Staphylococcus aureus

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 May-Jun, 14(3), 259 - 64
In vitro antibacterial activity of trospectomycin (U-63,366F) against anaerobic bacteria and aerobic gram-positive cocci in Chile; Montiel F et al.; The in vitro activity of trospectomycin sulfate was compared with those of several antimicrobials, against 301 anaerobic bacteria and 613 aerobic Gram-positive cocci . Trospectomycin was about 4- to 32-fold more active than was spectinomycin . Trospectomycin exhibited consistently good activity against all Bacteroides fragilis group isolates, except Bacteroides vulgatus, and against all other anaerobes comparable or higher to that of clindamycin . The trospectomycin's activity was most similar to that of vancomycin, even against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Surgery, 1991 May, 109(5), 652 - 5
A comparison of polypropylene mesh and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch for the repair of contaminated abdominal wall defects--an experimental study; Law NW et al.; Abdominal wall defects created in Sprague-Dawley rats were repaired with either polypropylene mesh (PPM) or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch (PTFE) . Tensiometric studies of abdominal wall strength showed that PPM and expanded PTFE provided a strong repair in uninfected wounds . Wounds reconstructed with expanded PTFE and contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus had a weak interface between the patch and the abdominal wall fascia . The strength of the interface was inadequate because collagen ingrowth in the material was inhibited . In contrast, the wound strength of PPM was unaffected by the presence of bacterial contamination.

Srp Arh Celok Lek, 1991 May-Jun, 119(5-6), 138 - 42
{Development of resistance to aminoglycoside drugs in hospital strains of Staphylococcus aureus}; Petreska-Sibinovska D et al.; The purpose of this study is to determine the development of the resistance of hospital strains of Staphylococcus aureus to four aminoglycosides . Study observation was conducted in three periods with five years elapsed between each of them . The first pre-amikacin period (211 strains) lasted for 16 months . The second and the third post-amikacin periods lasted for 8 (53 strains) and 18 (230 strains) months, respectively . A total of 494 strains od S . aureus from 458 patients were examined . In the first period 40% strains were resistant to gentamicin, tobramycin and kanamycin . The percentage was increased to 90% in the second and the third period . No statistically significant difference among gentamicin, tobramicin and kanamicin in any of three periods was noticed . However, the frequency of the strains resistant to amikacin was increased from 36% in the second period to over 50% in the third . Nevertheless, statistically significant smaller number of strains was to be resistant to amikacin in respect to resistance to gentamicin, tobramicin and kanamicin (Fb = 54,84; p less than 0.01) . The degree of resistance during the second and third period indicates a significant increase of MIC for gentamicin and amikacin (p less than 0.01) . During this work phenotype exchange of strains took place . Hence, the phenotype TK from the first period was replaced with GTK during the second and with GKTA in the third.

Zhonghua Min Guo Xiao Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi, 1991 May-Jun, 32(3), 165 - 70
{Control of staphylococcal skin infections in a nursery}; Huang FY et al.; Outbreaks of skin infections due to Staphylococcus aureus continue to be a major problem in newborn nurseries . In this report, we described how the staphylococcal skin infections were controlled in the nursery during the last 5 1/2 years . An outbreak of staphylococcal skin infection (totally 29 cases) developed in January 1985, and declined dramatically to 3 cases in March of the same year when 3% hexachlorophene (HCP) bathing was used (period 1-January 1985 to March 1985) . The infections increased to 30 cases in May when HCP bathing was discontinued and was replaced by baby soap baths (period 2-April 1985 to May 1985) . Once again, HCP bathing (period 3-June 1985 to January 1987) was reinstituted and infection rate was reduced . After discontinuation of HCP (period 4-February 1987 to March 1987), another outbreak of staphylococcal skin infection reappeared . It was controlled again with HCP bathing (period 5-April 1987 to April 1988) . Daily baby soap baths were continued during period 6 (May 1988 to October 1988), and skin infections increased again . Finally in period 7 (November 1988 to June 1990), daily baby soaps were reinstituted and a triple dye was applied daily to the cord and to the surrounding skin (1 inch diameter) until discharge . During this period, staphylococcal skin infections was reduced to 1-4 cases and no more outbreaks occurred . Our data confirmed that 3% HCP bathing of newborns reduced the infection rate of Staphylococcus aureus during an endemic period, and supported that triple dye may be an alternative to HCP for preventing staphylococcal skin infection in a newborn nursery.

Ann Ital Chir, 1991 May-Jun, 62(3), 275 - 80; discussion 280-1
{Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in reconstruction of the thoracic wall}; Rupprecht H et al.; Thirty youngs and children were submitted to surgical reconstruction of excavated chest . To prevent risk of infections (by Staphylococcus and mixed gram-negative flora) preoperative 100 mg/Kg body weight of cefotaxime was given . In all patients the operative wounds healed regularly . To evaluate cefotaxime level and that of its metabolites raised in the tissues, the very sensibles method HPLC was applied . Thus 45 minutes after antibiotic somministration, very high levels were present in cartilage 9.8 mmg/gr and in bones (9.3 mmg/gr) . Related to Staphylococcus aureus (MHK 90 of about 2 mmg/ml) results are of value also for other surgical orthopedic operations.

Mol Biol Rep, 1991 May, 15(2), 65 - 72
Analysis of the structural relationships between the DNA-binding phosphoproteins pp42, pp43 and pp44 by in situ peptide mapping; Egyhazi E et al.; A structural homology is established between three DNA-binding phosphoproteins located in the 42 to 44 kDa range, referred to as pp42, pp43 and pp44, from Chironomus tentans salivary gland cells by in situ peptide mapping . The staining patterns of pp42, pp43 and pp44 which resulted from digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8, trypsin or papain proteases show the presence of 8 to 15 spots majority of which have identical mobility . In the patterns of the digests generated by treatments with trypsin about 10 spots appear in common between any pair of the protein substrates . In addition, each pattern includes two to three peptides of mobility not present in the other . Thus the peptide mapping of pp42, pp43 and pp44 based on the staining patterns of proteolytic digests suggest the existence of structural homology between the three unlabelled substrates . The proteolytic peptides carrying the rapidly turning over phosphate groups form markedly different electrophoretic patterns than the unlabelled peptides visualized by staining . Treatment of 32P-labelled pp42, pp43 and pp44 with V8 generates only one labelled fragment in the 30 kD range . The cleavage patterns of pp44 produced by chymotrypsin or papain contain seven to ten labelled fragments while those of pp42 and pp43 contain only two . The 32P-labelled tryptic peptides of pp42, pp43 and pp44 exhibit a ladder pattern for each substrate which probably arise by a consecutive removal of 25 to 35 amino acid residues from the primary digestion products pp29, pp29.5 and pp30 by cleavage of four to five putative interdomain regions . The possibility that these three structurally related phosphoproteins belong to the category of transcription factors is discussed.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1991 May, 84(2), 336 - 46
Expression of the fibronectin receptor VLA-5 is regulated during human B cell differentiation and activation; Ballard LL et al.; We examined the expression of VLA-5, a fibronectin receptor, during human B cell development and activation . VLA-5 is a member of the integrin supergene family; VLAs are heterodimers of at least six unique alpha chains sharing a common beta chain; most are involved in cell attachment to extracellular matrix (ECM) . A hypothesis of haematopoietic development is that maturing cells leave the bone marrow because of the loss of VLA-5 during differentiation . However, mature B cells are not primarily circulating cells, and the role of ECM receptors in homing to peripheral lymphoid tissue and inflammatory sites is unknown . To examine the expression of VLA-5 during B cell development, cell lines blocked at specific stages of differentiation were evaluated for their synthesis and surface expression of VLA-5 using VLA-5-specific antibody and cDNA probes . VLA-5 mRNA and surface expression were found in the pre-B cell lines, REH and Nall 1, but not in more differentiated Raji cells or in several EBV-transformed peripheral B cell lines . Circulating peripheral B lymphocytes and resting tonsillar and splenic B lymphocytes expressed no VLA-5 by FACS analysis . Interestingly, mRNA and surface expression of VLA-5 were found in SKW, a highly differentiated, IgM-secreting line . In addition, low levels of staining for VLA-5 expression could be demonstrated when tonsillar or peripheral blood B lymphocytes were stimulated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan (SAC) . All cell lines expressed VLA-3 and VLA-4, two other receptors reported to mediate fibronectin binding in some cell types . Thus, our studies provided no evidence for developmental or inflammatory regulation of these receptors . Binding studies, however, demonstrated that adherence of both pre-B REH cells and SKW cells to fibronectin was almost completely inhibited by a monoclonal antibody to VLA-5 alpha . In addition, Raji cells, which lack VLA-5 but express VLA-3 and VLA-4, showed very low level binding to fibronectin . This demonstrates that for some B lymphocytes VLA-5, rather than other possible fibronectin receptors, primarily mediates attachment to fibronectin . These data also suggest that human VLA-5 expression is regulated during B cell development, with expression at a very early stage and then again after activation . This pattern of loss and reacquisition of an ECM receptor may be relevant to normal B cell maturation and to function during immunologic injury.

J Immunol, 1991 May 1, 146(9), 2965 - 71
Tyrosine phosphorylation is an essential event in the stimulation of B lymphocytes by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I; Roifman CM et al.; Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) is a potent mitogen for purified human B cells . By using Western blotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies, we demonstrated that the mitogenic effect of SAC is associated with rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins of 45, 68, 75, 97, and 145 kDa . This tyrosine phosphorylation was detected within 30 s of the addition of SAC; it reached a maximum within 10 min, after which it declined gradually . In contrast to SAC, most soluble anti-IgM antibodies do not induce proliferation of isolated human B cells . As indicated by Western blotting, soluble anti-IgM antibodies induced a similar pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation, with the exception of the 68-kDa protein, which was the most heavily phosphorylated protein in SAC-treated cells . A similar but less intense 68-kDa band was also induced by mitogenic anti-IgM bound to beads . This suggested that tyrosine phosphorylation, especially of p68, may play an important role in B cell mitogenesis . To test this hypothesis, we determined the effect of specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tyrphostins) on SAC-induced tyrosine phosphorylation, oncogene expression, and B cell proliferation . The concentration dependencies of inhibition of these processes suggested that they were linked . Nonspecific toxic effects of the tyrphostins were ruled out by the demonstration that the tyrphostins did not alter cell viability and did not inhibit B cell proliferation induced by phorbol esters, which do not induce tyrosine phosphorylation . For maximal inhibition of SAC-induced cell proliferation, the tyrophostins needed to be added before or shortly after addition of SAC . Taken together, these data indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation is an obligatory early signal in B cell proliferation.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 May, 18(1), 35 - 43
Evolution of Staphylococcus aureus resistance to erythromycin in Denmark, 1959 to 1988: correlations between characteristics of erythromycin-resistant bacteraemia strains; Westh H et al.; In an attempt to characterize erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus we present the intricate relationships between the following factors: phage type, period of isolation, antibiogram, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to erythromycin, inducible or constitutive resistance, spectinomycin susceptibility, hospital- or community-acquired infection, and mortality rate . We studied 718 cases of bacteraemia with erythromycin-resistant S . aureus, occurring between 1959 and 1988 . Central factors were phage type pattern, period of isolation, and antibiogram . Between 1959 and 1973 the majority of the erythromycin-resistant strains were multiresistant and belonged to the 83A complex and the related group III . They were mainly inducibly resistant, spectinomycin resistant, and had intermediate MICs (1-4 mg l-1) to erythromycin . The majority of these strains came from hospital-acquired infections and still exist today, although in decreased numbers . By contrast, erythromycin-resistant S . aureus isolated in recent years are usually co-resistant only to penicillin and more rarely also to tetracycline . These strains have inducible resistance, are spectinomycin susceptible, and have a high erythromycin MIC . They are isolated both from hospital- and community-acquired infections . Strains with constitutive resistance to macrolides occurred at a stable low level (13%) during the whole observation period and always had high MICs to erythromycin . The mortality rate among patients with S . aureus bacteraemia due to an erythromycin-resistant strain was only associated with the year of infection and decreased from 61% in the first 15-year period to 40% in the subsequent 15 years.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 May, 18(1), 23 - 34
Evolution of Staphylococcus aureus resistance to erythromycin in Denmark, 1959 to 1988: comparison with erythromycin-susceptible strains; Westh H et al.; Between 1959 and 1988, all Staphylococcus aureus strains (15 168 patients) isolated from blood in Denmark have been collected, investigated and stored, and clinical data has been obtained . Erythromycin resistance was found in 4.9% of these strains . The frequency of erythromycin resistance peaked at 25% in 1966, due to the spread in hospitals of multiresistant strains of the 83A complex . When these strains dominated, an increased mortality rate was seen in patients infected with erythromycin-resistant S . aureus . In contrast to most countries, erythromycin resistance in S . aureus declined to less than 5% in 1971, continued to fall to 1.3% in 1983, and has increased slowly to 2.4% in 1988 . The decline was only due to a decrease of multiresistant strains . Erythromycin-resistant strains isolated in recent years are predominantly resistant only to penicillin and erythromycin and belong to many different phage type patterns . In Denmark, inducible resistance has occurred at a stable high frequency of approximately 90% of the erythromycin-resistant strains during the last 30 years . Erythromycin-resistant strains isolated today, however, have higher minimum inhibitory concentrations, and are rarely resistant to spectinomycin, in contrast to the strains isolated in the first half of the observation period.

Clin Exp Rheumatol, 1991 May-Jun, 9(3), 259 - 64
Effect of sulfasalazine on B cells; Imai F et al.; We studied the in vitro immunomodulatory effect of sulfasalazine on purified human B cells, using a reversed plaque forming cell (PFC) assay and a proliferation assay . Sulfasalazine inhibited the PFC response of B cells in a dose-dependent manner . Sulfasalazine was added to PFC culture systems at several time points after the cultures were started . A marked reduction in B cell response was seen in the early phases (0-48 hours) . Staphylococcus Aureus Cowan I (SAC) induced maximal B cell proliferation at day 3 . Sulfasalazine at 5 micrograms/ml depressed that maximal proliferation on day 3 . This indicates that sulfasalazine inhibited an early-phase event in the proliferation and differentiation of B cells . Sulfapyridine also inhibited the PFC response, but 5-aminosalicylic acid and N-acetyl sulfapyridine had no significant effect . These findings are significant since sulfapyridine is an active moiety of sulfasalazine, which is responsible for the second line of defense in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . Adding T cells or macrophages to the PFC culture system had no significant effect . Furthermore, medium containing indomethacin was used to study the effect of prostaglandin released by residual macrophages . The results indicate that sulfasalazine inhibited the PFC response without affecting T cells, macrophages or prostaglandin . Sulfasalazine apparently has a direct immunosuppressive effect on B cells.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 May, 10(5), 428 - 36
Typing of methicillin resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains by ribosomal RNA gene restriction patterns using a biotinylated probe; Preheim L et al.; Nine methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and 37 methicillin-resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus isolates of various phage types and resistotypes from seven countries were investigated . Chromosomal DNA was restricted with HindIII or EcoRI, Southern blotted and hybridised with a cDNA probe to 16S+23S rRNA derived from MRSA NCTC 10442 . Resulting rDNA profiles could be differentiated on the basis of 22 patterns which were unaffected by changes in plasmid, transposon, enterotoxin A or phage content . Percentage similarity values were calculated using the Dice coefficient and UPGA clustering . Australian and epidemic (EMRSA-1) isolates from the UK showed a high degree of similarity, but the pattern was not unique and was also found in MSSA and other MRSA, e.g . NCTC 10442 . An MSSA of phage group II was the most distinct isolate . The method shows potential as an additional tool in a complex typing system, types non-phage typable strains and may provide clues to the clonal evolution of MRSA and MSSA.

Am J Med, 1991 May, 90(5), 595 - 600
Staphylococcal pyomyositis in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus; Schwartzman WA et al.; PURPOSE: We describe the manifestations of spontaneous staphylococcal pyomyositis in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) . PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present the courses of five previously unreported patients infected by HIV who presented to our medical centers with spontaneous staphylococcal pyomyositis . Additionally, we review all previously reported cases of this entity in HIV-infected patients and discuss its possible pathogenesis and importance in the context of HIV infection . RESULTS: All patients presented with gradually developing fever and localized pain and swelling without accompanying leukocytosis . Often only scant evidence of local inflammation was found . None of our patients used intravenous drugs, had a history of trauma, had HIV- or zidovudine-related myositis, or had other conditions known to be associated with serious staphylococcal infections . Two patients studied had normal serum levels of all IgG subclasses . Elevated serum IgE, eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrates, or marked peripheral eosinophilia was observed in two patients . CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcal pyomyositis in HIV-infected patients presents in an indolent fashion, which may delay appropriate diagnosis and treatment . Since staphylococcal pyomyositis is infrequently reported in the United States, the development of 14 such cases (five in this series and nine previously reported) among the first 140,000 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in this country implies that this patient population is predisposed to this infectious complication . The pathogenesis of this entity is uncertain, but it is notable that HIV-infected patients are commonly colonized by Staphylococcus aureus and that neutrophils from HIV-infected patients frequently manifest phagocytic, chemotactic, and oxidative defects, diminished expression of Fc tau RIII (CD16) and CR1, and impaired bactericidal activity against S . aureus.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 May, 35(5), 796 - 800
Enhancement of macrophage superoxide anion production by amphotericin B; Wilson E et al.; Amphotericin B (AmB) appears to have some important immunomodulatory effects, but its mechanism of action has not been explained . We investigated the effects of AmB on activation of human monocyte-derived macrophages . Macrophages cultured in the presence of AmB had an enhanced capacity to produce superoxide anion after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate . This enhancement was dose dependent within a therapeutic range of AmB levels (0.1 to 3.0 mg/liter) . Macrophages cultured in the presence of AmB had enhanced surface expression of Ia antigen; phagocytosis of unopsonized zymosan, opsonized Staphylococcus aureus, or erythrocytes opsonized with C3bi or immunoglobulin G paradoxically appeared to be reduced, but results did not achieve statistical significance . AmB appears to activate macrophages and may do so via direct effects on the plasma membrane.

J Biol Chem, 1991 Apr 15, 266(11), 7262 - 9
Biosynthesis and proteolytic processing of type XI collagen in embryonic chick sterna; Thom JR et al.; The biosynthesis and proteolytic processing of type XI procollagen was examined using pulse-chase labelling of 17-day embryonic chick sterna in organ culture with {3H}proline . Products of biosynthesis were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with and without prior reduction of disulfide bonds . Pro-alpha chains, intermediates, and matrix forms were identified by cyanogen bromide or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestion . The results show that type XI pro-alpha chains assemble into trimeric molecules with interchain disulfide bonds . Proteolytic processing begins at least 40 min after the start of labeling which is later than that of type II procollagen (25 min) . This first processing step involves the loss of the domain containing the interchain disulfide bonds which most likely is the carboxyl propeptide . In the case of the pro-alpha 3 chain, this generates the matrix form, m alpha 3, which retains its amino propeptide . For the pro-alpha 1 and pro-alpha 2 chains, this step generates intermediate forms, p alpha 1 and p alpha 2, which undergo a second proteolytic conversion to m alpha 1 and m alpha 2, and yet retain a pepsin-labile domain . The conversion of p alpha 2 to m alpha 2 is largely complete 2 h after labeling . p alpha 1 is converted to m alpha 1 very slowly and is 50% complete after 18 h of chase in organ culture . The apparent proteolytic processing within the amino propeptide, and the differential rate of processing between two chains in the same molecule are unusual and distinguish type XI from collagen types I, II, and III . It is possible that the extremely slow processing of p alpha 1 affects the formation of the heterotypic cartilage collagen fibrils and may be related to the function of type XI collagen.

J Immunol, 1991 Apr 15, 146(8), 2504 - 12
Staphylococcal enterotoxin-dependent lysis of MHC class II negative target cells by cytolytic T lymphocytes; Herrmann T et al.; The enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus (SE) are extremely potent activators of human and mouse T lymphocytes . In general, T cell responses to SE are MHC class II dependent (presumably reflecting the ability of SE to bind directly to MHC class II molecules) and restricted to responding cells expressing certain T cell receptor beta-chain variable (TCR V beta) domains . Recently we demonstrated that CD8+ CTL expressing appropriate TCR V beta could recognize SE presented on MHC class II-bearing target cells . We now show that MHC class II expression is not strictly required for T cell recognition of SE . Both human and mouse MHC class II negative target cells could be recognized (i.e., lysed) in a SE-dependent fashion by CD8+ mouse CTL clones and polyclonal populations, provided that the CTL expressed appropriate TCR V beta elements . SE-dependent lysis of MHC class II negative targets by CTL was inhibited by mAb directed against CD3 or LFA-1, suggesting that SE recognition was TCR and cell contact dependent . Furthermore, different SE were recognized preferentially by CTL on MHC class II+ vs MHC class II- targets . Taken together, our data raise the possibility that SE binding structures distinct from MHC class II molecules may exist.

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Apr 10, 197(1), 9 - 14
Staphylococcal phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system . Purification and protein sequencing of the Staphylococcus carnosus histidine-containing protein, and cloning and DNA sequencing of the ptsH gene; Eisermann R et al.; The histidine-containing protein (HPr) of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) was isolated from Staphylococcus carnosus and purified to homogeneity . The protein sequence was determined by Edman degradation of peptides obtained by proteolytic digestion with proteases V8, trypsin and chemical cleavage with BrCN . Furthermore, immunological screening of a chromosomal S . carnosus DNA gene library in pUC19 vector enabled us to isolate S . carnosus HPr-expressing colonies . The nucleotide sequence of this ptsH gene and its flanking regions was determined by the dideoxy-chain-termination technique . Upstream, the 264-bp open reading frame of the ptsH gene is flanked by a putative S . carnosus promoter structure and a putative ptsI gene downstream suggesting that ptsH gene is the first gene in the PTS operon of S . carnosus . Comparison of the amino acid sequence of S . carnosus HPr with the HPr sequence of Staphylococcus aureus (derived from peptide sequencing) showed a high degree of similarity.

J Biol Chem, 1991 Apr 5, 266(10), 6511 - 7
Fusion of newly formed phagosomes with endosomes in intact cells and in a cell-free system; Mayorga LS et al.; Phagosomes are membrane-bound vesicles, formed by the receptor-mediated internalization of particulate ligands, which exchange soluble and membrane proteins with other endocytic compartments as a part of their maturation process . This exchange of material is undoubtedly mediated by fusion of phagosomes with other membrane-bound compartments of the endocytic pathway . By using a particulate probe (fixed Staphylococcus aureus coated with mouse anti-dinitrophenol monoclonal antibody) localized in phagosomes and a soluble probe (dinitrophenol-derivitized beta-glucuronidase) internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis, we have studied phagosome-endosome and phagosome-lysosome fusion in intact cells and in a cell-free system . Vesicle fusion was assessed by measuring beta-glucuronidase activity associated with S . aureus particles after lysis of the membranes . In intact macrophages, newly formed phagosomes fused with early endosomes and with lysosomes . Fusion with lysosomes was observed to commence after a short lag period of about 5 min . In broken-cell preparations, phagosomes were able to fuse with early endosomes . It was not possible to reconstitute phagosome-lysosome fusion in vitro . In vitro phagosome-endosome fusion required energy and cytosolic- and membrane-associated proteins . A nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP stimulated fusion at low cytosol concentrations and inhibited fusion at high cytosol concentrations . These observations indicate that the mechanisms mediating phagosome-endosome fusion are similar to those described for endosome-endosome fusion . Our results suggest that exchange of material with endosomes is an important step in the process of phagosome maturation.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1991 Apr, 139(4), 231 - 4
{Toxic shock syndrome in a 6-year-old male}; Siermann A et al.; Toxic shock syndrome, caused by an exotoxin of staphylococcus aureus is very rare in children . On admission, beside the shock, abdominal problems as vomiting, diarrhoea and a developing adynamic ileus were outstanding in our patient . Not before additional symptoms as staphylococcal pneumonia with bacteriemia occurred and later desquamation of palms and feet, diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome could be confirmed.

Bone Marrow Transplant, 1991 Apr, 7(4), 285 - 91
Early recovery of lymphocyte response to Candida after bone marrow transplantation in colonized patients; Tollemar J et al.; Blood lymphocyte responses to Candida protein antigen (CP, Candida mannan mitogen (CM) and Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA) were followed in 133 bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients . Lymphocyte proliferative responses to CP and SPA normalized within 6-12 months . The response to CM was only decreased in non-colonized patients during the first 2 months post-BMT and had already returned to normal by 1 month in colonized patients . During the forthcoming years all three lymphocyte stimulatory tests responses reached donor levels . There was a tendency for low lymphocyte reactivity to CP, high reactivity to CM and equal reactivity for SPA among recipients of T cell-depleted marrows as compared to patients with conventional graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis . After BMT, patients who were colonized with Candida recovered and increased their lymphocyte response to CP and CM within 1-3 months, while non-colonized patients required more than 6 months to regain normal stimulatory capacity . Patients who developed grades II-IV acute GVHD had significantly higher pretransplant lymphocyte responses to both CP (p = 0.02) and CM (p = 0.02) than patients with grades 0-I acute GVHD . There was also a trend for patients who later had a confirmed invasive Candida infection to have high responses to CP before BMT (p = 0.07) . After BMT, stimulation by CM, CP and SPA was not affected by acute or chronic GVHD or cytomegalovirus . In conclusion, proliferative capacity to Candida is restored early after BMT and superficial fungal colonization seem to be of importance for this maturation.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1991 Apr, 39(4), 290 - 2
{Bacterio-expert: an integrated system for assisting in the validation of antibiotic sensitivity tests . Retrospective application in 4053 Staphylococcus}; Legras B et al.; Bacterio-expert is a simple expert system for assisting in the validation of antibiotic sensitivity testing . This system is incorporated in a data acquisition and editing program for bacteriologic test (Bacterio program written in Turbo-Pascal for personal computer users by the same authors) . The principles of this system are explained and results with 4,053 antibiotic sensitivity tests on Staphylococcus aureus isolates are reported . Approximately 10% of tests required corrections.

J Comp Pathol, 1991 Apr, 104(3), 289 - 302
Infection of rabbit mammary glands with ovine mastitis bacterial strains; Amorena B et al.; An experimental model was developed in rabbits to study ovine mastitis . A total of 19 ovine mastitis bacterial strains (seven Staphylococcus aureus, four Staph . chromogenes, four Staph . hyicus and four Escherichia coli) were used for mammary gland infections . The histopathological results showed that the ovine mastitis types corresponded to experimental infections produced in the rabbit with the ovine strains . These results helped the grading of the bacterial species tested according to the severity of their effects on the mammary gland . The most pathogenic species was Staph . aureus, followed by E . coli, Staph . hyicus and Staph . chromogenes, in that order . There was, however, variation among strains within a given species (e.g . one out of seven Staph . aureus strains gave rise to a mild infection in sheep and rabbits) . The procedure was simple and consisted of introducing bacterial suspensions through alternate teat ducts of does with the help of a cannula . It helped minimize the number of animals required in the experiments.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 57(4), 1121 - 7
Effect of organic N-halamines on selected membrane functions in intact Staphylococcus aureus cells; Williams DE et al.; Two N-halamine compounds, 3-chloro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone and 1,3-dichloro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-imidazolidinone, were compared with free chlorine as to their effects on selected membrane functions of intact Staphylococcus aureus cells . Free chlorine was found to cause a loss of permeability control, as measured by the efflux of potassium from the cells and a dramatic increase in hydrogen ion permeability, and to affect cell respiration in a nonreversible fashion, as measured by oxygen uptake . The two N-halamines were found to have very little effect on permeability to either potassium or hydrogen ions but were both found to dramatically inhibit respiration in a reversible manner . It is proposed that the first step in the disinfection process by these N-halamines is an inhibition of respiratory enzymes that, if not reversed, ultimately leads to a loss of cell viability.

Vaccine, 1991 Apr, 9(4), 221 - 7
Potential for vaccination against infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus; Foster TJ; Surface polysaccharides and proteins from S . aureus which could serve as components of a future subunit vaccine against staphylococcal disease in man and animals have recently been characterized . The majority of bovine mastitis and human clinical isolates of S . aureus produce a thin polysaccharide capsule which probably impairs phagocytosis . Protective immunity to S . aureus infections in laboratory animals has been induced by immunization with polysaccharide, and immune serum promotes phagocytosis of bacteria in vitro . S . aureus expresses several surface-exposed proteins that bind host plasma proteins to the bacterial cell or promote adherence of bacteria to host cells or to tissues . These activities may help bacteria avoid host defences and stimulate adherence and colonization to form foci of infection . In this article the properties of S . aureus surface polysaccharides and proteins are reviewed . Their contribution to virulence and the possibility that they could be used as components of new vaccine to combat mastitis in ruminants and nosocomial infections is discussed.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1991 Apr, 70(4), 344 - 50
Staphylococcus aureus S-6: factors affecting its growth, enterotoxin B production and exoprotein formation; Nychas GJ et al.; The growth of Staphylococcus aureus S-6, enterotoxin production and exoprotein formation were always higher in NZ-amine A medium compared with brain heart infusion medium . The formation of exoproteins, including enterotoxin B, per bacterial cell in static culture was influenced by the addition of glucose . Lactate and amino acids were used by Staph . aureus S-6 in media without additional glucose . When both media were supplemented with glucose, lactic and acetic acids were produced . Different electrophoretic patterns for exoprotein formation were obtained when the organism was grown in shaken or static culture.

Burns, 1991 Apr, 17(2), 151 - 4
Work-related burns: a 6-year retrospective study; Ng D et al.; During the 6 years from July 1984 to May 1990, 193 patients (30.2 per cent of all patients) were admitted to our regional adult burn centre, for treatment of work-related burn injuries . The median age of patients was 32.5 years (range 18-64 per cent), and 94 per cent were males . Fifty-nine per cent of the patients came from metropolitan Toronto, and 40 per cent from rural Ontario . Most of the patients (97.3 per cent) were referred to the burn centre within 24 h of their injury . The most common aetiology was electrical injury (29.5 per cent), followed by flame (24.4 per cent), contact (10.4 per cent), flash (9.8 per cent), tar and asphalt (9.3 per cent), scald (7.8 per cent), chemical (5.1 per cent), steam (4.7 per cent) and grease (1 per cent) . Within the electrical burn group, about one-half were flash burns, one-quarter were clothing fire injuries, and one-quarter were contact injuries . These occupational burns tended to be extensive injuries . The median body surface area (BSA) was 16.5 per cent, with a median full thickness (FT) component of 5.0 per cent . The average length of stay was 20.0 days . Inhalation injury requiring intubation occurred in 14.8 per cent of patients . Sepsis--confirmed by positive blood cultures--developed in 14 per cent of the patients, at an average time of 8.8 days postburn . Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism isolated from blood cultures . Pneumonia occurred in 6.3 per cent of patients . A total of 207 surgical procedures was performed on 113 of the 193 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Am J Surg, 1991 Apr, 161(4), 422 - 5
Combined use of topical and systemic antibiotics; Scher KS et al.; An animal wound model was used to compare the effectiveness of topical and systemic antibiotics and to examine the validity of using a combined regimen of both routes of antibiotic delivery . Gross infection rates and wound bacterial concentrations were determined after contamination with Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli . Both moderate (10(8) colony-forming units {CFU}) and heavy (10(12) CFU) contamination were studied for each organism . Following moderate contamination, topical and systemic antibiotics were equally effective in reducing both wound bacterial content and infection rate, but there was no benefit from the combined use of both modes of antibiotic delivery . An additive effect of the combined regimen was noted only when the level of wound contamination was heavy.

Neurosurgery, 1991 Apr, 28(4), 623 - 5
Infected intracranial aneurysm in an infant: case report; Whitfield PC et al.; The case of a ruptured, infected intracranial aneurysm occurring in a 34-day-old child is reported . The child was brought for examination after a sudden onset of screaming and pallor, followed by focal seizures . Blood cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus, and a computed tomographic scan revealed a large hematoma in the region of the left sylvian fissure . An angiogram demonstrated a 17-mm aneurysm arising from a small branch of the middle cerebral artery . At craniotomy, the hematoma was evacuated and an infected aneurysm was removed . The etiology, pathogenesis, and management of infected intracranial aneurysms is discussed . Our patient is the youngest in whom such an aneurysm has yet been reported.

Invest Radiol, 1991 Apr, 26(4), 304 - 8
Magnetic resonance imaging detection of early experimental periostitis . Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and plain radiography with histopathologic correlation; Spaeth HJ et al.; This study characterizes the appearance of periosteal reaction by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and evaluates the efficacy of MRI versus computed tomography (CT), and plain film radiography (PF) in detecting early, experimentally induced periostitis . Acute Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis was induced in 30 legs of 20 New Zealand white rabbits . The rabbits were then imaged with MR, contrast-unenhanced CT, and PF 4 days after infection . Histologically, periosteal elevation was present in 27 cases . Periosteal ossification was seen in 23 cases, and cellular reaction without ossification in 4 cases . Periosteal reaction was demonstrated by PF in 21 (78%) and by CT in 20 (74%) cases . Evidence of periostitis was seen by MR in all 27% (100%) cases . MR resulted in two false-positive diagnoses . Multiple concentric, alternating high and low signal arcs demonstrated by MR in 19 (70%) cases represented periosteal ossification surrounded by fibrous or granulation tissue . These findings demonstrate the ability of MR to detect periostitis despite the absence of periosteal ossification . MR was more sensitive than CT (P less than .05) or PF (P less than .05) in the detection of experimentally induced periostitis.

