Bull Soc Pathol Exot, 1992, 85(5 Pt 2), 460 - 3 Are Streptomyces bacteria involved in the ciguatoxicity of the surgeon fish Ctenochaetus striatus? Chinain M, Boiron P, Legrand AM, Plichart R. Several Streptomyces strains have been isolated from the digestive tract of the herbivorous fish C . striatus, a preeminent ciguateric fish of Polynesian waters . In order to study the possible role played by these bacteria in the toxicity of this fish, the quantitative and qualitative distributions of these isolates within toxic and non toxic fish are compared . The preliminary results are discussed. Nephron, 1992, 60(2), 210 - 5 Antioxidant effect on renal scarring following infection of mannose-sensitive-piliated bacteria; Matsumoto T et al.; Renal scars have been considered to occur in later stages of chronic pyelonephritis . In our experimental pyelonephritis model, bacteria which possessed mannose-sensitive (MS) pili on the surface promoted renal scarring following inoculation to the renal parenchyma . Polyethylene glycol-modified superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD) and 2-O-octadecylascorbic acid (CV3611) significantly suppressed scarring when administered orally or parenterally during the early stage of kidney infection with MS-piliated bacteria . These findings suggest that the superoxide and other active oxygens play an important role in renal scarring following infection and that PEG-SOD and CV3611 may be agents capable of preventing renal scarring following bacterial pyelonephritis. J Bacteriol, 1992 Jan, 174(1), 179 - 85 Role of nitrogen regulator I (NtrC), the transcriptional activator of glnA in enteric bacteria, in reducing expression of glnA during nitrogen-limited growth; Shiau SP et al.; During nitrogen-limited growth, transcription of glnA, which codes for glutamine synthetase, requires sigma 54-RNA polymerase and the phosphorylated from the nitrogen regulator I (NRI; also called NtrC) . In cells in which the lac promoter controlled expression of the gene coding for NRI, increasing the intracellular concentration of NRI lowered the level of glutamine synthetase . The reduction in glutamine synthetase does not appear to result from the NRI-dependent sequestering of any protein that affects transcription of glnA . Our results also suggest that the negative effect of a high concentration of NRI on glnA expression is a major determinant of the level of glutamine synthetase activity in nitrogen-limited cells of a wild-type strain . We propose that the inhibition results from an impairment of the interaction between NRI-phosphate and RNA polymerase that stimulates glnA transcription . We discuss a model that can account for this reduction in glutamine synthetase. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1992, 186(6), 635 - 40 {Control of homologous recombination by mismatch base repair system in bacteria: implications concerning the chromosome stability and the evolution of species}; Rayssiguier C; The generalized mismatch repair system controls, in bacteria, the homologous recombination between diverged (homologous) DNA . It thus constitute, together with the sequence divergence, a barrier to recombination between bacteria of different species as we have shown for E . coli and S . typhimurium . It is moreover, by preventing the recombination between diverged repeated sequences, a key component of the chromosome stability. Arch Microbiol, 1992, 158(3), 183 - 7 Protonmotive force in freshwater sulfate-reducing bacteria, and its role in sulfate accumulation in Desulfobulbus propionicus; Kreke B et al.; The protonmotive force in several sulfate-reducing bacteria has been determined by means of radiolabelled membrane-permeant probes (tetraphenylphosphonium cation, TPP+, for delta psi, and benzoate for delta pH) . In six of ten freshwater strains tested only the pH gradient could be determined, while the membrane potential was not accessible due to nonspecific binding of TPP+ . The protonmotive force of the other four strains was between -110 and -155 mV, composed of a membrane potential of -80 to -140 mV and a pH gradient between 0.25 and 0.8 (inside alkaline) at pH(out) = 7 . In Desulfobulbus propionicus the pH gradient decreased with rising external pH values . This decrease, however, was compensated by an increasing membrane potential . Sulfate, which can be highly accumulated by the cells, did not affect the protonmotive force, if added in concentrations of up to 4 mM . The highest sulfate accumulation observed (2500-fold), which occurred at external sulfate concentrations below 5 microM, could be explained by a symport of three protons per sulfate, if equilibrium with the protonmotive force was assumed . At higher sulfate concentrations the accumulation decreased and suggested an electroneutral symport of two protons per sulfate . At sulfate concentrations above 500 microM, the cells stopped sulfate uptake before reaching an equilibrium with the protonmotive force. Annu Rev Biochem, 1992, 61, 861 - 96 Proton transfer in reaction centers from photosynthetic bacteria; Okamura MY et al.; Proton transfer in the bacterial RC associated with the reduction of the bound QB to the dihydroquinone is an important step in the energetics of photosynthetic bacteria . The binding of two protons by the quinone is associated with the transfer of the second electron to QB at a rate of ca . 10(3) s-1 (pH 7) . Mutation of three protonatable residues, GluL212, SerL223, and AspL213, located near QB to nonprotonatable residues (Gln, Ala, and Asn, respectively) resulted in large reductions (by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude) in the rate or proton transfer to QB . These mutations can be grouped into two classes: those that blocked both proton transfer and electron transfer (SerL223, and AspL213) and those that blocked only proton transfer (GluL212) . These results were interpreted in terms of a pathway for proton transport in which uptake of the first proton, required for the transfer of the second electron, occurs through a pathway involving AspL213 and SerL223 . Uptake of the second proton, which follows electron transfer, occurs through a pathway involving GluL212 and possibly AspL213 . Acidic residues near QB affect electron transfer rates via electrostatic interactions . One residue, with a pKa of ca . 10 interacting strongly with the charge on QB (delta pKa greater than 2), was shown to be GluL212 . A second residue with a pKa of ca . 6, which interacts more weakly with the charge on QB (delta pK approximately 1), could be either AspL210 or AspL213 . Several possible mechanisms for proton transfer are consistent with the observed experimental results and proposed proton pathways . These involve proton transfers from individual amino acid residues or internal water molecules either as single steps or in a concerted fashion . The determination of the dominant mechanism will require evaluation of the energetics of the various steps. Acta Clin Belg, 1992, 47(1), 15 - 20 {Is there in Belgium an increase in resistance to the combination amoxicillin/clavulanic acid of Escherichia coli as reference bacteria?}; Yourassowsky E et al.; The difficulties encountered in measuring the susceptibility of the association amoxicillin/clavulanate can be a cause for disagreements between laboratories . With an inoculum standardized at 10(4) CFU/spot, the resistance level of E . coli approaches 10% . If the variety of current methods is taken into account, the evaluation of a resistance increase can only be an internal one, specific for each laboratory, provided that methods do not change in the course of time. Doc Ophthalmol, 1992, 82(1-2), 125 - 33 (An)aerobic bacteria found in secondary-cataract material . A SEM/TEM study; Kalicharan D et al.; Twenty four patients, who had marked reduction of vision due to secondary-cataract developed after an ECCE, were treated by surgical cleaning of the posterior lens capsule . During this procedure globular secondary-cataract material was removed and collected for morphological examination by SEM and TEM . Fragments of various sizes and shapes, including some with a 'golf ball' structure, were seen; these closely resembled particles frequently found in cataractous lenses . In addition, in 18 patients micro-organisms were found: rod-shaped bacteria, cocci, and in 2 cases yeasts . These findings were the more remarkable because these were clinically quiet eyes with no signs of intra-ocular inflammation and cultures have been persistently negative . We imagine that these bacteria must have entered the eye during the cataract extraction and have settled there without causing an infection. Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1992, (2), 18 - 24 {The effect of metal ions on the synthesis of extracellular enzymes by sporulating bacteria}; Feoktistova NV et al.; The action of metal ions which are present in nutritious medium on the synthesis of extracellular enzymes by sporulating bacteria is analysed . An important role of these ions in post-secretory modification of protein molecules and formation of functionally active molecules of enzyme is shown . The effect of metal ions on some cell envelope properties and extracellular enzyme secretion is under discussion. Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 1992, 62(4), 334 - 41 Influence of a natural-ingredient diet containing Phaseolus vulgaris on the colonization by segmented, filamentous bacteria of the small bowel of mice; Klaasen HL et al.; The appearance of segmented, filamentous bacteria (SFBs) in the small bowel of mice is influenced by the composition of the diet, but the dietary components responsible are not known . The addition of ground, whole Phaseolus vulgaris to a natural-ingredient diet at the expense of part of the skim milk powder, ground barley and wheat middlings components, caused an increase of the colonization of the mouse small bowel by SFBs . This effect was not seen when whole Phaseolus was added to a purified diet at the expense of part of the casein, corn oil, coconut fat, corn starch, dextrose and cellulose components . In an attempt to identify the fraction of Phaseolus that might contain SFB-inducing substances, the skin and kernel fraction of the bean were added to the natural-ingredient diet . The skin and kernel fraction were found to be as effective in inducing SFB appearance as was whole Phaseolus. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1992, 327, 71 - 81 Induction of mucosal and serum immune responses to a specific antigen of periodontal bacteria; Hamada S et al.; The dynamics of the host immune response to periodontal bacteria not only may be informative from the standpoint of specific mucosal protection to these pathogens, but also may reveal the capacity of the mucosal immune response to provide protection of the host . To this end, we have examined the immune response to chromatographically purified fimbriae of P . gingivalis administered orally or systemically with liposomes and adjuvant in BALB/c mice, high responders to this antigen . Oral administration of P . gingivalis fimbriae clearly enhanced the fimbriae-specific salivary IgA response . ELISPOT analysis revealed that significant numbers of fimbriae-specific IgA SFC were seen in lamina propria and mesenteric lymph nodes but not in Peyer's patches of mice immunized orally . In contrast, antigen-specific IgM and IgG SFC were seen mainly in the circulating blood mononuclear cells . On the other hand, subcutaneous injection of fimbriae with GM-53 also raised the fimbriae-specific IgG followed by IgM and IgA responses in serum, and both IgA and IgG responses in saliva . Oral immunization was less effective than subcutaneous injection in terms of the serum antibody response . However, the salivary antibody level of mice injected subcutaneously was similar to that of mice immunized orally . In the subcutaneously immunized mice, fimbriae-specific SFC were detected in the spleen, blood, and brachial lymph nodes by ELISPOT assay . Fimbriae-specific IgM SFC appeared earlier and antigen-specific IgG SFC were seen later . These results show that the combined use of fimbriae together with the adjuvant results in sharply increased IgA responses in saliva and IgG responses in serum . In summary, it is clear that the nature of the host's antibody response in serum and mucosal secretions is distinct, and depends on the route of antigen administration, the use of adjuvant and/or liposomes, and the temporal phase of the humoral immune response following various immunization regimes. Curr Opin Genet Dev, 1991 Dec, 1(4), 544 - 51 Comparative biochemistry of Archaea and Bacteria; Zillig W; This review compares exemplary molecular and metabolic features of Archaea and Bacteria in terms of phylogenetic aspects . The results of the comparison confirm the coherence of the Archaea as postulated by Woese . Archaea and Bacteria share many basic features of their genetic machinery and their central metabolism . Similarities and distinctions allow projections regarding the nature of the common ancestor and the process of lineage diversification. Protein Seq Data Anal, 1991 Dec, 4(6), 363 - 6 Methanog: a specialized database on methanogenic bacteria; Thakur AR et al.; A specialized, interdisciplinary database on various types of related information on methanogenic bacteria is described . Derived from other sequence databases etc., this database collects information from many sources, including unpublished work from research laboratories working in this field, and makes them accessible from a single source, to interested scientists, free of cost . It is presently held in eight 48 T.P.I . floppy disks and can be run on any IBM PC under DOS 3.0 or above, making this database of particular interest to researchers with limited resources and on-line search/access facilities. