Bacillus

J Exp Biol, 1979 Dec, 83, 293 - 304
Mechanism of inhibition of active potassium transport in isolated midgut of Manduca sexta by Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin; Harvey WR et al.; After incubation at pH 10 or higher, Bacillus thuringiensis spores and endotoxin, at concentrations above 0.1 IU/ml, affected transport parameters in the isolated midgut of Manduca sexta larvae . (Toxic activity was lost during roughly 1 week at pH 11.) About 60% of the short-circuit current was inhibited, and the remainder was reversibly inhibited by anoxia . Electrical resistance was reduced by about 55% and oxygen uptake stimulated by about 30% . Influx of potassium from blood-side to lumen-side ('active' flux) was unaffected but flux in the reverse direction was nearly tripled . These results suggest that hydrolysis of the toxin yields an inhibitor of potassium transport, presumably a polypeptide . It is argued that inhibition is not primarily by uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, but instead by interference with an active depression of the efflux of potassium from lumen-side to blood-side.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1979 Nov 24, 7(6), 1429 - 44
A thermostable, sequence-specific restriction endonuclease from Bacillus stearothermophilus: BstPI; Pugatsch T et al.; A restriction endonuclease, BstPI, was purified from a strain of B . stearothermophilus, and its cleavage specificity was determined . The enzyme cleaves at palindromic sites of the general structure: (Formula: see text) where N.N' can be any base pair . It produces phosphorylated 5'-termini which are single stranded over a length of 5 nucleotides . Ends generated by cleavage with BstPI can be rejoined by DNA ligase.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1979 Nov-Dec, 13(6), 1230 - 6
{Using a combined transcription-translation system for determining the role of cryptic plasmids of Bacillus thuringiensis}; Debabov VG et al.; The possibility of entomocyde crystal protein synthesis was studied using a heterological cell-free system with Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid DNA as template . The high level of template activity is usual for Bac . thuringiensis plasmid DNA . Immunochemical studies of the in vitro synthesized polypeptides showed that Bac . thuringiensis plasmid DNA does not direct crystal protein synthesis.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 25(11), 1227 - 31
Comparative studies of the mosquito-larval toxin of Bacillus sphaericus SSII-1 and 1593; Myers P et al.; Two strains of Bacillus sphaericus . SSII-1 and 1593, were bioassayed for toxic activity against second-instar larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus . It was found that strain 1593 developed a level of toxicity 3000 times that of strain SSII-1 . Although the toxic activity of B . sphaericus SSII-1 was relatively unchanged throughout growth, an increase in activity of strain 1593 occurred as the bacteria began to sporulate . Strain differences were examined by (i) growth cycle experiments, (ii) bioassays of the toxicity of oligosporogenous mutants, and (iii) manganese limitation experiments . The toxin of strain 1593 was shown to be more stable than that of strain SSII-1 . Unlike the spores of strain SSII-1, the spores of B . sphaericus 1593 were found to be highly toxic . Thin sections of SSII-1 or 1593 cells did not reveal the presence of any inclusion body that might be related to toxicity.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1979 Nov, 62(6), 1247 - 50
Microbiological determination of penicillin G, ampicillin, and cloxacillin residues in milk; Vilim AB et al.; A fast cylinder plate microbiological method was developed for the quantitative determination of penicillin G, ampicillin, and cloxacillin in milk . Agar plates seeded with stable spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus var . calidolactis were used and incubated at 64 degrees C for 4 1/2 hr . Standard curves were obtained for the following ranges of concentration of antibiotics: 0.004-0.064 IU penicillin G/mL, 0.0025-0.04 microgram ampicillin/mL, and 0.03-0.48 microgram cloxacillin/mL . The method is suitable for detecting penicillin residues in milk and for quantitative milk-out studies of the above antibiotics used in treatment of bovine mastitis.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1979 Nov, 72(5), 882 - 4
Septicemia caused by Pseudomonas paucimobilis; Slotnick IJ et al.; A case of septicemia caused by Pseudomonas paucimobilis is reported . This represents the first definitive case of disease produced by this yellow-pigmented, nonfermentative bacillus.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Nov, 140(2), 699 - 706
Converting bacteriophage for sporulation and crystal formation in Bacillus thuringiensis; Perlak FJ et al.; Bacteriophage TP-13, a converting phage for sporulation and crystal formation in Bacillus thuringiensis, was isolated from soil . The phage converted anoligosporogenic (sporulation frequency, 10(-8), acrystalliferous mutant to spore positive, crystal positive at a high frequency . Each plaque formed by TP-13 in a lawn of sensitive cells contained spores and crystals . These spores were heat stable, and each one was capable of producing a plaque from which TP-13 could be reisolated . Conversion of cells to sporulation and crystal formation was independent of the ho-t used for TP-13 propagation . When converted cells were cured of TP-13, they lost the ability to produce spores and crystals . Incubation of TP-13 with antiserum prepared against purified phage particles prevented conversion . TP-13 has some characteristics similar to those of SP-15 and PBS-1, including large size, morphology, and adsorption specificity of motile cells . TP-13 mediated generalized transduction in several strains of B . thuringiensis at frequencies of 10(-6) to 10(-5) . Comparison of cotransduction values indicated that TP-13 transduced considerably larger segments of deoxyribonucleic acid than CP-51 or TP-10, two other transducing phages for B . thuringiensis.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1979 Nov-Dec, 63(11-12), 2039 - 41
Phase I study of iv administration of methanol extraction residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; Vogl SE et al.; Four weekly iv doses, ranging from 10 to 640 microgram/m2, of the methanol extraction residue of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (MER) were given to 22 patients with advanced cancer in an effort to determine a maximum tolerated dose . Fever and chills for 24-48 hours were common at doses greater than 80 microgram/m2 but were prolonged for 3 days to 9 weeks at 640 microgram/m2 . While moderate decreases in pulmonary vital capacity were seen at all dose levels, diffusing capacity decreased consistently only at higher doses . However, no roentgenographic changes suggestive of multiple lung granulomas were observed, such as were produced in dogs and mice by iv administration of MER . Autopsy failed to reveal granulomas in three patients . There were no objective tumor responses, nor were consistent changes observed in blood counts or skin tests to recall antigens . MER can be given iv with acceptable acute toxicity in doses up to 640 microgram/m2, at which point fever may be unduly prolonged . Patients given MER iv must be followed carefully for the development of interstitial pneumonitis.

Br J Cancer, 1979 Nov, 40(5), 736 - 42
Immunotherapy using BCG during remission induction and as the sole form of maintenance in acute myeloid leukaemia; Summerfield GP et al.; Thirty-two adults with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) were randomized to receive, from the time of diagnosis, either chemotherapy alone (C group) or chemotherapy plus Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine (BCG) (C+I group) . After remission induction and consolidation, chemotherapy was stopped in both groups but BCG was continued in the C+I group . The overall survival of the C+I group was significantly increased (P less than 0.05) . There was no significant increase in the duration of first remission in the C+I group (0.05 less than P less than 0.1) nor in the time from first relapse to death (0.05 less than P less than 0.1) . There was no significant difference in the incidence of first or second remissions, and the time taken to enter remission did not differ significantly between the two groups . Comparison with the results of other trials suggests that the use of maintenance chemotherapy in addition to immunotherapy produces longer remissions . Five patients in the C group developed leukaemic central-nervous-system (CSN) involvement, in comparison with none in the C+I group . CNS relapse did not produce a significant decrease in remission length (P greater than 0.1) but reduction in survival after CNS relapse was highly significant (P = 0.001) . These results suggest that administration of BCG from an early stage in the treatment of AML may protect the CNS against leukaemic infiltration and therefore serve as a simple, innocuous form of CNS prophylaxis.

J Maxillofac Surg, 1979 Nov, 7(4), 293 - 8
Cancrum oris; Smith I; Cancrum oris is a gangrenous infection of the oral cavity . Debilitating diseases predispose to the condition . The exact bacteriology is uncertain although Vincent's Spirochaete and the fusiform bacillus in symbiosis have been considered to be the actual cause of the condition . The presentation of the disease is variable, for the condition may affect the soft tissues of the face or the bones of the facial skeleton or both concurrently . This disease has a high mortality rate . If recovery from toxaemia ensues, subsequent healing becomes a lengthy affair because of the destructive nature of the condition . Since the introduction of antibiotics as a form of therapy, a higher survival rate has been achieved . Because of the nature of the condition the morbidity rate is exceptionally high with functional disturbances and disfigurement being a legacy of the disease . Reconstructive procedures are generally required at some subsequent stage.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 Nov, 86(5), 1169 - 77
Studies on the allosteric nature of acetate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Nakajima H et al.; Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) stimulates the reaction of Bacillus stearothermophilus acetate kinase (AK) . FBP changes the reaction curve for ATP from a sigmoidal type to a Michaelis-Menten one . The binding of FBP to AK was studied by an equilibrium dialysis method and by measuring changes in fluorescence . The extent of binding of FBP to the enzyme paralleled its activation . In addition, the binding constant for FBP increased in the presence of substrate, ATP . These results suggest that FBP is an allosteric activator of B . stearothermophilus AK . Only two moles of FBP bound to this tetrameric enzyme . No cooperativity was found for the binding of FBP . These observations support the previous conclusion, that a set of two subunits in the tetramer is a unit of the enzymatic function . A model is presented to interpret the sigmoidal kinetics for ATP, the absence of cooperativity for FBP binding, and the allosteric activation by FBP of this enzyme . The kinetic properties of the enzyme can be explained quantitatively by this model.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1979 Nov, 36(9), 926 - 9
{Septic arthritis due to a nontoxigenic diphtheria bacillus}; Guran P et al.; Septic arthritis of the hip in a 2 year old child is described . A nontoxigenic diphtheria bacillus was isolated in large numbers from the articular fluid . The same organism was isolated from excoriated skin lesions of the toes . The bacteriology, epidemiology and pathology of the infection are discussed.

Clin Orthop, 1979 Nov-Dec, (145), 237 - 8
Bacillus cereus septic arthritis following arthrography; Robinson SC; Organisms of Bacillus species usually are common laboratory contaminants and nonpathogenic in humans . Recently, however, it has been suggested that cultures growing common Bacillus species may indeed represent significant infections and should not always be disregarded . A 24-year-old man developed Bacillus cereus septic arthritis following routine arthrography, which is an example of a serious orthopedic infection that can be caused by this supposedly nonpathogenic organism.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Nov-Dec, 48(6), 1093 - 101
{Blooming and destruction of cyanobacteria in the drainage bassin of the hydrogen sulfide spring of Staraya Matsesty}; Gusev MV et al.; The growth of cyanobacteria belonging to the genera Oscillatoria and Anabaena (up to 2.1 x 10(7) filaments per 1 g of wet sample) was found in a water reservoir with a high content of sulfides (up to 9 mM) in Staraya Matsesta throughout the year . The spots of Oscillatoria are located in the spring in more illuminated areas as compared to Anabaena . In the spring, not only spots of actively growing cells were detected, but also accumulations of Oscillatoria cells being destroyed (blue spots) . Water-bloom spots in which Oscillatoria prevailed can transform into the spots of Anabaena . The main accompanying forms in the spots of Anabaena are long thin filaments of the flexibacterial type while short rods are found in the spots where Oscillatoria predominates . Heterotrophic enteric bacteria (48 x 10(4) cells per 1 g), Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and coryneform bacteria were also detected . Green bacteria (Chlorobium) and nonsulfur purple bacteria (Rhodomicrobium) were present in small quantities (16 x 10(3) cells per 1 g) as well as sulfate-reducing bacteria (5--15 x 10(2) cells per 1 g) and thiobacilli (40--60 cells per 1 g) . In the spring, stones were covered with pink spots of spherical motile purple bacteria and with yellow-green spots of filamentous green bacteria . The cyanobacteria from the spots are capable of oxygenated photosynthesis . Fixation of CO2 by them in situ is 0.08 mcg per 1 g of dry sample per hour or 0.06 mcg per 10(6) cells per hour, and is inhibited by 10(-5) M DCMU by 70%.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 115(1), 1 - 11
Effects of lysozyme on Bacillus cereus 569: rupture of chains of bacteria and enhancement of sensitivity to autolysins; Westmacott D et al.; Bacillus cereus 569 is known to be resistant to lysis by lysozyme because of the presence of deacetylated glucosamine residues in its peptidoglycan, and cultures continued to grow even in the presence of lysozyme at 200 microgram ml-1 . However, lysozyme caused rupture of the chains of bacteria and promoted the rate of autolysis in a non-growing cell suspension, causing a doubling of the rate of release of radioactively labelled wall material . Heat-inactivated cells did not autolyse and were not lysed by lysozyme unless they were supplemented by unheated cells or cell-free autolysate . Enhancement of autolysin activity could also be effected by pre-treatment of heated cells with lysozyme . The action of lysozyme on isolated cell walls released some free reducing groups, indicating limited breakage of the polysaccharide chains of peptidoglycan, and it was concluded that lysozyme modified the peptidoglycan and made it more susceptible to autolysin(s) . Lysozyme also enhanced the rate of septum separation and the probable significance of the results in relation to the control of cell separation is discussed.

Am J Pathol, 1979 Nov, 97(2), 235 - 46
Chronologic changes of activities of naphthol AS-D acetate esterase and other nonspecific esterases in the mononuclear phagocytes of tuberculous lesions; Tsuda T et al.; Nonspecific esterases of mononuclear phagocytes (MNs) were studied histochemically in the developing and healing tuberculous lesions produced in rabbit skin by bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) . Nonspecific esterases were assayed with the following substrates: naphthol AS-D acetate (AS-D), naphthol AS-D chloroacetate (AS-D Chl), naphthol AS acetate (AS) and alpha-naphthyl acetate (alpha-N), beta-Galactosidase, a lysosomal enzyme of MNs, was also assayed as a marker of MN activation . The number of MNs hydrolyzing AS-D Chl, AS, and alpha-N increased for 2 to 4 weeks after infection . These chronologic changes were similar to that of beta-galactosidase . In contrast, MNs hydrolyzing AS-D appeared predominantly in the healing lesions five to six weeks after infection . These MNs had the morphologic features of balloon-like cells . They contained few lysosomes and gathered in clumps far from the caseous center . The activity of the AS-D esterase was almost completely inhibited by various trypsin inhibitors, but not by the serine esterase inhibitor of phenylmethylsulfonyl-fluoride . These results suggest that the AS-D esterase is a trypsin-like esterase which participates in the healing of tuberculous lesions.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1979 Nov, 76(11), 5882 - 5
A practicable immunological approach to block spermatogenesis without loss of androgens; Talwar GP et al.; The intrinsic capacity of the immune system to elicit immune response selectively against late developing sperm proteins has been mobilized to intercept spermatogenesis . Bacillus Calmette-Guerin given in appropriate doses intratesticularly is effective in bringing about this effect . In dogs and rhesus monkeys, the sperm count in the semen declined precipitously, and almost complete azospermia was attained in 4-6 weeks after immunization . The few sperm cells that were present were immotile . Examination of serial sections of testes in immunized rats showed about 98% of the tubules to be devoid of sperm . The tubules were partially or fully atrophied . The basement membrane was, however, intact and the pertubular cell layer was normal . Sertoli cell nuclei were apparently normal but the cytoplasm was vacuolated and, in most cells, partially disintegrated . The lumen of the tubules was exhausted of formed elements and at times filled with eosinophilic debris . Leydig cells were present and hyperplasia of interstitial cells was seen, with massive infiltration of leukocytes . Blood testosterone levels were in the normal range and Leydig cells were responsive to gonadotropins . Libido was intact . The method was applicable to a variety of mammalian species . The implications of the results are discussed.

Cancer Res, 1979 Nov, 39(11), 4756 - 9
Enhancement of endotoxic shock by N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-(L-seryl)-D-isoglutamine (muramyl dipeptide); Ribi EE et al.; We described elsewhere that the synergistic antitumor activity of endotoxic extracts from Re mutants of gram-negative bacteria and trehalose mycolate against guinea pig syngeneic line 10 tumor was abrogated after peptide substances accompanying these extracts had been removed . This activity could be restored by combining peptide-free endotoxin either with cell wall skeleton from Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, a polymeric mycolic acid-arabinogalactan-mucopeptide complex, or with a combination of two separate components, trehalose dimycolate and N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-(L-seryl)-D-isoglutamine (MDP) . We report here that when a combination of endotoxin (150 microgram) and a mixture of MDP (150 microgram) and trehalose dimycolate (150 microgram) was inoculated into established dermal tumors, a significant number of the animals died, presumably of endotoxic shock . All surviving animals suffered severe but temporary lethargy . When administered alone intradermally in the dose levels tested, none of the components caused severe lethargy or lethality . The lethal effects of 159 microgram of MDP also occurred in combination with relatively weak endotoxic products, such as Pseudomonas vaccine (Pseudogen), and these effects did not depend upon the presence of malignant tissue . Guinea pigs inoculated i.v . were even more susceptible inasmuch as the addition of as little as 6 microgram of MDP to 150 microgram of Pseudogen, itself not lethal, caused the death of 80% of the animals.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1979 Oct 25, 7(4), 997 - 1010
Structure of cloned ribosomal DNA cistrons from Bacillus thuringiensis; Klier AF et al.; A library of B . thuringiensis DNA has been prepared by using the plasmid pBR322 as a cloning vehicle and E . coli as a host cell . By screening this collection with specific probes, 17 clones were identified whose hybrid plasmids contain rRNA genes of B . thuringiensis . Several of these plasmids have been mapped with restriction endonucleases and by DNA-RNA hybridization . By using maps of overlapping fragments, we have been able to establish an overall map of the ribosomal gene cluster.

Biochemistry, 1979 Oct 16, 18(21), 4532 - 6
Comparison of the effect of linear gramicidin analogues on bacterial sporulation, membrane permeability, and ribonucleic acid polymerase; Paulus H et al.; Various analogues of linear gramicidin were tested for their biological activity in restoring the normal spore phenotype of gramicidin-negative mutants of Bacillus brevis and for their ability to increase cation conductivity of black lipid membranes and to inhibit bacterial RNA polymerase . Whereas many biologically active gramicidin analogues had no effect on membrane permeability, all biologically active peptides were able to inhibit ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase . These observations make it unlikely that membranes are the site of action of gramicidin during bacterial sporulation, but they are consistent with the notion that gramicidin functions to control RNA synthesis during the transition from vegetative growth to sporulation (Sarkar & Paulus, 1972) . The relationship between peptide structure and the ability to restore normal sporulation and inhibit RNA polymerase showed that the eight amino-terminal residues have little influence on the function of gramicidin, whereas the highly nonpolar repeating sequence D-leucyl-L-tryptophan is essential for biological activity and may represent the site of interaction with RNA polymerase.

Am J Pathol, 1979 Oct, 97(1), 137 - 48
Prostaglandin biosynthesis in pulmonary macrophages; Hsueh W; Cultured rabbit alveolar macrophages, prelabeled with 14C-arachidonic acid (AA), released into the medium a trace amount of labeled prostaglandins (PG) as well as their precursor, AA . Phagocytosis of zymosan, heat-killed Staphylococcus, or bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) increased the AA and PG release to 2--2.5 times control values . The released PGs consisted of PGE2, D2, F2 alpha, and 6-keto F1 alpha . Phagocytosis of latex particles had no effect on PG release . Indomethacin inhibited release of PGs but did not affect AA release at low doses . Analysis of the cellular lipids showed that zymosan decreased the radioactive label in phosphatidylcholine (PC), but not in other phospholipids or neutral lipids, suggesting that PC is the main source of AA for PG synthesis in pulmonary macrophages . Cytochalasin B (CB) at phagocytosis-inhibiting doses or below, markedly increased PG synthesis by zymosan-treated macrophages . These data suggest that PG release is not dependent on engulfment of the particles . Phagocytosis of zymosan (but not latex) also resulted in the release of two lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase, which appeared temporally associated with the release of PGs (but not to phagocytosis) . Furthermore, CB augmented the zymosan-stimulated release of these enzymes at the same doses stimulating PG synthesis . However, indomethacin, at a dose completely inhibiting PG synthesis, failed to block lysosomal enzyme release . Thus, the coincidental release of PGs and lysosomal enzymes is not the result of a regulatory role of PGs in the release of lysosomal enzymes, but probably is the result of a common pathway of stimulation . (Am J Pathol 97:137--148, 1979).

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Oct, 100(1), 301 - 8
Cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus . A structural and functional monomer; Bruton CJ et al.; A procedure is described for the purification of cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase as a side product of a multi-enzyme isolation from Bacillus stearothermophilus . The native and denatured enzyme are both shown to have a molecular weight of 54000 by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis respectively . Fingerprinting and peptide counting indicate that the polypeptide chain has a nonrepeating primary structure . The enzyme has only one binding site for each of its substrates (cysteine, ATP and tRNACys) as judged by equilibrium dialysis, active-site titration and fluorescence quenching . No evidence for the dimerisation of the enzyme in the presence of these substrates could be found . We conclude that cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase, which is the smallest aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase yet described, is both structurally and functionally monomeric.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Oct, 100(1), 29 - 30
Purification and properties of alanine dehydrogenase from Bacillus sphaericus; Ohashima T et al.; 1 . The bacterial distribution of alanine dehydrogenase (L-alanine:NAD+ oxidoreductase, deaminating, EC 1.4.1.1) was investigated, and high activity was found in Bacillus species . The enzyme has been purified to homogeneity and crystallized from B . sphaericus (IFO 3525), in which the highest activity occurs . 2 . The enzyme has a molecular weight of about 230 000, and is composed of six identical subunits (Mr 38 000) . 3 . The enzyme acts almost specifically on L-alanine, but shows low amino-acceptor specificity; pyruvate and 2-oxobutyrate are the most preferable substrates, and 2-oxovalerate is also animated . The enzyme requires NAD+ as a cofactor, which cannot be replaced by NADP+ . 4 . The enzyme is stable over a wide pH range (pH 6.0--10.0), and shows maximum reactivity at approximately pH 10.5 and 9.0 for the deamination and amination reactions, respectively . 5 . Alanine dehydrogenase is inhibited significantly by HgCl2, p-chloromercuribenzoate and other metals, but none of purine and pyrimidine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, flavine compounds and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate influence the activity . 6 . The reductive amination proceeds through a sequential ordered ternary-binary mechanism . NADH binds first to the enzyme followed by ammonia and pyruvate, and the products are released in the order of L-ALANINE AND NAD+ . The Michaelis constants are as follows: NADH (10 microM), ammonia (28.2 mM), pyruvate (1.7 mM), L-alanine (18.9 mM) and NAD+ (0.23 mM) . 7 . The pro-R hydrogen at C-4 of the reduced nicotinamide ring of NADH is exclusively transferred to pyruvate; the enzyme is A-stereospecific.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Oct, 100(1), 189 - 96
{Characterisation of a new endopeptidase from sporulating Bacillus sphaericus which is specific for the gamma-D-glutamyl-L-lysine and gamma-D-glutamyl-(L)meso-diaminopimelate linkages of peptidoglycan substrates (author's transl)}; Vacheron MJ et al.; A new peptidase which splits substrates related to the peptidic chains of peptidoglycans was found in the cell cytoplasm of sporulating Bacillus sphaericus . This is a gamma-D-glutamyl-L-diaminoacid endopeptidase (endopeptidase II) . It was shown to have substrate requirements different from those of the previously described gamma-D-glutamyl-(L)meso-diaminopimelate endopeptidase (endopeptidase I) . The substrates for endopeptidase II are peptides of the general type: formula: (see text) . Unsubstituted N-terminal L-alanine was a strict requirement for endopeptidase II activity . Specific activities were variable with the nature and the substitution of the diaminoacid C-terminal groups . The role of endopeptidase II in the biosynthesis of the spore cortex is discussed.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Oct, 32(10), 1011 - 5
Characterization of methanol extraction residue (MER) from Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG); Shaikh B et al.; Analysis of methanol extraction residue (MER) from Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was carried out to determine some specific chemical compositional characteristics . Samples of MER were found to contain approximately 40% protein and/or peptide, 3% soluble lipids, 17% bound lipids, 8% elemental nitrogen, and less than 2% mycolic acids . Amino acid analysis showed the presence of alanine, glycine and glutamic acid as the major amino acids . The data are reported in terms of the range found for each constituent over the samples analyzed . Somewhat consistent results were obtained between different MER preparations, but notable compositional variations were observed in samples of MER suspensions.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1979 Oct, 27(8), 491 - 2
{Influence of reintervention by the bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG) on the nonspecific resistance of the mouse to Schistosoma mansoni (author's transl)}; Tribouley J et al.; Significant resistance to Schistosoma mansoni appears in mice two weeks after treatment with BCG . The state of nonspecific resistance is considerably increased if the injection of BCG two weeks prior to the infestation test is carried out using mice who have already received BCG . Thus, BCG innoculation in an organism presentized to the bacillus antigens increases immunostimulation . According to these results, during primoinnoculation with BCG, immunostimulation is not significant before this second week, that is, the time necessary for a state of hypersensitivity to appear . Nevertheless, it should be noted that weak yet detectable immunostimulation can be observed before the 14th day following a BCG primoinfection . Thus, the possible role of other mechanisms should be considered.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Oct, 114(2), 483 - 6
The growth and form of bacterial colonies; Wimpenny JW; A simple method is described for measuring the profile of bacterial colonies . Profiles were determined for colonies of Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus albus of different ages . In spite of differences in cell morphology, the colony profiles had a common basic structure consisting of steeply rising leading edge connected by a ridge to an interior region where height also rose, though less steeply, to a flat or domed centre . The colony mass increased exponentially through part of the growth phase . It is suggested that net colony growth consists of a combination of leading edge growth, which is unrestricted and approaches the maximum specific growth rate of the organism, and diffusion-limited growth in the colony interior . Common elements of profiles from each species may be a consequence of such differences in growth rate.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Oct, 32(10), 995 - 1001
Studies on bacterial cell wall inhibitors . VIII . Mode of action of a new antibiotic, azureomycin B, in Bacillus cereus T; Spiri-Nakagawa P et al.; Azureomycin B, a new antibiotic which contains sugar, amino acid and phenol moieties and inhibits Gram-positive bacteria, was found to be a specific inhibitor of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacteria . The antibiotic lysed growing cells of Bacillus cereus T at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml but did not affect resting cells . Microscopical observation revealed swelling and lysis of the bacterial rods when treated with azureomycin B . The incorporation of {3H}diaminopimelic acid or {14C}glucosamine into acid-insoluble fraction of growing cells of Bacillus cereus T was strongly inhibited in the presence of azureomycin B, but that of {14C}leucine, {3H}thymidine or {3H}uridine were not, at least until 5 minutes after the beginning of the incubation . The antibiotic caused accumulation of a nucleotide precursor in the cells which was identified as UDP-MurNAc-L-Ala-D-Glu-meso-Dpm-D-Ala-D-Ala . Thus the site of action was suggested to lie between this nucleotide and peptidoglycan in the pathway of peptidoglycan synthesis.

C R Seances Acad Sci D, 1979 Oct 1, 289(6), 549 - 52
{Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var . israelensis for Simulium larvae, vectors of onchocerciasis}; Guillet P et al.; On field trials in infested streams, the primary powder R 153-78 made of B . thuringiensis var . israelensis with a potency of 3,000 I.T.U . Aedes aegypti/milligramme is very toxic for Blackfly larvae, especially for Simulium damnosum s.l . larvae . The lethal concentration 100, in 24 h . is 0.2 X 10(-6) for a 10 min . treatment . This high toxicity, specific for Diptera larvae such as Mosquitoes and Blackflies, is related to the special characteristic of the bacterial crystal protein which has a clear serological and chemical individuality compared to the crystal proteins of the other B . thuringiensis serotypes essentially pathogenic for Lepidoptera larvae . These preliminary results are very promising and could lead, on further research, to the utilization of B . thuringiensis var . israelensis on large scale for onchoceriasis vector control in Africa.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Oct, 140(4), 541 - 5
Effect of bacille Calmette-Guérin on the immune response of BALB/c mice to a tumor allograft; Treagan L et al.; The effect of dosage and route of inoculation of bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on immune response to allogeneic tumor cells was investigated . BALB/c mice were tested 14 and 21 days after injection of EL-4 lymphoma for spleen-cell cytotoxicity against EL-4 cells in vitro and for complement-dependent, antibody-mediated lysis of tumor cells . BCG treatment had no measurable effect on the antibody-mediated lysis of tumor cells, but spleen-cell cytotoxicity was significantly increased in mice treated with 10(4) or 10(8) BCG by the intraperitoneal route; no such increase occurred when BCG was given by the oral or subcutaneous routes . The cytotoxic effector cells were primarily thymus-derived, since treatment of spleens with rabbit antiserum to mouse brain serum decreased cytotoxicity titers by approximately 90% . Within the framework of these experiments, the intraperitoneal route of BCG inoculation resulted in a more effective immune stimulation than the oral or subcutaneous routes.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 Oct, 38(4), 656 - 8
Toxicity of parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp . israelensis to mosquitoes; Tyrell DJ et al.; Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp . israelensis (ONR-60A/WHO 1897) parasporal crystals to three medically important mosquito larvae is described . The numbers of larvae killed are in relation to crystal dry weight . The crystals are lethally toxic to Aedes aegypti Linnaeus (mean 50% lethal concentration {LC50} = 1.9 x 10(-4) micrograms/ml), Culex pipiens var . quinquefasciatus Say (LC50 = 3.7 x 10(-4) micrograms/ml), and Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann (LC50 = 8.0 x 10(-3) micrograms/ml) . Purfied crystals of B . thuringiensis subsp . kurstaki, which are toxic to lepidopteran insects, are ineffective against the mosquito larvae . Likewise, B . thuringiensis subsp . israelensis parasporal crystals are not efficacious for larvae of the lepidopteran, Manduca sexta.

