Microorganisms

Cancer Surv, 1989, 8(4), 713 - 23
Bacteria and cancer--antagonisms and benefits; Nauts HC; There is considerable historical and recent evidence concerning the antagonisms between acute bacterial infections or their toxins and cancer and allied diseases . These data provide renewed incentives to undertake clinical programmes with mixed bacterial vaccines in many countries at the present time.

Genome, 1989, 31(2), 864 - 9
Evolutionary principles and the regulation of engineered bacteria; Davis BD; The introduction of engineered bacteria to the environment is being overregulated, on the basis of several assumptions: (i) the danger from deliberate introduction on a large scale is much greater than that from accidental release; (ii) the more distant the source of the DNA the greater the risk; (iii) novel organisms are likely to cause unexpected ecological damage, like that seen with native organisms transplanted to a novel location; (iv) even if the probability of harm is very small, great care must be taken because the harm might be large; (v) products of recombinant DNA must be treated differently from products of classical genetic manipulation; and (vi) our unlimited power to manipulate DNA implies an unlimited power to refashion organisms . Evolutionary principles contradict all these assumptions . Moreover, our increased power of genetic manipulation must be recognized as an expansion of the biotechnology of domestication; and unlike the physical technologies, the long history of domestication has not adventitiously created harmful by-products . I propose that in dealing with such novel and unpredictable developments it would be better to respond with speed and resilience to problems as they arise, rather than to hamper advances by clumsy regulations based on unsubstantiated guesses.

Arch Exp Veterinarmed, 1989 Jan, 43(1), 129 - 36
{Infection studies in laboratory mice with erysipelas and coli bacteria after the administration of biotechnical substances}; Lusky K et al.; Chlormadinone-acetate, human chorionic gonadotrophin, oestrophan, and zinc-metallibur, all of them substances used for biotechnological indications, were tested in generation experiments for their bearings on the immune status . The tests were applied to untreated descendants of biotechnologically treated mothers . Though the model animal experiments were continued through 6 generations of laboratory mice, no clue was obtained as to immunosuppressive action of any of the substances involved.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1989 Jan, 66(1), 49 - 55
Investigation of a simple amperometric electrode system to rapidly quantify and detect bacteria in foods; Patchett RA et al.; A two electrode system mounted as a single probe was developed to measure electrochemically the rate of reduction of a redox mediator (thionine) by bacteria . The system gave a rapid (2 min) bacterial-dependent current above 2.5 x 10(5) cfu/ml with pure cultures of bacteria, but when applied to the measurement of the bacterial contamination in samples of meat and milk it was unable to detect or quantify the contamination reliably . Incubation of samples for a few hours before examination enabled the system to detect bacteria in excess of 10(6) cfu/ml.

Mutat Res, 1989 Jan, 217(1), 33 - 8
Evidence that ultraviolet light-induced DNA replication death of recA bacteria is prevented by protein synthesis in repair-proficient bacteria; Doudney CO et al.; The ultraviolet light (UV) survival curve of Escherichia coli WP10 recA trp is almost biphasic, with a greatly reduced shoulder but demonstrating a transition to a decreased slope with increasing fluences, indicating the presence in the culture of a low frequency of resistant cells . Treatment of the culture with chloramphenicol before UV exposure brought almost all of the cells to a high degree of UV resistance, by bringing them to the end of their DNA replication cycle . The survival curves of the repair-proficient E . coli WP2 trp showed a similar pattern with chloramphenicol treatment or tryptophan starvation before UV exposure, but only if protein synthesis were blocked by chloramphenicol for 60 min after UV exposure . The results suggest that when recA/lexA-regulon induction is prevented, either by the recA mutation or by inhibition of protein synthesis after UV exposure, death occurs unless the cells are in the resistant state characteristic of bacteria at the end of their DNA replication cycle . With repair-proficient bacteria treated before UV exposure with chloramphenicol, when protein synthesis is not blocked after UV exposure, a marked expansion of the shoulder occurs because of the function of another resistance-conferring mechanism . This mechanism also depends on the recA+ gene since expansion of the shoulder does not occur in recA bacteria when protein synthesis is inhibited before UV exposure.

Gastroenterology, 1989 Jan, 96(1), 86 - 94
Adherence of bacteria to the intestine in sporadic cases of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli-associated diarrhea in infants and young children: a prospective study; Sherman P et al.; Intimate adherence of bacteria to duodenal enterocytes was demonstrated in a 12-mo-old child with sporadic diarrhea that was associated with an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) of the serogroup O111:K58 . Therefore, a prospective study was initiated to determine if identification of EPEC in stools from sporadic cases of diarrhea of longer than 10 days in duration in children under 24 mo of age correlated with E . coli colonization of the proximal small intestine and with binding of bacteria to intestinal epithelial cells . Colonization was determined by culture of duodenal aspirates and enteroadherence by light- and electron-microscopic evaluation of both duodenal and rectal mucosa . Each EPEC isolate was examined for several previously proposed laboratory markers of virulence including alpha-hemolysin production, agglutination of erythrocytes, cell surface hydrophobicity properties, adherence to HEp-2 cells, and Verotoxin production . Ten sporadic cases of EPEC-associated diarrhea, severe enough to require hospitalization in each instance, were present among 105 patients in whom EPEC were identified in stools . Of the 10 cases, 9 were evaluated in more detail . In contrast to the first case, in the prospective study E . coli were cultured from duodenal aspirates in only 1 patient and enteroadherent organisms were not present on careful review of small bowel (0/9) and rectal (0/7) mucosa . Hemolysin production (9 of 10 EPEC strains), mannose-sensitive hemagglutination (7/10), hydrophobic cell surface properties (0/10), adherence to HEp-2 cells (7/10), and production of Verotoxin (0/10) did not distinguish the one enteroadherent EPEC from the nine EPEC strains in which in vivo enteroadherence was not documented . In this study of sporadic cases of EPEC-associated diarrhea in young children, bacterial colonization of the small bowel and enteroadherence in vivo could not routinely be demonstrated . In addition, those laboratory assays of bacterial virulence that were evaluated did not distinguish the adherent strain from nonadherent EPEC strains.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1989 Jan, 7(1), 36 - 9
{Antibody-coated bacteria in the sputum from patients with pneumococcal pneumonia}; Sala-Mateus C et al.; In the present study an immunofluorescence technique detecting antibody-coated bacteria was evaluated . It was applied to the sputum of seven patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia to assess its diagnostic usefulness . We conclude that it is a valid, quick and easy technique which permits to differentiate between bacteria contaminating the sputum from those involved in the infection . This gives, therefore, a new value to the study of sputum . In our series the duration of the disease had no influence on the results, and the three antigammaglobulins used (anti-IgG, anti-IgA and anti-IgM) yielded the same results in each sample . Thus, we feel that the local pulmonary immune response was secondary in type.

Lab Delo, 1989, (2), 61 - 3
{A method of determining the catalase activity of bacteria}; Varvashevich TN et al.; An iodine-starch method has been developed for the detection of catalase in bacteria and for measuring this enzyme's activity . The method is based on potassium iodide reduction with hydrogen peroxide to form free iodine . The bacteria are layered on starch gel, treated with hydrogen peroxide, and then with potassium iodide . The starch gel stains blue, and light areas emerge round catalase-positive bacteria; the size of these light sites helps assess the enzyme's activity . The method permits estimating the populational heterogeneity of the cultures judging from catalase activities and helps detect the mutants by catalase; it is convenient, simple, and provides reliable information on the taxonomic status of the bacteria.

Cytometry, 1989 Jan, 10(1), 70 - 6
Characterizing aquatic bacteria according to population, cell size, and apparent DNA content by flow cytometry; Robertson BR et al.; Flow cytometry offers a rapid method for characterizing aquatic populations according to the properties of individual cells . This technology has been extended to aquatic bacteria by using high-intensity UV excitation, condensing the laser beam onto a small area, using blemish-free flow cells, optimizing organism staining protocol, segregating the optical signal produced with high-transmittance optical filters, collecting the signal with sensitive photomultipliers, and expanding the range of data displayed from individual samples with calibrated circuitry . Bacteria could be counted according to event frequency, and populations agreed with direct counts by epifluorescence microscopy . Forward scatter intensity was a linear function of volume for bacterial cells between 1.3 and 0.25 micron 3 as calibrated by Coulter impedance . Plastic spheres down to 0.014 micron 3, 0.3 micron in diameter, were resolved . Aquatic bacteria 0.05 micron 3 in volume were clearly resolved according to DNA content by staining with DAPI . The observed signal was DNA-dependent because DNase treatment eliminated most fluorescence . These procedures are suitable for direct analysis of the bacteria in marine and freshwater samples without interference from algae, sediment, or most DNA-free organic particles . Cytograms indicated one or more clearly resolved subpopulations of bacteria of substantially smaller size and DNA content than the laboratory organisms typically classified.

J Theor Biol, 1988 Dec 7, 135(3), 309 - 21
Spatial dependence of stress distribution for rod-shaped bacteria; Chatterjee AP et al.; The stress distribution in the cylindrical portion of the cell envelope of a rod-shaped bacterial cell was compared with that at its polar ends . Using a symmetry argument it is shown that the critical internal pressure for the initiation of yielding of the envelope material has a non-uniform distribution and is significantly higher for the polar regions.

FEMS Microbiol Rev, 1988 Dec, 4(4), 299 - 344
The three classes of hydrogenases from sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genus Desulfovibrio; Fauque G et al.; Three types of hydrogenases have been isolated from the sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genus Desulfovibrio . They differ in their subunit and metal compositions, physico-chemical characteristics, amino acid sequences, immunological reactivities, gene structures and their catalytic properties . Broadly, the hydrogenases can be considered as 'iron only' hydrogenases and nickel-containing hydrogenases . The iron-sulfur-containing hydrogenase ({Fe} hydrogenase) contains two ferredoxin-type (4Fe-4S) clusters and an atypical iron-sulfur center believed to be involved in the activation of H2 . The {Fe} hydrogenase has the highest specific activity in the evolution and consumption of hydrogen and in the proton-deuterium exchange reaction and this enzyme is the most sensitive to CO and NO2- . It is not present in all species of Desulfovibrio . The nickel-(iron-sulfur)-containing hydrogenases {( NiFe} hydrogenases) possess two (4Fe-4S) centers and one (3Fe-xS) cluster in addition to nickel and have been found in all species of Desulfovibrio so far investigated . The redox active nickel is ligated by at least two cysteinyl thiolate residues and the {NiFe} hydrogenases are particularly resistant to inhibitors such as CO and NO2- . The genes encoding the large and small subunits of a periplasmic and a membrane-bound species of the {NiFe} hydrogenase have been cloned in Escherichia (E.) coli and sequenced . Their derived amino acid sequences exhibit a high degree of homology (70%); however, they show no obvious metal-binding sites or homology with the derived amino acid sequence of the {Fe} hydrogenase . The third class is represented by the nickel-(iron-sulfur)-selenium-containing hydrogenases {( NiFe-Se} hydrogenases) which contain nickel and selenium in equimolecular amounts plus (4Fe-4S) centers and are only found in some species of Desulfovibrio . The genes encoding the large and small subunits of the periplasmic hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio (D.) baculatus (DSM 1743) have been cloned in E . coli and sequenced . The derived amino acid sequence exhibits homology (40%) with the sequence of the {NiFe} hydrogenase and the carboxy-terminus of the gene for the large subunit contains a codon (TGA) for selenocysteine in a position homologous to a codon (TGC) for cysteine in the large subunit of the {NiFe} hydrogenase . EXAFS and EPR studies with the 77Se-enriched D . baculatus hydrogenase indicate that selenium is a ligand to nickel and suggest that the redox active nickel is ligated by at least two cysteinyl thiolate and one selenocysteine selenolate residues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Mutat Res, 1988 Dec, 202(2), 387 - 91
Antimutagenesis by factors affecting DNA repair in bacteria; Kuroda Y et al.; The term 'antimutagen' was originally used to describe an agent that reduces the apparent yield of spontaneous and/or induced mutations, regardless of the mechanisms involved . The 'antimutagens' include 'desmutagens' and 'bio-antimutagens' . In this article, our attention was focused on the bio-antimutagens affecting DNA repair in bacteria . Cobaltous chloride reduced the frequency of mutations in Escherichia coli induced by MNNG . The possibility that metal compound inhibits the growth of mutagen-treated cells was examined . The results clearly showed that the antimutagen surely reduces the mutation rate . The target of cobaltous chloride was found to be cellular factors including Rec A . Vanillin and cinnamaldehyde had strong antimutagenic activities against UV, 4NQO and AF-2 . They stimulated Rec A-dependent recombination repair functions in the mutagen-treated cells . Among plant materials, tannins possess antimutagenic activity against UV-induced mutations in E . coli . It has been found that tannic acid stimulates the excision repair encoded by the uvrA gene thereby reducing the yield of mutants . Substances which are antimutagenic in bacterial systems also had antimutagenic activity in cultured mammalian cell systems . Vanillin reduced the frequency of mutagen-induced chromosomal aberrations.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Dec, 54(12), 2949 - 52
Rapid and simple method for double staining of bacteria with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled antibodies; Hoff KA; Bacteria were either heat fixed on microscope slides or filtered with 0.2 micron-pore-size Nuclepore filters . The samples were stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) for total staining and with polyvalent rabbit antibodies and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated swine anti-rabbit antibodies for specific staining . By switching between two different optical filter packages in the microscope, only one sample was needed for determining both total and specific counts of bacteria . False-positive counts and other artifacts that occur with antibody staining were easily distinguished when individual fluorescent particles were checked for DAPI fluorescence . The method for applying the general stain to membrane filters was performed quickly and simply by using a DAPI-soaked polypropylene filter that lay beneath the Nuclepore filter which collected the sample.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Nov 30, 157(1), 106 - 8
Reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide by enteric bacteria; Ji XB et al.; Seven bacteria representing seven genera of enteric bacteria, in addition to Escherichia coli, were shown to reduce nitrite to NO under anaerobic conditions when the cells were grown as nitrate respirers . NO production was inhibited by nitrate and azide and was self limiting, just as was found to be the case previously with E . coli and its nitrate reductase . Maximum initial rates of NO production were observed at pH 5.5-6.

Comput Appl Biosci, 1988 Nov, 4(4), 431 - 3
Direct procedure for the determination of the number of replication forks and the reinitiation fraction in bacteria; Jimenez-Sanchez A et al.; A direct method for calculating the average number of replication forks per chromosome in an exponentially growing bacterial culture and the fraction of reinitiation after an inductive treatment of the initiation step is presented . This method has allowed the development of REPLICON, a computer program designed for the resolution of the algorithm and simulation of the bacterial chromosome replication . Using REPLICON the following parameters can be obtained: average number of replication forks per chromosome, time required for the complete replication cycle, average amount of DNA per nucleotide, gene frequency of any chromosomal locus and reinitiation fraction . The use of this analysis also permits the determination of the uni- or bidirectionality of replication.

Microbiol Sci, 1988 Nov, 5(11), 340 - 3
Enumeration and identification of bacteria from environmental samples using nucleic acid probes; Hazen TC et al.; DNA probes are useful for both identification and enumeration of specific bacteria and functional groups of bacteria in environmental samples . Because probes can detect genes, chromosomes, and plasmids, they also promise to be major sources of information about the relatedness of bacteria and groups of bacteria in the environment.

Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Nov-Dec, 57(6), 1046 - 8
{Membrane potential in Escherichia coli bacteria subjected to the action of low temperature freezing and blood serum complement}; Talybov ShT et al.; The action of a blood serum complement on Escherichia coli cells or their freezing does not cause cell destruction visible in the electron microscope, but the permeability barrier is disordered and exogenous substrates can penetrate into the cell . When these exogenous respiration substrates are oxidised, the energy-dependent uptake of phenyl dicarboundecarborane (PCB-), a lipophilic anion and an indicator of the membrane potential, is observed . Apparently, the uptake of PCB- is associated with the generation of local membrane potentials when the permeability barrier of cells is damaged.

Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Nov-Dec, 57(6), 1007 - 10
{Damage photosensitized by chlorine e6 in bacteria with various defects of the DNA repair system}; Zorina TE et al.; The goal of the work was to study the sensitivity of isogenic Escherichia coli cells differing in their ability to mediate DNA repair steps to the action of visible light sensitized by chlorine e6 . Cells incapable of excision repair as well as those deficient in post-replicative recombination DNA repair were found to be much more sensitive to the combined action of visible light and chlorine e6 as compared to cells whose genes responsible for DNA repair were not damaged . The results indicate that visible light damages bacterial DNA in the presence of chlorine e6.

Acta Otolaryngol, 1988 Nov-Dec, 106(5-6), 435 - 40
Quantification of bacteria in middle ear effusions; Stenfors LE et al.; Quantification of bacteria in various effusion materials (serous, sticky glue, mucopurulent and purulent) collected from 128 middle ears (96 patients) was performed . After sampling, the effusion material was immediately flushed onto a glass slide, stained with acridine orange and examined under a fluorescence microscope . Quantification of bacteria was performed as described . 93% of the serous (n = 28) and 61% of the sticky glue (n = 46) effusion materials contained no bacteria whatsoever . The infectious sticky glue material (n = 18) contained 2.0 x 10(5) (median value), mucopurulent effusion material (n = 24) 2.6 x 10(7) (median value) and purulent effusion (n = 30) 10(9) (median value) bacteria per ml effusion material . Direct microscopic examination of middle ear effusion material, including quantification of the bacteria involved, provides much information about the pathophysiology of the middle ear inflammation.

Cell, 1988 Oct 21, 55(2), 281 - 90
Cloning and functional expression in bacteria of a novel glucose transporter present in liver, intestine, kidney, and beta-pancreatic islet cells; Thorens B et al.; The well-characterized erythrocyte glucose transporter is also expressed in brain, adipocytes, kidney, muscle, and certain transformed cells, but not in liver, intestine, or the islets of Langerhans . Using as probe a cDNA encoding the rat brain glucose transporter, we isolated from a rat liver cDNA library a clone encoding a protein 55% identical in sequence to the rat brain transporter, and with a superimpossible hydropathy plot . We expressed this protein in an E . coli mutant defective in glucose uptake; the protein was incorporated into the bacterial membrane and functioned as a glucose transporter . This new transporter is expressed in liver, intestine, kidney, and the islets of Langerhans; immunofluorescence analysis showed that it is present in the plasma membrane of the insulin-producing beta cells . Insulinoma cells express, inappropriately, the erythrocyte glucose transporter, and we suggest that this may be related to their inability to secrete insulin in response to elevations in glucose.

J Theor Biol, 1988 Oct 7, 134(3), 341 - 50
A single calcium flux triggers chromosome replication, segregation and septation in bacteria: a model; Norris V et al.; Abrupt changes in the concentration of intracellular calcium, through the mediation of calmodulin, is presumed to play an essential role in many molecular processes in eukaryotes including triggering cell cycle events . Although early studies failed to establish any role for calcium in the growth of bacteria, recent studies have demonstrated that bacteria have several calcium transport systems, and an intracellular concentration of free calcium identical to that of higher organisms, which appears to fluctuate during the cell cycle . Moreover, calmodulin-like proteins have been reported in bacteria, and the growth of E . coli is sensitive to calmodulin inhibitors . In this article we propose that a single flux of calcium, abruptly raising the intracellular concentration of free calcium, is responsible for the triggering in bacteria of the major cell cycle events, initiation of DNA replication, chromosome partition and cell division . We predict that major roles in this process will involve a bacterial calmodulin-like protein and a primitive cytoskeleton . The mechanism of triggering different cell cycle events by a single calcium flux is discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Oct, 170(10), 4594 - 7
Structural diversity among methanofurans from different methanogenic bacteria; White RH; An examination of the methanofurans isolated from a wide range of methanogenic bacteria and from Archaeoglobus fulgidus has revealed at least five chromatographically distinct methanofurans . Bacteria from each major genus of methanogenic bacteria have been found to contain a chemically different methanofuran . The nature of the differences in the methanofurans appears to lie in the modification of the side chain attached to the basic core structure of 4-{N-(gamma-L-glutamyl-gamma-L-glutamyl)-p-(beta-aminoethyl)phenoxyme thy l}-2-(amino-methyl)furan . This was supported by the structural elucidation of the methanofuran isolated from Methanobrevibacter smithii, designated methanofuran-c, which was the same as the originally characterized methanofuran except for a hydroxy group at the 2 position of the 4,5-dicarboxyoctanedioic acid moiety of the molecule.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Oct, (10), 11 - 5
{A rapid and simple method for extracting intracellular metabolites from Escherichia coli bacteria}; Potselueva MM; The article deals with the development of a new method for the extraction of intracellular glycolytic metabolites from bacterial cells . The study has been made on the culture of E . coli B/r CSH . In accordance with this method, the same bacterial filter is used for both filtration (the removal of the culture fluid) and the extraction of low-molecular components of the cells with perchloric acid . The advantage of this method is the absence of unnecessary operations due to the use of a filter installation designed by the author . Quantitatively, this method yields better and reproducible results . The filtration capacity of different types of filters has been analyzed . The optimal time for the extraction of low-molecular cell components has been determined . A change in the concentration of pyruvate in the process of the cellular cycle of E . coli synchronous culture grown in the presence of glucose has been shown to occur . The newly developed method of extraction can be used not only for E . coli, but also for cells of other types.

J Periodontol, 1988 Oct, 59(10), 688 - 96
In situ correlative immuno-identification of mononuclear infiltrates and invasive bacteria in diseased gingiva; Saglie FR et al.; The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify mononuclear cells and invasive bacteria in consecutive histological sections in diseased gingiva . Gingival biopsies were obtained from sites displaying evidences of severe periodontitis (pocket depth greater than 5 mm, bleeding on probing) in six patients . Specimens were frozen and serially sectioned at 8 micron in a cryostat . Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against membrane markers of mononuclear infiltrate cells and rabbit polyclonal sera against specific bacteria shown to be invasive in association with an immunoperoxidase technique and specific point quantification were used . The mAb panel included Leu 1 (Pan T), Leu 2a (T suppressor/cytotoxic), Leu 3a (T helper/inducer), Leu 6 (Langerhans/dendritic), Leu 7 (NK/K), Leu M3 (monocyte/macrophage), and B7 (B cell) . This methodology allows for in situ per cent quantification of mononuclear cell subsets along with identification and quantification of invasive bacteria in the same gingival tissue site . This may be a practical approach to establish the relationship between bacterial invasion and cellular immune response by the host . This technique enabled the characterization of the mononuclear infiltrate in relationship to specifically identified invasive bacteria in diseased gingiva.

Can J Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 34(9), 1099 - 102
Identification of rumen bacteria that anaerobically degrade nitrite; Cheng KJ et al.; Fifty-one pure strains of rumen bacteria, representing 15 genera, were tested for their ability to metabolize nitrite . Twenty-five of the strains, belonging to eight genera, were capable of growth and nitrite metabolism in nitrite-containing medium sterilized by autoclaving . An additional 10 strains showed growth and nitrite metabolism in medium that was autoclaved before the addition of filter-sterilized nitrite . Nitrite metabolism was not observed in the remaining 16 strains, and these were also incapable of growth in the presence of nitrite . Ammonia was produced during nitrite reduction by Megasphaera elsdenii J1 . In agreement with previous studies, abiotic losses of nitrite were observed during autoclaving and storage of media, but losses of nitrite due to bacterial metabolism were much greater.

J Nat Prod, 1988 Sep-Oct, 51(5), 874 - 8
Metabolism of homoorientin by human intestinal bacteria; Hattori M et al.; As a part of our studies on the metabolism of bioactive compounds from oriental medicines by intestinal flora, homoorientin, a C-glycosylflavonoid, was anaerobically incubated with a human intestinal bacterial mixture . Homoorientin was transformed to 6-C-glucosyleriodictyol, (+/-)-eriodictyol, luteolin, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid, and phloroglucinol . A novel cleavage of the C-glycosyl bond was discovered for the first time by using intestinal bacteria.

Anal Biochem, 1988 Sep, 173(2), 271 - 7
Use of a computer to assay motility in bacteria; Sager BM et al.; An assay was developed to study the movement of free-swimming Escherichia coli . Cells were videotaped through a microscope, and the videotape images were then digitized and analyzed with a computer . Angular and linear speeds were measured for wild-type E . coli and for a smooth and a tumbly mutant . The average angular and linear speeds of a population were directly and inversely proportional, respectively, to the time spent tumbling . Changes in angular and linear speeds were followed during the response of wild-type E . coli to attractant or repellent.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Sep-Oct, 10(5), 958 - 79
Proposed mechanisms for the translocation of intestinal bacteria; Wells CL et al.; Members of the endogenous flora have become recognized as major pathogens in nosocomial infections, and the intestinal tract has become recognized as a major portal of entry for these pathogens . The English-language literature on this topic has been summarized and a working hypothesis devised describing a mechanism whereby intestinal bacteria can escape and cause systemic disease . It is postulated that the motile phagocyte ingests intestinal bacteria, transports them to extraintestinal sites, fails to accomplish intracellular killing, and then liberates the bacteria in the extraintestinal site . This hypothesis is consistent with many observations found in the literature: (1) The intestinal bacteria that most readily translocate out of the intestinal tract are classified as facultative intracellular pathogens . (2) Intestinal particles with no intrinsic motility (e.g., yeast, ferritin, starch) can translocate out of the intestinal lumen within hours after their ingestion . (3) The rate of translocation of intestinal bacteria can be altered with agents that modulate immune (including phagocytic) function . In the context of the mechanisms involved in intestinal immune responses, bacterial translocation appears to be a part of the normal antigen-sampling process of gut-associated lymphoid tissue . Systemic disease caused by translocating intestinal bacteria could be due to a maladaptation of the antigen-sampling process that has been designed to regulate the immune response to intestinal antigens.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Sep, 85(18), 7036 - 40
Genetic exchange among natural isolates of bacteria: recombination within the phoA gene of Escherichia coli; DuBose RF et al.; An 1871-nucleotide region including the phoA gene (the structural gene encoding alkaline phosphatase, EC 3.1.3.1) was cloned and sequenced from eight naturally occurring strains of Escherichia coli . Alignment with the sequence from E . coli K-12 made apparent that there were 87 polymorphic nucleotide sites, of which 42 were informative for phylogenetic analysis . Maximum parsimony analysis revealed six equally parsimonious trees with a consistency index of 0.80 . Of the 42 informative sites, 22 were inconsistent with each of the maximum parsimony trees . The spatial distribution of the inconsistent sites was highly nonrandom in a manner implying that intragenic recombination has played a major role in determining the evolutionary history of the nine alleles . The implication is that different segments of the phoA gene have different phylogenetic histories.

J Theor Biol, 1988 Aug 22, 133(4), 499 - 512
Comparison of the relative concentration of motile and non-motile bacteria in small pores; Skowlund CT et al.; The effect of small pores (similar in size to the stomata of plants) on the diffusion constants and relative concentrations of non-motile, randomly motile and chemotactic bacteria is considered . It is shown that although the Brownian diffusion constant of non-motile bacteria is a couple of orders of magnitude lower than the diffusion constant of motile bacteria, non-motile bacteria will still be present in both short (100 microns) and long (0.5 cm) pores in similar numbers to motile bacteria . It is postulated that this is due, at least in part, to the smaller amount of excluded volume for non-flagellated bacteria.

Mol Gen Genet, 1988 Aug, 213(2-3), 409 - 20
Comparative analysis of genes encoding methyl coenzyme M reductase in methanogenic bacteria; Klein A et al.; The sequence of the gene cluster encoding the methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) in Methanococcus voltae was determined . It contains five open reading frames (ORF), three of which encode the known enzyme subunits . Putative ribosome binding sites were found in front of all ORFs . They differ in their degrees of complementarity to the 3' end of the 16 S rRNA, which is discussed in terms of different translation efficiencies of the respective genes . The codon usage bias is different in the subunit encoding genes compared with the two other ORFs in the cluster and two other known genes of Mc . voltae . This is interpreted in terms of increased translational accuracy of the highly expressed MCR subunit genes . The derived polypeptide sequences encoded by the five ORFs of the MCR cluster were compared to those of the respective genes in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg and Methanosarcina barkeri . Conserved regions were detected in the enzyme subunits, which are candidates for factor binding domains . Conserved hydrophobic sequences found in the alpha and beta subunits are discussed with respect to the membrane association of the enzyme.

Infect Immun, 1988 Aug, 56(8), 2047 - 53
Immunochemical characterization of and isolation of the gene for a Borrelia burgdorferi immunodominant 60-kilodalton antigen common to a wide range of bacteria; Hansen K et al.; By crossed immunoelectrophoresis and Western blotting (immunoblotting), it was shown that Borrelia burgdorferi expresses the 60-kilodalton Common Antigen (CA) that is cross-reactive with an equivalent antigen in a wide range of remotely related bacteria . B . burgdorferi CA is strongly immunogenic . A B . burgdorferi genomic library was constructed by using a plasmid cloning system . Escherichia coli recombinants were screened for expression of immunodominant B . burgdorferi antigens . One of the recombinant clones expressed the 60-kilodalton CA of B . burgdorferi . The DNA region encoding B . burgdorferi CA was localized on a 2.3-kilobase fragment of the plasmid pKH1 . CA may have pathogenetic implications in Lyme borreliosis, since the CA of mycobacteria recently has been shown to play a role in the etiology of experimental autoimmune arthritis . The extensive cross-reactivity of this antigen may account for the low diagnostic specificity of the currently used serological tests in Lyme borreliosis.

