Br J Surg, 1983 Sep, 70(9), 558 - 61 Fatal infection in mice after injection of immunosuppressive serum fractions from surgical patients; McIrvine AJ et al.; Following surgical or accidental trauma many patients show suppression of cellular immunity . In this investigation sera from severely burned patients and patients undergoing aortic aneurysm repair were studied . Sera shown to suppress phytohaemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis of normal human lymphocytes were fractionated using ion exchange and G25 Sephadex chromatography . Suppressive activity was largely confined to a low molecular weight (LMW) fraction and was dose dependent . LMW fractions of normal sera had no significant suppressive activity . The purpose of this study was to test the causal relationship between immunosuppressive serum and decreased resistance to bacterial infection . Listeria monocytogenes infected mice were used as an in vivo model to test suppression of cellular immunity . Injection of LMW fractions of suppressive sera significantly increased mortality in these mice, but had no effect on non-infected mice . There was good correlation between the in vitro and in vivo effects of the suppressive fractions . These results suggest that a circulating factor in the serum of injured patients suppresses cellular immunity and may be responsible for impaired resistance to infection. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1983 Sep 1, 147(1), 7 - 9 Listeriosis as a cause of maternal death: an obstetric complication of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); Wetli CV et al.; A case of maternal death due to Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia, with survival of the prematurely delivered infant, is presented . Lymphopenia and a Haitian origin suggest that the fatal outcome was related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) . To our knowledge, this is the first recorded instance of a maternal death due to listeriosis. Obstet Gynecol, 1983 Aug, 62(2), 256 - 61 Listeriosis and borreliosis as causes of antepartum fever; Shirts SR et al.; Fever of unknown origin in the pregnant woman presents special diagnostic, therapeutic, and obstetric problems . Two such clinically ill, febrile third-trimester patients, one presenting with maternal septicemia and transplacental fetal listeriosis and the other with borreliosis, are discussed . Although the neonatal outcome in such infections historically is poor, the infants of these mothers survived . It is suggested that special diagnostic procedures, timely administration of parenteral antibiotics, and vigilant antepartum testing be considered in all similar pregnant patients. J Reticuloendothel Soc, 1983 Aug, 34(2), 131 - 41 Kinetics of killing Listeria monocytogenes by macrophages: rapid killing accompanying phagocytosis; Davies WA; The kinetics of bactericidal activity of activated macrophages can be precisely described by a mathematical model in which phagocytosis, killing, digestion, and release of degraded bacterial material are considered to occur continuously . To gain a better understanding of these events, I have determined the period of time between first contact of bacteria with macrophages and the onset of killing . Activated rat peritoneal macrophages were incubated for various times up to 15 min with Listeria monocytogenes previously labeled with 3H-thymidine and the unassociated bacteria removed by two centrifugations through a density interface . Both cell-associated radioactivity and cell-associated viable bacteria, determined as colony forming units after sonication of the cell pellet, increased with time of incubation . However, the specific viability of these bacteria, expressed as the ratio of number of viable bacteria per unit radioactivity declined with time, as an approximate inverse exponential, after a lag period of 2.9 +/- 0.8 min . Evidence is given that other possible causes for this decline in specific viability, other than death of the bacteria, such as preferential ingestion of dead Listeria, clumping of bacteria, variations in autolytic activity, or release of Listericidins are unlikely . I conclude therefore that activated macrophages kill Listeria approximately 3 min after the cell and the bacterium first make contact. South Med J . 1983 Aug;76(8):1074. Listeria monocytogenes prosthetic valve endocarditis; Davis WR et al.; Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis and in all of the four reported cases has occurred as a late complication . Bacteriologic cure of the infection has been obtained in all reported patients, using a standard regimen of either penicillin or penicillin and an aminoglycoside . The two deaths were associated with Starr-Edwards prostheses in the aortic position and have been attributed to embolic phenomena occurring after bacteriologic sterilization of the infected valve. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 1983 Jul, 42(4), 409 - 20 Increased risk of experimental central nervous system listeriosis in rats with chronic serum sickness . An immunohistopathological study; Peress NS et al.; The incidence and severity of central nervous system (CNS) infection were increased following the intraperitoneal innoculation of Listeria monocytogenes in adult Wistar rats with experimental chronic serum sickness . The results were attributed to an alteration in the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier induced by immune complex deposits in the choroid plexus of animals hyperimmunized with bovine serum albumin . CNS inflammation occurred in 16 of 40 (40%) of the test animals studied; one of 36 (2.8%) controls had CNS inflammation . There were extensive pathological changes in the choroid plexus, subarachnoid space, and neural parenchyma of the test animals, as compared with only small inflammatory foci limited to the choroid plexus and subarachnoid space in the one affected control . This experimental model for inducing bacterial CNS infection simulates certain predisposing conditions in chronic immune disease, and may therefore be useful in studying the pathogenesis of CNS infection in such cases. J Immunol, 1983 Jul, 131(1), 450 - 3 Models of T cell deficiency in listeriosis: the effects of cortisone and cyclosporin A on normal and nude BALB/c mice; Schaffner A et al.; It is often difficult to test the role of T lymphocytes in resistance to infection because most models of T cell deficiency are associated with altered nonspecific resistance . In an attempt to address this problem, we compared the effects of cyclosporin A (CyA), cortisone (CA), and the athymic state on the course of murine listeriosis . We chose listeriosis because resistance to Listeria monocytogenes occurs in two phases . Bacterial multiplication is controlled by nonspecific defense mechanisms in the early phase and by acquired T cell-dependent immunity in the second phase . Mice treated with CA died during the early phase, probably because of inhibition of the antimicrobial activity of nonimmune macrophages . Accordingly, the immunosuppressive effect of CA was similar in athymic and normal mice . Untreated nude mice developed chronic low grade infection, probably because of heightened activity of nonimmune macrophages . In contrast, immunosuppression with CyA did not affect early resistance but induced overwhelming, fatal disease in the later phase when control mice began to acquire resistance . CyA did not change the course of listeriosis in nude mice, confirming its specificity for T cell-dependent immunity . Thus, this study shows that CyA is a potent and specific inhibitor of T cell-mediated immunity and that T cell-dependent resistance is essential for survival from listeriosis, a conclusion that could not have been established by studies of the nude mouse or immunosuppression by CA. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Jul-Aug, 5 Suppl 3, S593 - 9 Evaluation of rifampin and other antibiotics against Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and in vivo; Scheld WM; The activity of rifampin and other antibiotics against Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and in experimental animal models of listeriosis is reviewed . Rifampin appears to be bacteriostatic against Listeria in vitro, and it is reported to be no more effective than penicillin against experimental listeria meningitis in the rabbit . However, because of insufficient clinical data, the optimal antibiotic regimen for listeriosis in humans remains conjectural . At present, the most frequently recommended regimen is combination therapy with ampicillin and gentamicin; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may prove useful in the penicillin-allergic individual. Cell Immunol, 1983 Jun, 78(2), 199 - 205 Restriction in adoptive transfer of resistance to Listeria monocytogenes . II . Use of congenic and mutant mice show transfer to be H-2K restricted; Cheers C et al.; Adoptive transfer of cell-mediated immunity to the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is restricted by the H-2 complex of mice . Using C57BL/10 and C57BL/6 congenic strains of mice it was shown that compatibility of the H-2K locus, not the I region, was essential and sufficient for adoptive transfer and that H-2D compatibility was not relevant . Mutation at the H-2K locus prevented adoptive transfer, while mutation at the Ia-1 locus, as in the B6.C-H-2bm12 mutant of C57BL/6, did not affect adoptive transfer . The contrast between these findings and the previously accepted I region restriction of adoptive transfer of Listeria immunity is discussed. Infect Immun, 1983 Jun, 40(3), 1170 - 7 Course of infection and development of immunity in experimental infection of mice with Listeria serotypes; von Koenig CH et al.; NMRI mice were experimentally infected with Listeria monocytogenes serotypes 1/2b, 3a, 4b, and 4d and Listeria innocua serotype 6b by different means . The course of infection was monitored, using bacteriological and histological methods . The following typical features of experimental infection with the various L . monocytogenes and L . innocua serotypes were observed . (i) On the basis of the mean lethal dose, L . monocytogenes 4b, 4d, and 1/2b proved to be mouse pathogenic, although to different degrees, L . monocytogenes 3a and L . innocua can be regarded as nonpathogenic for NMRI mice . The virulence of L . monocytogenes serotype 4d was increased 1,000-fold after adaptation to mice . (ii) Primary infection with any serotype of L . monocytogenes or L . innocua resulted in protection against a lethal challenge with the most virulent serotype, 4b . This protective immunity could be transferred by spleen cells . Compared with the duration of immunity achieved by infection with L . monocytogenes serotype 4b, the protection induced by infection with L . innocua was short lived and dose dependent . The data obtained also suggest that immunity after experimental infection with any serotype of L . monocytogenes or L . innocua is produced only when the animal host is filled with bacteria . (iii) The distribution of the germs in the internal organs of the mouse shortly after infection was dependent on the route of infection rather than on the serotype used . (iv) The main difference among the Listeria serotypes tested was their ability to multiply within the host and to induce a granulomatous inflammation . The results indicate that mouse pathogenicity and virulence of Listeria spp . cannot be defined only by the capacity of the bacteria to infect or kill conventional mice . Such a definition should include an analysis of the immune system of the host, a kinetic study of experimental infection, and a histomorphological evaluation of the lesions induced. Immunobiology, 1983 May, 164(5), 402 - 16 A tumor-associated lactic dehydrogenase virus suppresses the host resistance to infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Isakov N et al.; Infection of mice with lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) causes a lifelong chronic infection which is followed by alterations in immune responses during the acute phase of the infection . LDV was found to impair many functions of the reticuloendothelial system and to suppress macrophage-dependent immune responses . We tested the effect of acute infection with LDV in mice on the macrophage-mediated resistance to infection with a virulent bacterium . We found that LDV reduces the host's capacity to resist infection with Listeria monocytogenes . Many tumor lines which are transferred in mice are infected with LDV, and their growth rate is affected by the presence of the virus . It is therefore important to distinguish between immune alterations in tumor-bearing mice which are caused by the progressive growth of the tumor and those which are secondary to the viral infection . We tested whether LDV and a circulatory factor from tumor-bearing mice with similar suppressive effects on anti-Listeria immunity are two different entities or whether they are similar . We found that the factor is associated with LDV-infected tumor cells and is absent in LDV-free tumor cells . Other biological and physical characteristics supported the assumption that the tumor-associated factor is the LDV. South Med J, 1983 May, 76(5), 675 - 6 Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis on a prosthetic heart valve; Higgins TL et al.; Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis, an illness with a potentially high mortality developed in a patient with a porcine mitral valve heterograft . After treatment with parenteral ampicillin and streptomycin, blood cultures remained sterile and vegetations noted before treatment cleared . Delay in diagnosis and institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy may occur because of the diverse morphologic features of L monocytogenes. Immunology, 1983 May, 49(1), 45 - 51 Experimental allergic orchitis induced by unilateral intratesticular bacterial infection in guinea-pigs; Sanui H et al.; Inoculation of 1 X 10(3) viable Listeria monocytogenes into unilateral testis induced pathological changes in the contralateral testis and epididymis in guinea-pigs . Because L . Monocytogenes was not detected in the contralateral testis, liver or spleen during the period of the experiment, that is, bacterial growth was limited to the inoculated site, the pathological changes in the contralateral testis may be due to autoimmune mechanisms, but not due to bacterial inflammation . The pathological changes in our system were similar to those observed after the injection of testicular antigen in Freund's complete adjuvant . Delayed-in-onset erythematous skin reaction against testicular antigen and antisperm antibody in sera were detected in the guinea-pigs . The animal model in our system is a new one in which experimental autoimmune orchitis is induced by bacterial infection. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1983 May-Jun, 134A(3), 359 - 64 {Comparative virulence of the 5 genomic groups of Listeria monocytogenes (sensu lato)}; Rocourt J et al.; Virulence of the five genomic groups of Listeria monocytogenes (sensu lato) was tested toward mice by determination of LD50 and growth or survival kinetics in vivo . Virulent strains included L . monocytogenes (sensu lato) (genomic group 1) and "L . bulgarica" (genomic group 2) . The three other genomic groups, "L . innocua", "L . welshimeri" and "L . seeligeri", were apathogenic and avirulent under these experimental conditions. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1983 May, 93(5), 1401 - 9 Structural and immunochemical studies of teichoic acid of Listeria monocytogenes; Kamisango K et al.; An immunologically active teichoic acid component was isolated from the cell wall of Listeria monocytogenes strain EGD . The teichoic acid component, accounting for about 20% of the weight of cell wall, contained N-acetylglucosamine, rhamnose, ribitol, and phosphorus in a molar ratio of 0.95 : 1.0 : 0.97 : 0.98 . The molecular weight of the teichoic acid chain was about 120,000 as analyzed by gel filtration . The probable structure was deduced from the results of methylation analysis, Smith degradation, and proton magnetic resonance spectrometry of the teichoic acid, together with the characterization of fragments obtained by treatment with hydrofluoric acid, as follows: (formula; see text) Inhibition testing with monosaccharide and fragments obtained from HF treatment of Listeria teichoic acid in the quantitative precipitin reaction suggested that the rhamnose residue is a major antigenic determinant. J Cell Physiol, 1983 May, 115(2), 208 - 16 Comparative biochemical and cytochemical studies on superoxide and peroxide in mouse macrophages; Badwey JA et al.; Maximal rates of superoxide (O-2) release, and the cytochemical locales of peroxide staining in resident, elicited, and activated macrophages have been determined . Macrophages elicited into the peritoneum with either casein (1.2% w/v) or proteose-peptone (10.0% w/v) release about twice as much O-2 as macrophages activated by infection of the animals with either Listeria monocytogenes, or Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) followed by immune boosting with Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) (i.e., about 35 vs . 14-18 nmol O-2/min/10(7) cells) . Macrophages elicited with thioglycollate (3.0% w/v) and resident macrophages produce negligible amounts of O-2 upon stimulation with PMA . These data are compared with those reported by other investigators who used different procedures . A cytochemical procedure for localizing peroxide has been modified for use with murine macrophages . No production of H2O2 by macrophages is detected cytochemically in the absence of stimulation . Upon exposure to PMA, resident macrophages are still largely unresponsive . Approximately 20% of the casein elicited macrophages and BCG-PPD activated macrophages exhibit H2O2 staining, which is largely restricted to the cytoplasmic vesicles and channels induced by PMA in these cells . The only exception to this staining pattern is a small population (about 2%) of activated macrophages which exhibits H2O2 staining in the cytoplasmic vesicles and channels and on the plasmalemma as well. Avian Dis, 1983 Apr-Jun, 27(2), 344 - 56 Cellular immune response to Marek's disease: listeriosis as a model of study; Carpenter SL et al.; The immune response of chickens to Listeria monocytogenes was studied as a potential model for cell-mediated immunocompetence . Chickens genetically resistant and susceptible to Marek's disease (MD) did not differ in their ability to survive Listeria, although during the early stages of infection the bacteria replicated more readily in MD-susceptible chickens . MD-susceptible chickens responded earlier than MD-resistant chickens, and with equal or increased intensity, in assays of various components of the cell-mediated reaction . These assays included T-cell activation, delayed-type hypersensitivity, and macrophage activation . These data indicate that genetic resistance or susceptibility to MD is not wholly dependent on the innate immunocompetence of the host . Co-infection with Listeria was used to measure cellular immunocompetence in MD-infected chickens . MD virus had no effect on the ability of host macrophages to control the growth of Listeria . The cell-mediated response was suppressed in MD-susceptible chickens . The occurrence of spleen cell proliferation, followed by marked suppression of the effector arm of the immune response in susceptible but not resistant chickens, indicated the possibility of an active suppressor-cell population associated with genetic susceptibility to MD. Am J Reprod Immunol, 1983 Apr-May, 3(3), 111 - 3 Prenatal diagnosis of congenital listeriosis; Yarberry-Allen P et al.; A case of congenital listeriosis presenting with premature labor at 24 weeks' gestation is described . Listeria monocytogenes were isolated from the amniotic fluid, which also had an increased concentration of IgA . The significance of amniotic fluid Ig levels and their potential value in the diagnosis of intrauterine infections as an adjunct to the isolation of the infectious agent is discussed. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Apr, 23(4), 555 - 8 Delayed bactericidal activity of beta-lactam antibiotics against Listeria monocytogenes: antagonism of chloramphenicol and rifampin; Winslow DL et al.; Penicillins are considered to be the drugs of choice for the treatment of listeric meningitis, and relapse of infection is rare when treatment is given in appropriate doses for at least 14 days . Despite this, in vitro studies by others have shown that penicillins are bacteriostatic against Listeria spp . We have shown that thienamycin, penicillin G, and ampicillin are the most active beta-lactam antibiotics against Listeria spp . Of 10 strains tested, 9 were killed by less than or equal to 8 micrograms of beta-lactam antibiotics (greater than or equal to 99.9% killing) when subcultures were performed after 48, rather than 24, h of incubation . In contrast, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, doxycycline, and rifampin were bacteriostatic after 48 h of incubation . In time-kill curves, these last drugs antagonized the bactericidal action of penicillins . In view of the inefficiency of opsonization in the cerebrospinal fluid, these antagonistic combinations should probably be avoided in documented or suspected listeric meningitis. Infect Immun, 1983 Apr, 40(1), 440 - 3 Human peritoneal macrophage phagocytic, killing, and chemiluminescent responses to opsonized Listeria monocytogenes; MacGowan AP et al.; Opsonization with normal human serum, purified immunoglobulin G, or immunoglobulin G-deficient serum promoted phagocytosis of Listeria monocytogenes by human peritoneal macrophages . However, normal human serum was the most effective opsonin in elicting killing and chemiluminescent responses . Macrophages phagocytized and killed almost as much as polymorphonuclear leukocytes but produced considerably less chemiluminescence. Clin Exp Immunol, 1983 Apr, 52(1), 199 - 206 Selective immunosuppression resulting from exposure to the carcinogenic congener of benzopyrene in B6C3F1 mice; Dean JH et al.; B6C3F1 mice were exposed to two congeners of benzopyrene, either the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) or the non-carcinogen benzo(e)pyrene (B(e)P . Exposure of mice to B(a)P resulted in a reduced number of IgM and IgG antibody plaque forming cells (PFC) to the T-dependent (TD) antigen SRBC and IgM PFC's to the T-independent (TI) antigen LPS . The IgM response to hapten conjugated TI antigens was examined using TNP-LPS for reactivity of less mature B cells (B1) and TNP-Ficoll for more mature B cells (B2) . Exposure to B(a)P severely depressed the TNP-Ficoll PFC response by up to 77% without altering the TNP-LPS response . These data indicated that exposure to B(a)P alters differentiation and antibody production in mature B cells to both TD and B2 TI antigens . No change in PFC was observed following exposure to B(e)P . Mishell-Dutton co-cultures confirmed that B cells were affected and that T helper cells or suppressor Mphi were not involved . Parameters of cell-mediated immunocompetence including delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity to KLH, allograft or tumour cell rejection and susceptibility to Listeria monocytogens were unaltered in B(a)P treated mice. J Reprod Med, 1983 Mar, 28(3), 212 - 4 Listeria monocytogenes . An important pathogen in premature labor and intrauterine fetal sepsis; Rivera-Alsina ME et al.; Listeria monocytogenes is a rare complication of pregnancy . Maternal listeriosis often causes premature labor and congenital infections . High perinatal morbidity and mortality rates are associated with this disease . Two cases of fetal perinatal infections, complications and management are discussed. J Reticuloendothel Soc, 1983 Mar, 33(3), 231 - 8 Effect of local and systemic macrophage activation in hamsters on infection with Treponema pertenue and Treponema pallidum Bosnia A; Schell RF et al.; The role of nonspecific macrophage activation in the destruction of treponemes needs to be defined . Studies have been hindered by an inability to confirm that macrophages have enhanced bactericidal activity at the site of treponemal infection . We show that subcutaneous and intravenous vaccination with BCG (Mycobacterium bovis) induces macrophage activation in hamsters, as determined by an enhanced ability to suppress the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in the livers, spleens, and inguinal lymph nodes . However, hamsters challenged in the inguinal region with Treponema pertenue during periods of enhanced microbial resistance (3 to 8 weeks after BCG vaccination) developed lesions faster and with more necrosis . Increased numbers of treponemes were recovered from the regional lymph nodes of BCG-vaccinated hamsters than from nonvaccinated controls, although the differences were not statistically significant . No pathological differences were detected in BCG-vaccinated and non-vaccinated hamsters challenged with Treponema pallidum Bosnia A . These studies demonstrate that BCG vaccination influences the pathogenesis of some treponemal diseases without inducing macrophage-mediated treponemicidal activity. J Infect, 1983 Mar, 6(2), 141 - 5 Listeria monocytogenes in Northern Nigeria; Onyemelukwe GC et al.; During a one-year prospective study, the clinical conditions in which Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from nineteen patients (six females, thirteen males) included meningitis, meningoencephalitis, spontaneous peritonitis, septicaemia, arthritis, pelvic infection and urethritis . All isolates were type 4 serotype . Both apparently well persons and patients with already compromised immune systems were observed . Subtyping of ascitic fluid lymphocytes in one patient with peritonitis showed predominantly T cell subpopulation and no B cells . Most isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, crystalline penicillin and erythromycin . A mortality of 27 per cent was recorded. Ann Immunol (Paris), 1983 Mar-Apr, 134C(2), 255 - 64 {Inflammation and antibacterial resistance . III . Influence of an inflammatory reaction induced by the injection of polyacrylamide gels on the resistance of mice to Listeria monocytogenes infection}; Fontan E et al.; Inflammation was induced in the dorsal area of pathogen-free mice following subcutaneous injection of polyacrylamide microbeads (Biogel) of varying particle size (200-400 mesh) and pore size (exclusion limit ranging from a molecular weight of 2,000 to 300,000) . Six days after injection of the microbeads, mice were infected with 10(5) Listeria monocytogenes . Only animals injected with "Biogel P2, P4, P6" (exclusion limit 2,000, 4,000 and 6,000 respectively) survived this lethal inoculum of Listeria . A study of the kinetics of this increased resistance revealed that homogenates of granulomas, induced eight days before injection into mice, significantly decreased the number