Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1982, 27(2), 147 - 9 The role of microorganisms in transformations of sulphite in spruce forest soil; Lettl A; Transformations of sulphite and the participation of microorganisms were investigated in samples of fermentative (A02) and humus (A03) horizons from a spruce forest . About 80% of sulphite were almost immediately oxidized abiotically to sulphate, less than 1% persisted in the soil for several days and almost 20% were converted to a form not demonstrable as sulphite or sulphate . Microorganisms accelerated the disappearance of less than 10% of the added sulphite. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1982 Jan, 35(1), 1 - 9 Sagamicin and the related aminoglycosides: fermentation and biosynthesis . I . Biosynthetic studies with the blocked mutants of Micromonospora sagamiensis; Kase H et al.; The mutants blocked in the gentamicin C1 production were derived from a sagamicin producing strain of Micromonospora sagamiensis . The intermediates produced by these mutants were isolated and properly identified . Comparing the biotransformation activities in the resting cells of the mutants with those of a DOS idiotroph, KY 11525, the blocked steps in sagamicin and gentamicin biosynthesis were proposed in each mutant . Mutant KY 11564 was found to produce gentamicin C2a (C-6'-epimer of gentamicin C2) together with gentamicin C1a and sagamicin . KY 11525 transformed gentamicin C2a into C2 and C1, whereas KY 11564 lacked the activity . KY 11565 produced gentamicin X2 and antibiotic G-418, and lacked 6'-amino substitution activities . KY 11566 appeared to be partially blocked in 6'-N-methylation activities, and the major products were gentamicin C2a and C1a . From these results, sagamicin biosynthesis in M . sagamiensis is discussed. Dig Dis Sci, 1982 Jan, 27(1), 33 - 41 Effect of lactate and H+ on structure and function of rat intestine; Saunders DR et al.; Segments of rat ileum and colon were infused in vivo to test if 0.1 M lactate, 10(-4) M H+, or both altered mucosal structure and function . In the first series of experiments, lactate concentration was kept at 0.1 M while H+ was varied from 10(-4) to 10(-7) M . Lactate and 10(-4) M H+ in the colon, and lactate and 10(-5) M H+ in the ileum depressed net water transport and caused sloughing of superficial absorptive cells . In the second series of experiments, H+ concentration was kept at 10(-4) by using carboxymethylcellulose, rather than organic acids, to buffer the infusion mixture; the concentration of lactate was varied from 0 to 0.1 M . Mucosa remained normal after infusions of 10(-4) M H+ alone . Addition to the 10(-4) M H+ infusion of 0.1 M lactate in the colon or 0.075 M lactate in the ileum caused increased mucosal sloughing . Thus lactate plus H+ (or unionized lactic acid) alters colonic and ileal mucosa . Because such high concentrations of lactate and H+ are found in subjects malabsorbing carbohydrates, the present experiments support the contention that H+ and organic acids are etiological factors in some cases of chronic fermentative diarrhea. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1982, 27(1), 60 - 4 An automated procedure for the determination of oxytetracycline; Abdel-Azize RM et al.; An automated analytical system has been used to determine the amount of oxytetracycline in pharmaceutical products and fermentation broth at a level of 0.1 mg/mL . The method is based on the formation of a colour complex between the oxytetracycline and ammonium molybdate in acid media at 80 degrees C . The effect of temperature, concentration of HCl and ammonium molybdate upon the stability of the complex was determined . Standard error of difference is 0.43% for pharmaceutical products and the fermentation broth. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(2), 119 - 22 Flow microcalorimetry of a respiration-deficient mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Loureiro-Dias MC et al.; In aerobic batch cultures in mineral medium with glucose of a respiration-deficient mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, growth parameters were estimated and the heat evolved was measured by a flow microcalorimeter . A growth enthalpy of -163.6 joule per mole of glucose consumed was measured . Under anaerobic conditions, the value was -134.6 joule, closer to the expected for alcoholic fermentation alone . The difference was found to be due to cyanide-resistant respiration under aerobic conditions. Mol Gen Genet, 1982, 185(2), 319 - 23 Ribosomal recessive suppressors cause a respiratory deficiency in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Ter-Avanesyan MD et al.; Recessive suppressor mutations in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae alter a component of the cytoplasmic ribosomes, relaxing the control of translational fidelity . As a consequence ribosomes can misread nonsense codons as amino acids (Surguchov et al . 1980a) . The suppressor mutants are often respiratory deficient, being unable to grow on non-fermentable substrates . The study of the cytochrome spectra has revealed that the cytochrome b and aa3 contents were lower in the mutants than in the parent strains . Furthermore, the suppressor mutations often cause hypersensitivity to paromomycin and neomycin on media with a non-fermentable source of carbon . Some of the suppressor mutants exhibited both erythromycin and chloramphenicol-dependent growth on media containing ethanol or glycerol as a sole carbon source . These results suggest that the mutations altering cytoplasmic ribosomes may simultaneously impair the mitochondrial translation . A coupling of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial protein synthesis in yeast cells is proposed . The existence of a common protein component participating both in mitochondrial and cytoplasmic protein synthesis apparatus is discussed. Mol Gen Genet, 1982, 185(2), 255 - 61 Regulation of energy metabolism in yeast . Inheritance of a pleiotropic mutation causing defects in metabolism of energy reserves, ethanol utilization and formation of cytochrome a.a3; Padrao GR et al.; The recessive, nuclear gene mutation glc1, which causes glycogen deficiency in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is highly pleiotropic . Studies of the inheritance of glc1 revealed two classes of phenotypic characteristics: I . Traits invariably associated with the mutant gene and II . Traits whose expressions require the presence of glc1 and one or more additional genes . Class I traits include glycogen deficiency and the loss of capacity to accumulate trehalose in nonproliferating conditions . Traits in the second class include a decreased rate of growth on ethanol medium, a deficiency in cytochrome a.a3 and an enhanced accumulation of pigment, probably a metalloporphyrin . Constructed strains containing both glc1 and the constitutive maltose fermentation gene MAL4c can accumulate trehalose but not glycogen during growth on glucose . However, accumulated trehalose is degraded when cells are exposed to nonproliferating conditions . It is proposed that the glc1 mutation affects a regulatory system, probably involving a protein kinase and/or protein phosphatase, which regulates glycogen synthase and trehalase . Independent regulation of trehalose synthesis by a system controlled by MAL4c is indicated. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1982 Jan, 35(1), 15 - 23 Asparenomycins A, B and C, new carbapenem antibiotics . II . Isolation and chemical characterization; Shoji J et al.; New carbapenem antibiotics named asparenomycins A, B and C were isolated from the fermentation broths of Streptomyces tokumonensis sp . nov . and of Streptomyces argenteolus . The fermentative production, isolation and physico-chemical properties of these antibiotics are described. Med Hypotheses, 1982 Jan, 8(1), 105 - 10 Secretin, glucagon, insulin-antibodies, islet-cell exhaustion and diabetes mellitus : a hypothesis; Malhotra SL; There are many studies that show that important and interesting differences exist in the patterns of diabetes mellitus, not only between countries but from group to group in the same country . Such big differences suggest the causes may be environmental, most of which are dietary and, therefore, preventable . In these dietary factors it is perhaps the pattern of eating, the presence or absence of cellulose, roughage and vegetable fibre, milk and fermented milk products such as yoghurt, which are of crucial importance . There is a quicker rise of blood glucose in the case of "non-masticatory-roughage-poor" dietary regimens as compared with "masticatory" milk, milk-products and roughage-rich regimens on account of faster gastric emptying in the former and slower gastric emptying in the latter . The hyperchlorhydria caused by fibre-poor non-masticatory meals produces an instantaneous secretin-release which results in hyperinsulinism . Such "sucrose-induced hyperinsulinism" leads to formation of insulin antibodies . Diabetes is caused by this excessive inactivation of insulin by antibodies, brought about by dietary factors, setting up the vicious cycle of hurried meals - hyperchlorhydria and secretin resulting in instantaneous insulin-release - neoglucogenesis more insulin-release - insulin antibodies and a further secretion of insulin - insulin antagonism - islet cell exhaustion - diabetes mellitus . There is evidence of an alternative mechanism in which diabetes appears to be caused by interference with insulin-release even though islets manufacture insulin normally. Rev Argent Microbiol, 1982, 14(2), 97 - 104 {Protein enrichment of sugar beet bagasse for fermentation}; Illanes A et al.; Leached beet pulp is a plentiful waste in the sugar beet industry in Chile, reaching 100.000 metric tons per year on a dry basis . It represents an interesting substrate for protein upgrading through fermentation by cellulolytic organisms, because of the high content of cellulose and hemicellulose, with small amounts of protein and lignin (Table 1) . The fermentation of leached beet pulp by the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 was studied under carbon limitation, with the celluloses as the only carbon and energy source . Nitrogen was supplied as ammonium sulphate and the medium was supplemented with other mineral salts as required for growth . Results on the kinetics of cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, level of reducing sugars in the medium, mycelial growth and production of cellulolytic enzymes are presented . Mycelial growth and related parameters were evaluated by an indirect method, based on nitrogen balances during fermentation . A yield of 0.26 g . of dry cell/g . of cellulosic substrate consumed and productivity of 0.095 g . of dry cell per liter per hour were obtained and compared with reported results on similar systems . After 40 to 45 hours of fermentation, approximately 80% of the cellulose and 45% of the hemicellulose were degraded (Fig . 2) . Both, exoglucanase and endoglucanase, were induced; endoglucanase was growth associated, while exoglucanase appeared later in the growth phase, reaching its maximum activity in the stationary phase (Fig . 3) . The product obtained was 30% protein and only 40 to 45% residual fiber, mostly hemicellulose . Mild acid hydrolysis has been successful in degrading hemicellulose but not cellulose, in the leached beet pulp.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(1), 49 - 61 Changes in cytoplasmic ultrastructure during submerged cultivation of a peptide alkaloids-producing strain of Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul; Losecke W et al.; A strain of Claviceps purpurea, designated Pepty 695/S produces ergotoxine alkaloids under particular conditions of fermentation . The onset of alkaloid synthesis occurs around the second day of cultivation . Alkaloid formation is connected with morphological and ultrastructural changes . In the first 3-5 days of cultivation short thickened, septated hyphae, organized in plectenchymatic pellets as well as large single cells are formed . The hyphae are ultrastructurally characterized by increasing number of lipid droplets, deposits of glycogen and by extended ER membranes, which apparently may form numerous vesicles . The correlations between lipid and alkaloid synthesis are discussed. Antibiotiki, 1982, 27(9), 649 - 54 {Effect of the growth conditions for the inoculum on cephalosporin biosynthesis}; Kozina AM et al.; It was shown that intensification of cephalosporin biosynthesis is possible with the use of the inoculum grown on the seed medium enriched with the sources of carbon and organic nitrogen . The inoculum grown on the initial medium is usually added to the fermentation medium by the 31st-33rd hour of the growth, while with the use of the enriched medium it is added to the fermentation medium by the 36th-38th hour . The intensity of the culture respiration is recommended to be used as a technological parameter for estimation of the time when the inoculum may be added to the fermentation medium. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(7), 431 - 5 Transformation of 12-deoxycardenolids with Streptomyces purpurascens; Albrecht K et al.; Streptomyces purpurascens transforms primary and secondary 12-deoxycardenolids into digoxin, 7 beta-hydroxy-digitoxin and 7 beta-hydroxy-digoxin, respectively . A metabolic pathway is proposed for cardenolid transformations and the enzymes participating in it are investigated . The substrate concentration in the medium can be increased by using a water-miscible solvent of electron donor character . The newly developed procedure yields 0.5 g/1(-1) of digoxin in a five-day fermentation. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1982, 22(5), 735 - 52 {Effect of rumen ciliates on the digestion of different carbohydrates in sheep . I.