Pneumologie, 1993 Nov, 47(11), 626 - 30 {Effect of a filter system on measurement data and bacterial contamination in lung function studies}; Strauss R et al.; 80 measurements of the airway resistance of 20 patients did not yield any significant differences with or without using a bacterial filter (Pall PF 30) (p = 0.1213) . Likewise, lung function tests conducted in 61 further patients did not reveal any relevant changes caused by introducing the filter, in respect of the lung function parameters VKin, FEV1, PEF, FEF25, FEF50, FEF75 and TLCO . In these studies the flow receptors were examined for contamination by bacteria . The introduction of the bacterial filter reduced the total count of identified germs from 108, 615 to 307, i.e . by 99.7 per cent, the greatest contamination being found in those parts that were close to the patient (57.6% with filter, 97.1% without filter) . Germs of the resident flora of the mouth and pharynx were identified, and occasionally also potential infectious agents such as staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pneumoniae . The use of a filter system results in a marked decrease in the exposition to germs in lung function tests, without exercising any adverse effect on the measurement data (cross-contamination risk: 0.00078%) . This is also achieved--albeit to a lesser extent--by changing those parts of the flow receptor that are close to the patient (cross-contamination risk: 0.0841%) . Hence, the use of a filter system appears particularly meaningful in patients with considerable immunodeficiency (advanced stages of HIV infection). Jpn J Antibiot, 1993 Nov, 46(11), 953 - 8 {Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on S-1108 in children}; Tajima T et al.; Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on S-1108 were performed in children . The results were as follows: 1 . A total of 11 patients were treated with S-1108 . Each dose was 3 mg/kg, orally administered 3 times daily for 4-14 days . The clinical efficacies of S-1108 in 10 patients with bacterial infections (1 with bacteremia, 4 with pneumonia, 1 with acute maxillary sinusitis, 1 with scarlet fever and 2 with streptococcal pharyngitis) were evaluated as excellent in 8 patients and as good in 2 patients with an efficacy rate of 100% . Only one patient with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) who received gamma-globulin was not evaluated . Fourteen causative strains of 5 species were found in 10 patients . Three strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae out of 5, 2 of 3 Branhamella catarrhalis strains, none of Staphylococcus aureus and all 3 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were eradicated . No adverse reaction was observed in any of the 11 patients . 2 . MICs of S-1108 against 5 clinically isolated S . pneumoniae from cases of infections were examined . All of them were relatively highly resistant to penicillins . S-1108 was compared with cefteram pivoxil, cefpodoxime proxetil, cefaclor and cefixime, and it showed better antibacterial activity or than other cephems . 3 . Double peaks were obtained in plasma levels of S-1108 orally administered at a dose of 3 mg/kg at 30 minutes after meal and were 1.03 microgram/ml and 0.74 microgram/ml at 1 and 4 hours after administration, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Infect, 1993 Nov, 27(3), 317 - 23 Investigation of milk-borne Streptococcus zooepidemicus infection associated with glomerulonephritis in Australia; Francis AJ et al.; An outbreak of infection due to Streptococcus zooepidermicus is reported . The index case was a patient who suffered an episode of septicaemia complicated by glomerulonephritis . Two other persons in his family were found to be asymptomatic throat carriers . The source of the outbreak was unpasteurised milk from a house cow on the farm where the family lived . Molecular studies confirmed that the strains isolated from the index case, the other family members and the cow's milk were identical . Although a renal biopsy was not performed, the diagnostic criteria for poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis were satisfied . The organism is an uncommon human pathogen that sometimes causes outbreaks of severe infection which may be associated with glomerulonephritis. J Infect, 1993 Nov, 27(3), 277 - 9 Meningitis due to penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae occurring in a patient on long term ampicillin prophylaxis; Chadwick PR et al.; A patient with persistent dural fistula, CSF rhinorrhoea and a history of recurrent bacterial meningitis developed meningitis with a penicillin-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae while on prophylactic ampicillin . The microbiological aspects of management are discussed. Neurologia, 1993 Nov, 8(9), 317 - 9 {Thalamic abscess . A stereotaxically treatable lesion}; Gelabert Gonzalez M et al.; Solitary abscesses of the thalamus are an infrequent entity which carry serious problems with regard to treatment . We present a patient with an unknown septic focci who developed a right thalamic abscess due to Streptococcus constellatus and was treated by stereotaxic drainage for the suppuration and antibiotics . The patient was clinically and radiologically (CAT) controlled up until total cure of the lesion . Complications included dissemination of the infection to the meningeal space and a residual coreic picture controlled with tetrabenzine . The authors believe that evacuation by stereotaxic punction should be included among the therapeutic options available for deeply localized cerebral abscesses. Arch Oral Biol, 1993 Nov, 38(11), 985 - 95 Effects of low fluoride concentrations on formation of caries-like lesions in human enamel in a sequential-transfer bacterial system; Wahab FK et al.; Human enamel surfaces were exposed to sequential batch cultures of Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10832 in a sucrose-rich medium containing 0-5 mg/l added fluoride (F) . In 10-day experiments, subsurface lesion formation was partly inhibited by 1 mg/l F and completely by 2 and 5 mg/l F, but small lesions formed in 2 mg/l F in 21-day experiments . Analysis of the spent media, together with analogous, bacteria-free experiments, suggested that lesion inhibition involved two main effects . First, inhibition of bacterial acid production reduced the pH fall, resulting in reduced undersaturation with respect to hydroxyapatite and consequently reduced rate of demineralization . Secondly, interaction of F with enamel mineral resulted in a small increase in reprecipitation during periods of supersaturation and a much larger reduction in demineralization during periods of undersaturation . It is concluded that, at low F concentrations, inhibition of bacterial acid production is a major factor in lesion inhibition, which may contribute significantly to caries prevention in vivo where plaque fluid F levels are raised by frequent topical applications. Am J Vet Res, 1993 Nov, 54(11), 1803 - 7 Sensitivity and specificity of bronchoalveolar lavage and protected catheter brush methods for isolating bacteria from foals with experimentally induced pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae; Hoffman AM et al.; One indication for referral of horses to veterinary hospitals is for diagnosis of the microbiologic cause of pneumonia, particularly when the initial treatment fails . Although endoscopic methods have long been available for microbiologic sample collection, accuracy of these methods under these conditions have not been studied in detail . We compared the bacteria isolated from samples obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with those obtained by protected catheter brush (PCB) from foals with unilateral pneumonia induced by inoculation with Klebsiella pneumoniae . As part of previously described clinical trials, foals were administered antimicrobial therapy IM (n = 15) or vehicle IM (n = 7), and collection of distal airway secretion samples was conducted during the treatment period . Sensitivity and specificity of the sample collection methods were assessed by comparison of the isolates from BAL or PCB samples with isolates from tissue of the inoculated lung lobe, which was the most severely affected lung region . Sensitivity and specificity of BAL for recovery of K pneumoniae (challenge strain) and Streptococcus zooepidemicus (common secondary pathogen) was 90 and 69%, respectively, compared with 76 and 85%, respectively, for the PCB method . Sensitivity was significantly (P = 0.03) higher for BAL (100%) than for PCB (69%) for recovery of K pneumoniae (P = 0.03) from lungs . However, difference in the sensitivity of these methods for recovery of S zooepidemicus was not significant . In conclusion, BAL was a more reliable method for recovery of bacteria from the lungs in chronically infected foals that received antimicrobial treatment. Respir Med, 1993 Nov, 87(8), 595 - 601 Comparative bronchoalveolar concentrations of ciprofloxacin and lomefloxacin following oral administration; Baldwin DR et al.; In a comparative study, the concentrations of two fluoroquinolone antimicrobials, ciprofloxacin and lomefloxacin, were measured in serum, bronchial mucosal biopsies, epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and alveolar macrophages (AM) . Thirty-four subjects received either ciprofloxacin 250 mg b.d . (17 subjects) or lomefloxacin 400 mg o.d . for 4 days prior to sampling by bronchoscopic bronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage . Both ciprofloxacin and lomefloxacin showed favourable accumulation in the sites of infection with bronchial biopsy concentrations of 1.6 and 1.7 times those of serum respectively; ELF concentrations of 2.1 and 1.9 times serum; and AM concentrations of 11.8 and 20.1 times serum respectively . The MIC90 for most of the common chest pathogens was reliably exceeded by both agents except for that of Streptococcus pneumoniae. J Photochem Photobiol B, 1993 Nov, 21(1), 81 - 6 Effect of extracellularly generated singlet oxygen on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria; Valduga G et al.; In the separated surface-sensitizer system, a photosensitizer is physically separated from the substrate by a thin air layer under such conditions that only singlet oxygen can reach and oxidize the substrate, preventing the competition by type I photosensitized processes . This method has been used to study the reaction of singlet oxygen with Gram-positive (Streptococcus faecium) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial strains . Studies on cell samples exposed to singlet oxygen for different periods of time show a drastic decrease in survival for S . faecium, while E . coli becomes sensitive only when the integrity of the outer membrane is altered by treatment with CaCl2 or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Tris-EDTA) . Biochemical and ultrastructural analyses suggest that the cytoplasmic membrane and the genetic material are the main sites damaged by singlet oxygen. J Gen Intern Med, 1993 Nov, 8(11), 626 - 34 Infections due to antibiotic-resistant gram-positive cocci; Caputo GM et al.; Gram-positive cocci are becoming increasingly resistant to traditionally used antimicrobial agents . Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, the enterococcus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the most commonly encountered of such pathogens in clinical practice . Clinicians should be keenly aware of the usual types of infections that are caused by these organisms and the importance of documenting susceptibilities of infecting strains . The basic mechanisms of resistance should be familiar to clinicians so that an inappropriate empiric regimen will not be selected (e.g., addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor for penicillin-resistant pneumococci) . Vancomycin remains the agent of choice, sometimes in combination with gentamicin and/or rifampin, for most cases of infection due to these resistant gram-positive organisms . Last, increased efforts toward prevention, such as strict adherence to infection control measures, selective use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and increased use of pneumococcal vaccine, may be useful to help stem the rising tide of infections due to resistant gram-positive cocci. Clin Infect Dis, 1993 Nov, 17(5), 913 - 24 A brief history of the pneumococcus in biomedical research: a panoply of scientific discovery; Watson DA et al.; Because of its prominence as a cause of disease in humans, Streptococcus pneumoniae has been the subject of intensive investigation at both the clinical level and the basic scientific level during the past century . In a number of instances, these studies have resulted in important progress toward the comprehension of basic biological principles . The areas advanced by studies of the pneumococcus include an understanding of the concept of pathogenesis of infectious disease; the development of Gram's stain for identification of bacteria in specimens from patients; the elucidation of the role of the bacterial capsule in resistance to phagocytosis by cells of the host's immune system; the demonstration that molecules other than proteins are capable of eliciting the host's humoral immune responses and later, by extension, that isolated bacterial exopolysaccharides can be used safely and effectively as vaccines in humans; the documentation of the efficacy of penicillin; the collection of conclusive evidence that DNA encodes genetic information; and the investigation of putative proteinaceous virulence factors. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1993 Nov, 59(11), 3669 - 73 Molecular cloning and expression of two alpha-amylase genes from Streptococcus bovis 148 in Escherichia coli; Satoh E et al.; The alpha-amylase genes of Streptococcus bovis 148 were cloned in Escherichia coli MC1061, using pBR322 . The recombinant plasmids were classified into two groups on the basis of their restriction maps . Southern blot analysis did not show homology between the two types of alpha-amylase genes, and the two alpha-amylase genes existed on the chromosomal DNA of S . bovis 148 . The enzymatic properties and N-terminal amino acid sequences of the two purified enzymes produced by the cloned E . coli strains were quite different from each other . Particularly, one alpha-amylase (Amy I) was adsorbed on raw corn starch and hydrolyzed raw corn starch, and another (Amy II) was not adsorbed on raw corn starch and did not hydrolyze raw corn starch . Amy I was considered to be the same as the extracellular alpha-amylase of S . bovis 148 in raw starch absorbability, ability to hydrolyze raw corn starch, enzymatic characteristics, N-terminal amino acid sequence, and mode of action on soluble starch . Amy II showed a unique pattern of oligosaccharide production from soluble starch compared with the extracellular alpha-amylase of S . bovis 148 . Amy II was suggested to be an intracellular alpha-amylase of S . bovis 148. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1993 Nov, 67(11), 1057 - 61 Internal bacterial flora of solid uterine cervical cancer; Mikamo H et al.; Twenty-five patients with uterine cervical cancer (Two cases stage O; four cases stage Ia; five cases stage Ib; one case stage IIa; ten cases stage IIb; two cases stage IIIa; one case stage IVa) served as the subjects . The bacterial flora inside the cervical cancers was investigated using the optimal technique . There was mixed abnormal aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora in all subjects . The average number of bacterial species isolated from inside the cervical cancers was 6.3 . The predominant bacteria isolated were the aerobes, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli and Gardnerella vaginalis, and Prevotella bivia . As the stages of cervical cancer progressed, G . vaginalis, B . distasonis and P . bivia were detected at higher rates and higher counts than other bacteria . These findings suggest that there is a relationship between G . vaginalis, B . distasonis and P . bivia and the onset and growth of cervical cancer. J Clin Microbiol, 1993 Nov, 31(11), 2895 - 900 Population structure of Australian isolates of Streptococcus suis; Hampson DJ et al.; The genetic diversity of 109 isolates of Streptococcus suis, which were recovered mainly from Australian pigs, was examined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis . The collection was genetically diverse . Sixty-five electrophoretic types (ETs) were recognized, with a mean genetic diversity per enzyme locus of 0.512, or 0.431 when the number of isolates in each ET was considered . Serotype diversity varied, being greatest for isolates of capsular serotype 15 (0.364), and then diminishing in the order of serotypes 9, 1, 4, 1/2, 2, 7, and 3 (0.120) . On average, isolates from these eight serotypes represented 4.13 separate clonal groups per serotype . This diversity indicated that serotyping of S . suis for subspecific differentiation is not a reliable technique for identifying specific strains and is not a good predictor of the genetic background of a given isolate . No tendency for isolates recovered from healthy pigs to be genetically distinct from those from diseases animals was found, nor were there consistent differences between isolates recovered from animals with different disease syndromes (meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia) . Danish reference strains of serotypes 1, 2, and 7 each belonged to one of the same clonal groupings of these types found in Australia, but Danish strains of serotypes 3, 4, 6, and 8 and a strain of serotype 1 from the United Kingdom were each genetically distinct from the Australian isolates . Generally, isolates in the same ET belonged to the same serotype, but one ET contained isolates of types 6 and 6/16, and three were made up of isolates of types 2 and 1/2 . One isolate of serotype 2, which was recovered from a human with meningitis, belonged to the same ET as two isolates of serotype 2 that were recovered from pigs . The human infection was therefore likely to have been zoonotic. Pediatr Pulmonol, 1993 Nov, 16(5), 303 - 10 Effect of amrinone during group B Streptococcus-induced pulmonary hypertension in piglets; Berger JI et al.; Intravenous infusion of group B Streptococcus (GBS) into neonatal animals produces pulmonary hypertension, ventilation/perfusion (VA/Q) mismatch, and an increase in serum levels of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha . The vasodilator amrinone (amr) is a cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase inhibitor and is reported to inhibit thromboxane A2 and TNF production . We hypothesized that infusion of amr would cause pulmonary vasodilation and reduce serum TxB2 and TNF levels in piglets with late phase GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension . The effect of amr on gas exchange was also determined . A continuous infusion of GBS was administered for 5 hr to 4 groups of anesthetized, mechanically ventilated neonatal piglets . An amr bolus of 8 mg/kg was given at 4 hr followed by a 1 hr continuous infusion of either 10 or 20 micrograms/kg/min of amr (amr 10 and amr 20, respectively) . Control piglets received a bolus and 1 hr infusion of amr carrier . The infusion of amr, but not of carrier reversed late phase GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension . Piglets infused with amr 20 showed transient selective pulmonary vasodilation, based on a reduced ratio of pulmonary to systemic vascular resistance (PVR/SVR ratio) value at 30 min but not at 1 hr, compared to pre-amr treatment values . The PVR/SVR ratio values for amr 10 and control group did not change after treatment with either amr or carrier . Treatment with amr 10 or 20 did not decrease serum TxB2 or TNF levels or increase VA/Q mismatch.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Periodontal Res, 1993 Nov, 28(6 Pt 1), 404 - 10 Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against bacterial lectin of Eikenella corrodens; Nakae H et al.; A lectin-like substance (EcLS) was purified from the Eikenella corrodens 1073 cell and monoclonal antibodies were produced against it to confirm the role of EcLS in adhesive properties of E . corrodens such as hemagglutination and coaggregation with oral bacteria . Four hybridoma clones were selected . Two of the antibodies were of the IgG1 isotype and the others were of the IgG2b isotype . These monoclonal antibodies inhibited both the hemagglutination of E . corrodens and the coaggregation with Actinomyces viscosus or Streptococcus sanguis . The reactivity of the monoclonal antibody to E . corrodens 1073 was significantly higher than that to E . corrodens 1080 of which adhesive activity was weaker than that of E . corrodens 1073 . These findings suggest the difference in adhesive properties is due to the difference in the amount of EcLS expressed on the cell surface . The immunoelectron microscopic study revealed that EcLS of E . corrodens 1073 was localized in the outer space of outer membrane, not in cell surface appendages such as fimbriae where bacteria possessed adhesin . These results suggest that coaggregation of E . corrodens with A . viscosus or S . sanguis was mediated by EcLS. J Periodontal Res, 1993 Nov, 28(6 Pt 1), 396 - 403 Nifedipine-induced gingival overgrowth in the presence or absence of gingival inflammation in rats; Morisaki I et al.; One adverse effect of nifedipine, a long-acting vasodilator, is gingival overgrowth . Preexisting gingival inflammation and/or dental plaque has been suggested to be responsible for the progression of this side effect, but the precise mechanism is uncertain because of a lack of suitable animal models . A study was therefore done to establish an experimental model of gingival overgrowth in rats and to investigate the possible involvement of gingival inflammation and/or dental plaque in its development . Specific pathogen-free Fischer rats (male, 14 days old) were used . Gingival inflammation and dental plaque accumulation were induced by infection with Streptococcus mutans MT8148R . The nifedipine-treated rats (experimental group) were fed a caries-inducing diet containing nifedipine either with or without infection, while the nifedipine-untreated rats (control group) were fed the same diet, similarly with or without the infection . Marked gingival overgrowth was induced in the mandibular molar region of nifedipine-treated rats regardless of S . mutans infection, although the infection resulted in a further increase in the degree of gingival overgrowth . Histological examination of the gingival overgrowth revealed the presence of redundant subepithelial connective tissue in the treated rats, and inflammatory cell infiltration was apparent only in the tissue of the S . mutans-infected rats regardless of the nifedipine administration . These findings suggest that nifedipine induces gingival overgrowth in rats either in the presence or absence of gingival inflammation and/or dental plaque, although these factors can augment the effect of the drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Prep Biochem, 1993 Nov, 23(4), 449 - 72 The histidyl-tRNA synthetase from Streptococcus equisimilis: overexpression in Escherichia coli, purification, and characterization; Menguito CA et al.; We describe the high-level expression of the Streptococcus equisimilis histidyl-tRNA synthetase gene (hisS) in Escherichia coli and the purification and characterization of the gene product . Due to a lack of an efficient E . coli ribosome binding sequence in the hisS gene, the coding region was fused in-frame to the expression vector pT7-7, thereby creating a fusion gene construct (pT7-7recIII), which is under the control of a strong bacteriophage T7 promoter . Another construct (pT-7recII) was used for low level expression of the native histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) . The plasmids were electroporated into E . coli HB101, which already contained pGP1-2 . After temperature induction, the fusion HisRS, which has an extra 15 amino acids between the initiator Met and the second amino acid, Lys, was expressed at a level of approximately 18% of total cell protein (approximately 50 mg/liter of bacterial culture) . The fusion HisRS was purified to > 99% by a combination of anion exchange and cation exchange chromatography of the S100 fraction . The predicted MWs of the native and fusion proteins are 47,932 and 49,717, respectively . The mass of the active fusion HisRS was estimated to be 94,000 Da by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography and 108,200 Da by nondenaturing PAGE . Both methods show that the functional enzyme is a dimer of two identical subunits . SDS-PAGE analysis of purified fusion HisRS with or without reduction showed a single band of M(r) = 53.7 kDa. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 1993 Nov, 9(3), 537 - 49 Immunization and immunotherapy for mastitis; Tyler JW et al.; Immunization and immunotherapy for mastitis are active areas of investigation . The past decade has seen development of effective and economical R-mutant vaccines for gram-negative mastitis . These vaccines doubtless will prove beneficial on well managed dairies that have eradicated contagious mastitis pathogens . Development of vaccines for other mastitis pathogens has been noticeably slower . A commercially available Staphylococcus aureus vaccine appears to reduce the frequency and severity of clinical episodes, but probably has minimal impact on the incidence or prevalence of infection . This product has not been extensively studied . The recent recognition of virulence factors produced in vivo by Staphylococcus aureus may provide a breakthrough in the development and production of Staphylococcus aureus vaccines . Bacterins employing this principle presently are not commercially available, however . In the case of all contagious mastitis pathogens (Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycoplasma spp.), traditional control and eradication efforts (teat dip, dry cow therapy, culling programs) likely will prove preferable to long-term immunization . Ongoing research may provide more efficacious vaccines for these mastitis syndromes . Immunostimulants are an active area of research . Although leukopoietic factors appear promising as immunostimulants, no compound has clearly demonstrated efficacy in either the prevention or treatment of bovine mastitis. Chest, 1993 Nov, 104(5), 1610 - 2 Severe pneumococcal pneumonia complicated by massive pulmonary gangrene; Hammond JM et al.; Massive pulmonary gangrene is a rare complication of pneumonia, particularly in the postantibiotic era . We report two cases of community-acquired Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia in young patients with a background of heavy alcohol abuse, but no other preexisting disease, which failed to respond to appropriate antibiotic therapy and intensive care . In both, there was extensive unilateral involvement, with initial dense consolidation followed by cavitation, but the previously reported classic later radiologic feature of coalescence into a large cavity with free-floating slough was not seen . Owing to ongoing sepsis with the development of multiple organ failure and the obvious failure of appropriate medical therapy, both patients underwent pneumonectomy with a successful outcome . These cases serve to emphasize the role of surgery in the management of massive pulmonary gangrene. Rev Med Chil, 1993 Nov, 121(11), 1274 - 9 {Benzathine penicillin G and miocamycin in the treatment of children with streptococcal pharyngitis: a controlled therapeutic trial}; Lagos R et al.; The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and bacteriologic effectiveness of miocamycin (Miocamin, Merck) as compared to benzathine penicillin G in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis . One hundred forty nine patients (aged 2 to 15 years) with culture proven Group A streptococcal pharyngitis were randomly assigned to receive miocamycin (15 mg/kg/day bid per os) or one injection of 600,000 or 1,200,000 units of benzathine penicillin G . The clinical response was similar in both groups, in terms of fever duration (16 +/- 14 hours with miocamycin vs 13 +/- 13 hours with penicillin) and normalization of appetite (87.7% of children with miocamycin vs 95.8% of children with penicillin after three days) . Bacteriologic eradication of streptococcus was achieved in 66% of children treated with penicillin and 32% of those treated with miocamycin (p < 0.001) . We conclude that a single benzathine penicillin is more effective eradicating streptococcus pyogenes than miocamycin in children with streptococcal pharyngitis. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1993 Nov, 32 Suppl B, 13 - 9 A comparative study of the in-vitro activity of cefepime and other antimicrobial agents against penicillin-susceptible and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae; Yee YC et al.; Using the national surveillance programme of USA hospitals, we selected 162 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae for sensitivity testing using the NCCLS breakpoints for benzylpenicillin and the oxacillin discs screen test . Included in the group of isolates were 85 relatively penicillin-resistant and 33 penicillin-resistant strains . The activity of cefepime, a new cephalosporin, was compared with other cephalosporins and penicillins as well as some non-beta-lactam antimicrobials . Imipenem was the most active agent but, cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin were only slightly less active . The least active agents were ceftazidime, cefuroxime, piperacillin/tazobactam and ticarcillin/clavulanate . Cefepime is a potential alternative treatment to penicillin, particularly when penicillin-resistant and relatively penicillin-resistant S . pneumoniae are encountered . The clinical importance of screening for penicillin resistance by the use of the oxacillin disc is emphasized. Int Endod J, 1993 Nov, 26(6), 355 - 61 Antibacterial properties of eight dental cements; Coogan MM et al.; The antibacterial action of a light-cured glass polyalkenoate Vitrebond and an adhesive resin luting agent Panavia Ex was investigated and compared with six previously tested dental cements . The bacterial cultures used were six strains of Streptococcus mutans, six of Streptococcus sanguis and six cultures of carious debris from carious lesions . A modification of the agar diffusion method was used to test the antibacterial action of freshly mixed cements . In addition the cements were allowed to set and their antimicrobial action was tested by incubation for 5 days in sucrose broth inoculated with the test cultures . All the freshly mixed materials had an antibacterial action . A two-way analysis of variance and Tukey-Student range analysis showed that Vitrebond had a significantly greater zone of inhibition than Aquacem, IRM, Dycal, Dycal VLC, Ceramco and GC Elite (P = 0.001) . Freshly mixed Panavia Ex exhibited minimal antibacterial action . After 5 days the antibacterial properties of all the cements were reduced. Arch Inst Cardiol Mex, 1993 Nov-Dec, 63(6), 485 - 91 {Calcified aortic stenosis due to healed experimental bacterial endocarditis}; Contreras Rodriguez R et al.; We studied the role of bacterial endocarditis in the development of aortic valve stenosis . A femoral arterio venous shunt was performed in nine dogs with the method previously proposed by Lillehei . We induced bacteremic infection with the administration of streptococcus mitis (1 x 10(10)) 10 ml once a day for 15 days these bacterium were sensible to penicillin . All dogs were treated with 1,000,000 U of benzatinic penicillin and sacrificed between 28-102 days after the bacterial inoculation ended . In one dog we observed bacterial endocarditis in the mitral and aortic valves and in other three dogs there was an aortic valve stenosis with calcium deposits in the body and in the free edges of the aortic valve with evident irregular stenosis as seen in man. Infection, 1993 Nov-Dec, 21(6), 397 - 9 Group B streptococcal vertebral osteomyelitis in an adult; Elhanan G et al.; Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) vertebral osteomyelitis was diagnosed in a 65-year-old man . The patient received a 3-week course of in-hospital intravenous ampicillin followed by ceftriaxone and continued to receive ceftriaxone therapy on an ambulatory basis for 3 more weeks . Hospitalization and follow-up were uncomplicated with no neurological sequelae . Review of the medical literature documented only 15 cases of group B streptococcal osteomyelitis in adults and only three cases of vertebral osteomyelitis due to this pathogen . As in most adult patients with group B streptococcal infections, the patient had coexisting chronic conditions (chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes mellitus) but bacteremia was not present . Although uncommon, group B streptococcus should be considered as an opportunistic pathogen in patients with debilitating conditions, but vertebral osteomyelitis is even rarer. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed, 1993 Nov, 195(1), 27 - 36 Physical and microbiological quality of five different examination and surgical gloves before and after use in dental practice; Fiehn NE et al.; The purpose of the present study was to compare five different types of examination and surgical gloves physically and microbiologically before and after use in clinical dentistry . The prevalence of perforations was examined by the water inflation technique, and adhesion of bacteria to the glove surfaces was determined by use of a standard procedure with Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 13419 . The effect of handwashing with a non-medicated soap and disinfectant soaps was finally examined . About 3% of the unused latex--and Elastyren gloves had perforations, while 6-7% of the unused vinyl gloves showed pinholes . Ten handwashes with a non-medicated soap did not affect the physical integrity of any of the glove types, while the disinfectant soap BLIX deteriorates about one third of the Elastyren gloves after 10 washes . In contrast, another disinfectant soap Hibiscrub did not affect these gloves . After use in clinical dentistry all vinyl gloves had perforations, while the other four types seemed unchanged . S . salivarius adhered to unused gloves of all types except for the hypoallergenic latex glove Biogel D . Highest numbers of cultivable bacteria were found for the non-sterile latex gloves and Elastyren gloves . The bacterial contamination was easily removed from all types by handwashing . Repeated handwashing decreased the adherence of S . salivarius to the non-sterile latex gloves and Elastyren gloves . After use in dental practice the adherence of S . salivarius seemed to be unchanged in relation to the situation, when the gloves were only washed up to 10 times . For the Biogel D gloves an increase in adherence of S . salivarius from zero before clinical use to a level comparable with the other glove types after clinical use was observed . Based on the findings in this study and compared with previous studies general recommendations for use of gloves in dental practice are formulated. J Reprod Fertil, 1993 Nov, 99(2), 307 - 13 Multiple site electromyography recordings of uterine activity following an intrauterine bacterial challenge in mares susceptible and resistant to chronic uterine infection; Troedsson MH et al.; The electrical myometrial activity of three mares with a documented increased susceptibility to chronic uterine infection (CUI) and three mares considered to be resistant to CUI was investigated . Electrodes were surgically implanted in the myometrium of the mares and electrical activity was monitored by a Grass polygraph . Oestrus was determined by transrectal ultrasonography of the reproductive tract and teasing of the mares with a stallion . Findings were confirmed by blood progesterone concentrations < 0.1 ng ml-1 . At the third day of oestrus or when a follicle > 35 mm was detected, the uterus was infused with a genital strain of 5 x 10(6) Streptococcus zooepidemicus . Myometrial electrical activity was monitored for 1-4 h before the bacterial infusion and continued until a visual stabilization of the activity occurred . No statistically significant differences in electrical myometrial activity were detected between susceptible and resistant mares before the infusion of bacteria into the uterus . A visible increase in myometrial electrical activity was seen in all mares following the bacterial infusion . However, the myometrial response of susceptible and resistant mares was different . Resistant mares demonstrated a greater myometrial activity (P < 0.001) than did susceptible mares . These differences were observed in frequency (P < 0.005) as well as duration (P < 0.001) and intensity (P < 0.001) of the uterine activity . Differences were most marked between 10 and 20 h after the intrauterine inoculation of bacteria . It was concluded from this study that myometrial activity is an important part of the uterine defence mechanism in mares.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Okla State Med Assoc, 1993 Nov, 86(11), 547 - 9 Pneumococcal septicemia and pneumonia in the neonatal period; McCaffree MA et al.; Infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae are extremely rare in the neonatal period . A newly born infant with pneumococcal septicemia and pneumonia is described. Mikrobiol Z, 1993 Nov-Dec, 55(6), 62 - 6 {The antimicrobial action of a liposomal preparation lipin}; Nasr-Alla N; A possibility of the use of lipine, liposomal drug, to decrease manifestations of the basic inflammatory effect: tissue edema in the region of pathological focus, as well as the drug effect on the growth of pathogenic microflora (gonococcus, Staphylococcus aureus) inoculated in the patients with gonorrheal and bacterial urethritis and urethroprostatitis has been experimentally studied . The laboratory experiments were carried out on the mature white mice . The inflammatory edema of hindlimb soft tissues was evoked by the subplantar administration of 0.1 ml of 2% formalin solution . The extent of edema development was determined by oncometry 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after formalin administration . Lipine was 2.5 and 10 times dissolved by physiological solution and subplantarily administered to the animals (10 mice in each group) in a dose of 0.1 ml 1 h before administration of formalin solution . Physiological solution was used in the control group instead of lipine . It is established that the preliminary introduction of lipine decreased (more than by 50%) the degree of development of the tissue edema as compared to the control group . Bactericide properties of lipine have been studied on the suspensions of diurnal cultures of gonococcus and Staphylococcus aureus . The investigations were carried out by the methods of serial dissolutions (lipine concentration in the suspension on physiological solution was 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/ml) . The results of observations have shown that the incubation of the agent of urogenital infections (gonococcus, streptococcus aureus) with lipine vesicules lead to partial or even complete suppression of the bacterial growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Dent Mater, 1993 Nov, 9(6), 338 - 43 Antibacterial effectiveness of dentin bonding systems; Prati C et al.; This study examined the antibacterial activities of several commercially available glass ionomer cements, dentin bonding systems and luting agents by employing both agar plate diffusion (APD) and growth inhibition (GI) methods . Amalgam and resin composites were also tested as control materials . In both methods (APD and GI), cylindrical specimens were used . Four bacteria strains were tested: Streptococcus mutans, S . salivarius, S . mitis and S . sanguis . These studies were performed using standardized innoculums with selective media, and the assayed materials were directly applied on the assay cultures and plates . The results of agar plate assay were in accordance with the results of growth inhibition method . The glass ionomer cements showed marked antibacterial activity . On the contrary, amalgam, composites, luting agents and dentinal bonding systems did not affect bacterial growth . The sensitivity of the growth method showed that all the strains were inhibited in the same way by each inhibitory material . The data suggest that the use of glass ionomer cements as cavity liners/bases may reduce the consequences of microleakage due to its antibacterial properties. J Hosp Infect, 1993 Nov, 25(3), 173 - 82 Clustering of group A streptococcal infections on a burns unit: important lessons in outbreak management; Ridgway EJ et al.; In a 12-month period 37 patients and four members of staff on a burns unit were infected or colonized by Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococcus) . One patient became septicaemic and died . Serotyping revealed five distinct clusters against a low background level of infection . Infection control measures included isolation, screening of patients, staff and environment and the use of prophylactic antibiotics for uninfected patients . We discuss the role of staff and patient carriers and the environment as a continuing source of infection, and the importance of serotyping in outbreak epidemiology. Infect Immun, 1993 Nov, 61(11), 4590 - 8 A protein fragment of streptococcal cell surface antigen I/II which prevents adhesion of Streptococcus mutans; Munro GH et al.; Attachment of Streptococcus mutans to the tooth surface involves a cell surface protein with an M(r) of 185,000, termed streptococcal antigen (SA) I/II . Four overlapping fragments of the gene encoding SA I/II were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli . The recombinant polypeptides were assayed for adhesion-binding activity to salivary receptors and for recognition by a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against SA I/II . Two of the MAbs which are known to prevent colonization of S . mutans in vivo bound the recombinant polypeptide comprising residues 816 to 1161 . In