Bacillus

Poumon Coeur, 1981 Jan-Feb, 37(1), 35 - 50
{Results of needle-biopsy of the pleura (author's transl)}; Huguenin-Dumittan S et al.; The technique of needle-biopsy of the pleura started with the Vim-Silvermann needle (often inadequate) and has now spread generally with the greater use of the Harefield-Abrams needle . The overall percentagetrue positive results (tuberculosis, cancer) has, over time, slowly fallen, because of the fall in the number of tuberculous cases and an increase in biopsies with insufficient material (T 1 1964 : 45%, T 2 1979 : 26,5%) . In our third study (T 3), we studied in 150 cases selected at random out of the 628 cases studied in T 2 . We compared our percentage true positive results with those obtained in T1 (number of biopsies positive for tuberculosis (TB) or cancer (CA) compared with the number of patients suffering from tuberculosis or cancer} . These figures, for percentage true positive results, was 90% for TB 62% for cancer in T 1, and fell to 87% for TB and 53% for cancer in T 3 . There were no false positive results . The diagnosis of tuberculosis can, in general, be made with a single biopsy . Diagnosis of cancer requires repeated biopsies . Association of cytology increased the results to 70% (T 1 and T 3) . Looking for the tuberculous bacillus from the biopsy material was rewarded in 33 % (T 3) . Histological diagnoses of non-specific conditions was possible in 30 % of biopsies, which gave true non-specific results . The technical reliability in T 1 (95% with 4 individuals who carried out the biopsies) fell to 85% in T 3 (57 individuals) . This fall was studied and could be explained by: 1) insufficiently repeated biopsies; 2) too great a number of individuals carrying out the biopsies (T 3 : 51 inexperienced individuals out of 57), with numerous cases of insufficient material; 3) the ratio "useful fragments/total fragments", was far too low . This relationship between useful fragments and total fragments is statistically (p less than 0.05) correlated with the experience of the doctor carrying out the procedure . The optimal number of fragments per biopsy is between 2 and 3 : a number greater than this does not improve the results . The later degradation in the diagnostic value of the biopsy by the histologist should be examined : the biopsy should be carried out by an experienced individual, and the biopsy should be read by an experienced histologist . The histologist should be exigent in his requirements, from the doctor carrying out the biopsy, and he should examine all the material brought up in the biopsy.

Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(3), 305 - 16
Interferon-inducing activity of an immunotherapeutic anticancer agent, SSM, prepared from Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Aoyama B; Hayashi Y et al.; The interferon-inducing capacity of arabinomannan-lipid preparation (SSM) extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis Aoyama B in both BCG-sensitized and unsensitized mice was studied in comparison with that of purified protein derivative (PPD) prepared from the same tubercle bacillus . Although it is known that PPD cannot stimulate interferon production in BCG-unsensitized mice, interferon activity was found in sera of both groups of mice after intravenous injection of SSM at a dose of 5 mg/kg . The maximum titer was detected 5 hr after injection . The interferon induced by SSM in both groups of mice shared certain physicochemical properties with the immune interferon induced by PPD in BCG-sensitized mice . In BCG-unsensitized mice, interferon induction by SSM was markedly inhibited by pretreatment with trypan blue and carrageenan, whereas it was not depressed in BCG-sensitized mice given the same treatment or when interferon was induced by PPD . In addition, induction of interferon in BCG-sensitized mice by SSM and PPD and in unsensitized mice by SSM was completely abrogated by pretreatment with hydrocortisone acetate and whole-body x-irradiation (700 R) . These results suggest that in BCG-unsensitized mice macrophages, in addition to X-ray or hydrocortisone-sensitive cells, may be required for interferon induction by SSM.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1981, 136(1), 63 - 9
{beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase in spore-forming microorganisms . IV . Properties of some Bacillus-beta-glucan-hydrolases (author's transl)}; Borriss R et al.; The beta-glucan-hydrolases produced by seven Bacillus species have been characterized with regard to some physicochemical properties . Ca-ions stabilize all tested glucanases . Optimum pH and optimum temperature were found to be different for the investigated enzymes . In the work presented here is given further characteristics of Bacillus-beta-glucan-hydrolases as pH-stability and temperature stability, sensibility on glucono-1,5-lactone, as well known inhibitor of carbohydrases, and electrophoretic mobility on cellulose acetate-sheets.

Can J Microbiol, 1981 Jan, 27(1), 15 - 9
The influence of temperature on the growth inhibitory effect of carbon dioxide on Pseudomonas fragi and Bacillus cereus; Enfors SO et al.; The growth inhibitory effect of 50 kPa (0.5 atm) CO2 was tested for Pseudomonas fragi in the temperature range 5-35 degrees C and of 101 kPa (1 atm) CO2 on Bacillus cereus in the range 18-46 degrees C . The maximum specific growth rate (mumax) of P . fragi in air (pH 6.7) was 0.44 h-1 at 35C, 0.66 h-1 at 30 degrees C, and 0.078 h-1 at 5 degrees C . In 50 kPa of CO2 in air the relative inhibition of the growth rate was about 30% at 35 degrees C, 50% at 30 degrees C, and 90% at 5 degrees C . Thus, the inhibitory effect of CO2 successively increased with decreasing temperature, an effect which was explained by the increasing solubility of CO2 with decreasing temperature . The anaerobic growth of B . cereus (101 kPa N2) was optimal at 40 degrees C and stopped at temperatures below 18 degrees C and above 46 degrees C . The relative inhibitory effect of 101 kPa CO2 at the optimum growth temperature was about 40%; this increased to 100% near the maximum and minimum growth temperatures . The growth inhibitory effect of reduced temperature (below optimum) and CO2 and B . cereus was larger than that expected from the increased solubility of CO2 at lower temperatures.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1981 Jan, 30(1), 230 - 8
Serotypes of spotted fever group rickettsiae isolated from Dermacentor andersoni (Stiles) ticks in western Montana; Philip RN et al.; Adult Dermacentor andersoni ticks were collected by flagging vegetation in 18 canyons bordering the Bitterroot Valley, Montana, an area where nearly 400 cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) have occurred since 1900 . Three hundred and nine (8.3%) of the 3,705 ticks collected contained hemocyte-associated rickettsia-like organisms of three morphologic types, coccobacillary, fine bacillary, and coarse bacillary (long forms) . Only the coccobacillary and fine bacillary organisms stained with fluorescein-conjugated antibody specific for the spotted fever group . One hundred and six isolates of spotted fever-group rickettsiae obtained by inoculation of Vero cells with suspensions of hemolymph test-positive ticks were serologically typed by microimmunofluorescence . Four sharply distinct serotypes were obtained, including Rickettsia rickettsii (10 strains), R . montana (8 strains), R . rhipicephali (47 strains), and a hitherto undescribed serotype referred to as 369-C (41 strains) . All but two isolates were obtained from west-side canyons where virtually all cases of RMSF had been acquired . The four serotypes were widely distributed on the west side as evidenced by their presence in 5-11 of the 13 collecting sites . Each serotype induced distinctive plaques and cytopathogenicity in Vero cell culture.

Vet Pathol, 1981 Jan, 18(1), 82 - 91
The influence of dietary fat and non-specific immunotherapy on carcinogen-induced rat mammary adenocarcinoma; Kollmorgen GM et al.; The incidence of mammary adenocarcinoma in Sprague-Dawley female rats, caused by the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene, was influenced by the level of dietary fat fed after exposure to carcinogen . Carcinogen was given by stomach tube to 50-day-old rats, and tumors were evaluated when rats were 9 months old . Rats on diets containing 20% unsaturated fat had a tumor incidence of 97%, while rats changed to a low-fat diet (2% unsaturated fat) three or four weeks after exposure to the carcinogen had an incidence of 45% . Some rats on each diet were given two treatments with the methanol extraction residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, either three and five weeks after carcinogen or four and six weeks after carcinogen . Tumor incidence in the treated group and the untreated group was the same when rats were maintained on the high-fat diet, but tumors in the treated group were larger and the disease was more severe by histological criteria . These tumors were more anaplastic and many were extensively infiltrated with lymphocytes compared to the untreated group . Tumor incidence was significantly lower in rats changed to the low-fat diet (45%) than in those on the high-fat diet (97%), and tumor incidence was reduced to 20% when rats changed to the low-fat diet were treated with methanol extraction residue . The treated group had less severe disease than the untreated group on the low-fat diet . Only half the tumor-bearing rats in this group had malignant tumors, and none were invasive . Methanol extraction residue protected most rats on the low-fat diet against mammary adenocarcinoma, and reduced the severity of disease in those rats that did develop tumors . Methanol extraction residue treatment provided no protection, and even increased the severity of disease, in rats on the high-fat diet.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Jan, 13(1), 30 - 5
Characterization of antibody activity in oligoclonal immunoglobulin G synthesized within the central nervous system in a patient with tuberculous meningitis; Kinnman J et al.; Thin-layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum obtained from one patient 48 and 65 days after the onset of tuberculous meningitis revealed five oligoclonal immunoglobulin zones in CSF without any counterpart in serum, indicating local immunoglobulin production . Subsequent immunofixation with specific antisera revealed that three of the zones consisted of immunoglobulin G lambda present simultaneously . Immunofixation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) as antigens and autoradiography revealed zones of specific antibodies in the CSF which, regarding mobility, corresponded to oligoclonal and polyclonal CSF immunoglobulin G zones . No antibody activity was detectable in the corresponding serum, indicating that the antibodies present in CSF were synthesized within the central nervous system . In seven control patients (three with multiple sclerosis, four with chronic inflammatory central nervous system diseases of unknown cause) with oligoclonal CSF immunoglobulin, no evidence for local production of antibodies against M . tuberculosis or BCG was detectable . Immunofixation with M . tuberculosis or BCG as antigens and autoradiography may prove to be a useful diagnostic complement to conventional techniques in patients with suspected tuberculous meningitis.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 541 - 7
Synthesis of Bacillus cereus spore coat protein; Aronson AI; The major structural protein of Bacillus cereus spore coats was synthesized, commencing 1 to 2 h after the end of exponential growth, as a precursor with a mass of ca . 65,000 daltons . About 40% of this precursor, i.e . 26,000 daltons, was converted to spore coat monomers of 13,000 daltons each, perhaps as disulfide-linked dimers . The rate of conversion varied, being initially slow, most rapid at the time of morphogenesis of the coat layers, and then slow again late in sporulation, coincident with a decrease in intracellular protease activity . There was a second major spore coat polypeptide of about 26,000 daltons that was extractable from mature spores in variable amounts . This protein had a peptide profile and a reactivity with spore coat protein antibody that were very similar to those of the 13,000-dalton monomers . It is probably a disulfide-linked dimer that is not readily dissociated.

Cancer Clin Trials, 1981 Winter, 4(4), 439 - 49
A controlled clinical and immunological evaluation of immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette--Guerin in patients with metastatic cancer; O'Connell MJ et al.; One hundred thirty adult patients with metastatic solid tumors were studied to evaluate the therapeutic results, toxicity, and immunological effects of three BCG preparations given intradermally by the multiple puncture time technique on either a monthly or weekly schedule: Tice lyophilized BCG, Pasteur lyophilized BCG, and Pasteur fresh-frozen BCG . Patients were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to receive one of the BCG preparations or saline placebo administered in an identical manner . A battery of immunological tests were performed pretreatment and serially during the investigation . None of the 82 patients with measurable indicator lesions experienced an objective tumor response, nor were there any differences in survival among patients receiving any of the BCG preparations compared to placebo . Toxicity consisted of mild to moderate local cutaneous reactions and liver function abnormalities in BCG-treated patients with no significant differences between BCG preparations . Improvements in each of the assays of immune function performed occurred with roughly equal frequency among patients receiving BCG or placebo . It was not possible to demonstrate any significant clinical or immunological benefit from BCG administration in this patient population with the methodology employed.

Acta Biol, 1981, 32(1), 45 - 54
Separation of ATP-dependent DNAse to ATPase and DNAse; Banfalvi G et al.; A 250-fold purified ATP-dependent DNase from Bacillus cereus has been separated to DNA-dependent ATPase I and II and a DNase specific for single-stranded DNA (ssDNase) by means of high resolution of DEAE cellulose chromatography . Simultaneously with the separation of ATPase and ssDNase, a decrease in ATP-dependent DNase activity was observed . Complete separation resulted in the total loss of ATP-dependent DNase activity . Reconstitution of ATP-stimulated DNase activity was dependent on the ratio of the combined ATPase II and ssDNase.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 182(1), 125 - 32
Physical mapping of the genomes of lytic and temperate forms of phage theta; Doskocil J et al.; Restriction maps of genomes of the lytic form and diverse temperate mutants of phage theta of Bacillus licheniformis were constructed . Most temperate mutants produced fragmentation patterns identical to that of the parent lytic form, theta c: in other mutants the only detectable change in the map was the deletion of a Bg/II restriction endonuclease site at 46.5% genome length . In the genomes of two other temperate mutants, theta 1 and theta 2, the central part of the genome was replaced by a piece of DNA of equal length, but with a different distribution of restriction sites; the maps of the two mutants failed to reveal any similarity in the location of restriction sites in the inserted DNA . It seems that any alteration comprising the locus around the coordinate 46.5% of the theta c genome, brings about a transition from the lytic to temperate phenotype, indicating the position of a regulatory gene responsible for positive control of phage replication.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1981, 30(2), 213 - 21
Effect of cadmium on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris and Stichococcus bacillaris; Skowronski T et al.; The growth of Chlorella vulgaris and Stichococcus bacillaris cultures in media containing from 20 to 100 mg Cd/l was studied . The examined strains were found to be highly resistant to the action of cadmium since the highest concentration of the metal used limited the production of dry weight (during 5 days of cultivation) by less than 50% . The lower production of chlorophyll a by S . bacillaris cultures in media containing from 60 to 100 mg Cd/l and 2-fold elongation of the cells point to lower tolerance of the strain to cadmium than that shown by C . vulgaris.

Int J Pept Protein Res, 1981 Jan, 17(1), 93 - 106
Sequence of the CNBr peptide containing the putative essential tyrosine of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha amylase; Detera SD et al.; The amino acid sequence of the cyanogen bromide peptide (peptide B) containing the putative essential tyrosine residue in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1.) was determined . It is composed of 73 amino acids and the "active" tyrosine residue is the N-terminus of the peptide . Upon iodination of the whole enzyme by means of a lactoperoxidase-catalyzed reaction, a minimum of eight tyrosine residues are iodinated . Four of these belong to peptide B . Among the cyanogen bromide peptides, B is the most readily iodinated one . Hence, it is predicted that peptide B is an exposed segment of the amylase molecule.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 68 - 73
Stringent response of Bacillus stearothermophilus: evidence for the existence of two distinct guanosine 3',5'-polyphosphate synthetases; Fehr S et al.; Bacillus stearothermophilus reacted to pseudomonic acid-induced inhibition of isoleucine-transfer ribonucleic acid (RNA) acylation and to energy downshift caused by alpha-methylglucoside addition with accumulation of guanosine 3',5'-polyphosphates {(p)ppGpp} and restriction of RNA synthesis . In vitro studies indicated that (p)ppGpp was synthesized by two different enzymes . One enzyme, (p)ppGpp synthetase I, was present in the ribosomal fraction, required the addition of a ribosome-messenger RNA-transfer RNA complex for activation, and was inhibited by tetracycline and thiostrepton . It is suggested that (p)ppGpp synthetase I is comparable to the relA gene product from Escherichia coli and is responsible for (p)ppGpp accumulation during amino acid starvation . The other enzyme, (p)ppGpp synthetase II, was found in the high-speed supernatant fraction (S100) . It functioned independently of ribosomes, transfer RNA, and messenger RNA and was not inhibited by the above-mentioned antibiotics . (p)ppGpp synthetase II is thought to be responsible for (p)ppGpp accumulation during carbon source downshift . The two enzymes differ in their Km values for adenosine triphosphate (ATP):2mM ATP for synthetase I and 0.05 mM ATP for synthetase II . They also have different molecular weights: apparent Mr of 86,000 (+/- 5,000) for synthetase I and 74,000 (+/- 5,000) for synthetase II.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 613 - 9
Isolation and properties of pili from spores of Bacillus cereus; DesRosier JP et al.; Structures whose morphology is identical to that of bacterial pili have been isolated from spores of Bacillus cereus . The structures are absent from log-phase and sporulating cells . The pili are 6.8 nm in diameter, are of variable length, and appear to emanate randomly from the exosporium . Examination of spores from 12 Bacillus species showed that only those from B . cereus and B . thuringiensis have pili . Although isolated spore pili were shown to be composed of protein, their subunit nature was not discernible due to the extreme insolubility of the structure . An antiserum to spore pili was labeled with ferritin and used to examine the distribution of pilus antigen on the outer spore surface.

Lancet, 1980 Dec 20-27, 2(8208-8209), 1332 - 4
Fatal disseminated BCG infection in an 18-year-old boy; Mackay A et al.; Death from disseminated infection with BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) after routine vaccination is rare, and various immune defects may be responsible . An 18-year-old boy died with widespread lymph-node, bone, lung, and liver involvement 6 years after BCG vaccination . Total numbers of B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes were normal, but T lymphocytes, while transforming normally in the presence of non-specific mitogens, did not transform in the presence of purified protein derivative . Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests were negative . Monocytes containing alpha-naphthylacetate esterase were absent.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Dec, 40(6), 1136 - 8
Distribution of beta-glucanases within the genus Bacillus; Martin DF et al.; Representative strains (368) from 36 species in the genus Bacillus were screened for the secretion of beta-glucanases . (1 leads to 6)-beta-glucanases active on pustulan were produced by a minority of the organisms studied (4%), but (1 leads to 3)-beta-glucanases which hydrolyzed laminarin and pachyman were more widespread and were secreted by 56 and 44% of the strains, respectively.

South Med J, 1980 Dec, 73(12), 1640 - 1
Atypical endocarditis due to gram-negative bacillus transmitted by dog bite; Shankar PS et al.; A case of subacute bacterial endocarditis presenting with hemoptysis and late onset of cardiac murmurs, in the absence of pyrexia, was reported . The causative agent was a fastidious, slow-growing, unclassified, gram-negative bacterium, DF-2 (decarboxylase fermenter-2), apparently transmitted by a dog bite . The absence of classic signs of bacterial endocarditis poses a diagnostic challenge and stresses the need for an awareness of atypical presentations of subacute bacterial endocarditis.

Tubercle, 1980 Dec, 61(4), 259 - 68
Recent European research activities in mycobacteriology; Grange JM; The subject of mycobacteriology is becoming an increasingly popular and complex one and the contribution by European scientists has been considerable . The important areas of research include taxonomy and the improvement of identification methods; biochemistry, including enzymology, metabolic regulation, lipid chemistry, iron uptake and metabolism, pigment synthesis and DNA chemistry; genetics and bacteriophages; ecology, including the effect of contact with environmental mycobacteria on the mammalian immune response; immunology; and the association of disease and cell-wall-free mycobacteria and studies on the leprosy bacillus . The European Society of Mycobacteriologists has recently been founded to unite workers in these disciplines and to promote and disseminate knowledge in this subject.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Dec, 33(12), 1551 - 5
Selective cleavage of a peptide antibiotic, colistin by colistinase; Ito-Kagawa M et al.; A colistin-inactivating enzyme, colistinase was produced by Bacillus polymyxa var . colistinus KOYAMA, a colistin-producing microorganism . The crude colistinase was fractionated as two components (colistinase I and II) by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration . Colistinase II was further purified and then, it showed as a single band in polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis . The molecular weight of colistinase II was about 20,000 by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and the isoelectric point was at about 8.3 . Colistinase II cleaved specifically between the 2,4-diaminobutyric acid of the side chain and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid adjacent in the cyclic peptide portion of colistin molecule.

P N G Med J, 1980 Dec, 23(4), 182 - 5
Ocular leprosy in Papua New Guinea; Ree GH; The eyes may be damaged in leprosy by three pathological processes; by direct bacillary invasion, secondary to the involvement of the Vth and VIIth cranial nerves leading to corneal anaesthesia and lagophthalmos respectively, and by sensitization to Mycobacterial antigen or immune complexes during type II reactions . The prevalance of ocular leprosy varies widely throughout the world, depending on a number of factors, including the type of disease which is most prevalent, the duration of the disease, the ophthalmological facilities available, and possibly the race of the patient . Shields et al, have reported prevalence rates of ocular leprosy varying from 6% to 90% in different series . In Port Moresby, Dethlefs found a prevalence of 12% of potentially sight threatening lesions in a small group of leprosy patients: in his series however, little detail was paid to the leprosy aspects of the patients . A study was therefore undertaken of ocular lesions in leprosy patients paying particular attention to type, duration and activity of the disease.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 Dec, 88(6), 1757 - 64
Sodium-ion stimulated amino acid uptake in membrane vesicles of alkalophilic Bacillus no . 8-1; Kitada M et al.; Membrane vesicles were isolated from alkalophilic Bacillus No . 8-1, and the active transport of amino acids was studied . The transport of amino acids was dependent upon substrate oxidation and the presence of Na+ . Concentrative uptake of amino acids was stimulated by the addition of an artificial electron donor system, ascorbate-phenazine methosulfate (PMS), and to a lesser extent by NADH, while succinate, L-lactate, and alpha-glycerol-phosphate did not stimulate the uptake . N,N,N',N'-Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) and cytochrome c were able to replace PMS, and reduced forms of these compounds were also very efficient electron donors . Amino acid transport was dependent on electron transfer, and inhibition of NADH oxidation by cyanide, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HOQNO), and sodium azide directly prohibited serine transport . The pH optima for serine transport lay between pH 8 and 9 for all energy sources . Sodium ion stimulated serine transport in the presence of NADH, NADH plus cytochrome c or succinate plus PMS, but had no stimulatory effect on the corresponding dehydrogenase activities . Sodium ion was also required for accumulation of serine in response to an artificial membrane potential where the respiratory chain was not operative . These results indicated that the stimulatory effect of Na+ on amino acid uptake was on the transport process itself.

Gastroenterology, 1980 Dec, 79(6), 1318 - 23
Whipple's disease: a case with circulating immune complexes; Kwitko AO et al.; A patient with Whipple's disease was studied for 56 wk from diagnosis, during which time he received continuous antibiotic therapy . Intramucosal bacillary bodies detected by electron microscopy disappeared within 12 wk and a threefold fall in antibody titer to Hemophilus influenza type B bacillus occurred during this period . Circulating immune complexes of IgG class were consistently detected during the first 28 wk of treatment but not subsequently . IgM class immune complexes were detected at a time when mucosal recovery had occurred and when IgG complexes were no longer detectable . A further rise of IgM immune complexes could be induced by enteric challenge with bovine serum albumin in our patient but not in control subjects . The detection of serum immune complexes in Whipple's disease may reflect the entry of foreign antigen through intestinal mucosa . These observations also support the possibility of an underlying defect of antigen exclusion in this disorder, which persists despite apparent mucosal recovery.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Nov 25, 255(22), 10599 - 605
Properties of meso-alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelate D-dehydrogenase from Bacillus sphaericus; Misono H et al.; meso-alpha,epsilon-Diaminopimelate D-dehydrogenase, which has been purified to homogeneity from the extract of Bacillus sphaericus IFO 3525, has a molecular weight of about 80,000 and consists of two subunits identical in molecular weight (approximately 40,000) . The enzyme has a high substrate specificity . In addition to meso-alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelate, lanthionine is deaminated by the enzyme to a far lesser extent . NADP+ is the exclusive cofactor . The pH optima were at about 10.5 for the deamination of meso-alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelate and at 7.5 for its amination . L and D isomers of alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelate and meso-alpha,delta-diaminoadipate competitively inhibit the oxidation of meso-alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelate . Initial velocity and product inhibition studies show that the reductive amination proceeds through a sequential ordered ternary-binary mechanism . NADPH binds first to the enzyme followed by L-alpha-amino-epsilon-ketopimelate and ammonia, and the products are released in the order of meso-alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelate and NADP+ . The Michaelis constants are as follows: meso-alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelate (2.5 mM), NADP+ (83 micro M), NADPH (0.2 mM), L-alpha-amino-epsilon-ketopimelate (0.24 mM), and ammonia (12.5 mM) . The pro-S hydrogen at C-4 of the dihydronicotinamide ring of NADPH is transferred to the substrate; the enzyme is B-stereospecific . Fluorometric study on binding of NADPH to the enzyme revealed that the enzyme contains two coenzyme binding sites per molecule.

Biochemistry, 1980 Nov 25, 19(24), 5520 - 4
Probing the limits of protein-amino acid side chain recognition with the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases . Discrimination against phenylalanine by tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases; Fersht AR et al.; The specificity of the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases from Escherichia coli and bacillus stearothermophilus for tyrosine compared with phenylalanine has been determined by using samples of phenylalanine which have been scrupulously freed from tyrosine by either chemical or enzymic scavenging procedures . Both kinetic measurements and product analyses give a value of 1 x 10(5)-2 x 10(5) for the preferential activation of tyrosine . Combined with the known ratio of phenylalanine to tyrosine in rapidly growing E . coli, an error rate of about approximately 5/10(4) is calculated for the misactivation of phenylalanine . Since we find no evidence for an editing mechanism and this error rate is similar to observed rates in protein synthesis, the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases appear to have adequate amino acid selection by simple preferential binding of the correct substrate . The incremental binding energy of the phenolic hydroxyl group of tyrosine is approximately 7 kcal/mol, a value presumed close to the maximum possible because of the evolutionary pressure on tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases for maximum specificity . A summary of high incremental binding energies determined from experiments on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is presented.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1980 Nov 25, 8(22), 5411 - 21
Structural features of Bacillus precursor 5S RNA involved in the interaction with RNAase M5; Stiekema WJ et al.; Mature 5S (m5S) RNA from Bacillus licheniformis specifically and almost completely inhibits in vitro maturation of bacillus precursor 5S (p5S) RNA, showing that the maturation enzyme RNAase M5 can recognize Bacillus m5S RNA . E . coli m5S RNA is a much less efficient inhibitor, whereas S . carlsbergensis 5S RNA inhibits maturation by about 70% . The differences in inhibition can be correlated with the position of the sequence UAGG (residues 101-104 in B . licheniformis m5S RNA) relative to the double-helical region formed by the 5'- and 3'-terminal sequences (molecular stalk) of m5S RNA . Recent experiments by Meyhack and Pace (Biochemistry 17 (1980) 5804-5810) demonstrated this UAGG sequence to be indispensable for processing of p5S RNA . Other elements of secondary and/or tertiary structure are also required, however . The effect of artificially constructed "5S RNA" molecules having defined disturbances in the base-pairing within the molecular stalk on in vitro maturation shows that base-pairing in the immediate neighbourhood of the bonds to be cleaved during maturation is crucial to recognition of p5S RNA by RNAase M5 . G.U pairs are tolerated in this region, however, without loss of efficiency in maturation . Base-pairing does not have to extend throughout the complete molecular stalk . The introduction of an A/C combination at the end of the molecular stalk removed from the bonds cleaved by RNAase M5 does not significantly impair the efficiency of maturation.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Nov 10, 255(21), 10445 - 50
The complete covalent structure of protein B . The third major protein degraded during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores; Setlow P et al.; The complete covalent structure of Protein B, the third major protein degraded during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores, has been determined . The intact protein was cleaved with the specific B . megaterium spore protease into three peptides, residues 1 to 31 (B-III), 32 to 66 (B-I), and 67 to 96 (B-II) . Cleavage of the intact protein with trypsin allowed isolation of the peptide encompassing residues 61 to 77 (T-11) as well as the COOH-terminal peptide, residues 94 to 96 (T-4) . Cleavage of Peptide B-I with trypsin or chymotrypsin allowed isolation of peptides encompassing residues 53 to 60 (B-I-T-2) and residues 52 to 66 (B-I-C-4), respectively . Subtractive Edman degradation of Peptide T-4, automated sequenator analysis of Peptides B-I, B-II, T-11, B-I-T-2, and B-I-C-4, previously published partial sequence data on the intact B-protein and carboxypeptidase V digestion of the intact protein provided the data from which the following unique sequence was deduced: NH2-Ala-Lys-Gln-Thr-Asn-Lys-Thr-Ala-Ser-Gly-Thr-Ser-Thr-Gln-His-15 Val-Lys-Gln-Gln-Asp-Ala-Gln-Ala-Ser-Lys-Asn-Asn-Phe-Gly-Thr-30 Glu-Phe-Gly-Ser-Glu-Thr-Asn-Val-Gln-Glu-Val-Lys-Gln-Gln-Asn-45 Ala-Gln-Ala-Ala-Asn-Lys-Ser-Gln-Asn-Ala-Gln-Ala-Ser-Lys-60 Asn-Asn-Phe-Gly-Thr-Glu-Phe-Ala-Ser-Glu-Thr-Ser-Ala-Gln-Glu-75 Val-Arg-Gln-Gln-Asn-Ala-Gln-Ala-Gln-Lys-Lys-Asn-Gln-Asn-90 Ser-Gly-Lys-Tyr-Gln-Gly-COOH . The primary sequence of the B-protein contains a large internal duplication (residues 17 to 50 and 52 to 85), and shows significant sequence homology with the A- and C-proteins, the other major proteins degraded during B . megaterium spore germination.