Carbohydr Res, 1979 Oct, 75, 243 - 50
Purification and physiocochemical properties of an extra-cellular cycloamylose (cyclodextrin) glucanotransferase from Bacillus macerans; Stavn A et al.; An extracellular cycloamylose (cyclodextrin) glucanotransferase (EC 2.4.1.19) from Bacillus macerans was purified to homogeneity by adsorption on starch, ammonium sulfate fractionation, column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 . The enzyme had a molecular weight of 67,000 and consisted of one polypeptide chain . The isoelectric point was pH 5.4 . Temperature and pH optima were 60 degrees and 5.4--5.8, respectively . The purified enzyme was quite stable at 50 degrees (pH 6.0), but lost approximately 80% of its activity at 60 degrees for 30 min (pH 6.0) . Prolonged digestion by trypsin did not affect the catalytic properties of the enzyme . The Km for starch was 5.7 mg/ml.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Sep 11, 547(3), 531 - 43
Events surrounding the early development of Euglena chloroplasts . 16 . Plastid thylakoid polypeptides during greening; Bingham S et al.; Using sulfolipid to locate plastid thylakoid membranes in gradients from dark-grown resting cells it has been possible to study the plastid thylakoid membrane polypeptides of Euglena gracilis var . bacillaris undergoing light-induced chloroplast development . All plastid thylakoid bands seen in dark-growing wild-type cells and in mutant W3BUL in which plastid DNA is undetectable, are observed to increase in amount during plastid development . Others, which are undetectable in dark-grown wild-type and W3BUL increase greatly during plastid development and appear to be those associated with pigment-protein complexes . The data obtained from experiments where the polypeptides were labeled with 35S during development, either continuously or in pulses, were consistent with these findings . Cycloheximide strongly inhibited the increases in amount in all bands and chloramphenicol or streptomycin produced a lower level of inhibition in all bands indicating tight control of theformation of each plastid membrane constituent by the others . The formation of a polypeptide band of 25 000 molecular weight, thought to be a part of a pigment-protein complex of the thylakoid, and chlorophyll synthesis were inhibited identically by these antibiotics.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Sep 11, 547(3), 512 - 30
Events surrounding the early development of Euglena chloroplasts . 15 . Origin of plastid thylakoid polypeptides in wild-type and mutant cells; Bingham S et al.; Techniques are described for the isolation of plastid thylakoid membranes from light-grown and dark-grown cells of Euglena gracilis var . bacillaris, and from mutants affecting plastid development . These membranes, which have minimal contamination with other cell fractions, are localized in sucrose gradients by using the thylakoid membrane sulfolipid as a specific marker . The plastid thylakoid membrane polypeptides isolated from these membranes were separated on SDS polyacrylamide gels and yielded patterns containing 30-40 polypeptides . Light-grown strain Z gave patterns identical with bacillaris . Since the plastid thylakoid polypeptide patterns obtained from dark-grown wild-type cells and from a bleached mutant W3BUL in which plastid DNA is undetectable are identical, it appears that the proplastid thylakoid polypeptides of wild-type cannot be coded in plastid DNA and are probably coded in nuclear DNA . The plastid thylakoid polypeptide patterns obtained from various dark-grown mutants, making large but abnormal chloroplasts, show a correlation between the amount of chlorophyll formed and the amount of a plastid thylakoid polypeptide thought to be associated wtth one of the pigment-protein light-harvesting complexes . Treatment with SAN 9789 (4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2(alpha, alpha, alpha,-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3-(2H(pyridazinone) known to block carotenoid synthesis at the level of phytoene, causes a progressive loss of all plastid thylakoid polypeptides during growth in darkness and results in the establishment of a new, lowere steady-state level of sulfolipid . At least ten of the plastid thylakoid polypeptides become labeled when isolated chloroplasts are supplied with radioactive amono acids; of these six are undectable in W3BUL and are, therefore, candidates for coding by plastid DNA.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1979 Sep, 50(3), 217 - 9
Determination of penicillin residues in milk - a comparison of two methods; Katz KW et al.; Two tests for penicillin residues in milk using the test organisms Sarcina lutea and Bacillus stearothermophilus var . calidolactis respectively are presented . The test methods are described, the results compared and the advantages of the latter test demonstrated.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1979 Sep, 50(3), 151 - 3
The effect of the dye-marking of mastitis remedies on the incidence of antibiotic residues in Pretoria's market milk supplies; Bester BH et al.; A 1973 survey on the incidence of inhibitory substances (mostly antiobiotic residues) in market milk supplied in Pretoria, on 3 195 herd milk samples, 65 tanker milk samples and 252 samples of pasteurised milk using the disc assay procedure with Bacillus stearothermophilus C 953 as test organism, revealed inhibitory substances equivalent to 0,005 IU penicillin/ml in 7.8% of the herd samples, 29,2% of the tanker samples and in 38.5% of the samples of pasteurised milk . In 38.9% of the positive herd milk samples and 73% of the samples of pasteurised milk, penicillin was indentified with the aid of the penicillinase test . Some of the pasteurised milk contained inhibitory substances equivalent to more than 1.0 IU penicillin/ml; in some of the herd milk samples this figure exceeded 5,0 IU penicillin/ml . A repeat survey was undertaken in 1977/78 to evaluate the effect of compulsory dye-marking of non-prescription mastitis remedies on the situation . In a total of 1 081 herd milk samples, 60 tanker milk samples and 112 samples of pasteurised milk, antibiotic residues were found in 2,13% of the herd milk, 11,7% of the tanker milk and 2,1% of the pasteurised milk samples, with a much lower average concentration of antibiotic residues . The compulsory dye-marking of mastitis remedies had a beneficial effect on the occurrence of antibiotic residues in milk but did not ensure their complete absence, presumably because dye-marking was not made compulsory in scheduled preparations.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 Sep, 38(3), 379 - 84
Catabolism of 5-chlorosalicylate by a Bacillus isolated from the Mississippi River; Crawford RL et al.; A strain of Bacillus brevis isolated from a polluted section of the Mississippi River was shown to utilize 5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzoate (5-chlorosalicylate) as a sale source of carbon and energy . Enzymic analyses of cell-free extracts prepared from 5-chlorosalicylate-grown cells demonstrated that the initial step in the pathway involved cleavage of the aromatic ring between C1 and C2 by a specific 5-chlorosalicylate 1,2-dioxygenase . Loss of chloride from the growth substrate occurred after ring fission and was probably enzyme mediated . An intermediate chlorolactone apparently lost chloride by enzymatic hydrolysis with formation of maleylpyruvate . Maleylpyruvate was further degraded by both glutathione-dependent and glutathione-independent mechanisms, with these reactions being identical to the terminal reactions of the gentisate pathway . It was suggested that this novel 5-chlorosalicylate pathway may have evolved by recruitment of enzymes from an ancestral gentisate pathway.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Sep, 32(9), 952 - 8
Metabolic products of microorganisms . 184 . On the mode of action of cladosporin; Anke H; Cladosporin, a fungal isocoumarin derivative, strongly inhibits the uptake and thereby the incorporation of uracil and leucine into cells of Bacillus brevis and the incorporation of uridine but not leucine into cells of the ascitic form of Ehrlich carcinoma (ECA) of mice . Normal uptake was not restored by removal of the antibiotic . In cells of Escherichia coli A 19-15 (met-) the inhibition of methionine uptake is associated with the cessation of growth . In a methionine-prototrophic revertant from this organism, the uptake of methionine is still inhibited; growth, however, is hardly affected by cladosporin . In vitro no effect on the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from E . coli and on the RNA polymerase II from wheat germ could be detected . The poly(U)-directed poly(Phe) synthesis was also not inhibited by cladosporin . It is concluded that cladosporin inhibits uptake processes which, for the case of essential nutrients, leads to loss of viability.

Arch Esp Urol, 1979 Sep-Oct, 32(5), 417 - 26
{The BCG as coadjuvant in the treatment of bladder carcinoma}; Rodrigues Netto N Jr et al.; Thirty one patients with bladder carcinoma of different grades and stages were treated by endoscopic surgery and oral administration of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) . They were randomly separated in two groups: one was treated surgically and the other was treated surgically and with the BCG . According to the ability to develop an immune response to the antigens, patients were divided into three groups . The group who had been treated by endoscopic surgery only had 7 patients with recurrent bladder cancer during a median interval of 30 months . The group treated surgically and with BCG had only one patient with bladder cancer recurrence within a median follow-up period of 30 months . The results obtained with the use of BCG inducing tumor regression seem to indicate a favorable response.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1979 Sep, 16(3), 353 - 61
Correlation of aminoglycoside dosages with serum concentrations during therapy of serious gram-negative bacillary disease; Reymann MT et al.; We prospectively evaluated serum aminoglycoside (AMG) concentrations in 120 patients who received gentamicin or tobramycin for serious gram-negative bacillary disease . AMG serum concentrations were assayed by microbiological and radioimmunoassay techniques . Correlation between the two assay methods was good . When AMG doses were based on total body weight, there was no significant correlation between AMG dosage administered and serum concentrations in patients with either normal or abnormal renal function . The use of ideal body weight for calculation of AMG dosage improved this correlation significantly except in hemodialysis patients . AMG-induced nephrotoxicity occurred in 13 patients . No significant association was noted between the occurrence of toxicity and the specific AMG given or with other commonly recognized risk factors . Among study groups, peak AMG serum concentrations failed to exceed the minimal inhibitory concentration of the infecting organism in 17 to 33% of the cases . Serum inhibitory levels of greater than or equal to 1:8 were not associated with improved survival . There was no significant difference in mortality between the gentamicin- and tobramycin-treated groups . We advise base-line serum AMG levels in seriously ill patients with gram-negative bacillary disease and additional bacteriological studies in selected situations.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Sep-Oct, 48(5), 880 - 6
{Electron microscopic study of the interaction between phages and Bacillus thuringiensis cells}; Smirnova TA et al.; The interaction of phages belonging to different morphological groups with the cells of Bacillus thuringiensis var . galleriae R and S variants was studied . No adsorption of phages Tg11 and Tg18 on the cells of R variant was found upon infection in a liquid medium . What is characteristic of phage Tg11 is that it is predominantly adsorbed at the poles of S variant cells . Phage Tg18 particles are uniformly distributed along the perimeter of S variant cells . Phage Tg13 is adsorbed on the both variant cells . Phage aggregates with the elements of cell walls having a tetrahonal assembly of the subunits can be revealed in phage Tg13 lysates . The size of the subunits is 7 nm and the distance between their centers is 11 nm . A structured element, apparently the T-layer, is involved in the adsorption of phage Tg13 on the cells.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1979 Sep, 120(3), 619 - 24
Various antigenic reactivities in delayed hypersensitivity among crystalline proteins from Mycobacterium phlei; Matsumoto J et al.; Comparisons were made of the delayed-type skin reactivity of 6 crystalline proteins purified from the cell extract of Mycobacterium phlei in guinea pigs sensitized with whole cells of the heat-killed bacillus . These highly purified proteins elicited varying degrees of cutaneous reaction . The most active protein had almost the same reactivity as purified protein derivative prepared from the culture filtrate of Mycobacterium phlei . On the other hand, the weakest protein did not elicit a marked cutaneous reaction even after injection of 3,000 times the amount of protein of the most potent one . The other 4 proteins showed moderate reactivities . The difference in antigenic potency between proteins is probably due not to the amounts of the proteins contained in the cells used for sensitization, but to their structure.

Clin Orthop, 1979 Sep, (143), 15 - 29
A new look at the epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis and related syndromes; Masi AT et al.; Among the rheumatic diseases, non so clearly illustrates the relations between host and environmental factors as the seronegative spondyloarthropathy group of disorders . The strongest association is with the histocompatibility antigen HLA-B27, which accounts for a striking susceptibility to these diseases and is present in over 90% of individuals with idiopathic ankylosing spondylitis . Next in importance appears to be a difference in sex penetrance with males predominating in all categories . The most dramatic sex relationship is with postvenereal Reiter's syndrome which has a male-to-female ratio of nearly 50:1 . Another potent host factor is age, with increased predisposition to onset at puberty and young adulthood in HLA-B27-positive patients . Environmental or possibly infectious agent influence are most apparent in Reiter's syndrome, where the antecedent circumstances of venereal contact and bacillary dysentery are frequent precipitating events . Secondary forms of peripheral arthritis, radiographic sacroiliitis, and ankylosing spondylitis frequently occur in psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease; in the case of peripheral arthritis, there is no or a significantly reduced association with HLA-B27 compared to AS or RS . Secondary factor seem to be contributing to spondyloarthropathy in these disorders . These iterrelations emphasize the powerful effects of host characteristics on the type of rheumatic disease syndrome acquired and provide superb opportunities for more precise understanding of disease pathogenesis and ultimate control through the integration of epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory research.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Sep-Oct, 48(5), 868 - 72
{Structure and physico-chemical properties of bacterial flagella}; Biriuzova VI et al.; The structural organization of bacterial flagella was studied with Bacillus brevis and Escherichia coli MS 1350 . The presence of a spherical body at the basis of a flagellum was confirmed . The structural organization of ingredients of the flagellar appratus, its inner and outer part, was investigated . The molecular weight of protein subunits in the filamentous portion of the flagellum was assayed as well as their amino acid composition . The mode of attachment of the flagellum to the cell is discussed.

Infect Immun, 1979 Sep, 25(3), 797 - 804
Inhibition by human serum of lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by purified protein derivative of tuberculin and bacillus Calmette-Guérin; Herman-Brand R et al.; The addition of normal human serum to murine lymphocyte cultures consistently depressed mitogen-induced transformation, as measured by deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis . Stimulation by the B-cell mitogens purified protein derivative-tuberculin, bacillus Calmette-Guerin, and lipopolysaccharide was consistently affected, but there was no inhibition of T-cells when human serum was added to concanavalin A-stimulated cultures . The inhibitory effects were not due to cytotoxic factors for B-lymphocytes or to specific antibodies in serum directed against the mitogens . Analogous results were found with guinea pig serum . Contact of the lymphocytes with the serum within the first 24 h of culture was necessary for inhibition.

Cancer Res, 1979 Sep, 39(9), 3720 - 4
A comparative clinical and immunological assessment of methanol extraction residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin versus placebo in patients with advanced cancer; O'Connell MJ et al.; Eighty-four patients with advanced cancer refractory to conventional therapeutic modalities were randomly assigned in double-blind fashion to one of three intradermal treatment regimens: "high"-dose methanol extraction residue fraction of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (MER) (2.0 mg); "low"-dose MER (0.5 mg); or 0.9% NaCl solution placebo . Toxicity, consisting primarily of cutaneous inflammation and ulceration, was limited to patients receiving MER and was most severe with the high-dose regimen . Pretreatment clinical and immunological parameters were comparable between patient groups . Although a significant number of patients had increases in various immune parameters according to the criteria used, there was no appearent advantage to MER given in either dosage schedule compared to placebo . Patient survival was not affected by either MER regimen compared to placebo . This investigation failed to demonstrate any significant clinical or immunological benefit from MER given in two dosage regimens in patients with advanced cancer with the laboratory methodology used and emphasizes the importance of appropriate controls in evaluating immunostimulants in humans.

Cancer Res, 1979 Sep, 39(9), 3673 - 6
Toxicity of intrapleural Bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatment in animals; Filardi MJ et al.; The toxicity of intrapleural Tice strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection was tested in hamsters . Doses above 10(6) colony-forming units caused significant systemic infection, which could be controlled with conventional antituberculosis therapy . Living BCG in the pleural space did not prevent the healing of bronchial or vascular closures after pulmonary resection . Prophylactic intrapleural BCG (10(6) colony-forming units) significantly reduced tumor growth in the lungs of mice following i.v . injection of 5 x 10(5) syngeneic sarcoma cells . These animal experiments suggest that intrapleural BCG may be administered in the pleural space after lung resection in limited doses if followed by a complementary course of antimicrobial therapy.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Sep, 139(3), 889 - 98
Regulation of phosphoglycerate phosphomutase in developing forespores and dormant and germinated spores of Bacillus megaterium by the level of free manganous ions; Singh RP et al.; The large depot of phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) which is accumulated within spores of Bacillus megaterium is greater than 99% 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3-PGA) . The 3-PGA depot is stable in forespores and dormant spores, but is utilized rapidly during spore germination . When spores were germinated in KBr plus NaF, the PGA depot was not utilized, but 13% of the 3-PGA was converted to 2-PGA . These data suggest phosphoglycerate phosphomutase as the enzyme which is regulated to allow 3-PGA accumulation during sporulation . Young isolated forespores, in which 3-PGA was normally stable, utilized their 3-PGA rapidly when incubated with Mn2+ plus the divalent cation ionophore X-537A; Mn2+ or ionophore alone or Mg2+ or Ca2+ plus ionophore was without effect . Young forespores contained significant amounts of Mn2+ . However, forespore Mn2+ exchanged slowly with exogenous Mn2+ and was removed poorly by toluene treatment . This suggests that much of the forespore Mn2+ is tightly bound to some forespore component . Since phosphoglycerate phosphomutase from B . megaterium has an absolute and specific requirement for Mn2+, these data suggest that the activity of this enzyme in vivo may be regulated to a large degree by the level of free Mn2+ . Indeed, the activity of this enzyme in forespore or dormant spore extracts was stimulated greater than 25-fold by Mn2+, whereas comparable extracts from cells or germinated spores were stimulated only two- to fourfold.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Sep, 99(3), 623 - 8
Effects of apramycin, a novel aminoglycoside antibiotic on bacterial protein synthesis; Perzynski S et al.; 1 . The novel aminoglycoside antibiotic apramycin is shown to be a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis in bacteria both in vivo and in vitro . 2 . In cell-free systems from Escherichia coli programmed with poly(U), apramycin induces translation errors, as assayed by incorporation of leucine, isoleucine and serine, although this effect occurs only to a limited extent . 3 . Apramycin inhibits the translocation step of protein synthesis both in vivo, in protoplasts of Bacillus megaterium, and in vitro, in cell-free systems from E . coli . It is proposed that this is the primary inhibitory effect of the drug.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Sep, (9), 41 - 5
{Immunologic study of the cellular components of bacillus pyocyaneus . V . Antigenic analysis of slime and its fractions}; Zaidner IG et al.; Various slime fractions were obtained from newly isolated mucoid strains of P . aeruginosa by the method of ultrafiltration or differential centrifugation with subsequent gel chromatography . Purified slime was found to react with a broader spectrum of typing O sera than the corresponding cell wall lipopolysaccharides . Erythrocytic diagnostic preparations produced on the basis of slime antigens allowed to reveale the presence of circulating antibodies against P . aeruginosa . The slime components with molecular weight of 30,000--100,000 daltons and greater contained common antigenic determinants, and the slime components with molecular weight of 10,000--30,000 daltons contained both specific antigenic determinants and those also common to the high molecular components.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Sep, 114(1), 201 - 6
Nigericin-induced death of an acidophilic bacterium; Guffanti AA et al.; At an external pH of 3.5, nigericin (which catalyses an electroneutral H+/K+ exchange) abolished the transmembrane proton gradient (delta pH) of Bacillus acidocaldarius, causing a rapid acidification of the cytoplasm from approximately pH 6.0 to pH 3.5 . A pronounced loss of viability and fine-structural changes rapidly followed treatment with nigericin . A marked decline in respiration and an even more rapid decrease in cytoplasmic ATP were observed . Activity of at least one cytoplasmic enzyme decreased more slowly . There was no generalized loss in the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane, as assayed by permeability to inulin or Na+ or by release of ultraviolet light-absorbing compounds . The loss of viability upon treatment with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone was similar to what observed with nigericin, so proton influx alone, rather than together with K+ efflux, was probably involved in the death of the organism . Moreover, acidification of the cytoplasm rather than abolition of the delta pH was the lethal event, since no loss of viability was observed when the delta pH was abolished by elevation of the external pH.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Aug 15, 99(1), 49 - 55
Biological role of gramicidin S in spore functions . Studies on gramicidin-S-negative mutants of Bacillus brevis ATCC9999; Marahiel MA et al.; Gramicidin-S-negative mutants of Bacillus brevis ATCC9999 have been isolated with a remarkly higher yield after ethidium bromide or acridine orange treatment, than after N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment . Four (MIV, Smr170, R5 and EB 16) of 38 isolated mutants were characterized with respect to the lesion in gramicidin-S-synthesizing activity . The mutants sporulate to the same extent as the parental strain except mutant Smr 170 which sporulates less . However, mutant spores were more heat-sensitive and possessed a reduced level of dipicolinic acid content . No significant difference was observed in the germination time of wild-type and mutant spores . All spores germinated after 80--110 min, but the outgrowth time was different: all gramicidin-S-negative mutants grew out immediately after germination whereas wild-type spores required a lag period of 9--10 h . When the mutants were allowed to sporulate in the presence of gramicidin S, the spores were found to be heat-resistant and their outgrowth postponed to the same period as the parent spores . The addition of gramicidin also eliminated the deficiency of dipicolinic acid . A new class of gramicidin-S-negative mutant, R5, which only activates L-valine and L-leucine, is described . A possible biological function of gramicidin S in the heat-resistance and in the timing of spore outgrowth is discussed.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Aug 10, 254(15), 6838 - 41
Sequence-specific endonuclease Bgl I . Modification of lysine and arginine residues of the homogeneous enzyme; Lee YH et al.; The sequence-specific endonuclease Bgl I from Bacillus globigii (RUB561) has been purified to homogeneity as determined by denaturing polyacrylamide gel analysis . The active form of the enzyme is a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of 32,000 . The enzyme requires Mg2+ in the reaction mixture and displays a broad pH and monovalent cation requirement . Bgl I is not sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents but was affected by reagents that modify lysine and arginine residues . When lysine residues were modified by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, both binding and catalysis were diminished while modification of arginine residues by 2,3-butanedione inhibited the enzyme activity but had no effect on its binding properties.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Aug 10, 254(15), 6835 - 7
Identification of an NADH-linked disulfide reductase from Bacillus megaterium specific for disulfides containing pantethine 4',4''-diphosphate moieties; Swerdlow RD et al.; Bacillus megaterium contains an NADH-linked disulfide reductase that is specific for disulfides containing pantethine 4',4''-diphosphate moieties . This reductase is at its highest level in cells late in sporulation and in dormant spores, and could be involved in the formation and cleavage of coenzyme A-protein disulfides which take place late in sporulation and early in spore germination, respectively.

Isr J Med Sci, 1979 Aug, 15(8), 668 - 74
Use of enzymatic and electron microscopy (freeze-etching) methods for studying ATP-dependent masking of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids; Loyter A et al.; Membrane phospholipids of ATP-depleted chicken, rat, and toad erythrocytes are more susceptible than fresh cells to hydrolysis by phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus), phospholipase A (bee venom), or the combination of these enzymes and sphingomyelinase . ATP depletion of chicken and rat erythrocytes greatly increased the membrane phospholipid fraction, which can be extracted by dry ether . Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid attacked about 20% of the phosphatidylethanolamine of fresh chicken erythrocytes and 45% of ATP-depleted chicken erythrocytes . The intramembranous particles on the PF face of fresh chicken, rat, and toad erythrocytes are evenly distributed, while those in the same ATP-depleted erythrocytes are significantly clustered . The average distance between the intramembranous particles in the PF face of fresh chicken erythrocytes is about 13 nm, while in ATP-depleted erythrocytes it is about 30 nm . Studies with chicken erythrocytes revealed that ATP depletion is accompanied by dephosphorylation of certain membrane polypeptides . The correlation of dephosphorylation of membrane polypeptides, exposure of membrane phospholipids, and clustering of intramembranous particles is discussed.

Am J Med, 1979 Aug, 67(2), 339 - 42
Legionnaires' disease . A cause of severe abscess-forming pneumonia; Lewin S et al.; In two previously well nonsmokers fatal pneumonia developed with extensive abscess formation . Legionnaires' bacillus was the only pathogen isolated . These cases indicate that Legionnaires' bacillus is capable of causing extensive necrosis of the lung.

Cancer Res, 1979 Aug, 39(8), 3014 - 7
Effects of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide treatment on induction of macrophage cytotoxic function in mice; Stoychkov JN et al.; The effects of i.p . and s.c . Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide treatment of BALB/c x DBA/2F1 mice were studied alone and in combination with immunotherapeutic agents, pyran copolymer and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, on macrophage cytotoxic ability, As assessed by direct viable cell counts of MBL-2 leukemia cells, both Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide produced growth-inhibitory macrophages . This function after s.c . cytostatic treatment peaked at Day 1 and decreased progressively, attaining normal control values by Day 6 . When adjuvants, such as pyran and B . Calmette-Guerin, were administered i.p . simultaneously with s.c . Adriamycin or cyclophosphamide, adjuvant-induced cytotoxic function was not markedly affected . A better knowledge of the influence of cytostatic agents alone or combined with immunoadjuvants on macrophage cytotoxic ability may be useful in designing more effective chemoimmunotherapy protocols.

Biotechnol Bioeng, 1979 Aug, 21(8), 1345 - 59
Proteolytic denaturation and methods of improving the stability of glucose isomerase preparations; Adler D et al.; Evidence is provided in support of proteolytic denaturation of free and immobilized preparations of glucose isomerase from a Bacillus species . A number of methods to improve the stability with respect to proteolysis have been tested and their advantages as well as shortcomings are discussed . These methods include hollow-fiber treatment, gel permeation, thermal treatment, and addition of protease inhibitors . The half-life of the free and the cellulose acetate fiber-entrapped preparations of glucose isomerase can be significantly improved . For example, the hollow-fiber treatment can improve the half-life by an order of magnitude.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Aug, 32(8), 828 - 33
Antifungal activity upon Saccharomyces cerevisiae of iturin A, mycosubtilin, bacillomycin L and of their derivatives; inhibition of this antifungal activity by lipid antagonists; Besson F et al.; The antifungal activity of three antibiotics of the iturin group: iturin A, mycosubtilin, bacillomycin L and of eleven methylated and acetylated derivatives of these antibiotics was tested upon Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The lowest MIC values were found for natural antibiotics . The substitution of polar groups diminished the antifungal activity . Various lipids, sterols, fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters and phospholipids were tested as inhibitors of the antifungal activity of iturin A, mycosubtilin and bacillomycin L . Cholesterol was the strongest inhibitor upon the three antibiotics; ergosterol, oleic acid and cis-vaccenic acid were less potent inhibitors . Among phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline inhibited bacillomycin L and iturin A while diphosphatidyl glycerol inhibited bacillomycin L and mycosubtilin . The inhibitory effect appeared to be dependent on the nature of both the hydrophilic group and the fatty acid part of phospholipids.

Acta Neuropathol (Berl), 1979 Aug, 47(3), 183 - 8
Scanning electron microscopy of epiplexus macrophages responding to challenge by bacillus Calmette-Guerin; Merchant RE; The present investigation examined the morphological characteristics of epiplexus macrophages following a single intracisternal injection of the antigen, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) . Three days following injection of BCG (0.5 - 4.0 X 10(8) viable microorganisms), mongrel dogs were perfused with buffered aldehydes . The choroid plexus of the lateral and third ventricles was removed and routinely prepared for scanning or transmission electron microscopy . Choroid plexuses from normal animals (no BCG injection) were similarly prepared . Macrophages of normal animals possessed smooth cell surfaces with usually one to three cytoplasmic processes . Following BCG injection, a 10-fold increase in the epiplex macrophage population was observed . Furthermore, the majority of these cells presented an abundance of cell surface microappendages; including blebs, ruffles and microvilli . Cell processes and microvilli frequently mediated contacts between widely separated macrophages . These associations may play a role in the initiation and/or maintenance of the cellular immune response to BCG.

