Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 1991 Mar, 7(1), 133 - 42 Nutritional and dietary interrelationships with diseases of feedlot cattle; Johnson B; Feedlot economics dictate that highly fermentable rations be fed, leaving the ruminant constantly on the edge of lactic acidosis . Consequently, a number of subtle changes in feed, environment, or management can tip the balance, causing ruminal acidosis . Even though the animal may not die from the immediate effects of a metabolic acidosis, there are sequelae such as mycotic rumenitis, hepatic abscesses, cauda vena cava thrombosis, and pulmonary arterial thromboemolism that may cause subsequent losses . Another condition, typically referred to as atypical interstitial pneumonia/acute bovine pulmonary emphysema is a sporadic cause of death in feedlot animals . This condition is sometimes linked to the feed or hypersensitivities such as dust . At present, it seems the condition is not linked with the above and part of the problem may be undiagnosed bovine respiratory syncytial virus BRSV infection. J Comp Psychol, 1991 Mar, 105(1), 95 - 102 Lactose ingestion in the adult golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus); DiBattista D; Adult mammals generally demonstrate a lower preference for the disaccharide sugar lactose than for any other common sugar, and because adults typically have low levels of the intestinal enzyme lactase, lactose ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress . The lactose intake of adult golden hamsters was examined in three experiments; the main findings were: (a) hamsters allowed to choose between tap water and lactose solutions (maximum concentration = 32% weight/volume) over a 20-day period showed a clear preference for lactose solutions and ingested substantial quantities of lactose (up to 3 g/100 g body weight/day) without noticeable adverse effects; (b) hamsters consuming a single diet with lactose added (maximum concentration = 50%) over a period of days ingested up to 3.42 g/100 g body weight/day of lactose without noticeable adverse effects; (c) both hamsters with prior exposure to lactose solutions and those without such exposure consumed similar amounts of 32% lactose solution over an 8-day period, suggesting that hamsters' lactose intake does not depend on the occurrence of adaptation . It is suggested that the fermentative capacity of the hamster's pregastric pouch may underlie this animal's unusual tolerance for lactose. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Mar, 44(3), 282 - 7 Lydicamycin, a new antibiotic of a novel skeletal type . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activity; Hayakawa Y et al.; A novel antibiotic, designated lydicamycin, was isolated from the fermentation broth of an actinomycete strain identified as Streptomyces lydicus . Lydicamycin was active against Gram-positive bacteria and a certain yeast, but inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Mar, 44(3), 263 - 70 Helvecardins A and B, novel glycopeptide antibiotics . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and physico-chemical properties; Takeuchi M et al.; A strain of actinomycetes identified as Pseudonocardia compacta subsp . helvetica produced new glycopeptide antibiotics, helvecardins A and B . They were isolated from culture broth mainly by affinity chromatography of D-alanyl-D-alanine and preparative HPLC . The physico-chemical properties of helvecardins A and B showed that they resemble each other . Though helvecardin A was structurally related to beta-avoparcin, it clearly differed in the presence of an O-methyl moiety in its NMR spectrum. Mutat Res, 1991 Mar-Apr, 259(3-4), 325 - 50 Ethyl carbamate: analytical methodology, occurrence, formation, biological activity and risk assessment; Zimmerli B et al.; Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a genotoxic compound in vitro and in vivo, it binds covalently to DNA and is an animal carcinogen . Today, EC is mainly found as a natural trace constituent in different alcoholic beverages and in fermented food items . Data on analytical methodology and the levels of EC in different food items are summarized and the daily burden of humans is estimated . Under normal dietary habits excluding alcoholic beverages, the unavoidable daily intake is 10-20 ng/kg b.w . On the basis of the evaluation of all toxicity data and its mode of action a conventional risk assessment of EC indicates that this level represents a negligible lifetime cancer risk (less than 0.0001%) . Individual habits may greatly enhance the risk . Regular drinking of table wine (500 ml/day) would increase the risk up to 5 times, regular drinking of stone-fruit distillates (20-40 ml/day) would raise the calculated hypothetical tumor risk to near 0.01% . Human exposure to carcinogenic compounds should be as low as reasonably achievable . In order to take reliable measures to reduce EC levels in beverages and foods, it is crucial to know the mode of its formation . For its natural formation the presence of ethanol is absolutely required . In stone-fruit distillates hydrogen cyanide together with photochemically active substances are crucial to form EC . The main part of EC is formed after the distillation involving photochemical reactions . In wine (and probably bread) significant EC formation seems to depend on heat treatment . While in distillates hydrogen cyanide is the most important single precursor, in wine different carbamyl compounds, mainly urea, seem to be involved in EC formation . Despite this apparent difference a common EC formation pathway is discussed for all alcoholic beverages by assuming cyanic-/isocyanic acid as an important ultimate reactant with ethanol . Some ideas are presented as to the possible course of future work. Biochem J, 1991 Mar 1, 274 ( Pt 2), 595 - 9 Glucose metabolic pathways in the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188; O'Fallon JV et al.; Primary pathways for glucose metabolism were established in the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188 . This highly capable cellulolytic organism demonstrated a strict anaerobic integration of metabolic pathways . Glycolysis in N . frontalis EB188 was coupled to malate dehydrogenase, 'malic' enzyme and specified hydrogenosome reactions . Pyruvate, as in most life forms, was a pivotal compound . The major fermentation products of N . frontalis EB188 were acetate, ethanol and lactate, with the concomitant generation of H2 . On the basis of its unique characteristics and streamlined fermentation pathways, it was concluded that N . frontalis EB188 should be an important contributor to programs generating energy and selected chemicals from currently intractable biomass. J Nutr, 1991 Mar, 121(3), 311 - 7 Fermentable carbohydrate reaching the colon after ingestion of oats in humans; Lund EK et al.; A simulated digestion technique was used to investigate the characteristics of starch hydrolysis in uncooked, cooked and extrusion-cooked oat products in vitro . The rate and extent of starch hydrolysis were both significantly lower in uncooked rolled oats than in the same material after brief boiling or extrusion cooking . A similar degree of maldigestion in vivo would lead to as much as an estimated 68% of oat starch entering the colon . Breath-hydrogen measurements were used to compare the fermentable carbohydrate content of uncooked and briefly boiled rolled oats in human volunteers and to estimate the relative contributions of soluble dietary fiber and undigested starch to the fermented component . Isolated oat gum (beta-glucan) was readily fermented in vivo and was apparently the main fermentable component of cooked rolled oats . Uncooked rolled oats gave a higher excess hydrogen production than cooked oats, but the results were variable and the differences not statistically significant . In an additional experiment, lactulose was used as a fermentable reference material to calculate the apparent fermentable carbohydrate content of rolled oats and oat gum . Uncooked rolled oats were estimated to contain a statistically significant quantity of undigested starch, amounting at most to 1.01 +/- 0.40 g (mean +/- SEM) of undigested starch per 50 g of fresh weight . We concluded that starch hydrolysis in oats is limited to some extent by the physical state of the food matrix, but this effect may be greatly overestimated by simulated digestion procedures in vitro. Am J Clin Nutr, 1991 Mar, 53(3), 695 - 7 Vitamin B-12 from algae appears not to be bioavailable; Dagnelie PC et al.; The effect of algae (nori and spirulina) and fermented plant foods on the hematological status of vitamin B-12-deficient children was evaluated . Although rising plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations in children consuming only plant foods (0.1-2.7 micrograms vitamin B-12/d) indicated that the vitamin B-12 was absorbed, elevated baseline values of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) further deteriorated . In contrast, MCV improved in children receiving fish containing 0.15-0.5 microgram vitamin B-12/d or a vitamin B-12 supplement . Further studies on the specificity of current vitamin B-12 assays are warranted . It seems unjustified to advocate algae and other plant foods as a safe source of vitamin B-12 because its bioavailability is questionable. Am J Clin Nutr, 1991 Mar, 53(3), 681 - 7 Interaction between colonic acetate and propionate in humans; Wolever TM et al.; Animal studies suggest that propionate, derived from colonic carbohydrate fermentation, may be gluconeogenic and inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver . We therefore studied, in six healthy subjects, the effect of rectally infused solutions containing acetate alone (180 mmol), propionate alone (180 mmol), or a mixture of acetate (180 mmol) and propionate (60 mmol) . Relative to the control infusion of normal saline, acetate increased serum cholesterol, glucagon, and acetate concentrations and reduced free fatty acids (FFAs) within 30 min . Propionate alone increased serum propionate, glucose, and glucagon with no effects on cholesterol and a delayed fall in FFAs . The addition of propionate to acetate resulted in no significant rise in serum cholesterol . These results are consistent with the hypothesis that colonic propionate is a gluconeogenic substrate in humans and inhibits the utilization of acetate for cholesterol synthesis. J Bacteriol, 1991 Mar, 173(5), 1817 - 20 MAL11 and MAL61 encode the inducible high-affinity maltose transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Cheng Q et al.; We have investigated the transport of maltose in a genetically defined maltose-fermenting strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae carrying the MAL1 locus . Two kinetically different systems were identified: a high-affinity transporter with a Km of 4 mM and a low-affinity transporter with a Km of 70 to 80 mM . The high-affinity maltose transporter is maltose inducible and is encoded by the MAL11 (and/or MAL61) gene of the MAL1 (and/or MAL6) locus . The low-affinity maltose transporter is expressed constitutively and is not related to MAL11 and/or MAL61 . Both maltose transporters are subject to glucose-induced inactivation. J Nat Prod, 1991 Mar-Apr, 54(2), 483 - 90 Microbial models of mammalian metabolism: fungal metabolism of the diterpene sclareol by Cunninghamella species; Kouzi SA et al.; Microbial metabolism of the diterpene sclareol was studied . Screening studies have shown a number of microorganisms capable of metabolizing sclareol . Preparative scale fermentation with Cunninghamella species NRRL 5695 has resulted in the production of two fungal metabolites that have been characterized as 3 beta-hydroxysclareol and 18-hydroxy-sclareol with the use of 2D nmr techniques . The yield of the two metabolites was improved by utilizing resting-cell suspensions of Cunninghamella species NRRL 5695. Mol Biochem Parasitol, 1991 Mar, 45(1), 19 - 27 Alterations in Krebs cycle enzyme activities and carbohydrate catabolism in two strains of Trypanosoma brucei during in vitro differentiation of their bloodstream to procyclic stages; Durieux PO et al.; A rapid switch from a fermentative to a primarily oxidative type of glucose utilization was observed during in vitro differentiation of Trypanosoma brucei STIB348 and EATRO1244 bloodstream to procyclic trypomastigotes . In accordance with previously published reports bloodstream populations produced pyruvate as the major end product of glucose catabolism, together with very small amounts of CO2, succinate and glycerol . During differentiation pyruvate excretion decreased within 48 h to the low levels produced by 28-day procyclic stages . Concomitant with the decline in pyruvate formation, acetate appeared as a new product and the rates of respiratory CO2 increased considerably . The amount of carbon released with these compounds could account for nearly all of the glucose carbon consumed . Rates of glucose utilization and formation of acetate and CO2 in cells differentiated for 48 h were essentially the same as those found in 28-day procyclics . Succinate and glycerol excretion remained low during the entire transformation process, and no significant difference in the pattern and quantities of end products were found between the two trypanosome strains . During trypanosome differentiation the changes in metabolism were associated with marked alterations in enzyme activity levels . Activities of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+), succinate dehydrogenase and fumarase were not detectable in bloodstream trypomastigotes but appeared upon differentiation for 24 h . An exception was citrate synthase whose activity was not demonstrable until 48 h postinoculation into culture . After 48 h the majority of the TCA cycle enzyme activities continued to increase steadily until day 28 . Pyruvate kinase activity decreased in differentiating cells after 48 h to about 25% of the level found in bloodstream trypomastigotes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Sci China B, 1991 Mar, 34(3), 274 - 80 B subunit of cholera toxin produced in Escherichia coli; Ma QJ et al.; An engineered E . coli strain containing high expression level of CT-B subunits has been obtained by the application of recombinant DNA techniques . The B subunit can be secreted into the medium and reaches 20-40 micrograms/ml when this strain is incubated in a 50 l fermentation tank . The CT-B subunit purified with affinity chromatography in E . coli has the same characters as the natural CT-B subunit in molecular weight, N terminal amino acid analysis and antigenicity . The CT-B subunit has good immunogenicity and can be used as a preparation for protecting against diarrhea caused by V . cholera and enterotoxigenic E . coli . It can also be used as a vector for hepatins. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1991 Mar 1, 116(5), 232 - 9 {Gastrointestinal flora and health in man and animal}; Huis in 't Veld JH; A balanced and stable gastro-intestinal microflora is of vital importance for the optimum function of the gastro-intestinal tract and consequently for the health of man and animals . The gastro-intestinal microflora is a very complex ecosystem, the current knowledge of which is still very limited . It is obvious that the intestinal flora has a protective function (prevention of infection) . In addition it has a positive effect on nutrition (digestion, effects on physiology, production of vitamins) . Changes in diet, stress, the use of antibiotics and excessive hygiene all bring about changes in the micro-biological ecosystem and consequently changes in health conditions . Knowledge about the microbial ecology of the intestine is also of importance in the prevention of zoonoses . Recently, increasing attention is being paid to the development of methods to influence the composition of the gastro-intestinal microflora in man and animals by probiotics (dried cells or fermented food) . These concepts will be dealt with in the present paper and, in addition some of the possible uses will be discussed. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Mar, 44(3), 344 - 8 Inhibition of pinocytosis by hygrolidin family antibiotics: possible correlation with their selective effects on oncogene-expressed cells; Suzukake-Tsuchiya K et al.; A fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp . SIPI-A4-0044 inhibited in vitro growth of src or ras oncogene-expressed (onc+) cells more strongly than that of oncogene-unexpressed (onc-) counterparts . The active components were isolated and identified as hygrolidin family antibiotics (HGL) . In mixed cultures consisting of onc+ and onc- cells, at an appropriate ratio, HGL showed selective toxicity to focus like structures of onc+ cells, leaving monolayer areas of onc- cells little damaged . HGL rapidly inhibited pinocytosis, or the influx of neutral red into the cells, at concentrations partially inhibitory to the cell growth . In contrast, HGL only slightly inhibited the influx of 2-deoxyglucose, nucleosides and leucine and the syntheses of DNA, RNA and protein even at high concentrations . Upon prolonged exposure to sublethal concentrations of HGL, onc- cells but not onc+ cells recovered pinocytotic activity and resumed growth. Vopr Pitan, 1991 Mar-Apr, (2), 36 - 40 {Characteristics of actual nutrition of the long-lived population of Azerbaijan}; Grigorov IuG et al.; The assay of the actual nutrition of old people living in Azerbaijan has evidenced that it corresponds to the climatic and geographical features of the region and has a direct relation to the long-living . The actual nutrition of old subjects in the Azerbaijan SSR is characterized by low fat consumption (vegetable oils among them), by low value of the ratio between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids, by high consumption of fruit and vegetables as well as fermented milk products, by an optimal water-salt regimen, high content of vitamins and antioxidants, geroprotectors and a comparatively low energy value of the food rations. J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Mar, 137 ( Pt 3), 587 - 92 Factors affecting the normal and branched-chain acyl moieties of teicoplanin components produced by Actinoplanes teichomyceticus; Borghi A et al.; Teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic produced by Actinoplanes teichomyceticus, comprises five main components, denoted T-A2-1 to T-A2-5, differing in the structure of their acyl side chain, which is linear in T-A2-1 and T-A2-3 and branched in the other components . Production of T-A2-1, characterized by a linear C10:1 acyl moiety, is entirely dependent on the presence of linoleate in the fermentation medium . Addition to the medium of oleic acid esters at 2 g l-1 increases the yields of T-A2-3, characterized by a linear C10:0 acyl chain, about threefold . The antibiotic linear side chains thus appear to originate from C18 unsaturated acid by beta-oxidation degradation . The percentage of T-A2-2, T-A2-4 and T-A2-5, bearing the iso-C10:0, anteiso-C11:0 and iso-C11:0 acyl moieties, respectively, is strongly influenced by the presence in the medium of the amino acids known to be precursors of branched-chain fatty acids . Thus, valine increases the production of T-A2-2 whereas isoleucine or leucine increase the relative yields of T-A2-4 or T-A2-5, respectively . Analysis of the total cell lipids upon addition of the same amino acid shows corresponding increases in the proportion of the iso-C16:0, iso-C15:0 or anteiso-C17:0 . A mutant A . teichomyceticus strain, which produces a novel teicoplanin with a linear C9:0 chain, differs from the wild strain in the presence of the linear C17:1 acid in its lipids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Science, 1991 Mar 1, 251(4997), 1074 - 6 Enhancement of HIV-1 cytocidal effects in CD4+ lymphocytes by the AIDS-associated mycoplasma; Lo SC et al.; Coinfection with Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus strain) enhances the ability of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) to induce cytopathic effects on human T lymphocytes in vitro . Syncytium formation of HIV-infected T cells was essentially eliminated in the presence of M . fermentans (incognitus strain), despite prominent cell death . However, replication and production of HIV-1 particles continued during the coinfection . Furthermore, the supernatant from cultures coinfected with HIV-1 and the mycoplasma contained a factor that inhibited the standard reverse transcriptase enzyme assay . The modification of the biological properties of HIV-1 by coinfection with mycoplasma may be involved in the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). J Dairy Sci, 1991 Mar, 74(3), 860 - 70 Impact of carbohydrate and protein levels on bacterial metabolism in continuous culture; Stokes SR et al.; Diets formulated with three levels of nonstructural carbohydrate (54, 37, and 25% of DM), with various concentrations of degradable intake protein ranging from 19 to 4% of DM, were fermented in continuous cultures to ascertain the effects of ratio of nonstructural carbohydrate to degradable intake protein on bacterial metabolism . Fermenters were maintained at a dilution rate of 12%/h with a solids retention time of 24 h . Regardless of degradable intake protein level, bacterial efficiency (g of bacterial N/kg of DM digested) and VFA production (mM/d) were lower for diets with 25% nonstructural carbohydrate compared with the 37 and 54% nonstructural carbohydrate diets . In response to widening nonstructural carbohydrate:degradable intake protein ratios, bacterial efficiencies at all nonstructural carbohydrate levels declined quadratically from 34.2 to 10.3 with the lowest efficiencies on the 25% nonstructural carbohydrate diets . Bacterial protein production, DM digestion, NDF digestion, and VFA production (mM/d) increased linearly in response to dietary protein . The enhanced NDF and DM digestion, VFA production, and bacterial efficiencies observed with the narrower ratios of nonstructural carbohydrate:degradable intake protein support the theory that level of both degradable intake protein and nonstructural carbohydrate should be considered in order to enhance ruminal digestion and bacterial N production. J Anim Sci, 1991 Mar, 69(3), 1312 - 21 Effects of dietary fiber and feeding frequency on ruminal fermentation, digesta water-holding capacity, and fractional turnover of contents; Froetschel MA et al.; To determine the effects of different sources of fiber and feeding frequency on digesta water-holding capacity (WHC; g H2O/g DM) and ruminal liquid contents, four ruminally fistulated Jersey steers were fed a 60:40 roughage-concentrate diet at 1.5 times NEm . Diets contained either sorghum silage (SS) or a 67:33 mixture of SS and soyhulls (SH) as roughage and were fed either once or 12 times daily, in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment with 15-d periods . Ruminal fluid was sampled at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h after a dose of Co-EDTA on d 10 and analyzed for Co, VFA, ammonia, buffering capacity, and osmolality . Ruminal WHC, NDF, ADF, lignin, and starch were measured in samples obtained by ruminal evacuation at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after feeding on d 11, 12, 14, and 15, respectively . Substitution of SH for SS decreased ruminal pH .32 units and dilution rate by 26.8% but increased total VFA by 10.9%, osmolality by 13.6%, and the fractional turnover rate (FTR) of ADF by 22.5% (P less than .05) . Frequent feeding resulted in 4.7, 21.9, and 74.4% increases in total VFA and FTR of ruminal DM and starch (P less than .05), respectively . Interactions (P less than .05) were observed between dietary fiber source and feeding frequency for ruminal fluid molar percentage acetate to propionate ratio (A/P), liquid volume (evacuated), and WHC (kilograms) . Substituting SH for SS decreased ruminal WHC (kilograms), liquid volume, and A/P only in steers fed once daily . Ruminal WHC (kilograms) was correlated positively with ruminal liquid volume but negatively with DM FTR . The dynamics of digesta WHC (kilograms) associated with dietary fiber source and feeding frequency suggest that it may influence the contribution of water and salivary secretions to ruminal liquid contents. J Anim Sci, 1991 Mar, 69(3), 1167 - 77 Condensed tannins and nutrient utilization by lambs and goats fed low-quality diets; Nunez-Hernandez G et al.; In the first of two experiments, four wether lambs (BW = 26.8 kg) and four wether Angora goats (BW = 31.7 kg) were used in two simultaneous 4 x 4 Latin squares to study the influence of condensed tannins (CT) on nutrient usage and concentrations of serum urea N, somatotropin (GH), and insulin (INS) when the animals were fed low-quality diets containing mountain mahogany (MM; Cercocarpus montanus) leaves . Diets were 8% CP and contained 25% or 50% MM (with hay or straw, respectively), either untreated or treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG; molecular weight 3,350) to reduce total reactive CT . Diets treated with PEG and 25% MM diets had less (P less than .05) CT than diets without PEG or those with 50% MM . Diets containing 50% MM resulted in greater N balance and lower serum urea N (P less than .01) than 25% MM diets . Concentrations of GH and INS were similar in animals fed the 25% and 50% MM diets . Reducing CT by adding PEG did not affect N balance or improve nutrient digestion by lambs or goats fed low-quality diets . In Exp . 2, four wether lambs (BW = 28.4 kg) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square and fed the same diets as animals in Exp . 1 to study the influence of CT on ruminal fermentation and digesta kinetics . Dietary PEG treatment did not affect digesta kinetics except for a 30% increase in ruminal volume; 50% MM diets had faster particulate passage rates (P less than .05) than 25% MM diets . Ruminal ammonia N was greater (P less than .01) in lambs fed PEG-containing or 25% MM diets; however, rate of in situ NDF disappearance was not reduced by the lower ammonia N in the latter diets. Br J Nutr, 1991 Mar, 65(2), 233 - 48 Gastrointestinal implications in pigs of wheat and oat fractions . 2 . Microbial activity in the gastrointestinal tract; Bach Knudsen KE et al.; The present work was undertaken to study the microbial activity in various segments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of pigs as influenced by the source and level of wheat and oat dietary fibre (DF) . Eight experimental diets were prepared from wheat and oat fractions and studied in a series of two experiments using wheat flour as the DF-depleted control . The diets in Expt 1 were based on wheat flour and three iso-DF enriched diets comprising fractions rich in wheat aleurone, pericarp/testa or bran . In Expt 2, oat bran was added to wheat flour to achieve the same DF intake level as in Expt 1 . This series included further diets based on rolled oats and rolled oats plus oat bran . The eight diets were given to thirty-two ileal-cannulated pigs, with sixteen pigs in each experiment . After a total period of 34 d (Expt 1) and 42 d (Expt 2), the pigs were slaughtered 4 h post-feeding and samples taken for adenine nucleotides (adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP); adenylate energy charge (AEC)), organic acids (lactic acid (LA); short chain fatty acids (SCFA)) and pH at twelve sites of the GI tract . The microbial activity as measured by the ATP concentration was low in the stomach and the cranial two-thirds of the small intestine, but tended to increase in the distal third . In the caecum a sharp rise in microbial activity was observed; the highest level was found for the diet providing most fermentable substrates . In all the diets but the rolled oats + oat bran diets, microbial activity showed a descending pattern as the digesta moved through the colon . In the large intestine source and level of residues had a marked influence on microbial activity . LA was the chief organic acid in the stomach and small intestine (10-40 mmol/l) while LA relative to SCFA was a minor component in the caecum and colon (10-20 mmol/l) . The contribution of SCFA to total organic acids was reciprocal to LA, i.e . low in the stomach and small intestine (less than 20 mmol/l) and high in the caecum and colon . In the large intestine the concentration of SCFA decreased from 100-140 mmol/l in the caecum and proximal colon to 40-80 mmol/l in the distal colon . The acetic: propionic acid ratio increased from the caecum to the distal colon . With the diets based on oat alone (rolled oats; rolled oats + oat bran) the increase was less significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1991 Mar, 34(6), 730 - 4 Long-term cultivation of anchorage-independent animal cells immobilized within reticulated biomass support particles in a circulating bed fermentor; Yamaji H et al.; Long-term cultivation of anchorage-independent animal cells immobilized within porous biomass support particles (BSPs) using a gas-stirred circulating bed fermentor (CBF) was investigated . Inoculation of mouse myeloma MPC-11 (ATCC CCL 167) cells into reticulated polyvinyl formal resin BSPs (3 x 3 x 3 mm; mean pore diameter, 60 microns; porosity, 0.88) and the repeated batch culture of inoculated cells were performed under gentle circulation of BSPs, induced by sparging air from the base of the fermentor . The glucose uptake rate of cells decreased in the initial period just after the start of circulation, since a relatively large number of cells leaked from the BSPs . After that period, the uptake rate gradually increased and the leakage of cells diminished . In the meantime, when inoculated cells were incubated statically by introducing air into days before circulating the BSPs, glucose consumption became very rapid and cell density in the BSPs reached at least 10(7) cells/cm3 BSP . Thus, a long-term cultivation without significant leakage of cells and with high cell density in BSPs was successfully achieved in the CBF-BSP system. Biotechnol Prog, 1991 Mar-Apr, 7(2), 77 - 84 Theoretical analysis of the effect of cell recycling on recombinant cell fermentation processes; Park TH et al.; A cell recycle system is studied for two-stage continuous fermentation . Cell recycle around the second stage provides higher cell concentrations than processes without recycle and a longer residence time of the cell, which is necessary for inducible products, especially in recombinant cell fermentation . Residence time distribution of the cell in the fermentor is important for the optimization of inducible products . The residence time distributions are studied for the cases with and without significant cell growth in the second stage . With cell growth in the second stage, three cases are considered . These are the cases of (1) zero residence time for two daughter cells after the cell division, (2) zero residence time of one daughter cell after the cell division and inherited residence time for the other daughter cell from the mother cell after the cell division, and (3) two daughter cells having the residence time of the mother cell after the cell division. Enzyme Microb Technol, 1991 Mar, 13(3), 240 - 4 Immobilization of invertase by encapsulation in polyelectrolyte complexes; Mansfeld J et al.; Free and polystyrene-bound invertase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were encapsulated within symplex membranes which were composed of cellulose sulfate as the polymeric anion and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) as the polymeric cation . The kinetics and the performance of the encapsulated enzyme preparations have been compared to the free enzyme employing the hydrolysis of sucrose . The pH and temperature optima were only slightly affected by the encapsulation . The kinetic constants, however, were changed by the encapsulation as a result of diffusional limitation . Encapsulated invertase showed a high storage stability and a high operational stability if low substrate concentrations were applied . The coimmobilization of invertase with living cells, which are not capable of utilizing sucrose, in the described capsules, opens many possibilities in fermentation technology. FEBS Lett, 1991 Feb 25, 279(2), 265 - 9 A high throughput assay for inhibitors of HIV-1 protease . Screening of microbial metabolites; Sarubbi E et al.; A novel method for discovery of HIV-1 protease inhibitors in complex biological samples has been developed . The assay is based on two specific reagents: a recombinant protein constituted by a portion of the HIV-1 Gag polyprotein comprising the p17-p24 cleavage site, fused to E . coli beta-galactosidase, and a monoclonal antibody which binds the fusion protein in the Gag region . Binding occurs only if the fusion protein has not been cleaved by the HIV-1 protease . The assay has been adapted for the screening of large numbers of samples in standard 96-well microtiter plates . Using this method about 12000 microbial fermentation broths have been tested and several HIV-1 protease inhibitory activities have been detected . One of these has been studied in detail. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1991 Feb 15, 285(1), 158 - 65 Propionyl-CoA condensing enzyme from Ascaris muscle mitochondria . I . Isolation and characterization of multiple forms; Suarez de Mata Z et al.; The condensation of two propionyl-CoA units or a propionyl-CoA with acetyl-CoA is required for the synthesis of 2-methylvalerate or 2-methylbutyrate, respectively, two of the major fermentation products of Ascaris anaerobic muscle metabolism . An enzyme that preferentially catalyzes the condensation of propionyl-CoA rather than acetyl-CoA has been purified from the mitochondria of the parasitic intestinal nematode Ascaris lumbricoides var . suum . The purified enzyme is over 10 times more active with propionyl-CoA than with acetyl-CoA as substrate . It also catalyzes the coenzyme A-dependent hydrolysis of acetoacetyl-CoA at a rate four times higher than the propionyl-CoA condensation reaction . The purified Ascaris condensing enzyme preferentially forms the 2-methyl-branched-chain keto acids rather than the corresponding straight chain compounds . The native molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 160,000 by gel filtration chromatography and 158,000 by high pressure liquid chromatography . The enzyme migrated as a single protein band with Mr 40,000 during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, indicating that the enzyme is composed of four subunits of the same molecular weight . Chromatography on CM-sephadex resulted in the isolation of two separate peaks of activity, designated as A and B . Both A and B had the same molecular weight and subunit composition . However, they differed in their specific activities and isoelectric points . The pIs of condensing enzymes A and B were 7.6 and 8.4, respectively . Propionyl-CoA was the best substrate for the condensation reaction with both enzymes . However, the specific activity of enzyme B for both propionyl-CoA condensation (3.4 mumol/min/mg protein) and acetoacetyl-CoA thiolysis (13.8 mumol/min/mg protein) was 2.4 times higher than that obtained with enzyme A . Similarly, chromatography on phosphocellulose resolved the Ascaris condensing enzyme activity into one minor and two major peaks . All of these components had the same molecular weight and subunit composition, but differed in their specific activities . The two major phosphocellulose peaks cross-reacted immunologically when examined by the Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion technique . In addition, antiserum against the phosphocellulose most active form cross-reacted with forms A and B isolated by chromatography of the enzyme on CM-Sephadex, indicating that all forms were immunochemically related. Experientia, 1991 Feb 15, 47(2), 181 - 6 The physiological and nutritional importance of dietary fibre; Schweizer TF et al.; Fibrous material is an integral part of the daily diet, and it exerts direct physiological effects throughout the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to affecting metabolic activities more indirectly . The interplay of these effects is responsible for the presumed desirable influence of fibre on weight regulation, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and on colon function . Numerous mechanisms of action have been identified which are related to the type and the physicochemical nature of the fibre . This review concentrates mainly on the serum cholesterol-lowering effect of dietary fibre, its colonic fermentation, and finally on some possible adverse effects that one should be aware of when consuming high amounts of dietary fibre. Curr Genet, 1991 Feb, 19(2), 95 - 102 Characterization of a novel open reading frame, urf a, in the mitochondrial genome of fission yeast: correlation of urf a mutations with a mitochondrial mutator phenotype and a possible role of frameshifting in urf a expression; Zimmer M et al.; Between the genes for tRNA(gin) and tRNA(ile) an open reading frame of 227 amino acids has been identified which is unique among known mitochondrial genomes and which has been termed urf a (Lang et al . 1983; Kornrumpf et al . 1984) . It uses the "mitochondrial" genetic code, i.e., it contains a TGA codon, whereas all other protein-encoding genes, and all but one intronic open reading frame, use the "standard" genetic code (UGG for tryptophan) . A previous paper has demonstrated that "mutator" strains show an increased formation of mitochondrial drug-resistant and respiration-deficient mutants (including deletions) . In this paper we show that the mutator activity is correlated with mutations in urf a . A detailed analysis of one urf a mutant is presented (anar-6), where the deletion of an A residue leads to a frameshift mutation and consequently to premature termination of the putative protein . The phenotype of colonies originating from a single mutant clone varies from no growth up to full growth on non-fermentable substrate . This phenomenon of phenotypic segregation can be explained by the ability of the cell to perform translational frameshifting . A detailed analysis of the DNA sequence and the putative urf a protein will be presented and a possible function of the protein will be discussed. Yeast, 1991 Feb, 7(2), 147 - 56 Chemostat studies of microsomal enzyme induction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Stansfield I et al.; Using cells grown in a chemostat at steady state, the levels of various components of the microsomal electron transport chain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were examined . Cytochrome P450 haemoprotein levels measured in cells grown in medium with a dissolved oxygen concentration of 15% were induced between 10- and 20-fold over levels in cells grown in medium containing 70% dissolved oxygen concentration . An increase in the dilution rate of a culture growing in medium containing 15% dissolved oxygen resulted in an increase in the residual glucose concentration of the medium . This was paralleled by an increase in the microsomal levels of cytochrome P450 . The rise could not be attributed either to increases in the concentration of ethanol in the chemostat or to an increase in the proportion of energy generated using fermentative pathways . However, this effect was not observed in cells grown in an oxygen concentration of 70% . Cytochrome b5 haemoprotein levels were also induced approximately three-fold by reducing the dissolved oxygen concentration from 70% to 15% . Changes in the medium glucose concentration from 0.03% to 1.6% (w/v) had no effect on the levels of this enzyme . Conversely, levels of cytochrome P450 NADPH reductase appeared lower in cells grown in 15% as opposed to 70% dissolved oxygen concentration . Northern slot blot analysis of total RNA extracted from chemostat-grown cells, probed with a C-14 sterol demethylase cytochrome P450 gene (cytochrome P450 LIA1), revealed a pattern of message induction which matched that of the cytochrome P450 haemoprotein, indicating that control of the levels of this enzyme was at least partially transcriptional.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Fundam Appl Toxicol, 1991 Feb, 16(2), 320 - 9 The toxicity of a fluorinated-biphenyl HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in beagle dogs; Gerson RJ et al.; L-645, 164, a potent inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutarylcoenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, is a structurally unique, synthetic monofluorinated-biphenyl that was administered to beagle dogs at dosages of 2, 10, or 50 mg/kg/day for 14 weeks to evaluate its toxic potential . Previously tested HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors from this laboratory have either been semisynthetic or fermentation-derived products containing a hexahydronaphthalene ring structure (i.e., lovastatin and simvastatin) . Administration of L-645, 164 produced a significant spectrum of lesions, some of which have been previously associated with compounds of this pharmacological class, while others were unique to this monofluorinated-biphenyl inhibitor . Subcapsular lenticular opacities were produced in six of eight of the dogs receiving 50 mg/kg/day of L-645, 164 within 8 weeks of dosing . One dog receiving this dosage level experienced increases in serum alanine aminotransferase activity to levels 10 times those in concurrent control dogs . Light and electron microscopy of a wedge biopsy obtained within 3 days of this transaminase elevation failed to reveal any significant changes and the elevation resolved spontaneously despite continued drug administration . Lesions of the optic nerve and acoustic-vestibular tract and trapezoid decussation were observed in several dogs receiving 50 mg/kg/day . In addition, similar changes were observed in the optic tract in several of the dogs receiving 50 mg/kg/day and in one dog receiving 2 mg/kg/day of L-645,164 . These were unique to L-645,164 and have not been observed after the administration of other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in this laboratory . Optic tract changes were generally mild, consisting of small to medium vacuoles without apparent myelin loss . Lesions in the other areas ranged from very slight to prominent vacuolation . No clinical signs were observed . Peak plasma drug levels of L-645,164 at 50 mg/kg were greater than 5 micrograms/ml, about one order of magnitude greater than those attained after administration of pharmacologically equipotent doses of lovastatin and simvastatin . These findings support previous observations that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors producing high plasma drug levels are associated with a significant degree of systemic toxicity . In addition, the drug-induced CNS lesions attributed to L-645,164 appear also