J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 1988 Mar, 4(1), 51 - 6 Mosquito host range and field activity of Bacillus sphaericus isolate 2297 (serotype 25); Lacey LA et al.; The 2297 isolate (serotype 25) of Bacillus sphaericus was bioassayed in the laboratory against 8 species of mosquitoes from 3 subfamilies . The most susceptible species were in the genus Culex and the least susceptible were the Aedes spp . and Toxorhynchites r . rutilus . Primary powders of the 2297 and 2362 (serotype 5a5b) isolates were evaluated in the field in natural and simulated habitats against Culex spp . The larvicidal activity of the two isolates was similar, with longer residual activity observed for both preparations in shaded shallow clear water . Larvicidal activity was curtailed in organically enriched and unshaded habitats . Isolate 2297 provided effective control for at least 1 week in an organically enriched habitat and for over 5 weeks in clear water in a shaded habitat when applied at the rate of 0.25 kg/ha. Plasmid, 1988 Mar, 19(2), 169 - 73 Cloning and partial characterization of three small cryptic plasmids from Bacillus thuringiensis; Mahillon J et al.; The strain H1.1 of Bacillus thuringiensis var . thuringiensis harbors three small cryptic plasmids: pGI1, pGI2, and pGI3 (8.2, 9.2, and 10.6 kb, respectively) . Two of these plasmids (i.e., pGI2 and pGI3) were successfully cloned in their entirety into the vector pBR322, whereas only overlapping DNA fragments covering pGI1 were obtained in Escherichia coli . A curing-hybridization technique was used to obtain isolates of B . thuringiensis missing one or another small cryptic plasmid . These derivatives were examined for any change in a phenotypic trait, but no specific function could be assigned to one of these plasmids . Hybridization and restriction mapping data revealed that the transposon Tn4430 accounts for 45% of the pGI2 plasmid DNA. Biofizika, 1988 Mar-Apr, 33(2), 293 - 6 {Liberation of non-penetrating spin labels from erythrocytes and liposomes after treatment with bacterial protein}; Komarov AM et al.; Liberation of non-penetrating spin labels from erythrocytes and liposomes was studied at their interaction with delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis . The yield of non-penetrating spin labels was shown to be a highly sensitive indicator of the disturbance of the membrane barrier function. Bioorg Khim, 1988 Mar, 14(3), 352 - 8 {Antigenic polysaccharides of bacteria . 31 . The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of Pseudomonas aurantiaca IMB 31 lipopolysaccharide}; Knirel' IuA et al.; The O-specific polysaccharide chain of the Pseudomonas aurantiaca IMV 31 lipopolysaccharide contains N-acetyl-L-fucosamine (FucNAc) and di-N-acetyl-D-bacillosamine (2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyglucose, Bac(NAc)2) in the ratio 2:1 . On the basis of methylation, solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, and computer-assisted analysis of 13C-NMR spectrum, it was concluded that the trisaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide possesses the following structure: structure: ----3)-beta-D-Bac(NAc)2-(1----3)-alpha-L-FucNAc-(1----3)-alpha-L- FucNAc-(1----. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Feb 29, 151(1), 25 - 31 Nucleotide sequence of the maltohexaose-producing amylase gene from an alkalophilic Bacillus sp . #707 and structural similarity to liquefying type alpha-amylases; Tsukamoto A et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the gene for maltohexaose-producing amylase from an alkalophilic Bacillus sp . #707 was determined . Starting at an ATG initiation codon, an open reading frame was composed of 1554 bp (518 amino acids) . The NH2-terminal portion encoded a 33 amino acid-long signal peptide . The deduced amino acid sequence of the extracellular mature enzyme was more than 60% homologous to those of the liquefying type alpha-amylases but not to those of the saccharifying type alpha-amylases . The sequence of its signal peptide was completely different from those of other alpha-amylases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Feb 29, 151(1), 48 - 52 Glucose metabolism via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway is not involved in ATP production during spore germination of bacillus megaterium QM B1551 . A study with a mutant lacking hexokinase; Sano K et al.; In order to investigate contributions by glucose metabolism via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway and that via the direct oxidation route to gluconate to initial ATP production during spore germination, respiratory activity and RNA synthesis were compared between the mutant lacking hexokinase and the parent spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 . We found that time courses of those metabolic events were almost identical between those spores, thus clearly indicating that NADH formed by a spore-specific enzyme glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.47) is solely responsible for aerobic production of ATP at this stage. Am J Ophthalmol, 1988 Feb 15, 105(2), 195 - 7 Bacillus keratitis associated with contaminated contact lens care systems; Donzis PB et al.; We examined two soft contact lens wearers who developed keratitis associated with Bacillus contamination of their contact lens care systems . Patient 1 developed a corneal ulcer caused by B . subtilis, and Patient 2 demonstrated multiple, diffuse, punctate corneal epithelial opacities associated with B . cereus contamination in the contact lens and lens case compartment . The contact lens cases of both patients contained Bacillus spores that survived multiple heat disinfection treatments . Three different contact lens chemical disinfection systems used for the minimum recommended time failed to kill the Bacillus organisms. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Feb 10, 952(3), 282 - 9 Purification and characterization of NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase from an alkalophilic Bacillus; Shikata S et al.; We have succeeded in purifying to homogeneity a very labile NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (isocitrate: NADP+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.42) from a strain of alkalophilic Bacillus, by a simple method, with an overall yield over 76% of the original activity . The molecular weight on Sephadex G-200 was around 90,000; and that by electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels was about 44,000 . The sedimentation coefficient (s020,w) and isoelectric point of the enzyme were determined to be 3.22 S and pH 4.7, respectively . The enzyme required Mn2+ for the reaction and for stability . The optimum pH for the reaction was in the range 7.8-8.4 at 30 degrees C; the optimum temperature at pH 8.0 was 75 degrees C; the activation energy of the reaction was 6.2 kcal/mol . The Km values for threo-Ds-isocitrate, DL-isocitrate, and NADP+ were 5.4 microM, 9.9 microM, and 7.3 microM, respectively . This enzyme was inhibited by NADPH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenol pyruvate, cis-aconitate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and oxaloacetate . In addition, it was subject to a concerted inhibition by a combination of glyoxylate and oxaloacetate, and also to a cumulative inhibition by nucleoside triphosphates. Biochemistry, 1988 Feb 9, 27(3), 1041 - 9 Asymmetry of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in solution; Ward WH et al.; The tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus crystallizes as a symmetrical dimer with each subunit having a complete active site . The enzyme-substrate complexes, however, are known to be asymmetrical in solution because the enzyme exhibits half-of-the-sites activity by binding tightly only 1 mol of tyrosine or 1 mol of tyrosyl adenylate per mole of dimer . Evidence is now presented that the unligated enzyme is also asymmetrical in solution . Symmetry was investigated by construction of heterodimers containing one full-length subunit and one truncated subunit, allowing the introduction of different mutations into each monomer . Each dimer is active at only one site, but the site used is randomly distributed between the subunits . Each heterodimer thus consists of two equal populations, one activating tyrosine at a full-length subunit and the other at the truncated subunit . No detectable interconversion is found between active and inactive sites over several minutes either in the absence of substrates or when the enzyme is turning over in the steady state . Kinetic evidence implies that wild-type enzyme is inherently asymmetrical even in the absence of substrate. J Mol Biol, 1988 Feb 5, 199(3), 525 - 37 Crystal structure of neutral protease from Bacillus cereus refined at 3.0 A resolution and comparison with the homologous but more thermostable enzyme thermolysin; Pauptit RA et al.; Neutral protease from Bacillus cereus exhibits a 73% amino acid sequence homology to thermolysin, for which an accurate crystal structure exists . The B . cereus enzyme is, however, markedly less thermostable . The neutral protease was crystallized and diffraction data to 3.0 A resolution were recorded by oscillation photography . The crystal structure was solved by molecular replacement methods using thermolysin as a trial molecule . The solution was improved by rigid-body refinement and model rebuilding into electron density omit-maps . The atomic co-ordinates were refined to R = 21.7% at 3.0 A resolution . Comparison of the resultant model with the thermolysin structure shows that the two enzymes are very similar with a root-mean-square deviation between equivalent C alpha-atoms of 0.88 A . The gamma-turn found in thermolysin is transformed into a beta-turn in the neutral protease by the insertion of a glycine residue . There appear to be no contributions to the enhanced thermostability of thermolysin from additional salt bridges, whereas contributions in the form of extra hydrogen bonding interactions could be important . Other factors that may affect thermostability include the two glycine to alanine exchanges and perturbations in the environment of the double calcium site. Pediatr Dermatol, 1988 Feb, 5(1), 1 - 9 Dermatologic manifestations and update of cat scratch disease; Margileth AM; Cat scratch disease is a relatively common cause of chronic (three weeks or longer) lymphadenopathy, with 80% of cases occurring in children and adolescents . This self-limited infection caused by a small, gram-negative, pleomorphic bacillus has been identified in ocular granuloma, skin inoculation lesions, and lymph node specimens . Dermatologic manifestations observed prospectively in 908 patients included primary cat scratch inoculation papules, pustules or rarely, vesicles . Occasionally, enanthematous mucous membrane (oral, ocular) primary inoculation lesions were observed . About 5% of patients have generalized macular, maculopapular, morbilliform, and rarely petechial, usually nonpruritic exanthem . Rarely, erythema nodosum or multiforme and ecchymoses with petechial rashes are seen . Thrombocytopenic purpura is extremely uncommon . Unusual manifestations such as the oculoglandular syndrome of Parinaud, encephalopathy, or severe systemic disease occur in about 10% of patients . Management consists of symptomatic treatment and occasional aspiration of a suppurative node . The disease usually resolves spontaneously in two to four months. J Biol Response Mod, 1988 Feb, 7(1), 65 - 76 Endogenous production of cytotoxic factors in serum of BCG-primed mice by monophosphoryl lipid A, a detoxified form of endotoxin; Bennett JA et al.; Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), a detoxified form of endotoxin, was evaluated for its ability to elicit cytotoxic factors in the serum of mice pretreated with BCG . BDF1 mice were given a priming dose of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) intravenously (i.v.) . Two weeks later, these mice were challenged with MPL i.v . and their serum was tested for cytotoxicity against Lewis lung carcinoma cells growing in culture . A well-tolerated dose of MPL induced substantial serum cytotoxic activity comparable to that found after a toxic dose of endotoxin . The effective dose of MPL for eliciting serum cytotoxicity was 20 times less than the toxic dose of MPL in BCG-primed mice . No serum cytotoxicity was induced by MPL without prior treatment with BCG or in mice exposed to BCG for less than 10 days . The i.v . route of administration was superior to intraperitoneal, intrapleural, or subcutaneous routes for both BCG priming and induction of serum activity with MPL . Serum manifested TNF-like activity in that it was heat-stable, not species-specific, more effective against tumor than normal cell lines, and more effective against a TNF-sensitive than a TNF-resistant cell line . We conclude that MPL is an effective, well-tolerated biological response modifier that triggers production of cytotoxic factors in serum of mice with an activated reticuloendothelial system. Biophys Chem, 1988 Feb, 29(1-2), 17 - 29 Approaching the molecular structure of ribosomes; Yonath A et al.; Fifteen forms of three-dimensional crystals and three forms of two-dimensional sheets from ribosomal particles have been grown . In all cases only biologically active particles could be crystallized, the crystalline material retaining its integrity and biological activity for months . Cryastallographic data have been collected from crystals of 50 S ribosomal subunits, using synchrotron radiation, at temperatures between 19 and -180 degree C . Although at around 0 degrees C in the synchrotron X-ray beam the crystals rapidly lose their high-resolution reflections, at cryo-temperatures hardly any radiation damage occurs over long periods, and a complete set of diffraction data to about 6 A resolution could be collected from a single crystal . Heavy-atom clusters were used for soaking as well as for specific binding to the surface of the ribosomal subunits prior to crystallization . The 50 S ribosomal subunits from a mutant of Bacillus stearothermophilus which lacks the ribosomal protein BL11 crystallize isomorphously with the native form . Models of the entire 70 S ribosome and of the 50 S subunit have been reconstructed from two-dimensional sheets at 47 and 30 A, respectively . These models demonstrate the overall shape of the particles, the contact areas between large and small subunits, the space where protein biosynthesis may take place and a tunnel through the 50 S subunit which could provide a path for the nascent polypeptide chain. