Klebsiella

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1992, 37(2), 146 - 52
Bacterial infection modulated by glucan: a search for the host defense potentiation mechanisms; Franek J et al.; Interactions between bacteria and the host were studied from day 0 up to day 10 post-challenge in mice pretreated with soluble glucan (20 mg/kg i.p.) and challenged supralaryngeally with a virulent strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae . In the initial phase of infection, clearance of bacteria in the airways of glucan-treated mice was improved to an extent comparable with the vaccinated group but, in contrast to the immunized animals, subsequent regrowth of the bacterial inoculum was not prevented . The efficacy of defense, based during the entire course of infection mainly upon phagocytosis by neutrophils, markedly increased at intervals corresponding to the onset of humoral immune response . No evidence was obtained to indicate an enhanced involvement of alveolar macrophages in the phagocytosis of bacteria in glucan-stimulated mice . The results further support the notion that improvement of specific immune responsiveness rather than activation of nonspecific effector functions might be the most important expression of the host-defense-potentiating capacity of glucan and related stimulants of microbial origin.

Pediatr Radiol, 1992, 22(8), 571 - 2
Contrast enemas after necrotising enterocolitis: a case for prophylaxis?
Brand IR, Arthur RJ.
During a 4-year period 9 out of 35 patients deteriorated following a contrast enema after necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) . Two developed Klebsiella septicaemia with one subsequent death . Following the latter two cases the paediatric surgeons instituted intravenous prophylactic antibiotics (benzyl penicillin, metronidazole, gentamicin) prior to contrast enemas post-NEC . Of the factors examined only the presence a long line in-situ or history of previous perforation demonstrated any increased risk with regard to clinical deterioration post-examination.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1992, 37(4), 245 - 8
Virulence of silver-resistant mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae in burn wound model; Gupta LK et al.; A silver-resistant mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae B-5 was produced by passaging in nutrient broth containing graded concentrations of silver nitrate up to 150 ppm . The development of silver resistance in the strain resulted in rough colonies, decrease in cell size, carbohydrate content and change in klebocin pattern . The virulence of the AgR strain as checked by the burn wound model decreased as the mutant could not establish itself in the skin and spleen of the animals and the organism was cleared more efficiently by human lymphocytes than the parent AgS strain.

Int J Tissue React, 1992, 14(3), 131 - 9
Pefloxacin and immunity: cellular uptake, potentiation of macrophage phagocytosis and intracellular bioactivity for Klebsiella pneumoniae; Cuffini AM et al.; Antibiotic potentiation of host defence mechanisms may be of potential clinical importance in the outcome of infections . Therefore the effect of pefloxacin upon the interaction of in vitro of human macrophages with Klebsiella pneumoniae, by assays of antibiotic cellular uptake, bacterial phagocytosis and intracellular killing, was examined . The results indicated that pefloxacin was well concentrated by phagocytes at all the concentrations tested . The uptake proceeded rapidly and was not affected either by cell viability or physiological environmental temperature . Synergistic phagocytosis and intracellular killing of K . pneumoniae was observed in the presence of macrophages and subinhibitory concentrations (one-half MIC) of pefloxacin . Pretreatment of bacteria with pefloxacin led to an increase in both bacterial uptake and microbicidal activity of phagocytes . Exposure of the macrophages to pefloxacin did not affect any phagocyte functions.

Dev Biol Stand, 1992, 77, 79 - 85
Ribosomes as carriers for antigenic determinants of the surface of micro-organisms; Normier G et al.; Over the past twenty-five years, many authors have reported evidence of the immunoprotective capacity of ribosomes isolated from bacteria, fungi and parasites . Since 1971 we have explored the protective capacity of ribosomes isolated from a large variety of micro-organisms responsible for human and animal diseases . Accurate biochemical characterization of ribosomes always reveals trace amounts of non-ribosomal components such as short polysaccharides strongly linked to ribosomal RNA after phenol extraction even under denaturing conditions . rRNA-antigen complexes have been purified from Klebsiella pneumoniae ribosomes inducing high level of protection against homologous experimental infection in mice . Monoclonal antibodies raised against ribosomes and then selected for their ability to confer passive immunity to mice have been used to study the mechanism of the protection induced by ribosomes and to characterize their "immunogenic principle" . These investigations have clearly shown the presence on ribosomes of epitopes corresponding to antigens normally exposed on the membrane of the bacteria . In the original concept of "ribosomal immunotherapy" that we have developed, ribosomes can be considered as natural carriers for cell surface epitopes, presenting them to the immune system in a highly immunogenic configuration.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1992 Jan, 45(1), 106 - 11
{Combination effect of KW-2228 and cephem antibiotics in a systemic infection model in neutropenic mice}; Yoshino T et al.; A modified recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), KW-2228, has some excellent properties such as high specific activity in stimulating granulocyte colony-formation in vitro, great biological stability in plasma, good pharmacokinetic profile and high potency in granulopoiesis in normal mice in vivo . Recently, the application of G-CSF against infectious diseases has been considered, and some animal experiments have been carried out to support its clinical applications . In this paper, we investigated protective effects of KW-2228 against systemic infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice with leukopenia induced by the administration of cyclophosphamide . KW-2228 (1 microgram/mouse) was administered (s.c.) once a day for 4 days following cyclophosphamide administration, then mice were challenged with K . pneumoniae (i.p.) 4 hours after the last administration of KW-2228 . An antibiotic was administered (s.c., p.o.) 2 hours after the bacterial challenge . Combination effects of KW-2228 with cefazoline, cefmetazole, ceftazidime or cefaclor were evaluated in the systemic infection with K . pneumoniae . Each combination therapy using KW-2228 with each of the cephems exhibited an excellent protective effect in comparison to the therapy with a cephem alone . These results show the possibility that KW-2228 could be of use in treating obstinate infections not successfully treated with an antimicrobial agent alone.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1992 Jan, 276(2), 205 - 12
Adhesion of fimbriated and non-fimbriated Klebsiella strains to synthetic polymers; Jansen B et al.; Adherence of three fimbriated and non-fimbriated Klebsiella strains to polyetherurethane was investigated in order to assess the possible role of fimbriae in the adhesion of Klebsiella to synthetic polymers . Fimbriated strains with type 1 and type 1.3 fimbriae adhere significantly stronger to polyurethane than the same strains lacking fimbriae, whereas a strain with type 3 fimbriae shows no different adherence compared with the non-fimbriated variant . Analysis of adhesion kinetics and isotherms reveals that adherence of fimbriated Klebsiella strains is proceeded by the formation of multicellular bacterial layers on the polymer surface . Measurements of the relative hydrophobicity of the strains and adherence experiments under exclusion of unspecific interactions point out that fimbriae obviously play a more important role in adhesion than relative hydrophobicity . The demonstration of reduction of bacterial adherence to polyetherurethane by blocking fimbrial action with fimbriae-specific sugars supports this further.

Infect Immun, 1992 Jan, 60(1), 44 - 55
R-plasmid-encoded adhesive factor in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains responsible for human nosocomial infections; Darfeuille-Michaud A et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae strains involved in hospital outbreaks of nosocomial infections, such as suppurative lesions, bacteremia, and septicemia, were resistant to multiple antibiotics including broad-spectrum cephalosporins . Epidemiologic investigations revealed that the reservoir for these K . pneumoniae strains was the gastrointestinal tracts of the patients . The study of the adherence ability of the strains reported here showed that these bacteria adhered to the microvilli of the Caco-2 cell line . This adhesion was mediated by a nonfimbrial protein with a molecular mass of 29,000 Da designated CF29K . Pretreatment of bacteria with antibodies raised against CF29K or Caco-2 cells with purified CF29K prevented the adhesion of K . pneumoniae strains to Caco-2 cells . CF29K immunologically cross-reacted with the CS31A surface protein of Escherichia coli strains involved in septicemia in calves . Genes encoding CF29K were located on a high-molecular-weight conjugative R plasmid, which transferred to E . coli K-12 . Transconjugants expressed a large amount of CF29K protein and adhered to the brush border of Caco-2 cells . These findings show that K . pneumoniae strains were able to colonize the human intestinal tract through a plasmid-encoded 29,000-Da surface protein . Hybridization experiments indicated that the gene encoding resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins by the production of CAZ-1 enzyme and the gene encoding the adhesive property to intestinal cells were both located on a 20- to 22-kb EcoRI restriction DNA fragment . Genes encoding aerobactin and the ferric aerobactin receptor were also found on this R plasmid.

Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1992 Jan-Mar, 34(1), 11 - 6
Neonatal septicaemia due to K . pneumoniae . Septicaemia due to Klebsiella pneumoniae in newborn infants . Nosocomial outbreak in an intensive care unit; Arredondo-Garcia JL et al.; The authors report a nosocomial infection outbreak by Klebsiella pneumoniae, observed in neonates at a gyneco-obstetrical hospital from Mexico City . Forty six newborns presented one or more infections due to K . pneumoniae during their stay in neonatal care units, between October 3 and November 12, 1988 . Sepsis was documented in 41 cases by clinical picture and routine laboratory exams, including one positive, blood culture at least . The most frequent invasive procedures practiced in these patients were catheterization and ventilatory support . K . pneumoniae was isolated as well from several environmental sources that could have led to infection of patients . Treatment of cases was initiated with ampicillin-amikacin, however, therapeutic failure with a lethality rate of 50% (14/28) and results of antimicrobial susceptibility conducted to treatment with cefotaxime . Fifteen out of 19 patients receiving the cephalosporin survived . To prevent outbreaks like the one presented here, we concluded that appropriate measures dealing with hygiene and education of personnel plus monitoring of bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobials, should prove successful in our environment.

Arch Med Res, 1992 Autumn, 23(3), 93 - 8
Opsonic capacity of a hyperimmune serum against outer membrane proteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Alcantar-Curiel MD et al.; The opsonic capacity of a hyperimmune rabbit serum against a porin-rich outer membrane protein preparation of a strain of K . pneumoniae was evaluated . By immunoblot, the antiserum recognized mainly the porins from an outer membrane protein preparation . Using an ELISA, the titer of anti-porin antibodies was determined . Through a chemiluminescence assay, the increase in the respiratory burst of murine hyperimmune serum was recorded . These data correlate with the results of the microbicidal assays and with the electron microscopy preparations obtained where a great number of bacteria were seen within the macrophages . The in vitro data show that there is a greater bacterial killing when the macrophage is infected with bacteria opsonized with the hyperimmune serum.

Nucleic Acids Symp Ser, 1992, (27), 165 - 6
Streptomyces ATP nucleotide 3'-pyrophosphokinase and its gene; Muta S et al.; Streptomyces ATP nucleotide 3'-pyrophosphokinase is an extracellular, ribosome-independent, and stringent factor-mimic ppGpp synthetase with an unusually broad acceptor spectrum . The gene-containing DNA fragments cloned from chromosomal DNA of a producer S . morookaensis into pIJ699 and pUC plasmids were found to express the active enzyme in the transformed S . lividans TK24 and enteric E . coli JM109 and nitrogen-fixing Klebsiella pneumoniae M5a1 and 5022, respectively . Base sequence of the structural gene and the deduced amino acid sequence exhibited little homology to those of E . coli stringent factor and related proteins . Growth retardation was seen in some transformants.

Mol Aspects Med, 1992, 13(4), 263 - 378
HLA and disease; Baines M et al.; Many human diseases are associated with HLA class I, class II and class III antigens . It appears that the class III antigen disease associations can be explained by a direct defect operating at the level of either the class III gene or its gene product . The mechanism underlying class I and class II antigen disease associations is at present unknown . In this review we have considered thirty diseases which have been ranked according to their relative risk as defined by the frequency of a given HLA antigen in patient and control populations . The chronic inflammatory disorder, ankylosing spondylitis and its association with HLA B27 has been used as a model to study the HLA linked diseases . We have suggested that the disease may be caused by the Gram-negative microorganism Klebsiella which has antigenic similarity to HLA B27 . It is proposed that some antibodies made against Klebsiella bind to HLA B27, thereby acting as autoantibodies leading to the pathological sequelae of chronic inflammatory arthritis . This is the crosstolerance hypothesis or molecular mimicry model and it has been compared to the receptor model . It is further suggested that the crosstolerance hypothesis can be utilised as a general theory to explain the association of other diseases with the class I and class II antigens, and offer a possible explanation for the polymorphism of HLA.

Carbohydr Res, 1991 Dec 30, 222, 239 - 44
Branched saccharides formed by the action of His-modified cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Klebsiella pneumoniae M 5 al on starch; Bender H; Digestion of potato starch with His-modified alpha-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Klebsiella pneumoniae M 5 al yielded branched tetra- to nona-saccharides, as revealed by debranching with pullulanase . Maltose and maltotriose stubs preponderated together with small proportions of D-glucose stubs . The branched saccharides accounted for approximately 1.2% of the starch.

J Biol Chem, 1991 Dec 25, 266(36), 24327 - 31
Identification of the essential cysteine residue in Klebsiella aerogenes urease; Todd MJ et al.; During reaction with {14C}iodoacetamide at pH 6.3, radioactivity was incorporated primarily into a single Klebsiella aerogenes urease peptide concomitant with activity loss . This peptide was protected from modification at pH 6.3 by inclusion of phosphate, a competitive inhibitor of urease, which also protected the enzyme from inactivation . At pH 8.5, several peptides were alkylated; however, modification of one peptide, identical to that modified at pH 6.3, paralleled activity loss . The N-terminal amino acid sequence and composition of the peptide containing the essential thiol was determined . Previous enzyme inactivation studies of K . aerogenes urease could not distinguish whether one or two essential thiols were present per active site (Todd, M . J., and Hausinger, R . P . (1991) J . Biol . Chem . 266, 10260-10267); we conclude that there is a single essential thiol present and identify this residue as Cys319 in the large subunit of the heteropolymeric enzyme.

Med J Malaysia, 1991 Dec, 46(4), 376 - 8
A neonate with bilateral refractory chylothorax--a case report; Salem P; A thirty six week gestation male baby weighing three kilogram was born to a twenty five year old mother by spontaneous vaginal delivery . At four hours of life, the baby developed respiratory distress with cyanosis and was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit . There was clinical and radiological evidence of bilateral pleural effusion . Thoracentesis revealed a transudate . Repeated thoracentesis was necessary to relieve the respiratory distress . Subsequently, multi resistant Klebsiella aerogenes was isolated from the blood . The baby expired due to gram negative sepsis.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Dec, 10(12), 1019 - 25
Impact of the duration of infection on the activity of ceftazidime, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin in Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia and septicemia in leukopenic rats; Roosendaal R et al.; An experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia and septicemia in leukopenic rats was used to study the impact of the duration of infection on the bactericidal activity of ceftazidime, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin . It appeared that the number of bacteria persisting after a single intravenous injection progressively increased with delay of antibiotic administration up to 3 h after bacterial inoculation with each of the drugs tested . This effect was most pronounced for ciprofloxacin . An inoculum effect could not explain this decrease in bacterial killing . It was also observed that a single injection with a particular dose of each of the respective drugs did not kill all the Klebsiella pneumoniae organisms in the lung . Persisting bacteria did not represent a preexisting less susceptible subpopulation selected after antibiotic administration . In further experiments the impact of delay of the start of treatment on the efficacy of ceftazidime or ciprofloxacin after administration for a period of four days with intramuscular injections at 6 h intervals was investigated . Treatment was started at 5, 12 or 24 h after bacterial inoculation . The therapeutic efficacy of both drugs decreased with the increase of duration of infection, which may be at least in part due to the progressive number of bacteria persisting after antibiotic administration . These data underline the need to start antimicrobial treatment as soon as possible.

Planta Med, 1991 Dec, 57(6), 536 - 42
Formation of nitrogen-containing metabolites from geniposide and gardenoside by human intestinal bacteria; Kawata Y et al.; During the course of our studies on the metabolism of iridoid glycosides by human intestinal bacteria, we found that geniposide (1) and gardenoside (4) were transformed to new nitrogen-containing compounds, genipinine (3) and gardenine (6), respectively, along with the known aglycones . Although the amounts of new metabolites were somewhat lower than those of the aglycones, they were quantitatively analyzed by means of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) . Of 25 strains of human intestinal bacteria, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Bacteroides fragilis ssp . thetaotus produced appreciable amounts of 3, while a bacterial mixture of human feces produced 10 times or more higher amounts of 3, as compared to the individual strains.

Immunobiology, 1991 Dec, 184(1), 63 - 74
Analysis of K . pneumoniae by monoclonal antibody: immunohistochemical detection of K . pneumoniae surface antigen injected into mice and rats; Uchiyama J et al.; The monoclonal antibody Kp62 recognized surface antigenic determinants of some strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae . The antigen recognized by Kp62 was demonstrated on the bacterial surface using immunoelectron microscopy . Kp62 reacted with K . pneumoniae No . 1 or K . pneumoniae B 5055 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the same bacteria . However, Kp62 was not inhibited by the LPS from Escherichia coli (E . coli) O111:B4 and E . coli O55:B5 . Thus, Kp62 might be a useful monoclonal antibody to detect K . pneumoniae and LPS from K . pneumoniae . The possibility to visualize the localization of K . pneumoniae LPS injected into animals using immunohistochemical methods with this monoclonal antibody was examined . It was possible to detect the injected LPS in the spleen of mouse and rat with the monoclonal antibody to K . pneumoniae . In order to detect the early events taking place in the spleen after intravenous injection of LPS, time course of LPS distribution in mice and rats was studied . After 30 min, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h LPS localized in the marginal zone (MZ) in mice and rats, although the degree of LPS positive cells varied . The cells responsible for trapping the injected LPS appeared to be marginal zone macrophages . The early trapping of LPS by marginal zone macrophages was thought to be important for the following immune responses to the injected LPS . Interestingly the antigenic determinant on the injected LPS appeared to last long on or within the cells in the spleen from the injected animals . Such a remaining antigen might be important for the continuous stimulation of B cells by the LPS . With respect to the distribution of red pulp (RP) and white pulp (WP), we found the varied distribution of LPS between mouse and rat, and SPF and conventionally fed (Conv) animals . For example, LPS-positive cells in RP of rat were scarce, while significant degree of LPS-positive cells were observed in mice . And in WP, LPS-positive cells were observed in Conv DA rats, but not in mice or SPF-fed Wistar rats . These results may suggest that the mode of antigen processing may be different in the spleen of rat and mouse or even among the different strain of rats and previous sensitization to the LPS (or the similar antigenic determinants) may lead to the different distribution of LPS in the spleen . The monoclonal antibody specifically raised against K . pneumoniae was shown to be very useful to follow the fate of LPS derived from K . pneumoniae using immunohistochemical method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

J Laryngol Otol, 1991 Dec, 105(12), 1025 - 30
Parapharyngeal abscesses; Sethi DS et al.; Fifty-five patients with deep neck infections treated consecutively over a period of six and a half years between January 1983 and July 1989 were reviewed . Nine of these patients had abscesses localized to the pharapharyngeal space and form the basis of this study . The aetiology of the parapharyngeal abscess was odontogenic in two patients and remained unknown in the other seven . Five patients had associated systemic disease; four were diabetics and one patient had non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma . High dosage intravenous antibiotics directed towards the causative micro-organisms, airway control and early surgical intervention was the mainstay of treatment . All patients underwent open surgical drainage of the parapharyngeal abscess within 24 h of admission . Bacteriology results showed Klebsiella sp . to be the dominant micro-organism cultured in four patients . Morbidity was low; seven patients had no post-operative complications and were discharged from the hospital between 7-24 d (mean 12.9 d) . There were two deaths . Early open surgical drainage remains the most appropriate method of treating parapharyngeal space infections; it avoids life threatening complications with rapid recovery.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Dec, 57(12), 3541 - 6
1,3-Propanediol production by Escherichia coli expressing genes from the Klebsiella pneumoniae dha regulon; Tong IT et al.; The dha regulon in Klebsiella pneumoniae enables the organism to grow anaerobically on glycerol and produce 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) . Escherichia coli, which does not have a dha system, is unable to grow anaerobically on glycerol without an exogenous electron acceptor and does not produce 1,3-PD . A genomic library of K . pneumoniae ATCC 25955 constructed in E . coli AG1 was enriched for the ability to grow anaerobically on glycerol and dihydroxyacetone and was screened for the production of 1,3-PD . The cosmid pTC1 (42.5 kb total with an 18.2-kb major insert) was isolated from a 1,3-PD-producing strain of E . coli and found to possess enzymatic activities associated with four genes of the dha regulon: glycerol dehydratase (dhaB), 1,3-PD oxidoreductase (dhaT), glycerol dehydrogenase (dhaD), and dihydroxyacetone kinase (dhaK) . All four activities were inducible by the presence of glycerol . When E . coli AG1/pTC1 was grown on complex medium plus glycerol, the yield of 1,3-PD from glycerol was 0.46 mol/mol . The major fermentation by-products were formate, acetate, and D-lactate . 1,3-PD is an intermediate in organic synthesis and polymer production . The 1,3-PD fermentation provides a useful model system for studying the interaction of a biochemical pathway in a foreign host and for developing strategies for metabolic pathway engineering.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Dec, 173(24), 7741 - 9
The product of the nitrogen fixation regulatory gene nfrX of Azotobacter vinelandii is functionally and structurally homologous to the uridylyltransferase encoded by glnD in enteric bacteria; Contreras A et al.; We sequenced the nitrogen fixation regulatory gene nfrX from Azotobacter vinelandii, mutations in which cause a Nif- phenotype, and found that it encodes a 105-kDa protein (NfrX), the N terminus of which is highly homologous to that of the uridylyltransferase-uridylyl-removing enzyme encoded by glnD in Escherichia coli . In vivo complementation experiments demonstrate that the glnD and nfrX products are functionally interchangeable . A vinelandii nfrX thus appears to encode a uridylyltransferase-uridylyl-removing enzyme, and in this paper we report the first sequence of such a protein . The Nif- phenotype of nfrX mutants can be suppressed by a second mutation in a recently identified nifL-like gene immediately upstream of nifA in A . vinelandii . NifL mediates nif regulation in response to the N status in A . vinelandii, presumably by inhibiting NifA activator function as occurs in Klebsiella pneumoniae; thus, one role of NfrX is to modify, either directly or indirectly, the activity of the nifL product.

Mikrobiol Zh, 1991 Nov-Dec, 53(6), 88 - 93
{The bacteriocin typing of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains}; Pokhil SI et al.; Results of bacteriocin typing of 196 strains of the Klebsiella genus are presented . They are typified by their sensitivity to bacteriocins and by their production using colicinogenic and indicating strains from collection of P . Fredericq {correction of Frederick}, D . G . Kudlai, N . I . Koshanova as well as klebocinogenic K-type cultures of Klebsiella previously suggested by the authors . Investigation results have shown sufficient stability of a bacteriocinotype of the cultures confirmed by the population analysis . It is concluded that bacteriocin typing may be recommended as an additional method in epidemiological labelling of Klebsiella cultures.

Bol Asoc Med P R, 1991 Nov, 83(11), 485 - 6
Septic endophthalmitis associated with bacteremia and liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae; Martinez M et al.; Pyogenic liver abscess is a serious clinical problem associated with severe complications in 10-20% of cases . Metastatic septic endophthalmitis is a rare complication associated with liver abscess . Despite appropriate treatment the outcome is devastating . We will review in this case presentation some important aspects of the etiology, diagnosis and treatment recommendations for septic endophthalmitis.

Indian Pediatr, 1991 Nov, 28(11), 1265 - 70
Neonatal septicemia: a reappraisal with special reference to the use of cefotaxime; Vaidya U et al.; In a study period of one year, 381 babies (38.7% of all nursery admissions) were clinically diagnosed to have sepsis . Of these, 156 (40.9%) had positive blood cultures . Klebsiella was by far the commonest organism isolated (41%) followed by other Gram negative organisms . Gram positive organisms were uncommon (8%) . Sensitivity of Gram negative organisms was poor to penicillin (11%) and ampicillin (18%); significantly better to kanamycin (65%), gentamicin (74%) and best to cefotaxime (79%) . Only 8% isolates were resistant to all antibiotics . Combination of cefotaxime and gentamicin was effective against 90% of the isolates (in vitro) as compared to 74% for gentamicin and ampicillin . In vivo, mortality in the cefotaxime treated group was significantly lower (24.3%) than control group (47%) although both groups were clinically and bacteriologically comparable (p less than 0.05).

Indian Pediatr, 1991 Nov, 28(11), 1259 - 63
Mortality in neonatal septicemia with involvement of mother in management; Mathur NB et al.; In most Special Care Neonatal Units (SCNUs) in India, mothers are excluded from the care of their sick babies for fear of over-crowding and dislocation . We have attempted to study the feasibility of involving mothers in the care of their babies admitted for neonatal septicemia and to analyse whether this changed the sepsis related case fatality rate . The study material consisted of 158 neonates with blood culture positive neonatal septicemia whose mothers were actively involved in their care during their stay in the SCNU of LNJPN Hospital throughout 1987-88 . The mothers lived in with their sick neonates and were extremely useful in feeding, cleaning, and monitoring for some important signs and symptoms . There were no epidemics of infection in the nursery during this period . All the babies discharged were receiving breast feeds, and the mothers were confident in taking care of them before discharge . The mortality in this group was 43% . The onset of septicemia was most often in the first week (36%) being 25.9% in second week, 26.6% in the third, and 11.4% in the fourth . Mortality was maximum (64.5%) when the onset of illness was in the first 3 days . Klebsiella and S . aureus were commonly isolated organisms (38.6 and 21.5%, respectively) . Gram negative organisms were isolated in 66.5% cases with higher mortality in this group . Nearly 46% of the babies weighed 2 kg or less, with a mortality of 60.2% compared to 28.2% in those more than 2 kg . Only 3 to 5% and 40 to 66.7% of Gram negative and 23 and 70% of Gram positive organisms were sensitive to ampicillin and gentamicin, respectively.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Nov, 5(11), 2789 - 97
An amplifiable and deletable chloramphenicol-resistance determinant of Streptomyces lividans 1326 encodes a putative transmembrane protein; Dittrich W et al.; A genetically unstable chloramphenicol resistance gene from Streptomyces lividans 1326 was cloned and characterized . This gene and adjacent DNA regions can be lost spontaneously or amplify within variants . Biochemical studies proved that chloramphenicol is not modified by an acetyltransferase or any other enzyme and that ribosomes of the resistant strain are sensitive to chloramphenicol . Sequence data revealed that the resistance gene encodes a hydrophobic protein predicted to have 12 membrane-spanning alpha-helices and a hydropathic profile similar to the membrane of proteins required for the efflux of tetracycline . Variable proportions of the amino acids (about 16-24%) within the presumed chloramphenicol-resistant protein are identical to various aligned tetracycline-resistant proteins from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and to transporters for citrate in Klebsiella pneumonaie and for ferrichrome in Escherichia coli.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1991 Nov, 48(11), 820 - 5
{Hospital infections in children in a general hospital}; Ibarra-Colado JE et al.; INTRODUCTION . The following is a summary of what was found after setting into motion an epidemiological surveillance system of nosocomial infections occurring in the Pediatrics Ward of a 2nd level general hospital . MATERIAL AND METHODS . The rate of interhospital infections was 7.6 episodes per 100 patients discharged; the most frequent infections were diarrheas (40.6%), urosepsis (14.3%) and pneumoniae (12.1%) . The mortality rate was 0.33 deaths per 100 episodes . The average number of days spent in the hospital by the general population is 7.3 days and for infected patients, 24 . The germs most frequently found were Klebsiella and E . coli . CONCLUSIONS . The control of nosocomial infections requires more efficient surveillance systems for all hospitals.

J Dairy Res, 1991 Nov, 58(4), 477 - 83
Evaluation of a rapid fluorogenic method for the detection of Escherichia coli in dairy products; Sarhan HR et al.; A rapid fluorogenic medium was evaluated for the detection of Escherichia coli in dairy products . The medium was capable of detecting Esch . coli after 7.5 h incubation at 41.5 degrees C . Samples of pasteurized milk (136), raw milk (63), soft cheese (60) and pasteurized cream (39) were examined with media based on 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG-7) and Violet red bile agar and there were no significant differences between the numbers of Esch . coli detected on the two media . MUG-7 medium had a specificity of 98.6% and the small number of organisms giving a false positive reaction were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae . The incidence of false negative results was approximately 2% . MUG-7 medium was suitable for pour plate, spread plate and membrane filtration methods . Possible applications of the method are discussed.

Mol Gen Genet, 1991 Nov, 230(1-2), 270 - 6
Comparison of the sequences of the nagE operons from Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli K12: enhanced variability of the enzyme IIN-acetylglucosamine in regions connecting functional domains; Vogler AP et al.; The nagE operon, encoding the enzyme II specific for N-acetylglucosamine (EIINag), and adjacent DNA from the chromosome of Klebsiella pneumoniae were sequenced and compared with the corresponding sequence from Escherichia coli K12 . The deduced EIINag sequences differ in 72 out of 651 amino acids, the K . pneumoniae sequence being three residues longer . The amino acid differences were distributed unevenly, and were most frequent in regions connecting the three functional domains of the protein . In the nagE-nagB intergenic region, two promoter, two operator, and one CAP consensus sequence with regulatory functions were highly conserved . The nag structural genes from both species were very similar (83% DNA similarity; 89% amino acid similarity) except for frequent AT to GC exchanges in the wobble base of codons in K . pneumoniae DNA relative to the E . coli DNA.

J Infect Dis, 1991 Nov, 164(5), 901 - 6
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor enhances pulmonary host defenses in normal and ethanol-treated rats; Nelson S et al.; Ethanol suppresses functions of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL), seriously compromising normal host defenses against pneumonia . Because granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) augments the number and function of PMNL, the effect of G-CSF on the antibacterial defenses of the lung in normal and acutely intoxicated rats was studied . Animals received G-CSF or vehicle twice a day for 2 days, then ethanol or saline, followed by challenge with Klebsiella pneumoniae . K . pneumoniae elicited an intrapulmonary influx of PMNL in control rats that was markedly suppressed by prior ethanol administration . G-CSF augmented the recruitment of PMNL into the lungs of control rats and significantly attenuated the adverse effects of ethanol on PMNL entry into the lung . G-CSF enhanced intrapulmonary bactericidal activity against this pathogen in normal and ethanol-treated rats . All intoxicated rats pretreated with the vehicle died, while greater than 90% of rats pretreated with G-CSF survived . These findings suggest a potential role for G-CSF in mitigating the adverse effects of ethanol on PMNL delivery and pulmonary host defenses.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Nov, 5(11), 2575 - 80
The role of the NAC protein in the nitrogen regulation of Klebsiella aerogenes; Bender RA; The NAC (nitrogen assimilation control) protein from Klebsiella aerogenes is a LysR-like regulator for transcription of several operons involved in nitrogen metabolism, and couples the transcription of these sigma 70-dependent operons to regulation by the sigma 54-dependent NTR system . NAC activates expression of operons (e.g . histidine utilization, hut), allowing use of poor nitrogen sources, and represses expression of operons (e.g . glutamate dehydrogenase, gdh) allowing assimilation of the preferred nitrogen source, ammonium . NAC is both necessary and sufficient to activate transcription, but the expression of the nac gene is totally dependent on the central nitrogen regulatory system (NTR) and RNA polymerase carrying the sigma 54 sigma factor (RNAP sigma 54) . Nitrogen starvation signals the NTR system to transcribe nac, and NAC activates the transcription of hut, put (proline utilization), and urease . NAC does not affect the transcription of RNAP sigma 54-dependent operons like ginA or nifLA, which respond directly to the NTR system, but activates transcription of RNAP sigma 70-dependent operons . Thus NAC acts as a bridge between RNAP sigma 70-dependent operons like hut and the RNAP sigma 54-dependent NTR system . The activation of operons like hut by NAC in response to nitrogen starvation is at least superficially similar to their activation by CAP-cAMP in response to carbon and energy starvation.