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Dec, 57(12), 3637 - 40 Immunocytochemical localization of nitrogenase in bacteria symbiotically associated with Azolla spp; Lindblad P et al.; In situ immunogold labeling and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect nitrogenase in bacteria (bactobionts) symbiotically associated with leaf cavities of Azolla caroliniana and Azolla filiculoides . In A . caroliniana, the Fe protein of the nitrogenase complex was detected in a subset of the distinct bactobiont types present in leaf cavities of all ages . Similar results were obtained for the bactobionts of A . filiculoides with antisera against both the Fe and MoFe subunits of nitrogenase. J Am Dent Assoc, 1991 Dec, 122(12), 55 - 7 Measuring harmful levels of bacteria in dental aerosols; Earnest R et al.; The potential spread of the bacteria in aerosols emphasizes the familiar triad--gloves, masks and eyewear--for all operative procedures. Microbiol Rev, 1991 Dec, 55(4), 684 - 705 Surface layers of bacteria; Beveridge TJ et al.; Since bacteria are so small, microscopy has traditionally been used to study them as individual cells . To this end, electron microscopy has been a most powerful tool for studying bacterial surfaces; the viewing of macromolecular arrangements of some surfaces is now possible . This review compares older conventional electron-microscopic methods with new cryotechniques currently available and the results each has produced . Emphasis is not placed on the methodology but, rather, on the importance of the results in terms of our perception of the makeup and function of bacterial surfaces and their interaction with the surrounding environment. J Immunol, 1991 Nov 15, 147(10), 3545 - 52 The cellular location of a foreign B cell epitope expressed by recombinant bacteria determines its T cell-independent or T cell-dependent characteristics; Leclerc C et al.; We have targeted two foreign B cell antigenic determinants to different locations in the Escherichia coli cell to examine what effect this had on antibody responses elicited by the recombinant bacteria . The two epitopes were the 132-145 peptide from the PreS2 region of hepatitis B virus and the C3 neutralization epitope of poliovirus type 1 . They were each expressed in two forms either on the surface, as part of the outer-membrane protein LamB, or soluble in the periplasm, as part of the periplasmic protein MalE . When live bacteria expressing the foreign epitope at the cell surface were used for immunization of mice, they induced T cell-independent antibody responses characterized by a rapid induction of IgM and IgG antibodies . In contrast, when the same foreign epitope was inserted into the MalE protein, the antibody response was only detectable after 3 wk, belonged only to the IgG class and was strictly T cell dependent . This study has therefore identified two major pathways by which epitopes expressed by bacterial cells can stimulate specific antibody responses . The first pathway is mediated by direct activation of B cells by bacterial cell-surface Ag and does not require T cell help . The second pathway is T cell dependent and concerns Ag that can be released from the bacteria in a soluble form . We have also studied the effect of the exact position of the B cell antigenic determinant within the LamB protein and with respect to the outer membrane by comparing the immunogenicity of the PreS epitope inserted at three different permissive sites of LamB . The data indicated that to obtain an antibody response with intact bacteria, the epitope must be protruding sufficiently from the outside of the outer membrane . In contrast, when semipurified hybrid proteins were used as immunogen, the exact position of the B cell antigenic determinant within solubilized LamB protein does not influence its immunogenicity. Z Naturforsch {C}, 1991 Nov-Dec, 46(11-12), 1059 - 62 Thiazolylidene-ketonitriles are efficient inhibitors of electron transport in reaction centers from photosynthetic bacteria; Oettmeier W et al.; Thiazolylidene-ketonitriles are efficient inhibitors of photosynthetic electron flow in reaction centers from either Rhodobacter sphaeroides or Rhodobacter capsulatus . Some compounds of this class exhibit a higher inhibitor potency in the bacterial system as compared to photosystem II . Up to now, photosystem II inhibitors were generally less active in photosynthetic bacteria . An azido-thiazolylidene-ketonitrile upon illumination almost exclusively tags the L-subunit in the bacterial reaction center. Mol Biol (Mosk), 1991 Nov-Dec, 25(6), 1683 - 7 {Pea (Pisum sativum) genes participating in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria . II . Nucleotide sequence of cDNA and parts of the late nodulin-6 (PsNod6) gene}; Kardail'skii et al.; Certain characteristics of late noduline gene from pea-Nod6 were investigated as part of works of characterization of higher plant genes taking part in symbiotic nitrogen fixation . The complete 450 b.p . long cDNA was sequenced, it's coding sequence includes the open reading frame . The part of DNA containing the corresponding gene from the genomic clone was also sequenced . The predicted Nod6 amino acid sequence has been analyzed and do not reveal the significant homology with any known protein. Gig Sanit, 1991 Nov, (11), 64 - 6 {The prediction of the membrane-damaging action of chemical substances in experiments on bacteria}; Gudz' OV; Comparative study of the cytoplasmic membrane sensitivity in procaryotic cells (E . coli) and eucaryotic cells (rat red blood cells) to bis-quaternary ammonea compounds and diatomic aliphatic alcohols was carried out . Comparative study of the membrane permeability demonstrated, that E . coli is more sensitive for these xenobiotics . Cells of E . coli recommended as a biotest-object for the membrane tropic toxic reactions to study. Cell, 1991 Oct 18, 67(2), 411 - 21 A novel T . cruzi heparin-binding protein promotes fibroblast adhesion and penetration of engineered bacteria and trypanosomes into mammalian cells; Ortega-Barria E et al.; T . cruzi invades mammalian cells in various organs after migrating through the ECM . These activities appear to be mediated by a unique 60 kd protein exposed on the T . cruzi surface, which promotes selective adhesion of trypomastigotes to three ECM components: heparin, heparan sulfate, and collagen . The affinity-purified protein binds to host fibroblasts in a saturable and glycosaminoglycan- and collagen-inhibitable manner . When adsorbed to plastic, it promotes adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts, as does the recombinant protein expressed in E . coli . The endogenous protein, and reactive ECM proteins, are very effective in preventing T . cruzi invasion of culture cells . The recombinant protein localizes on the E . coli surface and induces the bacteria that express it to adhere to and penetrate nonphagocytic Vero cells in a proteoglycan- and collagen-inhibitable manner . Therefore, the protein, named penetrin, could play a critical role in T . cruzi binding to the ECM and to cells, and in host cell invasion. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 Oct 8, 1090(2), 167 - 72 Interactions of bovine mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA with ribosomes and elongation factors from mitochondria and bacteria; Kumazawa Y et al.; A homologous in vitro poly(U)-directed translation system has been established using animal mitochondrial ribosomes, elongation factors (EF) and phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe) . The rate of incorporation of phenylalanine into polyphenylalanine in the mitochondrial system is slower than that observed for the homologous Escherichia coli system . E . coli ribosomes can be used in place of mitochondrial ribosomes in this system with only a slight decrease in the efficiency of phenylalanine incorporation from mitochondrial Phe-tRNA . However, E . coli elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) cannot replace the mitochondrial EF-Tu in promoting the use of mitochondrial Phe-tRNA . The interaction between EF-Tu and mitochondrial Phe-tRNA was investigated by using the ability of EF-Tu to protect the aminoacyl-tRNA bond from hydrolysis . These results showed that both mitochondrial and E . coli EF-Tus are capable of interacting with mitochondrial Phe-tRNA . However, ribosomal A-site binding assays demonstrated that efficient binding of the mitochondrial Phe-tRNA to the ribosomal A-site was only obtained with the homologous mitochondrial EF-Tu. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Oct, 29(10), 2351 - 3 Chemical characterization of clinical isolates which are similar to CDC group DF-3 bacteria; Daneshvar MI et al.; Six clinical isolates, taken from blood or wounds, that had biochemical characteristics most similar to Centers for Disease Control group DF-3 bacteria were examined for cellular fatty acid composition and isoprenoid quinone content to evaluate their chemical relatedness to known bacterial species and groups . The fatty acids were liberated from whole cells by base hydrolysis, methylated, and analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography . The isoprenoid quinones were extracted from lyophilized whole cells and analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography . All six strains, which were designated group DF-3-like, possessed a distinct fatty acid profile that was characterized by large amounts (greater than 20%) of 13-methyltetradecanoate (i-C15:0) and 12-methyltetradecanoate (a-C15:0), moderate amounts of saturated branched-chain 13-carbon acids (i-C13:0 and a-C13:0) and hexadecanoate (n-C16:0), and small to moderate amounts of both branched- and straight-chain hydroxy acids (i-3-OH-C15:0, 3-OH-C16:0, i-3-OH-C17:0, and 2-OH-C17:0) . This fatty acid profile was unique compared with the profiles of group DF-3 and other bacteria we have previously tested and is useful for the rapid identification of group DF-3-like isolates . The isoprenoid quinone content of four group DF-3-like strains was similar, with ubiquinone-9 (Q-9) and Q-10 as their major quinones, while the other two group DF-3-like strains contained Q-7 as their major quinones, with smaller amounts of Q-8 and Q-9. J Struct Biol, 1991 Oct, 107(2), 146 - 56 Conjugational junctions: morphology of specific contacts in conjugating Escherichia coli bacteria; Durrenberger MB et al.; F-plasmid-mediated bacterial conjugation was studied with hfr (traDts) and tra I mutant Escherichia coli donor strains . This allowed us to observe a statistically significant number of conjugation-specific contacts by video and electron microscopy . Single mating events between E . coli were observed in real time by video-enhanced light microscopy . Conjugation in vivo takes place by initial contact formation via pili, followed by direct and transient wall-to-wall contact, during which DNA is transferred and disaggregated . Electron microscopic observations of the contact zone between donor and recipient bacteria were made by thin sectioning of mating pairs that were arranged in monolayers . We defined the conjugation-specific contact found in stabilized mating pairs as the conjugational junction . Within this junction no specific substructure such as plasma bridges by fusion could be detected during transfer of DNA. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Oct, (10), 31 - 4 {The immunogenicity of mono- and associated vaccines made from strains of opportunistic bacteria}; Soboleva SV; In experiments on white mice the immunogenic potency of two variants of combined vaccines prepared from strains of opportunistic bacteria was compared with that of monovaccines used as the components of the combined vaccines . All the vaccines under study were found highly immunogenic . Decrease of monovaccine share in the combined vaccine did not reduce the immunogenic potency to any of the strains . An 8- to 16-fold increase in the level of specific antibodies in the colostric lactosera of cows immunized with combined vaccines was observed, and the survival rate of newborn calves increased 3- to 4-fold. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi, 1991 Oct, 12(5), 299 - 301 {Study on the elimination of bacteria from the cultures of Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi)}; Wan K; Contaminated cultures of strains H11, H20 from ticks, and strain R9 from patient were purified by antisera for bacteria, chemicals, filtration dilution and animal inoculation . Most of bacteria were eliminated after adding antisera into contaminated strains H11, H20 . The preliminarily decontaminated cultures of strains H11, H20 or those with a few bacteria such as strain R9 could be completely purified by filtration, chemicals, dilution, or animal inoculation, but filtration is the simplest and the most effective purification method. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1991 Oct, 41(4), 571 - 9 Codes and abbreviations for approved of effectively published names of genera of bacteria published from January 1980 to December 1990; Pittman KF et al.; Lists of abbreviations for genus names of bacteria are expanded to accommodate 103 new entries which are names that have been validity published since the publication of an updated list by Rogosa et al . in 1986 (Int . J . Syst . Bacteriol . 