Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax, 1994 Aug 30, 83(35), 980 - 6 {Multicenter evaluation of oral antibiotics: resistance behavior in 5 Swiss centers}; Cullmann W et al.; The susceptibility of 2196 fresh clinical isolates to twelve different oral compounds was assessed in five Swiss microbiology institutions during summer 1992 . A standardized microdilution system including all other material necessary was employed to assess the antibacterial activity of penicillin G, ampicillin, ampicillin + sulbactam, amoxycillin + clavulanic acid, cefadroxil, cephalexin, cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefetamet, doxycycline, erythromycin and clindamycin . The aminopenicillins (including the beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations) were highly active against the streptococci, in combination with a beta-lactamase inhibitor they covered the majority of the bla+ E . coli and Proteus mirabilis and between 60 to 80% of the Klebsiella spp . and Proteus vulgaris isolates . All the cephalosporins exhibited good activity against the streptococci, they were active against Gram-negative fermentative rods to a varying degree . Cefetamet was also active against many cefaclor and cefuroxime-resistant isolates . A considerable part of the species studied exhibited resistance to doxycycline; the observed resistance of S . agalactia, P . mirabilis, and Morganella morganii agreed with previous findings . Most of the Streptococcus spp . were inhibited by erythromycin and clindamycin . There were only single penicillin resistant S . pneumoniae isolates in the five Swiss centers . Taking account of the above particulars the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in Switzerland can be considered satisfactory. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1994 Jul, 183(3), 169 - 75 Human T helper cells reactive with somatic bacterial antigens belong to the Th1 subset; Schlaak JF et al.; The aim of this study was to characterize the cytokine secretion patterns of human T helper cells from healthy donors reactive with somatic antigens from various bacteria, the nematode Anisakis and tetanus toxoid . From the peripheral blood of four healthy donors we have established 70 T cell lines reactive with antigens from Yersinia, Salmonella, Morganella, Klebsiella, Serratia, Escherichia, Chlamydia, Shigella, Streptococcus, tetanus toxoid and Anisakis, respectively . Our results show that all T cells reactive with bacteria produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), but no interleukin (IL)-4 and no or very little IL-2 and IL-10 and, thus, belong to the Th1 subset, while T cells reactive with tetanus toxoid or Anisakis belong to the Th0 subset with production of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-alpha . In summary, our data further substantiate the concept of a functional diversity of human T helper cells with respect to their cytokine profiles . Furthermore, they indicate that a Th1 cytokine profile is not restricted to intracellular bacteria. J Appl Bacteriol, 1994 Jul, 77(1), 67 - 72 Evaluation of different antimicrobial agents used as selective supplements for isolation and recovery of Yersinia enterocolitica; Toora S et al.; Seventeen antimicrobial agents were evaluated separately or in combination for their efficiency as selective supplements in a broth medium against six different serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica and 20 selected strains of different Gram-negative bacteria . Irgasan (DP300, 5-chloro-2-(2,4- dichlorophenoxy) phenol) at a concentration of 4 micrograms ml-1 inhibited the growth of most Gram-negative bacteria with the exceptions of Aeromonas hydrophila, Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia liquefaciens . Other antimicrobial agents incorporated in the growth medium, separately or in combination with Irgasan, either inhibited some strains of Y . enterocolitica or did not inhibit the growth of Irgasan-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Ophthalmology, 1994 May, 101(5), 902 - 5 Penetration of topically applied ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin into the aqueous humor; Donnenfeld ED et al.; PURPOSE: To determine the intraocular penetration of topically applied fluoroquinolone antibiotics into aqueous humor . METHODS: Thirty-two patients undergoing cataract extraction received either 0.3% ciprofloxacin, 0.3% norfloxacin, or 0.3% ofloxacin topical drops . The patients were given two drops 90 minutes preoperatively and two drops 30 minutes preoperatively . At the time of surgery, 0.1 ml aqueous fluid was aspirated from the anterior chamber and immediately stored at -70 degrees C . RESULTS: Concentrations of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin were determined using a broth dilution bioassay . Morganella morganii with a known minimal inhibitory concentration was used to assay ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin levels . Salmonella enteritidis with a known minimal inhibitory concentration was used to assay ofloxacin levels . Topically applied ciprofloxacin achieved a mean aqueous level of 0.072 microgram/ml (range, 0.02-0.153 microgram/ml) . One sample was below the sensitivity of the bioassay . Topical norfloxacin achieved a mean aqueous level of 0.0570 microgram/ml (range, 0.046-0.10 microgram/ml) . Seven samples did not reach the sensitivity of the bioassay . Topical ofloxacin achieved a mean level in the aqueous humor of 0.338 microgram/ml (range, 0.078-0.625 microgram/ml) . There was no statistically significant difference in intraocular aqueous humor levels of ciprofloxacin versus norfloxacin (P > 0.05) . Topical ofloxacin achieved aqueous humor levels significantly higher than either ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin (P < 0.004) . CONCLUSION: Of the currently available topical fluoroquinolone antibiotics, ofloxacin achieves the highest aqueous humor concentrations. Eur J Biochem, 1994 Mar 1, 220(2), 339 - 47 Pore formation in artificial membranes by the secreted hemolysins of Proteus vulgaris and Morganella morganii; Benz R et al.; Lipid-bilayer experiments were performed with the related hemolysins from Proteus vulgaris and Morganella morganii (HlyA) . The addition of the toxins to the aqueous phase bathing lipid-bilayer membranes composed of different lipids resulted in the formation of transient ion-permeable channels . Membranes formed of pure lipids were rather inactive targets for the hemolysins as compared with lipid mixtures such as asolectin . The channels had several different substrates . The major open state had single-channel conductances of 500 pS in 0.15 M KCl at small transmembrane voltages . Experiments with different salts suggested that the hemolysin-induced channels of P . vulgaris and M . morganii were exclusively cation selective at neutral pH, caused by negative charges localized at the channel mouth . The mobility sequence of the cations within the channels was similar if not identical to their mobility sequence in the aqueous phase . The single-channel data were consistent with wide, water-filled channels with estimated minimal diameters of about 1 nm since the large organic cation Tris+ can permeate the channels without any detectable interaction with its interior . Pore-forming properties of these hemolysins were compared with those of HlyA of Escherichia coli . All these toxins share common features, oligomerize probably to form pores in lipid-bilayer membranes and form channels with similar properties which suggests that their structures are more or less identical. Toxicology, 1994 Feb 28, 87(1-3), 249 - 67 Pore-formation by Escherichia coli hemolysin (HlyA) and other members of the RTX toxins family; Menestrina G et al.; Escherichia coli hemolysin (HlyA) is a major cause of E . coli virulence . It lyses erythrocytes by a colloid osmotic shock due to the formation of hydrophilic pores in the cell wall . The size of these channels can be estimated using osmotic protectant of increasing dimensions . To show that the formation of pores does not depend critically on the osmotic swelling we prepared resealed human erythrocyte ghosts loaded with a fluorescent marker . When attacked by HlyA the internal marker was released, indicating the formation of toxin channels so large as to let it through . The channels can be directly demonstrated also in purely lipidic model systems such as planar membranes and unilamellar vesicles, which lack any putative protein receptor . HlyA has been recognised as a member of a large family of exotoxins elaborated by Gram-negative organisms including Proteus, Bordetella, Morganella, Pasteurella and Actinobacillus . These toxins have quite different target cell specificity and in many cases are leukocidal . When tried on planar membranes however, even specific leukotoxins open channels not dissimilar from those formed by HlyA, suggesting this might be a common step in their action . Comparison of the hydrophobic properties of six members of the toxin family indicates the presence of a conserved cluster of ten contiguous amphipathic helixes, located in the N-terminal half of the molecule, which might be involved in channel formation. J Appl Bacteriol, 1993 Nov, 75(5), 489 - 98 Identification and typing of Proteus penneri and Proteus vulgaris biogroups 2 and 3, from clinical sources, by computerized analysis of electrophoretic protein patterns; Costas M et al.; Seventy-six strains of the Proteus vulgaris complex (Pr . penneri and Pr . vulgaris biogroups 2 and 3) were characterized by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE of cellular proteins . The protein patterns were highly reproducible . The strains came from various countries and were mainly of human origin: urine (28), respiratory tract (13), wounds (8), faeces (7), blood (3), miscellaneous sources (6) and unknown sources (11) . The patterns of these strains, together with those of the type strains of seven Morganella, Proteus and Providencia species were subjected to two numerical analyses . In the first, in which the principal protein bands (in the 35.0-42.0 kDa range) were excluded, the strains of the Pr . vulgaris complex formed four clusters at the 83% similarity level . These corresponded to Pr . penneri, Pr . vulgaris biogroup 2, and two clusters (3a and 3b) represented biogroup 3 . Each of these clusters was distinct from the Morganella, Proteus and Providencia reference strains . In the second analysis, which included all the protein bands, the 41 Pr . penneri strains showed little heterogeneity but 17 subphenons could be recognized among the 35 strains of Pr . vulgaris biogroups 2 and 3 . These results support the division of biogroup 3 strains into at least two separate taxa . Other results indicate that biogroup 3 is heterogeneous and may contain further genomic groups . The method also provides a basis for typing clinical strains of Pr . vulgaris biogroups 2 and 3. J Clin Microbiol, 1993 Oct, 31(10), 2828 - 30 Interpretive accuracy of the disk diffusion method for testing newer orally administered cephalosporins against Morganella morganii; Biedenbach DJ et al.; Eight newer orally administered cephems (cefdinir, cefetamet, cefixime, cefpodoxime, cefprozil, ceftibuten, cefuroxime, and loracarbef) were tested against 100 clinical strains of Morganella morganii to determine the extent of serious interpretive very major (false-susceptible) errors when current criteria for the disk diffusion test are applied . Agar dilution MICs and disk diffusion tests were performed as recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (Villanova, Pa.) (NCCLS), and the methods were compared by regression analysis using the method of least squares and by error rate bounding . The following results are listed in the order of increasing error rates: cefdinir, loracarbef, and cefprozil, < or = 1% very major error; ceftibuten, 8% minor errors; cefuroxime, 21% minor errors; cefixime, cefpodoxime, and cefetamet, very major errors of 15, 24, and 36%, respectively . M . morganii produces unacceptable rates of test error with cefuroxime, cefixime, cefpodoxime, and cefetamet . The latter two cephalosporins currently have NCCLS table footnote warnings covering the problem observed with this organism . The inclusion of cefuroxime and cefixime in the NCCLS table footnote is strongly recommended. Anal Biochem, 1993 Aug 1, 212(2), 344 - 50 Compositional analysis of peptidoglycan by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography; Clarke AJ; A high-performance anion-exchange chromatography method with pulsed-amperometric detection has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of both amino acids and amino sugars and applied to the compositional analysis of peptidoglycan hydrolysates . Chromatography of the acid hydrolysis products was performed on a CarboPac PA-1 anion-exchange column, with pulsed-amperometric detection . Complete resolution of the two amino sugars (glucosamine and muramic acid) and eight of the nine amino acids (Ala, diaminobutyric acid, diaminopimelic acid, Glu, Gly, homoserine, Lys, Orn, and Ser) known to occur in various peptidoglycans was achieved within 70 min . Only homoserine and glycine (retention times 26.8 and 26.9 min, respectively) were not resolved by this procedure, but the simultaneous occurrence of these two amino acids in peptidoglycan is extremely rare . Reproducibility of the separations was shown to be very high and detection limits exceeded 10 pmol for glucosamine . This convenient and simple analysis was applied to the quantitation of many crude peptidoglycan samples isolated from the species of the Proteeae (Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella) for the determination of the extent of peptidoglycan O-acetylation. J Bacteriol, 1993 Jul, 175(14), 4550 - 3 Extent of peptidoglycan O acetylation in the tribe Proteeae; Clarke AJ; The degree of peptidoglycan O acetylation in 18 strains of the different genera of the tribe Proteeae (Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella) has been determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-based organic acid analysis of mild-base-released acetic acid and quantitation of peptidoglycan concentrations by simultaneous amino sugar-amino acid analysis using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection . The N,O-diacetylmuramyl content of all isolated and purified peptidoglycans was greater than 29% and ranged up to 57% relative to total muramic acid concentration . Each of the O-acetylated peptidoglycans was found to be resistant to solubilization by hen egg white lysozyme. Rev Argent Microbiol, 1993 Jul-Sep, 25(3), 119 - 28 {In vitro antibacterial activity of isoxazolyl++ naphthoquinones . I}; Bogdanov PM et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activity of 2-hydroxy-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl) 1,4 naphthoquinone-4-imine (I) and three of this derivatives against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis y Morganella morganii was investigated . From the four naphthoquinone-imine studied, compound I exhibited activity against S . aureus . This effect was observed even in oxygen atmosphere with 5% CO2 and in the presence of human albumin . The development of drug-resistant strains by serial passage in media with concentrations lower than the C.I.M . was determined in 31 strains of S . aureus from clinical material and one from collection . No significant differences in C.I.M . were observed. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1993 May, 67(5), 487 - 90 {Report of three cases of purple urine bag syndrome which occurred with a combination of both E . coli and M . morganii}; Matsuo H et al.; Purple urine bag syndrome is a rare phenomenon in which bags turns purple or blue following catheterization . This phenomenon was reported to occur by Providencia stuartii in the presence of indicanuria . We reported herein three females above 75 years of age having a similar phenomenon . All were bedridden chronically and constipated . In these cases, no growth of P . stuartii was found on repeated urine culture, but Escherichia coli and Morganella morganii were concomitantly isolated during the blue bags . It is suggested that purple urine bag syndrome develops in a combination of E . coli and M . morganii besides P . stuartii. Jpn J Antibiot, 1993 Apr, 46(4), 285 - 94 {Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the Proteeae in Japan, 1989}; Igari J et al.; We discussed the antimicrobial susceptibilities of Proteeae isolated in Japan, 1989 . Eight hundred six clinical isolates were collected from 47 hospitals . These were comprised of 431 strains of Proteus mirabilis, 155 Proteus vulgaris, 154 Morganella morganii, 44 Providencia rettgeri and 22 Providencia stuartii . Antibiotics tested in this study were 2 penicillins, 5 cephems, 1 carbapenem and 2 aminoglycosides . The MIC's were determined using the standard method of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy . Susceptibilities of the above strains to these antibiotics are described below; 1 . Latamoxef, ceftizoxime and imipenem had excellent activities with no evident differences among the species of Proteeae . 2 . Ampicillin and cefazolin were less active against Indol-positive Proteeae . 3 . Piperacillin and cefmetazole were also strongly active drugs against P . mirabilis, P . vulgaris and P . stuartii, and cefotiam against P . mirabilis and P . stuartii . 4 . Gentamicin and netilmicin showed excellent activities against M . morganii. Med Dosw Mikrobiol, 1993, 45(3), 301 - 5 {Susceptibility of Proteus, Morganella and Providencia strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections on bactericidal activity of normal human serum}; Jankowski S et al.; Usefulness of the test determining bactericidal activity of normal human serum was investigated with 50 strains of Proteus, Morganella and Providencia isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) and with 50 strains isolated from feces . It was found that strains from UTI were more frequently resistant to the action of normal human serum (50% resistant) in comparison with strains isolated from feces (30% resistant) . Strains of Proteus belonging to four species were differing greatly in their susceptibility to normal human serum . They can be ranked as followings: P . mirabilis (49% of resistant strains), P . vulgaris (62%), P . morganii (72%) and P . rettgeri (100%) . In studies on interaction subinhibitory concentrations of cefotaxime and normal human serum in bactericidal reaction, a synergism was found only with some strains. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 Jul, 30(7), 1739 - 42 Reliability of a bioluminescence ATP assay for detection of bacteria; Selan L et al.; The reliability of bioluminescence assays which employ the luciferin-luciferase ATP-dependent reaction to evaluate bacterial counts was studied, both in vitro and on urine specimens . Bioluminescence and cultural results for the most common urinary tract pathogens were analyzed . Furthermore, the influence of the culture medium, of the assaying method, and of the phase of growth on bioluminescence readings was studied . Results show that Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella strains are not correctly detected, neither in vitro nor in urine samples, by the standard assaying method . The analysis of assaying parameters demonstrated that some modifications to the extraction procedure of bacterial ATP could improve the reliability of this technique. Infect Immun, 1992 Jul, 60(7), 2657 - 66 Purification of recombinant Helicobacter pylori urease apoenzyme encoded by ureA and ureB; Hu LT et al.; Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative, microaerophilic, spiral-shaped bacterium, is an etiologic agent of human gastritis and peptic ulceration and is highly restricted to the gastric mucosa of humans . Urease, synthesized at up to 6% of the soluble cell protein, hydrolyzes urea, thereby releasing ammonia, which may neutralize acid, allowing survival of the bacterium and initial colonization of the gastric mucosa . The urease protein is encoded by two subunit genes, ureA and ureB; however, accessory genes are necessary for enzyme activity . H . pylori urease genes were isolated from a cosmid gene bank and subcloned on a 5.8-kb Sau3A partial fragment carrying ureCDAB, corresponding to four open reading frames described by A . Labigne, V . Cussac, and P . Courcoux (J . Bacteriol . 173:1920-1931, 1991) . Clones were confirmed as ureas gene sequences by polymerase chain reaction amplification . The recombinant enzyme was purified from the soluble protein of French press lysates of Escherichia coli DH5 alpha(pHP402) by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, Phenyl-Sepharose, Mono-Q, and Superose 6 resins . Fractions containing a catalytically inactive apoenzyme were identified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by using antisera to native UreA (29.5 kDa) and UreB (66 kDa) . Purified recombinant urease was indistinguishable from native enzyme on a Superose 6 column and on Coomassie blue-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels . The protein reacted specifically on Western blots (immunoblots) with anti-UreA and anti-UreB antibodies and was recognized with an intensity equal to that of the native enzyme in an ELISA using human sera . Clones containing only ureA and ureB also produced an assembled but inactive enzyme . Enzyme activity was not restored by in trans complementation with cloned urease accessory gene sequences from Proteus mirabilis or Morganella morganii . H . pylori urease genes (ureCDAB) subcloned into pACYC184 were also not complemented with any of 1,000 cosmid clones containing H . pylori chromosomal sequences . However, larger clones containing 4.5 kb of DNA downstream of ureB synthesized catalytically active urease when grown in minimal medium . These data indicate that the ureA and ureB genes encoding H . pylori urease are transcribed and translated in E . coli and that these genes alone are sufficient for the synthesis and assembly of the native size enzyme . Genes downstream of ureB, however, are necessary for production of a catalytically active urease. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1992 Jun 16, 45(1), 67 - 70 A rare case of chorioamnionitis by Morganella morganii complicated by septicemia and adult respiratory distress syndrome; Carmona F et al.; Morganella morganii, a gram-negative bacterium, usually infects older patients with urinary catheters, but does not commonly affect pregnant women . In this report we present a case of chorioamnionitis caused by Morganella morganii . The case was complicated by a life-threatening Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. EMBO J, 1992 Apr, 11(4), 1309 - 16 Horizontal transfer of a phosphatase gene as evidence for mosaic structure of the Salmonella genome; Groisman EA et al.; The genomes of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium are similar with respect to base composition, chromosome size, and the order, orientation and spacing of genes, but differ with respect to some 29 'loops', regions unique to one species . To evaluate the genetic basis for the structure and organization of the enteric bacterial genomes, we examined the gene encoding a non-specific acid phosphatase (phoN) which maps to a loop at 96 min on the S.typhimurium chromosome . We detected atypical base composition, codon usage pattern and trinucleotide frequencies . The 1.4 kb region containing phoN had an overall base composition of 43% G+C, while the G+C content at the third positions of codons in the phoN reading frame is only 39%, much lower than the Salmonella chromosome which averages 52% . Non-specific acid phosphatase activity, assayed in 14 Gram-negative species, was detected only in Morganella morganii and Providencia stuartii, organisms with low genomic G+C contents . Upstream of the phoN gene in Salmonella is a sequence with high similarity to the oriT region of incFII plasmids, suggesting that the phoN gene, and perhaps the entire loop structure, was acquired by lateral transmission in a plasmid-mediated event. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1992, (7-8), 11 - 3 {The antigenic relationships of Morganella}; Proshutinskaia MA et al.; Interspecies relationships in the genus Morganella have been studied in the agglutination and adsorption tests . New data on the antigenic relationships of O groups O43 and O49 and more precise data on the antigenic relationships of O groups O1 to O42 have been obtained . For the first time the relationships of antigens 40 and 42 with 4, 35 and 31, 38 and 39, 9 and 45, 1a, d and 49; 45 and 47, 24 and 45; 5, 23, 26 with 47; 1, 19, 46 with 41, 48 have been described and the complete identity of O antigens 33 and 35; 34 and 36; 40 and 42; 3, 13 and 17 has been established . These data must be taken into consideration in the preparation of polyvalent agglutinating sera, necessary for finding out the serological picture of Morganella isolated from patients and the environment. J Formos Med Assoc, 1991 Oct, 90(10), 947 - 52 Antimicrobial activities of piperacillin alone and in combination with tazobactam against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria; Chang SC et al.; Tazobactam (YTR 830), a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, was evaluated for its effect in combination with piperacillin, a broad spectrum, but beta-lactamase sensitive, penicillin, against 14 common bacteria . A total of 1,086 clinical isolates from different clinical specimens were tested for beta-lactamase production by the rapid chromogenic cephalosporin method . Their susceptibilities to piperacillin alone and in combination with tazobactam in a ratio of 8:1 by the agar dilution method were evaluated . The percentage of beta-lactamase producing strains ranged from 14.5% to 100% in these tested species . In general, the beta-lactamase producers were more resistant to piperacillin than the beta-lactamase nonproducers with higher minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) . For the beta-lactamase producers, tazobactam decreased the MICs of piperacillin prominently in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii, Salmonella species and Bacteroides fragilis, with a 4-fold or greater decrease in MIC50, MIC90 and the geometric mean of MIC . For Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the MICs did not change after adding tazobactam . For other species, there was a moderate decrease in MICs . We conclude that tazobactam is an effective beta-lactamase inhibitor for increasing the antimicrobial activity of piperacillin against beta-lactamase producing strains of many species of bacteria. J Burn Care Rehabil, 1991 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 116 - 9 The efficacy of Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic Spray (polymyxin B sulfate and bacitracin zinc) against clinical burn wound isolates; Walton MA et al.; Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic Spray (Burroughs Wellcome Co., Research Triangle Park, N.C.) is a dry spray containing 200,000 units Aerosporin (polymyxin B sulfate) and 10,000 units bacitracin zinc, along with a propellant . Each 1-second spray delivers approximately 2300 units of polymyxin B sulfate and 115 units of bacitracin zinc . This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Polysporin Spray against various clinical isolates . Blood agar plates were inoculated with a pure culture of each isolate . Polysporin was then sprayed in an area approximately 30 mm in diameter . The area of inhibition was measured and recorded after 18 to 24 hours of incubation . A clear zone at least 20 mm in diameter with surrounding edges of growth indicated sensitivity . A zone less than 20 mm in diameter or growth over the whole plate indicated resistance . Three hundred fifty-three clinical isolates (202 gram positive and 151 gram negative) were tested . The results show that Polysporin inhibits the growth of all the gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus . The gram-negative organisms were also sensitive to Polysporin Spray, with the exception of Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, and Proteus mirabilis . This study suggests that Polysporin First Aid Antibiotic Spray may be effective for wounds contaminated with gram-positive and some gram-negative