Mol Gen Genet, 1991 Oct, 229(3), 479 - 82
The gltF gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae: cloning and initial characterization; Kuczius T et al.; From a gene bank of Klebsiella pneumoniae M5a1, a 1.7 kb gene fragment was isolated which was able to restore the Ntr+ phenotype and ammonium (methylammonium) transport, but not glutamate synthase in an Escherichia coli glt mutant (glutamate synthase deficiency) . The fragment strongly hybridized with the gltF regulatory gene from E . coli . After subcloning the fragment into an overexpression vector, a protein with a molecular weight of 27,000 dalton was identified as the gene product . The results indicate that the fragment cloned contains the gltF gene from K.pneumoniae.

Biochem J, 1991 Oct 1, 279 ( Pt 1), 155 - 8
Purification and partial characterization of a pyruvate oxidoreductase from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions; Brostedt E et al.; A pyruvate oxidoreductase with the capacity to support pyruvate-dependent nitrogenase activity in vitro has been purified from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum . The enzyme requires CoA for activity and is irreversibly inactivated by oxygen . The molecular properties and Km values for the substrates have been studied . In supporting nitrogenase activity addition of ferredoxin is required . Overall the enzyme is similar to the nif-specific pyruvate: flavodoxin oxidoreductase purified from Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Radiat Res, 1991 Oct, 128(1 Suppl), S18 - 28
Therapy of infections in mice irradiated in mixed neutron/photon fields and inflicted with wound trauma: a review of current work; Ledney GD et al.; When host antimicrobial defenses are severely compromised by radiation or trauma in conjunction with radiation, death from sepsis results . To evaluate therapies for sepsis in radiation casualties, we developed models of acquired and induced bacterial infections in irradiated and irradiated-wounded mice . Animals were exposed to either a mixed radiation field of equal proportions of neutrons and gamma rays (n/gamma = 1) from a TRIGA reactor or pure gamma rays from 60{Co sources . Skin wounds (15% of total body surface area) were inflicted under methoxyflurane anesthesia 1 h after irradiation . In all mice, wounding after irradiation decreased resistance to infection . Treatments with the immunomodulator synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate (S-TDCM) before or after mixed neutron-gamma irradiation or gamma irradiation increased survival . Therapy with S-TDCM for mice irradiated with either a mixed field or gamma rays increased resistance to Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced infections . Combined therapy with S-TDCM and ceftriaxone for K . pneumoniae infections in mice exposed to a mixed radiation field or to gamma rays was more effective than single-agent therapy . In all irradiated-wounded mice, single therapy of acquired infections with an antibiotic or S-TDCM did not increase survival . Survival of irradiated-wounded mice after topical application of gentamicin sulfate cream suggested that bacteria colonizing the wound disseminated systemically in untreated irradiated mice, resulting in death from sepsis . In lethal models of acquired infections in irradiated-wounded mice, significant increases in survival were achieved when systemic treatments with S-TDCM or gentamicin were combined with topical treatments of gentamicin cream . Therapies for sepsis in all mice exposed to a mixed field were less effective than in mice exposed to gamma rays . Nonetheless, the data show a principle by which successful therapy may be provided to individuals receiving tissue trauma in conjunction with radiation injury.

Harefuah, 1991 Oct, 121(7-8), 228 - 9
{Adult respiratory distress syndrome complicating acute pyelonephritis in pregnancy}; Edoute Y et al.; On the fifth day of a course of antibiotic therapy for acute Klebsiella pyelonephritis, a 21-year-old pregnant woman developed adult respiratory distress syndrome . She improved rapidly on fluid restriction and intravenous furosemide and did not require mechanical ventilation . 17 weeks later, after 40 weeks of pregnancy, she spontaneously delivered a healthy male infant weighing 3280 g.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Oct, 275(4), 521 - 9
Chemiluminescence response of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by purified, latex attached Klebsiella fimbriae; Przondo-Mordarska A et al.; Type 1 fimbriae (T1F) and type 3 fimbriae (T3F) were isolated from Klebsiella species, purified, attached to latex beads and tested for their ability to stimulate human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) oxidative activity . The luminol dependent chemiluminescence assay was used to evaluate the response of phagocytes . Latex particles coated with type 3 fimbriae (1-T3F) induced a significantly higher chemiluminescence response than those with type 1 fimbriae (1-T1F) . Opsonization of 1-T1F with pooled human serum induced chemiluminescence responses which were statistically significantly enhanced as compared to opsonized 1-T3F and both kinds of non-opsonized fimbriae.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Oct, 173(20), 6339 - 46
Involvement of GroEL in nif gene regulation and nitrogenase assembly; Govezensky D et al.; Several approaches were used to study the role of GroEL, the prototype chaperonin, in the nitrogen fixation (nif) system . An Escherichia coli groEL mutant transformed with the Klebsiella pneumoniae nif gene cluster accumulated very low to nondetectable levels of nitrogenase components compared with the isogenic wild-type strain or the mutant cotransformed with the wild-type groE operon . In K . pneumoniae, overexpression of the E . coli groE operon markedly accelerated the rate of appearance of the MoFe protein and its constituent polypeptides after the start of derepression . The groEL mutation in E . coli decreased NifA-dependent beta-galactosidase expression from the nifH promoter but did not affect the constitutive expression of nifA from the tet promoter of ntr-controlled expression from the nifLA promoter . The possibility that GroEL is required for the correct folding of NifA was supported by coimmunoprecipitation of NifA with anti-GroEL antibodies . Kinetic analyses of nitrogenase assembly in 35S pulse-chased K . pneumoniae pointed to the existence of high-molecular-weight intermediates in MoFe protein assembly and demonstrated the transient binding of newly synthesized NifH and NifDK to GroEL . Overall, these results indicate that GroEL fulfills both regulatory and structural functions in the nif system.

J Natl Med Assoc, 1991 Oct, 83(10), 922 - 4
Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) in a patient with elevated Epstein-Barr virus titers; Harley EH; Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) is a newly recognized disorder . The etiology of this disease is unknown . An exaggerated response to an offending agent such as the Epstein-Barr virus or Klebsiella bacteria has been postulated . Its course is usually benign . Cervical adenopathy is seen in 97% of the patients, while 30% of patients have nodal involvement in other sites, and 30% have extranodal involvement . There is a 7% mortality rate that occurs primarily in patients with immunologic defects . Corticosteroids ameliorate the constitutional symptoms, but cyclophosphamide appears to have the most beneficial effect . This article presents the case of a patient with SHML who demonstrated elevated Epstein-Barr virus titers.

Biochem J, 1991 Oct 1, 279 ( Pt 1), 81 - 5
Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase . The pre-steady-state kinetics of MoFe-protein reduction and hydrogen evolution under conditions of limiting electron flux show that the rates of association with the Fe-protein and electron transfer are independent of the oxidation level of the MoFe-protein; Fisher K et al.; The pre-steady-state kinetics of H2 evolution from Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase functioning at 23 degrees C, pH 7.4, under conditions of extremely low electron flux through the MoFe-protein exhibited a lag phase of several minutes duration . The approach to a steady-state rate of H2 evolution was accompanied by a 50% decrease in the amplitude of the MoFe-protein e.p.r . signal . These kinetics have been simulated using our published kinetic model for nitrogenase {Lowe & Thorneley (1984) Biochem . J . 224, 877-886}, which was developed using data obtained with nitrogenase functioning at high electron fluxes . The e.p.r . data showed that the rate of complex-formation between reduced Fe-protein and the MoFe-protein (k+1 = 5 x 10(7) M-1.s-1) is the same for the resting (E0) and one-electron-reduced (E1H) states of the MoFe-protein . Stopped-flow spectrophotometry also showed that electron transfer from the Fe-protein to the MoFe-protein in states E0 and E1H occurs at the same rate (kobs . = 140 s-1) . These data support our previous assumption that the rate constants that define the 'Fe-protein cycle' are independent of the level of reduction of the MoFe-protein.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Oct, 173(20), 6626 - 31
Klebsiella aerogenes catabolite gene activator protein and the gene encoding it (crp); Osuna R et al.; The catabolite gene activator protein from Klebsiella aerogenes (CAPK) and the corresponding protein from Escherichia coli (CAPE) were shown to be nearly identical . Both CAPK and CAPE activated transcription from the CAP-dependent promoters derived from E . coli and K . aerogenes . The crp gene from K . aerogenes (encoding CAP) is tightly linked to rpsL . The nucleotide sequence of crp predicts an amino acid sequence for CAPK that differs in only one position from that of CAPE.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Oct, 173(20), 6499 - 506
Isolation of Escherichia coli mutants defective in uptake of molybdate; Hemschemeier S et al.; For the study of molybdenum uptake by Escherichia coli, we generated Tn5lac transposition mutants, which were screened for the pleiotropic loss of molybdoenzyme activities . Three mutants A1, A4, and M22 were finally selected for further analysis . Even in the presence of 100 microM molybdate in the growth medium, no active nitrate reductase, formate dehydrogenase, and trimethylamine-N-oxide reductase were detected in these mutants, indicating that the intracellular supply of molybdenum was not sufficient . This was also supported by the observation that introduction of plasmid pWK225 carrying the complete nif regulon of Klebsiella pneumoniae did not lead to a functional expression of nitrogenase . Finally, molybdenum determination by induced coupled plasma mass spectroscopy confirmed a significant reduction of cell-bound molybdenum in the mutants compared with that in wild-type E . coli, even at high molybdate concentrations in the medium . A genomic library established with the plasmid mini-F-derived cop(ts) vector pJE258 allowed the isolation of cosmid pBK229 complementing the molybdate uptake deficiency of the chlD mutant and the Tn5lac-induced mutants . Certain subfragments of pBK229 which do not contain the chlD gene are still able to complement the Tn5lac mutants . Mapping experiments showed that the Tn5lac insertions did not occur within the chromosomal region present in pBK229 but did occur very close to that region . We assume that the Tn5lac insertions have a polar effect, thus preventing the expression of transport genes, or that a positively acting regulatory element was inactivated.

Biotechnology (N Y), 1991 Oct, 9(10), 982 - 6
Production of cyclodextrins, a novel carbohydrate, in the tubers of transgenic potato plants; Oakes JV et al.; Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides containing six (alpha), seven (beta), or eight (gamma) glucose molecules, respectively . The cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases (CGT), which produce CDs from starch, are found only in bacteria and are used in batch fermentors with hydrolyzed starch to produce CDs commercially . Using a CGT gene from Klebsiella, we attempted to engineer the tubers of developing potatoes to produce these novel, high-value carbohydrates . A chimeric gene, consisting of (1) the patatin promoter for tuber-specific expression, (2) the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (SSU) transit peptide for plastid targeting, (3) the CGT structural gene from Klebsiella and (4) the nopaline synthase 3' region, was introduced into potatoes . Both alpha and beta CDs were produced in tubers of transgenic potatoes at levels corresponding to 0.001-0.01% of the starch being converted to CDs.

Carbohydr Res, 1991 Sep 18, 217, 117 - 25
Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain from Klebsiella pneumoniae O1K2 (NCTC 5055) lipopolysaccharide; Kol O et al.; The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae O1K2 lipopolysaccharide was investigated by use of methylation, periodate oxidation, partial hydrolysis, and 1H- and 13C-n.m.r . spectroscopy . It was shown to consist of a linear chain composed of two disaccharide repeating units, {----3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----} and {----3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galf-(1----}.

Ugeskr Laeger, 1991 Sep 16, 153(38), 2635 - 6
{Phlegmonous enteritis--a rare cause of acute abdomen}; Brooks B et al.; A 73 year old woman presenting with an acute abdomen was diagnosed as having phlegmonous enteritis after microscopic examination revealed the characteristic finding of a diffuse suppurative inflammation limited to the submucosa in the resected ileal segment . Culture of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the microscopic demonstration of gram positive cocci and gram negative rods confirmed the bacterial etiology of this disease . There was no evidence of mucosal injury in this patient, but the possible role of ischemia secondary to atherosclerotic vascular disease cannot be assessed . Because of the associated high morbidity and mortality, phlegmonous enteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Sep, 28(3), 389 - 97
Characterization of Klebsiella oxytoca septicaemia isolates resistant to aztreonam and cefuroxime; Wu SW et al.; Eleven clinical isolates of Klebsiella oxytoca from Stockholm hospitals were found to be resistant to aztreonam and cefuroxime, but susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem . Resistance could be overcome by combining the beta-lactams with the inhibitor clavulanic acid . Crude beta-lactamase preparations from the isolates inactivated aztreonam and cefuroxime rapidly . By isoelectric focusing, a single common beta-lactamase of pI 5.25 was detected . The K . oxytoca isolates belonged to three subgroups, based on their plasmid profiles and Bg/II restriction endonuclease digestion of plasmid DNA . It was concluded that resistance to aztreonam and cefuroxime in these isolates was conferred by a beta-lactamase distinct from TEM-1, TEM-2 and SHV-1, but possibly derived from TEM-like enzymes.

J Protozool, 1991 Sep-Oct, 38(5), 507 - 11
Axenic cultivation of the anaerobic free-living ciliate Trimyema compressum; Broers CA et al.; The strain N of Trimyema compressum, an anaerobic free-living ciliate, was cultivated axenically in a medium containing a buffered salt solution, yeast extract, trypticase, and glutathione . Dead bacteria were indispensable as food; a culture of the ciliate together with heat-killed Klebsiella pneumoniae has been established for more than one year . In the medium described, the ciliates grow to a higher cell density than in cultures with living bacteria as food . During the process of axenization, a nonmethanogenic bacterial endosymbiont was lost . In the microbodies of T . compressum, hydrogenase could be localized by the technique of indirect immunofluorescence.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Sep, 173(17), 5457 - 69
Nucleotide sequence and genetic analysis of the Azotobacter chroococcum nifUSVWZM gene cluster, including a new gene (nifP) which encodes a serine acetyltransferase; Evans DJ et al.; Nucleotide sequence was obtained for a region of 7,099 bp spanning the nifU, nifS, nifV, nifW, nifZ, and nifM genes from Azotobacter chroococcum . Chromosomal mutations constructed at several sites within the locus confirmed a requirement for this region for expression of the molybdenum nitrogenase in this organism . The genes are tightly clustered and ordered as in Klebsiella pneumoniae except for two additional open reading frames (ORFs) between nifV and nifW . The arrangement of genes in A . chroococcum closely matches that described for Azotobacter vinelandii . The polypeptide encoded by ORF4 immediately downstream from nifV is 41% identical over 186 amino acids to the product of the cysE gene from Escherichia coli, which encodes serine acetyltransferase (SAT), a key enzyme in cysteine biosynthesis . Plasmids which potentially express ORF4 complemented E . coli JM39, a cysteine auxotroph which lacks SAT . SAT activity was detected in crude extracts of one such complemented strain . A strain of A . chroococcum carrying a chromosomal disruption of ORF4 grew normally with ammonium as the N source but more slowly than the parental strain when N2 was the sole N source . These data suggest that ORF4 encodes a nif-specific SAT required for optimizing expression of nitrogenase activity . ORF4 was assigned the name nifP . nifP may be required to boost rates of synthesis or intracellular concentrations of cysteine or methionine . Sequence identity between nifV and leuA gene products suggests that nifV may catalyze a condensation reaction analogous to that carried out by isopropylmalate synthase (LEUA) but in which acetyl coenzyme and alpha-ketoglutarate are substrates for the formation of homocitrate, the proposed product of NIFV activity.

Mikrobiol Zh, 1991 Sep-Oct, 53(5), 46 - 53
{Bacteriocinogeny in Klebsiella and the applied use of klebocins}; Pokhil SI et al.; A phenomenon of bacteriocinogeny is studied in 83 K-type strains of Klebsiella . Physicochemical (permeability through cellophane, thermo-resistance, diffusion rate in agar, inactivation by trypsin, induction by UV irradiation) and biological (activity spectrum, specificity) properties are studied . Eight preparations of klebocins are examined by electron microscopy . Conclusions are made on the possibility to use klebocinogenic and indicating K-type cultures of Klebsiella for bacteriocin typing of clinical isolates of these microbes.

Indian J Med Res, 1991 Sep, 93, 293 - 6
Enterotoxigenic Klebsiella pneumoniae in acute childhood diarrhoea; Panigrahi D et al.; K . pneumoniae strains recovered as pure or predominant isolate from stool specimens of 50 children below three years of age, presenting with acute watery diarrhoea, were studied for heat-labile enterotoxin production . Twenty three (46%) of the 50 crude toxin concentrates showed positivity in rabbit ileal loops and skin permeability tests . Antigenically 17 (34%) and 20 (40%) of the toxin extracts reacted with immuno-purified anti H-LT antibody in latex particle agglutination and immuno-dot blot assays respectively . Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, Western-blotting and enzyme-immunoassay revealed heat-labile enterotoxin and its subunits in 19 (68%) of 28 extracts tested . In 5 of 10 strains tested the toxigenicity could be transferred to recipient Escherichia coli J-35 in plasmid transfer experiments . Klebsiella induced enterotoxigenic diarrhoea and produced a heat-labile toxin which seems to be biologically, antigenically and possibly genetically related to the heat-labile toxin of the cholera-coli family.

Anticancer Res, 1991 Sep-Oct, 11(5), 1849 - 53
Responsiveness of human monocytes to Ru 41.740 (Biostim) . Influence of preincubation in vitro; Blomgen H et al.; Biostim, which is a glucoprotein extract of Klebsiella pneumoniae, is known to trigger human monocytes to increased secretion of metabolites, which inhibit lymphocyte mitogenesis and which augment NK-activity of lymphocytes . Some aspects of this monocyte activation have been examined in this study . The conclusion of the present investigation is that preincubation of human monocytes for 6-24 h in serum-free medium at 37 degrees C renders them unresponsive to Biostim, as assessed by secretion of the above factors . Monocytes which were preincubated in 100% serum or in serum-free medium at 3 degrees C retained their responsiveness to Biostim . Loss of Biostim responsiveness could not be prevented by interferon alpha, beta, gamma or by granulocyte-monocyte and granulocyte colony stimulating factors . One interpretation of these results is that human monocytes possess distinct receptors for Biostim whose expression is lost under suboptimal culture conditions . Expression of these receptors is a prerequisite for responsiveness to the drug.

J Mol Biol, 1991 Aug 20, 220(4), 915 - 31
Organization and function of binding sites for the transcriptional activator NifA in the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifE and nifU promoters; Cannon W et al.; The interaction of the Klebsiella pneumoniae NifA protein, a sigma 54-dependent activator, with the nifE and nifU promoters was analysed . At these promoters NifA established contacts in addition to those predicted by the minimal formulation NifA binding site (5'-TGT-N10-ACA) . The positions of the contacts indicate that bound NifA molecules could assemble to form an oligomer . At both promoters contacts with NifA are made predominantly on one face of the DNA helix, and all contacts appear necessary for full activation by NifA . The close contacts made by NifA appear to be made by the DNA-binding domain of NifA . This domain shows specific DNA-binding activity in vitro . The binding of NifA to one site in the nifU promoter depends upon occupancy of additional upstream sequences by NifA . At the nifE promoter NifA binds adjacent to an integration host factor (IHF) binding site, but in contrast to results obtained with the nifU promoter IHF does not diminish nifE promoter occupancy by NifA . The IHF requirement for efficient in vivo activation of the nifU promoter by NifA was greater than that of the nifE promoter . Accordingly, the affinity of IHF for the nifU promoter is higher than for the nifE promoter . Amongst promoters utilizing the sigma 54 holoenzyme, the nifE promoter appears somewhat atypical in having the activator bound at around position -74 rather than the usual 100 base-pairs or more upstream from the transcription start site.

FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Aug, 3(4), 205 - 10
Klebsiella pneumoniae glycoprotein RU-41740 enhances resistance of mice against Mycoplasma arthritidis-induced arthritis; Kaklamani E et al.; The effect of a purified glycoprotein extract from Klebsiella pneumoniae with non-specific immunostimulating properties (RU 41740) on the development and course of mycoplasma arthritis was investigated . Male A/J mice aged 2-3 months were given RU-41740 either intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally prior to injection with Mycoplasma arthritidis . RU-41740 injected i.p . at 0.1 mg kg-1 or given orally at 1 mg kg-1 prior to the infection and subsequently on alternate days enhanced the resistance of mice to mycoplasma arthritis (P less than 0.001) . Doses of 1 mg kg-1 i.p . or 10 mg kg-1 orally did not modify the course of the arthritis significantly, probably due to immunosuppressive factors from monocytes . It is suggested that RU-41740 protects the mice by stimulating macrophages . This immunostimulant might prove useful in the treatment of mycoplasma diseases, especially in the immunocompromised host.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Aug, 35(8), 1557 - 61
Synergistic activity of 5-trifluoromethylthioribose and inhibitors of methionine synthesis against Klebsiella pneumoniae; Tower PA et al.; 5-Methylthioribose (MTR) is an intermediate in the methionine recycling pathway of organisms containing the enzyme MTR kinase . Analogs of MTR have been proposed as a new class of antimicrobial agents because of their ability to perturb the growth of MTR kinase-containing pathogens through inhibition of methionine salvage or by conversion to toxic products . One such analog, 5-trifluoromethylthioribose (TFMTR), has demonstrated potent inhibitory effects on the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae (A . G . Gianotti, P . A . Tower, J . H . Sheley, P . A . Conte, C . Spiro, J . H . Fitchen, and M . K . Riscoe, J . Biol . Chem . 265:831-837, 1990) . Although the mode of action of TFMTR has yet to be determined, it is believed that the drug is converted to the toxic products trifluoromethionine or carbonothioic difluoride via MTR kinase and the methionine recycling pathway . On the basis of this assumption, we theorized that blocking de novo methionine synthesis would increase dependence on the methionine salvage pathway and lead to an increased rate of synthesis of toxic metabolites from TFMTR . In this report, we show that three separate inhibitors of de novo methionine synthesis (1,2,4-triazole, azaserine, and propargylglycine) act synergistically with TFMTR in inhibiting the growth of K . pneumoniae.

Biochem J, 1991 Aug 1, 277 ( Pt 3), 735 - 41
Nitrogenase of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Reversibility of the reductant-independent MgATP-cleavage reaction is shown by MgADP-catalysed phosphate/water oxygen exchange; Thorneley RN et al.; The steady-state kinetics of reductant-independent ATP hydrolysis by Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase at 23 degrees C at pH 7.4 were determined as a function of component protein ratio (optimal at an oxidized Fe protein/MoFe protein ratio of 3:1) and MgATP concentration (Km 400 microM) . Competitive inhibition was observed for MgADP (Ki 145 microM), {beta gamma-methylene}ATP (Mgp{CH2}ppA) (Ki 115 microM), {beta gamma-monofluoromethylene}ATP (Mgp{CHF}ppA) (Ki 53 microM) and {beta gamma-difluoromethylene}ATP (Mgp{CF2}ppA) (Ki 160 microM) . The tighter binding of MgADP to free oxidized Fe protein (KD less than 10 microM) than to the oxidized Fe protein-MoFe protein complex (Ki 145 microM) is proposed as the driving force that induces rate-limiting protein dissociation in the catalytic cycle of nitrogenase . The reversible nature of the reductant-independent MgATP-cleavage reaction was demonstrated by an MgADP-induced enhancement of the rate of the phosphate/water oxygen exchange reaction with 18O-labelled phosphate ion . This enhancement, like the reductant-independent ATPase reaction, only occurred with the complex formed by oxidized Fe protein and MoFe protein and not with the individual proteins . The results are discussed in terms of the mechanism of ATP hydrolysis by nitrogenase and other systems involving protein-protein interactions.

Arch Intern Med, 1991 Aug, 151(8), 1557 - 9
Septic metastatic lesions of pyogenic liver abscess . Their association with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in diabetic patients; Cheng DL et al.; Septic metastatic endophthalmitis from Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess, first reported in seven cases treated at the Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, between 1981 and 1985, was seen in six similar cases at the same hospital in the subsequent 2 years . We conducted a retrospective search for factors that might be associated with these complications of pyogenic liver abscess . A total of 23 cases with septic metastatic lesions from pyogenic liver abscess were found between 1981 and 1987, and 164 cases of pyogenic liver abscess without septic metastatic lesions were identified as a comparison group . Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess, bacteremia, and the underlying diabetes mellitus were significantly more common in the study group than in the comparison group . Of the 23 patients with septic metastatic lesions, there were 14 cases (60.8%) of endophthalmitis or uveitis, 10 cases (43.4%) of pulmonary abscess and/or emboli, six cases (26.0%) of brain abscess and/or purulent meningitis, five cases (21.7%) of bacteriuria and/or prostate abscess, two cases (8.6%) of osteomyelitis and/or pyogenic arthritis, and one case (4.3%) of psoas abscess.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Aug, (8), 40 - 3
{The spread of Klebsiella in obstetrical hospitals and the biological properties of the isolated strains}; Bairamova AS et al.; Examination of 278 newborn infants, parturients, and medical personnel in two maternity hospitals revealed a high level of Klebsiella colonization of all examined biotopes of infants (the nasal cavity in up to 36.5% of cases) and the skin of the mammary glands of nursing mothers (in 36.2% of cases) . In the intestine and the nasal cavity of parturient women and medical personnel Klebsiella could be detected 3-10 times more often than in the same biotopes of nonhospitalized pregnant women . From 254 objects of the hospital environment Klebsiella were isolated in 9.05% of cases . The possibility of the transmission of Klebsiella in hospitals by patients with inflammatory processes in their genitals were established . The diversity of the serological picture of strains of most K-serovars and a short period of their isolation were shown . In one hospital serovar K10 with some features of a "hospital" strain was isolated . The strains under study were sensitive to aminoglycosides, cephamesine, chlorhexidine, but resistant to semisynthetic penicillins and chloramine.

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 1991 Aug, 39(8), 2143 - 5
Separation and characterization of three positional isomers of dimaltosyl-cyclomaltoheptaose (dimaltosyl-beta-cyclodextrin); Koizumi K et al.; A mixture of maltosylcyclomaltoheptaoses (maltosyl-beta-cyclodextrins, G2-beta CDs) was prepared from maltose and beta-cyclodextrin (beta CD) through the reverse action of Klebsiella pneumoniae pullulanase . Three positional isomers of dimaltosyl-beta CD in the mixture were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on a reversed phase column and a graphitized carbon column . Their molecular weights were measured by fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and the structures were established by methylation analysis, hydrolysis with glucoamylase to the known compounds, three positional isomers of diglucosyl-beta CD, and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Aug, 275(3), 369 - 73
Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of a new plasmid-coded Klebsiella pneumoniae beta-lactamase gene (SHV-2a) responsible for high-level cefotaxime resistance; Podbielski A et al.; Patient specimen isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibiting an MIC of greater than 128 mg/l for cefotaxime were shown to produce a beta-lactamase with a pI of 7.6, which is encoded on a 66 kb conjugative plasmid . A 3.5 kb Bam HI fragment of this plasmid was cloned into pLG339 and totally sequenced . The nucleotide sequence of the beta-lactamase gene presented 99% homology to those of SHV-2 and SHV-3, the deduced amino acid sequence differed from both enzymes in one and two positions, respectively, leading to the denomination SHV-2a for the new enzyme . Since the kinetic data of SHV-2a and SHV-2 are similar, too, quantitative effects mediated by distinctly different promotor regions are thought to be responsible for the elevated MIC for cefotaxime induced by SHV-2a.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1991 Aug, 24(3), 264 - 71
Molecular epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Peng HL et al.; Plasmid profile, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterned by an rRNA probe, and capsule serotyping of 143 Taiwan local bacteriemic isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed . Our results indicate that K1 and K2 are probably the most prevalent serotypes in Taiwan, accounting for 39% of total isolates tested . A remarkable genotypic heterogeneity was observed among these isolates by the analysis of rRNA gene RFLP patterns and plasmid profile, which highlighted differences that were not discerned by the serological tests used to differentiated these strains . On the basis of these analyses, 27 rRNA gene restriction patterns and 57 plasmid profiles were identified.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1991 Aug, 41(8), 815 - 20
Effect of an immunostimulatory substance of Klebsiella pneumoniae on inflammatory responses of human granulocytes, basophils and platelets; Scheffer J et al.; RU 41740 (Biostim), a biological response modifier of bacterial origin obtained from the 01.K2 strain of K . pneumoniae, was studied with regard to its effect to modulate the chemiluminescence response, phagocytosis and leukotriene formation from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), the histamine release from basophils and the aggregation of human platelets . For histamine release human basophils were analyzed with either the calcium ionophore A23187 or hemolysin producing bacteria . RU 41740 reduced the E . coli K12 pANN5211 induced histamine release whereas the calcium ionophore A23187 induced histamine release was not affected . The studies with regard to adherence and phagocytosis showed a significant increase in phagocytosis for S . aureus in the presence of RU 41740 . With regard to the chemiluminescence response of human granulocytes, donor cells were divided into cells with a high and a low response . The chemiluminescence response of high responder cells towards a potent stimulus, e.g . the calcium ionophore A23187, was decreased by RU 41740 whereas weak stimuli (e.g . E . coli K12) were not affected . In contrast to these results the chemiluminescence response of low responder cells to a weak stimulus e.g . E . coli K12 was increased by RU 41740 and the potent stimuli were not affected . RU 41740 also modulates the eicosanoid synthesis of human polymorphonuclear granulocytes . For the calcium ionophore A23187 induced leukotriene production an increase of LTB4 and a decrease of LTC4 by RU 41740 was observed . Furthermore, preincubation of platelets with various concentrations of RU 41740 for 5 min shows an inhibition of platelet aggregation, when an additional stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187 was carried out.

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Aug 1, 199(3), 637 - 41
Comparative study of the structure/function relationship of wild-type and structurally modified maltopentaose-producing amylase; Candussio A et al.; Amylase A-180, which is secreted by a new alkaliphilic organism, isolate 163-26, consists of a single type of polypeptide chain of 186.5 kDa and hydrolyses starch by exo-attack releasing malto-pentaose as preferential product . The structure/function relationship of this unusual starch-degrading enzyme was analysed by introducing 3' deletions into the structural gene . It was found that removal of up to a 110-kDa portion from the C-terminus leaving 563 N-terminal amino acids still led to the formation of a fully active enzyme . The part of the structural gene coding for these 563 N-terminal amino acids was fused with the signal peptide-encoding segment of the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase gene from Klebsiella oxytoca and was cloned into an expression vector . The resulting truncated A-180 derivative, A-180/21, was efficiently transported through the cytoplasmic membrane and released into the medium by an Escherichia coli strain which 'leaks' periplasmatic components . A-180/21 was purified and its catalytic properties, i.e . specific activity and product specificity, proved to be identical to those of the wild-type enzyme; however, in contrast to the wild-type enzyme, it was unable to bind to raw starch and it displayed an altered temperature and pH dependence of activity.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1991 Aug, 35(5), 606 - 10
Gene cloning of the maoA gene and overproduction of a soluble monoamine oxidase from Klebsiella aerogenes; Sugino H et al.; We cloned the structural gene for monoamine oxidase (maoA) from Klebsiella aerogenes into a pKI212 vector in an maoA mutant strain of K . aerogenes . Deletion analysis and complementation tests of the recombinant plasmid showed that the maoA gene was located entirely within a 4.1-kb segment . In an maoA mutant strain harbouring the cloned maoA gene, synthesis of monoamine oxidase was induced by addition of tyramine and related compounds . Transfer of a plasmid containing the maoA gene into a monoamine oxidase-producing strain of K . aerogenes W70 resulted in about a 30- to 40-fold increase in total production of the enzyme . When cells of K . aerogenes carrying the plasmid containing the maoA gene were grown with tyramine, more than 85% of the monoamine oxidase was produced in soluble form, whereas the parent strain W70 produced most monoamine oxidase as the membrane-bound form.

Gene, 1991 Jul 31, 104(1), 81 - 4
Construction of a novel suicide vector: selection for Escherichia coli HB101 recombinants carrying the DNA insert; Arakawa Y et al.; We constructed a new type of cloning vector, pERISH2, that transforms Escherichia coli HB101 only when a foreign DNA fragment is ligated into the cloning site of the plasmid vector . Plasmid pERISH2 carries the rcsB gene which is derived from the chromosome of E . coli HB101 and is involved in the regulation of colanic acid production . When E . coli HB101 is transformed by this vector carrying the intact rcsB gene, the gene product RcsB blocks bacterial growth . However, if the rcsB gene is inactivated by the insertion of a foreign DNA fragment, this recombinant plasmid no longer inhibits the growth of E . coli HB101 . Although E . coli HB101 is not stably transformed by pERISH2, E . coli K-12 strains such as JM109 and C600 can harbor this vector . Therefore, pERISH2 can be amplified in JM109 and be prepared from this strain in a large quantity using conventional methods . A chromosomal gene library of Klebsiella pneumoniae is constructed easily and efficiently by the utilization of this new cloning vector.