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1988 Feb, 15(2), 297 - 300 {Prevention of immunodeficiency induced by cancer chemotherapy with BCG}; Miyata T et al.; MFC (MMC, 5-FU and cytosine-arabinoside) therapy applied with the liver organism Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for the treatment of postoperative patients with cancer of the digestive organs presenting at stage II and III . Immunological parameters included skin reaction by purified protein derivative (PPD), lymphatic blastogenesis test using phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and lymphatic subsets . The frequency of MFC therapy was significantly higher in the MFC plus BCG group than in the MFC group (p less than 0.001) . At the completion of MFC therapy, both of PHA blastogenesis rate, OKT4/OKT8 and OKT3 were all within the normal limits . The PPD skin reaction was positive (18.2 +/- 4.0mm) as before the start of MFC therapy . These results suggest that BCG immunotherapy may potentiate the effect of chemotherapy. J Urol, 1988 Feb, 139(2), 410 - 4 Role of fibronectin in intravesical BCG therapy for superficial bladder cancer; Ratliff TL et al.; Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been demonstrated to be effective both for prophylaxis and treatment of superficial bladder cancer . In order to identify the progression of events that result in BCG-mediated antitumor activity, studies were performed to evaluate the mechanism of binding of BCG within the bladder . Histological and quantitative studies in a mouse model revealed that BCG attached to the bladder wall only in areas of urothelial damage . Preliminary in vitro data showed that BCG attached to surfaces coated with extracellular matrix proteins . Further studies were then performed using purified extracellular matrix proteins to identify the proteins responsible for attachment . BCG were observed to attach to surfaces coated only with purified fibronectin (FN) but not to other purified proteins including laminin, collagen or fibrinogen . The attachment of BCG to purified FN in vitro was dose dependent and was inhibited by anti-FN antibodies . Moreover, BCG attachment in vivo to bladders with damaged urothelial surfaces was inhibited more than 95% by anti-FN antibodies, but binding was not affected by anti-laminin antibodies or preimmune serum . A survey of commercially available BCG vaccines (Pasteur, Tice, Glaxo, Connaught) showed that only Glaxo BCG did not attach to FN-coated surfaces . Glaxo BCG also was shown to express inferior antitumor activity suggesting that the absence of FN binding by Glaxo may have been associated with the absence of antitumor activity of the vaccine. J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 134 ( Pt 2), 531 - 8 The secreted antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and their relationship to those recognized by the available antibodies; Abou-Zeid C et al.; Proteins secreted by strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during short-term, zinc-sufficient batch culture were identified in order to define antigens likely to be relevant to the pathogenesis of human disease . {35S}Methionine-labelled proteins in supernatants of 4-7 d cultures were separated by PAGE under both denaturing and non-denaturing conditions, and the position of labelled material was determined . Secreted protein patterns of M . tuberculosis were quite similar to those of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) but differed by the absence of the 46 kDa dimeric protein specific to BCG and by the presence in large amounts of a 23 kDa protein which, when denatured, gave 13 kDa subunits . This 13 kDa subunit protein constituted up to 20% of secreted proteins in classical strains of M . tuberculosis of phage type B but was not detected in phage type I strains from South India . This may be relevant to the different pathogenicity of these strains . Western blot analysis showed that antigens defined in supernatants of short-term (3 d) cultures of M . tuberculosis constituted a small subset of those seen in supernatants of organisms cultured for longer periods . One of the secreted proteins has the interesting property of binding to fibronectin . The available monoclonal antibodies and antisera have been used to identify lines on immunoblots corresponding to the secreted/released antigens of M . tuberculosis . The present findings suggest that there are major secreted antigens to which antibodies do not yet appear to have been produced experimentally. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Feb, 9(2), 123 - 5 False positive Legionella pneumophila direct immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody test caused by Bacillus cereus spores; Flournoy DJ et al.; Direct immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody stain testing for Legionella pneumophila in Oklahoma lake water yielded an unknown bacillus with fluorescence intensity equal to that of L . pneumophila stock strains . The organism in question was identified as Bacillus cereus, a ubiquitous bacterium . When B . cereus cultures were studied, fluorescence was seen in spores but not in vegetative cells . Since a positive immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody test (alone) might be considered by some individuals as unequivocal to very good evidence for the presence of L . pneumophila, this finding emphasizes the importance of confirming positive stain results with cultures whenever possible. Genetika, 1988 Feb, 24(2), 210 - 5 {Cloning of the restriction-modification genes of Bacillus centrosporus in Escherichia coli}; Povilenis PI et al.; A genomic library of Bacillus centrosporus was obtained using pBR327 as a vector . The total plasmid DNA of the library was cleaved by the BcnI restriction endonuclease and then transformed in Escherichia coli RR1 . Two clones possessing restriction and DNA modification profiles of BcnI were identified among the transformants . Their respective plasmids were 13.3 and 9.05 kbp in size . Restriction mapping of both plasmids showed each of them to contain two sites for HindIII and one for both Eco31I and Eco47III, located at the same distance . This was assumed to be the location region of the BcnI restriction-modification genes . Confirmation of the assumption was obtained by deletion mapping of the recombinant plasmids . Special features concerning cloning of the restriction-modification genes are discussed on the basis of the results obtained. Ital J Neurol Sci, 1988 Feb, 9(1), 31 - 4 Neurotoxicity of antituberculous drugs in a patient without active tuberculosis; Leppert D et al.; A 56-year old patient presented 3 months after initiation of an antituberculous regimen with Isoniacid (INH, 5 mg/kg daily), Ethambutol (20 mg/kg daily) and Rifampicin (675 mg daily) a mild sensory polyneuropathy and a bilateral retrobulbar neuritis which progressed to a severe optic atrophy . Multiple hyperintense foci were detected with NMR-imaging in the cerebral white matter suggestive of demyelination . INH and Ethambutol are known for their neurotoxic effects but suggestion was made that neurologic signs may not be due to drug neurotoxicity but could be induced by immunological processes initiated by the tubercle bacillus . In the reported patient the suspected tuberculosis of the urogenital tract was never proved histologically . Most likely his neurological symptoms were therefore cause by the administration of INH and Ethambutol . Patients with a low serum zinc level and a slow acetylation of INH are reported to be at special risk; both factors were present in our patient. FEBS Lett, 1988 Jan 18, 227(1), 61 - 5 Differential transcription of the bla regulatory region during induction of beta-lactamase in Bacillus licheniformis; Salerno AJ et al.; Induction of beta-lactamase (blaP) in Bacillus licheniformis involves the regulatory genes blaI (repressor), blaR1 (coinducer) and R2 (function unknown) . Transcription of the bla genes during induction was followed by Northern hybridization . In the first 30 min 2.3-kb transcripts encoding blaI and blaR1 were present . Subsequently, blaP mRNA and short transcripts encoding only blaI accumulated and reached a peak at 1 h . All bla transcripts turn over rapidly . Active repressor is not required for the burst of blaI-blaR1 mRNA . The production of blaI-blaR1 mRNA, and thus of BlaR1, is probably controlled both at initiation of transcription and at a later step in its synthesis and degradation. J Immunol, 1988 Jan 15, 140(2), 494 - 500 Endotoxin-induced interferon-gamma production in culture cells derived from BCG-infected C3H/HeJ mice; Matsumura H et al.; The cultured cells prepared from the spleens and peritoneal exudate cells of the C3H/HeJ strain of mice produce very little or no interferon (IFN) by stimulation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . However, the cells taken from LPS-non-responder C3H/HeJ mice which had been infected with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) prior to the experiment were capable of producing IFN in culture in the presence of LPS . The peritoneal exudate cells of BCG-primed C3H/HeJ mice were separated into adherent cell and nonadherent cell populations by their adhesiveness to plastic culture dishes . IFN production required the presence of both these cell populations in the same culture, and the IFN activities produced were mainly IFN-gamma . The cultures with nonadherent cells and fixed adherent cells still produced IFN, but the cell cultures reconstituted with the BCG-primed cell population and unprimed cell population produce little if any IFN-gamma . Moreover, when both of the populations were cultured in Marbrook culture vessels separated by a membrane filter, the cultures produced very little or no IFN-gamma . These results indicate that there is a mechanism of IFN-gamma induction by LPS which requires the direct contact between adherent cells and nonadherent cells without the participation of any soluble factor(s) from the adherent cells . The producer cells were mainly in the nonadherent cell population . Previous treatment of nonadherent cells with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody, anti-Lyt-1.1 antibody, anti-L3T4 antibody, or anti-asialo-GM1 antibody and complement diminished the ability of the cells for LPS-induced IFN production with the help of adherent cells . Therefore, it is concluded that both T cells (presumably L3T4+T cells) and asialo-GM1+ natural killer cells in the BCG-primed C3H/HeJ cell cultures produced IFN-gamma in the presence of LPS, and the production was supported by the function of macrophages. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Jan 15, 150(1), 185 - 91 Polyamine metabolism in an obligately alkalophilic Bacillus alcalophilus that grows at pH 11.0; Chen KY et al.; Bacillus alcalophilus, an obligately alkalophilic bacterium that grows at pH 11.0, has an intracellular pH of 9.5 or less . Unlike all other living organisms, polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) in B . alcalophilus, if present, will be largely unprotonated . HPLC analysis indicated that spermidine is the major polyamine in B . alcalophilus, accounting for more than 90% of total polyamines, and the level of spermidine varies during growth . Ornithine decarboxylase activity was not detectable in B . alcalophilus under all conditions examined . When {3H}arginine was added to the culture medium, the radioactivity can be recovered from polyamine pool; the distribution is 3% for putrescine, 94% for spermidine, and 3% for spermine, suggesting the presence of arginine pathway for polyamine biosynthesis . The polyamine transport system in B . alcalphilus appears to be Na+-dependent and is highly sensitive to the inhibition of gramicidin S and valinomycin. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Jan 13, 937(1), 195 - 203 Interrelationships between tyrocidine and gramicidin A' in their interaction with phospholipids in model membranes; Aranda FJ et al.; (1) The interaction of tyrocidine with different lipids is studied in model membranes and the results are compared to the gramicinid-lipid interaction . (2) The tyrocidine-dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine interaction gives rise to a population of phospholipids with a lower gel to liquid-crystalline transition temperature and to an abolition of the bilayer to HII phase transition, resulting in a macroscopic organization with dynamic and structural properties different from those of the pure lipid . (3) Tyrocidine has a strong fluidizing effect on the acyl chains of phosphatidylcholines, manifested by a decrease in enthalpy of the main thermotropic transition . (4) No evidence of a gramicidin A'-like lipid-structure modulating activity was found . However, tyrocidine inhibits the formation by gramicidin of an HII phase in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine model membranes . Instead, a cubic type of lipid organization is observed . (5) Tyrocidine greatly perturbs the barrier properties of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine model membrane . (6) Gramicidin A' reverses the effect of tyrocidine on membrane permeability by forming a complex in the model membrane with an apparent 1:1 stoichiometry . (7) The results suggest that both peptide antibiotics, which are produced by Bacillus brevis ATC 8185 prior to sporulation, show antagonism in their effect on membrane structure similar to their effect on superhelical DNA (Bogh, A . and Ristow, H . (1986) Eur . J . Biochem . 