FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1992 Oct, 5(4), 171 - 80 Induction of various cytokines in mice and activation of the complement system in rats as a part of the mechanism of action of the Corynebacterium granulosum-derived P40 immunomodulator; Bizzini B et al.; The capacity of the Corynebacterium granulosum-derived P40 immunomodulator to induce in mice the formation of various cytokines IFN, IL-1, IL-2, alpha-TNF as well as to activate the complement system in rats was investigated . The results showed that P40 injected by the intravenous route was capable of inducing the formation of all four cytokines . High levels of IFN were measured 2 h after P40 stimulation and were still present at 24 h . The kinetic study of IL-1, IL-2 and alpha-TNF induction showed that it was a biphasic phenomenon . The patterns of IL-1 and alpha-TNF induction were quite comparable, whereas the release of IL-2 was delayed with respect to that of IL-1 and alpha-TNF . Oral administration of P40 to rats strongly activated the alternative pathway of the complement system . It was concluded that most of the non-specific effects of P40 on the immune system are likely to be mediated by its capacity to induce cytokine formation and to activate the complement system. J Leukoc Biol, 1992 Oct, 52(4), 390 - 4 Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis during endotoxemia promotes intrahepatic thrombosis and an oxygen radical-mediated hepatic injury; Harbrecht BG et al.; Corynebacterium parvum-treated mice produce large amounts of circulating nitrogen oxides and develop a severe liver injury in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Concurrent administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine not only suppresses nitric oxide synthesis in these animals but also profoundly increases the hepatic damage following LPS . In this report, we present evidence that the increased hepatic damage from inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis is mediated in part by superoxide and hydroxyl radicals . The hepatic damage induced by suppressing nitric oxide production during endotoxemia could be reduced by treating mice with superoxide dismutase and deferoxamine, scavengers of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, respectively . This damage could also be prevented by treating mice with the anticoagulant heparin sodium . The results suggest that nitric oxide synthesis during endotoxemia is important in preventing hepatic damage by reducing oxygen radical-mediated hepatic injury and preventing intravascular thrombosis. Gene, 1992 Sep 21, 119(1), 119 - 21 Production of an enzymatically inactive analog of phospholipase D from Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis; Haynes JA et al.; The gene pld, encoding the phospholipase D (PLD) of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, was mutagenized using formic acid and then expressed in Escherichia coli . Mutagenesis was targeted at the coding region of pld, so as to produce only one or a limited number of point mutations . Transformants were screened for the enzymatic and immunological properties of their PLD products . One clone was found to produce a protein which was enzymatically inactive, but which was comparable to the wild-type PLD in size and antigenicity . The sequence of the pld mutant revealed a single base change . As a consequence, the codon for His20 was converted to Tyr . These results suggest that His20 forms part of the active site of the PLD molecule . If this protein is immunogenic in sheep, it would form the basis of a genetically inactivated vaccine. Mol Biother, 1992 Sep, 4(3), 147 - 50 Application of Corynebacterium cutis lysate as an immune stimulant in cattle; Shalaby MA et al.; An ultrasonicated lysate of Corynebacterium cutis (Ultracorn, Virbac, France) was administered to 10-day-old calves, 5-month-old calves, and pregnant dams kept under Egyptian environmental conditions . Ninety-five calves and 50 dams were used in the study . All animals were treated with 2 ml/100 kg body weight of killed C cutis . Its effects on body weight gain and on calf mortality and morbidity were recorded . The results obtained showed that treated calves had greater weight gains, reduced susceptibility to common viral pathogens, and lower mortality . When given simultaneously with rinderpest vaccine, an immunopotentiating or adjuvant effect was seen . Thus, treated calves had higher neutralizing antibody titers to rinderpest as compared with untreated calves . When administered to pregnant cows in the last month of pregnancy, the offspring of these animals had higher birth weight, better weight gain, and reduced morbidity. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 1992 Sep, 47(1), 51 - 7 Effect of a newly synthesized leukotriene antagonist, (E)-2,2-diethyl-3'-2-2-(4-isopropyl) thiazolyl ethenyl succinanilic acid (MCI-826), on immunological liver injury and nephritis in mice; Nagai H et al.; The effect of a newly synthesized leukotriene antagonist, (E)-2,2-diethyl-3'-2-2-(4-isopropyl) thiazolyl ethenyl succinanilic acid (MCI-826), on liver injury and nephritis in mice was studied . In order to confirm the anti-leukotriene activity of MCI-826, the effect of MCI-826 on leukotriene C4(LTC4)- and leukotriene D4(LTD4)-induced vasculitis, liver and kidney injury was studied . MCI-826 was found to clearly inhibit LTC4- and LTD4-induced vasculitis, as well as liver and kidney injury . In addition to LT-induced reactions, MCI-826 inhibited liver injury induced by injection of either an anti-basic liver protein antibody into DBA/2 mice that had been previously immunized with rabbit IgG or of a bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into Corynebacterium parvum pretreated DDY mice . Moreover, MCI-826 inhibited nephritis, caused by injecting antiglomerular basement membrane antibody into C57BL/6 mice . These results suggest that MCI-826 can be applied to the treatment of certain tissue inflammatory diseases. J Laryngol Otol, 1992 Sep, 106(9), 824 - 6 Nasopharyngeal Corynebacterium ulcerans: a different diphtheria; de Carpentier JP et al.; A case of toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans infection is presented . The diagnosis was delayed and no anti-toxin administered . A nasopharyngeal biopsy was complicated by severe haemorrhage necessitating a post nasal pack . A brief review of the pathology and treatment of Corynebacterium ulcerans is given. Neurosurgery, 1992 Sep, 31(3), 528 - 33 Successful treatment of a malignant rat glioma with cytotoxic T lymphocytes; Holladay FP et al.; Brain tumors are highly resistant to therapy . Their diffuse infiltrative nature and the relative inaccessibility of brain tissue to blood and lymph are barriers to surgical and cytotoxic treatments alike . The purpose of this study was to produce immune cells specifically reactive with an anaplastic rat glioma (RT2) and determine whether those cells could affect tumor progression in the brain . RT2-specific cytotoxic cells were prepared by priming rats in vivo with RT2 tumor cells and Corynebacterium parvum and stimulating the primed lymphocytes in vitro with irradiated RT2 tumor cells and interleukin-2 (IL-2) . Cultured cells exhibited a high level of cytotoxicity against RT2, but not C6 (an allogeneic glioma), 3M2N (a syngeneic mammary tumor), or CSE (a syngeneic fibrosarcoma) tumor cells . To generate a model for therapy, rats were injected intracerebrally with RT2, generating progressing brain tumors, which killed untreated rats in approximately 2 weeks . To test the therapeutic potential of the effector cells, tumor-bearing rats were treated by intravenous injection of lymphocytes on Day 5 of tumor growth . Treated rats also received a 5-day course of systemic IL-2 beginning on Day 5 . Treatment with IL-2 alone, RT2-primed spleen cells, or RT2-primed spleen cells stimulated in vitro with C6 did not affect rat survival . However, tumor-bearing rats treated with RT2-stimulated lymphocytes exhibited increased survival or were cured . Systemic IL-2 was an essential adjunct, because survival was not affected by treatment with effector cells alone . Therapy initiated on Day 8 of tumor progression lacked effect on survival.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Bacteriol, 1992 Aug, 174(16), 5462 - 5 Expression of the Bacillus subtilis sacB gene leads to sucrose sensitivity in the gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum but not in Streptomyces lividans; Jager W et al.; The expression of the structural gene (sacB) encoding Bacillus subtilis levansucrase in two gram-positive soil bacteria, Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 and Streptomyces lividans 1326, was investigated . sacB expression in the presence of sucrose is lethal to C . glutamicum but not to S . lividans . While S . lividans secretes levansucrase into the medium, we could show that the enzyme is retained by C . glutamicum cells . Our results imply that the sacB gene can be used as a positive selection system in coryneform bacteria. Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1992 Aug, 64(2), 161 - 5 Immunologically mediated fatigue: a murine model; Chao CC et al.; Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an idiopathic disorder in which the chief symptoms is profound fatigue . To explore the relationship between immune stimulation and fatigue, we developed a murine model for quantifying fatigue: reduction in voluntary running and delayed initiation of grooming after swimming . Inoculation of female BALB/c mice with Corynebacterium parvum antigen or the relatively avirulent Me49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii induced fatigue: baseline running reduced to less than 50 and 30% for 8 and 14 days, respectively, and delayed initiation of grooming after swimming in both immunologically stimulated groups . A threefold evaluation of serum transforming growth factor-beta levels, a cytokine increased in CFS patients, was found in fatigued C . parvum- and T . gondii-inoculated mice . This murine model appears promising for investigation of the pathogenesis of immunologically mediated fatigue. Microb Pathog, 1992 Aug, 13(2), 85 - 92 Transcription analysis and nucleotide sequence of tox promoter/operator mutants of corynebacteriophage beta; Krafft AE et al.; The production of diphtheria toxin (DT) by Corynebacterium diphtheriae C7 (beta) is transcriptionally regulated by the iron-dependent diphtheria toxin repressor, DtxR . Transcription of the tox gene was studied in wild-type C . diphtheriae C7 (beta) and in lysogens carrying mutants of beta that determine insensitivity to inhibition of DT production by iron . Under low iron conditions in all strains, tox-specific mRNA appeared and DT production began during late-log phase, and they increased to maximal levels at stationary phase . Under high iron conditions, tox-specific mRNA and DT production were strongly repressed in C7 (beta) but only partially repressed in C7 (beta tox-202) and C7 (beta tox-201) . Under high and low iron conditions, DT production and tox-specific mRNA levels were greater in C7 (beta tox-201) and C7 (beta tox-202) than in wild-type C7 (beta) . Addition of iron or rifampicin to low iron cultures of C . diphtheriae C7 (beta) repressed tox-mRNA production promptly and with a similar time course . In contrast, repression of tox-mRNA synthesis in C . diphtheriae C7 (beta tox-201) occurred promptly after addition of rifampicin but more slowly after addition of iron . Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed single G to A mutations at positions -47 and -48, within the preferred '-10' sequence of the tox promoter, in beta tox-201 and beta tox-202, respectively . The single nucleotide substitutions in the tox-201 and tox-202 regulatory alleles, therefore, have pleiotropic effects, causing increased activity of the promoter and partial resistance of the operator to iron-dependent repression. Mol Microbiol, 1992 Aug, 6(16), 2349 - 62 Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the csp1 gene encoding PS1, one of the two major secreted proteins of Corynebacterium glutamicum: the deduced N-terminal region of PS1 is similar to the Mycobacterium antigen 85 complex; Joliff G et al.; Two proteins, PS1 and PS2, were detected in the culture medium of Corynebacterium glutamicum and are the major proteins secreted by this bacterium . No enzymatic activity was identified for either of the two proteins . Immunologically cross-reacting proteins were found in a variety of C . glutamicum strains but not in the coryneform Arthrobacter aureus . The gene encoding PS1, csp1, was cloned in lambda gt11 using polyclonal antibodies raised against PS1 to screen for producing clones . The csp1 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, presumably from its own promoter, and directed the synthesis of two proteins recognized by anti-PS1 antibodies . The major protein band, of lower M(r), was detected in the periplasmic fraction . It had the same M(r) as the PS1 protein band detected in the supernatant of C . glutamicum cultures and presumably corresponds to the mature form of PS1 . The minor protein band appears to be the precursor form of PS1 . The nucleotide sequence of the csp1 gene was determined and contained an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 70,874, with a putative signal peptide with a molecular weight of 4411 . This is consistent with the M(r) determined for PS1 from C . glutamicum culture supernatant and E . coli whole-cell extracts . The NH2-half of the deduced amino acid is similar (about 33% identical residues and 52% including similar residues) to the secreted antigen 85 protein complex of Mycobacterium . The csp1 gene in C . glutamicum was disrupted without any apparent effect on growth or viability. Biochem J, 1992 Jul 1, 285 ( Pt 1), 117 - 22 Long-chain acyl-CoA ester intermediates of beta-oxidation of mono- and di-carboxylic fatty acids by extracts of Corynebacterium sp . strain 7E1C; Broadway NM et al.; beta-Oxidation