Gene, 1991 Jul 15, 103(1), 83 - 6
Cys184 and Cys187 of NifL protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae are not absolutely required for inhibition of NifA activity; Contreras A et al.; The sequence Cys184-Ala-Asp-Cys187 in the NifL protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae, for which a role in oxygen sensing and/or metal binding has been proposed, was altered by introducing two mutations, Cys184----Ala and Cys187----Ala, using oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed mutagenesis . Neither mutation abolished ammonium or oxygen control of nif transcription, although some impairment of function was apparent . The two Cys residues are therefore unlikely to have a direct role in oxygen sensing or metal binding, but probably make some contribution to protein folding or stability.

J Clin Invest, 1991 Jul, 88(1), 34 - 9
Treatment with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha protects rats against the lethality, hypotension, and hypothermia of gram-negative sepsis; Alexander HR et al.; Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a peptide secreted by macrophages in response to endotoxin that can produce many of the changes seen in septic shock . After cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) rats gradually develop tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea, and hypothermia . At 5 h post-CLP, rats have a peak in serum levels of endotoxin and 60% of rats have blood cultures that grow Gram-negative rods (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) . At 20 h post-CLP all rats develop positive blood cultures . Serum levels of TNF are not reproducibly measurable in rats following CLP . Rats undergoing CLP have a 50-80% mortality with deaths usually occurring 24-72 h postinjury . Repetitive (twice daily x 6 d) i.p . injection of sublethal doses of recombinant human TNF-alpha (100 micrograms/kg) to rats undergoing CLP 1 d after the treatment period resulted in a significant reduction in mortality compared to control rats previously unexposed to rTNF (P less than 0.03) . Animals treated with rTNF had no hypotension or hypothermia after CLP and regained normal food intake faster than control rats . 12 h after CLP the gene expression for manganous superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), an inducible mitochondrial metalloenzyme responsible for cellular resistance to injury from toxic reactive oxygen species, was higher in livers of rats treated with rTNF suggesting that the TNF treatment augmented expression of this protective enzyme . Unlike MnSOD, expression of the gene for copper-zinc SOD was not affected by CLP or rTNF treatment . The results suggest that prior treatment with recombinant TNF can ameliorate the lethality, hypotension, hypothermia, and anorexia of Gram-negative sepsis in rats and that the mechanism may be related to enhanced hepatic expression of the gene for MnSOD . Repeated administration of recombinant TNF may be a strategy to minimize mortality and morbidity of Gram-negative sepsis.

J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Jul, 137 ( Pt 7), 1667 - 75
Different promoters of SHV-2 and SHV-2a beta-lactamase lead to diverse levels of cefotaxime resistance in their bacterial producers; Podbielski A et al.; Clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates as well as Escherichia coli transformants producing the beta-lactamases SHV-2 or SHV-2a demonstrate MIC values for cefotaxime of 4 mg l-1 or 64 to greater than 128 mg l-1, respectively . The beta-lactamases differ by one possibly insignificant amino acid exchange at position number 10 of the mature protein; their kinetic parameters are rather similar . The 5' untranslated regions of both corresponding genes show no homology starting 74 nucleotides upstream to the start codon . Hybridization of intragenically annealing oligonucleotides to dot-blotted serial dilutions of total cellular RNA from E . coli transformants harbouring these genes cloned into the same vector plasmid gave a positive signal down to 1.2 micrograms (SHV-2) and 0.32 to 0.16 micrograms (SHV-2a), indicating a four to eight times higher amount of specific transcript in the case of SHV-2a . By primer extension analysis and S1 nuclease digestion the starting point to transcription was located 100 nucleotides (SHV-2) and 50 nucleotides (SHV-2a) in front of the start codon . No other transcripts of different length could be detected after prolonged exposure . Northern blot analysis demonstrated the length of the beta-lactamase mRNA to be about 1.6 kb in both cases, thus comprising a potential open reading frame downstream of the two enzymes' genes . Selective PCR amplification of both promoter regions and of the structural gene of SHV-2 and subsequent combined cloning of each of the promoters and the SHV-2 gene into pBGS19 using a BamHI restriction site introduced by three point mutations into the cloned sequences was employed to transforms E . coli DH5 alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Nucl Biol Med, 1991 Jul-Sep, 35(3), 162 - 6
Technetium-99m distribution into Klebsiella pneumoniae; Bernardo-Filho M et al.; Bacteria labelled with radionuclide has been the subject of much investigation and has been applied in microbiological research . Technetium-99m (99mTc) may be an alternative radionuclide for the labelling of bacteria employed in various microbiological procedures . This radionuclide is easily available, is not expensive and presents important physical and biological characteristics . 99mTc-labelled bacteria are stable and their cell viability and biological properties are not modified . Study of the distribution of radioactivity in 99mTc-labelled Klebsiella pneumoniae cultures, after homogenization and differential centrifugation of the cells fractions, showed that this radionuclide was present inside the cell, mainly in a ribosomal fraction . Treatment of these fractions with enzymes and detergent revealed a high sensitivity to pronase and Triton X-100 . After phenol extraction, a large percentage of radioactivity was detected in the phenol phase . Treatment of the soluble fraction with trichloroacetic acid at different temperatures showed that the concentration of 99mTc in the precipitate was lower at 100 degrees than at 4 degrees C . These results suggest that 99mTc binds mainly to the proteins in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Jul, 137 ( Pt 7), 1479 - 83
Aerobic 2-ketogluconate metabolism of Klebsiella pneumoniae NCTC 418 grown in chemostat culture; Simons JA et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae NCTC 418 is able to convert 2-ketogluconate intracellularly to 6-phosphogluconate by the combined action of an NADPH-dependent 2-ketogluconate reductase and gluconate kinase . Synthesis of the former enzyme was maximal under 2-ketogluconate-limited growth conditions . An instantaneous transition to a 2-ketogluconate-excess condition resulted in an acceleration of catabolism of this carbon source, accompanied by complete inhibition of biosynthesis . It is suggested that the cause of this inhibition resides in depletion of the NADPH pool due to the high rate at which NADPH is oxidized by 2-ketogluconate reductase.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Jul, 5(7), 1657 - 67
Substitutions at a single amino acid residue in the nitrogen-regulated activator protein NTRC differentially influence its activity in response to phosphorylation; Dixon R et al.; Four substitutions at serine residue 160 which increase the activity of the sigma 54-dependent activator protein NTRC in the absence of NTRB have been analysed in detail . Mutagenesis of the putative phosphoacceptor site of NTRC and analysis of double mutants indicate that the positive control function of the S160W and S160C mutants is phosphorylation-dependent, whereas the activity of the S160Y and S160F mutants is phosphorylation-independent . This was confirmed with two purified mutant proteins in vitro . Occupancy of tandem NTRC-binding sites upstream of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifL promoter by S160W protein is also phosphorylation-dependent in contrast to occupancy by S160F protein, confirming that both the DNA-binding and activator functions of NTRC are influenced by phosphorylation . The S160W and S160C mutants are apparently more responsive than wild-type protein to 'cross-talk' by other members of the histidine protein kinase family but are less responsive to phosphorylation and dephosphorylation mediated by NTRB.

Anal Biochem, 1991 Jun, 195(2), 262 - 4
Bulk purification of isochorismic acid by low-pressure octadecyl (C18) reverse-phase liquid chromatography; Seeger JW Jr et al.; Partially purified isochorismate synthase (EC 5.4.99.6) from Klebsiella pneumoniae 62-1 was used to produce bulk quantities (3.4-6.8 mg) of isochorismate from chorismate . A new, preparative, low-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the purification of isochorismate was used; a (1.0 X 13.0 cm) octadecyl (C18) reverse-phase column with a discontinuous, stepped methanol gradient as eluent . The recovery of isochorismate was quantitative and its purity was verified by HPLC using a butyl (C4) reverse-phase column . This chromatographic method is superior to those previously described.

J Biol Chem, 1991 Jun 5, 266(16), 10260 - 7
Reactivity of the essential thiol of Klebsiella aerogenes urease . Effect of pH and ligands on thiol modification; Todd MJ et al.; The kinetics of Klebsiella aerogenes urease inactivation by disulfide and alkylating agents was examined and found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics . Reactivity of the essential thiol is affected by the presence of substrate and competitive inhibitors, consistent with a cysteine located proximal to the active site . In contrast to the results observed with other reagents, the rate of activity loss in the presence of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) saturated at high reagent concentrations, indicating that DTNB must first bind to urease before inactivation can occur . The pH dependence for the rate of urease inactivation by both disulfide and alkylating agents was consistent with an interaction between the thiol and a second ionizing group . The resulting macroscopic pKa values for the 2 residues are less than 5 and 12 . Spectrophotometric studies at pH 7.75 demonstrated that 2,2'-dithiodipyridine (DTDP) modified 8.5 +/- 0.2 mol of thiol/mol of enzyme or 4.2 mol of thiol/mol of catalytic unit . With the slow tight binding competitive inhibitor phenyl-phosphorodiamidate (PPD) bound to urease, 1.1 +/- 0.1 mol of thiol/mol of catalytic unit were protected from modification . PPD-bound DTDP-modified urease could be reactivated by dialysis, consistent with the presence of one thiol per active site . Analogous studies at pH 6.1, using the competitive inhibitor phosphate, confirmed the presence of one protected thiol per catalytic unit . Under denaturing conditions, 25.5 +/- 0.3 mol of thiol/mol of enzyme (Mr = 211, 800) were modified by DTDP.

APMIS, 1991 Jun, 99(6), 530 - 6
Characterization of beta-lactam-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca isolated in a neonatal intensive care unit; Jalakas-Pornull K et al.; The occurrence of Klebsiella oxytoca resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, aztreonam and cefuroxime in a neonatal intensive care unit, including two cases of septicemia, was shown to consist of a spread on three consecutive occasions caused by three different biochemical Klebsiella oxytoca phenotypes . All isolates, except six surface isolates from one infant belonging to phenotype 1, were sensitive to cefotaxime (MIC 0.5-4 mg/l) and ceftazidime (MIC 0.25-1 mg/l) . Isolates of phenotypes 1 and 2 produced a beta-lactamase with an isoelectric point of 5.5 and isolates of phenotype 3, a beta-lactamase with an isoelectric point of 7.9 . The beta-lactamases of all three phenotypes hydrolysed benzylpenicillin and more slowly cephalothin . All phenotype 1 isolates carried a 2.9 Md plasmid and most isolates also a 36 Md plasmid . All phenotype 2 isolates carried a 4.8 Md plasmid and one isolate also a 30 Md plasmid . The phenotype 3 isolates carried only one 85 Md plasmid.

Infect Immun, 1991 Jun, 59(6), 2043 - 50
Biosynthesis of Klebsiella K2 capsular polysaccharide in Escherichia coli HB101 requires the functions of rmpA and the chromosomal cps gene cluster of the virulent strain Klebsiella pneumoniae Chedid (O1:K2); Arakawa Y et al.; The genes determining the biosynthesis of type 2 (K2) capsular polysaccharide {3----beta Glc1,4----beta Man(1,3----beta GlcUA) 1,4----alpha Glc1----} of Klebsiella pneumoniae Chedid (O1:K2), which is highly virulent for mice, were cloned and introduced into Escherichia coli HB101 and into four noncapsulated mutants derived from K . pneumoniae reference strains of K1, K7, K9, and K28 . The recombinant plasmid pCPS7B06 carried 23 kb of a chromosomal DNA fragment of strain Chedid and encoded a part of the Klebsiella cps gene cluster . However, pCPS7B06 encoded enough genetic information for the production of Klebsiella K2 capsular polysaccharide on the cell surfaces of four noncapsulated mutants of K . pneumoniae . On the other hand, both pCPS7B06 and pROJ3 carrying the rmpA gene locus derived from a resident large plasmid of Chedid were required for the biosynthesis of Klebsiella K2 capsular polysaccharide on the cell surface of E . coli HB101 . The insertion inactivation analysis using Tn5 revealed that the cps gene cluster occupied more than 15 kb of the chromosome of Chedid . We conclude that rmpA, which has been known to enhance the biosynthesis of colanic acid in E . coli, is also involved in the biosynthesis of Klebsiella capsular polysaccharide in E . coli HB101.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Jun, 275(2), 233 - 40
Influence of cefpodoxime on selected immunological functions and bacterial pathogenicity factors in vitro; Schubert S et al.; The influence of a new oral cephalosporin cefpodoxime, on several interactions of the host-parasite relationship was investigated . Pretreatment of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PNG) with cefpodoxime at therapeutical dosage in vitro did not have a significant effect on chemotaxis and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence . On the other hand, human serum did not exert a considerable effect on the bactericidal activity of cefpodoxime on Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staph . aureus . Serum resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae was not altered after pretreatment with cefpodoxime 1/16 MIC (0.03 micrograms/ml) for 3 to 27 hours.

Can J Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 37(6), 425 - 9
Cloning and characterization of the nifA gene from Herbaspirillum seropedicae strain Z78; Souza EM et al.; A genomic library of Herbaspirillum seropedicae was constructed and screened for the nifA gene by complementation of a nifA mutant of Azospirillum brasilense (FP10) . A recombinant plasmid, pEMS1, capable of restoring acetylene reduction activity in the mutant FP10, was isolated and found to hybridize to the nifA gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae . The results suggest that nifA is involved in the regulation of nif genes in H . seropedicae.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jun 1, 65(1), 57 - 62
Novel transferable extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (SHV-6) from Klebsiella pneumoniae conferring selective resistance to ceftazidime; Arlet G et al.; A clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae sensu lato isolated from throat and a blood culture taken from a neutropenic patient treated for 2 weeks with ceftazidime and vancomycin was resistant to ceftazidime (MIC: 32 micrograms/ml) and moderately susceptible to aztreonam (MIC: 4 micrograms/ml) . The isolate contained a plasmid of 180 kb which, when transferred to Escherichia coli by conjugation, conferred resistance to ceftazidime and tetracycline . The transconjugant had decreased susceptibility to ceftazidime (128-fold) and aztreonam (8-fold) . Clavulanic acid and sulbactam each inhibited the resistance and clavulanic acid showed a synergistic effect when associated with ceftazidime and aztreonam . An extended-spectrum beta-lactamase with an isoelectric point of 7.6 was detected in the clinical isolates from blood and its transconjugant . This beta-lactamase showed similar substrate and inhibition profiles to SHV-1 . In particular it did not hydrolyse ceftazidime . Hybridization with an intragenic probe for SHV-3 indicates that this beta-lactamase is an SHV-type enzyme . We propose that this novel CAZ-type extended-spectrum beta-lactamase be named SHV-6.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 5(6), 1309 - 17
Cassette mutagenesis implicates a helix-turn-helix motif in promoter recognition by the novel RNA polymerase sigma factor sigma 54; Coppard JR et al.; Cassette mutagenesis has been used to study the role of a helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif in the novel RNA polymerase sigma factor sigma 54 of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Of the four residues which are predicted to be solvent-exposed in the second helix, the first (Glu-378) tolerated all substitutions, and some mutations of this residue increased expression from sigma 54-dependent promoters . Certain substitutions in the third exposed residue (Ser-382) produced a promoter-specific phenotype and all substitutions in the fourth residue (Arg-383) inactivated the protein, identifying this residue as being likely to be involved in base-specific interactions with the promoter . In vivo footprinting indicated that the inactive HTH mutants of sigma 54 were defective in interaction with both the -24 and -12 regions of the glnAp2 promoter.

Infect Immun, 1991 Jun, 59(6), 2006 - 11
Surface exposure of O1 serotype lipopolysaccharide in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains expressing different K antigens; Tomas JM et al.; Surface exposure of the O1 serotype lipopolysaccharide in encapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae strains belonging to different serotypes was examined by using the O1 antigen-specific bacteriophages FC3-1 and FC3-2 in conjunction with immunogold electron microscopy and enzyme immunoassays with specific antisera . Despite the presence of the capsular polysaccharide, the O1 antigen was exposed at the cell surface in strains producing K2, K7, K8, K12, K19, K21, K22, K34, K35, K42, K45, K55, K57, K62, K66, K69, and K70 capsular polysaccharides . However, in strains producing K1, K10, and K16 capsular polysaccharides, the O1 antigen was masked by the K antigen . These results suggest that, since the O1 antigen is surface exposed in many different strains of K . pneumoniae with different capsular serotypes and is also able to immunoprotect, its potential as a useful vaccine component should not be overlooked.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Jun, (6), 18 - 22
{The hemagglutinating activity of bacteria in the genus Klebsiella and the morphofunctional characteristics of their fimbriae}; Sorkin VM et al.; The hemagglutinating activity of 77 Klebsiella strains from the international collection, grown in a culture medium prepared on the basis of soy-bean flour enzymatic hydrolysate, was studied . These strains could be divided into four groups according to their capacity for synthesizing different types of hemagglutinins on their surface: 2 strains carried mannose-sensitive hemagglutinins, 18 strains had mannose-resistant K-type hemagglutinins, 48 strains exhibited the signs indicating the presence of both mannose-sensitive and mannose-resistant hemagglutinins, and 9 strains showed no hemagglutinating activity . The hemagglutinating activity of strains K-74, K-79, K-80, K-81 and K-82 was characterized . Of the reference strains under study, 22 strains were found to have mannose-resistant hemagglutinating activity with respect to fresh chick red blood cells . The occurrence of hemagglutinins in Klebsiella was shown to depend on the temperature of cultivation and the consistency of the culture medium . The formation of large-sized capsules in Klebsiella grown in the Werfel-Fergusson medium with a considerable content of saccharose was shown to cause the absorption of their fimbrial structures by the capsular substance and, as a consequence, the suppression of their hemagglutinating activity.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Jun, 18(2), 155 - 9
Nosocomial infections: cockroaches as possible vectors of drug-resistant Klebsiella; Fotedar R et al.; The possibility that hospital cockroaches may act as vectors of drug-resistant Klebsiella spp . was investigated during Nov 1985 to April 1989, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital . Klebsiella spp . (majority Klebsiella pneumoniae) were isolated from 28.3% of hospital cockroaches and 28.1% of infected wounds of patients . Most of Klebsiella isolates from patients (96.3%), and hospital cockroaches (85.9%) showed multiple drug resistance to four or more antimicrobials . Similar strains of Klebsiella spp . were encountered among patients and hospital cockroaches . These findings suggest that hospital cockroaches may act as vectors of drug-resistant Klebsiella spp . and may contribute to the epidemiology of nosocomial infections.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Jun, 18(2), 131 - 8
Re-use of enteral feeding tubes--a potential hazard to the patient? A study of the efficiency of a representative range of cleaning and disinfection procedures; Anderton A et al.; Some hospitals and manufacturers are now recommending that patients (particularly those on home enteral feeding) remove and re-insert their tubes on a daily basis . This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of a representative range of currently used cleaning procedures in removing bacteria from the lumina of these tubes . One thousand-ml portions of feed experimentally contaminated with 10(2)-10(3) Klebsiella aerogenes ml(-1) were perfused through three types of commonly used polyurethane enteral feeding tubes for 15 h . The tubes were then cleaned by a range of methods including rinsing them with sterile water, sterile water and detergent and/or disinfection with hypochlorite solution . A further 1000-ml sterile feed was then perfused through the tubes for 15 h and it was found that residual organisms in the tubes multiplied to yield levels of 10(6)-10(9) colony-forming units (cfu) ml(-1) in the feed collected from the distal ends of the tubes after 15 h . It is concluded that none of the cleaning methods tested can be recommended as being totally effective in removing bacteria from the lumina of contaminated tubes.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 May 15, 64(2-3), 217 - 20
The anaerobic utilisation of cyanide in the presence of sugars by microbial cultures can involve an abiotic process; Hope KM et al.; The degradation of cyanide under anaerobic conditions in the presence of a growing culture of a strain of Klebsiella planticola has been shown to be due to a chemical process dependent upon the presence of a reducing sugar in the medium . The conversion of cyanide to ammonia was independent of any biological factors under these conditions.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1991 May 11, 19(9), 2281 - 7
Influence of a mutation in the putative nucleotide binding site of the nitrogen regulatory protein NTRC on its positive control function; Austin S et al.; A mutation, serine 170 to alanine, in the proposed ATP binding site of the activator protein NTRC prevents transcriptional activation at sigma 54-dependent promoters both in vivo and in vitro . The rate of phosphorylation of the mutant protein by NTRB and the stability of mutant NTRC-phosphate were similar to those of wild-type NTRC . The phosphorylated mutant protein shows only a slight decrease in affinity (around 2-fold) for tandem NTRC binding sites in the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifL promoter suggesting that the mutation primarily influences the positive control function of NTRC . Moreover the mutant protein is trans dominant to the wild-type protein with respect to transcriptional activation at both the glnAp2 and nifL promoters . In vitro footprinting experiments reveal that the mutant protein is unable to catalyse isomerisation of closed promoter complexes between sigma 54-RNA polymerase and the nifL promoter to open promoter complexes . However, the mutant protein retains the ability to increase the occupancy of the -24, -12 region by sigma 54-RNA polymerase, forming closed complexes at the nifL promoter, which are not detectable in the absence of NTRC . These data support a model in which the activator influences the formation of closed complexes at the nifL promoter in addition to its role in catalysing open complex formation.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 May, 44(5), 498 - 506
Studies on cephalosporin antibiotics . III . Synthesis, antibacterial activity and oral absorption of new 3-(substituted-alkylthio)-7 beta-{(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2- (carboxymethoxyimino)acetamido}cephalosporins; Yokoo C et al.; The synthesis, antibacterial activity and oral absorption in rats of new 7 beta-{(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(carboxymethoxyimino)ace tamido} cephalosporins (1) having various substituted-alkylthio groups at the C-3 position of the cephem nucleus are described . Of these, the cephalosporins with a cyanomethylthio group (1d) and fluoroethylthio group (1p) at the C-3 position showed a potent in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as good oral absorption in rats . When administered orally to mice infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae, 1d had stronger protective effect than 1p . The structure-activity relationships of 1 are also presented.

Mol Gen Genet, 1991 May, 227(1), 86 - 90
Identification of a promoter dependent on NifA and sigma 54 upstream of nifH in Azospirillum lipoferum; Tripathi AK et al.; Southern hybridization experiments strongly indicate that the regulatory region of the Azospirillum lipoferum nifH gene is located on a cloned 1.1 kb BamHI-XhoI restriction fragment . By cloning this fragment into a promoter-probe plasmid in Escherichia coli, a promoter was identified oriented towards the nifH gene . Using a set of several bacterial strains and plasmids, both NifA and the alternative sigma factor, sigma 54, from Klebsiella pneumoniae were shown to be required for the induction of the assumed nifH promoter in this particular heterologous system . However, NtrC from K . pneumoniae did not stimulate this promoter . No other promoter activity was detected in the direction opposite to the identified promoter, indicating that the transcription of the adjacent nifJ gene cannot be initiated from the 1.1 kb BamHI-XhoI fragment . Thus, the genes nifH and nifJ in A . lipoferum cannot be oriented divergently, in contrast to the situation in several other nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Infect Immun, 1991 May, 59(5), 1673 - 82
Lectinophagocytosis of encapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae mediated by surface lectins of guinea pig alveolar macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages; Athamna A et al.; Macrophages express a mannose/N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectin which serves as a receptor for nonopsonic phagocytosis of mannose-coated particles . We have examined the binding to guinea pig alveolar macrophages in a serum-free medium of 16 Klebsiella pneumoniae serotypes and of the capsular polysaccharides isolated from 7 of these serotypes . Only five polysaccharides containing the repeating sequence Man alpha 2/3Man or L-Rha alpha 2/3-L-Rha bound to the macrophages . Of the 11 bacterial serotypes expressing such disaccharides in their capsular polysaccharides, 7 bound efficiently, 2 bound poorly, and 2 did not bind at all . No binding occurred with five serotypes lacking these disaccharides . Binding of the bacteria was inhibited by homologous and heterologous capsular polysaccharides that contain the disaccharide sequences, by mannan, and by (Man)25BSA (where BSA is bovine serum albumin) . Man alpha 2/3Man-containing oligosaccharides were potent inhibitors compared with monosaccharides . Binding was dependent on Ca2+, modulated by cultivating the macrophages on mannan-coated surfaces, and increased in human monocyte-derived macrophages compared with monocytes . The bulk of the bacteria bound to the macrophages was internalized and killed . The data taken together suggest that Klebsiella pneumoniae cells undergo lectinophagocytosis mediated by capsular disaccharides recognized by the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectin of macrophages . This may enhance clearance of the organisms from the serum-poor environment of the lung.

J Immunol, 1991 May 1, 146(9), 3160 - 4
Human monoclonal antibodies specific for capsular polysaccharides of Klebsiella recognize clusters of multiple serotypes; Lang AB et al.; We report the generation and the characterization of a set of human monoclonal antibodies (HmAb) specific for Gram-negative bacteria of Klebsiella pneumoniae . The eight human hybridomas secrete either IgM kappa, IgA1 kappa, or IgA2 kappa antibodies . One HmAb binds bacteria of only one serotype . Five HmAb recognize non-overlapping clusters of 2, 3, or 10 different serotypes . The remaining two HmAb both recognize three serotypes . Two serotypes are recognized by both HmAb, and in addition both HmAb bind one more nonidentical serotype . These results suggest that in man, epitopes are immunodominant, different from serotype-specific determinants detected by conventional rabbit antisera . Screening of clinical isolates revealed that the HmAb recognize not only representative typing strains but also most isolates of the corresponding serotype . In addition, most of the isolates that were non-typable by polyclonal antisera were recognized by one of the HmAb . Fine specificity analyses revealed that all HmAb are highly specific for the isolated capsular polysaccharides (CPS) of bacteria within the corresponding cluster of serotypes . However, the avidity of a HmAb for the different CPS can differ significantly . Taken together, our results suggest that the unequivocal interactions between HmAb and CPS offer the basis for an alternative, better defined classification system, and that passive immunization with a limited number of HmAb may provide a feasible strategy for the protection against the majority of fatal, nosocomial infections with multidrug-resistant strains of K . pneumoniae.

J Bacteriol, 1991 May, 173(9), 2993 - 9
Expression of regulatory nif genes in Rhodobacter capsulatus; Hubner P et al.; Translational fusions of the Escherichia coli lacZ gene to Rhodobacter capsulatus nif genes were constructed in order to determine the regulatory circuit of nif gene expression in R . capsulatus, a free-living photosynthetic diazotroph . The expression of nifH, nifA (copies I and II), and nifR4 was measured in different regulatory mutant strains under different physiological conditions . The expression of nifH and nifR4 (the analog of ntrA in Klebsiella pneumoniae) depends on the NIFR1/R2 system (the analog of the ntr system in K . pneumoniae), on NIFA, and on NIFR4 . The expression of both copies of nifA is regulated by the NIFR1/R2 system and is modulated by the N source of the medium under anaerobic photosynthetic growth conditions . In the presence of ammonia or oxygen, moderate expression of nifA was detectable, whereas nifH and nifR4 were not expressed under these conditions . The implications for the regulatory circuit of nif gene expression in R . capsulatus are discussed and compared with the situation in K . pneumoniae, another free-living diazotroph.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1991 May, 39(5), 353 - 60
{Comparative activities of 15 beta-lactam antibiotics against 590 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae according to the production of beta-lactamase}; Bercion R et al.; In October 1988, all non repetitive strains of K . pneumoniae isolated in 17 hospitals have been studied . Among these 590 strains: 451 (76%) only produce the specific beta-lactamase of the species SHV-1 (pI 7,7) or SHV-1 type (pI 7,1), while 74 (12.5%) produce a TEM-1 or TEM-2 type beta-lactamase, and 65 (11%) an extended broad spectrum beta-lactamase: 22 CTX-1, 5 SHV-2, 4 SHV-3, 26 SHV-4, 8 SHV-5 . The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the following antibiotics were performed by a liquid micro dilution technic: amoxicillin (AMX), amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (CL), 5 mg/l, ticarcillin (TIC), piperacillin (PIP), cefazolin (CEZ), cefamandole (CFM), cefoperazone (CFP), cefotaxime (CTX), cefotaxime + clavulanic acid 5 mg/l, cefotaxime + sulbactam (SUL) 5 mg/l, cefpirome (CPI), ceftazidime (CAZ), azthreonam (AZT), latamoxef (MOX), cefoxitin (FOX), cefotetan (CTT), temocillin (TMO), imipenem (IMI) . The "wild" strains with SHV-1 beta-lactamase are resistant to AMX and have a decreased susceptibility to TIC and PIP, but are susceptible to other antibiotics . The TEM producing strains are more resistant to PIP and TIC, have a decreased susceptibility to CEZ and CFM but are susceptible to other antibiotics . For the extended broad-spectrum beta-lactamase producing strains, the MIC of penicillin antibiotics (AMX, TIC, PIP) are very high and also the MIC of CEZ, CFM and CFP . The MIC of CTX are higher for CTX-1 or SHV-4 producing strains, than for SHV-2, SHV-3, or SHV-5 producing strains . The combination with CL is more efficacious than the one with SUL to reduce the MIC of CTX in susceptibility area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 May, 35(5), 1001 - 3
High-level resistance to cefotaxime and ceftazidime in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Cleveland, Ohio; Thomson KS et al.; Two isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae possessing both TEM-1 and SHV-2 beta-lactamases were isolated from patients at the Cleveland Clinic in 1988 . The beta-lactamases were discriminated and identified by using substrate hydrolysis data and an isoelectric focusing procedure in which the gel was overlaid with beta-lactamase inhibitors.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 May, 18(1), 5 - 13
A case-control study of an outbreak of infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae strains producing CTX-1 (TEM-3) beta-lactamase; De Champs C et al.; In July 1984 Klebsiella pneumoniae producing beta-lactamase CTX-1(TEM-3) (K . pneumoniae-CTX-1) spread from an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) throughout the hospitals of Clermont-Ferrand, France, and were isolated in four other hospitals of the region . A retrospective case control study was conducted in the ICU to characterize the risk factors for nosocomial infection with this organism . The cases were the 74 patients who had had K . pneumoniae-CTX-1 isolated from one or more clinical samples between July 1984 and December 1987 . They were compared with 74 controls for host risk factors, underlying disease, procedures and antibiotic treatment . The monthly incidence of infection/colonization varied from 0% to 14.6% . The mortality rate attributable to this organism was 0.26% during the study period . The duration of stay of cases was longer than that of controls . More cases than controls had ventilatory assistance . However, the predominant risk factor was emergency abdominal surgery . Before K . pneumoniae-CTX-1 was isolated, cases received quinolones and trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole more often than controls . However, only 15% of cases had received third generation cephalosporins while at the onset of K . pneumoniae-CTX-1 infection colonization, 32 patients were no longer being given antibiotics . The use of antibiotic prophylaxis by, for example, selective digestive tract decontamination should be considered in patients at high risk of infection.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1991 Apr 29, 1077(3), 299 - 307
Purification and characterization of a catalase-peroxidase and a typical catalase from the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae; Hochman A et al.; The bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae synthesizes three different types of catalase: a catalase-peroxidase, a typical catalase and an atypical catalase, designated KpCP, KpT and KpA, respectively (Goldberg, I . and Hochman, A . (1989) Arch . Biochem . Biophys . 268, 124-128) . KpCP, but not the other two enzymes, in addition to the catalatic activity, catalyzes peroxidatic activities with artificial electron donors, as well as with NADH and NADPH . Both KpCP and KpT are tetramers, with heme IX as a prosthetic group, and they show a typical high-spin absorption spectrum which is converted to low-spin when a cyanide complex is formed . The addition of dithionite to KpCP causes a shift in the absorption maxima typical of ferrous heme IX . KpCP has a pH optimum of 6.3 for the catalatic activity and 5.2-5.7 for the peroxidatic activity, and relatively low 'Km' values: 6.5 mM and 0.65 H2O2 for the catalatic and peroxidatic activities, respectively . The activity of the catalase-peroxidase is inhibited by azide and cyanide, but not by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole . KpT has wide pH optimum: 5-10.5 and a 'Km' of 50 mM H2O2, it is inhibited by incubation with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and by the acidic forms of cyanide and azide . A significant distinction between the typical catalase and the catalase-peroxidase is the stability of their proteins: KpT is more stable than KpCP to H2O2, temperature, pH and urea.

