance resistance against viral infection.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Feb 29, 606(2), 196 - 201
A study of substrate specificity of mammalian and bacterial DNA polymerases with 5-alkyl-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphates; Sagi J et al.; DNA polymerases from procaryotic sources can utilize a variety of dTTP analogues as substrates . We studied here in vitro DNA syntheses catalyzed by DNA polymerase alpha and beta of calf thymus, and for comparison, by the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I large fragment enzyme in the presence of 5-alkyl derivatives of dUTP as dTTP substrate analogues, using activated DNA as template-primer . The alkyl substituents were n-alkyl (from ethyl to hexyl) and iso-alkyl (isopropyl and tert-butyl) groups . All enzymes were active in the presence of each modified dTTP, incorporation rates of {3H}dAMP or {3H}dGMP were, however, much lower with the analogues than with dTTP . According to relative incorporation rates, alpha-polymerase in DNA synthesis was found to be less sensitive to changes in the length of the alkyl substituent of 5-n-alkyl-dUTPs than beta-polymerase or the E . coli enzyme . Evidence for the incorporation of the analogues was presented for 5-{2-14C}isopropyl-dUTP.

Biochemistry, 1980 Feb 19, 19(4), 615 - 9
Hydrolysis of di- and trisialo gangliosides in micellar and liposomal dispersion by bacterial neuraminidases; Cestaro B et al.; The hydrolysis of di- and trisialo gangliosides by bacterial neuraminidases was investigated . Slow rates of hydrolysis were obtained with micellar dispersions of the pure gangliosides; the rates increased considerably with mixtures of ganglioside and phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine or sphingomyelin . The greatest rates of hydrolysis were obtained with mixtures containing 5-10 mol% ganglioside and 90-95% phospholipid . With the aid of the nonpenetrating reagent trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, it was ascertained that this mixture consisted of sealed, unilamellar vesicles in which the ganglioside was distributed symmetrically between the two layers of the liposome . When the relative proportion of the ganglioside was increased, the dispersions contained liposomes admixed with micelles of ganglioside and phospholipid . The rates of hydrolysis of the ganglioside could be correlated with the percentage of sealed vesicles in each mixture . Experiments in which another ganglioside (GM1) or cholesterol was incorporated into the mixed dispersions further supported this conclusion . It is suggested that the rate of hydrolysis is affected predominantly by interactions between the carbohydrate chains of ganglioside molecules . The data emphasize that ganglioside metabolism can be best studied when the latter are part of biological or model membranes.

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