Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Oct 31, 156(2), 695 - 700 Mutation affecting peptide bond formation in nikkomycin biosynthesis; Engel P et al.; Nikkomycin, a nucleoside-peptide analog of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, is a potent chitin synthase inhibitor produced by the bacterium Streptomyces tendae . The HPLC profile of fermentation products in culture broths of a non-producing mutant, Nik 15, was compared with nikkomycin standards . Nikkomycin C and D, the glycone and aglycone moieties, respectively, of nikkomycin Z accumulated . This indicates the mutation affects the capacity to form a peptide bond between nikkomycin C and D, which is here proposed to be the terminal step in the synthesis of the biologically active nikkomycin Z . This is also the first documented case of a mutation affecting a specific step in nikkomycin biosynthesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Oct 31, 156(2), 733 - 9 Control of misincorporation of de novo synthesized norleucine into recombinant interleukin-2 in E . coli; Tsai LB et al.; Interleukin-2 produced from a recombinant E . coli was found to contain as much as 19% norleucine in place of methionine in a minimal medium fermentation . Medium supplementation experiments and use of a leucine-requiring mutant host strain indicated the origin of norleucine to be de novo biosynthesis by reactions involving the enzymes of the leucine biosynthetic pathway . The misincorporation was highly suppressed by addition of either L-leucine or L-methionine to the fermentation and completely suppressed by adding both amino acids. J Chromatogr, 1988 Oct 19, 450(1), 115 - 9 Isolation of gentamicin C compounds from culture filtrates of Micromonospora purpurea; Jork H et al.; A liquid chromatographic method was developed for the isolation of gentamicin C compounds from commercial fermentation products in order to monitor health hazards (oto- and nephrotoxicity) . Chromatography was carried out on silica gel 60 (15-40 microns) with a medium-pressure chromatographic system, employing methanol-25% ammonia solution (85:15, v/v) and methanol-chloroform-25% ammonia solution (20:10:5, v/v) as mobile phases . The eluted fractions were neutralized with 1.0 M hydrochloric acid, concentrated in vacuo and desalted by gel filtration . It was possible to demonstrate by 1H NMR spectroscopy and high-performance liquid and thin-layer chromatography that the separated fractions contained components C1, C1a and C2 in purities of more than 95%. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 54(10), 2510 - 4 Comparisons of ruminal fermentation characteristics and microbial populations in bison and cattle; Towne G et al.; Ruminal microbial populations, fermentation characteristics, digestibility, and liquid flow rates in two ruminally cannulated bison and two ruminally cannulated Hereford steers fed a prairie hay diet were compared . No significant differences in anaerobic bacterial counts, volatile fatty acid concentrations, or ruminal pHs were evident between bison and cattle . Also, no significant differences in neutral detergent fiber digestibility, indigestible fiber retention time, or intake were detected between bison and cattle, although cattle had higher levels (P less than 0.08) of ruminal dry matter and indigestible fiber than bison . Bison had a smaller (P = .02) ruminoreticular volume, faster liquid dilution rates, and faster liquid turnover times than cattle . The average ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was higher (P = 0.02) in bison (1.17 mg/dl) than in cattle (0.79 mg/dl) . Total ciliate protozoal counts and cell volume were greater (P = 0.07) in bison (32.8 x 10(4)/g and 407.1 x 10(-4) ml/g, respectively) than in cattle (15.7 x 10(4)/g and 162.2 x 10(-4) ml/g, respectively) . Bison harbored higher (P less than 0.02) numbers of Dasytricha spp., Eudiplodinium maggii, Eudiplodinium bursa, and Epidinium spp . than cattle and possessed a type B protozoan population . The cattle possessed a mixed type A-type B population that was characterized by Ophryoscolex spp . and Polyplastron spp . in association with low concentrations of Epidinium spp . and Eudiplodinium maggii. Pharmazie, 1988 Oct, 43(10), 717 - 9 {Griseochelin methyl ester, a new polyether derivative with antiviral activity}; Tonew E et al.; The methylester of griseochelin (1) is a new chemically-made antiviral derivate of the antibiotic griseochelin isolated from fermentations of Streptomyces griseus . It belongs to the polyether group and possesses antiviral activity against enveloped RNA and DNA viruses cultivated in chicken embryo cells (CEC), namely influenzavirus A/WSN, vesicularstomatitis virus (Indiana), vaccinia virus (Lister) and herpes simplex hominis virus type 1 (Kupka) . The methylester of griseochelin failed to show virucidal effects on extracellular influenza vacciniavirus particles or to influence virus adsorption and penetration processes . The antibiotic in concentrations of 125-15 micrograms/ml inhibited the virus-induced cytopathic effect of the above mentioned viruses and caused over 90 per cent plaque reduction . Addition of 1 during a one-step growth cycle of influenzavirus A at 4 and 6 h p.i . resulted in complete suppression of virus multiplication at the control niveau of the virus yield accumulated to the same time point . A partial reversibility of the antiviral action against influenzavirus A could be achieved . Coxsackie A9 virus growth in human fibroblast cells was not affected by the inhibitor . Electron-optical observations showed a failure of the formation of the viral capside proteins of HSV type 1 at the second halftime of the replication cycle in CEC-infected and 1-treated cultures. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Oct, 41(10), 1300 - 15 Phenelfamycins, a novel complex of elfamycin-type antibiotics . II . Isolation and structure determination; Hochlowski JE et al.; A novel complex of elfamycin-type antibiotics has been isolated from submerged fermentation of either Streptomyces violaceoniger AB 999F-80 or Streptomyces violaceoniger AB 1047T-33 . Antibiotics were extracted from the fermentation broth with ethyl acetate and from the mycelia with acetone . Purification of individual components was achieved by a combination of solvent partitions, Sephadex LH-20 exclusion, C18 bonded-phase silica gel adsorption, diol partition and liquid-liquid countercurrent chromatographies . Seven closely related components were separated and assigned structures 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16 to phenelfamycins A to F respectively and structure 17 to unphenelfamycin . These structures were elucidated employing a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including extensive use of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 26(10), 2213 - 5 Dysgonic fermenter 3 bacteremia in a neutropenic patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia; Aronson NE et al.; Persistent dysgonic fermenter 3 bacteremia occurred in a granulocytopenic leukemic patient on broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy . This is the first reported case of bacteremia with this fastidious gram-negative rod . Characteristic microbiology and antibiotic susceptibility testing are reviewed . Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy eliminated the bacteremia. Curr Genet, 1988 Oct, 14(4), 319 - 23 The MAL63 gene of Saccharomyces encodes a cysteine-zinc finger protein; Kim J et al.; Inducible maltose fermentation by Saccharomyces carlesbergensis requires the product of the MAL63 gene of the MAL6 locus . It has been suggested that this gene product is an activator protein controlling the expression of the structural genes encoding the maltose fermentative enzymes perhaps by binding to DNA sequences upstream of these genes . We report the sequence of the MAL63 gene . A single open reading frame is seen capable of encoding a protein of 470 amino acid residues . The deduced sequence of this protein indicates that it is a cysteine-zinc finger protein supporting the hypothesis that the MAL63 gene product is a DNA binding protein. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Oct, 41(10), 1358 - 65 Enhanced production of the minor components of glidobactins in Polyangium brachysporum; Numata K et al.; Polyangium brachysporum sp . nov . strain ATCC 53080 produces a novel type of antifungal and antitumor antibiotic complex, glidobactins A, B and C . Enhanced production of minor components, glidobactins B and C, was achieved by medium modification . The addition of soybean oil or corn oil, which are rich in unsaturated C18 fatty acids, to the fermentation medium led to an increased production of components B and C . Productivity of component C was selectively enhanced by the addition of oleic acid-rich oils, olive oil and Tween 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate) . Furthermore, precursing palmitoleate, linoleate and oleate permitted the direct biosynthesis of components A, B and C, respectively . The fermentation with 3% addition of an appropriate oil at initial time provided an optimal production of component B or C. Am J Clin Nutr, 1988 Oct, 48(4 Suppl), 1079 - 159 The acceptability of milk and milk products in populations with a high prevalence of lactose intolerance; Scrimshaw NS et al.; 1) Most humans, like other mammals, gradually lose the intestinal enzyme lactase after infancy and with it the ability to digest lactose, the principle sugar in milk . At some point in prehistory, a genetic mutation occurred and lactase activity persisted in a majority of the adult population of Northern and Central Europe . 2) Persistence of intestinal lactase, the uncommon trait worldwide, is inherited as a highly penetrant autosomal-dominant characteristic . Both types of progeny are almost equally common when one parent is a lactose maldigester and the other a lactose digester . 3) The incidence of lactose maldigestion is usually determined in adults by the administration in the fasting state of a 50-g dose of lactose in water, the equivalent of that in 1 L of milk . Measurement is made of either the subsequent rise in blood glucose or the appearance of additional hydrogen in the breath . It is also sometimes identified by measuring lactase activity directly in a biopsy sample from the jejunum . For children the test dose is reduced according to weight . Depending on the severity of the lactase deficiency and other factors, the test dose may result in abdominal distention, pain, and diarrhea . 4) The frequency of lactose maldigestion varies widely among populations but is high in nearly all but those of European origin . In North American adults lactose maldigestion is found in approximately 79% of Native Americans, 75% of blacks, 51% of Hispanics, and 21% of Caucasians . In Africa, Asia, and Latin America prevalence rates range from 15-100% depending on the population studied . 5) Whenever the lactose ingested exceeds the capacity of the intestinal lactase to split it into the simple sugars glucose and galactose, which are absorbed directly, it passes undigested to the large intestine . There it is fermented by the colonic flora, with short-chain fatty acids and hydrogen gas as major products . The gas produced can cause abdominal distention and pain and diarrhea may also result from the fermentation products . 6) Among individuals with incomplete lactose digestion, there is considerable variation in awareness of lactose intolerance and in the quantity of lactose that can be ingested without symptoms . A positive standard lactose test is not a reliable predictor of the ability of an individual to consume moderate amounts of milk and milk products without symptoms . In usual situations the quantity of lactose ingested at any one time is much less than in the lactose-tolerance test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 7(2), 135 - 45 Evaluation of simplified and commercial systems for identification of foodborne yeasts; Deak T et al.; Commercial identification kits (API 20C, API Yeast-Ident and API-Zym) were compared with a conventional but simplified identification method (SIM) for identifying seventy-two yeast isolates from fresh sweet corn . SIM failed to provide identification of two isolates . Of the twenty species identified, only eleven were included in the API 20C profile index . Three isolates were identified at the species level and three were identified at the genus level with 100% accuracy . The enzyme kit (Yeast-Ident) gave rather unreliable results, in that identification of only four isolates with 75 to 85% of appropriate reactions was made . The API 20C kit could be used to identify non-clinical yeasts, provided they were included in its database and a few additional tests (urease reaction, nitrate assimilation and glucose fermentation) were also performed. J Biol Stand, 1988 Oct, 16(4), 259 - 67 The production of mycobacterial antigens by homogeneous culture in a fermentor; Nyabenda J et al.; Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG, substrain 1173P2, has been grown in homogeneous culture in classical synthetic Sauton medium without supplementary ingredients . The culture conditions are described . The protein release in the culture medium and the tuberculin yield after 2% trichloroacetic acid precipitation were significantly improved . The antigenicity of the tuberculin has been successfully assayed on specifically sensitized guinea-pigs . It is concluded that homogeneous mycobacterium culture in a fermentor using synthetic medium is a suitable method for the large scale production of antigen. Am J Vet Res, 1988 Oct, 49(10), 1669 - 72 Isolation and identification of mycoplasmas from the nasal cavity of sheep; Brogden KA et al.; Mycoplasmas isolated from the nasal cavity of sheep in a ram test station were examined to determine their identity and prevalence . Specimens were obtained for mycoplasmal culture in 1980, 1982, and 1983 from 558 sheep, and mycoplasmas were isolated from 630 specimens from 320 sheep (57.3%) . The isolates were characterized and differentiated into groups on the basis of sensitivity to digitonin, fermentation of glucose, and hydrolysis of arginine . Isolates in some groups were further characterized by use of additional diagnostic media, and their identity was confirmed by agglutination or growth