Cornell Vet, 1991 Apr, 81(2), 183 - 93
Fomites and reservoirs of Staphylococcus aureus causing intramammary infections as determined by phage typing: the effect of milking time hygiene practices; Fox LK et al.; We studied the association of milkers' hands and milking unit liners as fomites, and teat skin as a reservoir, with S . aureus intramammary infections (IMI) . Samples were collected from 40 commercial herds and S . aureus isolates were phage typed . Only 10 of 257 isolates were not typable . Of the milk samples, 8.4% had typable S . aureus; 4.5% and 9.2% of the skin and liner swabbings had typable S . aureus . Twenty-three different phage types were identified, 1 type was found in nearly 75% of the herds . Herds in which milking unit backflush was used were less likely to have the same phage type on the liners and the teat skin, and on the liners and milk samples, than herds that did not backflush . A greater percentage of liners had S . aureus of the same type as those causing S . aureus IMI, than skin swabbing solutions with the same type as that associated with IMI . Herds which did not use post-milking teat asepsis (teat dip) did not have a greater percentage of S . aureus isolates on the teat skin, nor were the S . aureus test skin isolates more likely to be of the same type as those causing intramammary infection . Results would suggest that the liner appears to be a significant fomite, that backflushing reduces its significance, and that teat skin is a less significant reservoir for S . aureus intramammary infection.

J Med Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 34(4), 193 - 201
Genetic characterisation of resistance to metal ions in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: elimination of resistance to cadmium, mercury and tetracycline with loss of methicillin resistance; Poston SM et al.; Susceptibility to six metal ions--cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenate (Asa), arsenite (Asi), antimony (Sb) and zinc (Zn)--was tested in 23 independent isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) obtained from Guy's Hospital (GH) during 1984-1986, which included 10 isolates of the UK epidemic EMRSA-1 strain . Strains were also tested for resistance to antibiotics and the nucleic-acid-binding compounds propamidine isethionate and ethidium bromide . A further 19 methicillin-resistant isolates, including 10 EMRSA-1 were obtained from other sources . Ten methicillin-sensitive, antibiotic sensitive isolates were from Guy's Hospital . Resistance to Hg was associated with methicillin resistance in 19 of the 20 EMRSA-1 isolates, all of which were resistant to Cd . Resistance to Cd and Hg was found in 13 out of 22 other MRSA isolates . Hg resistance was not present in the methicillin-sensitive isolates which were often (13 out of 19) moderately resistant to Cd . Multiple resistance to metal ions, including resistance to Hg, Asa, Asi and Sb, was uncommon . Resistance to Cd (MIC greater than 32 mg/L or 8-16 mg/L) was associated with increased resistance to Zn . In 11 of the consecutive MRSA isolates from Guy's Hospital seven distinct strains were recognised by phage type . Methicillin resistance in these strains varied from 16 to 1024 mg/L at 30 degrees C with a 2-8-fold lower minimum inhibitory concentration at 37 degrees C indicating some degree of heterogeneity . Representatives of the EMRSA-1 strain had the higher levels of resistance . Loss of methicillin resistance occurred in 0.2-5.0% of colonies tested after storage at room temperature in 10 of these isolates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1991 Apr, 32(5), 1523 - 33
Immune response to Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis in a rabbit model; Engstrom RE Jr et al.; Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of severe bacterial endophthalmitis . Both immunoglobulin (Ig) G and A antibody titers to ribitol teichoic acid (RTA), the major antigenic determinant of the S . aureus cell wall, were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum, tears, aqueous, and vitreous on days 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 30 after intravitreal injection of viable S . aureus in rabbits . Clinical examination showed vitreous opacification in all rabbits from days 7-30 . Histopathologic examination showed acute inflammation on day 3 and chronic inflammation on days 7-30 in the conjunctiva, cornea, iris, ciliary body, and trabecular meshwork . The vitreous cavity contained neutrophils and necrotic cells on all days . Retinal necrosis was present on days 14-30 . Lymphoid follicles with plasma cells were identified in the conjunctiva, ciliary body, and choroid . The vitreous of experimental eyes showed increasing numbers of bacteria from days 3-14, followed by a decrease in numbers on day 21 and absence of viable bacteria on day 30 . Increases in IgG antibody levels to RTA were first detected in serum where they were higher than in tears, aqueous, and vitreous until day 14 . Vitreous IgG antibody levels to RTA in experimental eyes exceeded all other samples on day 14 and progressively increased thereafter; the other samples declined . The IgA antibody levels were increased in tears on day 14 and in the vitreous of experimental eyes on days 14, 21, and 30 . Vitreous IgG antibody levels to RTA were substantially higher than vitreous IgA antibody levels . An inverse correlation was found between vitreous IgG antibody levels and positive vitreous cultures, suggesting that the humoral immune response may be important in the spontaneous sterilization of the vitreous in this model.

Chest, 1991 Apr, 99(4), 1040 - 2
Closure of a bronchopleural fistula with bronchoscopic instillation of tetracycline; Martin WR et al.; Persistent bronchopleural fistulas (BPF) due to infection, trauma, or thoracic surgical procedures are often difficult to manage . We report a patient with fulminant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia complicated by chronic BPF formation which prevented weaning from mechanical ventilation due to severe air leak . Fistula closure was obtained by instillation of tetracycline into the fistula via a fiberoptic bronchoscope using a balloon catheter and blood clot occlusion technique . This closed the BPF and allowed successful weaning from mechanical ventilation.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Apr, 173(7), 2398 - 400
Evidence that mycoplasmas, gram-negative bacteria, and certain gram-positive bacteria share a similar protein antigen; Sasaki T; It was demonstrated that mycoplasmas, gram-negative bacteria, and certain gram-positive bacteria share a similar protein antigen with a molecular weight ranging from 42,000 to 48,000 . Western blotting (immunoblotting) with an antibody specific to a 43-kDa membrane protein of Mycoplasma fermentans showed the existence of this protein antigen in all Mycoplasma spp . tested (14 species), Acholeplasma laidlawii (1 strain), and gram-negative bacteria (8 species) but only in Staphylococcus aureus of four gram-positive species tested . Neither Ureaplasma urealyticum nor mammalian cell cultures showed any cross-reactions with this antibody . These proteins were found in both cytoplasmic and membrane fractions of mycoplasma cells but were not exposed on the surface of mycoplasmal or bacterial cells.

Med J Aust, 1991 Apr 1, 154(7), 481 - 3
Pyomyositis complicating the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . A report of two cases with coexistent neutropenia; Thomas R et al.; OBJECTIVE: To identify some factors contributing to the development of pyomyositis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by a report of two cases and a review of the literature . CLINICAL FEATURES: A 36-year-old man with AIDS presented with tenderness of the left adductor longus muscle; a 28-year-old man with AIDS presented with fever and left leg pain . Both men had a history of severe neutropenia induced by drug treatment and opportunistic infections requiring treatment in hospital . The pyomyositis was defined by a gallium-67 scan (and, in one case, by a computed tomography scan) . In one case Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from blood; in the other it was cultured from pus from the pyomyositic abscess . INTERVENTIONS: Both patients had their abscesses drained . The first patient was treated with flucloxacillin (2 g every four hours, given intravenously) and rifampicin (450 mg by mouth each day) . The second patient was treated with flucloxacillin (2 g every four hours, given intravenously) and ticarcillin (3 g every six hours, given intravenously) . OUTCOME: After their symptoms abated, both patients were discharged from hospital, taking flucloxacillin by mouth as ongoing treatment . CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcal infections are increasingly common in neutropenic patients . Neutropenia is likely to have contributed to the development of pyomyositis in these patients.

Indian J Ophthalmol, 1991 Apr-Jun, 39(2), 59 - 61
Conjunctival microbial flora in leprosy; Garg SP et al.; Conjunctival sacs of seventy one leprosy patients, paramedical and medical personnel working in a leprosy home were cultured . None of these eyes had any pathology in the outer eye . Surprisingly, 46.2% of the eyes which showed a positive culture carried accepted pathogens; Staphylococcus aureus being the commonest . Determining the preoperative bacterial flora and their elimination before undertaking intraocular surgery is recommended.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 5(4), 959 - 68
Replication mutants of Staphylococcus aureus macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance plasmid pT48; Catchpole I et al.; Copy-number mutants of Staphylococcus aureus macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS) resistance plasmid pT48 were isolated by their resistance to the non-inducing macrolide, tylosin . One mutant plasmid, pcopD3, showed a three- to five-fold cis-dominant increase in copy number, and nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the mutant had a single base change within the replication region . All other pT48 mutants examined had the unusual phenotype of increased plasmid multimerization and elevated copy number . These mutants were effective in trans and DNA sequencing showed that plasmids with this phenotype were deleted in one of two ways . The deletions caused similar alterations to the C-terminus of the wild-type pT48 Rep protein . The two types of mutant Rep proteins terminate with the same pentapeptide sequence: Ala-Asn-Glu-Ile-Asp . The multimerization phenotype of these mutants can be explained by defective termination of rolling-circle type replication.

Biochem J, 1991 Apr 1, 275 ( Pt 1), 93 - 7
Selective Ca2(+)-dependent interaction of calmodulin with the head domain of synapsin 1; Hayes NV et al.; The calcium-dependent regulatory protein calmodulin is a critical element in the machinery regulating exocytosis at nerve terminals . Okabe & Sobue {(1987) FEBS Lett . 213, 184-188} showed that calmodulin interacts with one of the proteins intimately connected with the neuronal exocytotic process, i.e . synapsin 1 . We have investigated the site at which calmodulin interacts with synapsin 1 . We find that it is possible to generate chemically cross-linked Ca2(+)-dependent complexes between synapsin 1 and calmodulin in vitro, and have used covalent cross-linking in conjunction with calmodulin affinity chromatography to identify fragments of synapsin 1 that interact with calmodulin . Ca2(+)-dependent calmodulin binding is restricted to the 'head' domain (residues 1-453 in bovine synapsin 1) . Within this domain the binding site is located in a unique 11 kDa Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase generated fragment . This fragment does not contain the site for cyclic-AMP-dependent phosphorylation and therefore does not represent the N-terminus of the protein.

Protein Eng, 1991 Apr, 4(4), 469 - 73
Enzyme IIIlac of the staphylococcal phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system: site-specific mutagenesis of histidine residues, biochemical characterization and 1H-NMR studies; Finkeldei U et al.; The lactose-specific phosphocarrier protein enzyme III of the bacterial phosphoenol-pyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system of Staphylococcus aureus was modified by site-specific mutagenesis on the corresponding lacF gene in order to replace the histidine residues 78 and 82 of the amino acid sequence with a serine residue . Wild-type and both mutant genes were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the gene products were purified to homogeneity . The conformation of wild-type and mutant proteins were monitored by 1H-NMR spectroscopy . In vitro phosphorylation studies on mutant lactose-specific enzyme III, as well as evidence from NMR spectroscopy, lead to the conclusion that His78 is the active-site for phosphorylation of lactose-specific enzyme III by phospho-HPr (histidine-containing protein) . The role of His82 probably is the enhancement of velocity and efficiency of the phosphotransfer from lactose-specific enzyme III to lactose-specific enzyme II . This result refutes the conclusion of former work based on data by protelytic cleavage and sequencing of the 32P-labeled peptide of lactose-specific enzyme III that His82 is the active-site for phosphorylation.

J Chemother, 1991 Apr, 3(2), 91 - 7
Comparison of the effectiveness of various antibiotics in the treatment of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus experimental infective endocarditis; Apellaniz G et al.; The effectiveness of various antibiotics was tested in the eradication of a strain of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) of cardiac vegetations, in an experimental model of endocarditis in rabbits . Twelve animals comprised the control group and 48 the treated ones . After inducing the experimental endocarditis, the animals were treated for three days; then mortality, blood cultures at 48 and 72 hours and the title of the colony forming units per gram of vegetation (CFU/g) were evaluated . Imipenem and the cloxacillin-gentamicin association were found to be as effective as cloxacillin in eradicating the microorganisms of the vegetation . Clindamycin in high doses was shown to be a valid alternative . Vancomycin, teicoplanin, rifampin and ciprofloxacin were less effective than cloxacillin . The experimental model seems to be an effective method for evaluating antimicrobial treatments in staphylococcal endocarditis.

J Biochem Biophys Methods, 1991 Apr, 22(3), 195 - 205
Cleavage by protease from Staphylococcus aureus V8: an improvement in the sequence analysis of human hemoglobin variants; Vasseur C et al.; Protease from Staphylococcus aureus V8 cleaves either at glutamic residues or at both aspartic and glutamic residues, depending on the experimental conditions . In structural analyses of human hemoglobin variants, the specificity of this enzyme is of considerable interest to localize substitutions occurring in medium or large size peptides as it cleaves in smaller fragments which may be unambiguously characterized . It may also recognize the replacement of an acidic residue by the corresponding amide, or vice versa, avoiding protein sequence analysis . The various aspects of the use of protease V8 are illustrated by the study of four alpha chain hemoglobin variants concerning peptides alpha T-9 and alpha T-12b.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 10(4), 232 - 9
Impermeability to quinolones in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria; Bryan LE et al.; The initial step in the accumulation of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents is binding to cell surface components reduced by lowered pH and divalent cations . Uptake into gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria is by simple diffusion . Entry through the outer membrane occurs preferentially for most agents by the porin route but a second process using the self-promoted uptake pathway is active especially for more hydrophobic agents . Fluoroquinolones bind to vesicles of phospholipid which may be the initiating step in cross-cytoplasmic membrane diffusion . An active efflux system has been described in Escherichia coli with evidence supporting its presence in several other bacteria . Total upset is not altered by a resistant gyrase . Resistant isolates associated with reduced total quinolone accumulation due to lowered uptake have been described for laboratory mutants and clinical isolates . Most but not all of these have had alterations in outer membrane proteins . A functionally dominant resistance gene has been cloned from resistant Staphylococcus aureus and codes for a highly hydrophobic protein most likely membrane associated . This gene is expressed in Escherichia coli and specifies resistance especially to hydrophilic quinolones, possibly by altered accumulation.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1991 Apr, 9(4), 200 - 7
{Epidemic outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a general hospital . Preliminary report}; Parras F et al.; The incidence of MRSA infections in Spain had remained in a low level through the years, being MRSA usually less than 1.5% of all S . aureus isolates . Since October 1988, we have detected in our hospital a MRSA outbreak . The epidemic started in the surgical wards, and spread through the rest of the institution . The incidence of cases was higher in the ICU's, areas that act as "multipliers" of the outbreak . In spite of standard control measures, the total number of patients with MRSA was 245 in April 1990 . We studied prospectively a sample of 100 MRSA patients: thirty-six percent were colonized and 46% infected . The more common source of infection was the lower respiratory tract and primary bacteremia . The infection-related mortality was 30% . Our MRSA strain belong to phage type III, and shows a characteristic multiple antibiotic resistant pattern, the MRSA strain is sensitive to vancomycin, fusidic acid, phosphomycin and cotrimoxazole . Over the entire outbreak period, the MRSA strain developed resistance to rifampin, imipenem-cilastatin and ciprofloxacin . In spite of all control measures implemented, the outbreak can not have been totally controlled, and MRSA is now an endemic pathogen in our institution . Therefore, major changes in therapeutic approach to nosocomial infections have been since then introduced.

J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 137 ( Pt 4), 771 - 8
Expression and secretion of staphylococcal nuclease in yeast: effects of amino-terminal sequences; Pines O et al.; Staphylococcus aureus nuclease A hybrid genes, encoding proteins OmpA-nuclease, lipo-nuclease and Pin-nuclease, were cloned downstream of the yeast GAL10 inducible promoter . OmpA-nuclease and lipo-nuclease contain the mature staphylococcal nuclease sequence preceded by the Escherichia coli OmpA and lipoprotein signal sequences, respectively, whereas Pin-nuclease lacks a defined signal sequence at its amino terminus . We found that: (a) the nuclease gene products synthesized in yeast are active, but they do not affect cell growth; (b) OmpA-nuclease and lipo-nuclease are partially processed and constitute approximately 1.0-1.5% of the yeast cell protein; (c) OmpA and lipoprotein signal sequences function similarly in secretion, allowing 35-40% of the processed nuclease to be translocated into the yeast periplasm; and (d) Pin-nuclease, which lacks hydrophobic sequences at its amino-terminus, is accumulated at a level tenfold lower than the hybrid proteins that do contain signal sequences . Nevertheless, 50% of the enzyme activity of Pin-nuclease in yeast is localized in the periplasmic space.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Apr, 27(4), 469 - 74
Activity of clindamycin against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis from four UK centres; Reeves DS et al.; MICs of penicillin, methicillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, sodium fusidate and gentamicin were determined by an agar dilution method for 300 current isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and 100 of S . epidermidis, collected from four centres, and 38 stock strains of methicillin-resistant S . aureus (MRSA) . All but one of the 300 current isolates of S . aureus were sensitive to clindamycin (MIC less than 0.5 mg/l), with an MIC90 of 0.12 mg/l . Of a total of 39 MRSA strains, 11 (28.2%) were resistant to clindamycin (MIC greater than 32 mg/l); all of these strains were also resistant to erythromycin . Ten of the 100 strains of S . epidermidis were resistant to clindamycin; they came from a reasonably equal geographical distribution and were also resistant to erythromycin . The results suggest that clindamycin might still be useful as a second-line agent for infections caused by S . aureus and S . epidermidis, although its activity against MRSA was limited to approximately two-thirds of the MRSA strains tested in this study.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Apr, 27(4), 459 - 68
Antibacterial activity and penicillin-binding protein affinity of new cephalosporin derivatives in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli; Singh MP et al.; A series of C3-substituted cephalosporins with different levels of oxidation was synthesized and the activities of eight compounds, including affinity for penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were studied . The more hydrophobic cephalosporins, with a thiophene moiety at the C7 position, were more active than C7-methoxyiminoaminothiazole derivatives against S . aureus H (beta-lactam-susceptible), and compounds with a thioether function at C3 were more active than those with a sulphonyl function at this position . In contrast, the most active compounds against E . coli were hydrophilic, zwitterionic C7-methoxyimino-aminothiazole C3-thioether cephalosporins . The physicochemical properties of the most active compounds were in accord with those predicted for rapid outer membrane penetration . However, among the thiophene cephalosporins the dianionic sulphonyl compounds were more active than the monoanionic thioether derivatives . There was a reasonably good correlation between MICs and PBP affinities for S . aureus H . The compounds had most affinity for PBP 1 and least for PBP 4 . The two most potent compounds had high affinities for PBPs 1, 2 and 3 . The compounds had low affinities for the beta-lactam-insensitive PBP 2a of methicillin-resistant S . aureus strain DU4916-K7 . The novel cephalosporins had the highest affinities for PBPs 1a/1b and 3 of E . coli DCO . The major morphological response of E . coli to the compounds was cell elongation.

Eur J Immunol, 1991 Apr, 21(4), 1033 - 7
Independent regulation of 55-kDa and 75-kDa tumor necrosis factor receptors during activation of human peripheral blood B lymphocytes; Erikstein BK et al.; We have studied the expression of two different tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFR; 55 kDa and 75 kDa) on resting and activated human peripheral blood B lymphocytes using specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) . Flow cytometric analysis revealed that most resting B cells expressed small amounts of the 75-kDa TNFR, and that the 75-kDa TNFR was markedly up-regulated upon stimulation with anti-mu or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC) . In contrast, the expression of the 55-kDa TNFR was low on resting as well as on activated cells . B cell activation was accompanied by an increased binding of biotinylated TNF-alpha, and this binding could be blocked by preincubation by utr-1 (anti-75-kDa TNRF), but not the htr (anti-55-kDa TNFR) antibodies . Notably, a number of cytokines tested (interleukin 1 to 8, interferon-gamma, TNF-alpha and -beta) did not influence the expression of either the 75-kDa or the 55-kDa TNFR when given to resting B cells . Moreover, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate led to an early, marked down-regulation of the 75-kDa TNFR expression, followed by a later modest increase after greater than 24 h . In contrast to other cell systems where htr mAb have been found either to mimic or to inhibit TNF action, htr mAb had insignificant effects in assays for restimulation of preactivated B cells . However, utr-1 markedly inhibited the TNF-beta but only partly inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced proliferation . Taken together, our data suggest that changes in 75-kDa protein expression is responsible for the increased TNFR expression on activated vs . resting peripheral blood B cells and that this protein also may play an important functional role.

J Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 163(4), 837 - 42
The response of human peritoneal macrophages to stimulation with bacteria isolated from episodes of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis; Mackenzie RK et al.; The metabolism of arachidonic acid, by isolated peritoneal macrophages in response to stimulation with microorganisms isolated from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, is not specific to the individual strain but is determined by species . Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (n = 7) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 13) produced a significant increase in leukotriene B4 generation by peritoneal macrophages compared with unstimulated cells (P less than .001) . The coincubation of peritoneal macrophages with gram-negative organisms (n = 3), however, did not result in an increase in leukotriene B4 synthesis . In contrast, all the organisms tested significantly inhibited the formation of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 but the degree of inhibition was species dependent . The above results were reproduced using bacteria-free supernatants, indicating that the interaction was dependent on a secreted bacterial product . Thus in response to certain bacterial species, the recruitment of neutrophils may be facilitated by the generation of leukotriene B4 from peritoneal macrophages . In addition, the reduction in synthesis of prostaglandin E2 may remove a regulatory effect that this metabolite has on the immune response.

J Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 163(4), 819 - 24
Phagocyte-derived free radicals stimulated by ingestion of iron-rich Staphylococcus aureus: a spin-trapping study; Cohen MS et al.; Phagocytic cells generate superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), creating the substrates for hydroxyl radical (HO.) in the presence of redox active metals . Previously it was shown that HO . is not a physiologic product of human neutrophils or monocytes but can be generated in the presence of high concentrations of iron . This study was undertaken to determine whether bacterial iron could be used for the generation of HO . The growth of Staphylococcus aureus under iron-rich conditions increased bacterial iron concentration and phagocytosis of iron-rich bacteria allowed neutrophils to accumulate threefold more iron than ingestion of iron-starved organisms . Neither neutrophils nor monocytes ingesting iron-rich S . aureus generated iron-catalyzed HO . at levels detectable by spin-trapping techniques . No differences in the killing of iron-rich organisms by neutrophils was noted . The results suggest that HO . does not play a role in the killing of S . aureus by human neutrophils, regardless of their ability to deliver iron to the cell.

Lymphokine Cytokine Res, 1991 Apr, 10(1-2), 1 - 6
Proliferative responses of B cells from elderly humans: abnormalities in early responsiveness are related to alterations in B cell activation molecules; Whisler RL et al.; Age-related changes are known to occur in the function of human T cells but less information is available about human B cells during aging . In this study, B cells obtained by negative selection from the peripheral blood of young and elderly subjects were stimulated in vitro with anti-IgM, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC), or Staph protein A (SpA) from SAC . Their proliferative capabilities with and without lymphokines were quantitated by {3H}thymidine uptake . Stimulated B cells from elderly subjects were reduced in their overall ability to sustain normal levels of proliferation observed for B cells from young subjects . However, time course studies analyzing early proliferative responses revealed that B cells from one subset of elderly displayed persistent hyporesponsiveness whereas another subset demonstrated early hyperresponsiveness compared to B cells from young adults . Experiments to determine the frequencies of B cells with transferrin receptors (TfR) and low-affinity receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) showed reductions in the expression of these two glycoproteins among stimulated B cells from elderly with the persistent decreases in proliferation . By contrast, unstimulated B cells of elderly subjects with early hyperresponsiveness displayed increased frequencies of TfR-positive cells, which became reduced after stimulation . Further, stimulated B cells from this group demonstrated greater frequencies of CD23 positive cells than young adults (13 vs . 8%) . Thus two distinct profiles of proliferative abnormalities can be observed in early cohorts of activated B cells from elderly humans . The association of these abnormalities with differences in TfR and CD23 suggests that certain age-related defects occur relatively early during the B cell activation scheme.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1991 Apr, 9(4), 208 - 10
{Teicoplanin versus cloxacillin, cloxacillin-gentamycin and vancomycin in the treatment of experimental endocarditis caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus}; Apellaniz G et al.; Thirty-three rabbits, (12 in the control group and 21 treated, 5 with teicoplanin, vancomycin and cloxacillin-gentamycin and 6 with cloxacillin alone) with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) experimentally induced endocarditis were studied to evaluate the efficacy of teicoplanin and its comparison with cloxacillin, vancomycin and cloxacillin-gentamycin . The rabbits were treated during three days . Mortality, blood cultures at 48 and 72 hours and the number of colonies forming units per gram of vegetation were then evaluated . There was statistically significantly differences between the control group and the 4 treated groups in respect of mortality (p less than 0.001), and blood culture's negativity at 48 and 72 hours (p less than 0.001), but not among the various groups of treatments . The CFU number of the vegetations were also significantly different between control and treatment groups (p less than 0.001) . Cloxacillin and the combination cloxacillin-gentamycin lowered the CFU number more than teicoplanin and vancomycin (p less than 0.005) . These results, allowed us to conclude than teicoplanin may be used as an alternative of standard treatments in infective endocarditis due to MSSA.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 5(4), 933 - 9
Insertional inactivation of the Staphylococcus aureus beta-toxin by bacteriophage phi 13 occurs by site- and orientation-specific integration of the phi 13 genome; Coleman D et al.; Lysogenization of Staphylococcus aureus by the serotype F converting bacteriophage phi 13 results in loss of beta-toxin expression . Sequence analysis of the S . aureus beta-toxin gene (hlb), the attachment site (attP)-containing region of phi 13 DNA and the chromosome/bacteriophage DNA junctions of a phi 13 lysogen, revealed that the molecular mechanism of loss of beta-toxin expression was due to insertion of the phi 13 genome into the 5' end of hlb . The insertion site (attB) within hlb contained a 14 base pair core sequence in common with attP and both ends of the integrated linear prophage genome of a phi 13 lysogen . These findings indicate that integration of the phi 13 genome into hlb is site- and orientation-specific.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Apr, 27 Suppl B, 1 - 7
The post-antibiotic effect of teicoplanin: monotherapy and combination studies; Drabu YJ et al.; The post-antibiotic effect (PAE) of teicoplanin was measured alone and in combination with other antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus . A total of five strains were used: the Oxford S . aureus and two clinical isolates each of methicillin sensitive and methicillin resistant strains . Fusidic acid had no or a small post-antibiotic influence (range 0-1.25 h) whereas a relatively higher PAE was seen for all other drugs against all strains: teicoplanin 2.4-4.1 h: gentamicin 3.1-5.2 h, rifampicin 3.0-3.95 h, and ciprofloxacin 1.6-3.4 h . Combination of teicoplanin with fusidic acid resulted in shorter PAEs than teicoplanin alone . In contrast, PAEs for all other combinations with teicoplanin were longer than PAE of teicoplanin, gentamicin, rifampicin or ciprofloxacin alone . Addition of teicoplanin during the post-antibiotic phase of the other antibiotics and vice versa showed that the only combination which was consistently bactericidal was that of teicoplanin with gentamicin . We conclude that these in-vitro results suggest that the combination of teicoplanin with gentamicin is likely to be the most effective of those tested and should be further evaluated in clinical trials.

J Immunol, 1991 Apr 1, 146(7), 2122 - 9
Cross-linking of CD23 antigen by its natural ligand (IgE) or by anti-CD23 antibody prevents B lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation; Luo HY et al.; The possible role of CD23 in the activation of human B lymphocytes was systematically investigated by examining the effect of: 1) anti-CD23 mAb; 2) IgE or IgE-immune complexes and; 3) native or recombinant soluble CD23 of different m.w., on B cell proliferation . Intact anti-CD23 mAb or its F(ab')2 fragments inhibit the proliferation of tonsillar B lymphocytes costimulated with either Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) or anti-IgM and IL-4 . The antibody has no effect when IL-2 or LMW-BCGF is used as the second stimulant . The response of IL-4-pretreated B cells (expressing high levels of CD23) to anti-IgM together with IL-2 or B cell-derived B cell growth factor is inhibited by anti-CD23 mAb, indicating that this antibody prevents B cell activation regardless of the B cell activators but provided that the density of CD23 on B cells is sufficient . Anti-CD23 mAb markedly inhibits DNA synthesis only when added during the first 12 h of the culture and has no effect on the ongoing proliferation of CD23-bearing B cell blasts (SAC induced and IL-4 supported or EBV transformed) . Monovalent Fab fragments of anti-CD23 mAb are inactive unless they are used in tandem with goat anti-mouse Fab suggesting that the inhibition is due to cross-linking of surface CD23 . Most interestingly, polymeric IgE or IgE-immune complexes have the same effect as anti-CD23 and moreover they inhibit IgM production by SAC and IL4-stimulated B cells . The inhibiting effect of IgE or of anti-CD23 mAb is not due to their neutralization of soluble CD23 because these failed to display B cell growth factor activity under various experimental conditions . It is concluded that IgE-immune complexes may regulate activation and differentiation of CD23-bearing surfaceIgM/surfaceIgD precursor B lymphocytes.

Rev Argent Microbiol, 1991 Apr-Jun, 23(2), 79 - 85
{Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in solid media with a water activity less than 0.86}; Giannuzzi L et al.; The purpose of this study was to determine whether S . aureus could grow in solid substrates with aw 0.843 adjusted by water adsorption . The media used included dehydrated powder of pork, beef and milk as basic substrates in order to compensate an eventual deficiency; additional source of nutrients was added . The tested strains were ATCC 6538 P, FDA-C243, NA1 and FM1 . It was observed that no strain grew at 30 degrees C in those media at aw 0.843 . These data were compared with others which indicate that S . aureus could grow al aw 0.83-0.84 . The possible reasons for the difference in the minimal aw value reported to be required for the growth of S . aureus are discussed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Apr, (4), 8 - 11
{The action of tomicide on macromolecular synthesis in bacterial cells}; Butova LG et al.; The study of the rate of incorporation of labeled precursors for nucleic acids and protein into Staphylococcus aureus 209 P cell fraction, insoluble in trichloroacetic acid, has revealed that in the presence of tomicide in the medium in a dose of 1 MCI (600 micrograms/ml) the synthesis of DNA in inhibited rapidly and almost completely (by 90%) . The inhibition of the rate of incorporation of 3H-thymidine into the cells of staphylococcal culture by tomicide directly correlates with the concentration of the preparation within the range 100-600 micrograms/ml, the inhibition of the synthesis of RNA and protein being less pronounced than the inhibition of the synthesis of DNA.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Apr, 17(4), 255 - 69
Pulsed field gel electrophoresis as a new epidemiological tool for monitoring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an intensive care unit; Prevost G et al.; Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of bacterial DNA was used in a 1-month epidemiological study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a 15-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) . Patient and hospital staff carriage as well as distribution of MRSA in the ICU environment were investigated, and a total of 3802 samples produced 175 isolates . The stability and the reproducibility of the PFGE method were satisfactory . Moreover, the plasmid content of the strains so far examined had no influence on the PFGE profiles of the MRSA strains . The polymorphic profiles observed also account for the use of this method as an epidemiological tool for investigating MRSA . Among 30 patients who stayed more than 4 days in the unit, PFGE analysis showed 11 episodes of colonization in nine patients, whereas lysotyping and plasmid DNA analysis demonstrated only eight and seven such episodes in the same patients, respectively . The combination of PFGE with lysotyping and plasmid analysis may provide a greater discriminatory capacity between MRSA isolates.

J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 1991 Apr, 49(4), 392 - 6
Evaluation of antibiotic-supplemented bone allograft in a rabbit model; Petri WH 3rd; The use of an antibiotic-supplemented bone allograft (ASBA) as a material for placement in infected mandibular fractures was investigated in a rabbit model . In phase I of this project, fractures were created in the mandibles of 30 New Zealand white rabbits and injected with 5 x 10(6) colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacteroides melaninogenicus . The animals were divided into three treatment groups (A, B, or C) and treated with conventional treatment (CT), CT plus demineralized bone powder, or CT plus ASBA . In phase II, bone defects were created in the mandibles of 17 New Zealand white rabbits and then grafted with ASBA . Assessment of healing and vascular ingrowth was made at 2-day intervals through 3 weeks postoperatively, and then weekly until termination at 60 days postoperatively . Phase I results showed significantly enhanced healing in the ASBA-treated group when compared with the other treatment methods and healed fracture strength, which was comparable to the nonfractured, contralateral mandibular angle . Phase II results demonstrated vascular structures in the ASBA material by 4 days postoperatively and osteogenesis by 12 days postoperatively.

Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1991 Apr-Sep, 33(2-3), 145 - 8
{Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus by the Baird Parker method from powdered milk}; Sanchez Mendoza M et al.; There are many media recommended for the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from foods, but only with some media one can obtain a good growth started with stressed cells . The Baird Parker (BP) medium is considered the best choice to recover stressed cells, however, it is not as good a medium to isolate Staphylococcus aureus from powder milk . Therefore, it is important to count with alternative media to enhance the chance for Staphylococcus aureus to grow from dehydrated products . Thirty-one powder milk samples contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus were analysed by Baird Parker method, employing four culture media: Baird Parker (BP), Baird Parker + tween + MgCl2 (BPTM), Pork plasma with bovine fibrinogen agar (PPF) and Salt Milk agar (SL) . Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in SL, 38.7%; in BP, 3.2%; in BPTM, 6.4%; and PPF, 0%.

Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1991 Apr-Sep, 33(2-3), 135 - 9
{Demonstration of staphylococcal thermonuclease from powdered milk}; Sanchez Mendoza M et al.; Demonstration of Staphylococcal Thermonuclease (TNase) from Powder Milk . Some authors have reported that the number of Staphylococcus aureus needed to produce a food-poisoning is 10(6) CFU per gram of food, however, other authors have reported foods without microorganisms but these have produced food-poisoning . Because the methods for staphylococcal enterotoxins demonstration in foods are laborious and expensive procedures, in this paper we tried to demonstrate the thermonuclease (TNase) presence in foods directly, as a helper test for screening foods suspected to be contaminated with this microorganism . To 112 powder milk samples were determined TNase presence by Tatini's et al (1976) and Lachica's (1972) technics, 31 of this samples had S . aureus . Only with Lachica's technique it could be possible to demonstrate TNase in 17 of 112 analyzed samples, 14 of these had viable S . aureus.