Sci Total Environ, 1991 Apr 15, 103(2-3), 185 - 98
Interactions of heavy metals with organisms and proteins; Goncalves ML et al.; Voltammetric techniques {differential pulse polarography (DPP) and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV)} have been used to determine, at various pH, conditional differential functions and average equilibrium constants of copper, zinc and lead with the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Methanosarcine, the alga Selenastrum capricornutum Printz and the proteins horse-heart cytochrome C and the soluble extract of sulphate-reducing bacteria . The buffer intensity in terms of metal ion and complexing capacity has also been determined . From a comparison of the results a better insight into the groups involved has been obtained.

J Clin Pathol, 1991 Apr, 44(4), 297 - 9
Influenza A and the virus associated haemophagocytic syndrome: cluster of three cases in children with acute leukaemia; Potter MN et al.; At the height of the United Kingdom influenza A epidemic in December 1989, three children receiving treatment for non-T cell acute leukaemia developed pancytopenia with concomitant influenza A infection . Bone marrow histology showed prominent marrow erythrophagocytosis by morphologically mature histiocytes, consistent with the picture of virus associated haemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) . In two cases there was an initial spontaneous recovery, though recurrence of VAHS developed in one case in association with a different viral infection (cytomegalovirus) following autologous bone marrow transplantation . The third child died from cardiorespiratory failure secondary to infection with influenza A and Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis . It is suggested that influenza A should be added to the list of infective causative agents.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Apr, 275(1), 73 - 8
Isolation of Klebsiella terrigena from human feces: biochemical reactions, capsule types, and antibiotic sensitivity; Podschun R; Colonization of the human intestinal tract by a newly proposed species, K . terrigena, was investigated . 5377 different stool specimens from healthy persons (food handlers) yielded 50 isolates (0.9%) . Biochemically, low frequencies in the degradation of urea, dulcitol, and utilization of citrate at 37 degrees C were found when compared to K . pneumoniae . At 30 degrees C, urea hydrolysis was observed twice as often as at 37 degrees C . Apart from ampicillin, K . terrigena was susceptible to 12 other antimicrobial drugs tested . Multiple drug resistance was rare, few isolates being resistant against 2-4 antibiotic agents . Capsule typing revealed 30 different serotypes, K 70 and K 14 were the most frequent . Six strains expressed capsule types K 2 and K 5, which have been reported to be associated with virulence in K . pneumoniae . A possible pathogenic role of K . terrigena is discussed.

Can J Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 37(4), 276 - 80
Biosynthesis of isochorismate in Klebsiella pneumoniae: origin of O-2; Zamir LO et al.; The shikimate metabolites are key precursors to a large number of natural products, including aromatic amino acids . Chorismic acid is an important branch point in the biosynthetic pathway to aromatic amino acids . Chorismic acid is also unique among natural products since it is the only compound known to undergo an enzymatic Claisen rearrangement . A metabolite of chorismic acid, isochorismic acid, first observed in Aerobacter aerogenes differs in its chemical structure by the location of the hydroxyl group and the double bonds . Isochorismic acid is a precursor to a growing number of shikimate-derived metabolites . Isochorismic acid has also been postulated to be an intermediate of m-carboxyaromatic amino acids, implying another enzymatic Claisen rearrangement . In this publication, we have isolated isochorismate synthase and found that on lyophilization the enzyme is stable for at least 6 months at -20 degrees C . Incubation of chorismate with this preparation in water enriched with 18O led to incorporation of one atom of 18O as proven from the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of the HPLC purified derived isochorismate.

Can J Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 37(4), 270 - 5
Influence of environmental conditions on infection of Klebsiella pneumoniae by two different types of bacteriophages; Benedi VJ et al.; The adsorption and efficiency of plating of bacteriophages FC3-1 and FC3-9 on Klebsiella pneumoniae C3 (serotype O1:K66) cells grown at different pHs and temperatures were quantitated . Bacteriophage FC3-1, with lipopolysaccharide as its bacterial receptor, showed a large decrease in efficiency of plating on bacteria grown at low pH or low temperature . Under the same conditions, no significant decrease in efficiency of plating was found for bacteriophage FC3-9, a phage requiring capsule and lipopolysaccharide for its adsorption and carrying capsule-depolymerizing activity . We demonstrate that K . pneumoniae C3 cells grown at low pH or low temperature have less lipopolysaccharide exposed on their surface . We conclude that this is why lipopolysaccharide-specific phage FC3-1 less efficiently infects bacterial cells grown under those conditions . We propose that bacteriophage FC3-9 efficiently infects bacterial cells grown at low pH or low temperature because its enzymatic activity on the capsule makes lipopolysaccharide available to this phage.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Apr, 44(4), 435 - 40
Purification and properties of a chromosomal beta-lactamase from Klebsiella oxytoca; Inoue M et al.; A beta-lactamase was purified from Klebsiella oxytoca strain GN10650 . The enzyme was chromosomally-mediated and gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Its pI was 5.34 and its MW was approximately 27,000 . The optimal pH and temperature were about 7.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively . The specific activity of the enzyme was 1,207 units per mg of protein for hydrolysis of penicillins and cephalosporins, including cefuroxime, cefotaxime, and aztreonam . The enzyme activity was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, iodine, ferrous ion, and by clavulanic acid . Rabbit antibodies raised against the purified K . oxytoca enzyme showed no cross-reactivity in neutralization tests with beta-lactamases produced by other species of Gram-negative bacteria.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Apr, (4), 5 - 8
{The efficacy of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteriophage in the therapy of experimental Klebsiella infection}; Bogovazova GG et al.; The effectiveness of specific phage therapy was studied on Klebsiella experimental sepsis in noninbred white mice, caused by the intraperitoneal injection of K . pneumoniae highly virulent strain K2 5055 into the animals . For treatment, Klebsiella polyvalent bacteriophage administered on day 2 after the infection of the animals with Klebsiella was used . The study revealed that bacteriophage could be detected in the blood and internal organs of the animals within 24 hours irrespective of the route of its administration: intraperitoneal, intravenous or intranasal . The bacteriophage preparation, introduced intraperitoneally, was shown to be effective in the treatment of generalized Klebsiella infection . One daily intraperitoneal injection of Klebsiella bacteriophage for 15-20 days proved to be the optimum scheme of treatment . In contrast to chemotherapeutic preparations, bacteriophages had no effect on normal microflora and did not aggravate dysbiotic disturbances . For this reason, bacteriophages may become one of alternative antimicrobial remedies, selectively affecting infective agents.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1991 Apr, 28(2), 107 - 15
Antibodies to iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of coliform bacteria isolated from bovine intramammary infections; Todhunter DA et al.; Expression of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins (OMP) by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae initially isolated from bovine intramammary infections (IMI) was investigated . Additionally, the presence of antibodies in bovine serum and mammary secretion directed against the iron-regulated OMP was examined . Outer membrane proteins were separated by sodium-dodecyl polyacrylamide electrophoresis . Detection of immunoglobulin G directed against OMP was by immunoblotting . All Gram-negative bacteria expressed iron-regulated OMP when grown in skim milk or trypticase soy broth plus iron chelator, alpha-alpha'-dipyridyl . Immunoglobulin G directed against the iron-regulated OMP, as well as the major OMP and several other proteins, was detected in serum and milk of lactating cows with or without Gram-negative bacterial IMI . Antibody against the iron-regulated OMP was detected also in colostrum, secretion from the involuted gland, and in newborn calf serum 4 days after ingesting colostrum.

J Vasc Surg, 1991 Apr, 13(4), 513 - 5
Successful treatment of infected thoracoabdominal aortic graft by percutaneous catheter drainage; Matley PJ et al.; A large perigraft abscess infected with Klebsiella sp . developed around a woven Dacron prosthesis inserted into a patient at high-risk with a leaking thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm . Percutaneous insertion of a sump drainage catheter under ultrasound guidance accompanied by local and systemic antibiotic therapy was the only reasonable management option . Two years later the patient remains well with no evidence of sepsis on clinical examination, hematologic studies, computerized tomography or indium 111 labeled autologous leucocyte imaging . This technique may be successful in selected high-risk situations.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1991 Apr, 25(2), 178 - 86
{E . coli strains producing heat labile enterotoxin on Vero cells}; Caglayan E et al.; In this study heat-labile toxin (LT) producing strains of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) have been investigated by using Vero cell-line, which were isolated predominantly from the cultures of stool samples of 100 infants, aged between 0-2, with diarrhea . Among these strains 3% were found as toxin producers . These 3 strains were also detected as toxin producers and serotyped as O?:H12,LT(+); O?:H53,LT(-); (0126):H27,(LT)(-) at Statens Serum Institute (Denmark) International Escherichia and Klebsiella Centre.

J Hosp Infect, 1991 Apr, 17(4), 271 - 8
Selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract as an infection control measure; Taylor ME et al.; An outbreak caused by a Klebsiella aerogenes resistant to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ampicillin and piperacillin and sensitive to aminoglycosides, imipenem and temocillin occurred in a teaching hospital's busy multi-disciplinary Intensive Care Unit over a 3-month period . Four patients had bacteraemia and a further four were colonized . Traditional infection control measures failed to eradicate the outbreak . The introduction of a selective gastrointestinal decontamination regimen consisting of tobramycin, amphotericin and colistin as a gel to the oropharynx, nose and rectum and a suspension via a nasogastric tube resulted in rapid disappearance of the outbreak strain with no new isolates being detected clinically or in surveillance specimens over an 8-week period.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 5(4), 941 - 50
A sugar-specific porin, ScrY, is involved in sucrose uptake in enteric bacteria; Schmid K et al.; During the molecular analysis of a plasmid-coded sucrose metabolic pathway of enteric bacteria, a gene, scrY, was found whose product, ScrY, had all the properties of a bacterial porin (Schmid et al., 1988) . Loss of this protein (Mr 58 kDa), localized in the outer membrane, led, as shown here, to an increase in the apparent Km for sucrose transport in whole cells from 10 microM in wild-type cells to 300 microM in mutant cells . This contrasts with the Km for sucrose phosphorylation as measured in membrane vesicles from mutant and wild-type cells, which remained unchanged at about 10 microM, and reflects the activity of the sucrose-specific Enzymell of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent carbohydrate:phosphotransferase system (PTS) responsible for uptake through the inner membrane . Furthermore, the presence of ScrY restored growth on maltodextrins in cells devoid of LamB, thus complementing the lack of this maltoporin . The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA sequence was determined for the plasmid-coded and the ScrY porin coded in the chromosome of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Both show high identity (86%) to each other, and to the channel domain of LamB, further corroborating the conclusion that they constitute porins.

J Mol Biol, 1991 Mar 20, 218(2), 323 - 34
Two MalT binding sites in direct repeat . A structural motif involved in the activation of all the promoters of the maltose regulons in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae; Vidal-Ingigliardi D et al.; The maltose regulons of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are very similar, comprising three operons that code for the proteins required for the utilization of maltodextrins as a carbon source . The maltose regulon of K . pneumoniae contains two additional operons, pulAB and pulC-O, which allow the use of starch as a carbon source . The promoters of all of these operons are strictly controlled by the activator protein MalT . In this paper, we report a detailed study of the structure and the functional role of the MalT binding sites located in the adjacent and divergent pulAp and pulCp promoters . By biochemical and genetic experiments, we show that the 134 base-pair region separating the transcription start sites of pulAp and pulCp contains four MalT binding sites, which leads us to propose a revised consensus for the asymmetrical nucleotide sequence recognized by MalT (5'-GGGGAT/GGAGG) . MalT binds co-operatively to these four sites, contacting the major groove of the DNA helix . The genetic dissection of the pulAp-pulCp region shows that the promoters partially overlap: the two central MalT binding sites, which are in direct repeat, are required for the activation of both promoters . We further show that an analogous pair of directly repeated MalT binding sites is also involved in the activation of two other promoters of the regulon, malEp and malKp . This study, which confirms the striking structural diversity of the promoters of the maltose regulon, suggests that the motif formed by two MalT binding sites in direct repeat is a recurrent feature of these promoters and plays a crucial role in their activation.

Anal Biochem, 1991 Mar 2, 193(2), 292 - 8
Selective removal of molybdenum traces from growth media of N2-fixing bacteria; Schneider K et al.; A new method for the selective removal of traces of molybdenum from growth media of N2-fixing bacteria (Rhodobacter capsulatus and Klebsiella pneumoniae) was developed . This method is based on the filtration of nutrient solutions through a layer of activated carbon (pulverized charcoal) . The adsorption of Mo (molybdate) to activated carbon was optimal if a charcoal suspension (50 g/liter) was degassed by boiling before use and if the pH of the solutions, which had to be purified, was adjusted to values between 1.5 and 4 . In this pH region no or only negligible amounts of other metal ions were adsorbed . The activated carbon method was compared with other Mo-eliminating procedures, including 8-hydroxyquinoline/dichloromethane extraction, Chelex 100 chromatography, and treatment with Mo-starved Azotobacter vinelandii cells . The activated carbon filtration appeared to be the most effective, specific, and rapid method . Whereas the untreated Rhodobacter growth medium was contaminated with 1.2 ppb Mo, as analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the activated carbon-treated medium was below the ICP-MS detection limit (less than 0.05 ppb) . A similarly effective removal of Mo impurities was obtained by the Azotobacter treatment . Even at low optical densities (2-5 at 436 nm) Mo traces were removed very rapidly within 10-15 min . However, because the Mo uptake/Mo adsorption capacity of A . vinelandii depended on freshly cultivated cells and on the growth phase at which the cells were harvested, this microbiological method was generally more time-consuming and less reproducible than the activated carbon method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Mar, 35(3), 417 - 22
Comparison of the effects of aztreonam and tigemonam against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in vitro and in vivo; van Ogtrop ML et al.; A study was performed to investigate the pharmacodynamics of aztreonam and tigemonam against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in vitro and in vivo . The in vitro concentration-effect relationships were determined in short-term growth experiments . The in vivo dose-effect relationships were determined in an experimental thigh muscle infection in irradiated mice . In this model, E . coli was injected into one thigh muscle and K . pneumoniae was injected into the other . Throughout these experiments aztreonam was administered subcutaneously and tigemonam was administered orally . For analysis of the antibacterial pharmacodynamics, the following parameters were determined: the maximum effect as a parameter for efficacy, the 50% effective concentration (or dose) as a parameter for potency, and the slope of the concentration-effect relationship . To assess the relationship between the concentration of the antibiotic and the antibacterial effect in vivo, the pharmacokinetics of the two drugs in the plasma of mice were determined as well . The maximum in vitro and in vivo effects of aztreonam and tigemonam against both bacteria did not differ substantially . However, both drugs killed E . coli more effectively than K . pneumoniae, indicating that the maximum in vitro effect of these drugs against E . coli was higher than that against K . pneumoniae . The maximum in vivo effect of both drugs against E . coli was similar to that against K . pneumoniae . Furthermore, in vitro aztreonam was about twice as potent as tigemonam, but in vivo the reverse was the case . These findings were explained by pharmacokinetic differences between subcutaneously administered aztreonam and orally administered tigemonam, because concentrations of tigemonam in plasma remained at microbiologically active concentrations longer than those of aztreonam did.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Mar, 27(3), 303 - 10
Antimicrobial effect of clindamycin in combination with aztreonam or aminoglycosides against Klebsiella spp; Baltch AL et al.; The antimicrobial effect of clindamycin combined with aztreonam or an aminoglycoside (gentamicin, tobramycin or amikacin) was studied against 84 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 18 strains of K . oxytoca with an agar dilution technique . Clindamycin concentrations of 1-20 mg/l and an inoculum of 10(4) cuf/spot were used . Anaerobic incubation of agar plates was associated with an increase in the MIC of aminoglycosides and no change or a decrease in the MIC of aztreonam . Lower concentrations of clindamycin (1-2 mg/l) were associated with a decrease in the MIC of aztreonam for 18% and an increase in the MIC of aminoglycosides for between 7% and 44% of the strains, depending upon the precise concentration used . However, higher concentrations of clindamycin (10-20 mg/l) were associated with a decrease in the MIC of aztreonam for between 36 and 87% and an increase in the MIC of aminoglycosides for between 13 and 64% of the isolates . These observations could be important when treatment plans for mixed aerobic/anaerobic infections including mixed Klebsiella spp . are considered.

J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Mar, 137 ( Pt 3), 569 - 78
Molecular characterization of a new plasmid-encoded SHV-type beta-lactamase (SHV-2 variant) conferring high-level cefotaxime resistance upon Klebsiella pneumoniae; Podbielski A et al.; Between 1986 and 1988, multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains exhibiting high-level cefotaxime resistance were isolated from patient specimens particularly of the intensive care units of the Aachen Technical University Hospital . The resistance gene responsible was shown to be encoded on a conjugative 66 kb plasmid designated pZMP1 . The MIC values for cefotaxime of the original isolates and the transconjugants were greater than 128 mg l-1 and 64 mg l-1, respectively . Isoelectric focusing of protein preparations from the transconjugants showed a beta-lactamase with a pI of 7.6 . A 3.6 kb BamHI fragment containing the beta-lactamase gene was cloned into pLG339 resulting in the recombinant plasmid pZMP1-1 . A restriction map of the cloned insert was established and PstI subfragments of the insert were further subcloned into pBGS18 . The nucleotide sequence of the complete 3.6 kb fragment was determined . Within 3663 bp an open reading frame of 858 kb was found to show 99% homology to the SHV-2 and -3 nucleotide sequences . The deduced amino acid sequence differed in one and two positions, respectively, from these established SHV enzymes . The 3' noncoding sequence exhibited nearly perfect homology to that of SHV-2, but the 5' upstream sequence showed homology of less than 50% to the corresponding SHV-2 sequence, indicating an altered promoter region of the variant SHV-enzyme . Kinetic analysis of the beta-lactamase revealed a 50-100% elevated hydrolytic effectivity on cefotaxime in comparison to other SHV enzymes . Cefoxitin, ceftazidime, aztreonam and imipenem were not hydrolysed by the enzyme . The variant enzyme was inhibited by commonly available beta-lactamase inhibitors . Clavulanic acid had the highest affinity for the enzyme and the greatest effectivity in blocking its action . Based on the genetic and kinetic data we propose to classify the enzyme as a new variant beta-lactamase of the SHV-type and name it SHV-2a.

South Med J, 1991 Mar, 84(3), 299 - 306
Community-acquired pulmonary infections in a public municipal hospital in the 1980s; Carpenter JL et al.; The relative and absolute incidences of community-acquired bacterial and tuberculous pulmonary infections, in patients admitted to a public municipal hospital, and the clinical and radiographic characteristics of these infections were retrospectively determined for the first time in 20 years . The data were compared to those previously reported in the literature . Such data were also specifically determined for alcoholics and compared to those found in nonalcoholics . The absolute numbers of infections due to pneumococci and anaerobes, and to tuberculosis, were not dissimilar to those reported in the literature, even though relatively few hemophilus infections were documented . The lack of Klebsiella sp infections was remarkable but not unexpected . Alcoholic patients had significantly higher rates of tuberculosis, cavitary disease, lung disease presumably due to anaerobes, and blood-culture-positive pneumonia . The relative concordance of our results for bacterial and tuberculous infections with those predicted from the published literature was striking . The high frequency of tuberculosis in our patients was particularly striking at a time when the incidence of tuberculosis nationwide, in patients without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, has declined significantly.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Mar, 173(5), 1738 - 47
RcsA, an unstable positive regulator of capsular polysaccharide synthesis; Stout V et al.; RcsA is an unstable positive regulator required for the synthesis of colanic acid capsular polysaccharide in Escherichia coli . Degradation of the RcsA protein in vivo depends on the ATP-dependent Lon protease . DNA sequence analysis of the rcsA gene reveals a single open reading frame for a 23,500-Da highly basic protein (pI = 9.9), consistent with the observed size of the purified subunit of RcsA . The DNA and protein sequences are highly homologous to the rcsA gene and protein from Klebsiella pneumoniae and other species . The carboxy-terminal region of RcsA contains a possible helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif that resembles sequences found at the carboxy terminus of RcsB, another positive regulator of capsule synthesis, and in several other transcriptional regulators including members of the LuxR family . rcsA62, a mutation in rcsA that leads to increased capsule synthesis, encodes a protein designated RcsA*, which differs from wild-type RcsA only in the replacement of Met-145 by valine . The RcsA* protein is subject to Lon-dependent degradation . The stability of wild-type RcsA in vivo is increased by multicopy RcsB . Conversely, RcsA is degraded more rapidly in rcsB mutant hosts than in wild-type hosts . These results suggest that RcsA and RcsB interact in vivo and are consistent with genetic experiments that indicate an interaction between RcsA and RcsB . Based on these experiments, we propose a model for capsule regulation in which RcsA interacts directly with RcsB to promote transcription of the genes for capsule synthesis.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Mar 1, 62(2-3), 121 - 5
Cloning of nitrogenase structural genes from the obligate methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath); Oakley CJ et al.; Southern hybridization techniques were used to examine the DNA homologies between the three nitrogenase structural genes nifH, nifD and nifK of Klebsiella pneumoniae and DNA from the obligate methane oxidizing bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) . The high degree of homology between methanotroph DNA sequences and the Klebsiella nifH and nifD genes was used to isolate and clone the corresponding Methylococcus nifH and nifD genes . Subsequent restriction analysis revealed that all three nif structural genes were contiguous in the Methylococcus genome in the order nifH, nifD and nifK, as found for the majority of other diazotrophs.

Z Rheumatol, 1991 Mar-Apr, 50(2), 65 - 73
{New pathogenetic aspects of ankylosing spondylitis}; Schmidt KL; Ankylosing spondylitis is one of the oldest diseases in humans; however, it is still one of the most fascinating and mysterious in human pathology . The unusual combination of both fundamental pathological processes: inflammation and ossification (which are mostly independent in respect to time and place) is unique . Until 1973, ankylosing spondylitis did not attract much immunological research . After the detection of an association between HLA B27 and the disease, clinical and immunological research was stimulated . It was supposed that HLA B27 may be a pathogenic factor . Meanwhile, it has become well known that HLA B27 itself is not required for development of the disease; however, discovery of immunological cross-reactivity between HLA B27 and some Klebsiella antigens inspired pathogenic considerations . It is discussed that the structural similarities between enteric bacteria and HLA B27 induce autoantibodies, or that HLA B27 plays a role in antigen recognition . Possibly, HLA B27 may also act as a receptor for infectious agents and their products . Fascinating, but controversely discussed is the hypothesis that bacterial products modify the B27 molecule and, in this way, trigger the disease . All present theories about pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis are unsatisfactory, because many important questions cannot be answered . There are no explanations for the unusual affinity of possible pathogenic immune reactions to the spine and other organs, the induction of ossification, the merging of cartilage, or the development of sacroilitis . Especially, we do not know the important bridge (if one exists) between inflammation and ossification . The typical ossification of the spine is of dramatic consequence for the patient in respect to function and mobility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Eur Respir J, 1991 Mar, 4(3), 340 - 6
Effect of cytostatic agents on the number of alveolar phagocytes and the efficacy of ceftriaxone in an experimental murine lung infection; Calame W et al.; Mice made monocytopenic and granulocytopenic by cyclophosphamide or monocytopenic by etoposide were infected by exposure to an aerosol containing Klebsiella pneumoniae . Eighteen hours later ceftriaxone was administered and three hours after that the experiment was ended . At the time of infection and at 18 and 21 h the numbers of alveolar macrophages and granulocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were significantly lower in the cyclophosphamide-pretreated animals than in the controls . Furthermore, outgrowth of K . pneumoniae in the lungs was significantly stronger in cyclophosphamide-pretreated mice and a fourfold higher dose of ceftriaxone was needed to obtain the same antibacterial effect as in the controls . In the etoposide-pretreated mice the number of alveolar macrophages in BAL was not significantly lower than that in the controls, but the number of granulocytes was . Compared with the controls, there was no significant difference in the number of K . pneumoniae in the lungs, and the efficacy of ceftriaxone did not differ either.

J Rheumatol, 1991 Mar, 18(3), 384 - 8
No conclusive evidence of an epidemiological relation between Klebsiella and ankylosing spondylitis; van Kregten E et al.; Fifty-six patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 87 healthy controls were screened for Klebsiella strains in their stools using a new highly sensitive culture medium . The presence of Klebsiella strains in the patient group was compared with activity of the disease . In a dynamic study changes in Klebsiella quantity over a period of 3 months were compared with changes in disease activity over the same period . The patient and control group showed similar percentages of Klebsiella carriage . In the patient group no temporal relation could be found between activity of the disease and the presence of Klebsiella in the intestinal tract.

J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Mar, 137 ( Pt 3), 621 - 8
Catabolism of 3- and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid by Klebsiella pneumoniae; Martin M et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae catabolizes both 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid via meta-cleavage of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, ultimately yielding pyruvate and succinate . The organism can synthesize two hydroxylases catalysing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid formation, which differ in substrate specificity, cofactor requirement, kinetics and regulation . Five enzymes sequentially involved in the catabolism of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid are encoded on a 7 kbp fragment of the K . pneumoniae chromosome that has been isolated in a recombinant plasmid.

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 1991 Mar-Apr, 19(2), 58 - 62
Immunostimulation of neutrophil phagocytic function by RU41740 (Biostim) in elderly subjects; Minonzio F et al.; On this randomized, double-blind trial we investigated the effect of RU41740, a glycoprotein extracted from Klebsiella pneumoniae, on human neutrophil function after oral administration to elderly subjects with a previously demonstrated phagocytic defect . Six subjects were given RU41740 orally at a daily dose of 2 mg for one week the first month and of 1 mg for one week the second month, while six subjects received placebo . Already after the first week of treatment with RU41740 (T1) and more evidently 3 weeks after the last administration of the first course of therapy (T2), a significant improvement of the neutrophil phagocytic capacity was observed; at the time T2, as well as at the end of the second course of therapy (T3), the phagocytic capacity was completely restored with no differences between control and aged subjects . Similar results were obtained in the chemiluminescence assays . As expected, placebo had no significant effect on neutrophil functions . No significant differences were observed between the two group of elderly subjects for total or differential leukocyte number . These results suggest that RU41740 exerts, almost in part, its clinical effect, i.e . the prevention of recurrent infections, by stimulating blood neutrophil phagocytic function.

Zentralbl Veterinarmed A, 1991 Mar, 38(2), 99 - 106
The combined use of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors in Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced bovine mastitis; Rose DM et al.; The effect of combined administration of flunixin meglumine (FM) and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) on milk prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) concentrations, and inflammatory indicators of bovine mastitis was examined . Mastitis was induced in six Holstein cows by the inoculation of Klebsiella pneumoniae via the teat canal . Four cows were intravenously treated with FM (1.1 mg/kg) and NDGA (10 mg/kg) 1 hour prior to bacterial inoculation and again at post inoculation hour (PIH) 11 . Two control cows were intravenously treated with equivalent volume doses of sterile isotonic saline solution at the same post inoculation time points . Combined use of FM and NDGA was effective in reducing elevations in milk PGF2 alpha levels and slightly effective in reducing elevations in milk LTB4 levels in the mastitic cows . Elevations in milk bovine serum albumin (BSA) levels were partially reduced during the early post inoculation time period in the FM and NDGA treated cows as compared to the saline treated control cows . Milk somatic cell counts from inoculated quarters were not significantly altered by FM and NDGA treatment . Elevations in rectal temperature were not reduced by FM and NDGA treatment, but clinical signs of quarter inflammation (warmth and swelling) were reduced by FM and NDGA treatment.

Mol Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 5(2), 343 - 52
The general protein-export pathway is directly required for extracellular pullulanase secretion in Escherichia coli K12; Pugsley AP et al.; Pullulanase is an extracellular, cell surface-anchored lipoprotein produced by Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the genus Klebsiella . Its correct localization in recombinant Escherichia coli requires the products of 14 genes that are linked to the enzyme structural gene in the Klebsiella chromosome . In addition, we show here that six sec genes (secA, secB, secD, secE, secF and secY) are all required for processing of the prepullulanase signal peptide to occur . This implies that pullulanase crosses the cytoplasmic membrane via the general export pathway of which the sec gene products are essential components . Removal or drastic alteration of the prepullulanase signal peptide cause the enzyme to remain cytoplasmic . We propose that pullulanase secretion occurs in two steps, the first of which is common to all signal peptide-bearing precursors of exported and secreted proteins, whereas the second is specifically involved in translocating pullulanase to the cell surface.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Feb, 173(3), 1363 - 6
Cloning and comparison of the DNA encoding ammelide aminohydrolase and cyanuric acid amidohydrolase from three s-triazine-degrading bacterial strains; Eaton RW et al.; DNA encoding the catabolism of the s-triazines ammelide and cyanuric acid was cloned from Pseudomonas sp . strain NRRLB-12228 and Klebsiella pneumoniae 99 with, as a probe, a 4.6-kb PstI fragment from a third strain, Pseudomonas sp . strain NRRLB-12227, which also encodes these activities . In strains NRRLB-12228 and 99 the ammelide aminohydrolase (trzC) and cyanuric acid amidohydrolase (trzD) genes are located on identical 4.6-kb PstI fragments which are part of a 12.4-kb DNA segment present in both strains . Strain NRRLB-12227 also carries this 12.4-kb DNA segment, except that a DNA segment of 0.8 to 1.85 kb encoding a third enzyme, ammeline aminohydrolase (trzB), has been inserted next to the ammelide aminohydrolase gene with the accompanying deletion of 1.1 to 2.15 kb of DNA . In addition, the s-triazine catabolic genes are flanked in strain NRRLB-12227 by apparently identical 2.2-kb segments that are not present in the other two strains and that seem to cause rearrangements in adjacent DNA.

South Med J, 1991 Feb, 84(2), 200 - 4
Klebsiella pneumonia in the modern era: clinicoradiographic correlations; Korvick JA et al.; A classic clinical and radiographic picture of Klebsiella pneumonia has emerged in the literature . Patients are typically male, older than 48 years, and have a history of chronic alcoholism . The majority of these pneumonias are community acquired . Bulging interlobar fissures and cavitation are radiographic findings said to be distinctive for Klebsiella pneumonia . We prospectively studied 15 cases of bacteremically proven Klebsiella pneumonia and found clinical and radiographic features strikingly different from those described in the literature . Immunosuppression (from corticosteroids, cytotoxic chemotherapy, neutropenia, hematologic malignancy, and transplantation) now rivals alcoholism as the primary risk factor . Cases tended to be nosocomial rather than community acquired . Neither bulging interlobar fissure nor cavitation was seen in any case . The right upper lobe was involved in 11 of our 15 cases . Pneumonia due to Klebsiella oxytoca was more likely to be isolated from patients with bilateral infiltrates, while Klebsiella pneumoniae was more likely in patients with unilateral infiltrates.

Infect Immun, 1991 Feb, 59(2), 716 - 7
Lipopolysaccharide from Klebsiella pneumoniae inhibits Na+ absorption in canine tracheal epithelium; Tamaoki J et al.; The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Klebsiella pneumoniae on the bioelectric properties of canine cultured tracheal epithelium was examined . LPS decreased short-circuit current (Isc), and its effects on Isc were reduced when Isc was inhibited by amiloride and indomethacin . We speculate that LPS may selectively inhibit Na+ absorption through the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by airway epithelium.