Surgery, 1988 Jul, 104(1), 49 - 56
Tissue inflammation without bacteria produces increased oxygen consumption and distant organ lipid peroxidation; Lalonde C et al.; An inflammatory focus was produced by implantation of gauze below the hide in the flanks of six sheep with flank lymph fistulas . Physiologic and metabolic parameters were monitored in the unanesthetized animals for 7 days, after which the gauze was removed and monitoring continued for another 5 days . Animals were then killed . Lung and liver tissue was inspected and analyzed for lipid peroxide content . Data were compared with those of six controls in which gauze was not implanted . We noted a transient significant increase (on day 1 only) in wound lymph, thromboxane B2, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from baseline values of 190 +/- 70 and 20 +/- 10 pg/ml to 1000 +/- 240 and 420 +/- 70 pg/ml, respectively . Plasma values were also significantly increased on day 1 . Body temperature increased by 1 degree C and cardiac index increased by 30% during this period, whereas oxygen consumption, VO2, was not significantly increased . The VO2 and cardiac index increased by 50% over baseline, beginning on day 5, whereas systemic vascular resistance decreased . Body temperature was not increased . These changes corresponded with an increase in wound lymph monocyte count from 0% to 15% of total . The VO2 and cardiac index remained increased after gauze removal . No bacteria were found in the wound . Postmortem analysis revealed a marked monocyte-macrophage infiltration in both lung and liver . Lung water, represented as water content over dry weight, was normal . Lung and liver lipid peroxidation, measured by the by-product malondialdehyde content, increased 300% and 90% over control values, respectively . We conclude that a local, nonbacteria-induced wound inflammation increases VO2, with the increase not corresponding to increase in body temperature . Distant organ changes, namely, changes in lung and liver, were also evident 5 days after gauze removal.

J Clin Periodontol, 1988 Jul, 15(6), 360 - 4
Peripheral PMN cells in juvenile periodontitis . Increased release of elastase and of oxygen radicals after stimulation with opsonized bacteria; Asman B; In 12 patients with juvenile periodontitis (JP), stimulation of peripheral polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) by opsonized bacteria showed increased release of free oxygen radicals and of elastase activity in relation to that of pair-matched healthy controls . The elastase increase was not associated with higher intracellular content of elastase, since the measurement of homogenized PMN cells did not differ between the patient group and the control group; nor did the spontaneous elastase activity of nonstimulated cells differ . Release of elastase by contaminating lymphocytes and platelets could be excluded, since no elastase activity from these cells or interference by these cells could be demonstrated in the assay system used . When formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine was used as a stimulant, the chemiluminescence in the patient PMN cells did not differ with statistical significance from their pair-matched controls . The increased release of free oxygen radicals and of elastase seems to be a characteristic of the PMN cells in juvenile periodontitis, indicating hyperactive cells with possible pathogenic effects.

Radiobiologiia, 1988 Jul-Aug, 28(4), 524 - 7
{Modification of the radiosensitivity of bacteria by glutaraldehyde}; Vasil'eva EI; A study was made of the combined effect of ionizing radiation and various concentrations of glutaric aldehyde (0.00125, 0.0025, 0.5, and 1 per cent) on viability of bacteria differing in a cell wall structure, radiosensitivity, and activity of DNA repair system . The combined effect of the two factors was shown to produce an effect of superadditive enhancement of bacterial cell death . The synergism was more pronounced in highly radiosensitive bacteria.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Jul, (7), 35 - 9
{Experimental study of the interaction of phages and bacteria in the environment}; Drozdova OM et al.; For the first time the possibility of the interaction of phages and bacterial cells in the environment, consisting in the adsorption and subsequent replication of viral particles, has been shown . The data obtained in this investigation provide grounds for using phages in the environment . Experiments with Escherichia coli M-17 and phage FM17, carried out on experimental models, have demonstrated that the use of phages in the environment completely prevents the realization of the transfer of enteral infections through everyday contacts and the contamination of children and adults under hospital conditions.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 170(6), 2646 - 53
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the capsular polysaccharides of Escherichia coli K1 and other bacteria; Pelkonen S et al.; Methods were developed for the polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of capsular polysaccharides of bacteria with Escherichia coli K1 as a model . Conditions were determined for the rapid and gentle extraction of the K1 polysaccharide by incubation of the bacteria in a volatile buffer and for the subsequent removal of the putative phospholipid moiety attached to the reducing end of the polysaccharide . Detection of the polysaccharides after gel electrophoresis was carried out by fluorography of samples labeled by sodium borotritiide reduction or by combined alcian blue and silver staining . The smallest components could be detected only by fluorography, owing to diffusion during staining . Components of the E . coli K1 polysialic acid capsule ranging from monomers to 80 sialic-acid-unit-containing polymers could be separated as distinct bands in a ladderlike pattern . A maximum chain length of 160 to 230 sialyl residues was estimated for the bulk of the K1 polysaccharide from the nearly linear reciprocal relationship between the logarithm of the molecular size and the distance of migration . Gel electrophoresis of capsular polysaccharides of other bacterial species revealed different electrophoretic mobilities for each polysaccharide, with a ladderlike pattern displayed by the fastest-moving components . There are many potential applications of this facile method for the determination of the sizes of molecules present in a polydisperse polysaccharide sample . When combined with the simple method for the isolation of the capsule, as in the case of the K1 capsule, it provides an efficient tool for the characterization and comparison of the capsular polysaccharides of bacteria.

Acta Odontol Scand, 1988 Jun, 46(3), 177 - 80
Influence of pH on the suspension stability of some oral bacteria; Simonsson T et al.; The purpose of the present study was to investigate the suspension stability of some oral bacteria at some clinically relevant pH levels . Through determinations of the electrophoretic mobility and sedimentation behavior at pH 5, 6, and 7, it was shown that within this pH range estimations of both the zeta-potentials and colloidal stability were pH-dependent for the bacteria and bacterial suspensions tested . The observations are in line with the DLVO theory for lyophobic sols and indicate that bacteria behave like colloidal particles when suspended in certain media . The colloidal behavior further seemed to vary in relation to bacterial species and strains.

J Dent Res, 1988 May, 67(5), 846 - 50
Induction of activated lymphocyte killing by bacteria associated with periodontal disease; Lindemann RA et al.; Complex interactions occur among host defense cells during bacterial infection . Bacteria and bacterial products may enhance or inhibit the effector and regulatory activity of human lymphocytes . Accordingly, we tested the ability of human periodontal pathogens to activate peripheral blood lymphocytes using standard chromium-release assays to measure lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis . Human adherent-cell depleted peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with the addition of glutaraldehyde-fixed bacteria at a 5:1 bacteria:lymphocyte ratio were incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 hr in RPMI 1640 medium . Six of eight bacteria tested significantly augmented lymphocyte killing of the natural killer (NK) cell-sensitive human erythroleukemia cell line K562 . E . corrodens, representing activating bacteria, was also able to induce the killing of NK-resistant targets (M14, Raji), comparable with induction by interleukin-2 . Lipopolysaccharides extracted from A . actinomycetemcomitans strains, when incubated with PBL, were able to enhance cytotoxicity without the presence of whole bacteria . A majority of cytotoxicity was mediated by NK cells bearing Leu-11 and NKH-1 markers.

Ann Surg, 1988 Apr, 207(4), 387 - 98
Effect of T cell modulation on the translocation of bacteria from the gut and mesenteric lymph node; Maddaus MA et al.; Although the ability of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) to respond to orally ingested foreign antigens has been studied extensively, its function in preventing or limiting escape of resident gut bacteria has not been assessed . The following studies were performed to examine what role cell-mediated immunity (CMI) plays in this process . The ability of suppression of CMI to induce escape of gut bacteria (translocation) to the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) in immunocompetent mice whose gut flora was unaltered was examined . Administration of cyclosporine or anti-L3T4 antibody failed to induce translocation of indigenous gut bacteria after 7 or 14 days of treatment . Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) also failed to induce translocation after 7 days of treatment, despite depletion of all Thy 1, Lyt 1, L3T4, and Lyt 2 positive cells from the spleen, MLN, and intestine as demonstrated by immunofluorescent microscopy . Finally, cultures of the MLN, spleen, liver, and peritoneum of T cell-deficient BALB/c nude mice and their heterozygous T cell-replete littermates were also sterile, demonstrating that congenital suppression of T CMI also does not lead to translocation of indigenous gut bacteria . The role of CMI in limiting systemic spread of bacteria that were already translocating to the MLN was also examined . Translocation of Escherichia coli C25 to the MLN was induced by gastrointestinal (GI) monoassociation, which leads to translocation of E . coli C25 to the MLN in 80-100% of mice . Treatment with ATG during monoassociation failed to induce spread of E . coli C25 to the spleen, liver, or peritoneum, despite the same degree of T cell depletion achieved with ATG in the previous experiment . Monoassociation of conventional T cell-deficient BALB/c nude and heterozygous mice and germ-free T cell-deficient BALB/c nude and heterozygous mice also did not lead to spread of E . coli C25 beyond the MLN . However, in ATG-treated, conventional nude, and germ-free nude mice, the average number of translocating E . coli C25 per MLN was consistently higher . In separate experiments the ability of stimulation of T cell function to inhibit translocation of E . coli C25 was examined . Recombinant interleukin-2, 25,000 units, was administered intraperitoneally every 8 hours during exposure to E . coli C25 . This reduced the incidence of translocation of E . coli C25 from 85% to 51% (p = 0.02) . Suppression of CMI, either systemically or within the GALT, has a minimal influence on the mechanisms by which the normal gut flora are translocated to the MLN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acta Odontol Scand, 1988 Apr, 46(2), 83 - 7
Effects of cations on the colloidal stability of some oral bacteria; Simonsson T et al.; The colloidal stability of seven strains of oral bacteria was studied at various concentrations of mono-, di-, and multi-valent metal counterions in the suspending media . Alterations in the concentration and the valency of the counterions were shown to influence the colloidal stability of the bacterial suspensions, as determined by their rate and time of initial sedimentation . The observations were in general in agreement with the accepted theories for colloidal stability . The results support previously made suggestions that under certain experimental conditions oral bacteria behave like colloidal particles.

Can J Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 34(4), 390 - 4
Speculations on the growth strategy of prosthecate bacteria; Koch AL; Appendaged bacteria with stalks that are extensions of the cell wall have had to solve the problems of growing the stalk as a tube of constant diameter and of partitioning their chromosomes into the asymmetric daughter cells . Although no experimental proof is given, it is suggested that both processes depend on the attachment of the chromosome origin and terminus to the wall at special terminal sites that contain the basal body (motor assembly) for flagellar motion.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1988 Mar-Apr, 139(2), 261 - 72
{Enumeration and size of planktonic bacteria determined by image analysis coupled with epifluorescence}; Van Wambeke F; The interest of the image analysis procedure is the time-saving in automated planktonic bacterial counting and sizing, with the possibility of manual visual field control at all times . Bacterial biomass (in number and volume) and bacterial projected area histograms were determined with a microcomputer . Performance limits of image-analysed epifluorescence microscopy were: camera sensitivity, considering the very low fluorescence levels on stained bacteria; pixel-micron conversion factor, and the impossibility of the apparatus distinguishing between bacteria and fluorescent small particles . This method is not of interest for counting sediment bacteria.

Biofizika, 1988 Mar-Apr, 33(2), 328 - 32
{Kinetic analysis of the chemotaxis of bacteria}; Zaval'skii LIu; On the basis of a kinetic model of bacterial chemotactic movement the system of differential equations was reduced to describe the phenomenon of bacterial bonds migration . It follows that Keller-Segel equation is a private case of a more general "diffusion approximation" of the kinetic model . The functional parameters of the reduced equation for E . coli K-12 are estimated.

Biofizika, 1988 Mar-Apr, 33(2), 323 - 7
{Effect of heavy water on the viability of bacteria}; Dronova NV et al.; Influence of heavy water (D2O) on the membrane energization, the efflux of hydrogen ions and the respiration of bacteria E . coli M-17 was studied . As has been shown, heavy water of a low concentration (0.05-0.20% v/v) activates and of a high concentration (above 10%) inhibits the absorption of lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+) and of oxygen by cells . The return of these characteristics to the initial levels after the removal of D2O points to a reversible action of D2O . A protective effect of D2O towards membrane energization and rate of respiration on dried cells was observed . This fact is in agreement with the data on viability of bacteria . The indicated protective action increases at the stage of rehydration in the presence of D2O.

Int J Biomed Comput, 1988 Mar, 22(2), 107 - 19
Microcomputer application of Bayesean probability testing for the identification of bacteria; Jilly BJ; A computer program (BACTID) is described which facilitates the identification of bacteria based on a priori data and Bayesean probability testing . The program is not limited to a specific format, has a short execution time, can be easily applied to a variety of situations, and can be run on almost any microcomputer system operating under either 8-bit CP/M or 16-bit MS-DOS/PC-DOS . Additionally, BACTID (1) is not limited to one type of computer (hardware independent), (2) is not limited by size of the computer's random access (RAM independent), (3) can recognize various data bases matrices (format independent), (4) is able to compensate for missing data and (5) allows for various methods of data entry . The efficacy of the program was checked against a commercially available test system and a 99.34% agreement was obtained . Also, the execution time for a 46 x 21 element data matrix was as little as 3.5 s . These results show that microcomputer identification programs are not only viable alternatives to code book registers, but also offer flexibility which is not found in commercial systems.

Mutagenesis, 1988 Mar, 3(2), 165 - 8
Adaptive response to simple alkylating agents in the phototrophic bacteria Rhodobacter capsulatus and R.sphaeroides; Vericat JA et al.; The presence of an adaptive response to low doses of alkylating chemicals in the phototrophic bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides and R.capsulatus has been studied . Results obtained show that both strains display this repair response against the challenge doses of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), when they are pretreated with low doses of this compound for 120 min . The adaptive response of both R.sphaeroides and R.capsulatus induced an increase of cell survival and a decrease of mutagenesis in the MNNG-pretreated cells . Furthermore, the MNNG-induced adaptive repair also gives protection to diethylsulphate and ethylmethanesulphonate in both phototrophic bacteria . Finally, the MNNG-promoted adaptive response is sensitive to inhibitors of protein synthesis such as chloramphenicol, indicating that this DNA repair mechanism needs protein synthesis in R.sphaeroides and R.capsulatus, in a way similar to that which occurs in Escherichia coli.

Radiobiologiia, 1988 Mar-Apr, 28(2), 262 - 4
{Effect of laser radiation and combined ionizing and laser radiation on the cell-division time of bacteria}; Simonian NV et al.; Irradiation of E . coli K-12 cells of the wild-type AB 1157 strain with helium-neon continuous laser radiation leads to a temporary delay in their division . The delay was found to be the same in cells exposed to ionizing radiation alone and in cells exposed to a combination of ionizing and laser radiation.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Mar, 85(5), 1586 - 9
Targeted mutations induced by a single acetylaminofluorene DNA adduct in mammalian cells and bacteria; Moriya M et al.; Mutagenic specificity of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) has been established in mammalian cells and several strains of bacteria by using a shuttle plasmid vector containing a single N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)acetylaminofluorene (C8-dG-AAF) adduct . The nucleotide sequence of the gene conferring tetracycline resistance was modified by conservative codon replacement so as to accommodate the sequence d(CCTTCGCTAC) flanked by two restriction sites, Bsm I and Xho I . The corresponding synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide underwent reaction with 2-(N-acetoxy-N-acetylamino)-fluorene (AAAF), forming a single dG-AAF adduct . This modified oligodeoxynucleotide was hybridized to its complementary strand and ligated between the Bsm I and Xho I sites of the vector . Plasmids containing the C8-dG-AAF adduct were used to transfect simian virus 40-transformed simian kidney (COS-1) cells and to transform several AB strains of Escherichia coli . Colonies containing mutant plasmids were detected by hybridization to 32P-labeled oligodeoxynucleotides . Presence of the single DNA adduct increased the mutation frequency by 8-fold in both COS cells and E . coli . Over 80% of mutations detected in both systems were targeted and represented G.C----C.G or G.C----T.A transversions or single nucleotide deletions . We conclude that modification of a deoxyguanosine residue with AAF preferentially induces mutations targeted at this site when a plasmid containing a single C8-dG-AAF adduct is introduced into mammalian cells or bacteria.

J Reprod Immunol, 1988 Mar, 12(4), 315 - 9
Deposition of C3 on bacteria in the mouse uterus after mating; Parr EL et al.; A previous study demonstrated that several species of bacteria were present in the mouse uterine lumen on the day after mating, and that many of these bacteria had immunoglobulins bound to their surface . Neutrophilic leukocytes containing phagocytosed bacteria were also present in the lumen . Since bacteria are phagocytosed efficiently only when they are opsonized by the binding of specific antibody or C3b or both to their surface, we investigated whether the uterine bacteria were coated with C3 . Immunolabeling demonstrated that an antigenic portion of C3, possibly C3b, was bound to many of the uterine bacteria . This observation suggests that bacteria in the mouse uterus after mating may be opsonized by both antibody and complement and that phagocytosis of these bacteria by neutrophils may play an important role in returning the uterus to an aseptic state before implantation.

Vet Med (Praha), 1988 Mar, 33(3), 129 - 33
{The occurrence and properties of Selenomonas ruminantium bacteria in calves during the time of milk feedings}; Kmet V et al.; The occurrence, morphological properties, urease and alpha-amylase activities of Selenomonas ruminantium were investigated in calves in the period of milk nutrition . The average number of the organisms was found to range between 10(7) and 10(8) per 1 millilitre of rumen contents . The alpha-amylase activity of the Selenomonas strains ranged from 0.1 to 8.8 ncat.ml-1 whereas their urease activity ranged from 6.3 to 261 ncat.ml-1 of nutrient medium . The presence of morphologically typical Selenomonas ruminantium and spontaneous formation of spheroplasts were found by electron microscopic examination.

Microbiol Sci, 1988 Mar, 5(3), 78 - 81
Formation of two forms of nitrogenase and effects of its switch-off by ammonia in purple bacteria; Yakunin AF et al.; The switch-off of nitrogenase by ammonia in cells of the purple bacteria is not due to the conversion of nitrogenase into an inactive form . The latter is probably an initial stage of the enzyme degradation in the presence of excess nitrogen.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 600 - 3
Methanogenic bacteria from human dental plaque; Belay N et al.; Samples of human dental plaque were examined for the presence of methanogenic bacteria . Of 54 samples from 36 patients, 20 yielded H2/CO2-using methanogenic enrichment cultures . All methanogen-positive samples were from patients with some degree of periodontal disease . The predominant populations in the enrichments had morphologies characteristic of Methanobrevibacter spp . In six enrichments derived from three patients, the common methanogen was antigenically similar to Methanobrevibacter smithii . The same was true for the three methanogenic isolates obtained in axenic culture from a fourth patient . The six enrichments and two of the three isolates were antigenically closer to strain ALI than to PS . Two of the enrichments also had subpopulations with weak antigenic similarity to Methanosphaera stadtmanae . The data indicate that methanogens in the oral cavity of humans are antigenically close to those found in the intestinal tract.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 555 - 60
Temporal and geographical distributions of epilithic sodium dodecyl sulfate-degrading bacteria in a polluted South Wales river; Anderson DJ et al.; Epilithic bacteria were isolated nonselectively from riverbed stones and examined by gel zymography for their ability to produce alkylsulfatase (AS) enzymes and thus to metabolize alkyl sulfate surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate . The percentages of AS+ isolates from stone epilithon at five sites from the source to the river mouth were measured on five sampling days spread over 1 year . The results showed that (i) the prevalence of epilithic AS+ strains (as a percentage of all isolates) was much higher at polluted sites than at the source; (ii) when averaged over the whole river, percentages of AS+ strains were significantly higher at the end of summer compared with either the preceding or the following winter; (iii) analysis of site-sampling time interactions indicated that water quality factors (e.g., biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen concentration) rather than climatic factors determined the distributions of epilithic AS+ isolates; (iv) constitutive strains were the most prevalent (7.2% of all isolates), with smaller numbers of isolates with inducible (4.5%) and repressible (1.7%) enzymes.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 502 - 6
Postprandial changes in methanogenic and acidogenic bacteria in the rumens of steers fed high- or low-forage diets once daily; Leedle JA et al.; Four ruminally fistulated Hereford steers (400 kg) were fed two isocaloric diets at 1.5 x maintenance once daily in a repeated measurement crossover experiment . Postprandial changes in hydrogen-oxidizing, carbon dioxide-reducing bacterial groups were monitored . The methanogenic bacterial populations were present at densities of 4 x 10(8) to 8 x 10(8)/g of ruminal contents on either the high- or low-forage diet . Numbers remained constant postprandially on the high-forage diet but showed a distinct rise and fall with the once-daily feeding of the low-forage diet . Presumed hydrogen- and carbon dioxide-utilizing, acid-producing (acidogenic) bacteria were present between 2 x 10(8) and 12 x 10(8)/g of ruminal contents, with the density of the low-forage population being twofold higher than that of the high-forage population . Acidogenic bacteria exhibited similar postprandial changes on both diets, with the predominant shift being associated with the feeding event . This is the first study which documents the postfeeding trends in ruminal methanogenic bacteria on specified, production-level diets . It is also the first study to suggest that other hydrogen-oxidizing, carbon dioxide-reducing bacteria which produce acid instead of methane are present at high population densities in the normally fed adult ruminant.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Feb, (2), 51 - 4
{Use of the coagglutination reaction of yeast-like Candida maltosa fungi for detecting fimbriae in intestinal bacteria}; Kulinich LI et al.; The capacity of nonpathogenic yeast-like C . maltosa strains to coagglutinate Escherichia coli has been studied . C . maltosa cells have also been shown to coagglutinate E . coli possessing mannose-sensitive adhesins in a wide range of their concentrations (5-140 bacterial cells per C . maltosa cell) . Strains belonging to types CFA/I and CFA/II with fimbriae, similarly to their corresponding paired genetically related strains without these adhesins, are practically incapable of agglutinating C . maltosa cells, while strains K88 and B41 react with them . The reaction occurs at a concentration of 9.5-37.0 and 38.0-55.5 bacteria respectively per C . maltosa cell and is not inhibited by 1% d-mannose . The suggestion that C . maltosa cell surface glycoproteins contain not only receptors for E . coli fimbriae, type I, but also components similar in their structure to receptors specific to the mannose-resistant adhesins of strains K88, K99 and 41, has been confirmed by hemagglutination inhibition with C . maltosa surface antigens as inhibiting agents.

J Steroid Biochem, 1988 Feb, 29(2), 185 - 9
The biological assessment of vitamin D3 metabolites produced by rumen bacteria; Gardner RM et al.; Biological assays were performed to evaluate 10-oxo-19-nor-vitamin D3 (10-oxo-D3) and 5(E) 25-hydroxy-10-oxo-19-nor-vitamin D3 (25-OH-10-oxo-D3) two bacterial products of vitamin D3 (D3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) metabolism, respectively . The 5(Z) and 5(E) isomers of 10-oxo-D3 were, respectively, 40- and 80-fold less active than D3 in stimulating Ca+2 absorption from the gut . 25-Hydroxy-10-oxo-D3 did not stimulate Ca+2 absorption . Only 5(Z) 10-oxo-D3 induced mobilization of bone Ca+2 . In addition, both 10-oxo-D3 and 25-OH-10-oxo-D3 showed poor affinities for either the plasma D3-binding protein or the thymus 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 {1,25-(OH)2D3} receptor . 10-Keto-D3 exhibited a plasma half-life of only 6 min . This was a much shorter half-life than that exhibited by other vitamin D metabolites and was expected because of the poor affinity 10-oxo-D3 has for the plasma vitamin D binding protein . Bacterial metabolism of D3 deactivates the vitamin, which allows ruminants to tolerate relatively large oral doses of D3.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Jan 25, 949(1), 65 - 70
Protein synthesis in polyamine-deficient bacteria during amino-acid starvation; Nastri HG et al.; Amino-acid starvation in polyamine-auxotrophic bacteria grown in the presence of putrescine provokes a marked inhibition of protein synthesis . This inhibition is almost completely relieved in polyamine-depleted cells . The differential behaviour of bacterial protein synthesis depending on the endogenous levels of polyamines is not due to a change in the uptake of amino acids used to measure protein synthesis, nor to the decreased growth rate of polyamine-depleted cells . During leucine starvation, cells grown with putrescine synthesized a somewhat lower amount of high-molecular-weight proteins than polyamine-depleted bacteria . In addition, cells with normal endogenous levels of polyamines accumulated significant amounts of 62 and 41 kDa polypeptides as well as several low-molecular-weight peptides.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1988, 54(3), 207 - 20
Interconversion of F430 derivatives of methanogenic bacteria; Keltjens JT et al.; F430 is the prosthetic group of the methylcoenzyme M reductase of methanogenic bacteria . The compound isolated from Methanosarcina barkeri appears to be identical to the one obtained from the only distinctly related Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum . F430 is thermolabile and in the presence of acetonitrile or C10-4 two epimerization products are obtained upon heating; in the absence of these compounds F430 is oxidized to 12,13-didehydro-F430 . The latter is stereoselectively reduced under H2 atmosphere to F430 by cell-free extracts of M . barkeri or M . thermoautotrophicum . H2 may be replaced by the reduced methanogenic electron carrier coenzyme F420.

Pharmacology, 1988, 36 Suppl 1, 172 - 9
Metabolism of sennosides by human intestinal bacteria; Hattori M et al.; During the course of studies on the metabolism of sennosides by human intestinal bacteria, an enzyme which takes part in the reduction of sennosides and sennidins was originally isolated from Peptostreptococcus intermedius . This enzyme catalyzed the electron transfer from NADH to FAD, FMN or benzyl viologen, which reduced nonenzymatically sennosides and sennidins to 8-glucosyl-rhein anthrone and rhein anthrone, respectively.

Radiobiologiia, 1988 Jan-Feb, 28(1), 117 - 20
{Sorption of bacteria by blood cells as an indicator of the reaction of animals to the action of different doses of gamma rays}; Darenskaia NG et al.; In experiments with mice, guinea pigs, and dogs, a study was made of the sorptive capacity of peripheral blood cells after different gamma-radiation doses with reference to living Escherichia coli cells . The sorptive capacity of blood cells was inhibited in exposed animals the inhibition being maximum during the first 3 days following irradiation . Homologous immunoglobulin administered to mice 24 h before irradiation prevented the diminution of the sorptive capacity of cells and stimulated it during the first week following irradiation.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1988 Jan-Feb, 22(1), 145 - 50
{Genetic engineering of peptide hormones . III . Cloning of the swine growth hormone cDNA and construction of the gene for expression of the hormone in bacteria}; Zhvirblis GS et al.; The clones containing cDNA of porcine growth hormone were obtained using poly(A)-RNA from porcine pituitary as a template for reverse transcriptase . The analysis of their nucleotide sequences revealed that these cDNAs have differences not only on the nucleotide level but also on the amino acid level, i . e . the polymorphism of mRNA and protein occurs in the case of porcine growth hormone . To create the construction for expression of porcine growth hormone in E . coli, the 5'-part of cDNA, coding the first 15 amino acids of the mature hormone, was substituted by the artificial sequence.

Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Jan, 38(1), 1 - 11
{The effect of different centrifugation conditions for the isolation of mixed rumen bacteria, on their nitrogen and diaminopimelic acid content}; Krawielitzki R et al.; Three cows were given two rations, a silage diet (3 animals) and a green forage diet (2 animals) . Samples of rumen content were collected and aliquots of these were separated in a fraction of feed particles and protozoa (FP-fraction) and a fraction of mixed bacteria, varying the conditions of differential centrifugation . The low speed centrifugation was practised at 100 X g/5 min, 400 X g/10 min, 1000 X g/10 min, and 2000 X g/10 min . High speed conditions were 30,000 X g/30 min 4 degrees C . The lyophylisated sediments were used for determination of N and DAP . The content of N gave similar results for all fractions of mixed bacteria, the mean value being 7.43 +/- 0.48% (n = 20), while the N-content of the FP-fractions being 5.68 +/- 0.37% (n = 19) . The N:DAP-ratio gave similar values for the cows fed the silage diet, the values were 29.45 +/- 1.56 (n = 12) . The values for the cows receiving the green forage diet differed, the mean values were 23.08 +/- 0.88 and 42.01 +/- 5.81 (n = 5), respectively . In all five experiments highest ratios were found at 100 X g . Further investigations showed that storage at -20 degrees C rumen fluid after isolation of feed particles and protozoa decreased both the N- and DAP- content without affecting the N:DAP-ratio . Centrifugation at low speed with 100 X g resulted in a markedly decreased contamination with DAP in all the FP-fractions . Optimal conditions for separation of feed particles and protozoa from rumen fluid to get a fraction best reflecting the rumen bacterial populations are 100 X g/5 min.

