Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Jul-Aug, 37(7-8), 701 - 11 Effects of dietary forage proportion on digestive function in maintenance-fed beef cows . Fescue and bermudagrass hays; Jones AL et al.; Five crossbred beef cows (Hereford x Angus, 428 kg), cannulated in the rumen and duodenum, were used in a Latin square experiment to determine the effects of dietary proportions of fescue (F) and bermudagrass (B) hays (0:1, .25: .75, .5:.5, .75: .25 and 1:0) on digestive function . Feed intake was 85% of ad libitum intake of F alone (1.04% of body weight) . Fescue contained 1.19% nitrogen (N), 74.8% neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and 6.3% acid detergent lignin (ADL), and B contained 1.99% N, 84.5% NDF and 6.1% ADL . Ruminal ammonia-N decreased and four- and five-carbon fatty acid concentrations increased linearly (P less than .05) with increasing F . Mean particle size of duodenal digesta was not affected by F level, but specific gravity of duodenal particles changed quadratically (P less than .05) as F rose, being greatest with 25 and 50% F . Ruminal fluid volume was constant, but dilution rate increased linearly (P less than .05) as F increased . Passage rate of B was faster than that of F in mixed diets . Organic matter (OM) flow and digestibilities, true ruminal N disappearance and microbial efficiency were not affected (P greater than .10) by F . True ruminal N disappearance and microbial efficiency were not affected (P greater than .10) by F . True ruminal N disappearance ranged from 73 to 78%, and microbial growth efficiency was between 18 and 22 g microbial N/kg OM fermented . Ruminal digestibilities of NDF, acid detergent fibre (ADF), cellulose and hemicellulose decreased linearly (P less than .05) as F increased, being 68.2, 64.9, 65.6, 61.2 and 61.6% for NDF, 58.9, 54.7, 56.2, 53.3 and 53.2% for ADF, 64.7, 61.3, 62.1, 59.0 and 59.1% for cellulose, and 76.1, 74.4, 75.4, 70.1 and 72.2% for hemicellulose for 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% F, respectively . Digestive function in beef cows fed mixed F-B diets at a low level of intake related directly to dietary forage proportions and digestive characteristics when forages were fed alone. Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Jul-Aug, 37(7-8), 643 - 9 Effect of pectinase on rumen fermentation in sheep and lambs; Baran M et al.; In trial with adult wethers and weaned lambs the effect of enzymatic preparation Pektofoetidin G3x (mostly pectinase and cellulase) on rumen fermentation was studied . After 4 weeks of Pektofoetidin G3x application (0.54 g per day and animal) to adult wethers no statistically significant differences in total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, ammonia in the rumen contents and urea in blood were determined between control and enzyme treated group . In comparison of fermentation parameters in wethers (mean of 1-3 hours after feeding) and lambs (2-3 hours after feeding) the significant differences in mol % of acetic acid (63.3 in control, 54.6 in experimental group, P less than 0.01), propionic acid (24.6, vs . 31.3, P less than 0.001), acetate: proprionate ratio (2.54, vs . 1.77, P less than 0.01) and in energy efficiency of VFA production (76.0%, vs . 79.1%, P less than 0.001) were determined . These differences between wethers and lambs suggest more intensive fermentation in lambs than in adult sheep . On the basis of these results it is possible to suggest, that in adult animals the efficiency of application of enzymatic preparations is low . In utilization of enzymatic preparations more important role, probably, is that of ruminal ecosystem itself, that, if once fully developed, is perfectly resistant to biotechnological interferences. Can J Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 33(7), 619 - 25 The production of alamethicins by Trichoderma spp; Brewer D et al.; The production of polypeptides containing a high percentage of 2-methylalanine residues by a number of isolates of Trichoderma spp . has been examined . It has been shown that good yields (0.5-1.0 g L-1) can be achieved on synthetic media provided an insoluble carbohydrate is included and provided single-spore isolates that have this production ability are selected from time to time . Such yields could not be obtained on any single nitrogen source investigated, but a mixture of potassium nitrate, glutamine, and 2-methylalanine was effective . It was shown that at least eight polypeptides were produced in shake-flask or tank fermentation and that the proportions of these metabolites depended on the fermentation temperature, its pH, age, and aeration . Fermentation conditions for enhancing the production (independently) of two of the metabolites at the expense of the others are given . These two metabolites have been obtained in crystalline form and details of some of their physical and chemical properties are given. Can J Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 33(7), 602 - 6 Metabolic changes in a conidia-induced Claviceps paspali strain during submerged fermentation; Gaberc-Porekar V et al.; Chemical changes in the mycelium of the conidial Claviceps paspali mutant strain, isolated after gamma irradiation, were followed during the course of submerged fermentation and compared with the mycelial parent strain; both strains are capable of producing simple lysergic acid derivatives . The syntheses of lipids, carbohydrates, phosphates, nucleic acids, proteins, and alkaloids, as well as nutrient uptake, were determined . It was found that conidiation induced by mutagenic treatment was accompanied by a set of changes in the metabolic pattern . In the conidial mutant, the primary and secondary metabolic activities were repressed and the protein to nonprotein compound ratio of the cells was changed in favour of protein compounds. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 53(7), 1571 - 3 Comparison of media for recovery of total coliform bacteria from chemically treated water; Rice EW et al.; Five broth media and two solid media were compared for their ability to quantitatively recover total coliform bacteria from chemically treated water . M-Endo LES and mT7 media were used in the membrane filter technique . Lauryl tryptose broth, lactose broth, presence-absence broth, lactose broth with twice the amount of lactose, and lauryl tryptose broth with twice the amount of sodium lauryl sulfate were used in the fermentation tube procedure . The differences in recovery were not significant for the five broth media and M-Endo LES agar . The M-Endo LES and mT7 media were not significantly different; however, the five broth media did yield significantly higher counts than mT7. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Jul, 40(7), 970 - 90 Parvodicin, a novel glycopeptide from a new species, Actinomadura parvosata: discovery, taxonomy, activity and structure elucidation; Christensen SB et al.; An extensive taxonomic investigation identified strain SK&F-AAJ-271 as a new species, designated Actinomadura parvosata . Fermentations of this organism produce a complex of acidic, lipophilic glycopeptide antibiotics, the parvodicins . Structures for seven of the isolated components were derived from a combination of mass spectral, high-field NMR and chemical techniques . The O-acetyl functionality present in two of the isolated components is a structural feature unique among the known members of this class of antibiotics . The parvodicins are active in vitro against a range of Gram-positive bacteria . The most active parvodicin, C1, produces high serum levels in vivo and has the potential for a long duration of action. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Jul, 40(7), 961 - 9 Pyrroxamycin, a new antibiotic taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, structure determination and biological properties; Yano K et al.; A strain of streptomycete was found to produce a new antibiotic pyrroxamycin . This compound was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp . S46506 . The chemical structure was determined to be 4,5-dichloro-2-(6',8'-dichloro-4'H-1',3'-benzodioxin-4'-yl)-3-nitr opyrrole by its chemical character and 1H and 13C NMR spectral analysis . Pyrroxamycin was active against Gram-positive bacteria and dermatophytes. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Jul, 40(7), 924 - 32 Chloropolysporins A, B and C, novel glycopeptide antibiotics from Faenia interjecta sp . nov . II . Fermentation, isolation and physico-chemical characterization; Takatsu T et al.; New antibiotics, chloropolysporins A, B and C, were found in the culture broth of an actinomycete identified as Faenia interjecta sp . nov . They were isolated from the culture filtrate by column chromatography on various resinous adsorbents, followed by preparative reverse phase HPLC . Chloropolysporins A, B and C possessed all the same new aglycone composed of actinoidic acid, 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylglycine, N-methyl-p-hydroxyphenylglycine and vancomycinic acid . From elementary analyses and mass spectroscopic measurements, the molecular formulae of chloropolysporins A, B and C appear to be C89H99O39N8Cl3 (MW 2,008), C83H89O34N8Cl3 (MW 1,846) and C77H79O30N8Cl3 (MW 1,700), respectively . Their physico-chemical characterizations including molecular formulae revealed that chloropolysporins A, B and C were new members of glycopeptide antibiotics. Br J Nutr, 1987 Jul, 58(1), 95 - 103 Stimulatory effect of short-chain fatty acids on epithelial cell proliferation in the rat intestine: a possible explanation for trophic effects of fermentable fibre, gut microbes and luminal trophic factors; Sakata T; 1 . Effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on epithelial proliferation of the intestine were studied in ileally fistulated rats fed on an elemental diet . 2 . The stimulatory effect of daily doses of acetic, propionic and n-butyric acids (100, 20 and 60 mM respectively; pH 6.1) per fistula (3 ml, twice daily) on crypt cell production rate (CCPR) appeared within 2 d and lasted for at least 5 d . 3 . The daily doses of SCFA for 14 d increased daily CCPR three to four fold . This effect was independent of the presence of gut bacteria . 4 . Effects of SCFA were dose-dependent and varied among acids (butyrate greater than propionate greater than acetate) . The effect was independent of low lumen pH . 5 . In contrast, SCFA inhibited epithelial proliferation of isolated rat caecal tissue in vitro . 6 . These results suggest that SCFA are physiological lumen trophic factors mediated by a systemic mechanism in vivo . 7 . It is concluded that SCFA are involved in the trophic effects of gut microbes, ingestion of fermentable fibre, and lumen contents. Am J Clin Nutr, 1987 Jul, 46(1), 61 - 5 Gaseous response to ingestion of a poorly absorbed fructo-oligosaccharide sweetener; Stone-Dorshow T et al.; Fructo-oligosaccharides are naturally occurring sweet substances that are poorly absorbed and have the potential to be clinically useful nonnutritive sweeteners . Because most nonabsorbed carbohydrates are fermented yielding gas, we assessed flatulent symptoms and H2 excretion during ingestion of fructo-oligosaccharide (5 g tid) for 12 d . Ten subjects had significantly greater flatulence while taking the oligosaccharide than did five subjects taking sucrose (5 g tid) . Breath H2 after 10 g fructo-oligosaccharide was similar to that of 10 g lactulose, suggesting near total malabsorption of the fructo-oligosaccharide . Although previous studies found a marked diminution in breath H2 after prolonged exposure to lactulose, breath H2 response increased by 50% after a 12-d period on the oligosaccharide and gaseous symptoms did not improve . We conclude that adaptation of colonic bacteria to carbohydrate malabsorption is variable and may depend upon quantity or nature of the carbohydrate. J Anim Sci, 1987 Jul, 65(1), 244 - 55 Evaluation of corn fiber, cottonseed hulls, oat hulls and soybean hulls as roughage sources for ruminants; Hsu JT et al.; An in situ trial (randomized complete block design) using cows, and a site and extent of digestion trial (Latin square design) using sheep were conducted to study the potential of corn fiber (CF), cottonseed hulls (CSH), oat hulls (OH) and soybean hulls (SH) as roughage sources for ruminants . Two feedlot trials with steers and one with lambs (completely randomized design with factorial arrangements of treatments) were conducted to study the potential of CF and SH as energy supplements relative to corn . In situ rate of ruminal dry matter (DM) disappearance (3 to 36 h) and extent of DM disappearance (36 h) indicated that CF and SH were more fermentable in the rumen compared with OH or CSH, with SH being the most fermentable . Total tract digestibilities of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were above 70% for sheep fed CF and SH diets, and were 50% or less for sheep fed OH and CSH diets . A ranking of by-products in terms of nutritive value followed the trend: CF greater than SH greater than OH greater than CSH . Lamb feedlot trial data showed that CF was of similar nutritive value to corn and of higher nutritive value than SH at the 50% level of supplementation . Corn-fed lambs responded better than CF- or SH-fed lambs at the 70% level of supplementation . Data from steer feedlot trials showed that CF was of similar quality to corn and of higher quality than SH . Dramatic differences exist in by-product feed utilization by ruminants . All by-products tested appeared to have some usefulness as dietary components. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1987 Jun 15, 190(12), 1575 - 6 Laminitis and decreased milk production in first-lactation cows improperly fed a dairy ration; Moser EA et al.; First-lactation cows that were improperly fed a grain ration developed chronic, nonsuppurative laminitis, resulting in profound lameness in all 4 limbs, thin body condition, and poor milk production . Results of ration analysis indicated that the cows were receiving 10% to 40% more energy than that recommended by the National Research Council . The following management changes were instituted for first-lactation cows: the absolute amount of concentrate offered was decreased by 10% to 25% (depending on each cow's milk production), the rate of increase in concentrate fed was lessened to achieve maximal intake in 21 days, feed was made available more frequently and in smaller amounts during the day, sequence feeding was implemented, forage was provided before grain when possible, and sodium bicarbonate (1%, on a dry-weight basis) and fat (5%, on a dry-weight basis) were added to the grain mix . These management changes normalized rumen fermentation, and the clinical problems did not develop in the 20 subsequently fresh heifers . Therefore, the ration should be analyzed when first-lactation cows begin developing lameness and poor milk production. Z Ernahrungswiss, 1987 Jun, 26(2), 138 - 41 On the occurrence of free glucose in the caecal contents of rats; Siebert G; Free glucose was assayed in the caecal contents of rats . Whereas control animals had less than 60 nmol glucose per g of caecal contents, 230 nmol glucose/g caecal contents were determined 3 hours after the administration of 300 mg Palatinit by gastric intubation . In contrast to an earlier report (8), caecal fluid thus contained less than 3% of the glucose concentration of 11 mumol/ml claimed to occur after Palatinit administration by these authors (8) . Since the anaerobic fermentation capacity for glucose by the caecal contents of rats amounted to at least 630 nmol glucose/min X g fresh weight at 37 degrees C, only the low glucose concentrations reported above are plausible. Mol Biochem Parasitol, 1987 Jun, 24(2), 147 - 54 Anaerobic metabolism in Ascaris suum: acyl CoA intermediates in isolated mitochondria synthesizing 2-methyl branched-chain fatty acids; Komuniecki R et al.; Freshly isolated Ascaris suum mitochondria contained CoASH, acetyl CoA, propionyl CoA, 2-methylcrotonyl CoA, 2-methylbutyryl CoA, 2-methyl-2-pentenoyl CoA, and 2-methylvaleryl CoA, as determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography . Incubation of these mitochondria aerobically in the absence of substrate resulted in the conversion of the branched-chain enoyl CoA's to acetyl CoA and propionyl CoA . With the addition of malate to the incubation medium, succinyl CoA and methylmalonyl CoA accumulated and the levels of propionyl CoA decreased dramatically . However, the branched-chain fatty acids characteristic of A . suum's fermentative metabolism were not formed and it appears that the formation of propionyl CoA may be limiting in these mitochondria . Indeed, the addition of propionate to incubations with malate increased intramitochondrial levels of propionyl CoA and 2-methyl-2-pentenoyl CoA and stimulated significant 2-methylvalerate synthesis . The exclusion of air from these incubations further increased levels of 2-methyl-2-pentenoyl CoA and stimulated 2-methylvalerate synthesis . These studies suggest that in addition to elevated NADH/NAD ratios, elevated enoyl CoA/acyl CoA ratios also are important in the regulation of branched-chain fatty acid synthesis in A . suum mitochondria. Gut, 1987 Jun, 28(6), 721 - 5 Evaluation of the hydrogen breath test in man: definition and elimination of the early hydrogen peak; Mastropaolo G et al.; After ingestion of a non-absorbable carbohydrate breath hydrogen excretion increases early at about 10 minutes, and again later when the ingested carbohydrate enters the caecum . The late rise has been used as a marker of mouth to caecum transit time, but the source of the early rise has not been satisfactorily explained . We studied in 60 healthy volunteers the source and frequency of the early rise in breath hydrogen after ingestion of a non-absorbable carbohydrate . After ingestion of either lactulose solution (10 g in 150 ml water), lentil soup (46 g carbohydrate) or solid meal containing baked beans (15 g carbohydrate), breath hydrogen was significantly raised above basal concentrations within 10 minutes (81 +/- 27, 395 +/- 138 and 110 +/- 52% above basal respectively) . A significant rise in breath hydrogen (75 +/- 21%) occurred 10 minutes after sham lactulose feeding (lactulose applied to oral cavity but not swallowed), but no early peak occurred after sham saccharin feeding (non-fermentable carbohydrate), intragastric or intraduodenal administration of lactulose . Ten of the 12 subjects given lactulose sham feeding were restudied after oral hygiene with chlorhexidine mouthwash . In these the early hydrogen peak was abolished . Oral hygiene also reduced the occurrence and magnitude of the early hydrogen rise after lactulose ingestion . These findings indicate that the early rise in breath hydrogen observed after ingestion of lactulose is produced by interaction with oral bacteria. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Jun, 40(6), 778 - 85 Kazusamycin B, a novel antitumor antibiotic; Funaishi K et al.; A novel antibiotic, kazusamycin B (C32H46O7, MW 542), was isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp . No . 81-484 and the structure was established mainly on the basis of its physico-chemical properties . Unambiguous 13C NMR spectral analysis of kazusamycin B has been also accomplished . Kazusamycin B possesses potent cytocidal activities against L1210 (IC50 0.0018 micrograms/ml) and P388 (IC100 0.0016 micrograms/ml) leukemia cells in vitro. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Jun, 40(6), 761 - 77 A21978C, a complex of new acidic peptide antibiotics: isolation, chemistry, and mass spectral structure elucidation; Debono M et al.; A21978C, produced by Streptomyces roseosporus, NRRL 11379, is a complex of new acidic lipopeptolide antibiotics which inhibits Gram-positive bacteria . HPLC separation of the various components from the purified complex resulted in the isolation of A21978C1, -C2 and -C3 (major components) and -C4, -C5, and -C0 (minor components) . Each of these components was fermented with cultures of Actinoplanes utahensis (NRRL 12052) to give the identical inactive peptide ("A21978C nucleus") by removal of the fatty acid acyl groups from the N-terminus . This peptide was composed of 13 amino acids: L-kynurenine, L-threo-3-methylglutamic acid, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid (3 residues), glycine (2 residues), L-tryptophan, L-ornithine, D-alanine, D-serine and L-threonine . The amino acid sequence was determined using a combination of the Edman degradation and gas chromatography mass spectrum (GC-MS) analysis of appropriately derivatized peptides obtained from partial hydrolysis . Each major component was shown to be acylated with a branched chain fatty acid at the N-terminus and the structure of this fatty acid was determined by 1H NMR and mass spectral methods . A structure for A21978C was assigned on the basis of this degradative and physico-chemical information. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Jun, 40(6), 732 - 9 Studies on new antibiotics SF2415 . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities; Shomura T et al.; A new species of Streptomyces is described for which the name Streptomyces aculeolatus is proposed . The organism produces new antibiotics SF2415A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B3 active against Gram-positive bacteria . Empirical molecular formulae of the antibiotics SF2415A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B3 were determined to be C26H31N2O5Cl, C26H30N2O5, C26H30N2O5Cl2, C26H33O5Cl, C26H32O5 and C26H32O5Cl2, respectively. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Jun, 40(6), 727 - 31 CV-1, a new antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces sp . II . structure determination; Yasuzawa T et al.; The structure of a new antibiotic, CV-1 was determined to be 1,2-diamino-1,2-N,N'-carbonyl-1,2-dideoxy-alpha-D-glucose hydrate by spectral and chemical studies . CV-1 possessed a unique open ring hemiaminal structure . CV-1 synthesized from N-carbamoyl-D-glucosamine was identical to material isolated from fermentation. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 53(6), 1210 - 5 Growth and fermentation of an anaerobic rumen fungus on various carbon sources and effect of temperature on development; Lowe SE et al.; An anaerobic fungus (strain R1) resembling Neocallimastix spp . was isolated from sheep rumen . When grown on defined medium, the isolate utilized a wide range of polysaccharides and disaccharides, but of the eight monosaccharides tested only fructose, glucose, and xylose supported growth . The organism had doubling times of 5.56 h on glucose and 6.67 h on xylose, and in each case fermentation resulted in production of formate, acetate, lactate, and ethanol . During active growth, formate was a reliable indicator of fungal biomass . Growth on a medium containing glucose and xylose resulted in a doubling time of 8.70 h, but diauxic growth did not occur since both sugars were utilized simultaneously . The optimum temperature for zoospore and immature plant development was 39 degrees C, and no development occurred below 33 degrees C or above 41 degrees C. Strahlenther Onkol, 1987 Jun, 163(6), 378 - 84 Optimization of cancer radiotherapy with selective sensitizers; Wideroe R; This study is based on the two-component theory, radiation being considered as composed of a high-LET (alpha) and a low-LET (beta) component . For average tumor-cell parameters (squamous carcinoma) the beta-component will reach a maximum when single doses of 5 to 6 Gy low-LET radiation are given . Here I assume that hypoxic tumor cells can be eliminated by means of selective radiosensitizers . The previously favoured electron-attracting metronidazole and misonidazole have now practically been given up . The enhancement in cell sensitivity was too low and they were too neurotoxic . Newer drugs based on blocking the anaerobic glycolysis (fermentation process) of hypoxic cells seem to be very promising; they have no serious side effects . Special sensitizers supporting the killing of tumor cells with normal oxygen supply could improve radiation therapy . The drug ICRF 159 (resp . 187), "Razoxane" reduces the extrapolation number for proliferating tumor cells . An example shows that therapy with 10 X 6 Gy single doses of high-energy electrons might reduce the number of tumor cells to about 10(-8) with radiation only to nearly 10(-10) if "Razoxane" is given twelve hours before radiation exposures. J Anim Sci, 1987 Jun, 64(6), 1835 - 41 Evaluation of rare-earth markers using an in vitro ruminal fermentation system and effect of processing method on ruminal turnover of sized corn particles; Turnbull GW et al.; A two-stage in vitro ruminal fermentation experiment was conducted to determine the extent of marker migration and the effects of marker addition on digestibility . Fermentation studies were terminated either at the end of stage I, the fermentation phase, or stage II, the pepsin digestion phase . Treatment diets contained ytterbium-marked corn plus chopped Coastal bermudagrass hay and nonmarked corn plus chopped hay . After stage I of the in vitro ruminal fermentation, 90% of ytterbium was recovered . Of this, 8.8% of the ytterbium had migrated to the hay, 2% was recovered in the supernatant and 89.2% remained bound to the corn . After completion of both stages, 72% was recovered, of which 7.9% was bound to corn, 33.6% was bound to the hay, 1.1% was recovered in the stage I supernatant and 57.4% was associated with the acid pepsin supernatant . Dry matter digestion was not affected after stage I but after stage II, digestibility was decreased 7% due to marker addition . A ruminal-cannulated Holstein steer weighing approximately 680 kg was used to determine turnover rates from the rumen of liquid and five different particle sizes of corn . Corn from each of two processing methods was fractionated into five particle sizes by dry-sieving . The corn particles included steam-rolled corn (SRC) retained on a 4-mm sieve and marked with dysprosium, SRC retained on a 2-mm sieve and marked with erbium, cracked corn (CC) retained on a 4-mm sieve and marked with yttrium, CC retained on a 2-mm sieve and marked with ytterbium, and CC retained on a 1-mm sieve and marked with samarium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Am J Clin Pathol, 1987 Jun, 87(6), 773 - 5 Asymptomatic blood methanol in emergency room patients; Wargotz ES et al.; Over a four-month period, methanol was found in the blood of 18 patients among 687 sequential emergency room admissions screened for alcohols by gas chromatography . In the patients with positive results, blood ethanol ranged from 6 to 570 mg/dL (1.3-123.7 mmol/L), blood methanol from 2.3 to 4.0 mg/dL (0.72-1.25 mmol/L) . Methanol exposure during preparation of the sampling site or in the course of specimen handling, ingestion of denatured alcohol, as well as methanol production from the metabolism of aspartame are ruled out as causes for these findings . The authors conclude that endogenous methanol production is the probable major cause, while methanol as a fermentation congener may be a contributory minor cause. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Jun, 32(6), 434 - 7 {Characteristics of the oleandomycin producer inoculum at various levels of antibiotic biosynthesis}; Rudakova AV et al.; Parameters of the oleandomycin-producing organism metabolism were studied at the stage of inoculum when intensity of the antibiotic biosynthesis was increased by treating the spores with a surface active substance (twin-21) . It was shown that the inoculum producing later at the stage of fermentation higher quantities of the antibiotic was characterized by certain peculiarities . In particular, there were observed a shorter lag phase, a higher specific growth rate and a higher rate of accumulating the medium components at lower pyruvate levels in the exponential phase, higher activity of succinate dehydrogenase and higher levels of ATP in the mycelium during this period. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 53(6), 1286 - 91 Ethanol production during batch fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae: changes in glycolytic enzymes and internal pH; Dombek KM et al.; During batch fermentation, the rate of ethanol production per milligram of cell protein is maximal for a brief period early in this process and declines progressively as ethanol accumulates in the surrounding broth . Our studies demonstrate that the removal of this accumulated ethanol does not immediately restore fermentative activity, and they provide evidence that the decline in metabolic rate is due to physiological changes (including possible ethanol damage) rather than to the presence of ethanol . Several potential causes for the decline in fermentative activity have been investigated . Viability remained at or above 90%, internal pH remained near neutrality, and the specific activities of the glycolytic and alcohologenic enzymes (measured in vitro) remained high throughout batch fermentation . None of these factors appears to be causally related to the fall in fermentative activity during batch fermentation. Vet Med (Praha), 1987 Jun, 32(6), 331 - 6 {The effect of monensin on rumen fermentation and weight gain in bulls fed a diet containing nontraditional feed}; Baran M et al.; Two groups of bullocks, each consisting of 125 animals, were subjected to a trial to study the effect of monensin (Rumensin premix) administered at doses from 125 to 175 mg per head/day on rumen fermentation and weight gains . For 135 days the animals were given a diet based on green juicy forage with a supplement of chopped straw and concentrate mixture; this mixture contained 20-30% of dried poultry droppings . In the experimental group with monensin, the concentration of total and protein nitrogen and the molar percentage of propionic acid significantly increased (23.7 and 28.5%, respectively, P less than 0.01) and the acetate: propionate ratio decreased four hours after feeding . Further, the energy yield of the production by volatile fatty acids (VFA) significantly increased in the rumen contents (76.89%, 78.64%, respectively, P less than 0.05) . The levels of ammonia and non-protein nitrogen were not affected by the addition of monensin . The average daily live weight gains were 713 g in the control group and 800 g in the experimental group; this means that the gains of the experimental animals rose by 12.2% . Monensin had a positive influence on the proportions of the rumen-produced VFA in favour of propionic acid which, in turn, favourably influenced the energy balance of nutrient conversion and efficiency. Microbiol Sci, 1987 Jun, 4(6), 173 - 80 Membrane systems in which foreign proton pumps are incorporated; Driessen AJ et al.; Detailed information about the role of the proton-motive force in solute transport has often been obtained from studies in model systems such as membrane vesicles . For many bacteria, such studies have been hampered by the lack of a good proton-motive force generating system in these model systems . Recently this problem has been solved by the development of procedures to incorporate foreign proton pumps in membrane vesicles derived from bacteria . This improved model system has been used for studies on the role of the proton-motive force in solute transport in fermentative bacteria and yeasts . Important applications can be found in studies of many energy-transducing systems in membranes which lack a suitable proton pump. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 May, 40(5), 612 - 22 A new immunomodulator, FR-900494: taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, and physico-chemical and biological characteristics; Iwami M et al.; FR-900494 is a new type of immunoactive substances produced by an actinomycete named Kitasatosporia kifunense sp . nov . FR-900494 exhibits a competitive action against immunosuppressive factor produced in the serum of tumor bearing mice and has the capacity to restore the depression of lymphocytes. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 May, 40(5), 600 - 6 A new antitumor antibiotic, FR-900482 . III . Antitumor activity in transplantable experimental tumors; Shimomura K et al.; FR-900482 (4-formyl-6,9-dihydroxy-14-oxa-1,11-diazatetracyclo{7.4.1.02,7, O10,12}tetradeca-2,4,6-triene-8-ylmethyl carbamate), a new antibiotic with antitumor activity was isolated from fermentation broth of Streptomyces sandaensis . Its antitumor activities were studied and compared with that of mitomycin C (MMC) in animals . FR-900482 in doses of 0.32 approximately 10 mg/kg (ip) prolonged the life of mice bearing ascitic P388, L1210, B16, MM46, Ehrlich or EL4 tumors and rats bearing ascitic AH130 or AMC60 tumors . FR-900482 in doses of 5.6 approximately 18 mg/kg (iv) inhibited human LX-1, MX-1, SC-6 and LC-6 tumors xenografted sc in nude mice . FR-900482 was more effective than or equally effective to MMC in all the tumors used . FR-900482 was ineffective against cyclophosphamide-resistant P388, but was effective against MMC- or vincristine-resistant P388 . The results suggest that FR-900482 may have clinical potential. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 May, 40(5), 575 - 88 Tiacumicins, a novel complex of 18-membered macrolides . II . Isolation and structure determination; Hochlowski JE et al.; A novel complex of Gram-positive antibiotics has been isolated from the fermentation broth and mycelium of Dactylosporangium aurantiacum subsp . hamdenesis subsp . nov . The structures of these six compounds were deduced employing UV, MS, IR, and extensive 1D and 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR experiments . Each component contained a highly unsaturated 18-membered macrolide ring . Components differed from one another by minor structural variations in the macrolide ring and by the number and esterification pattern of glycosidically bound sugars. Food Chem Toxicol, 1987 May, 25(5), 363 - 8 Differential induction of mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity in rat liver and intestine by diets containing processed cabbage: correlation with cabbage levels of glucosinolates and glucosinolate hydrolysis products; McDanell R et al.; Both white and Savoy-type cabbage added to a semi-purified diet at 25% dry weight and fed to rats ad lib . for 5 days significantly induced ethoxyresorufin (ERR) deethylation in the small and large intestine . Savoy cabbage also induced hepatic activity and, in general, exhibited a greater inducing effect than white cabbage . These enzyme-inducing effects were altered when the cabbage had been processed . The content of intact glucosinolate was greater in Savoy than in white cabbage . The indole glucosinolate (glucobrassicin) content of both types of cabbage was approximately halved by cooking but was unaffected by fermentation, whilst homogenization of Savoy cabbage led to the total disappearance of intact glucosinolates . Levels of the indole glucosinolate breakdown products ascorbigen and indole-3-carbinol were highest in homogenized cabbage, and ascorbigen levels were also higher in cooked than in fresh cabbage of either type . When added to the semi-purified diet and fed ad lib . to rats for 5 days, indole-3-carbinol was a potent inducer of hepatic ERR deethylation and cytochrome P-450 activity, but had much less effect in the intestine . Other glucobrassicin metabolites, diindolylmethane and indole-3-acetonitrile, also had some inducing effect in the liver but no effect in the intestine, while ascorbigen significantly induced ERR deethylation in the small and large intestine but had no effect on hepatic MFO activity. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 May, 53(5), 1046 - 50 Effect of phenolic acids and phenolics from plant cell walls on rumenlike fermentation in consecutive batch culture; Theodorou MK et al.; Information on the interaction between mixed populations in the rumen and plant phenolics is required to fully elucidate the limitations of phenolic compounds on forage digestibility . The objective of this study was to examine the degradation of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) hay incubated with mixed ruminal populations in consecutive batch culture (CBC) with or without phenolic acids or phenolic compounds extracted from plant cell walls . Each CBC consisted of a series of 10 cultures (3 replicates per culture) inoculated (10%, vol/vol) in sequence at 48-h intervals with microbial suspension from the previous set of cultures . All cultures were grown on a semidefined medium containing Italian ryegrass hay, and each CBC was initiated with an inoculum from the rumen . Rumenlike fermentation characteristics were maintained in control CBCs by repeated inoculum transfer . Treatment CBCs were transferred as described above, but cultures 5, 6, and 7 were incubated in the presence of trans-p-coumaric, cis-p-coumaric, or trans-ferulic acid or phenolics extracted from the cell walls of maize stem or barley straw . Mean apparent dry matter disappearance in control CBC cultures was 495 mg per g of hay, whereas the presence of phenolics reduced the initial dry matter disappearance by 6.3 to 25.6% . trans-p-Coumaric acid and, to a lesser extent, the phenolics from cell walls of maize stem were the most inhibitory compounds for dry matter disappearance and for the production of volatile fatty acids; trans-p-coumaric acid altered the molar ratio of acetate/propionate/butyrate . The CBC further showed variations in the ability of the rumen microbial population to adapt to phenolic compounds. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 May, 32(5), 337 - 41 {Separation of emulsions during extraction of antibiotics from native solutions}; Katrush VR et al.; The separating capacity of a laboratory cup centrifuge and industrial centrifugal separator was compared . It was shown that the process of emulsion centrifugal separation could be modeled under laboratory conditions: antibiotic fermentation broth filtrate--organic solvent in industrial apparatus under similar conditions of preliminary mixing aqueous and organic phases. J Dairy Sci, 1987 May, 70(5), 1000 - 5 Ruminal metabolic development in calves weaned conventionally or early; Anderson KL et al.; Eight neonatal bull calves were rumen fistulated and assigned to one of two weaning programs to study the effect of diet and weaning age on ruminal metabolic development . All calves were fed colostrum until 3 d of age and milk until weaning . Calves in the early weaning program were fed milk and a highly palatable, prestarter diet until they consumed 227 g/d and then a mixture of 227 g of prestarter and all the starter diet they would eat . Calves in this group were weaned at 4 wk of age . Calves in the conventional weaning program were fed milk and a starter diet and weaned at 6 wk of age . Eight ruminal samples were collected over 12 h from each calf at 1, 4, 8, and 12 wk of age . Ruminal fluid samples were analyzed for pH, VFA, NH3 N, and L(+)-lactate and D(-)-lactate concentrations . Calves weaned early had lower ruminal pH, higher total VFA concentration, and higher molar proportion of butyrate than conventionally weaned calves . Ruminal NH3 N and lactate concentrations were not significantly affected by the weaning program, although lactate tended to be higher in calves weaned early . Ruminal VFA concentration increased and NH3N concentration decreased with increased feed consumption by calves in both groups . Molar proportions of acetate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate decreased, and those of propionate increased with age in both groups . Apparently, ruminal metabolic development, as evidenced by changes in fermentation products, was faster in calves weaned early than in calves weaned conventionally. J Nutr, 1987 May, 117(5), 919 - 27 Alfalfa saponins affect site and extent of nutrient digestion in ruminants; Lu CD et al.; Alfalfa saponins isolated by ethanol extraction and partial acid hydrolysis were intraruminally administered to sheep to investigate the biological activities and nutritional implications in ruminants . Mature wethers fitted with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas were fed a concentrate or roughage diet formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic . Microbial fermentation and nutrient degradation in the rumen were reduced by saponins . Total protozoal count in the rumen was reduced 34 and 66% by saponins at levels of 2 and 4% dietary dry matter, respectively . Bacterial nitrogen flow to the duodenum was reduced 20 and 30% in the same sequence . Apparent digestion coefficients of organic matter, hemicellulose and cellulose in the total digestive tract were increased by saponins in sheep fed concentrate diets . Fractional digestion coefficients of organic matter, hemicellulose, cellulose and nitrogen were reduced in the stomach while they were increased in the small intestine by saponins in both diets . Saponins inhibited microbial fermentation and synthesis in the rumen and altered the sites of nutrient digestion in sheep. J Anim Sci, 1987 May, 64(5), 1526 - 32 Effect of fats and fatty acid combinations on ruminal fermentation in semi-continuous in vitro cultures; Jenkins TC; Four in vitro trials were conducted to determine how ruminal fermentation is affected by source of fat, level of fat, and combinations of fatty acids . Trials I and II examined how volatile fatty acids (VFA) were changed by three sources of fat (blended animal-vegetable fat, corn oil and tallow fatty acids) each added to a hay substrate at six levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10%) . Increasing blended fat caused no changes in VFA levels except to decrease butyric acid from 12.1 to 9.9% of the total VFA (P less than .05) . Corn oil and tallow fatty acids both increased propionic acid, causing the ratio of acetic to propionic acids (A/P) to decrease (P less than .01) . Trial III tested different ratios of oleic/stearic and linoleic/stearic acids to determine if certain combinations were better for fermentation . There was no evidence of synergism among fatty acids since increasing the ratio of unsaturates steadily reduced A/P . Trial IV was designed to determine how changes in VFA levels reflect changes in fiber digestibility of substrates containing added fat . Volatile fatty acids having significant regressions with fiber digestibility were acetic acid (r = .648), propionic acid (r = -.670), total VFA concentration (r = .742) and A/P (r = .831) . Results are interpreted to show that blended animal-vegetable fats are less toxic in the rumen than equal levels of other lipids, and the beneficial effects of blended fat