Infect Immun, 1991 Feb, 59(2), 494 - 502
The rcsA gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae O1:K20 is involved in expression of the serotype-specific K (capsular) antigen; McCallum KL et al.; In Klebsiella pneumoniae, the ability to synthesize large amounts of capsular polysaccharide is an important correlate of virulence . We report the cloning of rcsA from K . pneumoniae serotype O1:K20 and demonstrate that rcsA is involved in the expression of the K antigen capsule . We have determined the nucleotide sequence for the rcsA gene from K . pneumoniae K20 and shown it to be identical to the sequence reported previously for rcsA from strain K21 (Allen et al., J . Gen . Microbiol . 133:331-340, 1987) . Southern hybridization results indicate that this gene is widely distributed among different Klebsiella K serotypes . When cloned into Escherichia coli K-12, the K . pneumoniae rcsA gene caused a mucoid phenotype, resulting from the activation of colanic acid synthesis . Activation of colanic acid synthesis was not dependent on growth at low temperatures (less than or equal to 30 degrees C) . The K . pneumoniae rcsA gene complemented E . coli K-12 rcsA mutations but could not complement defects in rcsB, suggesting that RcsA may be functionally homologous in these bacteria . The cloned rcsA gene also complemented a defect in nonmucoid strain K20 derivatives that normally produced only trace amounts of K20 antigen and were unable to assemble a wild-type capsular structure . Mutants that were K20-deficient were not complemented . The K antigen capsule of K . pneumoniae therefore joins a growing list of polysaccharide-synthetic systems in which "RcsA-like" proteins are involved.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Feb, 173(4), 1420 - 31
Expression of two structurally distinct D-galactan O antigens in the lipopolysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype O1; Whitfield C et al.; The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule is an important virulence determinant in Klebsiella pneumoniae . Studies on the serotype O1 LPS were initiated to determine the basis for antigenic heterogeneity previously observed in the O1 side chain polysaccharides and to resolve apparent ambiguities in the reported polysaccharide structure . Detailed chemical analysis, involving methylation and 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance studies, demonstrated that the O-side chain polysaccharides of serotype O1 LPS contained a mixture of two structurally distinct D-galactan polymers . The repeating unit structures of these two polymers were identified as {----3)-beta-D-Galf-(1----3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----} (D-galactan I) and {----3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----} (D-Galactan II) . D-Galactan I polysaccharides were heterogeneous in size and were detected throughout the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) profile of O1 LPS . In contrast, D-galactan II was confined to the higher-molecular-weight region . The structures of the two D-galactans were not influenced by simultaneous synthesis of a capsular K antigen . Apparently, neither of the D-galactans constitutes a common antigen widespread in Klebsiella spp . as determined by immunochemical analysis . Examination of the LPSs in mutants indicated that expression of D-galactan I can occur independently of D-galactan II . Transconjugants of Escherichia coli K-12 strains carrying the his region of K . pneumoniae were constructed by chromosome mobilization with RP4::mini-Mu . In these transconjugants, the O antigen encoded by the his-linked rfb locus was determined to be D-galactan I, suggesting that genes involved in the expression of D-galactan II are not closely linked to the rfb cluster.

Gene, 1991 Jan 2, 97(1), 97 - 102
Cloning the KpnI restriction-modification system in Escherichia coli; Hammond AW et al.; The genes encoding the KpnI restriction and modification (R-M) system from Klebsiella pneumoniae, recognizing the sequence, 5'-GGTAC decreases C-3', were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli . Although the restriction endonuclease (ENase)- and methyltransferase (MTase)-encoding genes were closely linked, initial attempts to clone both genes as a single DNA fragment in a plasmid vector resulted in deletions spanning all or part of the gene coding for the ENase . Initial protection of the E . coli host with MTase expressed on a plasmid was required to stabilize a compatible plasmid carrying both the ENase- and the MTase-encoding genes on a single DNA fragment . However, once established, the MTase activity can be supplied in cis to the kpnIR gene, without an extra copy of kpnIM . A chromosomal map was generated localizing the kpnIR and kpnIM genes on 1.7-kb and 3.5-kb fragments, respectively . A final E . coli strain was constructed, AH29, which contained two compatible plasmids: an inducible plasmid carrying the kpnIR gene which amplifies copy number at elevated temperatures and a pBR322 derivative expressing M.KpnI . This strain produces approx . 10 million units of R.KpnI/g of wet-weight cells, which is several 1000-fold higher than the level of R.KpnI produced by K . pneumoniae . In addition, DNA methylated with M.KpnI in vivo does not appear to be restricted by the mcrA, mcrB or mrr systems of E . coli.

Res Microbiol, 1991 Jan, 142(1), 47 - 54
Nucleotide sequence of rmpB, a Klebsiella pneumoniae gene that positively controls, colanic biosynthesis in Escherichia coli; Vasselon T et al.; Production of colanic acid in Escherichia coli is regulated by two negative regulators, Lon and RcsC, and by two positive regulators, RcsA and RcsB . Two genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae, rmpA and rmpB, have been shown to positively control colanic acid synthesis in E . coli . While colanic acid production is activated by RmpA only in a lon strain of E . coli, a plasmid carrying both rmpA and rmpB can stimulate colanic acid synthesis in a Lon+ strain . In this work, we present the determination of the nucleotide sequence of rmpB and, on the basis of comparison of the predicted RmpA and RmpB sequences with those of RcsA, B and C and two-component regulatory proteins, we propose that RmpA acts as a transcriptional activator of the structural genes involved in colanic acid biosynthesis.

Ann Nutr Metab, 1991, 35(1), 19 - 24
Effect of respiratory infection on tissue riboflavin and flavin enzymes in mice; Prasad PA et al.; The effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection on red blood cell and liver riboflavin levels and a few flavin enzymes were examined to verify our earlier hypothesis based on human experience that upper respiratory infections result in mobilization of riboflavin from tissues into blood, resulting in a rise in red blood cell riboflavin and an increased saturation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR) with its coenzyme flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD; reduction in EGR activation coefficient, AC, values) . Thirty-six-day-old male mice fed a diet marginally sufficient in riboflavin were injected with a single sublethal dose of K . pneumoniae . Batches of control, deficient infected and deficient uninfected animals were killed during the peak period of infection and after recovery . Infection brought about a significant rise in basal EGR activity due to greater saturation with coenzyme FAD and a concomitant reduction in EGR-AC values . On recovery, basal EGR activity decreased, and EGR-AC values increased to levels beyond control values, suggesting riboflavin deficiency . In the liver, acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase showed a significant decrease and pyridoxamine-phosphate oxidase activity a significant increase . Both the enzymes normalized after recovery . D-amino acid oxidase activity did not change.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1991, 180(1), 1 - 14
A new mouse model for autoimmune orchitis; Fujii Y et al.; Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) was induced in SMA mice (H-2nondefined) by repeated injection at intervals of 30 days of syngeneic testis homogenate (TH) together with Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide (KO3 LPS) as a potent adjuvant . EAO was not induced by repeated injection of TH alone or KO3 LPS alone . At 10 days after the secondary injection of TH + KO3 LPS, there was marked infiltration with neutrophils in the seminiferous tubules and in the interstitium of the testis accompanied by destruction of the architecture of the seminiferous tubules and hypospermatogenesis . At 20 days after the secondary injection, infiltration with neutrophils in these areas had been replaced mostly by mononuclear cells (lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages) . Histopathological changes of the testes became severer by further injections until the 10th injection . The EAO lesions in the terminal stage were characterized by complete destruction of the tubular architecture of the testis, fibrosis, and aspermatogenesis . Lesions in the terminal stage were not restored at all . Spermagglutinating antibody titers in the serum increased and delayed-type hypersensitivity against TH estimated by footpad swelling developed in mice injected repeatedly with TH + KO3 LPS . Using immunofluorescence, antibodies against acrosomal components and tail components of the spermatozoa were detected in serum of these mice.

Clin Ther, 1991 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 25 - 37
In vitro activities of antibacterial agents against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species from intensive care units; Gill CJ et al.; The susceptibility of 293 cultures of Escherichia coli and 160 cultures of Klebsiella species isolated consecutively from patients in intensive care units at 25 New York area hospitals to four antibiotic agents was determined . Susceptibility testing was performed with the reference agar dilution and broth microdilution procedures . At the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints (specified in the prescribing information) of less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml for imipenem, less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml for cefoxitin, less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml for ampicillin/sulbactam, and less than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml for ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, all isolates tested were susceptible to imipenem, 98% each of E coli and Klebsiella isolates were susceptible to cefoxitin, 75% and 83% to ampicillin/sulbactam and 96% and 92% to ticarcillin/clavulanic acid . At the recommended National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards MIC breakpoints (less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml for imipenem, less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml for cefoxitin, less than or equal to 8/4 micrograms/ml for ampicillin/sulbactam, and less than or equal to 16/2 micrograms/ml for ticarcillin/clavulanic acid) all isolates were susceptible to imipenem, 97% of E coli and 98% of Klebsiella isolates were susceptible to cefoxitin, 75% and 83% to ampicillin/sulbactam, and 86% each to ticarcillin/clavulanic acid . Of the 122 isolates with MICs greater than or equal to 128 micrograms/ml to ampicillin, only 19% were susceptible to ampicillin/sulbactam; and of the 150 isolates with MICs greater than 128 micrograms/ml to ticarcillin, 61% were susceptible to ticarcillin/clavulanic acid . The results suggest that, in the antibiotic combinations studied, high levels of penicillinases, capable of significantly affecting the utility of the enzyme inhibitors, are produced.

J Belge Radiol, 1991, 74(1), 41 - 4
Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess with septic endophthalmitis . The role of computed tomography; Couez D et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess associated with septic endophthalmitis is a rare observation . To our knowledge, only 10 cases have been reported in the international literature . We report a further case of complication occurring in an adult woman with hypothyroidism, and comment on the role of CT for the work-up.

Respir Med, 1991 Jan, 85(1), 11 - 6
Intensive care management of community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae; Hammond JM et al.; The clinical features of 18 patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae requiring intensive care unit (ICU) management are presented . All patients required ventilatory support; 17 were given constant positive pressure ventilation and 10 required greater than 10 cm positive end expiratory pressure . The clinical picture was characteristic: pre-existing medical disease, clinical features of severe pneumonia and copious purulent bronchial secretions, Gram--ve organisms on Gram's stain and lobar consolidation on the chest radiograph were common . Septicaemic shock, confusion and uncompensated metabolic acidosis were the presenting clinical features predicting a poor outcome . Antimicrobial chemotherapy, that combined an aminoglycoside and a third generation cephalosporin to ensure adequate early antibiotic serum levels, may help to improve the prognosis.

Eur J Biochem, 1991 Jan 1, 195(1), 71 - 7
Mechanism and energetics of a citrate-transport system of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Van der Rest ME et al.; The citrate-transport determinant of plasmid pES1 from Klebsiella pneumoniae {Schwarz, E . & Oesterhelt, D . (1985) EMBO J . 4, 1599-1603} has been subcloned in Escherichia coli DH1 . Uptake of citrate in E . coli membrane vesicles via this uptake system is an electrogenic process, although the pH gradient is the main driving force for citrate uptake . The rate of citrate uptake, driven by artificially imposed ion-gradients, is high in the presence of an artificial delta pH and low in the presence of an artificial delta psi . Citrate transport does not depend on the presence of Na+ or Mg2+ as has been observed for other citrate-transport systems . Citrate has three pK values: 3.14, 4.77 and 5.40 . Citrate forms a stable complex with Mg2+ with a stability constant of 3.2 . Kinetic parameters and calculations of the different citrate (Cit) species at a given pH, indicate that the HCit2- is the species transported and that transport occurs in symport with three protons . This citrate-transport system is thus a unique example of a 3H solute symport system.

Arch Microbiol, 1991, 156(3), 231 - 8
Metabolism of acrylonitrile by Klebsiella pneumoniae; Nawaz MS et al.; A gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium capable of utilizing acrylonitrile as the sole source of nitrogen was isolated from industrial sewage and identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae . The isolate was capable of utilizing aliphatic nitriles containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms or benzonitrile as the sole source of nitrogen and either acetamide or propionamide as the sole source of both carbon and nitrogen . Gas chromatographic and mass spectral analyses of culture filtrates indicated that K . pneumoniae was capable of hydrolyzing 6.15 mmol of acrylonitrile to 5.15 mmol of acrylamide within 24 h . The acrylamide was hydrolyzed to 1.0 mmol of acrylic acid within 72 h . Another metabolite of acrylonitrile metabolism was ammonia, which reached a maximum concentration of 3.69 mM within 48 h . Nitrile hydratase and amidase, the two hydrolytic enzymes responsible for the sequential metabolism of nitrile compounds, were induced by acrylonitrile . The optimum temperature for nitrile hydratase activity was 55 degrees C and that for amidase was 40 degrees C; both enzymes had pH optima of 8.0.

Ren Fail, 1991, 13(1), 23 - 5
Myoglobinuric acute renal failure following electrical injury; Gupta KL et al.; Eight patients with acute renal failure (ARF) following electrical injury were studied . The mean area of cutaneous burns was 23 +/- 16% (range 6-60%) and extensive tissue necrosis with gangrene was uniformly present . Oliguria developed 9.3 +/- 7 h (range 3-24 h) after the injury in 7 patients (88%) . Urinalysis revealed presence of myoglobin in 75% of the patients . The mean duration of oliguria among those who recovered was 16 +/- 6 days (range 11-23 days) and the mean interval between the onset of oliguria and recovery of renal function was 25 +/- 6 days (range 21-34 days) . Four patients died . The cause of death was Klebsiella septicemia in 1, hyperkalemia associated with extensive myonecrosis in 2 patients, and uncertain in 1 patient . Our observations showed that myoglobinuric acute renal failure associated with electrical injury carries a high mortality . Early detection and aggressive management of hyperkalemia and sepsis are necessary to reduce mortality among these patients.

Arkh Patol, 1991, 53(5), 33 - 8
{The immunomorphological characteristics of the appendix in a viral-bacterial lesion in children with appendicitis}; Parkhomenko IuG et al.; The characteristics of viral-bacterial lesion in the appendix of children with appendicitis are given by means of histologic, histochemical, immunomorphological and morphometric methods . Antigens of influenza viruses A, B, C, entero-, adeno- and paramyxoviruses were observed among which influenza C was found significantly more frequently (64.1%) . Viral infection in the majority of cases (79.5%) was found in the association with opportunistic flora, more frequently with E . coli, and less R . aeruginosa and Klebsiella . Analysis of the immunomorphological shifts in the appendix indicated a peculiar dynamics of the antibody production in acute appendicitis: the enhancement of the IgG, IgD and IgE production and the decrease of the production of IgA and IgM . The viral-bacterial effect, the development of the immune responses with IgE hyperproduction and participation in this process of labrocytes and endocrine cells suggest the integration of the two pathogenetic mechanisms-infectious and allergic.

Vestn Akad Med Nauk SSSR, 1991, (5), 44 - 7
{Reserves for lowering the neonatal mortality of premature children}; Iatsyk GV et al.; A tendency for a decrease in the rate of neonatal mortality among preterm babies could be followed up in industrialized countries for the current decade . This tendency is less pronounced in the USSR . Therefore newer diagnostic and therapeutic approaches developed in the clinical department of the Scientific and Research Institute of Pediatrics, the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, could be regarded as reserves for the reduction of neonatal mortality in preterm children . They include the analysis of etiological structure of present-day pyo-septic diseases (monitoring of intrahospital flora, target-oriented treatment-the use of anti-klebsiella plasma); consideration of new aspects of pathogenesis (population structure and the receptor function of the blood defensive cells); metabolite therapy; individualization of antibacterial treatment on the basis of pharmacokinetic assessment; optimized breeding techniques (prolonged probe nutrition); background correction (perinatal encephalopathy, the syndrome of respiratory distress); newer socio-medical approaches (psychotherapy of nursing mothers, "kangaroo" method).

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Jan, 274(4), 456 - 64
Difficulties in identifying Klebsiella strains of clinical origin; Monnet D et al.; Two hundred and four strains of Gram-negative bacteria of clinical origin, initially identified as Klebsiella using the API 20 E system, and 10 reference strains were further analysed with the API 20 EC test system and the API 50 CH, API 50 AO, API 50 AA assimilation systems . Four clusters corresponding to the species Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp . pneumoniae, K . oxytoca, K . planticola, and K . terrigena were formed after numerical analysis of 155 selected tests and the 26 most discriminating tests were determined . A comparison was made between conventional identification using the API 20 E system and the results of the numerical analysis . The conventional method resulted in incorrect identification of 13% of the strains tested, especially for the new species: K . planticola and K . terrigena . After numerical analysis, 17 out of 204 strains (8.3%) of clinical origin were identified as K . planticola . Only 1 strain of clinical origin was identified as K . terrigena, and 1 strain as K . ornithinolytica.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1991, 23(2), 189 - 94
Spread of Klebsiella in a neonatal ward; Hambraeus A et al.; The colonization of infants with Klebsiella pneumoniae was prospectively studied . Samples were taken from nose, throat, umbilicus and rectum on the day of arrival and thereafter once a week . Phage typing was performed the first time K . pneumoniae was found at any of these sites . Settle plates were exposed in the incubators and in the patient rooms 5 h/day . The study lasted for 32 weeks . The first 15 weeks was a control period with no information to the staff, the following 4 weeks was a period of intervention and education and the last 13 weeks was a second control period . In all, 603 infants were investigated . The number of infants nursed per week and severity of their disease was comparable in the 3 periods . The colonization rates were 65, 34 and 58%, respectively . The acquisition of new strains was 1.4 per infant in the first and last periods, but only 0.4 in the period of intervention . Thus, colonization rates decreased only during the period of continuous education in hygiene.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Jan, 173(1), 116 - 23
In vitro transcription of the histidine utilization (hutUH) operon from Klebsiella aerogenes; Osuna R et al.; The promoter region preceding the hutUH operon in Klebsiella aerogenes contains two oppositely oriented, overlapping promoters . In the absence of catabolite gene activator protein-cyclic AMP (CAP-cAMP), transcription proceeds primarily from the backward-oriented promoter (Pc), whose function has not yet been determined, and only very weakly from the forward hutUH promoter, hutUp . In the presence of CAP-cAMP, Pc is repressed and transcription from hutUp is favored . Two protein components required for this in vitro transcription system, RNA polymerase (RNAP) and CAP, were purified from K . aerogenes and were shown to be functionally interchangeable with the corresponding proteins from Escherichia coli, suggesting that E . coli RNAP could be used to study some aspects of hut transcription . We showed that a gradual activation of hutUp (by increasing concentrations of CAP, cAMP, or glycerol) resulted in a parallel repression of Pc, arguing in favor of a direct competition between the two promoters . The presence of a DNA sequence resembling the consensus for CAP-binding sites and centered at nucleotide -82 (relative to hutUp) initially suggested that a primary role of CAP was to repress Pc, thereby indirectly activating hutUp . However, the relatively slow formation of open complexes at Pc, even in the absence of CAP-cAMP, showed that Pc is a weak promoter and likely to be a poor competitor for RNAP . The observed dominance of Pc over hutUp suggested that the latter is an even weaker promoter . Thus, repression of Pc would not be sufficient to cause the observed increase in hutUp activity, and the CAP-cAMP complex must play a direct role in the activation of hutUp.

Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 1991, 486, 105 - 15
Experimental otitis media with effusion induced by lipopolysaccharide from Klebsiella pneumoniae . Mucociliary pathology of the eustachian tube; Ohashi Y et al.; Otitis media with effusion (OME) is generally benign and self-limiting but is often recurrent and can change into a chronic type . We have previously reported that intratympanic inoculation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Klebsiella pneumoniae can develop experimental OME in the guinea pig . However, OME induced by 10 micrograms/ml of LPS was of a self-limiting type . Our hypothesis was that a higher concentration of LPS might develop a chronic OME because LPS reduces the ciliary activity in the tubotympanum in a dose related manner . In our present study we inoculated 100 micrograms/ml of LPS from K . pneumoniae into the tympanic cavity of the guinea pig, in the hope of illuminating a possible mechanism predisposing to the chronicity of the disease . A longer-term OME was observed after tympanic inoculation of 100 micrograms/ml of LPS . Ciliary activity in the Eustachian tube was depressed for a longer term by this dose than by the previous one . In addition to mucociliary pathologies and general inflammatory changes similar to those induced by 10 micrograms/ml of LPS, intracytoplasmic ciliary cysts were observed after inoculation of 100 micrograms/ml of LPS, which appeared to show disturbed ciliogenesis and chronic mucociliary lesions . In conclusion, intratympanic inoculation of a higher concentration of LPS developed a longer-term OME in the guinea pig, which was supported by functional as well as morphological examinations.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1991, 13(2-3), 227 - 33
Increased expression of C3b and C3bi receptors on human neutrophils and monocytes induced by a glycoprotein extract from Klebsiella pneumoniae (RU41740); Capsoni F et al.; RU41740 is a glycoprotein extract from Klebsiella pneumoniae with immunomodulating properties under different experimental conditions . In particular the compound is able to stimulate several functions of human phagocytes in vitro and ex vivo . Using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, in this work we assessed the effect of RU41740 on surface expression of receptors for C3b (CR1) and C3bi (CR3) in human phagocytic cells in vitro . The incubation of whole blood with varying RU41740 concentrations led to a dose-dependent increase in surface expression of CR1 and CR3 on both neutrophils and monocytes when compared with control samples incubated in buffer alone . The maximal drug-induced enhancement of complement receptors was: 291% +/- 13.4% for CR1 and 265% +/- 8.5% for CR3 in neutrophils; 117% +/- 4.5% for CR1 and 98% +/- 4.1% for CR3 in monocytes . These peak effects were observed using RU41740 at a final concentration of 10 micrograms/ml and were similar to those induced by optimal concentrations of the activating compound N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (10(-7)M) . Polymyxin B did not modify the RU41740-induced enhancement of CR1 and CR3 expression on phagocytes, suggesting no role for endotoxin in this activity . These results define, at least in part, the mechanism of action of RU41740 on human phagocytes in vitro and could be relevant to in vivo events during RU41740 treatment.

Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop, 1991, 44(2), 161 - 4
Association of Klebsiella organisms with pulmonary lesions in sheep; Gameel AA et al.; Small nodules were seen on chest wall and in the lungs of sheep slaughtered in Al-Ahsa abattoir, Saudi Arabia . Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies ozaenae was isolated and characterized . The histopathology of the nodules was described.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1991, 23(6), 737 - 43
Epidemiological fingerprinting of Klebsiella pneumoniae by small-fragment-restriction-endonuclease-analysis (SF-REA); Haertl R et al.; Epidemiological fingerprinting of Klebsiella pneumoniae was performed by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) of whole cell DNA . 11 isolates from 4 patients in an intensive care unit and 80 unrelated strains were examined in this study . DNA was cleaved with restriction endonuclease EcoR I, electrophoresed on 10% polyacrylamide gels, and restriction fragment patterns were visualized by silver staining . The analysis of small fragments within the cleavage patterns (SF-REA) yielded sufficient information for reliable strain identification . The gel patterns of unrelated strains exhibited marked differences by direct visual comparison . In contrast, the isolates from the ICU could only be subdivided into 2 types, supporting our suspicion of nosocomial infections in some of these patients . SF-REA was evaluated with regard to interstrain discriminatory ability, reproducibility, and practicability . Our results indicate that SF-REA may be used as a rapid, precise and reliable technique in typing K . pneumoniae strains.

Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1991 Jan-Jun, 36(1), 35 - 42
{Trials to improve the media used for the methyl red reaction (MRT) . II.}; Marica D et al.; The evolution of the methyl rot reaction (MRT), expressed by the pH dynamics in the first 18 hours was examined . A medium made of caseine or soya hydrolysate distributed in small volumes, was experimented versus a control broth made of meat peptone (Clark-Lubs) . For Klebsiella the results showed that in the control group the pH acidifies and remains low, thus mimicking a positive reaction . In the caseine/soya medium, a decrease of pH at 4-8 hours is first noticed . Initial acidification, consecutive to glucose fermentation, is then counteracted by another type of processes that change the reaction direction . pH increases at 12-18 hours towards neutrality hat can be easily exceeded in 24 hours . Alkaline reversion is favoured by: a--the richer content in aa diaminomonocarboxylic and b--assurance of a large aeration by increase of the ratio between surface and volume . For evidencing realkalinization, characteristic of Klebsiellae, the medium with caseine/soya, including "ab initio" either Bromkresolpurpur (pH = 5.2-6.2) or Bromtimolblau (pH = 6.7-7.6) is experimented . The medium ensures the direct reading of the reaction, at 18-24 hours, by the colour change . The results correspond to metric pH recording . When the results are not clear (slowly metabolic strains), the culture may be reincubated, an important advantage versus the Clark-Lubs procedure.

Arkh Patol, 1991, 53(9), 22 - 7
{Klebsiella pneumonia today}; Tsinzerling VA et al.; Analysis of incidence and morphology of Klebsiella pneumonia nowadays in the adults (10 observations), children (5 observations) and newborns (23 observations) is presented . The pneumonias account for 11.3% of total number of lobar pneumonias in the adults dying in 1979-1989 . Klebsiella infection represent 16.1% of total number of autopsies a year according to the pediatric infection pathology department . Etiological role of Klebsiella is established in 21.5% of total number of autopsies of newborns for 1985-1988, pneumonia being 61% of total Klebsiella infections . Klebsiella pneumonias in the adults correspond in principle to the Friedlander's pneumonia studied in detail by V.D . Zinserling (1891-1960) and his students . Generalized forms of, as a rule, hospital Klebsiellosis with most grave lung damage, unknown up to now, are frequently observed in children . Klebsiellosis was combined practically in all cases both in the adults and children with other bacterial, viral and fungal infections . The degree of clinico-morphological manifestations may considerably vary.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1991, 13(6), 631 - 7
Chemotactic cytokine gene expression and production induced in human monocytes by membrane proteoglycans from Klebsiella pneumoniae; Luini W et al.; The present study was designed to investigate the effect of membrane proteoglycans (MPG) from Klebsiella pneumoniae on production of the chemotactic cytokine, IL-8, and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP) by human peripheral blood monocytes . Exposure of human peripheral blood monocytes to MPG in vitro induced high levels of mRNA transcripts for IL-8 and MCP, as assessed by Northern blot analysis . Cytokine gene expression was associated with the production of chemotactic activity in the supernatants . The levels of IL-8 and MCP expression induced by MPG were comparable with those elicited by LPS . Induction of chemotactic cytokines in mononuclear phagocytes may play a role in the immunomodulatory activity of MPG.

Trop Geogr Med, 1991 Jan-Apr, 43(1-2), 100 - 4
Diabetes mellitus and Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess in adults; Barton EN et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae hepatic abscess in five diabetic patients is reported . The recognition of a possible association between diabetes mellitus and pyogenic hepatic abscess, especially solitary ones, is highlighted . The clinical presentation including metastatic complications and the need for early diagnosis and institution of therapy are emphasized . Needle aspiration under ultrasonography is advocated and culture for anaerobes is stressed.

Lab Delo, 1991, (7), 54 - 6
{A rapid method of bacteriocin typing of microorganisms}; Pokhil SI et al.; The technique of making paper disks with Klebsiella bacteriocins is described, as is the method for improving the stability of bacteriocin preparations . The authors have developed a method for bacterial bacteriocin typing, facilitating the work and taking but 4-5 hrs . The results of klebocin typing of Klebsiella-237 strains with the use of the developed technique are presented.

Lab Delo, 1991, (6), 49 - 52
{An evaluation of methods of determining the hemolytic activity of Klebsiella in solid nutrient media}; Pokhil SI et al.; Hemolytic activities of Klebsiella-237 strains of various origins were measured in solid nutrient media by three methods making use of six different agar bases for the preparation of blood nutrient media . The authors analyze the agar bases, discuss the advantages and shortcomings of all the methods used with consideration for the purpose of the investigation . The findings evidence a higher hemolytic activity in Klebsiella isolated from patients as against the hemolytic activities of reference strains.

Microbiol Immunol, 1991, 35(10), 841 - 8
The surface hydrophobicity and avirulent character of an encapsulated strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Meno Y et al.; In order to elucidate how virulence is controlled in encapsulated bacteria, some surface properties of an encapsulated but avirulent strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, strain 277, were examined . Although strain 277 was heavily fimbriated, the fimbriae did not demonstrate an avirulent character and were not responsible for the surface hydrophobicity of this strain . The surface hydrophobicity was well correlated with the capacity of the bacteria to associate with polymorphonuclear cells . More bacteria with hydrophobic surfaces associated with the PMN than nonhydrophobic bacteria . The hydrophobic surface character of this strain was not affected by either trypsin treatment or extraction with salt solution . We assume that the capsule of strain 277 has more hydrophobic polysaccharides than that of the virulent strain . Some chemical modifications might therefore exist in the capsular polysaccharides of the avirulent strain.

J Bacteriol, 1991 Jan, 173(2), 916 - 20
Nucleotide sequence and functions of mrk determinants necessary for expression of type 3 fimbriae in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Allen BL et al.; The nucleotide sequence of six genes involved in the expression of type 3 fimbriae of Klebsiella pneumoniae was determined . In addition to the genes that encode the fimbrial subunit (mrkA) and adhesion (mrkD), the mrkB, mrkC, and mrkE genes appear to be involved in assembly of the fimbrial filament and regulation of type 3 fimbrial expression . The mrkF gene product is required to maintain the stability of the fimbrial filament on the cell surface.

Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1991 Jan-Mar, 33(1), 1 - 5
{Substance produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae with protects it from the bactericidal effect of normal human serum}; Rodas-Suarez O et al.; A Klebsiella pneumoniae culture in Fouad's chemically defined medium, which was grown from 18 to 24 hours at 37 degrees C was prepared . Bacterial cells were eliminated by centrifugation and the supernatant was sterilized by Millipore membrane filtration . A protective activity against normal human serum bactericidal effect on K . pneumoniae K-9 and K-13 was ascribed to sterile filtrate . The protective filtrate seems to be a high molecular weight substance.

Biochem J, 1990 Dec 15, 272(3), 621 - 5
Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase . Mechanism of acetylene reduction and its inhibition by carbon monoxide; Lowe DJ et al.; The electron flux through the MoFe-protein of nitrogenase from Klebsiella pneumoniae determines the absolute and relative rates of 2H+ reduction to H2 and acetylene (C2H2) reduction to ethylene (C2H4) at saturating levels of reductant (Na2S2O4) and MgATP . High electron flux, induced by a high Fe-protein (Kp2)/MoFe protein (Kp1) ratio, favours C2H2 reduction . These data can be explained if ethylene, the two-electron reduction product of C2H2, is not released until three electrons have been transferred from Kp2 to Kp1 . This explanation is also consistent with a pre-steady-state lag phase for C2H4 formation of 250 ms observed when functioning enzyme is quenched with acid . Electron flux through nitrogenase is inhibited by C2H2 at high protein concentrations . This is because the association rate between Kp1 and oxidized Kp2 is enhanced by C2H2, leading to an increased steady-state concentration of the inhibitory complex Kp2oxKp1C2H2 . This effect is not relieved by CO . Thus CO and C2H2 (or C2H4) must be bound at the same time to distinct sites, presumably at Mo or Fe centres, on the enzyme.

Carbohydr Res, 1990 Dec 15, 208, 59 - 66
Synthesis of disaccharide methyl glycosides related to the polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype 40 and a study of their inhibition in the precipitin reaction; Maddali UB et al.; The methyl glycosides of alpha-D-Manp-(1----4)-alpha-L-Rhap (3), alpha-L-Rhap-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp (4), beta-L-Rhap-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp (5), beta-D-Galp-(1----2)-alpha-L-Rhap (6), and beta-D-GlcpA-(1----2)-alpha-L-Rhap (7) have been synthesised and their inhibition reactions in the Klebsiella serotype 40 immune system have been studied . The results obtained accord with only one of two structures proposed for the repeating unit of the K40 antigen.

Carbohydr Res, 1990 Dec 15, 208, 15 - 21
A reverse approach to 1H-n.m.r . assignments of bacterial polysaccharides; Jones DN et al.; A new approach is reported for obtaining the assignment of the 1H-n.m.r . spectra of bacterial polysaccharides which are not amenable to analysis using conventional strategies . An unambiguous assignment of the 13C-n.m.r . spectrum is made by 13C-COSY of the polysaccharide labelled to a high level with 13C . Assignment of the 1H-n.m.r . spectrum is then made by proton-detected CH-correlation spectroscopy of material that is labelled at a low level . Using this approach, virtually complete assignments have been made for the Klebsiella K3 serotype polysaccharide under physiological conditions of temperature and pH.