36:464-472) . These abbreviations are provided to serve the need for appropriate codified abbreviations for use in processing or indexing of information on computers. Curr Opin Genet Dev, 1991 Oct, 1(3), 404 - 11 Mechanism of site-specific DNA inversion in bacteria; Johnson RC; A wealth of new information regarding the structure of the synaptic complex, the mechanism of DNA strand exchange, and the role of the recombinational enhancer in promoting DNA inversion has been obtained from a combination of approaches . These include: electron microscopy of reaction intermediates, topological analysis of recombination products, and X-ray crystallography coupled with genetic analysis. Biotechniques . 1991 Oct;11(4):442, 444. Isolation of restriction fragments from large plasmids recovered from bacteria with multiple plasmids; Via LE et al.; A rapid and simple method for isolation of restriction DNA fragments from large plasmids is described . The loss of large plasmids is avoided by restriction endonuclease cleavage in an agarose gel before DNA precipitation . Plasmids were separated in low-melting-point agarose by electrophoresis, the desired plasmid DNA band was cut from the gel and digested with a restriction endonuclease in the agarose . Restriction fragments in agarose were recovered by a modified phenol-extraction, concentrated with 2-butanol and precipitated with ethanol . The procedure simplifies the task of cloning genes from large plasmids, resulting in high yields of restriction fragments from a desired plasmid in a short time. Am J Infect Control, 1991 Oct, 19(5), 243 - 9 Comparison of cloth, paper, and warm air drying in eliminating viruses and bacteria from washed hands; Ansari SA et al.; We compared the efficiency of paper, cloth, and electric warm air drying in eliminating rotaviruses and Escherichia coli remaining on finger pads washed with 70% isopropanol, a medicated liquid soap, an unmedicated liquid soap, or tap water alone . The contaminated area on the finger pads of a volunteer was exposed to the hand-washing agent for 10 seconds and then rinsed in 40 degrees C tap water . The washed areas were dried for 10 seconds by one of the three methods . Irrespective of the hand-washing agent used, electric air drying produced the highest and cloth drying the lowest reduction in the numbers of both test organisms . These findings indicate the importance of selecting the right means for drying washed hands, particularly when less effective hand-washing agents are used. Curr Opin Biotechnol, 1991 Oct, 2(5), 746 - 50 Optimizing protein folding to the native state in bacteria; Schein CH; A correctly folded protein is usually both active and soluble . This review focuses on novel ways to improve the folding of recombinant proteins during production in bacteria and includes a few tips for refolding proteins . Major results in correlating protein primary structure with proper folding and stability, and the production of viral antigens and antibodies in bacteria are also discussed. Mutat Res, 1991 Sep-Oct, 250(1-2), 199 - 204 Mutagenic DNA repair in Escherichia coli, XX . Overproduction of UmuD' protein results in suppression of the umuC36 mutation in excision defective bacteria; Bates H et al.; Overproduction of Umu+ or UmuD' protein by means of a gene carried on a multicopy plasmid suppressed the umuC36 phenotype and permitted induction of mutations by ultraviolet light . The umuC122::Tn5 phenotype was not suppressed . Suppression of the umuC36 phenotype was only seen when excision repair was blocked by acriflavine or by an uvrA or uvrB mutation . Cleavage of UmuD to UmuD' in SOS-induced cells was not dependent upon the presence of UmuC protein . The results are interpreted in terms of a revised model in which UmuC protein is envisaged as guiding UmuD' to RecA protein which has recognized and become bound to an appropriate DNA lesion . It is suggested that the umuC36 mutation gives rise to a protein with reduced affinity for UmuD' and that the effect of this can be compensated by an excess of UmuD'. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 1991 Sep, 73(5), 811 - 5 Ultraviolet radiation compared to an ultra-clean air enclosure . Comparison of air bacteria counts in operating rooms; Berg M et al.; Clean air in the operating room is important during joint replacement surgery . We compared monochromatic ultraviolet radiation of 254 nm with the use of a Charnley-Howorth air enclosure by bacterial air-sampling during 113 total hip arthroplasties . Air samples were taken continuously at the edge of the wound and every 15 minutes at a site 130 cm from the operating table . We also tested the effect of occlusive clothing for all personnel . Ultraviolet light was more efficient than the ultra-clean air enclosure, and occlusive clothing on its own or in combination also produced improvement . The implications of these findings are discussed. Mutat Res, 1991 Sep, 264(1), 25 - 8 Increased mutation rate in bacteria overexpressing a cloned foreign gene; Lukacsovich T et al.; Escherichia coli cells growing slowly as a result of the overexpression of a cloned foreign gene were shown to exhibit an increased mutation rate in the foreign gene as well as in several non-selected markers . This phenomenon is discussed in terms of the model proposed by Hall (1990). Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Sep, 57(9), 2775 - 6 Resuscitation effects of catalase on airborne bacteria; Marthi B et al.; Catalase incorporation into enumeration media caused a significant increase (greater than 63%) in the colony-forming abilities of airborne bacteria . Incubation for 30 to 60 min of airborne bacteria in collection fluid containing catalase caused a greater than 95% increase in colony-forming ability . However, catalase did not have any effects on enumeration at high relative humidities (80 to 90%). Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 Aug 6, 1074(3), 439 - 42 Isolation of two new natural pteridines from photosynthetic bacteria, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides; Seo N et al.; Two new natural pteridines have been isolated from the cultured medium of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides GM-1 . The compounds are tentatively identified as 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-hydroxy-6-(1,2, 3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)pteridine and 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-(3-hydroxy-4-phosphonoxy-1-butenyl)pteridine by degradative experiments and by electrophoretic and paper chromatographic comparison with authentic materials. J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Aug, 137 ( Pt 8), 1911 - 21 Molecular and evolutionary relationships among enteric bacteria; Lawrence JG et al.; Classification of bacterial species into genera has traditionally relied upon variation in phenotypic characteristics . However, these phenotypes often have a multifactorial genetic basis, making unambiguous taxonomic placement of new species difficult . By designing evolutionarily conserved oligonucleotide primers, it is possible to amplify homologous regions of genes in diverse taxa using the polymerase chain reaction and determine their nucleotide sequences . We have constructed a phylogeny of some enteric bacteria, including five species classified as members of the genus Escherichia, based on nucleotide sequence variation at the loci encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and outer membrane protein 3A, and compared this genealogy with the relationships inferred by biotyping . The DNA sequences of these genes defined congruent and robust phylogenetic trees indicating that they are an accurate reflection of the evolutionary history of the bacterial species . The five species of Escherichia were found to be distantly related and, contrary to their placement in the same genus, do not form a monophyletic group . These data provide a framework which allows the relationships of additional species of enteric bacteria to be inferred . These procedures have general applicability for analysis of the classification, evolution, and epidemiology of bacterial taxa. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Aug, 57(8), 2429 - 32 Detection of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli by multiplex polymerase chain reaction: comparison with defined substrate and plating methods for water quality monitoring; Bej AK et al.; Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene probe detection of target lacZ and uidA genes were used to detect total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli, respectively, for determining water quality . In tests of environmental water samples, the lacZ PCR method gave results statistically equivalent to those of the plate count and defined substrate methods accepted by the U.S . Environmental Protection Agency for water quality monitoring and the uidA PCR method was more sensitive than 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide-based defined substrate tests for specific detection of E . coli. J Exp Med, 1991 Aug 1, 174(2), 417 - 24 The appearance of T cells bearing self-reactive T cell receptor in the livers of mice injected with bacteria; Abo T et al.; We demonstrated in the present study that with bacterial stimulation, an increased number of alpha/beta T cells proliferated in the liver of mice and that even T cells bearing self-reactive T cell receptor (TCR) (or forbidden T cell clones), as estimated by anti-V beta monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with immunofluorescence tests, appeared in the liver and, to some extent, in the periphery . The majority (greater than 80%) of forbidden clones induced had double-negative CD4-8-phenotype . In a syngeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction, these T cells appear to be self-reactive . Such forbidden clones and normal T cells in the liver showed a two-peak pattern of TCR expression, which consisted of alpha/beta TCR dull and bright positive cells, as seen in the thymus . A systematic analysis of TCR staining patterns in the various organs was then carried out . T cells from not only the thymus but also the liver had the two-peak pattern of alpha/beta TCR, whereas all of the other peripheral lymphoid organs had a single-peak pattern of TCR . However, T cells in the liver were not comprised of double-positive CD4+8+ cells, which predominantly reside in the thymus . The present results therefore suggest that T cell proliferation in the liver might reflect a major extrathymic pathway for T cell differentiation and that this hepatic pathway has the ability to produce T cells bearing self-reactive TCR under bacterial stimulation, probably due to the lack of a double-positive stage for negative selection. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Aug, 6(4), 221 - 7 Effect of initial treatment of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease on the frequency of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes specific to periodontopathic bacteria; Mahanonda R et al.; Limit dilution analysis (LDA) was used to determine the effect of initial treatment of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease on the frequency of periodontopathic bacteria-specific T-cells in peripheral blood . Eleven marginal gingivitis (MG) and 8 adult periodontitis (AP) subjects took part in the study . The proliferative T-lymphocyte precursor (PTL-P) frequencies to Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinomyces viscosus were determined using LDA and Poisson statistics both before and after treatment . Tetanus toxoid was used as a control antigen . Treatment resulted in a significant reduction in clinical disease parameters in both groups . The median peak PTL-P frequency for P . gingivalis was significantly higher in the AP group compared with the MG group before treatment . This was not the case after treatment nor with A . viscosus . In the MG group the median peak PTL-P frequency with both P . gingivalis and A . viscosus declined as a result of treatment . Although this decline was not statistically significant it may indicate an antigen-specific response in this group . In the AP group the median peak PTL-P frequency with P . gingivalis before treatment was 83.76 x 10(-6) (approximately 1 in 12,000) and after treatment it was 36.17 x 10(-6) (approximately 1 in 28,000) . Dose-response relationships showed at each concentration of organisms/well this trend for a decline in PTL-P frequency after treatment, suggesting that any increased responsiveness to this organism in this group may be largely antigen-specific . However, there was no difference in this group in the median peak PTL-P frequency with A . viscosus before and after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 Jul 23, 1089(3), 362 - 6 Codon usage, transfer RNA availability and mistranslation in amino acid starved bacteria; Ulrich AK et al.; The fidelity of codon reading was examined in amino acid starved Escherichia coli . In one case the level of misincorporation of methionine was measured at an isoleucine residue encoded by either the commonly used AUU codon or the rarely used AUA codon . In this situation we found the frequency of methionine misincorporation to be very low and to be unaffected by the identity of the isoleucine codon . In other experiments histidine misincorporation for glutamine was measured in glutamine starved cells with normal levels of histidine-specific tRNA and cells overproducing this tRNA . Cells overproducing the tRNA had higher levels of misincorporation. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1991 Jul, 60(1), 43 - 8 Characterization of new plasmids from methylotrophic bacteria; Brenner V et al.; Several tens of methanol-utilizing bacterial strains isolated from soil were screened for the presence of plasmids . From the obligate methylotroph Methylomonas sp . strain R103a plasmid pIH36 (36 kb) was isolated and its restriction map was constructed . In pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM), belonging to the genus Methylobacterium four plasmids were detected: plasmids pIB200 (200 kb) and pIB14 (14 kb) in the strain R15d and plasmids pWU14 (14 kb) and pWU7 (7.8 kb) in the strain M17 . Because of the small size and the presence of several unique REN sites (HindIII, EcoRI, NcoI), plasmid pWU7 was chosen for the construction of a vector for cloning in methylotrophs . Cointegrates pKWU7A and pKWU7B were formed between pWU7 and the E . coli plasmid pK19 Kmr, which were checked for conjugative transfer from E . coli into the methylotrophic host. J Appl Bacteriol, 1991 Jul, 71(1), 51 - 8 The differential fluorescence of bacteria stained with acridine orange and the effects of heat; Back JP et al.; Some factors affecting the fluorescence of bacteria stained with acridine orange and the direct epifluorescent filter technique (DEFT) were studied . When bacterial cells from a chemostat operated at dilution rates between 0.1 and 0.7/h were used the differential fluorescence observed in the DEFT related to cell 'activity' and the orange fluorescence, which was predominant at high growth rates, may be related to an increase in the RNA content of the cells . Heat affected the colour of cell fluorescence and this was dependent on the cell type and, in particular, age . Uptake of acridine orange into the cells was also found to be an important factor determining the colour of fluorescence . However, with heat-treated cells there was no correlation between the amount of uptake and colour of fluorescence . The relative amounts and degree of denaturation of the different types of nucleic acids remaining in the cells after heat treatment appeared primarily to determine the colour of fluorescence. Biochemistry, 1991 Jun 11, 30(23), 5734 - 42 Fluorescence polarization and low-temperature absorption spectroscopy of a subunit form of light-harvesting complex I from purple photosynthetic bacteria; Visschers RW et al.; Measurements of polarized fluorescence and CD were made on light-harvesting complex 1 and a subunit form of this complex from Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and Rhodobacter capsulatus . The subunit form of LH1, characterized by a near-infrared absorbance band at approximately 820 nm, was obtained by titration of carotenoid-depleted LH1 complexes with the detergent n-octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside as reported by Miller et al . (1987) {Miller J . F., Hinchigeri, S . B., Parkes-Loach, P . S., Callahan, P . M., Sprinkle, J . R., & Loach, P . A . (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5055-5062} . Fluorescence polarization and CD measurements at 77 K suggest that this subunit form must consist of an interacting bacteriochlorophyll a dimer in all three bacterial species . A small, local decrease in the polarization of the fluorescence is observed upon excitation at the blue side of the absorption band of the B820 subunit . This decrease is ascribed to the presence of a high-energy exciton component, perpendicular to the main low-energy exciton component . From the extent of the depolarization, we estimate the oscillator strength of the high-energy component to be at most 3% of the main absorption band . The optical properties of B820 are best explained by a Bchl a dimer that has a parallel or antiparallel configuration with an angle between the Qy transition dipoles not larger than 33 degrees . The importance of this structure is emphasized by the results showing that core antennas from three different purple bacteria have a similar structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Immunol Methods, 1991 Jun 3, 139(2), 197 - 205 Colony assays for antibody fragments expressed in bacteria; Dreher ML et al.; This paper describes procedures for the detection and selection of bacterial colonies expressing antibody fragments of desired antigen specificity . Fab and Fv fragments are detected in a filter assay in which bacterial colonies are grown on a master filter in contract with a second, antigen-coated filter . Ab fragments diffusing onto the second filter bind antigen directly and specifically and are detected with a monoclonal antibody directed against a myc-tag sequence fused to the carboxy-terminal end of the light chain or heavy chain (direct assay) . Single-chain Fv (scFv) in which the VH and V1 sequences are joined by a short linker peptide are detected by a modified procedure in which scFv are immobilized on filters coated with the anti-myc-tag sequence and subsequently detected by specific binding to radiolabeled antigen (indirect assay) . A single positive bacterial colony expressing antigen-specific Fv (or scFv) can be recovered among at least 10,000 negative colonies using the procedures described . The direct assay has been successfully used to discriminate Fv fragments which express point mutations known to increase the binding affinity of antibodies to the hapten 2-phenyl-oxazolone . The procedures described may thus prove generally useful for the selection of antigen-specific clones expressed in bacteria and/or higher-affinity variants of such antibodies. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 57(6), 1630 - 4 Methanogenic bacteria as endosymbionts of the ciliate Nyctotherus ovalis in the cockroach hindgut; Gijzen HJ et al.; Production of methane in the hindgut of the cockroach Periplaneta americana was found to vary, depending on the feeding regimen . Methane production was positively correlated with the numbers of the ciliate Nyctotherus ovalis living in the cockroach hindgut . Defaunation of the cockroaches by means of low concentrations of metronidazole (Flagyl) resulted in a quick drop of methane production . Addition of the methanogenic substrates acetate and formate to isolated hindguts stimulated methane production . Inside the ciliate cells, autofluorescing bacteria could be demonstrated which were presumed to be methanogens . Electron microscopy revealed that the bacteria resembled Methanobrevibacter and that they were closely associated with organelles which contained infolded membranes and which were presumably hydrogenosomes. Microbiol Rev, 1991 Jun, 55(2), 288 - 302 Iso- and anteiso-fatty acids in bacteria: biosynthesis, function, and taxonomic significance; Kaneda T; Branched-chain fatty acids of the iso and anteiso series occur in many bacteria as the major acyl constituents of membrane lipids . In addition, omega-cyclohexyl and omega-cycloheptyl fatty acids are present in several bacterial species . These two types of fatty acids are synthesized by the repeated condensation of malonyl coenzyme A with one of the branched-chain and cyclic primers by the same enzyme system . The pathway of de novo branched-chain fatty acid synthesis differs only in initial steps of synthesis from that of the common straight-chain fatty acid (palmitic acid) present in most organisms . The cell membranes composed largely of iso-, anteiso-, and omega-alicyclic acids support growth of bacteria, which inhabit normal as well as extreme environments . The occurrence of these types of fatty acids as major cellular fatty acids is an important criterion used to aid identification and classification of bacteria. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 May 23, 1058(1), 28 - 30 The distribution of soluble metallo-redox proteins in purple phototrophic bacteria; Bartsch RG; A comparison is made of types and distribution of cytochromes and certain ferredoxins (HiPIP) among photosynthetic bacteria . These are subdivided as to the type of reaction center each species is believed to contain . The proteins listed are assumed to be of periplasmic origin . Interrelationships suggested by the comparison are discussed. Eur J Biochem, 1991 May 23, 198(1), 25 - 30 Isolation and characterization of recombinant human casein kinase II subunits alpha and beta from bacteria; Grankowski N et al.; cDNA encoding the casein kinase II (CKII) subunits alpha and beta of human origin were expressed in Escherichia coli using expression vector pT7-7 . Significant expression was obtained with E . coli BL21(DE3) . The CKII subunits accounted for approximately 30% of the bacterial protein; however, most of the expressed proteins were produced in an insoluble form . The recombinant CKII alpha subunit was purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, followed by phosphocellulose and heparin-agarose chromatography . The recombinant CKII beta subunit was extracted from the insoluble pellet and purified in a single step on phosphocellulose . From 10 g bacterial cells, the yield of soluble protein was 12 mg alpha subunit and 5 mg beta subunit . SDS/PAGE analysis of the purified recombinant proteins indicated molecular masses of 42 kDa and 26 kDa for the alpha and beta subunits, respectively, in agreement with the molecular masses determined for the subunits of the native enzyme . The recombinant alpha subunit exhibited protein kinase activity which was greatest in the absence of monovalent ions . With increasing amounts of salt, alpha subunit kinase activity declined rapidly . Addition of the beta subunit led to maximum stimulation at a 1:1 ratio of both subunits . Using a synthetic peptide (RRRDDDSDDD) as a substrate, the maximum protein kinase stimulation observed was fourfold under the conditions used . The Km of the reconstituted enzyme for the synthetic peptide (80 microM) was comparable to the mammalian enzyme (40-60 microM), whereas the alpha subunit alone had a Km of 240 microM . After sucrose density gradient analysis, the reconstituted holoenzyme sedimented at the same position as the mammalian CKII holoenzyme. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 May 23, 1058(1), 61 - 6 Structural and functional approach toward a classification of the complex cytochrome c system found in sulfate-reducing bacteria; Moura JJ et al.; Following the discovery of the tetraheme cytochrome c3 in the strict anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria (Postgate, J.R . (1954) Biochem . J . 59, xi; Ishimoto et al . (1954) Bull . Chem . Soc . Japan 27, 564-565), a variety of c-type cytochromes (and others) have been reported, indicating that the array of heme proteins in these bacteria is complex . We are proposing here a tentative classification of sulfate- (and sulfur-) reducing bacteria cytochromes c based on: number of hemes per monomer, heme axial ligation, heme spin state and primary structures (whole or fragmentary) . Different and complementary spectroscopic tools have been used to reveal the structural features of the heme sites. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1991 May 15, 287(1), 128 - 34 Redox potentials of flavocytochromes c from the phototrophic bacteria, Chromatium vinosum and Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum; Meyer TE et al.; The redox potentials of flavocytochromes c (FC) from Chromatium vinosum and Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum have been studied as a function of pH . Chlorobium FC has a single heme which has a redox potential of +98 mV at pH 7 (N = 1) that is independent of pH between 6 and 8 . The average two-electron redox potential of the flavin extrapolated to pH 7 is +28 mV and decreases 35 mV/pH between pH 6 and 7 . The anionic form of the flavin semiquinone is stabilized above pH 6 . The redox potential of Chromatium FC is markedly lower than for Chlorobium . The two hemes in Chromatium FC appear to have a redox potential of 15 mV at pH 7 (N = 1), although they reside in very different structural environments . The hemes of Chromatium FC have a pH-dependent redox potential, which can be fit in the simplest case by a single ionization with pK = 7.05 . The flavin in Chromatium FC has an average two-electron redox potential of -26 mV at pH 7 and decreases 30 mV/pH between pH 6 and 8 . As with Chlorobium, the anionic form of the flavin semiquinone of Chromatium FC is stabilized above pH 6 . The unusually high redox potential of the flavin, a stabilized anion radical, and sulfite binding to the flavin in both Chlorobium and Chromatium FCs are characteristics shared by the flavoprotein oxidases . By analogy with glycolate oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase for which there are three-dimensional structures, the properties of the FCs are likely to be due to a positively charged amino acid side chain in the vicinity of the N1 nitrogen of the flavin. J Bacteriol, 1991 May, 173(9), 2852 - 63 Inhibition of cell division in hupA hupB mutant bacteria lacking HU protein; Dri AM et al.; Escherichia coli hupA hypB double mutants that lack HU protein have severe cellular defects in cell division, DNA folding, and DNA partitioning . Here we show that the sfiA11 mutation, which alters the SfiA cell division inhibitor, reduces filamentation and production of anucleate cells in AB1157 hupA hupB strains . However, lexA3(Ind-) and sfiB(ftsZ)114 mutations, which normally counteract the effect of the SfiA inhibitor, could not restore a normal morphology to hupA hupB mutant bacteria . The LexA repressor, which controls the expression of the sfiA gene, was present in hupA hupB mutant bacteria in concentrations half of those of the parent bacteria, but this decrease was independent of the specific cleavage of the LexA repressor by activated RecA protein . One possibility to account for the filamentous morphology of hupA hupB mutant bacteria is that the lack of HU protein alters the expression of specific genes, such as lexA and fts cell division genes. Jpn J Surg, 1991 May, 21(3), 284 - 91 The relationship between juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula and the presence of bacteria in the bile; Shinagawa N et al.; A total of 432 patients with gallstone disease were studied with respect to the existence