Corynebacter

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 to maintain their body weights at approximately 50% of age-matched controls fed ad libitum . Cytolytic activity was similar in the two dietary groups at both 13 and 21 months of age, nor were chemiluminescent responses of peritoneal cells to latex or zymosan particles affected by the dietary restriction . No differences were seen in the effectiveness of zymosan particles opsonised with serum pooled from dietary restricted versus control rats in stimulating chemiluminescent responses by standard preparations of peritoneal cells, and concentrations of serum C3 and IgG appeared to be unchanged by the dietary regime.

Orv Hetil, 1991 Dec 30, 132(52), 2911 - 2, 2917-8
{Purulent meningitis, caused by Corynebacterium xerosis, after spinal anesthesia}; Vukmirovits G et al.; A previously healthy 25 year old sportsman is reported who developed Corynebacterium xerosis meningitis with coma and seizures after spinal anaesthesia . The adequate therapy (dexamethason, penicillin, ampicillin, mannitol, intensive care, hyperventillation) resulted in a complete recovery . To the authors' knowledge this is the first case of Corynebacterium xerosis meningitis and the first bacterial meningitis reported after spinal anaesthesia in Hungary.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Dec, 35(12), 2587 - 90
Treatment of encrusted cystitis caused by Corynebacterium group D2 with norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and teicoplanin in an experimental model in rats; Soriano F et al.; Oral doses of norfloxacin (80 mg/kg of body weight per day) and ciprofloxacin (25 and 80 mg/kg/day) and intramuscular doses of teicoplanin (5 mg/kg/day), all administered once a day for 10 days, were evaluated as a means of preventing encrusted cystitis caused by Corynebacterium group D2 . Zinc disks dipped into a 24-h broth culture of these microorganisms were inserted into the bladders of female Wistar rats, and treatment was started 14 days after bacterial challenge . The appearance of encrusted cystitis was directly related to a documented urinary tract infection by these coryneforms (71.7 and 0% for rats with positive and negative urine cultures, respectively) . All rats that died between days 18 to 43 after bacterial challenge presented very severe encrusted cystitis, which was prevented by teicoplanin and high doses of ciprofloxacin . Rats surviving up to day 44 after bacterial challenge were sacrificed; they presented a lower incidence of encrusted cystitis which was also less severe, with teicoplanin and a high dose of ciprofloxacin being more active in reducing the rate of positive cultures (78.8 and 65.7% reduction, respectively) . All antibiotics and doses used were active in vivo at preventing encrusted cystitis by Corynebacterium group D2, but the best therapeutic effect was obtained with teicoplanin.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1991 Dec, 9(10), 627 - 9
{Bacteremic pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi and HIV infection . Report of a new case and review of the literature}; Roca V et al.; Rhodococcus equi (Corynebacterium equi) is able to produce infections not only in animals but also in patients, usually immunosuppressed ones . We report a new case of bacteremic pneumonia in a drug addict who was also infected by HIV . X-ray film of the chest showed a cavitated infiltrate in right upper lobe . R . equi was recovered from blood, respiratory secretions and lung tissue . The patient was with a prolonged course of antibiotics and also surgical treatment . In spite of both therapies, the patient died . We believe that this infection has to be considered in HIV infected patients with cavitated pneumonia and that early surgical treatment, combined with a prolonged course of multiple antibiotics, is advisable . Finally, in view of the severity of this infection, and its relation with other opportunistic infections, we believe that could be included as AIDS diagnostic criteria.

Semin Respir Infect, 1991 Dec, 6(4), 204 - 16
Vaccine-preventable respiratory infections in childhood; Connelly KK et al.; In the past decade, immunization rates among preschool-age children in the United States have decreased to levels lower than those in many developing countries . As a result, epidemics of vaccine-preventable diseases have occurred, especially in urban areas . Six of the infections prevented by immunization--those caused by Bordetella pertussis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, measles virus, and influenza virus--frequently cause respiratory tract disease . Pneumonia in children may have subtle presentations and require special considerations depending on the age and condition of the child and the current rate of disease in the community . In addition to the epidemics occurring throughout the country, the growing number of immunocompromised children has also influenced diagnostic, treatment, and prevention considerations . These patients include children with cancer, organ transplants, congenital immune disorders, sickle cell disease, human immunodeficiency virus infection, as well as other disorders that lead to increased risk of infection . The current recommendations for routine and special childhood immunizations are reviewed in this article.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Dec, 10(12), 1056 - 7
Corynebacterium CDC group A-4 native valve endocarditis; Lifshitz A et al.; A patient with endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium CDC Group A-4 is described . This is the first case in the literature of endocarditis caused by this bacteria, and is unique in that the patient was immune competent and the infection occurred on a native valve . This case illustrates that corynebacteria cannot be considered a contaminant and that the exact pathogen should be identified.

Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1991 Dec, 38(10), 743 - 8
Selective medium containing fosfomycin, nalidixic acid, and culture supernatant of Rhodococcus equi for isolation of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis; Zhao HK et al.; FNR medium containing fosfomycin, nalidixic acid, bovine blood and culture supernatant of Rhodococcus equi was prepared by the present authors, and the medium did not inhibit growth of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis but completely hampered the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli . The culture supernatant of R . equi facilitated detection of suspected colonies of C . pseudotuberculosis due to synergistic hemolysis . Rate of isolation of the organisms (from the trachea, larynx and nasal cavity of 16 slaughtered sheep with caseous abscess in the lung) was higher with FNR, the selective medium, than with nonselective medium . The selective medium was thus found to be useful for isolation of C . pseudotuberculosis from sheep.

J Clin Pathol, 1991 Dec, 44(12), 1025 - 6
Rapid screening for toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae by the polymerase chain reaction; Pallen MJ; The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to discriminate between toxigenic and non-toxigenic isolates of Corynebacterium diphtheriae . Primers specific to the diphtheria toxin gene were used to amplify a toxin gene fragment from simple boiled-cell preparations . Eight recent clinical isolates and four reference strains were tested . The result of the PCR agreed with the traditional toxigenicity assays (the Elek test and guinea pig inoculation) in all cases . PCR has several advantages over the Elek test: it gives a same-day result, it works on colonies taken from selective media, and it detects the toxin gene in mixed cultures . One potential drawback is that the PCR might give a false positive result with the occasional isolate carrying an inactive toxin gene . The good predictive value of a negative PCR result, however, should make it a valuable screening test.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1991 Dec, 86(3), 532 - 6
Inhibition of immune reactions in vivo by liposome associated transforming growth factor (TGF) type beta 1; Strassmann G et al.; In view of its potent inhibitory capacity on immune cells in culture, we wished to determine the ability of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta 1 to down-regulate immune responses in vivo . Preliminary experiments suggested that, at the doses used, systemic injection of soluble TGF beta 1 could not affect bacterial-induced spleen enlargement in mice . Therefore, we sought to utilize a physiochemical property of this molecule, namely its high pI, to determine possible association between the ligand and preformed liposomes possessing an opposite charge . TGF beta 1 was preferentially associated with negatively charged, but not with neutral, liposomes . These TGF beta 1 associated liposomes were able to deliver a suppressive signal to indicator cells in vitro . Intravenous injection of TGF beta 1, associated with liposomes possessing an opposite charge, into mice immunized with heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum significantly reduced the size of the spleen as well as the number of splenocytes . Systemically administered TGF beta 1 associated liposomes could also inhibit delayed type hypersensitivity reactions to Listeria monocytogenes . These data suggest that appropriately administered, TGF beta 1 can inhibit immune responses in vivo.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Dec, 19(4), 257 - 62
Infective complications associated with the use of the Quinton 'Permcath' for long-term central vascular access in haemodialysis; Dryden MS et al.; The major complication of central venous catheterization for immediate access for haemodialysis is infection . The Quinton Permcath is a tunnelled, double lumen, flexible silastic catheter with a Dacron cuff, and is claimed to be associated with a low rate of infection . In a two-year study we have monitored all complications including catheter-associated infection related to this device in haemodialysis patients while following a simple aseptic programme for the care of the catheter exit wound . Thirty four Permcaths were inserted in 30 patients for a mean duration of 6.2 months (SD +/- 5.7; range 2 days to 23 months) . Catheter use amounted to a total of 197 months . Of twenty-seven catheter wound infections, 6 (22%) were caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and 15 (56%) by coagulase-negative staphylococci or corynebacteria . These occurred in 19 patients, giving an exit site infection rate of one episode per 7.4 catheter months . Catheter-associated septicaemia occurred in three patients (two S . aureus, one S . epidermidis), at a rate of one episode per 66 months . It was possible to correlate three episodes of infection with breakdown in aseptic care . This study confirms the low rate of infection associated with the use of the Permcath, and we conclude that the design of the device and aseptic care of the catheter and its wound contribute to this.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Dec, 5(12), 2995 - 3005
Molecular analysis of the Corynebacterium glutamicum lysl gene involved in lysine uptake; Seep-Feldhaus AH et al.; Two Corynebacterium glutamicum mutants defective in lysine uptake were identified by analysing mutants resistant to S-(2-aminoethyl)-cysteine (AEC) . A 5.6 kb genomic DNA fragment restoring AEC sensitivity and lysine uptake was isolated . A 4.2 kb subfragment was sequenced and three open reading frames were identified . Subcloning and gene disruption experiments showed that only the first open reading frame, termed lysl, is involved in lysine uptake . Lysl consists of 501 amino acids with a Mr of 53600 . The hydrophobicity profile suggests that the lysl gene product is an integral membrane protein with 13 transmembrane segments . The amino acid sequence of lysl displays strong homology to that of the arcD gene product of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is proposed to act as an arginine-ornithine antiporter . Investigation of the influence of the lysl gene on lysine secretion suggests the existence of a separate lysine efflux system in C . glutamicum.

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Nov 15, 202(1), 131 - 5
Lysine excretion by Corynebacterium glutamicum . 1 . Identification of a specific secretion carrier system; Broer S et al.; Corynebacterium glutamicum effectively excretes lysine when the internal lysine concentration is elevated . Lysine efflux was investigated using selected mutants which are not able to regulate lysine biosynthesis by feedback inhibition . Secretion of lysine is not the consequence of unspecific permeability of the plasma membrane but is mediated by a secretion carrier which is specific for lysine . Lysine export is characterized by high activation energy and follows Michaelis-Menten type kinetics with an internal Km of 20 mM and a Vmax of 12 nmol.min-1.mg dry cells-1 . Excretion can proceed against a preexisting chemical gradient and against the electrical potential, which rules out a previously suggested pore model . Lysine excretion can also be observed in the wild-type strain especially under conditions of peptide uptake . Its possible physiological function may be related to regulation of internal amino acid concentrations under special growth conditions.

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Nov 15, 202(1), 137 - 43
Lysine excretion by Corynebacterium glutamicum . 2 . Energetics and mechanism of the transport system; Broer S et al.; Lysine excretion in Corynebacterium glutamicum was characterized as secondary transport process . It is modulated by three forces: the membrane potential, the chemical potential of lysine, and the proton gradient . The ATP content of the cells did not correlate with the export activity . Lysine is excreted in symport with presumably two OH- ions which is not distinguishable experimentally from an antiport mechanism against two protons . The substrate-loaded carrier is uncharged . When the external substrate concentration is low and no proton gradient present, reorientation of the positively charged, unloaded carrier is rate-limiting . Export then depends on the membrane potential . When the external substrate is high, translocation of the loaded, uncharged carrier is rate-limiting, and export is not modulated by the membrane potential . The lysine secretion system in C . glutamicum is shown to be well adapted to the requirements of metabolite export.

Int J Cancer, 1991 Nov 11, 49(5), 796 - 800
Modulation of tumoricidal activity, induced in bone-marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes by interferon gamma or Corynebacterium parvum, by interferon beta, tumor necrosis factor, prostaglandin E2, and transforming growth factor beta; Keller R et al.; Among a series of agents, including various interleukins and growth factors, only interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum (CP) organisms were able to elicit, within 24 hr, tumoricidal activity in bone-marrow-derived mononuclear (BMM) phagocytes . In subsequent experiments, the abilities of interferon beta (IFN beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and transforming growth factor beta (TFG beta), alone or in combinations of 2, to modulate tumoricidal activity triggered in BMM phagocytes by IFN gamma or CP, were compared . In concentrations secreted by macrophages under physiological conditions, these agents proved potent in modulating induction and/or expression of tumoricidal activity . However, their ability to interfere with tumoricidal activity varied considerably, depending on the extent of macrophage differentiation and/or functional responsiveness, the pathway of macrophage activation, the type, concentration and combination of the macrophage secretory molecules, and on whether the agents were present during induction and expression or only during expression of tumoricidal activity . In showing that IFN beta and TNF alpha were mostly enhancing and TGF beta mostly suppressive, whereas PGE2 suppressed induction but enhanced expression of tumoricidal activity, our findings provide further support for the concept that these macrophage-derived molecules have a key role in autocrine regulation of macrophage functional activities.

Mayo Clin Proc, 1991 Nov, 66(11), 1165 - 70
Vancomycin; Wilhelm MP; Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is active against staphylococci, streptococci, and other gram-positive bacteria . It is the drug of choice for the treatment of infections due to methicillin-resistant staphylococci, Corynebacterium jeikeium, and multiply resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Vancomycin is an alternative treatment for serious staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, including endocarditis, when allergy precludes the use of penicillins and cephalosporins . Vancomycin is bactericidal against most strains of staphylococci and nonenterococcal streptococci . Although rare strains of staphylococci and enterococci that are resistant to vancomycin have been reported, bacterial resistance has thus far not emerged as a major clinical problem despite widespread use of vancomycin . When therapy is monitored by periodic determinations of serum concentrations of the drug and rapid infusion rates are avoided, vancomycin is rarely associated with serious toxicity.

J Immunol, 1991 Nov 1, 147(9), 3149 - 55
IFN-gamma modulates the early development of Th1 and Th2 responses in a murine model of cutaneous leishmaniasis; Scott P; Resistance to Leishmania major in mice is associated with the generation of distinct CD4+ Th subsets, termed TH1 and TH2 . To define the factors contributing to the genesis of these Th cells, we first investigated when these subsets developed following L . major infection . Lymph node (LN) cells collected 3 days after infection of BALB/c mice secreted IL-4 and IL-5 in vitro, but little IFN-gamma, whereas LN cells from a resistant strain, C3H/HeN, secreted IFN-gamma and no IL-4 or IL-5 . Cytokine production was eliminated in both cases by in vivo or in vitro depletion of CD4+ cells, but not after depletion of CD8+ cells . Similar responses were observed after inoculation of killed promastigotes or a soluble leishmanial Ag preparation . These data indicate that the development of Th1- and Th2-like responses can precede lesion formation and does not require a live infection . We next investigated whether IFN-gamma was important in the differentiation of Th1 and Th2 cells . C3H/HeN mice have previously been shown to be susceptible to leishmanial infection after treatment with anti-IFN-gamma . We confirmed this observation and found that the abrogation of resistance was associated with enhanced production of IL-4 and IL-5, and decreased production of IFN-gamma by cells taken from these mice . Conversely, LN cells from BALB/c mice inoculated with parasites plus IFN-gamma produced significantly higher levels of IFN-gamma, and decreased levels of IL-4 and IL-5, than mice infected with parasites alone . Finally, we determined if IFN-gamma might augment vaccine induced immunity . We found that s.c . immunization with soluble leishmanial Ag, the bacterial adjuvant, Corynebacterium parvum and IFN-gamma could protect mice against L . major infection, and that this protection was associated with induction of Th1 responses . From these data we conclude that levels of IFN-gamma at the time of infection or immunization dramatically alters the type of response elicited: high levels of IFN-gamma favor Th1 type responses, whereas low levels promote a Th2 response.

Arch Esp Urol, 1991 Nov, 44(9), 1069 - 72
{Corynebacterium D2 as a ureolytic organism: report of 5 cases}; Garcia Diez F et al.; Corynebacterium D2, a saprophytic microorganism of skin, causes alkaline encrusted cystitis in patients with a previous bladder injury . In 5 patients that had presented this nosological entity, these gram-positive rods were isolated in urine cultures and calculi . Four patients had undergone urological instrumentation maneuvers and one patient (female) had a history of recurrent cystitis from gram-negative bacteria . Corynebacterium D2 grows slowly and under certain conditions, as those described above, must be considered pathological despite counts of less than 100,000/ufc-cc . It is ureolytic and highly resistant to antibiotics . The synergistic effects of antimicrobials, acetohydroxamic acid and transurethral resection of the lithiasic plaques achieve satisfactory treatment of alkaline encrusted cystitis from Corynebacterium D2.

Immunobiology, 1991 Nov, 183(5), 363 - 73
Macrophage tumor cell interaction is enhanced by C3 fragments; Lipari M et al.; We tested the capacity of Lewis Lung carcinoma cells (3LL) to activate the alternative pathway of complement and to bind the C3 fragments on the plasma membrane . C3 fragments were detected by cytofluorometry and by immunoblotting . In time, the fixed C3b molecules were further cleaved into iC3b . The presence of C3b/iC3b on the target enhanced the formation of conjugates with macrophages . In spite of increased contacts, macrophages from tumor bearing mice were not cytotoxic . Only preactivated macrophages, by in vivo treatment with Corynebacterium parvum, were shown to be cytotoxic; this function was potentiated when the target cells were opsonized with C3b/iC3b.

J Anim Sci, 1991 Nov, 69(11), 4259 - 72
Mastitis in beef cows and its effects on calf weight gain; Newman MA et al.; Quarter milk samples from 51 purebred (Angus, Polled Hereford, and Simmental) and 69 crossbred (Angus x Simmental x Charolais three-way cross) beef cows were collected aseptically at three times during lactation to determine the prevalence of intramammary infection, milk somatic cell counts (SCC), and effects of infection on calf weight gain . Quarter infection prevalence was 13.1, 14.9, and 27.5% in early, mid, and late lactation; corresponding cow infection prevalence was 25.8, 29.2, and 54.4% . Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 2.9, 2.7, and 3.2% of quarters in early, mid, and late lactation, respectively . Corynebacterium bovis, generally regarded as a minor pathogen, was isolated from 4.0, 7.6, and 18.2% of quarters at the three respective times . Geometric SCC means (10(3) cells/ml) were 1,522, 344, and 509 for S . aureus-infected quarters; 344, 899, and 221 for Staphylococcus hyicus-infected quarters; 65, 36, and 86 for C . bovis-infected quarters; and 20, 17, and 18 for uninfected quarters in early, mid, and late lactation, respectively . Adjusted 205-d weight gain for calves with S . aureus-infected dams was 9.6 kg less (P less than .05) than for calves with uninfected dams . Adjusted 205-d weight gain for calves with dams infected with any mastitis pathogen did not differ significantly from that of calves with uninfected dams . At weaning half of the infected cows and half of the uninfected cows were given an intramammary infusion product containing 300 mg of cephapirin benzathine in each quarter; the remaining cows were untreated controls . Quarter samples were collected aseptically from all cows 14 to 28 d after subsequent calving . Quarter prevalence of infection after calving was lower (P less than .05) in treated (8.2%) than in control (22.4%) cows . Significantly more infections present at weaning were eliminated in treated than in control cows, but the new infection rate during the dry period and early lactation did not differ between the two groups.

Infect Immun, 1991 Nov, 59(11), 3903 - 8
Characterization of a defective diphtheria toxin repressor (dtxR) allele and analysis of dtxR transcription in wild-type and mutant strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Schmitt MP et al.; The production of diphtheria toxin and siderophore by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae regulatory mutant C7(beta)hm723 is resistant to the inhibitory effects of iron, and the mutant strain is defective for function of the regulatory gene dtxR . A 2.8-kb HindIII fragment carrying the C7(beta)hm723 dtxR allele was cloned and characterized in Escherichia coli . The restriction endonuclease maps of the 2.8-kb HindIII fragment from C7(beta)hm723 and the corresponding fragment from wild-type C . diphtheriae C7 were identical . RNA dot blot analysis with total RNA isolated from wild-type C . diphtheriae C7 and C7(beta)hm723 indicated that the dtxR gene was transcribed at very low but equivalent levels in both strains and was not regulated by iron . beta-Galactosidase synthesis from a tox-lacZ translational fusion construct in E . coli in high-iron medium was not repressed by the C7(beta)hm723dtxR allele, but was strongly repressed by the wild-type dtxR gene . The 28- to 29-kDa polypeptide expressed from the mutant dtxR allele in E . coli had the same electrophoretic mobility as the wild-type dtxR gene product in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The nucleotide sequence of the coding region and the 5' upstream region of the C7(beta)hm723 dtxR allele was determined and compared with the wild-type nucleotide sequence . The dtxR allele from C7(beta)hm723 contained a single-base change located 140 nucleotides from the 5' start of the gene, which resulted in replacement of arginine in the wild-type sequence by histidine in the mutant protein . These data demonstrate that C7(beta)hm723 expresses a mutant DtxR repressor protein that is severely defective in repressor activity.