inhibition with antiserum prepared from reference mycoplasmas . Of the 320 sheep with mycoplasmas, 293 had Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, 12 had M arginini, and 1 had M capricolum . Two sheep had Acholeplasma spp, and 3 sheep had unidentified Mycoplasma spp . The remaining 9 sheep had M ovipneumoniae in combination with Acholeplasma spp (n = 3), M arginini (n = 3), M capricolum (n = 2), and an unidentified Mycoplasma spp (n = 1) . The biochemical reactions of the M ovipneumoniae from the 293 sheep were similar, but varied in the degree of growth and fermentation in the basal medium containing glucose . The high prevalence of M ovipneumoniae indicated that it may be commensal in the upper respiratory tract of healthy sheep. J Bacteriol, 1988 Oct, 170(10), 4437 - 44 Influence of nar (nitrate reductase) genes on nitrate inhibition of formate-hydrogen lyase and fumarate reductase gene expression in Escherichia coli K-12; Stewart V et al.; In Escherichia coli, aerobiosis inhibits the synthesis of enzymes for anaerobic respiration (e.g., nitrate reductase and fumarate reductase) and for fermentation (e.g., formate-hydrogen lyase) . Anaerobically, nitrate induces nitrate reductase synthesis and inhibits the formation of both fumarate reductase and formate-hydrogen lyase . Previous work has shown that narL+ is required for the effects of nitrate on synthesis of both nitrate reductase and fumarate reductase . Another gene, narK (whose function is unknown), has no observable effect on formation of these enzymes . We report here our studies on the role of nar genes in fumarate reductase and formate-hydrogen lyase gene expression . We observed that insertions in narX (also of unknown function) significantly relieved nitrate inhibition of fumarate reductase gene expression . This phenotype was distinct from that of narL insertions, which abolished this nitrate effect under certain growth conditions . In contrast, insertion mutations in narK and narGHJI (the structural genes for the nitrate reductase enzyme complex) significantly relieved nitrate inhibition of formate-hydrogen lyase gene expression . Insertions in narL had a lesser effect, and insertions in narX had no effect . We conclude that nitrate affects formate-hydrogen lyase synthesis by a pathway distinct from that for nitrate reductase and fumarate reductase. Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1988 Oct, 10(5), 408 - 13 Acylphosphatase increases the rate of ethanol production from glucose in cell-free extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Ramponi G et al.; Addition of acylphosphatase exerted a stimulating effect on the alcoholic fermentation of glucose by Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The rates of glucose degradation and ethanol production by cell-free extracts of the S-288C strain were measured in the absence and in the presence of various levels of this enzyme . Two acylphosphatase isoenzymes were used; one was purified from horse skeletal muscle and the other from human erythrocytes . Both increased the rate of alcoholic fermentation, but that from erythrocytes proved to be the more efficient . This stimulating action is probably due to an "uncoupling effect" of acylphosphatase on the fermentative process, through hydrolysis of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate . This was demonstrated by the fact that alcoholic fermentation was stimulated considerably by a mixture of ADP and inorganic phosphate and by arsenate as well . The possibility of improving the fermentative capacity of microorganisms may have important biotechnological applications. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Sep 16, 971(2), 223 - 6 The high-affinity glucose uptake system is not required for induction of the RAS-mediated cAMP signal by glucose in cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Mbonyi K et al.; Addition of glucose or related fermentable sugars to yeast cells grown on non-fermentable carbon sources, triggers a RAS-protein mediated cAMP signal which induces a protein phosphorylation cascade . The high-affinity glucose uptake system in yeast cells is known to be glucose-repressible and only functional in strains containing at least one active kinase . In strains containing point or disruption mutations in the SNF3 gene, which codes for the high-affinity glucose carrier, the glucose-induced cAMP signal is still present . This indicates that the previously demonstrated requirement of a functional kinase for the induction of the cAMP signal, does not reflect requirement of high-affinity sugar transport . It also indicates that the unknown glucose-repressible protein in the induction sequence of the RAS-mediated cAMP signal is not the high-affinity sugar carrier. J Med Chem, 1988 Sep, 31(9), 1687 - 94 Cyclopentenylcytosine . A carbocyclic nucleoside with antitumor and antiviral properties; Marquez VE et al.; Cyclopentenylcytosine (CPE-C, 2), a pyrimidine analogue of the fermentation derived carbocyclic nucleoside neplanocin A, has been synthesized from the optically active cyclopentenylamine 3b by two synthetic routes . CPE-C demonstrates significant antitumor activity against both the sensitive and ara-C resistant lines of L1210 leukemia in vivo . Multiple long term survivors are produced in both tumor models . The compound also gives 100% growth inhibition of the solid human A549 lung and MX-1 mammary tumor xenografts grown in athymic mice . Good activity is also observed against a third human tumor xenograft model, metastatic LOX melanoma . CPE-C has significant activity against both DNA and RNA viruses in vitro . Potent activity is observed against HSV-1 (TK+ and TK-), HSV-2, vaccinia, cytomegalovirus, and varicella-zoster virus . Good activity is also found against a strain of influenza virus (Hong Kong flu), vesicular stomatitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and Punta Toro virus. J Bacteriol, 1988 Sep, 170(9), 3996 - 4000 Regulation of carbon and electron flow in Propionispira arboris: relationship of catabolic enzyme levels to carbon substrates fermented during propionate formation via the methylmalonyl coenzyme A pathway; Thompson TE et al.; A detailed study of the glucose fermentation pathway and the modulation of catabolic oxidoreductase activities by energy sources (i.e., glucose versus lactate or fumarate) in Propionispira arboris was performed . 14C radiotracer data show the CO2 produced from pyruvate oxidation comes exclusively from the C-3 and C-4 positions of glucose . Significant specific activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase were detected, which substantiates the utilization of the Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas path for glucose metabolism . The methylmalonyl coenzyme A pathway for pyruvate reduction to propionate was established by detection of significant activities (greater than 16 nmol/min per mg of protein) of methylmalonyl coenzyme A transcarboxylase, malate dehydrogenase, and fumarate reductase in cell-free extracts and by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic demonstration of randomization of label from {2-13C}pyruvate into positions 2 and 3 of propionate . The specific activity of pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase, malate dehydrogenase, fumarate reductase, and transcarboxylase varied significantly in cells grown on different energy sources . D-Lactate dehydrogenase (non-NADH linked) was present in cells of P . arboris grown on lactate but not in cells grown on glucose or fumarate . These results indicate that growth substrates regulate synthesis of enzymes specific for the methylmalonyl coenzyme A path and initial substrate transformation. Cancer Lett, 1988 Sep-Oct, 42(1-2), 113 - 8 The occurrence of N-nitrosocompounds {corrected} in zarda tobacco; Tricker AR et al.; The levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA), N-nitrosodiethanolamine, volatile and non-volatile N-nitroso compounds in zarda, a partially fermented Indian tobacco product are presented . Total identified N-nitroso compound concentrations ranged from 1.6 to 240 mg/kg fresh weight tobacco, TSNA accounted for 76-91% of the total N-nitroso compound burden . Preformed N-nitrosoethylmethylamine as well as the non-volatile compounds N-nitrososarcosine, N-nitrosoazetidine-4-carboxylic acid and N-nitrosothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid were identified for the first time in tobacco products . The high levels of N-nitroso compounds present in zarda tobacco indicate that zarda chewing communities are exposed to a considerable exogenic burden of potentially carcinogenic compounds, in particular TSNA. Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat Im I P Pavlova, 1988 Sep-Oct, 38(5), 958 - 62 {The adenylic system in the brain structures of rats with experimental myocardial infarct}; Stupnitskii IuI et al.; In rats experimental myocardial infarction, whether it was reproduced after a preliminary stress or in its absence, a reduction was found of ATP content initially appearing in the neocortex at the second day of the experiment . The deficit of providing of the energy in brain structures in a traditional variant of infarction reproduction increased still greater, and in the case of preliminary stressing the ATP content was reduced . Parallelly a characteristic change took place in the concentration of products of the fermentative ATP hydrolysis in the brain structures. Br J Nutr, 1988 Sep, 60(2), 307 - 19 The effect of date of cut and barley substitution on gain and on the efficiency of utilization of grass silage by growing cattle . 2 . Nutrient supply and energy partition; Beever DE et al.; 1 . The effect of harvesting date of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on the nutritive value of the resultant silage and the effect of substitution of late-cut silage with barley was examined in growing cattle . The diets comprised early-cut (H) and late-cut (L) silage offered alone or with 280 (LC1) or 560 (LC2) g rolled barley/kg total dry matter (DM) substituted for late-cut silage . 2 . Both silages were prepared with the addition of formic acid (850 milligram; 2.4 litres/t fresh weight) to a partially wilted crop, and were judged to be well fermented (pH 3.9, 3.8) with lactic acid contents of 108 and 73 g/kg DM, total nitrogen contents of 24.6 and 18.4 g/kg DM and ammonia-N contents of 121 and 124 g/kg total N (values for early- and late-cut silages respectively) . 3 . Two experiments were conducted to measure duodenal non-NH3-N (NAN) supply in relation to N intake on the four diets (feeding level 18 g DM/kg live weight (LW} and to examine the partition of the metabolizable energy (ME) supply from the four diets using open-circuit indirect calorimetry (three feeding levels, 14, 17 and 20 g DM/kg LW) . The experiments were undertaken with eight and nine Friesian male castrates respectively with a mean starting weight of 300 kg and age 12 months . The animals used in Expt 1 had been previously fitted with cannulas into the dorsal rumen and the proximal duodenum . 4 . NAN supply was significantly higher on diet H than all other diets which were similar irrespective of the level of barley inclusion . Mean ME contents (MJ/kg DM) of the two silages differed markedly (H 11.9, L 9.7) and barley addition (LC1 and LC2) restored values to 10.7 and 11.1 MJ/kg DM respectively . Estimated NAN absorption in relation to energy supply was significantly higher for diet H (1.47 g/MJ ME) than for all other diets (mean 1.25 g/MJ ME) . 5 . Partition of ME supply using conventional linear analysis indicated dietary differences with respect to estimated ME for maintenance (L greater than H, LC1 and LC2) and efficiency of utilization of ME supplied above maintenance (L greater than H, LC1 and LC2), but difficulties in biological interpretation of these findings led to the use of exponential curve analysis . This provided an improved description of the findings, and whilst dietary differences were apparent, none were statistically significant . It was concluded that a single exponential equation could be used satisfactorily to describe all values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Sep, 41(9), 1170 - 7 16-Deethylindanomycin (A83094A), a novel pyrrole-ether antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces setonii . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and characterization; Larsen SH et al.; 16-Deethylindanomycin (A83094A) is a novel pyrrole-ether antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces setonii . The antibiotic, which is structurally similar to indanomycin (X-14547A), is active in vitro against Gram-positive bacteria as well as coccidia. Arch Latinoam Nutr, 1988 Sep, 38(3), 543 - 67 {Lactose tolerance and milk consumption: myths and realities}; Scrimshaw NS et al.; The disaccharide lactose, the principal carbohydrate of animal milks, requires the enzyme lactase to split it to glucose and galactose . Undigested lactose passes to the colon where fermentation produces hydrogen and short-chain fatty acids that can cause abdominal distention, pain and sometimes diarrhea . Persistence of intestinal lactase after early childhood, is inherited as a highly-penetrant autosomal dominant genetic characteristic . On the basis of a review of over 560 references, all available data on the primary loss of intestinal lactase in Latin American populations are presented in tabular form . Prevalence of lactose non-digesters in Latin American populations ranges from 45% to 100% . However, this is not a reliable predictor of the acceptability of milk and milk products containing lactose . Milk is being used successfully for the supplementary feeding of children worldwide, and most lactose non-digesters can tolerate at least 240 ml of milk or the lactose equivalent in other products . Lactose maldigestion does not interfere with the absorption of the protein and essential micronutrients in milk . Information is provided on the lactose content of milk and milk products, on the usual milk consumption of Latin American populations, and on worldwide experimental and field observations of milk acceptability . Both adaptation to continued use of milk and milk products and relationships of milk use to various disease states in which intestinal lactase activity may be reduced are discussed . Some types of yoghurts are better tolerated because of the lactase activity of the bacteria used in their fermentation . For unusually intolerant individuals commercial enzyme preparations are available for addition to milk products but for most persons the additional cost is unnecessary. Mol Biol Evol, 1988 Sep, 5(5), 469 - 85 Fitness effects of amino acid replacements in the beta-galactosidase of Escherichia coli; Dean AM et al.; Two genetic procedures were used to obtain amino acid replacements in the lacZ-encoded beta-galactosidase in Escherichia coli . Amino acid replacements could be obtained without regard to their effects on lactase activity by selecting spontaneous mutations that relieved the strong polarity of six nonsense mutations . When streaked on MacConkey-lactose indicator plates, approximately 75% of these mutants gave strong red lactose-fermenting colonies, and 25% gave white nonfermenting colonies . Mutants from 11 other nonsense codons were isolated directly using MacConkey-lactose indicator plates, on which positive color indication requires only 0.5% of the wildtype lactase activity . Among the total of 17 codons, 25 variant beta-galactosidases were identified using electrophoresis and thermal denaturation studies . The fitness effects of these variant beta-galactosidases were determined using competition experiments conducted with lactose as the sole nutrient limiting the growth rate in chemostat cultures . Three of the replacements were deleterious, one was selectively advantageous, and the selective effects of the remaining 21 were undetectable under conditions in which the smallest detectable selection coefficient was approximately 0.4%/generation. Q J Med, 1988 Sep, 68(257), 741 - 52 Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2: an emerging zoonosis . Report of two cases and review; Zumla A et al.; We report Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2 septicaemia presenting in two previously healthy individuals, and review 52 cases of infection with Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2 reported in the English language literature . This zoonosis is usually acquired through contact with dogs and cats . Infection often presents with little warning to patient or physician and carries a high mortality . The immunosuppressed patient, those without a spleen, alcoholics and those with chronic disease appear to be most susceptible, although the healthy individual is also prone to infection . The infection is probably underdiagnosed due to difficulties in isolating Dysgonic Fermenter-type 2 by conventional blood culture techniques . Clinical and microbiological awareness is of prime importance in the early diagnosis of this potentially lethal infection. J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 134 ( Pt 9), 2507 - 11 Balance of production and consumption of ATP in ammonium-starved Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Lagunas R et al.; To establish a balance between the ATP produced in catabolism and the ATP consumed in net biosynthesis of cellular components the energy metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilizing glucose in the absence of a nitrogen source (resting cells) was studied . The following results were obtained . (i) Cell number and biomass increased 2- and 2.5-fold, respectively, during the first 8 h of ammonium starvation . After this period, both values remained constant . (ii) The rate of sugar consumption and ATP production decreased with the duration of starvation to about 20% of the original in 24 h . (iii) About 60% of the sugar consumed was fermented to ethanol and about 10% assimilated as cellular material . Of the assimilated sugar, as much as 80% was accumulated as carbohydrate . (iv) Only 15% of the total ATP produced in catabolism seems to be consumed in net biosynthesis and maintenance of intracellular pH . The fate of the remaining 85% is unknown. Curr Genet, 1988 Sep, 14(3), 201 - 9 MAL63 codes for a positive regulator of maltose fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Chang YS et al.; Genetic analysis of the MAL6 locus has previously yielded mal6 mutants which fall into a single complementation group and which are noninducible for maltase and maltose permease . However, the strains used in these studies contained additional partially functional copies of MAL1 (referred to as MAL1g) and MAL3 (referred to as MAL3g) . Using a strain lacking MALg genes, we have isolated two classes of mutants and these classes correspond to mutations in MAL63 and MAL61, two genes of the MAL6 complex . Disruptions of MAL63 are noninducible for maltase and maltose permease and for their corresponding mRNAs . The mal6 mutants are shown to map to MAL63 . Inducer exclusion as a cause of the noninducible phenotype of the mal63 mutations has been eliminated by constructing a mal63 mutant in a strain constitutive for maltose permease; the strain remains noninducible . These results rigorously demonstrate that MAL63 is a regulatory gene which plays a positive role in the regulation of maltose fermentation. Br J Nutr, 1988 Sep, 60(2), 197 - 207 Intestinal microflora and gastrointestinal adaptation in the rat in response to non-digestible dietary polysaccharides; Wyatt GM et al.; 1 . A comparison was made of the effect of a fibre-free diet and diets containing non-digestible polysaccharides on rat caecal and colonic physiology and microflora . 2 . All polysaccharide-containing diets led to enlargement of the caecum and colon, associated with increased weight of contents, and of tissue . Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) had the most marked effect and animals given this also had watery faeces . 3 . The density of bacteria in the caecum and colon varied significantly with diet and the proportion of aerobic bacteria in the flora was increased by the CMC diet . 4 . In vitro, CMC and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose were poorly fermented . 5 . There was a high correlation (caecum r 0.93; colon r 0.94) between tissue weight and wet weight of organ contents but no correlation with bacterial density, number of bacteria per organ, moisture content or short-chain fatty acid content . 6 . It is concluded that caecal and colonic enlargement is due to tissue hypertrophy in response to increased bulk of contents, irrespective of the nature of that bulk which varies with diet; it is unlikely that short-chain fatty acids or other microbial metabolites are the stimulus for the trophic response seen when non-digestible dietary polysaccharides are fed to rats. Am J Clin Nutr, 1988 Sep, 48(3 Suppl), 762 - 7 Meat, starch, and nonstarch polysaccharides and large bowel cancer; Bingham SA; Starch and nonstarch polysaccharides enter the large gut where they are available for fermentation by the bacterial flora . The effect of fermentation on nitrogen metabolism, the supply of nutrients to the mucosa, and the carcinogen production is discussed in relation to epidemiological associations between dietary intake and large bowel cancer incidence. Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Sep, 38(9), 817 - 23 {The occurrence of Fusarium varieties and their mycotoxins in silo corn . 3 . The effect of silaging on the zearalenone content of CCM corn}; Lepom P et al.; The influence of silaging on zearalenone already formed and on the growth of Fusarium culmorum in naturally contaminated CCM maize was studied . The zearalenone content remained approximately constant (13.35 +/- 2.94 mg/kg, n = 59) over the whole test period (12 weeks), whereas Fusarium culmorum could not longer be detected after 11 days . Thus the hypothesis that zearalenone survives the silaging process unchanged is experimentally strongly supported . The study confirms the view that zearalenone detected in maize silages is probably already formed in the field or during intermediate storing . Relations between the fermentation process and the toxin content of the silage could not be ascertained. Parazitologiia, 1988 Sep-Oct, 22(5), 394 - 7 {Effect of nitroammofoska on the aldolase activity of the normal hemolymph in the mollusk Planorbarius banaticus and in trematode invasion}; Stadnichenko AP et al.; The infection of Planorbarius banaticus with sporocysts of Cotylurus cornutus is accompanied by an increase in aldolase activity of molluscs' haemolymph of 1.2 fold . In solutions of nitroammofoska (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/1) the activity of this ferment in infected individuals increases much higher than in non-infected ones . This results in fast carbohydrate expenditures by molluscs, intermediate hosts of trematodes, and their death from exhaustion. Genetics, 1988 Sep, 120(1), 83 - 93 The naturally occurring alleles of MAL1 in Saccharomyces species evolved by various mutagenic processes including chromosomal rearrangement; Charron MJ et al.; In order for a yeast strain to ferment maltose it must contain any one of the five dominant MAL loci . Each dominant MAL locus thus far analyzed contains three genes: GENE 1, encoding maltose permease, GENE 2 encoding maltase and GENE 3 encoding a positive trans-acting regulatory protein . In addition to these dominant MAL loci, several naturally occurring, partially functional alleles of MAL1 and MAL3 have been identified . Here, we present genetic and molecular analysis of the three partially functional alleles of MAL1: the MAL1p allele which can express only the MAL activator; the MAL1 g allele which can express both a maltose permease and maltase; and the mal1(0) allele which can express only maltase . Based on our results, we propose that the MAL1p, MAL1g and mal1(0) alleles evolved from the dominant MAL1 locus by a series of rearrangements and/or deletions of this yeast telomere-associated locus as well as by other mutagenic processes of gene inactivation . One surprising finding is that the MAL1g-encoded maltose permease exhibits little sequence homology to the MAL1-encoded maltose permease though they appear to be functionally homologous. Med Hypotheses, 1988 Sep, 27(1), 85 - 7 Dietary fibre and health: the role of hydrogen production; Neale RJ; The biological basis for the epidemiological association between high dietary fibre intakes and reduced disease incidence in Man is not fully understood . It is proposed that molecular hydrogen, produced in quite large amounts as a by-product of colonic fermentation of dietary fibre and unabsorbed carbohydrate may play an important role . Hydrogen in the tissues may act as a powerful reducing agent (antioxidant) of potentially damaging free radical species (e.g . singlet oxygen) and in so doing, along with other antioxidants would help in the control of these potentially damaging species and their known involvement in disease causation. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1988 Aug 17, 80(12), 962 - 6 Microtiter assay useful for screening of cell-differentiation agents; Catino JJ et al.; Promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells induced to differentiate along the granulocytic and monocytic pathways respond to stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate by producing superoxide radicals . The amount of superoxide radical generation can be monitored by spectrophotometric measurement of cytochrome c reduction . We have developed a microtiter assay that assesses differentiation of HL-60 cells on the basis of cytochrome c reduction . HL-60 cells were incubated with known standards or unknown samples, including crude fermentation broths, for 6 days; then cytochrome c reduction was quantified as a function of increasing absorbance at 550 nm on a microtiter plate reader . HL-60 cells induced to differentiate showed up to a 10-fold increase in absorbance over that of control cells . Differentiation was confirmed by morphological assessment and by flow cytometric analysis of the DNA cell-cycle distribution and the cell-surface transferrin receptor . Analysis of 198 crude fermentation broth samples confirmed the feasibility of using this assay for large-scale drug screening. J Anim Sci, 1988 Aug, 66(8), 2071 - 83 Effects of forage source on ruminal microbial nitrogen metabolism and carbohydrate digestion in continuous culture; Dahlberg EM et al.; Eight single-flow, continuous culture fermentors were used in Exp . 1 to study the effects of forage source on ruminal bacterial N metabolism and carbohydrate digestion . Forages included alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin with respective CP concentrations of 26.0, 28.7, 26.3 and 20.0% . Each forage provided 100% of the substrate for microbial metabolism and supplied 2.6 g N/d . Ammonia-N, protein degradation and efficiency of ruminal bacterial protein synthesis were lowest (P less than .05) for sainfoin . Protein degradation and efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis were higher (P less than .05) for birdsfoot trefoil than for alfalfa . Effluent flow of amino acids was highest (P less than .05) for sainfoin . Total nonstructural carbohydrate digestion tended to be highest for sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil, whereas structural carbohydrate digestion was highest (P less than .05) for alfalfa and cicer milkvetch . In Exp . 