Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Laryngoscope, 1990 May, 100(5), 548 - 51
Oral ofloxacin as treatment of malignant external otitis: a study of 17 cases; Levy R et al.; Seventeen patients with malignant external otitis were treated with oral ofloxacin . Their mean age was 69 years . Seven of the patients were diabetic . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, sensitive to ofloxacin (Kirby-Bauer method, inhibition zone greater than or equal to 22 mm), was isolated from the external auditory canal in all patients . Ofloxacin (200 mg b.i.d.) was given to the patients for 12 to 39 days . Two patients also received additional parenteral antibiotic therapy . Subjective and objective improvement occurred in all patients during treatment, and complete resolution was documented in all patients, with one exception . Only one patient suffered recurrence 2 weeks after discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy . The results of our study suggest that oral ofloxacin is an effective treatment for malignant external otitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

J Pediatr, 1990 May, 116(5), 714 - 9
Pulmonary function and clinical course in patients with cystic fibrosis after pulmonary colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kerem E et al.; To evaluate the relationship between Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization and the development of lung disease, we studied 895 patients who attended our cystic fibrosis clinic between 1975 and 1988 . The prevalence of P . aeruginosa colonization was 82% . Patients who acquired P . aeruginosa in the first year of life had a similar 10-year survival rate (85%) to that in patients who were colonized between the ages of 1 and 7 years (87%), and to that in patients colonized after the age of 7 years (78%) . One year before colonization, mean age, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow in the mid-expiratory phase were similar to those in a group of patients who remained free of P . aeruginosa . No significant change in pulmonary function variables could be demonstrated 1 year and 2 years after the colonization . The rate and duration of hospitalization did not increase in the years after P . aeruginosa colonization compared with the years before colonization . By the age of 7 years, the mean percentage of predicted FEV1 was lower by 10% in patients who were already colonized by P . aeruginosa compared with those who were not colonized (p less than 0.01) . A similar reduction in FEV1 was observed at all ages from 7 to 35 years, but no precipitate rate of decline in FEV1 could be associated with P . aeruginosa colonization . We conclude that although P . aeruginosa colonization is associated with 10% lower lung function, it does not cause an immediate and rapid reduction, as has been previously reported . The clinical course and the pulmonary deterioration in cystic fibrosis after P . aeruginosa colonization is a gradual and variable process.

Infect Immun, 1990 May, 58(5), 1301 - 7
Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherence to mouse corneas in organ culture; Singh A et al.; The present study was designed to obtain further information on the nature of the corneal macromolecule(s) to which Pseudomonas aeruginosa adheres and how adherence might be prevented . Scarified adult mouse corneas in organ culture were treated with trypsin or lipase to determine whether the receptor molecule(s) was protein or lipid in nature . Trypsin (20 micrograms/ml) treatment of the cornea for 5 min had no significant effect on bacterial adherence, and longer periods of enzyme exposure resulted in extensive surface cell lysis . In contrast, lipase treatment (50,000 U/ml) for 1 h caused little visible cell lysis and significantly reduced bacterial adherence . To test further the lipid nature of the receptor, a highly purified monosialoganglioside (GM1) preparation (500 micrograms/ml) was used to preincubate (1 h) the cornea prior to bacterial application, and this also inhibited bacterial adherence . Similar corneal treatment with gangliotetraosylceramide (asialo GM1) (500 micrograms/ml) had little effect on ocular bacterial binding . Premixing of the bacterial inoculum with GM1 prior to corneal application had no significant effect on inhibiting bacterial binding, but similarly premixing the bacterial inoculum with asialo GM1 transiently decreased adherence . Lastly, premixing of the bacterial inoculum or preincubation of corneas with fibronectin (500 micrograms/ml for 1 h) both decreased bacterial adherence . These findings provide evidence that the receptor-adhesin interactions of P . aeruginosa at the ocular surface in organ culture are complex, involve a glycolipid moiety, and may be blocked by a ganglioside containing at least one sialosyl residue or by fibronectin, which may bind to membrane-associated gangliosides.

Infect Immun, 1990 May, 58(5), 1133 - 40
Secretion of toxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, PAK, and PA103 by Escherichia coli; Hamood AN et al.; The exotoxin A gene (toxA) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was expressed from the lac promoter in Escherichia coli, and the localization of the toxin A protein was determined . Throughout the growth cycle, the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of toxin A was gradually reduced in the periplasm of E . coli, with no apparent degradation of the toxin A protein . This suggests the presence of an E . coli periplasmic factor that interferes with the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity in toxin A . Such an inactivating factor was found in the periplasmic extract from control E . coli cells . The processing of toxin A in E . coli was examined by pulse-chase immunoprecipitation experiments . Mature toxin was detected in both the periplasm and cytoplasm, whereas the membranes contained both mature and precursor forms . Toxin A precursor appears to be processed in both the cytoplasm and the periplasm of E . coli . Toxin A proteins from P . aeruginosa PAO1, PA103, and PAK were compared for their secretion in E . coli . Despite the differences in the amino acid sequences of their leader peptides, toxin A proteins from strains PAO1, PA103, and PAK were processed and secreted to the periplasm of E . coli.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 May, 64(5), 575 - 83
{Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to mouse tracheal epithelium--the effect of antimicrobial agents}; Yamasaki T; The adherence of bacteria to mucosal surfaces is an important initial event in the pathogenesis of most bacterial infectious diseases . In order to clarify the mechanism of respiratory tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we paid attention to pili (fimbriae), which is one of the adherence factors for the nonmucoid strains of P . aeruginosa . The adherence of P . aeruginosa was studied using two mutants: piliated and nonpiliated strains and 0.1 N hydrochloric acid-injured mouse tracheal epithelium as a respiratory tract model . The adherence ability was evaluated by means of direct count of adhered bacteria using a scanning electron microscope . The effect of antimicrobial agents was studied on the adherence and the production of pili . Both mutants of P . aeruginosa adhered more significantly to the acid-injured tracheal epithelium than the normal one (p less than 0.01) . The number of the piliated strain adhering to the acid-injured tracheal epithelium was significantly greater than that of the nonpiliated strain (p less than 0.01) . The piliated bacteria treated with heat, formalin, antiserum against pili, N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-acetylglucosamine showed a significant decrease in number of adherence . The piliated bacteria were grown in a media containing 1/4 MICs of seven antimicrobial agents for four hours at 37 degrees C, after that a significant reduction in the number of pili per bacterium was recognized with erythromycin, minocycline and clindamycin (p less than 0.01) . The piliated bacteria treated with erythromycin showed a significant decrease on adherence to the acid-injured tracheal epithelium in parallel with piliation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Bacteriol, 1990 May, 172(5), 2601 - 7
Morphogenetic expression of Moraxella bovis fimbriae (pili) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Beard MK et al.; Type 4 fimbriae (pili) are found in a wide variety of gram-negative bacteria and are composed of small structural subunits which share significant sequence homology among different species, especially at their amino-terminal ends . Previous studies demonstrating morphogenetic expression of Bacteroides nodosus fimbriae from cloned subunit genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa suggested that there is a common mechanism for type 4 fimbriae assembly and that the structural subunits are interchangeable (J . S . Mattick et al., J . Bacteriol . 169:33-41, 1987) . Here we have examined the expression of Moraxella bovis fimbrial subunits in P . aeruginosa . M . bovis subunits were assembled into extracellular fimbriae in this host, in some cases as a homopolymer but in others as a mosaic with the indigenous subunit, indicating structural equivalence . This result contrasts with other studies in which recombinant P . aeruginosa expressing different subunits produced fimbriae composed almost exclusively of one subunit or the other (T . C . Elleman and J . E . Peterson, Mol . Microbiol . 1:377-380, 1987) . Both observations can be explained by reversibility of subunit-subunit interactions at the site of assembly, with the forward equilibrium favoring chain extension between compatible subunits.

Res Microbiol, 1990 May, 141(4), 483 - 97
Antibacterial activity of phenethyl alcohol and resulting membrane alterations; Corre J et al.; The antibacterial activity of phenethyl alcohol (PEA) towards Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium) was investigated . This activity was expressed as IC (inhibitory concentration) and BC (bactericidal concentration) . PEA was bactericidal in the concentration range of 90 to 180 mM, these concentrations being 4- to 5-fold higher than the corresponding IC . The mechanism of action of PEA upon the cell membrane of bacteria was also studied . Morphological examination with a transmission electron microscope showed that Gram-negative cell envelopes were permeabilized; for Gram-positive bacteria, the plasmic membrane in S . aureus was solubilized, whereas lesser changes were observed in E . faecium . At lethal concentrations, PEA also induced a rapid and total leakage of K+ ions from the four strains studied . Despite the correlation between alterations in the structural integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane in Gram-negative cells and the loss of cell viability, it cannot be inferred that membrane damage is the only cause of the lethal effect.

Cancer Lett, 1990 Apr 20, 50(2), 121 - 7
The cytotoxicity of Pseudomonas exotoxin A, inactivated by modification of the cell-binding domain I, is restored when conjugated to an erythroid cell-specific targeting agent; Bourdenet S et al.; To be capable of selective killing of tumor cells, the non-selective Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A must have its cell-binding domain inactivated or removed and then be chemically linked to, or genetically fused with, a specific targeting agent . In the present study, epsilon-NH2 groups of lysine residues of the cell-binding domain of exotoxin A were extensively propionylated with N-succinimidyl-3-propionate (NSP) . The NSP-treated exotoxin retained its cytocidal ADP-ribosyltransferase activity, but it could no longer bind to, and inhibit the proliferation of, Friend murine erythroleukemia cells . Cytotoxicity (i.e., the ability to inhibit proliferation) for the Friend erythroid cells was restored completely to the NSP-inactivated exotoxin by conjugating it to ADIF, an autocrine factor secreted by chicken erythroleukemia cells which selectively inhibits the differentiation of erythroid cells such as Friend erythroleukemia cells without inhibiting their proliferation.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1990 Apr 19, 1038(2), 231 - 9
Activation of human Hageman factor by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase in the presence or absence of negatively charged substance in vitro; Yamamoto T et al.; Human Hageman factor, a plasma proteinase zymogen, was activated in vitro under a near physiological condition (pH 7.8, ionic strength I = 0.14, 37 degrees C) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase, which is a zinc-dependent tissue destructive neutral proteinase . This activation was completely inhibited by a specific inhibitor of the elastase, HONHCOCH(CH2C6H5)CO-Ala-Gly-NH2, at a concentration as low as 10 microM . In this activation Hagemen factor was cleaved, in a limited fashion, liberating two fragments with apparent molecular masses of 40 and 30 kDa, respectively . The appearance of the latter seemed to correspond chronologically to the generation of activated Hageman factor . Kinetic parameters of the enzymatic activation were kcat = 5.8 x 10(-3) s-1, Km = 4.3 x 10(-7) M and kcat/Km = 1.4 x 10(4) M-1 x s-1 . This Km value is close to the plasma concentration of Hageman factor . Another zinc-dependent proteinase, P . aeruginosa alkaline proteinase, showed a negligible Hageman factor activation . In the presence of a negatively charged soluble substance, dextran sulfate (0.3-3 micrograms/ml), the activation rate by the elastase increased several fold, with the kinetic parameters of kcat = 13.9 x 10(-3) s-1, Km = 1.6 x 10(-7) M and kcat/Km = 8.5 x 10(4) M-1 x s-1 . These results suggested a participation of the Hageman factor-dependent system in the inflammatory response to pseudomonal infections, due to the initiation of the system by the bacterial elastase.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1990 Apr 18, 94(1), 89 - 95
Identification of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa acid phosphatase as a phosphorylcholine phosphatase activity; Garrido MN et al.; Choline, betaine and N,N-dimethylglycine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source induced a periplasmic acid phosphatase activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This enzyme produced the highest rates of hydrolysis in phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine among the various phosphoric esters tested . At saturating concentrations of Mg2+, the Km values were 0.2 and 0.7 mM for phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine respectively . At high concentrations both compounds were inhibitors of the enzyme activity . The Ksi values for phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine were 1.0 and 3.0 mM respectively . The higher catalytic efficiency was that of phosphorylcholine . Considering these results it is possible to suggest that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa acid phosphatase is a phosphorylcholine phosphatase . The existence of this activity which is induced jointly with phospholipase C by different choline metabolites, in a high phosphate medium, suggests that the attack of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the cell host may also be produced under conditions of high phosphate concentrations, when the alkaline phosphatase is absent.

Presse Med, 1990 Apr 4, 19(13), 607 - 12
{Prospective, randomized, controlled study of imipenem-cilastatin versus cefotaxime-amikacin in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection and septicemia at intensive care units}; Mouton Y et al.; In a multicentre, prospective, controlled trial 211 patients with suspected septicaemia or pneumonia were allocated at random to either imipenem-cilastatin 500 mg 8-hourly or cefotaxime 1 g 6-hourly combined with amikacin 5 mg/kg 8-hourly . The treatments were administered for at least 5 days . Seventy patients on imipenem and 70 patients on cefotaxime-amikacin were assessable for comparison . There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in underlying pathology and in the clinical results obtained: septicaemia 20/26 patients of the imipenem group and 20/25 patients of the cefotaxime-amikacin group were cured; pneumonia 38/44 patients of the imipenem group and 34/45 patients of the cefotaxime-amikacin group were cured . There were also no differences in the initial organisms and in the bacteriological cure rate, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa . At the moment, imipenem administered alone is as effective as the cefotaxime-amikacin combination in the treatment of septicaemia or pneumonia in intensive care patients, with the exception of P . aeruginosa pneumonia in patients under assisted ventilation.

Arch Pharm (Weinheim), 1990 Apr, 323(4), 201 - 5
Antimicrobial activity of basic cholane derivatives . Part IX; Bellini AM et al.; Twenty new compounds derived from deoxycholic acid have been synthesized . They contain two basic functions: at C-24 (benzylamino, morpholino, diethanolamino, N,N-diethylethylenediamino, N-methylpiperazino) and at beta-C-3 (amino, methylamino, ethylamino, benzylamino) . The compounds showed interesting antimicrobial activity, as expressed in terms of the low M.I.C . values (0.9-31-micrograms/ml) against five Gram(+) and four Gram(-) strains, two fungi and one yeast . The compounds inhibit the production of a fluorescent pigment in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: this result suggests that the ability to cross the bacterium cell membrane is the first step of activity . A discussion in terms of structure-activity relationship is reported.

Crit Care Med, 1990 Apr, 18(4), 378 - 84
Early nosocomial infections in pediatric cardiovascular surgery patients; Pollock EM et al.; All patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery between July 1, 1987 and February 29, 1988 were followed from admission to the pediatric ICU (PICU) daily by an intensivist/anesthetist . Patients were characterized by surgical procedure and PRISM score on ICU admission . Of 310 patients, 40 patients (nosocomially infected patient ratio 12.9) developed 78 infections (nosocomial infection ratio 25.2), of which 28% (n = 22) were wounds, within 2 months of surgery . Early wound infection followed 8% of closed, nonpump cases and 6.7% of open, pump cases . Wound infection was more likely if the sternum was open on the ward (elective or emergency) (27.6% open vs . 5.0% closed, p less than .001) or if the PRISM score was greater than or equal to 10 on PICU admission (10.7% greater than or equal to 10 vs . 2.3% less than 10, p less than .01) . The causative agents in wound infections in closed cases were Staphylococcus aureus (70%) and coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS) (30%) while in open, pump cases the agents were CONS (33%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27%), Candida spp . (27%), and S . aureus (20%) . Nonwound infections accounted for 72% of infections (n = 56) . The number of bacteremias and other central and arterial line-related infections approximated wound infection in incidence at 6.8/100 patients . Wound infections are more likely if the sternum has been left open on the ward, if the patient has a high PRISM score on PICU admission, and after specific surgical procedures.

Cancer Res, 1990 Apr 1, 50(7), 2099 - 104
Prevention of fatal infections by recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha in normal and anticancer drug-treated mice; Morikage T et al.; The preventive capability of interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1) against bacterial infections was estimated in normal and anticancer drug-treated BALB/c mice in comparison with OK432, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferons alpha and gamma, and interleukin 2 . Pretreatment with IL-1 (days -4 and -2) resulted in a significantly higher survival rate in normal mice inoculated i.p . with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Listeria monocytogenes (day 0) . The i.p . and s.c . administrations of IL-1 were equally effective for the induction of antibacterial resistance . Pretreatment with OK432 showed an equal degree of resistance to i.p . infection but was effective only by i.p . administration . Enhanced antibacterial resistance by IL-1 and OK432 was also observed in cyclophosphamide- and aminomethylpyrimidinylmethylchloroethylnitrosourea hydrochloride-pretreated (day -5) normal hosts and in cyclophosphamide-treated tumor-bearing hosts . In the case of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (i.p . or s.c.) (days -4 to -1), a statistical difference in survival rate between granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and its vehicle-treated groups was observed in cyclophosphamide-pretreated hosts, but not in normal hosts or aminomethylpyrimidinylmethylchloroethylnitrosourea hydrochloride-pretreated hosts . Viable bacteria in the peritoneal cavity and blood at 12 h after i.p . infection of K . pneumoniae correlated well with the survival rate . In IL-1-pretreated hosts, the earlier and increased accumulation of neutrophils into peritoneal cavity after the infection was observed and the number of inflammatory cells in peritoneal cavity correlated well with the survival rate . The enhanced resistance to bacterial infection by IL-1 was suggested to be in part due to the enhanced cellular defense mechanisms . The prophylactic administration of IL-1 would be beneficial for the management of serious infections in cancer patients.

Z Hautkr, 1990 Apr, 65(4), 351 - 4, 357
{Skin changes in drug-dependent patients}; Rasokat H; In parenteral drug abuse, cutaneous manifestations are very common . A variety of skin lesions are indicators of a possible drug addiction: obliteration of peripheral veins and hyperpigmentation of the overlying skin, punched-out scars due to subcutaneous injection, persistent edema following thrombophlebitis, and excoriations due to heroin pruritus . Infectious and non-infectious complications may be accompanied by typical skin alterations, such as ecthyma in sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multiple ulcers due to embolic infarct, or hypersensitivity reactions mediated by an immunological process . A variety of serious complications may develop at the injection sites: abscesses, gangrene, necrosis, or necrotizing fasciitis . These examples show that the dermatologist is in many ways involved in the care for addicted patients . In addition, these patients frequently suffer from sexually transmitted diseases or blood-borne infections; HIV-infection is rapidly spreading in this group . We now face new problems of differential diagnosis, especially since constitutional symptoms of HIV-infection may mimic symptoms of drug abuse and vice versa . Moreover, immunological alterations similar to those in HIV patients may even occur in drug addicts who are not infected with the virus.

J Trauma, 1990 Apr, 30(4), 445 - 52
The effect of dietary fatty acids on response to Pseudomonas infection in burned mice; Peck MD et al.; Since fatty acids influence prostaglandin synthesis, and since both fatty acids and prostaglandins modulate immune function, we investigated the hypothesis that manipulation of dietary fats would affect survival after infection in a murine burn model . Mice were fed for 2 to 3 weeks with diets containing different types and amounts of fat . They were then subjected to a 20% flame burn and infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Survival in the group fed 40% of total calories as fish oil had significantly higher mortality than those fed safflower oil . This difference was not noted at lower fat levels . Similar groups of animals were sacrificed the day after injection . Splenic macrophage production of PGE2 was significantly lower in the fish-oil group, but production of LTB4 and TXB2 were not affected . In vitro tests of T- and B-cell function were not different amongst groups . We conclude that manipulation of dietary fats can alter outcome in this murine model of infection after thermal injury.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Apr, 172(4), 2020 - 8
Possible insertion sequences in a mosaic genome organization upstream of the exotoxin A gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pritchard AE et al.; Nucleotide sequence and Southern hybridization data revealed a mosaic genome organization in a region that extends several thousand base pairs upstream of the exotoxin A (toxA) gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . An interstrain comparison of DNA in this region showed a pattern of alternating segments of homologous and nonhomologous sequences . Two nonhomologous elements, approximately 1 kilobase pair upstream of the gene in strains PA103 and Ps388, were characterized in more detail . The sequence elements, denoted IS-PA-1 and IS-PA-2 for the different strains, are about 1,000 and 785 base pairs long, respectively, and have 5-base-pair direct repeats at their boundaries, consistent with their being DNA insertion sequences . The distribution of these elements in 34 different strains was determined . IS-PA-1 was found in a single copy upstream of toxA in half of the strains and was found in two copies in four of the strains . Some strains contained neither element, and one strain carried both . The genome of another strain, WR5, which lacks toxA, was shown to contain a 350-base-pair region that was highly homologous to DNA sequences located just upstream of toxA in other strains . The WR5 genome lacked several kilobase pairs of DNA that was found both upstream and downstream of this homologous region in the other strains.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1990 Apr, 56(4), 1046 - 52
Marking the rhizopseudomonas strain 7NSK2 with a Mu d(lac) element for ecological studies; Hofte M et al.; The mini Mu element Mu dII1681, which contains the lac operon genes and a kanamycin resistance gene, was inserted in the chromosome of plant growth-beneficial Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2 to construct a marked strain (MPB1) . In MPB1, beta-galactosidase is permanently expressed under the culture conditions used . The MPB1 strain could be recovered with an efficiency of about 100% from a sandy loam soil on 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside medium containing sebacic acid and kanamycin . The limit of detection is about 10 CFU/g of soil . A detailed comparison was made between the wild-type strain 7NSK2 and the Mu dII1681-containing MPB1 strain . The results showed that no genes essential for growth, siderophore production, survival in sterile and nonsterile conditions, plant growth stimulation, or root colonization had been damaged in the MPB1 strain, which means that MPB1 can reliably be used for ecological studies in soil . MPB1 survived well at 4 or 28 degrees C but died off relatively rapidly in air-dried soil or at subzero temperatures . In these conditions, however, the MPB1 strain did not completely disappear from the soil but survived at a very low level of about 100 CFU/g of soil for more than 3 months . This observation stresses the need for very sensitive counting methods for ecological studies and for the evaluation of released microorganisms . Maize was inoculated with MPB1 via seed inoculation or soil inoculation . Upon seed inoculation, only the upper root parts were effectively colonized, while soil inoculation resulted in a complete colonization of the root system.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1990 Apr, 24(2), 120 - 5
{The in vitro activity of ciprofloxacin against clinically-isolated strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and comparison with some other antibiotics}; Sener B et al.; In this study the susceptibility to ciprofloxacin of 100 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from various clinical specimens was investigated by disk diffusion test and macrodilution method, and was compared with other various antibiotics . Both of the methods showed that 98 of the strains were susceptible to ciprofloxacin . MIC50 of ciprofloxacin was found to be 0.12, and MIC90 0.50 mcgr/ml for these strains . Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were found to be highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin in in-vitro conditions.

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi, 1990 Apr, 29(4), 217 - 20, 253
{Experimental study and case control study of nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Zheng YN et al.; 144 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps.a) were serotyped and phage-typed . Antibiotic sensitivity test and case control study of nosocomial infection caused by Ps.a were also done for these strains . Three epidemic strains were collected from the ICU in a neurosurgical ward . The etiology of a cross infection among tracheotomy patients was two epidemic strains isolated from the hands of a nurse and an attendant . Hospitalization days longer than 56 days, tracheotomy and indwelling catheterization were 3 risk factors for Ps.a infection shown by logistic analysis . The sensitivity rate of Ps.a to antibiotics was highest with ceftazidine, followed by amikacin and piperacillin . The most common resistant antibiogram was Gentamycin and tobramycin Resistance to gentamicin increased obviously.

Microb Pathog, 1990 Apr, 8(4), 243 - 57
Cloning and expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S toxin gene; Sokol PA et al.; The gene for exoenzyme S, an ADP-ribosyl transferase, was cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain DG1 using an oligonucleotide probe based on the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence to screen a library of DG1 SstI fragments inserted into pKT230 in Escherichia coli DH1 . A positive clone, designated pPD3, hybridized with the oligonucleotide probe and contained a 15 kb SstI insert . In E . coli minicells pPD3 expressed a single protein of Mr 68,000 . This protein was localized primarily in the periplasm in E . coli . A 3.6 kb HindIII-BamHI fragment was subcloned into the vector pT7-4 which contains the promoter from bacteriophage T7 to construct pT7-4HB . In E . coli strains expressing the T7 RNA polymerase on a second plasmid, the Mr 68,000 protein was expressed and shown to react with antibodies to exoenzyme S . No enzymatic activity was detected in cell sonicates or culture supernatants of E . coli (pPD3) . Cell sonicates of E . coli (pT7-4HB) however were cytotoxic to HeLa cells and this cytotoxicity was neutralizable with anti-exoenzyme S antiserm . Thus, exoenzyme S expressed in E . coli is toxic but not enzymatically active . When plasmids carrying the exoenzyme S gene were introduced into P . aeruginosa, there was a significant increase in ADP-ribosyl transferase activity, indicating that the plasmid encoded protein is enzymatically active in P . aeruginosa.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Apr, 43(4), 754 - 6
{A specific protein inhibiting membrane permeation of chloramphenicol in Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; O'Hara K et al.; A specific protein (MW 18,000) was found using chloramphenicol (CP) base-affinity chromatography of periplasmic-space proteins obtained from an impermeability-type CP-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring plasmid kR102 . Membrane reconstitution experiments using a liposome system appeared to indicate that the permeability of CP was inhibited by the specific protein.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Apr, 43(4), 706 - 18
{Studies on aztreonam in the perinatal period}; Cho N et al.; Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on aztreonam (AZT) in the perinatal period were carried out with the following summary of the results . Antibacterial effects of AZT on bacterial growth of Escherichia coli (MIC 12.5 micrograms/ml) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 50 micrograms/ml) in amniotic fluid were determined and it was found that the activity of AZT is enhanced in amniotic fluid . AZT rapidly penetrated into tissues and sera of pregnant women upon intravenous (i.v.) injection and its maternal serum concentrations reached their peak levels shortly after the injection . Placental penetration of AZT to the fetus was good and, after single i.v . injection of 1 g, the concentrations of AZT in the umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs against major Gram-negative bacilli . These results indicate that single i.v . injection of AZT 1 g twice a day is effective for the treatment and prophylaxis of perinatal infections . Injection of AZT for the treatment of puerperal infections showed excellent clinical effectiveness with 100% eradication of aerobic Gram-negative rods . No side-effect was observed in any case . All of the results suggested clinical usefulness of AZT in the perinatal period.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Apr, 43(4), 677 - 85
{The combined effects of aspoxicillin with aminoglycoside antibiotics on Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Matsushita T et al.; Combined actions of aspoxicillin (ASPC) with several aminoglycosides (AGs) against various Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were examined using the checker board method and experimental infection of mice, and the actions were compared with those of piperacillin (PIPC) and mezlocillin (MZPC) . 1 . The combination of ASPC with gentamicin, amikacin (AMK) or tobramycin showed synergistic activities against 81.9-95.5% of the test strains . These frequencies were higher than those of reference penicillins (PCs) . Mean values of FIC index for combinations between ASPC and AGs were smaller than 0.5, thus, the combinations showed the strongest synergism among the PCs tested . 2 . ASPC combined with AGs showed synergistic actions on experimental mouse infections caused by strains of P . aeruginosa . The potency of ASPC was the same as that of PIPC, but MZPC had a weaker activity than ASPC or PIPC . 3 . Schedule of administration of ASPC and AMK was examined using experimental infection in mice caused by P . aeruginosa . When AMK was administered first, a synergism was clearly observed when ASPC was administered within 1 hour of the AMK administration . When ASPC was administered first, a synergism was observed when AMK was administered within 4 hours of the ASPC administration . 4 . Influences of AMK and ASPC or reference PCs on growth of P . aeruginosa 22 were examined at lower concentrations than MIC . AMK showed a bacteriostatic action on the test strain at 1/4 MIC . But no influence was observed at lower concentrations than 1/4 MIC of AMK . ASPC and reference PCs showed slight effects on growth of the test strain at concentrations of 1/32 MIC of PIPC, 1/128 MIC of MZPC and 1/256 MIC of ASPC . The PCs showed bactericidal action against the test strain at these concentrations when combined with 1/4 MIC of AMK.

J Chemother, 1990 Apr, 2(2), 82 - 6
Enhanced in-vitro activity of liposome-trapped penicillin-G against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kotsifaki H et al.; The growth inhibition of four Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains by liposome-trapped penicillin-G was investigated . There were indications of an association of the efficacy of liposomal penicillin-G with the nature of the 0-antigenic polymeric side chain . Namely, P28-800 and PCF-95 strains, characterized by a rough polysaccharide chain, were the most susceptible, whereas strain P28-0, possessing an intact lipopolysaccharide, resisted the activity of the entrapped drug . Among the rough strains, P642, a beta-lactamase producer, was not affected by the encapsulated drug . The composition of liposomes seems to have a significant impact in arresting the growth of the P . aeruginosa strain.

Infusionstherapie, 1990 Apr, 17(2), 104 - 7
Gram-negative bacteria sepsis in the rat and tissue lipolytic activity on LCT and MCT/LCT-based commercial parenteral emulsions; Meraihi Z et al.; The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a gram-negative bacteria sepsis on the activity of the enzymes lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL), involved in the clearance of circulating triacylglycerol-rich fat particles . Fasting rats were intravenously injected with NaCl9 g.l-1, live or heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria . After 18 h the animals were killed . When compared to controls, the 2 treated groups showed an increase in body temperature, cholesterolemia, triglyceridemia and a decrease in ketonemia, proteinemia, albuminemia and in the in vitro activity of diaphragm, heart and adipose tissue LPL and of HL . The decrease in the enzyme activities occurred independent of the type of emulsion used as in vitro substrate, whether it was based on long-chain triglycerides or on medium- and long-chain triglycerides, but in any case the activity was lower with the first than with the second type of fat emulsion.

Microbiologica, 1990 Apr, 13(2), 97 - 100
Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase deficient mutant; Trancassini M et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces several extracellular substances such as enzymes and toxins which seem to contribute to its pathogenicity . In particular, alkaline protease and elastase production seems to affect bacterial adherence . Aim of this study was to isolate an elastase deficient mutant of P . aeruginosa and to demonstrate a possible correlation between enzyme production and adherence to WEHI cells . Mutant strain showed a significant reduction of elastase and protease alkaline activity, as the decrease of absorbance values demonstrate . Furthermore the adherence to WEHI cells of mutant strain was strongly reduced with respect to the wild strain . Our results prove that proteolytic enzymes play an important role in adherence, probably modifying the cell surfaces and so enhancing adherence.