to be related to its chemical structure since similar lesions have not been observed after the administration of other structurally unrelated HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that produce high plasma drug concentrations and comparable degrees of serum cholesterol lowering. J Chromatogr, 1991 Feb 1, 538(2), 331 - 9 Determination of beta-carbolines in foodstuffs by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; Adachi J et al.; A high-performance liquid chromatographic method combined with fluorimetric detection is described for the determination of beta-carboline (norharman) and 1-methyl-beta-carboline (harman) . The analysis of foodstuffs for the identification of beta-carbolines is facilitated by clean-up samples using Bond Elut PRS cartridges . Recoveries were excellent . Further, a high-performance liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method was also developed for their identification . The concentration of beta-carboline among the foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages varied greatly . Also, norharman and harman were observed in uncooked foodstuffs, whereas acetaldehyde was found in most fermented food . The toxicological implication of beta-carbolines in foodstuffs is discussed. J Anim Sci, 1991 Feb, 69(2), 827 - 35 Development of a model to predict forage intake by grazing cattle; Hyer JC et al.; A mathematical model to predict daily DMI and account for effects of energy supplementation on forage intake has been developed in several stages . A previously evaluated dynamic rumen model for sheep was adopted as the fermentation component of the intake model . Intake was adjusted to reach a given level of DM fill, which is the sum of the concentrations of each of the dietary fractions within the rumen . Differential equations described the rate of change of each nutrient fraction . Genetic size scaling rules based on mature body size relationships were used to adjust rate and fill parameters of the intake model from sheep to beef cattle . Nutrient fractions were partitioned into those that flow at the particulate passage rate vs the fluid passage rate . Forty-two data points representing perennial ryegrass, wheat pasture and range grasses were used to parameterize and evaluate the model . The model was relatively sensitive to the coefficient relating DMI to particulate rate of passage, the rate constant for the use of the potentially degraded fiber fraction of the forage, and to the composition constants for the amount of carbohydrate and nitrogen in the microbial mass . Relative insensitivity was observed for starch and protein nutrient use rate constants, for the coefficient relating DMI to fluid passage rate, and for constants relating to the growth of the microbial mass in the rumen . Feed intake of grazing cattle may be predicted by mechanistic models describing various nutrients' contribution to ruminal fill. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Feb, 44(2), 225 - 31 Butalactin, a new butanolide antibiotic . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activity; Franco CM et al.; Butalactin, {2-(4',5'-epoxy-hex-2'(E)-en)oyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2, 3-(Z)-butanolide} is a new antibiotic produced by Streptomyces sp . HIL Y-86,36923 . Taxonomically, the producing organism most closely resembles Streptomyces corchorusii . The strain also produces cineromycin B . Though butalactin is structurally related to 'signal molecules' such as A-factor, the anthracycline inducing factors and the virginiae butanolides, it does not show inducing activity for antibiotic production or aerial mycelium formation in the indicator strain . Butalactin possesses a weak antibiotic activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. J Med Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 34(2), 89 - 95 Biotypes, antibiotic resistance and plasmids coding for CFA/I and STa in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains of serotype O153:H45 isolated in Spain; Gonzalez EA et al.; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains of serotype O153:H45 have been found recently to be a frequent cause of sporadic cases and outbreaks of neonatal diarrhoea in Spain and the most important cause of infant diarrhoea in Chile . Relationships between sugar fermentation patterns, resistance to antibiotics and plasmid profiles were analysed in nine E . coli O153:H45 strains isolated in Spain that synthesised CFA/I antigen and STa enterotoxin . Derivative strains obtained by curing with acridine orange, and transconjugants rendered antibiotic resistant, were characterised phenotypically and analysed for plasmid content . Two fermentation patterns were recognised: rhamnose fermenters (four strains) and rhamnose non-fermenters (five strains) . The ability to ferment rhamnose was the only differential characteristic found among 49 carbohydrate fermentation tests used to establish fermentation patterns . All nine strains possessed similar plasmid profiles of three or four plasmids of 52-87 Mda . A non-conjugative large plasmid of 82 Mda or 87 Mda, depending upon the strain, was identified as that responsible for production of both CFA/I and STa . Resistance to antibiotics was determined by plasmids other than those coding for CFA/I and STa . Two conjugative resistance factors were identified: a 52-Mda plasmid coding for resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin and sulphonamide in rhamnose-fermenting strains, and a 77-Mda plasmid coding for resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, tetracycline and sulphonamide in rhamnose non-fermenting strains . Our results support the hypothesis that the prevalence and distribution of ETEC strains belonging to serotype O153:H45 in Spain and Chile could be due to the extensive cultural relations between Spain and South American from the past. Proc Natl Sci Counc Repub China B, 1991 Feb, 15(1), 20 - 7 Oxytetracycline production in solid state and submerged fermentation by protoplast fusants of Streptomyces rimosus; Yang SS et al.; Streptomyces rimosus TM-55 was treated with 3% EMS, and 29 auxotrophic mutants (AM-1 - AM-29) were isolated from 5457 colonies at a survival rate between 6.6-66.7% . Three sets of the auxotrophic mutants, AM-3 and AM-27, AM-7 and AM-28, and AM-3 and AM-21, were chosen for protoplast fusion with 50% PEG 1000 for 30 minutes at 25 degrees C, and 25 fusants were isolated (f-1 - f-25) . In solid substrate, oxytetracycline production of 20% fusants was higher than that of the wild strain, while in submerged fermentation, it was 44% . Oxytetracycline productions of fusants f-1, f-6, f-11, f-12, f-20 and f-21 were lower than that of the wild strain in solid substrate, but this was reversed in submerged fermentation . On the other hand, OTC production of fusant f-8 was higher than that of the wild strain in solid substrate, and this was reversed in submerged fermentation. J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 137 ( Pt 2), 341 - 9 Involvement of the CDC25 gene product in the signal transmission pathway of the glucose-induced RAS-mediated cAMP signal in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; van Aelst L et al.; Addition of glucose or related fermentable sugars to derepressed cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae triggers a RAS-protein-mediated cAMP signal, which induces a protein phosphorylation cascade . Yeast strains without a functional CDC25 gene were deficient in basal cAMP synthesis and in the glucose-induced cAMP signal . Addition of dinitrophenol, which in wild-type strains strongly stimulates in vivo cAMP synthesis by lowering intracellular pH, did not enhance the cAMP level . cdc25 disruption mutants, in which the basal cAMP level was restored by the RAS2val19 oncogene or by disruption of the gene (PDE2) coding for the high-affinity phosphodiesterase, were still deficient in the glucose- and acidification-induced cAMP responses . These results indicate that the CDC25 gene product is required not only for basal cAMP synthesis in yeast but also for specific activation of cAMP synthesis by the signal transmission pathway leading from glucose to adenyl cyclase . They also show that intracellular acidification stimulates the pathway at or upstream of the CDC25 protein . When shifted to the restrictive temperature, cells with the temperature sensitive cdc25-5 mutation lost their cAMP content within a few minutes . After prolonged incubation at the restrictive temperature, cells with this mutation, and also those with the temperature sensitive cdc25-1 mutation, arrested at the 'start' point (in G1) of the cell cycle, and subsequently accumulated in the resting state G0 . In contrast with cdc25-5 cells, however, the cAMP level did not decrease and normal glucose- and acidification-induced cAMP responses were observed when cdc25-1 cells were shifted to the restrictive temperature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Feb, 44(2), 164 - 71 Anantin--a peptide antagonist of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) . I . Producing organism, fermentation, isolation and biological activity; Weber W et al.; Anantin, a peptide binding to the receptor of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) was isolated from a strain of Streptomyces coerulescens . The molecule consists of 17 natural L-amino acids which form a peptidic ring system . It has a MW of 1,871.0 . The chemical composition is C90H111N21O24 . The compound was found to bind competitively to ANF-receptors from bovine adrenal cortex (Kd = 0.61 microM) . Furthermore, it dose-dependently inhibited the ANF-induced intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate accumulation in bovine aorta smooth muscle cells . At the same concentration no agonistic effects were detectable in these cells . Thus, anantin is considered to be the first microbially produced antagonist of the cardiac hormone, ANF. Clin Sci (Lond), 1991 Feb, 80(2), 177 - 82 The contribution of the large intestine to blood acetate in man; Scheppach W et al.; 1 . To test the hypothesis that the colon contributes significantly to venous plasma acetate concentrations, experiments were carried out in healthy volunteers and ileostomy patients . 2 . Fasting plasma acetate levels were measured in 10 ileostomy patients and compared with those in 21 control subjects . Values in ileostomy patients (21.3 +/- 0.8 mumol/l) were significantly lower than in control subjects (48.0 +/- 4.2 mumol/l) . 3 . Plasma acetate concentration was estimated in eight healthy volunteers during 108 h of continuous fasting . Acetate concentrations rose significantly from 12 h (43.9 +/- 4.4 mumol/l) to 108 h of starvation (114.0 +/- 15.6 mumol/l) and fell back to normal fasting values on refeeding and another 12 h fast (44.3 +/- 4.7 mumol/l) . 4 . When colonic fermentation was stimulated after oral ingestion of 10 g of lactulose, the plasma acetate concentration increased significantly (from 44.0 +/- 7.4 to 114.4 +/- 16.2 mumol/l) in seven healthy control subjects . This rise was not affected by concomitant dosage of metronidazole . 5 . These data suggest that there are at least two major sources of acetate in man, an endogenous source and the colon which probably becomes more important when fermentation of carbohydrate is occurring. Hindustan Antibiot Bull, 1991 Feb-Nov, 33(1-4), 14 - 8 Selective strategies for antibiotic fermentation, Part II: Effect of aeration on streptomycin production by Streptomyces griseus JB-19; Maladkar NK; The effect of higher aerated fermentation medium which enhanced streptomycin production by Streptomyces griseus JB-19 was found mainly related to the changes in dextrose consumption, inorganic phosphate utilisation and ammonia nitrogen accumulation under optimal and suboptimal supply of soluble vegetative protein. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Feb, 44(2), 136 - 43 Purpactins, new inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase produced by Penicillium purpurogenum . I . Production, isolation and physico-chemical and biological properties; Tomoda H et al.; Penicillium purpurogenum FO-608, a soil isolate, was found to produce a series of new inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) . Three active compounds, designated purpactins, A, B and C, were isolated from the fermentation broth of the producing strain by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography and HPLC . Purpactins inhibit ACAT activity in an enzyme assay system using rat liver microsomes with IC50 values of 121 approximately 126 microM . Purpactin A also inhibited cholesterol ester formation in J 774 macrophages, indicating the inhibition of ACAT activity in the living cells by purpactin A. Kardiologiia, 1991 Feb, 31(2), 53 - 6 {Use of contrykal in intensive care of myocardial infarct during the prehospital stage}; Leshchinskii LA et al.; The effect of contrykal was evaluated in 146 male patients with first myocardial infarction and 116 control patients in the prehospital period . Intravenous contrykal was given in a single dose of 20,000 IU within 30 to 360 minutes of onset of myocardial infarction, followed by intravenous administration of heparin, 10,000-15,000 U . The control patients received conventional therapy . Earlier application of contrykal contributed to attenuation of clinical manifestations of myocardial infarction . The drug was found to produce a clear-cut antianginal effect . It also exerted a positive action on the abdominal syndrome . There was a rapid inverse dynamics in ECG changes, fermentaemia (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase), decreased myocardial necrotic mass. J Med Chem, 1991 Jan, 34(1), 343 - 9 A ring-enlarged oxetanocin A analogue as an inhibitor of HIV infectivity; Tseng CK et al.; Two ring-expanded analogues (compounds 2 and 3) of the anti-HIV fermentation product oxetanocin A (1) were synthesized from commercially available diacetone D-glucose . Antiviral testing against HIV in ATH8 cells revealed that the ring-expanded analogue 2 possessed a similar activity profile as oxetanocin A . Neither compound, however, was capable of providing full protection to the cells against HIV infection . The isomeric ring-expanded analogue 3 was totally devoid of anti-HIV activity . Molecular modeling