2, mixed diets were supplied to dual-flow, continuous culture fermentors with alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin contributing 85% of the total dietary CP . Each diet contained approximately 12.9% CP . Ammonia-N concentration in the effluent and CP degradation tended to be lowest with the sainfoin diet and highest with the birdsfoot trefoil diet . Effluent flow of amino acids tended to be highest with the cicer milkvetch diet and lowest with the alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil diet . Total structural and nonstructural carbohydrate digestion was not different (P greater than .05) among forages . Results from these experiments indicate that bacterial degradation of protein was lower for sainfoin than for alfalfa . Birdsfoot trefoil and cicer milkvetch appear to be comparable to alfalfa with regard to metabolism of N and carbohydrates by ruminal bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Aug, 54(8), 2031 - 6 Relationship between nitrogen-fixing sulfate reducers and fermenters in salt marsh sediments and roots of Spartina alterniflora; Gandy EL et al.; A combination of inhibitors and carbon substrates was used to determine the relative contribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and fermenting bacteria to nitrogen fixation in a salt marsh sediment and on the roots of Spartina alterniflora . Because a lag period precedes acetylene-reducing activity (ARA) in amended sediments, an extensive analysis was done to be sure that this activity was due to the activation of dormant cells, not simply to cell proliferation . Since ARA was not affected by metabolic inhibitors such as rifampin, nalidixic acid, or methionine sulfoximine, it appeared that cell growth was not responsible for this activity . Instead, dormant cells were being activated by the added energy source . Molybdate inhibition studies with glucose-amended sediment slurries indicated that ARA in the upper 5 cm of the salt marsh was due primarily (70%) to SRB and that below that level (5 to 10 cm) it was due primarily (greater than 90%) to fermenting bacteria . ARA associated with washed roots of intact S . alterniflora plants was not inhibited by molybdate, which indicates that bacteria other than SRB were responsible . However, when the roots were excised from the plant, the activity (per unit of root mass) was 10-fold higher and was severely inhibited by molybdate . While this high activity is probably an artifact, due to the release of oxidizable substrates from the excised roots, it indicates that SRB are present in high numbers on Spartina roots. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Aug, 41(8), 999 - 1008 FR65814, a novel immunosuppressant isolated from a Penicillium strain . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical and biological characteristics and structure assignment; Hatanaka H et al.; FR65814, a novel immunosuppressant, was isolated from the cultured broth of Penicillium jensenii F-2883 . The structure was assigned to be 5,6-dihydroxy-4-(1,2-epoxy-1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenyl)-1-oxaspiro++ +{2,5}octane by spectroscopic analyses . The compound suppressed the immune response at low concentration . In addition, a structually related component fumagillol, a known carcinolytic agent, was also isolated and found to show immunosuppressive activity. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Aug, 41(8), 1009 - 14 Benadrostin, new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, produced by actinomycetes . I . Taxonomy, production, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities; Aoyagi T et al.; Benadrostin, a new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase was discovered in the fermentation broth of Streptomyces flavovirens MH499-O'F1 . It was purified by chromatography followed by solvent extraction and then isolated as colorless prisms . Benadrostin has the molecular formula of C8H5NO4 . It was competitive with the substrate, and the inhibition constant (Ki) was 34 microM. Behring Inst Mitt, 1988 Aug, (83), 1 - 7 Production of recombinant human colony stimulating factors in yeast; Gillis S et al.; Efficient yeast expression and purification systems for production of recombinant human GM-CSF, IL-3 and G-CSF have been established . Though yeast-derived production of recombinant CSFs (through the use of secretion based system) allows for generation of native molecules which can then be readily separated from fermentation broth, in many instances, natural cDNAs have had to be altered to allow for efficient expression, as well as production of a less heterogeneous product . In the case of CSFs described herein, beneficial mutations (made through site-directed mutagenesis) have included elimination of potential N-linked glycosylation sites, removal of KexII protease recognition sites (notably alterations in dibasic sequences) and elimination of extraneous cysteine residues which might complicate isolation of a homogeneous product due to intermolecular disulfide bonding. J Bacteriol, 1988 Aug, 170(8), 3443 - 7 A deficiency in cyclic AMP results in pH-sensitive growth of Escherichia coli K-12; Ahmad D et al.; Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 deficient in adenyl cyclase (cya) and catabolite activator protein (crp) have been shown to grow more slowly than their parent strains in glucose-minimal medium . Their growth rate decreased markedly with increasing pH between 6 and 7.8 . We have shown that this pH sensitivity is a direct consequence of the cya mutation, because a mutation to pH resistance also restored ability to ferment a variety of sugars . The proton motive force-dependent uptake of proline and glutamate was also reduced and sensitive to pH in the cya mutant . The membrane-bound ATPase activity was normal . The rate of oxygen uptake by cells, although reduced, was pH insensitive . We suggest several explanations for this phenotype, including a possible defect in energy transduction. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Aug, 41(8), 993 - 8 Saframycin Mx1, a new natural saframycin isolated from a myxobacterium; Irschik H et al.; A new natural saframycin was discovered in the culture broth of the myxobacterium, Myxococcus xanthus strain Mx x48 . The fermentation and isolation of the antibiotic are described . The name, saframycin Mx1, is proposed . The compound appears to interact with cellular DNA. Gene, 1988 Jul 30, 67(2), 247 - 57 Molecular characterization of yeast regulatory gene CAT3 necessary for glucose derepression and nuclear localization of its product; Schuller HJ et al.; The yeast regulatory gene CAT3 has an essential function for the depression of several glucose-repressible enzymes . Therefore, cat3 mutants are unable to grow on maltose or on non-fermentable carbon sources . Unlike the point mutants isolated previously, cat3 null allele strains also failed to utilize raffinose or galactose as sole carbon sources . Sequencing of an 1.6-kb HindIII-BglII fragment complementing cat3 mutations revealed an open reading frame of 322 codons, size of which is in good agreement with the 1.3-kb size of mRNA . No significant similarities with previously sequenced genes could be detected . CAT3-lacZ fusions confirmed the proposed reading frame . A CAT3-lacZ fusion encoding 307 amino acids of CAT3 was able to complement the growth defects of cat3 point mutants and null allele strains . Assay of beta-galactosidase activity under different growth conditions indicated a constitutive expression of the CAT3 gene product . Cellular fractionation studies showed the nuclear localization of the CAT3 protein. Nucleic Acids Res, 1988 Jul 11, 16(13), 5797 - 811 Demarcation of a sequence involved in mediating catabolite repression of the gene for the 11 kDa subunit VIII of ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Maarse AC et al.; A regulatory element has been identified in the promoter region of the gene encoding the 11 kDa subunit VIII of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The element, which is approximately 40 bp long and situated 185 bp upstream of the initiator ATG, is essential for induction of gene expression during growth in the presence of non-fermentable carbon sources . This is shown by the regulated synthesis of beta-galactosidase in yeast cells harbouring a CYC1-lacZ fusion gene, in which the CYC1 UAS's had been replaced by a 43 bp subunit VIII gene promoter fragment . In addition two DNA-binding activities, which may represent either separate factors or different forms of a single factor, have been detected . Both factors are abundant and they bind in a mutually exclusive fashion to a DNA sequence just upstream of the regulatory element . Although it is unlikely that these factors are directly involved in the response of the subunit VIII gene to catabolite repression, the position of their binding sites relative to the UAS and to the 3'-terminus of a gene located only 361 bp upstream suggest that they are important in modulating transcriptional activity of this region. J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1988 Jul-Aug, 71(4), 721 - 4 Liquid chromatographic method for determination of citreoviridin in corn and rice; Stubblefield RD et al.; Citreoviridin, a neurotoxic mycotoxin, has been found as a natural contaminant in corn left unharvested in the southeastern United States and in rice of several Asian countries, including Japan . A reliable analytical method for the quantitative determination of citreoviridin in corn and rice is described . Corn or rice is extracted with dichloromethane, and the extract is partially purified on silica and amino solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns . The extract is analyzed for citreoviridin by normal-phase liquid chromatography, using a mobile phase of ethyl acetate-hexane (75 + 25) at 1.5 mL/min and a fluorescence detector to measure the yellow fluorescence (388 nm excitation, 480 nm emission) . With a 100 microL injection loop, the relationship between concentration and injection volume is linear for 20-60 microL injections . Recoveries of citreoviridin added to yellow corn at 10-50 ng/g were 91.0-96.9%; recoveries from white corn (10-50 ng/g added) were 96.8-102.8% . Recoveries of 5000 ng/g added to white corn were 89.0%, indicating that heavily contaminated samples can be assayed by the method . Minimum detection limits were 10 ng for citreoviridin standard and 2 ng/g for citreoviridin added to corn . White rice fermented with Penicillium citreo-viride (1524 ppm) was mixed with and serially diluted with uncontaminated ground corn to obtain citreoviridin-contaminated corn (ca 25 ppb) . When the samples were assayed by the method, a mean level of 24.4 +/- 1.65 ppb (6.5% coefficient of variation) was obtained . Four fermented rice food samples and 3 commercial rice samples were investigated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jul, 41(7), 899 - 907 Mutagenesis of OA-6129 carbapenem-producing blocked mutants and the biosynthesis of carbapenems; Kojima I et al.; Streptomyces fulvoviridis A933 17M9 1501 is an A933 acylase-defective mutant derived from S . fulvoviridis A933 17M9 and thus produces the OA-6129 group of carbapenems and carbapenams . By further mutation of mutant 1501, 4 types of mutants (OA-6129 A + B1 + B2 producers; OA-6129 A + B2 producers; an OA-6129 A producer; non-producers) were obtained . The second type of mutant strains 4N 3607, 5NA 3949-40 and 5NE 252 proved useful for the fermentative production of carbapenem OA-6129 B2 . These results of mutagenesis demonstrated that the sequence of carbapenem bioconversion in the horizontal route was hydroxylation at C-8----isomerization at C-6----sulfation at C-8 hydroxyl. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jul, 41(7), 875 - 7 Novel cholecystokinin antagonists from Aspergillus alliaceus . I . Fermentation, isolation, and biological properties; Goetz MA et al.; The discovery and biological properties of four novel cholecystokinin antagonists produced by Aspergillus alliaceus is described . One of these was seven times more potent than the previously reported asperlicin. Jikken Dobutsu, 1988 Jul, 37(3), 339 - 40 Isolation of mycoplasmas from house musk shrews (Suncus murinus); Ito M et al.; Mycoplasmas were isolated from various sites of experimental and wild house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) . The oral cavity was the most prominent site to harbor mycoplasmas (15/18; 83%), followed by the nasal cavity (9/18; 50%) . All of the isolated strains required serum for their growth and all fermented glucose . They were found to be serologically homogeneous by growth inhibition test but did not cross-react with several type strains of mycoplasma or reference strains of murine, feline, canine, porcine, bovine and equine origins. J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jul, 71(7), 1860 - 7 In vivo digestibility of corn and sunflower intercropped as a silage crop; Valdez FR et al.; Six nonlactating Holstein cows in a 3 x 3 Latin square total collection digestion trial were used to evaluate three low DM (less than 26%) silage types: 1) corn; 2) corn and sunflower intercropped and 3) sunflower . Feeding periods consisted of a 7-d adjustment followed by a 5-d collection period . Dry matter intake was similar for the three treatments; 12.5, 12.1, and 12.0 kg, respectively . Percent apparent digestibilities for DM, NDF, and N for corn and corn-sunflower were similar and greater than for sunflower: DM (69.6, 68.2, 57.4); NDF (68.1, 61.5, 51.6); and N (66.3, 66.5, 63.6) . No differences were observed for digestibilities of ADF, hemicellulose, starch, or for N retention . Percent ether extract digestibility was greatest for corn-sunflower and sunflower silage when compared with digestibility of corn silage (82.5, 77.9, vs . 66.3) . Major changes in rumen fermentation patterns were not observed as evidenced by rumen molar proportions of propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, valerate, or acetate to propionate ratios . No difference was observed for rumen NH3 N (2.7, 3.2, 4.1 mg/dl, respectively) . Corn and sunflower intercropped silage had intermediate concentrations of fat, fiber, and protein when compared with those of corn or sunflower silages. Food Addit Contam, 1988 Jul-Sep, 5(3), 343 - 51 The problem of methanol concentration admissible in distilled fruit spirits; Bindler F et al.; Some distilled fruit spirits contain, normally, high quantities of methanol . After a brief summary of the process of methanol formation during fermentation and of the toxicological data, methanol concentrations of some distilled fruit spirits are indicated . Then, maximal amounts of methanol in spirits fixed by some countries are discussed as well as the problems which are generated by legislation. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1988 Jul-Oct, 65(3-4), 279 - 91 {Comparative study of the growth of Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium occitanie}; Mosrati R et al.; During the last years, a great deal of research on the production of energetic substances was directed to the use of cellulosic by-products . A technique of special interest is the production of fermentissible sugars by the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose . Mandels and Reese (1960) showed that a fungi strain of Trichoderma reesei is the best performant microorganism in the production of cellulolytic enzymes . Nevertheless, recent investigation indicated that the rate and the yield of conversion of cellulose to glucose of this strain are limited by its poor beta-glucosidase activity . In order to increase the efficiency of the hydrolytic power of the cellulasic complex two approaches can be considered . Beta-glucosidase enrichment of Trichoderma reesei enzymes . The selection and use of strains with a better performance . In our laboratory, we chose the second approach using Penicillium occitanie comparing it to Trichoderma reesei. Can J Physiol Pharmacol, 1988 Jul, 66(7), 895 - 900 The effect of 3-methylindole on the quantity and functional quality of lung surfactant; Kirkland JB et al.; Acute bovine pulmonary edema is a naturally occurring lung disease caused by 3-methylindole (3MI), a ruminal fermentation product of tryptophan . Morphological and in vitro studies have suggested that 3MI causes abnormalities in phospholipid synthesis . The present study was designed to investigate the effect of 3MI on the quantity and functional quality of surfactant using the goat as an experimental model . Following intravenous infusion of 3MI, goats were killed at 6-, 18-, and 30-h intervals . The lungs were removed and intracellular surfactant, in the form of lamellar bodies, and extracellular surfactant from alveolar lavage were quantified . 3MI treatment did cause modest changes in the lamellar body phospholipid pools, decreasing the quantity of phosphatidylcholine and the proportion of palmitate in this fraction . The quantity of lavage phospholipids was not significantly affected . There was an increase in the protein content of the lavage, reflecting the presence of edema . The functional quality of the surfactant isolated from the lavage fraction was tested in vitro using a pulsating bubble surfactometer . 3MI infusion decreased the ability of surfactant to lower the surface tension of an air bubble at maximum radius and during compression. Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Jul-Aug, 57(4), 695 - 7 {Characteristics of the methane fermentation of waste of animal husbandry complexes with respect to the biomass of microorganisms and volatile fatty acids}; Vedenina IIa et al.; The content of microbial biomass and the concentration of volatile fatty acids were comparatively studied in the tanks where the waste products of three stock farms were subjected to methane fermentation . The biomass content was shown to vary from 19 to 30% of the dry matter weight and the concentration of volatile fatty acids from 0 to 4.5 g per litre . The low concentrations of acetic and propionic acids together with the high biomass content were indicative of an active balanced microbial association . The parameters can be used to assess the operation of methane fermentation tanks. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jul, 33(7), 493 - 6 {Effect of the quality of the inoculation material on cephalosporin C biosynthesis}; Losev VA et al.; Parameters providing qualitative estimation of the cephalosporin C-producing organism seed material were studied . Before inoculation of the fermentation medium the seed material should have the maximum respiration intensity, maximum specific growth rate and not less than 15 per cent of the biomass. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 1988 Jul, 338(1), 74 - 81 Effects of alpha-tocopherol, its carboxylic acid chromane compound and two novel antioxidant isoflavanones on prostaglandin H synthase activity and autodeactivation; Seeger W et al.; The natural antioxidant alpha-tocopherol has repeatedly been described to inhibit platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation, whereas its influence on prostaglandin H synthase in vivo and in vitro is a matter of controversy . In the present study the effects of different antioxidative compounds on ram vesicular gland microsomal prostaglandin H synthase activity were investigated in vitro: d,l-alpha-tocopherol, its carboxylic acid chromane compound (Trolox), phytol, alpha-tocopherol-acetate and two novel antioxidative isoflavanones, obtained by methylation and/or hydrogenation of naturally occurring isoflavones from fermented soybeans (6,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavanone and 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavanone) . Alpha-tocopherol, -acetate and phytol revealed no significant influence on the enzyme activity when applied in concentrations up to 1 mM . Trolox (100-1000 mu mumol/l) and the two isoflavanones (5-50 and 10-100 mumol/l) dose-dependently augmented the initial rate of oxygen consumption and the total oxygen uptake during prostaglandin H synthase incubation with arachidonic acid (AA) . In parallel, these compounds increased the formation of prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha from 14C-labelled AA, and they markedly protected the prostaglandin H synthase from rapid autodeactivation as revealed by repetitive application of AA in small doses . We suggest that these compounds serve as cosubstrates to which the oxidizing equivalents are transferred which arise during the hydroperoxidase reaction of the enzyme. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jul, 33(7), 491 - 3 {The saccharide components of wood hydrolysates--a constituent part of the fermentation media for the biosynthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics}; Velvard L et al.; Spruce and ash wood were subjected to acid hydrolysis . The hydrolysates were paper chromatographed for the presence of saccharides . The following monosaccharides were detected: D-xylose, D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose and L-arabinose . The monosaccharides and L-rhamnose in addition in the form of concentrated solutions were used as part of lactose in production of penicillin V . Similarly, the whole amounts of D-glucose and saccharose were substituted in biosynthesis of cephalosporin C . With regard to the results it follows that hydrolysates of the conifers and especially of the hardwood can substitute part of the fermentation medium components in production of penicillin V and cephalosporin C. J Forensic Sci, 1988 Jul, 33(4), 899 - 909 Medical evaluation of the victims of the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster; Wagner GN et al.; A cloud of carbon dioxide gas, with an estimated volume of 1 km3 was released from Lake Nyos, a volcanic crater lake in Cameroon, Africa, causing 1700 to 2000 human fatalities as well as killing thousands of livestock and wild animals . At the request of the Cameroonian Government, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S . Department of State sent a multidisciplinary team which included 2 forensic pathologists to assist the Government of Cameroon in investigating this natural disaster . The medical evaluation was concentrated in 3 areas: the autopsy of human and animal fatalities, examination and interview of survivors, and examination of the scene of the disaster . Toxicologic specimens were obtained at autopsy, and numerous samples of lake water were collected . The autopsy findings were consistent with asphyxia . The results of chemical analyses excluded many volatiles but not carbon dioxide as the toxic agent . The exact source of this gas continues to be a subject of a heated geologic debate, but fermentation of organic materials in the lake water has been eliminated on the basis of C14 isotope studies . This investigation underlines the value of forensic pathologists in epidemiological studies and in the examination of living persons. J Chromatogr, 1988 Jul 1, 444, 293 - 302 Large-scale chromatography of recombinant proteins; Hochuli E; When recombinant proteins are expressed in bacterial cells and subsequently grown in fermentation tanks, there remains the problem of recovering the product in pure form . The empirical knowledge gained upon recovery of recombinant proteins indicates that a one-step purification process is very unlikely to succeed . However, combinations of modern techniques, such as immunoaffinity chromatography or immobilized-metal affinity chromatography, with classical techniques, such as ion-exchange chromatography, seem to be suitable for large-scale recovery of recombinant proteins. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jul, 33(7), 508 - 12 {Transformation of anthracycline antibiotics and their semisynthetic derivatives as affected by the liver aldo-keto reductase of rats}; Reznikova MI et al.; Formation of 13-dihydro derivatives of rubomycin (daunorubicin), carminomycin, doxorubicin and some of their semisynthetic derivatives under the effect of pure aldo-keto reductase from the rat liver was studied . Attachment of an oxy group to C-14 markedly retarded formation of the 13-dihydro derivatives while attachment of the bulky radicals to the same position prevented their formation . Binding of the anthracycline antibiotics to human serum albumin had no impact on the fermentative reaction rate . Rubomycin, carminomycin and doxorubicin significantly differed in their lipophilic properties and capacity for binding to serum albumin. Virologie, 1988 Jul-Sep, 39(3), 199 - 205 Bovine leukemia virus . VII . In vitro replication of virus in bat lung cell culture NBL BLV 2; Patrascu IV; Bat lung cell culture NBL 12 Tb 1 Lu chronically infected with cell free bovine leukemia virus (BLV), designed by NBL BLV 2, produces virus proteins and showed the presence of cells with the BLV antigens as well as BLV-induced syncytia for more than 11 years . Virus replication was abundant and increased with passage in NBL BLV 2 cell line and was moderate but decreased with passage in fetal lamb splenic cell line chronically infected with BLV (FLS NI 1228) . The amount of virus proteins released in culture fluid by NBL BLV 2 cultures growing on roller bottle was 32.6-37.5 micrograms/ml, 42.7 micrograms/ml at passage 16-19 and 24-28, respectively . Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that the virus protein production of NBL BLV cultures was 12.5 micrograms/ml in Falcon flasks (static), 26.3-52.8 micrograms/ml in roller bottle (rolling), 60.2 micrograms/ml in roller bottle with microcarriers and 9.82 microcarriers suspension (fermentor) as monolayer cell culture systems . On the monolayer cultures tested NBL BLV 2 cell line showed a progressive increase of virus production that reached high levels, for over 8 years and continues to release large amounts of virus . NBL BLV 2 cell line is also free of adventitious agents, it is easy to maintain and contains only small amount of cell debris, it provides a suitable source of cell free and cell associated bovine leukemia virus for research and production purposes. J Nutr, 1988 Jul, 118(7), 840 - 5 Long-term effects of fermentable fibers on rat colonic pH and epithelial cell cycle; Lupton JR et al.; The long-term effects of fermentable fibers on colonic luminal pH and the epithelial cell cycle were compared in 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats fed either a defined basal fiber-free diet or the basal diet supplemented with 10% pectin, cellulose or guar or with 20% oat bran . After 8 mo, in vivo pH measurements revealed that acidification of luminal contents occurred in the cecum and in mid and distal colons of rats fed fiber-supplemented diets when compared with the fiber-free controls (P less than 0.05) . Pectin and guar produced the greatest acidification of luminal contents, the largest increase in cecal surface area and the highest percentage of colonic cells in S-phase, as measured by flow cytometry . In the proximal colon of the pectin group 9.2 +/- 0.5% of cells were in S-phase (6.3 +/- 0.8% with the fiber-free group) (P less than 0.05) and in the distal colon of the guar group 10.9 +/- 1.4% were in S-phase (7.1 +/- 0.5% with the fiber-free group) (P less than 0.05) . Even though the most fermentable fibers produced the greatest mitogenic response, there was no site-specific correlation between pH and mucosal cell growth except in the cecum . This suggests that fibers may act as colon cell growth factors by some mechanism other than extracellular pH changes. Eur J Biochem, 1988 Jul 1, 174(4), 611 - 20 Regulation of manganese superoxide dismutase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The role of respiratory chain activity; Westerbeek-Marres CA et al.; The importance of respiratory chain activity in the induction of manganese superoxide dismutase biosynthesis was examined in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by immunological measurement of the level of manganese superoxide dismutase and comparison with copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and two subunits of respiratory chain proteins, cytochrome c1 and core 2, under conditions of growth in which respiratory chain activity was varied . Oxygen consumption by the yeast was also monitored during growth . These comparative studies indicated that under normoxic conditions, glucose repression of the respiratory chain subunits resulted in a parallel repression of the level of manganese superoxide dismutase protein . The increase in the protein levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and core 2 protein under derepressing growth conditions reflected an increase in the level of the mRNA for each protein; thus regulation is, at least in part, at the level of transcription . The following observations support the conclusion that under normoxic conditions manganese superoxide dismutase biosynthesis is primarily regulated by the same means as the respiratory chain components; that is, by glucose (catabolite) repression rather than by oxygen metabolites . 1) When yeast cells were transferred from repressing to derepressing growth conditions in normoxia, manganese superoxide dismutase biosynthesis increased at a rate parallel to that of core 2, and occurred approximately 5 h in advance of increased oxygen consumption by the yeast . 