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| J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1988 May-Jun, 71(3), 651 - 4 Listeria methods development research at the Eastern Regional Research Center, U.S . Department of Agriculture; Buchanan RL et al.; Listeria methods research at the U.S . Department of Agriculture, Eastern Regional Research Center, has concentrated on 2 areas during the past year . The first was development of techniques for assessing isolation methods for their ability to detect sublethally stressed cells . It appears that a number of widely used media do not accurately detect Listeria that have been injured by thermal processing or acidification . The second was development of improved plating media . One, modified Vogel-Johnson agar, shows promise; it is highly selective and quantitative, and eliminates the need to select colonies on the basis of a blue color when illuminated with reflected light. J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1988 May-Jun, 71(3), 647 - 50 Direct plating technique for enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes in foods; Golden DA et al.; The advantages and disadvantages of various techniques for detecting and enumerating Listeria monocytogenes in foods are reviewed, and results from a study designed to compare 14 direct plating media for their suitability to recover uninjured cells of L . monocytogenes from 4 foods are summarized . McBride Listeria agar (MLA), gum base nalidixic acid tryptone soy agar (GBNTSA), modified Despierres agar (MDA), and modified MLA (MMLA) performed best for recovering all inoculum populations from milk and ice cream mix . For Brie cheese, MLA, MDA, MMLA, and Dominguez Rodriguez isolation agar were superior for recovering L . monocytogenes; GBNTSA, MDA, MMLA, and Donnelly's Listeria enrichment agar were best for recovering the organism from cabbage . Direct plating procedures without prior enrichment can be utilized successfully for recovering L . monocytogenes from foods such as pasteurized milk and ice cream mix, which contain low populations of background microflora . However, recovery of L . monocytogenes from foods such as raw cabbage and Brie cheese, which contain high populations of other microorganisms, was not satisfactory using direct plating procedures. J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1988 May-Jun, 71(3), 644 - 6 Historical perspectives on methodology to detect Listeria monocytogenes; Donnelly CW; While recognized as a causative agent of illness in animals and humans for some time, the foodborne role of Listeria monocytogenes is a new and emerging one . This review briefly summarizes the historical developments in methodology used to detect the presence of L . monocytogenes . Although clinical procedures exist, these procedures do not consider isolation of Listeria from heavily contaminated environments . Federal agencies such as the U.S . Food and Drug Administration and the U.S . Department of Agriculture have defined protocols for the isolation of Listeria from dairy and meat products, respectively . Each of these protocols, and current problems common to all methods for the isolation of Listeria from food products, are discussed . Finally, future challenges with respect to improvement in our abilities to recognize, isolate, and rapidly identify Listeria in foods are presented. J Infect Dis, 1988 May, 157(5), 941 - 9 Antigen-specific production of colony-stimulating factors by Listeria monocytogenes-immune, L3T4-positive cells; Magee DM et al.; We investigated production of colony-stimulating factors by Listeria monocytogenes-immune spleen cells . Levels of total colony-stimulating factors in supernatants from antigen-stimulated immune cells were increased two- to fourfold over those in supernatants from nonimmune cells . Immune supernatants primarily induced formation of granulocyte colonies, whereas nonimmune supernatants induced formation of macrophage colonies . Immune supernatants had two- to 10-fold higher levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, as determined by radioimmunoassay, and higher levels of interleukin-3 and possibly granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, as determined by factor-dependent cell line growth, than did nonimmune supernatants . Using enrichment and depletion techniques we showed that L3T4-positive T lymphocytes were responsible for most of the colony-stimulating factor production in the immune reaction. J Immunol, 1988 May 1, 140(9), 3173 - 9 Cloned Listeria monocytogenes specific non-MHC-restricted Lyt-2+ T cells with cytolytic and protective activity; Kaufmann SH et al.; Mice were infected with Listeria monocytogenes and Lyt-2+ T cell clones capable of lysing Ag-primed bone marrow macrophages were established . In accordance with earlier findings obtained at the population level, some T cell clones were identified which lysed bone marrow macrophages of different MHC type provided the relevant Ag was present . This unusual target cell recognition was further analyzed using a T3+, L3T4-, Lyt-2+, F23+, KJ16+ T cell clone, designated L-28 . Target cell lysis by this clone was Ag specific, apparently non-MHC restricted . In contrast, YAC cells and P815 cells were not lysed by clone L-28 . However, lysis of irrelevant targets could be induced by anti-T3, F23, or KJ16 mAb . Furthermore, Ag-specific lysis was blocked by anti-Lyt-2 mAb and by F(ab)2 fragments of F23 mAb . In addition to its cytolytic activity, clone L-28 produced IFN-gamma after co-stimulation with accessory cells, Ag, and rIL-2 and conferred significant protection on recipient mice when given together with rIL-2 . These data suggest that non-MHC-restricted Lyt-2+ killer cells generated during listeriosis are cytolytic T lymphocytes that interact with their target Ag via the T cell receptor/T3 complex and the Lyt-2 molecule and, furthermore, that these cells play a role in anti-listerial resistance . The possible relevance of IFN-gamma secretion and target cell lysis for antibacterial protection is discussed. Infect Immun, 1988 May, 56(5), 1371 - 5 Mouse macrophages stimulated by recombinant gamma interferon to kill tumor cells are not bactericidal for the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes; Campbell PA et al.; Data presented here demonstrate that recombinant gamma interferon (rIFN-gamma) activated a single population of 10% fetal calf serum-elicited mouse peritoneal exudate cells to express tumoricidal activity but not bactericidal activity for the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes . Fetal calf serum-elicited cells incubated with rIFN-gamma phagocytosed listeriae normally, suggesting that their inability to kill this bacterium is not because they cannot phagocytose it . Data also show that proteose peptone-elicited peritoneal exudate cells, which are bactericidal but not tumoricidal, acquired tumoricidal activity but lost bactericidal activity following incubation overnight with rIFN-gamma . These experiments show that under conditions sufficient for rIFN-gamma to induce macrophages to express tumoricidal activity, the same cell population does not express bactericidal activity for the facultative intracellular bacterium L . monocytogenes . This suggests that mechanisms responsible for these two biological activities may be different. Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 May, 6(3), 187 - 98 A selective and diagnostic medium for use in the enumeration of Listeria spp . in foods; van Netten P et al.; A new medium, called RAPAMY agar, has been elaborated for the isolation from and the enumeration of Listeria spp . in foods . It is based on Ralovich's nalidixic acid-trypaflavin-agar with the following modifications: (i) the slight inhibitory properties of that medium were overcome by the use of Columbia Blood agar base instead of tryptose agar and the addition of 0.05% ferric ammonium citrate and 2.5% egg yolk emulsion; (ii) selectivity was improved by the addition of 0.25% 2-phenyl ethanol and incubation under microaerobic conditions; (iii) the medium was provided with two diagnostic traits by the addition of (a) aesculin + ferric ammonium citrate; and (b) D-mannitol and phenol red . The growth of Enterococcus spp., the only organisms other than Listeria spp . which grow on RAPAMY agar, was not inhibited by the addition of 20 microgram.ml-1 Cefoxitin (Moxolactam) . Higher levels inhibited some Listeria spp., but not the enterococci . The medium recovered Listeria spp . quantitatively and allowed recovery from foods colonized by Enterococcus spp . at levels upto 10(2) per g. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 May, (5), 84 - 8 {Immunomodulating properties of salmozan and its effect on the functional activity of macrophages}; Tumanian MA et al.; The effect of salmozan on the resistance of mice to Listeria monocytogenes infection, the formation of delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to sheep red blood cells in the animals, as well as changes in some functional activity characteristics of macrophages have been studied . The study has revealed that salmozan enhances anti-infectious resistance, suppresses the dermal manifestations of DH, and decreases the level of 5'-nucleotidase in peritoneal macrophages, stimulating their phagocytic activity . The intensity of the drug action depends on the time of its administration . The most pronounced immunomodulating action and maximal changes in the function of macrophages have been registered simultaneously after the treatment of the animals with salmozan. J Appl Bacteriol, 1988 May, 64(5), 371 - 8 Serological studies on Listeria grayi and Listeria murrayi; Vazquez-Boland JA et al.; A cross-agglutination study between somatic antigens from reference strains of Listeria grayi and Listeria murrayi with rabbit antisera was done . L . murrayi antisera reacted, at low titres, with L . grayi but L . grayi antisera did not react with L . murrayi antigen . These results, together with agglutinin-absorption tests, led to the conclusion that the serologic relationship between L . grayi and L . murrayi is not as close as is thought . The two species seem to differ in at least one somatic factor, that might be designated O-XVI for L . grayi and O-XVII for L . murrayi . The serologic relationship of L . grayi and L . murrayi with other serovars of Listeria is discussed . The agglutination titre of 180 healthy ruminants against O-antigens of L . grayi and L . murrayi was also investigated; almost all the sera reacted with the antigens of these species, with similar titres (that reached 640) to those detected against O-antigens of serogroups 1/2 and 4. J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1988 May-Jun, 71(3), 669 - 73 Comparative studies of nucleic acid hybridization assay for Listeria in foods; Klinger JD et al.; A nucleic acid hybridization assay has been developed for Listeria spp . in dairy foods and environmental samples . The assay is based on detection of unique Listeria 16S rRNA sequences by using a 32P-labeled synthetic DNA probe . Inclusivity and exclusivity of the probe were confirmed with 139 Listeria isolates representing all known species, and 73 non-Listeria bacterial strains . In this paper, we present results from our preliminary studies comparing the hybridization assay with conventional culture on a total of 575 specimens that represent a variety of inoculated and uninoculated foods and environmental samples . The assay, which is done in a filter manifold format after 2 days of cultural enrichment, requires a total assay time of less than 2.5 days . The false-negative rate for all sample groups tested using the GENE-TRAK hybridization assay was less than the rate for culture . Thus, the new assay allows rapid screening of the indicated product groups and provides reliable numerical results. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1988 Apr, 27(4), 283 - 8 Perinatal listeriosis underdiagnosed as a cause of pre-term labour? Valkenburg MH, Essed GG, Potters HV. Between April 1, 1985, and April 1, 1986, four cases of perinatal listeriosis were reported at the Maastricht Academic Hospital . All cases were of the early-onset type . All mothers were admitted for pre-term labour between 28 and 33 weeks of gestation . Pre-natal symptoms included maternal fever, non-characteristic influenza-like manifestations, leucocytosis and (pre-term) meconium-stained amniotic fluid . Two neonates died, one in utero and one due to listeriosis sepsis . Another neonate developed a hydrocephalus . Only one neonate has survived without damage up to now . Such a high incidence of listeriosis and the high perinatal morbidity and mortality rates are remarkable . Epidemiological, bacteriological and placental sequelae of Listeria monocytogenes are discussed. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Apr, 268(2), 259 - 70 The influence of ciprofloxacin treatment in vivo on cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes; Ehlers S et al.; The intravenous and intraperitoneal administration of ciprofloxacin in very high doses (2 x 1 mg/d up to 2 x 2 mg/d) can reduce the bacterial load of mice experimentally infected with the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes . The T-cell response generated during the treated infection is affected in much the same way as it is during antibiotic treatment with ampicillin, i.e . the protective immunity established directly correlates with the number of bacteria present during an extended period of time during the primary infection . Although an additional anti-proliferative effect of ciprofloxacin on expanding T-cells as evidenced in in vitro experiments cannot be excluded, our data in summary favour the view that in vivo this effect is at most of minor importance. Immunology, 1988 Apr, 63(4), 677 - 82 Acute starvation in mice reduces the number of T cells and suppresses the development of T-cell-mediated immunity; Wing EJ et al.; Experiments were performed to determine the effect of starvation on T-cell mediated host defences . In mice starved for 72 hr, the number of thymocytes fell by 98%, spleen cells by 82% and peripheral blood cells by 44% . By 7 days after the end of starvation, values had returned to within 50% of baseline . The percentage of L3T4 and Lyt-2 antigen-bearing cells fell in the thymus, but the percentage of Thy-1.2-positive cells did not change . Starvation decreased the percentage of lymphocytes in peripheral blood but increased the percentage of granulocytes . During starvation, the cellularity in thymuses, spleens and peripheral blood was preserved in adrenalectomized mice compared to normal or sham-adrenalectomized mice . Confirming previous results of ours, starved mice were resistant to i.v . challenge with Listeria monocytogenes immediately after starvation . However, when starved mice were immunized with a sublethal dose of Listeria immediately after starvation and challenged 3-4 weeks later, they were less resistant to Listeria than fed, immunized mice . Similarly, spleen cells of starved, immunized mice had a reduced capacity to transfer immunity passively to non-immune mice . Increasing the immunizing dose of Listeria in starved mice increased the level of immunity that developed . These data indicate that starved mice have a marked reduction in T-cell cellularity, possibly related to corticosteroid production during the stress of starvation . Although starved mice were relatively resistant to Listeria immediately after starvation, they had a reduced capacity to develop T-cell mediated immunity to Listeria . This deficiency could be partly overcome by increasing the immunizing dose of Listeria. Immunology, 1988 Apr, 63(4), 649 - 55 Protective immunity to Listeria monocytogenes in neonatally thymectomized (NTx) mice: involvement of T cells distinct from those in sham-thymectomized mice; Watanabe Y et al.; Neonatally thymectomized (NTx) mice, whose ability to mount antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity is reported to be generally defective, were found to be capable of mounting a normal level of acquired cellular resistance (ACR) and delayed footpad reaction (DFR) to Listeria monocytogenes . The present study was done in order to determine the functional differences of T cells contributing to the protection against L . monocytogenes between NTx and sham-operated mice . In mice immunized with viable L . monocytogenes, the absolute number of splenic T cells was significantly lower in NTx mice compared with sham-operated mice . When the ability of immune T cells to transfer ACR and DFR was examined by passive transfer, lymphocytes from immune NTx mice conferred a higher level of ACR and DFR on naive recipient mice, despite the marked difference in total number of T cells compared with immune Sham mice . Antigen-specific proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by splenic T cells from immune NTx mice were significantly lower than in those from immune Sham mice . The proliferative response of T cells to exogenous IL-2 was also lower in NTx group . These results suggest that the requirement for the IL-2-driven T-cell proliferation system is basically low in the generation of effector T cells specific for L . monocytogenes. J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 134 ( Pt 4), 1029 - 35 PSK, a polysaccharide from Coriolus vesicolor, enhances oxygen metabolism of murine peritoneal macrophages and the host resistance to listerial infection; Saito H et al.; PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide isolated from the basidiomycete Coriolus vesicolor (Fr.) Quel . was examined with regard to its effects of macrophage (M phi) oxygen metabolism in mice, a function important for the expression of M phi antimicrobial activity . The O2(-)-producing ability and chemiluminescence (CL) of host peritoneal M phi s in response to phorbol myristate acetate were markedly elevated by preinjection of PSK (1 or 5 mg per mouse intraperitoneally) around 4-7d before M phi-harvest . The enhanced O2(-)-producing ability due to PSK injection persisted much longer than the enhanced CL, indicating a discrepancy in regulation of generation of active oxygen species such as O2-, H2O2, OH, and 1O2 . Daily injections of PSK (1 mg per injection) from 10 to 4d before M phi harvest did not increase the efficacy of PSK over that given by a single 1 mg injection . When PSK (5 mg) was given intraperitoneally to mice in a single injection 10, 7 or 4d before the intravenous Listeria monocytogenes inoculation, a similar increase in the host resistance to the bacteria was noted regardless of the timing of the injection . Multiple PSK injections fron 10 to 4d before the infection also enhanced the host resistance, to the same degree . Therefore, PSK is thought to augment the host resistance to certain intracellular parasites including L . monocytogenes at least to some extent by enhancing oxygen metabolism of the host M phi. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1988 Apr 1, 113(7), 380 - 3 {Listeria mastitis in cattle}; van Daelen AM et al.; Cases of human infection caused by Listeria and resulting from the consumption of dairy produce contaminated by Listeria are referred to in the literature . A case of mastitis in cattle, caused by Listeria monocytogenes type 1/2a, is reported . The result of treatment of the infected quarters with penicillin was not satisfactory so far . Several cases of short-lived excretion of Listeria bacteria in the milk and carriers not showing any symptoms are referred to in the literature, whereas cases of prolonged mastitis caused by Listeria, marked by abnormal milk, increased cell counts and reduced production are not reported. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1988 Apr 1, 113(7), 372 - 9 {Listeria monocytogenes in food . A review}; Kleiss TH; Listeriosis as a foodborne disease made European headlines in the autumn of 1987 . Some years earlier, the USA were alarmed by the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a large number of dairy products . Following recent outbreaks, this paper deals with pathogenesis, isolation, epidemiology and distribution of Listeria monocytogenes in food . Its reactions in food (e.g . growth, survival, thermal inactivation) under various circumstances is described. Infect Immun, 1988 Apr, 56(4), 766 - 72 Expression in Escherichia coli and sequence analysis of the listeriolysin O determinant of Listeria monocytogenes; Mengaud J et al.; To evaluate the role of hemolysin production in the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes, we have undertaken the analysis of the chromosomal region containing hlyA, the gene coding for listeriolysin O . A recombinant cosmid, conferring a hemolytic phenotype to Escherichia coli, was shown to express listeriolysin O, by immunoblotting with a specific antiserum against listeriolysin O . The presence of hlyA on the cosmid was demonstrated by DNA hybridization with a probe previously shown to contain part of hlyA . The complete nucleotide sequence of hlyA has been determined . The deduced protein sequence reveals the presence of a putative 25-amino-acid signal sequence: the secreted form of listeriolysin O would have 504 amino acids, in agreement with the molecular weight of purified listeriolysin O (58,000) . The protein sequence is highly homologous to those of streptolysin O and pneumolysin . A peptide of 11 amino acids conserved in the three proteins contains the unique cysteine known to be essential for lytic activity . By DNA-DNA hybridization, the listeriolysin O gene was detected in all L . monocytogenes strains tested, even in the nonhemolytic type strain . The gene was absent in other species of the genus Listeria. J Exp Med, 1988 Apr 1, 167(4), 1459 - 71 Role of hemolysin for the intracellular growth of Listeria monocytogenes; Portnoy DA et al.; Listeria monocytogenes insertion mutants defective in hemolysin production were generated using the conjugative transposons Tn916 and Tn1545 . All of the nonhemolytic mutants (hly-) lacked a secreted 58-kD polypeptide, presumedly hemolysin, and were avirulent in a mouse model . An intracellular multiplication assay was established in monolayers of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, the J774 macrophage-like cell line, the CL.7 embryonic mouse fibroblast cell line, and the Henle 407 human epithelial cell line . The hly+ strain grew intracellularly in all of the tissue culture cells with a doubling time of approximately 60 min . In contrast, the hly- mutants failed to grow in the murine-derived tissue culture cells, but retained the ability to grow in the human tissue culture cells examined . Hemolytic-positive revertants were selected after passage of the hly- mutants through monolayers of J774 cells . In each case, the hemolytic revertants possessed the 58-kD polypeptide, were capable of intracellular growth in tissue culture monolayers and were virulent for mice. Vet Rec, 1988 Mar 19, 122(12), 274 - 6 An outbreak of meningo-encephalitis in fallow deer caused by Listeria monocytogenes; Eriksen L et al.; An outbreak of listeric meningo-encephalitis occurred in a population of 1800 fallow deer (Dama dama) in a park during the winter and early spring of 1985 to 1986 . Listeriosis was diagnosed in 41 of 42 fallow deer that showed the typical central nervous system signs of circling disease or were found dead . The diagnosis was verified by bacteriological examination of the brains of 35 animals . In five of the seven remaining cases listeriosis was diagnosed by histological examination, and in one animal by clinical signs alone . Listeria monocytogenes was isolated in three of 23 soil samples taken from the park . In addition, L monocytogenes was isolated from the intestinal contents of apparently normal fallow deer . Fifty isolates from animals and soil were serotyped and all of them belonged to serovar 4b except one from brain (serovar 1/2b) and three from intestinal contents (serovar 1/2a) . In phage typing of 54 isolates, the 35 isolates from the brain and spleen of diseased animals belonged to the same lysovar, as did most isolates from other sources, but strains from intestinal contents belonged to three other phage types . No external source of L monocytogenes was demonstrated in the outbreak and stress due to the poor beech-mast crop, an increased stocking rate and a sudden change in the weather are suspected as predisposing factors. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1988 Mar-Apr, 29(2), 140 - 2 Successful surgical treatment of a case of listeria monocytogenes endocarditis; Alonso J et al.; Endocarditis due to listeria monocytogenes is rare with only twenty one cases to our knowledge appearing in the world's literature to date . We report a further case with a successful surgical outcome and stress the importance of surgery in the treatment of infective endocarditis . There is a clear predilection of this organism for the left side of the heart and systemic embolization is frequent . In contrast to other clinical forms of listeriosis, endocarditis has not been associated with debilitating states or immunosuppressive treatments . Though clinical and laboratory data suggest a similarity with other types of bacterial endocarditis, the prognosis is more unfavorable and the mortality rate higher. Cancer Lett, 1988 Mar, 39(2), 137 - 43 Effect of combined treatment of anti-inflammatory drug and mannoheptulose on the production of tumour necrosis factor and endotoxin shock in mice; Fung KP et al.; The endotoxin shock induced in mice by injection of viable Listeria monocytogenes and challenged with endotoxin can be alleviated by combined administration of mannoheptulose with acetylsalicylate or sulindac . The ability of animals to secrete tumour necrosis factor into the blood was, however, not affected . The significance of these observations are discussed. Infect Immun, 1988 Mar, 56(3), 607 - 12 Susceptibility of HRS/J mice to listeriosis: dynamics of infection; Archinal WA et al.; Congenitally hairless HRS/J homozygous (hr/hr) mice as well as phenotypically normal littermates (hr/+) were found to exhibit unusual susceptibility to infection with Listeria monocytogenes with 50% of the animals dying within a 10-day period (LD50) at an infecting inoculum approaching 200 microorganisms . In marked contrast to the outbred CD-1 strain as well as other Listeria-susceptible mice, HRS/J hosts are virtually incapable of limiting infection with virulent Listeria . The dynamics of infection reveal early uncontrolled bacterial growth within the peritoneal cavity, followed by a sharp increase of bacterial load in the spleen of both HRS/J homozygotes and heterozygous littermates . Spleen indices obtained for mutant mice indicate substantial splenomegaly which parallels the onset of infection in that organ . Assessment of the exudate population within the peritoneal cavity during infection indicates that HRS/J mice produce an early sustained influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes while exhibiting a diminished macrophage inflammatory response . Additionally, it was shown that the mutant strain expresses significant increases in the total number of recoverable peritoneal leukocytes in response to other phlogistic stimuli. Infect Immun, 1988 Mar, 56(3), 548 - 51 Antibacterial activity of recombinant murine beta interferon; Fujiki T et al.; Recombinant murine beta interferon was protective and therapeutic for mice against Listeria monocytogenes infection in vivo . The recombinant murine beta interferon caused enhanced H2O2 release by macrophages in vivo, but not in vitro. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Mar, 268(1), 15 - 23 Microcalorimetric investigations on Listeria; Allerberger FJ et al.; Sixty-one Listeria strains--Listeria monocytogenes (35 strains), Listeria ivanovii (8), Listeria innocua (7), Listeria welshimeri (6) and Listeria seeligeri (5)--were tested microcalorimetrically for their heat production upon growth in Columbia broth . Listeria ivanovii and Listeria seeligeri displayed different and quite characteristic thermograms . Listeria welshimeri, Listeria innocua and all but one of the Listeria monocytogenes strains showed similar microcalorimetric curves, which differed considerably from those of Listeria ivanovii and Listeria seeligeri. APMIS, 1988 Mar, 96(3), 223 - 8 In vitro susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from human blood and cerebrospinal fluid . A material from the years 1958-1985; Poulsen PN et al.; The in vitro susceptibility of 156 strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated since 1958 from human cerebrospinal fluid or blood to twelve antibiotics was determined by an agar dilution technique . Erythromycin (0.05), trimethoprim (0.2), netilmicin (0.2), and penicillin (0.2) were the most active drugs on weight basis (MIC90 0.05-0.2 micrograms/ml) . Ampicillin and imipenem had MICs for 90% of the strains of 0.4 micrograms/ml . Ceftazidime was inactive (MIC90 greater than 100 micrograms/ml) . Comparison of susceptibility pattern between strains isolated in different years showed that the antimicrobial susceptibility of L . monocytogenes has not changed during the last 25 years . The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of penicillin was determined by a macro tube dilution method in ten recent isolates . Penicillin was bactericidal for all the strains with a MBC of 0.4-3.1 micrograms/ml, i.e . one to three two-fold dilutions above the MIC of 0.2-0.8 micrograms/ml, which means that no tolerant strains were found. CMAJ, 1988 Mar 1, 138(5), 413 - 8 Listeria monocytogenes: a foodborne pathogen; Farber JM et al.; Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes, appears to be increasing in incidence worldwide . The disease is of great concern to the food industry . A recent outbreak in California was linked to the consumption of Mexican-style soft cheese and involved more than 300 cases, 30% of which were fatal . L . monocytogenes can be found in a variety of dairy products, leafy vegetables, fish and meat products . It can grow in refrigerated foods and is more heat resistant than most vegetative microbes . The epidemiologic features of listeriosis are poorly understood, and the minimum infectious dose is unknown . Those predisposed to listeriosis include immunocompromised people and pregnant women and their fetuses . Meningitis, spontaneous abortion and septicemia are the primary manifestations of the disease . Early recognition is critical for successful treatment, and ampicillin is the preferred drug . Listeriosis should be considered in any febrile patient with neurologic symptoms of unknown origin, as well as in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages, premature labour or fetal death . A food source should be the prime suspect if any isolated case or outbreak occurs. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Mar, 268(1), 50 - 6 Therapeutic activity of teicoplanin on experimental listeriosis compared with that of vancomycin and ampicillin; Berner R et al.; Several strains of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp . are without exception susceptible to teicoplanin (MIC 0.25 mg/l) . Vancomycin as well as ampicillin are likewise active . A bactericidal effect of teicoplanin was only achieved at rather high concentrations and after incubation of several hours . There is no synergistic effect between teicoplanin and gentamicin . The therapeutic activity of teicoplanin as well as vancomycin in mice infected with L . monocytogenes is low . The efficacy of ampicillin could not be achieved . Treatment of chronically infected athymic, nude mice with teicoplanin is ineffective . Consequently, teicoplanin is not able to replace ampicillin in the therapy of listeriosis. Infect Immun, 1988 Mar, 56(3), 613 - 8 Susceptibility of HRS/J mice to listeriosis: macrophage activity; Archinal WA et al.; Macrophage functions, including phagocytosis and bactericidal and oxidative activities, were measured in highly susceptible Listeria monocytogenes-sensitive HRS/J homozygous and heterozygous mice . Phagocytic studies with both caseinate-elicited and L . monocytogenes-immune macrophages revealed comparable engulfment of latex particles, zymosan, and bacteria by mononuclear phagocytes obtained from all experimental mouse strains . Elicited macrophages cultivated from mutant hairless and heterozygous littermates exhibited a reduced capacity to control Listeria infection compared with cells derived from CD-1 mice . However, intracellular killing of the microorganisms by immune macrophages was comparable to that observed with the outbred controls . Studies on oxidative metabolic activities associated with the respiratory burst indicate that while intracellular nitroblue tetrazolium reduction was comparable for macrophages cultivated from all mouse strains, the liberation of superoxide anion and chemiluminescence responses were significantly diminished in caseinate-elicited HRS/J cells . Moreover, immune elicited hr/hr and hr/+ macrophages generated oxidative species at levels comparable to that observed with cells derived from resistant animals . Thus, immunologically elicited HRS/J mice are capable of responding to sublethal Listeria infection with heightened antibacterial and oxidative activities. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 1988 Feb, 92(2), 246 - 54 Toxic effects of benzene and benzene metabolites on mononuclear phagocytes; Lewis JG et al.; Benzene is a potent bone marrow toxin in animals and man . Animal studies have shown that exposure to benzene can alter T lymphocyte functions and decrease the resistance of animals to Listeria monocytogenes and transplanted tumor cells . Mononuclear phagocytes participate in host resistance to Listeria and tumor cells . The purpose of the studies presented here was to determine the effects of benzene and benzene metabolites on macrophage functions and the ability of macrophages to be activated for functions which are important in host defense . Benzene had no effects on macrophage function or activation for any of the functions tested . Conversely, metabolites of benzene, catechol (CAT), hydroquinone (HQ), benzquinone (BQ), and 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT) had potent and varied effects on macrophage function and activation . BQ inhibited the broadest range of functions including release of H2O2, Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis, interferon gamma priming for tumor cell cytolysis, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggering of cytolysis . BQ was also the most potent metabolite causing inhibition at lower concentrations than the other metabolites . HQ inhibited H2O2 release and priming for cytolysis and BT inhibited phagocytosis and priming for cytolysis . CAT only inhibited the release of H2O2 . None of the compounds tested inhibited the induction of class II histocompatibility antigens on the cell surface . All of the effects measured occurred using concentrations of compounds which did not disrupt the cell integrity or inhibit general functions such as protein synthesis . Taken together these data suggest that benzene metabolites alter macrophage function through several mechanisms including inhibition of output enzymes and disruption of signal transduction systems. J Clin Lab Immunol, 1988 Feb, 25(2), 97 - 100 Effect of a high-fat diet on resistance to Listeria monocytogenes; Shinomiya N et al.; Effects of a high-fat diet on macrophage (M phi) functions were investigated . Eight-week-old ddN mice were fed a high-fat diet and carbon clearance was tested . Remarkable suppression of phagocytic activity (K16) was observed in mice fed such a diet for 1 or 2 weeks . Resistance against Listeria monocytogenes inoculated intravenously (iv) with a lethal, a sublethal, or a non-pathogenic dose was observed in the liver of mice fed a high-fat diet . When mice were infected with a lethal dose of bacteria, the number of listeria increased progressively in the liver to kill both control and a high-fat diet fed mice by day 4 . The number of listeria revealed no significant difference between the group in the case of low dose inoculation . High-fat diet fed mice given a sublethal dose of bacteria showed a rise in the number of viable bacteria during the first 3 days after infection while a decline in the number of bacteria was observed in control mice during such a period . Suppression of M phi activity induced by a high-fat diet may account for the reduced resistance. Genitourin Med, 1988 Feb, 64(1), 52 - 3 Prophylaxis against infection in Singaporean prostitutes; Bradbeer CS et al.; One hundred prostitutes were interviewed about the prophylactic measures they took against infection . The use of contraceptive diaphragms and clandestine antibiotics correlated significantly with fewer gonococcal infectionsPIP: The self-treatment methods used by 100 prostitutes, selected from those regularly attending the Middle Road Hospital, Singapore, were determined by structured interviews, and correlated with incidence of gonococcal infections . Subjects were studied if they had attended clinics at least 15 times in the last year . Treatments included antiseptic solutions by 67 women (Dettol, Listerine, pHisohex); antibiotics by 31 (19 from drug stores or pedlars, 12 medically prescribed or injected); contraceptive diaphragms by 16 . Antibiotics, ampicillin or tetracycline, generally were used inappropriately, such as 1 tablet/week, and inert capsules may have been obtained . The mean number of gonococcal infections was significantly reduced by use of antibiotics (0.55 vs 1.49, p0.01),diaphragm (0.50 vs 1.39, p0.55), and by both antibiotics and diaphragm (0.16 vs 1.57, p0.05) . No significant effect was seen with postcoital washing or insertion of cotton wool . Neither was there any correlation between number of infections and number of clients said to be using condoms . These results suggest that fitting prostitutes with diaphragms on their 1st visit to the clinic may be beneficial . Am J Gastroenterol, 1988 Feb, 83(2), 180 - 2 Listeria monocytogenes peritonitis; Soto-Hernandez JL et al.; Listeria monocytogenes peritonitis in a patient with cirrhosis and simultaneous soft tissue infection is reported . Six previously documented cases are reviewed . All seven patients were bacteremic, suggesting hematogenous seeding to the peritoneum as the pathogenic mechanism . Clinical and laboratory characteristics of L . monocytogenes peritonitis are compared with peritonitis of other bacterial etiologies. Can J Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 34(2), 95 - 100 The presence of Listeria spp . in raw milk in Ontario; Farber JM et al.; Raw milk samples from bulk tanks in Ontario were analyzed for the presence of Listeria species . The overall incidence of Listeria species in raw milk was 12.4% . Listeria innocua was most frequently isolated and was found in 9.7% (43/445) of the raw milk samples, while L . monocytogenes and L . welshimeri were each found in 1.3% (6/445) of the samples . No other species of Listeria was found . Of five regions in Ontario that were examined, the eastern region had a significantly higher incidence rate of Listeria species than the western, northern, or northwestern regions . There was also a significantly lower incidence rate of Listeria species in winter than in the other three seasons . A comparison of several cold enrichment and shortened enrichment procedures demonstrated that no single procedure was totally satisfactory in isolating Listeria species. Psychiatr Neurol Med Psychol (Leipz), 1988 Feb, 40(2), 95 - 101 {Listeriosis of the central nervous system in children beyond the neonatal period}; Wasser S et al.; Observations on three children with neurolisteriosis (one case of meningitis, two cases of meningoencephalitis, each Serovar 4 b), show that even after the neonatal period, listeriosis must not be ignored in the process of diagnosis and therapy . It is the bacteriological examination of the cerebrospinal fluid, together with the blood culture, and not clinical symptoms and serology that guarantee a timely diagnosis and therapy (ampicillin and gentamicin). Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 581 - 2 Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities after heat injury of Listeria monocytogenes; Dallmier AW et al.; Four strains of Listeria monocytogenes were examined for catalase (CA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities . The two strains having the highest CA activities (LCDC and Scott A) also possessed the highest SOD activities . The CA activity of heated cell extracts of all four strains examined decreased sharply between 55 and 60 degrees C . SOD was more heat labile than CA . Two L . monocytogenes strains demonstrated a decline in SOD activity after heat treatment at 45 degrees C, whereas the other two strains demonstrated a decline at 50 degrees C . Sublethal heating of the cells at 55 degrees C resulted in increased sensitivity to 5.5% NaCl . Exogenous hydrogen peroxide was added to suspensions of L . monocytogenes; strains producing the highest CA levels showed the greatest H2O2 resistance. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 497 - 501 Fate of Listeria monocytogenes in tissues of experimentally infected cattle and in hard salami; Johnson JL et al.; Muscle, organ, and lymphoid tissues of four Holstein cows experimentally inoculated (intravenously) with Listeria monocytogenes were examined 2, 6, or 54 days postinoculation for the presence of the organism by direct plating and cold enrichment procedures . L . monocytogenes was isolated from 66% of the tissues sampled; 38% of the isolations were attributed to the use of cold enrichment . Isolation of the organism from muscle tissue was possible only with animals inoculated 2 days before slaughter . The fate of L . monocytogenes during the manufacture and storage of fermented hard salami made from this meat also was determined . Three sausage treatments were evaluated: (i) uninoculated control sausage, (ii) "naturally" contaminated sausage (NC) made from meat of an experimentally inoculated cow, and (iii) sausage made from beef inoculated with a laboratory culture of L . monocytogenes (I) . Initial Listeria levels in NC and I sausage were 10(3) CFU/g in trial 1 and 10(4) CFU/g in trial 2 . Numbers of L . monocytogenes decreased by approximately 1 log10 CFU/g during fermentation and decreased further during drying and refrigerated storage . Small numbers (less than or equal to 20 CFU/g) of L . monocytogenes were present in I and NC sausage at the end of 12 weeks of refrigerated storage; recovery of these organisms generally depended on the use of an enrichment procedure . The results indicate that L . monocytogenes does not multiply during the fermentation and drying processes typical of hard salami manufacture but that survival may occur if the organism is initially present at greater than or equal to 10(3) CFU/g. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 364 - 70 Thermal inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes within bovine milk phagocytes; Bunning VK et al.; Thermal resistance of intracellular and freely suspended Listeria monocytogenes that was associated with a milkborne outbreak of listeriosis was studied by using the sealed tube and slug flow heat exchanger methods . Test temperatures for the former method were 57.8, 62.8, 66.1, and 68.9 degrees C (136, 145, 151, and 156 degrees F, respectively); whereas those for the latter method were 66.1, 68.9, 71.7, and 74.4 degrees C (151, 156, 161, and 166 degrees F, respectively) . The heating menstruum was sterile, whole milk . The intracellular inoculum was generated from an in vitro phagocytosis reaction by using endotoxin-induced bovine milk phagocytes . The phagocyte population consisted of 88% neutrophils, 8% macrophages, and 4% lymphocytes . Neutrophils harbored the majority of intracellular L . monocytogenes . The mean level of infectivity in the phagocyte population was 43%, and there were 26.1 +/- 19.3 bacteria per cell (10(4) viable cells per ml of test milk) . Initial bacterial counts for the freely suspended and intracellular experiments (the latter was based on a sonically disrupted sample) were 10(6) L . monocytogenes cells per ml . Heat-stressed bacteria were recovered by direct plating in parallel with recovery from an enrichment broth; both methods gave comparable results . The predicted D62.8 degrees C (145 degrees F) value for intracellular sealed tube studies was 53.8 s (ZD = 5.6 degrees C {10.0 degrees F}), indicating a safe 33.4 D margin of inactivation for vat pasteurization (62.8 degrees C for 30 min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Infect Immun, 1988 Feb, 56(2), 534 - 6 Levels of Listeria monocytogenes hemolysin are not directly proportional to virulence in experimental infections of mice; Kathariou S et al.; The sulfhydryl-activated hemolysin of Listeria monocytogenes has been implicated in the virulence of the bacteria . Although loss of hemolytic activity by means of transposon mutagenesis is accompanied by loss of virulence in the mouse infection model, a direct relationship between in vitro production of hemolysin and virulence was not observed . Noticeable deviations in the extent of hemolysin production appeared to leave virulence unaffected. Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1988 Feb, 112(2), 163 - 5 Effect of Prompt Inoculator on results of Sceptor system minimal inhibitory concentration determinations for Listeria monocytogenes; Dillon PA et al.; The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of eight antimicrobial agents were determined for each of 36 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes with the Sceptor system . Two different inoculation procedures, the standard Sceptor log-phase broth (LB) culture and the Prompt Inoculator (PI) (Bauer-Kirby type), were used . The PI MIC/LB MIC ratio (PI/LB ratio) was determined for each antimicrobial agent for each of the isolates . Of the 217 on-scale PI/LB ratio results, all were within the expected range of 0.5 to 2.0 . The PI was found to be a convenient, rapid, and suitable method of preparing an inoculum of L monocytogenes for use with the Sceptor system and should function equally well when testing L monocytogenes isolates with other commercially available MIC systems. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 26(2), 213 - 5 Comparative study of inactivation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 by commonly used antiseptic agents; Croughan WS et al.; A comparative study of the different reactions of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 to Lysol, Listerine, bleach, rubbing alcohol, Alcide disinfectant (Alcide Corp., Westport, Conn.), and various pHs, temperatures, and UV light exposures was performed . Both types of stock virus (titers of approximately 10(6) and 10(5.5) for types 1 and 2, respectively) were inactivated by 0.5% Lysol in 5 min; by Listerine (1:1 mixtures) in 5 min; by 2,000 ppm (2,000 microliters/liter) of bleach in 10 min; by rubbing alcohol (1:1 mixtures) at zero time; by Alcide disinfectant (0.2 ml of virus plus 2.0 ml of Alcide) at zero time; by pHs 3, 5, and 11 in 10 min; and by a temperature of 56 degrees C in 30 min . A germicidal lamp (model G30TB; General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y.) (30 W) at a distance of 48 cm failed to completely inactivate the two types in 15 min . Type 1 showed slightly more resistance to Listerine and bleach and significantly more resistance to heat; moreover, pH 9 did not affect the infectivity of either type after 10 min. J Immunol, 1988 Feb 1, 140(3), 962 - 8 Effects of murine recombinant interleukin 1 alpha on the host response to bacterial infection; Czuprynski CJ et al.; The effects of exogenously administered rIL-1 alpha on elimination of viable listeriae from the liver and spleen during the course of a primary Listeria monocytogenes infection was studied . Similar numbers of L . monocytogenes were recovered from rIL-1 alpha-treated and control mice at up to 24 h after infection; however, by 48 h after infection more than 1 log10 fewer viable L . monocytogenes were recovered from the spleens of rIL-1 alpha-treated mice than from Listeria-infected controls . The difference in bacterial burden between IL-1 alpha-treated and control mice increased with time; by 7 days after infection viable L . monocytogenes had been eliminated from most rIL-1 alpha-treated mice, whereas control mice still harbored 10(4) to 10(5) L . monocytogenes per spleen and liver . Histopathologic examination confirmed that rIL-1 alpha-treated mice suffered considerably less damage to the spleen, liver, lung, and brain than did control mice . To determine whether rIL-1 alpha-mediated protection indirectly by augmenting the release of other cytokines, we determined serum levels of colony-stimulating activity and IFN activity in rIL-1 alpha-treated and control Listeria-infected mice . Treatment with rIL-alpha elicited an early burst of serum colony-stimulating activity as compared with sera from Listeria-infected control mice . These data suggest that exogenous administration of rIL-1 initiates release of colony-stimulating activity, and perhaps other cytokines, that accelerate the protective response of the infected host . Prophylactic augmentation of antimicrobial resistance by administration of rIL-1 alpha may be worthy of further evaluation. Science, 1988 Jan 22, 239(4838), 401 - 4 Suppression of macrophage activation and T-lymphocyte function in hypoprolactinemic mice; Bernton EW et al.; The effects of prolactin on lactation and reproductive organs are well known . However, the other possible target organs and physiological consequences of altered levels of circulating prolactin remain poorly understood . In this study, mice were treated with bromocryptine, a dopamine receptor agonist that inhibits pituitary prolactin secretion . Bromocryptine treatment prevented T-cell-dependent induction of macrophage tumoricidal activity after the intraperitoneal injection of Listeria monocytogenes or Mycobacterium bovis . Coincident treatment with ovine prolactin reversed this effect . Of the multiple events leading to macrophage activation in vivo, the production by T-lymphocytes of gamma-interferon was the most impaired in bromocryptine-treated mice . Lymphocyte proliferation after stimulation with mitogens in vitro was also depressed in spleens of bromocryptine-treated mice, and coadministration of prolactin also reversed this effect . Bromocryptine treatment also reduced the number of deaths resulting from inoculation of mice with Listeria; exogenous prolactin significantly reversed this effect . The critical influence of pituitary prolactin release on maintenance of lymphocyte function and on lymphokine-dependent macrophage activation suggests that, in mice, lymphocytes are an important target tissue for circulating prolactin. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S92 - 7 Biochemistry of the cell surface of Listeria strains: a locating general view; Fiedler F; The cell surfaces of Listeria strains are composed of various compounds . These include peptidoglycan, teichoic acids and lipoteichoic acids . The structural features of these polymers are described and a macromolecular model of the organization of the cell wall of a Listeria cell is given . The occurrence of further components at the cell surface and biological aspects are briefly discussed. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 54(1), 165 - 7 A new selective medium for isolating Listeria spp . from heavily contaminated material; Bannerman ES et al.; Food-associated outbreaks of human listeriosis have emphasized the importance and necessity of screening food for the presence of Listeria isolates-selective agar medium combining acriflavine (10 mg/liter) with ceftazidime (50 mg/liter) was developed . A total of 1,099 cheese production specimens were cultured, from which 157 Listeria isolates . (14.3%) grew . When compared with modified McBride agar, the acriflavine-ceftazidime agar recovered more Listeria isolates (98 versus 65%, P less than 0.001) more rapidly (57% after 48 h of incubation of the enrichment broth versus 35%, P less than 0.01) and in greater amounts . Acriflavine-ceftazidime selective agar medium proved to be a highly sensitive medium to recover Listeria spp . from heavily contaminated food products. Drugs, 1988, 35 Suppl 2, 169 - 77 A randomised prospective comparison of cefotaxime versus netilmicin/penicillin for treatment of suspected neonatal sepsis; Hall MA et al.; In an open prospective study performed in 2 neonatal units, infants with suspected neonatal sepsis (SNS) of unknown microbial cause were randomly allocated to receive treatment with either cefotaxime (CTX) or netilmicin plus penicillin (N + P) . 236 patients were entered into the trial, of whom 222 were evaluable . The number of 'definitely' and 'probably' infected babies was similar in both groups . There was no difference in clinical outcome between patients in the 2 treatment groups and no side effects were recorded for either of the antibiotic regimens . Antibiotic sensitivity testing of bacterial isolates from peripheral sites showed almost universal sensitivity of potential pathogens to both antibiotic regimens at the start of treatment in all infants . Thereafter, organisms resistant to CTX were isolated from patients in both treatment groups, possibly reflecting the antibiotic sensitivity profile of the colonising bacteria in both neonatal units . The results of this study indicate that either CTX or N + P are suitable, in our units, for the 'blind' treatment of early SNS . In units where listerial infections are prevalent, specific cover should be added to CTX . For SNS developing after admission, the choice of antibiotics will depend upon the background antibiotic sensitivity profile of the colonising bacteria. Am J Med, 1988 Jan, 84(1), 162 - 4 Listeriosis: an uncommon opportunistic infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . A report of five cases and a review of the literature; Mascola L et al.; Between January 1985 and March 1986, five cases of listeriosis were reported in Los Angeles County in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) . All patients were homosexual men with no other risk factors for AIDS . Two patients had sepsis only, two patients had sepsis and meningitis, and one patient had sepsis and signs of meningitis . Sixty percent of the cases (three patients) had a prior or concurrent gastrointestinal illness . Eighty percent of the cases (four patients) also had no prior history of antibiotic administration . Both of these findings may have predisposed these AIDS patients to be at increased risk for listeriosis . Although listeriosis is an infrequent illness in AIDS patients, people with AIDS or human immunodeficiency virus infection should probably refrain from ingesting food items associated with listeriosis . These food items include improperly pasteurized dairy products, and raw fruits and vegetables not properly washed. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1988, 10(7), 875 - 8 Kinetics of interleukin-1 production by macrophages during infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Petit JC et al.; Production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) by peritoneal macrophages from mice inoculated intravenously with Listeria monocytogenes was measured at increasing intervals of infection . IL-1 activity in the 24 h macrophage supernatants was determined by using the thymocyte PHA co-mitogenesis assay . IL-1 production increased as the infection progressed, reached a peak on the 9th or 10th day and then declined progressively to approach normal values by the 20th day . Our data on the kinetics of IL-1 levels during an acute infection with L.monocytogenes are discussed in relationship to the development of cell-mediated immunity and its regulation by macrophages. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1988, 10(3), 345 - 64 Protective effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, xiao-chai-hu-tang (Japanese name: shosaiko-to), on Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice; Kawakita T et al.; Lethal effect of Listeria monocytogenes (L . monocytogenes) in mice was prevented by an intraperitoneal (ip) injection of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, xiao-chai-hu-tang (Japanese name: shosaiko-to), 4 days before ip bacterial infection . The numbers of bacteria in the peritoneal cavity and liver were smaller in shosaiko-to-treated mice from one day after the infection . Macrophage accumulation in the peritoneal cavity after ip inoculation of L . monocytogenes was observed in both untreated and shosaiko-to-treated mice . Although rates of such increases were almost the same between both groups, the absolute number of macrophages was larger in shosaiko-to-treated than in untreated mice because of a higher level of the macrophage number at 4 days after ip injection of shosaiko-to . In untreated mice, bactericidal activity of peritoneal macrophages decreased from one day to 3 days after ip injection of killed L . monocytogenes . Such an activity was maintained at the same level from 1 to 3 days in shosaiko-to-treated mice . Augmented accumulation of macrophages and maintenance of their bactericidal activity may be main mechanisms of the augmented resistance in shosaiko-to-treated mice . Augmented resistance against bacterial growth in the thigh muscle in ip shosaiko-to-treated mice may be caused by such mechanisms . The effect of shosaiko-to observed at an early stage of infection may be T cell-independent, since such an effect was observed in athymic nude mice and delayed footpad reaction could not be detected at such a timing in euthymic normal mice. Rev Med Interne, 1988 Jan-Feb, 9(1), 104 - 6 {Treatment of Listeria monocytogenes meningoencephalitis with cotrimoxazole in monotherapy}; Corront B et al.; L . monocytogenes meningo-encephalitis are still a therapeutic problem, with most of the time a poor prognosis . In vitro, cotrimoxazole has about the same bactericidal activity as the ampicillin-aminoglycoside combination . So we treated 8 patients with L . M . meningoencephalitis with cotrimoxazole alone, with a mean duration of treatment of 13 days . All patients recovered without sequellae from their infectious episode. Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Jan-Feb, 10(1), 53 - 5 Oral trimethoprim as follow-up treatment of meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes; Gunther G et al.; Successful treatment of meningitis and septicemia caused by Listeria monocytogenes with intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has previously been reported . This case report of a 13-year-old boy with meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes documents complete cure with 6 days of intravenously administered trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole followed by orally administered trimethoprim as monotherapy. Transplantation, 1988 Jan, 45(1), 187 - 94 Inhibition of antigen-specific activation of an L3T4+ T cell line by cyclosporine with maintenance of macrophage-mediated antigen presentation; Lu CY et al.; Cyclosporine has clearly been shown to directly inhibit T lymphocyte activation by monoclonal antibodies or mitogens where nominal antigen and accessory cells are not present . However, when T lymphocytes are stimulated by antigen, as occurs in allograft rejection, T lymphocytes and accessory cells must interact with one another . Under the latter circumstances, the issue of whether cyclosporine acts on T lymphocyte, accessory cell, or both is not resolved . This issue is addressed in this study . To assess the effect of cyclosporine on T cell activation, macrophages were incubated with heat-killed Listeria and then fixed in paraformaldehyde . These fixed macrophages retained their ability to present antigen to T cells but were not affected by subsequent treatment with cyclosporine . When cyclosporine and a L3T4+ T lymphocyte line were added simultaneously to fixed, antigen-pulsed macrophages, the drug inhibited antigen-specific T cell activation with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 10 ng/ml . To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that low doses of cyclosporine inhibit antigen-specific T cell activation where the drug's effects on antigen-presenting cells have been excluded . To assess the effects of cyclosporine on macrophage-mediated antigen-presentation, macrophages were exposed simultaneously to cyclosporine and antigen, and then fixed . Antigen-presentation was not inhibited unless extremely large doses (9000 ng/ml) of cyclosporine were used . In our experimental system, any new inhibitory activity acquired by live cyclosporine-treated macrophages could be explained by residual drug . Finally, cyclosporine did not inhibit the induction of macrophage Ia expression nor antigen-presenting function after stimulation in vitro with lymphokine. Infect Immun, 1988 Jan, 56(1), 247 - 51 Production of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) during infection: separate determinations of macrophage-, granulocyte-, granulocyte-macrophage-, and multi-CSFs; Cheers C et al.; After infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes, elevated levels of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) in the serum were quantitated by six different assays: ability to stimulate colony formation, the proliferation of 2 suspension of bone marrow cells (both measuring total colony-stimulating activity), a radioimmunoassay for macrophage-CSF (CSF-1), the WEHI-3B differentiation assay for granulocyte-CSF, and proliferation of 32D-c1-3 and FDC-P1 cell lines (specific for multi-CSF and either multi- or granulocyte-macrophage-CSFs, respectively) . The great bulk of serum colony-stimulating activity represented macrophage- and granulocyte-CSFs, with small but measurable amounts of granulocyte-macrophage-CSF . The degree of elevation of serum CSF depended on the infecting dose used and the numbers of bacteria growing in the spleens and livers of the two mouse strains compared, i.e., L . monocytogenes-resistant C57BL/10 and susceptible BALB/cJ . The increase in serum CSFs occurred before the peak in bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitors and before the reduction in bacterial numbers which follows the onset of specific cell-mediated immunity. Int J Biochem, 1988, 20(10), 1067 - 72 Chromatographic and enzymatic effects on transfer factor-like activity from human leukocytes and porcine spleen dialysate; Karhumaki E et al.; 1 . The effect of dialysable transfer factor (TFd), derived from human leukocytes or porcine spleen cells, was measured using Listeria resistance in mice . 2 . The molecular weight range of substance(s) containing TF-like activity is in the less than 3500 MW dialysis fraction on the basis of the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to produce superoxide anion (O2-) . This biological activity is removed by heating at 56 degrees C . 3 . After Sephadex G-10 chromatography of dialysates the significant activities are found in fractions III and IV of human leukocyte dialysate and in fractions of II and III of porcine spleen dialysate . 4 . From enzymatic studies, most of the protective activity of both human leukocyte and porcine spleen dialysate is based on the action of small-molecular weight structures containing peptides and/or polynucleotides. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1988, 36(2), 151 - 9 Innate anti-listerial resistance of mice differing in their susceptibility to listeriosis; Dlugonska H et al.; The work was designated to compare the influence of an active immunization on the expression of anti-listerial resistance of relatively resistant to listeriosis C57B1/6 mice as compared with more susceptible to the infection DBA/2 mice . Although, specific immunization of DBA/2 mice enhanced their anti-listerial resistance but immunized DBA/2 mice still eliminated Listeria rods less effectively than immunized C57B1/6 mice . It means that innate difference in anti-listerial resistance between C57B1/6 and DBA/2 mice was maintained after immunizing them with the same number of alive bacteria . Greater anti-listerial resistance of C57B1/6 versus DBA/2 mice is associated with an increased accumulation of inflammatory Ms and PMNs in their peritonea and an increased capacity of their PMNs to restrict Listeria growth. Geogr Med Suppl, 1988, 1, 89 - 92 Serological examinations of dogs (Canis familiaris) in Colombo/Sri Lanka; Sixl W et al.; In Colombo/Sri Lanka wild dogs were investigated for various zoonoses . Based on the poor general conditions the contamination rate was relatively high . 27 of the 30 dog sera reacted positive against Listeriosis . 17 of the 29 samples reacted against Q-fever in low titers, however, because of the highly purified antigen used these are evaluated as positive . The contamination rate was 100% . 18 sera reacted positive against the RMSF-group antigen . 14 samples reacted positive against Chlamydiasis . 17 samples reacted positive against Echinococcosis and in the Brucellosis samples 3 were positive . 7 positive reactions were found against Adenovirus. Geogr Med Suppl, 1988, 1, 65 - 70 Serological investigations in Q-fever and listeriosis of wild-living small mammals on the Cape Verde Islands; Brosch R et al.; Serological investigations of small mammals had been made on the Island Santiago (Cape Verde Islands), to clear up how far synantropic, small mammals are reservoir hosts for pathogens, such as Coxiella burnetti and Listeria monocytogenes . 367 small mammals representing two species (Rattus rattus and Mus musculus) were trapped . Q-fever antibodies were detected in 155 of 350 examined rats and mice (44.29%) . 18.89% of all tested sera showed positive results to Listeria-antigen, serovar 4bH, 5.48% to 4b0 and 9.75% to 01. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1988, 10(5), 519 - 24 Inhibitory effect of tetracycline and doxycycline on resistance of mice to infection with a tetracycline-resistant strain of Listeria monocytogenes; Metz P et al.; By transposon mutagenesis a tetracycline-susceptible strain of Listeria monocytogenes (MIC 1 mg/l . for tetracycline and 0.25 mg/l . for doxycycline) was rendered resistant (MIC 64 mg/l . for tetracycline and 16 mg/l . for doxycycline) . Infection of mice with this resistant strain led to an acute infection . Treatment with 2 x 2 mg tetracycline per day did not influence the course of infection during the first 3 days, indicating that the nonspecific resistance, mediated mainly by macrophages and granulocytes, was not affected by this treatment . The second phase of infection, characterized by a continuous resistance to infection due to macrophages activated by T-lymphocytes was, however, definitely hampered . Even acquired immunity to a secondary infection was impaired by treatment with tetracycline, indicating that cell-mediated immunity can be blocked . The course of infection of athymic, nude mice which are unable to build up a cell-mediated immune response, was not affected by tetracycline treatment . Doxycycline expressed the same activities as tetracycline. Geogr Med Suppl, 1988, 1, 77 - 80 Serological examinations of slaughtered animals (cattle and goats) in the slaughter-house of Colombo/Sri Lanka towards antibodies against brucellosis, Q-fever, RMSF-rickettsia-group, listeriosis, echinococcosis and adenoviruses; Sixl W et al.; Serological examinations of slaughtered animals (76 cattle and 184 goats) in the slaughter-house of Colombo/Sri Lanka revealed antibodies against Listeriosis, Brucellosis, Q-fever, RMSF-Rickettsia-group, Echinococcus and Adenoviruses . As the results show, part of this zooanthroponosis has a role to play in human medicine and human infections are to be expected. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1988, 177(4), 207 - 17 Generation of Listeria monocytogenes-specific T cells mediating delayed footpad reaction and protection in neonatally thymectomized mice but not in nude mice; Mitsuyama M et al.; Neonatally thymectomized (NTx) mice, sham-operated control mice and congenitally athymic nude mice were immunized with viable Listeria monocytogenes and their spleen cells examined for the capacity to transfer both delayed footpad reaction and protection against challenge at the site of local transfer . Cells from immune NTx mice conferred significant degrees of delayed footpad reaction and protection comparable to sham mice, while cells from immune nude (nu/nu) mice did not . This ability was completely eliminated by the treatment of cells with anti-Thy1, anti-Lyt1 or anti-L3T4 antibody plus complement but not with anti-Lyt2 antibody plus complement . These results indicated that NTx mice can normally mount the immunity to L . monocytogenes by generating Lyt1+2-, L3T4+ T cells . Immune competence of NTx mice and thymus dependency of various immune responses are discussed. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S80 - 4 Listeriosis--history and actual developments; Seeliger HP; Although apparently observed before, the history of listeriosis dates back approximately 60 years . First known as a cause of epidemics and sporadic cases in some 50 species of animals, the disease appears now with increased frequency among human populations at risk . The causative agent Listeria monocytogenes is primarily a psychrophilic soil-borne bacterium with a wide pathogenic potential thus provoking primarily septicemia, meningitis and intrauterine infections . Recent observations indicate certain types of food being the principle vehicle for transmission of human listeriosis . This would parallel the epizootic situation in domestic animals . Further studies of the mechanisms leading to clinical and subclinical infections are just as necessary as reliable methods to determine the immunity status of individuals at risk. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S171 - 4 Therapy of experimental listeriosis--an evaluation of different antibiotics; Hof H et al.; The therapeutic activities of various antibiotics were evaluated in two murine models, i.e . the infection of normal mice as well as of nude mice . Coumermycin and rifampicin were the most active drugs, since not only inhibition of multiplication but also rapid elimination of Listeria monocytogenes could be achieved in normal and immunocompromised animals . Ampicillin was the most active beta-lactam antibiotic followed by azlocillin . The other beta-lactam antibiotics were definitely less active . The combination of ampicillin with gentamicin expressed no synergistic effect in vivo . Co-trimoxazole as well as ciprofloxacin were of moderate therapeutic value . The bacteriostatic drugs such as tetracycline and erythromycin were able to inhibit the bacterial multiplication in the normal mouse but not in the immunocompromised host . Thus an optimal drug for therapy of listeriosis does not yet exist. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S165 - 70 Liposome-encapsulated ampicillin against Listeria monocytogenes in vivo and in vitro; Bakker-Woudenberg IA et al.; In an experimental infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes in mice a considerable enhancement (90-fold) of the therapeutic activity of ampicillin resulting from liposomal encapsulation was observed . The mechanism by which liposomes improved the therapeutic index of ampicillin in this infection appeared to be an increased delivery of the antibiotic to the site of infection, i.e . the liver and spleen . Substantial amounts of liposomal ampicillin were recovered from isolated Kupffer cells, the target cells of L . monocytogenes after intravenous inoculation . In addition, in studies on the survival of L . monocytogenes within murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro it was found that liposomal encapsulation of ampicillin resulted in an increased availability of the antibiotic for the intracellular bacteria: liposomal ampicillin killed 90% of the intracellular bacteria, whereas a similar concentration of free ampicillin plus empty liposomes had no effect upon the intracellular bacteria. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S149 - 56 Hemolysin from Listeria--biochemistry, genetics and function in pathogenesis; Goebel W et al.; Thiol-activated hemolysins (listeriolysins) from Listeria monocytogenes (Sv4b) and Listeria ivanovii were purified to homogeneity . The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the 58 kDa listeriolysin of L . ivanovii and of a 24 kDa protein which may represent the CAMP-factor of L . ivanovii were determined . Antibodies raised against the L . ivanovii listeriolysin and anti-streptolysin O antibodies were used in Western blot analyses to detect listeriolysin(s) in virulent and avirulent Listeria strains . It was found that all virulent strains of L . monocytogenes synthesize and secrete listeriolysin (Mr 58-59 kDa), albeit in significantly variable quantities . No protein cross-reaction with anti-listeriolysin antibodies or anti-streptolysin O-antibodies was present in the supernatant of Listeria innocua, Listeria welshimeri, Listeria grayi and Listeria murrayi strains . Furthermore, the avirulent but hemolytic Listeria seeligeri did not cross-react with these antibodies . In a L . monocytogenes (strain EGD) gene bank constructed in Escherichia coli two types of hemolytic clones were identified . The first type carried recombinant plasmids with a common 2.0 kb fragment coding for a 23 kDa protein . This hemolytic activity was not activated by DTT and the 23 kDa protein did not cross react with anti-listeriolysin or anti-streptolysin antibodies . The other type of hemolytic clones was detected by using anti-streptolysin O antibodies to screen the gene bank . Some of these clones synthesized a protein of 61 kDa which cross reacted with anti-streptolysin O (or anti-listeriolysin) antibodies . By transposon Tn916 mutagenesis of L . monocytogenes two types of nonhemolytic mutants were obtained . Type I produced no extracellular protein that cross reacted with anti-listeriolysin (or anti SLO) antibodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S145 - 8 Invasiveness and intracellular growth of Listeria monocytogenes; Berche P et al.; Listeria monocytogenes is an invasive bacterial pathogen capable of multiplying inside many host cells, including macrophages, enterocytes and hepatocytes . There is evidence to believe that secretion of listeriolysin O, an SH-activated exotoxin, is crucial for bacterial growth in host tissues . This exotoxin is stimulated in iron-deprived medium and mostly active at low pH (5.5) . Electron microscopic studies showed that intracellular bacteria rapidly disrupt the vacuole membrane of phagosomes and freely multiply inside the cytosol of infected cells, thus escaping at an early stage of infection from the cellular microbicidal mechanisms . Vacuole disruption does not occur with a nonhemolytic mutant obtained by insertion of a single copy of transposon Tn1545 in the structural gene of listeriolysin O . These results strongly suggest that listeriolysin O is a major factor promoting intracellular growth of L . monocytogenes and that intracellular growth of virulent bacteria is initiated after escaping from the phagosomal compartment. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S141 - 4 Pathogenicity of Listeria monocytogenes in comparison to other Listeria species; Hof H et al.; In different mouse models the pathogenicity of various strains of Listeria monocytogenes and of other Listeria spp . was evaluated . Although quantitative differences of virulence among strains of L . monocytogenes are found, all isolates have to be regarded pathogenic unless essential virulence factors, such as protein composition of the cell wall or hemolysin production, are lacking . Besides L . monocytogenes, only Listeria ivanovii is able to multiply in the murine host, though definitely to a lesser extent . The other Listeria spp., such as Listeria innocua, Listeria welshimeri and Listeria seeligeri, have to be regarded as non-pathogenic. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S137 - 40 Roles of factor increasing monocytopoiesis (FIM) and macrophage activation in host resistance to Listeria monocytogenes; van Furth R et al.; The present contribution concerns two aspects of host resistance in overcoming an infection with Listeria monocytogenes . One of these aspects is the regulation of monocyte production by the factor increasing monocytopoiesis (FIM), a macrophage-derived factor . Listeria-resistant (C57BL/10 mice and Listeria-sensitive CBA mice produce and secrete similar amounts of FIM in response to an inflammation induced by soluble Listeria antigen . However, monocyte precursors in the bone marrow of Listeria-resistant mice react to an injection of serum containing FIM by increased monocyte production, whereas Listeria-sensitive mice are unable to react to this stimulus . The other aspect of host resistance to L . monocytogenes is the activation of macrophages leading to increased bactericidal activity . Macrophages of both mouse strains stimulated first with live BCG and then with PPD, killed ingested Listeria faster than resident peritoneal macrophages did . However, recombinant interferon-gamma, thought to be the most important macrophage-activating factor, did not induce increased listericidal activity in macrophages. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S128 - 36 Listeria monocytogenes specific T-cell lines and clones; Kaufmann SH; Evidence is summarized to suggest that both CD4 and CD8 T cells and both helper and cytolytic T cell functions are involved in protective immunity to infection with the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes . This suggestion is based on the following findings obtained with T cell lines and clones from L . monocytogenes infected mice: L3T4+ (CD4) T cells produce multiple lymphokines after antigen stimulation in vitro; Lyt2+ (CD8) T cells lyse L . monocytogenes primed macrophages; L3T4+ (CD4) T cells also lyse L . monocytogenes primed macrophages provided the latter express Ia-molecules; Lyt2+ (CD8) T cells secret Interferon-gamma provided that exogenous Interleukin-2 is supplied . Furthermore, both L3T4+ (CD4) and Lyt2+ (CD8) T cell lines can confer a certain degree of adoptive protection upon naive recipient mice. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S123 - 7 The role of T cell subpopulations in cell mediated immunity to facultative intracellular bacteria; Mielke M et al.; This brief review summarizes the experimental data which underly the classic concept of antibacterial cell mediated immunity and will integrate recent developments focusing on results obtained by in vivo studies in the model of rodent listeriosis. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S118 - 22 Comparison of responsiveness to the monocytosis-producing activity of Listeria monocytogenes in mice genetically susceptible or resistant to listeriosis; Galsworthy SB et al.; Injection of a monocytosis producing activity (MPA) from Listeria monocytogenes caused a dose-dependent elevation in numbers of macrophage colony forming units (CFU-m) in bone marrow and in peripheral blood . The increase could be seen as early as 8 h after injection of MPA and persisted until 72 h after injection . Serum from MPA-treated animals, capable of inducing monocytosis, also caused an elevation in numbers of CFU-m . The effect of MPA on CFU-m numbers in peripheral blood was measured in inbred strains of mice with differing susceptibility to listeriosis . Resistant C57B1/6 and B10 . A mice responded best to MPA . C3H/HeJ and CBA mice, sensitive to Listeria, gave a slow, intermediate response . A/J mice, lacking the 5th component of complement, failed to respond to MPA . Since both B10.D2 old (C5-deficient) and B10.D2 new (C5-sufficient) mice, responded comparably to MPA, the unresponsiveness in A/J mice cannot be attributed solely to lack of C-5 . Our results are consistent with the idea that A/J mice lack or are unresponsive to the MPA-induced serum factor which promotes monocytosis. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S112 - 7 Alteration of non-specific resistance to infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Wirsing von Konig CH et al.; The experimental infection of murine hosts with Listeria monocytogenes is often used as a model for cell-mediated immunity . However, the natural immunity or non-specific resistance to listeriosis can be influenced by the parasite itself and also by a wide array of endogenous and exogenous host factors . The most important host factor in inbred mouse strains is their genetically determined susceptibility or resistance to Listeria monocytogenes . Secondly, the age of the mice is crucial for the outcome of infection . Resistance is only slowly developed by newborn mice, while aged mice possess an increased non-specific resistance as compared to young adult animals . Resistance is further influenced by the nutritional status, by pregnancy or by a simultaneous second antigenic stimulation . Regarding exogenous factors, macrophage blocking agents can totally abolish the resistance to listeriosis, while a lot of immunomodulating agents, such as BCG, killed Bordetella pertussis or Propionibacterium acnes organisms, lipopolysaccharides, suramin etc., can either increase or decrease the resistance . The mononuclear phagocyte system seems to be the main target of all these immunomodifiers . The timing between listeria infection and application of the immunomodulator determines the effect on non-specific resistance . A simultaneous injection of parasite and immunomodulator results in a decrease of resistance, while the application of immunoadjuvants several days before infection can dramatically increase the resistance to listeriosis . The delicate equilibrium of the mononuclear phagocyte system must therefore be taken into account, when infection with Listeria monocytogenes is used to test for immune-modifying agents, which are intended for use in humans or animals. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S106 - 11 Histomorphology of experimental listeriosis; Heymer B et al.; This paper is a survey of the histomorphology of experimental listeriosis based on cooperative studies performed within the past ten years . The influence of various parameters of the infectious agent (pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4b, nonpathogenic Listeria innocua serovar 6b etc.) as well as of the host (euthymic NMRI-mice conditioned with dextran sulfate 500 or cyclosporin A, athymic nude mice etc.) on the course, morphology and outcome of the Listeria infection was investigated . From the experimental models used and the studies performed much could be learned concerning the factors that determine the histomorphological manifestations of listeriosis in humans. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1988, 177(3), 123 - 31 Anti-Listeria monocytogenes immunity in mu-suppressed mice: a comparison of treatment with conventional hyperimmune rabbit anti-mouse IgM and affinity-purified, monoclonal rat anti-mouse IgM; Cerny A et al.; The capacity of anti-IgM treated, B-cell-depleted mice to control infection by Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated . Suppression was achieved with a hyperimmune rabbit anti-mouse-IgM antiserum (IRS), with affinity-purified IRS (IRP), or with an affinity-purified, monoclonal, rat anti-mouse-IgM antibody (LO-MM-9) . B-cell depletion in specifically treated mice was judged to be complete by the following criteria: absence of significant response to a B-cell mitogen lipopolysaccharide, absence of B-cells with detectable IgM or kappa light chain on their surface, absence of detectable IgM, and presence of free anti-IgM antibodies in serum . BALB/c mice, conventionally treated from birth with IRS, had an increased capacity to clear L . monocytogenes from the blood during the first 5 min after intravenous infection . Furthermore, control of infection seemed to be enhanced during the first 24 h but was found to be impaired when assessed 3 and 4 days after initiation of infection . These effects were, however, not IRS specific, because control mice treated with normal rabbit serum behaved comparably . Mortality caused by 2 x 10(3) L . monocytogenes injected intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice susceptible to L . monocytogenes was increased more in NRS-than in IRS-treated mice when both were compared with untreated control mice . Therefore, chronic injection of IRS or NRS seemed to disturb anti-L . monocytogenes immunity, rendering an evaluation of the role of antibodies impossible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Infect, 1988 Jan, 16(1), 65 - 71 Recurrence of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis; Richards J et al.; A case of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in a 3-year-old boy which relapsed after chloramphenicol treatment is described . The patient was subsequently successfully treated with ampicillin and gentamicin and made a complete recovery . In vitro studies confirmed the inadequacy of chloramphenicol therapy . The value of combination therapy, as evidenced by chessboard and killing-curve techniques with the strain, is discussed. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1988, 177(1), 47 - 9 The role of hepatic lectins and the activity of the mononuclear phagocyte system in systemic Listeria monocytogenes infection in Balb/c mice; Beuth J et al.; Hepatic lectin blocking experiments with D-galactose in Balb/c mice showed that parenchymal liver cells are obviously not involved in Listeria monocytogenes infection (strain SLCC 4013, 5 X 10(6) cells i.v.) . Using the bacterial immunomodifier Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 the importance of an activated mononuclear phagocyte system in the early stage of Listeria infection could be demonstrated. Infect Immun, 1988 Jan, 56(1), 79 - 82 Hemolysin supports survival but not entry of the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes; Kuhn M et al.; The gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen . The only known property of L . monocytogenes which has been shown to be involved in virulence is a hemolysin, listeriolysin (J . L . Gaillard, P . Berche, and P . Sansonetti, Infect . Immun . 52:50-55, 1986; S . Kathariou, P . Metz, H . Hof, and W . Goebel, J . Bacteriol . 169:1291-1297, 1987) . Using our previously obtained transposon Tn916-induced hemolysin-negative mutants of L . monocytogenes Sv1/2a (Mackaness strain), we demonstrated that the loss of hemolysin reduced significantly the rate of survival of the bacteria in mouse peritoneal macrophages but did not reduce their uptake . It was further shown that virulent L . monocytogenes strains could invade the mouse embryo fibroblast 3T6 cell line, i.e., mammalian cells which are nonprofessional phagocytes . This uptake was inhibited by cytochalasin B and hence seems to be accomplished by parasite-induced endocytosis . Hemolysin was not essential for this step . Strains of other Listeria species could not efficiently penetrate the 3T6 cells. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1988, 239, 343 - 52 Immunomodulation and Chlamydia: immunosuppression and the protective immune response to C . psittaci in mice; Byrne GI et al.; Mice immunized intramuscularly with a low dose, viable inoculum of C . psittaci survived an otherwise lethal intraperitoneal challenge with the homologous chlamydial strain . Immunized animals were not protected from intraperitoneal challenge by the unrelated pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes . Spleen cells from animals that exhibited protective immunity were suppressed in their proliferative responses to mitogens or chlamydial antigen in an in vitro blastogenic assay . This suppression was transferable to normal spleen cells by adding irradiated cells from immunized animals to normal cell populations . The degree of normal cell blastogenic suppression was dependent on the ratio of irradiated immune to normal cells present in the assay medium . Suppression of humoral responses was demonstrated in vivo . Immunized animals were incapable of producing antibody secreting cells to sheep red blood cells after an intraperitoneal inoculation of SRBC . Unimmunized animals produced a significant number of plaque forming cells as measured by a direct plaque forming cell assay . Lymphokine activity was not impaired in spleen cells from mice that exhibited other manifestations of suppression . Taken together, these data provide evidence to indicate that the induction of suppression may not correlate with increased pathogenesis, but rather be closely associated with protective immunity . Data also provide circumstantial evidence to indicate that lymphokine induction may be important in the development of protective immunity to C . psittaci in the mouse. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1988, 239, 245 - 55 In vitro production of colony-stimulating factors by Listeria-immune spleen cells; Magee DM et al.; In this series of experiments we have shown that there are at least two mechanisms of CSF production by spleen cells in vitro: nonspecific secretion of CSF by nonimmune cells and immune, antigen-driven production by specific T-lymphocytes . M-CSF was mainly produced in the nonspecific reaction . The immune production by T-lymphocytes consisted of increased CSF production and secretion of multiple species of CSFs. Scand J Infect Dis, 1988, 20(4), 359 - 68 Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis: a review of the literature 1950-1986; Gallagher PG et al.; 34 cases of Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis reported in the literature from 1950-1986 were reviewed . The male to female ratio was 2: 1 . The average age was 49 years, and 35% of patients were 60 years of age or older . A single case of polymicrobial endocarditis was identified . There were 8 cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis . Left-sided cardiac involvement predominated, with only a single case of right-sided endocarditis reported . Aortic and mitral valvular involvement accounted for 32 and 29% of cases respectively . Underlying cardiac disease was present in over half of the cases, with rheumatic heart disease being the most common underlying cardiac condition . Noncardiac underlying conditions were found in 38% of cases . These included chronic hemodialysis, alcoholism, pregnancy, malignancies, diabetes mellitus, steroid therapy and malnutrition . Onset of the disease was varied as was initial presentation . There was a high incidence of vascular phenomena (59%), with large vessel emboli seen late in the course of many cases . Many cases were diagnosed late . Overall mortality was 50% . Treatment of listeria endocarditis varied from case to case . A review of in vitro and in vivo studies as well as case reports suggests that ampicillin or penicillin plus an aminoglycoside may be the treatment of choice. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S98 - 105 Isolation of Listeria: a review of procedures and future prospects; Klinger JD; Recent documented foodborne outbreaks of listeriosis have underscored the need for improved isolation and identification procedures for Listeria . This review considers the development of selective enrichment media, various approaches to improving efficiency of isolation, and efforts to shorten enrichment periods . The application of simplified rapid nucleic acid hybridization techniques, in combination with improved cultural methods is the most promising of these approaches . Such methodological improvements should facilitate gathering data on important questions concerning the epidemiology of Listeria, and the natural history of listeriosis. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S175 - 7 Listeria monocytogenes infections--therapeutic possibilities and problems; Marget W et al.; Listeriosis in humans is a rare disease, which, however, is known to be epidemic and endemic . The prognosis has remained unsatisfactory up to today, the fatality being at least 10% and often considerably higher depending on the clinical features of the disease and the patient's age . Three population groups are at risk: pregnant women, fetuses and newborn infants . Furthermore, immunosuppression in older patients due to disease, therapy, or age also plays a role . The incidence of Listeria infections in patients over 45 is clearly increasing . Due to the nature of the pathogen (in vivo bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics are often not attainable; intracellular growth) a high dosage of ampicillin is recommended . Although the present therapeutic possibilities are not satisfactory, a combination of ampicillin and an aminoglycoside appears to be the best therapy at present . Other combinations such as rifampicin and beta-lactam antibiotics have exhibited in vitro antagonism . The preferred therapy, ampicillin, can only be recommended with reservations because it is not optimally effective. Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S160 - 4 Antibiotic susceptibilities of Listeria: in vitro studies; Espaze EP et al.; Although Listeria is a rather susceptible bacterium, most antibiotics exert a bacteriostatic effect on Listeria monocytogenes . Except for fosfomycin, antibiotic susceptibilities are similar among the species of the genus Listeria . In vitro, bactericidal effect is often achieved by the use of antibiotic combinations . The most commonly used combinations are ampicillin with aminoglycosides . Up until now, there has been no trend towards reduced susceptibility of Listeria to antibiotics. Diabetes, 1988 Jan, 37(1), 112 - 8 Synergistic effects of adjuvants, endotoxin, and fasting on induction of diabetes with multiple low doses of streptozocin in rats; Wright JR Jr et al.; Three weekly intraperitoneal injections of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and, 1 day later, low-dose streptozocin (STZ; 25 mg/kg i.p.) have been reported to cause immune destruction of beta-cells and a gradual onset of diabetes mellitus . In this study, male Lewis rats were injected intraperitoneally with CFA and 1 day later with low-dose STZ; these were repeated at weekly intervals for 3 wk . The incidence of diabetes mellitus (nonfasted plasma glucose greater than 200 mg/dl) in wk 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 50, 80, 93, and 100%, respectively . Rats receiving either CFA or STZ only did not develop diabetes . Injections of either the components of CFA (incomplete Freund's adjuvant and Mycobacterium butyricum), another granuloma-inducing organism (Listeria monocytogenes), or endotoxin before STZ induced diabetes, but the onset was slower and the diabetes was less severe than with CFA and STZ . Because intraperitoneal CFA injections caused peritoneal irritation, acute weight loss, and hypoglycemia on the day after injection, we examined whether fasting alone potentiated low-dose STZ . Fasting for 24 h before and 24 h after low-dose STZ caused diabetes that was similar in rapidity of onset and severity to that induced with CFA and STZ . Administration of CFA subcutaneously before STZ did not cause hypoglycemia or weight loss but did cause diabetes . Thus, the fasting effect of intraperitoneal CFA was not responsible for the induction of diabetes with CFA and STZ . These data indicate that immunologic adjuvants, endotoxin, and fasting all potentiate the diabetogenic action of low-dose STZ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Infection, 1988, 16 Suppl 2, S157 - 9 The listeriolysin O gene: a chromosomal locus crucial for the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes; Cossart P; In culture supernatants of a Tn 1545-induced non-hemolytic mutant of Listeria monocytogenes, by immunoblotting with an anti-serum raised against purified listeriolysin O, we have detected the presence of a truncated protein of 52,000D (the secreted listeriolysin O is 60,000D) . The region of insertion of the transposon has been cloned and sequenced . The transposon had inserted in an open reading frame . The homologies detected between this ORF, streptolysin O and pneumolysin demonstrate the the transposon had indeed inserted in the listeriolysin O gene . As the non-hemolytic mutant was non-virulent, our work demonstrated that a genetic determinant essential for virulence is the listeriolysin O gene or its adjacent region. J Wildl Dis, 1988 Jan, 24(1), 127 - 32 Serological investigations for some bacterial and viral pathogens in fallow deer (Cervus dama) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) of the San Rossore Preserve, Tuscany, Italy; Giovannini A et al.; Sera of 43 fallow deer (Cervus dama) of the San Rossore Preserve (Tuscany, Italy) were examined for antibodies against eight pathogens; one proved positive for Brucella sp., 21 for Listeria monocytogenes, 34 for Chlamydia psittaci, three for Coxiella burnetii, one for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, 11 for parainfluenza-3 virus, 25 for bovine viral diarrhea virus and six for bovine respiratory syncytial virus . No age and sex difference in the positivity rates and titers was evidenced, while a sex difference was found both in rates of infection and in titers against parainfluenza-3 virus . Parainfluenza-3 infection was more prevalent in 1984 than in 1983 sampling . Sera of 20 wild boars (Sus scrofa) of the same preserve were examined for antibodies against five pathogens: four sera were positive for Brucella sp., while all were negative for Listeria monocytogenes, Chlamydia psittaci, Coxiella burnetii and Aujeszky's disease virus . Public and animal health involvement with these diseases are discussed for these respective host species. J Immunol, 1987 Dec 15, 139(12), 4225 - 31 Production of tumor necrosis factor during murine listeriosis; Havell EA; During a lethal murine infection with the gram-positive bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, a factor appears in the serum that is capable of lysing certain tumor cells in vitro . The levels of this serum cytotoxic factor increase with the progression of morbidity . Neutralization of Listeria-induced cytotoxic factor activity with a monospecific antiserum to recombinant murine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) revealed that the cytotoxic factor was antigenically indistinguishable from natural TNF present in endotoxin-induced tumor necrosis serum . In contrast to a lethal infection, no TNF activity was detected in sera of mice throughout a sublethal infection . However, shortly after initiation of a sublethal infection, mice acquire a greatly enhanced capacity to produce serum TNF in response to an intravenous injection of endotoxin . Cultures of unfractionated spleen cells from mice with ongoing Listeria infections produced TNF when incubated in the absence, but not in the presence, of antibiotics . However, such antibiotic-treated cultures could be stimulated with endotoxin to produce substantially higher TNF yields than spleen cells of uninfected mice . It is also shown that intravenous infusion of anti-recombinant murine TNF IgG into sublethally infected mice results in increased Listeria proliferation in spleens and livers, and ultimately in death from an overwhelming infection. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1987 Dec 12, 117(50), 2010 - 2 {Fulminant hepatitis in Listeria septicemia}; Tschumper A et al.; We report on a 44-year-old male patient admitted with acute severe icteric hepatitis . Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from blood cultures . The further course was complicated by meningitis and the patient finally died of multiorgan failure . Autopsy revealed nodular cirrhosis of the liver with cholestatic hepatitis and focal subacute liver dystrophy, as well as granulating meningitis . The case is discussed in the context of five previously published observations on hepatitis due to Listeria monocytogenes. Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3215 - 8 Passive transfer of acquired resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection is independent of mononuclear cell granuloma formation; Roberts EC et al.; This study documents the formation of leukocyte foci in the livers of mice infused with either normal or immune T cells and then challenged intravenously with Listeria monocytogenes . The results show that the transfer of antilisterial resistance occurred before mononuclear cell granuloma formation and was associated instead with the appearance of foci of infiltrating lymphocytes and neutrophils . Numbers of these foci remained low in mice which received immune cells but increased progressively until death in mice which received normal cells . These findings do not support the previous hypothesis that a major component of acquired resistance against Listeria infection involves the rapid generation of mononuclear cell granuloma formation under the control of immune T cells. J Leukoc Biol, 1987 Dec, 42(6), 653 - 8 Regulation of granulocyte responses in the blood and peritoneal cavity of CBA and B10 mice during an acute inflammation; Sluiter W et al.; The regulatory mechanisms that determine the course of an inflammation induced by an intraperitoneal injection of kaolin were investigated in Listeria-susceptible CBA and Listeria-resistant B10 mice . The magnitude of the granulocyte inflammatory response in the peritoneal cavity was high in B10 mice (area under the curve; AUC0-48 h: 210.9 x 10(6) granulocytes/mouse x h) and lower in CBA mice AUC0-48 h: 136.8 x 10(6) granulocytes/mouse x h), whereas the reverse was seen for the granulocyte response in the peripheral blood (AUC0-48 h: 30.5 and 80.7 x 10(6) granulocytes/mouse x h, respectively) . With respect to the presence of humoral factors that affect the number of granulocytes in the circulation, sera of both mouse strains sampled 24 h after the kaolin injection had granulocytosis-inducing effect in CBA recipient mice and did not induce a response in the B10 recipient mice . This divergent sensitivity to serum factors inducing granulocytosis is consistent with the difference in the blood granulocyte response of B10 and CBA mice but does not explain the divergent inflammatory responses in the peritoneal cavity . Computer simulation showed that at least two factors must be taken into consideration to explain the differences in the inflammatory response, i.e., a factor regulating the release of granulocytes from the bone marrow and a factor governing the rate of granulocyte efflux from the site of inflammation. Immunol Lett, 1987 Dec, 16(3-4), 199 - 203 Remote effects of inflammation on non-specific immunity; Fauve RM et al.; Following inflammation induced in mice with non-biodegradable, non-diffusible, and non-antigenic substances, host resistance is increased against bacteria, parasites and malignant cells injected at a distance from the inflammatory focus . This resistance is also increased in germ-free and nude mice . The increased resistance is correlated with (1) an increased leukopoiesis induced, at least in part, by a protein (MW = 40 kDa, pI = 5.2) which, in vitro, is able to induce the differentiation of bone-marrow cells into polymorphs; (2) the occurrence of giant cells in the granuloma which, after incubation in vitro, release an immunostimulating protein able to activate mice macrophages in vivo; (3) activation in vivo of liver and spleen macrophages following the occurrence, both in granuloma and in serum, of a protein (MW = 56 kDa, pI = 5) which, contrary to endotoxin, is heat-labile and can fully protect mice against Listeria monocytogenes . Furthermore, this protein, which is different from TNF and GM CSF, is able to activate macrophages against Lewis tumor cells . The same protein can be isolated from rat and is antigenically related to a human protein having the same biological activity. Gut, 1987 Dec, 28(12), 1661 - 2 Multiple listerial liver abscesses; Jenkins D et al.; Hepatic involvement in listeriosis is uncommon in adults . Cases previously reported include three presenting as acute hepatitis and three of listerial liver abscesses found at necropsy . We report a case of multiple listerial liver abscesses . We believe this to be the first time this diagnosis has been made in a living patient. Immunol Cell Biol, 1987 Dec, 65 ( Pt 6), 505 - 10 Particulate antigens may be reprocessed after initial phagocytosis for presentation to T cells in vivo; Wright MD et al.; Macrophages were pulsed with Listeria monocytogenes antigens by intraperitoneal injection prior to harvesting and thoroughly washing the cells . The pulsed macrophages were injected into the feet of Listeria-immune or naive mice to elicit a delayed hypersensitivity reaction . Where soluble Listeria antigen was used, presentation by donor macrophages to host T cells required identity within the I region of the H-2 complex . However, presentation of alcohol-killed Listeria organisms or of a living, temperature-sensitive mutant of Listeria was apparently not H-2 restricted . When T cells enriched in vitro for Listeria reactivity were injected into the feet of naive mice, they reacted in an H-2 restricted manner to antigen presented to them either by the pulsed macrophages or host cells apparently acquiring antigen from the original pulsed macrophages. J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 63(6), 533 - 7 Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk treated in a pilot plant size pasteurizer; Fernandez Garayzabal JF et al.; The survival of Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk treated in a pilot plant size pasteurizer was investigated . Raw milk was inoculated with different initial concentrations of L . monocytogenes and heated at temperatures ranging from 69 degrees to 73 degrees C . Listerias were not isolated from any of the milk samples immediately after thermal treatment . They were isolated, however, from 46.6% of heated samples (none from samples heated at 73 degrees C) after variable periods at refrigeration temperature . The results suggest that a low number of listerias survive some thermal treatments, but a cold enrichment is necessary to repair the thermally injured cells and detect these organisms in milk . The importance of the isolation technique in the recovery of listerias from pasteurized milk samples is discussed. J Immunol, 1987 Dec 1, 139(11), 3813 - 21 T cell recognition of listeriolysin O is induced during infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Berche P et al.; During bacterial multiplication, Listeria monocytogenes (strain EGD) secretes sulfhydryl-dependent cytotoxin, termed listeriolysin O, a virulence factor presumable promoting intracellular growth of this ubiquitous pathogen . The role of this exotoxin in the process of T cell activation was studied in vivo during the course of an experimental infection in the mouse . By using highly purified listeriolysin O, it was found that infection with viable, replicative bacteria induced in vivo the emergence of T cells specifically reacting against this exotoxin, as demonstrated by eliciting the expression of delayed-type hypersensitivity to listeriolysin O in Listeria-immune mice . The kinetics of this inflammatory reaction followed the same pattern as that observed with crude Listeria antigenic preparation classically used for the detection of delayed-type hypersensitivity, with a peak of expression by day 6 and a slow decline over the next 3 wk to a residual level, indicating the presence of memory T cells reacting with the exotoxin . This result, therefore, allowed us to identify for the first time that a pure immunogenic molecule secreted by L . monocytogenes is specifically recognized by sensitized T cells induced during the course of infection by L . monocytogenes . The expression of T cell-mediated immunity to listeriolysin O was generated by very low amounts of replicative bacteria, indicating that the exotoxin released in host tissues during the process of intracellular growth is highly immunogenic . Our data favor the view that the binding of listeriolysin O to the membrane cholesterol might be a critical event potentiating the in vivo expression of delayed sensitivity against this exotoxin . Indeed, the insertion of listeriolysin O into the cell membrane induced resistance to enzymatic proteolysis and membrane-bound listeriolysin O was significantly more effective in inducing delayed inflammatory reaction in Listeria-immune mice. J Immunol, 1987 Dec 1, 139(11), 3808 - 12 Inhibition of macrophage-mediated antigen presentation by hemolysin-producing Listeria monocytogenes; Cluff CW et al.; T lymphocytes and macrophages from Listeria-infected mice were used to evaluate the processing and presentation of live Listeria monocytogenes in vitro . Antigen presentation to T cells was quantitated by interleukin-2 production . In contrast to inert antigens such as heat-killed Listeria, live bacteria were processed and presented poorly . To evaluate the role of hemolysin (Hly), we used isogenic pairs of Hly+ and Hly- Listeria as antigens . In contrast to live Hly- bacteria, which were presented as well as heat-killed Listeria, live Hly+ bacteria were presented poorly . Hly+ bacteria also inhibited the presentation of heat-killed Listeria . This effect was apparent with as few as 10 bacteria/macrophage and was not due to loss of macrophage viability or decreased Ia expression after exposure to the live bacteria . With respect to murine listeriosis, the LD50 values for the Hly- strains were at least 1000 times higher than those for the Hly+ strains . These results suggest that the ability of Hly+ bacteria to inhibit antigen processing and presentation may be an important determining factor in Listeria infection and immunity. Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3078 - 84 Transfer of resistance to primary infection of Listeria monocytogenes and early induction of delayed hypersensitivity by sera from L . monocytogenes-infected mice; Yamada A et al.; We found a new phenomenon which differs from previous reports on experimental listeriosis, that is, failure of passive transfer of serum from Listeria monocytogenes-infected mice to convey resistance to the bacterium . Transfer of immune serum from L . monocytogenes-infected mice markedly augmented resistance to the bacterium, and mechanisms of the transfer of L . monocytogenes-immune serum were investigated . Transfer of immune serum prevented L . monocytogenes lethality . This effect of the immune serum was transferred dose dependently . Augmentation of resistance to L . monocytogenes also appeared in elimination of bacteria from the spleen . The growth of bacteria within 2 days in the spleen was not inhibited . Transfer of the immune serum augmented and accelerated induction of a delayed footpad reaction . Delayed hypersensitivity-dependent accumulation of mononuclear cells, detected by focus formation reaction in the liver, was also augmented . In contrast, polymorphonuclear cell accumulation in the liver was suppressed . Development of delayed hypersensitivity reactions was correlated with the elimination of bacteria in the spleens . These effects of the immune serum were expressed antigen specifically; however, the effector molecule(s) in the immune serum differs from immunoglobulin molecules. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {C}, 1987 Dec, 95(6), 251 - 6 Effect of leukocyte and other tissue dialysates on NBT reduction and prostaglandin production in mice; Karhumaki E; The effects of human leukocyte, porcine spleen and bovine liver dialysate fractions on Listeria resistance were measured by survival studies and by assessing the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to produce superoxide anion (0-2) and prostaglandins . Leukocyte (DLE) and other tissue dialysates were fractionated on a Sephadex G-10 column . Thereafter the significant activities were found in fraction III of DLE, fraction II of porcine spleen and fraction II + III of bovine liver dialysate . The treatment with active porcine spleen dialysate fraction increased the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to generate superoxide anion . On the other hand, this fraction significantly decreased the production of prostaglandin PGE2 and thromboxan B2 . These results may indicate that all dialysates can be a source of a non-specifically-acting immunomodulatory preparation and that the infection-resistance-increasing substances seem to operate via the monocyte/macrophage activation. Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3225 - 7 Identification of the structural gene encoding the SH-activated hemolysin of Listeria monocytogenes: listeriolysin O is homologous to streptolysin O and pneumolysin; Mengaud J et al.; By immunoblotting with an antiserum raised against purified listeriolysin O, we have detected the presence of a truncated protein of 52 kilodaltons in culture supernatants of a Tn1545-induced nonhemolytic mutant of Listeria monocytogenes (J.L . Gaillard, P . Berche, and P . Sansonetti, Infect . Immun . 52:50-55, 1986) . The region of insertion of the transposon has been cloned and sequenced . The transposon had inserted in an open reading frame the listeriolysin O gene . The deduced amino acid sequence of this open reading frame revealed that listeriolysin O is homologous to streptolysin O and pneumolysin, although homologies were not detectable at the DNA level. Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3197 - 203 Relationship of bacterial growth phase to killing of Listeria monocytogenes by oxidative agents generated by neutrophils and enzyme systems; Bortolussi R et al.; Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive motile bacterium which can cause severe bacterial infection in humans, is considered to be pathogenic by virtue of its ability to resist intracellular killing . Since the mechanism of intracellular survival is poorly understood, we assessed the sensitivity of L . monocytogenes to several potent antibacterial products . Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) produced extracellular antibacterial products which were inhibited completely by catalase, suggesting a role for oxidative agents in this process . L . monocytogenes in logarithmic (log) growth phase resisted PMA-stimulated PMN extracellular products significantly more than L . monocytogenes in stationary (stat) growth phase or Escherichia coli (three strains) in either phase of growth . The role of oxidative agents was studied further by using xanthine oxidase-xanthine, glucose oxidase-glucose, and myeloperoxidase enzyme systems to generate hydroxyl radical (.OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hypochlorous acid (OCl-), respectively . L . monocytogenes in log phase resisted the antibacterial products of these enzyme systems under conditions which produced superoxide (O2-) and H2O2 at concentrations similar to those produced extracellularly by PMA-stimulated PMNs, while stat-growth-phase L . monocytogenes and E . coli in either phase of growth were susceptible . Antibacterial activity could be blocked or inhibited by exogenous catalase (for all oxygen radical-generating systems), mannitol, or desferoxamine (for xanthine oxidase-xanthine) and alanine (for myeloperoxidase), suggesting that .OH and OCl- were responsible for this activity . Log-phase L . monocytogenes had 2.5-fold higher bacteria-associated catalase activity, as compared with stat-phase L . monocytogenes . These experiments, therefore, suggest that log-phase L . monocytogenes resists oxidative antibacterial agents by producing sufficient catalase to inactivate these products . This may contribute to the ability of L . monocytogenes to survive intracellularly. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 1987 Dec, 243(3), 1089 - 94 Depression of murine hepatic mixed function oxidase during infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Azri S et al.; The level of cytochrome P-450 and the oxidation of aminopyrine and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase were depressed in hepatic microsomes prepared from mice infected with the gram positive bacteria Listeria monocytogenes . Maximum depression of mixed function oxidase occurred on the 2nd day of infection . This loss in drug biotransformation capacity in the liver was correlated directly with the number of organisms found in that organ . The ability of mice to metabolize drugs in vivo also was impaired during Listeria monocytogenes infection . During the infective period the half-life of theophylline was significantly prolonged and the N-demethylation of aminopyrine as measured by the expiration of 14CO2 from radiolabeled aminopyrine was diminished . The loss of drug metabolism was not due to interferon production, fever or morphological damage to the liver . These results indicate that certain bacterial infections can depress drug biotransformation and elimination in a similar manner to that already reported in viral and parasitic infections . This finding may be of significance to patients receiving drugs which are metabolized by the mixed function oxidase system during episodes of infection with some bacteria. J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 25(11), 2247 - 51 Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 35152 and NCTC 7973 contain a nonhemolytic, nonvirulent variant; Pine L et al.; Listeria monocytogenes NCTC 7973 and this same strain deposited as ATCC 35152 contain two phenotypes: hemolytic virulent colonies and nonvirulent colonies that show no zones of hemolysis when streaked on heart infusion agar containing 5% rabbit blood . Results of examinations of these virulent and nonvirulent strains by investigators at the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga., the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France, and the University of Wurzburg, Federal Republic of Germany, support the conclusion that the avirulent strain is a nonhemolytic mutant of the virulent strain and that hemolysin is a virulence factor for L . monocytogenes. J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 25(11), 2085 - 9 Pathogenicity test for Listeria monocytogenes using immunocompromised mice; Stelma GN Jr et al.; The lethality of Listeria isolates was determined with normal adult mice and mice that were immunocompromised by treatment with 20 mg of carrageenan per kg . The mean 50% lethal doses (LD50s) of the pathogenic isolates were significantly lower (alpha = 0.05) in the immunocompromised mice than in the untreated mice, with an average reduction of 5.8 log10 units . In contrast, the mean LD50s of the nonpathogenic isolates were lower in the immunocompromised mice by an average of only 0.4 log10 unit, a difference that was not significant (alpha = 0.05) . When immunocompromised mice were used, the LD50s of pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes isolates were lower than those of nonpathogenic L . innocua and L . seeligeri isolates by greater than or equal to 6 log10 units and lower than those of nonpathogenic L . ivanovii isolates by greater than or equal to 4 log10 units . Pathogenic L . monocytogenes isolates could be distinguished from nonpathogenic isolates by their ability to cause deaths in immunocompromised mice in 3 days at a dose of approximately 10(4) CFU per mouse . An alternative procedure using iron-overloaded mice failed to effectively differentiate pathogenic Listeria isolates. Eur J Immunol, 1987 Nov, 17(11), 1665 - 8 Induction of interleukin 1 secretion and of tumoricidal activity in macrophages are not closely related phenomena; Keller R et al.; Rat bone marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes (BMM phi), induced to differentiate in vitro and homogeneous with respect to the cell lineage, were interacted with various macrophage-activating agents . The effect of these agents on the secretion of interleukin 1 (IL 1) activity and on the development of tumoricidal capacity was comparatively assessed . The findings show that IL 1 secretion is considerably enhanced by macrophage-activating factor and by recombinant interferon-gamma but remained unaffected or was even suppressed by heat-killed C . parvum or Listeria monocytogenes . In contrast, lymphokines as well as C . parvum and Listeria were similarly potent in inducing in BMM phi a tumoricidal state . The findings indicate that induction of IL 1 secretion and of tumoricidal activity are not necessarily closely linked phenomena. Cell Immunol, 1987 Nov, 110(1), 68 - 76 Prostaglandin-mediated suppression of macrophage phagocytosis of Listeria monocytogenes; Hutchison DL et al.; Suppression of macrophage phagocytosis of Listeria monocytogenes has been shown to be due to a low-molecular-weight component of spleen cell culture supernatant . The possibility that the factor could be a prostaglandin was investigated . When murine peritoneal macrophages were treated with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), L . monocytogenes was phagocytized at a rate comparable to that phagocytized when treated with a low-molecular-weight fraction of concanavalin A-generated spleen cell culture supernatant . Suppressive activity of the spleen cell culture supernatant was abrogated when supernatant was prepared in the presence of indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor . Prostaglandins were identified in supernatants with thin-layer and high-pressure liquid chromatography . These results suggest a role for prostaglandins, particularly PGE2, as a modulator of macrophage phagocytosis of L . monocytogenes. Infect Immun, 1987 Nov, 55(11), 2822 - 9 In vitro model of penetration and intracellular growth of Listeria monocytogenes in the human enterocyte-like cell line Caco-2; Gaillard JL et al.; Penetration and replication of Listeria monocytogenes within intestinal epithelial cells were studied by infecting the human enterocyte-like cell line Caco-2 . Entry was due to directed phagocytosis, as suggested by the inhibiting effect of cytochalasin D on bacterial entry and by electron microscopy showing bacteria inside membrane-limiting vacuoles at the early stage of infection . Only bacteria from pathogenic species (L . monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii) were able to induce their own phagocytosis by Caco-2 cells, as opposed to Listeria seeligeri, Listeria welshimeri, and Listeria innocua . L . monocytogenes multiplied readily within Caco-2 cells, with an apparent generation time of about 90 min . Listeriolysin O was found to be a major factor promoting intracellular growth of L . monocytogenes . After being internalized at the same rate as that of its hemolytic revertant strain, a nonhemolytic mutant from L . monocytogenes failed to replicate significantly within Caco-2 cells . Electron microscopic study demonstrated that bacteria from the nonhemolytic mutant remained inside phagosomes during cellular infection, whereas hemolytic bacteria from L . monocytogenes were released free within the cytoplasm . This indicates that disruption of vacuole membranes by listeriolysin O-producing strains of L . monocytogenes might be a key mechanism allowing bacteria to escape from phagosomes and to multiply unrestricted within cell cytoplasm. Am J Vet Res, 1987 Oct, 48(10), 1516 - 9 Listeriosis in diacetoxyscirpenol-treated mice; Ziprin RL et al.; Mice were treated with the trichothecene mycotoxin diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) and subsequently were inoculated intraperitoneally with Listeria monocytogenes . The effect of the mycotoxin on the course of the infection was monitored by observing the resultant mortality and the bacterial content of the spleens from inoculated mice . Mice given 3 mg of DAS/kg of body weight, PO, at days -2 and -1 before inoculation had increased mortality and splenic Listeria counts . In these mice, thymus weights were reduced, and lymphocytes were depleted from the thymus cortex and from splenic lymphoid follicles and periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths . A single dose of 4 mg of DAS/kg given on day 6 before challenge exposure did not affect mortality compared with that in nontreated controls . Mice treated with DAS and subsequently inoculated with Listeria had significantly (P = 0.006) increased neutrophil populations compared with Listeria-infected control mice. Cancer Lett, 1987 Oct, 37(1), 33 - 9 Endotoxin shock and tumour necrosis factor release in mannoheptulose-treated mice; Choy YM et al.; Administration of mannoheptulose partially protected mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes against the lethal effect of a subsequent endotoxin challenge . The ability of these animals to produce tumour necrosis factor was however unaffected . Mannoheptulose was observed to reverse the hypoglycaemic effect of endotoxin, possibly through inhibition of insulin secretion . The therapeutic significance of these observations is discussed. J Clin Lab Immunol, 1987 Oct, 24(2), 75 - 9 Augmented nonspecific resistance and simultaneous impairment of specific immunity to Listeria monocytogenes in tumor-bearing mice; Nomoto K et al.; Meth A tumor-bearing mice were examined for changes in the host defense mechanism against infection with Listeria monocytogenes . The resistance of tumor-bearing mice to systemic, i.e., intravenous, infection in an early phase of the infection was suppressed for 1-3 days after tumor implantation (5 x 10(5) cells/mouse, subcutaneously), but was augmented thereafter even on the 35th day as compared with normal mice . Suppression and enhancement of the resistance of tumor-bearing mice to primary infection with L . monocytogenes was also observed in tumor-bearing athymic nude mice . Splenic macrophages from tumor-bearing mice on the 14th day after tumor implantation exerted potent bactericidal activity against L . monocytogenes in vitro as compared with those from normal mice . The function of macrophages as nonimmune scavenger cells seemed to be activated in mice bearing a progressing tumor . However, some of the tumor-bearing mice challenged with a sublethal dose of L . monocytogenes showed diminished resistance in the late phase of the infection; moreover listeria-immunized tumor-bearing mice showed less resistance to a secondary challenge with the bacteria than did normal immunized mice . This suppression of the specific immune response of tumor-bearing mice to L . monocytogenes was shown also in the assay of the delayed-type footpad reaction . The bacterial growth-inhibiting function of listeria-immune T lymphocytes, determined by the effect of adoptive transfer of the cells on the growth of Listeria, was also reduced in tumor-bearing mice as compared with normal mice. Eur J Immunol, 1987 Oct, 17(10), 1491 - 8 A murine macrophage cell line, immortalized by v-raf and v-myc oncogenes, exhibits normal macrophage functions; Blasi E et al.; In vitro immortalized cell lines with the morphology and phenotype of mature macrophages (M phi) have been generated by infecting freshly isolated bone marrow cells from C3H/HeJ mice with a recombinant retrovirus carrying v-raf and v-myc oncogenes . All of the clones obtained had M phi-like phenotypes, and one such clone, GG2EE, has been compared to normal M phi to ascertain the effects of immortalization on the expression of the biological functions of the lines . GG2EE cells expressed cytotoxic activity against L5178Y, P815 or RL male 1 target cells in response to stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes; in contrast, they failed to kill YAC-1 target cells . GG2EE cells did not constitutively express I-A or I-E antigens; nevertheless, I region-coded antigens could be induced by IFN-gamma treatment . GG2EE cells produced interleukin 1 upon stimulation with a T cell-derived lymphokine; they were weakly phagocytic, yet became highly phagocytic following IFN-gamma treatment . Since c-fos mRNA is augmented in peritoneal exudate M phi by protein kinase C activators but not by IFN-gamma, we evaluated the effects of calcium ionophore, phorbol myristate acetate, L-alpha-1-oleoyl-2-acetoyl-sn-3 glycerol (OAG) and IFN-gamma on the levels of c-fos mRNA in GG2EE cells . We found that calcium ionophore, PMA and OAG stimulation enhanced the expression of c-fos mRNA, but IFN-gamma treatment did not . The kinetics of c-fos induction in GG2EE cells were also comparable to those observed in peritoneal exudate M phi . Overall, the GG2EE cell line has the same biological properties as normal tissue M phi . Because it is capable of both constitutive and inducible M phi-like functions, this cell line provides a valuable tool for studying the molecular mechanisms controlling induction and/or expression of biological activities in M phi . It is striking that a cell line immortalized in vitro by two oncogenes, v-raf and v-myc, behaves, according to the criteria mentioned above, like a normal M phi population. Immunology, 1987 Oct, 62(2), 241 - 8 Induction by killed Listeria monocytogenes of effector T cells mediating delayed-type hypersensitivity but not protection in mice; Koga T et al.; Using a local passive transfer system, we found that effector T cells mediating delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) but not acquired cellular resistance (ACR) to Listeria monocytogenes (strain EGD) were generated in mice immunized with killed Listeria, although immunized mice did not express DTH or ACR . When non-adherent cells of peritoneal, lymph node, or spleen cells from mice immunized with killed Listeria were transferred into the footpad of naive recipient mice along with eliciting antigen, positive delayed footpad reaction (DFR) was elicited . However, there was no evident protection against challenge at the site of the local transfer . Cells from mice immunized with viable Listeria conferred significant degrees of DFR and ACR on the recipients . DFR transferred by cells immunized with killed Listeria was mediated by L3T4+ T cells in an antigen-specific manner . The antigen-specific proliferative response of T cells from mice immunized with killed Listeria was much lower than that of T cells from mice immunized with viable Listeria . The production of macrophage chemotactic factor (MCF) by cells from killed Listeria-immune mice was much the same as that by cells from viable Listeria-immune mice . In contrast, the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and macrophage activating factor (MAF) was much lower in cells from killed Listeria-immune mice . The elimination of L . monocytogenes (strain L461), a strain of low virulence, was enhanced at the site of DFR transferred with cells from killed Listeria-immune mice . These results suggest that stimulation with killed bacteria is effective for the generation of DTH-mediating effector T cells, and that different effector T cells mediating DTH or ACR are involved in cell-mediated immunity to L . monocytogenes. J Immunol, 1987 Sep 15, 139(6), 2005 - 9 Adoptive transfer of immunity to Listeria monocytogenes . The influence of in vitro stimulation on lymphocyte subset requirements; Bishop DK et al.; BALB/c mice develop specific and relatively long lasting immunity after exposure to sublethal numbers of viable Listeria monocytogenes . This immunity can be passively transferred to naive recipients with maximal protection conferred by spleen cells obtained from donors 6 days after immunization . Immunity that can be directly transferred to syngeneic recipients is surprisingly short lived . Cell recipients lose immunity as early as 72 hr after transfer, and recipients express no detectable immunity after 1 wk . This short lived immunity requires both L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ T cell populations for full expression . Both the level of immunity transferred and the duration of the protective response expressed in recipients are dramatically increased if the spleen cell population is cultured in vitro with concanavalin A before cell transfer . Recipients of concanavalin A-activated cells express antigen-specific levels of immunity increased 100- to 1000-fold compared with syngeneic recipients of directly transferred immune spleen cells . In addition, this elevated level of adoptively transferred immunity remains constant for at least 8 wk . Transfer of this culture-enhanced immunity requires only an Lyt-2+ T cell population and is not influenced by cells of the L3T4+T cell subpopulation . Both direct as well as culture-enhanced transfer of immunity require major histocompatibility complex-compatible recipients . These findings suggest that two phenotypically distinct T cell subpopulations function in the development of the immune response to L . monocytogenes and that only one cell subpopulation is required for expression of immunity to this intracellular parasite. Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Sep, 6(9), 817 - 20 Clinical manifestations of epidemic neonatal listeriosis; Teberg AJ et al.; We report the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations in 23 infants with positive cultures for Listeria monocytogenes who were treated in our hospital during a recent epidemic . The majority of infants (70%) were preterm and none was small for gestational age . Thirteen (56%) had respiratory distress at birth with evidence of congenital pneumonia . Four of the 5 deaths occurred among these infants . Four infants considered healthy after resuscitation developed fever and lethargy within 36 hours after birth . Only one of these infants had evidence of pneumonia . We conclude that congenital pneumonia with respiratory distress at birth is the major cause of mortality and morbidity from L . monocytogenes infection in the neonate. Infect Immun, 1987 Sep, 55(9), 2061 - 5 Recombinant murine interleukin-1 alpha enhancement of nonspecific antibacterial resistance; Czuprynski CJ et al.; In this study we report that treatment with recombinant murine interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) significantly enhanced the resistance of mice to infection by the facultative intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes . The greatest level of protection was observed at a dose of 1,000 lymphocyte-activating factor units (approximately 0.17 micrograms) of rIL-1 alpha per mouse . Although rIL-1 alpha enhanced antibacterial resistance when administered either intravenously or intraperitoneally, greater protection was observed when the rIL-1 alpha and the L . monocytogenes challenge were given by the same parenteral route . When the intravenous route was used, antibacterial resistance was maximal when the rIL-1 alpha and L . monocytogenes were injected concomitantly . In contrast, intraperitoneal administration of rIL-1 alpha was most effective when given 48 h before an intraperitoneal L . monocytogenes challenge . Based on the following lines of evidence, we concluded that contaminating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was unlikely to be responsible for the enhanced antibacterial resistance that was observed: (i) LPS was not detectable (less than 0.2 ng/ml by the lysate assay) at the concentration of rIL-1 alpha that was injected; (ii) polymyxin B did not abrogate rIL-1 alpha-enhanced antibacterial resistance; (iii) rIL-1 alpha treatment enhanced the antibacterial resistance of LPS-nonresponsive C3H/HeJ mice; and (iv) injection of up to 10 micrograms of LPS per mouse (calculated to be greater than 50,000 times the concentration of LPS in the rIL-1 alpha administered) failed to duplicate the marked enhancement of antibacterial resistance that was mediated by rIL-1 alpha . These data provide evidence for the beneficial role of IL-1 in nonspecific antibacterial resistance. Klin Padiatr, 1987 Sep-Oct, 199(5), 325 - 8 {Local epidemic of neonatal listeriosis in Upper Austria--report of 20 cases}; Tulzer G et al.; In an 8 month period, 20 cases of listeriosis among neonates were seen in the Federal District of Upper Austria . The majority of mothers reported influenza-like symptoms at the end of pregnancy . 19 cases were early-onset-infections, 6 infants developed meningitis . Serotype 1/2a was isolated in 7 cases . All were of the same phage type . 15 neonates were successfully treated with aminopenicillin or penicillin . Treatment with cephalosporin was ineffective . 4 mainly premature infants died, 1 was stillborn . There is a strong likelihood of common origin for this prenatal epidemic infection . Because of this epidemic, we recommend a listeria-effective therapy for the early-onset sepsis of the neonate. J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1987 Sep-Oct, 70(5), 769 - 72 Listeria monocytogenes--a current dilemma; Wehr HM; Since 1985, Listeria monocytogenes has gone from being an organism known to only a handful of microbiologists to being a fully recognized food-borne pathogen of concern . With nearly unprecedented speed and vigor, food processors, particularly in the dairy industry, and regulatory agencies have reacted in concert to resolve unanswered questions about Listeria so as to assure the safety of the food supply . This report summarizes what has been learned and what is being done. Immun Infekt, 1987 Sep, 15(5), 175 - 8 {Infection of the CNS caused by Listeria monocytogenes}; Lang B et al.; This report examines two cases of infection of the central nervous system by Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.) . Both cases show that listeriosis is not only a differential diagnosis of purulent meningitis, but can also be the cause of an isolated brain stem syndrome with normal cerebrospinal fluid cell count . The prognosis depends crucially on the early antibiotic therapy (ampicillin) . The first patient was a chronic alcoholic . He died of fulminant septic shock and meningitis with brain stem encephalitis (cell count of cerebrospinal fluid: 10500/microliters) . L.m . was isolated from blood cultures and from cerebrospinal fluid . The second patient had no indications of preexisting immunological disorder . Two days after perianal injections for haemorrhoids, symptoms of a progredient brain stem syndrome developed . The cell count of cerebrospinal fluid was only 10/mu, but L.m . was isolated from blood cultures . The patient died of circulatory failure . At autopsy, a brain stem encephalitis and cerebellitis with inflammation of the surrounding leptomeninx was identified. J Infect, 1987 Sep, 15(2), 165 - 8 Listeria monocytogenes meningitis associated with eating soft cheese; Bannister BA; A 36-year-old woman became ill with meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes . She had eaten soft cheese from which a similar organism was isolated. Eur J Immunol, 1987 Sep, 17(9), 1287 - 96 Differential requirements for the processing and presentation of soluble and particulate bacterial antigens by macrophages; Ziegler HK et al.; The requirements for antigen processing and presentation by macrophages using various forms of antigens derived from Listeria monocytogenes have been studied . Antigen presentation was monitored by T cell-macrophage binding and interleukin production using T cells from Listeria monocytogenes-infected mice and specific T cell hybridomas . Antigen processing requirements were defined by three criteria: (a) inhibition by lysosomotropic agents, NH4Cl and chloroquine; (b) kinetic relationships between antigen uptake and antigen presentation; and (c) antigen presentation by macrophages pre-fixed with glutaraldehyde . In comparing heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes (HKLM) with soluble listerial proteins (SLP), the presentation of SLP was less sensitive to lysosomotropic agents, showed faster antigen processing kinetics than with HKLM and could occur using pre-fixed macrophages . Transitions between particulate and soluble forms had dramatic influences on processing requirements . Antigens associated with HKLM could be converted to soluble forms which did not require processing by preculture with macrophages and also by physical (e.g . sonication) and chemical (sodium dodecyl sulfate) treatments in the presence of protease inhibitors . Conversely, antigen processing was required when SLP were converted to a particulate form by covalent binding to latex beads . Analysis of SLP by molecular sieve chromatography and preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that high molecular weight proteins (greater than 60 kDa) could be presented by prefixed macrophages without prior processing . We conclude that the transition from a particulate to soluble antigenic form can be a significant antigen processing event. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1987 Sep, 157(3), 583 - 9 Fetal death: diagnosis and management; Pitkin RM; Death of the fetus after 20 weeks of gestation complicates about 1% of pregnancies . Of various means of diagnosing fetal life and death, real-time ultrasound visualization of the fetal heart is the most accurate . Delivery of the dead fetus can be effected by various means, but in most instances, at least before 28 weeks and perhaps thereafter as well, the simplest and most effective method is with prostaglandin vaginal tablets . A variety of conditions are known to cause fetal death or increase the risk that it will happen, but these account for only about 50% of cases . Four special tests may identify a cause of the "unexplained stillbirth" in the other 50% of cases . These tests include karyotype, listerial culture, fetomaternal hemorrhage, and lupus anticoagulant. J Immunol, 1987 Sep 1, 139(5), 1647 - 51 Lactoferrin effects of phagocytic cell function . II . The presence of iron is required for the lactoferrin molecule to stimulate intracellular killing by macrophages but not to enhance the uptake of particles and microorganisms; Lima MF et al.; Human lactoferrin (LF)--a neutrophil glycoprotein, the body fluid levels of which increase in inflammatory conditions--stimulates the phagocytic and cytotoxic properties of macrophages . We found in this work that, whereas the presence of iron in the LF molecule was not required to increase the capacity of mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) to take up Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes (AMA), Listeria monocytogenes, or latex particles, it was necessary for LF to enhance intracellular killing of the two microorganisms . Thus, iron-free human lactoferrin (ApoLF), which did not increase MPM cytotoxicity, after restoration of ferric ions prior to its use in MPM treatments or when ferric citrate was added to the culture medium immediately after ApoLF treatment of the MPM, does increase MPM cytotoxicity . In that iron ions cannot be internalized as such, the latter observation suggested that ApoLF had taken up iron while membrane bound and then enhanced killing . Immunofluorescence studies revealed that comparable proportions of MPM-bound ApoLF or LF at either 20 or 100% iron saturation without appreciable differences in fluorescence intensity . Therefore, reduced binding of ApoLF compared with LF was not a likely explanation for the lack of effect of ApoLF on MPM killing . LF did not enhance AMA killing by MPM in the presence of the iron chelator deferoxamine . Diethylaminetriamine-pentaacetic acid, an iron chelator which is not incorporated into cells, had a similar effect . The iron-binding protein transferrin did not alter the capacity of MPM to either take up or kill the AMA, indicating that the noted LF effects were not shared by all iron-binding proteins . However, prior treatment of MPM with transferrin enabled the cells to display a greater parasite killing capacity after ApoLF treatment, suggesting a role for iron in this activity . Whether iron is required for LF to impart the signal that elicits enhanced killing, to satisfy a biochemical requirement for more effective killing, or both, remains to be clarified . We also found that killing of internalized AMA by LF-treated MPM--previously reported to be mediated in part by H2O2, O2-., and 1O2--was inhibitable by scavengers of OH., and therefore, appears to involve this oxygen metabolite as well. Infect Immun, 1987 Sep, 55(9), 2300 - 3 Gamma interferon-mediated increase in the number of Ia-bearing macrophages during infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Koga T et al.; The role of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in an increase in Ia-bearing macrophages during Listeria monocytogenes infection was studied . The peritoneal macrophages from L . monocytogenes-infected mice contained a high proportion of Ia . Intraperitoneal injection of the supernatant from a culture of spleen cells from L . monocytogenes-infected mice induced Ia-rich exudates in normal mice . The Ia-inducing activity in the culture supernatant was abrogated by the pretreatment of spleen cells with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody plus complement . Immunoadsorption of the culture supernatant with anti-recombinant IFN-gamma antibody and protein A-Sepharose CL-4B completely abrogated its Ia-inducing activity . These results suggested that an increase in Ia-bearing macrophages during L . monocytogenes infection was attributable to T-cell-derived IFN-gamma. Rev Infect Dis, 1987 Sep-Oct, 9 Suppl 5, S650 - 9 Possible role of helper and cytolytic T lymphocytes in antibacterial defense: conclusions based on a murine model of listeriosis; Kaufmann SH; Murine T cell clones with specificity for the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes were used in an attempt to analyze the relative roles of helper and cytolytic T lymphocytes in antibacterial immunity . After stimulation by antigen and accessory cells, L . monocytogenes-specific, L3T4+, class II-restricted T cells produced multiple lymphokines, including interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . Cloned T cells could help B lymphocytes differentiate into antibody-secreting cells and could activate antimicrobial macrophage functions in vitro . Furthermore, cloned T cells could confer local protection and delayed-type hypersensitivity . Factors produced by cloned T cells in vitro as well as recombinant IFN-gamma induced antibacterial resistance in vivo . After stimulation by recombinant interleukin 2 and infected stimulator cells, L . monocytogenes-specific, Lyt2+, class I-restricted T cells produced IFN-gamma . Cloned T cells were capable of lysing L . monocytogenes-infected macrophages . It was concluded that both helper and cytolytic T-cell functions are relevant to antibacterial immunity . The possible protective and pathologic effects of helper and cytolytic T lymphocytes, respectively, during infections with intracellular bacteria are discussed. Rev Infect Dis, 1987 Sep-Oct, 9 Suppl 5, S456 - 66 Molecular analysis of bacterial cytolysins; Chakraborty T et al.; Results of molecular and pathogenic studies of three different bacterial hemolysins (cytolysins) are presented . These exoproteins derive from the two gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Aeromonas hydrophila and from the gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes . The hemolysin of E . coli is determined by an 8-kilobase (kb) region that includes four clustered genes (hlyC, hlyA, hlyB, and hlyD) . This hemolysin determinant is part either of large transmissible plasmids or of the chromosome . The genes located chromosomally are found predominantly in E . coli strains that can cause pyelonephritis and/or other extraintestinal infections . A detailed analysis of the chromosomal hyl determinants of one nephropathogenic E . coli strain revealed the existence of specific, large chromosomal insertions 75 kb and 100 kb in size that carry the hly genes but that also influence the expression of other virulence properties, i.e., adhesion and serum resistance . The direct involvement of E . coli hemolysin in virulence could be demonstrated in several model systems . The genetic determinants for hemolysin (cytolysin) formation in A . hydrophila (aerolysin) and L . monocytogenes (listeriolysin) are less complex . Both cytolysins seem to be encoded by single genes, although two loci (aerB and aerC) that affect the expression and activity of aerolysin have been identified distal and proximal to the structural gene for aerolysin (aerA) . Cytolysin-negative mutants of both bacteria were obtained by site-specific deletion and/or transposon mutagenesis . These mutants show a drastic reduction in the virulence of the respective bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 53(9), 2256 - 9 Detection of hemolytic Listeria monocytogenes by using DNA colony hybridization; Datta AR et al.; A fragment of about 500 base pairs of the beta-hemolysin gene from Listeria monocytogenes was used to screen different bacterial strains by DNA colony hybridization . The cells in the colonies were lysed by microwaves in the presence of sodium hydroxide . Of 52 different strains of Listeria species screened, only the DNA from beta-hemolytic (CAMP-positive) strains of L . monocytogenes hybridized with this probe. J Immunol, 1987 Aug 15, 139(4), 1104 - 7 A T cell-independent mechanism of macrophage activation by interferon-gamma; Bancroft GJ et al.; A primary interest in immunity to intracellular pathogenic microorganisms and tumors is to understand the mechanisms by which macrophages are activated for various functions . Two parameters of macrophage activation are the expression of the class II histocompatibility proteins or Ia molecules (1), and cytotoxic activity . The ability of T cells to induce these responses has been extensively documented and occurs via their secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) after interaction with antigen (2-6) . However, in a recent study using mice with the severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation (7) which have no detectable T or B cell functions (7-9), we were surprised to find the induction of Ia expression on macrophages and the partial inhibition of bacterial growth after infection with Listeria monocytogenes (10) . We have now utilized neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for murine IFN-gamma to investigate the mechanism of macrophage activation in scid mice . We show here that IFN-gamma can be produced by scid mice in the absence of lymphocyte-mediated immunity, and this IFN-gamma is important for macrophage activation during infection with Listeria . These results indicate the presence of an important T lymphocyte-independent mechanism of macrophage activation and IFN-gamma production in response to infection. J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 25(8), 1463 - 6 Potential use of continuous cell lines to distinguish between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria spp; Farber JM et al.; Continuous cell lines were tested for their potential use in distinguishing pathogenic from nonpathogenic Listeria species . Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii strains were lethal for mice, and culture filtrates were cytotoxic for cultured cells and hemolytic for sheep erythrocytes, while Listeria innocua, Listeria grayi, and Listeria murrayi strains were negative in all three tests . The eight cell lines tested were all affected but varied in sensitivity, with the Chinese hamster ovary cell line being the most sensitive . Cytolytic effect was noted within minutes of the addition of undiluted filtrates, with optimum titers obtained by 24 h. Infect Immun, 1987 Aug, 55(8), 1843 - 7 Analysis of colony-stimulating factors and macrophage progenitor cells in mice immunized against Listeria monocytogenes by adoptive transfer; Wing EJ et al.; Experiments were performed to elucidate the role of colony-stimulating factors in host defenses to the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes . Mice were protected against Listeria sp . by adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells and were then challenged with listeriae intravenously . Control mice were injected with spleen cells from uninfected mice . Adoptively immunized (immune) mice had significantly fewer listeriae in spleens and livers 2 and 4 days after Listeria challenge than did control mice . During acute infection, colony-stimulating activity in serum was increased earlier (10 h) in immune mice than in controls . Concentrations of colony-stimulating activity were equal at 24 h . By 48 h, values were decreased in immune mice, but were elevated in control mice . Similar changes were noted when a specific colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, was measured in serum by using a radioimmunoassay . The changes in serum colony-stimulating activity in mice adoptively immunized with immune spleen cells were eliminated if spleen cells were first treated with anti-Thy-1.2 monoclonal antibodies . The number of macrophage progenitor cells in bone marrow and spleen were also determined as measures of the hemopoietic potential in these organs . The number of macrophage progenitor cells in bone marrow was higher in immune animals than control animals at 1, 2, and 4 days of infection . Similarly, the number of these cells in spleens was higher during the early stages of infection in immune mice . These results indicate that both the regulation of leukocyte production and the transfer of specific cellular immunity by spleen cells are associated, and they therefore suggest that hemopoietic regulatory factors play a role in immune host defenses. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 1987 Jul, 89(3), 323 - 31 Modulation of cell-mediated resistance to listeriosis in mice given T-2 toxin; Corrier DE et al.; The modulating effect of preinoculation and postinoculation treatment with a single oral 4.0 mg/kg dosage of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated resistance was studied in mice inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes . Toxin treatment caused significant decreases in thymus and spleen weights, bone marrow cellularity, and in the total number of circulating leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils . Enhancement or suppression of resistance to listeriosis was dependent on the time of toxin administration relative to the time of Listeria challenge . Preinoculation treatment on Day 2 or 4 prior to Listeria challenge significantly enhanced resistance and decreased mortality due to listeriosis by as much as 50% . In contrast, resistance was suppressed and mortality was increased by 50% in mice that were treated with toxin after Listeria challenge . Enhanced resistance to listeriosis was accompanied by a significant increase in the influx of macrophages into Listeria-elicited peritoneal exudates . In addition, in vivo phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells by peritoneal macrophages was significantly increased in toxin-treated mice that were sensitized with sheep erythrocytes . The data indicate that T-2 toxin has a modulating effect on cell-mediated resistance and that enhancement of resistance to listeriosis in mice pretreated with T-2 toxin is associated with increased migration/activation of macrophage effector cells. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jul, 265(3-4), 472 - 86 {Human listeriosis infections in West Germany, 1969-1985}; Schmidt-Wolf G et al.; 296 strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been submitted for confirmation and further studies to the Listeria Reference Laboratory at the Institute of Hygiene in Wurzburg, Federal Republic of Germany . They have been isolated between 1969 and 1985 from human cases in the Federal Republic and West Berlin . The results of an analysis of the respective cases are presented here on the basis of questionnaires . A steady increase of Listeria isolations has been noted during the past few years . The largest number of strains originated from the district Nordrhein-Westfalen which has the largest population of all German federal districts . The highest incidence calculated from the number of strains and total population was found for the district of Saarland . There was no predominance detectable of listeriosis among the rural population . 60% of the strains came from patients living in urban areas . In 6 out of 21 cases of neonatal listeriosis at least one of the parents was engaged in professional medical services . The most frequently observed clinical entities were meningitis (41.14%) and septicaemia (36.00%) . Among the newborns septicaemia was predominant with 40.90% . Listeriosis during pregnancy and among newborns was connected with 53.57% of all strains isolated . The questionnaire revealed for the underlying conditions in 35% and in 24% of cases malignancies and organ transplantations, respectively . There was no increased rate of predominance found among the elderly . However, 50% of all strains isolated originated from newborns . The sex distribution was almost equal; 52.56% from males of the total number of isolates and 51.22% from males among the newborns . 67% of these which had a meningitis after the first weeks of life were male . There was no seasonal incidence detectable . Serovar 4b was found in 66.22% of all isolates tested . 295 strains produced acid from rhamnose and alpha-methyl-d-mannose, but not from d-xylose and were thus typical for L . monocytogenes . One strain needs further studies. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 53(7), 1433 - 8 Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in milk during high-temperature, short-time pasteurization; Doyle MP et al.; Milk from cows inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes was pooled for 2 to 4 days and then heated at 71.7 to 73.9 degrees C for 16.4 s or at 76.4 to 77.8 degrees C for 15.4 s in a high-temperature, short-time plate heat exchanger pasteurization unit . L . monocytogenes was isolated from milk after heat treatment in six of nine pasteurization trials done at 71.7 to 73.9 degrees C and in none of three trials done at 76.4 to 77.8 degrees C . An average of 1.5 to 9.2 L . monocytogenes cells was seen in each milk polymorphonuclear leukocyte before heat treatment in 11 of 12 pasteurization trials . Noticeable degradation of leukocytes with intracellular listeria was detected in unpasteurized milk after 3 days of storage at 4 degrees C, and by 4 days of storage leukocytes had deteriorated to cellular debris, suggesting that holding unpasteurized milk refrigerated for 4 or more days would eliminate a protective effect leukocytes may provide for increasing heat resistance of L . monocytogenes . Results indicate that under the conditions of this study, L . monocytogenes can survive the minimum high-temperature, short-time treatment (71.7 degrees C, 15 s) required by the U.S . Food and Drug Administration for pasteurizing milk. Microbiologica, 1987 Jul, 10(3), 247 - 56 Thioglycollate elicited macrophages demonstrate enhanced virus replication and depressed bacterial killing; Sich JJ et al.; Thioglycollate elicited peritoneal macrophages of Balb/c mice exhibited minimal antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes but were fully permissive for the replication of ectromelia virus . By comparison, resident and LPS elicited macrophages did not exhibited depressed antibacterial activity nor did they support viral replication . The thioglycollate effects were demonstrated in macrophages cultured in vitro and also in intact Balb/c mice . Mice given thioglycollate intraperitoneally and challenged by the same route suffered overwhelming virus and bacterial infections as a result of early local proliferation within peritoneal macrophages with subsequent spread to the liver . Balb/c mice challenged intravenously with similar doses of the virus of bacterial pathogen after administration of thioglycollate by the i.p . route did not succumb to either infection . Thus the ability of thioglycollate to compromise cellular host defenses against the infectious agents appears to be site specific; i.e . restricted to the peritoneal cavity where exudate macrophages and challenge inocula first come into contact. Infect Immun, 1987 Jul, 55(7), 1701 - 6 Immunosuppressive effect of cyclosporin A on Mycobacterium bovis BCG infections in mice; Takashima T et al.; The effect of increasing doses of cyclosporin A (CsA) given to mice infected intravenously with Mycobacterium bovis BCG was investigated . Development of both tuberculin hypersensitivity and acquired antituberculous resistance was suppressed in a dose-responsive manner . Daily dosages at 100 mg/kg of body weight prevented any reduction in the BCG counts within the lungs, liver, or spleen . This effect was associated with lowered nonspecific resistance to a Listeria monocytogenes challenge and a decline in specific protective immunity adoptively transferred to naive recipients . CsA treatment had no effect on antilisterial activity by activated macrophages or on the antituberculous immunity expressed by specific memory T cells . CsA treatment inhibited the ability of BCG-vaccinated mice to produce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) after a secondary stimulation with live BCG or with lipopolysaccharide . Spleen cells from BCG-infected mice which were exposed to daily treatment with CsA showed reduced IFN-gamma production in response to purified protein derivative or concanavalin A stimulation, suggesting that the immunosuppressive effect of CsA on BCG-infected mice was expressed by inhibiting the development of effector T cells responsible for the production of IFN-gamma. Infect Immun, 1987 Jul, 55(7), 1641 - 6 Purification, characterization, and toxicity of the sulfhydryl-activated hemolysin listeriolysin O from Listeria monocytogenes; Geoffroy C et al.; We purified and characterized an extracellular hemolysin produced by Listeria monocytogenes . Hemolysin production was greatly enhanced by growing bacteria in resin (Chelex)-treated medium . This hemolysin was separated as a homogeneous protein of 60,000 daltons by using thiol-disulfide exchange affinity chromatography . This protein was a sulfhydryl-activated toxin, termed listeriolysin O, which shared the classical properties of other bacterial sulfhydryl-activated toxins: inhibition by very low amounts of cholesterol; activation by reducing agents and suppression of the lytic activity by oxidation; antigenic cross-reactivity with streptolysin O . However, listeriolysin O differed remarkably from the other sulfhydryl-activated toxins in that its cytolytic activity towards erythrocytes from various animal species was maximum at low pH (approximately 5.5) and was undetectable at pH 7.0 . This suggests that the lytic activity of the toxin in host tissues might be better expressed in the acidic microenvironment, including macrophage phagosomes where bacteria presumably replicate . Listeriolysin O was lethal to mice (50% lethal dose of ca . 0.8 microgram) and induced a rapid inflammatory reaction when injected intradermally . These results favor the view that listeriolysin O might play a major role during intracellular replication of L . monocytogenes, ultimately promoting death of infected macrophages. Arch Neurol, 1987 Jun, 44(6), 666 - 7 Transient immunologic defect in a case of Listeria rhombencephalitis; Goday A et al.; We report a case of Listeria rhombencephalitis in a previously healthy 60-year-old man . Listeria rhombencephalitis is a rare but well-defined clinical syndrome of lower brain-stem involvement caused by Listeria monocytogenes . Contrary to other listerioses, rhombencephalitis has been mainly observed in patients without predisposing conditions . In our case, however, findings of a detailed immunologic study, performed three months and one year, respectively, after clinical onset of Listeria rhombencephalitis manifestations, showed a transient cellular immunity defect, not associated with any other apparent disease. Infect Immun, 1987 Jun, 55(6), 1369 - 74 Differential growth of Legionella pneumophila in guinea pig versus mouse macrophage cultures; Yamamoto Y et al.; Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular bacterium which replicated well in inbred guinea pig strain 2 peritoneal macrophages at a low infectivity ratio . In contrast, the growth of this organism was markedly restricted in mouse (BDF1) peritoneal macrophages, even at a relatively high infectivity ratio . The initial uptake of L . pneumophila organisms by macrophages was similar in both animal species, and both groups of macrophages supported the growth of Listeria monocytogenes . Treatment of L . pneumophila with immune guinea pig serum did not result in restriction of bacterial growth in macrophages, but guinea pig macrophages were readily induced to suppress the growth of L . pneumophila by preincubation with supernatants obtained from mitogen-activated normal guinea pig splenocyte cultures . Thus, lymphokines generated from mitogen-stimulated guinea pig lymphocytes induced a restriction of growth of these organisms similar to that observed naturally with macrophages from mice, which are considered highly resistant to these bacteria . Although guinea pigs are considered highly susceptible to L . pneumophila infections and mice are considered relatively resistant, the mechanism of this difference is not clear . The results of the present study suggest that the restriction of L . pneumophila growth by macrophages relates to host susceptibility to infection and that cell populations permissive for L . pneumophila can be transformed to nonpermissive by products from stimulated lymphocytes but not by opsonization with immune serum. J Leukoc Biol, 1987 Jun, 41(6), 527 - 38 Differential protein synthesis by murine peritoneal macrophages elicited by various stimuli; Tannenbaum CS et al.; Protein synthetic patterns of murine peritoneal macrophages were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) of 35S methionine-labeled proteins . While the protein synthetic patterns exhibited by resident, inflammatory, and activated macrophages had numerous common features that distinguished them from the other normal non-macrophage cell types examined, unique proteins also characterized each macrophage population from the others . The accumulation by resident macrophages of proteins 23, 25, and 37 distinguished them from elicited cells, as did the former's more abundant synthesis of proteins 54 and 52 . The protein synthetic patterns of inflammatory thioglycollate- and proteose peptone-elicited macrophages were strikingly similar, save for the former's greater levels of accumulation of proteins 14 and 28, and the latter's more pronounced expression of p23.5 . Peritoneal macrophages elicited by treatment with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes, the live, attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG, Listeria monocytogenes, and the protozoan flagellate Trypanosoma rhodesiense, all exhibited tumoricidal activity in 16-h or 72-h functional assays . They shared a common protein synthetic profile that differentiated them from the synthetic patterns characteristic of the non-tumoricidal resident and inflammatory macrophages . These tumoricidal macrophages were unique in synthesizing a protein(s) of approximate molecular weight 26,000 daltons . A time-course study employing P . acnes-activated peritoneal macrophages indicated that p26 accumulation decayed with tumoricidal capacity as a function of time in culture, although no direct correlation between lytic activity and p26 expression could be definitively established . Peritoneal macrophages elicited with proteose peptone were not directly tumoricidal but were rendered so upon in vitro treatment with nanogram amounts of bacterial lipopolysaccharide . The accumulation of low levels of p26 by the newly explanted proteose peptone-elicited macrophages suggests the possibility that this protein characterizes macrophage populations primed as well as triggered for tumoricidal activity. Arch Fr Pediatr, 1987 Jun-Jul, 44(6), 449 - 51 {Listeria monocytogenes infection in children}; Trang TT et al.; Listeria monocytogenes infection is relatively unusual in children . Two cases are reported which illustrate that meningitis and septicemia are the most frequent manifestations at this age . Prognosis is especially bad in immunodeficient patients. Am J Vet Res, 1987 Jun, 48(6), 998 - 1002 T-2 toxin-enhanced resistance against listeriosis in mice: importance of gastrointestinal lesions; Ziprin RL et al.; The role of T-2 toxin-induced gastrointestinal lesions in T-2 toxin-enhanced resistance to listeriosis in mice was evaluated . The T-2 toxin-induced lesions did not cause a starvation effect sufficient to enhance resistance to listeriosis . Administration of polymyxin E markedly reduced the gram-negative intestinal microflora and did not eliminate the toxin-induced resistance to listeriosis . The T-2 toxin did not cause an increased expression of Ia surface antigens on peritoneal macrophages . Thus, toxin-induced anorexia and starvation or absorption of gram-negative intestinal bacteria and endotoxins through toxin-induced gastrointestinal lesions did not account for the enhancing effect of T-2 toxin on resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice. J Immunol, 1987 Jun 1, 138(11), 3891 - 6 The effect of LPS on expression of the early "competence" genes JE and KC in murine peritoneal macrophages; Introna M et al.; The expression of early "competence" genes has been examined in murine peritoneal macrophages treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . This set of genes (e.g., c-myc, c-fos, r-fos, JE, and KC) were first described in BALB/c 3T3 cells treated with platelet-derived growth factor . We have previously reported that LPS induces the rapid and transient expression of both c-myc and c-fos in macrophages . In the present report, we present evidence demonstrating that the mRNA for JE and KC are also induced in macrophages after treatment of LPS . The r-fos gene was not detectably induced by LPS under the experimental conditions used in this study . The induction of JE and KC were dependent upon the dose of LPS and exhibited different time courses . mRNA for both KC and JE was induced within 30 min from the initiation of treatment . Although mRNA for JE continued to accumulate for up to 24 hr, mRNA for KC was optimally seen after 60 min and had disappeared by 4 hr . c-fos, JE, and KC mRNA were all inducible by a variety of structurally diverse but functionally similar agents (e.g., heat killed Listeria monocytogenes, maleyl-bovine serum albumin, and fucoidan) . Interferon-gamma, a potent but functionally distinct stimulus of macrophage activation, did not effect the expression of JE or KC mRNA . The expression of mRNA for c-fos could be readily induced by treatment of macrophages with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) alone and that for JE by PMA plus the inophore A23187; mRNA for KC was largely unaffected by these agents . These results suggest that expression of the c-fos and JE genes are regulated by products of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis . The difference between c-fos or JE and KC raises the possibility that LPS may stimulate at least two independent routes of early gene expression . LPS does not promote macrophage proliferative activity alone, and in fact inhibits the proliferative response to the macrophage growth factor colony-stimulating factor 1 . Taken together these findings suggest that the products of these genes may function in the acquisition of competence for highly differentiated functions in addition to that for cell division. Infect Immun, 1987 Jun, 55(6), 1346 - 54 An early response to lipopolysaccharide is the elicitation of macrophages specialized for antigen degradation with negative regulatory effects on the induction of specific immune responses; Cluff CW et al.; The ability of macrophages to catabolize antigens is relevant both as a means to process complex antigens before presentation to T cells and as a way to down-regulate immune responses by destroying the antigenicity of polypeptides . With these considerations in mind, we investigated the regulation of macrophage catabolic activity by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Catabolic activity was quantitated by following the distribution and molecular form of 125I-labeled surface components of heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes after their uptake by macrophages . We compared the catabolic activity of macrophages from peritoneal exudates of mice injected intraperitoneally with saline or LPS and found that LPS-elicited macrophages displayed a greatly enhanced (threefold) rate of catabolism . This increase in catabolic activity peaked 3 days after LPS injection and slowly declined thereafter, approaching a base-line level after 3 weeks . The enhancement of catabolic activity was under Lps gene control . Macrophages that were elicited 3 days after intraperitoneal injection of LPS rapidly destroyed the antigenicity of bacterial antigens, expressed low levels of Ia molecules, and processed and presented antigen slowly when tested as antigen-presenting cells in vitro . We also showed that an injection of LPS before infection with L . monocytogenes resulted in diminished development of T-cell reactivity to this organism . These results suggest that LPS elicits a macrophage population specialized for antigen degradation functions, with negative regulatory effects on the induction of specific immune responses. Environ Health Perspect, 1987 Jun, 72, 139 - 41 Immunological studies on mice exposed subacutely to methyl isocyanate; Tucker AN et al.; The immunotoxicity of methyl isocyanate (MIC) was evaluated in female B6C3F1 mice exposed via inhalation to 0, 1, or 3 ppm for 6 hr per day on 4 consecutive days . The antibody response to sheep erythrocytes and natural killer cell activity were found to be unaffected by MIC exposure . Although lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens were moderately suppressed by MIC, the differences were not statistically significant . The response of splenic lymphocytes to allogeneic leukocytes in a mixed leukocyte response (MLR) was suppressed in a dose-related fashion and was significantly different from the control response at the 3 ppm level . This effect was thought to be secondary and a result of general toxicity, rather than a direct effect of MIC on the immune system . Furthermore, resistance to the infectious agents Listeria monocytogenes, mouse malaria parasite, and influenza virus, or to transplantable tumor cells was not compromised by MIC exposure . Thus, the immune system does not appear to be a primary target for MIC toxicity. Presse Med, 1987 May 16, 16(18), 885 - 8 {Neuromeningeal listeriosis in adults, excluding pregnancy . Prognosis and development of neurologic manifestations . Retrospective study of 63 cases}; Choutet P et al.; Patients' constitutional background, treatment and neurological manifestations were analyzed in a retrospective study of 63 cases of neuromeningeal listeriosis in adults . Age over 60 and coma at the onset were of poor prognosis, but immunodepression (present in only 38% of the cases) did not seem to affect the outcome . The ampicillin-aminoglycoside combination did not appear to improve the vital and functional prognoses more than ampicillin alone . The neurological manifestations observed at the end of hospitalization in 16 of the 42 patients who were cured were not necessarily permanent: among the 13 patients who could be followed up for a mean period of 6.5 years, 5 recovered completely, 5 recovered partially and 3 remained unchanged at neurological examination. J Immunol, 1987 May 15, 138(10), 3167 - 73 Induction of macrophage Ia expression by lipopolysaccharide and Listeria monocytogenes in congenitally athymic nude mice; Wentworth PA et al.; Experiments were performed to analyze the mechanism by which lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modulates the expression of Ia by murine peritoneal macrophages in vivo . We investigated the effect of LPS on Ia expression in T cell deficient mice by using the congenitally athymic nude mouse model . Injection (i.p) of LPS into athymic (nu/nu) mice resulted in a dramatic increase in the expression and biosynthesis of Ia by peritoneal macrophages 7 days after injection . The magnitude and kinetics of this induction were equivalent to increases observed after LPS injection of euthymic (nu/+) mice . Viable Listeria monocytogenes also increased Ia expression in athymic mice, but in contrast to the induction observed in euthymic mice at 3 and 7 days after injection, increased Ia expression was not seen until 7 days . Ia induction by either LPS or L . monocytogenes in athymic mice was not due to the presence or development of mature T cell function as defined by assays for T cell mitogenesis and interleukin 2 production . We conclude that increased macrophage Ia expression by LPS and L . monocytogenes in vivo can occur in the absence of mature functioning T cells. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 May, 35(5), 626 - 8 {Treatment of neuro-meningeal listeriosis in patients over 60 with a combination of ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole}; Becq-Giraudon B et al.; An open retrospect study, including five patients, has been entered on, in order to estimate the efficacity and the tolerance in a more than sixty years old person, of the association ampicillin-cotrimoxazole for the treatment of the meningitis due to Listeria monocytogenes . In the infectious sphere, all the patients recovered; one death, by pulmonary embolism at the 21sh day of evolution, is to be deplored; two erythematous rashes have been observed . These preliminary results are encouraging and incite to carry on the evaluation of this protocol, which could replace the classical therapy; ampicillin-aminoglycosides, where only the ampicillin reaches effective concentrations on the level in the cerebro-spinal fluid. J Clin Periodontol, 1987 May, 14(5), 285 - 8 Clinical efficacy of listerine in inhibiting and reducing plaque and experimental gingivitis; Mankodi S et al.; 103 adult subjects completed a supervised 2-week double-blind controlled clinical study to determine the effect of using either listerine antiseptic (LA) or its vehicle control (VC), as the only oral hygiene procedure, in inhibiting the development of and in reducing plaque and experimental gingivitis . Following baseline examinations, half-mouth prophylaxes were performed on each subject, who continued normal oral hygiene and returned 4 or 5 days later for a second baseline . Subjects then rinsed, under supervision, either 2 or 4 times daily for 2 weeks with LA or twice daily with VC, but suspended all other oral hygiene measures . Plaque and gingivitis were evaluated at baselines and after 2 weeks . Subjects using LA 2 or 4 times a day as the only oral hygiene procedure for 2 weeks demonstrated highly significant inhibition and reduction of both supragingival plaque and gingival inflammation compared to those using VC. Rev Infect Dis, 1987 May-Jun, 9(3), 613 - 8 The prevention of infection in total joint replacement surgery; Nelson CL; A fundamental prerequisite for the prevention of sepsis is adherence to well-known and accepted listerian principles of asepsis . This article reviews the roles of the high-risk patient, nutritional status, high-risk surgery, environmental factors, airborne contamination, preventive antibiotics, and antibiotic-acrylic composites in surgical sepsis. Prenat Diagn, 1987 May, 7(4), 277 - 82 Listeriosis: a cause of non-immune hydrops fetalis; Gembruch U et al.; A case of prenatally diagnosed non-immune hydrops fetalis, that was later shown to be caused by listeriosis, is presented, and the clinical course, as well as the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are described . We conclude, that listeriosis should be excluded, whenever a non-immune hydrops fetalis is associated with septicemia, influenza-like illness and fever of unknown origin. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 May, 53(5), 955 - 7 Comparison of media and methods for detecting and enumerating Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated cabbage; Hao DY et al.; Direct plating, selective enrichment, and cold enrichment followed by secondary selective enrichment procedures were compared for detecting and enumerating Listeria monocytogenes in chopped cabbage stored at 5 degrees C for up to 64 days . Addition of Fe3+ to solid media enhanced detection of the organism . Cold enrichment (5 degrees C) in nutrient broth and brain heart infusion broth followed by secondary enrichment (48 h, 30 degrees C) in Trypticase soy-yeast extract-antibiotic broth and thiocyanate-nalidixic acid broth and plating on selective agar media (Doyle and Schoeni selective enrichment agar {minus acriflavin hydrochloride, supplemented with 5 micrograms of Fe3+/ml} and McBride Listeria agar) resulted in the detection of highest populations. Cell Immunol, 1987 May, 106(2), 330 - 42 A significant role of the macrophage accumulation induced by MCF in the protection of mice against Listeria monocytogenes in vivo; Handa T et al.; Analysis was done on macrophage chemotactic factor (MCF) produced in the culture supernatant of spleen cells from mice immunized with Listeria monocytogenes . MCF was produced by Thy-1+, Lyt-1+ lymphocytes . MCF activity was resistant against pH 2 treatment and heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min, but was abolished by digestion with trypsin . G-100 gel filtration chromatography revealed that the approximate molecular weight of MCF was 15,000 . MCF-rich fraction obtained by gel filtration chromatography showed neither MAF activity nor interferon activity . MCF activity in MCF-rich fraction was not affected by treatment with anti-rIFN-gamma antibody . An injection of MCF-rich fraction into the peritoneal cavity of mice induced a significant degree of accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in a very short time after injection and macrophages thereafter . Resistance against listerial infection was augmented at the site where macrophage accumulation was provoked by the injection with MCF-rich fraction . It was shown that MCF plays an important role by itself in the protection against listerial infection by the accelerated accumulation of macrophages. J Immunol, 1987 Apr 15, 138(8), 2679 - 86 The effects of an anti-I-Ab antibody on murine host resistance to Listeria monocytogenes; Kurlander RJ et al.; Infection with Listeria monocytogenes stimulates T cell proliferation and T cell-derived lymphokine production . The release of lymphokines, in turn, "activates" macrophages, enhancing their bactericidal capacity . Because prior studies suggest that I-A+ accessory cells play a critical role in this pathway, we assessed the effects of an anti-I-A antibody on the murine host resistance to listerial infection . To this end, we infused Listeria into control C57BL/6 mice (I-Ab haplotype) and mice of the same strain which had been pretreated 18 hr earlier with D3137 (a monoclonal IgG2a anti-I-Ab,d antibody) . Preliminary studies demonstrated that this antibody can markedly inhibit antigen-induced proliferation of Listeria-dependent T cells in vitro and (at a dose of 1 mg/animal) can markedly reduce I-A expression on splenocytes in vivo . Even though D3137 pretreatment prevented the splenomegaly normally observed after Listeria infusion into mice, it protected animals infused with otherwise lethal concentrations of Listeria . Because antibody-treated animals had sevenfold fewer organisms in their spleens 18 hr after infection and 1000-fold fewer organisms than control animals 3 days after infection, improved survival resulted from an antibody-induced increase in the bactericidal capacity of the MPS . Protection was not noted when C1.18.4 (an IgG2a myeloma protein without known antibody activity) was infused into C57BL/6 mice or when D3137 was infused in B10.BR (I-Ak) mice . D3137 also protected (B10 X B10.BR)F1 mice (which are hybrids bearing I-Ab and I-Ak), suggesting that complete blockade of antigen presentation is not a prerequisite for its protective action . Further studies into the mechanism for these effects may provide new insights into the pathophysiology of MPS activation in response to immunologic challenge. J Immunol, 1987 Apr 15, 138(8), 2671 - 8 The antigenic and mitogenic response of murine T and B lymphocytes to soluble proteins of Listeria monocytogenes; Wentworth PA et al.; Solubilized constituents from Listeria monocytogenes were fractionated by various techniques including isopycnic gradient centrifugation, molecular sieve chromatography, and preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) . Fractionated material was tested in vitro for mitogenic and antigenic activity by quantitating the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes and the interleukin production by peritoneal T cells . Fractionation by isopycnic gradient centrifugation revealed both antigenic and mitogenic material fractionating with the protein at a density of 1.3 g/ml . This characteristic density, together with the reduction of activity with trypsin treatment, defined the material as protein . This material was termed soluble listerial proteins (SLP) . Fractionation of SLP by molecular sieve chromatography using Sephacryl 200 (S-200) revealed predominant antigenic and mitogenic activity in proteins of greater than 100,000 m.w . In contrast, fractionation of SLP by preparative SDS-PAGE (nonreducing conditions) showed activity in groups of proteins with m.w . of less than 76,000 . This difference (S-200 vs SDS-PAGE) may indicate an aggregation or subunit composition which is disrupted by SDS . When fractionated by SDS-PAGE, antigens which induced macrophage-dependent interleukin production by Listeria-immune T cells were observed over a broad range of molecular sizes . Major groups of antigenic proteins were observed at 57,000 to 76,000 m.w., approximately 40,000 and less than 25,000 m.w . Mitogenic activity (spleen cell proliferation) was associated with a more restricted group of proteins with major peaks at 57,000 and 40,000 m.w., with some weak activity in proteins less than 20,000 and greater than 64,000 m.w . Experiments involving T or B lymphocyte-depleted spleen cells and spleen cells from athymic mice revealed that the mitogenic response of splenic lymphocytes to SLP was predominantly B cell-mediated . Thus, we have defined groups of listerial proteins with potent antigenic activity with respect to T lymphocyte activation and as mitogenic activity for B cells. J Clin Periodontol, 1987 Apr, 14(4), 205 - 12 Efficacy of mouthrinses in inhibiting dental plaque and gingivitis in man; Axelsson P et al.; The aim of the present trial was to determine the effect of different mouthwash preparations used as supplements to regular oral hygiene measures on dental plaque and gingivitis in humans . 96 volunteers were recruited for the study . Following a baseline examination, each subject was given a careful prophylaxis, following which the mouthrinse regimens were initiated . During the 6 weeks of trial, the subjects continued to exercise their regular non-supervised, self-performed plaque control measures . The 96 volunteers were assigned either to 1 or 3 different treatment groups or to a control group according to a randomized code . The members of the control group and the listerine group rinsed with 20 ml of the mouthrinse for 30 s, twice daily, while the members of the chlorhexidine groups (using either a 0.2% or a 0.1% solution) rinsed with 10 ml of the antiseptic solution for 60 s twice daily . Examinations regarding extrinsic stain and plaque were performed at baseline and after 3 and 6 weeks, while the conditions of the gingiva were examined at baseline and after 6 weeks . Extrinsic stain was evaluated using the Lobene index, plaque was assessed by the Turesky modification of Quigley-Hein index and the gingival condition was examined using the gingival index system of Loe & Silness . The results of the trial demonstrated that the 3 active mouthwash preparations used as supplements to regular tooth cleaning measures markedly improved both the oral hygiene status and the gingival conditions of the participating human volunteers, compared to the control rinse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Wildl Dis, 1987 Apr, 23(2), 314 - 7 Septicemic listeriosis in a reindeer calf; Evans MG et al.; Septicemic listeriosis is described in a 2-day-old reindeer calf (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from a local zoo . The gross and microscopic lesions were typical of disease caused by bacterial septicemia . Major lesions included necrosis of the liver, lung, adrenal gland, spleen, and lymph node . The diagnosis was suspected by special histopathological stains and confirmed by isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from multiple organs . This is the first report of listeriosis in a reindeer. J Immunol, 1987 Apr 1, 138(7), 2266 - 71 Intracellular growth of Listeria monocytogenes as a prerequisite for in vivo induction of T cell-mediated immunity; Berche P et al.; The in vivo induction of T cell-mediated immunity was studied by infecting mice with two genetically closely related mutants from Listeria monocytogenes, differing only with respect to the secretion of an active SH-dependent hemolysin . It is shown that even minute doses of hemolytic bacteria capable of growing in host tissues easily induced the expression of T cell-mediated immunity, as estimated by the level of delayed sensitivity, adoptive protection and long-lasting immunological memory . On the contrary, nonhemolytic bacteria unable to multiply in host tissues totally failed to initiate the expression of T cell-mediated immunity in vivo . This failure was even observed when mice were repeatedly infected by high doses of nonhemolytic bacteria, allowing to maintain a significant amount of viable bacteria for several days in host tissues . These results mean that the presence of viable bacteria at a significant level in the host is not sufficient per se to induce detectable T cell clonal expansion in the in vivo setting, implying that the process of bacterial growth inside macrophages is required to initiate in vivo the expression of T cell-mediated immunity. J Clin Invest, 1987 Apr, 79(4), 1234 - 41 Role of local immunosuppression in murine fetoplacental listeriosis; Redline RW et al.; Recent evidence suggests that local immunoregulation may prevent rejection of the placenta by the mother . This local immunoregulation may also compromise the response to placental infection . Listeria monocytogenes infection in 121 pregnant mice and 1,050 fetoplacental units was examined and the kinetics of bacterial growth in various maternal and fetal tissues were determined . A subset of pregnant mice developed overwhelming placental listeria infections . Pregnancy did not impair the maternal immune response in the liver and spleen . Pregnant mice without placental infection had numbers of listeria equivalent to nonpregnant controls and mice immunized during pregnancy had significantly less listeria than nonimmunized controls . The secondary response in immunized pregnant mice had no effect on the development of placental infection and the histologic features of placental infection were distinct from those in other organs . Our data suggest that an ineffective local immune response may contribute to the pathogenicity of listeria for the placenta. Food Chem Toxicol, 1987 Apr, 25(4), 297 - 304 Suppression of immune response in the B6C3F1 mouse after dietary exposure to the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) and zearalenone; Pestka JJ et al.; The effect that dietary exposure to the naturally-occurring Fusarium graminearum toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) may have on immune function was assessed in the B6C3F1 mouse . Dietary DON depressed the plaque-forming response to sheep red blood cells, the delayed hypersensitivity response to keyhole limpet haemocyanin and the ability to resist Listeria monocytogenes . Listerial resistance was similarly decreased in control mice fed restricted diets comparable to the dietary restriction caused by DON-induced feed refusal, whereas equivalent food restriction did not decrease the plaque or delayed hypersensitivity responses . ZEA ingestion decreased resistance to L . monocytogenes but did not affect splenic plaque-forming or delayed hypersensitivity responses . Resistance to Listeria was reduced to a greater extent by co-administration of DON and ZEA than by DON alone, whereas the ability of DON to inhibit the delayed hypersensitivity response was significantly lessened in the presence of ZEA . While effects on resistance to Listeria and delayed hypersensitivity were detectable in mice ingesting the mycotoxins for 2-3 wk, these effects disappeared upon extension of the feeding period to 8 wk . In contrast, some effect on the plaque-forming response was detectable with both the 2- and the 8-wk period of mycotoxin ingestion . Immunosuppression can thus result from ingestion of F . graminearum-infected agricultural staples, the suppression being attributable to interactions between direct immunotoxic effects of DON and ZEA and nutritional effects associated with DON-induced food refusal. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 1987 Mar, 3(1), 75 - 83 Listeriosis; Rebhun WC; The signs of bovine listeriosis include depression and variable cranial nerve deficits indicative of brain stem inflammation . Because a wide range of cranial nerve deficits exists in bovine listeriosis patients, a thorough neurologic examination and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are essential to accurate diagnosis . Treatment should consist of intensive antibiotic therapy owing to the intracellular location of the causative organisms and should also address metabolic acidosis in those patients with loss of buffer because of excessive salivation . The public health implications of bovine listeriosis require the veterinarian to protect all persons attending the bovine patient affected with listeriosis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 Mar, 6(3), 199 - 206 Determination of the effect of antimicrobics in combination against Listeria monocytogenes; Meyer RD et al.; The in vitro activity of selected penicillins, extended spectrum cephalosporins, vancomycin, gentamicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, rifampin, and trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (alone and in combination) was determined by microtiter technique for 20 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes . The activity of selected combinations of antimicrobics was determined by the microtiter checkboard technique . Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (1:20 ratio) was the most active agent in inhibitory tests and also showed bactericidal activity . The combinations of gentamicin with either ampicillin or vancomycin and that of erythromycin with tetracycline showed bactericidal effect in synergy studies . Combining ampicillin with an extended spectrum cephalosporin showed no antagonism, whereas, combining rifampin with trimethoprim or with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole led only to indifference or antagonism . These observations may have importance in selection of therapy in animal models or in selected clinical situations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 1987 Mar-Apr, 8(2), 279 - 82 CT features of early Listeria monocytogenes cerebritis; Haykal H et al.; Listeria monocytogenes is a relatively uncommon pathogen affecting infants or adults with predisposing conditions, such as cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, renal transplants, and solid and lymphoreticular malignancies . Cerebral parenchymal involvement is rare and consists of focal cerebritis, which may progress to abscess formation . This article presents three cases of early Listeria monocytogenes cerebritis, two of which demonstrated ill-defined superficial areas of low attenuation with curvilinear gyral enhancement and one of which demonstrated a deep, low-attenuation lesion with faint surrounding enhancement . Although these findings are nonspecific, their early recognition in the proper clinical setting may help institute early antibiotic therapy, which appears to be successful without surgical intervention. Ann Trop Paediatr, 1987 Mar, 7(1), 42 - 6 Neonatal listeriosis: a report of seven cases; Lubani MM et al.; Seven neonates with listeriosis admitted to Farwaniya Hospital, Kuwait, are reported . Six had the meningitic type and one the septicaemic type . Serotyping showed 1/4b in all neonates . The response to 2 weeks ampicillin and amikacin was excellent with no mortality or morbidity. Immunology, 1987 Feb, 60(2), 287 - 93 Dual regulation of anti-bacterial resistance and inflammatory neutrophil and macrophage accumulation by L3T4+ and Lyt 2+ Listeria-immune T cells; Czuprynski CJ et al.; Adoptive transfer of anti-Listeria resistance by Listeria-immune spleen T cells was markedly reduced by pretreatment of the cells with monoclonal anti-Lyt 2.2 and complement (Lyt 2+C); pretreatment of cells with monoclonal anti-L3T4 and complement (L3T4+C) had a lesser effect on their ability to transfer resistance . Lyt 2+C-treated and L3T4+C-treated Listeria-immune T cells were undiminished in their immediate ability to transfer enhanced accumulation of inflammatory peritoneal neutrophils and macrophages in response to Listeria antigens . When L3T4+C- and Lyt 2+C-treated Listeria-immune spleen cells were cultured in vitro before transfer, however, it became apparent that the L3T4+ subset was particularly important for mediating in vivo accumulation of inflammatory phagocytes . Listeria-immune spleen T cells produced soluble factors during in vitro culture that, when injected i.p., were able to recruit inflammatory neutrophils and macrophages to the peritoneal cavities of recipient mice . Pretreatment of Listeria -immune spleen cells with L3T4+C before culture markedly diminished their ability to produce soluble factors that were capable of attracting neutrophils and macrophages in vivo . The results of this study indicate substantial roles for both Lyt 2+ and L3T4+ T-cell subsets in the dual regulation of inflammation and anti-bacterial resistance; Lyt 2+ T cells appear to be the principal mediator of anti-bacterial resistance, whereas L3T4+ T cells augment the recruitment of inflammatory phagocytes in vivo. J Clin Invest, 1987 Feb, 79(2), 399 - 403 Indomethacin in vivo increases the sensitivity to Listeria infection in mice . A possible role for macrophage thromboxane A2 synthesis; Tripp CS et al.; This paper demonstrates that in the presence of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, 100% of the mice died when infected with live Listeria, whereas none of the animals died in the absence of the drug . The death of the animals correlated with the numbers of bacteria found extraperitoneally in the spleen and not with the Ia expression of the peritoneal macrophages . Increases in the spleen bacterial numbers between mice treated with either indomethacin or a specific thromboxane synthase inhibitor, OKY1581, and those not receiving either drug, were found as early as 2-4 h after infection . The differences in the initial increased bacterial spleen counts in the presence of indomethacin were reversed by administration of a stable thromboxane A2 analog or another potent vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine . Because thromboxane A2 does not regulate macrophage or T cell functions directly (Tripp, C.S., A . Wyche, E.R . Unanue, and P . Needleman, 1986, J . Immunol., In press; and Ceuppens, J.S., S . Vertessen, H . Deckmyn, and J . Vermylen, 1985, Cell Immunol., 90:458-463), but is probably generated at the site of an infection (Tripp, C.S., K.M . Leahy, and P . Needleman, 1985, J . Clin . Invest., 76:898-901), these data suggest an important role for the vasoconstrictive properties of thromboxane A2 in the regulation of immunity to Listeria infection. Eur J Immunol, 1987 Feb, 17(2), 237 - 46 Specific lysis of Listeria monocytogenes-infected macrophages by class II-restricted L3T4+ T cells; Kaufmann SH et al.; Mice were infected with the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, and T cell clones from spleens, lymph nodes and peritoneal exudates were established . The capacity of L3T4+, Lyt2- T-cell clones to specifically lyse L . monocytogenes-infected macrophages was analyzed . As a source of target cells, bone marrow macrophages (BMM phi) after 9 days of culture in hydrophobic teflon bags were used . These BMM phi were totally Ia-; however, significant Ia-expression could be induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . IFN-gamma-stimulated BMM phi, after priming with live or killed L . monocytogenes organisms were effectively lysed by the vast majority of L3T4+ T cell clones . In the absence of either IFN-gamma stimulation or antigen priming, no lysis occurred . Cytolysis was demonstrable in a conventional 4-h 51Cr-release assay and in an 18-h neutral red uptake assay and was antigen specific and class II restricted . Native T cells from L . monocytogenes-infected mice failed to lyse stimulated, L . monocytogenes-primed BMM phi and gained their cytolytic activity after antigenic restimulation in vitro . These data demonstrate that L . monocytogenes-specific L3T4+ T cells could lyse M phi presenting listerial antigens provided that Ia antigen expression had been induced . L3T4+ T cell clones produced IFN-phi after restimulation with antigen plus accessory cells in vitro and IFN-gamma secretion could be increased by costimulation with recombinant IL 2 . These T cell clones conferred significant protection upon recipient mice which was more pronounced in the liver . The possible relevance of lysis by L3T4+ T cells of infected M phi to protection against and pathogenesis of intracellular bacterial infections is discussed. Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(4), 485 - 9 Arterial occlusion due to Listeria meningoencephalitis in an immunocompromised boy; Bekassy NA et al.; Sequential CAT scan studies of the brain were performed in a 7-year-old boy with Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1 meningoencephalitis . The infection occurred while he was receiving maintenance chemotherapy for T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma . A lesion in the right hemisphere during the infection resulted in an excessive enlargement of the right ventricle 10 months later, most probably caused by arterial occlusion. Neuroradiology, 1987, 29(4), 401 - 2 MRI of Listeria rhombencephalitis; Just M et al.; A case of Listeria rhombencephalitis in a patient, who was evaluated by MRI, is reported . MRI showed areas of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the rhombencephalon and confirmed the clinical diagnosis of a brainstem affection by Listeria monocytogenes. Cornea, 1987, 6(2), 144 - 6 Corneal ulcer due to Listeria monocytogenes; Holland S et al.; We present a patient with a corneal ulcer due to Listeria monocytogenes, which has not previously been considered to be a feature of human listeriosis . The ulcer responded to topical and subconjunctival gentamicin and cephaloridine . Subsequent management was complicated by the development of a fibrinous pupillary membrane leading to pupillary block requiring iridotomy and later vitrectomy with trabeculectomy . Listeria monocytogenes may be confused with diphtheroid contaminants seen in corneal ulcer scrapings and is probably underreported as a cause for microbial keratitis. Infection, 1987 Jan-Feb, 15(1), 40 - 1 Lack of synergism of ampicillin and gentamicin in experimental listeriosis; Hof H et al.; Strain SLCC 4013 of Listeria monocytogenes is susceptible in vitro to ampicillin (MIC 0.5 mg/l) as well as to gentamicin (MIC 0.5 mg/l) . Whereas treatment of mice infected with this virulent strain with 0.5 mg ampicillin twice a day resulted in a marked decrease in bacterial counts per spleen, the administration of 2 mg gentamicin twice a day hardly reduced bacterial multiplication . The combination of both drugs was not much more effective than ampicillin alone . Thus, a synergistic effect of both these antibiotics on intracellularly growing bacteria could not be demonstrated. Neurosurg Rev, 1987, 10(3), 185 - 90 Magnetic resonance imaging in infections of the brain: findings in tuberculosis, listeriosis, toxoplasmosis, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and multiple sclerosis; Just M et al.; A total of 6 patients with various inflammatory brain diseases were investigated by MRI . Typical diagnostic criteria like signal intensity, location, and morphology of the lesions are presented . MRI proves to be a highly sensitive method to detect encephalitic foci, which, however, suffers from a low specificity . Therefore additional informations like case history, clinical findings, and serological data have to be considered to find the correct diagnosis. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1987, 31(4 Suppl), 493 - 5 Serological investigations in Nigeria for anthropozoonoses in human sera: brucellosis, echinococcosis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydial diseases, listeriosis, rickettsiosis (Coxiella burneti and Rickettsia conori); Sixl W et al.; 176 blood sera taken from patients in the hospital of Minna and Abeokuta (Nigeria) were examined for anthropozoonoses . The following positive reactions could be found: Brucella abortus 9%, Brucella melitensis 11.7%, Echinococcosis 0.53%, Toxoplasmosis 79.2% (CF-Test 6.9%), Chlamydial diseases 45%, Listeriosis 28.7% (Typ 1H) and 19.7% (Typ 4bH), Rickettsiosis--Rickettsia conori 18.6% and Coxiella burneti 63.3%. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1987, 31(4 Suppl), 469 - 71 Serological screenings of various infectious diseases on the Cape Verde Islands (West Africa); Sixl W et al.; General screening investigations with various antigens were carried out with a view to further specific investigations being carried out on the Cape Verde Islands concerning infectious diseases . Serological positive reactions were found in Mumps, Adeno, PLT, Cytomegaly, Herpes, Para-influenza 1, 2, 3, Influenza A and B, Mycoplasmosis, RS-Virus, Gonorrhoea, Hepatitis A and B, R . conori, Malaria, Syphilis, Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Varicella, Legionella, Picornavirus, Measles, German Measles, Listeriosis, Toxoplasmosis and Amoebic dysentery. Vet Med Nauki, 1987, 24(8), 23 - 7 {Seasonal dynamics and the prevention of the meningoencephalitic form of listeriosis in lambs}; Burdarov I et al.; The seasonal dynamics of the meningoencephalitic form of listeriosis in lambs was followed up . The peak values in the disease course were found to be in the months of February and March . It is likely that outbreaks coincide with the start in feeding the lambs with roughage . The disease was bacteriologically and histologically shown to run its course primarily in lambs aged up to 6 months . Only in 3 cases the affected lambs were up to ten days of age . The changes in the central nervous system were characterized by leukocytic infiltration and diffuse glial proliferation (in 60.2 per cent of the cases), while in adult sheep predominated the focal glial proliferation . Liver and kidney cells showed necrobiotic changes . The use of the method of antibiotic prophylaxis led to recurrence of the disease, while immunizations with an inactivated vaccine against listeriosis suppressed further outbreaks. Infection, 1987, 15 Suppl 4, S214 - 9 {Rational parameters in the treatment of bacterial meningitis with modern cephalosporins}; Bruckner O et al.; Modern cephalosporins are by now well established therapeutic drugs in the treatment of bacterial meningitis . Particularly for gram-negative meningitis they are valuable therapeutic tools . In most cases, they are very efficient and less toxic than former therapeutic regimens . Of course, they cannot replace penicillin G in the therapy of meningitis with penicillin-sensitive bacteria . The advantages and disadvantages of the single compounds, cefotaxime, latamoxef, ceftizoxime, cefmenoxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and cefsulodin have to be evaluated . For safety reasons, monotherapy with these drugs is not recommended because there have been reports of failures and relapses of meningitis even in cases with highly sensitive organisms . They are almost or completely ineffective against a few pathogens in meningitis, such as anaerobes or Listeria monocytogenes . An attempt has been made to evaluate the different compounds for their therapeutic usefulness against different pathogens in meningitis. Clin Exp Neurol, 1987, 24, 175 - 9 Listeria rhomboencephalitis; Frayne J et al.; Listeria rhomboencephalitis is a rare form of listeriosis which is frequently not diagnosed before death . We here describe an instance in an apparently healthy immunocompetent lady which responded to appropriate therapy . Treatment with intravenous ampicillin with or without an aminoglycoside antibiotic should be instituted early if the patient is to survive. Ann Rech Vet, 1987, 18(4), 415 - 9 Vaccination with a Listeria strain of reduced virulence against experimental Listeria abortion in goats; Fensterbank R; A live Listeria monocytogenes strain of reduced virulence, strain Aer, obtained by three successive mutations in regard to streptomycin and erythromycin, was used as vaccine on goats in two successive experiments . Animals were vaccinated either once or twice by subcutaneous route with doses varying from 6 x 10(8) to 1.5 x 10(10) CFU . No side effect was observed, except in one goat, vaccinated as pregnant, that aborted and from which the vaccinal strain was reisolated . The goats were challenged by subcutaneous route with 5 x 10(8) CFU L monocytogenes virulent strain ATCC 19115 at 95-100 days of pregnancy . Thirteen out of 23 controls (56.5%) and 11 out of 24 once vaccinated goats (45.8%) aborted whereas only 5 out of 22 (22.7%) twice vaccinated goats aborted . Significant protection against a severe challenge can thus be afforded by vaccination and recall with the live strain L monocytogenes Aer. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1987, 35(3), 381 - 8 Immunomodulation of GvH reaction in mice by Listeria monocytogenes; Rozalska B; In the first part of experiments the GvHR activity of the spleen cell suspensions from normal parental donors (Balb/c) or infected with Listeria monocytogenes was compared . GvHR was examined in (Balb/c X AKR) F1 mice . Full suspensions from these donors or depleted of adherent cells or with addition of macrophages were studied . It has been proved that adherent cells population plays a significant role in the GvHR development . The addition of syngeneic macrophages from F1 hybrids results in a greater augmentation of GvH reactivity of parental lymphocytes . However, the addition of macrophages harvested from F1 hybrids immunized with L . monocytogenes 7 days before, brings about a weaker GvH reaction . Spleen cells of parental donors injected with L . monocytogenes 5-6 days earlier induced stronger GvHR as compared with the splenocytes of normal donors . Similarly, F1 hosts treated with L . monocytogenes 3-5 days before injection of normal donor's spleen cells showed increased GvHR, but those infected 7-9 days before injection of spleen cells, developed only very weak GvHR. Thymus, 1987, 10(3-4), 247 - 9 Failure of recombinant murine gamma-interferon to cure chronic listerosis of nude, athymic mice; Hof H; The bacterial counts per spleen of athymic, nude mice chronically infected with Listeria monocytogenes could not be reduced by treatment with high doses of recombinant murine gamma-interferon. Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(1), 55 - 60 Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in adults . Sixteen consecutive cases 1973-1982; Hansen PB et al.; 16 adult patients with Listeria monocytogenes meningitis were reviewed to see whether clinical features or initial laboratory findings could discriminate between these patients and patients with purulent meningitis of other causes . Six patients suffered from known predisposing diseases and 4 were alcoholics . The initial clinical picture was indistinguishable from meningitis of other causes . Microscopy of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was negative in all cases but 2 where gram-positive rods were seen . CSF cytology and biochemistry could not discriminate from other causes of purulent meningitis although a low leucocyte content and a low percentage of neutrophils were often present . All L . monocytogenes strains isolated were sensitive to ampicillin and aminoglycosides whereas susceptibility to other antibiotics was low or varying . In adult patients suffering from purulent meningitis initial therapy should include ampicillin until an etiological diagnosis is established . The same is true in some cases of febrile encephalopathy with low content of neutrophils in CSF, especially when the glucose content is low. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1987 Jan, 14(1), 11 - 21 Immunotoxic effects of T-2 mycotoxin on cell-mediated resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection; Corrier DE et al.; The effect of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated resistance to bacterial infection was evaluated in mice exposed to Listeria monocytogenes . Mice were inoculated with 4.0 X 10(5) (LD50) or 4.0 X 10(4) (nonlethal) L . monocytogenes on day 0 and treated orally on days 0, 1, 2, and 3 with 2.0, 1.0, or 0 mg/kg T-2 toxin . Toxin induced suppression of resistance was indicated by the rapid growth of Listeria in the spleen and by significant (P less than 0.005) increases in mortality due to listeriosis . Necrosis and depletion of lymphoid tissue, lymphopenia, and a marked decrease in the influx of lymphocytes and macrophages into Listeria elicited peritoneal exudates and at sites of infection in the liver and spleen occurred in the toxin treated mice . The immunotoxic effect of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated resistance to listeriosis was dosage dependent and attributed to toxin induced lymphoid depletion and the failure of surviving lymphocytes and mononuclear cells to clear the host of infection. Rev Infect Dis, 1987 Jan-Feb, 9(1), 130 - 3 Listeria rhombencephalitis mimicking tuberculous meningitis; Bach MC et al.; A previously healthy man developed a progressive neurologic illness characterized by an "aseptic meningitis syndrome," progressive hypoglycorrhachia, and severe brain-stem dysfunction . Initial dramatic response to antituberculosis therapy supported the diagnosis of tuberculous basilar meningitis; however, Listeria monocytogenes eventually grew in a blood culture, and the patient recovered following intravenous ampicillin therapy . The entity of listerial rhombencephalitis should be considered as a treatable cause of acute, progressive brain-stem meningoencephalitis. Clin Exp Neurol, 1987, 24, 181 - 6 Listeria brain abscess associated with steroid therapy: successful non-surgical treatment; Leung R et al.; A patient is reported who developed a brain abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes while on long-term steroid therapy and who was successfully treated medically without surgical intervention . The literature on listeria brain abscess is reviewed, and the importance of early recognition of this infection in any immunocompromised patient who develops focal cerebral dysfunction is emphasised. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1987, 176(5), 229 - 39 Antigen-specific augmentation factor involved in murine delayed-type footpad reaction . II . Augmentation of delayed-type footpad reaction and acquired resistance to Listeria monocytogenes by transfer of Listeria-immune serum; Himeno K et al.; We previously found an antigen-specific factor capable of augmenting delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in the culture supernatant of the mixture of immune spleen cells and erythrocyte antigen, or in the serum of mice immunized with heterologous erythrocytes and exhibiting delayed-type footpad reaction . To elucidate whether this kind of factor (DTH-augmentation factor; DAF) participates in the establishment of DTH to various kinds of antigen besides erythrocyte antigen, we chose a bacterial antigen, Listeria monocytogenes, which is a facultative intracellular bacterium . In the present study, we demonstrated that the immune serum from mice immunized with viable Listeria augmented the delayed-type footpad reaction to Listeria . Furthermore, acquired resistance against Listeria was also augmented by the transfer of such immune serum . Such augmentation of acquired resistance was observed in sites infected locally and in the spleen of mice infected systemically . This effect was also seen in sera from mice immunized with heat-killed Listeria emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant. Am J Med, 1986 Dec, 81(6), 1068 - 72 Listeria monocytogenes cerebritis, bacteremia, and cutaneous lesions complicating hairy cell leukemia; Salata RA et al.; Hairy cell leukemia is a lymphoreticular malignancy characterized by a chronic course and multiple defects in host defense mechanisms . Infections are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in this malignancy . Opportunistic infections due to pathogens normally controlled by cell-mediated immune mechanisms have been increasingly described but have not included listerial infections . This report describes a case of disseminated Listeria monocytogenes infection including the uncommon manifestations of cerebritis and cutaneous lesions in a patient with hairy cell leukemia. Hum Pathol, 1986 Dec, 17(12), 1278 - 81 Epidemic perinatal listeriosis at autopsy; Klatt EC et al.; Seven cases of listeriosis identified at perinatal autopsy are described . The cases occurred during the time of a 1985 Los Angeles, California, epidemic of listeriosis from suspected food contamination by Listeria monocytogenes . In only one of seven cases were gross pathologic lesions encountered . Microscopic lesions in six cases consisted of rare, localized microabscesses or granuloma-like lesions in multiple organs and contained histiocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes with variable necrosis . One case had no gross or microscopic findings . Organomegaly was uncommon . The diagnosis was confirmed in three cases by postmortem blood culture . Complete perinatal autopsy is important for confirmation of listeriosis when microbiologic, gross, or microscopic findings alone may not yield characteristic features. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 Dec, 34(10), 1091 - 5 {Evaluation of the activity of antibiotics against Listeria . Therapeutic perspectives}; Reynaud AE et al.; The activity of different antibiotics was considered by studying the results reported in literature and during the IXth International Symposium on the Problems of Listeriosis . Listeria susceptibility to antibiotics did not change . Ampicillin was always one of the most effective and used antibiotics against Listeria . The association with an aminoglycoside produced a synergistic effect, which made the bactericidal activity quicker, in vitro as in vivo on animal . More recent molecules like third generation cephalosporins or fluoro-piperazinyl-quinolones had poor activity against Listeria. Semin Nephrol, 1986 Dec, 6(4 Suppl 1), 22 - 6 Management of iron overload in dialysis patients; Winchester JF; Acquired hemosiderosis resulting from massive iron deposits in various organs, including heart, liver, and pancreas, may lead to architectural and functional disturbances of these organs . Even though iron overload can occur in nonuremic as well as in uremic individuals, the dialysis patient is at particular risk for developing hemosiderosis . Many dialysis patients receive exogenous iron from either oral iron therapy or blood transfusions . In addition, these patients seem to be at high risk for retaining iron . A diagnosis of excess iron deposition should be considered if the patient has unexplained cardiomyopathy, hepatic cirrhosis, proximal myopathy, diabetes mellitus, arthropathy, or immune dysfunction such as listeriosis . Several techniques are available for determining iron overload . Diagnostic tests include measuring serum ferritin levels, staining bone marrow preparations for excess iron, measuring tissue hemosiderin concentrations, magnetic resonance imaging, and the deferoxamine (DFO; Desferal) "challenge test." The simplest treatment for iron overload in nonuremic patients is removal of iron by venesection . However, in patients in whom venesection is not feasible, the chelating agent DFO can effectively remove excess iron . In the dialysis patient, DFO therapy can be combined with either dialysis or hemoperfusion to remove the iron-DFO complex that would otherwise be removed by the kidney . DFO therapy in the nondialyzed individual has proven to be successful, but before treatment, the benefits of the treatment must be weighed against possible adverse side effects such as cataracts, changes in color vision, and anaphylaxis . In the dialysis patient, indications for iron removal are less clearly defined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Eur J Immunol, 1986 Dec, 16(12), 1559 - 68 A specific serine proteinase is inducible in Lyt-2+,L3T4- and Lyt-2-,L3T4+ T cells in vitro but is mainly associated with Lyt-2+,L3T4- effector cells in vivo; Simon MM et al.; Recently, we and others reported on the expression of a serine proteinase in long-term cultured murine T lymphocyte cell lines . In an attempt to explore the distribution and possible regulation of this enzyme in T lymphocyte subsets, we performed the presented detailed study . We found that the proteinase is not expressed by thymocytes and resting T cells but can be induced by lectin or antigen in combination with lymphokine sources in vitro in macrophage-depleted unselected T cells as well as in both T cell subsets (Lyt-2+,L3T4- and Lyt-2-,L3T4+) separated by flow cytofluorometry . Furthermore, it appears that cell-associated proteinase activity is increasing with prolonged culture period of sensitized T lymphocytes and that it is higher in antigen-activated as compared to lectin-activated T cells . When tested for substrate specificity the T cell-associated proteinase was shown to preferentially cleave model peptide substrates carrying L-arginine at position P1 in combination with nonpolar amino acids at position P2 and P3 . As concluded from its sensitivity to proteinase inhibitors the enzyme can be classified as a serine proteinase and by molecular sieving at high ionic strength it was shown to have a mol . mass of approximately 50-60 kDa . Analysis of in vivo activated T cells revealed that this particular proteinase was expressed in flow cytofluorometry sorted lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific Lyt-2+,L3T4- cytolytic T lymphocytes but not in Lyt-2-,L3T4+ T cells presensitized with either Listeria monocytogenes or I-A alloantigens . The data demonstrate that the two T cell subsets (Lyt-2+,L3T4-; Lyt-2-,L3T4+) have distinct in vitro induction requirements for the expression of proteinase and that after activation of T cells in vivo the enzyme is preferentially associated with Lyt-2+,L3T4- effector cells. Eur J Immunol, 1986 Dec, 16(12), 1471 - 7 Identity between human interferon-gamma and "macrophage-activating factor" produced by human T lymphocytes; Talmadge KW et al.; Human peripheral blood monocytes purified by counterflow elutriation were activated in vitro by human natural or recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) as shown by enhanced killing of Listeria monocytogenes and increased production of H2O2 in response to phorbol myristate acetate . Half-maximal stimulation for macrophage activation (MAF) was observed with 10-20 antiviral U/ml of purified recombinant IFN-gamma . These MAF activities were found to correlate with the antiviral activity dependent on IFN-gamma under several experimental conditions . Both activities were recovered together from supernatants of concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in the media of a large number of T cell clones of different specificities . The parallelism between the two activities was also observed upon fractionation of culture media from producing cells and upon treatment of such preparations with low pH and high temperature . Finally, three antibodies with different specificities were found to abrogate the MAF and antiviral activities from lymphocyte culture supernatant . These results indicate that MAF released by stimulated lymphocytes is identical to IFN-gamma. Br J Exp Pathol, 1986 Dec, 67(6), 809 - 19 Inhibition of growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vitro, by immunologically activated mouse resident macrophages; Krishnan VL et al.; Resident peritoneal macrophages, spleen macrophages and Kupffer cells isolated from normal CBA mice were treated with supernatants from spleen cells of normal or immunized mice, and cultured in the presence of heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes . The capacity of the macrophages, infected in vitro, to control the growth of Listeria was tested . In macrophages treated with supernatant from normal spleen cells, the organisms multiplied extensively during 24 h but in those treated with supernatant from immune spleen cells, growth was greatly inhibited . Macrophages isolated from mice irradiated with 8-9.5 Gy and treated with immune spleen cell supernatant, were as efficient or even more than those from unirradiated mice . The use of multispot slides proved to be a convenient and economical means of culturing and examining cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Dec, 83(24), 9655 - 9 Monocyte migration explains the changes in macrophage arachidonate metabolism during the immune response; Tripp CS et al.; The profile of arachidonic acid metabolites in resident peritoneal macrophages is distinctly different from the profile of macrophages isolated after an acute bacterial infection . The latter produce decreased prostaglandins E2 and I2 and leukotriene C4 while conserving the synthesis of thromboxane A2 . We show here that the initial changes in peritoneal macrophage arachidonate metabolism during the immune response appear to be the result of the large influx of blood monocytes, which have a characteristic metabolism distinct from resident macrophages . We demonstrate that the initial decrease in peritoneal macrophage arachidonate metabolism and the increase in macrophage numbers occur simultaneously after infection with Listeria monocytogenes . Also the macrophage arachidonate metabolism seen at the height of the peritoneal cellular influx is the same as that of purified blood monocytes . Both Listeria peritoneal macrophages and blood monocytes produce equal or greater quantities of thromboxane A2 relative to prostaglandins I2 and E2 or leukotriene C4 whereas resident cells produce 1/10 to 1/25 as much thromboxane A2 compared to the other products . Furthermore, the changes in peritoneal macrophage arachidonate metabolism in response to Listeria infection do not occur if the influx of blood monocytes is stopped by irradiating the mice prior to infection implying that the cellular influx is necessary to see the changes in arachidonate metabolism . Finally, activation of peritoneal macrophages, measured as an increase in Ia expression, occurs 36 hr after the influx of monocytes from the blood and the resultant shift in arachidonate metabolism during Listeria infection. J Med Microbiol, 1986 Dec, 22(4), 367 - 77 Aspects of the epidemiology of human Listeria monocytogenes infections in Britain 1967-1984; the use of serotyping and phage typing; McLauchlin J et al.; Strains of Listeria monocytogenes from 475 cases of human listeriosis collected during 1967-1984, belonged to one of three serogroups (1/2, 3 or 4) . They were phage typed with a set of 28 phages to investigate three aspects of the epidemiology of listeriosis . Three patients each had two episodes of listeriosis, 3 months to 2 years apart, with strains of the same serogroup and indistinguishable by phage typing . Ten episodes of possible cross-infection between pairs of neonates in the same hospital occurred; the first baby was ill at or within 1 day of birth, and the second baby became ill 8-12 days after contact with the first . In each pair the L . monocytogenes strains were of the same serogroup and indistinguishable by phage typing . In three clusters of cases there may have been a common source of infection . L . monocytogenes strains from 10 of 11 cases of listeriosis in the Carlisle area in Jul.-Dec . 1981 were of the same serogroup; nine strains were non-phage-typable . The second cluster involved four adults treated at one hospital and the third a pair of neonates who were ill shortly after birth . In each cluster, strains were of the same serogroup, and were indistinguishable by phage typing . These last two clusters occurred during a short period when an unusually high proportion of strains from all cases of human listeriosis in Britain were indistinguishable by phage typing from the cluster strains, suggesting the possibility of common source infection. J Med Microbiol, 1986 Dec, 22(4), 357 - 65 The evaluation of a phage-typing system for Listeria monocytogenes for use in epidemiological studies; McLauchlin J et al.; A typing system for strains of Listeria monocytogenes based on the lytic properties of 28 phages has been evaluated with a set of strains isolated in the UK and tested in a blind trial . The system was highly reproducible and discriminatory, and 64% of all the strains tested could be typed. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Dec, 52(6), 1398 - 402 Thermal resistance of intracellular Listeria monocytogenes cells suspended in raw bovine milk; Bunning VK et al.; The thermal resistance of Listeria monocytogenes associated with a milk-borne outbreak of listeriosis was determined in parallel experiments by using freely suspended bacteria and bacteria internalized by phagocytes . The latter inoculum was generated by an in vitro phagocytosis reaction with immune-antigen-elicited murine peritoneal phagocytes . The heat suspension medium was raw whole bovine milk . Both suspensions were heated at temperatures ranging from 52.2 to 71.7 degrees C for various periods of time . Mean D values for each temperature and condition of heated suspension revealed no significant differences . The extrapolated D71.7 degrees C (161 degrees F) value for bacteria internalized by phagocytes was 1.9 s . Combined tube and slug-flow heat exchanger results yielded an estimated D71.7 degrees C value of 1.6 s for freely suspended bacteria . The intracellular position did not protect L . monocytogenes from thermal inactivation. Infect Immun, 1986 Dec, 54(3), 787 - 92 Synthesis and secretion of interferon by murine fibroblasts in response to intracellular Listeria monocytogenes; Havell EA; Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium, was shown to be capable of infecting and proliferating in murine embryo fibroblasts . During exponential proliferation, the doubling time of the bacterium was determined to be 2.5 h intracellularly, compared with 25 min extracellularly . Progressive intracellular growth of listeriae ultimately resulted in the destruction of initially infected cells and the spread of infection to neighboring cells . Listeria infection induced fibroblasts to synthesize considerable quantities of an acid-stable interferon that proved to be antigenically indistinguishable from both polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced and virus-induced interferon. Immunology, 1986 Dec, 59(4), 521 - 5 Silica decreases phagocytosis and bactericidal activity of both macrophages and neutrophils in vitro; Zimmerman BT et al.; Silica, or silicon dioxide, has been shown to be toxic for macrophages . This is probably because it damages phagolysosomal membranes, allowing lysosomal enzymes to disrupt the cell . Neutrophils also take up particles such as silica and in addition they contain lysosomes . The purpose of this study was to determine whether incubation in vitro with silica inhibits function not only of mouse macrophages, but also of mouse neutrophils . The data show that incubation with silica for 1-3 hr decreases viability of both macrophages and neutrophils . Silica decreases the ability of macrophages and neutrophils to phagocytose both erythrocytes and bacteria, and it inhibits the ability of both cells populations to kill the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes . Thus, it appears that silica, at least in vitro, is harmful to neutrophils as well as to macrophages. Immunol Lett, 1986 Nov 17, 14(1), 21 - 8 Transfer of enhanced resistance against Listeria monocytogenes induced with ribosomal RNA and the adjuvant dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide; Antonissen AC et al.; In this study we investigated the mechanism of enhanced resistance against Listeria monocytogenes induced with Listeria ribosomal RNA and the adjuvant dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) . Mice immunized with DDA alone (which were not protected against Listeria-infection) were used as negative controls . Mice immunized with RNA plus DDA were found to have an increased capacity to mobilize polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and macrophages to the inflamed peritoneal cavity compared to mice immunized with adjuvant alone . Intraperitoneal (i.p.) inflammation was induced by injection of the sterile irritant proteose peptone . The protective capacity of various cell-populations was investigated by i.p . transfer of cells to normal recipient mice and concomitant challenge of recipient animals with a lethal dose of viable Listeria . Inflammatory PMNs as well as inflammatory macrophages from mice immunized with RNA plus DDA protected recipient animals against listeriosis whereas cells from mice immunized with DDA alone failed to do so . Therefore, enhanced mobilization as well as activation of PMNs and macrophages may have contributed to the expression of protection against L . monocytogenes induced with RNA plus DNA. Vet Rec, 1986 Nov 8, 119(19), 467 - 70 Epidemiology of ovine listeriosis in Great Britain; Wilesmith JW et al.; A retrospective study of 75 sheep flocks affected with listeriosis during January to June 1982 was made . Seven flocks experienced more than one form of listeriosis . Encephalitis was the commonest form, occurring in 60 flocks, and only lambs were affected in 10 of these flocks . In the remaining 50 flocks only single cases in adults were recorded in eight flocks . The mean attack rate for encephalitis in adults was 2.5 per cent . Listeric abortions occurred in 18 flocks and was the only form of listeriosis in 13 flocks . Silage was fed in 59 of the affected 60 flocks . A significant association between silage feeding and the development of listeric encephalitis was found in these flocks with the estimated relative risk being 3.8 . Winter housing was not found to be associated with the development of listeric encephalitis. Immunology, 1986 Nov, 59(3), 373 - 8 Immune protective mechanisms during pregnancy . I . Cell-mediated immunity against Listeria monocytogenes in pregnant mice; Shinomiya N et al.; Characteristics of protective mechanisms during pregnancy were investigated using neonatally thymectomized (NTx) and/or pregnant mice infected with sublethal doses of Listeria monocytogenes, of which the explosive growth at an early phase of 2 or 3 days after infection is prevented by non-immune macrophages, and complete elimination at a late phase from 4 to 10 days after infection is attributed to the augmented functions of macrophages in co-operation with lymphokine-producing sensitized T lymphocytes . Although in virgin control mice there was a gradual decline of bacteria from the day after infection, viable bacteria in pregnant mice showed an increase in number until Day 3 . In such pregnant mice, carbon clearance was suppressed . Thus, the enhanced bacterial growth in pregnant mice within 3 days may be attributable to the suppressed functions of non-immune macrophages . Complete elimination of Listeria from Day 4 was observed in pregnant sham-operated mice as well as in non-pregnant and pregnant NTx mice . Twenty-four hour reaction of delayed-type in normal mice induced by sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) was not affected by pregnancy, while 48 hr reaction in mice immunized with SRBC in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was suppressed by pregnancy . We have reported previously that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was produced in the latter but not in the former, and that the tuberculin type of delayed hypersensitivity accompanied by MIF production scarcely participated in acquired resistance to Listeria . Effective elimination of Listeria in pregnant and/or NTx mice at a late phase may be attributable to the activity of cellular immunity comparable to 24 hr reaction . These results suggest that T cells showing a low degree of thymus dependency in the ontogenic development may be the major component required for acquired protective immunity against Listeria and may account for the protection in pregnant mice. Infect Immun, 1986 Nov, 54(2), 303 - 7 Toxicity and induction of resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection by amphotericin B in inbred strains of mice; Brajtburg J et al.; Amphotericin B (AmB) treatment before infection with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes prolonged survival of AKR mice but shortened survival of C57BL/6 mice compared with survival of untreated infected controls . C57BL/6 mice were also more sensitive to the acute toxic effects of AmB than AKR mice, as were (C57BL/6 X AKR)F1 hybrid mice . Spleen cells and erythrocytes (RBCs) from the C57BL/6 and the F1 hybrid mice were both more sensitive to the lytic and lethal effects of AmB than corresponding cells from AKR mice . Biochemical analysis indicated that catalase levels in RBCs from C57BL/6 and F1 hybrid mice were about 60% of those found in RBCs from AKR mice . The lysis by AmB of RBCs from all these strains of mice was inhibited by catalase or incubation in a low-oxygen environment . These findings suggest that (i) the low catalase levels in C57BL/6 and F1 hybrid mice may limit the protection of cells from the oxidant damage involved in AmB action, and (ii) the toxicity which occurs at low concentrations of AmB in the mouse strains with low intracellular catalase levels may interfere with or ablate the AmB-induced increases in mouse resistance to L . monocytogenes infection. Obstet Gynecol, 1986 Nov, 68(5), 593 - 7 Perinatal listeriosis (early-onset): correlation of antenatal manifestations and neonatal outcome; Boucher M et al.; Listeria monocytogenes is an underdiagnosed and underreported cause of congenital sepsis . Twenty mother/infant pairs from whom Listeria was isolated were studied at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and Women's Hospital during the last ten years to delineate antepartum factors indicative of a fetus at high risk for perinatal Listeria sepsis . The combination of high maternal leukocyte count, fetal tachycardia, decreased fetal heart rate variability, and, especially, the absence of intrapartum fetal heart rate accelerations was associated with a complicated course for the neonate with congenital Listeria sepsis . Intrapartum administration of antibiotics decreased fetal morbidity and mortality but did not impair recovery of the organism. J Immunol, 1986 Nov 1, 137(9), 2768 - 73 Peritoneal macrophages exposed to purified macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) suppress mitogen- and antigen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation; Wing EJ et al.; The effect of M-CSF-exposed macrophages on murine splenic lymphocyte responses was determined . Resident peritoneal macrophages incubated with purified M-CSF for 48 hr inhibited lymphocyte proliferation to Con A, PHA, and listerial antigen as determined by {3H}TdR uptake, and inhibited Con A-stimulated lymphocyte IL 2 production . The inhibition was similar to that observed with macrophages from BCG-infected mice . Maximal suppression occurred at M-CSF concentrations of 500 U/ml or greater and when the incubation time with M-CSF was 48 hr or more . M-CSF effect was specific because rabbit anti-M-CSF IgG blocked the suppression whereas control rabbit IgG did not . Secretory products of macrophages could not be implicated in this interaction . Catalase and indomethacin, alone or together, did not reverse the inhibition . In addition, putative suppressive factors were not detected in supernatants of M-CSF-stimulated macrophages . Lymphocytes that were removed from macrophage monolayers and were recultured in medium plus Con A were able to proliferate . Macrophages stimulated by M-CSF therefore appear to have inhibitory activity for proliferating lymphocytes, and may play a role in immunoregulatory mechanisms. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1986 Nov, 150(3), 281 - 6 Inhibitory effect of liposome-encapsulated penicillin G on growth of Listeria monocytogenes in mouse macrophages; Ito M et al.; Administration of penicillin G encapsulated in liposomes inhibited the proliferation of Listeria which infected mouse intraperitoneal resident macrophages whereas free penicillin G and/or liposomes did not . This result suggests that administration of antibiotics encapsulated in liposomes is an effective treatment for the intracellular infection. Rev Infect Dis, 1986 Nov-Dec, 8(6), 968 - 77 Brain abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes: case report and literature review; Dee RR et al.; Listeria monocytogenes is an uncommon cause of brain abscess . Of a total of 14 cases of L . monocytogenes brain abscess (one described for the first time and 13 reported previously in the English-language literature), seven (50%) occurred in patients with leukemia and recipients of renal transplants; four (29%) of the cases occurred in previously healthy individuals . Common clinical findings were similar to those in brain abscess due to other causes and included fever (57%), headache (57%), and focal neurologic signs (64%) . Distinctive, however, was the unusually high frequency of associated meningitis and bacteremia; blood cultures were positive in all eight cases in which they were performed . Eight (57%) of the 14 patients died . L . monocytogenes should be included in the differential diagnosis of brain abscess in patients with leukemia and in renal transplant recipients . Listerial brain abscess is highly unlikely when blood culture results are negative. J Infect, 1986 Nov, 13(3), 235 - 9 Neonatal listeriosis due to cross-infection in an obstetric theatre; Simmons MD et al.; Two cases of neonatal listeriosis following Caesarean section are reported . Evidence is presented which suggests that cross-infection took place in the obstetric operating theatre . The first case shows the features of early-onset disease while the second illustrates the late-onset pattern . Listeria monocytogenes was isolated also from the mother of the first baby . The two neonatal disease patterns are discussed. Infect Immun, 1986 Nov, 54(2), 315 - 21 Analysis of macrophage bactericidal function in genetically resistant and susceptible mice by using the temperature-sensitive mutant of Listeria monocytogenes; Gervais F et al.; Innate resistance to infection by Listeria monocytogenes is genetically controlled and is critically dependent on prompt macrophage recruitment to the sites of infection . Experiments reported here were designed to examine whether there was an additional, qualitative difference between the intrinsic bactericidal activity of the inflammatory macrophages of genetically resistant (C57BL/6J) and susceptible (A/J) hosts . To critically evaluate the bactericidal (rather than bacteriostatic) function of the macrophage, a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of L . monocytogenes was developed . Mutagenesis was induced with nitrosoguanidine, and the ts mutants were isolated following enrichment with penicillin-gentamicin combinations . The ts mutants were found to carry the cell surface and biochemical characteristics of the original wild-type strain of L . monocytogenes . Inflammatory peritoneal macrophages from resistant C57BL/6J mice were found to have enhanced listericidal activity when compared with inflammatory macrophages from susceptible A/J mice . However, further analysis of the macrophage populations revealed that this seemingly qualitative advantage was due to the relatively greater proportion of inflammatory macrophages present in the inflammatory exudates of resistant C57BL/6J mice . When homogeneous populations of pure inflammatory macrophages were compared, no interstrain differences in their listericidal activity in vitro were seen . These results suggest that the susceptibility of A/J strain mice to L . monocytogenes is not due to an intrinsic deficiency of the listericidal activity of the inflammatory macrophage . The slight increase in bactericidal activity of macrophages from resistant mice that was reported by others (C . J . Czuprynski, B . P . Canono, P . M . Henson, and P . A . Campbell, Immunology 55:511-518, 1985) is caused by the difference in the relative percentage of resident cells present in the peritoneal exudates from resistant and susceptible mice. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Nov, 52(5), 1215 - 7 Improved Listeria monocytogenes selective agar; Lee WH et al.; By increasing the LiCl concentration to 5 g/liter and adding 20 mg of moxalactam per liter to modified McBride agar base, it was possible to inhibit the growth of many bacteria which interfered with the recovery of Listeria monocytogenes from beef. J Infect Dis, 1986 Nov, 154(5), 770 - 7 Relation of cytosolic calcium to the microbicidal activation of blood monocytes by recombinant gamma interferon; Kemmerich B et al.; Oxygen metabolism and calcium ion (Ca++) handling in blood monocytes were greatly affected by treatment with recombinant gamma interferon (rIFN-gamma) . Incubating the monocytes with rIFN-gamma resulted in increased basal production of superoxide anion, as well as a significantly enhanced respiratory burst in response to concanavalin A (Con A) . A concomitant increase in microbicidal activity against Listeria monocytogenes was observed, and cell membrane permeability to Ca++ was enhanced by treatment with rIFN-gamma . Con A stimulation was also associated with acute rises in cytosolic-free calcium, and these calcium transients were greatly augmented in cells pretreated with rIFN-gamma . The enhanced respiratory burst and the increased calcium transients were completely neutralized by a monoclonal antibody to rIFN-gamma . Furthermore, enhancement of the respiratory burst and calcium transients occurred in a parallel dose-response range for rIFN-gamma . Blocking the intracellular release of calcium into cytosol by TMB-8 abrogated the capacity of rIFN-gamma to enhance the monocyte respiratory burst . Thus, not only was rIFN-gamma treatment of monocytes associated with altered calcium metabolism, but calcium from intracellular pools was essential to the expression of this activated state during Con A stimulation. Cell Immunol, 1986 Oct 15, 102(2), 315 - 22 Functions of mononuclear phagocytes in mice exposed to diethylstilbestrol: a model of aberrant macrophage development; Dean JH et al.; Administration of the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) lowers the systemic resistance of mice to challenge with either tumor cells or the facultative intracellular parasite Listeria monocytogenes . To assess the potential role of impaired mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) function in this depression of host resistance, we addressed the question of systemic perturbations of the MPS induced by administration of DES . A panel of objective quantitative markers which have been previously shown to identify and characterize macrophages in the several stages of development of activation was employed . DES perturbed the resident population of peritoneal macrophages by increasing their number approximately twofold and by enhancing their competence for phagocytosis, cytostasis of tumor cells, and secretion of plasminogen activator . When we examined the competence of the MPS in DES-treated mice to respond to challenge with activating stimuli, we found that DES systemically suppressed the development of macrophages, in response to either pyran copolymer or BCG, to develop tumoricidal function and to gain competence for secretion of reactive oxygen intermediates such as H2O2 . Since these data suggested that DES inhibited the development of macrophages from a precursor stage (i.e., responsive macrophages) to activated macrophages in vivo, we tested this possibility directly by applying known activating signals in vitro to responsive macrophages . Responsive macrophages from DES-treated mice did not become activated in response to the application of two known potent activating signals (i.e., MAF + LPS) . Taken together, the data indicate that DES systemically perturbs the MPS and does so by enhancing development of the early stages of maturation and suppressing subsequent development. J Immunol, 1986 Oct 15, 137(8), 2688 - 94 Antigen-specific Lyt-2+ cytolytic T lymphocytes from mice infected with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes; De Libero G et al.; In vitro expanded T cell lines were used to determine whether antigen-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes are generated after infection with the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes . Spleen cells from infected mice were cultured in the presence of syngeneic accessory cells, listerial antigen, and interleukin 2 containing supernatants . Cell lines were greater than 98% Thy-1+, L3T4-, Lyt-2+ . Bone-marrow macrophages were used as target cells in two in vitro cytolytic assay systems . The Lyt-2+ T cells killed bone marrow macrophages only when infected with L . monocytogenes as assessed in a 4-hr 51Cr release assay and in an 18-hr neutral red uptake assay . Cytolysis was blocked by anti-LFA-1 and anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibodies . These cytolytic T cells produced interferon-gamma after co-stimulation with antigen, accessory cells, and recombinant interleukin 2 . Bone marrow macrophages infected with Mycobacterium bovis were not killed by T cells from L . monocytogenes-infected mice but by T cell lines from M . bovis-infected mice, indicating that cytolysis was antigen specific . L . monocytogenes-infected target cells of different haplotype were lysed by the Lyt-2+ T cells . By using a low cell density split culture system, antigen-specific, H-2-restricted cytolytic T cells could be identified . These findings demonstrate that during infection with intracellular bacteria, Lyt-2+ T cells with cytolytic activity are generated that may be involved in antibacterial protection. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1986 Oct, 93(10), 1083 - 7 Perinatal listeriosis . A report of six cases; Khong TY et al.; The clinical and pathological findings in six patients with perinatal listeriosis are presented . One pregnancy resulted in a live-born infant who developed listerial septicaemia but made a complete recovery following prompt treatment . The other pregnancies ended in intrauterine death . Often antecedent maternal prodromal illness preceded expulsion of a macerated fetus by only a matter of hours making early diagnosis difficult . In all cases the diagnosis of listerial infection was apparent only after the birth of the fetus or new born. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 1986 Oct, 86(1), 140 - 4 Immunotoxicity studies in mice exposed to methyl isocyanate; Luster MI et al.; The effects of methyl isocyanate (MIC) on systemic immunity were evaluated in female B6C3F1 mice exposed via inhalation to 0, 1, or 3 ppm for 6 hr per day on four consecutive days . Humoral immunity, measured as the antibody response to sheep erythrocytes, and natural killer cell activity were not affected by MIC . Furthermore, resistance to the infectious agents Listeria monocytogenes, mouse malaria parasite, and influenza virus, or to B16F10 transplantable tumor cells, was not compromised by MIC exposure . Although lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens were not significantly suppressed, the response of splenic lymphocytes to allogeneic leukocytes in a mixed leukocyte response (MLR) was suppressed in a dose-related fashion and differed significantly from the control response at the 3-ppm level . These studies indicate that MIC exposure in mice does not severely alter systemic immunity . The moderate changes detected in immune function may be a secondary consequence of respiratory toxicity which occurred in these animals. Infect Immun, 1986 Oct, 54(1), 245 - 9 Effect of acute nutritional deprivation on macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage progenitor cells in mice; Wing EJ et al.; The effect of short-term nutritional deprivation on host defenses and on the parameters of macrophage production was determined in outbred mice . Confirming previous data from this laboratory, initial experiments demonstrated that starved mice were relatively resistant to infection by Listeria monocytogenes as determined by spleen and liver bacterial counts . The number of macrophage progenitor cells in bone marrow rose slightly during a 72-h starvation period and returned to normal during refeeding . By contrast, the number of progenitor cells in spleens fell to 12% of the base line during starvation . The concentration of the macrophage colony-stimulating factor in serum decreased during starvation and returned to normal during refeeding . Additional experiments were performed to determine whether starved mice had increased parameters of macrophage production during listerial infection . The number of progenitor cells in the bone marrow and spleens of starved mice had increased compared with that of fed mice early in infection . Macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels in starved mice rose early and remained elevated during infection but were not as high as in fed mice . These data document the changes in the parameters of monocyte production during starvation and suggest that the number of macrophage progenitor cells may be related to increased resistance to L . monocytogenes. Can J Microbiol, 1986 Oct, 32(10), 791 - 5 Growth and thermal inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in cabbage and cabbage juice; Beuchat LR et al.; Studies were done to determine the interacting effects of pH, NaCl, temperature, and time on growth, survival, and death of two strains of Listeria monocytogenes . Viable population of the organism steadily declined in heat-sterilized cabbage stored at 5 degrees C for 42 days . In contrast, the organism grew on raw cabbage during the first 25 days of a 64-day storage period at 5 degrees C . Growth was observed in heat-sterilized unclarified cabbage juice containing less than or equal to 5% NaCl and tryptic phosphate broth containing less than or equal to 10% NaCl . Rates of thermal inactivation increased as pH of clarified cabbage juice heating medium was decreased from 5.6 to 4.0 . At 58 degrees C (pH 5.6), 4 X 10(6) cells/mL were reduced to undetectable levels within 10 min . Thermal inactivation rates in clarified cabbage juice (pH 5.6) were not significantly influenced by the presence of up to 2% NaCl; however, heat-stressed cells had increased sensitivity to NaCl in tryptic soy agar recovery medium . Cold enrichment of heat-stressed cells at 5 degrees C for 21 days enhanced resuscitation . Results indicate that L . monocytogenes can proliferate on refrigerated (5 degrees C) raw cabbage which, in turn, may represent a hazard to health of the consumer . Heat pasteurization treatments normally given to cabbage juice or sauerkraut would be expected to kill any L . monocytogenes cells which may be present. Br J Exp Pathol, 1986 Oct, 67(5), 707 - 17 Effects of recombinant interferon-gamma and chemotherapy with isoniazid and rifampicin on infections of mouse peritoneal macrophages with Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium microti in vitro; Khor M et al.; The effect of recombinant murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes for 4 h and Mycobacterium microti for up to 3 days in monolayers of peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice was examined by serial viable counts of cell-associated bacteria . Macrophages pretreated with 10 u IFN-gamma per ml were bacteriostatic and with 100 u or 1000 u per ml were bactericidal against L . monocytogenes . Addition of IFN-gamma 3 days before infection caused monolayers to be bactericidal against M . microti mainly during the first 15 min after infection . This was just evident with 10 u IFN-gamma per ml and greater with 100 u or 1000 u per ml . If IFN-gamma was added when phagocytosis of M . microti was complete, about 2 h after infection, its action was only bacteriostatic, the viable counts remaining stationary while those of unexposed monolayers increased . IFN-gamma 100 u per ml added before infection did not alter the bactericidal activity of rifampicin 10 mg/l, nor did it alter the killing curves for isoniazid 1 mg/l or for rifampicin 10 mg/l if added after completion of phagocytosis. J Immunol, 1986 Oct 1, 137(7), 2373 - 9 Role of protein kinase C and intracellular calcium mobilization in the induction of macrophage tumoricidal activity by interferon-gamma; Celada A et al.; These studies were designed to test the hypothesis that changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels and activation of the calcium ion- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C were required for the induction of macrophage tumoricidal activity by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . Phenothiazines and R24571, known antagonists of calcium-binding proteins and therefore nonspecific inhibitors of protein kinase C, blocked in a dose-dependent manner the induction of macrophage cytocidal activity by either natural or recombinant IFN-gamma . Macrophages depleted of intracellular Ca2+ by chelation with Quin 2, were also unresponsive to IFN-gamma . These treatments effected neither the binding of IFN-gamma to its cell surface receptor nor the normal intracellular processing of IFN-gamma . Activators of protein kinase C (such as phorbol esters) and Ca2+ ionophores when added alone did not effect the activation state of the macrophage population . However, macrophages exposed to both drugs in combination were elevated into the primed activation state such that in the presence of a second signal (lipopolysaccharide or heat killed Listeria monocytogenes), the cells were triggered to express full levels of tumoricidal activity . The capacity of phorbol esters to induce cellular activation correlated with their ability to bind and to activate protein kinase C . No synergistic effect was observed between IFN-gamma and protein kinase C activators and/or Ca2+ ionophores, indicating that the drugs could only prime and could not trigger macrophages for tumor cell killing . These results thus support the concept that protein kinase C activation and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ are essential steps in the pathway of IFN-gamma-dependent induction of non-specific tumoricidal activity in macrophages. J Bacteriol, 1986 Oct, 168(1), 115 - 22 Structural studies on lipoteichoic acids from four Listeria strains; Uchikawa K et al.; The lipoteichoic acids were isolated from phenol extracts of four Listeria strains representing serotypes 4a, 4b, 6a, and 6 to compare the differences in structure of amphiphilic polysaccharides from various serotypes of Listeria spp . The lipoteichoic acids from the four strains examined had the same structure in both hydrophilic chains and lipid portions . On the basis of the results of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Smith degradation, the hydrophilic chains were shown to be 1,3-linked poly(glycerol phosphate) in which some of the glycerol residues had alpha-galactosyl substituents . The lipid portions were released by treatment with 46% hydrogen fluoride or 98% acetic acid . They were determined to be 3(1)-(2'-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-1(3), 2-diacylglycerol and 3(1)-{6'-phosphatidyl-2'-O-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-alpha- D-glucopyranosyl}-1(3),2-diacylglycerol . The degrees of glycosyl substitution and proportions of the two lipids varied to some extent among these four strains. Environ Res, 1986 Oct, 41(1), 351 - 6 The effect of SO2 on the clearance of Listeria monocytogenes from the lungs of emphysematous hamsters; Trimpe KL et al.; The effect of sulphur dioxide on the clearance of Listeria monocytogenes from normal and emphysematous hamsters was assessed by measuring the number of colony forming units recovered from whole lung homogenates . Continuous exposure to SO2 after intratracheal instillation of Listeria significantly altered the clearance of viable bacteria from the lungs of emphysematous but not normal hamsters . Preexposure of hamsters to SO2 for 2 weeks prior to respiratory infection had similar effects . The emphysematous hamsters exposed to SO2 had a lower average number of Listeria in the lungs after the first week of infection than control groups . This effect appears to result from the combined influence of the SO2, the Listeria infection, and the emphysematous condition within the lungs. Am J Vet Res, 1986 Sep, 47(9), 1956 - 60 Immunotoxic effects of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated immunity to listeriosis in mice: comparison with cyclophosphamide; Corrier DE et al.; Immunotoxic effects of T-2 toxin and cyclophosphamide on cell-mediated resistance were evaluated in mice exposed to Listeria monocytogenes infection . Mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 4.0 X 10(5) (LD50) or 4.0 X 10(4) (nonlethal) L monocytogenes and were treated with 4.0 mg of T-2 toxin/kg of body weight or 180 mg of cyclophosphamide/kg . The immunosuppressive effect of the toxin and cyclophosphamide was indicated by the rapid growth of Listeria and significant (P less than 0.005) increases in mortality because of listeriosis . Necrosis and depletion of lymphoid tissue, lymphopenia, and significant (P less than 0.005) decreases in the influx and number of lymphocytes and macrophages occurred in Listeria-elicited peritoneal exudates and at sites of infection in the liver and spleen of the toxin- and cyclophosphamide-treated mice . Immunotoxic effects of T-2 toxin and cyclophosphamide were comparable and attributed primarily to the depletion of T lymphocytes and the subsequent failure of surviving immunologically committed T cells and T-cell dependent immune-activated macrophages to clear the host of bacteria. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1986 Sep, 262(3), 403 - 11 {Virulence of Listeria welshimeri}; Kluge R et al.; The species L . welshimeri consists of non-pathogenic bacteria . 16 different strains which were characterized biochemically were unable to multiply within adult NMRI mice after injection of a high dose of about 10(7) bacteria . Even macrophage depleted animals, which were obtained by treatment with highmolecular dextran sulfate, could eliminate L . welshimeri . 5 day old baby mice were resistant against L . welshimeri . L . innocua was as avirulent as L . welshimeri, whereas L . monocytogenes was virulent, since these bacteria multiplied in adult animals, killed macrophage depleted adult mice as well as baby mice after injection of low doses. Cell Immunol, 1986 Sep, 101(2), 548 - 57 Characterization of three different rat T-cell clones with specificity to Listeria monocytogenes: phenotype, specific proliferation, lymphokine production, and protective capacity in vivo; Stolpmann RM et al.; Splenic T lymphocytes from rats immunized with the facultative intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, were cloned by the limiting-dilution technique . From several clones obtained, three have been scrutinized in detail . As demonstrated by their reactivity to the monoclonal antibodies, W3/25 and MRC OX8, the clones RVIIC2 and R23D6 are of helper cell phenotype, whereas cells from clone R30D5 express both the helper and the cytotoxic/suppressor cell markers . Proliferation of all three clones critically depends on antigen-presenting cells, exogenous interleukin 2, Listeria antigen, and on class II-restricted antigen presentation by accessory cells . There are differences between cells from different clones with respect to the degree of production of migration inhibitory and macrophage-activating factors . Thus, T lymphocytes of clones R23D6 and R30D5 are highly active, whereas cells of clone RVIIC2 showed markedly less production of these factors . In vivo studies, analyzing the capacity of cells to transfer systemic protection, showed a positive correlation between the production of migration inhibitory factor, macrophage-activating factor, and systemic protection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Aug, 30(2), 295 - 300 Effect of liposome-entrapped ampicillin on survival of Listeria monocytogenes in murine peritoneal macrophages; Bakker-Woudenberg IA et al.; The effect of liposomal encapsulation of ampicillin on the antibacterial activity against intracellular Listeria monocytogenes was studied by comparing survival of L . monocytogenes within peritoneal mouse macrophages in the presence of free ampicillin alone or in combination with liposome-entrapped ampicillin . In the presence of 50 micrograms of free ampicillin per ml of the incubation medium, intracellular growth of L . monocytogenes was still observed, although less as compared with intracellular growth in the absence of ampicillin . At a concentration of 50 micrograms of free ampicillin plus 100 micrograms of liposome-entrapped ampicillin per ml, 99% of the intracellular bacteria were killed . On the other hand, a concentration of 150 micrograms of free ampicillin per ml plus empty liposomes only inhibited intracellular bacterial growth, and the bacteria were not killed . In addition, empty liposomes at a concentration of 1 mumol of lipid per ml had no effect on intracellular bacterial growth . In broth, liposome-entrapped ampicillin at a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml was not bactericidal for L . monocytogenes, indicating that significant leakage of ampicillin from the liposomes with subsequent killing of the bacteria by the free drug did not occur . Therefore, we concluded that liposomal encapsulation of ampicillin results in an increased availability of the antibiotic for the intracellular bacteria. Cell Tissue Kinet, 1986 Jul, 19(4), 407 - 17 Complement split product C5a mediates the lipopolysaccharide-induced mobilization of CFU-s and haemopoietic progenitor cells, but not the mobilization induced by proteolytic enzymes; Molendijk WJ et al.; Intravenous (i.v.) injection of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the proteolytic enzymes trypsin and proteinase, mobilizes pluripotent haemopoietic stem cells (CFU-s) as well as granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (GM-CFU) and the early progenitors of the erythroid lineage (E-BFU) from the haemopoietic tissues into the peripheral blood . We investigated the involvement of the complement (C) system in this process . It appeared that the early mobilization induced by LPS and other activators of the alternative complement pathway, such as Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and zymosan, but not that induced by the proteolytic enzymes, was absent in C5-deficient mice . The mobilization by C activators in these mice could be restored by injection of C5-sufficient serum, suggesting a critical role for C5 . The manner in which C5 was involved in the C activation-mediated stem cell mobilization was studied using a serum transfer system . C5-sufficient serum, activated in vitro by incubation with Lm and subsequently liberated from the bacteria, caused mobilization in both C5-sufficient and C5-deficient mice . C5-deficient serum was not able to do so . The resistance of the mobilizing principle to heat treatment (56 degrees C, 30 min) strongly suggests that it is identical with the C5 split product C5a, or an in vivo derivative of C5a . This conclusion was reinforced by the observation that a single injection of purified rat C5a into C5-deficient mice also induced mobilization of CFU-s. Immunology, 1986 Jul, 58(3), 437 - 43 The relative difference in anti-Listeria resistance of C57BL/6 and A/J mice is not eliminated by active immunization or by transfer of Listeria-immune T cells; Czuprynski CJ et al.; In this study, we examined the effects of active and adoptive immunization on the anti-Listeria resistance of innately resistant C57BL/6 and innately susceptible A/J mice . Although active immunization with a sublethal dose of viable Listeria monocytogenes markedly enhanced the anti-Listeria resistance of both C57BL/6 and A/J mice, the 100-fold difference between the two strains in innate anti-Listeria resistance was not diminished . Following immunization with an equivalent sublethal dose (0.1 LD50) of L . monocytogenes, both C57BL/6 and A/J mice generated T cells that could transfer significant and comparable protection to syngeneic recipients that were challenged with up to a 10 LD50 dose of L . monocytogenes . When the absolute number of viable Listeria was compared, however, it was clear that T cells from immunized C57BL/6 mice were capable of transferring protection to syngeneic recipients at Listeria challenge doses that were more than 100-fold greater than could T cells from Listeria-immunized A/J mice . Both active immunization and adoptive transfer of syngeneic Listeria-immune T cells enhanced the accumulation of inflammatory neutrophils and macrophages in C57BL/6 and A/J mice . More inflammatory neutrophils were recovered from actively immunized C57BL/6 than from A/J mice, whereas more inflammatory macrophages were obtained from adoptively immunized C57BL/6 than from A/J mice . These results provide further evidence for the beneficial role of inflammation in genetically determined innate resistance and T-cell mediated resistance to listeriosis . These data also suggest that some mechanism in addition to inflammatory responsiveness may be responsible for limiting the expression of acquired anti-Listeria resistance in genetically susceptible A/J mice. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1986 Jul-Dec, 79(7-12), 183 - 6 Evaluation of anti-Listeria monocytogenes antibodies by ELISA; Mastroeni P et al.; A new ELISA test using the purified Listeria monocytogenes-derived antigen LM 84 Ag is described together with its application in the diagnosis of listeriosis . Fifty-seven human sera were titrated by the ELISA and the complement fixation method and compared for specificity and sensitivity . The problem of possible cross-reactions with other antigens is discussed. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1986 Jul, 189(1), 48 - 50 {Acute chorioretinitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes}; Huismans H; The present paper reports on a case of acute chorioretinitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a 16-year-old girl . The inflammatory process was brought to a standstill by antibiotic therapy in combination with systemic cortisone administration . Final visual acuity in the affected eye was 0.8-1.0. Arch Toxicol, 1986 Jul, 59(2), 71 - 7 Induction of immunotoxicity in mice by polyhalogenated biphenyls; Lubet RA et al.; Acute administration of Aroclor-1254 (500 mg/kg) or 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) (2-6 mg/kg) IP, profoundly inhibited the plaque forming response to subsequent challenge with sheep erythrocytes in Ah locus positive (C57Bl/6N or B6C3F1N) mice . These studies showed: the immunotoxicity results paralleled enzyme induction results insofar as HBB was approximately 100 times more potent than Aroclor 1254; neither Aroclor nor HBB treatment caused significant induction in the Ah locus negative DBA/2N mice; when B6C3F1 mice were challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) 6 or 16 weeks post Aroclor 1254 treatment, substantial recovery of a PFC response was observed; when these compounds were administered to older (76-week-old) (B6C3F1 mice, severe depression of a PFC response was observed . In contrast to its profound depression of a PFC response, Aroclor-1254 (up to 1250 mg/kg) caused slight increases in lymphocyte proliferation induced by either T or B cell mitogens . A single 500 mg/kg dose of Aroclor-1254 also suppressed the ability of recipient B6C3F1 animals to reject a challenge with either the syngenic fibrosarcoma (PYB6) or the gram negative pathogen (Listeria monocytogenes). J Infect, 1986 Jul, 13(1), 17 - 23 The effect of coumermycin on experimental listeriosis; Hof H; The in vitro susceptibilities of Listeria spp . to coumermycin and novobiocin were tested . Coumermycin (0.015-0.12 mg/l) displayed lower minimum inhibitory concentrations than novobiocin (1-2 mg/l) . There was only a narrow range of susceptibilities among 52 strains of Listeria spp . Bactericidal activity, however, could not be found . The in vivo activities of coumermycin were tested in mice . In normal adult mice infected with a virulent strain of L . monocytogenes the bacterial counts decreased rapidly after parenteral treatment with 2 mg twice daily but not after oral administration of 4 mg twice daily . Bacterial eradication was so effective that an immune response was prevented . Even in congenitally athymic mice a complete cure could be achieved. J Comp Pathol, 1986 Jul, 96(4), 415 - 24 Evaluation of phagocytic function in Mycobacterium lepraemurium infection; Ha DK et al.; Infection of mice with Mycobacterium lepraemurium caused significant functional alterations of the mononuclear phagocyte system . Accelerated clearance of sheep red blood cells was consistently demonstrated throughout the infection and the infected mice showed progressive anaemia . Infected mice showed an enhanced ability to limit growth of phagocytosed Listeria monocytogenes in spleens during the early stages of infection, whereas moribund leprous mice lost this ability . Autoradiography showed that uninfected Kupffer cells and splenic macrophages of moribund mice could still phagocytose Listeria, suggesting that MLM infection did not affect the capacity of Listeria to localize to macrophages but interfered in some way with subsequent killing of such bacteria . The possible mechanisms underlying these observations are discussed. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Jul, 52(1), 59 - 63 Effect of temperature, sodium chloride, and pH on growth of Listeria monocytogenes in cabbage juice; Conner DE et al.; Human illness and death have resulted from the consumption of milk, cheese, and cole slaw contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes . Since the effects of temperature, NaCl, and pH on the growth of the organism in cabbage were unknown, a series of experiments was designed to investigate these factors . Two strains (LCDC 81-861 and Scott A, both serotype 4b) were examined . At 30 degrees C, the viable population of the LCDC 81-861 strain increased in sterile unclarified cabbage juice (CJ) containing 0 to 1.5% NaCl; a decrease in the population of both strains occurred in juice containing greater than or equal to 2% NaCl . At 5 degrees C, the population of the Scott A strain in CJ containing up to 5% NaCl was reduced by about 90% over a 70-day period; the LCDC 81-861 strain was more sensitive to refrigeration but remained viable in CJ containing less than or equal to 3.5% NaCl for 70 days . Growth in CJ at 30 degrees C resulted in a decrease in pH from 5.6 to 4.1 within 8 days . Death of L . monocytogenes occurred at 30 degrees C when the organism was inoculated into sterile CJ adjusted to pH less than or equal to 4.6 with lactic acid . No viable cells were detected after 3 days at pH less than or equal to 4.2 . At 5 degrees C, the rate of death at pH less than or equal to 4.8 was slower than at 30 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Exp Med, 1986 Jul 1, 164(1), 363 - 8 Listeria monocytogenes-reactive T lymphocyte clones with cytolytic activity against infected target cells; Kaufmann SH et al.; Lyt-2+ T cell clones were established from Listeria monocytogenes-infected mice . The clones secreted IFN-gamma after stimulation with spleen cells from L . monocytogenes-infected mice plus IL-2 . Spleen cells from normal mice were not stimulatory . Furthermore, cloned T cells lysed L . monocytogenes-infected macrophages . Cytolysis was antigen-specific and H-2K-restricted . These findings suggest a role for specific cytotoxic T cells in the immune response to intracellular bacteria. J Cell Physiol, 1986 Jul, 128(1), 9 - 17 Effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on protein synthesis in murine peritoneal macrophages: relationship to activation for macrophage tumoricidal function; Hamilton TA et al.; Early biochemical events in the response of murine peritoneal macrophages to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been examined (i.e., 0-4 hr after initiation of treatment) . At concentrations of 10 ng/ml or less, LPS stimulated the new or enhanced synthesis of a series of at least six polypeptides of 85, 80, 75, 65, 57, and 38 kD . This effect was dependent upon the lipid A moiety of LPS as lipid A itself could induce the changes and the effect of LPS could be blocked by inclusion of polymixin B sulfate in the culture medium . The effect was specific for LPS in that other endotoxin-free agents known to alter macrophage physiology could not produce the same changes . The time course of LPS stimulation of macrophage protein synthesis was remarkable in that the synthesis of all six proteins was transient even in the continued presence of LPS, being first detected approximately 1 hr after exposure and no longer apparent by 8-10 hr after treatment was initiated . Furthermore, both pulse-chase and cumulative radiolabeling studies indicated that at least two of the proteins (85 and 38 kD) were short-lived and did not accumulate in LPS-treated cells, suggesting the possibility that they participate in a regulatory rather than a functional role . Macrophage tumoricidal activation involves cooperation in response to two independent signals; interferon gamma and LPS . Pretreatment of macrophages with interferon gamma increased the sensitivity of macrophages to LPS-stimulated protein synthesis by one to two orders of magnitude documenting such cooperativity in molecular terms . The LPS-induced stimulation of specific protein synthesis could be reproduced by treatment of macrophages with heat killed Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive, endotoxin-negative bacterial stain which has been shown to substitute effectively for LPS in macrophage tumoricidal activation . Furthermore, reversible inhibition (i.e., treatment with cycloheximide) of protein synthesis during LPS treatment abrogated the acquisition of tumoricidal function . These results identify an early biochemical response to LPS which may be a necessary component of the intracellular transduction of signals which regulate macrophage functional development. J Immunol, 1986 Jul 1, 137(1), 4 - 9 Regulation of macrophage Ia expression in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency: induction of Ia expression by a T cell-independent mechanism; Bancroft GJ et al.; We have studied the expression of Ia molecules by macrophages from mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (CB-17 scid) that lack demonstrable T cell and B cell functions . CB-17 scid mice had approximately normal numbers of Ia-bearing macrophages in the peritoneal cavity, spleen, and liver . Peritoneal macrophages responded in culture to T cell-derived lymphokines with enhanced expression of Ia molecules . However, unlike immunocompetent controls, SCID mice could not enhance Ia expression in an antigen-specific T cell-dependent manner after secondary challenge in vivo with a conventional protein antigen such as hemocyanin . Further demonstration of their T cell deficiency was the failure of CB-17 scid spleen cells to proliferate and produce IL 2 in response to the T cell mitogen, concanavalin A . Upon infection with Listeria monocytogenes, CB-17 scid mice developed chronically high loads of bacteria, whereas CB-17 control mice eliminated all viable bacteria and became resistant to secondary infection . However, Listeria-infected CB-17 scid mice did show, in parallel with the CB-17 controls, an unexpected and striking increase of Ia-positive macrophages . These data indicate that induction of Ia expression in macrophages can occur via a mechanism that is independent of mature T cells. J Immunol, 1986 Jul 1, 137(1), 10 - 4 In vivo and in vitro expression of macrophage membrane interleukin 1 in response to soluble and particulate stimuli; Kurt-Jones EA et al.; We examined the expression of a membrane form of interleukin 1 (IL 1) by macrophages . Murine peritoneal macrophages fixed immediately after harvesting, in suspension, did not show membrane IL 1 . Membrane IL 1 was expressed after a 3-hr culture on plastic dishes . These findings allowed us to examine some conditions in vivo that may trigger the expression of this protein; that is, by fixing the macrophages in suspension we could determine if a given stimulus had an effect . We found that membrane IL 1 was expressed briefly after administration of live or dead Listeria monocytogenes or endotoxin . Serum proteins were ineffective . At the time of maximal activation of macrophages by live Listeria, membrane IL 1 was not expressed . Analysis of in vitro conditions indicated that expression of membrane IL 1 and Ia molecules could be dissociated . In culture, recombinant interferon-gamma induced Ia but no membrane IL 1 . Uptake of dead Listeria organisms had no effect on Ia but triggered membrane IL 1 . The stimulation of membrane IL 1 was not caused by phagocytosis per se: latex particles were ineffective . Opsonized red cells stimulated membrane IL 1 on macrophages that were activated in vivo by inflammatory stimuli. Immunology, 1986 Jul, 58(3), 371 - 7 Localization of antigen-specific lymphocytes following lymph node challenge; Liu H et al.; The effect of subcutaneous injections of Brucella abortus strain 19 antigen on the specific localization of autologous lymphocytes in the regional nodes of calves was analysed by fluorescent labelling and flow cytometry . Both in vitro and in vivo FITC labelling of lymphocytes indicated the preferential migration of lymphocytes from a previously challenged lymph node to a recently challenged lymph node . However, lymphocytes from a lymph node challenged with B . abortus failed to localize preferentially in a lymph node challenged with a control antigen, Listeria monocytogenes . Lymph node cells, enriched for T lymphocytes and isolated from primary stimulated or secondary challenged B . abortus lymph nodes, could proliferate when cultured with autologous antigen-pulsed macrophages . The kinetics of {3H}thymidine incorporation in lymphocytes from secondarily challenged lymph nodes occurred earlier and to a greater extent when compared with lymphocytes from primary challenged lymph nodes . Our data show that the accumulation of B . abortus-specific lymphocytes in secondarily challenged lymph nodes is increased by the presence of the specific antigen. J Immunol, 1986 Jun 15, 136(12), 4348 - 53 Cyclosporine inhibits macrophage-mediated antigen presentation; Palay DA et al.; The influence of cyclosporine on antigen-specific, macrophage-dependent T cell activation was analyzed in vitro . Murine T cell activation by antigens derived from Listeria monocytogenes was monitored by the production of interleukin 2 . Pretreatment (2 hr, 37 degrees C) of macrophages with cyclosporine resulted in a cell population with a markedly diminished capacity to support the activation of T lymphocytes . When cyclosporine-pretreated macrophages were added to cultures of untreated T cells and antigen, the dose of cyclosporine that produced 50% inhibition (ID50) was 1.5 micrograms/ml, and if antigen was present during the drug pretreatment, the ID50 was 0.6 micrograms/ml . Pretreatment of T cells also inhibited their subsequent activation by antigen and untreated macrophages, but a higher dose of cyclosporine was required to produce similar inhibition (ID50 = 4.4 micrograms/ml) . Additional experiments focused on the mechanism of inhibition of antigen presentation when macrophages were pretreated with the drug . The addition of interleukin 1 or indomethacin to the cultures did not alter the inhibitory effect of cyclosporine . Under conditions that produced greater than 90% inhibition of antigen presentation, macrophage surface Ia expression was not altered, and the uptake and catabolism of radiolabeled antigen remained normal . Thus, cyclosporine had profound effects on antigen presentation that appear to be unrelated to decreases in interleukin 1 production, increases in prostaglandin production, decreases in Ia expression, or changes in antigen uptake and catabolism. Clin Obstet Gynaecol, 1986 Jun, 13(2), 397 - 416 Prescribing in pregnancy . Bacterial infections in pregnancy; Chapman ST; Certain infections, such as UTI, may have an increased incidence during pregnancy owing to physiological changes . Between 2 and 10% of pregnant women have covert or asymptomatic bacteriuria which is associated with an increased incidence of acute symptomatic UTI in later pregnancy if left untreated . Thus antenatal screening to detect the presence of bacteriuria is justified . Most women will remain abacteriuric throughout the remainder of pregnancy after a single course of antibiotic therapy but a small percentage will fail to respond or have recurrent UTIs . Maternal infection with certain organisms, namely those which resist phagocytosis, may result in transplacental infection of the fetus in utero . Congenital syphilis is preventable and antenatal serological screening is usually routinely performed . Listeriosis following maternal infection in pregnancy is less predictable and the epidemiology of L . monocytogenes remains unclear . Genital tract carriage of sexually transmitted organisms, such as N . gonorrhoeae or C . trachomatis, may also be detected during pregnancy and antibiotic therapy will be indicated to eradicate such organisms and prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity . Antibiotic therapy during pregnancy will not, however, eradicate carriage of GBS from the genital tract, although carriage status at term can now be reliably predicted by using enriched culture techniques and swabbing multiple sites on more than one occasion . Where carriage is confirmed, the administration of intrapartum antibiotics to the mother appears a useful approach in the prevention of early onset neonatal GBS disease . Broad spectrum intrapartum antibiotics may also be indicated when there are complications, such as prolonged labour or premature rupture of membranes, which are associated with a higher incidence of maternal postpartum endometritis and morbidity than in women following uncomplicated vaginal delivery . Serious postnatal sepsis and shock is fortunately now rare . The pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in late pregnancy and the puerperium are altered and maternal serum levels may be reduced by 10-50% . Most antibiotics cross the placenta and are excreted in breast milk . Some agents, such as the beta-lactams, are considered safe in pregnancy and breast-feeding women while other antibiotics are contraindicated owing to risk of toxicity (often rare) or teratogenicity (often theoretical) . Caution is necessary with many agents which may cause side effects or toxicity although this does not necessarily contraindicate their use in pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Microb Pathog, 1986 Jun, 1(3), 249 - 60 Enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes-reactive L3T4+ T cells activated during infection; Kaufmann SH; A limiting dilution system was developed which allows minimal estimates of the number of Listeria monocytogenes-reactive T cells from infected mice . Limiting numbers of T cells were restimulated in vitro with accessory cells in the presence or absence of antigen (heat-killed L . monocytogenes organisms) and proliferative responses determined . The responding T cells resided entirely within the L374+, Lyt2- (helper/inducer) T-cell subset . L . monocytogenes-reactive T cells were not demonstrable in uninfected mice nor during the first 3 or 4 days of infection . In contrast, on days 4 or 5, respectively, of infection approximately 1/1000 T cells showed a response to L . monocytogenes . Their frequency declined only slightly over the subsequent weeks and still was as high as 1/4900 4 weeks after infection when no bacteria were present in the host . The frequency of L . monocytogenes-reactive T cells depended on the number and virulence of the infecting organisms, the highest sublethal dose of virulent bacteria inducing the highest frequency . Chemotherapeutic shortening of infection between days 3 and 4 resulted in a six-fold reduction of reactive T cells . Thus, the frequency of L . monocytogenes-reactive T cells depended on the presence of bacteria in the host during the first 3 to 4 days of infection . These findings may have implications for the rational design of vaccines directed against intracellular bacterial pathogens as they raise the question whether attenuated bacterial strains of low persistence can induce sufficiently high T-cell numbers required for protective immunity. Infect Immun, 1986 Jun, 52(3), 688 - 94 Serum amyloid P-component-induced enhancement of macrophage listericidal activity; Singh PP et al.; Purified serum amyloid P component (SAP), the major acute-phase reactant of mice, augmented the in vitro listericidal activity of inflammatory (elicited) macrophages, bone marrow-derived monocytes, and macrophages from a subcutaneous site of inflammation . Monocytes and macrophages from C57BL/B6 mice, which are relatively resistant to Listeria monocytogenes, exhibited a significantly greater enhanced killing capacity for listeria than macrophages from listeria-susceptible A/J mice . SAP did not alter the extent of phagocytosis by macrophages of opsonized L . monocytogenes, nor was SAP opsonic for listeria . Mannose-derived simple sugars inhibited the binding of SAP to macrophages and consequently prevented the enhanced SAP-dependent listericidal activity . Macrophages from lipopolysaccharide-hyporesponsive mice also had increased microbicidal activity following incubation with SAP . SAP activated macrophages independently of lymphokine . Therefore, SAP may serve as a mediator of the heightened nonspecific host defense response that is associated with the acute phase of the systemic inflammatory response. Infect Immun, 1986 Jun, 52(3), 730 - 5 Enhanced resistance against Listeria monocytogenes at an early phase of primary infection in pregnant mice: activation of macrophages during pregnancy; Watanabe Y et al.; We investigated the pregnancy-induced changes in macrophage activity which are important in the expression of host defense against infections . Several macrophage functions were examined by using Listeria monocytogenes . In pregnant mice, prolonged survival and enhanced in vivo elimination of bacteria were observed in the early phase of primary infection . Functions of peritoneal macrophages, including in vitro phagocytosis intracellular killing, glucose consumption, generation of superoxide anion, and intracellular beta-glucuronidase activity were shown to be enhanced in pregnant mice . These findings indicate that pregnancy enhances macrophage functions qualitatively . Possible mechanisms for this enhancement and the significance of macrophage activation for pregnant hosts are discussed. J Immunol, 1986 Jun 1, 136(11), 4264 - 9 Anti-bacterial immunity to Listeria monocytogenes in allogeneic bone marrow chimera in mice; Onoe K et al.; Protection and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.) were studied in allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow chimeras . Lethally irradiated AKR (H-2k) mice were successfully reconstituted with marrow cells from C57BL/10 (B10) (H-2b), B10 H-2-recombinant strains or syngeneic mice . Irradiated AKR mice reconstituted with marrow cells from H-2-compatible B10.BR mice, {BR----AKR}, as well as syngeneic marrow cells, {AKR----AKR}, showed a normal level of responsiveness to the challenge stimulation with the listeria antigens when DTH was evaluated by footpad reactions . These mice also showed vigorous activities in acquired resistance to the L.m . By contrast, chimeric mice that had total or partial histoincompatibility at the H-2 determinants between donor and recipient, {B10----AKR}, {B10.AQR----AKR}, {B10.A(4R)----AKR}, or {B10.A(5R)----AKR}, were almost completely unresponsive in DTH and antibacterial immunity . However, when {B10----AKR} H-2-incompatible chimeras had been immunized with killed L.m . before challenge with live L.m., these mice manifested considerable DTH and resistance to L.m . These observations suggest that compatibility at the entire MHC between donor and recipient is required for bone marrow chimeras to be able to manifest DTH and protection against L.m . after a short-term immunization schedule . However, this requirement is overcome by a preceding or more prolonged period of immunization with L.m . antigens . These antigens, together with marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells, can then stimulate and expand cell populations that are restricted to the MHC (H-2) products of the donor type. Vet Rec, 1986 May 24, 118(21), 575 - 8 Experimental infection of pregnant ewes with Listeria monocytogenes; Gitter M et al.; Eight 18-month-old ewes were infected orally with Listeria monocytogenes between 77 and 91 days of pregnancy . Only one ewe aborted, 10 days after the first infecting dose, at 94 days of gestation; L monocytogenes was isolated from several sites in both its aborted fetuses . Two days after the first infecting dose all the ewes exhibited mild illness and pyrexia lasting for two to three days but the ewe which aborted was seriously ill until nine to 10 days after aborting . Agglutination tests carried out on 2-mercaptoethanol reduced sera revealed a strong immunological response in all the infected ewes but in the ewe which aborted this response was delayed . Four uninfected ewes which were kept as controls remained healthy throughout the experiment and showed no evidence of 2-mercaptoethanol resistant antibodies to L monocytogenes . Growth retardation lines, occurring at the time of and after experimental infection, were found in the bones of 14 of 17 newborn lambs in both the infected and control groups; in the aborted lambs these lines occurred before the infection. Infection, 1986 May-Jun, 14(3), 125 - 8 Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis in a patient on chronic hemodialysis, successfully treated with vancomycin-gentamicin; Gallagher PG et al.; A case of Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis occurring as a complication of a vascular access infection in a patient on chronic hemodialysis that was successfully treated with a combination of vancomycin and gentamicin is reported . The difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of L . monocytogenes infections, especially endocarditis, in patients on chronic hemodialysis are discussed. J Clin Microbiol, 1986 May, 23(5), 976 - 7 An unusual case of cutaneous listeriosis; Cain DB et al.; Listeria monocytogenes was identified as the etiological agent in the cutaneous and febrile illness of a 64-year-old male who acquired the organism as a result of contact with the genital tract of a cow while assisting in the delivery of a stillborn calf. Rev Infect Dis, 1986 May-Jun, 8(3), 427 - 30 Treatment of Listeria monocytogenes infection with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole: case report and review of the literature; Spitzer PG et al.; A 55-year-old female recipient of an orthotopic liver transplant, who was receiving azathioprine, prednisone and cyclosporin, developed bacteremia due to Listeria monocytogenes . Because of a penicillin allergy, the patient was treated primarIly with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, to which she responded well . The prior literature on use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in listeria infections is reviewed, and future recommendations are considered . On the basis of the experience described in this case report as well as a review of the literature, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole appears to be an effective treatment of listeria infections. J Infect Dis, 1986 May, 153(5), 960 - 9 Augmented induction of interferons during Listeria monocytogenes infection; Havell EA; Mice infected iv with an immunizing dose of the gram-positive bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, produced circulating interferon (IFN) during the inductive phase of the immune response to Listeria . Listeria infection also dramatically altered the host's responsiveness to IFN-inducing agents . Within 24 hr of infection, mice acquired a 50-fold greater than normal capacity to produce the IFN alpha and/or IFN beta classes (IFN alpha/beta) following iv injection of endotoxin . Serum levels of IFN alpha/beta peaked by 2 hr, after which high levels of IFN gamma were detected in the sera of Listeria-infected mice given the B cell mitogen . Similar studies carried out with the interferon-inducing agent polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I).poly(C) revealed that mice infected for 24 hr produced only 4-8 times more IFN alpha/beta than did noninfected mice . Unlike endotoxin, however, poly(I).poly(C) did not induce IFN gamma in Listeria-infected animals. Infect Immun, 1986 May, 52(2), 493 - 8 Opsonization of Listeria monocytogenes type 4b by human adult and newborn sera; Bortolussi R et al.; We studied the requirements for opsonization of Listeria monocytogenes type 4b with chemiluminescence and bactericidal assays and electron microscopy . Preopsonization with 3% adult serum had good opsonic activity (27,300 +/- 11,000 {standard deviation} counts, chemiluminescence assay), while 3% newborn cord serum was not opsonically active (820 +/- 530 counts, P less than 0.001 versus adult serum) . In addition, organisms opsonized with cord serum were not killed (0% bacterial killing) and were less frequently visualized intracellularly on electron micrographs (0 to 4 bacteria per cell) than organisms opsonized with adult serum (70% killing and 10 to 20 bacteria per cell) . Opsonic requirements for L . monocytogenes type 4b at low concentrations of serum were studied in detail with Sepharose-protein A-treated adult serum to obtain immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM fractions and zymosan-absorbed and C4 inactivator-treated serum to obtain alternative and classical complement pathway-deficient sera, respectively . In the presence of complement, IgM was opsonically active (59% of control) while IgG was not (6% of control) . In addition, classical complement activity was required for efficient opsonization (greater than 100% of control) while the alternative complement pathway was unnecessary (3% of control) . Since IgM is absent and classical complement activity is low in neonatal serum and at the common sites of neonatal Listeria infection, the requirement for IgM and classical complement activity for efficient opsonization of L . monocytogenes type 4b at low serum concentrations may be a factor in the pathogenesis of neonatal disease. Infect Immun, 1986 May, 52(2), 401 - 7 Isolation and characterization of protective T cells induced by Listeria monocytogenes; Chen-Woan M et al.; Rats convalescing from a recent infection with Listeria monocytogenes generate T cells which can protect recipient rats against a challenge infection with that organism . Using monoclonal antibodies that react with some but not all rat peripheral T cells, the T-cell mediators of acquired resistance to infection (TCRI) were isolated by panning and characterized by using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter . Many L . monocytogenes-immune TCRI were relatively large cells as judged by their light-scattering properties . That finding accords with previously reported cytokinetic data and velocity sedimentation analyses which revealed that the majority of L . monocytogenes-immune TCRI are lymphoblasts . In the current investigation, the surface antigenic profile of these mediator T cells was revealed as W3/25+ OX8+ OX4+ RT6.1- . That phenotype is identical to that of L . monocytogenes-induced prekiller cells which are formed as part of the animal's cell-mediated response to infection . Like prekiller cells and their differentiated counterparts, L . monocytogenes-immune TCRI adhere preferentially to monolayers of syngeneic fibroblasts . The results indicate that L . monocytogenes-immune TCRI belong to a minor subset of peripheral T cells which also contains T cells that have the cytotoxic potential by which L . monocytogenes-induced prekiller cells have been defined. Cell Immunol, 1986 Apr 15, 99(1), 160 - 9 The in vitro bactericidal activity of peritoneal and spleen cells from Listeria-resistant and -susceptible mouse strains; Wood PR et al.; Two days after Listeria-resistant (LrR) C57BL/10 mice were infected intraperitoneally with Listeria, their peritoneal macrophages demonstrated enhanced bactericidal activity beyond that seen in susceptible (LrS) BALB/c or CBA mice . Intravenous infection had no effect on peritoneal cell activity . The induction, but not expression, of the enhanced activity was radiosensitive . There was no significant difference between the strains with respect to the number of cells or cellular composition of the exudates . No difference in the in vitro chemotactic response of cells from the two strains could be demonstrated . Therefore there seems to be recruitment to the infected peritoneal cavity of C57BL/10 mice of young, efficiently bactericidal monocytes/macrophages . On the other hand, spleen cell bactericidal activity was intrinsically superior in C57BL/10 mice compared with BALB/c mice, possibly because, as a haemopoietic organ, the C57BL/10 spleen already contains high numbers of these efficient monocytes. J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Apr, 132 ( Pt 4), 1117 - 25 Oxidative and phagocytic functions of macrophages during infections induced in mice by Mycobacterium intracellulare and Listeria monocytogenes; Saito H et al.; The oxidative metabolism (chemiluminescence and H2O2 release) and phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages during chronic infections induced by Mycobacterium intracellulare and more acute infections due to Listeria monocytogenes were studied . In M . intracellulare infections, macrophage chemiluminescence in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was greatest at around 2 weeks, with a 1 week lag phase after infection, while the PMA-triggered H2O2 release was markedly enhanced even 1 d after challenge, and remained high thereafter for up to 10 weeks . The pattern of changes in the phagocytic activity of host macrophages in response to latex beads during this infection resembled the pattern seen with macrophage H2O2 release . In the L . monocytogenes infections, the PMA-triggered chemiluminescence of the host macrophages increased 4 d (in a sublethal infection) and 2 d (in a lethal infection) after bacterial challenge, whereas the PMA-triggered H2O2 release was markedly enhanced as early as 1 d after infection and the elevated level persisted until either the bacteria were eliminated or the animals died . The patterns of changes in phagocytic activity of the host macrophages during L . monocytogenes infection at sublethal and lethal doses differed . In the former, phagocytosis was most active in the early phase of infection, with a peak around day 2, followed by a rapid decrease; in the latter, the phagocytic ability increased more slowly, and remained elevated until the animals died . The results suggest that the macrophages induced by M . intracellulare are in a more activated state than are those induced by L . monocytogenes. Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 Apr, 64(1), 20 - 7 Regulation of macrophage accessory cell activity by mycobacteria . I . Ia expression in normal and irradiated mice infected with Mycobacterium microti; Kaye PM et al.; CBA/Ca mice were infected by either the intravenous or intraperitoneal route with Mycobacterium microti and the subsequent changes in local macrophage populations examined . Following infection, the number of macrophages increased and they showed greater expression of both MHC Class II molecules . This response was not dependent on viability of the mycobacteria, in contrast to reports with other microorganisms such as Listeria . Studies in sublethally irradiated mice indicated that persistent antigen could give rise to a response after a period of host recovery which was radiation dose dependent . This procedure also highlighted differences in the regulation of different murine class II antigens in vivo, as seen by delayed re-expression of I-E antigens . Macrophage accessory cell function, as assessed by an in vitro T cell proliferation assay, correlated with Ia expression after fixation, but not after indomethacin treatment; this highlights the diverse nature of regulatory molecules produced by these cells. Infect Immun, 1986 Apr, 52(1), 12 - 7 Effect of cyclosporin A on immunity to Listeria monocytogenes; Hugin AW et al.; The effect of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CS-A) on immunity to the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes was investigated in unprimed and primed mice . Different treatment protocols were followed to evaluate the time dependence of CS-A-mediated immune suppression and the effect of CS-A on immunological memory to L . monocytogenes . The effect of CS-A was observed only during and after activation of T cell-mediated immunity, whereas early resistance exerted by macrophages assessed 6 and 70 min after challenge remained unaffected . CS-A suppressed efficient elimination of L . monocytogenes even when given after day 3 of a primary infection . This contrasts with findings in other models, including viral infections, where CS-A must be administered very early in an immune response to suppress it . CS-A suppressed antibacterial resistance in mice primed at various times before challenge; suppression of protection was time dependent and was virtually complete in livers, whereas CS-A-resistant memory persisted in spleens for up to 10 months.
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