of palmitate and tetradecanedioic acid was studied in cell-free extracts of the Gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium sp . strain 7E1C, and the acyl-CoA ester intermediates formed were analysed by h.p.l.c . beta-Oxidation assays displayed a lag phase before a constant rate of NAD+ reduction was obtained . The length of the lag phase was inversely proportional to the number of units of activity added to assays . This is a characteristic feature of a system of consecutive reactions proceeding via free intermediates . During beta-oxidation of palmitate all the saturated acyl-CoAs from C16 to C8 were detected together with trace amounts of unsaturated and 3-hydroxy-intermediates . The time-course of intermediate formation again indicated a precursor-product relationship indicative of free intermediates being formed . When 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase was inhibited by completely removing NAD+ from assays, the major acyl-CoAs, detected during palmitate beta-oxidation were palmitoyl-CoA, hexadeca-2-enoyl-CoA and 3-hydroxypalmitoyl-CoA . These compounds also displayed a precursor-product relationship . Under normal assay conditions the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(s) are the probable rate-limiting enzyme(s) of the beta-oxidation spiral . These results indicate that in cell-free extracts of Corynebacterium sp . strain 7E1C, beta-oxidation proceeds via free acyl-CoA intermediates and is at variance with the concept of substrate channelling or of a 'leaky hose pipe' model as proposed for mitochondrial beta-oxidation in eukaryotic cells . The significant accumulation of chain-shortened acyl-CoA esters is similar to the situation observed for mammalian peroxisomal beta-oxidation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1992 Jul 1, 89(13), 5897 - 901 Specific binding of the diphtheria tox regulatory element DtxR to the tox operator requires divalent heavy metal ions and a 9-base-pair interrupted palindromic sequence; Tao X et al.; The structural gene for diphtheria toxin, tox, is carried by a family of closely related corynebacteriophages; however, the regulation of tox expression is controlled by a Corynebacterium diphtheriae-encoded regulatory element, dtxR . The molecular cloning and sequence analysis of dtxR was recently described . Previous studies have suggested that DtxR-mediated regulation of the diphtheria tox operator involves the formation of an iron-repressor complex, which specifically binds to the tox operator . We have expressed and purified DtxR from recombinant Escherichia coli . Immunoblot analysis shows DtxR to be a single M(r) 28,000 protein band in both recombinant E . coli and the C7(-) and C7hm723(-) strains of C . diphtheriae . In addition, we demonstrate that the binding of DtxR to a diphtheria tox promoter/operator probe requires the addition of Mn2+ to the reaction mixture; however, binding may be blocked by addition of the chelator 2,2'-dipyridyl, anti-DtxR antiserum, and excess unlabeled probe to the reaction mixture . Deletion of one of the 9-base-pair inverted repeat sequences from the tox operator results in a loss of DtxR binding . The results presented here demonstrate that regulation of diphtheria toxin expression by DtxR requires direct interaction between this regulatory factor and the tox operator in the presence of a divalent heavy metal ion. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 Jul, 30(7), 1692 - 5 Evaluation of the rapid CORYNE identification system for Corynebacterium species and other coryneforms; Gavin SE et al.; The Rapid CORYNE system for identification of aerobic, nonsporeforming, gram-positive rods was evaluated according to the manufacturer's instructions with 177 organisms . After inoculation with a heavy suspension of growth, strips containing 20 cupules were incubated for 24 h, reagents were added, and the results of 21 biochemical reactions were recorded as numerical profiles . The strains consisted of pathogenic species of the genus Corynebacterium, primarily C . diphtheriae (n = 29), opportunistic species of Corynebacterium including C . jeikeium (n = 75), recognized species of non-corynebacteria such as Gardnerella and Arcanobacterium (n = 51), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) coryneform groups (n = 22) . Results from single tests read after 24 h yielded correct identifications to species level with no additional tests for 26 (89.7%) of the pathogenic species; 64 (85.3%) of the opportunistic organisms; 51 (100%) of the non-corynebacteria, and 8 (36.4%) of the CDC coryneform groups . Supplemental tests produced the correct identification for three additional pathogenic isolates (100% total) and four additional isolates from the opportunistic species (90.6% total) . Twelve of the 15 isolates not identified by the system were in the CDC coryneform groups . Four of the six misidentified and one of the unidentified isolates were C . matruchotii, which was not included in the data base . The system is an excellent rapid alternative to conventional biochemical tests. Infect Immun, 1992 Jul, 60(7), 2900 - 5 Rational attenuation of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis: potential cheesy gland vaccine and live delivery vehicle; Hodgson AL et al.; The phospholipase D (PLD) gene (pld) has been deleted from the Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis chromosome by using site-specific mutagenesis . Sheep infection trials indicate that the PLD-negative C . pseudotuberculosis strain (Toxminus) is incapable of inducing caseous lymphadentis (cheesy gland) even at doses two logs higher than that at which the wild-type strain produces the disease . This clearly establishes PLD as a major C . pseudotuberculosis virulence factor . Vaccination of sheep with live Toxminus C . pseudotuberculosis elicits strong humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and protects the animals from wild-type challenge. Clin Microbiol Rev, 1992 Jul, 5(3), 213 - 37 Gardnerella vaginalis: characteristics, clinical considerations, and controversies; Catlin BW; The clinical significance, Gram stain reaction, and genus affiliation of Gardnerella vaginalis have been controversial since Gardner and Dukes described the organism as the cause of "nonspecific vaginitis," a common disease of women which is now called bacterial vaginosis . The organism was named G . vaginalis when taxonomic studies showed that it was unrelated to bacteria in various genera including Haemophilus and Corynebacterium . Electron microscopy and chemical analyses have elucidated the organism's gram-variable reaction . Controversy over the etiology of bacterial vaginosis was largely resolved by (i) studies using improved media and methods for the isolation and identification of bacteria in vaginal fluids and (ii) standardization of criteria for clinical and laboratory diagnosis . Besides G . vaginalis, Mobiluncus spp., Mycoplasma hominis, and certain obligate anaerobes are now acknowledged as participants in bacterial vaginosis . The finding that G . vaginalis, Mobiluncus spp., and M . hominis inhabit the rectum indicates a potential source of autoinfection in addition to sexual transmission . Extravaginal infections with G . vaginalis are increasingly recognized, especially when the toxic anticoagulant polyanetholesulfonate is omitted from blood cultures and when urine cultures are incubated anaerobically for 48 h . The finding that mares harbor G . vaginalis suggests that an equine model can be developed for studies of Gardnerella pathogenesis. Am J Vet Res, 1992 Jul, 53(7), 1125 - 32 Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analysis used for control of caseous lymphadenitis in goats and sheep; ter Laak EA et al.; A double-antibody sandwich ELISA for detection of antibodies directed against the exotoxin of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the cause of caseous lymphadenitis (CL) in small ruminants, was developed . A concentrated exotoxin was used . For interpretation of ELISA results, these sera were tested: sequentially obtained sera of C pseudotuberculosis-inoculated goats and sheep that were monitored for 68 weeks; sequentially obtained sera from 80 goats of 3 flocks with CL; sera from 652 goats of 7 flocks without CL; sera from 160 sheep of 4 flocks without CL; and 2,265 caprine and 208 ovine sera submitted for diagnostic testing . Data regarding the infection status and history of 10,454 of the 23,302 animals were collected after testing; most of these were goats that had been part of a CL control program . Specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA were nearly 100% . Subsequently, 31,978 animals from which no data on infection status of flocks had been collected were then tested . It was concluded that the ELISA is a useful diagnostic test for CL eradication programs . Sera with doubtful or inconclusive ELISA results were examined by use of immunoblot analysis . Proteins from C pseudotuberculosis culture supernatant were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotted onto nitrocellulose . Six proteins with molecular mass of 68, 65, 39, 38, 31, and 29 kDa reacted with sera from goats and sheep with experimentally induced or naturally acquired infection . Immunoblot analysis was valuable in classifying sera with doubtful or inconclusive results by ELISA. Intern Med, 1992 Jul, 31(7), 933 - 5 Pseudomembranous bronchitis (non-diphtherial) resulting in sudden death: an autopsy report; Tomita M et al.; A 69-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnea . Thereafter, she fell into a state of shock . Resuscitation was attempted but she did not respond to it and died on the second hospital day . According to the autopsy findings, a wide range of area from the larynx to the trachea was covered with pseudomembrane . In the culture of bacteria, alpha Streptococcus and Corynebacterium genus (non-diphtherial) were all that was detected . These findings suggest that pseudomembranous lesion, an endogenous foreign matter of the air passage should be suspected when a patient presents with sudden dyspnea. Intern Med, 1992 Jul, 31(7), 930 - 2 Fatal pneumonia caused by Corynebacterium group JK after treatment of Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia; Yoshitomi Y et al.; A 76-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital because of chronic renal insufficiency and chronic hepatitis died of Corynebacterium group JK pneumonia, after showing a slight improvement by treatment of Staphylococcus aureus with sulbactam/cefoperazone and minocycline . Transtracheal aspiration (TTA) just before his death revealed numerous gram-positive bacilli phagocytized by many neutrophils and more than 10(8) colony forming units (CFU)/ml of Corynebacterium group JK . A drug susceptibility test showed Corynebacterium group JK was resistant to many antibiotics, with the exception of vancomycin and amikacin. Eur J Epidemiol, 1992 Jul, 8(4), 560 - 7 Molecular epidemiology of nasopharyngeal corynebacteria in healthy adults from an area where diphtheria vaccination has been extensively practiced; Mencarelli M et al.; In addition to conventional biochemical tests, a DNA probe specific for Corynebacterium diphtheriae was used to characterize 53 cystinase-positive and urease-negative corynebacteria strains isolated from pharyngeal and nasal swabs obtained from 515 healthy adults living in an urban area of central Italy . No Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain was found . Six "atypical" strains were isolated, which could not be classified in any of the species so far defined in the Corynebacterium genus . These strains appeared to be biochemically close to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum and genetically close to Corynebacterium diphtheriae, since their DNAs strongly hybridized, under relatively low stringency conditions, with a Corynebacterium diphtheriae-specific probe and since insertion sequences which are usually found in Corynebacterium diphtheriae genomes were also found to be present in their genomes . No one of these six strains was either toxigenic or susceptible to lysogenization by beta-corynephage carrying the tox gene . Therefore, they do not seem to have any epidemiological relevance as possible hosts for beta-phages. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Jul, 11(7), 628 - 31 Three cases of opportunistic infection caused by propionic acid producing Corynebacterium minutissimum; Van Bosterhaut B et al.; Propionic acid producing strains of Corynebacterium minutissimum were isolated from three patients with opportunistic infections . One neutropenic patient was undergoing chemotherapy for prolymphocytic leukemia; the other two patients were undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis respectively . An unusual feature of these three strains was their resistance to several antibiotics, which is seldom seen in diphtheroids other than Corynebacterium jeikeium and CDC group D2. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Jul, 11(7), 626 - 8 A case of urinary tract infection caused by Corynebacterium urealyticum and coryneform group F1; Soriano F et al.; A case of urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by a fastidious, urea-splitting, antibiotic-sensitive coryneform, identified as CDC group F1, is described . The patient suffered from encrusted cystitis and had had previous and persistent UTIs caused by Corynebacterium urealyticum (formerly CDC group D2) . Bacteriological cure was achieved after one month of treatment with amoxicillin plus acetohydroxamic acid. Int J Artif Organs, 1992 Jun, 15(6), 339 - 42 A new central supply system as alternative source for bicarbonate dialysate; Rehmert N et al.; Bicarbonate dialysis is mandatory for high efficiency treatment . In most cases bicarbonate is delivered either as prepacked powder or as a stable liquid concentrate in 6-10 I plastic containers . With a newly designed central supply system (CSS) using 800 I tanks of custom-made sterile and pyrogen free concentrates, we investigated the risk of bacterial contamination of dialysate in a 30-bed dialysis unit . During three months, samples of reverse osmosis (RO) water, concentrates and dialysate were taken every two weeks . Colony forming units (CFU) were counted after 48 h incubation . Further samples were taken during nine months of continuous use of the CSS without further intermittent disinfection . None of the samples had greater than 10/ml CFU . Pseudomonas, corynebacteria and enterobacter were the predominant species . In summary, this CSS proved reliable in providing bacteriologically safe bicarbonate dialysate as defined by international standards (CFU less than 200/ml) . It significantly reduces costs, workload and environmental pollution by plastic waste. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 Jun, 30(6), 1407 - 17 High-performance liquid chromatography of corynomycolic acids as a tool in identification of Corynebacterium species and related organisms; De Briel D et al.; A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) study of 307 strains of Corynebacterium species and related taxa revealed that strains classified as "Corynebacterium aquaticum"; "Corynebacterium asperum"; and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) groups 1, 2, A-3, A-4, A-5, B-1, B-3, E, F-2, and I-2 as well as some unidentified coryneforms do not contain any corynomycolic acids; therefore, they should not be included in the genus Corynebacterium . Such an HPLC method of identification permitted the correct assignment to the genus Rhodococcus of two unpigmented strains of coryneform bacteria whose mycolic acid profiles were comparable to those of Rhodococcus equi . Bacteria belonging to CDC groups ANF-1, ANF-3, F-1, G-1, G-2, and I-1, as well as some other Corynebacterium sp . strains, yielded corynomycolic acid HPLC patterns related to those of Corynebacterium species . Either similarities or differences were observed in the corynomycolic acid profiles of Corynebacterium species tested after culture on sheep blood agar and/or sheep blood agar supplemented with Tween 80, which demonstrated that identification at the species or group level is possible . However, Corynebacterium striatum and CDC group I-1 bacteria as well as CDC group G-1 and group G-2 bacteria had indistinguishable HPLC patterns . Conversely, some variations were observed within some species as Corynebacterium xerosis, C . striatum, and Corynebacterium minutissimum . The evaluation procedure of this HPLC method by mass spectrometry analysis of isolated eluted peaks revealed that analytical reverse-phase HPLC alone does not provide any structural information, since isomers with identical polarities coeluted as a single peak . Nevertheless, HPLC is a rapid and reliable method for identification of corynomycolic acid-containing bacteria in the clinical microbiological laboratory. Immunol Invest, 1992 Jun, 21(3), 231 - 9 Corynebacterium parvum can reverse the depression of macrophage hydrogen peroxide production caused by erythrocyte phagocytosis; Schwacha MG et al.; Our previous studies have shown that the phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) in vivo increases the mortality rate with bacterial infection, and EIgG phagocytosis in vitro depresses phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-triggered H2O2 production . The present study was undertaken to determine if the depression of H2O2 production caused by EIgG phagocytosis could be reversed by exposing macrophages to priming agents . Macrophages exposed to 100 micrograms/ml of C . parvum, it's pyridine-soluble extract (PE), or the pyridine extract residue (PER) for 1 hr showed an enhanced production of H2O2 in response to PMA triggering . The priming effect of C . parvum, PE, and PER lasted for 3-6 hr . 18 hr after exposure to C parvum or PER, PMA-triggered H2O2 production was depressed, however PE did not have this effect . The priming effect of C parvum was not prevented by cycloheximide . EIgG phagocytosis caused a dose dependent depression of PMA-triggered H2O2 production . When macrophages were exposed to C . parvum, PE, or PER following EIgG phagocytosis, the priming of PMA-triggered H2O2 production was reduced but H2O2 production was maintained at levels equal to or greater than that of control macrophages . These results show that phagocytosis did not prevent the action of priming agents on macrophage respiratory burst capacity, and suggests that such agents may preserve macrophage bactericidal function following phagocytosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1992 Jun, 36(6), 1329 - 31 Antimicrobial susceptibilities of a Corynebacterium CDC group I1 strain isolated from a patient with endocarditis; Malanoski GJ et al.; We encountered a case of native valve endocarditis due to Corynebacterium CDC group I1 which was successfully controlled with antimicrobial agents alone . This organism and three other isolates of this group were susceptible to penicillin, vancomycin, and gentamicin . The combination of penicillin with subinhibitory concentrations of gentamicin resulted in a 1,000-fold decrease in CFU per milliliter at 24 h compared with penicillin alone . Augmentation of killing was noted also with vancomycin plus gentamicin but to a degree that did not meet strict criteria for bactericidal synergism. Eur J Med, 1992 Jun, 1(3), 183 - 4 Teicoplanin treatment of alkaline encrusted cystitis due to Corynebacterium group D2; Estorc JJ et al.; Alkaline-encrusted cystitis (AEC) is a chronic inflammation of the bladder related to the gram-positive bacillus Corynebacterium Group D2 . This germ is often resistant to many antibiotics and is particularly difficult to eradicate in the particular setting of AEC . The authors report two observations of AEC treated with the glycopeptid antibiotic teicoplanin, which led to permanent cure of AEC. Surg Oncol, 1992 Jun, 1(3), 199 - 208 A novel role for autologous tumour cell vaccination in the immunotherapy of the poorly immunogenic B16-BL6 melanoma; Geiger JD et al.; The growth of immunogenic tumours stimulates the generation of tumour-sensitized, but not functional, pre-effector T cells in the draining lymph nodes . These pre-effector cells can mature into effector cells upon in-vitro stimulation with anti-CD3 and IL-2 . In the current study, using a defined, poorly immunogenic tumour, B16-BL6 melanoma, the pre-effector cell response was not evident during progressive tumour growth but was elicited by vaccination with irradiated tumour cells admixed with Corynebacterium parvum . After anti-CD3/IL-2 activation, these cells were capable of mediating the regression of established pulmonary metastases . The efficacy of the vaccine depended on the doses of both tumour cells and the adjuvant . While higher numbers of tumour cells were more effective, an optimal dose (12.5 micrograms) of C . parvum was required . The dose of irradiation was not a critical factor . After vaccination, kinetic studies revealed that the pre-effector cell response was evident 4 days later and declined after 14 days . These observations illustrate the potential role of active immunization in the cellular therapy of cancer. J Gen Microbiol, 1992 Jun, 138 ( Pt 6), 1167 - 75 Gram-positive bacteria with a high DNA G+C content are characterized by a common insertion within their 23S rRNA genes; Roller C et al.; An insertion of about 100 bases within the central part of the 23S rRNA genes was found to be a phylogenetic marker for the bacterial line of descent of Gram-positive bacteria with a high DNA G + C content . The insertion was present in 23S rRNA genes of 64 strains representing the major phylogenetic groups of Gram-positive bacteria with a high DNA G+C content, whereas it was not found in 23S rRNA genes of 55 (eu)bacteria representing Gram-positive bacteria with a low DNA G + C content and all other known (eu)bacterial phyla . The presence of the insertion could be easily demonstrated by comparative gel electrophoretic analysis of in vitro-amplified 23S rDNA fragments, which contained the insertion . The nucleotide sequences of the amplified fragments were determined and sequence similarities of at least 44% were found . The overall similarity values are lower than those of 16S and 23S rRNA sequences of the particular organism . Northern hybridization experiments indicated the presence of the insertion within the mature 23S rRNA of Corynebacterium glutamicum. Mol Microbiol, 1992 May, 6(10), 1281 - 7 Cytotoxic activity of a recombinant chimaeric protein between Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A and Corynebacterium diphtheriae diphtheria toxin; Guidi-Rontani C; A segment of the exotoxin A gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coding for the N-terminal end of domain I and domain II of the toxin (ETA), was genetically fused to the diphtheria toxin gene of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, coding for the N-terminal end of A fragment of diphtheria toxin (DT) . The resulting hybrid protein (termed CED1) was produced in large amounts and exported to the periplasm in Escherichia coli . This chimaeric protein reacted with both anti-ETA and anti-DT antisera . Furthermore, the chimaeric protein displayed ADP-ribosylation activity and exhibited cytotoxicity to mouse 3T6 fibroblasts . These results demonstrated that the chimaeric protein is cytotoxic, and that the toxic potential of DTA can be selectively internalized and translocated via domains I and II of exotoxin A, which are thus sufficient to direct and translocate an enzymatically active heterologous polypeptide segment into the cytosol of sensitive cells. Res Vet Sci, 1992 May, 52(3), 267 - 72 The effect of experimental infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis on reproduction in adult ewes; Alonso JL et al.; Fifteen ewes were inoculated subcutaneously with 2 x 10(6) cells of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis seven days before mating, during the embryonic stage of gestation and during the fetal stage of gestation . The clinical signs, antibody response and the consequences of the infection on reproduction were studied . None of the ewes showed any change in general condition during pregnancy . The effects of experimental infection during gestation were evident after incubation periods that ranged from 25 to 140 days after inoculation and were dependent on the time of the inoculation in relation to the period of gestation . Ewes inoculated before gestation can resolve infection . Ewes inoculated during the embryonic stage were severely affected and some aborted . In others lambs were stillborn or, if born alive, infected . Ewes inoculated during the fetal stage of gestation did not show reproductive disorders although some remained chronically infected. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 May-Jun, 15(4), 349 - 54 Human infections with Actinomyces pyogenes (Corynebacterium pyogenes); Gahrn-Hansen B et al.; Actinomyces pyogenes (Corynebacterium pyogenes), a well-known pathogen in many animals, was isolated from 11 Danish patients since 1968 . Bacteriologic characteristics and clinical pictures of the patients are described . Ability to hydrolyze gelatine, to produce beta-glucuronidase, to reach with antisera against group-G streptococci, and to produce acid from xylose differentiates A . pyogenes from Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, with which it has at times been confused . Actinomyces pyogenes is an established, but often misrecognized, human pathogen that should be better known to clinical microbiologists. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 May, 30(5), 1167 - 9 Isolation of Corynebacterium group D2 from two dogs with urinary tract infections; Elad D et al.; Corynebacterium group D2 was isolated from two dogs with urinary tract infections . The isolates were resistant in vitro to all tested antibacterial drugs except vancomycin . One dog was successfully treated with this antibiotic, while the other died before treatment could be initiated. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 May, 30(5), 1067 - 71 Differentiation of Corynebacterium spp., Listeria spp., and related organisms by using fluorogenic substrates; Kampfer P; A total of 228 strains of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Corynebacterium spp., Erysipelothix rhusiopathiae, and Listeria spp . were investigated for their abilities to hydrolyze 60 different fluorogenic 4-methylumbelliferyl-linked and beta-naphthylamide-linked substrates within 6 and 24 h of incubation . The hydrolysis of a group of 16 fluorogenic substrates, and in particular, the glycosidase tests, in most cases showed high separation values at the genus level . When used in combination with other biochemical tests, these tests improved the differentiation of coryneform bacteria and phenotypically similar organisms. J Bacteriol, 1992 May, 174(9), 2968 - 77 The Corynebacterium glutamicum aecD gene encodes a C-S lyase with alpha, beta-elimination activity that degrades aminoethylcysteine; Rossol I et al.; S-(beta-Aminoethyl)-cysteine (AEC) resistance was achieved in Corynebacterium glutamicum by cloning a chromosomal 1.5-kb EcoRV-BglII DNA fragment on a multicopy plasmid . DNA sequence analysis of the 1.5-kb DNA fragment revealed an open reading frame (ORF326) which represents the AEC resistance gene, designated aecD . The aecD gene directs the synthesis of a 36-kDa protein which was visualized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The aecD gene is a nonessential gene and mediates AEC resistance only in an amplified state . C . glutamicum strains harboring an amplified aecD gene can utilize AEC as an alternative nitrogen source, indicating that the AEC resistance mechanism is due to AEC degradation . Since the AEC degradation products analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography were found to be pyruvate and aminoethanethiol (cysteamine), it was concluded that the aecD gene encodes a C-S lyase with alpha, beta-elimination activity . Besides AEC, the C-S lyase was also able to use cysteine, cystine, and cystathionine as substrates. Vet Parasitol, 1992 May, 42(3-4), 179 - 88 Preliminary development of a live drug-controlled vaccine against bovine babesiosis using the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus; Gray JS et al.; This study investigated the practicality and potential of the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, as a source of live Babesia divergens vaccine and also as a model for the use of the vaccine in cattle . A series of experiments with gerbils concerning vaccine infectivity, immunogenicity and safety were carried out . It was concluded that the use of RPMI medium/40% foetal calf serum as a diluent improved vaccine infectivity, but that the parasitaemia of the blood obtained from donor gerbils had little or no effect . The immunostimulants levamisole and killed Corynebacterium parvum improved vaccine immunogenicity and it was also shown that the subcutaneous route of infection resulted in the greatest host response . Control of vaccine virulence with drugs was only possible when drugs with prophylactic properties, such as imidocarb and long-acting oxytetracycline, were used . More studies are required on all these topics, particularly with regard to their applicability to cattle, and also concerning the possible attenuation of the parasite by manipulation in the gerbil host. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1992 May-Jun, (5-6), 25 - 7 {Cloning the asd and lysC genes from Cornyebacterium glutamicum}; Peredel'chuk MIu et al.; Plasmids carrying an asd gene from a mutant . S-(2-aminoaethyl)-L-cysteine resistant strain of Corynebacterium glutamicum were selected from a clonoteque constructed on a plasmid cloning vector pSL5 by complementation of asd mutation in Escherichia coli . Evidence has been obtained that the cloned chromosomal DNA fragment contains also a complete sequence for feed-back-resistant aspartokinase lysC gene. J Interferon Res, 1992 May, Spec No, 61 - 9 Deficiency in interferon production of peripheral blood leukocytes from patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma; Ho AD et al.; In search for a rationale for the use of interferons (IFNs) in treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), we have investigated the IFN system of 13 patients with low-grade NHL, 15 patients with high-grade NHL, and 20 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or leukemic immunocytoma (CLL/IC) . Production of IFN induced by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), Corynebacterium parvum, Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and interleukin 2 (IL-2) were studied in the peripheral leukocytes from the patients and from 21 control persons by means of a whole blood technique . All three groups of patients with NHL had significantly reduced production upon stimulation by NDV (p ranged between 0.0038 and less than 0.0001) compared to controls . Similarly, C . parvum also induced lower titers of IFN in the leukocytes of patients with non-leukemic NHL (p = 0.0015 for low-grade NHL and p = 0.0038 for high-grade NHL) . When stimulated by PHA, the IFN response of all groups of patients was within normal range . With the exception in low-grade NHL, Con A also induced normal titers of IFN in the patients with NHL . The levels of IFN induced by PWM, HSV, and IL-2 were very low and no differences between controls and patients could be found . As NDV and C . parvum induce mainly IFN-alpha and the mitogens PHA and Con A mainly IFN-gamma, our results suggest that there is a deficiency in the IFN-alpha response in the patients with NHL but normal response in IFN-gamma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Sci Total Environ, 1992 Apr 20, 115(1-2), 9 - 14 The role of bacteria in phocine distemper; Baker JR et al.; The death of many seals believed to be infected with phocine distemper virus was found to be associated with a variety of mainly opportunistic bacterial pathogens . The bacteria most frequently involved were Bordetella bronchiseptica, Corynebacterium species and a variety of Streptococci . Seals dying on different parts of the coast of Britain were infected with these organisms in differing proportions. Eur J Biochem, 1992 Apr 15, 205(2), 729 - 35 Purification and characterization of membrane-bound endoglycoceramidase from Corynebacterium sp; Ashida H et al.; Endoglycoceramidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the linkage between oligosaccharides and ceramides of various glycosphingolipids . We found that a bacterial strain Corynebacterium sp., isolated from soil, produced endoglycoceramidase both intracellularly and extracellularly . The intracellular enzyme bound to the cell membrane was solubilized with 1% Triton X-100 and purified to homogeneity about 170-fold with 60% recovery . The molecular mass of the enzyme was approximately 65 kDa . The enzyme is most active at pH 5.5-6.5 and stable at pH 3.5-8.0 . Various neutral and acidic glycosphingolipids were hydrolyzed by the enzyme in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 . Ganglio- and lacto-type glycosphingolipids were readily hydrolyzed, but globo-type glycosphingolipids were hydrolyzed slowly. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1992 Apr, 14(3), 487 - 96 Review: inducer of cytokines in vivo: overview of field and romurtide experience; Azuma I; We have reported that the bacterial cell-wall skeletons, such as mycobacteria, nocardia, corynebacteria, propionibacteria and listeria, had potent adjuvant activity on immune responses . It was reported that N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) was the minimum structural requirement of adjuvant activity of the bacterial cell-wall skeleton and a variety of MDP derivatives and related compounds were synthesized . Among the synthetic MDP derivatives, we have selected MDP-Lys(L18)(romurtide) as the immunostimulant, by using experimental models for non-specific host resistance against Escherichia coli in mice . Romurtide was shown to have host-stimulating activity against bacterial, fungal and viral infections, cytokine producing activity and the capacity to increase the number of leukocytes and platelets in experimental models . It was also shown that the clinical effectiveness of romurtide on the restoration of the number of leukocytes and platelets of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy . The mechanism of action of romurtide is discussed. FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1992 Apr, 4(4), 231 - 4 The study of agglutination of trypsin-treated sheep red cells by Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains; Kostyukova NN et al.; 620 Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains from 472 sick and healthy persons were studied for their adhesive activity (AA) in direct agglutination of trypsin-treated sheep erythrocytes . Toxigenic strains had more active AA than non-toxigenic ones which was not dependent on the presence of toxin in the culture . Neither biotype nor serotype of the strains correlated with their AA . Several lysotypes among toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains were more active than others . Toxigenic strains from patients had higher AA than those from carriers . Both toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains isolated from the prolonged carriers possessed the highest AA . It was concluded that AA measured in this way was an important colonization factor for all diphtheria strains and a pathogenicity factor for toxigenic strains. Neurosurgery, 1992 Apr, 30(4), 499 - 504; discussion 504-5 Generation of cytotoxic immune responses against a rat glioma by in vivo priming and secondary in vitro stimulation with tumor cells; Holladay FP et al.; Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to most antigens are generated by in vivo priming and secondary stimulation with antigen in vitro . The present studies were designed to determine whether that strategy could be used to stimulate development of CTL against brain tumors . Rats were primed with one of two tumors, RT2, an astrocytoma, or 9L, a gliosarcoma, and Corynebacterium parvum . Spleen cells from primed rats were stimulated with tumor cells and interleukin-2 in vitro to generate CTL . CTL generated against RT2 killed RT2 and 9L, but not allogeneic or histopathologically unrelated tumor cells, suggesting that the killing was brain tumor-specific and major histocompatibility complex gene product-restricted . Similar results were obtained with rats primed and secondarily stimulated with 9L . Specific cytotoxic cells only developed when syngeneic brain tumor cells were used for both priming and secondary stimulation . The cytotoxic cell populations were composed of OX-19+ T cells with a mixed CD4/CD8 phenotype . Controls consisting of spleen cells from unprimed or primed rats tested before culture exhibited low levels of cytotoxicity against brain tumor targets . Culturing unprimed or primed cells with interleukin-2 alone stimulated cell proliferation, but the cells that grew out exhibited only low levels of cytotoxicity for brain tumor cells . Cell populations exhibited consistent cytotoxicity against natural killer cell targets . None of the cell populations killed lymphokine-activated killer cell targets . The results demonstrated that brain tumor-specific CTL could be produced by priming in vivo followed by secondary stimulation with brain tumor cells in vitro . The results further demonstrated that RT2 and 9L share antigens that both induce and serve as target structures for specific cytotoxic cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1992 Apr, 33(5), 1766 - 70 Propionibacterium acnes-enhanced lens-induced granulomatous uveitis in the rat; Semel J et al.; Propionibacterium acnes (Corynebacterium parvum) is being implicated more frequently as a cause of intraocular inflammation following cataract surgery . In addition to its role as an infectious agent, P . acnes also may possess adjuvant-like or adjuvant-enhancing properties . The presence of this organism in an eye with residual lens material after extracapsular cataract surgery could augment inflammation resulting from a phacoantigenic (phacoanaphylactic) response . We have modified an established rat model of lens-induced granulomatous uveitis (LIGU) to examine the adjuvant properties of P . acnes . Our results suggest that P . acnes effectively potentiates LIGU. Hinyokika Kiyo, 1992 Apr, 38(4), 433 - 7 {Urinary tract infection caused by Corynebacterium sp.--a case report and an experimental study}; Takeuchi H et al.; We repose of chronic cystitis associated with alkali urine, struvite stones and a subsequent vesicorectal fistula caused by Corynebacterium sp, probably Corynebacterium group D2 . We also studied in vitro and in vivo stone formation caused by Corynebacterium renale isolated clinically . C . renale inoculated into normal human urine increased urine pH and formed struvite crystals after a 24-hr incubation . Bladder stones were also formed in rats experimentally infected by C . renale as well as P . mirabilis . Some urea splitting species of Corynebacterium such as C . group D2 and C . renale may play a role in the formation of human struvite stone. Am J Physiol, 1992 Apr, 262(4 Pt 1), C1077 - 82 Association between synthesis and release of cGMP and nitric oxide biosynthesis by hepatocytes; Billiar TR et al.; Hepatocytes are known to synthesize nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine via an inducible NO synthase . Studies were performed to determine the relationship between hepatocyte NO production and the stimulation of hepatocyte soluble guanylate cyclase . A combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-1 stimulates the biosynthesis of large quantities of nitrite and nitrate (NO2- + NO3-) . Hepatocyte NO2- + NO3- production was associated with only small increases in intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels but much greater increases in extracellular cGMP release over an 18-h time period . This cGMP synthesis was dependent on the L-arginine concentration and was inhibited in a reversible manner by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine . The cytokines or LPS added alone induced small increases in nitrogen oxide production and concomitant minor elevations in cGMP release . Atrial natriuretic peptide also stimulated the release of cGMP by hepatocytes which appeared to be independent of the cytokine+LPS-induced cGMP release . The addition of probenecid reduced the cGMP release by 66%, while cell damage was excluded as a cause for the extracellular release . Addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, but not M&B 22948, increased hepatocyte intra- and extracellular cGMP levels after cytokine+LPS stimulation . Induction of nitrogen oxide synthesis by hepatocytes in vivo by injecting rats with killed Corynebacterium parvum resulted in increased cGMP levels in freshly isolated hepatocytes and increased cGMP release by the hepatocytes when placed in culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Med Clin (Barc), 1992 Mar 21, 98(11), 419 - 22 {Incrusted cystitis with isolation of Corynebacterium group D2}; Fernandez Natal MI et al.; Three cases of encrusted cystitis caused by Corynebacterium group D2 are described . The vesical damage previous to the establishment of this bacteria is noteworthy and the very rapid increase in urease activity explains the pathogenesis of the situation . Thus allowing for its identification and is relevant to treatment . Cloudy urine with a strong smell of ammonium, alkaline pH and crystals of ammonium magnesium phosphate in the sediment will bring this microorganism and its characteristic growth pattern to mind thus avoiding a falsely negative report . Treatment combining an antimicrobial agent and cystoscopic resection of the encrusted stones, where Corynebacterium group D2 has lodged, has proved efficacious . Vancomycin and teicoplanin have always