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol, 1991 Apr, 1(2), 125 - 8
The ability of granulocytes to engulf latex particles and Staphylococcus aureus in healthy children of parents with infectious asthma; Matusiewicz R et al.; A test to determine engulfing of neutral latex particles and Staphylococcus aureus by peripheral blood granulocytes was carried out in 28 healthy children who had at least one parent with infectious asthma and 13 children, in whom both parents had infectious asthma . A defect in engulfing neutral latex particles and Staphylococcus aureus by granulocytes was demonstrated in children who had both parents with infectious asthma.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1991 Apr, 146(4), 28 - 31
{The characteristics of the microflora in suppurative wounds in a large city}; Konychev AV et al.; Based upon their experience with treatment of 259 patients the authors have shown that purulent diseases are caused mainly by Staphylococcus aureus in combination with other microbes . The microflora of purulent wounds often was antibiotic-resistant . The duration of treatment is dependent on the character of the microflora.

Endodoncia, 1991 Apr-Jun, 9(2), 73 - 7
{Behavior of different strains of Staphylococcus aureus against root canal filling cements}; Pumarola J et al.; The mean goal of this study is the determination of the conduct of 120 strains of Staphylococcus aureus against seven root canal sealers: Traitement Spad, Endomethasone, N2 Universal, AH26 with silver, Diaket-A, Tubli Seal and Sealapex . The agar diffusion test was employed in the determination of its bacterial growth inhibition . The results obtained have demonstrated values very different between the tested strains . Therefore we recommended to employ strains with reference in the investigation of the bacterial growth inhibition in order to repeat equal experimentation conditions.

J Chemother, 1991 Apr, 3(2), 108 - 16
Use of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for epidemiology and the selection of oral, parenteral and topical regimens for control of CAPD-associated Staphylococcus aureus infection; Pignatari A et al.; Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . Using standard broth microdilution and disk diffusion methodology, we evaluated the in vitro activity of selected antimicrobial agents against S . aureus strains isolated from CAPD patients to assess candidate regimens for 1) topical agent control of colonization, 2) oral chemotherapy of CAPD infectious complications, and 3) parenteral treatment of serious CAPD-associated staphylococcal infections . A total of 34 isolates (31 patients) of S . aureus were available for testing, including 29 isolates (29 patients) from pericatheter skin, four isolates (four patients) from the nares, and one isolate from an episode of peritonitis . Six of the isolates were oxacillin-resistant (ORSA) . The antimicrobial agents tested by broth microdilution included 17 different quinolones, 10 cephalosporins, six glycopeptides, two aminoglycosides, and imipenem . A total of eight potential topical agents, including the antistaphylococcal agent mupirocin, were tested by disk diffusion . All of the quinolones, with the exception of nalidixic acid (MIC90 greater than 16 micrograms/ml), had excellent activity against both ORSA and oxacillin-susceptible S . aureus (OSSA) with the most active agent being WIN57273 (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.015 microgram/ml) . Imipenem and the cephalosporins, with the exception of cefixime, ceftazidime, and E-1040, possessed good activity against OSSA . None of the beta-lactam agents tested were active against ORSA . Likewise, the aminoglycosides, amikacin and gentamicin, exhibited good activity against OSSA strains but no activity against ORSA strains . All glycopeptides tested demonstrated excellent activity against ORSA strains . Of the topical antimicrobial agents tested only bacitracin, mupirocin, and nitrofurantoin were active against all OSSA and ORSA strains tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Mar 28, 196(3), 743 - 50
Primary structure of a new actin-binding protein from human seminal plasma; Schaller J et al.; Secretory actin-binding protein (SABP), a glycoprotein from human seminal plasma, was isolated according to Akiyama and Kimura {Akiyama, K . & Kimura, H . (1990) Biochim . Biophys . Acta 1040, 206-210} . The complete amino acid sequence of SABP was determined with the aid of fragments generated by trypsin, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and pepsin . The single polypeptide chain of SABP contains 118 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 13,506 and pyroglutamic acid as the N-terminal residue . A single N-glycosidic carbohydrate moiety is located at Asn77 . The carbohydrate composition shows an unusually high amount of fucose . The arrangement of the two disulfide bonds is Cys37-Cys63 and Cys61-Cys95 . Sequence comparison revealed a high degree of similarity with a 14-kDa submandibular gland protein from mouse (45% identity and 64% similarity) . SABP is identical with a prolactin-inducible protein and a protein termed gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (sequences translated from cDNA clones), both from human breast tissues . Although SABP was also detected in saliva, in extracts of the submandibular gland and seminal vesicles, little is known of its function.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1991 Mar, 28(1), 45 - 56
A colorimetric assay for quantitating bovine neutrophil bactericidal activity; Stevens MG et al.; A colorimetric assay was developed for quantitating bovine neutrophil bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus . The procedure used the tetrazolium compound, 3-{4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl}-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) . The assay was conducted by incubating antibody-opsonized S . aureus with neutrophils in microtiter plates for 1 h at a ratio of 10 bacteria per neutrophil . Neutrophils were then lysed with saponin . The MTT was added and samples were incubated for 10 min . Live S . aureus reduced MTT to purple formazan . Dead bacteria and lysed neutrophils did not react with MTT . Bacterially-reduced formazan was solubilized by adding isopropanol and formazan production was quantitated by measuring absorption at 560 nm . Absorption of formazan was directly related to viable bacteria cell number and was used to determine the number of S . aureus not killed by neutrophils . The percentage of bacteria killed by neutrophils was determined by extrapolation from a standard formazan curve that was derived by incubating MTT with known numbers of S . aureus . The colorimetric MTT assay detected suppressed bactericidal activity after in vitro treatment of bovine neutrophils with colchicine, cytochalasin B, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate . In vitro treatment of neutrophils with low levels of recombinant bovine interferon gamma (rBoIFN-gamma) enhanced bactericidal activity, whereas high levels decreased activity . These results suggest the colorimetric MTT bactericidal assay is efficacious in detecting modulation of bovine neutrophil bactericidal activity . Furthermore, the MTT assay has many advantages over traditional bactericidal assays in that it is sensitive, inexpensive, requires less than 3 h to complete, and can analyze many neutrophil samples in a single day.

Int Ophthalmol, 1991 Mar, 15(2), 79 - 86
Intravitreal recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in the treatment of experimentally induced bacterial endophthalmitis; Baziuk N et al.; Intravitreal injection of antibiotics has been shown to be effective in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis, but does not prevent the formation of fibrin . Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA), a fibrinolytic agent, was evaluated in experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis in an animal model . Significant fibrinous reaction in the vitreous was present in three of six eyes treated with intravitreal injection of clindamycin and rTPA (50%) and in one of five eyes treated with clindamycin only (20%) . Fibrin clot formation in the anterior chamber was present in two of six eyes treated with clindamycin and rTPA (33%) and not observed in the clindamycin treated eyes (0%) . These findings suggest that rTPA does not play a beneficial role in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis in the presence of the vitreous.

J Biol Chem, 1991 Mar 5, 266(7), 4037 - 40
Insulin and nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs induce translocation of GLUT 4 to the plasma membrane in alpha-toxin-permeabilized rat adipose cells; Baldini G et al.; Rat adipose cells treated with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin are permeable and retain their ability to respond to insulin after hormone treatment . The GLUT 4 glucose transporter isoform, specific to fat and muscle cells, is translocated normally from low density microsomes to the plasma membrane in permeabilized cells . Addition of guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), guanylyl imidodiphosphate, or guanylyl beta, gamma-methylenediphosphate to permeabilized adipocytes induces an insulin-like translocation of GLUT 4 to the plasma membrane; GTP or adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imino)triphosphate has no effect . No translocation of GLUT 4 is observed when GTP analogs are added to intact adipocytes . These results suggest the involvement of a GTP-binding protein in insulin-triggered recruitment of GLUT 4 to the cell surface.

Anal Biochem, 1991 Mar 2, 193(2), 178 - 85
Proteosynthetic activity of immobilized Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease: application in the semisynthesis of molecular variants of alpha-globin; Sahni G et al.; The proteosynthetic activity of Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease (endoproteinase Glu-C) immobilized onto cross-linked agarose beads by reductive alkylation procedure has been investigated . The overall substrate specificity of the enzyme, as judged by peptide mapping of performic acid oxidized RNase A, as well as the high propensity of the protease to slice selectively the alpha-chain of hemoglobin (Hb) A at the Glu(30)-Arg(31) peptide bond at pH 4.0 and 37 degrees C was essentially unperturbed by the immobilization process . This high susceptibility of Glu(30) of the alpha-chain for proteolysis appears to be a consequence of the conformational aspects of the polypeptide in this region . The proteolysis of two mutant forms of alpha-chain, namely, those of Hb I (K16E) and Hb Sealy (D47H) by immobilized V8 protease at the Glu(30)-Arg(31) peptide bond proceeds with the same selectivity . The immobilized protease also retained the proteosynthetic activity, i.e., the ability to ligate the unprotected alpha-globin fragments at the Glu(30)-Arg(31) peptide bond in the presence of 30% 1-propanol . The use of the insoluble enzyme simplifies the procedures for the construction of new semisynthetic, molecular variants of alpha-globin . The general applicability of the immobilized enzyme for protein semisynthesis has been demonstrated by the construction of a doubly mutated alpha-globin . The complementary fragments from two natural mutant forms of alpha-globin, viz., alpha 1-30 (K16E) from Hb I and alpha 31-141 (D47H) from Hb Sealy, are readily ligated to form the double mutant alpha 1-141 (K16E;D47H).

J Dairy Sci, 1991 Mar, 74(3), 826 - 32
Risk factors for clinical mastitis in herds with a low bulk milk somatic cell count . 2 . Risk factors for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; Schukken YH et al.; The incidence rate of clinical mastitis due to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was studied in 125 herds with a low annual bulk milk somatic cell count (less than 150,000 cells/ml) . Risk factors that were offered to a multivariate Poisson regression model included general management, housing, cleaning procedures, cow and cubicle cleanliness, feeds and feeding, dry cow management, milking procedures, machine milking, disease prevention, and milk production . Some differences in epidemiology between E . coli and S . aureus were observed . In the S . aureus model, more milking procedure and milking machine variables were present . The milk production, drinking water source, amount of bedding, and ventilation were other important factors in the S . aureus model . Teat disinfection was an important risk factor in the E . coli model but was much less important in the S . aureus model . Cleaning procedures were more important in the E . coli model . The main breed on the farm and percentage of cows leaking milk were other important factors in the E . coli model.

East Afr Med J, 1991 Mar, 68(3), 204 - 10
Diabetic ulcers--a clinical and bacteriological study; McLigeyo et al.; One hundred consecutive patients with diabetic ulcers were studied in an 8-month-period . There were 58 females . The mean age was 59.9 years . Eighty three patients had non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus . The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 11.6 years . The mean duration of the ulcer was 8.5 months . Sixty nine of the ulcers were gangrenous . Over 50% of the ulcers involved the big toes . Neuropathic ulcers were found mainly in the sole of the feet . Roentgenograms showed evidence of osteomyelitis in 44 patients . There were 356 bacterial isolates (340 aerobes and 16 anaerobes) from the ulcers . There were 3.6 infecting organisms per ulcer in gangrenous ulcers, while in neuropathic ulcers, there were 3.4 infecting organisms per ulcer . In both types of ulcer Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the commonest infecting organisms each being isolated in 88 of the 100 ulcers studied . In repeat bacterial cultures at 4 weeks there were 116 bacterial isolates . Staphylococcus aureus persisted in 63 ulcers despite therapy, while Escherichia coli persisted in 35 . There were no new organisms isolated at repeat cultures and no ulcer was completely sterile . The Staphylococcus aureus was 100% sensitive to Augmentin (Amoxicillin plus clavulinic acid), Clindamycin, Novobiocin, and Amikacin while the gram negative bacilli were sensitive to Cefotaxime, Piperacillin, Amikacin and augmentin, Clindamycin, Chloramphenicol and Lincomycin inhibited the growth of anaerobes to a varying degree.

J Am Acad Dermatol, 1991 Mar, 24(3), 379 - 89
Recent advances in pediatric infectious diseases and their impact on dermatology; Grossman KL et al.; The past five years have seen numerous advances in the field of pediatric infectious diseases, and many of these have a substantial impact on the practice of dermatology . We review some of these advances and discuss their implications on etiology, diagnosis, therapy and complications of some relatively common conditions . The etiologic agent of exanthum subitum (roseola infantum) has been clearly implicated as a herpesvirus-6 . Although in the classically described situation high fever in a young child is followed by defervescence and rash, two new scenarios have been described associated with this virus . The first is fever without rash and the second is rash without fever . The etiologic agent of erythema infectiosum ("slapped cheek") has been shown to be a human parvovirus B19 . The virus has also been associated with aplastic crises (in hemoglobinopathies), hydrops fetalis, and a syndrome of subacute arthralgias in women . The etiologic agent in cat-scratch disease has recently been shown to be a small pleomorphic bacillus that also can produce pyogenic granuloma-like lesions in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . The number of cases of congenital syphilis, particularly in large cities, is increasing tremendously . Many of these infants have received no prenatal care because of drug abuse problems in their parents . Finally, we describe the changing etiology of impetigo that is predominantly associated with Staphylococcus aureus . We further describe the growing resistance to erythromycin and several new erythromycin drug-drug interactions.

Immunol Lett, 1991 Mar, 27(3), 225 - 30
Effect of metalloproteinase from Staphylococcus aureus on in vitro stimulation of human lymphocytes; Prokesova L et al.; Metalloproteinase (MP) produced by the majority of Staphylococcus aureus strains exerts, in a wide concentration range (0.1-100 micrograms/ml), no cytotoxic action on mononuclear leukocytes of human peripheral blood . The enzyme itself does not appreciably stimulate proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes in culture, but affects the stimulation of both T and B lymphocytes by polyclonal activators . The action is dose-dependent . High doses of MP (100 micrograms/ml) lower the blastic transformation after stimulation with Con A, SpA, NDCM, S . aureus strain Wood 46 and with suboptimal doses of PWM . Optimal concentrations of the enzyme potentiate the stimulation of lymphocytes by PWM, PHA, S . aureus strains Cowan 1 and Wood 46, and by NDCM . The same potentiation effect was achieved whether the enzyme was added concurrently with the mitogen or 18 h later . This implies that the beginning of cell activation is not affected . A high MP concentration decreases the production of Ig in culture after stimulation with PWM whereas lower concentrations of MP enhance this production . Production of Ig after stimulation with NDCM and Wood 46 is decreased by MP . The possible action of exoproteinase from S . Aureus on the immune response during infection is discussed.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Mar, 10(3), 163 - 6
Interpretive criteria for disk diffusion susceptibility testing of sparfloxacin; Kayser FH et al.; Sparfloxacin disk susceptibility test criteria for the NCCLS and ICS/DIN methods were determined by testing 400 bacterial wild-type isolates . Disks containing 5 micrograms of the drug could be used satisfactorily in both procedures . The following interpretive zone size breakpoints for the NCCLS and ICS/DIN methods were proposed: less than or equal to 18 and 20 mm respectively for resistance (MIC greater than 1 mg/l), and greater than or equal to 23 and 25 mm respectively for susceptibility (MIC less than or equal to 0.5 mg/l) . These criteria were based on preliminary maximum serum concentrations of approximately 1.5 mg/l after a single oral dose of 400 mg of the drug . Regression equations for both methods correlating MICs and zone sizes based on test results for 361 organisms are presented . The equations allow calculation of breakpoints for higher or lower serum peak levels . Sparfloxacin was two to four times more active than ciprofloxacin against gram-positive cocci, and showed equal activity against gram-negative rods . Zone diameter quality control values for Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were 26-30 mm (NCCLS) and 30-33 mm (ICS/DIN), and for Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 27-28 mm (NCCLS) and 29-31 mm (ICS/DIN).

J Burn Care Rehabil, 1991 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 120 - 6
The bactericidal power of the blood and plasma of patients with burns; Ward CG et al.; Patients with burns are unusually susceptible to bacterial infections, but so far there is no satisfactory explanation for this lack of resistance . Since resistance to infection involves many different mechanisms, examination of individual components of the immune system may not sufficiently explain the underlying reasons for increased susceptibility . The use of whole blood for antibacterial tests has the advantage that all the immune systems present in that fluid compartment can take part in the bactericidal effect . Tests with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus showed no evidence that the bactericidal power of the blood and plasma of patients with burns was less than that of normal control plasma . This suggests that the solution to the problem of increased susceptibility to infection in patients with burns does not lie with the blood but must be looked for elsewhere.

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1991 Mar, 84(3), 355 - 9
{Infectious endocarditis of the right heart . Apropos of 10 cases}; Mesbahi R et al.; Ten cases of right-sided infective endocarditis (IE) were recorded in a retrospective study over a 5 year period (1984-88) . In 8 cases, IE complicated known congenital heart disease . One patient was followed up for rhumatic valvular disease and in the remaining case, IE seemed to have occurred on a normal valve . The inclusion criteria were based on the clinical signs: prolonged pyrexia, the finding of a new murmur or a change on cardiac auscultation, and eventually, the occurrence of a complication (7 cases) . The commonest complications were right ventricular failure and pulmonary embolism . A portal of entry was found in 5 cases: dental infection in 3 cases, osteomyelitis in 1 case and an abscess on the right leg in 1 case . Blood cultures were positive in 5 cases and grew a staphylococcus aureus on each occasion . Two-dimensional echocardiography showed vegetations in 9 cases . The short-term outcome was satisfactory . There were no fatalities and 5 patients underwent surgery.

Vestn Otorinolaringol, 1991 Mar-Apr, (2), 51 - 4
{Immune status evaluation in the small amount of peripheral blood in children with chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract}; Lazarev VN et al.; This paper describes microtechniques for studying basic immune parameters which require small amounts of peripheral blood . These techniques include: relative (as a percentage) and absolute (per microliter) measurement of T-lymphocytes using the method of spontaneous rosette formation (SRF) with sheep erythrocytes (SE); B-lymphocytes using SRF with mouse erythrocytes; capability of band neutrophils for SRF with SE; and phagocytic activity of band neutrophils toward the Staphylococcus aureus strain under study in the autoserum reaction and with healthy children serum to detect potential changes in the opsonic activity of the patient's serum . Our measurements have demonstrated that the double density gradient method to measure lymphocytes and neutrophil bands in a small amount of blood makes it possible to determine immune parameters and reveal primary and secondary immune deficiencies . This is also supported by the fact that results derived from small and large amounts of blood of these children are identical . These measurements are relatively simple and not too time-consuming . All this shows that the above methods can be used for assessing the immune status of children with chronic upper airways diseases.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Mar 1, 62(2-3), 239 - 44
A toxic shock syndrome toxin mutant of Staphylococcus aureus isolated by allelic replacement lacks virulence in a rabbit uterine model; Sloane R et al.; The gene coding for toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in S . aureus was inactivated by allelic replacement in two TSS-associated strains . One mutant derived from FRI1169 (a non-enterotoxigenic strain) lacked virulence in the rabbit uterine chamber infection model . This suggests that TSST-1 is the only determinant produced by this strain that can induce the symptoms of shock in rabbits . A novel method for allelic replacement involving transduction of plasmid integrants is described.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Mar, 35(3), 575 - 8
Nonradioactive DNA probe for detection of gene for methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus; Ligozzi M et al.; A DNA probe was developed by inserting, in the SmaI site of pBluescript sK, a 528-bp fragment of the gene responsible for intrinsic resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus (mec determinant) . The mec probe provided a useful tool for the rapid identification of the intrinsic resistance trait and for establishing guidelines for testing the in vitro susceptibility of S . aureus to beta-lactams.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Mar, 35(3), 506 - 11
Effect of SDZ MRL 953 on the survival of mice with advanced sepsis that cannot be cured by antibiotics alone; Lam C et al.; Stimulation of nonspecific immunity as an additional modality for therapy of sepsis that cannot be cured by antibiotics alone was investigated . SDZ MRL 953, a novel monosaccharidic lipid A analog as a prototype immunostimulant, and cefotaxime or gentamicin were administered to normal or myelosuppressed mice in a state of advanced sepsis caused by Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus . In this novel model, antibiotic therapy was initiated when the infected mice appeared moribund . At this stage, neither pretreatment with the immunostimulant nor therapy with high doses of cefotaxime or gentamicin was effective in protecting the animals from fatal sepsis . However, pretreatment with a single dose of SDZ MRL 953 1 day prior to microbial inoculation dramatically improved the curative effects of the antibiotics . Hence, long-term survival was significantly enhanced with increasing doses of the immunostimulant in the combined therapy . Peritoneal macrophages from SDZ MRL 953-pretreated animals were primed for enhanced production of microbicidal reactive oxygen metabolites in vitro . In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that SDZ MRL 953 is a potential candidate for use in a clinical setting as an adjunct to antimicrobial therapy for infections that cannot be treated successfully with appropriate antibiotics alone.

J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Mar, 29(3), 570 - 2
Comparison of the affinities to bovine and human prothrombin of the staphylocoagulases from Staphylococcus intermedius and Staphylococcus aureus of animal origin; Raus J et al.; Staphylocoagulases of Staphylococcus aureus (40 strains originally isolated from horses, dogs, cats, cows, sheep, opossums, pigs, humans, and a goat) and Staphylococcus intermedius (19 isolates from dogs and 1 pigeon strain) were tested for their affinity to prothrombins of either bovine or human origin . The tests used were the coagulase tube test (using human, bovine, or equine fibrinogen with either bovine or human prothrombin as the source of coagulase-reacting factor) and a chromogenic assay which enabled quantification of the amidolytic activity of the staphylocoagulase-prothrombin complex . S . intermedius showed weak specificity for human prothrombin, with 15% of the coagulases clotting human fibrinogen, 25% clotting equine fibrinogen, and 40% clotting bovine fibrinogen . However, 65% of coagulases clotted equine fibrinogen, 75% of coagulases clotted human fibrinogen, and 100% of coagulases clotted bovine fibrinogen when bovine prothrombin was used . The animal isolates of S . aureus displayed more diverse specificity toward prothrombin than S . intermedius strains . While 85% of coagulase preparations clotted human fibrinogen when human prothrombin was used, only 45% of preparations clotted bovine fibrinogen when bovine prothrombin was used . However, 62.5% of coagulases clotted human fibrinogen when bovine prothrombin was used and 85% of coagulases clotted bovine fibrinogen when human prothrombin was used . This may be a reflection of the diversity of the animal origins of S . aureus isolates.

J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Mar, 29(3), 419 - 21
Occurrence of Staphylococcus lugdunensis in consecutive clinical cultures and relationship of isolation to infection; Herchline TE et al.; Consecutive record review over a 63-month period revealed 229 Staphylococcus lugdunensis isolates, or 10.1% of the staphylococcal species that were not Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis . A total of 155 S . lugdunensis specimens were isolated from sites over the entire bodies of the 143 patients studied . The most common clinical diagnoses were skin and skin structure infections (55.4%) and blood and vascular catheter infections (17.4%) . For 40% of the reviewed specimens, S . lugdunensis was the sole agent isolated, and for 60% of specimens, S . lugdunensis was isolated as part of mixed flora . In only 15.4% of clinically reviewed specimens was S . lugdunensis clearly a culture contaminant or colonizing organism . The pattern of human infection identified in this study emphasizes the predominance of skin and soft tissue S . lugdunensis infections over deep serious infections such as endocarditis, peritonitis, infected hip prosthesis, and osteomyelitis and vascular-associated infections . S . lugdunensis should be included along with S . epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus as a coagulase-negative species of Staphylococcus pathogenic for humans.

Ann Plast Surg, 1991 Mar, 26(3), 243 - 7
Wound healing and infection in pretibial lacerations; Warren RA et al.; Eighty-eight patients with pretibial lacerations were entered into a study to analyze bacteriological and wound-healing profiles . Fifty-four patients were followed to complete wound healing . A complete photographic record of wounds from time of presentation to healing was available for analysis in 49 of these patients . Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen, but the correlation between clinical wound infection and growth of pathogenic bacteria was poor . Flucloxacillin alone was found to be significantly more effective in controlling wound infection than in combination with metronidazole . Computerized image analysis of the photographic records was performed . There was no significant difference in the healing times of the various classic surgical wound types, and image analysis confirmed that the rates of wound healing were generally similar in all the types of pretibial wounds.

Spine, 1991 Mar, 16(3), 261 - 4
Causes and clinical management of vertebral osteomyelitis in Saskatchewan; Joughin E et al.; A retrospective review of all patients with vertebral osteomyelitis admitted to all Saskatchewan referral hospitals from 1973 to 1986 was undertaken to determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of the disease . There were 73 patients, an incidence of 5.3 cases/million per year . Erroneous initial diagnoses were common (41%) . There was a significantly increased risk in patients older than 60 years . Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent organism . Mycobacterium tuberculosis was present in 29.5% and was more common in native Indian patients . Surgery was performed in 31% of all patients, and in 50% of those with tuberculous infections . The outcome was excellent in 92% of patients . Diabetes and transurethral resection of the prostate were risk factors for vertebral osteomyelitis.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Mar, 44(3), 278 - 81
Helvecardins A and B, novel glycopeptide antibiotics . III . Biological properties; Takeuchi M et al.; Helvecardins (HVCs) A and B were strongly active against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but they were inactive against Gram-negative bacteria and fungi . Though HVC A showed only slightly stronger antimicrobial activity than beta-avoparcin (AVP), its in vivo protective activity against S . aureus infection in mice was greatly superior to AVP.

Immunology, 1991 Mar, 72(3), 448 - 50
Characterization of the major neutrophil-stimulating activity present in culture medium conditioned by Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated mononuclear leucocytes; Bates EJ et al.; Culture medium conditioned by stimulating human mononuclear leucocytes (MNL) with killed Staphylococcus aureus (Scm) was found to contain a substantial amount of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) but no detectable tumour necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta) . Culture medium conditioned by MNL in the absence of bacteria contained no TNF-alpha activity . When Scm was fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on Bio-Sil TSK 250, TNF-alpha co-eluted with neutrophil-stimulating activity measured by chemiluminescence . Similarly, the ability of neutrophils to kill opsonized S . aureus was enhanced in fractions that contained this neutrophil-stimulating activity . The stimulating activity could be almost completely removed by pretreatment of the Scm with a TNF-alpha-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) . The ability of neutrophils to kill S . aureus in response to Scm was also substantially reduced by mAb to TNF-alpha . These results demonstrate that bacterial interaction with MNL leads to the release of neutrophil-stimulating activity that consists predominantly of TNF-alpha.

Orthopedics, 1991 Mar, 14(3), 305 - 8
Factors in pin tract infections; Mahan J et al.; To determine the factors pertinent to the etiology of pin tract infections, 214 pins in 42 patients were examined prospectively at the time of pin removal . Eighty-nine (41.6%) pin tracts were inflamed, 49 (22.9%) pins had loose anchorages, and 160 (74.8%) pin tips cultured positive for bacteria . The predominant organism cultured was Staphylococcus epidermidis (90.6%), considered nonvirulent, followed by virulent Staphylococcus aureus (37.5%), and Escherichia coli (9.4%) . There were 32 loose, inflamed pin tracts . This correlation was statistically significant (P less than .005) . There were 40 loose pins whose pin tips had positive cultures . Loose pins correlated for infection with virulent species of bacteria at a highly significant level (P less than .005) . Results demonstrate that most pins possess bacterial colonization . Clinically, this means that either inflamed pin tracts or pins with cultures positive for invasive organisms are probably loose and should be removed . Also, mechanical factors are the critical variable in determining the flora of external fixation pins.

J Bone Joint Surg Br, 1991 Mar, 73(2), 258 - 9
Primary total knee arthroplasty in patients with psoriasis; Beyer CA et al.; Between 1976 and 1988, 50 primary total knee arthroplasties were performed on 34 patients with psoriasis vulgaris . The skin lesions were graded for severity in all patients and the extent of affected body surface was mapped . All patients received peri-operative antibiotics . Only one deep infection, with Staphylococcus aureus, occurred 25 months after operation . The average length of follow-up was nearly four and a half years, being to a minimum of two years or until failure of the arthroplasty . There appears to be no increased risk of deep infection in patient with psoriasis vulgaris undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty.

Aust N Z J Surg, 1991 Mar, 61(3), 217 - 21
Renal abscess in childhood; Barker AP et al.; Eight patients with renal abscess were seen in a 15-year period . The patients' ages ranged from 3 to 15 years with a mean of 6.5 years . Included were 7 female children, five of whom were Aboriginal, and 1 male child . Clinical presentation ranged from localized renal symptoms to a generalized septicaemic illness . Ultrasonography proved to be the most useful diagnostic investigation . Surgical management consisted of open surgical drainage in 5 cases with secondary nephrectomy in one . Two recent cases were managed by percutaneous drainage of the abscess together with appropriate antibiotic therapy . One case was successfully managed by antibiotic therapy without surgical or radiological intervention . In 5 cases the infecting organism was penicillinase-producing Staphylococcus aureus and, in 2 cases, Escherichia coli was isolated . It is concluded that the diagnosis of renal abscess should be considered in patients with a febrile septicaemic illness, particularly in Aboriginal female children . Ultrasonography is recommended as the investigation of choice which can also be used to establish percutaneous drainage, thus avoiding surgery.

Am Fam Physician, 1991 Mar, 43(3), 937 - 48
Cephalosporins: rationale for clinical use; Molavi A; Cephalosporins, the most widely used class of antibiotics, are more resistant than penicillins to inactivation by beta-lactamases . Based on their spectrum of activity against gram-negative bacteria, cephalosporins are classified into three generations . The generation classification, however, does not correlate with activity against gram-positive bacteria or anaerobes . First-generation cephalosporins have a narrow gram-negative spectrum but are most active against gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus . Third-generation compounds have excellent activity against gram-negative bacteria . The cephamycins, a second-generation subgroup that includes cefoxitin, cefotetan and cefmetazole, have the best activity against anaerobes.

Surgery, 1991 Mar, 109(3 Pt 1), 269 - 76
Bacterial translocation from the gut impairs systemic immunity; Deitch EA et al.; The goal of this study was to determine the influence of bacterial translocation on systemic immunity, since bacteria and their products play a major role in the development and maintenance of the host's immune system . To test this hypothesis, we measured the blastogenic response of mononuclear cells harvested from the blood, spleen, Peyer's patches, and mesenteric lymph nodes of control and Escherichia coli C25 monoassociated mice to a battery of mitogens . The E . coli C25 monoassociation model was used because this bacterial translocation model is not associated with experimental manipulations that are likely to affect the systemic immune system . The mitogenic response of lymphocytes isolated from the E . coli C25 monoassociated mice was significantly depressed compared to the control groups (p less than 0.01) . Since the biologic significance of depressed in vitro mitogen responsiveness is difficult to determine, we assessed the ability of the mice to control a bacterial challenge using an in vivo Staphylococcus aureus abscess model . It appears that the observed changes in mitogen responsiveness may be of biologic significance, since the ability of the E . coli C25 monoassociated mice to control the injected S . aureus was impaired (p less than 0.01) . These results suggest that an association exists between bacterial translocation and decreased systemic immune responsiveness.

J Clin Invest, 1991 Mar, 87(3), 1010 - 6
Transforming growth factor-beta and suppression of humoral immune responses in HIV infection; Kekow J et al.; We reported previously that PBMC from HIV+ patients spontaneously release increased levels of TGF beta 1, contributing to defects in cellular immune responses . This study defines the implications of TGF beta overexpression for humoral immunity in HIV infection . We found that upon Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) stimulation of cells from HIV+ donors, B-lymphocyte proliferative responses were decreased . This deficiency correlated closely (r = 0.7, P less than 0.001) with increased TGF beta secretion by PBMC from HIV-infected donors . Conditioned medium from HIV+ PBMC and purified TGF beta 1 had similar inhibitory effects on SAC- or EBV-induced B-cell proliferation, and B cells from HIV-infected donors were as sensitive to inhibition by TGF beta as cells from normal donors . Antibodies to TGF beta 1 neutralized the inhibitory effect of HIV+ culture supernatants on normal B cells and increased low proliferative responses by HIV+ cells . Using PWM as stimulus for B cell differentiation, it was shown that activated TGF beta from HIV+ PBMC is able to significantly reduce the induction of immunoglobulins and this effect was also abrogated by anti-TGF beta . These studies support the concept that in HIV infection, TGF beta is a potent suppressor, not only of the cellular, but of the humoral immune responses as well.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Mar, 173(5), 1827 - 30
Role of host factors in the regulation of the enterotoxin B gene; Compagnone-Post P et al.; The levels of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) produced by various naturally occurring toxinogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus are highly variable . The SEB gene (seb) from a high-producer strain, S6, has previously been cloned and characterized . Cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of the upstream region of the seb gene from DU4916 and COL (medium- and low-level toxin-producer strains, respectively) showed that their sequence was identical to that of the seb gene from strain S6 . Strains carrying the cloned seb gene from DU4916 and COL produced similar levels of SEB protein and mRNA to those produced by strains carrying the cloned seb gene from strain S6 . An RNA encoded by the delta-lysin gene (hld) has been shown to regulate the genes for a number of extracellular proteins, including SEB . Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that variable levels of hld RNA were present in various SEB-producer strains, with the order being S6 greater than DU4916 greater than COL . Our results suggest that differences in host factor(s), including the hld RNA, are responsible for the production of different amounts of SEB by many naturally occurring strains.

Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 955 - 62
Steady-state staphylococcal enterotoxin type C mRNA is affected by a product of the accessory gene regulator (agr) and by glucose; Regassa LB et al.; The effects of the accessory gene regulator (agr) and glucose on staphylococcal enterotoxin type C (SEC) gene (sec+) expression were examined . For the agr studies, a Tn551 insertionally inactivated agr was transferred into two different sec+ Staphylococcus aureus strains . Western blot (immunoblot) analysis showed that each of the sec+ Agr- derivatives produced less extracellular SEC than their Agr+ parent strains . Analysis of Northern (RNA) blots was consistent with at least part of the agr effect being at the level of steady-state sec+ mRNA . We examined the glucose effect on sec+ expression by utilizing both a fermentor system with a completely defined amino acid-containing medium in which the pH of the medium was maintained at 6.5 and a shake flask system with a complex medium in which the pH was allowed to fluctuate during bacterial growth . In both systems, samples from the cultures containing glucose had less extracellular SEC and less steady-state sec+ mRNA compared with the control cultures which lacked glucose . An intact agr was not required for the glucose effect on sec+ expression; MJB407, an Agr- sec+ strain, produced more SEC and had more steady-state sec+ mRNA when grown in medium that lacked glucose compared with medium that contained glucose.

