J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1999 Oct, 52(10), 880 - 8 Heme-dependent radical generation: possible involvement in antimalarial action of non-peroxide microbial metabolites, nanaomycin A and radicicol; Tanaka Y et al.; Antimalarial screening was performed for microbial metabolites that simulate artemisinin in their mode of action, a potent antimalarial component of an herbal remedy with a characteristic peroxide structure . Nanaomycin A was identified in this screen as an antimalarial compound, together with radicicol and several other compounds already reported (J . Antibiotics 51: 153 approximately 160, 1998) . Nanaomycin A inhibited in vitro growth of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum with an IC80 value of 33.1 nM . It was as potent as radicicol and about 1/10 as potent as artemisinin . Studies on the mode of action suggested that the antimalarial action of the two non-peroxides, nanaomycin A and radicicol, involved heme-dependent radical generation, as is for the peroxide artemisinin . Namely, the inhibition of in vitro growth of malaria parasite by nanaomycin A or radicicol was reversed by tocopherol, a radical scavenger added to the assay mixture . Secondly, in a reaction system established for radical detection, in which a test radical donor and beta-alanylhistidine as a radical recipient were incubated with and without hemin, the two compounds caused heme-dependent decreases of beta-alanylhistidine, as did artemisinin . Among the 14 microbial metabolites identified during this screening, a correlation was observed between antimalarial activity and heme-dependent radical generating activity. J Urol, 2000 Jan, 163(1), 127 - 30 Evaluation of the bacterial flora of the prostate using a 16S rRNA gene based polymerase chain reaction; Hochreiter WW et al.; PURPOSE: The role of bacteria in the chronic pelvic pain syndrome (nonbacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia) is controversial and difficult to assess because the bacterial flora of the prostate is not well defined . Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive molecular method of bacterial detection . It confirms the sterility of tissue with a high level of confidence and detects small numbers of microbial agents that may represent pathogens . We performed PCR to determine bacterial colonization of the prostate in presumably healthy men and in those undergoing simple or radical prostatectomy . MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 28 prostate samples from 18 organ donors from whom prostate tissue was obtained under sterile surgical conditions at organ withdrawal, 14 sterile surgical prostate specimens from 7 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer who previously underwent transrectal biopsy and 6 sterile surgical specimens from 2 men who underwent simple prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including 1 with an indwelling catheter for several weeks . For PCR we used 2 sets of primers to detect bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences . Normal prostate tissue seeded in vitro with known numbers of Escherichia coli was used to assess the sensitivity of PCR . RESULTS: Only 3 of the 28 organ donor samples had histological signs of minimal inflammation and all other samples appeared to be normal without evidence of inflammatory reaction . All of these samples were PCR negative . Of several PCR control reactions the mixture of prostate tissue seeded with known numbers of E . coli demonstrated the high sensitivity of the assay, allowing the detection of as few as 6 bacteria in the presence of 25 mg . of prostate tissue . A focal and heterogeneous distribution of inflammation and infection was noted in the 14 radical prostatectomy specimens . In the prostate cancer and BPH groups there was a strong association of inflammation with positive PCR findings . Of 11 samples 3 without but all 9 with inflammation were PCR positive . CONCLUSIONS: PCR is a highly sensitive method for detecting bacteria in the prostate . In our study negative PCR reactions in the prostate tissue of apparently healthy men made the presence of normal bacterial flora in the prostate extremely unlikely . The presence of bacteria and/or inflammation in radical prostatectomy specimens was found to be a localized process . Concordance between inflammation and positive PCR results in simple and radical prostatectomy specimens suggests that bacteria may frequently have a role in histologically inflammatory prostatitis. Proc Nutr Soc, 1999 Aug, 58(3), 593 - 607 Targets and procedures for altering ruminant meat and milk lipids; Demeyer D et al.; Beef and dairy products suffer from a negative health image, related to the nature of their lipid fraction . Rumen lipid metabolism involves the presence of saturated lipids in ruminant tissues . Lipolysis, fatty acid biohydrogenation and formation of microbial fatty acids in the rumen and their effects on rumen outflow of fatty acids are discussed . Special emphasis is given to the formation of trans-fatty acids and the possibilities of decreasing biohydrogenation . Small differences in intestinal digestibilities of fatty acids are mentioned, followed by a discussion on transfer of absorbed fatty acids into milk and adipose tissue lipids . The preferential retention of polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as the balance between synthesis and incorporation of fatty acids in tissues is described . Dietary means for the modification of milk fat are listed, with special emphasis on the possibilities for enrichment in polyunsaturated fatty acids and the presence of conjugated linoleic acids . A description of the nature and development of fat depots in beef cattle is followed by a discussion of breed, conformation and feed effects on adipose tissue distribution and fatty acid composition . Special emphasis is given to the very lean Belgian Blue double-muscled breed . The review ends with a consideration of the limits to the modification of ruminant fats, involving considerations of consumer acceptance as well as animal welfare and environmental effects. Infect Immun, 2000 Jan, 68(1), 160 - 4 Coxiella burnetii survives in monocytes from patients with Q fever endocarditis: involvement of tumor necrosis factor; Dellacasagrande J et al.; Endocarditis is the most frequent form of chronic Q fever, an infectious disease caused by Coxiella burnetii . As this obligate intracellular bacterium inhabits monocytes and macrophages, we wondered if pathogenesis of Q fever endocarditis is related to defective intracellular killing of C . burnetii by monocytes . Monocytes from healthy controls eliminated virulent C . burnetii within 3 days . In contrast, monocytes from patients with ongoing Q fever endocarditis were unable to eliminate bacteria even after 6 days . In patients who were cured of endocarditis, the monocyte infection was close to that of control monocytes . This killing deficiency was not the consequence of generalized functional impairment, since patient monocytes eliminated avirulent C . burnetii as did control cells . The addition of supernatants of C . burnetii-stimulated monocytes from patients with ongoing endocarditis to control monocytes enabled them to support C . burnetii survival, suggesting that some soluble factor is responsible for bacterial survival . This factor was related to tumor necrosis factor (TNF): expression of TNF mRNA and TNF release were increased in response to C . burnetii in patients with ongoing endocarditis compared to cured patients and healthy controls . In addition, neutralizing anti-TNF antibodies decreased C . burnetii internalization, an early step of bacterial killing, in monocytes from patients with ongoing endocarditis but did not affect delayed steps of intracellular killing . We suggest that Q fever-associated activation of monocytes allows the survival of C . burnetii by modulating early phases of microbial killing. Eur J Immunol, 1999 Dec, 29(12), 3826 - 36 Ontogeny of synonymous T cell populations with specificity for a self MHC epitope mimicked by a bacterial homologoue: an antigen-specific T cell analysis in a non-transgenic system; Bonnin D et al.; By means of a novel technique for identification and isolation of MHC class II-restricted antigen-specific T cells, we describe here in non-transgenic BALB / c mice physiological positive selection of an oligoclonal population of T cells which recognizes both a self MHC-derived peptide (Ialpha52) and a bacterial homologoue (Hi15) . The results support a model for self peptide-mediated generation of T cells which have specificity for microbial antigens through molecular mimicry . This mechanism may be a model for the ontogeny of a physiological T cell response to infectious agents . Loss of control of these circuits may be part of the inciting factors of autoimmunity. J Bacteriol, 1999 Dec, 181(24), 7421 - 9 Characterization of a novel, antifungal, chitin-binding protein from Streptomyces tendae Tü901 that interferes with growth polarity; Bormann C et al.; The afp1 gene, which encodes the antifungal protein AFP1, was cloned from nikkomycin-producing Streptomyces tendae Tu901, using a nikkomycin-negative mutant as a host and screening transformants for antifungal activity against Paecilomyces variotii in agar diffusion assays . The 384-bp afp1 gene has a low G+C content (63%) and a transcription termination structure with a poly(T) region, unusual attributes for Streptomyces genes . AFP1 was purified from culture filtrate of S . tendae carrying the afp1 gene on the multicopy plasmid pIJ699 . The purified protein had a molecular mass of 9,862 Da and lacked a 42-residue N-terminal peptide deduced from the nucleotide sequence . AFP1 was stable at extreme pH values and high temperatures and toward commercial proteinases . AFP1 had limited similarity to cellulose-binding domains of microbial plant cell wall hydrolases and bound to crab shell chitin, chitosan, and cell walls of P . variotii but showed no enzyme activity . The biological activity of AFP1, which represents the first chitin-binding protein from bacteria exhibiting antifungal activity, was directed against specific ascomycetes, and synergistic interaction with the chitin synthetase inhibitor nikkomycin inhibited growth of Aspergillus species . Microscopy studies revealed that fluorescein-labeled AFP1 strongly bound to the surface of germinated conidia and to tips of growing hyphae, causing severe alterations in cell morphogenesis that gave rise to large spherical conidia and/or swollen hyphae and to atypical branching. Biologicals, 1999 Jun, 27(2), 143 - 7 Acellular pertussis vaccines: neutralization by immune sera of the lethality of pertussis toxin and viable Bordetella pertussis for chick embryos; Calver GA; Vaccines containing acellular pertussis components, either separate or combined with other microbial antigens, were evaluated for specific immune responses in guinea-pigs and mice . The capacity of sera to protect chick embryos from the lethal effect of pertussis toxin was independent of the Chinese hamster ovary cell clumping neutralization titre and the antigen binding ELISA anti-toxin titre . Direct correlations did not exist between ELISA titres to Pt, FHA, fimbria or 69 kDa and capacity to prevent killing of embryos by different strains of Bordetella pertussis . With the exception of one combination vaccine product, addition of foreign microbial antigens to acellular pertussis vaccines did not significantly alter capacity of the sera to protect embryos against toxin or bacteria . Rev Neurol, 1999 Oct 1-15, 29(7), 610 - 3 {Spastic paraparesis due to long term consumption of wild cassava (Manihot esculenta): a neurotoxic model of motor neuron disease}; Carod-Artal FJ et al.; INTRODUCTION: Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the basic foodstuff of more than 500 million persons in developing countries . Its edible root contains a glucoside with a high cyanogenic content, linamarina, which is hydrolysed in the human intestinal tract by the resident microbial flora, with liberation of HCN . Inadequate preparation and cooking followed by consumption whilst half-raw, especially in diets based almost exclusively on cassava for a long period of time, may lead to a neurological syndrome of damage to the upper motor neuron and the appearance of spastic paraparesia . CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 44 year old male agricultural worker from the Amazon region who had a predominantly crural spastic paraparesis which had been present for four years . His main food was 'mandioca brava' or wild cassava which was insufficiently cooked . Study of the CSF ruled out infection by HTLV and neurosyphilis . On magnetic resonance there was slight thoracic atrophy . CONCLUSIONS: In patients with spastic paraparesis, normal neuroimaging and CSF findings, and a normal family history, one should specifically investigate exposure to potentially toxic plants and foods, especially in regions in which nutrition is based on potentially cyanogenic roots or plants . It is necessary to improve the methods of processing and cooking cassava, and to avoid diets based almost entirely on this root, in order to reduce the potential neurotoxic damage which may be caused by this plant. Immunopharmacology, 1999 Nov, 44(3), 233 - 43 Activation of cellular responses to interleukin 6 is blocked by staurosporine; Peppard JV; Interleukin 6 (IL-6) acts on a wide spectrum of cells and can regulate differentiation or growth in these different cells . The effects of the microbial alkaloid staurosporine (SS) on IL-6 signaling through gp130, and also on the internalization of the IL-6 receptor complex, were studied using HepG2 cells which are well-characterized in their ability to respond to IL-6 by upregulating acute-phase protein production . SS was found effective in the blockade of the signaling cascade of IL-6: phosphorylation of both gp130 and Stat3 was eliminated by SS treatment and the production of IL-6 stimulated haptoglobin by the cells was abolished . In addition, SS reduced the internalization rate of 125I-IL-6 by 