Microbiologica, 1990 Apr, 13(2), 91 - 5
Role of membrane glycosphingolipids as Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesin receptor in rabbit bladder mucosa; Chiarini F et al.; The adhesiveness of a mucous strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to rabbit bladder mucosa was studied after preincubation of the microorganism with several glycolipids with different carbohydrate moieties to investigate their importance in the interaction with bacterial adhesins . Vesical cells were also treated with lectins (limulin and soybean) to confirm the role of saccharides as membrane receptor . The results obtained showed that galactose-containing glycolipids were able, in varying degrees, to reduce bacterial binding . The most active compounds were glycosphingolipids with negatively charged terminal groups . Lectin treatment of bladder mucosal cells confirmed the importance of galactose and sialic acid as mucosal cell membrane receptors for P . aeruginosa.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Apr, 4(4), 677 - 82
A lipopeptide-encoding sequence upstream from the lysA gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Jann A et al.; An open reading frame (ORF) of 141 bp was observed upstream from the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lysA gene . The translation product of this ORF contains a signal peptide with a lipoprotein box, Ile-Ala-Ala-Cys, at the predicted signal peptidase cleavage site . The Escherichia coli phoA gene without its signal sequence was fused in frame to this ORF in a broad host-range plasmid . The resulting construct expressed a hybrid protein exhibiting alkaline phosphatase activity in phoA mutants of both E . coli and P . aeruginosa . This indicates that the ORF encodes a peptide, part of which acts as an export signal . The hybrid peptide was identified by immunoblotting with alkaline phosphatase antiserum . The accumulation of a precursor form was observed when P . aeruginosa cells carrying this gene fusion on a plasmid were treated with globomycin . Moreover, the mature form could be labelled with 2-{3H}-glycerol, indicating that lipidic residues may be linked to the hybrid protein . Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the ORF encodes a lipopeptide . We propose that the gene is called IppL.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Apr, 4(4), 527 - 35
Analysis of the structure-function relationship of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A; Wick MJ et al.; Biochemical and genetic techniques have provided considerable insight into the structure-function relationship of one of the ADP-ribosyl transferases produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, exotoxin A . Exotoxin A contains a typical prokaryotic signal sequence which, in combination with the first 30 amino-terminal amino acids of the mature protein, is sufficient for exotoxin A secretion from P . aeruginosa . Determination of the nucleotide sequence and crystalline structure of this prokaryotic toxin allowed a molecular model to be constructed . The model reveals three structural domains of exotoxin A . Analysis of the identified domains shows that the amino-terminal domain (domain I) is involved in recognition of eukaryotic target cells . Furthermore, the central domain (domain II) is involved in secretion of exotoxin A into the periplasm of Escherichia coli . Evidence also implicates the role of domain II in translocation of exotoxin A from the eukaryotic vesicle which contains the toxin after it becomes internalized into susceptible eukaryotic cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis . The carboxy-terminal portion of exotoxin A (domain III) encodes the enzymatic activity of the molecule . The structure of this domain includes a cleft which is hypothesized to be the catalytic site of the enzyme . Several residues within domain III have been identified as having a direct role in catalysis, while others are hypothesized to play an important structural role.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Apr, 25(4), 575 - 84
The effect of rifampicin on the in-vitro activity of cefpirome or ceftazidime in combination with aminoglycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Valdes JM et al.; The in-vitro activity of cefpirome and ceftazidime when combined with aminoglycosides (gentamicin, amikacin, and tobramycin) in the presence and in the absence of rifampicin was evaluated against 32 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by two methods . Agar dilution susceptibilities demonstrated a marked reduction in synergy (FIC less than or equal to 0.5) when rifampicin was added to the combination . Synergy rates decreased from 59.4-84.4% without to 3.1-9.4% with the addition of rifampicin . In contrast, kill curve tests performed on two P . aeruginosa strains demonstrated synergy at 24 h when rifampicin was added to cefpirome, ceftazidime, gentamicin or a beta-lactam agent plus gentamicin combination . The addition of rifampicin to the combinations of cefpirome or ceftazidime plus gentamicin achieved a 2-log10 lower bacterial count at 24 h than that of the beta-lactam and gentamicin combination alone . When rifampicin was added to the combination cefpirome or ceftazidime plus gentamicin at different times during incubation, a greater bactericidal effect was observed when rifampicin was added at 0 and 1 h of incubation than when added later . No antagonism was observed with rifampicin when used in combination with beta-lactam agents and/or aminoglycosides.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Apr, 25(4), 513 - 23
Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to cefsulodin: modification of penicillin-binding protein 3 and mapping of its chromosomal gene; Gotoh N et al.; Spontaneous cefsulodin-resistant mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO4089 were isolated on agar impregnated with 3 mg/l of cefsulodin . This strain does not produce any chromosomal beta-lactamase . The MICs of cefsulodin for the parent and its mutants were 0.78 and 12.5 mg/l, respectively . Complete cross-resistance between cefsulodin and seven other antipseudomonal beta-lactams was noted in the mutants . The mutant gene, designated as pbpB, was mapped by FP5 plasmid-mediated conjugation and found to be near to cys-59 on the PAO chromosome, the gene order being pur-67, oruI, pbpB and cys-59 . There were no detectable differences between the parent and its mutants in their outer membrane protein profiles . Penicillin-binding protein assay, by the competition method, with cefsulodin or carbenicillin showed a significant reduction in affinity of PBP3 for these beta-lactams . This PBP is the primary target for cefsulodin in P . aeruginosa . The genetic mechanism by which the cefsulodin-resistant clinical isolates of P . aeruginosa have emerged is discussed.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 Apr, 9(4), 257 - 61
Molecular epidemiological study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from patients with acute leukemia; Kern W et al.; In an attempt to determine the genetic relationship between strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with acute leukemia, a recently described restriction fragment from the region upstream of the exotoxin A structural gene was used as a probe in Southern hybridization . The overall rate of cultures positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa during 169 admissions (119 patients) was 17% . Twelve genotypically distinct strains were found among 18 colonized and/or infected individuals . Three of these strains were recovered from more than one patient, suggesting a certain risk of nosocomial transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and cross-infection . Genotypic comparison showed identical restriction patterns in multiple isolates from single patients, and also in colonizing and subsequently infecting strains . Genotyping distinguished isolates with similar O serotypes and established the identity between isolates with differing susceptibility to agents used for antibacterial prophylaxis.

Clin Otolaryngol, 1990 Apr, 15(2), 173 - 5
BIPP--how does it work?
Nigam A, Allwood MC.
The antibacterial activity of BIPP and its constituents against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was measured by growth inhibition tests . BIPP was found to have negligible antibacterial activity . In addition, no release of iodine from BIPP was detected over a 4-week period . It is proposed that much of the evident antibacterial activity of BIPP may be a reflection of the meticulous surgical debridement that accompanies its use . In addition, BIPP makes the impregnated gauze impervious to blood and body fluids ensuring little nutrition for bacteria to thrive in its interstices.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Apr, 28(4), 747 - 55
Immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G antibody responses to alginates from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis; Pedersen SS et al.; Patients with cystic fibrosis have a high prevalence of mucoid, alginate-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa that causes chronic infection of the mucosal surface of the lungs . We developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for determination in serum of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG antibodies to alginate purified from P . aeruginosa and an ELISA for detection of IgA antibodies to a polyvalent P . aeruginosa standard antigen . Absorption experiments indicated that the assays were antigen and antibody specific and had analytical variations that ranged from 7 to 19% . Serum samples from 207 patients with cystic fibrosis, 100 healthy children, and 94 healthy adults were examined . The patients responded to P . aeruginosa infection with early IgA and IgG antibody responses that were significantly higher than in controls and noncolonized patients . Analysis of paired serum samples showed that infected patients had an increase in specific IgG and IgA antibodies that was significantly higher than in noncolonized patients . The serological data were analyzed for correlation with clinical condition; poor lung function was significantly associated with increased levels of IgA and IgG antibodies to P . aeruginosa alginate and to the standard antigen and with a relative excess of IgA antibodies to the standard antigen compared with IgA antibodies to P . aeruginosa alginate . The assays showed high predictive values if positive, but a negative test did not exclude infection, and the ELISAs should not be used for diagnostic purposes . Mucoid strains were present initially in the sputa of 28 of 54 infected patients with paired serum samples . These patients had a significant increase in anti-alginate antibodies, but it was not different from the increase seen in patients infected only with nonmucoid strains . Therefore, alginate may also be produced in vivo by nonmucoid P . aeruginosa . The study showed that early formation of IgA and IgG antibodies to P . aeruginosa alginate did not prevent development of chronic infection and that P . aeruginosa-specific IgA antibodies correlate with poor lung function.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1990 Apr, 141(4 Pt 1), 914 - 21
Reduction of sputum Pseudomonas aeruginosa density by antibiotics improves lung function in cystic fibrosis more than do bronchodilators and chest physiotherapy alone; Regelmann WE et al.; We evaluated patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and moderate obstructive lung disease in pulmonary exacerbation in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine the contribution of antibiotic-mediated reduction in sputum bacterial density to clinical improvement . For the first 4 days of study, all patients received bronchodilating aerosols and chest physiotherapy but no antibiotics . During this time, the patients showed significant improvement in mean FVC, FEV1, and maximal midexpiratory flow rate (FEF25-75) . In 12 of 13 trials, the patients showed no significant increases in the density of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during these first 4 days . In these 12 trials, the patients were stratified by their initial FVC and randomized to receive either parenteral tobramycin and ticarcillin (n = 7) or placebo (n = 5), in addition to continued aerosol and chest physiotherapy . In the remaining trial, the patient had a significant rise in the density of P . aeruginosa and was assigned to the antibiotic group . During the next 14 days of therapy, the antibiotic group showed significantly (p less than 0.01) greater reductions in log10 colony-forming units (cfu) of P . aeruginosa per gram of sputum and greater increases in FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75 than did the placebo group . The degree of decrease in log10 cfu P . aeruginosa/g sputum correlated significantly (p less than 0.001) with the degree of improvement in FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1990 Apr, 87(8), 2887 - 91
AlgR3, a protein resembling eukaryotic histone H1, regulates alginate synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kato J et al.; A regulatory mutation (alg52) in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate-negative mutant (strain 8882) is complemented efficiently by the gene algR2 and somewhat inefficiently by a second gene termed algR3 . algR3 and algR2 are located on a 4.4-kilobase-pair HindIII-BamHI fragment, which has been completely sequenced . algR2 has previously been characterized . Introduction of kanamycin-resistance cassettes and deletion-subcloning experiments involving various open reading frames in the HindIII-BamHI fragment have localized the algR3 gene, which encodes a 340-amino acid polypeptide . This highly basic regulatory protein contains 17% lysine and 36% alanine . The predicted amino acid sequence shows no significant similarity with any bacterial proteins and yet is highly similar to the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus histone H1 subtype of protein . Promoter localization by reverse transcriptase mapping of the algR3 gene shows the presence of Escherichia coli sigma 70 recognition sequences, and coupled transcription/translation experiments in E . coli demonstrate the presence of a 39-kDa polypeptide encoded by the cloned algR3 gene.

Infect Immun, 1990 Apr, 58(4), 978 - 82
Induction of interleukin-1 from murine peritoneal macrophages by Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A; Misfeldt ML et al.; Pseudomonas exotoxin A, an ADP-ribosylating toxin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been shown to stimulate the proliferation of murine thymocytes, which requires the participation of accessory cells . This requirement for accessory cells can be replaced by supernatant from adherent peritoneal exudate cells that have been stimulated with exotoxin A . Antibody to exotoxin A inhibits the induction of the thymocyte mitogenic activity from adherent peritoneal macrophages . However, antibody to exotoxin A had no effect on the thymocyte proliferation if the antibody was added to supernatant which contained thymocyte mitogenic activity . The thymocyte mitogenic activity was associated with a protein or protein complex with a molecular mass of greater than 10,000 daltons . D10 bioassays indicated the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the supernatant . Antibody to IL-1 inhibited the ability of supernatant to induce thymocytes to proliferate . Therefore, these data suggest that Pseudomonas exotoxin A can stimulate the production of IL-1 from adherent peritoneal cells, which induces murine thymocytes to proliferate.

Infect Immun, 1990 Apr, 58(4), 1030 - 7
Growth-dependent alterations in production of serotype-specific and common antigen lipopolysaccharides in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1; McGroarty EJ et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was grown in various media and at different temperatures, and the heterogeneity of the extracted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The size distributions of the serotype-specific LPS and the common antigen LPS were analyzed on Western blots (immunoblots) . Cells grown at high, near-growth-limiting temperatures, at low pH, in low concentrations of phosphate, or in high concentrations of NaCl, MgCl2, glycerol, or sucrose produced decreased amounts of the very long chain population of O-antigen LPS molecules . Lower temperatures and lowered glycerol, lowered sucrose, low sulfate, lower salt concentrations, and elevated pH did not significantly affect the level of this LPS population . The size and amount of common antigen LPS was either unaffected or increased slightly when the cells were grown under the above stress conditions . Cells grown under normal, nonstressed conditions were agglutinated only by serotype-specific antibodies . In contrast, cells grown under stress conditions, in which the long-O-polymer LPS was absent, were agglutinated by both serotype-specific and common antigen-specific antibodies . The results indicate that the long O polymers cover and mask the shorter common antigen . However, specific growth conditions limit the production of the long O polymer, allowing the exposure and reactivity of the common antigen on the cell surface.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Apr, 15(3), 255 - 63
A hot water supply as the source of Legionella pneumophila in incubators of a neonatology unit; Verissimo A et al.; The humidification trays of five of seven incubators in a neonatology unit of a hospital were found to be colonized with Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1 . Bacteriological analysis of the water in the humidification trays showed very large numbers of heterotrophic bacteria, one of which also contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Two hot water systems supply the neonatology unit, either of which is used to add water to the humidification trays; one system (A) is maintained at about 60 degrees C, while the other system (B) is maintained at 45 degrees C . The latter was also found to be colonized with L . pneumophila, Sg1 . Monoclonal antibody (Mab) subgrouping of the isolates, indicated that system B was the source of colonization of the humidification trays of the incubators.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Apr, 172(4), 1899 - 904
Pseudomonas aeruginosa transposable bacteriophages D3112 and B3 require pili and surface growth for adsorption; Roncero C et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa transposable bacteriophages D3112 and B3 were found to require pili for infection . Seventy mutants of P . aeruginosa PAO selected by resistance to D3112 or B3 were also resistant to the phage not used in the selection and suggested that the receptors of these two phages are identical . Of five resistant mutants examined, all were defective in the production of pili and did not adsorb either phage . P . aeruginosa PAK strains altered in pilus expression, such as hyperpiliated or nonpiliated mutants, adsorbed the phage but were not productively infected, implying that an additional host function was required for infection . The cell-associated lipopolysaccharide was not required for D3112 or B3 infection, since mutants deficient in O side-chain and core biosynthesis were still capable of adsorption and productive infection . This is in contrast to Escherichia coli mutator phages Mu and D108, which are dependent on lipopolysaccharide for adsorption . The P . aeruginosa phages adsorbed only to cells grown on solid media or in liquid media supplemented with agents that increase the macroviscosity, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone . Adsorption time course studies of D3112 and B3 using cells grown in solid media revealed similar but not identical adsorption patterns . These studies suggested that expression of the D3112 and B3 cell receptor is induced by growth on solid media.

Biotechniques, 1990 Apr, 8(4), 408 - 13
Ultrafiltration to remove endotoxins and other cytokine-inducing materials from tissue culture media and parenteral fluids; Schindler R et al.; The presence of small amounts of endotoxins are often undesirable when investigating cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha . Polymyxin B, widely used to block endotoxins, does not block several forms of endotoxins, and at high concentrations, polymyxin B itself stimulates interleukin-1 production . Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells are highly sensitive to endotoxins; they respond with cytokine production to endotoxins at concentrations of 10-50 pg/ml and detect pyrogenic materials nonreactive in the Limulus test . In the present study, ultrafiltration using polysulfone filters was found to remove all interleukin-1- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-inducing substances produced in E . coli cultures . Interleukin-1- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-inducing substances derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures were also rejected by the filters . Ultrafiltration is therefore a convenient and effective procedure to remove interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha-inducing substances from parenteral fluids and solutions that come in contact with blood such as fluids used in hemodialysis . This technique is also applicable for the large-scale production of culture media for mammalian cell expression of recombinant, pyrogen-free proteins intended for use in humans.

J Ind Microbiol, 1990 Apr-May, 5(2-3), 65 - 70
Isolation and characterization of acetonitrile utilizing bacteria; Chapatwala KD et al.; Bacteria utilizing high concentrations of acetonitrile as the sole carbon source were isolated and identified as Chromobacterium sp . and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Maximum growth was attained after 96 h of incubation and P . aeruginosa grew slightly faster than Chromobacterium sp . The strains were able to grow and oxidize acetonitrile at concentrations as high as 600 mM . However, higher concentrations inhibited growth and oxygen uptake . Degradation studies with (14C)acetonitrile indicated 57% of acetonitrile was degraded by Pseudomonas aeruginosa as compared to 43% by Chromobacterium . The isolates utilized different nitrile compounds as carbon substrates.

Biochem J, 1990 Mar 15, 266(3), 921 - 3
Nitric oxide is inactivated by the bacterial pigment pyocyanin; Warren JB et al.; Pyocyanin is a phenazine pigment produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and found in human lung secretions . Micromolar concentrations of pyocyanin inhibited the bioactivity of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) generated from bovine pulmonary-artery endothelium in response to bradykinin . This inhibition was reversed by perfusing the EDRF-bioassay system with pyocyanin-free buffer for 15 min, but persisted in the presence of superoxide dismutase (20 units/ml) . When nitric oxide, the major component of EDRF, was passed into an aqueous solution of pyocyanin in the absence of O2, a rapid colour change occurred from blue to pink; m.s . analysis of the products showed that the pyocyanin had been converted into a nitrosylated species.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Mar 15, 265(8), 4247 - 53
Inactivation of cytochrome cd1 by hydrazines; Yap-Bondoc F et al.; The dissimilatory nitrite reductase, cytochrome cd1, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 19429) was irreversibly inactivated by methyl- or phenylhydrazine but was only reduced by hydrazine itself . The reaction required oxygen and several turnovers, approximately four, of the cytochrome acting to transfer reducing equivalents from phenylhydrazine to oxygen . The reaction with methyl- or phenylhydrazine altered the visible spectrum of the cytochrome . Bands characteristic of reduced heme c appeared plus new features that were not characteristic of either oxidized or reduced heme d1 . Extraction of the heme from phenylhydrazine-treated cytochrome yielded a covalently modified form of the original heme d1 . Visible, 1H NMR, and mass spectra were obtained on the purified modified heme and on the metal-free esterified derivative . The spectroscopic data indicate that the modification was the regiospecific substitution of the 5 meso-proton by a phenyl group.

J Immunol, 1990 Mar 15, 144(6), 2253 - 7
Degradation of IgA proteins by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase; Heck LW et al.; Human colostral IgA and myeloma proteins of both IgA1 and IgA2 subclasses were susceptible to cleavage by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase . Detailed analysis of the cleavage products of IgA myeloma proteins revealed complete degradation of Fab with no evidence of intact Fab fragments as intermediate cleavage products . In contrast, both IgA1 and IgA2 proteins were resistant to cleavage by alkaline protease from P . aeruginosa . The susceptibility of human IgA proteins to elastase suggests a mechanism by which P . aeruginosa might evade the potentially protective function of IgA by producing this enzyme.

J Immunol, 1990 Mar 15, 144(6), 2117 - 22
Purification and characterization of intraparenchymal lung lymphocytes; Abraham E et al.; We analyzed phenotypic and functional characteristics of intraparenchymal pulmonary lymphocytes in mice . As determined by flow cytometry, approximately 30% more T cells than B cells were found . Nearly all T cells bore the alpha beta TCR, most of which stained with either CD4+ or CD8+, although small numbers of double-negative T cells were present; the CD8+/CD4+ ratio was approximately 0.37 . While practically all B cells bore surface IgM, and no IgA+ cells were found, and approximately more than 80% of the plasma cells produced IgA . Approximately half of the LPS-responsive cells produced IgA . Pulmonary B cell clonal precursors specific for the autoantigen, transferrin, were present in higher frequencies than those specific for the bacterial antigens, levan and Pseudomonas aeruginosa polysaccharide type I, or those producing antibodies against OVA . These results demonstrate that a distinct population of lymphocytes is present in the lungs.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Mar 15, 56(3), 245 - 8
Antigenic epitope in Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide immunologically cross-reactive with Escherichia coli O26 lipopolysaccharide; Yokota S et al.; The human monoclonal antibody MH-4H7 recognizes the lipopolysaccharide outer core region of some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and in of some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and in particular strongly binds to strains of Lanyi serotype 04 . In this paper, we report that this monoclonal antibody also reacts with Escherichia coli O26 LPS . However, our results suggest that the previous reported immunological cross reaction between P . aeruginosa 04 and E . coli O26 strains (which was observed by using antisera against heat-stable antigens) is not due to the similarity of the O-polysaccharides.

J Assoc Physicians India, 1990 Mar, 38(3), 215 - 7
Study of iatrogenic thrombophlebitis; Velhal GD et al.; This is an analysis of 42 adult patients with 97 episodes of thrombophlebitis following 167 venepunctures . Almost all commonly used fluids had contributed to the development of thrombophlebitis . The observations showed significantly higher chances of development of thrombophlebitis with the quantity of fluids more than 2500 ml . (chi 2 = 15.50, P less than 0.001), autoclaved containers (chi 2 = 5.5, P less than 0.05) use of rubber tubing for infusion set (chi 2 = 4.7, P less than 0.05) and infusion rate more than 20 drops per minute (chi 2 = 15.25 . P less than 0.001) . Average time interval between beginning of IV infusion and development of thrombophlebitis was found to be 18 hours and average extent of thrombophlebitis was 7 cm . The commonest micro-organism isolated from needles was Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Ceylon Med J, 1990 Mar, 35(1), 21 - 3
Glycocalyx positive bacteria isolated from chronic osteomyelitis and septic arthritis; Alam SI et al.; Bacterial cultures isolated from cases of chronic osteomyelitis and septic arthritis were screened for the production of glycocalyx . The presence of glycocalyx was noted in 76.3% of Staphylococcus aureus, 57.14% of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 50% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 75% of Escherichia coli isolates.

Nippon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Mar, 38(3), 499 - 502
{Successful use of an omental pedicled flap for obliterating empyema associated with a large bronchial fistula}; Tsubota N et al.; We transferred the omentum up into the thorax through the diaphragm and succeeded in obliterating the empyema with a large bronchial fistula . A 52 year-old man with 30 years history of empyema was referred because of purulent discharge through the cutaneous fistula starting one year before . Open thoracotomy revealed a round opening 13 mm in diameter to the cavity, which resulted from lobectomy performed 30 years before . After a month of dress changing pseudomonas aeruginosa in the empyema space disappeared . Thereafter radical operation was performed in order to close the fistula . The omental flap supplied by the right gastroepiploic artery was transferred into the empyema space . The flap was sutured to the orifice of the bronchial stump . The residual space was obliterated by the thoracoplasty using the chest wall with ribs and lateral side of the empyema wall . Postoperative course was uneventful and bronchoscopy at two months after the operation revealed that the bronchial mucosa developed and covered over the large bronchial fistula.

Arch Pharm (Weinheim), 1990 Mar, 323(3), 141 - 4
Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of some arylhydrazones of 4-{(2-methylimidazo{1,2-a}pyridine-3-yl)azo}benzoic acid hydrazide; Cesur Z et al.; A short series of arylhydrazones of 4-{(2-methylimidazo{1,2-a}pyridine-3-yl)azo}benzoic acid hydrazide was synthesized and tested for antimicrobial activity . All of the compounds show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli . A few members were also active against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The interplanar angle (theta) between the aryl ring and the adjacent azomethine group of some representative compounds was measured by electronic absorption spectroscopy . No structure-activity-relationship between interplanar angle or lipophily and activity was found.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Mar, 25(3), 441 - 8
Oral ciprofloxacin in the treatment of peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Fleming LW et al.; Oral ciprofloxacin in doses of 0.75 to 2 g daily for 8-16 (median 10) days was given as first-line treatment of 33 unselected episodes of CAPD-associated peritonitis in 20 patients . Treatment was well tolerated and effective, curing 25 episodes . Treatment was withdrawn in five episodes, four because of resistant organisms and in the other because of vomiting . Infection relapsed twice in one patient during follow-up and one patient had persistence of the infecting organism (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) despite clinical improvement . Plasma and dialysate ciprofloxacin levels ranged from 1 to 8 mg/l . Assay between days 2 and 4 of treatment indicated the ciprofloxacin steady state concentration . If this proves to be greater than 7 mg/l the dose may be reduced and if less than 2 mg/l the dose should be increased . Overall a single course of oral ciprofloxacin was 76% successful as a first-line treatment for CAPD-associated peritonitis, caused by a wide range of organisms.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Mar, 172(3), 1418 - 23
Permeability barrier to hydrophilic solutes in Mycobacterium chelonei; Jarlier V et al.; In order to define the permeability barrier to hydrophilic molecules in mycobacteria, we used as a model a smooth, beta-lactamase-producing strain of Mycobacterium chelonei . The rates of hydrolysis of eight cephalosporins by intact and sonicated cells were measured, and the permeability coefficient (P) was calculated from these rates by the method of Zimmermann and Rosselet (W . Zimmermann and A . Rosselet, Antimicrob . Agents Chemother . 12:368-372, 1977) . P ranged from (0.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-8) (benzothienylcephalosporin) to (10 +/- 3.3) x 10(-8) cm/s (cephaloridine); i.e., the P values were lower than those reported for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli by 1 and 3 orders of magnitude, respectively . The permeability barrier was shown to reduce drastically the stream of drug molecules entering the cell, allowing the rather low level of beta-lactamase (0.1 U/mg of protein with penicillin G) to decrease radically the concentration of the drug at the target; this explains the poor in vitro activities of the beta-lactams against M . chelonei . We also estimated P for small, hydrophilic molecules (glucose, glycerol, glycine, leucine), by studying their uptake kinetics . The values found, ranging from 15 x 10(-8) to 490 x 10(-8) cm/s, were consistent again with a very low permeability of M . chelonei cell wall . The permeation of cephalosporins was not very dependent on the hydrophobicity of the molecules or on the temperature, suggesting a hydrophilic pathway of penetration for these molecules.

Crit Care Med, 1990 Mar, 18(3), 303 - 8
Increased survival time after delayed histamine and prostaglandin blockade in a porcine model of severe sepsis-induced lung injury; Byrne K et al.; A combination of cimetidine, diphenhydramine, and ibuprofen has been shown to be an effective treatment in a porcine model of septic acute lung injury . The present study was designed to evaluate this therapy in a delayed treatment survival model . Three groups of animals were studied: a control group (C, n = 6) received a sham infusion of 0.9% saline; a septic group (Ps, n = 5) received a continuous infusion of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms; and a treatment group (CID, n = 6) received P . aeruginosa plus cimetidine 150 mg, ibuprofen 12.5 mg/kg, and diphenhydramine 10 mg/kg given at 90 min after P . aeruginosa infusion, and hourly thereafter . Group Ps developed fulminant acute lung injury and hypodynamic septic shock . CID therapy ameliorated temporarily the progressive course of hypoxemia and increased extravascular lung water (EVLW), delayed the onset of cardiovascular deterioration, and improved significantly survival time . It was concluded that CID therapy given at 90 min after the onset of lethal continuous P . aeruginosa infusion improved significantly animal survival time by improving temporarily hypoxemia and increase in EVLW and delaying cardiovascular collapse.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Mar, 25(3), 413 - 22
Cefodizime and cefotaxime in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis: a randomized double-blind prospective study in 180 patients; Maesen FP et al.; In a double-blind prospective study, 180 patients admitted to hospital with acute purulent exacerbations of chronic bronchitis were treated for seven days with twice daily 1 g intramuscular injections of either cefodizime or cefotaxime . Sputum cultures performed before, during and immediately after treatment showed complete eradication of the infection in 89/90 given cefodizime and 86/90 receiving cefotaxime . Some symptomatic Pseudomonas aeruginosa superinfections occurred with each agent . During the follow-up week, recurrences or reinfections after apparent clearance occurred in 15 patients given cefodizime and in 21 receiving cefotaxime . Pharmacokinetic studies in blood showed mean Cmax values of 50.8 mg/l for cefodizime and 36.5 mg/l for cefotaxime, corresponding values in the sputum being 1.61 and 0.62 mg/l . Mean AUC values in both blood and sputum were 2 1/2- to 3-fold higher for cefodizime . Some features suggested better performance by cefodizime than by cefotaxime, but the clinical results were not statistically significantly different.

Rev Infect Dis, 1990 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 277 - 81
Invasive external otitis caused by Aspergillus; Phillips P et al.; Invasive external otitis occurs almost exclusively in patients with longstanding diabetes . Except for occasional cases, the etiologic agent has been Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We report a case caused by Aspergillus species in a diabetic patient with acute leukemia . Persistent infection was documented by culture and histology after a course of intravenous amphotericin B (total dose, 2 g) . Clinical resolution occurred in association with a 3-month course of oral itraconazole . Four previously reported cases of invasive aspergillus otitis are reviewed.

Gene, 1990 Mar 1, 87(1), 37 - 43
The arc operon for anaerobic arginine catabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa contains an additional gene, arcD, encoding a membrane protein; Luthi E et al.; The arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa serves to generate ATP . The three enzymes involved, ADI, catabolic ornithine carbamoyltransferase and carbamate kinase, are induced by oxygen limitation and encoded by the contiguous arcABC genes . A 1.5-kb region upstream from arcABC was sequenced and found to contain an open reading frame, arcD, coding for a hydrophobic polypeptide of 52 kDa . The content and distribution of hydrophobic amino acids suggest that the arcD gene product may be a transmembrane protein . When arcD was fused to an Escherichia coli promoter, the ArcD protein was synthesized in E . coli maxicells and detected in the membrane fraction . In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis the ArcD protein migrated like a 32-kDa protein; such anomalous electrophoretic mobility is known for other highly hydrophobic proteins . Mutations in arcD rendered the cells unable to utilize extracellular arginine as an energy source . Since anaerobic arginine consumption and ornithine release are coupled in P . aeruginosa, it is proposed that arcD specifies an arginine: ornithine antiporter or a part thereof . Insertions of IS21 or Tn1725 in arcD had a strong polar effect on the expression of the arcAB enzymes, indicating that the arc genes are organized as an arcDABC operon.

Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Mar, 94(3), 269 - 76
{Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the rabbit corneal epithelium}; Tazawa H; Adherence of bacteria to the corneal epithelium is the first step in the pathogenesis of corneal infection . Keratitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa usually occurs among the contact lens wearers . Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to rabbit corneal epithelium, damaged by one week of hard contact lens wear, was examined histologically . The cornea was excised for scanning electron microscopy at 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after inoculation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.2 ml, 10(8)CFU/ml) . Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not adhere to the intact corneal epithelium, but traumatized cornea provided a site for adherence . In rabbits in which the eyelid was opened by lid retractors, large numbers of organisms were observed adhering to the injured cornea mediated by ocular surface mucin . Thirty minutes after inoculation, the adherent bacteria began to penetrate the epithelial cells and surface mucin by the formation of pockets surrounding the organism.

Zhonghua Zheng Xing Shao Shang Wai Ke Za Zhi, 1990 Mar, 6(1), 42 - 6, 77
{Experimental study of pulmonary infection and its systemic dissemination in the early stage of severe burn}; Rong XZ; A total of 138 rabbits were used for the study of pulmonic infection and systemic dissemination in early stage of severe burns . One group of animals was inflicted with third degree burns on the back covering 20% of total body surface area; coincidently an intratracheal introduction of sero-type IX pseudomonas aeruginosa (IXPA) were performed . Above group of animals were compared with the simple body surface burns, simple intratracheal colonization and amikacin treatment groups . For observation, a series of blood samples, swabs of throat were taken at regular times for bacterial culture and IXPA identification . Endotoxin levels of blood plasma were measured too . Animals were killed at 8, 16, 24, 72 hours post-injury, tissue specimens of lung, liver, spleen and kidney were taken for quantitative bacterial cultures, and lung tissues for histological examination . The results showed that the predominant colonization of IXPA in the throats in burned animals are more difficult to be eliminated than that of in non-burned ones . The susceptibility of drugs to IXPA in burned group is higher than that of in control groups, with more severe tissue damages under microscopic examination . The pathogen of pulmonary infection began to invade into the blood stream at four hours post-injuries, and multiple organs dissemination occurred, in which the livers and kidneys were primarily affected . Coincidently a process of endotoxemia was proved . The systemic use of sensitive antibiotics immediately after burns showed benefit to decrease the rate of bacteremia and dissemination of other organs, as well as the rate of death.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 4(3), 499 - 503
Multiple promoters control the regulation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa regA gene; Storey DG et al.; Expression studies utilizing the regA promoters, fused in tandem or separately to promoterless reporter genes, indicated that regA is transcribed from two promoters (P1 and P2) . Both promoters can act independently . Expression from the P1 promoter is not affected by the iron content of the medium . Expression from the P2 promoter is tightly regulated by iron.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 4(3), 489 - 97
Identification of regB, a gene required for optimal exotoxin A yields in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Wick MJ et al.; The yield of exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been shown to be strain-dependent . Exotoxin A production requires the presence of the positive regulatory gene, regA . We cloned the regA genetic locus from the prototypical P . aeruginosa strain PAO1 and examined its ability to influence exotoxin A yields compared to the same region cloned from the hypertoxin-producing strain, PA103 . The P . aeruginosa regA mutant strain, PA103-29, containing the PAO1 regA locus in trans produced approximately five to seven times less extracellular exotoxin A than PA103-29 containing the regA locus cloned from the hypertoxigenic strain, PA103 . Nucleotide sequence analysis of the PAO1 regA locus revealed several differences, the most striking of which was the absence of a second open reading frame that was present in the analogous PA103 DNA . In addition, an amino acid substitution was found at position 144 of RegA (Thr in PAO1 and Ala in PA103) . Recombinant molecules were constructed to test the contribution of each of these changes in nucleotide sequence on extracellular exotoxin A yields . The amino acid substitution in the PAO1 RegA protein was found not to affect overall exotoxin A yields . In contrast, the presence of the second open reading frame immediately downstream of the PA103 regA gene was found to influence extracellular exotoxin A yields . This open reading frame encodes a gene which we call regB . Nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that regB is 228 nucleotides in length and encodes a protein of 7527 Daltons . Our data suggest that regB is required for optimal exotoxin A production and its absence in strain PAO1 partially accounts for the difference in yield of extracellular exotoxin A between P . aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PA103.