Clin Orthop, 1991 Mar, (264), 84 - 9
The management of chronic osteomyelitis; Cole WG; Chronic osteomyelitis of childhood is heterogeneous but it can be broadly classified into nonspecific or specific groups . Children with chronic osteomyelitis because of mycobacteria or mycoses are included within the specific group . The nonspecific group is the larger . It includes chronic osteomyelitis as a sequel to late acute osteomyelitis as well as chronic unifocal and chronic multifocal osteomyelitis . Whereas Staphylococcus aureus and other pyogenic organisms are commonly cultured from chronic lesions following late acute osteomyelitis, they are less frequently cultured from those with chronic unifocal osteomyelitis and rarely cultured from those with chronic multifocal osteomyelitis . The methods of treatment and the results also differ between these subgroups of nonspecific osteomyelitis . Lesions following late acute osteomyelitis are usually cured following surgery and antibiotics . Chronic unifocal osteomyelitis is usually cured with antibiotics only or with surgery and antibiotics . In contrast, surgery and antibiotics are largely ineffective in children with chronic multifocal osteomyelitis, but the disease appears to be self-limiting.

J Infect Dis, 1991 Mar, 163(3), 640 - 3
Role of tolerance in cloxacillin treatment of experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis; Voorn GP et al.; The role of Staphylococcus aureus tolerance was investigated in endocarditis in rats . The efficacies of cloxacillin, gentamicin, and a combination of the two were compared for animals infected with a tolerant strain, its kill-sensitive variant, or a nonisogenic nontolerant strain of S . aureus . Cloxacillin was significantly less effective for treating the tolerant than for the nontolerant strains . The addition of gentamicin to cloxacillin reduced bacterial numbers in endocardial vegetations for the tolerant strain comparable to the reduction by cloxacillin alone for the nontolerant strains, but had no additional effect for the nontolerant strains . Isolates from animals infected with the tolerant or nontolerant strains during antibiotic treatment remained tolerant or nontolerant . These results show that the in vitro phenomenon of tolerance is relevant in vivo.

J Infect Dis, 1991 Mar, 163(3), 530 - 3
Diagnosing Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis by detecting antibodies against S . aureus capsular polysaccharide types 5 and 8; Christensson B et al.; Consecutive serum samples from patients with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis or septicemia or non-S . aureus endocarditis and febrile nonsepticemic controls were tested for antibodies against S . aureus capsular polysaccharide (CP) types 5 and 8 by ELISA . The upper normal antibody levels were defined as the upper 99.5% confidence limits of the values from the febrile controls . All available patient isolates were tested for the presence of CP type 5 or 8 (85% of the isolates expressed either serotype), and all five patients with S . aureus endocarditis had positive antibody levels against the corresponding serotype within the first 10 days of infection . Three other endocarditis patients lacked isolates for CP testing but two of these were positive . Positive antibody levels were found in 0 of 28 septicemia patients, in 1 of 12 non-S . aureus endocarditis patients, and in 3 of 37 febrile controls . Thus, testing for anti-CP 5 or 8 antibodies, especially together with CP serotyping of the patient's isolate, seems to provide important information in the differential diagnosis of endocarditis in patients with S . aureus septicemia.

J Infect Dis, 1991 Mar, 163(3), 514 - 23
Beta-lactam resistance mechanisms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Franciolli M et al.; In vitro and in vivo activity of amoxicillin and penicillin G alone or combined with a penicillinase inhibitor (clavulanate) were tested against five isogenic pairs of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) producing or not producing penicillinase . Loss of the penicillinase plasmid caused an eight times or greater reduction in the MICs of amoxicillin and penicillin G (from greater than or equal to 64 to 8 micrograms/ml), but not of the penicillinase-resistant drugs methicillin and cloxacillin (greater than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml) . This difference in antibacterial effectiveness correlated with a more than 10 times greater penicillin-binding protein 2a affinity of amoxicillin and penicillin G than of methicillin and a greater than or equal to 90% successful amoxicillin treatment of experimental endocarditis due to penicillinase-negative MRSA compared with cloxacillin, which was totally ineffective (P less than .001) . Amoxicillin was also effective against penicillinase-producing parent MRSA, provided it was combined with clavulanate . Penicillinase-sensitive beta-lactam antibiotics plus penicillinase inhibitors might offer a rational alternative treatment for MRSA infections.

J Neuroimmunol, 1991 Mar, 31(3), 199 - 210
Cytolysis of oligodendrocytes is mediated by killer (K) cells but not by natural killer (NK) cells; Satoh J et al.; The cytotoxic activity of killer (K) cells against enriched cultures of bovine oligodendrocytes (BOL) was investigated in multiple sclerosis (MS) and controls . Human K cells mediated cytotoxicity to primary cultures of BOL in the presence of anti-BOL antiserum in all study groups, while BOL were resistant to human natural killer (NK) cells . Cytotoxic activity was significantly reduced in MS when compared to age-matched normal controls but not when compared to other neurologic disease (OND) patients . K cell-mediated lysis of BOL could also be induced with anti-galactocerebroside antibody but not with other antibodies including those specific for OL antigens (myelin basic protein, proteolipid apoprotein, and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase) . Enrichment of the effector population indicated that antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) to BOL was mediated by large granular lymphocytes, and the effector population was further characterized by flow cytometry . The effector cells mediating ADCC could be inhibited by protein A of Staphylococcus aureus, and by K562 cells in cold competition assay . These observations indicate that oligodendrocytes are resistant to NK cells but are susceptible to cytolysis mediated by K cells . This may represent a potentially important immune mechanism in the pathogenesis of MS.

Chest, 1991 Mar, 99(3), 757 - 9
Left atrial bacterial mural endocarditis; Bierbrier GS et al.; An unusual case of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis confined to the mural left atrium is presented . Echocardiographic studies revealed a 1.5 x 2.0-cm vegetation mimicking a myxoma situated in the path of a mitral regurgitant jet on a color Doppler test . Emboli to upper and lower extremities and brain complicated the patient's preoperative course . Surgical excision and pathologic examination confirmed this rare occurrence.

Cent Afr J Med, 1991 Mar, 37(3), 83 - 7
Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among hospital personnel in a Nigerian hospital environment; Olusanya O et al.; Among the 395 hospital staff examined during this study, 35.2pc of them were found to carry S . aureus in their anterior nares . The carriage was slightly higher in females (35.8pc) compared with 34.4pc in males, although it was not statistically significant . When the different age groups and professions were considered, the carriage was highest among the age group of 21-30 years and with the Nursing staff, who incidentally, are closest to the patients and had the highest number among the staff members examined . The carrier rate was also significantly higher (P less than 0.05) among staff members who had worked in the hospital for 7-10 months compared with other staff . There was a good correlation (97pc) between coagulase positivity and mannitol fermentation, while Methicillin, Claforan and Gentamycin were found to be very effective against most of the isolates . On re-examination of those staff members who ar closely associated with the patients two years after the initial exercise in 1987, it was evident that a significant number (P less than 0.05) of those carriers of Staph aureus in our hospital are not persistent ones.

An Med Interna, 1991 Mar, 8(3), 124 - 7
{Efficacy evaluation of cloxacillin and cloxacillin-gentamicin in an experimental model of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus}; Apellaniz Sainz-Trapaga G et al.; 23 rabbits with Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-sensitive, SAMS, experimentally induced endocarditis (EIE) were studied to compare the efficacy of cloxacillin vs the association cloxacillin-gentamicin . Twelve animals made the control group and 11 the treated ones, 5 with cloxacillin-gentamicin and 6 with cloxacillin . The animals were treated 3 days, then, mortality, blood cultures at 48 and 72 hours and the title of the unit-forming colonies per gram of vegetation (UFC/g) were evaluated . The control group had a mortality of 100% in the first 72 hours, its blood cultures were positive at 48 and 72 hours and the UFC/g was 10,48 o 0.20 . There was statistical significance between the control group and both treatment, in mortality, blood culture's positivity and the UFC/g of vegetation . This results confirm the similar efficacy of cloxacillin either alone or in combination in the treatment of SAMSIE and the effectiveness of the experimental model to evaluate antimicrobial treatments.

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech, 1991 Mar, 58(1-2), 28 - 36
{Neonatal osteomyelitis is still a reality}; Crha B et al.; The authors draw attention to the fact that it is essential to consider osteomyelitis of children under 1 year as a separate nosological unit with regard to the anatomical features of the vascular supply of epimetaphyses . The authors discuss the diagnostic difficulties . In addition to the basic examination they emphasize also the importance of whole-body scintigraphy and examination by ultrasound . They indicate surgery where clinical symptoms do not recede within 24-48 hours after the onset of antibiotic treatment and where on probatory puncture pus is revealed and if during establishment of the diagnosis the X-ray finding is already positive . As to antibiotics they use Oxacillin first . The authors evaluate the results of treatment of 25 neonates after a 2-10-year interval following the onset of the disease . The process was found most frequently in the proximal and distal metaphysis of the femur (56%) and in the proximal metaphysis of the tibia (24%) . They operated 18 patients in the acute stage (72%) . Staphylococcus aureus was cultivated in 60% from pus and in 50% from haemocultures . The authors found a satisfactory state in 17 patients (68%) and an unsatisfactory one in 8 patients (32%).

Pediatr Dermatol, 1991 Mar, 8(1), 51 - 7
Severe febrile Mucha-Habermann's disease in children: case report and review of the literature; Luberti AA et al.; Mucha-Habermann disease, or pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, is usually a benign, papulosquamous, cutaneous disorder . It has also been reported in a severe form with fever and systemic symptoms both in children and adults . We report a 12-year-old boy with the febrile, ulceronecrotic type . A review of similar cases in the literature shows a 16% frequency of acute necrotic lesions, as well as rare complications such as fever, superinfected lesions, bacteremia (most often with Staphylococcus aureus), and rheumatologic manifestations such as arthritis and scleroderma . There is no definitive treatment, but tetracycline, erythromycin, methotrexate, and ultraviolet light are used most frequently . The most common histologic feature is mononuclear perivascular infiltrates . Mucha-Habermann disease can mimic other common entities such as varicella and insect bites.

West Indian Med J, 1991 Mar, 40(1), 29 - 32
Peritonitis in acute peritoneal dialysis at the University Hospital of the West Indies (a five-year review); Delapenha RA et al.; The records of patients receiving acute peritoneal dialysis during the years 1983-1987 were retrospectively evaluated . Of a total of 59 patients receiving dialysis, 10 developed peritonitis . Staphylococcus aureus was the single most frequently isolated organism . However, gram-negative bacilli as a group were more common . We recommend the use of cloxacillin orally and gentamicin intra-peritoneally as empiric antibiotic coverage until results of culture reports are available.

Am J Vet Res, 1991 Mar, 52(3), 381 - 7
Defective function of leukocytes from cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus, and the influence of recombinant cytokines; Brown GB et al.; Cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus have decreased neutrophil and lymphocyte functions . We reevaluated these functions and further characterized the inhibition of persistent BVD virus infection in neutrophils, using sensitive kinetic assays . In addition, the influence of in vitro incubation of neutrophils with recombinant bovine interferon gamma (rBoIFN gamma) and in vitro incubation of lymphocytes with recombinant bovine interleukin-2 was evaluated . Significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in random migration under agarose, Staphylococcus aureus ingestion, cytochrome-C reduction, iodination, antibody-independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, oxidant production, and cytoplasmic calcium flux were observed in neutrophils from cattle persistently infected with BVD virus, compared with noninfected control cattle . Incubation of neutrophils from noninfected controls with rBoIFN gamma significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased random migration under agarose, cytochrome-C reduction, and cytoplasmic calcium flux . Neutrophils from cattle persistently infected with BVD virus also had decreased random migration under agarose after incubation with rBoIFN gamma; in addition, antibody-independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, elastase release, and cytoplasmic calcium flux were significantly enhanced . The rBoIFN gamma induced significantly (P less than 0.05) different effects on chemotaxis, cytochrome-C reduction, iodination, and cytoplasmic calcium flux of neutrophils from infected and control cattle . The rBoIFN gamma was more effective at improving the function of neutrophils from cattle persistently infected with BVD virus, compared with neutrophils from controls . Lymphocytes from infected cattle had decreased blastogenesis in response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei), 1991 Mar, 47(3), 192 - 8
{Escherichia coli strains and their susceptibility to antibiotics in nosocomial infection}; Chiang TM et al.; Nosocomial infection may cause severe diseases and is sometimes life-threatening . Such infection may be caused by different bacteria strains, but in our pediatric ward, a large number of cases are infected by E . coli . We studied the cases hospitalized during the period from January 1986 to December 1988 in pediatric ward, sick baby room, baby room or intensive care unit . The most common microorganism of nosocomial infection was found to be Staphylococcus aureus (37 strains), followed by E . coli (32 strains) . However, bacteremia, was more often caused by E . coli (13 strains) than by Staphylococcus aureus (4 strains) . In patients with E . coli nosocomial infection the ratio of male to female was 2:1 . Of them, 87.5% were below 1 month old, and 6.25% were from 1 month to 1 year or from 5 to 10 years of age . The antibiotics sensitivity in bacteremia strains of E . coli seemed to be the same as that in non-bacteremia strains . Both of them were less sensitive to aminoglycoside than the community-acquired strains . Their sensitivity to 3rd-generation cephalosporins was 100%.

Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 885 - 9
Adenosine and 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV-1808) inhibit human neutrophil bactericidal function; Hardart GE et al.; Adenosine is a natural autocoid and immunomodulator that serves an anti-inflammatory role . Stimulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) with soluble stimuli has been shown to inhibit the PMN oxidative burst . We examined the effects of adenosine and the adenosine analog 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV-1808) on PMN bactericidal function . Adenosine (10 mM) and CV-1808 (10 to 100 microM) inhibited PMN killing of Staphylococcus aureus . There were more surviving bacteria after 240 min of incubation of PMN with S . aureus and adenosine (10 mM) or CV-1808 (100 microM) (254% +/- 45% and 739% +/- 88% of control, respectively) (P less than 0.05) than there were in the control . In contrast, inosine (10 mM), the major degradation product of adenosine, did not affect killing . Adenosine and CV-1808 did not alter cell association of S . aureus, but S . aureus-activated PMN superoxide release was decreased by adenosine (10 microM) and CV-1808 (10 microM) to 67% +/- 7% and 32% +/- 12% that of the control, respectively (P less than 0.05) . Since adenosine inhibited PMN bactericidal function only at approximately 10,000 times peak physiological concentrations, endogenous adenosine levels would not be expected to adversely affect PMN bactericidal function . On the other hand, pharmacological concentrations of adenosine derivatives may decrease the oxidative burst and killing sufficiently to increase host susceptibility to infection.

Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 1008 - 14
Virulence of Staphylococcus aureus mutants altered in type 5 capsule production; Albus A et al.; Most clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus produce microcapsules (uronic acid-containing extracellular polysaccharides) that are detectable by serologic methods but are not visible by negative staining . Among the 11 reported serotypes, capsule types 5 and 8 comprise approximately 75% of all isolates . Transposon mutagenesis was performed on S . aureus to create mutants altered in capsule expression . Tn918 was introduced into the capsule type 5 strain Reynolds by filter mating, and a capsule-deficient transconjugate, JL236, was isolated . The wild-type strain was transformed with JL236 chromosomal DNA to confirm that transfer of the appropriate-size chromosomal fragment containing Tn918 generated a capsule-deficient transformant . Strain Reynolds was mutagenized with ethyl methanesulfonate to obtain a capsule-negative mutant (strain JL240) . Capsular phenotypes were determined by colony immunoblots, antibody adsorption experiments, and transmission electron microscopy . The virulences of the parental and mutant strains in mice were compared . The 50% lethal doses for strains Reynolds, JL236, and JL240 were similar (10(8.59), 10(8.98), and 10(8.93) CFU, respectively) . Animals injected intraperitoneally with either wild-type or mutant strains had comparable levels of bacteremia at 3 and 24 h after challenge . Quantitative cultures of blood and kidneys from animals challenged intravenously with sublethal doses of the S . aureus strains also showed no differences in bacterial clearance or renal abscess formation . These studies indicate that the type 5 S . aureus microcapsule does not promote bacterial virulence in the animal models tested.

J Virol, 1991 Mar, 65(3), 1057 - 65
Sequences of the vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein involved in binding to nucleocapsids; Kaptur PE et al.; The purpose of these experiments was to study the physical structure of the nucleocapsid-M protein complex of vesicular stomatitis virus by analysis of nucleocapsid binding by wild-type and mutant M proteins and by limited proteolysis . We used the temperature-sensitive M protein mutant tsO23 and six temperature-stable revertants of tsO23 to test the effect of sequence changes on M protein binding to the nucleocapsid as a function of NaCl concentration . The results showed that M proteins from wild-type, mutant, and three of the revertant viruses had similar NaCl titration curves, while the curve for M proteins from the other three revertants differed significantly . The altered NaCl dependence of M protein was correlated with a single amino acid substitution from Phe to Leu at position 111 compared with the original temperature-sensitive mutant and was not correlated with a substitution of Gly to Glu at position 21 in tsO23 and the revertants . To determine whether protease cleavage sites in the M protein were protected by interaction with the nucleocapsid, nucleocapsid-M protein complexes were subjected to limited proteolysis with trypsin, chymotrypsin, or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease . The initial trypsin and chymotrypsin cleavage sites, located after amino acids 19 and 20, respectively, were as accessible to proteases when M protein was bound to the nucleocapsid as when it was purified, indicating that this region of the protein does not interact directly with the nucleocapsid . Furthermore, trypsin or chymotrypsin treatment released the M protein fragments from the nucleocapsid, presumably due to conformational changes following proteolysis . V8 protease cleaved the M protein at position 34 or 50, producing two distinct fragments . The M protein fragment produced by V8 protease cleavage at position 34 remained associated with the nucleocapsid, while the fragment produced by cleavage at position 50 was released from the nucleocapsid . These results suggest that the amino-terminal region of the M protein around amino acid 20 does not interact directly with the nucleocapsid and that conformational changes resulting from single-amino-acid substitutions at other sites in the M protein are important for this interaction.

J Orthop Res, 1991 Mar, 9(2), 258 - 65
Purified staphylococcal culture medium stimulates neutral metalloprotease secretion from human articular cartilage; Williams RJ 3rd et al.; Human articular cartilage released significantly increased levels of metal-dependent enzymes capable of degrading collagen, casein, and gelatin at a neutral pH following exposure to a sterile, purified fraction of Staphylococcus aureus culture medium . Neutral metalloprotease activity was determined by radiolabeled substrate assays and substrate gel analysis . The enzymes were activated with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate and were inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid . Protein immunoblots demonstrated that type I collagenase and stromelysin (matrix metalloproteinase III) secretion was increased following staphylococcal medium challenge . The profile of enzymatic activity induced by staphylococcal medium was directly comparable to that observed with interleukin-1, which was used as a positive control . The staphylococcal medium had no inherent proteolytic activity . Increased production of the neutral metalloproteases collagenase and stromelysin may significantly contribute to the extensive cartilage destruction noted in staphylococcal septic arthritis.

Clin Exp Allergy, 1991 Mar, 21(2), 209 - 15
Functional inactivation of Dermatophagoides spp . (house dust mite) reactive human T-cell clones; O'Hehir RE et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxins are able both to stimulate powerful polyclonal proliferative responses and to induce non-responsiveness of T lymphocytes expressing the appropriate T-cell antigen receptor V beta gene products . T-cell clones representative of the human response to house dust mite were identified that express either V beta 3 or V beta 6 gene products . The specificity of the latter was confirmed by serology . Pre-treatment of cloned V beta 3+ T cells with the Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins B or C1 rendered them non-responsive to immunogenic challenge with their natural ligand, while retaining responsiveness to exogenous IL-2 . Similarly, exposure of the V beta 6+ dust mite reactive T cells to the staphylococcal enterotoxin of the appropriate specificity, SEE, induced specific anergy . The development of non-responsiveness was associated with changes in the T-cell phenotypes . Downregulation of the T-cell receptor, Ti-CD3, was paralleled by enhanced expression of both CD2 and the IL-2 receptor, CD25 . Differential co-modulation of CD4 and Ti-CD3 suggested that for some T cells CD4 may form part of the specific antigen recognition structure . Toxicity of the staphylococcal enterotoxins may be removed by chemical modification, thus their ability functionally to inactivate subpopulations of T cells expressing antigen-specific receptors with shared characteristics may be of potential value in the regulation of allergic diseases if the diversity of the T-cell repertoire proves to be limited.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Mar, 35(3), 451 - 7
Randomized study of vancomycin versus teicoplanin for the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections in immunocompromised hosts; Van der Auwera P et al.; Seventy-four immunocompromised patients with severe infection due to gram-positive organisms were randomized to receive either vancomycin or teicoplanin . Extensive cancer was present in 71 patients, of whom 47 died within a month . The types of infections were 46 bacteremias (39 associated with central catheters), 24 skin and soft tissue infections (3 with bacteremia), and 7 others (mainly bronchopneumonia) . The most frequent pathogen was Staphylococcus epidermidis, followed by Staphylococcus aureus . Microbiological eradication was obtained in 23 of 35 evaluable patients treated with vancomycin (65.7%) and 28 of 36 patients treated with teicoplanin (77.8%) (P = 0.4) . Clinical cure and improvement were obtained in 26 of 35 patients (74.3%) and 27 of 36 patients (75.0%), respectively . No significant side effects were observed with teicoplanin, in contrast to reversible increases in serum creatinine (three patients) and skin rashes (four patients) with vancomycin . Superinfection was observed in five patients treated with vancomycin and two patients treated with teicoplanin . No relation was found between peak concentration in serum (at steady state) or bactericidal titers and outcome.

Eur J Immunol, 1991 Mar, 21(3), 681 - 6
Human interleukin 7 is a B cell growth factor for activated B cells; Joshi PC et al.; We investigated the capacity of human interleukin (IL)7 to induce proliferation of B cells . Purified tonsillar B cells were cultured in the presence of IL7 with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) or anti-mu beads as co-mitogens . IL7 supported a dose-dependent proliferation of anti-mu-activated B cells but did not significantly support proliferation of SAC-activated B cells . When B cells were separated on Percoll gradient into small (60%-80%) and large (50%-60%) B cells and then cultured with anti-mu beads, IL7 acted on both cell populations equally well . IL7 and BCGF (low molecular weight) were synergistic in their proliferative action on anti-mu-activated B cells in a 5-day culture . On the other hand, synergistic effect of IL7 on activated B cells was not evident in the presence of any other factor recombinant {(r)IL1 beta, rIL2, rIL3, rIL4, rIL5, rIL6, recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha, recombinant lymphotoxin, recombinant granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor and recombinant interferon-gamma} we tested . IL7 did not induce IgG secretion by activated B cells.

J Nucl Med, 1991 Mar, 32(3), 468 - 74
Detection of a local staphylococcal infection in mice with technetium-99m-labeled polyclonal human immunoglobulin; Calame W et al.; The purpose of this study was to investigate both the ability of 99mTc-labeled polyclonal human immunoglobulin (HIG) to localize an infection and the modes of action involved in this process . Mice, infected with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 in a thigh muscle, received HIG intravenously . Scintigrams were made 1, 4, and 24 hr later; subsequently the mice were killed and the activity in several organs and thighs was determined . The radiopharmaceutical demonstrated a time-dependent accumulation at the site of infection . It was found that vascular permeability or Fc binding alone could not account for the mode of action of HIG . Neither the origin of Ig (human versus murine) nor the total amount of protein (0.01-1.0 mg Ig per mouse) affected the target-to-background (T/B) ratios . Ratios were not different for leukocytopenic animals . A correlation (p less than 0.001) was demonstrated between the number of bacteria at the site of infection and the T/B ratio . This was also found after antibiotic treatment (p less than 0.02).

Eur Cytokine Netw, 1991 Mar-Apr, 2(2), 115 - 20
Differential induction of interleukin-6 production in monocytes, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells; Aarden L et al.; Studying the production of IL-6 (interleukin-6) by monocytes, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells we observed that cytokine inducers like IL-1, TNF alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha), LPS (lipopolysaccharide), SAC (Staphylococcus Aureus Cowan 1) and PMA could be divided roughly into two categories . Bacterial products such as LPS or SAC have a potent IL-6 inducing effect on monocytes and minor or no effect on endothelial- and smooth muscle cells . The other category comprising IL-1, TNF alpha and PMA induces IL-6 production in endothelial- and smooth muscle cells . Only IL-1 induces IL-6 production in monocytes as well as in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells . In addition to IL-6, also IL-1 and TNF alpha are produced by monocytes however with different kinetics . None of the stimuli had any inhibitory effect on IL-6 production with the exception of PMA . Whereas PMA induced IL-6 production in endothelial cells and it potentiated the induction of IL-6 by IL-1 in these cells, it inhibited LPS-stimulated IL-6 production in monocytes . In line with the effects of PMA, staurosporin induced IL-6 production in monocytes and it inhibited IL-1 driven IL-6 production by endothelial cells.

Eur J Surg, 1991 Mar, 157(3), 237 - 8
Infected pseudocyst of adrenal gland . Case report; Naess H et al.; A large adrenal pseudocyst was found in a 58-year-old woman presenting with pain in the left hypochondrium and septicemia . Initial blood- and cystic fluid cultures all showed Staphylococcus aureus . After antibiotic therapy the cyst was removed . We have found no previous report of a bacteria-containing infected adrenal cyst in an adult.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Mar, 17(3), 223 - 9
Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by hospital staff in north Jordan; Na'was T et al.; The nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 550 hospital staff members of four hospitals in north Jordan . Of the 109 (19.8%) individuals tested who were nasal carriers of S . aureus, only 32 (5.8%) were found to be carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . The carriers were four doctors, 23 nurses, three laboratory technicians, one maid and an administrator . It was noted that 25 (78.1%) of these carriers were in constant contact with patients in operating theatres, surgical wards or intensive care units . It was not clear whether the carriers were short- or long-term carriers, or whether they were persistent sources of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Decontamination of these carriers was considered among other control measures to avoid the dangerous outcome of hospital outbreaks caused by this potential pathogen.

J Biol Chem, 1991 Feb 25, 266(6), 3439 - 43
Interaction of androgen response elements with the DNA-binding domain of the rat androgen receptor expressed in Escherichia coli; De Vos P et al.; A fragment of the rat androgen receptor (amino acids 533-637) containing the DNA-binding domain was produced in Escherichia coli as a fusion product with protein A of Staphylococcus aureus . The fusion protein was purified on IgG-Sepharose, a method that does not involve the use of denaturing agents . Approximately 4 mg of fusion protein was obtained from 500 ml of bacterial culture . In gel shift assays, the recombinant DNA-binding domain displays an affinity for a fragment of the long terminal repeat of mouse mammary tumor virus and for an intronic fragment of the gene coding for the C3 component of the androgen-regulated rat prostatic binding protein . In a DNase I footprinting assay, the fusion protein protects a sequence in the C3 fragment that has previously been shown to act as a functional androgen response element . Interestingly, a single base pair mutation in the response element, which abolishes androgen inducibility, also destroys the ability to interact with the recombinant androgen receptor DNA-binding domain.

J Mol Biol, 1991 Feb 20, 217(4), 701 - 19
Refined crystal structure of beta-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus PC1 at 2.0 A resolution; Herzberg O; The crystal structure of a class A beta-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus PC1 has been refined at 2.0 A resolution . The resulting crystallographic R-factor (R = sigma h parallel Fo{-}Fc parallel/sigma h{Fo}, where {Fo} and {Fc} are the observed and calculated structure factor amplitudes, respectively), is 0.163 for the 17,547 reflections with I greater than or equal to 2 sigma (I) within the 8.0 A to 2.0 A resolution range . The molecule consists of two closely associated domains . One domain is formed by a five-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet with three helices packing against a face of the sheet . The second domain is formed mostly by helices that pack against the second face of the sheet . The active site is located in the interface between the two domains, and many of the residues that form it are conserved in all known sequences of class A beta-lactamases . Similar to the serine proteases, an oxyanion hole is implicated in catalysis . It is formed by two main-chain nitrogen atoms, that of the catalytic seryl residue, Ser70, and that of Gln237 on an edge beta-strand of the major beta-sheet . Ser70 is interacting with another conserved seryl residue, Ser130, located between the two ammonium groups of the functionally important lysine residues, Lys73 and Lys234 . Such intricate interactions point to a possible catalytic role for this second seryl residue . Another key catalytic residue is Glu166 . There are several unusual structural features associated with the active site . (1) A cis peptide bond has been identified between the catalytic Glu166 and Ile167 . (2) Ala69 and Leu220 have strained phi, psi dihedral angles making close contacts that restrict the conformation of the active site beta-strand involved in the formation of the oxyanion hole . (3) A buried aspartate residue, the conserved Asp233, is located next to the active site Lys234 . It is interacting with another buried aspartyl residue, Asp246 . An internal solvent molecule is also involved, but the rest of its interactions with the protein indicate it is not a cation . (4) Another conserved aspartyl residue that is desolvated is Asp131, adjacent to Ser130 . Its charge is stabilized by interactions with four main-chain nitrogen atoms . (5) An internal cavity underneath the active site depression is filled with six solvent molecules . This, and an adjacent cavity occupied by three solvent molecules partially separate the omega-loop associated with the active site from the rest of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Feb 14, 195(3), 863 - 70
Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C induces biosynthesis of acetylcholinesterase via diacylglycerol in Schistosoma mansoni; Espinoza B et al.; We have previously shown that two ectoenzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and alkaline phosphatase, are released from the surface and from particulate fractions of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni, by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PtdIns-PLC) of bacterial origin . Exposure to PtdIns-PLC not only removes large amounts of AChE from the surface of intact, viable Schistosoma in culture, but is accompanied by a concomitant increase in overall levels of AChE in the parasite . The same phenomenon is observed with PtdIns-PLC from two different bacterial sources; Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus thuringiensis . The increase in AChE levels may be ascribed to de novo synthesis since exposure to PtdIns-PLC, in the presence of the protein-synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, totally blocked the increase in AChE activity . Furthermore, PtdIns-PLC induced an increased incorporation of {35S}methionine into the AChE immunoprecipitated by a specific anti-AChE serum . This increase is selective for AChE, since total protein synthesis remained almost unchanged after PtdIns-PLC addition, and little or no effect was observed on the enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase, which is also glycophosphatidylinositol anchored . Since cleavage of the phosphatidylinositol anchor by PtdIns-PLC should liberate diacylglycerol, which may act as second messenger, we investigated the effect of exogenous diacylglycerols on the synthesis of AChE in S . mansoni . Three different diacylglycerols were tested as possible inducers of AChE activity in the parasite . Both 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol were able to increase AChE activity by 35-40% at concentrations of 25 micrograms/ml . A higher concentration of 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (70 micrograms/ml) was needed to produce an equivalent effect . Moreover, addition of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, together with the calcium ionophore A23187, produced a similar increase in AChE activity . Finally, polymixin B, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, partially blocked the increase in AChE activity induced by PtdIns-PLC . Our results suggest the involvement of glycophosphatidyl membrane-anchor breakdown products as putative second messengers in the parasite S . mansoni.