vitro adhesion of S . mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads was also inhibited specifically by a polypeptide (residues 816 to 1213) encompassing the same region . The evidence from the MAbs preventing colonization of S . mutans and the adherence inhibition assay suggests that an adhesion-binding activity resides within the portion of SA I/II comprising residues 816 to 1213, which is highly conserved among oral streptococcal species. Microb Pathog, 1993 Nov, 15(5), 327 - 46 A conserved Streptococcus pyogenes extracellular cysteine protease cleaves human fibronectin and degrades vitronectin; Kapur V et al.; Streptococcus pyogenes secretes an extracellular cysteine protease that cleaves human interleukin 1 beta precursor to form biologically active IL-1 beta, a major cytokine mediating inflammation and shock . To further investigate the potential role of the cysteine protease in host-parasite interactions, the enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity and tested for ability to degrade several human extracellular matrix proteins . Purified protease cleaved fibronectin, apparently at specific sites, and rapidly degraded vitronectin . In contrast, the protease did not have substantial activity against laminin . The cysteine protease also cleaved fibronectin from human umbilical vein endothelial cells grown in vitro . Allelic variation in the cysteine protease structural gene was studied in 67 strains expressing 39 M protein serotypes and five provisional M serologic types, and representing 50 phylogenetically distinct clones identified by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis . The gene is well conserved and allelic variation is due solely to accumulation of point mutations . Based on predicted amino acid sequences, one mature cysteine protease variant would be made by clones expressing serotypes M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M9, M10, M11, M12, M14, M18, M22, M23, M25, M27, M41, M49, M56, M59, two provisional M types, and two clones non-typeable for M protein . Moreover, 33 of the 39 speB alleles identified encode one of three mature protease variants that differ from one another at only one or two amino acids clustered in a ten-amino acid region . All 39 alleles, and virtually all strains, encode a product that reacts with polyclonal antisera specific for purified cysteine protease . No compelling evidence was found for a primitive differentiation of the speB gene into two distinct classes, as has been proposed for M protein, opacity factor phenotype, and vir regulon architecture . The results demonstrate that the cysteine protease is well conserved in natural populations of S . pyogenes, provide additional evidence that this enzyme is involved in host-parasite interactions, and suggest that the protease plays a role in bacterial dissemination, colonization, and invasion, and inhibition of wound healing. Biochemistry, 1993 Oct 26, 32(42), 11445 - 52 Characterization of the apurinic endonuclease activity of Drosophila Rrp1; Nugent M et al.; Drosophila Rrp1 (Recombination repair protein 1) belongs to a family of DNA repair nucleases that includes Escherichia coli exonuclease III, Streptococcus pneumoniae exonuclease A, bovine BAP, mouse APEX endonuclease, and human APE . Within a 252 amino acid region, colinear homology is shared between all members . Rrp1 is unique in that it includes a 427 amino acid N-terminal region not related to any known sequence . The protein copurifies with an apurinic endonuclease and a double-stranded DNA 3'-exonuclease . In this study, a 5'-end-labeled 37 base pair oligonucleotide substrate containing a single apurinic site was used to characterize the endonuclease activity of Rrp1 . This substrate is utilized efficiently by Rrp1: the specific activity observed is 1 x 10(5) units/mg . The abasic double-stranded DNA oligonucleotide is cleaved only at the abasic site to create a single-strand break . Strand breaks are not detected in the complementary strand, in the single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide, or in the base-paired control substrate . After endonucleolytic cleavage at the abasic site, exonucleolytic processing at the nick is slow and requires a molar excess of Rrp1, while exonuclease III degrades the nicked substrate more efficiently . The Rrp1 cleavage product comigrates with a DNaseI cleavage product, and the newly formed terminus supports DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase . Therefore, Rrp1 cleaves the phosphodiester backbone at one position 5' to the apurinic site and leaves a 3'-hydroxyl terminus . Rrp1 is a class II apurinic endonuclease and is likely to be important in DNA repair in Drosophila. J Clin Epidemiol, 1993 Oct, 46(10), 1181 - 5 Interpreting a single antistreptolysin O test: a comparison of the "upper limit of normal" and likelihood ratio methods; Gray GC et al.; Single serologic tests may occasionally influence clinicians in making diagnoses . The antistreptolysin O (ASO) test is a frequently used tool for detecting recent Streptococcus pyogenes infection and is helpful in the diagnosis of diseases like rheumatic fever . Using data from a 1989 prospective study of 600 healthy male military recruits, in which 43% experienced S . pyogenes upper respiratory tract infection (2-dilution rise in ASO), this report compared two methods of interpreting a single ASO titer . Using the "upper limit of normal" (80 percentile) method, recruits with an ASO titer of greater than 400 showed evidence of recent S . pyogenes infection . This method had a sensitivity and specificity of only 65.9 and 81.9% respectively . In contrast to the "yes-no" dichotomy of the "upper limit of normal" method, the likelihood ratio method statistics were ASO value specific, more consistent with clinical judgment, and better emphasized the caution clinicians must use in interpreting a single ASO test. J Dent Res, 1993 Oct, 72(10), 1391 - 7 An in vitro stimulation of the effects of chewing sugar-free and sugar-containing chewing gums on pH changes in dental plaque; Macpherson LM et al.; The objective of these studies was to simulate the effect of chewing sugar-free and sucrose-containing chewing gums on the return of the pH to neutrality after exposure to sucrose of plaque located on the buccal (BLM) and lingual (LLM) surfaces of the lower molar teeth . In study 1, a 0.5-mm-deep artificial plaque containing Streptococcus oralis cells was exposed to 10% sucrose for one min, and a 0.1-mm-thick film of sucrose-free artificial saliva was then flowed over the plaque surface at the unstimulated salivary film velocities previously found at the BLM and LLM sites . At the time of the pH minimum (pH 4-5), one of three conditions was simulated: (a) a no-gum-chewing control, or chewing for 20 min on either (b) a sugar-free gum or (c) a sucrose-containing gum . The recovery of the plaque pH to resting values was rapid during simulation of chewing a sugar-free gum (SFG), much slower with the no-gum control, and even slower with simulation of chewing a sucrose-containing gum (SCG) . The pH recovery was slower with the BLM than the LLM plaque . In study 2, the BLM plaque was exposed to a 2% sucrose solution for 20 min under stimulated salivary conditions, to simulate the consumption of a meal, followed by one of conditions (a), (b), or (c) described above . The pH recovery with simulation of chewing a SCG was faster than with the no-gum control, but much slower than with the SFG simulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Dent Res, 1993 Oct, 72(10), 1386 - 90 Transport of sugars, including sucrose, by the msm transport system of Streptococcus mutans; Tao L et al.; The range of substrates transported by the sugar-binding protein-dependent msm (multiple sugar metabolism) system of S . mutans was investigated . By determining the ability of unlabeled sugar to compete with radiolabeled melibiose transport, we have demonstrated that the transported sugars included a number of carbohydrates structurally related to raffinose . A model accommodating these results has been devised which accounts for the sugars transported by the msm transport system . Competition with radiolabeled melibiose transport indicated sucrose to be an msm substrate . This was confirmed by examination of uptake of radiolabeled sucrose in scrAB mutants lacking the sucrose-specific phosphotransferase system. J Bacteriol, 1993 Oct, 175(19), 6364 - 7 Identification of a purC gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae; Hui FM et al.; A gene encoding 5'-phosphoribosyl-5-aminoimidazole-4-N-succinocarboxamide synthetase was identified in Streptococcus pneumoniae as a 708-bp segment of the genome encoding a 27,001-Da protein with strong similarity to known PurC proteins . The S . pneumoniae purC gene, found immediately adjacent to the competence induction genes, comAB, was cloned and sequenced . The predicted protein product of purC displayed substantial (> 40%) identity to the entire sequence of the PurC proteins of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli . Function of the S . pneumoniae gene product was demonstrated by complementation of E . coli purC mutations. J Bacteriol, 1993 Oct, 175(19), 6354 - 7 Construction of recombination-deficient strains of Streptococcus gordonii by disruption of the recA gene; Vickerman MM et al.; Degenerate oligonucleotide primers were used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a region of the recA sequence of Streptococcus gordonii Challis . The resulting PCR fragment was cloned into the suicide vector pAM6199 and introduced into strain Challis, giving rise to recombination-deficient strains in which the recA gene was specifically inactivated. J Bacteriol, 1993 Oct, 175(19), 6220 - 8 Molecular characterization of a STreptococcus mutans mutant altered in environmental stress responses; Yamashita Y et al.; A mutant defective in aciduricity, GS5Tn1, was constructed following mutagenesis of Streptococcus mutans GS5 with the conjugative transposon Tn916 . The mutant grew poorly at acidic pH levels and was sensitive to high osmolarity and elevated temperatures . These properties resulted from a single insertion of Tn916 into the GS5 chromosome, and the DNA fragment harboring the transposon was isolated into the cosmid vector, charomid 9-20 . Spontaneous excision of Tn916 from the cosmid revealed that Tn916 inserted into a 8.6-kb EcoRI fragment . On the basis of the restriction analyses of insert fragments, it was found that Tn916 inserted into a 0.9-kb EcoRI-XbaI fragment . Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment indicated the presence of two open reading frames, ORF1 and ORF2 . By using a marker rescue strategy, a 6.0-kb HindIII fragment including the target site for Tn916 insertion and the 5' end of ORF1 was isolated and sequenced . The deduced amino acid sequences of ORF1 and ORF2 showed significant homology with the diacylglycerol kinase and Era proteins, respectively, from Escherichia coli . Nucleotide sequence analysis of the Tn916 insertion junction region in the GS5Tn1 chromosome revealed that the transposon inserted near the 3' terminus of ORF1 . Restoration of ORF1 to its original sequence in mutant GS5Tn1 was carried out following transformation with integration vector pVA891 containing an intact ORF1 . The resultant transformant showed wild-type levels of aciduricity as well as resistance to elevated temperatures and high osmolarity . These results suggest that the S . mutans homolog of diacylglycerol kinase is important for adaptation of the organism to several environmental stress signals. Infect Immun, 1993 Oct, 61(10), 4392 - 7 Identification of hydrogen peroxide as a Streptococcus pneumoniae toxin for rat alveolar epithelial cells; Duane PG et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae infections of the lung are associated with significant damage to the alveolar epithelium . Host phagocytes and pneumolysin, a cytolytic toxin of S . pneumoniae, are believed to contribute to this cellular damage, yet experiments in which these elements are absent demonstrate the presence of an additional soluble S . pneumoniae factor that is toxic to alveolar epithelium . We examined the effects of S . pneumoniae-associated alveolar epithelial cell injury by factors other than S . pneumoniae-derived pneumolysin or phagocyte products by exposing cultured rat type II alveolar epithelial cells (RAEC) to S . pneumoniae mutants that lacked pneumolysin activity . We found that mutant pneumolysin-deficient strains of S . pneumoniae produced injury to RAEC similar to that produced by the parent strains . A toxin of type 14 S . pneumoniae was distinguished from pneumolysin by physiochemical (i.e., molecular mass and heat stability) and functional (i.e., hemolytic activity and cytotoxic activity) properties and was identified as hydrogen peroxide . All S . pneumoniae strains tested produced hydrogen peroxide, and in many strains hydrogen peroxide production was comparable to that of activated neutrophils . We conclude that S . pneumoniae produces hydrogen peroxide in concentrations that are cytotoxic to RAEC in vitro and that alveolar epithelial damage due to hydrogen peroxide may be involved in the pathogenesis of host cellular injury in pneumococcal pneumonia. Infect Immun, 1993 Oct, 61(10), 4375 - 81 Expression and secretion of an Arthrobacter dextranase in the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii; Kubo S et al.; We have constructed a plasmid to express and secrete dextranase in the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii . The dextranase gene from Arthrobacter sp . strain CB-8 was linked to a promoter and a DNA sequence encoding the signal peptide of Streptococcus downei glucosyltransferase I (gtfI) followed by the Escherichia coli rrnBt1t2 terminator and inserted in the shuttle vector pVA838 . S . gordonii transformed with this plasmid (pMNK-4) expressed and secreted mature Arthrobacter dextranase . The transformant was found to repress the firm adherence of water-insoluble glucan in a coculture experiment with cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus sobrinus, in the presence of sucrose . Such genetically engineered oral bacteria could provide a therapy to prevent dental caries. Infect Immun, 1993 Oct, 61(10), 4344 - 9 Saliva-binding region of Streptococcus mutans surface protein antigen; Nakai M et al.; A 190-kDa surface protein antigen (PAc) of Streptococcus mutans binds to human salivary components . For detection of specific binding of the PAc protein to human salivary components, a simple sandwich assay was used . Microtiter plates precoated with recombinant PAc (rPAc), PAc fragments, or S . mutans whole cells were allowed to react with human whole saliva and then were incubated with biotinylated rPAc . The biotinylated rPAc bound to salivary components was detected by use of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin and p-nitrophenylphosphate . In this assay, the binding of whole cells of S . mutans and purified rPAc to salivary components was confirmed . For determination of a saliva-binding region of the PAc molecule, 14 truncated PAc fragments were constructed by use of the polymerase chain reaction and an expression vector, pAX4a+ . The binding of these truncated PAc fragments to human salivary components was determined by the sandwich assay . Among the truncated PAc fragments, fragments corresponding to residues 39 to 864 and residues 39 to 1000 of PAc showed a high ability to bind to salivary components . Shorter recombinant fragments corresponding to residues 39 to 217, residues 200 to 481, residues 470 to 749, and residues 688 to 864 did not exhibit any binding ability . The fragment that corresponds to a proline-rich repeating region (residues 828 to 1000) bound directly to the PAc protein . These results suggest that residues 39 864 of the PAc molecule are important in the binding of the surface protein to human salivary components, and the proline-rich repeating region of the PAc protein may contribute to spontaneous self-aggregation of the PAc protein. Infect Immun, 1993 Oct, 61(10), 4119 - 25 Collagen mediates adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to human dentin; Switalski LM et al.; Some strains of Streptococcus mutans were found to recognize and bind collagen type I . Binding of 125I-labeled collagen type I was specific in that collagen types I and II, but not unrelated proteins, were able to inhibit binding of the labeled ligand to bacteria . Collagen binding to S . mutans was partially reversible and involved a limited number of bacterial binding sites per cell . S . mutans UA 140 cells bound collagen type I with high affinity (Kd = 8 x 10(-8) M) . The number of binding sites per cell was 4 x 10(4) . Collagen-binding strains of S . mutans were found to adhere to collagen-coated surfaces as well as to pulverized root tissue . S . mutans strains that did not bind the soluble ligand were unable to adhere to these substrata . Adherence to collagen-coated surfaces could be inhibited with collagen or clostridial collagenase-derived collagen peptides . Adherence of S . mutans to dentin was enhanced by collagen types I and II but inhibited by collagen peptides . S . mutans UA 140 bound significantly less 125I-collagen type I following treatment with peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes . These enzymes released a collagen-binding protein (collagen receptor) with a relative molecular size of 16 kDa . The results of this study suggest that collagen mediates adhesion of S . mutans to dentin . This interaction may target collagen-binding strains of S . mutans to dentin in the oral cavity and may play a role in the pathogenesis of root surface caries. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1993 Oct 1, 118(39), 1395 - 400 {Toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes}; Hohn H et al.; Four days after being bitten by an insect a 35-year-old woman without any serious underlying disease developed an extensive phlegmonous inflammation of the left eyelid which soon spread to the entire left half of her face . Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M1, which produced the erythrogenic toxin A in vitro, was isolated from two blood cultures . The course of the illness was characterized by high fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, circulatory failure, consumption coagulopathy, abnormal renal functions and a generalized exanthem with desquamation of the skin, exhibiting the full-blown picture of a toxic shock syndrome caused by S . pyogenes . She eventually recovered completely under intensive care involving administration of catecholamines, fresh frozen plasma and antithrombin III substitution, as well as antibiotic treatment with clindamycin (600 mg three times daily), ampicillin/sulbactam (4 g three times daily)--after 3 days replaced by imipenem (0.5 g four times daily)--and gentamycin (80 mg three times daily) for two weeks . Extensive necroses later required plastic surgery to the left eyelid, cheek and temporal region. Neth J Med, 1993 Oct, 43(3-4), 179 - 82 Erysipelas: not always innocent; Ligtenberg G et al.; The case histories of two patients with the "toxic-strep" syndrome are presented . This syndrome consists of a Streptococcus pyogenes group A infection, complicated by multi-organ failure . In our patients renal failure necessitating haemodialysis was present . General characteristics of the syndrome and long-term follow-up are presented. J Vet Diagn Invest, 1993 Oct, 5(4), 560 - 6 Equine abortion and stillbirth in central Kentucky during 1988 and 1989 foaling seasons; Hong CB et al.; Pathologic and microbiologic examinations were performed on 1,211 aborted equine fetuses, stillborn foals, and placentas from premature foals in central Kentucky during the 1988 and 1989 foaling seasons to determine the causes of reproductive loss in the mare . Placentitis (19.4%) and dystocia-perinatal asphyxia (19.5%) were the 2 most important causes of equine reproductive loss . The other causes (in decreasing order) were contracted foal syndrome and other congenital anomalies (8.5%), twinning (6.1%), improper separation of placenta (4.7%), torsion of umbilical cord (4.5%), placental edema (4.3%), equine herpesvirus abortion (3.3%), bacteremia (3.2%), fetal diarrhea (2.7%), other placental disorders (total of 6.0%), and miscellaneous causes (1.6%) . A definitive diagnosis was not established in 16.9% of the cases submitted . Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Escherichia coli, Leptospira spp., and a nocardioform actinomycete were organisms most frequently associated with bacterial placentitis, and Aspergillus spp . was the fungus most often noted in mycotic placentitis . No viral placentitis was noticed in this series . Dystocia-perinatal asphyxia was mostly associated with large foals, maiden mares, unattended deliveries, and malpresentations . The results of this study indicate that in central Kentucky, the noninfectious causes of equine reproductive loss outnumber the infectious causes by an approximate ratio of 2:1, placental disorders are slightly more prevalent than nonplacental disorders, Leptospira spp . and a nocardioform actinomycete are 2 new important abortifacient bacteria in the mare, the occurrence of contracted foal syndrome is unusually frequent, the incidence of twin abortion has sharply declined, and torsion of the umbilical cord is an important cause of abortion in the mare. Arch Oral Biol, 1993 Oct, 38(10), 853 - 61 The effect of propranolol on salivary gland function and dental caries development in young and aged rats; O'Connell AC et al.; Medications commonly used in elderly people cause hyposalivation and are associated with an enhanced prevalence of dental caries . Propranolol (a beta-adrenergic antagonist) is a commonly used antihypertensive agent that is prescribed for long-term use . The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of this drug on salivary composition and flow rate, and on caries, in young and aged rats . Forty young (28-day) and 36 aged (20-month) female Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 and fed a cariogenic diet for 28 days . Propranolol was given in high (20 mg/kg/day) and low (10 mg/kg/day) doses via osmotic pumps . Unoperated and desalivated animals served as controls . Smooth-surface caries scores in the young animals receiving propranolol at 20 mg/kg/day were statistically higher than in the young intact rats (p < or = 0.05) . Increased smooth-surface and sulcal caries scores were recorded in the aged propranolol-treated animals, but the differences were not statistically significant when compared with those in intact aged animals . Propranolol in aged animals did not affect the amount of alveolar bone loss but increased the risk of development of root caries . Young animals harboured greater populations of Strep . sobrinus and total cultivable flora than did all aged groups except the desalivated group . Salivary flow rates, induced by pilocarpine, were not decreased by the chronic administration of propranolol . Although the total protein concentration in parotid and submandibular saliva from drug-treated animals was reduced, differences were not observed in their SDS-PAGE profile when compared with unoperated animals . The findings demonstrate that chronic use of propranolol reduced the total protein concentration in saliva of all animals, increased caries susceptibility, but did not reduce the stimulated salivary flow rate. J Gen Microbiol, 1993 Oct, 139 ( Pt 10), 2343 - 51 Identification of two distinct NADH oxidases corresponding to H2O2-forming oxidase and H2O-forming oxidase induced in Streptococcus mutans; Higuchi M et al.; Two distinct NADH oxidases, corresponding to H2O2-forming and H2O-forming enzymes were purified to homogeneity from Streptococcus mutans and their basic properties determined . The H2O2-forming enzyme was a tetramer with a subunit molecular mass of about 56 kDa and required flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) for full activity . The enzyme had an isoelectric point of 6.6 and exhibited optimal activity at pH 6.0 . The H2O-forming enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass of 50 kDa and activity independent of exogenously added flavin . The enzyme had an isoelectric point of 4.8 and exhibited optimal activity between pH 7.0 and 7.5 . Both enzymes oxidized NADH (Km 0.05 and 0.025 mM for the H2O2- and H2O-forming enzyme, respectively) but not NADPH and contained 1 mol of FAD per monomer . Spectra of the oxidized enzymes exhibited maxima at 271, 383 and 449 nm for the H2O2-forming enzyme and 271, 375 and 447 nm for the H2O-forming enzyme . Antibodies raised against the H2O2-forming enzyme or the H2O-forming enzyme reacted with their corresponding antigen, but did not cross-react . The amino-terminal regions of the two enzymes had completely different amino acid sequences. J Clin Microbiol, 1993 Oct, 31(10), 2724 - 8 DNA fingerprinting of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; Lefevre JC et al.; Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA was carried out on Streptococcus pneumoniae strains to determine its value in the epidemiological survey of pneumococcal infections . Twenty-one clinical strains were chosen to cover a broad range of diversity according to geographic location, penicillin susceptibility, serotype, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) pattern . The restriction endonucleases ApaI and SmaI were used to digest intact chromosomes, and the fragments were resolved by field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE) . Each digest produced 10 to 19 fragments for comparison between strains . All the strains, including strains of the same serotype and strains with the same MLEE profile, had different FIGE patterns . In some cases, the restriction patterns differed by only a few fragment bands, and two isolates differed only in the location of a single DNA fragment . The polymorphism obtained with FIGE was greater than those obtained with serotyping and MLEE analysis . The stability of the FIGE profiles was established by testing of two independent clones derived from pneumococcus strain R36A . These results indicated that pulsed-field gel electrophoresis should be an effective tool for the typing of S . pneumoniae strains, capable of subdividing serotypes or MLEE types and of tracing the origin of pneumococcal strains. J Clin Microbiol, 1993 Oct, 31(10), 2661 - 6 Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia; Rudolph KM et al.; To test the ability of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae in blood, we generated two sets of nested primers . The first defined 559-bp and 649-bp regions of the pneumolysin gene, and the second defined 445-bp and 553-bp regions of the autolysin gene . These nucleotide segments were detected in DNAs from isolates of all 20 pneumococcal serotypes tested, but they were not detected when used to test DNAs from 41 isolates of nonpneumococcal bacteria and fungi . The sensitivity was evaluated by using purified pneumococcal DNA . We were able to detect 10 fg of S . pneumoniae DNA, or 4.3 genome equivalents . Blood samples were obtained from 16 patients with culture-proven pneumococcal bacteremia and were subjected to PCR analysis . Of eight buffy coat fractions tested, six showed reactivity in the PCR with the pneumolysin primers, and five of the eight produced the expected products when tested with the autolysin primers (sensitivities, 75 and 63%, respectively) . Of the eight whole-blood specimens tested, only three produced the expected products with either set of primers . Additionally, we tested 14 samples from patients with bacteremia that were culture positive for nonpneumococcal bacterial species, and 13 were negative (specificity, 93%) . This combination of sensitivity and specificity may make detection of S . pneumoniae in blood by PCR in comparison with that by blood culture a very promising alternative for a means of definitive diagnosis. Ann Med, 1993 Oct, 25(5), 451 - 5 Therapy of penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal infections; Friedland