Ophthalmology, 1990 Mar, 97(3), 296 - 302
Bacterial adherence to extended wear soft contact lenses; Aswad MI et al.; The authors studied the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus to extended wear soft contact lenses (EWSCLs) with and without focal deposits using both a radiolabeling technique and electron microscopy . P . aeruginosa showed significant adherence to contact lenses in vitro . In contrast, S . aureus failed to show significant adherence to contact lenses in vitro (i.e., the radioactive uptake was not significantly above background) . The extent of adherence of Pseudomonas was proportional to the number of focal deposits on the lenses . Results of electron microscopic examination showed the bacteria to be adherent primarily to large focal deposits (greater than or equal to 150 microns) . There was no pseudomonal adherence to the small focal deposits (less than or equal to 50 microns) and little adherence to the areas in between the focal deposits . The authors hypothesize that worn lenses, especially those with large focal deposits, serve as a vehicle for the transport of P . aeruginosa to the cornea . This hypothesis could be a partial explanation for the high incidence of keratitis caused by P . aeruginosa in EWSCL patients.

Endoscopy, 1990 Mar, 22(2), 72 - 5
Septicemia after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Deviere J et al.; Clinical and bacteriological data from 55 patients who developed septicemia within 3 days after ERCP were collected . Forty-four patients presented with septicemia after therapeutic endoscopy, with incomplete drainage in forty, eight after diagnostic ERCP performed in obstructed bile ducts in another center and not followed by endoscopic therapy, and three with a normal common bile duct after diagnostic ERCP . The incidence of septicemia is significantly higher in cases of malignant obstruction than in benign obstruction (21% vs 3%; p less than 0.01), due mainly to the problems of drainage associated with tumoral infiltration . Forty-eight patients (87%) had incomplete bile duct drainage when they developed septicemia, and among the seven remaining cases, 3 had cholecystitis and 3 abscesses in the biliopancreatic area . Previous diagnostic ERCP without drainage was also clearly associated with septicemia after therapeutic ERCP . The most commonly isolated bacteria from blood and bile cultures were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli . P . aeruginosa was observed mainly in patients referred from other centers after previous diagnostic ERCP, and was unusual in patients without previous ERCP . It is associated with problems in the disinfection of the scopes . Six deaths were attributed to sepsis, always in patients with incomplete biliary drainage which could not be improved . In most of the cases, septicemia after ERCP is related to incomplete bile duct drainage, and in some cases, to biliopancreatic infected collections . Careful disinfection of the endoscopes and other endoscopic devices is mandatory to avoid an unacceptably high rate of P . aeruginosa infection.

Arch Dis Child, 1990 Mar, 65(3), 259 - 63
Serum IgA antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis; Brett MM et al.; Serum IgA antibodies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell surface antigens were estimated by ELISA . Titres in patients with and without cystic fibrosis and with no pseudomonal infection were low (less than 105 to less than 261) . Titres in patients with cystic fibrosis who were chronically infected with P aeruginosa were very high (1200-163,000), and patients who grew the organism intermittently had intermediate titres . Longitudinal studies suggested increasing tissue invasion or involvement of the lower respiratory tract, or both, with increasing time of infection and identified patients with a good prognosis after the onset of pseudomonal infection . Detection of an increased serum IgA titre can give an earlier indication than measurement of the serum IgG titre of the presence of P aeruginosa in the respiratory tract in a proportion of patients . IgA measurement seems to be better than IgG measurement at predicting the reappearance of P aeruginosa after apparent eradication of early infection . These results suggest that this assay may be a valuable additional indicator of the presence of P aeruginosa at the beginning of infection, and of the reappearance of the organism after treatment in the early stages of infection.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Mar, 34(3), 487 - 8
In vitro activities of combinations of aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas cepacia from patients with cystic fibrosis; Bosso JA et al.; The in vitro activities of two-drug combinations of aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime were studied in 96 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in 20 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas cepacia from cystic fibrosis patients . Some synergy was observed with each combination used against P . aeruginosa, but synergy was rare when the combinations were used against P . cepacia.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Mar 1, 56(1-2), 83 - 7
An outer membrane protein characteristic of mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Grabert E et al.; SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of outer membrane (OM) proteins of different mucoid strains of P . aeruginosa revealed a protein of about 54 kDa that was absent in nonmucoid strains . This 54 kDa protein was expressed under iron-restricted and iron sufficient growth conditions . Electrophoretic mobility of the 54 kDa protein was modified by the solubilization temperature as well as by the addition of lipopolysaccharide and alginate prior to electrophoresis . Treatment of OMs with octylglucoside/KCl or SDS completely extracted the 54 kDa protein at low temperatures . The possible role of this protein in biosynthesis and/or excretion of bacterial alginate is discussed.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1990 Mar, 43(3), 314 - 20
Comparison of two carbapenems, SM-7338 and imipenem: affinities for penicillin-binding proteins and morphological changes; Sumita Y et al.; We investigated the binding affinities of SM-7338 for penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and the morphological changes induced by it compared with those of imipenem . Both SM-7338 and imipenem had the highest binding affinities for PBP-2 of Escherichia coli, which were in good agreement with the primary morphological response of spherical cell formation . SM-7338 also showed high affinities for PBP-1A, -1Bs, and -3, and imipenem showed high affinities for PBP-1A and -1Bs but not for PBP-3 . At 4-fold MIC, SM-7338 induced a indeterminate form, whereas imipenem did not . This may be due to the higher affinity of SM-7338 for PBP-3 compared to that of imipenem . Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, SM-7338 had very high affinities for PBP-2 and -3, and imipenem had higher affinities for PBP-2 and -1A . SM-7338 induced this organism to filamentous cells at a concentration lower than its MIC, bulge cells at 2-fold MIC, and spherical cells at 4-fold MIC, while imipenem principally induced round cell formation at each concentration . These morphological differences in P . aeruginosa may be due to the differences in binding profiles to PBPs . We also studied the affinities for PBPs using radioactive SM-7338 . The data obtained supported these results.

APMIS, 1990 Mar, 98(3), 203 - 11
Induction of experimental chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection with P . aeruginosa entrapped in alginate microspheres; Pedersen SS et al.; Alginate-producing, mucoid P . aeruginosa is frequently found in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), where it causes a chronic infection . The importance of alginate in the pathogenesis was demonstrated by the ability to establish chronic P . aeruginosa lung infection in rats if P . aeruginosa entrapped in minute alginate-beads were inoculated transtracheally . Alginate beads containing P . aeruginosa were formed by nebulizing a suspension of seaweed sodium-alginate and P . aeruginosa into a calcium solution . The alginate bead method of establishing infection was compared to an agar-bead method and proved to be quantitatively similar after 4 weeks . The ability of the two methods to induce formation of precipitins, IgA and IgG antibodies against P . aeruginosa antigens, including outer membrane proteins, flagella, exoenzymes and alginate, was assessed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting . The two methods of inducing infection were comparable and infected rats had significantly higher antibody response than rats inoculated with sterile beads . We suggest that the alginate bead model closely resembles the later stages of CF-lung infection and that it offers the theoretical advantage of using a substance which is chemically similar to the alginate produced in vivo by P . aeruginosa.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 56(3), 788 - 95
Kinetics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion to 304 and 316-L stainless steel: role of cell surface hydrophobicity; Vanhaecke E et al.; Fifteen different isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used to study the kinetics of adhesion to 304 and 316-L stainless steel . Stainless steel plates were incubated with approximately 1.5 X 10(7) CFU/ml in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) . After the plates were rinsed with the buffer, the number of adhering bacteria was determined by a bioluminescence assay . Measurable adhesion, even to the electropolished surfaces, occurred within 30 s . Bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity, as determined by the bacterial adherence to hydrocarbons test and the contact angle measurement test, was the major parameter influencing the adhesion rate constant for the first 30 min of adhesion . A parabolic relationship between the CAM values and the logarithm of the adhesion rate constants (In k) was established . No correlation between either the salt aggregation or the improved salt aggregation values and the bacterial adhesion rate constants could be found . Since there was no significant correlation between the bacterial electrophoretic mobilities and the In k values, the bacterial cell surface charge seemed of minor importance in the process of adhesion of P . aeruginosa to 304 and 316-L stainless steel.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Mar, 172(3), 1340 - 4
The CAM-OCT plasmid enhances UV responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa recA mutants; McBeth DL; The effect of the CAM-OCT plasmid on responses to UV irradiation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa recA mutants was characterized . Mutant alleles examined included rec-1, rec-2, and recA7::Tn501 . The plasmid substantially enhanced both survival and mutagenesis of RecA- cells after treatment with UV light . Survival of the RecA-(CAM-OCT) cells after UV irradiation was intermediate between that seen in the wild-type P . aeruginosa PAO1 and the increased survival seen in PAO1(CAM-OCT) cells . Mutability was quantitated by the reversion to carbenicillin resistance of strains carrying a bla(Am) mutation on a derivative of plasmid RP1 . UV-induced mutagenesis of CAM-OCT carrying recA mutants occurred at levels comparable to that seen in PAO1(CAM-OCT) . The ability of CAM-OCT plasmid to suppress the recombination deficiency in recA mutants was tested by assaying for bacteriophage F116L-generalized transduction of a Tn7 insertion in the alkane utilization genes of CAM-OCT . Transduction of the Tn7 insertion was not detected in RecA-(CAM-OCT) strains but was easily seen in PAO1(CAM-OCT), indicating that the plasmid does not encode a recA analog . The results indicate that the CAM-OCT UV response genes are expressed in RecA- cells, which differs from results seen with other UV response-enhancing plasmids . The results suggest that CAM-OCT either encodes several UV responses genes itself or induces chromosomal UV response genes by an alternate mechanism.

Infect Immun, 1990 Mar, 58(3), 808 - 15
Inhibitory and stimulatory effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanine on human T and B lymphocytes and human monocytes; Ulmer AJ et al.; Pyocyanine, a pigment produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has dual dose-dependent stimulatory as well as inhibitory effects on immune responses in vitro as measured by DNA synthesis of human T and B lymphocytes, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by human T lymphocytes, immunoglobulin production by human B lymphocytes, and monokine production by human monocytes . In general, stimulatory activity was found at low concentrations of pyocyanine, whereas high concentrations of the pigment resulted in an inhibition of responses . At a pyocyanine concentration of 0.1 micrograms/ml or less the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes was enhanced, but at 0.5 micrograms/ml it was suppressed . IL-2 production by T lymphocytes was enhanced at concentrations up to 0.5 micrograms/ml but totally inhibited at 1.0 micrograms/ml . The differentiation of B lymphocytes to become immunoglobulin-producing cells was also enhanced in the presence of low doses of pyocyanine, whereas secretion of immunoglobulin by B lymphocytes was suppressed at all concentrations of pyocyanine . In contrast to the dual effects of pyocyanine on lymphocyte response, lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor release by monocytes was markedly enhanced by low as well as high concentrations of pyocyanine . From these results we conclude that this property of pyocyanine may lead to suppression of specific defense mechanisms and enhance harmful inflammatory reactions of the host during infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Infect Immun, 1990 Mar, 58(3), 659 - 66
Characterization of phospholipase C from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a potent inflammatory agent; Meyers DJ et al.; Phospholipase C (PLC) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced a marked inflammatory response when injected intraperitoneally in C3H/HeJ mice . This inflammation was characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory cells and plasma protein and the release of arachidonic acid metabolites (6-trans-12-epi-leukotriene B4 {LTB4}, 6-trans-LTB4, LTB4, 5-HETE (5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid), LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, prostaglandin E2 {PGE2}, PGF2-alpha, and thromboxane B2 {TxB2}) in the peritoneal cavity of the mice . Heat-inactivated PLC did not evoke any of these effects, suggesting that enzyme activity is necessary for PLC-induced inflammation . When human granulocytes were incubated with PLC in vitro, 6-trans-12-epi-LTB4, 6-trans-LTB4, LTB4, 5-HETE, and PGE2 were generated . Mouse peritoneal cells stimulated with PLC released 6-trans-LTB4, LTB4, PGE2, PGF2-alpha, and TxB2 . Both human granulocytes and mouse peritoneal cells stimulated with PLC generated significantly increased levels of arachidonic acid metabolites as compared with cells incubated with heat-inactivated PLC . Leukotriene production by both populations of cells was inhibited when the cells were preincubated with nordihydroguaiaretic acid and subsequently stimulated with PLC . Similarly, both cell types released significantly lower amounts of cyclooxygenase pathway products when they were preincubated with indomethacin and subsequently stimulated with PLC.

J Infect Dis, 1990 Mar, 161(3), 541 - 8
The effect of piliation and exoproduct expression on the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to respiratory epithelial monolayers; Saiman L et al.; The adherence properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with known pilin DNA sequences were studied . A polar pilus clearly contributed to adherence, as 35S-labeled pilus-positive (Pil+) strains bound significantly more to bovine trachea epithelial monolayers than did pilus-negative (Pil-) mutants (P less than .05) and minimally more than hyperpiliated strains . A pil- mutant PAK/NP, constructed by gene replacement, demonstrated low levels of attachment (3.8% of the inoculum adherent compared with 7% for the wild-type strain PAK), suggesting that other adhesins are functional . The Pil-, flagellum-negative strain PAO1150.1 bound the least (0.3% of the inoculum adherent), confirming the importance of motility in the binding process . The pilin sequences of strains P1 and PA1244 were virtually identical, although P1 bound threefold more than did PA1244 . P1 produced 10-fold more proteinase than did PA1244, and a proteinase-negative mutant of P1, isolated by transposon mutagenesis, had binding equivalent to that of PA1244 . The adherence of PAO1 was increased 60% in the presence of bacterial supernatants from phosphate-limited cultures and correlated with phospholipase C activity in the supernatant . Thus, the expression of several Pseudomonas genes may be required to promote efficient binding to epithelial surfaces.

Biotechnology (N Y), 1990 Mar, 8(3), 228 - 30
Enhanced removal of Exxon Valdez spilled oil from Alaskan gravel by a microbial surfactant; Harvey S et al.; Remediation efforts for the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez tanker in Alaska have focused on the use of pressurized water at high temperature to remove oil from the beaches . We have tested a biological surfactant from Pseudomonas aeruginosa for its ability to remove oil from contaminated Alaskan gravel samples under various conditions, including concentration of the surfactant, time of contact, temperature of the wash, and presence or absence of xanthan gum . The results demonstrate the ability of the microbial surfactant to release oil to a significantly greater extent (2 to 3 times) than water alone, particularly at temperatures of 30 degrees C and above.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1990 Feb 25, 18(4), 979 - 88
The roles of indoleglycerol phosphate and the TrpI protein in the expression of trpBA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Chang M et al.; The TrpI protein belongs to the LysR-family of procaryotic regulatory proteins . Members of this family share a characteristic similarity of their N-terminal amino acid sequences, and many of them are activators of divergently transcribed genes or operons . In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the genes for tryptophan synthase, trpBA, are regulated by indoleglycerol phosphate (InGP) and TrpI . We demonstrate here that in the absence of InGP, the binding site of TrpI is located in the -52 to -77 region of the trpBA promoter; in the presence of InGP, the binding region is extended to the -32 region . In addition, two major, slow moving protein-DNA complexes are seen in gel retardation assays: the faster moving complex is formed in the absence of InGP and the amount of the slower moving complex is greatly enhanced in the presence of InGP . These results suggest that the binding of a second TrpI protein molecule, promoted by InGP, plays a crucial role in activating the expression of the trpBA gene pair.

FEBS Lett, 1990 Feb 12, 261(1), 196 - 8
Cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding cytochrome c-551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Arai H et al.; The cytochrome c-551 gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cloned by using two oligonucleotide probes, which had been synthesized based on the known primary structure of the protein . The restriction map of the cloned DNA and sequence analysis showed that the cytochrome c-551 gene is located 50 bp downstream of the nitrite reductase gene, which has recently been cloned and sequenced . DNA sequence analysis also indicated that cytochrome c-551 is synthesized in vivo as a precursor having an amino-terminal signal sequence consisting of 22 amino acid residues.

Clin Pharm, 1990 Feb, 9(2), 102 - 18
Treatment of peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Horton MW et al.; The epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and pharmacotherapy of peritonitis in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) are reviewed . CAPD-associated peritonitis is a localized infection of the peritoneal cavity . Approximately 70% of the cases are caused by a single gram-positive microorganism indigenous to the patient's skin or upper respiratory tract that infects the peritoneal cavity . Gram-negative microorganisms cause 25% of the cases; fungi, anaerobes, and mycobacteria cause approximately 5% . Clinical manifestations include a cloudy, turbid peritoneal dialysate effluent and abdominal pain or tenderness . Diagnosis is confirmed by the detection and isolation of microorganisms in the peritoneal dialysate effluent . Of patients with CAPD-associated peritonitis, 70-80% can be successfully treated on an outpatient basis with intraperitoneal (i.p.) instillation of antimicrobials . Vancomycin, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides are the agents most commonly used to treat CAPD-associated peritonitis . Most recently, alternative dosing regimens using intermittent i.p . administration of vancomycin have been used . In certain types of CAPD-associated peritonitis (those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or fungi), removal of the peritoneal catheter may be required to achieve a cure . Approximately two thirds of the patients transferring to another form of dialysis from CAPD do so because of peritonitis . Currently available data indicate that the most effective therapy for CAPD-associated peritonitis is i.p . administration of antimicrobial agents with activity against the suspected microorganism.

J Surg Res, 1990 Feb, 48(2), 147 - 53
The effect of blood transfusions on immune function . V . The effect on the inflammatory response to bacterial infections; Waymack JP et al.; Blood transfusions have been shown to be associated with increased bacterial infection rates in colon cancer patients and in multiple animal studies . This increased susceptibility appears due to impairments in the systemic resistance to infections and not to alterations in the local response . Specifically, transfusions in a rat model were not found to alter the peritoneal cavity's response to an Escherichia coli challenge or the burn wound's response to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa challenge . Transfusions did impair the macrophage's ability to phagocytose and kill bacteria . Transfusions also increased the serum level of the immunosuppressive glucocorticoid, corticosterone.

Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Feb, 28(2), 300 - 7
{Clinical and ultrastructural study on primary ciliary dyskinesia}; Amitani R et al.; We evaluated laboratory and radiological findings and examined tracheobronchial cilia by transmission electron microscopy in 9 patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), in order to elucidate the clinical pictures of PCD and the relationship between PCD and diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) which was proposed as a new disease entity in Japan in 1969 . The clinical pictures of our PCD patients were almost the same as that already described in several articles in Europe and North America; early onset of respiratory symptoms, high incidence of chronic sinusitis and otitis media exudative as well as infertility, continuous infections in the lower respiratory tracts (Hemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa etc.) . Tracheobronchial cilia obtained by brushing technique were immotile (6 out of 8 patients) or dyskinetic (2 out of 8 patients) . Ultrastructural study of cilia revealed the lack of dynein arms in all patients: the lack of both outer and inner arms (4 patients), the lack of outer arms (2 patients), the lack of inner arms (2 patients) . Chest X-ray films revealed situs inversus in six out of nine patients . According to the radiological findings (chest X-ray film, CT-scan, bronchogram), the patients were divided into three groups; I: localized bronchiectasis (5 patients), II: diffuse micronodular lesions without definite bronchiectasis (3 patients), III: diffuse micronodular lesions with bronchiectasis (1 patient) . Two patients of the second group satisfied the clinical diagnostic criteria for DPB (Chest 83:63, 1983) . In conclusion, PCD can cause a variety of respiratory tract lesions such as bronchiectasis, DPB and other types of peripheral airway disorders.

J Med Assoc Thai, 1990 Feb, 73(2), 106 - 10
Early versus late onset neonatal septicemia at Children's Hospital; Prasertsom W et al.; An analysis was made of 695 cases of neonatal sepsis at Children's Hospital from 1982 to 1986 . The incidence of neonatal sepsis and septicemia were 6.5 and 2.4 per 1,000 livebirths respectively . There were 178 cases of septicemia with onset during the first four days of life (early onset group) and 77 cases with onset after four days of life (late onset group) . Both groups did not differ significantly in sex, birth weight and gestational age . Most of the cases had low birth weight and were premature . Pneumonia was the common associated infection . Omphalitis was found more frequently in the early onset of septicemia, whereas, NEC and skin infection were found more in the late onset group . Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the major causes of infection in both groups . Staphylococcus was more common in late septicemia . No statistical difference in major complications was found between the two groups . Fatality rate in early and late septicemia was 32.6 and 28.2 per cent respectively.

Harefuah, 1990 Feb 1, 118(3), 149 - 50
{Pseudomonas aeruginosa arthritis and discitis in systemic lupus erythematosus}; Mader R et al.; Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are prone to develop opportunistic infections . Nevertheless, arthritis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in SLE is very rare and seems to be related to corticosteroid therapy and previous penetrating injury . A 17-year-old girl with SLE and Pseudomonas arthritis and discitis which followed laparotomy is described . Arthritis is a common manifestation of SLE, but arthritis due to infection with Pseudomonas is very serious and the diagnosis should not be missed.

Curr Eye Res, 1990 Feb, 9(2), 129 - 38
Aging alters the phagocytic capability of inflammatory cells induced into cornea; Hazlett LD et al.; The changes in mouse corneal inflammatory cell population and the phagocytic capability of these cells were studied quantitatively at 24 and 48 hours after eliciting inflammatory cells into the cornea by Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculation . Mice were selected for study according to their ability (young adult Swiss-Webster) or inability (aged Swiss-Webster) to restore corneal clarity after bacterial inoculation . Inflammatory cells were recovered from enzymatically disaggregated corneas, nucleated cells counted, and cell viability assessed to be 95% by trypan blue dye exclusion . Polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (PMN) and macrophages recovered in this manner showed no significant differences in cell population contribution to the differential leukocyte count, but did show significantly fewer phagocytically active cells in aged when compared with young adult mice . These phagocytosis data were confirmed in a separate study using peripheral blood cells obtained from uninoculated mice of each age . The impaired phagocytic function seen in aged mice may contribute to the failure to resolve corneal clarity observed in these animals after Pseudomonas infection.

Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1990 Feb, 196(2), 70 - 5
{The extent of bacterial contamination of keratoplasty donor eyes post mortem}; Ritter E et al.; In order to determine the initial bacterial contamination of corneal donor material the abraded epithelia from 125 donors, i.e., 250 globes, were examined immediately after enucleation . Of these, 49 (19.6%) were sterile, while 201 (80.4%) were contaminated . Monoinfection was identified in 174 globes and mixed infection in 27 . The pathogen most frequently isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Neither the donor's age not the time elapsed between death and enucleation had any influence on the contamination rate . Prolonged hospitalization of donors leads to an increase in gram-negative bacteria . The necessity of antibacterial prophylaxis prior to keratoplasty is pointed out.

Circ Shock, 1990 Feb, 30(2), 117 - 27
Ranitidine compared to cimetidine in multiagent pharmacological treatment of porcine Pseudomonas ARDS; Byrne K et al.; The effects of two pharmacologically distinct histamine H2 receptor antagonists were studied in combination with ibuprofen (I) and diphenhydramine (D) in a porcine model of septic ARDS . Cimetidine (C) is reported as having direct oxygen radical scavenging abilities and is an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, whereas ranitidine (R) acts solely by H2 receptor blockade . Four groups were studied: Group Ps (n = 8) received a continuous infusion of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5 x 10(8) CFU/ml at 0.3 ml/20kg/min, Group C (n = 6) received a control saline infusion, and the treatment groups received I (12.5 mg/kg) and D (10 mg/kg) in combination with either C (150 mg, CID, n = 6) or R (25 mg, RID, n = 5) given at 20 and 120 minutes after the onset of Ps . Pulmonary (PAP) and systemic (SAP) arterial pressures, cardiac index (CI), PaO2, thermal cardiogreen extravascular lung water (EVLW) and scintigraphically determined pulmonary albumin flux (slope index, SI) were measured . Ps infusion produced significant (p less than 0.05) cardiovascular collapse, hypoxemia and increased EVLW and SI . Both CID and RID temporarily reversed pulmonary arterial hypertension and maintained PaO2, EVLW, SAP and CI at control levels throughout the study, and significantly improved SI at 180 min . These results suggest that cimetidine and ranitidine act in this combination therapy primarily as H2 receptor antagonists.

J Ky Med Assoc, 1990 Feb, 88(2), 66 - 8
Hot tub (Pseudomonas) folliculitis; Fowler JF Jr et al.; Folliculitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a rare, adverse effect of the therapeutic or recreational use of hot tubs, whirlpools, and occasionally swimming pools . The condition is characterized by painful, papulopustular skin lesions often accompanied by low-grade fever, malaise, and other systemic symptoms . Prompt recognition and treatment may shorten the duration of the disease and, more importantly, prevent further cases by identifying the source of exposure.

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand, 1990 Feb, 34(2), 167 - 70
Spondylitis without epidural abscess formation following short-term use of an epidural catheter; Lynch J et al.; A 42-year-old patient had undergone total hip replacement for aseptic femoral head necrosis 9 years previously . He now presented with loosening of the prosthesis and pseudoarthrosis sustained following a femoral shaft fracture 7 months earlier . A total hip replacement was carried out in general anaesthesia combined with an epidural catheter . The epidural catheter was removed on the third postoperative day, after which the patient complained of persistent lumbar pain which was associated with meningismus, fever, leucocytosis and a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate . In spite of intensive laboratory and radiological investigation, 15 weeks elapsed before a radiological diagnosis of spondylitis of L1 and L2 could be made . Aspiration biopsy of the L1/L2 disc space yielded a growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Antibiotic therapy was begun immediately but could not prevent spread of infection to the adjacent disc-space T12/L1 and the vertebral body T12 . The patient made a slow recovery and was discharged in a satisfactory condition wearing a lumbar brace some 9 months after the operation . No evidence of epidural abscess formation was found at any stage and no direct connection between the use of the epidural catheter and spondylitis could be established.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1990 Feb, 99(2 Pt 1), 117 - 9
Aural irrigation with water: a potential pathogenic mechanism for inducing malignant external otitis?
Rubin J, Yu VL, Kamerer DB, Wagener M.
We hypothesized that the forcible introduction of water containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa into the ear canal of a susceptible host (an elderly diabetic with cutaneous hypoperfusion secondary to microangiopathy) was the inciting factor in the development of malignant external otitis . Tap water irrigation of the ears by a physician preceded the onset of symptoms in 61.5% (8/13) of cases of malignant external otitis . Two control subjects with known diabetes mellitus were matched for each patient by sex and age . Both groups were questioned on the nature and degree of aural water exposure, as well as history of ear disease . There were no significant differences between 13 patients and 26 control subjects for presence of ear disease (hearing loss, chronic infection, prior operations), swimming, showering, bathing, frequency of ear cleaning, or method of ear cleaning (washcloth, cotton applicator) . Patients with malignant external otitis had a statistically significant higher incidence of aural irrigation with tap water when compared with control subjects . We suggest that a substantial number of cases of malignant external otitis may be iatrogenic.

J Med Chem, 1990 Feb, 33(2), 861 - 7
Glycolipids as host resistance stimulators; Ponpipom MM et al.; 6-(5-Cholesten-3 beta-yloxy)hexyl 1-thio-beta-D-mannopyranoside (L-644,257) enhances natural host resistance in cyclophosphamide-treated mice against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a dose-dependent manner . It is active sc, im, and ip but not orally . L-644,257 is substantially more protective against P . aeruginosa than its alpha anomer . The beta-L-fucose glycolipid is more effective when given im and ip than sc . The lactose and beta-D-glucose glycolipids were only marginally effective to nonprotective . The 17 beta-steroidal side chain of L-644,257 can be modified without substantial loss of protective activity.

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi, 1990 Feb, 29(2), 94 - 7, 126
{Pulmonary Pseudomonas infections}; Yu GH et al.; 145 strains of pathogenic pseudomonas had been isolated from the sputum or bronchoscopic aspirate of 1423 patients with pulmonary infections . They were classified into 8 types, among which 31.7% was pseudomonas aeruginosa . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the dominant causative organism in pulmonary infections of the aged while in presenile ones the organism was mainly Pseudomonas fetid . The incidence of nosnocomial pseudomonas infection in patients of COPD with respiratory failure was 40%, of COPD with pulmonary infection 9.1% and of others 6.6% . 24 pseudomonas carriers with COPD (colonies less than or equal to 10(6)/ml in sputum) had been followed up . 16 out of them became negative in sputum culture without any treatment, while the remaining 8 developed pulmonary pseudomonas infections . 21 patients (14.5%) were found to have other types of pseudomonas infections during antibiotic treatment . Sensitivity tests showed that third-generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides had definite antimicrobial activity against pseudomonas, the former being more stable and effective than the latter.

Tierarztl Prax, 1990 Feb, 18(1), 81 - 4
{Distemper as the cause of death in badgers in Austria}; Kolbl S et al.; A canine distemper virus infection of badgers in a hunting range in Austria is described . A badger which was shot after showing symptoms of rabies infection and one which was found dead were examined by gross pathology and parasitological, histological, bacteriological and virological methods . The examination for rabies was negative in both cases . The badger which was found dead histologically showed signs of a non purulent panencephalitis, the shot animal showed hyperaemia and oedema of the brain . No cytoplasmatic or nuclear inclusion bodies could be observed . The aetiologic viral diagnosis was achieved by immunofluorescence . Using two canine distemper-specific conjugates a typical granular fluorescence of different strength could be observed in organ sections . The bacterial examination showed in both cases a secondary infection with opportunistic pathogenic bacteria (haem . E . coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1990 Feb, 9(2), 83 - 7
Treatment of Pseudomonas meningitis with ceftazidime with or without concurrent therapy; Rodriguez WJ et al.; In ongoing studies in Europe and the United States, 10 pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis caused by Pseudomonas species were treated with ceftazidime . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from the CSF of 7 patients and other Pseudomonas species from the remaining 3 . Eight of the 10 patients had received previous antimicrobial treatment which included aminoglycosides in 6, along with ticarcillin and ureidopenicillins in 3 . Ceftazidime was administered 10 to 42 days in dosages ranging from 109 to 300 mg/kg/day . Seven of the 10 patients received ceftazidime only for 10 to 42 days . The other 3 patients received amikacin in 2 and gentamicin and tobramycin in the other . Seven patients were cured clinically and 3 died; 9 were cured bacteriologically and one who was presumed cured on the basis of clinical response subsequently died . Sterilization of the cerebrospinal fluid occurred at 48 hours to 12 days . Ceftazidime appears useful in treating bacterial meningitis caused by Pseudomonas species.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Feb, 34(2), 281 - 6
Analysis of acquired ciprofloxacin resistance in a clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Masecar BL et al.; Decreasing susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was investigated in sequential clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a patient on ciprofloxacin therapy . All isolates were verified as the same strain by DNA probe . MICs of all quinolones tested were 16- to 32-fold higher for the posttherapy isolates; nonquinolone MICs were unchanged . The isolates were compared by analyses of outer membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharide composition, antimicrobial susceptibilities, measurement of accumulation of ciprofloxacin, and inhibition of DNA gyrase activity by ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid . No significant changes in outer membrane proteins or ciprofloxacin accumulation were observed; however, both posttherapy isolates lost the long chain O-polysaccharide component of lipopolysaccharide . Preparations of DNA gyrase from the quinolone-resistant posttherapy isolates were 16- to 32-fold less sensitive to inhibition of supercoiling by ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid than was gyrase from the pretherapy isolate . Inhibition studies on combinations of heterologous gyrase subunits showed that decreased inhibition was conferred by the resistant gyrase A subunits . Thus, acquired resistance to ciprofloxacin in this strain involved an alteration in the A subunit of DNA gyrase and was associated with changes in lipopolysaccharide.