of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula and their relationship to the presence of bacteria in the bile . A total of 63 patients were found to have diverticula with an incidence of 14.6 per cent, being significantly higher in the elderly group aged 60 years or older (p less than 0.01), and no sex difference was noted . Among the patients with diverticula, positive bacterial cultures of bile were recognized at a significantly higher frequency, being found in 49 of the 63 patients (77.8 per cent; p less than 0.01), and the probability of bilirubinate stones was also higher, being found in 35 of 37 patients (94.6 per cent; p less than 0.01) . The presence of a diverticulum bore significant relation to a higher positive bile bacterial culture (p less than 0.05), dilation of the common bile duct (p less than 0.05), and elevation of the bile duct pressure (p less than 0.05), even when the conditions were divided into cholecystolithiasis or choledocholithiasis . It was suggested that the presence of a diverticulum affected the flow in the bile duct by narrowing it from the outside and chronically stimulating the papilla, inducing biliary tract infection and/or the formation of gallstones . As the surgical procedures for juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula, including its indications, have not been established, long term follow up investigations seem necessary. Mutat Res, 1991 May, 248(1), 135 - 43 Mechanism of quinolone mutagenicity in bacteria; Gocke E; Gyrase inhibitors of the quinolone type are genotoxic in bacteria . A functioning excision-repair system is needed to show the mutagenic activity in the Ames tester strains . The antibiotics do not interact with DNA directly but induce the gyrase enzyme to cleave the DNA with protein covalently bound at the site-specific double-strand scission . A prominent site of action is shown to be located at a distance of about 80 bp from the hisG428 sequence at which mutations are scored in the responsive strain TA102 . Since the interaction of quinolones with the mammalian counterparts of gyrase, topoisomerase II, is lower by orders of magnitude, it is argued that the bacterial screening tests are of little relevance for predicting effects in mammalian cells. Cell Immunol, 1991 Apr 15, 134(1), 249 - 56 The interaction of macrophages and bacteria: a comparative study of the induction of tumoricidal activity and of reactive nitrogen intermediates; Keller R et al.; The abilities of various bacteria to induce in a pure population of bone marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes (BMM phi) tumoricidal activity and/or the generation of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) were comparatively assessed . Interaction of BMM phi with bacteria led to expression of these functional activities, indicating that the organisms were recognized as foreign . As the majority of bacteria elicited in BMM phi either tumoricidal activity (that is maintained for days) or the production of RNI, measured by the release of nitrite (that is short-lived), it appears that the two functions are under separate control . However, both functions are inhibited or even abrogated by arginase or the L-arginine analogue, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, suggesting that their expression is dependent on L-arginine. J Bacteriol, 1991 Apr, 173(8), 2600 - 7 Three short fragments of Rts1 DNA are responsible for the temperature-sensitive growth phenotype (Tsg) of host bacteria; Mochida S et al.; Rts1 is a multiphenotype drug resistance factor, and one of its phenotypes is temperature-sensitive growth (Tsg) of host bacteria . A 3.65-kb fragment from Rts1 DNA was shown to cause the Tsg phenotype in host cells . This tsg fragment was split by a restriction enzyme, HincII, into four fragments . Two of these fragments were called HincII-S (short) and HincII-L (long), respectively . Each of these two fragments conferred the Tsg phenotype, indicating that, in fact, these two independent regions were responsible for the Tsg phenotype . The HincII-S 783-bp and HincII-L 1,479-bp fragments were sequenced . The region in the HincII-S fragment to which the Tsg phenotype was attributed was narrowed to a 146-bp (nucleotides 1 to 146) fragment by various restriction enzyme digestions . Further digestion of the 146-bp fragment with Bal 31 suggested that the 116-bp (nucleotides 9 to 124) fragment is the minimum sequence required for Tsg . On the other hand, in the HincII-L fragment, a fragment of 249 bp (nucleotides 1210 to 1458) and a fragment of 321 bp (nucleotides 1942 to 2262) contained separate temperature-sensitive growth activity . None of three tsg fragments contained open reading frames . The 249-bp fragment had very weak Tsg activity, while the 321-bp fragment had no Tsg activity . On the other hand, when these two fragments were together in the pUC19 vector, they exhibited very strong Tsg activity equivalent to that of the original 1,479-bp fragment . In addition, two of the 249-bp fragments gave similar, strong Tsg activity . The HincII-L 1,479-bp fragment contained an open reading frame for kanamycin resistance which was found between nucleotides 1423 and 2238 . This kanamycin resistance gene sequence was different from that of the reported kanamycin resistance gene of Tn903 at 12 positions which were deduced to change seven amino acids. Ann Surg, 1991 Apr, 213(4), 315 - 26 The role of bacteria in pigment gallstone disease; Cetta F; One hundred ten of nine hundred sixty consecutive patients who underwent surgery for gallstones (GS) had pigment stones (PS) (11.45%) . Fifty brown PSs contained calcium bilirubinate, small amounts of cholesterol, and always calcium palmitate, were usually found in the common duct (96%), and were almost always associated with bile infection (98%) and diffuse erosion of the biliary mucosa . Fifty-one black PSs contained bilirubin polymers, calcium carbonate, and/or phosphate, seldom cholesterol, and never evident amounts of calcium palmitate, were mostly found in the gallbladder, and were associated with hemolysis or liver damage and with hyperplastic cholecystosis . Bile infection was found in 19.6% of cases, but bacteria were never found in the center of black PSs by scanning electron microscopy . Nine additional patients (8.2% of PSs, 0.9% of GSs) had concomitant black and brown PSs that were mostly found in the common duct and were always associated with bile infection . It is suggested that, even if PSs with concomitant black and brown material can be found, black and brown PSs greatly differ not only in pathogenesis but also in clinical behavior and treatment . In particular bacterial infection is important only in the pathogenesis of brown PSs while it plays no role in the initial formation of cholesterol, mixed or black GSs. Gastroenterology, 1991 Apr, 100(4), 884 - 91 Gastric injury and invasion of parietal cells by spiral bacteria in rhesus monkeys . Are gastritis and hyperchlorhydria infectious diseases? Dubois A, Tarnawski A, Newell DG, Fiala N, Dabros W, Stachura J, Krivan H, Heman-Ackah LM. The possibility of using the rhesus monkey as a model for studying gastric function in the presence of infection with spiral bacteria was studied . Endoscopic evaluation of the gastric mucosa was performed under general anesthesia in 29 colony-bred rhesus monkeys, and gastric pinch biopsy specimens were obtained from each animal . On a separate day, gastric emptying and acid output were determined using a 99mTc dilution technique . Biopsy samples were fixed for light microscopy (H&E, Gram, and Warthin-Starry stains) and for transmission electron microscopy . The presence of spiral bacteria and gastritis was assessed and rated on coded slides . In 8 of 29 monkeys, Helicobacter pylori-like organisms were observed in close proximity to the mucosal epithelial cells or in the lumen of the gastric pits . In 14 other monkeys, "Gastrospirillum hominis"-like organisms were observed in the mucus covering the surface of epithelial cells, in the lumina of the gastric glands, and overlying parietal cells . Gastritis was present in 8 of 8 animals positive for H . pylori-like organisms, in 2 of 14 animals positive for "G . hominis"-like organisms, and in none of the uninfected monkeys, and the mean gastritis index was significantly greater in animals positive for H . pylori-like organisms . Moreover, acid output was significantly higher in monkeys positive for "G . hominis"-like organisms than in controls or animals positive for H . pylori-like organisms . Gastric emptying was not significantly different in the three groups . In conclusion, (a) H . pylori-like, but not "G . hominis"-like, organisms cause gastritis while not modifying acid output; (b) "G . hominis"-like, but not H . pylori-like organisms, invade and on occasion damage parietal cells while apparently causing hyperchlorhydria; and (c) the rhesus monkey appears to be a good model for the study of gastric infection with spiral bacteria. Mol Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 5(4), 775 - 8 Calcium in bacteria: a solution to which problem? Norris V, Chen M, Goldberg M, Voskuil J, McGurk G, Holland IB. Calcium and calcium-binding proteins including those resembling calmodulin are implicated in numerous diverse processes in bacteria . These processes include chemotaxis, sporulation, virulence, the transport of sugars and proteins, phosphorylation, heat shock, the initiation of DNA replication, septation, nucleoid structure, nuclease activity and recombination, the stability of the envelope, and phospholipid synthesis and configuration . That such varied processes should have a common factor, calcium, suggests major underlying principles of calcium metabolism which have yet to be discovered. Protein Expr Purif, 1991 Apr-Jun, 2(2-3), 127 - 35 A strategy for obtaining active mammalian enzyme from a fusion protein expressed in bacteria using phospholipase A2 as a model; Tseng A et al.; An active preparation of human phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was made after expression as an insoluble fusion protein in Escherichia coli . The new key elements required for PLA2 isolation were the maintenance of the fusion protein in solution after the initial solubilization and the use of a tryptophan cleavage procedure for regeneration of native PLA2 from the fusion protein . The fusion protein was composed of a beta-galactosidase leader peptide incorporating six consecutive threonine residues to aid in insoluble inclusion body formation, followed by a tryptophan adjacent to the N-terminus of PLA2 . The fusion protein was purified from cell lysates, and the leader peptide was cleaved on the C-terminal side of the tryptophan residue with N-chlorosuccinimide . The released PLA2 was refolded and renatured to produce an enzyme with activity comparable to that of other phospholipases A2. J Microsc, 1991 Apr, 162 ( Pt 1), 147 - 54 Ultrastructural and electron spectroscopic analyses of cyanobacteria and bacteria; Golecki JR et al.; The extracellular sheath material and some intracellular cell components of cyanobacteria and phosphate-accumulating sewage bacteria were analysed by electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) . The specimens were embedded in water-soluble Nanoplast resin without any previous fixation and ultrathin sections were examined in a Zeiss CEM 902 microscope . A high sulphur content was detected in the inner sheath of the cyanobacterium Gloeothece . The elemental composition of some cell components and inclusion bodies, such as carboxysomes and cyanophycin, was determined by ESI and EELS . In addition, the phosphate content in specific granules of phosphate-accumulating sewage bacteria was estimated by EELS and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Biochem J, 1991 Mar 15, 274 ( Pt 3), 881 - 4 Dimeric carotenoid interaction in the light-harvesting antenna of purple phototrophic bacteria; Zurdo J et al.; The carotenoid content of intracytoplasmic membrane vesicles isolated from purple phototrophic bacteria was reduced to a variable extent by mild extraction with light petroleum . Using preparations obtained from Rhodobacter capsulatus strains that contained the Light Harvesting System I (LHI) complex as the only major photosynthetic holochrome, it was shown that the visible circular dichroism of the carotenoids increased with the square of the membrane carotenoid content, as expected from being caused by dimeric exciton interaction . No chirality resulting from twists of the individual planar chromophore was detected . Therefore the contribution to carotenoid optical activity of non-degenerate interactions with bacteriochlorophyll or the apoprotein does not appear to be significant . The broadening of the absorption band of the bound pigment, caused by the splitting of the monomer transition, was demonstrated in membrane vesicles of both Rb, capsulatus and Rhodospirillum rubrum as a decrease of the fine structure of the band . Furthermore, the dimeric organization of the carotenoid pigments in the bacterial LHI complex accounted for the observed quantitative relationship between the fine structure of the band and the carotenoid content of the membrane. FEBS Lett, 1991 Mar 11, 280(1), 47 - 52 Analysis of the protein products encoded by variant glucokinase transcripts via expression in bacteria; Quaade C et al.; Five variant transcripts of the single rat glucokinase gene have been described that are naturally expressed in islets of Langerhans, liver and anterior pituitary . Four of these were prepared as cDNA and expressed in bacteria in order to begin to address their physiological roles . Expression of constructs pGKB1 (normal islet/pituitary glucokinase) and pGKL1 (normal liver