IR; Streptococcus pneumoniae has recently developed resistance to almost every agent that has been used for therapy, including the extended-spectrum cephalosporins . The empiric therapy of penicillin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis should include cefotaximine or ceftriaxone plus vancomycin pending cephalosporin susceptibility results . Intermediate penicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections outside the central nervous system will usually respond to high dose intravenous beta-lactam antibiotic therapy . Highly penicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections may not respond to penicillin therapy, in which case therapy with vancomycin, imipenem or a macrolide (if susceptible) can be considered . Pneumococcal resistance to commonly used oral agents varies geographically and the efficacy of a particular agent can only be assured once the infecting strain is known to be susceptible . It is imperative to determine the susceptibility of every pneumococcal isolate to the agent(s) being used for therapy, particularly in cases of meningitis and to document rapid sterilization of infected body sites or fluids. Am J Vet Res, 1993 Oct, 54(10), 1608 - 14 Microbiologic changes during antimicrobial treatment and rate of relapse of distal respiratory tract infections in foals; Hoffman AM et al.; Despite the high incidence of distal respiratory tract infection of undetermined cause on farms, to our knowledge, the microbiologic effects of conventional antimicrobial treatment for this condition have not been studied . We evaluated the possible pathogenic role of bacterial isolates from the distal airways of foals with clinical respiratory tract disease, by correlating changes in their numbers (increase or decrease) with clinical, endoscopic, and pulmonary cytologic signs of disease resolution during treatment with antimicrobial drugs . We also determined qualitative changes in in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates after 7 days of treatment and relapse rate of foals . Significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the numbers of an isolate in the airways was considered strong evidence of a pathogenic role in this disease syndrome . Foals with endoscopically confirmed distal respiratory tract infection (DRTI; n = 65) were selected at random for treatment (n = 56) or nontreatment (n = 9), and bronchial lavage specimens were cultured and evaluated cytologically before and after 7 days of treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS) and a beta-lactam drug (penicillin, ampicillin, or sulbactam-ampicillin), the standard treatment in all foals . The effect of treatment was to abruptly reduce the clinical (nasal discharge, cough, adventitious lung sounds) and cytologic signs of airway infection . Severity of disease in nontreated foals, however, did not change or did worsen over time . Reduction in the frequency and numbers of Streptococcus zooepidemicus isolated during treatment supported a causal role for this organism in the clinical syndrome observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Mol Gen Genet, 1993 Oct, 241(1-2), 97 - 105 Replication of the promiscuous plasmid pLS1: a region encompassing the minus origin of replication is associated with stable plasmid inheritance; del Solar G et al.; Deletion of a region of the promiscuous plasmid pLS1 encompassing the initiation signals for the synthesis of the plasmid lagging strand led to plasmid instability in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis . This defect could not be alleviated by increasing the number of copies (measured as double-stranded plasmid DNA) to levels similar to those of the wild-type plasmid pLS1 . Our results indicate that in the vicinity of, or associated with the single-stranded origin region of pLS1 there is a plasmid component involved in its stable inheritance . Homology was found between the DNA gyrase binding site within the par region of plasmid pSC101 and the pLS1 specific recombination site RSB. Mol Gen Genet, 1993 Oct, 241(1-2), 129 - 40 Genetic organization of the streptokinase region of the Streptococcus equisimilis H46A chromosome; Mechold U et al.; The complete nucleotide sequences of four genes and one open reading frame (ORF1) adjacent to the streptokinase gene, skc, from Streptococcus equisimilis H46A were determined . These genes are encoded on the opposite DNA strand to skc and are arranged as follows: dexB-abc-lrp-skc-ORF1-rel . The dexB gene, coding for an alpha-glucosidase (M(r) 61,733), and abc, encoding an ABC transporter (M(r) 42,080), are similar to the dexB and msmK genes, respectively, from the multiple sugar metabolism operon of S . mutans . The lrp gene specifies a leucine-rich protein (M(r) 32,302) that has a leucine-zipper motif at its C-terminus . The function of the Lrp protein is not known but appeared to be detrimental when overexpressed in Escherichia coli . Although lrp appears not to be an essential gene, as judged by plasmid insertion mutagenesis, it is conserved in all streptococcal strains carrying a streptokinase gene . The rel gene showed significant homology to the E . coli relA and spoT genes involved in the stringent response to amino acid deprivation . Multiple alignment of the amino acid sequences of Rel (M(r) 83,913), RelA and SpoT revealed 59.4% homology of the primary structures . Northern hybridization analyses of the genes in the skc region showed skc to be transcribed most abundantly . In addition to transcripts for skc, monocistronic mRNAs were detected for all three genes divergently transcribed from skc . Although there was also some read-through transcription from lrp into abc, and from abc into dexB, the transcription pattern suggests a high degree of transcriptional and functional independence not only of skc but also abc and dexB . Prominent structural features in intergenic regions included a static DNA bending locus located upstream and a putative bidirectional transcription terminator downstream of skc. Rev Med Chil, 1993 Oct, 121(10), 1128 - 34 {Comparative in vitro activity of new oral macrolides against Streptococcus pyogenes strains}; Prado V et al.; Some recently introduced macrolides have several clinical advantages over erythromycin . Azithrommcin, a prototype of these new macrolides could be a good alternative for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis, even over penicillin, whose failure rate can be as high as 30% . The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of 120 strains of S pyogenes isolated between 1990 and 1992 (40 per year), from diverse infections (specially tonsillitis) . We determined Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, erythromycin and penicillin using the agar dilution method and the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) by tube dilution for azythromycin and erythromycin . The MIC 90 for the new macrolides ranged from 0.03 to 0.12 microgram/ml, and was 0.03 microgram/ml for erythromycin and penicillin (not different) . All strains were susceptible to all antibiotics and the date of isolation did not influence susceptibility . The MBC for azithromycin was 0.12 microgram/ml (identical to its MIC), which demonstrates the bactericidal effect of this antibiotic . It is concluded that this in vitro data supports the potential role of these new macrolides in the treatment of streptococcal infections. Int Surg, 1993 Oct-Dec, 78(4), 357 - 9 The electrified drain . A new device for sterilizing the field of drainage; Shafik A; A randomized control study was performed on 24 patients to evaluate the effect of a new drainage system . Two types of drains were used: electrified and the conventional corrugated rubber drains . All of the 24 patients had an incisional hernia repair operation . In 12 patients, the wound was drained with an electrified drain (ED) and in the other 12 by the conventional drain (CD) . The ED consisted of a corrugated rubber drain to which 2 silver-silver chloride electrodes were fixed . The wounds were drained for the first 3 post-operative days during which antibiotics were given . A peroperative and daily swab from the wound was taken during the time of drainage and for 4 days thereafter, and cultured . For evaluation, a pathogen count of less than 10(5) colony-forming units per ml of discharge from wound cultures was considered as successful drainage, while counts above this level were defined as failures . Drainage failure occurred in 4/12 patients (33%) of the CD group . Pathogens encountered were Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and albus and P . aeruginosa . Manifestations of wound inflammation occurred in 2 of the 4 patients . The appropriate antibiotic was given to the 4 patients after culture and sensitivity tests were performed . Drainage failure did not occur in any of the ED group . Post-operative laboratory assessment of blood count, liver and kidney functions and serum electrolytes recorded insignificant changes against preoperative values in both groups . The results demonstrate the superiority of the ED over the CD . The electric field produced by the ED seems to be lethal to organisms . The ED is simple, safe and cost-effective. Res Microbiol, 1993 Oct, 144(8), 609 - 16 Correlation between changes in surface hydrophobicity and interaction of Streptococcus pyogenes with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes after prolonged starvation in sea water; Galdiero E et al.; The aim of this research was to evaluate the persistence of virulence characteristics of Streptococcus pyogenes cells after prolonged starvation in sea water . Studies were carried out on changes in viability, alterations in the chemical composition and surface hydrophobicity and the interaction of S . pyogenes with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) after starvation . Results showed that surface hydrophobicity decreased progressively starting after three days of starvation and was correlated with the decrease in total carbohydrate, lipid and protein content . These values correlated with a better interaction of S . pyogenes cells with the PMN, as shown by a chemiluminescence increase that reached a peak after 32 days of starvation . Furthermore, bacterial cells became more easily phagocytized and killed by human PMN. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1993 Oct, 40(8), 544 - 8 Isolation and distribution of Streptococcus suis capsular types from diseased pigs in Spain; Prieto C et al.; A total of 65 isolates of Streptococcus suis was recovered from various tissues of diseased pigs . Almost 96% of all these isolates could be categorized as one of capsular types 1 to 22 and 1/2 . Capsular type 2 was the most prevalent and represented 53.8% of all isolates, followed by capsular types 1 (9.2%), 1/2 (7.7%) and 8 (4.6%) . Brain-meninges, multiples tissues and lungs were the source of the majority of the isolates . A total of 37% of S . suis isolates, mainly from brain-meninges, were found in pure culture . The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of S . suis isolates was determined. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1993 Oct, 8(5), 283 - 7 Adhesin degradation: a possible function for a Prevotella loescheii protease? Cavedon K, London J. Prevotella loescheii PK1295 produces at least 3 proteases that are separable by isoelectric focusing . One of these proteases, an enzyme with an isoelectric point at 8.5 and an M(r) of 36,000, hydrolyzes the fimbria-associated adhesin on P . loescheii responsible for coaggregation with Streptococcus oralis 34, as well as gelatin, casein and fibrin . The action of this protease may contribute to the detachment of P . loescheii from its streptococcal coaggregation partner and provide a mechanism for bacterial relocation in dental plaque. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1993 Oct, 8(5), 272 - 6 Involvement of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae in adherence to Streptococcus gordonii; Lamont RJ et al.; Adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis to early plaque bacteria, such as Streptococcus gordonii, is considered an important colonization mechanism . The molecules that mediate this interspecies binding have not been determined . Fimbriae were prepared from P . gingivalis 33277 by mild agitation, ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-Sepharose chromatography . In a nitrocellulose blot adherence assay, purified fimbriae inhibited S . gordonii G9B-P . gingivalis 33277 binding by up to 54% . In addition, fimbriae bound to S . gordonii cells in a dot-blot assay . Incubation of fimbriae with S . gordonii cells followed by washing, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), electroblotting and probing with P . gingivalis antibodies also revealed that the fimbriae bind to S . gordonii . In contrast, S . gordonii did not interact with fimbriae that were first subjected to SDS-PAGE and electroblotting or deposited on a nitrocellulose membrane, suggesting that conformational determinants of the fimbriae may be important in binding . The results indicate that binding between P . gingivalis and S . gordonii is mediated, at least in part, by the porphyromonads' fimbriae. J Infect Dis, 1993 Oct, 168(4), 922 - 6 Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor protects control rats but not ethanol-fed rats from fatal pneumococcal pneumonia; Lister PD et al.; A model of chronic ethanol ingestion was used to study the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia in intoxicated rats . G-CSF or 5% dextrose in water (D5W) was administered subcutaneously to ethanol-fed and pair-fed control rats on days 6 and 7 of pair feeding . Rats were infected transtracheally with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae on day 8 . In pair-fed control rats, G-CSF significantly increased the total number and percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in the peripheral blood (P < .001), augmented PMNL recruitment to infected lungs (P < .01), and significantly increased survival from pneumococcal pneumonia (P = .01) . In contrast, treatment of ethanol-fed rats with G-CSF did not enhance pulmonary PMNL delivery and did not increase survival following experimental pneumococcal pneumonia, despite a significant increase in the total number and percentage of circulating PMNL (P < .001) . These data suggest that despite increasing the numbers of circulating PMNL, G-CSF is unable to provide protection against fatal pneumococcal pneumonia in ethanol-fed rats. Immunology, 1993 Oct, 80(2), 209 - 16 Mapping major and minor T-cell epitopes in vitro and their immunogenic or tolerogenic effect in vivo in non-human primates; Walker PR et al.; The immunogenicity of synthetic peptides of in vitro mapped T- and B-cell epitopes from a Streptococcus mutans cell-surface antigen were investigated in non-human primates . Peptide (1-15) contains T-cell (7-15) and B-cell (8-13) epitopes, but is only immunogenic if dimerized (1-15)2 or linked to the carrier tetanus toxoid (1-15)TT . Monomers and dimers of T- and B-cell epitopes were prepared and used to immunize macaques . Immunogenicity was assayed in lymphocytes by the uptake of {3H}thymidine and serum antibodies by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay . Macaques immunized with the dimerized (1-15)2 or carrier-linked peptide (1-15)TT exhibited in vitro T-cell proliferative responses to peptides (1-15) and (7-15) . T cells from animals immunized with peptides (1-15), (7-15) or (7-15)2 failed to elicit an immune response . In order to establish if these non-immunogenic peptides might induce tolerance, the same macaques were challenged with the immunogenic peptide (1-15)TT . The results suggest that T-cell responses to peptide (1-15) were reestablished, but instead of responding to peptide (7-15) they were stimulated by a hitherto silent epitope (1-7) . Tolerance to the major T-cell epitope (7-15) and the expression of a minor (silent) T-cell epitope (1-7) was associated with B-cell tolerance, suggesting that T-cell help for antibodies resides in the major T-cell epitope (7-15) . However, short-term T-cell lines revealed T-cell responses to peptides (1-7) and (7-15) in both tolerized and immunized macaques, but the relative frequency of the minor epitope (1-7)-reactive lines was significantly higher in tolerized animals, whilst that for the major epitope (7-15) was higher in immunized animals . These findings suggest that the silent epitope (1-7) is really cryptic, in that it can be detected if the cell lines are first expanded in vitro with the whole peptide (1-15) and then stimulated with the truncated peptides (1-7) or (7-15) . The results are consistent with the concept of a hierarchy of major and minor T-cell epitopes, now demonstrated in non-human primates, in which tolerance to the major T-cell epitope is associated with tolerance to antibody formation and the emergence of a minor T-cell epitope. FEBS Lett, 1993 Sep 27, 331(1-2), 187 - 92 Cloning, characterization and overexpression of a Streptococcus pyogenes gene encoding a new type of mitogenic factor; Iwasaki M et al.; A new type of mitogenic factor, termed MF, has been found in the culture supernatant of Streptococcus pyogenes and its N-terminal amino acid sequence has been determined . On the basis of this sequence, an S . pyogenes gene encoding MF was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined . The MF gene includes a long, open reading frame with 813 nucleotides capable of encoding the MF precursor protein with 271 amino acids . Removal of the putative 43 residues as a signal peptide results in the mature MF protein with 228 amino acids . The molecular mass of the mature MF is calculated as 25,363 which is consistent with the previously determined value of 25,370 for MF secreted from S . pyogenes . Neither nucleotide nor amino acid sequence homology was found between the mature MF and other streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, such as SPE A, SPE B and SPE C . The mature MF was recombinantly overexpressed as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli . The recombinant protein showed mitogenic activity in rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes and immunoreactivity with the rabbit antiserum raised against the secreted MF from S . pyogenes . These data indicate that a unique gene encoding MF was cloned from S . pyogenes. FEBS Lett, 1993 Sep 27, 331(1-2), 101 - 4 Penicillin binding protein 2x as a major contributor to intrinsic beta-lactam resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Jamin M et al.; The production and purification to protein homogeneity of a soluble form of PBP2x from a cefotaxime-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strain is reported . It was obtained by a site-directed deletion of the membrane anchor in the corresponding gene, a method similar to that successfully utilized for the production of PBP2x from a cefotaxime-sensitive wild type strain . The kinetic parameters characterizing the interactions of both cefotaxime-resistant and -sensitive proteins have been determined and compared . The results are in agreement with the identification of PBP2x as the primary target for cefotaxime in the sensitive strain and as probably one of several targets in the resistant strain. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1993 Sep 15, 112(3), 301 - 5 Infectivity of a glucan synthesis-defective mutant of Streptococcus gordonii (Challis) in a rat endocarditis model; Wells VD et al.; Streptococcus gordonii, a member of the human indigenous oral microflora, colonizes smooth tooth surfaces and contributes to dental plaque formation . Although it is not recognized as being a cariogenic pathogen, it may cause endocarditis following invasion of the bloodstream . Using allelic exchange mutagenesis, we have constructed a mutant of S . gordonii (Challis) which is defective in its single functional glucosyltransferase gene and, hence, is unable to synthesize glucan exopolymers from sucrose . When examined in a rat endocarditis model, the sucrose-grown mutant did not differ significantly from S . gordonii wild-type, suggesting that glucan polymers did not contribute to infectivity . This result was in striking contrast to that previously observed with a polymer-defective S . mutans mutant. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1993 Sep 13, 1178(3), 243 - 8 Glucose stimulates cAMP accumulation in the oral bacterium Actinomyces viscosus; Watson EL et al.; Actinomyces viscosus T14V, a Gram-positive bacterium found in the oral cavity, was found to be insensitive to glucose-mediated catabolite repression . Basal levels of beta-galactosidase (18-26 U) were observed at all phases of growth regardless of the culture conditions . Further, beta-galactosidase could not be induced with lactose, or with a known inducer of the enzyme, isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside, or with dibutyryl cAMP . Glucose, on the other hand, stimulated cAMP accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner . Fructose and sucrose mimicked the effects of glucose on cAMP accumulation, whereas galactose, mannose and maltose had lesser stimulatory effects . Other carbon sources, i.e., lactose, alpha-methylglucoside, ribose, xylose and succinate were without effect . Glucose and alpha-methylglucoside were found to stimulate cAMP accumulation in toluene-permeabilized cells, in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, theophylline . Glucose did not stimulate cAMP levels in other Gram-positive bacteria including Streptococcus mutans, S . sanguis and S . salivarius but did cause cAMP accumulation in other strains of A . viscosus . The results suggest that glucose effects on cAMP metabolism are independent of the induction of beta-galactosidase as presently defined for Escherichia coli, and that the effects appear to be selective to the A . viscosus bacteria . The results also suggest that glucose stimulates cAMP accumulation via activation of adenylate cyclase. Pediatr Dermatol, 1993 Sep, 10(3), 259 - 62 Staphylococcus aureus as a cause of perianal dermatitis; Montemarano AD et al.; Perianal dermatitis has been reported to be caused by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus . We present a case caused by Staphylococcus aureus . A clinical clue pointing to this organism was the presence of satellite pustules . Identifying the pathogen in perianal dermatitis is therapeutically important, as oral penicillin VK will not be effective if S . aureus is the true cause . Other streptococcal and staphylococcal cutaneous infections may exhibit overlapping clinical features, including scarlet fever, impetigo, toxic shock syndrome, and cellulitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1993 Sep, 109(3 Pt 1), 522 - 9 Formation of mucosal polyps in the nasal and maxillary sinus cavities by infection; Norlander T et al.; Unilateral maxillary sinusitis was experimentally induced in New Zealand White rabbits with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3, Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 . In another group of rabbits, sinusitis was induced by blocking of the sinus ostium only . Bacteriologic and light microscopic analysis was performed after 5 days to 1 month . Granulation-like polyps developed after deep mucosal inflammatory trauma initiating fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and epithelial migration to cover the polyp . In regions of a more superficial trauma-characterized by epithelial desquamation and fibroblast growth-proliferation and differentiation of basal cells resulted in the formation of microcavities dissecting off edematous polyps . Polyps could be found in all sinusitis groups, irrespective of inducing agent . The cellular events of polyp formation appear to be the result of a continuous inflammatory reaction and are not directly related to the presence of a certain microorganism . Instead, the potential of any microorganism to induce a deep mucosal trauma or epithelial desquamation seems essential for its ability to initiate polyp formation. Biol Reprod, 1993 Sep, 49(3), 507 - 14 Function of uterine and blood-derived polymorphonuclear neutrophils in mares susceptible and resistant to chronic uterine infection: phagocytosis and chemotaxis; Troedsson MH et al.; In vitro phagocytosis and chemotaxis of uterine and blood-derived polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were compared in mares with different resistance to chronic uterine infection (CUI) . Both the primary in vitro function of PMNs and the role of uterine environmental factors on PMN function were investigated . The uteri of mares susceptible to (n = 6) and resistant to CUI (n = 5) were inoculated with 5 x 10(6) Streptococcus zooepidemicus when the mares were in estrus . Uterine secretions in addition to uterine and blood-derived PMNs were sampled at 5 and 24 h later . During a subsequent estrus, bacterial inoculation of the uterus was repeated, and samples were removed from the mares 12 and 36 h later . Neither the phagocytic nor the chemotactic capacity of PMNs changed over time in any of the groups . However, chemoattractive properties of uterine secretions declined over time in both resistant (p < 0.0007) and susceptible mares (p < 0.01) . Significantly higher phagocytosis (p < 0.03) and chemotaxis (p < 0.05) by uterine derived PMNs were found in the susceptible mares compared to resistant mares when a standardized opsonin (pooled plasma) was used . However, uterine secretions from susceptible mares demonstrated a poorer opsonizing capacity (p < 0.00002) but were more chemoattractant (p < 0.004) than secretions from resistant mares . When opsonins and chemoattractants were provided by plasma, no differences were detected in phagocytosis between blood-derived and uterine PMNs . In contrast, chemotaxis of uterine PMNs were superior to blood-derived PMNs in both resistant (p < 0.007) and susceptible mares (p < 0.0001) under these conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biol Reprod, 1993 Sep, 49(3), 502 - 6 Immunoglobulin (IgG and IgA) and complement (C3) concentrations in uterine secretion following an intrauterine challenge of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in mares susceptible to versus resistant to chronic uterine infection; Troedsson MH et al.; The validity of measuring concentrations of immunoglobulins in undiluted uterine secretions was established . The concentrations of IgG, IgA, and cleavage factor C3 of the complement system in uterine secretions were compared in mares with different resistance to chronic uterine infection (CUI) . The uteri of mares susceptible (n = 6) and resistant to CUI (n = 5) were inoculated with 5 x 10(6) Streptococcus zooepidemicus when the mares were in estrus . Uterine secretions were sampled, and sampling was immediately followed by a uterine lavage at 5 and 24 h after bacterial inoculation . During a subsequent estrus, bacterial inoculation of the uterus was repeated, and samples were taken from the mares 12 and 36 h later . The fraction of uterine secretion in each uterine washing was determined by dividing the protein concentration of the undiluted uterine secretion by the protein concentration of the corresponding uterine washing . There was a significant correlation between measured concentrations of immunoglobulins in uterine secretions and calculated concentrations in the uterine washings (p < 0.05) . Concentrations of IgG and C3 in uterine secretions declined similarly in both susceptible and resistant mares during the first 24 h after bacterial inoculation (p < 0.04) . In contrast to the susceptible group, which showed a continuous decline at 36 h, resistant mares demonstrated an increased concentration of both IgG and C3 at this time . Concentrations of IgA did not differ between susceptible and resistant mares . It was concluded that the described method of sampling uterine secretions was useful for analyzing IgG and IgA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Bacteriol, 1993 Sep, 175(18), 5925 - 33 Multiple changes in cell wall antigens of isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans; Harrington