J Ethnopharmacol, 1990 Feb, 28(1), 129 - 33
Antibacterial activity of the leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus; Mensah JL et al.; The lyophilized aqueous extract (LWE) from the leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus was found to show an antibacterial activity . The alkaloid fraction obtained from LWE inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium (MIC = 1.6 mg/ml), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 0.78 mg/ml), Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MIC = 0.2 mg/ml) . Among the alkaloids identified, viroallosecurinine and securinine showed a high activity . Viroallosecurinine exhibited a MIC of 0.48 micrograms/ml for Ps . aeruginosa and Staph . aureus . This alkaloid is bactericidal since the yields of MIC/MBC were less than 1 . The MIC of securinine was 0.500 mg/ml for E . coli, Staph . aureus and Myc . smegmatis . These effects of Phyllanthus discoideus leaf extracts support some of the local uses of the plant in traditional therapy.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Feb, 172(2), 942 - 8
Cloning of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa alkaline protease gene and secretion of the protease into the medium by Escherichia coli; Guzzo J et al.; Pseudomonas virulence is thought to depend on multiple characteristics, including the production of an extracellular alkaline protease . We report the isolation, from a PAO1 DNA genomic bank, of a cosmid carrying the structural gene coding for alkaline protease . By in vivo mutagenesis using transposon Tn1735, which functions as a transposable promoter, the expression of an 8.8-kilobase DNA fragment under control the tac promoter was obtained . When expressed in Escherichia coli, active alkaline protease was synthesized and secreted to the extracellular medium in the absence of cell lysis.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 4(2), 189 - 96
Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis: mutations in the muc loci affect transcription of the algR and algD genes in response to environmental stimuli; Deretic V et al.; Increased levels of alginate biosynthesis cause mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a virulence factor of particular importance in cystic fibrosis . The algR gene product, which controls transcription of a key alginate biosynthetic gene, algD, is homologous to the activator members of the two-component, environmentally responsive systems (NtrC, OmpR, PhoB, ArcA, etc) . In this report, we show that mutations in the muc loci, (muc-2, muc-22, and muc-23, in the standard genetic P . aeruginosa strain PAO, as well as a mapped muc allele in an isolate from a cystic fibrosis patient) affect transcription of algD and algR . This influence was strongly dependent on environmental factors . Regulation by nitrogen was observed in all strains examined, but the absolute transcriptional levels, determining the mucoid or nonmucoid status, were strain (muc allele)-dependent . Increased concentrations of NaCl in the medium, an osmolyte which is elevated in cystic fibrosis lung secretions, resulted in an increased algD transcription and mucoid phenotype in a muc-2 strain; the same conditions, however, produced a nonmucoid phenotype in the muc-23 background and abolished algD transcription . Mutations in the muc loci may cause mucoidy by deregulating the normal response of the alginate system to environmental stimuli.

Biochimie, 1990 Feb-Mar, 72(2-3), 147 - 56
Secretion of extracellular proteins by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Lazdunski A et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial species of commercial value secreting numerous extracellular proteins, involved in pathogenesis . Most strains produce at least a lipase, a phospholipase, an alkaline phosphatase, an exotoxin and 2 proteases (elastase and alkaline protease) . Various mechanisms for secretion of exoproteins appear to exist in P aeruginosa . Genetic analysis has led to the identification of 2 secretion pathways: i) a "general" secretion pathway, defined by the xcp mutations, which mediates secretion of most extracellular proteins, and; ii) an independent secretion pathway specific for alkaline protease . Our present knowledge on the pathways and components of the secretion machinery in P aeruginosa is reviewed in this article.

Pneumologie, 1990 Feb, 44 Suppl 1, 524 - 5
{Phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by pulmonary neutrophilic granulocytes}; Hurter T et al.; The elimination of Staphylococcus aureus (S . a.) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P . a.) by pulmonary neutrophilic granulocytes was investigated in vitro . The elimination rate of P . a . is appreciably smaller than that of S . a. . The reason for this is apparently a reduced degree of phagocytosis of P . a . in consequence of the slight adherence to the granulocyte membrane . The liberation of oxidants differs only to a negligible degree.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Feb, (2), 7 - 10
{The modelling of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound process}; Zhurilo AA et al.; P . aeruginosa wound infection was induced in white mice to test new preparations against P . aeruginosa . This model ensures the nearest approximation to the course of P . aeruginosa chronic infection, i.e . it reproduces the focus of inflammation and the prolonged course of the disease (the positive decision on application No . 4, 324, 555 of November 2, 1987, has been obtained) . The essence of the method consists in obtaining the model of P . aeruginosa wound infection by a combined trauma of the skin (burn and incision): P . aeruginosa is introduced in a dose of 6 X 10(9)-8 X 10(9) microbial cells into the burn blister through the incision made 3 hours after the burn and then 20-24 hours later in a dose of 10(9)-2 X 10(9) microbial cells, introduced under the crust formed by that time.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Feb, 64(2), 202 - 9
{Plasmid profiles of aminoglycoside-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Tsukada K; Three-hundred and eighty-five strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from Gunma University Hospital from 1984 to 1987 . Out of these strains, thirty strains (7.8%) were resistant to GM . We investigated antibiograms, serotyping, phage typing, and plasmid profiles of these strains . The following results were obtained . 1) Only one kind of GM-resistant (GMr) plasmid was obtained in 1984 . Two kinds of GMr plasmids were found in 1985, and three kinds of GMr plasmids in 1987, respectively . 2) A strain of I-serotype and Hh8-phage type containing the plasmid I (GM-SM-SA-PIPC, Tra-, 22.6Kb or 22.5 Kb) was suspected to cause the nosocomial infection mainly in Departments of Internal Medicine, and a strain of non-serotypable and Hh8-phage type containing the plasmid IV (GM-SM-SA-CP-Hg, Tra+, IncP-2) was suspected to cause the nosocomial infection mainly in Surgical Departments . 3) Plasmid profiles adding to serotyping and phagetyping contribute to the epidemiological analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Feb, 25(2), 191 - 8
Decreases of the susceptibility to low molecular weight beta-lactam antibiotics in imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants: role of outer membrane protein D2 in their diffusion; Gotoh N et al.; Decreased susceptibilities to two low Mr beta-lactam antibiotics, CS-533 (a carbapenem; Mr, 339) and CGP31608 (a penem; Mr, 262), were found in imipenem-resistant mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO . The diffusion rates of several beta-lactam antibiotics including imipenem, CS-533 and CGP31608 across the proteoliposome membrane reconstituted from the outer membrane of the wild type strain or its imipenem-resistant mutants were determined by the liposome swelling technique . Diffusion rates of imipenem, CS-533 and CGP31608 in the proteoliposomes from outer membranes of the imipenem-resistant strain were found to be 27, 20 and 47%, respectively, of the diffusion rates in proteoliposomes reconstituted from outer membranes of the sensitive parent strain . The SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretogram of outer membrane proteins of the imipenem-resistant strains indicated deletion of protein D2 . These results suggested that decreased susceptibilities to imipenem, CS-533 and CGP31608 were due to decreased outer membrane permeability, and that D2 is a protein fraction constituting pores for diffusion of these antibiotics through the P . aeruginosa outer membrane.

J Clin Pharm Ther, 1990 Feb, 15(1), 53 - 8
Use of endotoxin retentive intravenous filters with paediatric total parenteral nutrition solutions; Richards C et al.; We studied the retention of endotoxin released in a clinically relevant form by senescent bacteria during filtration of amino acid-based total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions by the PALL Intravenous Set Saver Filter (ELD96) . The ELD96 was shown to be capable of providing an effluent free of detectable endotoxin (less than 0.125 endotoxin unit-equivalents/ml) when challenged with 10(6) total cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during simulated clinical TPN infusion . Parallel control experiments showed that endotoxin was released from the test organism and penetrated through conventional intravenous (i.v.) solution filters.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 28(2), 188 - 94
Conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the phenotype characteristic of strains from patients with cystic fibrosis; Speert DP et al.; Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis patients are unusual; they are often susceptible to the bactericidal effect of human serum, have a rough lipopolysaccharide, and produce an exopolysaccharide that is responsible for the characteristic mucoid phenotype . In contrast, strains from the environment and from patients with other diseases usually have smooth lipopolysaccharide, do not produce very much mucoid exopolysaccharide, and are phenotypically nonmucoid . The predominance of mucoid strains of P . aeruginosa in infections of patients with cystic fibrosis has not been explained . In the lower airways, where P . aeruginosa persists in cystic fibrosis, nutrients for bacterial growth may be limited . We investigated whether growth of P . aeruginosa under conditions of suboptimal nutrition causes conversion to the characteristic cystic fibrosis phenotype . Ninety-two strains of P . aeruginosa were maintained for up to 90 days in a minimal medium with acetamide as the sole carbon source . In 56 (52%) of 107 cultures, isolates with rough lipopolysaccharide emerged, and in 20 (19%) of 104 nonmucoid cultures, mucoid isolates were recovered . Strains with rough lipopolysaccharide also were sensitive to the bactericidal effect of normal human serum . Under conditions of suboptimal nutrition in vitro, isolates of P . aeruginosa emerged that produced rough lipopolysaccharide and were mucoid, typical of many isolates from cystic fibrosis patients . This peculiar phenotype may arise as a consequence of nutritional limitation within the cystic fibrosis respiratory tract rather than from features unique to these strains of bacteria.

Cutis, 1990 Feb, 45(2), 97 - 8
Whirlpool folliculitis: a review of its cause, treatment, and prevention; Berger RS et al.; Folliculitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been increasing due to the popularity of hot tubs, swimming pools, and whirlpools . The follicular pustules and inflammatory papules usually occur after an incubation period of two to four days and improve spontaneously in seven to ten days . Despite the discomforts of the condition, treatment is usually not necessary and may even prolong the infection . Since it is difficult to control the growth of Pseudomonas in hot tubs and whirlpools, attention to water conditions is the best way to prevent this irritating skin condition.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 56(2), 345 - 51
Microbial degradation of quinoline and methylquinolines; Aislabie J et al.; Several bacterial cultures were isolated that are able to degrade quinoline and to transform or to degrade methylquinolines . The degradation of quinoline by strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa QP and P . putida QP produced hydroxyquinolines, a transient pink compound, and other undetermined products . The quinoline-degrading strains of P . aeruginosa QP and P . putida QP hydroxylated a limited number of methylquinolines but could not degrade them, nor could they transform 2-methylquinoline, isoquinoline, or pyridine . Another pseudomonad, Pseudomonas sp . strain MQP, was isolated that could degrade 2-methylquinoline . P . aeruginosa QP was able to degrade or to transform quinoline and a few methylquinolines in a complex heterocyclic nitrogen-containing fraction of a shale oil . All of the quinoline- and methylquinoline-degrading strains have multiple plasmids including a common 250-kilobase plasmid . The 225-, 250-, and 320-kilobase plasmids of the P . aeruginosa QP strain all contained genes involved in quinoline metabolism.

J Med Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 31(2), 119 - 24
Ecology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis; Horrevorts AM et al.; The occurrence of various Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in the sputum of 15 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) was monitored over periods ranging from 2 to 60 months . Isolates of P . aeruginosa were typed by four different techniques, namely serotyping, active and passive pyocin typing, and phage typing . The maximum number of different serotypes found in the patients was three (one serotype in nine patients; two serotypes in five patients; three serotypes in one patient) . Pyocin and phage typing showed no marked differences between strains of the same serotype in individual patients . Exacerbations of chronic respiratory infection were not associated with changes in the sputum flora, the composition of P . aeruginosa strains in which remains constant over long periods in patients with CF.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1990 Feb, 31(2), 294 - 304
Layer-by-layer desquamation of corneal epithelium and maturation of tear-facing membranes; Sokol JL et al.; A method to devitalize single layers of apically exposed rabbit corneal epithelial cells through the use of digitonin is described . Devitalized cells exfoliate spontaneously as loosely cohesive, trypan-blue-stained layers, exposing underlying viable cells . Repeated application of this devitalization-exfoliation methodology results in the gradual elimination of each of the epithelial cells . The generation of corneal surfaces composed of the tear-facing membranes of all intraepithelial cell types--subsurface, wing, and basal--is thus attainable . Exposed surfaces were studied with respect to microanatomy, the binding of lectins, and the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Microprojections (microvilli or microplicae) were absent in the basal cells but were present in all suprabasal layers, and increased gradually in density as cells approached the surface position . Wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin A were found to bind to the tear-facing membranes of all suprabasal cell layers . The tear-facing membrane of the basal cells, in contrast, was not labeled . Within each labeled layer, the magnitude of lectin binding differed markedly from cell to cell; lectin binding decreased as the cellular area exposed to the tear surface increased . Pseudomonas were found exclusively at microprojection-free cellular areas, suggesting that inhibition of attachment is linked to the ontogeny of these microprojections.

J Vasc Surg, 1990 Feb, 11(2), 339 - 45; discussion 346-7
Differential effects of a gram-negative and a gram-positive infection on autogenous and prosthetic grafts; Geary KJ et al.; A canine model was developed to study the differential response of a gram-negative and a gram-positive bacterial infection on autogenous and prosthetic grafts . After replacing segments of the femoral arteries of 15 dogs with autogenous vein in one groin and polytetrafluoroethylene in the contralateral groin, 10(8) colony-forming units of nonmucin-producing Staphylococcus epidermidis (five dogs), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (five dogs), or sterile saline solution (five dogs) were directly inoculated onto the grafts . The grafts were examined 7 to 10 days after implantation . None of the control dogs exhibited inflammatory signs, and no grafts or anastomoses disrupted . S . epidermidis was unrecoverable from either graft material in any of the animals, although histologic evaluation confirmed neutrophils and bacteria in four of five animals in the vein and polytetrafluoroethylene groups . No dog inoculated with S . epidermidis had graft or anastomotic disruption . By contrast, P . aeruginosa was recovered from both types of grafts in all inoculated animals . Neutrophils, bacteria, and microabscesses were observed in all of these animals . In addition, three of five polytetrafluoroethylene grafts and all five vein grafts disrupted either at the anastomoses or in the body of the vein graft . Therefore S . epidermidis is a less virulent organism that may persist in graft walls despite negative cultures, whereas P . aeruginosa is a highly virulent organism that can disrupt native artery, vein grafts, and anastomoses . The graft material appears to be less important than the bacteria in determining the outcome of infection.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Feb, 172(2), 853 - 66
DNA sequences and characterization of four early genes of the tryptophan pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Essar DW et al.; Two pairs of related but easily distinguishable genes for the two subunits of anthranilate synthase have been identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These were cloned, sequenced, inactivated in vitro by insertion of an antibiotic resistance cassette, and returned to the P . aeruginosa chromosome, replacing the wild-type gene . Gene replacement implicated only one of the pairs in tryptophan biosynthesis . This report describes the cloning and sequencing of the tryptophan-related gene pair, designated trpE and trpG, and presents experiments implicating their gene products in tryptophan production . DNA sequence analysis as well as growth and enzyme assays of insertionally inactivated strains indicated that trpG is the first gene in a three-gene operon that also includes trpD and trpC . Complementation of Trp auxotrophs by R-prime plasmids (T . Shinomiya, S . Shiga, and M . Kageyama, Mol . Gen . Genet., 189:382-389, 1983) has shown that a large cluster of pyocin R2 genes is flanked at one end by trpE and the other end by trpDC; the physical map that was obtained shows the distance between trpE and trpDC to be about 25 kilobases . Our restriction map of the trpE and trpGDC regions agrees with data presented by Shinomiya et al.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Feb, 172(2), 589 - 94
Expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxA positive regulatory gene (regA) in Escherichia coli; Hamood AN et al.; The regA gene is a positive regulatory gene that regulates toxin A production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the transcriptional level . The product of the regA gene was examined in Escherichia coli with the expression vector pT7-7 . A 1.3-kilobase AvaI-HindIII fragment containing the regA gene was cloned into the pT7-7 vector . A recombinant plasmid (pAH1) encoded a 29-kilodalton protein . The molecular weight of this protein correlated closely with the predicted molecular weight of the RegA protein . Production of the RegA protein in E . coli required both an E . coli promoter and an E . coli ribosome-binding site . Two in-frame deletion derivatives in which certain regions of the regA gene were expressed from the T7 promoter encoded 26- and 18-kilodalton fusion proteins, respectively . The RegA protein and the two fusion proteins were localized to the inner membrane of E . coli . Neither RegA protein nor the two fusion proteins showed DNA-binding activity to the 410-base-pair fragment containing the upstream region of toxA when synthesized in E . coli.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Feb, 172(2), 1155 - 6
Genetic mapping of the structural gene for phospholipase C of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Lindgren V et al.; An insertion mutation constructed by gene replacement methods was used to map the gene corresponding to the hemolytic phospholipase C (plcS gene) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by R68.45-mediated conjugation . plcS mapped approximately at 67 min on the 75-min chromosomal map (B . W . Holloway, K . O'Hoy, and H . Matsumoto, p . 213-221, in S . J . O'Brien, ed., Genetic Maps 1987, vol . 4, 1987), between the markers pur-67 and pru-375 and considerably distal to the regulatory genes plcA and plcB, which are located at approximately 12 min.

Infect Immun, 1990 Feb, 58(2), 433 - 8
Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase on alveolar epithelial permeability in guinea pigs; Azghani AO et al.; Elastase-deficient mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are less virulent than the wild type and are easily cleared from the lungs of guinea pigs . The effect of P . aeruginosa elastase on lung epithelium, however, is not yet understood . We addressed the hypothesis that breach of the epithelial barrier by elastase from P . aeruginosa allows invading organisms and toxic substances to penetrate the interstitium . We measured the clearance of aerosolized technetium-labeled albumin (molecular weight, 69,000) from the lungs of anesthetized guinea pigs with the aid of a gamma camera and a dedicated computer . Aerosols of the elastase (0.1 to 5 micrograms) increased the rate of clearance of labeled albumin from the lungs in proportion to the elastase dose . Electron microscopic studies using horseradish peroxidase as a tracer revealed that elastase interrupts intercellular tight junctions of the epithelial lining, thereby increasing the permeability to macromolecules . The amounts of elastase used in this report did not cause interstitial or alveolar edema, as determined by both postmortem extravascular lung water volume measurement and morphological examination . The data indicate that the elastase is a potentially important virulence factor in acute lung infection.

Infect Immun, 1990 Feb, 58(2), 373 - 7
Synthesis and characterization of Escherichia coli O18 O-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines; Cryz SJ Jr et al.; Nontoxic, serologically reactive O polysaccharide was derived from Escherichia coli O18 lipopolysaccharide by acid hydrolysis, extraction with organic solvents, and gel filtration chromatography . Oxidized O polysaccharide was covalently coupled to either Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin A or cholera toxin by using adipic acid dihydrazide as a spacer molecule in the presence of carbodiimide . The resulting conjugates were composed of approximately equal amounts of O polysaccharide and protein and were nontoxic and nonpyrogenic . Both conjugates engendered an immunoglobulin G antibody response in rabbits that recognized native O18 lipopolysaccharide . Such antibody was able to promote the uptake and killing of an E . coli O18 strain bearing the K1 capsule by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Immunoglobulin G isolated from the sera of rabbits immunized with either conjugate afforded protection against an E . coli O18 challenge when passively transferred to mice.

J Immunol, 1990 Feb 1, 144(3), 1023 - 9
Anti-idiotype-induced, lipopolysaccharide-specific antibody response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Schreiber JR et al.; Antibody directed to the O-specific polysaccharide (Ps) side chain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS provides immunotype-specific protection against infection by virtue of enhancing opsonophagocytosis . We have developed a syngeneic anti-idiotypic antibody (mAb2) directed to a functionally active monoclonal immunotype 1 Ps-antibody (mAb1) . The mAb2 performed as a molecular mimic of Ps as evidenced by 1) blocking of mAb1/mAb2 interaction by Ps, 2) blocking of mAb1/Ps binding by mAb2, 3) cross-species binding of mAb2 to human Ps antibodies from individuals immunized with the same immunotype 1 Ps, and 4) induction of anti-LPS antibody by immunization with mAb2 in syngeneic mice . Our studies thus show that an anti-idiotypic antibody may functionally mimic the O-polysaccharide of P . aeruginosa LPS, and bind to cross-reactive Id present in human Ps antibodies . We have further shown that this anti-idiotypic antibody induces anti-LPS antibody when used as an Ag in syngeneic mice, suggesting that this approach may eventually be used to successfully immunize humans.

Gene, 1990 Jan 31, 86(1), 107 - 11
Comparison of proC and other housekeeping genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with their counterparts in Escherichia coli; Savioz A et al.; In a comparative study of housekeeping genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, the nucleotide sequence of a proline biosynthetic gene, proC, of P . aeruginosa has been determined . The subunit molecular mass (approximately 29 kDa) and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified delta 1-pyrroline 5-carboxylate reductase, the proC gene product, were in agreement with the proC nucleotide sequence . A survey of pairs of isofunctional genes from P . aeruginosa and E . coli reveals that within each pair, translated genes (including proC) have diverged more strongly than have untranslated genes specifying ribosomal or transfer RNAs . The translated genes, but not the untranslated ones, have a G + C content that is typical of the respective genomic G + C contents.

Ugeskr Laeger, 1990 Jan 15, 152(3), 172 - 3
{Perichondritis of the ear caused by acupuncture}; Johansen M et al.; A case of perichondritis and necrosis of the cartilage of the outer ear after acupuncture of the ear is presented . Repeated cultures showed growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Despite intensive antibiotic treatment and extensive surgical toilet, the patient developed a severely deformed outer ear.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 15, 265(2), 1225 - 30
Nucleotide sequence of the PSE-4 carbenicillinase gene and correlations with the Staphylococcus aureus PC1 beta-lactamase crystal structure; Boissinot M et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the PSE-4 beta-lactamase gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain Dalgleish has been determined . The structural gene encodes a polypeptide product of 252 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 29,246 Da for the mature form of the protein . The PSE-4 gene has limited homology with other beta-lactamases at the DNA level . An alignment of all known class A beta-lactamases permitted as to identify specific residues important for enzyme structure and function . To confirm observations based on the linear sequences, we designed a new molecular model for PSE-4 beta-lactamase based on x-ray data from the Staphylococcus aureus PC1 beta-lactamase at 2.0-A resolution . The structural similarities between PSE-4 and class A beta-lactamases are more extensive than indicated by earlier biochemical studies . The combined structural and sequence information now available for a series of beta-lactamases identifies conserved residues in these molecules, giving insight of their divergence and ancestry . Analysis of the PSE-4 flanking DNA sequences revealed an integration site common to antibiotic resistance genes inserted into transposons of the Tn21 family with the target integration sequence AAGTT.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Jan 15, 55(1-2), 221 - 5
Comparison of promoter activities in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: use of a new broad-host-range promoter-probe plasmid; Lodge J et al.; The broad-host-range plasmid, pRW2, is a derivative of pRK 2501 carrying the Escherichia coli lac operon without a promoter, downstream of a polylinker sequence . We have cloned a number of DNA fragments carrying promoters into this plasmid and measured promoter activity in both E . coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Promoters carrying consensus -10 and -35 sequences were active in both backgrounds and the dependence of activity on the nucleotide sequence of the 35 region was the same in both cases . We also measured the activity of two promoters at which transcription in E . coli was totally dependent on the E . coli activators CRP and FNR: both promoters were found to be active in P . aeruginosa.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1990 Jan 15, 109(1), 17 - 22
Granular epithelial keratopathy as an unusual manifestation of Pseudomonas keratitis associated with extended-wear soft contact lenses; Rosenfeld SI et al.; We describe four patients who, using extended-wear soft contact lenses for myopia, abruptly developed ocular irritation and injection associated with elevated granular opacities initially confined to the central corneal epithelium . Cultures of the granular epithelial lesions were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in all patients . Cultures of the contact lenses and lens case solutions grew Pseudomonas species and other gram-negative organisms . All patients responded to discontinuation of lens wear and frequent topical antibiotics . All recovered baseline visual acuity, and three have successfully resumed contact lens wear . These cases document that Pseudomonas keratitis may be manifested as a granular epithelial keratopathy.

Dev Biol Stand, 1990, 71, 121 - 6
Human monoclonal antibodies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa type-specific lipopolysaccharides, toxin A and Klebsiella capsular polysaccharides; Lang AB et al.; A number of human monoclonal antibodies (HmAb) recognizing type-specific determinants expressed by the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and by the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Klebsiella were generated for potential treatment of nosocomial infections . The goal is to administer these type-specific HmAb prophylactically as a "cocktail" providing broad coverage . Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) secreting HmAb recognizing P . aeruginosa LPS, toxin A or Klebsiella CPS were obtained by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from donors immunized with either a polyvalent Klebsiella CPS or P . aeruginosa O-polysaccharide-toxin A conjugate vaccine . LCL secreting antibodies of the desired specificities were fused to a heteromyeloma cell line . Stable clones were selected by limiting dilution . Hybridomas secreting IgM HmAb which recognized P . aeruginosa Habs serotype 3 and 4 and all 7 Fisher immunotypes were isolated . All were able to prevent fatal experimental P . aeruginosa sepsis in mice when passively transferred . In addition, 4 lines secreting IgG HmAb which neutralize the cytotoxic activity of toxin A were characterized . IgM and IgA secreting hybridoma cells with specificity for Klebsiella CPS of 22 different serotypes were also isolated . Preliminary studies indicate that these HmAb are opsonic.

Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Jan, 28(1), 135 - 42
{Role of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils in the defense system against infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the respiratory tract and the effect of derivative of muramyl dipeptide}; Maeda M et al.; We investigated the role of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils on the defense system against infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P . aeruginosa) in the lower respiratory tracts of rats . Intratracheal inoculation of formalin-inactivated P . aeruginosa to normal rats showed an increased number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained at 24 hours after the inoculation . This response of neutrophils was induced by intravenous administration of MDP-Lys, which is muramyl dipeptide . Phagocytic activity of neutrophils for P . aeruginosa was higher than that of alveolar macrophages, indicating that neutrophils are essential phagocytes in the defense system against P . aeruginosa infection in the lower respiratory tract . Alveolar macrophages released neutrophil chemotactic factor after phagocytosis of P . aeruginosa . This function of alveolar macrophages was increased by MDP-Lys administration . These results indicated that alveolar macrophages play an important role in neutrophil accumulation by release of neutrophil chemotactic factor after the P . aeruginosa phagocytosis in the lower respiratory tract . Moreover MDP-Lys can amplify the neutrophil-dependent defense system against P . aeruginosa by activation of the alveolar macrophage function in vivo.

Z Urol Nephrol, 1990 Jan, 83(1), 17 - 21
{Follow-up of the transplantation of contaminated kidneys}; Lucius K et al.; 102 kidney transplantation were performed in 1987 in the Kidney Transplant Center at Berlin . The course of 22 contaminated grafts (22%) was analyzed . The main bacteria were staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa . In 6 out of 22 contaminated transplants (27%) a delayed wound healing did occur . In 2 cases the infection was the cause of graft removal and 2 patients died due to septical complications of the contaminated graft . Therefore, the contaminated kidney is a potential risk for graft and patient survival and strong asepsis and effective perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary.

J Int Med Res, 1990, 18 Suppl 4, 27D - 36D
Development of clinically important resistance to quinolones and other antibiotic groups; Lode H; In a study conducted by the Paul Ehrlich Society in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), resistance patterns were registered over a period from 1975 to 1984 . The results of this large multicentre study involving more than 35,000 strains demonstrated a relatively stable resistance pattern for most Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria against all antibiotic groups . Information on resistance to the new quinolones in FRG is still very limited . The only published results are from the University Hospital, Tubingen, FRG, which registered a slight decrease in the sensitivity of ofloxacin to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the staphylococci . In clinical studies, resistance appeared in about 4-13% of antibiotic treatments but treatment failure was registered in only 30-80% of these cases.

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec, 1990, 52(6), 391 - 4
Coincidental radiographic findings in severe external otitis in nonimmunocompromised patients; Laurikainen E et al.; We present the cases of 3 previously healthy patients who became ill with a very sudden and painful external otitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . At the acute stage, diagnosis was difficult in all these patients because of marked periauricular swelling and radiological mastoiditis . The latter sign has not been reported earlier in association with external otitis in nonimmunocompromised patients . All patients made a full recovery with appropriate treatment.

Vestn Dermatol Venerol, 1990, (8), 62 - 4
{Herpes zoster in 2 sisters}; Bukharovich AM et al.; Transmission of herpes zoster infection from one sister to the other is described, resultant from close everyday contacts . Clinical manifestations of the disease (severity, dissemination, course and type of involvement) were much more marked in the elder sister, suffering from disseminated Darier's dyskeratosis and marked debility . Herpes was complicated with vasculitis, necrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, development of pneumonia and keratitis . Problems of treatment of such patients are discussed.

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 1990, 228(5), 475 - 80
Toxicity and clearance of intravitreal cefotetan; Philipp W et al.; Direct intravitreal injection of antibiotics plays an important role in the management of bacterial endophthalmitis . In the present study we investigated the toxicity and clearance of intravitreally injected cefotetan in a rabbit model . No toxic ocular side effects could be detected by electroretinography (ERG) or light and electron microscopy up to and including a single intravitreal dose of 1000 micrograms . Intravitreal injection of 2000 micrograms cefotetan resulted in mild degeneration of photoreceptor outer segments and, sporadically, in cataract formation . After intravitreal injection of 4000 micrograms, moderate toxic degeneration of photoreceptors occurred, with displacement and mitochondrial swelling of inner segments . In addition, lysosomal lamellar inclusion bodies could be detected in pigment epithelial cells . After a single intravitreal injection of 1000 micrograms cefotetan, concentrations greater than the minimum necessary for the inhibition of most commonly occurring intraocular pathogens (except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were maintained in the vitreous humor for greater than 48 h . Cefotetan may be a potentially important drug for intravitreal injection, especially in cases of gram-negative and suspected anaerobic endophthalmitis.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1990, 12(5), 531 - 7
Protective effect of saikosaponin A, saikosaponin D and saikogenin D against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in mice; Kumazawa Y et al.; Effects of saikosaponins and their genins on nonspecific resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes infections were investigated . When mice were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) saikosaponins one day before i.p . infection with P . aeruginosa, saikosaponins a and d induced a marked enhancement of nonspecific resistance at a dose of 10 micrograms/mouse . Also, saikogenin D, a secondary metabolite of saikosaponin d, showed an enhancing effect . The most effective condition for enhancing the nonspecific resistance was i.p . administration of saikosaponin d one day before i.p . or intravenous (i.v.) infection with P . aeruginosa, when mice were treated i.p., i.v., or subcutaneously with saikosaponin d 1, 4 or 7 days previously . Effect of saikosaponin d was weaker than that of formalin-killed bacilli of Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide . On the other hand, effect of saikosaponin d on enhancement of nonspecific resistance against L . monocytogenes was not seen . Effector cells participating in the enhanced protection induced by saikosaponin d may be macrophages, since macrophages were a major component in peritoneal cells obtained from mice administered i.p . saikosaponin d 1 day earlier and intracellular bactericidal activity of peritoneal macrophages against P . aeruginosa increased.

Cornea, 1990, 9 Suppl 1, S36 - 8; discussion S39-40
Pseudomonas keratitis and contact lens wear: the lens/eye is at fault; Stern GA; Microbial keratitis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common corneal infection associated with contact lenses (CLs) . Pseudomonas organisms are ubiquitous in nature, and can colonize CLs without a prior breach in lens care or hygiene . Although poor lens care is often found in affected patients, lens contamination and traumatic epithelial defects are more relevant . Hydrophilic lenses, particularly extended wear lenses, have been associated with a greater frequency of Pseudomonas keratitis . The polymer matrix of these lenses is apparently suited to the avid adherence of Pseudomonas organisms . Adherence is promoted by the presence of lens coatings, which begin to accumulate upon lens insertion and whose level mounts over time . Evidence suggests that infection is more common with mucin-coated contaminated CLs than with noncoated contaminated CLs . In general, lens wear can promote bacterial adherence to the ocular surface by shielding the cornea from the wiping action of the eyelids and immune components in tears . Still, experimental models have shown that keratitis develops regularly (84%) only in corneas that have been traumatized . Trauma may arise through lens insertion or removal, deposits or debris entrapment, hypoxia, or toxic reactions to solution preservatives . Extended wear is believed to facilitate the infectious process because of the chronic accumulation of coatings, the chronic exposure of CLs to potentially adherent bacteria, the continuous presence of irritating lens deposits, the prolonged entrapment of debris beneath the lens, and the relative infrequency of lens cleaning and disinfection.