Mol Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 2(1), 9 - 17
DNA sequence of the gene scrA encoding the sucrose transport protein EnzymeII(Scr) of the phosphotransferase system from enteric bacteria: homology of the EnzymeII(Scr) and EnzymeII(Bgl) proteins; Ebner R et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the structural gene, scrA, which codes for sucrose-specific EnzymeII(Scr) (EII(Scr)) of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent carbohydrate:phosphotransferase system (PTS), was determined . EllScr requires an EnzymeIII, the product of the gene crr, for full activity . The gene scrA is preceded immediately by a classical Shine-Dalgarno sequence (AAGAGGGTA) . It contains 1368 nucleotides with an increased GC-content (58%) corresponding to a polypeptide of 455 amino acid residues (Mr 47,500) . The protein has the hydropathic profile (average hydropathy +0.82) of an integral membrane protein lacking extended alpha-helical structures and a signal peptide . Comparison with the sequence of the beta-glucoside-specific EnzymeII (EII(Bgl), 625 amino acids, Mr 66,480; Bramley and Kornberg, 1987a; Schnetz et al., 1987) revealed strong homologies between EiI(Scr) and the first 458 residues of EII(Bgl) . The 162 carboxyterminal residues of EII(Bgl), however, showed a high homology with the sequence of EnzymeIII (Nelson et al., 1984), a homology also described recently by Bramley and Kornberg (1987b) . The evolutionary and functional significance of the similarities with four other EnzymesII is discussed.

Gastrointest Endosc, 1988 Jan-Feb, 34(1), 19 - 22
The role of bacteria in the blockage of biliary stents; Leung JW et al.; Recurrent jaundice and cholangitis due to stent occlusion by biliary sludge is a major complication of endoscopic stenting for malignant obstructive jaundice . Scanning electron microscopy study of the blocked stents revealed the sludge to consist of a mixture of bacteria and amorphous material . In vitro study using scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the attachment of bacteria to a segment of stent perfused with infected bile containing live bacteria . Associated with the microcolonies of bacteria was a collection of amorphous material forming a dense concretion on the surface of the stent . This phenomenon was not observed in experiments using sterile bile or with infected bile sterilized by formalin treatment or autoclaving . It was concluded that live bacteria are necessary for the initiation of biliary sludge formation which leads to subsequent stent blockage.

Scand J Gastroenterol, 1988 Jan, 23(1), 121 - 8
Production of peptides inducing chemotaxis and lysosomal enzyme release in human neutrophils by intestinal bacteria in vitro and in vivo; Chadwick VS et al.; Low molecular weight (Mr 200-1500) N-formylated peptides that stimulate many leucocyte functions, including chemotaxis and lysosomal enzyme release, have previously been isolated from Escherichia coli cultures . We have used high-performance liquid chromatography and bioassay techniques to study production of such peptides by intestinal bacteria in vitro and their activity in intestinal luminal contents, obtained by in vivo dialysis methods . Bioactivity was detected in culture supernatants of all 11 species of bacteria so far investigated, was resistant to digestion with aminopeptidase, but was destroyed by carboxypeptidase, confirming that bioactive moieties were amino-terminal-blocked peptides . By similar isolation procedures, pronase-sensitive bioactive factors have been demonstrated in human rectal dialysates from normal subjects and patients with Crohn's disease . In the patients, bioactivity in dialysates was not observed after treatment with broad-spectrum poorly absorbed antibiotics . The gut may be a reservoir or source of bacterial peptides that could promote an inflammatory response should they cross the 'mucosal barrier'.

Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1988, (5), 83 - 8
{Mutants of the phototrophic bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides sensitive to the mutagenic action of long-wave ultraviolet light}; Rodina NE et al.; The mutagenic action of near ultraviolet (NUV, greater than or equal to 280) nm) on purple phototrophic soil bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides: wild strain 2R and 12 mutants obtained earlier sensitive to UV derivates (UVS) was investigated . The mutagenic action of NUV was measured by induction of resistance to tetracycline (Tet) and nalidixic acid (Nal) and reversion of pigment mutants to wild-type phenotype . The NUV light induces the mutations of resistance to Nal and Tet in wild-type strain 2R; the UVS mutants differed greatly in their NUV-induced mutability . Three UVS mutants were characterized by greatly increased mutability in all analysed loci; slight mutability was found in seven mutants . On the basis of the data obtained it has been concluded that the UVS mutants R . sphaeroides can be used as test organisms in estimation of mutagenic activity of NUV . The molecular mechanisms and genetic control of NUV-induced mutagenesis are discussed.

Arch Oral Biol, 1988, 33(8), 579 - 87
pH changes during simultaneous metabolism of urea and carbohydrate by human salivary bacteria in vitro; Sissons CH et al.; The effect of the wide natural variation in oral ureolysis rates on the pH changes resulting from simultaneous metabolism of 25 mM urea and 2.8 mM glucose in salivary-sediment bacteria were investigated . The pH curves were complex, and included distinctive plateaux indicative of balanced acid and base production . These neutralization plateaux occurred at different pHs, which were a function (r2 = 0.98) of the ureolytic rate as measured by the log of the initial pH-change rate in the urea-only reaction . In the simplest case, the pH curve was characterized by a rise or fall to the neutralization plateau, a variable period of time at the plateau (up to 1 h), then a pH rise . The pattern of pH changes induced by glucose alone varied between different sediments: in some cases, the pH decreased smoothly to an end-point; in others, the curve was more complex, and these features became superimposed on the urea/glucose curve . The rate of ureolytic ammonia release was almost constant and unaffected by simultaneous carbohydrate metabolism . Concomitant metabolism of endogenous carbohydrate present in sediments prepared 1-2 h following a meal was of sufficient magnitude to affect ureolytic pH curves . If the ureolytic activity was high, this effect was negligible; if it was low, metabolism of the endogenous carbohydrates could completely suppress the ureolytic pH rise . Soluble salivary components had little effect on ureolysis but pH changes were modified by buffering, and the presence of urea, ammonia, N-catabolic and acidogenic substrates in the saliva.

Clin Ther, 1988, 10 Spec No, 52 - 5
The origin of bacteria isolated from patients after transurethral prostatectomy; Fujita K; Of 250 patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy, 34 had significant bacteriuria after surgery . In 20 patients, including some without significant colonies of bacteria, the same organisms were found before surgery . Closed surgical systems and aseptic techniques can prevent infection from outside the patient, but bacteriuria can still develop from within the patient.

Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol, 1988, 414(1), 29 - 37
Acute human pyelonephritis: leukocytic infiltration of tubules and localization of bacteria; Ivanyi B et al.; The fine structural details of how leukocytes appear in the lumen of tubules and the localization of bacteria in the tubulo-interstitial space were studied by light and electronmicroscopy in renal cortical biopsy specimens from three patients with acute pyelonephritis . The cells of interstitial infiltrates infiltrated and sometimes disrupted the cortical collecting tubules preferentially, while inflammatory infiltration of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules occurred more rarely . Since the emigration of tubular wall-localized individual leukocytes into the lumen was not observed even in long series of thin sections, focal inflammatory disruption of the uriniferous ducts was considered to be the morphological basis of the intratubular accumulation of leukocytes . The structural simplicity of the collecting tubular cells is suggested to be the reason for their preferential involvement in the drainage of the interstitial suppuration, although a role for specific carbohydrate receptors cannot be excluded . The bacteria were usually found within the neutrophilic granulocytes and macrophages of the interstitial infiltrates, and within and among the cells of leukocyte casts . Additionally, pure bacterial colonies were noticed in the lumen of a few collecting tubules . The problem of the adherence of the bacteria to the surface of the tubular cells is discussed.

Gene, 1988, 62(1), 153 - 8
Transfer of mlt mutations into polyomavirus intronless genomes by intramolecular recombination in bacteria; Pinsonneault C et al.; We describe a modification of the procedure of Weber and Weissmann {Nucl . Acids Res . 11 (1983) 5661-5669} for the formation of hybrid genes by in vivo recombination to introduce two separate mutations into the same gene . The mutants of interest are inserted as head-to-tail tandems in a bacterial plasmid in such a way that the 5'-proximal mutation is located upstream from the mutant with the more distal mutation . Propagation of the plasmid in a rec+ strain of Escherichia coli allows recombination between homologous sequences in the insert . DNA with the size expected for the recombinant plasmid is isolated by agarose gel electrophoresis, cloned in a recA strain, and characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping . Using this procedure, we have transferred the deletion from polyomavirus mutant dl-8 into other mutant genomes lacking the intervening sequences for either middle T or large T.

Mutat Res, 1988 Jan, 197(1), 15 - 22
Mutagenic DNA repair in Escherichia coli . XV . Mutation frequency decline of ochre suppressor mutations in umuC and lexA bacteria occurring between ultraviolet irradiation and delayed photoreversal; Bridges BA et al.; Tryptophan-independent mutations were induced in CM1141 trpE65 umuC122::Tn5 following exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) plus delayed photoreversal . The mutations appeared to be exclusively class 2 ochre suppressors and showed mutation frequency decline (MFD) when the bacteria were incubated in glucose-salts medium after UV and before photoreversal . The phenomenon was similar to MFD after normal UV mutagenesis of umu+ bacteria, being inhibited in the presence of caffeine or in the absence of glucose . Mutations were also induced by UV plus delayed photoreversal in the lexA (Ind-) strain CM561, and the yield was higher than in the umuC strain suggesting that potentially mutagenic configurations might be removed or altered to some extent by the product of a gene under lexA control such that fewer were available for misincorporation events . MFD was also demonstrated in CM561 showing that this process is not dependent on the derepression of any genes under lexA control . MFD could still be demonstrated 23 min after UV at a time when most misincorporations seem to have occurred, but for technical reasons the possibility could not be excluded that the misincorporations in question could have occurred during rather than before the exposure to photoreversing light . Delayed photoreversal mutagenesis of normally non-UV-mutable strains has been interpreted as a first stage (misincorporation) of normal UV mutagenesis . The present results are consistent with this interpretation since MFD of suppressor mutations is a feature of both processes.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1988 Jan-Feb, 139(1), 45 - 58
Expression of a poliovirus neutralization epitope at the surface of recombinant bacteria: first immunization results; Charbit A et al.; We devised a procedure to construct strains of Escherichia coli which expose at their surface a foreign antigen genetically inserted into LamB, an outer membrane protein . In particular, we showed that amino acid residues 93-103 of poliovirus type 1 capsid polypeptide VP1, which correspond to the C3 neutralization epitope, when inserted into two different external loops of LamB (after residues 153 and 374 of the mature protein), yielded the synthesis of stable hybrid proteins named, respectively, 153-C3 and 374-C3 . The poliovirus epitope was accessible to monoclonal antibody C3 at the cell surface . In the present work, these two hybrid proteins were injected into rabbits by the intravenous route in the form of live recombinant bacteria, and the humoral response to the poliovirus epitope was studied . With construction 153-C3, the subcutaneous route was also assayed using solubilized hybrid protein . The C3 viral sequence inserted in the two different regions of LamB were found to be immunogenic . Different types of antibodies specific to the C3 peptide were raised with the two construction: anti-peptide and antiviral particle antibodies . These first results indicate that the LamB presentation vector system constitutes a mode of peptide coupling which may lead to the elaboration of a new type of live vaccine.

Leukemia, 1988 Jan, 2(1), 1 - 5
Expression in bacteria of beta-galactosidase fusion proteins carrying antigenic determinants of the two X gene products of bovine leukemia virus; Willems L et al.; A cDNA corresponding to the bovine leukemia virus post-envelope region (X gene) was subcloned into the lambda gt11 expression vector . Two large protein fragments corresponding respectively to the long and short open reading frames of the X region were expressed as beta-galactosidase fusion proteins . These products were specifically recognized by sera from bovine leukemia virus-infected cattle.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 Dec 30, 170(1-2), 459 - 67
Biosynthesis of coenzyme F430 in methanogenic bacteria . Identification of 15,17(3)-seco-F430-17(3)-acid as an intermediate; Pfaltz A et al.; Coenzyme F430 is a hydroporphinoid nickel complex present in all methanogenic bacteria . It is part of the enzyme system which catalyzes methane formation from methyl-coenzyme M . We describe here that under certain conditions a second nickel porphinoid accumulates in methanogenic bacteria . The compound was identified at 15,17(3)-seco-F430-17(3)-acid . The structural assignment rests on 14C-labelling experiments, fast-atom-bombardment mass spectra, 1H-NMR spectra of the corresponding hexamethyl ester, and ultraviolet/visible spectral comparison with model compounds . In cell extracts and in intact cells of methanogenic bacteria, 15,17(3)-seco-F430-17(3)-acid was converted to F430 . These findings indicate that the new nickel-containing porphinoid is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of coenzyme F430.

Biochemistry, 1987 Dec 29, 26(26), 8652 - 8
Antenna organization in green photosynthetic bacteria . 2 . Excitation transfer in detached and membrane-bound chlorosomes from Chloroflexus aurantiacus; Brune DC et al.; The photosynthetic antenna of Chloroflexus aurantiacus includes bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) C740 and BChl a792, both of which occur in chlorosomes, and B808-866 (containing BChl a808 and BChl a866), which is membrane-located (subscripts refer to near-infrared absorption maxima in vivo) . BChl a792 is thought to mediate excitation transfer from BChl c740 to BChl a808 . Lifetimes of fluorescence from BChl c740 and BChl a792 were measured in isolated and membrane-bound chlorosomes in order to study energy transfer from these pigments . In both preparations, the lifetime of BChl c740 fluorescence was at or below the instrumental limit of temporal resolution (about 30-50 ps), implying extremely fast excitation transfer from this pigment . Attempts to disrupt excitation transfer from BChl c740, either by conversion of part of this pigment to a monomeric form absorbing at 671 nm or by partial destruction of BChl a792 by oxidation with K3Fe(CN)6, had no discernible effects on the lifetime of BChl c740 fluorescence . Most (usually greater than 90%) of the fluorescence from BChl a792 decayed with a lifetime of 93 +/- 21 ps in membrane-attached chlorosomes and 155 +/- 22 ps in isolated chlorosomes at room temperature . Assuming that the only difference between these preparations is the occurrence of excitation transfer from BChl a792 to B808-866, a 41% efficiency was calculated for this process . This value is lower than the 60% efficiency of excitation transfer from BChl c740 to B808-866 determined by comparison of fluorescence excitation and absorption spectra of membranes with attached chlorosomes and compares even less favorably with the 100% efficiency of excitation transfer found in whole cells by the same method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biochemistry, 1987 Dec 29, 26(26), 8644 - 52
Antenna organization in green photosynthetic bacteria . 1 . Oligomeric bacteriochlorophyll c as a model for the 740 nm absorbing bacteriochlorophyll c in Chloroflexus aurantiacus chlorosomes; Brune DC et al.; Bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c was extracted from Chloroflexus aurantiacus and purified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography . This pigment consists of a complex mixture of homologues, the major component of which is 4-ethyl-5-methylbacteriochlorophyll c stearyl ester . Unlike previously characterized BChls c, the pigment from C . aurantiacus is a racemic mixture of diastereoisomers with different configurations at the 2a chiral center . Diluting a concentrated methylene chloride solution of BChl c with hexane produces an oligomer with absorption maxima at 740-742 and at 460-462 nm . Both the absorption spectrum and the fluorescence emission spectrum (maximum at 750 nm) of this oligomer closely match those of BChl c in chlorosomes . Further support for this model comes from the ability of alcohols, which disrupt BChl c oligomers by ligating the central Mg atom, to convert BChl c in chlorosomes to a monomeric form when added in low concentrations . The lifetime of fluorescence from the 740 nm absorbing BChl c oligomer is about 80 ps . Although exciton quenching might be unusually fast in the in vitro BChl c oligomer because of its large size and/or the presence of minor impurities, this result suggests that energy transfer from the BChl c antenna in chlorosomes must be very fast if it is to be efficient.

Acta Odontol Scand, 1987 Dec, 45(6), 429 - 33
The effect of a combination of copper and hexetidine on plaque formation and the amount of copper retained by dental plaque bacteria; Grytten J et al.; Zn++ in combination with hexetidine exerts a synergistic plaque inhibition . Studies in our laboratory on the mechanism of this effect suggested that Cu++ and hexetidine may have a similar combination effect . This hypothesis was tested in vivo on a human test panel in a double-blind crossover study . The amount of Cu++ retained by plaque bacteria in vitro was also evaluated . Seven volunteers rinsed with the solutions for 1 min twice daily for 5 days . The test solutions were H2O, 1.0 mM CuSO4, 2.0 mM hexetidine, and the last two in combination . During the test period no oral hygiene was allowed, and sucrose-containing chewing gum was used to enhance plaque formation . The plaque index scores after rinsing with the combination were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower than those of the other solutions . The effect of hexetidine on Cu++ retention in plaque bacteria was evaluated in plaque samples (n = 3) grown anaerobically overnight in PPLO medium . The bacteria were washed five times, digested in concentrated HNO3, and Cu++ determined by atomic absorption . The presence of hexetidine resulted in a significantly greater amount of Cu++ retained by bacteria at all CuSO4 concentrations . It is suggested that the nonpolar nature of the hexetidine molecule enables Cu++ bound to hexetidine to pass into the bacterial cell . Within the cell, Cu++ can interfere with bacterial metabolism, giving a reduction in plaque growth.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 53(12), 2992 - 6
Growth determinations for unattached bacteria in a contaminated aquifer; Harvey RW et al.; Growth rates of unattached bacteria in groundwater contaminated with treated sewage and collected at various distances from the source of contamination were estimated by using frequency of dividing cells and tritiated-thymidine uptake and compared with growth rates obtained with unsupplemented, closed-bottle incubations . Estimates of bacterial generation times {(In 2)/mu} along a 3-km-long transect in oxygen-depleted (0.1 to 0.7 mg of dissolved oxygen liter-1) groundwater ranged from 16 h at 0.26 km downgradient from an on-land, treated-sewage outfall to 139 h at 1.6 km and correlated with bacterial abundance (r2 = 0.88 at P less than 0.001) . Partitioning of assimilated thymidine into nucleic acid generally decreased with distance from the contaminant source, and one population in heavily contaminated groundwater assimilated little thymidine during a 20-h incubation . Several assumptions commonly made when frequency of dividing cells and tritiated-thymidine uptake are used were not applicable to the groundwater samples.

J Gen Virol, 1987 Dec, 68 ( Pt 12), 3081 - 9
Expression of human papillomavirus type 6 and type 16 capsid proteins in bacteria and their antigenic characterization; Banks L et al.; The L1 and L2 capsid proteins encoded by human papillomavirus types 6 and 16 (HPV-6 and HPV-16) have been synthesized in bacteria . Antisera were raised against the HPV-6 L1- and L2-beta-galactosidase fusion proteins and against an HPV-16 L1 C-terminal peptide which was 14 amino acids long . The HPV-16 L1 peptide antibodies have been shown to be highly reactive with the HPV-16 L1-beta-galactosidase protein but not against the equivalent HPV-6 L1-beta-galactosidase fusion protein . The effectiveness of these antibodies was compared with commercially available antibovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) antibodies and the results demonstrated that the anti-BPV-1 antibodies reacted well against HPV-6 L1-beta-galactosidase but not against HPV-16 L1-beta-galactosidase . In addition, the L2 portion of the HPV-6 L2-beta-galactosidase fusion protein appeared particularly immunogenic, since antibodies raised against this fusion protein were predominantly reactive with the L2 moiety . The HPV-16 L1 peptide antibodies described here will be preferred reagents for the specific detection of HPV-16 capsid antigens, which may be particularly important in early diagnosis of HPV-16 infection.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Nov, 169(11), 5231 - 40
Initiation of chromosome replication in bacteria: analysis of an inhibitor control model; Margalit H et al.; This article contains an analysis of a version of the well-known inhibitor-dilution model for the control of initiation of chromosome replication in bacteria . According to this model, an unstable inhibitor interacts with an initiation primer in a hit-and-destroy fashion to prevent successful initiation; both constituents are presumed to be RNA species that are synthesized constitutively . The model further postulates that the inhibitor interacts cooperatively with the primer, that the inhibitor gene is removed some distance from the origin of replication, and that an eclipse period exists during which the chromosome origin is not able to reinitiate . This unstable-inhibitor version is characterized by four parameters: the inhibitor half-life, the cooperativity index, the location of the inhibitor gene, and the eclipse period; computer simulations are used to study the effect of each of these on the DNA and interdivision time distributions in exponentially growing steady-state cultures . In neither case was any combination of parameter values found that could provide even moderately satisfactory agreement between the simulation results and experimental data . From the examples furnished and the associated discussion, it appears that there are none--that no combination of parameter values exists that can reasonably be expected to produce a significantly better fit than those tested . We conclude that the model in its present form cannot be a valid description of chromosome replication control in bacteria . It is pointed out that this does not necessarily apply to negative initiation control models in general, or even to all inhibitor-dilution systems, merely to the particular ColE1-like mechanism considered here . Nevertheless, recent experimental results, which can only be understood in terms of a very high degree of initiation synchrony within individual cells, offer strong evidence against stochastic models of this kind for the control of chromosome replication.

Phys Med Biol, 1987 Nov, 32(11), 1469 - 79
Theory of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of tritium beta rays: bacteria killing effects of tritiated water; Iwanami S et al.; A new model is applied to bacteria exposed to tritiated water . In this model, the relation between the radiation quality, induction of single- and double-strand breaks in DNA and their repair in vivo can be reasonably described in terms of the microdosimetric distribution and the modification factors for single- and double-strand breaks in DNA . First, a mathematical formulation of RBE of tritium beta rays relative to an arbitrary reference radiation for killing effect on bacteria is derived on this model . Typical theoretical results on the survival curve parameters for bacteria exposed to tritiated water and RBE of tritium beta rays relative to 60Co gamma rays are presented . It is found that RBE of tritium beta rays depends on the ability of the cell to repair DNA damage . The present model is applied to the survival of Escherichia coli Bs-1 exposed to tritiated water and 7 MeV electrons . Although the average LET of tritium beta rays is remarkably higher than that of 7 MeV electrons, the experimental result that RBE of tritium beta rays relative to 7 MeV electrons is close to unity, is reasonably explained by the present model.

Microbiologica, 1987 Oct, 10(4), 417 - 20
Phagocytosis of bacteria after exposure to macrophages or lymphocytes; Romano Carratelli C et al.; In our present study we have examined the phagocytosis by polynucleates towards bacteria exposed to macrophages or lymphocytes . Our results show that for almost all the bacterial strains, the contact with lymphocytes determines changes in hydrophobicity correlated to variations in the possibility of being phagocytized and of more significant intracellular killing with respect to bacteria treated with macrophages.

Biophys J, 1987 Oct, 52(4), 637 - 47
A variable stoichiometry model for pH homeostasis in bacteria; Macnab RM et al.; The composition of the proton-motive force of a hypothetical bacterial cell of wide pH tolerance is analyzed according to a model whereby the electron transport chain and various proton-linked sodium and potassium ion transporting modes are responsible for the development of the membrane potential and the chemical potentials of the three cations . Simultaneous use of two or more modes employing the same metal cation, but at a different stoichiometric ratio with respect to protons, produces nonintegral stoichiometry; the modes could represent either different devices or different states of a single device . Cycling of the cation, driven by proton-motive force, results . The relative conductances of the various modes are postulated to be pH-dependent . The pattern of potentials that results is qualitatively in accord with current knowledge and may reflect the mechanism of pH homeostasis in bacteria . The membrane potential is outwardly directed (positive inside) at extremely acid pH, becoming inwardly directed as the pH increases; the pH gradient across the membrane is large and inwardly directed (alkaline inside) at acid pH, becoming smaller and eventually inverting at alkaline pH values; the transmembrane potassium gradient is outwardly directed (high concentration inside) at all pH values; the transmembrane sodium gradient is inwardly directed at all pH values, following the pH gradient from acid through neutral pH, but then diverging at alkaline pH.

Fertil Steril, 1987 Oct, 48(4), 659 - 63
Comparison of techniques for the selection of bacteria-free sperm preparations; Sun LS et al.; The authors compared the three most commonly used sperm preparation techniques--swim-up, fall-down, and Percoll gradient--for their ability to recover highly motile sperm and minimize bacterial contamination . Eleven human semen samples collected by masturbation were used and run in parallel with the three methods . A semiquantitative bacterial analysis was performed in all samples and results expressed in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml) . The Percoll gradient technique resulted in an average sperm concentration of 5.81 +/- 4.4 X 10(6) ml, and the average bacterial concentration dropped from 8.66 +/- 12.96 X 10(3) CFU/ml in semen to 0.01 +/- 0.03 X 10(3) CFU/ml . The bacterial count was not significantly different when the raw semen was compared with the swim-up or the fall-down preparations . The authors conclude that the Percoll gradient method yields an adequate sperm concentration, with high motility and improved morphology, while eliminating bacterial contamination.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 53(9), 2021 - 5
Effect of hydrophobicity of utilization of peptides by ruminal bacteria in vitro; Chen G et al.; When mixed ruminal bacteria were incubated with a pancreatic casein hydrolysate and free amino acids of a similar composition, rates of ammonia production were much greater for peptides than for amino acids . The pancreatic digest of casein was then fractionated with 90% isopropyl alcohol . Hydrophobic peptides which dissolved in alcohol contained an abundance of phenolic and aliphatic amino acids, while the hydrophilic peptides which were precipitated by alcohol contained a large proportion of the highly charged amino acids . The Km values of the mixed ruminal bacteria for each fraction were similar (0.88 versus 0.98 g/liter), but the Vmax of the hydrophilic peptides was more than twice that of the hydrophobic peptides (18 versus 39 mg of NH3 per g of bacterial protein per h) . Pure cultures of ruminal bacteria had a similar preference for hydrophilic peptides and likewise utilized peptides at a faster rate than free amino acids . Since peptide degradation rates differed greatly, hydrophobicity is likely to influence the composition of amino acids passing unfermented to the lower gut of ruminant animals.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 169(9), 4196 - 202
Malate dehydrogenase in phototrophic purple bacteria: purification, molecular weight, and quaternary structure; Tayeh MA et al.; The citric acid cycle enzyme malate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from the nonsulfur purple bacteria Rhodobacter capsulatus, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodomicrobium vannielii, and Rhodocyclus purpureus . Malate dehydrogenase was purified from each species by either a single- or a two-step protocol: triazine dye affinity chromatography was the key step in purification of malate dehydrogenase in all cases . Purification of malate dehydrogenase resulted in a 130- to 240-fold increase in malate dehydrogenase specific activity, depending on the species, with recoveries ranging from 30 to 70% . Homogeneity of malate dehydrogenase preparations from the four organisms was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; a single protein band was observed in purified preparations by both techniques . The molecular weight of native malate dehydrogenases was determined by four independent methods and estimated to be in the range of 130,000 to 140,000 for the enzyme from R . capsulatus, R . rubrum, and R . vannielii and 57,000 for that from R . purpureus . It is concluded that malate dehydrogenase from R . capsulatus, R . rubrum, and R . vannielii is a tetramer composed of four identical subunits, while the enzyme from R . purpureus is a dimer composed of two identical subunits.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1987 Sep, 3(3), 216 - 21
Adherence of bacteria to cardiac valve prostheses; Galdiero F et al.; The adherence of bacterial cells to valvular prostheses has been studied . Bacteria were selected on the basis of their surface features (fimbriae, hydrophobicity and specific receptors) . It was found that only strains having fimbriae and high cell surface hydrophobicity adhered to bioprostheses, while they did not adhere to metallic prostheses to any significant extent . Adherence to bioprostheses depended on the exposure time and it was affected by the saline concentration of the suspension medium . Furthermore, different bacterial binding capacity was observed for bioprostheses from different companies.

Microbiol Sci, 1987 Sep, 4(9), 267 - 9
Membrane integration of carbohydrate transport in bacteria; Danchin A; A system is described which permits bacteria to couple their intermediary metabolism to the available carbon supply . This system transports carbohydrates vectorially, with concomitant phosphorylation . A phosphorylation cascade is responsible for the coupling with metabolism through control of permeation of other carbon sources and synthesis of modulators such as cAMP.