160, 587-591 . The possible underlying basic mechanism is indicated. J Mol Biol, 1988 Jan 5, 199(1), 183 - 93 Tertiary structure of Bacillus thermoproteolyticus {4Fe-4S} ferredoxin . Evolutionary implications for bacterial ferredoxins; Fukuyama K et al.; The structure of a low-potential {4Fe-4S} ferredoxin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus has been solved using anomalous scattering data from iron atoms in the diffraction data of native crystals and refined partially to a crystallographic R-factor of 0.33, with 2.3 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) resolution data . The least-squares refinement based on the Bijvoet differences has determined that the four iron atoms in the cluster are an equal distance, approximately 2.8 A, apart . The NH .. . S hydrogen bonds between polypeptide nitrogen atoms, and both cysteine and inorganic sulfur atoms, are present, as in ferrodoxin from Peptococcus aerogenes . The polypeptide chain of the B . thermoproteolyticus ferredoxin has a fold closely similar to that of 2{4Fe-4S} ferredoxin from P . aerogenes . The structural correspondence indicates strongly that both types of ferredoxin evolved from a common ancestor . The second cluster-binding region in P . aerogenes ferredoxin corresponds to the alpha-helix in B . thermoproteolyticus ferredoxin . The secondary-structure predictions strongly suggest that the alpha-helix is generally present in the monocluster-type ferredoxins . The conformational change to alpha-helix, insertions of a loop and a protrusion, as well as the absence of the second cluster in B . thermoproteolyticus ferredoxin, result in the lack of 2-fold symmetry present in P . aerogenes ferredoxin . So, the track of gene duplication is no longer detectable in the tertiary structure alone . The evolutionary events that may have occurred in the ferredoxins with the {4Fe-4S} cluster are discussed. J Biol Chem, 1988 Jan 5, 263(1), 561 - 7 Amino acid sequence and entomocidal activity of the P2 crystal protein . An insect toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis var . kurstaki; Donovan WP et al.; The gene encoding the 66-kDa entomocidal protein (P2 protein or mosquito factor) from Bacillus thuringiensis var . kurstaki has been isolated by the use of a 62-mer oligonucleotide probe that encoded 21 amino acids of the P2 protein NH2 terminus . The DNA sequence of the gene, designated cryBI, was unique from the published sequences of other B . thuringiensis genes . However, the amino acid sequence of the P2 protein, as deduced from the DNA sequence of the cryBI gene, was found to contain a sequence of 100 amino acids having 37% homology to a group of B . thuringiensis entomocidal proteins, the P1 proteins . Late stationary phase Bacillus megaterium cells harboring the cloned B . thuringiensis cryBI gene contained large aggregates of the P2 protein, and the cells were highly toxic to both lepidopteran and dipteran larvae . In contrast, Escherichia coli cells harboring the cloned cryBI gene contained very low levels of the P2 protein . DNA blot hybridization experiments showed that certain B . thuringiensis strains contained at least one cryBI-related DNA sequence in addition to the cryBI gene itself. Eur J Biochem, 1988 Jan 4, 170(3), 507 - 14 Nucleotide sequence and linkage map position of the genes for ribosomal proteins L14 and S8 in the maize chloroplast genome; Markmann-Mulisch U et al.; The nucleotide sequence of a 1287-base-pair segment of the maize (Zea mays) chloroplast DNA, encoding chloroplast ribosomal proteins L14, S8 and the C-terminal part of L16, has been determined using the dideoxy-chain-termination method . These data from a monocot plant are compared to the corresponding data from a dicot and a lower plant and from two bacteria . The deduced amino acid sequence of maize chloroplast L14 shows 80%, 81%, 51% and 52% and that of S8 shows 75%, 58%, 39% and 38% sequence identity, respectively, to the corresponding sequences of Nicotiana tabacum, Marchantia polymorpha, Bacillus stearothermophilus and Escherichia coli . The starting map coordinates of rpL14 and rpS8 in the physical map of the maize chloroplast DNA {Larrinua, I . M., Muskavitch, K . M . T., Gubbins, E . J . and Bogorad, L . (1983) Plant Mol . Biol . 2, 129-140} are 31.330 and 31.841 . The gene order is rpL16-spacer-rpL14-spacer-rpS8 . Shine-Dalgarno sequences (GGA and AGGAGG) and computer-derived stem-loop structures of dyad symmetry are present in the spacers and the 3' downstream region of rpS8, respectively, but a chloroplast promoter-like sequence could not be detected suggesting that the latter might be located further upstream in this ribosomal protein gene cluster in maize chloroplast DNA. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1988, 54(3), 257 - 65 Affinity purification of a 65-kilodalton parasporal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis PG-14 that shows mosquitocidal activity; Yu YM et al.; By using antibody-mediated affinity chromatography, a highly mosquito larvicidal but nonhemolytic fraction was obtained from alkali-solubilized, silkworm (Bombyx mori) larval gut juice-treated parasporal inclusions of Bacillus thuringiensis strain PG-14 (serotype 8a:8b) . This fraction contained a 65-kDa protein only but not a 25-kDa protein, the main component in the flow through fraction unbound to the affinity column . The 25-kDa protein purified from the unbound fraction by CM-cellulose chromatography demonstrated a high hemolytic activity against sheep red blood cells but very low mosquito larvicidal activity. Arch Microbiol, 1988, 149(6), 485 - 91 Localized insertion of new S-layer during growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus strains; Gruber K et al.; Bacillus stearothermophilus strains PV 72 and ATCC 12980 carry a crystalline surface layer (S-layer) with hexagonal (p6) and oblique (p2) symmetry, respectively . Sites of insertions of new subunits into the regular lattice during cell growth have been determined by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique and the protein A/colloidal gold technique . During S-layer growth on both bacillus strains the following common features were noted: 1 . shedding of intact S-layer or turnover of individual subunits was not seen; 2 . new S-layer was deposited in helically-arranged bands over the cylindrical surface of the cell at a pitch angle related to the orientation of the lattice vectors of the crystalline array; 3 . little or no S-layer was inserted into pre-existing S-layer at the poles, and 4 . septal regions and, subsequently, newly formed cell poles were covered with new S-layer protein. Jikken Dobutsu, 1988 Jan, 37(1), 67 - 72 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of serum antibody to CAR bacillus; Shoji Y et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of CAR bacillus antibody in rat sera was developed by Ganaway et al., in 1985 although the ELISA method was not described in detail . We investigated antigen preparation and test procedures of the ELISA using two strains of CAR bacillus which we isolated from a mouse (CB-M) and a rat (CB-R) . Allantoic fluids containing 2.4 X 10(8)/ml of CB-M and 2.0 X 10(8)/ml of CB-R were washed with sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS), resuspended in a 1/5 volume of sterile carbonate buffer (pH 9.8) and sonicated . Then 1/40 and 1/80 dilutions of CB-M and CB-R lysates in PBS, respectively, were used for antigen solutions of ELISA . Briefly, antibodies in sera are reacted with antigens coated on the surface of microtiter plates . The amount of horse radish peroxidase labeled protein-A or anti-rat IgG bound to the antigen-antibody complexes is measured on the spectro photometer at wave length of 492 nm . A total of 180 mouse and 205 rat sera were tested against both antigens . The optical density (OD) values of 140 mouse and 161 rat sera obtained from SPF mice and rats free from CAR bacillus infection were on the average 0.005 and 0.019, respectively . On the other hand, OD values of the sera collected from CB-M or CB-R infected animals ranged from 0.20 to 1.52 . According to these results, the cut-off OD value for positive reaction was set at 0.1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Reprod Med, 1988 Jan, 33(1), 41 - 5 Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy in ovarian cancer; Pattillo RA et al.; Forty-six advanced ovarian cancer patients treated with conventional modalities with the addition of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy showed prolonged survival when compared to controls not given BCG . Although the data suggest enhancement of survival with the addition of BCG to conventional treatment, the fact remains that disease recurrence ultimately claims the lives of most of these patients . Nonetheless, patients are surviving longer in the face of advanced disease. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim, 1988, 7(1), 76 - 80 {Surface changes of intravenous catheters after antineoplastic chemotherapy}; Ranchere JY et al.; During long-term venous catheter implantation, septic and thrombotic complications are quite frequent . In the case reported, the failure of systemic and local antibiotic therapy during repeated septicaemia due to Bacillus cereus at the time of intensive chemotherapy led to a scanning electron microscopy study of the used silicone catheter . There were marked changes of the inner surface with a lot of cellular remains, in contrast with the usual non thrombogenic property of the silicone . An in vitro study was carried out with antitumour agents . Duration of exposure and drug concentration were identical to those used in in vivo perfusions . There were marked changes of the inner surface, which could lead to important modifications of the properties of the silicone . The damage depended on the drug . Silicone was slightly sensitive to vicristin and carmustin, but highly sensitive to cisplatin and doxorubicin . The compatibility of catheter material with the drugs used, especially for oncologic chemotherapy, must be tested systematically. J Trauma, 1988 Jan, 28(1 Suppl), S222 - 5 Effects of phospholipase C, a tissue thromboplastin inhibitor, on pulmonary microembolism after missile injury of the limb; Jansson IG et al.; Tissue thromboplastin probably plays an important role in the development of post-traumatic pulmonary microembolism . Infusion of purified human tissue thromboplastin in animals resulted in an intravascular coagulation and respiratory insufficiency . This could be inhibited by previous infusion of phospholipase C (PLC) from Bacillus cereus . We have studied the effects of PLC infusion on the course of post-traumatic pulmonary microembolism, induced by a high-energy (c . 700 J) missile trauma to the hind legs of pigs . The trauma resulted in a major muscular injury and an indirect femoral fracture . Untreated pigs developed intrapulmonary microemboli . The degree of microembolism in the lungs was measured quantitatively by external detection over the right lung of radiolabeled platelets and fibrin . Infusion of 80 micrograms PLC/kg/hour resulted in an accumulation of blood PLC associated with toxic reaction leading to increasing tachycardia and circulatory collapse after 10 hours . PLC infusion of 20 micrograms/kg/hour did not inhibit the pulmonary microembolism . A PLC-dose in between, viz . 40-50 micrograms/kg/hour, proved to efficiently inhibit most of the microembolism during the infusion period . Cessation of PLC infusion after 24 hours was accompanied by a later increase in pulmonary trapping of platelets and fibrin and decreases in paO2 . Concomitantly there were opacities seen on chest X-rays . The results show that tissue thromboplastin is an important etiologic factor in post-traumatic pulmonary microembolism and that inhibition with phospholipase C can be of value in the prophylaxis of the syndrome. Drugs, 1988, 35 Suppl 2, 185 - 9 Cefotaxime treatment of gram-negative enteric meningitis in infants and children; Jacobs RF; 18 infants and children (1 week to 3 months of age) were treated with cefotaxime 200 mg/kg/day for Gram-negative enteric bacillary meningitis . 17 of these patients (94.4%) survived, with a complication rate of 23.5% (4/17 patients) . The follow-up cerebrospinal fluid cultures at 24 hours were sterile in all patients . Cefotaxime was safe and effective in treating Gram-negative enteric bacillary meningitis in infants and children and should be considered as a potential drug of choice in Gram-negative neonatal meningitis due to susceptible organisms. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1988, 54(2), 95 - 111 Instability of protease production in a rel+/rel- -pair of Bacillus licheniformis and associated morphological and physiological characteristics; Bulthuis BA et al.; A naturally occurring relaxed/protease-producing (A-type) versus stringent/not protease-producing (B-type) pair of an industrial Bacillus licheniformis has been characterized; either of the two types can convert into the other . Both types can sporulate, grow anaerobically, grow at 56 degrees C and reduce nitrate; morphologically, they can easily be distinguished by cell- and colony-shape . They differ in the ability to use 12 substrates, as determined in API-tests . The two types are remarkably different in their content of extrachromosomal elements (A-type: 2; B-type: 4); furthermore, they differ in their rel-status (A-type: relaxed; B-type: stringent) . We propose that the differences in the ability of the two types to use different substrates probably are due to integration/extrusion of the extrachromosomal elements in and out of the chromosome, distorting or restoring a number of genes, together with induction of certain catabolic genes that are under control of the rel-system. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1988 Jan, 105(1), 27 - 30 {Ammonia release and binding processes and the activity of acid proteinase and glycolysis enzymes in the dynamics of experimental toxic adrenal encephalopathy}; Kovalenko VM et al.; The content of ammonium, glutamine, glutamate, aspartate and GABA, glutamine synthetase activity, acid proteinase, hexonase, phosphohexoisomerase and dehydrogenase glucose-6-phosphate were studied in dog brain homogenates after individual injections of Bacillus coli endotoxin (10 micrograms/kg) and adrenaline (75 micrograms/kg) into veins and their combined injections into the carotid artery . Isolated injections of endotoxin and adrenaline were shown to cause transient metabolic compensatory changes . Combined injections caused stable progressing brain metabolic disorders . It is suggested that neurochemical changes influence endogenous development of toxic adrenal encephalopathy. Acta Stomatol Croat, 1988, 22(3), 169 - 75 {Scanning electron microscope study of early bacterial penetration of human enamel in initial caries}; Stanicic T et al.; Bacterial penetration of enamel during initial manifestations of the carious process was studied in intact buccal enamel of 8 impacted third permanent molars . After cleaning them from organic plaque, each buccal plane was cut into five segments, one of them serving as a control specimen and the other four being fixed into slots on partial prostheses of our volunteers . The specimens were left in oral cavity for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, where they were exposed to the action of cariogenic factors . After removal of the organic plaque, the specimens were broken in two and the bacterial penetration into enamel was observed on the fractured cross-section using scanning electron microscope . In 4 specimens from the group orally exposed during a 7-day period, individual coccoid or bacilliform bacteria were found to have penetrated 5-10 microns deep . The number of bacteria and the depth of their penetration into enamel increased with the duration of oral exposition . Among the specimens orally exposed during 28 days, bacteria were observed to be present both individually and in colonies, penetrating to the depth of 60-90 microns . These bacteria could quite easily communicate with saliva and plaque via the pore system, which allowed them to produce metabolites, including lactic acids . This, in turn, allowed them to penetrate through the enamel, thus altering both the course and rate of the carious process progression. Toxicon, 1988, 26(12), 1177 - 85 Kinetics of hemolysis induced by a toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis; Weinstein SA et al.; The kinetics of hemolysis resulting from the action on rabbit erythrocytes of a highly purified cytolytic toxin (26,000 mol . wt) isolated from a spore-crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis was studied . Course of hemolysis, as determined by release of hemoglobin, yielded sigmoid curves whose maximum slopes were taken as a measure of the rate of lysis . Hemolysis occurred without an induction period, and the rate of lysis was a linear function of toxin concentration . Rate of hemolysis as a function of temperature yielded an Arrhenius constant of 9300 calories per mole . The toxin was active between pH 4.5 and 8.0 . Lysis was strongly inhibited by Cu2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+ in concentrations as low as 0.025 M . Phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin inhibited lysis, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine, cerebroside, cholesterol and major integral erythrocyte membrane proteins caused little or no inhibition . Inhibition of lysis by sucrose indicates that hemolysis is of the colloid-osmotic type. Eur Urol, 1988, 15(1-2), 146 - 9 Spontaneous regression of pulmonary metastases and long-term survival of a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, after immunostimulation with bacillus Calmette-Guérin and extirpation of brain and contralateral lung metastases; Martinez-Pineiro L et al.; A 52-year-old patient underwent left radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma and received adjuvant chemotherapy postoperatively with adriamycin and 5-fluoruracil . Twenty months afterwards he developed cerebral and multiple bilateral pulmonary metastases . The cerebral metastasis was excised and nonspecific immunostimulation with bacillus Calmette-Guerin was initiated . Two years later the other secondaries had scarcely grown and extirpation of the two right pulmonary metastases was undertaken . Few months afterwards the two left pulmonary nodules disappeared . The patient continues free of disease more than 5 years after nephrectomy and 16 months after regression of the lung metastases. Dev Comp Immunol, 1988 Fall, 12(4), 707 - 17 Age related occurrence of natural agglutinins in the erisilkworm, Philosamia ricini; el Moataz Bellah M et al.; Natural agglutinins against human, guinea pig, and rat erythrocytes (RBC) and bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis were readily detected in hemolymph of final instar larvae with resulting titers of 0-9 (log2) . Titers were independent of sex and season but varied conspicuously and reproducibly with age . Moreover, response of hemagglutinins to heating varied with age being heat-labile in younger larvae, yet totally resistant to heating for 30 min at 70 degrees C in older ones . Bacterial agglutinins were uniformly resistant at all larval ages . The study thus reveals that the amounts and physico-chemical properties of P . ricini agglutinins change with larval development . Therefore, larval age should be taken into close consideration before reporting on the occurrence and properties of agglutinins in insects. Ann Chir Main, 1988, 7(2), 166 - 75 {Various aspects of tuberculosis of the hand: apropos of a series of 45 cases}; Benkeddache Y et al.; Localisation of tuberculosis in the hand is a rare entity . We report here on 45 cases representing 7% of 650 cases of tuberculosis of the musculoskeletal system treated in our clinic during the past 16 years . Localisation in a joint or tendon sheath is classic but some others such as osteitis (8 cases) or soft tissue lesions (3 cases) have been seen, so the diagnosis must be proved bacteriologically by demonstrating the presence of the tubercle bacillus or, more often, histologically . A prolonged clinical course before the patient seeks medical advice is common and the clinical manifestations are numerous . Some patients were treated with a classical one year regimen . More recent cases have been treated with a short six month regiment . A comparison of the effectiveness of the two regimes is made. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot, 1988, 74(3), 223 - 31 {Total hip arthroplasty in the presence of sepsis}; Vidal J et al.; Sixty-seven cases of total arthroplasty of the hip in the presence of sepsis performed between 1974 and 1986 were reviewed . These prostheses were inserted in 57 cases to replace septic prostheses . Forty-six were infected total hip prostheses and 11 were infected head and neck replacement femoral prostheses . In 10 cases arthroplasty was performed for subacute septic arthritis, usually secondary to trauma . In seven cases, a simple revision of the prosthesis by excision and lavage of infected tissues was performed . In 51 cases, a total hip replacement arthroplasty was performed in one stage . When one of the components was not loose it was preserved; in 17 cases the femoral cement was retained and in six the acetabular cup was retained . In eight cases, the prosthesis was removed, excision of the tissues was made and a total hip arthroplasty inserted after a minimum interval of six months . As regards infection, success was achieved in 69 per cent of cases rising to 85 per cent after secondary removal of the prosthesis . In relation to function, a good or fair result was achieved in 72 per cent of cases . The results were favourable in 81 per cent of cases with complete exchange of prostheses and in 75 per cent with preservation of the femoral cement . Preservation of the acetabular cup was only successful in 40 per cent of cases . Accessory factors in the prognosis were the addition of a bone graft, which became incorporated in 29 cases out of 30 and the nature of the organism which was of no significance, except that staphylococcus epidermidis and Koch's bacillus proved to be more easy to treat. Cancer Invest, 1988, 6(3), 337 - 49 Active immunotherapy of human melanoma exploiting the immunopotentiating effects of cyclophosphamide; Berd D et al.; Malignant tumors may escape rejection by the immune system because they induce a state of immunological tolerance mediated by tumor antigen-specific suppressor T cells . In animal systems, cyclophosphamide can reverse the tolerance and thereby facilitate immunologically mediated tumor destruction . We have applied these concepts to the immunotherapy of human malignant melanoma . Forty-three patients with metastatic disease were treated with a whole cell vaccine 3 days after intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide, 300 mg/m2 . The vaccine consisted of cryopreserved, irradiated autologous melanoma cells, obtained from metastatic masses by dissociation with collagenase and DNAse, mixed with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and injected intradermally . The cyclophosphamide (CY) + vaccine combination was repeated every 28 days . Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was tested by injecting 1 x 10(6) melanoma cells intradermally and measuring the diameter of induration at 48 h . Most patients had minimal pretreatment DTH responses to melanoma cells (mean +/- SE, mm = 2.4 +/- 0.5) . After two vaccine treatments, the responses increased significantly (mean increase +/- SE = 12.1 +/- 1.6 p less than .001) and that level of response was maintained after 4, 6, and 8 treatments . The patients were also skin-tested with a mixture of the enzymes used to dissociate the tumors . No patients exhibited DTH to collagenase + DNAse prior to vaccine injection, but every patient developed DTH to the mixture following two treatments (mean, mm = 26.4 +/- 3.9) . Although extracting viable cells from tumor tissue without the use of enzymes proved difficult, we were able to test DTH to mechanically dissociated tumor cells in 23 patients . After two vaccine treatments, there was a significant increase in DTH to enzyme-free autologous melanoma cells (mean DTH +/- SE, mm: 5.4 +/- 1.0, p less than .01) . Whereas 5 of 23 patients had positive DTH responses (5 mm induration or greater) before treatment, 11 of 23 were positive after two treatments . Further significant increases in DTH enzyme-free cells were observed after 6 and 8 treatments . Thus, it appears that patients receiving CY + vaccine developed DTH to tumor-associated antigens as well as to residual collagenase and DNAse on the cell surface . Thirty-three patients could be evaluated for antitumor effects of cyclophosphamide + vaccine . There were 3 complete remissions, 1 partial remission, and 2 minor responses . Two complete responders remain alive and free of disease after 57 and 12 months, respectively, and the third died after 39 months . The partial remission consisted of 75% regression of a pulmonary metastasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(6), 433 - 9 Inhibitory effect of 1-methyldodecyldimethylamine oxide and N,N-bis(dodecyldimethyl)-1,2-ethanediammonium dibromide on the spores of Bacillus cereus; Cupkova V et al.; 1-Methyldodecyldimethylamine oxide (MDDO) and N,N'-bis(dodecyldimethyl)-1,2-ethanediammonium dibromide (BDED) exhibit a significant affinity for the surface of Bacillus cereus spores and adsorb very rapidly to the cells; they have a pronounced inhibitory effect on spore outgrowth . In order to alter the affinity of the spore surface for these inhibitors, the spores were pretreated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and with an electronegative (Tween 80) and electropositive (histone) compound . In SDS-pretreated spores the inhibitory effect of MDDO and BDED was abolished to a considerable extent . Whereas the development of intact spores was inhibited already after germination, in SDS-pretreated spores the postgermination development continued but was not completed . In Tween 80-pretreated spores the addition of BDED led only to a retardation of outgrowth and division; BDED added only during the division stage interrupted further development completely . Histone-pretreated spores stopped their development instantaneously after the addition of BDED at any phase of the postgermination development . The possible mechanisms of the interaction of the compounds used with spore surface or rather with the state of its structures are discussed. Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(10), 991 - 8 Immunoelectron microscopic studies on spore coat proteins of Bacillus megaterium; Imagawa M et al.; An immunochemical staining technique for the spore coat proteins of Bacillus megaterium ATCC 12872 was developed using colloidal gold as a second antibody . For reducing the non-specific immunogold binding and increasing the specific binding, the affinity-purified IgG was used as a first antibody . In sporulating cells at t10, gold particles were found not only in the spore coat but also in the mother cell cytoplasm, suggesting that some coat proteins were synthesized in the cytoplasm . Use of the specific affinity-purified antibody to 48K-protein demonstrated that this protein was one of the components of the outer coat. Biol Cell, 1988, 64(1), 3 - 11 Comparison between the molecular characteristics and the potential activity of X and Y nucleolar organizers from various Drosophila melanogaster laboratory lines; Rosenberg-Bourgin M et al.; The molecular characteristics of nucleolar organizers from X and Y chromosomes of different Drosophila melanogaster lines have previously been studied (17) . By analysis of appropriate genetic crosses we show in the present study that the X and Y chromosomes of these lines can confer different degrees of resistance on an inhibitor of ribosomal RNA synthesis (beta exotoxin or thuringiensin) present in the thermostable supernatant of Bacillus thuringiensis cultures . None of the lines studied gives rise to any particular phenotype under normal culture conditions; variations in the degree of supernatant resistance of these lines provide a relative measure of what can be called the potential activity of the nucleolar organizers of the different X and/or Y chromosomes . The potential activity of the Y nucleolar organizers is found to be generally higher than that of the X organizers . This result can be correlated with the fact that the number of uninterrupted ribosomal units is much greater on the Y chromosomes than on the Xs . Significant variations in potential activity have been shown to occur among the X as also among the Y nucleolar organizers . Comparison between the molecular characteristics of the nucleolar organizers and their level of activity shows that among the different ribosomal units, only those devoid of insertion interfere with the level of activity . However, some of our results could also indicate that not all the uninterrupted units have the same level of activity; this level could be related to the size of the nontranscribed spacer of the ribosomal units.