An Otorrinolaringol Ibero Am, 1990, 17(1), 11 - 22
{Treatment of malignant otitis externa}; Gonzalez Ortin M et al.; Though rare the malignant otitis externa must be borne in mind because in its precocious diagnosis is based the success of the management . Elderly people, diabetics and immunodepressed are especially exposed . The CAT is basic in order to detect the spreading of the process . The patient being admitted at a Medical center, the antibiotherapy started at once with Ceftazidine, 2 g every 12 hours via i.v . The exeresis of the e.e.ca proves sometimes necessary after control of the infection . This procedure assures the healing and prevent the recurrences some times seen . But when infection disappears owing to the success of the antibiotherapy in 2-3 weeks; the culture for Pseudomonas is negative 3 weeks later; and the previous CAT showed no spreading to the tympanal bone, the surgery must be discarded . The process is considered over when the culture for Pseudomonas aeruginosa is negative, but review of the patients is compulsory at least during half a year.

Biotherapy, 1990, 2(3), 227 - 34
Preventive effect of several drugs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and the toxicity of combined tumor necrosis factor with lipopolysaccharide: relationship between lethality and the arachidonic cascade; Satomi N et al.; The participation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection was examined . The lethal challenge of Pa or TNF and LPS injection could be prevented by pretreatment with anti-TNF antibody, polymyxin B, ONO 1078, or Shosaiko-to . The combined effects of TNF and LPS may be deeply related to the lethality of Pa infection . The activities of leukotriene(LT) C4/D4/E4 or platelet activating factor (PAF) were also related to the lethality of Pa infection, probably due to the subsequently produced TNF which acts in combination with LPS . Activating the host defence mechanism with biological response modifiers like Chinese medicines was effective against Pa infection . One mechanism could involve an activity as an LT inhibitor or PAF antagonist . Following the administration of TNF and/or LPS, the serum levels of arachidonic cascade products underwent various changes . With a combination of TNF and LPS, there was a synergistic increment of prostaglandins, thromboxane, and LT . Following pretreatment with Shosaiko-to, suppression of LTs was dominant even with the combination of TNF and LPS, which might be related to the lethality of the infection or combined TNF with LPS.

Microbiologica, 1990 Jan, 13(1), 43 - 53
Emergence of cross-resistance to imipenem and other beta-lactam antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa during therapy; Pagani L et al.; The emergence of resistance to imipenem and other beta-lactams by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated with two pairs of isolates . Two of these isolates were susceptible to imipenem and other beta-lactam antibiotics, such as moxalactam, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, while the other two had developed resistance to those antibiotics during imipenem therapy . So far imipenem-resistant isolates have not demonstrated cross-resistance to other beta-lactam agents . We examined in these clinical isolates the possible mechanisms of resistance due to permeability modifications, either in outer membrane proteins (porins) or to LPS (lipopolysaccharides) complex . Particularly we analysed possible modification of physico-chemical properties of outer membrane proteins, such as changes in their hydrophobicity and electrical charge . beta-lactamase production was also studied . Results showed that resistance to imipenem may be related to loss or modifications in hydrophobicity of an outer membrane protein of about 46 Kdal; other modifications concerned hydrophobicity of the porin OMP F and, in one strain, the LPS complex appears to be responsible for resistance to other beta-lactam antibiotics together in combination with the production of beta-lactamases.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1990 Jan, 141(1), 186 - 92
Ibuprofen attenuates the inflammatory response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a rat model of chronic pulmonary infection . Implications for antiinflammatory therapy in cystic fibrosis; Konstan MW et al.; Chronic pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) results in an inflammatory response with persistent neutrophil influx, which contributes to lung damage . Attenuating the response with antiinflammatory agents might delay progression of lung disease . We investigated the effects of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent, ibuprofen, in a rat model of chronic Pseudomonas endobronchial infection and inflammation . The areal percentage of lung inflammation 14 days after animal inoculation with Pseudomonas-containing agarose beads was significantly less in animals treated with ibuprofen (35 mg/kg orally twice daily) (39 +/- 26% SD) compared to animals given placebo (55 +/- 25% SD) (p less than 0.05) . Ibuprofen did not increase the pulmonary burden of Pseudomonas, and the ibuprofen-treated infected animals gained weight better than placebo-treated controls . The administered dose of ibuprofen provides plasma concentrations sufficient to inhibit the release of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) from rat neutrophils in vitro . Since LTB4 is a potent pro-inflammatory product that promotes neutrophil adherence, aggregation, migration, degranulation, and superoxide release, inhibition of its production by ibuprofen could inhibit inflammatory damage to the lung in this model . These data in an animal model, taken together with the success of a preliminary trial of alternate-day steroid therapy in mildly affected patients with CF, suggest that antiinflammatory therapy with ibuprofen should be considered for a new therapeutic strategy in CF.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Jan, 172(1), 299 - 304
Formation of UDP-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-galactose and UDP-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-galacturonic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Singh S et al.; The O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 8505 (IATS serotype O:3) consists of a tetrasaccharide repeating unit comprising L-rhamnose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), bacillosamine, and N-acetyl-L-galactosaminuronic acid (L-GalNAcA) (Y . Tahara and S . G . Wilkinson, Eur . J . Biochem . 134:299-304, 1983) . Incubation of GlcN or UDP-GlcNAc with cell extracts or EDTA-treated cells of P . aeruginosa NCTC 8505 yielded a mixture of UDP-ManNAc, UDP-GalNAc, UDP-GlcNAcA, UDP-ManNAcA, UDP-L-GalNAc, and UDP-L-GalNAcA . The last two compounds, here identified for the first time, may be intermediates in the synthesis of the L-GalNAcA moiety of the O-specific portion of the lipopolysaccharide of P . aeruginosa.

FEBS Lett, 1990 Jan 1, 259(2), 230 - 2
The structural gene for cytochrome c551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The nucleotide sequence shows a location downstream of the nitrite reductase gene; Nordling M et al.; The gene coding for Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c551 has been cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined . Cytochrome c551 is expressed as a 104 amino acid pre-protein from which a signal peptide of 22 amino acids is cleaved off during the translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane . The gene is located just downstream of the gene coding for nitrite reductase on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosome, suggesting that these genes form an operon.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 195 - 203
Simulation of human pharmacokinetic profiles in mice, and impact on antimicrobial efficacy of netilmicin, ticarcillin and ceftazidime in the peritonitis-septicemia model; Gerber AU et al.; Pharmacokinetic profiles in small animals substantially differ from those observed in man . We hence devised a man adapted animal model to critically assess the impact of such differences on antimicrobial efficacy . We approximated in mice the human pharmacokinetic profiles of netilmicin, ticarcillin and ceftazidime . The CD50 (curative dose for 50% of lethally intra-peritoneally infected animals) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was comparatively determined for murine versus man-adapted pharmacokinetic profiles . With netilmicin the man-adapted profile was significantly less efficacious than the murine profile . In contrast, a significant superiority of the man-adapted profile was found with the beta-lactam drugs . We conclude that determinations of antimicrobial activity in small animals may yield misleading results in respect to man . Depending on the drug in question, murine pharmacokinetics may lead to overestimation or underestimation of antimicrobial activity . Our findings are of particular importance for the interpretation of studies in small animals comparing different antimicrobial compounds or different dosage regimens.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 179 - 84
Comparative dose-effect relations at several dosing intervals for beta-lactam, aminoglycoside and quinolone antibiotics against gram-negative bacilli in murine thigh-infection and pneumonitis models; Leggett JE et al.; Relatively few animal studies have investigated the influence of dosing regimens on the efficacy of antibiotics possessing different pharmacodynamic characteristics . We evaluated the impact of dosing interval on the relative efficacy and potency of beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in murine pneumonitis and thigh-infection models . We used a sigmoid dose-response model to determine the maximal bactericidal effect at 24 hours (Emax) and the total dose required to achieve 50% of Emax (P50) at several dosing intervals . P50S (a measure of drug potency, in mg/kg/day) for beta-lactams increased 14- to 73-fold with longer intervals in both models . Dosing interval had little impact on P50S for aminoglycosides or ciprofloxacin . Emax varied among drugs but displayed no dependence on dosing interval . This method of analysis allows comparison of efficacy and dependence of potency on dosing regimen among different classes of antibiotics.

Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult, 1990 Jan-Feb, (1), 44 - 7
{The distribution of and methods for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mineral waters}; Zotova VI et al.; The value of different methods of P . aeruginosa identification in mineral water has been studied and compared . Natural studies indicate great contamination of balneological technical systems with P . aeruginosa.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 Jan, 9(1), 50 - 2
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis; Venditti M et al.; A case of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis involving the aortic and mitral valves in a 70-year-old male farmer is reported . The onset of infection was insidious, with a five-month history of low grade fever, malaise and a 20 kg weight loss . The patient eventually developed severe heart failure requiring surgery and died postoperatively of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia . In vitro studies showed the isolate to be highly susceptible to penicillin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, and resistant to vancomycin.

J Egypt Public Health Assoc, 1990, 65(3-4), 243 - 52
Infective endocarditis after open heart surgery; Bassim HH et al.; This work was done in Ain Shams University hospital during the period from December 1988 to July 1989 . This included 20 patients subjected to open heart surgery and suffering from post operative non reactive fever clinically diagnosed as infection endocarditis . The frequency of positive blood culture endocarditis following open hear surgery was 2.5% and the most affected valve in our study was prosthetic aortic valve (60%) . Pseudomonas aeruginosa represented 60% of the isolated organisms from blood cultures, followed by staph . aureus (30%), streptpneumonea and Klebsiella (20%), and finally diphthroids in 10% of cases.

Wiad Parazytol, 1990, 36(5-6), 187 - 91
{Effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro--electron-microscopic studies}; Szreter H et al.; Interaction between T . vaginalis and P . aeruginosa was studied in vitro . Protozoan cells were incubated in 0.9% NaCl at 37 degrees C for 30 and 150 min . with bacteria, alive or killed by heating for 10 min . at 100 degrees C . Transmission electron microscope observations showed weak ++phagocytic activity (less than 10%) of T . vaginalis against living P . aeruginosa . Phagocytosis of these bacteria caused death of T . vaginalis . Disintegration and autolysis of T . vaginalis resulted probably from action of exotoxin A produced by P . aeruginosa . Phagocytosis of dead P . aeruginosa has not been observed.

Acta Univ Carol {Med} (Praha), 1990, 36(1-4), 34 - 6
Value of inhaled antibiotics in cystic fibrosis patients; Wunderlich P et al.; The authors give a survey of problems concerning the use of antibiotic aerosols in cystic fibrosis patients . They give recommendations when and how to use this form of treatment . The combination of inhaled antibiotics with the oral or intravenous antibiotic therapy can be recommended best for patients with a chronic lung infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Acta Univ Carol {Med} (Praha), 1990, 36(1-4), 225 - 7
The emotional status of cystic fibrosis patients as evaluated by hospital and family, and the correlation of the daily treatment load to these two evaluation; Jorring NT et al.; The emotional status of 48 CF patients, without chronic pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, and all treated at the same center since diagnosis was evaluated by family and by hospital staff . Both types of emotional status evaluations were correlated to the daily treatment load by a non-parametric analysis . The correlations were opposite as follows: According to the hospital staff: the greater the daily treatment load, the more burdened the child . According to the families: the greater the daily treatment load, the less burdened the child . Our project is part of a big inter-Nordic project on living conditions of families with children conducted by the Nordic School of Public Health in Sweden, and our results are preliminary results, to be published, on the relationship between the emotional status and the clinical status of cystic fibrosis patients in Denmark . A traditional hypothesis about chronically ill children says: chronically ill children are disabled emotionally by the disease as well as by treatment . The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis in the case of cystic fibrosis.

Acta Univ Carol {Med} (Praha), 1990, 36(1-4), 16 - 21
Immunology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis; Hoiby N et al.; Adherence of P . aeruginosa to the lining of the respiratory tract is probably mediated by interaction of pili or alginate with lactosyl and sialosyl residues on the respiratory cells . The toxins produced by P . aeruginosa (for example, elastase and alkaline protease) may play a key role during the initial persistent colonization as they interfere with important defense mechanisms . Neutralizing antibodies are eventually produced, and a poor prognosis is correlated to a pronounced antibody response . The bacteria are protected against the host's defense mechanisms by production of alginate which encapsulates microcolonies of P . aeruginosa in the lungs . During the chronic infection, toxins of P . aeruginosa probably play little if any direct pathogenic role, however, immune complexes seem to be a major trigger of chronic inflammation in the lungs . Proteolytic enzymes and oxygen radicals released from the abundance of neutrophils in the lungs are probably responsible for most of the tissue damage . The individual course of the chronic infection may be explained by regulatory mechanisms, such as cleavage of immune complexes by neutrophil elastase, and by the balance between the different IgG subclass-specific antibody responses.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1990, 16(12), 597 - 605
Quantitative effect of roxithromycin and rifampicin on mucoid cultures from directly plated sputum of cystic fibrosis patients chronically colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Dupont MJ et al.; A previous study has shown that non-anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibiotics can modify the mucoid character, a major virulence factor in cystic fibrosis P . aeruginosa . The purpose of the present study was to investigate further this phenomenon using a quantitative approach on fresh sputum . A total of 0.1 to 0.5 ml of sputum were homogenized, decimally diluted, plated on three series of Difco Pseudomonas isolation agar containing no antibiotics, roxithromycin (16.0 microgram/ml) or Rifampicin (16.0 microgram/ml) and incubated at 35 degrees C . In each of the three series, the cfus of PA by ml of sputum were evaluated after 24h, and the entire culture of plates with confluent growth was harvested after 96h and weighed on an analytical scale according to the correlation observed between the mucosity and the density of the culture . To date, 36 sputa from twenty-nine cystic fibrosis patients known to be chronically colonized by mucoid P . aeruginosa have been submitted to the protocol; the mean weight of control, roxithromycin and rifampicin cultures was respectively 3.12 +/- 1.62, 1.90 +/- 1.67 (p less than or equal to 0.0005) and 1.83 +/- 1.24 g (p less than or equal to 0.005) in parallel with mean cfu/ml of 2.24 +/- 6.45 x 10(8) (p less than 0.03) and 1.65 +/- 4.42 x 10(8) (p greater than 0.05); a more constant reduction (greater than or equal to 20%) of mucosity (expressed as the ratio of weight of antibiotic culture/control culture x 100) was observed with rifampicin (29 vs . 23/36 sputa), whereas a more drastic reduction (greater than or equal to 80%) was observed with roxithromycin (12 vs . 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Reg Immunol, 1990-91, 3(4), 186 - 92
Antibody hyporesponsiveness in resistant BALB/cJ mice intracorneally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Berk RS et al.; Six- to eight-week-old BALB/cJ (and BALB/cPi) mice were found able to restore corneal clarity within 3 to 4 weeks after intracorneal infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 19660 . However, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum immunoglobulins directed specifically against P . aeruginosa indicated that the mice were initially non- or hypo-responsive for IgG and IgA over the 4-week holding period . Low IgM titers could be detected 1 week after infection, but tended to decrease with time . When the mice were re-infected by using the contralateral control eye, then the serum IgG levels began to gradually increase as the time interval following the secondary infection increased from 1 to 3 weeks . Re-infected mice did not show a significantly increased rate of corneal clarity restoration with time, when compared to the corneas of mice receiving only a primary infection despite the presence of serum antibodies specific to P . aeruginosa . When congenic mice of the BALB/c background carrying the DBA/2N Idh/Pep-3 locus found on chromosome 1 were intracorneally infected, they tended to restore corneal clarity at approximately the same rate as the BALB/cJ mice . However, the congenic mice mounted a faster and substantially greater magnitude of serum IgM and IgG response during the primary infection than BALB/cJ mice receiving either a primary and/or secondary infection . IgG subclass studies with the congenic mice indicated that serum IgG1, and IgG2a to a lesser extent, were the primary immunoglobulins produced and no major shift in subclass was noted with time during the primary infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hum Antibodies Hybridomas, 1990, 1(2), 96 - 103
Systematic generation of antigen specific human monoclonal antibodies with therapeutical activities using active immunization; Lang AB et al.; Presenting a panel of human hybridomas secreting serospecific antibodies which confer a high degree of protection against fatal infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we report an efficient approach for a systematic generation of antigen specific human monoclonal antibodies with biological activity . This approach is based on active immunization and antigen specific panning . Individuals were immunized with polysaccharides isolated from LPS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa conjugated to toxin A . Specific B cells were isolated and enriched by panning of blood samples taken at the time point with the highest frequency of fuseable cells . These cells were then transformed with Epstein-Barr virus . Arising lymphoblastoid cell lines were screened for the secretion of anti-LPS antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fused to a murine-human heteromyeloma cell line . Hybridomas were selected for high levels of antibody secretion and binding to intact bacteria as determined by an immunofluorescence microscopy assay . The observation that protective capacity of an antibody was associated with its ability to bind to LPS determinants accessible on the bacterial cell surface allowed for an effective screening for therapeutically interesting human monoclonal antibodies . Out of four immunized individuals, 15 lymphoblastoid cell lines with anti-LPS activity could be isolated, and 8 hybridomas, which cover the majority of the common Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotypes, were characterized further . The generation of monoclonal anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin A, anti-Klebsiella capsular polysaccharides, and anti-Escherichia coli LPS antibodies suggests that the success of this approach is not limited to the generation of human monoclonal antibodies of a particular specificity or to the use of antigens of a particular character.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1990, 38(3-4), 309 - 14
Characteristics of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . I . Resistance to serum bactericidal effect and production of proteolytic enzymes; Pajdak E et al.; 136 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested for human serum bactericidal effect . Hundred (73%) of clinical isolates were resistant and 36 (27%) were effectively killed by human (undiluted or even 1000 times diluted) serum . Fifty six out of 136 (41.1%) had proteolytic activity and parallelly were resistant to bactericidal activity of normal human serum . Among serum susceptible strains only 6 out of 136 (4.4%) had proteolytic activity.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1990, 38(3-4), 291 - 7
Evaluation of polyvalent anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in phagocytic reaction; Grzybek-Hryncewicz K et al.; In order to obtain immune reaction for all known Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotypes (7 according to Fisher), mucoid and nonmucoid variants, rabbits were immunized with polyvalent vaccine consisting of 3 mucoid (1, 3, 5) and 4 nonmucoid (2, 4, 6, 7) immunotypes . The serum of immunized animals induced an increase in normal rabbit granulocyte phagocytosis level as well as intracellular killing of all Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotypes, both mucoid and nonmucoid variants . The serum was also observed to have high agglutinin titer (1:1024-1:8192) for all the bacteria . While the cross affinity of the mucoid antigens in polyvalent vaccine it was possible to reduce by 4 the number of the mucoid antigens used for immunization.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1990, 16(11), 569 - 74
Do salicylates and ascorbate increase the outer membrane permeability to hydrophobic antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Vaara M.
Acetylsalicylate and ascorbate have earlier been shown to increase the outer membrane (OM) permeability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a hydrophobic probe compound, nitrocefin . In order to elucidate whether these drugs increase the OM permeability to a wider set of hydrophobic compounds, the OM permeability to three other hydrophobic probes (rifampin, fusidic acid and sodium deoxycholate) was studied in the presence of salicylates or ascorbate . A high concentration (300 micrograms/ml, equal to 1.7 mM) of L-ascorbate decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of rifampin against P . aeruginosa by a factor of approximately 3 . As a sharp contrast, the reference compound, polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN) which has a strong OM permeability-increasing action, decreased the MIC by a factor of approximately 100, at a concentration as low as 3 micrograms/ml (equal to 3 microM) . If the assays were performed in a low ionic strength medium (L broth diluted 1/5 with water) instead of L broth, ascorbate was somewhat more effective . The MIC of fusidic acid was even less influenced by ascorbate . Additionally, ascorbate did not potentiate the bacteriolytic action of sodium deoxycholate, whereas the control compound hexametaphosphate had a marked effect . Furthermore, salicylate and acetylsalicylate sensitised, in all conditions tested, P . aeruginosa to none of the three probes . The results suggest that ascorbate and salicylates lack any significant OM permeability-increasing action.

Arch Roum Pathol Exp Microbiol, 1990 Jan-Mar, 49(1), 37 - 42
Serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains by slide coagglutination; Meitert E et al.; Serological typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains (228 strains) by slide coagglutination, using our own reagents (5 polyvalent and 22 monovalent ones, corresponding to the 22 serotypes in Meitert-Meitert scheme), led to identical results obtained by conventional slide agglutination . Utilization of live Ps . aeruginosa cells suspensions, killed by boiling or autoclaving, showed a 100% concordance of results, when using the second and the third suspension types and a 97.37% one between them and the live cells suspension . We noticed that reactions intensity was higher when using bacterial suspensions, boiled for 2.5 hours, in comparison with autoclaved cells suspensions, 30 minutes at 120 C . Compared to conventional slide agglutination, the slide coagglutination presents more advantages, being simple, rapid, specific and economical.

Acta Vet Hung, 1990, 38(3), 187 - 94
A synthetic, selective culture medium for Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Szita G et al.; Selective and differentiating media consisting of simple chemical components have been developed, both in solid and in liquid form, for culturing Pseudomonas aeruginosa from foodstuffs . These media work on the basic principle that Gram-negative bacteria can utilize ammonia as inorganic nitrogen source . This principle has already been utilized for developing a culture medium for coliform bacteria (Szita and Biro, 1986; Szita et al., 1988) . P . aeruginosa can produce the ammonia needed for its growth by decomposing acetamide . The liquid synthetic medium was compared with the nitrofurantoin broth and the solid one with cetrimide agar by parallel inoculation of 60 raw milk samples and 20 P . aeruginosa pure cultures . The main advantages of the synthetic media are their high selectivity, high sensitivity and rapidity . Owing to their advantageous properties, the new media can be recommended for replacing cetrimide agar and nitrofurantoin broth.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 80 - 93
The postantibiotic effect induced by antimicrobial combinations; Gudmundsson S et al.; Antimicrobial combinations are frequently needed for the successful treatment of serious infections . Generally, the same dosing schedules are employed irrespective of whether the drugs are used singly or in combination . A postantibiotic effect (PAE) has been described for all antibiotics used singly against Gram-positive cocci, but only for non-beta-lactams against Gram-negative bacilli with the exception of carbapenems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The major clinical relevance of the PAE pertains to its impact on antimicrobial dosing, where agents inducing a long PAE may be administered with longer dosing intervals than currently employed, without loss of efficacy . The purpose of this study was to examine whether PAEs induced by drug combinations differed from the PAEs induced by the drugs alone, and whether a pattern of synergism, addition or antagonism could be defined in this regard . The study organisms, 7 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 4 strains of Escherichia coli, 4 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 6 strains of Ps . aeruginosa, were exposed to several beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, rifampin and ciprofloxacin singly and in combination . The antimicrobial combinations used against S . aureus affected the PAE in either an additive or an indifferent manner when compared to the PAEs induced by the drugs as single agents . Enhancement of PAEs against Gram-negative bacilli was primarily dependent on the ability of each individual drug to induce a PAE . Thus, for a combination of drugs where both agents induced a PAE individually, the final PAE was a rough mathematical sum of the individual PAEs (addition) . When only one of the agents induced a PAE, the final result was similar to the PAE of that particular drug (indifference) . Ciprofloxacin seemed to be an exception to this rule, since it did not increase the PAE of a PAE producing drug, despite exhibiting a PAE itself . Rifampin was unique in that it prolonged the PAE in a marked synergistic fashion, when employed with one or more other PAE-producing agents . Further studies in vivo are clearly needed to confirm these observations, but they could have significant impact on the design of dosing regimens for antimicrobial combinations.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 71 - 9
Interactions of antimicrobial combinations in vitro: the relativity of synergism; Blaser J; Interactions of combinations of netilmicin, amikacin, piperacillin, imipenem, azlocillin, ceftazidime or moxalactam were studied in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus . Microtiter checkerboard technique was compared with standard killing curve method and with killing curves obtained in kinetic in vitro models mimicking single or multiple dosing regimens according to human pharmacokinetics . Antibiotic combinations were classified as antagonistic, indifferent or synergistic . Disagreement between classification by checkerboard and by kinetic model was found in 14 of 33 combinations studied (42%) . Further analysis by standard killing curve method demonstrated that synergism or antagonism is a relative, not an absolute feature of drug combinations against given pathogens . Factors contributing to disagreements included the concentrations studied relative to the bacterial sensitivity, the ratio of concentrations of the two drugs tested, the size of the bacterial inoculum and the endpoint of the interaction assessment . Standard in vitro methods do not consider changes of antibiotic concentrations over time during combination therapy . Concentrations studied are defined according to bacterial sensitivity (fractions of MIC) . Therefore, they may or may not relate to those at the infected site . The observed discrepancies between standard methods for testing drug interaction and a model which more closely reflects human pharmacokinetics support the argument that standard synergy testing provides incomplete data to reliably design clinical combination therapy.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 133 - 6
A predictive parameter of antibacterial efficacy in vivo, based on efficacy in vitro and pharmacokinetics; Mattie H; A method is described to predict the efficacy of antibiotics at changing concentrations in vitro or in an experimental thigh infection in granulocytopenic mice from the activity at constant concentrations in vitro, using pharmacokinetic parameters . The combinations studied were erythromycin against Staphylococcus aureus (in vitro and in vivo), four cephalosporins against two Gram-negative rods (in vivo), netilmicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in vitro) and vancomycin against S . aureus (in vivo) . The effect in vitro (ER) was defined as the difference between the growth rate without antibiotic and the growth rate in the presence of an antibiotic . The relationship between concentration and ER was described with the Hill equation . Using pharmacokinetic parameters of exponentially declining concentrations in vitro or of a bi-exponential concentration course in vivo together with the parameters of the Hill equation, the corresponding time course of ER was calculated . By integration with respect to time, an estimate, called ERt, was obtained of the effect on bacterial numbers, called EN, defined as the difference between the number of bacteria in the controls and the number in the presence of the antibiotics . For all antibiotics studied the value of ERt was significantly correlated with the actual values of EN.

J Basic Microbiol, 1990, 30(8), 617 - 22
Instability of in vitro resistance to imipenem in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Wolter EJ et al.; In 3 from 19 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa imipenem-resistant subpopulations could be detected in vitro . In comparison to their wild strains these imipenem-resistant cells were lacking an outer-membrane-protein of 50 kD . In the subpopulation derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa 76 resistance to imipenem was found to be instable . It could be lost within a short period of time after subcultivation in the absence of imipenem . Cells with restored sensitivity to imipenem possess the outer membrane protein of 50 kD as the wild strain does.

Biol Met, 1990, 3(2), 73 - 6
Silver binding to Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin; Tordi MG et al.; The interaction between azurin and silver ions was investigated, by means of ultraviolet, fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopies, as a function of the redox state of the protein . The Ag(I) ion has a very low affinity for oxidized azurin . Interestingly, the affinity is much higher for reduced azurin; in this case Ag(I) completely displaces the Cu(I) ion from the native binding site . The effect is very specific for silver ions since other ions, such as Hg(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II), do not produce the same effect . Treatment of reduced and oxidized azurin with excess Ag(I) (2-8-fold stoichiometric) shows that there is a second binding site for silver ions on the protein which can also bind Cu(II) and Hg(II) with comparable affinities.

Respiration, 1990, 57(4), 268 - 74
Effects of lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on airway smooth muscle functions in guinea pigs; Yamawaki I et al.; To elucidate the mechanisms of airway hyperreactivity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we studied isolated tracheal segments from guinea pigs under isometric conditions in vitro . Guinea pigs were injected intraperitoneally with endotoxin (1 mg/kg; LPS from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, serotype 10) for 4 days, and animals treated with sterile nonpyrogenic saline served as controls . Histological examination of trachea revealed moderate structural damage of epithelial layer in the LPS-treated group . Treatment with LPS potentiated the contractile responses of tracheal smooth muscle to acetylcholine, causing a leftward displacement of dose-response curves so that the EC50 values decreased from 1.1 +/- 3.7 x 10(-5) to 4.4 +/- 3.7 x 10(-7) M (mean +/- SE, p less than 0.01) . Likewise, LPS shifted the dose-response curves for histamine and substance P to lower concentrations by approximately 0.5-1.0 log U . Each of these potentiations was not affected by pretreatment of tissues with indomethacin or propranolol . Addition of isoproterenol to tracheal segments precontracted with acetylcholine caused concentration-dependent relaxation, an effect that was significantly greater in controls than in the LPS-treated group . These results suggest that airway hyperreactivity induced by LPS in guinea pigs may be attributed to a decreased ability of respiratory epithelial cells to generate a relaxing factor.

Dev Comp Immunol, 1990 Fall, 14(4), 369 - 78
Cane sugar factor as an inducing agent of immunity in Galleria mellonella; Pryce MJ et al.; The injection of cane sugar factor (CSF) into Galleria mellonella larvae results in an immune response similar to that produced by a formalized Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine . Vaccination with CSF is followed by: an increase in the LD50 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; an in vivo protective response to P . aeruginosa the development of which can be inhibited by cobra venom factor (CVF); an antibacterial activity in hemolymph 24 h after the injection of CSF; the development of a transferrable immune response in hemolymph of donor larvae capable of protecting recipient larvae against a lethal challenge of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; an increase in extracellular lysozyme equal to that induced by Pseudomonas vaccine; a reduction in total hemocyte count during the period of protective immunity; and the presence in hemolymph of new basic proteins, with electrophoretic mobilities and appearance times after the CSF injection, identical to those induced by the formalized vaccine . CSF was shown to be composed primarily of glucose.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 70, 9 - 17
The frequency of bacterial pathogens in infections potentially preventable by antimicrobial prophylaxis; Matsen JM; Bacterial pathogen frequency was analyzed over a fourteen year period at the University of Utah Medical Center . Isolation techniques and identification procedures have remained essentially the same during this period, allowing for a valid comparison of this frequency . For most organisms the frequency of overall isolation had remained relatively stable . Differences were seen in the frequency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in the isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus . Escherichia coli became proportionately less frequent, almost as an adjustment to the increase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A table is presented of these same pathogens and their likelihood to occur in post-operative patients categorized by surgery type in order to define their role in such infections potentially preventable by antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1990, 22(6), 633 - 43
Serious infectious complications of midsternotomy: a review of bacteriology and antimicrobial therapy; Siegman-Igra Y et al.; 49 patients with severe infectious complications of midsternotomy incision were treated at our referral center over a 3-year period . 43 species of microorganisms were identified in 38 patients, the most common being Pseudomonas aeruginosa (37%) and Staphylococcus aureus (30%) . Most of the patients underwent aggressive debridement and chest wall reconstruction by muscle transposition in combination with antimicrobial therapy . Antimicrobial therapy was given perioperatively according to the in vitro susceptibility of the organisms . Treatment was continued beyond this period for 2-3 weeks in patients with extensive deep seated infection or in those with positive cultures from intraoperative specimens . Some patients needed a longer course of up to 6-8 weeks antimicrobial therapy because of insufficient response to the shorter course . In all, 45/49 patients had complete wound healing . 28 recovered within 2-5 weeks and 16 required a more protracted course with additional surgery in 8; 1 wound did not heal after 20 months and 4 patients died from non-infectious complications . Due to the lack of specific guidelines in the literature as to the proper choice and length of administration of antimicrobial therapy for midsternotomy wound infection, and in view of these favorable results, we recommend our protocol in the treatment of midsternotomy wound infection (in combination with appropriate surgery).