Cancer Res, 1980 Nov, 40(11), 4197 - 203
Adjuvant-antigen requirements for active specific immunotherapy of microscopic metastases remaining after surgery; Ashley MP et al.; We studied the conditions required for eradication by immunization of occult lymph node metastases which remained after surgical removal of an intradermally transplanted cavian hepatoma . Guinea pigs that received no postsurgical treatment all died with progressively growing lymph node metastases . The growth of these metastases could be prevented in a significant proportion of the animals by postsurgical treatment with vaccines containing oil-in-water emulsions of Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) cell walls admixed with live or irradiated tumor cells . Vaccines containing living tumor cells cured most of the guinea pigs but produced tumors at the vaccine sites in a few animals . Irradiated tumor cell vaccines were not tumorigenic but required more tumor cells for successful therapy . Therapy was dependent both on the dose of tumor cells and on that of BCG cell walls . Microgram doses of BCG cell walls were required for a therapeutic effect; milligram doses of BCG cell walls inhibited the therapeutic response . Animals rendered tumor free by postsurgical vaccine therapy rejected an intradermal challenge with living tumor cells.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1980 Nov-Dec, 131B(3), 297 - 308
Comparison between bacteriophage typing and serotyping for the differentiation of Bacillus sphaericus strains; Yousten AA et al.; Eleven bacteriophages were isolated using mosquito pathogenic strains of B . sphaericus as hosts . The phage morphology and host range on five DNA homology groups including 16 mosquito pathogenic and 32 non-pathogenic strains were determined . the same bacterial strains were studied serologically for their flagellar agglutination by antisera representing eight serotypes: six antisera prepared against the reference strains for the DNA homology groups and two others against selected mosquito pathogenic strains . Two new serotypes have been determined among the non-pathogenic strains . Both phage typing and serotyping identified subgroups within the IIA homology group which contains the mosquito pathogens . The same bacterial strains were found in the subgroups established by both methods . These subgroups often paralleled difference in the level of toxicity of the strains for mosquito larvae.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 121(1), 203 - 12
Generalized transduction in Bacillus thuringiensis var . berliner 1715 using bacteriophage CP-54Ber; Lecadet MM et al.; A phage isolated from lysates of phage CP-54 grown on Bacillus cereus 569 and selected on the basis of its ability to infect Bacillus thuringiensis var . berliner 1715 (serotype I) was designated CP-54Ber . Phages CP-54Ber and CP-54 were similar in size, morphology, cryosensitivity and stabilization by dimethyl sulphoxide . They showed significant differences with regard to inactivation by specific antiserum, adsorption to the berliner strains and host range . Phage CP-54Ber was able to mediate generalized transduction in the host strain berliner 1715 with frequencies ranging between 1 x 10(-5) and 1 x 10(-6) . Cotransduction of markers was demonstrated . Cross-transduction occurred between strains belonging to serotype I whereas it was more difficult to observe when lysates were prepared on strains from other serotypes.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Nov-Dec, 49(6), 961 - 8
{Lysogeny in Bacillus thuringiensis}; Azizbekian RR et al.; Different strains of several Bacillus thuringiensis serotypes were analyzed for lysogeny . All of the studied cultures released phages . Phages with an isometric capsid and a noncontractible tail were detected in preparations of the majority of the cultures . The growth of a group of related phages was limited upon lysogenization of the galleriae serotype with Tm2 phage isolated from a culture of the morrisoni serotype . The physico chemical parameters of the phages were determined.

Can J Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 26(11), 1364 - 6
Deposit assessment of Bacillus thuringiensis formulations applied from an aircraft; Smirnoff WA; Deposit assessment after aerial spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) formulations consists of the analysis of the splash of droplets on Kromekote papers and determining the number of bacterial colonies growing on nutrient agar medium Petri dishes . However, neither of these two methods provides a number of spores deposited although this figure is essential to determine treatment efficiency . Both methods are evaluated with regard to this need and a new approach is suggested.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Nov, 33(11), 1357 - 62
Inhibition of peptidoglycan transpeptidase by beta-lactam antibiotics: structure-activity relationships; Oka T et al.; The inhibitory activities of representative beta-lactam compounds, such as penicillins G and N, cephalosporins C and G, clavulanic acid, nocardicin A and thienamycin against Escherichia coli KN-126 and Bacillus megaterium KM peptidoglycan transpeptidases were studied . Their modes of action against E . coli are discussed on the basis of the results and the published binding data for penicillin binding proteins . The effects of modifications at position 3 and 7 of the cephalosporin and those at alpha-carbon of the benzyl side-chain of cephalosporin G and penicillin G were studied . The introduction of an amino group at this position in cephalosporin G together with the removal of an acetoxy group from the acetoxymethyl group at position 3 reduced the inhibitory activity against E . coli transpeptidase considerably . The activity was restored by the replacement of the methyl group at position 3 of cephalexin with chlorine . The restoration was accompanied by about 15-fold increase in the lytic activity of cephachlor against E . coli.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Nov-Dec, 49(6), 893 - 901
{Effect of the protein synthesis inhibitor chloramphenicol on the basic growth indices of continuous and periodic Bacillus megaterium cultures}; Shul'govskaia EM et al.; The action of chloramphenicol, a specific inhibitor of bacterial growth and an inhibitor of protein synthesis, was studied in the conditions of continuous and batch cultivation . Steady states of the population within the range of D from 0.2 to 0.7 hr-1 were obtained at a concentration of the antibiotic equal to 20 microgram per liter . The shape of the chemostat curve in the presence of chloramphenicol in the medium indicates that the antibiotic slightly decreases mu max and considerably diminished Y . A change of limiting factors occurs along the chemostat curve at different dilution rates (0.2, 0.4 and 0.7 hr-1): one-, two- and three-factor effects on the population were observed . Steady states of the population in the chemostat are possible by chloramphenicol concentrations of 10 to 100 microgram per litre; in this case, cellular metabolism changes in the following nonspecific way: less effective energy processes are activated, the Y decreases as well as protein content in the cells, but the content of poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid in the biomass increases . If chloramphenicol is taken at a concentration of 1000 microgram per litre (a dose strongly inhibiting the growth rate), other changes specific for this inhibitor are found: the content of protein decreases while that of RNA increases, and substances of nucleotide nature are released into the medium . The changes remain for many generations . The data show that it is possible to change the ratio between cell polymers in growing population.

J Gen Virol, 1980 Nov, 51(Pt 1), 137 - 46
Host-range and partial characterization of several new bacteriophages for Bacillus megaterium QM b1551; Vary PS et al.; Several phages infecting Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 have been isolated from the soil and partially characterized . These phages, designated MP9 to MP50, were tested for host-range on several strains of B . megaterium and 13 other Bacillus species . All the phages only infected B . megaterium and on the basis of host-range patterns, 23 groups could be distinguished . The phage patterns also distinguished subgroups of B . megaterium strains within the species and should be useful in phage typing . The phages have varying sensitivities to heat, salts and organic solvents and are all double-stranded DNA phages . Thirty-two have been examined by electron microscopy and are Bradley types A, B and C . This is the first large collection of B . megaterium phages that has been characterized.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 Nov, 112(2), 273 - 81
Separation and characterization of an autolytic endo-beta-glucosaminidase from Bacillus cereus; Kawagishi S et al.; 1 . An autolytic endo-beta-glucosaminidase, capable of cleaving the glycoside linkages of N-unsubstituted glucosamine in the glycan moiety of cell wall peptidoglycan, was purified 470-fold from a salt extract of the 2,000 x g precipitate fraction obtained after sonication of a lysozyme-resistant strain of Bacillus cereus . The properties of this enzyme were studied . 2 . The purified enzyme preparation was also active towards the glycan chain of fully N-acetylated cell wall peptidoglycan . 3 . The endo-beta-glucosaminidase was inactive towards the cell wall peptidoglycan unless the peptide portion of this polymer was removed either by the action of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase or by the treatment with alkali in aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide . 4 . Studies on the action of this enzyme towards chemically modified glycans revealed that the carboxyl groups of muramic acid residues are indispensable to a substrate for this enzyme.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Nov, 144(2), 789 - 99
Bacillus megaterium sporal peptidoglycan synthesis studied by high-resolution autoradiography; Frehel C et al.; Cells of a Dap- Lys- mutant strain of Bacillus megaterium were pulse labeled with {3H}diaminopimelic acid at different times of growth and sporulation . They were processed for radioactivity measurements and high-resolution autoradiography either just after the pulse or after a chase in a nonradioactive medium until refractile forespores started to appear at time (t)4,5 . In the pulse-labeled cells, autoradiographs and radioactivity measurements showed that the radioactivity incorporated during a pulse decreased abruptly after t0 and stayed at a low level until t5, although the forespore wall and cortex were formed between t4 and t5 . In the pulse-chased bacteria, the acid-insoluble radioactivity, as well as the number of silver grains on autoradiographs, increased during the chase in cells labeled at t1 to t2, whereas it decreased in those labeled before t0 . Furthermore, analysis of silver grain distribution showed that, in stage IV bacteria, grains were distributed at the outside of the forespore, mostly on the sporangium cell wall, when pulse-labeling occurred before or at t0; they were located along the cortex and in the forespore cytoplasm when labeling was made at t1 or t2 . These facts show that {3H}diaminopimelic acid necessary for spore envelope synthesis was incorporated before their morphological appearance . Free or small diaminopimelic acid precursors entered the sporangium between t1 and t2 . The appearance of silver grains in the forespore cytoplasm suggests that the forespore is implicated in sporal peptidoglycan synthesis.

Biochem J, 1980 Nov 1, 191(2), 305 - 18
The teichuronic acid from the walls of Bacillus licheniformis A.T.C.C . 9945; Lifely MR et al.; The teichuronic acid of Bacillus licheniformis A.T.C.C . 9945 grown under phosphate limitation was isolated from the cell walls and purified by ion-exchange and Sephadex chromatography . The detailed structure of the polysaccharide was established by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and partial acid hydrolysis . The polymer is composed of tetrasaccharide repeating units with the structure {GlcA beta(1 leads to 4)GlcA beta(1 leads to 3)GalNAc beta(1 leads to 6)GalNAc alpha(1 leads to 4)n . 13C n.m.r . analysis has confirmed most of the structural features of the polysaccharide and, in particular, the anomeric configurations and linkage positions of substituents . The teichuronic acid from glucose-limited cells was identical with that from cells grown under phosphate limitation.

Ann Intern Med, 1980 Nov, 93(5), 709 - 11
Acute meningoencephalitis after withdrawal of antibiotics in Whipple's disease; Feldman M et al.; A man with Whipple's disease was treated with oral penicillin (500 mg twice a day) for 2 years with eradication of bacillary organisms from the jejunum and a return of jejunal histologic findings to normal . While he was on this regimen, however, intermittent vertigo and tinnitus and decreased auditory acuity developed . Two days after penicillin was withdrawn, the patient developed acute meningoencephalitis that responded to parenteral penicillin and chloramphenicol therapy . Subsequently, central nervous system signs and symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis have been controlled with chronic chloramphenicol therapy . Penicillin may suppress, but not prevent, central nervous system disease in patients with otherwise successfully treated Whipple's disease.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Oct 16, 602(1), 24 - 31
Identification of surface proteins of a bacterial membrane using thiolactone-activated polyacrylamide beads; Thompson S et al.; A new method for the determination of protein accessibility in membranes and membrane fractions using a resin, 'Enzacryl' polythiolactone, is described . Enzacryl polythiolactone is a hydrophilic polymer of acrylamide and acrylamide derivatives with thiolactone ring substituents . The binding of enzymes and proteins to this resin is accomplished very simply by mixing them together in a simple aqueous buffer . Groups which react with the polymer in the pH range 5--9 include aliphatic and phenolic hydroxyls and aliphatic amino groups . Surface proteins of Bacillus licheniformis membrane and solubilised membrane fractions are bound irreversibly to this resin . Inaccessible proteins remaining in the fractions are solubilised with sodium dodecyl sulphate and examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

C R Seances Acad Sci D, 1980 Oct 13, 291(6), 537 - 9
{Isolation of a spore fraction of Bacillus sphaericus toxic for larvae of Anopheles}; Tinelli R et al.; A lethal fraction for Anopheles stephensi larvae has been isolated from Bacillus sphaericus strain 1593 spores by various methods The best results have been obtained by freezing and thawing which give an extract made in majority of protein with high molecular weight and causing 100% of mortality in 24 hours . Because of its easy extracction and its lack of diaminopimelic acid, the toxic fraction is thought to be located outside the spore coats.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1980 Oct 10, 8(19), 4535 - 41
Nucleotide sequence analysis of precursor 5S RNA from Bacillus licheniformis; Stiekema WJ et al.; The complete nucleotide sequences of the various precursor 5S RNA species occurring in Bacillus licheniformis have been elucidated . The B . licheniformis precursors contain a 5'-precursor-specific segment of 95 nucleotides which is four times as long as the corresponding segment of the p5S RNAs from the closely related strains B . subtilis (Sogin, M.L., Pace, N.R., Rosenberg, M., Weissman, S.M . (1976) J . Biol . Chem . 251, 3480-3488) and Bacillus Q (Stiekema, W.J., Raue, H.A., Planta, R.J . (1980) Nucl . Ac . Res . 8, 2193-2211) . However, fourteen of the sixteen nucleotides at the 5'-end are identical in the precursors from all three strains . These conserved nucleotides can form a stem and loop structure which is likely to play an important role in the biosynthesis of 5S RNA . Extension secondary and tertiary structure is present in the 5'-precursor-specific segment as concluded from the results of digestion with RNAase T1 both of the isolated segment and the intact precursors . No sequence homology exists between the 3'-precursor-specific segments of the B . licheniformis precursors and those of the other two strains except for a stretch of U residues at the 3-terminus . This stretch of U residues is not immediately preceded by a hairpin loop, however, as expected for a transcription termination signal (20) . The question whether the precursors have already undergone processing at the 3'-end, therefore, remains open . The total number of genetically distinct precursor species in B . licheniformis is at least five and at most ten . Most likely each ribosomal RNA cistron produces a separate p5S RNA as is also the case in Bacillus Q.

Biochem J, 1980 Oct 1, 191(1), 53 - 62
The use of various immobilized-triazine affinity dyes for the purification of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Qadri F et al.; 1 . 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus was purified approximately 260-fold on triazine-immobilized dye columns to a final specific activity of 54 mumol of NADP+ reduced/min per mg of protein and an overall yield of 62% . 2 . An investigation of the capacities of different triazine dyes that inhibit 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was carried out . Cibacron Blue F3G-A and Procion Red HE-3B strongly inhibited the enzyme in free solution and were therefore chosen as the ligands in the purification scheme . 3 . KCl was found to be the most suitable agent for eluting 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Procion Red HE-3B-Sepharose 6B . NADP+ could specifically elute 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Cibacron Blue F3G-A-Sepharose 6B . 4 . A study of the effect of temperature on the binding of pure 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase to both Cibacron Blue-Sepharose and Procion Red-Sepharose showed that the binding increased with an increase in temperature.

Lepr India, 1980 Oct, 52(4), 508 - 12
A bacteriological and histopathological study of apparently normal skin in lepromatous leprosy; Katoch VM et al.; A comparative study of clinically affected and apparently uninvolved skin in lepromatous patients has been undertaken in 22 cases . Parameters studied include skin smears for bacillary Index; bacillary load/gm of tissue and histopathological comparison of granuloma fraction and biopsy index . The results showed that the clinically unaffected sites have a lower bacillary index and lesser bacterial load . Histologically the granulomas were smaller and biopsy index was lower in uninvolved areas . The possible reasons for this comparative less involvement are discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Oct, 144(1), 413 - 21
Effect of restrictive temperature on cell wall synthesis in a temperature-sensitive mutant of Bacillus stearothermophilus; Mulks MH et al.; A temperature-sensitive mutant of Bacillus stearothermophilus, TS-13, was unable to grow above 58 degrees C, compared to 72 degrees C for the wild type . Actively growing TS-13 cells lysed within 2 h when exposed to a restrictive temperature of 65 degrees C . Peptidoglycan synthesis stopped within 10 to 15 min postshift before a shut down of other macromolecular syntheses . Composition of preexisting peptidoglycan was not altered, nor was new peptidoglycan of aberrant composition formed . No significant difference in autolysin activity was observed between the mutant and the wild type at 65 degrees C . Protoplasts of TS-13 cells were able to synthesize cell wall material at 52 degress C, but not at 65 degrees C . This wall material remained closely associated with the cell membrane at the outer surface of the protoplasts, forming small, globular, membrane-bound structures which could be visualized by electron microscopy . These structures reacted with fluorescent antibody prepared against purified cell walls . Production of this membrane-associated wall material could be blocked by bacitracin, which inhibited cell wall synthesis at the level of transport through the membrane . The data were in agreement with previous studies showing that at the restrictive temperature this mutant is unable to alter its membrane fatty acid and phospholipid composition with temperature such that it is not able to maintain a membrane lipid composition which permits normal membrane function at the restrictive temperature.

Endocrinologie, 1980 Oct-Dec, 18(4), 259 - 64
The female gonadic syndrome in bacillary endocrine diseases; Danila-Muster A et al.; The paper reports on the endocrine-gynecologic syndrome of genital tuberculosis in the woman . The localization of the disease has a much higher incidence than it is currently believed by gynecologic and endocrinologic practitioners . The casuistry and pathogenic data exposed herein are aimed at reminding this situation . A selective list of references comes in support of authors' observations.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1980 Oct, 42(1), 107 - 13
Antibodies against Mycobacterium leprae antigen 7 from birth to 18 months of age: an indicator of intra-uterine infection in leprosy; Melsom R et al.; All babies of three non-leprosy mothers and ten tuberculoid leprosy mothers and four of five babies of mothers with inactive lepromatous leprosy showed a decline in serum concentration of antibodies against M . leprae antigen 7 during the first 4 months of life, as expected from catabolism of maternal IgG . By contrast, ten of twenty babies of mothers with active lepromatous leprosy showed a decline in concentration of anti-M . leprae 7 antibodies considerably less than expected . This indicates that these babies have been stimulated by M . leprae antigen 7, either as free antigen or by viable M . leprae before birth, and thus that leprosy may occur as a congenital infection . Studies of anti-M . leprae antibodies in repeated serum samples obtained during the first 18 months of life indicated that children of mothers with bacilliferous leprosy are frequently exposed to M . leprae to a sufficient extent to stimulate the immune system of the baby to production of anti-M . leprae antibodies during this period . The consequences of this exposure to M . leprae should be ascertained by careful clinical studies.

Cancer Res, 1980 Oct, 40(10), 3455 - 8
Effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin on the development of primary lung cancer in Syrian golden hamsters; Zwilling BS et al.; The effect of a single systemic or intratracheal administration of viable Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin on the development of primary lung cancer in Syrian golden hamsters was assessed . M . bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin administered i.v . prior to, during, or after carcinogen treatment did not alter the incidence of lung tumors . Animals receiving intratracheal M . bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin had an increased incidence of lung tumors . Both i.v . and intratracheal routes accelerated the appearance of tumors.

Biochem J, 1980 Oct 1, 191(1), 111 - 6
Production of a variant of beta-lactamase II with selectively decreased cephalosporinase activity by a mutant of Bacillus cereus 569/H/9; Baldwin GS et al.; 1 . Mutants of Bacillus cereus 569/H/9 have been screened in a search for strains that synthesize variants of beta-lactamase II . 2 . One of these mutants (strain 569/H/9/1) produces a beta-lactamase II-like enzyme that shows a selective decrease in cephalosporinase activity . 3 . beta-Lactamase II from strain 569/H/9/1 has been purified to apparent homogeneity and its kinetic properties have been examined . This enzyme resembles the parent beta-lactamase II in its relative activity with benzylpenicillin as substrate when Zn(II) is replaced by other metal ions, but differs detectably from the parent enzyme in its isoelectric point.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Oct, 144(1), 454 - 6
Comparative macromolecular composition of filaments and rods of a Bacillus megaterium thermoconditional morphological mutant; Yan LP et al.; Filaments of a thermosensitive Bacillus megaterium mutant showed an altered macromolecular composition compared with salt-cured mutant cells and parental cells . Filaments contained more peptidoglycan, polyglucose, poly-beta-hydroxy-butyrate, and deoxyribonucleic acid per unit of protein . The ribonucleic acid-to-protein ratio of filaments was similar to that of rods or salt-cured cells . Filament formation seemed to be due to defective protein or ribonucleic acid metabolism.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Sep 25, 255(18), 8417 - 23
In vivo and in vitro synthesis of the spore-specific proteins A and C of bacillus megaterium; Dignam SS et al.; Pulse labeling of cells of Bacillus megaterium followed by cell disruption and immunoprecipitation has shown that the spore-specific Proteins A and C are synthetized only during a discrete time period in sporulation . At its maximum, the synthesis of the A- and C-proteins accounted for 5% of the protein being synthesized in vivo, but the mRNA for the A- and C-proteins had a lifetime no longer than that of other mRNAs translated at that time . No evidence was found for synthesis of Proteins A or C in high molecular weight precursor form, and essentially all of the newly synthesized A- and C-protein was found in the forespore . Isolation of total RNA from cells in various stages of growth and sporulation, translation of this RNA in a cell-free system from vegetative cells, and immunoprecipitation showed that the ability of cellular RNA to promote A- and C-protein synthesis in vitro was directly proportional to the rate at which the cells had been synthesizing Proteins A and C in vivo . These data indicate that synthesis of Proteins A and C during sporulation in B . megaterium is primarily under transcriptional control . The identity of the immunoprecipitated labeled material material synthesized in vitro with the A- and C-proteins was established by: 1) their co-migration on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels; 2) co-migration on high performance liquid chromatography of tryptic peptides from an {35S}methionine-labeled immunoprecipitate with the methionine-containing tryptic peptides of the A- and C-proteins; and 3) digestion of the labeled immunoprecipitate with a protease specific for the A- and C-proteins.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Sep 25, 255(18), 8413 - 6
Covalent structure of protein C . A second major low molecular weight protein degraded during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores; Setlow P et al.; The complete covalent structure of protein C, a protein degraded during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores, has been determined . The intact protein was cleaved with a highly specific spore protease into two peptides, residues 1 to 30 and 31 to 71 . The intact protein was also cleaved by cyanogen bromide into two peptides, residues 1 to 27 and 28 to 71 . Cleavage of the larger cyanogen bromide peptide with trypsin allowed isolation of the COOH-terminal peptide, residues 59 to 71 . Automated sequenator analysis of the intact protein and peptide fragments, together with previously published partial sequence data on this protein and carboxypeptidase A digestion of the intact protein provided data from which the following unique sequence was deduced: (formula: see text) . The primary sequence of the C protein shows an extremely high degree of homology with that of the A protein--another protein degraded during germination of B . megaterium spores.

Int J Cancer, 1980 Sep 15, 26(3), 285 - 8
In vitro reaction of cancer patients and others to Bacillus Calmette-Gueérin; Todd G et al.; We examined the in vitro reaction of leukocytes from 71 cancer patients and 121 control donors (disease-free individuals or patients with non-malignant non-debilitating conditions) against Bacillus Calmette-Guerin using a one-stage capillary leukocyte migration assay . The proportion of reactive cancer patients and control donors increased with increasing BCG concentration, but the proportion of patients who reacted was less than that of control donors at all concentrations of BCG . As cancer stage advanced and the volume of clinically detectable tumor increased, the proportion of reactive patients decreased . There was a small age-related decline in reactivity in the control population . The results of simultaneous in vitro tests and Mantoux reactions were concurrent in a majority of normal individuals so tested.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1980 Sep 13, 110(37), 1328 - 34
{Pleuro-pulmonary actinomycosis . Report of 4 cases}; Cavin R et al.; Four cases of pulmonary actinomycosis are reported . Two cases (1978, 1979) were diagnosed on microscopic examination of lung parenchyma excised on suspicion of bronchogenic carcinoma . The third case was diagnosed retrospectively by reexamining the slides of a patient operated on in 1965, who presented with a similar history and chest X-ray . The fourth was diagnosed at autopsy in a patient who committed suicide . Actinomycosis is a rare disease which affects the lung in 15--20% of cases . Despite its name, actinomycosis is not due to a fungus but to an anaerobic gram-positive bacillus . The germ is a saprophyte of the human digestive tract and is very sensitive to penicillins . It may become pathogenic in a compromised host and usually produces cervico-facial lesions which develop by continuity from mouth mucosa . Abdominal or, more rarely, pulmonary lesions are due to ingestion or inhalation of infected material . Chest X-ray appearance of pulmonary actinomycosis mimics that of bronchogenic carcinoma . Actinomyces culture is difficult, and diagnosis is often based on microscopic examination of the surgical specimen only . Antibiotic therapy is a mandatory complement to surgical treatment.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Sep 9, 615(1), 262 - 70
DNA-dependent ATPase II from Bacillus cereus; Banfalvi G et al.; A new DNA-dependent ATPase been purified close to homogeneity from soluble extracts of Bacillus cereus . This enzyme, called ATPase II catalyses the hydrolysis of ATP in the presence of Mg2+ or Ca2+ and DNA . Single-stranded linear DNA is a cofactor about 3-fold more effective than double-stranded DNA . The enzyme catalyses the strand separation of duplex DNA in the presence of ATP . However, at concentrations higher than 0.5 mM, phosphohydrolysis can occur without concomitant DNA unwinding . The enzyme has a molecular weight of 84 000 according to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . ATPase II is inhibited by adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)-diphosphate, actinomycin D and ethidium bromide, but not by nalidixic acid.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Sep-Oct, 49(5), 722 - 6
{Optimization of Bacillus intermedius cultivation conditions to increase biosynthesis of alkaline extracellular RNAase}; Znamenskaia LV et al.; The effect of changes in the concentrations of peptone and glucose in the growth medium, the level of aeration and the original pH value on the biosynthesis of RNAase by Bacillus intermedius 7P was studied by means of a multifactor experiment . The optimal medium for the enzyme accumulation contains from 1.2 to 1.4% of glucose and from 2.8 to 3.1% of peptone, and is characterized by the original pH value of 8.45 to 8.7 and the aeration level of 1 : 7.5 . The original pH value of the medium that is optimal for the enzyme biosynthesis is not optimal for the cultural growth . Under the optimized conditions of cultivation, the RNAase activity of Bac . intermedius 7P increases by 50 to 60%.

Am J Epidemiol, 1980 Sep, 112(3), 341 - 51
Non-respiratory tuberculosis in Canada . Epidemiologic and bacteriologic features; Enarson DA et al.; Of the total cases of tuberculosis reported in Canada between 1970-1974, approximately one-sixth (3671 cases) involved primarily non-respiratory organs . Common diagnostic entities were genitourinary tuberculosis (1516 cases), lymphadenitis (1083 cases), bone and joint tuberculosis (555 cases), gastrointestinal tuberculosis (155 cases) and meningitis (138 cases) . The remainder (224 cases) involved a wide variety of organs . Between 1967 and 1977 the morbidity rates of most non-respiratory manifestations steadily declined, the decline in meningitis being particularly marked . In contrast, lymphadenitis did not decline to the same extent, reflecting changing immigration patterns . The major diagnostic entities differed in their age and sex patterns and in their contribution to total cases by birthplace and ethnic group . In particular, the preponderance of lymphadenitis in females, and in the Asian-born was striking . Mycobacterium bovis was isolated infrequently and bacillary resistance to antituberculosis drugs was also uncommon . In a substantial proportion of cases, active tuberculosis was present concurrently at another site, or there was historical or radiologic evidence of previous active tuberculosis . Despite this additional evidence, delay and failure of diagnosis were common . An increased clinical awareness of tuberculosis is required, particularly in view of the often enigmatic presentation of non-respiratory disease.

Cancer, 1980 Sep 1, 46(5), 1128 - 34
Active specific immunotherapy of stage IV renal carcinoma with aggregated tumor antigen adjuvant; Neidhart JA et al.; Active-specific immunotherapy of human malignancy with a vaccine consisting of admixtures of modified tumor antigens and an adjuvant such as tuberculin has not been fully explored, despite preliminary reports of clinical success and conceptual support from animal studies . Three years ago, we designed a prospective study using aggregated soluble tumor antigens admixed with tuberculin or phytohemagglutinin as an adjuvant (TAA) in order to treat patients with Stage IV renal carcinoma . Autologous tumor vaccines were used initially in 24 patients with operatively accessible tumor, although most patients eventually were switched to allogeneic preparations . Scarifications with Bacillus-Calmette Guerin were used in order to ensure maximum reactivity to tuberculin and patients received no other therapy while in the study . Two patients achieved complete remission and 2, partial remission . The overall survival rate for the 30 patients entered is equivalent to reported survival rates for patients with extensive disease treated with aggressive surgery with or without chemotherapy . We believe these results offer strong preliminary evidence of efficacy of this particular type of therapy in an advanced human malignancy.

J Exp Med, 1980 Sep 1, 152(3), 657 - 73
Macrophages elicited with heat-killed bacillus Calomette-Guérin protect C57BL/6J mice against a syngeneic melanoma; Freedman VH et al.; We have demonstrated that a murine cytotoxic peritoneal cell can be elicited by intraperitoneal immunization with heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis, strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) . When these cells are injected together with cells of clone B(5)59 of B16 melanoma in a Winn-type transfer assay into syngeneic C57BL/6J mice, the tumorigenic potential of the melanoma is completely abrogated . Similarly, mice immunized intraperitoneally with dead BCG are protected against intraperitoneal challenge with a number of B16 melanoma cells sufficient to cause tumors in 100% of control mice . However, mice immunized intraperitoneally with dead BCG are not protected against tumor formation when B16 melanoma cells are injected subcutaneously . Co-injection of BCG-elicited peritoneal cells with B16 melanoma cells into nude or sublethally irradiated (650 rad) mice inhibits tumor formation in > 85% of the mice, indicating that additional participation of host bone marrow- or thymus-derived leukocytes is not required to eradicate the tumor implant . The effector cell in the BCG-induced peritoneal exudate is adherent and phagocytic and is a mononuclear phagocyte . Nonadherent lymphoid cells from the same BCG-induced peritoneal exudate and from thioglycollate-broth-elicited granylocytes and macrophages neither prevent nor delay B16 tumor formation.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Sep, 120(1), 51 - 6
Patterns of cell polarity and chromosome segregation in chains of sporulating Bacillus megaterium; Hitchins AD; The asymmetry of the DNA duplex due to polynucleotide strand complementarity could be the molecular basis of cell polarity in spore-forming bacteria . To test this possibility, the relationship of DNA strand segregation to the spore location pattern in chains of sporangia was investigated in Bacillus megaterium . Spores containing one chromosomes labelled in one of the complementary strands were formed from cells that had been allowed to segregate pulse-labelled chromosomes in minimal medium at 30 degree C . A second crop of spores was then formed from cells originating from the labelled spore population . The second generation spores inherited labelled strands from the first sporepopulation by random segregation . In contrast, the patterns of spore positions in sporangial chains were non-random . Furthermore, the non-randomness of patterning was stable and was unaffected by growth temperature (15 to 37 degrees C) or by enrichment of the minimal medium used in the segregation experiments . Since the pattern of DNA strand segregation is random and the spore location pattern in chains of sporangia is non-random, the asymmetry of the DNA duplex cannot be the determinant of cell polarity.