Am J Pathol, 1979 Aug, 96(2), 595 - 610
The tumoricidal properties of inflammatory tissue macrophages and multinucleate giant cells; Poste G; Peritoneal exudate cells from C3H/HeN mice infected with bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) and subcutaneous inflammatory macrophages from uninfected mice exhibit spontaneous cytotoxicity for tumor cells in vitro, but their tumoricidal activity can be increased by incubation in vitro with lymphokines released by mitogen- or antigen-stimulated lymphocytes . Inflammatory macrophages from these sites are only susceptible to activation in vitro by lymphokines for a short period (less than 4 days) following their initial emigration from the circulation to the site of inflammation . The expression of tumoricidal activity by activated macrophages is similarly short-lived (less than 4 days) . Once the tumoricidal state is lost it cannot be restored by further incubation with lymphokines in vitro . Fusion of macrophages to form multinucleate giant cells (MGCs) accompanies the loss of tumoricidal activity and the onset of resistance to activation by lymphokines, but the fusion process is not responsible for these changes, since unfused macrophages are similarly affected . Activation and acquisition of tumoricidal properties is confined to young macrophages recruited from the circulation during acute inflammation . Older macrophages and MGCs in chronic inflammatory lesions in which recruitment of new macrophages has ceased are nontumoricidal and are refractory to activation by lymphokines in vitro . These findings are discussed in relation to the efficiency of macrophage-mediated destruction of tumors in vivo and the amplification of macrophage antitumor activity by immunotherapeutic agents.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1979 Aug, 76(8), 3805 - 8
Characterization of the iron-sulfur centers in succinate dehydrogenase; Coles CJ et al.; Two techniques have been applied to the determination of the number and type (2-Fe, 4-Fe) of iron-sulfur centers in the iron-sulfur flavoprotein succinate dehydrogenase {succinate:(acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.3.99.1} . One procedure uses p-CF3C6H4SH as an extrusion reagent and Fourier transform 19F nuclear magentic resonance as the method of detection and quantitation of extruded cores of these centers in the form of {Fe2S2(SRF)4}2- and {Fe4S4(SRF)4}2- (RF = p-C6H4CF3) . The second procedure, interprotein core transfer, involves thiol displacement of iron-sulfur cores followed by specific core transfer to the apoproteins of Bacillus polymyxa ferredoxin and adrenodoxin . Detection and quantitation are accomplished by electron paramagnetic resonance of reduced proteins at low temperatures . Both procedures clearly show that succinate dehydrogenase contains two dimeric (Fe2S2) and one tetrameric (Fe4S4) centers per mole of histidyl flavin, accounting for all eight nonheme iron and eight labile sulfur atoms found by chemical analysis . These results remove uncertainties created by the less than stoichiometric amounts of binuclear centers detected by electron paramagnetic resonance after dithionite reduction and provide secure characterization of the iron-sulfur centers in this enzyme.

Cancer Res, 1979 Aug, 39(8), 3262 - 7
Nonspecific adjuvant immunotherapy of lung cancer with cell wall skeleton of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; Yasumoto K et al.; Nonspecific adjuvant immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) was given to 155 lung cancer patients . Clinical effects of the BCG-CWS treatment were estimated by comparing the survival of the BCG-CWS group with that of a historical control group on the basis of 4-year results . Significant prolongation of survival time has been observed in Clinical Stages II, III (M0) and III (M1) . However, most Stage III patients who were given the BCG-CWS treatment died of cancer itself after marked prolongation of survival time . An increase in complete cure rate has been expected only in Stages I and II . Surgicopathological staging was used in resected cases . Resected cases at any stage were sensitive to treatment with BCG-CWS . Histologically, all types of lung cancer including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and anaplastic carcinoma were sensitive to treatment with BCG-CWS . Intrapleural administration of BCG-CWS to patients with malignant pleurisy was effective in controlling the pleural effusion and prolonging the survival time . No serious complication has been experienced in our study.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Aug, (8), 63 - 7
{Cell structure and the pathogenicity of Brucella at different stages of L transformation}; Tolmacheva TA et al.; On the basis of changes in the biological properties and morphology of Br . abortus culture under the action of penicillin 3 stages of L-transformation in Brucella were determined . The prevalence of first bacilliform and then typical L-cells and rapid reversion hampering the determination of virulence were characteristic of the initial stage (passages 1-4) . Typical L-cells with the wrinkled surface, deep depressions and holes as well as a decrease in virulence and slight pathomorphological changes in the organs of the infected animals were characteristics of the intermediate stage (passages 5-10) . Typical L-cells and amorphous masses, a further decrease in virulence, pathomorphological changes of toxic character (only after the injection of L-culture in large doses) were characteristic of the late stage (from passage 11 and further on) . At all stages of L-transformation Brucella cultures showed a high reproductive capacity, binary division, the formation of elementary bodies by budding both inside and on the surface of L-cells.

Br J Surg, 1979 Aug, 66(8), 577 - 9
Two gas-gangrene-like infections due to Bacillus cereus; Fitzpatrick DJ et al.; Two cases of postoperative gas-gangrene-like infection due to Bacillus cereus are reported, drawing attention to the fact that Bacillus cereus, a common environmental bacterium, can occasionally give rise to severe post-operative infection . Characteristics of the organism related to the epidemiology and pathogenesis of such infections are discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Aug, 139(2), 486 - 94
Localization of low-molecular-weight basic proteins in Bacillus megaterium spores by cross-linking with ultraviolet light; Setlow B et al.; Two low-molecular-weight basic proteins, termed A and B proteins, comprise about 15% of the protein of dormant spores of Bacillus megaterium . Irradiation of intact dormant spores with ultraviolet light results in covalent cross-linking of the A and B proteins to other spore macromolecules . The cross-linked A and B proteins are precipitated by ethanol and can be solubilized by treatment with deoxyribonuclease (75%) or ribonuclease (25%) . Irradiation of complexes formed in vitro between deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid and a mixture of the low-molecular-weight basic proteins from spores also resulted in cross-linking of A and B proteins to nucleic acids . The dose-response curves for formation of covalent cross-links were similar for irradiation of both a protein-DNA complex in vitro and intact spores . However, if irradiation was carried out in vitro under conditions where DNA-protein complexes were disrupted, no covalent cross-links were formed . These data suggest that significant amounts of the low-molecular-weight basic proteins unique to bacterial spores are associated with spore DNA in vivo.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 Aug, 86(2), 447 - 52
Cross-linking with diimidates of glutamine synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Sekiguchi T et al.; Glutamine synthetase {EC 6.3.2.1} from Bacillus stearothermophilus was modified with diethyl malonimidate (DEM), dimethyl adipimidate (DMA), and dimethyl suberimidate (DMS) . DMA modified most epsilon-amino groups . On modification with DMA, formation of 3 to 4 cross-links/subunit resulted in a large increase in thermostability . The activity, allosteric properties and fluorescence spectrum of the enzyme were not changed on cross-linking . The SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic profiles of DEM-, DMA-, and DMS-modified enzymes suggested that the interaction berween six subunits in each of the two hexagonal rings of the protein are heterologous and are different from those between the piled subunits on different rings.

Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1979 Jul 27, 169(1), 4 - 8
The amylase-producing microflora of semi-preserved canned sausages: identification of the bacteria and characterization of their amylases; Mitrica L et al.; Thirteen strains of amylase-producing bacteria were isolated from semi-preserved canned sausages and their ingredients . All belonged to the genus Bacillus, and could be separated into 4 different groups . Two groups were different strain of B . subtilis, one was B . amyloliquefaciens and the last was B . macerans . The identification of the different bacteria species was supported by disc gel electrophoresis of the supernatant culture fluid, after growth . The amylases were characterized with regard to temperature optimum, pH optimum and thermostability . Although some of the amylases appear to be quite thermostable, the only explanation for starch degradation in semi-preserved foods seems to be the amylase production from outgrowing spores which survived the heat treatment.

Biochemistry, 1979 Jul 10, 18(14), 3045 - 50
Potentiometric titrations and oxidation-reduction potentials of manganese and copper-zinc superoxide dismutases; Lawrence GD et al.; Bovine erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and two manganese-containing superoxide dismutases have been reduced by the indirect coulometric titration method with methylviologen as the mediator-titrant . On the basis of the titration data the manganese-containing superoxide dismutases contain 1 g-atom of metal per mol of enzyme (dimer) . E0' = +0.31 V for the enzyme from Escherichia coli which exhibits a complicated pH dependence above neutral pH . The Bacillus stearothermophilus manganese-containing enzyme has an E0' = +0.26 V and delta Em/pH is 50 mV . Bovine erythrocyte superoxide dismutase exhibits anomalous behavior in the coulometric titration curves, which is indicative of two nonequivalent copper centers in the enzyme . Addition K3Fe(CN)6 or K2IrCl6 to the enzyme solution, prior to coulometric titration, indicates that these anions bind preferentially to one of the copper centers.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Jul 10, 254(13), 5672 - 83
Purification and characterization of a carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase of Bacillus megaterium acting on the tetrapeptide moiety of the peptidoglycan; DasGupta H et al.; The enzyme carboxypeptidase-IIW of Bacillus megaterium incorporates free diaminopimelate into purified bacterial walls . This enzyme can be solubilized from toluene-treated cells by LiCl extraction and has now been purified 106-fold to one major band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The enzyme has an apparent molecular weight of approximately 60,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration . Carboxypeptidase-IIW requires divalent cations and thiol group(s) for optimal activity . Product analysis indicates that the enzyme can hydrolyze the terminal D-alanine from the tetrapeptide of the peptidoglycan or replace it with a variety of amino acids with D-asymmetric centers for transpeptidation . Substrate specificity studies reveal that the enzymatic activity depends on the presence of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine of the GlcNAc-MurNAc-tetrapeptide . This specificity of carboxypeptidase-IIW for the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine explains in part the affinity of the enzyme for the cell wall of B . megaterium . The enzyme is compared to the carboxypeptidases-transpeptidases of other organisms with the similarities and differences discussed.

Can Med Assoc J, 1979 Jul 7, 121(1), 45 - 54
Oral administration of BCG as an adjuvant to surgical treatment of carcinoma of the bronchus; Miller AB et al.; A controlled clinical trial of the value of bacille Calmette--Guerin (BCG) vaccine given orally to patients with resectable carcinoma of the lung was conducted in 18 centres across Canada . A total of 308 patients were included in the analysis, 155 in the BCG group and 153 in the control group . The two groups were similar at the time of admission to the trial . BCG (120 mg) was given orally at weekly intervals for 1 month, every 2 weeks up to 3 months and then every 3 months until the total duration of therapy was 18 months . Over a 3- to 5-year follow-up period after the operation there was no difference in survival between the two groups, the proportion alive at 2 years being 61% in the BCG group and 58% in the control group . There was also no evidence of differences in the time to the detection of recurrent or metastatic disease or in the distribution of such disease . An analysis of prognostic factors confirmed the poor survival associated with histologically confirmed lymph node involvement . It may be concluded that no favourable effect from the oral administration of BCG was demonstrated.

Lab Anim, 1979 Jul, 13(3), 257 - 61
The influence of Bacillus piliformis (Tyzzer) infections on the reliability of pharmacokinetic experiments in mice; Fries AS et al.; The half-lives of warfarin and trimethoprim were significantly longer in mice acutely infected with Bacillus piloformis and in mice which ad clinically recovered from previous experimental infection with the organism . The volume of distribution of trimethoprim but not of warfarin was significantly greater in infected mice than in controls . Body clearances of warfarin was significantly reduced in both disease states . For trimethoprim this parameter was only reduced in the acute state of the disease . The importance of careful control of Tyzzer's disease in laboratory animals for use in pharmacological research is stressed.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Jul, 32(7), 734 - 9
In vitro actions of some antibiotics on phospholipases; Sugatani J et al.; The effects of some antibiotics on activities of phospholipase A2, B and C were investigated in vitro . Tetracyclines, macrolides, chloramphenicol and carbenicillin inhibited the activity of Crotalus adamanteus phospholipase A2 towards phospholipids of egg-yolk emulsions . When the ability to inhibit the activity of Penicillium notatum phospholipase B towards mixed micelles of phosphatidylcholine and Triton X-100 was investigated, polymyxin B was found to be inhibitory while chloramphenicol and carbenicillin were found to stimulate the activity of the phospholipase . The activity of Bacillus cereus phospholipase C towards the mixed micelles was inhibited by bleomycin, oleandomycin and chloramphenicol.

Chronobiologia, 1979 Jul-Sep, 6(3), 187 - 201
Circadian influence on the immunization of mice with live Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and subsequent challenge with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma; Tsai TH et al.; Non-specific immunostimulation with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is of current interest in the treatment of cancer . The main objective of the series of experiments described in this paper was to evaluate the influence the host's circadian system has on a . the stimulation of the immune system with BCG and b . the subsequent efficiency of that stimulated immune system against the Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) . There was a circadian rhythm in the length of survival time in non-immunized mice challenged with the EAC . Mice receiving an EAC challenge during the middle of the light period survived significantly longer than those challenged with the EAC around the time of transition from dark to light . Mice immunized with BCG and challenged with EAC also demonstrated a circadian rhythm in the length of survival 30 days after EAC challenge with 86% survivors in the mice treated at 10(00) and 60% survivors in the mice treated at 07(00) . The same relationship was also observed 70 and 80 days after EAC challenge . Eighty days after EAC challenge, a circadian rhythm was apparent in the frequency of solid tumors at the site of the initial EAC injection . The highest incidence of solid tumors occurred at 13(00) . A circadian rhythm was found in the increase in body weight between the first and second BCG or saline injections . Rectal temperatures recorded on the 8th, 12th and 16th day after EAC challenge were characterized by circadian rhythmicity . In the mice without development of ascites, the peak temperature consistently occurred at 01(00) . In the mice with ascites there was a phase advance in the rectal temperature rhythm of 3 h so that the peak in the rhythm consistently occurred at 22(00) . In the mice with ascites a further finding was an increasing hypothermia as the ascites continued to develop; however, this hypothermia was not detectable during the time of the peak (10(00)) in the temperature rhythm . The mice which did not die by the 80th day after EAC challenge were challenged again with 5.0 x 10(6) EAC cells, and during the next 46 days circadian variations were observed in the numbers of mice which survived . Similar changes were observed during an additional 46 days after a third EAC challenge of 41.5 x 10(6) cells.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Jul-Aug, 48(4), 716 - 22
{Bacteriocin-like factor in Bacillus thuringiensis}; Netyksa EM et al.; The paper describes Bacillus thuringiensis var . galleriae strains possessing a bacteriocin-like factor (factor K) which inhibits the cultures of a number of serotypes of Bac . thuringiensis . The K+ cultures exhibit no antibacterial effect on other gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms . The maximal level of factor K is found by the 8--9th hour of cultivation . No correlation has been established between the strucutred elements in the preparations of K+ cultures and the antibacterial activity . Apparently, factor K can be transferred to other strains.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Jul-Aug, 48(4), 681 - 8
{Ultrastructural organization of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans cells and spores}; Golovacheva RS; The ultrastructural organization of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans cells and spores was studied by electron microscopy using the techniques of negative contrasting and thin sections . The cell wall was found to be 20--25 nm thick and to consist of a rigid layer bound to the cytoplasmic membrane with crosspieces . A microcapsule about 20 nm thick having an ordered structure is closely associated with the cell wall . A layer of slime which can reach 0.2--0.3 mcm and more in thickness is located at the outside . The flagellar apparatus is absent . The membranous apparatus has a peculiar structure . On thin cross-sections of intact cells, the cytoplasmic membrane profile is stained sharply asymmetrically . Numerous membrane invaginates located in the cytoplasm are morphologically simple vesicular formations and structures of a rather complicated unusual configuration . Lamella-like structures are also encountered, which divide, as it were, the cytoplasm into compartments . The contours of the intracellular membranes look thicker as compared with the cytoplasmic membrane . Small vesicular formations are occasionally encountered in the periplasm . Vast areas with inclusions of unknown chemical nature having a fine granular structure are located in the cytoplasm . The process of sporogenesis comprises the same stages as in Bacillus, and spores have a strucutre typical of the endospores.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jul, 139(1), 126 - 31
Effect of alanine-containing dipeptides on germination of Bacillus thiaminolyticus spores; Watabe K et al.; Stereoisomeric alanylalanine (Ala-Ala) derivatives were examined for their effects on germination of Bacillus thiaminolyticus spores . L-Ala-L-Ala and L-Ala-glycine were effective in inducing germination, and their activities were completely inhibited by D-Ala . L-Ala-D-Ala and glycine-D-Ala competitively prevented L-Ala-induced germination . Sarcosine- or beta-Ala-containing L-alanyldipeptides and eight kinds of alanyltripeptides did not show any detectable effect on germinability or any inhibitory effect . No detectable amounts of Ala were found in germination exudates when alanylpeptides were incubated with spores . The ability of these peptides to induce or inhibit germination depends on their steric conformation and a certain distance between the primary amino group and the free carboxyl groups . Involvement of L-Ala dehydrogenase in the initiation of germination is unlikely because L-Ala-L-Ala was not a substrate and L-Ala-D-Ala was not an effective inhibitor of enzyme activity.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1979 Jul, 149(1), 17 - 21
Treatment for melanoma of the lower extremity with intralesional injection of bacille Calmette Guérin and hyperthermic perfusion; Storm FK et al.; Twenty-seven patients with locally recurrent melanoma of the lower extremity were treated during a six year period . Recurrences were noted with primary lesions, at Clark's level II, III, IV or V, greater than 1.7 millimeters in depth of invasion and included intransit metastases, satellitosis, subcutaneous metastases and combinations of the three . Median time to recurrence was 12 to 14 months whether or not lymphadenectomy had been performed or lymph node metastases were present . Local recurrence was treated initially with intratumor bacille Calmette Guerin; 20 of 27 patients had complete or transient disease control and 14 patients were alive at 1.5 to 55.0 months . More responders reacted to dinitrochlorobenzene and purified protein derivative skin tests, although these parameters did not predict response to therapy . If intratumor bacille Calmette Guerin therapy did not control local disease or if the disease progressed toward the upper third of the thigh, patients underwent hyperthermic perfusion with L-phenylalanine mustard . Nine patients underwent ten therapeutic perfusions with objective response in seven of nine, with five being alive at two to 65 months . Intratumor bacille Calmette Guerin therapy and subsequent hyperthermic perfusion in bacille Calmette Guerin failures are rational treatment alternatives for locally recurrent melanomas of the extremity.

Cancer Res, 1979 Jul, 39(7 Pt 1), 2544 - 6
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin enhancement of colony-stimulating activity and myeloid colony formation following administration of cyclophosphamide; Ladisch S et al.; Pretreatment of mice with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) enhances recovery of the peripheral granulocyte count from cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced leukopenia . In the present study, in vitro bone marrow culture was used to assess the effect of BCG pretreatment on serum levels of myeloid colony-stimulating activity and on regeneration of bone marrow myeloid colony-forming units (CFU-c) following CTX . C57BL/6 mice received either BCG or 0.9% NaCl solution i.p . 8 days prior to the administration of CTX (300 mg/kg i.p.) . Following CTX, peak serum levels of myeloid colony-stimulating activity were strikingly higher in the BCG-pretreated mice {1320 +/- 30 (S.E.) units} than in the 0.9% NaCl solution-pretreated mice (764 +/- 37 units) . BCG pretreatment also resulted in higher numbers of marrow CFU-c during recovery from CTX (e.g., 43.9 +/- 1.8 versus 20.0 +/- 0.9 myeloid colonies/10(5) marrow cells, Day 3 post-CTX) . However, neither the rate of decline nor the absolute nadir of CFU-c, nor CFU-c cell cycle characteristics were affected by the pretreatment . The initial effect of i.p . BCG pretreatment on recovery from CTX-induced granulocytopenia is an augmentation of serum myeloid colony-stimulating activity which precedes the enhanced regeneration of CFU-c and the accelerated recovery of the peripheral granulocyte count.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Jul, 244(2-3), 275 - 84
The bacillus cereus toxin: isolation of permeability factor; Ezepchuk Yu V et al.; The Bacillus cereus protein has been obtained from culture fluid in homogenic form as indicated by SDS-disc electrophoresis and immunodiffusion not described before . The protein has a molecular weight of 100000 daltons . Purification was accomplished by the following steps: (1) removal of ballast nitrous components with DE-32 cellulose at pH 7.2; (2) removal of the proteins from the culture filtrate (deluted four times by water) with DE-32 cellulose at pH 8.6; (3) elution by 0.005 M tris-HCl buffer at pH 7.0 containing 0.5 M NaCl; (4) column rechromatography on DE-32 cellulose at pH 8.6 . The isolated protein was identified as a vascular permeability factor acording to the bluing zone in rabbit skin tests or to the bluing lung tissue in mice.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Jul, 98(1), 261 - 5
Binding of thiostrepton to a complex of 23-S rRNA with ribosomal protein L11; Thompson J et al.; Thiostrepton binds with high affinity and with a 1 : 1 stoichiometry to a complex formed between Escherichia coli 23-S ribosomal RNA and ribosomal protein L11 of E . coli or the homologous protein BM-L11 of Bacillus megaterium . In the presence of T1 ribonuclease, protein BM-L11 and thiostrepton protect from degradation a fragment of E . coli 23-S RNA estimated to be about 50 nucleotides in length.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Jul, 97(2), 541 - 5
Methylation of basic proteins in ribosomes from wild-type and thiostrepton-resistant strains of Bacillus megaterium and their electrophoretic analysis; Cannon M et al.; Ribosomes, radioactively labelled in vivo with both {1-14C}methionine and {methyl-3H}methionine, have been isolated from both wild-type and thiostrepton-resistant strains of Bacillus megaterium and their constituent proteins separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis . Ribosomes from the wild-type strain possess one basic protein that is extensively methylated . In contrast no such protein can be detected in ribosomes from the thiostrepton-resistant strain.

Dig Dis Sci, 1979 Jul, 24(7), 560 - 4
Rod-shaped organism in the liver of a patient with Whipple's disease; Viteri AL et al.; Histological review of a liver biopsy from a patient with known Whipple's disease revealed a prominence of Kupffer cells containing PAS-positive granules . Electron microscopy revealed rod-shaped organisms in the Kupffer cells but the presence of these structures were not associated with overt liver injury . This is thought to be the first reported demonstration of these bacillary bodies in this location.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Jun 10, 254(11), 4863 - 75
Cleavage of a COOH-terminal hydrophobic region from D-alanine carboxypeptidase, a penicillin-sensitive bacterial membrane enzyme . Characterization of active, water-soluble fragments; Waxman DJ et al.; D-Alanine carboxypeptidase (CPase), a detergent-soluble penicillin-sensitive membrane enzyme of Bacillus stearothermophilus, Mr = 46,500, was digested with either trypsin or alpha-chymotrypsin to yield water-soluble fragments, designated T-CPase and Chy-CPase, respectively, each of Mr = approximately 45,000 . These fragments were generated and purified in milligram quantities by digestion of CPase covalently immobilized on a penicillin affinity column . They retained full enzymatic activity, became significantly more resistant to thermal inactivation, and lost micellar detergent binding upon proteolysis . Each was derived from CPase by loss of a COOH-terminal hydrophobic peptide . CPase was reconstituted into bacterial lipid vesicles in an enzymatically active form . Penicillin-binding sites were equally distributed on both sides of the lipid bilayer, suggesting a random orientation of the CPase molecules . Neither T-CPase nor Chy-CPase reconstituted into lipid vesicles when treated in an identical manner . CPase was slowly cleaved from the surface of these vesicles by either trypsin or alpha-chymotrypsin, yielding T-CPase and Chy-CPase, respectively . These results demonstrate that CPase is comprised of a water-soluble catalytic domain and a COOH-terminal hydrophobic region which mediates the anchoring of this enzyme to the bacterial membrane.

Nature, 1979 Jun 7, 279(5713), 500 - 4
Structure and control of phosphofructokinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Evans PR et al.; The allosteric enzyme phosphofructokinase binds its substrate fructose-6-phosphate between two subunits of the tetramer, and allosteric effectors between another pair of subunits . The effector binding site accommodates both the activator and the inhibitor . The substrate cooperativity and allosteric control are mediated by these ligand bridges between subunits.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Jun 6, 568(2), 395 - 407
The solubilisation of the membrane-bound D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase of Bacillus coagulans NCIB 9365; McArthur HA et al.; Protoplast membranes and the particulate D,D-carboxypeptidase of Bacillus coagulans NCIB 9365 were extremely resistant to disruption by either detergents or urea . A combination of urea and the non-ionic detergent Genapol X-100 was required to achieve a significant solubilisation of membrane protein and D,D-carboxypeptidase in an active form; the pH optimum for this treatment was pH 7.5 . Solubilisation of the enzyme was accompanied by a two-fold enhancement of activity . Kinetic results indicated that the enhancement may be due to an alteration in the conformation of the enzyme following disruption of membrane structure.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {B}, 1979 Jun, 168(5-6), 538 - 45
Study on the possibility of adopting a complex method in Blattella germanica (L.) control on board ships; Ulewicz K et al.; Campaings to control the German cockroach, Blattela germanica, were conducted at 14-day intervals over a period of 5.5 months on two merchant vessels of similar size and type . On one ship only the chemical "Gertoks", carbamate insecticide containing 1% propoxur was applied, and on the second ship two preparations simultaneously, a chemical and a biological--"Biotrol 25 W" containing Bacillus thuringiensis . - In order to assess the success of the control, the extent of infestation in the accomodation was determined immediately before and 24 h after the spraying . - The susceptibility of the cockroaches caught on the ships, to the two preparations applied, was also determined . It was found that "Gertoks" was an efficient preparation, the biopreparation "Biotrol 25 W" being less efficient . - A certain increase in resistance of the cockroaches to both preparations, was noted . - The above observations indicate that a considerable drop in numbers of population of cockroaches can be achieved if the ship's crew carry out systematic thorough spraying of ships quarters infested by cockroaches, with Gertoks" . They also confirm previous suggestions that complex method in B . germanica control on board ships is possible, using chemical and biological preparations containing Bac . thuringiensis spores simultaneously.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 Jun, 37(6), 1113 - 7
Comparison of the efficacy of steam sterilization indicators; Lee CH et al.; Twenty-one commercially available chemical steam sterilization indicators were processed in an empty autoclave for various times at temperatures between 240 and 270 degrees F (ca . 116 and 132 degrees C) . The time required to reach a sterilized reading at each temperature was plotted on a semilogarithmic time-temperature plot and compared with the time-temperature sterilization curve for Bacillus stearothermophilus . Five of the indicators had time-temperature kinetics similar to those of B . stearothermophilus, but three of these overestimated the effect of processing . Two of the indicators overestimated the effect of processing and were less sensitive to temperature changes when was B . stearothermophilus . Thirteen of the indicators had time-temperature curves that crossed the B . stearothermophilus plot . One indicator produced such ambiguous results that no determinations could be made with it . Out of 21 indicators tested, only 2 appear to be capable of accurately integrating the time-temperature effect at temperatures between 240 and 270 degrees F . The other indicators should be used only after careful analysis of their suitability for use at a given temperature.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jun, 138(3), 999 - 1009
Isolation, characterization, and in vitro assembly of the tetragonally arrayed layer of Bacillus sphaericus; Hastie AT et al.; The tetragonally arranged cell wall layer (T-layer) of Bacillus sphaericus NTCC 9602 was isolated and characterized . Parallel studies were made on a spontaneous variant of the wild-type strain which had a T-layer subunit of altered molecular weight . A purification method for the T-layers was devised which involved separation of the cell walls from the cytoplasmic contents, urea dissociation of the T-layer from the cell walls, removal of soluble contaminants by differential centrifugation, and finally selective adsorption of uncleaved subunits to sacculi . The purified subunits retained the capacity to form an assembly in vitro with the same lattice parameters as that observed on whole cells or cell walls and could readsorb to the cell walls from which they had been extracted . Both the wild-type and the variant subunits behaved as single, homogeneous polypeptide chains . Carbohydrate assay and isoelectric point determinations revealed that both subunit types were acidic glycoproteins . Values obtained for thebuoyant density, isoelectric point, and extinction coefficient differed minimally; major differences were observed in the molecular weight and the characterisitc width of cylinders formed by in vitro-assembled T-layer of the wild-type and variant . Assembled T-layer was subject to alkaline or acid dissociation and in acid titration dissociated at its isoelectric point.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jun, 138(3), 1010 - 21
Specific interaction of the tetragonally arrayed protein layer of Bacillus sphaericus with its peptidoglycan sacculus; Hastie AT et al.; Tetragonal layer protein (T-layer) isolated from Bacillus sphaericus NTCC 9602 (wild type) or 9602 Lmw (variant) bonded specifically to the sacculi (peptidoglycan) of either cell type . Only uncleaved T-layer subunits were capable of specific recognition of the B . sphaericus sacculi; other Bacillus strains and gram-positive bacterial sacculi would not adsorb B . sphaericus strain 9602 T-layer . The peptidogylcan did not function as a template since isolated T-layer subunits self-assembled into characteristic pattern . Upon reassociation with sacculi, T-layer assemblies were randomly oriented patches compared with more continuous strictly oriented pattern on cells or fresh cell walls . T-layer associated with the sacculus was less susceptible to conditions that dissociated in vitro-assembled T-layer . Mild proteolysis of both wild-type and variant T-layer subunits by a variety of enzymes reduced the molecular weight by 18,000 in all cases, indicating that one region of the molecule was particularly susceptible to cleavage . Subunits from which the minor fragment had been cleaved upon aging retained the capacity to assemble in vitro, but would no longer adsorb to sacculi . Thus, the ability of T-layer to form networks was separate from its ability to bind cell walls, and the 18,000-dalton piece of the T-layer polypeptide was necessary for attachment to the cell wall.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1979 Jun, 148(6), 867 - 70
Intratumor bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for chest wall recurrence of carcinoma of the breast; Pardridge DH et al.; Intratumor bacillus Calmette-Guerin administration is effective for treating chest wall recurrence from carcinoma of the breast in selected patients . Our results suggest that bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy can be used alone, with systemic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or in previously irradiated tissue . It represents local treatment for local disease that is well tolerated . Intratumor bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment is a useful clinical method for the treatment of local chest wall disease.