J Immunol, 1987 Sep 1, 139(5), 1658 - 64
Presentation of two epitopes of the preS2 region of hepatitis B virus on live recombinant bacteria; Charbit A et al.; Having developed a genetic procedure to expose a foreign epitope at the surface of Escherichia coli by using the outer membrane LamB protein as a carrier, we apply this procedure to express two distinct portions of the preS2 region of hepatitis B virus: region A, residues 132-145, and region B, residues 153-171 . The resulting hybrid proteins (LamB-preS2 A and LamB-preS2 B) were normally expressed, stable, and still kept most biologic functions of LamB . The corresponding bacterial strains were used directly as immunogens in rabbits and mice . Both viral sequences were found to be immunogenic in the two animal species . With LamB-preS2 A, antibodies induced were able to react with the viral particles and the immobilized peptide . With LamB-preS2 B, the antibodies raised were not able to recognize the immobilized peptide . However, the results suggest that the B epitope, inserted in LamB, was at least as efficient as the corresponding synthetic peptide in raising antiviral antibodies . Thus, epitope presentation with LamB may present advantages for immunization . We also have shown that peptide A is an essential part of the polymerized human serum albumin receptor . These results, which validate further the LamB vector system for epitope presentation, provide information on the two hepatitis B regions expressed.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Aug 15, 262(23), 11364 - 8
A native cruciform DNA structure probed in bacteria by recombinant T7 endonuclease; Panayotatos N et al.; T7 endonuclease preferentially cleaves purified supercoiled pBR322 and colE1 plasmids at the single-stranded regions exposed when palindromic sequences assume cruciform structures (Panayotatos, N., and Wells, R.D . (1981) Nature 289, 466-470) . In vivo, however, induction of nuclease synthesis off a cloned gene caused complete degradation of the bacterial DNA but not of the plasmid vector; presumably, single-stranded regions (cruciforms?) on the genome effectively complete for the nuclease with similar sites on the plasmid (Panayotatos, N., and Fontaine, A . (1985) J . Biol . Chem . 260, 3173-3177) . To overcome this competition, we introduced on the plasmid the naturally occurring colE1 palindrome which forms a more stable cruciform in vitro . In addition, we increased the target size (and the T7 endonuclease gene dosage) by raising the copy number of the plasmid 5-fold . Induction of the endonuclease encoded by this new plasmid (pLAT75) resulted not only in degradation of genomic DNA but also in intracellular nicking and linearization of the plasmid . The cleavage site in vivo was mapped at the colE1 palindrome and coincided with the site cleaved specifically in vitro by either T7 or S1 endonuclease only when this palindrome assumes the cruciform structure . These results indicate that cruciform structures exist intracellularly and demonstrate the usefulness of endonucleases as probes of DNA topology in vivo.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 6(4), 429 - 31
Cell-wall deficient bacteria in inflammatory bowel disease; Ibbotson JP et al.; Cell wall deficient forms of bacteria were isolated from 40-60% of patients with active inflammatory bowel disease, 15-25% of patients with inactive disease and only 5-7% of controls . The recovery rate from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis tissue filtrates did not differ significantly, but was raised in both groups in comparison with controls (p less than 0.01) . It is concluded that a range of such bacteria have a possible aetiological role in inflammatory bowel disease.

J Dairy Res, 1987 Aug, 54(3), 413 - 20
Comparison of a simple butterfat agar medium with other media used for isolation and enumeration of lipolytic bacteria from dairy products; Shelley AW et al.; A nutrient agar medium containing 0.1% of a low melting point fraction of butterfat was shown to be suitable for detection, enumeration and isolation of lipolytic bacteria from milk . Bacterial growth was not inhibited by the butterfat and lipolytic reactions were clearly visible and easily interpreted . Lipolytic counts on the butterfat agar compared favourably with lipolytic counts obtained with other commonly used media.

Microbiol Sci, 1987 Aug, 4(8), 228 - 37
Experimental evolution of catabolic pathways of bacteria; Ramos JL et al.; Experimental evolution of catabolic pathways offers considerable potential for accelerating the evolution of bacteria able to degrade toxic industrial chemicals, and this may be useful for combatting environmental pollution . The principal strategies that have been successfully followed to evolve useful catabolic routes for aromatic compounds in soil bacteria are analysed.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1987 Aug, (8), 26 - 30
{Characteristics of Methylobacillus flagellatum KT mutants, deficient for phosphoglucoisomerase, an enzyme of the ribulose monophosphate cycle of obligate methylotrophic bacteria}; Kletsova LV et al.; The activities of the key enzymes of ribulose monophosphate cycle for formaldehyde oxidation and assimilation were tested in crude extracts from temperature sensitive mutants of obligatemethylotroph M . flagellatum KT . Two mutants deficient in phosphoglucoisomerase activity were identified during this screening . Phosphoglucoisomerase of T525 pgi-1 mutant was active both at permissive (30 degrees C) and nonpermissive (42 degrees C) temperatures . Complete inactivation of the enzyme at 42 degrees C occurred in 2 h in vitro, while in vivo incubation at nonpermissive temperature for more than 10 h was required for the enzyme inactivation . Phosphoglucoisomerase activity of T566 pgi-2 was 5-fold lower as compared with the one from the parent strain incubated at 30 degrees C . The enzyme was inactivated in 2 min . in crude extract at nonpermissive temperature.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1987 Aug, 37(8), 993 - 7
Selective fibrinolytic activity of recombinant non-glycosylated human pro-urokinase (single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator) from bacteria; Hanbucken FW et al.; To assess their therapeutic value recombinant non-glycosylated human pro-urokinase (cPUK) and recombinant non-glycosylated human low molecular mass urokinase (cLUK) both obtained from genetically transformed bacteria were compared with respect to their thrombolytic efficacy and their potential to induce systemic plasminogen activation which impairs the coagulation system . The investigations were performed in in vitro and in vivo test systems . In vitro, both substances significantly and concentration-dependently lysed radiolabelled human thrombi in rotating loops of tubes (Chandler-loops) with equivalent efficacy . Fibrinolytic activity of cLUK was accompanied by a decrease in alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen and fibrinogen . In contrast, cPUK did not change the plasminogen and fibrinogen levels and induced a substantially smaller decline in alpha 2-antiplasmin than cLUK . In the lysis of pulmonary embolized radiolabelled blood clots in anesthetized rabbits cPUK and cLUK dose-dependently exerted significant effects of similar extent . Whereas cLUK significantly decreased plasma levels of alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen and fibrinogen, cPUK caused only a marginal decrease in alpha 2-antiplasmin and left the plasminogen and fibrinogen levels unchanged . The results indicate that cPUK exerts fibrinolytic efficacy without systemic plasminogen activation and breakdown of fibrinogen . Therefore, cPUK might be expected to be a more specific and safer thrombolytic agent than urokinase and other traditional fibrinolytics.

FEBS Lett, 1987 Jul 27, 219(2), 477 - 84
Kinetic measurements of electron transfer in coupled chromatophores from photosynthetic bacteria . A method of correction for the electrochromic effects; Venturoli G et al.; A quantitative study of the kinetics of electron transfer under coupled conditions in photosynthetic bacteria has so far been prevented by overlap of the electrochromic signals of carotenoids and bacteriochlorophyll with the absorbance changes of cytochromes and reaction centers . In this paper a method is presented by which the electrochromic contribution at any wavelength can be calculated from the electrochromic signal recorded at 505 nm, using a set of empirically determined polynomial functions . The electrochromic contribution to kinetic changes at any wavelength can then be subtracted to leave the true kinetics of the redox changes . The corrected redox changes of the reaction center measured at 542 and 605 nm mutually agree, thus providing an excellent test of self-consistency of the method . The corrected traces for reaction center and of cytochrome b-566 demonstrate large effects of the membrane potential on the rate and poise of electron transfer . It will be possible to study the interrelation between proton gradient and individual electron reactions under flash or steady-state illumination.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Jun, 70(6), 1152 - 8
Comparison of dry culture medium and conventional plating techniques for enumeration of bacteria in pasteurized fluid milk; Senyk GF et al.; Standard plate counts, psychrotrophic bacterial counts, and coliforms were determined by conventional plating techniques and by Petrifilm TM plates, a dry culture medium, for 48 commercially processed milk samples (24 whole milk and 24 skim milk) . The Petrifilm SM plate counts were compared with counts on standard methods agar for the standard plate count, psychrotrophic bacterial count, and rapid psychrotrophic bacterial count . The Petrifilm violet red bile plate counts were compared with counts on violet red bile agar for coliform test with a solid medium and the preliminary incubation method for detection of coliforms . Standard plate counts were determined within 24 h of packaging and after 7, 10, and 14 d of storage at 6.1 degrees C . Psychrotrophic bacterial counts and coliform counts were determined with 24 h of packaging and after 7 d storage . There was a strong linear relationship between Petrifilm SM and standard methods agar plates (excluding counts on samples plated within 24 h of packaging) and for the psychrotrophic bacterial count method . Petrifilm SM had a weak linear relationship with Standard Methods Agar plates for the rapid psychrotrophic bacterial count . Coliform counts determined on Petrifilm violet red bile plates were generally within the same range as counts on violet red bile agar plates . The positive predictive values for the Petrifilm violet red bile plates and violet red bile agar plates were essentially the same for samples plated within 24 h of packaging.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Jun, 84(11), 3723 - 7
Soluble factors stimulating secretory protein translocation in bacteria and yeast can substitute for each other; Fecycz IT et al.; mRNA for prepro-alpha-factor (pp alpha), a yeast secretory glycoprotein, was translated in a wheat germ cell-free system that was posttranslationally supplemented either with inverted vesicles from the plasma membrane of Escherichia coli (INV) or with microsomes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae . A postribosomal supernatant (PRS) from E . coli was found to stimulate translocation of pp alpha across the INV membrane . A yeast PRS could substitute for its E . coli counterpart . Likewise, an E . coli PRS could substitute for a yeast PRS and stimulate translocation of pp alpha across yeast microsomal membranes.

J Protozool, 1987 May, 34(2), 127 - 31
Chemotaxis by Naegleria fowleri for bacteria; Marciano-Cabral F et al.; Naegleria fowleri amebae demonstrated a chemotactic and chemokinetic response toward live cells and extracts of Escherichia coli and other bacterial species when experiments were performed using a blind-well chemotaxis chamber . The peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine acted as a chemokinetic rather than a chemotactic factor for N . fowleri amebae . Competition experiments in which nerve cell extracts or bacteria were placed on either side of the filter in chemotaxis chambers resulted in increased movement towards bacteria . A scanning electron microscopy study of the interaction of N . fowleri with different bacterial species confirmed that when the amebae were near ingestible bacteria they moved toward the bacteria by pseudopod formation . Naegleria fowleri appeared to respond to bacteria by three interrelated but distinct processes: chemokinesis, chemotaxis, and formation of food cups.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Apr, 207(1), 68 - 72
Catalase has only a minor role in protection against near-ultraviolet radiation damage in bacteria; Eisenstark A et al.; In bacterial cells near-ultraviolet radiation (NUV) generates H2O2 which can be decomposed by endogenous catalase to H2O and O2 . To assess the roles of H2O2 and catalase in NUV lethality, we manipulated the amount of intracellular catalase (a) by the use of mutant and plasmid strains with altered endogenous catalase, (b) physiologically, by the addition of glucose, and (c) by induction of catalase synthesis with oxidizing agents . Not only was there no direct correlation between NUV-resistance and catalase activity, but in some cases the correlation was inverse . Also, while there was correlation between NUV and H2O2 sensitivity for most strains tested, there were a number of exceptions which indicates that the modes of killing were different for the two agents.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1987 Apr, 254(1), 53 - 62
Superoxide removal and radiation protection in bacteria; Ewing D et al.; Previous work with procaryotic cells has identified one kind of lethal damage from ionizing radiation which occurs only within a specific range of low O2 concentrations, about 10(-6) to 10(-4) M . Within this range, protection can occur in three ways: through the enzymatic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by added catalase, through the enzymatic degradation of superoxide anion radicals (.O2-) by added superoxide dismutase (SOD), and through scavenging hydroxyl radicals (.OH) by various additives . These results indicate that three radiolytic products, H2O2, .OH, and .O2- (and/or the conjugate acid, the perhydroxyl radical, .HO2) are involved in this single kind of radiation-induced damage . Although the radiolytic productions of H2O2 and .O2- are strongly enhanced in higher O2 concentrations, neither enzyme protects when these air-equilibrated bacteria are irradiated . These experiments address this apparent contradiction and focus on the specific issue of why the addition of SOD protects at low but not at high O2 concentrations . We propose that, at a given O2 concentration, .O2- (and/or .HO2) may either react (with some cellular component?) to cause damage or react (with itself) to form hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) . The specific O2 concentration during irradiation would determine the relative rates of these competing reactions and therefore the O2 concentration itself would establish whether or not we will observe damage from .O2-.

Agents Actions, 1987 Apr, 20(3-4), 174 - 7
Bacteria and their products peptidoglycan and teichoic acid potentiate antigen-induced histamine release in allergic patients; Norn S et al.; Histamine release was examined in leukocyte suspensions from patients allergic to grass pollen, mite or cat dander or to bacteria (antigen) . When the cells were challenged with specific antigen plus bacteria to which the person was not sensitized, these bacteria were found to potentiate the allergic histamine release . The potentiating effect by bacteria might be due to the bacterial cell wall components, peptidoglycan and teichoic acid, which mimic the effect of bacteria.

Science, 1987 Mar 20, 235(4795), 1517 - 20
Optical trapping and manipulation of viruses and bacteria; Ashkin A et al.; Optical trapping and manipulation of viruses and bacteria by laser radiation pressure were demonstrated with single-beam gradient traps . Individual tobacco mosaic viruses and dense oriented arrays of viruses were trapped in aqueous solution with no apparent damage using approximately 120 milliwatts of argon laser power . Trapping and manipulation of single live motile bacteria and Escherichia coli bacteria were also demonstrated in a high-resolution microscope at powers of a few milliwatts.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Mar 15, 262(8), 3640 - 5
Superoxide dismutase-rich bacteria . Paradoxical increase in oxidant toxicity; Scott MD et al.; Superoxide dismutase is considered important in protection of aerobes against oxidant damage, and increased tolerance to oxidant stress is associated with induction of this enzyme . However, the importance of superoxide dismutase in this tolerance is not clear because conditions which promote the synthesis of superoxide dismutase likewise affect other antioxidant enzymes and substances . To clarify the role of superoxide dismutase per se in organismal defense against oxidant-generating drugs, we employed Escherichia coli transformed with multiple copies of the gene for bacterial iron superoxide dismutase . These bacteria have greater than ten times the superoxide dismutase activity of wild-type E . coli but, importantly, are normal in other oxidant defense parameters including catalase, peroxidases, glutathione, and glutathione reductase . High superoxide dismutase and control bacteria were exposed to the O2- -generating drug paraquat and to elevated pO2 . We find; high superoxide dismutase E . coli are more readily killed by paraquat under aerobic, but not anaerobic, conditions . During exposure to paraquat, high superoxide dismutase E . coli accumulate more H2O2 . Coincidentally, the reduced glutathione content of high superoxide dismutase E . coli declines more than in control E . coli . E . coli with high superoxide dismutase activity are also more readily killed by hyperoxia . Interestingly, the susceptibility of the parental and high superoxide dismutase E . coli to killing by exogenous H2O2 is not significantly different . Thus, under these experimental conditions, greatly enhanced superoxide dismutase activity accelerates H2O2 formation . The increased H2O2 probably accounts for the exaggerated sensitivity of high superoxide dismutase bacteria to oxidant-generating drugs . These results support the concept that the product of superoxide dismutase, H2O2, is at least as hazardous as the substrate, O2- . We conclude that effective organismal defense against reactive oxygen species may require balanced increments in antioxidant enzymes and cannot necessarily be improved by increases in the activity of single enzymes.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Mar, 53(3), 587 - 92
T-2 toxin metabolism by ruminal bacteria and its effect on their growth; Westlake K et al.; The effect of T-2 toxin on the growth rates of different bacteria was used as a measure of its toxicity . Toxin levels of 10 micrograms/ml did not decrease the growth rate of Selenomonas ruminantium and Anaerovibrio lipolytica, whereas the growth rate of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens was uninhibited at toxin levels as high as 1 mg/ml . There was, however, a noticeable increase in the growth rate of B . fibrisolvens CE46 and CE51 and S . ruminantium in the presence of low concentrations (10 micrograms/ml) of T-2 toxin, which may indicate the assimilation of the toxin as an energy source by these bacteria . Three tributyrin-hydrolyzing bacterial isolates did not grow at all in the presence of T-2 toxin (10 micrograms/ml) . The growth rate of a fourth tributyrin-hydrolyzing bacterial isolate was unaffected . B . fibrisolvens CE51 degraded T-2 toxin to HT-2 toxin (22%), T-2 triol (3%), and neosolaniol (10%), whereas A . lipolytica and S . ruminantium degraded the toxin to HT-2 toxin (22 and 18%, respectively) and T-2 triol (7 and 10%, respectively) only . These results have been explained in terms of the presence of two different toxin-hydrolyzing enzyme systems . Studies with B . fibrisolvens showed the presence of a T-2 toxin-degrading enzyme fraction in a bacterial membrane preparation . This fraction had an approximate molecular weight of 65,000 and showed esterase activity (395.6 mumol of p-nitrophenol formed per min per mg of protein with p-nitrophenylacetate as the substrate.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 Feb 2, 162(3), 473 - 6
Massive overproduction of dihydrofolate reductase in bacteria as a response to the use of trimethoprim; Flensburg J et al.; Among several observations of greatly increased levels of chromosomal dihydrofolate reductase as a cause of resistance to high concentrations of the antifolate drug trimethoprim, in clinically isolated bacteria, one is described here of a strain of Escherichia coli overproducing dihydrofolate reductase several hundredfold . The chromosomally located resistance gene of this strain was isolated, inserted into a plasmid vector, and analyzed for its nucleotide sequence . The structural gene for the overproduced dihydrofolate reductase was found to be identical to that of E . coli K12, with nine exceptions, of which seven resulted in synonymous codon usage . Two transversions resulted in a substitution of Gly or Trp at amino acid position 30, and of Gln for Glu at position 154 . Six of the nine base changes resulted in codons more frequently used . The Gly substitution which leads to a less commonly used codon, was thought to relate to the observed threefold increase in Ki for trimethoprim . Furthermore, a C----T transition was found in the -35 region of the promoter, increasing its homology with the E . coli consensus promoter sequence . In the ribosome-binding area of the resistant strain, finally, seven base changes were observed, two of which resulted in a five-base sequence of complementarity with the 3'-end of ribosomal 16S RNA . The distance between the -10 site of the promoter and the start codon for translation was finally increased one base pair by the insertion of an A at position +9 in the resistant strain . These genetic changes towards more efficient transcriptional and translational start sequences and towards increased mRNA expressivity are interpreted to reflect an evolutionary adaptation to the presence of antifolates.

Arch Surg, 1987 Feb, 122(2), 185 - 90
Endotoxin promotes the translocation of bacteria from the gut; Deitch EA et al.; Experiments were performed in mice to determine whether endotoxin could cause bacteria normally colonizing the gut to spread systemically, a process termed bacterial translocation . Endotoxin given intraperitoneally promoted bacterial translocation in a dose-dependent fashion from the gut to the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) . The incidence of bacterial translocation to the MLN was similar whether the endotoxin was administered intramuscularly or intraperitoneally, although the number of bacteria colonizing the MLN was greater with intraperitoneal endotoxin . The incidence and magnitude of endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation were similar between CD-1 and C3H/HeJ (endotoxin-resistant) mice, indicating that bacterial translocation is not prevented by genetic resistance to endotoxin . Thus, it appears that the gut may serve as a reservoir for bacteria causing systemic infections during endotoxemia.

J Virol, 1987 Feb, 61(2), 633 - 7
Expression of the art gene protein of human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV) in bacteria; Goh WC et al.; Human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV or HIV) contains a gene designated art (anti-repressor transactivator) . Here, we report the expression of the art gene product in bacteria and show that the 20-kilodalton (kDa) bacterially expressed art protein is recognized by serum of a patient . The bacterially synthesized art protein competed in an immunological reaction with a 20-kDa protein produced in HTLV-III/LAV-infected lymphocytes . Antiserum to a synthetic oligopeptide corresponding to a sequence in the second exon of the art gene also precipitated the 20-kDa protein in HTLV-III/LAV-infected cells . These results demonstrate that the 20-kDa art gene product is expressed in cell lines that produce HTLV-III/LAV virions.

Gen Physiol Biophys, 1987 Feb, 6(1), 57 - 64
Effects of microwave irradiation on some membrane-related processes in bacteria; Kazbekov EN et al.; In a series of experiments performed on intact cells or spheroplasts of E . coli and Bac . subtilis a possibility of non-thermal effects induced by continuous microwave irradiation of a low power density (at wave length range from 0.0 to 7.8 mm) was studied . Thymidine and thymine uptake, leakage of potassium and hydrogen ions as well as the uptake of the transforming DNA by the component cells of Bac . subtilis were shown to be affected in a way typical of that due to heating of a sample . No specific dependence of the effects observed on wavelength was found.

Agents Actions, 1987 Feb, 20(1-2), 29 - 34
Histamine release induced by bacteria . A new mechanism in asthma?
Norn S, Skov PS, Jensen C, Jarlov JO, Espersen F.
Bacteria release histamine from human basophil leukocytes and mast cells . The release can be caused by an immunological (IgE-dependent) mechanism, but mostly we found a non-immunological (lectin-mediated) mechanism which indicates that mediator release triggered by bacteria can occur without the person being sensitized to the micro-organism in question . Both bacteria and bacterial products such as endotoxins potentiate basophil histamine release caused by allergens in allergic patients or by bacteria in persons sensitized to the micro-organisms . It is therefore tempting to speculate that bacteria and their products might be of importance for asthma by their capacity to release histamine and to potentiate mediator release.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 53(1), 185 - 8
High incidence of selenite-resistant bacteria from a site polluted with selenium; Burton GA Jr et al.; The level of selenium-resistant bacteria in water, algal mats, and sediment from Kesterson reservoir, Calif., a site with known selenium pollution, was compared with that in nearby Volta reservoir, a site with low selenium levels . A high percentage (greater than 50%) of all isolates from the Kesterson samples were resistant to 10 mM selenite . In contrast, only a small percentage of the Volta isolates were resistant to this level of selenite . The identity of some selenite-resistant isolates and MICs of selenite, selenate, arsenate, tellurite, and tellurate were determined.

Biosystems, 1987, 21(1), 13 - 24
Growth of bacteria with dimorphic vegetative cell cycles; Porter D et al.; A mathematical model of the growth of bacteria with dimorphic cell cycles is described . In these bacteria motile swarmer cells differentiate to stalked reproductive cells and the proportions of these cell types change in a characteristic fashion during growth . The selection of parameters to fit the model to experimental data can result in the elucidation of the factors controlling the differentiation of swarmer cells.

IARC Sci Publ, 1987, (84), 400 - 3
In-vitro production of nitrosamines by bacteria isolated from the operated stomach; O'Donnell CM et al.; Evidence is presented of in-vitro catalysis of nitrosation by organisms isolated from the hypoacidic operated stomach . Subjects taking part in a prospective study of potential premalignancy after benign ulcer surgery underwent endoscopy, and samples of gastric juice were obtained aseptically . The organisms present were identified using the API system and tested for their ability to catalyse the nitrosation of the secondary amine, morpholine, at neutral pH and 37 degrees C . Four of the five species tested were found to be capable of the catalysis . Cellular disruption and denaturation of protein abolished the catalytic ability, suggesting that the catalysis is mediated by an enzymic system . Osmotic shock experiments indicate that the enzyme site may be on the inner membrane.

Ter Arkh, 1987, 59(7), 52 - 7
{Diagnostic significance of opportunistic bacteria in acute intestinal infections}; Bogomolov BP et al.; A study was made of the rate of the cultivation of opportunistic bacteria (OB) from the feces of different groups of patients, normal persons and those examined in accordance with epidemic indications as well as of serological modulations in autogenous strains of the bacteria . The rate of the cultivation of the different types of OB in the different groups, in inpatients and outpatients, and the character of the serological modulations in them depending on the OB type and the group under examination were different . Evolution in the specific composition of OB over the recent 20 years is demonstrated . The principles of evaluating the diagnostic importance of OB cultivated from the feces of patients and normal persons are worded . Five possible versions of the diagnostic interpretation of OB demonstration in human feces are presented.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1987, 31(2), 177 - 82
Results of a sensibility test on bacteria in developing countries; Sixl-Voigt B et al.; Humans, animals and drinking water were examined for pathogenic germs in Sudan, Colombia and the Cap Verde Island . Samples taken from humans mainly consisted of wound,--throat,-- and vaginal swabs plus stools . From animals we took feces resp . anal swabs . All isolated bacterial strains were examined for their reaction to various chemotherapeutics . Gentamicine showed the most comprehensive effects . Co-trimoxazole was second best.

Immunol Lett, 1987 Jan, 14(2), 95 - 101
Bacteria-phagocyte interactions: Fusobacterium-induced secretion of a neutrophil self-regulatory factor; Seow WK et al.; Direct interaction between Fusobacterium nucleatum and human neutrophils resulted in the secretion of a neutrophil self-regulatory factor(s) . The secretion of this factor was bacteria specific, and depended on the integrity of the bacteria cell surface . Factor secretion occurred within 15 min of bacteria--neutrophil interaction . Pre-treatment of neutrophils with cytochalasin B but not sodium fluoride inhibited factor secretion . The factor was sensitive to trypsin and heat treatment . Ultrafiltration experiments showed that it has a molecular weight between 10,000 and 30,000 daltons . Its biologic role may be that of a molecular mediator for the recruitment of resting neutrophils so as to amplify the immunological and inflammatory response.

J Submicrosc Cytol, 1987 Jan, 19(1), 161 - 6
Chronic idiopathic vitritis . Cytopathogenicity of unusual bacteria for vitreous polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Johnson L et al.; In acute exacerbations of chronic idiopathic vitritis (CIV) non-cultivatable ultrastructurally unusual 0.5-0.7 micron cell walled coccal bacteria (B) are commonly present within phagolysosomes of 3-5% of vitreous polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes . Inoculation of that CIV vitreous into mouse eyelids produces chronic mouse vitritis (CMV) with identical B within CMV PMN leukocyte phagolysosomes . This transmission electron microscopic restudy of all PMN leukocytes in those 8 CIV and 3 CMV specimens demonstrated in all 11 severe cytoskeletal lytic damage associated with pleomorphic 0.1-1.4 micron cell wall deficient B in 1-2% of the cells; both those cell wall deficient and the unusual cell walled B within the same cell in 1-3 cells per specimens; and within the cell walled B complex internal structures resembling the cell wall deficient B . The study results suggest that the morphologically diverse B may be subportions of a single unusual pathogenic B, which parasitizes, undergoes complex morphologic differentiation within, and produces profound cytoskeletal damage to host PMN leukocytes.

Vet Surg, 1987 Jan-Feb, 16(1), 25 - 30
Scalpel blade contamination with skin bacteria during orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures in dogs; Straw RC et al.; Skin incision and internal incision scalpel blades used during 40 clean canine orthopedic or neurologic operations were cultured . A biopsy of skin was taken from the incision edge and cultured aerobically and anaerobically . Culture of five skin blades, eight skin biopsies, and nine deep dissection blades resulted in bacterial growth . Results indicate that the skin blade does not add significantly to bacterial inoculum contaminating clean wounds.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1987, 31(4), 435 - 40
An attempt to use the natural binding of bacteria to lymphocytes in examining atopic patients; Urbanek R; The termination of different subsets in apparently homogeneous cell population of T lymphocytes seems to be extremely important in the investigation of allergic diseases and can be of diagnostical use . It has been proved that the dysfunction of those subsets is very important pathogenetic mechanism of atopy . The existing technique using monoclonal antibodies to cell surface markers is rather expensive and has even some disadvantages . It has been published recently that some strains of bacteria were capable to bind spontaneously to human lymphocytes . Simultaneous use of more bacterial strains permitted to identify two B-cells and four T-cells subsets . The interaction of lectins on the lymphocyte surface and polysaccharide substances of the bacterial cell wall is supposed to be the mechanism of binding . In the present study an attempt was made to find out whether there is a difference in the binding of bacteria to lymphocytes between normal subjects and atopics and whether changes occur in this phenomenon after application of immunotherapy . It has been found that this qualitatively novel way of binding cannot be used for laboratory characterization of atopic subjects . No differences were observed in T-lymphocyte subsets identified by bacterial adherence between allergic and normal subjects . Immunotherapy failed to influence the binding . No correlation has been found with the method using monoclonal antibodies . Statistical evaluation revealed considerable dispersion of results obtained.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1987, 895(2), 63 - 79
How carotenoids function in photosynthetic bacteria; Cogdell RJ et al.; Carotenoids are essential for the survival of photosynthetic organisms . They function as light-harvesting molecules and provide photoprotection . In this review, the molecular features which determine the efficiencies of the various photophysical and photochemical processes of carotenoids are discussed . The behavior of carotenoids in photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers and light-harvesting complexes is correlated with data from experiments carried out on carotenoids and model systems in vitro . The status of the carotenoid structural determinations in vivo is reviewed.

Gene, 1987, 60(2-3), 175 - 82
Synthesis of an active hybrid growth factor (GF) in bacteria: transforming GF-alpha/vaccinia GF fusion protein; Purchio AF et al.; A hybrid gene encoding for a polypeptide consisting of the first 33 N-terminal amino acid (aa) residues of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and a C terminus consisting of 20 aa residues of vaccinia growth factor (VGF) was chemically synthesized and expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli . The primary structure of the hybrid gene product maintained the same positioning of the three disulfide bonds found in each parent molecule thus conserving the first two loop regions of TGF-alpha and the third loop region of VGF . After cleavage with CNBr its renatured biological activity was found to be comparable to TGF-alpha and VGF with respect to binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor, stimulation of DNA synthesis and induction of anchorage-independent growth of NRK cells in the presence of TGF-beta . Thus, we suggest that similar domains can be interchanged within the same family of molecules and equivalent functionality maintained.