cannot be attributed to a unique combination of fatty acids acting synergistically. J Bacteriol, 1987 May, 169(5), 2012 - 6 Activities of oxidative enzymes in mycoplasmas; Constantopoulos G et al.; The activities of several oxidoreductases were measured in three fermentative and two nonfermentative Mycoplasma species that were grown under aerobic or anaerobic conditions . Acholeplasma laidlawii MG, Mycoplasma hyorhinis GDL, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae FH had very high apparent activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex compared with the activities of mammalian fibroblasts or human platelet-enriched preparations, while Mycoplasma salivarium VV and Mycoplasma arthritidis 07 had very low apparent activities of these two enzymes . Strictly anaerobic growth diminished both enzymatic activities . The activity of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex was minimal in all five mycoplasmas that were grown under aerobic conditions, anaerobic conditions, or both . All the mycoplasmas that were examined exhibited lactate dehydrogenase and NADH-dichlorophenol indophenol oxidoreductase activities . The properties of mycoplasmal pyruvate dehydrogenase complex suggest that it differs from the mammalian enzyme. J Exp Zool, 1987 May, 242(2), 241 - 5 Separation and functions of two acyl CoA transferases from Ascaris lumbricoides mitochondria; Saz HJ et al.; Many invertebrates accumulate propionate, or products derived from propionate, as products of fermentation . Evidence has been reported that the nematode, Ascaris suum, the cestode, Spirometra mansonoides, and the trematode, Fasciola hepatica, accumulate propionate by means of an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-generating decarboxylation of succinate . To generate energy, an acyl coenzyme A (CoA) transferase that would transfer CoA to succinate is required as one component of the sequence of reactions . Recently, an acyl CoA transferase was isolated from Ascaris mitochondria and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity . However, upon examination of the substrate specificities of this enzyme, it was found essentially to lack the ability to use succinate or succinyl CoA as an acceptor or donor of CoA, respectively . Therefore, this transferase could not serve to activate succinate . This article describes the isolation of an additional acyl CoA transferase from Ascaris mitochondria that appears to be unique in its substrate specificity and that could easily account not only for the activation of succinate but also for the regulation of succinate metabolism primarily in the direction of decarboxylation to propionate . This is in contrast with mammalian tissues, which act in the opposite direction by catalyzing the fixation of CO2 into propionate, thereby forming succinate and accounting for the glycogenic nature of dietary propionate . Possible functions of the two acyl CoA transferases are discussed. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 May, 40(5), 668 - 78 Production and biological activity of rebeccamycin, a novel antitumor agent; Bush JA et al.; An actinomycete, strain C-38,383, was selected in a screening program for the isolation of novel antitumor agents . A yellow crystalline product, named rebeccamycin, was isolated from the mycelium and was found to have activity against P388 leukemia, L1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma implanted in mice . Rebeccamycin inhibits the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and produces single-strand breaks in the DNA of these cells . No DNA-protein cross-links were detected . A related antibiotic, staurosporine, is produced by Streptomyces staurosporeus and Streptomyces actuosus . Strain C-38,383 was found to resemble closely strains of Nocardia aerocolonigenes recently renamed Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes . A strain selection isolate without aerial mycelium, C-38,383-RK-1, failed to produce rebeccamycin while a strain with aerial mycelium, C-38,383-RK-2, was found to be a suitable strain for production . A description of the producing strain is presented and its taxonomic position is reviewed . A fermentor containing 37 liters of production medium gave a rebeccamycin yield of 663 mg/liter after 204 hours of incubation with strain C-38,383-RK-2. J Bacteriol, 1987 May, 169(5), 2063 - 8 Anaerobic catabolism of formate to acetate and CO2 by Butyribacterium methylotrophicum; Kerby R et al.; The catabolism of sodium formate to acetate and carbon dioxide by the anaerobic acetogen Butyribacterium methylotrophicum was analyzed by fermentation time course and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies . Significant hydrogen production and consumption fluxes were observed during formate catabolism but not during the catabolism of formate plus CO . In the latter case, formate and CO were simultaneously consumed and label distribution studies with mixtures of 13C-labeled CO and formate demonstrated their preferential incorporation into the acetate carboxyl and methyl groups, respectively . Hydrogen consumption was inhibited by CO when both were present, whereas hydrogen and formate were simultaneously consumed when CO2 was supplied . Carbon dioxide was required for the conversion of CO to acetate, but a similar need was not observed when methanol plus CO or formate plus CO was present . These analyses indicate a bifurcated single-carbon catabolic pathway in which CO2 is the sole single-carbon compound that directly supplies the carbonyl and methyl group synthesis pathways leading to the formation of acetyl coenzyme A, the primary reduced product . We discuss causes for the reported inability of B . methylotrophicum to use formate as a sole substrate. J Chromatogr, 1987 Apr 17, 392, 225 - 38 Affinity chromatography of glycopeptide antibiotics; Folena-Wasserman G et al.; An affinity support was designed to facilitate the isolation and purification of glycopeptide antibiotics by mimicking their known affinity for the bacterial cell wall . Members of this class of antibiotics inhibit peptidoglycan biosynthesis by specifically binding to pentapeptide precursors terminating with L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala . A series of ligands (Gly, D-Ala, D-Ala-D-Ala and alpha-N-Ac-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala) were immobilized on an N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated agarose support and evaluated using the glycopeptides vancomycin and the aridicin complex . Conditions were developed to enable complete adsorption and efficient elution of both antibiotics . Of the four ligands, the readily available dipeptide offered the best compromise between high binding specificity and recovery on elution . Binding and subsequent high recovery of biologically active products were observed for eight other glycopeptide antibiotics . Column performance was shown by purification of vancomycin directly from a low titer fermentation broth . The applicability of this technique to large scale isolation was demonstrated by the preparative affinity chromatography of 36 g of the aridicins. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Apr, 264(1-2), 84 - 92 Elimination of Mycoplasma from cell cultures by means of specific bovine antiserum; Polak-Vogelzang AA et al.; Heifers were immunized against Mycoplasma arginini, M . fermentans, M . hyorhinis and M . orale and the antisera were applied for elimination of these species from cell cultures . From fifteen out of nineteen contaminated human and animal cell cultures the mycoplasmas could be eliminated by treating the cells with medium with 10% or 20% antiserum (eight cases) or antiserum combined with one or two antibiotics (six cases) . In ten cases two treatments were sufficient, in four cases respectively four, six or eight (2 X) treatments were necessary, in one case antiserum combined with a heat treatment (42 degrees C) was successful . The efficacy of the treatment depended on the antibody titer of the serum, the contaminating mycoplasm species (M . arginini being more difficult to eliminate than the other three species) and the cells involved . The bovine sera were not cytotoxic, except for a slight toxicity for a mouse lymphoma cell line . The application of specific bovine antiserum for elimination of mycoplasmas is an easy and often successful method. J Dairy Sci, 1987 Apr, 70(4), 799 - 805 Alteration of fermentation in continuous culture of mixed rumen bacteria by isolated alfalfa saponins; Lu CD et al.; Saponins isolated from alfalfa by ethanol extraction and acid hydrolysis were incorporated into protein-free purified diets at 0, .5, 1, 2, and 4% of dietary dry matter to investigate the effect of saponins on fermentation by mixed rumen bacteria maintained in continuous culture . Inoculum was obtained from a lactating dairy cow fed alfalfa hay and a 13% crude protein grain mixture with forage to grain ratios of 33:67, 67:33, or 100:0 . Outflow of microbial protein was lower in fermenters fed purified diet containing 1% saponins . Accumulation of ammonia was observed in fermenters fed purified diets containing alfalfa saponins . Total volatile fatty acid production was reduced by addition of isolated alfalfa saponin fraction at .5, 1, 2, and 4% concentrations . Acetate to propionate ratios were reduced from 1.93 in control to 1.37 in fermenters with 1% saponins . Extent of change in fermentation was not proportional to the concentration of added saponins. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Apr, 40(4), 408 - 18 Paulomycin-related antibiotics: paldimycins and antibiotics 273a2 . Isolation and characterization; Argoudelis AD et al.; The isolation of paulomycins A and B from fermentations of Streptomyces paulus has been reported earlier {J . Antibiotics 35: 285-294, 1982} . Further work on the antibiotics produced by S . paulus revealed the production of two paulomycin-related compounds, antibiotics 273a1 and 273a2 which were isolated by procedures involving extractions and chromatography over buffered silica gel . Antibiotic 273a1 which has been named paldimycin, was found to be a mixture of two materials, paldimycins A and B (antibiotics 273a1 alpha, and 273a1 beta) . Similarly, antibiotic 273a2 was found to consist of antibiotic 273a2 alpha and antibiotic 273a2 beta . Paldimycin and antibiotic 273a2, which are produced by addition of two or one molecules of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, respectively, to paulomycins A and B, are active vs . Gram-positive bacteria. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Apr, 40(4), 401 - 7 Arizonins, a new complex of antibiotics related to kalafungin . II . Isolation and characterization; Hochlowski JE et al.; A new complex of anti-Gram-positive antibiotics was produced by the fermentation of Actinoplanes arizonaensis sp . nov . The antibiotics were recovered from the fermentation broth with Amberlite XAD-7 resin and from the mycelium by acetone lysis . UV, IR, MS and NMR spectral studies characterized these compounds as kalafungin-type antibiotics . They differ from other known members by an unusual oxidation pattern on the aromatic ring . They vary from one another by the degree and position of O-methylation on the aromatic ring and in the aliphatic portion of the molecules . The structure of one component was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. J Anim Sci, 1987 Apr, 64(4), 1241 - 8 Effects of slaframine on ruminant digestive function: liquid turnover rate and fermentation patterns in sheep and cattle; Froetschel MA et al.; Two trials were initiated to determine if slaframine (SF) can be used to alter fluid digesta flow and fermentation patterns in the rumen . In trial 1, a preliminary experiment, four Dorset X Barbados Black-belly ruminal-cannulated wethers (avg weight 41.6 8.7 kg) given ad libitum access to a pelleted concentrate/hay diet were injected intramuscularly with 0, 12, 24 or 48 micrograms SF/kg body weight (BW) in a 4 X 4 Latin-square design . Ruminal fluid dilution rate was determined using a single intraruminal infusion of polyethylene glycol (7 g), followed by seven hourly ruminal fluid samples . The administration of 48 micrograms SF/kg BW increased (P less than .10) ruminal volume and outflow by 27 and 25%, respectively, compared with controls . In trial 2, two Hereford and two Angus ruminal cannulated steers (avg weight 568 +/- 93 kg) were injected with 0, 6, 12 or 24 micrograms SF/kg BW at 8-h intervals over a 24-h period in a 4 X 4 Latin-square design . Steers were fed a concentrate diet at twice maintenance in 24 equal portions daily . Ruminal fluid dilution was measured using a single intraruminal infusion of cobalt-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (20 g) administered 9 h after the initial SF injection . Ruminal fluid was collected each hour during 8 to 24 h after the initial SF injection and analyzed for pH, osmolality and volatile fatty acids (VFA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Anim Sci, 1987 Apr, 64(4), 1227 - 34 Influence of decoquinate on ruminal fermentation, diet digestibility and cattle performance; Harmon DL et al.; Three experiments utilizing three Holstein steers (235 and 299 kg avg body weight for Exp . 1 and 2, respectively) were conducted to evaluate the effects of decoquinate, a synthetic coccidiostat, on ruminal fermentation, diet digestibility and performance of steers fed a finishing diet containing monensin and tylosin . Experiment 1 utilized a 70% forage diet, whereas Exp . 2 utilized a 20% forage diet . Each experiment was a 3 X 3 Latin-square design with treatments being 0, .5 and 5 mg decoquinate/kg body weight . Ruminal fermentation characteristics, water kinetics and blood constituents were measured on d 11 of each period, and zero-time volatile fatty acid (VFA) production was measured at 3 and 6 h post-feeding on d 12 to 14 . No changes were seen in plasma glucose or L-lactate, ruminal pH, NH3-N or ruminal L-lactate for either experiment . Dry matter digestibility was depressed (P less than .05) at the .5- and 5-mg levels of decoquinate in Exp . 1, but dry matter digestibility was not affected in Exp . 