glucokinase) resulted in a glucose-dependent, glucokinase-like activity, 7-fold and 45-fold, respectively, above background . Expression of pGKB3 (variant islet/pituitary glucokinase) and pGKL2 (variant liver glucokinase) in contrast, did not result in any glucokinase-like activity. Ann Allergy, 1991 Mar, 66(3), 263 - 6 Double-blind study of suppression of indoor fungi and bacteria by the PuriDyne biogenic air purifier; Nelson HS et al.; The PuriDyne Air Purification System was studied in a double-blind trial for its ability to reduce the prevalence of bacteria and fungi in residential units . Twelve apartments were studied employing an Andersen Sampler for airborne fungi and Rodac plates for surface bacteria . Following determination of baseline levels, PuriDyne units with active filters were installed in six apartments, and units with inactive filters in six others . Sampling continued weekly for 1 month while the Air Purifiers were in place and at the end of 2 weeks following their removal . There was no statistically significant difference in airborne fungal or surface bacterial levels between baseline and treatment periods for apartments with either active or inactive units, nor were there significant differences between the two groups at any time. Vopr Virusol, 1991 Mar-Apr, 36(2), 122 - 5 {The expression of a fragment of the HIV-1 env gene in the cells of Escherichia coli bacteria}; Kazennova EV et al.; A recombinant plasmid pEK6 determining the synthesis of a hybrid protein the N-terminus of which was represented by full-size beta-galactosidase and C-terminus by HIV-1 gene env virus-specific sequence was constructed . The analysis of lysates of E . coli HB101/pEK6 bacteria in 6% PAAGE revealed additional proteins with molecular weights from 185 to 130 kDa . These proteins interacted with blood serum antibodies of a virus carrier but formed no specific bands with sera from normal donors . Densitometric analysis of polyacrylamide gels stained with Coomassi R250 demonstrated that the level of production of recombinant protein was at least 15% of the total cell protein . Hybrid polypeptides formed poorly soluble inclusion bodies in the bacterial cells . Study of the immunological properties of the recombinant polypeptides showed that immunization of rabbits with these proteins induced antibodies specifically reacting with viral polypeptides with molecular weights of about 82 and 140 kDa . Such features as a high level of synthesis, technologically feasible purification of inclusion bodies, and adequate antigenic properties recommend this preparation for use in the development of diagnostic test systems. Biokhimiia, 1991 Mar, 56(3), 406 - 19 {ATP-synthase of bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts . Properties of the F(0) membrane sector}; Ivashchenko AT et al.; An analysis of literary data concerning the physico-chemical properties of the hydrophobic fragment of bacterial, mitochondrial and chloroplast ATP-synthases has been carried out . The distribution patterns of enzyme subunits and of the whole enzyme complex are reviewed on the basis of amino acid analysis data taking account of physico-chemical characteristics of constituent amino acids . The roles of subunits, their invariant and other amino acids in the hydrophobic fragment function are discussed. Eur J Biochem, 1991 Feb 26, 196(1), 79 - 85 Structure of the human brain calcium-binding protein calretinin and its expression in bacteria; Parmentier M et al.; Calbindin D28k and calretinin are two closely related intracellular calcium-binding proteins belonging to the troponin C superfamily . Calbindin is known to be involved in the vitamin-D-dependent calcium absorption through intestinal and renal epithelia, while the function of neuronal calbindin and calretinin is poorly understood . Using antibodies directed against chick intestinal calbindin D28k, human calretinin cDNA clones were isolated from brain cDNA libraries . The sequence of the calretinin cDNA revealed an open reading frame of 271 codons coding for a protein of 31,520 Da, and sharing 58% identical residues with human calbindin D28k . Calretinin contains five presumably active and one presumably inactive calcium-binding domains . Comparison with the partial sequences available for chick and guinea pig calretinins revealed that the protein is highly conserved in evolution (evolutionary rate: 0.27 x 10(-9) amino acid-1 year-1) . The calretinin message was detected in the brain, while absent from heart muscle, kidney, liver, lung, spleen, stomach and thyroid gland . Recombinant calretinin was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the calcium-binding properties were confirmed on both the natural and the recombinant proteins . Part of the human gene coding for calretinin was isolated and the region corresponding to the promoter and the first exon was sequenced. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1991 Feb 15, 198(4), 644 - 6 Naproxen-associated duodenal ulcer complicated by perforation and bacteria- and barium sulfate-induced peritonitis in a dog; Gfeller RW et al.; Signs of abdominal pain and frequent vomiting developed in a 4-year-old dog that had been given naproxen sodium for 3 weeks . The examination included an upper gastrointestinal contrast study, using barium sulfate (BaSO4) . Nine hours after barium administration, a duodenal ulcer perforated, leaking duodenal contents and BaSO4 into the peritoneal cavity . The ulcer was surgically resected, and the BaSO4 was manually removed, using saline solution-soaked gauze sponges . Treatment included peritoneal drainage and lavage every 6 hours . Recovery was without complications and the dog has not had any detectable long-term effects from peritonitis induced by BaSO4. Epidemiol Infect, 1991 Feb, 106(1), 83 - 119 Waterborne transmission and the evolution of virulence among gastrointestinal bacteria; Ewald PW; Diarrhoeal diseases are primary contributors to millions of deaths annually . Yet, little is known about the evolutionary reasons for the differences in virulence among gastrointestinal pathogens . Applying the comparative, cost/benefit approach of evolutionary biology this paper proposes that waterborne transmission should favour evolution towards high virulence . This hypothesis is supported by a cross-specific test, which shows that waterborne transmission is strongly correlated with the virulence of bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens of humans . Alternative explanations of this correlation are not supported by available data . These findings bear on public health policy because they draw attention to a previously unrecognized long-range benefit gained from purification of water supplies; diarrhoeal pathogens may evolve to lower levels of virulence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1991 Feb 1, 88(3), 750 - 4 Signal transduction in bacteria: CheW forms a reversible complex with the protein kinase CheA; Gegner JA et al.; An essential step in the signal transduction pathway of Escherichia coli is the control of the protein kinase activity of CheA by the chemotaxis receptor proteins . This control requires the participation of the CheW protein . Although the biochemical nature of the coupling between the receptors and the kinase is unknown, it is likely that CheW interacts with the receptors and with CheA . In this communication, we report direct measurement of a physical interaction between CheW and CheA . We utilized the equilibrium column chromatography method of Hummel and Dreyer to show that CheW and CheA exhibit reversible binding with the stoichiometry of two CheW monomers per CheA dimer . CheW was found to exist as monomers and CheA was found to exist as dimers by equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation . The dissociation constant for the CheW-CheA interaction (in 160 mM KCl/5 mM MgCl2, pH 7.4 at 4 degrees C) was determined to be in the physiologically relevant range of 17 microM . No evidence for cooperativity in the association of CheW with CheA was found. Gut, 1991 Feb, 32(2), 137 - 40 Gastritis due to spiral shaped bacteria other than Helicobacter pylori: clinical, histological, and ultrastructural findings; Heilmann KL et al.; An intensive histological search for Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens has led to the detection of other spiral shaped bacteria in the human gastric mucosa . The clinical and morphological findings of 39 cases (0.25% of all gastric biopsies performed in the observation period) are reported for 34 patients (87.2%) complaining of upper abdominal discomfort . Five patients (12.8%) had chronic gastritis and 34 (87.2%) chronic active gastritis . The organisms were seen by light microscopy deep in the gastric foveolae and intracellularly . The scanning and transmission electron microscopic findings show bacteria which invade and damage gastric mucosal cells . These organisms are similar to the spiral shaped bacteria found in the stomachs of cats and dogs and non-human primates . In eight patients organisms were not detected after four weeks of treatment with bismuth salts . The disappearance of the organisms coincided with resolution of the chronic active gastritis and the symptoms. FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Feb, 3(1), 19 - 24 Characterisation of the urease from Helicobacter pylori and comparison with the ureases from related spiral gastric bacteria; Turbett GR et al.; The urease enzyme of Helicobacter pylori was partially purified from whole cell extracts and found to have a molecular weight of 484 +/- 12 kDa . Ten monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced against four different epitopes of the native enzyme . These mAbs also recognised the ureases of H . pylori-like organisms isolated from monkeys and pigs and the H . mustelae urease from ferrets . The urease enzymes of each of these organisms were found to be of the same molecular weight . The urease enzyme of H . pylori consisted of two subunits of 68.2 and 31.3 kDa. Mol Carcinog, 1991, 4(3), 180 - 8 Mutational specificities of environmental carcinogens in the lacl gene of Escherichia coli H . V: DNA sequence analysis of mutations in bacteria recovered from the liver of Swiss mice exposed to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, azoxymethane, and methylazoxymethanolacetate; Zeilmaker MJ et al.; The host-mediated assay (HMA) was used to determine the spectra of mutations induced in the lacl gene of Escherichia coli cells recovered from the livers of Swiss mice exposed to the carcinogens 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (SDMH), azoxymethane (AOM), and methylazoxymethanolacetate (MAMA) . These spectra were further compared with changes induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) in the HMA methodology . A total of 177 independent lacl mutations arising in the HMA following exposure to SDMH, AOM, and MAMA were analyzed . Single-base substitutions accounted for 97% of all mutations analyzed . The vast majority of the single-base substitutions consisted of G:C----A:T transitions (94% of all mutations) . The remaining mutations consisted of A:T----G:C transitions (3% of all mutations) while non-base substitutions accounted for only 3% of the total mutagenesis . The latter mutations consisted of one frameshift mutation and four lacO deletions . The distribution of G:C----A:T transitions induced by the three chemicals in the first 200 bp of the lacl gene was not random, but rather clustered at sites where a target guanine was flanked at the 5' site by a purine residue. Cancer Detect Prev, 1991, 15(2), 107 - 13 Expression in bacteria of a polypeptide encoded by a transforming fragment of herpes simplex virus type 2; Danik M et al.; We have constructed a plasmid (pMD2) containing the 38,000 MW polypeptide (38K polypeptide) gene from the transforming Bg1II-N fragment of HSV-2 fused to the amino-terminal portion of the beta-galactosidase gene in plasmid pUC8 . Nucleotide sequence determination around the fusion-junction confirmed that the viral gene sequences starting at its second codon is in the correct reading frame in relation to the translation initiation codon of beta-galactosidase . The lac control sequences direct the synthesis of a 39K protein . This protein was shown to be structurally related to the 38K protein from HSV-2-infected cells by partial proteolytic cleavage analysis . Furthermore, antiserum directed against HSV-2-infected cells, as well as a monoclonal antibody against the 38K viral polypeptide and antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the nine C-terminal amino acid residues of the 38K viral protein, detected the fusion protein in bacteria containing the recombinant plasmid pMD2 but not in Escherichia coli containing a related plasmid or no plasmid. J Laryngol Otol, 1991 Jan, 105(1), 29 - 32 Attachment of bacteria to tonsillar epithelium during acute tonsillitis; Stenfors LE et al.; Epithelial cells were scraped from the tonsillar surfaces of 15 patients with current acute tonsillitis (AT) and of 15 individually matched healthy persons . The cellular mixture was stained with acridine orange and bacteria seen to be attached to the epithelial cells under the fluorescent microscope were calculated . Conventional bacterial culturing was also performed simultaneously . Significantly more bacteria were attached to epithelial cells from the AT group than from the controls (greater than 10 attached bacteria per cell p = 0.0103, greater than 50 attached bacteria per cell p = 0.0212) . In vivo determination of bacteria attached to epithelial cells offers prospects of gaining a better understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of acute tonsillitis. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Jan, 29(1), 38 - 41 Evaluation of API Coryne in comparison with conventional methods for identifying coryneform bacteria; Freney J et al.; A study was performed to evaluate a new manual miniaturized system, API Coryne (API-bioMerieux, Inc., La Balme les Grottes, France), in which conventional biochemical methods were used to identify 240 isolates of coryneform and related bacteria . A total of 40% of the isolates were excluded from the study because they could not be identified by conventional methods . Identifications of the 240 isolates obtained with API Coryne showed a 97.6% concordance with conventional methods (79% after 24 h of incubation, 21% after 48 h of incubation): 158 (65.8%) isolates were identified with no further testing, and extra testing was required for 76 (31.8%) isolates . In three (1.2%) cases, the organisms did not correspond to any key in the code book and could not be identified by the computer service of the manufacturer . Only three (1.2%) strains were misidentified . The system was shown to be reliable and rapid when compared with standard identification methods. J Surg Res, 1991 Jan, 50(1), 47 - 50 Effect of bFGF on the inhibition of contraction caused by bacteria; Stenberg BD et al.; Bacterial contamination of open wounds significantly inhibits wound contraction required in the healing process . Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to overcome contraction inhibition in wound-healing models impaired by diabetes or steroids . This study was designed to determine the effect of bFGF on wound contraction inhibition in an area contaminated with bacterial overgrowth . The topically applied bFGF reversed inhibition to wound contraction that normally occurs with bacterial contamination . This reversal does not appear to be due to increased collagen synthesis since bFGF has been shown to decrease collagen synthesis and the treated wounds showed no increase in breaking strength . The use of bFGF significantly decreased the number of days required for wound healing (P less than 0.01) despite active bacterial invasion and may be of value in the treatment of human contaminated wounds. Acta Otolaryngol, 1991, 111(4), 750 - 5 Cellular events in relation to bacteria-specific antibodies in middle ear effusion during acute otitis media; Karjalainen H; The proportions of neutrophils and lymphocytes, the total number of viable lymphocytes and their spontaneous proliferating activity as well as the proportion of B-cells were determined in 238 middle ear effusion (MEE) samples from 124 ears and in 40 serum samples of 85 children in relation to the presence of bacteria-specific antibodies in MEE and the clinical outcome of acute otitis media (AOM) during the course of AOM . The percentage of lymphocytes was higher, and that of the neutrophils lower, in the ears with bacteria-specific antibodies than in the ears with no antibodies . The higher proportion of MEE lymphocytes and the presence of antibodies correlated to the faster resolution of AOM . Moreover, the total number of viable lymphocytes and the proliferating activity of these cells were related to the presence of specific antibodies in MEE . The findings of this study underline the importance of local mucosal immunity taking place in the middle ear in connection with bacteria-specific antibodies in resting AOM. Arch Surg, 1991 Jan, 126(1), 50 - 5 Pathophysiologic glucocorticoid levels and survival of translocating bacteria; Jones WG 2nd et al.; Burn wound sepsis in rats results in sustained corticosterone elevations and the prolonged presence of translocated bacteria in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) . To determine if survival of bacteria in the MLNs may be influenced by pathophysiologic corticosterone levels, MLNs were quantitatively analyzed from rats randomized to the following groups: burn wound sepsis (BI); BI with adrenocortical response attenuated by cyclosporine (cyclosporine/BI); or cyclosporine/BI with corticosterone replacement (cyclosporine/BI + P) . Although rates of bacterial translocation were similar, corticosterone levels were significantly different among the three groups and correlated with the number of lymphocytes and the number of enteric bacteria present per gram of MLN . Thus, pathophysiologic elevations of corticosterone levels during sepsis may exert an effect that allows survival of translocated bacteria in the MLNs of rats, perhaps due to glucocorticoid-associated alterations in regional immunity. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 1991, 42(4), 407 - 13 {The role of some groups of psychrophilic bacteria in the process of fish spoilage}; Peconek J; On the basis of the literature survey, the present state of knowledge of the part played by psychrophilic bacteria in the fish spoilage process was described . Furthermore, the role of psychrophilic bacteria in the formation of histamine was discussed. Braz J Med Biol Res, 1991, 24(7), 649 - 75 The nifHDK operon in the free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azospirillum brasilense sequentially comprises genes H, D, K, an 353 bp orf and gene Y; Passaglia LM et al.; 1 . The complete nucleotide sequence of the nitrogenase structural genes from Azospirillum brasilense was determined . Two additional open reading frames of 353 and 683 base pairs were detected downstream of the nifK gene, one of which shows homology to the nifY gene . 2 . Structures resembling the consensus nif promoter and NifA-binding motif were found only upstream from the nifH region and an inverted repeat structure located downstream of the nifY gene may be a potential stem-and-loop transcriptional terminator . 3 . The nif structural genes of Azospirillum brasilense are transcribed as a single transcription unit and organized as nifHDKorf1Y . NifH, NifD and NifK polypeptides share significant sequence identities when compared to nif structural gene products from other organisms . 4 . The three polypeptides are characterized by the presence of highly conserved cysteine residues which may play a role in binding the iron-sulfur cluster. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol, 1991, 18(4), 285 - 300 Bacteria-induced protein P4 (hemolin) from Manduca sexta: a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily which can inhibit hemocyte aggregation; Ladendorff NE et al.; The synthesis of a number of hemolymph proteins is induced in insects in response to bacterial infections . The major induced hemolymph protein in larvae of Manduca sexta is a glycoprotein of Mr = 48,000 known as P4 . We have isolated a clone for P4 from a fat body cDNA library constructed from RNA isolated from larvae injected with bacteria . The cDNA has an open reading frame encoding a 411 residue polypeptide with a hydrophobic NH2-terminal sequence, which appears to be a signal peptide . Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence shows that P4 is a member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) gene superfamily, and is composed largely of four C2 type Ig domains . The M . sexta P4 amino acid sequence is 60% identical with hemolin (P4) from Hyalophora cecropia . The name "hemolin" has also been adopted for the M . sexta P4 protein . Hemolin mRNA levels in fat body begin to increase within 1 h after injection of bacteria into fifth instar larvae and within 4 h after injection of adults . Hemolin associates with the surface of hemocytes and inhibits hemocyte aggregation responses, suggesting a role for the protein in modulating hemocyte adhesion during recognition and response to bacterial infections in insects. Farmakol Toksikol, 1991 Jan-Feb, 54(1), 40 - 3 {The toxic and immunomodulating properties of the somatic O-antigen polysaccharide of typhoid bacteria}; Duplishcheva AP et al.; In experiments on random bred mice and mice of various strains it was shown that when administered parenterally typhoid bacteria O-somatic antigen polysaccharide possesses the immunomodulatory properties . It stimulates the non-specific resistance of the organism to bacterial infection, produces the polyclonal activation of beta-lymphocytes, possesses the adjuvant properties, activates cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system . At administration in therapeutic doses the drug is not toxic, possesses no carcinogenic, mutagenic and allergenic properties. Vopr Virusol, 1991 Jan-Feb, 36(1), 17 - 8 {The expression of a fragment of the HIV-1 Nef gene in Escherichia coli bacteria}; Garaev MM et al.; The presence of antibodies to p27, the product of gene Nef, may be an important diagnostic sign since some sera from subjects of the risk groups negative to HIV-1 structural proteins may contain antibody to p27 . The study resulted in construction of a hybrid plasmid determining in E coli bacteria the synthesis of a hybrid protein the N-terminus part of which is represented by full-size beta-galactosidase and the C-terminus by a part of protein p27 with the main immunoreactive epitopes . The resulting polypeptide specifically interacts with sera of the infected subjects and may be used for detection of antibodies to the protein Nef in the blood of virus-carriers. Trends Biochem Sci, 1991 Jan, 16(1), 18 - 21 Retroelements in bacteria; Inouye M et al.; A peculiar type of satellite DNA, called msDNA, has been discovered in myxobacteria and some natural isolates of E . coli . These molecules are characterized by the presence of single-stranded DNA branching out from an internal guanosine residue of an RNA molecule by a unique 2',5'-phosphodiester linkage . Reverse transcriptase is required for the synthesis of msDNA . The discovery of retroelements in bacterial populations raises many intriguing questions concerning the evolutionary origin of reverse transcriptase, the function and the biosynthesis of msDNA, and the nature of the mechanisms generating the extensive diversity found in msDNA and reverse transcriptase genes among different bacterial strains. Urol Res, 1991, 19(4), 229 - 33 Role of superoxide in renal scarring following infection by mannose-sensitive piliated bacteria; Matsumoto T et al.; The role of superoxide in scar formation following renal infection caused by mannose-sensitive (MS) piliated strains of bacteria was studied in the experimental pyelonephritis model using female Sprague-Dawley rats . The MS piliated strain stimulated renal scarring to a significantly greater extent than either the non-piliated or MR-piliated strain . Modulation of leukocytes by administering cyclophosphamide to induce neutropenia and colchicine to inhibit leukocyte migration was effective in preventing renal scarring . Treatment with superoxide dismutase during the early stage of infection was also effective in preventing scar formation . Finally, the production of superoxide by rat leukocytes was significantly larger following stimulation by MS piliated than either the non-piliated or MR piliated strains . These observations suggest that superoxide released from leukocytes plays a critical role in the development of renal scarring following a bacterial infection, especially by MS piliated strains. Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1991 Jan-Mar, 33(1), 71 - 6 {Chromates: resistance and detoxification in bacteria}; Cervantes C et al.; Derivatives of hexavalent chromium (chromates and dichromates) are highly toxic and have been shown to be mutagens and carcinogens . These compounds are often disposed to the environment as a result of diverse industrial procedures . The presence of chromates selects bacterial strains possessing chromate resistance determinants, commonly carried by plasmids . Some bacteria are able to reduce hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium which is much less toxic . Bacterial strains combining both properties, resistance to and reduction of chromate, are potentially useful for decontamination of sewage or other refuse contaminated by chromates. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants, 1991 Fall, 6(3), 313 - 8 Subgingival bacteria associated with hydroxylapatite-coated dental implants: morphotypes and trypsin-like enzyme activity; Palmisano DA et al.; This study investigated the colonization of teeth and hydroxylapatite-coated dental implants by different groups of oral bacteria . Periodontal and gingival health were assessed and subgingival plaque samples were taken . Bacterial morphotypes in subgingival plaque samples were enumerated and expressed as percent of bacteria counted, and presence of trypsin-like enzymes was detected by hydrolysis of benzoyl-arginine naphthylamide (BANA) . For both pooled and separate implant and teeth data, positive correlations were found between pocket depth and both BANA hydrolysis and percent spirochetes, and a negative correlation was found between pocket depth and percent cocci . With one exception, analysis of variance revealed no significant differences between implants and teeth for presence of bacterial morphotypes when considering both periodontal and gingival health. Life Sci, 1991, 49(15), 1079 - 86 Gamma-aminobutyric acid-modulated benzodiazepine binding sites in bacteria; Lummis SC et al.; Benzodiazepine binding sites, which were once considered to exist only in higher vertebrates, are here demonstrated in the bacteria E.coli . The bacterial {3H}diazepam binding sites are modulated by GABA; the modulation is dose dependent and is reduced at high concentrations . The most potent competitors of E.Coli {3H}diazepam binding are those that are active in displacing {3H}benzodiazepines from vertebrate peripheral benzodiazepine binding sites . These vertebrate sites are not modulated by GABA, in contrast to vertebrate neuronal benzodiazepine binding sites . The E.coli benzodiazepine binding sites therefore differ from both classes of vertebrate benzodiazepine binding sites; however the ligand spectrum and GABA-modulatory properties of the E.coli sites are similar to those found in insects . This intermediate type of receptor in lower species suggests a precursor for at least one class of vertebrate benzodiazepine binding sites may have existed. Biofizika, 1991 Jan-Feb, 36(1), 91 - 6 {Analysis of the binding site of copper with intact and Escherichia coli bacteria modified by N-ethylmaleimide by ESR}; Lebedev VS et al.; Characteristics of copper binding sites in the bacteria E . coli were studied using ESR spectroscopy . It was found that these cations had high local density on the strong binding range represented by the two type sites . The former include nitrogen and oxygen ligands and the second ones--sulfur of the thiol biomolecules . The weak coupling Cu(II) sites of E . coli represent more polar nitrogen-oxygen environment . Blocking SH-groups by N-ethylmaleimide makes them inaccessible for copper ligation, sharply increases the percentage of ESR-detectable copper of the strong-binding sites and prevents the membrane breakdown by these cations . The results suggest that the Cu(2+)-induced membrane damage is the effect of Cu2+ binding with the SH-containing sites of the bacterial membrane. Eur J Biochem, 1990 Dec 27, 194(3), 779 - 84 Large-scale preparation of T4 endonuclease VII from over-expressing bacteria; Kosak HG et al.; Endonuclease VII is the product of gene 49 of phage T4 and was the first enzyme shown to resolve Holliday structures in vitro {Mizuuchi, K . et al . (1982) Cell 29, 357-365} . Low amounts of the enzyme were originally purified from phage-infected cells {Kemper, B . & Garabett, M . (1981) Eur . J . Biochem . 