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Feb 14, 195(3), 743 - 53
Comparison of myosin isoenzymes present in skeletal and cardiac muscles of the Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.) . Sequential expression of different myosin heavy chains during development of the fast white skeletal muscle; Martinez I et al.; The expression of myosin isoforms and their subunit composition in the white skeletal body musculature of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) of different ages (from 77-day embryos until about 5 years old) was studied at the protein level by means of electrophoretic techniques . Myosin from the white muscle displayed three types of light chain during all the developmental stages examined: two myosin light chains type 1 (LC1F) differing in both apparent molecular mass and pI, one myosin light chain type 2 (LC2F) and one myosin light chain type 3 (LC3F) . The fastest-migrating form of LC1F seemed to be predominant during the embryonic and eleutheroembryonic periods . The slowest-migrating form of LC1F was predominant in the 5-year-old fish . Between 1 year and 4 years, both types of LC1F were present in similar amounts . Cardiac as well as red muscle myosin from 3-year-old fish had two types of light chain . The myosin light chains from atria and ventriculi were indistinguishable by two-dimensional electrophoresis, but were different from the myosin light chains from red muscle . Neither the light chains from cardiac nor red muscle were coexpressed with the myosin light chains of white muscle at any of the developmental stages examined . Two myosin heavy chain bands were resolved by SDS/glycerol/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the extract from embryos . One of the bands was present in minor amounts . The other, and most abundant, band comigrated with the only band found in the extracts of white muscle myosin from older fish . One-dimensional Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease peptide mapping of these bands revealed some differences during development of the white muscle tentatively interpreted as follows . The myosin heavy chain band present in minor amounts in the embryos may represent an early embryonic form that is replaced by a late embryonic or foetal form in the eleutheroembryos . The foetal myosin heavy chain appears to be present until the resorption of the yolk sack and beginning of the free-swimming stage . A new form of myosin heavy chain, termed neonatal and probably expressed around hatching, is present until about 1 year of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Biochem J, 1991 Feb 1, 273 ( Pt 3), 541 - 6
Relationship between the calcium-mobilizing action of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in permeable AR4-2J cells and the estimated levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in intact AR4-2J cells; Bird GJ et al.; Various experimental strategies were employed in an effort to explain the previously reported {Horstman, Takemura & Putney (1988) J . Biol . Chem . 263, 15297-15303} paradoxically high levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate {(1,4,5)IP3} in resting and substance-P-stimulated AR4-2J cells . The concentration-effect curves for substance-P-induced {3H}(1,4,5)IP3 formation in {3H}inositol-labelled cells and substance-P-induced increase in intracellular {Ca2+} were essentially superimposable, suggesting that formation of (1,4,5)IP3 is limiting for cellular Ca2+ mobilization . In electrically permeabilized AR4-2J cells, (1,4,5)IP3 and other inositol polyphosphates stimulated Ca2+ release with potencies similar to those reported for other cell types, including the parent pancreatic acinar cell . Compartmentalization of basal (1,4,5)IP3 was suggested by the fact that this material was stable in the presence of antimycin A, although this toxin completely blocked agonist stimulation of phospholipase C . However, subcellular fractionation as well as permeabilization of the cells with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin failed to provide evidence for binding or sequestration of {3H}(1,4,5)IP3 in AR4-2J cells . The density of (1,4,5)IP3 receptors in AR4-2J cells was not sufficiently large to impose non-linearity in the relationship between (1,4,5)IP3 concentration and (1,4,5)IP3-induced Ca2+ release . Thus the apparent high concentrations of (1,4,5)IP3 in resting and stimulated AR4-2J cells are not indicative of atypically low sensitivity or high concentration of (1,4,5)IP3 receptors, nor is there evidence for compartmentalization of (1,4,5)IP3 outside of the cytoplasm in these cells . It is possible that soluble factors in the cytoplasm of AR4-2J cells regulate the free concentration of (1,4,5)IP3 or the sensitivity of receptors to (1,4,5)IP3.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 Jan 28, 1081(2), 141 - 50
Lung calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins: structure and function; Tsao FH et al.; Distinct peptide maps of two rabbit lung Ca2(+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins (PLBPs), 36,000 and 33,000, were generated by cyanogen bromide (CNBr) cleavage, trypsin or Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase digestion . The amino acid sequence of a CNBr-cleaved peptide of the 36,000 PLBP was aligned to the amino terminus of human lipocortin I with more than 77% identity, but had no identity with the known amino terminal sequence of other known annexins . Partial amino acid sequence of a 33,000 PLBP peptide demonstrated a close (56%) relationship to endonexin II, human placental anticoagulant protein, and porcine intestine protein II, but shared only 32% identity with lipocortin I, 30% with lipocortin II . Antiserum generated against purified 36,000 PLBP reacted strongly with the 33,000 PLBP, but did not react with any other rabbit lung cytosolic proteins . Both PLBPs inhibited the phospholipase A2 reaction when dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol vesicles or monolayers were used as substrates . In the vesicle assay, the phospholipase A2 reaction was inhibited at lower substrate phospholipid concentrations but not at nearly saturating substrate concentrations . In the monolayer assay, the phospholipid-binding proteins did not inhibit phospholipase A2 at a low phospholipid surface concentration of 3.8.10(-3) molecules/A2, but they did at higher surface concentrations between 1.1 x 10(-2) and 3.8 x 10(-2) molecules/A2 . The inhibition of phospholipase A2 by rabbit lung phospholipid-binding proteins is most likely due to the prevention of penetration by phospholipase A2 into the interface, a requirement for the enzyme to act on the substrate.

Biochemistry, 1991 Feb 5, 30(5), 1193 - 9
Fluorescence and conformational stability studies of Staphylococcus nuclease and its mutants, including the less stable nuclease-concanavalin A hybrids; Eftink MR et al.; We report steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies with the single tryptophan protein, Staphylococcus aureus A, and several of its site-directed mutants . A couple of these mutants, nuclease-conA and nuclease-conA-S28G (which are hybrid proteins containing a six amino acid beta-turn substitute from concanavalin A), are found to have a much lower thermodynamic stability than the wild type . The thermal transition temperatures for nuclease-conA and S28G are 32.8 and 30.5 degrees C, which are about 20 degrees C lower than the Tm for wild-type nuclease A . These mutant proteins also are denatured by a much lower concentration of the denaturants urea and guanidine hydrochloride . We also show that an unfolding transition in the structure of the nuclease-conA hybrids can be induced by relatively low hydrostatic pressure (approximately 700 bar) . The free energy for unfolding of nuclease-conA (and nuclease-conA-S28G) is found to be only 1.4 kcal/mol (and 1.2 kcal/mol) by thermal, urea, guanidine hydrochloride, and pressure unfolding . Time-resolved fluorescence intensity and anisotropy measurements with nuclease-conA-S28G show the temperature-, urea-, and pressure-perturbed states each to have a reduced average intensity decay time and to depolarize with a rotational correlation time of approximately 1.0 ns (as compared to a rotational correlation time of 11 ns for the native form of nuclease-conA-S28G at 20 degrees C).

J Biol Chem, 1991 Feb 5, 266(4), 2652 - 9
Insertion of diphtheria toxin B-fragment into the plasma membrane at low pH . Characterization and topology of inserted regions; Moskaug JO et al.; When the enzymatically active A-fragment of diphtheria toxin is translocated to the cytosol, the B-fragment inserts into the membrane in such a way that a 25-kDa polypeptide becomes shielded from proteases added to the external medium . We have attempted to determine the boundaries of this polypeptide within the toxin B-fragment as well as the topology of the B-fragment in the membrane . Chemical cleavage of the 25-kDa polypeptide with hydroxylamine and o-iodosobenzoic acid yielded fragments of sizes indicating that the 25-kDa polypeptide starts at residue approximately 300 and extends to the COOH-terminal end . Experiments where the toxin was labeled with {35S}cysteine at distinct positions of the B-fragment supported this conclusion . Treatment of cells with inserted B-fragment with L-1-tosyl-amido-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone-treated trypsin and with V8 protease from Staphylococcus aureus yielded protected 27- and 30-kDa fragments in addition to 25 kDa, indicating that the region 240-264 is also at the outside . The topology of the inserted B-fragment is discussed.

Jpn J Clin Oncol, 1991 Feb, 21(1), 52 - 8
Septicemia in patients with solid cancers in a Japanese cancer hospital--the significance of candidemia for cancer patients; Tanabe N et al.; Episodes of septicemia (114) in patients with solid cancers at Nagoya Memorial Hospital were analyzed from April 1985 to June 1986 . The underlying malignancies were predominantly gastric and colon cancers . Almost all the cancers were in advanced stages, the most frequent patient performance status being 4 . Hypogammaglobulinemia and granulocytopenia were not, however frequent among these patients . The major microbes detected from blood cultures were Candida sp., Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Preceding chemotherapies were mainly combination chemotherapies containing Cisplatin (CDDP) . The major pathogen, Candida sp., was detected frequently from Hickman's catheter . Thirty-one percent of patients died within 14 days of the septicemia diagnosis (two were cases of septic shock).

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 1991 Feb, 39(2), 432 - 6
Functional and structural domains of the sixth component (C6) of human complement; Nakano Y et al.; The effects of serine protease inhibitors, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), on hemolytic activity of C6 were reinvestigated . C6 was inactivated in a range of 1-10 mM by both of the inhibitors as previously reported . Limited proteolytic digestion was also studied to elucidate the functional and structural domains of C6 . The major fragments produced by trypsin, plasmin, or lysyl endopeptidase could not be separated unless disulfide bonds were disrupted, but Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease yielded several fragments, each of which was not linked by disulfide bond . When C6 labeled with {3H}DFP was subjected to limited digestion with V8 protease, a fragment with a molecular weight of 38 kilodaltons (kDa) was mainly labeled and other fragments of 53 kDa and 26.4 kDa were also faintly labeled, while fragment 35 kDa wasn't labeled, indicating specific domains reactive with DFP . On the other hand, when C6 with or without DFP treatment was digested with V8 protease and those fragments were incubated with C5 and subjected to sucrose density ultracentrifugation, fragments 53, 38, 35 and 27.5 kDa interacted with C5 in both cases . These results suggest that C6 modified by DFP can interact with C5, and the amino-terminal sequences of fragment 38 and 35 kDa suggest the binding domain of C6 with C5 takes place within the two short consensus repeats.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 12(2-3), 275 - 9
Distribution of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in ready-to-eat foods in eastern Nigeria; Sokari T; Out of 880 samples of commonly consumed meat, fish and vegetable ready-to-eat foods from eastern Nigeria examined, 552 (62%) yielded coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, with 269 (48%) of the strains being enterotoxigenic . Two cowpea-based foods, akara and moin moin, whose methods of preparation and sale involve little or no post-processing hand contact, contained the smallest numbers of S . aureus . All the water samples from food preparation centres analysed, which had repeated hand contact during food preparation, yielded coagulase-positive S . aureus . Generally, organisms producing enterotoxin A were the most frequently encountered, followed by producers of enterotoxin B . Among fish samples, however, the predominant strains were producers of enterotoxin B and enterotoxin A, in that order . The frequency of enterotoxins C- and D-producing strains was about the same for the samples investigated.

Behring Inst Mitt, 1991 Feb, (88), 170 - 6
Mitogenic toxins as MHC class II-dependent probes for T cell antigen receptors; Fleischer B et al.; The enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus (SE) are prototypes of a group of microbial exoproteins that share a potent mitogenic activity for T lymphocytes of several species . These exoproteins use a very effective novel mechanism of T lymphocyte stimulation . For stimulation of all types of T cells (CD4+, CD8+ as well as gamma delta TCR+) the presence of allogeneic or xenogeneic MHC class II molecules on accessory or target cells is required . This requirement is reflected by a selective binding of the toxins to MHC class II molecules . The toxins stimulate preferentially but not exclusively alpha beta TCR+ T cells carrying certain TCR V beta s . A current model suggests that the toxins are functionally bivalent molecules, crosslinking variable parts of the TCR with MHC class II molecules on the accessory or target cells . Of all T cell mitogens the toxins thus most closely simulate T cell recognition of specific antigen . The differential pattern of reactivity of human and murine T cells with various toxins suggests that the toxins have been adapted to the host's immune system in evolution.

Trop Anim Health Prod, 1991 Feb, 23(1), 2 - 10
National survey of clinical and subclinical mastitis in Jamaican dairy herds, 1985-1986; Zingeser J et al.; Between April 1985 and August 1986, 89 Jamaican dairy herds with 10 or more cows were visited, 1,645 lactating cows were examined using the CMT test and 254 composite milk samples collected for bacteriological examination . Widespread management faults were noted, especially of milking machine usage and maintenance and the abuse of antibiotics . Fifty-six per cent of all quarters were found to have CMT scores of one or higher, 0.8% showed clinical mastitis and 3.2% were blind . The most common bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, was recovered from 31% of sampled cows . The resultant milk loss from clinical and subclinical mastitis was estimated to be 20% of the potential national production.

Nippon Geka Gakkai Zasshi, 1991 Feb, 92(2), 113 - 7
{A study of resistance to antiseptics of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in gastroenterological surgery}; Takesue Y et al.; Highly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (H-MRSA, MIC greater than 100 micrograms/ml) was prevalent from 1986 in our institution . The failure of povidone-iodine to reduce the prevalence of MRSA led us to choose chlorhexidine-ethanol solution as an antiseptic, and then the isolation frequency of H-MRSA decreased significantly in 1988 . When H-MRSA began to increase again recently, we studied the resistance to antiseptics of MRSA in order to investigate the cause of this re-increase . Common antiseptics were tested against 45 strains of H-MRSA and 22 strains of methicillin sensitive S . aureus (MSSA, MIC less than 12.5 micrograms/ml) . Dilute preparations (1:100) of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine-ethanol solution were more effective on H-MRSA than the other antiseptics . Though there was no significant difference between H-MRSA and MSSA in their sensitivity to povidone-iodine, the killing of H-MRSA strains was more delayed than the killing of MSSA strains in chlorhexidine . Even after a 120-second exposure, 13.3% of H-MRSA strains were resistant to chlorhexidine (more than 1000 colonies were recovered) . These highly chlorhexidine-resistant strains have been isolated since 1987 when we chose chlorhexidine-ethanol solution as the antiseptic in our institution . Therefore we suspect that the acquirement of resistance to antiseptics by H-MRSA caused the re-increase of this strain.

Harefuah, 1991 Feb 1, 120(3), 123 - 4
{Pyogenic cervical osteomyelitis following pneumonia}; Habib G et al.; A 65-year-old man was admitted because of severe cervical pain radiating to both shoulders and bouts of fever, which followed pneumonia . Bone scan showed increased focal uptake in C6-7, while computerized tomography showed destruction of the 7th intervertebral disk, with bone sequesters and soft tissue swelling . Fine needle aspiration drew purulent material with gram-positive bacteria on direct staining . Culture grew Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase positive . Treatment with IV cloxacillin for 3 weeks, followed by oral treatment for another 3, resulted in complete remission.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Feb, 62(1), 65 - 8
Delta-like haemolysin produced by Staphylococcus lugdunensis; Vandenesch F et al.; Thirty independent clinical isolates of Staphylococcus lugdunensis were tested for expression of haemolysin characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus and for the presence of DNA sequences with homology to S . aureus toxin genes . Twenty-six strains produced a thermostable haemolysin with greatest activity against rabbit erythrocytes . DNA-DNA hybridisation was performed with S . lugdunesis DNA and probed with the alpha, beta, delta and gamma toxin gene probes of S . aureus as well as that for coagulase . Hybridisation was found with the delta probe in 28 strains including 6 which did not express haemolysin . Two strains did not hybridise with any of the probes . These findings suggest that S . lugdunensis strains produce a delta-like toxin which shares homology with the delta toxin of S . aureus.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Feb, 62(1), 33 - 6
A new incompatibility group plasmid in Staphylococcus aureus; Udo EE et al.; The conjugative plasmid pWBG637 and its derivatives, pWBG636 and pWBG642, were tested for incompatibility against conjugative and non-conjugative plasmids in Staphylococcus aureus . They were compatible with other conjugative plasmids and plasmids of the 14 established incompatibility groups . They therefore define a new Incompatibility group 15.

Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh), 1991 Feb, 69(1), 45 - 9
Sodium hyaluronate as a carrier for intravitreal gentamicin . An experimental study; Moreira CA Jr et al.; Fifty mcg of gentamicin was combined with saline or with 0.8% sodium hyaluronate and injected into the vitreous cavity of rabbit eyes with moderate to severe Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis . Endophthalmitis was controlled in 9 of 10 eyes . There was no evidence of toxicity with either treatment regimen . Although the clearance study demonstrated statistical differences at all time points studied, the half-lives of both treatment regimens were similar (3.3 h for aqueous gentamicin and 3.6 h for sodium hyaluronate/gentamicin) . These results suggest that the vitreous played a role in keeping the aqueous gentamicin in the eye for a longer time, as similar half-lives were shown with both types of treatment . Thus, if a vitrectomy has to be done for the treatment of endophthalmitis, as much as possible of the vitreous should be left in situ to maintain the drug for longer periods in the eye . Also, if it is necessary to remove all vitreous during vitrectomy, it may be more effective to administer the drug with sodium hyaluronate so as to prolong its action inside the eye.

Rinsho Ketsueki, 1991 Feb, 32(2), 115 - 20
{Staphylococcus aureus sepsis in patients with hematological malignancies: increase in MRSA sepsis}; Itoh M et al.; From January 1978 to August 1990, Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) were identified in 31 patients with hematological malignancies at Jichi Medical School hospital . Mortality due to SAB was 48.4% (15/31) . Of the variables analyzed, four factors were significantly associated with a poor prognosis; elderly age (p = 0.015), high granulocyte count (more than 500/microliters) (p = 0.015), presence of DIC (p = 0.011) and presence of pneumonia (p = 0.023) . The incidence of methicillin-resistant SAB was 32.3% (10/31) and the first patient developed in 1985 . Although not statistically significant, there was a trend of higher mortality for methicillin-resistant SAB (70%) than for methicillin-sensitive SAB (38.1%) . Most strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to minocycline, chloramphenicol and vancomycin.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1991 Feb, 36(2), 21 - 4
{Comparative study of the effect of antibiotics and antiseptics on Staphylococcus aureus}; Adarchenko AA et al.; The routinely used antibiotics and antiseptics were compared with the same staphylococcal isolates by MIC ranges, the mean MIC for the strains, proportion of the variants resistant to the drugs, distribution of the strains by the resistance spectra and the number increase rate for the resistant variants in natural populations within 5-10-year periods . It was concluded that when used locally the antiseptics had some advantages over the antibiotics especially with respect to hospital strains . The authors believe that in developing new drugs, ++re-estimation of the routinely used ones, choosing the optimal drug for a particular case it is more important to consider the heterogeneity of microbial populations, the frequency of resistant variants and activity of the mechanisms of their selection under hospital conditions.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Feb, 35(2), 368 - 70
Uptake of sparfloxacin and norfloxacin by clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus; Yoshida S et al.; The amount of sparfloxacin uptake was higher than that of norfloxacin uptake in Staphylococcus aureus . Moreover, energy-dependent reduction in quinolone uptake, probably due to active efflux of the quinolone, was observed . The reduction in quinolone uptake appeared to be associated with quinolone resistance in S . aureus.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Feb, 35(2), 237 - 41
D-lactic acid production as a monitor of the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents; Smith SM; Most bacteria at an infection site obtain energy by the breakdown of glucose via microaerophilic or anaerobic pathways and in the process yield various end products . In this study, production of D-lactic acid by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was correlated with glucose utilization by bacteria during exposure to antibiotics at subinhibitory, inhibitory, and suprainhibitory concentrations . D-Lactic acid production was further correlated with production of a tissue-destroying enzyme, hyaluronidase, by S . aureus . For E . coli, all agents tested showed dose-related bacterial killing, with the most noticeable being with ampicillin, piperacillin, and ciprofloxacin . Imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol had the most dose-related effects on D-lactic acid production . With few exceptions, hyaluronidase production correlated well with D-lactic acid production in S . aureus . Subinhibitory concentrations of erythromycin and clindamycin effectively decreased accumulation of D-lactic acid and hyaluronidase . Determination of D-lactic acid production may perhaps serve as a means of independently monitoring the effects of antimicrobial agents on bacterial metabolic activity, which is an important aspect of antimicrobial action that remains relatively unexplored.

Singapore Med J, 1991 Feb, 32(1), 63 - 6
Empyema thoracis and lung abscess; Yaacob I et al.; The case histories of 22 patients with lung abscess and empyema presenting to Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM) between 1984 and 1989 are reviewed . The presenting features of both lung abscess and empyema were similar . The commonest predisposing factor was pneumonia, and the commonest organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus but in the majority of cases, no causal organisms were identified . All the patients were treated with antibiotics and in addition, closed chest tube drainage was performed initially in all patients with empyema . Three patients with empyema required additional surgical drainage procedures . Death occurred in one patient with empyema and in one patient with lung abscess . The features, aetiology, treatment and outcome of thoracic empyema and lung abscess are discussed.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1991 Feb, 12(2), 83 - 8
The decline of methicillin resistance among Danish Staphylococcus aureus strains; Rosdahl VT et al.; OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence and decline of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Denmark from 1966 to 1986, and to illustrate why it has been possible to retain a frequency of only 0.2% MRSA since 1984 . DESIGN: A study of antibiotic susceptibility and phage-type of 522,978 S aureus strains isolated from hospitalized patients in Denmark during the years 1960 to 1988 combined with clinical information on patients with methicillin-resistant strains during the years 1986 through 1988 . SETTING: All strains and information were collected at the centralized, national laboratory for S aureus phage-typing . PATIENTS: Hospitalized patients with S aureus isolates, and especially patients with methicillin-resistant strains . INTERVENTION: Antibiotic treatment . RESULTS: The frequency of MRSA rose to 15% in the years 1967 through 1971 but decreased to 0.2% in 1984, and has remained so ever since . The increase was due mainly to the spread of a single or a few clones of the phage-type complex 83A . Occurrence of strains of these phage-types declined from 18% in 1969 to 0.6% in 1989 . In 1986 through 1988, at least 48% of the MRSA strains were imported by patients from abroad . Cross-infection occurred only in two cases . High awareness and special precautions were taken when MRSA was detected . CONCLUSIONS: MRSA of a single or a few clones spread in Danish hospitals in the years 1967 through 1971 . Since 1984, only 0.2% of the Danish S aureus population has been MRSA, and imported MRSA strains have been prevented from spreading.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 57(2), 618 - 21
Staphylococcus aureus growth and type 5 capsular polysaccharide production in synthetic media; Stringfellow WT et al.; The production of type 5 capsular polysaccharide by Staphylococcus aureus in synthetic media was investigated . The influence of medium components on capsular polysaccharide synthesis appeared to relate to the presence or absence of the component rather than to concentration gradient . The production of type 5 capsular polysaccharide was linked to energy availability and energy source, but not to carbohydrate concentration or carbon/nitrogen ratio . Regulation of capsular polysaccharide production by S . aureus in response to medium changes would appear to differ from that typically displayed in other organisms that produce polysaccharides.

Am J Vet Res, 1991 Feb, 52(2), 363 - 6
Pharmacologic enhancement or suppression of phagocytosis by bovine neutrophils; Paape MJ et al.; Sixty-three drugs, belonging to 10 chemical classes, were tested in vitro to determine effects on phagocytosis of 32P-labeled Staphylococcus aureus by neutrophils isolated from milk . Within each class, the number of antibiotics tested were: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; 8), peptolids (2), aminoglycosides (8), tetracyclines and fusidic acid (4), beta-lactam antibiotics (25), secretolytic agents (2), macrolides (5), polypeptides (2), and antibacterial quinolones (8) . Percentage of phagocytosis was determined after incubating (2 hours at 37 C) 12.5 x 10(6) viable neutrophils, 200 x 10(6) 32P-labeled S aureus with antibiotics and 5% skimmed milk . Concentrations of antibiotics tested were 1,000, 500, and 10 micrograms/ml of incubation media . When compared with nonantibiotic controls at the highest drug concentration, the NSAID acetylsalicylic acid and centrophenoxine increased phagocytosis 23.2 and 8.8%, respectively, and benzydamine, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, and acetominophen decreased phagocytosis 22.8, 14.2, 9.8, 27.0, and 18.2%, respectively . The peptolids novobiocin and pristinamycin decreased phagocytosis 24.5 and 22.0%, respectively . The aminoglycosides tobramycin, amikacin, and gentamicin decreased phagocytosis 21.1, 15.4, and 19.2%, respectively . For the tetracyclines and fusidic acid, minocycline and doxycycline decreased phagocytosis 39.8 and 54.2%, respectively . The beta-lactam antibiotics carfecillin, cephapirin sodium, and cephacetrile sodium decreased phagocytosis 11.2, 12.8, and 23.8%, respectively . The secretolytic agent, bromhexin, increased phagocytosis 10.8% . These data indicate that the potential for enhanced phagocytosis exists through use of some NSAID, and for depressed phagocytosis through use of aminoglycosides, peptolids, tetracyclines, and beta-lactams, as well as certain other NSAID.

Br J Cancer, 1991 Feb, 63(2), 287 - 92
Clinical and immune modulatory effects of alternative weekly interleukin-2 and interferon alfa-2a in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma and melanoma; Pichert G et al.; The clinical and immune modulatory effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon (INF) alfa-2a were examined in a phase II study in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (six patients) and melanoma (eight patients) . Treatment consisted in IL-2 3 MU/m2 continuous infusion days 1-4 and INF alfa-2a 6 MU/m2 subcutaneously day 1 and 4, both given on alternate weeks . Tumour response was assessed after four cycles of treatment or earlier, if necessary . Patients with stable disease or response were to be continued for another nine cycles or up to disease progression . The 14 patients received a total of 60 cycles of treatment . Major toxicities (WHO Grade III/IV) were fever, capillary leak syndrome with hypotension, nausea and vomiting, erythema with pruritus, leuco- and thrombopenia and sepsis with staphylococcus aureus . Five of 14 patients (36%) developed a self limiting autoimmune thyroiditis with HLA-DR expression on thyrocytes . Long term treatment toxicity was moderate with an average weight loss of 5% and an average fall in Karnofsky index of 10% compared to baseline . No responses were seen in renal cell carcinoma, two patients with melanoma had a partial and two a minor response with a duration of 1-7 months . Serial measurements of immune modulatory parameters showed a functional response to treatment with an increase of NK- and LAK-activity during the first two cycles, followed by a plateau and decrease during the third and fourth cycles . These findings were paralleled by a successive decline in treatment induced INF gamma response . These findings suggest, that alternative weekly treatment with IL-2 and INF alfa-2a results in an exhaustion of lytic capacity of NK- and LAK-cells and an attenuation of secondary cytokine release.

Biochem J, 1991 Feb 1, 273 ( Pt 3), 517 - 22
Fibroblast adhesion to recombinant tropoelastin expressed as a protein A-fusion protein; Grosso LE et al.; A bovine tropoelastin cDNA encoding exons 15-36 that includes the elastin-receptor binding site was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus . After isolation of the fusion protein by affinity chromatography on Ig-Sepharose, the tropoelastin domain was separated from plasmid-pR1T2T-encoded Protein A (Protein A') by CNBr cleavage . Cell-adhesion assays demonstrated specific adhesion to the recombinant tropoelastin . Furthermore, the data indicate that interactions involving the bovine elastin receptor mediate nuchalligament fibroblast adhesion to the recombinant protein . In agreement with earlier studies of fibroblast chemotaxis to bovine tropoelastin, nuchal-ligament fibroblast adhesion demonstrated developmental regulation of the elastin receptor.

Am Surg, 1991 Feb, 57(2), 67 - 72
Bacterial phagocytosis in obstructive jaundice . A microbiologic and electron microscopic analysis; Ball SK et al.; Reticuloendothelial system dysfunction has been suggested as an explanation for the increased susceptibility to infection in patients with obstructive jaundice . In the present study, the response of cholestatic rats to a bacterial challenge was investigated and the uptake of bacteria by their Kupffer cells was examined with the electron microscope . Rats underwent bile duct ligation (BDL, n = 8) of sham celiotomy (SC, n = 8) and were allowed to recover for 10 days . They were then injected with 10(9) Staphylococcus aureus IV and killed at intervals of 15, 30, 60, and 180 minutes after injection . Two from each group were killed at each interval . Quantitative blood cultures were performed, and specimens of liver and lung were obtained for quantitative bacterial culture and processed for electron microscopy . Bacteria were rapidly cleared from the bloodstream of SC animals but persisted in BDL rats . Electron microscopy consistently demonstrated bacteria within Kupffer cell phagocytic vesicles of both SC and BDL animals at each interval selected . There was no morphologic difference in these vesicles between the two groups . Bacteremia persists in BDL rats subjected to a bacterial challenge despite rapid uptake of bacteria in apparently normal phagocytic vesicles . This study suggests a defect in intracellular killing of bacteria, an impairment of delivery of bacteria to RE cells, or a combination of these factors.

Laryngoscope, 1991 Feb, 101(2), 170 - 2
Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of acute suppurative parotitis; Brook I et al.; Aspirates of pus from acute suppurative parotitis were studied for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . Bacterial growth was present in 23 specimens . A total of 36 bacterial isolates (20 anaerobic and 16 aerobic and facultative) were recovered, accounting for 1.6 isolates per specimen (0.9 anaerobic and 0.7 aerobic and facultative) . Anaerobic bacteria only were present in 10 (43%) patients, aerobic and facultatives in 10 (43%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora in 3 (13%) . Single bacterial isolates were recovered in 9 infections, 6 of which were Staphylococcus aureus and 3 were anaerobic bacteria . The predominant bacterial isolates were S . aureus (8 isolates), Bacteroides sp . (6 isolates, including 4 Bacteroides melaninogenicus group), and Peptostreptococcus sp . (5) . beta-Lactamase-producing organisms were recovered from 11 (73%) of the 15 specimens tested . This study highlights the polymicrobial nature and importance of anaerobic bacteria in acute suppurative parotitis.

J Surg Res, 1991 Feb, 50(2), 175 - 8
Antibacterial effects of fibrin glue-antibiotic mixtures; Kram HB et al.; In the present in vitro study, we investigated the duration of action and antibacterial effects of nonautologous fibrin glue (FG) combined with antibiotics (Abs) including Ciprofloxacin, Teicoplanin, Cefoxitin, and Gentamicin; the effect of FG alone on bacterial growth was also evaluated . The rate of Ab diffusion from combined FG-Ab clots was evaluated by separate elution with pooled human serum (HS) and normal saline (NS); supernatants were removed daily and assayed for active concentrations of each Ab . The effects of FG and combined FG-Ab clots on bacterial growth were evaluated by inoculating brain-heart infusion (BHI) with Staphylococcus aureus, followed by the addition of FG or FG-Ab clots; a separate set of studies was also performed with the addition of mouse lung homogenate (MLH) as well . The addition of Ab to FG clots resulted in continuous diffusion of the Ab into the surrounding HS or NS for up to 5 to 7 days; however, more than two-thirds of the Ab diffused out within 2 to 3 days regardless of the Ab used . The antibacterial effects of FG-Ciprofloxacin and FG-Teicoplanin clots were significant compared to those of FG clots not containing Ab . In addition, the presence of FG clots (in BHI) resulted in a reduction in bacterial growth compared to that of BHI alone . The addition of MLH to BHI resulted in increased bacterial growth, but this effect was inhibited by the presence of combined FG-Ab clots.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Med Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 34(2), 109 - 12
The characterisation of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ako-Nai AK et al.; Of 166 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospital patients and staff in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 32% were non-typable (NT) . The strains were isolated from skin lesions, eye infections, wounds and nasal flora . Isolates from skin lesions or eye and wound infections were more likely to produce protease (95% and 78% respectively) than nasal isolates (11%) . Nearly all (99%) of the strains isolated were resistant to penicillin and 78% were resistant to tetracycline . Streptomycin resistance occurred in 25% of isolates; 19% were resistant to chloramphenicol and 9% to methicillin.

J Med Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 34(2), 103 - 7
Factors affecting conjugative transfer of plasmid pWG613, determining gentamicin resistance, in Staphylococcus aureus; al-Masaudi SB et al.; Factors that are known to influence plasmid transfer in bacterial populations were studied for the conjugative plasmid pWG613, which determined gentamicin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus . The transfer frequency was largely unaffected over a wide range of temperature (18-42 degrees C); pH also had little effect on the transfer frequency in the range 5.0-8.5 . High cell density and log phase cultures were required for optimal plasmid transfer, as were donor:recipient ratios of 0.003-3.3.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1991 Feb 1, 284(2), 320 - 5
Purification and partial characterization of intestinal-like alkaline phosphatase in rabbit kidney; Fujimori-Arai Y et al.; Two types of alkaline phosphatase (AP) isozymes in rabbit kidney, a major intestinal-like type and a minor tissue-unspecific type, have been identified . The former enzyme was purified from rabbit kidney by immunoaffinity chromatography using monoclonal anti-human intestinal AP antibody . The purified enzyme yielded a single protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the apparent molecular size of its monomer subunit was found to be 72,000 . Three amino acid residues within the first 16 N-terminal amino acid residues were different in purified AP and human intestinal AP . Although the rabbit enzyme possessed some peptide bands identical to those of human adult intestinal AP after Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestion, the enzyme did not react with monoclonal antibody against human adult intestinal AP alone, whereas it did react with monoclonal antibody against both human adult and fetal intestinal APs . The affinity of the enzyme for concanavalin A was identical to that of the fetal intestinal AP, but different from that of the adult enzyme . These results indicate that the antigenicity and certain properties of purified rabbit AP are more like those of human fetal intestinal AP or Kasahara isozyme, so-called intestinal-like AP, than like human adult intestinal AP.

Gastroenterology, 1991 Feb, 100(2), 549 - 54
Neutrophil dysfunction in glycogen storage disease Ib: association with Crohn's-like colitis; Couper R et al.; Two cases of patients with Crohn's-like colitis and glycogen storage disease Ib have been reported previously . In the current report, chronic inflammatory bowel disease that developed in another adolescent with this glycogenosis is described, thereby corroborating the association . The neutrophil dysfunction observed in glycogen storage disease Ib is the most likely predisposing factor . Neutrophil function was investigated in our patient in an attempt to shed light on the pathogenesis of his intestinal inflammation . The patient displayed reduced neutrophil chemotaxis to zymosan-activated serum, N-formyl-methionine-phenylalanine, and Escherichia coli bacteria-derived factor and reduced intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus 502A . Others have found this defective bacteriocidal activity to be caused by impaired oxidative metabolism . The recent recognition of chronic inflammatory bowel disease in glycogen storage disease Ib, as well as in chronic granulomatous disease, suggests that further study of respiratory burst activity of neutrophils in Crohn's disease is warranted.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Feb, 44(2), 210 - 7
The use of beta-galactosidase gene fusions to screen for antibacterial antibiotics; Kirsch DR et al.; The desirable features for a screening assay to detect antibacterial antibiotics include 1) high specificity for the desired antibiotic type 2) high sensitivity 3) lack of interference by other compounds likely to be associated with the antibiotic of interest and 4) ease of operation to allow a large number of samples to be tested . These characteristics are largely found in screens employing strains carrying fusions between antibiotic induced promoters and the structural genes for Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase . Screens were designed based upon fusions with three antibiotic induced promoters: the tetracycline induced tetA/tetR promoter from transposon Tn10, the erythromycin induced promoter from the Staphylococcus aureus ermC erythromycin-resistance gene and the chloramphenicol induced promoter from the S . aureus cat86 chloramphenicol-resistance gene . Because there have been no reports of vancomycin induced resistance determinants, a Tn903 random gene fusion pool was screened to isolate a vancomycin induced gene fusion . This gene fusion was induced fairly specifically by glycopeptide antibiotics and the fusion was used as the basis for a glycopeptide screen.