Gene, 1991 Oct 30, 107(1), 53 - 9
A C-terminal deletion in Corynebacterium glutamicum homoserine dehydrogenase abolishes allosteric inhibition by L-threonine; Archer JA et al.; In Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacterium glutamicum, homoserine dehydrogenase (HD), the enzyme after the branch point of the threonine/methionine and lysine biosynthetic pathways, is allosterically inhibited by L-threonine . To investigate the regulation of the C . glutamicum HD enzyme by L-threonine, the structural gene, hom, was mutated by UV irradiation of whole cells to obtain a deregulated allele, homdr . L-Threonine inhibits the wild-type (wt) enzyme with a Ki of 0.16 mM . The deregulated enzyme remains 80% active in the presence of 50 mM L-threonine . The homdr gene mutant was isolated and cloned in E . coli . In a C . glutamicum wt host background, but not in E . coli, the cloned homdr gene is genetically unstable . The cloned homdr gene is overexpressed tenfold in C . glutamicum and is active in the presence of over 60 mM L-threonine . Sequence analysis revealed that the homdr mutation is a single nucleotide (G1964) deletion in codon 429 within the hom reading frame . The resulting frame-shift mutation radically alters the structure of the C terminus, resulting in ten amino acid (aa) changes and a deletion of the last 7 aa relative to the wt protein . These observations suggest that the C terminus may be associated with the L-threonine allosteric response . The homdr mutation is unstable and probably deleterious to the cell . This may explain why only one mutation was obtained despite repeated mutagenesis.

Gene, 1991 Oct 30, 107(1), 69 - 74
Characterization of pGA1, a new plasmid from Corynebacterium glutamicum LP-6; Sonnen H et al.; A new plasmid, pGA1, has been isolated from Corynebacterium glutamicum LP-6, and its detailed restriction map has been prepared . The 4.9-kb plasmid has a G + C content of 57% . It replicates in C . glutamicum ATCC13032 and is compatible with the three other plasmids, pCC1, pBL1 and pHM1519, commonly used for vector construction for amino acid-producing corynebacteria . Fusions of pGA1 with different Escherichia coli replicons (transferred from E . coli to Corynebacterium via transformation of spheroplasts or by filter mating experiments with intact cells) are shown to be suitable as shuttle plasmids; some of them are highly stable in C . glutamicum, even when propagated without any selection pressure.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1991 Oct, 86(1), 13 - 8
Lymphocyte subpopulations in pyogranulomas of caseous lymphadenitis; Walker J et al.; Pyogranulomas of ovine caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) are encapsulated lesions resulting from infections with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a bacterial pathogen able to grow within macrophages . Immunohistology of CLA lesions showed a band of lymphocytes lining the inside of the collagen capsule in intimate contact with necrotic tissue, the intracapsular lymphocytes being organized into three layers . The innermost layer, immediately adjacent to the central necrotic tissue consisted of a narrow band of MHC class II staining macrophages . Cells staining for CD4, CD8 and gamma delta T cell markers were unevenly distributed throughout the lymphoid layer, tending to be more numerous immediately external to the macrophage layer . The intracapsular lymphoid tissue contained a high proportion of CD8+ lymphocytes (CD4:CD8, 1.5:1) and of gamma delta lymphocytes (CD4:CD8:gamma delta, 1:0.7:0.8) . External to the T cell-rich zone and adjacent to the surrounding collagen capsule was a dense band of cells, a proportion of which stained atypically for CD45R and were tentatively identified as B cells . CD8+ and gamma delta+ T cells showed similar distributions and their relative abundance, compared with CD4+ T cells, was a distinguishing feature of the CLA lesion . Staining for factor VIII-related antigen clearly showed endothelial venules throughout the intracapsular lymphoid tissue . The presence of endothelial venules and the organized architecture of the lymphoid tissue teleologically argues that lymphocytes are continually recruited into chronic CLA lesions and play an important role in the ongoing disease process.

J Med Primatol, 1991 Oct, 20(8), 409 - 13
Normal vaginal aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora of the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta); Doyle L et al.; The most common bacterial species isolated from the vaginas of 37 healthy rhesus macaques were Streptococcus viridans, coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Mobiluncus curtisii ss . curtisii, Corynebacterium renale-like organisms, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Gardnerella-like organisms, and other Corynebacterium species . The vaginal flora of the rhesus macaque differs from that previously reported for five other primate species . A two-year retrospective review of clinical cases of vaginitis and metritis found Escherichia coli and coagulase positive Staphylococci to be the most common pathogens isolated.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1991 Oct, 25(4), 381 - 6
{Perspective: new pathogens: Branhamella catarrhalis, Capnocytophaga turleri, Corynebacterium group JK}; Sacilik SC; Branhamella catarrhalis is an important pathogen of upper and lower respiratory tract . According to findings in literature, it mostly causes bronchopulmonary infections . Capnocytophaga is a newly recognized genus of the gram negative bacilli . In various reports, it has been recognized that capnocytophaga mostly causes sepsis . Bacteria of Corynebacterium group JK (CJK) cause many important local infections and sepsis.

Can J Vet Res, 1991 Oct, 55(4), 362 - 6
A field trial to evaluate a whole cell vaccine for the prevention of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep and goat flocks; Menzies PI et al.; A field trial to evaluate a whole cell vaccine for the prevention of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in sheep and goats was performed in one goat herd and one sheep flock over a period of three years . In goats, there was a nonstatistically significant trend for fewer cases of CLA in the vaccinated animals compared to the controls . In sheep, from six months to 36 months postinitial vaccination, the proportion of vaccinated sheep that developed CLA was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than in the control sheep . The antibody titers to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis as detected by microagglutination assay were significantly different (p less than 0.0001) at all times except at the initial vaccination . Swellings occurred at the vaccination site at an incidence level of 29.6% in goats and 34.1% in sheep . The vaccine appeared to be efficacious in reducing the proportion of sheep that developed CLA when challenged naturally in a field situation.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Oct, 35(10), 2140 - 3
In vitro activity of 79 antimicrobial agents against Corynebacterium group D2; Garcia-Rodriguez JA et al.; Corynebacterium group D2 (CGD2) is involved in urinary tract infections in patients with underlying predisposing factors . This microorganism is highly resistant to a number of antimicrobial agents . We tested the activities of 79 antimicrobial agents against CGD2 . beta-Lactams, aminoglycosides, and macrolides were ineffective . Fluorinated quinolones showed irregular activities, ofloxacin being the most active one . Doxycycline, rifampin, and mainly glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin) were the most active antibiotics against CGD2.

Aust Vet J, 1991 Oct, 68(10), 322 - 5
Immunisation against ovine caseous lymphadenitis: correlation between Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid content and protective efficacy in combined clostridial-corynebacterial vaccines; Eggleton DG et al.; Groups of sheep were dosed with vaccines containing Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid combined in varying amounts with 5 clostridial antigens . Resistance of the sheep to infection with C pseudotuberculosis was tested at 1, 6 and 12 months after vaccination by infection with pus from ovine lymph glands actively infected with C pseudotuberculosis . The outcome was assessed 3 months after challenge by slaughter and inspection of the sheep for caseous lymphadenitis lesions . Protection was demonstrated by a significant reduction in the proportion of immunised sheep exhibiting lesions compared with control sheep, and by fewer abscesses in affected immunised sheep than in affected control sheep . A positive correlation was found between amount of C pseudotuberculosis toxoid administered and degree of protection obtained . Chromatographically-purified toxoid induced essentially the same protection, suggesting that anti-toxic immunity is the major factor in protection.

Aust Vet J, 1991 Oct, 68(10), 320 - 1
Immunisation against ovine caseous lymphadenitis: efficacy of monocomponent Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid vaccine and combined clostridial-corynebacterial vaccines; Eggleton DG et al.; Sheep were immunised with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid formulated as a monocomponent vaccine with aluminium adjuvant or in combination with 5 clostridial antigens, and also in the combined form with sodium selenate . Immunised and control sheep were experimentally infected 16 days after vaccination and slaughtered and inspected after a further 3 months to determine their resistance to infection . All 3 vaccines afforded an equal and high level of protection; 91% of vaccinated sheep exhibiting no lesions of caseous lymphadenitis compared with 51.5% affected sheep in the control group . Average lesion counts were 1.2 per affected vaccinated sheep and 4.5 per affected control sheep . Antitoxin responses to the clostridial toxoids incorporated in the combined vaccines were not affected by inclusion of the C pseudotuberculosis toxoid or the sodium selenate.

Aust Vet J, 1991 Oct, 68(10), 317 - 9
Immunisation against ovine caseous lymphadenitis: comparison of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccines with and without bacterial cells; Eggleton DG et al.; Sheep were immunised with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccines prepared from cell-free toxoid or from toxoid with formalin-killed cells of C pseudotuberculosis added . Resistance of sheep to infection was tested 6 months after immunisation by inoculation with caseous lymphadenitis pus . The outcome was assessed 3 months later by slaughter and inspection of the sheep for lesions of caseous lymphadenitis . immunised sheep were adequately protected against infection as shown by a significant reduction in the number of sheep exhibiting lesions compared with control sheep, and by fewer abscesses in affected vaccinated sheep than in affected control sheep . The protective potency of the vaccines was not improved by the inclusion of cells of C pseudotuberculosis.

Vet Microbiol, 1991 Oct, 29(2), 123 - 34
Histopathology of the early phase during experimental Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in lambs; Pepin M et al.; Histological responses during experimental Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in lambs were investigated in parotid lymph nodes for ten days following inoculation . Lambs were infected by the subcutaneous route into the right eyelid with a virulent strain of C . pseudotuberculosis . Multiple microscopic acute abscesses, predominantly infiltrated with polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocytes, were seen in the right parotid lymph node on the 1st day post-inoculation (PI) . This massive PMN infiltration coincided with a peripheral blood granulocytosis . On day 3 PI, an influx of histiocytes was observed, while the microabscesses became confluent . From day 3 to day 10 PI, these lesions became enlarged and transformed into typical pyogranulomas with a central necrosis and a peripheral mantle of mononuclear cells composed of macrophages, epithelioid cells and lymphocytes; these histological changes were associated with a bacterial dissemination limited to the superficial lymph nodes . A lymphoid hyperplasia with prominent germinal centers was observed in the draining lymph nodes from day 3 PI . These results illustrate the dual role of granulomatous lesions in chronic bacterial infections: although they limit bacterial dissemination, the granulomas do not impair the persistence of infectious organisms in the host, leading to focal tissue damage.

Epidemiol Infect, 1991 Oct, 107(2), 273 - 83
HSP 90, yeasts and Corynebacterium jeikeium; Matthews RC; Recovery from disseminated candidosis is associated with seroconversion to a 47 kDa breakdown product of the Heat Shock Protein (HSP) 90 of Candida albicans . Cloning, sequencing and epitope mapping has allowed the delineation of the immunodominant epitopes LKVIRKNIVKKMIE and STDEPAGESA . Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific to these epitopes are used to show that all strains of C . albicans tested produce HSP 90 in both the yeast and mycelial phases . Homologous proteins are demonstrated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida parapsilosis and Corynebacterium jeikeium but not in Torulopsis glabrata . Evidence is presented for the existence of two distinct HSP 90s in C . albicans . The first of these is expressed constitutively whilst the second is produced on heat shocking the yeast from 23 to 37 degrees C.

Epidemiol Infect, 1991 Oct, 107(2), 263 - 72
A numerical analysis of ribosomal RNA gene patterns for typing clinical isolates of Corynebacterium group D2; Soto A et al.; Restriction digest fragments of DNA from 46 clinical isolates identified as Corynebacterium group D2, were separated by electrophoresis, Southern blotted onto nylon membranes and hybridized to a ribosomal RNA gene probe . The resulting band patterns were subjected to unweighed pair-group cluster analysis . Representative strains from the main clusters were compared with similarly prepared band patterns from type strains of human Corynebacterium species . The results indicate that strains identified as Corynebacterium group D2 represent a unique taxon and that computer-assisted analysis of rRNA gene restriction fragment polymorphism (ribotyping) could be a useful technique in epidemiological studies of these bacteria.

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1991 Sep, 117(9), 980 - 3
Microbiology of chronic sinusitis in children; Orobello PW Jr et al.; To better understand the factors involved in chronic sinusitis in childhood, we cultured the sinuses, middle meatus, and nasopharynx in 39 children requiring surgical intervention . Sixty-nine percent of these patients had other medical problems, including asthma (49%) and immunologic compromise (18%) . We cultured coagulase-negative staphylococcus in 18 patients, Streptococcus viridans in 14 patients, normal flora in 10 patients, Staphylococcus aureus in nine patients, group D streptococcus in five patients, Corynebacterium in five patients, Haemophilus influenzae in three patients, Neisseria in three patients, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, group A streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Propionibacterium acnes, Actinomyces, and an anaerobic gram-negative bacillus in one patient each . Cultures yielded no growth in nine patients . A strong association between cultures of the middle meatus obtained ipsilaterally and cultures of the maxillary (83%) and ethmoid sinuses (80%) occurred . A poor correlation was found between cultures of the nasopharynx and maxillary (45%) and ethmoid sinuses (49%) . All seven patients who had both maxillary and ethmoid sinus cultures showed the same organisms in both sinuses . Only 41% of organisms were found on both sides when procedures were performed bilaterally . Cultures of the middle meatus appear to be sensitive and specific for organisms within sinuses . The presence of predominantly nonvirulent organisms in low titers suggests that additional factors other than bacterial overgrowth contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis in children.

J Immunol, 1991 Sep 1, 147(5), 1642 - 6
L-arginine-dependent macrophage effector functions inhibit metabolic activity of Mycobacterium leprae; Adams LB et al.; Recently, L-arginine has been shown to be a necessary substrate for murine-activated macrophage-mediated tumor cytostasis and microbiostasis of certain fungi, bacteria, and intracellular protozoa . We report here the effects of the L-arginine-dependent pathway of activated mouse macrophages (MO) on the obligate intracellular prokaryote, Mycobacterium leprae . Due to the inability to culture M . leprae in vitro, a simple, quantitative assay was employed to measure the metabolism/viability of M . leprae released from MO: the metabolic capacity of M . leprae to oxidize 14C-palmitic acid to 14CO2 . Murine normal MO or MO activated in vitro with IFN-gamma or in vivo by injection with Corynebacterium parvum were infected with viable M . leprae freshly harvested from the footpads of nu/nu mice . Activated MO strikingly inhibited the metabolism of M . leprae; however, in L-arginine-free medium or in medium containing L-arginase, the inhibitory effects of activated MO on M . leprae metabolism were abolished . The competitive inhibitor of L-arginine, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, also blocked the inhibitory effects of activated MO for M . leprae, but the addition of supplemental L-arginine overcame the NG-monomethyl-L-arginine-induced block . Furthermore, in the culture supernatants, the levels of NO2-, an end product of L-arginine degradation, were directly proportional to the ability of the activated MO to inhibit M . leprae metabolism . These data present five lines of evidence that suggest that activated MO utilize the L-arginine-dependent pathway to cope with M . leprae.

Rev Infect Dis, 1991 Sep-Oct, 13(5), 887 - 92
Endocarditis due to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum: five case reports, review, and antibiotic susceptibilities of nine strains; Morris A et al.; Five cases of endocarditis due to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum are described . Two patients died, two patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis were successfully treated with antibiotics and valve replacement, and one patient with native valve endocarditis was successfully treated with penicillin alone . We also review 12 previously reported cases of C . pseudodiphtheriticum endocarditis . In vitro susceptibilities to 15 antibiotics were determined for nine isolates . The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of penicillin, amoxicillin, cefamandole, cephalexin, and rifampicin were all less than or equal to 0.12 mg/L . The MICs of vancomycin and ciprofloxacin for all strains were less than or equal to 0.5 mg/L . Tobramycin was the most active aminoglycoside, with MICs for all strains that were less than or equal to 0.12 mg/L . On the basis of in vitro data and the results of previous reports, penicillin alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside should achieve bacteriologic cure . Vancomycin should be used in patients who are allergic to penicillin.

Br Vet J, 1991 Sep-Oct, 147(5), 463 - 8
Changes in the bovine udder quarters naturally infected by Corynebacterium bovis; Ngatia TA et al.; Of 272 bovine udder quarters studied for mastitis, 19 of them naturally infected with Corynebacterium bovis alone, were compared with 16 others infected by C . bovis together with other bacteria and another 36 non-infected quarters . While there was no significant difference in milk somatic cell counts between the quarters infected by C . bovis alone and those affected by C . bovis together with other bacteria (33.37 +/- 20.28 X 10(3) and 33.86 +/- 23.18 X 10(3)/ml of milk, respectively), there was a significant difference between these and the non-infected quarters (5.60 +/- 3.23 X 10(3)/ml of milk) . Microscopically, quarters infected by either C . bovis alone or C . bovis in combination with other bacteria had inflammatory changes in the teat cisterns, Furstenberg's rosettes and/or mammary parenchyma . The non-infected quarters had no changes . In all 82 quarters no pathological changes could be seen in the teat canals.

Infect Immun, 1991 Sep, 59(9), 3254 - 60
Differential induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha in ovine pulmonary alveolar macrophages following infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Pasteurella haemolytica, or lentiviruses; Ellis JA et al.; Soluble mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) may be important in the pathogenesis of many chronic pulmonary infections . We examined the ability of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Pasteurella haemolytica, and ovine lentiviruses (OvLV) to induce TNF-alpha secretion by pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) . Bronchoalveolar lavage cells, composed of greater than 90% PAM, were obtained from normal sheep . Bronchoalveolar lavage cells were cultured for 2, 24, 48, 72, or 168 h in endotoxin-free RPMI medium (with 10% autologous serum) or in medium containing one of the following additives: lipopolysaccharide, 1-micron polystyrene beads, C . pseudotuberculosis, P . haemolytica, or one of two plaque-cloned OvLV, 85/28 or 85/34 . Lipopolysaccharide, C . pseudotuberculosis, and P . haemolytica induced TNF-alpha activity in PAM cultures as early as 2 h after inoculation, as assessed by a colorimetric cytotoxicity assay . This activity could be blocked by rabbit anti-recombinant bovine TNF-alpha serum . In contrast, medium alone, polystyrene beads, and productive infection by OvLV did not induce TNF-alpha activity in PAM cultures . Bacterial pathogens which infect pulmonary macrophages may elicit the secretion of TNF-alpha within the lungs and lead to the cachectic state associated with chronic pneumonia.

Vet Rec, 1991 Aug 31, 129(9), 192 - 5
Necrosis and sloughing of skin associated with limb cellulitis in four cows and a calf: predisposing causes, treatment and prognosis; Nguhiu-Mwangi JA et al.; Four cows and a calf with non-suppurative limb cellulitis were observed subsequently to suffer skin necrosis and sloughing in the affected limbs, either on or distal to the metacarpus or metatarsus . In comparison with six cows with suppurative Corynebacterium pyogenes limb cellulitis, topical therapy or the cases with skin necrosis and sloughing was adequate and the prognosis was good, when compared with the rigorous systemic therapy applied to the cows with suppurative cellulitis, some of which died . The skin necrosis and sloughing resulting from limb cellulitis seemed to be encouraged by the paucity of tissue between the skin and the bone, by the poor vascularity of the area, and by the causative bacteria.

J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Aug, 137 ( Pt 8), 1903 - 9
Mass spectrometry as a tool for identifying group D2 corynebacteria by their fatty acid profiles; Couderc F et al.; Corynebacterium group D2 (CGD2) are lipophilic antibiotic-multiresistant bacteria involved in some infections of immunocompromised patients . The fatty acid composition and structure of different strains was established by several mass spectrometric methods, particularly negative ion tandem mass spectrometry coupled with capillary gas chromatography . Non-hydroxylated fatty acid profiles of three strains of CGD2 (ATCC 43042, ATCC 43043, ATCC 43044) were almost identical and revealed the presence of several straight chain unsaturated fatty acids from the omega-9 series, with even carbon numbers ranging from 14 to 24 . Branched saturated fatty acids were mainly anteiso-heptadecanoic acid and tuberculostearic acid . Surprisingly, a relatively large quantity of 10-methylene octadecanoic acid was found . The non-hydroxylated fatty acid profile of one rare beta-lactam susceptible strain (SC1) was different; 10-methylene octadecanoic acid was lacking whereas tuberculostearic acid was much more abundant . In contrast, the four CGD2 strains displayed highly similar mycolic acid patterns . The major mycolic acid species corresponded to C32, C30 and C28 bis-unsaturated with a double bond on each branch at the omega-9 position . The comparison of the mycolic acid composition and structure with those of other medically important corynebacteria strains, revealed a characteristic pattern for CGD2 strains, and CGD2 strains were easily distinguished from Corynebacterium jeikeium (CIP 82.51).