Chest, 1979 Jun, 75(6), 685 - 7
Pulmonary manifestations in patients with malignant melanoma during BCG immunotherapy . A preliminary report; Bilgi C et al.; Ten patients with malignant melanoma who were treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) were studied with chest roentgenograms, scintiscans with radioactive 67gallium citrate, and the single-breath diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (Dsb) . Three patients (stage 1B) with normal findings had no evidence of progression of disease . Seven patients had abnormal findings on at least one test . Two patients (stage 3B and stage 4B) with focal uptake in the lungs on the scintiscan had metastatic melanoma . Three patients (stage 3B) with diffuse uptake on the scintiscan and a reduced Dsb had no evidence of progression of disease . One patient (stage 1B) with an abnormal chest roentgenogram had a benign pleural effusion, and one patient (stage 4B) with a reduced Dsb was free of melanoma . A diffuse increase in the uptake of radioactive 67gallium in the lungs and a low Dsb may not indicate progression of melanoma . On the other hand, a focal uptake of 67gallium in the lungs is highly suggestive of metastatic disease.

Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1979 Jun, 47(2), 153 - 9
Lymphocyte transformation test in healthy contacts of patients with leprosy . II . Influence of consanguinity with the patient, sex, and age; Menzel S et al.; The study was carried out in the Gurage area of Ethiopia, where 53 household contacts of lepromatous patients, 37 household contacts of tuberculoid patients, and 91 control persons were examined with the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) for their responses to whole and sonicated antigen preparation from M . leprae to BCG, M . avium, M . gordonae and phytohemagglutinin . The potential influence of host factors, namely the state of consanguinity with the leprosy patient, sex and age on the LTT responses was evaluated . In the 35 household contacts of "active," i.e., highly bacilliferous, lepromatous patients, consanguinity with a lepromatous patient was not associated with a significant depression of the LTT responses to M . leprae antigens . Male household contacts of active lepromatous patients showed significantly greater LTT responses to M . leprae antigens than female household contacts . Possible confounding factors for this finding are discussed . Sensitization of M . leprae antigens was present already in a high proportion of the 6 to 14 year old household contacts of active lepromatous patients, which was the youngest age group examined in our study . No significant results were found in any of the other patient contact groups with regard to the host factors examined.

Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1979 Jun, 47(2), 138 - 52
Lymphocyte transformation test in healthy contacts of patients with leprosy . I . Influence of exposure to leprosy within a household; Menzel S et al.; Fifty-three household contacts of lepromatous patients, 37 household contacts of tuberculoid patients, and 91 control persons were examined with the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) for their responses to whole and sonicated antigen preparations from M . leprae, to BCG, M . avium, M . gordonae, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) . The study was carried out in the Gurage area of Ethiopia in 15 households with a leprosy patient and 15 matched control households . Household contacts of lepromatous patients showed significantly greater LTT responses to antigens from M . leprae than the controls, whereas household contacts of tuberculoid patients did not respond differently from controls . Household contacts of lepromatous patients had significantly greater responses to M . leprae antigens when the index patients were "active," i.e., highly bacilliferous, than when they were "inactive," i.e., having a low bacillary load . The degree of sensitization, as indicated by the LTT response, in different exposure groups paralleled the degree of probable infectivity of the index patient . A preparation of antigen from whole M . leprae proved to be more sensitive and more specific in the LTT than did a sonicated preparation . A significant degree of cross-reactivity was found among the various mycobacteria in their LTT responses.

Cancer Res, 1979 Jun, 39(6 Pt 1), 2125 - 31
Antibody-induced movement of common melanoma membrane antigens on the surface of unfixed human melanoma cells; Leong SP et al.; Antisera to common human melanoma antigens were obtained from melanoma patients receiving autologous immunization with their own irradiated cultured melanoma cells and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin . The antibody thus derived was used to detect common antigens on the plasma membrane of three different human melanoma cell lines by membrane immunofluorescence . The antigen-antibody complexes on the surface of melanoma cells would move to a pole (capping) and would subsequently be extruded into the extracellular milieu at room temperature . Approximately 25 to 30% of viable cells were positive by immunofluorescence . However, when the cells were fixed with methanol, 60 to 70% of cells demonstrated membrane binding . Capping was inhibited at 0 degrees or when the cells were pretreated with vinblastine sulfate . It can be concluded that common tumor antigens exist on the surface of viable human melanoma cells and that the redistribution of antigen-antibody complexes is an active process . The extrusion of antigen-antibody complexes in vitro may represent a mechanism of antigenic modulation in vivo and could indicate a basic method of tumor survival since presumably the antigen-denuded cell is viable and capable of replication but not of recognition by subsequent effector immune events.

Biochem J, 1979 Jun 1, 179(3), 459 - 63
Identification of histidine residues that act as zinc ligands in beta-lactamase II by differential tritium exchange; Baldwin GS et al.; 1 . Four histidine-containing peptides have been isolated from a tryptic digest of the Zn2+-requiring beta-lactamase II from Bacillus cereus . One of these peptides probably contains two histidine residues . 2 . The presence of one equivalent of Zn2+ substantially decreases the rate of exchange of the C-2 proton in at least two and probably three of the histidine residues of these peptides for solvent 3H . 3 . It is concluded that peptides containing at least two of the three histidine residues acting as Zn2+ ligands at the tighter Zn2+-binding site of beta-lactamase II have been identified.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {B}, 1979 Jun, 168(5-6), 525 - 32
{Disinfectant testing with Bacillus spores (author's transl)}; Bohm R et al.; This paper deals with special conditions for testing the sporocidal effect of disinfectants . A method for the production of spore suspensions (Fig . 1) and the negative influence of heating to its resistance against disinfectants was described (Fig . 2) . It was shown that spores of a non-virulent strain of Bac . anthracis could be used for this procedure (Fig . 3) . In performing the suspension--and the germ-carrier test it was necessary to watch the effect of postinhibition and of inactivators . The application of 10 microliter disposible loops in the suspension-test was recommended . Since the test for the evaluation of the influence of organic matter on the results of disinfection was unreliable (Fig . 4), it was proposed to replace it by invention of a safety-factor . The germ-carrier test should be done with constant amounts of spores, dried to the surface under defined conditions . Exposition of germ-carriers to disinfectants should be done in a chamber with constant temperature and rel . humidity, since the results are strongly influenced by these factors (Fig . 5).

Biochem J, 1979 Jun 1, 179(3), 509 - 14
Unfolding and refolding of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus in solutions of guanidinium chloride; Little C et al.; 1 . Protein-fluorescence studies indicated that phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus is denatured in solutions of guanidinium chloride . The denaturation was not thermodynamically reversible and followed biphasic kinetics . 2 . Guanidinium chloride solutions released the structural Zn2+ from the enzyme and rendered all histidine residues chemically reactive . In the presence of free Zn1+ the enzyme was much more resistant to denaturation . Also, the addition for free Zn2+ to the denatured enzyme induced refolding . 3 . The Zn2+-free apoenzyme was much more sensitive to guanidinium chloride than was the native enzyme and the denaturation appeared to be thermodynamically reversible . 4 . Guanidinium chloride denaturation was associated with a reversible inactivation of the enzyme . Heat-inactivated, coagulated enzyme was substantially re-activated on dissolution in guanidinium chloride solutions followed by dialysis against a Zn2+-containing buffer.

Vet Med (Praha), 1979 Jun, 24(6), 369 - 74
{Pathogenicity of aerobically sporulating microorganisms: Bacillus cereus}; Jankova B et al.; The pathogenicity of the metabolites of B . cereus was determined by bioassays with white mice, chick embryos, rabbits, and kittens . Cell-free filtrates of the cultures of several strains of B . cereus were used for application; in the mice the application was done i . v., i . p . and p . o., in the chick embryos via the allantoic sac, in the kittens p . o . and i . p., in the rabbits via tied-up sections of the small intestine by the loop-test method . It was revealed that some strains of B . cereus produced substances of exotoxin nature under suitable conditions . White mice and chick embryos were the best materials for their detection.

Arch Microbiol, 1979 Jun, 121(3), 235 - 40
Protein synthesizing systems from spores and vegetative cells of Bacillus cereus; Douthit HA et al.; A system of polyphenylalanine synthesis was optimized for a comparison of the polymerizing activities of ribosomes from spores and vegetative cells of Bacillus cereus T . Ribosomes of both types react similarly, showing a magnesium optimum of about 6mM and spermidine optima of about 5mM and 4mM for vegative and spore ribosomes, respectively . These lead to optimum mono- to multivalent cation rations of 9 and 10 respectively at 100 mM ammonium ion . A comparison of the response of these ribosomes to suboptimal concentrations of magnesium and spermidine show that they differ qualitatively from each other, suggesting that they possess different structure, macromolecular or ionic components.

J Biol Chem, 1979 May 25, 254(10), 3991 - 9
Dissociation and reconstitution of membranes synthesizing the peptidoglycan of Bacillus megaterium . A protein factor for the polymerization step; Taku A et al.; Cholate-solubilized Bacillus megaterium membranes can be reconstituted by dialysis in the presence of magnesium ion to regain approximately 12% of the original peptidoglycan synthetic activity . Bio-Gel A-5m filtration of the solubilized components shows that all of the compounds necessary for peptidoglycan synthesis can be dissociated into material with a molecular weight of less than approximately 68,000 . Using this reconstitution system, an assay has been developed for a new protein factor, PG-II, of B . megaterium . This factor could be combined with phospho-N-acetylmuramyl pentapeptide translocase and N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase to synthesize polymerized peptidoglycan from the precursors UDP-N-acetylmuramyl pentapeptide and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine . In the absence of PG-II, the disaccharide pentapeptide substrate for the polymerase was accumulated . In the presence of this factor, the amount of the substrate was diminished and polymeric peptidoglycan was formed . Therefore, PG-II was likely to be necessary for the polymerization step and may well have been the polymerase itself . From three chromatographic steps developed for the purification of PG-II, it seemed likely that a single protein with a molecular weight of approximately 60,000 could have PG-II activity.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 May 24, 562(3), 462 - 70
Phosphatidylseryl-transfer RNA in Bacillus licheniformis 749/C; Dancer BN et al.; Phosphatidylserine has been found in extracts of Bacillus licheniformis made under alkaline conditions but not under neutral or acidic ones and was derived from the tRNA fraction . In tRNA preparations kept below neutrality during purification, phosphatidylserine was the only phospholipid released when the pH was raised to 9.0 . The amount of bound phosphatidylserine could be increased by incubating tRNA from B . licheniformis or Escherichia coli with CTP and phosphatidic acid in the presence of an S-30 extract from either organism . The tRNA carrying phosphatidylserine has been separated from the bulk of the tRNA by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography in the presence of a detergent . On deaminoacylation of this material and rechromatography on DEAE-Sephadex, a number of peaks were found, indicating that this behavior is not confined to a single isoaccepting species.

Sem Hop, 1979 May 18-25, 55(19-20), 958 - 64
{A case of autochthonous leprosy (author's transl)}; Godeau P et al.; A case is reported of autochthonous leprosy in a French patient who had never lived in an endemic zone . The disease was of the lepromatous leprosy type and the liver, spleen, skin nerves and muscles were affected . Characteristic findings were Hansen's bacillus in nasal scrapings, a deficiency in cellular immunity, and the presence of cryoglobulins and circulating immune complexes . Autochthonous leprosy which has not been imported, and without signs of direct contagion, appears to be exceptionally rare . The authors review the clinical forms of leprosy and immunological findings.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 May 17, 553(2), 213 - 23
Formation of inside-out vesicles of Bacillus licheniformis . Dependence on buffer composition and lysis procedure; Wientjes FB et al.; 1 . The extent to which the cytoplasmic membrane of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus licheniformis formed inside-out vesicles was studied with the freeze-fracture technique . The membrane orientation appeared to be dependent on the buffer compositon as well as on the lysis procedure used . 2 . By manipulating these conditions, membrane preparations were obtained with the percentage of inside-out vesicles varying from 15 to 80% . 3 . More vesicles had the opposite orientation when the cells were lysed in potassium phosphate buffer than when they were lysed in sodium phosphate buffer . Tris-HCl buffer favoured the formation of inside-out vesicles more than phosphate buffer . 4 . Lysis of protoplasts in hypotonic buffers resulted in more inside-out vesicles than did direct lysis of cells in hypotonic media . 5 . In an attempt to explain the observed differences, experiments were performed in which the morphology of thin-sectioned lysing cells in sodium phosphate buffer was compared with that in potassium phosphate buffer . The results from these experiments indicate that the formation of inside-out vesicles is brought about by an effect on the membrane itself rather than on the cell wall, on the cell wall membrane association, or on the cytoplasm.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1979 May 12, 109(19), 708 - 14
{BCG sepsis as a fatal complication of BCG vaccination}; Torriani R et al.; Fatal septicemia with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) following BCG vaccination is always caused by an underlying defect of immunologic mechanisms . At the Children's Hospital, University of Berne, two cases of BCG septicemia were recently observed . The clinical picture, course, and pathogenesis of the illness are discussed . The harmless complications of BCG vaccination are summarized, and a review of the literature on fatal disseminated BCG infection stresses the different type of immunologic mechanism defect and clinical course . Therapy with antituberculous drugs is ineffective . Other therapeutic measures are mentioned . Immunologic tests must be performed rapidly when fatal disseminated BCG infection is suspected, in order to organize genetic counselling as soon as possible . The question whether newborns should still be vaccinated in spite of the numerous complications is discussed and answered in the affirmative.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 May, 37(5), 1012 - 5
Toxicity of parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis to the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella; Schesser JH et al.; Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis parasporal crystals to the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, is described . The numbers of insects killed were in relation to crystal dry weight . Mortality was determined by comparing adult emergence in diets treated with crystals to emergence in untreated diets . There was only a 30% survival at an application of 0.414 microgram/cm2, and the mean 50% lethal concentration value was found to be 0.299 microgram/cm2 . The use of emergence data has provided a reliable and reproducible bioassay for comparing relative toxicities of crystals, spores, and other cellular components to this economically important insect.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 May, 25(5), 605 - 10
Mannose transport in Amphora coffeaeformis var . perpusilla (Bacillariophyceae); Chansang H et al.; Amphora coffeaeformis var . perpusilla is able to concentrate but not metabolize mannose . The sugar, which can be accumulated against a concentration gradient, is taken up only after a short lag . Preincubation with glucose allows immediate mannose uptake . Substances that reduce the ATP content of the diatom cells also inhibit mannose uptake as do sugars of similar stereochemical configuration . Mannose appears to act as a non-metabolizable analogue of glucose in these respects.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 May-Jun, 48(3), 509 - 13
{Amination and biosynthesis of glutamate by R- and S-forms of Bacillus thuringiensis}; Astaurova OB et al.; These studies were designed to determine the biochemical nature of the Bacillus thuringiensis growth being dependent on glutamate during cultivation in a minimal medium . This is possible to be due to the absence of enzymes which catalyze glutamic acid synthesis by direct amination of alpha-ketoglutaric acid, glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase, and a decrease in the activity of the enzyme catalyzing amination of pyruvic acid, alanine dehydrogenase . It has been shown that the lack of glutamate can be compensated by histidine and proline; in this case, the growth efficiency of R form is greater than that of S form which is consistent with an increased rate of protein synthesis of R form.

Biokhimiia, 1979 May, 44(5), 796 - 802
{Proteinases in growth and spore formation of Bacillus thuringiensis}; Chestukhina GG et al.; Some serine proteases and leucine aminopeptidases were detected inside and outside the cells during the analysis of three crystalline and two acrystalline strains of Bac . thuringiensis var . galleriae . The data obtained on the protease formation during growth and sporulation and the level of their activity are indicative of intracellular proteases involvement in spore- and crystal formation . The enzymes isolated from the culture medium do not probably take part in these processes . The intracellular enzymes may account for the different crystal protein composition of various strains due to limited proteolysis of crystal proteins in the course of biosynthesis.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1979 May, 87(5), 717 - 9
Bacillus licheniformis corneal ulcer; Tabbara KF et al.; A 46-year-old woman developed a corneal ulcer after an injury to the right eye . Cultures were positive for Bacillus licheniformis . Although resistant to some antibiotics, the corneal ulcer resolved after treatment with topical, subconjunctival, and intramuscular gentamicin sulfate.

Cancer Res, 1979 May, 39(5), 1518 - 20
Tumor regression after intralesional injection of mycobacterial components emulsified in 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene (squalene), 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane (squalane), peanut oil, or mineral oil; Yarkoni E et al.; The influence of mineral oil, squalane, squalene, or peanut oil on the antitumor activity of emulsified Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cell walls or emulsified trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate was studied in mice, each with an established transplant of a syngeneic fibrosarcoma . Each animal received an intratumoral injection of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cell walls (0.6 mg/mouse) or trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate (0.1 mg/mouse) emulsified in 1 to 10% oil . Emulsions of squalene or squalane but not peanut oil were effective substitutes for mineral oil as carriers of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cell walls in the treatment of the tumor . Trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate was therapeutically active when it was incorporated in any of these four oils . The number of animals in which tumor regressed completely depended on the concentration of oil in the emulsion.

Am J Pathol, 1979 May, 95(2), 391 - 406
Studies on experimental pulmonary granulomas . I . Detection of lymphokines in granulomatous lesions; Masih N et al.; Granulomatous reactions were immunologically induced in guinea pigs by several procedures, including intravenous injections of Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) into animals immunized with complete Freund's Adjuvant and an intravenous injection of agarose beads linked to a specific antigen (dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin) into immune animals . The tissue extracts obtained from lungs at various stages of granuloma formation were examined for macrophage migration inhibition (MIF) activity . The activity was found in a high incidence during the early stages of the granulomatous response . In contrast, MIF activity could be detected only rarely in granulomatous spleens and not in granulomatous livers . Chemotactic factor activity and mitogenic factor activity were only sporadically detectable . The MIF activity was associated with fractions showing chemical heterogeneity . One fraction was physicochemically indistinguishable from conventional lymphocyte-derived MIF; the other was a substance of large molecular weight . These results demonstrate the presence of biologically active mediators in immune granulomas, which may be related to early events involved in the induction or enhancement of such reactions.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1979 May, 63(5), 739 - 51
Treatment of osteogenic sarcoma . I . Effect of adjuvant high-dose methotrexate after amputation; Rosenburg SA et al.; Thirty-nine patients with extremity osteogenic sarcoma and no discernible metastases were treated with amputation and postoperative adjuvant high-dose methotrexate with leucovorin rescue . One half of the patients were also randomized to receive bacillus Calmette-Guerin by a multiple-puncture technique . Results have been analyzed with a minimum followup of 10 months and a median followup of 27 months . Actuarial analysis estimates that 38% of current protocol patients remain continuously free of disease for 24 months compared to only 17.4% of historical control patients (P = 0.029; one-sided generalized Kruskal-Wallis test) . Bacillus Calmette-Guerin administered by a multiple-puncture technique had no effect on disease-free interval . Minor differences between current protocol and historical control patients with regard to race, age, histologic type, and site and size of primary tumors do not affect the difference in disease-free interval between these two patient groups . However, current patients had somewhat lower grade lesions and consideration of the patients with grade III and IV lesions only, lessens the difference between current and historical control patients (P = 0.11; one-sided generalized Kruskal-Wallis test) . High-dose methotrexate was administered with virtually no morbidity and no deaths . The small differences observed in this study between protocol patients treated with surgery plus high-dose methotrexate and historical control patients treated with surgery alone point to the need for a prospective randomized study to establish the role of high-dose methotrexate in the adjuvant treatment of patients with osteogenic sarcoma.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1979 May-Jun, 36(3), 395 - 403
{Miliary tuberculosis in 27 children}; Franco Ramirez G et al.; In the course of 3 1/2 years, 27 children with miliary tuberculosis were seen at the Hospital Infantil Lorencita Villegas de Santos in Bogota, Columbia . Twenty-six percent of cases were infants under 12 months of age . Typical clinical cases were malnourished patients with impairment of their general condition, light respiratory stress or neurologic meningoencephalic involvement and febrile syndrome having a high contact index with tuberculous relatives . Some of them were undergoing measles or whooping cough convalescence . The chest X-ray showed micronodular infiltration and some cases, with hiliar adenomegaly, effusion or caverns . The liver percutaneous biopsy was of great help . The isolation of the bacillus from exudates was difficult to achieve . Tuberculin test was positive only in 30% . Cause of death: infiltration of central nervous system.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 May-Jun, 48(3), 470 - 5
{Electron microscopic study of normal Bacillus anthracoides spores and after exposure to a chloroactive disinfectant}; Galanina LA et al.; The fine structure of Bacillus anthracoides spores is similar in general to that of other, taxonomically related species of spore forming bacteria . However, the former is characterized by a well-developed multilayered exosporium and the heterogeneous structure of an envelope . The lethal effect of a chloroactive disinfectant (2/3 of calcium hypochlorite basic salt) is caused by changes in the structural organization of spores, which interferes with the normal permeability barrier and metabolic processes.

Biotechnol Bioeng, 1979 May, 21(5), 897 - 905
Preparation and properties of an immobilized derivative of penicillinase; Klemes Y et al.; Penicillinase (beta-lactamase I, EC 3.5.2.6) secreted by Bacillus cereus, strain 569/H, was covalently attached to aminoethyl cellulose via glutaraldehyde . The immobilized derivative shows increased thermostability and decreased susceptibility to conformational changes induced by certain substrates of penicillinase . The decline in the rate of hydrolysis of such substrates was consequently suppressed by immobilization . A marked increase in Km was observed with all substrates except for the unsubstituted 6-aminopenicillanic acid . The altered properties of the new derivative are attributed to the constraint imposed by immobilization on the conformational flexibility of the enzyme molecule . Thus, apart from obvious technological interest, immobilized penicillinase provides a useful model for the study of the role of flexibility in the function of an enzyme.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 May, 37(5), 965 - 71
Microbiological transformations of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid; Archer RA et al.; A screening program was conducted to find microorganisms that modify the synthetic cannabinoid nabilone . After purification, the products from three cultures were analyzed by spectral methods to determine their chemical structures . An optically active 9S-hydroxy-6aR,10aR-trans cannabinoid was isolated from a culture of an unidentified soil bacterium designated A24007 . From Bacillus cereus cultures were isolated a 9S,6'-dihydroxy-6aR,10aR-trans cannabinoid, a 9S-hydroxy-6'-keto-6aR,10aR-trans cannabinoid, a 9-keto-6'-hydroxy-6aS,10aS-trans cannabinoid, and a 6',9-diketo-6aS,10aS-trans cannabinoid . All of these products were optically active, as was a 9S-hydroxy-6aS,10AS-trans cannabinoid also isolated from B . cereus cultures . A series of acidic products were isolated from cultures of Nocardia salmonicolor . All of these products contained a carboxylic acid group at the terminal end of three-position alkyl side chains having varying numbers of carbon atoms . Two of the acidic products contained a 9-keto group, whereas all other carboxylic acid products were 9-hydroxy cannabinoids . The array of products obtained from incubation of nabilone indicates the usefulness of microbial transformations in the preparation of new cannabinoids.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 May, 25(5), 628 - 36
Physiological studies of a temperature-sensitive sporulation mutant of Bacillus cereus T; Stelma GN Jr et al.; Growth of temperature-sensitive mutant Bacillus cereus T JS22-C occurred normally at the restrictive temperature (37 degrees C), but sporulation was blocked at stage 0 . The production of extracellular and intracellular proteases and of alkaline phosphatase occurred at 37 degrees C, but the expression of a functional tricarboxylic acid cycle did not . At the permissive temperature (26 degrees C), the mutant sporulated at a slightly lower frequency (60%) and at a lower rate than the parent strain . The oxidation of organic acids, which accumulate in the growth medium began at T0 in cultures of the parent strain but was delayed until about T3 in cultures of the mutant . Later events in sporulation were also delayed in the mutant by about 3 h . Experiments in which the temperature of growth was shifted from 37 to 26 degrees C or from 26 to 37 degrees C at various times showed that the temperature-sensitive event began approximately 1 h after the end of exponential growth and ended when the cells reached the end of stage II (septum formation) . The absence of a functional tricarboxylic acid cycle in cells of the mutant grown at 37 degrees C or shifted from 26 to 37 degrees C before T1 did not appear to be due to a lesion in one of the structural genes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle but was more likely due to the inability of the cells to derepress the synthesis of some of the enzymes of that cycle.

J Lipid Res, 1979 May, 20(4), 519 - 24
Purification of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus by hydrophobic chromatography on palmitoyl cellulose; Imamura S et al.; Phospholipase C (phosphatidylcholine choline-phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.E) from Bacillus cereus (IAM-1208) was adsorbed to palmitoyl cellulose from a crude enzyme solution at pH 5--9 . The adsorption was not influenced by ionic strength up to 2 M NaCl . The adsorbed enzyme was eluted almost completely by washing the cellulose with a suitable detergent, such as Triton X-100, Adekatol SO-120, Cation DT-205, or sodium deoxycholate . The enzyme was then purified by column chromatography on a palmitoylated textile (palmitoylated gauze) with an overall recovery of 91% and a 467-fold increase in specific activity over that of enzyme in the crude culture supernatant . Subsequent fractionation with acetone and chromatography on a Sephadex G-75 column separated two nearly homogeneous phospholipase C's . The enzyme adsorbed on palmitoyl cellulose was active, although its activity was about one-fourth that of free phospholipase C . Therefore, the enzyme appeared to be adsorbed to the cellulose through a hydrophobic site that was distinct from the catalytic site on the enzyme molecule.

J Bacteriol, 1979 May, 138(2), 442 - 5
Glucose-triggered germination of Bacillus megaterium spores; Racine FM et al.; Triggering of germination in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores with D-glucose was studied . First, the interaction of glucose with spores for less than 1 min resulted in triggering almost 90% of the spores after the glucose was removed by dilution . Therefore only a brief time is needed for glucose to trigger germination, and then the continuous presence of glucose is not necessary . Detectable uptake of glucose began 2 to 3 min after absorbance loss started, and a non-metabolizable glucose analog, methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, triggered germination in the absence of detectable uptake . Several inhibitors that reduced or eliminated glucose uptake did not block triggering of germination . Therefore, glucose uptake may be a relatively late event and not a prerequisite for triggering of germination.

Infect Immun, 1979 May, 24(2), 460 - 7
Purification and properties of rabbit alveolar macrophage lysozyme; Carroll SF et al.; Lysozyme was isolated from Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-elicited rabbit alveolar macrophages by acid extraction and purified to homogeneity by a single-column procedure . Yields of the purified enzyme averaged between 20 and 30 mg per rabbit, values far in excess of those obtained with previously published methods . Rabbit lysozyme has a molecular weight of 14,300 and exhibits optimal lytic activity against Micrococcus lysodeikticus at an ionic strength of 0.04, pH 6.5 . Our results indicate that lysozyme and other granule components can be fractionated from elicited alveolar macrophages by using simple techniques, suggesting methods for the bulk purification of lysosomal constituents.

J Bacteriol, 1979 May, 138(2), 431 - 41
Biochemistry of L-proline-triggered germination of Bacillus megaterium spores; Rossignol DP et al.; The mechanism by which L-proline triggers germination in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores was investigated . First, brief exposure of spores to L-proline, followed by dilution, was sufficient to trigger germination . Once germination was triggered, the spores continued initiation of germination and did not require high concentrations of L-proline . Triggering of germination was pH and temperature dependent . Second, enzymes for L-proline catabolism were absent in spores, and several non-metabolizable analogs of L-proline were effective trigger compounds . Third, triggering of germination occurred in the presence of inhibitors of proton motive force production, oxygen uptake, and metabolism . Fourth, uptake of L-proline occurred after the triggering of germination . These results argue that neither uptake nor metabolism of L-proline was necessary to trigger germination . Instead, L-proline probably causes a biophysical alteration in the spores that triggers the biochemical changes in germination.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Apr, 32(4), 313 - 9
Resolution of peptide antibiotics, cerexins and tridecaptins, by high performance liquid chromatography (studies on antibiotics from the genus Bacillus . XXVI); Shoji J et al.; By high performance liquid chromatography, cerexin B was separated into four components (B1, B2, B3 and B4), cerexin D into four components (D1, D2, D3 and D4), tridecaptin A into components (A alpha and A beta), tridecaptin B into four components (B alpha, B beta, B gamma and B delta) and tridecaptin C into three components (C alpha 1, C alpha 2 and C beta 1) . All components were preparatively isolated, and their fatty acid and amino acid compositions determined for structural elucidation.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Apr, 32(4), 305 - 12
The structures of tridecaptins B and C (studies on antibiotics from the genus Bacillus . XXV); Kato T et al.; On examining the structures of the antibiotics tridecaptins B and C, the constituent amino acids were separated and their chiralities were determined . The constituent fatty acids were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry . Cleavage with N-bromosuccinimide and sequential analysis by EDMAN degradation demonstrates the sequence of the C-terminal side of tridecaptins B and C . Deacylation with polymyxin acylase of tridecaptin B and successive EDMAN degradation revealed the sequence of the N-terminal side of tridecaptin B . Finally partial acid hydrolysis on tridecaptin C clarified the sequence of the N-terminal side of tridecaptin C.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1979 Apr, 60(2), 185 - 92
Protection of pregnant mice with phospholipase C and with Arvin against foetal death induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Kaplun A et al.; Injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide into pregnant mice resulted in fibrinogen accumulation, thrombosis and haemorrhage in the placental tissue and foetal death . Depletion of circulating fibrinogen by a thrombin-like enzyme from the venom of Malayan pit viper, Arvin, prevents foetal death . Foetal protection was also obtained by treating the mothers with a preparation of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus known to inactivate tissue thromboplastin . It is suggested the lipopolysaccharide causes foetal death by inducing thrombosis as a consequence of activation of placental thromboplastin.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Apr, 138(1), 126 - 32
Location of peptidoglycan lytic enzymes in Bacillus sphaericus; Guinand M et al.; The level of three peptidoglycan hydrolases was determined in the mother cell compartment and forespores of Bacillus sphaericus . Vegetative and sporulating cells contained in LD-carboxypeptidase active only on the vegetative cell wall peptidoglycan, and we have previously shown that sporulation is accompanied by the production of two new enzymes active only on the spore cortex peptidoglycan . These gamma-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelate endopeptidase and a meso-diaminopimelate-D-alanine dipeptidase . The LD-carboxypeptidase activity appeared to be located in the membranes of both the mother cells and forespores . Endopeptidase activity was located in the integument fraction of the forespores, and the dipeptidase activity was only found in the forespore cytoplasm . These different locations comply with the probable different functions of these enzymes.