Poumon Coeur, 1980 Sep-Oct, 36(5), 309 - 12
{Tuberculosis or hepatic granulomatosis? (author's transl)}; Le Bihan G et al.; The authors report 43 observations of pulmonary or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, bacteriologically proved, in which liver biopsies revealed more or less complete granulomatous lesions . The culture of 29 liver fragments on Lowenstein and Colestos medium enabled the identification of the tuberculous bacillum in only one case . In the other cases the hepatic lesion has only been related to the tuberculosis because of the clinical and bacteriological context . Therefore, besides exceptional cases where Koch bacillum is revealed in the liver parenchyma, it seems that granulomatosis can be considered a control for the delayed hypersensitivity reaction to the tuberculous antigens, and not to the tuberculous infection localized to liver.

Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1980 Sep, 48(3), 247 - 53
An assay for antibodies in leprosy sera reacting with ribonucleoprotein (RNP), a mycobacterial ribosomal antigen, using crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel; Stoner GL et al.; The technique of crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel has been adapted to provide a quantitative assay for antibodies to a mycobacterial ribosomal antigen termed ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antigen . This antigen is no . 1 in the M . smegmatis reference system and corresponds to antigen no . 5 of M . leprae . The assay method measures changes in the rate of migration of the reference precipitin peak caused by the addition of serum in the intermediate gel and utilizes a lepromatous serum pool (LSP) both in the reference gel and as a standard in the intermediate gel . The anti-RNP activity in 24 leprosy sera differentiated the pauci-bacillary tuberculoid group (11 of 12 < 35% LSP) from the multi-bacillary lepromatous group (11 of 12 > 35% LSP) . These findings confirm the work of others which indicates that assay of anti-RNP activity may have applications in the classification of leprosy patients and in the serodiagnosis of lepromatous leprosy infections . This method should also be applicable in other systems in which an antigen of high electrophoretic mobility forms a major precipitin in crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Sep, 143(3), 1208 - 14
Isolation and properties of membranes from Bacillus megaterium spores; Racine FM et al.; Membranes from dormant and heat-activated spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 were isolated and purified by gentle lysis procedures followed by differential and sucrose density gradient centrifugations . The purified membranes were enriched for inner membranes and were characterized by their density and content of proteins, phospholipids, enzymes, cytochromes, and carotenoids . These purified spore membranes could be used to investigate their role in the triggering of germination.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1980 Sep-Oct, 14(5), 1039 - 45
{Plasmids of Bacillus thuringiensis var . galleriae strain 612}; Debabov VG et al.; We studied Bacillus thuringiensis var galleriae, strain 612 plasmids . B . thuringiensis cells contain double-stranded plasmid DNA molecules (ranging of about 12% from total DNA content) with buoyant density 1.59 g/cm3 . Plasmid DNA content was constant during the exponential and stationary phases of bacterial growth . The plasmid fractions consist of DNA molecules with molecular weights of 5.9 x 10(6), 10.0 x 10(6), and 110.9 x 10(6) daltons (pVD1, pVD2 pVD3, respectively) . Endonuclease EcoRI cuts the plasmids pVD2 and pVD3 into two and four fragments, respectivelyy, but pVDI seemed to be resistent to EcoRI treatment . We found that pVD2 and pVD3 plasmids contain a common DNA fragment with the molecular weight of 6.7 x 10(6) dalton as it was shown by restriction analysis . In contrast, the same plasmids contain the common fragment with molecular weight of 7.5 x 10(6) dalton as shown by heteroduplex analysis . Plasmid pVD3 has a transposon-like structure.

Can J Surg, 1980 Sep, 23(5), 429 - 31
Adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for gastric carcinoma; Makowka L et al.; Between July 1974 and August 1978, 78 patients were entered into a study to assess the effect of immune stimulation with bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) on gastric carcinoma . Patients were selected in random fashion for the two treatment regimens; 41 received BCG and 5-fluorouracil and 37 received 5-fluorouracil alone . Initial results, after a mean follow-up of 72 weeks, are presented . Immunotherapy as used in this study did not affect survival . However, 5-fluorouracil given as an adjuvant to palliative resection did improve survival when compared with a matched control group in which patients received no additional treatment after palliative resection . Although this finding will have to be studied further by multicentre randomized prospective trials, our experience indicates that incurable gastric carcinoma should be managed more aggressively.

Cancer Res, 1980 Sep, 40(9), 3214 - 7
Suppression and immunotherapy of the guinea pig line 10 hepatocarcinoma mediated by heat-killed disrupted Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; Minden P et al.; Heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cells were sonically disrupted, and their antitumor effects against the line 10 hepatocarcinoma in strain 2 guinea pigs were evaluated . When injected together with viable line 10 cells, there was complete suppression of tumor growth . Growth of tumor was also suppressed when line 10 cells were injected contralaterally at the same time as the vaccine mixture . Multiple intratumor injections of sufficient disrupted M . bovis strain B . Calmette-Guerin were therapeutically effective against 74% of 7-day-old tumors and against 40% of 14-day-old tumors . Surviving animals were usually resistant to subsequent rechallenges with line 10 cells but not to syngeneic L2C leukemia cells . By means of a competitive radioimmunoassay, antigenic determinants were detected that were expressed by disrupted but not by intact bacteria.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1980 Sep-Oct, 131B(2), 191 - 201
{Biochemical and serological characterization of "Bacillus sphaericus" strains, pathogenic or non-pathogenic for mosquitoes (author's transl)}; de Barjac H et al.; A biochemical and serological study of 35 Bacillus sphaericus strains including some pathogenic for mosquito larvae, is reported . A classification of these, and a differentiation of the pathogenic strains, cannot be made on the basis of the 78 phenotypic characters which have been determined by conventional methods . Numerical analysis of the results given by the auxanograms on 160 substrates, gives good results . An even more valuable approach is the flagellar agglutination technique, which clearly distinguishes the pathogenic from the non-pathogenic strains and furthermore can specifically differentiate strains among the pathogenic isolates.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Aug 25, 255(16), 7536 - 9
A novel N-acetylglucosaminyl polyprene in hen oviduct; Hayes GR et al.; Incubation of hen oviduct membranes with UDP-{14C}N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) leads to the formation of four endogenously labeled lipids . One of these lipids has not previously been characterized . Based on its chromatographic behavior on SG-81 paper and DEAE-cellulose, it is a monophosphate diester . The oviduct lipid is extremely sensitive to mild acid hydrolysis and, based on a comparison with alpha-GlcNAc-phosphoryl-undecaprenol from Bacillus cereus, the oviduct lipid contains GlcNAc linked to a polyisoprene as the beta anomer, the polyisoprene containing an alpha-unsaturated isoprene unit . Molecular sieve chromatography indicates that the molecular weight of the lipid is on the order of mannosyl-phosphoryl-dolichol and larger than alpha-GlcNAc-phosphoryl-undecaprenol . Formation of the GlcNAc-lipid is insensitive to tunicamycin . Dolichyl phosphate stimulates formation of a GlcNAc-lipid with similar chromatographic properties.

Biochemistry, 1980 Aug 19, 19(17), 3996 - 4003
Inactivation of Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I by 6 beta-bromopencillanic acid: mechanism; Cohen SA et al.; The mechanism of the inactivation of Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I by 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid, a probable suicide substrate {see Loosemore, M.J., Cohen, S.A., & Pratt, R.F . (1980) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)}, is described . Inactivation is accompanied by covalent modification of the protein with the appearance of a characteristic chromophore at 326 nm . Ultraviolet (UV) absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and circular dichroic (CD) spectra of the modified protein, of a modified peptide derived from the protein by enzymatic digestion, and of relevant model compounds suggest that acylation of the enzyme by 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid is accompanied by rearrangement and cyclization of the inhibitor to a 2,3-dihydro-1,4-thiazine-3,6-dicarboxylic acid derivative, which is the observed chromophore . The acylated residue is shown to be Ser-70 . The mechanism of action of beta-lactamase inhibitors is discussed.

Biochemistry, 1980 Aug 19, 19(17), 3938 - 48
Fluorescence relaxation of proflavin-deoxyribonucleic acid interaction . Kinetic properties of a base-specific reaction; Ramstein J et al.; The kinetics of proflavin binding to Micrococcus lysodeicticus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA {(G-C) content 72%}, to Bacillus megaterium DNA {(A-T) content 70%}, and to the polydeoxyribonucleotides poly{d(G-C)} and poly{d(A-T)} was studied with fluorescence temperature-jump methods . Poly{d(A-T)} binds proflavin in a two-step reaction with a preequilibrium . Poly{d(G-C)} is characterized by a bimolecular reaction . The binding of acridines to natural DNAs is shown to be characterized by different types of sites whose properties depend on the base composition . The sites have considerable enthalpic differences which result in exchange of dye molecules between them when the temperature is changed . Also, on natural DNAs A-T base pairs are associated with a rapidly equilibrating external complex which is absent or much weaker for G-C base pairs.

Biochemistry, 1980 Aug 19, 19(17), 3990 - 5
Inactivation of Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I by 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid: kinetics; Loosemore MJ et al.; The kinetics of the inactivation of Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I by 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid are described . Loss of beta-lactamase activity is accompanied by a decrease in protein fluorescence, by the appearance of a protein-bound chromophore at 326 nm, and by loss of tritium from 6 alpha-{3H}-6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid . It is shown that all of the above changes probably have the same rate-determining step . The inactivation reaction is competitively inhibited by cephalosporin C, a competitive inhibitor of this enzyme, and by covalently bound clavulanic acid, suggesting that 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid reacts directly with the beta-lactamase active site . It is proposed that this inhibitor reacts initially as a normal substrate and that the rate-determining step of the inactivation is acylation of the enzyme . A rapid irreversible inactivation reaction rather than normal hydrolysis of the acyl-enzyme then follows acylation; 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid is thus a suicide substrate.

Biochemistry, 1980 Aug 5, 19(16), 3712 - 23
Proteolytic cleavage of methionyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus: effects on activity and structure; Kalogerakos T et al.; Methionyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus, a dimer of molecular weight 2 X 85K, is converted by limited subtilisin digestion into a fully active monomeric fragment of molecular weight 64K . The reversible methionine activation reaction of these enzymes was followed through the variation of the intensity of their trypotophan fluorescence . Equilibrium and stopped-flow experiments show that the rate and mechanism for adenylate formation supported by the monomeric derivative are undistinguishable from those of each adenylating site of the native dimeric enzyme . In contrast, the rate of tRNA aminoacylation is improved upon limited proteolysis of the native enzyme . This behavior can be related to the anticooperativity of the binding of tRNA molecules to native dimeric enzyme . Accordingly, at 25 degrees C, the dimer might behave as a half-of-the-sites enzyme with only one active tRNA site at a time, compared to two after limited proteolysis with consequent irreversible disociation into two 64K fragments . Another modified form of the enzyme is obtained through limited tryptic digestion . This derivative is completely devoid of activity although its molecular weight under nondenaturating conditions remains undistinguishable from that of the 64K fragment generated by subtilisin . Denaturation reveals that this tryptic derivative is composed of two subfragments with molecular weights of 33K and 29K, respectively . The same fragments may also be directly obtained through limited tryptic digestion of the subtilsic fragment . Interestingly, although trypsin treatment has abolished the activity of the enzyme, fluorescence studies demonstrate that the ATP and methionine binding sites have remained intact . It is shown that the effect of the internal cut made by trypsin into the active 64K fragment has been to considerably depress the "coupling" between the methionine and nucleotide binding sites . Finally, the rate of inactivation of the enzyme by trypsin is observed to be substantially decreased by in situ synthetized methionyl adenylate but not by tRNA . These properties and others are discussed in relation to the problem of its significance of repeating sequences and structural "domains" within the class of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Aug 4, 600(2), 270 - 90
An investigation of membrane fluidity changes during sporulation and germination of Bacillus megaterium K.M . measured by electron spin and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Stewart GS et al.; Changes in membrane and macromolecular fluidity which may accompany the differentiation processes of sporulation and germination in Bacillus megaterium K.M . are examined by electron spin and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy . No change in membrane lipid fluidity is observed in isolated forespores up to stage VI . Between stage VI and release of mature spores, the ESR spectrum of doxylstearic acid spin labels becomes polycrystalline . This change in spectral fluidity is completely reversed during germination and is paralleled by the rapid release of Ca2+ from the spore . NMR studies also show that the mature spore has reduced macromolecular mobility and an increased nonexchangeable water pool compared with vegetative cells.

Scand J Haematol, 1980 Aug, 25(2), 134 - 40
Ageing of blood in hereditary spherocytosis; Little C et al.; Blood from 5 patients suffering from hereditary spherocytosis (HS) was stored in acid-citrate-dextrose anticoagulant at 4 degrees C for up to 6 weeks . The erythrocyte morphology and susceptibility to lysis by phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus) were examined at 2-weekly intervals and compared with erythrocytes from 6 different donations of stored normal blood . the hereditary spherocytes went through essentially the same series of morphological changes as did normal erythrocytes . Fresh hereditary spherocytes were very resistant to lysis by phospholipase C, but, like normal erythrocytes, became progressively more susceptible to lysis upon storage . In terms of erythrocyte morphological changes and development of susceptibility to lysis by the enzyme, blood from HS patients aged less rapidly than did normal blood . Splenectomy appeared to have no marked effect on the storage properties of blood from these patients as indicated by erythrocyte morphology and susceptibility to lysis by phospholipase C.

Can J Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 26(8), 1006 - 10
A comparison of protein crystal subunit sizes in Bacillus thuringiensis; Calabrese DM et al.; We have employed gel electrophoresis to determine the number and size of the subunits present in the protein crystals from 16 strains of Baccillus thuringiensis . The calculated molecular weights (MW) fell into three major categories whose crystals exhibited the following protein banding patterns: type I, high MW only (140 000- 160 000); type II, both high MW and medium MW (60 000 and 150 000); and type III, low MW only (40 000 - 50 000) . Interestingly, the type I and type II crystals were the expected bipyramidal diamonds whereas the type III crystals possessed a previously unreported tetrahedral shape.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Aug, 33(8), 836 - 41
Production of a new aminoglycoside antibiotic by a mutant of Bacillus circulans; Fujiwara T et al.; A new aminoglycoside antibiotic, S-11-A, was isolated from the fermentation broth of the 2-deoxystreptamine negative (DOS-) mutant of Bacillus circulans S-11 . The structure of S-11-A was elucidated as 1-deamino-1-hydroxyxylostasin, which contains an intermediate of DOS biosynthesis (S-11-P) and has resistance to some aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes . This is the first finding of antibiotic production by a DOS- mutant without any supplementation of DOS or a DOS analog, and could be described as a novel method of getting a new aminoglycoside antibiotic.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Aug, 33(8), 830 - 5
Structure elucidation of an intermediate of 2-deoxystreptamine biosynthesis; Igarashi K et al.; The structure of a 2-deoxystreptamine (DOS) precursor named S-11-P, which was isolated by using a DOS negative mutant derived from a xylostasin-producing strain of Bacillus circulans B15M, has been elucidated as (1 L)-1,3,5/2,4,-5-aminocyclohexanetetrol by comparison with an authentic specimen, which was synthesized from kanamycin A.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Aug, 33(8), 824 - 9
Isolation of an intermediate of 2-deoxystreptamine biosynthesis from a mutant of Bacillus circulans; Fujiwara T et al.; Eight 2-deoxystreptamine-negative (DOS-) mutants were isolated from various strains of Bacillus circulans, normally producing butirosin, xylostasin and ribostamycin . These mutants were classified into two groups (converter and secretor) by the simple method of cosynthesis using agar plate culture . One of the cosynthetic pairs, strain S-11, an intermediate of DOS biosynthesis, S-11-P, was isolated . This compound was converted to butirosin (BTN) effectively by strain 236 . The structure of S-11-P was considered to be (1 L or 1 D)-1,3,5/2,4-5-amino-cyclohexanetetrol, and the pathway of DOS biosynthesis is discussed here.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1980 Aug, 37(8), 1077 - 83
Prediction of serum gentamicin concentrations in patients undergoing hemodialysis; Goetz DR et al.; The predictability of a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model for estimating serum gentamicin concentrations in patients undergoing hemodialysis was studied . Nine hemodialysis patients with gram-negative bacillary infections requiring aminoglycoside therapy and with creatinine clearances of less than 1 ml/min were studied . A series of blood samples was assayed by radioimmunoassay to determine serum concentrations after an initial 1.5- to 2.0-mg/kg i.v . dose and throughout the dialysis period . These data were used to predict post-dialysis serum concentrations and post-dialysis doses needed to achieve therapeutic concentrations . The mean apparent volume of distribution for gentamicin was 0.26 +/- 0.06 liter/kg . The mean gentamicin half-life was 31.5 hours before dialysis and 7.6 hours during dialysis . No significant differences were found between predicted and measured peak gentamicin serum concentrations after dialysis; nor were there significant differences for peak serum concentrations obtained with a post-dialysis gentamicin dose (p less than 0.001) . Neither the peaks predicted based on the individual patient's pharmacokinetic values nor those based on the average of the patients' pharmcokinetic values were statistically different from measured . The kinetic model developed can be used to determine gentamicin dosing for hemodialysis patients and to determine an average elimination rate constant for a given dialysis apparatus.

Arch Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 127(1), 39 - 46
Immunoferrin labeling of respiratory nitrate reductase in membrane vesicles of Bacillus licheniformis and Klebsiella aerogenes; Wientjes FB et al.; The indirect immunoferritin labeling method was used to localize the membrane-bound respiratory nitrate reductase in membrane vesicles and protoplasts or sphereplasts of Bacillus licheniformis and Klebsiella aerogenes, respectively . For a comparison of the labeling of the various vesicle preparations, which differed not only in size but also in the percentage of inside-out orientation, a quantification of the results was needed to circumvent the problem of non-specifically bound ferritin . From the results of sidedness of the nitrate reductase in the cytoplasmic membrane of the above-mentioned bacteria was determined as being cytoplasmic in B . licheniformis and as transmembranous in K . aerogenes.

Cancer, 1980 Aug 1, 46(3), 488 - 96
Augmentation of immunity of line 10 hepatoma by BCG: comparison of different BCG preparations; Bartlett GL et al.; The line 10 hepatoma of strain 2 guinea pigs was used in order to evaluate the adjuvant efficacy of eight Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) suspensions which differed in strain, method of preservation, or dosage . Lyophilized Tice BCG was consistently the most effective preparation . Each strain had adjuvant activity in at least one experiment . The method of preservation of BCG (fresh-frozen vs . lyophilized) did not have a consistent, a predictable influence on adjuvanticity . A ten-fold increase in the dosage of BCG or of the whole vaccine was not supraoptimal.

Eur J Cell Biol, 1980 Aug, 21(3), 305 - 12
Ultrastructure and physical characteristics of proplastids and chloroplasts isolated by zonal centrifugation from Euglena gracilis var . bacillaris; Palisano JR et al.; Proplastids at various stages of development and mature chloroplasts were isolated by zonal centrifugation in a double-sigmoid, sucrose-sorbitol gradient from Euglena gracilis var . bacillaris grown in darkness and subjected to various periods of illumination with white light . Computer programs were used in characterizing physical properties of the isolated organelles and in predicting the location of plastids of different developmental stages in the gradient . The technique permits computation of these parameters in any gradient material . The convoluted nature of the early developing plastids, revealed by electron microscopy, suggests that the frictional coefficients should be taken into account in describing the physical constants of the organelles, since their sedimentation coefficients are lower than would be expected for spherical particles of the same size and density.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 Aug, 88(2), 565 - 70
The site of inhibition of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis by azureomycin B, a new antibiotic; Spiri-Nakagawa P et al.; Azureomycin B (10 micrograms/ml), a new antibiotic from Pseudonocardia azurea nov . sp., caused the accumulation of lipid intermediate and inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis in an invitro system using a particulate fraction from Bacillus megaterium KM with UDP-MurNAc-{3H}pentapeptide and cold UDP-GlcNac or cold UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide and UDP-{3H}GlcNAc as substrates . At higher concentrations of azureomycin B (over 100 microgram/ml), lipid intermediate accumulation was also inhibited . When particulate fraction from Escherichia coli Y-10 and UDP-{14C{GlcNAc and cold UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide were used, accumulation of lipid intermediate and inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis were also observed . These results indicate that the primary target of azureomycin B is the transfer of the disaccharide peptide unit (GlcNAc-MurNAc-pentapeptide) from lipid-bound precursor to acceptor.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 Aug, 88(2), 469 - 79
Enzymatic deacetylation of N-acetylglucosamine residues in cell wall peptidoglycan; Araki Y et al.; An enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetamido groups of N-acetylglucosamine residues in cell wall peptidoglycan was found in the supernatant and 20,000 X g pellet fractions of Bacillus cereus . Autolysis of the latter fraction resulted in solubilization and activation of the deacetylase . Among various bacteria, strains of B . cereus which contain high proportions of N-unsubstituted glucosamine residues in their cell wall peptidoglycan components are particularly rich in the deacetylase . The peptidoglycan deacetylase is distinguishable from N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase {EC 3.5.1.25} on the basis of their cellular distribution and chromatographic behavior . The rate of reaction of the deacetylase with (N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramic acid)3 {abbreviated as (GlcNAc-MurNAc)3} is less than 1/100 of that with peptidoglycan, while the enzyme is inactive towards (GlcNAc-MurNAc)2, GlcNAc-MurNAc, and monomeric N-acetylglucosamine derivatives . The enzyme also deacetylates partially O-hydroxyethylated chitin . The concentrations of peptidoglycan and partially O-hydroxyethylated chitin required for half-maximum activities were found to be 0.29 and 6.9 mg per ml (or 0.17 and 20 mM with respect to N-acetylglucosamine residues), respectively . The occurrence of this enzyme accounts for the formation of cell wall peptidoglycan N-unsubstituted at the glucosamine residues.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 Aug, 109(2), 575 - 80
Mechanism of substrate-induced inactivation of beta-lactamase I; Kiener PA et al.; beta-Lactamase I (from Bacillus cereus 569/H) is inactivated by certain substrates (e.g . methicillin or cloxacillin) but not by others (e.g . benzylpenicillin) . Emzyme that had been inactivated was found to be labelled stoichiometrically, as shown by the use of radioactive methicillin . Use of the penamaldate reaction showed the presence of a penicilloyl group in the enzyme inactivated by either methicillin or cloxacillin . In conditions under which enzymic activity was regained the penicilloyl group was shed . When the activity of beta-lactamase I was measured in 0.3-1.2 M guanidinium chloride the rates of hydrolysis of methicillin or cloxacillin (but not benzylpenicillin) were greatly reduced . The unliganded enzyme was stable . The results are explained by supposing that a normal intermediate, the acyl enzyme, is prone to unfold.

Arch Intern Med, 1980 Aug, 140(8), 1103 - 4
Bacillus cereus bacteremia and hemolytic anemia in a patient with hemoglobin SC disease; Rodgers GM et al.; A patient with hemoglobin SC disease and cholelithiasis was found to have Bacillus cereus bacteremia . Hemolytic anemia developed, for which common causes of hemolysis were excluded, suggesting a relationship with the bacteremia . Following in vitro incubation, type O erythrocytes were hemolyzed by the culture, but not by a bacteria-free filtrate . This case confirms the association between sickle cell disorders and cholelithiasis with B cereus infections . In addition, it provides evidence for in vivo hemolysis with B cereus bacteremia, an organism not previously associated with hemolytic anemia.

Can J Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 26(8), 978 - 84
Isozymes of alpha-galactosidase from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Pederson DM et al.; Two molecular forms of alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) synthesized constitutively by Bacillus stearothermophilus, strain AT-7, have been purified . alpha-Galactosidase I (with the substrate p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside (PNPG)) has a pH optimum of 6 and half-life at 65 degrees C of > 2 h at low protein concentration . alpha-Galactosidase II has a pH optimum of 7 with PNPG and a half-life at 65 degrees C of about 3 min . The isozymes also differ with respect to their Km with PNPG and melibiose . Both enzymes are inhibited competitively by D-galactose, melibiose, and Tris . With the beta-glycosides cellobiose and lactose either noncompetitive or mixed-type inhibition is observed, with the pattern dependent on both the pH and the isozyme . The two isozymes have similar Arrhenius activation energies (about 20 kcal/mol, 1 kcal = 4.184 kJ) . Their molecular weights, estimated by disc gel electrophoresis, are alpha-galactosidase I, 280 000 +/- 30 000 and alpha-galactosidase II, 325 000 +/- 15 000 . Dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis gave a single band for each enzyme . The respective molecular weights, 81 000 +/- 500 for alpha-galactosidase I and 84 000 +/- 500 for alpha-galactosidase II, suggest that both enzymes consist of four subunits.

Gene, 1980 Aug, 10(3), 219 - 25
Cloning the modification methylase gene of Bacillus sphaericus R in Escherichia coli; Szomolanyi E et al.; The gene coding for the sequence-specific modification methylase methM . BspI of Bacillus sphaericus R has been cloned in Escherichia coli by means of plasmid pBR322 . The selection was based on the expression of the cloned gene which rendered the recombinant plasmid resistant to BspI restriction endonuclease cleavage . The gene is carried by a 9 kb BamHI fragment and by a smaller 2.5 kb EcoRI fragment derived from the BamHI fragment . The Bsp-specific methylase level was found to be higher in the recombinant clones than in the parental strain . The methylase gene is probably located on the Bacillus sphaericus chromosome, and not on a plasmid known to be carried by this strain . The recombinant clones do not exhibit an BspI restriction endonuclease activity.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Jul 15, 630(4), 537 - 44
The identification of polypeptides synthesised during the acquisition of teichoic acid synthetic activity in Bacillus licheniformis; Thompson S et al.; An attempt has been made to identify proteins synthesised during induction of teichoic acid synthesis in Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 9945 . The proteins are recognised as those produced on the change from teichuronic acid to teichoic acid synthesis that occurs after the transfer of the bacteria from phosphate-limited to phosphate-rich conditions . B . licheniformis was grown in phosphate-limiting conditions in the presence of threonine to stimulate threonine uptake . The bacteria were then transferred to phosphate-rich conditions and were pulse-labelled with {14C}threonine during the change to teichoic acid synthesis . All of the proteins were extracted from the cells with sodium dodecyl sulphate and were examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel elecstrophoresis . Radioactive polypeptides were identified by fluorography of the polyacrylamide gels . The radioactive polypeptides that were formed on change from teichuronic acid to teichoic acid synthesis were compared with the polypeptides present in a membrane sub-fraction that had high teichoic acid-synthesising activity . The labelling of nine polypeptides with {14C}threonine was dependent on new RNA synthesis . Of these nine polypeptides, five were also present in the membrane sub-fraction with the highest teichoic acid-synthesising activity.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Jul 14, 619(1), 48 - 57
Purification and properties of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of Bacillus thuringiensis; Taguchi R et al.; A phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was purified from the culture broth of Bacillus thuringiensis to a homogeneous state as indicated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Specific activity of purified enzyme was 312 units/mg, and the recovery of the enzyme activity was 27.2% . The purified enzyme (molecular weight: 23 000 +/- 1000) was maximally active at pH 7.5 and not influenced by EDTA . The enzyme specifically hydrolyzed phosphatidylinositol, but did not act on phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol and sphingomyelin . The products from phosphatidylinositol of enzyme reaction were diacylglycerol and myoinositol 1,2-cyclic phosphate . The enzyme activity was stimulated by sodium deoxycholate or Triton X-100 . Divalent cations such as Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ were inhibitory at concentrations above 10(-3) M . KCl and NaCl were inhibitory at the concentration higher than 10(-2) M . Alkaline phosphatase, an ecto-enzyme located on the surface of plasma membrane, was released from the slices of rat liver, kidney, pancreas and intestine by the treatment with this phospholipase.

N Z Med J, 1980 Jul 9, 92(663), 12 - 3
Endophthalmitis due to Bacillus cereus: case report; Ansell SE et al.; An acute case of endophthalmitis following ocular trauma involving barbary branches is presented . Bacillus cereus var . mycoides was cultured from lens material obtained via a limbal incision.

Biochemistry, 1980 Jul 8, 19(14), 3348 - 52
Binding of nickel and zinc ions to bacitracin A; Scogin DA et al.; Bacitracin A is a cyclic dodecapeptide antibiotic produced by Bacillus licheniformis . Bacteriocidal activity requires the presence of divalent cations such as Zn2+ . The metal-bacitracin A complex binds to bactoprenyl pyrophosphate, a lipid intermediate required for cell wall biosynsthesis which is found within the bacterial membrane . In this paper, the pH dependence of the metal binding to bacitracin A is investigated in an effort to define the sites of metal coordination . Most of the studies described in this report were performed with Ni2+ and Zn2+ . Metal binding was monitored by observing changes in the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of bacitracin A and by monitoring the proton release which is concomitant with metal binding to the peptide . It was determined that both Ni2+ and Zn2+ form 1:1 complexes with bacitracin A in solution . These complexes are soluble in acidic solutions, but above approximately pH 5.5 they become insoluble . On the basis of the data reported as well as results previously reported from other laboratories, a model for divalent metal ion binding to bacitracin is suggested . It is proposed that the metal coordinates directly to the glutamate carboxyl, the histidine imidazole, and the thiazoline ring . The aspartate carboxyl and N-terminal amino group are not directly involved in metal binding . It is further proposed that due to the proximity of the metab, the pK of the N-terminal amino is shifted from 7.7 to 5.7 upon metal binding . Deprotonation of this group is suggested to cause precipitation of the bacitracin A-metal complex . This model is consistent with all the metal binding data and, furthermore, is consistent with the 1H NMR data presented in the accompanying paper {Mosberg, H . I., Scogin, D . A., Storm, D . R., & Gennis, R . B . (1980) Biochemistry (following paper in this issue)}.