Gene, 1987, 56(1), 137 - 44
Expression of Lassa virus nucleocapsid protein segments in bacteria: purification of high-level expression products and their application in antibody detection; Barber GN et al.; The Lassa virus nucleocapsid protein gene and segments from it were expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the lac promoter in pUC-based plasmids . Expression of the near full-length protein {amino acid (aa) residues 12-570} fused to an N-terminal sequence of vector-derived 6 aa was not particularly efficient, and neither was that of a smaller N-terminal segment (aa 6-201) which was also fused at its C terminus to the remainder of the lacZ gene product . By contrast, the C-terminal 370 aa could be expressed at levels approaching 10% of total cellular protein . All the recombinant proteins were associated with the insoluble fraction after sonication of the bacteria . The inefficiently expressed products did not appear to be any more susceptible to proteolytic degradation . The distribution of codons rarely used in E . coli genes was relatively uniform along the nucleocapsid gene sequence . These results are consistent with the regulation of transcriptional or translational efficiency by features of the sequence downstream from the promoter and ribosome-binding site . The C-terminal segment (aa 201-570 representing 65% of the authentic protein) was purified by ion exchange chromatography and shown to be active when used as antigen in enzyme-linked immunoassays for virus-specific antibodies.

Environ Mol Mutagen, 1987, 10(3), 317 - 37
Mutagenic and lethal effects of near-ultraviolet radiation (290-400 nm) on bacteria and phage; Eisenstark A; Despite decades of study of the effect of near-ultraviolet radiation (NUV) on bacterial cells, insights into mechanisms of deleterious alterations and subsequent recovery are just now emerging . These insights are based on observations that 1) damage by NUV may be caused by a reactive oxygen molecule, since H2O2 may be a photoproduct of NUV; 2) some, but not all, of the effects of NUV and H2O2 are interchangeable; 3) there is an inducible regulon (oxyR) that responds to oxidative stress and is involved in protection against NUV; 4) a number of NUV-sensitive mutants are defective either in the capacity to detoxify reactive oxygen molecules or to repair DNA damage caused by NUV; and 5) recovery from NUV damage may not directly involve induction of the SOS response . Since several distinctly different photoreceptors and targets are involved, it is unknown whether NUV lethality and mutagenesis result from an accumulation of damages or whether there is a particularly critical photoeffect . To fully understand the mechanisms involved, it is important to identify the chromophore(s) of NUV, the mechanism of toxic oxygen species generation, the role of the oxidative defense regulon (oxyR), the specific lesions in the DNA, and the enzymatic events of subsequent repair.

Microbios, 1987, 52(210), 39 - 49
Luciferin-luciferase assay of adenosine triphosphate from bacteria: a comparison of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and acetone with other solvents; Sheppard EP et al.; The extraction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from six strains of bacteria, chosen for differences in cell-wall composition and habitat, was performed . The solvents were two in common use, Tris-ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Tris-EDTA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and two promising, though less utilized solvents, dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and acetone . ATP was determined by the luciferin-luciferase reaction . Of the solvents used, DMSO and acetone were the most effective considering the different kinds of bacteria tested and, of these two, DMSO was the most convenient to use . Tris-EDTA was not as effective as the other solvents tested and TCA, which was effective with most strains, gave low yields when used with cultures grown in artificial seawater broth . Internal standards were used to determine if there were substances present that could inhibit the reaction of released ATP with the luciferin-luciferase reagent . Extracts of ATP, stored at -20 degrees C, were stable for up to 3 weeks.

Physiol Bohemoslov, 1987, 36(1), 75 - 81
Urease activity of adherent bacteria and rumen fluid bacteria; Javorsky P et al.; In experiments on six sheep fed on a low nitrogen diet (3.7 g N/day), urease (EC 3.5.1.5) activity (nkat X mg-1 bacterial dry weight) 3 h after feeding was found to be highest in the bacteria adhering to the rumen wall (13.25 +/- 2.10), lower in the rumen fluid bacteria (8.96 +/- 1.35) and lowest in the bacteria adhering to feed particles in the rumen (5.69 +/- 2.13) . The urease activity of bacteria adhering to the rumen wall and of the rumen fluid bacteria of six sheep fed on a high nitrogen diet (21 g N/day) was significantly lower than in sheep with a low N intake and in both cases was roughly the same (3.81 +/- 1.37 and 3.76 +/- 1.02 respectively); it was lowest in bacteria adhering to feed particles in the rumen (1.92 +/- 0.90) . It is concluded from the results that the urease activity of rumen fluid bacteria and of bacteria adhering to the rumen wall and to feed particles in the rumen is different and that it falls significantly in the presence of a high nitrogen intake . From the relatively high ureolytic activity of bacteria adhering to the rumen wall in the presence of a low nitrogen intake it is assumed that this is one of the partial mechanisms of the hydrolysis of blood urea entering the rumen across the rumen wall and of its reutilization in the rumen-liver nitrogen cycle in ruminants.

Physiol Bohemoslov, 1987, 36(5), 471 - 6
Glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase activity of the bacteria of the sheep's rumen after different nitrogen intake; Lenartova V et al.; In experiments on 18 sheep with a differentiated nitrogen intake (3.7, 6.2 and 21 g N/day), it was found that different enzyme activities--glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (NADH- and NADPH-dependent) and glutamine synthetase (GS)--of bacteria adhering to the rumen wall and to food particles and the rumen fluid bacteria altered in correlation to the nitrogen intake . With a nitrogen intake of 3.7-6.2 g/day there was a significant increase, and of 6.2-21 g/day a decrease, in NADH- and NADPH-dependent GDH activity in the three given bacterial fractions, with the exception of NADPH-dependent GDH activity of the rumen fluid bacteria of sheep given 3.7-6.2 g N/day, in which the difference was nonsignificant . GS activity was significantly higher only in adherent rumen wall bacteria in the presence of a nitrogen intake of 3.7-6.2-21 g/day . The results show that the effect of the nitrogen intake on the given enzyme activities is strongest in the case of bacteria adhering to the rumen wall . The high GS activity and low GDH activities in these bacteria during lower nitrogen intakes (3.7 g/day) as well as lower rumen ammonia concentration (2.39 +/- 0.98 mmol.l-1) indicate that bacteria adhering to the rumen wall utilize ammonia at an increased rate by means of CS catalyzed reactions . Reduced GDH activity in the presence of a high nitrogen intake (21 g/day) and the relatively high rumen ammonia concentration (36.63 +/- 5.28 mmol.l-1) indicate that ammonia inhibits this enzyme in the rumen bacteria in question.

Microbiol Sci, 1986 Dec, 3(12), 357 - 61
The superficial protein arrays on bacteria; Koval SF et al.; In nature, many bacteria possess a surface layer of regularly-structured protein subunits which is probably essential for survival in many ecological niches . These paracrystalline layers perform a variety of functions among the diverse groups of bacteria in which these superficial arrays have been detected.

J Virol, 1986 Dec, 60(3), 1075 - 84
Polyomavirus small t antigen: overproduction in bacteria, purification, and utilization for monoclonal and polyclonal antibody production; Pallas DC et al.; Polyomavirus small t antigen was purified from genetically engineered Escherichia coli and used as the immunogen for the production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies . A new series of plasmids for increased expression of polyomavirus T antigens or a T antigen-beta-galactosidase fusion protein was constructed by replacing sequences coding for the ribosome-binding site of previously published plasmids with a chemically synthesized sequence that has a higher degree of complementarity to the 3' end of the 16S rRNA . Cells expressing the fusion protein from the plasmid with the synthetic sequence contained 5- to 10-fold more fusion protein after a 3-h induction than did control cells . Pulse-labeling of cells bearing the new plasmids revealed that the T antigens were synthesized at high levels after induction: 10% of total synthesis for small t; 15% for Py-1387T middle T, a truncated mutant of middle T; and probably 1 to 5% for middle T . Small t and Py-1387T middle T, but not wild-type middle T, were seen as minor bands in total cell protein analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels stained with Coomassie blue . A simple, rapid procedure for purification of bacterial small t from the pellet of sonicated bacteria yielded 1 to 2 mg of small t per liter of bacterial culture at 80 to 90% homogeneity . High-titer polyclonal rabbit antisera raised against purified small t recognized all three T antigens and were suitable for immunoaffinity purification of middle T . Mouse monoclonal antibodies raised against bacterial small t were of four classes, immunoprecipitating either all three polyomavirus T antigens, small t and middle T only, primarily small t, or middle T and large T in preference to small t . One of the latter monoclonal antibodies also immunoprecipitated large T but not small t of simian virus 40, suggesting that the site recognized by this antibody may be functionally important . None of the monoclonal antibodies yielded an immunoprecipitate active in phosphorylating middle T in vitro.

Obstet Gynecol, 1986 Nov, 68(5), 587 - 92
Effect of amniotic fluid bacteria on the course of labor in nulliparous women at term; Silver RK et al.; Patients with intraamniotic infection have an increased rate of cesarean delivery . To determine whether bacterial colonization of amniotic fluid affects uterine activity or delivery outcome, serial amniotic fluid samples were collected from 41 nulliparous patients in active labor with ruptured membranes for longer than 12 hours . To define positive changes, these samples were divided arbitrarily by colony count change using an increase of less than 10(2) colony-forming units per milliliter; greater than or equal to 10(2) but less than 10(4) colony forming units per milliliter; or greater than or equal to 10(4) colony forming units per milliliter . Nineteen, seven, and 15 sample sets fulfilled these criteria, respectively . Comparing serial samples with these changes in colony count revealed no significant difference in ten labor and delivery variables . Based on virulence of the isolates identified, samples were then divided into high (N = 19) or low (N = 16) virulence in both samples . Compared with sample sets with persistently low-virulence organisms, sample sets with persistently high-virulence isolates had a lower cervical dilatation rate (0.49 +/- 0.39 versus 0.98 +/- 0.58 cm/hour, P = .04), despite an increased maximum oxytocin dose (10.0 +/- 8.0 versus 5.4 +/- 5.2 mU/minute, P = .03) . Controlling for birth weight, labor length, and epidural, magnesium sulfate, and oxytocin use, it was found that patients with high-virulence bacteria also had a higher cesarean section rate (57.9 versus 25.0%, P = .05) . These results support a causal relationship between high-virulence bacteria in the amniotic fluid and poor cervical dilatation response to oxytocin in patients at risk for the development of intrapartum infection.

Mikrobiologiia, 1986 Nov-Dec, 55(6), 949 - 52
{Survival of bacteria and the fate of Escherichia coli DNA in amino acid deficiency}; Rybkin AI et al.; The survival rate of an E . coli polyauxotrophous strain AB1157 and the behaviour of its DNA were studied when the strain was incubated for a long time at 43 degrees C in a medium deficient in glucose, phosphates and amino acids . Under these conditions, the survival rate fell down to 10%, but no cell lysis occurred . DNA synthesis stopped within the first two hours of starvation . Neither DNA degradation, despiralization nor decrease of its molecular weight could be detected during the entire starvation . Therefore, the death of E . coli cells under these conditions was not associated with DNA damages.

Radiobiologiia, 1986 Nov-Dec, 26(6), 829 - 32
{Action of the radiation from a neon laser and from noncoherent blue light on Escherichia coli bacteria}; Tiflova OA et al.; It was shown that under defined conditions blue light can accelerate E . coli WP2 growth . The stimulatory effect is a function of radiation dose, intensity wave length, and postirradiation incubation time.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1986 Nov-Dec, 22(6), 723 - 35
{Membrane mechanisms of excretion of physiologically active substances by bacteria (review)}; Plakunov VK; The review covers the evidence on the mechanisms of regulation of intracellular concentrations of low-molecular weight physiologically active substances, as well as of other intermediate or end metabolites by means of their excretion from bacterial cells . These processes can be considered as a particular level of metabolic regulation that can be called "membrane regulation".

EMBO J, 1986 Nov, 5(11), 3007 - 12
Role of sog polypeptides specified by plasmid ColIb-P9 and their transfer between conjugating bacteria; Merryweather A et al.; The sog gene of the conjugative plasmid ColIb-P9 specifies two sequence-related polypeptides with the N-terminal third of the larger product having DNA primase activity . To resolve the function of the C-terminal portion of the polypeptides, we constructed a ColIb mutant containing a Tn5 insertion in the 3' region of sog . The mutation truncated sog gene products without inactivating DNA primase and rendered the plasmid defective in conjugation . Tests for the presence of conjugative pili, for complementation by a sog+ recombinant, and for mobilization of small origin of transfer (oriT) recombinant plasmids indicated that the mutant ColIb allows conjugative aggregation of cells but it is defective in DNA transfer at some stage subsequent to its initiation at oriT . Physical evidence is given that normal sog polypeptides are among a group of proteins transferred selectively from the donor to the recipient cell by a conjugation-specific process . No transfer of the mutant sog proteins was detected . It is proposed that the C-terminal region of sog polypeptides facilitates transfer of single-stranded ColIb DNA between conjugating cells following initiation of transfer at the oriT site, and that in this role the proteins are transmitted to the recipient cell.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Oct, 18 Suppl C, 123 - 6
Do plasmids influence the survival of bacteria?
Bennett PM, Linton AH.
Bacterial plasmids may contribute to the fitness of a particular bacterial clone to survive in a specific environment . In many cases, however, the determinants that confer the advantage are unknown . The advantages to be gained from plasmid carriage appear to outweigh potential disadvantages imposed by an increased metabolic demand.

J Hyg (Lond), 1986 Oct, 97(2), 289 - 98
The dispersal of bacteria and skin scales from the body after showering and after application of a skin lotion; Hall GS et al.; Application of a skin lotion to the body after showering greatly reduced the number of bacteria and skin scales dispersed from 10 men and 10 women . This effect lasted for at least 4 h when surgical clothing was worn . The use of a skin lotion to reduce bacterial dispersal could provide a simple and inexpensive alternative to an ultraclean air system or uncomfortable operating clothing during surgery requiring these procedures.

J Hyg (Lond), 1986 Oct, 97(2), 255 - 63
Plasmids in group JK coryneform bacteria isolated in a single hospital; Kerry-Williams SM et al.; Investigation of 39 JK-type coryneform isolates from patients at a single hospital revealed that 23 possessed plasmids, which formed six groups on restriction endonuclease analysis . Four of the groups were associated with production of similar bacteriocin-like substances, and shared a minimum of 6.4 kilobase pairs of DNA . These plasmids, found in isolates from different patients, provide strong direct evidence that person-to-person transmission of JK bacteria had occurred within the hospital.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Sep, 83(18), 6907 - 11
Homologous ribosomal proteins in bacteria, yeast, and humans; Chen IT et al.; We describe sequences of two human ribosomal proteins, S14 and S17, and messenger RNAs that encode them . cDNAs were used as molecular hybridization probes to recognize complementary genes in rodent, Drosophila, and yeast chromosomal DNAs . Human ribosomal protein sequences are compared to analogous Chinese hamster, yeast, and bacterial genes . Our observations suggest that some ribosomal protein genes have been conserved stringently in the several phylogenetic lines examined . These genes apparently were established early in evolution and encode products that are fundamental to the translational apparatus . Other ribosomal protein genes examined, although similar enough to heterologous DNA sequences to indicate their structural relationships, appear to have diverged substantially during evolution, probably reflecting adaptations to different genetic environments.

J R Soc Med, 1986 Sep, 79(9), 520 - 1
Incidence of conjunctival colonization by bacteria capable of causing postoperative endophthalmitis; Walker CB et al.; Increased awareness of the range of pathogens capable of causing postoperative endophthalmitis prompted a study of the conjunctival flora in 100 patients admitted for intraocular surgery . Bacteria capable of causing endophthalmitis were present in 74% of these patients, a much higher proportion than previously documented . No correlation was found with blockage of the nasolacrimal duct.

J Gen Virol, 1986 Sep, 67 ( Pt 9), 1909 - 16
The expression of human papillomavirus type 18 E6 protein in bacteria and the production of anti-E6 antibodies; Matlashewski G et al.; Human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV-18) has recently been closely linked with human malignant cervical lesions . The early region of the genome of the related bovine papillomavirus (BPV) has been shown to be important for the production of the transformed phenotype . BPV E6 has been shown to be a transforming protein . We report the primary structure of the HPV-18 E6 open reading frame and its predicted amino acid sequence . Both E6 protein and E6-beta-galactosidase fusion protein were synthesized in bacteria . Antisera were raised against the E6-beta-galactosidase fusion protein and against an E6 N-terminal peptide which was 14 amino acids long . We show that these antisera reacted on Western blots against E6 synthesized in bacteria . The HPV E6 antigen and antibodies described here will be useful in understanding HPV expression and its association with human malignancies and may also be diagnostically useful.

Lancet, 1986 Aug 30, 2(8505), 481 - 3
Transmission of chronic idiopathic vitritis in mice by inoculation of human vitreous containing leucocyte phagolysosomal bacteria-like bodies; Wirostko E et al.; Vitreous humour from chronic idiopathic vitritis (CIV) patients containing 0.5-0.7 micron diameter bacteria-like bodies (BLB) in polymorphonuclear leucocytes was inoculated into the eyelids of 100 mice . 200 control mice received either eye-bank vitreous or saline . After 12 months, 53 mice that received CIV vitreous, but none of the controls, had clinical signs of ocular inflammation (p less than 0.05); 15 of the mice that received CIV vitreous and none of the controls had histological evidence of chronic deep ocular inflammation, including vitritis (p less than 0.05); 95 CIV-vitreous-inoculated and 38 control mice were dead (p less than 0.05); and 3/3 of the CIV-vitreous group, compared with 0/3 controls, that were killed for histological assessment had phagolysosomal BLB identical to those in the CIV-vitreous inocula . The findings indicate that the BLB are pathogenic for mice.

J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Aug, 132 ( Pt 8), 2167 - 77
Photoactive retinal pigments in haloalkaliphilic bacteria; Bivin DB et al.; Light-induced fast transient absorbance changes were detected by time-resolved spectroscopy in 38 of 51 haloalkaliphilic isolates from alkaline salt lakes in Kenya and the Wadi Natrun in Egypt . They indicate the presence of two retinal pigments, Pf and Ps, which undergo cyclic photoreactions with half-times of 2 ms and 500 ms respectively . Pf absorbs maximally near 580 nm and Ps near 500 nm . The pigments differ in their sensitivity to hydroxylamine and detergent bleaching and the photoreactions of Pf are strongly dependent on chloride concentration . Of the 38 pigment-containing strains, 29 possess both Pf and Ps, 9 possess only Ps . Inhibition of retinal synthesis with nicotine blocks pigment formation and addition of retinal restores it . Hydroxylamine-bleached pigments can be reconstituted with retinal or retinal analogues . Their similarity to the retinal pigments of Halobacterium halobium strongly suggests that they are also rhodopsin-like retinyledene proteins . Pf in all properties tested is almost identical to halorhodopsin, the light-driven chloride pump of H . halobium, and may serve the same function in the haloalkaliphiles . Ps has photocycle kinetics similar to sensory rhodopsin and a far-blue-shifted long-lived photocycle intermediate, but its ground state absorption maximum is near 500 nm instead of 587 nm . We have not found a bacteriorhodopsin-like pigment in the haloalkaliphiles.

J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Aug, 24(2), 240 - 4
Levels of interferon in blood serum and toxicity studies of bacteria-derived bovine alpha I1 interferon in dairy calves; Gillespie JH et al.; This paper reports information on the levels of interferon (IFN) in the blood serum of dairy calves given 10(6) U of bacteria-derived bovine alpha I1 interferon per kg of body weight by intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.), subcutaneous (s.c.), and intranasal (i.n.) routes . Highest levels (10,000 U/ml) in the vesicular stomatitis viral assay system were obtained after i.v . administration and occurred within 30 min of a dose; levels rapidly declined thereafter to a low of 200 to 300 U/ml by 24 h . Serum inhibitory activity against vesicular stomatitis virus in this range is sometimes found in normal dairy calves . Levels after i.m . and s.c . administration were similar: a plateau of 1,000 to 2,000 U/ml between 2 and 8 h after a treatment with a decline to 200 to 300 U/ml by 24 h . Serum IFN was not detected after i.n . dosing or in the control group given physiological buffered saline by the i.m . route . A transitory moderate febrile response, but no other clinical adverse effects, was noted after the first intramuscular dose of IFN, but not after subsequent i.m . doses . No clinical signs were noted after i.v., s.c., or i.n . dosing or in the control calves given physiological buffered saline intramuscularly . After i.v., s.c., and i.m . administration of IFN, leukopenia, neutropenia, and lymphocytopenia were observed; these were most prominent within the first 24 h after the initial dose of IFN.

J Am Dent Assoc, 1986 Aug, 113(2), 291 - 2
Hand asepsis: the efficacy of different soaps in the removal of bacteria from sterile, gloved hands; Gobetti JP et al.; The study showed that washing a gloved hand removed significant amounts of bacteria . If the proper soap or scrub is used, the gloved hand will be free of bacteria . It is suggested that all dental personnel wear gloves to protect themselves and to prevent cross-contamination of other patients.

Virology, 1986 Aug, 153(1), 35 - 45
Expression of reovirus p14 in bacteria and identification in the cytoplasm of infected mouse L cells; Ceruzzi M et al.; Reovirus genome segment S1 is transcribed by the virion-associated polymerase to form a single mRNA species that codes for two polypeptides: the 49-kDa cell-attachment protein, sigma 1, starting from the first A-U-G in the S1 transcript, and a 14-kDa nonstructural, basic protein initiated from the second A-U-G in a different reading frame (Ernst and Shatkin, 1985; Jacobs et al., 1985; Shatkin, 1985) . To confirm that p14 is made in reovirus-infected cells, determine its intracellular location, and generate sufficient amounts of the polypeptide to begin an analysis of its presumptive role in the virus life cycle, the p14 coding sequence of an S1 cDNA clone was subcloned into the EcoRI site downstream of the lambda PL promoter in the bacterial expression vector, pEV-vrf1 . The vector was modified to align the ribosome binding site with the p14 initiator codon, and transcription was placed under control of lambda cIts in a compatible plasmid . Transformed Escherichia coli RRI incubated at 42 degrees produced a new polypeptide of approximately 14 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE . This polypeptide reacted specifically with rabbit antisera made against synthetic peptides corresponding to exposed regions of authentic p14 as predicted from the S1 cDNA sequence . Antipeptide sera also precipitated a approximately 14-kDa polypeptide in lysates of reovirus-infected mouse L cells, demonstrating the synthesis of p14 in vivo . Immunofluorescence experiments indicate that p14 accumulates in the cytoplasm of infected L cells.

Infect Control, 1986 Aug, 7(8), 403 - 7
Bubbling humidifiers produce microaerosols which can carry bacteria; Rhame FS et al.; It is widely held that bubbling humidifiers do not produce microaerosols, although prior studies have resulted in conflicting evidence . We have studied this phenomenon in a clean room using an airborne particle counter and samplers for airborne bacteria . At gas flow rates between 10 and 80 L/min, a Cascade 1 humidifier produced between 460 and 999 water droplets/L humidified gas . Total water volume aerosolized was approximately 10(-8) ml/L humidified gas . Seventy-three percent of the particles had diameters between 1 and 5 microns . With the reservoir containing 6.4 X 10(6) P . aeruginosa/ml, it produced between 2 and 9 P . aeruginosa/L humidified gas . Most of the bacteria were in particles of a size likely to be deposited in the lung . This bacterial carry-over was between 20 and 150 times the amount predicted by multiplication of the water volume aerosolized times the concentration of bacteria in the humidifier reservoir . An Air Life humidifier produced fewer particles which were also of a size likely to be deposited in the lung and, when the reservoir contained P . aeruginosa, it aerosolized bacteria . Wick-type humidifiers did not produce detectable aerosol or bacterial carry-over . Although the clinical significance of these findings has not been established, they provide a rationale for the CDC recommendations for procedures designed to keep bubbling humidifier reservoir water uncontaminated.

Arch Dis Child, 1986 Aug, 61(8), 732 - 8
Clinical features of acute gastroenteritis associated with rotavirus, enteric adenoviruses, and bacteria; Uhnoo I et al.; In a prospective one year study, comprising children with acute gastroenteritis admitted to hospital or treated as outpatients, the clinical and laboratory features of rotavirus diarrhoea (168 cases) were compared with those of enteric adenovirus (32 cases), bacterial (42), mixed (16), and non-specific (135) infections . The rotavirus disease was remarkably consistent, with a sudden onset of vomiting, a high frequency of fever and dehydration, and a mean duration of diarrhoea of 5.9 days . Outpatients excreting rotavirus had a similar but milder illness, mainly on account of less pronounced vomiting . The predominant symptom of enteric adenoviruses was long lasting diarrhoea (mean 10.8 days) . Abdominal pain, bloody stools, prolonged diarrhoea (mean 14.1 days), leucocytosis, and a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate strongly suggested a bacterial aetiology . Mixed infections caused longer lasting diarrhoea (mean 8.0 days) than rotavirus alone, but the severity of the illness was not increased . The clinical features of infection with unidentified pathogens most resembled those of bacterial infections . Respiratory symptoms were not significantly associated with any particular pathogen . Hypernatraemia and complications were uncommon . This study showed that the clinical features of gastroenteritis with rotavirus, enteric adenoviruses, and bacteria each exhibited patterns that could guide the experienced clinician to a presumptive diagnosis.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1986 Jul, 35(3), 357 - 61
{Circadian rhythm of air-borne bacteria and dust particles in a mouse breeding room}; Obara T et al.; The circadian rhythm of air-borne bacteria and dust particles in a mice breeding room was studied at 1-hour intervals on the first, third and fifth day after accommodation of the animals . The numbers of air-borne bacteria in the room increased day by day after accommodation, and showed a circadian rhythm which went down at about noon and rose with three peaks at about 20:00, 1:00 and 8:00 . The numbers of dust particles tended to decrease from day to day, and they showed almost the same circadian rhythm as the air-borne bacteria . Correlations between air-borne bacteria and dust particles were not significant for each particle level on the first day, but were significant for all the particle levels of 0.3, 1, 2, and 5 microns at the third day, and were also significant at particles levels of 0.5 micron or more on the fifth day.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1986 Jul, 35(3), 293 - 7
{Filter efficiency of commercial face masks in capturing particles and airborne bacteria}; Minakami K et al.; The filter efficiency of seven kinds of commercial face mask for particles and airborne bacteria was tested in the wash room of a laboratory animal facility . The filter efficiency of the masks was 19 to 50%, as measured by the weight of particles with diameters below 10 micron, 22 to 71% for particles of the 0.3 micron level, 47 to 90% for the 1 micron level, and 90 to 99.6% for the 5 micron level . The filter efficiency for airborne bacteria was 35 to 81% . Among these even masks tested, glasswool surgery masks, three-sheet synthetic fiber masks with and without charcoal, and 28-sheet gauze masks with glass filter showed generally high efficiency, and single-sheet synthetic fiber masks, 18-sheet of gauze masks and gas masks showed low efficiency.

Genetics, 1986 Jul, 113(3), 775 - 95
Niche expansion in bacteria: can infectious gene exchange affect the rate of evolution?
Evans R.
Recombination occurs by infectious gene transfer in bacteria, at rates much lower than recombination by sexual reproduction in other organisms . Thus, recombination may accelerate evolution in bacteria only under restricted conditions, such as occur when mutations at several loci are required for the evolution of an expanded ecological niche . Mathematical ("chemostat") models of several such cases--evolution of independence from three limiting essential or "interactive-essential" resources; evolution of the ability to use three new substitutable resources; and evolution of resistance to three growth inhibitors--were analyzed by computer simulation . All combinations of three mutation rates (U) and four values for the "infectious gene transfer rate parameter" (chi) were considered . Recombination accelerated evolution most when U was low and chi was high, but was unlikely to have large effects when chi was low enough to be realistic for natural populations of Escherichia coli . Recombination had the largest effects when resources were substitutable, and in that case could have substantially reduced the chance of random loss of the favored "triple mutant" while it was still rare . The simulations also revealed some interesting features of selection for an expanded niche . Evolution of independence from essential resources occurred more rapidly when the resources were weakly complementary than when they did not interact . Selection for the ability to use all substitutable resources was weak after all intermediate types that used only one or two of the resources had arisen.

Gut, 1986 Jun, 27(6), 698 - 704
Incidence of methanogenic bacteria in a sigmoidoscopy population: an association of methanogenic bacteria and diverticulosis; Weaver GA et al.; This study determined the incidence and concentration of methane-producing bacteria in tap water enema samples of 130 individuals taken before sigmoidoscopy . The number of subjects classified in five major colonic groups were as follows: normal colon 36, diverticulosis 57, inflammatory bowel disease 11, colon polyps 34, and colon cancer 11 . Some patients were placed in more than one category . Ninety four of the subjects or 72% had methanogenic bacteria ranging in concentration from 6 to about 3 X 10(10)/g dry weight of faeces . The predominant methanogen in all groups was Methanobrevibacter smithii . Chi-square analysis showed that the incidence of methanogens in concentrations of 10(7)/g dry weight of faeces or greater in patients with diverticulosis (58%) was significantly greater than in normal patients (25%) . High methanogen concentrations are associated with excretion of methane in the breath.