2 . No changes were seen in ruminal volume, outflow or total VFA concentration for either experiment . Molar proportions of VFA were not affected in Exp . 1, but the proportions of isobutyrate and butyrate decreased (P less than .05) at the 5-mg level of decoquinate in Exp . 2 . Volatile fatty acid production was not changed in Exp . 1, but butyrate production was decreased (P less than .05) at the 5-mg level in Exp . 2 . Experiment 3 involved 135 crossbred steers (259 kg avg initial wt), which were stratified by weight into 12 pens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Anim Sci, 1987 Apr, 64(4), 1170 - 7 Effect of feeding frequency on forage fiber and nitrogen utilization in sheep; Bunting LD et al.; Four crossbred wether lambs (38 kg) with permanent ruminal and abomasal cannulae were used in a 4 X 4 Latin square arrangement of treatments to determine the effect of feeding frequency (FF) on forage fiber and N utilization . Lambs were offered 900 g of good quality (vegetative) Kentucky-31 tall fescue hay in equal portions either 2, 4, 8 or 16 times daily . Water consumption increased (P less than .05; linear) with increased FF . Apparent total tract digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter and cell wall constituents were not affected (P greater than .05) by FF, but apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein decreased (P less than .05; linear) with increased FF . Ruminal and post-ruminal digestion of acid detergent fiber (percent of total tract digestion) differed (P less than .05; cubic) among FF treatments . Although N retention was not affected (P greater than .05) by FF, increased FF decreased (P less than .05; linear) mean ruminal ammonia-N concentrations . Both the quantity of total N reaching the abomasum and the efficiency of microbial crude protein synthesis tended to increase (P greater than .05) with increased FF . In addition, the daily quantity of microbial N reaching the abomasum was affected (P less than .05; cubic) by FF . Ruminal pH was not affected (P greater than .05) by FF, whereas total volatile fatty acid concentrations (VFA) decreased (P less than .05; linear) with increased FF . Responses in molar proportions of individual VFA to FF were variable, and suggest that increasing FF elicits significant changes in the distribution of fermentation end-products.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Apr, 133 ( Pt 4), 1053 - 9 Cytochrome P-450 accumulation and loss as controlled by growth phase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: relationship to oxygen, glucose and ethanol concentrations; Blatiak A et al.; Ethanol induced small amounts of cytochrome P-450 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 754 under conditions in which it is not normally detectable . Moreover, in non-growing yeast the existing cytochrome P-450 content was increased by 50% at a limited range of glucose concentrations (8-12% in 0.1 M-potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0), in which ethanol is produced by fermentation, possibly at an optimum concentration for induction of cytochrome P-450 . Added alkanols, other than ethanol, caused rapid degradation of cytochrome P-450 in non-growing yeast; the rate of loss was directly related to the lipid solubility of the alkanol . Ethanol therefore favoured the accumulation of cytochrome P-450 in yeast; this may be related to an important putative role of one of the isoenzymes in ethanol-tolerance of the yeast, by the oxidative removal of ethanol from the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell . It is the accumulation of dissolved oxygen, rather than ethanol, that occurs on cessation of yeast growth that is likely to trigger the rapid disappearance of cytochrome P-450 observed at this time. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Apr, 40(4), 450 - 4 K-13, a novel inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme produced by Micromonospora halophytica subsp . exilisia . I . Fermentation, isolation and biological properties; Kase H et al.; A novel inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE), designated K-13, was isolated from the culture broth of Micromonospora halophytica subsp . exilisia K-13 . K-13 inhibited ACE non-competitively when hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine was used as a substrate . The inhibition constant (Ki) was 0.349 microM . K-13 hardly inhibited carboxypeptidase A, trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and aminopeptidase B even at a level of 61 microM . When K-13 was administered intravenously to rats, it inhibited the pressor response to angiotensin I. J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Apr, 133 ( Pt 4), 925 - 33 Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding lipoamide dehydrogenase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Roy DJ et al.; The LPD1 gene of S . cerevisiae, which encodes lipoamide dehydrogenase (EC 1.8.1.4), has been cloned and characterized . The LPD1 gene is present as a single copy in the yeast genome and is transcribed to give a polyadenylated mRNA species of approximately 2.0 kb . The synthesis of lipoamide dehydrogenase in yeast is subject to carbon catabolite repression since both the level of the LPD1 transcript and the accumulation of the lipoamide dehydrogenase subunit polypeptide were greatly reduced in wild-type cells grown on glucose compared to those grown on a variety of non-fermentable carbon sources . Strains defective in LPD1 but transformed with the LPD1 gene on a high copy number vector exhibited elevated levels of the LPD1 transcript as well as increased lipoamide dehydrogenase activity when grown on glycerol . Immunoblotting experiments confirmed that such transformants over-expressed lipoamide dehydrogenase protein . Transcription from the LPD1 sequence on plasmid pGP1 still appeared to be subject to some catabolite repression despite the presence of multiple copies of the plasmid in the cell. Int J Cancer, 1987 Mar 15, 39(3), 293 - 6 Volatile nitrosamine levels in common foods from Tunisia, south China and Greenland, high-risk areas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); Poirier S et al.; On the basis of anthropological pilot studies on diet in Tunisia, south China and Greenland, food items consumed frequently by these populations at high risk for NPC were analysed for volatile nitrosamines using gas chromatography combined with a thermal energy analyzer . Relatively high levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) and N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) were detected in Tunisian stewing base ("Touklia") and dried mutton preserved in olive oil ("Qaddid") . NDMA was also detected at levels ranging from trace amounts to 133 micrograms/kg in several Chinese salted and dried marine fish and in Greenland dried, unsalted fish preparations . NPYR and NPIP were also occasionally detected in several vegetables fermented in brine collected in Tunisia and China . The possible role of nitrosamines in the etiology of NPC is discussed. Hygie, 1987 Mar, 6(1), 21 - 3 {Alcoholism: yesterday and tomorrow}; Sournia JC; The consumption of fermented drinks, made from fruit, grains, or milk, dates from antiquity . Distilled drinks have been manufactured world-wide since the XVth century . Inebriation was familiar, but the recognition of the health hazards due to persistent intoxication went unnoticed by societies and their doctors for centuries . In 1849, Magnus Huss (a Swede) classified all the pathological manifestations of excessive consumption under the term chronic alcoholism, thus rendering it a medical entity . It was not until the middle of the 20th century, however, that this "disease" could rid itself of moral and religious connotations . Throughout history, countries have made various attempts at reducing alcohol consumption: prohibition, rationing, limiting production and purchasing outlets, raising prices and taxes, reducing publicity, and improved health education . All of these methods have had temporary results; they can only be really effective if they are well coordinated, and if governments wish to choose between the income generated from alcohol and the illnesses it causes. J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Mar, 25(3), 485 - 7 Laboratory proficiency test results on use of selective media for isolating Pseudomonas cepacia from simulated sputum specimens of patients with cystic fibrosis; Tablan OC et al.; Pseudomonas cepacia colonization of or infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been associated with increased morbidity and premature death . However, current data on national incidence may be biased because of interlaboratory differences in the methods of culturing sputa of patients with CF . We conducted three tests to evaluate the proficiency of microbiology laboratories at CF centers in identifying and isolating P . cepacia and to assess the value of using selective media for P . cepacia (P . cepacia agar and oxidation-fermentation polymyxin-bacitracin-lactose medium {OFPBL}) to recover P . cepacia from specimens simulating sputa of patients with CF . In test 1, we evaluated the proficiency of laboratories in identifying P . cepacia . Of 111 laboratories tested, 105 (95%) correctly identified P . cepacia . In test 2, we evaluated the proficiency of laboratories in isolating P . cepacia from simulated CF sputum specimens . Only 36 (32%) of 115 laboratories detected P . cepacia . Recovery of the microorganism was associated with the use of P cepacia agar or OFPBL; 14 (95%) of 15 laboratories using P . cepacia agar or OFPBL (or both) versus 22 (22%) of 100 laboratories not using either medium recovered P . cepacia (P less than 0.0001, Fisher exact test, one tailed) . Laboratories failing test 2 were requested to use a selective medium for P . cepacia in a repeat test; 73 (97%) of 75 laboratories using P . cepacia agar or OFPBL (or both) versus 0 of 4 laboratories not using either medium detected P . cepacia (P less than 0.0001, Fisher exact test, one tailed) . Our studies show that (i) microbiology laboratories at CF centers are proficient in identifying P . cepacia, and (ii) the use of selective media for P . cepacia enhances recovery of the microorganism in simulated sputum specimens . Therefore, we recommend the use of selective media for P . cepacia in laboratories processing sputa of patients with CF. J Anim Sci, 1987 Mar, 64(3), 907 - 14 Effects of tallow supplementation and protein withdrawal on ruminal fermentation, microbial synthesis and site of digestion; Boggs DL et al.; The effects of tallow supplementation {0% (NT) vs 7.5% (T)} and crude protein level {8.5% (LP) vs 12.0% (HP)} on ruminal fermentation, microbial protein (MCP) synthesis, digesta passage and site of digestion were estimated using yearling Angus X Simmental steers (390 kg) fitted with ruminal and T-type duodenal cannulae . Chromium-EDTA and ytterbium (Yb) chloride were used as markers of the liquid and solid phases . Passage and site of digestion data were estimated from the concentrations of Yb in the duodenal digesta and feces . Dry matter (DM) intakes were 6.8, 6.5, 6.3 and 6.6 kg/d for the NT-LP, NT-HP and T-HP diets, respectively . Ruminal ammonia concentrations (mg/100 ml) for the NT-LP, NT-HP, T-LP and T-HP diets were 1.22, 4.75, 1.05 and 3.41, respectively . Tallow decreased (P less than .05) acetate (mol/100 mol), increased (P less than .01) propionate (mol/100 mol) and decreased the total volatile fatty acid concentration . Tallow depressed apparent ruminal DM and organic matter (OM) digestibilities only on the HP diet . High protein increased ruminal DM, OM and fiber digestibilities . Tallow and LP tended to shift the site of OM digestion to the lower tract . The liquid and solid dilution rates for the NT-LP, NT-HP, T-LP and T-HP diets were 9.53, 3.37; 5.63, 3.28; 6.66, 5.10 and 6.79, 5.34%/h, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Anim Sci, 1987 Mar, 64(3), 897 - 906 Effect of wheat and high-moisture sorghum grain fed singly and in combination on ruminal fermentation, solid and liquid flow, site and extent of digestion and feeding performance of cattle; Axe DE et al.; Two experiments were conducted to determine how varying the proportion of wheat (W) and high-moisture sorghum grain (SG) in 80% grain dies would affect ruminal fermentation, liquid and solid flow, site and extent of digestion (Exp . 1) and feeding performance of cattle (Exp . 2) . In Exp . 1, three ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulated steers (average weight 295 kg), fed at 1.54% of body weight, were used in a six-period crossover design . Treatments were: W, 50W:50SG (W:SG) and SG . Increasing wheat level decreased ruminal pH, molar proportion of acetate, and acetate:propionate ratio (P less than .05) and increased (P less than .05) L-lactate concentration, molar proportions of propionate and valerate and total volatile fatty acid concentration . Ruminal liquid dilution and outflow rates were faster (P less than .05) and retention time was shorter (P less than .05) for the W diet . Duodenal and ileal liquid flow increased (P less than .05), and solid flow decreased (P less than .05), as dietary level of wheat increased . Apparent ruminal digestion (% of intake) of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) was greater (P less than .01) with the wheat-containing diets . Intestinal DM and OM digestion (percent of intake) was higher (P less than .05) with the SG and W:SG diets . Ruminal, small intestine, large intestine and total tract starch digestion (percent of intake) was 93.5, 5.6, .7, 99.8, 71.5, 20.4, 5.7, 97.6; and 48.0, 32.5, 10.5, 91.0 with the W, W:SG and SG diets, respectively . In Exp . 