Biochem J, 1980 Jul 1, 189(1), 161 - 72
Purificaton of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus and resolution of its four component polypeptides; Henderson CE et al.; 1 . The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was purified from Bacillus stearothermophilus in high yield . The specific activity (about 40nkat/mg of protein) was substantially lower than that of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Escherchia coli (about 570nkat/mg of protein) measured at 30 degrees C under the same conditions . 2 . The relative molecular masses of the four types of polypeptide chain i the complex were estimated by means of sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis to be 57 000, 54 000, 42 000 and 36 000 respectively . These polypetide chains showed no evidence of seriously anomalous behavior during tests of electrophoretic mobility . 3 . The enzyme complex was resolved into its constituent proteins by means of gelfiltration on Sepharose CL-6B in the presence of 2M-KI, followed by chromatography on hydroxyapatite in the presence of 8M-urea . These harsh conditions were necessary to cause suitable dissociation of the enzyme complex . 4 . The amino-acid compositions of the four constituent proteins after resolution were determined and their chain ratios were measured for several preparations of the complex . Some variability was noted between preparations but all samples contained a significant molar excess of the chains thought to contribute the pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 1.2.4.1) activity . 5 . From the relative molecular masses and chain ratios of the four constituent proteins, it was calculated that the empirical unit must be repeated at least 50 times to make up the assembled complex . This conclusion is fully consistent with the demonstration by means of electron microscopy of apparent icosahedral symmetry for the Bacillus stearothermophilus complex, implying a 60-fold repeat . The structure stands in sharp contrast with the octahedral symmetry (24-fold repeat) of the Escherichia coli enzyme.

J Exp Med, 1980 Jul 1, 152(1), 183 - 97
Role of activated macrophages in antibody-dependent lysis of tumor cells; Nathan C et al.; Treatment of mice with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or C parvum activates their peritoneal macrophages to release increased amounts of H2O2, and thereby to lyse extracellular tumor cells, in response to a pharmacologic agent, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (1-3) . In the present study, the same bacterial vaccines activated peritoneal cells to become cytolytic to lymphoma cells sensitized with alloantiserum, in the absence of PMA . Resident peritoneal cells, or those elicited with thioglycollate broth, were ineffective, not only in PMA-induced lysis, but also in antibody-dependent lysis of tumor cells . The cytolytic effect of BCG peritoneal cells toward sensitized tumor cells appeared to be mediated mostly by macrophages . Cytotoxicity was immunologically specific, contact dependent, rapid, and efficient . Phagocytosis of intact tumor cells was not involved . Alloantiserum-dependent cytolysis was specifically blocked by the Fab fragment of a monoclonal antibody directed against the trypsin-resistant macrophage Fc receptor (FcR II) . Thus, tumor cells coated with homologous immunoglobulin interact with FcR II on activated macrophages to trigger an extra-cellular cytolytic response.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1980 Jul-Aug, 16(4), 523 - 7
{Biosynthesis of extracellular phospholipase C (lecithinase) from Bacillus cereus depending on the nutrient medium composition and pH}; Gerasimene GB et al.; The nutrient medium to provide rapid growth of microbial cells of Bacillus cereus str . 504, and biosynthesis of extracellular phospholipase C(EC 3.1.4.3) was selected . The nutrient medium contained acidic casein hydrolyzate, yeast extract or enzymatic hydrolyzate of fodder yeast, glucose, NaCl, NaHCO3, and Na2HPO4 . The activity of secreted phospholipase C reached maximum at pH 6.3--6.6.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Jul, (7), 8 - 13
{Pyocin production by bacillus pyocyaneus and sensitivity of strains of different origin to them}; Kurnosova LM et al.; Using the method proposed by Gillies and Govan and their indicator strains, 342 P . aeruginosa strains isolated from the patients were studied in respect to their pyocinogenicity and typed according to the production of different types of pyocins . Besides, in 206 cultures the pyocin sensitivity of 16 standard P . aeruginosa strains (5 strains obtained from Govan and 11 strains provided by the authors) was determined . All the tested cultures fell into 23 pyocin types; of these, types I and X occured most frequently, 56 strains identified by means of indicators could not be typed due to the fact that the corresponding pyocin types were absent in Govan's scheme . The cultures isolated from the patients and the environmental objects during the outbreak of P . aeruginosa in a hospital were proved to belong to the same pyocin type (III) . The double typing of the cultures, according to pyocin production and pyocin sensitivity, allowed to determine individual characteristics of 75% of the tested cultures.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Jul, 143(1), 481 - 91
Distribution of calcium and other elements in cryosectioned Bacillus cereus T spores, determined by high-resolution scanning electron probe x-ray microanalysis; Stewart M et al.; The distribution of a number of key elements in Bacillus cereus T spores was determined by high-resolution scanning electron probe X-ray microanalysis . To circumvent the redistribution of soluble or weakly bound elements, freeze-dried cryosections of spores, which had been rapidly frozen in 50% aqueous polyvinyl pyrrolidone, were employed . The sections were examined by using a modified Philips EM400 electron microscope fitted with a field emission gun, scanning transmission electron microscopy attachment, and a computer-linked energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis system . X-ray maps for selected elements and the corresponding electron image were produced simultaneously by scanning the cryosections with a fine electron beam in a raster pattern, using the scanning transmission electron microscopy attachment . The results indicated that almost all of the calcium, magnesium, and manganese, together with most of the phosphorus, was located in the core region . An unexpectedly high concentration of silicon was found in the cortex/coat layer . Granules containing high concentrations of calcium, manganese, and phosphorus were demonstrated in spores containing reduced levels of dipicolinic acid . Spot mode analyses, in which a stationary beam was located over the region of interest in the spore cryosection, confirmed the results obtained with the scanning mode and also provided a more accurate quantitation of the elemental concentrations on a dry weight bases.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Jul, 143(1), 27 - 34
Heat stability of Bacillus cereus enzymes within spores and in extracts; Warth AD; Inactivation rates for nine enzymes extracted from Bacillus cereus spores were measured at several temperatures, and the temperature at which each enzyme had a half-life of 10 min (inactivation temperature) was determined . Inactivation temperatures ranged from 47 degrees C for glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase to 70 degrees C for leucine dehydrogenase, showing that spore enzymes were not unusually heat stable . Enzymes extracted from vegetative cells of B . cereus had heat stabilities similar to the respective enzymes from spores . When spores were heated and the enzymes were subsequently extracted and assayed, inactivation temperatures for enzymes within the spore ranged from 86 degrees C for glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase to 96 degrees C for aldolase . The internal environment of the spore raised the inactivation temperature of most enzymes by approximately 38 degrees C . Loss of dipicolinic acid from spores was initially slow compared with enzyme inactivation but increased rapidly with longer heating . Viability loss was faster than loss of most enzyme activities and faster than dipicolinic acid release.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 Jul, 108(2), 587 - 97
Phosphofructokinase: complete amino-acid sequence of the enzyme from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Kolb E et al.; The entire amino acid sequence of the protein subunit of phosphofructokinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been established mainly by sequence analysis of cyanogen bromide fragments and of peptides derived from these fragments by further digestion with proteolytic enzymes . Overlaps of the cyanogen bromide fragments as well as peptide sequences necessary to complement and to confirm tentative assignments within the larger peptide fragments were obtained from the sequences of selected peptides isolated from tryptic and chymotryptic digests of the intact S-{14C}-carboxymethylated protein . Sequence information was also provided by automated sequence analysis of the intact protein subunit and of some of the larger peptide fragments . The sequence is as follows: (See Text).

Am J Med, 1980 Jul, 69(1), 92 - 8
Diffusion of a new beta-lactam (LY 127935) into cerebrospinal fluid . Implications for therapy of gram-negative bacillary meningitis; Landesman SH et al.; LY 127935, a new oxa beta-lactam with an expanded gram-negative spectrum, was administered intravenously to seven patients, including two patients with documented gram-negative bacillary meningitis . In the patients receiving continuous therapy (2 g intravenously every 8 hours) cerebrospinal fluid trough levels of LY were never less than 6 micrograms/ml . Peak cerebrospinal fluid levels of LY ranged from 25 to 39 micrograms/ml and occurred approximately 2.5 hours after the intravenous administration of the drug . Cerebrospinal fluid levels of LY were 19 per cent to greater than 100 per cent of simultaneous serum levels . Cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal activity was 1:4 to 1:256 . Intravenous LY, because of its expanded gram-negative spectrum and excellent cerebrospinal fluid penetration, is a potentially useful antibiotic in the treatment of gram-negative bacillary meningitis.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Pneumoftiziol, 1980 Jul-Sep, 29(3), 143 - 8
{Late results of strictly supervised treatment of patients with newly detected pulmonary tuberculosis}; Jozefovics F et al.; The late results are analized, of a strictly supervised treatment of 160 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, of the secondary bacilliferic type, recently discovered, between July 1974 and December 1976 . The criterium for assessing the results was the bacteriologic examination . After the first year 144 of the patients became negative (90%), while 16 remained positive (10%) . Prolonged treatment, up to 2--3 years also led to negativation of these causes, with the only exception of a single patient that did not cooperate, and who became chronically ill . After one-and-a-half year 2 patients again became positive, of which one died with fulminating hemophytysis, and the second one in cardio-respiratory failure . Another 6 patients became positive after two years, while two other were positive at three years and one each after four, respectively five years . Two are still under treatment, while the remaining patients were all negative for at least two years . At the end of the observation period 155 of the initially 160 bacilliferic patients were considered as solved, and do not raise anti-epidemic problems . It is shown in conclusion that the modern anti-tuberculous treatment can lead to recovery of the majority of patients . Those who are still bacille carriers, or who recidivate, can also be solved by continued treatment for a period of up to 2--3 years . The patients with multiple deficiencies have increased risks to develop relcidives, and they should be followed with perseverance for a long time . The recommended therapeutic regimens are not significantly different from the viewpoint of their efficiency, provided they are administered in a strictly supervised manner . The reactivity of the organism probably has an important role in the efficiency of the modern anti-tuberculous treatment.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Jul, 119(1), 109 - 15
Characterization of Bacillus stearothermophilus plasmid pab124 and construction of deletion variants; Bingham AH et al.; A restriction endonuclease cleavage map of the tetracycline resistance plasmid pAB124, originally isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus, was constructed using ten enzymes . Tetracycline resistance was associated with a 1 x 95 megadalton (Md) region of pAB124 lying between two EcoRI sites, and this region was circularized to produce a viable tetracycline resistance plasmid (pAB224), with two EcoRI fragments of pAB124 deleted amounting to 0 x 95 Md . A second plasmid (pAB524) with one EcoRI fragment (0 x 6 Md) of pAB124 deleted was also constructed . Restriction endonuclease cleavage maps of pAB224 and pAB524 were constructed.

Gene, 1980 Jul, 10(2), 105 - 12
DNA protection with the DNA methylase M . BbvI from Bacillus brevis var . GB against cleavage by the restriction endonucleases PstI and PvuII; Dobritsa AP et al.; BamHI fragments of the Bacillus brevis var . GB plasmid pAD1 have been cloned in Escherichia coli HB101 using pBR322 plasmid as a vector . The analysis of the recombinant plasmids showed that additional PstI sites had appeared in cloned fragments of pAD1 . Methylation of the recombinant plasmids in vitro by enzymes from B . brevis GB cells blocks cleavage at these additional PstI sites of cloned pAD1 fragments and at the PstI site of pBR322 . Among DNA methylases of B . brevis GB, the cytosine DNA methylase M . BbvI is the most likely agent modifying the recognition sequences of PstI . The methylase can modify cytosine residues in PstI or PvuII sites if these recognition sequences are linked to G at 5'- or to C at 3'-termini . In particular, in vitro methylation of the SV40 DNA by B . brevis GB methylases protects one of the two PstI sites and two of the three PvuII sites . The described effect of the protection of the specific PstI and PvuII sites may be used for physical mapping of genomes and DNA cloning.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Jul-Aug, 49(4), 584 - 7
{Lipid and gramicidin C biosynthesis in Bacillus brevis during stab cultivation}; Iudina TP et al.; The content of lipids was studied in the gramicidin producing variants of Bacillus brevis var . G.-B . in the process of submerged cultivation . The greatest accumulation of lipids preceded the highest content of gramicidin C in the producing cells . The interrelation between the synthesis of lipids and that of gramicidin C is discussed.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Jul-Aug, 49(4), 534 - 9
{Relationship between spore formation and exoproteinase synthesis in Bacillus thuringiensis}; Egorov NS et al.; The localization of exoproteinase in the conventionally "periplasmic" space of Bacillus thuringiensis was established . The enzyme located at the outer surface of the membrane was found, in the course of sporogenesis, within the spore where it could fulfill various functions . The role of glutamine synthetase was determined in the regulation of exoproteinase synthesis and sporogenesis . The both processes were inhibited in the conditions suppressing the activity of glutamine synthetase.

Biochemistry, 1980 Jun 24, 19(13), 3005 - 15
Termination of transcription by Escherichia coli ribonucleic acid polymerase in vitro . Effect of altered reaction conditions and mutations in the enzyme protein on termination with T7 and T3 deoxyribonucleic acids; Neff NF et al.; Both bacteriophage T7 and the related bacteriophage T3 have strong termination sites for bacterial RNA polymerase located near 20% on the standard genome map . These termination sites are used with 90% efficiency in vivo, even in cells which contain a defective p protein . Under normal reaction conditions in vitro, Escherichia coli RNA polymerase terminates with 90% efficiency at the T7 terminator site but shows little or no termination at the corresponding T3 locus . Thus, the two templates form an ideal in vitro test system with which to study the parameters that govern transcriptional termination . Termination at these sites has been monitored by following the time course of RNA synthesis under conditions where only a single transcriptional cycle is carried out and by following the size distribution of RNA chains by gel electrophoresis . Termination of the T7 termination site is unaffected by a large variety of changes in reaction conditions, by quantitative cleavage of the nascent RNA during the reaction with a mixture of single- and double-stranded specific ribonucleases, or by a number of different mutations in the subunits of RNA polymerase, including sigma . Similarly, a large variety of changes in reaction conditions fail to enhance termination at the T3 terminator site, including changes in temperature, MgCl2 concentration, and glycerol concentration or the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol, or spermidine to the reaction . However, in the presence of elevated salt concentrations, at low ribonucleoside triphosphate concentrations, and in the presence of formamide, efficient in vitro utilization of the T3 terminator is seen . Changes in the RNA polymerase protein can also enhance utilization of the T3 site . A class of rifampicin-resistant rpoB mutants has been identified which produce a rifampicin-resistant RNA polymerase which is able to utilize the T3 terminator site in vitro . Similarly, the normal Bacillus subtilits RNA polymerase utilizes the T3 terminator site in vitro with high efficiency.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1980 Jun 18, 31(2), 97 - 103
Mechanism of protein synthesis inhibition during stationary phase in Bacillus stearothermophilus; Garcia-Patrone M; The appearance of a protein (association factor I) in ribosomes from Bacillus stearothermophilus at stationary phase of growth is described . Association factor I is present on 30S subunits and 30S-50S ribosomal couples, but not on 50S subunits . This protein is responsible for the low levels of polyphenylalanine synthesis shown by stationary phase ribosomes . Association factor I is able to bind to free 30S-50S ribonsomal couples but not to polysomes, and exerts its effect by inhibiting the initiation step of protein synthesis . Ribonsomes preincubated with association factor I have a decreased ability for polypeptide synthesis directed page mRNA or poly(U).

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Jun 13, 613(2), 556 - 62
Purification and some properties of hydroxypyruvate isomerase of Bacillus fastidiosus; de Windt FE et al.; Hydroxypyruvate isomerase of Bacillus fastidiosus is a novel enzyme (Braun, W . and Kaltwasser, H . (1979) Arch . Microbiol . 121, 129-134) which catalyzes the reversible conversion of tartronate semialdehyde into hydroxypyruvate . The enzyme was purified to homogeneity . The native molecule had a molecular weight of 265 000-280 000 and was composed of six subunits with a molecular weight of 45 000 . The enzyme showed optimal activity at pH 6.6-7.4 and 57 degrees C . Hydroxypyruvate isomerase is stable on heating for 10 min at 67 degrees C . The enzyme appeared to be specific for tartronate semialdehyde and hydroxypyyruvate and no cofactors were involved in the reaction . The equilibrium constant K = {tartronate semialdehyde} divided by {hydroxypyruvate} was found to be 2.5 at pH 7.1, and 30 degrees C.

Arch Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 126(2), 103 - 8
Change in chemical composition of membrane of Bacillus caldotenax after shifting the growth temperature; Hasegawa Y et al.; Membranes from Bacillus caldotenax contain neutral lipids and phospholipids such as phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidyl glycerol and cardiolipin . Each of the lipids has almost the same fatty acid composition . When the growth temperature decreases, not only the fatty acid composition but also the lipid composition changes such that the membrane fluidity increases, and the composition of membrane-bound proteins also changes . On shifting the growth temperature from 65 degrees to 45 degress C, the bacterium grows immediately with a doubling time at 45 degrees C, but the compositions of proteins and lipids in membranes gradually change and reach the compositions typical of cells growing at 45 degrees C one doubling time after the temperature shift, respectively . It is concluded that the change in chemical composition of membrane of the bacterium on the temperature shift from 65 degrees to 45 degrees C is not prerequisite for growth at 45 degrees C.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 39(6), 1205 - 11
Localization of a mosquito-larval toxin of Bacillus sphaericus 1593; Myers PS et al.; Cell-free wall, membrane, and cytoplasmic fractions were prepared from Bacillus sphaericus 1593, which exhibited toxic activity against larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens var . quinquefasciatus . Breakage of 12- to 14-h cells by sonication or French pressure cell yielded toxic material which could be assayed in a standard mosquito larva bioassay . When sporulating cells of strain 1593 were fractionated, the majority of the toxic activity was localized in the cell wall rather than in the plasma membrane or cytoplasm . The toxin located in the bacterial cell wall was relatively stable, in that activity was unaffected by treatment with trypsin, pronase, CHCl3-CH3OH-water, Triton X-100, 8 M urea (30 min), heat (80 degrees C, 12 min), sonication, refrigeration, lyophilization, or freezing . Activity was destroyed by boiling for 10 min or by 0.01 N NaOH . Only about 1.0% of the activity present in purified cell walls could be recovered by a 2-h extraction with 8 M urea or 3 M guanidine hydrochloride . A comparison of the toxicity of a cell-free cell wall fraction with that of a sample consisting entirely of heat-stable spores indicated that the spore preparation was about 10 times more active.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 Jun, 87(6), 1821 - 7
Purification and some properties of 6-phosphoglucose isomerase from Bacillus caldotenax; Takama M et al.; 6-Phosphoglucose isomerase {EC 5.3.1.9} was purified from Bacillus caldotenax . The isomerase shared many common properties with the isomerase from B . stearothermophilus, i.e, pH and temperature optima, thermostability, competitive inhibition by 6-phosphogluconate and Pi, and amino acid composition . The enzyme activity of the former, however, was lower than that of the latter . The molecular weight of the B . caldotenax isomerase was estimated to be 202,000-204,000 by gel filtration and electrophoresis of the enzyme cross-linked with dimethyl adipimidate (DMA) . The enzyme was shown to consist of four subunits of equal molecular weight (50,600), and the four subunits were concluded to be identical based on the results of dansylation and cyanogen bromide cleavage of the enzyme . The interaction between the subunits were shown to be isologous by cross-linking with DMA.

Arch Intern Med, 1980 Jun, 140(6), 851 - 2
Septicemia caused by Capnocytophaga in a granulocytopenic patient with glossitis; Gandola C et al.; A patient receiving immunosuppressive treatment for multiple myeloma became granulocytopenic, and acute glossitis developed . Blood cultures were positive for Capnocytophaga, a fastidious Gram-negative bacillus that is known to be part of the normal oral flora and a pathogen for periodontitis . The infection responded to treatment with antibiotics, including penicillin G, to which the organism was sensitive . This is one of the first reports of Capnocytophaga septicemia, and suggests that this organism may be an important pathogen in immunosuppressed patients with oral mucosal lesions.

J Urol, 1980 Jun, 123(6), 868 - 71
Granulomatous disease of the testis; Kahn RI et al.; Granulomatous disease of the testis may have a specific cause or it may be idiopathic . We found 3 specific agents as the cause of the disease in a retrospective review of 17 cases of granulomatous disease of the testis . Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the most common cause of subsequent granulomatous orchitis . The clinical presentations of the patients varied but several clues often were present that led to the diagnosis of granulomatous reaction . The patients were treated with orchiectomy . The acid-fast lipid of the tubercle bacillus and spermatozoa is suggested as a possible common denominator in the pathogenesis of the granulomatous reaction.

Cancer Res, 1980 Jun, 40(6), 1967 - 72
Immunomodulatory effect of various molecular-weight maleic anhydride-divinyl ethers and other agents in vivo; Chirigos MA et al.; Various molecular-weight maleic anhydride-divinyl ether copolymer polyanions were evaluated in six in vivo systems . Low- and high-molecular-weight MVE's were effective adjuvants with irradiated L1210 tumor cell vaccine . A high percentage of L1210-challenged survivors were refractory to a second challenge of tumor cells . Azimexon and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin were also effective adjuvants, but Bestatin was without adjuvant effect . All the MVE's demonstrated a marginal antitumor effect against the L1210 and LSTRA tumors . The MVW's, regardless of molecular weight differences, were effective in enhancing macrophage tumoricidal activity and retarding the development of M109 tumor growth in the lungs . Enhancement of delayed-type hypersensitivity by all six MVE's indicates their ability to stimulate T-cells.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1980 Jun, 50(3), 183 - 8
Adjuvanticity and strains of mycobacteria; Hiu IJ; Water-in-oil emulsions containing mycobacteria constitute Freund's complete adjuvants (FCA), used to enhance immune responses . Mycobacteria are the essential constituent of FCA and various strains of these bacillus were used . The present study was to try to answer the follow question: Are there any differences between:-- water-in-oil emulsions containing mycobacteria of the bovine attenuated "BCG" strain, called Be (bovine emulsions) and--those containing mycobacteria of the human virulent "Canetti" strain, He (human emulsions)? Data presented here suggest that: 1 . Bovine emulsions are active at low doses while human emulsions are only active at high doses; 2 . The adjuvant activity of the bovine emulsions at low doses is attributed to both, the better stimulatary effect and the high concentration of an active component located in BCG cell envelope . Immuno-chemical studies of various extracts were conducted and the relationship between adjuvanticity and chemical structure of the active components was established.

Sabouraudia, 1980 Jun, 18(2), 85 - 9
A scanning electron microscope comparison of basidial structures in Filobasidiella neoformans and Filobasidiella bacillispora; Rogers AL et al.; A comparison of basidial structures in the two species of Filobasidiella by scanning electron microscopy showed similar morphology for the basidia . Globose swellings developed into oval to clavate mature basidia which produced chains of basidiospores by budding at four points on the apical surface, with sterigmata lacking . F . bacillispora sometimes developed a typical basal swelling during enlargement of the clavate basidium . The basidiospores of F . neoformans were larger, with irregularly roughened walls and lemon-shaped to oval in contrast to the smooth, rod-shaped basidiospores of F . bacillispora.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jun, 28(3), 881 - 6
Influence of type of oil and surfactant concentration on the efficacy of emulsified Mycobacterium bovis BCG cell walls to induce tumor regression in guinea pigs; Yarkoni E et al.; The influence of mineral ol, squalane, squalene, hexadecane, or peanut oil and of the concentration of Tween 80 on the immunotherapeutic capability of emulsified Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) cell walls was studied in guinea pigs, each with an established dermal transplant of a syngeneic hepatocarcinoma and tumor cells in the draining lymph node . Immunotherapy consisted of an intratumoral injection of emulsified cell walls . Conditions were established under which therapeutically effective emulsions could be made with mineral oil, squalane, squalene, or hexadecane . Emulsions made with peanut oil failed to cause tumor regression . Emulsions of squalene or hexadecane were effective substitutes for mineral oil as carriers of cell walls in the absence of added Tween or at a Tween concentration one-hundredth of that used to stabilize the mineral oil-containing emulsions . Cell wall emulsions made with squalane were therapeutically effective over the same range of Tween concentrations used to prepare emulsions containing mineral oil . Cell wall emulsions made without added Tween demonstrated effective antitumor activity even after autoclaving . Emulsions made with Tween separated after autoclaving . Emulsions of whole killed BCG were immunotherapeutically as active as those made with cell walls.

J Inorg Biochem, 1980 Jun, 12(3), 187 - 99
The surface active properties and antibacterial activity of the compounds, trans-{Rh(L)4Cl2}Cl . nH2O; Jack TR; The antibacterial activity and surfactant activity of the compounds trans-{Rh(L)4-Cl2}Cl . nH2O increase in the order L = pyridine less than 4-methylpyridine less than 4-ethylpyridine less than 4-n-propylpyridine . As surfactants, the compounds are far more effective at reducing the interfacial tension, n-hexadecane/H2O, than the surface tension, H2O/air . The most effective and efficient surfactant in this series, trans-{Rh(4-n-propylpyridine)4Cl2}Cl . H2O, can cause the leakage of intracellular manganese ions from the gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus brevis ATCC 9999, at a concentration of 130 ppm but there is no observable effect on the retention of intracellular manganese ions at the minimum concentration required to prevent growth of this organism (approximately 0.6 ppm at 23 degrees C in nutrient broth) . At 130 ppm, trans-{Rh(4-n-propylpyridine)4Cl2}Cl . H2O does not cause the loss of intracellular manganese ions from the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli JS-1 . In this case, a concentration of at least 63 ppm of this rhodium compound is required to prevent the growth of this organism in M9TUH medium at 35 degrees C . On the basis of these results, it is suggested that gross membrane disruption effects caused by the surfactants trans-{Rh(L)4Cl2A1Cl . nH2O are not directly responsible for their observed antibacterial action.

J Hyg (Lond), 1980 Jun, 84(3), 321 - 30
A method for measuring the cleaning effect of flushing disinfectors; Cederberg A et al.; A method is presented with which the mechanical cleaning effect of flushing disinfectors can be estimated independently of the thermal disinfecting effect of the hot flushing water . This makes it possible to specify the demands to be placed on the disinfecting effect of flushing with water of 85 degrees C or more . Bacillus stearothermophilus spores suspended in faeces were used as indicators because of their non-sensitivity to the hot-water temperature . Their elimination by flushing could thus be attributed to the mechanical effect of the water and not to the disinfecting effect of the temperature . A simple bacteriological technique was used, and the elimination factor (EF) was calculated as the ratio of the number of micro-organisms in the contamination before and after flushing . By using flushing water below 50 degrees C for 130 s the EF on a bedpan was about 10(4)-10(6) . The effect of flushing with water of the same temperature for only half that time was somewhat weaker and when the temperature was raised to 85 degrees C after half the flushing time the effect was somewhat stronger . It can be presumed that the conventional disinfecting phase with hot (85 degrees C) water for about 45 s in the commonly used flushing units could be substantially shortened and the costs of their use thereby reduced.

Eur J Nucl Med, 1980 Jun, 5(3), 271 - 6
Cost effectiveness calculations for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculous meningitis; McNeil BJ et al.; This study illustrates how cost-effectiveness calculations provide help in decisions involving a choice between introduction of a new diagnostic procedure or a new therapy for a particular clinical problem . This type of problem is critical for areas where financial resources are limiting . Our analysis is centered on the value of diagnosis and treatment in tuberculous meningitis (Tbm) and, because of its importance to developing countries, our epidemiologic data were derived from India . When financial costs are ignored, the introduction of second line therapy (e.g., Rifampin) leads to more cures than does the introduction of even a perfect diagnostic test . However, diagnostic tests (e.g., the Bromide partition test or possibly radioassays) markedly improve case finding and to some extent increase cure rates . All affects vary markedly with the prevalence of tuberculous meningitis in the population under study . For example, net financial savings would occur were a perfect nuclear test available and conventional therapy used at a prevalence of Tbm of 30% whereas there would be a net loss if the prevalence rose to 80% . This study underscores the need for detailed studies on the radiobromide partition test and for the development of new diagnostic tests, perhaps a radioimmunoassay of either the acid fast bacillus or of an antibody to it.