50%, resulting in a retention of 125I-IL-6 on the cell surface and a corresponding decrease in degraded 125I-IL-6 in the extracellular medium . SS is commonly employed as an apoptosis inducing agent but the mechanism of its action is not clear . The ability of SS to void the capacity of IL-6, and IL-6-related cytokines such as Oncostatin M, to deliver growth and differentiation signals may be one process by which this agent could promote apoptosis in a variety of cell types. Pharmacol Ther, 1999 Nov, 84(2), 113 - 20 Mechanisms and therapeutic applications of immune stimulatory cpG DNA; Krieg AM et al.; Aside from its function as the "blueprint of life" that encodes genetic information, DNA can have direct immune activities . The immune system has evolved a defense mechanism that is able to distinguish microbial DNA from our own because of differences in the frequency and methylation of CpG dinucleotides in particular base contexts . Within minutes of detecting such "CpG-S DNA," cells of the innate immune system become activated and produce cytokines that promote the generation of antigen specific T-helper-1-like immune responses . Animal studies indicate therapeutic utility for CpG-S DNA as a vaccine adjuvant and for the immunotherapy of cancer and infectious and allergic diseases. Eur Respir J, 1999 Nov, 14(5), 1015 - 22 Airway inflammation and bronchial microbial patterns in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Soler N et al.; The effect of bacterial colonization of the bronchi on the progress of airflow limitation is not well known . Therefore, the pattern of airway inflammation in smokers and patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its relation to bronchial microbial colonization was assessed . Eight nonsmoking and 18 smoking controls as well as 52 patients with COPD (28 mild, 11 moderate and 13 severe) were studied . All subjects were investigated by means of flexible bronchoscopy including protected specimen brush and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) sampling . Differential cell counts, cytokine (interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) concentrations and microbial patterns were determined in BAL fluid . Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) % of the predicted value was inversely correlated with pack-yrs of cigarette smoking (r=-0.47, p<0.0001), the percentage of neutrophil (p=-0.56, p<0.0001) and IL-6 (p=-0.37, p=0.01) and IL-8 concentration (p=-0.43, p=0.004) in BAL fluid . Accordingly, pk-yrs of cigarette smoking (p=0.39, p=0.01) and IL-8 (p=0.69, p<0.0001) and TNFalpha (p=0.4, p<0.005) were positively correlated with the percentage of neutrophils in BAL fluid . Smoking controls and COPD patients were mainly colonized in the bronchial tree (33%) by community endogenous potentially pathogenic micro-organisms (PPMs) . Colonization rates and patterns of PPMs were not affected by severity of airflow obstruction . The presence of PPMs was significantly associated with higher percentages of neutrophils (33.2+/-10.4% versus 10.1+/-3.5%, p=0.02) and TNF-alpha concentration (29.9+/-10.8 versus 6.3+/-2.1 pg x mL(-1), p=0.01) in BAL fluid . In conclusion, bronchial neutrophilia is a key inflammatory pattern in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients . Bronchial colonization with potentially pathogenic micro-organisms may represent an independent stimulus for additional airway inflammation. J Agric Food Chem, 1999 Sep, 47(9), 3879 - 85 Acid hydrolysis of 1,6-dihydro-4-amino-3-methyl-6-phenyl-1,2, 4-triazin-5(4H)-one (1,6-dihydrometamitron); Ludvik J et al.; Metamitron (1) does not undergo hydrolysis at pH 1-8 and up to 5 M H(2)SO(4) . The product of its two-electron reduction, 1, 6-dihydrometamitron (2), on the other hand, undergoes at pH <3 relatively fast hydrolysis . The dependence of the measured rate constant on acidity indicates that the completely protonated form (AH(2)(2+)) predominating in strongly acidic media undergoes hydrolysis slower than the species bearing one less proton (AH(+)) . The latter most reactive species is present in highest concentration in solutions of pH between 0 and 2 . This species is protonated on the 2,3-azomethine bond and yields as final products 2-hydrazino-2-phenylacetic acid (4) and acethydrazide (5) . Kinetic, polarographic, and spectrophotometric measurements indicated for the first dissociation an average value pK(a) = -0.8, for the second pK(a) = 0.95 . These observations together with the easy reduction of the 1,6-bond in metamitron (1) indicate that in nature the cleavage of metamitron may be preceded by its reduction to 1, 6-dihydrometamitron (2), which is then hydrolyzed . Thus, anaerobic, reductive conditions are likely preferable for the total microbial degradation of metamitron. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1999 Nov, 39(6), 503 - 17 On modeling the irregular fluctuations in microbial counts; Horowitz J et al.; Daily or other periodic microbial counts in many foods, particularly ground meats, poultry, and raw milk, show an irregular fluctuating pattern . The cause of the fluctuations is the interplay of many random factors that tend to promote or inhibit microbial growth . Therefore, the actual size of a microbial population can vary randomly around a typical level or around a trend determined, for example, by seasonal variations or changing sanitary conditions . Fluctuations around a fixed level can often be modeled as a sequence of independent counts having a lognormal or other parametric distribution . The independence of the counts and the type of distribution can be established by standard statistical tests . Once selected, the distribution function can be used to estimate the probability of encountering a population in any given size range . The model can be modified to describe sequences that include zero counts, which are the result of the organisms' absence, or of the failure of the method to detect them . In the case of fluctuations around a trend, a modified version of the model can be used to estimate the probability of deviations from the trend . A more thorough modification is required in order to account for fluctuating patterns that include outbursts of appreciable duration, like those caused by massive contamination of a water reservoir. J Mol Evol, 1999 Dec, 49(6), 709 - 15 An attempt to pinpoint the phylogenetic introduction of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase among bacteria; Handy J et al.; Until recently it was believed that most Bacteria form Gln-tRNA(GLN) by the amidation of Glu-tRNA(GLN), only a few members of the gamma subdivision of Proteobacteria being able to charge tRNA(GLN) directly . We undertook a phylogenetic study in an attempt to determine at what point the changeover to the direct system may have occurred . To this end, we selected a number of representative Proteobacteria to see if we could find a division point . We constructed degenerate primers and conducted PCR analysis to identify which Bacteria had Gln-tRNA synthetase, on the one hand, and which had the amidotransferase system, on the other . At the same time, we surveyed data banks of completely sequenced microbial genomes, as well as those for genomes in the process of being sequenced . These combined efforts revealed four Proteobacteria in a phylogenetically intermediate position which have the genetic potential for both mechanisms . Perplexingly, however, three distantly related bacteria were also found to have both enzymes. Microb Ecol, 1999 Oct, 38(3), 296 - 305 Phytoplanktonic and Bacterial Carbon Pools and Productivities in the Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, during Early Austral Spring; Kelley CA et al.; Abstract Phytoplankton and bacterial biomass and productivities were investigated at four depths in the upper 500 m of the water column in the Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, during the prebloom period of early austral spring, from October 13 to November 4, 1995 . The concentrations of all carbon pools were low, with the total particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration averaging 1.9 +/- 0.9 microM . Bacterial, protozoan, and phytoplankton carbon accounted for 21% of the total POC, indicating that detritus or unenumerated organisms comprised the bulk of the POC during this period . Larger zooplankton or protozoa, such as ciliates, may account for this difference, since microzooplankton can represent a significant fraction of the total microbial biomass . Primary and bacterial secondary production rates were also low, less than 300 and 30 ng C L(-1) h(-1), respectively . However, when production was normalized to either chlorophyll or bacterial cell number, rates were similar to those recorded during the spring bloom periods . This indicates that the cells were metabolically active during the prebloom period . Chlorophyll specific primary production averaged over the upper 80 m of the water column was 1.28 +/- 0.84 microg C microg chl(-1) h(-1), whereas the mean bacterial specific growth rate over the same depth interval was 0.34 +/- 0.24 d(-1) . The overall production rates were low only because of the low abundance of cells during the prebloom period . When the site was reoccupied the following year, all measures of biomass and productivity were higher {36}, emphasizing the large interannual variability in the Gerlache Strait.http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00248/bibs/38n3p296.html</hea Microb Ecol, 1999 Oct, 38(3), 253 - 263 Effects of Microscale Water Level Fluctuations and Altered Ultraviolet Radiation on Periphytic Microbiota; Kahn WE et al.; Abstract Microscale fluctuations in water level (1-20 mm) are common on a diurnal basis in shallow (<5-10 cm) wetlands, coupled to evapotranspiration losses during the daytime in excess of groundwater resupply . These depth variations alter the intensity of UV irradiance reaching attached periphytic algal and bacterial microbial communities . Effects of alterations of UV irradiance by micro-changes in water level on periphytic microbiota were examined experimentally . Attached microbial communities, grown on glass fiber filters in situ in a natural wetland, were exposed experimentally to near-natural levels of UV irradiance of differing spectral quality . UV intensity was altered by varying the distance of the communities from the light source, changes in UV-attenuating natural dissolved organic matter (DOM), and small changes in water level (2 or 4 mm) . Algal productivity and photosynthetic oxygen production were significantly reduced by small enhancements of UV-B radiation, by decreased water levels of only 2 mm, and by reductions in concentrations of DOM . UV-B had only small short-term effects on chlorophyll a, although small increases in water depth and DOM concentration reduced pigment damage . Experimental removal of UV-B during in situ growth indicated that algae could adapt to UV radiation during growth in natural environments . Microbial oxygen consumption and bacterial productivity and biomass were also lowered significantly by UV-B exposure, and damage decreased with small (2 mm) increases in water depth or in DOM concentration . Selective inhibitors of algal photosynthesis and production of released extracellular organic substrates caused a concomitant reduction in bacterial productivity and a significant increase in magnitude of UV-B damage to bacterial biomass . These effects suggested that metabolic interactions between the periphytic autotrophs and heterotrophs altered community responses to UV-B radiation . Microscale water level reductions, common on a diurnal basis in shallow wetlands, and associated increased UV intensity can result in rapid alterations in periphytic metabolism.http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00248/bibs/38n3p253.html</hea Nippon Rinsho, 1999 Oct, 57(10), 2175 - 80 {New aspects of vitamin and coenzyme research}; Soda K; Vitamins are defined as essential organic micronutrients that are not synthesized by mammals . Coenzymes are defined as organic compounds with low molecular weight that are required to show enzyme activities by reversibly binding with their apoenzymes . Most of vitamins and coenzymes show various biofunctions besides their functions as vitamins and coenzymes . Accordingly, it is more appropriate to understand both as effective biofactors . Various retinoid derivatives synthesized bind to retinoid binding proteins to regulate gene expressions and show other biofunctions . Pyridoxal phosphate serves as an inhibitor of catepsins, and regulates the gene expression . Several novel built-in coenzymes such as topaquinone and lysyltyrosylquinone have been demonstrated in mammalian and microbial enzymes. Nucleic Acids Res, 2000 Jan 1, 28(1), 56 - 9 The EcoCyc and MetaCyc databases; Karp PD et al.; EcoCyc is an organism-specific Pathway/Genome Database that describes the metabolic and signal-transduction pathways of Escherichia coli, its enzymes, and-a new addition-its transport proteins . MetaCyc is a new metabolic-pathway database that describes pathways and enzymes of many different organisms, with a microbial focus . Both databases are queried using the Pathway Tools graphical user interface, which provides a wide variety of query operations and visualization tools . EcoCyc and MetaCyc are available at http://ecocyc.PangeaSystems.com/ecocyc/ Nature, 1999 Dec 2, 402(6761), 489 - 95 The DNA sequence of human chromosome 22; Dunham I et al.; Knowledge of the complete genomic DNA sequence of an organism allows a systematic approach to defining its genetic components . The genomic sequence provides access to the complete structures of all genes, including those without known function, their control elements, and, by inference, the proteins they encode, as well as all other biologically important sequences . Furthermore, the sequence is a rich and permanent source of information for the design of further biological studies of the organism and for the study of evolution through cross-species sequence comparison . The power of this approach has been amply demonstrated by the determination of the sequences of a number of microbial and model organisms . The next step is to obtain the complete sequence of the entire human genome . Here we report the sequence of the euchromatic part of human chromosome 22 . The sequence obtained consists of 12 contiguous segments spanning 33.4 megabases, contains at least 545 genes and 134 pseudogenes, and provides the first view of the complex chromosomal landscapes that will be found in the rest of the genome. Mycoses, 1999, 42(9-10), 581 - 5 Case report . Kerion Celsi effectively treated with terbinafine . Characteristics of kerion Celsi in the elderly in Japan; Tanuma H et al.; A 75-year-old non-working male living in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, had erythematous plaques with scales associated with follicular pustules in the head area extending from the occipital to right temporal regions about 1 month prior to his initial visit, when hair loss increased . The diagnosis was kerion Celsi . Trichophyton rubrum was isolated from scales and tissues taken from lesions in the head . Histopathological examinations showed irregular epidermal thickening with dense cell infiltration from the dermis to subcutaneous adipose tissues . Granulomatous reactions involving neutrophils, histiocytes and giant cells were seen mainly in the hair follicles . Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Grocott-positive microbial elements were detected in the horny layer, and inside and outside the hair follicles . Pustules disappeared 1 week after starting the oral treatment with terbinafine (125 mg day-1) . A cure was achieved 2 weeks after starting the treatment, with only slight scales remaining . No recurrence has been observed to date . Terbinafine was thought to be very effective and safe for kerion Celsi . We reviewed 27 cases of kerion Celsi reported in patients, aged at least 70 years, in Japan and found that the major characteristics of this disease in Japan include the following: (1) female cases outnumber male cases; (2) the causative organism was T . rubrum in 14 of 27 patients (51.9%); and (3) topical application of steroids often induces this disease in patients with superficial tinea capitis. Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol, 2000, 66, 185 - 208 Monitoring the physiological status in bioprocesses on the cellular level; Schuster KC; The trend in bioprocess monitoring and control is towards strategies which are based on the physiological status of the organism in the bioprocess . This requires that the measured process variables should be biologically meaningful in order to apply them in physiologically based control strategies . The on-line monitoring equipment available today mostly derives information on the physiological status indirectly, from external variables outside the cells . The complementary approach reviewed here is to analyse the microbial cells directly, in order to obtain information on the internal variables inside the cells . This overview covers methods for analysis of whole cells (as a population or as a single cell), for groups of cellular components, and for specific compounds which serve as markers for a certain physiological status . Physico-chemical separation methods (chromatography, electrophoresis) and reactive analysis can be used to analyse elemental and macromolecular composition of cells . Spectroscopic methods (mass, dielectric, nuclear magnetic, infrared, and Raman) have only recently been applied to such complex multicomponent mixtures such as microbial cells . Spectroscopy and chemical separation methods produce large amounts of data, which can often be used in the best way by applying chemometrics . Some of the methods can yield information not just on the average of the microbial cell population, but also on the distribution of sub-populations . The suitability of the methods for on-line coupling to the bioprocess is discussed . Others not suitable for on-line coupling can be established in routine off-line analysis procedures . The information gained by the methods discussed can mainly be used to establish better knowledge of the basis for monitoring and control strategies . Some are also applicable in real-time monitoring and control. Mutat Res, 1999 Nov, 437(3), 231 - 43 The NF-kappaB/Rel family of transcription factors in oncogenic transformation and apoptosis; de Martin R et al.; Recent progress in the identification and functional analysis of protein kinases and adapter molecules that lead to activation of NF-kappaB family transcription factors has lead to a quite detailed understanding of one of the major signalling pathways that mediate a cell's response to environmental stress in a variety of host-defense situations . NF-kappaB is recognized as a key regulatory factor mediating the coordinate expression of genes which are part of the cellular machinery that functions to protect an organism against damage posed by physical, chemical or microbial noxae . In a wide variety of patho-physiological situations such as immune and inflammatory reactions, the expression of cytokines, interleukins and adhesion molecules in cells of the immune system including T and B cells, endothelial as well as phagocytic/antigen presenting cells is to a large extent regulated by NF-kappaB . Moreover, this transcription factor appears to play a central role in the regulation of apoptosis, an important cellular program that decides upon a cell's fate not only during embryonic development but also on its way from normal to the transformed phenotype . Thus, NF-kappaB has emerged also as an attractive target for therapeutic interference in a variety of pathological situations, including chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, HIV infection and cancer. Arch Microbiol, 1999 Dec, 172(6), 393 - 400 Degradation of chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons by Methylomicrobium album BG8; Han JI et al.; The degradation kinetics of ten halogenated hydrocarbons by Methylomicrobium album BG8 expressing particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) and the inhibitory effects of these compounds on microbial growth and whole-cell pMMO activity were measured . When M . album BG8 was grown with methane, growth was completely inhibited by dichloromethane (DCM), bromoform (BF), chloroform (CF), vinyl chloride (VC), 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), and cis-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE) . Trichloroethylene (TCE) partially inhibited growth on methane, while dibromomethane (DBM), trans-dichloroethylene (trans-DCE), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1, 1-TCA) had no effect . If the cells were grown with methanol, DCM, BF, CF, and 1,1-DCE completely inhibited growth, while VC, trans-DCE, TCE, and 1,1,1-TCA partially inhibited growth . Both DBM and cis-DCE had no effect on growth with methanol . Whole-cell pMMO activity was also affected by these compounds, with all but 1,1,1-TCA, DCM, and DBM reducing activity by more than 25% . DCM, DBM, VC, trans-DCE, cis-DCE, 1,1-DCE, and TCE were degraded and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics . CF, BF, and 1,1,1-TCA were not measurably degraded . These results suggested that the products of DCM, TCE, VC, and 1,1-DCE inactivated multiple enzymatic processes, while trans-DCE oxidation products were also toxic but to a lesser extent . cis-DCE toxicity, however, appeared to be localized to pMMO . Finally, DBM and 1,1,1-TCA were not inhibitory, and CF and BF were themselves toxic to M . album BG8 . Based on these results, the compounds could be separated into four general categories, namely (1) biodegradable with minimal inactivation, (2) biodegradable with substantial inactivation, (3) not biodegradable with minimal inactivation, and (4) not biodegradable but substantial inactivation of cell activity. Immunity, 1999 Nov, 11(5), 637 - 47 Paralysis of dendritic cell IL-12 production by microbial products prevents infection-induced immunopathology; Reis e Sousa C et al.; Interleukin-12 plays a major role in immunity to intracellular pathogens by governing the development of IFNgamma-dependent host resistance . Nevertheless, unregulated IL-12 synthesis can lead to immunopathology, an outcome prevented by the concurrent expression of interleukin-10 . Dendritic cells (DC) are an important source of the initial IL-12 stimulated by microbial agents . Here, we show that, following systemic triggering, DC can no longer be restimulated to produce IL-12 in vivo while continuing to respond in vitro . When infected with Toxoplasma gondii during this refractory state, mice mount impaired acute IFNgamma responses and, in the case of IL-10-deficient animals, are protected from cytokine-induced mortality . These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized form of immunologic paralysis involving DC that can protect from infection-induced immunopathology. J Agric Food Chem, 1999 Oct, 47(10), 4462 - 8 Analysis of metsulfuron-methyl in soil by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry . Application to a field dissipation study; Bossi R et al.; An analytical method is described for the extraction of metsulfuron-methyl from soil at sub-parts per billion levels (LOQ = 0.2 microgram kg(-1)) . The herbicide was quantitatively determined and identified by ESI LC/MS/MS . The method has been applied to a field dissipation study in which metsulfuron-methyl was applied to spring barley at three dosage rates: 4, 8, and 16 g of active ingredient ha(-)(1) . The results of 2 years are presented . The dissipation rate of metsulfuron-methyl in topsoil was very rapid, with a calculated half-life of 6.5 days . Laboratory mineralization studies with native soils in contrast to autoclaved soils indicated that microbial degradation of (14)C-labeled metsulfuron-methyl and (14)C-labeled 2-amino-4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine in soil microcosms is an important factor for the complete degradation of metsulfuron-methyl in the field . However, the mineralization rate of the sulfonamide was much higher. J Periodontol, 1999 Nov, 70(11), 1406 - 18 Assessment of familial patterns of microbial infection in periodontitis; Irfan UM et al.; The purpose of this article is to review approaches to the assessment of familial patterns of microbial infection and disease in periodontitis, and to identify statistical methods appropriate to such considerations of family data . Previous studies have provided evidence for the presence of familial aggregation of periodontal pathogens and periodontitis and have alluded to possible transmissibility of these organisms within families . Modern statistical techniques permit the appropriate analysis of the correlated data inherent in families, properly allowing for these statistical dependencies while including the possibility of adjustment for risk factors which may also aggregate in families . Such approaches as multiple linear regression, multivariate logistic regression, and regressive modeling provide the necessary tools to assess the familial aggregation of risk factors and disease in periodontitis . In particular, regressive models permit the analysis of familiality (membership to family) as a risk factor without reference to a specific underlying biologic mechanism, and also permit the possibility of adjustment for covariates, such as age and access to dental care . They also allow consideration of specific mechanisms, e.g., susceptibility genes of major effect . Using such techniques, it is possible to more completely explore and describe familial patterns of periodontal infection and other aspects of periodontal disease. Am J Infect Control, 1999 Dec, 27(6), 488 - 96 A prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing transparent polyurethane and hydrocolloid dressings for central venous catheters; Nikoletti S et al.; BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of skin colonization, hub colonization, and central venous catheter colonization in transparent hydrocolloid versus standard polyurethane dressings . METHODS: Adult patients requiring the insertion of a multilumen central venous catheter in an intensive care unit were randomized to receive either a standard polyurethane dressing or a transparent hydrocolloid dressing . Cultures were obtained from 125 skin insertion sites, 141 catheter hubs, 128 catheter tips, and blood samples from 132 patients . Extensive data on patient and catheter characteristics were collected . RESULTS: Skin and hub cultures revealed no significant difference in degree of colonization . However, the hydrocolloid group had a significantly higher level of catheter colonization than the polyurethane group (P =.048) . Conversely, there was a significantly higher frequency of positive blood cultures in the polyurethane group (P =.03), although the majority were considered to be potential contaminants . There were only 6 cases in which the same species was simultaneously isolated from a positive blood culture and a colonized catheter, 5 from the hydrocolloid group and 1 from the polyurethane group . CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that an increased risk of catheter colonization is associated with the use of hydrocolloid dressings, despite previous research suggesting that they significantly reduce microbial growth compared with standard polyurethane . The clinical significance of increased numbers of positive blood cultures in the polyurethane group requires further examination, although distinguishing between contamination and true infection in intensive care settings continues to be methodologically challenging . Further studies are required to determine whether these findings are generalizable across different study settings and whether similar outcomes are obtained when different brands of hydrocolloid dressing are used. J Immunol, 1999 Dec 15, 163(12), 6403 - 12 Extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases differentially regulate the lipopolysaccharide-mediated induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase and IL-12 in macrophages: Leishmania phosphoglycans subvert