2) When an important site of mitochondrial superoxide radical generation, the cytochrome bc1 complex, was inactivated by deletion of the gene coding for one of its subunits, the level of manganese superoxide dismutase protein was not changed in the mutant compared with the parental strain . However, regulation of manganese superoxide dismutase can be separated from regulation of the respiratory chain proteins in certain instances . During the transition from the logarithmic growth phase to the stationary phase in non-fermentable carbon sources, the level of manganese superoxide dismutase decreased by approximately 50%, whereas the levels of cytochrome c1 and core 2 remained unchanged . Furthermore, yeast grown in hyperoxia of 70-80% oxygen utilizing either repressing or depressing carbon sources, contained significantly higher levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase compared to yeast grown in normoxia, whereas the levels of respiratory chain proteins were not affected by hyperoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Cancer Res, 1988 Jun 15, 48(12), 3518 - 23 Diet and high risk of stomach cancer in Shandong, China; You WC et al.; A case-control investigation involving interviews with 564 stomach cancer patients and 1131 population-based controls was conducted to evaluate reasons for the exceptionally high rates of stomach cancer in Linqu, a rural county in Shandong Province in northeast China . Daily consumption of sour pancakes, a fermented indigenous staple, was associated with a 30% increase in risk . Risks of stomach cancer were also increased by 2- to 3-fold among persons with prior chronic gastritis or gastric ulcer, by 80% among those with stomach cancer in a family member, by 50% among men who smoked one or more packs of cigarettes/day, by 40% among those who preferred salty foods, and by 50% among families with moldy grain supplies . In contrast, risks tended to decrease in proportion to increasing consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits . This protective effect was more pronounced for vegetables, with those in the highest quartile of intake at less than one-half the risk of those in the lowest . Stomach cancer risks also declined with increasing dietary intake of carotene, vitamin C, and calcium, but not retinol . These findings provide leads to dietary factors that contribute to the high rates in Linqu, where stomach cancer is the leading cause of cancer and has not yet begun to decline as in other parts of the world. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jun, 33(6), 411 - 5 {Use of an aerodynamic foam quencher in the stab cultivation of mycelial fungi}; Losev VA et al.; A scheme for automatic impulse foam breaking during biosynthesis of cephalosporin C in 0.63 m3 pilot plant fermenters was developed and tested . It was shown that the use of an aerodynamic foam breaker did not limit the antibiotic biosynthesis by oxygen and promoted stabilization of the foam level in the apparatus without chemical antifoamers and increased air supply. Br Poult Sci, 1988 Jun, 29(2), 379 - 93 Digestibility of pentose sugars and uronic acids and their effect on chick weight gain and caecal size; Longstaff MA et al.; 1 . In the first experiment D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acids were fed ad libitum to young chicks for 2 weeks at 200 g/kg of diet and weight gains and food consumption were recorded . 2 . L-arabinose and D-xylose did not depress food consumption in the first week but prolonged feeding caused food consumption to decrease and weight gain to be adversely affected . 3 . D-galacturonic acid and D-glucuronic acid caused severe growth retardation as early as the first week of feeding, primarily because of voluntary starvation . 4 . Apparent metabolisable energy values for the diets were obtained when chicks were 19 to 21 d of age and were 14.04 +/- 0.52, 12.03 +/- 0.61, 11.77 +/- 1.21, 11.68 +/- 0.34 and 11.66 +/- 0.45 KJ/g for the basal diet with glucose, xylose, arabinose, galacturonic and glucuronic acids respectively . 5 . True metabolisable energy values for the diets were obtained from adult cockerels and were 15.07 +/- 0.16, 13.45 +/- 0.16, 13.12 +/- 0.37, 12.29 +/- 0.26 and 12.69 +/- 0.23 KJ/g for basal diet with glucose, xylose, arabinose, galacturonic and glucuronic acids respectively . 6 . In the second experiment D-galactose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acid were fed ad libitum to young chicks for 3 weeks at 50 g/kg of diet and weight gains and food consumption were recorded . 7 . Chicks grew and ate well on all diets . 8 . The digestibilities of sugars and uronic acids were obtained by measurement of these constituents in diets and digesta using titanium dioxide as a marker . The digestibilities were 1.000 +/- 0.0, 0.997 +/- 0.002, 0.936 +/- 0.041, 0.628 +/- 0.103, 0.588 +/- 0.059, and 0.645 +/- 0.089 for D-glucose, D-galactose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acids respectively . 9 . Both at 200 and 50 g/kg dietary inclusion there was noticeable caecal fermentation from L-arabinose, D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acid . Only at 200 g/kg dietary inclusion did D-xylose produce significant evidence of caecal fermentation. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jun, 41(6), 751 - 8 Methylenolactocin, a novel antitumor antibiotic from Penicillium sp; Park BK et al.; A novel antitumor antibiotic, methylenolactocin, was isolated from the culture filtrate of a new isolate of fungus identified as Penicillium sp . The fermentation yield reached about 100 mg per liter of the broth . Methylenolactocin has the molecular formula of C11H16O4 and possess an exomethylene lactone structure . Its structure was determined to be 3-carboxy-2-methylene-4-nonanolide by spectroscopic data . It is active against some Gram-positive bacteria and it prolongs the life span of mice inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma. Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1988 Jun, 10(3), 301 - 4 Evaluation of protein hydrolysates using the fermentation activity of immobilized yeast cells; Tchorbanov B et al.; A rapid, easy, and reproducible method for evaluation of protein hydrolysates has been developed using the ethanol fermentation of immobilized yeast cells as a monitoring system . The method is sensitive to the origin, concentration, and degree of hydrolysis of the hydrolysates. J Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 170(6), 2770 - 4 Disappearance of plasmalogen-containing phospholipids in Megasphaera elsdenii; Kaufman AE et al.; The plasmalogen content of phospholipids isolated from Megasphaera elsdenii ATCC 17752 decreased markedly in cultures passed serially at intervals of 3 to 6 weeks . From the wild-type ratio of vinyl ether to lipid phosphorus of 0.8, clones were isolated with ratios less than 0.05 . Clonal analysis, as well as the reproducibility of the phenomenon and the long time course, suggest that the loss of plasmalogens is an adaptive process . Although small variations in cell morphology and ratios of end products of fermentation were detected, plasmalogen-rich and -deficient cells were virtually indistinguishable with respect to growth rates, range of fermentable carbohydrates, activities of selected enzymes, and electrophoretic patterns in both membrane and soluble proteins . Large decreases in saturated fatty acid production accompanied the decline of plasmalogens. J Med Virol, 1988 Jun, 25(2), 123 - 40 Hepatitis B vaccine produced in yeast; Bitter GA et al.; A gene encoding the 226 amino acid hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), subtype adw, was cloned into a generalized vector for the expression of heterologous genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The 5' end of the genomic HBsAg gene was replaced with a chemically synthesized DNA segment that conserved the amino acid sequence of the protein but utilized DNA sequences that optimize translation initiation in yeast . High-cell-density fermentations of laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been developed in which HBsAg production increases linearly with respect to cell mass . The HBsAg is present as a lipoprotein particle in cell lysates and has been purified to homogeneity . The evidence presented indicates that the HBsAg particles may be formed during lysis of the yeast cells . The purified HBsAg particles have a morphology similar to that of the 22 nm particles present in the serum of human chronic carriers of hepatitis B . The reactivity of the yeast-derived HBsAg particles with a series of monoclonal antibodies is essentially identical to that of human plasma HBsAg . By this analysis, therefore, the structure of the HBsAg protein is similar in yeast and in human particles . The purified yeast HBsAg particles were formulated with alum adjuvant and subsequently were shown to confer immunity in chimpanzees to challenge with two heterologous serotypes (adr, ayw) of hepatitis B virus. Infect Immun, 1988 Jun, 56(6), 1442 - 8 Biotype, serotype, and pathogenicity of attaching and effacing enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic commercial rabbits; Peeters JE et al.; A total of 568 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from healthy and diarrheic rabbits were separated into 11 different biotypes according to the fermentation patterns of four carbohydrates . Strains belonging to biotypes 1 to 3, 6, and 8 induced lesions characteristic for attaching and effacing E . coli (AEEC) . They attached to the intestinal epithelium of the terminal small intestine and the large intestine of 5-week-old rabbits after experimental infection and caused effacement of the microvillous brush border . However, pathogenicity for weaned rabbits, as judged by diarrhea score, anorexia, and reduced weight gain, varied according to the biotypes of the strains . Strains belonging to biotypes 1 and 6 produced only discrete clinical signs, strains belonging to biotypes 2 and 3+ (motile) induced diarrhea and growth depression, whereas strains belonging to biotypes 3- (immotile) and 8 caused severe clinical signs and high mortality . This confirms evidence from the field . Biotypes 3- and 8, accounting for 35.5 and 7.1% of AEEC strains in weaned diarrheic rabbits, respectively, were not detected in weaned healthy rabbits, while biotype 2 was the predominant strain in weaned healthy rabbits (62.3%) . Finally, serotyping showed a close relationship between biotype and serotype of the AEEC examined . Most strains of biotypes 1+ and 2+ tested were O109:K-:H2 and O132:K-:H2, respectively, whereas all strains tested of biotype 3- were O15:K-:H- and those of biotype 8 were O103:K-:H2 . These data indicate that specific clones of AEEC might be involved in juvenile rabbit enteritis . It was concluded that determination of biotypes allows the screening of highly pathogenic AEEC in weaned rabbits (biotypes 3- and 8). Biomed Environ Sci, 1988 Jun, 1(1), 101 - 4 Studies on fermented corn flour poisoning in rural areas of China . I . Epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Pathology; Meng Z et al.; An outbreak of a new type of fatal food poisoning has been reported in different parts of the People's Republic of China . Liver, kidney, heart, and brain were the main target organs, and the overall fatality of intoxicated individuals was 38.2% . Evidence obtained from epidemiological studies and animal tests indicates that the food poisoning was caused by the consumption of homemade fermented corn flour products. Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Jun, 38(6), 535 - 45 {The effect of sugar beets in the ration on metabolism in the forestomach of 11 to 20-week-old calves}; Keusenhoff R et al.; The influence of the replacement of cereals by sugar beet in the rations was tested with 6 calves supplied with re-entrant duodenal or ruminal cannulae in 4 measuring periods between their 11th and 17th weeks of life . The control ration (A) consisted of 60% mixed feed, 20% hay and 20% wilted silage, the test ration (B) consisted of 30% mixed feed, 33% sugar beet, 20% hay and 17% wilted silage . A contained 15% crude protein, 32% starch and 2% sugar, B in the same sequence 14, 12 and 24% (amounts in % of DM) . The following results were achieved: The functional development of the rumen is largely completed three weeks after weaning . There were no qualitative changes between the 11th and 17th weeks of life . The fermentation of organic matter in the rumen (50...52%) and bacterial protein yield (2.4...2.6 g N per 100 g digestible organic matter) corresponded to that of adult ruminants . The partial replacement of cereals by sugar beet resulted in a significant increase of the molar butyric acid quota to 20.8% (B) in comparison to 13% (A) with the same level of total volatile fatty acids in the rumen, the decrease of the quota of acetic acid to 61.4% (B) in contrast to 73.5% (A) and the reduction of the ruminal NH3 concentration after feeding . The feeding of sugar beets had a positive influence on the passage of starch in the duodenum . The DM-degradation of straw in polyamide bags was also positively influenced . 62.6% (A) and 73.9% (B) of the feed N were degraded in the forestomachs . Per kg DM intake 29.8 g (A) and 28.0 g (B) non-ammonia-N (NAN) were detected at the duodenum . 54% (A) and 64% (B) of NAN consisted of bacteria N . In contrast to adult ruminants at nutrition level 1 (maintenance) a considerable net influx of endogenous N into the rumen was to be observed at a crude protein concentration in the feed of 14 to 15% (in the DM) in both groups . Accordingly, the minimum protein content of the ration (in the DM) should be above 15% in the rearing range studied. Vet Microbiol, 1988 Jun, 17(2), 151 - 8 Isolation of anaerobic mollicutes from the intestine of swine; Binder A et al.; Anaerobic mollicutes were isolated from the intestinal content and the epithelium of the caecum and colon of 4 of 8 swine . All of the isolates belonged to the same species . This species was resistant to digitonin and polyanethol sulfonate and was able to ferment glucose, hemolyse erythrocytes and lyse horse serum . For testing the cholesterol requirement the strain 4 A 11 was selected which was independent of cholesterol . The agent was different in the immunofluorescence test from the mollicutes reported previously in swine and quite different in its nutritional requirements from cholesterol-independent mollicutes isolated from the rumen of cattle and sheep . Thus the isolated mollicutes seem to represent a new species. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Jun, 41(6), 788 - 93 Biosynthesis of anthracyclinones: isolation of a new early cyclization product aklaviketone; Eckardt K et al.; Five metabolites were isolated from fermentations of a mutant strain S 383 of Streptomyces galilaeus . Components S 383-O and S 383-A were identified as known derivatives of anthraquinone and naphthacenequinone, respectively, previously isolated from cultures of other blocked mutants of S . galilaeus strains . Component S 383-X was identical with 7-deoxyaklavinone . Compound S 383-Y (aklaviketone) was found to be a new metabolite . Its chemical structure has been determined by physico-chemical methods including mass spectrometry and NMR spectral studies . The compound (7-dehydro-7-deoxy-7-oxoaklavinone) is most likely the first cyclization product along the metabolic chain possessing the tetracyclic carbon skeleton of anthracyclinones . A proposed pathway is discussed. Oralprophylaxe, 1988 Jun, 10(2), 68 - 73 {Significance of artificial sweeteners in caries prevention}; Strubig W; Sugar substitutes are substances containing calories which taste sweet, but which are not fermented by the microorganisms in the mouth, or are fermented only slightly . Sugar substitutes can reduce the risk of tooth decay above all when contained in sweets consumed between main meals. Arzneimittelforschung, 1988 Jun, 38(6), 855 - 62 Validation of biotechnological production processes; Werner RG et al.; Due to the biological synthesis of biotechnologically produced pharmaceuticals the product quality and safety of the drug is influenced by various factors . The correct nucleotide sequence and stability of the host cell/vector system provide the corresponding amino acid sequence of the protein . The posttranslational processing of the protein requires a well characterized production cell line . Suitable equipment for fermentation allowing a sterile production of the producing monoculture and consistent conditions are the basic requirements for the validation of the fermentation process . A constant specific productivity is one of the major criteria for the reproducibility of the production . For the validation of recovery and purification it is necessary to examine yield after each process step, product quality before and after each single process step and purification factors for removal of contaminating proteins, nucleic acids and potential viruses . In addition to the validation of the entire production process, reproducibility of quality of the formulated product has to be determined by a number of protein analytical, immunological and biochemical test methods concerning the identity, purity, safety and potency of the drug. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jun, 54(6), 1595 - 601 National field evaluation of a defined substrate method for the simultaneous enumeration of total coliforms and Escherichia coli from drinking water: comparison with the standard multiple tube fermentation method; Edberg SC et al.; A defined substrate method was developed to simultaneously enumerate total coliforms and Escherichia coli from drinking waters without the need for confirmatory or completed tests . It is a new method based on technology that uses a hydrolyzable substrate as a specific indicator-nutrient for the target microbes . No equipment other than a 35 degrees C incubator and long-wavelength (366-nm) light is necessary . To perform the test, one only has to add water to the powdered ingredients in a tube or flask . If total coliforms are present in the water sample, the solution will change from its normal colorless state (no target microbes present) to yellow . The specific presence of E . coli will cause the same tube to fluoresce under a longwave (366-nm) UV lamp . The test, called Autoanalysis Colilert (AC), was compared with Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater 10-tube multiple tube fermentation (MTF) in a national evaluation . Five utilities, representing six U.S . Environmental Protection Agency regions, participated . All water samples came from distribution systems . Split samples from a wide variety of water sources were analyzed for the MPN-versus-MPN comparison . A total of 1,086 tubes were positive by MTF, and 1,279 were positive by AC . There was no statistical difference between MTF and AC . Species identifications from positive tubes confirmed the sensitivity of the AC . A national evaluation of the AC test showed that it: (i) was as sensitive as Standard Methods MTF, (ii) specifically enumerated 1 total coliform per 100 ml, in a maximum of 24 h, (iii) simultaneously enumerated 1 E . coli per 100 ml in the same analysis, (iv) was not subject to false-positive or false-negative results by heterotrophic bacteria, (v) did not require confirmatory tests, (vi) grew injured coliforms, (vii) was easy to inoculate, and (viii) was very easy to interpret. J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jun, 71(6), 1556 - 65 Impact of forage fiber content on digestion and digesta passage in lactating dairy cows; Shaver RD et al.; Five Holstein cows (5 wk postpartum) were used in a Latin square design (15-d periods) to determine rumen fill and fractional rates of ruminal digestion and passage . Treatments consisted of prebloom, midbloom, and full bloom alfalfa hay, mature bromegrass hay, and corn silage fed in diets containing forage: concentrate in a 60:40 ratio (DM basis) formulated to be isonitrogenous . Intake of DM averaged 4.0% of body weight for prebloom alfalfa and corn silage . Milk yield and DM intake were lower for full bloom alfalfa and bromegrass than for prebloom alfalfa . Digestibility of organic matter was 7.5 percentage units lower for full bloom than for prebloom alfalfa . Weight of DM in the rumen was higher for midbloom and full bloom alfalfa and bromegrass than with prebloom alfalfa . Ruminal retention time of Yb applied to forage was longer for bromegrass than for prebloom alfalfa . Fractional rates of in situ NDF digestion were slower for full bloom alfalfa and bromegrass than for prebloom alfalfa . Results suggest that the point of limitation of feed intake due to gut fill is dependent on forage quality as well as energy demand of the animal . Dry matter fill of the rumen was more closely related to rates of ruminal digestion and passage than to total tract digestibility or maximum digestibility after lengthy in situ fermentation. J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jun, 71(6), 1526 - 35 Influence of forage type on ruminal bacterial populations and subsequent in vitro fiber digestion; Jung HG et al.; Adaptation of the rumen fibrolytic bacteria to legume, C3 grass, and C4 grass forages was examined in a 3 X 3 Latin square . Fistulated steers were fed alfalfa, smooth bromegrass, and switchgrass hays for 6 wk at 1.8% of body weight . Rumen samples were collected weekly after an overnight fast . Bacterial counts were conducted on rumen samples and all rumen samples were used in an in vitro fiber digestion study with three stages of maturity each for alfalfa, smooth bromegrass, and switchgrass as the substrates . Consumption of alfalfa hay resulted in the highest total viable counts of rumen bacteria but a lower proportion of fibrolytic counts than seen on the grass diets . Use of filter paper as the isolation substrate gave higher fibrolytic counts than seen with NDF of the forage fed as the isolation substrate . Fifty percent or more of the fibrolytic bacteria were Bacteriodes succinogenes, and the switchgrass diet resulted in higher proportions of this organism in the fibrolytic population than seen for alfalfa and smooth bromegrass hays . The rumen inoculum from animals fed alfalfa degraded the fiber fractions of all substrate forages best . Improved in vitro digestibility of a forage was not observed due to feeding the same forage to the donor animals . Volatile fatty acid concentrations and proportions in the in vitro fermentations were related more to forage substrate than diet source . The results indicate that adaptation of the rumen population to diet forage composition occurred, but in vitro digestibility was unrelated to fibrolytic bacterial numbers or proportions. J Chromatogr, 1988 May 20, 439(2), 341 - 51 Displacement chromatography of biomolecules; Subramanian G et al.; Displacement chromatography was used for the preparative-scale separation of peptides, antibiotics, and proteins . The feed components were both purified and concentrated during the separation processes . The components of a peptide mixture were separated on a reverse-phase analytical column using 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol as the displacer . The use of organic modifiers in the carrier along with an elevated column temperature of 45 degrees C enabled the efficient separation of relatively hydrophobic peptides by displacement chromatography . In addition, the throughput of the process was significantly increased by carrying out the separation at an elevated flow-rate with no adverse effect on product purity . The antibiotic cephalosporin C was isolated from impurities in a fermentation broth using 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol as the displacer along with a step change in column temperature . The proteins cytochrome c and lysozyme were purified on a weak cation-exchanger column using cationic polymers as the displacers . While polymers of 60 and 20 kilodaltons were both found to be good displacers for these proteins, only the lower molecular weight polymer was readily removed from the column by standard regeneration techniques. Biochemistry, 1988 May 17, 27(10), 3776 - 84 Heterologous expression of the bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase from Leishmania major; Grumont R et al.; The bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase (TS-DHFR) of Leishmania major has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The strategy involved placing the entire 1560-bp coding sequence into a parent cloning plasmid that was designed to permit introduction of unique restriction sites at the 5'- and 3'-ends . In this manner, the entire coding sequence could be easily subcloned into a variety of expression vectors . High levels of TS-DHFR gene expression were driven by tac, pL and T7 RNA pol promoters in E . coli, and the GAPDH-ADH-2 promoter in S . cerevisiae . L . major TS-DHFR also complemented TS deficiency in E . coli . In E . coli, the protein accumulated to very high levels, but most was present as inactive inclusion bodies . Nevertheless, substantial amounts were soluble; up to 2% of the soluble protein was catalytically active TS-DHFR . In the yeast systems, essentially all of the bifunctional protein was soluble and catalytically active, and crude extracts contained about 100-fold more enzyme than do extracts from wild-type L . major . The expressed TS-DHFR from yeast and E . coli was purified to homogeneity by methotrexate-Sepharose affinity chromatography . About 8.5 mg of homogeneous, catalytically active protein is obtained from a 1-L culture of yeast, and 1.5 mg was obtained from 1 L of E . coli culture . A 200-L fermentation of the yeast expression system yielded a crude extract containing over 4 g of TS-DHFR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Arch Tierernahr, 1988 May, 38(5), 375 - 85 {The use of a partly-hydrolysed straw meal in the feeding of weaned piglets . 2 . Concentration and production of volatile fatty acids in the large intestine by the use of test rations with various portions of straw}; Munchow H et al.; The ad libitum influence of various quotas of partly hydrolysed straw meal (PHSM) on the fermentation and production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the colon in the measuring periods 2nd and 8th weeks of keeping was checked within a feeding experiment with weaned piglets of the country species (42nd-98th day of life; 1st-8th week of keeping) . The straw hydrolysis product was fed in a parallel experiment without or after neutralization with CaCO3 in quotas of, 5, 10 and 15% related to dry matter in comparison to the feeding of sole concentrate feed . The measuring in the 2nd week of keeping (adaptation phase) was blurred by the diarrhea in the groups with regard to the concentration, production and molar proportion of VFA . The concentration and production quota of VFA was diminished and the C2:C3 relation as well as the molar quota of branched-chain fatty acids increased in the comparison of the groups above all under the feeding conditions of the sole use of concentrate and--less distinctly--of quotas of 5% PHSM (insufficient dietetic effect) in the feed mixture . Measuring in the 8th week, in which diarrhea did not play a role in any of the groups, showed a significant, ration specific influence on the fermentation pattern of VFA . With the increasing quota of PHSM in the feed mixture (x) a significantly positive relation with the molar acetate quota (y) could be calculated (y = 52.6 + 0.36x;r = 0.50) . The C2:C3 relation after sole concentrate feeding rose to 2.6:1 at a 15% PHSM integration . In this, the molar increase of acetate was predominantly linked with a decrease of the butyrate and valerate quotas . A falling tendency of the molar iso-acid quota in the colon digesta was registered with the growing straw quota in the feed mixture . The daily production quota of VFA varied in the measuring period in the 8th week of keeping between 400 and 800 mmol/animal.d without an ascertainable influence of the crude fibre quota of the straw . In comparative calculations with other test results, however, a significant positive correlation between the daily intake of digestible organic matter and the production of VFA in the large intestine could be proved. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 May, 33(5), 339 - 42 {Utilization of modified waste from the antibiotic industry for the production of construction materials}; Kalashnikov VI et al.; Possible utilization of treated streptomycin fermentation broth modified with waste hydrochloric acid solution followed by lime neutralization was studied . Such a complex additive to concrete increased its strength by 36-41 per cent . With saving cement by 7 per cent the concrete strength increased by 22-29 per cent as compared to the control samples . Therefore, utilization of antibiotic industry waste in production of building material allowed not only to improve its quality but also to lower the environmental pollution. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 May, 33(5), 323 - 6 {Regulation of the biosynthesis of aminoacylase and pigments by strains of Actinomyces of the genus Streptoverticillium}; Oreshina MG et al.; For using actinomyceteous extracellular aminoacylase in production of optically active amino acids it is necessary to have the fermentation broth with lowered contents of extracellular pigments whose accumulation dynamics in the process of the strain growth correlates with the dynamics of the enzyme biosynthesis . The results of the studies showed that it was possible to regulate biosynthesis of the aminoacylase and pigments in the direction of increasing the enzyme production and decreasing the pigment formation by using a medium of the respective composition and providing the respective high temperature and sufficient aeration for the strains. J Dairy Sci, 1988 May, 71(5), 1239 - 47 Effects of niacin and whole cottonseed on ruminal fermentation, protein degradability, and nutrient digestibility; Horner JL et al.; Four mature nonlactating Holstein heifers fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used to investigate in vivo effects of niacin and whole cottonseed . Each heifer was assigned randomly to a treatment in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatment sequences within a 4 X 4 Latin square design . Heifers were fed isonitrogenous complete mixed rations individually twice daily . Diets contained corn-soybean meal concentrate, corn silage, chopped coastal bermudagrass hay, plus 1) 0% niacin and 0% whole cottonseed, 2) 0% niacin and 15% whole cottonseed, 3) .07% niacin and 0% whole cottonseed, or 4) .07% niacin and 15% whole cottonseed . Dry matter consumption, ruminal pH, ruminal ammonia and VFA concentrations, microbial N production, and DM and ADF digestion were not affected by treatment . Numbers of ruminal protozoa and RNA concentrations were reduced with whole cottonseed feeding and increased by addition of niacin . Whole cottonseed increased molar percentages of acetate while depressing propionate . Niacin supplementation resulted in greater digestion of both CP and NDF . Ether extract digestibility was highest in heifers fed whole cottonseed . Fiber digestion was not affected by whole cottonseed feeding. J Dairy Sci, 1988 May, 71(5), 1178 - 88 Modeling of rumen water kinetics and effects of rumen pH changes; Argyle JL et al.; Mechanistic elements for determining water kinetics and effects of pH on VFA production and cellulose hydrolysis were incorporated into a model of rumen digestion and metabolism . Elements necessary for water kinetics were estimates of salivary flow during eating, resting, and ruminating, time course and amount of drinking water, osmotic flux across the rumen wall based on changes in rumen fluid osmolality, and liquid turnover rate . Osmotic flux equations predicted a significant net absorption of water from rumens of dairy cattle . Water kinetic equations predicted experimental changes in rumen volume during twice daily feeding, and produced marker dilution data qualitatively resembling published data . Increased marker dilution during feeding was due to increased rumen volume . An empirical equation predicting rumen pH from VFA concentration was validated against literature data . Changes in molar percentages of acetate and propionate as pH declined below 6.2 were produced by decreasing cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation and by altering stoichiometric coefficients for fermentation of soluble sugars and starch . Insufficient data prevented an adequate challenge of equations predicting decreases in cellulose hydrolysis and changes in stoichiometric coefficients as pH decreased. Int J Neurosci, 1988 May, 40(1-2), 111 - 28 Participation of serotoninergic system in neuroimmunomodulation: intraimmune mechanisms and the pathways providing an inhibitory effect; Devoino L et al.; Exogenous serotonin administration as well as its precursor 5-oxytryptophan, blockade of the ferment inactivation by MAO inhibition, impairment of the monoamine binding, in other words, all the ways of elevation of active serotonin level, result in the inhibition of the immune response . On the contrary, exclusion of the serotoninergic system by the nuclei raphe lesion and the blockade of the synthesis ferments by p-chlorphenylalanine and p-chloramphetamine stimulates it . The present analysis permits us to conclude that the nuclei raphe serotoninergic system provides an inhibitory mechanism of the immune response modulation, that is realized via the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenals axis . Immune response modulation by the extraimmune control system is possible only be means of the mechanisms that are present in the immunocompetent system . Investigation of the cellular basis of physiological mechanisms of serotoninergic regulation of the immune process made it possible to determine alterations in the correlation of functionally different cell populations in animals with elevated serotonin level . An inhibitory action which serotonin produces upon the immunogenesis, is based on the attenuation of suppressor cell function, an earlier than under the normal immune response development emergence of suppressor in the population of cell organs, and their longer presence, that is to some extent connected with the redistribution of cell populations in the immunocompetent organs . After serotonin administration only the antigen-nonspecific immunosuppression is activated . In evolutionary terms the mechanisms of nonspecific suppression have been formed earlier than those of specific ones (Calkins & Stutman, 1978; Mijawaki, Seki, Kubo & Tanigushi, 1979) . It is quite reasonable that extraimmune modulation, and psychoneuroimmunomodulation by monoamine systems in particular, can be performed by means of this ancient antigen-nonspecific mechanism of the immune response regulation . In this case, the modulation of immunological reactivity should correspond to these endogenous and environmental influences . Thus, activation of the nonspecific suppression induced through the serotoninergic system can be considered as the universal mechanism which on the one hand completes control of the immune homeostasis and on the other may be the precondition of the development of pathological states caused by the reduction of immunological status. Anticancer Res, 1988 May-Jun, 8(3), 355 - 67 Correlation of in vitro cytotoxicity with preclinical in vivo antitumor activity; Rose WC et al.; Several human and murine tumor cell lines were evaluated in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay as prescreens for fermentation extracts and pure materials subsequently tested in vivo against P388 leukemia or B16 melanoma . Each material, regardless of its in vitro cytotoxicity, was evaluated in vivo . At the criteria levels of in vitro positivity and in vivo activity invoked, a highly significant relationship between these two endpoints was demonstrated for each cell line . When cell lines were compared, most of them performed in a similar manner, with HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells providing a modest advantage predicting for P388 activity in some comparisons . Using the data from any two cell lines in concert did not improve the acuity of the prescreen beyond that associated with the better cell lines used singularly and only a minority of active materials was predicted for uniquely . Overall, the in vitro cytotoxicity assay provided a useful prescreen for selecting P388 and B16 in vivo active materials. Cell Tissue Res, 1988 May, 252(2), 435 - 47 Regional differences in hindgut structure and function in the nutria, Myocastor coypus; Snipes RL et al.; Morphologically the large intestine of the nutria resembles that of other caviomorphs, notably the guinea pig . The cecum is voluminous: it contributes 8.6% of the total intestinal length and 12.7% of the total intestinal surface area (considering the surface enlargement factor) . It contains 27-32% of the wet ingesta and 20-23% of the dry matter in the gastrointestinal tract . In the colon the corresponding figures are: 21.8% of length, 12.6% of surface area, 16-21% of wet ingesta, and 16-40% of dry matter . The colon can be subdivided both structurally and functionally into two sections, the proximal and the distal colon, the border between the two being the apical flexure of a long parallel loop . The proximal colon (42% of colonic length) displays on the mucosal surface of its mesenterial side a narrow furrow bordered by ridges, which is absent in the distal colon . The ridges contain subepithelial accumulations of coiled tubuloalveolar mucoid glands, entwined by bundles of muscle fibers . Determinations of nitrogen in the contents near the furrow suggest a concentration of bacteria in this part of the lumen . It is hypothesized that the structural differentiations of the proximal colon provide mechanisms for the transport of bacteria from the proximal colon back into the cecum to maintain the fermentation function . The slopes of the longitudinal profiles for dry matter and for concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium in the luminal contents change at the tip of the parallel loop . The electrical potential difference "intestinal lumen - blood" is particularly large in the proximal colon, indicating active electrogenic ion transport in this region. Curr Genet, 1988 May, 13(5), 369 - 75 MAL64c is a global regulator of alpha-glucoside fermentation: identification of a new gene involved in melezitose fermentation; Perkins EL et al.; Maltase constitutive mutants at the MAL6 locus have been mapped to the newly identified regulatory gene MAL64c . We show here that MAL64c has in addition pleiotropic effects on sugar fermentation: MAL64c strains constitutively synthesize an alpha-methylglucosidase and can complement a new gene, MTP1, for the fermentation of melezitose and alpha-methylglucoside . MTP1, maps near MAL1, and either encodes a permease which transports melezitose, alpha-methylglucoside, and maltose or regulates the activity of such a permease . This work shows that MAL64c, a trans-acting regulatory gene, is a global regulatory gene affecting several different pathways of alpha-glucoside metabolism. Mol Microbiol, 1988 May, 2(3), 353 - 61 Catabolite control of the elevation of PGK mRNA levels by heat shock in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Piper PW et al.; Heat shock enhances the very high level of transcription of the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene in fermentative cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . This response of PGK mRNA levels was not found on gluconeogenic carbon sources, and could be switched on or off subject to availability of fermentable carbon source . The addition of glucose to yeast growing on glycerol resulted in acquisition, within 30-60 min, of the ability to elevate PGK mRNA levels after heat shock . In addition, in aerobic cultures growing on glucose the exhaustion of the medium glucose coincided with a loss of the heat-shock effect on PGK mRNA and a switch-over to slower growth by aerobic respiration . Levels of hsp26 mRNA were analysed during these experiments . Contrasting with this requirement for fermentable catabolite for manifestation of a heat-shock response of PGK mRNA levels, the PGK enzyme was not synthesized at a greater level in heat-shocked fermentative than in gluconeogenic cultures . PGK is one of only a few proteins made efficiently after mild heat shock of yeast . Thus, heat-stress-induced elevation of PGK mRNA levels does not appreciably increase PGK synthesis during exposure to high temperatures and so its role may be to assist cells repressed in mitochondrial function during recovery following a heat shock. Arch Tierernahr, 1988 May, 38(5), 359 - 73 {The use of a partly-hydrolysed straw meal for the feeding of weaned piglets . 1 . Increased production and feed expense as well as nutrient digestibility and buffer capacity in rations with various high portions of partly-hydrolysed straw meal}; Munchow H et al.; In studies with weaned piglets of the land race the usability of partly hydrolysed straw meal (PSM) in concentrate - straw meal mixtures was tested over a period of 56 days (42nd-98th day of life; 1st-8th week of feeding . The hydrolysed straw product was there tested in a parallel experiment each without and after neutralization (by means of CaCO3) in quotas of 5, 10 and 15% as supplement to the concentrate feed (based on dry matter) in comparison to a sole concentrate feeding . Daily weight gain and feed and energy expenditure as well as nutrient digestibility and the buffer effect of the PSM rations were ascertained . Measured by weight gain, feed intake and concentrate- and energy expenditure related weight gain, a 10% quota of partly hydrolysed straw meal in a period near weaning (1st-4th week of feeding) had the highest effect and was far superior to traditional concentrate feeding . Lower quotas of PSM in this period did not show a sufficient dietetic effect (diarrhea symptoms), higher reduced the effect on the performance parameters . In the period more remote from weaning (5th-8th week of feeding) the effect of the straw meal integration was generally reduced, a quota of about 5% proved optimal . The registered higher daily weight gains in the total test period (1st-8th week of feeding in which concentrate - straw meal mixtures (relative 106-130%) were closely related to the daily intake of digestibility organic matter . The decrease in digestibility of organic matter in the total ration remained small with the use of the well fermentable crude fibre from the hydrolysed straw product and the balance was overcompensated by higher feed intake . A pH-value decrease of the feed mixtures and a physiologically suitable influence on the pH-value in the stomachs of the test animals could be ascertained due to the buffer capacity of the hydrolysed straw products used . With regard to this, the non-buffered hydrolysed straw product had a higher effect, which was, among other things, reflected in higher performances. J Virol Methods, 1988 May, 20(1), 65 - 72 Reduction in immunoreactivity of varicella-zoster virus proteins induced by mycoplasma contamination; Harper DR et al.; During the study of protein differences between several strains of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), two of the strains were found to be contaminated with Mycoplasma hyorhinis . Polyacrylamide