Vrach Delo, 1991 Aug, (8), 106 - 9
{The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of diphtheria in adults}; Vozianova ZhI et al.; Of 262 patients referred with suspicion of diphtheria the diagnosis was confirmed in 145 (55.3%) . Clinico-epidemiological data indicate that the severity of diphtheria course, the tendency of increase of its incidence at the UkrSSR territory and in the USSR emphasize that early diagnosis and adequate treatment are of prime importance . To achieve this not only epidemiologists and infectionists but also cardiologists, otolaryngologists and general practitioners should actively participate in management of these patients . The authors pay special attention to carriers of pathogenic strains of diphtheria corynebacteria because their growth in these conditions may be a marker of epidemiological hazard.

Am J Vet Res, 1991 Aug, 52(8), 1258 - 61
Transformation of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis by electroporation; Songer JG et al.; Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was transformed by electroporation, using pNG2, an erythromycin-resistance plasmid from C diphtheriae . Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis cultivated in brain-heart infusion broth was washed 3 times with water, and resuspended to a final concentration of about 5 x 10(13) colony-forming units/ml . An electroporator constructed in our laboratory incorporated an electrode with 0.8-mm interelectrode gap, using disposable spectrophotometer cuvettes as containers for electroporation . The pNG2 was prepared in Escherichia coli and 4 to 16 micrograms of pNG2 DNA was mixed with 400-microliters amounts of cell suspension in prechilled cuvettes . After incubation on ice for 5 to 10 minutes, the mixture was electroporated at field strengths of up to 18 kV/cm, mixed with 1.5 ml of brain-heart infusion broth, and incubated at 37 C for 2 hours with agitation . Aliquots were then plated on brain-heart infusion blood agar with 15 micrograms of erythromycin/ml . Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was transformed at a maximal efficiency of approximately 4 x 10(4) transformants/micrograms of pNG2 DNA . Most total transformants and most transformants per microgram of pNG2 were generated at a field strength of 18 kV/cm . When the concentration of pNG2 DNA was varied, the average total number of transformants increased through a concentration of 30 micrograms/ml, but the efficiency of transformation was highest at the lowest DNA concentration . Transformants contained unmodified pNG2.

J Neurooncol, 1991 Aug, 11(1), 65 - 9
Corynebacterium JK: a new pathogen in ventriculostomy infections; Morrison VA et al.; In the past decade, Corynebacterium JK has emerged as a pathogen in several distinct clinical settings, including sepsis in immunocompromised patients and prosthetic valve endocarditis . It is also recognized as a nosocomial pathogen in infections of prosthetic devices . We present a case of a patient with carcinomatous meningitis who developed a Corynebacterium JK infection of an internal ventriculostomy which was used for intraventricular chemotherapy . Treatment with systemic and intraventriculostomy vancomycin for three weeks resulted in bacteriologic resolution of the infection . Removal of the prosthetic device was not essential for cure in this patient . The clinical spectrum of infection with this organism and aspects of therapy are reviewed . As a greater awareness of the pathogenic nature of this organism develops, it is likely to be implicated as a causative agent in a variety of infections.

Immunobiology, 1991 Aug, 182(5), 414 - 24
Alteration in natural defense activity against NK-susceptible B16 melanoma cells after treatment with Corynebacterium parvum; Karashima A et al.; We have investigated the effects of administration of C . parvum on host anti-metastatic activity against B16 melanoma H-2L, a natural killer (NK) sensitive clone with a low expression of H-2b . The anti-metastatic activity was estimated by monitoring the following two points . One was the survival ratio at an early stage after an intravenous (iv) inoculation of radiolabeled B16 H-2L cells, the other was the formation of pulmonary metastases after iv injection with the tumor cells . Administration of C . parvum showed a biphasic change in the NK activity of the spleen cells and the peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) in mice . At an early phase (2-3 days) after administration of C . parvum, the NK activity of the spleen cells and PEC was significantly augmented . On the other hand, at a later phase (14 days) after C . parvum administration, the NK activity was deeply depressed . In correlation with NK activity of the mice treated with C . parvum, the anti-metastatic activity of the hosts was augmented in the early phase, whereas a depressed level of anti-metastatic activity was observed in the late phase after administration of C . parvum . These results suggest that the modification of NK activity is a possible basis for modulation of anti-metastatic activity by C . parvum.

Eur Cytokine Netw, 1991 Aug-Sep, 2(4), 231 - 7
Interleukin-2 induces chemotactic deficiency in patients with onco hematologic malignancies and autologous bone marrow transplantation; Stoppa AM et al.; Unusual gram positive bacteremia has been reported in non granulopenic patients receiving recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) suggesting a beneficial effect of anti gram positive prophylaxis in such patients . We report here studies on granulocyte functions examined during the course of high dose IL-2 therapy (16 to 24 million IU/m2/days for 11 to 18 days) administered during a period of 35 days in 14 patients including 4 solid tumors, 5 chronic myeloid leukemias, 4 recipients of autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) and 1 recipient of syngeneic bone marrow transplant . Neutrophils functions were studied before IL-2 administration (d 0), after the first cycle (d 8) and after the third cycle (d 36) . Nylon fiber adherence, superoxide production, random migration, phagocytosis, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, lysozyme and elastase release were not impaired significantly throughout therapy . However N-Formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulated chemotaxis of granulocytes, normal before therapy, was significantly impaired as early at d 8 and severely inhibited at d 36 (p less than 0.001) . Three septicemia, one corynebacteria parvum septicemia and two gram-negative septicemia despite normal neutrophil counts and oxacillin or Penicillin G plus Pefloxacin prophylaxis, occurred among the 14 patients studied . Although neutrophil functions were not more depressed in transplanted patients than in the other non transplanted patients, special attention should be paid to such patients in whom delayed immune reconstitution could increase the risk of sepsis.

J Clin Oncol, 1991 Jul, 9(7), 1151 - 6
Corynebacterium parvum versus bacille Calmette-Guérin adjuvant immunotherapy of stage II malignant melanoma; Lipton A et al.; Two separate studies have been reported comparing Corynebacterium parvum and bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) as adjuvant immunotherapy for stage II melanoma patients (The Milton S . Hershey Medical Center, 48 patients; Southeastern Cancer Study Group {SECSG}, 162 patients) . As the criteria for patient selection and drugs used were similar, we have pooled the data to analyze the effects of these two treatments . Both studies used BCG (Tice, Chicago, IL) 3 x 10(8) live organisms per treatment by Tine technique and C parvum (Burroughs-Wellcome, Triangle Park, NC) subcutaneous at a dose of 4 mg/m2 (SECSG) or 5 micrograms/m2 (Hershey) per treatment . The only difference in these studies was the frequency of immunization, with patients in Hershey receiving 22 doses and the SECSG patients receiving 55 doses during the 2-year period of treatment . Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis for the 210 patients shows a prolonged disease-free interval for patients treated with C parvum (P = .02, two-sided Mantel procedure) . In similar fashion, patients treated with C parvum had an improved survival rate (from all causes) when compared with BCG-treated patients (P = .012) . An analysis of the results for the 170 patients for which the number of positive nodes was available was performed using Cox's model, with nodes as a stratification variable and with covariates of place, treatment, age, and sex . In this analysis, an observed benefit for C parvum on the disease-free interval had a P value of .37 while the benefit of C parvum on the survival times (from all causes) had a P value of .04 . When the same analysis was performed using only patients aged younger than 60 years, the observed benefit of C parvum on disease-free interval had a P value of .08 and the benefit of C parvum on survival times (from all causes) had a P value of .008.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1991 Jul, 28(3-4), 303 - 16
Antigen specificity and activity of ovine antibodies induced by immunization with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis culture filtrate; Ellis JA et al.; Sheep were immunized three times with a vaccine composed of filtrate from a 36 h culture of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and a block polymer adjuvant . Immunization resulted in the development of exotoxin-neutralizing antibody . This corresponded to the recognition of a 31.6 kDa protein on sequential immunoblots of ammonium sulfate-precipitated filtrate . In addition sera from vaccinated sheep recognized at least eight bacterial cellular antigens on immunoblots of ether-extracted C . pseudotuberculosis, including bands of 12, 25.1, 31.6, 36.3, 39.8, 63.1, 70, 75 or 79.4 kDa . Sera from these sheep altered the colony growth characteristics of C . pseudotuberculosis in vitro . These results indicate that immunization with soluble C . pseudotuberculosis in vitro . These results indicate that immunization with soluble C . pseudotuberculosis antigen preparations that have been used in toxoid vaccines induces antibody responses to numerous cellular antigens in addition to exotoxin and suggest that serologically mediated antibacterial effects could be an important component in the protection from disease that has been reported following immunization with C . pseudotuberculosis toxoids.

Rev Infect Dis, 1991 Jul-Aug, 13(4), 548 - 9
Septic arthritis caused by Corynebacterium xerosis following vascular surgery; Booth LV et al.; A case of septic arthritis due to Corynebacterium xerosis occurred after vascular surgery and was successfully treated with intravenous cefotaxime followed by oral erythromycin . The only previously reported case of C . xerosis arthritis developed in a patient with a history of similar recent surgery . The possible association of this infection with such a postsurgical setting is discussed.

Infection, 1991 Jul-Aug, 19(4), 247 - 9
Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium pilosum; Sobrino J et al.; A case of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium pilosum in a 79-year-old woman developed eighty years after aortic valve replacement with bovine pericardium bioprosthesis is described . In spite of the antibiotic therapy she presented an unfavourable course that led to her death.

Infection, 1991 Jul-Aug, 19(4), 201 - 4
Corynebacterium jeikeium bacteremia at a tertiary care center; Rozdzinski E et al.; During a six-year period 23 patients with isolation of Corynebacterium jeikeium (formerly known as Corynebacterium group JK) from one or more blood cultures at a university hospital were identified . Cases occurred sporadically without time- or ward-related clustering . Review of the cases showed that most infections were nosocomial, that most of the patients had underlying malignant disease, had a chronic intravascular catheter implanted, had been pretreated with antibiotics, and were neutropenic at the time the blood cultures were drawn . Patients with only one versus those with more than one positive blood culture differed in some important aspects . Patients with only one positive blood culture were less likely to have acute leukemia, had significantly higher neutrophil counts and a shorter duration of preceding antibiotic treatment, and all had other probable causes of infection and fever . The mortality also appeared to be lower in these patients . Despite the possibility of increasing frequency of blood cultures positive for C . jeikeium, severe infections due to this organism continue to be largely confined to neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancy.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Jul, 173(14), 4510 - 6
A functionally split pathway for lysine synthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicium; Schrumpf B et al.; Three different pathways of D,L-diaminopimelate and L-lysine synthesis are known in procaryotes . Determinations of the corresponding enzyme activities in Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus sphaericus verified the fact that in each of these bacteria only one of the possible pathways operates . However, in Corynebacterium glutamicum activities are present which allow in principle the use of the dehydrogenase variant and succinylase variant of lysine synthesis together . Applying gene-directed mutagenesis, various C . glutamicum strains were constructed with interrupted ddh gene . These mutants have an inactive dehydrogenase pathway but are still prototrophic, which is proof that the succinylase pathway of D,L-diaminopimelate synthesis can be utilized . In strains with an increased flow of precursors to D,L-diaminopimelate, however, the inactivation of the dehydrogenase pathway resulted in a reduced formation of lysine, with concomitant accumulation of N-succinyl-diaminopimelate in the cytosol up to a concentration of 25 mM . These data show (i) that both pathways can operate in C . glutamicum for D,L-diaminopimelate and L-lysine synthesis, (ii) that the dehydrogenase pathway is not essential, and (iii) that the dehydrogenase pathway is a prerequisite for handling an increased flow of metabolites to D,L-diaminopimelate.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Jul-Aug, 14(4), 347 - 52
Infections with Rhodococcus equi in children; McGowan KL et al.; Three cases of serious infection in children, including the first two reports of bacteremia, due to Rhodococcus equi are described . Only seven pediatric cases have been reported to date . In the laboratory, R . equi can easily be misidentified as a nonpathogenic Corynebacterium spp . (diphtheroid) or a Mycobacterium spp . Despite an overall mortality rate of 25% in adults, no pediatric deaths have occurred due to R . equi . The organism is generally susceptible to vancomycin, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin, but, optimal duration of antibiotic therapy is unknown . Treatment with multiple antibiotics was successful in all three cases reported here . Although only a small number of cases have been reported in children, R . equi appears to be an important pediatric pathogen.

J Infect, 1991 Jul, 23(1), 73 - 6
Corynebacterium minutissimum infection; Golledge CL et al.; Two cases of infection due to Corynebacterium minutissimum are described . On the basis of biochemical tests the organisms were thought at first to be Corynebacterium jeikeium . Methods of distinguishing between these species and the role of C . minutissimum in the pathogenesis of erythrasma and other skin infections are discussed.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1991 Jul, 28(3-4), 289 - 301
Antigen specificity of antibody responses to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in naturally infected sheep with caseous lymphadenitis; Ellis JA et al.; Constituents of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) . Analysis of sonicated whole bacterial cells and ether-extracted cells revealed more than 35 bands in silver-stained gels . SDS-PAGE analysis of concentrated culture filtrates with exotoxin activity demonstrated more than 15 bands . Sera from sheep with C . pseudotuberculosis-induced disease of variable severity were used to probe immunoblots of electrophoresed ether-extracted cells and culture filtrates . Twenty or more corynebacterial molecules, ranging in molecular weight from 20 to 112 kDa, in ether-extracted cells were recognized by antibodies in the sera of naturally exposed sheep with positive ELISA titers . These sera also recognized up to six molecules, ranging from, 20 to 68.1 kDa, on immunoblots of ammonium sulfate-concentrated culture filtrate . There was no apparent relationship between the stage of disease and the response to specific corynebacterial antigens in these animals.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jun 15, 65(2), 171 - 6
Genetic control of degradation of chlorinated benzoic acids in Arthrobacter globiformis, Corynebacterium sepedonicum and Pseudomonas cepacia strains; Zaitsev GM et al.; The strains of Arthrobacter globiformis KZT1, Corynebacterium sepedonicum KZ4 and Pseudomonas cepacia KZ2 capable of early dehalogenation and complete oxidation of 4-chloro-, 2,4-dichloro-and 2-chlorobenzoic acids, respectively, have been analyzed for the origin of the genetic control of degradation . The occurrence and molecular sizes of plasmids in all the strains have been established . Plasmid pBS1501 was shown to control 4-chlorobenzoate dehalogenation in the case of KZT1 strain . The same possibility is proposed for plasmid pBS1502 for dehalogenation of 2,4DCBA by KZ4 strain . The chromosome localization of the genes controlling oxidation of 4-hydroxybenzoate in strain KZT1 is shown . Localization of the whole set of genes responsible for 2CBA degradation in the strain KZ2 chromosome is suggested.

Gene, 1991 Jun 15, 102(1), 93 - 8
A family of Corynebacterium glutamicum/Escherichia coli shuttle vectors for cloning, controlled gene expression, and promoter probing; Eikmanns BJ et al.; A new family of vectors including cloning vectors (pEK0; pEC5), an expression vector (pEKEx1), and promoter probe vectors (pEKpllacZ; pEKplCm), has been constructed . All these shuttle vectors are based on the replication origins of the corynebacterial pBL1 and the Escherichia coli ColE1 plasmids, and thus are able to replicate in Corynebacterium glutamicum and E . coli . Plasmids pEK0 and pEC5 carry multiple restriction sites useful for gene cloning and the kanamycin- or chloramphenicol-resistance-encoding gene from Tn903 or from Tn9, respectively . In C . glutamicum, both vectors are compatible with vectors containing the corynebacterial pHM1519 replicon . Based on plasmid pEK0, the expression vector pEKEx1 was developed to allow for isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible expression of inserted genes in C . glutamicum and E . coli . Also based on pEK0, the promoter probe vectors pEKpllacZ and pEKplCm were constructed to carry the promoterless lacZ or cat reporter genes downstream from useful cloning sites, for assaying the transcriptional activity of cloned fragments.

Br J Dermatol, 1991 Jun, 124(6), 596 - 602
In-vitro and in-vivo studies of human axillary odour and the cutaneous microflora; Rennie PJ et al.; The axillary microflora of 34 male subjects were studied in relation to their underarm odour intensity . The predominant groups of micro-organisms were aerobic coryneforms, Micrococcaceae and propionibacteria . There was no competition for habitat between these groups (Fisher's exact test P greater than 0.05) . There was an association between the population density of aerobic coryneforms and the intensity of odour (Spearman, P = 0.001) . Dominance of aerobic coryneforms within the axillary microflora was associated with high odour intensity (chi 2, P = 0.005) . An in-vitro odour model was developed using a diethyl ether extract of axillary skin incubated with test bacteria . Underarm odour was produced exclusively by aerobic coryneform bacteria . Of aerobic coryneforms, 71.4% were odour producers and these were identified as Corynebacterium xerosis.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1991 Jun, 109(6), 909 - 17
Cysteine residues in the active site of Corynebacterium sarcosine oxidase; Suzuki H et al.; Sarcosine oxidase from Corynebacterium sp . U-96 is inhibited by iodoacetamide (IAM) and the inhibition is prevented by the substrate analog, sodium acetate . To elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of the enzyme by IAM, we determined the amino acid sequences around the IAM-reactive cysteine residues, and the effects of the modification on the enzyme activity and the oxidation-reduction of the FAD moieties of the enzyme . The enzyme was specifically labeled with {14C}IAM, and the labeled subunit B was digested with trypsin and chymotrypsin . The HPLC profiles of the proteolytic digests showed mainly two radioactive peaks . The 14C-labeled peptides were purified, and their N-terminal sequences were determined to be Cys-Gly-Thr-Pro-Gly-Ala-Gly-Tyr (TC-1) and Ala-Gly-Ile-Ala-Cys-Xaa-Asp-Xaa-Val-Ala(-)- (TC-2) . Peptide TC-2 contains a covalent FAD-binding sequence {Asx-His-Val-Ala; Shiga et al . (1983) Biochem . Int., 6, 737} . {14C}IAM-incorporation into the TC-1 sequence was strongly inhibited by sodium acetate . The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the CNBr fragment containing the TC-1 sequence (65 residues) was determined . According to the secondary structure predictions, Gly-Thr-Pro-Gly-Ala-Gly of the TC-1 sequence is located between the beta sheet and alpha helix of the sequence, indicating the presence of an AMP-binding site in the TC-1 region . The activity of the enzyme treated with IAM in the presence and absence of sodium acetate was not inhibited by sodium sulfite, which is known to react specifically with covalent FAD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 137 ( Pt 6), 1293 - 301
Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the P-protein gene (pheA) of Pseudomonas stutzeri in Escherichia coli: implications for evolutionary relationships in phenylalanine biosynthesis; Fischer RS et al.; The pheA gene encoding the bifunctional P-protein (chorismate mutase:prephenate dehydratase) was cloned from Pseudomonas stutzeri and sequenced . This is the first gene of phenylalanine biosynthesis to be cloned and sequenced from Pseudomonas . The pheA gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, allowing complementation of an E . coli pheA auxotroph . The enzymic and physical properties of the P-protein from a recombinant E . coli auxotroph expressing the pheA gene were identical to those of the native enzyme from P . stutzeri . The nucleotide sequence of the P . stutzeri pheA gene was 1095 base pairs in length, predicting a 365-residue protein product with an Mr of 40,844 . Codon usage in the P . stutzeri pheA gene was similar to that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa but unusual in that cytosine and guanine were used at nearly equal frequencies in the third codon position . The deduced P-protein product showed sequence homology with peptide sequences of the E . coli P-protein, the N-terminal portion of the E . coli T-protein (chorismate mutase:prephenate dehydrogenase), and the monofunctional prephenate dehydratases of Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacterium glutamicum . A narrow range of values (26-35%) for amino acid matches revealed by pairwise alignments of monofunctional and bifunctional proteins possessing activity for prephenate dehydratase suggests that extensive divergence has occurred between even the nearest phylogenetic lineages.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 57(6), 1609 - 14
Rapid confirmation of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from foods by a colony blot assay using a digoxigenin-labeled synthetic oligonucleotide probe; Kim C et al.; An oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe based on the sequence of a 321-bp internal fragment of the msp gene encoding a major secreted polypeptide of Listeria monocytogenes was labeled with digoxigenin by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase . The specificity of the digoxigenin-labeled probe was determined by dot blot assays . The probe reacted with all strains of L . monocytogenes tested (12 of 12 strains representing five serotypes) . The probe did not react with any other Listeria species or with other gram-positive bacteria (Brochothrix, Erysipelothrix, Corynebacterium, Rhodococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus) . The probe was used to develop a colony blot assay for the rapid confirmation of L . monocytogenes on Listeria-selective agars which had been streaked with food enrichment cultures . Forty-eight food samples were tested by conventional culture and DNA colony blot assay . The sensitivity and specificity of the DNA colony blot were 100 and 97%, respectively.