J Perinatol, 1990 Dec, 10(4), 357 - 60
Control of infection due to Klebsiella pneumoniae in an intensive care nursery; Knight P et al.; Because of an increased incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) temporally related to Klebsiella pneumoniae colonization noted in several infants, a study was undertaken to identify the source and to eradicate the infection . Twenty infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and 51 in the well-baby nursery were prospectively studied . Cultures were done on all infants . In addition, cultures were done on all employees and parents who regularly visited . Our results showed an increased incidence of infection during this period--8.3% as compared with 4.79% overall . Colonization with K pneumoniae was eradicated, at least temporarily, by establishing a cohort system in both the NICU and the well-baby nursery and by the administration of antibiotics to all infants in these nurseries . Colonized parents and employees were also treated . Follow-up cultures showed clearing of Klebsiella, and the cohort system was abolished . Serotyping of all affected infants later showed that different strains were present, making it unlikely that there was a common source for the Klebsiella . (Initially the source of infection had been thought to be a mother whose premature triplets were colonized . We feel that the eradication of this organism and the subsequent decline in NEC was enhanced by the combination of cohorting and handwashing . The selected use of antibiotics may have prevented an extension of the outbreak, but this could not be proven.

Mol Gen Genet, 1990 Dec, 224(3), 413 - 20
The nifEN genes participating in FeMo cofactor biosynthesis and genes encoding dinitrogenase are part of the same operon in Bradyrhizobium species; Aguilar OM et al.; The nucleotide sequences of genes homologous to the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifEN genes have been determined in Bradyrhizobium japonicum 110 . The coding regions for the nifE and nifN consist, respectively, of 1641 and 1407 nucleotides . The nifD gene (coding for the beta-subunit of dinitrogenase) and nifE are linked, and separated by 95 nucleotides . In the region of 12 nucleotides that separates nifE from nifN the stop codon for nifE overlaps the putative ribosome binding site for nifN . In contrast to Klebsiella and Azotobacter vinelandii, the B . japonicum nifEN genes are linked to the nifDK genes in the same operon . Comparison of dinitrogenase polypeptides (nifDK products) and the polypeptides of the nifE and nifN genes reveals considerable homology between nifD and nifE, and between nifK and nifN . Several protein domains, containing highly conserved cysteine residues, are conserved among the gene products of nifD, nifK, nifE and nifN . This result allows us to propose a probable evolutionary pathway for the common origin of these genes.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Dec, 172(12), 7256 - 9
Regulation of assimilatory nitrate reductase formation in Klebsiella aerogenes W70; Bender RA et al.; Klebsiella aerogenes W70 could grow aerobically with nitrate or nitrite as the sole nitrogen source . The assimilatory nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase responsible for this ability required the presence of either nitrate or nitrite as an inducer, and both enzymes were repressed by ammonia . The repression by ammonia, which required the NTR (nitrogen regulatory) system (A . Macaluso, E . A . Best, and R . A . Bender, J . Bacteriol . 172:7249-7255, 1990), did not act solely at the level of inducer exclusion, since strains in which the expression of assimilatory nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase was was independent of the inducer were also susceptible to repression by ammonia . Insertion mutations in two distinct genes, neither of which affected the NTR system, resulted in the loss of both assimilatory nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase . One of these mutants reverted to the wild type, but the other yielded pseudorevertants at high frequency that were independent of inducer but still responded to ammonia repression.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Dec, 34(12), 2439 - 41
Nucleotide sequence of the SHV-5 beta-lactamase gene of a Klebsiella pneumoniae plasmid; Billot-Klein D et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the SHV-5 beta-lactamase gene, subcloned from a plasmid of Klebsiella pneumoniae, was determined . The amino acid changes thought to be responsible for the extended substrate profile of SHV-5 are Gly----Ser234 and Glu----Lys235 . SHV-5 is identical to SHV-4, except for Leu----Arg201, which accounts for the difference in apparent pI of the two enzymes.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1990 Dec, 56(12), 3830 - 4
Purification and characterization of a novel nucleoside phosphorylase from a Klebsiella sp . and its use in the enzymatic production of adenine arabinoside; Ling F et al.; An adenosine-assimilating bacterium, Klebsiella sp . strain LF1202, inducibly formed a novel nucleoside phosphorylase which acted on both purine and pyrimidine nucleosides when the cells were cultured in medium containing adenosine as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen . The enzyme was purified (approximately 83-fold, with a 17% activity yield) to the homogeneous state by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was calculated to be 125,000 by gel filtration of Sephadex G-200 column chromatography, although the enzyme migrated as a single protein band with a molecular weight of 25,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; thus, it was thought to consist of five identical subunits . Besides purine nucleosides (adenosine, inosine, and guanosine), the purified enzyme also acted on pyrimidine nucleosides such as uridine, 2'-deoxyuridine, and thymidine . The purified enzyme catalyzed the synthesis of adenine arabinoside, a selective antiviral pharmaceutic agent, from uridine arabinoside and adenine.

Can J Microbiol, 1990 Dec, 36(12), 885 - 90
Protection against Klebsiella pneumoniae induced lobar pneumonia in rats with lipopolysaccharide and related antigens; Rani M et al.; The immunoprotective role of lipopolysaccharide and related antigens from Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied in a lobar pneumonia model developed in rats . Various antigens were obtained by different chemical treatments of the lipopolysaccharide . All these antigens (purified lipopolysaccharide, reduced lipopolysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide--bovine serum albumin complex, and lipid A--bovine serum albumin complex were tested for pyrogenicity and the Shwartzman reaction . The lipopolysaccharide and the various related antigens were pyrogenic and elicited a positive Shwartzman reaction at high concentrations . However, at low concentrations, the same preparations did not show any side effects . All these antigens, on the other hand, were protective against bacterial challenge in Klebsiella pneumoniae induced lobar pneumonia in rats, as the bacterial colonization of lungs in the immunized animals was significantly lower when compared with the controls . The alveolar macrophages from these animals also showed significantly more uptake of Klebsiella pneumoniae as compared with those obtained from control animals.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Dec, 64(12), 1482 - 92
{Analysis of immunoprotection against fatal experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia}; Shimoguchi K; Comparatively little is known about the immunoprotective mechanisms against K . pneumoniae pneumonia . Whether the antibody against K . pneumoniae protects against K . pneumoniae pneumonia is not fully known . This study was designed to investigate some of the murine host factors responsible for immunization with K . pneumoniae DT-S to infection by aerosol inhalation with K . pneumoniae DT-S: in particular, the role of the antibody and the immunoprotective antibody which was the antibody against which component of K . pneumoniae was investigated . Mice preimmunized by aerosol inhalation with live or formalin-killed DT-S and mice preimmunized intravenously with live DT-S did not protect against infection by aerosol inhalation with DT-S . Mice preimmunized intravenously with formalin-killed DT-S were shown to protect significantly against fatal experimental K . pneumoniae pneumonia (p less than 0.01) . This immunoprotection against fatal experimental pneumonia was related to titers of anti-ultrasonicates of DT-S antibody detected by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . That this immunoprotection is dependent on the antibody against which component of DT-S was investigated by ELISA . An ELISA was performed to detected antibody against purified capsular polysaccharide (CPS), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins (OMP) . Mice preimmunized intravenously with formalin-killed DT-S were detected to have antibodies against LPS, but not to CPS and OMP . Then the immunoprotection against fatal experimental pneumonia was related to titers of anti-LPS antibody . These findings indicate that anti-LPS antibody may play a major role in the protection against fatal experimental K . pneumoniae pneumonia.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Dec, 172(12), 7249 - 55
Role of the nac gene product in the nitrogen regulation of some NTR-regulated operons of Klebsiella aerogenes; Macaluso A et al.; A positive, genetic selection against the activity of the nitrogen regulatory (NTR) system was used to isolate insertion mutations affecting nitrogen regulation in Klebsiella aerogenes . Two classes of mutation were obtained: those affecting the NTR system itself and leading to the loss of almost all nitrogen regulation, and those affecting the nac locus and leading to a loss of nitrogen regulation of a family of nitrogen-regulated enzymes . The set of these nac-dependent enzymes included histidase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate synthase, proline oxidase, and urease . The enzymes shown to be nac independent included glutamine synthetase, asparaginase, tryptophan permease, nitrate reductase, the product of the nifLA operon, and perhaps nitrite reductase . The expression of the nac gene was itself highly nitrogen regulated, and this regulation was mediated by the NTR system . The loss of nitrogen regulation was found in each of the four insertion mutants studied, showing that loss of nitrogen regulation resulted from the absence of nac function rather than from an altered form of the nac gene product . Thus we propose two classes of nitrogen-regulated operons: in class I, the NTR system directly activates expression of the operon; in class II, the NTR system activates nac expression and the product(s) of the nac locus activates expression of the operon.

Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Nov, 28(11), 1432 - 5
{Inhalation therapy of antibiotics}; Noguchi Y et al.; We produced experimental murine Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia by air-borne infection using exposure apparatus (LD50: 9.7 X 10 C.F.U./lung) . The MIC value of cefazolin was 1.56 micrograms/ml, and that of gentamicin was 0.39 micrograms/ml . We treated this murine pneumonia with aerosolized antibiotics . The infected mice received inhalation of 50 mg (5 mg/ml), 100 mg (10 mg/ml), 200 mg (20 mg/ml) and 400 mg (40 mg/ml) gentamicin were alive . Survival rate of the infected mice treated with inhalation of 1000 mg (100 mg/ml) cefazolin was low, but that of them received inhalation of 500 mg (50 mg/ml) cefazolin was high . On the basis of these experiments it is suggested that aerosol of 50 mg/ml cefazolin gets to alveoli, and inhalation therapy of low level of cephems is proper for bacterial respiratory infections . Inhalation therapy of 50 mg/ml cephem for chronic bronchitis had a marked clinical effect . This proves that aerosol of cephem gets to infected bronchi.

Mol Gen Genet, 1990 Nov, 224(2), 193 - 200
Positive and negative regulation of expression of the L-sorbose (sor) operon by SorC in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Wohrl BM et al.; In Klebsiella pneumoniae the gene products involved in the degradation of the ketose L-sorbose are encoded in the sor operon . It comprises, besides structural genes for uptake and catabolism, a promoter-proximal gene sorC, encoding a protein SorC of Mr 40 kDa, for which no enzymatic function has been detected . All sor genes are coordinately expressed and inducible by L-sorbose . Polar insertions and frameshift mutations in sorC cause a pleiotropic negative effect on the expression of all other sor genes . This defect is complemented in trans by the wild-type sorC+ allele for frameshift mutations, but not for polar insertions . A single promoter for all sor genes, for which SorC is the activator, thus seems to be located in front of sorC . The repressor activity of SorC was demonstrated by complementation of constitutive sorC alleles with a sorC+ allele leading to inducible expression of all sor genes, including sorC, which, as visualized by the use of a series of lacZ fusions, thus autoregulates its expression, both as an activator and a repressor.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1990 Nov 1, 282(2), 433 - 6
Substitution of Gly-96 to Ala in the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase of Klebsiella pneumoniae results in a greatly reduced affinity for the herbicide glyphosate; Sost D et al.; The aroA gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae encoding the shikimate pathway enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase, which is the target of the herbicide glyphosate, was cloned and sequenced from both the wild-type and the glyphosate-resistant mutant K . pneumoniae K1, which possesses a glyphosate-insensitive EPSP synthase . Both genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and were capable of complementing an auxotrophic aroA mutation . The transformed cells showed increased tolerance to glyphosate due to the overproduction of either the mutant or the wild type EPSP synthase . Nucleotide sequence analysis of the K . pneumoniae aroA gene indicated a protein-coding region of 427 amino acids with a derived Mr for the EPSP synthase of 45,976 . Comparison of the two aroA alleles showed a single base change resulting in a substitution of Gly-96 to Ala in the deduced amino acid sequence . By comparison with other known EPSP synthase sequences the mutation was shown to be located in a highly conserved region, indicating that this region is essential for the binding of the herbicide glyphosate.

Agents Actions, 1990 Nov, 31(3-4), 308 - 12
Glycosidase activities in alveolar macrophages from guinea pigs stimulated with a glyco-proteic complex extracted from Klebsiella pneumoniae; Briend-Sutren MM et al.; An increased resistance of laboratory animals to pulmonary infections following per os administration of a glyco-proteic complex extracted from Klebsiella pneumoniae has been reported . This was associated with an increased phagocytic capacity of alveolar macrophages (AM) . In this report, the effect of treating guinea pigs with this extract on the alveolar macrophage (AM) glycosidase machinery has been studied . AM were collected by bronchoalveolar lavage, the cells were pelleted by centrifugation and AM were purified by adherence on plastic dishes . Sialidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminidase activities were measured in the AM homogenate . In order to evaluate an extracellular release of these enzymes, they were also assayed in the cell free lavage fluid . Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was assayed as a control for cell lysis . In treated animals, the total number of cells as well as the number of AM increased by 25% (ns) . The protein concentration was slightly reduced in the cell homogenate and unchanged in the lavage fluid . The only significant change was a decreased sialidase activity, in AM homogenate (p less than or equal to 0.01) and in lavage fluids (ns) . The LDH activity was not increased in the lavage fluids.

Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1990 Nov-Dec, 62(6), 67 - 71
{Catabolism of amino acids in bacteria of the genus Klebsiella}; Galaev IuV et al.; Propagation and activity level of 18 enzymes catalyzing deamination reactions of dicarboxylic and oxyamino acids and enzymes of amino acid reamination and amino acid N-acyl-derivatives' deacylation have been studied in Klebsiella bacteria . Klebsiella the most actively utilizes serin, threonine, aspartic and glutamic acids and aromatic amino acids . The first three amino acids are utilized by deamination, aromatic acids- in aminotransferase reaction with alpha-ketoglutaric acid, glutamic acid--by deamination and decarboxylation . Besides, Klebsiella actively deacylates N-acyl-derivatives of amino acids.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Nov, 4(11), 1793 - 800
Transcriptional regulatory cascade of nitrogen-fixation genes in anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria: oxygen- and nitrogen-responsive factors; Kranz RG et al.; Many photosynthetic bacteria from aquatic and terrestrial habitats reduce atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia . The synthesis of proteins required for nitrogen fixation in these microorganisms is repressed by fixed nitrogen or oxygen . Studies on the purple non-sulphur phototroph Rhodobacter capsulatus have helped to clarify this transcriptional control and to define the factors involved in this regulation . The molecular mechanisms by which the nitrogen and oxygen status of the cell are relayed into nif gene expression or repression involve many trans- and cis-acting factors . The roles of these factors in the nif regulatory cascade of R . capsulatus are summarized . Two levels of control are present . The first level of control involves the nitrogen sensing circuitry in which at least four proteins act in a cascade . Upon nitrogen deficiency, genes involved in the second level of control are transcriptionally activated . These genes encode regulatory proteins that subsequently activate transcription of all other nif genes under anaerobic conditions . The R . capsulatus cascade is compared to the nif regulatory cascade in Klebsiella pneumoniae, highlighting both common and unique aspects.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Nov, 34(11), 2070 - 4
Ceftriaxone-sulbactam combination in rabbit endocarditis caused by a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-broad-spectrum TEM-3 beta-lactamase; Caron F et al.; We studied the activity of the combination of sulbactam and ceftriaxone against a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain producing TEM-3, a new extended-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase, in an endocarditis model . In vitro, ceftriaxone was strongly inactivated in the presence of TEM-3 (MBC, 128 micrograms/ml with an inoculum of 5 x 10(5) CFU/ml) . A marked inoculum effect was demonstrated with sulbactam: effective concentrations of inhibitor needed to reduce the MIC and MBC of ceftriaxone to similar levels increased from 1 microgram/ml in the presence of an inoculum of 5 x 10(5) CFU/ml to 20 micrograms/ml in the presence of an inoculum of 1 x 10(7) CFU/ml . In vivo, sulbactam given at 200 mg/kg of body weight every 12 h, a dosage higher than that previously reported to be effective against rabbit endocarditis caused by other microorganisms, was not sufficient to restore the complete activity of ceftriaxone given at 30 mg/kg once daily for 4 days . This insufficient activity may be correlated with the presence of a high level of beta-lactamase inside the vegetations, as indicated by a quantitative in vitro assay of beta-lactamase activity in the cardiac vegetation, suggesting an insufficient inactivation of the extended-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase in vivo.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1990 Nov, 274(2), 239 - 45
Type of fimbriation determines adherence of Klebsiella bacteria to human epithelial cells; Wurker M et al.; Clinical isolates of three Klebsiella strains (encapsulated and nonencapsulated mutants) with type 1 (mannose-sensitive, MS+MR-), type 3 (mannose-resistant, MS-MR+) and type 1 and 3 (MS+MR+) fimbriae were investigated for their ability to adhere to epithelial cells . Considerable adhesion to human buccal, tracheal, pulmonary and uroepithelial cells could be demonstrated . Independent of encapsulation and type of epithelial cells, adhesion of MS+MR+ (type 1.3) fimbriated Klebsiella bacteria was significantly stronger than adhesion of microorganisms carrying only type 1 (MS+MR-) or type 3 (MS-MR+) fimbriate, respectively . Adherence of nonencapsulated type 1 and 3 (MS+MR+) fimbriated Klebsiella bacteria to mammalian cells was significantly inhibited in the presence of D-mannose . Certain carbohydrates (D-glucose, D-galactose) did not interfere with this adhesion process.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Oct 5, 265(28), 16913 - 21
Conversion of 5-S-methyl-5-thio-D-ribose to methionine in Klebsiella pneumoniae . Stable isotope incorporation studies of the terminal enzymatic reactions in the pathway; Myers RW et al.; Extracts of Klebsiella pneumoniae convert 5-S-methyl-5-thio-D-ribose (methylthioribose) to methionine and formate . To probe the terminal steps of this biotransformation, {1-13C}methylthioribose has been synthesized and its metabolism examined . When supplemented with Mg2+, ATP, L-glutamine, and dioxygen, cell-free extracts of K . pneumoniae converted 50% of the {1-13C}methylthioribose to {13C}formate . The formation of {13C}formate was established by 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy studies of the purified formate, and by 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry studies of its p-phenylphenacyl derivative . By contrast, no incorporation of label from {1-13C}methylthioribose into the biosynthesized methionine was detected by either mass spectrometry or 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy . The most reasonable interpretation of these results is that C-1 of methylthioribose is converted directly to formate concomitant with the conversion of carbon atoms 2-5 to methionine . The penultimate step in the conversion of methylthioribose to methionine and formate is an oxidative carbon-carbon bond cleavage reaction in which an equivalent of dioxygen is consumed . To investigate the fate of the dioxygen utilized in this reaction, the metabolism of {1-13C}methylthioribose in the presence of 18O2 was also examined . Mass spectrometry revealed the biosynthesis of substantial amounts of both {18O1}methionine and {13C, 18O1}formate under these conditions . These results suggest that the oxidative transformation in the conversion of methylthioribose to methionine and formate may be catalyzed by a novel intramolecular dioxygenase . A mechanism for this dioxygenase is proposed.

Cell, 1990 Oct 5, 63(1), 11 - 22
The integration host factor stimulates interaction of RNA polymerase with NIFA, the transcriptional activator for nitrogen fixation operons; Hoover TR et al.; The regulatory protein NIFA activates transcription of nitrogen fixation (nif) operons by the sigma 54 holoenzyme form of RNA polymerase . NIFA from Klebsiella pneumoniae activates transcription from the nifH promoter in vitro; in addition, the integration host factor, IHF, binds between the nifH promoter and an upstream binding site for NIFA . We demonstrate here that IHF greatly stimulates NIFA-mediated activation of nifH transcription in vitro and thus that the two factors are functionally synergistic . Electron micrographs indicate that IHF bends the DNA in the nifH promoter regulatory region . Although IHF binds close to the nifH promoter, it does not directly stimulate binding of sigma 54 holoenzyme . Rather, the IHF-induced bend may facilitate productive contacts between NIFA and sigma 54 holoenzyme that lead to the formation of open complexes . IHF binds to nif promoter regulatory regions from a variety of organisms within the phylum "purple bacteria," suggesting a general ability to stimulate NIFA-mediated activation of nif transcription.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Oct, 172(10), 6084 - 9
Synthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase is inhibited by a low-molecular-weight metabolite of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Downs DM et al.; The in vitro synthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor nitrogenase was inhibited by a low-molecular-weight factor . This inhibitory factor was present in the membrane extracts of wild-type and nif mutant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae that were grown under conditions that either repressed or derepressed nitrogenase expression . In vitro, the inhibition was specific for the NifB protein . Addition of this factor to K . pneumoniae cells at various times during nif derepression decreased nitrogenase activity, presumably through inhibition of iron-molybdenum cofactor synthesis . The inhibitor was purified by solvent extraction and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, silica gel, and aluminum oxide columns.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Oct, 172(10), 5837 - 43
Sequence of the Klebsiella aerogenes urease genes and evidence for accessory proteins facilitating nickel incorporation; Mulrooney SB et al.; A 4.8-kilobase-pair region of cloned DNA encoding the genes of the Klebsiella aerogenes urease operon has been sequenced . Six closely spaced open reading frames were found: ureA (encoding a peptide of 11.1 kilodaltons {kDa}), ureB (11.7-kDa peptide), ureC (60.3-kDa peptide), ureE (17.6-kDa peptide), ureF (25.2-kDa peptide), and ureG (21.9-kDa peptide) . Immediately after the ureG gene is a putative rho-dependent transcription terminator . The three subunits of the nickel-containing enzyme are encoded by ureA, ureB, and ureC based on protein structural studies and sequence homology to jack bean urease . Potential roles for ureE, ureF, and ureG were explored by deleting these accessory genes from the operon . The deletion mutant produced inactive urease, which was partially purified and found to have the same subunit stoichiometry and native size as the active enzyme but which contained no significant levels of nickel . The three accessory genes were able to activate apo-urease in vivo when they were cloned into a compatible expression vector and cotransformed into cells carrying the plasmid containing ureA, ureB, and ureC . Thus, one or more of the ureE, ureF, or ureG gene products are involved in nickel incorporation into urease.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Oct, 172(10), 5991 - 8
Tn1000-mediated insertion mutagenesis of the histidine utilization (hut) gene cluster from Klebsiella aerogenes: genetic analysis of hut and unusual target specificity of Tn1000; Schwacha A et al.; The histidine utilization (hut) genes from Klebsiella aerogenes were cloned in both orientations into the HindIII site of plasmid pBR325, and the two resulting plasmids, pCB120 and pCB121, were subjected to mutagenesis with Tn1000 . The insertion sites of Tn1000 into pCB121 were evenly distributed throughout the plasmid, but the insertion sites into pCB120 were not . There was a large excess of Tn1000 insertions in the "plus" or gamma delta orientation in a small, ca . 3.5-kilobase region of the plasmid . Genetic analysis of the Tn1000 insertions in pCB120 and pCB121 showed that the hutUH genes form an operon transcribed from hutU and that the hutC gene (encoding the hut-specific repressor) is independently transcribed from its own promoter . The hutIG cluster appears not to form an operon . Curiously, insertions in hutI gave two different phenotypes in complementation tests against hutG504, suggesting either that hutI contains two functionally distinct domains or that there may be another undefined locus within the hut cluster . The set of Tn1000 insertions allowed an assignment of the gene boundaries within the hut cluster, and minicell analysis of the polypeptides expressed from plasmids carrying insertions in the hut genes showed that the hutI, hutG, hutU, and hutH genes encode polypeptides of 43, 33, 57, and 54 kilodaltons, respectively.

Indian J Pathol Microbiol, 1990 Oct, 33(4), 304 - 6
Klebocine typing of Klebsiella species isolated from diarrhoeal children under 5 years in Madras, India; Rao UA et al.; Klebocine typing of Klebsiella isolated as single pathogen from diarrhoeal diseases in children under five years revealed prominent type 4143 (14.8%) and 3322 (12.9%) . There was no seasonal variation noticed.

Indian J Biochem Biophys, 1990 Oct, 27(5), 291 - 4
Chromotropic character of bacterial acidic polysaccharides: Part III--Interaction of cationic dye pinacyanol chloride with Klebsiella K15 capsular polysaccharide; Mitra A et al.; Interaction of cationic dye pinacyanol chloride with the acidic capsular polysaccharide isolated from Klebsiella serotype K15 has been investigated by spectral measurements . Klebsiella K15 polysaccharide consists of hexasaccharide repeating units containing one residue each of glucuronic acid and glucose, and four residues of galactose . Glucuronic acid acts as the potential anionic site and the biopolymer interacts with the dye cations . It induces metachromasy in the dye and a blue shift of about 100 nm is observed in the visible absorption spectrum of the dye . Spectral measurements have been carried out at different polymer/dye molar ratios . Stoichiometry of polymer and dye in the polyanion-dye compound (1:1) indicates that every potential anionic site of the polyanion is associated with the dye cation, and stacking conformation is thus suggested . Effect of different non-aqueous solvents in reversing metachromasy has also been studied . Interaction studies exhibit chromotropic character of the biopolymer.

Revmatologiia (Mosk), 1990 Oct-Dec, (4), 33 - 4
{Determination of lymphocyte receptors to Klebsiella in ankylosing spondylitis}; Belen'kii AG et al.; The authors give the results of determining receptors to Klebsiella antigens on the surface of the peripheral blood lymphocytes in ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) . They examined 21 patients with AS, 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 healthy individuals . Determination of the receptors was done in the reaction of indirect rosette formation . An ultrasonic disintegrate of Klebsiella culture isolated from a patient with AS was used as an antigen . Favourable results were obtained in 10 patients with AS and in none of the cases in the group of patients with RA and in healthy individuals . A higher specificity of the reaction of antigen binding lymphocytes was shown.

Biochemistry, 1990 Sep 18, 29(37), 8577 - 81
Citrate substitutes for homocitrate in nitrogenase of a nifV mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Liang J et al.; An organic acid extracted from purified dinitrogenase isolated from a nifV mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae has been identified as citric acid . H2 evolution by the citrate-containing dinitrogenase is partially inhibited by CO, and by some substrates for nitrogenase . The response of maximum velocities to changes in pH for both the wild-type and the NifV- dinitrogenase was compared . No substantial differences between the enzymes were observed, but there are minor differences . Both enzymes are stable in the pH range 4.8-10, but the enzyme activities dropped dramatically below pH 6.2.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Sep 15, 265(26), 15909 - 19
Genes required for formation of the apoMoFe protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase in Escherichia coli; Harris GS et al.; A binary plasmid system was used to produce nitrogenase components in Escherichia coli and subsequently to define a minimum set of nitrogen fixation (nif) genes required for the production of the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) reactivatable apomolybdenum-iron (apoMoFe) protein of nitrogenase . The active MoFe protein is an alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer containing two FeMoco clusters and 4 Fe4S4 P centers (for review see, Orme-Johnson, W.H . (1985) Annu . Rev . Biophys . Biophys . Chem . 14, 419-459) . The plasmid pVL15, carrying a tac-promoted nifA activator gene, was coharbored in E . coli with the plasmid pGH1 which contained nifHDKTYENXUSVWZMF' derived from the chromosome of the nitrogen fixing bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae . The apoMoFe protein produced in E . coli by pGH1 + VL15 was identical to the apoprotein in derepressed cells of the nifB- mutant of K . pneumoniae (UN106) in its electrophoretic properties on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels as well as in its ability to be activated by FeMoco . The constituent peptides migrated identically to those from purified MoFe protein during electrophoresis on denaturing gels . The concentrations of apoMoFe protein produced in nif-transformed strains of E . coli were greater than 50% of the levels of MoFe protein observed in derepressed wild-type K . pneumoniae . Systematic deletion of individual nif genes carried by pGH1 has established the requirements for the maximal production of the FeMoco-reactivatable apoMoFe protein to be the following gene products, NifHDKTYUSWZM+A . It appears that several of the genes (nifT, Y, U, W, and Z) are only required for maximal production of the apoMoFe protein, while others (nifH, D, K, and S) are absolutely required for synthesis of this protein in E . coli . One curious result is that the nifH gene product, the peptide of the Fe protein, but not active Fe protein itself, is required for formation of the apoMoFe protein . This suggests the possibility of a ternary complex of the NifH, D, and K peptides as the substrate for the processing to form the apoMoFe protein . We also find that nifM, the gene which processes the nifH protein into Fe protein (Howard, K.S., McLean, P.A., Hansen, F . B., Lemley, P.V., Kobla, K.S . & Orme-Johnson, W.H . (1986) J . Biol . Chem . 261, 772-778) can, under certain circumstances, partially replace other processing genes (i.e . nifTYU and/or WZ) although it is not essential for apoMoFe protein formation . It also appears that nifS and nifU, reported to play a role in Fe protein production in Azotobacter vinelandii, play no such role in K . pneumoniae, although these genes are involved in apoMoFe formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Sep 15, 59(3), 337 - 43
Cloning of Klebsiella pneumoniae pqq genes and PQQ biosynthesis in Escherichia coli; Meulenberg JJ et al.; We have cloned genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae which are required for pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) biosynthesis . The cloned 6.7 kb fragment can complement several chromosomal pqq mutants . Escherichia coli strains are unable to synthesize PQQ but E . coli strains containing the cloned 6.7 kb K . pneumoniae fragment can synthesize PQQ in large amounts and E . coli pts mutants can be complemented on minimal glucose medium by this clone.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1990 Sep 3, 1040(2), 301 - 7
Structural and chemical properties of a flavodoxin from Anabaena PCC 7119; Fillat MF et al.; Structural and chemical properties of a flavodoxin from Anabaena PCC 7119 are described . The first 36 residues of the amino-terminal amino acid sequence have been determined and show extensive homology with flavodoxins isolated from other sources . Anabaena flavodoxin exhibits a net negative change (-3) in the helix-1 segment as found with other cyanobacterial flavodoxins Synechococcus 6301 (Anacystis nidulans) and Nostoc MAC, but in contrast to the net positive charge found in this region in the case of flavodoxins isolated from nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azotobacter and Klebsiella) . The FMN cofactor can be reversibly resolved from the apoprotein by trichloroacetic acid treatment . Apoflavodoxin, thus prepared, binds FMN with a Kd value of 0.1 nM and binds riboflavin with a decreased affinity (Kd = 5 microM) at pH 7.2 . The apoprotein is stable in dilute solutions at pH values around 7 but readily denatures at pH 8 as judged from loss in flavin-binding ability and by ultraviolet circular dichroism spectroscopy . Oxidation-reduction potential studies at pH values of 7 and 8 show OX/SQ couples of -195 mV and -255 mV, respectively, and show SQ/HQ couples of -390 mV and -418 mV, respectively . From these data, the binding constant for the FMN semiquinone is calculated to be approx . 5-fold tighter and the binding of the FMN hydroquinone is approx . 10(5)-fold weaker than that of the oxidized FMN to the apoprotein . Anabaena flavodoxin functions as an effective mediator of electron transfer from ferredoxin-NADP(+)-reductase to cytochrome c with a turnover number {4.5-5) x 10(3) min-1); a values similar to that determined for Anabaena ferredoxin . The flavodoxin binds tightly to the reductase with Kd values of 6.4 and 8.5 microM at pH values of 7.0 and 8.0, respectively.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Sep, 4(9), 1557 - 65
Cloning and physical mapping of the sor genes for L-sorbose transport and metabolism from Klebsiella pneumoniae; Wohrl BM et al.; The sor genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae KAY2026, which enable the bacterium to metabolize the ketose L-sorbose, have been cloned on an 8.3kb DNA fragment into the multicopy plasmid, pACYC184 . The genes were mapped by restriction analysis, by deletion mapping and by insertion mutagenesis with Tn1725 . The corresponding gene products were identified by the maxicell technique . The structural genes sorD, sorA and sorE code for a D-glucitol-6-P dehydrogenase (27 kilodalton (kD)), an Enzymell (EllSor) activity specific for L-sorbose and an L-sorbose-1-P reductase (45kD) . Besides these genes for known functions, three additional genes were discovered: sorC, coding for a transcriptional 40kD regulatory protein, and sorF and sorB, coding for two proteins of 14kD and 19kD, respectively, involved in transport . The genes form an operon (gene order sorCpCDFBAE) and are inducible by L-sorbose.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Sep, 4(9), 1497 - 504
Analysis of site-directed mutations in the alpha- and beta-subunits of Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase; Kent HM et al.; Using directed mutagenesis, amino acid substitutions have been made in the alpha- and beta-subunits of the klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase component 1 at positions normally occupied by conserved cysteine or tyrosine residues . Nif+, Nif- and intermediate phenotypes have been obtained . To extend our earlier biochemical characterization (Kent et al., 1989) the electrophoretic mobility of component 1 of the mutant and wild-type nitrogenases has been analysed by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis . The major and minor forms of component 1 separated by this methodology have been probed for by using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies . All Nif+ mutants exhibited a distribution of electrophoretic forms of component 1 comparable to the wild type, and the abundance of the major form found in purified nitrogenase correlated approximately with the specific activity of the extract . In contrast, after electrophoresis, component 1 from Nif- mutants exhibited either a major low-mobility form or a fast-moving form . Analysis of nitrogenase polypeptides synthesized in the absence of co-factor (FeMoco) allowed us to conclude that changing cysteine 275 to alanine in the alpha-subunit produces component 1 defective in its interaction with FeMoco . Substitution of other conserved cysteine residues by alanine appears to prevent early steps in nitrogenase assembly or to promote degradation . Two single mutations (cysteine 89 to alanine in the alpha-subunit and cysteine 94 to alanine in the beta-subunit) which are tightly Nif- can be combined to produce a weakly active nitrogenase, indicating regions involved in the interaction between subunits.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Sep, 34(9), 1783 - 6
In vitro activities of 15 oral beta-lactams against Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring new extended-spectrum beta-lactamases; Kitzis MD et al.; The activities of 15 oral beta-lactams against Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring new extended-spectrum beta-lactamases were studied . All compounds were affected by these enzymes, especially by the SHV derivatives . Except for ceftibuten, the compounds with the greatest intrinsic activity were more affected by the presence of these enzymes than were older compounds with moderate intrinsic activity.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1990 Sep, 35(9), 45 - 7
{Role of microbiological surveillance in the choice of antibacterial therapy for intestinal Klebsiella infection in infants}; Martynenko LD et al.; Data on the frequency of intestinal infections caused by Klebsiella spp . in infants at the age of 1 month to 1 year and antibiotic resistance of K . pneumoniae and K . oxytoca isolates from newborns and infants aged 1 month to 1 year are presented . The frequency of the Klebsiella isolates from the newborns and infants at the age of 1 month to 1 year with acute intestinal infections amounted to 17.7 +/- 1.4 and 42.5 +/- 1.4 per cent, respectively . The majority of the clinical strains had a multiple resistance to 7-9 drugs . The overwhelming majority of the strains were sensitive to gentamicin, monomycin, kanamycin, neomycin and polymyxin B.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Sep, 26(3), 343 - 51
The effect of sodium salicylate on antibiotic susceptibility and synergy in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Domenico P et al.; Sodium salicylate was combined with the antibiotics amikacin, aztreonam, cefazolin, cefonicid, cefoperazone, ceftizoxime, norfloxacin, doxycycline, clindamycin, imipenem, mezlocillin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole . The activity of the combinations was tested against encapsulated strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which differed markedly in their antibiotic susceptibility . The addition of salicylate (from 2 to 350 mg/l) to cultures increased the MIC of most antimicrobial agents from two- to four-fold, with the exception of imipenem and amikacin . Inhibition by imipenem was largely unchanged, and that of amikacin was increased in the presence of salicylate . The synergy of the combination of cefazolin and amikacin was abolished by salicylate, while the synergistic activity of imipenem and amikacin was significantly increased by salicylate . Doxycycline activity was most severely affected by salicylate as antimicrobial activity was significantly diminished at salicylate levels as low as 5 mg/l . In contrast, significant loss of inhibitory activity with other antimicrobials required at least 100 mg/l of salicylate . The clinical implications of salicylate on the sensitivity of K . pneumoniae to antimicrobials are discussed.