Biophys J, 1991 Feb, 59(2), 375 - 86
Reaction rate and collisional efficiency of the rhodopsin-transducin system in intact retinal rods; Kahlert M et al.; A model of transducin activation is constructed from its partial reactions (formation of metarhodopsin II, association, and dissociation of the rhodopsin-transducin complex) . The kinetic equations of the model are solved both numerically and, for small photoactivation, analytically . From data on the partial reactions in vitro, rate and activation energy profile of amplified transducin turnover are modeled and compared with measured light-scattering signals of transducin activation in intact retinal rods . The data leave one free parameter, the rate of association between transducin and rhodopsin . Best fit is achieved for an activation energy of 35 kJ/mol, indicating lateral membrane diffusion of the proteins as its main determinant . The absolute value of the association rate is discussed in terms of the success of collisions to form the catalytic complex . It is greater than 30% for the intact retina and 10 times lower after permeabilization with staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin . Dissociation rates for micromolar guanosinetriphosphale (GTP) (Kohl, B., and K . P . Hofmann, 1987 . Biophys . J . 52:271-277) must be extrapolated linearly up to the millimolar range to explain the rapid transducin turnover in situ . This is interpreted by an unstable rhodopsin-transducin-GTP transient state . At the time of maximal turnover after a flash, the rate of activation is determined as 30, 120, 800, 2,500, and 4,000 activated transducins per photoactivated rhodopsin and second at 5, 10, 20, 30, 37 degrees C, respectively.

J Virol, 1991 Feb, 65(2), 719 - 26
Solid matrix-antibody-antigen complexes induce antigen-specific CD8+ cells that clear a persistent paramyxovirus infection; Randall RE et al.; We have previously shown that the adoptive transfer of splenocytes, isolated from mice immunized by infection with the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5), enhance the speed of clearance of SV5 from the lungs of immunodeficient mice; clearance is mediated primarily through CD8+ effector cells and not by serum neutralizing antibody (D.F . Young, R.E . Randall, J.A . Hoyle, and B.E . Souberbielle, J . Virol . 64:5403-5411, 1990) . In this article we demonstrate that immunization of mice with solid matrix-antibody-antigen (SMAA) complexes also induces CD8+ effector cells that are responsible for clearing persistent SV5 infections in immunodeficient mice . The demonstration that immunization with SMAA complexes (an exogenous antigen) can induce class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) suggests that that these cells may be responsible for virus clearance in vivo . This premise is supported indirectly by the observation that immunization with SMAA complexes was less efficient in inducing class I-restricted CTLs (as measured in vitro) than was infectious virus and that splenocytes isolated from mice immunized with SMAA complexes were also less efficient in clearing virus from lungs of immunodeficient mice than were splenocytes isolated from mice immunized by infection with virus . This was not because the SMAA complexes were generally less immunogenic than infectious virus, since mice immunized with SMAA complexes (which contained the HN protein of SV5) produced higher levels of neutralizing antibody than mice immunized with infectious virus . In the majority of experiments, fixed and killed suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain A were used as the solid matrix in the construction of SMAA complexes . However, in this article we present evidence that alum-antibody-antigen complexes are as immunogenic as S . aureus A-antibody-antigen complexes . These results suggest that the immunological reactivity of the solid matrix itself does not influence the intensity of the immune response to the antigens of interest in the SMAA complexes . The significance of these results for vaccine design are discussed.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Feb, 10(2), 77 - 84
In vitro synergistic activity between meropenem and other beta-lactams against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Sumita Y et al.; The in vitro activity of meropenem, a carbapenem antibiotic, combined with eight other beta-lactams against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was tested . The MICs of these antibiotics alone ranged from 12.5 to 1,600 micrograms/ml for the 25 clinical isolates of MRSA studied . All combinations with meropenem exhibited marked synergy as determined by the checkerboard method . The MICs in combinations of meropenem with other beta-lactams were reduced to 1/4-1/64 those of the antibiotics alone . No antagonism was observed for any of the combinations of meropenem with other beta-lactams . Synergism between meropenem and cefpiramide was the highest among the combinations tested, the geometric mean of the fractional inhibitory concentration index for this combination being 0.237 . This combination also demonstrated strong bactericidal activity, the MBCs decreasing to 1/16-1/64 of those for the agents alone . In terms of the fractional inhibitory concentration index, this was the most effective combination against MRSA highly resistant to meropenem alone with synergism for 85% (81/95) of the strains . In addition, synergism of imipenem with cephalosporins against MRSA was demonstrated . The affinity of meropenem and cefpiramide for MRSA penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2' was very low, and the combination of both antibiotics showed an additive increase in affinity for this protein, but not a synergistic increase . Thus, the mechanism of synergism did not seem to be related to affinity for PBP2' . It is possible that there is another factor besides PBP2' which increases the resistance that the combinations inhibit the unknown factor.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Feb, 10(2), 114 - 8
Activity of antibiotics against microorganisms ingested by mononuclear phagocytes; van den Broek PJ; The data available on the activity of antibiotics against microorganisms ingested by mononuclear phagocytes are reviewed . The antibacterial activity of penicillins against Staphylococcus aureus is enhanced by human monocytes . This enhancement is possibly brought about by a peptidoglycan-degrading enzyme that is produced and secreted by monocytes . Aminoglycosides affect bacteria ingested by mononuclear phagocytes, but their intracellular activity is limited as compared with that of non-phagocytosed bacteria . Clindamycin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin are effective against intracellular bacteria . The first three of these antibiotics do not show enhanced activity against phagocytosed bacteria, contrary to what might be expected from their high cell-associated concentrations.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Feb, 10(2), 107 - 13
Activity of antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus within polymorphonuclear neutrophils; Yancey RJ et al.; The intracellular location of certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus serves as a reservoir of bacteria which is thought to be important in therapy of recurrent infections in humans and in chronic staphylococcal mastitis in dairy cows . This overview summarizes data pertaining to the intracellular survival of Staphylococcus aureus within polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) both in vitro and in vivo in the face of antibiotic treatment . While compounds such as rifampin, clindamycin, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin have been shown to be rapidly taken up by PMNs, the ability of antibiotics to concentrate within PMNs did not strictly correlate with their ability to kill intracellular Staphylococcus aureus . Rifampin and ciprofloxacin have been shown to be the most effective intraphagocytic killing agents, while clindamycin and erythromycin were inactive in these in vitro assays . In vivo, in therapy of Staphylococcus aureus arthritis and peritonitis in humans and in certain mouse models rifampin has generally been shown to be more effective than comparator antibiotics . In a staphylococcal subcutaneous abscess model, however, clindamycin was very effective in curing the Staphylococcus aureus abscesses in this system where PMNs were the primary inflammatory cells involved . The intracellular bacterial counts decreased as rapidly as the extracellular bacteria . Rifampin was also effective in the abscess model but ciprofloxacin was ineffective at the highest doses tested . The relevance of in vitro and in vivo models and the importance of PMNs as a reservoir of infection in staphylococcal diseases in humans and the dairy cow are discussed.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Feb, 10(2), 100 - 6
Intracellular distribution and activity of antibiotics; Tulkens PM; Intracellular penetration, accumulation and disposition are important parameters governing the activity of antibiotics against intracellular bacteria . Beta-lactams diffuse into but do not accumulate in phagocytes, probably because of their acidic character . Aminoglycosides are too polar to pass across membranes and are therefore only taken up slowly by endocytosis, which results in an exclusively lysosomal localization . Lincosaminides, macrolides and fluoroquinolones all accumulate in phagocytes, the two former classes of drugs showing both a cytosolic and a lysosomal localization . Fluoroquinolones appear to be entirely soluble in cells . Analysis of their activity in a model of Staphylococcus aureus-infected J774 macrophages has revealed low activity of clindamycin, whereas macrolides, and even more so fluoroquinolones, easily reduce the original inoculum.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1991 Feb, 59(2), 109 - 14
Serine proteinase from Staphylococcus aureus enhances elastin degradation by elastases in the presence of human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor; Nowak D et al.; During staphylococcal pneumonia massive destruction of lung tissue is often observed . Staphylococcal serine proteinase (SSP) inactivates alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI) a major factor which protects lungs from phagocyte proteases . We investigated the effect of SSP on elastin degradation by porcine pancreatic elastase (PE) and crude extract of human neutrophil elastase (NE) in solution and gel containing alpha 1PI . SSP having no elastase activity enhanced PE and NE-induced elastinolysis in solution when added to alpha 1PI before mixing with elastase and then with elastin . SSP added simultaneously with alpha 1PI to PE had no influence on elastin degradation . However, SSP added simultaneously, 30 min before or 30 min after PE significantly increased elastin digestion in elastin-agarose plate with alpha 1PI . Maximal increase in elastinolysis about 3-fold was for SSP added 30 min prior to PE . Since elastin is the major component of the alveolar walls it is possible that lung damage in the course of staphylococcal infection may partly depend on action of SSP.

Eur J Immunol, 1991 Feb, 21(2), 495 - 500
Effect of bacterial toxins on human B cell activation . II . Mitogenic activity of the B subunit of cholera toxin; Dugas B et al.; The B subunit of cholera toxin (CT) but not the entire CT was found to induce the proliferation of resting human B lymphocytes . A significant mitogenic effect was observed for B subunit concentrations greater than 1 microgram/ml and reached a maximum of stimulation at 10 micrograms/ml . As already described for B lymphocytes preactivated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan Strain I (SAC) . B lymphocytes preactivated with the B subunit of CT, but not with the entire CT, were able to proliferate in response to exogenous interleukin 2 (IL 2) and to the low-molecular weight B cell growth factor (BCGF) . To determine the transmembrane signaling system used by the B subunit of CT to mediate its biological effects, we compared the transmembrane signals used by the entire CT, its B subunit and SAC . In comparison to the entire CT, which directly activates adenylate cyclase and increases intracellular cAMP levels, neither the B subunit nor SAC modified the cAMP content . In contrast, although SAC induced inositol phosphate generation neither CT nor the separate subunits were able to induce such a production . Moreover, changes in the fluorescence of indo-1-loaded B lymphocytes revealed that mitogenic doses of either the B subunit or SAC induced a rapid and sustained increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ({Ca2+}i) . The effect of the B subunit appeared to be largely dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+, because in Ca2(+)-free medium no {Ca2+}i uptake was observed . In contrast, the SAC-induced {Ca2+}i uptake is substantially, but not totally, inhibited in Ca2(+)-free medium, suggesting that part of the rise in {Ca2+}i was due to the release from internal stores . Moreover, fluorimetric measurements on loaded cells with 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6')-carboxyfluorescein revealed that SAC induced a rapid cytoplasmic alkalinization via activation of Na+/H+ exchange, whereas the entire CT and its B subunit had no effect on intracellular pH . Taken together, these data suggest that, in comparison to SAC, the mitogenic effect of the B subunit of CT was mediated through different intracellular biochemical pathways.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Feb, 173(3), 1105 - 10
Suppression of autolysis and cell wall turnover in heterogeneous Tn551 mutants of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain; de Jonge BL et al.; Isogenic Tn551 mutants of a highly and uniformly methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus were tested for their rates of autolysis and cell wall degradation in buffer and for cell wall turnover during growth . The normal (relatively fast) autolysis and turnover rates of the parent strain were retained in a Tn551 mutant in which the insert was located within the mec gene and which produced undetectable levels of penicillin-binding protein 2A . On the other hand, autolysis and cell wall turnover rates were greatly reduced in auxiliary mutants, i.e., mutants in which the transposon caused conversion of the high-level and uniform resistance of the parent strain to a variety of distinct heterogeneous expression types and greatly decreased resistance levels . All of these mutants contained an intact mec gene and produced normal amounts of penicillin-binding protein 2A, and one of the mutations was located in the femA region of the staphylococcal chromosome (B . Berger-Bachi, L . Barberis-Maino, A . Strassle, and F . H . Kayser, Mol . Gen . Genet . 219:263-269, 1989) . Autolysis rates were related to the degree of residual methicillin resistance and to the sites of Tn551 insertion . Fast cell wall turnover may help expression of high-level methicillin resistance by providing a mechanism for the excision of abnormal (and potentially lethal) structural elements of the cell wall synthesized by the bacteria in the presence of methicillin.

J Immunol, 1991 Feb 1, 146(3), 936 - 40
Expression of VHIII-associated cross-reactive idiotype on human B lymphocytes . Association with staphylococcal protein A binding and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I stimulation; Shokri F et al.; It has been demonstrated that staphylococcal protein A (SPA) has an "alternative" binding site with specificity for human Ig H chain V region of the VHIII subgroup . Because the major mitogenic component of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) is SPA, it is possible that SAC stimulates a subpopulation of B cells expressing Ig of the VHIII H chain subgroup . In the present study, we have investigated further the relationship between SPA binding and the expression of VHI- or VHIII-associated cross-reactive idiotype (CRI) on the surface of tonsillar B lymphocytes enriched for the expression or nonexpression of the CRI, and we examined the Ig secreted by cell lines established from these populations of B cells by EBV transformation . The VHIII CRI (D12)-enriched population yielded 21 cell lines, with 67% of them secreting SPA-reactive Ig; in contrast, only 6% (1 of 16) of VHI CRI-expressing lines secreted SPA-reactive Ig . The CRI-negative B cell population yielded 54 cell lines, of which 20% secreted SPA-reactive Ig, as might be anticipated because a majority of VHIII Ig+ B cells will be CRI- . SAC stimulation of CRI+ and CRI- populations showed preferential stimulation of the D12 population . These data support the proposal that SAC stimulation of human B cells is mediated through binding of SPA by its alternative binding site to IgV regions of the VHIII subgroup.

J Neurosci Res, 1991 Feb, 28(2), 151 - 5
Kinesin heavy chain from bovine brain and Drosophila appear to be highly homologous molecules; Green LA et al.; A microtubule-enriched fraction was prepared from bovine white matter, and kinesin and other microtubule-associated proteins were extracted from taxol-stabilized microtubules by homogenization and ultracentrifugation in the presence of nucleotides (guanosine triphosphate and adenosine triphosphate) . The kinesin-enriched fractions were subjected to preparative SDS-PAGE, and the band representing the kinesin heavy chain was excised, homogenized, and subjected to partial enzymatic digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease . Four peptides were selected for sequence analysis and compared to the previously published sequence for the Drosophila kinesin heavy chain (Yang JT, Laymon RA, Goldstein LSB, Cell 56:879-889, 1989) . All four peptides matched closely with portions of the Drosophila sequence corresponding to the central, alpha-helical domain . Total amino acid composition analysis of bovine kinesin heavy chain also reveals a high degree of homology to the Drosophila sequence.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Feb, 35(2), 345 - 50
Differing activities of quinolones against ciprofloxacin-susceptible and ciprofloxacin-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Maple PA et al.; The in vitro activities of nine quinolones (seven fluoroquinolones, nalidixic acid, and acrosoxacin) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were compared with those of the glycopeptides teicoplanin and vancomycin . MICs against 160 strains of ciprofloxacin-susceptible (MIC, less than 2.0 micrograms/ml) MRSA and 40 strains of ciprofloxacin-resistant (MIC, greater than or equal to 2.0 micrograms/ml) MRSA were determined . The following MICs for 50% of the strains tested (in micrograms per milliliter) were obtained for ciprofloxacin-susceptible and -resistant strains, respectively: tosufloxacin, 0.06 and 2.0; ofloxacin, 0.25 and 16; ciprofloxacin, 0.5 and 16; pefloxacin, 0.5 and 32; acrosoxacin, 1.0 and greater than 256; enoxacin, 1.0 and 64; fleroxacin, 1.0 and 32; norfloxacin, 2.0 and 64; nalidixic acid, 64 and 512; teicoplanin, 1.0 and 1.0; vancomycin, 2.0 and 2.0 . In mutation rate studies using a range of antibiotic concentrations to reflect those achievable in vivo, resistant mutants grew only on plates containing nalidixic acid (rate of mutation to resistance, 10(-7) to 10(-8) and on plates containing low concentrations of ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, and norfloxacin (rate of mutation to resistance, 10(-8) to 10(-9) . In time-kill studies, 99.9% killing was found within 8 h for all of the quinolones tested (norfloxacin and nalidixic acid were not tested) . Teicoplanin and vancomycin were less rapidly bactericidal . For the clinical isolates of ciprofloxacin-resistant MRSA, different levels and patterns of quinolone resistance were found . Generally, cross-resistance among the fluoroquinolones was complete; however, incomplete cross-resistance did occur with the nonfluorinated quinolone acrosoxacin.

J Clin Invest, 1991 Feb, 87(2), 545 - 53
Delineation of the functional capacity of human neonatal lymphocytes; Splawski JB et al.; Neonatal T cell-B cell collaboration was investigated utilizing a system of T cell-dependent polyclonal B cell activation and Ig secretion . In this system, T cells activated by immobilized anti-CD3 provide a potent stimulus for Ig production by adult lymphocytes . By contrast, anti-CD3 stimulation of cord blood lymphocytes generated minimal numbers of Ig-secreting cells . Ig production by neonatal lymphocytes was enhanced by the addition of Staphylococcus aureus or secreted factors from mitogen-stimulated adult T cells . Supplementation with IL-2 resulted in the production of large amounts of IgM and small amounts of IgG and IgA, with less Ig produced than by comparable cultures of adult lymphocytes . Neonatal T cells proliferated and produced IL-2 in response to immobilized anti-CD3, and supported B cell proliferation and Ig secretion by adult B cells, although not as effectively as adult T cells . Supernatants from activated neonatal T cells were markedly limited in their capacity to support Ig production by adult B cells . Neonatal B cells could be induced to differentiate in response to anti-CD3-stimulated adult T cells . However, the amounts of IgG and IgA secreted were small compared to adult levels . These studies indicate a relative, but not absolute, functional deficiency of both neonatal B and T cells.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1991 Feb, 34(2), 55 - 61
Effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on neutrophil function in vitro and in vivo following chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation; Humphreys JM et al.; Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) primed the ability of human neutrophils to generate increased levels of reactive oxidants in response to fMet-Leu-Phe, and also resulted in an increased rate of protein biosynthesis which was similar to that induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor . However, rG-CSF reduced the chemotactic activity of neutrophils in response to endotoxin and did not result in an enhanced rate of killing of Staphylococcus aureus . rG-CSF was administered to patients after high dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of either Hodgkin's disease or multiple myeloma . This cytokine decreased the period of neutropenia following such treatment . Neutrophil function in two patients, measured seven days after the final administration of rG-CSF, was severely impaired as indicated by a greatly decreased ability to generate reactive oxidants . However, seven days later (i.e . 14 days post-therapy), the functional activity of the neutrophils from these patients had returned to normal . These data indicate that assays of neutrophil function together with morphological assessment of neutrophil numbers and maturity should be performed in order to evaluate the immune status of patients undergoing such therapy.

Eur J Immunol, 1991 Feb, 21(2), 351 - 9
Evidence for differential responsiveness of human CD5+ and CD5- B cell subsets to T cell-independent mitogens; Zupo S et al.; Tonsillar resting B cells were separated into CD5+ and CD5- cell subsets and stimulated with the thymus-independent mitogens, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC) or insolubilized anti-mu monoclonal antibodies (a mu Ab) . CD5+ cells incorporated {3H}thymidine more efficiently than unfractionated cells when stimulated with SAC and their response was augmented by the addition of interleukin (IL) 2 to the cultures . CD5+ cells also proliferated in response to a mu Ab provided that IL 2 was present, SAC-, but not a mu Ab-stimulated CD5+ cells produced IgM and IgG molecules when IL 2 was added to the cultures and also secreted autoantibodies with rheumatoid factor activity and sometimes also with anti-single-stranded, but not double-stranded, DNA activity . The efficient response of CD5+ cells was not explained by the fact that they contained cells already activated in vivo . Thus, they did not express the CD23, CD69, CD71 and CD39 activation markers, failed to incorporated {3H}thymidine and to secrete Ig spontaneously or in response to IL 2 and were found to be in a quiescent state by cell cycle flow cytometric analysis . In contrast to CD5+ cells, CD5- cells displayed very little or no {3H}thymidine incorporation in response to SAC or to a mu Ab and their poor responsiveness was not altered by changing either the doses of the stimulants, the timing of the cultures, by co-culturing the cells together with CD5+ cells, or by adding IL 2 or IL 4 . Immunofluorescence studies showed that freshly prepared CD5- cells did not have surface activation markers but that they expressed them following SAC stimulation . Thus, unlike that observed for CD5+ cells, SAC seems to be capable of activating CD5- cells but does not appear to be a sufficient stimulus for driving the cells into the subsequent phases of the cell cycle . The above findings, that demonstrate marked differences in the response to CD5+ and CD5- cells to thymus-independent stimuli, may bear relevance for the understanding of the normal clonal expansion of CD5+ cells as well as for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Eur J Haematol, 1991 Feb, 46(2), 112 - 8
In vitro functions of neutrophils induced by treatment with rhG-CSF in severe congenital neutropenia; Roesler J et al.; Neutrophils (and monocytes) from 5 patients suffering from severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) were investigated in vitro after induction of this cell type by treatment with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) in vivo . Some abnormal morphological features were seen, such as anomalies of nuclei of phagocytes . No limitations were found 1) in the ability of neutrophils and monocytes to produce reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) following stimulation with phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA), 2) in the ability of neutrophils to phagocytose particles of zymosan A and to produce ROI simultaneously and 3) in the ability to kill bacteria of the species staphylococcus aureus . However the specific migration of neutrophils in a gradient of FMLP under soft agar was decreased to approximately 50% in all patients tested as compared to healthy controls . In addition, spontaneous motility was decreased in one patient . Nevertheless, the good clinical improvements of patients suffering from SCN after treatment with rh G-CSF appeared to be due to induction of neutrophils displaying overall good functional activities with respect to natural defense.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Feb, 17(2), 83 - 94
Wound infection under occlusive dressings; Hutchinson JJ et al.; It is often supposed that occlusive dressings potentiate wound infection . However, even though heavy colonization by skin and wound flora is often seen under certain types of occlusion, clinical infection is not a frequent occurrence . Commensal wound flora consists of a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms and fungi which do not appear to be detrimental to healing . Certain aspects of wound healing may in fact be promoted by bacterial colonization, although clinical infection can lead to wound breakdown and systemic infection . Wounds compromised by devitalized tissue, drains or sutures are more susceptible than clean wounds to clinical infection . Occlusive dressings may help prevent infection by presenting a barrier to potential pathogens, and hydrocolloid occlusive dressings have been shown to prevent dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . The rate of clinical infection as deduced from published trials of dressings is lower under occlusion than when non-occlusive dressings are used, and this is likely to be a result of normal activity of the host defences under occlusive dressings.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Feb, 17(2), 133 - 7
Efficacy of mupirocin nasal ointment in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in chronic haemodialysis patients; Holton DL et al.; Topical 2% mupirocin ointment eradicated chronic Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage immediately post-therapy in 17 (77%) of 22 haemodialysis patients . Mean time to recurrence was 3.8 weeks . Similar pre-therapy and post-therapy phage types occurred in 12 (71%) of 17 patients . Staphylococcus aureus infections developed in none of 17 successfully treated patients, two of five treatment failures (P = 0.05), and 10 of 46 untreated patients studied concurrently (P = 0.03).

Biokhimiia, 1991 Feb, 56(2), 281 - 8
{Isoelectric focusing of methylation and restriction enzymes from Staphylococcus aureus strain 6782}; Arutiunian EE et al.; The behaviour of methylation and restriction enzymes of Staphylococcus aureus 6782 during their isoelectrofocusing on ampholinese was studied . It was found that the RSau 6782 isoenzyme is represented by two isoforms, RI and RII, with isoelectric points of 4.2 and 7.9, respectively . Data from isoelectrofocusing analysis suggest that RI and R II are devoid of relaxed specificity found in the original preparation . In was shown that the relaxed specificity is also inherent in the isoschisomeric enzyme, RSau3A . Isoelectrofocusing of the original preparation RSau3A, as in case with RSau 6782, allows the identification of two peaks, RI and RII, and the separation of each peak from the "trace" activity . Multiple forms of DNA-methylase of the Sau 6782 type are represented by four isoenzymes possessing acidic properties . The method allows one to single out from the total methylase pool a modifying methylase with p1 (3.9) is close to that of RSau 6782 and thus the enzyme cannot serve for correct separation of restriction and methylation enzymes of Sau 6782.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 12(2), 46 - 50
Generation of deletions in pTV1ts following transformation of Staphylococcus aureus protoplasts; Luchansky JB et al.; Plasmid pTV1ts was introduced into Staphylococcus aureus by transformation of protoplasts at frequencies ranging from 6.6 x 10(1) to 2.8 x 10(5) per micrograms of DNA when selection was made for resistance to chloramphenicol and erythromycin, respectively . Phenotypic analysis of regenerated transformants demonstrated three distinct classes . Analysis of the plasmid profiles of several isolates revealed that two classes harboured deleted pTV1ts derivatives.

J Immunol, 1991 Jan 15, 146(2), 735 - 41
Signal transduction events and Fc gamma R engagement in human neutrophils stimulated with immune complexes; Walker BA et al.; Signal transduction events have been evaluated in human neutrophils stimulated with immune complexes consisting of polyclonal rabbit antibody complexed with BSA . Immune complexes induced dose-related O2- responses, but very small increases in intracellular calcium ({Ca2+}i) levels were observed, in contrast to FMLP-stimulated cells . Measurements employing {45Ca2+} demonstrated that calcium influx and efflux in cells stimulated with immune complexes was substantially less than fluxes found in FMLP-stimulated cells . With respect to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) formation under conditions in which the O2- responses to immune complexes or FMLP were similar, the Ins(1,4,5)P3 response to immune complexes was much smaller (by 65%) as compared to that induced by FMLP . Although pertussis toxin-treated cells showed a greatly diminished O2- response (by 89%) to FMLP, the response to immune complexes was largely resistant (only 26% reduction) to the inhibitory effects of this toxin . Antibodies to Fc gamma R indicated that engagement of Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII, but not Fc gamma RI, receptors was related to the O2- response of neutrophils to immune complexes . O2- formation occurred in neutrophils incubated with Staphylococcus aureus cell walls bearing antibodies to Fc gamma RII or Fc gamma RIII . These data indicate that, in human neutrophils stimulated with immune complexes, signal transduction events involve engagement of Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII . The O2- response is largely pertussis-toxin insensitive, is not associated with a significant increase in levels of {Ca2+}i, and is associated with relatively little formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 . This is in contrast to cells stimulated with FMLP in which O2- responses are largely pertussis toxin-sensitive and associated with large increases in {Ca2+}i as well as formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 . Signal transduction events involving Fc gamma R appear to be quite different from those events related to engagement of FMLP receptors.

Br Dent J, 1991 Jan 19, 170(2), 63 - 4
Two cases of oral infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Martin MV et al.; Two cases of oral infection with multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are described who were found to carry the same MRSA . Both cases were managed without the use of antibiotics . The practitioner was found not to have worn gloves routinely and this may have been the source of the MRSA.

Nature, 1991 Jan 17, 349(6306), 245 - 8
Programmed cell death and extrathymic reduction of Vbeta8+ CD4+ T cells in mice tolerant to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B; Kawabe Y et al.; Clonal deletion and functional inactivation of self-reactive cells have been invoked as mechanisms underlying intrathymic development of T-cell tolerance . The relative importance of these mechanisms in the development of tolerance of more mature, peripheral T cells either to self or to exogenous antigens is unclear, although recent data relate the development of T-cell tolerance in the periphery to clonal anergy . We have now investigated the induction of extrathymic tolerance using BALB/c mice that were made tolerant to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B, a superantigen which specifically interacts in such mice with T cells bearing V beta 8 antigen receptors . Both euthymic and athymic mice made tolerant to S . aureus enterotoxin B had a markedly reduced number of V beta 8.1,2+ CD4+ peripheral T cells . This reduction was accompanied by genomic DNA fragmentation that is associated with cell death . These results indicate that a deletional mechanism can contribute to the induction of T-cell tolerance in peripheral lymphoid cells.

J Biol Chem, 1991 Jan 15, 266(2), 1001 - 7
Amino acid sequences of the two subunits of a phospholipase A2 inhibitor from the blood plasma of Trimeresurus flavoviridis . Sequence homologies with pulmonary surfactant apoprotein and animal lectins; Inoue S et al.; Phospholipase A2 inhibitor (PLI), purified from the blood plasma of the Habu snake (Trimeresurus flavoviridis), was separated into two distinct subunits, PLI-A and PLI-B . These subunits were shown to be glycoproteins with molecular weights of around 21,000-22,000 . When they were deglycosylated chemically with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, the molecular weights were found to be 17,000 . Their amino acid sequences were determined by alignment of peptides obtained by lysyl endopeptidase digestion and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestion . PLI-A and PLI-B were each composed of 147 amino acid residues with one residue, Asn103, being for N-linked glycosylation, and the molecular weights of their protein portions were calculated to be 16,368 and 16,408, respectively . Each subunit contained four cysteine residues, all of which exist in disulfide linkages (Cys64-Cys141 and Cys119-Cys133) . The sequences of PLI-A and PLI-B showed 89.9% homology to each other . When the sequences were compared with those of lipocortins, no significant homologies were detected . But the sequences were significantly homologous to those of COOH-terminal carbohydrate recognition portions of pulmonary surfactant apoprotein and animal lectins.

Ann Intern Med, 1991 Jan 15, 114(2), 107 - 12
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcal colonization and infection in a long-term care facility; Muder RR et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine the natural history of colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among patients in a long-term care facility . We specifically sought to determine if MRSA colonization was predictive of subsequent infection . DESIGN: Cohort study . SETTING: Long-term Veterans Affairs Medical Center . PATIENTS: A total of 197 patients residing on two units were followed with regular surveillance cultures of the anterior nares . MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The development of staphylococcal infection . RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were persistent carriers of MRSA and 44 were persistent carriers of methicillin-susceptible strains (MSSA) . Twenty-five percent of MRSA carriers had an episode of staphylococcal infection compared with 4% of MSSA carriers and 4.5% of non-carriers (P less than 0.01; relative risk 3.8; 95% CI, 2.0 to 6.4) . The rate of development of infection among MRSA carriers was 15% for every 100 days of carriage . Using logistic regression analysis, persistent MRSA carriage was the most significant predictor of infection (P less than 0.001; odds ratio, 3.7) . Seventy-three percent of all MRSA infections occurred among MRSA carriers . Isolates of MRSA from 7 patients were typed . Colonizing and infecting strains had the same phage type in all 7 patients and the same pattern of plasmid EcoRI restriction endonuclease fragments in 5 patients . CONCLUSIONS: Colonization of the anterior nares by MRSA predicts the development of staphylococcal infection in long-term care patients; most infections arise from endogenously carried strains . Colonization by MRSA indicates a significantly greater risk for infection than does colonization by MSSA . The results offer a theoretic rationale for reduction in MRSA infections by interventions aimed at eliminating the carrier state.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jan 15, 61(2-3), 195 - 8
Cloning of the gene conferring resistance to mupirocin in Staphylococcus aureus; Dyke KG et al.; A plasmid known to be associated with mupirocin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus has been isolated and a restriction enzyme map constructed . An EcoRI fragment of 4.05 kb from this plasmid has been cloned into an Escherichia coli-Staphylococcus aureus shuttle vector and shown to carry the gene for resistance to mupirocin . The DNA sequence of a small section of the gene has been determined and the derived amino acid sequence compared with a data bank . The amino acid sequence is identical for eight amino acids with the sequence of isoleucyl tRNA synthetase of E . coli . This finding adds to the evidence that mupirocin resistance is the result of a modified isoleucyl tRNA synthetase.

Ann Intern Med, 1991 Jan 15, 114(2), 101 - 6
Elimination of coincident Staphylococcus aureus nasal and hand carriage with intranasal application of mupirocin calcium ointment; Reagan DR et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of mupirocin calcium ointment in the elimination of Staphylococcus aureus nasal and hand carriage in healthy persons . DESIGN: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial . SETTING: Clinical research unit of a tertiary medical center . SUBJECTS: Health care workers with stable S . aureus nasal carriage . INTERVENTIONS: Subjects (n = 68) were randomly assigned to receive either mupirocin or placebo intranasally twice daily for 5 days . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Cultures of the hands and nares were obtained at baseline and 72 hours after therapy . The nares were also cultured 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after therapy . Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA were used to confirm strain identity . There were no serious side effects . Mupirocin decreased the frequency of S . aureus nasal carriage at each time interval: At 3 months, 71% of subjects receiving mupirocin remained free of nasal S . aureus compared with 18% of controls . This difference (53%; 95% CI; 26% to 80%) was significant (P less than 0.0001) . Additionally, analysis of plasmid patterns showed that 79% of subjects in the mupirocin group were free of the initial colonizing strain at 3 months . The proportion of hand cultures positive for S . aureus in the mupirocin group after therapy was lower than in the placebo group (2.9% compared with 57.6%) . This difference (53%; 95 CI, 30% to 80%) was significant, after adjustment for the frequency of hand carriage at baseline (P less than 0.0001) . CONCLUSIONS: When applied intranasally for 5 days, mupirocin calcium ointment is safe and effective in eliminating S . aureus nasal carriage in healthy persons for up to 3 months and appears to have a corresponding effect on hand carriage at 72 hours after therapy.

J Immunol, 1991 Jan 15, 146(2), 438 - 43
Single amino acid substitution alters T cell determinant selection during antigen processing of Staphylococcus aureus nuclease; Liu ZR et al.; The effect of amino acid residues outside of T cell determinant regions of Staphylococcus aureus nuclease (Nase) on the activation of T cell hybridomas has been investigated . T cell hybridomas derived from BALB/c mice immunized with Nase were screened against a nested set of overlapping synthetic peptides spanning the entire Nase molecule . Five regions of Nase, encompassing residues 1 to 20, 21 to 40, 61 to 80, 101 to 120, and 112 to 130, were found to be the T cell determinants . Region 61 to 80 is the immunodominant site . Mutants of Nase with a single amino acid substitution outside the defined T cell determinants were tested for their ability to stimulate the T cell hybridomas . The substitution of arginine for glutamic acid at residue 43 markedly reduces the antigenic potency of the protein for I-Ed restricted T cell hybridomas, which recognize Nase peptides comprised of residues 21 to 40 (p21-40) or 112 to 130 (p112-130) . In contrast, the stimulatory capacity of this mutant for I-Ad restricted T cell hybridomas remains unchanged . Our results suggest that selective regulation of an immune response may be achieved by appropriately mutagenizing protein Ag.