been active and are eliminated through the kidneys. Cancer Res, 1992 Mar 15, 52(6), 1386 - 92 Inhibition of tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses by transforming growth factor beta 1; Inge TH et al.; Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine that is produced by neoplastic and normal cells . It has not been demonstrated directly, however, that TGF-beta can inhibit antigen-specific T-cell responses to tumor cells in vitro . We show here that generation of antitumor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity in mixed-lymphocyte tumor cultures of splenocytes from DBA/2 mice immunized with the syngeneic P815 mastocytoma + Corynebacterium parvum was consistently and profoundly inhibited when 0.675 to 10 ng/ml of TGF-beta were added on Day 0 of culture . TGF-beta added on Day 1 or later had little or no effect . In contrast to the results with P815 immune mice, mixed-lymphocyte tumor cultures established with splenocytes from P815 tumor-bearing hosts showed variable degrees of inhibition by TGF-beta, depending on the stage of the ongoing in vivo immune response . Addition of recombinant murine tumor necrosis factor alpha (1,000 or 10,000 units/ml) partially reversed inhibition of CTL responses by TGF-beta, while recombinant interleukin 2 nearly completely reversed the suppression . These data indicate that one level at which TGF-beta may act to inhibit mixed-lymphocyte tumor cultures is that of cytokine production . To determine whether TGF-beta also has any direct effect on CTL, P815-specific CTL clones derived from tumor-bearing host mice were utilized . We found that proliferation of rested CTL clones in response to tumor cells + interleukin 2 was inhibited by 5 ng/ml of TGF-beta, while the interleukin 2-dependent reactivation of cytolytic activity was not affected by TGF-beta . In contrast to rested CTL, when TGF-beta was added to cultures of previously activated CTL, proliferation was not inhibited . These data demonstrate that TGF-beta has profound inhibitory effects on the in vitro generation of effector CTL from tumor-specific murine splenocytes, and this inhibition may be an indirect result of suppressed cytokine production as well as a direct antiproliferative effect on CTL. Presse Med, 1992 Mar 7, 21(9), 417 - 21 {Lung abscess caused by Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi in HIV infection . Two cases}; Pialoux G et al.; Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi is a well-known Gram positive bacillus which is usually pathogenic in farm animals but rarely causes diseases in humans . Only 30 cases of human infection have been reported in the literature . R . equi has recently been added to the list of opportunistic agents in severe HIV infection . Its most common manifestation in immunocompromised is a slowly progressive pneumonia which may cavitate . R . equi pulmonary infections are difficult to treat: they usually require prolonged parenteral antibiotic therapy and often need surgical treatment . Two cases of cavitary pneumonia in patients with severe HIV infection are reported here . In one case the disease was associated with pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma and pneumocystis pneumonia; the other case was the first opportunistic infection in the course of HIV infection. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1992 Mar, 39(2), 139 - 43 Hemolytic interactions of Dermatophilus congolensis; Skalka B et al.; The strains of Dermatophilus congolensis grew on blood agar with washed sheep erythrocytes with marked total hemolysis . In testing for hemolytic interactions they gave a significant synergistic effect of a characteristic shape with Rhodococcus equi and Streptococcus agalactiae, whereas with Staphylococcus aureus producing beta hemolysin and with Staphylococcus aureus producing delta hemolysin a simultaneous synergistic as well as antagonistic effect were observed . First of all a conspicuous inhibition of in the beta hemolysin zone began and then the hemolytic effect of D . congolensis was enhanced . A similar double reaction was also observed with Listeria ivanovii . With delta hemolysin there was an inhibition of the hemolytic effect of D . congolensis and at the same time a synergistic effect could be observed . Also D . congolensis gave a weak synergistic effect with Micrococcus lylae and Listeria monocytogenes, and a further weak antagonistic effect with alpha hemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus chromogenes and Micrococcus luteus . No interaction of D . congolensis was established with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Anticancer Res, 1992 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 451 - 6 Induction of murine lymphokine-activated killer-like cells by Corynebacterium parvum (C . parvum) in vitro: lysis of tumor cells and macrophages by C . parvum-induced killer cells; Chen MF et al.; In vitro culture of murine spleen cells with Corynebacterium parvum (C . parvum) was found to induce lymphokine-activated killer (LAK)-like cells capable of killing both natural killer (NK)-sensitive and NK-resistant tumor cells as well as syngeneic macrophages (M phi) . The induction of LAK-like activity by C . parvum was significantly inhibited by anti-interleukin-2 (IL-2) or anti-interferon (IFN) alpha, beta antibody (Ab), and it was further inhibited by the combination of two Abs, suggesting that the generation of killer cells by C . parvum was dependent on IL-2 and IFN(s) produced in the culture . It was considered that M phi were important in the induction of LAK-like cells by C . parvum because the depletion of M phi from spleen cells before culture with C . parvum significantly reduced the induction of killer activity . The majority of effectors mediating both tumor cells and M phi were Thyl+ and asialo-GM1 (aGM1)+, and the lysis of M phi by C . parvum-induced killer cells could be inhibited by the addition of cold YAC-1 tumor cells and P815 tumor cells, suggesting that the same population of effectors recognized tumor cells and M phi . These results demonstrated a possibility that the killing of M phi by C . parvum-induced killer cells might down-regulate anti-tumor effects of C . parvum. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Mar, 58(3), 911 - 5 Desulfurization of dibenzothiophene by Corynebacterium sp . strain SY1; Omori T et al.; Strain SY1, identified as a Corynebacterium sp., was isolated on the basis of the ability to utilize dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a sole source of sulfur . Strain SY1 could utilize a wide range of organic and inorganic sulfur compounds, such as DBT sulfone, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl sulfone, CS2, FeS2, and even elemental sulfur . Strain SY1 metabolized DBT to dibenzothiophene-5-oxide, DBT sulfone, and 2-hydroxybiphenyl, which was subsequently nitrated to produce at least two different hydroxynitrobiphenyls during cultivation . These metabolites were separated by silica gel column chromatography and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance, UV, and mass spectral techniques . Resting cells of SY1 desulfurized toluenesulfonic acid and released sulfite anion . On the basis of these results, a new DBT degradation pathway is proposed. Br J Urol, 1992 Mar, 69(3), 234 - 9 Recurrent infection stones with apparently negative cultures . The case for blind antibacterial treatment; Rose GA et al.; Infection stones in the urinary tract are always associated with infection with a urease-producing, urea-splitting organism . The most common of these organisms are easy to culture and identify and can be treated early either with an appropriate antibiotic or with an anti-urease agent . Ureaplasma urealyticum and Corynebacterium urealyticum are urease-producing organisms which are difficult to grow; their presence and effects frequently go undetected and untreated . Other organisms, as yet unknown, may also be involved in the same process . We report the first series of 8 patients with recurrent infection-type stones likely to have been caused by a "hard to grow" organism . Five patients never had a positive culture; in 2 patients 1 of 10 urine cultures grew a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and in 1 patient the same organism was grown from a stone but never in the urine . The clinical course of all of these patients was significantly improved after blind treatment with antibiotics and in one case with an anti-urease agent. Gene, 1992 Mar 1, 112(1), 113 - 6 Cloning, organization and functional analysis of ilvA, ilvB and ilvC genes from Corynebacterium glutamicum; Cordes C et al.; Corynebacterium glutamicum is an industrially important bacterium for the manufacture of amino acids . We constructed genomic libraries of this Gram+ bacterium and screened for clones carrying isoleucine biosynthesis genes (ilv) by complementation of Escherichia coli mutants . Clones complementing ilvA, ilvB, and ilvC were isolated . As based on the functional analysis of the corresponding plasmids in C . glutamicum, the DNA fragments isolated encode threonine dehydratase, acetohydroxy acid synthase, and isomeroreductase, catalyzing three subsequent reactions in Ile synthesis . Subcloning and transposon mutagenesis revealed that ilvB and ilvC reside on a 7-kb chromosomal fragment and that these genes are transcribed in the same direction . A shuttle vector was constructed to allow exonuclease treatment and assay subsets of plasmids for gene expression in the original C . glutamicum background . These constructs and their enzyme activity determinations revealed that despite close linkage ilvC is expressed independently from ilvB . Using Southern blots, a 15-kb fragment of chromosomal DNA carrying the ilvBC cluster was characterized . This fragment does not contain ilvA, demonstrating the entirely different organization of the isoleucine biosynthesis genes in C . glutamicum from that in enterobacteria. J Bacteriol, 1992 Mar, 174(6), 1854 - 61 Expression, secretion, and processing of staphylococcal nuclease by Corynebacterium glutamicum; Liebl W et al.; The gene for staphylococcal nuclease (SNase), an extracellular enzyme of Staphylococcus aureus, was introduced into Corynebacterium glutamicum . The heterologous gene was expressed in this host organism, and SNase was efficiently exported to the culture medium . Amino-terminal sequencing of SNase secreted by C . glutamicum revealed that the signal peptide was apparently cleaved off at precisely the same position as in the original host, S . aureus . As with S . aureus, a second smaller form of SNase (A form), whose appearance is presumably the result of a secondary processing step, was found in the culture medium of the recombinant C . glutamicum strain . The A form was one residue shorter than the mature nuclease A produced by S . aureus . Variation of the sodium chloride concentration in the growth medium had a marked influence on the location and the processing of SNase by C . glutamicum . In a complex growth medium containing 4% sodium chloride, SNase was exclusively located in the supernatant, but a significant amount of the enzyme remained cell associated if the strain was grown in a low-salt medium . Also, high salt concentrations seemed to inhibit processing of the high-molecular-weight form of SNase (B form) to the smaller A form . Similarities and differences in the export and modes of processing of SNase by three different, nonrelated gram-positive host organisms are discussed . Finally, a versatile Escherichia coli-C . glutamicum tac-lacIq expression shuttle vector was constructed . With this vector, it was possible to achieve isopropyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible overexpression and secretion of SNase in C . glutamicum, whereby the expression level was dependent on the concentration of the inducer. Jpn J Antibiot, 1992 Mar, 45(3), 293 - 300 {Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological, and clinical studies on panipenem/betamipron in children}; Tajima T et al.; Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies were performed on panipenem/betamipron (PAPM/BP) in children . The results are summarized as follow: 1 . Twelve patients with various bacterial infectious diseases were treated with PAPM/BP . Each dose was 20 mg/20 mg/kg, administered 3 times daily, in 30-minute intravenous drip infusion . Treatments were continued for 5-22 days . Clinical efficacies of PAPM/BP in 12 patients with bacterial infections (1 with suspected sepsis, 5 with pneumonia, 1 with acute maxillary sinusitis, 2 with acute otitis media, 1 with cervical abscess and 2 with urinary tract infection complexed type) were evaluated as excellent in 7, good in 4 and fair in 1, with an efficacy rate of 91.7% . Seventeen causative organisms found in 10 patients (Haemophilus influenzae in 4, Branhamella catarrhalis in 3, Streptococcus pneumoniae in 2, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 2, Staphylococcus aureus in 1, alpha-Streptococcus in 1, Corynebacterium sp . in 1, Peptostreptococcus micros in 1 and Klebsiella pneumoniae in 2) were eradicated except 2 strains (S . aureus and P . aeruginosa) from 1 patient (patient No . 2) . No adverse reactions were observed in any of the 12 patients . 2 . MICs of PAPM were examined against 22 clinical isolates (H . influenzae 5, B . catarrhalis 3, alpha-Streptococcus 3, S . pneumoniae 2, Corynebacterium sp . 2, S . aureus 1, P . aeruginosa 1, P . micros 1, Enterobacter cloacae 1, Escherichia coli 1, Group D Streptococcus 1 and Staphylococcus epidermidis 1) from children with bacterial infections . PAPM showed a good antibacterial activity comparable to the activity of cefoperazone (CPZ) against S . pneumoniae strains relatively tolerant to penicillins . However, the activity of PAPM against H . influenzae was somewhat weaker than that of CPZ . 