macrophage IL-12 production by targeting ERK MAP kinase; Feng GJ et al.; Macrophage activation by cytokines or microbial products such as LPS results in the induction and release of several key immune effector molecules including NO and IL-12 . These have been shown to play crucial roles in the development of immunity to intracellular pathogens such as Leishmania . The molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of these effector molecules are not fully understood . We now show that the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases play differential roles in the regulation of LPS-stimulated inducible NO synthase and IL-12 gene expression . In macrophages, LPS stimulates the simultaneous activation of all three classes of MAP kinases, ERK, c-jun N-terminal kinase, and p38, albeit with differential activation kinetics . However, studies using inhibitors selective for ERK (PD98059) and p38 (SB203580) show that while p38 plays an essential role in the induction of inducible NO synthase, ERK MAP kinases play only a minor role in promoting NO generation . In contrast, while p38 promotes induction of IL-12 (p40) mRNA, ERK activation suppresses LPS-mediated IL-12 transcription . The biological relevance of these regulatory signals is demonstrated by our finding that Leishmania lipophosphoglycans, which promote parasite survival, act by stimulating ERK MAP kinase to inhibit macrophage IL-12 production . Thus, as ERK and p38 MAP kinases differentially regulate the induction of the macrophage effector molecules, inducible NO synthase and IL-12, these kinases are potential targets not only for the development of novel strategies to combat intracellular pathogens but also for therapeutic immunomodulation. Environ Health Perspect, 1999 Dec, 107(12), 933 - 74 The sources, fate, and toxicity of chemical warfare agent degradation products; Munro NB et al.; We include in this review an assessment of the formation, environmental fate, and mammalian and ecotoxicity of CW agent degradation products relevant to environmental and occupational health . These parent CW agents include several vesicants: sulfur mustards {undistilled sulfur mustard (H), sulfur mustard (HD), and an HD/agent T mixture (HT)}; nitrogen mustards {ethylbis(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN1), methylbis(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN2), tris(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN3)}, and Lewisite; four nerve agents (O-ethyl S-{2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl} methylphosphonothioate (VX), tabun (GA), sarin (GB), and soman (GD)); and the blood agent cyanogen chloride . The degradation processes considered here include hydrolysis, microbial degradation, oxidation, and photolysis . We also briefly address decontamination but not combustion processes . Because CW agents are generally not considered very persistent, certain degradation products of significant persistence, even those that are not particularly toxic, may indicate previous CW agent presence or that degradation has occurred . Of those products for which there are data on both environmental fate and toxicity, only a few are both environmentally persistent and highly toxic . Major degradation products estimated to be of significant persistence (weeks to years) include thiodiglycol for HD; Lewisite oxide for Lewisite; and ethyl methyl phosphonic acid, methyl phosphonic acid, and possibly S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioic acid (EA 2192) for VX . Methyl phosphonic acid is also the ultimate hydrolysis product of both GB and GD . The GB product, isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, and a closely related contaminant of GB, diisopropyl methylphosphonate, are also persistent . Of all of these compounds, only Lewisite oxide and EA 2192 possess high mammalian toxicity . Unlike other CW agents, sulfur mustard agents (e.g., HD) are somewhat persistent; therefore, sites or conditions involving potential HD contamination should include an evaluation of both the agent and thiodiglycol. Protein Eng, 1999 Nov, 12(11), 989 - 98 Analysis of the reaction mechanism and substrate specificity of haloalkane dehalogenases by sequential and structural comparisons; Damborsky J et al.; Haloalkane dehalogenases catalyse environmentally important dehalogenation reactions . These microbial enzymes represent objects of interest for protein engineering studies, attempting to improve their catalytic efficiency or broaden their substrate specificity towards environmental pollutants . This paper presents the results of a comparative study of haloalkane dehalogenases originating from different organisms . Protein sequences and the models of tertiary structures of haloalkane dehalogenases were compared to investigate the protein fold, reaction mechanism and substrate specificity of these enzymes . Haloalkane dehalogenases contain the structural motifs of alpha/beta-hydrolases and epoxidases within their sequences . They contain a catalytic triad with two different topological arrangements . The presence of a structurally conserved oxyanion hole suggests the two-step reaction mechanism previously described for haloalkane dehalogenase from Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10 . The differences in substrate specificity of haloalkane dehalogenases originating from different species might be related to the size and geometry of an active site and its entrance and the efficiency of the transition state and halide ion stabilization by active site residues . Structurally conserved motifs identified within the sequences can be used for the design of specific primers for the experimental screening of haloalkane dehalogenases . Those amino acids which were predicted to be functionally important represent possible targets for future site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Biotechnol Prog, 1999 Nov-Dec, 15(6), 1115 - 24 Selection of microbial mutants tolerant to extreme environmental stress using continuous culture-control design; Lane PG et al.; The design of controllers for a continuous selection technique (BOICS; Brown and Oliver, 1982) is considered . This technique is used to obtain microbial mutants that are tolerant to extreme environmental stress . Applications of BOICS have been hampered by the problem of controller design . In this paper, a modified implementation of BOICS is considered which has a number of practical advantages . A model-based approach to controller design is taken . The case in which the stress is due to an inhibitory substance in the growth environment is considered . The analysis is intended to be applicable to any reasonable combination of organism and inhibitor . Conventional linear and time-invariant controllers are considered . Guidelines for the selection of controller parameters' values are suggested . The application of these guidelines requires that certain process parameters' values be identified . Methods by which these parameters' values can be identified are suggested . Simulation results indicate that the resulting controllers perform satisfactorily . This is confirmed by experimental data from a model selection experiment . A recipe for the design of controllers is a necessary part of a protocol for BOICS . It is hoped that the solution to the controller design problem that is offered in this paper will encourage further applications for the technique. Microbes Infect, 1999 Nov, 1(13), 1139 - 44 The role of the epidermal growth factor receptor in microbial infections of the gastrointestinal tract; Buret A et al.; The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) is a transmembrane glycoprotein with an intrinsic tyrosine kinase . Ligand-binding to the EGFr activates cell signaling, phosphorylates protein kinases, and rearranges cytoskeletal proteins - responses that resemble those induced by microbial attachment to cell surfaces, a process known to be mediated by host cell receptors in a number of cases . This article critically reviews the possible role played by the EGFr in microbial colonization, and discusses how modulation of the EGF-EGFr axis may affect infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1999 Dec, 65(12), 5586 - 9 Molecular phylogenetic analysis of archaeal intron-containing genes coding for rRNA obtained from a deep-subsurface geothermal water pool; Takai K et al.; Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a naturally occurring microbial community in a deep-subsurface geothermal environment indicated that the phylogenetic diversity of the microbial population in the environment was extremely limited and that only hyperthermophilic archaeal members closely related to Pyrobaculum were present . All archaeal ribosomal DNA sequences contained intron-like sequences, some of which had open reading frames with repeated homing-endonuclease motifs . The sequence similarity analysis and the phylogenetic analysis of these homing endonucleases suggested the possible phylogenetic relationship among archaeal rRNA-encoded homing endonucleases. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1999 Dec, 65(12), 5474 - 83 Phototrophs in high-iron-concentration microbial mats: physiological ecology of phototrophs in an iron-depositing hot spring; Pierson BK et al.; At Chocolate Pots Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park the source waters have a pH near neutral, contain high concentrations of reduced iron, and lack sulfide . An iron formation that is associated with cyanobacterial mats is actively deposited . The uptake of {(14)C}bicarbonate was used to assess the impact of ferrous iron on photosynthesis in this environment . Photoautotrophy in some of the mats was stimulated by ferrous iron (1.0 mM) . Microelectrodes were used to determine the impact of photosynthetic activity on the oxygen content and the pH in the mat and sediment microenvironments . Photosynthesis increased the oxygen concentration to 200% of air saturation levels in the top millimeter of the mats . The oxygen concentration decreased with depth and in the dark . Light-dependent increases in pH were observed . The penetration of light in the mats and in the sediments was determined . Visible radiation was rapidly attenuated in the top 2 mm of the iron-rich mats . Near-infrared radiation penetrated deeper . Iron was totally oxidized in the top few millimeters, but reduced iron was detected at greater depths . By increasing the pH and the oxygen concentration in the surface sediments, the cyanobacteria could potentially increase the rate of iron oxidation in situ . This high-iron-content hot spring provides a suitable model for studying the interactions of microbial photosynthesis and iron deposition and the role of photosynthesis in microbial iron cycling . This model may help clarify the potential role of photosynthesis in the deposition of Precambrian banded iron formations. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1999 Dec, 65(12), 5403 - 8 Linking toluene degradation with specific microbial populations in soil; Hanson JR et al.; Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis of a soil microbial community was coupled with (13)C isotope tracer analysis to measure the community's response to addition of 35 microg of {(13)C}toluene ml of soil solution(-1) . After 119 h of incubation with toluene, 96% of the incorporated (13)C was detected in only 16 of the total 59 PLFAs (27%) extracted from the soil . Of the total (13)C-enriched PLFAs, 85% were identical to the PLFAs contained in a toluene-metabolizing bacterium isolated from the same soil . In contrast, the majority of the soil PLFAs (91%) became labeled when the same soil was incubated with {(13)C}glucose . Our study showed that coupling (13)C tracer analysis with PLFA analysis is an effective technique for distinguishing a specific microbial population involved in metabolism of a labeled substrate in complex environments such as soil. J Clin Pharm Ther, 1999 Oct, 24(5), 387 - 92 Evaluation of the in-line filters for the intravenous infusion of amphotericin B fluid; Hirakawa M et al.; OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of four types of in-line filters on filtration rate, amphotericin B concentration and particulate matter . METHODS: Filtration rates of amphotericin B fluid through in-line filters under maximum gravity flow were examined . The concentrations of amphotericin B and the particulate matter in the non-filtered and filtered amphotericin B fluid at the flow rate of 500 ml/24 h were measured . RESULTS: Filtration through a 1.2 microm or 0.2 microm polyethersulphone (PES) filter under maximum gravity flow took less than 40 min . The 0.2 microm positively charged nylon 66 and 0.2 microm nylon 66 filters took 70 and 100 min, respectively, to filter 500 ml of amphotericin B fluid . The 0.2 microm positively charged nylon 66 filter and the 0.2 microm nylon 66 filter, but not the PES filter (1.2 and 0.2 microm), decreased the concentrations of amphotericin B in the filtered fluid by 100% within 1 h and by 66% within 24 h after the start of filtration, respectively . The particulate count in the non-filtered amphotericin B fluid was 27+/-5 particles/ml, exceeding the limit defined by USP XXIII . The 1.2 microm and 0.2 microm PES filters significantly decreased particulate matter by 83 and 97%, respectively, just after filtration . CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that the 0.2 microm PES filter is optimal for intravenous infusion of amphotericin B fluid to minimize the introduction of particulate matter, microbial contaminants and endotoxin into patients. Nat Med, 1999 Dec, 5(12), 1375 - 82 Identification of candidate T-cell epitopes and molecular mimics in chronic Lyme disease; Hemmer B et al.; Elucidating the cellular immune response to infectious agents is a prerequisite for understanding disease pathogenesis and designing effective vaccines . In the identification of microbial T-cell epitopes, the availability of purified or recombinant bacterial proteins has been a chief limiting factor . In chronic infectious diseases such as Lyme disease, immune-mediated