organisms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Mar, 35(3), 458 - 61 Preferential hydrolysis of cis configuration compounds at the 3,4 position of monobactams by beta-lactamase from Morganella morganii; Matsuda K et al.; Carumonam and BO-1166 (cis configuration) were inactivated by beta-lactamase of Morganella morganii more rapidly than were aztreonam and BO-1165 (trans configuration), as demonstrated by spectrophotometric analysis and microbiological assay . An active enzyme was recovered more rapidly from the inactivated enzyme-monobactam complex derived from the cis form of monobactams than from the complex derived from the trans form of monobactams . This result suggests that the configuration at the 3,4 position on the azetidinone ring of monobactams, together with the chemical structure of the side chains attached to the azetidinone ring, may play an important role in the stability of monobactams to the beta-lactamase of M . morganii. Hiroshima J Med Sci, 1991 Mar, 40(1), 35 - 40 Mode of antibacterial action of cefprozil, a new cephalosporin, on Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens and Morganella morganii; Nishimoto K et al.; The mode of antibacterial action of cefprozil (CFPZ, BMY-28100), a newly developed cephalosporin, was investigated using Escherichia coli K12, Serratia marcescens IFO 12648 and Morganella morganii IFO 3848 as test organisms, in comparison with the action of cefaclor (CCL) . The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CFPZ for these organisms were 1.56, 800 and 25 micrograms/ml, whereas those of CCL were 1.56, 800 and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively . The addition of a subinhibitory concentration (1/4 MIC) of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which damages the permeability barrier of the outer membrane, markedly reduced the MICs of CFPZ for E . coli and S . marcescens, compared with those of CCL, whereas the MICs of both antibiotics for M . morganii were hardly affected by the presence of EDTA . CFPZ was more stable to beta-lactamase activities from these organisms than CCL . The cross-linking reactions of peptidoglycan synthesis catalyzed by the ether-treated cells from these organisms were inhibited by a lower concentration of CFPZ than of CCL. Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 1024 - 31 Use of Peyer's patch and lymph node fragment cultures to compare local immune responses to Morganella morganii; Logan AC et al.; Lymphoid tissue fragment cultures were established to analyze the differentiative processes among B cells in Peyer's patches (PP) and peripheral lymph nodes (PLN), especially those in germinal centers . PP cultures from both conventionally reared mice and formerly germ-free mice colonized with Morganella morganii could be maintained for greater than 12 days with continued B-cell division, especially among cells binding high levels of peanut agglutinin, a characteristic of germinal center cells . PLN cultures from conventionally reared mice injected with a heat-killed vaccine of M . morganii could be maintained for the same amount of time . Over this period, PP cultures continued to secrete immunoglobulin A (IgA) as well as smaller amounts of IgM . PP cultures from formerly germ-free mice colonized with M . morganii showed net increases of IgA antiphosphocholine (anti-PC) antibodies with avidities as high as those of the prototypic T15 monoclonal antibody . Similar PLN fragment cultures from conventionally reared mice given footpad injections of M . morganii showed net increases of IgM and IgG anti-PC antibodies in the culture fluid . Thus, although M . morganii stimulated lymphoid tissues in vivo to produce an anti-PC response in vitro when given by either the oral or the parenteral route, the antibody isotypes differed between PP and PLN fragment cultures . Fragment culturing may offer a complementary and simpler way to detect a local secretory IgA response than does either measuring IgA antibody in secretions or detecting IgA antibody in the cytoplasm of plasma cells in the lamina propria of gastrointestinal or respiratory tissue. Jpn J Antibiot, 1991 Feb, 44(2), 140 - 9 {Antimicrobial susceptibilities of clinical isolates of Morganella-proteus-providencia group of bacteria}; Igari J et al.; We examined in vitro susceptibilities of 3,109 isolates belonging to 5 species of Proteeae to 2 penicillins, 5 cephems and 2 aminoglycosides . The isolates were collected from 69 hospital laboratories throughout Japan between 1986 and 1988 . Minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined using the agar dilution method with inoculation of 10(8) cells/ml of bacteria . Proteus mirabilis had marked susceptibilities to the penicillins and cephems tested . Proteus vulgaris and Morganella morganii were similar in their susceptibilities to ampicillin (ABPC), piperacillin (PIPC), cefazolin (CEZ), cefotiam (CTM), latamoxef, gentamicin (GM) and netilmicin (NTL), but M . morganii was slightly more resistant to cefmetazole and ceftizoxime (CZX) than P . vulgaris . Providencia rettgeri also had a susceptibility pattern similar to that of P . vulgaris, except that P . rettgeri showed higher resistances to CZX, GM and NTL . Providencia stuartii had a very similar susceptibility pattern to P . rettgeri, but P . stuartii was much more resistant to GM and NTL than the latter . Some major differences on susceptibilities were clearly evident among the 5 species of Proteeae tested . Notable species-specific differences included higher susceptibilities of P . mirabilis to ABPC, PIPC, CEZ and CTM than others and stronger resistances of P . rettgeri and P . stuartii to GM and NTL. Infect Immun, 1991 Jan, 59(1), 289 - 94 Role of bacterial association with Kupffer cells in occurrence of endogenous systemic bacteremia; Hirakata Y et al.; Bacteremia in immunocompromised hosts often arises from their endogenous intestinal flora . We produced experimental endogenous bacteremia by administering cyclophosphamide and ampicillin to conventional and specific-pathogen-free mice . The frequencies of bacteremia and mortality in the conventional mice were significantly higher than for the specific-pathogen-free mice . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the major pathogen causing systemic bacteremia in conventional mice and was associated with a high mortality rate . Morganella morganii caused systemic bacteremia in both conventional and specific-pathogen-free mice . In contrast, Escherichia coli, enterococci, or other species most often caused portal bacteremia only . To determine the mechanism of occurrence of systemic bacteremia, we investigated bacterial blood clearance in mice and association with murine Kupffer cells, using several bacterial strains isolated from mice with bacteremia . Blood clearance rates and the abilities of isolated Kupffer cells to associate with bacteria were significantly greater for the organisms causing portal bacteremia than for those causing systemic bacteremia . There were no significant differences between the blood clearance rates in carrageenan-treated mice and that in normal mice . Moreover, association at 4 degrees C was not different from that at 37 degrees C . The results suggest that blood clearance of bacteria reflects bacterial adherence to Kupffer cells and that the resistance of bacteria to association with Kupffer cells plays an important role in the occurrence of overwhelming systemic bacteremia in this animal model. Infect Immun, 1991 Jan, 59(1), 229 - 33 Properties of a rat monoclonal antibody reactive with both the mannan of Candida species and the O-antigen 6,7 polysaccharide of serogroup C1 salmonellae; Nnalue NA et al.; Monoclonal antibody MASC1-MR9 of isotype immunoglobulin M was generated in LOU/C rats by immunization with heat-killed Salmonella thompson (serogroup C1, O-antigen 6,7 lipopolysaccharide) bacteria which had been further enriched for O-antigen by coating with homologous lipopolysaccharide . Eight monoclonal antibodies were selected by screening against the lipopolysaccharide of S . thompson . In a subsequent test against Candida mannan, only one antibody, MASC1-MR9, was reactive . Immunofluorescence microscopy of various yeasts and bacteria with MASC1-MR9 showed that this antibody bound to the surfaces of 142 of 148 Candida strains of 10 different species tested but failed to bind to the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The Candida strains which failed to bind MASC1-MR9 were all five strains of Candida krusei and the single strain of Candida utilis tested . Several (11 of 33) Salmonella strains belonging to serogroup C1 reacted with this antibody, as expected; however, 1 of 11 strains of Morganella morganii and 4 of 64 strains of Escherichia coli were also reactive . Serum-free supernatants of MASC1-MR9 agglutinated S . thompson, one strain of Salmonella choleraesuis, and 109 of 110 Candida strains tested . The immunochemical properties of MASC1-MR9 as studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent inhibition assays show that it recognizes an epitope present in the mannan of Candida species as well as in the O-6,7 antigen of Salmonella species. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1991-92, 70(1-2), 513 - 26 {Urinary tract infection in an ambulatory population: epidemiological analysis of the etiology and antibiotic resistance of isolated gram-negative strains}; Piccolomini R et al.; 15,892 urinocultures belonging to out-patients admitted to Chieti ULSS 04, from January '85 to December '89 were studied . Among the examined samples, the positive urinocultures were 4255 (26.8%) with a prevalence in the female sex (78.6%) . During the year E . coli was the most frequently identified organism (55.8%) without significant changes . 25.7% was the isolation percentage of Morganella-Proteus-Providencia (MPP) . In order to plan a right antibiotic-therapy the resistance of isolates to 19 chemo-antibiotics, during five years, was evaluated and compared. Bioseparation, 1991, 2(3), 147 - 54 Production and purification of L-phenylalanine oxidase from Morganella morganii; Gamati S et al.; An enzyme fraction, acting predominantly on L-phenylalanine has been purified and characterized from Morganella morganii . The total envelope was prepared by disrupting the cells with a French press followed by high speed centrifugation . After solubilization of the particulate fraction with 0.1% Triton X-100 and then centrifugation, the resulting supernatant was layered onto a DEAE-Cellulose column . Active fractions eluted were applied to a Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B column as the final purification step . The activity of the purified enzyme to various L-amino acids in decreasing order was phenylalanine, methionine, leucine, tryptophan, and to a much lesser extent cysteine and tyrosine . At 4 degrees C in 20 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.5, the partially purified fractions collected from the DEAE-Cellulose column were stable for 120 h . On the other hand, the purified fractions obtained from the Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B column showed a drastic decrease in activity within only 24 h . Mg2+ (up to 40 mM), Mn2+ or Ca2+ (up to 10 mM) stimulated the oxidation of the purified enzyme but increases beyond such levels decreased the enzyme activity . Co2+ (0.05 mM), Cu2+ (0.5 mM) or Zn2+ (0.1 mM) decreased the enzyme activity 37, 33 and 20%, respectively. J Med Microbiol, 1990 Dec, 33(4), 259 - 64 Protein profile typing--a new method of typing Morganella morganii strains; Senior BW et al.; A new, simple and stable method for typing Morganella morganii strains is described . The 150 strains examined, principally from faeces, contained haemolytic and non-haemolytic representatives of diverse O serogroup, bacteriocin type and biotype . Among the biotypes were some trehalose-fermenting, tetracycline-resistant strains and some non-motile, tetracycline-sensitive, glycerol fermenters . After analysis of cell lysates by sodium dodecyl sulphate-discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, strains could be differentiated into 21 types on the basis of outer membrane proteins (OMP) of 35-40 Kda . The OMP profile was not altered by culture on various common media and was unrelated to either O antigen or morganocin p-type . The finest strain recognition in M . morganii can be achieved by application of all three distinct typing methods. J Med Microbiol, 1990 Nov, 33(3), 165 - 70 Functional similarity between the haemolysins of Escherichia coli and Morganella morganii; Eberspacher B et al.; Haemolysin produced by a clinical isolate of Morganella morganii was examined for antigenic relatedness to the haemolysin of Escherichia coli and for similarities in mode of action . The M . morganii haemolysin migrated in SDS-PAGE as a single protein band with a slightly higher molecular weight than that of E . coli haemolysin . Several murine monoclonal antibodies against E . coli haemolysin cross-reacted with the M . morganii haemolysin in Western blots . Diminished haemolysis in the presence of osmotically-stabilising solutes indicated the formation of a pore by M . morganii haemolysin with an effective diameter of 1.5-3 nm . Results from dose-response experiments indicated that a single "hit" was sufficient for lysis of an erythrocyte . Detergent solubilisation of toxin-treated membranes led to recovery of bound toxin exclusively in monomeric form . M . morganii haemolysin was a potent leucocidin, that caused rapid leakage of ATP and death of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes . Under in-vitro conditions M . morganii haemolysin displayed similar leucocidal and haemolytic efficiency . The data demonstrate that M . morganii haemolysin shows functional properties virtually identical with those of E . coli haemolysin. Actas Urol Esp, 1990 Sep-Oct, 14(5), 330 - 4 {Clinical and diagnostic aspects of infective nephrobronchial fistulae}; Blasco Casares FJ et al.; After reviewing all of our hospital admittances, this paper presents two cases of nephrobronchial fistula (NBF) occurring in two patients, one with renal abscess-like granulomatous pathology and one with xantogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) . After commenting on these cases and including iconography, among which a fistulography, very rare in this type of cases, should be emphasized, the coincidence of the three microorganisms (and the presence of Morganella morganii) in lung cultures, and kidney in one case, is recorded . The paper remarks on the hidden clinical development, modes of presentations and the time of diagnosis which was pre-operative . Also clinical, diagnostic and behaviour of the NBFs and etiological diseases is reviewed. J Appl Bacteriol, 1990 Sep, 69(3), 426 - 38 Numerical analysis of electrophoretic protein patterns of Morganella morganii strains from faeces, wound, urine and other clinical sources; Costas M et al.; Sixty-five strains of Morganella morganii (mainly of human origin) were characterized by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE of cellular proteins . The strains came from various countries; 13 were from stools (including one from a toucan), 13 from wounds, 11 from urine, five from blood (including one from a snake), five from the respiratory tract (four sputum, one lung), 12 from miscellaneous sources and six from unknown sources . The protein patterns, which contained 45 to 50 discrete bands, were highly reproducible . The patterns of 67 M . morganii cultures plus those of the type strains of seven Proteus and Providencia species were used as the basis for two numerical analyses . In the first, which included all the protein bands, the M . morganii strains formed 21 clusters at the 91% S level . In the second analysis, in which the principal protein bands (in the 31.6-43.2 kDa range) were excluded, the 67 M . morganii cultures formed a single cluster at the 80% S level distinct from the seven Proteus and Providencia reference strains . We conclude that high resolution PAGE combined with computerized analysis of protein patterns provides the basis for typing clinical strains of M . morganii . Reference strains of each of the 21 PAGE types identified are available from NCTC for inclusion in future studies. J Bacteriol, 1990 Jun, 172(6), 3073 - 80 Morganella morganii urease: purification, characterization, and isolation of gene sequences; Hu LT et al.; Morganella morganii, a very common cause of catheter-associated bacteriuria, was previously classified with the genus Proteus on the basis of urease production . M . morganii constitutively synthesizes a urease distinct from that of other uropathogens . The enzyme, purified 175-fold by passage through DEAE-Sepharose, phenyl-Sepharose, Mono-Q, and Superose 6 chromatography resins, was found to have a native molecular size of 590 kilodaltons and was composed of three distinct subunits with apparent molecular sizes of 63, 15, and 6 kilodaltons, respectively . Amino-terminal analysis of the subunit polypeptides revealed a high degree of conservation of amino acid sequence between jack bean and Proteus mirabilis ureases . Km for urea equalled 0.8 mM . Antiserum prepared against purified enzyme inhibited activity by 43% at a 1:2 dilution after 1 h of incubation . All urease activity was immunoprecipitated from cytosol by a 1:16 dilution . Antiserum did not precipitate ureases of other species except for one Providencia rettgeri strain but did recognize the large subunits of ureases of Providencia and Proteus species on Western blots (immunoblots) . Thirteen urease-positive cosmid clones of Morganella chromosomal DNA shared a 3.5-kilobase (kb) BamHI fragment . Urease gene sequences were localized to a 7.1-kb EcoRI-SalI fragment . Tn5 mutagenesis revealed that between 3.3 and 6.6 kb of DNA were necessary for enzyme activity . A Morganella urease DNA probe did not hybridize with gene sequences of other species tested . Morganella urease antiserum recognized identical subunit polypeptides on Western blots of cytosol from the wild-type strain and Escherichia coli bearing the recombinant clone which corresponded to those seen in denatured urease . Although the wild-type strain and recombinant clone produced equal amounts of urease protein, the clone produced less than 1% of the enzyme activity of the wild-type strain. Arch Ophthalmol, 1990 Jun, 108(6), 861 - 4 In vitro antimicrobial activity of defensins against ocular pathogens; Cullor JS et al.; New approaches to antimicrobial therapy for ocular pathogens must overcome organisms that are resistant to current therapeutic modalities . This investigation examined the antimicrobial activity of novel antimicrobial neutrophil peptides (defensins NP-1 and NP-5) against isolates from clinical ocular microbial infections in humans and horses . The test panel of human clinical isolates included Candida albicans, an alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Morganella morganii . The test panel of equine pathogens included three clinical isolates of P aeruginosa and two clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus . The equine isolates were chosen for their relative resistance to commonly employed antimicrobial therapy . The two defensins differed markedly in their bactericidal activity . Defensin NP-5, at a 50-micrograms/mL concentration, exhibited minimal bactericidal activity against the majority of isolates of the test panel . The inferior microbicidal activity of NP-5 is consistent with previously published results . However, at this concentration, NP-5 did exhibit appreciable bacteriostatic activity against human ocular pathogens M morganii (74%), alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus (57%), and P aeruginosa (93%) during the 2-hour incubation period . In contrast, defensin NP-1 at 10 micrograms/mL exerted potent microbicidal activity against all isolates, effecting a 2 to 3 log10 decrease in colony-forming units within a 60-minute incubation period . Under the assay conditions employed, these findings demonstrate: (1) two distinct mechanisms by which defensins exert their antimicrobial activity against microbial pathogens associated with clinical ocular disease in humans and horses, and (2) that rabbit defensin NP-1 is a potent antimicrobial agent against a wide array of ocular pathogens. Can J Vet Res, 1990 Apr, 54 Suppl, S33 - 5 Molecular characterization of cytotoxins produced by Haemophilus, Actinobacillus, Pasteurella; Lo RY; The leukotoxin of Pasteurella haemolytica has been implicated as one of the major virulence factors contributing to the pathogenesis of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis . To gain a better understanding of the various biochemical, antigenic and toxigenic properties of the toxin, the genetic determinant (lkt) which encodes the leukotoxin has been cloned from P haemolytica serotype 1 . Results from the molecular characterization of this determinant showed that four genes are required to synthesize and secrete the active toxin from P . haemolytica . This information provides the basis for genetic manipulation of the determinant to produce different "forms" of the leukotoxin for various studies . In addition, lkt was found to be homologous to the alpha-hemolysin determinant (hly) of Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, P . mirabilis and Morganella morganii . Further evidence is being accumulated demonstrating the presence of the lkt/hly determinant in several species of Actinobacillus and Haemophilus . This suggests the wide dissemination of the lkt/hly determinant in many pathogenic bacteria and established the family of Rtx cytotoxins. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Apr, 25(4), 567 - 74 Inhibition of beta-lactamases by tazobactam and in-vitro antibacterial activity of tazobactam combined with piperacillin; Higashitani F et al.; The in-vitro synergistic activity of tazobactam, a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, combined with piperacillin was tested against various beta-lactamase-producing strains . The beta-lactamase inhibitory activity of tazobactam against various known types of beta-lactamase was also tested in comparison with clavulanic acid or sulbactam . Tazobactam caused a remarkable reduction of the piperacillin MICs for penicillinase- and oxyiminocephalosporinase-producing strains and also showed a moderate synergistic effect against cephalosporinase-producing strains . The bactericidal activity of piperacillin was enhanced in combination with tazobactam . Tazobactam inhibited the penicillinases, and the oxyiminocephalosporinase produced by Proteus vulgaris, at low concentration . In these cases its activity was comparable with that of clavulanic acid and stronger than that of sulbactam . Tazobactam demonstrated a better inhibitory capability than sulbactam against the cephalosporinases tested . Tazobactam was able to inactivate intracellular beta-lactamase in Prot . vulgaris and Morganella morganii, confirming its ability to penetrate the cell membrane of these species. J Bacteriol, 1990 Mar, 172(3), 1217 - 24 HlyB-dependent secretion of hemolysin by uropathogenic Escherichia coli requires conserved sequences flanking the chromosomal hly determinant; Cross MA et al.; The synthesis and secretion of hemolysin (HlyA) by Escherichia coli are governed by four contiguous genes (hlyCABD) that are closely conserved on plasmids and, among human pathogenic strains, on the chromosome . We have previously shown that in plasmid pHly152 the coexpressed synthesis and export functions are uncoupled by intraoperon transcription termination, which is in turn alleviated by antitermination dictated in cis by a region upstream of the hly operon . In this study we describe an analogous region of ca . 1,100 base pairs flanking the chromosomal hly determinant of the uropathogenic strain E . coli 2001 . This region had no significant effect on intracellular levels of hemolysin but activated strongly, both in cis and in trans, the specific hlyB-hlyD-dependent hemolysin secretion function . The secretion-activating region increased the transcription of the secretion gene hlyB, but the transcription effect was not as pronounced as that seen in the pHly152 determinant and was not evident when the region was present in trans to the hemolysin genes, suggesting that, in addition to transcriptional activation, the region may possibly exert a secondary posttranscriptional influence . Southern hybridizations with the 1,100-base pairs secretion-activating sequence showed low identity to plasmid pHly152 and no identity with total DNA from nonhemolytic uropathogenic E . coli or hemolytic isolates of Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, and Morganella morganii . In contrast, hybridization to total DNA from hemolytic E . coli isolates belonging to different serotypes showed strong conservation of the activating sequence, indicating that it is an integral component of the chromosomal hly determinant that is widespread among uropathogenic E . coli. Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(5), 345 - 55 In vitro activity of temafloxacin hydrochloride (TA-167 or A-62254), a new fluorinated 4-quinolone; Nakanishi N et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activity of temafloxacin hydrochloride (TA-167 or A-62254) was evaluated against a wide variety of clinical isolates and compared with those of other fluoroquinolones . The potency (MIC90) of the compound against gram-positive aerobic bacteria was higher or comparable to those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin . Against most gram-negative enteric bacteria and Pseudomonas species, temafloxacin was less active than ciprofloxacin, but was generally as active as ofloxacin and norfloxacin, except against Proteus species and Morganella morganii . Against obligate anaerobes, it was more active than the reference quinolones . Temafloxacin was bactericidal for one strain each of Staphylococcus aureus . Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The compound inhibited E . coli DNA gyrase activity at a low concentration. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1990, 37(4), 341 - 9 New O antigens of Morganella morganii and the relationships between haemolysin production . O antigens and morganocin types of strains; Voros S et al.; A collection of 142 strains of Morganella morganii, principally from unrelated patients' faeces was examined to determine the relationship, if any, between haemolysin production, O antigen and morganocin production/sensitivity type . Only 55 (38.7%) were agglutinable with the existing 44 O antisera . However, when O antisera were raised to some of the non-typable strains 11 new O antigens were found and 126 (88.7%) of the strains were typable . The number of O antigenic groups in M . morganii is now 55 . It was confirmed that the O antigenic characteristics of strains were independent from morganocin producer types . An epidemiological retrospective survey showed that finer strain recognition in M . morganii can be achieved by using both methods than either method alone . Approximately 30% of strains were haemolytic . The ability to produce haemolysin was more common in strains of certain O serogroups and morganocin producer types than in others. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, 1989 Nov-Dec, 31(6), 363 - 7 {Bacteriologic study of abscesses caused by bites of snakes of the genus Bothrops}; de Andrade JG et al.; The bacterial flora of 99 cases of abscesses following Bothrops snakebite were analysed . They corresponded to 61.1% of all snakebite abscesses observed in 1030 patients attending the Hospital de Doencas Tropicais de Goiania in Goias, Brazil, from January 1984 to April 1988 . An exsudate sample of each abscess was examined by Gram stain, culture and susceptibility tests . The Gram negative bacillis, Morganella morganii, Escherichia coli and Providencia sp were the most frequent bacterias isolated . They were identified in 44.4%, 20.2% and 13.1% of the samples respectively . This flora was similar to those described in snake mouth and venom by other researchers . Based on the results of the susceptibility tests the authors suggested the use of chloramphenicol for the treatment of those abscesses which do not respond to simple drainage. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 495 - 510 Studies to optimize the in vitro testing of piperacillin combined with tazobactam (YTR 830); Jones RN et al.; The combination of piperacillin and the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam (formerly YTR 830) was studied to determine optimal disk concentrations and dilution testing conditions . In addition, the potency of the combination was compared to that of piperacillin alone . The spectrum of piperacillin was greatly expanded by the addition to tazobactam principally against beta-lactamase producing strains of Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Morganella morganii, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia stuartii, Shigella spp., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Staphylococcus spp . Tazobactam was active alone against Branhamella catarrhalis (minimum inhibitory concentration {MIC} 50, less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml), gonococci (MIC 50, 0.5-4 micrograms/ml), and N . meningitidis (MIC 50, less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml) . Studies with beta-lactamase-producing type strains showed tazobactam to have high affinity for plasmid-mediated enzymes (TEM-1 and 2, SHV-1, HMS-1, and some CARB or OXA types) and not chromosomal beta-lactamases . Piperacillin/tazobactam inhibited 93% of fluoro-quinolone resistant strains at less than or equal to 64/8 micrograms/ml but failed to suppress the growth of 15 strains producing stably depressed cephalosporinases . Comparisons of piperacillin/tazobactam results determined with 100/10-, 100/20-, and 100/30-micrograms disks established the 100/10-micrograms disk as most usable . Among five different MIC combinations the ratio of eight parts piperacillin to one part tazobactam or fixed concentration tests at greater than or equal to 4 micrograms tazobactam/ml were preferred, each producing very low occurrences (less than or equal to 1.6%) of false-resistance or -susceptibility when compared to disk test results . MICs determined by agar and broth microdilution methods were essentially the same . The recommended breakpoints for piperacillin/tazobactam MICs were identical to those now found in the NCCLS susceptibility testing standards with the following exceptions: (1) for tests with H . influenzae and Staphylococcus spp.--susceptible at greater than or equal to 21 mm (MIC less than or equal to 16/2 micrograms/ml) and resistant less than or equal to 20 mm (MIC less or equal to 32/4 micrograms/ml); and (2) all remaining nonspeudomonas isolates would be interpreted by the NCCLS piperacillin enteric bacilli susceptibility criteria . This newer beta-lactamase inhibitor combination appears to be worthy of further in vivo trials guided by these or similar tentative in vitro susceptibility testing parameters. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Nov, 33(11), 1964 - 9 Comparative in vitro and in vivo activities of piperacillin combined with the beta-lactamase inhibitors tazobactam, clavulanic acid, and sulbactam; Kuck NA et al.; Tazobactam (YTR-830H), a novel beta-lactamase inhibitor, was compared with clavulanic acid and sulbactam for enhancement of the activity of piperacillin against beta-lactamase-producing, piperacillin-resistant clinical isolates . Piperacillin MICs were determined in media containing a fixed concentration of 2 or 4 micrograms of the inhibitors per ml . The higher concentration was generally more effective . Tazobactam was superior to sulbactam in enhancing the spectrum and potency of piperacillin . Although the calvulanic acid combination was more potent, tazobactam was effective for a similar spectrum of resistant gram-negative clinical isolates containing beta-lactamase . MICs were reduced to the susceptible range for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus spp., Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp . Combinations with tazobactam and sulbactam, but not clavulanic acid, were effective against Morganella spp . Some antagonism of the activity of piperacillin was observed with clavulanic acid but not with tazobactam or sulbactam . The inhibitors were similarly effective with piperacillin against beta-lactamase-positive Staphylococcus spp . and the Bacteroides fragilis group . Piperacillin-tazobactam was more effective against a broader spectrum of gram-negative enteric bacteria than ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid was . Combinations with tazobactam or clavulanic acid had a broader spectrum of activity than combinations with sulbactam against bacteria that produce characterized plasmid-mediated enzymes of clinical significance . In particular, piperacillin with tazobactam or clavulanic acid, but not with sulbactam, inhibited TEM-1, TEM-2, and SHV-1 enzymes . In vitro activity was reflected in vivo . Tazobactam and clavulanic acid were superior to sulbactam in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of piperacillin in mice infected with beta-lactamase-positive E . coli, K . pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus . Only combinations with tazobactam and sulbactam were effective against the Morganella infection . Tazobactam has a good potential for enhancing the clinical efficacy of piperacillin. Biochemistry, 1989 Sep 5, 28(18), 7306 - 13 Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent histidine decarboxylase: overproduction, purification, biosynthesis of soluble site-directed mutant proteins, and replacement of conserved residues; Vaaler GL et al.; The hdc gene coding for the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent histidine decarboxylase from Morganella morganii has been expressed in Escherichia coli under control of the lac promoter . The enzyme accumulates to 7-8% of total cell protein and is purified to homogeneity by passage through three columns . Fourteen site-directed mutant enzymes were constructed to explore the roles of residues of interest, especially those in the sequence Ser229-X230-His231-N epsilon-(phosphopyridoxylidene)Lys232, since identical sequences also appear in several other decarboxylases . Most of the overproduced mutant proteins were aggregated into inclusion bodies, but when the late log phase cultures were cooled from 37 to 25 degrees C before induction, the mutant proteins were obtained as soluble products . Ala or Cys in place of Ser-229 yielded mutant enzymes about 7% as active as wild-type, indicating that this serine residue is not essential for catalysis but contributes to activity through conformational or other effects . Of the replacements made for His-231 (Asn, Gln, Phe, and Arg), only Gln and Asn gave partially active enzymes (about 12% and 0.2% of wild-type, respectively) . The side-chain amide of Gln may act by mimicking the positionally equivalent tau-nitrogen on the imidazole ring of histidine to provide an interaction (e.g., a hydrogen bond) required for efficient catalysis . The Lys-232 residue that interacts with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate appears central to catalytic efficiency since replacing it with Ala yields a mutant protein that is virtually inactive but retains the ability to bind both pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and histidine efficiently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Sep, 42(9), 2023 - 61 {Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of cefteram pivoxil granule in the pediatric field}; Motohiro T et al.; Cefteram pivoxil (CFTM-PI), the pivaloyloxymethyl ester of cefteram (CFTM) in which aminothiazol was also introduced into the 7 position of cephem nucleus, is a new oral cephem antibiotic . CFTM-PI was absorbed through the intestines and hydrolyzed to CFTM by esterases in the intestinal wall and existed in the body fluids as CFTM . A tablet form of this drug has been released in Japan and now a granular form for pediatric patients has been developed . We have determined MICs of 5 drugs (CFTM, cephalexin (CEX), cefaclor (CCL), ampicillin (ABPC), erythromycin (EM}, against stock strains and MICs of 6 drugs (CFTM, CEX, CCL, ABPC, methicillin, cloxacillin) against fresh strains from patients received to CFTM-PI, with an inoculum size of 10(6) cfu/ml . A total of 149 strains included Gram-positive cocci i.e . Staphylococcus aureus (11), Streptococcus pyogenes (85), Streptococcus agalactiae (16) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (4), and Gram-negative rods i.e . Haemophilus influenzae (11), Bordetella pertussis (11), Escherichia coli (9), Proteus mirabilis (1) and Morganella morganii (1) . The granular form of CFTM-PI was administered to 9 boys (age: 8 years 3 months approximately 10 years 10 months) to determine serum and urinary concentrations of the drug and its urinary recovery rates using bioassay . Doses of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg were given orally 30 minutes after meal to 3 boys, respectively . Urinary concentrations and its urinary recovery rates of T-2525A, a main metabolite of CFTM, were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . To study clinical and bacteriological effects of this drug, a mean daily dose of 3.3 mg/kg divided 3-4 times a day (3 times: 133 cases, 4 times: 9 cases) was administered for 8 days on the average to a total of 142 cases with pharyngitis (22), tonsillitis (12), acute bronchitis (3), pneumonia (11), pleurisy (1), scarlet fever (28), acute purulent otitis media (16), impetigo (13), abscess (2), purulent lymphadenitis (1) and urinary tract infection (33) . Adverse reactions and abnormal effects on laboratory test values attributable to this drug were studied in patients . The results obtained are summarized as follows . 1 . With regard to Gram-positive cocci, MICs of CFTM against 11 fresh strains of S . aureus ranged from 3.13 to 6.25 micrograms/ml except for 1 strain, thus CFTM was equally effective to CEX, but less active than the other drugs tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Sep, 27(9), 1988 - 91 Proteeae species bacteriuria accompanying Proteeae species groin skin carriage in geriatric outpatients; Ehrenkranz NJ et al.; There have been numerous reports of Proteeae species urinary tract infections among elderly individuals . To explore a possible urinary carrier source of Proteeae species in this population, the frequency of aerobic gram-negative bacillus (AGNB) bacteriuria at the greater than or equal to 10(2)/ml level was determined in 67 ambulatory elderly outpatients classified as to Proteeae group (Morganella, Proteus, Providencia) groin carriage by a set of two skin cultures obtained at least 1 week apart . None had urethral catheters, symptomatic infections, skin ulcers, or recent antibiotic therapy . We found AGNB bacteriuria in 12 of 15 carriers (80%) and in 21 of 52 noncarriers (40%) (P = 0.009) . Proteeae species bacteriuria occurred in eight carriers (53.3%) and six noncarriers (11.5%) (P = 0.001) . At the 10(2) to 10(4)/ml level, Proteeae species were isolated in urine specimens from seven carriers (46.7%) and four noncarriers (7.7%) (P = 0.001) . There was concordance of species of skin and urine Proteeae isolates in six carriers . By contrast, non-Proteeae AGNB bacteriuria at any level was present in four Proteeae species carriers (26%) and 15 noncarriers (28.8%) (P greater than 0.05) . There was a 36.7% frequency of Proteeae species bacteriuria in nursing home residents, in contrast to 8.1% among those living in private homes; this parallels the greater frequency of Proteeae species groin carriage among nursing home residents in the study population . Low-level urinary colonization with Proteeae species accompanying Proteeae species groin skin colonization in elderly individuals is a hitherto unrecognized finding . This may account for the greater frequency of Proteeae species urinary infections in this population. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Sep, 24 Suppl A, 73 - 84 In-vitro activity of meropenem imipenem, the penem HRE 664 and ceftazidine against clinical isolates from West Germany; Bauernfeind A et al.; The antibacterial activity in vitro of meropenem was compared with another carbapenem, imipenem, the penem HRE 664, and ceftazidime . MICs were not influenced by pH nor by inoculum size below 5 X 10(5) cfu/ml: higher inocula caused a modest increase in MIC . Cation supplementation of Mueller-Hinton broth was without effect . Meropenem was more active than imipenem and the other comparative agents against the majority of Gram-negative species (in particular proteus, providencia, morganella, haemophilus, neisseria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis) . Against Gram-positive organisms, the activity of meropenem was equal to or slightly less that of imipenem . Neither meropenem nor imipenem were influenced by the extended spectrum beta-lactamases that confer resistance to third generation cephalosporins produced by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K . oxytoca or Serratia marcescens. Transfusion, 1989 Jul-Aug, 29(6), 549 - 51 Anti-K1 of the IgA class associated with Morganella morganii infection; Pereira A et al.; An anti-K1 alloantibody developed in a patient infected with Morganella morganii . The serologic behavior and response to dithiothreitol initially suggested that the alloantibody was an IgM . However, flow cytometry and the separation of immunoglobulin classes by serum chromatography revealed that the anti-K1 was constituted solely of IgA . These data suggest that bacteria-induced red cell antibodies might be of the IgA class. J Med Microbiol, 1989 Jun, 29(2), 89 - 93 Discovery of new morganocin types of Morganella morganii in strains of diverse serotype and the apparent independence of bacteriocin type from serotype of strains; Senior BW et al.; A collection of 45 serologically distinct strains of Morganella morganii from several European countries was typed by morganocin production (p) and sensitivity (s) . This permitted their differentiation into 33 morganocin p/s types; 15 new types of morganocin and one new morganocin sensitivity type were found and are defined . Morganocin production and sensitivity characteristics appeared to be unrelated to the O and H antigens of the strain . The finest strain recognition in M . morganii might be achieved by a combination of bacteriocin and serotyping methods. EMBO J, 1989 Feb, 8(2), 595 - 605 Isolation and analysis of the C-terminal signal directing export of Escherichia coli hemolysin protein across both bacterial membranes; Koronakis V et al.; We have studied the C-terminal signal which directs the complete export of the 1024-amino-acid hemolysin protein (HlyA) of Escherichia coli across both bacterial membranes into the surrounding medium . Isolation and sequencing of homologous hlyA genes from the related bacteria Proteus vulgaris and Morganella morganii revealed high primary sequence divergence in the three HlyA C-termini and highlighted within the extreme terminal 53 amino acids the conservation of three contiguous sequences, a potential 18-amino-acid amphiphilic alpha-helix, a cluster of charged residues, and a weakly hydrophobic terminal sequence rich in hydroxylated residues . Fusion of the C-terminal 53 amino acid sequence to non-exported truncated Hly A directed wild-type export but export was radically reduced following independent disruption or progressive truncation of the three C-terminal features by in-frame deletion and the introduction of translation stop codons within the 3' hlyA sequence . The data indicate that the HlyA C-terminal export signal comprises multiple components and suggest possible analogies with the mitochondrial import signal . Hemolysis assays and immunoblotting confirmed the intracellular accumulation of non-exported HlyA proteins and supported the view that export proceeds without a periplasmic intermediate . Comparison of cytoplasmic and extracellular forms of an independently exported extreme C-terminal 194 residue peptide showed that the signal was not removed during export. Hinyokika Kiyo, 1989 Feb, 35(2), 277 - 81 {Urease activity of bacteria in urine}; Arai Y et al.; Urea splitting bacteria are related to the formation of struvite or apatite . We investigated the urease activity of bacteria by two methods; the direct measurement of urease activity of viable bacteria and sonicated bacteria from amounts of ammonia by the indophenol method, and the measurement of urease activity by alkalization of infected urine . Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had moderate activity of urease, and Morganella morganii and Staphylococcus epidermidis had the most powerful activity . P . mirabilis caused the strongest alkalization in infected urine. Med Dosw Mikrobiol, 1989, 41(1), 29 - 36 {Properties of bacteriocins of Morganella morganii}; Sakowska D et al.; Some properties of Morganella morganii bacteriocins were determined . For this purpose two strains (115 and 137) which after mitomycin C induction produced bacteriocins in high titer were chosen . The influence of several physical and chemical factors such as: heating and storage at various temperatures, a freezing and thawing, an influence of buffered fluid of different pH, and digestion by trypsin, papain and lysozyme were investigated . Range of bacteriocin activity against various microorganisms and the ability to diffuse in agar were also determined . It was found on the basis of the results obtained that two bacteriocins showed different features . Bacteriocin "115" was thermostable, sensitive to proteolytic enzymes, able to diffuse in 1.5% agar . Bacteriocin designated "137" was thermolabile, intensive to proteolytic digestion, and incapable to diffuse in 1.5% agar . Activity of both bacteriocins was reduced after freezing and thawing . They were both insensitive to lysozyme digestion . Storage at room temperature reduced their activity faster than storage at the temperature of refrigerator . Their activity was completely stopped at pH 3.03, and significantly at pH 5.08 while environment of pH ranged from 7.08 to 11.0 did not influence their activity . Both bacteriocins showed narrow range of activity limited to the growth inhibition of sensitive strains belonging to Morganella morganii genus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Sep, 32(9), 1385 - 91 Chromosomal beta-lactamase expression and resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Proteus vulgaris and Morganella morganii; Yang YJ et al.; Indole-positive members of the Proteeae usually have inducible expression of chromosomal beta-lactamases . Mutants with stably derepressed beta-lactamase expression occur in inducible populations at frequencies in the range of 10(-6) to 10(-8) . The contribution of these beta-lactamases to drug resistance was examined in Morganella morganii and Proteus vulgaris . The M . morganii enzyme was a high-molecular-weight (49,000) class I cephalosporinase with low Vmax rates for ampicillin, carbenicillin, and and broad-spectrum cephalosporins . The P . vulgaris enzyme had a lower molecular weight (32,000) and high Vmax rates for ampicillin, cephaloridine, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone . Imipenem and cefoxitin inactivated the P . vulgaris enzyme but were low-Vmax, low-Km substrates for that of M . morganii . Despite these differences, the two beta-lactamases caused similar resistance profiles . Ampicillin and cephaloridine were strong inducers for both species, and beta-lactamase-inducible strains and their stably derepressed mutants were resistant, whereas basal mutants (those with low-level uninducible beta-lactamase) were susceptible to these two compounds . Mezlocillin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and (usually) carbenicillin were almost equally active against beta-lactamase-inducible organisms and their basal mutants, but were less active against stably derepressed mutants . This behavior reflected the beta-lactamase lability of these drugs, coupled with their weak inducer activity below the MIC . Carbenicillin was a labile strong inducer for a single P . vulgaris strain, and inducible enzyme was protective against the drug in this atypical organism . Cefoxitin and imipenem, both strong inducers below the MIC, were almost equally active against beta-lactamase-inducible organisms and their basal and stably derepressed mutants. Biochemistry, 1988 Aug 9, 27(16), 5927 - 33 Isotope effect studies of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent histidine decarboxylase from Morganella morganii; Abell LM et al.; The pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent histidine decarboxylase from Morganella morganii shows a nitrogen isotope effect k14/k15 = 0.9770 +/- 0.0021, a carbon isotope effect k12/k13 = 1.0308 +/- 0.0006, and a carbon isotope effect for L-{alpha-2H}histidine of 1.0333 +/- 0.0001 at pH 6.3, 37 degrees C . These results indicate that the overall decarboxylation rate is limited jointly by the rate of Schiff base interchange and by the rate of decarboxylation . Although the observed isotope effects are quite different from those for the analogous glutamate decarboxylase from Escherichia coli {Abell, L . M., & O'Leary, M . H . (1988) Biochemistry 27, 3325}, the intrinsic isotope effects for the two enzymes are essentially the same . The difference in observed isotope effects occurs because of a roughly twofold difference in the partitioning of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-substrate Schiff base between decarboxylation and Schiff base interchange . The observed nitrogen isotope effect requires that the imine nitrogen in this Schiff base is protonated . Comparison of carbon isotope effects for deuteriated and undeuteriated substrates reveals that the deuterium isotope effect on the decarboxylation step is about 1.20; thus, in the transition state for the decarboxylation step, the carbon-carbon bond is about two-thirds broken. Mol Gen Genet, 1988 Aug, 213(2-3), 551 - 5 Comparison of the haemolysin secretion protein HlyB from Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli; site-directed mutagenesis causing impairment of export function; Koronakis V et al.; The hlyB secretion genes of Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli showed 81% nucleotide homology and similar E . coli-atypical codon usage . The deduced protein sequences differed in 54 of 707 residues and shared a previously unreported sequence which corresponds to the ATP-binding motif characteristic of protein kinases . The motif was also conserved in the HlyB of Morganella morganii . Of 4 oligonucleotide-directed substitutions introduced into the putative E . coli HlyB motif, 2 non-conservative changes caused radical reductions in the export of active haemolysin protein. J Infect Dis, 1988 Aug, 158(2), 291 - 300 Immunization with rough mutants of Salmonella minnesota: protective activity of IgM and IgG antibody to the R595 (Re chemotype) mutant; McCabe WR et al.; We evaluated the immunoglobulin class responsible for the protective activity in serum obtained from humans and rabbits after immunization with the R595 (Re chemotype) mutant of Salmonella minnesota . Whole serum obtained before immunization and the IgG and IgM fractions failed to protect mice against lethal challenge with viable Klebsiella pneumoniae or Morganella morganii or with Salmonella typhi lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . The protective activity of postimmunization serum resided solely in IgM antibody, whereas IgG antibody exhibited no protective activity . IgM antibody to the Re mutant was protective against bacterial challenge with both test strains of bacteria and S . typhi LPS . IgM antibody, at approximately the same concentration present in postimmunization serum, increased the LD50 of K . pneumoniae from less than 8.0 x 10(2) to greater than 2.0 x 10(4) . These findings indicate that commercially prepared human IgG with high titers of antibody to antigens of the core portion of LPS would have little clinical utility. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Jul, 26(7), 1414 - 5 Chronic Morganella morganii arthritis in an elderly patient; Schonwetter RS et al.; This report describes the first case of septic arthritis caused by Morganella morganii . The elderly patient's course of pyoarthritis was atypical in its benign clinical presentation, having little inflammatory response over a prolonged period . Septic arthritis should be considered as a possible diagnosis in all elderly patients with joint effusions. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1988 May 15, 192(10), 1453 - 4 Bacteremia and septic arthritis in a West African dwarf crocodile; Heard DJ et al.; An anorectic, adult West African dwarf crocodile was examined because of bilateral hind limb paresis . Clinical findings included multiple skin wounds, osteomyelitis of the distal portions of the right radius and ulna, severe anemia, and Serratia marcescens bacteremia . The crocodile died after a blood transfusion . At necropsy, hemorrhage in the subarachnoid space, suppurative polyarthritis, and gastric ulceration were found . Serratia marcescens and Morganella morganii were isolated from multiple tissues and body fluids . It was concluded that the bilateral paresis was caused by severe septic arthritis secondary to bacteremia, and that the crocodile died from spinal injury caused by the blood transfusion into the supravertebral vein. J Infect Dis, 1988 May, 157(5), 990 - 5 Predictors of endocarditis in isolates from cultures of blood following dental extractions in rats with periodontal disease; Moreillon P et al.; Rats with periodontitis and catheter-induced aortic valve vegetations underwent dental extractions . Cultures of blood obtained 1 min later showed polymicrobial bacteremia in 19 of 19 rats, mostly due to viridans streptococci (18 of 19), Morganella (15 of 19), group G streptococci (13 of 19), and Staphylococcus aureus (10 of 19) . Viridans streptococci circulated in higher numbers than did group G streptococci and S . aureus (P less than .01) . Three days after dental extractions, 18 of 20 rats had endocarditis . Fifteen (83%) of 18 infections were due to group G streptococci, 9 (50%) of 18 were due to S . aureus, and 2 (11%) of 18 were due to viridans streptococci (P less than .05) . In vitro, adherence to platelet-fibrin matrices of endocarditis strain 8 of group G streptococcus was two times greater than that of endocarditis strain S . aureus 23 and three to four times greater than that of Streptococcus sanguis 44 and Morganella morganii 93 (P less than 10(-5)) . The inoculum size that produced endocarditis in 90% of rats after iv challenge was 10(5) cfu for group G streptococcus strain 8 and 10(7) for S . sanguis 44. Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1988 May, 21(2), 117 - 24 {Evaluation on the capability of indole pyruvic acid production by members of Proteeae on different brands of sulfide-indole-motility}; Tsai WC et al.; Members of Proteeae were vertically inoculated into different brands of sulfide-indole-motility (SIM) medium for evaluating the capability of IPA production . A total of 328 clinical strains of tribe Proteeae was used as tested organisms, including 186 Proteus mirabilis strains, 62 Morganella morganii strains, 31 Proteus vulgaris strains, 27 Providencia rettgeri strains, 14 Providencia stuartii and 8 Providencia alcalifaciens strains . Seven different brands of SIM medium used in this study are Kyokuto and Eiken from Japan; Gibco, Difco, Scott and BBL from U.S.A.; as well as Oxoid from England . The results indicate that SIM medium of kyokuto is the most suitable medium for Proteus spp . and Providencia spp . to produce IPA (positive rates are 95.4% and 93.0%, respectively) but not for Morganella morganii (16.1%) . Eiken, Gibco and BBL SIM medium are only good for Providencia spp . to produce IPA (positive rates are 95.5%, 85.1% and 87.8%, respectively) . Take account the tribe Proteeae the best SIM medium to detect IPA production was from Kyokuto (80%) and the worst was Oxoid (0.3%) . Since SIM medium can constantly detect the production of H2S, the relationship between H2S and IPA was analyzed . We found that there is no obvious interaction between these two characters . Production of phenylalanine deaminase (PD) is one of the important characters for tribe Proteeae . We compared PD and IPA positive rates of each members and found that the ability to produce PD and IPA is almost identical for each member in tribe Proteeae except Morganella morganii.