--Utilization of cell wall carbohydrates (cellulose and hemicellulose) and of starch}; Jouany JP et al.; Two diets rich in cell-wall carbohydrates or starch were given to 10 rumen-fistulated sheep; two sheep were defaunated and the others were inoculated with Polyplastron multivesiculatum (P) or Entodinium sp . (E), or both (P + E), or with conventional fauna . Ciliate biomass was greater when the animals were fed a high starch diet than when the diet was rich in cell-wall carbohydrates (table 2) . With both diets, the Entodinium genus in the mixed fauna sampling predominated . We showed that Polyplastron was directly involved in cell-wall carbohydrate breakdown, while Entodinium capacity to digest cellulose remained low . We noted that with a diet rich in cellulose and hemicellulose, bacterial cellulolytic activity was improved by the presence of ciliates in the rumen but was decreased with the "starch" diet (table 3) . The greater VFA concentration observed in the faunated animals expressed ciliate effect on the fermentations as well as activation of bacterial metabolism . With a high starch diet, the Entodinium sp . ciliates may have a buffering effect on the pH values in the rumen by limiting bacterial fermentation after food intake and by prolonging starch digestion during the day (table 4) . The composition of the VFA mixture was modified by ciliate inoculation . The molar proportion of butyric acid always increased, while that of acetic and propionic acids evolved differently according to the diets and the ciliates (table 4) . The higher ammonia concentration in the rumen liquor observed in faunated animals (table 4) could be explained either by the breakdown of both feed and bacterial proteins ingested by ciliates or by a lower ammonia nitrogen incorporation by fewer bacteria . Statistical analyses were used to explain the specific effect of P and E and also the interactions between them and between each of them and the diets. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1982, 27(6), 433 - 45 Quantitative changes of the alkaloid complex in a submerged culture of Claviceps paspali; Ricicova A et al.; Claviceps paspali FA produced high concentrations of alkaloid under submerged conditions . Their production was found to depend on the developmental stage and treatment of the filamentous culture inoculum . A medium containing Bacto-peptone with a constant composition of amino acids was selected for the preparation of the inoculum . A two-week fermentation in a synthetic medium with mannitol at 24 +/- 1 degrees C resulted in an increased production of total alkaloids from the original value of 100-200 micrograms/mL to more than 2000 micrograms/mL . Addition of tryptophan did not further increase the production of alkaloids but resulted in changes of the spectrum of some metabolites, 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid accompanied the alkaloids in the fermentation medium . alpha-Hydroxyethyllysergamide was the predominant component of extracellular alkaloids (80% in the first days of fermentation) . During fermentation the level of this alkaloid continuously decreased while the concentration of the accompanying alkaloids, i.e . lysergamide and the corresponding minor isomers, increased. Acta Biotheor, 1982, 31(1), 45 - 68 The endocytobiotic cell theory and the periodic system of cells; Schwemmler W; According to scientific procedure, each discipline first describes the phenomena of its research area, then analyzes them, and finally categorized them in a system . To date, biology has lacked such a system for its smallest building blocks, the cells . Although the theory of evolution explains certain central evolutionary mechanisms of the cell, there existed no generally accepted theory of the organization of the cell . The endocytobiotic cell theory is suggested as a possible basis for a satisfying explanation of the structure, function, information, and evolution of the cell . Furthermore, a hypothetical periodic system of the cell is developed . This system consists of eight groups, including the ecological niches fermentation, respiration, photergy, and photosynthesis (each aerobic and anaerobic) and seven periods with increasing numbers of protein biosynthesis machineries (cytoplasma, mitochondria, plastids, endocytobionts) . We find furthermore, a division according to typical animal of plant cells and between these two in fungus-like cells. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(2), 97 - 106 Biochemical characteristics of non-streptomycin-producing mutants of Streptomyces griseus . II . Lipids and fatty acid composition of vegetative mycelia; Grafe U et al.; Five non-streptomycin-producing non-aerial-mycelium-forming mutants (Str-Amy-) of Streptomyces griseus obtained either by spontaneous degeneration or during continuous cultivation of the high-producing aerial-mycelium-forming parent strain HP (Str+Amy+) were checked with regard to the composition of mycelial lipid material . All the Str-Amy- derivatives differed from their ancestor strain HP by an increased ration of 12-methyltetradecanoic acid (aC15:0) to isopalmitic acid (iC16:0) during growth on a chemically defined medium lacking branched-chain amino acids . This finding attests alterations in the availability of precursors for the biosynthesis of methyl-branched fatty acids . The qualitative composition of phospholipids and other polar lipids in one mutant group was found to be similar to the progenitor strain but, additionally, both a yellow pigment and a neutral lipid component were produced in excess . A second type of mutant differed by its incapability to form ornithinolipids even under phosphate limitation . Changes of phospholipid composition were demonstrated in the course of fermentation . Formation of ornithinolipid was suppressed by an excess of inorganic phosphate in the medium, while the portions of phosphatidylethanolamine and cardiolipin increased strongly . Furthermore, the formation of ornithinolipids was influenced by nitrogen sources . these results suggest that the composition of membrane of S . griseus varies in dependence upon the composition of the medium and the age of the mycelium. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Jan, 43(1), 86 - 9 Isolation and characterization of new strains of cholesterol-reducing bacteria from baboons; Brinkley AW et al.; We isolated and characterized nine new strains of cholesterol-reducing bacteria from feces and intestinal contents of baboons . Cholesterol-brain agar was used for the primary isolation, and subsequent biochemical tests were done in a lecithin-cholesterol broth containing plasmenylethanolamine and various substrates . All strains had similar colony and cell morphology, hydrolyzed the beta-glucosides esculin and amygdalin, metabolized pyruvate, and produced acetate and acetoin . Unlike previously reported strains, the nine new strains did not require cholesterol and an alkenyl ether lipid (e.g., plasmalogen) for growth; however, only two strains reduced cholesterol in the absence of the plasmalogen . These two strains also produced succinate as an end product . Carbohydrate fermentation was variable; some strains produced weak acid (pH 5.5 to 6.0) from only a few carbohydrates, whereas other strains produced strong acid reactions (pH less than or equal to 5.5) from a wide variety of carbohydrates. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(10), 723 - 61 {Steroid transformation with immobilized microorganisms}; Atrat P; The application of immobilized microbial cells has been receiving increasing interest, in particular because of their potential for use in industrial fermentation processes and in analytical procedures . Since the first application of an immobilized microbial biocatalyst for steroid transformation in 1970 by MOSBACH and LARSSON many results have been published concerning the use of such type of biocatalyst in steroid biochemistry and steroid microbiology, respectively . The review deals with the present scientific state of the steroid transformations performed with immobilized biocatalysts, their applications and development trends . In particular the following aspects are discussed: 1(2)-dehydrogenation or hydrogenation, hydroxylation reactions, redox processes in 3,17- and 20-oxogroups, side chain splitting of sterols, 5 alpha-reduction, modification of cholic acid derivatives and the use of immobilized plant cells . The possibility for application of microbial membrane electrodes in steroid analysis has been shown . Up to now, many results of fundamental research are known . There are possibilities for producing expensive steroid derivatives in laboratory apparatus using immobilized biocatalysts . Some of the processes, described here, are of practical interest, and some of them are said to be used industrially, respectively. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1982, 17(4), 335 - 70 Legume-based fermented foods: their preparation and nutritional quality; Reddy NR et al.; Legume-based fermented foods are very popular in the Southeast Asia, the Near East, and parts of Africa . They form an appreciable part of daily diet of people as a main source of protein, calories, and certain vitamins . Preparation of legume-based fermented foods has remained to some extent an art, and their nutritional quality has been of interest to both professionals and layman . The fermentation process helps not only in improving the organoleptic quality of legumes but also enhances nutritional quality . This review examines the production of various legume-based fermented foods and critically assesses their nutritional quality. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1982, 27(6), 395 - 403 Acidification power: indicator of metabolic activity and autolytic changes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Opekarova M et al.; Acidification power, defined as the sum of the spontaneous pH change determined after suspending yeast cells in water and the substrate-induced pH change after addition of glucose to the resulting suspension, reflects the level of cellular energy sources . Its use as an indicator of metabolic state of the cells was tested during a 120-h aerobic starvation . Its changes coincided with changes in cell viability, initial rate of endogenous oxygen consumption rate, cell ATP, extra- and intracellular buffering capacity, and the ability of cell-free extract to produce acidity by glucose fermentation . It was used as a sensitive marker of metabolic changes occurring during starvation, on treatment with glycolytic and respiratory inhibitors, and at elevated temperature. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1982 Jan, 16(1), 21 - 32 {Genetic analysis of raffinose utilization in Escherichia coli K12 and relation to K88 surface antigen}; Alaeddinoglu GN; In Escherichia coli K12, the system responsible for chromosomal raffinose fermentation is; a) dependent of the enzyme system necessary for sucrose fermentation, b) facilitated by both the permeases of lactose (lacY) and of melibiose (melB) at 37 degrees C and 25 degrees C respectively. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(6), 399 - 424 {Utilization of paraffins and other noncarbohydrate carbon sources for microbial citric acid synthesis}; Stottmeister U et al.; This article reviews the developments achieved in citrate and isocitrate accumulation with non-carbohydrate substrates by microorganisms presented as well in academic publications as in patients . The efficiency of citrate and isocitrate overproducing microorganisms and of mutants obtained thereof with respect to different carbon sources (n-alkanes, triglycerides, organic acids, etc.) is discussed . The influence of environmental conditions (media, pH etc.) and biochemical mechanisms which lead to metabolic overflow are emphasized . The kinetics of fermentation processes are described, calculations concerning carbon balances are involved . The production of by-products and the conversion of isocitrate to citrate is considered . The production of citric acid by yeasts which utilize different carbon sources may be economically feasible and an accession to the practized molasse-Aspergillus-process. EMBO J, 1982, 1(5), 603 - 8 Regulated high efficiency expression of human interferon-alpha in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Tuite MF et al.; The 5' control region of the yeast phosphoglycerate kinase gene (PGK) was fused to the coding sequence of a human interferon-alpha . This PGK-interferon fusion was then introduced into yeast on a high copy number 2mu-based plasmid vector . Strains containing this plasmid produced a PGK-interferon-alpha fusion protein as 1-2% of cell protein and the expression of interferon activity was regulated by the availability of a fermentable carbon source . The system is capable of making as much as 15 mg of human interferon-alpha per litre of batch culture. Bull Cancer, 1982, 69(5), 476 - 82 {Dietary behavior, way of life, and nasopharyngeal cancer}; Hubert A et al.; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is prevalent in Southeast Asia, Maghreb countries and Greenland/Alaska . This cancer, wherever prevalent, is closely associated to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but its geographical repartition also suggests the possibility of a cultural factor . A comparison of food habits and way of life of Cantonese, Maghreb populations and Eskimos shows certain common points: dried fish or meat, fermented and sometimes rotten, as well as salt preserved vegetables . Certain berries of Euphorbiaceae are eaten by children and the plant itself is used in traditional medicine . These Euphorbiacea contain cancer promoting agents, able to reactivate the EBV latency . The hypothesis proposed here is that cancerous effects common to the different regions at high risk for nasopharyngeal carcinoma exists and that they either act separately or reactivate the EBV latency. Probl Khig, 1982, 7, 88 - 97 {Histochemical mechanisms in etiology of pulmonary fibrosis after short-term exposure to a mixture of dust and quartz from copper mine}; Kolev K et al.; The authors induced pulmonary silicosis in albino rats by the intratracheal method with 50 mg mixed middling slime from Panaguiriste and quartz dust, dissolved in I ml physiological solution . The animals