of listeria in the spleen of treated mice . Such increased resistance was not found in cell homogenates, but only in the exudate of 8-day old granulomas . Fractionation studies of the inflammatory exudates with ammonium sulfate showed that immunostimulating substance were present in the supernatant following precipitation with 80% saturated (NH4)2SO4. Infect Immun, 1983 Mar, 39(3), 1208 - 13 Lack of correlative enhancement of passive transfer of delayed-type hypersensitivity and antilisterial resistance when using concanavalin A-stimulated primed spleen cells; Barry RA et al.; The adoptive transfer of resistance to Listeria monocytogenes can be significantly enhanced by in vitro incubation of primed murine spleen cells with concanavalin A (ConA) before transfer into syngeneic recipients . The level of transferred resistance, as measured by clearance of infectious organisms, can approach that observed in actively immunized mice . When delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses of passive transfer recipients were compared, there was no difference in the level of hypersensitivity exhibited by mice receiving either nonstimulated or ConA-stimulated, Listeria-immune spleen cells . In addition, the level of these adoptively transferred responses never approached the level of DTH observed in actively immunized mice . This inability of ConA-stimulated cells to enhance passive DTH in recipient mice was not dependent on the antigenic preparation of Listeria used to elicit the DTH response . Transfer of cultured, ConA-stimulated, Listeria-immune spleen cells did not lead either to specific or to nonspecific suppression of DTH responsiveness in actively immunized mice . These results indicate the possible existence of antigen-specific T-cells subpopulations which, after stimulation with ConA, exhibit differing efficiencies when responding in assays of cell-mediated immunity. Infect Immun, 1983 Mar, 39(3), 1114 - 21 Chemical composition and biological functions of Listeria monocytogenes cell wall preparations; Hether NW et al.; A crude Listeria cell wall fraction, a purified fraction (PF) with demonstrated biological activity, as well as a third fraction of base-hydrolyzed PF (BHPF) were analyzed for chemical composition and activities not previously described . Listeria cell wall fraction and PF contained significant quantities of lipid, whereas BHPF was lipid depleted . Fatty acid compositions were typical of gram-positive bacteria . PF and BHPF were depleted in protein . Alanine, glutamic acid, diaminopimelic acid, glucosamine, and muramic acid were found in all fractions, in enhanced concentration in PF and BHPF, and with molar ratios typical of bacterial peptidoglycans . Major neutral sugars were rhamnose, ribose, ribitol, and glucose . The concentrations of rhamnose, ribose, and glucose were increased in BHPF . Differences in chemical composition of the fractions reflected differences in their biological activities: Listeria cell wall fraction induced resistance to Listeria infection, whereas PF did not . Mitogenic and adjuvant activities were demonstrated for Listeria cell wall fraction and PF but were lost in BHPF . BHPF retained the ability to induce macrophage-mediated tumoricidal activity and decrease resistance to Listeria infection. Cell Immunol, 1983 Mar, 76(2), 304 - 10 Restriction in adoptive transfer of resistance to Listeria monocytogenes . I . Influence of non-H-2 loci; Cheers C et al.; In vivo adoptive transfer of T-cell-mediated immunity to the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is restricted, not only by the H-2 haplotype of the mice, but also by incompatibilities at non-H-2 loci . Thus, transfer between H-2 identical strains of mice with different background genes was reproducibly and significantly less efficient than transfer between completely syngeneic mice, although the restriction was less marked than that across the H-2 barrier . Restriction also occurred when parental cells were injected into semisyngeneic F1 hybrids and when cells from F1 hybrids were injected into parental strains . Using congenic strains of mice differing only at defined minor histocompatibility antigens, it was found that, of those loci available for study, antigens arising from the H-4 and H-8 loci strongly restricted transfer, whereas those specified by H-1, H-3, and H-7 did not. Eur J Immunol, 1983 Mar, 13(3), 265 - 8 Interferon-gamma production by Listeria monocytogenes-specific T cells active in cellular antibacterial immunity; Kaufmann SH et al.; Cultures of peritoneal exudate T lymphocyte-enriched cells (PETLEC) from Listeria monocytogenes-immune mice, antigen-presenting cells (APC) and heat-killed L . monocytogenes produced high amounts of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . High IFN titers were also observed after stimulation of L . monocytogenes-immune cell cultures with the T cell mitogens concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin . L . monocytogenes-immune PETLEC produced several fold higher IFN titers than normal cell cultures in response to mitogen and antigen . Under both circumstances, APC were required for optimum responses . L . monocytogenes-immune PETLEC participating in IFN production were Lyt 1+23- . IFN-gamma was also produced in cultures of cloned L . monocytogenes-specific T cells . Since the same T cell clone showed antigen-specific proliferative responses and interleukin production in vitro, and could adoptively mediate delayed-type hypersensitivity and anti-listerial protection in vivo, it is suggested that IFN production is a function of specific T cells active in cellular antibacterial immunity. Immunology, 1983 Mar, 48(3), 543 - 50 Effect of acute nutritional deprivation on immune function in mice . I . Macrophages; Wing EJ et al.; This study was designed to explore the effects of acute nutritional deprivation (starvation) on macrophage function in mice . In vivo macrophage activity was increased by starvation, as determined by multiplication of Listeria monocytogenes in both spleens and livers after intravenous injection . Similarly, in vitro studies revealed that the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to kill listeria was enhanced by starvation . This function was increased further by the addition of small concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10-100 ng/ml) . The bactericidal activity of macrophages from starved mice, however, did not reach the levels observed with macrophages from BCG-infected mice . Furthermore, LPS did not appear to be an important second signal for macrophage activation in vivo, as LPS-unresponsive mice (C3H/HeJ and A/J) were protected by starvation . In contrast to these results we found that starved mice were not protected against Toxoplasma gondii infection and that macrophages from starved mice were unable to prevent multiplication of toxoplasma trophozoites in vitro . In toto, these experiments suggest that macrophage function is enhanced by starvation, but that this enhancement is not sufficient to fulfill all criteria for macrophage activation. J Nutr, 1983 Mar, 113(3), 610 - 7 Influence of early weaning and dietary fat on immune responses in adult rats; Carlomagno MA et al.; Equal numbers of female rats, either prematurely weaned at 14 days of age or allowed to nurse for 21 days, were pair-fed a diet containing either vegetable oil or cholesterol-enriched animal fat for 95 days . Thereafter all animals received the animal fat diet until 11 months of age . Rats were then immunized with sheep erythrocytes and the antibody response quantified . There was no significant effect of early weaning or diet on the number of plaque-forming splenocytes or on serum hemolysins . A significant positive correlation between HDL cholesterol and both plaque-forming cells and hemolysin titres was detected in the groups fed animal fat . Significant impairment in splenocyte blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin was observed in rats receiving animal fat prior to 95 days . Separate groups of rats were infected 5 days before death with Listeria monocytogenes . Splenocyte blastogenesis was impaired in the group fed animal fat to a degree similar to that observed in uninfected rats fed the same diet, and there were increased numbers of bacteria recovered from the spleen and kidney of animals whose early diet contained animal fat . We conclude that the fat content of the early postweaning diet has an impact on immune responses which persists into adulthood. Immun Infekt, 1983 Mar, 11(2), 61 - 4 {Antibiotic therapy in the compromised host--presented as a model for listeriosis in the mouse . II . Effect of tetracycline}; Hof H et al.; The effectiveness of tetracycline therapy on Listeria-infection in compromised host was evaluated in three different murine models . In normal adult mice infected with a tetracycline susceptible strain of Listeria monocytogenes, treatment with this antibiotic caused a reduced rate of multiplication of bacteria . That is, a low bacterial count was found in the spleen . When the macrophage system which in Listeria-infection represents a major defense mechanism was blocked through dextran sulfate 500, treatment with tetracycline was still very effective . In this case, bacterial multiplication has ceased . However, an elimination of the organisms could only be achieved after the macrophage system recovered from its temporary blockade . Secondly, nude athymic mice which are unable to develop cell mediated immunity were used to establish chronic infection with Listeria . Treatment with tetracycline in this instance only reduced bacterial counts moderately . Thirdly, five days old baby mice which are extremely susceptible to Listeria could at least partially be protected with tetracycline therapy against fatal infection. Infect Immun, 1983 Feb, 39(2), 948 - 54 Effect of Micropolyspora faeni cells and cell wall fractions on rabbit alveolar macrophages; Learn DB et al.; The reactivity of alveolar macrophages (AM) to cells and cell wall fractions (CWF) of Micropolyspora faeni was investigated . Exposure of cultured AM to M . faeni and its CWF caused the AM to form clumps or aggregates which remained attached to the culture dish surface . Other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as yeast, zymosan, latex microspheres, and isolated peptidoglycan from Listeria monocytogenes did not cause this response . The response was independent of species source and antibody content of the serum used in culture . The use of heat-inactivated sera negated the role of complement activation in the aggregation of AM . AM cultures required a period of culture before exposure to cells or CWF for this response to occur . This response was both time and dose dependent . Rabbit peritoneal macrophages also exhibited the clumping response . Degradation of a purified CWF, fraction 3, with lysozyme greatly diminished the clumping response . Chemical purification of fraction 3 with periodate, formamide, or trichloracetic acid also decreased this activity . These data suggest that the major active component causing this response is peptidoglycan but that other materials associated with the cell wall may also be important . A soluble-factor chemotactic for normal rabbit AM was found in the culture fluid of AM exposed to fraction 3 . M . faeni cells and CWF also caused normal rabbit AM to chemiluminesce. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Feb, 253(4), 559 - 65 Hemolytic phenomenons under the cultivation of Listeria innocua; Skalka B et al.; It was proved that Listeria innocua is able to hemolyze rabbit erythrocytes in blood agars when Oxoid or Difco nutrient agars are used as basic substrate . After 48 h incubation at 37 degrees C and a further 24 h at 4 degrees C the hemolytic effect was clearly expressed . The hot-cold incubation was inevitable . Unlike the hemolytic effect of L . monocytogenes, the hemolytic phenomenon of L . innocua was not enhanced by the equi-factor. Infect Immun, 1983 Feb, 39(2), 532 - 9 Time course of antilisterial activity by immunologically activated murine peritoneal macrophages; Godfrey RW et al.; Murine peritoneal macrophages were rapidly rendered listericidal after exposure to lymphokine-rich supernatants (LRSs) derived from antigen-pulsed Listeria monocytogenes-immune spleen cells . A 6-h incubation period with LRSs was sufficient to induce microbicidal activity in resident macrophages . In vitro induction of macrophage listericidal activity by constant exposure to LRSs persisted for 18 h, after which time spleen cell factors were no longer capable of modifying intracellular inactivation of Listeria . Results obtained by utilizing a short assay indicated that the killing kinetics is extremely rapid, with large numbers of bacteria destroyed during the first 15 min of infection . Intracellular killing at this time appeared to be greatly dependent upon the stage of growth from which the microorganisms were harvested . Induction of bactericidal macrophages by infection of mice with a sublethal dose of virulent Listeria cells and subsequent intraperitoneal elicitation with heat-killed homologous bacteria was similarly a transient event . Macrophages harvested 18 h after antigenic challenge displayed dramatic antibacterial activity during the first 22 h in culture . After 22 h, activity was lost, and stasis was observed during the ensuing 23 h . At 68 h, macrophages were devoid of antilisterial action . Activity, however, could be recalled after incubation with LRSs. Cell Immunol, 1983 Feb 1, 