Food Chem Toxicol, 1986 Jun-Jul, 24(6-7), 685 - 91
Detection of mutations in bacteria and of DNA damage and amplified DNA sequences in mammalian cells as a systematic test strategy for elucidating biological activities of chemical carcinogens; Pool BL et al.; The interdisciplinary evaluation of risks from carcinogens utilizes, inter alia, data on the activities of the compounds in short-term assays . A systematic approach is being used to determine mutagenesis in bacteria (the study of direct activities and specific modes of metabolic activation), DNA damage within primary mammalian cells (DNA single-strand breaks and persistence of damage, by a method extendable to the in vivo situation) and amplified DNA sequences in cultured cells (as an endpoint probably relevant to carcinogenesis) . This test combination was expected to reduce some of the shortcomings of other batteries of tests, which suffer from a lack of appropriate metabolic conversion of compounds, irrelevancy of genetic endpoints and pharmacokinetic limitations . Furthermore, as each assay in the test strategy differs from the others only by one of the parameters described above, a reasonable understanding of divergent test results from assay to assay was anticipated . Several substances were investigated to elucidate why their activities in short-term assays and in carcinogenesis experiments do not correlate . The substances were N-nitrodimethylamine, for which formaldehyde is the reactive intermediate in bacterial mutagenesis but not in mammalian cells or in vivo, N-nitrosodiethanolamine, a carcinogen that must be activated by external alcohol dehydrogenase to be mutagenic in bacteria, N-nitrosodialkylamines, with unique organotropism in vivo for which organ-specific activation was studied in vitro, N-nitroso compounds that are inactivated in vivo but not in vitro, and components of the aristolochic acid mixture which may be metabolized oxidatively or reductively, as well as numerous miscellaneous compounds that were expected to be genotoxins on account of their chemical structure . In addition to the assessment of genotoxicity, the results obtained in individual tests of this strategy yield important data on mechanisms of activity, such as organ-specific activation and deactivation, species variations, in vitro/in vivo correlation and persistence or repair of damage.

Toxicol Lett, 1986 Jun, 31(3), 183 - 8
In vitro activation of isophosphamide and trophosphamide to metabolites mutagenic for bacteria; Della Morte R et al.; The ability of S9 liver fractions from uninduced rats to activate isophosphamide (IP) and trophosphamide (TP) to metabolites mutagenic for bacteria was compared to that of S9 fractions prepared from rats pretreated in vivo with three inducers of hepatic monooxygenase . Pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital (PB) and Aroclor 1254 increased IP and TP mutagenic activation by S9 fractions as compared to control and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-induced rat liver S9 . Furthermore, the effect of mixed-function oxidase inhibitors, such as alpha-naphthoflavone, metyrapone and SKF 525-A on S9-mediated mutagenic activation of IP and TP was investigated . The data obtained suggest the involvement of a PB-inducible form of cytochrome P-450 in the activation of IP and TP to mutagenic species.

FEBS Lett, 1986 May 5, 200(1), 117 - 22
Altered heat-shock response in polyamine-depleted bacteria; Miret JJ et al.; A polyamine-auxotrophic mutant of E . coli was cultivated in the presence or absence of putrescine and submitted to heat shock over 3 different ranges of temperature . In all cases, protein synthetic capacity measured in comparison to that of cultures at the preshift temperature was much higher in polyamine-depleted bacteria under thermic stress . Addition of putrescine only before the shift-up was able to restore gradually normal control of the relative protein synthetic capacity.

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1986 May-Jun, 27(3), 286 - 7
Failure to culture bacteria in groin lymph nodes during arterial reconstruction; Matthews MG et al.; A prospective trial was undertaken to establish if infection of groin lymph nodes was a significant risk factor in postoperative wound infection in patients undergoing groin dissection for arterial reconstruction surgery . In a series of 32 patients there was no growth on culture of any lymph nodes biopsied . None of the cases developed a post-operative infection discharging pus . In five cases minor superficial infections occurred from which bacteria were cultured . All resolved rapidly . All patients received prophylactic systemic antibiotics . We conclude that our present direct approach via a short vertical incision carries no increased risk of infection and has the advantage of speed and simplicity . It is unnecessary to make any special more complicated incision designed to avoid lymphatics.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1986 May-Jun, 69(3), 527 - 31
Enumeration of total bacteria and coliforms in milk by dry rehydratable film methods: collaborative study; Ginn RE et al.; Eleven laboratories participated in a collaborative study to compare the dry rehydratable film (Petrifilm SM and Petrifilm VRB) methods, respectively, to the standard plate count (SPC) and violet red bile agar (VRBA) standard methods for estimation of total bacteria and coliform counts in raw and homogenized pasteurized milk . Each laboratory analyzed 16 samples (8 different samples in blind duplicate) for total count by both the SPC and Petrifilm SM methods . A second set of 16 samples was analyzed by the VRBA and Petrifilm VRB methods . The repeatability standard deviations (the square root of the between-replicates variance) of the SPC, Petrifilm SM, VRBA, and Petrifilm VRB methods were 0.05104, 0.0444, 0.14606, and 0.13806, respectively; the reproducibility standard deviations were 0.7197, 0.06380, 0.15326, and 0.13806, respectively . The difference between the mean log10 SPC and the mean log10 Petrifilm SM results was 0.027 . For the VRBA and Petrifilm VRB methods, the mean log10 difference was 0.013 . These results generally indicate the suitability of the dry rehydratable film methods as alternatives to the SPC and VRBA methods for milk samples . The methods have been adopted official first action.

Microbiol Sci, 1986 May, 3(5), 149 - 53
Biotechnological applications of carboxydotrophic bacteria; Williams E et al.; Carbon monoxide (CO) is a widespread pollutant and a hazard to man because of its extremely toxic nature . It is a major component of some industrial gas mixtures and may be derived from coal . The carboxydotrophic bacteria obtain energy and carbon from the oxidation of CO . These organisms may be used to produce new metabolites, and the oxidases from them may be used to produce fuel cells and biosensors for CO.

Avian Dis, 1986 Apr-Jun, 30(2), 352 - 7
Clearance of bacteria in turkeys with Bordetella avium-induced tracheitis; Ficken MD et al.; Quantitative clearance of aerosolized Escherichia coli from the trachea, lung, and air sacs was measured in turkeys infected with Bordetella avium . Clearance of E . coli in turkeys with B . avium-induced tracheitis was minimally affected early in infection . Sixteen to 23 days after infection with B . avium, sporadic, mild depressions in clearance of E . coli were observed in the tracheas, which had large areas of deciliated tracheal epithelium or replacement of normal epithelium by immature hyperplastic epithelium or metaplastic squamous epithelium . Clearance of E . coli from the lung and air sacs was minimally affected in turkeys infected with B . avium.

Microbiol Sci, 1986 Apr, 3(4), 117 - 20
The molecular biology of symbiotic bacteria of aphididae; Ishikawa H et al.; The aphid endosymbiont has a genome larger than that of E . coli, with a high adenine and thymine content . Though the symbiont can synthesize several hundred proteins in vitro, intracellularly it concentrates on producing only one protein, symbionin, which is not among those synthesized extracellularly.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1986 Mar, 162(3), 248 - 52
Increased survival from peritonitis after blockade of transdiaphragmatic absorption of bacteria; Dumont AE et al.; Based upon the knowledge that bacteria in the peritoneal cavity gain access to circulating blood by way of transdiaphragmatic absorption into lymph, a study was carried out to determine whether this absorption protects or endangers the host . Blockade of absorption produced by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) or by scarification of the peritoneal surface of the diaphragm increased survival time in rats with double colonic perforation from 20 per cent in control rats to 86 and 93 per cent, respectively . Each of these maneuvers significantly increased the number of negative blood culture findings.

Biochimie, 1986 Mar, 68(3), 367 - 74
Structure and function of the ATPase-ATP synthase complex of mitochondria as compared to chloroplasts and bacteria; Godinot C et al.; An overview of the structure and function of the mitochondrial ATPase-ATP synthase complex is presented . Attempts are made to identify the analogies and differences between mitochondrial, chloroplastic and bacterial complexes . The relatively more precise information available on the structure of the E . coli enzyme is used to try and understand the apparently more complex structure of the mitochondrial enzyme . Recent ideas on the mechanism of ATP hydrolysis and ATP synthesis will be summarized.

FEBS Lett, 1986 Feb 17, 196(2), 193 - 7
A plausible mechanism for flagellar rotation in bacteria; Wagenknecht T; A novel model for the action of the flagellar motor of bacteria is presented in which rotational motion is produced by conformational changes in a helically or rotationally symmetric multi-subunit component of the basal body . The model is consistent with the known properties of the motor, including its ability to rotate equally well clockwise and counterclockwise . Formally, the model is similar to mechanisms that have been proposed for other biologic transducers of free energy, such as active transporters.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 376 - 8
Reduction of cephamycin concentrations at the infection site in mice with experimental peritoneal infection caused by cephalosporinase-producing bacteria; Minami S et al.; In an experimental model of peritoneal infection by cephalosporinase- (Ia and Ic) producing bacteria in mice, the reduction of cefoxitin, cefmetazole, and cefazolin concentrations in peritoneal fluid was observed in the mice infected with the Ia enzyme producer, whereas cefbuperazone concentrations were not reduced.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1986 Jan 28, 848(1), 69 - 76
A new bacteriochlorophyll a-protein complex associated with chlorosomes of green sulfur bacteria; Gerola PD et al.; Chlorosomes were prepared from Chlorobium limicola f . thiosulfatophilum by sucrose density gradient centrifugation . Cells broken in the presence of 2 M NaSCN yielded three chlorosome fractions in the gradient: low density (no sucrose), medium density (approx . 18% sucrose), and high density (approx . 26% sucrose) . All fractions were stable at any chlorosome concentration . Cells broken in the absence of 2 M NaSCN also yielded three fractions, but only the high-density fraction contained stable chlorosomes . The medium-density chlorosomes were stable only when highly concentrated . Upon dilution, bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c was degraded to bacteriopheophytin c and concomitantly a band at 794 nm (BChl a) was revealed . Two 794-nm fractions were observed with the same densities as low- and medium-density chlorosomes . The protein composition of the 794-nm fractions was similar to that of the stable chlorosome fractions . All showed a 4-5 kDa (Mr) protein as a major component, but no trace of the 40-kDa protein characteristic of the water-soluble BChl a-protein of green sulfur bacteria . BChl a was present in all types of chlorosomes, in stable chlorosomes the BChl c/BChl a ratio was approx . 90 . A special BChl a-protein (794 nm) inside the chlorosome is postulated to mediate energy transfer from BChl c to the water-soluble BChl a-protein in the baseplate.

Biofizika, 1986 Jan-Feb, 31(1), 94 - 8
{The effect of cosmo-helio-geophysical factors on the agglutination of bacteria in vitro}; Opalinskaia AM et al.; A correlation between intensity of neutronal component of cosmic rays and typhoid bacteria agglutination was revealed . Agglutination speed dependence on season, polarity of interplanetary magnetic field, geomagnetic storms, Sun's revolution was shown . An assumption is made about an important role of the magnetic fields in the phenomena observed.

Langenbecks Arch Chir, 1986, 368(4), 249 - 54
{Bacteria in the gallbladder wall and gallstones--indications for cholecystectomy}; Hancke E et al.; After cholecystectomy the bacterial content of the bile, gallbladder wall and gallstones was studied in 40 patients . Bacteria could be found in 9 cases in the gallbladder wall, in 8 cases in the gallstones and in 3 cases in the bile . In chronic inflammatory thickened gallbladder wall bacteria were positive in 8 of 14 cases whereas in normal gallbladders bacteria were found only in 3 of 26 cases (difference statistically significant, P = 0.01) . It is concluded that in gallstone disease bacteria are not only present in bile but also in the gallbladder wall and within the gallstones . As bacteria are mostly present in a gallbladder wall with chronical inflammatory changes a thickened gallbladder should be removed even in asymptomatic or slightly symptomatic cases of gallstone disease in order to prevent relapsing cholecystitis.

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(8), 499 - 504
Mercury methylation by bacteria; Trevors JT; Bacteria capable of methylating Hg2+ have been isolated from sediment, water, soil and the gastrointestinal tract of humans . However, very little is known about the physiology and genetics of the mechanisms controlling Hg2+ methylation . Mercury methylation can be either chromosomal or plasmid-encoded in bacteria . In addition, the extent of nonbiological methylation is not well understood in environmental samples, where there are numerous physical, chemical and biological factors that control the methylation process . It is known that methylation of Hg2+ is mediated by a series of enzymatic reactions that are also responsible for the anaerobic evolution of methane . However, under highly reduced environments the reaction can also occur nonbiologically . It is possible that certain bacteria use methylation as a resistance/detoxification mechanism.

Neoplasma, 1986, 33(4), 457 - 63
Results of genotoxicity testing of theophylline on bacteria and two lines of mammalian cells; Slamenova D et al.; In study of the genotoxic effects of theophylline, this substance was subjected to a series of tests . Its potential mutagenicity was followed at the level of both bacteria and mammalian cells . The capacity of the substance to damage human DNA was determined by the so-called DNA inhibition test and by the method of alkaline elution of DNA . In the absence of the enzymatic microsomal S9 fraction, theophylline showed very weak mutagenic effects on bacteria and mammalian cells . However, in both cases this weak mutagenic effect was eliminated through a simultaneous application of theophylline and the S9 fraction . The results of the remaining tests proved negative regardless of whether the S9 fraction was present or absent . Our results lead us to infer that theophylline exerts no genotoxic action under in vivo conditions.

J Biol Stand, 1986 Jan, 14(1), 45 - 56
The quantitative and useful expression of the hardness of agar plate medium for mycoplasmas and bacteria; Kihara K et al.; A method for quantitative expression of the hardness of agar plate medium was studied . As the method for expressing the hardness by using real values of the load which an agar plate medium could sustain for a certain length of time was found to be inaccurate, we proposed a method to express the hardness by utilizing the frequency with which various loads were sustained for a given period of time and the obtained value is referred to as 'gel solidity' (GS) . The GS value within a certain range was found to be statistically useful because it linearly reflected the changes in variables in experimental conditions in respect to agar, such as agar concentration, thickness of the agar layer and the temperature of the environment, and especially because it can provide a quantitative as well as reproducible value for the hardness of agar plate medium . On the other hand, GS was little, if at all, affected by variables unrelated to agar.

Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1986, 167(1-2), 42 - 6
{Incidence and significance of lung diseases caused by tuberculosis bacteria and atypical mycobacteria in East Germany}; Kappler W et al.; The number of new cases of pulmonary mycobacterial diseases registered in the GDR was 1,574 in the year 1982, 1,525 in 1983, and 1,404, as a preliminary result, in 1984 . That is an incidence rate per 100,000 population of 9.4, 9.1, and 8.4, respectively . In 1982 Mycobacterium bovis was isolated in 4.6% of all newly diagnosed pulmonary cases, and in 1983 and 1984 a certain decrease became evident, namely to 3.5 and 3.1%, respectively . The number of patients with recognized diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria was 20 in 1982 and 33 in 1983, which equals 1.3 and 2.2%, respectively, of the newly diagnosed bacillary cases . In causing a mycobacteriosis M . kansasii is the most important potential pathogenic species of nontuberculous mycobacteria, followed by M . xenopi . Nine tenths of the patients with mycobacteriosis were men . About eighty per cent of the male patients were older than 50 years . The absolute number of newly diagnosed lung diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria in the GDR was nearly the same during the last years: there were 20 to 33 patients per year.

Acta Morphol Hung, 1986, 34(3), 209 - 15
Electron microscopic demonstration of viruses and bacteria in cardiac myocytes from victims of sudden cardiac death; Tsiplenkova VG et al.; In 7 men and 1 woman who died suddenly the functionally important areas of myocardium in the sino-auricular area and the subendocardial layers of left ventricle were obtained by necropsy no more than 3 h after death, and then prepared for study by electron microscopy . In three cases of five, in whom the cause of death was cardiovascular insufficiency, viral particles and bacteria were identified . In three other cases of sudden non-cardiac death they were not found . Viruses were found only in working cardiomyocytes, but near the sinus node . Bacteria were found in left ventricular subendocardium . Intercellular junctions between virus-damaged myocytes and intact cells were preserved . Based upon the functionally important sites where they were found, associated degeneration near them, and preservation of contacts among myocardial cells there, viruses and bacterial infections may play an important role in the patho-physiologic events leading to some cases of sudden death.

Acta Histochem Suppl, 1986, 33, 139 - 45
Structures of liposome membranes as models for similar features of cytoplasmic membranes of bacteria; Sternberg B et al.; To characterize a special kind of membrane structure, visible in the cytoplasmic membranes of a Streptomyces hygroscopicus strain, liposome membranes were prepared from their extracted lipid mixture and from their lipid fractions (phospholipids, glycolipids, neutral lipids) and investigated by freeze-fracture electron microscopy . Liposome membranes made of the extracted lipid mixture reveal this special membrane structure, named wafer structure, from its regular pattern of bulges (30-40 nm in diameter) . That is the proof that this membrane feature is a lipid structure . Liposome membranes prepared from the lipid fractions show the wafer structure if they are made of the phospholipid fraction only or in combination of this fraction with one or both of the other lipid fractions, indicating that wafer structure formation is primarily connected with the phospholipid content of the membranes . The glycolipid- and neutral lipid fractions amplify this phospholipid structure only . Additional to the wafer structure a raspberry structure with bulges of 55-65 nm in diameter is visible in some case . Obviously both structures are related.

Biochimie, 1986 Jan, 68(1), 55 - 61
The pH dependence of proton-deuterium exchange, hydrogen production and uptake catalyzed by hydrogenases from sulfate-reducing bacteria; Lespinat PA et al.; Different patterns have been found in the pH dependence of hydrogenase activity with enzymes purified from different species of Desulfovibrio . With the cytoplasmic hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio baculatus strain 9974, the pH optima in H2 production and uptake were respectively 4.0 and 7.5 with a higher activity in production than in uptake . The highest D2-H+ exchange activity was found also at pH 4.0 but the optima differed for the HD and the H2 components . Both similarly rose when the pH decreased from 9.0 to 4.5, but the rate of H2 evolution slowed whereas the HD evolution continued rising till pH values around 3.0 were reached . The H2 to HD ratio at pH above 4.5 was higher than one . With the periplasmic hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, the highest exchange activity was near pH 5.5, the same value as in hydrogen production . The periplasmic hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio gigas had in contrast the same pH optimum in the exchange (7.5-8.0) as in the H2 uptake . The ratio of H2 to HD was below one for both enzymes . These different patterns may be related to functional and structural differences in the three hydrogenases so far studied, particularly in the composition of their catalytic centers.

J Membr Biol, 1986, 89(2), 113 - 25
Bioenergetics of alkalophilic bacteria; Krulwich TA; The central problem for organisms which grow optimally, and in some cases obligately, at pH values of 10 to 11, is the maintenance of a relatively acidified cytoplasm . A key component of the pH homeostatic mechanism is an electrogenic Na+/H+ antiporter which--by virtue of kinetic properties and/or its concentration in the membrane--catalyzes net proton uptake while the organisms extrude protons during respiration . The antiporter is also capable of maintaining a constant pHin during profound elevations in pHout as long as Na+ entry is facilitated by the presence of solutes which are taken up with Na+ . Secondary to the problem of acidifying the interior is the adverse effect of the large pH gradient, acid in, on the total pmf of alkalophile cells . For the purposes of solute uptake and motility, the organisms appear to largely bypass the problem of a low pmf by utilizing a sodium motive force for energization . However, ATP synthesis appears not to resolve the energetics problem by using Na+ or by incorporating the proton-translocating ATPase into intracellular organelles . The current data suggest that effective proton pumping carried out by the alkalophile respiratory chain at high pH may deliver at least some portion of the protons to the proton-utilizing catalysts, i.e., the F1F0-ATPase and the Na+/H+ antiporter, by some localized pathway.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1986, 11 Suppl, 97 - 102
Studies on phagocyte response to bacteria: conditions for efficient interaction and mechanism of oxygen radical production; Kanegasaki S; In efforts to elucidate the role of phagocytes in host defense upon bacterial infection, we investigated the conditions necessary for induction of efficient phagocytic response together with the oxygen metabolism of the cells . The following evidence was found: (1) To induce efficient response of the phagocytes, physical impact of bacteria with the cells is required . (2) Neutrophils and probably macrophages as well generate superoxide anion as a primary product of the respiratory burst upon stimulation . Other active oxygen species including hydrogen peroxide seem to be formed within phagosomes . (3) A special cytochrome present in the membrane of phagocytes is probably involved in superoxide production.

Eur J Respir Dis Suppl, 1986, 147, 230 - 4
Bacteria and their products release histamine and potentiate mediator release: new aspects in airway diseases; Norn S et al.; The possibility that bacteria and their products play a role in airway diseases, due to their capacity to release histamine, was investigated in blood leucocytes from patients suffering from respiratory diseases and from healthy individuals . The results clearly show that bacteria release histamine by immunological and non-immunological mechanisms and that endotoxins enhance mediator release caused by allergens in allergic patients or by bacteria in persons sensitized to these organisms . Furthermore, a great increase is obtained in mediator release by the combination of immunological and non-immunological mechanisms.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1985 Dec 31, 133(3), 1125 - 31
Isolation and characterization of a novel coenzyme Q from some methane-oxidizing bacteria; Collins MD et al.; The respiratory quinone composition of 18 strains of obligate methane-utilizing bacteria was examined . All of the strains contained lipoquinones which on examination by tlc co-chromatographed with coenzyme Q . On the basis of chromatographic and physicochemical analyses the lipoquinones produced by 10 of the strains corresponded to Q-8 . Reverse-phase partition and argentation hplc demonstrated the quinone produced by the remaining 8 strains did not correspond to any known coenzyme Q prenologue . On the basis of mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry the novel quinone was shown to correspond to 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(18-methylene-3,7, 11,15,19,23,27,31-octamethyldotriacontahepta-2,6,10,14,22,26,30 enyl-)-1, 4-benzoquinone.

Gen Comp Endocrinol, 1985 Dec, 60(3), 463 - 7
{Mechanism of the refractory state of androgen hormone in Armadillidium vulgare Latr . (crustacean, isopod, oniscoid) harboring a feminizing bacteria}; Juchault P et al.; In thelygenous lines of Armadillidium vulgare, neo-females and intersex males (iM) with feminizing symbiotic bacteria are not masculinized by an extract from iM androgenic gland, which, however, masculinizes bacterialess genetic females . Injection of iM hemolymph extract masculinizes these genetic females . This indicates that androgenic hormone is present in iM hemolymph . Lack of androgenic hormone activity in thelygenous lines is supposed to result from the action of bacteria on the androgenic hormone receptors . Since a temporary recovery of the male differentiation of iM can be induced by implantation of different parts of central nervous system, bacteria effect is probably indirect, through an action on a neurosecretory system, perhaps one of those controlling the functioning of the androgenic gland.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1985 Dec, 98(6), 1487 - 98
Isolation, characterization, and comparison of a ubiquitous pigment-protein complex consisting of a reaction center and light-harvesting bacteriochlorophyll proteins present in purple photosynthetic bacteria; Ueda T et al.; Protein complexes (photochemical reaction complex; PR complex) bound to both light-harvesting bacteriochlorophyll-1 (LH-Bchl-1) and reaction center Bchl (RC-Bchl) were purified from Rhodospirillum rubrum (wild and carotenoid-less), Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides (wild), and Chromatium vinosum (wild) . Another protein complex (LH-2 complex) bound to LH-Bchl-2 was also purified from Rps . sphaeroides . The bacteria were grown in the presence of a {14C}amino acid mixture . The purification procedure included molecular-sieve chromatography in the presence of cholate-deoxycholate, and non-equilibrated isoelectric electrophoresis with 3-{(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamino}-1-propanesulfonate . The purified complexes were separated into their constituent proteins by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The molar ratios of the proteins were determined by comparing their radioactivities divided by their molecular weights after consideration of the molecular masses of the complexes . The PR complexes all contained per mol: 1 mol each of RC H-, M-, and L-subunits, 10-13 (probably 12) mol each of two other proteins with molecular weights of 11-12K and 8-11K, 28-32 mol Bchl, 13-15 mol carotenoids (except in the carotenoid-less mutant), 2.6-3.9 mol ubiquinone (or menaquinone in Chr . vinosum), and 53-79 mol phosphate without phospholipid . The LH-2 complex contained per mol: 1 mol 52K protein, about 13 (probably 12) mol each of 9K and 8K proteins, 30 mol Bchl, 10 mol carotenoids, and 38 mol phosphate without phospholipid . The PR complexes and LH-2 complex showed similar X-ray diffraction patterns, implying that they had similar, highly organized molecular structures.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Dec, 59(6), 501 - 5
A note on the use of 3-section plates for the estimation of the numbers of bacteria and to obtain isolated colonies in 1 day; Lee WH et al.; By streaking with an open loop and then swabbing a 4-5 cm2 area on 3-section agar plates, it is possible to obtain isolated colonies and to estimate bacterial densities from 100 to 10(7)/ml on the swabbed area.

Cancer Res, 1985 Dec, 45(12 Pt 1), 6471 - 4
Repair of haloethylnitrosourea-induced DNA damage in mutant and adapted bacteria; Kacinski BM et al.; The sensitivities of Escherichia coli K-12 strain AB1157, its uvrA-deficient mutant AB1886, and its recA mutant AB2463 to N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea, N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea, and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea have been determined . These data indicate that loss of either uvr excision repair or recA-dependent DNA repair greatly increases sensitivity to the haloethylnitrosoureas . At the same time, loss of recA-dependent DNA repair increases sensitivity to N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea significantly while loss of uvr excision repair increases sensitivity to this agent only marginally . Adapting the uvrA-deficient and recA-deficient mutants by growth in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine increases survival after exposure to either N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, but neither adapted strain loses its sensitivity to N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea . Taken together, these data indicate that the haloethylnitrosoureas cause other important cytotoxic lesions in DNA in addition to those involving alkylation of the O6 position of guanine and that the uvrA and recA gene products are involved in the repair of these lesions.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Dec, 22(6), 912 - 4
In vitro protective effect of bacteria-derived bovine alpha interferon I1 against selected bovine viruses; Gillespie JH et al.; We used bacteria-derived bovine alpha-interferon I1 (Bo IFN-alpha I1) to study its antiviral effect in a bovine turbinate cell line on bovine diarrhea virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, parainfluenza 3 virus, and pseudorabies virus . We based our study upon replicate tests for each strain by using a block titration system with various concentrations of Bo IFN-alpha I1 against various concentrations of virus . The data were compiled in two-axis tables (replicate X concentration) and were statistically analyzed by the Spearman-Karber method . An increase in the concentration of Bo IFN-alpha I1 enhanced its protective effect against every test virus strain . Bo IFN-alpha I1 had a marked in vitro effect on the bovine diarrhea viral strains . It demonstrated less protection against the pseudorabies and parainfluenza 3 viruses . Its effectiveness against the two infectious bovine rhinotracheitis viral strains was lesser and of a low order.

J Biol Chem, 1985 Nov 15, 260(26), 14355 - 62
Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases from Neurospora crassa . Immunological relatedness of the enzymes from Neurospora, bacteria, yeast, and mammals; Ness SA et al.; Neurospora crassa contains two carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases: a mitochondrial enzyme (CPS-A) which supplies carbamoyl phosphate for arginine biosynthesis, and a nuclear enzyme whose product is used for the synthesis of pyrimidines . We have prepared antiserum against a highly purified preparation of the large subunit of CPS-A and have used the antiserum to demonstrate that the large subunit is, like most mitochondrially localized proteins, initially synthesized as a higher molecular weight precursor . The CPS-A antiserum cross-reacts with the nuclear enzyme, allowing us to identify the product of the complex N . crassa pyr-3 genetic locus as a protein with a subunit molecular weight of 180,000 . Finally, we have found that the CPS-A antiserum also cross-reacts with carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases from bacteria, yeast, and mammals . The immunological relatedness of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases from such diverse species suggests that the protein sequences required for carbamoyl phosphate production have been highly conserved during the course of evolution.

J Immunol Methods, 1985 Nov 7, 83(2), 233 - 40
An improved fluorochrome microassay for the detection of living and non-living intracellular bacteria in human neutrophils; Horn W et al.; Acridine orange fluorescence may be used to distinguish living from non-living intracellular bacteria in individual glass-adherent neutrophil granulocytes (PMN) . An improvement of the original assay (Smith and Rommel, 1977; Pantazis and Kniker, 1979) is described which allows differentiation between ingested and cell-adherent bacteria . It is shown that this differentiation is impossible with the original method using wet-mounted preparations . With the improved method, however, using dry-mounted preparations, cell-adherent as well as extracellular bacteria lose their fluorescence . Moreover, the fluorescence of cell nuclei and granula is reduced to a minimum . Phagocytosis kinetics and selective inhibition of the myeloperoxidase of PMN show that living intracellular bacteria fluoresce green and non-living bacteria red in such dry-mounted preparations . The preparations can be stored and interpreted for at least 2 months . Application of this method requires 0.1 ml blood or cell-rich body fluid per preparation and is fast and inexpensive.

Microbiol Sci, 1985 Nov, 2(11), 330 - 4, 339
The phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system: a central feature of carbohydrate accumulation by enteric bacteria; Mitchell WJ; Despite the fact that bacterial solute transport has been intensively studied for the last two decades, it has not yet been possible to describe the molecular mechanism of any transport process, largely due to the difficulties involved in handling membrane proteins and the lack of convenient in vitro assay procedures . The phosphoenolpyruvate: glycose phosphotransferase, a multiprotein system consisting of both soluble and membrane-bound components and with an associated chemical reaction which can be measured in cell-free extracts, has considerable potential for attaining this goal . Although the PTS is extremely complex, our understanding of the mechanisms by which it mediates and regulates carbohydrate transport in enteric bacteria is at an advanced stage.