DJ et al.; Isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans LT11, deficient in the production of the wall-associated protein antigens A and B, were generated by recombinant DNA technology . The hydrophobicity, adherence, and aggregation of the mutants were compared with those of the parent strain . These studies indicated that hydrophobicity, adherence, and saliva- or sucrose-induced aggregation were unaltered in the A- mutant but that hydrophobicity and adherence to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite were greatly reduced in the B- mutant whilst sucrose-dependent adherence and aggregation were increased . To determine whether these changes correlated with changes in the mutated gene product alone, the levels of a number of cell wall antigens were determined in each of the mutants . The loss of antigen A resulted in significantly reduced levels of wall-associated lipoteichoic acid, and loss of antigen B resulted in reductions in both antigen A and lipoteichoic acid . Data presented here thus suggest that changes in the expression of one wall antigen can have a dramatic effect on the levels of others. Eur J Biochem, 1993 Sep 1, 216(2), 623 - 9 Isolation of three antibacterial peptides from pig intestine: gastric inhibitory polypeptide (7-42), diazepam-binding inhibitor (32-86) and a novel factor, peptide 3910; Agerberth B et al.; Two antibacterial peptides, cecropin P1 and PR-39 (39-residue proline/arginine-rich peptide), from the upper part of pig small intestine have previously been isolated and characterized . We have now continued our search for antibacterial peptides in different side fractions generated during the isolation of intestinal hormones . Starting from one such fraction and monitoring activity against Bacillus megaterium, we isolated three homogeneous peptides by three consecutive chromatographic steps . Amino acid sequence analysis in combination with mass spectrometry identified two of the peptides as gastric inhibitory polypeptide (7-42) {GIP(7-42)} and diazepam-binding inhibitor (32-86) {DBI(32-86)}, derived from factors already known . However, intact GIP and DBI have hardly any antibacterial activity by themselves . The third peptide constitutes a previously unknown structure, designated as peptide 3910 from its molecular mass . All three peptides showed good activity against B . megaterium . In addition, GIP (7-42) showed some activity against Streptococcus pyogenes and an Escherichia coli mutant with a defect in its outer membrane. Am J Surg, 1993 Sep, 166(3), 308 - 10 Impaired bacterial killing in early obstructive jaundice; Scott-Conner CE et al.; Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged with intraperitoneal injection of 10(7) Streptococcus pneumoniae 10 days after common duct ligation (BDL) or sham celiotomy (SC) . Quantitative bacterial cultures were performed on liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and heart blood samples obtained 4 hours after injection . All 13 (100%) BDL animals had positive heart blood cultures, but only 6 of 12 (50%) SC animals remained bacteremic (p < 0.05) . Significantly more viable organisms were recovered from lung, liver, spleen, and kidney of BDL animals compared with SC controls . BDL impaired the host's ability to kill this encapsulated gram-positive organism . Viable bacteria remained in all organs studied, which was associated with continuing bacteremia. J Med Microbiol, 1993 Sep, 39(3), 183 - 90 Effect of co-aggregation on the pathogenicity of oral bacteria; Ochiai K et al.; The pathogenicity of oral bacteria was studied by measuring the development of subcutaneous abscesses in mice after infection with Actinomyces viscosus and Streptococcus mitis either singly or as co-aggregated pairs . Heat-treated cells were also tested . The pathogenicity of the co-aggregates was examined in various viable and heat-treated combinations of the two bacterial species . More abscesses were formed by A . viscosus than S . mitis at all the bacterial concentrations tested . Also, abscess formation by co-aggregates of the two strains produced a higher percentage of abscess formation than those caused by infection with pure suspensions of A . viscosus or S . mitis . Co-aggregated cells were more resistant to phagocytosis and killing by neutrophils in vitro and in vivo . Furthermore, A . viscosus in co-aggregates were resistant to killing after engulfment by neutrophils . These results suggest that oral bacteria that are able to co-aggregate may resist phagocytosis, and this ability may be linked with pathogenicity. J Med Microbiol, 1993 Sep, 39(3), 165 - 78 The serotypes of Streptococcus pyogenes present in Britain during 1980-1990 and their association with disease; Colman G et al.; A total of 16,909 cultures of Streptococcus pyogenes (Lancefield group A) isolated in Britain during 1980-90 were examined for T- and M-protein antigens . One or other M antigen was detected in 92.6% of the strains . The numbers of isolates of some serotypes, such as M3 and M12, did not show great variation from year-to-year, whereas there were nationwide epidemics, extending over several years, caused by strains of serotypes M1 and M49 . Isolates of serotypes M1 and M3 were associated particularly with invasive disease and fatal infections . Representatives of serotypes M80, M81 and the provisional types PT180, PT1658 and PT5757 were isolated most often from cases of pyoderma . Erythromycin resistance was detected in 30 serotypes but one half of all of the resistant isolates belonged to serotype M4. Infect Immun, 1993 Sep, 61(9), 3811 - 7 Role of the Streptococcus mutans gtf genes in caries induction in the specific-pathogen-free rat model; Yamashita Y et al.; The role of each of the Streptococcus mutans gtf genes coding for glucan synthesis in cariogenesis was evaluated by using strain UA130 in the specific-pathogen-free (SPF) rat model system . Mutants defective in either or both of the genes required for insoluble glucan synthesis, the gtfB and gtfC genes, exhibited markedly reduced levels of smooth-surface carious lesions relative to that of the parental organism . Likewise, the mutant defective in the gtfD gene coding for the glucosyltransferase-S enzyme synthesizing water-soluble glucans also produced significantly fewer smooth-surface lesions than strain UA130 . None of these mutations markedly altered the rate of sulcal caries induction relative to that of the parental organism . In addition, a mutant of strain UA130 defective in the gtfA gene was reexamined in the SPF rat model . In contrast to previous results from a gnotobiotic rat system, these mutants also induced significantly fewer smooth-surface carious lesions compared with that by strain UA130 . These results suggest that all four genes are important for smooth-surface caries formation . Furthermore, these results are discussed relative to the differences in the diets utilized in the SPF and gnotobiotic rat model systems for assessing the virulence factors of S . mutans. Infect Immun, 1993 Sep, 61(9), 3719 - 23 Inactivation of the streptococcal erythrogenic toxin B gene (speB) in Streptococcus pyogenes; Chaussee MS et al.; Streptococcal proteinase precursor (SPP) is a zymogen secreted by Streptococcus pyogenes that becomes activated to a cysteine proteinase . SPP has been shown to be immunologically identical to streptococcal erythrogenic toxin B (SPE B), and sequence comparison has shown a high degree of homology between the two proteins . In this study, we have constructed a speB mutant strain of S . pyogenes by insertional inactivation . An internal fragment of the cloned speB gene in plasmid pCR1000 was replaced with an erythromycin resistance determinant, and the recombinant plasmid was introduced into strain NZ131 by electrotransformation . Following the selection of erythromycin-resistant clones, Southern hybridization experiments confirmed the presence of the recombinant plasmid containing the erm gene in the chromosome of the resistant strains . Analysis of extracellular proteins produced by the wild-type and speB mutant strains by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion and isoelectric focusing revealed the presence of SPE B in the wild-type strain but not the speB mutant . Additionally, SPP, which has an isoelectric focusing pattern similar to that of SPE B and reacts with SPE B antiserum, was not detected among the extracellular proteins of the speB mutant strain . Proteinase activity as assayed by two different methods was present in the extracellular proteins produced by the wild-type strain, but the speB mutant strain had no extracellular proteinase activity . The mutant strain had a growth rate similar to that of the wild-type strain and produced normal levels of other extracellular products, suggesting that proteinase was not essential for viability as previously suggested . Our data are consistent with the view that a single gene (speB) produces a single protein that has been identified and/or assayed as either SPE B or SPP. Infect Immun, 1993 Sep, 61(9), 3597 - 604 Unexpectedly high levels of some presumably protective secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies to dental plaque bacteria in salivas of both caries-resistant and caries-susceptible subjects; Hocini H et al.; The role of salivary antibodies in protection against cariogenic bacteria is actually a matter of debate . Correlation between caries experience and naturally occurring antibodies was extensively investigated . Comparison of salivary antibodies from 21 caries-resistant and 22 caries-susceptible subjects was carried out by using a new quantitative method . Secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) antibodies to Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus sanguis cells were detected in all salivas and at similar levels in both groups . When assayed with two major antigens from S . sobrinus, i.e., protein antigen I/II and cell wall carbohydrates, only specific activities of antibodies to the protein component were increased (P < 0.01), but this occurred unexpectedly in the caries-susceptible group . Western blot (immunoblot) analysis with the culture supernatant and cell wall proteins from S . sobrinus showed the same antibody specificity in both groups . No selective increase of the protease-resistant S-IgA2 subclass was found, and avidities of antibodies to both antigen I/II and cell wall carbohydrates were similar . Our results demonstrate that naturally induced S-IgA antibodies against S . sanguis, S . sobrinus, and the major antigens of the latter are not sufficient to inhibit caries development. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 1993 Sep, 161(3), 643 - 6 Osteomyelitis in hospitalized children with chickenpox: imaging findings in four cases; Grier D et al.; OBJECTIVE . The most common complications of chickenpox are skin and soft-tissue infections . Pneumonia and CNS involvement occur less often, and skeletal complications are considered rare . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the imaging findings of osteomyelitis in children after chickenpox . MATERIALS AND METHODS . We retrospectively reviewed the records of children admitted to our institution because of chickenpox and analyzed the imaging findings in those who had skeletal involvement . Ninety-seven patients were admitted between January 1991 and January 1993 because of chickenpox or a complication thereof . Four previously healthy patients, three boys and one girl, between 1 and 6 years old had osteomyelitis . Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from bone in one patient, and group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus was isolated from blood cultures in another . No organism was grown in the other two; necrotic bone was recovered from one lesion and the other healed with periosteal formation of new bone typical of osteomyelitis . All patients were treated with IV antibiotics, and their recoveries were uncomplicated . RESULTS . Conventional radiographs showed loss of fat planes in three patients and destruction of bone in two . Bone scintigraphy showed increased uptake of radionuclide in early and late phases in three patients . Uptake in one case was extensive, with a central area of relatively little uptake corresponding to a subperiosteal fluid collection . CT in two and MR imaging in one showed subperiosteal fluid collections surrounding the involved bones in association with bone and marrow changes . CONCLUSION . Osteomyelitis was the fourth most common complication of chickenpox in our series . The appearances on conventional radiographs and scintigrams are indistinguishable from those of typical bacterial osteomyelitis . However, CT and MR imaging showed subperiosteal fluid collections in three of four patients, an appearance only occasionally seen with typical osteomyelitis. Res Microbiol, 1993 Sep, 144(7), 539 - 45 Acetohydroxy acid synthase and threonine deaminase activities, and the biosynthesis of isoleucine-leucine-valine in Streptococcus bovis; Basso AL et al.; Acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) and threonine deaminase (TD) activities were found in Streptococcus bovis and shown to be involved in the biosynthesis of the branched chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine and valine . Apparent lack of repression of AHAS synthesis by the end-products and reduced sensitivity of S . bovis growth to analogues of the branched chain amino acids suggested that secretion of isoleucine, leucine and valine in the growth medium may be a consequence of the regulatory features of AHAS . A glycyl-leucine-resistant mutant with reduced TD activity secreted a reduced amount of isoleucine and an increased amount of valine, which might be a result of the reduced rate of synthesis of the isoleucine precursor alpha-ketobutyrate and of a consequent preferential carbon flow through the valine branch of the pathway. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1993 Sep-Oct, (5), 13 - 6 {Regulation of enzymes of the first and last stage of lysine biosynthesis in