J Infect Dis, 1990 Sep, 162(3), 717 - 22
Antibacterial activity of four cephalosporins in an experimental infection in relation to in vitro effect and pharmacokinetics; Mattie H et al.; The in vitro activity of four cephalosporins was compared with their effects in an experimental thigh infection (cefuroxime and cefamandole against Escherichia coli and cefamandole, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime against Klebsiella pneumoniae) in granulocytopenic mice . The effect in vitro (ER) was defined as the difference between the growth rate without antibiotic and the growth rate at the steepest part of a 3-h growth curve in the presence of an antibiotic . The relation between concentration and ER was described with the Hill equation . Using pharmacokinetic parameters of the plasma concentrations in vivo and those of the Hill equation the corresponding time course of ER was calculated and by integration with respect to time (0tERdt), an estimate was obtained of the effect on bacteria . For all four antibiotics this estimate was significantly correlated with the actual values of the effect in vivo (EN), defined as the difference in numbers of bacteria between controls and antibiotic-treated animals at 4 h.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Sep, 172(9), 4798 - 806
Genetic regulation of formate hydrogenlyase of Escherichia coli: role of the fhlA gene product as a transcriptional activator for a new regulatory gene, fhlB; Maupin JA et al.; A new gene whose product is required for the production of formate hydrogenlyase (FHL) has been identified in Escherichia coli . This gene, termed fhlB, maps between the frdA (94.4 min) and argI (96.6 min) genes on the E . coli chromosome and is transcribed in a clockwise direction toward argI . Biochemical analysis of an FhlB- mutant, strain SE-2011 {phi(fhlB-lacZ+)}, revealed that the mutant lacks formate dehydrogenase activity associated with FHL (FDH-H) and hydrogenase activity . As a result of these defects, fermentative hydrogen production and hydrogen uptake reactions were undetectable in strain SE-2011 . Fumarate reductase activity of this mutant was also reduced to about 15% of the levels of the parent (strain MC4100), and strain SE-2011 did not produce succinate as a fermentation end product . Regulation of expression of the fhlB gene, studied as production of beta-galactosidase activity by strain SE-2011, revealed that the operon is expressed at low levels under aerobic conditions . Under anaerobic growth conditions, this activity increased by two- to threefold . Addition of formate enhanced the differential rate of synthesis of the fhlB gene product to as high as 130 U of beta-galactosidase specific activity per microgram of cell protein, but only under anaerobic conditions . Formate-dependent expression of phi(fhlB-lacZ+) required the sigma 54 subunit of RNA polymerase and the fhlA gene product . The concentration of formate required for maximum expression of the fhlB gene was about 15 mM; this value decreased to about 3 mM in the presence of plasmid pSE-133, which carries the fhlA gene in a multicopy plasmid . DNA sequence analysis of the fhlA gene showed that the FhlA protein is 686 amino acids long and has an anhydrous molecular weight of 78,086 . On the basis of sequence homology with other transcriptional activators such as NtrC, HydG, and Klebsiella pneumoniae NifA proteins, the FhlA protein was deduced to be a transcriptional activator controlling the production of FHL . It is proposed that formate interacts with the FhlA protein and that this active complex initiates transcription of the fhlB gene . The FhlA and FhlB proteins act as a cascade in regulating the production of FDH-H and the FHL-linked hydrogenase and ultimately the production of FHL and fermentative hydrogen.

Infect Immun, 1990 Sep, 58(9), 2828 - 33
Murine monoclonal antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae protect against lethal endotoxemia and experimental infection with capsulated K . pneumoniae; Mandine E et al.; To prepare monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the core-lipid A fractions of smooth lipopoly-saccharide (LPS) from Klebsiella pneumoniae O1:K2, we immunized BALB/c mice with the LPS-associated proteins plus LPS . This preparation exposed the core-lipid A moiety, which is normally hidden in the micellar structure of classical LPS preparations . Among 10 MAbs selected for their reactivity with LPS-associated proteins plus LPS from K . pneumoniae O1:K2, 6 (3A3, 3C2, 3C4, 7D2, 11C3, and 12B6) were directed against the core fraction and 2 (6C5 and 10A5) were directed against the lipid A fraction . Only one (2A4) recognized the O antigen, and one (6D5) had an undefined specificity . When injected before challenge with K . pneumoniae O1:K2 LPS in galactosamine-sensitized mice, five of the MAbs (3C4, 6D5, 7D2, 11C3, and 12B6) provided protection in this model of lethal endotoxemia . MAb 7D2 was also protective in an experimental infection with capsulated K . pneumoniae O1:K2.

Eur J Biochem, 1990 Aug 28, 192(1), 161 - 6
Citrate lyase from Klebsiella pneumoniae . The complete primary structure of the acyl lyase subunit; Hupperich M et al.; The primary structure of the beta-subunit (acyl lyase subunit) of citrate lyase from Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13,882) was determined with protein chemical methods . The polypeptide chain consists of 289 amino acid residues and has a molecular mass of 31,352 Da . The two half-cystine residues of the subunit are present as cysteines and not involved in disulfide bridges . The sequence shows no homology to known sequences of proteins or nucleic acids and reads (sequence; see text)

Am J Clin Pathol, 1990 Aug, 94(2), 222 - 3
False positive mononucleosis screening test results associated with Klebsiella hepatic abscess; Ridker PM et al.; False positive heterophile test results for infectious mononucleosis are rare but may lead to diagnostic confusion . A patient with Klebsiella hepatic abscess is described in whom a persistently false positive heterophile test resulted in delayed appropriate diagnosis and therapy.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Aug, 4(8), 1253 - 8
The influence of the Klebsiella pneumoniae regulatory gene nifL upon the transcriptional activator protein NifA; Morett E et al.; The influence of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifL gene product upon the interaction of the transcriptional activator protein NifA with the nifH promoter has been examined using in vivo dimethylsulphate 'footprinting' . Binding of NifA to the upstream activator sequence (UAS) of the nifH promoter in the presence of the NifL protein was observed under nitrogen-limiting growth conditions . Growth in the presence of NH4+ or addition of NH4+ to nitrogen-limited cells diminished the interaction of NifA with the UAS when NifL was present . Repression of nif transcription by NifL may therefore involve an interaction between NifL and NifA which reduces the affinity of NifA for the UAS.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Aug, 172(8), 4482 - 8
Genetic evidence that NarL function is not required for nitrate regulation of nitrate assimilation in Klebsiella pneumoniae M5al; Stewart V et al.; We cloned the narL gene, required for nitrate induction of respiratory nitrate reductase synthesis, from Klebsiella pneumoniae . The E . coli narL gene product shares sequence similarity with the response regulator proteins of two-component regulatory systems . We found that narL(+)-containing plasmids restored nitrate regulation of anaerobic respiratory gene expression in appropriate Escherichia coli hosts . The K . pneumoniae narL region encoded a protein whose migration in Laemmli gels was indistinguishable from that of the narL product of E . coli . We constructed a narL::Km mutant of K . pneumoniae . This mutation abolished nitrate induction of respiratory nitrate reductase synthesis but had no effect on nitrate induction of assimilatory nitrate and nitrite reductase synthesis . We conclude that K . pneumoniae has distinct nitrate-responsive regulators for controlling respiratory and assimilatory gene expression.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Aug, 172(8), 4427 - 31
Purification, characterization, and in vivo reconstitution of Klebsiella aerogenes urease apoenzyme; Lee MH et al.; Urease was purified from recombinant Klebsiella aerogenes which was grown in the absence of nickel . The protein was inactive and contained no transition metals, yet it possessed the same heteropolymeric structure as native enzyme, demonstrating that Ni is not required for intersubunit association . Ni did, however, substantially increase the stability of the intact metalloprotein (Tm = 79 degrees C) compared with apoenzyme (Tm = 62 degrees C), as revealed by differential scanning calorimetric analysis . An increased number of histidine residues were accessible to diethyl pyrocarbonate in apourease compared with holoenzyme, consistent with possible Ni ligation by histidinyl residues . Addition of Ni to purified apourease did not yield active enzyme; however, urease apoenzyme was very slowly activated in vivo by addition of Ni ions to Ni-free cell cultures, even after treatment of the cells with spectinomycin to inhibit protein synthesis . In contrast, sonicated cells and cells treated with dinitrophenol or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide were incapable of activating apourease . These results indicate that apourease activation is an energy-dependent process that is destroyed by cell disruption.

Anal Biochem, 1990 Aug 1, 188(2), 300 - 4
Two-step isolation of bacterial ribonucleic acid without using a chaotropic agent or cesium chloride centrifugation; Chang CL et al.; A simple RNA isolation method was developed to purify bacterial RNAs from a large number of samples simultaneously in an hour . The method is based on boiling the cells in the presence of Triton X-100 and lysozyme, and then preferential RNA precipitation with ammonium acetate . There is no CsCl centrifugation required . For the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, the depression condition can be maintained during the cell-harvesting process . The intact isolated RNAs appeared to be free of protein, with a yield of 100 micrograms RNA from a 4-ml cell culture of 100 Klett units (10(9) cells/ml) . Any DNA present was in a form that did not react with a nifH probe following Northern blotting to nitrocellulose (i.e., was not single-stranded).

J Bacteriol, 1990 Jul, 172(7), 3758 - 71
Bacterial cell shape regulation: testing of additional predictions unique to the two-competing-sites model for peptidoglycan assembly and isolation of conditional rod-shaped mutants from some wild-type cocci; Lleo MM et al.; The two-competing-sites model for peptidoglycan assembly for bacterial cell shape regulation suggests that in rods, bacterial cell shape depends on the balance between two reactions (sites), one responsible for lateral wall elongation and the other responsible for septum formation . The two reactions compete with each other so that no lateral wall can be formed during septum formation and vice versa . When the site for lateral wall elongation overcomes that for septum formation, long rods or filaments are formed and cell division may be blocked . When the reaction leading to septum formation is hyperactive compared with the other, coccobacilli or cocci are formed . Other bacteria carry only one site for peptidoglycan assembly and can grow only as cocci . The two-competing-sites model predicts that two different types of cocci exist (among both morphology mutants and wild-type strains); one carries only the site for septum formation, whereas the other also carries the site for lateral wall elongation, the former site predominating over the latter . As a consequence of the inhibition (by antibiotics or by mutations) of septum formation in wild-type cocci of various species and in coccoid morphology mutants, some cocci are expected to undergo transition to rod shape and others are not . We have evaluated these predictions and show that they are in agreement . In fact, we found that among wild-type cocci belonging to 13 species, those of 6 species formed rods, whereas the remaining organisms maintained their coccal shape when septa were inhibited by antibiotics . Some coccoid morphology mutants of rod-shaped bacteria underwent coccus-to-rod transition after septum inhibition by antibiotics, whereas others maintained their coccal shape . When a mutation that causes septum inhibition was expressed in a morphology mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae grown as a coccus, transition to rod shape was observed . A total of 914 mutants unable to form colonies at 42 degrees C were isolated from the coccoid species mentioned above . Between 75 and 95% of the mutants isolated from the species that formed rods when septum formation was inhibited by antibiotics but none of those isolated from the others underwent coccus-to-rod transition upon incubation at the nonpermissive temperature.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Jul, (7), 43 - 6
{The immunobiological properties of the antigenic preparations obtained from a vaccinal strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae 204 grown in media of differing compositions}; Miriasova LV et al.; In the technology of the cultivation of K . pneumoniae vaccine strain 204 with a view to obtaining biomass for the production of antigenic preparations the traditionally used culture medium with full nutritional value has been replaced by the alternative variant of synthetic medium . The specific physiological and morphological features of this strain grown in synthetic culture medium have been studied and described . Irrespective of the composition of the culture media used for cultivation, the antigenic preparations have been shown to have no difference in their chemical composition, immunogenic and toxic properties.

Rev Infect Dis, 1990 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 672 - 82
Klebsiella pulmonary infections: occurrence at one medical center and review; Carpenter JL; Klebsiella pneumoniae is the species of aerobic gram-negative bacteria most commonly recognized as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia . The vast majority of articles concerning the epidemiology, frequency, and clinical and radiographic features of community-acquired pneumonias caused by this organism are over 20 years old . Experience with community-acquired pneumonias due to K . pneumoniae at one medical center over the last 20 years is reported and compared with the previously published literature . The recent experience at Parkland Memorial is quite similar to that in the literature . Salient features include the infrequency of K . pneumoniae as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia, the lack of specificity and sensitivity of most clinical and radiographic findings, and the similarity to and potential confusion with anaerobic pneumonitis and cavitary lung disease if only expectorated sputums are utilized for diagnosis in certain population groups such as alcoholics.

Am J Gastroenterol, 1990 Jul, 85(7), 865 - 7
Central nervous system infection after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy; Wang WM et al.; Central nervous system (CNS) infection is a rare complication of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) for esophageal varices . We report two patients, one of whom developed a solitary brain abscess, and the other, acute meningitis, after EIS . They presented with high fever initially, and then with changes in mental status . In the case of the solitary brain abscess, the CSF revealed evidence of infection, and CT scan disclosed a brain abscess in the left temporo-parieto-occipital region . This patient received EIS six times and developed the CNS complication 4 wk after the last EIS . There was no growth in either the CSF or the abscess cultures in this case . The other patient with acute meningitis, which developed on the second day after the second session of EIS, had a positive CSF culture of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Both of these patients died despite antibiotic treatment, and craniotomy with drainage in the patient with a brain abscess.

Mol Gen Genet, 1990 Jul, 222(2-3), 176 - 84
Five additional genes in the pulC-O operon of the gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella oxytoca UNF5023 which are required for pullulanase secretion; Reyss I et al.; DNA sequence analysis, Tnpho and Tntac-1, mutagenesis, deletion analysis, expression under bacteriophage T7 gene 10 promoter control, subcellular fractionation and complementation tests were used to study the function of DNA located in the centre of the pulC-O operon from Klebsiella oxytoca strain UNF5023 . The characterized region of the operon includes five genes (pulG, pulH, pulI, pulJ and pulK) coding for apparently integral inner membrane proteins which are required for pullulanase secretion . The results presented here and previously show that the pulC-O operon contains at least 11 pullulanase secretion genes.

Paediatr Indones, 1990 Jul-Aug, 30(7-8), 191 - 7
Nosocomial infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Department of Child Health, Dr . Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung; Sjahrodji AM; This study was conducted prospectively on neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Child Health, Dr . Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, during the period of August 1, 1988 until January 31, 1989 . The incidence rate was 51.6% . There were 9 males (56%) and 7 females (44%) . Bacteriemia was the most common type of nosocomial infection and E . coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common etiology . All bacteriae were 100% sensitive to amikacin but 10% resistant to ampicillin and almost 100% sensitive to netilmycin and cefotaxime but almost 100% resistant to chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol and tobramycin . Based on this study, it is suggested that the treatment of nosocomial infection in the NICU should be initiated with amikacin or netilmycin or cefotaxime.

J Formos Med Assoc, 1990 Jul, 89(7), 571 - 6
Pyogenic liver abscess: clinical manifestations and value of percutaneous catheter drainage treatment; Cheng DL et al.; One hundred and sixty-two patients with solitary or multiple pyogenic liver abscesses received surgical or medical treatment in the past 8 years . Fifty-seven patients were treated medically (medical group), 62 patients received medical treatment plus sonogram-guided percutaneous drainage (PCD group), and 43 patients received surgical drainage (surgical group) . Aerobic gram-negative rods were the predominant causative microorganisms . Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common microorganism, occurring in 46.9% (76/162) of the cases . Anaerobes occurred in 16.7% (27/162) of the cases . In the evaluation of treatment, the success rates for these three groups were: medical group, 59.6% (34/57); PCD group, 90.3% (56/62); and surgical group, 83.7% (36/43) . This retrospective study confirms evidence from a small series that medical treatment plus percutaneous catheter drainage is efficient and more convenient than conventional surgical drainage for pyogenic liver abscesses . The frequent severe septic emboli to distant organs noted in this series (11.1%; 18/162) are quite unusual and should be anticipated in the future.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1990 Jun, 35(6), 24 - 6
{Antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella from coastal waters of the Caspian and Baltic seas}; Moiseenko NN; Antibiotic resistant Klebsiella spp . were found to be widely distributed in coastal waters of seas to which sewage was discharged: 69.9 and 85.9%, in the waters of the Baltic and Caspian seas, respectively, the number of the strains with multiple resistance was 18.1 and 19.9%, respectively . Among the Klebsiella spp . with multiple resistance, 40% from the Baltic sea and 58.1% from the Caspian sea had conjugative R plasmids . Statistically significant regional differences in the content of antibiotic resistant Klebsiella spp . and the pattern of their antibiotic resistance were shown.

J Pharmacobiodyn, 1990 Jun, 13(6), 361 - 6
Isolation of bacterial strains, which hydrolyze glycyrrhizin and produce glycyrrhezic acid, from soil; Tanaka M et al.; We isolated eight bacterial strains which could hydrolyze glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhezic acid . The bacterial strains were identified as three strains of Pseudomonas saccharophila, two of Plesiomonas sp., one of Pseudomonas stutzeri, one of Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp . ozaenae and one of Kluyvera ascorbata . Their capacity for the conversion of glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhezic acid was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography . P . saccharophila 11 was the most effective among the eight strains . Then, beta-glucuronidase, which is responsible for hydrolysis of glycyrrhizin, activity was assayed with p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucuronide as a substrate . P . saccharophila 11 showed the highest beta-glucuronidase activity among the eight strains . This indicates that P . saccharophila 11 may be useful for production of glycyrrhezic acid from glycyrrhizin by industrial fermentation.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Jun 1, 57(3), 195 - 200
Separation of plasmid-mediated extended spectrum beta-lactamases by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC system); Payne DJ et al.; We have devised a reliable procedure for the separation of three beta-lactamases of isoelectric focusing points (pI), 5.4, 6.5, and 7.9 by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC System) . All of these enzymes were transferable and originated from a ceftazidime and cefotaxime resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated in Bombay, India . The complete separation of the enzymes, achievable by this method, allowed each of the different individual beta-lactamases to be characterized biochemically . This analysis revealed that the enzymes of pI 6.5 and pI 7.9 hydrolysed ceftazidime and cefotaxime, and were responsible for the resistance of K . pneumoniae, and its Escherichia coli J53-2 transconjugant to third generation cephalosporins . The enzyme of pI 5.4 was the TEM-1 beta-lactamase . The beta-lactamase of pI 7.9 appears quite different from any previously reported third generation cephalosporin hydrolysing beta-lactamase, and consequently given the preliminary designation DJP-1 . This is also the first example of extended spectrum hydrolysing beta-lactamases found in Asia.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Jun, 34(6), 1290 - 3
Failure of ceftazidime-amikacin therapy for bacteremia and meningitis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae producing an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase; Smith CE et al.; A multiple trauma patient failed treatment with ceftazidime and amikacin for bacteremia and meningitis due to a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain that produced a novel, plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase . Both pre- and posttreatment isolates were resistant to ceftazidime (MIC, greater than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml) and various penicillins but not to other expanded-spectrum cephalosporins . The beta-lactamase had a pI of 5.25 and was encoded on a conjugal plasmid of approximately 150 kilobases . DNA hybridization studies indicated that the enzyme was a TEM derivative.

J Chemother, 1990 Jun, 2(3), 164 - 6
The effect of fresh human serum on ofloxacin bactericidal activity; Fabbri A et al.; We have studied the possibility of an increase in ofloxacin bactericidal activity when it is combined with fresh human serum . The tested strains were 10 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae . From among our strains 5 were susceptible to serum bactericidal activity and 5 were found to be resistant . We selected two serum concentrations (15 and 35%) to test against susceptible strains and two (55 and 75%) to test against resistant strains in combination with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), 1/2MIC and 1/4MIC of ofloxacin . The results show a slight variability among the tested strains depending on microbiological characteristics of single strains, however, the serum + ofloxacin combination was advantageous . Only one exception was observed: a resistant strain that had an increased survival percentage against ofloxacin and serum in combination.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Jun, 25(6), 903 - 14
Potentiation of aminoglycoside inhibition and reduction of capsular polysaccharide production in Klebsiella pneumoniae by sodium salicylate; Domenico P et al.; This study determined the effects of sodium salicylate combined with several aminoglycoside antibiotics on the growth and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) production of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Salicylate significantly enhanced in inhibitory effect of all aminoglycoside antibiotics against all bacterial strains tested . The production of CPS was decreased by 62-86% when 2.5 mM salicylate was used . Amikacin combined with salicylate reduced CPS only slightly more than salicylate alone . The chelating agents, ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid and ethylene bis tetraacetic acid, which have similar CPS-reducing properties, did not enhance the inhibitory effect of amikacin . Noncapsular variants of strains of K . pneumoniae were as susceptible to amikacin as the fully encapsulated strains, with or without salicylate present . Therefore, the combination of salicylate and the aminoglycosides acted synergistically to inhibit K . pneumoniae growth, but the increase in antibiotic sensitivity with salicylate was not a result of a reduction in CPS production . The use of salicylate in maximum therapeutic doses may enhance the activity of aminoglycosides sufficiently to allow the dose of aminoglycoside to be reduced when infections due to K . pneumoniae are treated.

J Med Microbiol, 1990 Jun, 32(2), 131 - 4
Characterisation of a unique ceftazidime-hydrolysing beta-lactamase, TEM-E2; Payne DJ et al.; A strain of Klebsiella oxytoca, originally isolated in Liverpool in 1982, has been found to produce a novel transferable beta-lactamase, TEM-E2 . This enzyme confers resistance to ceftazidime and focused as a doublet band with an iso-electric point (pI) of 5.3 . The strain also produced the TEM-1 beta-lactamase . Both TEM-1 and TEM-E2 beta-lactamases were encoded by a transferable 103 kb plasmid; these two enzymes also had similar molecular weights, were inhibited by clavulanic acid, and hydrolysed ampicillin, carbenicillin and cephaloridine at similar rates . However, unlike the TEM-1 enzyme, the TEM-E2 beta-lactamase hydrolysed ceftazidime and cefotaxime with similar efficiency, although it conferred much greater resistance to ceftazidime in the host strain . This is the earliest documented example of a TEM-like enzyme which confers transferable resistance to ceftazidime and related cephalosporins.

Epidemiol Infect, 1990 Jun, 104(3), 455 - 65
Comparison of SDS-PAGE protein patterns with other typing methods for investigating the epidemiology of 'Klebsiella aerogenes'; Costas M et al.; Twenty-four cultures comprising 20 clinical isolates of 'Klebsiella aerogenes' from two hospitals, a reference strain of 'K . aerogenes' and the type strains of three other Klebsiella species, were characterized by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of whole-cell proteins . The protein patterns were highly reproducible and were used as the basis of a numerical analysis which divided the clinical isolates into 12 protein types . Comparison with established typing methods indicated that the level of discrimination of SDS-PAGE was similar to that achieved with conventional typing methods but the strains were grouped differently . Protein typing subdivided five serotype K3 isolates that could also be distinguished by phage typing . Conversely, three strains of protein type 11 were clearly distinguishable by both serotyping and phage typing . We conclude that high-resolution SDS-PAGE of proteins provides an effective adjunct to other methods for typing isolates of 'K . aerogenes'.

Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1990 Jun, 4(2), 271 - 82
Escherichia coli and Klebsiella vaccines and immunotherapy; Cross AS et al.; A polyvalent vaccine has been prepared from the capsular polysaccharide of 24 different serotypes of Klebsiella spp . Nearly 200 volunteers have received this vaccine . It is very well tolerated and elicits both binding (ELISA) and functional antibody to 21 of 24 antigens . Antibodies were also detected against 10 serotypes not included in the vaccine . An immunoglobulin for intravenous use (IVIG) was more protective in mouse lethality assays and enhanced opsonophagocytic killing of bacteria more than standard, nonhyperimmune globulin . A monovalent E . coli conjugate vaccine against O18ac antigen was safe and highly immunogenic in humans . A 12-valent conjugate vaccine elicits good levels of antibody in rabbits, and will soon undergo phase I testing in humans . These vaccines might best be used for inducing antibody in donor plasma that could be made into IVIG for passive administration.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Jun, 172(6), 3229 - 36
Direct involvement of IS26 in an antibiotic resistance operon; Lee KY et al.; The plasmid pBWH77, originally found in an isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae, harbors a new antibiotic resistance operon containing two resistance genes transcribed from an IS26-hybrid promoter, as shown by nucleotide sequencing, mRNA mapping, and the effect of inserting a transcription terminator within the promoter-proximal gene . The nucleotide sequence of this region revealed that the operon (IAB) is made up of three sections that are closely related to previously described genetic elements . The -35 region of the promoter, together with the adjacent sequence, is identical to sequences of the IS26 element . One of the resistance genes, aphA7, which is located next to the hybrid promoter, confers assistance to neomycin and structurally related aminoglycosides . This aphA7 gene is highly homologous to aphA1 of Tn903, with five nucleotide differences . The second gene, blaS2A, encodes an evolved SHV-type beta-lactamase with a pI of 7.6 that confers resistance to the broad-spectrum cephalosporins cefotaxime and ceftizoxime . The deduced amino acid sequence of SHV-2A shows that amino acid 238 is a serine, a residue reported to confer resistance to cefotaxime . We discuss how the operon may have evolved by a combination of insertion sequence-mediated genetic rearrangements and acquisitive evolution . Using phylogenetic parsimony, we show that aphA7 in the IAB operon evolved from an ancestral form similar to aphA1 in Tn903 and that blaS2A evolved from an ancestral form similar to blaS1.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Jun 1, 57(3), 305 - 9
Influence of lipopolysaccharide chemotype on the interaction between Klebsiella pneumoniae and human polymorphonuclear leucocytes; Williams P et al.; A series of isogenic mutants lacking either the O1 (O-:K66) or K66 (O1:K-) antigens or both (O-:K-), some of which had additional defects in their LPS core polysaccharide was used to examine the interaction between polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) and K . pneumoniae serotype O1:K66 . In the absence of serum complement, only a O-:K- strain with a deep rough LPS chemotype elicited a PMNL-dependent chemiluminescent (CL) response . However, following opsonization of the non-capsulated strains by complement, the largest CL response was to the O1:K- mutant . This mutant also activated and bound more complement C3 than any of the other encapsulated or non-capsulated strains examined . Despite the surface exposure of smooth and rough LPS in the encapsulated parent and mutant strains, the K66 antigen reduced the binding of C3 and prevented PMNL activation . Both anti-LPS and anti-K66 antibodies, however, stimulated a PMNL-dependent CL response to the K66 bearing strains.