Biochem J, 1985 Nov 1, 231(3), 635 - 9
Novel hopanoids from the methylotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylomonas methanica . (22S)-35-aminobacteriohopane-30,31,32,33,34-pentol and (22S)-35-amino-3 beta-methylbacteriohopane-30,31,32,33,34-pentol; Neunlist S et al.; The major hopanoid of the methylotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylomonas methanica was identified by spectroscopic methods as (22S)-35-aminobacteriohopane-30,31,32,33,34-pentol . Minor companions were, in both bacteria, 35-aminobacteriohopane-31,32,33,34-tetrol and in Methylomonas methanica, 35-aminobacteriohopane-32,33,34-triol . In Methylococcus capsulatus the aminopentol and the aminotetrol were accompanied by their homologues possessing an extra methyl group at C-3 . Bacterial hopanoids with a functionalized C-30 carbon atom such as these two new aminopentols are possible precursors of widespread C29 hopanoid chemical fossils.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Nov, 50(5), 1213 - 8
Characterization of dysgonic, heterotrophic bacteria from drinking water; Spino DF; Only a small percentage of the heterotrophic bacteria encountered in water distribution systems are identifiable, because of these organisms fail to grow on the conventional media used for biochemical characterization . Organisms that would not subculture from the same standard plate count agar used for initial isolation were successfully subcultured on a low-nutrient medium, R3A . These cultures were then inoculated to a modified O/F base medium containing specific substrates . This, combined with a lower incubation temperature (30 degrees C), increased the enzymatic activity of many of the organisms . These reactions established a groundwork for tentative taxonomy.

Neurosurgery, 1985 Nov, 17(5), 850 - 60
Wounded by bayonet, ball, and bacteria: medicine and neurosurgery in the American Civil War; Zellem RT; The American Civil War was a holocaust that illustrated the mid-19th century's unpreparedness for the delivery of medical care to the mass casualties due to both wounds and disease . Several major considerations are offered to explain the soldiers' morbidity . Incomplete understanding of pathophysiology and its management is exemplified by the treatment of the battlefield head injury . Accepting these concepts and the extent of the knowledge of the time, that higher mortality did not occur is in part testimony to the admirable care that was rendered and human resilience in an effort to survive.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1985 Nov, 82(22), 7525 - 9
Products of nitrogen regulatory genes ntrA and ntrC of enteric bacteria activate glnA transcription in vitro: evidence that the ntrA product is a sigma factor; Hirschman J et al.; In enteric bacteria the products of two nitrogen regulatory genes, ntrA and ntrC, activate transcription of glnA, the structural gene encoding glutamine synthetase, both in vivo and in vitro . The ntrC product (gpntrC) is a DNA-binding protein, which binds to five sites in the glnA promoter-regulatory region and appears to activate transcription initiation . Using as an assay the stimulation of glnA transcription in a coupled in vitro transcription-translation system, we have partially purified the ntrA gene product (gpntrA) . The following evidence is consistent with the view that gpntrA is a sigma subunit for RNA polymerase: (i) The gpntrA activity copurifies with the sigma 70 holoenzyme (E sigma 70) and core (E) forms of RNA polymerase through several steps but can be separated from them by chromatography on heparin agarose . (ii) After further purification by molecular sieve chromatography, the partially purified gpntrA fraction allows transcription of glnA from the same startpoint used in vivo; transcription is dependent on gpntrC and on added E . The gpntrA fraction does not allow transcription from promoters that we have used as controls, including lacUV5 . E sigma 70 has the reverse specificity.

J Hyg (Lond), 1985 Oct, 95(2), 325 - 35
Ventilation conditions and air-borne bacteria and particles in operating theatres: proposed safe economies; Clark RP et al.; Concentrations of air-borne bacteria and particles have been measured in turbulently ventilated operating theatres in full flow, half flow and zero flow conditions . Increased air-borne challenge produced by human activity and by mechanical cleaning procedures is demonstrated: die-away of this contamination is shown to be related to the ventilation rate . Ventilation can be reduced or turned off at night and during weekends, and cleaning can also be carried out, without increased risk of infection if full flow is restored one hour prior to preparation for surgery . Areas surrounding the theatres should remain at positive pressure with regard to the general hospital environment during low or no flow periods . The implementation of such energy-saving policies will substantially reduce theatre running costs without introducing infection hazards.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Oct, 59(4), 325 - 32
The influence of milk and milk components on the attachment of bacteria to farm dairy equipment surfaces; Speers JG et al.; Glass, rubber and stainless steel surfaces were exposed to various types of bacteria in the presence of milk and a number of milk components under both static and agitated incubation conditions . Numbers of bacteria attaching were enumerated by epifluorescence microscopy . Results were affected by the different bacterial types, the nature of the attachment surface and the substances in which the bacteria were suspended with a Moraxella-like species, stainless steel and lactose and non-casein protein solutions respectively resulting in greatest numbers of cells attaching . Agitation had no marked influence on attachment.

Vet Med (Praha), 1985 Oct, 30(10), 611 - 28
{The development of morphologic changes and the antibody response in guinea pigs experimentally infected with Brucella suis, biotype 2 bacteria}; Sterba F et al.; Sixty-two guinea pigs were infected vaginally, perorally, intranasally, conjunctivally and subcutaneously with the bacteria B . suis, biotype 2 . The inoculum contained 13.8.10(9) of brucellas in 1 ml of physiological solution . Subcutaneous infection lasted 151 days, the other types of infection 56 days . All types of infections resulted in brucellotic changes developing in relation to the type and duration of infection . The least marked changes were observed after peroral infection . Brucellosis was chronical and the changes in liver, spleen, lungs, and after subcutaneous infection also in regional lymphoglandulae, were found out incessantly . Microscopically these changes were histiocytic granulomas . The pathogenesis of brucellosis process in guinea pig organism is influenced primarily by haematogenous propagation . The highest serological reactivity was caused by subcutaneous infection, the lowest by peroral infection . In the course of different types of infection the titres of agglutination and complement-fixation antibodies varied and the highest values were recorded between the 21st and 56th day . The diagnostic effectiveness of the surface fixation test was verified and no decrease in its sensitivity, not even in the chronic phase of infection, was observed . An incomplete correlation between morphological changes and serological reactivity in guinea pigs was detected . The highest number of Brucella infections was identified by histopathological examination which helped to reveal the initial stages of granulomas at the time when specific antibodies were not yet determined by serological tests.

Environ Health Perspect, 1985 Oct, 62, 109 - 14
Studies of the repair of O6-alkylguanine and O4-alkylthymine in DNA by alkyltransferases from mammalian cells and bacteria; Pegg AE et al.; O6-Methylguanine in DNA is repaired by the action of a protein termed O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AT) which transfers the methyl group to a cysteine residue in its own sequence . Since the cysteine which is methylated is not regenerated rapidly, if at all, the capacity for repair of O6-methylguanine is limited by the number of molecules of the AT available within the cell . The level and inducibility of the AT differed greatly in different mammalian cell types and species with the highest levels in human tissues and in liver and the lowest levels in brain . Only a small induction occurred in rat liver in response to exposure to alkylating agents . In E . coli such exposure increased the activity more than 100-fold . The At was not specific for methyl groups but also removed ethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl and n-butyl groups from the O6-position in DNA . The protein isolated from E . coli removed methyl groups much more rapidly than the larger alkyl groups but the mammalian AT isolated from rat liver showed much less difference in rate with adducts of different size . Ethyl and n-propyl groups were removed by the rat liver AT only three to four times more slowly than methyl groups . Another important difference between the bacterial and mammalian ATs is that the bacterial protein was also able to remove methyl groups from the O4-position of thymine in methylated DNA or poly(dT) but the AT from rat liver or human fibroblasts did not repair O4-methylthymidine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mutat Res, 1985 Oct-Nov, 158(1-2), 19 - 30
Genotoxicity assay of oil dispersants in bacteria (mutation, differential lethality, SOS DNA-repair) and yeast (mitotic crossing-over); De Flora S et al.; 5 oil dispersants and a sample of paraffin were devoid of mutagenic activity in the Ames reversion test, with and without S9 mix, using 7 his- S . typhimurium strains (TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102) . However, 3 dispersants produced direct DNA damage in E . coli WP2, which was not repairable in repair-deficient strains (WP2uvrA, CM871, TM1080), as shown by two different DNA-repair test procedures . The uvrA excision-repair system was in all cases the most important mechanism involved in repairing the DNA damage produced by oil dispersants, while the combination of uvrA with other genetic defects (polA, recA, lexA) decreased the efficiency of the system . The observed genotoxic effects were considerably lowered in the presence of S9 mix containing liver S9 fractions from Aroclor-treated rats . The sample of oil dispersant yielding the most pronounced DNA damage in repair-deficient E . coli failed to induce gene sfiA in E . coli (strain PQ37), using the SOS chromotest, or mitotic crossing-over in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain D5) . The direct toxicity of the oil dispersant to both bacterial and yeast cells was markedly decreased in the presence of rat-liver preparations . These two short-term tests were effective in detecting the genotoxicity of both direct-acting compounds (such as 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide and methyl methanesulfonate) and procarcinogens (such as cyclophosphamide, 2-aminoanthracene and 2-aminofluorene) . Moreover, the SOS chromotest was successfully applied to discriminate the activity of chromium compounds as related to their valence (i.e . Cr(VI) genotoxic and Cr(III) inactive) . Combination of oil dispersants with Cr(VI) compounds did not affect the direct mutagenicity to S . typhimurium (TA102) of a soluble salt (sodium dichromate) nor did it result in any release of a water-soluble salt (lead chromate), as also confirmed by analytical methods . On the other hand, exposure to sunlight tended to decrease, to a slow rate, the direct genotoxicity of an oil dispersant in the bacterial DNA-repair test.

J Periodontol, 1985 Oct, 56(10), 618 - 24
The presence of bacteria within the oral epithelium in periodontal disease . I . A scanning and transmission electron microscopic study; Saglie FR et al.; The presence of bacteria within the gingival oral epithelium and adjacent connective tissue in cases of periodontitis and localized juvenile periodontitis have been described using scanning and transmission electron microscopy . The following bacterial morphotypes were identified: cocci, short rods, filaments and few spirochetes in periodontitis and mainly coccobacillary-shaped bacteria in localized juvenile periodontitis . Also Mycoplasma-like structures were identified in the localized juvenile periodontitis cases . Tunnel-like formations at different depths of the oral epithelium contained higher numbers of bacteria than those seen on the adjacent oral surface . Identification of specific bacteria in the oral epithelium may have important pathogenic and therapeutic implications.

J Virol, 1985 Oct, 56(1), 325 - 7
Interaction of simian virus 40 small-T antigen produced in bacteria with 56K and 32K proteins of animal cells; Bossert A et al.; Small-t antigen produced in bacteria interacted with two animal cell proteins with molecular weights of 56,000 and 32,000, as did the viral antigen from infected cells . Demonstration of this specific interaction required the enrichment of native, monomeric small-t antigen from extracts in which much of the small-t antigen was highly aggregated.

Cancer Lett, 1985 Sep 30, 28(3), 311 - 5
Epstein-Barr virus activation by human semen principle: synergistic effect of culture fluids of bacteria isolated from patients with carcinoma of uterine cervix; Zeng Y et al.; Epstein-Barr virus early antigens (EBV EA) were induced in a Raji cell system in order to assay the activity of the EA inducer in human semen . In semen from 53 Chinese, 45.3% induced EBV EA in Raji cells . Such positive semen and EBV-inducing positive culture fluids of bacteria isolated from the uterine cervix of patients with cervical carcinoma had a synergistic effect on the induction of EBV EA . This synergistic effect as related to the cause of cervical carcinoma is discussed.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1985 Sep 16, 131(2), 956 - 60
Vitamin K (menaquinone) biosynthesis in bacteria: purification and probable structure of an intermediate prior to o-succinylbenzoate; Emmons GT et al.; The first aromatic intermediate in the menaquinone biosynthetic pathway is o-succinylbenzoate (OSB); it is formed from chorismate/isochorismate and 2-ketoglutarate . Cell-free extracts of menD+ E . coli strains synthesize an intermediate, "X", which is converted to OSB by extracts of menC+ cells . "X" has been purified to near homogeneity by HPLC . On treatment with acid, it yields both OSB and succinylbenzene (SB) . This and other data, suggest that "X" has the structure, 2-succinyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylate (I).

Sci Total Environ, 1985 Sep, 44(3), 201 - 14
Heterotrophic bacteria in water distribution systems . I . Spatial and temporal variation; Maul A et al.; The drinking water distribution system of the city of Metz in France was sampled intensively during six, monthly surveys which were designed to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of total heterotrophic bacteria in the network . A non-hierarchical nearest-centroid clustering method was used for dividing the water distribution system into zones corresponding to different levels of bacterial density . The general pattern of the spatial heterogeneity showed a high degree of reproducibility . Since the frequency distribution of total heterotrophic bacteria within the zones was compatible with the negative binomial distribution, the water distribution system studied may be considered as being composed of several heterogeneous subsystems . The consistency of this structured spatial dispersion pattern of bacteria in light of some physical and chemical characteristics of the system is evident . In consideration of the principal features of flow in the system relevant to the layout of water mains, the location of zones of highest bacterial concentrations have been attributed to lower levels of chlorine residuals and prolonged retention time of the water in the network, especially in the storage units, before reaching the various distribution areas . Although the monthly variation in the bacterial concentration of the entire system showed a marked increase which was concomitant with warmest water temperatures, the zones were subject to noticeable discrepancies in the range of temporal variation.

J Reprod Immunol, 1985 Aug, 8(1), 71 - 82
Secretory immunoglobulin binding to bacteria in the mouse uterus after mating; Parr EL et al.; Bacteria of several species were present in the mouse uterus on the morning after mating, as demonstrated by bacterial cultures and microscopic examination of Gram-stained uterine luminal contents . The similarity between bacteria cultured from the vagina before mating and from the uterus after mating suggested that bacteria were introduced into the uterus from the vagina, possibly by coitus . The bacteria were cleared from the uterus about two days after mating . Immunohistochemical labeling of smears of the luminal contents on the morning after mating demonstrated IgA, IgG, and possibly IgM bound to many of the bacteria . The bacteria were often agglutinated, and there was a correlation between the intensity of immunoglobulin labeling on bacteria and the extent of agglutination . The amount of antibody bound to bacteria in multiparous mice was about the same as in mice that had not been mated previously . We observed both IgG and IgA on bacteria when organisms from vaginal cultures were incubated for 60 min in the uteri of estrogen-primed, virgin, female mice . This indicated that the uterus was the source of at least part of the immunoglobulins bound to bacteria . We did not demonstrate that the immunoglobulins bound to bacteria were specific anti-bacterial antibodies, but the binding persisted through three washing steps and there was no immunoglobulin binding to sperm in the same preparations . Neutrophils in the uterine lumen on the day after mating contained phagocytosed bacteria . These results suggest that the secretory immune system in the female mouse reproductive tract may play a role in returning the uterus to an aseptic state after mating by at least three mechanisms: direct blocking of attachment sites involved in bacterial binding to mucosal epithelium, agglutination of bacteria and thus reduction in the number of organisms available for binding to the epithelium, and opsonization of bacteria for phagocytosis by neutrophils.

Biophys J, 1985 Aug, 48(2), 337 - 9
Homeoviscous adaptation, growth rate, and morphogenesis in bacteria; Zaritsky A et al.; Fluorescence polarization, P, of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was studied in Escherichia coli B/r . Modification of nutritional conditions was not compensated by homeoviscous adaptation, demonstrated to exist for temperature variations . Cell diameter, which is known also to vary with nutrition but not with temperature, was found to be positively correlated with 1/P, and may therefore be regulated by membrane lipid order and fluidity.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Aug, 59(2), 137 - 41
The cytochrome c oxidase test for the rapid detection of psychrotrophic bacteria in milk; Kroll RG; A new, rapid, simple and cheap method for the detection of the predominant psychrotrophic bacteria in raw and pasteurized milks is described, using tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine dihydrochloride to detect cytochrome c oxidase which in general is not present in the non-psychrotrophic bacterial milk flora . The test is sensitive to samples containing over 10(4) organisms/ml . Correlation coefficients of 0.92 and 0.84 between dye oxidation and viable counts for pasteurized and raw milk samples, respectively, were found.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1985 Jul 31, 130(2), 873 - 8
Biosynthesis of a sulfonolipid in gliding bacteria; Abbanat DR et al.; Gliding bacteria of the genus Cytophaga synthesize sulfonolipids (1,2) that contain capnine (1-deoxy-15-methylhexadecasphinganine-1-sulfonic acid) . Studies of the incorporation of radiolabeled compounds by C . johnsonae show that cysteate is utilized preferentially to both cystine and inorganic sulfate as a precursor of capnine sulfur and to both cystine and serine as a precursor of carbons 1 and 2 of capnine . The results are consistent with a pathway in which capnine is formed by condensation of cysteate with a fatty acyl CoA . Cystine, added as the sole sulfur source in the presence of glucose, provides the sulfur but not the carbon for capnine . Hence, these cells form cysteate not by direct oxidation of cystine (or cysteine), but by transfer of its sulfur to a different carbon compound.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1985 Jul 15, 152(6 Pt 1), 650 - 4
Asymptomatic parturient women with high-virulence bacteria in the amniotic fluid; Gibbs RS et al.; This study describes the postpartum course of asymptomatic parturient women who had greater than or equal to 10(2) cfu of high-virulence (HV) bacteria per milliliter of amniotic fluid . Of 60 asymptomatic parturient women with greater than or equal to 10(2) cfu of HV bacteria per milliliter of amniotic fluid, 27 (48%) remained asymptomatic in the puerperium, 16 (27%) developed fever only, and 17 (28%) developed endometritis . In asymptomatic versus symptomatic women, there were no statistically significant differences in number or type of isolates or in length of membrane rupture or labor-to-collection interval . However, there were significant differences in the intervals from collection to delivery and in the rate of cesarean section delivery . For comparison, 40 of these patients were matched with women in whom only low-virulence organisms were detected in the amniotic fluid . In the HV group, 16 women (40%) remained asymptomatic, 15 (37.5%) developed fever only, and nine (22.5%) had endometritis . In the low-virulence group, 27 women (67.5%) remained asymptomatic, 10 (25%) developed fever only, one (2.5%) developed endometritis 10 days post partum, and two (5%) had other infections (p less than 0.01) . Clinically evident uterine infection depends upon type and numbers of bacteria in utero, duration of bacteria in utero, and route of delivery.

Mutat Res, 1985 Jun-Jul, 150(1-2), 107 - 17
Genetic duplications in bacteria and their relevance for genetic toxicology; Hoffman GR; Tandem genetic duplications of various lengths occur at high frequency and at many chromosomal locations in bacteria . Most duplications are formed and lost by recombinational mechanisms . Since they readily give rise to haploid segregants, duplications are characteristically unstable . Various selection procedures permit measurements of duplication frequencies, and several mutagens have been shown to induce the formation of duplications in haploid bacteria and the loss of duplications from merodiploid bacteria . Although the data base is not extensive, it includes agents that interact with DNA by a variety of molecular mechanisms . Grounds on which the induction of genetic duplications in bacteria can be relevant for genetic toxicology are discussed.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Jun, 33(5 Pt 2), 631 - 4
{Measure of the activity of a quaternary aldehyde-ammonia complex against reference bacteria strains and 50 hospital strains}; Gulian C et al.; Concentrations of a disinfectant complex effective against hospital strains were determined using the dilution-neutralization method (AFNOR T72 150) . Results were compared to those obtained with reference bacterial strains . A 99.999% reduction in viable bacteria requires significantly higher concentrations for hospital isolates than for reference strains.

Mutat Res, 1985 Jun-Jul, 150(1-2), 159 - 75
Quantitative comparative mutagenesis in bacteria, mammalian cells, and animal-mediated assays . A convenient way of estimating genotoxic activity in vivo?
Mohn GR, van Zeeland AA.
The accumulation of environmental compounds which exhibit genotoxic properties in short-term assays and the increasing lag of time for obtaining confirmation or not in long-term animal mutagenicity and carcinogenicity tests, makes it necessary to develop alternative, rapid methodologies for estimating genotoxic activity in vivo . In the experimental approach used here, it was assumed that the genotoxic activity of foreign compounds in animals, and ultimately humans, is determined among others by exposure level, organ distribution of (DNA) dose, and genotoxic potency per unit of dose, and that knowledge about these 3 parameters may allow to rapidly determine the expected degree of genotoxicity in various organs of exposed animals . In view of the high degree of qualitative correlation between mutagenic activity of chemicals in bacteria and in cultured mammalian cells, and their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties in animals, and in order to be able to distinguish whether mutagenic potency differences were due to differences in (DNA) dose rather than other physiological factors, the results of mutagenicity tests obtained in the present experiments using bacteria and mammalian cells were compared on the basis of DNA dose rather than exposure concentrations, with the following questions in mind: Is there an absolute or a relative correlation between the mutagenic potencies of various ethylating agents in bacteria (E . coli K12) and in mammalian cells (V79 Chinese hamster) after treatment in standardized experiments, and can specific DNA adducts be made responsible for mutagenicity? Is the order of mutagenic potency of various ethylating agents observed in bacteria in vitro representative of the ranking of mutagenic potency found in vivo? Since the answer to this last question was negative, a further question addressed to was whether short-term in vivo assays could be developed for a rapid determination of the presence (and persistence) of genotoxic factors in various organs of mice treated with chemicals . In quantitative comparative mutagenesis experiments using E . coli K12 and Chinese hamster cells treated under standardized conditions in vitro with 5 ethylating agents, there was no indication of an absolute correlation between the number of induced mutants per unit of dose in the bacteria and the mammalian cells . The ranking of mutagenic potency was, however, identical in bacteria and mammalian cells, namely, ENNG greater than ENU greater than or equal to DES greater than DEN congruent to EMS, the mutagenic activity of DEN being dependent on the presence of mammalian liver preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

J Dent Res, 1985 Jun, 64(6), 906 - 12
The stimulation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by oral bacteria: macrophage and T-cell dependence; Baker JJ et al.; Human peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes from individuals with moderate periodontitis were separated into purified subpopulations of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes by rosetting with sheep red blood cells (E) . All three lymphocyte subpopulations were compared for proliferative responses to cell walls from seven oral bacteria, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and streptolysin-O (SLO) . Mononuclear cells and a re-combined subpopulation consisting of four parts purified T lymphocytes and one part B lymphocytes responded significantly to all of the stimulants . Purified T lymphocytes by themselves responded significantly to PHA and PWM, but were unresponsive to oral bacteria and SLO; however, T lymphocytes cultured with 2% autologous macrophages responded significantly to all seven oral bacterial cell walls and to SLO, which indicates that T-cell responses to oral bacteria are macrophage-dependent . T-cell-depleted non-E-rosette-forming B cells by themselves were poorly responsive to all of the tested stimulants; however, the responses of these cells to oral bacteria, PWM, LPS, and SLO increased significantly in the presence of 10% mitomycin-C-treated T cells, demonstrating that B cell proliferation to these stimulants is T-cell-dependent.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1985 Jun, 59(6), 642 - 6
Abscess formation induced in rabbits with bacteria-filled subcutaneous implants that simulate the infected dental root canal; Moorer WR et al.; Short-term and semi-long-term tissue reactions to a mixture of "endodontopathic" bacteria are described . The bacteria are enclosed in experimental implant tubes simulating some aspects of the infected dental pulp . Localized abscesses develop in response to mixed bacterial contents of the implants . No abscess formation occurred with pure cultures (that is, either component of the mixture) . Pathogenic inocula attract leukocytes to the adjacent tissues, which become inflamed and cause influx of leukocytes into the lumen of the implant proper.

J Virol, 1985 Jun, 54(3), 833 - 43
Expression of influenza virus NS2 nonstructural protein in bacteria and localization of NS2 in infected eucaryotic cells; Greenspan D et al.; The nonstructural NS2 protein of influenza A/PR/8/34 virus was efficiently expressed in bacteria, and monospecific antisera were prepared against the bacterially synthesized polypeptide . These antisera were cross-reactive among the NS2 proteins of various influenza A viruses . However, they did not react with the NS2 of influenza B/Lee/40 virus nor with other proteins of influenza A viruses such as NS1 . Antisera against NS2 were used to determine that the NS2 protein is localized in the cell nucleus during influenza virus infection, as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy . Cells infected with simian virus 40 recombinants containing the influenza virus NS gene revealed that both the NS1 and NS2 proteins appeared in the nucleus, even in the absence of expression of other influenza virus-specific components.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 May, 49(5), 1254 - 9
Specific uptake rates of amino acids by attached and free-living bacteria in a mesotrophic lake; Simon M; Seasonal and spatial patterns of specific uptake rates of amino acids by bacteria in Lake Constance were studied . The total bacterial population was divided into small (0.2- to 1.0-micron) and large (1.0- to 3.0-micron) free-living bacteria and attached bacteria by fractionated filtration . Data for attached bacteria, received by retention on 3.0-micron-pore Nuclepore filters, were corrected for free-living bacteria in this fraction . Specific uptake rates based on autoradiography were also recorded . Specific uptake rates for attached bacteria ranged from 9.41 X 10(-11) to 6.11 X 10(-8) ng of C h-1 cell-1 and were therefore significantly greater than those for free-living bacteria during most time periods . However, they were not significantly different from those for cells proven to be active by autoradiography . Specific uptake rates for small free-living bacteria ranged between 7.68 X 10(-11) and 4.60 X 10(-9) ng of C h-1 cell-1 . They were nearly in the same range of those for large free-living bacteria (5.10 X 10(-11) to 1.07 X 10(-8) ng of C h-1 cell-1), although both fractions exhibited pronounced differences in their seasonal and vertical distributions.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 May, 49(5), 1251 - 3
An instrument for the immediate quantification of bacteria in potable waters; Wallis C et al.; A new semiautomated instrument is described which quantifies the number of bacteria in potable waters within 3 min, providing a permanent colorimetric record of the results . The bacteria detection device can measure as few as 100 CFU/ml in potable waters . In brief, a 100- to 1,000-ml sample of tap water is drawn through a large surface, customized filter housed in the device, and bacteria, rust, and humic acid in the water are concentrated thereon . A reducing agent is used to remove the rust and humic acid from the filter . The filter is inverted and backflushed to elute the bacteria which are collected and reconcentrated onto a 7-mm-diameter filter surface . The reconcentrated bacteria are stained, and the filter fibers are preferentially decolorized without removing the dye from the bacteria . The color intensity of the filter surface is compared with a color guide to determine the amount of bacteria in the test water.

J Bacteriol, 1985 May, 162(2), 516 - 20
7-Methylpterin and 7-methyllumizine: oxidative degradation products of 7-methyl-substituted pteridines in methanogenic bacteria; White RH; 7-Methylpterin and 7-methyllumizine were isolated and identified in extracts of methanogenic bacteria which had been extracted in air with ethanol-water . Ethanol-water preparations of cells extracted under nitrogen or hydrogen were devoid of these compounds . Extracts of cells obtained in the presence of air also had an increased amount of a complex arylamine which, on acid hydrolysis, gave 1 mol each of phosphate, 5-(p-aminophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxypentane, and alpha-hydroxyglutaric acid . Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify the 5-(p-aminophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxypentane as its tetratrimethylsilyl derivative and the alpha-hydroxyglutaric acid as the n-butyl ester derivative of its gamma-lactone . When exposed to air, extracts of cells prepared in the absence of air produced 6-acetyl-7-methylpterin and 7-methylxanthopterin in addition to 7-methylpterin and 7-methyllumizine . It is concluded that these compounds are derived from the oxidative cleavage of the tetrahydromethanopterin, which is present in these bacteria, by a series of reactions analogous to those known to occur in the oxidative cleavage of tetrahydrofolic acid.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 May, 131 ( Pt 5), 1229 - 36
The effects of wall populations on coexistence of bacteria in the liquid phase of chemostat cultures; Chao L et al.; We have examined the effects of wall populations on coexistence between strains of Escherichia coli in the liquid phase of mixed (two-strain) chemostats . The wall populations of the two competing strains became established soon after the start of the cultures and, although the relative abundance of the strains in the liquid phase could change over time by several orders of magnitude, the composition of an established wall population did not change markedly . The bacterial strains examined could not displace an established wall population of a competing strain . The presence of a permanent wall population allowed a strain that was less fit in the liquid phase to coexist with a superior strain . The resulting coexistence did not require that the inferior strain attached to the vessel wall better than the superior strain . We believe that the coexistence developed because the inferior strain survived and reproduced on the vessel wall . The progeny from that wall population then provided replacements for the bacteria that the inferior strain lost through a selective disadvantage in the liquid phase of the culture . By replacing the chemostat vessel, hence eliminating the wall populations, we could distinguish between cases where the coexistence depended on the presence of a wall population and where it resulted from some alternative mechanism.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 May, 49(5), 1338 - 41
Interactions between heterotrophic plate count bacteria and coliform organisms; LeChevallier MW et al.; Studies were initiated to investigate the interactions between heterotrophic plate count bacteria and coliform organisms . We used spiked samples to show that heterotrophic plate count bacteria could reduce coliform densities by more than 3 logs within 8 days . Some heterotrophic plate count bacteria were able to cause injury to the coliform population . A significant correlation (r = 0.66; P less than 0.05) was observed between the initial level of heterotrophic plate count bacteria and the rate of coliform decline . Competition for limiting organic carbon was hypothesized to be responsible for the observed effects.