suggested that while oxetanocin A and compounds 2 and 3 share a large common substructure with the potent anti-HIV drug, dideoxyadenosine (ddA), the extra hydroxymethyl substituent may contribute negatively to the binding of these molecules to a critical enzyme . The negative contribution may be less important in oxetanocin and isomer 2 than in isomer 3 . From these studies it would appear that both oxetane and tetrahydrofuran rings are equivalent templates to support the adenine base in terms of anti-HIV activity. Crit Rev Toxicol, 1991, 21(4), 235 - 40 Analytical studies on tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in tobacco and tobacco smoke; Brunnemann KD et al.; Chemical-analytical studies have led to the identification of approximately 3000 compounds in tobacco and 4000 in tobacco smoke . These include carcinogens in processed tobacco as well as tumor initiators, tumor promoters, cocarcinogens, and organ-specific carcinogens in tobacco smoke . The latter group includes N-nitrosamines, in particular those that derive from nicotine and other tobacco alkaloids, the TSNA . In vitro nitrosation of nicotine yields NNN, NNA, and NNK . Nitrosation of other tobacco alkaloids leads to the formation of NAT, and NAB . Our analytical studies using GC-TEA have led to the identification of seven TSNA in tobacco and tobacco smoke . In addition to NNN, NAT, NAB, and NNK, we also identified NNAL, iso-NNAL, and, most recently, iso-NNAC . Their levels range from 0.01 to 92 ppm in tobacco and from 6 to 530 ng/cigarette in tobacco smoke . The high levels observed in snuff are primarily due to fermentation and aging . Technological methods exist today to reduce the levels of TSNA in both tobacco and cigarette smoke. Pathology, 1991 Jan, 23(1), 18 - 20 Sorbose fermentation in relation to acquisition and maintenance of enterotoxin plasmids in Escherichia coli; Gunzburg ST et al.; Previous studies have shown that the majority of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains isolated from humans failed to ferment sorbose . In an attempt to demonstrate if this phenomenon was due to enterotoxin (Ent) plasmid instability in sorbose fermenting strains, recipient E . coli strains were used in conjugation experiments with three donor Ent plasmids . No difference in the ability to uptake the Ent plasmid was shown between sorbose fermenting and non-fermenting recipient strains . In addition, no difference was seen in the stability of the Ent plasmids in recipient strains of each biotype . These results suggest that in-vivo selection may play a role in the predominant isolation of non-sorbose fermenting ETEC strains. Antibiot Khimioter, 1991 Jan, 36(1), 5 - 8 {Effect of the quality of fat substrate on the dynamics of fatty acid utilization during biosynthesis of cephalosporin C}; Revin VV et al.; Influence of the quality of the fats used on their utilization in the process of cephalosporin C fermentation and accumulation was studied . A decrease in the level of all the fractions of the fatty acids was observed during the fermentation process . The antibiotic yield with the use of oxidized fats was lower . Treatment of the fats with gaseous nitrogen prevented their oxidation . It was supposed that the decreased yields of the antibiotic were associated with the influence of the oxidized fats on the biosynthetic processes. Arch Tierernahr, 1991 Jan, 41(1), 85 - 96 {The effect of salinomycin on apparent digestibility, indices of rumen fermentation and fattening and slaughter yields of cattle}; Richter GH et al.; The influence of salinomycin (0, 15, 30 and 60 mg per animal and day) on apparent digestibility of artificially dried grass was investigated in four experiments with five wether each . Three long term individual feeding experiments (210 to 252 days) with 72 growing bulls were carried out . The influence of various salinomycin levels (100 to 300 mg per animal and day) were investigated on parameters of rumen fermentation as well as fattening and slaughtering results . Salinomycin decreased insignificantly (P greater than 0.05) the apparent digestibility of organic matter (71.0; 70.1; 68.7 and 68.4%) and crude carbohydrates (71.8; 70.3; 69.2 and 68.5% resp.) . The digestibility of other nutrients was not influenced . Supplementation of salinomycin reduced molar concentration of acetate (49 to 115) and butyrate (22 to 82) and increased propionate (110 to 199 mmoles per mol) in rumen liquid . Dry matter intake of bulls declined (0.8%, 13.5 and 24.6; 4.7% of experiments 1 to 3) when salinomycin was added . Daily weight gain (6.5 and 1.0%) and feed efficiency (6.8 and 6.3%) of bulls supplemented with salinomycin were improved in experiments 1 and 3 . Significant decrease of feed intake of bulls of experiment 2 affected decline of weight gain probably as consequence of high salinomycin levels . Slaughtering results (except experiment 2) and body composition of bulls were not significantly influenced by salinomycin . Under consideration of own results and some references 10 to 20 mg per kg dry matter or 50 to 150 mg salinomycin per fattening bull and day are recommended as optimal level. Crit Rev Microbiol, 1991, 17(6), 449 - 79 Lipid metabolism in anaerobic ecosystems; Mackie RI et al.; In anaerobic ecosystems, acyl lipids are initially hydrolyzed by microbial lipases with the release of free fatty acids . Glycerol, galactose, choline, and other non-fatty acid components released during hydrolysis are fermented to volatile fatty acids by the fermentative bacteria . Fatty acids are not degraded further in the rumen or other parts of the digestive tract but are subjected to extensive biohydrogenation especially in the rumen . However, in environments such as sediments and waste digestors, which have long retention times, both long and short chain fatty acids are beta-oxidized to acetate by a special group of bacteria, the H2-producing syntrophs . Long chain fatty acids can also be degraded by alpha-oxidation . Biotransformation of bile acids, cholesterol, and steroids by intestinal microorganisms is extensive . Many rumen bacteria have specific growth requirements for fatty acids such as n-valeric, iso-valeric, 2-methylbutyric, and iso-butyric acids . Some species have requirements for C13 to C18 straight-chain saturated or monoenoic fatty acids for growth. Can J Physiol Pharmacol, 1991 Jan, 69(1), 130 - 6 Passage of starch into the colon of humans: quantitation and implications; McBurney MI; It has been suggested that a significant amount of starch may reach the colon undigested and stimulate microbial fermentation . Indirect estimates of the quantity of starch reaching the colon have been obtained from breath hydrogen (H2) measurements, but numerous variables, i.e., dietary fiber source and level of intake, oral hygiene, hyperventilation, and cigarette smoking, stimulate H2 production and may exaggerate estimates of starch malabsorption . With proper controls, however, the lactulose breath H2 test based on total excess volume seems to provide a reasonable measure of the average amount of starch metabolized in the colon . Direct estimates of starch metabolism from human ileostomy studies suggest that typically less than 5% of the ingested starch escapes digestion in the small intestine . The general assumption that starch malabsorption stimulates normal colonic function, particularly with respect to colorectal carcinogenesis, is not entirely supported by the limited number of available epidemiologic studies . Further experimental studies are needed to elucidate the role of starch intake and malabsorption on colonic function and human health issues. Can J Physiol Pharmacol, 1991 Jan, 69(1), 121 - 9 Measurement of starch fermentation in the human large intestine; Cummings JH et al.; Starch, not fibre, is probably the major substrate for fermentation in the human colon . However, quantitating the amount of starch that resists pancreatic amylase and thus escapes digestion in the small bowel is difficult . A number of techniques have been employed in man and are reviewed here, including direct intubation of the ileum, the ileostomy model, and breath studies . The results of a series of studies of the digestion of starch from potato and banana are reported . When fed to ileostomy patients, 3% of hot potato starch and 12% of cold potato starch were resistant to digestion, as was 75% of banana starch . In feeding experiments with healthy volunteers none of the starch was recoverable in faces, indicating its complete fermentation in the colon . Breath H2 measurements after test meals of these starches indicated that only 2-5% of potato starch and 7-12% of banana starch was fermented . A single blood acetate measurement timed to coincide with peak breath H2 was not useful . However, a number of problems with breath H2 studies are discussed, and it is suggested that either ileal intubation or the ileostomy model are the most reliable techniques presently available, with serial blood acetate determinations also potentially valuable . Overall on Western diets, approximately 10% of all starch is probably resistant starch. Can J Physiol Pharmacol, 1991 Jan, 69(1), 111 - 5 Clinical application of breath hydrogen measurements; Perman JA; Breath hydrogen (H2) measurements are applied in clinical medicine for the detection of carbohydrate malabsorption . H2 in expired air results when dietary sugars escape absorption in the small intestine, thereby becoming available for bacterial fermentation . H2 produced by bacterial metabolism of the carbohydrate is absorbed into the portal circulation and excreted in breath . Relatively simple collection, storage, and analysis methodologies have been developed in recent years . They permit convenient and noninvasive testing of patients in most age groups for common clinical disorders of digestion and absorption, including lactase deficiency and other disorders of di- and mono-saccharide malabsorption, starch malabsorption, and small bowel bacterial overgrowth . Limitations of breath hydrogen testing are few . Developmental considerations constrain the ease of interpretation of breath H2 measurements in early infancy, and factors affecting intraluminal H2 production by the intestinal flora may occasionally affect the H2 signal . Despite these factors, breath H2 testing has repeatedly been demonstrated to be the most accurate indirect indicator of lactase deficiency, and breath H2 measurements have been widely applied in studying digestion of the entire spectrum of dietary carbohydrates. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Jan, 57(1), 93 - 101 Metabolic behavior of immobilized aggregates of Escherichia coli under conditions of varying mechanical stress; Fowler JD et al.; Experiments were conducted on immobilized aggregates of Escherichia coli cells . Mechanical stress was applied by forcing a convective stream of nutrient medium through the aggregate . It was shown to be possible to maintain uniform exponential growth with this convective supply of nutrients . Analysis of effluent from the system allowed investigation of metabolic responses unambiguously attributable to mechanical stress . A reversible increase in catabolic activity was observed after an increase in mechanical stress . Changes in the level of catabolism were accompanied by an alteration in the total acid yield on glucose and in the spectrum of organic acids produced during glucose fermentation . The behavior observed here was likely due to an osmoregulatory response induced by the mechanically stressed bacteria to counteract changes in shape. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Jan, 57(1), 248 - 54 Succinate transport by a ruminal selenomonad and its regulation by carbohydrate availability and osmotic strength; Strobel HJ et al.; Washed cells of strain H18, a newly isolated ruminal selenomonad, decarboxylated succinate 25-fold faster than Selenomonas ruminantium HD4 (130 versus 5 nmol min-1 mg of protein-1, respectively) . Batch cultures of strain H18 which were fermenting glucose did not utilize succinate, and glucose-limited continuous cultures were only able to decarboxylate significant amounts of succinate at slow (less than 0.1 h-1) dilution rates . Strain H18 grew more slowly on lactate than glucose (0.2 versus 0.4 h-1, respectively), and more than half of the lactate was initially converted to succinate . Succinate was only utilized after growth on lactate had ceased . Although nonenergized and glucose-energized cells had similar proton motive forces and ATP levels, glucose-energized cells were unable to transport succinate . Transport by nonenergized cells was decreased by small increases in osmotic strength, and it is possible that energy-dependent inhibition of succinate transport was related to changes in cell turgor . Since cells which were deenergized with 2-deoxyglucose or iodoacetate did not transport succinate, it appeared that glycogen metabolism was providing the driving force for succinate uptake . An artificial delta pH drove succinate transport in deenergized cells, but an artificial membrane potential (delta psi) could not serve as a driving force . Because succinate is nearly fully dissociated at pH 7.0 and the transport process was electroneutral, it appeared that succinate was taken up in symport with two protons . An Eadie-Hofstee plot indicated that the rate of uptake was unusually rapid at high substrate concentrations, but the low-velocity, high-affinity component could account for succinate utilization by stationary cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1991 Jan, 27(1), 75 - 91 Effects of mass transfer and reaction kinetics on serum cholesterol depletion rates of free and immobilized Pseudomonas pictorum; Garofalo FA et al.; Pseudomonas pictorum in free or immobilized form can deplete serum cholesterol . The reaction kinetics control the global rate of cholesterol depletion during the initial part of free P . pictorum fermentation . Then, mass transfer takes control of the global rate . In this part of the fermentation, the global rate is first order with respect to the cholesterol concentration . The halftime was 330 min . The global rate is zero order with respect to the bacterial concentration . The activation energy was 83 kJ/mol . These results are consistent with the aqueous cholesterol