Ann Intern Med, 1979 Apr, 90(4), 648 - 51
Surface topography and fine structure of the Legionnaires' disease bacterium . A study of six isolates from hospitalized patients; Neblett TR et al.; Six clinical isolates of the Legionnaires' disease bacterium have been isolated from patients in two Michigan hospitals . These organisms were recovered and cultivated in vitro and the strains named by city of recovery and order of isolation Detroit 1 to 4 and Flint 1 and 2 . All strains, studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy preparations from 7-day growth on agar, showed similar characteristics . By scanning electron microscopy the cells appeared bacillary, straight, and slightly curved, and spindle shapes and forms with rounded ends were observed . Detroit 2 and 3 and Flint 1 strains showed cells with ends having reduced diameters, the cells resembling an old-fashioned rolling pin . Cell widths ranged from 0.29 to 0.39 micron, and average lengths varied from 1.60 to 2.34 microns . Filamentous forms as long as 9.8 microns were observed . Surfaces appeared quite wrinkled compared to that of an Escherichia coli control organism . As seen by transmission electron microscopy, fine structure included a multilayered cell wall characteristic of gram-negative bacteria that was irregular, reflecting wrinkling; plasma membrane; and periplasmic space . Distinct nucleoid, intracytoplasmic ribosomes and rare vacuoles were also seen . No evidence of a spore or an adversity-resistant body was observed.

Lab Anim, 1979 Apr, 13(2), 143 - 7
Studies on Tyzzer's disease: acquired immunity against infection and activation of infection by immunosuppressive treatment; Fries AS; The correlation between serum antibody titre and resistance to challenge infection with Bacillus piliformis was studied in naturally infected mice, in experimentally infected but recovered mice, and in mice treated with antigen prepared from infected livers . Irrespective of the way in which the antibodies were acquired resistance to infection was found to be related to the immunofluorescence antibody titre found . Experimentally infected but recovered mice, as well as rats with persistent antibodies to Bacillus piliformis, were given prednisolone in order to activate a possible persistent infection . Bacillus piliformis was detected in the rats, but not in the mice.

Cancer, 1979 Apr, 43(4), 1314 - 9
Adjuvant immunotherapy of lung cancer with BCG cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS); Yamamura Y et al.; Four hundred fifty-five patients with lung cancer were treated with oil-attached cell-wall skeleton of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG-CWS) as adjuvant immunotherapy following initial conventional therapy . The overall survival period of the patients was prolonged significantly as compared with that of 380 patients in a historical control group receiving initial conventional therapy alone (p less than 0.0001) . The prolongation of the survival period of the patients was also statistically significant when classified according to clinical stages and histological cell types . The therapeutic effect was remarkable in patients combined with malignant pleurisy . Intrapleural injection of BCG-CWS resulted in not only prevention of accumulation of pleural effusion and abrogation of tumor cells but also in prolongation of survival period (P = 0.016) . No serious side effects due to BCG-CWS were experienced . From the previous experimental studies and clinical experiences with human tumors, it can be concluded that adjuvant immunotherapy with BCG-CWS is a useful therapeutic modality for lung cancer, especially in cases combined with malignant pleurisy.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Apr, 25(4), 491 - 8
{Carbon assimilation and taxonomic study of Bacillus subtillis and B . licheniformis}; Durand M et al.; All 14 strains of B . subtilis can use the following 17 sources of carbon and energy: D-glucose, D-mannose, D-glucosamine, salicin, D-ribose, maltose, sucrose, cellobiose, trehalose, arbutin, starch, mannitol, glycerol, glycerate, pyruvate, fumarate, and L-proline . All 15 strains of B . licheniformis can use the following 41 sources of carbon and energy: D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, D-fructose, D-glucosamine, alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, beta-methyl-D-glucoside, salicin, D-gluconate, saccharate, D-xylose, L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, D-ribose, maltose, sucrose, cellobiose, melibiose, trehalose, arbutin, raffinose, starch, inulin, mannitol, D-sorbitol, glycerol, glycerate, citrate, L-malate, D-malate, mucate, pyruvate, fumarate, alpha-L-alanine, alpha-D-alanine, asparagine, L-glutamate, L-arginine, DL-ornithine, L-proline, and 4-amino-n-butyrate . The 29 strains form two distinct groups . Group A includes the 15 strains of B . licheniformis and 2 strains of B . subtilis; group B is formed of 11 strains of B . subtilis; the remaining strain of B . subtilis belongs to neither group . Bacillus licheniformis is a more homogeneous species than B . subtilis . The percentage of guanine + cytosine in the DNA of all 29 strains was determined . In the 14 strains of B . subtilis the average is 46.3% +/- 1.5 . In the 15 strains of B . licheniformis the average is 46.4% +/- 0.9.

Arch Otolaryngol, 1979 Apr, 105(4), 180 - 4
Subarachnoid space of the CNS, nasal mucosa, and lymphatic system; Jackson RT et al.; We have briefly reviewed the literature pertaining to the movement of tracer molecules and infectious organisms within the olfactory nerve . There is a body of evidence indicating that tracers placed in the CSF will quickly move via the olfactory nerve to the nasal mucosa and then to the cervical lymph nodes . Organic and inorganic tracer materials and organisms as diverse as viruses, a bacillus, and an amoeba, when placed in the nasal cavity, have been shown to move from the nasal mucosa via the olfactory nerve to the olfactory bulb and the CSF . We think that a portion of the data on tracer movement is due to incorporation of tracer materials and organisms into the axoplasm of the olfactory neurons with subsequent anterograde or retrograde axoplasmic transport . However, some of the movement of tracers may occur within the olfactory perineural space . This space may be continuous with a subarachnoid extension that surrounds the olfactory nerve as it penetrates the cribriform plate . To our knowledge, no one has yet followed the perineural space to determine if it is continuous from olfactory receptor to olfactory bulb . The consideration of this space and its role is the main reason for this review.

Biokhimiia, 1979 Apr, 44(4), 640 - 8
{Ribonuclease of Bacillus intermedius 7 P . Purification by chromatography on phosphocellulose and several characteristics of the homogeneous enzyme}; Golubenko IA et al.; A new procedure for isolation of homogenous ribonuclease of Bac . intermedius from a commercial source is described . The yields of 140 mg of RNAse from 200 g of the enzymic powder were attained . The amino acid composition of the enzyme was determined . The RNAse contains neither the sulfhydryl groups nor the disulfide bonds and has only one histidine residue . At the same time the amount of aromatic amino acid residues is relatively high . The enzyme is highly resistant to heat and acid treatment but is less stable in an alkaline solution . The pH optimum of the RNAse for the RNA digestion is 8,5; the temperature optimum for this reaction is 37 degrees . A spectrophotometric method for the RNAse activity assay using polyA as a specific substrate was developed . The purified product provides a suitable starting material for structural studies.

Mycopathologia, 1979 Mar 30, 67(1), 45 - 50
{Determination of the antibacterial activity of various mycotoxins using Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner)}; Boutibonnes P; Antibacterial activity of pure preparations of mycotoxins, was studied against strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) . Most of fungal metabolites used provokes: 1) Growth bacterial inhibition similar to lethal effect of antibiotics 2) Enlargment of cell volume; this cell abnormality induction resembles those obtained with mitomycin C . The bioassay of fungal toxins with B . thuringiensis can be recommended as a sensitive technique to supplement chemical characterization . By using specific cell lines to such a mycotoxin and specific inactivators as coumarin for aflatoxin, or sulfhydryl compounds for penicillic acid and patulin.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Mar 16, 567(1), 238 - 46
Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity of alveolar macrophage plasma membrane; Gennaro R et al.; A plasma membrane fraction was isolated from lysates of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-induced alveolar macrophages of rabbit . On the basis of morphological and biochemical criteria this fraction appeared to be minimally contaminated by other subcellular organelles . Concentrations of Ca2+, but not of Mg2+, from 6.10(-8) to 1.10(-5) M markedly stimulated the basal ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) activity of the plasma membrane, with an apparent Km (Ca2+) of 1.10(-6) M . The specific activity of the Ca2+-ATPase assayed at pCa = 5.5 was enriched about 8-fold in the plasma membrane fraction over the macrophage lysate . In contrast, the specific activity of the K+, EDTA-activated ATPase, associated to macrophage myosin, increased only 1.3-fold . Oligomycin and -SH group reagents exerted no influence on the Ca2+-ATPase activity, which was on the contrary inhibited by detergents such as Triton X-100 and deoxycholate . The activity of the Ca2+-ATPase was maximal at pH 7, and was decreased by 50 mM Na+ and 5 mM K+ . On the contrary, the activity of Mg2+-ATPase, also present in the plasma membrane fraction, had a peak at about pH 7.8, and was stimulated by Na+ plus K+ . On account of its properties, it is suggested that the Ca2+-ATPase is a component of the plasma membrane of the alveolar macrophage, and that its function may be that of participating in the maintenance of low free Ca2+ concentrations in the macrophage cytosol.

JAMA, 1979 Mar 16, 241(11), 1137 - 40
Serious infections from Bacillus sp; Tuazon CU et al.; Serious infections caused by organisms of the genus Bacillus developed in seven patients . Five drug abusers had either endocarditis or osteomyelitis, one leukemic patient had necrotizing fasciitis, and one patient had a ventriculoatrial shunt infection with recurrent bacteremia . All patients recovered . Experience with these cases reemphasizes the importance of not dismissing Bacillus organisms as culture contaminants, especially when isolated from blood, body fluids, or closed-space infections.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Mar 15, 95(1), 61 - 7
Respiratory nitrate reductase: its localization in the cytoplasmic membrane of Klebsiella aerogenes and Bacillus licheniformis; Wientjes FB et al.; The sidedness of the respiratory nitrate reductase in the cytoplasmic membrane of Bacillus licheniformis and Klebsiella aerogenes was studied by indirect immunofluorescence and by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination . It was shown that the two subunits (Mr 150000 and 57000, respectively) of nitrate reductase of B . licheniformis are localized on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, whereas the K . aerogenes enzyme is a transmembrane protein . The different localization of nitrate reductase in the membranes of these organisms may be related to their different role in oxidative phosphorylation.

Biochem J, 1979 Mar 15, 178(3), 627 - 32
Energy-dependence of calcium accumulation during sporulation of Bacillus megaterium KM; Hogarth C et al.; Ca2+ accumulation and endogenous respiration of sporulating Bacillus megaterium are inhibited to the same extent by electron-transport of inhibitors and the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, suggesting that Ca2+ is accumulated by an active transport process . Forespores isolated in stage V of sporulation demonstrated Ca2+-specific carrier-mediated Ca2+ uptake, consistent with downhill transfer {Hogarth & Ellar (1978) Biochem . J . 176, 197-203} . In the present studies forespore Ca2+ uptake was unaffected by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and by concentrations of respiratory inhibitor that inhibited forespore endogenous respiration by 85% . These data suggest that Ca2+ enters the isolated forespore by facilitated diffusion . Ca2+ uptake into sporulating protoplasts was completely inhibited by concentrations of respiratory inhibitors that had no effect on either Ca2+ uptake or respiration of stage-V forespores, but which resulted in inhibition of mother-cell membrane NADH oxidase . These results indicate that the mother-cell membrane is a site for active transport of Ca2+ into the sporulating cell . The effects of the adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide on mother-cell membrane adenosine triphosphatase, NADH oxidase and protoplast Ca2+ uptake were examined.

Med Trop (Mars), 1979 Mar-Apr, 39(2), 173 - 77
{Urogenital tuberculosis in African (author's transl)}; Barnaud P et al.; A report of nine recent cases of urogenital tuberculosis in Africans with a review of literature . This possible but rare complication must be discovered, although it is a difficult process mainly in rural areas, since tuberculosis may bring about severe urogenital tract damage . Schistosomiasis and unspecific epidimymitis may hide it . Acido-alcoolo-resistant bacillus, detected in urin, must be cultivated on Loewenstein medium to remove contaminants and to confirm tuberculous pathogenesis.

Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1979 Mar, 47(1), 13 - 7
Immunologic shin titration in leprosy patients and contacts; Cauzzi NJ et al.; A method of studying delayed-type hypersensitivity was developed with specific antigen in leprosy patients and contacts, measuring the dose-response curve at different lepromin concentrations . This "immunologictitration" is highly efficient for discriminating the degree of hypersensitivity reactions among the groups tested . With respect to the Fernandez reaction, the results obtained showed that there was a similar behavior in all groups studied, except in the tuberculoid group which had a more intense response, four times higher than that yielded by contacts of lepromatous patients . In the Mitsuda reaction, a similar behavior was also found among the different groups, except with respect to the reactivity intensity of contacts of lepromatous patients . Here it was demonstrated that this group had a significant depression in response to M . leprae antigen when compared with that from the other groups, independent of the degree of consanguinity or closeness to bacilliferous cases . In order to explain this immunosuppression in contacts of lepromatous patients, a hypothesis is proposed . It is suggested that changes could occur in M . leprae derived from lepromatous patients, diminishing their capacity to produce an adequate immune response.

Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1979 Mar, 47(1), 1 - 6
Immune deficit in patients with lepromatous leprosy: its nature and relation to genetic factors, spectrum, and duration of the illness; Saha K et al.; Cell-mediated immunity or hypersensitivity to M . leprae and other unrelated antigens, such as tuberculin and dinitrochlorobenzene, was studied in 73 leprosy patients of different histopathologic types . It was found that specific as well as nonspecific anergy intensified as the disease spectrum shifted from the tuberculoid toward the lepromatous immunologic pole . Within the lepromatous group, the impairment of cellular immunity became more pronounced as the bacillary load increased . It was found that the impairment of the cell-mediated immunity towards antigens other than M . leprae became more severe as the duration of the illness increased . Late lepromin responsiveness, which is the hallmark of resistance of an individual to M . leprae, may be absent even before the onset of clinical illness . Its deficit seems to be primary and has a genetic predisposition.

Med Trop (Mars), 1979 Mar-Apr, 39(2), 209 - 18
{Surgical treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in tropical environment (indications and technics) (author's transl)}; Courbil LJ et al.; A study of 85 clinical records of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were operated in hospitals of South Vietnam and West Africa . Some common features may be noted: --an ongoing clinical evolution before the indication for a surgical intervention (more than 5 years in half of the cases); -- positive bacilloscopies in 70 p . 100 of the cases; -- bilateral lesions in one case out of three; -- unilateral lesions restricted to one lobe in one case out of two; -- surgery limited to a thoracoplasty for 48 p . 100 of the patients; for the remaining 52 p . 100, half underwent lobotomy, half pneumonectomy.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 25(3), 421 - 2
{Antibacterial activity of zearalenone}; Boutibonnes P; Zearalenone, a mycotoxin secreted by Fusarium sp . and Gibberella zeae, shows a narrow range of antibacterial activity limited to some Gram-positive aerobic spore-forming bacteria . In Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner), a highly sensitive species, this activity is characterized by a decrease of cellular division and induction of atypical cells . These effects resemble those obtained with two other mycotoxins which possess a lactone structure: aflatoxin B1 and patulin.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 37(3), 614 - 8
Catabolism of protocatechuate by Bacillus macerans; Crawford RL et al.; An aerobic endospore-forming bacterium, tentatively identified as a strain (JJ-lb) of Bacillus macerans, was isolated by enrichment on 4-hydroxybenzoate (4HBA), using as an inoculum soil taken from a 50 degrees C Iadho hot spring . Enzymatic analyses of cells grown on succinate and 4HBA indicated that strain JJ-1b degrades 4HBA by way of the novel protocatechuate (PCA) 2,3-dioxygenase pathway . Purification of the PCA 2,3-dioxygenase by affinity chromatography allowed the first observation of the immediate ring fission product of PCA, namely, 5-carboxy-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde (CHMS; labmda max at pH 7.0 = 348 nm) . An affinity column fraction was obtained that decarboxylated CHMS to 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde (HMS; lambdamax at pH 7.0 = 375 nm) . Thus, conversion of PCA to HMS is accomplished in two steps, 2,3-fission of the PCA ring followed by enzymatic decarboxylation of the ring fission product, forming HMS.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Mar-Apr, 48(2), 302 - 6
{Submicroscopic organization and spore formation of Desulfotomaculum nigrificans}; Nazina TN et al.; The submicroscopic organization and spore formation were studied in two strains of Desulfotomaculum nigrificans, 435 and 781 . Cross-sections of cells fixed with osmic acid and contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate revealed a cell wall devoid of the outer lipoprotein membrane, which was typical of gram-positive bacteria . The cell wall consisted of three electron-dense layers and two layers of lower electron density . A layer of a microcapsule having fibrillar structure and a thickness of 23-33 nm was detected on the surface of the cell wall . The cytoplasmic membrane and intracellular membrane structures were represented by the Robertson membrane about 9 nm thick . The cytoplasm contained electron-dense polyribosomal granules and inclusions having fine-granular structure . The nucleoid was located in the central part of the cell as an electron-transparent zone penetrated with electron-dense DNA threads 2.5 nm thick . The paper presents microphotographs of the main stages of spore formation which follows the mechanism described for bacteria of the Bacillus genus . The poles of spindle-like cells have electron-dense disk-shaped formations covered with a three-layer membrane and containing electron-dense granules, apparently, corresponding to polyribosomes.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Mar-Apr, 48(2), 226 - 9
{Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid DNA}; Zakharian RA et al.; Plasmid DNAs were isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis and their physico-chemical properties were studied . The DNAs were purified using ultracentrifugation in a CsCl2 density gradient . The molecular weight of these extrachromosomal DNAs determined by electrophoresis in 0.6% agarose gel and by electron microscopy was 6 . 10(6)--10 . 10(6) daltons; a DNA with a molecular weight of 90 . 10(6) daltons was also found . Digestion with restriction endonuclease EcoRI yielded fragments of the plasmid DNAs with cohesive ends; these were further identified by means of electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel.

Am J Surg, 1979 Mar, 137(3), 369 - 73
Feasibility of integration of modalities in melanomas and sarcomas; Karakousis CP et al.; Chemotherapy was administered in the immediate postoperative period to seventy patients (52 with melanomas and 18 with sarcomas) after a total of eighty-seven major operations, with no morbidity or mortality traceable to the chemotherapy . There was no apparent interference with wound healing or what would be considered a normal postoperative course . Fourteen of these patients (5 with melanomas and 9 with sarcomas) received a combination of radiation anc chemotherapy initiated in the postoperative period, and it was tolerated well . This combination appears to be safe, provided the field of radiation is not so large that is may add significantly to the myelosuppressive effect of chemotherapy and the dosage of concomitantly administered radiopotentiating agent(s) is reduced . Sixteen patients had Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy in the immediate postoperative period without complications . This policy of a tight interweaving of modalities is safe, has the theoretic advantage of an earlier concerted attack on microscopic residual tumor, and appears particularly promising in sarcomas.

Int J Pept Protein Res, 1979 Mar, 13(3), 337 - 40
Improved procedure of purification of inorganic pyrophosphatase from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Schreier E et al.; An improved method for isolation of inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1) from Bacillus stearothermophilus is described . The enzyme was purified to more than 90% after two chromatographic steps . A molecular weight of 140,000 daltons was estimated by density gradient centrifugation . The isoelectric point was found to be 4.0.

Cancer, 1979 Mar, 43(3), 1112 - 22
Combined chemoimmunotherapy for advanced breast cancer: a comparison of BCG and levamisole; Hortobagyi GN et al.; One hundred and fourteen evaluable patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with a program consisting of 5-FU, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide (FAC) and nonspecific immunotherapy with Levamisole . The results of this treatment program were compared to those observed with FAC and Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) and FAC chemotherapy alone, both groups treated prior to the study reported in this paper . The overall response rates and complete response rates for all three treatment regimens were identical . The duration of remission, survival of all patients and survival of responders was similar for both chemoimmunotherapy regimens, being superior to the FAC chemotherapy alone group . Immunotherapy with Levamisole was well tolerated and side-effects were experienced by less than one-fourth of the patients . Overall, Levamisole was better tolerated than BCG and was easier to administer than the latter drug . These results suggest than nonspecific immunotherapy with Levamisole might prolong remission and survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer . Since the results achieved with BCG and Levamisole appear similar, the therapeutic ratio favors the use of Levamisole.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Mar, 137(3), 1374 - 85
Immunoelectron microscopic localization of penicillinase in Bacillus licheniformis; Ghosh A et al.; Penicillinase was localized in log-phase cells of Bacillus licheniformis 749/C by labeling with ferritin-anti-penicillinase immunoglobulin G conjugate . Mildly fixed homogenized cells, isolated subcellular fractions, and frozen thin sections were labeled . The label was distributed in discrete patches in the cell envelope . The patches extended from the inside part of the membrane to the outside part of the wall . The inside part of the membrane was labeled more extensively than the outside part . The cytoplasm also bound some ferritin-immunoglobulin G conjugate . Immunoelectrophoresis and biochemical assay of cytosol material suggest that the cytoplasmic antigenic sites are a protease-sensitive form of penicillinase.

Cancer Res, 1979 Mar, 39(3), 959 - 65
Dose-dependent adjuvant effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin on tumor immunity in Lewis rats; Davies M et al.; The study was undertaken of the ability of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), used in combination with a live tumor cell vaccine, to potentiate systemic antitumor immunity in rats . BCG was administered in two injections, with the first one given i.v . and the second one given intradermally mixed with the tumor cell vaccine 12 days later at the time of implant of an s.c . tumor, which served to monitor antitumor immunity . Both these BCG injections were necessary to obtain maximal protection measured in terms of increased survival rates of the rats and of decreased tumor growth rates . The dose of BCG in both the first and second injections was critical for optimal protection, since low doses (125 to 250 micrograms) afforded protection, while higher doses (over 1500 micrograms) decreased or abolished the protective effect . These results strongly suggest that BCG, only if administered under the appropriate conditions, is able to potentiate systemic tumor immunity and to provide a significant level of protection for a tumor-bearing animal.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 1979 Mar-Jun, 8(1-2), 35 - 9
Interaction of the aflatoxins with classical antibiotics which inhibit Bacillus brevis (2611); Uwaifo A et al.; Synergism, antagonism and addictive action are three modes of interaction among antibiotics and non-antibiotic compounds . The present paper reports the type of interaction between each of the four main members of the aflatoxin family (BB, G and G) and each of five commonly used classical antibiotics . The test aflatoxins were freshly prepared and confirmed crystalline pure by the use of ultraviolet (u.v.), infrared (i.r.) and nuclear magnetic resonane (n.m.r.) spectroscopy . Interaction between penicillin and aflatoxin B (AFB) gave an antagonistic profile . The interaction of AFB with tetracycline was synergistic . Novobiocin interaction with aflatoxin G also reflected synergism . All other characteristics of interaction between antibiotics and the aflatoxins showed additive profiles.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 37(3), 554 - 8
Conditions for induction of bacteriophage from lysogenic Bacillus megaterium with aflatoxin B1; Whittaker BL et al.; The present study was conducted to determine whether or not aflatoxin B1 was an effective inducing agent for lysogenic bacteria and to characterize some of the parameters involved in induction . A lysogenic strain of Bacillus megaterium (NRRL-B-3695) and an indicator strain of this species (NRRL-B-3694) were used . Cultures of the lysogenic strain were incubated for various periods of time in the presence of aflatoxin B1 . Plaque-forming units as well as colony-forming units were then determined . Results of the present study indicated that bacteriophage lysogenizing B . megaterium could be induced with aflatoxin B1 . The optimum concentration for induction was 25 micrograms of toxin per ml of early-log-phase culture . Evidence suggested that: (i) higher concentrations of aflatoxin B1 formed hydrophobic complexes which would not efficiently induce B . megaterium; (ii) the toxic effect of aflatoxin B1 severely limited the number of cells which could be induced prior to killing action of the toxin; and (iii) concentrations less than 25 micrograms of aflatoxin B1 per ml were not efficient inducers of bacteriophage production nor did they demonstrate the toxic effect observed at higher concentrations.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1979 Mar, 11(3), 431 - 40
Bacillus cereus panophthalmitis after intravenous heroin; Hatem G et al.; Two healthy young black men developed panophthalmitis after intravenous heroin injections . Bacillus cereus, considered to be a relatively noncommon pathogen for man, was found to be the causative agent as it was recovered from the anterior chamber and viterous cavity of both cases . The ocular findings were unilateral in each case, and neither patient had any sistemic involvement from the bacteremia . The onset of visual symptoms varied from 24 to 36 hours after the last intravenous injection with the eye becoming rapidly blind . Photographs of the early fundus lesions included preretinal hypopyon-like lesions and peculiar changes in the blood vasculature . Intracameral gentamicin and steroids did not alter the cause, and treatment was enucleation.

Tubercle, 1979 Mar, 60(1), 55 - 8
Further studies of mycobacteriophage 33D (Warsaw) for differentiation of BCG from M . bovis and M . tubeculosis; Jones WD Jr; Mycobacteriophage 33D (Warsaw) was used to differentiate Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) strains from M . bovis and M . tuberculosis . Known strains as well as clinical strains of BCG were used in the study . Single plaque isolations and adsorption studies demonstrated that phage 33D (Warsaw) did not adsorb to BCG cultures.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Mar, 139(3), 366 - 70
A hospital food-borne outbreak of diarrhea caused by Bacillus cereus: clinical, epidemiologic, and microbiologic studies; Giannella RA et al.; An outbreak of diarrhea involving 28 patients occurred in two wards of a chronic disease hospital . The illness was characterized by abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea without vomiting or fever . An epidemiologic investigation suggested food-borne intoxication and incriminated turkey loaf served at the preceding evening meal as the source of the outbreak . Bacillus cereus was isolated both from the stool of all 14 symptomatic patients who were cultured and from turkey loaf . No other enteropathogens were found . The isolate of B . cereus was shown to elaborate an enterotoxin that caused fluid secretion in assays in the rabbit ileal loop and suckling mice and that also caused a positive response in the Y-1 adrenal cell assay . B . cereus is an enteropathogen that should be sought in outbreaks of food-related gastroenteritis . This organism affects the gastrointestinal tract probably by the elaboration of enterotoxins.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Mar-Apr, 48(2), 240 - 4
{Change in the constructive metabolism and ultrastructural organization of Bacillus cereus cells under the influence of a specific autoregulatory factor}; El'-Regisman GI et al.; It has been found for the first time that an increase in the concentration of a specific autoregulatory factor in the medium is responsible for the hypometabolic state of vegetative cells; no principal cellular biopolymers are synthesized at this state (DNA, RNA, proteins and phospholipids), and no cellular structures are degraded . When the culture reverses to vegetative growth observed in the same medium, synthesis of the biopolymers is intensified and changes are detected in the ultrastructural organization of the cellular membranous apparatus, the cytoplasm, the nucleoide and the cell wall.

J Clin Pathol, 1979 Mar, 32(3), 289 - 93
Severe clinical conditions associated with Bacillus cereus and the apparent involvement of exotoxins; Turnbull PC et al.; Twenty-one cases of infection with Bacillus cereus are summarised . The histories supplied showed that at least 15 of these were associated with severe or potentially severe symptoms including two deaths . Analysis of the production of exotoxins, including haemolysin and phospholipase, by these strains is given, and the relevance of these metabolites to the severity of the condition is discussed . Three incidents of bovine mastitis resulting from B . cereus and involving three deaths are also included . The observations presented here together with those of previous reports which are reviewed indicate that B . cereus may be of clinical importance, not just an opportunist but also as an agent of potentially severe infections in its own right.