Biochem J, 1980 Jun 1, 187(3), 797 - 802
Kinetics of inactivation of beta-lactamase I by 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid; Knott-Hunziker V et al.; The kinetics of the inactivation of beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus 569 by preparations of 6 alpha-bromopenicillanic acid showed unexpected features . These can be quantitatively accounted for on the basis of the inactivator being the epimer, 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid . At pH 9.2, the rate-determining step in the inactivation is the formation of the inactivator . When pure 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid is used to inactivate beta-lactamase I, simple second-order kinetics are observed . The inactivated enzyme has a new absorption peak at 326 nm . The rate constant for inactivation has the same value as the rate constant for appearance of absorption at 326 nm; the rate-determining step may thus be fission of the beta-lactam ring of 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid . Inactivation is slower in the presence of substrate, and the observed kinetics can be quantitatively accounted for on a simple competitive model . The results strongly suggest that inactivation is a consequence of reaction at the active site.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 May 28, 618(2), 359 - 63
Temperature-mediated hyperinduction of fatty acid desaturation in pre-existing and newly formed fatty acids synthesized endogenously in Bacillus megaterium; Lombardi FJ et al.; 3H-labedeled fatty acids synthesized endogenously by Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14581 growing at 35 degrees C in the presence of L-{G-3H}valine exhibited the same time-course of hyperinduced desaturation following a temperature decrease to 20 degrees C as was observed previously with exogenously supplied 14C-labeled fatty acids . Radioactive fatty acids synthesized in the presence of {U-14C}glucose during hyperinduction at 20 degrees C following a shift-down from 35 degrees C were desaturated at the same relative rate as 14C-labeled fatty acids synthesized previously at 35 degrees C, suggesting that the newly synthesized fatty acids equilibrate with a large portion of the preexisting moieties before becoming susceptible to desaturation.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1980 May 24, 8(10), 2193 - 211
Sequence analysis and in vitro maturation of five precursor 5S RNAs from Bacillus Q; Stiekema WJ et al.; Bacillus Q, which is closely related to B . subtilis, contains at least six different precursors of 5S rRNA . The complete nucleotide sequences of four of these precursors, as well as the major part of the sequence of a fifth one, have been determined . They all contain the same 5'-terminal non-conserved segment which is to a large degree homologous with the corresponding segment of the B . subtilis p5S RNAs (Sogin, M.L., Pace, N.R., Rosenberg, M., Weissman, S.M . (1976) J . Biol . Chem . 251, 3480-3488) . On the other hand the 3'-terminal non-conserved sequences of the various Bacillus Q precursors show considerable differences both in length and in nucleotide sequence, while there is also little or no homology with the 3'-terminal non-conserved sequence of the B . subtilis precursors . Bacillus Q p5S RNAs do not possess tetranucleotide repeats around the sites which are cleaved during maturation, as does B . subtilis p5S RNA . Like in B . subtilis, however, the cleavage sites are contained within a double-helical region of the precursor molecules . Crude RNAse M5 isolated from various Bacillus strains can maturate the Bacillus Q p5S RNAs with high efficiency . Despite considerable differences in primary structure between the precursors from the various strains, each RNAs M5 preparation can maturate all these precursors with about the same efficiency.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1980 May 16, 289(1036), 345 - 8
Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamases: multiple forms and their roles; Lampen JO et al.; B . licheniformis 749/C secretes a hydrophilic penicillinase (detected by immunoprecipitation) which is a precursor of the usually isolated 29 500 molecular mass exoenzyme . This larger form carries an eight amino acid N-terminal extension with the sequence: Ser-Gln-Pro-Ala-Glu-Lys-Asn-Glu-exoenzyme (K Izui, J . B . K . Nielsen, M . Caulfield & J . O . Lampen, unpublished results; K . Simons, personal communication) . Translation of 749/C mRNA in an in-vitro protein synthesizing system from Escherichia coli yields an active hydrophobic penicillinase of molecular mass 34 000-36 000 with an N-terminal extension (C . N . Chang, K . Izui, G . Blobel & J . O . Lampen, unpublished results; M . Sarvas et al . (1978) FEBS Lett . 95, 76) . Partial sequence data how at least one Lys residue in the 16 residues adjacent to the N-terminal Lys of exoenzyme . Both sequences are incompatible with the relatively polar, Lys-free extension reported for the previously characterized 33 000 molecular mass membrane-bound form (S . Yamamoto & J . O . Lampen (1976), Proc . natn, Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 73, 1457-1461) . The biosynthetic interrelations among the several forms are discussed.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1980 May 16, 289(1036), 333 - 44
Active sites of beta-lactamases from Bacillus cereus; Hill HA et al.; There are two extracellular beta-lactamases produced by Bacillus cereus 569 . One of these enzymes, beta-lactamase I, is inactivated by 6-beta-bromopenicillanic acid: the site of reaction is serine-44 . This is a conserved amino acid residue in the other beta-lactamases whose structures have been determined, and it becomes a good candidate for an active-site group in these enzymes . The inactivation may involve a rearrangement leading to a dihydrothiazine . The other extracellular enzyme produced by B . cereus, beta-lactamase II, is exceptional in requiring metal ions for activity . The Zn II and Co II enzymes (the former is more active) have been studied by nuclear magnetic resonance, and by absorption spectroscopy . The groups that bind the metal ion required for activity are three histidine residues and the enzyme's sole thiol group.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1980 May 16, 289(1036), 321 - 31
The structure of beta-lactamases; Ambler RP; The beta-lactamases are widely distributed in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . They all inactivate penicillins and cephalosporins by opening the beta-lactam ring . Many varieties of the enzyme can be distinguished on the basis of their catalytic and molecular properties, but only amino acid sequence determination gives information upon which a molecular phylogeny can be based . The present evidence suggests that the beta-lactamases have a polyphyletic origin . All the beta-lactamases of currently known amino acid sequence belong to one homology group, here called class A enzymes . Class B consists of the mechanistically distinct Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase II, which preliminary partial sequence analysis suggests to be structurally unrelated to the class A enzymes . It is predicted that sequence analysis will show that further classes will need to be created to account for particular beta-lactamases of distinctive molecular and mechanistic properties.

J Biol Chem, 1980 May 10, 255(9), 3977 - 86
The mechanism of action of penicillin . Penicillin acylates the active site of Bacillus stearothermophilus D-alanine carboxypeptidase; Yocum RR et al.; Penicillin kills susceptible bacteria by specifically inhibiting the transpeptidase that catalyzes the final step in cell wall biosynthesis, the cross-linking of peptidoglycan . It was hypothesized (Tipper, D., and Strominger, J . (1965) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 54, 1133-1141) that 1) penicillin is a structural analog of the acyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine terminus of the pentapeptide side chains of nascent peptidoglycan, and that 2) penicillin, by virtue of its highly reactive beta-lactam structure, irreversibly acylates the active site of the cell wall transpeptidase . Although the cell wall transpeptidase has proven elusive, a closely related penicillin-sensitive cell wall enzyme, D-alanine carboxypeptidase, has been purified from membranes of Bacillus stearothermophilus by penicillin affinity chromatography . By amino acid sequence analysis of 14C-labeled cyanogen bromide peptides generated and purified from this carboxypeptidase covalently labeled with either {14C}penicillin G or the substrate, {14C}diacetyl-L-lysyl-D-alanyl-D-lactate, it was shown that the penicillin and substrate were both bound as esters to a serine at residue 36 . Therefore, the second hypothesis stated above was proven to be correct for D-alanine carboxypeptidase . Several new methods were developed in the course of this work, including 1) a rapid penicillin-binding assay, 2) use of hydroxylamine to protect peptides against carbamylation during ion exchange chromatography in concentrated urea solutions, and 3) gel filtration chromatography in 70% formic acid, a universal solvent for peptides.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 May, 118(Pt 1), 1 - 11
Purification of the insecticidal toxin in crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis; Lilley M et al.; Crystals were purified from four serotypes of the insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis . Crystals from these serotypes were similar in amino acid and N-terminal analyses, but differed in their toxicity to two species of Lepidoptera and in their immunological properties . Toxic polypeptides were obtained following trypsin digestion of solutions of the crystals . In two strains (serotypes 3 and 9) this fraction contained only one polypeptide . Similar results were obtained when dissolved crystals were digested with other proteolytic enzymes or with gut contents from Pieris brassicae . The trypsin-resistant polypeptide was further purified by gel and ion-exchange chromatograhy and had a molecular weight of about 70,000, estimated by gel chromatogrpahy and gel electrophoresis . No evidence was obtained for a toxin of lower molecular weight . This purified toxin accounted for most, if not all, of the toxic activity originally present in the crystal solution and was active by injection and ingestion . The purified toxic fraction from serotype 1 appeared to contain two polypeptides, one of which corresponded to that found with serotypes 3 and 9 . There were no major differences in the composition of crystals from different serotypes of B . thuringiensis and it is concluded that the trypsin-resistant polypeptide represents the active insecticidal toxin of the crystal.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1980 May, 121(5), 843 - 50
Characterization of the early phase of the tuberculin reaction in rabbits; Schroff RW Jr et al.; The dermal response to purified protein derivative (PPD) in rabbits sensitized with Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) is composed of at least two distinct phases . The early phase occurs within 24 h after injection of tuberculin and is characterized by accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . The second phase is delayed in onset, depending on mononuclear cell accumulation, and constitutes the classic delayed hypersensitivity reaction . The early component of the reaction of PPD is not immunologically specific, in that it can be elicited in either BCG-sensitized or nonsensitized rabbits and appears to be induced by pyrogenic components present in tuberculin preparations . Rabbit fever index assays indicated the presence of sufficient pyrogen in tuberculin PPD to account for the observed reactions; however, Limulus amebocyte pyrogen assays were negative . These findings suggest that tuberculin contains pyrogenic components other than endotoxin . Radiometric assays for mononuclear cell accumulation as well as desensitization experiments indicated that the early phase was independent of the delayed mononuclear phase.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1980 May, 87(5), 1279 - 84
Further properties of sodium ion-stimulated alpha-{1-14C}aminoisobutyric acid uptake in alkalophilic Bacillus species; Kitada M et al.; Alkalophilic Bacillus No . 8-1 and No . 10A-2, isolated on alkaline media containing NaHCO3 and K2CO3, respectively, required Na+ specifically for the uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) into the cells . The K+ added to the uptake medium inhibited the accumulation of AIB in the cells of Bacillus No, 8-1, acting as a competitive inhibitor of the system . Sodium ion prevented the release of AIB from pre-loaded cells . Both potassium and lithium ions had the effect of retaining the AIB pool . The Vmax value for transport increased about five-fold when the pH value of medium was raised from 7 to 9, whereas the Km value decreased with the increase of concentration of sodium ion in the medium of pH 7 or 9 . Sodium ion gradient across the membrane caused transient uptake by AIB by membrane vesicles of Bacillus No . 8-1.

Surgery, 1980 May, 87(5), 494 - 501
Antiestrogen, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination in stage II breast cancer: a preliminary report; Hubay CA et al.; A prospective, randomized clinical trial of three treatment regimens: (1) Cytoxan, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF), (2) CMF plus the antiestrogen drug, tamoxifen (CMFT), and (3) CMFT plus bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinations in women with stage 22 breast cancer is reported . All patients underwent mastectomy and estrogen receptor (ER) analysis was performed . The results of this study show that patients with ER- tumors have recurrences more rapidly and have a higher mortality rate than patients with ER+ tumors (P less than 0.0001) . In ER+ patients CMFT treatment is more effective in delaying recurrence than CMF alone at 33 months (P = 0.0176) . This effect appears to be occurring in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women . In ER- patients the recurrence rate is high, and there is no significant difference among the three treatment groups . In premenopausal patients treated with CMF alone, however, ER- patients recur more rapidly than ER+ patients (P = 0.0313) and suggests that the effect of CMF may be related to the suppression of ovarian function . These findings have demonstrated a significant role for the use of antiestrogen therapy in patients with state II, ER+ breast cancer.

J Am Geriatr Soc, 1980 May, 28(5), 220 - 3
Bacterial pneumonia in the elderly; Ebright JR et al.; A retrospective study was made of patients having community-acquired pneumonia and treated at a large municipal hospital in 1973 . Patients from nursing homes or other paramedical facilities were excluded . The incidence of Gram-negative bacillary pneumonia was significantly higher in elderly patients compared to two younger groups, and mortality from this type of pneumonia was higher than from pneumococcal or staphylococcal types or from pneumonia of unknown cause . Recommendations are made for the initial treatment of elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Cancer Lett, 1980 May, 9(3), 225 - 8
Use of bacterial neutral protease for disaggregation of mouse tumours and multicellular tumor spheroids; Twentyman PR et al.; A bacterial neutral protease (from Bacillus Polymixa) has been used to disaggregate both solid mouse tumours and multicellular tumour spheroids . The cell yields obtained were much higher than those obtained using trypsin whilst the plating efficiency of the resultant single cells were comparable . The use of this neutral protease is simple, inexpensive and highly efficient.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 May-Jun, 49(3), 547 - 51
{Role of microorganisms in the destruction of spodumene}; Karavaiko GI et al.; A broad spectrum of microorganisms has been shown to be involved in the destruction of spodumene, a typical mineral of lithium pegmatites . The following microorganisms are most active: the microscopic fungi Penicillium notatum and Aspergillus niger, the thiobacilli Thiobacillus thiooxidans, and the so-called "silicate" slime forming bacterium Bacillus micilaginosus n . sp . siliceus . Spodumene destruction is accompanied with lithium, aluminium and silicon being transferred into solution . The activity of this process depends on the microbial species, the pH of the medium, and some other factors . Lithium and aluminium are extracted best of all at acid pH values whereas silicon at alkaline pH values . Possible mechanisms for spodumene destruction by microorganisms are discussed.

Biochem J, 1980 May 1, 187(2), 457 - 65
Crystal-forming proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis . The limited hydrolysis by endogeneous proteinases as a cause of their apparent multiplicity; Chestukhina GG et al.; The crystals of the entomocidal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis are admixed with proteinases that in the course of their dissolution cause gradual degradation of the "genuine" crystal-forming protein components (i.e . the primary biosynthetic products) to products of lower molecular weight . This phenomenon might explain at least partially the contradictory data on the molecular parameters of the crystal-forming proteins . Preliminary inactivation of the proteinases adsorbed on the crystals allowed us to eliminate this source of the artefacts and to gain more reliable data on the protein composition of the crystals formed by various strains of B . thuringiensis . It has been shown that the crystals formed by all serotypes of B . thuringiensis, with the exception of the serotype V, contain only one protein with a mol . wt . of 145000, 135000 or 130000, depending on the strain . The majority of the strains that belong to the serotype V form crystals consisting of two proteins with mol . wts . of 135000 and 130000, but some of them also have a third component with a mol . wt . of 65000.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1980 May, 63(3), 581 - 6
Enumeration and confirmation of Bacillus cereus in foods: collaborative study; Lancette GA et al.; A collaborative study was conducted in 15 laboratories to evaluate 2 different techniques for enumerating Bacillus cereus in foods . A direct plating technique using mannitol-egg yolk-poly-myxin agar and a most probable number (MPN) technique using trypticase-soy-polymyxin broth were compared for the enumeration of high and low populations of B . cereus in mashed potatoes . The collaborative results showed that the overall mean recovery obtained with the low population level was essentially the same by both techniques . However, the overall mean recovery was significantly higher by the direct plating technique at the high population level . A statistical evaluation of the data also showed that the direct plating technique had better repeatability and reproducibility than did the MPN technique at both the high and low population levels . These results suggest that the MPN technique is suitable for examining foods containing low populations of B . cereus, but that the direct plating technique is preferable for foods that contain a high population of this organism . The confirmatory technique used in the proposed method is reliable for presumptive identification of isolates as B . cereus . The method has been adopted as official first action.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 May, 77(5), 2474 - 6
Measurements of the pH within dormant and germinated bacterial spores; Setlow B et al.; The pH within the core or central region of dormant spores of Bacillus cereus and B . megaterium is 6.3-6.4 irrespective of the external pH . However, the spore's internal pH rises to 7.3-7.5 upon germination . The low internal pH of the dormant spore may be a contributing factor to its metabolic dormancy.

Biochem J, 1980 May 1, 187(2), 529 - 32
Cross-linking preserves conformational changes induced in penicillinase by its substrates; Klemes Y et al.; Exopenicillinase of Bacillus cereus 569/H was cross-linked with toluene 2,4-diisocyanate in the presence of cephalothin, cloxacillin or no substrate . The derivatives show significant differences in susceptibility to inactivation by heat, urea, iodination or proteolysis . Such differences can be predicted from the contrasting effects of these substrates on the conformation of the enzyme.

Gene, 1980 May, 9(3-4), 195 - 203
Recognition sequence for the restriction endonuclease BglI from Bacillus globigii; Van Heuverswyn H et al.; Restriction endonuclease BglI recognizes the DNA sequence (Formula: see text) and cleaves each strand at the site indicated, thus generating 3' protruding ends . The recognition sequence was deduced by correlating mapping data with nucleotide sequence information and the position of cleavage was unambiguously determined by 32P labeling of 5' termini produced by BglI digestion.

J Bacteriol, 1980 May, 142(2), 424 - 32
Regulation of lysine- and lysine-plus-threonine-inhibitable aspartokinases in Bacillus brevis; Hitchcock MJ et al.; Further studies on the expression of the two aspartokinase activities in Bacillus bovis are presented . Aspartokinase I (previously shown to be inhibited and repressed by lysine) was found to be repressed by diaminopimelate in the wild-type strain . However, in a mutant unable to convert diaminopimelate to lysine, starvation for lysine resulted in an increase in aspartokinase I activity . Thus, lysine itself or an immediate metabolite was the true effector of repression . Aspartokinase II (previously shown to be inhibited by lysine plus threonine) was repressed by threonine . Studies with the parent strain and auxotrophs inidicated that only threonine or an immediate metabolite of threonine was involved in this repression . Methionine and isoleucine were not effectors of any of the detected aspartokinase activities . Apart from inhibition and repression controls, a third as yet undefined regulatory mechanism operated to decrease the levels of both aspartokinases as growth declined, even in mutants in which repression control was absent . In thiosine-resistant, lysine-excreting mutants with elevated levels of aspartokinase, the increase in activity could always be attributed to one enzyme or the other, never both . The existence of separate structural genes for each aspartokinase is therefore suggested.

Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales, 1980 May-Jun, 73(3), 315 - 21
{Evaluation of the larvicidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis serotype H14 on mosquitoes in natural breeding places}; De Barjac H et al.; The experiments conducted with Bacillus thuringiensis var . israelensis, serotype H14, in nature, show that this Bacillus has a specific and extremely high larvicidal power against the larval population of Culicidae . It operates very quickly but its action seems relatively short-time lasting . Considering the increasing resistance of larvae to organophosphorus compounds, this new serotype presents a particular interest for the control of mosquitoes.

Science, 1980 Apr 25, 208(4442), 415 - 6
Regression of tumors in guinea pigs after treatment with synthetic muramyl dipeptides and trehalose dimycolate; McLaughlin CA et al.; A high incidence of tumor regression was observed in guinea pigs bearing transplantable, line-10 hepatocellular carcinomas when synthetic muramyl dipeptides combined with trehalose dimycolate in oil-in-water emulsions were injected directly into the tumors . These compounds are promising candidates to replace viable bacillus Calmette-Guerin in cancer immunotherapy in humans and animals.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Apr 25, 255(8), 3624 - 8
The amino acid sequence specificity of a protease from spores of Bacillus megaterium; Setlow P et al.; Previous work has shown that the degradation of 20% of total protein which occurs early in germination of Bacillus megaterium spores is initiated by an endoprotease . This enzyme is found only in the spore and is active only on the spore proteins degraded during germination . Action of the spore protease in vitro on the three major proteins (Proteins A, B, and C) which are degraded in vivo during germination results in cleavage of one (A and C protein) or two (B protein) peptide bonds . The sequences surrounding the cleavage sites are -Tyr-Glu- Ile-Ala-Ser-Glu-Phe- in the A protein, -Phe-Glu- Ile-Ala-Ser-Glu-Phe- in the C protein, and -Thr-Glu- Phe-Gly-Ser-Glu-Thr-, and -Thr-Glu- Phe-Ala-Ser-Glu-Thr- in the B protein, with cleavage taking place at the glutamyl bond noted by the arrow . The similarity of these four sequences suggests the possibility that the specificity of the spore protease may be due to its requirement for a specific pentapeptide sequence of the type -R-Glu-(Phe or Ile)-(Gly or Ala)-Ser-Glu-R- for recognition and cleavage . However, it is also possible that it is the conformation of the A, B, and C proteins which determines their site of cleavage by the spore protease.

Sem Hop, 1980 Apr 18-25, 56(15-16), 728 - 31
{Hepatic manifestations in typhoid fever (author's transl)}; Soubeyrand J et al.; Typhoid fever is always endemic in Ivory Coast . Among the various visceral injuries able to arrive during the course of the illness, a study of hepatic manifestations realized in 279 patients show, by the realization of systematic LBP, that, beside clinically and/or biologically certain forms, an hepatic injury is histologically constant . Aetiological, clinical, biological, diagnostic and therapeutic particularities connected with the hepatic localizations are considered and compared with findings of other authors . To remark, in Ivory Coast, on one hand the great predominance of Eberth bacillus aetiology, on the other hand the lack of statistically significative relation with drepanocytary waste . The pathogenic signification of the constancy of the hepatic injury and its peculiar histological pattern of non specific reactive hepatitis is discussed.

Biochem J, 1980 Apr 15, 188(1), 39 - 46
Lysis of erythrocytes from stored human blood by phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus); Little C et al.; The ability of phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus) to lyse erythrocytes from human blood that had been stored under Transfusion Service conditions for up to 16 weeks has been examined . When incubated at 20 degrees C with enzyme (0.03 mg/ml, 55 units/ml) for up to 1 h fresh erythrocytes were not lysed . After about 4 weeks of storage a population of very readily lysed erythrocytes appeared . The morphological changes in erythrocytes from blood stored up to 16 weeks were examined by scanning electron microscopy . The proportion of very readily lysed erythrocytes correlated well with the proportion of spheroechinocytes I . This morphological form was shown to be preferentially removed by phospholipase C and before lysis a transient appearance of smooth spheres occurred . The decrease in blood ATP concentrations on storage was measured and found to correlate with the disappearance of discoid erythrocyte forms, but not directly with the increased susceptibility of the erythrocytes to lysis by the enzyme . However, erythrocytes of up to at least 15 weeks of age could be made less susceptible to lysis by pre-incubation in a medium designed to cause intracellular regeneration of ATP . During the lysis of spheroechinocytes I by electrophoretically pure recrystallized phospholipase C a rapid degradation of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine + phosphatidylinositol) occurred together with a slower degradation of sphingomyelin.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Apr, 33(4), 359 - 63
Tatumine, a peptide from Bacillus brevis Vm4-572-403; Heaney-Kieras J et al.; The mutant 572-403 of Bacillus brevis Vm4 was isolated from N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso guanidine (nitrosoguanidine)-treated cultures of the parental strain . The mutant produces tatumine and edeine B when grown in a defined medium at 40 degrees C . Tatumine is composed of spermidine, glycine, isoserine, and an unidentified ninhydrin-positive compound; it has a molecular weight of less than 730 d (edeine A) . It is soluble in water and isopropanol . Tatumine has no antimicrobial activity but has selective cytotoxicity against cultured cells of sarcoma origin . This activity is not destroyed by heating for 1 hour at 60 degrees C.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Apr, 39(4), 695 - 701
Resistance and recovery studies on ultraviolet-irradiated spores of Bacillus pumilus; Abshire RL et al.; A spore suspension model and a procedure for recovering ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated spores of Bacillus pumilus were investigated . A most-probable-number tube dilution method using double-strength Trypticase soy broth was found to be superior to the agar plate method for recovering optimal numbers of spores irradiated with sublethal doses of UV energy . Aqueous suspensions of B . pumilus survived UV doses up to 108,000 ergs/mm2 as determined by a most-probable-number recovery and estimation procedure . Resistance and stability data were consistent and reproducible, indicating the dependability of this method for recovering UV-damaged spores . The procedures used to collect information concerning resistance characteristics for two strains of B . pumilus are discussed.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Apr, 141(4), 473 - 8
Induction of resistance to Schistosoma mansoni by natural cord factor and synthetic lower homologues; Olds GR et al.; Resistance to schistosomiasis in mice can be acquired either specifically, by primary infection with Schistosoma mansoni, or nonspecifically, by treatment with a variety of unrelated agents such as bacille Calmette-Guerin . Several immunoadjuvants related to mycobacteria were examined for their ability to induce resistance to schistosomiasis . Natural cord factor (6,6'-trehalose dimycolate), a 100-carbon synthetic cord factor analogue, and dipalmitate trehalose induced significant protection . Trehalose dibehenate and muramyl dipeptide did not induce consistent protection . Since protection acquired by primary schistosomal infection or by any of these potentiating agents is partial, their possible additive effect was evaluated . The resistance of mice with schistosomiasis that were injected with trehalose dipalmitate and challenged with schistosomal cercariae was increased, as assayed by recovery of schistosomula from the lungs and of adult worms from the portal system . Thus, these synthetic adjuvants not only induce partial protection against schistosomiasis, but also significantly enhance acquired immunity in mice with primary infections.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1980 Apr, 73(4), 488 - 95
Legionnaires' disease . Postmortem pathologic findings of 20 cases; Hernandez FJ et al.; From March 1977 to December 1978, postmortem examination was performed at Wadsworth Veterans Administration Medical Center for 20 patients who had had nosocomially acquired Legionnaires' disease . Seventeen patients died during the acute illness due to Legionnaires' disease, and three patients died after clinical resolution of the acute process . The only consistent postmortem findings were limited to the lungs . Confluent bronchopneumonia, and less frequently lobar pneumonia, was present in most cases . Although a spectrum of microscopic pulmonary findings was observed, the characteristic histologic features of acute Legionnaires' disease were an extensive intra-alveolar exudation of macrophages and neutrophils in varying proportions, erythrocytes, and fibrin . Lysis of the inflammatory cells was frequently found . Areas of coagulative necrosis of the lung parenchyma and edematous thickening of the alveolar septa were typically seen . Microscopy of lung tissue from the three patients who died after clinical resolution of the acute process revealed organized pneumonia, with patchy organization of the intra-alveolar exudate and focal obliteration of the alveolar septal framework . Associated postmortem findings were fibrinous endocarditis in one case and hemorrhagic infarction of the adrenal glands in two cases . Electron-microscopic examination of the lungs revealed as many as 23 separate bacillary profiles within a single macrophage . Septate binary fission or spore-like structures were not observed.

Cancer Res, 1980 Apr, 40(4), 975 - 8
Influence of surfactant concentration on the antitumor activity of emulsified components of mycobacteria; Yarkoni E et al.; The influence of Tween 80 content on the antitumor activity of emulsified mycobacterial components administered intralesionally was studied in mice . The number of treated animals in which there was complete regression of tumor depended on the concentration of Tween in each of the emulsions . An additional variable was the size distribution of the mineral oil droplets, which depended on whether the emulsions were prepared by ultrasonication or by mechanical grinding . Emulsions of mycobacterial components (cell walls of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate) prepared by ultrasonication contained smaller oil droplets than did those prepared by grinding . Ground emulsions retained antitumor activity over a wider range of Tween concentrations than did ultrasonically prepared emulsions . The latter required Tween at concentrations in an optimal range above which the tumor-regressive potency was diminished . Emulsions of trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate containing the lowest concentration of Tween needed to produce a relatively stable preparation contained larger oil droplets and were immunotherapeutically less active than were those prepared with an optimal concentration of Tween . Emulsions of B . Calmette-Guerin cell walls retained antitumor activity even in the absence of added Tween.

Lab Anim Sci, 1980 Apr, 30(2 Pt 1), 192 - 6
Effect of heat and selected chemical disinfectants upon infectivity of spores of Bacillus piliformis (Tyzzer's disease); Ganaway JR; Spores of Bacillus piliformis of rabbit origin were harvested from the yolk sac of previously inoculated hen's eggs and subjected to various heat or chemical disinfectant treatments . Subsequently, spores were tested for infectivity in embryonated eggs inoculated via the yolk sac route, and others were treated with trypsin and then tested in embryonated eggs . The spores were not affected by the heat treatment of 60 degrees C but were rendered noninfective with treatments of 70 degrees C and 80 degrees C . Infectivity was not restored by treatment with trypsin . Infectivity was not lost when spores were treated with a phenolic germicidal detergent, ethanol or either of two quaternary ammonium compounds containing 9% or 17% benzalkonium chloride . A graded effect was observed with formaldehyde solution and an iodophor . Spores were rendered noninfective after treatment with peracetic acid (1.0%) and a wetting agent, sodium alkylarylsulfonate or sodium hypochlorite solution (0.3%) for 5 minutes, and infectivity was not restored by trypsin treatment . The probable means of transmission of Bacillus piliformis was discussed and sodium hypochlorite solution (0.3%) was recommended as a surface disinfectant in animal facilities as an aid to the prevention and control of Tyzzer's disease.

Infect Immun, 1980 Apr, 28(1), 127 - 31
Depressed immunological defence mechanisms in mice with experimentally induced diabetes; Saiki O et al.; Persistent diabetes mellitus with marked hyperglycemia was induced in mice by the administration of streptozotocin . In these streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, resistance to tubercle bacillus challenge and primary as well as secondardy humoral immune responses against foreign erythrocytes were markedly depressed . The T-cell function in delayed hypersensitivity to 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene and bacterial phagocytic activity or peritoneal macrophages were markedly depressed . In contrast, the B-cell function in antibody production against T-independent antigen and the intracellular killing of bacteria in peritoneal macrophages were intact . We concluded that depression of the T-cell function or the phagocytic activity of macrophages or both may be the main immunological defect in these mice.

Cancer Res, 1980 Apr, 40(4), 979 - 83
Levels of cytotoxic reactivity to cultured normal skin fibroblasts in sera from normal and sarcoma-bearing patients; Catapano MS et al.; Human sera possess complement-dependent cytotoxic reactivity against autologous and allogeneic cultured normal skin fibroblasts . Previous studies indicated that the natural antibody reactivity is directed against fetal antigens expressed on these cells in tissue culture . The reactivity was further characterized in the present study . Chromatographic analysis of a normal serum indicated that its reactivity belonged to the immunoglobulin M (19S) class of immunoglobulins . Sera from 22 preoperative tumor-bearing osteogenic sarcoma patients, 30 tumor-bearing soft-tissue sarcoma patients, and 52 age- and sex-matched normal individuals were tested against allogeneic skin fibroblasts . The patient and normal groups displayed wide, overlapping ranges of cytotoxicity . The osteogenic sarcoma group showed a small but significant increase in mean cytotoxicity compared to the controls, whereas the soft-tissue sarcoma sera were not significantly different from the controls . Reactivities in the sera of patients whose tumors recurred were not significantly different from those of the patients who remained disease free . Cytotoxic levels in sera from eight osteogenic sarcoma patients followed throughout the clinical course remained constant up to the time of documented recurrence and were not affected by surgical removal of the primary tumor or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy . In three of four patients whose tumors recurred, cytotoxic levels fell, but only after documented recurrence . The natural antibody reactivity against normal fibroblasts does not appear useful as a marker for diagnosis, prognosis, or monitoring tumor presence in sarcoma patients.