received a single treatment and were killed on 90th day of the experiment . Some intime characteristics of collagen-forming mechanisms in lungs were followed up via routine histological, histochemical, enzymohistochemical/ acid phosphatase activity, beta-glucoronidase, AS-esterase and lipase/ and autoradiographic/H3 labelled proline/ methods . It was established, that under the effect of both dusts from Panaguiriste mines studied/ mixed dust and pure quartz dust/ considerable deviations developed in the structure of the lungs of the experimental animals in the enzyme activity of acid phosphatase and carbon esterase, accompanied by various forms of fibrosis in the organ, depending on the dust applied . The difference in the composition of both dusts quartz and mixed dust slime - had an effect on the degree of the deviations, but not on their character, manifested in: I . specific protective reaction of organism, with activation of the ferments from the group of carbon esterase in macrophagic elements of interstitium and around the silicotic alterations in the lungs of the experimental animals; 2 . inhibition of the maturation of macrophages in silicotic foci and 3 . acceleration of the proliferation of fibroblasts with intensification of collagen-formation, accompanied by an enhanced activity of the ferments from the group of carbon esterase and in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts . The authors draw the conclusion that the complex use of routine histological, histochemical and quantitative isotope methods enables the more significant determination of fibrinogenicity of quartz-containing dust even at the early terms of their exposure under experimental conditions. IARC Sci Publ, 1982, (41), 267 - 76 Nitrosamines and their precursors in some Kazakh foodstuffs; Aidjanov MM et al.; Numerous samples of various foods, such as salt-dried and smoke-dried meats, fermented sausages, sour-milk products, fermented mare's and camel's milk, raw vegetables, rice, rock and table salts, local bread and daily food rations were analysed by GC-TEA and HPLC-TEA for the presence of volatile nitrosamines . Apart from the observation of NDMA (up to 0.7 microgram/kg) in three samples of Kazakh cheeses, the volatile nitrosamines were detected only in some meat and meat products . Salted air-dried meat contained NDMA in amounts up to 54 micrograms/kg . NPYR (12 micrograms/kg) was found in one sample of nitrite-cured sausage . The highest content of NPIP (7 micrograms/kg) was detected in fermented, home-made sausage . It is clear that the only significant contribution of these dialkyl and heterocyclic nitrosamines to the diet is from stored, salt-dried meat and nitrite-cured meat products . Analyses of nitrate and nitrite in various local products are reported . The validity of our assumption that the high incidence of oesophageal cancer can be lowered by realistic improvements in the processing and storage of meat and meat products requires further evaluation. Physiol Bohemoslov, 1982, 31(4), 369 - 74 Dynamics of the redox potential and rh of the rumen fluid of goats; Marounek M et al.; The redox potential (Eh) of the rumen fluid of goats varied from -145 to -190 mV and the corresponding rH values from 6.3 to 8.6 . The redox potential values of the rumen fluid were influenced by changes in pH . The most oxidizing Eh values --and at the same time the lowest rH and pH values--were observed after a feeding ration containing readily available carbohydrates . No relationship was found between the fermentation rate and the redox potential . The association between the oxidation reduction state and the metabolic activity is best expressed by the rH values . In in vitro experiments, a higher pH or the addition of cysteine or sodium sulphide moved the redox potential of the rumen fluid towards more reducing values . A shift towards more oxidizing values occurred after acidification of the medium, or after the action of heavy metal ions or atmospheric O2 . Various other compounds, including bubbling of the rumen fluid with hydrogen, had little or no effect . SH-groups probably play an important role in the formation of the negative redox potential in rumen fluid. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(10), 693 - 703 {Physiological and cell biological characterization of the protease producer Thermoactinomyces vulgaris during prolonged culture in a stirred fermenter}; Kretschmer S et al.; The physiological behaviour of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris - producing a thermostable serine-protease - was analyzed during fermentation . During 38 h the consumption of nutrients and oxygen as well as the rates of macromolecular and protease synthesis were measured . The morphological and ultrastructural changes of the mycelia were also studied . The mycelia grew exponentially for about 5 hours . After a short lag and a second slower growth phase, growth continued about linearly until the end, as was indicated by a constant rate of incorporation of labelled thymidine . However, at the same time a changing portion of hyphae - up to 45% - underwent lysis . According to the changing ratio of growing and lysing material, regarding the physiological activity of the culture the fermentation process could be divided into 4 periods . The formation of the protease started at the transition to the slow growth phase and continued linearly . The ability to produce the protease was attributed to a mycelium being formed after the shift down caused by limitation of supply of utilizable nitrogen compounds . The end of protease production 10 h later was correlated to a drastic decrease of the respiratory activity of the mycelia, probably caused by exhaustion of easily utilizable carbohydrates. Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1982, 137(1), 31 - 5 Effect of amino acids on microbial production of citric acid by Aspergillus niger; Lal DN et al.; The effect of different concentrations of cysteine, serine, lysine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid on the growth and fermenting activity of Aspergillus niger AL 29 was studied at different incubation periods . It was observed that the presence of glutamic acid and aspartic acid stimulated the citric acid production to the extent of 79.6% and 76.7%, respectively . Lysine was effective in producing citric acid by 62% . However, serine could not influence the yield (50.4%) to a greater extent, while the effect of cysteine was found to be detrimental . The yield of citric acid was determined on sugar consumption basis. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1982 Jan, 35(1), 81 - 6 Studies on the biosynthesis of clavulanic acid . III . Incorporation of DL-{3,4-13C2}glutamic acid; Elson SW et al.; The role of glutamate in clavulanic acid biosynthesis was investigated by feeding DL-{3,4-13C2}glutamate to a Streptomyces clavuligerus fermentation . The DL-{3,4-13C2}glutamate was synthesised by reacting {2-13C}diethylmalonate with O-tosyl-N-benzoyl-{3-13C}dehydroserine ethyl ester, which in turn was synthesised by condensing {13C}ethylformate with N-benzoylglycine ethyl ester . 13C NMR examination of the benzyl clavulanate derived from the fermentation revealed the predicted labelling of carbons 2 and 8 with accompanying 13C-13C spin-spin coupling . Other enrichments and couplings were observed which could be explained by metabolism of the labelled glutamate via the tricarboxylic acid cycle to give further clavulanic acid precursors . These results confirm that glutamate provides the oxazolidine carbon skeleton as predicted by previous experiments. J Dairy Sci, 1981 Dec, 64(12), 2350 - 6 Effect of lasalocid or monensin on lactate production from in vitro rumen fermentation of various carbohydrates; Dennis SM et al.; Lasalocid and monensin effectively reduced the lactate produced during in vitro fermentation of various sugars and ground grains with rumen fluid from either hay- or grain-fed cattle . The minimum effective dose was 6 micrograms/ml . Both lasalocid and monensin at 6 micrograms/ml reduced the fermentation rate of glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, lactate, mannose, ground corn, ground sorghum, and ground wheat, and raised the pH and substantially lowered lactate concentration compared with controls . Although both antibiotics decreased total lactate production, the proportion of D(-) lactate to L(+) lactate increased . Apparently both antibiotics were less inhibitory to the formation of D(-) than to L(+) lactate isomer . Lasalocid was more effective than monensin in inhibiting lactate production except when rumen fluid from grain-fed cattle was used in fermentation. Vet Res Commun, 1981 Dec, 5(2), 101 - 15 Regulation of lactate metabolism in the rumen; Counotte GH et al.; The regulation of lactic acid production, the regulation of lactate fermentation and the role of lactate as intermediate in the rumen metabolism was studied . The pH had a pronounced effect on all three processes and therefore buffer capacity of the rumen contents is also described . Starch gave much less rise to lactic acidosis than soluble sugars, as glucose and fructose . Most bacteria grow faster and therefore produce more lactic acid when amino acids and/or soluble proteins are present in the diet . Activity of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) of mixed rumen microorganisms is regulated by the NADH/NAD(H) balance and the ATP concentration . About 60% of the LDH in mixed rumen microorganisms is fructose-1, 6-diphosphate independent . Megasphaera elsdenii ferments 60 to 80% of the lactate fermented in the rumen of dairy cattle . Lactate accumulates only when the glycolytic flux (hexose units fermented per unit time per microorganism) is high . During adaptation, the glycolytic flux is increased and lactate may accumulate . After adaptation to a certain diet, the number of microorganisms is changed and the glycolytic flux again is normal and lactate is only a minor intermediate in rumen metabolism. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 42(6), 1132 - 4 Elaboration of vomitoxin and zearalenone by Fusarium isolates and the biological activity of Fusarium-produced toxins; Vesonder RF et al.; Sixteen Fusarium isolates belonging to F . graminearium Schw . and F . culmorum (W.G . Smith) Sacc . produced vomitoxin and zearalenone on cracked corn at 28 degrees C . Quantitation for vomitoxin was by gas-liquid chromatography . This toxin was produced in quantities of 5 to 236 microgram/g of fermented corn . Vomitoxin showed weak antibiotic activity against Penicillium digitatum Sacc., Mucor ramannianus Moller, and Saccharomyces bayanus Sacc., but did not inhibit gram-positive, gram-negative, or acid fast bacteria . The two molds and the yeast were inhibited by T-2 toxin at 5 micrograms, and diacetoxyscirpenol inhibited the molds at 5 micrograms and the yeast at 50 micrograms. Science, 1981 Nov 27, 214(4524), 987 - 95 Industrial microbiology; Demain AL; Industrial microbiology has served humanity since prebiblical times, providing fermented beverages and foods to enhance the quality of life . The antibiotic era featured an explosion in the number of microbial products for medicine, nutrition, industry, and research . Revolutionary developments in molecular genetics are propelling the field into a new growth phase with promise of solutions to major world problems. Antibiotiki, 1981 Nov, 26(11), 828 - 33 {Polarographic method of determining oleandomycin}; Kardo-Sysoeva LG et al.; It was shown with the use of classical and differential polarography that oleandomycin in aqueous solutions undergoes electrolytic reduction on the mercury-dropping electrode . The polarographic wave of the reduction was distorted with adsorption phenomena . Its height was proportional to the analytical concentration of oleandomycin in the solution . The polarographic study on the process of acid and alkaline hydrolysis showed a satisfactory correlation between the height of the oleandomycin peak on the differential polarogramme {Formula: see text} and the biological activity of the antibiotic in the solution . The quantitative analysis implies recording of the data of the differential polarogramme of the test-solution and measurement of the antibiotic concentration with the calibration graph . Comparison of the results of determination of the oleandomycin levels in oleandomycin phosphate drugs and fermentation broth filtrates with the polarographic and micro-biological methods revealed no systematic deviations and showed that the average casual deviation between the results was due only to the errors of the methods reproducibility. Mol Cell Biol, 1981 Nov, 1(11), 1016 - 23 Hierarchy of elements regulating synthesis of ribosomal proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Kief DR et al.; Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells respond to a heat shock by temporarily slowing the synthesis of ribosomal proteins (C . Gorenstein and J . R . Warner, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 73:1574-1551, 1976) . When cultures growing oxidatively on ethanol as the sole carbon source were shifted from 23 to 36 degrees C, the synthesis of ribosomal proteins was coordinately inhibited twice as rapidly and 45% more severely than in comparable cultures growing fermentatively on glucose . Within 15 min, the relative rates of synthesis of at least 30 ribosomal proteins declined to less than one-sixth their initial values, whereas the overall rate of protein synthesis increased at least threefold . We suggest that this is due primarily to controls at the level of synthesis of messenger ribonucleic acid for ribosomal proteins but may also involve changes in messenger ribonucleic acid stability . In contrast, a nutritional shift-up causes a stimulation of the synthesis of ribosomal proteins . Experiments designed to determine the hierarchy of stimuli affecting the synthesis of these proteins demonstrated that temperature shock was dominant to glucose stimulation . When a culture growing on ethanol was shifted from 23 to 36 degrees C and