Arch Intern Med, 1979 Mar, 139(3), 293 - 4
The spectrum of Bacillus bacteremias in heroin addicts; Weller PF et al.; Bacillus bacteremias occurred in two heroin addicts . The first patient had one day of fever and chills after intravenous heroin use . Persistent cereus bacteremia consistent with endocarditis was documented and responded to four weeks of antibiotic therapy . The second patient had non-cereus Bacillus species isolated from blood cultures three times over eight days, each time after renewed heroin use . The patient remained well, and the bacteremias cleared spontaneously . Because Bacillus species frequently contaminate heroin injection materials and because the Bacillus bacteremias were temporally associated with intravenous heroin use, Bacillus bacteremias in both patients probably eventuated from heroin abuse . These cases, in conjunction with two previously reported cases of Bacillus endocarditis in heroin addicts, suggest that heroin addicts are at risk for developing Bacillus bacteremias, which may vary in severity from endocarditis to benign transient bacteremias.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1979 Mar, 97(3), 498 - 9
Bacillus cereus endogenous panophthalmitis; Bouza E et al.; A case of severe suppurative endogenous panophthalmitis caused by Bacillus cereus resulted from intravenously administered medications . This is the first, to our knowledge, well-documented case of endogenous endophthalmitis associated with this organism . It is recommended that if on Gram's stain of the anterior chamber fluid, Gram-positive rods are seen, chloramphenicol should be administered in addition to penicillin because of the possibility of B cereus infection.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 Mar, 85(3), 785 - 90
Pterin deaminase from Bacillus megaterium . Purification and properties; Takikawa S et al.; A pterin deaminase catalyzing the hydrolytic deamination of various pteridines was found in the bacterium, Bacillus megaterium, and partially purified from bacterial extract . The specific activity was raised 90-fold over that of the crude extract . The pH optimum is around 7.3, and the Km value for 6-carboxypterin is 1.3 mM . The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel filtration to be about 110,000 . The enzyme deaminated pterin, 6-carboxypterin, biopterin, 6-methylpterin, 7-methylpterin, xanthopterin, 6-hydroxymethylpterin, sepiapterin, isosepiapterin, folic acid, and 6,7-dimethylpterin to their corresponding lumazines, whereas guanine, 7-carboxypterin, leucopterin, isoxanthopterin, and 6-methylisoxanthopterin did not serve as substrates . The enzyme was inhibited by PCMB and 8-azaguanine.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Feb 26, 576(2), 347 - 60
Purification and characterization of the respiratory nitrate reductase of Bacillus licheniformis; van 't Riet J et al.; 1 . Respiratory nitrate reductase of Bacillus licheniformis was extracted from the bacterial membranes by treatment with deoxycholate and purified to a homogeneous state by means of gel chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography . 2 . The enzyme (Mr = 193,000, s20, w = 8.6) consists of two subunits, having apparent molecular weight of 150,000 (alpha subunit) and 57,000 (beta subunit), which are present in an equimolar ratio . It does not contain carbohydrate . Ageing of the enzyme appears to result in splitting of the polypeptide chains at specific sites followed by dissociation and reassociation of the digestion products in various combinations . 3 . In contrast to Klebsiella aerogenes repiratory nitrate reductase, which is isolated in a tetrameric form that can be reversibly dissociated into a monomeric form by detergents, B . licheniformis nitrate reductase, after isolation, is always present in a monomeric form . This property is related to the difference in membrane localization of the enzyme in the two organisms . 4 . B licheniformis nitrate reductase contains 6.9 atoms of non-heme iron, 6.7 atoms of acid-labile sulfide and 0.93 atoms of molybdenum per molecule of enzyme . The molybdenum seems to be part of a low-molecular weight peptide Mo-cofactor) to which it may be bound by interaction with thiol-groups . 5 . Antiserum against the native enzyme contains antibodies against both subunits as well as the Mo-cofactor . The Mo-cofactor does not have any antigenic determininants in common with either the alpha or the beta subunit . Also neither subunit cross-reacts with antiserum against the other subunit . Whereas the respiratory nitrate reductases from K . aerogenes and Escherichia coli are immunologically related, the native enzyme from B . licheniformis does not show any cross-reaction with antiserum prepared against either the K . aerogenes or the E . coli enzyme.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Feb 25, 254(4), 1003 - 6
Purification and characterization of the sequence-specific endonuclease Bam HI; Smith LA et al.; The specific endonuclease Bam HI from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (RUB 500) has been purified to apparent homogeneity . Two active forms of the enzyme corresponding to the dimeric and tetrameric forms have been isolated . On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the enzyme dissociated into Mr = 22,000 +/- 500 subunits . Bam HI has a broad pH optimum on the alkaline side and requires Mg2+ which can be partially replaced by Mn2+ . The enzyme catalysis appears to be governed by a two-step mechanism.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Feb 25, 254(4), 1033 - 7
A requirement for ATP for beta-galactoside transport by Bacillus alcalophilus; Guffanti AA et al.; Lactose-grown cells of Bacillus alcalophilus actively transported methylthio-beta, D-galactoside (TMG) in a range of pH values from 7.5 to 10.5 with a pH optimum at 8.5 . The TMG was accumulated in a chemically unmodified form, and cell extracts failed to catalyze either ATP or P-enolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of TMG . At pH 8.5, the lactose-grown cells exhibited a transmembrane proton gradient (deltapH) of 1.38 units, interior acid, and a transmembrane electrical potential (delta psi) of -132 mV . Accordingly, the total protonmotive force at this pH was very low, -51mV . Several lines of evidence indicate that the protonmotive force or delta psi did not directly energize TMG transport but, rather, that ATP was directly required: (a) in cells treated with arsenate so that the delta psi was unaffected and cellular ATP levels were markedly lowered, TMG transport was inhibited in proportion to the reduction of cellular ATP, while electrogenic alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport was not; (b) when a valinomycin-induced potassium diffusion potential was established in starved cells, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport, but not TMG transport, was stimulated; and (c) in a series of experiments in which the delta psi was rapidly abolished by treatment with gramicidin, ATP levels declined slowly and the rate of TMG transport correlated directly with ATP levels rather than with the delta psi . Consumption of cellular ATP concomitant with TMG transport could be demonstrated.

Can Med Assoc J, 1979 Feb 3, 120(3), 322 - 4, 329
Cancer immunotherapy; Richman SP et al.; Important contributions that stimulated studies in cancer immunotherapy included: (1) the discovery of tumour-associated antigens; (2) the observation that infection with bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in animals was protective against tumour challenge; and (3) the observation that immunodepression due either to malignant disease or to treatment of the disease, was, in some instances, related to prognosis . Immunotherapy trials with microbial agents have involved attempts to obtain a local effect by injecting the agent into the tumour or into the region of the tumour and to obtain a "systemic" effect distant from the site of injection . Trials with active specific immunotherapy involving tumour cells or tumour cell extracts have frequently involved the combination of these specific agents with a nonspecific adjuvant such as BCG . Recent studies with thymosin and levamisole in patients with lung cancer and other types of malignant disease have shown prolonged survival in the groups receiving immunotherapy.

Cancer Res, 1979 Feb, 39(2 Pt 1), 535 - 7
Influence of oil concentration on the efficacy of tumor regression by emulsified components of mycobacteria; Yarkoni E et al.; The influence of mineral oil content on the antitumor activity of emulsified Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cell walls (CW) was studied in mice each with an established transplant of a syngeneic fibrosarcoma . Animals received intratumoral injections of CW (0.02 to 0.6 mg/mouse) emulsified in 1 to 9% oil . The number of animals in which tumor regressed completely depended on the concentration of oil in the emulsion . The methanol extraction residue (MER) of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin administered intratumorally in oil in water emulsion was also immunotherapeutically active . Neither CW nor MER was active when given as aqueous suspensions without oil . Guinea pigs with transplanted hepatomas growing in their skin and with tumor cells in the draining lymph node could be cured of malignant disease by a single intralesional injection of CW or MER (1 mg per guinea pig) if these agents were emulsified in oil (3.3%) and water . Aqueous suspensions of CW and MER were not therapeutically active in the guinea pig.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Feb, 32(2), 130 - 5
Antibiotics from basidiomycetes . VII . Crinipellin, a new antibiotic from the basidiomycetous fungus Crinipellis stipitaria (Fr.) Pat; Kupka J et al.; A crystalline antibiotic, which we have named crinipellin, was isolated from submerged cultures of the basidiomycete Crinipellis stipitaria, strain No . 7612 . High resolution mass spectrometry yielded the formula C22H28O5 . The antibiotic is most active against Gram-positive bacteria, although yeasts and filamentous fungi are affected to a lesser extent . Crinipellin exhibits high in vitro inhibitory activity against the ascitic form of EHRLICH carcinoma . The incorporation of precursors of DNA-, RNA-, and protein syntheses in EHRLICH carcinoma (and in Bacillus brevis) cells was completely inhibited at 5(10) microgram/ml . In Bacillus brevis the inhibition of the incorporation of uridine was found to be due to an interference by crinipellin with the transport of the precursor into the cells.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1979 Feb-Mar, 130(2), 213 - 30
{A study of the action of sodium chlorate on strains of nitrate reducing soil bacteria (author's transl)}; Karki AB et al.; Fours strains of nitrate reducing bacteria isolated from soil were studied for their behavior towards chlorate . They are facultative anaerobes, except for Bacillus megatherium (which is a strict aerobe) and they possess a nitrate reductase A . The growth of three strains of bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, B . licheniformis and Micromonospora globosa) was slowed by sodium chlorate at a concentration of 0.06 to 0.1% while the other strain (B . megatherium) tolerated the CIO3- well . The delay of bacterial growth due to chlorate lasts for a certain period, after which the bacteria multiply again . The lag phase is due to small quantities of chlorite produced from the chlorate; the growth phase which follows is provoked by the multiplication of chlorate resistant mutants, most often nitrate reductase-negative and sometimes positive . Some reverse mutants nitrate reductase positive of K . pneumoniae no longer had the same characteristics as the wild strain: some resisted to chlorate or were different as to gas formation . The reduction of nitrate to ammonia by these bacteria is diminished in the presence of chlorate: the reduction of nitrate to nitrite was inhibited or not inhibited according to the type of strain . The bacteria broke down the chlorate partially or completely, according to the strains and the sustrates.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1979 Feb 1, 174(3), 269 - 72
Immunotherapy in ocular equine sarcoid; Murphy JM et al.; A modified Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) preparation was used successfully in the treatment of 7 cases of equine sarcoid . The BCG preparation was injected into the lesions . The longest period of remission has been 24 months, and the shortest period of remission has been 9 months, with no signs of recurrence of the tumor in any of the presented cases.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Feb, 32(2), 121 - 9
The structure of permetin A, a new polypeptin type antibiotic produced by Bacillus circulans; Takeuchi Y et al.; The structure of permetin A(I), an antibiotic substance produced by Bacillus circulans AJ 3902, has been elucidated as a cyclic acyl peptide by means of the mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques . (Formula: see text.) The structure was found to be the same as polypeptin A(II) except that L-Thr in II is replaced by L-Ser in I . Details of the structural determination are given for the permetin A itself as well as for the hydrolyzed permetin A . (Formula: see text.)

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Feb, 32(2), 115 - 20
Isolation of a new peptide antibiotic, permetin A, from Bacillus circulans; Takahara Y et al.; Permetin A was purified from the culture filtrate of Bacillus circulans AJ 3902 by extraction with n-butanol, precipitation with sodium helianthate, CM-cellulose column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography . The compound was found to be a new peptide antibiotic containing 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (Dab), leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, valine, serine (in a molar ratio of 3:2:1:1:1:1) and a fatty acid . This antibiotic showed activity in vitro against Gram-negative, Gram-positive and some anaerobic bacteria.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 25(2), 178 - 84
Ultrastructure of midgut events in the pathogenesis of Bacillus sphaericus strain SSII-1 infections of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus larvae; Davidson EW; The fate of Bacillus sphaericus strain SSII-1 cells ingested by Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (= C . pipiens fatigans, C . fatigans, C . quinquefasciatus of authors; Diptera: Culicidae) larvae and the cytological events preceding death of the host were observed using electron microscopy . Bacillus sphaericus cells were digested rapidly in the anterior and central midgut . The outer cell wall layer and cytoplasmic ground substance disappeared soon after ingestion . Cytolysosomes became prominent in midgut cells as these cells gradually separated from one another . All bacteria, including B . sphaericus, were confined within the peritrophic membrane until after death of the host . Digestion by the larval host is confirmed as a possible mechanism for release of B . sphaericus toxin from the bacterial cells.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 37(2), 233 - 6
Evaluation of microbial flora of the eye during wear of soft contact lenses; McBride ME; The microflora of the eye has been monitored in 21 patients during a 6-month period to study changes resulting from wear of soft contact lenses . A minimum of 20 cul-de-sac cultures were taken from each patient . Fifty-one percent of cultures taken prior to lens wear were positive for microbial growth, whereas, after lens wear, positive cultures ranged from 14.3% to 30.9" over the 6-month period . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequently isolated organism, followed by Micrococcus spp., diphtheroids, and Bacillus spp . Nonfermentative, gram-negative rods and fungi were isolated spordically . Bacterial growth was sparse from all specimens, but individual differences were found . The microflora of the eye appears to resemble that of the skin, suggesting that the eye has no real flora of its own, but has a transient flora supplied from the skin, possibly the eyelid.

J Cell Sci, 1979 Feb, 35, 253 - 66
The route of entry of cytoplasmically synthesized proteins into chloroplasts of algae possessing chloroplast ER; Gibbs SP; In 8 classes of algae, namely the Cryptophyceae, Raphidophyceae, Haptophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Xanthophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae and Phaeophyceae, the chloroplasts, in addition to being surrounded by a double-membraned chloroplast envelope, are also enclosed by a cisterna of endoplasmic reticulum called the chloroplast ER . Often this ER cisterna is continuous with the outher membrane of the nuclear envelope in such a manner that the nuclear envelope forms a part of the ER sac enclosing the chloroplast . In all these classes of algae except the Cryptophyceae, a regular network of tubules and vesicles, named the periplastidal reticulum, is present at a specific location between the chloroplast envelope and the chloroplast ER . In the Cryptophyceae, scattered vesicles are found between the chloroplast envelope and the chloroplast ER . Ribosomes which have been shown to be arranged to polysomes are found on the outer membrane of the chloroplast ER . It is proposed that nuclear-coded proteins which are destined for the chloroplast are synthesized on these polysomes, passing during synthesis into the lumen of the ER cisterna . Vesicles containing these proteins then pinch off the chloroplast ER and form the periplastidal reticulum . Vesicles containing these proteins then pinch off the chloroplast ER and form the periplastidal reticulum . Vesicles then fuse with the outer membrane of the chloroplast envelope thereby delivering their contents to the lumen of the chloroplast envelope . Proteins then cross the inner membrane of the chloroplast envelope in an as yet unknown manner . Experimental evidence for this hypothesis comes from studies on Ochromonas danica using chloramphenicol and spectinomycin, which inhibit protein synthesis on plastid ribosomes, and cycloheximide, which inhibits protein synthesis on cytoplasmic ribosomes . In cells of Ochromonas exposed to chloramphenicol or spectinomycin, the periplastidal reticulum proliferates markedly becoming several layers thick . Presumably this build up of periplastidal reticulum occurs because the transport of cytoplasmically synthesized plastid proteins is slowed down when protein synthesis in the chloroplast is inhibited . Conversely, when cells of Ochromonas are treated with cycloheximide, there is a reduction in the amount of periplastidal reticulum presumably because there are no cytoplasmically synthesized proteins to be transported into the chloroplast.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Feb, 137(2), 925 - 32
Physiological responses of bacteria to cytochalasin A: effects on growth, transport, and enzyme induction; Cunningham D et al.; Cytochalasin A at 5 to 25 microgram/ml (1.0 x 10(-5) to 5.2 x 10(-5) M) inhibited the growth of three gram-positive bacteria, Arthrobacter sialophilus, Staphyloccus aureus, and Bacillus amyloliquifaciens, but had little or no effect on the growth of three gram-negative bacteria, Excherichia coli, Pseudomonas maltophilia, and Aeromonas proteolytica . A . sialophilus and S . aureus recovered spontaneously from cytochalasin A-mediated growth inhibition after a considerable lag period, which was dependent on the drug dose . It was demonstrated that this long-term recovery did not involve selection of resistant variants . Cytochalasin A had no detrimental effect on cell viability in A . sialophilus or S . aureus, but caused lysis of B . amyloliquifaciens . The drug prevented enzyme inductions and inhibited transport of valine, uridine, and glucose in the gram-positive organisms . It had little or no effect on these processes in the gram-negative organisms . In studies with A . sialophilus, the drug inhbitied respiration of exogenous substrates, but did not depress endogenous respiration . These results constitute the first unequivocal evidence for the bacteriostatic properties of this class of compounds and indicate that cytochalasin A halts various physiological processes in gram-positive bacteria primarily by inhibiting solute transport.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1979 Feb, 63(2), 197 - 200
Procarbazine, vinblastine, and actinomycin D in stage III and IV melanoma with or without methanol-extracted residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; Kostinas JE et al.; Patients with stage III and IV melanoma were randomly assigned to receive procarbazine (100 mg/m2, Days 1--10), vinblastine (5 mg/m2, Days 1 and 8), and actinomycin D (0.5 mg/m2, Days 1 and 8) with or without methanol-extracted residue (MER) of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (200 micrograms in five sites) . In patients with measurable disease, 20% (eight of 40 patients) responded with only the combination chemotherapy while 15% (six of 39 patients) responded with the MER added . Toxicity was tolerable except for some instances of severe, gastrointestinal toxicity associated with procarbazine . MER as given in this study, failed to either increase the response rate or prolong survival.

Am J Gastroenterol, 1979 Feb, 71(2), 196 - 201
BCG treatment of Crohn's disease; Rahban S et al.; Among 53 patients with documented Crohn's disease, 30% manifested a defect in delayed hypersensitivity demonstrated by negative DNCB skin tests and significant (p less than 0.01) T-lymphocyte hyporeactivity . A double-blind controlled trial was conducted to evaluate oral Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy in nine of these patients with Crohn's disease and deficient cellular immunity . All patients had a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) greater than 150 (at least moderate activity) upon randomization to BCG (five patients) or placebo (four patients) treatment for six to 12 months . No significicant differences between BCG and placebo treatment were found in the CDAI, laboratory tests and gastrointestinal roentgenograms . We conclude that the disturbance in cell-mediated immunity in patients with Crohn's disease probably is a manifestation of the disease rather than an etiological factor and that immunostimulation with oral BCG is not effective therapy.

Cancer Res, 1979 Feb, 39(2 Pt 2), 564 - 9
Evaluation of the microplate leukocyte adherence inhibition test and its reproducibility, sensitivity, and relationship to other tests of cellular immunity; Holt PG et al.; The microplate version of the leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) test was evaluated in murine and human studies . It was used in parallel with the microcytotoxicity assay, lymphotoxin assay, leukocyte migration inhibition, and lymphocyte stimulation tests in a transplantable murine tumor model, and it compared favorably with these established techniques for the detection of cellular immunity . The LAI test detected both primary and secondary anamnestic responses in Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-primed mice, and it displayed sensitivity to host humoral factors comparable to that seen with other tests . The LAI phenomenon was shown to be mediated by a soluble supernatant factor liberated by antigen-exposed immune leukocytes in the mouse and by concanavalin A-stimulated human leukocytes . In the mouse, deliberate depletion of T-cells ablates LAI reactivity in cells taken at the peak of a primary response; however, immune serum "arms" non-thymus-dependent cells taken from unimmunized hosts . In the mouse, the results of LAI tests correlate with other established techniques, when purified protein derivative reactivity was assessed in spleen cells from Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-immunized mice . Comparable correlation is not found when reactivity to this antigen is assessed in human peripheral blood samples from unimmunized donors.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1979 Feb, 87(2), 143 - 7
Bacterionema matruchotii ocular infections; Wilhelmus KR et al.; One case of endophthalmitis and two cases of corneal ulceration, each occurring in a structurally altered eye, were associated with Bacterionema matruchotii, a gram-positive filamentous bacillus.

Cancer Res, 1979 Feb, 39(2 Pt 2), 593 - 6
Cross-reactivity between Bacillus Calmette-Guérin and Rous Virus-induced sarcoma detected in rats by tube leukocyte adherence inhibition assay; Holan V et al.; Specific immunity to Rous virus-induced sarcoma (RSL) was investigated by the tube leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay in rats immunized with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) . Peritoneal cells from Lewis rats immunized s.c . with BCG gave positive reactions in the tube LAI assay with the antigen prepared from RSL in Lewis rats . Lymph node cells from Lewis rats immunized with BCG had no cytotoxic effect on RSL cells in vitro, whereas peritoneal cells from the same rats were strongly cytotoxic for RSL cells . Growth of RSL tumors in vivo was not inhibited in BCG-treated rats as compared to that in untreated rats . The results show that LAI reactivity correlates with cytotoxicity of peritoneal cells and does not correlate with the cytotoxicity of lymph node cells and that positive LAI reactions with tumor antigen need not be reflected in the suppression of growth of the tumor in vivo.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1979 Feb-Mar, 130(2), 269 - 72
{Cryoresistance during sporulation in Bacillus (author's transl)}; Defives C; The maximal resistance at -- 20 degrees C is obtained as soon as stage V of sporulation in Bacillus cereus and for the spore of the mutant Marburg strain of B . subtilis bloked at stage V of sporulation.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Feb, 137(2), 947 - 55
Peptidoglycan turnover during growth of a Bacillus megaterium Dap- Lys- mutant; Frehel C et al.; The aim of this study was to ascertain whether or not the absence of cell wall growth zones, deduced from the analysis of autoradiographs of DL-{3H}mesodiaminopimelic acid pulse-labeled cells of a Dap- Lys- mutant of Bacillus megaterium, was due to a high peptidoglycan turnover . Turnover was determined in very precise experimental conditions because two kinds of turnover occurred: a low, acid-soluble turnover and a high, acid-insoluble one . The latter was detected during a chase in the culture medium when bacteria were centrifuged before treatment with trichloroacetic acid . Otherwise the acid-insoluble released material precipitated with the bacteria . In the electron microscope this material presented a globular structure and contained both peptidoglycan and teichoic acid . The acid-insoluble turnover was mainly produced by a lytic acitivity that was released into the culture medium . This thermolabile activity was not due to cell lysis . It was implicated in septum cleavage and in the detachment of wall fragments from the cell surface, but did not seem indispensable for cell elongation . The acid-soluble turnover was much weaker and seemed to be indispensable for cell elongation.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Feb, 137(2), 1024 - 7
Purification and properties of phosphoglycerate phosphomutase from spores and cells of Bacillus megaterium; Singh RP et al.; Phosphoglycerate phosphomutase has been purified to homogeneity from vegetative cells and germinated spores of Bacillus megaterium, and the spore and cell enzymes appear identical . The enzyme is a monomer of molecular weight 61,000 . The compound 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid is not required for activity, but the enzyme has an absolute and specific requirement for Mn2+ . The enzyme is inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate and sulfhydryl reagents, has a pH optimum of about 8.0, and has Km values for 3-phosphoglyceric acid and Mn2+ of 5 x 10(-4) and 4 x 10(-5) M, respectively.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Jan 29, 572(1), 105 - 12
Enzymic synthesis of a new type of fucose-containing glycolipid with fucosyltransferase of rat ascites hepatoma cell, AH 7974F; Taki T et al.; An alpha-fucosyltransferase activity has been demonstrated in rat ascites hepatoma AH 7974F cells catalyzing the transfer of L-fucose to asialo-GM1 prepared from bovine brain GM1 ganglioside to form a fucolipid in the presence of Triton X-100 . The radioactive fucolipid was shown to be Fuc-(alpha1 leads to 2)-Gal-(beta1 leads to 3)-GalNAc-(beta1 leads to 4)-Gal-(beta1 leads to 4)-Glc-ceramide from the following results . The radioactive product coincided with authentic blood group H-active fucolipid from AH 7974F cell on thin-layer chromatography . The product formed a precipitation line not only with Ulex europeus lectin but also with eel anti-H serum on agarose gel plates . The terminal 14C-labeled fucose was released by Bacillus fulminans alpha(1 leads to 2)fucosidase as well as Charonia lampas alpha-fucosidase . The optimum pH value for the incorporation of L-fucose into asialo-GM1 was 5.8 in cacodylate/HCl buffer . The fucosyltransferase was highly specific for asialo-GM1.

Arch Microbiol, 1979 Jan 16, 120(1), 9 - 14
On the formation of crystal proteins during sporulation in Bacillus thuringiensis var . thuringiensis; Meenakshi K et al.; The processes of sporulation and crystal formation in Bacillus thuringiensis could be desynchronized, using short term temperature shift-up conditions or addition of chloramphenicol at the beginning of sporulation . Isolation of a Sp-, Cr+ mutant, blocked at early stage of sporulation further confirmed that crystal formation can occur in the absence of sporulation . The presence of one of the two antigenic subunits of the crystal protein in chloramphenicol treated cultures and both of them in cultures shifted up to 37 degrees C was demonstrated . The insect toxicity was exhibited by both the extracts.

JAMA, 1979 Jan 5, 241(1), 33 - 8
The epidemiology of tuberculosis in physicians; Barrett-Connor E; The incidence of tuberculosis in physicians was determined by mailed questionnaire . Since 1950 tuberculosis infection preceding entry into medical school has decreased by 73%; at the same time, infection after beginning recent graduates exceeded 1% per year, and age-specific infection rates among physicians were at least twice the US average . Tuberculosis developed in nearly one in ten physicians infected after medical school entry; in two thirds, disease preceded or coincided with recognized tuberculin positivity . No tuberculosis occurred in physicians who used isoniazid chemoprophylaxis, but two thirds of tuberculin-negative physicians did not have annual skin tests, 56% of known recent converters used no chemoprophylaxis, and 25% of those initiating isoniazid prophylaxis did not complete a 12-month course . The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine recipients had 80% less tuberculosis than unimmunized physicians infected after beginning medical school.

Mol Gen Genet, 1979 Jan 5, 168(1), 55 - 9
Polyethylene-glycol induced fusion of bacterial protoplasts: direct selection of recombinants; Fodor K et al.; Direct selection for recombinants by supplemented minimal media from polyethylene-glycol (PEG)-induced fusion of protoplasts of polyauxotrophic strains of B . megaterium revealed striking physiological influences on the yield of recombinants . Cytoplasmic state of the protoplasts to be fused, rather than genetic events, determined the number of colonies obtained on the selection media . It is suggested that the physiological effects primarily influenced the ability of the fused protoplasts to revert to bacillary form.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Jan 2, 93(1), 95 - 101
The effect of Mg2+ on some properties of nucleotide-free elongation factor Tu from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Wittinghofer A et al.; The nucleotide-free elongation factor from Bacillus stearothermophilus provides a means to study the effect of Mg2+ ions on various reactions of the protein . The binding of GDP to the protein is stimulated by Mg2+ . From comparative studies with other metal ions, particularly Mn2+, it appears that this stimulation is due to the formation of a metal - GDP complex which is bound to the protein . Protection against proteolysis by trypsin is afforded by both Mg2+ and Mg - GDP, but not by GDP alone . The rate of substitution of the sulphydryl group associated with aminoacyl-tRNA binding, either 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) or N-ethylmaleimide is reduced in the presence of Mg2+ - All these observations show that Mg2+ not only is involved in GDP binding but also has a direct effect on the tertiary structure of the protein.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Jan 2, 93(1), 57 - 64
Identification of the amino acid residue modified in Bacillus stearothermophilus alcohol dehydrogenase by the NAD+ analogue 4-(3-bromoacetylpyridinio)butyldiphosphoadenosine; Jeck R et al.; 4-(3-Bromoacetylpyridinio)butyldiphosphoadenosine was synthesized with a {carbonyl-14C}acetyl label . The reactive coenzyme analogue inactivates alcohol dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus by forming a covalent enzyme-coenzyme compound . The inactivation kinetics as well as the spectral properties of the modified enzyme after treatment with sodium hyposulphite suggest that the analogue is bound at the coenzyme binding site . B . stearothermophilus alcohol dehydrogenase modified with 14C-labelled coenzyme analogue and subseqeuntly carboxymethylated with unlabelled iodoacetic acid was digested with trypsin . The radioactive peptide was isolated and sequenced in parallel with the corresponding peptide similarly isolated from unmodified enzyme that had instead been carboxymethylated with iodo{14C}acetic acid . Amino acid and sequence analysis show that Cys-38 of the B . stearothermophilus alcohol dehydrogenase was modified by the reactive coenzyme analogue . This residue is homologous to Cys-43 in yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and Cys-46 in the horse liver enzyme but, unlike the latter two, Cys-38 is not reactive towards iodoacetate in the native bacterial enzyme.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jan, 137(1), 689 - 91
Genetic mapping of a bacteriophage resistance mutation, pha-1, and the thi-1 mutation in Bacillus licheniformis; Kowalski JB et al.; A mutation, designated pha-1, resulting in resistance to bacteriophage LP-52, mapped between gly-3 and pepA1 in Bacillus licheniformis by transduction with phage SP-15 . The thi-1 mutation was also found to be linked to gly-3 . The map order was thi-1--gly-3--pha-1--pepA1--his-9.

Vet Med Nauki, 1979, 16(9), 16 - 23
{Effect of high doses of the toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis strains on mice and sheep}; Rizvanov K et al.; The investigation on Bac . thuringiensis toxines applied orally and subcutaneously on experimental white mice and on sheep proved that high doses of the dipel endotoxin are most toxic for mice of all strains (No . 862, 2E, 171) and spores and crystals of strain ND-1 used in dipel injection . The endotoxin of strain 862 applied orally to sheep at a dose of 10 cm3/kg body weight caused slight changes only to some paraclinical indices, namely: total protein, carotene, etc . Exotoxin had none or only slight toxic effect . The remaining strains applied to high doses proved almost harmless to mice.