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Med Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 25(1), 27 - 31 A survey of IgA protease production among clinical isolates of Proteeae; Senior BW et al.; A collection of 100 strains of Proteeae, in which all species within the tribe were represented, was examined for IgA protease production . The strains were isolated from various clinical specimens from sick and healthy persons in several countries . IgA protease-producing strains were not found amongst species of Providencia and Morganella but were common in Proteus spp . All the strains of P . mirabilis and P . penneri and many of the strains of P . vulgaris examined produced an EDTA-sensitive protease that cleaved the IgA heavy chain outside the hinge region . The proteus enzyme was different in this respect from the EDTA-sensitive, hinge-cutting proteases of other bacteria . The ability to produce IgA protease was unrelated to the O antigenicity, biotype or bacteriocin type of the strain . IgA protease production may be an important virulence mechanism for Proteus strains. J Med Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 25(1), 17 - 25 Production and properties of haemolysins from clinical isolates of the Proteeae; Senior BW et al.; A collection of 198 clinical isolates of strains belonging to the tribe Proteeae was examined for haemolytic activity on blood agar and in Brain Heart Infusion Broth . The strains were of diverse bacteriocin and O-antigenic types and from a wide variety of sources . They included representatives of all species of Morganella, Proteus and Providencia . Approximately half of the M . morgani strains were haemolytic on blood agar . This activity was not associated with any particular bacteriocin type . The haemolysin was also produced during exponential growth in broth and was thermolabile and calcium dependent . All P . mirabilis strains and some P . vulgaris strains were non-haemolytic on blood agar . However, most strains of the Proteus spp., irrespective of their bacteriocin and antigenic type, produced, over a short period during exponential growth in broth, a heat-stable, cell-associated calcium-independent haemolysin . A smaller proportion of P . vulgaris and P . penneri strains produced, in addition, a thermolabile, calcium-dependent haemolysin which was associated with the formation of large haemolytic zones on blood agar . The relationship of these haemolysins to Escherichia coli haemolysin and their possible role in virulence is discussed . Haemolysin production was not found in any of the 74 strains of four species of Providencia. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(4), 323 - 8 Properties and participation of "free" endotoxin in the toxic activity of Morganella morganii; Bartkova G et al.; "Free" and "bound" Morganella morganii endotoxin was characterized by chemical (determination of proteins, saccharides and 3-deoxy-2-octulosonic acid) and immunochemical (double-diffusion test, immunoelectrophoresis, tandem crossed immunoelectrophoresis) methods . Chemical analysis showed that "free" endotoxin contains more protein and phosphorus and less saccharides than bound endotoxin . Immunochemical tests revealed differences in the structure of polysaccharide portions of both endotoxins, and, on the other hand, identity of certain antigenic determinants . Free endotoxin possessed a higher biological activity. Acta Microbiol Pol, 1988, 37(1), 65 - 71 Haemolytic activity of Morganella morganii strains; Goluszko P et al.; Haemolytic activity on solid and liquid media of 103 Morganella morganii strains isolated from clinical sources was investigated . The ability to produce haemolysin was found in 42.7% of strains . All strains capable to produce haemolysin on blood agar media also revealed haemolytic activity in some liquid media . Haemolysins were found in the supernatants and filtrates of the cultures in peptone water but not in Brain Heart Infusion and Trypticase Soy Broth . The maximal titer of haemolysin was observed in the logarithmic phase of growth . Heating and incubation with trypsin led to complete loss of haemolytic activity. J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 25(12), 2302 - 5 Urease activity of Proteus penneri; Mobley HL et al.; Ten strains of Proteus penneri isolated from geographically diverse laboratories were tested for urease activity . Cell lysates from urea-induced cells had a mean activity of 4.9 +/- 4.1 mumol of NH3 per min per mg of protein . On nondenaturing 6% polyacrylamide activity gels, the enzymes of P . penneri had very similar electrophoretic mobilities within species and within the Proteus genus but were distinct from the ureases of Providencia and Morganella species . On lower-percentage polyacrylamide, differences in mobilities of the ureases could be detected between the Proteus species . From representative strains, the P . penneri urease was found to be inducible by growth in urea and had an apparent molecular weight of 246,000 +/- 9,000, an isoelectric point of 5.1, and a Km for urea of 14 mM and was inhibitable by acetohydroxamic acid, hydroxyurea, and EDTA . In an in vitro model of struvite formation, a P . penneri strain produced abundant crystals on a glass rod submerged in synthetic urine in the absence but not presence of acetohydroxamic acid (500 micrograms/ml). J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 25(11), 2216 - 7 Urease-positive bacteriuria and obstruction of long-term urinary catheters; Mobley HL et al.; Long-term urethral catheterization (greater than or equal to 30 days), a management technique for urinary incontinence, results in polymicrobial bacteriuria . We frequently found urease-producing bacteria: of 1,135 weekly urine specimens from 32 long-term-catheterized patients, 86% had urease-positive bacterial species at greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml . The most common species were Proteus mirabilis and Morganella morganii, each found in over half the specimens . P . mirabilis, but not other urease-positive species, was significantly associated with the 67 obstructions observed in 23 patients . M . morganii had a more complex association and in some way may protect the catheter from obstruction. J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 Oct, 63(4), 319 - 28 Numerical analysis of electrophoretic protein patterns of Providencia rustigianii strains from human diarrhoea and other sources; Costas M et al.; Twenty strains of Providencia rustigianii (including the type strain of Prov . friedericiana) have been characterized by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE of cellular proteins . They comprised 12 strains (almost exclusively associated with the intestinal tract) from humans, plus eight largely from the intestinal tract of pig, penguin and environmental sources . The protein patterns, which contained 45-50 discrete bands, were highly reproducible and were used as the basis for two numerical analyses . In the first, which included all the protein bands, the 20 Prov . rustigianii strains formed six clusters at the 88% S level . One of these clusters included the type strains of both Prov . friedericiana and Prov . rustigianii, thereby confirming the synonymy of these two species . In the second analysis, the principal protein bands were excluded . At the 86% S level the 20 Prov . rustigianii strains formed a single cluster, whilst a field strain of Morganella morganii and the respective type strains of three other Providencia species remained unclustered . The total protein pattern of the type strain of Prov . alcalifaciens was very similar to that of Prov . rustigianii phenon 3 and the M . morganii field strain, which indicates that careful biochemical characterization may be necessary to ascribe strains to a species before typing by the PAGE technique . Alternatively, a selective analysis of the protein bands may be used to confirm the identity of the strains, as shown in this study. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Oct, 31(10), 1644 - 7 Comparative in vitro activities of 13 antimicrobial agents against Morganella-Proteus-Providencia group bacteria from urinary tract infections; Piccolomini R et al.; We examined 741 urinary tract isolates of the Morganella-Proteus-Providencia group, including the recently defined species Proteus penneri, for susceptibilities to aminoglycosides, semisynthetic penicillins, and cephalosporins . The data emphasize the importance of identification to the species level on the basis of marked species differences in patterns of susceptibility. J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 25(9), 1796 - 9 Preliminary antimicrobial susceptibility interpretive criteria for cefetamet (Ro 15-8074) and cefteram (Ro 19-5247) disk tests; Jones RN et al.; Preliminary interpretive zone criteria were calculated for cefetamet (Ro 15-8074) and cefteram (Ro 19-5247) by using 10- and 30-micrograms disks and three possible MIC susceptibility breakpoints . Absolute interpretive agreement between MICs and zone size criteria ranged from 91.8 to 97.2% . Very major errors (false susceptibility) were less than or equal to 1.2% for both cephalosporin disk tests . Morganella morganii strains appeared to produce the highest rates of very major interpretive errors with cefetamet disks. Infect Immun, 1987 Sep, 55(9), 2198 - 203 Genetic and biochemical diversity of ureases of Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella species isolated from urinary tract infection; Jones BD et al.; Bacterial urease, particularly from Proteus mirabilis, has been implicated as a contributing factor in the formation of urinary and kidney stones, obstruction of urinary catheters, and pyelonephritis . Weekly urine specimens (n = 1,135) from 32 patients, residing at two chronic-care facilities, with urinary catheters in place for greater than or equal to 30 days yielded 5,088 phenotypically and serotypically diverse bacterial isolates at greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml . A total of 86% of specimens contained at least one urease-positive species, and 46% of 3,939 gram-negative bacilli were urease positive . For investigation of genetic relatedness of urease determinants, whole-cell DNA from 50 urease-positive isolates each of Providencia stuartii, Providencia rettgeri, P . mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Morganella morganii were hybridized with a urease gene probe derived from within the urease operon of Providencia stuartii BE2467 . The percentage of strains hybridizing with the gene probe was 98 for Providencia stuartii, 100 for Providencia rettgeri, 70 for P . mirabilis, 2 for M . morganii, and 0 for P . vulgaris . Electrophoretic mobilities of ureases from representative isolates revealed nine different patterns among the five species . The urease gene probe hybridized with fragments of HindIII-digested chromosomal DNA from all isolates except M . morganii . Fragment sizes differed between species . Molecular sizes of the enzymes, determined by Sephacryl S-300 chromatography, were found to be 280 kilodaltons (kDa) (P . mirabilis), 323 to 337 kDa (Providencia stuartii, Providencia rettgeri, P . mirabilis, P . vulgaris), 620 kDa (providencia rettgeri), and greater than 700 kDa (M . morganii, Providencia rettgeri) . Kms ranged from 0.7 mM urea for M . morganii to 60 mM urea for a P . mirabilis isolate . In general, P . mirabilis ureases demonstrated lower affinities for substrate but hydrolyzed urea at rates 6- to 25-fold faster than did enzymes from other species, which may explain the frequent association of this species with stone formation. Arthritis Rheum, 1987 May, 30(5), 583 - 5 Successful joint arthroplasty following Proteus morganii (Morganella morganii) septic arthritis: a four-year study; Katz LM et al.; Proteus morganii (Morganella morganii) is an uncommon cause of septic arthritis . We describe a 53-year-old woman with severely deforming rheumatoid arthritis, who developed an indolent septic arthritis secondary to infection with this organism . She was treated with antibiotics and closed drainage, and subsequently, underwent successful arthroplasty . She continues to do well 4.5 years later . This patient's disease course shows that gram-negative septic arthritis, effectively treated, does not preclude successful total joint arthroplasty. J Bacteriol, 1987 Apr, 169(4), 1509 - 15 The secreted hemolysins of Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Morganella morganii are genetically related to each other and to the alpha-hemolysin of Escherichia coli; Koronakis V et al.; Secreted hemolysins were extremely common among clinical isolates of Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Morganella morganii, and hemolytic activity was either cell associated or cell free . Southern hybridization of total DNA from hemolytic isolates to cloned regions of the Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin (hly) determinant showed clear but incomplete homology between genes encoding production of hemolysins in the four species . One of the two E . coli secretion genes, hlyD, hybridized only with DNA from P . vulgaris and M . morganii, which produced cell-free hemolysis, but not with that from P . mirabilis, which showed only cell-associated activity . Molecular cloning of the genetic determinants of cell-free hemolytic activity from P . vulgaris and M . morganii chromosomal DNA allowed their functional analysis via inactivation with the transposons Tn1000 and Tn5 . Both hemolysin determinants were about 7.5 kilobase pairs and comprised contiguous regions directing regulation, synthesis, and specific secretion out of the cell . Transposon mutations which eliminated secretion of the Proteus and Morganella hemolysins could be complemented specifically by the E . coli hemolysin secretion genes hlyB or hlyD . Alignment of the physically and functionally defined hly determinants from P . vulgaris and M . morganii with that of the E . coli alpha-hemolysin confirmed a close genetic relationship but also indicated extensive evolutionary divergence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Mar, 31(3), 379 - 84 Identification of porins in outer membrane of Proteus, Morganella, and Providencia spp . and their role in outer membrane permeation