glucose was added shortly afterward, the decline in ribosomal protein synthesis continued unabated . However, in wild-type cells ribosomal protein synthesis began to recover within 15 min . In mutants temperature sensitive for ribosome synthesis, e.g., rna2, there was no recovery in the synthesis of most ribosomal proteins, suggesting that the product of rna2 is essential for the production of these proteins under all vegetative conditions. Infect Immun, 1981 Nov, 34(2), 508 - 12 Characterization of Micropolyspora faeni antigens; Kurup VP et al.; Culture filtrate antigens of Micropolyspora faeni grown in a synthetic medium in a stirred fermentor were characterized . The culture filtrate antigens were fractionated by preparative isoelectric focusing with a pH gradient of 3.5 to 5.5 . The fractions were pooled according to their reaction with rabbit anti-M . faeni sera . A pool containing two major antigens which were resolved by analytical isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis was obtained . One antigen was stainable with Coomassie blue and periodic acid-Schiff stain and was determined to have a mass of 51,000 daltons . The other antigen was stainable only with Coomassie blue and was determined to have a mass of 29,000 daltons . When used at 1 mg/ml, this pool reacted with the sera from all patients with farmer's lung disease by immunodiffusion but failed to react with control sera. J Bacteriol, 1981 Nov, 148(2), 541 - 50 Long-term nutrient starvation of continuously cultured (glucose-limited) Selenomonas ruminantium; Mink RW et al.; Selenomonas ruminantium, a strictly anaerobic ruminal bacterium, was grown at various dilution rates (D = 0.05, 0.25, and 0.35 h-1) under glucose-limited continuous culture conditions . Suspensions of washed cells prepared anaerobically in mineral buffer were subjected to nutrient starvation (24 to 36 h; 39 degrees C; N2 atmosphere) . Regardless of growth rate, viability declined logarithmically, and within about 2.5 h, about 50% of the populations were nonviable . After 24 h of starvation, the numbers of viable cells appeared to be inversely related to growth rate, the highest levels occurring with the slowest grown population . Cell dry weight, carbohydrate, protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and deoxyribonucleic acid declined logarithmically during starvation, and the decline rates of each were generally greater with cells grown at higher D values . Both cellular carbohydrate and RNA declined substantially during the first 12 h of starvation . Most of the cellular RNA that disappeared was found in the suspending buffer as low-molecular-weight, orcinol-positive materials . During growth, S . ruminantium made a variety of fermentation acids from glucose, but during starvation, acetate was the only acid made from catabolism of cellular material . Addition of glucose or vitamins to starving cell suspensions did not decrease loss of viability, whereas a starvation in the spent culture medium resulted in a slight decrease in the rate of viability loss . Overall, the data indicate that S . ruminantium strain D has very little survival capacity under the conditions tested compared with other bacterial species that have been studied. Jikken Dobutsu, 1981 Oct, 30(4), 445 - 50 {Basic examination on the energization of experimental animal feces by methane fermentation (author's transl)}; Kamata S et al.; Basic experiments of methane fermentation of livestock excreta have been reported by many investigators, yet there has been no report of experiments of methane fermentation of experimental animal feces . We considered that it would be feasible to gasiby experimental animal feces by methane fermentation . In this report, methane gas fermentation of rat feces is studied . The results are summarized as follows: 1 . Methane fermentation of rat feces yielded, under the conditions described, 220-4231 of gas per kg of organic matter . 2 . Decomposition ratio of BOD removal volume in organic matter was 50-60% when the fermentation condition was optimum . 3 . The volume of gas from BOD removal volume in organic matter was 500-600ml/g . 4 Methane gas contents in the gas generated from the feces ranged from about 55-60% . 5 . COD removal ratio was above 80%, and BOD removal ratio above 90% . From these data, the authors conclude that under the optimum conditions, described sufficient methane gas can be obtained from rat feces by methane fermentation. Steroids, 1981 Oct, 38(4), 383 - 95 The major neutral products of the aerobic catabolism of cattle bile by Pseudomonas sp . ATCC 31752; Park RJ; Pseudomonas sp . ATCC 31752 grows aerobically on cattle bile in a fermenter utilising the bile acid conjugates as a carbon source . Under conditions of limited aeration several steroid catabolites accumulate and these were harvested in good yield . Evidence is presented to show that these compounds are the novel compounds 12 beta-hydroxy-4, 6-androsta diene-3, 17-dione (VII) and 7 alpha, 12 beta-dihydroxy-4-androstene-3, 17-dione (VIII) together with the known bile acid catabolites 7 alpha, 12 beta-dihydroxy-1,4-androstadiene-3, 17-dione (IV), 7 alpha-hydroxy-1, 4-androstadiene-3, 17-dione (V) and 12 beta-hydroxy-1, 4-androstadiene-3, 17-dione (VI). J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Oct, 34(10), 1248 - 52 Isolation of novel antibiotics X-14667A and X-14667B from Streptomyces cinnamonensis subsp . urethanofaciens and their characterization as 2-phenethylurethanes of monensins B and A; Westley JW et al.; Antibiotics X-14667A (1) and X-14667B (2) are novel monovalent polyether antibiotics of the spiroketal type isolated from fermented cultures of Streptomyces cinnamonensis subsp . urethanofaciens together with monensin (3), its lower homolog, factor B (4) and 1,3-diphenethylurea (6) . By a combination of microanalysis, mass spectrometry and 13C nmr, antibiotics X-14667A and B have been shown to be natural 2-phenethylurethanes of monensin B and A respectively . Both structures have been confirmed by reacting the appropriate monensin with 2-phenethylisocyanate to yield semi-synthetic compounds that are identical to the natural products. Arch Tierernahr, 1981 Oct, 31(10), 685 - 96 {Dependence of rumen fatty acid production on the composition of rations}; Lebzien P et al.; In three experiments with two Black-and-White dairy cows the influence of soybean oil and coconut fat as well as that of rations rich in roughage and concentrated feed on the production of fatty acids were determined with the isotope dilution method . A change in the method of sampling from the rumen in the course of the investigations resulted in distinctly different absolute production quotas, which can presumably be traced back to the disproportionate mixing in of the isotope and/or different production quotas in various regions of the rumen . The relative differences between the production quotas dependent on the rations, however were approximately the same with both sampling methods, so that they make the comparison of the rations concerning rumen fermentation possible . The production of acetic acid and the total production of fatty acids (C2--C4) correlated closely both with the intake of digestible energy and the intake of digestible organic matter . There was also a highly significant correlation o that they make the comparison of the rations concerning rumen fermentation possible . The production of acetic acid and the total production of fatty acids (C2--C4) correlated closely both with the intake of digestible energy and the intake of digestible organic matter . There was also a highly significant correlation o that they make the comparison of the rations concerning rumen fermentation possible . The production of acetic acid and the total production of fatty acids (C2--C4) correlated closely both with the intake of digestible energy and the intake of digestible organic matter . There was also a highly significant correlation between the relation of acetic and propionic acid in the rumen fluid and the quotient from acetic and propionic acid produced . In contrast to this, a significant relation between the concentration of fatty acids and the production of fatty acids could not be ascertained . Soybean oil and coconut fat brought about a slightly better utilisation of the fat-free organic matter for the production of fatty acids in the rumen . This could mainly be traced back to the increased production of propionic acid . The production of acetic acid per kg fat-free organic matter was insignificantly reduced . A reduced quota of roughage in the ration as well as the use of feed fats resulted in a decrease in the production of acetic acid and an increase in the production of propionic acid . The influence of the quota of roughage, however, was bigger than that of the use of fats . When rations rich in roughage were given, the share the energy contained in the total fatty acids has in the total of the digested energy was, on an average of both animals, slightly lower in comparison to rations rich in concentrated feed . However, the reason for this is not to be found in a lower share the energy digested in the stomachs has in the total of digested energy but in a higher amount of fermentation losses with a nutrition rich in roughage. Science, 1981 Sep 25, 213(4515), 1463 - 8 Fermentation in the rumen and human large intestine; Wolin MJ; Fermentation of food by the microbial community of the rumen is essential for the maintenance and growth of ruminants . The microbial ecosystem and its interaction with the host are described, along with recent attempts to manipulate the composition and activity of the microbial community by adding antibiotics and other chemicals to ruminant diets . A similar microbial community and fermentation occur in the large intestine or cecum of most nonruminant animals including the large intestine of humans . The microbial ecosystems of the rumen and human large intestine are compared. Mycopathologia, 1981 Sep 11, 75(3), 179 - 89 Differentiation of Candida stellatoidea from C . albicans and C . tropicalis by temperature-dependent growth responses on defined media; Sarachek A et al.; C . stellatoidea differs from both C . albicans and C . tropicalis in its i) much greater growth differential on minimal and amino acid enriched media and ii) unique inability to grow on minimal medium containing glycerol as carbon source at 37C . The relative responses to amino acid enrichment occur on media containing either fermentative or oxidative carbon sources, at 25C or 37C . Under any given conditions of carbon source and temperature, different assortments of individual amino acids are stimulatory for each of the three species . All assortments include one or more members of the glutamic acid family . However, sulfur amino acids stimulate only C . stellatoidea on all three carbon sources . On minimal-glycerol medium, wild type strains of C . stellatoidea grow prototrophically at 25C but are auxotrophic for amino acids at 37C; the particular auxotrophies expressed vary from strain to strain . Slow growing, mycelial mutants, prototrophic on glycerol at 37C arise spontaneously in wild type strains at frequencies indicating nuclear gene mutation . Such mutants can be induced by both transition and frame shift mutagens . The implications of these observations for the taxonomic relationships between the three Candida species and for identification of C . stellatoidea in particular are discussed. J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 1981 Sep, 4(3), 241 - 8 'Lactate type' response of ruminal fermentation to chloral hydrate, chloroform and trichloroethanol; Amgarten M et al.; In ruminal fluid, taken from a cow 2 h after cereal feeding and supplemented with powdered grass, chloral hydrate diminished the rate of acetate, butyrate and propionate production . Instead, a considerable increase in lactate production was elicited by the drug . Chloroform and trichloroethanol had the same effect . Chloral hydrate and chloroform rendered the redox potential more negative which indicates inhibition of methane production . A concentration of chloral hydrate (2 mM), giving complete methane inhibition, reduced volatile fatty acid production by 30% . The findings are explained by assuming that chloral hydrate blocks methane production but in addition is inhibitory at a step below lactate in the reductive pathway to propionate and that the conditions chosen resulted in substrate saturation of one of the enzymes in the succinate pathway to propionate. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Sep, 126(Pt 1), 219 - 20 Growth and rumen function of gnotobiotic lambs fed on starchy diets; Hobson PN et al.; Four gnotobiotic lambs were fed, after weaning, on a pelleted concentrate diet containing 90% barley . They were inoculated with a defined flora of 11 species of bacteria designed to reproduce the feed digestion of the conventional lamb . Cultural assessments of the growth of the bacteria and analysis of rumen fermentation products showed that rumen function was near normal, and the lambs grew steadily . However, at an age of about 115 to 130 d, rumen function seemed to fail in three of the lambs and they rapidly lost weight and died . The fourth lamb was removed from isolation at about the same time, when there was some slight indication of loss of rumen function . Kept among conventional lambs it then continued to gain weight as did the conventional animals, but its rumen flora changed . The main species in the defined flora remained as major components of the rumen population after the lamb had been exposed to other animals, but in addition a mixed population of other bacteria, like that in conventional animals, quickly developed . Other experiments showed that gnotobiotic lambs could be routinely weaned on to a concentrate feed containing 45% barley and 50% grass and that, when the lambs were inoculated with a defined flora similar to that given to the lambs in the first experiment, an adequate rumen fermentation could be established and the animals would grow . On changing to an all-grass feed, however, rumen function declined and the lambs ceased to grow . A change back to the barley/grass diet restored rumen fermentation and lamb growth, but whereas amylolytic bacteria were present in normal numbers, cellulolytic bacteria were absent and there appeared to be little, if any, fibre digestion . However, the rumen function again appeared to fail at about the same age of lamb as in the first experiment. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Sep, 34(9), 1081 - 9 Isosulfazecin, a new beta-lactam antibiotic, produced by an acidophilic pseudomonad . Fermentation, isolation and characterization; Kintaka K et al.; A novel beta-lactam antibiotic, isosulfazecin (iSZ), was found to be produced by an acidophilic pseudomonad, Pseudomonas mesoacidophila sp . nov . iSZ was produced in parallel with bacterial growth in nutrient broth containing glycerol and sodium thiosulfate under aerated conditions . iSZ was isolated by chromatography on activated charcoal and anion-exchangers and crystallized from 70% aqueous methanol . The molecular formula was determined to be C12H20N4O9S from physiochemical data . The IR and NMR spectra suggested that iSZ has a beta-lactam ring, methoxyl and sulfonate groups . On acid hydrolysis, it gave L-alanine and D-glutamic acid . iSZ is an epimeric isomer of sulfazecin . iSZ was weakly active against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, and was strongly active against mutants hypersensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Sep, 20(3), 370 - 7 Properties of S-adenosyl-L-methionine:macrocin O-methyltransferase in extracts of Streptomyces fradiae strains which produce normal or elevated levels of tylosin and in mutants blocked in specific O-methylations; Seno ET et al.; An efficient assay for S-adenosyl-L-methionine:macrocin O-methyltransferase, the enzyme which carries out the terminal step in tylosin biosynthesis, is described . Macrocin O-methyltransferase requires Mg2+ and S-adenosyl-L-methionine for activity, has a temperature optimum of about 31 degrees C, and has a pH optimum of 7.5 to 8.2 . Macrocin O-methyltransferase specifically converts macrocin to tylosin by O-methylation of the 3" ' position of macrocin . In vitro methylation studies with extracts from a tylosin-producing Streptomyces fradiae strain and from mutant strains blocked in 2" '- or 3" '-O-methylations indicated that: (i) the 2" '- and 3" '-O-methylations occur after 6-deoxy-D-allose is attached to the macrolide ring; (ii) the 2" '- and 3" '-O-methylations are carried out by separate enzymes; and (iii) the 2" '-O-methylation precedes the 3" '-O-methylation . Macrocin O-methyltransferase was inhibited by high levels of its substrate, macrocin, by its product, tylosin, and by other tylosin analogs which contained mycinose or demethyl analogs of mycinose . Macrocin O-methyltransferase was produced early in the tylosin fermentation cycle by S . fradiae and preceded the onset of rapid tylosin biosynthesis by about 24 h . The enzyme specific activity reached maximum at about 72 h and then slowly declined . A mutant strain of S . fradiae selected for increased tylosin production synthesized macrocin O-methyltransferase more rapidly and accumulated a higher enzyme specific activity than a wild-type strain. J Chromatogr Sci . 1981 Sep;19(9):451. Monitoring bacterial metabolites in cultured buttermilk by high performance liquid chromatography and headspace gas chromatography; Marsili RT; A commercial buttermilk culture was added to Grade a skim milk . Samples were analyzed hourly for a total of eighteen hours . Headspace gas chromatography measured changes in acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, and diacetyl concentrations . High performance liquid chromatography measured changes in orotic, citric, pyruvic, lactic, uric, acetic, and propionic acid concentrations . Consumption of orotic acid and citric acid substrates was noted . Production of diacetyl, ethanol, pyruvic, lactic, acetic, and propionic acids was observed . Acetaldehyde concentration increased initially and then decreased as ethanol was formed . Acetone and uric acid concentrations remained constant during fermentation . In addition, chemical changes occurring during refrigeration were measured after seven days . Acetaldehyde, ethanol, and acetic acid increased in concentration; diacetyl, orotic, citric, pyruvic, lactic, and propionic acids decreased in concentration . Also, a headspace gas chromatographic test was done for the quantitation of acetoin. Antibiotiki, 1981 Sep, 26(9), 651 - 4 {Optimization of the nutrient medium composition for the biosynthesis of the antibiotic tobramycin using a mathematical experimental design method}; Motkova MO et al.; The mathematical design of the experiment was used for optimization of the nutrient medium for biosynthesis of tobramycin by Streptomyces cremeus var . tobramycini . The use of the orthogonal Latin rectangles provided development of the fermentation medium composition and definition of the optimal concentration of its ingredients . The level of tobramycin production on this medium was 2 times higher than that on the initial one. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Sep, 34(9), 1107 - 18 Metabolic products of microorganisms . 200 Isolation and characterization of niphithricins A, B, and elaiophylin, antibiotics produced by Streptomyces violaceoniger; Fiedler HP et al.; Fermentations of Streptomyces violaceoniger TU 905 produce the antifungal antibiotics niphithricins A, B, elaiophylin and nigericin . The niphithricins have been characterized as new macrolide antibiotics, and the previously unknown structure of elaiophylin was determined to be a macrodiolide . The niphithricins were biologically active against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi . The mode of action is attributed to an alteration of the membrane permeability. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1981 Aug 30, 57(16), 1731 - 7 {Effects of the presence of hydrolyzed amides in the diets of weaned piglets on the digestive utilization of various nutrients}; Fiumana D et al.; With a research carried out on early weaned piglets the effects of the presence in the diets of dextrose and partially hydrolyzed starch (maltodextrins), either alone or together, on the digestive utilization of some nutrients were evaluated . For this purpose 24 castrated males Landrace X (Large White X Duroc) with an average of 19 days were assigned to four homogeneous groups of 6 piglets each, reared in batteries and fed with the diets: A (control); B (5% dextrose); C (5% maltodextrins) and D (5% dextrose + 5% maltodextrins) . The hydrolyzed products were in partial substitution of corn and barley flakes . The apparent digestibility of the nutrients in vivo was evaluated by means of Cr2O3, added as added as indicator to the diets in the quantity of 0,3% . The results show that both dextrose and maltodextrins alone improve the digestive utilization of dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen (only with 5% dextrose) and especially of energy; the effects of dextrose and maltodextrins together on the digestibility of these nutrients are lower, but higher in the case of minerals . The results partially corroborate those obtained with our previous researches and seem to indicate that 5% of hydrolyzed starch better the digestive utilization of nutrients through an improvement of the intestinal fermentations, but that 10% (5% dextrose + 5% maltodextrins) is a too large quantity. J Chromatogr, 1981 Aug 21, 213(1), 129 - 36 Quantitative analysis of cephamycin C in fermentation broths by means of thin-layer spectrodensitometry; Treiber LR; A method has been developed that consists of one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of the samples on pre-coated silica gel 60F254 plates followed by an in situ spectrophotometric evaluation of the chromatograms at 273 nm . Statistical evaluations showed a linear calibration (r2 greater than 0.999) for the range of 0.2-20 microgram/spot . The relative standard deviations for broth samples containing 1.505 and 12.47 microgram Cephamycin C per spot were 3.61 and 1.07%, respectively . The recovery was virtually quantitative: 97.6% . The correlation with a liquid chromatographic method was quite acceptable with r2 = 0.99124 and b = 0.998 (slope). Ital J Neurol Sci, 1981 Aug, 2(3), 283 - 90 Familial lead poisoning from contaminated wine; Loi F et al.; Three members of a family were found be suffering from lead poisoning of nonindustrial origin, the causative agent being the home-produced wine left to ferment in a glazed earthenware vat . The clinical and neurophysiological features are discussed in the light of similar cases in the literature . Correct diagnosis and early treatment of nonindustrial lead polyneuropathy are often extremely difficult because of the elusive nature of the exposure. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Aug, 34(8), 929 - 33 Candiplanecin, a new antibiotic from Ampullariella regularis subsp . mannitophila subsp . nov . I . Taxonomy of producing organism and fermentation; Itoh Y et al.; A soil isolate of actinomycete, strain No . 43871 produced a new antifungal antibiotic, candiplanecin . Pale brownish to yellow orange color of colonies on agar media, the formation of bottle-shaped, cylindrical sporangia bearing motile spores and the presence of meso-DAP and glycine in the cell wall ascribed this strain to genus Ampullariella . From its morphological characteristics together with the cultural and physiological features, this strain was determined to be a new subspecies of Ampullariella regularis and designated as Ampullariella regularis subsp . mannitophila subsp . nov . (FERM-P No . 5646) . Production of candiplanecin was carried out by conventional submerged culture, in which 2 micrograms/ml as the highest antibiotic titer was obtained. Br J Exp Pathol, 1981 Aug, 62(4), 429 - 35 Comparative lung pathology of rats after exposure to cigarette and cigar smoke; Betts TE et al.; In a series of 3 experiments, rats bred and maintained under minimum disease conditions suffered much less lung damage after exposure to cigar smoke than did similar animals exposed to the smoke of Virginia tobacco . Rats exposed to cigar tobacco smoke also showed a greater weight gain and a lower acute-phase protein increase than did their Virginia tobacco counterparts . These differences in response were compounded by the results obtained from measuring changes in the epithelium of the intrapulmonary airways . The smoke of air-cured but not fermented cigar tobacco had an effect similar to the smoke of Virginia tobacco. Antibiotiki, 1981 Aug, 26(8), 570 - 5 {Effect of aeration and agitation conditions on gentamycin biosynthesis}; Losev VV et al.; The study on the relation between the production of gentamicin and the conditions of aeration and agitation of the fermentation broth showed the advisability of the control of these parameters with respect to the maximum rate of the oxygen uptake . Possible scaling-up of the process of gentamicin biosynthesis was shown with the use of the expression: (formula: see text). Antibiotiki, 1981 Aug, 26(8), 566 - 70 {Determination of p-aminoacetophenone and changes in its levels in a levorin producer depending on culture conditions}; Aleksintseva OA et al.; A method for spectrophotometric determination of p-aminoacetophenone (p-AAP) in the mycelium and fermentation broth filtrates of organisms producing polyenic macrolide antibiotics is described . The level of p-AAP accumulation was studied as applicable to the biosynthesis of levorin, a polyenic antibiotic of the heptaen series . The levels of p-AAP under usual conditions of the levorin-producing organism cultivation and under conditions of its stimulation with the products of the vital activity of yeast-like fungi were compared . Higher levels of p-AAP in the cultures grown with stimulation of the antibiotic biosynthesis were noted . Inadequacy of the correlation between production of levorin and p-AAP is discussed. Genetics, 1981 Aug, 98(4), 713 - 28 The effects of three different mal loci on the regulation of maltase synthesis in yeast; Mowshowitz DB; Inbred haploid strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae carrying MAL1, MAL2 or MAL6 in a common background have been crossed to each other and to strains carrying no active MAL loci . The kinetics of maltase induction and the induced maltase levels have been examined in the inbred strains and in haploid segregants of the crosses . Differences have been found in the kinetics of induction and induced maltase levels that segregate with the different MAL loci . In the strains tested, the relative rates of maltase induction were MAL2 greater than MAL6 much greater than MAL1; the relative induced maltase levels were MAL2 greater than MAL6 similar to MAL1 . These results indicate that MAL1, MAL2 and MAL6 are (or include) regulatory genes that control the accumulation of the enzymes of maltose fermentation. Fed Proc, 1981 Aug, 40(10), 2536 - 41 Endocrine regulation of energy metabolism in ruminants; Trenkle A; Partitioning of nutrients among tissues of the body is one role of the endocrine system . Skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and lactating mammary gland are tissues that utilize most of the energy consumed in excess of maintenance . The energy metabolism of ruminants is complicated by the lack of absorption of glucose because of the fermentation of carbohydrates in the rumen . Increased secretion of glucagon after feeding promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis from absorbed amino acids . During fasting, gluconeogenesis is maintained by increased secretion of glucocorticoids . Based on observation form a number of diverse experiments with cattle and sheep, it seems that growth hormone increases the flow of energy to skeletal muscle and the mammary gland, whereas insulin increases the utilization of energy by the adipose tissue . Nutritional and genetic factors associated with secretion of these hormones are discussed. Eur J Biochem, 1981 Aug, 118(2), 315 - 21 Glutaconate CoA-transferase from Acidaminococcus fermentans; Buckel W et al.; 1 . Glutaconate CoA-transferase catalyses the transfer of CoAS- from acetyl-CoA preferentially to (E)-glutaconate, but glutarate, (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate, acrylate and propionate are also good acceptors . No reaction was observed with (Z)-glutaconate and C4-dicarboxylic acids . 