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Pharmacotherapy, 1988, 8(6), 334 - 50 Aminoglycosides: current role in antimicrobial therapy; Cunha BA; Aminoglycosides remain the cornerstone of antibiotic therapy for nosocomial, gram-negative bacillary infections despite the recent introduction of broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics and quinolones with antipseudomonal activity . Initially, aminoglycosides were used as antiaerobic gram-negative antimicrobial therapy . Currently, they have a key role in many types of infections, such as gram-negative urosepsis and in febrile granulocytopenic patients, because of their established antipseudomonal activity . Empiric treatment of febrile episodes in granulocytopenic cancer patients with an aminoglycoside, in combination with an anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam, accounts for much of the aminoglycoside use . Amikacin is emerging as one of the most effective aminoglycosides on the basis of resistance rates, pharmacokinetic factors likely to affect clinical efficacy, safety, and overall cost of therapy. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(4), 419 - 23 Mycobacterial species responsible for tuberculosis and mycobacteriosis cases in the Czech Socialist Republic, 1981-1985; Kubin M et al.; This study is based on the analysis of nation-wide notification data on the bacteriologically proved mycobacterial infections registered in the national Information System on Bacillary Tuberculosis . Over the 5-year period under study, as many as 2,226 M . tuberculosis isolations were on average reported annually in the country (i.e . 21.6 per 100,000 population), and of these 62.5% were isolations in males, 63.5% were repeated isolations and 87% were isolations from sputum specimens; identification of human of M . bovis infection was reported in 13 patients annually only, mostly in those of higher age categories . The annual average of notified M . kansasii isolations was 138 (1.3 per 100,000 population), repeated isolations of the agent were reported in 66.6% of patients, mostly males 45-54 years old, and 81% of all reports came from an endemic area in the North-Moravian Region; notification of positive M . avium-intracellulare isolations occurred in 24 persons annually, in 48% of these repeatedly, M . xenopi isolation was reported in 87 and M . fortuitum/chelonei in 12 cases annually. Crit Rev Biotechnol, 1988, 8(3), 217 - 24 Engineering thermostability in subtilisin BPN' by in vitro mutagenesis; Rollence ML et al.; A procedure has been developed for the isolation and identification of mutants of the bacterial serine protease, subtilisin, which exhibit enhanced thermostability . The cloned subtilisin BPN' gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was treated with a variety of chemical mutagens to introduce random mutations in the coding sequence . Strains containing the cloned, mutagenized subtilisin gene which produced subtilisin with enhanced thermostability were selected by a simple plate assay procedure, which screens for esterase activity on nitrocellulose filters after preincubation at elevated temperatures . The identification and characterization of eight different stabilizing mutations are described . Several mutants containing various combinations of these stabilizing mutations were constructed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis . Combining independent, stabilizing mutations in the same subtilisin molecule has resulted in an approximate multiplicative decrease in the rate of thermal inactivation . In this way, a variant of subtilisin has been constructed which is about 12-fold more stable than wild-type subtilisin, with no radical changes in the tertiary protein structure but rather minor, independent alterations in amino acid sequence . The ultimate goal in these studies is to be able to accurately predict where stabilizing changes can be made in a protein. Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(9), 973 - 9 Isolation and characterization of outermost layer deficient mutant spores of Bacillus megaterium; Takubo Y et al.; Outermost layer deficient mutant spores of Bacillus megaterium ATCC 12872 were isolated by Urografin density gradient centrifugation after mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate . Although the composition of the cortex peptidoglycan was the same as that of the parent spores, three major proteins (48, 36, and 22 K daltons) were missing, suggesting that these proteins are components of the outermost layer . All mutant spores were also found to have very hydrophobic surface by 'salt aggregation test,' which would facilitate selection of such mutants. Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1988, 143(5), 383 - 7 Protection of cadmium toxicity to B . cereus, E . coli and A . niger by Na+, Mg++ and Ca++ ions; Naidu CK et al.; 10ppm of cadmium apparently seem to extend the lag phase of Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli but in reality both 10 and 100ppm decreased the growth with differing intensity . 1.0ppm of cadmium decreased the growth of Aspergillus niger, and it failed to grow at 500ppm . However, addition of calcium, magnesium and sodium gave increasing protection against cadmium toxicity for the growth of B . cereus, E . coli an A . niger . It is inferred that environment pollution by cadmium is related to the cationic availability in the environment. Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(5), 529 - 33 Immunological detection of 22K protein in sporulating cells of Bacillus megaterium ATCC 12872; Nishihara T et al.; The synthesis and deposition of 22,000-dalton (22K) spore coat protein were examined immunochemically on the sporulating cells of Bacillus megaterium ATCC 12872 using the antibody to purified 22K spore coat protein . This antibody cross-reacted with 44K and 25K proteins in immunoblot analysis of dormant spore coat proteins . Immunoblot analysis on the sporulating cells showed that 22K protein was detected from t8 in forespore coat protein fractions . Sandwich enzyme immunoassay revealed that 22K protein in the spore coat protein fraction appeared at t6 and reached a plateau at t9, and 22K protein in the mother cell cytoplasmic fraction was detected at only t7 and t8 at a very low level. Mol Cell Biochem, 1988 Jan, 79(1), 63 - 71 Characterization of the protein expressed in Escherichia coli by a recombinant plasmid containing the Bacillus megaterium cytochrome P-450BM-3 gene; Narhi LO et al.; In two previous reports (Narhi LO, Fulco AJ, J . Biol . Chem . 261: 7160-7169, 1986; Ibid., 262: 6683-6690, 1987) we described the characterization of a catalytically self-sufficient 119,000-dalton P-450 cytochrome that was induced by barbiturates in Bacillus megaterium . In the presence of NADPH and O2, this polypeptide (cytochrome P-450BM-3) catalyzed the hydroxylation of long-chain fatty acids without the aid of any other protein . The gene encoding this unique monooxygenase was cloned into Escherichia coli and the clone harboring the recombinant plasmid produced a protein that behaved electrophoretically and immunochemically like the B . megaterium enzyme (Wen LP, Fulco AJ, J . Biol . Chem . 262: 6676-6682, 1987) . We have now compared authentic P-450BM-3 from B . megaterium and putative P-450BM-3 isolated from transformed E . coli and have found them to be indistinguishable with respect to chromatographic and electrophoretic behavior, reaction with specific antibody, prosthetic group (heme, FAD and FMN) analyses, spectra, enzymology, limited trypsin proteolysis and partial amino acid sequencing . We thus conclude that the P-450 cytochrome expressed by the transformed E . coli is essentially identical to native P-450BM-3 induced by barbiturates in B . megaterium . The evidence furthermore suggests that the primary amino acid sequence of this complex protein is alone sufficient to direct the proper integration of the three prosthetic groups and to specify folding of the polypeptide into the correct tertiary structure. Retina, 1988, 8(3), 182 - 4 Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) endophthalmitis; Lester H et al.; A patient who had been treated for metastatic bladder carcinoma with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine subsequently developed bilateral visual loss secondary to an infiltrative retinitis and vitreitis . Although assumed to have candida endophthalmitis, vitrectomy demonstrated mycobacterium bovis . The patient was placed on systemic anti-tuberculous therapy, and there was noted to be a reduction in retinal lesions prior to his death . This is the first report in the literature documenting endogenous endophthalmitis after BCG usage. Braz J Med Biol Res, 1988, 21(3), 523 - 5 Murine delayed type hypersensitivity is suppressed by Ascaris suum extract; Macedo MS et al.; We studied the suppressive effect of an Ascaris suum extract on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions to ovalbumin (OVA) and to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) . The ability of mice to develop DTH reactions to both antigens was suppressed when an immunizing dose of the antigen was given subcutaneously together with the Ascaris extract . Partial or complete suppression of the response to OVA was obtained by the use of 400 or 1000 micrograms of Ascaris extract, respectively . The response to BCG, on the other hand, was totally suppressed by 400 micrograms of extract. Urol Res, 1988, 16(5), 351 - 5 BCG induced killer cell activity; Koga S et al.; To investigate the mechanism of Bacillus de Calmette Guerin (BCG) bladder instillation therapy, the killer cell activity induced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) after BCG instillation was examined . Significant cytotoxic activity against natural killer (NK) cell resistant target tumor cells was detected after 3 days of instillation . To characterize this BCG induced cytotoxic activity further, human PBMNCs were cultured with BCG in vitro . From 24 h maximum cytotoxicity was obtained and continued for 3 days, then decreased slightly . Neither a DNA synthesis inhibitor Cytosine-arabinoside (Ara-C) nor a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) generation inhibitor Cyclosporine A inhibited this killer cell activation . Monoclonal antibody treatment revealed that both precursor and effector cells are Leu1-, 3a-, 7+, 11b+ . The recognition specificity from cold target competition experiments was selective . Taken together NK type precursor was activated with BCG into NK type effector which has wider spectrum of target cells than usual NK cell. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1988, 82(2), 321 - 3 Isolation, purification and quantification of phenolic glycolipid-1 from human leprosy skin tissues; Venkatesan K et al.; Phenolic glycolipid-I, a marker lipid of Mycobacterium leprae, was isolated from skin biopsies obtained from untreated lepromatous leprosy patients by silicic acid and florisil column chromatography and purified by thin layer chromatography . Tissues with varying bacillary loads were analysed for their phenolic glycolipid content . A good correlation was observed between the bacillary population of the tissues and the phenolic glycolipid content. Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Jan-Feb, 57(1), 107 - 13 {Potential use of the monosaccharide composition of bacteria for their identification}; Pomazanov VV et al.; The monosaccharide composition of cell hydrolysates can be used as a criterion for the chemical differentiation of gram-positive bacteria . The monosaccharide composition of six bacterial species belonging to the genus Bacillus has been determined using gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and computers . The qualitative composition was similar, glucose, galactose, ribose and glucosamine being the main components in all of the species . Some Bacillus species differed in their minor components . Although the monosaccharide composition appeared to be homogeneous, bacteria can be identified in terms of their carbohydrate profile using computers . To this end, the monosaccharide composition of bacterial cells is represented as a two-dimensional data file including the qualitative composition of components and the quantity of each component. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1988, 10(4), 579 - 96 Effect of BCG upon functional and phenotypic immune markers in rats bearing the Dunning R3327 MAT-LyLu prostatic adenocarcinoma; Rubenstein M et al.; Rats bearing (or not bearing) the Dunning R3327 MAT-LyLu prostatic adenocarcinoma were treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and evaluated for immune competence using functional and phenotypic markers . Tumor presence significantly depressed total T and helper T cell representation along with the helper/suppressor T cell ratio . Functional immunity, measured by phytohemmagglutinin (PHA) induced blastogenesis, was also significantly depressed . When BCG was administered to non-tumor bearing animals, it had no effect upon T cell subset distributions but significantly reduced PHA induced blastogenesis . BCG similarly administered to tumor bearing animals did not alter the depressed helper/suppressor T cell ratio found in tumor bearing rats, but did significantly elevate PHA induced blastogenesis . However, these elevated levels of functional immunity in BCG treated tumor-bearing rats remained significantly below normal . These data demonstrate a poor correlation between functional and phenotypic assessments of immune capability. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1988, 182(2), 181 - 5 {Use of acetamide by Bacillus gordonae . II . Research on acetamidase and the taxonomic value of spontaneous mutation permitting the acquisition of this enzyme}; Pichinoty F; The wild strain Q1 had no acetamidase . The mutant Q1Ac synthesized an inducible acetamidase which was catabolite repressible by glucose . The mutation described is a character that has a high taxonomic value . It constitutes a new example of acquisitive evolution. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1988, 182(2), 177 - 80 {Use of acetamide by Bacillus gordonae . I . Isolation and characterization of mutants able to use this compound as a source of carbon and energy}; Pichinoty F; All known strains of Bacillus gordonae can acquire, by spontaneous mutation, the ability to grow at the expense of acetamide as a source of carbon, nitrogen and energy . The isolation and characters of these mutants are described . Their frequency is high (10(-3)-10(-2) per cell). J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 134 ( Pt 1), 97 - 105 Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase gene from the alkalophilic Bacillus sp . strain no . 38-2; Kaneko T et al.; The cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) gene from the alkalophilic Bacillus sp . strain no . 38-2 was cloned in Escherichia coli using pBR322 . A plasmid, pCS8, was isolated from a transformant producing CGTase and the cloned CGTase gene was found to be in a 5.3 kb DNA fragment . The nucleotide sequence of a 2.5 kb segment encoding the CGTase was determined . This segment showed an open reading frame which would encode a polypeptide of 712 amino acids . The pCS8 CGTase had the same enzymic properties as those of the extracellular CGTase produced by the alkalophilic Bacillus sp . strain no . 38-2 . The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of this CGTase gene and gene product, respectively, have strong homology with those of the Bacillus macerans CGTase. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1988, 26(1), 43 - 7 The augmentation of tumor-specific immunity using haptenic muramyl dipeptide (MDP) derivatives . III . Eradication of disseminated murine chronic leukemia cells by utilizing MDP hapten-reactive helper T-cell activity; Shima J et al.; A previous paper has demonstrated that enhanced tumor-specific immunity could be induced by priming mice with Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) and subsequently immunizing them with syngeneic tumor cells modified with BCG-cross-reactive muramyl dipeptide (MDP) hapten . The present study establishes a tumor-specific immunotherapy protocol for a murine chronic leukemia based on the above T-T cell collaboration between antitumor effector T cells and anti-MDP hapten helper T cells induced by BCG priming . BALB/c mice which had been primed to BCG were injected intravenously (i.v.) with viable, syngeneic BCL1 leukemia cells . One week later, these mice were immunized intraperitoneally (i.p.) with unmodified or MDP hapten-modified, 10,000 R X-irradiated BCL1 cells, followed by 4 booster immunizations at 5-day intervals . The administration of unmodified BCL1 tumor cells into BCG-primed mice failed to prevent them from tumor death due to the persistent growth of preinjected BCL1 cells . In contrast, the immunization of BCG-primed, BCL1 leukemia-cell-bearing mice with MDP-modified BCL1 cells resulted in a high growth inhibition of leukemia cells and protection of these mice from death by leukemia . It was also revealed that potent tumor-specific, T-cell-mediated immunity was generated in mice which survived in this immunotherapy model . Thus, these results indicate that administration of MDP hapten-modified, syngeneic leukemia cells into leukemia-bearing mice which have been primed with BCG results in potent tumor-specific, T-cell-mediated immunity attributable to preventing the growth of disseminated leukemic cells. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 54(1), 277 - 9 Structural relatedness between mosquitocidal endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp . israelensis; Garduno F et al.; A mosquitocidal toxin gene, cloned from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp . israelensis, was introduced into mutant crystal-negative B . thuringiensis subsp . israelensis cells . Partial toxicity to mosquitos was restored . The 58-kilodalton cloned gene product is a minor protein component of B . thuringiensis subsp . israelensis crystals and is structurally related to a major, 135-kilodalton crystal toxin. Mol Biother, 1988, 1(1), 30 - 6 Active specific immunotherapy with an autologous tumor cell vaccine in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer; Schulof RS et al.; Eighteen postoperative patients with non-small cell lung cancer were actively immunized with a vaccine that included autologous cryopreserved irradiated tumor cells admixed with bacillus Calmette-Guerin . Patients received three weekly intradermal immunizations beginning 1-3 months after surgery (15 patients) or after completion of postoperative radiotherapy (3 patients) . There was marked heterogeneity in the relative proportion of tumor cells versus host infiltrating cells within individual vaccines (range of percent tumor cells 7-75%) . Five patients exhibited positive delayed cutaneous skin test reactivity (DCR) to autologous irradiated tumor cells prior to immunization, whereas 8 of 13 converted from skin test negative to positive . There were no correlations between DCR reactivity and in vitro lymphoproliferative responses to autologous tumor cells or to clinical outcomes, i.e., freedom from relapse . Possible explanations for the heterogeneity of the lung cancer vaccine and approaches for improving its immunogenicity are discussed. J Basic Microbiol, 1988, 28(1-2), 11 - 6 Netropsin increases formation of mRNA coding for a neutral metalloproteinase in Bacillus megaterium; Chaloupka J et al.; The anticancer drug netropsin increases the synthesis of an exocellular metalloproteinase during exponential growth as well as in the stationary phase of a sporulating strain of Bacillus megaterium . Its effect is due to a stimulation of the synthesis of the mRNA coding for the proteinase, determined as a residual synthesis of the enzyme in the presence of actinomycin D . The half-life of the proteinase mRNA (5-6 min at 35 degrees C) is not affected by netropsin . Netropsin relieves partially the repression of the proteinase mRNA caused by amino acids, whereas the repression brought about by an increased temperature is almost unaffected by the drug. Mol Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 2(1), 153 - 7 Differential specificity of two insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis var . aizawai; Knowles BH et al.; Bacillus thuringiensis var . aizawai HD-249 produces more than one protein of 130-135 kD in its insecticidal crystal delta-endotoxin . We describe an indirect method of assessing the relative contribution to toxicity of two of these protoxins using monospecific antibodies directed against their active proteolytic products . Our results show that one toxin is active against Spodoptera frugiperda but not Choristoneura fumiferana cells in vitro, while the other lyses C . fumiferana but not S . frugiperda cells . There is no indication of synergism between these toxins in vitro. Vet Pathol, 1988 Jan, 25(1), 72 - 6 Cilia-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus infection of obese mice; Griffith JW et al.; Cilia-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus was identified in respiratory tract lesions of obese mice dying of chronic respiratory disease . Neither Mycoplasma pulmonis nor pathogenic bacteria were isolated from cultures of the lesions at necropsy, but there was serologic and histologic evidence of respiratory virus infection . Cranial-ventral areas of lung were firm and demarcated from unaffected lung at gross examination, and representative tissue sank in water . Microscopically, there was suppurative bronchopneumonia with extensive peribronchiole lymphocyte and plasma cell proliferation . The affected bronchiole epithelium was covered with a sheet of slightly basophilic, filamentous, gram negative bacteria . Bronchioles with lesser amounts of lymphocyte accumulations contained lesser amounts of filamentous bacteria . Bronchioles without filamentous bacteria lining the respiratory epithelium lacked peribronchiole lymphocyte accumulations . There was a high correlation between CAR bacillus-positive serology and the identification of diagnostic histologic lesions . CAR bacillus was readily stained using immunohistochemical methods, and the ultrastructural features were similar to that described in rat infections. Arkh Patol, 1988, 50(10), 63 - 7 {The morphology of mesenteric lymph nodes in Whipple's disease}; Zolotarevskii VB et al.; A patient aged 45 suffering from Whipple's disease is described . The disease has been diagnosed on the basis of morphologic examination of a biopsy specimen of the small intestine mesenteric lymph node . The patient had suffered from the disease for 14 years; during the last 6 months he developed symptoms of the malabsorption syndrome with diarrhea and steatorrhea . The lymph nodes contained numerous macrophages with PAS-positive glycoprotein granules in the cytoplasm, small cavities filled with lipids; electron microscopy has revealed bacillus-like bodies in the macrophages and outside the cells . After the disease has been diagnosed, the patient has been administered a course of tetracycline therapy, that resulted in an improvement of his status. Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(9), 877 - 85 Primary role of NADH formed by glucose dehydrogenase in ATP provision at the early stage of spore germination in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551; Sano K et al.; Metabolic events involved in energy metabolism were studied in order to evaluate the ATP-forming ability of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores at the very early stage of germination . When heat-activated spores were germinated on glucose as a sole substrate, its oxidation into gluconate (catalyzed by glucose dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.47), the accompanying NADH formation, oxygen uptake, and RNA synthesis were initiated immediately after germination, even when anaerobic breakdown of 3-phosphoglycerate (an ATP source for spores) and the subsequent glucose metabolism via the phosphorylating pathway were impaired by potassium fluoride (KF) . In contrast, fructose metabolism and the accompanying metabolic events did not begin until a few minutes after triggering of germination, and those events were entirely abolished by KF, indicating that fructose metabolism is initiated exclusively via its phosphorylation by the ATP derived from endogenous 3-phosphoglycerate . Thus those results provided further evidence for our previous proposal (Otani et al (1987) Microbiol . Immunol . 31: 967-974; Sano et al (1988) Biochem . Biophys . Res . Commun . 151: 48-52) that the first molecules of ATP in germinating spores can be efficiently generated via aerobic oxidation of NADH, which is formed by glucose dehydrogenase . Fluorescence monitoring of NADH in germinating spores also supported this conclusion. Acta Leprol, 1988 Jan-Mar, 6(1), 7 - 16 {Bacterial sampling using lymph node puncture-aspiration . A study of 50 patients with leprosy}; Latapi-Contreras F et al.; Fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes was performed in 50 leprosy patients and was compared with usual techniques of bacillary smears taken from nasal mucosa, ear lobule and cutaneous lesion we found that the former was more sensible (30%) regarding bacteriologic and morphologic (34%) indices; moreover this proceeding was more sensible (50%) en patients with type II leprosy reaction . After 6 month-multi-therapy schedule in 3 patients, the morphologic index decreases 2 points (SFG) and bacteriologic index 1 + (mean value) . It is concluded that fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes is a useful method, because of its simplicity and low traumatic effects and its sensibility to follow-up treatment and reactional phases. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1988, 54(1), 37 - 45 Effect of growth temperature and media composition on the fatty acid composition of Bacillus stearothermophilus AN 002; Bezbaruah RL et al.; The influence of growth temperature, media composition and cell age on the chemical composition of Bacillus stearothermophilus strain AN 002 has been determined . The total cellular protein decreased and the free amino acid content increased with growth temperature, in both exponential and stationary growth phase . The protein and free amino acid contents of cells were higher in the stationary phase than in the exponential phase, irrespective of growth temperature and media composition . The RNA content was only reduced in cells grown at 55 degrees C . No significant variations were observed in the DNA and carbohydrate contents with respect to growth temperature and cell age . The total lipid and fatty acid compositions on the other hand varied as a function of growth temperature, cell age and media composition . Differences in the relative concentrations of even, odd and branched chain fatty acids were noticed . No variation was observed in the antiiso and unsaturated fatty acids with respect to growth temperature . The unique variations in the fatty acid composition and total lipids at the growth temperature of 50 degrees C and their variations in the stationary growth phase seem to be characteristic for B . stearothermophilus AN 002. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Jan, (1), 51 - 5 {Method of determining proteolytic activity by using a conjugate of bovine serum albumin with peroxidase}; Zherdev AV et al.; The authors propose a method for determination of proteolytic activity, based on the hydrolysis of peroxidase-labeled molecules of bovine serum albumin immobilized on the surface of polystyrene microassay plates with the subsequent determination of peroxidase activity on the carrier or in the solution . The optimum conditions for the sorption of the labeled substrate have been established . The method permits the determination of bacillary alkaline protease at a concentration of 01 . microgram/ml within 45 minutes . The determination of four proteases has demonstrated that this method shows good correlation with the routine one (r = 0.98), but is more sensitive and less time- and labor-consuming. Eur J Biochem, 1987 Dec 30, 170(1-2), 253 - 8 Tyrocidine-induced modulation of the DNA conformation in Bacillus brevis; Bohg A et al.; Using the {3H}trimethylpsoralen photobinding method {Sinden, R.R., Carlson, J.O . & Pettijohn, D.E . (1980) Cell 21, 773-783}, a decrease in unrestrained torsional tension of DNA was detected in Bacillus brevis cells when they had entered the sporulation phase . This decrease in superhelicity was found in cells which synthesized the peptide antibiotic tyrocidine and which were stimulated to sporulate . Fluctuations in superhelicity probably reflect a highly complicated picture of tension-relaxing and tension-inducing activities . Addition of tyrocidine to vegetative cells reduced by one-half the torsional tension from DNA, whereas ethidium bromide relaxes DNA completely . Cross-links between DNA and tyrocidine were introduced with ultraviolet light in vitro and in vivo indicating that the modulation of the DNA conformation in the cell may in fact be due to a DNA-tyrocidine interaction . In a growing B . brevis culture exogenous {3H}tyrocidine could only be photobound to DNA after the cells had entered the sporulation phase . Our results could mean that the peptide antibiotic tyrocidine is active in B . brevis on the DNA level as one regulatory factor controlling DNA functions. Biochemistry, 1987 Dec 29, 26(26), 8524 - 8 Investigation of transition-state stabilization by residues histidine-45 and threonine-40 in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase; Leatherbarrow RJ et al.; We have analyzed various mutations involving residues Thr-40 and His-45 in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase of Bacillus stearothermophilus . The utilization of binding energy in catalysis of tyrosyl adenylate formation from tyrosine and ATP was determined from the free energy profiles for the mutant enzymes . Our results confirm that the side chains of Thr-40 and His-45 provide a binding site for the pyrophosphoryl portion of the transition state of this reaction and for pyrophosphate in the reverse reaction . Deletion of these side chains destabilizes the transition-state by 4.9 and 4.1 kcal mol-1, respectively, consistent with a charged hydrogen-bonding interaction . To examine the role of His-45 further, we constructed the potentially conservative mutations His----Gln-45 and His----Asn-45 . Both mutant enzymes are debilitated compared with the native enzyme . The His----Gln-45 enzyme is more active than enzyme in which the complete side chain is deleted (His----Ala-45), and so in this location glutamine is a semiconservative replacement . In contrast, the His----Asn-45 mutation is significantly worse than simple deletion of the side chain, indicating that asparagine at this position causes active destabilization of the transition state compared to His----Ala-45 . The amide-NH2 of glutamine may be considered stereochemically equivalent to the epsilon-NH of histidine whereas the amide-NH2 of asparagine is comparable to the delta-NH of histidine . The results suggest that the epsilon-NH rather than the delta-NH group of His-45 is involved in the transition-state stabilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biochim Biophys Acta, 1987 Dec 17, 894(3), 484 - 98 Purification, properties, and cellular localization of Euglena ferredoxin-NADP reductase; Spano AJ et al.; Ferredoxin-NADP reductase from Euglena gracilis Klebs var . Bacillaris Cori purified to apparent homogeneity, yields a typical 36 kDa and an unusual 15 kDa polypeptide on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, exhibits a typical flavoprotein spectrum, contains FAD, and catalyzes NADPH-dependent iodonitrotetrazolium-violet diaphorase, NADPH-specific ferredoxin-dependent cytochrome-c-550 reductase and NADPH-NAD transhydrogenase activities . Rabbit antibody to the purified FNR blocks these activities specifically and also blocks the iodonitrotetrazolium-violet diaphorase activity of Euglena chloroplast completely . The low iodonitrotetrazolium-violet diaphorase activity in the plastidless mutant, W10BSmL, is mitochondrial and is not specifically blocked by the ferredoxin-NADP reductase antibody . Dark-grown non-dividing (resting) wild-type Euglena cells show a 4-fold increase in ferredoxin-NADP reductase activity during greening at 970 lx . Half of the low ferredoxin-NADP reductase activity in dark-grown cells is initially soluble, but by the end of chloroplast development nearly all of the enzyme is membrane-bound . The binding of ferredoxin-NADP reductase on exposure to light correlates with the extent of thylakoid membrane formation . Immunoblots of wild-type extracts during greening indicate that the 15 kDa polypeptide increases in the same manner as the extent of reductase binding to thylakoid membranes. Biochem J, 1987 Dec 15, 248(3), 657 - 62 beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus . Structure and site-directed mutagenesis; Madgwick PJ et al.; The sequence of the gene for beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus 569/H has been redetermined . Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis has been carried out, and the effects of the changes on the ampicillin-resistance of Escherichia coli TG1 expressing the mutant genes have been studied . Lysine-73, close to the active-site serine-70 and a highly-conserved residue, has been converted into arginine . This change had a large effect on activity, but did not abolish it . An even larger effect was found in the mutant in which glutamate-166 had been converted into glutamine; this had little or no activity . On the other hand, the conversion of glutamate-168 into aspartate gave fully active enzyme . Glutamate-166 is an invariant residue, but glutamate-168 is not . Alanine-123 has been replaced by cysteine, to give active enzyme; this change forms part of the plan to introduce a disulphide bond into the enzyme. J Biol Chem, 1987 Dec 15, 262(35), 16778 - 85 Kinetics and mechanism of inactivation of the RTEM-2 beta-lactamase by phenylpropynal . Identification of the characteristic chromophore; Grace ME et al.; beta-Lactamases of all three classes, A, B, and C, are inactivated by phenylpropynal and p-nitrophenylpropynal . The inactivation of RTEM-2 beta-lactamase and of Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I is accelerated in the presence of A type substrates such as dicloxacillin, quinacillin, and cefoxitin, which are thought to expand or loosen the conformation of these enzymes . In the presence and absence of cefoxitin the inactivation of the RTEM-2 beta-lactamase is first and second order, respectively, in phenylpropynal concentration . The additional phenylpropynal molecule in the latter case may serve the same function as cefoxitin, viz . catalyze access to sensitive functional groups . Correlation of the loss of activity of the RTEM-2 enzyme with the extent of modification suggests that the modification of any one of about four kinetically equivalent groups leads to inactivation . Modification of all of the above mentioned enzymes leads to formation of a characteristic chromophore of unusual stability to nucleophiles, which absorbs maximally between 315 and 320 nm . A consideration of the properties of model compounds demonstrated that the protein-bound chromophore is that of a 1-phenyl-3-imino-1-propen-1-ammonium ion (Formula: see text), formed by reaction of phenylpropynal with two enzymic amine groups, and thus cross-linking the enzyme intramolecularly . Phenylpropynal may be a convenient general reagent for rapid and stable intramolecular cross-linking of proteins through lysine. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1987 Dec, 58(4), 183 - 6 The use of a diffusion test for the detection of antibiotics in the tissues of slaughter stock; Lloyd DN et al.; The Brilliant Black Reduction Test Kit (BR Test), which is widely used to detect antimicrobial residues in milk, was adapted to detect residues in the meat and tissues of slaughter stock . The adaptation consisted of placing kidney and muscle tissue samples into 2.5ml diffusion cups containing 0.4ml media plus Bacillus stearothermophilus spores and brilliant black indicator . A preliminary trial undertaken to test the lower limits of sensitivity of the adapted BR Test to a number of the more common antibiotics used in food animals, was followed by a survey involving 943 pigs slaughtered at one abattoir . Samples were tested from 87 suppliers of which 11 regularly marketed pigs with detectable antimicrobial residues . Most of these pigs came from large pig producing units . Three suppliers marketed pigs with suspicious reactions . No residues could be detected in pigs from the remaining 73 suppliers . The BR Test was found to be a quick, inexpensive, practical screening test which could be utilized for the routine detection of antimicrobial residues in slaughter stock at all South African abattoirs. J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 1987 Dec, 3(4), 583 - 8 Floating bait formulations increase effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis var . israelensis against Anopheles larvae; Aly C et al.; The development and screening of floating-type bait formulations designed to improve the activity of bacterial toxins against larval Anopheles is described . Floating and spreading abilities of carrier particles (wheat flour) were compared using corn oil, lecithin, and two products yielding surface films on water (Arosurf and Liparol) . Mixtures containing 1 or 5% Arosurf showed the best spreading abilities on a water surface, but strongly inhibited the ingestion of wheat flour by Anopheles albimanus larvae . Corn oil and lecithin improved spreading satisfactorily at a concentration of 5% and inhibited larval feeding by only 6-25% . To select a suitable concentration of active ingredient in formulations, Bacillus thuringiensis var . israelensis (B.t.i.) primary powder in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.5% was mixed with wheat flour/corn oil mixtures and tested in quantities exceeding the gut volumes of treated larvae . Complete mortality was obtained with concentrations of 0.1% (Anopheles stephensi), 0.2% (An . albimanus), or 0.3% (An . quadrimaculatus) B.t.i . When in 175-liter containers the activity of formulations (5% corn oil, 0.2% B.t.i.) and of toxin suspensions was compared by conventional dosage-mortality regression, formulations were more active by a factor of 68 against An . stephensi, 39 against An . albimanus and 67 against An . quadrimaculatus. J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 1987 Dec, 3(4), 579 - 82 Efficacy of Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis var . israelensis for control of Culex pipiens and floodwater Aedes larvae in Iowa; Berry WJ et al.; Granular and flowable concentrate formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var . israelensis provided a 90-100% reduction in Aedes vexans and Culex spp . larvae in natural larval habitats . A briquet formulation of B . thuringiensis was less effective, providing a 12-76% reduction . No residual activity occurred in sites treated with B . thuringiensis . Granular formulations of Bacillus sphaericus (2.78-8.42 kg/ha) caused a 100% reduction in Culex pipiens larvae in natural sites and artificial pools . Bacillus sphaericus also controlled (84-98% reduction) a mixed population of Aedes trivittatus and Cx . pipiens in subplots of a retention pond . In field sites, B . sphaericus continued to control Cx . pipiens larvae for 96 hr. Cell Mol Neurobiol, 1987 Dec, 7(4), 413 - 24 Vasopressin stimulates the phosphorylation of an 83,000 Mr protein in the superior cervical ganglion; Cahill AL et al.; 1 . 32P-Labeled proteins from the superior cervical ganglion of the rat were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and visualized by autoradiography . 2 . The most heavily labeled phosphoprotein in the ganglion had a relative molecular weight of 83,000 and a pI of 4.5 . Phosphorylation of this protein was increased by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, an activator of the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C . This protein appears to be similar or identical to a specific protein kinase C substrate that has been described in other tissues (Blackshear, P . J., et al., J . Biol . Chem . 261:1459-1469, 1986) . 3 . Phosphorylation of this protein was also increased by treatment of the ganglion with phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus) but was not increased by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP or by nicotinic agonists . Vasopressin increased the hydrolysis of inositol-containing phospholipids in the ganglion and also increased the labeling of the 83,000 Mr protein . Thus, vasopressin appears to activate protein kinase C in the ganglion . 4 . Muscarine, which also increased phospholipid metabolism in the ganglion, did not increase the phosphorylation of the 83,000 Mr protein . Muscarine and vasopressin stimulate phospholipid metabolism in different structures within the ganglion (Horwitz, J., et al., J . Pharmacol . Exp . Ther . 