Arch Intern Med, 1980 Apr, 140(4), 559 - 60
Panophthalmitis due to Bacillus cereus; Young EJ et al.; A rapidly progressing panophthalmitis due to Bacillus cereus developed in three patients . Infection was associated with intravenous drug abuse in two patients and was traced to contaminated injection paraphernalia in one . In the third patient, infection was associated with a foreign-body injury to the eye . Anterior chamber aspiration revealed the organism on Gram's stain in one case and isolation of the bacteria in all three . Despite intravenous and intraocular antibiotic therapy, the infection progressed rapidly and resulted in enucleation in all cases . Bacillus cereus isolates were sensitive to clindamycin hydrochloride hydrate and aminoglycosides but resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins.

Mol Gen Genet, 1980 Apr, 178(1), 217 - 24
Molecular cloning of the gene for the beta-lactamase of Bacillus licheniformis and its expression in Escherichia coli; Brammar WJ et al.; The structural gene, pen, for the beta-lactamase of B . licheniformis has been cloned into a lambda vector and shown to be expressed at a low rate in E . coli . The cloned pen gene appears to be expressed from a promoter within the fragment of B . licheniformia DNA, since its rate of expression is not affected by the presence of the phage repressor, the absence of the phage's positive-control functions, or the position or orientation of the gene within the phage genome.

Can J Microbiol, 1980 Apr, 26(4), 486 - 91
Parasporal crystals produced by oligosporogenous mutans of Bacillus thuringiensis (Spo-Cr+); Johnson DE et al.; Six oligosporogenic (Spo-) mutant strains of Bacillus thuringiensis were selected from survivors of treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine . Each strain was blocked at or before stage II of spore development, but all produced typical bipyramidal-shaped crystalline inclusion bodies . Toxicity of the paraporad typical bipyramidal-shaped crystalline inclusion bodies . Toxicity of the parasporal endotoxin isolated from the mutant strains was assayed by an in vitro technique using cultured insect cells, and was comparable with that of normal wild-type parasporal protein . Multiple parasporal inclusion bodies per cell were often produced, and smaller embedded particles were numerous and distinct.

Cancer, 1980 Mar 15, 45(6), 1340 - 3
Pulmonary abnormalities in patients intravenously receiving the methanol extraction residue (MER) of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin; Quesada JR et al.; Eight of 64 patients receiving intravenous administration of methanol extraction residue (MER) of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), developed miliary-type pulmonary parenchymal changes . The clinical and radiological characteristics are described . An increased incidence was noted in patients with a history of previous BCG exposure or with positive PPD skin reactivity . Spontaneous resolution was observed upon discontinuation of MER . These changes most likely respresent a granulomatous inflammatory process, although no histological confirmation was obtained.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Mar 14, 612(1), 107 - 18
Purification and properties of the D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase of Bacillus coagulans NCIB 9365; McArthur HA et al.; After solubilisation with urea and the non-ionic detergent Genapol X-100, the membrane-bound DD-carboxypeptidase (UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-tetrapeptidyl-D-alanine alanine-hydrolase, EC 3.4.12.6) of Bacillus coagulans NCIB 9365 was purified to homogeneity, as verified by sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis, by chromatography with an ampicillin-agarose affinity resin and DEAE-cellulose . The properties of the purified DD-carboxypeptidase were similar to those of the membrane-bound enzyme; these include enhancement of activity by divalent cations, Pb2+ and Cd2+ being the most effective . The enzyme also catalysed a simple unnatural model transpeptidation reaction between UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl pentapeptide (donor) and D-alanine or glycine (acceptors) . The enzyme consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight (Mr 29 000), considerably lower than values obtained previously for most other DD-carboxypeptidases . However, its molecular weight and its degree of relatedness, as assessed by amino acid composition, were similar to several beta-lactamases.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Mar 14, 612(1), 40 - 9
Conjugation of enzymes to immunoglobulins using dimaleimides; Weston PD et al.; A method is described for coupling enzymes to immunoglobulins using sulphydryl derivatives of the proteins and a dimaleimide which is relatively water-soluble . Parameters affecting the performance of the conjugates have been examined including level of sulphydryl incorporation, ratio of enzyme/immunoglobulin and nature of dimaleimide used . Peroxidase-immunoglobulin conjugates made by the dimaleimide method have been compared with those made by the periodate oxidation method and found to have a superior performance . Immunoglobulin has been linked to peroxidase (horseradish peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.7), glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger, (EC 1.1.3.4), penicillinase from Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I (EC 3.5.2.6), and beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli (EC 3.2.1.23).

Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980 Mar, 246(3), 415 - 22
Lecithinase and toxin production in Bacillus species; Obi SK; A total of 96 Bacillus species consisting of B . licheniformis, B . pumilus, B . subtilis, B . megaterium and B . polymyxa isolated from smoked meat were screened for both lecithinase and toxin production . Lecithinase production was found to be wide-spread among these species and to be strain specific . A high percentage of the tested species (66.7-100%) was strongly lecithinase positive . Like lecithinase, toxin production is wide-spread among the Bacillus species and is equally strain specific . With the exception of the B . pumilus isolates, an absolute correlation between lecithinase and toxin production could not be established among the tested isolates . In B . pumilus both lecithinase and toxin are detectable in the culture filtrate after three hours incubation but while maximal lecithinase synthesis occurs within three hours, maximal toxin production is not attained within 15 h incubation . B . pumilus toxin proved toxic for mice but not for rats.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 117(1), 163 - 7
Regulation of bacitracin synthetase by divalent metal ions in Bacillus licheniformis; Froyshov O et al.; The activity in vitro of the bacitracin synthetase of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 10716 is influenced by divalent metal ions (Mg2+, Mn2+, Fe2+ or Co2+) and by bacitracin . It is possible that complexes between bacitracin and metal ions exert feedback control on the synthetase . An overall control mechanism for bacitracin synthetase may consist of substrate-metal ion complexes and product-metal ion complexes.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Mar, 25(3), 167 - 9
{Integrative suppression of antibiotic formation in Bacillus pumilus}; Lukin AA et al.; Relationship between antibiotic production and pPL 7065 plasmid integration into the chromosome of B . pumilus ATCC 7065-K was studied . With this purpose hybridization of plasmid DNA isolated from strain ATCC 7065 producing no antibiotic was performed with chromosome DNA of B . pumilus ATCC 7065 and W20, as well as B . subtilis and E . coli K-12 . Plasmid DNA labeled with 3H was used in the experiments . It was found to be slightly bound with DNA of B . subtilis (0.8 per cent), E . coli K-12 (0.2 per cent), and B . pumilus W20 (3 per cent) . Still, its hybridization with chromosome DNA of B . pumilus ATCC 7065-K was effective (11 per cent) . It is concluded to be due to hybridization between plasmid pPL 7065 of strain ATCC 7065 and the same plasmid but integrated into the chromosome of the antibiotic-producing strain ATCC 7065-K . Therefore, derepression of the antibiotic biosynthesis is a sequence of integrative suppression.

Med Trop (Mars), 1980 Mar-Apr, 40(2), 157 - 9
{Treatment of lepromatous Hansen disease with a rifampicine-isoprodian association (author's transl)}; Colin M et al.; Thirty lepromatous patients were treated during 3 months . If clinical condition was notably improved, the bacillary index and the morphologic index remained almost un-changed and the histo-pathological features, advanced concurrently to the clinic aspects.

Invest Urol, 1980 Mar, 17(5), 373 - 7
Immunobiology of carcinoma of the prostate; Catalona WJ; Limited evidence suggests that prostatic cancer cells express antigens that are immunogenic in the host . Some of these tumor-associated antigens are fetal antigens and others may be oncogenic viral-induced tumor antigens . In addition, both benign and malignant prostatic epithelial cells produce an antigenically distinctive form of acid phosphatase, but it is unknown whether acid phosphatase can function as a target for cytotoxic mechanisms . There is ample evidence that host cell-mediated immunologic activity is depressed in many prostatic cancer patients . The mechanisms underlying these impairments are unclear, but a number of factors has been implicated including uncharacterized "serum blockers," alpha-2 globulins, and circulating antigen-antibody complexes . Endocrine manipulations can also alter host immune mechanisms . There is some evidence to suggest that host immune competence correlates inversely with tumor progression in patients who have relapsed after endocrine therapy . Immunotherapy for prostatic cancer has not been adequately studied . There have been a few inconclusive attempts at active immunotherapy using bacille Calmette Guerin and cryosurgery and virtually no attempts at passive immunotherapy . The future prospects for immunology as a useful tool in the management of prostatic cancer patients are discussed.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1980 Mar, 121(3), 551 - 7
Tuberculin peptide from culture filtrate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Nagai S et al.; A highly purified tuberculin peptide, named TPH71U, was isolated from the heated culture filtrate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv . This peptide was prepared by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and by treatment with diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex, Sephadex G-75, and preparative gel electrophoresis in the presence of a high concentration of urea . The presence of urea remarkably increased the sensitivity of the gel analysis and the efficiency of the preparation procedure . The isolated peptide, TPH71U, was homogeneous in the gel electrophoretic analysis, and the molecular weight was estimated to be 5,800 daltons . The amino acid composition was analyzed . The peptide elicited strong tuberculin cantaneous reactions in guinea pigs sensitized with Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains H37Rv and Aoyama B, and Bacille Calmette Guerin, and weak reactions in those sensitized with Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium phlei . Based on the cutaneous reactions to this peptide, its potency was estimated to be approximately one twentieth of that of the standard tuberculin purified protein derivative.

Can J Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 26(3), 308 - 17
Peptidoglycan turnover during growth recovery after chloramphenicol treatment in a Dap-Lys-mutant of Bacillus megaterium; Frehel C et al.; The study of diaminopimelic acid (DAP) incorporation and turnover during growth recovery in chloramphenicol-treated (CMP-treated) Bacillus megaterium cells showed that two kinds of turnover occurred . A low acid-soluble turnover appeared as soon as growth resumed in bacteria labeled before the CMP treatment and at the middle of the first generation in those labeled during the treatment . The acid-insoluble turnover appeared only at the beginning of the second generation of growth resumption in bacteria labeled before CMP addition and at the beginning of the third generation in those labeled during the CMP treatment . The acid-soluble release observed during the period of cell wall thinning is too low to account for the decrease of the wall thickness and the acid-insoluble loss appears after this period . When bacteria were transferred into partially spent medium instead of fresh culture medium the acid-insoluble release started to appear half a generation sooner . Electron microscopic observations showed that in this case, large scales detached from the cell wall . This activity of wall degradation was not observed when the partially spent medium was previously heated for 10 min at 100 degree C . The persistence of a thick wall on cell ends during the first generation does not reflect an absence of growth sites because their labeling on autoradiographs is high . Rather, it seems to be due to a low lytic activity at the poles.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 117(1), 211 - 24
Purification of four penicillin-binding proteins from Bacillus megaterium; Chase HA; Four of the five penicillin-binding proteins in the cytoplasmic membranes of Bacillus megaterium have been purified to protein homogeneity . The method used involved the solubilization of the penicillin-binding proteins from the membranes by treatment with non-ionic detergent, followed by partial separation of the proteins by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B . Each protein was then purified to protein homogeneity by covalent affinity chromatography on ampicillin-affinose . The protein with the lowest molecular weight is a DD-carboxypeptidase . The other three proteins have previously been postulated to be peptidoglycan transpeptidases, endopeptidases or DD-carboxypeptidases in vivo, but it was not possible to demonstrate any of these activities with the purified proteins in various in vitro systems . Possible reasons for the observed lack of enzymic activity in vitro are discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Mar, 141(3), 1443 - 6
Glucose catabolism during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores; Maruyama T et al.; When heat-activated spores of Bacillus megaterium germinated in glucose-containing medium, 10 to 30% of the glucose was found to be oxidized to gluconate.

Arch Intern Med, 1980 Mar, 140(3), 426 - 7
Tuberculous bacillemia, hyperpyrexia, and rapid death; Pasculle AW et al.; Hyperpyrexia, followed rapidly by multiple organ failure and death, developed in a previously healthy man . Postmortem examination indicated disseminated tuberculosis with adrenal involvement, but also evidence compatible with heat stroke . Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from a routine blood culture . The patient's symptoms may have been the result of his bacillemia or the result of unapparent tuberculous chronic adrenocortical insufficiency that made him unusually sensitive to heat.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 1980 Mar-Jun, 9(1-2), 21 - 6
Differential tuberculin testing in Lagos; Ogunmekan DA; School children in lagos were tested with PPD-S and one of the following tuberculins simultaneously namely PPD-G, PPD-A, PPD-Y, PPD-F, and PPD-PL . The tuberculins were prepared from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the Gause organism, M . avium, M . Kansasii, M . fortuitum and M . marinum respectively . It was found that for the different antigens, among those children who had indurations from 0 to 4 mm those small sized reactions wer generally due to sensitization by opportunist mycobacteria . In contrast to this, among those who had indurations over 10 mm, the reactions were due to sensitization by the human tubercle bacillus . Testing of patients with bacteriologically and radiologically proved tuberculosis showed that practically all of them reacted in an expected manner, i.e . PPD-S elicited larger reactions than PPD-Y, PPD-A, PPD-G, PPD-LL and PPD-F.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 1980 Mar-Jun, 9(1-2), 15 - 20
The relationship between age and sensitization to PPD-S and atypical mycobacterial antigens among school children in Lagos, Nigeria; Ogunmekan DA; A random sample of school children was tested with PPD-S and one of the following antigens simultaneously namely PPD-F, PPD-G, PPD-PL, and PPD-A . The antigens were prepared from the human tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium Fortuitum, M . Kansasii the Gause Organism, M . Marinum and M . avium respectively . It was observed that for those who had had no BCG, age had a significant effect on the induration size to PPD-S . The age effect was a linear regression effect, the F for regression being significant at the 1% level . The regression coefficient was found to be 0.4 and the equation to the regression line was Y = -0.6 + 0.4X where X is age and Y is induration size . For all the other antigens, age had no significant effect on the size of induration.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Mar-Apr, 49(2), 294 - 7
{Effect of polymyxins on Bacillus polymyxa sporogenesis}; Nefelova NV et al.; Bacillus polymyxa var . Ross . producing polymyxin M and Bacillus polymyxa 153 producing polymyxin B form spores during submerged cultivation when the rate of biosynthesis of antibiotic peptides is low and when the production of antibiotics is over . However, sporogenesis is stimulated if polymyxins are added at the early stage of cultural growth . Inhibition of the synthesis of antibiotics suppresses the formation of spores . Substances other than polymyxins do not exhibit such a specific effect on sporogenesis . The fact that the culture requires endogenous polymyxins which are most effective in the period prior to the appearance of spores in the culture suggests the regulatory action of these peptides at the stage between vegetative growth and spore formation in Bacillus polymyxa.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Mar, 141(3), 1450 - 3
Is cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate a cell cycle regulator?
Cook WR, Kalb VF Jr, Peace AA, Bernlohr RW.
Transient increases in the intracellular level of cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate have been observed at a periodicity of one generation time in two spoT strains of Escherichia coli and in Bacillus licheniformis.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1980 Feb 11, 8(3), 623 - 33
Physical and kinetic properties of the site specific endonuclease Bam HI from Bacillus amylolique-faciens; Hinsch B et al.; The site specific endonuclease Bam HI which is composed of subunits of a molecular weight of 22 000 {1} can aggregate to complexes of a molecular weight of 360 000 . It is an acidic protein with an isoelectric point at pH 5.3 . Optimal activity is reached at 13 mM MgCl2 . A very simple method is presented to determine kinetic constants of restriction enzymes directly from agarose gel photographs without any further equipment applying the integrated Michaelis Menten equation . With pJC 80 DNA as a substrate KM was found to be 3.6 10(-10) M . The method can be used to redefine the unit activity of site specific endonucleases unambigously.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1980 Feb-Mar, 64(2-3), 373 - 9
Use of prognostic factors in analysis of historical control studies; Gehan EA et al.; This paper considers the use of regression methods for the interpretation of comparative results between treatments in historical control studies . A logistic regression model is used for response rate studies and Cox's regression model for studies of disease-free or overall survival . For both models, stepwise regression procedures may be utilized to test for treatment differences adjusting for differences in patient characteristics between the treatment groups . Examples are given from two clinical studies: the first example concerned a study which compared disease-free and overall survival experience between patients receiving surgery plus radiation therapy plus FAC-BCG (5-fluorouracil, Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide-bacillus Calmette-Guerin) as adjuvant treatment compared with surgery plus radiation therapy alone for patients with stage II or III breast cancer; the second example concerned a study of acute leukemia in which differences among complete remission rats by institution were interpreted using a logistic regression equation to adjust for prognostic factors.

Can J Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 26(2), 115 - 20
Composition and properties of the cell wall of Methanospirillum hungatii; Sprott GD et al.; Dithiothreitol reacted, at pH 9.0, with the isolated cell walls of Methanospirillum hungatii, to release about 23% of the cell wall dry weight as a high molecular weight fraction (> 0.5 million daltons) . Untreated walls consisted of 70% amino acids, 11% lipid, and 6.6% carbohydrate . Sugars were identified as rhamnose, ribose, glucose, galactose, and mannose . The wall material that was released contained only 47% amino acids and was enriched in lipid, glucose, and phosphate . These results support data from electron micrographs, showing the localized release of cell wall material by the disulfide bond-breaking reagent at alkaline pH . In amino acid composition the untreated walls did not differ greatly from the material released by dithiothreitol, but differed considerably from the walls of another strain of M . hungatii . The ratios of the amino acids found in the cell wall proteins of several archaebacteria and of Bacillus cereus spore coats were similar.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Feb, 33(2), 186 - 91
The structure of octapeptin D (studies on antibiotics from the genus Bacillus . XXVIII); Kato T et al.; Amino acid analysis of the acid hydrolyzate of octapeptin D revealed the amino acid composition . These amino acids were converted to L-leucyl-derivatives and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography to clarify their chiralities . These were determined to be: 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (4L), Ser (D), Leu (2L, 1D) . Deacylation with polymyxin acylase afforded deacyl octapeptin D . EDMAN degradation on deacyl octapeptin D revealed the N-terminal amino acid . Application of the chemical cleavage reaction for fragmentation of seryl peptides on tri (DNP)-octapeptin D afforded a DNP-heptapeptide, whose sequence was clarified by EDMAN degradation . Octapeptin D was separated into four components (D1,D2,D3 and D4) by high performance liquid chromatography . All the components were examined for their amino acid and fatty acid compositions . From the results, the structures of octapeptins D1, D2, D3 and D4 were determined.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Feb, 33(2), 182 - 5
Isolation of octapeptin D (studies on antibiotics from the genus Bacillus . XXVII); Shoji J et al.; A new peptide antibiotic complex, named octapeptin D, was isolated from culture broth of a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus . The trihydrochloride of the antibiotic was obtained as a colorless powder, soluble in water and methanol . The empirical formula, C47H88N12O11.3HCl.H2O, was indicated by elemental analysis . Amino acid analysis on the acid hydrolyzate demonstrated the presence of 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (4 moles), serine (1 mole) and leucine (3 moles) . Gas chromatographic analysis with the methylated product of the ethereal extract of the acid hydrolyzate revealed the presence of beta-hydroxy isodecanoic acid, beta-hydroxy decanoic acid, beta-hydroxy isoundecanoic acid and beta-hydroxyanteisoundecanoic acid . Octapeptin D is active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in vitro and in vivo.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Feb, 25(2), 117 - 21
{Antibiotic action on Bacillus polymyxa 153 enzymatic activity}; Nefelova MV et al.; The study on the effect of some antibiotics on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDG) and dehydrogenases of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TAC) in the cell extracts of Bac . polymyxa 153 producing polymyxin B showed that the level of the reaction of the individual enzymes to the effect of various antibiotics was different . Specific sensitivity to polymyxins M and B was found in succinate dehydrogenase and that to polymyxin B in malate dehydrogenase . The activity of the first components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes was completely suppressed not only by polymyxins M and B but also by novobiocin, ristomycin and nistatin . The activity of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase was not suppressed by either of the antibiotics tested.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Feb, 17(2), 217 - 25
Prospective comparative study of efficacy and toxicity of netilmicin and amikacin; Bock BV et al.; Eighty patients were treated with either amikacin or netilmicin in a prospective randomized study of serious gram-negative bacillary infections, including 11 due to gentamicin-resistant pathogens . Thirty-six treated with netilmicin and 35 treated with amikacin were evaluable for efficacy or toxicity, or both . The overall groups differed significantly only in age . There were no significant differences in efficacy of the two drugs . There were no statistically significant differences at the 95% level between the netilmicin group and the amikacin group with respect to nephrotoxic reactions (38 versus 28%, respectively) or ototoxic reactions (9 versus 25%, respectively) . Further comparative trials of netilmicin and other aminoglycosides appear warranted before it is widely used.

Aust N Z J Med, 1980 Feb, 10(1), 39 - 43
Immunological status may predict clinical outcome in BCG treated melanoma; Reynolds PM et al.; Twenty-seven patients with surgically resected stage II or III malignant melanoma were treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and followed prospectively to determine whether relapse could be predicted . Peripheral blood mononuclear (lymphocyte plus monocyte) counts (PBM), T and B cell counts, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) cytotoxicity, PHA transformation, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and serum immunoglobulin concentrations were studied before and during therapy . Patients ultimately classified as having a poor clinical outcome (inoperable recurrence) were compared with those with a more favourable outcome . Prior to therapy, poor outcome patients had lower PBM and T cell counts but there was some overlap . After three months, these differences were more pronounced . Low PHA cytotoxicity was also associated with poor outcome; again the differences were more apparent at 3 months than prior to therapy . These results suggest that PBM, T cell counts and PHA cytotoxicity may predict poor outcome some months before inoperable recurrence in apparent clinically.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Feb, 77(2), 808 - 11
Properties of an acid phosphatase in pulmonary surfactant; Benson BJ; Lung surfactant, a lipid-protein complex purified from dog lungs, contains a highly active phosphomonoesterase associated with it . This phosphatase is quite specific for the hydrolysis of phosphatidic acid and 1-acyl-2-lysophosphatidic acid . The enzyme possesses many of the characteristics of the microsomal enzyme, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (EC 3.1.3.4) . In addition, we have shown that this enzyme will also convert phosphatidylglycerol phosphate {1-(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-sn-glycerol-1-P} to phosphatidylglycerol {1-(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-sn-glycerol} and Pi . The phosphatidylglycerol phosphate was made available to the surfactant enzyme in a coupled assay by hydrolysis of cardiolipin {1-(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-3-(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-sn-glycerol} by stereospecific cleavage with phospholipase C (phosphatidylcholine cholinephosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.3) from Bacillus cereus . This enzyme has been previously shown to generate the naturally occurring isomer of phosphatidylglycerol phosphate because it has specificity for the 3-(3-sn-phosphatidyl) group of cardiolipin . Other properties of the surfactant enzyme are discussed in relation to its presence in lung surface active material.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Feb, 141(2), 626 - 34
A rapidly metabolizing pool of phosphatidylglycerol as a precursor of phosphatidylethanolamine and diglyceride in Bacillus megaterium; Lombardi FJ et al.; Pulse-chase experiments in Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14581 with {U-14C}palmitate, L-{U-14C}serine, and {U-14C}glycerol showed that a large pool of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) which exhibited rapid turnover in the phosphate moiety (PGt) underwent very rapid interconversion with the large diglyceride (DG) pool . Kinetics of DG labeling indicated that the fatty acyl and diacylated glycerol moieties of PGt were also utilized as precursors for net DG formation . The {U-14C}glycerol pulse-chase results also confirmed the presence of a second, metabolically stable pool of PG (PGs), which was deduced from {32P}phosphate studies . The other major phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), exhibited pronounced lags relative to PG and DG in 14C-fatty acid, {14C}glycerol, and {32P}phosphate incorporation, but not for incorporation of L-{U-14C}serine into the ethanolamine group of PE or into the serine moiety of the small phosphatidylserine (PS) pool . Furthermore, initial rates of L-{U-14C}serine incorporation into the serine and ethanolamine moieties of PS and PE were unaffected by cerulenin . The results provided compelling in vivo evidence that de novo PGt, PS, and PE synthesis in this organism proceed for the most part sequentially in the order PGt yields PS yields PE rather than via branching pathways from a common intermediate and that the phosphatidyl moiety in PS and PE is derived largely from the corresponding moiety in PGt, whereas the DG pool indirectly provides an additional source for this conversion by way of the facile PGt in equilibrium or formed from DG interconversion.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Feb, 141(2), 618 - 25
Two distinct pools of membrane phosphatidylglycerol in Bacillus megaterium; Lombardi FJ et al.; The predominant membrane lipid in Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14581, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), is present in two distinct pools, as shown by {32P}phosphate incorporation and chase experiments . One pool (PGt) undergoes rapid turnover of the phosphate moiety, whereas the second pool (PGs) exhibits metabolic stability in this group . The phosphate moiety of the other major phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, is stable to turnover . {32P}phosphate- and {2-3H}glycerol-equilibrated cultures yielded the following glycerolipid composition: 56 mol% PG (34 mol% PGt and 22 mol% PGs), 21 mol% phosphatidylethanolamine, 1 to 2 mol% phosphatidylserine, 20 mol% diglycerides, less than 0.5 mol% cardiolipin, and 0.2 to 0.4 mol% lysophosphatidylglycerol . Accumulation of PG was halted immediately after the addition of cerulenin, an inhibitor of de novo fatty acid synthesis, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine accumulation continued at the expense of the diglyceride and PG pools . Strikingly, initial rates of {32P}phosphate incorporation into PG were unaffected by cerulenin . In control cultures at 35 degrees C, incorporation of {32P}phosphate into PG exhibited a biphasic time course, whereas incorporation into phosphatidylethanolamine was concave upward and lagged behind that of PG during the initial rapid phase of PG incorporation . Finally, levels of lysophosphatidylglycerol expanded rapidly after cerulenin addition at 20 degrees C, but not at 35 degrees C . Moreover, incorporation of {32P}phosphate into lysophosphatidylglycerol lagged behind incorporation into PG in both the presence and absence of cerulenin at 20 and 35 degrees C.

Eur J Cell Biol, 1980 Feb, 20(3), 283 - 9
The crystalline layers in spores of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis studied by freeze-etching and high resolution electron microscopy; Wehrli E et al.; The comparative morphology of spores from Bacillus cereus, B . thuringiensis S-9 (wildtype), B . thuringiensis HB 9-1 (acrystaliferous mutant) and B . finitimus, was studied by the freeze-etching technique . Particular attention was given to the three crystalline layers found in these spores, the pitted layer, the parasporal layer, and the basal layer of the exosporium with lattice constants of 9.2 nm, 5.8 nm and 8.0 nm respectively . The parasporal layers, corresponding to the fraction of Fl of Scherrer and Somerville {18} were found to be membraneous sheets laying between spore and exosporium . Analysis of the isolated exosporium by negative staining and digital image processing revealed a lattice structure belonging to the p 6 hexagonal space group with a repeat of 8.0 nm . The unit cell contains 6 subunits, each 3 nm in diameter, which are centered around a hypothetical channel readily penetrated by the stain.

J Hyg (Lond), 1980 Feb, 84(1), 77 - 82
Studies on the heat resistance of Bacillus cereus spores and growth of the organism in boiled rice; Parry JM et al.; A comparison was made of the heat resistance of Bacillus cereus spores at 95 degrees C . Spores of serotype 1 strains were more resistant than those of the other types tested . However, there was little difference in the growth rate of the various serotypes in boiled rice at 22 degrees C . Most samples of uncooked rice contained multiple serotypes of B . cereus . These results indicate that the cooking procedure used for the preparation of cooked rice is likely to be selective for certain serotypes, and this is the most likely reason why type 1 is the most common serotype implicated in outbreaks of food poisoning and can be isolated from many routine samples of cooked rice.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Feb, 141(2), 715 - 21
Ferrisiderophore reductase activity in Bacillus megaterium; Arceneaux JE et al.; The release of iron from ferrisiderophores (microbial ferric-chelating iron transport cofactors) by cell-free extracts of Bacillus megaterium was demonstrated . Reductive transfer of iron from ferrisiderophores to the ferrous-chelating agent ferrozine was measured spectrophotometrically . This ferrisiderophore reductase activity (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate:ferrisiderophore oxidoreductase) was associated primarily with the cell soluble rather than particulate (membrane) fraction . Ferrisiderophore reductase was inhibited by oxygen and required the addition of a reductant (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate was most effective) for maximal activity . The activity was destroyed by both heat and protease treatments and was inhibited by iodoacetamide treatment . Ferrisiderophore reductase activity for several microbial ferrisiderophores was measured; highest activity was displayed for ferrischizokinen, the ferrisiderophore produced by this organism . The Km and Vmax values of the reductase for ferrischizokinen were 2.5 x 10(-4) M and 35.7 nmol/min per mg of the ferrisiderophore reductase reaction . Preliminary fractionation of the cell soluble material by gel filtration chromatography resulted in the demonstration of ferrisiderophore reductase activity in three peaks of different molecular weight . Ferrisiderophore reductase probably mediates entrance of iron into cellular metabolism.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Jan 15, 78(2), 317 - 26
Binding of alkyl beta-D-xylopyranosides, containing branched-chain, cyclic, and substituted aglycon groups, to beta-D-xylosidase from Bacillus pumilus PRL B12; Van Doorslaer E et al.; For a number of alkyl beta-D-xylopyranosides having branched-chain, cyclic, and substituted aglycon groups, and binding to beta-D-xylosidase from B . pumilus PRL B12, the binding constant Ki and (for some of them) the thermodynamic equilibrium parameters delta H0, delta S0, and delta G0 have been determined . Although the aglycon is bound through hydrophobic forces, no simple relationships between the binding parameters and the relative hydrophobicity of the alkyl beta-D-xylopyranosides could be demonstrated . All of the available evidence suggests that the aglycon sub-site has a highly specific structure which forces the atoms of the aglycon group to occupy well-defined positions . The supplementary energy-requirements resulting from the imposed restrictions seem to be the main reason for the irregular way in which the binding parameters depend on the aglycon structure.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1980 Jan 11, 611(1), 61 - 71
Analytical subcellular fractionation of rabbit alveolar macrophages with particular reference to the subcellular localisation of pyridine nucleotide-dependent superoxide-generating systems and superoxide dismutase; Andrew PW et al.; Normal and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine-induced rabbit alveolar macrophage homogenates were fractionated by isopycnic density gradient centrifugation . Superoxide dismutase-inhibitable NAD(P)H-dependent nitro-blue tetrazolium reductase was found localised to endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria . The normal macrophages tended to contain more of this activity than the BCG-induced macrophages . Two superoxide dismutases were found: cyanide-sensitive superoxide dismutase was predominantly present in the cytosol, with a small proportion in mitochondria; cyanide-resistant superoxide dismutase was found confined to mitochondria . Neither differed in specific activity betw-en the normal and BCG-induced macrophages.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1980, 135(5), 435 - 42
{beta-1,3-1,4-Glucanase in sporeforming microorganisms . II . Production of beta-glucan-hydrolases by various Bacillus species (author's transl)}; Borriss R et al.; Production of beta-1,3-1,4-glucan hydrolase (licheninase) was studied in 45 strains of Bacillus representing 17 various species using lichenin as substrate . It was found that the enzyme was produced by the strains of B . pumilus, B . subtilis, B . amyloliquefaciens, B . polymyxa, B . macerans, B . laterosporus and one strain of B . circulans . A new screening method based on application of a gel prepared from the cross-linked lichenin as an only source of carbon in the cultivation medium is presented . Using this method and methods using other cross-linked gels as carbon sources in a synthetic liquid medium, production of licheninase, amylase and cellulase by the strains tested is compared.