Acta Biol Med Ger, 1979, 38(7), 953 - 8
Phagocytosis-stimulating mediators in insects; Mohrig W et al.; The ability of insect blood cells to ingest all kinds of synthetic particles and also a wide range of microorganisms in a very short time after injection has up to now been regarded as a phagocytic function without any humoral mediators . In a phagocytosis model with latex beads and nonhagocytosable cells of Bacillus thuringiensis subtoxicus, we are able to demonstrate the existence of lymphokine-like factors, which intervene in cellular defence reactions of insect . The following results were obtained: 1 . Immediately after injection of latex beads, normally non-phagocytosable cells of Bacillus thuringiensis subtoxicus are phagocytosed . 2 . Cell-free haemolymph of larvae of Galleria mellonella previously injected with latex beads, stimulates in new larvae phagocytosis of Bacillus thuringiensis subtoxicus after transfusion . 3 . The fractionation of homogenates of latex-treated larvae on Sephadex G 50 shows two fractions which stimulate phagocytosis . We suppose that the appearance of these phagocytosis-stimulating factors is the result of a successful recognition of foreign material.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1979, 24(4), 314 - 7
Electron microscopy of some rock phosphate dissolving bacteria and fungi; Gaur AC et al.; Bacteria Pseudomonas striata, Bacillus polymyxa, B . megaterium and B . pulvifaciens, and fungi Aspergillus awamori, A . niger and Penicillium digitatum dissolve tricalcium phosphate and, much less, Mussorie and Udaipur rock phosphate . The solubilizing power of fungi was higher than that of bacteria, the highest being with A . awamori and A . niger, and with P . striata . Electron microscopy of the various cultures showed an electron-dense layer on the bacterial surface after negative staining . The size of phosphate particles decreased by the microbial action, with tricalcium phosphate from 140--250 to 30--90 nm after three weeks of incubation.

Scan Electron Microsc, 1979, (3), 111 - 21
Ultrastructure and x-ray microanalysis of macrophages exposed to cadmium chloride; Bell SW et al.; Macrophages have a direct role in the inflammatory response to cadmium exposure . Cadmium is not only an important air pollutant, but is also one component of cigarette smoke . To study the effects of soluble cadmium on macrophages, two model systems were chosen:rabbit alveolar macrophages (RAMs) obtained by pulmonary lavage and peritoneal macrophages elicited by intraperitoneal injections of 10(7) viable M . bovis, bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG MACs) . Macrophages were maintained in standard tissue culture medium from 4 to 30 hours with concentrations of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) ranging from 0 to 1.0 mM . Attached macrophages and RAMs in suspension were studied by conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDX) . In addition to routine techniques for TEM and SEM, preparatory procedures included snap freezing in liquid propane, and either cryoultramicrotomy or freeze-substitution with 1% osmium tetroxide in acetone . By TEM many macrophages exhibited laminated nuclear inclusions at doses as low as 0.05 mM CdCl2) (at 20 hrs) and as early as 4 hrs (at 1.0 mM CdCl2) . Sections of cells fixed by freezing exhibited the same nuclear inclusions as well as mitochondrial densities that were not visible with any other preparative technique . Cadmium was demonstrated in the nuclear inclusions and mitochondrial densities by EDX in snap frozen cells . Lesser amounts of cadmium were also detected diffusely in treated cell cytoplasm and nuclei . Cadmium was only detected by EDX in cells fixed by freezing . These studies document the localization of Cd in nuclear inclusions and mitochondria providing morphological support for the biochemical findings of other laboratories . In addition, the value of fixation by freezing over conventional chemical fixation is illustrated.

Intervirology, 1979, 12(1), 1 - 7
Rhabdoviridae . Report of the Rhabdovirus Study Group, International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses; Brown F et al.; The family Rhabdoviridae comprises approximately 75 viruses infecting vertebrates, invertebrates and plants . The main characteristics of the member viruses are: (i) the viruses infecting vertebrates and invertebrates are bullet-shaped and the viruses infecting plants are usually bacilliform; (ii) the viruses have particle lengths varying from 130 to 380 nm and widths varying from 60 to 95 nm; (iii) the viruses possess unit-membrane envelopes from which protrude spikes 5 to 10 nm long; (iv) the viruses have precisely coiled helical nuecleocapsids with a diameter of approx . 50 nm; (v) most of the viruses which have been studied contain 5 proteins; the prototype, vesicular stomatitis virus, contains proteins designated L (large), G (glycoprotein), N (nucleoprotein), NS (nonstructural) and M (matrix); N or NS is phosphorylated in most members which have been studied; (vi) the viruses contain single-stranded RNA which is transcribed into several messenger RNA species with sizes corresponding to the structural proteins; (vii) the nucleocapsid contains the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and is infectious; and (viii) many of the viruses produce morphologically distinct defective-interfering (T) particles.

Avian Dis, 1979 Jan-Mar, 23(1), 194 - 203
Isolation of an etiologic agent of acute respiratory disease (rhinotracheitis) of turkey poults; Simmons DG et al.; A small gram-negative motile bacillus was isolated from laboratory poults affected by acute respiratory disease (rhinotracheitis) of turkeys . The bacterium was inoculated intranasally into susceptible day-old poults; the poults developed typical clinical signs of acute respiratory disease, and the bacterium was reisolated . This same bacterium was isolated from commercial poults with typical signs of acute respiratory disease but not from poults of similar age which were clinically normal . The bacterium has not been identified taxonomically . We conclude that it is a primary etiologic agent for acute respiratory disease of turkey poults.

Oncology, 1979, 36(5), 236 - 41
Intralesional immune therapy: methanol extraction residue of BCG or purified protein derivative; Lokich JJ et al.; 6 patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma and multiple secondary cutaneous lesions were treated with intralesional methanol extraction residue of bacillus Calmette Guerin (MER-BCG) . Separate lesions were injected with purified protein derivatives (PPD) in 5 of the study patients . 5 of the 6 MER-BCG injection lesions developed marked inflammation clinically . Excisional biopsy 7-14 days later demonstrated complete dissolution of tumor in 2 patients and was accompanied by infiltration with acute and chronic inflammatory cells; 3 lesions revealed necrosis with residual tumor, and in 1 patient there was no apparent host response . Clinical tumor regression was not observed with PPD applied intralesionally, although histopathologic analysis revealed a granulomatous inflammatory response in 3 of 5 patients . No patient demonstrated regression of uninjected cutaneous lesions (4 evaluable patients) or visceral lesions (2 patients) . The critical determinants of tumor regression are the size, site and depth of the lesion in relationship to the cutaneous surface . The mechanism of tumor eradication may be related to 'innocent bystander' necrosis secondary to nonspecific inflammation rather than immunologically mediated via host sensitization.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1979, 130(4), 243 - 5
{Acute and chronic tuberculosis of the liver and hematopoietic system (author's transl)}; Patri B et al.; The authors report three cases of tuberculosis affecting the liver and hematopoietic system . The difficulty in diagnosing the chronic progressive forms of the disease and the severity of the acute forms is stressed . Liver biopsy is considered to be the most effective examination for confirming the nature of the disease . Acute and chronic forms can also be distinguished histologically, as the former produce nectotic lesions rich in tubercle bacillus but with only slight surrounding cellular reaction, while the latter lesions are productive and are rich in epithelioid histocytic cells.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1979, 130(4), 225 - 30
{Pulmonary mycobacteriosis due to Mycobacterium chelonei: a report on a new case (authors' transl)}; Babeau P et al.; Mycobacterium chelonei is a saprophytic germ usually devoid of pathogenic activity . Over a period of about the last ten years, however, several cases have been reported, including twelve cases of bronchopulmonary affections, in which it has been the infecting organism . The radiographic appearance is in every respect similar to that observed in pulmonary tuberculosis . A positive diagnosis of infection due to this germ can be made by the absence of Kuch's bacillus the lack of therapeutic effect of antituberculous medication, a positive skin reaction to specific antigens, and positive Mycobacterium Chelonei cultures from biopsy specimens . A new case of this infection is reported.

Poumon Coeur, 1979, 35(2), 97 - 100
{Broncho-pulmonary amylosis (about two cases) (author's transl)}; Fournial F et al.; The authors reported two recent cases of broncho-pulmonary amylosis with monoclonal gammapathy . The first observation concerned a diffuse amylosis characterized by a bilateral pulmonary infiltration with pleural effusions and secretion of IgGlambda with a Bence Jones proteinuria . Pleural and pulmonary biopsies will provide the proof of amylosis . Evolution will rapidly be fatal in case of renal insufficiency . Post-mortem sampling will confirm the amyloid involvement (muscle, liver, kidney) . The second observation described a localized amylosis developed in contact with a mediastino-pulmonary lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma with tumoral secretion of IgMlambda . Although pneumonectomy brought out the disappearance of the abnormal paraportein, death occurred within a few months, linked either to the spreading of the lymphomatous process or to the onset of a bacillary surinfection . The authors then recalled the main clinical and diagnostic data of the broncho-pulmonary amylosis . They underlined the importance of GLENNER'S work who, by proving the immunoglobulinic nature of amyloid, explained that in both cases, amylosis appeared as the consequences of an abnormal immunoglobulins synthesis.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1979, 24(3), 234 - 9
Amino acid control mechanism for bacitracin formation by Bacillus licheniformis; Haavik HI; Several amino acids affected the amount of bacitracin produced by Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 10716 and the high-yielding mutant B . licheniformis AL . The possibility of an amino acid control mechanism for bacitracin biosynthesis is discussed . The two strains showed a different response to the addition of some amino acids . This indicate that they may have differences in their amino acid control mechanism.

Biochem J, 1979 Jan 1, 177(1), 49 - 62
Purification, properties and specificity of the restriction endonuclease from Bacillus stearothermophilus; Clarke CM et al.; The restriction endonuclease BstI was purified from 70kg of Bacillus stearothermophilus . The final product is at least 97% pure as judged by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis; this major protein species co-migrates with the enzyme activity on native polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing . Pure restriction endonuclease BstI has a subunit mol.wt . of 26,000 and is probably a loosely associated dimer . The enzyme shows maximum activity at pH values between 7 and 9.5, and in the presence of 0.5-2mM-Mg2+ . NaCl inhibits the restriction enzyme activity . Restriction endonuclease BstI cleaves DNA in a position identical with that cleaved by endonuclease BamHI (for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), i.e.: (formula: see text) . In the presence of high concentrations of enzyme, DNA cleavage occurs at secondary sites . This side-specificity is enhanced by the addition of glycerol . Preliminary studies indicate that these sites are of the type: (formula: see text).

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Jan-Feb, 48(1), 161 - 4
{Variant of Bacillus anthracoides}; Galanina LA et al.; A comparative study of the Bacillus anthracoides culture and its variant has shown that the latter differs drastically from the parent culture in the shape and consistence of colonies, the size of spores and vegetative cells, the rate of spore germination in MPB, and the resistence to steam treatment and chloroactive disinfectants.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1979 Jan, 119(1), 161 - 70
Tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis practices in metropolitan clinics; Leff A et al.; A survey of tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis policies was conducted from September 1977 through January 1978 of all metropolitan programs in the United States that reported more than 100 cases of tuberculosis during 1976 . Twenty-eight programs were surveyed, and all responded . Uniform practice was found with regard to the dosage of isoniazid administered, duration of treatment, and most other indications for preventive therapy recommended by the American Thoracic Society and the U.S . Public Health Service Center for Disease Control . One third of the programs surveyed administered chemoprophylaxis to pregnant women, and one third regularly dispensed more than a one-month supply of isoniazid to patients . Three programs (11%) routinely monitored hepatic function by serum laboratory tests during chemoprophylaxis . Four programs (14%) regularly or occasionally used bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine for prevention of tuberculosis . Although large metropolitan programs generally followed the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society and the Center for Disease Control for tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis, some major variances in practice were reported.

J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris), 1979, 8(6), 521 - 5
{Tuberculosis of the breast . A revue of the literature in connection with a personal case (author's transl)}; Seffert P et al.; The authors, having had a personal case that they report, have carried out a general review of tuberculosis of the breast . It is a rare affection which usually attacks women during reproductive life, mainly because of the influence of hormones on the condition . Clinically it is difficult to differentiate it from cancer and it can present in two forms, a superficial and a deep one, a diffuse one and a circumscribed one . All the same, there is a definite feature which is fistula formation . The diagnosis depends on the biopsy, which shows specific histological lesions, and on the bacteriological examination, which shows the Koch's bacillus . Mammography is not very characteristic and thermography is of too recent appearance . Treatment consists in anti-tuberculous chemotherapy at first, surgery being reserved for residual lesions.

Cancer Clin Trials, 1979 Winter, 2(4), 345 - 50
Treatment of advanced breast cancer with cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, and prednisone with and without methanol-extracted residue of BCG; Britell JC et al.; The value of immunotherapy as an adjuvant to chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer is an unsettled question . To clarify this issue, 71 women with measurable or evaluable metastatic breast cancer were randomized to receive cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, and prednisone (CFP) with or without methanol-extracted residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (MER) . The total regression rates were 52% (CFP) and 39% (CFP + MER), including complete regression rates of 13% (CFP) and 65% (CFP + MER) . The median duration of regressions for CFP-treated patients was 257-261 days and for CFP + MER-treated patients was 385 days . The median time to progression was 248-261 days in the CFP group and 159 days in the CFP-MER group . Projected median survival for both treatment groups is 20 months . Immunotherapy (MER) as used in this study does not appear to augment regression rates or vurvival for patients with advanced breast cancer receiving CFP.

Scand J Immunol, 1979, 10(3), 281 - 4
In vitro enhancement of natural cytotoxicity by tumour necrosis serum; Pasanen VJ; Cells cytotoxic for syngeneic, allogeneic and xenogeneic cultured target cells are shown to be induced spontaneously in cultures of murine lymphoid cells . Serum containing bacillus Calmette-Guerin and endotoxin-induced tumour necrosis factor accelerates the appearance of observed natural cytotoxic cells.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1979, 24(3), 273 - 5
Antimicrobial effect of 4-nitrophenylhydrazones, isonicotinoylhydrazones and N-4-nitrophenylglycosylamines of D- and L-aldoses; Zemek J et al.; The antibacterial effect of 19 4-nitrophenylhydrazones, isonicotinoylhydrazones, and N-4-nitrophenylhydrazones, of 9 mono- and 2 disaccharides was tested with Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus licheniformis and Escherichia coli.

Lab Anim, 1979 Jan, 13(1), 43 - 6
Studies on Tyzzer's disease: transplacental transmission of Bacillus piliformis in rats; Fries AS; Clinically healthy rats with antibodies to Bacillus piliformis were given prednisolone in the last week of pregnancy . B . piliformis was demonstrated in the livers of their offspring . None of the dams or the young rats showed clinical signs of disease . Antibodies to B . piliformis were found in the young rats at birth, and presisted for several months . The importance of potential transplacental infections when attempting to establish colonies free from B . piliformis in discussed.

Lab Anim, 1979 Jan, 13(1), 37 - 41
Studies on Tyzzer's disease: a long-term study of the humoral antibody response in mice, rats and rabbits; Fries AS; Mice treated with an antigen prepared from livers infected with Bacillus piliformis developed antibodies to the microorganism which reached a peak on the 7th day and disappeared within 40 days: antibody titres in experimentally-infected mice remained at a high level throughout life . The antibody titres in naturally-infected mice, rats and rabbits ramined positive throughout life and followed the same pattern as that of the experimentally-infected mice.

Med Pediatr Oncol, 1979, 7(2), 127 - 39
Improved remission induction rate with D-ZAPO but unimproved remission duration with addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy in previously untreated children with ANLL; Baehner RL et al.; In 163 children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), a D-ZAPO induction program consisting of daunomycin, 5-azacytidine, cytosine arabinoside, prednisone, and vincristine resulted in a remission rate of 71.8% . Immunologic therapy was employed during maintenance with the aim of prolonging remission and improving survival . The administration of immunotherapy consisting of a mixture of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and allogenic acute myelomonocytic leukemic cells injected intradermally on day 14 of each of the first three monthly cycles of 6-thioguanine for ten days, 5-azacytidine and cytosine arabinoside for four days, and vincristine for one day did not improve remission duration or survival compared to that due to chemotherapy alone . Important prognostic factors identified in this study included a remission induction rate significantly better for females than males (P = 0.04), for children between the ages of 5 and 10 years compared to those greater than this age group (P = 0.01), and a prolonged remission duration (P = 0.04), and survival (P less than 0.01) for patients with initial white blood counts of less than 20 x 10(9)/liter.

Acta Biol Med Ger, 1979, 38(10), K19 - K24
The influence of growth temperature on the heat stability of inorganic pyrophosphatase from crude extracts of Bacillus stearothermophilus; Kuttner GA et al.; Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity of crude extracts from Bacillus stearothermophilus adapts its thermostability to the growth temperature of the cells . Magnesium ions increase the stability of the enzyme in all cases . Depending on the growth temperature of the cells two pyrophosphatase species differing in their molecular weights and heat stabilities have been detected.

Acta Biol Med Ger, 1979, 38(2-3), 333 - 44
Isolation and characterization of cytochrome P-450meg; Berg A et al.; The cytochrome P-450-dependent steroid 15 beta-hydroxylase system from Bacillus megaterium has been resolved into three components, 1) a NADPH-specific, FMN-containing flavoprotein reductase, molecular weight 55-60 000; 2) an iron-sulfur protein, molecular weight 13,000 and 3) cytochrome P-450meg, molecular weight 52,000 . The cytochrome component has been purified to homogeneity, as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel, and its amino acid composition has been determined . Cytochrome P-450meg has a pI of 4.9, a Stokes radius of 27 A and a sedimentation constant of 3.3 S . Electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectra are typical of a low-spin cytochrome P-450 . The fluorescence spectrum is indicative of a tryptophane residue in a relatively non-polar environment . In recombination experiments, the electron flow was shown to proceed from the reductase via the iron-sulfur protein to the cytochrome . It is also possible to exchange the different components of the mitochondrial 11 beta-hydroxylase system from bovine adrenals for corresponding components in B . megaterium . Substrate specificity studies indicate that only steroids with a 3-oxo-delta 4-configuration are hydroxylated by the B . megaterium hydroxylase system . When oxidizing agents were used, hydroxylation occurred both in positions 15 alpha and 15 beta . Further substrate specificity studies have shown that aniline and imipramine can function as substrates for the bacterial system.

J Exp Med, 1979 Jan 1, 149(1), 100 - 13
Extracellular cytolysis by activated macrophages and granulocytes . II . Hydrogen peroxide as a mediator of cytotoxicity; Nathan CF et al.; When deprived of oxygen, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-activated macrophages no longer lysed P388 lymphoma cells . Both H2O2 release and cytotoxicity by BCG-activated macrophages and by granulocytes triggered with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were markedly inhibited when the glucose concentration in the medium was reduced to 0.03 mM or less, or if glucose were replaced with galactose . Catalase abolished PMA-triggered cytotoxicity by both types of effector cells, whereas superoxide dismutase had no effect . Ferricytochrome C reduced the cytotoxicity of BCG-activated macrophages, an effect which was largely reversed by superoxide dismutase . 10 drugs, thought to quench singlet oxygen and/or scavenge hydroxyl radical, did not affect cytotoxicity in this system . Neither azide nor cyanide reduced cytolysis, but there was marked inhibition by lactoperoxidase and iodide . This suggested that cytotoxicity was not dependent upon myeloperoxidase, and that lactoperoxidase may have diverted H2O2 from the oxidation of target cells to oxidation of substances in serum . Mouse erythrocytes, although sensitive targets, interfered with the cytolysis of lymphoma cells, probably by competition for H2O2 . Starch particles with covalently bound glucose oxidase resembled macrophages in their spatial relation to the target cells and in the flux of H2O2 they generated from their surface, but were not expected to produce any other potentially toxic products . Such particles lysed lymphoma cells, and the lysis was prevented by catalase . Neither arginase nor thymidine appeared to be involved in cytolysis by BCG-activated macrophages under the conditions used . These findings demonstrated that release of H2O2 was both necessary and sufficient for cytolysis by BCG-activated macrophages and by granulocytes when pharmacologically triggered.

Microbios, 1979, 26(103), 7 - 15
Membrane changes during germination of Bacillus megaterium KM spores; Seto-Young DL et al.; Bacillus megaterium KM dormant spore inner membrane ATPase exhibits a ten-fold increase in specific activity during the first 10 min of germination in the absence of protein synthesis . During this time period both in the presence and absence of chloramphenicol extensive proteolysis of spore inner membrane takes place, which results in degradation of approximately half of the membrane protein . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals the extent and selectivity of this degradation of inner membrane protein.

Biol Bull Acad Sci USSR, 1979 Jan-Feb, 6(1), 67 - 72
Structure of the surface of spores and morphological-physiological properties of individual strains of Bacillus megaterium; Nadirova IM et al.; The structure of the surface of spores of 10 strains of Bacillus megaterium was investigated by the method of carbon replicas . They were separated into three groups according to the peculiarities of the structural organization of the surface of the spores . The combination of other morphological and physiological-biochemical characteristics of these strains was characteristic of the species Bac . megaterium . Strains with differences in the structure of the spore surface also showed similarities in other peculiarities of carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism studied in the work, as well as in the primary structure of DNA . The date obtained lead to the conclusion that structural differences in the surface of the spores cannot be considered a sufficient basis for isolating the bacteria studied into separate taxonomic groups.

Microbios, 1979, 26(103), 51 - 63
Influence of potassium chloride upon the binding and antibacterial activity of chlorhesidine diacetate and (ethoxy)5 octyl phenol (Triton X45) towards Bacillus megaterium KM-; Nadir MT et al.; Chlorhexidine (0.5-0.65 microM) and Triton X45 (30-40 microM) added to exponential phase Bacillus megaterium KM- cultures was growth inhibitory . The presence of KCl (0.05-0.35 M) in the medium did not significantly affect growth rate in the absence of drug, yet reduced the growth inhibitory activity of the chlorhexidine and enhanced that of Triton X45 . These effects were maximal at KCl concentrations of 0.2 M and above, when complete protection towards chlorhexidine and lysis of the cultures in the presence of Triton X45 were observed . Time-survivor curves in the presence of chlorhexidine (0.7-1.0 microM) gave LT90 values of 1.5-2.0 h in the absence of KCl, yet its inclusion (0.35 M) totally inhibited this low level bactericidal activity . Drug absorption by whole cell and isolated cell wall preparations was determined in the presence and absence of KCl (0.35 M) . Chlorhexidine uptake by intact cells was reduced by approximately 50% in the presence of salt whereas that of Triton X45 increased by a similar fraction . Uptake of chlorhexidine by the cell wall fraction accounted for approximately 50% of that for the whole cells and was relatively unaffected by the presence of KCl . Conversely, absorption of Triton X45 by the cell wall fraction accounted for most of the uptake by whole cells and increased markedly in the presence of salts.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1979, 134(1), 70 - 88
{Toxins and enzymes of several species of Bacillus, especially of the B . cereus-thuringiensis group (author's transl)}; Kreig A et al.; In the examined strains the production of following toxins or enzymes was determined by bioassay or by semiquantitative and routine diagnostical tests: delta-endotoxin, alpha-exotoxin, beta-exotoxin hemolysin, phospholipase C, proteinase . The production of delta-endotoxin (= a parasporal crystal toxic for several insects) is the only character in that B . thuringiensis differs from B . cereus . Other biochemical features as production of so-called alpha-exotoxin (= soluble toxic protein), hemolysin, phospholipase or proteinase are common in both species . Strains of B . megaterium may produce proteinase, but no phospholipase, hemolysin or alpha-exotoxin . The identity of the alpha-exotoxin of the B . cereus-thuringiensis group with any of the exoenzymes studied here could not be confirmed . At present, this toxin is only demonstrable by bioassay . Formation of beta-exotoxin (= soluble toxic nucleotide) is restricted to special strains of the B . cereus-thuringiensis group . -- All strains of B . megaterium tested do not produce any of the toxins quoted; they have found to be apathogenic under the experimental conditions . As the so-called "egg yolk clearing factor" is produced by all strains of B . megaterium (in contrast to strains of the B . cereus-thuringiensis group) it does not represent a factor of pathogenicity and therefore the term "gamma-exotoxin" is unfounded . -- Not too much attention should be paid in connection with taxonomic studies to the ability or non-ability of strains of bacteria to produce a special toxin.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1979, 24(3), 228 - 33
Inhibition of germination of Bacillus cereus T spores by phenylglyoxal; Ram BP et al.; Phenylgloxal at a concentration of 0.6 mM inhibited germination of Bacillus cereus T spores as characterized by a decrease in absorbance, dipicolinic acid and loss in heat resistance in a chemically defined growth and sporulation medium . In a germination medium containing L-alanine and adenosine, phenylglyoxal inhibited decrease in absorbance and affected partial loss of viability . It is postulated that phenylglyoxal interacts with free amino groups of various enzymes or amino compounds present in the spore structure thereby causing the inhibition of germination.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Jan-Feb, 48(1), 76 - 9
{Xerophytic microorganisms multiplying under conditions close to Martian ones}; Imshenetskii AA et al.; The xerophytic cultures Bacillus megaterium and Mycococcus ruber can grow in the imitated Martian conditions . Therefore, they are resistant to the extreme factors of the environment: the composition of atmosphere, low pressure, the maximum hygroscopicity of a substrate, periodic freezing-thawing.

Vet Med (Praha), 1979 Jan, 24(1), 37 - 47
{Effectiveness of paraformaldehyde foam in continuous disinfection of poultry bedding and dried liquid waste of pigs}; Fiser A; In laboratory experiments 24-hour cultures of poultry strains E . coli, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas on paper carriers without an agar coat and with it, after 6-hour exposure in dilutions from 10(-4) to 0, were devitalized by paraformaldehyde foam . The Bacillus strain was devitalized only after 24-hour exposure . After adding paraformaldehyde foam in an amount of 0.6% of the weight into litter under a multiplier flock of layers four months before expedition, and after adding paraformaldehyde foam in an amount of 5% and 10% of the weight into the litter for chick broilers, microbial contamination of the litter did not decrease in comparison with the control . 24-hour old cultures of tested microbial strains on carriers were not devitalized after 24-hour exposure in a mixture to litter and paraformaldehyde foam not even after adjusting the volume ratio of mixing to 1 : 9 . The disinfecting effect on microbes growing in End's agar and in blood agar with crystal violet was manifested only after adding dried liquid manure of pigs with paraformaldehyde foam at a volume ratio of 50% to 50% after exposure times of 1, 3 and 6.0 weeks . Despite the excellent results obtained with paraformaldehyde foam in disinfecting test-microbes on carriers in laboratory experiments, practical application at a very low volume weight for continuous disinfection of poultry litter is technically unrealistic.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 Jan, 85(1), 315 - 8
Effects of alpha- and beta-D-glucose on germination of spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551; Miwa I et al.; The effects of D-glucose anomers on the germination of dormant spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 were studied, alpha-D-Glucose (1 mM) slightly initiated the germination of the dormant spores during 10 min incubation at 37 degrees C, while about 60% of the dormant spores became germinated with beta-D-glucose (1 mM) in the same conditions . From the above observations and the finding that only a trace amount of alpha- or beta-D-glucose may bind with the dormant spores, it is speculated that the beta-D-glucose-stereospecific receptor site for the germination exists on the surface of the dormant spores of the bacillus.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1979 Jan, 32(1), 219 - 28
Properties and production characteristics of vomiting, diarrheal, and necrotizing toxins of Bacillus cereus; Turnbull PC et al.; Evidence is provided that the enterotoxin of Bacillus cereus variously described in the literature as diarrheagenic toxin, diarrheal agent, fluid accumulation factor, vascular permeability factor, dermonecrotic toxin, and intestinonecrotic toxin is a single relatively unstable protein of molecular weight approximately 50,000 and isoelectric point of the order of 4.9 . It is presumed to be the enterotoxin responsible for the diarrheal-type B . cereus food poisoning syndrome and it may also be the pyogenic and pyrogenic factor in nongastrointestinal B . cereus infections of man and animals . The enterotoxin is a vegetative growth metabolite produced to one degree or another by almost all B . cereus strains and is readily separated from phospholipase and heat-labile cereolysin but less readily differentiated from a heat-stable hemolysin . It is lethal to mice but may also be separable from another mouse lethal factor by electrofocusing . The emetic toxin responsible for the vomiting-type B . cereus food poisoning syndrome is clearly distinguishable from the diarrheal and other toxic factors and appears to be a highly stable compound of molecular size less than 5000.