2, group-fed (24 pens) steers (avg initial weight 341 kg) were fed ad libitum once daily for 121 d . Treatments were: W, 67W:33SG, 33W:67SG and SG . Rates of gain (kg/d) with the W (1.32), 67W:37SG (1.33) and 33W:67SG (1.30) diets were similar (P greater than .05), but faster (P less than .05) than those with the SG diet (1.16) . Feed intake was lower (P less than .01) with the W and 67W:33SG diets, but the wheat-containing diets were utilized more efficiently (P less than .01) . Increasing the proportion of wheat in sorghum grain feedlot diets improved cattle performance by optimizing ruminal and post-ruminal digestion. J Anim Sci, 1987 Mar, 64(3), 872 - 9 Effects of potassium on macromineral absorption in sheep fed wheat straw-based diets; Grings EE et al.; Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of increasing dietary K on macromineral bioavailability from a wheat straw-hay diet, and to monitor changes in the rumen that could affect mineral availability . In the first experiment, 12 mature wethers were used in a metabolism study to determine the effect of adding potassium chloride (KCl) to a supplement fed with a diet of 55% NH3-treated wheat straw and 45% bromegrass hay . In the second experiment, similar diets were fed to six wethers with ruminal and abomasal cannulae to determine the site of mineral absorption . Dietary K levels were 1, 2 and 3% of the diet dry matter . Increasing K tended to decrease (P less than .06) apparent absorption of Mg . Potassium absorption increased (P less than .01) with increasing dietary K, but retention was not altered . Quadratic effects (P less than .01) of K were observed for Ca and P apparent absorption and retention . Increased K lowered (P less than .05) plasma Mg in Exp . 1 but not in Exp . 2 . Ruminal concentrations of K increased (P less than .01), and concentrations of Na decreased (P less than .05), as dietary K increased . Ruminal fermentation was influenced by dietary K level . Molar proportions of acetate in the rumen were increased (P less than .01) by the addition of K to the diet, while molar proportions of butyrate (P less than .01) and valerate (P less than .01) decreased linearly with increasing K . Time X treatment interactions were present for ruminal propionate, butyrate and NH3-N (P less than .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1987 Mar, 40(3), 275 - 80 Mulundocandin, a new lipopeptide antibiotic . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and characterization; Roy K et al.; Mulundocandin, a new lipopeptide antibiotic, was isolated from the culture broth of a strain of Aspergillus sydowi No . Y-30462 . The antibiotic, obtained as a colorless amorphous powder having the molecular formula C48H77N7O16, is an antifungal antibiotic active against yeasts and filamentous fungi. Br J Nutr, 1987 Mar, 57(2), 279 - 90 Effect of different levels of phosphorus on rumen microbial fermentation and synthesis determined using a continuous culture technique; Komisarczuk S et al.; A continuous culture technique was used to study the phosphorus requirements of rumen micro-organisms . Solutions of artificial saliva containing 120, 80, 40 and 0 mg inorganic phosphorus (Pi)/l were infused into the reaction vessels previously inoculated with rumen contents, resulting in Pi concentrations in the vessel contents of 48, 28, 4 and less than 1 mg/l respectively . Various fermentative and synthetic characteristics were examined . In the vessel contents, concentrations of protozoa (about 0.9 X 10(5)/ml) were not significantly affected by Pi concentration . Total volatile fatty acids (VFA) produced averaged about 6.83 mmol/h with Pi levels of 48 and 28 mg/l . Reduction in Pi concentrations to 4 and less than 1 mg/l resulted in significant reductions in total VFA to approximately 6.25 and 3.75 mmol/h respectively, accompanied by a rise in pH from 6.5 to 7.3 . Ammonia-nitrogen values, which averaged about 131 mg/l at the higher Pi concentrations, also increased with the lowest level of Pi to about 240 mg/l . ATP concentrations averaged about 14 mumol/l at the highest Pi concentration and fell progressively with each reduction in Pi concentration to a final value of 2.5 mumol/l with the Pi level less than 1 mg/l . At Pi concentrations of 48 and 28 mg/l, the digestibilities of xylose, arabinose and cellulose-glucose were maintained at about 0.90, 0.62 and 0.70 g/g input respectively . At lower Pi concentrations these digestibilities fell significantly and corresponding values at Pi less than 1 mg/l were 0.73, 0.41 and 0.31 respectively . Starch digestion was unaffected by Pi concentration and remained at about 0.90 g/g input . The amount of microbial-N synthesized averaged 0.48 g/d and was maintained with Pi concentrations down to 4 mg/l . There was, however, a significant reduction to 0.26 g/d with Pi concentrations of less than 1 mg/l . The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was variable but averaged approximately 25 g N/kg total carbohydrate fermented . It was estimated that the minimum Pi concentrations required in rumen fluid in vivo to maintain maximum degradative and synthetic microbial activities was in the range 75-100 mg/l and that over-all P requirement of the microbes was of the order of 5.1 g/kg apparently digested organic matter intake. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1987 Mar-Apr, 6(2), 286 - 9 Effects in premature infants of normalizing breath H2 concentrations with CO2: increased H2 concentration and reduced interaliquot variation; Kien CL et al.; Interval sampling of expired breath samples from the anterior nares is a feasible and noninvasive method for detecting elevated breath H2 and thus colonic carbohydrate fermentation, especially in nontherapeutic research studies of healthy premature infants . However, there may be a risk of falsely low breath H2 concentration and an unacceptable experimental error due to contamination with room air as well as with dead space air . We studied ten premature infants (28-32 week gestational age and 2-4 weeks postnatal age) who were receiving either a proprietary formula containing equal proportions of lactose and glucose polymer, or a similar formula in which lactose was the sole carbohydrate . In 70 breath samples (obtained 30-180 min after feeding) we assessed the coefficient of variation in breath hydrogen concentration among three aliquots obtained over a 3-5 min interval . Breath was collected from the anterior nares . The interaliquot coefficient of variation averaged 11% when expressed as parts per million per 5% CO2, compared to 19% when expressed as parts per million (Wilcoxon, p less than 0.001) . Mean breath hydrogen concentration at each time period using the former method (parts per million per 5% CO2) was about 100% higher than when using the latter method . Although ventilation rate can alter alveolar CO2, normalizing for CO2 concentration reduces a major source of experimental error. J Chromatogr Sci, 1987 Mar, 25(3), 112 - 7 Simultaneous determination of carbohydrates and products of carbohydrate metabolism in fermentation mixtures by HPLC; Ross LF et al.; An improved procedure for separating and quantitating carbohydrates, alcohols, and organic acids in fermentation mixtures metabolized by intestinal microflora is described . The high-pressure liquid chromatographic method is efficient, reproducible, and sensitive . A column packed with cation-exchange resin in the hydrogen form, eluted isocratically with 0.028 M H2SO4 at 40 degrees C separates the compounds of interest . The eluate is monitored with ultraviolet and refractive index detectors in series . On-line acquistion and storage of detector output by a computer allows post-analysis data manipulation and quantitation . Using this method, the metabolic profiles for the fermentation of glucose, fructose, lactose, and sucrose by several intestinal microorganisms are characterized and compared. Am J Clin Nutr, 1987 Mar, 45(3), 570 - 4 Modification of sweet acidophilus milk to improve utilization by lactose-intolerant persons; McDonough FE et al.; Enhanced digestion of yogurt by lactose-intolerant individuals is believed to be due to inherent beta-galactosidase (lactase) in the culture organisms that aids in the hydrolysis of ingested lactose . However, sweet acidophilus milk, which contains lactase-rich organisms, does not enhance lactose digestion . Using breath-hydrogen measurements to indicate malabsorption in 14 human subjects, we compared utilization of: milk, yogurt, heated yogurt, yogurt plus lactose, heated yogurt plus lactase, sweet acidophilus milk (SAM), and SAM made with sonicated cells . Results indicate that both the reduction of lactose during fermentation and the presence of indigenous bacterial lactase are responsible for the increased ability to tolerate lactose in yogurt . Improved utilization of SAM by sonication suggests that intracellular lactase is not available during digestion and that sonication releases the lactase activity from the cells. Arch Microbiol, 1987 Mar, 147(2), 195 - 200 On the role of cyclic AMP and the Fnr protein in Escherichia coli growing anaerobically; Unden G et al.; The role of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and of the Fnr protein, a transcriptional regulator of anaerobic electron transport, in the expression of anaerobic respiration of Escherichia coli was investigated . Under conditions of fermentation or anaerobic respiration intracellular cAMP was formed in concentrations up to 4.6 nmol/g protein . From the enzymes of the anaerobic electron transfer chain from glycerol-3-P to fumarate only the expression of glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase (Freedberg WB, Lin ECC (1973) J Bacteriol 115:816-823), but not that of fumarate reductase required cAMP . Isolated Fnr protein, which has been suggested to be an additional site of action of cAMP under anaerobic conditions did not bind cAMP . It is concluded that cAMP in anaerobic growth like in aerobic growth acts as the effector of CRP and that catabolite repression plays an important regulatory role in anaerobic catabolism . The Fnr protein was present in constant amounts (0.06 mg/g cellular protein) and in constant molar mass (Mr 30,000) in aerobically and in anaerobically grown bacteria . This result excluded regulation of the activity of the Fnr protein by a change of concentration or by processing of the protein. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1987 Mar, 253(2), 431 - 8 Early metabolic effects and mechanism of ammonium transport in yeast; Pena A et al.; Studies were performed to define the effects and mechanism of NH+4 transport in yeast . The following results were obtained . Glucose was a better facilitator than ethanol-H2O2 for ammonium transport; low concentrations of uncouplers or respiratory inhibitors could inhibit the transport with ethanol as the substrate . With glucose, respiratory inhibitors showed only small inhibitory effects, and only high concentrations of azide or trifluoromethoxy carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone could inhibit ammonium transport . Ammonium in the free state could be concentrated approximately 200-fold by the cells . Also, the addition of ammonium produced stimulation of both respiration and fermentation; an increased rate of H+ extrusion and an alkalinization of the interior of the cell; a decrease of the membrane potential, as monitored by fluorescent cyanine; an immediate decrease of the levels of ATP and an increase of ADP, which may account for the stimulation of both fermentation and respiration; and an increase of the levels of inorganic phosphate . Ammonium was found to inhibit 86Rb+ transport much less than K+ . Also, while K+ produced a competitive type of inhibition, that produced by NH4+ was of the noncompetitive type . From the distribution ratio of ammonium and the pH gradient, an electrochemical potential gradient of around -180 mV was calculated . The results indicate that ammonium is transported in yeast by a mechanism similar to that of monovalent alkaline cations, driven by a membrane potential . The immediate metabolic effects of this cation seem to be due to an increased {H+}ATPase, to which its transport is coupled . However, the carriers seem to be different . The transport system studied in this work was that of low affinity. J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 1987 Mar, 3(1), 59 - 64 Ground and aerial application of the asexual stage of Lagenidium giganteum for control of mosquitoes associated with rice culture in the Central Valley of California; Kerwin JL et al.; A series of ground and aerial applications of Lagenidium giganteum, a facultative fungal parasite of mosquito larvae, was made in rice fields and associated habitats in the Sacramento Valley, CA . Initial trials using ground applications of the fungus in 400 m2 plots indicated that asexually competent mycelium from 30 liters of fermentation beer per hectare was sufficient to control Culex tarsalis in rice field habitats . Two multi-hectare applications using a Micronair Atomizer were made at rates of mycelium from either 20 or 30 liters of fermentation beer per hectare . The lower application rate resulted in 40% confirmed infection of Cx . tarsalis and Anopheles freeborni sentinel larvae, while the higher application rate resulted in greater than 90% initial mortality of sentinel Cx . tarsalis and An . freeborni and 65% Aedes melanimon sentinel mortality . This was accompanied by a 10-fold decrease in indigenous populations of the 2 former species. EMBO J, 1987 Mar, 6(3), 723 - 8 A yeast mutant lacking mitochondrial porin is respiratory-deficient, but can recover respiration with simultaneous accumulation of an 86-kd extramitochondrial protein; Dihanich M et al.; A yeast mutant lacking the only known pore-forming protein of the mitochondrial outer membrane was constructed by gene disruption . The mutant retained all other major proteins of the mitochondrial outer membrane, but was severely deficient in mitochondrial cytochromes and initially did not grow on the non-fermentable carbon source, glycerol . However, it could slowly adapt to glycerol; adaptation was accompanied by the partial restoration of cytochrome levels and massive accumulation of an 86-kd polypeptide in extramitochondrial cell fractions. FEBS Lett, 1987 Feb 23, 212(2), 302 - 6 The secretion of glucagon by transformed yeast strains; Moody AJ et al.; Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were transformed with plasmids coding for modified mating factor alpha 1 leader sequences followed by glucagon . Glucagon-containing peptides which were secreted into the fermentation broth were isolated and their amino acid sequences determined . The yeast strain transformed with the sequence coding for the complete mating factor alpha 1 leader