diffusion model . The open pore agar microcapsule experimental effective diffusivity for lipoproteins at 37 degrees C was 6.7 x 10(-11) m2/s . Mass transfer across the microcapsule was not the limiting factor for the global rate. Microbios, 1991, 65(263), 87 - 95 Influence of the physiological state of the inoculum on fermentation of musts from Pedro Ximénez grapes by Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Millan MC et al.; Two inocula in different physiological states, namely in the exponential growth phase and in the declining phase were prepared from a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . With these inocula were fermented musts from grapes of the Pedro Ximenez variety, sterilized by filtration . Cell growth and the activity of the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase {NADP+ and NAD(P)+} were found to vary with the state of the inoculum . This was reflected in the specific rate of production and, in some instances, in the final concentration of acetaldehyde, acetic acid, ethanol, isoamyl alcohols, phenethyl alcohol and their esters in the wine. J Anim Sci, 1991 Jan, 69(1), 295 - 304 Modification of a colorimetric analysis for lignin and its use in studying the inhibitory effects of lignin on forage digestion by ruminal microorganisms; Fukushima RS et al.; The colorimetric acetyl bromide soluble lignin (ABSL) procedure was modified to use for analyzing intact alfalfa and its cell wall fractions for both lignin and total phenolic substances . A purified lignin extracted from alfalfa (native lignin) was used as a standard . Soluble phenolic compounds present in alfalfa did not inhibit cellulose digestion in vitro, because cell wall fractions had the same or slightly lower cellulose digestibility values than did the intact forage (intact forage = 46.5%; Morrison's cell walls = 46.4%; NDF = 42.6%; ADF = 48.7%) . Disappearance of ABSL from the solid digesta was very high for intact alfalfa (48.5%), presumably reflecting either solubilization or utilization of the phenolics . However, very little ABSL was detected in the liquid fraction, suggesting that the soluble phenolic substances possibly were metabolized or modified by ruminal microorganisms . On the other hand, little, if any, of the ABSL present in the cell wall fractions disappeared after 48 h of fermentation . These data emphasize the resistance of core lignin to microbial degradation in short-term anaerobic fermentations. J Anim Sci, 1991 Jan, 69(1), 283 - 94 Nutritive value of ammoniated wheat straw fed to cattle; Zorrilla-Rios J et al.; The effects of ammoniation of wheat straw on site and extent of digestion of nutrients by cattle and the nutritive value of the N added to the straw were studied using eight Hereford steers during three consecutive 21-d periods and analyzed in an incomplete block design with steers and periods as orthogonal blocking factors . The steers, approximately 30 mo old and weighing 360 +/- 24 kg, were cannulated in the rumen, duodenum and ileum . Diets consisted of untreated (US) or ammoniated (AS) wheat straw supplemented with a mineral-vitamin mixture . Steers fed US received four supplements in which the percentages of supplemental N from soybean meal (SBM) and urea were 0:100; 33:67; 67:33 or 100:0 . Percentage of N and in vitro DM digestibility values were increased in US by the ammoniation process from .42 to 1.82 and 34.8 to 54.3, respectively . Total tract digestibility of OM consumed was similar among treatments, although total tract digestibility of dietary N was decreased by ammoniation . Ammoniation doubled (P less than .05) the synthesis of microbial N per unit of dietary OM truly fermented in the rumen . When SBM and urea were fed in combination they depressed (P less than .10) microbial N flow and synthesis of microbial N per unit of OM truly fermented more than each depressed flow and synthesis individually . The nutritive value of the increased N of AS was equivalent to between 67 and 100% of SBM N based on amounts (g/d) of non-ammonia N apparently digested in the small intestine. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Jan, 44(1), 45 - 51 L-687,781, a new member of the papulacandin family of beta-1,3-D-glucan synthesis inhibitors . I . Fermentation, isolation, and biological activity; VanMiddlesworth F et al.; A new beta-1,3-D-glucan synthesis inhibitor, L-687,781 is produced by the cultivation of Dictyochaeta simplex ATCC 20960 . L-687,781 exhibits potent in vitro antifungal activity as well as anti-Pneumocystis activity in a rat model. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Jan, 44(1), 33 - 9 Sapurimycin, new antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces . Producing organism, fermentation, isolation and biological properties; Hara M et al.; In screening actinomycetes for antitumor compounds, Streptomyces sp . DO-116 was found to produce a new antitumor antibiotic sapurimycin . It is structurally related to, but distinct from, kapurimycins . The antibiotic was produced in a fermentation medium supplemented with high porous polymer resin which adsorbs antibiotic in the culture and results in an increase of titer . Active material was separated from the polymer resin by a solvent extraction procedure and isolated by repeated solvent extraction, adsorption chromatography and HPLC . Sapurimycin was active against bacteria, particularly Gram-positive organisms . It exhibited antitumor activity against leukemia P388 and sarcoma 180 in mice . Sapurimycin caused single strand breaks in supercoiled plasmid DNA in vitro . These results are discussed in comparison with data for kapurimycins. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1991 Jan, 41(1), 39 - 44 Mycoplasma phocarhinis sp . nov . and Mycoplasma phocacerebrale sp . nov., two new species from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina L.); Giebel J et al.; A total of 120 mycoplasma strains were recovered from 97 of 265 diseased seals investigated during the seal epidemic in the North Sea and in the Baltic Sea in 1988 . Mycoplasmas were isolated from the respiratory tracts (including lungs), hearts, brains, and eyes of the seals . Thirty strains were filter cloned and investigated for their morphological, biochemical, and serological characteristics compared with the characteristics of previously described species . The results of an indirect immunofluorescence test, a growth inhibition test, and an immunobinding assay showed that these strains belong to two new species, for which the names Mycoplasma phocarhinis and Mycoplasma phocacerebrale are proposed . M . phocarhinis (17 strains) did not ferment glucose or hydrolyze arginine but did reduce tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellurite and produced films and spots . M . phocacerebrale (13 strains) metabolized arginine but not glucose and produced phosphatase but did not reduce tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellurite . Both species lysed sheep erythrocytes but did not absorb sheep or guinea pig erythrocytes . The type strain of M . phocarhinis is strain 852 (= ATCC 49639), and the type strain of M . phocacerebrale is strain 1049 (= ATCC 49640). Gut, 1991 Jan, 32(1), 46 - 9 Impaired sulphation of phenol by the colonic mucosa in quiescent and active ulcerative colitis; Ramakrishna BS et al.; Substantial amounts of phenols are produced in the human colon by bacterial fermentation of protein . In the colonic mucosa of animals, phenols are inactivated predominantly by conjugation with sulphate . The purpose of this study was to confirm sulphation of phenols by isolated colonocytes from man and to evaluate mucosal sulphation in inflammatory bowel disease using the phenol, paracetamol, in rectal dialysis bags . The incubation of paracetamol with colonocytes isolated from resected colon specimens (n = 7) yielded a mean (SE) value of 7.0 (0.9) mumols/g dry weight of paracetamol sulphate after 60 minutes but virtually undetectable values of paracetamol glucuronide . Paracetamol sulphate was detected in rectal dialysates from all control subjects, with a mean (SE) value of 4.2 (0.8) nmol/hour . Sulphation was significantly impaired (p less than 0.01) in 19 patients with active ulcerative colitis (0.6 (0.2) nmol/hour) and in 17 patients with ulcerative colitis in remission (1.1 (0.4) nmol/hour) . Sulphation in eight patients with Crohn's colitis (4.3 (2.1) nmol/hour) was similar to that in control subjects . Impairment of the capacity of the mucosa to sulphate phenols in quiescent and active ulcerative colitis may pose a metabolic burden on colonic epithelial cells, which are continuously exposed to endogenous phenols from the colonic lumen. Infect Immun, 1991 Jan, 59(1), 198 - 203 Production and purification of heat-stable enterotoxin b from a porcine Escherichia coli strain; Dubreuil JD et al.; Production of heat-stable enterotoxin b (STb) by porcine Escherichia coli strains belonging to serogroup O115 was evaluated in ligated intestinal segments of adult rats . The conditions for optimal production and detection of STb were studied by using the STb-producing strain 4247 . As STb production was similar in complex Trypticase soy broth and minimal Davis medium, the latter was used for the fermentation of strain 4247 and the production of STb in large quantities . STb was then purified to apparent homogeneity by sequential ultrafiltration, ultracentrifugation, and preparative gel electrophoresis . The enterotoxin was purified more than 500-fold and exhibited a molecular weight of approximately 5,000 as determined by urea-sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis . Purified STb retained such chemical characteristics as resistance to heating (60 degrees C/30 min) and sensitivity to trypsin . A rabbit polyclonal antiserum was produced against the purified toxin . Numerous booster doses were required to obtain a significant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titer, suggesting that STb is a poor immunogen . Nevertheless, the antiserum was used successfully to discriminate between culture supernatants of STb-positive and STb-negative O115 E . coli strains, thus demonstrating the immunogenicity of purified STb. Hum Pathol, 1991 Jan, 22(1), 63 - 9 Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus strain) infection in the kidneys of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and associated nephropathy: a light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study; Bauer FA et al.; We studied renal tissues from 203 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) . Of the 203 patients, 20 showed light-microscopic changes characteristic of AIDS-associated nephropathy (AAN) . Fifteen of the 20 (group A) were examined by immunohistochemistry using Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus strain)-specific monoclonal antibodies and electron microscopy . Renal tissues from all 15 AAN patients showed positive staining for the incognitus strain mycoplasmal antigens within glomerular endothelial and epithelial cells, glomerular basement membrane, tubular epithelial cells and casts, and mononuclear interstitial cells . Ultrastructural study of these 15 cases revealed mycoplasma-like structures in various locations including glomerular epithelial and endothelial cells, glomerular basement membrane, tubular epithelial cells and casts, and mononuclear interstitial cells . In a parallel study, renal tissues from 15 patients with AIDS with essentially normal renal histology or mild interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration (group B) were also examined . These tissues showed no evidence of incognitus strain mycoplasmal infection in renal parenchymal cells; however, occasional scattered mononuclear interstitial cells were positive for the antigens of this organism . Renal tissues from five patients dying with non-AIDS diseases (group C) showed no staining for the incognitus strain antigens in any location . Therefore, infection of renal parenchymal cells by M fermentans (incognitus strain) in the kidneys of AIDS patients is apparently associated with AAN. Ann Emerg Med, 1991 Jan, 20(1), 93 - 4 Fatal Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia in a previously healthy woman; Hantson P et al.; A previously healthy 47-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with septic shock five days after a small dog bite on the dorsum of her hand . Capnocytophaga canimorsus was isolated from blood cultures . Despite intensive therapy, multiple organ failure developed, and the patient died 27 days after admission . Characteristics of Capnocytophaga (formerly CDC group Dysgonic Fermenter-2) infection are briefly discussed . This unusual outcome in a previously healthy patient and the need for careful management of dog bite wounds, even if initially very small, is emphasized. Am J Clin Nutr, 1991 Jan, 53(1), 112 - 9 Calcium: effect of different amounts on nonheme- and heme-iron absorption in humans; Hallberg L et al.; We investigated the effect of calcium on iron absorption in 126 human subjects . Addition of calcium chloride to wheat rolls significantly reduced iron absorption . Doses between 40 and 600 mg Ca were studied . The inhibition was clearly dose related up to 300 mg Ca . Calcium added to the dough when making the rolls reduced phytate degradation during fermentation and baking . As little as 40 mg Ca added to 80 g flour reduced phytate degradation by 50%, thus increasing the phytate content of the rolls to levels interfering with iron absorption . Calcium also had a direct dose-related inhibiting effect on iron absorption, noted by adding calcium to the rolls after they had been baked instead of to the dough . Iron absorption was reduced by 50-60% at doses of 300-600 mg Ca . Giving 165 mg Ca as milk, cheese, or calcium chloride reduced absorption by 50-60% . The same amount of calcium also significantly reduced heme-iron absorption, suggesting that the effect of calcium is related to the mucosal transfer of iron . The observed marked inhibitory effect on iron absorption of calcium in amounts frequently encountered in normal meals has important nutritional implications. Ultrasound Med Biol, 1991, 17(5), 497 - 500 A new ultrasonic method for fluid property measurements; Dymling SO et al.; A new ultrasonic method for fluid property measurements is described . The method uses ultrasound to generate acoustic streaming in a fluid . The resulting flow velocity will vary due to several viscous parameters of the fluid . If there are acoustic scatterers in the fluid, it will be possible to monitor the resulting flow velocity with an ultrasound Doppler device . The same acoustic energy is then utilized both to generate the acoustic streaming in the medium and to measure the resulting flow . The method seems to be very well suited for monitoring biological processes . Of special interest, for measurements on contaminated blood or on fluids in a fermentation process, is the method's ability to investigate liquids in a completely closed vessel. Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1991 Spring, 28-29, 421 - 32 A novel process for anaerobic composting of municipal solid waste; Cynoweth DP et al.; A novel process has been developed and evaluated in a pilot-scale program for conversion of the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) to methane via anaerobic composting . The sequential batch anaerobic composting (SEBAC) process employs leachate management to provide organisms, moisture, and nutrients required for rapid conversion of MSW and removal of inhibitory fermentation products during start-up . The biodegradable organic materials are converted to methane and carbon dioxide in 21-42 d, rather than the years required in landfills. Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1991 Spring, 28-29, 411 - 20 Synthesis and properties of lignin peroxidase from Streptomyces viridosporus T7A; Loudha SJ et al.; The production of lignin peroxidase by Streptomyces viridosporus T7A was studied in shake flasks and under aerobic conditions in a 7.5-L batch fermentor . Lignin peroxidase synthesis was found to be strongly affected by catabolite repression . Lignin peroxidase was a non-growth-associated, secondary metabolite . The maximum lignin peroxidase activity was 0.064 U/mL at 36 h . In order to maximize lignin peroxidase activity, optimal conditions were determined . The optimal incubation temperature, pH, and substrate (2,4-dichlorophenol) concentration for the enzyme assays were 45 degrees C, 6, and 3 mM, respectively . Stability of lignin peroxidase was determined at 37, 45, and 60 degrees C, and over the pH range 4-9. Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 1991 Spring, 28-29, 183 - 95 Kinetic investigation and mathematical modeling of methanogenesis of glucose; Kalyuzhnyy SV et al.; The kinetic regularities of anaerobic conversion of glucose, and intermediates of its decomposition (ethanol, butyrate, and acetate) by a microbial methanogenic association from anaerobic digester were investigated . Kinetic scheme for conversion of glucose is suggested, and the mathematical model based on the scheme is evolved . The model includes growth and metabolism of three kinds of microorganisms--acid producents, and acetate- and hydrogen-utilizing methane producents; of cell lysis with consequent fermentation of "died biomass" to acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide; of induction and repression of the enzyme responsible for decomposition of butyrate, and for a number of regulations depending on the concentrations of intermediates in glucose metabolism . The values of parameters of the model have been calculated, sufficiently describing the experimental regularities . The numerical experiments have enabled us to reveal and describe the principal regulating factors of glucose methanogenesis. Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl, 1991, 373, 53 - 7 Teeth for the future; Geddes DA; The main dietary influences on teeth are, with the exception of ingested fluoride, local rather than systemic . The frequent use of carbohydrates which can be rapidly fermented by dental plaque micro-organisms is the major factor in dental decay . Sweetened and/or highly acidic soft drinks or medicines sweetened with sugars may damage the teeth . Similarly infant's comforters also have their dangers if they provide prolonged exposure of the teeth to cariogenic conditions . Although dental caries is primarily a disease of children many adults still develop new lesions and adults who have lost gingival tissue through periodontal disease may develop root surface caries . Pathological conditions of the oral mucosa can arise from nutritional disorders or inappropriate dietary habits . Health education is most effective when it carries a positive message so encouraging patients to eat the right kind of tasty snacks and to round off meals with sugar-free products or a modicum of cheese should in healthier eating without conflicting with general health guidelines. Vestn Akad Med Nauk SSSR, 1991, (6), 44 - 7 {Laboratory diagnosis of human Mycoplasma infection}; Gorina LG et al.; The paper shows that aggregate hemagglutination reaction, enzyme immunoassays, and passive hemagglutination may be used in the laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma-induced infections . In patients with respiratory diseases of unknown origin, the M . pneumoniae antigen is easiest detected in the first days of the disease, then a long-term persistence of antigens as part of circulating immune complexes is frequently seen . An examination of patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis has indicated that 26.7% exhibit M . arthritidis or M . fermentans antigens, 16.3% display associations of these two types of mycoplasma . The disease in immunocomplex: the mycoplasma antigens circulate as part of immune complexes long in 80% . In females with urogenital abnormality, serum tests have shown U . urealyticum and M . hominis in 83.6%, the patients having inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology. Vestn Akad Med Nauk SSSR, 1991, (6), 34 - 6 {Interactions between Mycoplasma and macrophages}; Neustroeva VV; Examining the interaction of M . hominis, M . fermentans, and M . arthritidis with peritoneal macrophages of various strain mice has demonstrated that the interaction is related both to the mycoplasma and macrophage types . It has been found that M . arthritidis may multiply and persist for a long time in the macrophages, which is followed by morphological changes developed in the latter and by suppression of phagocytic activity. Vestn Akad Med Nauk SSSR, 1991, (6), 30 - 4 {Nonspecific mitogenic factors of Mycoplasma: immunobiological properties}; Pronin AV et al.; The readily extractable surface membrane proteins of M . arthritidis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized membrane components of M . fermentans were found to have the highest mitogenic action on the splenocytes from CBA mice and the least on those from C57BL/6 mice . The M . arthritidis mitogen (MAM) is an antigen-dependent T-cell mitogen that inhibits the specific proliferation of T cells, inducing their non-specific proliferation . Dextran sulfate-induced blockage of lymphocyte proliferation under the action of MAM was stimulated with interleukin-2, which suggests MAM-induced expression of receptors to interleukin-2 onto the surface of lymphocytes . A factor that has the activity of interleukin-1 and stimulates the proliferation of C57BL/6 murine thymocytes with phytohemagglutinin was found to liberate into a culture medium. Vet Med (Praha), 1991 Jan, 36(1), 29 - 38 {The effect of monensin on the fermentation of feed with different proportions of hay and concentrate in an artificial rumen (rumen simulation technic)}; Jalc D et al.; An experiment was conducted with rumen pouch (RUSITEC--Rumen Simulation Technique) . In four fermentation vessels (V), percent proportions of hay and barley were as follows: V1--40:60, V2 - 60:40, V3--80:20 and V4--100:0 . Every day 5 mg of monensin dissolved in 1 ml 96% ethanol were added to each fermentation vessel . All diets were isonitrogenous, and after an addition of urea the crude protein (CP) content made 13% in each diet . The experiment lasted 12 days: so called steady state period took the first six days when the fermentation conditions were stabilized . Monensin reduced dry matter digestibility, production of total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, n-butyric and isovaleric acids and acetate: propionate proportion, and it increased the production of propionic and n-valeric acids . The production of methane and CO2 decreased . The higher proportion of hay in diets decreased dry matter digestibility, digestibility of detergent fibre, total and individual volatile fatty acids, CO2, methane energy yield of volatile fatty acids (E), glucose utilization, production of adenosine triphosphate and production of fermented hexoses . The production, utilization and recovery of metabolic hydrogen also decreased . The effectiveness of microbial matter synthesis (YATP = 11.3) was highest during the fermentation of feed containing 60% hay and 40% barley. Crit Rev Biotechnol, 1991, 11(2), 129 - 47 Fusarium oxysporum: status in bioethanol production; Singh A et al.; Fermentation of lignocellulosic materials to ethanol and other solvents provides an alternative way of treating wastes and producing chemical feedstocks and fuel additives . Considerable efforts have been made in past 10 years to improve the process based on lignocellulosic biomass and hydrolysate that contains a complex mixture of sugars, decomposition products of sugars, and sometimes the inhibitory levels of soluble lignin . Despite the relative abundance of D-xylose in crop and forest residues it has not been found efficiently fermentable by most of the microorganisms . Recent research has revealed that D-xylose may be fermented to ethanol and organic acids . Recently, several strains of Fusarium oxysporum have been found to have potential for converting not only D-xylose, but also cellulose to ethanol in a one-step process . Distinguishing features of F . oxysporum for ethanol production in comparison to other organisms are identified . These include the advantage of in situ cellulase production and cellulose fermentation, pentose fermentation, and the tolerance of sugars and ethanol . The main disadvantage is the slow conversion rate when compared with yeast. Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1991, (4), 109 - 16 {The effect of DNAse I on bacterial growth depending on the cultivation conditions and on the physiological characteristics of the inoculate}; Egorov CIu et al.; The stimulating effect of DNAase 1 on Escherichia coli reproduction has been studied depending on the content of slowly growing cells in the inoculation culture in the phase of delayed growth . Three cell fractions of E . coli have been obtained using the stepwise separation of the population in terms of buoyant density in the phase of delayed growth . In contrast to fractions I and II the fraction III contains cells with delayed growth, permeable to exogenous DNAase 1 and sensitive to the action of this enzyme . The faster growth of bacterial cells has been shown to be caused by the direct ferment action on the slowly growing cells . The autometabolites and autolysates don't take part in this process. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1991 Jan-Feb, 85(1), 4 - 7 Recent developments in the nutritional management of diarrhoea . 1 . Nutritional strategies to prevent diarrhoea among children in developing countries; Tomkins A; This paper discusses various ways in which diarrhoea may be prevented from occurring in children living in developing countries, where it is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality . Possible strategies include promotion of breastfeeding, dietary supplementation with vitamin A, zinc and iron, the prevention of protein-energy malnutrition as far as possible, and improvement in the standard of preparation and hygiene of available weaning foods, involving in particular the wider use of fermented foods. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1991, 289, 483 - 98 Effect of food processing and preparation on mineral utilization; Johnson PE; While effects of various nutrients and certain non-nutrient components of food on mineral utilization have been intensively studied, less is known about the effects of food processing and preparation procedures . Fermentation during the production of beer, wine, yogurt, and African tribal foods affects bioavailability of Zn and Fe . Baking affects the chemical form of Fe in fortified bread products and these changes can affect its bioavailability . Availability of Fe in milk-based infant formula depends on whether Fe is added before or after heat processing . Food packaging (e.g., tin cans) can alter food composition and thus potentially affects mineral bioavailability . Maillard browning has been reported to cause slight decreases in Zn availability both in vitro and in humans . However, we found that feeding of highly browned casein-glucose products to rats as 5% of diet produced no effect on Zn absorption (59.5 +/- 8.2% vs 54.1 +/- 7.3%) or Fe absorption (45.6 +/- 7.7% vs 46.9 +/- 12.6%) for browned vs control, respectively; nor did we find any of the adverse health effects reported by others . We found no effect on stable Zn or Cu absorption in seven men when browned foods were fed, compared to the same diets without browning . Zinc absorption was 34 +/- 13% (browned) vs 24 +/- 15% (unbrowned), and Cu absorption was 55 +/- 5% vs 55 +/- 8% (p greater than 0.05). Adv Exp Med Biol, 1991, 289, 371 - 88 Digestibility of processed food protein; Oste RE; An overview is given on the effects of food processing on the protein digestibility . Beneficial effects of food processing are primarily observed in a range of plant foods containing toxic substances and/or anti-nutrients (legumes, cereals, some seed food) . Digestibilities improve by heating, soaking, germination and fermentation . These processing steps reduce the amount of active enzyme inhibitors through extraction, inactivation by heat or microorganisms, or by compositional modification through germination . Reduced protein digestibility is primarily associated with excessive heat, exemplified by the comparatively low digestibility of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals . Experiments with model systems indicate that some caution should be observed with the use of alkalis in food processing, and with products