3 . Pharmacokinetic studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Res Microbiol, 1992 Mar-Apr, 143(3), 307 - 13 Corynebacterium group D2 ("Corynebacterium urealyticum") constitutes a new genomic species; Riegel P et al.; Twenty-one Corynebacterium group D2 ("C . urealyticum") strains were found to constitute a tight DNA hybridization group distinct from named Corynebacterium species . The strains of Corynebacterium group D2 had cell wall component type IV, short chain mycolic acids and G+C content of DNA of 65-66 mol % . Corynebacterium group D2 constitutes a genomic species which can be identified by phenotypic tests. J Biol Chem, 1992 Feb 5, 267(4), 2487 - 93 Cyclohexadienyl dehydratase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Molecular cloning of the gene and characterization of the gene product; Zhao GS et al.; The gene encoding cyclohexadienyl dehydratase (denoted pheC) was cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by functional complementation of a pheA auxotroph of Escherichia coli . The gene was highly expressed in E . coli due to the use of the high-copy number vector pUC18 . The P . aeruginosa cyclohexadienyl dehydratase expressed in E . coli was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity . The latter enzyme exhibited identical physical and biochemical properties as those obtained for cyclohexadienyl dehydratase purified from P . aeruginosa . The activity ratios of prephenate dehydratase to arogenate dehydratase remained constant (about 3.3-fold) throughout purification, thus demonstrating a single protein having broad substrate specificity . The cyclohexadienyl dehydratase exhibited Km values of 0.42 mM for prephenate and 0.22 mM for L-arogenate, respectively . The pheC gene was 807 base pairs in length, encoding a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 30,480 daltons . This compares with a molecular mass value of 29.5 kDa determined for the purified enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Since the native molecular mass determined by gel filtration was 72 kDa, the enzyme probably is a homodimer . Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of pheC from P . aeruginosa with those of the prephenate dehydratases of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Bacillus subtilis, E . coli, and Pseudomonas stutzeri by standard pairwise alignments did not establish obvious homology . However, a more detailed analysis revealed a conserved motif (containing a threonine residue known to be essential for catalysis) that was shared by all of the dehydratase proteins. J Bacteriol, 1992 Feb, 174(4), 1268 - 72 DNA sequences and characterization of dtxR alleles from Corynebacterium diphtheriae PW8(-), 1030(-), and C7hm723(-); Boyd JM et al.; The structural gene encoding DtxR, an iron-dependent diphtheria tox regulatory element, has recently been cloned and sequenced from the C7(-) strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (J . M . Boyd, M . Oza, and J . R . Murphy, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . USA 87:5972, 1990) . We report here the molecular cloning, DNA sequence analysis, and characterization of DtxR from the PW8(-), 1030(-), and C7hm723 strains of C . diphtheriae . While the sequence of dtxR from PW8(-) is identical to that of the C7(-) allele, the sequence of dtxR from the 1030(-) strain is only 91.4% identical; however, the deduced amino acid sequence of DtxR from 1030(-) differs by only 6 of 678 amino acids . Moreover, DtxR from all three strains is shown to regulate expression of beta-galactosidase from a tox promoter-operator (toxPO)-lacZ transcriptional fusion . In contrast, the dtxR allele from the iron-insensitive tox constitutive mutant C7hm723 was found to have a single G----A transition, resulting in a substitution of Arg-47 to His and the loss of tox regulatory activity in recombinant Escherichia coli. Anticancer Drugs, 1992 Feb, 3(1), 39 - 42 Effects of intravesical Corynebacterium parvum on recurrences of superficial tumors of the urinary bladder; Raica M; We studied 96 patients with superficial tumors of the urinary bladder treated by transurethral resection in order to investigate the value of intravesical Corynebacterium parvum (CP) to prevent recurrences . In 52 cases, two vials (2 ml, 4 mg CP) diluted in 60 ml buffer saline were intravesically administered weekly 12 times and then monthly for a period of 2 years . All patients were studied in a 3 year follow-up by cytology, histology and endoscopy . Recurrences were observed in 21.1% of cases in the CP treated group and in 54.5% of cases in the untreated group . CP immunostimulation is less effective in preventing recurrences in patients with malignant cells as indicated by urine smears in the post-operative period . Morphological changes of the bladder wall due to CP administration in patients without recurrences are described . Chronic lymphocyte infiltrate appears to be an essential event for the action of CP as an adjuvant therapy in urinary bladder cancer. Rev Prat, 1992 Feb 1, 42(3), 284 - 7 {Current status on the epidemiology of acute pharyngitis and post-streptococcal syndromes}; Gehanno P et al.; So far, no ideal study providing an exhaustive knowledge of acute pharyngitis epidemiology has been carried out . What is available now is a number of investigations, all with deficiencies, which concern the duration of the disease (there may be seasonal variations), its limits in space and, above all, the number of pathogens sought for . A well-organized investigation span over at least one year, involve a fairly wide range of age-groups and be repeated in several countries . Bacterial epidemiology is dominated by beta-haemolytic streptococci group A, but other streptococcal groups, notably group C, have been incriminated . Other responsible bacteria, such as Haemophilus spp., Staphylococcus spp . and Corynebacterium spp., are extremely rare but most probable . Mycoplasma pneumoniae and perhaps Chlamydia pneumoniae are probably found more frequently . Rheumatic fever--which had virtually disappeared in medically advanced countries due to a higher level of life and to the general use of penicillin therapy--has reappeared in recent years, as shown by a few North-American epidemics . Such epidemics have come on time to remind us that we should be vigilant and continue, as in the past, to treat all streptococcal foci systematically, in order to prevent the occurrence of rheumatic fever. Mol Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 6(3), 317 - 26 Molecular analysis of the Corynebacterium glutamicum gdh gene encoding glutamate dehydrogenase; Bormann ER et al.; The Corynebacterium glutamicum gdh gene encoding NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) has been isolated by complementation of the Escherichia coli gdh mutant PA340 . The gdh gene was subcloned into the E . coli/C . glutamicum shuttle vector pEK0 and introduced into C . glutamicum . Recombinant strains showed approximately eightfold higher specific GDH activity (15U mg protein-1) relative to the wild type (1.8U mg protein-1) . Physiological studies with wild-type and recombinant C . glutamicum strains revealed no indication of significant regulation of gdh expression . The DNA sequence of 2082 bp, including the gdh gene, 5'-, and 3'-flanking regions, was determined . The structural gene consists of 1344 bp and codes for a polypeptide of 448 amino acid residues (Mr 49,152) showing up to 53.6% identity with reported amino acid sequences of glutamate dehydrogenases from other organisms . Northern blot hybridization revealed a 1.65kb mRNA transcript, indicating that the gdh gene of C . glutamicum is monocistronic . Transcription occurred from a G residue located 284 bp upstream of the AUG considered to be the translational initiation codon. J Leukoc Biol, 1992 Feb, 51(2), 188 - 98 Ovine mononuclear phagocytes in situ: identification by monoclonal antibodies and involvement in experimental pyogranulomas; Pepin M et al.; In order to characterize in situ the macrophages present in experimental pyogranulomas induced in lambs with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a set of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was produced following immunization of BALB/c mice with alveolar macrophages from healthy sheep . Three MAbs were retained after two steps of screening using alveolar macrophages, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes as target cells . Their reactivity was tested not only on macrophages in pyogranulomas but also on sections of various organs in steady-state conditions . One MAb, termed OM1, recognized the monocytes and the majority of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system in lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs . The two other MAbs, OM2 and OM3, reacted with a subpopulation of alveolar macrophages and with other cell types in tissues, in particular with endothelial cells for the MAb OM2 . On sections of experimental pyogranulomas that developed in lymph nodes draining the C . pseudotuberculosis-injected sites, MAb OM1 reacted with all the macrophages distributed in a palisade surrounding the necrotic center of the lesion from day 6 to day 28 postinoculation . The two other MAbs, OM2 and OM3, enabled two types of granulomas to be distinguished: one type was characterized by a large number of epithelioid cells stained by OM2; and the other was characterized by a few OM2-positive macrophages, whereas the OM3-positive cells were more numerous . These results show that macrophages are predominant cells in pyogranulomas and suggest two different histological patterns in the evolution of pyogranulomas induced by C . pseudotuberculosis, according to the immunological status of the host. Res Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 143(2), 191 - 8 Contribution of high-performance liquid chromatography to the identification of some Corynebacterium species by comparison of their corynomycolic acid patterns; De Briel D et al.; Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of corynomycolic acids provided a specific pattern for each Corynebacterium species studied . These data suggest that a fast and reproducible procedure is now available for bacteriological identification at the genus and at the species level of corynomycolic-acid-containing bacteria . Mass spectrometry analysis of post-column collected fractions provided the order of elution of some corynomycolic acids and isomers and showed the high specificity of the chromatographic assay which could be used for the routine bacteriological identification of some species belonging to the genus Corynebacterium. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1992 Jan 31, 1103(2), 250 - 8 Excretion of glutamate from Corynebacterium glutamicum triggered by amine surfactants; Duperray F et al.; Corynebacterium glutamicum is used for the industrial production of glutamate . Excretion of the amino acid may be induced by various means . We have analyzed the characteristics of glutamate excretion induced by two amine surfactants, dodecylammonium acetate (DA) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTA) . Addition of these surfactants induced an immediate efflux of internal glutamate . It also induced a perturbation of the energetic parameters of the cell (decrease of delta mu H, decrease of the internal ATP concentration) . The efflux was not the result of these perturbations: glutamate is taken up by the cells via an ATP-dependent unidirectional active transport system and no efflux took place as a consequence of an artificial decrease of the energetic parameters . In addition, amine surfactants also induced an excretion of other species, in particular potassium . We have tested the possibility that the effluxes result from a permeabilization of the lipid bilayer by analyzing the interactions between the surfactants and liposomes. Microbios, 1992, 70(284-285), 171 - 84 Immunomodulating activities of Corynebacterium xerosis cell-wall fractions; Paquet A Jr et al.; Corynebacterium xerosis cell-wall fractions were studied by electron microscopy and analysed for immunomodulating activity . Dramatic splenomegaly occurred following the injection of whole cells or a purified cell-wall fraction (PF), but not with a further purified peptidoglycan (PEP) fraction . Both PF and PEP acted as B-cell mitogens and had adjuvant capabilities comparable to commercial adjuvants . Only the PF fraction enhanced peritoneal natural killer cell (NK) activity, paralleling the splenomegaly response . When spleens from mice injected with PF or PEP were analysed for their abilities to respond to mitogens and for the presence of suppressor cells, reduced mitogenic responses occurred only in PF-injected mice during the peak of splenomegaly . Spleens from both PF- and PEP-injected mice contained suppressor cell activity which peaked 2 weeks post-injection . This activity was primarily directed at B-cell responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . C . xerosis cell-wall fractions thus offer great potential as a new immunomodulator. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1992 Jan, 14(1), 27 - 34 Effect of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) on Corynebacterium parvum-associated immunosuppression in mice; Frazier DE Jr et al.; These studies further investigate the immunoenhancement properties of UDMH by utilizing Corynebacterium parvum-induced immunosuppressed mice as well as evaluating activated macrophage production of reactive oxygen intermediates or their effects . Forty-eight hour Con A-induced lymphoblastogenic responses from splenocytes isolated from C . parvum and UDMH-treated Balb/C mice were significantly increased compared with C . parvum alone, although less than normal control mice (no treatment) . In vitro bioassay of IL-2 production in cell culture supernatant isolated from these same treatment groups exhibited a pattern of stimulation similar to that of lymphocyte blastogenesis . In addition, UDMH did not interfere with H2O2-mediated suppression of either Con A- or LPS-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis and actually enhanced suppression of Con A-induced lymphocyte cultures at 25 micrograms/ml . We also report that production of superoxide anion from TPA-activated peritoneal macrophages exposed to various concentrations of UDMH in vitro was not affected . Although in vivo exposure to UDMH partially reversed C . parvum-induced immunosuppression in mice, the exact mechanism by which UDMH acts to reverse this immune suppression is not clear . UDMH does not appear to interfere with either activated peritoneal macrophage production of superoxide anion or H2O2-induced suppression of lymphocyte blastogenesis to elicit immune enhancement. J Clin Pathol, 1992 Jan, 45(1), 46 - 8 Screening tests for pathogenic corynebacteria; Colman G et al.; AIM: To provide simple tests that would help in the identification of corynebacteria that produce diphtheria toxin . METHODS: A collection of 99 freshly isolated corynebacteria was assembled and the cultures identified by conventional tests confirmed by an identification kit . Modifications were made to procedures for preparation of the culture medium for the Elek test and to the test for detection of pyrazinamidase (pyrazine carboxylamidase) activity . These two together with an indicator medium for cystinase activity were applied to the collection of organisms . RESULTS: Cystinase was detected in all 61 members of the toxigenic species and none produced pyrazinamidase . In contrast, all but two of the 38 representatives of non-toxigenic species yielded pyrazinamidase and none formed cystinase . Of the 61 cystinase producing cultures (which were also pyrazinamidase negative), 21 gave a positive Elek test with the modified culture medium . A total of 30 of these 61 were tested for toxigenicity in guinea pigs and the results of the animal and plate tests concorded . At least seven cultures could have been reported as non-toxigenic if Elek tests based on media prepared in the conventional way had been the only test available . CONCLUSION: The three procedures described go some way towards meeting the needs of diagnostic laboratories for efficient procedures for distinguishing pathogenic corynebacteria. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1992 Jan, 42(1), 178 - 81 Classification of coryneform bacteria associated with human urinary tract infection (group D2) as Corynebacterium urealyticum sp . nov; Pitcher D et al.; Urealytic strains of coryneform bacteria that are designated Corynebacterium group D2 and are isolated from human urine are a cause of urinary tract infections . Cell wall and lipid analyses confirmed that these organisms are members of the genus Corynebacterium but can be separated from other species in the genus on the basis of DNA base composition and DNA-DNA hybridization values . Biochemically, strains in this taxon can be distinguished from other Corynebacterium spp . by their failure to produce acid from carbohydrates, by their failure to reduce nitrates, and by their ability to hydrolyze urea . We regard these bacteria as a new species of the genus Corynebacterium and propose the name Corynebacterium urealyticum . The type strain is strain NCTC 12011 (= ATCC 43042). J Urol, 1992 Jan, 147(1), 169 - 70 Struvite stone formation by Corynebacterium group F1: a case report; Digenis G et al.; Struvite stones are caused by urea-splitting, usually gram-negative, organisms . A case of aggressive struvite stone production caused by Corynebacterium group F1 is reported that responded to the appropriate antibiotic treatment . To our knowledge this organism has never been associated previously with struvite stone formation. Nat Immun, 1992 Jan-Feb, 11(1), 46 - 55 Nonspecific stimulation of host defense by Corynebacterium kutscheri . III . Enhanced cytokine induction by the active moiety of C . kutscheri; Kita E et al.; The present study was carried out to ascertain whether the active component of Corynebacterium kutscheri (CK-M) could stimulate host cells of mice to produce several cytokines . CK-M stimulated thioglycollate-induced peritoneal macrophages to produce interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) at concentrations of 1-100 ng/ml, and it also induced IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) as well as IL-6 production by splenocytes . Maximum production of each cytokine induced by CK-M was obtained at the following doses: IL-1 at 5 ng/ml, TNF-alpha at 50 ng/ml, IL-2 at 1 microgram/ml, IL-6 at 500 ng/ml and IFN-gamma at 750 ng/ml . In contrast, IL-4 was not produced to a significant extent by CK-M-stimulated splenocytes . Furthermore, when mice were intravenously injected with 20 micrograms of CK-M, IL-2 and IFN-gamma production by splenocytes, upon stimulation with either formalin-killed C . kutscheri or mitogens, was significantly higher on day 10 of treatment than on day 2 . Additionally, the cytotoxicity to L929 cells of this serum from CK-M-treated mice increased with time, and the activity in the serum of day 10 was not abrogated by the antibody to TNF-alpha . Data obtained here indicate that CK-M may preferentially stimulate type-1 helper T cells to produce IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and that the enhanced cytokine production could contribute to the nonspecific resistance induced by C . kutscheri. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1992 Jan, 14(1), 35 - 41 Influence of Corynebacterium parvum-PER on disease progression in the NZB/W model of systemic lupus erythematosus; Krause G et al.; Murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit some, but not all, of the characteristics of human disease . Disease progression in the animal models is regulated by autoantibodies, genetics and inflammatory processes . In the present study, the influence of the pyridine extract residue of Corynebacterium parvum Type I (CP-PER) on disease progression in the NZB/W model of SLE was investigated . CP-PER is known to activate the reticuloendothelial (RE) system of mice and can alter a number of host responses . Injection of NZB/W females with CP-PER at 10 weeks of age, prior to the onset of overt disease, led to a transient activation of the RE system which then appeared to return to levels observed in untreated animals . Sera from treated and untreated animals were analyzed for anti-nuclear antibodies, and anti-ssDNA antibodies . The most prominant change in the treated animals was an increase in the titer of anti-ssDNA . On average, animals in the early treatment group also lived somewhat longer than those in the untreated control group . Treatment of animals with CP-PER at 6 months of age, when the disease was evident, again led to transient RES activation and an altered autoantibody profile . Animals treated with CP-PER at 6 months of age exhibited a slightly accelerated death rate when compared with the untreated controls . These results indicate that bacterial response modifiers such as C . parvum-PER, which contains primarily the RES activating activity of C . parvum, can alter disease progression in the NZB/W model. Br Vet J, 1992 Jan-Feb, 148(1), 84 - 5 Pyometra in camels: case report; Chauhan RS et al.; Pyometra was recorded in five camels and Actinomyces pyogenes (Corynebacterium pyogenes) was isolated from pus of the affected camels. J Dairy Sci, 1992 Jan, 75(1), 85 - 95 Intramammary response to modified intramammary devices; Peters RR et al.; Twenty-five cows in three experiments were used to evaluate the following intramammary devices: abraded surfaces; abraded and sulfur hexafluoride-coated; abraded, sulfur hexafluoride-coated, and weighted; and smooth surfaces and weighted . The objectives of the experiments were 1) to determine whether coating the abraded intramammary devices prevented amorphous deposits and bacterial adherence on the devices, 2) to determine whether addition of weight to devices increased the concentration of somatic cells in milk, and 3) to evaluate milk production and response of mammary epithelial cells to the devices . Milk SCC and NAGase (EC 3.2.1.30) from quarters fitted with devices were increased in quarter bucket and stripping milk, but increases were similar among all devices . Macrophages were the predominate cell type in quarter milk before insertion and neutrophils after insertion . Moderate to heavy deposits of amorphous material were observed on all devices, regardless of time residing in the gland . Approximately 50% of the devices were colonized after intramammary inoculation with Corynebacterium bovis . Milk production in control quarters and in quarters with devices were similar . Neither coating with sulfur hexafluoride nor addition of weight to devices reduced amorphous deposits or bacterial adherence or enhanced milk somatic cell response. Vet Microbiol, 1992 Jan, 30(1), 47 - 58 Analysis of the immunodominant antigens of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis; Muckle CA et al.; Antibodies to seven antigens in a whole cell lysate of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis ranging in molecular mass from 22 to 120 kilodaltons (kDa) were present in sera of 40 sheep and goats infected with C . pseudotuberculosis . Three antigens of about 120, 68, and 31.5 kDa in size were consistently detected with sera from all animals and twenty-two sera had antibodies to 64, 43, 40, and 22 kDa antigens . None of these antigens were detected by sera from 160 sheep in a C . pseudotuberculosis-free research flock . An NaCl extract of C . pseudotuberculosis cells contained one major protein of about 31.5 kDa and four minor proteins of 68, 64, 43, and 22 kDa in molecular mass as shown by Coomassie Blue staining . Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the three immunodominant antigens identified in the whole cell extract were contained in the NaCl extract . The 31.5-kDa protein was purified from the NaCl extract by fast-protein liquid chromatography gel filtration to near homogeneity . The purified 31.5-kDa protein showed phospholipase D activity as indicated by synergistic hemolysis with Rhodococcus equi factors and sphingomyelinase activity . The 31.5-kDa protein reacted with antibodies in serum from a sheep naturally infected with C . pseudotuberculosis . This serum also had phospholipase D neutralizing activity . On the basis of its molecular mass, biological activity, N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, and immunoreactivity, the 31.5-kDa protein was identified as the phospholipase D exotoxin of C . pseudotuberculosis. Ophthalmologica, 1992, 204(4), 169 - 74 Superficial punctate keratopathy and bacterial growth in patients with unilateral aphakia using extended-wear soft contact lenses; Hayasaka S et al.; We prospectively examined corneal conditions and bacterial growth in 77 individuals with unilateral aphakia who were using extended-wear soft contact lenses . The ratios of positive bacterial growth (70.6-79.4%) from 34 patients with superficial punctate keratopathy were significantly higher than those (41.9-46.5%) from the 43 subjects with normal corneas . Bacterial growth was found frequently in patients with superficial punctate keratopathy who were older than 80 years and in those using soft contact lenses for more than 22 days . Several kinds of bacteria grew from the specimens . Among the most common were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium species . Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew from patients with superficial punctate keratopathy who were using extended-wear soft contact lenses. Ann Urol (Paris), 1992, 26(6-7), 340 - 3 {Encrusted pyelo-ureteritis}; Mhiri MN et al.; The authors report a case of right encrusted pyelo-ureteritis with no other sites, either in the bladder or on the other side . They discuss possible theories of pathogenesis of the encrusted plaques, and question how far corynebacterium, group D2, could be concerned in the genesis of such lesions. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1992, (9-10), 29 - 31 {The identification of nondiphtheritic bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium and the determination of their antibiotic sensitivity}; Kostiukovskaia ON et al.; A total of 221 patients with nonspecific inflammatory processes were studied with a view to determine the occurrence and species composition of microorganisms of the genus Corynebacterium on the mucous membrane and in the secretions of their genitals . Different representatives of this genus were detected in 23.1 +/- 3.5% of patients with cervicitis and endometritis and in 48.7 +/- 5.7% of patients with prostatitis . Among the isolated bacteria of this genus C . pseudogenitalium, C . genitalium and C . xerosis, as well as Corynebacterium cells of group JK, occurred most frequently . The strains under study were found to have high antibiotic resistance . On the basis of their cultural features, growth rate, the degree of contamination of the genitals and sensitivity to antibiotics, bacteria of this genus were differentiated into macro- and microcoryneforms. Folia Biol (Praha), 1992, 38(5), 284 - 92 Osteoblastic and chondroblastic response to a variety of locally administered immunomodulators in mice; Wlodarski KH et al.; Administration into mouse shank muscles of various immunomodulators which directly or indirectly activate lymphocytes (BCG, Con A, Carrageenan IV, Dextran, PHA-M, PWM, lipopolysaccharides from Corynebacterium) have a dual effect on local bones, stimulating both periosteal bone formation and bone resorption, the former being dominant . These effects vary in frequency and magnitude, the most potent stimulation of periosteal bone formation being observed after administration of Con A and BCG in complete Freund adjuvant . BCG was also a strong inducer of bone resorption in vivo . Concanavalin A and, to a lesser degree, other immunomodulators applied, when administered subcutaneously into the pinna, also have induced perichondrial chondrogenesis . These novel effects of immunodulators could be applied in the field of skeletal tissues regeneration. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol, 1992, 13(6), 486 - 9 Prospects for preneoplasia immuno-detection and cancer immuno-prevention; Corocleanu M; The three traditional modalities of cancer treatment: surgery, radio- and chemotherapy, even when applied in optimal fashion, leave over 50% of incurable patients, because of the metastatic disease . Hence the importance of preventive methods in cancer, by directing attention to the detection and treatment of preneoplasia . Focal preneoplastic lesions have been observed prior to the appearance of malignant epithelial tissues . The phenotypic patterns of preneoplasia seem to be as varied as those of neoplasia . In the frame of persistent multicellular hyperplasia, the appearance of enzyme-altered foci is supposed to be related to the origin of neoplasia, and in this sense these lesions can be considered pre-neoplasia . If there is any immune reaction to the non-self promoted by these lesions, their detection and their enhancement or induction by a vaccine would be a cancer immuno-prevention . Preliminary experiments and clinical pilot studies have shown a specific host-resistance to a pharmaceutical placental suspension (PS), when injected intradermally (DTHS-reactivity test) in patients with clinical conditions having, as histopathological substratum, a cellular adaptive (reactive) or neoplastic proliferation . Boosting this reaction by an adjuvant (BCG, corynebacterium parvum, etc.) would be an immunotherapeutic approach to cancer, as adjunct to standard treatments and in preneoplastic-bearing patients an immuno-preventive method in cancer . In vitro studies have shown that a glycoprotein of MW 40 kDa (P40), from an extract of placental suspension (PS) is recognized by patients' serum, (Ouchterlony's technique) . The monospecific rabbit antiserum (MRA) raised to P40 glycoprotein also reacts with the serum of patients with positive DTHS reactions to PS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1992 Jan, 66(1), 87 - 92 {Four cases of respiratory tract infections caused by Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum}; Yoshitomi Y et al.; Four cases of respiratory tract infections caused by Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum were reported . The first two patients developed pneumonia with Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum during steroid therapy used against their underlying diseases . The other two patients had acute exacerbation of chronic pulmonary diseases caused by C . pseudodiphtheriticum . These four patients improved by antibiotic therapy . Though nondiphtheria corynebacteria are regarded as "normal flora" when they are isolated from sputum, they should be recognized as potential pathogens. Invest Clin, 1992, 33(1), 5 - 12 {Cytopathogenic effect of diphtheria exotoxin in cultured chick embryo fibroblasts}; Teruel-Lopez E et al.; One hundred fifty strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae were studied from patients with symptoms of diphtheria and from healthy persons . 136 strains (90.67%) belonged to the mitis biotype, 12 (8.0%) and 2 (1.33%) to gravis and intermedius biotypes respectively . Toxigenicity was determined by traditional in vivo methods with rabbits and plaque immunodiffusion in KL-virulence medium . From the 136 mitis biotype strains studied, 130 (95.58%) showed positive toxigenicity by both methods and 11 strains (91.66%) from gravis biotype and 2 (100%) of intermedius biotype gave same results . The cellular cytotoxicity of the diphtheriae toxin was tested on culture of chicken embryo fibroblast and were positive in 132 (97.05%) strains of mitis biotype, and in all strains of gravis and intermedius biotypes . These results suggest that the cytotoxicity test seems to be a more sensitive method for detecting diphtheriae toxin production. Gut, 1992 Jan, 33(1), 132 - 4 Whipple's disease complicated by a retinal Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction: a case report; Playford RJ et al.; A 36 year old white man was diagnosed as having Whipple's disease after a prolonged illness of lethargy, night sweats, and weight loss associated with lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly . Biopsy specimen of an inguinal lymph node confirmed the presence of periodic acid Schiff positive macrophages and culture gave a pure growth of Corynebacterium jeikeium . Twelve hours after the introduction of oral co-trimoxazole and streptomycin the patient's condition deteriorated . He became confused, feverish, and developed florid retinal vasculitis with associated visual impairment . Both the systemic symptoms and the retinal vasculitis responded to treatment with corticosteroids and his vision returned to normal . We think this was a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction not previously described in Whipple's disease and advise inspection of the fundi of such patients before starting treatment. Arch Microbiol, 1992, 158(1), 42 - 7 The effect of various culture conditions on the levels of ammonia assimilatory enzymes of Corynebacterium callunae; Ertan H; Corynebacterium callunae (NCIB 10338) grows faster on glutamate than ammonia when used as sole nitrogen sources . The levels of glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT; EC 1.4.1.13) of C . callunae were found to be influenced by the nitrogen source . Accordingly, the levels of GS and GOGAT activities were decreased markedly under conditions of ammonia excess and increased under low nitrogen conditions . In contrast, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH; EC 1.4.1.4) activities were not significantly affected by the type or the concentration of the nitrogen source supplied . The carbon source in the growth medium could also affect GDH, GS and GOGAT levels . Of the carbon sources tested in the presence of 2 mM or 10 mM ammonium chloride as the nitrogen source pyruvate, acetate, fumarate and malate caused a decrease in the levels of all three enzymes as compared with glucose . GDH, GS and GOGAT levels were slightly influenced by aeration . Also, the enzyme levels varied with the growth phase . Methionine sulfoximine, an analogue of glutamine, markedly inhibited both the growth of C . callunae cells and the transferase activity of GS . The apparent Km values of GDH for ammonia and glutamate were 17.2 mM and 69.1 mM, respectively . In the NADPH-dependent reaction of GOGAT, the apparent Km values were 0.1 mM for alpha-ketoglutarate and 0.22 mM for glutamine. Arch Microbiol, 1992, 158(1), 35 - 41 Some properties of glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase from Corynebacterium callunae; Ertan H; Characteristics of the three major ammonia assimilatory enzymes, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GO-GAT) in Corynebacterium callunae (NCIB 10338) were examined . The GDH of C . callunae specifically required NADPH and NADP+ as coenzymes in the amination and deamination reactions, respectively . This enzyme showed a marked specificity for alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamate as substrates . The optimum pH was 7.2 for NADPH-GDH activity (amination) and 9.0 for NADP(+)-GDH activity (deamination) . The results showed that NADPH-GDH and NADP(+)-GDH activities were controlled primarily by product inhibition and that the feedback effectors alanine and valine played a minor role in the control of NADPH-GDH activity . The transferase activity of GS was dependent on Mn+2 while the biosynthetic activity of the enzyme was dependent on Mg2+ as essential activators . The pH optima for transferase and biosynthetic activities were 8.0 and 7.0, respectively . In the transfer reaction, the Km values were 15.2 mM for glutamine, 1.46 mM for hydroxylamine, 3.5 x 10(-3) mM for ADP and 1.03 mM for arsenate . Feedback inhibition by alanine, glycine and serine was also found to play an important role in controlling GS activity . In addition, the enzyme activity was sensitive to ATP . The transferase activity of the enzyme was responsive to ionic strength as well as the specific monovalent cation present . GOGAT of C . callunae utilized either NADPH or NADH as coenzymes, although the latter was less effective . The enzyme specifically required alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamine as substrates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Gen Microbiol, 1992 Jan, 138 ( Pt 1), 47 - 53 Cloning of dapD, aroD and asd of Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, and nucleotide sequence of the asd gene; Baril C et al.; Metabolites such as diaminopimelate and some aromatic derivatives, not synthesized in mammalian cells, are essential for growth of bacteria . As a first step towards the design of a new human live vaccine that uses attenuated strains of Leptospira interrogans, the asd, aroD and dapD genes, encoding aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 3-dehydroquinase and tetrahydrodipicolinate N-succinyltransferase, respectively, were cloned by complementation of Escherichia coli mutants . The complete nucleotide sequence of the asd gene was determined and found to contain an open reading frame capable of encoding a protein of 349 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 38,007 . Comparison of this deduced L . interrogans aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase amino acid sequence with those of the same enzyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Corynebacterium glutamicum revealed 46% and 36% identity, respectively . By contrast, the identity between the L . interrogans enzyme and the Streptococcus mutans or E . coli enzymes was less than 31% . Highly conserved sequences within aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase from the five organisms were observed at the amino and carboxyl termini, and around the cysteine of the active site. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1992, 37(6), 455 - 60 Effect of crude bacterial lipids on the course of Listeria infection in mice; Mara M et al.; Crude lipids from 37 strains belonging to 32 bacterial species were isolated . By injecting mice with lipids 5 d prior to challenge with a virulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes, immunostimulatory activity in 19 preparations was found . In general, lipids of Gram-negative bacteria appeared to be more effective . As to bacilli, an extraordinary activity was found in the lipids of Bacillus firmus . Lipids of various species of the genus Listeria were found to be active in approximately one-half of cases . Among other Gram-positive bacteria, significant activity of lipids was found in Corynebacterium xerosis, Propionibacterium acnes and BCG . The composition of fatty acids in the lipids did not differ significantly from that reported in the literature and their mutual differences could not explain the different biological activity . In selected strains of Gram-negative bacteria lipids were repeatedly purified with anhydrous chloroform; these preparations were found to be inactive as compared with original chloroform-methanol lipids. Chin J Biotechnol, 1992, 8(3), 203 - 9 Estimation for model parameters of batch fermentation kinetics; Fang B et al.; Based on the widely accepted mathematical model of fermentation kinetics, an analytical solution is deduced in this paper . To describe the feature of batch fermentation, the parameters of the fermentation kinetics in the analytical solution (i.e., mumax, Ks, beta, YG, YP, and m) are estimated at one strike with POWELL optimization algorithm coded in FORTRAN-77 . The experimental data in the example is quoted from a batch lysine fermentation process using Corynebacterium glutamicum . The result shows that: 1) the calculated values of the mathematical model agree very well with the experimental data; 2) the synthesis rate of lysine depends on both the growth rate and the concentration of the biomass. J Fr Ophtalmol, 1992, 15(6-7), 378 - 83 {Chronic Corynebacterium endophthalmitis . Apropos of 3 cases}; Salvanet-Bouccara A et al.; Only a few isolated cases of endophthalmitis have Corynebacterium been implicated as etiology . This diphtheroid, which has been considered for a long time as a nonpathogenic contaminant from the conjunctival flora, may produce systemic diseases usually in immuno-deficient patients . Keratitis and endophthalmitis cases have been reported in the literature . We report three cases of chronic endophthalmitis after extracapsular extraction with intraocular chamber posterior lens which are characterized by many subacute iridocyclitis and vitritis attacks treated by topical steroids . These endophthalmitis are characterized by decrease of visual acuity, hypopion, white plaque on posterior capsule and vitritis . In the first case, Corynebacterium has been isolated from the culture of vitreous and in the second and third cases from the culture of aqueous humor . These bacteria are often very slow growing, 8 to 14 days in the 3 cases . Colonies may not become visible on culture plates before one week or more . Corynebacterium grow well on ordinary media (blood and chocolate agar) . The major difficulty is not to discard organism frequently considered contaminants . The treatment associated systemic antibiotherapy with steroids or not, central capsulotomy and vitrectomy with intraocular injection of antibiotic with or without steroids . Antibiotics sensitivities among diphteroids vary greatly . Quinolones, penicillins, vancomycin, cyclines and aminosides are often a good choice . However, individual sensitivities determined by the antibiogram must be used for an appropriate treatment. Mech Ageing Dev, 1991 Dec 31, 61(3), 237 - 47 Failure of dietary restriction to enhance cytolytic and chemiluminescent activity of peritoneal exudate cells from ageing rats; Riley-Roberts ML et al.; Investigations into the cytolytic activity of peritoneal macrophages from male Sprague-Dawley rats (activated in vivo with Corynebacterium parvum) utilised SV40-3T3 and L-929 target cells in a 72 h {3H}thymidine release assay . The dietary restricted rats under test were given a measured amount of food from weaning sufficient