sequence preceding the glucagon gene (MT556) secreted glucagon plus glucagon extended at its N-terminal by parts of the leader sequence . The yeast strain transformed with the sequence coding for a truncated mating factor alpha 1 leader sequence before the glucagon gene (MT615) secreted glucagon . These observations suggest that S . cerevisiae is a suitable vehicle for the efficient expression of plasmids coding for polypeptides similar to glucagon (e.g . VIP, secretin, GIP). J Med Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 23(1), 89 - 92 The prolonged persistence of mycoplasmas in culture; Taylor-Robinson D et al.; Mycoplasma fermentans organisms in medium containing 20% horse serum multiplied to 10(7)-10(10) ccu/ml within 5 days at 37 degrees C and were dead usually after 9 days . There was no growth in medium without serum, nor in such medium with the addition of cholesterol or palmitic acid or both, but in some experiments addition of bovine plasma albumin (BPA) increased the number of organisms by up to 1000-fold and some remained viable for up to 84 days . BPA and cholesterol or BPA, palmitic acid and cholesterol more often enhanced growth, in terms of the maximum number of organisms and their survival, than did the addition of BPA alone . The maximum number of organisms in such supplemented serum-free media was usually at least ten-fold less than in medium with horse serum, but some organisms remained viable for up to 131 days . Survival of Ureaplasma urealyticum was also longer in the supplemented serum-free medium than in standard horse-serum medium . The possible factors affecting persistence of mycoplasmas in culture are discussed in relation to these observations. J Dairy Res, 1987 Feb, 54(1), 107 - 31 Metabolism of the lactating cow . II . Digestive elements of a mechanistic model; Baldwin RL et al.; The structure and characteristics of a model suitable for estimating digestion within the rumen and rates and patterns of nutrient entry in lactating cows are presented . The model consists of 12 state variables comprising a large particle pool, small particle pools representing insoluble dietary nutrients, soluble pools representing soluble dietary nutrients, and fermentation intermediates and end products . The model was constructed assuming continuous feeding, using Michaelis-Menten or mass action kinetics . The computer program was written in ACSL to run on a VAX computer . A fourth-order Runge-Kutta procedure was used for numerical integration . Sensitivity and behavioural analysis demonstrated that overall stability and sensitivity of the model to individual parameters was generally satisfactory, but the need to improve the description and parameterization of aspects such as particle size in relation to availability, rate and affinity constants for amino acid degradation and rate constants for particle outflow from the rumen was established . Adjustments of the model to examine discontinuous feeding regimes were undertaken and initial results with respect to changes in fermentation rates, rumen acetate levels and microbial metabolism were considered realistic . Comparisons with experimental data were considered satisfactory on forage-based and medium concentrate-containing diets, but with diets comprising 90% cereal, some inconsistencies, especially with respect to predictions of volatile fatty acid production rates, were observed . Reasons for this are put forward and suggestions for improvements in the model are discussed. Infect Immun, 1987 Feb, 55(2), 352 - 7 Proline requirement for glucose utilization by Peptostreptococcus anaerobius ATCC 27337; Curtis MA et al.; Resting cells of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius maintained under anaerobic conditions were unable to metabolize either glucose or alanine . The addition of proline to the appropriate suspension, however, resulted in the immediate utilization of both compounds . Fermentation of alanine by the cells required that stoichiometric concentrations of proline be present in the medium; and during the oxidation of alanine, proline was simultaneously reduced to the ring cleavage product delta-aminovaleric acid . Although proline was required to initiate glucose transport, stoichiometric amounts of the imino acid were not necessary for glucose fermentation . Proline also stimulated the uptake and concomitant phosphorylation of the nonmetabolizable glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose . The proline requirement for glucose transport by P . anaerobius could be replaced by adding ferricyanide or simply by aerating the cell suspension . The initiation of sugar uptake by proline, ferricyanide, and O2 was attributed to the capacity of these compounds to function as electron acceptors, which permitted reoxidation of the (reduced) intracellular nucleotide pool and the formation (from an endogenous reserve) of the high-energy donor(s) required for the vectorial transport and phosphorylation of sugar. Mycopathologia, 1987 Feb, 97(2), 77 - 82 Tolypocladium cylindrosporum (Deuteromycotina: Moniliales), a fungal pathogen of the mosquito Aedes australis . II . Methods of spore propagation and storage; Gardner JM et al.; A laboratory fermenter was used to produce up to 12 l of infective Tolypocladium cylindrosporum blastoconidia in Sabouraud dextrose broth . Two media derived from coconuts were also demonstrated as suitable alternative systems for the production of viable blastoconidia . T . cylindrosporum conidia when dried at 37 degrees C and stored at 4 degrees C retained their viability for 10 months, but, when stored at 25 degrees C, the conidia lost viability after 2 months and blastoconidia did not survive the drying process . Distilled water suspensions were a simple, economic technique for the long-term storage of spores at both 4 and 25 degrees C . The adsorption of conidia onto silica gel crystals was a very suitable technique for the storage of stock culture material at 4 degrees C . The virulence, production and storage capabilities of both spore types were examined. Can J Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 33(2), 157 - 61 Inhibition of yeast respiration and fermentation by benomyl, carbendazim, isocyanates, and other fungicidal chemicals; Chiba M et al.; The inhibition of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevesiae) metabolism by fungicidal chemicals was investigated . Glucose- or ethanol-dependent yeast respiration was measured with an oxygen electrode, and manometric determination of carbon dioxide release was used to measure fermentation . Both respiration and fermentation were inhibited more by benomyl than by identical molar concentrations of its breakdown product, carbendazim . Butyl isocyanate, another benomyl breakdown product, inhibited respiration more but inhibited fermentation less than the parent compound . Of the isocyanates tested, hexyl isocyanate was the most inhibitory towards both activities . Captan was more active and iprodione less active than benomyl . Because benomyl rapidly broke down to carbendazim when it was prepared in 80% ethanol, only 59% of the dissolved benomyl was intact when it was added to yeast to determine its effect on respiration or fermentation. J Dairy Sci, 1987 Feb, 70(2), 397 - 406 Milk intolerance and microbe-containing dairy foods; Savaiano DA et al.; The relationship between primary lactase deficiency, the amount of lactose in the diet, and symptoms of intolerance continues to be debated . Primary adult lactase deficiency is common with a worldwide occurrence of near 70% . Lactase-deficient individuals malabsorb lactose but may or may not show intolerance symptoms . The development of symptoms appears to depend on the dose of lactose ingested, whether it is accompanied by a meal or other food, rate of gastric emptying, and small intestine transit time . Lactose loads of 15 g or greater produce symptoms in the majority of lactase-deficient persons . However, when lactose loads of up to 12 g are fed, symptoms can be minimal or absent . Tolerance to yogurt, acidophilus milk, and other microbe-containing dairy foods has been suggested and is thought to be due to either a low lactose content or in vivo autodigestion by microbial beta-galactosidase . Up to 20 g of lactose in yogurt is tolerated well by lactase-deficient persons . Associated with the consumption of yogurt is a three- to fourfold reduction in lactose malabsorption as compared with similar lactose consumption in milk . Improved lactose digestion appears due to autodigestion by microbial beta-galactosidase . This enzyme may be released from yogurt culture by gastric or bile acid digestion . Feeding yogurt that was pasteurized following fermentation, with only trace amounts of microbial beta-galactosidase activity, results in a threefold increase in lactose malabsorption as compared with feeding yogurt with a viable culture . However, pasteurized yogurt also is tolerated well by lactase-deficient persons, suggesting that tolerance of up to 20 g of lactose in yogurt may be independent of lactose malabsorption . The enhanced lactose absorption and tolerance observed with yogurt feeding are not apparent when unfermented acidophilus milk or cultured milk are fed. J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 133 ( Pt 2), 375 - 9 The influence of ammonium permease activity and carbon source on the uptake of ammonium from simple defined media by Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Egbosimba EE et al.; When growing under defined conditions, cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae absorbed ammonium more rapidly with glucose as carbon source than with maltose . Ammonium pool sizes and permease activity were also higher in the glucose-grown cells and the relationship implies that firstly, the sugar is a primary determinant of ammonium permease activity and, secondly, the activity of the permease largely determines both the rate of ammonium uptake and ammonium pool size in the first part of the fermentation. J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 66(2), 430 - 5 Physiological factors influencing salivary clearance of sugar and fluoride; Lagerlof F et al.; The salivary clearance of sugar and fluoride is influenced by several physiological factors not yet fully investigated or understood . There are reasons to believe that these factors influence both the acid production by sugar fermentation in the dental plaque and the cariostatic action of fluoride on the enamel surface and its immediate environment . This paper presents theoretical and experimental considerations of physiological factors which influence the kinetics of sugar and fluoride in the oral cavity. Gut, 1987 Feb, 28(2), 171 - 80 Effects of an elemental diet, inert bulk and different types of dietary fibre on the response of the intestinal epithelium to refeeding in the rat and relationship to plasma gastrin, enteroglucagon, and PYY concentrations; Goodlad RA et al.; Refeeding starved rats with an elemental diet resulted in a marked increase in crypt cell production rate (CCPR) in the proximal small intestine but not in the distal regions of the gut . Little effect on CCPR was noted when inert bulk (kaolin) was added to the elemental diet . Addition of a poorly fermentable dietary fibre (purified wood cellulose) had little effect on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation except in the distal colon where it significantly increased CCPR . A more readily fermentable fibre (purified wheat bran) caused a large proliferative response in the proximal, mid, and distal colon and in the distal small intestine . A gel forming fibre only significantly stimulated proliferation in the distal colon; the rats in this group, however, did not eat all the food given . There was no significant correlation between CCPR and plasma gastrin concentrations, but plasma enteroglucagon concentrations were significantly correlated with CCPR in almost all the sites studied . Plasma PYY concentrations also showed some correlation with CCPR, especially in the colon . Thus while inert bulk cannot stimulate colonic epithelial cell proliferation fermentable fibre is capable of stimulating proliferation in the colon, and especially in the distal colon: it can also stimulate proliferation in the distal small intestine and it is likely that plasma enteroglucagon may have a role to play in this process. J Bacteriol, 1987 Feb, 169(2), 654 - 9 Generation of deletions in the 3'-flanking sequences of the Escherichia coli crp gene that induce cyclic AMP suppressor functions; Barton JW et al.; The crp structural gene and its 3'-flanking sequences were subcloned into M13mp8, and in vitro deletions were constructed in both the 5' and 3' ends of the gene by using Bal 31 nuclease . Deletions ranged in size from 24 to 250 base pairs at the 5' end of crp . Sixteen deletions generated at the 3' end of the gene ranged in size from 133 to 675 base pairs . The majority of deletions extended into the crp structural gene . Another class of deletions, i.e., delta crp-4, delta crp-17, and delta crp-2, had endpoints extending in the 3'-flanking sequences external to the crp structural gene . Deletions were subcloned into pBR322 and transformed into the Escherichia coli cya crp deletion strain NCR438 . Transformants containing plasmid pBM4 with the delta crp4 mutation, a deletion of 133 base pairs, were cyclic AMP independent . Strain NCR440 harboring this plasmid expressed beta-galactosidase and threonine dehydratase activities and fermented lactose, ribose, arabinose, and xylose in the absence of exogenous cyclic AMP . The delta crp-4 mutation also caused strain NCR440 to be hypersensitive to exogenous cyclic AMP . The cylic AMP receptor protein expressed in maxicells from pBM4 carrying the delta crp-4 mutation comigrated with the wild-type protein on electrophoretic gels . The delta crp-4 mutation demonstrates that sequences distal to the crp structural gene can mediate cyclic AMP suppressor functions. Chest, 1987 Feb, 91(2), 285 - 6 Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus oryzae; Akiyama K et al.; A 19-year-old female student with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) due to Aspergillus oryzae is reported . This organism was used for fermentation starter to make soybean paste in her father's workshop adjacent to the home where she lived . ABPA might be considered an occupational disease in certain situations. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1987 Jan 30, 142(2), 329 - 33 Isolation and characterization of a novel nonheme chloroperoxidase; Liu TN et al.; Chloroperoxidase, purified from the fermentation of Curvularia inaequalis, had a molecular weight of approximately 240,000 and was composed of 4 subunits of identical molecular weight (Mr 66,000) . The enzyme was specific for I-, Br- and Cl-, and inactive toward F- . The optimum pH of the enzyme was centered around 5.0 . X-ray fluorescence revealed that the enzyme contained 2.2 atoms of zinc and 0.7 atom of Fe per molecule of protein . The enzyme had no heme-like compound as a prosthetic group, making it the first nonheme chloroperoxidase to be reported . Under oxidative conditions that rapidly inactivated other haloperoxidases, this enzyme was remarkably stable. Mol Biochem Parasitol, 1987 Jan 15, 22(2-3), 241 - 8 Biochemical changes during the aerobic-anaerobic transition in Ascaris suum larvae; Komuniecki PR et al.; Ascaris suum L3 larvae isolated from rabbit lungs undergo the third ecdysis to L4 larvae after 3 days in culture under a gas phase of 85% N2/10% CO2/5% O2 . The L3 larvae contain substantial malic enzyme activity and are capable of producing small amounts of the reduced organic acids characteristic of the fermentative pathways which operate in the adult . However, only a small portion of the total carbon utilized is accounted for by these reduced acids and their motility is cyanide-sensitive, suggesting that their energy-generating pathways are predominantly aerobic . In contrast, after ecdysis, the L4 larvae begin to utilize glucose at a greater rate and the proportion of total carbon utilized which is accounted for as propionate, 2-methylbutyrate and 2-methylvalerate also increases . In addition, motility becomes increasingly cyanide-insensitive, suggesting that these L4 larvae are able to utilize the anaerobic energy-generating pathways of the adult . Surprisingly, on day 10 in culture, these L4 larvae, although capable of producing reduced volatile acids, still retain substantial cyanide-sensitive cytochrome oxidase activity. J Chromatogr, 1987 Jan 9, 385, 99 - 108 Integrated biological-physicochemical system for the identification of antitumor compounds in fermentation broths; Hook DJ et al.; A rapid, integrated biological-physicochemical system for the identification of six major classes of antitumor compounds in fermentation broths is described . The system relies upon preliminary fractionation of the fermentation broth by liquid-solid extraction, gradient high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array spectrophotometric detection of the compounds and automated bioassay . The previously stored UV-VIS spectra of the biologically active peaks are used for identification . Confirmation of compound identity is by thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry . The method has been applied to representatives of the bleomycin, streptonigrin, echinomycin, chromomycin, actinomycin and anthracycline groups. Am J Physiol, 1987 Jan, 252(1 Pt 1), G65 - 76 Pyloric ceca of fish: a "new" absorptive organ; Buddington RK et al.; The functions of the blind appendages attached to the proximal intestine of many fish, the pyloric ceca, have been disputed . Hence we recorded morphological parameters and nutrient uptake rates in the ceca and intestine of four fish species (rainbow trout, cod, largemouth bass, and striped bass) with various degrees of cecal development (the ceca contribute 70, 69, 42, and 16% of the total postgastric surface area, respectively) . Proline and glucose uptake, measured in vitro, is similar in the ceca and proximal intestine . For these two solutes in these four species, and for 10 other solutes (9 amino acids and 1 dipeptide) in trout, the ceca contribute about the same percentage to uptake as to total gut area . Trout ceca and intestine have similar membrane-bound disaccharidase activity . Separate experiments with trout fed either graded glass beads or a radiopaque marker and then X-rayed show that the ceca fill and empty with particles less than 150 microns and over the same time course as the proximal intestine . Thus ceca are an adaptation for increasing intestinal surface area without increasing the length or thickness of the intestine itself . Fish ceca are entirely different from the distally located ceca of birds and mammals, which have fermentation functions. Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Jan, 37(1), 69 - 78 {The effect of reduced drinking water supply on feed absorption, apparent digestibility of crude nutrients and rumen fermentation of sheep}; Legel S et al.; Based on the fact that the insufficient supply of agricultural domestic animals with drinking water in tropical and subtropical regions is often the factor limiting their performance, the effect of different drinking water supply of sheep (ad libitum, 54% of ad libitum and 27% of ad libitum) on various parameters was studied . A water supply reduced to 54 and 27% resp . diminished dry matter intake to 84% and 45% resp . A water supply reduced to 54% improved the digestibility of organic matter, crude fibre, crude cellulose and N-free extractives, it was, however, not significant . A reduction to 27% of the ad libitum water supply improved the digestibility of all crude nutrients, significantly, however, only that of organic matter, crude fibre, crude cellulose and N-free extractives . In comparison with a supply of water reduced to 54%, a water supply reduced to 27% also resulted in an improvement of the digestibility of all crude nutrients . Both the reduction of the ad libitum water supply and the increasing time interval for the sampling of rumen fluid resulted in an increased concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid, which was sampled 15 min, 1 hour and 2 hours after feeding. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1987, 27(5), 921 - 8 {In vitro study of various ionophore antibiotics and some of their derivatives . II . Characterization of the ionophore properties of the compounds in a model system for Na+ and K+ ions}; Caffarel-Mendez S et al.; Transport of Na+ and K+ by different carboxylic polyether antibiotics and some of their derivatives was measured in a triphasic water/chloroform/water model system . Monensin, nigericin, narasin and lasalocid proved to be efficient K+ carriers, while grisorixin, alborixin and X 14547A gave lower ionic fluxes . Furthermore, the structural modifications of nigericin, grisorixin and lasalocid reduced the ionophore properties of the corresponding natural metabolite . Monensin was also characterized as a good Na+ carrier . Cation transport results were in keeping with those of a previous study on the end-products of rumen fermentation . In both cases monensin, nigericin, narasin and lasalocid were the most efficient compounds. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1987, 27(5), 907 - 19 Effects of phosphorus deficiency on rumen microbial activity associated with the solid and liquid phases of a fermentor (Rusitec); Komisarczuk S et al.; The rumen simulation technique (Rusitec) has been used to study the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency on bacterial protein synthesis and chemical composition and on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations in the solid and liquid phases of fermentors . 16 g DM of a P-deficient mixed diet was put into each vessel daily and the vessels were infused with about 1 l of a P-deficient (0 mg of P) or P-supplemented (120 mg of P/l) buffer . Two vessels per treatment were used, and during a second experimental period the deficient and supplemented buffers were interchanged to determine the effects of P repletion and depletion . The proportion of bacterial N directly incorporated from dietary amino acids or peptides was greater in solid-associated bacteria (SAB) than in liquid-associated bacteria (LAB) (46 vs 19%) . P deficiency increased this proportion in both bacterial populations . Protein synthesis associated with the solid phase represented about 30% of the total protein synthesis in the system . P deficiency induced a marked decrease in microbial protein synthesis in both phases . Microbial yield declined by about 5 points (g of N/kg OMF) in P-deficient conditions . ATP concentrations were greatly reduced in both phases but P deficiency had no effect on protozoal numbers . The effects of P depletion during period II were similar to those of P deficiency in period I, and P repletion showed that the effects of P deficiency were almost entirely reversible. IARC Sci Publ, 1987, (84), 415 - 9 Occurrence of volatile nitrosamines in food samples collected in three high-risk areas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Poirier S et al.; Fifty-four samples of foods consumed frequently in Tunisia, southern China and Greenland, all high-risk areas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), were analysed for the presence of volatile nitrosamines by gas chromatography (GC) combined with a thermal energy analyser (TEA) . Relatively high levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) and N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) were found in Tunisian stewing base (touklia) and dried mutton preserved in olive oil (qaddid) . In one Chinese salted and dried fish sample, a high level of NDMA (133 micrograms/kg) was detected, but for the 14 others the levels ranged from undetectable to 14 micrograms/kg, with a mean of 3 micrograms/kg . Similarly high levels of NDMA, were found in Eskimo dried, unsalted fish samples . NDMA, NPIP and NPYR at various levels were present in Chinese vegetables fermented in brine . The possible role of nitrosamines in the etiology of NPC is discussed. IARC Sci Publ, 1987, (84), 219 - 21 An investigation of apparent total N-nitroso compounds in beer; Massey RC et al.; The concentration of apparent total N-nitroso compounds (ATNC) in beer has been investigated using a group-selective procedure based on chemical denitrosation with hydrogen bromide and chemiluminescence detection of the released nitric oxide . In a survey of samples of 40 brands of beer and lager, detectable levels of ATNC were present in 17 samples at concentrations of 20-100 micrograms N-NO/kg in 11 and 100-500 micrograms N-NO/kg in six . To determine the origin of ATNC in beer the production of a commercial batch was examined in detail . ATNC levels were below the detection limit in the sweet wort (aqueous extract of malt), bitter wort (malt extract boiled with hops) and also at the start of fermentation, but during the course of fermentation the concentration of ATNC increased appreciably and that of inorganic nitrate decreased; detectable, though transitory, levels of inorganic nitrite were observed . None of the brewing ingredients contained sufficiently high enough levels of ATNC to account for the concentration of these compounds present in the beer after fermentation . These findings suggest that the presence of detectable levels of ATNC in some beers is a result of N-nitrosation reactions occurring in the fermenting wort with the nitrosating species derived from reduction of nitrate, due probably to the presence of microbial species with nitrate reductase activity. Comp Biochem Physiol B, 1987, 88(1), 47 - 9 Volatile fatty acid concentrations in the digestive tract of the West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus; Burn DM et al.; 1 . Digesta samples were collected from five West Indian manatees, Trichechus manatus, for volatile fatty acid (VFA) analysis . 2 . Mean total VFA concentrations were low in the stomach and duodenum (18.6 and 12.3 mM/l, respectively) . Mean VFA concentrations were considerably higher in the cecum and colon (220.6 and 307.3 mM/l, respectively) . 3 . The relative proportions of the individual VFA's shifted from predominantly acetic acid in the foregut to a mixture of acetic, butyric and propionic acids in the hindgut . 4 . The VFA concentrations in the manatee are similar to those in the dugong, Dugong dugon, and the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas . 5 . The mean total VFA concentrations indicate that the cecum and colon of the manatee are sites of microbial cellulose fermentation . The contribution of VFAs to the manatees' total energy requirements could not be calculated, but it is probably considerable. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1987, 53(2), 93 - 7 Candida lyxosophila sp . nov., a new D-xylose fermenting yeast from southern Africa; van der Walt JP et al.; Six strains of an undescribed Candida species which ferment D-xylose tardily, were isolated from soil . A description of the new species, Candida lyxosophila, is given. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1987, 27(4), 755 - 68 {Diet type, grinding size and anatomo-functional characteristics of the proximal digestive tract in the rabbit}; Auvergne A et al.; Two diets containing either dehydrated lucerne (40%) or dehydrated beet pulp (50%) both being coarsely (4 mm) of finely (1 mm) ground before pelleting, were fed to 120 rabbits after weaning . Feed intake and weight gain were estimated . After 79 days, 11 rabbits in each group were slaughtered between 14.00 and 17.00 h . The parameters measured were stomach and ileal weights, dry matter, fibre and nitrogen contents, volatile fatty acid concentrations . Gastric emptying and intestinal transit time were estimated in each group . Rabbits fed the beet pulp diet had a better feed conversion ratio associated with a higher solid matter gastric retention and also a longer jejuno-ileal transit time . Finely ground diet further increased the transit time, particularly in the ileum, which was also associated with a higher concentration of fermentation by-products. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 543 - 51 Role of microorganisms in improving nutritional status of the poor; Ramakrishnan CV et al.; The intestinal microflora as well as bacteria involved in fermentation of foods ordinarily consumed in India may contribute sub