prone to the Maillard reaction. IARC Sci Publ, 1991, (105), 485 - 8 Carcinogenic substances in Soviet tobacco products; Zaridze DG et al.; Chemical carcinogens were determined in mainstream smoke from nonfilter cigarettes produced and consumed in the USSR and in nass, a mixture of tobacco, lime, ash and cotton oil . Cigarettes contained high levels of tar (23-25 mg/cigarette) and nicotine (1.5-1.9 mg/cigarette) and, generally, a high content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are major epithelial carcinogens, N-nitrosamines, which are organ-specific carcinogens, and some carcinogenic metals, such as arsenic and chromium . Nass contained the tobacco-specific N-nitroso compounds, N'-nitrosonornicotine, N'-nitrosoanatabine, N'-nitrosoanabasine and 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, as well as volatile N-nitrosamines, but at levels lower than in other types of chewing tobacco and snuff . The low levels in nass are due to the short ageing process used, in contrast to commercially produced chewing tobacco and fine-cut snuff, which are highly processed products requiring long ageing and fermentation. Mol Microbiol, 1991 Jan, 5(1), 123 - 35 Molecular characterization of an operon (hyp) necessary for the activity of the three hydrogenase isoenzymes in Escherichia coli; Lutz S et al.; The 58/59 min region of the Escherichia coli chromosome contains two divergently oriented gene clusters coding for proteins with a function in hydrogenase formation . One cluster (the hyc operon), transcribed counterclockwise with respect to the E . coli chromosome, codes for gene products with a structural role in hydrogenase 3 formation (Bohm et al., 1990) . The nucleotide sequence of the divergently transcribed operon (hyp) has been determined . It contains five genes, all of which are expressed in vivo in a T7 promoter/polymerase system, and the sizes of the synthesized products correspond with those predicted from the amino acid sequence . Complementation analysis of previously characterized mutants showed that the hypB, hypC and hypD genes have a function in the formation of all three hydrogenase isoenzymes, lesions in hypB being complemented by high nickel ion concentration in the medium . Prevention of hypBCDE gene expression led to an altered electrophoretic pattern of hydrogenase 1 and 2 constituent subunits, indicating increased chemical or proteolytic subunits, Under fermentative growth conditions, operon expression was governed by an NtrA-dependent promoter lying upstream of hypA working together with an fnr gene product-dependent promoter which was localized within the hypA gene . The latter (operon-internal) promoter is responsible for hypBCDE transcription under non-fermentative conditions when the -24/-12 NtrA-dependent promoter upstream of hypA is silent. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Jan, 44(1), 52 - 8 Novel inhibitors of superoxide anion generation, OPC-15160 and OPC-15161 . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties, biological characteristics and structure determination; Nakano Y et al.; A new inhibitor of superoxide anion generation by guinea pig macrophages, OPC-15160, was isolated from the culture broth of fungus Thielavia minor OFR-1561, and a more potent inhibitor, OPC-15161, was obtained as a major degradation product of OPC-15160 . OPC-15161 was five times more active than the natural inhibitor and its IC50 value was 2.8 x 10(-5) M . The structure of OPC-15161 was elucidated by X-ray analysis to be 6-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-5-methoxy-3- (2-methylpropyl)-2-(1H)-pyrazinone, 4-oxide and had a novel and highly functionalized pyrazine skeleton. Br J Nutr, 1991 Jan, 65(1), 29 - 35 Daily food intake and digestibility in rats; Larsen T et al.; The present work with growing rats was undertaken to study the effect of daily food intake (DFI) on true protein digestibility (TD), and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), energy (DE), starch, soluble dietary fibre (SDF) and insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) . The design involved two different dietary combinations, barley + rapeseed meal (diet 1) and oats + wheat bran (diet 2) . A slight but significantly negative relationship was seen between DFI and TD on diet 1 while no such relationship was found on diet 2 . Although significant, DFI influenced DM digestibility of both diets only slightly . A similar situation could also be seen for the effect of DFI on DE . The digestibility of starch was significantly affected by DFI on both diets even though the lowest values were as high as 0.994 . SDF digestibility (fermentability) was not influenced by DFI when the rats were given diet 1, while there was a significant negative effect of DFI on digestibility of SDF when diet 2 was given . The digestibility (fermentability) of IDF was not affected by DFI on either of the two diets . The results confirm the existence of a weak negative relationship between DFI and digestibility of a range of nutrients although the effect seems to be only marginal and of no importance under practical feeding conditions. Am J Clin Nutr, 1991 Jan, 53(1), 55 - 60 Fiber digestibility and breath-hydrogen excretion in subjects consuming rural and urban Mexican diets; Rosado JL et al.; Apparent digestibility of dietary fiber and its effect on breath-hydrogen excretion and gastrointestinal symptoms were determined in 16 subjects consuming a plant-based rural Mexican diet (RMD) and a more refined urban Mexican diet (UMD) . Neutral-detergent-fiber intake and digestibility were 40.2 and 22.7 g/d (56%) for the RMD and 12.1 and 8.9 g/d (70%), respectively, for the UMD . Apparent digestibilities of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin were 40%, 63%, and 53% from the RMD and 73%, 75%, and 58%, respectively, from the UMD . Total breath-hydrogen excretion during 10 postprandial h was similar after both diets, showing that the breath-hydrogen test is of limited value for comparing carbohydrate fermentation from mixed diets . Mouth-to-colon transit time was 5.7 and 6.5 h for the RMD and UMD, respectively (P less than 0.05) . There were significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms with the RMD (P less than 0.01); however, neither diet caused symptoms indicative of serious gastrointestinal discomfort. Pol Arch Weter, 1991, 31(3-4), 85 - 91 {The course of rumen fermentation during alkalosis in cows}; Zawadzki W et al.; The aim of the study was the investigation of rumen fermentation during alkalosis in cows . The study comprised some parameters of rumen fermentation, such as: pH, ammonia and volatile fatty acids (VFA) levels, also relationship between VFA, numbers of population of protozoa and bacteria, total production of gases in vitro particularly CO2 and CH4, amounts of lactic and total protein in rumen fluid and non-glucogenic/glucogenic ratio (NGGR) in the VFA mixture . On the basis of obtained results the amounts of fermented hexose, cell yield, ATP produced and hydrogen utilization were calculated . During alkalosis there was observed significant fall of VFA production, especially acetic and butyric acids, also lower production of gases, particularly CH4--probably as a result of selective reduction of methanogenic strain bacteria . The levelling of value of rumen pattern of fermentation occurred after the beginning of lactation probably as a result of metabolism products excretion together with milk. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1991, 36(3), 305 - 10 Cell wall antigenic homology in certain species of Saccharomyces and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rapid identification of S . cerevisiae; Umesh-Kumar S et al.; Cell-wall antigenic studies on Saccharomyces species grown by fermentation in 20% glucose broth indicated S . cerevisiae to develop two antigens specific for this species . These antigens were heat-stable polysaccharides and agglutination studies using specific antiserum prepared by cross absorption indicated their localization on the cell-wall surfaces . Using species-specific antibody, the results presented describe a specific and rapid identification of S . cerevisiae by ELISA according to the classification system of Yarrow (1984). Mycopathologia, 1991 Jan, 113(1), 11 - 4 Mycotoxin formation by different geographic isolates of Fusarium crookwellense; Vesonder RF et al.; Eighteen Fusarium crookwellense isolates from the continents of Australia, Europe, and North America were compared for their ability to produce mycotoxins on corn at 25 degrees C after 2 weeks . Extracts from corn fermented with each Fusarium isolate were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GS/MS) for mycotoxins . Toxins detected were zearalenone (13 isolates), fusarin C (11 isolates), nivalenol (4 isolates), and diacetoxyscirpenol (2 isolates) . Zearalenone and fusarin C were produced by isolates from each continent, while nivalenol was detected in the Fusarium isolates originating from Australia and one isolate from the United States. Chin J Biotechnol, 1991, 7(4), 293 - 300 Study on multiple-enzyme electrode for sucrose determination; Hu W et al.; Invertase (INV), mutarotase (MUT), glucose oxidase (GOD) and BSA were coimmobilized via glutaraldehyde-bridged covalent bonding, and directly absorbed on the teflon membrane . This membrane was covered with a nylon mesh and placed over an oxygen electrode . An enzyme electrode for flow injection analysis system (EFIA) was adopted . The optimum enzyme composition (IU) for immobilization on the teflon membrane of INV-MUT-GOD was found to be in the ratio 72:48:2.4, with a recovery activity INV-MUT of more than 42.9% . pH 5.8-6.5 was the most suitable range of acidity for the sensor activity . The optimum temperature was 35-45 degrees C . The system exhibited good linearity in the range of 5 x 10(-4) approximately 10(-1) M sucrose (kinetic method) and 10(-5) approximately 2 x 10(-3) M sucrose (steady state method), in short response time (20 seconds for kinetic method, 2 minutes for steady state method), CV = 1.7% (kinetic method) . The sensor had been used for determining sucrose concentration in fermentation broth, with an average recovery rate of 98% . The interference caused by the presence of glucose derived from decomposition of sucrose was eliminated by calibration with a GOD sensor . No significant loss of the enzyme electrode activity was observed after 120 hours of the continuous flow of fresh 1 mM sucrose . The multiple-enzyme membrane showed a relatively long lifetime (compared with 14 hours as reported previously) and good storage stability (30 days, stored in distilled water at 4 degrees C). Chin J Biotechnol, 1991, 7(3), 229 - 39 Kinetics and mathematical model of ethanol formation by immobilized yeast cells; Li X et al.; Kinetics of the ethanol fermentation with the immobilized K yeast cells was studied both experimentally and theoretically . A kinetic model consisting of 6 equations was proposed . In this model the combined inhibition, i.e., glucose in uncompetitive inhibition and ethanol in noncompetitive inhibition with irreversible performance, was taken into consideration . Calculated values agreed approximately with the experimental results, and this model was found to be of practical use . The maximum average percent deviation of the model calculation was found to be 13.81% in simulation . The average percent deviation of the model prediction was shown to be 8.28% in the sweet potato hydrolysate . The concentration range of inhibition was determined to be 130-450 g/l for glucose and 3.07-16.45% (v/v) for ethanol. Chin J Biotechnol, 1991, 7(3), 191 - 6 A study on the technology of mass cell culture of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.); Zhou L et al.; The culture broth volume fitted for cell suspension culture of plants was 1/5 to 2/5 of shake flask capacity . The dissolved oxygen (DO) output of the detector increased with the increase of the temperature . The viscosity of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) cell cultures was obviously higher than that of the fresh medium . An appropriate agitation speed was 60 rpm for fermentation culture of American ginseng cells . When we increased osmotic pressure stress by the addition of mannitol to the nutrient medium in fermentation culture, the content of saponin of the cell cultures was increased greatly but the cell growth was inhibited . The study provides data for designing an appropriate fermentor to culture American ginseng cells on a large scale. Folia Parasitol (Praha), 1991, 38(4), 379 - 82 Larvicidal activity of actinomycete isolate against Toxocara canis; al-Doori M et al.; A soil isolate of actinomycete, strain S-70, revealing presence of plasmid(s) was placed in the genus Streptomyces according to the wall composition and morphology . The toxicity of S-70 grown on two fermentation media, glucose-asparagine broth (GAB) and malt extract-yeast extract broth (MYE), against infective larvae of Toxocara canis was assessed . The use of mortality test has provided a sensitive and reproducible bioassay . The results suggest high larvicidal activity of the Streptomyces crude products examined being highly potent when using GAB culture medium. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1991, 36(5), 507 - 9 Determination of phenylpropionic acid in fermentation medium by chromatographic techniques; Panos J; Phenylpropionic acid was determined in the fermentation medium by gas chromatography using an internal standard and by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography . The two methods were evaluated by using the standard quantitative criteria employed in analytical chemistry. Biomed Biochim Acta, 1991, 50(10-11), S80 - 3 Clostripain: production and use for peptide synthesis; Meiwes J et al.; The arginine-specific protease Clostripain could efficiently be produced following improved fermentation and isolation procedures . Preparative scale kinetically controlled peptide synthesis of -Arg-Pro- and Arg-Xaa- containing peptides could successfully be performed in high yields with free and immobilized enzyme preparations. Biomed Biochim Acta, 1991, 50(10-11), S219 - 24 Cell-free biosynthesis of cyclosporin A and analogues; Kleinkauf H et al.; The final assembly of the 11-peptide chai