J Immunol, 1991 Jan 15, 146(2), 492 - 9
The role of CD11a/CD18-CD54 interactions in human T cell-dependent B cell activation; Tohma S et al.; The role of leukocyte function-associated Ag-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1, CD54) interactions in human T cell and B cell collaboration was examined by studying the effect of mAb to these determinants on B cell proliferation and differentiation stimulated by culturing resting B cells with CD4+ T cells activated with immobilized mAb to the CD3 molecular complex . In this model system, mAb to either the alpha (CD11a) or beta (CD18) chain of LFA-1 or ICAM-1 (CD54) inhibited B cell responses significantly . The mAb did not directly inhibit B cell function, inasmuch as T cell-independent activation induced by formalinized Staphylococcus aureus and IL-2 was not suppressed . Moreover, DNA synthesis and IL-2 production by immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells were not suppressed by the mAb to LFA-1 or ICAM-1 . Although the mAb to LFA-1 inhibited enhancement of IL-2 production by co-culture of immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells with B cells, addition of exogenous IL-2 or supernatants of mitogen-activated T cells could not abrogate the inhibitory effects of the mAb to LFA-1 or ICAM-1 on B cell responses . Inhibition was most marked when the mAb were present during the initial 24 h in culture . Immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated LFA-1-negative CD4+ T cell clones from a child with leukocyte adhesion deficiency could induce B cell responses, which were inhibited by mAb to LFA-1 or ICAM-1 . These results indicate that the interactions between LFA-1 and ICAM-1 play an important role in mediating the collaboration between activated CD4+ T cells and B cells necessary for the induction of B cell proliferation and differentiation, and for enhancement of IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells . Moreover, the data are consistent with a model of T cell-B cell collaboration in which interactions between LFA-1 on resting B cells and ICAM-1 on activated CD4+ T cells play a critical role in initial T cell-dependent B cell activation.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 Jan 10, 1091(1), 15 - 21
Release of a membrane surface glycoprotein from human platelets by phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase(s) C; Dhar A et al.; Phosphatidylinositol (PI) specific phospholipase C (PIase C) treatment of human platelets caused release of a surface glycoprotein in the medium . Human blood platelets were isolated by low speed centrifugation and surface glycoproteins were labelled with periodate/{3H}borohydride procedure . Intact surface-labelled platelets were treated with PIase C purified from culture filtrates of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) or Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) . After PIase C treatments platelets were spun at low speed, pellet and supernatant were separated . The supernatant was further centrifuged at high speed (140,000 x g) for 30 min . The resulting supernatant and the pellet from low speed were subjected to SDS-PAGE analysis . Protein patterns were obtained by fluorography . Release of a specific glycoprotein of approx . 150 kDa in the medium was observed due to the PIase C treatment . Prolonged incubation of platelets in 0.25 M sucrose and depletion of NaCl concentrations also affected the release of this glycoprotein . BT-PIase C released more approx . 150 kDa protein than SA-PIase C . Western blot experiment with a monoclonal antibody (mAB), epitope SZ2, reactive to human platelet surface glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) complex, confirmed that released 150 kDa glycoprotein reacted with mAB of GPIb . The release of this protein by PIase C was not inhibited by proteinase inhibitors (EDTA, PMSF and leupeptin) . Treatment of human platelet membranes with PIase C also caused release of this glycoprotein as evidenced by reactivity to GPIb-mAB . These studies demonstrate that PIase C treatment causes release of 150 kDa glycoprotein from human platelet membrane surface . It is suggested that 150 kDa glycoprotein is anchored to PI in human platelets and that this glycoprotein represents the GPIb complex.

Res Microbiol, 1991 Jan, 142(1), 75 - 85
Improved purification of leukocidin from Staphylococcus aureus and toxin distribution among hospital strains; Finck-Barbancon V et al.; For purification of F and S components of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin, an easy three-step method using fast protein liquid chromatography was developed to replace the time-consuming purification procedures previously published . This technique enabled the recovery of 13 and 17 mg of purified F and S, respectively, per litre of culture supernatant . Affinity-purified neutralizing polyclonal antibodies were obtained against each individual component . One hundred and thirty-nine Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from various clinical samples of hospitalized patients were screened by immunoprecipitation for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) production . Only 8 strains produced PVL; all originated from injured superficial soft tissues . Contrary to widespread opinion, the 8 PVL-producing strains were never associated with severe infection.

Rev Port Cardiol, 1991 Jan, 10(1), 53 - 7
{Pseudoaneurysm of the outflow chamber of the left ventricle as a complication of bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve -- a clinical case}; Almeida J et al.; After reporting a clinical case of a patient with a Staphylococcus Aureus Acute Endocarditis involving the aortic valve being complicated with cardiac failure irresponsive to medical treatment, which required a surgical procedure, the authors describe the preoperative echocardiography features . These features have the particularity of identifying a pseudoaneurysm rising in the outflow tract of the left ventricle, that involves the annulus and the anterior mitral leaflet, opening into the left atrium . They also take the opportunity to review the main local complications of Infective Endocarditis, affecting native or prosthetic valves, and make some comments on the diagnostic echocardiographic possibilities.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Jan, 27(1), 117 - 26
Efficacy of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in the rat; Catherall EJ et al.; The efficacy of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid was compared with that of flucloxacillin, vancomycin and amoxycillin in an experimental model of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis . Doses of the antibiotics were selected to produce peak concentrations in rat serum similar to those achievable in man after administration of parenteral therapeutic doses . Amoxycillin clavulanic acid was more effective than amoxycillin alone against endocarditis caused by beta-lactamase producing strains of Staph . aureus, illustrating the beta-lactamase inhibitory activity of clavulanic acid in vivo . Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid was as effective as flucloxacillin in these infections whereas vancomycin was generally less active . These results illustrate the clinical potential of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in the prophylaxis, or in the therapy of severe staphylococcal infections.

Tohoku J Exp Med, 1991 Jan, 163(1), 31 - 7
Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using polymerase chain reaction amplification; Tokue Y et al.; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) . This procedure amplified a segment of MRSA-PBP (penicillin-binding protein) gene of DNA extract from the clinical isolates of S . aureus . A 1339-base-pair fragment of MRSA-PBP gene in DNA from S . aureus (MIC of methicillin, greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml) was amplified and detected by a specific oligonucleotide probe . Moreover, a 4.3 kb HindIII fragment containing MRSA-PBP gene was detected by using the same oligonucleotide probe . On the other hand, no PCR-amplified product was detected in DNA from methicillin-sensitive S . aureus (MIC of methicillin, less than 16 micrograms/ml).

J Clin Apheresis, 1991, 6(1), 1 - 10
Minimal toxicity during protein A immunoadsorption treatment of malignant disease: an outpatient therapy; Snyder HW Jr et al.; Extracorporeal removal or modulation of circulating immune complexes (CIC) from plasma of animals and humans with malignant disease may be associated with induction of immune-mediated anti-tumor responses . Immunoadsorption columns containing heat-killed and formalin-fixed Staphylococcus aureus or staphylococcal protein A have been used for this purpose but treatments have often been associated with cardiopulmonary toxicity . Recently, an immunoadsorption device containing highly purified protein A covalently attached to a silica matrix (PROSORBA column) was used to treat 142 patients with refractory malignancies and 22 of 104 patients evaluated for anti-tumor response had objectively measurable reduction in tumor burden . In contrast to earlier experience with other devices, the procedures used in this trial were well tolerated and could be performed on an outpatient basis . The most common side effects observed among 1,306 treatments were chills (28% of treatments), low grade fever (28%), and musculoskeletal pain (16%) . Side effects were mild to moderate and required no treatment or only symptomatic treatment . Treatment schedules were interrupted due to side effects for only six patients and there were no treatment-related deaths . Of 64 patients available for long-term follow-up evaluation (mean of 11 months), none exhibited evidence of long-term treatment-related side effects . None of the patient deaths in that period were associated with short or long-term treatment-related side effects . Protein A-silica (PROSORBA columns) can be used safely for development of further experimental treatments of malignant disease.

Rheumatol Int, 1991, 10(6), 235 - 9
Induction of IgM and IgM-rheumatoid factor synthesis in vitro by indomethacin; Hassan J et al.; Indomethacin, which is thought to exert its therapeutic effect by inhibiting the synthesis of PGE2, is a commonly used first-line agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . However, the effect of this drug on the humoral immune response in RA remains unclear . In this study, modulation of the in vitro synthesis of IgM and IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF) by indomethacin and prostaglandin E2 was examined in 11 patients with active RA and 10 normal controls . Indomethacin at a final concentration of 1 microgram/ml significantly enhanced IgM production (P less than 0.01) and RF production (P less than 0.02) in Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) stimulated RA cultures when compared to controls in whom no net enhancement effect was observed . In the patients, this increase in IgM production was more pronounced than the corresponding increase in RF synthesis (P = 0.078), suggesting that IgM and IgM-RF-secreting RA plasma cells have different susceptibilities to PGE2 mediated suppression . Nonetheless, addition of PGE2 (10(-8) M final concentration) to the cultures inhibited IgM and RF production to a similar degree in the patient and control cultures . These findings demonstrate that PGE2 causes suppression of IgM and IgM auto-antibody production in vitro and that inhibition of endogenous PGE2 synthesis in RA patients treated with indomethacin results in a marked increase in the production of these antibodies.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1991 Jan, 44(1), 58 - 61
{Transferability of cefpirome to cerebrospinal fluid of rabbits with meningitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus}; Haruta T et al.; The transferability of cefpirome (HR810, CPR) to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied employing rabbits with experimental meningitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus . The mean serum concentration was 362 +/- 6.63 micrograms/ml at 15 minutes after intravenous administration of the drug at a dose level of 100 mg/kg . The mean concentration in CSF was maximum at 60 minutes after administration, and the mean maximum concentration was 14.6 +/- 2.85 micrograms/ml . Pharmacokinetic parameters calculated from these values were as follows, Cmax (CSF/serum): 4.04%; AUC (CSF/serum): 5.14% between 15 and 60 minutes, 8.12% between 15 and 120 minutes and 10.4% between 15 and 180 minutes; T 1/2 for CPR in CSF: 154 minutes; T 1/2 (CSF/serum): 3.96 . In comparison to those of other beta-lactam antibiotics which were obtained in the same way, the transferability of CPR was intermediate, but the peak CSF level was high, and in consideration of the antimicrobial potency against the main pathogens of meningitis, it appears worthwhile of running clinical trials for this drug.

Minerva Pediatr, 1991 Jan-Feb, 43(1-2), 11 - 7
{Nosocomial infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a pediatric intensive care unit}; Tuo P et al.; We performed an epidemiological investigation owing to the appearance between February and March 1988, of subsequent MRSA infections in our ICU; we also started a checking scheme . At the same time we performed a retrospective-perspective study of 701 patients (310 newborns 391 not newborns) admitted into ICU from 1-1-1987 to 30-6-1988 . This study allowed us to settle the presence of MRSA in ICU and the manner in which they become infected . From our study the 4.9% of our patients contracted hospital infections and the 34.2% of these were MRSA infections . The 39.7% of our colonized patients were MRSA . It is really significant the frequency of MRSA colonization (p less than 0.0005) among newborn patients compared with other age patients; in the meantime there is not statistical significance in the frequency of MRSA hospital infections among the two groups . The results of our study show that infections were probably transmitted by the hands of the members of staff and that the reservoir of MRSA are tracheostomized hosts or long term ventilated patients.

J Dairy Sci, 1991 Jan, 74(1), 124 - 31
Beta-carotene and vitamin A effects on bovine phagocyte function in vitro during the peripartum period; Daniel LR et al.; The effects of in vitro supplementation of beta-carotene, retinol, and retinoic acid on phagocyte function during the peripartum period were assessed . Blood was collected at wk -4, -1, 0 (calving), 1, and 4; mammary secretions were collected at wk -1, 0, 1, and 4 from 14 Holstein cows for the isolation of phagocytic cells . Blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mammary macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (phagocytic cells) were assayed for phagocytic and intracellular kill abilities of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of beta-carotene and retinol at 10(-8) and 10(-7) M and retinoic acid at 10(-9) and 10(-8) M . Phagocytosis by blood or milk phagocytic cells was not influenced by beta-carotene . However, beta-carotene enhanced kill by blood and milk phagocytic cells during certain prepartum and post-partum periods . In contrast to beta-carotene, retinol and retinoic acid either had no effect or suppressed phagocytosis and kill . These results are interpreted to suggest a mechanism by which beta-carotene affords the mammary gland protection against infection, i.e., through enhanced intracellular kill by phagocytes.

Vet Microbiol, 1991 Jan, 26(1-2), 161 - 6
Cytotoxic activity of Staphylococcus hyicus; Allaker RP et al.; Culture supernatants from a number of Staphylococcus hyicus strains caused toxic effects to both murine fibroblast and porcine keratinocyte cells in culture . The extent of cytotoxicity was shown to differ between strains and may provide an indication of strain virulence . Purification of cytotoxic activity produced by S . hyicus (strain P119) using preparative isoelectric-focussing demonstrated it to be cytolytic, haemolytic and non-proteolytic . The cytotoxin demonstrates certain properties in common with the delta haemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus.

Chemotherapy, 1991, 37(1), 50 - 6
Effects of antibiotics on nonopsonized adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Kohada A et al.; We investigated the effects of several antibiotics on the adherence of Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209P to polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Sublethal concentrations of aminoglycosides enhanced staphylococcal adherence to polymorphonuclear leukocytes, whereas beta-lactams, minocycline, ofloxacin and clindamycin decreased the adherence . Chloramphenicol and rokitamycin had no effect . It is likely that the adherence following antibiotic treatment is related to cell surface hydrophobicity determined by the measurement of the contact angle of 1-bromonaphthalene on a monolayer of staphylococcal cells.

J Lipid Res, 1991 Jan, 32(1), 165 - 71
Amino acid sequence of rabbit apolipoprotein E; Lee BR et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of rabbit apolipoprotein E (apoE) was determined by generating three sets of peptides using cyanogen bromide, endoproteinase AspN, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease to cleave the protein . Through twenty cycles of sequence analysis on the whole protein, glutamic acid was identified as the N-terminal residue of rabbit apoE; the C-terminus of the protein was identified as glutamine . Based on the sequence of 294 amino acid residues determined by protein structure analysis, the molecular weight of rabbit apoE was determined to be 33,684 . The protein sequence differed from the cDNA inferred sequence in 19 positions, only one of which could be attributed to microheterogeneity . The corrected amino acid sequence of rabbit apoE shares 80% homology with the human apoE sequence, 4% greater homology than that inferred from the cDNA sequence . The great similarity in the amino acid sequences of human and rabbit apoE suggests that their physical and physiological properties may also be similar . This homology and the relative ease with which apoE is isolated from rabbit plasma make it possible to conduct some in vitro experiments with the rabbit apoprotein that would have direct relevance to human apoE, but would be difficult or impossible with the human counterpart because of the quantity of protein required.

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1991 Jan-Feb, 32(1), 38 - 41
Mediastinitis after open heart surgery . Analysis of risk factors and management; Kutsal A et al.; Mediastinitis developed following 58 of 8803 operative procedures involving median sternotomy at Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital . There were 40 men and 18 women . Mediastinitis occurred within, on average, 10 days after the operation . No positive cultures were obtained in 37 patients; Staphylococcus aureus was the responsible pathogen in 18, Escherichia coli in 2, and Enterococcus in 1 patients . Thirty patients had a valve procedure, 24 aortocoronary bypass grafting, 1 a total correction for tetralogy of Fallot, 1 a primary closure of an atrial septal defect, and 2 had Bentall's procedure for an ascending aortic aneurysm . Fifty patients were treated by radical debridement and closed irrigation of the mediastinum with antibiotic solutions and 8 patients were treated with sternal debridement and transposition of the omentum . The mortality rate was 36% for the former, and 12.5% for the latter technique . Omentum transposition promoted rapid healing with a low mortality rate.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Jan, 10(1), 6 - 11
Control of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Dutch university hospital; Vandenbroucke-Grauls CM et al.; Between 1986 and 1989 a single strain of a methicillin- and multiply-resistant Staphylococcus aureus caused three distinct outbreaks at Utrecht University Hospital, involving 11, 19 and 32 patients, respectively . In all three episodes, members of staff were screened for MRSA carriage, and 58 persons were found to have positive nose cultures . In each outbreak it became necessary to isolate colonized and infected patients on a separate isolation ward . Staff carriers were also treated . Over the 18 months since the last outbreak, no new acquisitions of this epidemic MRSA strain have occurred . Between 1986 and 1989, the strain which caused the three outbreaks was not the only MRSA strain which was introduced into the hospital . Six other strains, which differed from the epidemic strain as shown by phage typing and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, were found in single patients . The experience at Utrecht University Hospital illustrates the need for strict measures to eradicate epidemic strains of MRSA as well as the differences in "epidemicity" among various strains of MRSA.

J Membr Biol, 1991 Jan, 119(1), 41 - 52
Chemical modification of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin by diethylpyrocarbonate: role of histidines in its membrane-damaging properties; Pederzolli C et al.; Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin causes cell damage by forming an amphiphilic hexamer that inserts into the cell membrane and generates a hydrophilic pore . To investigate the role of the three histidine residues of this toxin we modified them with diethylpyrocarbonate, obtaining N-carbethoxy-histidine whose appearance may be followed spectrophotometrically . Despite the statistical nature of random chemical modification, it was possible to establish that modification of any one of the three histidines was enough to impair alpha-toxin activity on red blood cells and platelets . Two out of three histidines were essential for the interaction of the toxin with model membranes such as lipid vesicles and planar bilayers . Loss of lytic activity in both natural and model membranes was due both to defective binding and to defective oligomerization . When alpha-toxin hexamers inserted into lipid vesicles were assayed for chemical modifiability two histidines per monomer were found to be protected from diethylpyrocarbonate modification, whereas only one was protected after delipidation of the oligomer with a detergent . A possible model for the role of each histidine in the monomer is presented.

Iowa Med, 1991 Jan, 81(1), 17 - 20
Menstrually-related toxic shock syndrome; Helms C et al.; Cases of suspect toxic shock syndrome reported to a state health department were studied . Retrospective examination of 53 definite and 29 probable cases of menstrually-related TSS revealed no significant differences in mean age, proportion with vaginal or cervical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, proportion using tampons, proportion hospitalized and mortality.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jan 1, 61(1), 25 - 30
Turnover of cell surface-bound capsular polysaccharide in Staphylococcus aureus; Hancock IC et al.; The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Staphylococcus aureus strain Smith was labelled by growth of bacteria in the presence of radioactive N-acetylglucosamine and was separated from labelled cell wall components by affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin following dissolution of the cells by lysostaphin . The products were partially characterised chemically and immunochemically . Similar labelled components were found in the culture fluid during growth . In a pulse-chase experiment, cell-bound CPS was released continuously into the culture fluid at the same rate as cell wall turnover and there was no evidence of direct excretion of CPS.

Gastroenterol Nurs, 1991 Winter, 13(3), 169 - 71
MRSA-what is it?
Shoop NM.
Even though today's gastroenterology nurses and associates use universal precautions when performing or assisting with patient procedures, continuously updated information is still needed regarding rapidly evolving infectious organisms to prevent the transmission of serious infections . Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a widespread nosocomial pathogen . Many infections can be prevented if potential sources of infection are identified, the principle routes of transmission are understood, and the most susceptible patients . are recognized and protected from exposure . All health care personnel are potential vectors for this organism, mandating that the infectious potential of MRSA be fully appreciated.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1991 Jan, 12(1), 46 - 54
Should we vigorously try to contain and control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus?
Boyce JM.
OBJECTIVE: To review practices currently used to control transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals, determine the frequency of their use, and discuss the indications for implementing such measures . DESIGN: A questionnaire survey to determine how commonly selected control practices are used, and a literature review of the efficacy of control practices . PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-six of 360 hospital-based members fo the Society for Hospital Epidemiology of America, Inc . (SHEA) completed the survey questionnaire . RESULTS: Many different combinations of surveillance and control measures are used by hospitals with MRSA . Nine percent of hospitals stated that no special measures were used to control MRSA . The efficacy of commonly used control measures has not been established by controlled trials . CONCLUSIONS: Implementing control measures is warranted when MRSA causes a high incidence of serious nosocomial infections, and is desirable when MRSA has been newly introduced into a hospital or into an intensive care unit, or when MRSA accounts for more than 10% of nosocomial staphylococcal isolates . While the value of some practices is well established, measures such as routinely attempting to eradicate carriage of MRSA by colonized patients and personnel require further evaluation.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1991 Jan, 12(1), 36 - 45
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in extended-care facilities: experiences in a Veterans' Affairs nursing home and a review of the literature; Strausbaugh LJ et al.; OBJECTIVES: To delineate the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a nursing home care unit (NHCU), determine its consequences, and discuss this experience in the context of reports from other nursing homes . DESIGN: Observational and descriptive; routine and special surveillance for MRSA, including a facility-wide prevalence survey; characterization of MRSA isolates by disk diffusion and agar dilution susceptibility studies and restriction enzyme analysis of plasmid (REAP) DNA . SETTING AND PATIENTS: A 120-bed skilled nursing facility that is an integral part of the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Portland, Oregon . The patients are predominantly elderly men with severe underlying diseases and functional impairments . RESULTS: An asymptomatic carrier brought MRSA into the NHCU in December 1987 . During the next 15 months, 24 additional MRSA cases were detected . A prevalence survey conducted in March 1989 indicated that 39 (34%) of the 114 patients and 8 (7%) of the 117 employees were colonized or infected with MRSA . All strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin . REAP DNA indicated that 37 of 41 strains recovered in the March survey had identical patterns . Although 16 episodes of MRSA infection occurred in NHCU residents during 1988 through 1989, the outbreak had little effect on overall patterns of infectious morbidity and mortality in the facility . The outbreak, however, did result in an increased MRSA caseload at the medical center's acute-care division . CONCLUSIONS: During the last three years, MRSA colonization and infection have become common in the NHCU at the Portland VAMC; this experience parallels that reported by several nursing homes in other parts of the country.

J Gerontol Nurs, 1991 Jan, 17(1), 6 - 11
Universal precautions: how effective are they against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus?
Pritchard VG, Sanders N.
1 . Because MRSA is commonly carried asymptomatically, colonized patients and caregivers are usually not recognized . During outbreaks, colonized and infected patients act as reservoirs and caregivers become transient carriers . 2 . Because universal precautions and body substance isolation were originally developed in response to the AIDS epidemic to meet the safety needs of hospital caregivers, the use of universal precautions in extended care facilities should be further studied and refined . 3 . In planning for effective training, enforcement, and compliance with universal precautions, it is essential that employees understand not only the importance of protecting themselves, but also the need to prevent cross-infection . 4 . If a patient has an MRSA respiratory tract infection, the environment, including the air, may become heavily contaminated . Caregivers should wear masks to prevent nasal colonization.

Eur J Immunol, 1991 Jan, 21(1), 137 - 41
Nerve growth factor specifically induces human IgG4 production; Kimata H et al.; The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on human IgG4 production was studied . NGF specifically enhanced IgG4 production in cultures of human tonsillar mononuclear cells without affecting production of other isotypes or other IgG subclasses . Optimal enhancement of IgG4 production by NGF required the presence of T cells . However, NGF induced significant IgG4 production by small resting B cells in the absence of T cells, and this production was enhanced by stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC) . In contrast to small B cells, large activated B cells produced IgG4 spontaneously; this production was enhanced by NGF . NGF also enhanced IgM and IgA production by large B cells, while production of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgE was not affected . The enhancement of IgG4 production was blocked by anti-NGF serum but not by control serum . NGF, T cells and SAC, separately or together, failed to induce IgG4 production by surface (sIgG4+)-depleted B cells . In contrast to NGF, other recombinant human cytokines including interleukin (IL) 1 beta, IL 2, IL 4, IL 5, IL 6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon alpha and gamma failed to induce IgG4 production . These results suggest that NGF directly and preferentially stimulates activated sIgG4+ B cells to produce IgG4.

J Nucl Med, 1991 Jan, 32(1), 67 - 75
Indium-111-chloride and three-phase bone scintigraphy: a comparison for imaging experimental osteomyelitis; Hoskinson JJ et al.; To investigate the utility of indium-111-chloride (111In-Cl) imaging in detecting osteomyelitis complicating surgical or fracture sites, the proximal tibia of 11 dogs were experimentally infected with Staphylococcus aureus after creation of a cortical defect . The contralateral limb served as a sham-operated control . Animals were serially imaged by radiography, three-phase technetium-99m-methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) scintigraphy, and 111In-Cl scintigraphy . There was a significant difference between infected (1.93) and noninfected (1.32) limb's tibia/femur count density ratios on 24-hr (p = 0.0001) and 72-hr (p = 0.0001) 111In-Cl images . A smaller difference was found for 99mTc-MDP bone-phase tibia/femur ratios (p = 0.0199) . Using receiver operator characteristic analysis of tibia/femur ratios, a sensitivity of 61%, specificity of 88%, and positive (75%) and negative (79%) predictive values were determined for the 24-hr 111In-Cl images . Indium-111-chloride was superior to 99mTc-MDP in differentiating infected and noninfected operative sites.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1991 Jan, 83(1), 169 - 74
Immunoglobulin and cytokine production by neonatal lymphocytes; Watson W et al.; Growth and differentiation of cord blood B cells were studied using T cell-depleted populations . In the absence of in vitro activation, cord blood B cells proliferated in response to cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4); anti-mu-stimulated cord B cells had a lesser response to IL-2 than adult cells . IgM synthesis by cord blood B cells was enhanced by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and decreased by IL-2 . In cultures activated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC), cord blood B cells produced lesser increases in IgM than adult B cells regardless of the cytokine added . Cord blood B cells produced no IgG or IgA with any cytokine preparation with or without SAC activation . Supernatants of cord blood T cells pulse-stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate contained less IL-2 and IL-6 and had less growth and differentiation activity than adult T cell supernatants . The results confirm a limited cord blood B cell response and also suggest a limitation in production of B cell stimulatory lymphokines by cord blood T cells.

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1991 Jan, 117(1), 54 - 5
Absence of bacteremia during nasal septoplasty; Silk KL et al.; Episodes of staphylococcal bacteremia resulting in metastatic infection have occurred in association with nasal septoplasty, and this has suggested the possible need for antimicrobial prophylaxis . In a study designed to measure the actual frequency with which transient staphylococcal bacteremia occurs during nasal septoplasty, 50 healthy patients had blood cultures drawn immediately prior to and during the procedure . Although 46% of the 50 patients studied had their nasal mucosa colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, some of the blood cultures obtained from the 50 patients showed bacterial growth . The authors conclude that staphylococcal bacteremia during nasal septoplasty is a rare occurrence, and that antimicrobial prophylaxis is unnecessary.

J Trauma, 1991 Jan, 31(1), 68 - 73
Impairment of specific host defense mechanisms in patients with chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis; Schluter B et al.; We studied both in vivo and in vitro specific host defense mechanisms in patients suffering from chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis (n = 26) . The cell-mediated immunity in vivo was impaired as indicated by the reduced reactivity in the delayed type hypersensitivity skin test . The concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin-induced T-cell proliferation in vitro was markedly decreased in comparison to healthy donors . In contrast, B-cell proliferation stimulated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I was not altered . While the absolute lymphocyte counts and the percentage of T, B, and O cells were within the normal range, nine out of the 26 patients showed a significantly diminished ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells . Humoral immunity in the patients was less affected as assessed by the unchanged serum levels of immunoglobulins (Ig) . However, the T-cell dependent polyclonal Ig synthesis after in vitro stimulation with pokeweed mitogen was suppressed . Our results provide evidence that cell-mediated immune functions are predominantly impaired in patients with post-traumatic osteomyelitis which may contribute to the persistence of the localized bone infection.

Ann Thorac Surg, 1991 Jan, 51(1), 39 - 42
Empyema thoracis: 14-year experience in a teaching center; Smith JA et al.; One hundred two patients with empyema thoracis were managed at the Royal Melbourne Hospital between 1976 and 1989 . Fifty-five cases of empyema thoracis were postpneumonic, 8 followed esophageal rupture, and 5 were associated with thoracic trauma . Some form of systemic illness was a major contributing factor in the presentation of 29 patients . A single causal organism was found in 53 patients (the most common being Staphylococcus aureus), multiple organisms in 36, and no growth in 13 . During the years 1983 to 1989 there was an increased incidence of empyemas caused by multiple or antibiotic-resistant organisms . Operative drainage was required in 90 patients and 12 were managed by thoracentesis or intercostal tube drainage alone . The in-hospital mortality rate for patients managed nonoperatively was 58% (7 of 12 patients); it was 16% (14 of 90 patients) for those receiving operative drainage . There were seven late deaths, four empyema related and three nonrelated . Early adequate operative drainage is recommended for patients with empyema thoracis.

J Exp Med, 1991 Jan 1, 173(1), 137 - 46
cDNA cloning of the B cell membrane protein CD22: a mediator of B-B cell interactions; Wilson GL et al.; We have cloned a full-length cDNA for the B cell membrane protein CD22, which is referred to as B lymphocyte cell adhesion molecule (BL-CAM) . Using subtractive hybridization techniques, several B lymphocyte-specific cDNAs were isolated . Northern blot analysis with one of the clones, clone 66, revealed expression in normal activated B cells and a variety of B cell lines, but not in normal activated T cells, T cell lines, Hela cells, or several tissues, including brain and placenta . One major transcript of approximately 3.3 kb was found in B cells although several smaller transcripts were also present in low amounts (approximately 2.6, 2.3, and 1.6 kb) . Sequence analysis of a full-length cDNA clone revealed an open reading frame of 2,541 bases coding for a predicted protein of 847 amino acids with a molecular mass of 95 kD . The BL-CAM cDNA is nearly identical to a recently isolated cDNA clone for CD22, with the exception of an additional 531 bases in the coding region of BL-CAM . BL-CAM has a predicted transmembrane spanning region and a 140-amino acid intracytoplasmic domain . Search of the National Biological Research Foundation protein database revealed that this protein is a member of the immunoglobulin super family and that it had significant homology with three homotypic cell adhesion proteins: carcinoembryonic antigen (29% identity over 460 amino acids), myelin-associated glycoprotein (27% identity over 425 amino acids), and neural cell adhesion molecule (21.5% over 274 amino acids) . Northern blot analysis revealed low-level BL-CAM mRNA expression in unactivated tonsillar B cells, which was rapidly increased after B cell activation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain 1 and phorbol myristate acetate, but not by various cytokines, including interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-6, and gamma interferon . In situ hybridization with an antisense BL-CAM RNA probe revealed expression in B cell-rich areas in tonsil and lymph node, although the most striking hybridization was in the germinal centers . COS cells transfected with a BL-CAM expression vector were immunofluorescently stained positively with two different CD22 antibodies, each of which recognizes a different epitope . Additionally, both normal tonsil B cells and a B cell line were found to adhere to COS transfected with BL-CAM in the sense but not the antisense direction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

J Infect Dis, 1991 Jan, 163(1), 117 - 21
Mediastinitis following coronary artery bypass surgery: a 3-year review; Gaynes R et al.; Twenty cases of mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass graft operations in 1985-1987 were reviewed to determine risk factors . Two distinct clusters with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain occurred in 1986 . One resident was exposed to six cases but to only 5 of 24 controls (P less than .008) . Cultures of his nares in January and November 1986 revealed the same MRSA strain as that of the cases . An attempt to eradicate the resident's nasal carriage of MRSA in January 1986 failed; eradication of his carrier state was achieved only after treatment with mupirocin . In a case-control study examining patients exposed to the resident, a prolonged duration of surgery (P less than .05) and a preoperative albumin level of less than 3.0 g/dl (P less than .009) were associated with mediastinitis with this MRSA . For the other 14 mediastinitis patients, who were not exposed to the resident, a preoperative albumin level of less than 3.0 g/dl was also a risk factor (8/14 cases vs . 8/43 controls, P less than .009) . Thus, this study suggests that it is important to follow MRSA disseminators and to recognize that preoperative serum albumin levels are a risk factor for mediastinitis.

Arch Microbiol, 1991, 155(6), 549 - 53
Isolation, structural and functional characterization of Staphylococcus aureus protoplasts obtained using lysoamidase; Petrov VV et al.; The action of the lysoamidase bacteriolytic complex on Staphylococcus aureus VKM B-209P cells has been studied to obtain protoplasts . The cells in the midlogarithmic phase were the most sensitive to lysoamidase action . It led to local destruction of cell wall due to hydrolysis of the peptidoglycan . Protoplast formation occurred in two steps in the presence of 1 M sucrose . First, osmotically fragile spheroplasts were formed . Then, the protoplasts were released from the destructed cell wall . The protoplast yield was about 80% . The protoplasts preserved the intact ultrastructure and were able to synthesize peptidoglycan fibrillae . Mainly the spheroplasts that maintained the cell-wall residues reversed into bacterial forms . The protoplasts had respiratory activity similar to cells . Respiration of cells and protoplasts was stimulated by various substrates . High rates of oxygen consumption were observed with alpha-glycerophosphate and ethanol as substrates.

Microbiol Immunol, 1991, 35(5), 405 - 9
Expression of clumping and fibrinogen-binding activities of Staphylococcus aureus at various growth stages; Yonemasu K et al.; Clumping and fibrinogen-binding activities of 4 Staphylococcus aureus strains (Cowan I, Newman D2C, Wood 46 and NCTC 5655) were assayed with a semiquantitative clumping test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively . Distinct positive clumping was detected with whole cells of the 3 strains except Wood 46 . Amounts of fibrinogen required for a definite clumping depended greatly on strains as well as on their growth phases . On the other hand, fibrinogen-binding activities were detected both in culture supernatants and in cell lysates of all the 4 strains, and the levels were rather comparable with one another and relatively steady through their growth cycles . No significant correlation was thus found among expression behavior of clumping and fibrinogen-binding activities.