Vestn Akad Med Nauk SSSR, 1990, (8), 44 - 7
{Immunogenic properties of the liposomal form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa anatoxin}; Minukhin VV et al.; Studies of immunogenic properties of P . aeruginosa anatoxin incorporated into liposomes of varying lipid compositions have shown that single immunization of mice with the anatoxin included into phosphatidyl ethanolamine and lecithin cholesterol liposomes induces a 6-8-fold higher antitoxin antibodies production than immunization with unadsorbed or adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide P . aeruginosa toxoid . The maximal production of antibodies against exotoxin A of P . aeruginosa is observed already on the 14th day . The adjuvant properties of lecithin-cholesterol liposomes were revealed only in the primary immune response, while phosphatidyl ethanolamine-containing liposomes exhibited the capacity for enhancing both the primary and the secondary immune responses . The use of liposomal P . aeruginosa anatoxin made of lipids varying in composition and charge is a promising trend of research aimed at designing new highly effective immunization preparations for P . aeruginosa infection prevention.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(3), 299 - 303
Comparative susceptibility studies of clinically isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp to cefoperazone and cefotaxime; Lee YH et al.; The in-vitro activity of cefotaxime and cefoperazone were compared using clinically isolated Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Cefotaxime was found on a weight to weight basis, to be much more active than cefoperazone . All the three species studied show the presence of cefoperazone-resistant population which were sensitive to cefotaxime . The possible mechanisms of resistance to these antibiotics were discussed.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1990, 12(3), 331 - 43
Enhanced protection of cyclophosphamide-treated mice against infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa after treatment with Z-100, a polysaccharide-rich extract from Mycobacterium tuberculosis Aoyama B; Kawamura I et al.; We investigated the effect of Z-100, a polysaccharide-rich extract from Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Aoyama B, on the protection of immunocompromised mice against infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Mice were given cyclophosphamide and then treated with varying doses of Z-100 for 5 days or left untreated . One day after the completion of the treatment, they were challenged with P . aeruginosa and the mortality was scored . A significantly enhanced protection was observed in the treated group and bacterial number in organs was significantly lower compared with non-treated group . Though the activity of phagocytes did not appear to be activated since there was no difference in chemiluminescence response of peritoneal phagocytes between control and Z-100-treated groups, an enhanced accumulation of phagocytes was observed after bacterial challenge in Z-100-treated group . It was suggested that Z-100 is effective in the restoration of impaired resistance of immuno-compromised mice to bacterial infection possibly through a stimulation of phagocyte accumulation into the site of infection.

Ophtalmologie, 1990 Jan-Feb, 4(1), 72 - 5
{Histologic study of corneal lesions caused by the slime-GLP glycolipoprotein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Pharmakakis N et al.; The Pseudomonas aeruginosa slime-glycolipoprotein (GLP) is considered as one of the principal pathogenetical factors of the bacterium . A single dose of 100 micrograms of the P . aeruginosa slime-GLP was injected in rabbit corneas intrastromally . Light microscopy showed that 4 hours after the injection, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) began to infiltrate the anterior stroma . 24 hours after the intrastromal injection, PMNs had infiltrated full corneal thickness followed by multiple absceses formation, loss of epithelial and endothelial cells, disorganisation of normal collagen fibres and hyperplasy of fibroblasts . These morphological observations are very similar to those observed during experimental P . aeruginosa keratitis and show that the P . aeruginosa slime-GLP is at least in part responsible for the characteristic liquefaction necrosis of the keratitis induced by the P . aeruginosa.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1990, 92(2), 105 - 12
In vitro immunosuppressive and anti-phagocytic properties of the exopolysaccharide of mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Mai GT et al.; The exopolysaccharide (EPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to significantly inhibit neutrophil random movement, chemotaxis and degranulation at concentrations as low as 0.3 microgram/ml . Neutrophil adherence, respiratory burst and bactericidal capacity were inhibited by EPS concentrations of greater than or equal to 3 micrograms/ml . Similarly, mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation was more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of EPS than natural-killer cell cytotoxicity . These results cannot be explained by simple mechanical blockade, as additions of EPS as late as 48 h after the initiation of lymphocyte cultures still resulted in a significant inhibition of lymphocyte transformation . However, the inhibitory effects of EPS can be reversed by extensive washing of treated lymphocytes . These results suggest that the propensity of mucoid P . aeruginosa to persist in cystic fibrosis may be explained in part by the ability of EPS to interfere with host immunity.

Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac, 1990, 107(5), 341 - 4
{Severe lesions of the petrous bone caused by pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Lamas G et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is often isolated in infections of the ear cleft . In some circumstances, this organism can cause serious petrous or peri-petrous lesions . Two pictures are seen: Malignant external otitis with severe headaches, signs of external otitis, and usually pseudomonas aeruginosa is isolated . This is usually seen in an elderly diabetic patient . Nerve paralysis is the main risk . The other complications, very grave in the past, are rare nowadays with the use of selective antibiotic treatment . Pseudomonas aeruginosa is also the causative organism in extensive osteitis of the skull base . Diagnostic problems are seen in case of specific infections or tumoral lesions . The treatment includes the same medications as for the malignant external otitis, as well as complete surgical excision.

J Med, 1990, 21(1-2), 85 - 103
Endotoxin-induced suppression of lung host defenses; Nelson S et al.; Respiratory tract infections are major causes of excessive morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients . Persons with systemic sepsis have an especially high risk of acquiring these infections, which indicates that their lung antibacterial defenses are compromised . To evaluate the effects of sepsis on pulmonary antibacterial defenses, we injected either saline or 5 mg/kg of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide intravenously into Sprague-Dawley rats . Two hours later, the animals were challenged by aerosol inhalation with either Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa . It is known that phagocytic defenses against aerosolized S . aureus challenges are provided solely by the alveolar macrophage; in normal animals challenged with P . aeruginosa, however, an intrapulmonary inflammatory response is elicited . Animals pretreated with endotoxin showed a significant decrease in pulmonary bactericidal activity against S . aureus with 31 +/- 3% bacteria remaining viable at 4 hr compared with 20 +/- 2% in the controls, which indicates a defect in alveolar macrophage antimicrobial activity . After P . aeruginosa challenge, saline-injected control animals developed a marked intrapulmonary inflammatory response and killed greater than 85% of their initial inoculum by 4 hr . By contrast, endotoxin-treated animals failed to recruit neutrophils into the alveoli in response to P . aeruginosa, resulting in a proliferation of this pathogen within the lung (212 +/- 6% bacteria remaining viable at 4 hr) . Endotoxin is known to be a potent stimulus for the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by the host . TNF is a potent inflammatory mediator and promotes neutrophil adhesion to the vascular endothelium . In these experiments, serum TNF peaked at 28,390 +/- 7,766 Units/ml . 90 min after intravenous endotoxin . Histopathology of the lungs in these animals showed considerable sequestration of the neutrophils within the pulmonary vasculature . These data show that systemic endotoxin significantly impairs lung host defenses against intrapulmonary bacterial challenges and suggest that TNF-mediated events may play a central role.

Biol Met, 1990, 3(1), 34 - 8
A Mössbauer spectroscopy study of cellular acquisition of iron from pyoverdine by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Mielczarek EV et al.; Mossbauer spectroscopy was used to investigate the cellular acquisition of iron by Pseudomonas aeruginosa which had been incubated with ferripyoverdine for 20, 40, 60, 120 or 360 min . Studies revealed that no ferripyoverdine accumulated in the cells at any of these times and that the amounts and kinds of iron complexes produced by cellular metabolism vary with time . At 20 and 40 min a ferric species, with isomer shift delta = 0.38-0.42 mm/s and quadrupole splitting delta EQ = 0.94-0.92 mm/s, was the major iron metabolite comprising approximately 80% of the iron . At later times at least three other ferric species appeared with delta = 0.54----0.72, delta EQ = 0.84----1.07 mm/s . Ferrous species, delta = 1.43----1.77 mm/s and delta EQ = 2.69----1.82 mm/s, were also seen at times as early as 20 min and comprised as much as 17% of the total iron at 20 and 40 min . The parameters of all these species identify them as being six-coordinated high-spin complexes . In addition a low-spin species, delta = 0.19 mm/s delta EQ = 0.67----0.91 mm/s, never before reported in cells, appeared at 60, 120, and 360 min as one of the major iron metabolites (50% or more) . All isomer shifts are measured with respect to natural iron.

Biol Met, 1990, 3(1), 28 - 33
Pyoverdine-mediated iron transport . Fate of iron and ligand in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Royt PW; Incubated in the presence of {55Fe}ferri{14C}pyoverdine, iron-poor Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulated more 55Fe than 14C over a 60-min period . Distribution studies showed (a) more 14C than 55Fe in the soluble fraction during the first 20 min, (b) approximately 60% of the 55Fe associated with the membranes at 60 min, and (c) approximately 85% of the 14C in the soluble fraction at 60 min . Cells osmotically shocked after incubating with {55Fe}ferri{14C}pyoverdine for 60 min released 55Fe but not 14C, suggesting separation of metal and ligand in the periplasmic space . Whereas the mechanism of dissociation of iron and ligand is not known, the decrease in transport observed in the presence of dipyridyl suggests involvement of reduction in this process . Transport of iron was energized by the proton motive force instead of by intracellular levels of ATP . The hydrogen ion gradient was the major driving force of transport . Cyanide-poisoned cells accumulated more 14C than 55Fe over 60 min . Here, iron accumulated in the soluble fraction instead of on the membranes.

J Exp Pathol, 1990 Spring, 5(1), 7 - 18
Histological alterations in mice induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa slime glycolipoprotein; Papadaki HI et al.; The time course of lesion development in mice induced by a single intraperitoneal (ip) LD50 dose of Pseudomonas aeruginosa slime glycolipoprotein (GLP) was studied . Slime GLP exerted a marked effect on the lungs, liver and kidneys without any microscopic changes in other organs . The first histological lesions were observed in the lungs 7h after ip injection and were characterized by thickening and pleomorphic inflammatory infiltration of the intraalveolar septae leading to focal atelectasis by 28 h . The initial morphological alterations in the liver were observed at 14 h and consisted of balloon degeneration of the hepatocytes, especially around the central veins, leading to fatty change within 21 h and confluent hepatocellular necrosis at 28 h . The kidneys showed hydropic degeneration of the renal tubular epithelial cells at 14 h and frank necrosis by 28 h post ip injection . The kidney and liver lesions were accompanied by a parallel rise in serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and aspartate and alanine aminotransferases.

Arch Microbiol, 1990, 154(1), 37 - 41
Staphylolytic enzyme from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: characterization and immunocytochemical localization; Carnicero A et al.; Staphylolytic enzyme, a specific peptidase produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been characterized by using immunochemical procedures . Lytic activity was detected in the extracellular medium of Pseudomonas cultures at the beginning of the stationary growth phase . No activity was detected in bacterial cells . However, lytic protein antigen was present in periplasmic and cytoplasmic fractions, suggesting that staphylolytic enzyme is synthesized as an inactive precursor which becomes active during translocation to the extracellular broth . Results obtained in immunolocalization experiments indicate the presence of the precursor in the outer part of cells . The export pathway of staphylolytic enzyme through the periplasmic space is proposed.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1990, 179(2), 77 - 86
Synergistic activity of aminoglycoside-beta-lactam combinations against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an unusual aminoglycoside antibiogram; Clark RB et al.; The bactericidal activity of aminoglycosides alone and in combination with various beta-lactams was studied by the time-kill technique against ten Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates with an unusual antibiogram (amikacin-resistant, gentamicin-resistant, tobramycin-susceptible {ArGrTs}) . Previous studies have indicated that ArGrTs isolates are moderately resistant to all aminoglycosides and many are multiply resistant to beta-lactams . Aminoglycoside-beta-lactam combinations showed infrequent synergistic (16%) or enhanced killing (12%) against the ArGrTs isolates . Synergistic activity, when present, was more likely to occur with tobramycin and amikacin than with gentamicin, even though these differences were not statistically significant . Antibiotic resistance patterns were not predictive of synergy or enhanced killing . Systemic infections produced by ArGrTs isolates that are multiply resistant to the beta-lactams may not respond to combination therapy with an aminoglycoside and beta-lactam . Alternative treatment with polymyxin B or a quinolone may be required for these infections.

J Gen Microbiol, 1990 Jan, 136 ( Pt 1), 59 - 64
A nonlinear technique for the analysis of plasmid instability in micro-organisms; Davidson AM et al.; A nonlinear technique to calculate parameters for segregational instability and differences in cellular growth-rate for plasmid-bearing micro-organisms growing in batch or continuous culture is presented . This method is compared with an approximate technique based upon linear regression . The accuracy and sensitivity of the results are evaluated by use of simulated data and biological data taken from experiments with Pseudomonas aeruginosa(pGSS15) and Escherichia coli(pHSG415) . It is demonstrated that the nonlinear analysis gives results which are significantly more accurate and which show much better agreement with the data . Consequently, the new analysis leads to quite different conclusions with regard to the nature of the instability of the plasmid-bearing strain . This method offers an opportunity to study the genetic and physiological aspects of plasmid instability and so aid the design and optimization of cloning vectors.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Jan, 43(1), 9 - 13
{Clinical efficacy of imipenem/cilastatin sodium in patients with respiratory tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Mikasa K et al.; The clinical utility of imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS, Tienam) was studied in 9 patients with respiratory tract infections from whom Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated using transtracheal aspiration . The patients treated were 6 males and 3 females, with ages between 42 and 78 years . The infections diagnosed were chronic bronchitis in 5 patients, diffuse panbronchiolitis in 2 and bronchopneumonia in 2 . P . aeruginosa alone was isolated from 6 patients and concomitantly with other organisms from 3 . Clinical efficacy was good in 6 patients, fairly good in 1 and poor in 2 . No side effects or abnormal laboratory test values were observed, except for a slight elevation of LDH in 1 patient . From these results, it appears that IPM/CS is a clinically useful antibiotic for the treatment of respiratory tract infections caused by P . aeruginosa.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(3), 222 - 9
Comparison of inhibitory and bactericidal activity of antipseudomonal antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients; Ansorg R et al.; Using a broth microtiter dilution method, the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of so-called antipseudomonal antibiotics were determined against 79 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients . On the basis of the MIC values and using DIN breakpoints, the percentual susceptibilities led to the following rank order: imipenem (91%), ciprofloxacin (90%), tobramycin (87%), amikacin (87%), ceftazidime (82%), cefsulodin (76%), piperacillin (71%), azlocillin (62%), followed by gentamicin, ceftriaxone, mezlocillin, netilmicin, and cefotaxime (less than 50%) . However, evaluating MBC values according to DIN breakpoints, only ciprofloxacin (82%), tobramycin (77%), amikacin (58%), and imipenem (57%) showed a pronounced antipseudomonal effectiveness . The data indicate that MBC determinations are necessary to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of P . aeruginosa rather than MIC determinations, at least in patients with impaired defence mechanisms which require bactericidal therapy.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Jan, 34(1), 52 - 7
Outer membrane protein D2 catalyzes facilitated diffusion of carbapenems and penems through the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Trias J et al.; The outer membrane of imipenem-resistant mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with decreased permeability to imipenem was shown by Western (immuno-) blotting to contain protein D1 and to lack protein D2 . Protein D2 was purified and was shown to allow the permeation of imipenem at a rate higher than expected from its molecular weight . Spontaneous imipenem-resistant mutants of P . aeruginosa PAO1 appeared at a frequency of 10(-8) in the laboratory and did not synthesize protein D2 . Experiments performed with intact cells carrying plasmid pHN4 containing the gene for L-1 beta-lactamase from Pseudomonas maltophilia showed that this channel could also be used by SM-7338, Sch 33755, and Sch 33440 but apparently not by Sch 34343 or Sch 29482.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Jan, 25(1), 91 - 101
Lomefloxacin-induced modification of the kinetics of growth of gram-negative bacteria and susceptibility to phagocytic killing by human neutrophils; Pruul H et al.; The post-antibiotic effect (PAE) of lomefloxacin against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined and compared with various other antibiotics . All the quinolones tested, and chloramphenicol and gentamicin, possessed PAE activity . At 10 x MIC and 30 min exposure, the PAEs against E . coli were 1.6, 1.3, and 1.8 h for lomefloxacin, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin respectively, and for P . aeruginosa the equivalent PAEs were 1.1, 1 and 0.5 h . The lomefloxacin PAE was dose-dependent and exposure for 5 min was sufficient to give optimal PAE at high concentrations of lomefloxacin . Such brief exposure rapidly blocked bacterial nucleic acid biosynthesis . Lomefloxacin pretreated bacteria were more susceptible to killing by PMN than untreated bacteria . Optimum enhancement of phagocytic killing of E . coli occurred when exposure to lomefloxacin was associated with an 80% decrease in cfu during pretreatment . Maximum PMN activity against P . aeruginosa occurred when bacteria were exposed to lomefloxacin producing change in cfu of +0.2 log10 to -0.7 log10 . These results indicate that phenotypic changes of P . aeruginosa and E . coli exposed to lomefloxacin render the bacteria more susceptible to phagocytic killing.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Jan, 25(1), 57 - 68
Novel resistance to imipenem associated with an altered PBP-4 in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolate; Bellido F et al.; A Pseudomonas aeruginosa (isolate 416) from a patient with pneumonia, was initially susceptible to imipenem (MIC: 2 mg/l) but became resistant to this antibiotic (isolate 470, MIC: 32 mg/l) during imipenem therapy . Treatment failed . No parallel increases in MIC were observed for other antimicrobials tested . Isolates 416 and 470 shared the same pyocin type and serotype, produced small amounts of an inducible beta-lactamase, and had similar lipopolysaccharide compositions . On electrophoresis of outer membrane proteins, the porin F, identified by the monoclonal antibody MA4-4, was expressed similarly by the two isolates but the production of one band (apparent molecular weight: 47,000) was diminished in isolate 470 . {14C}-Imipenem labelling of intact cells proceeded more slowly in 470 than in 416, especially when bacterial cells were treated by antibody MA4-4 to block the porin F channel . {14C}-Imipenem labelling of penicillin binding proteins (PBP) showed that the band identified as PBP-4 bound markedly less radioactivity in isolate 470 than in 416 . After isolate 470 was passaged several times in antibiotic-free broth, the imipenem MIC was decreased from 32 to 8 mg/l, and the {14C}-imipenem PBP pattern recovered the initial profile as exhibited by isolate 416 . Two resistance mechanisms, affecting imipenem electively, could have combined their effect in the post-therapy isolate, altered target protein and reduced permeability.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Jan, 25(1), 25 - 9
The effect of mafenide on dihydropteroate synthase; Eagon RG et al.; Using intact bacterial cells, it was found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more susceptible to mafenide than Escherichia coli, that p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) did not reverse or prevent inhibition by mafenide and that pABA itself was inhibitory . Under the experimental conditions used in these studies, pABA was more inhibitory to E . coli than to P . aeruginosa . It is proposed that pABA could be of use in the topical treatment of burn wounds . At the enzyme level, it was shown that mafenide did not inhibit dihydropteroate synthase . Thus, mafenide appeared not to exert its inhibitory effects in the same manner as the structurally related sulphonamides.

Br J Plast Surg, 1990 Jan, 43(1), 78 - 82
Silicone gel including antimicrobial agent; Sawada Y et al.; Silicone gel sheets containing Ofloxacin (OFLX), that provide a continual drug delivery system from a wound dressing to the wound so as to prevent infection and to promote healing, are described . It was found that silicone gel sheets without added medication did not inhibit microbial growth but that gel sheets containing 0.02% and 0.2% of OFLX had a positive antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a dose-dependent fashion in vitro . Further, this antimicrobial efficacy was greatly increased in a silicone gel sheet that contained 0.02% of OFLX and an additional 10% of silicone oil . In animal experiments, a silicone gel sheet containing OFLX prevented microbiol growth and promoted rapid epithelialisation in wounds to which Staphylococcus aureus had been applied, whereas wounds covered only with OpSite all resulted in continued infection.

Biol Neonate, 1990, 57(2), 88 - 97
Observations on the intestinal colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in newborn infants; Borderon E et al.; We studied the intestinal flora of 23 newborns, whose meconium had yielded a pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on blood agar medium . Twelve infants had a single serotype of P . aeruginosa in their meconium, 10 had a second serotype and the last infant was carrying three distinct ones . The maximum levels of P . aeruginosa observed during the first week of life were variable among the infants: 1 x 10(3) to 1 x 10(10) CFU/g of stools . The levels diminished progressively afterwards, and after 1 year of age only 1 of the 13 infants examined remained a carrier of P . aeruginosa . In 11 infants a second or a third serotype occurred during the course of the study . The serotypes that appeared secondarily always disappeared before the initial ones . Antibiotics: ampicillin + gentamicin or cefotaxime + netilmicin and colistin which were given to 8 infants had no clear effect on P . aeruginosa levels . Four infants had delayed colonization by Escherichia coli of greater than or equal to 10 days . All 4 had high levels of P . aeruginosa: 1 x 10(7) to 1 x 10(10) CFU/g stool, and antibiotic therapy, rendering it impossible to assess which was the cause of this delay . This colonization by P . aeruginosa did not lead to any clinical trouble.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1990 Jan, 56(1), 140 - 5
Transduction of linked chromosomal genes between Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains during incubation in situ in a freshwater habitat; Saye DJ et al.; Both transduction of single chromosomal loci and cotransduction of closely linked loci were observed between lysogenic and nonlysogenic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a freshwater habitat . Transductants were recovered at frequencies of 10(-6) to 10(-5) transductants per CFU . Transductants of lysogenized strains were recovered 10- to 100-fold more frequently than were transductants of nonlysogenic parents . Lysogens are thus capable of introducing phages which mediate generalized transduction into the natural microbial community and serving as recipients of transduced DNA . It would appear that lysogeny has the potential of increasing the size and flexibility of the gene pool available to natural populations of bacteria . The ability to generate and select new genetic combinations through phage-mediated exchange can be significant in the face of a continually changing environment and may contribute to the apparent fitness of the lysogenic state in natural ecosystems.

Dermatologica, 1990, 180(1), 48 - 50
Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp in 2 girls; Ramesh V; Two girls with dissecting cellulitis of the scalp are described . In one Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from the sinus discharge . Both patients were controlled with prolonged antibiotic therapy and periodic aspiration of the fluctuant lesions . Role of infection in perpetuating the condition is highlighted.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(1), 24 - 8
Inhibitory and bactericidal activity of cefpirome and cefotaxime against blood culture isolates; Ansorg R et al.; Using a broth microtiter dilution method, minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined for the aminothiazolyl cephalosporins cefpirome and cefotaxime against 436 blood culture isolates . At concentrations of less than or equal to 16 mg/l, cefpirome inhibited 82.3% of the isolates and cefotaxime 66.5% . At the same concentrations, cefpirome killed 60.0% of the isolates and cefotaxime 46.7% . Whereas the MIC values indicated a far better activity of cefpirome than cefotaxime against oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the MBC values showed a poor activity of both drugs against these strains . By comparison, cefpirome was the more active agent, covering a similar spectrum to that of cefotaxime with a slight additional activity against oxacillin-susceptible S . aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(1), 1 - 7
One shot of high-dose amikacin: a working hypothesis; Yourassowsky E et al.; Recent information suggests that single, large daily dosages of amikacin are less nephrotoxic . The killing rate of amikacin for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa also suggests to put emphasis on a high peak value . A decrease of 3 log10 CFU/ml was observed for E . coli and P . aeruginosa at 64 and 128 micrograms/ml in 20 min . In comparison, the killing rate of piperacillin was dose-independent and about 6 h were required for a reduction of 10(3) CFU/ml of P . aeruginosa . In theory, the way to proceed in the future would possibly be the one-shot administration of amikacin, followed by a long course of a beta-lactam antibiotic.

Infect Immun, 1990 Jan, 58(1), 114 - 8
Binding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to neutral glycosphingolipids of rabbit corneal epithelium; Panjwani N et al.; 35S-labeled Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were shown to bind to neutral glycosphingolipids (NGSLs) of rabbit corneal epithelia in culture by a thin-layer chromatogram overlay procedure . The lipids of the corneal epithelial cells grown in culture were extracted and partitioned into a chloroform-rich lower phase containing NGSLs and an aqueous upper phase containing gangliosides . By using a dot-blot assay, at least six times more radiolabeled P . aeruginosa isolates were shown to bind to the lipids in the lower phase compared with those in the upper phase . Thin-layer chromatography of the lower-phase lipids followed by staining with an orcinol spray revealed at least 10 NGSL components and several fast-migrating, nonglycosylated neutral lipid components (including cholesterol) . 35S-labeled P . aeruginosa was shown to bind to NGSL components 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9 . P . aeruginosa-reactive NGSL components 6 and 9 migrated with chromatographic mobilities similar to those of the standards ceramide trihexoside (CT) and ceramide monohexoside, respectively . Components 1 and 2 migrated slightly ahead of asialo GM1, and component 5 migrated faster than globoside but slower than CT . Among the various standards tested, P . aeruginosa bound to asialo GM1 and, to a lesser extent, to ceramide dihexoside and CT but not to GM1, GD1A, GM3, or ceramide monohexoside . It remains to be determined whether any of the five P . aeruginosa-reactive NGSL components of corneal epithelium identified in this study plays a role in the development of corneal infection . However, we have previously shown that component 9, one of the five P . aeruginosa-reactive NGSL components identified in this study, is present in significantly greater amounts in migrating epithelia than it is in nonmigrating epithelia (N . Panjwani, G . Michalopoulos, J . Song, G . Yogeeswaran, and J . Baum, Invest . Ophthalmol . Vis . Sci., in press) . This may prove to be of biological significance because it is generally believed that traumatized (migrating) epithelia are more susceptible to infection than normal (nonmigrating) epithelia are.

Khirurgiia (Sofiia), 1990, 43(6), 4 - 7
{Suppurative complications following sternotomy}; Topalov I et al.; For a ten-year period when 366 median sternotomies have been performed, 206 of them in cardiac operations under bypass, there were 15 dehiscences of the sternum (4.09 per cent) . The method of early revision with subsequent one-story suture and persistently washing aspiration drainage was applied for treatment of grave complication . In 90 per cent of the patients the causative agent of the infection was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in the rest--Staph.aureus . Despite the early intervention, the adequate antibacterial therapy and local application of antiseptic agents, mortality was 46.6 per cent . The authors introduced also the so called nodulating sternotomy, which provides firmer fixation . This operation was performed in 135 patients . Rigid septics and antiseptics play crucial role for nonadmission of infection in operations under bypass.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 63 - 70
Killing and regrowth of bacteria in vitro: a review; Craig WA et al.; Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations do not describe the time course of a drug's antimicrobial activity against bacteria . Some antimicrobials exhibit concentration dependent killing over a wide range of concentrations (e.g . aminoglycosides and quinolones), while others show maximal killing at concentrations near the MIC (e.g . beta-lactams and glycopeptides) . The aminoglycosides and quinolones can require high drug concentrations (about 10-fold higher than the MIC) to prevent the selection of resistant subpopulations of bacteria . Persistent suppression of bacterial growth after antimicrobial exposure is called the 'postantibiotic effect' (PAE) and varies in duration depending on the drug-organism combination, as well as the concentration and duration of drug exposure . Antimicrobials which are inhibitors of protein and nucleic acid synthesis exhibit prolonged PAEs with a large variety of bacteria . While beta-lactam antibiotics demonstrate PAEs with Gram-positive cocci, very short or no PAEs are observed with these drugs with Gram-negative bacilli . The only exception is that penem antibiotics can induce PAEs with some strains of Gram-negative bacilli, primarily Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Thus, the pharmacodynamic activity of an antimicrobial can vary markedly depending on the microorganism and the class of drug and its concentration.

Biol Met, 1990, 3(2), 133 - 6
Dynamic fluorescence in copper proteins . Selected examples; Rosato N et al.; The fluorescence properties of three copper proteins, namely human superoxide dismutase, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and Thiobacillus versutus amicyanin have been studied . All these proteins show a non-exponential decay of fluorescence, though the tryptophanyl residues responsible for the emission are very differently located in the three proteins . All the three decays can be fitted by at least two lifetimes or better with one or two lorentzian-shaped, continuous distributions of lifetime . In each case the removal of copper affects the quantum yield of fluorescence without affecting the shape of the emission.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1990, 93(1), 54 - 8
T cell cytotoxicity in cystic fibrosis: relationship to pulmonary status; Knutsen AP et al.; T cell cytotoxicity (CTL) to an allogeneic lymphocyte target was evaluated in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) before and during pulmonary exacerbations (group 1) compared to another group of CF patients who had stable pulmonary disease activity during their two study periods (group 2) . CTL activity was significantly decreased in group 1 subjects studied prior to their pulmonary flares and in group 2 CF patients compared to normal controls at effector:target ratios of 12.5:1 and 6.25:1 (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.05, respectively) . Furthermore, in group 1, CTL lysis was significantly decreased during pulmonary flares compared to before flares at the 25:1 and 12.5:1, effector:target, (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.05, respectively) . T suppressor cell activity as measured by effect on in vitro control B cell IgM synthesis was significantly increased during pulmonary flares (p less than 0.05) . Diminished CTL may be partially responsible for persistent colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in CF.

Perit Dial Int, 1990, 10(2), 127 - 33
Newer quinolones in the treatment of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) related infections; Nikolaidis P; Newer fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, and fleroxacin are potent antimicrobial agents against many gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa species and staphylococci-sensitive or resistant to methicillin . They are almost completely absorbed when given orally, reaching therapeutic plasma and dialysate concentrations, and their long half lives permit infrequent dosing intervals . Clinical studies on fluoroquinolones efficacy in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) infections, although not extensive, demonstrate good results . They are well tolerated and the adverse reactions, consisting mainly of gastrointestinal disturbance, were uncommon, mild, and reversible . The fluoroquinolones offer a promising alternative to standard parenteral treatments in CAPD patients, while their good oral bioavailability makes them attractive and convenient for both patients and hospital staff . However, they must be used with caution until we have more information and gain further experience.

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1990, 616, 149 - 54
Anti-HIV effects of CD4-Pseudomonas exotoxin on human lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage cell lines; Ashorn P et al.; CD4(178)-PE40 is a recombinant protein consisting of the HIV envelope glycoprotein-binding region of human CD4 linked to active domains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A . The hybrid toxin selectively kills HIV-infected human T-cell lines and protects against HIV spread in mixtures of uninfected and infected cells . We now report that CD4(178)-PE40 also selectively kills chronically HIV-1-infected cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage . The results provide further support for therapeutic use of this hybrid toxin in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals.

Infect Immun, 1990 Jan, 58(1), 124 - 30
Inhibition of pilus-mediated adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to human buccal epithelial cells by monoclonal antibodies directed against pili; Doig P et al.; The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK pilus is capable of mediating the binding of this strain to human respiratory epithelial cells . We have produced monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the PAK pilus in order to elucidate the location of the binding domain of the pilus for human buccal epithelial cells (BECs) . Four MAbs are described . MAbs PK41C and PK34C were found to react with P . aeruginosa pilins produced by a large number of strains . The epitope recognized by PK41C was determined to lie within the N-terminal region of the pilin and is likely constituted by amino acid residues 22 through 33 . The epitope for PK34C was located in the C-terminal region of the pilin and was partially dependent on an intact intrachain disulfide bridge between cysteine residues 129 and 142 . PK99H and PK3B were found to react specifically with PAK pilin . The epitope for PK99H was also localized in the C-terminal region of the pilin protein and appears to reside between amino acid residues 130 and 138 . The epitope for PK3B was not localized by using the methods of this study, but it is likely dependent on the three-dimensional structure of the pilin . Fab fragments of PK99H inhibited adhesion of strains PAK and 492c to BECs, but the adherence of five other strains was not affected . Fab fragments of PK34C inhibited adhesion of all piliated strains examined . Fab fragments from both of these antibodies inhibited PAK pilus binding to BECs . Fab fragments of PK41C and PK3B had no effect on P . aeruginosa binding to BECs . These results confirm that the C-terminal region of the pilin has adhesin qualities and that a conserved epitope lies within this region.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1990, 12(6), 599 - 603
Enhancement of nonspecific resistance to microbial infections of synthetic lipid A-subunit analogues of GLA-27 modified at the C1 position of the glucosamine backbone; Nakatsuka M et al.; The C1 position of lipid A-subunit analogue GLA-27, 4-O-phosphono-D-glucosamine carrying N-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl(C14-O-(C14)) and 3-O-tetradecanoyl (C14) groups, was S-acetylated, thiolated or phosphorylated . Enhancement of nonspecific resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vaccinia virus infections of these chemically modified compounds were investigated . Thiolation augmented the nonspecific resistance to P . aeruginosa infection . Protective activity against vaccinia virus infection was reduced by all the chemical modifications . NK cell activity was found not to be effected by S-acetylation, but to be decreased slightly by thiolation or phosphorylation . IFN-inducing activity was reduced remarkably by thiolation or S-acetylation, or completely diminished by phosphorylation, compared with that of GLA-27.