75(2), 283 - 91 Alternative induction of alpha/beta interferons and gamma interferon by listeria monocytogenes in mouse spleen cell cultures; Nakane A et al.; Production of interferon (IFN) by Listeria monocytogenes (LM) in nonimmunized mouse spleen cell cultures was studied . IFN-gamma defined by virtue of its acid stability and antigenicity was produced in spleen cell cultures obtained from ddY mice, C57BL/6 mice, and BALB/c mice in response to heat-killed (HK) LM within 24 hr . On the other hand, production of IFN-alpha/beta was demonstrated in spleen cell cultures obtained from one of four nude mice (BALB/c, nu/nu) . Therefore, it is important to know the reason why the spleen cells of mice other than nude mice did produce only IFN-gamma, but did not produce IFN-alpha/beta in response to HK-LM . Spleen cells obtained from ddY mice were fractionated, and the cellular source for IFN production of either IFN-alpha/beta or IFN-gamma induced by HK-LM was investigated . IFN-gamma was produced only by a mixture of T lymphocytes (nylon wool-nonadherent, Thy-1-positive cells) and macrophages by HK-LM . Neither T lymphocytes nor macrophages alone produced IFN by HK-LM . Macrophage-depleted spleen cells produced neither IFN-gamma nor IFN-alpha/beta, but these cells acquired the ability to produce IFN-alpha/beta, not IFN-gamma, only when they had been treated with IFN-alpha/beta . A possible mechanism of both IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha/beta induction by Listeria in mouse spleen cell cultures is discussed. Rev Neurol (Paris), 1983, 139(2), 149 - 54 {Large listerial abscess of the brain stem . Favorable effect of antibiotic therapy}; Petit H et al.; A 52-year-old woman developed headache with fever followed after several days by a left hemiplegia, paralysis of the right IIIrd, Vth, and VIIth cranial nerves, and a right cerebellar syndrome . The CSF contained 48 white cells/mm3 and 0,80 g/l of proteins . Blood and CSF cultures were negative . In spite of an early massive antibiotic therapy, successive CT scans demonstrated the development of a voluminous rhombencephalic abscess . Clinical improvement occurred only after 1 month of treatment . The diagnosis of listeriosis, suggested clinically, was confirmed by elevated levels of antibodies to listeria Monocytogenes serotype 01 (1/80 to 1/1 280) . Signs regressed slowly and hemiplegic sequelae persisted . A review of the literature demonstrated the rare nature of listerian abscesses in the CNS: in 6 of the 9 cases reported the patients were immunodepressed and the abscess was located in the cerebral hemispheres . The elective rhombencephalic lesion of listerian encephalitis may also apply to abscesses, which can develop in previously healthy subjects . The clinical picture is that of a solitary brain stem abscess with a fatal outcome whatever the nature of the germ . Van Gilder, Allen and Lesser (1974) published the first report of a case that recovered after surgical drainage . The present case is the only one of the 6 cases reported in the literature in which a favorable outcome was obtained by antibiotic therapy. Respiration, 1983, 44(2), 153 - 7 Pleural-pulmonary aspects of Listeria monocytogenes infection; Ananthraman A et al.; The most common forms of Listeria monocytogenes infection in adults are meningitis-encephalitis and sepsis . Infection of the pulmonary parenchyma and pleura have rarely been reported . A case of listeria meningitis presenting with pleural space infection in an immunosuppressed patient is presented and a review of 5 additional patients with listeria infection of the respiratory tract is included . All 6 patients described in this report had L . monocytogenes infections presenting with respiratory tract symptomatology, although 4 patients subsequently had positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid cultures . It is emphasized that a culture report of 'diphtheroids' from a thoracentesis specimen should not be automatically dismissed as contamination, particularly in an immune compromised patient. Cell Immunol, 1983 Jan, 75(1), 134 - 43 Development of immunity against Listeria monocytogenes in athymic nude versus neonatally thymectomized mice; Nomoto K et al.; The thymus requirement for the development of immunological responsiveness was determined by estimation of immune responses raised to Listeria monocytogenes in athymic nude, neonatally thymectomized, and sham-operated mice at 6 weeks of age . Not only sham-operated mice, but also neonatally thymectomized mice could completely eliminate the bacteria from the spleen and liver, while athymic nude mice could not eliminate them and showed a persistent form of infection . A strong delayed footpad reaction and acquired cellular resistance could be raised in neonatally thymectomized mice just as well as in sham-operated mice, but not in athymic nude mice . The delayed footpad reaction could be induced in neonatally thymectomized mice without an accompanying ability to inhibit macrophage migration . These results suggest that T cells responsible for immunity against listerial infection require the presence of the thymus for only a very short period in their development. Infect Immun, 1983 Jan, 39(1), 137 - 41 Effect of quinonyl-N-acetyl muramyl dipeptide on immune responses in tumor-bearing mice; Saiki I et al.; The efficacy of 6-O-QS-10-N-acetyl muramyl-L-valyl-D-isoglutamine methyl ester (quinonyl-MDP-66) for restoring impaired immune status was examined in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma . Quinonyl-MDP-66 suspended in phosphate-buffered saline was shown to restore the depressed allogeneic cell-mediated cytotoxicity of spleen cells from mice with Lewis lung carcinoma when the chemical was injected twice intraperitoneally, intravenously, or intratumorally . However, primary tumor size and the numbers of lung metastases were not affected when quinonyl-MDP-66 was administered under the present experimental conditions . Intraperitoneal injection of quinonyl-MDP-66 in mice with Lewis lung carcinoma enhanced host resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection. Zentralbl Gynakol, 1983, 105(20), 1295 - 1306 {Significance of new results in the research on human listeriosis}; Ortel S; In former years, especially between 1963 and 1969, in the GDR the listeriosis of pregnants, prematures, and newborns played a significant role, and the infantile mortality was influenced in a most unfavourable way . Since 1970 frequency of listeriosis diminished definitely in the GDR . - We present the route of embryo-infection of the most frequently occurring connatal listeriosis and the consequences there of for mother and child . - Investigations on Listeria-excretion in pregnants show that 34 (= 31%) of 110 morefold examined pregnants excreted Listeria in their feces . Particularly the distribution of serovars, excretion frequency with regard to duration of pregnancy, season, as to primipara and multipara was investigated . All 34 excretors are delivered of healthy babies . A treatment with antibiotics of pregnants excreting Listeria is no longer recommended . - With reference to the epidemiology, listeriosis should be indicated as geonosis or sapronosis because the infectious reservoir is the human environment . The bacteriological diagnosis of listeriosis can be accomplished with approved and successful methods especially the storage of specimens in thioglycolat broth at + 4 degrees C over a period of 26 weeks and the cultivation on tryptose-agar with nalidixine acid and trypaflavin . - Chemotherapeutics for infected mothers, adults, and newborns are the ampicillins, the ureidopenicillins, and antibiotic-combinations (ampicillin with gentamycin) . Preventive measures are especially the avoidance of dirt- and smear-infections and the contact with ill animals . In maternity hospitals infected mothers should be separated to elude hospital infections; the same request is accepted in newborn wards. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1983, 5(6), 549 - 53 Effects of immunological adjuvants on the mouse complement system . I . The inability of the polyanion heparin to act as an adjuvant is paralleled by inefficient alternative complement pathway inhibition; Klerx JP et al.; Interference with hemolytic complement activity by polyanionic substances was studied in relation to the ability of these compounds to act as an adjuvant for a dead listeria vaccine . Heparin appeared a poor inhibitor of the mouse alternative pathway not only in contrast to its effects on the mouse classical and the human classical and alternative pathways, but also when compared to two polyanions with known adjuvant activity: dextran sulfate and suramin . For the three polyanions mentioned a correlation between adjuvant activity and mouse alternative pathway inhibition was observed . These findings suggest a possible causal relationship between interference with alternative complement pathway activation and adjuvant activity. Pol Arch Weter, 1983, 23(4), 123 - 35 {Blood of healthy bulls and those with listeriosis with regard to the enzymatic differences in the lymphocytes}; Hoffmann-Czajkowska J et al.; A relationship between esterase positive and esterase negative lymphocytes in peripheral blood of a homogenous group of one-year old healthy bulls of NCB breed was found . Average values of other hematologic indices in these animals were also determined . Then the same indices were examined in bulls experimentally infected with Listeria monocytogenes and compared with the data for healthy animals . The following representative average values were found: erythrocytes 7,2 mill/mm3, leukocytes 8,6 thous./mm3 . The proportional composition of leukocytes is: neutrophils - 33,9; eosinophils - 2,9; basophils - 0,8; monocytes - 5,5; lymphocytes - 56,9 including esterase positive cells - 74,7% and esterase negative cells - 25,3% in it . Statistically significant differences concerned the proportional composition of esterase positive and esterase negative lymphocytes, as well as the quantity of monocytes, basophils, eosinophils and that of erythrocytes and leukocytes. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1983, 31(4), 523 - 30 Functional studies on mouse macrophages activated by phospholipids from Listeria monocytogenes and Aspergillus fumigatus; Jakoniuk P et al.; The administration of phospholipids from Listeria monocytogenes and Aspergillus fumigatus to mice resulted in the development of macrophages with increased functional activity . It has been found that stimulated macrophages have increased phagocytic activity, enhanced chemotactic reactivity and augmented adherence to plastic surface . The activity of FcIg macrophages and complement receptors as well as the rate of the recovery of the FcIg receptors after phagocytosis were significantly higher in activated cells . The increase in phagocytosis, and FcIg and complement receptors activity was observed in macrophages cultured in vitro with phospholipids studied. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1983, 30(2), 103 - 11 Phage typing of Listeria monocytogenes in Hungary; Ralovich B et al.; Ninety-eight (39.6%) out of 247 Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from a variety of sources were typable by 27 phases . Of the 31 human strains only 3 belonged to phage types occurring in cattle, sheep and surface waters . A close correlation existed between serotype and phage type of the strains . Serotype 1/2 and 4 strains isolated in Hungary were less frequently typable than cultures originating from France . Phage typing is a useful tool for epidemiological tracing but, for a more effective differentiation, the number of phages should be increased and the method should be standardized. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1983, 70(1), 59 - 64 Production of migration inhibitory factor by Listeria-immune mouse T lymphocytes, but not B lymphocytes; Kearns RJ et al.; Antigens and B cell mitogens have been reported to induce migration inhibition factor (MIF) production by mouse B cells . Immune resistance to the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes is thought to involve T cells, but not B cells . Since Listeria-derived components are B cell, but not T cell mitogens, it was important to determine whether these materials could stimulate secretion of the lymphokine, MIF by T cells, B cells, or both . Thus populations of whole, unfractionated spleen cells, obtained from normal and Listeria-immune BDF1 mice, were cultured with or without 100 micrograms/ml of Listeria intracellular product (LIP) . The culture supernatants obtained 24 h later were assayed for MIF activity using the in vitro macrophage migration inhibition assay . Data obtained show that immune T lymphocytes release MIF in response to specific Listeria antigens, but that spleen B cells from immune and normal mice, obtained as immune, nylon-wool-adherent cells treated with anti-T-cell serum plus complement, are not capable of releasing MIF . This suggests that release of lymphokines by Listeria-immune or normal B cells stimulated with Listeria-derived antigens and mitogens is unlikely to contribute to resistance against Listeria in vivo. Acta Med Scand, 1983, 213(5), 345 - 9 Cefotaxime versus ampicillin, methicillin and netilmicin in combination for treatment of febrile episodes in patients with haematologic malignancy; Friis H et al.; A prospective, randomized trial comparing treatment of 61 febrile episodes with cefotaxime (CTX) versus a combination of ampicillin, methicillin, and netilmicin (AMN) was carried out in 58 patients with leukaemia or malignant lymphoma, of whom 28 had a granulocyte count of less than or equal to 500 X 10(6)/l . The overall response frequency was 63% for CTX against 49% for the AMN combination, the latter figure being lower than generally reported in the literature . The difference was not statistically significant . In 21 episodes pathogens were isolated, 16 of them from the blood . All isolated bacteria but one, a strain of Bacteroides fragilis, were fully sensitive to at least one of the three antibiotics in the combination, and all but one, a strain of Listeria monocytogenes, were fully sensitive to CTX . These results indicate that CTX seems to be a promising alternative as monotherapy for empiric treatment of febrile episodes in patients with haematologic malignancies . Further investigations will, however, be required before completely rational choices between mono and combination therapy of febrile episodes in immunosuppressed patients can be made. Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Dec 18, 11(51), 3773 - 7 {Diagnosis of listeriosis . Value and limitations of the leukocyte migration inhibition test}; Pujol M et al.; A human leucocyte migration inhibition test (HLMT) was performed in 50 healthy subjects and in 23 patients with bacteriologically confirmed listeriosis, using Listeria monocytogenes as antigen . Considerable inhibition was found in most patients, whereas the test was negative in all controls . In view of this consistent relationship between test and disease, it is suggested that the HLMT could be used for the indirect diagnosis of listeriosis, taking into account the delay between the onset of infection and the positivity of the test. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Dec, 126(6), 1045 - 9 Dose-dependent effect of glucocorticosteroids on pulmonary defenses in a steroid-resistant host; Blackwood LL et al.; An experimental model of Listeria monocytogenes pneumonia was employed in order to study the pathogenesis of lung infection with a facultative intracellular pathogen in normal and steroid-treated hosts . Guinea pigs, which resemble humans as a "steroid-resistant" species, were treated with week-long regimens of cortisone acetate or saline . Cortisone regimens were 100 mg/kg/day (low-dose) or 200 mg/kg/day (high-dose) . Lungs were then infected with Listeria monocytogenes, and groups were compared for survival as well as intrapulmonary killing of Listeria . A dose-dependent defect in pulmonary resistance to Listeria was observed among the steroid-treated animals, with survivals of 67% for the low-dose group and 0% for the high-dose group . Similarly, acquired in vivo pulmonary resistance to Listeria was diminished in steroid-treated animals, as reflected by reduced intrapulmonary killing and a tendency for systemic dissemination of Listeria . Numbers of T-lymphocytes in blood (p less than 0.001) and lungs (p less than 0.001) were significantly reduced in cortisone-treated animals . In addition, alveolar macrophages obtained from high-dose-treated animals displayed a 47% reduction in listericidal activity . It is concluded that glucocorticosteroid administration causes a dose-dependent reduction in pulmonary defenses to intracellular pathogens in the steroid-resistant host, and that suppression of both acquired local immunity as well as nonimmune defense mechanisms occurs. Can J Microbiol, 1982 Dec, 28(12), 1373 - 81 Immunosuppression, nonspecific B-cell activation, and mitogenic activity associated with a high molecular weight component from Listeria monocytogenes; Otokunefor TV et al.; A high molecular component of a saline extract derived from Listeria monocytogenes contained amino acids, carbohydrates, and phosphorus . The same fraction was capable of promoting both the in vitro mitogenic and adjuvant activities and the in vivo immunosuppressive activity displayed by the crude extract . The material was mitogenic to B but not to T lymphocytes in vitro . Responses to sheep and horse erythrocytes as well as to lipopolysaccharide were suppressed . Immunosuppression was dose dependent and was present at 1, 2, or 3 days but absent 7 days after injection . Both primary and secondary responses to sheep erythrocytes were impaired. J Reticuloendothel Soc, 1982 Dec, 32(6), 461 - 76 Kinetics of killing Listeria monocytogenes by macrophages: correlation of 3H-DNA release from labeled bacteria and changes in numbers of viable organisms by mathematical model; Davies WA; Conventional methods of assessing antibacterial activities of macrophages by viable counting are limited by the precision of the statistics and are difficult to interpret quantitatively because of unrestrained extracellular growth of bacteria . An alternative technique based on the release of radioactive DNA from labeled bacteria has been offered as overcoming these drawbacks . To assess it for use with macrophages I have made a correlation with the conventional viable counting method using a mathematical model . Opsonized Listeria monocytogenes labeled with 3H-thymidine were exposed to rat macrophages for periods up to 4 hr . Numbers of viable bacteria determined after sonication increased exponentially in the absence of live cells and this growth rate was progressively inhibited by increasing numbers of macrophages . After a lag period of 30-60 min soluble 3H appeared in the supernatant, the amount increasing with time and numbers of macrophages . To correlate these data I developed a mathematical model that considered that changes in numbers of viable organisms were due to the difference between rates of 1) growth of extracellular bacteria and 2) killing within the macrophage . On the basis of this model curves of best fit to the viable counts data were used to predict the release of radioactivity, assuming that death of a bacterium led to the total release of its label . These predictions and the experimental data agreed well, the lag period of 30-60 min between death of the bacterium and release of radioactivity being consistent with intracellular digestion . Release of soluble radioactivity appears to be an accurate reflection of the number of bacteria killed within the macrophage. J Immunogenet, 1982 Dec, 9(6), 445 - 56 Genetic control of cell-mediated immunity in the rat . III . T cells restricted by the RT1.A locus recognize viable Listeria but not isolated bacterial antigens; Jungi TW et al.; This study investigates the discordance between the restriction criteria required for the transfer of cellular resistance to Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and those for the transfer of delayed type hypersensitivity to Listeria antigens . Infective bacteria elicit both RT1.A-restricted T cells and RT1.B-restricted T cells . Both populations of T cells mediate lymphoblast localization and macrophage accumulation, which are reactions characteristic of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), and cause macrophage activation with rapid and efficient bacterial elimination, which is an expression of cellular resistance . If alcohol-killed Listeria organisms (pLMA) are injected, only the RT1.B-restricted T cell subset is triggered . Direct comparison of lymphoblast localization in LM infection sites and the expression of resistance revealed that efficient resistance may be mediated by small numbers of lymphoblasts and that below a certain threshold there is no correlation between lymphoblast localization and the level of resistance. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 1164 - 71 Effect of pregnancy on resistance to Listeria monocytogenes and Toxoplasma gondii infections in mice; Luft BJ et al.; Studies of the effect of pregnancy on the capacity of mice to resist Listeria monocytogenes and Toxoplasma gondii infection revealed significantly diminished resistance of pregnant mice to infection by both agents as measured by mortality . The development of immunity to listeria was assessed by studying the kinetics of listeria growth in the livers and spleens of virgin and pregnant mice infected intravenously with a sublethal dose of listeria . In both virgin and pregnant mice there was a rise in the number of listeria colony-forming units per organ during the first 3 days after infection . Thereafter, there was a decline in colony-forming units in these organs in virgin mice but a persistence of listeria in spleens and livers of pregnant mice . Paradoxically, during the first 3 days after infection, listeria counts in spleens of virgin mice were significantly higher than those in pregnant mice . Nonspecific resistance to listeria conferred by chronic infection with T . gondii was significantly diminished in pregnant mice when measured by mortality and quantitative cultures of listeria in livers and spleens . These studies demonstrate a remarkably decreased resistance of pregnant mice to two intracellular organisms and a diminished capacity of pregnant mice to develop immunity to listeria . This decrease in resistance may play an important role in congenital transmission of these organisms. J Immunogenet, 1982 Dec, 9(6), 433 - 43 Genetic control of cell-mediated immunity in the rat . II . Sharing of either the RT1.A or RT1.B locus is sufficient for transfer of antimicrobial resistance; Jungi TW et al.; The MHC restriction criteria for T cells activating macrophages in vivo and mediating antimicrobial resistance to Listeria monocytogenes were determined . Antimicrobial resistance could be transferred by T cells in order of decreasing efficiency from syngeneic, RT1.A compatible, RT1.B compatible and RT1 incompatible donors . Alloreactive T cells responding to either A locus or B locus encoded antigens in a graft-versus-host reaction were also able to activate macrophages . Approximately five times as many MLC-reactive precursors responded to B locus alloantigens as to A locus alloantigens, but A-restricted Listeria-specific T cells were considerably more numerous (or more efficient) in Listeria-infected hosts than were B-restricted, Listeria-specific T cells . This was unexpected, since A-restricted, Listeria-specific T cells failed to transfer delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to soluble bacterial antigens. Scand J Immunol, 1982 Dec, 16(6), 539 - 42 T-cell subsets induced in Listeria monocytogenes-immune mice . Ly phenotypes of T cells interacting with macrophages in vitro; Kaufmann SH et al.; Interactions of peritoneal exudate T lymphocytes from listeria-immune mice with macrophages from normal mice in the presence of heat-killed listeriae result in the induction of interleukins . The data show that Ly 1+, 23- T cells specific for listeria antigens are essential for interleukin induction and make it likely that, in addition, Ly 1+, 23+ T cells are required for optimal responses. South Med J, 1982 Nov, 75(11), 1353 - 4 Antepartum treatment of Listeria monocytogenes septicemia; Katz VL et al.; Maternal septicemia with Listeria monocytogenes is becoming a more prevalent problem for those dealing with obstetric patients . A flu-like illness is often present in the mother prior to delivery of the infected infant . Treatment regimens have included intravenous antibiotic therapy for the mother and induction of labor . The infant often dies of respiratory distress syndrome due to prematurity . Data from the literature tend to support the concept of antepartum therapy without delivery, unless the fetus shows signs of pulmonary maturity or has died in utero . It is believed that this approach to maternal Listeria septicemia will improve perinatal morbidity and mortality. Infect Immun, 1982 Nov, 38(2), 694 - 8 Recovery from T cell depletion during murine listeriosis and effect on a T-dependent antibody response; Chan YY et al.; During the infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes, there is a profound depletion of T (Thy-1+ Ig-) lymphocytes between days 1 and 4, followed by an increase in T cells to three times normal levels by day 9 . The recovery of T cell numbers required cell proliferation, being sensitive to vinblastin and cyclophosphamide . Adult thymectomy 6 months before infection had no effect on recovery . The repopulating cells were no more sensitive than normal T cells to hydrocortisone . B lymphocytes (Ig+ cells) and null (Thy-1-Ig-) cells increased from day 1 after the injection of either live or (in contrast to T cells) killed Listeria organisms . Their increase was inhibited by vinblastin and cyclophosphamide . Despite T cell depletion, no depression of the antibody response to the T-dependent antigen, sheep erythrocytes, occurred during infection or when spleen cells were adoptively transferred from infected mice to irradiated recipients. Infect Immun, 1982 Nov, 38(2), 686 - 93 Mechanism of depletion of T lymphocytes from the spleen of mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes; Chan YY et al.; Marked changes in the splenic lymphocyte populations during murine infection with Listeria monocytogenes were observed histologically and quantitated by the immunofluorescence of Thy-1+ immunoglobulin (Ig-) (T) and Ig+ (B) cells . Cells were depleted from the T-dependent areas of the spleen, and the number of T cells in suspensions prepared from spleens of mice 1 to 3 days after primary or secondary infection were less than 1/10 of normal . High numbers of alcohol-killed Listeria sp . did not cause any depletion . Depletion was not prevented by adrenalectomy . Although injected radiolabeled T cells distributed normally between spleen, liver, lymph node, and gut in infected mice, there appeared to be a barrier to their entry into depleted T-dependent areas of the spleen . Evidence for the destruction of T cells, but not of B cells, in the infected mouse spleen was obtained. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Nov, 253(2), 225 - 35 Vitamin and nitrogen base requirements for Listeria monocytogenes and haemolysin production; Siddiqi R et al.; A complete chemically defined medium is described for the growth of different serovars of Listeria monocytogenes . The medium supported rapid, luxuriant and transferable growth . At the same time haemolysin production was induced to the same extent as in tryptose phosphate broth . Riboflavin and calcium-pantothenate were essential for the growth of all six strains tested . Biotin, pyridoxal-hydrochloride and p-aminobenzoic acid were either essential or stimulatory to all strains . Most strains did not require folic acid, thiamin, nicotinic acid and inositol, but they were stimulatory for some strains . Adenine was essential for two strains (NCTC 7973, 5214 m) while cytosine exhibited an inhibitory effect on the growth of all the strains. Am J Med, 1982 Nov, 73(5), 773 - 7 Disseminated listeriosis presenting as acute hepatitis . Case reports and review of hepatic involvement in listeriosis; Yu VL et al.; We report three cases of disseminated listeriosis that presented as acute hepatitis characterized by striking increase of liver function test values and fever . Peak serum transaminases (SGOT) for each of three patients were 5,380, 2,350, and 443 mu/ml respectively . The correct diagnosis was not suspected in any of the patients until blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures obtained routinely in the course of evaluation for fever grew Listeria monocytogenes . When antibiotic therapy was instituted, serum transaminase values plummeted in two patients; these two were eventually cured of their infection . The third patient succumbed to his infection; postmortem examination showed miliary abscesses of the liver which revealed L . monocytogenes . Review of the literature for previous reports of hepatic involvement in adult patients with listeriosis shows that hepatitis is an unusual mode of presentation . However, since we observed these three cases over a one-year period, we suspect this may not be an uncommon occurrence. J Immunol, 1982 Nov, 129(5), 2179 - 85 Immunopathology of BCG infection in genetically resistant and susceptible mouse strains; Pelletier M et al.; Natural resistance to Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) is under the control of a single gene, designated Bcg . Resistant (Bcgr) mice prevent multiplication of an i.v . injected inoculum of congruent to 10(4) dispersed BCG cells, whereas progressive multiplication of this pathogen occurs in the first 3 wk of infection in spleens and livers of susceptible (Bcgs) mice . Striking differences in the development of cellular immunity, as measured by granuloma formation in the liver and spleen, delayed-typed hypersensitivity, and a resistance to the challenge with homologous (BCG) and heterologous (Listeria monocytogenes) pathogens, were detected between Bcgr (C3H/HeN and A/J) and Bcgs (C57BL/6J and B10.A) strains . Cellular immune reactions progressively developed in the Bcgs mice, as a response to the increasing bacterial load, whereas greatly inferior levels of acquired immunity were observed in Bcgr strains . These findings support the concept that mice genetically resistant to BCG infection are able to prevent bacterial multiplication without the need for a cellular immune response, whereas genetically susceptible mice will eventually control bacterial multiplication with the acquisition of cellular immunity. Infect Immun, 1982 Nov, 38(2), 521 - 9 Genetic control of cell-mediated immunity in rats: involvement of RT1.B locus determinants in the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to Listeria antigens; Jungi TW et al.; The cellular requirements for Listeria monocytogenes antigen-induced, specific {3H}thymidine incorporation into lymphoid cells were analysed . Nylon-nonadherent lymph node and peritoneal exudate cells from infected athymic rats and mice failed to respond by proliferation, whereas control cells of thymus-bearing animals gave significant responses . In mice, cells expressing Thy-1 at a high density were required for the initiation of the proliferative response, but cells with lower density also participated in proliferation . Immune T cells alone failed to respond to L . monocytogenes antigen, but the addition of accessory cells provided optimal responses . These were nylon wool adherent, absent from thoracic duct lymph, but present in thymus and lymph nodes and particularly abundant in spleens of nonimmune rats . Accessory cells had to be matched at the B region of RT1, the major histocompatibility complex, to provide a stimulatory signal for L . monocytogenes antigen-specific T cells . Thus, the genetic restriction criteria were the same as for the transfer of delayed-type hypersensitivity to L . monocytogenes antigen, but differed from those controlling the transfer of acquired cellular resistance . The interaction between T cells and accessory cells could be blocked by alloantisera directed against Ia-antigens expressed on the accessory cell population . The study suggests that killed L . monocytogenes bacteria are presented by Ia-positive adherent cells in a RT1.B-restricted fashion to provide a proliferative signal for sensitized T cells. Minerva Med, 1982 Oct 13, 73(39), 2683 - 5 {Recovery from from Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in an adult}; Giunta G et al.; The authors describe a case of meningitis by Listeria monocytogenes from which the patient, an adult suffering from a chronic lymphatic leukosis, recovered completely . Both the immune-suppressor treatment and the basic lymphoproliferative disease may have given rise to this infective disease . The diagnosis has been obtained by isolating the germ in liquor-cultures . We want to point out the importance of a specific and early antibiotic treatment. Immunology, 1982 Oct, 47(2), 247 - 53 Two steps in the generation of acquired cellular resistance against Listeria monocytogenes: accumulation and activation of macrophages; Miyata M et al.; Mice were immunized with 1 X 10(3) viable Listeria monocytogenes, and the mechanism of the acquired resistance against challenge infection with 5 X 10(4) L . monocytogenes was studied by the use of the peritoneal cavity of mice as the site of challenge . An enhanced elimination of bacteria from the peritoneal cavity became detectable on day 5 after immunization, and lasted thereafter . Before day 10 postimmunization, a marked accumulation of macrophages was observed after the challenge but the in vitro listericidal activity of macrophages was not so enhanced . After day 15 postimmunization, peritoneal macrophages did not increase in number after the challenge but the in vitro listericidal activity of macrophages was the stronger . Accumulation of non-activated macrophages seemed to contribute mainly to the expression of acquired resistance against challenge in the early stage of immunization . So-called activated macrophages appeared to be generated only in the later stage of immunization . Thus it was suggested that there may be at least two steps in the expression of acquired listerial resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Oct, 22(4), 678 - 85 Tetracycline-resistant L-forms isolated from an antibiotic-susceptible strain of Listeria monocytogenes; Schmitt-Slomska J et al.; A tetracycline-susceptible strain of Listeria monocytogenes type 4b was converted to stable L-forms by penicillin . L-form variants resistant to tetracycline were then selected from a predominantly tetracycline-susceptible L-form population on plates containing penicillin and increasing concentrations of tetracycline . The origin of tetracycline-resistant L-forms from the parent Listeria strain was confirmed biochemically, by immunofluorescence, and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Scanning and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the typical L-form structure and the complete lack of cell wall in both L-form strains . The level of {3H}tetracycline uptake was lower in tetracycline-resistant than in susceptible cells. Infect Immun, 1982 Oct, 38(1), 58 - 65 Adjuvant activity of purified peptidoglycan of Listeria monocytogenes in mice and guinea pigs; Saiki I et al.; The immunological properties of peptidoglycan (L-PG) purified from the cell wall skeleton (L-CWS) of Listeria monocytogenes strain EGD were investigated and compared with the properties of L-CWS . L-PG consisted of alanine, glutamic acid, alpha, epsilon-diaminopimelic acid, muramic acid, and glucosamine . L-PG showed potent adjuvant activities for circulating antibody formation and development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to bacterial alpha-amylase in vivo and for the primary immune response to sheep erythrocytes in vitro, as well as L-CWS . Both L-PG and L-CWS enhanced the generation of cell-mediated cytotoxicity in allogeneic mice and activated thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages and macrophage cell line RAW 264 to kill tumor target cells in vitro . We also found that L-PG acted on normal spleen cells as a mitogen . Both L-PG and L-CWS had tumor (Meth A)-suppressive and -regressive activities in syngeneic mice . Our results suggest that the L-PG moiety retains the adjuvant and antitumor activities of L-CWS. J Nutr, 1982 Aug, 112(8), 1498 - 505 Dietary stress and development of resistance ot Listeria monocytogenes in mice; Petro TM et al.; The native and acquired cell-mediated immune resistance against Listeria monocytogenes steadily developed in young mice after weaning and reached maximum activity at 6 and 12 weeks of age, respectively . Mice fed a high fat (20% corn oil) diet from 3 weeks of age had a significantly more rapid development of resistance against L . monocytogenes . Mice fed the high fat diet beginning at 6 and 12 weeks of age had significantly lower native preimmune resistance against L . monocytogenes after 3 weeks on the diet . On the other hand, 3-week-old mice fed a low protein (4% casein) diet had a significantly retarded development of native and acquired resistance against L . monocytogenes . However, mice consuming the low protein diet at 6, 12 or 24 weeks of age did not exhibit an impairment in this resistance . Therefore age at which the dietary stress, either low protein or high fat, was initiated had an important effect on native and acquired resistance of mice against L . monocytogenes. Infect Immun, 1982 Aug, 37(2), 601 - 8 Alteration of cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes in protein-malnourished mice treated with thymosin fraction V; Petro TM et al.; Cell-mediated immune reactivity, measured by lymphocyte responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin, was higher in both young or aged mice fed a 4% casein diet compared with age-matched controls . Treatment in vivo with bovine thymosin fraction V decreased the responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin of lymphocytes from mice fed either the control or moderately protein-deficient diets when compared with mice treated in vivo with saline . Resistance against Listeria monocytogenes, known to be a cell-mediated immune function, was impaired in young and aged mice which were fed the low-protein diet . Treatment with thymosin was able to significantly improve the cell-mediated immune resistance to L . monocytogenes of moderately protein-malnourished mice . Thymosin treatment impaired the resistance to L . monocytogenes of young or aged mice fed the control diet . The splenic natural killer cell cytotoxicity of protein-malnourished mice was impaired compared with that of mice fed the control diet . Treatment with thymosin did not restore the natural killer cell cytotoxic activity in protein-malnourished mice, but did enhance that activity in control mice. Infect Immun, 1982 Aug, 37(2), 811 - 9 Direct activation of the J774.1 Murine macrophage cell line by mycoplasma arthritidis; Dietz JN et al.; Viable Mycoplasma arthritidis and supernatants from M . arthriditis cultures produced marked morphological changes in the J774.1 continuous macrophage line similar to those seen during activation of these cells by Mycobacterium bovis BCG cell walls . The mycoplasma-treated macrophages developed pronounced tumoricidal activity against syngenic 3T12-3 target cells and developed an enhanced capacity for the killing of intracellular listeriae, including both virulent and laboratory-maintained strains . Increased acid phosphatase levels and {14C}glucosamine uptake were also seen . We conclude that mycoplasmas can profoundly alter the functions of macrophages, an event which may not only have in vivo significance with regard to disease pathogenesis, but which may pose considerable problems for in vitro work when unsuspected mycoplasma contamination is present. Infect Immun, 1982 Jul, 37(1), 64 - 9 Activation of macrophages by products of lymphocytes from normal and syphilitic rabbits; Lukehart SA; The production of soluble macrophage-activating factors by lymphocytes from syphilitic and normal rabbits was examined . Culture supernatants of splenic lymphocytes cultured with Treponema pallidum antigens or concanavalin A were incubated with rabbit peritoneal macrophages in vitro . The macrophage monolayers were then washed and infected with log-phase Listeria monocytogenes . Activation of the macrophages by lymphocyte products was measured by the ability of the macrophages to resist intracellular multiplication of Listeria and thus survive infection . Macrophages incubated with supernatants of unstimulated lymphocytes or T . pallidum-stimulated lymphocytes from normal rabbits were unable to resist intracellular multiplication of Listeria . Specifically stimulated lymphocytes from syphilitic rabbits and mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes from both normal and syphilitic rabbits demonstrated a clear ability to produce soluble factors which conferred upon macrophages the ability to limit the intracellular growth of the bacteria . Antigen or mitogen alone was unable to activate the macrophages; the presence of lymphocyte products was required. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jul, 22(1), 51 - 4 In vitro activities of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole against Listeria monocytogenes; Winslow DL et al.; The in vitro activities of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxyazole against clinical isolates of Listeria monocytogenes were examined separately and in combination with a microtiter broth dilution system . Sulfamethoxazole demonstrated variable activity and was generally bacteriostatic . Trimethoprim alone was bactericidal against 96% of isolates at less than 0.5 microgram/ml . The bactericidal action of trimethoprim against L . monocytogenes was generally potentiated by sulfamethoxyazole even when isolates were relatively resistant to sulfamethoxyazole alone. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1982 Jul, 92(1), 23 - 33 Structures and biological activities of peptidoglycans of Listeria monocytogenes and Propionibacterium acnes; Kamisango K et al.; The cell-wall skeletons of Listeria monocytogenes strain EGD and Propionibacterium acnes strain C7, which have the ability to induce macrophage activation, were analyzed, and the structures of the peptidoglycans were investigated . The analytical data indicate that both peptidoglycans have glucosamine residues with free amino groups, which are responsible for the resistance to lysozyme . Possible structures of these peptidoglycans were deduced from the composition and the results of determination of N- and C-terminal amino acids, together with the characterization of fragments obtained by enzymatic treatment and partial acid hydrolysis of both peptidoglycans . The results suggested that the peptidoglycan of L . monocytogenes contains a cross-linkage region of peptide chains with meso-diaminopimelic acid and D-alanine, which belongs to the A1 gamma type (Schleifer, K.H . & Kandler, O . (1972) Bacteriol . Rev . 36, 407-477), whereas the peptidoglycan of P . acnes contains a cross-linkage region of peptide chains with L,L-diaminopimelic acid and D-alanine, in which two glycine residues combine with amino and carboxyl groups of two L,L-diaminopimelic acid residues . The latter type should be classified as a new type . These cell-wall skeletons and peptidoglycans were shown to have immunoadjuvant activity on the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity and suppressive activity on the growth of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma in BALB/c mice, and the peptidoglycans were shown to be an immunological-active principle of these cell-wall skeletons. J Reticuloendothel Soc, 1982 Jul, 32(1), 25 - 35 Development of protective immunity against bacterial and viral infections in tumor-bearing mice coincident with suppression of tumor immunity; Bonventre PF et al.; This report addresses the question whether Meth A (methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma) tumor bearing Balb/c mice are able to develop specific antimicrobial immunity . Although specific suppressor T lymphocytes appeared during tumor growth which prevented expression of antitumor immunity, the development of protective immunity to L monocytogenes, S . pneumoniae or ectromelia virus infections was unimpaired . The Meth A tumor produced a soluble immunosuppressive factor which inhibited lymphocyte and macrophage functions in vitro . Tumor growth failed to inhibit the formation of immunoglobulin essential to antipneumococcal immunity, or the development of a specific acquired cellular resistance of primary importance in immunity to listeria and ectromelia virus infections . That tumor growth did not interfere with the development of cell mediated immunity was demonstrated by the effective transfer of antilisteria immunity by immune spleen from tumor-bearing mice. J Exp Med, 1982 Jul 1, 156(1), 112 - 27 Enhanced production of murine interferon gamma by T cells generated in response to bacterial infection; Havell EA et al.; Spleen cell cultures derived from animals infected 6 d earlier with Listeria monocytogenes produced 10-20-fold more murine interferon gamma (MuIFN gamma) than spleen cells from nonimmune mice in response to stimulation with T cell mitogens . A striking temporal association was found between the enhanced synthesis of MuIFN gamma and the development of anti-Listeria immunity in that both the potential for increased MuIFN gamma production and the generation of Listeria-protective T cells developed and then decayed in unison . Treatment of spleen cells with monoclonal anti-Thy-1.2 plus complement virtually abolished the ability of cells from Listeria-immune mice to synthesize MuIFN gamma . The T cells producing MuIFN gamma were found to be more susceptible to complement-mediated lysis with monoclonal anti-Lyt-1.2 than with monoclonal anti-Lyt-2.2 . The production of MuIFN gamma was not affected by treating spleen cells with anti-IgG antisera or with a monoclonal antibody directed against I-A specificities . MuIFN gamma was detected 4 h after the beginning of mitogenic stimulation of spleen cell cultures, and peak levels of MuIFN gamma were reached by 18 h . The IFN synthesized by mitogen-induced spleen cells derived from Listeria-immune mice were relatively labile at pH 2.0 and neutralized by a rabbit anti-MuIFN gamma serum but not by an antiserum having specificities for MuIFN alpha and MuIFN beta . The apparent molecular weight of the MuIFN gamma, as estimated by molecular sieving on a Bio-gel P-60 column, was estimated to be 38,000, and the isoelectric point as determined by chromatofocusing was extremely heterogeneous, ranging between pH 5.0 and pH 7.0. Clin Orthop, 1982 Jun, (166), 2 - 4 The classic . Ununited fractures in children . James Paget, 1891; Peltier LF; James Paget (1814-1899) entered St . Bartholomew's Hospital, London, as a medical student in 1834 . He never left . Like Pott, his whole professional life was spent in service to the hospital and its school of medicine . His career began in the preanesthesia, pre-Listerian era, and he lived to see the introduction of X-rays into medical practice . He is best remembered as a teacher and as a surgical pathologist . As a freshman medical student, he observed and described the cysts of Trichina spiralis in the diaphragm of his cadaver . His observations on ununited fractures in children were published in 1891 . The years between were filled with an active and distinguished career as a teacher, investigator, and surgeon. J Exp Med, 1982 Jun 1, 155(6), 1870 - 5 Aging and antimicrobial immunity . Lowered efficiency of protective T cells as a contributing factor for the decreased resistance of senescent mice to listeriosis; Patel PJ; Experimental murine listeriosis was used as a model to investigate the immunological basis for the age-associated decline in antimicrobial immunity . The reduced capacity of protective T cells from Listeria-immune senescent mice to adoptively immunize normal syngeneic recipients could not be attributed to inhibition of their activity by suppressor cells . Radiolabeled enriched splenic T cells from Listeria-immune young or senescent donors exhibited an identical distribution pattern after an intravenous infusion into young recipients . Moreover, cells from Listeria-immune young donors showed markedly greater protective capacity than cells from senescent immune donors whether the cells were transferred to young or senescent recipients . Dose-response analysis of protective T cells revealed that in response to immunizing infection (a) senescent mice generated 10-fold fewer protective T cells, and (b) protective T cells from senescent mice were 100-fold less efficient than cells from young mice. Helv Paediatr Acta, 1982 Jun, 37(3), 279 - 82 Listeria meningitis in an immunocompetent child; Chryssanthopoulos C et al.; We report a case of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in an apparently healthy 3-year-old boy . This is the first case reported in English literature where adequate evaluation of immune status did not reveal an immunologic defect . The patient is in the age group least affected by an opportunistic organism and has been living in a district known for a high incidence of Listeria in livestock . The epidemiologic implication of this observation is discussed. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Jun, 252(2), 176 - 90 {Special position of strongly haemolytic strains of the genus Listeria}; Seeliger HP et al.; The special status of the strongly haemolytic strains of serovar (sv) 5 of Listeria monocytogenes is reviewed . Besides some biochemical reactions sv 5 strains are characterized by their excessive haemolysis on sheep blood agar and by a positive result of the CAMP test with R . equi . The haemolysis is caused by a soluble thermolabile protein which stimulates the formation of antibodies and which is inhibited by cholesterol . Sv 5-strains are less virulent than strains of sv 1/2a and sv 4b . The antibiotic sensitivity patterns characteristic for listeriae and for the principles of treating Listeria infections, are valid for sv 5-strains, too . The special position of sv 5 versus the other serovars of L . monocytogenes - with particular reference to its biochemical activity, its haemolytic properties, its lysosensitivity and its pathogenicity - calls for a reconsideration of its taxonomic position within the genus Listeria. Immunology, 1982 Jun, 46(2), 343 - 51 Stimulation of monocyte production by an endogenous mediator induced by a component from Listeria monocytogenes; Shum DT et al.; A monocytosis-producing activity (MPA) is present in a saline-extractable material (SE) from Listeria monocytogenes . The mechanism of stimulation of monocyte production by SE was studied . Serum obtained from mice at appropriate times after injection of SE induced monocytosis in normal recipients . The monocytosis-inducing activity present in serum differed from SE with respect to timing of the monocytosis, fractionation pattern on a Sephadex G-200 column, and thermolability . The minimum dose of SE capable of producing a monocytosis was 100 micrograms . Antibody to SE capable of detecting SE at a concentration of greater than 5 micrograms/ml failed to detect SE in samples of active serum . Therefore it seemed highly unlikely that activity in serum was due to the presence of trace amounts of SE . The activity present in serum was thermolabile and had a molecular weight of about 38,000 . The data are consistent with the hypothesis that injection of SE caused the production or release of an endogenous mediator capable of stimulating monocytosis. J Exp Med, 1982 Jun 1, 155(6), 1754 - 65 Biological functions of t cell lines with specificity for the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and in vivo; Kaufmann SH et al.; Peritoneal exudate T lymphocytes from mice immunized with live Listeria monocytogenes were cloned in double-layer soft agar containing heat-killed L . monocytogenes (lower layer) and syngeneic accessory cells (upper layer) . Colony-derived T cells were propagated in vitro in the presence of listerial antigen, syngeneic accessory cells, and T cell growth factor . In vitro proliferation, interleukin secretion, and bystander help for B cells of six such T cell lines and several sublines derived from them were found to be antigen dependent and restricted by the H-2IA locus of the major histocompatibility complex . In vivo, these T cell lines conferred delayed-type hypersensitivity to listerial antigen and protection to live L . monocytogenes . It is concluded that different biological functions of acquired antibacterial immunity can be mediated by a single T cell population. J Clin Lab Immunol, 1982 May, 8(1), 51 - 4 Enhanced resistance to Listeria monocytogenes due to non-specifically activated macrophages in aged mice; Matsumoto T et al.; Age-related modification of protection to L . monocytogenes by macrophages was examined . Cumulative mortality rates of old (15-month-old) or very old (24 to 26-month-old) mice were lower than that of young (3-month-old) mice after an intravenous inoculation of L . monocytogenes . The numbers of bacteria in the livers and spleens of old or very old mice were smaller than that of young mice at an early stage of infection (1 day or 3 days) . Adversely, the numbers of bacteria in old or very old mice were larger than in young mice at a late stage (7 days) . Enhanced resistance to L . monocytogenes was shown not only in the case of systemic infection after an intravenous bacterial challenge, but also in the case of local infection in the thigh muscle or subcutaneous air cavity . The number of macrophages accumulating to the infected sites in old mice was