damage may add to the effects of direct infection by means of molecular mimicry to tissue autoantigens . Here, we describe a new method to effectively identify both microbial epitopes and candidate autoantigens . The approach combines data acquisition by positional scanning peptide combinatorial libraries and biometric data analysis by generation of scoring matrices . In a patient with chronic neuroborreliosis, we show that this strategy leads to the identification of potentially relevant T-cell targets derived from both Borrelia burgdorferi and the host . We also found that the antigen specificity of a single T-cell clone can be degenerate and yet the clone can preferentially recognize different peptides derived from the same organism, thus demonstrating that flexibility in T-cell recognition does not preclude specificity . This approach has potential applications in the identification of ligands in infectious diseases, tumors and autoimmune diseases. J Neuroimmunol, 1999 Nov 1, 101(1), 68 - 75 Beta2-adrenergic receptor stimulation inhibits nitric oxide generation by Mycobacterium avium infected macrophages; Boomershine CS et al.; Catecholamine regulation of nitric oxide (NO) production by IFNgamma-primed macrophages infected with Mycobacterium avium was investigated . Epinephrine treatment of IFNgamma-primed macrophages at the time of M . avium infection inhibited the anti-mycobacterial activity of the cells . The anti-mycobacterial activity of macrophages correlated with NO production . Using specific adrenergic receptor agonists, the abrogation of mycobacterial killing and decreased NO production by catecholamines was shown to be mediated via the beta2-adrenergic receptor . Elevation of intracellular cAMP levels mimicked the catecholamine-mediated inhibition of NO in both M . avium infected and LPS stimulated macrophages . Specific inhibitors of both adenylate cyclase and protein kinase A prevented the beta2-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of nitric oxide production . Beta2-adrenoreceptor stimulation at the time of M . avium infection of IFNgamma-primed macrophages also inhibited expression of iNOS mRNA . These observations show that catecholamine hormones can affect the outcome of macrophage-pathogen interactions and suggest that one result of sympathetic nervous system activation is the suppression of the capacity of macrophages to produce anti-microbial effector molecules. Med Hypotheses, 1999 Sep, 53(3), 217 - 20 Epidemics of violence; Patten SB; The concept of behavioral contagion implies that certain behaviors may spread through populations in a way analogous to the spread of microbial diseases . If so, mathematical models that are helpful in understanding the spread of infectious diseases may also help to understand the spread of certain behaviors . The objective of this paper was to explore the possibility that the Kermack-McKendrick model of epidemic spread may help to explain the outbreak of riots in crowds . Predictions made by the mathematical model were compared to descriptions of crowd behavior and of police methods for preventing and controlling the outbreak of riots . Many of the predictions made by the model are consistent with published observations about circumstances where riots may occur, and methods useful for controlling them. Bioorg Med Chem, 1999 Oct, 7(10), 2239 - 45 5-Cyanovaleramide production using immobilized Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23; Hann EC et al.; A biocatalytic process for the hydration of adiponitrile to 5-cyanovaleramide has been developed which can be run to higher conversion, produces more product per weight of catalyst, and generates significantly less waste products than alternate chemical processes . The biocatalyst consists of Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23 microbial cells immobilized in calcium alginate beads . The cells contain a nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) which catalyzes the hydration of adiponitrile to 5-cyanovaleramide with high regioselectivity, and with less than 5% selectivity to byproduct adipamide . Fifty-eight consecutive batch reactions with biocatalyst recycle were run to convert a total of 12.7 metric tons of adiponitrile to 5-cyanovaleramide . At 97% adiponitrile conversion, the yield of 5-cyanovaleramide was 13.6 metric tons (93% yield, 96% selectivity), and the total weight of 5-cyanovaleramide produced per weight of catalyst was 3150 kg/kg (dry cell weight). Bioorg Med Chem, 1999 Oct, 7(10), 2123 - 30 Recombinant microbial lipases for biotechnological applications; Schmidt-Dannert C; Lipases, mainly of microbial origin, represent the most widely used class of enzymes in biotechnological applications and organic chemistry . Modern methods of genetic engineering combined with an increasing knowledge of structure and function will allow further adaptation to industrial needs and exploration of novel applications . Production of such tailored lipases requires their functional overexpression in a suitable host . Hence, this article describes the functional heterologous production of commercially important microbial lipases . Based on the knowledge of different lipases' substrate binding sites, the most suitable lipase for a particular application may be selected. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1999 Dec, 13(4), 901 - 23 Oral complications associated with immunosuppression and cancer therapies; Epstein JB et al.; The oral manifestations of oropharyngeal infection in immunocompromised patients present a particular challenge for both medical and dental professionals because clinical signs and symptoms may be minimal and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment may be difficult . Effective control of infection and management of oral symptoms are important and may be achieved by the judicious use of topical and systemic agents and by maintaining good oral hygiene . Prevention of mucosal breakdown, suppression of microbial colonization, control of viral reactivation, and effective management of severe xerostomia are all critical steps to reduce the overall morbidity and mortality of oromucosal infections in the severely immunocompromised patient. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1999 Dec, 13(4), 797 - 816 Bacterial and protozoal infections; Schuster GS; The oral cavity is a common site for manifestations of systemic microbial diseases . Oral lesions may be typical of those seen elsewhere on the body, or the lesions may be modified by the local environment . The ease of examination within the oral cavity, however, and any site-specific features facilitates diagnosis of the systemic condition. Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk, 1999, (10), 37 - 40 {Functional organization and mechanisms of human intrinsic regulation of natural cytotoxicity system}; Cheknev SB; The paper gives a detailed account of the specific features and mechanisms of natural cytotoxicity (NCT) reactions in health and in disease . The assumption that the system autonomically functions has been substantiated and experimentally verified . There is evidence for that it is able to self regulate and to be controlled by endogenous or exogenous factors . If there is a biological expediency for NCT to be limited, which would prevented the intrinsic unchanged cells from lesions when they interact with the system's activated cells is first discussed . It has been found that there are three organizational levels of the mechanisms that rationally limit NCT . These include intra-systemic, extra-systemic endogenous and exogenous . The theoretical result of the studies is a basically new methodology of fundamental developments in the area of immunobiological surveillance . It assumes that environmental microbial factors have a limiting rather inducing influence on NCT, which prevents intact cells from lesions in cytotoxic reactions. Ann Rheum Dis, 1999 Dec, 58(12), 737 - 41 Two forms of reactive arthritis? Toivanen P, Toivanen A. Inflammatory arthritides developing after a distant infection have so far been called reactive or postinfectious, quite often depending on the microbial trigger and/or HLA-B27 status of the patient . For clarity, it is proposed that they all should be called reactive arthritis, which, according to the trigger, occurs as an HLA-B27 associated or non-associated form . In addition to the causative agents and HLA-B27, these two categories are also distinguished by other characteristics . Most important, HLA-B27 associated arthritis may occur identical to the Reiter's syndrome with accompanying ureteritis and/or conjunctivitis, whereas in the B27 non-associated form this has not been clearly described . Likewise, only the B27 associated form belongs to the group of spondyloarthropathies. Nature, 1999 Oct 28, 401(6756), 898 - 901 Influence of environmental changes on degradation of chiral pollutants in soils; Lewis DL et al.; Numerous anthropogenic chemicals of environmental concern--including some phenoxy acid herbicides, organophosphorus insecticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalates, freon substitutes and some DDT derivatives--are chiral . Their potential biological effects, such as toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and endocrine disrupter activity, are generally enantiomer-selective, and different enantiomers are preferentially degraded (transformed) by micro-organisms in various environments . Here we use field and laboratory experiments to demonstrate that environmental changes in soils can alter these preferences, and to suggest that the preferences shift owing to different groups of related microbial genotypes being activated by different environmental changes . In Brazilian soils, almost all pasture samples preferentially transformed the non-herbicidal enantiomer of dichlorprop ((RS)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid), while most forest samples either transformed the herbicidal enantiomer more readily or as rapidly as the non-herbicidal enantiomer . Organic nutrient enrichments shifted enantioselectivity for methyl dichlorprop ((RS)-methyl 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid) strongly towards preferentially removing the non-herbicidal enantiomer in soils from Brazil and North America, potentially increasing phytotoxicity of its residues relative to that of the racemate . Assessments of the risks chemical pollutants pose to public health and the environment need to take into account the chiral selectivity of microbial transformation processes and their alteration by environmental changes, especially for pesticides as up to 25 per cent are chiral. J Leukoc Biol, 1999 Nov, 66(5), 747 - 52 Lung surfactant proteins (SP-A and SP-D) in non-adaptive host responses to infection; Holmskov U; The lung surfactant proteins A and D (SP-A and SP-D) are collectins composed of C-type lectin domains attached to collagen regions . SP-A and SP-D are mainly found in the surfactant covering the pulmonary epithelial cells, but are also produced by cells lining the gastrointestinal tract . The main role of SP-A and SP-D is to interact directly with carbohydrate on the surface of microbial pathogens, thereby initiating a variety of effector mechanisms . This review focuses on the non-adaptive host responses of SP-A and SP-D to infection . Interaction of SP-A and SP-D with phagocytes is discussed and the structure and function of the putative receptors for SP-A and SP-D is presented . SP-A and SP-D seem to be regulated in a way similar to acute-phase proteins in the course of inflammation and evidence for the involvement of SP-A and SP-D as immunomodulators as well as their role in clearing allergens and modulating effector mechanisms in allergic reactions is discussed. Am J Health Syst Pharm, 1999 Oct 15, 56(20), 2047 - 51 Urokinase activity after freezing: implications for thrombolysis in intraventricular hemorrhage; Rhoney DH et al.; The retention of urokinase activity after frozen storage was studied . Urokinase powder was reconstituted aseptically in sterile water for injection or preservative-free 0.9% sodium chloride injection to a final concentration of 5000 IU/mL . Samples were stored in 5-mL plastic syringes at -20 or -70 degrees C for up to six months . Samples containing urokinase 25,000 IU/mL were similarly prepared by using sodium chloride injection as the diluent and were stored frozen at the same temperatures for up to 93 days . Urokinase activity was measured with a chromogenic assay at each test interval . Samples were also cultured after thawing to evaluate their potential to support microbial growth . The activity of urokinase at either concentration did not change appreciably during the study period . The method of thawing-at room temperature or in a refrigerator-had no effect on urokinase activity . No microbial growth was observed . Urokinase 5000 IU/mL did not show any changes in activity when reconstituted with sterile water for injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection and frozen for up to six months . Urokinase 25,000 IU/mL in sodium chloride injection was also stable after 93 days of frozen storage. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 1999, 53(4), 381 - 6 Biotechnological production of oil: fatty acid composition of microbial oil; Azeem A et al.; The fatty acid profile and the fatty acid composition of microbial lipids obtained from molds revealed that oil from Aspergillus sydowii, Fusarium oxysporum and F . equisetti had a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic acid, and had a similarity to the edible oils, groundnut and palm oil . This study sheds light on the possibilities of exploring the use of these oils as supplement to other edible fats and for other non-edible industrial purposes. Immunol Cell Biol, 1999 Dec, 77(6), 469 - 75 Chemokines and chemokine receptors in infectious diseases; Mahalingam S et al.; Today, 10 years after the discovery of IL-8, chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) are seen as the stimuli that largely control leucocyte migration . Chemokines are low molecular weight chemoattractant cytokines secreted by a variety of cells, including leucocytes, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and numerous other cell types . They are produced in response to exogenous stimuli, such as viruses and bacterial LPS, and endogenous stimuli, such as IL-1, TNF and IFN . These factors mediate chemotaxis and leucocyte activation . They also regulate leucocyte extravasation from the blood and/or lymph vessel luminal surface to the tissue space, the site of inflammation . There is no doubt that chemokines and chemokine receptors are critical for defence against infectious pathogens . It is also clear that these pathogens have evolved to accommodate the workings of the host immune system . Survival of these infectious agents appears dependent upon strategies that can evade, suppress, counteract or otherwise confound the constellation of host responses to invading pathogens . In this regard, the chemokines and their receptors are a major target . Reviewed in the present paper are several examples in which microbial pathogens have usurped the mammalian chemokine system to subvert the host immune response. Natl Med J India, 1999 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 162 - 4 Mechanisms of resistance to fluoroquinolones; Rattan A; Fluoroquinolones have some of the properties of an 'ideal' anti-microbial agent . Because of their potent broad spectrum activity and absence of transferable mechanism of resistance or inactivating enzymes, it was hoped that clinical resistance to this useful group of drugs would not occur . However, over the years, due to intense selective pressure and relative lack of potency of the available quinolones against some strains, bacteria have evolved at least two mechanisms of resistance: (i) alteration of molecular targets, and (ii) reduction of drug accumulation . DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are the two molecular targets of fluoroquinolones . Mutations in specified regions (quinolone resistance-determining region) in genes coding for the gyrase and/or topoisomerase leads to clinical resistance . An efflux pump effective in pumping out hydrophilic quinolones has been described . Newer fluoroquinolones which recognize both molecular targets and have improved pharmacokinetic properties offer hope of higher potency, thereby reducing the probability of development of resistance. Lijec Vjesn, 1999 Jul-Aug, 121(7-8), 221 - 6 {Guidelines for cleaning and disinfection/sterilization of endoscopes}; Kalenic S et al.; Endoscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic method which is being increasingly used in various fields of medicine, especially in minimal invasive surgery . During the endoscopic procedure, endoscopes are contaminated with patient's microbial flora . After each procedure and before the next patient, endoscope should be reprocessed in a way to be safe from post-procedural infection . Endoscopes are divided in two categories (the borders between them are not always clear-cut): high-risk category endoscopes which enter the sterile tissue, and medium-risk category which come in contact with mucosal surface . High-risk endoscopes should be sterilized or high-level disinfected, and medium-risk should be high-level disinfected . The first and the most important step in endoscope reprocessing is thorough manual cleaning of all parts of dismantled endoscope and of all channels in water and (enzymatic) detergent . The second step is disinfection of endoscope fully immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde for 20 minutes at room temperature . The third step is thorough rinsing in sterile water or tap water followed by 70% ethanol, depending on the next endoscopic procedure . Steps 2-4 can be done in the machine . During endoscopy as well as during endoscope reprocessing, strict preventive measures should be followed for health care workers protection. J Hum Genet, 1999, 44(6), 425 - 7 Dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the third intron of the NRAMP2/DMT1 gene; Kishi F et al.; Nramp1 (natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1), encoding a polytropic integral membrane protein, was isolated as a candidate of the mouse Lsh/Ity/Bcg locus, which regulates macrophage activation for anti-microbial activity against intracellular pathogens . The NRAMP2 gene was cloned from human genome as a homologue of NRAMP1 . We found a polymorphic dinucleotide repeat in the third intron of the NRAMP2 gene . This polymorphism will be a useful genetic marker to study disease associated with susceptibility to infection with intracellular pathogens. Sci Total Environ, 1999 Oct 1, 239(1-3), 81 - 7 Modeling the effects of sodium chloride on degradation of chloramphenicol in aquaculture pond sediment; Chien YH et al.; Sodium chloride was added to aquaculture pond sediment to determine effects of different salinities on degradation of chloramphenicol (CM) . In this experiment, freshwater (0 ppt salinity) eel pond sediment slurries (10% w/v) were amended with sodium chloride to obtain salinities of 12, 24 and 36 ppt . There were no significant differences in sorption rate either between aerobic and anaerobic conditions or among various salinities . Degradation of CM fitted well to the decaying exponential curve . The degradation rates under anaerobic conditions were significantly greater than those under aerobic conditions . As salinity increased, the degradation rates decreased under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions . The differences in degradation rates either between aerobic and anaerobic conditions or among various salinities were attributed to the effects of microbial activities under different environments. Infect Immun, 1999 Dec, 67(12), 6510 - 7 Identification of a novel mycobacterial histone H1 homologue (HupB) as an antigenic target of pANCA monoclonal antibody and serum immunoglobulin A from patients with Crohn's disease; Cohavy O et al.; pANCA is a marker antibody associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including most patients with ulcerative colitis and a subset with Crohn's disease . This study addressed the hypothesis that pANCA reacts with an antigen(s) of microbial agents potentially relevant to IBD pathogenesis . Using a pANCA monoclonal antibody, we have previously identified the C-terminal basic random-coil domain of histone H1 as a pANCA autoantigen . BLAST analysis of the peptide databases revealed H1 epitope homologues in open reading frames of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome . Western analysis of extracts from six mycobacterial species directly demonstrated reactivity to a single, conserved approximately 32-kDa protein . Direct protein sequencing, followed by gene cloning, revealed a novel 214-amino-acid protein, an iron-regulated protein recently termed HupB . Sequence analysis demonstrated its homology with the mammalian histone H1 gene family, and recombinant protein expression confirmed its reactivity with the 5-3 pANCA monoclonal antibody . Binding activity of patient serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) to HupB did not correlate with reactivity to histone H1 or pANCA, indicating the complex character of the pANCA antigen . However, anti-HupB IgA was strongly associated with Crohn's disease (P < 0.001) . These findings indicate that the 5-3 pANCA monoclonal antibody detects a structural domain recurrent among mycobacteria and cross-reactive with a DNA-binding domain of histone H1 . The association of HupB-binding serum IgA with IBD provides new evidence for the association of a mycobacterial species with Crohn's disease. Infect Immun, 1999 Dec, 67(12), 6403 - 8 Ferric reduction is a potential iron acquisition mechanism for Histoplasma capsulatum; Timmerman MM et al.; For the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, and for other microbial pathogens, iron is an essential nutrient . Iron sequestration in response to infection is a demonstrated host defense mechanism; thus, iron acquisition may be considered an important pathogenic determinant . H . capsulatum is known to secrete Fe(III)-binding hydroxamate siderophores, which is one common microbial process for acquiring iron . Here, we report H . capsulatum ferric reduction activities in whole yeast cells and in both high- and low-molecular-weight fractions of culture supernatants . Each of these activities was induced or derepressed by growth under iron-limiting conditions, a phenomenon often associated with specific iron acquisition mechanisms . The high-molecular-weight culture supernatant activity was enhanced by the addition of reduced glutathione, was proteinase K sensitive and heat labile, and could utilize ferric chloride, ferric citrate, and human holotransferrin as substrates . The low-molecular-weight culture supernatant activity was resistant to proteinase K digestion . These results are consistent with the expression by H . capsulatum of both enzymatic ferric reductase and nonproteinaceous ferric reductant, both of which are regulated by iron availability . Such components could be involved in fungal acquisition of iron from inorganic or organic ferric salts, from H . capsulatum hydroxamate siderophores, or from host Fe(III)-binding proteins, such as transferrin. Infect Immun, 1999 Dec, 67(12), 6257 - 63 Induction and regulation of Th1-inducing cytokines by bacterial DNA, lipopolysaccharide, and heat-inactivated bacteria; Huang L et al.; Th1 immune responses, characterized by production of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), are associated with protective immunity to viruses and intracellular bacteria . Heat-killed Brucella abortus promotes secretion of Th1-inducing cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IFN-gamma and has been used as a carrier to induce Th1 responses to vaccines . To explore which bacterial constituents could mediate this response and how it is regulated, murine spleen cells were cultured with B . abortus derived DNA, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or whole killed organisms . Each constituent induced similar, substantial amounts of IL-10 . However, only B . abortus and B . abortus DNA induced high levels of IFN-gamma and IL-12 . B . abortus and B . abortus DNA-stimulated IL-12 production was maximal by 6 to 18 h, while IL-10 production steadily accumulated over this time period . These kinetics suggested that IL-10 may eventually downmodulate the Th1-like cytokine response to B . abortus and B . abortus DNA, which was confirmed by using neutralizing antibody . In the absence of IL-10, B . abortus LPS induced strong IFN-gamma responses, but IL-12 p70 levels were still undetectable from BALB/c spleen cells . LPS induced IL-12 if the spleen cells were primed with IFN-gamma and IL-10 was neutralized, indicating that LPS can stimulate IL-12 production under the most favorable conditions . Responses to Escherichia coli LPS and DNA mirrored the responses to B . abortus components, suggesting that immune effects observed with these constituents may be generalizable to many microbial species . In vivo experiments demonstrated the same hierarchy of responses for IL-12 production . These findings support the likelihood that microbial components, if used as carriers or adjuvants, can differ substantially in their ability to effect a Th1 response. FEMS Microbiol Ecol, 1999 Dec 1, 30(4), 367 - 371 Iron reduction by psychrotrophic enrichment cultures; Zhang C et al.; Psychrotrophic (<20 degrees C) enrichment cultures from deep Pacific marine sediments and Alaskan tundra permafrost reduced ferric iron when using organic acids or H(2) as electron donors . The representative culture W3-7 from the Pacific sediments grew fastest at 10 degrees C, which was 5-fold faster than at 25 degrees C and more than 40-fold faster than at 4 degrees C . Fe(III) reduction was also the fastest at 10 degrees C, which was 2-fold faster than at 25 degrees C and 12-fold faster than at 4 degrees C . Overall, about 80% of the enrichment cultures exhibited microbial Fe(III) reduction under psychrotrophic conditions . These results indicated that microbial iron reduction is likely widespread in cold natural environments and may play important roles in cycling of iron and organic matter over geological times. FEMS Microbiol Ecol, 1999 Dec 1, 30(4), 333 - 343 Dilution/extinction of community phenotypic characters to estimate relative structural diversity in mixed communities; Garland JL et al.; Recent interest in microbial diversity has led to increased emphasis on the development of appropriate techniques . Structural diversity encompasses the number and distribution of separate or interacting biological entities responsible for a given function within the overall set of functions of a community . This study evaluated an approach for estimating the relative degree of structural diversity in heterotrophic microbial communities by dilution to extinction of community phenotypic traits . Serial dilutions of environmental samples (rhizosphere, stream) were tested for community phenotypic traits (i.e . carbon source respiration) . The non-linear relationship between the number of positive responses (i.e . functional richness or R) and inoculum density in each sample dilution (I) fit the simple rectangular hyperbola model, allowing estimation of the maximal richness (R(max)) and the inoculum density at half-maximal richness (K(I)) . The later term appears to be useful in assessing relative structural diversity as evidenced by significantly higher values for communities with higher predicted species diversity . The examination of community functional characteristics across a series of dilutions, particularly in conjunction with other techniques, may be a useful approach for the study of microbial diversity and related ecological parameters such as niche width and metabolic redundancy. FEMS Microbiol Ecol, 1999 Dec 1, 30(4), 313 - 326 Structure and function of the methanogenic archaeal community in stable cellulose-degrading enrichment cultures at two different temperatures (15 and 30 degrees C); Chin K et al.; Methanogenic cultures were enriched from