J Surg Oncol, 1980, 15(3), 235 - 41
Enhancement of metastasis development by BCG immunotherapy; Colmerauer ME et al.; When BALB/c mice bearing growing transplants of a syngeneic colon carcinoma--Colon Tumor 26 (CT 26)--were treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), no effect on tumor growth rate or survival time was observed compared to untreated controls . However, after excision of primary tumor transplants, enhanced development of lung metastases was noted in the BCG-treated mice, resulting in both as increased mortality rate (from metastatic disease) and a shorter survival time.

Czech Med, 1980, 3(2), 102 - 7
Some qualitative changes of indicators of the epidemiological position as regards tuberculosis in Czechoslovakia and their perspectives; Bajan A; The application of comprehensive provisions in TB control in Czechoslovakia led to a marked decline of its quantitative and qualitative epidemiological indicators . The incidence of TB declined from 191.1 in 1951 to 46.3 in 1978 per 100 000 population . The number of newly detected cases of TB in child groups declined between 1958 and 1978 from 78.2 to 5.5 per 100 000 children . The number of cases of tuberculous meningitis declined during this period in the entire population from 97 to 5 cases . There was a markes shift of newly detected cases into higher age groups . The prevalence of bacillary TB decline from 211.1 in 1956 to 39.0 in 1977 per 100 000 population . According to mathematical and statistical calculations the incidence of TB will preserve also in future its declining trend whereby the values at the turn of the century will be at the borderline of the lower half of the value recorded at present.

Basic Appl Histochem, 1980, 24(2), 135 - 44
The Feulgen hydrolysis kinetics in the midgut cell classes of the stick insect Bacillus rossius: a computer analysis; Scali V et al.; In the midgut epithelium of the walking stick insect Bacillus rossius, nuclei belong to two main cytological categories: nuclei with ordinary chromatin (ON) showing a polyploid series of Feulgen-DNA contents (2, 4, 8, 16C) and nuclei with DNA-RNA bodies (NWB) varying from 9 to 34C . Cells with ON are either small basal or large secretory elements, while those with NWB always belong to the second type . The Feulgen kinetics profiles obtained after formalin fixation, as well as their least squares fit by computer analysis, have shown that with increasing ploidy both the aldehydic group availability and the resistance to depolymerization increase in the genomes of ON; on the contrary, NWB have a depurination rate and resistance to depolymerization significantly lower than the ON . The kind and magnitude of the changes observed, while suggesting a gradually different DNA-protein relationship with increasing ploidy and concurrent maturation of ON, also indicate a deeper chromatin reorganization for NWB.

Tissue Cell, 1980, 12(2), 233 - 41
Sporeless mutants of Bacillus thuringiensis . III . The process of crystal formation; Nishimura MS et al.; In order to investigate the formation of the parasporal crystal of B . thuringiensis with special reference to the spore, sequential ultrastructural analysis of sporulation was performed using a sporeless mutant strain (sp-) as well as its parent wild strain (sp+) . From the logarithmic growth to the end of forespore formation, the same sequential process of sporulation proceeded in both strains and a forespore with double membranes appeared . Thereafter, subsequent sporulation in the sp- strain was either partly or completely arrested and finally spore (mainly the forespore) became deformed . On the other hand, crystal formation took place throughout by the same processes both in sp+ and sp- strains . During the forespore formation, a primordial crystal and an ovoid inclusion appeared and after this stage, the crystal displayed a characteristic diamond-shaped body with lattice fringes increasing its size . No regularity was found in the position of the crystal with respect to the spore . As far as the present ultrastructural observations were concerned, the crystal developed without any special association with the membranes of the spore . However, without the formation of the forespore (including the incipient forespore), no crystal formtion was observed.

Acta Neuropathol (Berl), 1980, 50(2), 103 - 7
The cerebral ventricles of the dog . II . Evidence of a hematogenous origin of supraependymal cells during the inflammatory response; Merchant RE et al.; The present investigation examined the ependymal linings of the choroid plexus and cerebral ventricles of the dog following a single intracisternal injection of viable, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) . One or 3 days following the injection of BCG, animals were perfused with buffered aldehydes . The choroid plexus of each cerebral ventricle as well as samples of the ependyma from the caudate nucleus, interthalamic adhesion, and median sulcus were removed and prepared for transmission electron microscopy . Following injection of BCG, leukocytic cells are found in association with the following structures and areas of the subependyma and choroid plexus: the endothelium of small blood vessels and capillaries; the walls of small blood vessels; the subependymal neuropil; the choroid plexus stroma; the single layer of ependyma bordering the luminal surfaces of the choroid plexi and ventricles; and the free, luminal surfaces of the choroid plexus and ventricular ependyma . The population of leukocytic cells included monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, lymphoblasts, and plasma cells . The results of the present study suggest that the supraependymal leukocyte population of infected animals reaches the cerebral ventricular linings by migrating from the choroidal and subependymal vasculature.

Res Vet Sci, 1980 Jan, 28(1), 132 - 3
The effect of immunisation with BCG on Theileria parva infection in cattle; Dolan TT et al.; Cattle were immunised with 10(8) bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) organisms 32 days before challenge with a lethal dose of Theileria parva stabilate . The disease reactions of immunised and control cattle were similar and all infected cattle died . It is suggested that the failure of BCG to protect cattle against T parva infection is because the cattle response to this non-specific immunisation is poorly developed.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1980 Jan-Feb, 131(1), 45 - 59
{"In vitro" susceptibility of some aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to three 5-nitro-imidazole derivatives: metronidazole, ornidazole and tinidazole (author's transl)}; Dublanchet A et al.; As shown earlier, the three drugs are effective against most anaerobic bacteria . However, with Bacteroides fragilis the geometric mean MIC of metronidazole (0.43 microgram/ml), ornidazole (0.37 microgram/ml) and tinidazole (0.20 microgram/ml) are statistically different . Moreover, and contrary to generally accepted opinion, some aerobic bacteria such as Moraxella and Bacillus can be susceptible to nitro-imidazoles . The results suggest another mechanism for the action of nitro-imidazoles, different from that previously described . This underscores the major role of the reduction of the nitrogroup by a low-redox-potential . Two strains of strictly anaerobic bacteria show a relative resistance in the microaerophilic zone.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 Jan, 103(1), 169 - 77
Arginyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase of Bacillus stearothermophilus . Purification and kinetic analysis; Godeau JM; Arginyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus (NCA 1518) has been purified 880-fold to apparent homogeneity as demonstrated by electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate . The molecular weight is 59 000 as confirmed by Sephadex G-100 and by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation . The enzyme is monomeric, no subunits were detected . Its cognate tRNA induces an apparent increase in molecular weight suggesting the dimerisation of the enzyme . Nevertheless, it is not obvious that the enzyme dimer forms prior to the aminoacylation reaction catalysed by the enzyme . An ATPase activity was found associated to the synthetase but can be neglected because the ATP consumption is too low for hampering the arginyl-tRNA synthetase activity . The order of addition of substrates and release of products has been studied by measurements of initial velocity, product inhibition and dead-end inhibition . The nature of the kinetic patterns indicates that the aminoacylation reaction conforms to the classical concept of the mechanism which includes the formation of an enzyme-bound aminoacyl-adenylate as an intermediate in the first step followed by transfer of the amino acid to tRNA . The first partial reaction, measured by the ATP-32PPi exchange or AMP synthesis in the presence of ATP and arginine, requires tRNA, which is consistent with the model in which tRNAArg is an activator of the arginyladenylate synthesis.

Invest Urol, 1980 Jan, 17(4), 310 - 3
Immunization by irradiated whole cells or cell extracts against an experimental bladder tumor; Morales A et al.; A tissue culture cell line has been developed from the MBT-2, a carcinogen induced bladder tumor of C3H/HeN mice . The culture-adapted cells retained the capacity to induce progressive tumors in syngeneic mice . Amputation-challenge experiments with live cells showed that MBT-2 induces transplantation immunity . Immunization with irradiated MBT-2 cells or hypotonic membrane preparations from this tumor protected the animals against challenge with viable MBT-2 cells . Intraperitoneal administration of bacille Calmette Guerin failed to protect against tumor development and may have adversely affected the immunoprotection yielded by tumor extracts.

Dermatologica, 1980, 160(2), 135 - 41
Effects of intravenous and intracutaneous bacillus Calmette-Guérin application on the drug-metabolizing system of the liver; Ruzicka T et al.; Both single intravenous and repeated intracutaneous injections of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) resulted in alteration of the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes of the rat liver . The cytochrome P-450 content was not significantly altered; its activity (ethoxycoumarin O-dealkylation) was inhibited in both the intravenous and intracutaneous group . The arylhydrocarbon-hydroxylase and aminopyrine-demethylase activities were also diminished; decrease of cytochrome-c-reductase activity was noted after intravenous application only . Comparison of the results for the intravenous and intracutaneous application routes respectively showed qualitative and quantitative differences . The inhibitory effects of BCG treatment on the drug-metabolizing enzymes of the rat liver can only partly be explained by changes in the cytochrome P-450 system . These findings might lead to reconsideration of dosage of drugs in cancer (malignant melanoma) patients treated by combined chemoimmunotherapy.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Jan 1, 78(1), 163 - 72
Binding of n-alkyl beta-D-xylopyranosides and n-alkyl 1-thio-beta-D-xylopyranosides to beta-D-xylosidase from Bacillus pumilus PRL B12; Kersters-Hilderson H et al.; The binding of D-xylose and of a series of n-alkyl beta-D-xylopyranosides and their 1-thio analogues to beta-D-xylosidase from B . pumilus PRL B12 has been investigated . The binding constants and thermodynamic equilibrium parameters delta H0 and delta S0 have been determined . The enzyme does not distinguish between alpha- and beta-D-xylopyranose . Although the enthalpy of binding of D-xylose is very favourable, the overall free-energy is small, due to a large decrease in entropy . Furthermore, all of the evidence available suggests that the aglycon group is bound by unspecific, hydrophobic forces . However, simple correlations between the binding parameters and the relative hydrophobicity of the compounds could not be found . Unexpectedly, no parallelism between binding of n-alkyl beta-D-xylopyranosides and the corresponding 1-thio derivatives was found.

J Exp Med, 1980 Jan 1, 151(1), 101 - 14
Increased production of superoxide anion by macrophages exposed in vitro to muramyl dipeptide or lipopolysaccharide; Pabst MJ et al.; After in vitro exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or muramyl dipeptide (MDP), cultured resident mouse peritoneal macrophages were primed to display enhanced generation of superoxide anion (O2-) in response to stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or opsonized zymosan . Priming with LPS (1 microgram/ml) produced a sevenfold enhancement of PMA-stimulated O2- generation; priming was detected within 30 min and persisted for at least 4 d . Exposure to MDP (1 muM) primed the macrophages to double their O2- release; the response was first observed after 4 h and persisted for at least 3 d . The priming response was not observed with stereoisomers of MDP, which are inactive as adjuvants . LPS and MDP appeared to work directly on the macrophages rather than indirectly by interacting with adherent lymphocytes: (a) Addition of nonadherent cell populations that contained lymphocytes had no effect on the response . (b) The response was normal with cells from nude mice, which lack mature T lymphocytes . (c) Macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice, whose B lymphocytes fail to respond to LPS, were weak in their response to priming LPS; the addition of normal (C3Heb/FeJ) nonadherent cells had no effect on this weak response . (d) The macrophage-like cell line J774.1 also showed enhanced O2--generating capacity after a 4-h exposure to LPS or MDP . The O2--generating capacity of macrophages primed with LPS in vitro was equivalent to that previously observed with cells elicited in vivo by injection of LPS or activated by infection with Bacille Calmette-Guerin . The data suggest that previous exposure to bacterial products could prime macrophages to respond with increased production of toxic oxygen metabolites on contact with invading microorganisms or tumor cells.

Parassitologia, 1980 Jan-Aug, 22(1-2), 213 - 21
{Immediate larvicidal activity and residual action of the endotoxin of the serotype H-14 of Bacillus thuringiensis in 2 mosquito biotopes on the French Mediterranean coast}; Sinegre G et al.; The primary powder R.153.78 of the serotype H.14 of B . thuringiensis has been evaluated in small field plots against larvae of Ae . detritus and Cx . pipiens. . The minimal concentration of the primary powder inducing a complete mortality was 0.1 mg/1 against Ae . detritus and 0,4 mg/1 against Cx . pipiens, corresponding at dosages of respectively about 310-420 and 1240-1680 International Toxic Units per litre . The residual larvicide effectiveness was close to nil in spite of the chemical stability of the delta endotoxin in neutral and acid waters . Experimental formulations derived from this primary powder were less effective than, or at the best as effective as, the primary powder itself . The above findings confirm that the serotype H.14 of B . thuringiensis could constitute the basis of very effective new larvicides and suggest that formulation research has a major role to play to maximize the potential of this promising biological control agent.

J Fr Ophtalmol, 1980, 3(8-9), 469 - 72
{Contribution to investigation of leprosy ocular disease in madagascar (author's transl)}; Andriantsoa-Rasoavelonoro V et al.; 250 leprous from National Leprosery of Manankavaly (distant of 30 km from Tananarive) were examined . Among them, 31 patients present ocular disease which occur with that of leper isn't accurately known . Conjuntival reactions as prickling, watering of the eyes with inability to assimilate wind light constitute initial symptoms . Cataract is exceptional (only one case); but we point out; first the superiority of "uveal tractus" disease with 32% of rate; then, the frequency of deep of interstitial keratitis (35%) . These lesions are and seem to evolute freely in spite of Iper therapeutic and its stabilisation . So cured of leprosy patients two sided may come back because of the increasing of their ocular sickness . Due to lesion of anterior segment, eye fundus is difficult to analyse, but nervous disease may exist on optical papilla, considering the disproportion between the degrees of uveitis and sight alteration . Researching hansen Bacillus and other germs responsible of eye lesions, we sampled secretions of conjonctiva . We haven't anatome-pathological results because of failure of enucleated eye-ball . Leprosy ocular disease invariably end in blindness by eye-ball atrophy.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1980, 131(7), 427 - 30
{Reappearance of soft chancre: comments on the current epidemic in Paris (author's transl)}; Civatte J et al.; A total of 678 cases of soft chancre were treated in one hospital between 1973 and 1979 . The majority of the patients were males (97 p . cent), and most of them came originally from Maghreb or Black Africa . Contamination was from prostitution (61 p . cent) or chance acquaintances (29 p . cent) . The genital ulceration was often clinically atypical, frequently syphiloid; pain was present in only 59 p . cent of cases, and adenopathy, noted in 63 p . cent of patients, had the appearance of an inflammatory bubo in only 23 p . cent . The present high frequency of soft chancres, and their misleading clinical characteristics, makes it sometimes difficult to establish the clinical differential diagnosis from syphilitic chancre, but confirmation of the latter is supplied by direct examination and culture to search for Ducreys bacillus, this being indispensable for establishing the correct diagnosis . Treatment with sulfamethoxazole trimethopin or streptomycin prevents complications and cures the affection in one or two weeks.

Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980, 248(3), 402 - 13
{The application of the crossed immunoelectrophoresis to strains of the genus bacillus may be useful for diagnostic and taxonomic purposes (author's transl)}; Mitze H et al.; The two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis was used in an attempt to differentiate between the species of the genus Bacillus and reveal their taxonomic relationship . Three strains each of the species B . subtilis, B . licheniformis, B . cereus and one strain each of the species B . laterosporus and B . sphaericus were selected . The substrate investigated was ultrasonic extract . The evaluation of the immunoelectropherogrames was based on the numbers of the precipitates as well as on the arrangement and shape of the precipitation lines . In most cases it was possible to identify the strains belonging to a certain species because of the fact, that in the homologeous system considerable more precipitates occurred than in heterologeous systems and in addition the optical pattern of the precipitation showed up with species-specific characteristics . The extent of the divergence between the homologic and a given heterologic pattern mirrored frequently the degree of affinity of the strain involved.

Am J Med, 1980 Jan, 68(1), 154 - 6
Fulminant gram-negative bacillemia (DF-2) following a dog bite in an asplenic woman; Findling JW et al.; In a 56 year old woman, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, symmetrical peripheral gangrene and the adult respiratory distress syndrome developed following a dog bite . She suffered from chronic alcoholism and was asplenic . The newly described gram-negative bacillus (DF-2) was isolated from the initial blood cultures on the eighth hospital day when she was recovering from the illness . Penicillin G, clindamycin, or both (administered intravenously in large doses), and therapy directed toward the severe complications appeared responsible for her successful outcome.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1980, 2(4), 333 - 9
Effect of chemotherapeutic agents on natural and BCG-stimulated macrophage cytotoxicity in mice; Mantovani A et al.; Spontaneous or Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG)-stimulated macrophage cytotoxicity was investigated in the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c x DBA/2 treated with various chemotherapeutic agents . The SV40-transformed mKSA TU5 (TU5) line and the mFS6 sarcoma were used as targets . Cytolytic activity of macrophages from individual mice (4-6 per experimental group) was measured as release of {3H methyl}thymidine from prelabelled target cells . Treatment with azathioprine (a single injection 100-400 mg/kg or 5 daily doses of 10-80 mg/kg s.c.) and dimethyltriazenoimidazole carboxamide (a single injection of 45-180 mg/kg or 5 daily doses of 3-30 mg/kg i.v.) resulted in marked dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous macrophage cytotoxicity against TU5 tumor cells 2 days later . By 7 days after drug treatment spontaneous cytotoxicity of macrophages had returned to normal levels . In contrast adriamycin (a single dose of 5-10 mg/kg or 5 daily doses of 0.6-2.5 mg/kg i.v.) and cyclophosphamide (a single dose of 50-200 mg/kg or 5 daily doses of 6-25 mg/kg i.v.) did not affect spontaneous cytolytic activity of murine macrophages . BCG-stimulated macrophage cytotoxicity was investigated using mFS6 target cells which were relatively resistant to the spontaneous levels of macrophage-mediated cytolysis; the same pattern of effects was observed, azathioprine and dimethyltriazenoimidazole carboxamide inhibiting cytolytic activity levels in contrast to adriamycin and cyclophosphamide . These results are discussed in terms of the known effects of these agents on other functions of mononuclear phagocytes and on other immune reactivities.

Am J Med Sci, 1980 Jan-Feb, 279(1), 61 - 5
Emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance during the therapy of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis; Barriere SL et al.; A patient is described in whom multiple antibiotic resistance developed during the course of therapy of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis . Sequential resistance developed to chloramphenicol, gentamicin and eventually amikacin . As previously reported, the use of the chloramphenicol alone in the therapy of gram-negative bacillary meningitis can result in rapid emergence of resistance and treatment failure . In this patient, the subsequent emergence of gentamicin and amikacin resistance may have been related to the omission of intrathecal aminoglycoside . A short review of the literature is presented and recommendations are made for the therapy of gram-negative bacillary meningitis.

Lab Anim, 1980 Jan, 14(1), 61 - 3
Studies on Tyzzer's disease: comparison between Bacillus piliformis strains from mouse, rat and rabbit; Fries AS; The pathogenicity of Bacillus piliformis strains isolated from mouse, rat and rabbit, compared by inoculation into mice, appeared to be identical . The antibody titre obtained for the individual sera from spontaneously infected mice, rats, rabbits, dogs and humans was the same whether the antigen employed was from organisms isolated from mouse, rat or rabbit.

J Immunol, 1980 Jan, 124(1), 286 - 92
Effector mechanisms of cytolytically activated macrophages . I . Secretion of neutral proteases and effect of protease inhibitors; Adams DO; Peritoneal macrophages from C56BL/6J mice, when activated by bacillus Calmette-Guerin, lysed syngeneic MCA-I sarcoma targets but not syngeneic embryo fibroblasts . Inflammatory macrophages elicited by concanavalin A (Con A) did not appreciably lyse either target . The activated macrophages secreted more neutral proteases into the extracellular compartment, both absolutely and relative to intracellular content, than did the Con A inflammatory macrophages . Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) (750 KIU/ml) and diisopropylfluorophosphate (2 x 10(-3) M) inhibited cytolysis of neoplastic targets by the activated macrophages . The BPTI had to be present during the 48-hr macrophage-tumor cell interaction to reduce cytolysis; pretreatment of either the macrophages or the targets by the BPTI did not reduce cytolysis . The inhibitors, at the concentrations found to inhibit cytolysis, were not toxic to the macrophages as judged by morphology, by the ability of the macrophages to incorporate leucine into protein, and by the potential for cytolytic activation of the macrophages in vitro . It is suggested that neutral serine protease(s) secreted by activated macrophages participate in the cytolytic destruction of neoplastic cells.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1980, 28(1), 19 - 26
Regulatory role of humoral factors released by macrophages in rat lymphocyte reactivity in vitro . I . Influence of humoral factors released by sensitized peritoneal macrophages on normal lymphocyte reactivity; Brajczewska-Fischer W et al.; Supernatants harvested from cultures of peritoneal macrophages, derived from rats sensitized to bacillary antigens exhibited an intense stimulating effect on syngeneic normal lymph node lymphocytes . Lymphocytes stimulated in this manner showed non-specific cytotoxic activity.

Acta Neuropathol (Berl), 1980, 50(2), 97 - 102
The cerebral ventricles of the dog . I . Ultrastructural features of supraependymal cells during the inflammatory response; Merchant RE et al.; The present investigation examined the ependymal linings of the cerebral ventricles of the dog following a single intracisternal injection of the viable antigen, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) . One or 3 days following the injection of BCG, animals were perfused with buffered aldehydes . Portions of the linings of the lateral, third and fourth cerebral ventricles were removed and routinely prepared for scanning and transmission electron microscopy . Following BCG injection, a tremendous increase in the number of supraependymal cells is apparent throughout the entire cerebral ventricular system . Especially high concentrations of cells were observed on the ependyma overlying the following regions; the caudate nucleus, in the lateral ventricles; the interthalamic adhesion, lateral walls and floor of the third ventricle; lateral margin of the floor, lateral apertures and median sulcus of the fourth ventricle . The supraependymal cell population of infected animals was composed of macrophages, B lymphocytes, neutrophils, and lymphoblasts . Macrophages were found in highest concentration within these supraependymal cell populations . Furthermore, large aggregates of macrophages were observed on the ependyma overlying the interthalamic adhesion of the third ventricle and median sulcus of the fourth ventricle . It was suggested that these clusters may represent the early development of epithelioid granulomas.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1980, 62(1), 81 - 5
Reduction of a subset of T cells bearing Fc receptors for IgG in lepromatous leprosy; Singh S et al.; Enumeration of a subpopulation of T cells with receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (T gamma) in the peripheral blood of 14 normal subjects and 43 patients with leprosy was undertaken . Tuberculoid leprosy patients showed normal levels of T gamma cells . In contrast, bacillary positive patients with lepromatous leprosy revealed a significant reduction of circulating T gamma cells (p less than 0.001).

Microbios, 1980, 29(116), 105 - 8
Heat activation of Bacillus spores by the use of microwave irradiation; Chipley JR et al.; A study was conducted in which microwave irradiation and conventional waterbath treatment were compared as to their efficiency for heat-activating Bacillus spores . Spore suspensions were prepared from B . brevis, B . cereus, B . licheniformis, a lysogenic strain of B . megaterium (NRRL-B-3695), two strains of B . stearothermophilus, and B.Subtilis . Suspensions were either irradiated for 30 sec in a microwave oven, or conventionally heat-treated in the waterbath for 60 min at 60 degrees C, the serially diluted and plated onto nutrient agar . Colonies of each species from each treatment were isolated, and cultures were inoculated into several biochemical media . Spore suspensions heat-activated by microwave irradiation resulted in plate counts that were from 3% to 24% greater than from suspension heat-activated by conventional mean (60 degrees C for 60 min) . There were no observed alterations in biochemical activities in any of the representative colonies from either of the two treatments . No induction of bacteriophage from lysogenic B . megaterium NRRL-B-3695 was observed in colonies from either of the two treatments . Microwave irradiation appears to be more efficient, less time-consuming, and at least as effective as heat activation by conventional waterbath treatment for Bacillus spores.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1980, 135(8), 696 - 703
{beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase in sporeforming microorganisms . III . Substrate specificity and action patterns of some Bacillus-beta-glucan-hydrolases (author's transl)}; Borriss R et al.; Comparative investigations were carried out concerning substrate specificity and action patterns of seven Bacillus-endo-beta-glucanases produced by the species, B . subtilis, B . macerans, B . amyloliquefaciens, B . circulans, B . laterosporus, B . pumilus and B . polymyxa . All enzymes with the exception of beta-glucanase from B . macerans hydrolyze lichenan and barley-beta-glucan only and were without action on laminaran and CM-cellulose . It was suggested that hydrolysis products of beta-glucanase produced by B . macerans were markedly different from the products of the other enzymes . We conclude that B . macerans enzyme, which cleaves laminaran and beta-1,3-1,4-glucans, represents "laminarinase" type (1-3-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, E.C . 3.2.1.6) . On the other hand the glucanases produced by the other Bacillus strains belong to "licheninases" 1-3,1-4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolases, E.C . 3.2.1.73).

Acta Chem Scand B, 1980, 34(5), 375 - 7
A simple purification scheme yielding crystalline phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus; Myrnes BJ et al.; A very simple and rather unusual purification scheme for phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus has been worked out . Air is bubbled vigorously through the bacterial culture and the foam collected . Liquified foam is centrifuged, dialyzed and heated at 74 degrees C for 5 min . After centrifugation, affinity chromatography is carried out on lipoprotein-Sepharose . The enzyme is then thermally denatured by exposure to 85 degrees C for 5 min and the precipitated material well washed and then renatured from solution in 4 M guanidinium chloride . The final enzyme preparations are electrophoretically homogeneous and easy to crystallize . The recovery of activity exceeds 80%.

Biochimie, 1980, 62(10), 727 - 32
{Regulation of the biosynthesis of branched aminoacyl tRNA synthetases in Bacillus cereus T.}; Raimond J; The regulation of the biosynthesis of isoleucyl-, valyl-, and leucyl-tRNA synthetases was studied with an isoleucine-valine requiring mutant of Bacillus cereus T . It was shown that valyl-tRNA synthetase regulation is under multivalent control involving both valine and isoleucine . The isoleucyl- and leucyl-tRNA synthetases are repressed by the respective cognate amino acid . When two amino acids were removed from the culture medium, derepression of the two corresponding aminoacyl tRNA synthetases was expected, but only one appears . With a threonine deaminase constitutive mutant, it was demonstrated that the derepression mecanism of the synthetase was correlated with the intracellular level of the ilv A gene product . These results are in good agreement with the model proposed by several authors . In this model, threonine deaminase, or some form of this enzyme, is involved in a positive control of the regulation of the branched-chain aminoacyltransfer ribonucleic acid synthetases.

Microbios, 1980, 27(109 110), 151 - 61
Isolation and partial characterization of a glucose-binding protein from Bacillus megaterium; Varga FJ et al.; Attempts were made to use the osmotic shock procedure established for Gram-negative micro-organisms on a Gram-positive micro-organisms, Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 . The procedure did not appear to shock the cells osmotically . The procedure, in fact, appeared to enhance binding of both glucose and fructose by the organism . The binding of glucose was greater by cells, whether grown on fructose or glucose, than it was for fructose . A procedure was developed for removing and isolating a protein capable of binding glucose . This involved solubilizing the cytoplasmic membrane of the organism with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100, and then isolating it by gel filtration on a Bio-Gel A 1.5 column with 0.05 M pyrophosphate containing 1% (v/v) Triton X-100 as the eluting buffer . This is the first isolation of such a protein in a Gram-positive organism . Isolated protein was demonstrated to have a specificity only for glucose . The protein did not bind to either the monosaccharides fructose and galactose, or the disaccharide sucrose . This was in comparison to whole cells which demonstrated ability to take up fructose . The protein was estimated to have a molecular weight between 24,000 and 30,000 daltons by gel filtration techniques.