Infect Immun, 1991 Jun, 59(6), 1899 - 904
Iron-dependent regulation of diphtheria toxin and siderophore expression by the cloned Corynebacterium diphtheriae repressor gene dtxR in C . diphtheriae C7 strains; Schmitt MP et al.; A regulatory gene (dtxR) responsible for iron-dependent repression of the toxin (tox) and siderophore genes in Corynebacterium diphtheriae was cloned and characterized . A DNA fragment carrying dtxR repressed expression of a tox-lacZ gene fusion in Escherichia coli DH5 alpha in a high-iron environment but not under low-iron conditions . A protein with mobility corresponding to approximately 28 to 29 kDa was identified as the product of the dtxR gene by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . A shuttle vector designated pCM2.6 was constructed which carries the origin of replication from C . diphtheriae plasmid pNG2 and confers resistance to chloramphenicol in E . coli and C . diphtheriae . DNA fragments carrying dtxR were cloned into pCM2.6, and the hybrid shuttle plasmids were transformed by electroporation into wild-type C . diphtheriae C7(beta) and the regulatory mutant C7(beta)hm723, which produces toxin and siderophore constitutively under high-iron conditions . Expression of the cloned dtxR determinant did not affect the phenotype of C . diphtheriae C7(beta) . In C . diphtheriae C7(beta)hm723, expression of cloned dtxR restored full repression of siderophore production and partial repression of diphtheria toxin production during growth in a high-iron environment.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Jun, 18 Suppl A, 451 - 9
Medical and microbiological problems arising from airborne infection in hospitals; Schaal KP; The practical importance and frequency of airborne nosocomial infections has been a matter of dispute for many years . This is because most of the pathogens acquired in hospitals are able to use various different routes of infecting the patient's body so that it may be difficult or even impossible to prove an individual infection to be airborne . Only microbes such as Streptococcus pyogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or certain respiratory viruses that are known to be predominantly transmitted by droplet infection from infected persons or healthy carriers, have been accepted to the cause of airborne nosocomial infections . Other pathogens such as legionellae, pseudomonads or clostridia may be distributed in the hospital environment via an insufficient or defective air-conditioning system, with or without humidification . The assessment of indirect airborne infections caused by infective particles derived from dust which has settled on furniture or the floor or which has been introduced to the hospital environment by shoes, open windows, building works or potted indoor plants is much more difficult . Many Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, mycobacteria, nocardiae, and endospores of clostridia and bacilli, as well as the reproductive elements of fungi do remain viable and infective in dry dust and may therefore infect patients when the dust is disturbed . In contrast to nosocomial infections due to Gram-negative bacteria, against which most preventive measures have been concentrated in the past and which are usually not airborne in origin, it appears that the possibility of direct or indirect transmission of hospital pathogens by air has been underestimated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1991 Jun, 38(4), 303 - 5
Phase variation of pili of Corynebacterium pilosum; Hiramune T et al.; Whether or not (?) phase variation occurs in the pili of Corynebacterium pilosum was biologically examined using the colony enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) blot test with anti-pili immune serum . From the densely piliated clone (35P+) of C . pilosum 35, non-piliated variants were isolated at a frequency of 2.45 x 10(-3) . From one of the non-piliated variants (designated as P(-11)/35P+), a piliated variant was isolated at a frequency of 4.68 x 10(-4), one log less frequently than the non-piliated variant . From this piliated variant as designated (P+4/P(-11)/35P+), a non-piliated variant was isolated at a frequency of 3.86 x 10(-3) . C . pilosum was thus alternated between piliated and non-piliated at a fairly high frequency, suggesting that the pili may undergo phase variation . This is the first finding of phase variation of the pili of Gram-positive bacteria.

Lab Anim Sci, 1991 Jun, 41(3), 265 - 8
Isolation of Corynebacterium kutscheri from aged Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus); Amano H et al.; Corynebacterium kutscheri was isolated from the oral cavities of 12 male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) which were about 12 months old . At 1, 5, and 9 months after initial isolation of C . kutscheri from the oral cavity, hamsters were euthanatized, and attempts were made to culture C . kutscheri from 13 additional sites . Corynebacterium kutscheri was isolated from nine hamsters, and regardless of the hamsters' ages, the organisms were most frequently isolated from the oral cavity (100%), esophagus (100%), cecal content (100%), and colon and rectum (88.9%) . Isolation rates in the nasal cavity were 66.7%, followed by 55.5% in the trachea and 33.3% in the submaxillary lymph nodes . The number of the organisms found in the submaxillary lymph nodes and esophagus was 10(3) to 10(4) CFU/g . The number found in the cecal content and in the colon and rectum was 10(2) to 10(5) CFU/g . The organisms were not isolated from lung, stomach, kidney, spleen, and mesenteric lymph node tissues . The hamsters had neither clinical signs nor lesions . However, 7 of 12 animals had low agglutinating antibody titers . The Syrian hamster can therefore be an asymptomatic carrier of C . kutscheri.

Agric Biol Chem, 1991 Jun, 55(6), 1615 - 26
Molecular cloning and analysis of nucleotide sequence of the Bacillus subtilis lysA gene region using B . subtilis phage vectors and a multi-copy plasmid, pUB110; Yamamoto J et al.; A 3.8-kb EcoRI-fragment containing the lysA gene {diaminopimelate (DAP) decarboxylase} of Bacillus subtilis has been cloned into B . subtilis phage phi 105 and its nucleotides sequenced . The nucleotide sequence of a 3,762 bp stretch contained three open reading frames (ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3) in one orientation and another open reading frame (ORF4) in the opposite orientation . ORF2 coded for the lysA gene based on the complementation of a B . subtilis lys auxotroph and on the fact that the predicted amino acid sequence (440 amino acids with a molecular weight of 48,876) of ORF2 shared a 29.7%, 38.3%, and 32.9% identity with the sequences of Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa lysA genes, respectively . ORF1, ORF3, and ORF4 did not correspond to E . coli lysR . Based on the comparison of the B . subtilis lysA sequence with a sequence of the DAP-decarboxylase gene cloned into pUB110 (Yamamoto et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 17, 10105 (1989}, it was found that the lys gene in the plasmid was fused with the dnaN gene in its COOH-terminal region.

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 1991 May-Jun, 12(3), 543 - 8
MR imaging in an experimental model of brain tumor immunotherapy; Blankenberg F et al.; A murine model of implanted CNS neoplasia was used to study a new form of brain tumor immunotherapy with intralesional Corynebacterium parvum (C . parvum) . Assessment of treatment protocols has been limited by the inability to assess, noninvasively, tumor burden and/or the inflammatory reaction induced in the murine brain by treatment with C . parvum . This study demonstrates that contrast-enhanced MR imaging can monitor in vivo tumor burden and the immune response to intracerebral C . parvum . KHT murine sarcoma was stereotaxically implanted into the right frontal lobe of C3H/HeN mice at doses of 10,000 and 50,000 tumor cells . The KHT sarcoma is 100% fatal in untreated mice . Therapy consisted of an intraperitoneal injection of 350 micrograms of killed C . parvum 1 day after tumor implantation followed by 70 micrograms of C . parvum stereotaxically injected into the tumor 5 days after implantation . MR imaging was performed on mice injected with saline only, C parvum only, tumor only, and tumor treated with C . parvum . C . parvum alone elicited an intense transitory mononuclear cell inflammatory reaction in the meninges, ependyma, and to a variable degree at the injection site . The inflammatory response reached a peak 2 weeks after intracerebral injection . Contrast-enhanced MR imaging was able to detect the presence and severity of C . parvum-induced inflammation, which decreased 3 weeks after intracerebral injection . The transitory nature of this type of inflammation should allow its differentiation from tumor in subjects undergoing serial scanning following intracerebral injection of C . parvum as a form of brain tumor immunotherapy.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 May, 5(5), 1197 - 204
Genetic and biochemical analysis of the aspartokinase from Corynebacterium glutamicum; Kalinowski J et al.; The lysC/asd gene cluster of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 was cloned and sequenced . The lysC locus coding for aspartokinase consists of two in-frame overlapping genes, lysC alpha encoding a protein of 421 amino acids (Mr 44,300) and lysC beta encoding a protein of 172 amino acids (Mr 18,600) . The C . glutamicum aspartokinase was purified and found to contain two proteins of Mr 47,000 and Mr 18,000 . A C . glutamicum mutant expressing a feedback-resistant aspartokinase was shown to be changed in a single base pair of the lysC beta gene, leading to an amino acid exchange in the beta-subunit of the aspartokinase . In addition, the identified mutation was found to be responsible for the enhanced expression of the asd gene located downstream of lysC.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 May, (5), 17 - 9
{The characteristics of Corynebacterium diphtheriae adhesins}; Karas' SR et al.; The study of the properties of C . diphtheriae adhesins revealed the absence of their thermostability, which suggested the protein nature of these adhesins . C . diphtheriae also showed pronounced mannose-resistant hemagglutinating activity, as this activity remained unchanged even in the presence of d-mannose . The comparison of the adhesive activity of C . diphtheriae with their phage and corycine sensitivity revealed essential differences between these macroorganisms in the degree of their adhesiveness . The phage lysability and corycine sensitivity of C . diphtheriae strains, determined by the properties of their surface structure, correlated with the degree of their activity.

J Bacteriol, 1991 May, 173(10), 3228 - 30
Analysis of a Corynebacterium glutamicum hom gene coding for a feedback-resistant homoserine dehydrogenase; Reinscheid DJ et al.; From a Corynebacterium glutamicum mutant possessing a homoserine dehydrogenase resistant to feedback inhibition by L-threonine, the corresponding gene (homFBR) was analyzed and compared with the wild-type hom gene . DNA fragment exchange experiments between both genes showed that a 0.23-kb region close to the 3' terminus of homFBR was responsible for deregulation . Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed a single transition from G to A in homFBR leading to replacement of glycine-378 by glutamate in the mutant homoserine dehydrogenase.

J Immunol, 1991 Apr 15, 146(8), 2719 - 23
Molecular basis of "suppressor" macrophages . Arginine metabolism via the nitric oxide synthetase pathway; Mills CD; A molecular explanation for "suppressor" macrophage inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation is described . NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NGMMA), a specific inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthetase pathway, markedly augments Con A-induced proliferation of rat splenic leukocytes . Macrophages are necessary and sufficient for NGMMA-releasable-suppression, as indicated by a loss of suppression after either pretreatment of isolated splenic macrophages with NGMMA or their depletion by plastic adherence or L-leucine methyl ester . L- (but not D-) arginine overrides NGMMA-releasable suppression, and suppression is blocked by RBC as would be expected if nitric oxide were the effector molecule . Unlike rats, NGMMA did not augment Con A-induced proliferation of normal mouse splenic leukocytes . However, NGMMA did augment Con A-induced proliferation of mouse splenic leukocytes induced to contain suppressor macrophages by intravenous injection of Corynebacterium parvum, which suggests a quantitative, not qualitative, difference in suppressor macrophages between rats and mice . Nitrite production, as an indicator of nitric oxide synthesis, correlated with suppressor macrophage activity in rats and mice and was inhibited by NGMMA . Finally, NGMMA also markedly enhanced proliferation with every other mitogen examined (PHA, protein A, PWM, and LPS) . It is concluded that immunoregulation of lymphocyte proliferation by suppressor macrophages is mediated, in part, directly or indirectly by products of the nitric oxide synthetase pathway.

Aust Vet J, 1991 Apr, 68(4), 143 - 6
The effect of antibody to caseous lymphadenitis in ewes on the efficacy of vaccination in lambs; Paton MW et al.; The effect of maternal antibody to the toxin of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, produced by caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in ewes or by vaccinating ewes before lambing, on the efficacy of vaccination against CLA in their lambs was examined . Lambs were allocated to treatments according to either the vaccination history of their dam or level of CLA toxin antibody of their dam . They were vaccinated twice using 2 different inoculation regimes and then artificially infected with CLA organisms . The number of lambs with CLA lesions was assessed at slaughter . In one experiment high levels of CLA toxin antibody activity in ewes were associated with decreased efficacy of CLA vaccination in their lambs, when lambs were vaccinated at 2 and 8 weeks or 8 and 14 weeks of age . In a second experiment the efficacy of lamb vaccination at 8 and 12 weeks, but not at 14 and 18 weeks of age, was decreased . In sheep flocks with a high prevalence of CLA, vaccinating lambs against CLA at less than 10 weeks of age may not produce optimum protection against CLA in lambs . There was no difference in infection rate between lambs from vaccinated and unvaccinated ewes . However, vaccination of lambs at 2 and 8 wks was less effective that vaccination at 8 and 14 weeks, probably due to reduced immunocompetence in young lambs . In sheep flocks where significant numbers of lambs receive their primary vaccination at less than 3 weeks of age vaccination programmes to control CLA in lambs may be less effective.

Vet Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 27(2), 145 - 50
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis: in vitro susceptibility to 39 antimicrobial agents; Judson R et al.; The minimal inhibitory concentrations of 39 antimicrobial agents for 54 isolates of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in vitro have been determined . The most active agents were penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, lincomycin, chloramphenicol, and rifampicin . Most isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides, nitrofurans, polymyxins, nalidixic acid, and cycloheximide.

Liver, 1991 Apr, 11(2), 114 - 7
Ruffle formation in the evaluation of stimulatory state of hepatic macrophages in rats; Ohno A et al.; Morphological changes in hepatic macrophages after stimulation were observed with a transmission electron microscope in rats . In the normal liver ruffle formation occupied less than 30% of the cell surface facing the sinusoidal space in 21 of 25 macrophages . When the rats received a dose of carbon tetrachloride, hepatic macrophages 1 day later showed ruffle formation to the same extent as in normal rats . In contrast, in rats 6 days after a dose of Corynebacterium parvum, ruffle formation was intensified, and in 19 of 25 macrophages it was seen to occupy more than 30% of the cell surface (p less than 0.01); 9 of 10 macrophages with more than 70% of the cell surface affected belonged to these rats . Considering that hepatic macrophages at 1 or 6 days after treatment with carbon tetrachloride or Corynebacterium parvum are at the responsive or primed stages, respectively, measurement of the extent of ruffle formation in hepatic macrophages with a transmission electron microscope may provide a useful tool in estimating their stimulatory stage.

South Med J, 1991 Apr, 84(4), 504 - 6
Tracheobronchitis due to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum; Craig TJ et al.; We have presented a case of tracheobronchitis due to C pseudodiphtheriticum in a patient with COPD who was treated with prednisone and apparently was not otherwise immunocompromised . Chronic lung disease seems to predispose to infection with C pseudodiphtheriticum; it can also occur in the immunocompetent host . This organism, when isolated in pure culture, should not be dismissed as a contaminant, but must be considered a possible etiologic agent . Sensitivity of diphtheroids to antibiotics is extremely variable . We believe vancomycin should be used in respiratory tract infections caused by diphtheroids, including C pseudodiphtheriticum, until the results of in vitro antibiotic susceptibility tests are available.

J Immunol, 1991 Apr 1, 146(7), 2316 - 23
Endotoxin-induced cytokine gene expression in vivo . III . IL-6 mRNA and serum protein expression and the in vivo hematologic effects of IL-6; Ulich TR et al.; Endotoxin (LPS) at sublethal doses injected i.v . into rats was found to induce IL-6 mRNA expression peaking at 1 to 2 h in whole organ RNA preparations of the spleen, liver, lung, bowel, and kidney . IL-6 serum protein levels also peaked at 2 h . TNF and IL-1, generally considered to be among the most rapidly released cytokines, also induced IL-6 expression . IL-6 in turn inhibited TNF and IL-1 expression, suggesting that IL-6 may be part of a negative feedback mechanism in the cytokine cascade . Dexamethasone down-regulated and Corynebacterium parvum up-regulated IL-6 expression, although the possibility cannot be excluded that these immunomodulating factors may in part have exerted their effects indirectly via the up- and down-regulation of TNF and IL-1 . IL-6 injected i.v . at a pathophysiologically relevant dose caused a peripheral neutrophilia and mild myeloproliferative effect in the bone marrow.

J Leukoc Biol, 1991 Apr, 49(4), 397 - 406
Restoration of prostaglandin releasing macrophage populations in lethally irradiated mice with spleen cells from bone marrow-depleted donors; Shibata Y et al.; Previous studies in mice severely depleted of bone marrow cells by 89Sr showed persistent monocytopenia and impaired expression of prostaglandin E2-releasing splenic macrophages (PGSM) despite the occurrence in the spleen of more than 10-fold increases in pluripotential stem cells and M phi colony-forming cells . To determine whether the observed deficits were due to a lack of precursors of blood monocytes and PGSM in the spleens of 89Sr-treated mice, radiation chimeras were established by i.v . infusion of 2 x 10(6) spleen cells from 89Sr donor CBA/J or semisyngeneic B6CB F1 hybrid mice into lethally gamma-irradiated CBA/J recipients . Blood monocyte levels were greater than normal by day 14 and PGSM induced by Corynebacterium parvum were demonstrated by day 28 . These restored M phi populations expressed the donor haplotype detected in vitro with haplotype-specific monoclonal anti-H-2K plus complement . 89Sr treatment of the chimeras resulted in profound depletion of monocytes and PGSM . The data indicate that the spleen of the 89Sr-treated mouse, which is an ineffective source of circulating monocytes and PGSM, contains cells which can generate both of these populations following infusion into lethally irradiated recipients . Since the bone marrow of such recipients was capable of being repopulated, the aggregate observations suggest that functional bone marrow is obligatory for the generation of blood monocytes and PGSM populations.

J Neurosci, 1991 Apr, 11(4), 972 - 8
Inflammation near the nerve cell body enhances axonal regeneration; Lu X et al.; Although crushed axons in a dorsal spinal root normally regenerate more slowly than peripheral axons, their regeneration can be accelerated by a conditioning lesion to the corresponding peripheral nerve . These and other observations indicate that injury to peripheral sensory axons triggers changes in their nerve cell bodies that contribute to axonal regeneration . To investigate mechanisms of activating nerve cell bodies, an inflammatory reaction was provoked in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) through injection of Corynebacterium parvum . This inflammation enhanced regeneration in the associated dorsal root, increasing 4-fold the number of regenerating fibers 17 d after crushing; peripheral nerve regeneration was not accelerated . A milder stimulation of dorsal root regeneration was detected after direct injection of isogenous macrophages into the ganglion . It is concluded that changes favorable to axonal regeneration can be induced by products of inflammatory cells acting in the vicinity of the nerve cell body . Satellite glial cells and other unidentified cells in lumbar DRG were shown by thymidine radioautography to proliferate after sciatic nerve transection or injection of C . parvum into the ganglia . Intrathecal infusion of mitomycin C suppressed axotomy-induced mitosis of satellite glial cells but did not impede axonal regeneration in the dorsal root or the peripheral nerve . Nevertheless, the similarity in reactions of satellite glial cells during 2 processes that activate neurons adds indirect support to the idea that non-neuronal cells in the DRG might influence regenerative responses of primary sensory neurons.

J Thorac Imaging, 1991 Apr, 6(2), 72 - 4
Lung abscess caused by Rhodococcus equi; Takasugi JE et al.; In the immunocompromised patient, early diagnosis of a lung cavity is essential for appropriate treatment . Rhodococcus equi (formerly Corynebacterium equi) is a variably acid-fast bacterium that can produce cavitary disease in an immunocompromised host . The two cases presented here demonstrate the clinical and radiographic features of R equi lung abscess . The first patient was on long-term corticosteroid therapy for rheumatoid arthritis . The second patient had AIDS . The correct diagnosis in both cases was delayed because acid-fast bacilli seen on smears of sputum were presumed to be Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Endodoncia, 1991 Apr-Jun, 9(2), 69 - 72
{Method and procedures in bacteriological study of necrotic teeth}; Rodriguez-Ponce A et al.; Research was conducted of 160 radicular canals with necrotic pulp . Results of different bacteriological analyses are presented . Culture analyses in aerobic and anaerobic media, resulted in the isolation of Staphylococcus Epidermidis, Streptococcus Viridans and Corynebacterium sp in the group studied, as the most frequent bacteria . There was no evidence of a specific germ linked with the pulp necrosis.

Ugeskr Laeger, 1991 Mar 11, 153(11), 769 - 72
{Diphtheria in Denmark 1956-1989 . Occurrence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and other diphtheria toxigenic bacteria}; Nielsen PB et al.; The public immunization program against diphtheria, established in 1941, has almost eradicated the disease in Denmark, and 1956 became the first year without any notified cases . Since then, toxigenic strains have only been isolated five times--three cases of clinical diphtheria due to Corynebacterium diphtheriae biovar . mitis and two cases of tonsillitis/pharyngitis due to Corynebacterium ulcerans . The source of the infection was not identified in any of the cases . The first case of diphtheria in 1968 was imported from abroad . The following two cases in 1983 and 1985 were due to strains of the same phage type and peptide profile as the strains isolated during the epidemic in Sweden in 1984-1986 . This indicates that the Danish cases and the Swedish epidemic derived from the same source . The diphtheria immunity of the Danish population is decreasing, and the level of protection is approaching the Swedish level . The impact is that a situation like that in Sweden may be anticipated with diphtheria epidemic in the lowest socio-economical groups--the skid row dwellers, alcoholics and drug abusers--if the immunization program against diphtheria is not intensified.