not larger over a five day period than that in young mice in the case of local infection in a subcutaneous air cavity . Peritoneal macrophages derived from old mice suppressed more effectively the bacterial growth within macrophages in vitro than did those derived from young mice . These results suggest that the macrophage function of aged mice is not impaired and non-specifically activated macrophages contribute to the protection to L . monocytogenes in aged mice. J Exp Med, 1982 May 1, 155(5), 1334 - 43 Non-H-2 restriction of expression of passively transferred delayed sensitivity; Berche PA et al.; The results of this study of allogeneic restriction of passively transferred delayed sensitivity to Listeria antigens serve to illustrate the complexity of in vivo models . They show that the H-2 restriction observed when delayed-type hypersensitivity was transferred between H-2-congenic strains was no more severe than the restriction observed when delayed-type hypersensitivity was transferred between parental and F1 mice and between different strains sharing the same H-2 haplotype . It is obvious that genes, in addition to those of the H-2 locus, can be responsible for allogeneic restriction in vivo. Rev Infect Dis, 1982 May-Jun, 4(3), 665 - 82 Listeriosis in renal transplant recipients: report of an outbreak and review of 102 cases; Stamm AM et al.; We observed six renal transplant recipients with listeriosis during a 10-week period in the autumn of 1979 . Investigation of this outbreak established that the first four cases wer close contacts, all infected by Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1b . The source of infection and route of spread were not identified . A total of 102 renal transplant recipients with listeriosis have now been reported . The major manifestation of disease was meningitis in 50% of the patients, parenchymal disease of the central nervous system in 10%, both meningitis and parenchymal disease of the central nervous system in 9%, and primary bacteremia in 30% . The overall mortality rate was 26% . Pneumonia due to L . monocytogenes, a previously neglected finding, was present in seven patients (7%); five of the seven died . The route of transmission may sometimes be respiratory . Special techniques for isolation of L . monocytogenes from sputum are usually required but not complicated . We recommend that individual renal transplant patients with listeriosis be cared for with secretion and excretion precautions and that they be treated with ampicillin and gentamicin . We advocate the serotyping of all isolates and a careful case-control analysis of all epidemics, but we do not support the use of serologic testing or surveillance cultures. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Apr, 251(4), 505 - 11 Isolation of bacteriophages from Listeria monocytogenes Serovar 5 and Listeria innocua; Rocourt J et al.; 11 new bacteriophages, 3 from Listeria monocytogenes serovar 5 and 8 from Listeria innocua were isolated from lysogenic strains without induction . Phagovar determinations were carried out with these phages and 12 other isolated from L . monocytogenes serovars 1/2 and 4b . 76% of the 142 strains from different serovars tested gave a lytic pattern . The new phage set increased the percentage of determinable L . innocua strains to 61.7% . Different phage patterns underline the distinction between L . monocytogenes and L . innocua . L . monocytogenes serovar 5 is characterized by its great sensibility to many phages from lysogenic strains of various serovars. Infect Immun, 1982 Apr, 36(1), 169 - 75 Ontogeny of murine macrophages: functions related to antigen presentation; Lu CY et al.; Macrophage function in neonates was dissected into four components: antigen uptake and catabolism, cytotoxicity, antigen presentation, and the production of the lymphostimulatory molecule interleukin-1 (also called thymocyte mitogenic protein or lymphocyte-activating factor) . The uptake and catabolism of 125I-labeled Listeria monocytogenes was equivalent in macrophages from adult and neonatal mice . However, interactions between macrophages from neonates, heat-killed Listeria organisms, and immune T lymphocytes were impaired, and no cytocidal macrophages capable of killing tumor cells were generated . Previous studies with cells from adult mice had established that the development of cytocidal macrophages required Ia-bearing, antigen-presenting macrophages and histocompatibility at I-A between macrophages and T cells . To circumvent this requirement for antigen-presenting macrophages, an assay was used in which lymphokine was added directly to the macrophages from neonates . Strong cytocidal activity resulted . Thus, our studies confirmed that macrophages from neonates present antigen poorly but can acquire cytocidal function provided that the need for antigen-presenting function is bypassed . Similar conclusions were reached for the secretion of interleukin-1 . Macrophages from neonates spontaneously secreted as much mediator as macrophages from adults, and the secretion was increased after the ingestion of heat-killed Listeria organisms or endotoxin . However, the marked increase in interleukin-1 production that follows antigen-macrophage-lymphocyte interaction was best seen in macrophages from adults . Macrophages from neonates could be activated to ingest C3b-coated sheep erythrocytes. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1982 Mar 19, 107(11), 415 - 8 {Chemotherapy of listeriosis (author's transl)}; Marklein G; Despite the occasional lack of antibacterial activity ampicillin is considered to be the drug of choice for antibacterial chemotherapy in listeriosis . In vitro comparison with new penicillins (mezlocillin, piperacillin) and cephalosporins (cefamandol, cefoxitin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime) showed ampicillin to have the most potent activity against Listeria monocytogenes . Minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC) were between 0.06 and 1 microgram/ml and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) from 0.25 to 32 micrograms/ml . The MIC90 (minimal concentration inhibiting 90% of tested strains) was 0.48 for ampicillin, 8.0 for mezlocillin and 5.2 micrograms/ml for piperacillin . Among cephalosporins cefalotin was most effective with an MIC90 of 5.8 micrograms/ml . The MIC90 was 7.8 for cefamandol and 89.6 micrograms/ml for cefoxitin . Cefuroxime and ecfotoxime had MIC values of more than 128 micrograms/ml and showed no clinically relevant anti-listeria activity . Gentamicin and doxycyclin showed MIC90 values of 12 and 8 micrograms/ml, respectively . MBC and MIC values were closest together in gentamicin . Ampicillin, potentially combined with gentamicin, should remain treatment of choice in generalised Listeria monocytogenes infection. An Esp Pediatr, 1982 Mar, 16(3), 199 - 209 {Neonatal listeriosis: third Spanish series on 45 observations (author's transl)}; Arbelo Lopez de Letona A et al.; During the period January'69-June'81, 45 cases of listeriosis in neonatal period were observed . 37 of them had an early onset (82%) while other eight had late infection disease (18%) . Incidence was 1/6,346 newborns with most frequent presentation in spring . No epidemic forms or asymptomatic carriers were discovered . Perinatal, clinical, analytical, radiological, bacteriologic and pathological data are shown, emphasizing differences between the two clinical forms . Overall mortality of 43%, although brought to zero in the last six years, together with the same percentage of neurological sequela in the late form, urges for better knowledge of epidemiology and preventive measures, as well as a closer obstetric-neonatal relationship. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Mar, 21(3), 525 - 7 Antibiotic susceptibility and synergy of clinical isolates of Listeria monocytogenes; Tuazon CU et al.; Antibiotic susceptibility and synergy were studied in 12 clinical isolates of Listeria monocytogenes from patients with meningitis and septicemia . Rifampin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) were the most potent single drugs tested . Approximately 80% of the strains demonstrated full synergistic bactericidal activity with rifampin in combination with penicillin or ampicillin . Clinical experience dictates that ampicillin or penicillin should remain the antibiotic of choice in the treatment of severe infections, such as meningitis caused by L . monocytogenes . Where the use of penicillin is contraindicated (e.g., allergy or failure to respond), use of TMP-SMX might be considered . Further in vitro and vivo studies are needed before therapy with rifampin or TMP-SMX in combination with penicillin or ampicillin can be recommended. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Mar, 251(3), 369 - 79 {Acquired resistance to facultative intracellular bacteria: as to the identity of the cell mediating protection and delayed hypersensitivity (author's transl)}; Kaufmann SH et al.; Acquired resistance to facultative intracellular bacteria depends on two interacting classes of cells: antigen specific T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes . After specific interaction with antigen, T lymphocytes are capable of activating mononuclear phagocytes to form granulomas and to acquire enhanced bacteriocidal capacity . In general, protection is paralleled by delayed hypersensitivity to bacterial antigens . Although Robert Koch had already postulated that protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin in principle depend on an identical mechanism, this question has been unresolved thus far . Recently it has become possible (a) to select heterogeneous T cell subpopulations by serologic methods and (b) to clone and propagate homogeneous T cell lines in a biologically active form . Applying these techniques, we could show that a single T cell population specific for the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, is capable of mediating both antibacterial protection and delayed hypersensitivity . These data show that both functions in principle depend on an identical mechanism thus resolving the problem in Robert Koch's original sense. Trop Geogr Med, 1982 Mar, 34(1), 87 - 9 Listeriosis in a neonate and the mother; Onyemelukwe GC et al.; Listeria meningitis developed in a two-day-old child whose mother harboured Listeria monocytogenes of the same serotype 4 in her vagina . Child and mother were both effectively treated with ampicillin . This is the first report of confirmed neonatal listeriosis from Nigeria. J Immunol, 1982 Mar, 128(3), 1458 - 65 Control of macrophage Ia expression in neonatal mice--role of a splenic suppressor cell; Snyder DS et al.; The control of macrophage expression of I region-associated antigens (Ia) in neonatal mice was studied by comparing responses of neonatal and adult mice to immune vs nonimmune stimuli . Adults generated peritoneal exudates rich in Ia-bearing macrophages in response to i.p . injection of live Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria-immune T cells, and heat-killed Listeria, or a soluble mediator termed macrophage Ia-recruiting factor (MIRF) . Neonates failed to respond to these stimuli . In contrast, both neonates and adults generated Ia-negative peritoneal exudates when stimulated with thioglycollate . A neonatal spleen cell that blocked the response of adults both to immune T cells and heat-killed Listeria and to MIRF was identified and characterized . Some of the suppressor cells appeared to be early precursors of the phagocytic lineage that develop into mature monocyte-macrophages . Suppression was apparently mediated by metabolites of arachidonic acid since indomethacin and aspirin in vivo blocked the effect . Similar suppressor activity was found in adult bone marrow and in adult resident peritoneal exudate cells . Thus, the phagocytic line autoregulates its surface expression of Ia in both neonatal and adult mice . This mechanism becomes particularly pointed during early development and could contribute to the lack of immunity during ontogeny. J Immunol, 1982 Mar, 128(3), 1221 - 8 Mac-2, a novel 32,000 Mr mouse macrophage subpopulation-specific antigen defined by monoclonal antibodies; Ho MK et al.; Two monoclonal antibodies, M3/31 and M3/38, were obtained by fusion of mouse myeloma cells with rat spleen cells immunized to immunoadsorbent-purified macrophage glycoproteins . Co-precipitation experiments show that antigenic determinants recognized by these two antibodies reside on the same molecular species, termed Mac-2, Mac-2, an antigen of 32,000 Mr, is synthesized by and expressed on the surface of thioglycollate-elicited macrophages as shown by {35S}-methionine and 125I labeling . Saturation binding experiments show that thioglycollate-elicited macrophages express 1.7 X 10(5) Mac-2 sites/cell . Thioglycollate-elicited macrophages are strongly absorptive for 125I-labeled M3/38 MAb . Kidneys are also absorptive; however, evidence is presented pointing to the nonspecificity of this absorption . Lymph node and thymus are negative, whereas spleen and bone marrow are weakly absorptive, probably due to stromal cells . Nonlymphoid tissues, such as lung, liver, heart, and brain, exhibit slight or no absorbing capacity . Cell suspensions from spleen, bone marrow, thymus, and peripheral lymph node are greater than 99% Mac-2- by immunofluorescent flow cytometry . In contrast, thioglycollate-elicited macrophages are greater than 96% strongly positive for Mac-2 . Only 20% of peptone-elicited c