2 . The product of the reaction of acetyl-CoA with (E)-glutaconate is the 1-isomer of glutaconyl-CoA, i.e . the thiol ester is conjugated with the double bond . Other results indicate, however, that with (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate as substrate both possible isomers are generated . 3 . Glutaconate CoA-transferase was purified from cell-free extracts of Acidaminococcus fermentans to apparent homogeneity and crystallized . The relative molecular mass of the enzyme is approximately 275000 . It consists of two different polypeptide chains (M, 32000 and 34000) . On the catalytic pathway a thiolester is formed between CoASH and a carboxylate of the smaller polypeptide chain . 4 . The structural and functional relationships between glutaconate CoA-transferase and other CoA-transferases are discussed . 5 . Glutaconate CoA-transferase is also present in other bacteria fermenting glutamate via hydroxyglutarate . Experiments with an antiserum against the enzyme indicate that the transferase is necessary for the decarboxylation of glutaconate but not for the dehydration of (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate. Poult Sci, 1981 Jul, 60(7), 1473 - 8 Tibial dyschondroplasia in broilers: comparison to dietary additives and strains; Veltmann JR Jr et al.; The effects of broiler strain and various additives to practical corn-soy diets on the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) were studied using broiler chicks maintained in battery brooders . At the termination of each experiment, birds were killed and examined for TD by cutting longitudinally along the tibia . No significant difference in the incidence of TD was found among the nine broiler strains compared . While the incidence of twisted legs was higher than TD among the nine strains there was no apparent correlation between the two leg disorders . Studies conducted using the following additives did not significantly increase the incidence of TD in broilers when compared to controls: monensin, sodium chloride, copper sulfate, magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, roxarsone, gentian violet, erythromycin, vitamin K, or vitamin D3 . However, dietary ammonium chloride (1.5 or 30%) did increase the incidence of TD, whereas adding various fermentation products at levels of 10 and 20% either in the absence or presence of ammonium chloride failed to reduce the incidence of the disease . The incidences of TD among broiler chicks fed high dietary fluoride were nonsignificant; no evidence of the disease was found in Leghorn chicks fed the same diets . Chicks maintained in battery brooders in these studies, generally had a lower incidence of TD than that reported for commercial flocks in the field . Furthermore, manipulation of feed additives or ingredients in practical rations for broiler chickens did not increase the incidence of the disease. J Anim Sci, 1981 Jul, 53(1), 7 - 18 Influence of fasting and transit on ruminal and blood metabolites in beef steers; Galyean ML et al.; Nine ruminally cannulated steers (average weight 477 kg) were randomly assigned to serve as controls (C) or to be fasted (F) or fasted and transported (FT) . C steers were allowed free access to alfalfa hay, water and plain salt during the experiment; F steers were deprived of feed and water for 32 hr, and FT steers were deprived of feed and water and transported for 32 hr in a gooseneck trailer . After 32 hr, F and FT steers were allowed access to alfalfa hay, salt and water . Rumen samples were withdrawn via cannula at 0, 18, 32, 36, 46, 56, 80 and 104 hr after the start of the experiment . Jugular blood was sampled at the same times, except for 36 and 46 hours . Rumen pH of F and FT steers increased (P less than .05) during the 32 hr fasting/transit period over that of C steers and then decreased (P less than .05) on refeeding . Total VFA concentrations were lower in F steers (39.5 mmoles/liter) at 32 hr than in FT steers (202.2 mmoles/liter) . Total counts of rumen bacteria and protozoa were lower (P less than .05) in F and FT steers than in C steers at all times except 0 and 104 hr, and recovery of microbial numbers was slower in FT and in F steers . VFA data suggest rumen motility may be impaired in FT steers compared with that in F steers . Blood glucose was higher (P less than .05) at 18 an 32 hr in FT than in F steers . Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase was higher (P less than .05) at 18 hr (104.7 IU/liter) in FT steers than in steers in the other two groups (average 84.3 IU/liter) . Serum Fe tended to be lower at 18 and 32 hr in FT steers than in F and C steers, and serum triglycerides were lower (P less than .05) in FT steers at 32 and 56 hr than in C . Most other blood constituents were not greatly affected by treatment . These data suggest that the physiological response of fasting alone differs considerably from that of fasting and transit stress, because transit appears to impose influences on rumen fermentation and blood chemistry beyond those imposed by fasting. Isr J Med Sci, 1981 Jul, 17(7), 524 - 30 Urogenital mycoplasma infections of man: a review with observations on a recently discovered mycoplasma; Taylor-Robinson D et al.; Ureaplasma urealyticum organisms (ureaplasmas), Mycoplasma hominis, M . fermentans, M . primatum, M . Salivarium and M . pneumoniae have been isolated from the genitourinary tract . The first two of these microorganisms are found most frequently . M . hominis is a cause of some cases of postpartum and postabortal fever, acute pyelonephritis and pelvic inflammatory disease . Ureaplasmas have been associated with chorioamnionitis, habitual spontaneous abortion, low birthweight, the urethral syndrome in women, and nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) in men; but the difficulty of proving an etiological relationship is emphasized . However, in NGU there is accumulating evidence to indicate that ureaplasmas cause some cases . Some patients suffering from NGU, from whom ureaplasmas, mycoplasmas and chlamydiae cannot be isolated, respond to tetracycline therapy . This has suggested that a tetracycline-sensitive microorganism might be responsible . In this context, the isolation of a glucose-metabolizing mycoplasma from the genitourinary tracts of 2 of 13 men with NGU is of interest . This mycoplasma, serologically different from all other tested, has the structural and biological features of a pathogenic organism. Eur J Biochem, 1981 Jul, 117(3), 553 - 8 Detection of proton-acceptor sites of hydrogen bonding in adenine X uracil base pairs by the use of 15N magnetic resonance; Watanabe M et al.; 2',3',5'-Tri-O-acetyl{1,3,7,9,amino-15N}adenosine(ac3Ado) and its 8-2H and 8-bromo derivatives (ac3{8-2H}Ado and ac3br8Ado) were synthesized from 95% 15N-enriched adenosine which was obtained by microbial fermentation . The chemical shifts and nuclear Overhauser effects of 15N NMR of the adenosine derivatives were measured by changing the concentration of the mixed 1-cyclohexyluracil (cHxUra) in chloroform . The limiting shift of each 15N resonance was calculated by using the association constants obtained from proton magnetic resonances of the ac3Ado/cHxUra and ac3br8Ado/cHxUra systems . From the quantitative analysis of the 15N chemical shifts of the N-1 and N-7 atoms it could be concluded that ac3Ado X cHxUra dimers prefer the Hoogsteen-type pair while the Watson-Crick-type pairs are predominant in the ac3br8Ado X cHxUra dimers . The N-3 atom, which does not locate at the interaction site, showed a fairly large induced shift . Thus the induced shift of 15N resonance by association does not always mean the involvement of the corresponding nucleus to the interaction site . The effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on the nuclear Overhauser enhancement of the 15N-7 resonance was observed in the ac3{8-2H}Ado/cHxUra mixture . The presence of the Hoogsteen-type hydrogen bonding was proposed by the use of 15N NMR spectra . The present information will be useful for the elucidation of non-Watson-Crick-type base-pair interaction in transfer TNA and oligonucleotides. Antibiotiki, 1981 Jul, 26(7), 492 - 6 {Effect of the inoculum on tobramycin biosynthesis}; Motkova MO et al.; The effect of the quality and quantity of the inoculum on the biosynthesis of tobramycin was studied . The medium with corn steep liquor and glycerol was found to be the optimal seed medium for the tobramycin-producing organism . It is required that the fermentation medium be supplemented with 2 per cent of the vegetative inoculum at the stationary growth phase or with an increased amount of the seed material at the exponential growth phase or at the early stage of the culture dying . Subculturing of the inoculum decreases the level of tobramycin production at the fermentation stage: when the culture of the 5th--6th generation is used, the activity of the fermentation broth decreases by 30--50 per cent. Br J Nutr, 1981 Jul, 46(1), 97 - 110 Acetate supply and utilization by the tissues of sheep in vivo; Pethick DW et al.; 1 . The supply and utilisation of acetate has been estimated simultaneously in the whole animal and tissues of sheep using a combination is isotope-dilution and arteriovenous-difference techniques . Animals were made alloxani-diabetic and acetate metabolism was compared when stabilized to normal metabolite levels with insulin (ITA sheep) and when food and insulin had been withdrawn for 36 h (fasted, diabetic sheep) . 2 . Acetate was simultaneously produced and utilized by all tissues . The exogenous (or gut) supply of acetate was the most important determinant of circulating acetate level . Endogenous acetate was produced mainly in the liver; 77 and 94% in fasted, diabetic and ITA sheep respectively . The production of endogenous acetate remained fairly constant and was not related to ketogenesis, which supports the idea that circulating acetate is largely a produce of fermentation . The liver, gut and muscle utilized 17, 25 and 54% respectively (96% total) of the acetate entry rate in ITA sheep; a similar percentage utilization was found in fasted, diabetic sheep . 3 . Acetate is largely oxidized to carbon dioxide in the gut and muscles of sheep and may account for 30-40% of their oxidative metabolism . This figure is similar to that for the whole animal . The total acetate taken up by the liver could account for 30% of the oxygen consumption; however, the liver may not directly oxidize all the utilized acetate . 4 . The over-all conclusion from this study is that acetate is largely of dietary origin and the major factor determining its rate of utilization is the arterial concentration. Br J Nutr, 1981 Jul, 46(1), 39 - 58 Characteristics of the rumen proteolysis of fraction I (18S) leaf protein from lucerne (Medicago sativa L); Nugent JH et al.; 1 . The rate of proteolysis of fraction I (18S) leaf protein in the rumen of sheep of cattle was affected by diet ans the rate on fresh lucerne (medicago sativa L) was three to nine times the rate on a hay + concentrate diet . 2 . Simultaneous rumen fermentations in vivo and in an artificial rumen showed that the rates of proteolysis of fraction I in vitro was approximately 30% of the rates in sheep . 3 . Using 14 C uniformly-labelled fraction I protein at low concentrations, proteolysis exhibited 1st-order kinetics . Over a wide range of protein concentrations the velocity v . substrate concentration curve showed Michaelis-Menten characteristics typical of an enzyme-catalysed reaction . With rumen fluid from a hay + concentrate-fed sheep the maximum velocity was 2.6 mg protein nitrogen/1 per min and the Michaelis constant was 75 mg nitrogen/l . 4 . Rapid absorption of 14C-labelled fraction I protein onto bacterial cells preceded proteolysis . 5 . Sucrose-density-gradient analysis showed initial incorporation of 14C from protein into rumen bacteria followed by partial transfer to rumen protozoa . 6 . No peptides were detected during proteolysis showing that the rate-limiting step occurred during the initial stages of proteolysis . Only small amounts of free amino acids were released except for leucine, isoleucine, valine and ornithine, which showed significantly increased levels . 7 . Volatile fatty acids were the main 14C-labelled end products and were rapidly produced in descending concentrations: acetate greater than propionate greater than 3-methyl + 2-methyl butyrate greater than butyrate greater than isobutyrate greater than valerate. Br J Nutr, 1981 Jul, 46(1), 193 - 207 The digestion by cattle of grass silage made with formic acid and formic acid-formaldehyde; Thompson DJ et al.; 1 . A primary growth crop of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L., cv . S23) was partially wilted and ensiled after the application of either formic acid-water (1:3, w/v; 7.11 l/t fresh herbage; control diet C) or formic acid-formaldehyde (1:1, w/w; 8.8 l/t fresh herbage; formaldehyde treated diet F) which supplied 50 g HCHO/kg crude protein (nitrogen (N) x 6.25) . The two silages were fed separately and a third diet comprising formaldehyde-treated silage, supplemented with urea (20 g/kg dry matter DM) at the time of feeding was also examined (diet FU) . 2 . The three diets were fed at a level of 16 g DM/kg live weight to six 3- to six-month-old cattle fitted with rumen and re-entrant duodenal cannulas in two 3 x 3 Latin Square experiments, and measurements were made of the digestion of energy, carbohydrate and N . 3 . The formaldehyde-treated silage had a lower content of fermentation acids and ammonia-N, and a higher content of water-soluble carbohydrate and total amino acids . The apparent digestibility of organic matter, energy and N were depressed (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01 respectively) by treatment with formaldehyde, but cellulose and neutral-detergent fibre digestibility were unaffected . 