J Am Acad Dermatol, 1991 Mar, 24(3), 393 - 6
Cutaneous botryomycosis; Mehregan DA et al.; We report four cases of cutaneous botryomycosis . The predisposing factors included alcoholism, diabetes, and trauma . Clinically, the patients had nodules, suppurative plaques, or ulcers . In two cases, Staphylococcus aureus was cultured . In one case Neisseria species was cultured and in another a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium species were the only organism cultured . All patients responded to systemic antibiotic therapy.

J Infect, 1991 Mar, 22(2), 161 - 9
Vancomycin-resistant Corynebacterium species causing prosthetic valve endocarditis successfully treated with imipenem and ciprofloxacin; Barnass S et al.; Endocarditis caused by a Corynebacterium sp . resistant to vancomycin, penicillin G, erythromycin, gentamicin and rifampicin arose in a 44-year-old woman 4 months after replacement of the mitral valve with a prosthesis . She was successfully treated with a 79-day course of intravenous imipenem and ciprofloxacin and replacement of the prosthesis 48 days after treatment began.

Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 1032 - 6
Augmented production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and alpha/beta interferon in mice inoculated with heat-killed Corynebacterium liquefaciens; Yoshida T et al.; We demonstrated that heat-killed Corynebacterium liquefaciens bacteria, as a known potent host immune activity modulator, stimulate spleen cells to produce granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony-stimulating factor (CSF) and another CSF with similar activity, as well as alpha/beta interferon, when injected intravenously into mice . Alpha/beta interferon was shown to be produced by C . liquefaciens-activated plastic-G-10 column-adherent cells (A cells) in a thymus-independent manner . In contrast, augmented production of GM-CSF required the action of C . liquefaciens-activated T lymphocytes that collaborated with normal A cells . Non-T spleen cells from C . liquefaciens-stimulated athymic mice, however, produced an alternative CSF that partially replaced GM-CSF . Correspondingly, the numbers of GM-producing CFU developing in cultures of spleen cells from C . liquefaciens-treated euthymic or athymic mice were 10 to 30 times higher than those in cultures of spleen cells from untreated mice . These results suggest that gram-positive rods such as C . liquefaciens activate T and A cells for production of multiple cytokines and that potential cooperative actions of these cytokines underlie the known immunomodulatory action of coryneforms.

Plasmid, 1991 Mar, 25(2), 149 - 53
Construction and characterization of a Mycobacterium-Escherichia coli shuttle vector; Radford AJ et al.; We have constructed a set of novel Mycobacterium-Escherichia coli shuttle vectors using either a kanamycin- or hygromycin-resistance gene and the replication region from a Corynebacterium plasmid . Important features of these new vectors (pEP2 and pEP3) are that they are small, contain multiple cloning sites, and replicate to high copy number in various Mycobacterium species and E . coli . These vectors are unusual in that plasmid replication in gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria appears to be controlled from a single region . These plasmids will be useful for the genetic analysis of Mycobacterium and gene expression in this genus, particularly Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

Acta Pathol Jpn, 1991 Mar, 41(3), 217 - 20
Method for in situ evaluation of superoxide production by pulmonary macrophages in the rat; Mochida S et al.; In order to investigate superoxide production by pulmonary macrophages in the rat, a route was created by ligating both the inferior and superior venae cavae and resecting the aorta after cannulation through the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of the heart . Lung perfusion was performed via this route with nitro blue tetrazolium . Although there was no formazan deposition throughout the lung, it became detectable in both alveolar and interstitial macrophages when phorbol myristate acetate was added to the perfusate . This deposition was markedly enhanced by previous injection of Corynebacterium parvum . The deposition disappeared after further addition of Cu(Lys)2, a scavenger of superoxide anions . This procedure may be useful for estimating in situ the ability of pulmonary macrophages to produce superoxide in the rat.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1991 Feb 15, 111(2), 163 - 73
Delayed-onset pseudophakic endophthalmitis; Fox GM et al.; We reviewed 19 cases of delayed-onset pseudophakic endophthalmitis in which diagnostic cultures were performed at one month or more after cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation . We isolated four different organisms in these 19 cases: 12 Propionibacterium species (63%), three Candida parapsilosis (16%), three Staphylococcus epidermidis (16%), and one Corynebacterium species (5%) . Because of the unusual delayed-onset features of these cases and the retrospective nature of this study, a variety of treatment regimens were used . Twelve patients had recurrence of marked inflammation despite an apparent initial cure, and ten of these patients had positive culture results on repeat examination of intraocular fluids . Nine patients continued to be treated with topical corticosteroids postoperatively to suppress low-grade inflammation . Of the 19 patients, 16 had final visual acuity of 20/400 or better . Delayed-onset pseudophakic endophthalmitis had a more favorable visual prognosis, compared to acute-onset endophthalmitis.

Vet Microbiol, 1991 Feb 15, 26(4), 381 - 92
Experimental Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in lambs: kinetics of bacterial dissemination and inflammation; Pepin M et al.; Infection and pyogranulomas induced by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis were experimentally reproduced in lambs . In two separate experiments, bacterial multiplication and dissemination were studied in 30 male lambs inoculated subcutaneously into the right ear with 1.1 or 1.5 X 10(8) viable C . pseudotuberculosis strain 19R . Infected lambs were necropsied at various times until the 28th day following inoculation . After a transient hyperthermia and a strong local inflammatory reaction, an abscess developed in the right ear from postinoculation day (PID) 6; it enlarged until PID 14 and stabilized thereafter and was associated with adenopathy of lymph nodes draining the head . Three acute phase indicators of inflammation were followed in 14 out of 30 lambs; plasma levels of copper and haptoglobin increased rapidly following inoculation whereas zinc levels decreased . The peaks were reached from PID 1 to 5, and thereafter the values came back slowly to the baseline . Antibodies against C . pseudotuberculosis exotoxin increased from PID 5 and reached a plateau on PID 21 . Bacterial dissemination, assessed by the number of infected organs per lamb, was maximal on PID 16 and then stabilized until the end of the experiment . Lungs were infected in seven out of 18 lambs necropsied on PID 28 . These results demonstrate a significant relationship between the clinical score of superficial lymph nodes or inoculation site and the infection level of these organs, and an early localization of pyogranulomatous lesions in regional lymph nodes . The subsequent development of the disease was related to the enlargement of these lesions and, in some animals, to a bacterial dissemination from primary sites of infection in the right prescapular lymph node and in the lung.

APMIS, 1991 Feb, 99(2), 147 - 54
Grouping of some clinically relevant gram-positive rods by automated fatty acid analysis . Diagnostic implications; Von Graevenitz A et al.; One hundred and ninety-four strains of aerobically growing Gram-positive rods of the genera Corynebacterium, Actinomyces, Arcanobacterium, Erysipelothrix, Listeria, Oerskovia, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and of unnamed Center for Disease Control (CDC) groups were checked for cellular fatty acid profiles with the microbial Identification System (Microbial ID, Newark, Del., USA) . In order to obtain unified data usable for the clinical laboratory, 24 or 48 h sheep blood agar cultures were used . It was thought that grouping and perhaps identification could be aided by this approach . With the aid of numerical analysis, four groups (two consisting of two subgroups each) were established . The discriminatory ability of the scheme, however, was only 77.2%, indicating that grouping of an unknown isolate could be done with some accuracy, but that speciation would still require biochemical testing.

Arch Surg, 1991 Feb, 126(2), 186 - 91
Effect of endogenous nitric oxide on mitochondrial respiration of rat hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo; Stadler J et al.; Nitric oxide, a highly reactive radical, was recently identified as an intermediate of L-arginine metabolism in mammalian cells . We have shown that nitric oxide synthesis is induced in vitro in cultured hepatocytes by supernatants from activated Kupffer cells or in vivo by injecting rats with nonviable Corynebacterium parvum . In both cases, nitric oxide biosynthesis in hepatocytes was associated with suppression of total protein synthesis . This study attempts to determine the effect of nitric oxide biosynthesis on the activity of specific hepatocytic mitochondrial enzymes and to determine whether inhibition of protein synthesis is caused by suppression of energy metabolism . Exposure of hepatocytes to supernatants from activated Kupffer cells led to a 30% decrease of aconitase (Krebs cycle) and complex I (mitochondrial electron transport chain) activity . Using NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, we demonstrated that the inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase activity was due, in part, to the action of nitric oxide . In contrast, in vivo nitric oxide synthesis of hepatocytes from Corynebacterium parvum-treated animals had no effect on mitochondrial respiration . This suggests that inhibition of protein synthesis by nitric oxide is not likely to be mediated by inhibition of energy metabolism.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1991 Feb, 34(5), 617 - 22
Amplification of three threonine biosynthesis genes in Corynebacterium glutamicum and its influence on carbon flux in different strains; Eikmanns BJ et al.; The hom-thrB operon (homoserine dehydrogenase/homoserine kinase) and the thrC gene (threonine synthase) of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13,032 and the homFBR (homoserine dehydrogenase resistant to feedback inhibition by threonine) alone as well as homFBR-thrB operon of C . glutamicum DM 368-3 were cloned separately and in combination in the Escherichia coli/C . glutamicum shuttle vector pEK0 and introduced into different corynebacterial strains . All recombinant strains showed 8- to 20-fold higher specific activities of homoserine dehydrogenase, homoserine kinase, and/or threonine synthase compared to the respective host . In wild-type C . glutamicum, amplification of the threonine genes did not result in secretion of threonine . In the lysine producer C . glutamicum DG 52-5 and in the lysine-plus-threonine producer C . glutamicum DM 368-3 overexpression of hom-thrB resulted in a notable shift of carbon flux from lysine to threonine whereas cloning of homFBR-thrB as well as of homFBR in C . glutamicum DM 368-3 led to a complete shift towards threonine or towards threonine and its precursor homoserine, respectively . Overexpression of thrC alone or in combination with that of homFBR and thrB had no effect on threonine or lysine formation in all recombinant strains tested.

Vet Rec, 1991 Jan 19, 128(3), 54 - 6
Effect of damage to the teat end on the experimental induction of mastitis in dry cows with Corynebacterium pyogenes; Seinhorst JW et al.; The teat ends of 12 dry cows were contaminated with Corynebacterium pyogenes . To determine whether a pre-existing (an)aerobic bacterial infection of the udder was a predisposing factor for a C pyogenes mastitis they included infected and uninfected quarters . Anaerobic bacteria could not be found and mastitis was not induced . When the teats were contaminated with C pyogenes after the teat ends had been injured 30 of the quarters became infected, and anaerobic bacteria were demonstrated in many quarters.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1991 Jan 15, 198(2), 257 - 63
Epizootic of external and internal abscesses in a large goat herd over a 16-year period; Gezon HM et al.; From 1973 through 1988, 518 external and internal abscesses were diagnosed in a large commercial goat herd . Of the 518 abscesses, 238 were primary and 280 were secondary abscesses in the same or other anatomic locations . During this period, the herd varied in size from 94 goats in 1973 to 431 goats in 1988 . Abscesses in the jaw area were detected in 141 goats, 4 of which developed osteomyelitis of the mandible . Sternal abscesses were detected in 72 goats, with 2 also having osteomyelitis of the sternum diagnosed at necropsy . Most of the abscesses were in the jaw, sternal, facial, and cervical areas . Lung abscesses were diagnosed at necropsy in 20 goats that most recently had 1 or more superficial abscesses . Abscess incidence was 27.6% (112 of 406) in wethers and 22.9% (154 of 687) in does . Actinomyces pyogenes was isolated most frequently by bacteriologic culture of abscess specimens and about 3 times as often as was Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis or Staphylococcus sp, usually coagulase-positive S aureus . Bacteriologic culture of blood samples, taken during abscess episodes, yielded A pyogenes (n = 3) or C pseudotuberculosis (n = 1) in 3 goats . Results of antibiotic treatment of abscesses were disappointing, with little evidence of altering the course of the disease or sterilizing the abscess, despite the fact that the bacteria were susceptible in vitro to the antibiotics used . Excision of intact abscesses was the preferred treatment for abscesses of the jaw and facial areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Immunol, 1991 Jan, 132(1), 223 - 35
NZB serum factor (NZB-SF): B precursor cell maturation factor identified in murine lupus . I . Identification of 60-kDa glycoprotein as the major component from both spleen cell supernatant and serum; Jyonouchi H et al.; NZB serum factor (NZB-SF), initially identified in sera of very young NZB mice, can enhance maturation and proliferation of sIg- pre-B cells in marrow . In the present study, spleen cell supernatant from young NZB mice was used as a source of NZB-SF . NZB mice were treated with Corynebacterium parvum 2 weeks prior to sacrifice, and harvested spleen cells obtained at sacrifice were cultured for 24 hr in serum-free medium . One liter of spleen cell supernatant prepared in this way contained NZB-SF-like activity equivalent to that present in 10 ml of serum collected from young NZB mice . NZB-SF was purified on an affinity chromatographic column conjugated with mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) against NZB-SF . The purified NZB-SF had pI 7.8 and showed one major band of 60 kDa and a faintly stained 35-kDa band upon SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions . The 60-kDa NZB-SF extracted from the gel slice was also more potent in dot blot ELISA (greater than 100 times) than the 35 kDa NZB-SF and was biologically active . After endoglycosidase F treatment, but not after treatment with a reducing agent (2-ME), the two bands merged into a single band at the 15-kDa position . Amino acid sequence analysis of endo-F treated NZB-SF indicated that the N-terminus of this protein is blocked . Serological and functional studies of affinity-purified NZB-SF have revealed that NZB-SF is distinguishable from IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, CSF-GM, IFN-gamma, and TNF alpha . Therefore, a major component of NZB-SF(s) in the spleen cell supernatant may be an apparently novel 60-kDa glycoprotein with a single amino acid backbone . Sera and spleen cell supernatants from normal strains of mice (DBA/2, B6, or BALB/c) were also applied to the immuno-affinity column used to purify NZB-SF . It was found that trace amounts of NZB-SF are present also in serum of normal strains of mice and that spleen cells of these mice can also produce NZB-SF in vitro following stimulation with C . parvum . In SDS-PAGE, the 60-kDa NZB-SF is also the major component of NZB-SF in normal strains of mice . These results suggest that the 60-kDa NZB-SF may be of physiological importance in B cell differentiation and that this physiological factor is autoimmune-prone NZB mice.

Microbios, 1991, 65(263), 81 - 5
Aerobic bacteria from nasal discharge of goats suffering from clinical PPR: isolation and identification; Ugochukwu EI et al.; Bacteriological isolation of aerobic bacteria from nasal discharge of achondroplastic West African dwarf goats showing clinical signs of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and the laboratory procedures carried out for the identification of the isolates are described . From a total of forty nasal swabs obtained seventy five isolates were recovered . The percentage frequency of isolation of different organisms in descending order of occurrence is as follows: Staphylococcus 44.0%; Streptococcus 22.67%; Neisseria 12.00%; Pasteurella 10.67%; Pseudomonas 4.00%; Proteus 4.00% and Corynebacterium 1.33% . A further break-down using biochemical tests revealed that Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 30.67% of the total bacteria isolates; Staphylococcus epidermidis 13.33%; Streptococcus viridans 18.67%; Streptococcus pyogenes 4.00%; Neisseria catarrhalis 12.00%; Proteus mirabilis 2.67%; Proteus rettgeri 1.33%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5.33%; Pasteurella multocida 4.00%; Pasteurella haemolytica 6.67% and Corynebacterium pyogenes 1.33%.

Cornea, 1991 Jan, 10(1), 81 - 2
Corynebacterium striatus keratitis; Heidemann DG et al.; We report a case of diphtheroid keratitis that occurred in a compromised cornea . Corneal cultures yielded heavy growth of Corynebacterium striatus on blood and chocolate agar . The infection responded slowly to treatment with topical fortified cefazolin and fortified tobramycin . This case demonstrates that diphtheroids are capable of causing ocular infections and should not routinely be dismissed as contaminants or commensals.

Rev Infect Dis, 1991 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 73 - 6
Necrotizing tracheitis caused by Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum: unique case and review; Colt HG et al.; The occasional pathogenicity of nondiphtheria corynebacteria in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals is now well established . Previously described sites of infection include heart valves, wounds, urinary tract, and lungs . This report of necrotizing tracheitis caused by Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum illustrates the widening spectrum of infections caused by these organisms . A 54-year-old man developed respiratory distress and symptoms of upper airway obstruction unresponsive to inhaled bronchodilators, systemic corticosteroids, or intravenous erythromycin . A spirometry flow-volume loop demonstrated fixed upper airway obstruction . Fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination revealed a circumferential inflammatory process partially occluding the tracheal lumen . Gram staining revealed gram-positive rods typical of corynebacteria, and cultures of tracheal tissue yielded C . pseudodiphtheriticum resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin . There was no clinical or laboratory evidence for exotoxin or cell-associated toxins . Treatment with intravenous penicillin resulted in resolution of the inflammatory process and eradication of the organisms, as assessed by subsequent cultures.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jan 1, 61(1), 61 - 5
Na(+)-dependent succinate uptake in Corynebacterium glutamicum; Ebbighausen H et al.; Succinate is effectively taken up by washed cells of Corynebacterium glutamicum . The apparent Km value of uptake is about 150 microM and the Vmax 4-7 nmol (mg dry weight)-1 min-1 and uptake can be competetively inhibited by fumarate and oxaloacetate . The activation energy was determined to be 50 kJ/mol . The transport activity is clearly dependent on the presence of Na+ ions in the incubation medium and on the membrane potential and has a pH optimum around 8.5 . It is concluded that succinate is taken up in C . glutamicum via a specific carrier by a secondary active, Na+ coupled mechanism.

Pediatr Res, 1991 Jan, 29(1), 10 - 3
Immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines in infant rhesus monkeys; Vella PP et al.; Two Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines were evaluated for immunogenicity in eliciting anti-polyribosyl ribitol phosphate (PRP) antibodies in infant rhesus monkeys . Animals received intramuscular injections of either Hib polysaccharide (PRP)-meningococcal outer membrane protein complex or Hib oligosaccharide-CRM197 (HbOC) conjugate vaccines on d 0, 28, and 56 . Because HbOC contains the CRM197 mutant diphtheria toxin from Corynebacterium diphtheriae as its protein carrier, the effect of simultaneous injection of diphtheria toxoid on the immunogenicity of HbOC also was evaluated by dividing monkeys vaccinated with HbOC into three groups: HbOC/saline, HbOC/diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, and HbOC/tetanus toxoid (coadministration of HbOC and other vaccine or placebo injected into the flank muscle of different legs) . Infant monkeys vaccinated with the PRP-outer membrane protein complex conjugate responded with anti-PRP antibody after the first dose and showed booster responses after the second and third injections . In contrast, infant monkeys vaccinated with HbOC did not respond after three doses of HbOC/saline or HbOC/tetanus toxoid . However, two of three monkeys given concurrent injections of HbOC and diphtheria and tetanus toxoids did respond . The nonresponder monkey to three doses of HbOC and diphtheria and tetanus toxoids did respond to a subsequent injection with PRP-outer membrane protein complex . Thus, concomitant administration of diphtheria toxoid, a common vaccine for human infants, is necessary to elicit an anti-PRP antibody response to HbOC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Br J Ind Med, 1991 Jan, 48(1), 61 - 9
Persistent biological reactivity of quartz in the lung: raised protease burden compared with a non-pathogenic mineral dust and microbial particles; Brown GM et al.; This study assessed the potential harmfulness of particles in the lung by measuring their ability to elicit and maintain an inflammatory response and to damage lung tissue . It compared the inflammogenicity of two nondurable, biological particulates (Corynebacterium parvum and zymosan) with a pathogenic mineral dust (quartz) and a nonpathogenic dust (titanium dioxide) by dosing rats via the intratracheal route and measuring the consequent alveolitis . The magnitude and duration of the inflammatory response were assessed by measuring the total number of leucocytes and the percentage of neutrophils obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage . Two key functional parameters of the lavaged leucocytes--ability to degrade fibronectin and production of plasminogen activator--were also measured . A marked inflammatory response had occurred by one day after instillation, characterised by increases in total leucocyte numbers and percentage of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavages, with all four test materials . In all but the quartz exposed animals, the inflammation subsided rapidly thereafter, approaching control levels by 15 days after injection; in the quartz exposed animals the alveolitis persisted for up to 30 days . All of the inflammogens generated chemotaxins in rat serum in vitro and so, by analogy, might also be expected to generate chemotactic activity in alveolar lining fluid which could contribute to the generation of an inflammatory response . The cellular inflammatory response was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the proteolytic activity of the bronchoalveolar lavage leucocytes but production of plasminogen activator remained unchanged . In vitro exposure to the inflammogens had no effect on the proteolytic activity against fibronectin or on the plasminogen activator activity of bronchoalveolar leucocytes.