Microbiol Immunol, 1991, 35(5), 395 - 404
Formation of vesiculated large bodies of Staphylococcus aureus L-form in a liquid medium; Yabu K; A method is described in which cells of Staphylococcus aureus can be converted to vesiculated large bodies of L-form . When coccal cells were incubated in a liquid growth medium containing D-cycloserine, N-acetylmuramidase and subtilisin, a large number of vesiculated large bodies were formed . Electron microscopy revealed that development of internal vesicles arose after 6 hr of incubation. . When growth inhibitory concentrations of rifampicin, novobiocin, or chloramphenicol were added to the culture at 6 hr of incubation, small-sized nonvesiculated bodies were produced instead of vesiculated forms . The viability of cultures was reduced by rifampicin and novobiocin but not by chloramphenicol.

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 1991, 229(5), 468 - 72
Vitreous replacement by gas as a therapeutic modality in bacterial endophthalmitis; Mansour AM et al.; We investigated vitreous replacement by long-lasting gas in the management of severe Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis in 19 rabbits randomized for vitrectomy (9 animals) and for vitrectomy followed by replacement of the vitreous by a 20% perfluoropropane-80% air mixture (10 animals) . Both groups received systemic antibiotics and achieved comparable intraocular antibiotic levels . Clinically and histopathologically, gas-filled eyes demonstrated less inflammation than did eyes without gas (P less than 0.01) . Replacement of vitreous by gas offers an effective adjunct to vitrectomy by eliminating a culture medium, preventing vitreous abscess formation, enabling fundus visualization, and delaying the onset of retinal detachment.

Verh K Acad Geneeskd Belg, 1991, 53(3), 189 - 201; discussion 201-3
{Phagocyte function in uremic patients}; Ringoir S et al.; Phagocytosis is the process where specific cells, phagocytes, ingest foreign material, include it in a cytoplasmatic vacuole, called phagosome, and destroy it . The function of phagocytosis in the immune response has been underevaluated for a very long time . Phagocytosis however, appears to be more and more important in our defense against infection and cancer . The uremic patient presents a well known and increased tendency for infectious disease as well as an increased incidence of cancer . Modern methodology for investigation of phagocytic function consists of: 1 . measuring the respiratory burst during phagocytosis; by examining the radio-active CO2 production during the glucose metabolization of phagocytosis . 2 . During the chemical reaction of the respiratory burst light is produced . This chemiluminescence can be measured in a Lumetron . In uremia the registration of that chemiluminescence can however be disturbed by the presence of uremic toxins, acting as scavengers of free radicals . 3 . Measurement of interleukin-1, interleukin-6 or tumor necrosis factor production during phagocytosis . In the present study, we investigated glucose metabolization and radioactive CO2 production without stimulation and after a challenge with Latex, Zymosan or Staphylococcus Aureus . All tests have been performed on 50 microliter whole blood samples . The following uremic situations have been investigated: 1 . Several degrees of increasing renal failure . 2 . First weeks of hemodialysis maintenance treatment . 3 . Hemodialysis session . 4 . Course of hemodialysis maintenance treatment . 5 . Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and renal transplantation . 6 . Changes after chemical stimulation by a cephalosporin (cefodizime (R)) . The Authors report their detailed results of these investigations and conclude as follows: --uremia is a prototype of acquired immune deficiency . --Contact with bio-incompatible membranes during hemodialysis is disastrous for phagocytosis . --Other toxins than the classical urea or creatinine are apparently responsible for the phagocytic disturbances . --Stimulations of phagocytosis with medication such as the cephalosporin, Cefodizime(R) (Hoechst) is possible.

Perit Dial Int, 1991, 11(3), 233 - 6
Ciprofloxacin in the treatment of gram-positive bacterial peritonitis in patients undergoing CAPD; Perez-Fontan M et al.; Fluoroquinolones may be a good alternative for the treatment of bacterial peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritonitis dialysis (CAPD) . To test their efficiency against Gram-positive bacteria, we treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) ciprofloxac in 30 episodes of Gram-positive bacterial peritonitis without manifest tunnel infection of the peritoneal catheters . Treatment was sustained for 5 days, then orally for 10 further days . Clinical and bacteriological responses were satisfactory in 25 cases, but resolution of infection was slow in 5 cases of Staphylococcus aureus . The minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were 0.0625-0.50 and 0.125-1.0 micrograms/mL respectively, lower than the plasma and dialysate concentrations of the drug . Side effects were negligible . We conclude that ciprofloxacin provides a good therapeutic alternative to more widely used antibiotics for the empirical treatment of peritonitis in patients undergoing CAPD . However, combinations of antibiotics may be necessary, in Staphylococcus aureus peritonitis.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Jan, 274(4), 519 - 26
Effect of sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin and fleroxacin on the bacterial capsular antigen and opsonophagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Keller N et al.; We have studied the effect of sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) of ciprofloxacin and fleroxacin on capsulated (K+) and non-capsulated (K-) Gram-negative bacilli (Escherichia coli O1:K1, O7:K1, O1:K-, O7:K-, and Klebsiella oxytoca) as well as on Staphylococcus aureus and we investigated the interaction of antibiotic pretreated bacteria with human serum and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) . Following overnight growth in the presence of 1/2 MIC of the antibiotics, bacteria were opsonized in human serum and incubated with PMN . Opsonophagocytosis was quantified as the ratio of uptake by PMN of radioactively labeled bacteria . Ciprofloxacin and fleroxacin enhanced the phagocytosis rate of E . coli K+ strains (control 5-10%; 1/2 MIC of ciprofloxacin and fleroxacin 70-80%) of K . oxytoca (control O-2%; 1/2 MIC of ciprofloxacin and fleroxacin 35-40%) as well as of Staph . aureus (control 5-10%; 1/2 MIC of the antibiotics 35-40%) . Opsonophagocytosis of K- strains was not altered . The enhancement of opsonophagocytosis was a complement dependent process . Exposure of capsulated E . coli to ciprofloxacin as well as to fleroxacin resulted in decreased amounts of the capsular antigen.

Electrophoresis, 1991 Jan, 12(1), 84 - 90
Resolving isoforms of aldose reductase by preparative isoelectric focusing in the Rotofor; Petrash JM et al.; We have resolved and characterized isoforms of aldose reductase from bovine and porcine lenses by preparative isoelectric focusing with narrow pH gradients using the Rotofor . Both bovine and porcine lens aldose reductases were resolved as two enzyme isoforms . The bovine isoforms were Mr40400 +/- 445 polypeptides of pI4.71 and 5.19 . Porcine isoforms were Mr41500 +/- 450 polypeptides of pI 4.90 and 5.30 . Staphylococcus aureus V-8 protease digestion patterns for each set of isoforms were essentially identical and all isoforms probably contain blocked amino terminal amino acids . Antiserum to bovine lens aldose reductase cross-reacted with porcine lens aldose reductase . Each isoform displayed substrate preferences characteristic of mammalian aldose reductases . With purification, both bovine and porcine lens aldose reductases became less sensitive to inhibition by 6-fluoro-spiro-(chroman-4.4'-imidazolidine)-2',5'-dione (sorbinil).

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1991 Jan, 9(1), 33 - 4
{Osteoarticular infections associated with catheterization of the subclavian vein}; Moreno Guillen S et al.; Access to a central way through catheterization of the subclavian vein is a widely used technique . Not uncommonly, the procedure is followed by infective complications among which clavicular osteomyelitis and septic sternoclavicular arthritis represent a rare eventuality . We report two cases of staphylococcic bacteremia produced after subclavian vein catheterization . Both patients presented septic sternoclavicular arthritis and osteomyelitis of the sternal manubrium . The isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis methicillin-resistant, respectively . The clinical course under antibiotic therapy was satisfactory in both cases . Septic metastases appear to be the most likely pathogenic mechanism for the osteoarticular complications.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1991 Jan, 12(1), 14 - 9
Mechanisms of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and methods for laboratory detection; Jorgensen JH; Three distinctly different mechanisms of methicillin resistance have been described in Staphylococcus aureus . The best-documented and probably most important mechanism is production of a unique, low affinity penicillin-binding protein, PBP 2a . Strains possessing PBP 2a are resistant to methicillin, oxacillin, and probably all other currently available beta-lactam antibiotics . Two additional mechanisms of reduced susceptibility to methicillin have been described . Borderline resistance (BORSA) to the semi-synthetic penicillins has been attributed to the hyperproduction of normal staphylococcal beta-lactamase . A third mechanism has recently been advanced that describes an intermediate level of resistance to methicillin due to production of modified, normal PBPs with reduced affinity for beta-lactams (MODSA) . Little is known regarding the prevalence or clinical significance of the BORSA and MODSA strains . The most reliable in vitro susceptibility test methods for detecting MRSA (strains possessing PBP 2a) include the microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test (with 2% NaCl supplemented broth), the oxacillin agar screen plate test (incorporating 6 micrograms/ml oxacillin in 4% NaCl supplemented agar), and the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) disk diffusion test with oxacillin . All three methods use direct inoculum preparation and incubation of tests at 35 degrees C for a full 24 hours.

J Med Vet Mycol, 1991, 29(3), 205 - 9
Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Thermomyces lanuginosus Tsiklinsky--first case report; Lecso-Bornet M et al.; The first case of Thermomyces lanuginosus endocarditis occurring on a porcine heterograft prosthesis, secondary to a Staphylococcus aureus infection of the aortic valve, is reported . The diagnosis was made post-mortem by direct examination of the prosthesis and culture of surgical samples on Sabouraud's agar . Identification was based on the presence of warty, dark brown aleurioconidia . The route of contamination could not be established but the most likely cause was the air of the operating room or the insertion of a contaminated graft.

Infection, 1991, 19 Suppl 4, S216 - 23
Activity of intracellular antibiotics; Van der Auwera P et al.; We have studied the intracellular bioactivity of several antimicrobial agents against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen sequestrated in phagolysosomes, using peripheral blood neutrophils from human volunteers . This was compared to the activity of cell-associated drugs also measured in vitro . Several discrepancies (high cellular association, low bioactivity) were observed (coumermycin, glycopeptides, erythromycin and clindamycin) which can be due to the binding of the drug to a particular cellular organelle, to intracellular metabolization or inactivation, to unfavourable conditions in the phagolysosome (pH drop), or to a toxic effect of the drug on the functions of the neutrophil . Addition of the antibiotic during ingestion was frequently associated with better neutrophil-dependent killing through several potential mechanisms: coingestion of the antibiotic with the inoculum, modification of opsonization, release of activating substances and fragilization of the microorganism to oxygen-dependent or -independent killing mechanisms.

Chemotherapy, 1991, 37 Suppl 2, 14 - 20
Parenteral antibiotic therapy in outpatients: quality assurance and other issues in a protohospital; Eron LJ; Antibiotics can be administered parenterally to outpatients in order to achieve adequate serum levels to treat such infections as endocarditis, osteomyelitis and diabetic foot infections, and to eradicate such difficult-to-treat organisms as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, cephalothin-resistant gram-negative bacilli and invasive fungal infections . At Intracare, a free-standing clinic for such therapy, 3,247 outpatients have been treated to date . Besides the type of infection, criteria for patient selection include improvement in the patient's condition, a desire to leave the hospital, an adequate support structure at home, patient compliance and adequate insurance coverage . The most frequently treated infections have been osteomyelitis, followed by infection of skin and skin structure . Ceftriaxone and cefazolin are the two most frequently utilized antibiotics . The program at Intracare is used to examine such issues of quality assurance as patient compliance, therapeutic outcome, adverse events and patient satisfaction in this largely unregulated multibillion dollar industry . It is likely that such infusion centers will evolve into protohospitals, day care centers for present-day medical-surgical patients not occupying intensive care beds.

Indian J Exp Biol, 1991 Jan, 29(1), 43 - 5
Hypersensitivity responses to Staphylococcus aureus infections in rabbits . An experimental study; Varshney JP et al.; Repeated weekly infections with S aureus, of bovine mammary origin, for three times evoked an immediate and a delayed type hypersensitivity in rabbits . The skin responses at 6 hr were characterized by oedema, haemorrhages and infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells . While at 24 hr it was dominated by mononuclear cells specially lymphocytes in the dermis.

Indian J Exp Biol, 1991 Jan, 29(1), 35 - 8
Enriched collagen as coadjuvant therapeutic agent in experimental osteomyelitis in dogs; Varshney AC et al.; Osteomyelitis was induced in the tibiae of dogs by injecting hemolytic strain of Staphylococcus aureus . Clinical, radiological and histomorphological reactions in the diseased tibiae were studied up to 15 weeks to evaluate the response of infected bone to parenteral oxytetracycline in cases of closed wounds and surgical curettage, antimicrobial irrigation along with parenteral oxytetracycline therapy in animals carrying open wounds . Enriched collagen as a constituent of therapeutic regimen was also administered locally and its efficacy during resolution of osteomyelitis was compared with other treatments . Surgical curettage along with irrigation of lesions was observed to be an effective method for bringing an early recovery in aggravated cases of osteomyelitis . The addition of collagen enhanced the healing process in comparison with non-collagen treated animals.

J Invest Surg, 1991, 4(1), 53 - 8
Species differences in the clearance of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia; Ricci MA et al.; Studies on vascular graft infections may be influenced by species differences in bacteria clearance . The present study compares the bloodstream elimination of Staphylococcus aureus (S . aureus) in dogs and pigs . Four mongrel dogs and four Yorkshire pigs received a 20-min infusion of 10(6) S . aureus labeled with indium-131 . Through a catheter placed in the infrarenal aorta, blood samples were removed at intervals for 5 h after infusion . The liver, spleen, and lungs were biopsied at 5 h . Blood and tissue samples were then counted in a gamma counter . The calculated phagocytotic index, k, for dogs was 8.6 X 10(-4), while for pigs it was 1.5 X 10(-3), indicating significantly faster bacterial clearance in pigs (p = .009) . After 2 1/2 h, significantly fewer counts were present in pigs at most time points (p less than .05) . Organ counts indicated higher counts in the dog liver and spleen and in the lungs of pigs (p less than .0001) . This study indicates that S . aureus bacteremia is cleared faster by pigs, primarily by the lungs, compared to dogs, in which liver-spleen clearance predominated . These differences should be considered when the results of graft infection studies are compared.

J Invest Surg, 1991, 4(1), 45 - 52
Species differences in the infectability of vascular grafts; Ricci MA et al.; The susceptibility of different species to bacteremia may influence the results of studies on vascular graft infection . The present study compares prosthetic graft infection in canine and porcine models . Thirty-four mongrel dogs and 38 Yorkshire pigs underwent replacement of the infrarenal aorta with a 3-cm segment of a woven Dacron prosthesis . At the time of closure, each animal received an intravenous inoculum of 10(2) to 10(8) Staphylococcus aureus (S . aureus) . Graft cultures at 1 week produced a predictable infection rate in dogs, while pigs developed only random infections (dogs: 23/34; pigs: 7/38; p = .0001) . The median infective dose (ID50) in dogs was 10(2.9) but pigs did not develop enough infections to determine this value . Electron microscopy revealed a smooth fibrin surface in grafts explanted from pigs, while grafts from dogs demonstrated bacteria enmeshed in an irregular fibrinous lining . Prosthetic vascular grafts in dogs are more susceptible to hematogenous infection than those in pigs . Because hematogenous infection in humans is a rare event, the swine model may be a more appropriate representation of the clinical situation.

J Invest Surg, 1991, 4(1), 37 - 44
Porcine model for vascular graft studies; Mehran RJ et al.; Models for the study of prosthetic vascular graft infection have been studied frequently in the dog and rabbit . We have developed a reproducible swine model to study this problem and its treatment . The cardiovascular system, healing characteristics, and the bloodstream clearance of bacteria in swine more closely resembles those of humans than do other animal models . The low cost and availability of the swine is an additional attractive aspect . One hundred fifty-six farm-bred pigs have undergone infrarenal aortic replacement with a 3-cm segment of 6-mm prosthetic graft over the past two years . Graft infection was produced by (1) direct inoculation of 10(6) Staphylococcus aureus at the time of the surgery or (2) intravenous infusion of bacteria (10(2)-10(6) organisms/mL) immediately after surgery . All animals were sacrificed 1 to 4 weeks later, depending on the study design . Cultures, histology, and electron microscopy were performed on each graft . Anesthetic complications were rare (2.5%) . Postoperative complications leading to animal death decreased with increasing experience (11.5%), but included graft thrombosis, bleeding, sepsis, intussusception, and colonic ischemia . Wound infection was the most common cause of morbidity . The swine model is an attractive alternative to that of other animals for the study of prosthetic vascular graft infections . Further details of the operative technique and the comparison to the human and other animal models is discussed.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1991 Jan, 12(1), 29 - 35
Treatment of infection and colonization caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Chambers HF; The mechanism of methicillin resistance confers resistance to all available beta-lactam antibiotics; consequently, beta-lactam antibiotics have no role in therapy of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections . Vancomycin remains the drug of choice . Teicoplanin and daptomycin are two investigational antibiotics related to vancomycin in structure and in spectrum of activity . In clinical trials employing relatively low doses, neither was as effective as vancomycin . Trials at higher doses are on-going . Quinolones, ciprofloxacin in particular, have been used successfully to treat infections caused by MRSA; however, the usefulness of quinolones may be limited by the tendency of resistance to emerge during therapy . Quinolones probably should be used only in combination with another active agent, such as rifampin, when treating serious infections caused by MRSA . Other agents may be active in vitro against MRSA, but clinical data showing their effectiveness are lacking . Rifampin combination regimens appear most effectively to eradicate colonization with MRSA.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1991 Jan, 12(1), 20 - 8
Epidemiologic and clinical utility of typing systems for differentiating among strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mulligan ME et al.; Typing systems for differentiating among strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can be valuable tools for the epidemiologist and the clinician . Specific criteria for evaluating such systems are typeability, reproducibility, and discriminatory power . An ideal typing system also would be rapid, inexpensive, technically simple, and readily available . Systems based on the detection of phenotypic variations include antimicrobial susceptibility testing, bacteriophage typing, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, and electrophoretic methods such as protein electrophoresis and immunoblotting . Systems that directly detect genotypic variations include plasmid profile analysis, restriction enzyme analysis of plasmid DNA, restriction enzyme analysis of chromosomal DNA, Southern blot analysis of specific restriction fragment length polymorphisms, and pulse field gel electrophoresis . In general, the more widely available typing systems based on phenotypic assays and plasmid analysis have limitations in typeability and/or discriminatory power . The chromosomal DNA-based techniques, although promising, are unproven approaches still under active investigation.

Endocrinology, 1991 Jan, 128(1), 126 - 30
Identification of a single binding protein for endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 in bovine cerebellum membranes; Schvartz I et al.; Competition binding experiments of {125I}endothelin-3 ({125I}ET-3) to bovine cerebellum membrane preparations in the presence of either ET-3 or ET-1 have indicated the presence of a single class of high affinity binding sites for these two peptides in the brain . Cross-linking of {125I}ET-3 to cerebellum membrane preparations with dissuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) resulted in the labeling of two bands with apparent mol wt of 52 and 30 kDa . Under these conditions the labeling intensities of these two bands were similar . However, addition of 5 mM EDTA to the protease inhibitor mixture during membrane preparations as well as the binding and cross-linking reaction increased the labeling of the 52-kDa protein while reducing the labeling of the 30-kDa protein . Peptide map comparisons of the 52- and 30-kDa protein bands using Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and papain revealed that the 30-kDa band is a proteolytic degradation product of the 52-kDa protein . These results suggest that the 52-kDa protein represents the specific binding protein of ET-3, and thus, the apparent mol wt of the ET receptor is 50 kDa, subtracting the mol wt of the iodinated ET . Since cross-linking of {125I}ET-1 to cerebellum membrane preparations revealed the same two bands of 52 and 30 kDa, peptide mapping of the 52-kDa proteins, cross-linked with either {125I}ET-1 or ET-3, was conducted . Under these experimental conditions, identical peptide fragments were generated by both Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and papain . These results suggest that ET-1 and ET-3 bind to a common brain binding protein with an apparent mol wt of 50 kDa.

Nephron, 1991, 59(4), 546 - 51
Lymphocyte subpopulations and function in childhood IgA nephropathy; Kameda A et al.; In order to examine T lymphocyte function in childhood IgA nephropathy, 13 patients and 10 age-matched control subjects were studied . T lymphocyte function was examined in terms of in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and CD4-depleted (suppressor-rich) and CD8-depleted (helper-rich) PBMC in both unstimulated and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) stimulated cultures . T lymphocyte subpopulations were examined by two-color immunofluorescence analysis using Fluorescein-Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) . Children with IgA nephropathy showed (1) a significant increase in IgA synthesis by PBMC with or without mitogen stimulation, (2) a significant increase in IgG and IgA synthesis by CD4-depleted (suppressor-rich) PBMC, (3) a significant increase in IgG and IgA synthesis by CD8-depleted (helper-rich) PBMC, and (4) a significant decrease in suppressor-inducer T cells (Leu3a+Leu8+) . These results suggest that a decrease in suppressor-inducer T cells, impaired suppressor T cell function and hyperactivity of helper T cell function are responsible for the increase in IgA production in children with IgA nephropathy.

Acta Cardiol, 1991, 46(4), 485 - 91
Purulent pericarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . A case report; Demey HE et al.; Purulent pericarditis is an infrequent complication of infections originating in another body location . Symptoms and signs are often absent; a high index of awareness is required for its diagnosis . A patient recovering from extensive necrotic-hemorrhagic pancreatitis presented with tamponade due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) purulent pericarditis, further complicated by MRSA endocarditis . Treatment included pericardectomy, IV vancomycin and teicoplanin.

Eur J Nucl Med, 1991, 18(6), 396 - 400
Binding of 99mTc-labelled polyclonal human immunoglobulin to bacteria as a mechanism for scintigraphic detection of infection; Calame W et al.; The aim of the present study was to determine whether 99mTc-labelled polyclonal human immunoglobulin (99mTc-HIG) binds to bacteria in vitro as well as in vivo . In vitro, the binding of 99mTc-HIG to various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was determined . In vivo, mice were infected with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (protein A rich) or S . aureus EMS (protein A deficient) in a thigh muscle and then 99mTc-HIG or 99mTc-labelled human serum albumin (99mTc-HSA) was administered; scintigrams were made 1, 4, and 18 h later . In vitro binding of 99mTc-HIG to bacteria was higher for gram-positive than for gram-negative forms . A positive correlation was found between the protein A content and the degree of binding to S . aureus . This was also found in vivo . The accumulation of 99mTc-HIG at the site of infection was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than that of 99mTc-HSA, for both strains of S . aureus . It is concluded that vascular permeability cannot fully explain the accumulation of 99mTc-HIG at the site of infection and that binding of 99mTc-HIG to bacteria plays a role in this respect.

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 1991, 229(3), 224 - 7
Blepharitis--a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge . A report on 407 consecutive cases; Huber-Spitzy V et al.; Over the last few years the number of patients with chronic bilateral blepharitis has increased dramatically . From January 1985 until the end of 1989, a total of 407 patients with this diagnosis underwent ophthalmological and dermatological investigations at our out-patient clinic . Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in conjunction with blepharitis occurred in 14.5% of the patient population who also suffered from acne rosacea . A comparison of the spectrum of microorganisms that have previously been isolated from affected sites with data obtained in the present study revealed that the range of microorganisms associated with this chronic localized inflammation has apparently shifted in recent years . The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, which was considerable in the pre-antibiotic era, has markedly decreased, although a distinct entity of staphylococcal blepharitis seems to remain, either alone or in combination with seborrheic blepharitis (62.8% of our patients) . The clinical picture, microbiological findings and therapy for this condition are presented.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Jan, 35(1), 79 - 87
Failure of treatment with teicoplanin at 6 milligrams/kilogram/day in patients with Staphylococcus aureus intravascular infection . The Infectious Diseases Consortium of Oregon; Gilbert DN et al.; Patients with blood cultures positive for gram-positive cocci were enrolled in a prospective randomized double-blind comparative trial of vancomycin at 15 mg/kg every 12 h versus teicoplanin at 6 mg/kg every 12 h for three doses and then 6 mg/kg every 24 h . A total of 54 patients were randomized, and 40 were evaluable . Of the 40, 9 had infection of indwelling vascular catheters . Four infections were due to Staphylococcus aureus, and five were due to Staphylococcus epidermidis . In concert with catheter removal, all patients were treated successfully, regardless of which drug they were taking . Of 31 patients without an indwelling catheter, 19 were infected with S . aureus, and 12 of the 19 had either endocarditis or mycotic aneurysm . Six of eight patients given teicoplanin failed treatment, as opposed to one of four patients given vancomycin (P = 0.14) . Of greater concern, four of four patients with left-sided endocarditis or mycotic aneurysm failed to recover when given teicoplanin, as opposed to one of three patients given vancomycin (P = 0.07) . Although not quite statistically significant, the unexpectedly high number of treatment failures with teicoplanin resulted in a decision to discontinue patient enrollment . It is suggested that future trials explore the efficacy of larger doses of teicoplanin.

Ethiop Med J, 1991 Jan, 29(1), 1 - 6
Phage types and drug susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus from two hospitals in northwest Ethiopia; Truneh M; Fifty-eight Staphylococcus aureus strains from Gonder College of Medical Sciences Hospital, (43 isolates from patients and 15 from carriers) and 28 from Debre Tabor Hospital (14 each from patients and carriers), both in northwest Ethiopia, were phage typed in 1988 . Eighty-one of the 86 strains were recognized by their phage types . A multiresistant strain of type 29 was frequent among Gonder patients' . This strain was also recovered from the hospital personnel . Other well known multiresistant strains of phage type NT/A994 and 85/A994 were identified among patients from Gonder and phage type 85/A994 was recovered from 5 patients and 4 carriers from Debre Tabor . These findings suggest cross-infection with virulent strains of Staphylococcus aureus in both hospitals . All 86 phage-typed strains were tested for susceptibility to 7 antibiotics . A high frequency of multiple resistance was observed . Double resistance to penicillin and tetracycline was frequent among patients strains from Gonder . Among strains of phage type 85/A994 multiresistance to penicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, erythromycin and oxacillin was found . Strains of phage type 85/A994 and NT/A994 were resistant to mercury . No plasmid DNA was detected in one strain of 85/A994 investigated.

Can J Infect Control, 1991 Spring, 6(1), 7 - 10
A review of staphylococcal colonization and infection rates in a family-centred maternity unit 1979-89; Rush JP et al.; The usefulness of routine bacteriological surveillance of newborns in a family-centred maternity unit is explored . Colonization and infection rates were reviewed for a 10 year period . This review demonstrated a correlation between infection and colonization rates only when the colonization rate with Staphylococcus aureus was greater than 40% . The ability of this unit in the last years of the review to maintain a colonization rate of less than 25% enabled the practice to be discontinued and replaced with random point prevalence determinations, and has provided a method for researching various nursery practices . This review looks at the cost of monitoring Staph aureus colonization and summarizes some of the current practices in this unit.

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi, 1991 Jan-Jun, 95(1-2), 117 - 9
{Ilide derivatives of pyridazines with biological activity}; Caprosu M et al.; Continuing the investigations on the synthesis and pharmacodynamic action of some pyridaziniu-ilides, this paper presents the results of the preliminary investigations on the antimicrobial activity of the synthetized products . Their action against Staphylococcus aureus Oxford and the anti-yeast action of the cycloimonium salts is underlined.

Australas J Dermatol, 1991, 32(3), 151 - 7
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in a patient with widespread prurigo nodularis; Heng MC et al.; Skin lesions associated with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency are becoming better defined and understood . Deficiency in this major antiproteinase, which neutralizes multiple proteolytic enzymes ranging from collagenases and elastases to trypsin and chymotrypsin, thus results in significant tissue autodigestion . This anti-proteinase is secreted by activated lymphocytes and macrophages, suggesting the existence of homeostasis which titrates the release of proteolytic enzymes by these cells, and the adequate neutralization of these proteases in order to prevent excessive tissue autodigestion each time these inflammatory cells are activated . We report a patient with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency who, following insect bites and cellulitis developed widespread itching and scratching, leading to widespread lesions of prurigo nodularis . The colonization of his multiple skin lesions with Staphylococcus aureus and the release of potent T cell mitogens, such as Protein A and enterotoxin A from the bacterial cell membrane may have resulted in the release of additional proteolytic enzymes by the activated lymphocytes and macrophages, without the concomitant secretion of alpha 1-antitrypsin with subsequent aggravation of his pruritus . These concepts are supported by electron microscopic evidence of excessive tissue autodigestion, and by immunocytochemical data identifying the presence of T helper and T cytotoxic/suppressor lymphocytes as well as macrophages within the upper dermis.

Medicina (B Aires), 1991, 51(3), 238 - 40
{Septic arthritis in connective tissue diseases and other chronic arthropathies}; Stecher DR et al.; In order to describe the features of septic arthritis (SA) in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs), a series of 17 CTD cases with SA episodes were studied retrospectively . The most common CTDs were systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . Involvement was oligoarticular in 64% of cases and mono-articular in the remainder . Clinical, radiological and laboratory findings proved insufficient to allow differential diagnosis between SA and an underlying arthritic flare-up, which could only be carried out by bacterial isolation from synovial fluid . The most frequent etiological agent was Staphylococcus aureus (Table 1) . Throughout, patients were treated by needle drainage together with antibiotics, first by parenteral (average 17 days) and later by oral route (average 46 days) . Cases with greater diagnostic delay and initiation of therapy were those requiring arthrotomy and those who presented more complications mainly osteomyelitis and permanent disability (Table 2).

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1991, 36(5), 502 - 6
Class IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus antigens in human serum and saliva; Prokesova L et al.; Using the ELISA method antibodies against the sonicate, teichoic acid (TA) and exoproducts of Staphylococcus aureus were determined in sera and saliva of healthy individuals . Main serum antibodies against all the antigens used were shown to be class IgG antibodies . However, antigens of the sonicate stimulated significantly even the systemic IgA response . In the saliva class IgA antibodies predominated, but IgG antibody levels against TA and exoproducts approached the level of IgA antibodies . Levels of IgM antibodies against all antigens tested were low in both the serum and saliva which corresponds with the anamnestic type of response . On the basis of these results one may assume that not only IgG, but also IgA antibodies are important in the systemic immunity against staphylococcal infection and in the immunity of mucous membranes; besides IgA, even class IgG antibodies play an important role.

Microbios, 1991, 67(270), 57 - 68
Immunoblotting and ligand blotting of envelope structures of Staphylococcus aureus grown under iron insufficiency and in a sub-minimal inhibitory concentration of penicillin G; Domingue PA et al.; Strip immunoblotting with specific, hyperimmune antisera and normal human sera (NHS), in conjunction with lectin and avidin ligand blotting and surface iodination, was used to investigate cell envelope components of phenotypes of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 . Cocci were grown with a relatively slow doubling time (48 min) under iron sufficiency (Fe+) and iron insufficiency (Fe-), and with or without a sub-MIC of penicillin G (pen G), to approximate to in vivo conditions . Fe+ phenotypes demonstrated extra bands with prominent antigens at 48, 52 and 54 kD . Iron depletion or pen G simplified profiles, notably in the mid-range . In this particular S . aureus strain, protein A was ascribed a molecular mass of 35.5 kD and its detection was not affected by iron or pen G conditions . NHS reacted poorly with the Fe+ phenotype, supplying indirect evidence that this phenotype may not be common in vivo . Lectin blotting demonstrated the presence of glycosylated residues . Lectin affinities were not affected by the pen G treatment but in the Fe- phenotypes only, a 30 kD fucose-containing structure was seen . Avidin blotting visualised a major 86 kD binding site in all phenotypes which was not detected in immunoblotting . Whole cell radioiodination revealed that five major proteins of 21, 35.5, 48, 52 and 68 kD were surface-associated but their immunoreactivity depended upon the phenotype and source of sera.

J Basic Microbiol, 1991, 31(5), 337 - 45
Nucleotide sequence of a variant protein A of Staphylococcus aureus suggests molecular heterogeneity among strains; Brigido Mde M et al.; Protein A is a cell wall linked protein of Staphylococcus aureus that binds mammalian IgG . Although protein A displays high size heterogeneity among strains, cloning and sequencing of its gene from two strains had not shown a large difference in size . Here we report a third protein A gene sequence that shows a size variation relative to these two, due to deletions on both one IgG binding domain and a cell wall binding domain (region X) . By analysis of the three sequences we were able to delineate a hypothetic model for region X domain evolution and discussed the origin of genetic variability within and without strains.

Br J Clin Pract, 1991 Winter, 45(4), 252 - 4
The efficacy of calcium mupirocin in the eradication of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage; Redhead RJ et al.; In an open, non-comparative clinical study conducted at 102 hospitals in the UK and Ireland, 1,510 subjects were treated with 2% calcium mupirocin in a white soft paraffin/Softisan 649 base (Bactroban 'Nasal') during hospital outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) . In most subjects treatment was applied two or three times daily to both anterior nares for three to eight days . Of the 766 assessable subjects, nasal carriage of S aureus was cleared in 744 (97.1%) . Initially, MRSA was present in 628 cases (79.4%), and the organism was eliminated in 609 of these (97.0%) . Isolates of S aureus were tested for susceptibility to a variety of antibiotics by disc test: of 523 nasal isolates tested against mupirocin, 516 (98.7%) were sensitive . Treatment was very well tolerated . Adverse events were reported by 22 subjects (1.5%); these were mostly mild local effects and necessitated withdrawal of treatment only in three subjects . The results indicate that topical calcium mupirocin is a highly effective and well tolerated treatment for the eradications of nasal carriage of S aureus, including MRSA.

Chemotherapy, 1991, 37(4), 283 - 6
Imipenem/gentamicin and imipenem/rifampin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Watanakunakorn C; The combinations of imipenem with gentamicin and imipenem with rifampin were studied by the time-kill method against 20 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Twelve strains were resistant to imipenem, 18 resistant to gentamicin, 5 resistant to both imipenem and gentamicin and 5 resistant to imipenem, gentamicin and rifampin . Imipenem/gentamicin was synergistic against 1 strain and antagonistic against another strain . Imipenem/rifampin was synergistic against 4 strains and antagonistic against 3 other strains.

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