115, 123-131} . We now report a purification procedure for milligram amounts of cloned endonuclease VII expressed in Escherichia coli with gene 49 under the control of a temperature-inducible promoter on a plasmid system {Tomaschewski, J . (1988) PhD Thesis, University of Bochum, FRG} . The protein was purified 500-fold from crude extracts in five steps with a recovery of 15% . The steps include (a) poly(ethyleneglycol)/dextran two-phase separation; (b) DEAE-cellulose; (c) single-stranded DNA-agarose; (d) Mono-Q and (e) Mono-S chromatography . The final protein was more than 98% pure as estimated from SDS/PAGE analysis . The protein has an apparent molecular mass of 17.8 kDa on SDS-containing polyacrylamide gels and 36 kDa when determined by gel filtration or sedimentation through sucrose gradients in the presence of high salt (600 mM NaCl) . In the absence of additional salt, the enzyme has a tendency to aggregate and products of molecular masses differing in steps of about 18 kDa appear on SDS-containing polyacrylamide gels. Virology, 1990 Dec, 179(2), 857 - 61 Complete nucleotide sequence of the matrix gene of human parainfluenza type 2 virus and expression of the M protein in bacteria; Kawano M et al.; The sequence of the M gene of human parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2) has been determined . The sequence contained a large open reading frame with 1131 nucleotides encoding a protein with a calculated molecular weight of 42,312 . Comparison of M protein sequence indicated that PIV-2 was more closely related to mumps virus and Newcastle disease virus than to other parainfluenza viruses, Sendai virus (SV), and parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3), indicating a possible subdividing of the Paramyxovirus into two groups . This grouping is consistent with that obtained from analysis of the HN gene . Measles virus and canine distemper virus definitely belong to the subgroup composed of SV and PIV-3 . No homology region was found in all the paramyxoviruses compared . However, a tertiary structure may be conserved in each subgroup of paramyxovirus . The M protein of PIV-2 was expressed in bacteria, and the product was recognized by a monoclonal antibody specific for the PIV-2 M protein . The bacterial-expressed protein, however, was heterogeneous and smaller in size. Kitasato Arch Exp Med, 1990 Dec, 63(4), 25 - 31 Studies on the use of monoclonal antibodies in the investigation of blood stains contaminated by bacteria; Nagai T et al.; On the basis of some models (bacteria and animal blood groups), it was demonstrated that monoclonal antibody-preparations obviously possess a much higher specificity against the ABO-properties of human than the usual human antisera or lectins . The behaviour of polyclonal and monoclonal reagents for ABO-determination should now be tested in comparative studies using contaminated blood stain material . The results presented in this paper suggest advantages in using monoclonal antibodies. FEMS Microbiol Rev, 1990 Dec, 7(3-4), 437 - 43 Recent studies on the molecular biology and biochemistry of CO2 fixation in phototrophic bacteria; Tabita FR et al.; Rhodobacter sphaeroides was found to contain two clusters of chromosomally encoded CO2 fixation structural genes . Recent studies indicate that genes within each cluster are cotranscribed, suggesting that there is a single long transcript for each cluster . All of the genes have been sequenced, homologies noted, specific mutations obtained, and interesting upstream regulatory sequences found . Site-directed mutagenesis studies of the Anacystis rbcS has begun to provide information relative to RubisCO structure and function . In addition, RubisCO-negative strains of photosynthetic bacteria have been constructed to screen for altered RubisCO sequences. Carcinogenesis, 1990 Dec, 11(12), 2267 - 9 Differential activity of human, rat, mouse and bacteria glutathione transferase isoenzymes towards 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide; Aceto A et al.; The conjugation capacity of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) with GSH by a number of human, rat, mouse and bacteria glutathione transferases (GSTs) was investigated . Pi and mu classes GSTs exhibited maximum conjugation capacity . Alpha class glutathione transferases as well as bacteria glutathione transferases were found to be unable to conjugate GSH to 4-NQO . The Km values as well as the catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km) for most of the GSTs investigated were also determined . Mouse liver GST MIII (class mu) was the most efficient of the various isoenzymes tested . Its Kcat/Km value was 162 times higher than that of mouse liver GST MI (class alpha) . The relatively high catalytic efficiency exhibited by GST-alpha (class pi) is prevalently due to its low affinity for 4-NQO. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1990 Dec, 274(3), 350 - 8 Lectins: mediators of adhesion for bacteria in infectious diseases and for tumor cells in metastasis; Beuth J et al.; Adhesion of bacteria and adhesion of tumor cells have much in common, especially the participation of lectins in this process . In the future it might be possible to inhibit the metastatic process into the liver (e.g . during surgical operations of malignant tumors) and bacterial adherence to mucosal linings or plastic devices by blocking of adhesion molecules (lectins) with appropriate glycoconjugates . Initial clinical trials are very promising. Virology, 1990 Dec, 179(2), 896 - 900 Expression of enzymatically active reverse transcriptase of simian immunodeficiency virus in bacteria: sensitivity to nucleotide analogue inhibitors; Prasad VR et al.; A fragment of the SIVmac251 pol gene was expressed in Escherichia coli as a trpE fusion protein . Analysis of extracts from bacteria containing this expression plasmid revealed the presence of a reverse transcriptase activity dependent on Mg2+ as divalent cation and active on both poly(rA).oligo(dT) and poly(rC.oligo(dG) templates . In comparative studies, the SIV and HIV-1 reverse transcriptases expressed in bacteria displayed very similar high sensitivities to the chain terminator inhibitors AZTTP and ddTTP . The reverse transcriptase of Moloney murine leukemia virus and the DNA polymerase of E . coli were both more resistant to ddTTP, and the E . coli enzyme was significantly more resistant to AZTTP. Trends Biotechnol, 1990 Dec, 8(12), 354 - 8 Chaperonin assisted polypeptide folding and assembly: implications for the production of functional proteins in bacteria; Gatenby AA et al.; Production of biologically active foreign proteins with correct three-dimensional structures is often difficult in bacteria . Recent advances demonstrate that, for some proteins at least, their correct folding and assembly is facilitated by a class of proteins known as molecular chaperones . An understanding of the function of molecular chaperones may assist in the synthesis in bacteria of functional foreign proteins produced by recombinant techniques. Cell, 1990 Nov 2, 63(3), 631 - 42 Histone-like protein H1 (H-NS), DNA supercoiling, and gene expression in bacteria; Hulton CS et al.; Changes in DNA supercoiling in response to environmental signals such as osmolarity, temperature, or anaerobicity appear to play an underlying role in the regulation of gene expression in bacteria . Extensive genetic analyses have implicated the osmZ gene in this regulatory process: osmZ mutations are highly pleiotropic and alter the topology of cellular DNA . We have shown that the product of the osmZ gene is the "histone-like" protein H1 (H-NS) . Protein H1 is one of the most abundant components of bacterial chromatin and binds to DNA in a relatively nonspecific fashion . These data imply a regulatory role for one of the major components of bacterial chromatin and provide support for the notion that changes in DNA topology and/or chromatin structure play a role in regulating gene expression. Gac Med Mex, 1990 Nov-Dec, 126(6), 509 - 12 {Quantification of bacteria in the small intestine of malnourished children with chickenpox}; Vega-Franco L et al.; The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a high number of bacteria could be demonstrated in the upper small bowel during the chickenpox infection . Intestinal juice was drawn in nine malnourished children, during and two weeks after the acute period of the disease . The results of the study fail to demonstrate quantitative differences in the bacterial flora of the small bowel in both periods . Besides that, the bacterial overgrowth previously reported in malnutrition, is confirmed. Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi, 1990 Nov, 28(11), 655 - 7, 702 {Analysis of results of 1847 cultures of bacteria pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass}; Cheng WS; From Apr . 1984 to Jan . 1990, 1847 samples were taken in the operating room pre-and post-CPB-operatively and were cultured for observation of bacteria . The results showed that the sterilizing method for the articles used in the operating room was reliable . The positive culture rate of blood remnant from CPB machine was 18.4% . The authors believe that the increase of blood contamination rate during the operation may be related with the following factors: (1) The inevitably increased number of bacteria in the air of the operating room during CPB operation, (2) prolonged CPB time (greater than 80 min); (3) wet and warm weather. J Endod, 1990 Nov, 16(11), 534 - 8 Localization and identification of root canal bacteria in clinically asymptomatic periapical pathosis; Fukushima H et al.; Twenty-one teeth with clinically asymptomatic periapical pathosis (class 3) were extracted and the isolation, identification, and localization of bacteria in the root apex were examined . Mixtures involving several bacteria were isolated from more than 60% of the cases . Scanning electron microscopy revealed bacterial masses to be associated with the apical part of the root canal, but not with the area of apical foramen or on the surface of root apex . Our results indicate that the bacteria in class 3 cases may be derived from organisms which colonized before or during endodontic treatment, but not from anachoresis . The bacteria-positive cases of asymptomatic periapical pathosis have the potential to progress to symptomatic periapical pathosis. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi, 1990 Nov, 12(6), 401 - 3 {Effect of human semen and vaginal bacteria culture fluid on induction of cervical cancer in mice}; Sun Y; The effect of human semen and culture fluid of bacteria (SB) isolated from the cervix of carcinoma patients on the induction of cervical carcinoma by 20-methylcholanthrene (MCA) in mice was studied . It was found that cervical carcinoma could be induced by SB with an induction rate of 12% . That by MCA alone was 11.8% whereas the SB positive for inducing EB virus EA in Raji cells used in combination with MCA gave an induction rate of 54.2% . The experimental results indicated that SB was both carcinogenic and tumor promoting . The possible mechanism of action of SB is discussed. FEBS Lett, 1990 Oct 15, 272(1-2), 34 - 6 The specific incorporation of labelled aromatic amino acids into proteins through growth of bacteria in the presence of glyphosate . Application to fluorotryptophan labelling to the H(+)-ATPase of Escherichia coli and NMR studies; Kim HW et al.; Growth of Escherichia coli in the presence of glyphosate, an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, has permitted the production of proton translocating ATPase that is specifically labelled with 5-fluorotryptophan . Five sets of 19F nuclear magnetic resonances are resolved . The use of glyphosate should be of wide applicability in the preparation of proteins labelled in aromatic amino acid residues for NMR studies. J Dairy Sci, 1990 Oct, 73(10), 2996 - 3012 Strategies of nutrient transport by ruminal bacteria; Russell JB et al.; The survival of