Schweiz Monatsschr Zahnmed, 1991, 101(11), 1399 - 404
{The periodontal findings and microflora in insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetics}; Willershausen B et al.; In 42 insulin-dependent type-I diabetics (age: 25.1 +/- 6 years; history of diabetes: 6.7 +/- 6.6 years) and in 118 control patients (age: 26.1 +/- 5.7 years) the oral health status including a periodontal examination was assessed . In addition, diabetic patients served to study the microflora in gingival pockets and on the mucosa of the cheek . The dental examination comprised the assessment of oral hygiene (Approximal Plaque Index, API), gingival inflammation (Sulcus Bleeding Index, SBI, and Gingival Index, GI) and of loss of attachment . Special medical history forms were used to gather information about the quality of metabolic equilibration and about laboratory values pertinent to diabetes . A significant positive correlation was found between poor metabolic adjustment (high glykosylized HbA1) and loss of attachment (r = 0.527) . A significant relation was also detected between the administered insulin dose and gingival conditions (r = 0.404) . The plasma leukocyte level was positively correlated to the SBI value (r = 0.546) as well as to the GI value (r = 0.496) . Bacteriological investigation of subgingival samples revealed an increased amount of gram-positive, anaerobic rods (27.5%), especially corynebacteria (7.4%) . Their numbers showed a narrow correlation to SBI (mean value: 48.1%) and GI (mean value: 1.9).

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1991, 35(3), 317 - 24
Tumor necrosis factor and its induction by bacterial endotoxins; Sourek J et al.; Using suitable immunomodulators (Corynebacterium parvum vaccine, Zymosan or muramyl dipeptide), lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from various members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella) were tested on rabbits in relation to the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) . TNF was determined by means of the serum titration of L-929 cell cultures in the presence of Actinomycin D, this with resulting titres of 3.2 x 10(3) to 5.1 x 10(4) IU TNF/ml . Analogous titres were noted after the action of denatured LPS (ie LPS subjected to alkaline hydrolysis or H2O2).

Arch Microbiol, 1991, 155(6), 607 - 12
Studies on the utilization of lactose by Corynebacterium glutamicum, bearing the lactose operon of Escherichia coli; Brabetz W et al.; The entire Escherichia coli lactose operon was inserted into an E . coli/Corynebacterium glutamicum shuttle vector and introduced into the gram-positive host organism C . glutamicum R 163 . Recombinant C . glutamicum strains carrying the lac genes downstream of an efficient promoter displayed rapid growth with lactose as the sole source of carbon . Two prerequisites were necessary to obtain good growth of C . glutamicum R 163 on lactose: presence of the lacY gene in addition to lacZ and an appropriate promoter for efficient transcription in C . glutamicum . The galactose moiety of lactose was not utilized but accumulated in the culture broth . C . glutamicum strains carrying only the lacZ (beta-galactosidase) gene but not lacY (lactose permease) were not able to grow in lactose minimal medium.

Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1991, 146(6), 435 - 43
Airborne microorganism monitoring: a comparison of several methods, including a new direct counting technique; Hysek J et al.; Samples of aerosol from the surrounding air were collected by forcing them to impact onto a solid nutrient medium, onto membrane filters, or onto microscope slides on microcover slips . The samples were cultivated or viewed in a fluorescence microscope by using a technique developed by us, or investigated by scanning electron microscopy . The amounts of microorganisms found by cultivation method, i.e . those forming microcolonies (CFU), were on average 85% lower than the amounts determined by the fluorescence technique . Cultivation of microorganisms trapped on Synpor filters of various pore size resulted in lower counts than conventional cultivation . Among bacteria, the genera Micrococcus, Bacillus and Corynebacterium predominated; the genera Neisseria, Actinomyces, Pseudomonas and others were also found . Of micromycetes, the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium occurred most frequently in air . In the summer season, yeasts and other micromycetes prevailed, whereas in the winter season the bacteria counts were higher . The total counts of all components of the aeroplankton were higher in summer than in winter . Dust particles bounded mainly bacteria.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1991 Jan-Dec, 84(1-12), 103 - 6
{Corynebacterium G-1 infection: description of a case of endocarditis}; Serra R et al.; Here we report a case of Corynebacterium G1 group endocarditis following acute bpn in non immunodeficient host . The bacterial strain was isolated from the surgically removed heart valve . To our knowledge this is the first report of such an isolate . Recently recurrent peritonitis in CAPD were also ascribed to the same agent.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1991, 36(6), 587 - 9
Effect of Tween 80 and dimethyl sulfoxide on biosynthesis of L-lysine in regulatory mutants of Corynebacterium glutamicum; Konicek J et al.; By using dimethyl sulfoxide or Tween 80 (1 or 0.2%), the production of L-lysine was increased by 20-28 and 23-25%, respectively, in regulatory mutant strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum . The stimulation observed is supposed to be caused by influencing cellular surface structures.

Chin J Biotechnol, 1991, 7(4), 271 - 7
Characterization of the natural deletion mutant of plasmid pXZ10145 in Corynebacterium glutamicum and construction of a recombinant plasmid; Na S et al.; Plasmid pNAT65, carrying the chloramphenicol resistance marker, was chosen from a number of natural deletion mutants of pXZ10145 when pXZ10145 DNA, originally isolated from Corynebacterium glutamicum 1014-6T, was used to transform the protoplast of Corynebacterium crenatum T6-13 . The size of pNAT65 was 2.4 kb, determined by electrophoresis on 0.7% agarose gel . The physical map of plasmid pNAT65 was determined . One recombinant plasmid, pNAR67, was constructed with the DNA fragments of pNAT65 and pBR322 digested respectively with EcoRI . This plasmid was capable of replication in E . coli, expressing ampicillin and tetracycline resistance; but with lower chloramphenicol, the resistance was only about 2 micrograms/ml.

Chin J Biotechnol, 1991, 7(3), 207 - 12
Application of uniform design in L-isoleucine fermentation; Liu D et al.; Uniform design was employed in our experiments for testing the effects of nine different compositions of the culture media for the production of L-isoleucine in Corynebacterium crenatum A11 fermentation . The most favorable medium was found to be composed of glucose 12%, (NH4)2SO4 2%, KH2PO4 0.1%, K2HPO4 0.45%, MgSO4.7H2O 0.055%, biotin 1 microgram, thiamine 20 micrograms, FeSO4.7H2O 2 ppm, MnSO4.4H2O 2 ppm, CaCO3 4% with pH 7.0-7.2 . By using such medium, the amount of L-isoleucine produced by A11 was increased up to 15.1 mg/ml . Uniform design, as compared with orthogonal design, has the advantages of higher efficiency and easier analysis of the factors that affect the production.

Braz J Med Biol Res, 1991, 24(4), 399 - 406
Relationship of biotype and source to the hemagglutination and adhesive properties of C . diphtheriae; Mattos-Guaraldi AL et al.; 1 . A study was conducted on the hemagglutinating and adhesive properties of sucrose-fermenting and non-sucrose-fermenting Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains . Sheep erythrocytes were agglutinated by 72% of toxigen C . diphtheriae strains and by 87% of nontoxigenic strains, by 67% of the strains isolated from throats and 94% of skin isolates, and by 65% of sucrose-fermenting organisms and 93% of non-sucrose-fermenting strains . 2 . Neither presence nor absence of toxin production was correlated with the hemagglutinating property . 3 . Different levels of adherence to glass surfaces occurred among C.diphtheriae strains . 4 . Strains from skin lesions and of the non-sucrose-fermenting biotype showed strong hemagglutinating activity . 5 . In contrast, sucrose-fermenting strains exhibited less hemagglutinating activity, but most of them (71%) were predominantly effective adherers to glass surfaces.

Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet, 1991, Spec No 3, 348 - 51
Pharmacokinetics of butyric acid derivative with xylitol; Desmet G et al.; The short chain fatty acids, especially butyric acid salts have interesting biological properties . In some cases, transformed cells can recover a normal phenotype and in animal, butyrate salts increase antitumor resistance . Butyrate may be considered as possibly useful for antitumor therapy . But these products exhibit two essential disadvantages which restrict their clinical use in man: high concentrations required to achieve therapeutic effects and rapid excretion with short half life . In order to optimize the clinical use of butyrate, we studied a n-butyric acid ester obtained with xylitol selected for its physiological and metabolic inertia . Structure determination of tributyryl xylitol was carried out by mass and NMR spectrometry (MW = 344) . The low toxicity and the antitumor effects of this ester, especially in association with Corynebacterium parvum and interferon, confirm its therapeutic interest . The slow excretion of this prodrug should make butyrate clinical use easier by preventing extensive systemic metabolism and metabolic side-effects due to cations of butyrate salts.

Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop, 1991, 44(2), 160 - 1
Isolation of Corynebacterium renale from slaughtered cattle at the Zaria abattoir in Nigeria; Fatihu MY et al.; Forty urinary bladders were collected from apparently healthy cattle slaughtered at the Zaria abattoir . Twenty-four (60%) were from male animals and 16 (40%) from females . Urine samples were obtained and cultured for Corynebacterium renale . Four (16.7%) of the samples from males and 1 (6.3%) from females were positive . The difference in infection between the sexes was statistically significant (P less than 0.001).

Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1991 Jan-Jun, 36(1), 1 - 17
{New bacterial microorganisms in the etiology of human infections . The genus Gardnerella}; Sefer M et al.; Haemophilus vaginalis first affiliated in the bacterial systems in the genus Haemophilus, the Corynebacterium due to its morphophysiological characteristics--forms a new genus Gardnerella with only one species G . vaginalis . The bacterium is important for man's pathology, as it is responsible for the most numerous vaginitis, considered nonspecific . The paper reports synthetically the present knowledge in biology, pathogenicity, diagnosis and treatment.

Prep Biochem, 1991, 21(4), 269 - 75
Purification of prephenate dehydratase from Corynebacterium glutamicum by affinity chromatography; Bertaux S et al.; Prephenate dehydratase has been purified from the wild type strain Corynebacterium glutamicum by affinity chromatography . Three ligands, L-Trp, L-Tyr, and L-Phe have been tested as well as conditions for elution . L-Phe is the most specific ligand: it leads to a purification factor of 11 in one step using step gradients of NaCl in Tris-HCl buffer at pH 7.5.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1991, 13(4), 513 - 29
Inhibition of NK cell generation by Corynebacterium parvum; Piccoli M et al.; Treatment of mice with Corynebacterium parvum (Cp) resulted in a substantial decrease of splenic NK activity associated with a reduced number of LGL . Cp also inhibited in vitro augmentation of NK cytotoxicity by IFN or IL-2 as well as generation of LAK activity . Localization experiments by using radiolabelled LGL indicated that the lower number of LGL in the spleen was not attributable to a Cp-induced alteration of LGL homing . Finally Cp was found to affect the ability of bone marrow cells to reconstitute NK activity in lethally irradiated mice, indicating that it can interfere with development of NK cells from bone marrow progenitors.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Jan, 10(1), 20 - 4
Adherence and hemagglutination of Corynebacterium group D2; Marty N et al.; Sixty-one strains of Corynebacterium group D2 were examined for their ability to adhere to human uroepithelial cells and to agglutinate human and guinea-pig erythrocytes . Strains were isolated from samples of two origins: urine of bacteriuric patients and healthy skin of patients without urinary infection . In addition, the isolates were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy . Heavy adherence to the uroepithelial cells but weak hemagglutination were noted . No statistical association was demonstrated between the adherence and the origin of the strains (65.2% of urinary isolates and 80% of healthy skin isolates were adherent) . On transmission electron microscopy, a close association was observed between adherent bacteria and cells on thin sections and only few strains were piliated with negative staining . These results do not support a role of adherence as a predictor of pathogenicity of Corynebacterium group D2 which seems to act as an opportunistic pathogen in urinary tract infections.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Jan, 17(1), 35 - 43
Multiresistant corynebacteria in bacteriuria: a comparative study of the role of Corynebacterium group D2 and Corynebacterium jeikeium; De Briel D et al.; During an 11-month prospective study, urine cultures were performed on 5685 samples obtained in three hospital units . The use of a selective medium improved the recovery of antibiotic-multiresistant corynebacteria (AMC): 703 isolates (12.4%) compared with 88 isolates (1.6%) on sheep blood agar . Corynebacterium group D2 (CGD2) was isolated in 80.5% of urines yielding greater than or equal to 10(5) AMC ml-1 whereas Corynebacterium jeikeium represented 80.2% of isolates with less than 10(5) AMC ml-1 . Among 16 patients with greater than or equal to 10(5) ml-1 C . jeikeium none had signs of urinary tract infection . In contrast, among 56 patients with greater than or equal to 10(5) CGD2, 40 (71%) had abnormal urinary sediment (mainly apatite or struvite crystals) and 29 (52%) had clinical signs of urinary tract infections sometimes complicated by lithiasis (seven cases) and alkaline-encrusted cystitis (two cases).

Arch Virol, 1991, 119(3-4), 291 - 6
Quantitative analysis of the Epstein-Barr virus-inducing properties of short-chain fatty acids present in the culture fluids of oral bacteria; Asai S et al.; The culture fluids of various anaerobic bacteria induced the synthesis of early antigens (EA) in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) carrying lymphoblastoid cells . The culture fluids of Corynebacterium butyricum and Fusobacterium nucleatum were the effective inducer on EA . The inducing activity was, to some extent, dependent on their n-butyric acid content, but appeared to be regulated by yet unidentified materials.

Biotechnology (N Y), 1991 Jan, 9(1), 84 - 7
Manipulation of Corynebacterium glutamicum by gene disruption and replacement; Schwarzer A et al.; We have developed a system for the genetic manipulation of the amino acid-producing Corynebacterium glutamicum . Gene disruption and replacement were achieved by introducing, via conjugation, Escherichia coli vector plasmids carrying manipulated C . glutamicum DNA fragments . We obtained stable mutants in which the chromosomal lysA gene, encoding meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase, was interrupted by a chloramphenicol resistance cartridge, or in which an essential internal part of the lysA gene was deleted . The deletion mutants retain neither antibiotic resistance markers nor vector sequences . This strategy is generally applicable to the construction of industrial strains to be used in fermentation processes.

Eur J Biochem, 1990 Dec 27, 194(3), 937 - 44
Uptake of glutamate in Corynebacterium glutamicum . 2 . Evidence for a primary active transport system; Kramer R et al.; The inducible glutamate uptake system in Corynebacterium glutamicum (Kramer, R., Lambert, C., Hoischen, C . & Ebbighausen, H., preceding paper in this journal) was characterized with respect to its mechanism and energy coupling . All possible secondary active uptake mechanisms can be excluded . Glutamate transport is not coupled to the translocation of H+, Na+ or K+ ions . Although changes in membrane potential and uptake activity cannot completely be separated, no correlation between these two parameters is observed . The uptake of glutamate resembles a primary active, ATP-dependent transport mechanism in several respects . (a) The substrate affinity is very high (1.3 microM) . (b) Accumulation of glutamate reaches values of greater than 2.10(5), at least as high as those reported for binding-protein-dependent systems in Gram-negative bacteria . (c) The uptake is unidirectional . Even after complete deenergization, the accumulation ratio was not significantly reduced . (d) The rate of glutamate uptake is directly correlated to the cytosolic ATP content and also to the ATP/ADP ratio . This is shown by varying internal ATP by different procedures applying inhibitors (NaCN, dicyclohexyl carbodiimide), uncouplers (carbonyl m-chlorophenylhydrazone), ionophores (valinomycin), and even by shifting the cells to anaerobiosis . Uptake is not promoted by cytosolic ATP levels below 1.5 mM, the maximum uptake rate is reached at 4-5 mM ATP.

Eur J Biochem, 1990 Dec 27, 194(3), 929 - 35
Uptake of glutamate in Corynebacterium glutamicum . 1 . Kinetic properties and regulation by internal pH and potassium; Kramer R et al.; The active uptake system for glutamate in Corynebacterium glutamicum is inducible by growth on glutamate as sole energy and carbon source and is also susceptible to catabolite repression by glucose . The basic level of uptake activity is low in glucose-grown cells (1.5 nmol.mg dry mass-1.min-1), it is intermediate when acetate is the carbon source (3.8 nmol.mg dry mass-1.min-1) and becomes fully induced by glutamate (15 nmol.mg dry mass-1.min-1) . In all cases the uptake has, except for different Vmax values, identical kinetic and energetic properties, and is characterized by a low apparent Km value of 0.5-1.3 microM and by high substrate specificity . The transported substrate species is the deprotonated form which can also be concluded from the extremely high pH optimum of transport above pH 9 . Glutamate uptake in cells grown in media with low K+ concentration is not influenced by external Na+ but is drastically stimulated by addition of K+ . Stimulation by K+ could be separated into two different mechanisms . (a) Addition of K+ increases the internal pH, thereby stimulating glutamate uptake which is regulated by the internal pH in C . glutamicum . The apparent pK of the internal 'pH switch' is 6.6; below this value, uptake of glutamate is inhibited . (b) Internal K+ also directly promotes glutamate uptake . Effective uptake of glutamate can be observed only when the cytosolic K+ concentration exceeds a threshold value of about 200 mM . Stimulation of glutamate uptake by external K+ is not due to functional coupling of K+ and glutamate transport but reveals the necessity to replenish the internal K+ pool.

Semin Dermatol, 1990 Dec, 9(4), 305 - 8
The influence of various factors on the human resident skin flora; Hartmann AA; Various factors, e.g . prolonged occlusion, skin disinfectants, systemic antimicrobials, can have an impact on the ecosystem of the normal human skin flora for a short time . These impacts are of clinical importance in the treatment of some skin diseases, where members of the normal human skin flora are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, e.g . Propionibacterium acnes in acne vulgaris, Corynebacterium species in erythrasma, trichomycosis palmellina and pitted keratolysis, Pityrosporum orbiculare/ovale in Pityriasis versicolor, Pityrosporum folliculitis and others . Using the standardized forehead skin test, SFST, proposed by us, antibacterial short-term effects including the action degree profile, the action time profile, and the depth penetration profile of a topically applied antibacterial agent can be measured . Testing 60 v/v% isopropanol, 60 v/v% n-propanol, povidone iodine (aques solution), 3 w/v% salicylic acid in 50 v/v% isopropanol and 1 v/v% phenoli liquefacti in 50 v/v% isopropanol, salicylic acid showed equivalent reduction factors as 60 v/v% n-propanol immediately after the application . With the modified SFST, salicyclic acid tincture produced a 50-fold higher bacterial density reduction 12 hours after the fourth application and a 100-fold reduction 12 hours after the eighth application in comparison with 60 v/v% isopropanol . Salicylic acid, mainly used in dermatotherapy as a keratolytic agent, fulfills all these above mentioned requirements including a well antimicrobial efficacy . Since Salicyclic acid is also effective against yeast and dermatophytes, the substance has some advantages over other antimicrobials used in the dermatotherapy.

J Leukoc Biol, 1990 Dec, 48(6), 565 - 9
Modulation of nitrogen oxide synthesis in vivo: NG-monomethyl-L-arginine inhibits endotoxin-induced nitrate/nitrate biosynthesis while promoting hepatic damage; Billiar TR et al.; Attempts were made to promote or inhibit nitric oxide ( . N = O) synthesis in a murine model of hepatic damage (Corynebacterium parvum followed by lipopolysaccharide; LPS) to determine the role of . N = O in the liver injury . Moderate hepatic damage and increases in circulating NO2-/NO3- levels were detectable after C . parvum alone . Administration of LPS to these mice resulted in severe hepatic damage and acute elevations in circulating nitrogen oxide levels . L-arg had no influence on the C . parvum or LPS-induced changes . NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA) had no effect in the absence of LPS, but when given with LPS, a dose-dependent suppression in plasma NO2-/NO3- levels and an increase in liver injury were seen . The NMA-induced changes were partially reversed by the simultaneous administration of L-arg . These findings suggest a protective role for . N = O in this model.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Dec, (12), 62 - 6
{The immunomodulating properties of a diphtheria bacterial vaccine in in vitro experiments}; Polkova SM et al.; In this investigation lymphocytes sensitized with Corynebacterium diphtheriae antigens obtained from carriers and convalescents were used . The new diphtheria bacterial vaccine Codivac, in contrast to other comparable preparations (diphtheria toxoid, staphylococcal toxoid, staphylococcal vaccine, levamisole), was found to produce a more direct effect by modulating the levels of T-lymphocytes, depending on their initial levels in the patient . Codivac, together with other preparations, can be used for the study of the problems of immunostimulation and immunocorrective therapy.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Dec, 172(12), 7241 - 8
Lysine uptake and exchange in Corynebacterium glutamicum; Broer S et al.; Resting cells of Corynebacterium glutamicum (ATCC 13032) accumulate {14C}lysine by a transport system with a relatively high affinity (10 microMs) and a low maximum velocity (0.15 nmol/min per mg {dry weight}) . Uptake of lysine was not inhibited by uncouplers or by ionophores affecting the ion gradients and the energetic state of the cell . Analysis of intracellular amino acid concentrations during the transport reaction as well as kinetic studies revealed that the observed uptake of lysine in fact represents a homologous antiport between extracellular {14C}lysine and intracellular unlabeled lysine . Intracellular {14C}lysine could only be released by the addition of unlabeled lysine to the bacterial suspension . In contrast to this homologous antiport reaction, we observed net uptake of lysine in lysine-depleted cells of a lysine auxotrophic strain . This net uptake was found to be electrogenic and could also be observed as a heterologous antiport reaction in wild-type cells under particular conditions . In this case exchange was mediated between internal lysine and external alanine, isoleucine, or valine . This antiport was electrogenic, since the substrates differ in charge . The cells can switch between electroneutral homologous exchange and electrogenic heterologous antiport mode during fermentation because of changing metabolic conditions.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1990 Dec 1, 120(48), 1812 - 6
{Classical pseudomembranous diphtheria caused by Corynebacterium ulcerans}; Gubler JG et al.; In a 63-year-old patient presenting with signs of classical diphtheria including membranous pharyngotracheobronchitis and myocarditis, Corynebacterium ulcerans was isolated in pure culture from the membranes . The strain produced a toxin specific for C . ulcerans but no diphtheria toxin . The patient was discharged after a complicated hospital course including respiratory and cardiac failure . Besides Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which has very rarely been isolated in Switzerland in recent years, Corynebacterium ulcerans should be considered as a cause of classical diphtheria.