J Biol Chem, 1990 May 15, 265(14), 7721 - 4
Solubilization and reconstitution of the Na(+)-dependent citrate carrier of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Dimroth P et al.; The citrate carrier of Klebsiella pneumoniae fermenting this substrate has been solubilized from the bacterial membranes with Triton X-100 . The transport function was reconstituted by incorporation of the carrier into proteoliposomes using a freeze-thaw sonication procedure . Citrate uptake into these proteoliposomes required the presence of Na+ ions on the outside; the amount of citrate accumulated increased as the external Na+ concentration increased from 0 to 100 mM . Proteoliposomes preloaded with citrate catalyzed citrate counterflow when added to external {14C} citrate . Sodium ions were required for counterflow activity . The kinetics of citrate uptake, counterflow, or efflux were not influenced by an inside negative membrane potential, and the presence of the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone was without effect on citrate uptake . The data therefore suggest an electroneutral Na(+)-citrate symport mechanism for the transport of this tricarboxylic acid into K . pneumoniae.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 May, (5), 53 - 6
{The reactogenicity and immunological efficacy of a Klebsiella vaccine in donors}; Kurbatova EA et al.; Klebsiella vaccine, when injected subcutaneously to donors, proved to be faintly reactogenic and safe . The injection of the vaccine had no effect on changes in the morphological composition of peripheral blood and on liver function . In persons with the initially low content of IgG an increase in this characteristic was observed after immunization . No changes in the synthesis of IgE occurred in healthy donors under the influence of immunization . The vaccine was shown to be immunogenic when introduced according to immunization schedules comprising 3 and 5 injections, the titer of Klebsiella antibodies increasing 3- to 5-fold.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 May, 9(5), 345 - 7
Isolation of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from an infected Hickman catheter; Lopez-Brea M et al.; Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to fluoroquinolones were isolated from an infected Hickman catheter in a 43-year-old diabetic patient who had previously been treated with a 24-day course of ciprofloxacin (200 mg/12 h i.v.) . MICs and MBCs of nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin and fleroxacin were determined for the strains using the methodology recommended by the NCCLS . Both strains were resistant to all the quinolones tested . Since long-term treatment with quinolones might favour the emergence of quinolone resistance or colonization with quinolone-resistant organisms, it is important to monitor for the development of bacterial resistance during therapy with the new fluoroquinolones.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1990 May, 38(5), 459 - 63
{Frequency and distribution of beta-lactamases in 1792 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae in France between 1985 and 1988}; Thabaut A et al.; In october 1985, 1987 and 1988, all the clinical isolates of K . pneumoniae (respectively 530, 654, 590 strains) were collected in 20 hospitals . The beta-lactamases were identified by analytical isoelectrofocusing and by substrate and inhibition profiles . 76 to 81% of the strains produced only one beta-lactamase: SHV-1 type, pI 7.7 (61 to 65%) or PI 7.1 (14%) . The TEM-1 betalactamase (pI 5.4) was produced in 1985 by 21% of the strains, 9% in 1987, and 11% in 1988: TEM-2, pI 5.6 by 2% in 1985-87-88 . The extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases, able to hydrolyse amino-thiazol-oximino-beta-lactam antibiotics, TEM or SHV type enzymes (SHV-2, pI 7.7, SHV-3, pI 7.1; SHV-4/CAZ-5, pI 7.8; SHV-5/CAZ-4 pI 8.2; CTX-1/TEM-3, pI 6.3) were also detected: 0.75% of the strain (3 strains) in 1985, 8.4% (55 strains) in 1987, 11% (65 strains) in 1988 . These extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases were found in 2 hospitals in 1985, 10 in 1987 and 9 in 1988.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1990 May, 38(5), 385 - 9
{In vitro activity of 4 fluoroquinolones against Klebsiella pneumoniae . Distribution according to phenotype resistance to aminoglycosides or beta-lactams}; Migueres ML et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of pefloxacin (PEF), norfloxacin (NOR), ofloxacin (OFL) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) are evaluated by agar dilution against 100 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated in hospital . MIC 50 and 90%, micrograms/ml, are respectively: CIP (0.25/8), OFL (1/16), NOR (1/32), PEF (2/64) . We determined the phenotypes PEF/NOR/OFL/CIP by taking into account the critic concentrations of the French Committee for Antibiogram . The results are: SSSS = 45%, RI/RI/RI/RI = 20%, RI/SSS = 19%, RI/RI/RI/S = 8%, RI/RI/SS = 7% . When a strain is resistant to pefloxacin alone, the MICs of the other fluoroquinolones are higher than those of the sensitive strains . The resistance to fluoroquinolones is most frequent in strains that have acquired resistance to aminoglycosides or betalactams, but exists also in strains that have no acquired resistance to these antibiotics.

J Dairy Sci, 1990 May, 73(5), 1217 - 24
Intramammary challenge of the bovine mammary gland with coliform bacteria during early involution; Todhunter D et al.; Isolates of Escherichia coli (n = 12), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 20), and Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 10) were used to challenge involuting mammary glands at 7 d of the dry period . Bacteria were selected for challenge on the basis of their ability to grow in a pooled source of dry cow secretion obtained at 21 d of involution . Challenge bacteria were classified as highly adapted (in vitro growth greater than 7 cfu log10/ml) or poorly adapted (growth less than 2 cfu log10/ml) for growth in dry cow secretion . Intramammary infusion of Escherichia coli, K . pneumoniae, and K . oxytoca resulted in 0, 40, and 30%, respectively, of quarters infected . Isolates highly adapted for growth in dry cow secretion caused 75% of K . pneumoniae and 67% of K . oxytoca experimental intramammary infections . Results indicated that the ability to overcome inhibitory properties of dry cow secretion was related to the establishment of K . pneumoniae and K . oxytoca intramammary infections in the dry gland . There was no evidence that growth of E . coli in dry cow secretion related to pathogenicity in the dry gland . Experimental challenge using multiple isolates did confirm the resistance of the involuting mammary gland to E . coli infection.

Radiat Res, 1990 May, 122(2), 215 - 7
Quinolone therapy of Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis following irradiation: comparison of pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin; Brook I et al.; Exposure to whole-body irradiation is associated with fatal gram-negative sepsis . The effect of oral therapy with three quinolones, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin, for orally acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection was tested in B6D2F1 mice exposed to 8.0 Gy whole-body irradiation from bilaterally positioned 60Co sources . A dose of 10(8) organisms was given orally 2 days after irradiation, and therapy was started 1 day later . Quinolones reduced colonization of the ileum with K . pneumoniae: 16 of 28 (57%) untreated mice harbored the organisms, compared to only 12 of 90 (13%) mice treated with quinolones (P less than 0.005) . K . pneumoniae was isolated from the livers of 6 of 28 untreated mice, compared to only 1 of 90 treated mice (P less than 0.001) . Only 5 of 20 (25%) untreated mice survived for at least 30 days compared with 17 of 20 (85%) mice treated with ofloxacin, 15 of 20 (75%) mice treated with pefloxacin, and 14 of 20 (70%) treated with ciprofloxacin (P less than 0.05) . These data illustrate the efficacy of quinolones for oral therapy of orally acquired K . pneumoniae infection in irradiated hosts.

J Exp Med, 1990 May 1, 171(5), 1635 - 47
Antibody activity in ankylosing spondylitis sera to two sites on HLA B27.1 at the MHC groove region (within sequence 65-85), and to a Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase reductase peptide (within sequence 181-199); Ewing C et al.; 74 overlapping peptides of varying lengths from Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase reductase (residues 181-199) and from the HLA B27.1 molecule (residues 65-85) were synthesized and tested by ELISA against sera from HLA B27+ ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and sera from HLA B27+ and HLA B27- healthy first-degree relatives . Antibody activity in AS sera to Klebsiella peptides of four to eight amino acids was maximal with the peptide NSRQTDR . Activity to HLA B27 peptides was maximal with the peptide KAKAQTDR (named epitope I) . These peptides overlap with, but are proximal to the NH2 terminus from QTDRED, which is homologous in HLA B27.1 and K . pneumoniae nitrogenase reductase . A second weaker reactive site was noted in the HLA B27.1 peptides, proximal to the COOH terminus from the homologous sequence, namely peptide REDLRTLL (named epitope II) . Little activity was seen against peptides that included the entire homologous sequence . Sera from 50 AS patients showed higher total Ig activity against peptides KAKAQTDR (p less than 0.001) and NSRQTDR (p less than 0.02) than did sera from 22 B27+ and 22 B27- healthy controls . These data indicate that AS patient sera contain antibodies that bind to K . pneumoniae nitrogenase peptides and HLA B27.1 peptides, and that there are at least two epitopes on HLA B27.1 in the alpha 1 domain, at the MHC groove region, that are autoantigenic in AS patients . Epitope I may be a site for crossreactivity between HLA B27 and Klebsiella.

Infect Immun, 1990 May, 58(5), 1421 - 8
Morphological evidence for penetration of anti-O antibody through the capsule of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Meno Y et al.; The role of the capsule in the reaction with anti-O or anti-K serum was examined morphologically by the techniques of freeze-substitution and immunoelectron microscopy in two strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae differing in virulence for mice . Strain Chedid (O1:K2), an encapsulated virulent strain, has a thicker capsule (150 nm) than the encapsulated avirulent strain 277 (O1:K2) (60 nm) . Two morphologically recognizable domains in the capsule created by the arrangement of the capsular filaments were clearly seen in strain Chedid but were less evident in strain 277 . Anti-O antibody could penetrate through the capsular layer of both strains . The capsule has no function as a barrier for the penetration of the antibody . Anti-K antibody reacted only on the surface of the capsule and induced swelling of the capsule.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1990 May, 33(2), 221 - 5
Sites of cadmium uptake in bacteria used for biosorption; Scott JA et al.; Electron microscopy and x-ray spectroscopy were used to determine location and type of cadmium biosorption on and in bacteria, some of which produced extracellular polymers . Examined Arthrobacter and Pseudomonas species appear to have detoxification systems that precipitate cadmium internally irrespective of whether or not they excrete polymers . Capsular Klebsiella aerogenes strains showed minimal intracellular uptake but over a 5-100 mg dm-3 Cd range produced the highest net metal removal levels due to significant extracellular adsorption.

Eur J Biochem, 1990 Apr 30, 189(2), 401 - 7
DNA sequence of a citrate carrier of Klebsiella pneumoniae; van der Rest ME et al.; The citrate transport determinant of plasmid pES1 from Klebsiella pneumoniae {Schwarz E . and D . Oesterhelt (1985) EM BO J . 4, 1599-1603} has been subcloned in Escherichia coli DH1 . The DNA sequence of a 1723-base fragment that codes for the citrate carrier has been determined and the gene product has been characterized with the T7 promoter system . The DNA fragment contains an open reading frame of 1332 base pairs and codes for a protein of 444 amino acids . The hydropathy profile suggests that the protein is very hydrophobic and contains 12 membrane-spanning segments centered around a hydrophilic core . The gene for the citrate carrier has 66% similarity with a citrate carrier determinant from a naturally occurring plasmid responsible for secondary transport of citrate across the cytoplasmic membrane of E . coli.

Carbohydr Res, 1990 Apr 25, 200, 409 - 28
The use of bacteriophage-mediated depolymerisation in investigations of the structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype K71; Jackson GE et al.; The structure (1) of the heptasaccharide repeating-unit of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype K71 follows from methylation analysis and n.m.r . and mass-spectrometric studies of the oligosaccharides obtained on depolymerisation of the polysaccharide with a bacteriophage-borne endo-rhamnosidase . {formula; see text}.

J Immunol, 1990 Apr 15, 144(8), 3106 - 10
Strong interaction of lipopolysaccharides possessing the mannose homopolysaccharides with complement and its relation to adjuvant action; Yokochi T et al.; LPS from Klebsiella pneumoniae O3 (KO3 LPS) exhibited an extremely high anticomplementary activity by the hemolysis assay using human sera . The free lipid A isolated from KO3 LPS by acid hydrolysis and R form LPS from a mutant lacking the O-specific polysaccharide portion possessed lower anticomplementary activity, and the O-specific polysaccharide fraction isolated from KO3 LPS alone did not activate the C system . It was suggested that the O-specific polysaccharide moiety enhanced the C activation by the lipid A portion . This was also supported by the finding that modification of the O-specific polysaccharide moiety with Con A or tyramine decreased anticomplementary activity of KO3 LPS, and that the other LPS preparations possessing the mannose homopolysaccharides as the O-specific polysaccharide portions such as KO3 LPS, such as LPS from Klebsiella O5, Escherichia coli O8 and O9, exhibited a high anticomplementary activity . KO3 LPS could activate the C system in either the classical or the alternative pathway, whereas the lipid A or R form LPS activated the classical pathway alone . The intensity of anticomplementary activity of LPS was parallel to that of their adjuvant action on antibody response to deaggregated BSA . The role of the anticomplementary activity in the expression of the adjuvant action of LPS is discussed.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1990 Apr 11, 18(7), 1693 - 701
Activation of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifU promoter: identification of multiple and overlapping upstream NifA binding sites; Cannon WV et al.; The Klebsiella pneumoniae nifU promoter is positively controlled by the NifA protein and requires a form of RNA polymerase holoenzyme containing the rpoN encoded sigma factor, sigma 54 . Occupancy of the K . pneumoniae nifU promoter by NifA was examined using in vivo dimethyl sulphate footprinting . Three binding sites for NifA (Upstream Activator Sequences, UASs 1, 2 and 3) located at -125, -116 and -72 were identified which conform to the UAS consensus sequence TGT-N10-ACA . An additional NifA binding site was identified at position -90 . The UASs located at -125 (UAS1) and -116 (UAS2) overlap and do not appear to bind NifA as independent sites . They may represent a NifA binding site interacting with two NifA dimers . UAS3 is located at -72, and abuts a binding site for integration host factor (IHF) and is not normally highly occupied by NifA . In the absence of IHF UAS3 showed increased occupancy by NifA . Mutational and footprinting analysis of the three UASs indicates (1) IHF and NifA can compete for binding and that this competition influences the level of expression from the nifU promoter (2) that UAS2 is a principle sequence of the UAS 1,2 region required for activation and (3) that none of the NifA binding sites interacts with NifA independently . In vivo KMnO4 footprinting demonstrated that NifA catalyses open complex formation at the nifU promoter . IHF was required for maximal expression from the nifU and nifH promoters in Escherichia coli, and for the establishment of a Nif+ phenotype in E . coli from the nif plasmid pRD1.

Carbohydr Res, 1990 Apr 2, 198(1), 101 - 9
Kinetics and specificity of alginate lyases: Part I, A case study; Haugen F et al.; Purified preparations of alginate lyase from Klebsiella aerogenes and Haliotis sp . were investigated for activity and degradation patterns with alginate and alginate fragments having different compositions and sequences . With fragments approaching homopolymers of guluronate and mannuronate, Michaelis-Menten kinetics were obeyed and kinetic parameters could be obtained . Degradation of alginates containing all four possible linkages in various proportions, followed by isolation of the fragments and identification of the end groups by n.m.r . spectroscopy, indicated that the enzyme preparations can attack more than one type of linkage . The results are discussed with reference to the concept of specificity for enzymes with copolymeric substrates having non-regular distributions of units.

Mol Gen Genet, 1990 Apr, 221(2), 283 - 6
The gene for Klebsiella bacteriophage K11 RNA polymerase: sequence and comparison with the homologous genes of phages T7, T3, and SP6; Dietz A et al.; We determined the nucleotide sequence of gene 1 of Klebsiella phage K11, which is a member of the T7 group of phages . The largest open reading frame corresponds to a polypeptide with 906 amino acids and a molecular weight of 100,383 daltons . The deduced amino acid sequence of this polypeptide shows 71% homology to the T7 RNA polymerase (the product of T7 gene 1), 72% homology to the T3 RNA polymerase and 27% homology to the SP6 RNA polymerase . Divergent evolution was clearly most pronounced in the amino-terminal portion.

APMIS, 1990 Apr, 98(4), 358 - 62
Ornithine decarboxylating strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae demonstrated by DNA-DNA hybridization; Lindh E et al.; Genotypic relatedness was assessed to clarify the taxonomic position of strains phenotypically behaving like K . pneumoniae, but for the ornithine reaction . Using DNA-DNA hybridization it could be shown that 25 non-motile ornithine decarboxylating strains showed high genotypic relatedness to the type strain of K . pneumoniae . Thus, it is proposed that they be considered as ornithine decarboxylating strains of the species K . pneumoniae . The API 20E system was used for phenotypic characterization, but the API code obtained by these strains was not registered in the API Profile Index . However, except for the ornithine reaction the isolates behaved as typical K . pneumoniae . Three ornithine negative strains of E . aerogenes were identified as K . pneumoniae by the API 20E System, but they showed high genotypic relatedness to the type strain of E . aerogenes.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Apr, 172(4), 2131 - 40
A sulfur- and tyramine-regulated Klebsiella aerogenes operon containing the arylsulfatase (atsA) gene and the atsB gene; Murooka Y et al.; The structural gene for arylsulfatase (atsA) of Klebsiella aerogenes was cloned into a pKI212 vector in Escherichia coli . Deletion analysis showed that the atsA gene with the promoter region was located within a 3.2-kilobase cloned segment . In E . coli cells which carried the plasmid, the synthesis of arylsulfatase was repressed by various sources of sulfur; the repression was relieved, in each case, by tyramine . Transfer of the plasmid into atsA or constitutive atsR mutant strains of K . aerogenes resulted in complementation of atsA but not of atsR . The nucleotide sequence of the 3.2-kilobase fragment was determined . Two open reading frames, the atsA gene and an unknown gene (atsB), were found . These are located between a potential promoter and a transcriptional terminator sequence . Deletion analysis suggests that atsB is a potential positive factor for the regulation of arylsulfatase . Analysis of the amino acid sequences of the first 13 amino acids from the N terminus of the purified secreted arysulfatase agrees with that of the nucleotide sequence of atsA . The leader peptide extends over 20 amino acids and has the characteristics of a signal sequence . Primer extension mapping of transcripts generated in vivo suggests that the synthesis of mRNA starts at a site 31 or 32 bases upstream from the ATG initiation codon of the atsB gene . By Northern (RNA) blot analysis of the transcripts induced by tyramine, we found a 2.7-kilobase transcript which is identical in size to the total sequence of the atsB and atsA genes . Thus, the ats operon is composed of two cistrons and is regulated by sulfur and tyramine.

Indian J Biochem Biophys, 1990 Apr, 27(2), 98 - 102
Phytase from Klebsiella Sp . No . PG-2: purification and properties; Shah V et al.; A phytase (EC 3.1.3.8) was extracted from rat intestinal bacterium, Klebsiella Sp . No . PG.-2, and purified 50-fold by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration . The enzyme is inducible in nature . The pH optimum was at 6.0 for all the inositol phosphates studied and this characterized the enzyme as an acid phosphohydrolase . Of a range of potential substrates tested, only p-nitrophenyl phosphate alongwith the inositol phosphates was hydrolyzed . It exhibits a Km of 2.0 mM; temperature optimum of 37 degrees C and energy of activation 9,120 cal/mole for all the inositol phosphates studied . The activity was inhibited by Ag2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, fluoride and high substrate concentration.

Indian J Biochem Biophys, 1990 Apr, 27(2), 103 - 7
Purification and properties of alpha-galactosidase from Klebsiella Sp . No . PG-2; Shah V et al.; alpha-Galactosidase has been purified from Klebsiella Sp . No . PG-2, a bacterium isolated from rat small intestine, using calcium phosphate gel, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and gel filtration technique . About 130-fold increase in specific activity was observed, the pH optimum of 6.5-7.0 characterizes the enzyme as neutral alpha-galactosidase . The optimum temperature was 37 degrees C and the energy of activation was 11,856 cal/mole . Km values obtained for raffinose, mellibose, stachyose and p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside were 20.0, 6.6 33.3 and 4.0 mM respectively . The activity was inhibited by p-CMB; iodoacetate, Ag2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Pb2+ and galactose . Examination of the enzyme activity indicated that the enzyme is cytosolic and is inducible in nature.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Apr, 172(4), 2071 - 8
Roles for enteric d-type cytochrome oxidase in N2 fixation and microaerobiosis; Hill S et al.; Escherichia coli strains that lacked the d-type cytochrome oxidase, the terminal oxidase with a high affinity for O2, grew anaerobically as well as the wild type did and were not impaired in the ability to evolve H2 from either glucose or formate . The anaerobic synthesis and activity of nitrogenase in transconjugants of these strains carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae nif genes were also normal . However, the behavior towards O2 of anaerobically grown bacteria lacking the d-type oxidase differed from that of the wild type in the following ways: the potential O2 uptake was lower, H2 evolution and nitrogenase activity supported by fermentation were more strongly inhibited by O2, and microaerobic O2-dependent nitrogenase activity in the absence of a fermentable carbon source did not occur . These results show that the d-type oxidase serves two functions in enteric bacteria--to conserve energy under microaerobic conditions and to protect anaerobic processes from inhibition by O2.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1990 Apr, 24(2), 91 - 2
{Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular type 48 isolated for the first time in Turkey}; Ozenci H et al.; Capsule type 48 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid and blood specimens of 4 days old baby . This type of Klebsiella were the first observation in Turkey.

Biochem J, 1990 Mar 15, 266(3), 929 - 31
Iron K-edge X-ray-absorption spectroscopy of the iron-vanadium cofactor of the vanadium nitrogenase from Azotobacter chroococcum; Harvey I et al.; Iron K-edge e.x.a.f.s . data for the iron-vanadium cofactor (FeVaco) from Azotobacter chroococcum vanadium nitrogenase reported here provide further evidence for the structural similarity between this and the iron-molybdenum nitrogenase cofactor (FeMoco) from Klebsiella pneumoniae molybdenum nitrogenase {Arber, Flood, Garner, Gormal, Hasnain & Smith (1988) Biochem . J . 252, 421-425} . The e.x.a.f.s . data are consistent with the vanadium being present in a V-Fe-S cluster, thus confirming that the N-methylformamide extract of the VFe protein component of A . chroococcum vanadium nitrogenase does indeed contain a polynuclear metal-sulphur cluster . Additionally, a long Fe-Fe distance is observed as 0.369 nm, demonstrating the presence of a long-range order in the cluster.

Ophthalmic Surg, 1990 Mar, 21(3), 206 - 8
Klebsiella metastatic endophthalmitis--a complication of shock wave lithotripsy; Kremer I et al.; A 70-year-old man suffering from nephrolithiasis developed acute pyelonephritis following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of renal stones . After 10 days, urosepsis complicated by meningitis was diagnosed, and 72 hours later he developed right panophthalmitis with perforation of the globe, which was treated by enucleation . A week later, while on cefotaxime and cefuroxime, a focal infectious process developed in the retina of the left eye's posterior pole, spreading into the vitreous and causing retinal detachment . The patient was treated by vitrectomy and retinal detachment surgery, with good anatomical results . The functional result, however, was poor . Endophthalmitis is a possible complication, through rare, of urosepsis in patients undergoing shock wave lithotripsy.

Curr Eye Res, 1990 Mar, 9(3), 207 - 16
A new method for induction of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in mice; Iwase K et al.; Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) was induced in two strains of mice by repeated-immunization protocol . SMA mice (H-2 nondefined) and C57BL/6 mice (H-2b) were immunized with S-antigen mixed with Klebsiella 03 lipopolysaccharide (K03 LPS) repeatedly at intervals of 1 to 4 weeks . Following the tertiary immunization, the mice exhibited histopathological changes of EAU as well as significant immune responses to the antigen . The antigen doses required for successful EAU induction were 4 micrograms or more at each immunization time . The histopathology of EAU was characterized by mild infiltration of mononuclear cells in the retina and the choroid, particularly, at the retinal blood vessels and the photoreceptor cell layer . The anterior segment of the eye was not affected by inflammation, and therefore clinical signs of EAU were not detected even under an operating microscope . Since the mouse is a genetically and immunologically well-defined species, this model is useful for study of immunopathogenic mechanisms of EAU.

Hepatology, 1990 Mar, 11(3), 360 - 4
Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid therapy of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a prospective study of twenty-seven cases in cirrhotic patients; Grange JD et al.; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis is a serious complication that demands urgent attention . We report here a prospective study of the treatment of 27 episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in 22 cirrhotic patients with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid . The infection of ascitic fluid was diagnosed by a positive culture plus an ascitic neutrophil count exceeding 75/microliters, or by an ascitic neutrophil count exceeding 500/microliters . The infection was treated with 1 gm amoxicillin and 0.2 gm clavulanic acid every 6 hr for 14 days . In 17 cases (63%), bacteria were isolated from the ascitic fluid . All the bacteria isolated were sensitive to amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, whereas in five cases they were resistant to amoxicillin alone (Escherichia coli in two cases, Klebsiella pneumoniae in two cases and Bacteroides fragilis in one case) . Cure of the infection was achieved in 23 episodes (85%) after 14 days' treatment; 17 patients (63%) were able to leave the hospital . Fourteen of 20 patients (70%) treated for the first episode of infection died within 1 yr: eight from infection, two from gastrointestinal hemorrhage, one from infection and hemorrhage and three from tumors . One patient who had repeated infections underwent liver transplantation and has not had any infectious complications 1.5 yr after surgery . Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid may be an effective first-line therapy for ascitic fluid infection in cirrhosis . Nevertheless, the 1-yr prognosis continues to be grave and the severity of the underlying liver disease remains the most important determinant for survival.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Mar, 25(3), 343 - 51
Importance of organisms producing broad-spectrum SHV-group beta-lactamases into the United Kingdom; Shannon KP et al.; We report the isolation of three strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae sensu lato, brought into the United Kingdom by patients from Greece and Egypt, that showed plasmid-determined resistance to ceftazidime . All three produced beta-lactamases shown by DNA hybridisation studies to belong to the SHV group . One produced an enzyme that appeared to be related to, but distinguishable from, SHV-1; another SHV-2 and the third SHV-5.

Res Microbiol, 1990 Mar-Apr, 141(3), 332 - 6
Bacterial energy transductions coupled to sodium ions; Dimroth P; In Propionigenium modestum, an Na+ cycle couples the exergonic decarboxylation of methylmalonyl-CoA to endergonic ATP synthesis . The ATPase is an F1F0-type enzyme, closely related to the F1F0 ATPase of Escherichia coli . The specificity of the P . modestum ATPase for Na+ is not absolute, as it catalyses proton transport at low Na+ concentrations . The Na(+)-binding site is located on the F0 sector . Therefore, a hybrid composed of F0 from P . modestum and F1 from E . coli, but not F1F0 from E . coli, was a functional Na+ pump . In Klebsiella pneumoniae, the Na+ ions pumped out of the cell by oxaloacetate decarboxylase are taken up again in symport with the growth substrate citrate . The reaction mechanism of oxaloacetate decarboxylase involves carboxylation of the prosthetic biotin group by carboxyltransfer from oxaloacetate, catalysed by the peripheral alpha-subunit . The firmly membrane-bound subunits beta and gamma complete the cycle by decarboxylation of the carboxybiotin intermediate which is coupled to Na+ translocation through the membrane.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 4(3), 365 - 79
Five genes at the 3' end of the Klebsiella pneumoniae pulC operon are required for pullulanase secretion; Pugsley AP et al.; The nucleotide sequence of a 5082bp fragment of chromosomal DNA from Klebsiella pneumoniae strain UNF5023 is reported . The sequence includes the last four genes of an operon of genes specifically required for the secretion of the enzyme pullulanase . All four genes (pulL, pulM, pulN and pulO) are shown to be required for pullulanase secretion, as is a fifth gene (pulK) which extends beyond the 5' end of the sequenced DNA . The products of the pulL, pulM, pulN and pulO genes (44 kD, 18 kD, 27 kD and 24 kD, respectively) are all predicted to have one or more hydrophobic domains typical of signal sequences and/or membrane anchors, and were all found mainly associated with the inner membranes of subfractionated cells in which the corresponding genes had been expressed from the bacteriophage T7 gene 10 promoter . The results of this study increase the number of genes which have been identified as required for pullulanase secretion to eight, in addition to genes coding for components of the general export pathway.

Immunology, 1990 Mar, 69(3), 367 - 72
Differential regulation of mouse B-cell activation by beta-adrenoceptor stimulation depending on type of mitogens; Li YS et al.; We investigated the effects of the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (ISO) and the alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonist norepinephrine (NE) on murine B-cell activation . Cells were stimulated either by anti-mouse mu-chain antibodies (anti-mu), or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or a membrane proteoglycan of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp MPG), a T-independent polyclonal activator distinct from LPS, which induces B-cell proliferation and Ig synthesis . ISO and NE enhanced LPS- and Kp MPG-induced B-cell proliferation and maturation into IgM-, IgG- and IgA-secreting cells . The enhancement was prevented by prior addition of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol but not by the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine . Earlier events in the LPS- and Kp MPG-stimulated B-cell activation, such as increases in Ia antigen expression and RNA synthesis, were not modified by the catecholamines . Unlike ISO and NE, the membrane-permeant cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) analogue dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), and the potent adenylate cyclase activator forskolin did not enhance but even inhibited DNA synthesis and Ig secretion stimulated by LPS and Kp MPG . In addition, ISO and NE did not enhance but strongly inhibited anti-mu-induced B-cell proliferation, and these effects were mimicked by dbcAMP and forskolin . Collectively, the data demonstrate that beta-agonists differently modulate B-cell activation depending upon the polyclonal activator, and provide additional evidence for distinct biochemical mechanisms of B-cell activation by anti-mu and LPS . Moreover, our results indicate that beta-adrenergic stimulation up-regulates B-cell responses to LPS and Kp MPG by a novel and cAMP-independent pathway.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Mar, 172(3), 1441 - 7
The product of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifX gene is a negative regulator of the nitrogen fixation (nif) regulon; Gosink MM et al.; An insertional mutation was made in the nifX gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae . This mutation had little effect on the nitrogenase activity of the strain, as measured by acetylene reduction . However, on the addition of NH4+ or O2 (conditions which block nif protein synthesis by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms), the NifX- mutant synthesized nitrogenase proteins longer and had more accumulated nifHDKTY mRNA than did the wild-type K . pneumoniae at all time points tested . Conversely, overexpression of the wild-type nifX region blocked nif protein synthesis, protein accumulation, and nifHDKTY mRNA accumulation . These complementary results indicate that a product of the nifX region has a role in the negative regulation of nif regulation in response to NH4+ and O2.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1990 Mar, 102(3), 207 - 11
Effect of Klebsiella ozaenae on ciliary activity in vitro: implications in the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis; Ferguson JL et al.; Klebsiella ozaenae is a gram-negative rod that has been isolated with relative frequency from patients with atrophic rhinitis . The relationship of this bacterium to the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis is not understood, and whether this bacterium is simply an opportunistic colonizer of the injured nose or the etiologic agent of the disease is unclear . This study was designed to investigate a potential role for bacterially produced cilioinhibition as a mechanism for the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1990 Mar, 15(1), 87 - 92
Concurrent murine cytomegalovirus and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in germfree mice; Tazume S et al.; The effects of concurrent murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections were studied in germfree (GF) mice . The mice received sublethal doses, 5 x 10(5) pfu, of MCMV . K . pneumoniae was injected in doses of 40 to 100 cfu, which by itself killed 0-33% of GF mice . When K . pneumoniae was given to GF mice infected with MCMV, the mortality increased up to 100%, with distinct enhancement persisting until day 10 of the MCMV infection . The virus titer in various organs did not change after superinfection with K . pneumoniae, while the viable counts of K . pneumoniae in organs remained remarkably high until death, suggesting the cause of death to be severe generalized infection by the bacteria . When compared to specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice, GF mice were more susceptible to both MCMV and K . pneumoniae infection, had higher titers of the virus for longer periods in various organs, and showed extension in the duration of enhanced mortality by the bacteria . Histopathologically, the spleen and liver were found to be the most severely affected tissues, more so in GF than in SPF mice, with recovery from the changes being slower in the GF animals.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1990 Mar, 32(6), 621 - 6
D-ribulokinase from Klebsiella pneumoniae for continuous production of D-(-)-ribulose-5-phosphate; Gygax D et al.; The production of D-ribulose-5-phosphate in an enzyme membrane reactor was examined . Phosphoryl transfer from ATP to D-ribulose was catalysed by D-ribulokinase isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae . For production of D-ribulose-5-phosphate the phosphoryl donor ATP was used either in stoichiometric or in catalytic amounts . Using catalytic amounts of ATP requires a second enzyme, e.g . pyruvate kinase, to regenerate ATP . The kinetic parameters for D-ribulokinase and pyruvate kinase were determined to calculate the performance of an enzyme membrane reactor for continuous production of D-ribulose-5-phosphate . Both processes operated for more than 200 h . Regardless of whether ATP was used in catalytic or stoichiometric amounts, about the same production parameters were determined . In continuous production space/time yields of 117 g (with ATP regeneration) and 103 g (without ATP regeneration) of D-ribulose-5-phosphate l -1 per day were reached.

Carbohydr Res, 1990 Feb 25, 196, 95 - 100
Synthesis of the tetrasaccharide repeating-unit of the polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 23; Ray AK et al.; Methyl 2-O-allyl-4-O-benzyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-alpha-L-rhamnospyranoside was obtained by condensing methyl 2-O-allyl-4-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside with tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide . Benzylation, removal of the allyl group, and condensation of the product with ethyl 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside gave methyl 2-O-(6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-4-O-benzyl-3- O- (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside . O-Deacetylation, condensation of the product with methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide)-uronate, and removal of the protecting groups gave methyl 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2-O-{6-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl}-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (13).

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