Crit Rev Microbiol, 1990, 17(4), 273 - 304
Polysaccharide antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Knirel YA; The major polysaccharide antigens of P . aeruginosa are the cell-wall lipopolysaccharides many of which have an acidic polysaccharide chain (O-antigen) rich in unusual amino sugars . The D-rhamnose-rich polysaccharide antigen common to many serologically distinct strains is also associated with the lipopolysaccharide . The high-molecular-weight polysaccharides with O-specificity are present in extracellular slime produced by strains isolated from the environmental and from the immunocompromised hosts . The extracellular antigenic polysaccharide of another type (bacterial alginate) is expressed by mucoid strains isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis . Serotype-specific immune responses after infection are directed at the lipopolysaccharides and these heat-stable antigens serve as the basis for differentiation of P . aeruginosa strains . Both the cell-wall antigens including conjugates of the O-polysaccharides with different proteins and the extracellular antigens have been used to prepare specific antibodies tested for protection against infections due to P . aeruginosa.

Pediatr Pulmonol, 1990, 9(1), 7 - 18
Pseudomonas hyperimmune globulin passive immunotherapy for pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis; Van Wye JE et al.; We studied the effect of an intravenously administered gamma globulin {Ps-ivIG} enriched fivefold over conventional ivIG for Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide {PA LPS} antibodies on ten patients with cystic fibrosis {CF} aged 19-32 years during hospitalization for pulmonary deterioration . All were colonized with greater than or equal to 1 PA phenotype resistant to all antibiotics at the time of admission and they received 500 mg/kg Ps-ivIG intravenously as a single dose in addition to conventional treatment, including antibiotics and chest physiotherapy . No adverse effects occurred . Circulating immune complexes and complement levels remained unchanged from baseline . Serum levels of anti-PA LPS IgG, as measured by ELISA for eight PA LPS immunotypes, increased to 244 +/- 65% (mean +/- SE) of baseline levels 1 hour post-infusion (P less than 0.01), remained significantly elevated during a mean hospital stay of 17 days, and returned to near baseline by follow-up 4 weeks after hospital discharge . Plasma half-life and clearance values were similar to those of other subjects receiving conventional ivIG . Sputum PA density declined from 3.0 to 1.2 x 10(8) cfu/mL 1 week post-infusion (P approximately equal to 0.05), and returned to baseline at follow-up . Serum anti-PA opsonic activity increased after infusion (P less than 0.01), but returned to baseline by 72 hours . Clinical scores improved from admission to discharge (P less than 0.005) without decline at follow-up . Forced vital capacity {FVC} and forced expiratory volume in one second {FEV1} increased from admission to discharge (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively) without decline at follow-up . Using autologous historical control data, standard hospital therapy without Ps-ivIG resulted in no improvement in FVC or FEV1, and a subsequent decline in these parameters (P less than 0.05 for each) during a similar follow-up period . This occurred despite the fact that half the patients did not have antibiotic-resistant PA on the control admission . We conclude that Ps-ivIG is a safe adjunctive therapy for pulmonary exacerbations in moderately ill cystic fibrosis patients colonized with resistant PA, and may be associated with both greater and more prolonged improvement in pulmonary function than standard therapy alone.

Arch Microbiol, 1990, 153(6), 561 - 8
The cytotoxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: cytotoxicity requires proteolytic activation; Orlik-Eisel G et al.; The primary structure of a cytotoxin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined by sequencing of the structural gene . The cytotoxin (31,700 Mr) lacks an N-terminal signal sequence for bacterial secretion but contains a pentapeptide consensus sequence commonly found in prokaryotic proteins which function in a TonB-dependent manner . The cytotoxin gene has a {G + C}-content of 53.8% which is considerably lower than generally observed for genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The cytotoxin gene was exclusively detected in strain 158 but not in three other clinical isolates, as determined by Southern and Northern hybridization . The latter technique revealed that the toxin is translated from monocistronic mRNA . The promoter of the cytotoxin is inactive in Escherichia coli . Upon site-directed modification of the 5'-noncoding region by the polymerase chain reaction the gene was expressed under control of the trc-promoter . The gene product obtained in Escherichia coli was nontoxic . Toxicity was induced by subsequent treatment with trypsin . {35S}methionine-labeled cytotoxin with high specific radioactivity was obtained by in vitro transcription/translation . Like {125I} labeled material from Pseudomonas aeruginosa this polypeptide bound to membrane preparations from Ehrlich ascites cells, as evidenced by sedimentation through a sucrose gradient at neutral pH.

Cytotechnology, 1990 Jan, 3(1), 31 - 7
A human-human hybridoma secreting anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin-A monoclonal antibody with highly potent neutralizing activity; Kuriyama M et al.; A hybridoma secreting human monoclonal antibody (MAB) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PEA) was constructed by fusing Epstein-Barr virus-transformed peripheral blood lymphocytes with human B lymphoblastoid cell line TAW-925 . The human-human hybridoma stably produced human IgG2 MAB at the rate of 0.4-0.5 microgram/ml per 10(6) cells per day for more than six months, and the MAB was capable of neutralizing the in vitro cytotoxic and in vivo lethal effects of PEA with approximately 100- and 70-fold, respectively, higher activity than serum polyclonal antibody preparations.

Cytotechnology, 1990 Jan, 3(1), 51 - 60
Heterohybridomas that secrete high levels of pseudomonas-specific therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies: their generation and large scale growth in an automated hollow fiber cell culture system; Gammon MC et al.; Fusion of lymphoblastoid cell lines that produce human monoclonal antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the human/mouse heteromyeloma SHM-D33 generated heterohybrids that were stable and secreted antibody in the range of 20 to 300 micrograms/ml . One of the hybridoma cell lines ws adapted to serum-free medium and maintained for 60 days in an automated hollow fiber system . During that time, 3 g of antibody was produced . Such yields make it possible to evaluate these monoclonals for their therapeutic potential in patients at risk for Pseudomonas infections.

J Ind Microbiol, 1990 Jan, 5(1), 25 - 31
Production of extracellular emulsifying agent by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG1; MacElwee CG et al.; Twenty-three bacterial strains were isolated from oil-contaminated soil samples . Of these, 20 displayed some ability to effect oil dispersion and they were screened quantitatively for the ability to emulsify 0.5% (v/v) reference oil . One strain, identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG1, produced extracellular material that emulsified reference oil, hexadecane and 2-methylnaphthalene at concentrations as high as 6% (v/v) in nutrient broth . Emulsification activity increased during a 10 day incubation period at 30 degrees C . The activity was not influenced by pH over the range 5 to 9 . The emulsifying agent was precipitated by cold ethanol . The highest emulsifying activity was detected in the extracellular fraction precipitated between 30 and 50% (v/v) ethanol . A linear relationship was observed between emulsifier concentration (mg/ml) and emulsifying activity . Genetic analysis showed that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG1 strain did not carry extrachromosomal plasmids, suggesting that the gene(s) coding for emulsifying activity was carried on the chromosome.

J Chem Technol Biotechnol, 1990, 47(2), 109 - 16
Amperometric determination of ammonium ions with a microbial sensor; Riedel K et al.; A sensor for NH+4 ions has been developed, which consists of immobilized micro-organisms (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Trichosporon cutaneum) in combination with an electrochemical transducer . This sensor is based on the measurement of acceleration of respiration after addition of NH+4 in the presence of glucose . The physiological background of this signal and its connection with NH+4 ion uptake and/or metabolism is discussed . The response time of the sensor is about 5-10 s for NH+4 ions . A linearity was observed between 0.005 and 0.15 mmol dm-3 NH+4 ions . The sensitivity of the sensor remained almost constant for 12 days . The sensor was used to determine NH+4 ions in a microbial fermentation broth.

Am J Med, 1989 Dec 29, 87(6C), 17S - 23S
Bacterial resistance to the quinolone antimicrobial agents; Hooper DC et al.; Bacterial resistance to the newer quinolones occurs less frequently than to the older analogue nalidixic acid . Single-step mutations conferring greater than eightfold increases in minimal inhibitory concentration occur at frequencies of less than 10(-10) for many bacterial species and at 10(-8) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Passage on increasing concentrations of quinolones, however, results in highly resistant strains of many species . Chromosomal mutations have been shown to produce two mechanisms of resistance, alterations in the A subunit of the target enzyme, DNA gyrase, and decreased drug accumulation associated with altered porin outer membrane proteins and pleiotropic resistance . For some mutants reduced accumulation appears to depend on active quinolone efflux across the inner membrane . Resistance developing during quinolone therapy of infections has been infrequent to date and reported most often with P . aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, and at sites with poor quinolone penetration or foreign bodies . Resistance should be monitored, and the means for limiting its development studied.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1989 Dec 21, 999(3), 313 - 22
Purification, properties, and oxygen reactivity of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Entsch B et al.; The monooxygenase, p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (4-hydroxybenzoate, NADPH:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.13.2) has been isolated and purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The reaction catalysed is linked to the pathways for degradation of aromatic compounds by microorganisms . The enzyme has been quantitatively characterized in this paper for use in the mechanistic analysis of the protein by site-directed mutagenesis . This can be achieved when the results presented are used in combination with the information on the sequence and structure of the gene for this protein and the high-resolution crystallographic data for the protein from P . fluorescens . The protein is a dimer of identical sub-units in solution, and has one FAD per polypeptide with a monomeric molecular weight of 45,000 . A full steady-state kinetic analysis was carried out at the optimum pH (8.0) . A Vmax of 3750 min-1 at 25 degrees C was calculated, and the enzyme has a concerted-substitution mechanism, involving the substrates, NADPH, oxygen, and p-hydroxybenzoate . Extensive analyses of the reactions of reduced enzyme with oxygen were carried out . The quality of the data obtained confirmed the mechanisms of these reactions as proposed earlier by the authors for the enzyme from P . fluorescens . It was found that the amino acid residue differences between enzyme from P . fluorescence and aeruginosa do marginally change some observed transient state kinetic parameters, even though the structure of the enzyme shows they have no direct role in catalysis . Thus, transient state kinetic analysis is an excellent tool to examine the role of amino acid residues in catalysis.

EMBO J, 1989 Dec 20, 8(13), 4081 - 9
A physical genome map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Romling U et al.; A complete macrorestriction map of the 5.9 Mb genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO (DSM 1707) was constructed by the combination of various one- and two-dimensional pulsed field gel electrophoresis techniques . A total of 51 restriction sites (36 SpeI sites, 15 DpnI sites) were placed on the physical map yielding an average resolution of 110 kb . Several genes encoding virulence factors and enzymes of metabolic pathways were located on the anonymous map by Southern hybridization . Distances between the gene loci were similar on the genetic and physical maps, suggesting an even distribution of genome mobility throughout the bacterial chromosome . The four rRNA operons were organized in pairs of inverted repeats . The two-dimensional macro-restriction techniques described herein are generally applicable for the genome mapping of any prokaryote and lower eukaryote which yields resolvable fragment patterns on two-dimensional pulsed field gels.

Gene, 1989 Dec 7, 84(1), 31 - 8
Nucleotide sequence of a regulatory region controlling alginate synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: characterization of the algR2 gene; Kato J et al.; Alginate (Alg), an exopolysaccharide with strong gelling properties, is produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa primarily during its infection of the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung . The alg genes are normally not expressed in other environments . The promoter for a critical Alg biosynthetic gene, algD, encoding GDP-mannose dehydrogenase, is activated only under conditions reminiscent of the CF lung (i.e., under high osmolarity), and at least two regulatory genes, algR1 and algR2, have been implicated in this activation process . The physical mapping of a 4.4-kb region harboring algR2 has been accomplished and the complete nucleotide sequence of this fragment, including that of algR2, is presented . The cloning and complementation experiments also demonstrate the presence, on this fragment, of regulatory gene(s) different from algR1 and algR2 . The expression of the algR2 gene allows a high level of activation of the algD promoter in Escherichia coli, in the presence of algR1 in a high osmotic environment, suggesting that the AlgR2 and AlgR1 proteins act cooperatively to activate the algD promoter . Hyperexpression of the algR2 gene from the tac promoter also allows the conversion of nonmucoid cells of strain 8822, a spontaneous revertant of the mucoid CF isolate strain 8821, back to mucoidy, but not that of the clinical isolate, strain PAO1.

J Mol Biol, 1989 Dec 5, 210(3), 485 - 95
Activation of Chi recombinational hotspots by RecBCD-like enzymes from enteric bacteria; McKittrick NH et al.; Chi sites, 5'G-C-T-G-G-T-G-G-3', enhance homologous recombination in Escherichia coli and are activated by the RecBCD enzyme . To test the ability of Chi to be activated by analogous enzymes from other bacteria, we cloned recBCD-like genes from diverse bacteria into an E . coli recBCD deletion mutant . Clones from seven species of enteric bacteria conferred to this deletion mutant recombination proficiency, Chi hotspot activity in lambda Red- Gam- vegetative crosses, and RecBCD enzyme activities, including Chi-dependent DNA strand cleavage . Three clones from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ps . putida conferred recombination proficiency and ATP-dependent nuclease activity, but neither Chi hotspot activity nor Chi-dependent DNA cleavage . These results imply that Chi has been conserved as a recombination-promoting signal for RecBCD-like enzymes in enteric bacteria but not in more distantly related bacteria such as Pseudomonas spp . We discuss the possibility that other, presently unknown, nucleotide sequences serve the same function as Chi in Pseudomonas spp.

FEBS Lett, 1989 Dec 4, 258(2), 266 - 8
Modification of the electron-transfer sites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin by site-directed mutagenesis; Pascher T et al.; Site-directed mutagenesis of the structural gene for azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been used to prepare azurins in which amino acid residues in two separate electron-transfer sites have been changed: His-35-Lys and Glu-91-Gln at one site and Phe-114-Ala at the other . The charge-transfer band and the EPR spectrum are the same as in the wild-type protein in the first two mutants, whereas in the Phe-114-Ala azurin, the optical band is shifted downwards by 7 nm and the copper hyperfine splitting is decreased by 4.10(-4)/cm . This protein also shows an increase of 20-40 mV in the reduction potential compared to the other azurins . The potentials of all four azurins decrease with increasing pH in phosphate but not in zwitterionic buffers with high ionic strength . The rate constant for electron exchange with cytochrome c551 is unchanged compared to the wild-type protein in the Phe-114-Ala azurin, but is increased in the other two mutant proteins . The results suggest that Glu-91 is not important for the interaction with cytochrome c551 and that His-35 plays no critical role in the electron transfer to the copper site.

Cornea, 1989 Dec, 8(4), 281 - 5
Microbiology of contact lens-related keratitis; Schein OD et al.; We reviewed 397 cases of microbial keratitis examined at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, U.S.A., from January 1982 through December 1985 . Of these, 136 cases (34%) were related to contact lens use . Extended-wear contact lenses were used by 107 (79%) of these patients . Cosmetic contact lenses accounted for 59 (44%) of lens-related cases, aphakic contact lenses 44 (32%), and therapeutic (bandage) contact lenses 33 (24%) . Fifty-three microbial keratitis cases associated with contact lens wear were culture-positive: 28 (52%) were gram-positive, and 19 (36%) were gram-negative . Mixed cultures, fungi, and Acanthamoeba accounted for two cases (4%) each . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was specifically associated with cosmetic soft contact lens use.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Dec, 8(12), 1102 - 10
Clinical utility of new quinolones in treatment of osteomyelitis and lower respiratory tract infections; Bayer AS; In the eight major clinical studies published on use of oral quinolones in therapy of contiguous osteomyelitis, clinical and microbiologic cure/improvement rates were 75% and 73%, respectively, when drug therapy was combined with appropriate surgical debridement . This included many cases of polymicrobial osteomyelitis, as well as infection caused by recalcitrant pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In contrast, the response of staphylococcal osteomyelitis to oral quinolones, especially in cases caused by methicillin-resistant strains, appeared suboptimal . Quinolones appear to have a limited role in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, since other established antibiotic regimens have been proven effective in such situations . Quinolones may play an important role in the treatment of nosocomially acquired aerobic gram-negative bacillary pneumonia, either as primary parenteral therapy or as transitional oral therapy when affected patients become outpatients . In cystic fibrosis-associated acute exacerbations of chronic pseudomonal pneumonitis, the outcome of oral ciprofloxacin therapy was very satisfactory in the six major studies reported (approximately 85% improvement rates) . In three comparative studies oral quinolone treatment of such pulmonary exacerbations resulted in clinical response rates equivalent to those for aminoglycoside plus beta-lactam therapy given intravenously . Quinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were commonly isolated from sputum during treatment; however, such patients continued to respond clinically to quinolone treatment, and sputum became rapidly repopulated with quinolone-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains after discontinuation of therapy.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Dec, 42(12), 2555 - 65
{Usefulness of ceftazidime in intractable respiratory tract infections}; Takenaka S et al.; Usefulness of ceftazidime (CAZ) was studied in 56 cases of intractable respiratory tract infections . CAZ was administered at a daily dose of 2-4 g in 2 divided doses by intravenous drip infusion for 3-15 days . 1 . Analysis was carried out in 38 cases and the following result was obtained . Efficacy rate was: 68% (17/25) in pneumonia, 60% (3/5) in chronic bronchitis and 67% (4/6) in secondary infections in chronic respiratory disease cases, and the overall efficacy rate was 63.2% (24/38) . 2 . In bacteriological study, 68.2% (15/22) of eradication rate was obtained . Against Staphylococcus aureus, eradication was obtained in all strains (4 strains) . Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, eradication occurred in 4 strains out of 10, and decrease in number in 2 strains . 3 . As for adverse effects, mild hepatic disorder was observed in 2 cases (3.6%) out of 56 . 4 . From the above result, CAZ is considered to be very useful when used as monotherapy for aged patients and in the treatment of severe and intractable infections accompanied by underlying diseases.

Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 1989 Dec, 13(6), 795 - 8
Paternal alcohol consumption: effects on ocular response and serum antibody response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in offspring; Berk RS et al.; Male Swiss-Webster mice that consumed liquid alcohol diets containing 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or 0% ethanol-derived calories (EDC) for 7 weeks were bred to untreated females that were not exposed to alcohol diets . Males receiving the 20-0% EDC diets were pair-fed to those consuming the 25% EDC diet . At approximately 60 days of age, male offspring were challenged with 10(8) colony forming units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa onto the scarified cornea of one eye . The ocular response was then evaluated macroscopically for 4 weeks . Male offspring sired by alcohol-consuming fathers exhibited more severe ocular infection at 24 hr postinfection compared with mice sired by control fathers and, after 8 days postinfection, more corneas of the 25% EDC-sired progeny perforated than did the other groups . At 30 days after infection, serum immunoglobulin titers (IgM, IgG, IgA) specific to P . aeruginosa were determined by ELISA . Although the majority of the mice were unable to restore corneal clarity within 30 days postinfection, a strong serum IgG response was detected in pooled sera from those animals tested . Offspring were reinfected in the contralateral control eye at 30 days postprimary infection . Most control animals were able to restore corneal clarity in the contralateral control eye within 30 days postinfection, but less than a third of the alcohol-sired offspring did so . Again, the pooled sera that was tested indicated a strong humoral response, despite differences in corneal clarity . These studies indicate an increased susceptibility to infection and an impairment in restoration of corneal clarity in offspring sired by alcohol-consuming males, which does not appear to be mediated by serum antibody mechanisms.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1989 Dec, 46(12), 761 - 6
{Evaluation of antimicrobial schemes in episodes of fever and granulocytopenia in children with cancer}; Petrilli AS et al.; The efficacy of two antibiotic regimens used as initial empiric therapy was evaluated in 299 episodes of fever and granulocytopenia in children with cancer . Of these, 148 were treated with the combination cefoxitin-amikacin-carbenicillin and the remaining 151 with ceftriaxone-amikacin . All of the patients were evaluated at the beginning and 72 hours after starting treatment with laboratory tests and based on their clinical condition . Each was classified according to the type of infection . A few modifications were made to the initial treatment plan and in accordance with the clinical condition of each patient . Over 52% of the episodes were due to fever of unknown origin and 47.2% due to infections, of which 33.8% proved to be positive blood cultures mainly for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The modifications made to the basic treatment regimens were the addition of amphotericin B, clindamycin or vancomycin . An 89.2% therapeutic index percentage was obtained, independent from the use of either antibiotic scheme . The total therapeutic index for the study was 83.6%.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1989 Dec, 140(6), 1640 - 4
Relation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha and granulocyte elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complexes in the plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis; Suter S et al.; Patients with cystic fibrosis suffer from a chronic, progressively destructive bronchitis characterized by colonization of the airways by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Cell wall lipopolysaccharides from P . aeruginosa may stimulate secretion of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) by monocytes/macrophages . We found elevated levels of TNF alpha (150 +/- 60 pg/ml), interleukin-1 alpha (144 +/- 205 pg/ml), and interleukin-1 beta (62 +/- 100 pg/ml) in plasma from 25 patients with cystic fibrosis . In patients with less advanced disease, elevated plasma levels of TNF alpha correlated with high levels of complexes between neutrophil elastase and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, suggesting that TNF alpha may be a mediator of neutrophil degranulation . TNF alpha, by its chemotactic effect on neutrophils, may also contribute to the massive influx of neutrophils into and around the bronchial tree . Our findings raise the questions whether in patients with cystic fibrosis TNF alpha acts as cachectin and whether it mediates the anorexia that often results in weight loss.

Can J Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 35(12), 1141 - 5
Human buccal epithelial cell receptors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: identification of glycoproteins with pilus binding activity; Doig P et al.; Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a patient's epithelial surface is thought to be an important first step in the infection process . Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of attaching to epithelial cells via its pili, yet little is known about the epithelial receptors of this adhesin . Using nitrocellulose replicas of polyacrylamide gels of solubilized human buccal epithelial cells (BECs), glycoproteins (Mz: 82,000, and four bands between 40,000 and 50,000) that bound purified pili from P . aeruginosa strain K (PAK) were identified by immunoblotting with a pilus-specific monoclonal antibody that does not affect pilus binding to BECs (PK3B) . All pilus-binding glycoproteins were surface localized, as determined by surface radioiodination of intact BECs . Binding of pili to all of the glycoproteins was inhibited by Fab fragments of monoclonal antibody PK99H, which inhibits PAK pili binding to BECs by binding to or near the binding domain of the pilus, but not by Fab fragments of monoclonal antibody PK41C, which binds to PAK pilin but does not inhibit pili binding to BECs, demonstrating that pilus binding to these glycoproteins is likely via the same region of the pilus that binds to intact BECs . Periodate oxidation of the blot eliminated pili binding to all glycoproteins, indicating that a carbohydrate moiety is an important determinant for pilus-binding activity . However, not all of the glycoproteins exhibited the same degree of sensitivity to periodate oxidation . Furthermore, monosaccharide inhibition of pilus binding to BECs implicated L-fucose and N-acetylneuraminic acid as receptor moieties.

J Med Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 30(4), 285 - 93
Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to respiratory epithelium and the effect of leucocyte elastase; Plotkowski MC et al.; The tracheobronchial secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis often contain high amounts of free proteases . To evaluate whether human leucocyte elastase (HLE) can favour the persistence of bacterial airways infection, we exposed the frog palate mucosa to HLE and then to radiolabelled Pseudomonas aeruginosa and followed the sequence of events by scanning electronmicroscopy . In response to HLE there was a marked outpouring of mucus and a desquamation of the epithelium . P . aeruginosa was shown to adhere to recently secreted granules of mucus and to the exposed submucosal underlying connective tissues . For the eight different bacterial strains studied, a significative adherence to HLE-injured mucosa was observed only in strains that possessed internal haemagglutinating activity . Neither the presence of fimbriae, nor of the mucoid exopolysaccharide, nor of the bacterial surface haemagglutinating activity could be related to adherence of P . aeruginosa to the injured mucosa . These results support the hypothesis that HLE enhances bacterial infection of the respiratory mucosa both by inducing mucus hypersecretion and by exposing receptors to the microbial adhesins . It is also suggested that P . aeruginosa internal lectins may be implicated in adherence to host tissues.

Infect Immun, 1989 Dec, 57(12), 3841 - 5
Pseudomonas aeruginosa pili as ligands for nonopsonic phagocytosis by fibronectin-stimulated macrophages; Kelly NM et al.; Fibronectin is capable of activating macrophages for enhanced nonopsonic phagocytosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in vivo in rats or mice or in vitro on nutrient agar plates . In this study it was determined that while fibronectin was able to significantly increase phagocytosis of organisms grown in static broth, uptake of agitated bacteria could not be promoted . Agitated P . aeruginosa cultures were proven to lack surface pili expression, as assessed by electron microscopic studies . A pilus-deficient pilA::Tn501 mutant of P . aeruginosa PAO was constructed by gene replacement techniques . Phagocytosis of this mutant could not be enhanced by fibronectin regardless of growth conditions . Furthermore, 60 micrograms of exogenously added Pseudomonas pili per ml was capable of abrogating the enhanced phagocytosis of the wild-type strain observed with fibronectin-stimulated macrophages . It is concluded that Pseudomonas pili were the bacterial ligands required for attachment to fibronectin-stimulated macrophages in the initial stages of nonopsonic phagocytosis.

Infect Immun, 1989 Dec, 57(12), 3720 - 6
Characterization of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa pilus adhesin: confirmation that the pilin structural protein subunit contains a human epithelial cell-binding domain; Irvin RT et al.; Previous studies have suggested that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK pilus adhesin moiety resides in an epithelial cell-binding domain located in the C-terminal region of the PAK pilin structural protein . Synthetic peptides Ac17red (a synthetic peptide with a sequence identical to that of PAK pilin residues 128 to 144, with the Cys-129 and Cys-142 residues being in the reduced state) and Ac17ox (a synthetic peptide with a sequence identical to that of PAK pilin residues 128 to 144, with a formed disulfide bridge between the amino acid residues Cys-129 and Cys-142), which should contain the epithelial cell-binding domain, were synthesized . Ac17red and Ac17ox both bound to buccal epithelial cells (BECs) and to ciliated tracheal epithelial cells (TECs) . Ac17ox had a Km of 6.40 microM for binding to BECs, while Ac17red had a Km of 9.87 microM . Ac17red bound to the same receptor sites that purified pili did and competitively inhibited the binding of purified PAK pili to BECs . BEC glycoproteins with molecular masses of 82, 55 to 51, and 40 kilodaltons immobilized on nitrocellulose exhibited periodate-sensitive receptor activity for Ac17red; similar activity has been found for PAK pili . Ac17red, Ac17ox, and PAK pili bound to the cilia and luminal portions of the cytoplasmic membrane of human TECs, the same regions to which P . aeruginosa whole cells bind . PAK pilin has an epithelial cell-binding domain that resides in the C-terminal region of the protein.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Dec, 24(6), 881 - 95
Effects of sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on surface expression of ferripyochelin-binding protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; LeVatte MA et al.; Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in medium containing sub-inhibitory concentrations of tobramycin, tetracycline or chloramphenicol repressed surface expression of the ferripyochelin binding protein (FBP) . Ciprofloxacin did not repress FBP surface expression but increased the amount of detectable FBP . Sub-MICs of tetracycline, tobramycin and chloramphenicol also reduced ferripyochelin uptake by whole cells . An additional Mr = 19,000 protein was detected with monoclonal antibody in outer membranes of cultures grown in the presence of tetracycline and chloramphenicol . This protein is presumed to be a precursor form of FBP . No other major changes in LPS migration patterns or outer membrane protein profiles were observed in cultures grown in the presence of these antibiotics . These data suggest that exposure of P . aeruginosa to sublethal doses of tobramycin, tetracycline or chloramphenicol can alter the ability of these organisms to acquire iron.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Dec, 8(12), 1080 - 92
Quinolone antimicrobial agents: adverse effects and bacterial resistance; Wolfson JS; Adverse effects, drug-drug interactions and bacterial resistance to the new quinolone antimicrobial agents are reviewed . Clinical adverse effects are reported to occur in 5-10% of patients, and include primarily gastrointestinal disturbances, central nervous system toxicity and rash . Laboratory abnormalities are reported to occur in 5-12% of patients, and include mild reversible elevations of transaminases . Quinolones are not recommended in persons whose bone growth is incomplete or in pregnant or nursing women because cartilage toxicity has been observed in juvenile beagles . Drug-drug interactions may occur between quinolones and theophylline, caffeine, and magnesium- or aluminium-containing compounds such as antacids and sucralfate . Bacterial resistance occurs by chromosomal mutations which alter the target enzyme DNA gyrase or decrease drug accumulation . Emergence of resistance during therapy is uncommon to date but can be problematic in infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria for which the therapeutic index may be low . In summary, quinolones thus far have been well tolerated, but more experience is needed to determine the exact nature and extent of adverse effects and emergence of bacterial resistance.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 1989 Dec, 18(4), 307 - 10
Comparative in-vitro antibacterial activity of two brands of antibiotics against clinical isolates of some bacterial genera; Odelola HA et al.; Six brands of ampicillin and four of gentamicin were compared for their in-vitro antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The minimum inhibitory concentrations obtained for each brand against each bacterial isolate compared very well with one another, and the kinetics of bactericidal activity showed that the brands of each antibiotic possessed similar activity against the clinical isolates tested.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1989 Dec, 92(6), 787 - 90
Bacterial infections in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome . Clinicopathologic correlations in a series of autopsy cases; Nichols L et al.; In a group of 46 adult patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who came to autopsy in 1983-1987, the authors found that 38 (83%) had bacterial (nonmycobacterial) infections some time during the course of their illness, compared with 34 (74%) who had parasitic infections, 31 (67%) who had viral infections, 28 (61%) who had fungal infections, and 12 (26%) who had mycobacterial infections . Twenty-five of these patients (54%) had Staphylococcus aureus infections, compared with 7 (15%) who had Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and 6 (13%) who had enterococcal infections . Overall, undiagnosed infections or malignancies were found in 48%, 22 of the 46 autopsies, including 12 cases of undiagnosed bacterial infections, 8 of these due to S . aureus . These results suggest that bacterial infections in general, and S . aureus infections in particular, are important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with AIDS.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1989 Dec, 7(10), 530 - 4
{Resistance caused by hyperproduction of chromosomal beta-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Tirado M et al.; From 120 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains selected for their slight susceptibility to ceftazidime (MIC greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml) we studied the characteristics of beta-lactamases and their susceptibility to aminoglycoside and to beta-lactam antibiotics . The quantitative spectrum, chromosomic beta-lactamase hyperproduction and the isoelectric point of beta-lactamases were also studied as well as the MIC in solid medium, inoculum 5 x 10(4) cfu . About 14.7% of strains moderately susceptible to ceftazidime and 88.4% of those resistant, were hyperproducers of chromosomic beta-lactamases . All the strains were resistant to ureidopenicillins, cefotaxime and moxalactam, 55.8% to monobactams and 35% were also resistant to cefsulodine; all of them were susceptible to imipenem . In bacteria isolated from twelve patients a loss of susceptibility could be observed against ceftazidime and other beta-lactams . There was also an increase in chromosomic beta-lactamase production during the treatment with antibiotics.

Genetika, 1989 Dec, 25(12), 2126 - 37
{Genetic control of morphogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa transposable phage D3112}; Bidnenko EM et al.; The influence of ts mutations in the early and late genes of transposable phage D3112 on phage morphogenesis was studied . The mutations in the early genes A, B and C were shown to suppress morphogenesis of D3112 . Six genes (D, E, F, G, H and I), located from 14 to 29 kbp of the phage physical map, control morphogenesis of phage head . Five genes (J, K, L, M and N), clustered in the 29-36 kbp region of the map, control morphogenesis of tail . The similarity of genetic organization of the Escherichia coli transposable phage Mu and the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage D3112 is discussed.