Tierarztl Prax, 1990 Dec, 18(6), 595 - 9
{Corynebacterium suis infections in swine . 2 . Morphological findings in the urinary tract with special reference to the bladder}; Kaup FJ et al.; Morphological investigations of the urethra, urinary bladder (2 localizations), ureter, renal pelvis and kidneys were performed in sows with Corynebacterium suis infection . The first stages of the disease were characterized by changes of the transitional epithelium in the bladder where epithelial vacuolisation, goblet cell differentiation, leucocytic infiltrations, and haemorrhages occurred . In chronically affected animals different stages of a mucopurulent, partly erosive to ulcerative cystitis were observed . Furthermore, chronic cystitis was characterized by polypoid mucosal proliferation and bacterial accumulations . Ureter and urethra showed signs of a mild purulent inflammation . In the renal pelvis there was a severe fibrinopurulent and necrotizing pyelitis which was accompanied by bacterial invasions . The parts of the renal pelvis without desquamation of the transitional epithelium undergo mucoid degenerations . The final stage of the disease is characterized by severe fibrosing chronic interstitial nephritis leading to death of the animals due to uraemia.

Drugs, 1990 Dec, 40(6), 854 - 62
The sore throat . When to investigate and when to prescribe; Lang SD et al.; Sore throats are most commonly due to infections, many of which are viral and do not require specific treatment . Symptoms and signs of the common cold, influenza or croup, the occurrence of conjunctivitis in some adenoviral infections, generalised lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly in glandular fever or the presence of vesicles characteristic of herpangina (Coxsackie A virus) or of herpes simplex infection, occasionally enable a clinical diagnosis and avoid the need for antibiotic therapy . In the case of treatable conditions a typical membrane may suggest diphtheria, a scarlatiniform rash infection due to Streptococcus pyogenes or to Corynebacterium haemolyticum, and a cherry-red epiglottis Haemophilus influenzae type b . Associated atypical pneumonia suggests infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Chlamydia pneumoniae . Pharyngitis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae may be accompanied by infection at other sites or by other sexually transmitted diseases . Candidal infection, in the appropriate clinical circumstance, should suggest HIV infection . Surgical drainage is required in the case of peritonsillar or retropharyngeal abscess . Noninfectious cases of sore throat, e.g . thyroiditis, are relatively uncommon considerations in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile pharyngitis . The most common problem is to recognise streptococcal pharyngitis, which requires antibiotic treatment for 10 days to avoid the risk of rheumatic fever.

Neth J Med, 1990 Dec, 37(5-6), 236 - 8
Native valve endocarditis due to Corynebacterium group JK; Moffie BG et al.; We report a case of a 32-yr-old woman on chronic intermittent haemodialysis, who developed endocarditis due to a Corynebacterium group JK, involving both the native aortic and mitral valves . Despite a four-week treatment with vancomycin, an aortic root abscess developed . The diagnosis was confirmed on autopsy.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 Dec, 9(12), 892 - 5
In vitro susceptibility of Corynebacterium group D2 and Corynebacterium jeikeium to twelve antibiotics; Philippon A et al.; The in vitro susceptibility of 83 Corynebacterium group D2 strains and 44 Corynebacterium jeikeium strains to 12 antimicrobial agents was determined by an agar dilution technique using Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with Tween 80 (0.025%) . All strains of Corynebacterium group D2 were highly sensitive to fusidic acid, pristinamycin, teicoplanin and vancomycin (geometric mean MICs 0.047, 0.048, 0.338 and 0.396 mg/l respectively) . Most of the strains were resistant to other antibiotics tested (ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamicin, lincomycin, rifampin and tetracycline) . However, a few strains were highly sensitive (MICs less than or equal to 0.2 mg/l) . The overall pattern of susceptibility of 44 strains of Corynebacterium jeikeium was similar; the geometric mean MICs of fusidic acid, pristinamycin, vancomycin and teicoplanin were 0.234, 0.235, 0.557 and 0.652 mg/l respectively.

Mol Gen Genet, 1990 Dec, 224(3), 317 - 24
Aspartokinase genes lysC alpha and lysC beta overlap and are adjacent to the aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase gene asd in Corynebacterium glutamicum; Kalinowski J et al.; A 2.1 kb DNA fragment of the recombinant plasmid pCS2, isolated from an aminoethyl cysteine (AEC)-resistant and lysine-producing Corynebacterium glutamicum mutant strain, and which confers AEC resistance and lysine production on the wild-type G . glutamicum ATCC 13032 was analysed . DNA sequence analysis of this fragment revealed three large open reading frames (ORFs) . The incomplete ORF1 does not contain the 5' end of the coding region . ORF2, which uses the same reading frame as ORF1, is identical to the 3' end of ORF1 and encodes a putative protein of 172 amino acids (aa) and of Mr 18,584 . ORF3 encodes a putative protein of 344 aa and of Mr 36,275 . The amino acid sequences deduced from ORF1 and ORF2 display strong homologies to those of the alpha- and beta-subunits of the Bacillus subtilis aspartokinase II . It is therefore proposed that the incomplete ORF1, termed lysC alpha, encodes part of the alpha-subunit of the C . glutamicum aspartokinase whereas the complete ORF2, termed lysC beta, encodes the beta-subunit of the same enzyme . ORF2 is responsible for AEC resistance and lysine production due to a feedback-resistant aspartokinase . The amino acid sequence deduced from ORF3, termed asd, is highly homologous to that of the Streptococcus mutans aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASD) . Plasmids carrying the C . glutamicum asd gene complemented Escherichia coli asd mutants . Increase in ASD activity by a factor of 30-60 was measured for C . glutamicum cells harbouring high copy-number plasmids with the C . glutamicum asd gene.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1990 Dec, 69(6), 828 - 33
Synthesis of collagenase by the phytopathogenic bacterium Corynebacterium rathayii; Labadie J; The collagenase-producing bacterium tentatively called Empedobacter collagenolyticum was recently identified as Corynebacterium rathayii . Production of collagenase was studied in different media containing peptones or peptides of known sequences . A hexapeptide, Pro-Ala-Gly-Pro-Pro-Gly, is an inducer almost as good as collagen.

Gene, 1990 Nov 30, 96(1), 147 - 8
Nucleotide sequence of the replication region from the Mycobacterium-Escherichia coli shuttle vector pEP2; Messerotti LJ et al.; The replication region derived from the Corynebacterium diphtheriae-Escherichia coli plasmid pNG2 was sequenced . This 1.85-kb segment contains a single origin of DNA replication, one major open reading frame and shares no sequence homology with previously described plasmids.

Rev Infect Dis, 1990 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 1019 - 34
Urinary tract infection caused by Corynebacterium group D2: report of 82 cases and review; Soriano F et al.; Corynebacterium group D2 (CGD2) is a slow-growing, urea-splitting, multiantibiotic-resistant microorganism that is frequently isolated from urine samples and that, in certain circumstances, produces infection of the lower urinary tract (acute and chronic cystitis) and the upper urinary tract (pyelonephritis) . This paper analyzes (by means of a retrospective and partially prospective clinical protocol) our experience with 82 patients with CGD2 bacteriuria . The infection was symptomatic in 62% of cases, and the clinical diagnoses included acute and chronic cystitis and pyelonephritis with or without bacteremia . Because CGD2 infection of the urinary tract may require specific antimicrobial treatment and because CGD2 is a fastidious microorganism, we recommend prolonged incubation of urine cultures (up to 48-72 hours), especially if the routine culture is negative, when patients are symptomatic, have alkaline urine, or have struvite crystals in the urine sediment.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1990 Nov, 26(3), 211 - 25
Immunological aspects of mammary tumors in dogs and cats: a survey including own studies and pertinent literature; Rutten VP et al.; Naturally occurring cancer in companion animals parallels cancer in man more closely than does experimentally induced cancer in inbred laboratory animals . In dogs and cats, as in man, a role for immune responses is indicated in the development of tumors . A survey is presented based on the literature and our own studies concerning the immunological and immunotherapeutic aspects of canine and feline mammary neoplasia . In dogs bearing mammary neoplasms, circulating immune complexes appear to play a negative role in the generation of effective antitumor immune responses . The functional role of peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in dogs and cats with mammary tumors is not yet fully established . No tumor antigen responsible for humoral or cellular responses has yet been identified . Extracorporeal perfusion of serum of dogs with mammary tumors and subcutaneous administration of mitomycin- and neuraminidase-treated autologous tumor cells are associated with improved prognosis . The opposite was true for i.v . treatment with BCG or Corynebacterium parvum vaccine in our study, in contrast to a previous report . A number of other treatment modalities in cats and dogs with mammary carcinomas failed to induce tumor regression . Canine and feline mammary carcinomas are good candidates for modern immunotherapeutic approaches.

Am J Pathol, 1990 Nov, 137(5), 1173 - 85
Endotoxin-induced cytokine gene expression in vivo . II . Regulation of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 alpha/beta expression and suppression; Ulich TR et al.; Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) mRNA is present in a preformed intracellular pool in the spleen, liver, and small bowel of naive rats . Endotoxin (Salmonella typhus lipopolysaccharide) injected intravenously induces little or no increase in whole-organ TNF mRNA levels at 15', 30', 1 degree, 2 degrees, or 4 degrees, whereas serum TNF levels are markedly elevated at 1 and 2 hours . Dexamethasone pretreatment of rats suppresses LPS-induced serum TNF concentrations, but does not suppress TNF mRNA levels in the spleen or bowel . Tachyphylaxis experiments demonstrate that a second injection of endotoxin 2 hours after an initial injection fails to induce a second peak of serum TNF, although TNF mRNA levels in the spleen and bowel remain at the levels found in naive rats . Corynebacterium parvum upregulates endotoxin-induced serum TNF release and intravenous injection of IL-1 induces the release of serum TNF but neither alters whole-organ TNF mRNA levels . Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) mRNA was not constitutively detected in whole-organ RNA preparations of the spleen, liver, and small bowel of naive rats . Endotoxin induces IL-1 alpha mRNA most easily appreciated in the spleen beginning at 1 hour, peaking at 2 to 4 hours, and disappearing by 6 hours . Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) mRNA was not constitutively detected in the organs examined or was present in small amounts . Endotoxin induces IL-1 beta mRNA beginning at 0.5 hours, peaking at 1 hour, and disappearing by 6 hours . Dexamethasone pretreatment prevents the LPS-induced appearance of IL-1 alpha mRNA and suppresses but does not completely inhibit the appearance of IL-1 beta mRNA . C . parvum upregulates endotoxin-induced IL-1 mRNA expression . Intravenous injection of TNF or IL-1 both induce IL-1 mRNA expression . In conclusion, TNF mRNA is constitutively expressed and TNF mRNA levels as analyzed in whole-organ RNA preparations do not change in concert with serum TNF protein levels during conditions of endotoxemia, dexamethasone treatment, tachyphylaxis, priming with C . parvum, or after injection of IL-1 . In contrast, IL-1 mRNA expression during endotoxemia, dexamethasone treatment, priming with C . parvum, or after injection of TNF or IL-1 shows clear increases and decreases in whole-organ RNA preparations.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Nov, 60(3), 341 - 4
Taxonomic implications of the chemical analysis of the D2 group of corynebacteria; Herrera-Alcaraz EA et al.; Whole cell acid methanolysates from corynebacteria of the D2 group were found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose . Among lipids of taxonomic value, saturated and unsaturated straight chain fatty acids (14 to 18 carbon atoms), tuberculostearic acid (10-methyl octadecanoic acid) and mycolic acids were present . The last compounds ranged from 26 to 36 carbon atoms, the predominant types being 28.2, 28.1, 30.3, 30.2, 32.3 and 32.2 . By reverse phase thin-layer chromatography the major menaquinone was identified as MK-9(H2)-containing nine isoprene units with two additional hydrogens . Moreover, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides were detected among the phospholipids of these bacteria . Thus, on these bases, the D2 group appears to be closely related to the true corynebacteria.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Nov, 4(11), 1819 - 30
Nucleotide sequence and organization of the upstream region of the Corynebacterium glutamicum lysA gene; Marcel T et al.; Maximum expression of the Corynebacterium glutamicum lysA gene is dependent upon the presence of a 2.3 kb region immediately 5' of the lysA reading frame . Subcloning and functional analysis of the upstream region implied that this region contained the lysA promoter . Sequence determination of the upstream region revealed a single open reading frame, orfX, in the same orientation as lysA . The orfX coding sequence exhibited all the sequence characteristics of a gene with the potential for a 550-amino-acid polypeptide product . Expression of lysA is coupled to that of orfX via a common promoter located immediately 5' of orfX . The RNA start site has been determined by S1 nuclease mapping . Both the orfX and the lysA gene are expressed as a single 3.0 kb RNA transcript . These data indicate that orfX and lysA are genes within a two-gene operon . Expression of the lysA gene is not subject to regulation by lysine . The orfX gene product was shown not to be directly linked to the lysine biosynthetic pathway, nor is it the enzyme incorporating DAP into the peptidoglycan precursor.

Int J Cancer, 1990 Oct 15, 46(4), 687 - 90
Resistance to a non-immunogenic tumor, induced by Corynebacterium parvum or Listeria monocytogenes, is abrogated by anti-interferon gamma; Keller R et al.; The complex processes that determine the outcome of the interaction of tumor and host were explored in the operationally simple and reproducible rat D-12 ascites tumor model . Animals exhibit weak spontaneous resistance against this tumor that is not augmented by repeated inoculation, by various routes, of irradiated syngeneic D-12 tumor cells, but considerably enhanced after local administration of heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum (CP) or Listeria monocytogenes (LM) organisms . Inoculation of conventional or monoclonal anti-rat IFN gamma antibodies into the same compartment did not affect spontaneous tumor resistance, but largely abrogated the tumor-protective effect triggered by CP or LM . Our findings support the concept that IFN gamma, produced by T cells in the course of the specific immune response raised against immunogenic micro-organisms, is able to enhance and to maintain local tumor resistance and thus to strengthen the capacity of the host to cope with a non-immunogenic tumor.

Int J Cancer, 1990 Oct 15, 46(4), 682 - 6
Mechanisms of macrophage-mediated tumor cell killing: a comparative analysis of the roles of reactive nitrogen intermediates and tumor necrosis factor; Keller R et al.; The roles of tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) as effectors of macrophage-mediated tumor cell killing were investigated in a variety of tumor cell lines . Three TNF alpha-sensitive tumor targets were also susceptible to resting bone-marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes (BMMP) . This macrophage lytic activity was markedly diminished or even abolished by anti-TNF alpha, indicating that TNF alpha is the major effector of macrophage-mediated killing of these targets . The other 21 tumor cell lines examined were resistant to TNF alpha but, in their large majority, were more or less susceptible to killing by interferon gamma (IFN gamma)- and Corynebacterium parvum (CP)-activated BMMP . Among the various analogues of L-arginine used to assess the role of L-arginine-derived RNI as mediators of macrophage tumoricidal activity, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) was most efficient in suppressing RNI secretion by activated macrophages . In some macrophage tumor-cell combinations, NMMA inhibited both the generation of RNI and the expression of tumoricidal activity in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a central role for RNI as effectors . In other combinations, NMMA in concentrations that abolished secretion of RNI either affected tumor-cell killing only after its induction by IFN gamma, or not at all . The findings not only support the thesis that macrophages posses various means of coping with tumor cells but also suggest that the mechanism becoming operative is determined predominantly by the pathway of macrophage activation and the properties of the tumor-cell type.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1990 Oct, 39(4), 519 - 29
{Selective medium for Corynebacterium kutscheri and localization of the organism in mice and rats}; Amao H et al.; A new selective medium for isolation of Corynebacterium kutscheri (CK) from animals suffering subclinical infection was made by adding furazolidone, nalidixic acid and corimycin to the heart infusion agar base, this being named FNC agar . The FNC agar inhibited the growth of gram-negative rods, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp . and gram-positive cocci but did not affect the growth of CK . When this medium was used to isolate CK from the oral cavity and cecal contents of mice and rats, two of 6 conventional mouse colonies and three of 8 conventional rat colonies were found to be infected, with isolation of the organism from 19 mice and 12 rats in total . The animals showed neither clinical signs nor lesions, but the antibody was positive in 11 mice and 10 rats . In mice and rats inoculated orally with 4 x 10(8) and 1 x 10(9) organisms, respectively, CK was isolated for 20 weeks post-inoculation by use FNC agar . The isolation rate of the organism was the highest in the oral cavities of both inoculated mice and rats, and also in the submaxillary lymph nodes of the inoculated rats . The organism was also recovered from the cecal contents of more than half of the inoculated mice and rats . Thus, it was considered that FNC agar was useful in isolating CK from the oral cavity and cecal contents of mice and rats with subclinical infection of the organism.

Epidemiol Infect, 1990 Oct, 105(2), 229 - 36
Characterization of the antibody response in Corynebacterium jeikeium septicaemias; Clark I et al.; Corynebacterium jeikeium causes septicaemia in neutropenic patients usually after colonizing intravenous lines . This paper reports the results of immunoblotting sera from 14 patients with a C . jeikeium septicaemia . Recovery from the septicaemia was associated with production of both IgM and IgG against antigenic bands of 50, 52 and 110 kDa . Antibody against the 110 kDa band was present in controls but the antibody against the 50 and 52 kDa was specific to those patients who had on-going or previous C . jeikeium infection . A case of C . jeikeium endocarditis is also presented and here recovery was associated with seroconversion to the 50 and 52 kDa bands.

J Leukoc Biol, 1990 Oct, 48(4), 343 - 52
Recruitment of 99m-technetium- or 111-indium-labelled polymorphonuclear leucocytes in experimentally induced pyogranulomas in lambs; Guilloteau L et al.; The recruitment of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) during the development of experimental pyogranulomas induced by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was followed in nine male lambs by scintigraphic examination . Autologous blood PMNs were labelled with 99m-technetium or 111-indium and were re-injected intravenously into infected lambs . The functional properties of the labelled cells were monitored 1) in vitro by measuring their phagocytic and bactericidal activity against C . pseudotuberculosis and their chemotaxis under agarose, and 2) in vivo by following scintigraphically their capacity to accumulate in an inflammatory focus induced by intradermal injection of latex beads coated with Salmonella abortus equi lipopolysaccharide . Following inoculation of corynebacteria into the right ear of lambs, radioactive foci were observed to be localized in the right ear and in the draining lymph nodes during the 4 days following inoculation . Histopathological examination performed 32 h after inoculation confirmed the intense accumulation of PMNs at these sites . With the exception of one animal, which presented visible foci in the neck 14 days postinoculation, no radioactive foci were observed during the later phases of experimental infection, despite the presence of multiple pyogranulomas which were confirmed by bacteriological examination after necropsy of the lambs . Histopathological examination of these lesions revealed layers of fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and macrophages surrounding a necrotic centre . The results of these studies suggest that the contribution of PMNs during the chronic phase of inflammation is considerably reduced in comparison with the acute inflammatory phase of the infectious process.