Anat Rec, 1985 May, 212(1), 41 - 6
Ruthenium red staining of vaginal epithelial cells and adherent bacteria; King BF; The vaginal epithelium of the rhesus monkey is a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium throughout the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy . The superficial cells have a thickened cell envelope, surface microridges, and numerous adherent bacteria . During later pregnancy the cells mucify and have a typical cell membrane, microvilli, and no adherent bacteria . In the present study we have extended these observations by examining vaginal surface structures after ruthenium red staining . Throughout the cycle, the superficial cells have a thin layer of stained material closely associated with the cell membrane, but in some cases a much thicker mucous blanket was observed . During later pregnancy the epithelial cells had a moderately thick, somewhat clumped ruthenium red-positive material associated with the cell membrane . Glycocalyx components of the surface of many bacteria also stained with ruthenium red . The adherence of many types of bacteria to the vaginal epithelial cells appears to be effected by the interaction of polyanionic components on the surface of both the bacterial and epithelial cells.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1985 Apr 16, 128(1), 470 - 6
Conserved amino acid sequence domains in alpha-amylases from plants, mammals, and bacteria; Rogers JC; Although alpha-amylases from mammals, plants, and bacteria have common functions, the amino acid sequences of enzymes from these three, evolutionarily distant groups of organisms are not known to share common homologies, and active sites have not been identified . Here I demonstrate that there are three sequence domains common to all alpha-amylases that are aligned and spaced at similar intervals along the length of each protein . The first domain in the barley enzymes appears to contain a calcium binding site . These common domains may represent important functional regions, perhaps the active sites.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1985 Apr 15, 151(8), 1067 - 8
Bacteria causing false positive test for phosphatidylglycerol in amniotic fluid; Schumacher RE et al.; A case is reported in which phosphatidylglycerol was detected in a sample of vaginal pool amniotic fluid but absent in amniotic fluid obtained at amniocentesis . Bacteria contaminating the fluid are shown to be capable of phosphatidylglycerol production.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Apr, 49(4), 997 - 8
Autolysis of psychrophilic bacteria from marine fish; Makarios-Laham I et al.; Two psychrophillic bacterial isolates of marine fish origin unable to grow at 20 degrees C or above were found to be distinguishable on the basis of autolysis at elevated temperature in various buffer systems . Isolate OP2 exhibited autolysis at 30 degrees C and above, while isolate OP7 underwent autolysis only at 35 degrees C and above . Tris buffer at pH 7.0 and 8.0 and at 35 degrees C significantly protected isolate OP2 from autolysis and failed to do so with isolate OP7 . At pH 5.0, suspension phosphate buffer resulted in significantly greater autolysis of both isolates than did suspension in succinate buffer.

J Parasitol, 1985 Apr, 71(2), 200 - 3
Cultivation of free-living stages of Trichostrongylus colubriformis in media without bacteria, animal tissue extract, or serum; Dorsman W et al.; Trichostrongylus colubriformis was cultured from hatched first-stage to third-stage larvae in bacteria-free media in the absence of animal tissue extract or serum . This was achieved for the first time with a nematode, parasitic in vertebrates, whose rhabditiform larvae are food-dependent . The best media contained enzymatic hydrolysed casein (amino nitrogen:total nitrogen ratio 0.39), yeast extract, phosphatidylcholine from soybean, and a number of chemically defined ingredients, which include a salt solution, a sterol, and an iron porphyrin . The yield of third-stage larvae obtained was up to 17% of all the living larval stages present after incubation . When casein hydrolysate with AN:TN ratio of 0.39 was replaced by casein hydrolysate with AN:TN ratio of 0.53, little or no development to third-stage larvae occurred . Development to infective larvae was shown to be possible in media with soy peptone instead of casein hydrolysate, although to a very limited extent . It is proposed that the free-living stages of the parasite require peptides, whose molecular weights all lie within a narrow range.

Anal Biochem, 1985 Apr, 146(1), 158 - 63
Carbohydrate-specific adhesion of bacteria to thin-layer chromatograms: a rationalized approach to the study of host cell glycolipid receptors; Hansson GC et al.; Conditions have been adapted for the binding of intact bacteria to glycosphingolipids in a thin-layer chromatogram . Bacteria labeled externally with 125I or metabolically with other isotopes are layered on the plate and after repeated washing the bound bacteria are detected by autoradiography . Using this technique several kinds of bacteria have been shown to adhere to the plate in a carbohydrate-specific way with practically no background binding . Among the advantages of the method is the possible detection of a minor receptor component of a complex mixture extracted from a target cell, facilitating the isolation of the receptor for structural studies . In addition, the multivalent solid-phase presentation of the receptor candidate should also reveal low-affinity binding sites, which may escape detection in traditional inhibition experiments with soluble oligosaccharides.

Eur J Biochem, 1985 Apr 1, 148(1), 107 - 11
Is coenzyme M bound to factor F430 in methanogenic bacteria? Experiments with Methanobrevibacter ruminantium; Huster R et al.; Coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethane sulfonic acid) and factor F430 (a nickel porphinoid) are coenzymes found in methanogenic bacteria . Recently it has been proposed that in these bacteria a coenzyme MF430 also exists which plays a key role in methane formation and in which coenzyme M and F430 are bound to each other . To test this hypothesis Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, which requires coenzyme M as a vitamin, was grown in the presence of {2-14C}CoMSH . F430 and 'CoM' (mixture of CoMSH and its disulfides) were quantitatively extracted from these cells and from partially purified methyl-CoM reductase using various methods . The extracts were chromatographed on cellulose or Sephadex G-10 . Under all conditions factor F430 and 'CoM' were completely (greater than 99%) separated . There was no indication for the existence of a protein-free F430 species containing covalently bound coenzyme M in Mb . ruminantium . The results support the structure previously assigned to coenzyme F430.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1985 Apr, 93(2), 133 - 8
Effect of monosaccharides and ethyleneglycol on the interaction between Escherichia coli bacteria and Octyl-Sepharose; Ohman L et al.; Combined effects of monosaccharides and reduced surface tension of the medium were studied in relation to the hydrophobic binding of Escherichia coli bacteria, with and without mannose-specific structures . Hydrophobic binding was analyzed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Octyl-Sepharose . The results showed that ethyleneglycol, as well as mannose, reduced the hydrophobic interaction of the bacteria with mannose-specific structures . This effect was potentiated by combining ethyleneglycol and mannose . No other monosaccharides tested (galactose and fucose) had any effect on the hydrophobic interaction of bacteria with mannose-specific structures . These results further strengthen the hypothesis that the mannose-specific interaction of Escherichia coli bacteria is, at least in part, mediated by hydrophobic forces.

Radiat Res, 1985 Apr, 102(1), 46 - 58
Theory of survival of bacteria exposed to ionizing radiation . I . X and gamma rays; Iwanami S et al.; A new model for the survival of bacteria exposed to ionizing radiation is constructed in the framework of a target theory based on microdosimetric concepts, where single- and double-strand breaks of DNA and their repair in vivo can be described consistently in terms of the microdosimetric quantity j (number of effective primary events per track per target) . In this model, the ability of cells to repair DNA damage is taken into consideration in terms of the repair capacities for single- and double-strand breaks of DNA, xi 1 and xi 2 (0 less than or equal to xi 1, xi 2 less than or equal to 1) . To apply this model to Escherichia coli K-12 strains with different repair abilities, values of the repair capacity for single-strand breaks, xi 1, were derived from experimental survival curves . The theoretical survival curves for 60Co gamma rays were found to be effectively insensitive to the value of xi 2 . Experimental survival curves for the wild-type, uvr, and rec strains of E . coli K-12 were well reproduced in this model . From these results, it is concluded that the theoretical formulation for the survival fraction of bacteria can afford a quantitative method for analysis of the repair process for radiation-induced single-strand breaks in DNA in vivo.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Apr, 162(1), 235 - 41
Conjugative plasmids of enteric bacteria from many different incompatibility groups have similar genes for single-stranded DNA-binding proteins; Golub EI et al.; Among 30 conjugative plasmids of enteric bacteria from 23 incompatibility (Inc) groups, we found 19 (from 12 Inc groups) which can complement defects caused by a defective single-stranded DNA-binding protein of Escherichia coli K-12 . The genes which are responsible for the complementation from three of these plasmids (Inc groups I1, Y, and 9) were cloned . These genes showed extensive homology with each other and with the E . coli F factor ssb gene (formerly denoted ssf), which codes for a single-stranded DNA binding protein . The proteins coded for by the cloned genes bound tightly to single-stranded DNA . Six other ssb- -complementing plasmids were tested for homology to the F factor ssb gene, and all of these showed homology, as did one of the ssb- -noncomplementing plasmids . Plasmids from a total of 13 different Inc groups of enteric bacteria were found to be likely to have genes with some homology to the ssb gene of the F factor . For plasmids from several different Inc groups, we found no evidence for strong homology with ssb of the F factor.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Apr, 49(4), 799 - 810
Detection, enumeration, and sizing of planktonic bacteria by image-analyzed epifluorescence microscopy; Sieracki ME et al.; Epifluorescence microscopy is now being widely used to characterize planktonic procaryote populations . The tedium and subjectivity of visual enumeration and sizing have been largely alleviated by our use of an image analysis system consisting of a modified Artek 810 image analyzer and an Olympus BHT-F epifluorescence microscope . This system digitizes the video image of autofluorescing or fluorochrome-stained cells in a microscope field . The digitized image can then be stored, edited, and analyzed for total count or individual cell size and shape parameters . Results can be printed as raw data, statistical summaries, or histograms . By using a stain concentration of 5 micrograms of 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole per ml of sample and the optimal sensitivity level and mode, counts by image analysis of natural bacterial populations from a variety of habitats were found to be statistically equal to standard visual counts . Although the time required to prepare slides, focus, and change fields is the same for visual and image analysis methods, the time and effort required for counting is eliminated since image analysis is instantaneous . The system has been satisfactorily tested at sea . Histograms of cell silhouette areas indicate that rapid and accurate estimates of bacterial biovolume and biomass will be possible with this system.

Science, 1985 Mar 8, 227(4691), 1167 - 73
Single-carbon chemistry of acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria; Zeikus JG et al.; Methanogenic and acetogenic bacteria metabolize carbon monoxide, methanol, formate, hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases and, in the case of certain methanogens, acetate, by single-carbon (C1) biochemical mechanisms . Many of these reactions occur while the C1 compounds are linked to pteridine derivatives and tetrapyrrole coenzymes, including corrinoids, which are used to generate, reduce, or carbonylate methyl groups . Several metalloenzymes, including a nickel-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, are used in both catabolic and anabolic oxidoreductase reactions . We propose biochemical models for coupling carbon and electron flow to energy conservation during growth on C1 compounds based on the carbon flow pathways inherent to acetogenic and methanogenic metabolism . Biological catalysts are therefore available which are comparable to those currently in use in the Monsanto process . The potentials and limitations of developing biotechnology based on these organisms or their enzymes and coenzymes are discussed.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Mar, 49(3), 599 - 607
Leucine incorporation and its potential as a measure of protein synthesis by bacteria in natural aquatic systems; Kirchman D et al.; Leucine incorporation was examined as a method for estimating rates of protein synthesis by bacterial assemblages in natural aquatic systems . The proportion of the total bacterial population that took up leucine in three marine environments was high (greater than 50%) . Most of the leucine (greater than 90%) taken up was incorporated into protein, and little (less than 20%) was degraded to other amino acids, except in two oligotrophic marine environments . In samples from these two environments, ca . 50% of the leucine incorporated had been degraded to other amino acids, which were subsequently incorporated into protein . The degree of leucine degradation appears to depend on the organic carbon supply, as the proportion of 3H-radioactivity incorporated into protein that was recovered as {3H}leucine after acid hydrolysis increased with the addition of pyruvate to oligotrophic water samples . The addition of extracellular leucine inhibited total incorporation of {14C}pyruvate (a precursor for leucine biosynthesis) into protein . Furthermore, the proportion of {14C}pyruvate incorporation into protein that was recovered as {14C}leucine decreased with the addition of extracellular leucine . These results show that the addition of extracellular leucine inhibits leucine biosynthesis by marine bacterial assemblages . The molar fraction of leucine in a wide variety of proteins is constant, indicating that changes in leucine incorporation rates reflect changes in rates of protein synthesis rather than changes in the leucine content of proteins . The results demonstrate that the incorporation rate of {3H}leucine into a hot trichloroacetic acid-insoluble cell fraction can serve as an index of protein synthesis by bacterial assemblages in aquatic systems.

Br J Nutr, 1985 Mar, 53(2), 399 - 408
Adsorption of soluble proteins to rumen bacteria and the role of adsorption in proteolysis; Wallace RJ; Following the addition of 14C-labelled casein to mixed rumen bacteria at 39 degrees, some radioactivity was adsorbed to the bacteria before the casein was hydrolysed . At 0 degrees, the rate of hydrolysis was greatly diminished but adsorption still occurred, and this enabled a study of the adsorption mechanism to be made . The adsorption of 14C-labelled casein to rumen bacteria was a saturable process . The maximum binding capacity was about 10 micrograms 14C-labelled casein/mg bacterial protein . The ability of bacteria to adsorb 14C-labelled casein was abolished when they had been boiled for 5 min . Boiling caused the release of material from the bacteria which rendered some undigested protein soluble in 50 g trichloracetic acid/l . Adsorbed 14C-labelled casein could be partly displaced by the addition of Triton X100 or an excess of unlabelled casein, or by boiling, or by removal of capsular material by blending . Adsorbed 14C-labelled haemoglobin could similarly be displaced by an excess of cold casein . When an excess of casein was added to bacteria to which glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC I.I.I.49) and glucosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.I.9) had been adsorbed, little active enzyme was displaced . The susceptibility of different 14C-labelled proteins to hydrolysis corresponded to their relative adsorption affinities . The pattern of sensitivity to inhibitors of the adsorption mechanism was the same as that for the inhibition of the bacterial hydrolysis of 14C-labelled casein, and the synthetic substrates leucine p-nitroanilide and benzoyl arginine p-nitroanilide . It was concluded that the adsorption site and the catalytic site for proteolysis by rumen bacteria are probably identical and so not likely to be subject to independent manipulation.

Laryngoscope, 1985 Feb, 95(2), 186 - 7
The efficacy of the CO2 laser in the sterilization of skin seeded with bacteria: survival at the skin surface and in the plume emissions; Mullarky MB et al.; A quantitative study on the survival of bacteria following exposure to the CO2 laser was determined at the skin surface and in the plume . Known quantities of bacteria were inoculated onto the surface of fresh pig skin and exposed to timed bursts of the radiation . Results indicate that the bacterial population at the skin surface was reduced by several orders of magnitude while the potential for spread of bacteria by the plume of smoke was negligible.

J Biol Chem, 1985 Jan 10, 260(1), 64 - 71
Localization of tyrosine kinase-coding region in v-abl oncogene by the expression of v-abl-encoded proteins in bacteria; Wang JY et al.; A series of plasmids containing different segments of the v-abl oncogene have been constructed to express different portions of the v-abl protein in bacteria . The tyrosine kinase activity of these proteins was determined by an in vitro assay employing histones or angiotensin II as substrates for the v-abl-encoded tyrosine kinase . These experiments show that the 5'-1.2 kilobases of v-abl is necessary and sufficient to produce an active tyrosine kinase which is functional as a monomeric soluble protein . The kinase-coding region corresponds to the minimal region of v-abl required for the transformation of fibroblasts . The kinase-coding region also coincides with the conserved protein sequences which are found in other tyrosine kinases . A compact domain of the v-abl protein including this kinase-coding region can accumulate to high levels in bacteria . The C-terminal region of the v-abl protein is not needed for the kinase activity and is rapidly degraded in bacteria.

Nutr Health, 1985, 3(4), 241 - 6
Intestinal bacteria--passengers or partners?
Fuller R.
The gut of all warm-blooded animals contains a large population of bacteria . The metabolic activities of this diverse collection of bacteria can affect the host animal in a variety of ways, some of which are harmful and some of which are beneficial . The way in which an organism reacts with its host can be affected by diet or by other bacteria present in the gut . The complex inter-relationship between the different bacteria and between the bacteria and the host are discussed.

Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1985, (10), 19 - 23
{Possible commonality of origin of the RNA polymerase genes of plus-RNA-containing viruses of bacteria, plants and animals}; Morozov SIu et al.; The data given testify that picornavirus RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase, RNA-polymerase encoded by the genome of MS2 phage and the certain polypeptides involved in the replication of RNA genomes of alphaviruses, tobamoviruses and tricornaviruses include the homologous stretches of the amino acids . The common sequences are located in the COOH-terminal regions of the viral proteins . These sequences have been found to be conserved also in RNA-replicase MS2 phage . The similarity of the primary structure between the RNA-polymerase phages and proteins of eucaryotic plus-RNA-containing viruses testifies in favour of the hypothesis on possible ancestral relationship of virus RNA-polymerases genes . These data point out that it is possible to localize an indispensable functional domain conserved upon evolutionary divergence of an ancestral RNA-polymerase gene . Such conservative region is recently found in the composition of RNA-dependent DNA-polymerases animals and plants virus . An attention is drawn to the region of protein similarity between conservative domains of viral RNA-dependent DNA-polymerases and RNA-polymerases.

Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1985, 140(4), 293 - 301
Production of B-group vitamins by bacteria isolated from soil, rhizosphere, and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.); Strzelczyk E et al.; Studies on the production of B vitamins by soil, rhizosphere, and mycorrhizosphere bacteria have revealed that such ability is common among these organisms . Thiamin, nicotinic and folic acids were produced by the greatest number of bacteria . Bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere produced more riboflavin than those originating from the soil distant from roots . In general the soil strains produced higher amounts of vitamins (except riboflavin) than the root-zone isolates . Two and three vitamins were produced by the majority of bacteria . The synthesis of four and five vitamins was found in few strains only.

Microbiol Sci, 1985, 2(3), 90 - 4
Large plasmids in bacteria . Part 1 . A survey of associated phenotypes; Hardman DJ et al.; Large sections of DNA from large plasmids are cryptic while some plasmid-borne genes are essential for the efficient growth of the host organism . A range of plasmid-coded phenotypes are discussed together with an outline of some plasmid/chromosome interactions.

Microbiol Sci, 1985 Jan, 2(1), 21 - 3
Sensor sensationalism? Alternative views on the nature and role of 'cytochrome a1' in bacteria; Poole RK et al.; Replying to a recent proposal that 'cytochrome a1' functions as an oxygen sensor, we argue that this speculation is flawed by the failure to appreciate that cytochrome a1-like haemoproteins are a diverse group of haemoproteins.

Arch Oral Biol, 1985, 30(11-12), 781 - 90
Kinetics and product stoichiometry of ureolysis by human salivary bacteria and artificial mouth plaques; Sissons CH et al.; Ureolysis was investigated in salivary bacteria from persons with widely-differing oral ureolytic activities . Rate curves and product stoichiometry were established for urea disappearance, ammonia appearance and conversion of {14C}-urea to 14CO2 . Ammonia, released stoichiometrically from urea, was best measured by a direct phenate-hypochlorite reaction . About 80 per cent of the urea-C was liberated as free CO2 . Slight deviations from ammonia stoichiometry and most of the CO2 loss occurred in the first 5-10 min of reaction, when the rate of urea disappearance was constant and up to 2-fold higher than subsequently . This rate-change suggests that flux in the ureolysis pathway may be under feedback control . Ureolysis by salivary-sediment bacteria followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of 2.5 mM; rates of end-product formation were independent of urea concentration between 25 and 500 mM . Ureolysis was inhibited 98 per cent by 5 mM acetohydroxamic acid, a urease inhibitor, and could be partly solubilized by sonication to give an enzyme preparation which, without cofactor supplementation, quantitatively hydrolysed urea . Thus urea metabolism by oral bacteria may principally involve urease-catalysed hydrolysis, rather than non-urease pathways.

Basic Life Sci, 1985, 31, 189 - 209
Thymineless mutagenesis in bacteria; Kunz BA; Experimental evidence indicates that while thymine starvation induces primarily A:T----G:C transitions in bacteria, it also may cause other uncharacterized base substitutions as well as frameshifts and deletions . However, models have been proposed to explain only the induction of point mutations by thymine deprivation . In this study, we demonstrate that thymine nucleotide depletion induces both point mutations in the his-4 and 1acI genes of Escherichia coli and reversion of the frameshift mutations trpE9777, trpA21, trpA540, and trpA9813 . Analysis of the 1acI amber spectrum revealed that thymine starvation resulted in G:C----A:T transitions and all possible transversions . A defect in uracil-DNA glycosylase has little effect on the induction of 1acI- mutations but reduces substantially the induction of trpE9777 revertants . These data show that the mutagenic specificity of thymine nucleotide depletion is not limited to A:T----G:C transitions and suggest that removal of uracil from DNA plays a role in the generation of frameshift mutations by thymine deprivation . A model that involves nucleotide misincorporation into DNA and induction of error-prone repair functions in response to thymine starvation is proposed to account for these findings.

Tierarztl Prax, 1985, 13(1), 1 - 10
{Modifying the non-specific defense with bacteria, fungi and their metabolic products}; Muller E et al.; In a literature survey frequently mentioned bacterial and mycological modulators of the non-specific immune system are discussed . The substances are listed in a table pointing out indications respectively state of development . Commonly used definitions concerning substances that take influence in the non-specific immune system are discussed.

Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1985, (1), 58 - 62
{Elimination of quinones from aqueous environments by phenols and the effect of their mixtures on the luminescence of Beneckea harveyi bacteria}; Gil' TA et al.; In the mixture of hydroquinone with other phenols the content of quinones has been measured by potentiometrical and polarographical methods . The decrease of quinone content in the mixture in comparison with the pure solution has been noted . The toxicity of solution estimated according to extinction of luminescence of bacteria at adding other phenols decreases.

Arch Oral Biol, 1985, 30(5), 403 - 7
Establishment and distribution of the bacteria Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii in the mouths of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis); Beighton D; The colonization of the mouth by the two Actinomyces species, postulated to be members of a basic plaque flora, was studied in 27 consecutively-born neonatal monkeys . Bacteria adherent to the tongue and cheek surfaces were sampled from each monkey soon after birth (mean age = 3.2 days) . The tongue and cheek surfaces and the labial surfaces of the incisor teeth were sampled at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age . From only one neonatal sample were Actinomyces species isolated . By 4 weeks of age, the incisor teeth are partially erupted and, from teeth erupted more than 1 mm, A . naeslundii was frequently isolated and its proportion increased between 4 and 8 weeks on all surfaces sampled . At 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the proportion of A . naeslundii on the incisor teeth was greater than on the mucosal surfaces . The isolation rate of A . viscosus was low in these neonates, but it was isolated from each of 6 juvenile monkeys fed a starch diet . In the 6 juvenile monkeys, the proportion of A . viscosus decreased following the introduction of a sucrose-containing diet, whereas the proportion of A . naeslundii on the teeth increased . The early establishment of A . naeslundii and, to a lesser extent, A . viscosus in the dental plaque of neonatal monkeys fed exclusively by their mothers suggests that members of a basic plaque flora may be those bacteria establishing in the plaque during the period of breast-feeding.

Gene, 1985, 36(3), 271 - 9
Immunological detection of cauliflower mosaic virus gene V protein produced in engineered bacteria or infected plants; Ziegler V et al.; Antiserum was prepared against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 25 amino acids (aa) of the protein encoded by cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) gene V, which is thought to be a reverse transcriptase involved in viral DNA replication . This antiserum was used to detect the expression of CaMV gene V either in Escherichia coli JM103 transformed by an expression vector containing CaMV gene V or in CaMV-infected plants . In both cases, an 80-kDal protein has been detected.

Mikrobiologiia, 1985 Jan-Feb, 54(1), 162 - 3
{Effect of aspartate amino acids on aspartokinase activity of oligotrophic bacteria}; Stepanovich TV et al.; The object of this work was to study the effect of aspartate amino acids taken separately or in combinations on the aspartokinase activity of Hyphomicrobium and Methylobacterium methylotrophous strains . Aspartokinase was shown to be a polyvalent enzyme regulated by the coordinated action of two amino acid pairs: lysine+threonine and threonine+methionine.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1985 Jan, 82(2), 312 - 5
Phosphorylation enzymes of the propionic acid bacteria and the roles of ATP inorganic pyrophosphate, and polyphosphates; Wood HG et al.; It is shown that polyphosphates are not generated in significant amounts in the phosphoglycerate kinase reaction; polyphosphate is more effective than ATP in the formation of glucose 6-P by glucokinase, but the rate with ATP may be adequate to meet the requirements of glucose metabolism; PPi is far more effective than ATP as a phosphate donor in the formation of fructose 1,6-P2 by phosphofructokinase; PPi rather than ATP almost certainly is used in this reaction; and, aside from glucokinase and phosphofructokinase, the enzymes of phosphorylation are specific in their requirements of phosphate donors or acceptors and are present in adequate amounts to meet the requirements of glucose metabolism by the propionic acid bacteria.

Biol Cell, 1985, 54(3), 207 - 15
The use of bacteria as probes for lectins in preparations of solubilized human tonsil cell membranes; Ralapati S et al.; In earlier work we have shown that some bacteria bind naturally to lymphocyte subpopulations and that this binding may be due to lectin-carbohydrate interactions . Here we determined the possibility of using bacteria to probe for these lectins in solubilized tonsil cell membrane preparations . Since lectins are capable of agglutination, we determined the ability of human tonsil cell membrane extract (TCME) to agglutinate bacteria . We used Escherichia coli strain YS57 which does not bind to human lymphocytes and a mutant strain derived from it, E . coli UI 2023, which binds to about 50 percent of human lymphocytes . The UI 2023 was agglutinated while the YS57 was not; this agglutination was not due to antibodies or DNA . When E . coli UI 2023 was treated with periodate, it lost its ability to be agglutinated . The agglutination of E . coli UI 2023 was not blocked by any of the monosaccharides and disaccharides used but was blocked by the E . coli LPS, more specifically, by its carbohydrate moiety . Also, the E . coli UI 2023 absorbed the agglutinating factor while its parental strain, YS57, did not . Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of TCME after absorption with bacteria showed that a band around 67kD was absent in the TCME absorbed by E . coli prevented the absorption by E . coli UI 2023 whereas Na2IO4-treated LPS did not . In addition, tonsil cell membrane was radioiodinated before obtaining the TCME; sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the radioiodinated TCME recovered after elution from E . coli UI 2023, but not from E . coli YS57, showed again a band around 67 kD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Physiol Bohemoslov, 1985, 34(6), 512 - 7
Ammonia-utilizing enzymes of adherent bacteria in the sheep's rumen; Lenartova V et al.; In experiments on 6 sheep the authors found the following enzyme activities in bacteria in the rumen fluid, bacteria adhering to the epithelium of the rumen wall and bacteria adhering to food particles in the rumen (given in nkat X g-1 bacterial dry weight): GDH (NADH): 725 +/- 165, 558 +/- 127, 661 +/- 153; GDH (NADPH): 558 +/- 338, 255 +/- 88, 565 +/- 139; GOAT (NADH): 46 +/- 23, 67 +/- 31, 66 +/- 14; GOGAT/NADPH: 58 +/- 27, 56 +/- 15, 65 +/- 29; GS: 153 +/- 65, 69 +/- 35, 71 +/- 32; ALT: 71 +/- 25, 43 +/- 20, 52 +/- 11; AST: 52 +/- 12, 33 +/- 16, 28 +/- 15 . The results show that, except for GDH (NADPH), there were no significant differences between the given enzyme activities in the rumen fluid and in bacteria adhering to the rumen wall and to food . Adherent rumen bacteria have the same potential possibilities as the rumen fluid bacteria for the utilization of ammonia, particularly for the synthesis of glutamic acid, glutamine, alanine and aspartic acid, with the above enzymes as catalysts . By means of the GS/GOGAT system, adherent rumen bacteria can probably synthesize glutamic acid in the presence of a limited NH3 concentration in the rumen.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1985, 30(2), 154 - 76
DNA-protein interactions during replication of genetic elements of bacteria; Nesvera J et al.; Specific interactions of DNA with proteins are required for both the replication of deoxyribonucleic acid proper and its regulation . Genetic elements of bacteria, their extrachromosomal elements in particular, represent a suitable model system for studies of these processes at the molecular level . In addition to replication enzymes (DNA polymerases), a series of other protein factors (e.g . topoisomerases, DNA unwinding enzymes, and DNA binding proteins) are involved in the replication of the chromosomal, phage and plasmid DNA . Specific interactions of proteins with DNA are particularly important in the regulation of initiation of DNA synthesis . Association of DNAs with the cell membrane also plays an important role in their replication in bacteria.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1985, 34(3-4), 301 - 8
Production of organic acids by bacteria isolated from soil, rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.); Rozycki H; The bacteria studied released into the medium ten to eleven organic acids . Soil organisms excreted mainly pyruvic and alpha-ketoglutaric acids, while strains from the root zone--gluconic acid and unidentified uronic acid (y2) . Mean indices of total production of the organic acids by bacteria were in the following order: rhizosphere less than soil less than mycorrizosphere . Bacteria from the root zone released into the medium very large amounts of pyruvic, gluconic, and uronic (y2) acids--in some instances several times higher than bacterial dry mass.

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