Ann Ist Super Sanita, 1979, 15(1), 173 - 6
{The role of anaerobe adhesion in the colonization of the vaginal mucosa}; Tufano MA et al.; Some our previous research works on bacterial adhesion to vaginal cells in the different phases of the menstruum showed that adhesion changes depending on changing environmental conditions . We therefore considered interesting to extend our investigations to anaerobic flora, in the light of recent observations intended to attribute an important role to anaerobic flora in the pathogenesis of vaginitis . The results obtained so far indicate that the maximum adhesion capability is found in the middle of the menstruum . The very low adhesion of bacteria belonging to the Leptothrix genus remains substantially unaltered throughout the menstruum . Low adhesion is also found in sporogenic bacteria, whereas the coccoid ones have a stronger adhesion, particularly about the middle of the menstruum . With lower pH values adhesion of the anaerobic flora is enhanced, whereas in the final phase of the menstruum, with higher pH values, adhesion is reduced . Competition tests evidence a stronger adhesion of coccoid as compared to bacillar types.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1979, 134(8), 733 - 9
Thermostable aminopeptidase from local isolate of Bacillus stearothermophilus; Gamal RF et al.; Two of 63 isolates from different sources were very active in producing thermostable aminopeptidase . Comparing the two isolates, RR-2247 gave the highest enzyme activity and was identified as Bacillus stearothermophilus . The enzyme was isolated from the cells by a sonic vibration for 3 minutes at 20 KC/S . The enzyme shows optimum activity over the pH range of 7.5-8.0 at 65 degrees C . The apparent temperature optimum was about 70 degrees C . Addition of 0.0001 M Co2+ ions stabilized the enzyme in solution for 60 minutes at 80 degrees C . The heat of the reaction (delta E) was calculated to be +10,600 cal/mole . The standard entropy change (delta S) and the standard free energy change (delta G) were + 22.9 cal/mole/degree and -341 cal/mole at 50 degrees C . Amino acids composition and infra-red spectrum of the enzyme were also studied.

Acta Biochim Biophys Acad Sci Hung, 1979, 14(1-2), 53 - 66
An adenosine triphosphate dependent deoxyribonuclease with adenosine triphosphatase, activity from Bacillus cereus; Banfalvi G et al.; An adenosine triphosphate-stimulated deoxyribonuclease was purified to about 4200 fold from Bacillus cereus . The enzyme activity of the crude extract increased by a factor of about 5 after dialysis . One of the low molecular weight inhibitors of the crude extract was found to be inorganic phosphate . During enzyme purification two nucleases were identified . One of them was specific to denatured DNA and the other one degraded both denatured DNA and native DNA . The activity towards native DNA could be increased several times by ATP . Through all steps of purification the ATP-independent DNase always accompanied the ATP-dependent one and the ratio of their activity was found to be constant . The ATP-dependent DNase also possessed ATPase activity stimulated both by native and denatured DNA . The fact that ATPase was stimulated by DNA and went together with ATP-dependent DNase during purification suggests that these functions belong to the same enzyme complex . Maximal activity of ATPase had broader pH, Mg2+ and ATP concentration ranges than that of DNase . Cooperation of the two functions may be limited only to a narrow range of ATP concentration . Km for ATPase was 1.6x10-4 M ATP.

Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(5), 339 - 47
Effect of trichloroacetic acid treatment on certain properties of spores of Bacillus cereus T; Shibata H et al.; Spores of Bacillus cereus T treated with trichloroacetic acid (6.1--61.2 mM) were compared with untreated spores, and as the concentration of the chemical increased, the following alterations in spore properties were found: (1) the extent of germination decreased irrespective of the germination medium used; (2) the spores became sensitive to sodium hydroxide (1 N) and hydrochloric acid (0.27 N), but not to lysozyme (200 micrograms/ml); (3) loss of dipicolinate increased on subsequent heating; and (4) the spores became more sensitive to heat . However, trichloroacetic acid-treated spores were still viable and there was no significant change in spore components . The mechanism of action of trichloroacetic acid is discussed.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Jan-Feb, 48(1), 65 - 9
{Effect of pH on the growth of Bacillus thuringiensis}; Arzumanov EN; The effect of pH on the growth phase parameters was studied with Bacillus thuringiensis . The experimental data obtained were used to draw the regression equation describing the spore titre as a function of pH . As a result of analysing the equation coefficients and the effect of pH on the growth phase parameters, a pH profile has been proposed which favours an increase in the titre of spores . The profile decreases the rate of oxygen uptake at the exponential growth phase and increases the rate of accumulation of acetic acid in the growth medium with its subsequent accelerated utilization at the phase of deceleration of growth.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 Jan, 85(1), 75 - 8
Chemical modification of epsilon-amino groups in glutamine synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus with ethyl acetimidate; Sekiguchi T et al.; The activity of glutamine synthetase {EC 6.3.2.1} from Bacillus stearothermophilus decreased slightly on modification with ethyl acetimidate . Acetamidination of 25--26 of the 2 epsilon-amino groups/subunit of the enzyme affected the maximum velocity, but not the Michaelis constant . The thermostability of the enzyme was considerably increased on acetamidination . Acetamidination of the enzyme did not affect the circular dichroism, the tryptophan fluorescence or the quenching effects of KI and acrylamide on the tryptophan emission . The fluorescence spectrum of p-toluidinylnaphthalene sulfonate bound to the enzyme changed on acetamidination.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1978 Dec 8, 527(2), 348 - 58
Uricase of Bacillus fastidiosus . Properties and regulation of synthesis; Bongaerts GP et al.; Uricase (urate:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.7.3.3) of Bacillus fastidiosus was purified to homogeneity in a two-step procedure and was crystallized . The native molecule had a molecular weight of 145 000--150 000 and was composed of subunits of two kinds (Mr = 36 000 and 39 000) in a 1 : 1 ratio . The quaternary structure of the enzyme was reversibly altered, with concomitant loss of activity, at temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees C . No evidence was found for the involvement of metal ions or coenzymes in the uricase reaction . The enzyme was inhibited by various metal ions and by cyanide . The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.3, and pH optimum 9.5 and the optimal temperature 30--35 degrees C . Only uric acid was oxidized by the enzyme and 9-methyluric acid, xanthine, 8-azaxanthine and oxonic acid were competitive inhibitors . Uricase synthesis was repressed by allantoin and allantoate, even in the presence of uric acid, which induced synthesis of the enzyme . Molecular oxygen was an important environmental factor in the control of uricase synthesis, probably due to its effect, as cosubstrate in the uricase reaction, in assessing the cytoplasmic concentration of allantoin . The highest amounts of uricase, up to half of the intracellular soluble protein content, was found in cells growing under limited oxygen supply in media containing uric acid as the main substrate.

Rev Bras Pesqui Med Biol, 1978 Dec, 11(6), 337 - 44
{Prevalence of mycobacterial infection in school children of Rio de Janeiro city (author's transl)}; Madeira ED et al.; Skin-test were performed in 226 students, 12 to 14 years old, in a Rio de Janeiro elementary school using PPD-Rt23, PPD-G210 and PPD-B . The differential tuberculin test using these three antigens showed that 24,3% of the children presented a stronger reaction for non-tuberculous mycobacterial tuberculins than to PPD-Rt23, suggesting that infections with such organisms may occur . A high proportion (74,5%) showed the strongest reaction with PPD-G210 and probably this antigen is the most interesting to be used simultaneously with PPD-Rt23 . Children with the largest tuberculin reaction to PPD-Rt23 represented 27,4% of the total . This group consists of individuals who have had a tuberculous infection . The third group (48,3%) provided evidence for a heterogeneous sensitization with the tubercle bacillus and at least one atypical mycobacteria.

Am J Vet Res, 1978 Dec, 39(12), 1972 - 4
Mammary gland exposure of cows to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis; Larsen AB et al.; Mycobacterium paratuberculosis injected into the mammary gland was transported to the supramammary lymph nodes in 5 of 6 cows and to the intestine of 1 cow . The bacillus caused hypersensitivity to johnin and stimulated the production of complement-fixing antibodies . Apparently, the bacillus is not a cause mastitis.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 24(12), 1557 - 61
Isolation and partial characterization of the parasporal body of Bacillus popilliae; Weiner BA; The sporangial wall of Bacillus popilliae encloses a spore and parasporal body and is very resistant to breakage . High-energy sonication can disrupt this envelope and release free spores and parasporal bodies which retain refractility . Parasporal bodies, free spores, and sporangial debris were separated by centrifugation in linear sucrose gradients . Purified parasporal bodies are proteinaceous . Of the 17 amino acids detected, glutamic and aspartic acids are highest in concentration and account for the low isoelectric point of 4.5; a lipid moiety was not found . Parasporal bodies are soluble in 0.1N NaOH, 8M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea, or alkaline thioglycollate . Paper electrophoresis at 3000 V separated soluble parasporal protein into three cathodic components . Solubilized or whole intact parasporal bodies fed to third-instar larvae of the Japanese beetle were not detectable toxic . However, solubilized parasporal protein was twice as toxic as the intact parasporal bodies when injected into the hemocoel.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 24(12), 1468 - 74
Effect of freezing and thawing on survival of three bacterial isolates from an arctic soil; Nelson LM et al.; Three isolates, a Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., and Arthrobacter sp., which had been isolated from a meadow soil at Devon Island, Canada, were subjected to freezing and thawing at low rates under various conditions . When cells were frozen in sand or soil, survival was dependent on moisture level, storage time, and thaw rate . Pseudomonas M216 was most susceptible to freeze-thaw damage under these conditions . Arthrobacter M51 was the most resistant of the three isolates when frozen in sand or soil and when frozen at a high rate after growth at varing rates at 5 and 15 degrees C in carbon-or nitrogen-limited media . Pseudomonas M216 was more sensitive to freeze-thaw damage when NaCl was present in the freezing menstruum, even at low freezing rates . Survival of cells frozen in growth medium, water, saline, and soil extract was not affected by the freezing rate when it was less than 1 degrees C min-1 . Soil extract did not protect cells from freeze-thaw damage any more than water and for Arthrobacter M51 survival was decreased when it was frozen in soil extract.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 24(12), 1460 - 7
Effect of starvation on survival of three bacterial isolates from an arctic soil; Nelson LM et al.; Three isolates, a Pseudomonas sp., a Bacillus sp . and an Arthrobacter sp., which had been isolated from a meadow soil at Devon Island, Canada, were subjected to starvation under varying conditions . The viabilities of the three isolates during starvation for 30 days in a carbon-free medium was assessed after the organisms had been grown continuously at varying rates in carbon- and nitrogen-limited media at 5 and 15 degrees C . Pseudomonas M216 was the most resistant to starvation stress, Bacillus M153 the least, and Arthrobacter M51 was intermediate in its response . Cells grown and starved at 5 degrees C survived longer than those at 15 degrees C . Carbon-limited Bacillus and Arthrobacter cells grown at high rates prior to starvation survived longer than those grown slowly, while in nitrogen-limited Arthrobacter the reverse was observed . The pattern of endogenous metabolism of the three isolates during starvation at 15 degrees C for 10 days was similar to that observed in other organisms . Levels of endogenous substrates such as carbohydrate and protein showed a rapid decrease in the initial 20 h of starvation, followed by a gradual decline over the remainder of the starvation period . The rates of endogenous metabolism of the isolates were positively correlated with their survival rates during starvation.

Cancer, 1978 Dec, 42(6), 2648 - 60
Intralesional injection of the methanol extraction residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (MER) into cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma; Krown SE et al.; Twenty-two patients with cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma were treated with intralesional injections of the methanol extraction residue of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (MER) . The local reaction consisted of erythema and pustule formation followed by ulceration and tumor necrosis . Side effects included fever, chills, headache and malaise in the majority of patients; nausea, vomiting, cyanosis and hypotension occurred infrequently . Hypersensitivity reactions were not observed . Temporary abnormalities in liver function were seen in 11 of 19 patients tested . Reversible lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia developed in 7 of 17 and 7 of 18 patients, respectively . Immune function, as measured by skin tests for delayed hypersensitivity and the in vitro response of isolated lymphocytes to mitogens and microbial antigens, was not influenced by treatment with MER . Transient increases were observed in total hemolytic complement, complement components and the reduction of nitroblue-tetrazolium by neutrophils . Eight of eighteen evaluable patients showed a complete disappearance of all injected lesions . We conclude that intratumoral injection of MER is effective treatment for cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma, with a complete response rate comparable to that observed after intralesional injection of BCG.

Cancer, 1978 Dec, 42(6), 2613 - 25
Specific immunotherapy of established visceral micrometastases by BCG-tumor cell vaccine alone or as an adjunct to surgery; Hanna MG Jr et al.; A vaccine of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) admixed with tumor cells induced systemic immunity and had a therapeutic effect on subclinical, disseminated micrometastases . Inbred strain 2 guinea pigs given intravenous injections of either 10(4), 10(5) or 10(6) syngeneic L10 hepatocarcinoma cells were vaccinated after metastatic foci were established in the lung parenchyma . The studies demonstrate that under defined conditions of vaccine preparation and regimen, nontumorigenic preparations of BCG and tumor cells can cure the majority of animals of otherwise lethal visceral metastases . Histopathologically it was determined that immunization with these vaccines prevented the progressive growth of pulmonary micrometastatic foci approximately 0.1 mm in diameter . However, in this micrometastasis therapy model, the number of metastatic tumor foci is a major limitation in the efficacy of vaccine therapy . No protection against L10 tumor was achieved when antigenically distinct but syngeneic L1 hepatocarcinoma was used in the vaccine, suggesting that this is a tumor-specific immunotherapeutic procedure . This BCG-L10 tumor vaccine was also effective in curing guinea pigs of minimal disseminated tumor burden when administered after surgery of an established skin tumor and draining lymph node.

Biochem J, 1978 Dec 1, 175(3), 977 - 86
Conformational studies on phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus . The effect of urea on the enzyme; Little C; 1 . When heated in 8 M-urea, phospholipase C(EC 3.1.4.3) from Bacillus cereus undergoes conformational transitions depending on the temperatures used . These transitions were studied by examining protein fluorescence, iodide quenching of protein fluorescence, u.v . difference spectroscopy, chemical availability of histidine residues in the enzyme, circular dichroism and catalytic activity . 2 . Unless simultaneously exposed to elevated temperatures the enzyme appears to be unaffected by 8 M-urea . Removal of the two zinc atoms from the enzyme renders phospholipase C very sensitive to denaturation by 8 M-urea as indicated by fluorescence emission spectra and circular dichroism . 3 . Both the native and the zinc-free enzymes are markedly more resistant to irreversible thermal inactivation in the presence of 8 M-urea than in its absence . 4 . The response of the enzyme to 8 M-urea and the role of zinc in stabilizing the enzyme are discussed.

Aust N Z J Med, 1978 Dec, 8(6), 649 - 51
Whipple's disease involving the pericardium: Pathological confirmation during life; Vlietstra RE et al.; Cardiac involvement in Whipple's disease has been a frequent autopsy finding but is rarely recognized clinically . We report here a patient, a 63-year-old man, in whom Whipple's disease was diagnosed in 1974, based on a seven-year history of arthralgia, one-year history of weight loss and steatorrhea, and diagnostic small bowel biopsy . Despite complete regression of all joint and bowel symptoms following a prolonged course of tetracycline therapy, the patient developed incapacitating congestive heart failure and signs of constrictive pericarditis, for which a thoracotomy and pericardectomy was performed . Histologic examination revealed fibrous pericarditis with mononuclear infiltrates, including PAS-positive histiocytes . The characteristic bacilliform bodies were identified by electron microscopy in the resected pericardium . This to our knowledge is the first such demonstration during life of Whipple's disease involving the heart.

J Biol Chem, 1978 Nov 10, 253(21), 7905 - 9
Utilization of exogenous purine compounds in Bacillus cereus . Translocation of the ribose moiety of inosine; Mura U et al.; Intact cells of Bacillus cereus catalyze the breakdown of exogenous AMP to hypoxanthine and ribose 1-phosphate through the successive action of 5'-nucleotidase, adenosine deaminase, and inosine phosphorylase . Inosine hydrolase was not detectable, even in crude extracts . Inosine phosphorylase causes a "translocation" of the ribose moiety (as ribose 1-phosphate) inside the cell, while hypoxanthine remains external . Even though the equilibrium of the phosphorolytic reaction favors nucleoside synthesis, exogenous inosine (as well as adenosine and AMP) is almost quantitatively transformed into external hypoxanthine, since ribose 1-phosphate is readily metabolized inside the cell . Most likely, the translocated ribose 1-phosphate enters the sugar phosphate shunt, via its prior conversion into ribose 5-phosphate, thus supplying the energy required for the subsequent uptake of hypoxanthine in B . cereus.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1978 Nov 1, 173(9), 1173 - 4
Naturally occurring Tyzzer's disease in the gray fox; Stanley SM et al.; Four gray fox became anorectic and developed diarrhea . Their condition worsened until death . Diagnosis of Tyzzer's disease was made on the basis of clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions, and the demonstration of Bacillus piliformis in the liver.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1978 Nov, 62(11), 1685 - 92
Response of disseminated breast cancer to combined modality treatment with chemotherapy and levamisole with or without Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; Hortobagyi GN et al.; One hundred and fourteen evaluable patients with measurable metastatic breast cancer were treated with a combination chemoimmunotherapy program (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide {FAC-levamisole {LSM}) . An additional 117 patients with similar characteristics were treated with the same program with the addition of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) by scarification (FAC-BCG-LMS) . The results were compared to those observed in 44 evaluable patients treated with FAC chemotherapy alone . Overall remission rates were identical in the three studies (72%, 73%, and 72%) . The median duration of remission was 9 months for FAC, 13 months for FAC-LMS (P = 0.07), and 14 months for FAC-BCG-LMS (P = 0.05) . The median duration of survival was 17 months for FAC and 28.6 months for FAC-LMS (P = 0.01) . Although the median survival for the FAC-BCG-LMS group has not been reached, it is significantly superior to FAC alone (P = 0.009) . These three sequential studies suggest that the addition of nonspecific immunotherapy with LMS or the combination of BCG and LMS prolongs the duration of remission and survival of responding patients treated with chemotherapy . Combination immunotherapy with BCG and LMS did not seem superior to LMS alone in this study.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1978 Nov, 62(11), 1641 - 50
Effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin and levamisole on immune responses in young adult and age-immunodepressed mice; Bruley-Rosset M et al.; The immunomodulating effects of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and levamisole were tested in young adult mice after a single administration and in 12-month-old mice after continuous administration . In young mice, BCG was shown to activate macrophages, to potentiate antibody responses and delayed hypersensitivity reaction, to increase antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and to induce nonspecific suppressor cells . Levamisole was not able to modify any of these immune responses in young mice . The action of these adjuvants differed markedly when tested in age-immunodepressed mice . BCG was found to be strongly immunosuppressive on antibody formation and induced suppressor cell activity in the spleen . Moreover, the survival of immunodepressed mice continuously treated with BCG was shortened in comparison to untreated aged mice . In contrast, levamisole acted as an immunorestoring agent because it strongly stimulated the antibody response compared to aged controls and did not induce suppressor cell population . The survival of levamisole-treated mice was prolonged when compared to untreated aged mice . When the surviving mice were killed and autopsied at the age of 24 months, the incidence of spontaneous tumors was significantly lower in the group of mice treated by levamisole.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Nov, 31(11), 1155 - 61
Mechanism of chloramphenicol resistance in Bacillus badius 211; Nasu S et al.; Six strains of chloramphenicol (CM)-resistant endospore-forming bacteria, which can grow in the presence of 100 microgram/ml of CM, were isolated and identified as Bacillus badius . Mechanism of CM-resistance in one of the isolated strains, Bacillus badius 211, was investigated . No inactivation of CM was demonstrated when the strain was grown in nutrient broth containing 100 microgram/ml of CM, as evidenced by paper-disc bioassay of CM in the growth medium . In accordance with this result, no CM acetylation activity was demonstrated either with the intact cells or with the crude extracts of the CM-resistant strain . Poly U- and Poly A-directed polyphenylalanine and polylysine syntheses by S--30 preparations of both CM-resistant and CM-sensitive strains of Bacillus badius were almost equally inhibited by CM . From these results, the mechanism of CM resistance in Bacillus badius 211 seems to be due to other unknown mechanism.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1978 Nov, 34(2), 164 - 9
Lymphocyte response of leprosy patients to human-derived and purified armadillo-derived Mycobacterium leprae, BCG and PPD; Smelt AH et al.; The lymphocyte transformation test was applied to compare in vitro lymphocyte responses of tuberculoid (high resistant) and lepromatous (low resistant) leprosy patients to purified Mycobacterium leprae derived from experimentally infected armadillos and crude M . leprae derived from man, as well as to bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and purified protein derivative (PPD) . It was found that the purification procedure using enzymic digestion did not affect the immunogenicity of armadillo-derived M . leprae as compared with the crude human-derived preparation, although 2.5-5-fold higher doses of the purified organisms were required to elicitate equivalent lymphocyte responses . The result indicated the suitability of purified armadillo-derived M . leprae as the standard antigen for lymphocytes transformation tests in leprosy . The cross-reactivity studies show a close relationship between PPD and BCG, but not between M . leprae and PPD or BCG.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1978 Nov, 57(6), 527 - 44
Overwhelming strongyloidiasis: an unappreciated opportunistic infection; Scowden EB et al.; Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode which infects a large portion of the world's population . Individuals with infection confined to the intestinal tract are often asymptomatic but may have abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea, and other nonspecific complaints . Enhanced proliferation of the parasite in compromised hosts causes an augmentation of the normal life-cycle . Resultant massive invasion of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs is termed the hyperinfection syndrome . If the worm burden is excessive, parasitic invasion of other tissues occurs and is termed disseminated strongyloidiasis . A variety of underlying conditions appear to predispose to severe infections . These are primarily diseases characterized by immunodeficiency due to defective T-lymphocyte function (Table 1) . Individuals with less severe disorders become compromised hosts because of therapeutic regimens consisting of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medication . The debilitation of chronic illness or malnutrition also predisposes to systemic stronglyloidiasis . The diagnosis of strongyloidiasis can be readily made by microscopic examination of concentrates of upper small bowel fluid, stool, or sputum . Important clues suggesting this infection include unexplained gram-negative bacillary bacteremia in a compromised host who may have vague abdominal complaints, an ileus pattern on X-ray, and pulmonary infiltrates . Eosinophilia is helpful, if present, but should not be relied upon to exclude the diagnosis . The treatment of systemic infection due to Strongyloides stercoralis with either thiabensazole 25 mg/kg orally twice daily is satisfactory if the diagnosis is made early . Because of several unusual features of this illness in compromised hosts, the standard recommendation for 2 days of therapy should be abandoned in such patients . Immunodeficiency, corticosteroids, and bowel ileus reduce drug efficacy . Thus a longer treatment period of at leuch as blind loops or diverticula necessitate longer treatment . Stool specimens and upper small bowel aspirates should be monitored regularly and treatment continued several days beyond the last evidence of the parasite . In particularly difficult situations where either worm eradication is impossible or reinfection is probable, short monthly courses of antihelminthic therapy seem to be effective in averting recurrent systemic illness . Finally, prevention of hyperinfection or dissemination due to Strongyloides stercoralis can be accomplished by screening immunocompromised hosts with stool and upper small bowel aspirate examinations . These would be especially important prior to initiating chemotherapy, or before giving immunosuppressive medications or corticosteroids to patients with nonneoplastic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, nephrotic syndrome, or renal allografts.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1978 Nov, 62(11), 1651 - 61
Effects of combined immunotherapy with levamisole and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin on immunocompetence of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, head and neck, and lung undergoing radiation therapy; Olkowski ZL et al.; Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, and lung carcinoma were treated with radiation therapy (RT) prior to being randomly assigned either to a group receiving no further treatment or to a group treated with combined adjuvant immunotherapy (bacillus Calmette-Guerin and levamisole) . A battery of in vitro immunologic evaluations in addition to skin tests was used to evaluate these patients prior to RT, immediately following RT, and at regular intervals thereafter . Mean percentages and levels of circulating T lymphocytes were significantly lower in all three types of patients prior to RT than in normal healthy controls . B-lymphocyte percentages and levels, however, were not significantly different from controls except for lower B-cell levels in the lung group . Following completion of RT, circulating levels of both T and B lymphocytes were significantly lower than pretreatment values although the percentages were not significantly changed . Mitogenic responses of patient lymphocytes to both phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen were significantly lower prior to RT than were healthy control responses . A further depression of blastogenesis following RT was statistically significant . Preliminary data at intervals following RT indicate a gradual recovery of depressed immune parameters (T- and B-lymphocyte levels and mitogenic responses) both in patients treated with adjuvant immunotherapy and in those receiving no further treatment . Although not statistically significant in preliminary data, there is a suggestion that recovery of these immune parameters is slower in the group receiving immunotherapy . Plasma sialic acid levels were elevated in patients when compared to healthy controls and remained elevated throughout the study with little fluctuation . Lymphocyte cytotoxic activity against tumor target cells was variably affected by RT, but was generally increased at 8 weeks following RT when compared to previous values.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1978 Nov, 62(11), 1671 - 5
Preliminary results of combined surgery and adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin plus levamisole treatment of resectable lung cancer; Wright PW et al.; The administration of intrapleural bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) alone and intrapleural BCG plus levamisole was compared to placebo in patients with resectable, non-small cell cancer of the lung . This report is based on an interim analysis of 100 eligible patients with a median followup of 245 days . No significant treatment effects are apparent at the present time, although current trends are consistent with an approximate 30% reduction in recurrence rate in patients receiving intrapleural BCG . There is little evidence to suggest that the addition of levamisole will contribute to this effect . A relationship between purified protein derivative conversion and tumor recurrence is apparent . Failure to manifest purified protein derivative conversion following administration of intrapleural BCG is associated with a significantly greater risk of tumor recurrence.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Nov, 75(11), 5306 - 10
Formation of protein micelles from amphiphilic membrane proteins; Simons K et al.; The membrane penicillinase (penicillin amido-beta-lactamhydrolase, EC 3.5.2.6) from Bacillus licheniformis, the Semliki Forest virus spike proteins, and the Sendai virus glycoproteins have each been isolated as soluble protein aggregates that are virtually free of lipid and detergent . The sedimentation coefficients of the complexes were 18 S, 29 S, and 43 S, respectively . Mixed aggregates containing both the virus glycoproteins and the penicillinase could also be formed . Such protein micelles may serve a number of useful purposes in membrane research.

Z Naturforsch {C}, 1978 Nov-Dec, 33(11-12), 807 - 16
{Antibiotics from basidiomycetes, VI . Merulinic acids A, B, and C, new antibiotics from Merulius tremellosus and Phlebia radiata (author's transl)}; Giannetti BM et al.; Three new antibiotics, merulinic acids A, B, and C, have been isolated from fruiting bodies of Merulis tremellosus and Phlebia radiata . They are closely related derivatives of beta-resorcylic and salicylic acid, carrying monounsaturated C17-alkyl side chains in 6-position . The merulinic acids are mixtures of the delta8'-compounds with minor amounts of the corresponding delta10'-, dehydro, and dihydro derivatives, separable only by means of HPLC . delta8'-Merulinic acid A (I) was synthesized via a biomimetic cyclization of a linear precursor . The merulinic acids inhibit a variety of bacteria and are not active against fungi . RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis in Bacillus brevis and Ehrlich carcinoma ascites cells are inhibited shortly after the addition of the antibiotics . Almost complete hemolysis of human erythrocytes is caused by 25 microgram/ml of merulinic acid B and C or by 73 microgram/ml of merulinic acid A.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 24(11), 1331 - 4
Thermal analysis of the spores of Bacillus cereus with special reference to heat activation; Maeda Y et al.; The heat activation of bacterial spores was studied by means of differential thermal analysis in the temperature range 30-110 degrees C using the spores of Bacillus cereus . The thermogram showed three endothermic peaks at 56, 95, and 103 degrees C with one exothermic peak at 105 degrees C during the heating process . The spore coat separated from the native spores also showed a peak at 56 degrees C on its heating thermogram . The peak at 56 degrees C was reversible for both native spores and the spore coat . It was suggested that this peak at 56 degrees C might be related to the heat-activation process that takes place in the spore-coat region . It seems that the peak is due to the denaturation or the structural change of the spore-coat protein that might facilitate either the permeation of germination stimulators or the release of some germination inhibitor into or out of the spores.

What Is Rhizobia?, What Is Biotechnology?, What Is Nitrification?, What Is Botulism?, What Is Genome?, r, Microorganisms, i, Microorganism, s, Microbes, s, Bacteria, a, Bacteriology, a, Fermentations, o, Proteus, r, Streptococcal, e, Corynebacterium, o, Denitrifying, a, Phage, o, Klebsiella, i, Fermentations, n, Micrococci, a, Microbiological, r, Multidrug resistant, o, Bifidobacterium, o, Yeasts, i, Microbial, n, Biodegradation, i, Escherichia coli, o, Staphylococcus aureus, a, Listeriosis, o, Escherichia coli, i, Microorganism, r, Pichia

Scientific Publications - Work Done by Microbiology Reader Bioscreen C
Agricultural Microbiology Anaerobic Microbiology Antimicrobial Susceptibility Artificial Atmosphere Bioassay of Antibiotics Biofilm Microbiology Bioreactor Technology Biotechnology Cell Biology Clinical Microbiology Environmental Microbiology Experiments with Yeast	Fermentation Food Microbiology Functional Genomics Gene Technology Growth Media Development Growth Rate and Lag Time Industrial Microbiology Medical/Pharmaceutical Field Microbiological Assay Microbiological Research Microbiology of Cosmetics go to a specific theme...	Military Microbiology Molecular Microbiology Mutagenicity and Genotoxicity Oral Microbiology Patents Postantibiotic Studies Soil Microbiology Spore Microbiology Veterinary Microbiology Waste/Wastewater Treatment Water Microbiology Wine Microbiology

� 2005 Transgalactic Ltd (manufacturer of Bioscreen C software) | Privacy Statement | P.O. Box 1393, 00101 Helsinki, Finland, phone: +358 9 85172920, fax: +358 9 8749481, e-mail: microbiology@bionewsonline.com

Last modified: May 25, 2005