Microb Pathog, 1990 Oct, 9(4), 267 - 73
Coordinate regulation of siderophore and diphtheria toxin production by iron in Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Tai SP et al.; Iron is an environmental signal which regulates the coordinate expression of genes associated with virulence in many pathogenic bacteria . In response to iron-deprivation, lysogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae C7 (beta) synthesizes and secretes diphtheria toxin and siderophore and induces a high-affinity iron uptake system . Diphtheria toxin is encoded by beta phage, but genes for siderophore production are encoded on the bacterial chromosome . Diphtheria toxin and siderophore production were shown to be coordinately induced during late logarithmic phase growth of wild-type C7(beta) in iron-limited medium . C . diphtheriae mutant C7hm723 produced siderophore and toxin constitutively under low-iron and high-iron conditions, but in mutants HC1, HC3, HC4, and HC5 their synthesis was partially repressed under high-iron conditions . The phenotypes of HC1, HC3, HC4, and HC5 are consistent with their severe defects in iron uptake, but the phenotype of C7hm723 is more likely to be explained by inactivation of the repressor for the iron regulon of C . diphtheriae.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Oct, 4(10), 1693 - 702
The molecular structure of the Corynebacterium glutamicum threonine synthase gene; Han KS et al.; The minimal region encoding the Corynebacterium glutamicum threonine synthase structural gene and its promoter was mapped by deletion analysis and complementation of the C . glutamicum thrC allele to a 1.6 kb region of the recombinant plasmid pFS80 . The nucleotide sequence of this and flanking DNA was determined . The transcription and translation start points were identified by S1 mapping analysis and amino-terminal protein sequencing, respectively . The thrC gene encodes a 54481-Dalton polypeptide product . Translation of the thrC mRNA initiates only six nucleotides downstream from transcription . The length of the mRNA transcript is consistent with a single gene transcription unit . The C . glutamicum thrC gene is expressed independently of the other threonine-specific genes hom and thrB.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1990 Oct, 274(1), 61 - 9
Sandwich-dot immunobinding assay (Sandwich-DIA), a new immunological method for the detection of diphtheria toxin; Pietrzak J et al.; In this paper we describe a new assay for diphtheria toxin in bacterial cultures, based on a sandwich-dot immunobinding method . This method uses horse polyclonal diphtheria antitoxin as the coating antibody and mouse monoclonal diphtheria antitoxin as the detecting antibody . The sensitivity of this new method is within a range of 5-10 ng toxin per ml in Corynebacterium diphtheriae cultures . We did not observe any false-positive reactions . As a solid phase we used nitrocellulose disks which bind protein more strongly than the commonly used plastic solid phase . Results with strong toxin producers of C . diphtheriae can be obtained as soon as 11 h after starting a bacterial test culture . To detect weak toxin producers, the cultivation period must be extended to about 18 h and the results can be obtained after about 24 h . The method presented in this paper is simpler, faster and more reliable than currently used methods.

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents, 1990 Oct-Dec, 4(4), 135 - 41
Low level toxicity and antitumor activity of butyric mono- and polyester monosaccharide derivates in mice; Pouillart P et al.; This study compares the antitumor activity of five mono- and polyesters of n-butyric acid derived from monosaccharides in the murine model of Crocker 180 TG Sarcoma . Tumor incidence at ten days, mean survival time and final survival rate were significantly affected in all cases . Combined treatment by butyric esters, alpha/beta interferon (IFN) and/or Corynebacterium parvum used as immunestimulator improved the antitumor protection . Studies of acute toxicity in mice, performed by i.p . and oral routes, showed the low toxicity of butyric esters, which were devoid of detectable side effects with no incidence on ponderal growth when administered per os in rats daily for one month . Finally, a comparative study of antitumor activity, toxicity and water-solubility of various butyric esters enabled us to select among these new molecules two isomers (carbon-3 and carbon-6 of the glucose ring substituted with n-butyric acid) derived from monoacetone glucose for further investigations of their biological mechanism in vivo and in vitro.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Oct, 43(10), 1698 - 712
{Detection of causative bacteria for bovine mastitis and their susceptibility to beta-lactam antibacterial agents}; Kamata S et al.; During the period from November 1988 to May 1989, causative bacteria in a total of 172 clinical mastitis cases observed in 66 farms in 5 districts with 6 areas in Japan were examined and frequencies of their occurrences were determined . Susceptibilities (in MICs) of the isolates to 6 beta-lactam antibacterial agents were also determined . As a result, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) was identified in 94 out of 172 cases (54.7%) and were the most prevalent . Corynebacterium spp., Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus were found in 52 (30.2%), 49 (28.5%) and 43 (25.0%) cases, respectively . Four species of Streptococcus family (S . agalactiae, S . dysgalactiae, S . uberis and S . bovis) were identified in a total of 58 cases (33.7%) . Susceptibility testing of CNS to cefoperazone (CPZ), cefazolin (CEZ), benzylpenicillin (PCG), ampicillin (ABPC), methicillin (DMPPC) and cloxacillin (MCIPC) showed that all MIC80's (inhibiting bacterial growth of 80% of all isolates) were within a range from 0.10 to 3.13 micrograms/ml and that there was no marked differences in antibacterial effects among the antibiotics used . The highest antibacterial effect on S . aureus was exhibited by MCIPC, which inhibited the growth of all isolates at 0.39 microgram/ml . The MICs of DMPPC against all isolates of S . aureus were 3.13 micrograms/ml or less and no methicillin-resistant S . aureus (MRSA) was detected . There was no difference in antibacterial activities against Streptococcus family between penicillin antibiotics (DMPPC, MCIPC, ABPC and PCG) and cephem antibiotics (CPZ and CEZ), both of which showed excellent antibacterial activities . Cephem antibiotics exhibited higher activities against Gram-negative bacteria than penicillin antibiotics . Especially CPZ, the third generation cephem, showed excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., as well as against other Enterobacteriaceae.

Int J Cancer, 1990 Sep 15, 46(3), 462 - 7
Anti-tumor protection induced in mice by fatty acid conjugates: alkyl butyrates and poly(ethylene glycol) dibutyrates; Wakselman M et al.; Simple fatty acids, especially butyrate salts, have interesting biological properties, since they are able to down-regulate cell growth and promote various differentiated cellular functions . Their use for anti-tumor treatment is, however, hampered by their over-rapid diffusion in the blood, followed by a short-lived biological action . We have therefore devised conjugates linking butyrate with either (i) aliphatic alcohols of increasing carbon numbers ranging from C4 to C12 or (ii) poly(ethylene glycols) of increasing molecular weights . In both cases, the resulting butyric esters can be hydrolysed by esterases which can release biologically active subunits from the synthetic compounds . As shown in the present study, only one conjugate in each series gave satisfactory anti-tumor protection: namely, I-octyl butyrate and poly(ethylene glycol 1000) dibutyrate respectively . A single immune-stimulatory injection of purified Corynebacterium parvum extract prior to administration of the conjugates significantly increased the anti-tumor potency.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Sep 15, 59(3), 287 - 92
Intergeneric protoplast fusion between xylanase producing Bacillus subtilis LYT and Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum ATCC 21476; Deb JK et al.; Hybrids between a strain of Bacillus subtilis isolated in our laboratory and having the ability to degrade xylan and other complex polysaccharides and Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum, a lysine producer, were prepared by protoplast fusion . Based on distinctive parental biochemical characteristics the fusants were grouped into 9 categories, viz . BC1 through BC9 . Three of the hybrids, BC5, BC7a and BC7b, were tested for their ability to produce xylanase and lysine . Both BC7a and BC7b produced xylanase but BC5 did not, however all of them produced lysine albeit to different degrees . These results demonstrate that intergeneric gene transfer takes place through protoplast fusion between these 2 important genera of bacteria and some of the fusants inherit the useful traits of both the parents.

Arch Intern Med, 1990 Sep, 150(9), 1965 - 6
Infections due to Corynebacterium group D2 . Report of a case; Ronci-Koenig TJ et al.; Corynebacterium group D2 is a gram-positive bacillus easily identified in clinical microbiology laboratories . However, this organism is often disregarded as a skin and mucous contaminant . The Spanish literature has recently described Corynebacterium group D2 as a urinary pathogen in a specific patient population . We report a case of Corynebacterium group D2 infection to illustrate the potential pathogenicity and clinical presentation of infection due to this organism in the United States.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1990 Sep, 61(3), 96 - 101
Bolo disease: a bacteriological survey; Van Tonder EM et al.; A total of 718 sheep, 381 severely and 190 mildly affected with Bolo disease as well as 147 visibly unaffected animals emanating from 15 farms in the Stutterheim and Cathcart districts in the eastern Cape were subjected to bacteriological examination of skin surfaces and wool specimens . Altogether, 1,168 specimens were examined . These included skin swabs, skin scrapings and wool samples . Corynebacterium spp represented 94.4% of the primary isolates in cultures prepared from all specimens and 97.2% in those derived from skin swabs only, while a variety of other bacteria collectively constituted the remainder of primary isolates . In all, Corynebacterium spp was isolated from specimens of 94.2% of sheep severely affected with Bolo disease and from 83.7% of those mildly affected, whereas it could only be isolated from 1.36% clinically unaffected sheep . In a comparative study, swabs taken directly from the skin surface, proved to be the method of choice for the collection of specimens for bacteriological examination of Bolo disease . Using this method, Corynebacterium spp . was isolated from 98.7% of severely, and 85.3% of mildly affected sheep as well as 4% of sheep apparently unaffected by Bolo disease . The isolation of Corynebacterium spp . from skin scrapings collected from the 3 categories of affection (73.3%, 57.3% and 4% respectively) and from wool samples (52%, 41.3% and 1.3% respectively) proved these 2 methods of sampling to be less reliable . A close association has been established between the incidence of Corynebacterium spp . and the occurrence of clinical Bolo disease.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1990 Sep, 61(3), 90 - 5
Bolo disease: a specific, localised skin disease of woolled sheep; Colly PA et al.; Bolo disease is limited to Merino and Dohne merino sheep in the Stutterheim and Cathcart districts of the eastern Cape Province . It occurs under natural grazing conditions regardless of the season of the year and the condition of the natural grazing . Ewes and wethers are most frequently affected . Skin lesions are well-defined, and the corresponding fleece has dark-grey to almost black spots, patches or bands varying in number, size and distribution between individual sheep . The wool in the affected areas is visibly shorter, less dense and tender, and the tips of the staples are spiky . In freshly-shorn sheep, the affected areas appear chalky white . Chronic and superimposed acute lesions are present in the same specimen histologically . Skin lesions include superficial and follicular hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and sebaceous gland hyperplasia and hypertrophy . These changes are accompanied by dilatation of some of the follicles in the midshaft area, and collapse of the subepidermal tissue with only a few remaining collagen fibres separating the follicles and the sebaceous glands from the thickened epidermis . Corynebacterium spp . is the most consistent bacterium isolated from the lesions . Lesions produced by suspensions of this organism simulated both clinical signs and histopathological findings of the natural condition.

Zhonghua Zheng Xing Shao Shang Wai Ke Za Zhi, 1990 Sep, 6(3), 167 - 9, 235-6
{Bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract and endogenous infection induced by immunosuppression after burn}; Shi ZG; This study described the endogenous infections and bacterial translocation from GI tract caused by immunosuppression after burn . In the group of burned plus injected dexamethasone (DXM) (BIS, n = 31), the rate of enteric bacteria translocation was 67.4%, the rate of visceral abscess was 65.5%, much more higher than in the group of only DXM (IS, n = 15) . The translocation of intestinal bacteria also was found in the group of only burned (BU 3/15) and control (ck, 1/23), but endogenous infection did not occur in both group . The bacteria cultured from the rat organs are mainly enteric bacilli and corynebacterium . It was assumed that the endogenous infection was originated from the conditions in which the micro-ecologic system of indigenous intestinal flora was disturbed, immunologic function was suppressed by the overlapped effect of burn and injection of DXM, the biological antagonism among the intestinal flora was attenuated, and the intestinal bacilli overgrew, passed through the epithelia of intestine into lymphatic vessel and mesenteric lymph nodes, then colonized and multiplied in other organs, resulting in endogenous infection.

Eur J Immunol, 1990 Sep, 20(9), 2137 - 40
Binding of monomeric immunoglobulins by bone marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes; its modulation by interferon-gamma; Keller R et al.; The ability of resting and activated rat bone marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes (BMM phi) to bind monomeric rat, mouse, and human IgG was determined by means of flow cytometry . Rat IgG2b bound with high affinity (Kd approximately equal to 3 x 10(-9) M); binding was optimal at 4 degrees C and was only little affected by trypsin treatment . The other IgG bound with only low affinity (rat IgG2a, mouse and human IgG) or not at all to rat BMM phi (rat IgG1, rat IgG2c) . The binding of rat IgG2b was not affected by the presence of a surplus of low-affinity binding IgG, and vice versa, indicating that high- and low-affinity IgG bind to different sites . Binding of high- and low-affinity IgG as well as expression of MHC class II molecules and of tumoricidal activity by BMM phi was markedly enhanced by rat interferon-gamma in low concentration (0.1 to 1.0 IU IFN-gamma/ml) . On the other hand, heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum organisms, that were equally potent in triggering tumoricidal activity, neither enhanced the binding of IgG nor the expression of MHC class II molecules by BMM phi, suggesting that these abilities are not necessarily closely related phenomena.

Hua Xi Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao, 1990 Sep, 21(3), 318 - 21
{Inhibition of growth and metastases of lung carcinoma in C57BL/6 mice by Corynebacterium parvum and its antitumor mechanism}; Xiao Y et al.; Cocrynebacterium parvum (CP) was injected around the tumor and tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously with activated peritoneal macrophages . The effects on the growth and metastases of Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL/6 mice were observed . Experimental results indicated that CP had significant inhibitory effect on the tumor growth and lung metastases . The cytotoxic effects of activated peritoneal macrophages in mice on target tumor cells (L5178Y) in vitro were studied with the technique of 3H-TdR assay . The proliferation of tumor cells was markedly inhibited by the activated peritoneal macrophages of CP . Experiments showed that the antitumor mechanism of CP was the mediation via activated cytotoxic macrophages . These results indicated that CP is an effective immunostimulant . These findings will provide a scientific basis for the clinical treatment of the primary and metastatic lung carcinoma.

Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1990 Sep 1, 45(17), 509 - 12
{Effective microbiologic spectrum of gyrase inhibitors--indications and contraindications}; Tauchnitz C; Ciprofloxacin is an essential enrichment of the antibacterial therapy . The activity spectrum comprises enterobacteria, haemophiliacs and Neisseriae, furthermore Legionellae and species of Pseudomonas (except Ps . maltophila) . In the gram-positive area staphylococci, Listeriae and corynebacteria are covered, whereas species of streptococci including pneumococci are only moderately sensitive or resistent . Infections of the urinary tract, of the respiratory tract and the biliary tract as well as enteral infections are the main indications . Furthermore, an application in osteomyelitis and arthritis, in chlamydial infections and mycoplasmal infections, in legionellosis and for the selective decontamination in threatening granulocytopenia is justified . Pregnancy, period of growth and cerebral convulsive disorders are contraindications.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 Sep, 9(9), 643 - 8
An investigation of nosocomial infection with Corynebacterium jeikeium in surgical patients using a ribosomal RNA gene probe; Pitcher D et al.; Twelve strains of multi-resistant Corynebacterium jeikeium isolated during a one year period in a surgical unit in Innsbruck were analyzed with regard to their plasmid content, antibiotic susceptibility, and the use of ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) to probe restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) . Plasmids were detected in five of the strains . Southern blotting of genomic DNA digested with HindIII or PvuII and hybridized with a biotin-labelled cDNA probe derived from total rRNA revealed characteristic banding patterns . Seven of the 12 strains showed similar RFLP profiles, consistent with them being related epidemiologically . The minor changes in RFLP profiles observed in these seven strains suggest that Corynebacterium jeikeium may be subject to genetic drift over a relatively short time span . Strains from other sources, included for comparison, differed markedly from those from Innsbruck . Patterns of antibiotic susceptibility which appeared not to be plasmid encoded, correlated broadly with RFLP profiles . This study suggests that strains of Corynebacterium jeikeium may be transferred between hospital patients.

N Z Med J, 1990 Aug 22, 103(896), 391 - 3
The Auckland skin clinic tinea pedis and erythrasma study; Allen S et al.; Three hundred consecutive patients attending the Auckland Hospital dermatology clinic were examined clinically and microbiologically for evidence of interdigital or plantar mycological or bacterial infection . One hundred and nine patients were shown by laboratory investigation to have an infection . Of these, only 89 displayed clinical signs of infection . Erythrasma, a desquamative condition caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum, was the commonest infection in this study . The commonest dermatophyte isolated was Trichophyton mentagrophytes var interdigitale . There was a significant rise in the incidence of both types of infection with age.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1990 Aug 15, 82(16), 1340 - 4
Intralesional immunotherapy of brain tumors with combined Corynebacterium parvum and recombinant interleukin-2 in mice; Conley FK et al.; Clinical observations and experimental work suggested that inflammatory cells attracted to the brain exert a nonspecific antineoplastic effect . Intralesional treatment of implanted malignant murine brain tumors (KHT sarcomas) with killed Corynebacterium parvum produced an inflammatory cell infiltrate and increased survival in C3H mice relative to that in untreated control C3H mice . This antitumor effect was enhanced when recombinant interleukin-2 was sequentially added as a second intralesional immunomodifier . A high percentage of mice so treated were cured . Inflammatory cells in the brains of treated mice divided for 1-2 weeks, and metabolic activity of astrocytes increased . These findings form the basis for a recently initiated immunotherapy protocol in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

Immunol Lett, 1990 Aug, 25(1-3), 175 - 8
TNF and inhibition of growth of Plasmodium falciparum; Clark IA et al.; The mechanism of intra-erythrocyte death of Plasmodium chabaudi in vivo has not yet been elucidated . Here we summarise recent experiments in which serum from mice undergoing a successful immune response to this parasite did not inhibit Plasmodium falciparum in vivo unless the P . chabaudi infection and TNF levels were high enough to cause illness in the host . This was true for the 556KA and DS strains of P . chabaudi in intact mice, but not for 556KA in nude mice, which did not generate inhibitory activity at any parasitaemia . Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibits malaria parasites via some undefined secondary mediator . 10 mg of r hu TNF generated this inhibitory activity, as measured against P . falciparum in vitro, in the serum of mice only if they were pretreated with Corynebacterium parvum, which activates macrophages and sensitises the mice to the toxic effects of TNF . This implies a role for activated macrophages downstream from TNF in the process involved in intra-erythrocytic death of parasites.

J Dairy Sci, 1990 Aug, 73(8), 2230 - 5
Efficacy of chlorhexidine as a postmilking teat disinfectant for the prevention of bovine mastitis during lactation; Oliver SP et al.; A natural exposure trial was conducted for 12 mo in a herd of 150 lactating Jersey cows to determine efficacy of a .35% chlorhexidine teat dip containing a glycerine emollient for the prevention of bovine intramammary infections . Right teats of cows were dipped in the experimental teat dip after milking machine removal and left teats were not dipped . The herd was free of Streptococcus agalactiae and had a low prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus . Most new major pathogen intramammary infections resulted from Streptococcus species, primarily Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae . New infections by Streptococcus species were significantly lower in teats dipped in chlorhexidine than in undipped teats . Overall efficacy of the chlorhexidine teat dip against major mastitis pathogens was 50% . The experimental teat dip also reduced coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species infections 49.0% and Corynebacterium bovis infections 65.2% . Overall efficacy against minor mastitis pathogens was 54.0% . No irritation or chapping of teats dipped in the experimental teat dip was observed.

Tierarztl Prax, 1990 Aug, 18(4), 353 - 7
{Corynebacterium suis infection in swine . 1 . Clinical diagnosis with special consideration of urine studies and cystoscopy}; Wendt M et al.; Experimental and spontaneous infections with Corynebacterium suis in sows were investigated . In early stages animals show no clinical disorders or only for a short time . However, there are already marked changes in urinary samples (hematuria, proteinuria, leukocyturia, gross alterations) . Using an endoscope mucosal irritations can be seen mainly on the floor of the bladders . In chronic cases alterations in urine are more pronounced . If a pyelonephritis is present in addition to the cystitis, general signs of illness are evident including anorexia, emaciation, anemia, subnormal body temperature and abortions . Bladders demonstrate an erosive and ulcerative, hemorrhagic cystitis on the whole mucosal surface . Uremia appears only in late stages of the disease.

Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr, 1990 Aug 1, 103(8), 273 - 6
{Comparative studies of the detection of Corynebacterium suis infections in swine by indirect immunofluorescence and culture}; Langfeldt N et al.; In a comparative study 47 urine samples of sows and 9 swabs of preputial diverticulum of boars were investigated for detection of Corynebacterium suis (Eubacterium suis) using an indirect immunofluorescent technique, a Gram stained preparation, a direct culture technique and a culture technique after enrichment . Examinations show that the indirect immunofluorescent technique and the enriched culture technique provide the best results, but that the fluorescent technique saves time and expenses . Additionally in contrast to culture techniques the detection of C . suis is not affected by accompanying bacteria . Using an indirect immunofluorescence it is possible to detect antibody-coating of C . suis in urine sediment of sows as well . There were close correlations between evidence of antibody-coated C . suis and the presence of an ascending pyelonephritis.

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