an air-dried rice field soil and incubated under anaerobic conditions at 30 degrees C with cellulose as substrate (ET1) . The culture was then transferred and further incubated at either 15 degrees C (E15) or 30 degrees C (E30), to establish stable cultures that methanogenically degrade cellulose . After five transfers, the rates of CH(4) production became reproducible . At 30 degrees C, CH(4) production rates were (mean+/-S.D.) 15.2+/-0.7 nmol h(-1) ml(-1) culture for the next 16 transfers and at 15 degrees C, they were 0.38+/-0.07 nmol h(-1) ml(-1) for the next six transfers . When E30 was assayed at temperatures between 5-50 degrees C, CH(4) production rates increased with the temperature, reached a maximum at 40 degrees C and then decreased . The same temperature optimum was observed in E15, but with a lower maximum CH(4) production rate . The apparent activation energies of CH(4) production were similar (about 120 kJ mol(-1)4 mM at the beginning of the assay . The structure of the archaeal community was analyzed by molecular techniques . Total DNA was extracted from the microbial cultures before the transfer to different temperatures (ET1) and afterwards (E15, E30) . The archaeal small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA-encoding genes (rDNA) of these DNA samples were amplified by PCR with archaeal-specific primers and characterized by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) . After obtaining a constant T-RFLP pattern in the cultural transfers at 15 and 30 degrees C, the PCR amplicons were used for the generation of clone libraries . Representative rDNA clones (n=10 for each type of culture) were characterized by T-RFLP and sequence analysis . In the primary culture (ET1), the archaeal community was dominated by clones representing 'rice cluster I', a novel lineage of methanogenic Euryarchaeota . However, further transfers resulted in the dominance of Methanosarcinaceae and Methanosaetaceae at 30 and 15 degrees C, respectively . This dominance was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of archaeal cells . Obviously, different archaeal communities were established at the two different temperatures, but their activities nevertheless exhibited similar temperature optima. Curr Microbiol, 2000 Jan, 40(1), 10 - 6 Dynamics of airborne fungal populations in a large office building; Burge HA et al.; The increasing concern with bioaerosols in large office buildings prompted this prospective study of airborne fungal concentrations in a newly constructed building on the Gulf coast . We collected volumetric culture plate air samples on 14 occasions over the 18-month period immediately following building occupancy . On each sampling occasion, we collected duplicate samples from three sites on three floors of this six-story building, and an outdoor sample . Fungal concentrations indoors were consistently below those outdoors, and no sample clearly indicated fungal contamination in the building, although visible growth appeared in the ventilation system during the course of the study . We conclude that modern mechanically ventilated buildings prevent the intrusion of most of the outdoor fungal aerosol, and that even relatively extensive air sampling protocols may not sufficiently document the microbial status of buildings. Sci Total Environ, 1999 Sep 30, 237-238, 373 - 8 Fate and transport of ethoprophos in the Jamaican environment; Robinson DE et al.; The hydrolytic half lives of ethoprophos in distilled, river, brackish and open sea water were 25, 133, 65 and 81 days, respectively . Under laboratory conditions, volatilisation of the residues after 12 h was 1.4-3.6, 2.3-4.5 and 6.5-20.2% from a sandy loam soil with 1, 10 and 20% moisture levels, respectively . Photolysis in soil was significantly faster (P < 0.05) in direct sunlight (T1/2 of 4.7 days) than in the shade (T1/2 of 12.3 days) . The microbial degradation of ethoprophos was more than two-fold faster in unsterile soil (T1/2 of 10.9 days) than in sterile soil (T1/2 of 28.8 days) . The runoff of ethoprophos from unweeded plantation soil at 23 degrees slope was significantly (P = 0.015) less than at 38 degrees slope; the amounts lost after 9 weeks and 27.5 mm of rainfall were 89.4 and 91.2%, respectively, of the applied amount from the two respective slopes . In the weeded plots, 93.6 and 92.4% of the applied insecticide were lost from 23 degrees and 38 degrees slopes, respectively . Under laboratory conditions, between 67.0 and 85.1% of ethoprophos leached through the soil columns . Under field conditions, after 9 weeks and 25 mm of rainfall, only 2.8 and 2.0% residues were recovered at a depth of 10-15 cm from unweeded and weeded slopes, respectively at 23 degrees slope, and 2.2 and 1.9% from the two respective plots at 38 degrees slope. J Eukaryot Microbiol, 1999 Nov-Dec, 46(6), 632 - 6 Effects of cross-inoculation from elk and feeding pine needles on the protozoan fauna of pregnant cows: occurrence of Parentodinium africanum in domestic U.S . cattle (Bos taurus); Dehority BA et al.; Consumption of pine needles tends to cause abortion in domestic cattle but not in elk . The present study was undertaken to determine whether this difference was associated with the rumen microbial population . After emptying the rumen, pregnant cattle were inoculated with either elk or cattle rumen contents . For those cows fed the pine needle diet, there was no difference in abortion rate between those inoculated with rumen contents from either elk or cattle . Protozoal concentrations and number of genera were observed to decrease markedly in all cows fed the diet containing pine needles . The cycloposthiid ciliate Parentodinium africanum was observed in rumen contents from several of the domestic cattle (Bos taurus) . Concentrations ranged from 1.4 to 130.6 x 10(4) per ml of rumen contents, which comprised 4.6 to 80.3% of the total ciliate population . Mean dimensions of this species were: length, 33.4 microns; width, 19.7 microns; length/width ratio, 1.70, which were similar to those previously reported for this species from Bos indicus in Brazil . This is the first observation of P . africanum, originally observed and described in stomach contents of the hippopotamus, either in Bos taurus or in any host in the northern hemisphere. Biotechnol Bioeng, 1999, 66(2), 122 - 30 Microbial reduction of technetium by Escherichia coli and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans: enhancement via the use of high-activity strains and effect of process parameters; Lloyd JR et al.; Escherichia coli and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans reduce Tc(VII) (TcO(4)(-)) with formate or hydrogen as electron donors . The reaction is catalyzed by the hydrogenase component of the formate hydrogenlyase complex (FHL) of E . coli and is associated with a periplasmic hydrogenase activity in D . desulfuricans . Tc(VII) reduction in E . coli by H(2) and formate was either inhibited or repressed by 10 mM nitrate . By contrast, Tc(VII) reduction catalyzed by D . desulfuricans was less sensitive to nitrate when formate was the electron donor, and unaffected by 10 mM or 100 mM nitrate when H(2) was the electron donor . The optimum pH for Tc(VII) reduction by both organisms was 5.5 and the optimum temperature was 40 degrees C and 20 degrees C for E . coli and D . desulfuricans, respectively . Both strains had an apparent K(m) for Tc(VII) of 0.5 mM, but Tc(VII) was removed from a solution of 300 nM TcO(4)(-) within 30 h by D . desulfuricans at the expense of H(2) . The greater bioprocess potential of D . desulfuricans was shown also by the K(s) for formate (>25 mM and 0.5 mM for E . coli and D . desulfuricans, respectively), attributable to the more accessible, periplasmic localization of the enzyme in the latter . The relative rates of Tc(VII) reduction for E . coli and D . desulfuricans (with H(2)) were 12.5 and 800 micromol Tc(VII) reduced/g biomass/h, but the use of an E . coli HycA mutant (which upregulates FHL activities by approx . 50%) had a similarly enhancing effect on the rate of Tc reduction . The more rapid reduction of Tc(VII) by D . desulfuricans compared with the E . coli strains was also shown using cells immobilized in a hollow-fiber reactor, in which the flow residence times sustaining steady-state removal of 80% of the radionuclide were 24.3 h for the wild-type E . coli, 4.25 h for the upregulated mutant, and 1.5 h for D . desulfuricans . Biochemistry, 1999 Nov 16, 38(46), 15388 - 97 Species-specific inhibition of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase by mycophenolic acid; Digits JA et al.; IMPDH catalyzes the oxidation of IMP to XMP with the concomitant reduction of NAD(+) to NADH . This reaction is the rate-limiting step in de novo guanine nucleotide biosynthesis . Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a potent inhibitor of mammalian IMPDHs but a poor inhibitor of microbial IMPDHs . MPA inhibits IMPDH by binding in the nicotinamide half of the dinucleotide site and trapping the covalent intermediate E-XMP . The MPA binding site of resistant IMPDH from the parasite Tritrichomonas foetuscontains two residues that differ from human IMPDH . Lys310 and Glu431 of T . foetus IMPDH are replaced by Arg and Gln, respectively, in the human type 2 enzyme . We characterized three mutants of T . foetusIMPDH: Lys310Arg, Glu431Gln, and Lys310Arg/Glu431Gln in order to determine if these substitutions account for the species selectivity of MPA . The mutation of Lys310Arg causes a 10-fold decrease in the K(i) for MPA inhibition and a 8-13-fold increase in the K(m) values for IMP and NAD(+) . The mutation of Glu431Gln causes a 6-fold decrease in the K(i) for MPA . The double mutant displays a 20-fold increase in sensitivity to MPA . Pre-steady-state kinetics were performed to obtain rates of hydride transfer, NADH release, and hydrolysis of E-XMP for the mutant IMPDHs . The Lys310Arg mutation results in a 3-fold increase in the accumulation level of E-XMP, while the Glu431Gln mutation has only a minimal effect on the kinetic mechanism . These experiments show that 20 of the 450-fold difference in sensitivity between the T . foetus and human IMPDHs derive from the residues in the MPA binding site . Of this, 3-fold can be attributed to a change in kinetic mechanism . In addition, we measured MPA binding to enzyme adducts with 6-Cl-IMP and EICARMP . Neither of these adducts proved to be a good model for E-XMP. Poult Sci, 1999 Nov, 78(11), 1588 - 95 Effects of phytase supplementation, individually and in combination, with glycanase, on the nutritive value of wheat and barley; Ravindran V et al.; Four experiments were conducted to examine the effects of a microbial phytase (Natuphos), individually and in combination with glycanase preparations with predominantly xylanase (Natugrain Blend) and glucanase (Natugrain) activities, on the nutritive value of wheat and barley . In Experiment 1, the addition of xylanase and phytase increased the AME of a low-AME wheat by 9.7 and 5.3%, respectively . The differences, however, were not significant (P > 0.05) . The combination of the two enzymes increased (P < 0.05) the AME of wheat by 19.0% from 2,646 to 3,149 kcal/kg dry matter . A similar trend was seen in terms of ileal amino acid digestibility values of the wheat-casein diet . In Experiment 2, the AME of normal wheat was increased (P < 0.05) by 6.3 and 4.5%, respectively, with the addition of xylanase and phytase . The combination of the two enzymes, however, did not further improve (P > 0.05) the AME values . In Experiment 3, performance of broilers fed a wheat-based diet was not influenced by the addition of individual enzymes, but increasing inclusion levels of the xylanase plus phytase combination linearly improved weight gain (r = 0.58; P < 0.01) and feed efficiency (r = 0.71; P < 0.001) . In Experiment 4, the AME of barley was not influenced by the addition of glucanase or phytase . The enzyme combination marginally (P < 0.07) improved the AME at lower concentrations, but had no benefit at the highest concentration. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1999 Nov 11, 1452(2), 209 - 17 Cytostatin, an inhibitor of cell adhesion to extracellular matrix, selectively inhibits protein phosphatase 2A; Kawada M et al.; Cytostatin, which is isolated from a microbial cultured broth as a low molecular weight inhibitor of cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM), has anti-metastatic activity against B16 melanoma cells in vivo . In this study, we examined a target of cytostatin inhibiting cell adhesion to ECM . Cytostatin inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin upon B16 cell adhesion to fibronectin . While the amount of FAK was not affected by cytostatin, electrophoretically slow-migrating paxillin appeared . Alkaline phosphatase treatment diminished cytostatin-induced slow-migrating paxillin . Furthermore, cytostatin increased intracellular serine/threonine-phosphorylated proteins and was found to be a selective inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) . Cytostatin inhibited PP2A with an IC(50) of 0.09 microgram/ml in a non-competitive manner against a substrate, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, but it had no apparent effect on other protein phosphatases including PP1, PP2B and alkaline phosphatase even at 100 microgram/ml . On the contrary, dephosphocytostatin, a cytostatin analogue, without inhibitory effect on PP2A did not affect B16 cell adhesion including FAK and paxillin . These results indicate that cytostatin inhibits cell adhesion through modification of focal contact proteins such as paxillin by inhibiting a PP2A type protein serine/threonine phosphatase . This is the first report that describes a drug with anti-metastatic ability that inhibits PP2A selectively. J Immunol, 1999 Nov 15, 163(10), 5478 - 88 Conservation of a CD1 multigene family in the guinea pig; Dascher CC et al.; CD1 is a family of cell-surface molecules capable of presenting microbial lipid Ags to specific T cells . Here we describe the CD1 gene family of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) . Eight distinct cDNA clones corresponding to CD1 transcripts were isolated from a guinea pig thymocyte cDNA library and completely sequenced . The guinea pig CD1 proteins predicted by translation of the cDNAs included four that can be classified as homologues of human CD1b, three that were homologues of human CD1c, and a single CD1e homologue . These guinea pig CD1 protein sequences contain conserved amino acid residues and hydrophobic domains within the putative Ag binding pocket . A mAb specific for human CD1b cross-reacted with multiple guinea pig CD1 isoforms, thus allowing direct analysis of the structure and expression of at least a subset of guinea pig CD1 proteins . Cell-surface expression of CD1 was detected on cortical thymocytes, dermal dendritic cells in the skin, follicular dendritic cells of lymph nodes, and in the B cell regions within the lymph nodes and spleen . CD1 proteins were also detected on a subset of PBMCs consistent with expression on circulating B cells . This distribution of CD1 staining in guinea pig tissues was thus similar to that seen in other mammals . These data provide the foundation for the development of the guinea pig as an animal model to study the in vivo function of CD1. J Oral Rehabil, 1999 Oct, 26(10), 809 - 13 The use of gamma irradiation for the sterilization of enamel for intra-oral cariogenicity tests; Amaechi BT et al.; The dose of gamma irradiation sufficient to sterilize enamel samples to be used for intra-oral cariogenicity tests (ICT) without alteration to the structure or solubility of the enamel was determined . Each bovine incisor used was cut vertically into eight portions and each portion assigned to one of eight groups . Group 1 was used as control while other groups were subjected to respective doses of gamma irradiation from a cobalt-60 source . Following sterilization, both control and experimental groups were incubated in nutrient broth for 7 days at 37 degrees C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions . Caries-like lesions were subsequently produced in each specimen using acidic buffer solution, and mineral loss quantified using transverse microradiography . Data were analysed statistically . There was no significant difference in mineral loss between the control and experimental groups, but the numerical value of mineral loss was lower in groups irradiated with> 4080 Gy, in addition to full sterilization and enamel discoloration to cream colour observed in these groups . Microbial growth was observed in the control group and in groups irradiated with <4080 Gy but no discoloration . With 4080 Gy full sterilization without discoloration was observed . It was concluded that 4080 Gy of gamma irradiation is optimal for sterilization of enamel samples for use in ICT. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1999 Nov, 181(5 Pt 1), 1142 - 8 The tumor necrosis factor alpha and its soluble receptor profile in term and preterm parturition; Maymon E et al.; OBJECTIVE: The common terminal pathway of parturition describes the anatomic, biochemical, endocrine, and clinical events present in the fetus and mother in both term and preterm labor . Labor at term is thought to result from physiologic activation of this pathway, whereas preterm labor is the result of pathologic activating events . The purpose of this study was to determine whether physiologic and pathologic activation could be discerned by the analysis of a cytokine-receptor signaling system . Tumor necrosis factor alpha and its soluble receptors were used as probes because of their pivotal role in the regulation of several processes activated during parturition . Soluble receptors are thought to buffer the biologic and potentially deleterious effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha in pathologic conditions . STUDY DESIGN: The in vivo concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha and its soluble receptors were studied in patients in term labor and preterm labor . Amniotic fluid was retrieved from 175 women and tumor necrosis factor alpha, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 concentrations were measured by highly sensitive immunoassays . Patients were classified in the following groups: (1) term labor (n = 29), (2) term not in labor (n = 29), (3) preterm labor leading to term delivery (n = 34), (4) preterm labor without infection resulting in preterm delivery (n = 34), (5) preterm labor with intra-amniotic infection (n = 23), and (6) second trimester (n = 26) . RESULTS: Tumor necrosis factor alpha and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 concentrations decreased with advanced gestational age (r = -0.51 and r = -0.7; P <.01 for each) . (1) Patients in spontaneous term labor had a higher median concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha than those at term not in labor (median, 6.4 pg/mL; range, 2.4->500 pg/mL vs median, 4.1 pg/mL; range, 1.1-22.7 pg/mL; P <.01) but had lower concentrations of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (median, 3.2 ng/mL; range, 1.3-9.1 ng/mL vs median, 4.2 ng/mL; range, 1.6-8.3; P <.001) and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (median, 5.5 ng/mL; range, 0.73-12.8 ng/mL vs median, 6.8 ng/mL; range, 2.9-12.9 ng/mL; P <.01) . (2) In contrast, patients with preterm labor leading to preterm delivery had higher concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (median, 12.3 pg /mL; range, 1.5->500 pg/mL vs median, 4.8 pg/mL; range, 1-60.9 pg/mL; P <.01), tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (median, 8.8 ng/mL; range, 2.5-38 ng/mL vs median, 6.2 ng/mL; range, 1.4-28 ng/mL; P <.05), and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (median, 8.5 ng/mL; range, 3.5-45.4 ng/mL vs median, 6.1 ng/mL; range, 1.99-14.1 ng/mL; P <.01) than patients with preterm labor who delivered at term . (3) Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity was associated with dramatic increases in the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (median, 93.5 pg/mL; range, 1.2->500 pg/mL) and its soluble receptors tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (median, 8.8 ng/mL; range, 2.1-36.7 ng/mL) and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (median, 11.8 ng/mL; range, 3.4-46 . 3 ng/mL), concentrations that were significantly higher than in those with preterm labor who delivered at term and those who delivered preterm but were not infected . CONCLUSION: The tumor necrosis factor alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha soluble receptor profiles are different in term and preterm parturition . Our observations provide support for the thesis that preterm parturition is a pathologic condition . Increased tumor necrosis factor alpha soluble receptor concentrations may attenuate the deleterious effects of the excess of tumor necrosis factor alpha found in pathologic labor. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1999 Nov 15, 180(2), 221 - 7 A small derivative of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 which can be switched from a replicating to a non-replicating state as a response to an externally added inducer; Karunakaran P et al.; TrfA is the only plasmid-encoded protein required for RK2 replication . We report here the construction and characterization of an RK2-based vector in which trfA is expressed from the inducible promoter Pm . The resulting construct, pJBSD1, was found to replicate in Escherichia coli DH5a (recA(-)) only in the presence of a Pm inducer . In two tested E . coli recA(+) strains pJBSD1 could replicate in the absence of inducer, but a replication inducer-dependent phenotype was obtained in these strains by introducing a mutation known to reduce the trfA expression level . The plasmid construct could be used as a conditional suicide vector system for targeted chromosomal integration via homologous recombination . This feature may potentially be used for many types of studies in microbial molecular biology. Nucleic Acids Res, 1999 Dec 1, 27(23), 4636 - 41 Improved microbial gene identification with GLIMMER; Delcher AL et al.; The GLIMMER system for microbial gene identification finds approximately 97-98% of all genes in a genome when compared with published annotation . This paper reports on two new results: (i) significant technical improvements to GLIMMER that improve its accuracy still further, and (ii) a comprehensive evaluation that demonstrates that the accuracy of the system is likely to be higher than previously recognized . A significant proportion of the genes missed by the system appear to be hypothetical proteins whose existence is only supported by the predictions of other programs . When the analysis is restricted to genes that have significant homology to genes in other organisms, GLIMMER misses <1% of known genes. New Microbiol, 1999 Oct, 22(4), 369 - 74 Epstein-barr virus DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and central nervous system disorders; Portolani M et al.; Routine search for herpesvirus types 1-5 by nested polymerase chain reaction revealed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of ten out of seventy-nine patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and central nervous system (CNS) disorders not associated with the presence of primary CNS lymphomas . One out of the ten CSF samples was positive for EBV DNA only, six were also positive for microbial agents of recognised neurological pathogenicity while the remaining three samples had a high content of HIV p24 Ag . When six available CSF samples out of the ten EBV DNA positive specimens were investigated for an intrathecal EBV antibody response, all six samples proved EBV antibody-free . The concurrent detection of neurotropic infectious agents and the absence of EBV antibodies in the CSF contribute to the uncertainty on the role of EBV in the neurological illness of the patients studied . One hypothesis considered is that the presence of EBV DNA in the CSF of a large fraction of the ten patients under study is an incidental event associated with EBV reactivation in the host's peripheral blood monocytes, but not related to the genesis of neurological disorders. Am J Health Syst Pharm, 1999 Oct 1, 56(19), 1957 - 60 Stability of valacyclovir hydrochloride in extemporaneously prepared oral liquids; Fish DN et al.; The stability of valacyclovir hydrochloride in three commonly used syrups was studied . Triplicate suspensions of valacyclovir (from caplets) in Ora-Sweet (Paddock Laboratories), Ora-Sweet SF (Paddock), and Syrpalta Humco Laboratory) syrups were extemporaneously compounded to yield a final concentration of valacyclovir 50 mg/mL (as the hydrochloride salt) . The nine suspensions were stored at 4 degrees C in amber glass bottles . At intervals up to 60 days, the liquids were visually inspected for color change, cloudiness, gas formation, and precipitation, and samples were assayed in duplicate for valacyclovir concentration by stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography . Also tested were pH, particle size, and microbial growth . During the first 21 days of storage, mean valacyclovir concentrations in all liquids were >90% of the initial concentration, but concentrations were <90% by day 21 in some individual samples of suspensions prepared with Ora-Sweet and Ora-Sweet SF . Mean valacyclovir concentrations in the Syrpalta-based suspensions met the 90% cutoff for at least 35 days . Solution pH and particle size remained unchanged in all liquids through day 60, and there were no changes in physical appearance . There was no evidence of microbial growth on the days when microbial growth was tested (0 and 28) . Valacyclovir 50 mg/mL (as the hydrochloride salt) in three oral liquids stored in amber glass bottles at 4 degrees C was stable for at least 21 days when prepared with two of three syrups and for at least 35 days when prepared with the third syrup . All the liquids were free of microbial growth for at least 28 days. Pediatr Radiol, 1999 Nov, 29(11), 820 - 2 Pericardial effusions in two boys with chronic granulomatous disease; Macedo F et al.; Pericardial involvement in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is very rare . We present two children with known CGD and pericardial effusions in whom no microbial cause for the effusions was found. Planta, 1999 Oct, 209(4), 478 - 86 Delta(5)-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Digitalis lanata Ehrh . - a multifunctional enzyme in steroid metabolism? Finsterbusch A, Lindemann P, Grimm R, Eckerskorn C, Luckner M. Delta(5)-3beta-Etaydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta(5)-3beta-HSD; EC 1.1.1.145), an enzyme converting pregn-5-ene-3beta-ol-20-one (pregnenolone) to pregn-5-ene-3,20-dione (isoprogesterone), was isolated from the soluble fraction of suspension-cultured cells of Digitalis lanata L . strain VIII . Starting with acetone dry powder the enzyme was purified in three steps using column chromatography on Fractogel-TSK DEAE, hydroxyapatite and Sephacryl G-200 . Fractions with highest Delta(5)-3beta-HSD activity were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . After in-situ digestion the resulting bands were sequenced N-terminally . The 29-kDa band yielded three fragments with high sequence homology to members of the superfamily of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases . High similarity was found to microbial hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases . The band may therefore represent the Delta(5)-3beta-HSD . The purified enzyme was characterized with respect to kinetic parameters, substrate specificity and localization . The function of the enzyme in steroid metabolism is discussed. Arch Microbiol, 1999 Nov, 172(5), 269 - 79 Microbial genomes and "missing" enzymes: redefining biochemical pathways; Cordwell SJ; A biochemical pathway is the representation of a defined set of substrates, enzyme reactions and products linked together to generate an outcome beneficial to a living cell . Microbial genome sequence data are unparalleled resources for understanding cellular metabolism without the prior definitions imposed by classical bioc