Mol Gen Genet, 1980, 180(1), 11 - 5
Functional homology between E . coli ribosomal protein L11 and B . megaterium protein BM-L11; Stark MJ et al.; Ribosomes from the thiostrepton-resistant mutant MJ1 of Bacillus megaterium completely lack a protein designated BM-L11 . When assayed in vitro, such ribosomes show an impaired ability to hydrolyse GTP in the presence of the elongation factor EF-G and are unable to support the synthesis of (p)ppGpp in response to the stringent factor . Restoration of both these activities can be achieved by re-addition of either protein BM-L11 or its serological homologue from Escherichia coli, protein L11, implying that these two proteins are related functionally as well as immunologically.

Microbiol Immunol, 1980, 24(6), 495 - 506
Location of elements in ashed spores of Bacillus megaterium; Nishihara T et al.; The structure of the skeleton of spores of Bacillus megaterium was examined after ashing in a plasma asher and the elemental composition of the ashed whole spores was determined with an analytical electron microscope . All spores were ashed in situ although they shrank by about 15% . Even P and S, in addition to metals, were recovered well from ashed samples . Ash was rich in the core and the coat, and poor in the cortex . Ca, P, S, and Mg were detected in the core and coat of the spore of B . megaterium QM B1551 . Ca in the core was markedly decreased by germination or autoclaving . In the spore of B . megaterium ATCC 19213, almost all of the ash was detected in the core and its elemental composition was similar to that of the core of the strain QM B1551 spore . These reuslts suggest strongly that the core is the site of Ca associated with dipicolinic acid.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1980, 25(3), 185 - 90
Turnover of proteins in asporogenic Bacillus megaterium . Evidence for a gradual decrease of the turnover rate; Vachova-Philippova L et al.; The rate of protein turnover in asporogenic Bacillus megaterium decreases continuously during incubation in a sporulation medium . The capability of equilibration of external amino acids with amino acids in the metabolic pool of non-growing cells was retained for at least 5 h . Leucine, while repressing the synthesis of the exocellular protease, does not significantly influence the course of protein degradation in vivo . Transfer of non-growing cells after 4 h to a fresh sporulation medium does not influence the rate of protein degradation . The gradual decrease of the rate of protein turnover in non-growing cells of the asporogenic variant is thus not an artifact caused by a decreased uptake of amino acids by cells or by conditions under which the protein turnover is determined.

Microbiol Immunol, 1980, 24(4), 291 - 8
Delayed germination of Bacillus cereus T spores after treatment with trichloroacetic acid and their reactivation by heating; Shibata H et al.; Treatment of Bacillus cereus T spores with trichloroacetic acid delayed their germination . The extent of retardation depended on the concentration of trichloroacetic acid, and the temperature, pH and duration of treatment . The effect was completely reversed by subsequent heating, and this restoration of germination also depended on the temperature and duration of heat treatment . Fourteen compounds were examined for their ability to suppress germination of spores . The halogenated fatty acids tested, such as trifluoro-, tribromo-, and dichloroacetic acid, caused suppression of germination, whereas other compounds, i.e., free fatty acids and amino acids, did not . It is concluded that the charge distribution of fatty acid molecules is important for their effect in suppressing germination of spores.

Microbiol Immunol, 1980, 24(2), 105 - 12
Studies on the bacterial spore coat . (7) Properties of alkali-soluble components from spore coat of Bacillus megaterium; Nishihara T et al.; Properties of alkali-soluble components from the spore coat of Bacillus megaterium were examined by physicochemical methods . They were composed of acidic polypeptides of various molecular weights with small amounts of phosphorus and sugar . They were allowed to dissociate to unit components by incubation with SDS . The major component was partially purified by gel filtration, and shown to have a mean molecular weight of about 11,000.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Jan, 116(1), 173 - 85
A Bacillus cereus mutant defective in spore coat deposition; Stelma GN Jr et al.; Spores of Bacillus cereus mutants selected for slow response to germinants and sensitivity to lysozyme were found to be deficient in coat, but were heat-resistant and contained the same quantity of dipicolinic acid as the wild-type . While the average coat protein content of the spores was 25% of the wild-type, many spores were coatless with large whorls of coat deposited in the cytoplasm . These coat deposits were isolated in Renografin gradients and found to cross-react immunologically with wild-type coat . The proteins extractable from these deposits were virtually identical to those extracted from wild-type spores . The morphology of the coat deposits was very similar to coats of wild-type spores, but with a deficiency of the outermost cross-patched layer . The sites of formation and deposition were altered . Since the mutant reverted to a phenotype identical to the parental strain with a frequency consistent with an initial point mutation, apparently a single defect resulted in alteration of the deposition of the spore coats on to the outer forespore membrane . Despite this defect, mutant cells were able to synthesize and process spore coat precursors into an array of morphological layers very similar to the wild-type . There are apparently distinct morphogenetic pathways for the formation of the spore body and coat layers.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Jan, 141(1), 137 - 43
Bacillus cereus autolytic endoglucosaminidase active on cell wall peptidoglycan with N-unsubstituted glucosamine residues; Kawagishi S et al.; An autolytic glycosidase from a lysozyme-resistant strain of Bacillus cereus capable of cleaving the glycosidic linkages of N-unsubstituted glucosamine in the cell wall peptidoglycan was studied . This glycosidase activity, together with N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase activity, was found in an autolytic enzyme preparation obtained from the 20,000 x g precipitate fraction by means of autolysis followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation . The major saccharide fragments resulting from digestion of the untreated, non-N-acetylated, cell wall peptidoglycan of B . cereus with the autolytic enzyme preparation were identified as N-acetylmuramyl-glucosamine and its dimer . The peptidoglycan N-acetylated with acetic anhydride could also be digested with the same enzyme preparation, giving N-acetylmuramyl-N-acetylglucosamine and its dimer as the major saccharide fragments.

Acta Biol, 1980, 31(1-3), 33 - 41
Regulation of T lymphocyte differentiation and proliferation by thymus hormones, Ca2+ and chalone-T; Blazsek I; The regulatory effect on T lymphocyte proliferation of the differentiator thymosin hormone family (thymosin fr . 5, A . L . Goldstein), Ca2+, and purified inhibitory protein fractions prepared from calf thymus was investigated in C57Bl/6 mice . 1.2 mM Ca2+ concentration was the most favourable for murine thymocyte growth in culture . Net protein synthesis was transitorily inhibited by Cu2+ concentrations higher than 2 mM . This inhibition was followed by a marked inhibition of DNA synthesis 2 hrs later . The effect of thymosin fr . 5 was slight, of short duration, and oscillatory in nature; in contrast, chalone-T preparations inhibited thymocyte DNA synthesis permanently up to 12 hrs of cultivation . When spleen cells taken from mice treated with the immunoadjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) were exposed to chalone-T in culture, then stimulated with PHA, a reduced proliferative response was measured in chalone-T pretreated cultures compared to controls or spleen cells from normal non-BCG-activated mice . This result had led us to suggest that chalone-T has a dual effect on thymocytes, viz . it inhibits cell cycle progression and induces the phenotypic conversion of suppressor T lymphocytes . The multifactorial concept of T lymphocyte production is discussed.

Can J Microbiol, 1980 Jan, 26(1), 1 - 6
Cold-sensitive mutant with defective growth at 5 degrees C from a psychrotrophic bacterium; Murray WD et al.; A cold-sensitive (CS) mutant of the psychrotroph, Bacillus psychrophilus, was obtained by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenization and penicillin counterselection . In the presence of citrate, the wild-type grew well at both 5 and 20 degrees C whereas the CS mutant grew well at 20 degrees C (the permissive temperature) but, at 5 degrees C (the restrictive temperature), grew at a reduced rate for two to three generations followed by a complete plateau in growth . Upon return of the CS mutant to 20 degrees C, after a delay of about 40 h, growth resumed at the appropriate rate . The CS mutant exhibited growth rates similar to parental rates on a wide variety of carbon sources at 5 degrees C, but when Krebs cycle intermediates were used as substrates and in the presence of an equimolar amount of citrate, the typical cold-sensitive growth pattern occurred . Comparison of oxidative phosphorylation in the parent and CS mutant indicated that no phosphorylation occurred at 5 degrees C in the CS mutant during the plateau in growth . Examination of the effect of temperature on ATPase activity showed that at 5 degrees C the specific activity of ATPase isolated from the CS mutant grows at 5 degrees C was 15-fold less than the ATPases isolated from wild-type cells grown at either 5 or 20 degrees C and 10.5-fold lower than ATPase from CS mutant cells grown at 20 degrees C . The large reduction in CS mutant ATPase activity at 5 degrees C appears to be at least partly due to an effect on synthesis since citrate did not inhibit preformed ATPase.

Cancer Res, 1980 Jan, 40(1), 80 - 5
Relationship of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-induced suppressor cells to hematopoietic precursor cells; Bennett JA et al.; Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) stimulated the proliferation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells (CFU) and activated suppressor cells that inhibit the immunization of T-lymphocytes in vitro . Increases in both CFU concentration and suppressor cell activity were moderate in the bone marrow and marked in the spleen of mice given BCG i.v . In the bone marrow, these increases were apparent 2 days after treatment with BCG, while in the spleen they did not occur until 7 days after BCG . A BCG strain that produced no increases in CFU concentration also produced no activation in suppressor cell activity . Fractionation of spleen cells through nylon wool and density gradients revealed that cell populations enriched in CFU were also enriched in suppressor cell activity . The paralelism in the response to CFU and suppressor cells to BCG indicates that there is a close relationship between these two cell populations.

Mol Gen Genet, 1980, 180(2), 323 - 9
Megacinogenic plasmid from Bacillus megaterium 216; Rostas K et al.; Ability to produce megacin A, a bacteriocin of B . megaterium, was transferred from the strain B . megaterium 216 into auxotrophic derivatives of the strain B . megaterium KM via protoplast fusion and polyethylene-glycol-induced protoplast transformation by plasmid DNA, respectively . A 30.9 megadalton plasmid was detected in cells with MegA phenotype, and the loss of this phenotype was accompanied in each case with the elimination of that plasmid . The megacinogenic plasmid pBM309 has a single site for both BamHI and XhoI . It is cleaved by the endonucleases SalI, BglII, PstI, PvuII, and EcoRI into 3, 3, 4, 4, and 9 fragments, respectively . The physical map of this plasmid is presented.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Pneumoftiziol, 1980 Jan-Mar, 29(1), 15 - 24
{Possibilities of evaluation of the risk of tubercular infection in children and adolescents}; Moisescu V et al.; Two indicators are of primary importance in the assessing the tuberculous endemia in a determined area: the prevalence of bacilliferic sources, especially of those that have been confirmed by bacteriological examinations (bacterioscopy), and the annual incidence of the tuberculous infection (the real infection risk) . Possibilities are described, and examples provided, for approximation of the incidence of the tuberculous infection through: a) conversion index; b) the ratio between the prevalence of the tuberculous infection and the median tested age; c) the Styble-Meijer-Sutherland logarithmic ecuation; d) the nomogram variant with tables B and C established by Styblo-Meijer-Sutherland; e) the R . Narain graphic methods . For those countries in which BCG vaccination is practiced on an extensive scale the authors suggest the incidence risk indice could also be calculated, for supra-infection, which can be correlated and completed by the incidence (risk) of infection.

Biochem J, 1980 Jan 1, 185(1), 177 - 85
Inhibition of beta-lactamase of Bacillus licheniformis 749/C by compound PS-5, a new beta-lactam antibiotic; Fukagawa Y et al.; By use of a new computer-assisted u.v.-spectrophotometric assay method, the kinetic parameters of the reaction catalysed by Bacillus licheniformis 749/C beta-lactamase were re-examined and the mode of inhibition of the enzyme by compound PS-5, a novel beta-lactam antibiotic, was studied with benzylpenicillin as substrate . (1) The fundamental assay conditions for the determination of Km and V were examined in detail with benzylpenicillin as substrate . In 0.1 M-sodium/potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.8, at 30 degrees C, initial substrate concentrations of benzylpenicillin above 0.7 mM were very likely to lead to substrate inhibition . The Km value of the enzyme for benzylpenicillin at initial concentrations from 1.96 to 0.07 mM was calculated to be 97-108 microM . (2) The Km values of the enzyme for 6-aminopenicillanic acid, ampicillin and cephaloridine were found to be 25, 154-161 and 144-161 microM respectively . (3) Compound PS-5 was virtually unattacked by Bacillus licheniformis 749/C beta-lactamase . (4) The activity of the enzyme was diminished by compound PS-5, to extents depending on the duration of incubation and the concentration of the inhibitor . The rate of inactivation of the enzyme by compound PS-5 followed first-order kinetics . (5) In an Appendix, a new computer-assisted u.v.-spectrophotometric enzyme assay method, in which a single reaction progress curve of time-absorbance was analysed by the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation, was devised for the accurate and precise determination of the kinetic constants of beta-lactamase . For conversion of absorbance readings into molar substrate concentrations, the initial or final absorbance reading that was independent of the reaction time was used as the basis of calculation . In calculation of Km and V three systematic methods of data combination were employed for finer analysis of the reaction progress curve . A list of the computer program named YF6TAIM is obtainable from the author on request or as Supplementary Publication SUP 50100 (12 pages) from the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., on the terms indicated in Biochem . J . (1978) 169, 5.

Cell Tissue Res, 1980, 205(2), 245 - 51
Bacilliform inclusions in cells of the proximal pars distalis in the pituitary of four species of Tilapia (Teleostei); Rahamim E et al.; Thin sections and replicas of freeze-etched pituitaries from six species of the teleostean family of Cichlidae were studied by electron microscopy . Four species belonging to the genus Tilapia exhibit rod-like structures, i.e., "bacilliform inclusions" (BI), about 1-2 micrometer in length in cells of the proximal pars distalis . The BI are found either isolated or fused in small groups . They are enclosed in an envelope similar to that of secretory granules . Both the BI and the secretory granules give a positive PAS-reaction.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1980, 29(4), 389 - 96
Effect of high zinc concentrations on the growth of Stichococcus bacillaris and Chlorella vulgaris; Skowronski T et al.; The effect of concentrations of zinc from 50 to 400 mg/l on the growth of Stichococcus bacillaris and Chlorella vulgaris under laboratory conditions was examined . The growth of both species was inhibited in proportion to the concentration of the metal in the medium . S . bacillaris was more tolerant to high zinc concentrations than C . vulgaris . Microscopical examination of cells growing in medium with zinc did not reveal any significant changes compared to the control cultures.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1980, 46(4), 391 - 8
The production of alpha-amylase in batch and chemostat culture by Bacillus stearothermophilus; Davis PE et al.; The production of alpha-amylase (alpha-1,4-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.1) by a strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus isolated from leaf litter was investigated in a tryptone-maltose medium at 55 degrees C in batch and chemostat culture . Amylase production was growth-limited and restricted to the exponential phase in batch culture . The enzyme yield was reduced by 40% when the culture pH was maintained at pH 7.2 . Amylase production in chemostat culture was influenced by the growth rate throughout the dilution rate range used.

Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Jan-Feb, 49(1), 35 - 8
{Dynamics of nucleic acid and protein content in Bacillus thuringiensis cells}; Bal'man RA et al.; The content of DNA, RNA and protein was assayed in Bacillus thuringiensis var . insectus Guk at different growth stages and under different cultivation conditions . The content of RNA and protein was found to be maximal in the cells at the end of the lag phase and at the beginning of the exponential phase; then, this content decreased with aging of the culture . The content of DNA in the strain depended on the conditions of cultivation, and reached amounts corresponding to 10-13 chromosomes when the culture was grown in a richer nutrient medium (L-broth).

J Biol Chem, 1979 Dec 10, 254(23), 11938 - 42
Covalent structure of protein A . A low molecular weight protein degraded during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores; Setlow P et al.; The complete covalent structure of Protein A, a protein degraded during bacterial spore germination, has been determined . The intact protein was cleaved with a highly specific spore protease into two peptides, residues 1 to 21 and 22 to 61 . The larger peptide was further cleaved into two fragments with either cyanogen bromide or by trypsin cleavage following arginine modification with cyclohexanedione . The peptides derived from cyanogen bromide fragmentation encompassed residues 22 to 53 and 54 to 61 while trypsin hydrolysis yielded overlapping fragments comprising residues 22 to 48 and 49 to 61 . Automated sequenator analysis together with carboxypeptidase Y digestion of the intact protein and the peptide fragments provided data from which the following unique amino acid sequence was deduced . NH2-Ala-Asn-Thr-Asn-Lys-Leu-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly10-Ser-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ile-Asp-Gln-Met-Lys-Tyr20-Glu-Ile-Ala-Ser-Glu-Phe-Gly-Val-Asn-Leu30-Gly-Pro-Glu-Ala-Thr-Ala-Arg-Ala-Asn-Gly40-Ser-Val-Gly-Gly-Glu-Ile-Thr-Lys-Arg-Leu50-Val-Gln-Met-Ala-Glu-Gln-Gln-Leu-Gly-Gly60-Lys-COOH.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Dec 10, 254(23), 11791 - 3
Anomeric configuration of N-acetylglucosaminyl phosphorylundecaprenols formed in Bacillus cereus Membranes; Murazumi N et al.; The structural difference was studied between two N-acetylglucosaminyl phosphorylundecaprenols formed by incubation of Bacillus cereus membranes with UDP-N-acetylglucosamine . On the treatment with 50% phenol, the major one of these glycolipids (Lipid 1) yielded a saccharide phosphate, while the other (Lipid 2) yielded N-acetylglucosamine along with a saccharide phosphate . The saccharide phosphates from Lipids 1 and 2 were identified as alpha-N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate and its beta-anomer, respectively, based on their susceptibility to acid, alpha- and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases, and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase . Thus, it seems most probable that Lipids 1 and 2 were alpha- and beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl phosphorylundecaprenols, respectively.

Arch Intern Med, 1979 Dec, 139(12), 1375 - 7
Tuberculosis . A chemotherapeutic triumph but a persistent socioeconomic problem; Leff A et al.; There is evidence that man has suffered from tuberculosis for more than 5,000 years, and through crowded living conditions, debilitation, and malnutrition, tuberculosis became epidemic in Western civilization and was a major cause of mortality . Identification of the tubercle bacillus as the causative agent in 1882 firmly established the infectious nature of the disease and the development of sanatoriums soon followed . Before the advent of effective chemotherapeutic agents, treatment involved rest, diet, and various surgical procedures, which were of little or no benefit to the patient . The discovery of dihydrostreptomycin, aminosalicylic acid, and isoniazid in the late 1940s and early 1950s meant that tuberculosis was now entirely curable in virtually all patients . Despite these effective chemotherapeutic and preventive agents, tuberculosis has receded to socioeconomically disadvantaged urban and rural areas, where the incidence parallels that of developing countries . Conquest of the disease will require improved health care delivery to the indigent and dispossessed.

Urology, 1979 Dec, 14(6), 561 - 5
Adjuvant immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin in prostatic cancer; Guinan P et al.; Ninety-two patients with histologically proved prostatic cancer were studied . Forty-six patients were treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) adjuvant immunotherapy, and 46 other patients, matched for stage and hormone therapy, served as controls . Survival from the time of histologic diagnosis was sixteen and one-half months longer (thirty-seven and one-half versus twenty-one months) in the BCG-treated patients . There was no mortality and only minimal morbidity . Changes in some immunologic parameters (white blood cell count, skin tests) suggest an immune response.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1979 Dec, 48(6), 501 - 5
Eikenella corrodens: a pathogen in head and neck infections; Jones JL et al.; E . corrodens as a co-existent or primary causal agent in six cases of osteomyelitis or orofacial infections following trauma or elective dental extraction is presented . The importance of this facultative gram-negative bacillus as a head and neck pathogen is discussed.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1979 Dec, 76(12), 6216 - 20
Metal-coordinating substrate analogs as inhibitors of metalloenzymes; Holmquist B et al.; A group of active-site metal coordinating inhibitors of zinc proteases (carboxypeptidase A, thermolysin, Bacillus cereus neutral protease, and angiotensin-converting enzyme) have been synthesized and their properties investigated . Their general structures are R-SH and R-NH-PO2(O phi)H, where-S- or -O- serve as metal ligands and R refers to an amino acid or peptide group designed to interact with substrate recognition sites . These inhibitors can be extremely potent; thus, N-(2-mercaptoacetyl)-D-phenylalanine, e.g., inhibits carboxypeptidase A with a Kiapp of 2.2 x 10(-7) M . The spectral response of cobalt(II)-substituted thermolysin or carboxypeptidase A to the sulfur-containing inhibitors signals the direct interaction of the mercaptan with the metal . An S leads to Co(II) charge transfer band is generated near 340 nm and is detected by absorption, circular dichroism, and magnetic circular dichroism . The cobalt(II) spectra indicate both inner sphere coordination with sulfur and 4-coordination in the enzyme-inhibitor complex . Thus, the metal undergoes a simple substitution reaction, the inhibitor most likely displacing water at the fourth coordination site.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Dec, 140(3), 996 - 1007
Biosynthesis of phospholipids in Bacillus megaterium; Langley KE et al.; Information on the biosynthesis of phospholipids in bacteria has been derived principally from the study of Escherichia coli and other gram-negative organisms . We have now carried out a detailed study of the pathways of phospholipid biosynthesis in the gram-positive organism Bacillus megarterium KM in relation to investigations on the biogenesis of lipid asymmetry in membranes . Radioactive precursors such as 32Pi and {3H}palmitate initially label phosphatidylethanolamine much more than phosphatidylglycerol . This raised the possibility that phosphatidylglycerol may be the precursor of phosphatidylethanolamine in a pathway different from that in E . coli . Phosphatidylglycerol is known to be highly reactive metabolically, since it functions as a donor of phosphatidyl residues in the synthesis of cardiolipin and as a donor of glycerophosphate residues in the synthesis of teichoic acids and of membrane-derived oligosaccharides . The large pool of phosphatidylglycerol would dilute the radioactive isotope, slowing the initial rate of incorporation of label into phosphatidylethanolamine . However, assays of cell-free extracts revealed no evidence for such a novel pathway . Instead, phosphatidylserine synthase (cytidine 5'-diphosphate-diglyceride:L-serine phosphatidyl transferase) and phosphatidylserine decarboxylase were detected, although at low levels . These results suggest that the pathway in B . megaterium is the same as that in E . coli in which phosphatidylserine, derived from cytidine 5'-diphosphate-diglyceride, is the precursor of phosphatidylethanolamine . The lag in the appearance of label in phosphatidylethanolamine appears to be the effect of a considerable pool of phosphatidylserine (ca . 5 to 10% of the total phospholipid) in certain strains of B . megaterium . The lag in labeling can be correlated with the size of the pool of phosphatidylserine . Pulse-chase experiments in vivo support the conclusion that in B . megaterium phosphatidylserine is not derived from phosphatidylglycerol . Rates of turnover of the membrane phospholipids of B . megaterium have also been studied.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1979 Dec, 76(12), 6245 - 9
Energetics of rapid transmembrane movement and of compositional asymmetry of phosphatidylethanolamine in membranes of Bacillus megaterium; Langley KE et al.; The energy requirements for the rapid transmembrane movement of phosphatidylethanolamine in membranes of Bacillus megaterium KM have been investigated by means of pulse label experiments . The transmembrane movement continues at a high rate in cells blocked in the production of metabolic energy by treatment with a combination of inhibitors . The movement is shown to be completely independent of the synthesis of lipid and of protein and, more generally, independent of sources of metabolic energy . The rate constant ki, defined as the fraction of the internal phosphatidylethanolamine that exchanges with the external layer of the membrane per unit time, has been found to have a value of about 0.1 per min . The compositional asymmetry of phosphatidylethanolamine in membranes of B . megaterium persisted, and indeed was somewhat enhance, in energy-poisoned cells under conditions in which rapid mixing of inner and outer layers was taking place . Therefore, the compositional asymmetry is not maintained by kinetic barriers to transbilayer exchange or by expenditure of metabolic energy . It must be an equilibrium condition, and presumably reflects the differential binding of phospholipids by proteins and other ligands on the two sides of the membrane.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Dec, 140(3), 917 - 28
Dielectric properties of native and decoated spores of Bacillus megaterium; Carstensen EL et al.; A general model for use in interpreting dielectric data obtained with bacterial endospores is developed and applied to past results for Bacillus cereus spores and new results for Bacillus megaterium spores . The latter were also subjected to a decoating treatment to yield dormant cells with damaged outer membranes that could be germinated with lysozyme . For both spore types, core ions appeared to be completely immobilized, and decoating of B . megaterium spores did not affect this extreme state of electrostasis in the core . The cortex of B . megaterium appeared to contain a high level of mobile ions, in the cortex of B . cereus . The outer membrane-coat complex of B . megaterium acted dielectrically as an insulating layer around the cortex, so that native dormant spores showed a Maxwell-Wagner dispersion over the frequency range from about 1 to 20 MHz . The decoating treatment resulted in a shift in the dispersion to frequencies below the range of observation . Increases in cell conductivity in response to increases in environmental ionic strength indicated that the coats . of B . megaterium could be penetrated by environmental ions and that they had an inherent fixed charge concentration of about 10 to 20 milliequivalents per liter . In contrast, the dispersion for B . cereus spores was very sensitive to changes in environmental ion concentration, and it appeared that some 40% of the spore volume could be penetrated by environmental ions and that these ions traversed a dielectrically effective layer, either the exosporium or the outer membrane . It appears that dormancy is associated with extreme electrostasis of core ions but not necessarily of ions in enveloping structures and that the coat-outer membrane complex is dielectrically effective but not required for maintenance of extreme electrostasis in the core.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Dec, 102(1), 101 - 5
Requirement for ribosomal protein BM-L11 in stringent control of RNA synthesis in Bacillus megaterium; Stark MJ et al.; A spontaneously occurring thiostrepton-resistant mutant of Bacillus megaterium has been shown to yield ribosomes lacking protein BM-L11, a protein immunologically related to Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L11 . Here we have demonstrated that the mutant strain has acquired the relaxed phenotype and is unable to synthesise guanosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate in vivo . Ribosomes from the mutant strain are unable to support the synthesis of these two compounds in vitro, but this deficiency can be overcome by re-addition of purified protein BM-L11 to the ribosomes . Thus protein BM-L11 appears to be indispensable for the synthesis of guanosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate; the implications of this observation are discussed.

South Med J, 1979 Dec, 72(12), 1632 - 3
Recovery from Bacillus cereus sepsis; Trager GM et al.; A patient with acute leukemia developed two separate episodes of Bacillus cereus septicemia during one hospitalization . Leukopenia as a consequence of cytotoxic chemotherapy preceded both illnesses . The course of the infections was favorably influenced by the return of adequate numbers of circulating granulocytes and aminoglycoside therapy . Only one other compromised host is known to have recovered from this otherwise fatal disease.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Dec, 245(4), 512 - 9
{Studies of acid-soluble antigens in several strains of the genus Bacillus for orienting purposes (author's transl)}; Katsaras K et al.; By acid hydrolysis (0.2 n HCl) it was possible to obtain extracts from nonsporulated cells of different strains of 5 species of the genus Bacillus which were composed mainly or solely of species-specific antigens . This was the result of experiments using the immunodiffusion technique after having prepared antisera from rabbits with the aid of HCl extracts . Cross-reacting antibodies were adsorbed easily . The species-specific reacting antisera revealed the existence of group- or strain-specific antigens . Therefore HCl extracts could become helpful in serotyping strains which belong to the taxa of the genus Bacillus.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Dec, 115(2), 385 - 9
Susceptibility to butirosin and neomycin B in Bacillus circulans, the butirosin-producing organism; Dowding JE; Butirosin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is produced by Bacillus circulans B-3312 . Experiments using recombined ribosomal and supernatant fractions from this strain and from B . megaterium KM have shown that the ribosome of both are sensitive to butirosin . The aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase present in B . circulans modifies butirosin and neomycin in vitro but confers resistance only to the former in vivo . The phosphotransferase does not modifya detectable amount of extracellular butirosin while mediating resistance to the antibiotic . In vitro, however, the enzyme appears to protect against inhibition by butirosin by inactivating the bulk of the antibiotic in the system . An extrachromosomal element of unknown function has been detected in B . circulans.

Antibiotiki, 1979 Dec, 24(12), 906 - 10
{Role of gramicidin S in the sporulation of the R+ and R- variants of Bacillus brevis var . G.-B.}; Egorov NS et al.; The effect of gramicidin S added to the cultivation medium on sporulation of the gramicidin S-producing P+ variant and gramicidin S-nonproducing P- variant of Bacillus brevis var . G.-B . was studied . Gramicidin S added to the synthetic medium with glucose in an amount of 30 and 100 microgram/ml 4 and 7 hours after inoculation with the vegetative cells of R- variant had no effect on the growth of the culture but retarded its sporulation . When gramicidin S was added in an amount of 100 microgram/ml 4 hours after inoculation, the sporulation rate of R- variant strongly decreased, rohile sporulation was not suppressed as it was noted before with respect to R+ variant . Active stimulation of Bacillus brevis var . G.-B . sporulation was observed after addition of gramicidin S 13 hours after development of R+ and R- variants without the antibiotic biosynthesis . Synthesis of gramicidin S by R+ strain was suppressed by the specific inhibitor beta-phenyl-beta-alanine . The amount of gramicidin S added to the medium during the sporulation process of R+ and R- variants decreased . On addition of 30 microgram/ml of the antibiotic it was practically not detectable when the culture showed the greatest number of the spores . Therefore, gramicidin S added to the medium is probably adsorbed by the cells of Bac . brevis var . G.-B . and affects sporulation of R- and R+ variants thus accelerating or retarding this process depending on the cultivation conditions.

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