237:312-317, 1986) . Muscarine may increase phospholipid metabolism in structures that do not contain significant amounts of the 83,000 Mr protein. Biol Reprod, 1987 Dec, 37(5), 1170 - 8 Sperm-macrophage interaction in the mouse: a quantitative assay in vitro using 111indium oxine-labeled sperm; Olive DL et al.; The role of reproductive tract macrophages in contraception and reproductive failure has become widely recognized . However, in vitro analysis of sperm phagocytosis by macrophages has relied upon a semi-quantitative method of sperm counting that is of limited accuracy and reproducibility . We have developed an assay using murine sperm labeled with 111indium oxine, and results indicate the labeling to be rapid and efficient . Incorporation of 111indium into sperm increased the dose and sperm concentration and reached 90% maximal uptake after 15 min incubation, with maximal uptake occurring at 30 min . No decrease in sperm motility was noted with levels of oxine in excess of those required for significant labeling . Maximal labeling efficiency occurred in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) + 10% adult bovine serum (ABS) producing significantly less uptake . Label dissociation was detectable in PBS at room temperature, but at 37 degrees C in DMEM + 10% ABS, loss of label occurred at a rate of 23.5%/h . Addition of labeled sperm to murine macrophage monolayers under optimal conditions resulted in uptake of 111indium by macrophages, while free label was unincorporated . Results indicated assay specificity for macrophage-limited uptake, with insignificant label uptake by nonphagocytic murine fibroblasts and better sensitivity than sperm counting . Macrophages from Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-infected mice resulted in a decrease in sperm uptake . Female macrophages showed greater capacity for sperm uptake than those of the male mouse . These initial studies demonstrated the utility of this model system in enhancing the understanding of sperm-macrophage interaction in the female reproductive tract. J Environ Sci Health B, 1987 Dec, 22(6), 691 - 720 Influence of surfactants and polymeric adjuvants on physicochemical properties, droplet size spectra and deposition of fenitrothion and Bacillus thuringiensis formulations under laboratory conditions; Sundaram A et al.; The effect of two surfactants and two polymeric adjuvants on droplet size spectra and deposition patterns of nine spray formulations was investigated following atomization in a laboratory chamber using a spinning disc atomizer that can produce a narrow droplet size spectrum . Spray droplets were sampled using Kromekote cards and deposit recoveries were examined on glass plates . Physicochemical properties studied were: viscosity-shear rate relationship, surface tension, volatility, pH, conductance, electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential . Formulations containing low surfactant concentrations provided Newtonian liquids with low viscosities . These liquids atomized into small droplets and provided low recoveries of spray deposits on sampling units . However, formulations containing polymeric adjuvants, and a high concentration of a non-ionic surfactant provided pseudoplastic liquids with high viscosities . These formulations resulted in large droplets with high recoveries of spray deposits on sampling units . Among the physicochemical properties studied, viscosity, surface tension, volatility and electrophoretic mobility, played important roles on liquid atomization and droplet deposition. J Biol Response Mod, 1987 Dec, 6(6), 610 - 24 Active specific immunotherapy of renal cell carcinoma patients: a prospective randomized study of hormono-immuno-versus hormonotherapy . Preliminary report of immunological and clinical aspects; Adler A et al.; Early results of a prospective, randomized trial of active, specific immunotherapy adjunctive to nephrectomy in all stages of RCC are presented . Forty-three patients with median followup of 30 m, who were randomly allocated to either immuno-hormonotherapy arm (IMT), or hormonotherapy alone (HT), are evaluated in terms of progression-free interval (PFI) and overall survival by life table method . Immunotherapy consisted of autologous irradiated tumor cells (AITC), admixed with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (Glaxo) administered by the intradermal and endolymphatic route . Clinical results of this study show only a trend for advantage of the experimental (IMT) arm over the control (HT) arm, this trend did not reach statistical significance level: prolongation of disease free period in stages I-III with localized disease (p less than 0.1) and prolongation of survival in patients with metastatic disease (p less than 0.07) . A correlation was established between induction of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) to AITC and prolonged PFI and survival: patients with positive DTH had a significantly better course of disease than those who could not be converted to positivity after repeated immunizations . Positive in vitro leukocyte migration inhibition against autologous tumor preparations correlates well with positive in vivo cutaneous DTH . Some immunological aspects of active immunization with autologous tumor cells are discussed. Aust N Z J Med, 1987 Dec, 17(6), 568 - 73 The serological response to the phenolic glycolipid of Mycobacterium leprae in Australian and Nepali leprosy patients; Britton WJ et al.; Antibodies to the species-specific phenolic glycolipid (PGL-1) of Mycobacterium leprae and a crude M . leprae sonicate were measured by ELISA in sera from newly diagnosed and treated leprosy patients from Sydney and Nepal . IgM anti-PGL-1 antibodies were present in 88-90% of untreated patients at the lepromatous pole of the clinical spectrum and 35-55% of those at the tuberculoid pole . In treated patients with either form of the disease, IgM anti-PGL-1 antibodies were within the normal range or minimally elevated . In contrast, high levels of IgG anti-PGL-1 antibodies were detected in both treated and untreated patients . Neither IgM nor IgG anti-PGL-1 antibodies were elevated in sera from Mantoux negative controls and only one out of 15 sera from patients with untreated tuberculosis contained significant amounts of antibody . Comparison of the data from the anti-PGL-1 assay with the antibody response to a crude M . leprae sonicate revealed that the latter assay yielded more variable results and discriminated less well between lepromatous and tuberculoid subjects and between untreated patients and those on therapy . Thus the IgM anti-PGL-1 response signifies the presence of active disease, particularly in multi-bacillary cases, and has the potential to be used not only to monitor the response of these patients to therapy, but also to detect subclinical leprosy in high-risk groups such as the relatives of patients with lepromatous disease. Urology, 1987 Dec, 30(6), 520 - 8 Superficial bladder cancer treated by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin or adriamycin: multicenter study interim report; Khanna OP et al.; One hundred sixteen patients with superficial bladder cancers (Stages Ta, T1, and TIS) were evaluated and treated with either intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin {Tice strain} (BCG) or doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin {ADR}), in a multicenter study . One hundred nine of these patients currently have follow-up . Of these, 54 were completely resected and 55 incompletely resected . For complete resections, based on recurrence rates per 100 patient months, both BCG (0.22) and ADR (0.91) worked well, although BCG had a slightly lower recurrence rate . However, for incomplete resections, BCG (0.20) had a markedly lower recurrence rate than ADR (2.52) . Eighteen patients failed initial treatment, with either BCG or ADR . All have been placed on long-term therapy schedules . Of the 12 failures who currently have follow-up, 11 (92%) have either partially or completely responded with additional intravesical therapy . No patients in this study have yet required cystectomies. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1987 Dec, 259(2), 466 - 72 Phosphorylase-mediated mobilization of the amino group of adenine in Bacillus cereus; Mura U et al.; Mobilization of the ribose moiety of purine nucleosides as well as of the amino group of adenine may be realized in Bacillus cereus by the concerted action of three enzymes: adenosine phosphorylase, adenosine deaminase, and purine nucleoside phosphorylase . In this pathway, ribose-1-phosphate and inorganic phosphate act catalytically, being continuously regenerated by purine nucleoside phosphorylase and adenosine phosphorylase, respectively . As a result of such a metabolic pathway, adenine is quantitatively converted into hypoxanthine, thus overcoming the lack of adenase in B . cereus. Scand J Immunol, 1987 Dec, 26(6), 683 - 90 In vivo activated lymphoid cells (IVALC) affect the cloning efficiency of human T lymphocytes reactive to a soluble antigen, purified protein derivative; Sia DY et al.; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of normal individuals were found to contain a proportion (4-9%) of in vivo activated lymphoid cells (IVALC) . These IVALC were characterized by their expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptors, and by the ability to proliferate in the presence of exogenous IL-2 . There was a good correlation between the proportion of IVALC in different cell populations and the level of cell proliferation to IL-2 . It was found that IVALC isolated from autologous PBMC of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-immunized individuals contained no significant proportion of purified protein derivative (PPD)-reactive lymphocytes . The addition of IVALC markedly enhanced proliferative responses of the autologous T4+T8-IL-2 receptor-negative cell cultures to antigen stimulation . An increased proportion of activated (IL-2 receptor-positive) lymphocytes was generated in PBMC as compared to autologous T4+T8-IL-2 receptor negative cell cultures after stimulation with PPD . Limiting dilution analysis showed that IL-2 responsive IVALC through expansion markedly affected the cloning efficiency of antigen-proliferating T cells of autologous PPD-stimulated PBMC cultures . Only 1 out of every 11-25 blast cells generated in the PBMC cultures could establish itself as a growing colony based on determinations in six BCG-positive individuals . By using a T4+T8- population depleted of IVALC to generate PPD-reactive lymphocytes, a three- to four-fold increase in the cloning efficiency of antigen-specific cells was obtained. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1987 Dec, (12), 16 - 20 {Isolation and characteristics of a plasmid from the thermotolerant strain of Bacillus licheniformis}; Gaidenko TA et al.; A 8.3 kb cryptic plasmid was isolated from the thermotolerant strain of Bacillus licheniformis 28KA and designated pLT83 . The replicative (rep) region was localized on the plasmid map . The pLT83 plasmid labelled in vitro with an antibiotic resistance determinant is able to replicate in B . subtilis cells . The pLT83 plasmid replicates stably in B . licheniformis strain at higher temperatures (37-60 degrees C) than in B . subtilis cells (37-50 degrees C) . The plasmid and its derivatives may be used as vectors for gene cloning in B . subtilis and B . licheniformis cells. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 53(12), 2808 - 14 Use of oligonucleotide probes to study the relatedness of delta-endotoxin genes among Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies and strains; Prefontaine G et al.; Fifteen Bacillus thuringiensis strains representing 13 serotypes were screened with five oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes specific for certain regions of two published sequences and one unpublished sequence of B . thuringiensis delta-endotoxin genes . Of the 15 cultures, 14 hybridized with at least one probe; the B . thuringiensis subsp . thompsoni strain alone did not hybridize . Two B . thuringiensis subsp . kurstaki strains of commercial interest, HD-1 and NRD-12, were found to be so closely related as to be indistinguishable with this technique; the same situation was found with strains from B . thuringiensis subspp . dendrolimus and sotto . Five strains were identified as probably containing only one endotoxin gene . A probe specific for the gene from the B . thuringiensis subsp . kurstaki HD-73 strain hybridized to only 3 of the 15 cultures tested . The hybridization data suggest that the DNA sequences coding for the C-terminal region of the endotoxin protein are as well conserved as those coding for the N-terminal toxic portion. Am J Pathol, 1987 Dec, 129(3), 567 - 77 Acquisition of peroxidase activity by rat alveolar macrophages during pulmonary inflammation; Shellito J et al.; The authors investigated the ability of rat alveolar macrophages to acquire peroxidase activity in the course of pulmonary inflammation . Granulomatous pulmonary inflammation was induced in bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-immunized rats by intravenous injection of BCG in mineral oil . In contrast to normal alveolar macrophages, which are peroxidase-negative, alveolar macrophages lavaged from the BCG-treated rats showed significant peroxidase activity in large cytoplasmic inclusions compatible with internalized exogenous material . Alveolar macrophage uptake of intact peroxidase-positive neutrophils was also observed . Maximal numbers of peroxidase-positive alveolar macrophages were observed after the initial influx of neutrophils into the lungs, and peroxidase activity could be demonstrated in cell-free lavage fluid during the acute phase of lung injury . Normal alveolar macrophages acquired peroxidase activity after incubation with peritoneal exudate neutrophils, with purified soluble human myeloperoxidase, and with opsonized erythrocytes . It is concluded that alveolar macrophages acquire peroxidase activity from multiple sources during pulmonary inflammation . Internalization of peroxidase by the alveolar macrophage may serve to clear a potentially toxic enzyme(s) from the alveolar space and contribute to the resolution of pulmonary inflammation. J Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 169(12), 5761 - 5 Bioenergetic properties of alkalophilic Bacillus sp . strain C-59 on an alkaline medium containing K2CO3; Kitada M et al.; Alkalophilic Bacillus sp . strain C-59 could grow well on an alkaline medium containing K2CO3, as well as Na2CO3, but did not grow on K+-depleted medium . Right-side-out membrane vesicles, energized in the absence of Na+, however, could not take up {14C}methylamine actively, while vesicles equilibrated with 10 mM NaCl actively took up {14C}methylamine . The uptake of {14C}serine was also stimulated by the addition of Na+, and the imposition of a sodium gradient caused transient uptake . These results indicated that an Na+/H+ antiporter was involved in pH homeostasis and generation of an electrochemical sodium gradient in strain C-59 even though a growth requirement for Na+ was not evident . The efflux of 22Na+ from 22Na+-loaded vesicles was more rapid at pH 9.5 than at pH 7 in the presence of an ele