Zhonghua Zheng Xing Shao Shang Wai Ke Za Zhi, 1989 Dec, 5(4), 257 - 8, 316
{Method and result of oxygen addition in the culture process of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Ji TP; Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia are frequent complications of patients with major burns . To evaluate more rapid culture methods for diagnosis, we have established a new culture method of pseudomonas aeruginosa by oxygen addition . The results of vitro study showed that the growth time of pseudomonas aeruginosa was 8 to 12 hours earlier by the new culture method than by the ordinary method, when pseudomonas aeruginosa were incubated in broth at 37 degrees C to achieve approximately 50 to 65 colony-forming units/bottle . A total of 60 samples was tested when each culture bottle was added approximately 2 to 10 colony-forming units . The percentage of positive culture was 75% by venting oxygen addition method and 33.3% by ordinary method . The result of assay of 26 blood samples from patients with major burns showed that the percentage of positive blood cultures was 69.2% by the new method and 42.3% by the ordinary method . The culture time of the new method was 4 to 12 hours earlier than the ordinary method . This technique may lead to a greater chance of recovery and rapid detection of pseudomonas aeruginosa from blood samples.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1989 Dec, 272(2), 248 - 51
Serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from human and animal sources; Hariharan H et al.; Forty human isolates and twenty-eight animal isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Prince Edward Island area (Atlantic Canada) were serotyped using a kit consisting of 4 polyvalent O-group antisera and 17 monovalent O-type (serovar) antisera, in accordance with the International Antigenic Typing Scheme . The results showed a difference between humans/dogs (50%/48% group I) and pigs (71% group IV) . Whereas O-serovar 9 and 1 appeared to be most involved in human and canine infections, O-serovar 3 was the predominant type in porcine infections.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1989 Dec, 34(12), 902 - 7
{Antiseptic sensitivity of clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Adarchenko AA et al.; MICs, the frequency of clinical and statistic resistance and the antiseptic activity index were studied in complex on out-of-hospital and hospital ecovars of P . aeruginosa . The forms resistant to a number of antiseptics, i.e . chloramine B, chlorhexidine, decamethoxine and dioxidine whose frequency eventually increased were shown to be widely distributed . The antiseptic sensitivity spectrum was more narrow and more heterogeneous than that of other bacteria, the heterogeneity level being dependent on the antiseptic type and bacterial ecovar . The activity of pervomur, phenol, resorcin and boric acid was higher against the clinical strains of P . aeruginosa while iodopyrin, sulfacetamide sodium and dioxidine were less active . The P . aeruginosa strains had natural resistance to cetylpyridinium chloride, rokkal, ethonium, sodium laurate and laurylsulfate and rivanol . It was recommended to assay antiseptic sensitivity of agents causing purulent inflammatory infections and to control circulation of antiseptic resistant variants of bacteria in hospitals.

Semin Respir Infect, 1989 Dec, 4(4), 266 - 71
Prevention of severe lower respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis; Speert DP; Infection of the lower respiratory tract is the most frequent cause of death in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) . Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the predominant pulmonary pathogen; it establishes a chronic endobronchial infection and once acquired is rarely if ever eradicated . Although optimizing nutrition and pulmonary toilet improves the general health of patients with CF, bacterial respiratory infections are neither prevented nor cured . Likewise, attempts to prevent colonization and infection by means of antimicrobial prophylaxis have been generally unsuccessful . Since no effective radical cure for CF pulmonary infections has been found yet, means of preventing respiratory tract colonization have been sought . Immunization of patients who are already colonized with P aeruginosa has failed to eradicate colonization . Vaccines are therefore being sought that will forestall colonization by P aeruginosa, either by preventing adhesion to respiratory mucosa or by enhancing other immunological host defenses.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Dec, 24(6), 937 - 45
Subinhibitory antibiotics reduce Pseudomonas aeruginosa tissue injury in the rat lung model; Grimwood K et al.; Using the agar-bead rat lung model, we evaluated the effects of subinhibitory antibiotic treatment upon Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme expression and lung injury in vivo . One hundred and twenty-eight animals were separated into two groups of 64 animals . One group was inoculated with P . aeruginosa DG1, and the other with P . aeruginosa 3740 . Each of these two groups was divided into four subgroups of 16 animals on the basis of ten-day antibiotic treatment with ciprofloxacin, tobramycin and ceftazidime or untreated controls . P . aeruginosa DG1 is non-mucoid and expresses significant yields of exoenzyme S and elastase . P . aeruginosa 3740 is a mucoid organism isolated from the sputum of a cystic fibrosis patient, and demonstrates modest elastase activity only (10% of DG1 levels) . Lung bacterial counts were similar in treatment and control groups . Lungs from antibiotic-treated rats demonstrated fewer histological changes than those from untreated animals (P less than 0.001) . DG1 lung isolates from antibiotic-treated animals yielded less elastase and exoenzyme S compared with isolates from untreated animals (P less than 0.001) . No detectable decrease in elastase or mucoid phenotype was observed in 3740 lung isolates from antibiotic treated animals . Thus, antibiotic protection against lung injury by P . aeruginosa may involve modulation of virulence factors.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Dec, 8(12), 1024 - 30
Evaluation of pefloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in the treatment of thirty-nine cases of chronic osteomyelitis; Dellamonica P et al.; From October 1983 to October 1986, 39 patients with chronic osteomyelitis (of at least two month's duration) were treated with either pefloxacin (n = 15), ofloxacin (n = 17), or ciprofloxacin (n = 7) . The length of treatment ranged from 3 to 6 months; follow-up examinations were performed up until July 1988 . The infecting bacterial strains (19 Staphylococcus aureus, 2 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 10 Escherichia coli, 8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were all sensitive to the quinolone prescribed . Twenty-nine of the 38 evaluable patients had a satisfactory outcome at follow-up examinations 14 to 48 months after the end of treatment . Fourteen of the 21 patients with gram-positive bacterial infections responded satisfactorily, as did 15 of the 17 patients infected by gram-negative bacteria . Nine cases of failure were observed (2 for pefloxacin, 4 for ofloxacin, 3 for ciprofloxacin) . The infecting bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus in six cases (3 on ofloxacin, 3 on ciprofloxacin) . The infecting bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus in six cases (3 on ofloxacin, 3 on ciprofloxacin), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ofloxacin), Escherichia coli (pefloxacin), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pefloxacin) in one case each . In all these cases, local conditions (presence of a foreign body in 5 cases, sequestra in 3, and post-radiotherapy necrosis in 1) could have been responsible for treatment failure . Tolerance was good; adverse effects observed in the pefloxacin and ofloxacin groups disappeared after treatment was ended . Bone levels varied but were always superior to the MIC for the pathogen . In view of the satisfactory results, the possibility of oral administration, and the good tolerance, these quinolones should be considered as alternative agents for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 55(12), 3143 - 9
Bacterial sorption of heavy metals; Mullen MD et al.; Four bacteria, Bacillus cereus, B . subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were examined for the ability to remove Ag+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and La3+ from solution by batch equilibration methods . Cd and Cu sorption over the concentration range 0.001 to 1 mM was described by Freundlich isotherms . At 1 mM concentrations of both Cd2+ and Cu2+, P . aeruginosa and B . cereus were the most and least efficient at metal removal, respectively . Freundlich K constants indicated that E . coli was most efficient at Cd2+ removal and B . subtilis removed the most Cu2+ . Removal of Ag+ from solution by bacteria was very efficient; an average of 89% of the total Ag+ was removed from the 1 mM solution, while only 12, 29, and 27% of the total Cd2+, Cu2+, and La3+, respectively, were sorbed from 1 mM solutions . Electron microscopy indicated that La3+ accumulated at the cell surface as needlelike, crystalline precipitates . Silver precipitated as discrete colloidal aggregates at the cell surface and occasionally in the cytoplasm . Neither Cd2+ nor Cu2+ provided enough electron scattering to identify the location of sorption . The affinity series for bacterial removal of these metals decreased in the order Ag greater than La greater than Cu greater than Cd . The results indicate that bacterial cells are capable of binding large quantities of different metals . Adsorption equations may be useful for describing bacterium-metal interactions with metals such as Cd and Cu; however, this approach may not be adequate when precipitation of metals occurs.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Dec, 33(12), 2052 - 62
Isolation, characterization, and DNA sequence analysis of an AAC(6')-II gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Shaw KJ et al.; The gene encoding a 6'-N-acetyltransferase, AAC(6')-II, was cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa plasmid pSCH884 . This gene mediates resistance to gentamicin, tobramycin, and netilmicin but not amikacin or isepamicin . The DNA sequence of the gene and flanking regions was determined . The 5'- and 3'-flanking sequences showed near identity to sequences found abutting a variety of different genes encoding resistance determinants . It is likely that the current structure arose by the integration of the 572-base-pair sequence containing the AAC(6')-II gene into a Tn21-related sequence at the recombinational hot spot, AAAGTT . We have compared the sequence of the AAC(6')-II gene to genes of other 6'-N-acetyltransferases . An AAC(6')-Ib protein (encoded by the aacA4 gene; G . Tran Van Nhieu and E . Collatz, J . Bacteriol . 169:5708-5714, 1987) that results in resistance to amikacin but not gentamicin was found to share 82% sequence similarity with the AAC(6')-II protein . We speculate that these two genes arose from a common ancestor and that the processes of selection and dissemination have led to the observed differences in the spectrum of aminoglycoside resistance.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Dec, 42(12), 2735 - 42
{Pharmacokinetic studies on cefsulodin in perinatal period}; Cho N et al.; Pharmacokinetic studies on cefsulodin (CFS) were carried out in perinatal mothers and infants . The results obtained are summarized as follows . 1 . CFS was promptly absorbed upon intravenous drip infusion in pregnant women, producing dose-related peak serum levels . Placental transference to the fetus occurred quickly and at high levels . Upon intravenous drip infusion of 1-2 g of CFS, drug concentration of the cord blood and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs of clinically isolated strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These levels in cord blood ranged 3.3-16.9 micrograms/ml upon 1 g intravenous drip infusion and 0.8-21.6 micrograms/ml upon 2 g intravenous drip infusion, and in amniotic fluid they were 1.3-15.6 micrograms/ml upon 1 g administration and 5.5-17.9 micrograms/ml upon 2 g administration . The drug was transferred into newborn infant through placenta, showing no tendency to accumulate . According to the above results, it appears possible to successfully prevent or treat perinatal infections through administration of the dose of 1-2 g twice daily . 2 . Moreover, newborn infants delivered from mothers receiving CFS administration showed no laboratory test abnormalities . 3 . The penetration of CFS into mother's milk occurred at low levels, and the transference from milk to newborn infants appeared to occur at even low levels . The above results have demonstrated that CFS is a clinically useful antibiotic for prophylaxis and treatment of perinatal Pseudomonas infections.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Dec, 42(12), 2714 - 9
{Pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on cefsulodin in neonates}; Iwata S et al.; Pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on cefsulodin (CFS) were conducted in neonates . 1 . MIC's of CFS, sulbenicillin and gentamicin (GM) were determined using 7 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinically isolated from neonates and maintained as stock cultures . CFS was found to be nearly as active as GM . 2 . When CFS 20 mg/kg was administered to a 12-day-old neonate by intravenous bolus injection, serum concentrations were 8.7 micrograms/ml before administration and 51.7 micrograms/ml at 30 minutes, 44.4 micrograms/ml at 1 hour, 38.6 micrograms/ml at 2 hours and 11.1 micrograms/ml at 6 hours after administration . The half-life was 2.5 hours . 3 . CFS was administered alone or combination with other drugs to 3 neonates . The drug was clinically effective in 2 cases and slightly effective in another . Bacteriologically, one case was rated as decreased, another as replaced, and the remaining one as unchanged . 4 . Neither side effects nor abnormal laboratory values attributable to CFS were found.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Dec, 42(12), 2709 - 13
{Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefsulodin in neonates and young infants}; Fujita K et al.; Four neonates and young infants were treated with cefsulodin (CFS) at doses ranging from 20-25 mg/kg every 6 hours for 6.25 to 17 days, and clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated . Among the 4 infants with bacterial infections including meningitis, bronchitis and pneumonia, the results were good in 2 patients with meningitis, but unknown in 2 patients because of additional use of gentamicin . One of the 4 patients had eosinophilia . Minimal inhibitory concentrations of CFS against 4 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 1.56 against one and 12.5 micrograms/ml against other 3 strains with an inoculum size of 10(3) CFU . Serum concentrations of CFS were measured in one- and four-month-old infants upon 25.3 and 20.9 mg/kg bolus intravenous injection of the antibiotic, respectively . The values were 36.4 and 33.4 at 30 minutes, and 5.1 and 3.2 micrograms/ml at 6 hours after injection, respectively . Serum half-lives were 1.89 and 1.69 hours, respectively . Total body clearances and volume distributions were 3.16 and 3.76 ml/min/kg, and 519.0 and 551.2 ml/kg, respectively.

J Chemother, 1989 Dec, 1(6), 391 - 3
In-vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics; Sofianou DC et al.; The in-vitro susceptibilities of 198 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical human specimens were determined by an agar dilution technique against beta-lactams and aminoglycosides . These isolates were susceptible to imipenem, aztreonam and ceftazidime with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 90% of the strains tested being 8, 16 and 8 micrograms/ml, respectively . Aminoglycosides, except amikacin, had low activity (MIC90 greater than 128 micrograms/ml).

APMIS, 1989 Dec, 97(12), 1068 - 72
Effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhamnolipid on human neutrophil and monocyte function; Kharami A et al.; The effect of rhamnolipid purified from culture supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on human peripheral blood neutrophil and monocyte function was studied . It was shown that rhamnolipid at concentrations of up to 100 micrograms/ml did not affect neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis towards various chemoattractants . The rhamnolipid by itself did not show chemotactic activity and did not induce any oxidative burst response . Preincubation of monocytes with rhamnolipid enhanced the oxidative burst response of these cells to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and to opsonized zymosan by 2 to 5 fold . The priming effect was observed both in a superoxide assay and in a chemiluminescence assay . However, rhamnolipid did not prime the neutrophil oxidative burst response . Monocytes/macrophages are involved in the inflammatory process in the lung infections caused by P . aeruginosa and oxygen radicals are known to cause tissue damage . Therefore the priming by rhamnolipid of monocytes for enhanced generation of oxygen radicals may play a role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients with P . aeruginosa infections.

Laryngorhinootologie, 1989 Dec, 68(12), 653 - 6
{Local treatment of Pseudomonas infection of the ear . A small clinical study}; Stange G; Infections of the middle and external ear caused by the problem-micro-organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be cured by local therapy with Ciprofloxacin and Tutofusin very quickly and without any complications . Drum ruptures caused by ear secretions close up again spontaneously . Tympanon tubes can be left in situ . Function disturbances of the middle and internal ear clear up and the functions return to normal.

Vaccine, 1989 Dec, 7(6), 562 - 6
Experimental studies on the protective efficacy of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine; Stanislavsky ES et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine (PV) containing cell proteins with molecular weight (Mr) 20,000-100,000 and up to 0.08% (w/v) admixture of lipopolysaccharide was obtained by water-salt extraction and subsequent ultrafiltration . PV protects mice against experimental P . aeruginosa infection, stimulates production of specific protective antibodies in rabbit and does not provoke obvious toxicity in laboratory animals.

Epidemiol Infect, 1989 Dec, 103(3), 565 - 76
Multiresistant serotype O 12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa: evidence for a common strain in Europe; Pitt TL et al.; A survey was made of serotype association and multiple antibiotic resistance in strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Europe . Of 208 epidemiologically distinct strains from 16 laboratories in 10 countries, 48 were resistant to carbenicillin (MIC greater than 128 micrograms/ml) and gentamicin (MIC greater than 4 micrograms/ml), and 12 of these strains were of serotype O 12 . Representative O 12 strains from different countries were compared with two multiresistant O 12 strains isolated 5 years apart, from a British burns unit and the antibiotic sensitive serotype reference strain . All O 12 strains were similar by phage and pyocin typing but lysogenic phage profiles indicated that two strains (the later burns isolate and the serotype strain) were distinct from the others . Electrophoretic characterization of outer membrane proteins, lipopolysaccharides and esterase enzymes corroborated the relationship of the strains and restriction fragment length polymorphism of DNA fragments hybridized with a cDNA probe copy of rRNA from P . aeruginosa provided further proof of their relatedness . We propose that the uniformity of characters of multiresistant O 12 P . aeruginosa in Europe is suggestive of a common origin for the strains.

Epidemiol Infect, 1989 Dec, 103(3), 555 - 64
Genotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sputum and stool isolates from cystic fibrosis patients: evidence for intestinal colonization and spreading into toilets; Doring G et al.; Three hundred and fifty-eight stool and 131 sputum specimens from 40 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and 100 toilet sinks were investigated for occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 67% (21/31) of the patients with chronic P . aeruginosa lung infections carried the organism repeatedly in the stool but the organism was found only once in the stools of nine uninfected patients . P . aeruginosa stool carriage was correlated to high P . aeruginosa numbers in patients' sputa . Typing of P . aeruginosa with a DNA probe showed identity of sputum and stool strains . Seven patients repeatedly carried additional stool strains, not found in the sputum, suggesting intestinal colonization . No differences were seen in the clinical state of patients with P . aeruginosa-negative stool samples and patients with positive stool samples . Toilets in households of P . aeruginosa-infected CF patients were significantly more often contaminated with P . aeruginosa (42%) than toilets in households of non-infected CF patients (20%; P less than 0.03) . The study shows that P . aeruginosa-infected CF patients may harbour the organisms also in the intestinal tract, and may spread the bacteria into toilets.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1989 Dec, 140(6), 1650 - 61
Immunohistopathologic localization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in lungs from patients with cystic fibrosis . Implications for the pathogenesis of progressive lung deterioration; Baltimore RS et al.; Despite studies of the pathologic and microbiologic aspects of the lung in cystic fibrosis (CF), there is a lack of information on the lung localization of bacterial pathogens . Bacteriologic data come from cultures of sputum or accessible lung effluent from bronchoscopy . Our objective was to localize Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) in situ in order to provide descriptive data on the relationship between the presence of PA and disease of the surrounding tissue . Using stored, uncut blocks of preserved lung, we deparaffinized, cut, mounted, and reacted them with high-titer rabbit sera made to a mucoid strain of PA . The tissues were then reacted with a second antibody, biotinylated goat antirabbit immunoglobulin, developed using a peroxidase technique and counterstained with hematoxylin . PA organisms stained with heavy brown deposits and this was species-specific . In five patients with CF chronically colonized with PA, the organisms could easily be localized in multiple sections . Microscopic study demonstrated that location was generally endobronchiolar and associated with bronchiolar obliterative changes, mainly in small (less than 1 mm) airways . Extraluminal PA organisms were rare even when there was chronic interstitial inflammation . This study demonstrated the presence of PA at the location where physiologic damage in CF is most severe--the small bronchioles--strengthening the association between PA and pulmonary deterioration in CF.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1989 Dec, 140(6), 1595 - 601
Role of alveolar macrophages in the neutrophil-dependent defense system against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the lower respiratory tract . Amplifying effect of muramyl dipeptide analog; Ozaki T et al.; Alveolar macrophages are thought to be important in immune or inflammatory reactions . We investigated the role of alveolar macrophages in defense against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the lower respiratory tract . Intratracheal inoculation of formalin-inactivated P . aeruginosa (1 x 10(8)-1 x 10(10) organisms) into normal rats resulted in increase in the number of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained 24 h later . The phagocytic activity of neutrophils for P . aeruginosa was higher than that of alveolar macrophages . These findings indicate that neutrophils are essential for phagocytosis of P . aeruginosa in the lower respiratory tract . On incubation with P . aeruginosa, alveolar macrophages released neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) dose-dependently . MDP-Lys(L18), a muramyl dipeptide analog, stimulated alveolar macrophages to phagocytize P . aeruginosa and stimulate the release of NCF from alveolar macrophages in vitro and enhanced the neutrophil response to inoculated P . aeruginosa in vivo . These results indicate that alveolar macrophages are important in initiating the neutrophil-dependent defense system against P . aeruginosa by releasing NCF and that MDP-Lys(L18) can amplify the defense system.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1989 Dec, 140(6), 1585 - 9
Augmented bacterial adherence to tracheal epithelial cells is associated with gram-negative pneumonia in an intensive care unit population; Todd TR et al.; Gram-negative pneumonia is a frequent complication of intubated patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), and the adherence of the bacterial pathogen to the respiratory epithelial surface is thought to be the critical initial step in the infection process . However, the correlation between bacterial adherence to tracheal epithelial cells (TEC) and the acquisition of pneumonia and whether intubation or its duration affects bacterial adherence to TEC is unknown . To examine these factors we initially established that the normal adhesion index range for Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 492c adherence to TEC was zero to 18.83 cfu/TEC on the basis of the adhesion indices of 12 healthy volunteers and 20 surgical patients undergoing elective bronchoscopy . Forty-two analyses of the adhesion index for P . aeruginosa binding to TEC of 24 ICU patients were performed in this study . Analysis of the data indicated that the adhesion index was not correlated with intubation or the duration of intubation . However, an elevated bacterial adhesion index was significantly (p less than 0.001) correlated with pneumonitis . Pneumonitis was observed in 11 of the 12 patients who had an elevated or augmented bacterial adhesion index, whereas pneumonitis was observed in only one of 12 patients who had a normal adhesion index . The bacterial adhesion index was found to parallel the clinical situation in five patients where three patients developed high adhesion indices and acquired pneumonitis and two patients who initially had pneumonitis and elevated adhesion indices subsequently resolved their pneumonitis, and their adhesion indices fell to within the normal range.

J Lab Clin Med, 1989 Dec, 114(6), 728 - 33
Functional importance of cystic fibrosis immunoglobulin G fragments generated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase; Bainbridge T et al.; We examined the functional importance of immunoglobulin polypeptide fragments generated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase (Pseudomonas elastase) . The purpose of this study was to determine whether the elastase produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa cleaves human IgG into immune fragments that functionally inhibit opsonophagocytosis . Our results confirm that IgG isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) incubated with purified pseudomonas elastase results in the generation of two major polypeptide fragments and that, furthermore, these fragments significantly inhibit bacterial uptake by human neutrophils . After 75 minutes bacterial uptake was six times greater when intact IgG was used as an opsonin (uptake 90.2% +/- 18.6% SEM) compared with a IgG was used as an opsonin (uptake 90.2% +/- 18.6% SEM) compared with a mixture of pseudomonas-lipopolysaccharide-reactive Fab and F(ab')2 fragments generated by pseudomonas elastase (uptake 15.4% +/- 0.8% SEM, p less than 0.001) . Hydrolyzed CF IgG antibodies consistently resulted in a level of bacterial uptake less than that of normal saline negative controls (NS): (at 10 minutes, NS 26.6% vs CF 16.8%, p less than 0.05; at 75 minutes, NS 28.2% vs CF 15.4%, p less than 0.01 . This suggests that the immune polypeptides are active inhibitors of the essential neutrophil phagocyte-bacterial cell interaction . Intact immune IgG reversed the defect in opsonophagocytosis . When intact IgG was mixed with IgG fragments the phagocytic rates increased directly with increasing amounts of intact IgG . We conclude that the elastase exoproduct secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of cleaving IgG into functionally important fragments that inhibit bacterial uptake . Furthermore, this inhibition can be overcome by increasing amounts of a commercially available preparation of intact immune IgG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Clin Invest, 1989 Dec, 84(6), 1794 - 804
Nonopsonic antibodies in cystic fibrosis . Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies from infected patient sera inhibit neutrophil oxidative responses; Eichler I et al.; Antibody opsonins from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were investigated using nonmucoid and mucoid lipopolysaccharide (LPS) immunotype 1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa as bacterial ligands and PMN phagocytes . CF sera were compared to normal sera, polyvalent PA LPS hyperimmune globulin, and isotype switch variant monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for type 1 PA LPS . Sera from PA-infected CF patients (CF PA+) had elevated levels of PA LPS and alginate IgG antibodies and promoted significantly greater antibody-dependent PMN chemiluminescence responses than sera from uninfected CF patients (CF PA-) or normal human sera (NHS) . After adjustment for autologous IgG PA LPS antibody content, however, CF PA+ sera had less antibody-dependent opsonic activity than sera from CF PA- patients (P less than 0.025) or NHS (P less than 0.0025), suggesting qualitative opsonic defects of IgG PA LPS antibodies in CF PA+ sera . Antigen-specific immunoprecipitation of PA LPS antibodies enhanced opsonization by 40% of CF PA+ sera while uniformly reducing that from CF PA- sera (P less than 0.01), indicating LPS-specific nonopsonic antibodies in some CF PA+ sera . Alginate antibodies were not critical opsonins in most uninfected CF patient sera . PA LPS IgG antibodies isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography from NHS, hyperimmune globulin, and CF PA- sources were opsonic and had greater activity at equal antigen-binding concentration than identical antibodies isolated from infected CF patients (P less than 0.01-0.05); the majority of isolates from CF PA+ sera did not promote PMN oxidative responses above nonopsonic baseline . A potential isotypic basis for these findings was supported by differences in PMN responses to PA opsonized with MAbs of identical specificity but differing isotypes . PA LPS-specific IgG antibodies inhibiting PMN oxidative responses in infected patient sera demonstrate antigen-specific immunomodulation of host responses by chronic bacterial parasitism in CF, which may play a role in the pathophysiology of lung disease.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 27(12), 2789 - 93
Pseudomonas aeruginosa flagellar antibodies in patients with cystic fibrosis; Anderson TR et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for flagellum type (a or b) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used to detect serum immunoglobulin antibodies in 98 random outpatients and 14 colonized cystic fibrosis patients . Antibodies were detected to both types of flagella in addition to M-2 lipopolysaccharide . Titers to both flagellar antigens (FlAg) were 10 to 100 times higher in cystic fibrosis patients than in random outpatients of a comparable age group . Mean antibody titers against b-type FlAg were 454 for outpatients (ages newborn to 21 years), whereas the mean titer for cystic fibrosis patients (ages 6 to 21 years) was 51,520 . Titers against a-type FlAg were generally lower, with mean outpatient titers of 68 and mean cystic fibrosis patient titers of 34,323 . Differences were also seen in antibody titer against M-2 lipopolysaccharide, but these differences did not correspond to M-2 FlAg titers . In 98 random outpatients (ages newborn to 86 years), FlAg titers generally increased with age . To demonstrate further specificity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for flagellum antibody, Western blots were performed with selected high-titer cystic fibrosis patient sera . Sera that had a high titer (greater than 25,600) for b- or a-type FlAg showed a corresponding reactive band . These results demonstrate that flagellum antibodies are produced in humans in response to P . aeruginosa infection.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 27(12), 2710 - 2
Endotoxin removal by end-line filters; Vanhaecke E et al.; Four commonly used end-line filters, one with a charge-modified hydrophilic nylon filter (ELD96; Pall Biomedical Ltd., Portsmouth, United Kingdom), one with an unmodified nylon filter (FAE020; Pall Biomedical), and two with hydrophilic cellulose ester filters (Ivex-HP, Millipore Corp., Bedford, Mass.; Sterifix, Braun-Gelman, Brussels, Belgium), were evaluated for their endotoxin-removing capacity in saline and 5% glucose . Natural endotoxins derived from Escherichia coli 8739 and the lipopolysaccharide mutant Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA220-R2 and a purified E . coli serotype O111:B4 lipopolysaccharide preparation were used to challenge the four end-line filters . No endotoxin-removing capacity was observed for the Ivex-HP and Sterifix filters . Both the FAE020 and the ELD96 end-line filters showed excellent endotoxin-eliminating capacities in 5% glucose . Increasing the NaCl concentration in 5% glucose, however, greatly reduced the endotoxin-removing efficiency of especially the ELD96 filter for the purified E . coli lipopolysaccharide preparation . Obviously, both the nature of the endotoxin and the ionic strength of the solution had a major influence on the endotoxin end-line filtering efficiency.

J Infect Dis, 1989 Dec, 160(6), 1030 - 6
The epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in oncology patients in a general hospital; Griffith SJ et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization and infection was studied over a 6-mo period in a 36-bed mixed general medical-oncology unit . We used selective media for serial surveillance cultures on 283 patients, the environment, and personnel . Twelve percent of patients were colonized on admission and 10% acquired P . aeruginosa . Using serotyping and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, we identified 63 genetically distinctive strains; four prevalent strains accounted for 21% of isolates . Only 5 of 33 nosocomial acquisitions were due to horizontal transmission . Nine acquisitions were linked to environmental sources (e.g., sink surfaces), which often harbored antibiotic-resistant strains but posed a risk only to oncology patients . Although significant Pseudomonas infections occurred in only 11% of colonized patients, 63% of colonized severely neutropenic patients--predominantly those who had acquired the prevalent, often environmentally linked strains--developed infections . Thus, P . aeruginosa was a significant pathogen in oncology patients; typing by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis allowed the detection of important environmental sources.

Infect Immun, 1989 Dec, 57(12), 3851 - 5
Isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody that recognizes epitopes shared by Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 1, 3, 4, and 6 lipopolysaccharides; Lang AB et al.; A hybridoma line secreting a human monoclonal antibody (HMAb) capable of recognizing Fisher immunotype (IT) 1, 3, 4, and 6 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro was isolated . Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were obtained from volunteers immunized with an experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa O polysaccharide-toxin A vaccine . PBL-expressing surface antibodies able to bind to P . aeruginosa LPS were isolated by adsorption onto LPS-coated plastic wells . Such PBL were transformed with Epstein-Barr virus . Lymphoblastoid cell lines secreting anti-P . aeruginosa LPS antibodies were identified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fused to the F3B6 heteromyeloma line . A hybridoma line producing a HMAb (2-8AH79) able to bind IT-1, IT-3, IT-4, and IT-6 LPS was identified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . This HMAb was found to bind to the O-polysaccharide regions of IT-1, IT-3, IT-4, and IT-6 LPS, as determined by immunoblotting . By using an immunofluorescence microscopy assay, the cell surfaces of IT-3 and IT-4 bacteria were strongly stained by HMAb 2-8AH79, whereas those of IT-1 and IT-6 bacteria were weakly stained . This HMAb was found to promote the uptake and killing of IT-3 and IT-4 bacteria, but not IT-1 or IT-6 organisms, by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Similarly, the passive transfer of HMAb 2-8AH79 to mice afforded significant protection only against a challenge with IT-3 and IT-4 bacteria.

What Is Botulism?, What Is Protein?, What Is Activated Sludge?, What Is Dna?, What Is Pcr?, o, Bacterium, e, Bacteriology, s, Microbiology, i, Microbes, n, Microbe, n, Vibriosis, i, Microorganism, i, Yeasts, s, Gram negative, e, Escherichia coli, o, S. cerevisiae, n, Penicillin, i, Staphylococcus aureus, a, Escherichia coli, c, Staphylococcus aureus, c, Escherichia coli, c, Propionibacteria, a, Shigella, e, Escherichia coli, e, Multidrug resistant, c, Bactericidal, i, S. cerevisiae, r, Haemophilus, a, Escherichia coli, o, Streptococci, r, Cell cultures

Scientific Publications - Work Done by Microbiology Reader Bioscreen C
Agricultural Microbiology Anaerobic Microbiology Antimicrobial Susceptibility Artificial Atmosphere Bioassay of Antibiotics Biofilm Microbiology Bioreactor Technology Biotechnology Cell Biology Clinical Microbiology Environmental Microbiology Experiments with Yeast	Fermentation Food Microbiology Functional Genomics Gene Technology Growth Media Development Growth Rate and Lag Time Industrial Microbiology Medical/Pharmaceutical Field Microbiological Assay Microbiological Research Microbiology of Cosmetics go to a specific theme...	Military Microbiology Molecular Microbiology Mutagenicity and Genotoxicity Oral Microbiology Patents Postantibiotic Studies Soil Microbiology Spore Microbiology Veterinary Microbiology Waste/Wastewater Treatment Water Microbiology Wine Microbiology

� 2005 Transgalactic Ltd (manufacturer of Bioscreen C software) | Privacy Statement | P.O. Box 1393, 00101 Helsinki, Finland, phone: +358 9 85172920, fax: +358 9 8749481, e-mail: microbiology@bionewsonline.com

Last modified: May 25, 2005