of beta-lactams; Mitsuyama J et al.; Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii, Providencia rettgeri, and Providencia alcalifaciens, which were once classified into the same genus, Proteus, were studied . Cefoxitin-resistant mutants from these species were isolated, and it was confirmed that the resistance was attributed to the lack of an outer membrane protein, resulting in a significant decrease in the penetration of hydrophilic cephalosporins through the outer membrane . Comparison of the mutant strains with their parental strains in the diffusion rates of six monoanionic cephalosporins, a zwitterionic cephalosporin (cephaloridine), and a divalent anionic cephalosporin (cephalosporin C) suggested that each species had only one kind of porin protein, with molecular weights of 40,000 (Proteus mirabilis) or 37,000 (the other four species) and that the porins formed channels with cation selectivity, except for Proteus vulgaris . Porin proteins were purified from all the bacterial species except Providencia alcalifaciens, and the radius of the pores formed by the purified porins was estimated by the use of the liposome swelling assay . The pore radii were estimated to be approximately 0.59 nm (Proteus mirabilis), 0.63 nm (Proteus vulgaris), 0.58 nm (Providencia rettgeri), and 0.60 nm (M . morganii), similar to the size of the pore radius of Escherichia coli porins. J Med Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 23(1), 33 - 9 The typing of Morganella morgani by bacteriocin production and sensitivity; Senior BW; A typing scheme for Morganella morgani based on bacteriocin (morganocin) production and sensitivity is described . These characteristics were determined by testing 160 strains in all combinations and permitted their differentiation into 90 types . Morganocin production was induced with mitomycin C and morganocin sensitivity determined with a diluted inoculum on Lab-lemco agar at 30 degrees C . Most strains (82.5%) produced morganocins and 49 different types were defined . Most strains (97.5%) were sensitive to morganocins and usually to several different types . The scheme is more discriminating than other reported methods . The finding in an epidemiological survey of the carriage of certain strains in the bowel for several weeks suggests that in practice the method is stable and reproducible. Infection, 1987, 15 Suppl 5, S232 - 5 Microbiological perspectives of co-trimoxazole; Bauernfeind A et al.; Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in vitro activity was compared with ampicillin, tetracycline, sulfonamide and trimethoprim against isolates of 24 gram-negative and 11 gram-positive species . The incidence of more than 10% of strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations above 32 mg/l was restricted to Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia rettgeri, Morganella morganii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Occasionally, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae strains with MICs above 32 mg/l were identified . Co-trimoxazole in vitro activity was superior to the comparative drugs for the majority of species . Co-trimoxazole remains an active combination against major pathogens of infections of the upper and lower respiratory, urinary tract and enteric infections with a still low incidence of resistant organisms. J Hyg (Lond), 1986 Dec, 97(3), 405 - 17 Speciation, serotyping, antimicrobial sensitivity and plasmid content of Proteeae from the environment of calf-rearing units in South West England; Hawkey PM et al.; A survey was undertaken of the occurrence, serotype, antimicrobial sensitivity and plasmid content of members of the tribe Proteeae in the environment of two calf-rearing units in the county of Avon in South West England . Examples of the following species were found: Proteus mirabilis, Prot . vulgaris, Prot . vulgaris Biogroup 2, Morganella morganii, Providencia stuartii, Prov . alcalifaciens and Prov . rettgeri . A wide range of serotypes was found, many having been previously reported from nosocomial isolates . A total of 15% of isolates carried plasmids; six pairs of isolates were identified which had identical serotypes but different patterns of plasmid carriage . The antimicrobial sensitivity of the isolates was generally similar to isolates of Proteeae from humans . Although no truly aminoglycoside-resistant isolates were found, some isolates of Prov . stuartii and Prov . rettgeri had MIC's higher than the other isolates to gentamicin and netilmicin, suggesting the presence of low levels of the enzyme AAC 2' . The study demonstrates that there is a considerable diversity of species and types of Proteeae associated with calves and their environment . It seems likely that a potential cause of colonization of the human gut by Proteeae is the consumption of meat. J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Sep, 24(3), 400 - 4 Do clinical microbiology laboratories report complete bacteriology in urine from patients with long-term urinary catheters? Damron DJ, Warren JW, Chippendale GR, Tenney JH. Bacteriuria associated with long-term urinary catheters (those in place for greater than or equal to 30 days) appears to be the most common nosocomial infection in U.S . medical care facilities . This bacteriuria is polymicrobial and dynamic and accompanied by fevers, catheter obstructions, bacteremias, and deaths . We compared the reporting by our research laboratory of bacteria present in urine from long-term-catheterized nursing home patients with that by two commercial laboratories . The commercial laboratories isolated significantly fewer bacterial species at 10(5) CFU/ml of urine specimen . Organisms well recognized as causes of urinary tract infections in noncatheterized patients (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae) were isolated in comparable frequencies by both the research and commercial laboratories . However, other organisms, including uncommon uropathogens like Providencia stuartii and Morganella morganii, which were actually among the most frequent bacteriuric species in these long-term-catheterized patients, were isolated significantly less frequently by the commercial laboratories . Reasons for the discrepancies are unclear but may involve use of different techniques . More complete reporting may lead to better understanding of the polymicrobial bacteriuria of long-term catheters and its associated complications . This, in turn, may result in improved patient care and infection control in nursing homes. J Biol Chem, 1986 Aug 25, 261(24), 11003 - 9 Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent histidine decarboxylase . Inactivation by alpha-fluoromethylhistidine and comparative sequences at the inhibitor- and coenzyme-binding sites; Hayashi H et al.; Pyridoxal phosphate-dependent histidine decarboxylase from Morganella morganii AM-15 was inactivated by (S)-alpha-fluoromethylhistidine by a pseudo first-order reaction, with KI and k inact values of 0.1 mM and 32.2 min-1, respectively, and was most efficient at pH 6.5-7.0 . Both L-histidine and the competitive inhibitor, L-histidine methyl ester, protected against inactivation . The apoenzyme was not inactivated . These findings indicate that inhibition is a mechanism-based process . Under optimal conditions a single molecule of alpha-fluoromethylhistidine inactivates one enzyme subunit, indicating that no escaping side reaction occurs during the inactivation process . The bound inactivator is not released by dialysis of the native protein but is released upon denaturation by heat or urea . This released product was not fully characterized, but it contains the tritium of ring-labeled alpha-fluoromethyl-{3H}histidine, exhibits the spectral properties of a 3-hydroxypyridine derivative, and does not yield any amino acids on hydrolysis . The label was much more stable following borohydride reduction of the inactivated protein, and a tryptic peptide containing the modified residue was isolated . Sequencing of this peptide and the corresponding peptide from the native enzyme revealed that the inactivator binds to a serine residue of the holoenzyme . Two P-pyridoxyl peptides from tryptic or CNBr digests of the NaBH4-reduced enzyme were also isolated . Sequence and compositional data obtained with these peptides showed that the serine residue to which the inhibitor binds is not near the lysine residue that binds pyridoxal-P in the primary sequence of the protein, although the two residues must be near one another in the three-dimensional structure to account for these results . A speculative mechanism for inactivation, consistent with the experimental findings, is presented. J Biol Chem, 1986 Aug 25, 261(24), 11010 - 4 Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent histidine decarboxylase . Nucleotide sequence of the hdc gene and the corresponding amino acid sequence; Vaaler GL et al.; The nucleotide sequence of a 1.3-kilobase NaeI fragment from Morganella morganii AM-15 that contains the gene for histidine decarboxylase has been determined . The gene was initially identified among total chromosomal digests using a mixed sequence oligonucleotide probe corresponding to amino acids 11-16 of histidine decarboxylase and then cloned on a 5.5-kilobase PstI fragment . The structural gene contains 1131 nucleotides and encodes 377 amino acids with the sequence: (sequence: in text) . The independently determined NH2-terminal sequence of this enzyme (Tanase, S., Guirard, B . M., and Snell, E . E . (1985) J . Biol . Chem . 260, 6738-6746) and the amino acid sequences of two tryptic peptides reported in the accompanying paper (Hayashi, H., Tanase, S., and Snell, E . E . (1986) J . Biol . Chem . 261, 11003-11009) are localized in the sequence presented here; the lysine that binds pyridoxal phosphate is situated at residue 232, whereas the serine that binds the adduct formed between pyridoxal phosphate and the inhibitor alpha-fluoromethylhistidine is positioned at residue 322. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1986 Feb, 261(1), 1 - 11 Production and degradation of indole by gram-negative bacteria; Muller HE; The indole reaction is performed in various modifications with regard both to the reagents and to the media used . Especially the medium has hitherto attracted little attention and there are divergent recommendations for its composition . The comparison of some broths without and with addition of tryptophan after incubation with different indole-positive species revealed that tryptone without tryptophan yielded stronger reactions than with tryptophan added . Other broths showed stronger reactions with tryptophan . Investigations revealed that numerous indole-positive as well as indole-negative species possess an enzyme system degrading indole . It is induced after one or two days of incubation and acts slowly . All species of the Morganella-Proteus-Providencia group possess it, as does Serratia . Some other species show different characteristics . The production of indole from peptone containing tryptophan and the degradation of indole by such species of bacteria are due to figures showing one or more peaks depending on time . Any false indole reactions described up to now may also be explained by the antagonism of the two enzyme systems . Therefore, the indole reaction should be standardized with regard to the medium used to avoid some of these difficulties. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1985 Dec, 260(4), 428 - 35 Production of brownish pigment by bacteria of the Morganella-Proteus-Providencia group; Muller HE; All bacteria of the Morganella-Proteus-Providencia group tested produced a brownish pigment on agar containing L-forms of aromatic amino acids, i.e . histidine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine in the presence of iron ions under aerobic conditions . No pigment was observed without iron or when using D-forms of the amino acids . It is a melanin-like pigment with variable molecular weight under about 12000 D and an absorbance maximum between 330 and 410 nm depending on the concentration and the amino acid metabolized . Moreover, there is evidence that aldehydes are intermediates . In addition, the bacteria develop a characteristic almond-like smell on phenylalanine agar. Arch Intern Med, 1985 Oct, 145(10), 1804 - 7 Antibiotic-resistant flora in nursing home patients admitted to the hospital; Gaynes RP et al.; To study carriage of multiply resistant gram-negative bacilli, 50 patients admitted to the hospital from nursing homes (NHs) and 50 control admissions not from NHs were matched for age and recent antibiotic use . Their antibiotic resistance patterns were similar: 20 NH patients and 14 controls had resistant strains . However, significantly more patients (64%) from NHs with large numbers of "skilled beds" had resistant bacteria than did patients from small NHs (21%) or controls (28%) . Also, more patients from NHs had members of the Proteus-Providencia-Morganella group in their urine than did controls . Discriminant analysis showed that residence in NHs with large numbers of skilled beds, recent antibiotic use, and bladder dysfunction (indwelling catheter or incontinence) were independently important in predicting carriage of resistant strains in NH and control patients . Over 75% of resistant isolates were from rectal specimens, emphasizing the occult way that such strains are brought into the hospital. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Sep, (9), 31 - 5 {Antigenic characteristics of standard strains of Providencia rettgeri (O- and H-antigens)}; Romanenko EE et al.; Additions and changes have been introduced into the existing antigenic diagnostic scheme of P . rettgeri on the basis of the study of the antigenic structure of standard strains from foreign collections: new, formerly unknown varieties of somatic and flagellar antigens (O35, O36, H27, H28) have been discovered, the complex of antigenic factors for H-antigens 7, 10, 23, 27 has been discovered . Strains 958 (36 : 28) and 979 (16 : 27a, 23b, 2a), previously classified with the genus Morganella, have been identified by O- and H-antigens. Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Jul-Aug, 7 Suppl 3, S518 - 21