4 . Within the rumen the digestion of organic matter, cellulose and neutral-detergent fibre were unaffected by formaldehyde treatment or supplementation with urea . Microbial protein synthesis in the rumen was similar for the three diets (average 131 g/kg apparently digested organic matter in the rumen) . 5 . The application of formic acid-formaldehyde increased (P less than 0.05) the amount of food protein escaping degradation in the rumen (4.76 diet C, 6.89 diet F; 7.07 diet FU g/kg protein intake) . The contribution of amino acids of dietary origin at the duodenum increased (P less than 0.05) from 50 (diet C) to 80 (diet F) and 82 (diet FU) g/kg DM intake, and the flow of total amino acids at the duodenum was 33% higher (P less than 0.001) in cattle fed formic acid-formaldehyde silage diets compared with the control silage due to the reduction in degradation of protein at ensiling and in the rumen. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Jul, (7), 15 - 21 {Diagnosis of Grigor'ev-Shiga dysentery}; Pokrovskii VI et al.; The data on the relative significance and composition of Sh . dysenteriae serovars isolated in some regions of the USSR in 1975-1979 are presented . Special tests revealed that Endo agar was the best medium, while Ploskirev's agar was the worst medium for growing Sh . dysenteriae 1 (the museum strain and the newly isolated strain from Bangladesh) . The testing of agar with eosine-methylene blue yielded moderate results in respect of the growth of the museum strain; as to the growth of the strain from Bangladesh, the results were identical to those obtained in testing Ploskirev's agar . The "epidemic" strain from Bangladesh was shown to correspond to the classical characteristics in its fermentative properties: polyvalent dysenteric phage and agglutinating sera produced in the USSR proved to be completely suitable for identification . The present-day clinical course and clinico-laboratory characteristics of dysentery caused by Sh . dysenteriae 1 are described . Practical recommendations on the bacteriological and clinical diagnosis of Grigoryev-Shiga dysentery, brought from an outside infection source, are proposed. Lepr India, 1981 Jul, 53(3), 385 - 9 A report on the biochemical analysis of Mycobacterium W; Katoch VM; A mycobacterial strain known as Mycobacterial strain W was analysed for its growth characteristics and biochemical traits . This strain was found to be a rapid grower, with luxurient growth on Lowenstein-Jensen medium, Dubos agar, Middlebrook's agar and Sauton's medium . Colonies were smooth, convex and nonpigmented . Some of the colonies which appeared rough were similar to smooth colonies at least in biochemical characteristics . This organism was tolerant to wide range of temperatures and to chemical substances like thiophene - carboxylic acid hydrazide, isoniazid, sodium chloride but not to bile salts . It was negative for niacin production, for various amidases, urease production, 3 day arylsulfatase test and also for Tween 80 hydrolysis . On the other hand this strain was found to be positive for semiquantitative catalase, heat resistant catalase, nitrate reduction, sodium salicylate degradation, tellurite reduction, 14 day arylsulfatase test and fermentation of fructose . This organism could utilize sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite as sources of nitrogen but didn't exhibit any utilization of fructose, arabinose as only sources of carbon . Significance of these findings is discussed. Br J Nutr, 1981 Jul, 46(1), 131 - 48 Effect of monensin on the fermentation of basal rations in the Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec); Wallace RJ et al.; 1 . A long-term experiment was made with the Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec), in which the fermentation of a mixed ration of hay (10 g/d) and bruised barley (5 g/d) was compared with the fermentation of the same diet in the presence of 2, 10 and 50 mg monensin/d . 2 . Monensin depressed the production of acetic and butyric acids, markedly increased the production of propionic acid and virtually, eliminated the production of isovaleric acid . The production of methane was decreased in the presence of monensin, but this decrease could be accounted for entirely by the changes in the production of volatile fatty acids and redistribution of metabolic hydrogen . 3 . The digestibility of dry matter (DM) in the rations declined in the presence of monensin . Determinations of the rates of digestion showed that the digestion of the readily-fermented food in the initial stages was not affected by monensin, but that at 24 h digestion had been inhibited by monensin . The inhibition was due entirely to its effect on the digestion of the fibrous components . Digestion of non-fibrous material was not affected . 4 . The efficiency of microbial growth, expressed as g dry weight/mol ATP formed (YATP) and in terms of DM digested, tended to be increased by monensin . This however occurred only at high, non-practical doses . 5 . Urease (EC 3 . 5 . 1 . 5) was induced by the addition of urea of the fermentation, but monensin had no effect on urease activity . Although monensin increased the activity of protease in washed suspensions, more food protein apparently escaped degradation . This may have been due to decreased deaminative activity . 6 . Monensin altered the microscopic appearance of the fermentation fluid, and changed the activity of some enzymes in sonicated extracts, including alkaline phosphatase (EC 3 . 1 . 3 . 1), acetate kinase (EC 2 . 7 . 2 . 1) and succinate dehydrogenase (EC 1 . 3 . 99 . 1) . These results are discussed in terms of known sensitivities of rumen microbes to monensin and their contribution to the fermentation as a whole. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Jul, 34(7), 836 - 44 Reverse phase high speed liquid chromatography of antibiotics . III . Use of ultra high performance columns and ion-pairing techniques; White ER et al.; Improved methods for the separation and quantitation of cephalosporin, penicillin, aminoglycoside and anthracycline antibiotics are presented . The use of ultra high performance 5 micrometer phase columns combined with the added dimension of ion-pairing greatly increases the ease of separation and speed of analysis of complex antibiotic mixtures . Antibiotics in a variety of dosage forms and in fermentation broths have been examined in order to provide the maximum data on impurities to meet regulatory requirements for drug safety, purity and efficacy . Mixtures of antibiotics have been analyzed to demonstrate the improved separations, increased efficiency and shortened analysis times possible with ultra thin performance columns . Under these improved conditions, the danger of multiple components in a single peak are markedly reduced. Minerva Stomatol, 1981 Jul-Aug, 30(4), 317 - 20 {Effects of zinc and vitamin B 6 in experimental caries in rats}; Rapisarda E et al.; The behaviour of caries has been studied in rats kept on a cariogenic diet enriched with zinc and vit . B6 . A reduction of 16.7% in caries was observed compared to control animals fed with the cariogenic diet alone . Compared to the controls, the animals treated with Ershoff diet and zinc presented a decrease of 18.76% . The weight increase curves of the three lots of rats appeared similar . The basic role played by pyridoxal phosphate in all metabolism is recalled and the cariostatic action exerted by vit . B6 on the optimal function of two pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent systems transaminase and enzymes engaged on the synthesis of acetyl-CoA, reported . Both reduce the acid complement deriving from bacterial plaque fermentation, transaminase by deviating pyruvic acid from glycolysis to protein metabolism, acetyl-CoA synthesis by triggering Krebs cycle oxidative decarboxylation. J Bacteriol, 1981 Jul, 147(1), 248 - 54 Conversion of glucose to fatty acids and methane: roles of two mycoplasmal agents; Rose CS et al.; Two species of obligately anaerobic mycoplasmas were the major components of a methanogenic glucose-limited enrichment culture . In pure culture, one of these organisms, tentatively named Anaeroplasma sp . strain London, was shown to be responsible for the fermentation of glucose to fatty acids, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide; the other mycoplasma was shown to produce methane from hydrogen and carbon dioxide and was named Methanoplasma elizabethii . This same methanogenic mycoplasma contained a low-molecular-weight fluorescent cofactor which had a maximum light absorbance at 430 nm . When both species of mycoplasmas were grown together on glucose, fermentation products included fatty acids and methane . For the first time, mycoplasmas are implicated as agents of anaerobic degradation and methanogenesis in a sewage sludge digester. Biochemistry, 1981 Jun 23, 20(13), 3748 - 56 Preparation of milligram amounts of 21 deoxyribonucleic acid restriction fragments; Hillen W et al.; Twenty-one DNA restriction fragments ranging in size from 12 to 880 base pairs (bp) were purified to homogeneity in milligram amounts . The developments which facilitated this work were (a) procedures for the rapid preparation of gram quantities of pure recombinant plasmid DNAs, (b) selective poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) precipitation of DNAs according to broad classes of lengths, and (c) large-scale high-pressure liquid chromatography on RPC-5 for the purification of fragments to homogeneity . The 95- and 301-bp sequences from the lactose control region of Escherichia coli were cloned into the single EcoRI site of pVH51 in up to four copies per plasmid . These tandem inserts are separated by EcoRI sites and have a head to tail orientation in all cases . A total of 50 and 90 mg of th 95- and 301-bp fragments, respectively, were prepared from 300-L fermentations of E . coli cells transformed with these plasmids . A rapid and improved method, which can easily be scaled up, for the purification of plasmids and DNA restriction fragments was developed . Also, the linear pVH51 vector DNA was digested with HaeIII to yield fragments ranging in size from 12 to 880 bp . The five smaller fragments (from 12 to 180 bp) were purified quantitatively by a selective PEG precipitation enrichment step followed by RPC-5 column fractionation . The larger fragments (245-880 bp) were prepared in milligram amounts . Ten subfragments from the 301-bp lac fragment were prepared by HpaII, HinfI, or HaeIII/AluI digestions followed by separation of the reaction products on RPC-5. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Jun, 34(6), 649 - 53 Reductiomycin, a new antibiotic . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, characterization and biological activities; Shimizu K et al.; A new antibiotic, reductiomycin was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces griseorubiginosus . The antibiotic has the molecular formula C14H15O6N(M.W . 293) . Reductiomycin is active against Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and newcastle disease virus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jun, 19(6), 941 - 4 Isolation of cairomycins A and C; Shimi IR et al.; Cairomycin B in the fermentation broths of Streptomyces sp . strain AS-C-19 accompanied cairomycin A and cairomycin C . The cairomycins are peptides with potent activity against gram-positive bacteria . On acid hydrolysis, cairomycin A yielded valine and aspartic acid, whereas cairomycin C yielded lysine, glycine, valine, leucine, and aspartic acid, as identified by paper and gas chromatography . These amino acids were found to exist in their alpha-L form . Cairomycin A was tentatively assigned a 6-isopropyl-2,5-diketopiperazine-3-acetic acid structure . The three cairomycins were distinct from each other in their ultraviolet, infrared, and mass spectra; elemental analyses; and their chromatographic behavior in different developing solvents. Antibiotiki, 1981 Jun, 26(6), 423 - 7 {Dynamics of the biosynthesis of nystatin components by Act . noursei, strain 153 under controlled culture conditions}; Malkov MA et al.; The ratio of the nystatin components produced under various cultivation conditions was studied . It was found to change during the greater part of the fermentation period and depend on the carbohydrate content in the medium . Under the conditions of the uncontrolled batch process the ratio of components A1 and A2 during the first 36 hours of the cultivation changed from 7.2 to 6.2 . When the rate of the antibiotic synthesis was maximum (42 - 72 hours), the ratio of A1 and A2 components was practically constant and equal to 5.5 - 5.2 . Beginning from the 72nd hour, when the rate of nystatin synthesis decreased, the ratio of A1 and A2 components increased up to 6.6 - 9.0 . Periodical addition of high amounts of glucose during the idiophase promoted activation of the synthesis of the less active A1 component . On momentous addition of glucose in the amounts of 1, 2 and 3 per cent the ratio of A1 and A2 components increased by the end of the process up to 14.3, 16.6 and 22.4 respectively . The data suggest that the nystatin components and especially the active A2 component which is more stable on storage are sensitive to accumulation of glucose catabolites. Antibiotiki, 1981 Jun, 26(6), 410 - 4 {Significance of pH for the growth of the sisomicin producer and biosynthesis of the antibiotic}; Laznikova TN et al.; Dependence of the mycelium growth and sisomycin production on the pH values of the fermentation broth was studied in cultures of various ages for 6 hours with the method of pH control within the preset levels . It was shown that the values of pH within the range of 7.25 - 7.6 were optimal . The pH values of 7.5 - 8.0 and 7.0 - 8.0 were optimal for the growth of the 24-hour culture and biosynthesis of the antibiotic by it respectively . pH 7.5 was optimal for the growth of the 48-hour mycelium and biosynthesis of the antibiotic by it. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Jun, 34(6), 665 - 74 Tallysomycin, a new antitumor antibiotic complex related to bleomycin . V . Production, characterization and antitumor activity of tallysomycin S10b, a new biosynthetic tallysomycin derivative; Miyaki T et al.; Tallysomycin S10b is a biosynthetic derivative of tallysomycin B obtained by precursor amine-feeding fermentation . Tallysomycin S10b contains 1,4-diaminobutane as the terminal amine moiety in place of spermidine of tallysomycin B, and its assigned structure was verified by carbon-13 NMR spectrum . The antitumor activity of tallysomycin S10b was comparable to that of tallysomycin A against sarcoma 180 but less active than the latter against leukemia P388 . Tallysomycin S10b was less toxic than tallysomycin A in terms of acute and subacute LD50 values . The nephrotoxic potential of tallysomycin S10b in rats was less than that of tallysomycin A. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Jun, 34(6), 658 - 64 Tallysomycin, a new antitumor antibiotic complex related to bleomycin . IV . New biosynthetic derivatives of tallysomycin; Miyaki T et al.; A series of new biosynthetic derivatives of tallysomycins A and B were obtained by precursor amine-feeding fermentation . Certain diamines were incorporated into tallysomycins as the terminal amine moiety affording two classes of biosynthetic derivatives, with or without the Beta-lysine moiety in the subterminal position . Among 21 derivatives prepared, tallysomycin S10b was selected for further studies in view of its favorable therapeutic indices. Biochem J, 1981 May 15, 196(2), 629 - 31 Metabolism of sitosterol by a Pseudomonas species; Mahato SB et al.; Fermentation of sitosterol by a Pseudomonas species (SK-25) resulted in the formation of 5-stigmastene-3 beta, 7 alpha-diol; 5,6 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-stigmastan-3 beta-ol; 5,6 beta-epoxy-5 beta-stigmastan-3 beta-ol and 5 alpha-stigmastan-3 beta, 5,6 beta-triol . The metabolites were characterized by a variety of conventional chemical and spectrometric techniques. Mycopathologia, 1981 May 8, 74(2), 119 - 23 {Effect of mycotoxins on the rate of fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae}; Lafont J et al.; The rate of fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is partially inhibited by different mycotoxins . This effect is remarkable with T2-toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol, slight with aflatoxin-B1, penicillic acid and patulin . On the contrary, the butenolide appears as a stimulator of the alcoholic fermentation. J Dairy Sci, 1981 May, 64(5), 719 - 23 Feeding mastitic milk to calves: review; Kesler EM; Milk from cows treated with antibiotics for mastitis and other disorders has been fed to young calves in fresh or fermented form . Growth of calves so fed has been similar to that of control animals offered fermented colostrum or other liquid feeds . Incidence of health disorders in mastitis milk-fed calves has been no greater than in those fed control milks . Mastitic milk preserved by addition of propionic acid or formaldehyde was relatively unpalatable to the calves . Limited data indicate that first-lactation cows fed mastitic milk as calves suffered no more udder trouble than did their mates formerly given other liquid feeds. Antibiotiki, 1981 May, 26(5), 352 - 7 {Development of a gentamicin producer under different culture conditions studied by a method of differential centrifugation of the mycelium in a saccharose density gradient}; Losev VV et al.; The method of differential centrifugation in the sucrose density gradient (SDG) enabled one to trace the changes in the development of the seed and fermentation mycelium of the gentamicin-producing organism . Correlation between gentamicin distribution in the SDG and the culture productivity was found . It was shown that the culture grown under the optimal aeration and agitation conditions was characterized by formation of higher amounts of the mycelium in the 5th and 6th layers of the SDG . Such mycelium was more productive than that from the other SDG layers . The most productive 48-hour seed culture had the more significant part of the mycelium in the 3rd layer of the SDG . When such a culture had the more significant part of the mycelium in the 3rd layer of the SDG . When such a culture was used as the seed material, the activity of the fermentation broth was the highest . The method of differential centrifugation in the SDG provides determination of the culture productivity by the volumes of the fermentation mycelium in the 5th and 6th layers or the seed mycelium in the 3rd layer of the SDG. Antibiotiki, 1981 May, 26(5), 327 - 32 {Isolation and properties of a biostimulator formed by yeast-like fungi and its effect on levorin biosynthesis}; Iakovleva EP et al.; Experiments on isolation of active substances or biostimulators from the culture fluids of yeast-like fungi of Candida (C . tropicalis, strain 159) were performed . Addition of the biostimulators to the fermentation medium for cultivation of the levorin-producing actinomycete provided the same levels of the antibiotic synthesis as mixed cultivation of the actinomycete and C . tropicalis . The biostimulators were found to be thermostable and stable within a wide pH range (2.0--14.0) . They are low-molecular compounds of the organic nature. In Vitro, 1981 May, 17(5), 405 - 11 Immunologic reactions of rabbit anti-Mycoplasma arthritidis serum with in vitro cultivated rat synovial cells; Thirkill CE et al.; The pathogenesis of the intra-articular, arthritic-inflammatory reaction caused by Mycoplasma arthritidis in susceptible rats and mice is poorly understood . To investigate this problem, synovial cells from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured and studied in vitro . These cells continued to produce hyaluronic acid as measured by viscosity and chemical assays . Normal synovial cells were treated with rabbit serum specimens taken before and after immunization with M . arthritidis . Cytotoxicity assays indicated that the cells were killed in the presence of rabbit anti-M . arthritidis serum but not with preimmunization serum specimens . The anti-M . arthritidis serum was not cytotoxic to monolayer cultures of HEp-2, Vero, or L-cells . Antiserum produced in response to M . fermentans, M . hominis, and M . pulmonis did not produce a cytotoxic effect on the cultured synovial cells . From immunofluorescence studies it was demonstrated that the interactions occurred between the rabbit anti-M . arthritidis serum and synovial cell surface antigens . Extreme precautions were taken to prevent mycoplasmal contamination of rats and the synovial cells in culture . These observations would appear to support previous reports implicating mycoplasmas as biological triggering mechanisms of autoimmune reactions. Br J Nutr, 1981 May, 45(3), 587 - 604 Quantitative studies of food protein degradation and the energetic efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen of sheep given chopped lucerne and rolled barley; Mathers JC et al.; 1 . In a randomized block design, four sheep were given 800 g daily of diets containing: chopped lucerne (L), chopped lucerne-rolled barley (2:1; LB), rolled barley-chopped lucerne (2:1; BL), rolled barley (B); each diet was supplemented with minerals, vitamins and urea as considered necessary . Chronic oxide was included in the diets as a flow marker . 2 . Flows of organic matter (OM) and non-ammonia-nitrogen (NAN) to the small intestine (SI) were measured and microbial protein was identified by a 35S-incorporation procedure . 3 . OM disappearance in the rumen increased linearly with increasing inclusion of barley in the diet but there was no significant change in microbial NAN flow to the SI so that the yield of microbial NAN (g)/kg fermented OM (FOM) decreased from 29.6 (diet L) to 22.7 (diet B) . Changes in the energetic efficiency of microbial protein synthesis appeared to be unrelated to alterations in rumen fluid volatile fatty acid (VFA) proportions or in rumen fluid dilution rate (D) . 4 . The degradability of dietary protein (non-urea-N), estimated using the 35S procedure, was 0.72, 0.76, 0.86 and 0.86 for diets L, LB, BL and B respectively . Similar values were obtained from concurrent polyester-bag experiments when the fractional outflow rate of undegraded protein from the rumen (k) was assumed to be 0.046. Br J Nutr, 1981 May, 45(3), 567 - 78 Effects of the antibiotic monensin and an inhibitor of methanogenesis on in vitro continuous rumen fermentations; Stanier G et al.; 1 . The effects of a methane inhibitor, ICI 111075, and a propionate enhancer, monensin, were studied using in vitro continuous fermenters . 2 . Both compounds increased the yield of substrate energy, carbon and hydrogen in volatile fatty acids (VFA) . This was mainly due to an increase in the molar proportion of propionic acid . 3 . Improved yields of VFA were accompanied by reductions in methane production and microbial yield . 4 . Since published information showed that monensin reduced rumen dilution rate in vivo an analogous in vitro system was proposed in which a high dilution rate control fermenter was compared with a monensin treated fermenter set to run at a low dilution rate . 5 . Results showed that the general intrinsic microbial activity of the chemical manipulators was not affected by changes in dilution rate . Changing dilution rate in addition to chemical treatment however resulted in substantial modifications in the net effect on the fermentation . 6 . The practical implications of reducing rumen dilution rate as a side effect of chemically manipulating the rumen fermentation could involve changes in food intake, increased importance of secondary fermentations and a reduced effect of nutrients not degraded in the rumen. J Dairy Sci, 1981 May, 64(5), 782 - 91 Effect of nicotinic acid on microbial protein synthesis in vitro and on dairy cattle growth and milk production; Riddell DO et al.; The effect of nicotinic acid (niacin) on microbial fermentation was tested in vitro . Microbial protein synthesis was greater with niacin and soybean meal than with niacin and urea . Otherwise, in most instances niacin decreased synthesis with urea . These responses to niacin with soybean meal occurred regardless of roughage type or ratio of roughage to concentration, except when the substrate contained 50% roughage from alfalfa; then the opposite was true . Adding niacin to urea-containing rations of heifers weighing 375 or 114 g failed to improve the heifers' weight gain or feed efficiency . In one of two lactation studies with cows in midlactation fed urea-containing rations, a slight increase in milk production was attributable to niacin; in the other, a slight improvement in milk protein production was attributable to niacin . In a third lactation study, but with fresh cows, milk production increased in cows receiving niacin and soybean meal but not in those receiving niacin and urea . In a fourth lactation study with fresh cows fed soybean meal, cows receiving niacin gave slightly more milk than did those receiving none . Response to niacin is greater in fresh cows than in those in midlactation and is greater in cows fed natural protein than in those fed urea. Genetics, 1981 May, 98(1), 41 - 54 Genetic evidence for a silent SUC gene in yeast; Carlson M et al.; The SUC genes (SUC1-SUC7) of Saccharomyces are a family of genes that are dispersed in the yeast genome . A SUC+ allele at any locus confers the ability to produce the enzyme invertase and, thus, to ferment sucrose . Most yeast strains do not carry SUC+ alleles at all possible SUC loci . We have investigated the naturally occurring negative (suc0) alleles present at SUC loci with the aim of distinguishing between two possible models for the structure of suc0 alleles: (1) suc0 alleles correspond to a simple absence of SUC genetic information; (2) suc0 alleles are "silent" SUC genes that either produce a defective product or are not expressed . To facilitate these studies, sucrose-nonfermenting strains were constructed that are congenic to S . cerevisiae strain S288C (SUC2+), but carry at the SUC2 locus the naturally occurring negative allele, suc2(0), of strain FL100 (Lacroute 1968) . These strains were used to study the genetic properties of the suc2(0) allele of FL100 and the suc0 alleles (suc1(0), suc3(0), etc.) of S288C . The suc2(0) allele was shown to revert to an active Suc+ state and to provide functional information at three points in the SUC2 gene in recombination experiments; this suc2(0) gene thus appears to be a "silent" gene . Similar tests for silent SUC genes in S288C (corresponding to loci other than SUC2) failed to reveal any additional silent genes. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 May, 124(Pt 1), 35 - 42 Mutants of Escherichia coli K12 with defects in anaerobic pyruvate metabolism; Pascal MC et al.; A strain of Escherichia coli with a mutation in the ana gene was shown to lack acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase . The requirement of this strain for an external oxidant to grow anaerobically on glucose shows that the reduction of acetyl-CoA is the principal means of reoxidation of NADH produced during glycolysis in E . coli . Further mutants derived from the ana strain were shown to be affected in the enzymes involved in the fermentation of pyruvate (pyruvate formate-lyase, phosphotransacetylase, acetate kinase) . A gene controlling acetate kinase (ackB) activity has been located at 39 min on the chromosomal map . Evidence is presented that anaerobic nitrite reduction with pyruvate involves at least the dehydrogenase subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 May, 41(5), 1152 - 8 Membrane filter method for enumerating Escherichia coli; Dufour AP et al.; A membrane filter procedure for enumerating Escherichia coli was developed and evaluated . The method quantifies E . coli within 24 h without requiring subculture and identification of isolates . It inc