Staphylococcus aureus

Epidemiol Infect, 1990 Apr, 104(2), 211 - 8
Bacteriophage 604: a marker phage for multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Australia; Inglis B et al.; Of 28 multi-resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus collected during 1986 from hospitals in major cities around Australia, 27 were found to contain the same prophage (denoted phage 604) . Hospital isolates carrying three or fewer resistance markers, and community isolates carrying one or no resistance markers, did not carry this prophage . Phage 604 does not confer antibiotic resistance on its lysogens, nor does it increase virulence in chick embryo assays . Phage 604 appears to be a correlate of antibiotic multi-resistance in S . aureus in Australia, and may provide a molecular marker for incipiently epidemic strains of this bacterium in Australian hospitals.

J Immunol, 1990 Apr 1, 144(7), 2473 - 9
Stimulation of B10.BR T cells with superantigenic staphylococcal toxins; Callahan JE et al.; The Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins are known to be potent T cell activators, stimulating cell proliferation and lymphokine production . Two additional S . aureus proteins, exfoliating toxin and toxic shock syndrome toxin, share these properties . Recently these molecules have been termed "super-antigens" because of their ability to bind to class II MHC molecules and thus form ligands that interact with TCR in an unconventional manner . In this paper we show that each toxin stimulates mouse T cells bearing receptors that include particular V beta regions, almost regardless of the other variable receptor components . In addition, different toxins have different specificities for V beta.

Chin Med J (Engl), 1990 Apr, 103(4), 326 - 30
Soluble products of Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated blood mononuclear cells in enhancing polymorphonuclear leukocyte degradation of bone; Wang JH et al.; Rapid, extensive loss of infected bone implies abnormal localized inflammatory cell activity . We have demonstrated, using a live bone Ca-45 release model, that polymorphonuclear leukocytes degrade bone in a dose dependent manner . Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated blood mononuclear leukocytes release soluble products in vitro that enhance that process . Despite the usually accepted roles of osteoclasts and their blood-borne monocytic precursors in normal bone remodelling, these results indicate that considerable early pathological infected bone loss may be attributable to inflammatory polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Apr, 25(4), 651 - 6
Single oral dose pharmacokinetics of the two main components of pristinamycin in humans; Koechlin C et al.; A preliminary study of the pharmacokinetics of the two main components of pristinamycin, PIA and PIIA is reported . A single oral dose of 2 g of pristinamycin was administered to six patients with normal renal and hepatic function . The samples were withdrawn during 9.5 h and assayed by HPLC . PIA and PIIA plasma levels evolved in parallel in each subject and their kinetic parameters were comparable: Tmax of 3.25 +/- 1.80 h and 3.08 +/- 1.98 h, Cmax of 0.760 +/- 0.427 mg/l and 0.581 +/- 0.285 mg/l, elimination half-life of 4.03 +/- 2.77 h-1 and 2.83 +/- 0.75 h-1, respectively . The relative proportions of PIA and PIIA, which govern the antibacterial activity of the mixture, were maintained during the study in the range of values leading to 90-100% of optimal activity against Staphylococcus aureus . The sum of the plasma concentrations of PIA and PIIA, which can be considered to be equivalent to the concentration of total pristinamycin, was superior to the MICs for the most susceptible staphylococcal strains during the entire period of study . On the other hand, the sum of PIA and PIIA concentrations exceeded the MICs for the less susceptible strains for only 4 h . These results differ from the scanty pharmacokinetic data presently available, which were obtained by microbiological methods.

Infect Immun, 1990 Apr, 58(4), 1026 - 9
Effect of environmental conditions on production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 by Staphylococcus aureus; Wong AC et al.; The kinetics of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) production by Staphylococcus aureus was studied in a fermentor in which aeration rate, atmospheric composition, pH, and temperature were controlled . The toxin was synthesized at a maximal rate during the exponential phase . High bacterial populations were not necessarily accompanied by high TSST-1 yields . Aerobiosis increased TSST-1 production, but excessive aeration had an adverse effect . Addition of CO2 enhanced TSST-1 yield by increasing toxin production rate and efficiency . Cultures with no pH control made more TSST-1 than those maintained at pH 5.5 to 7.5 . Maximum TSST-1 yields were obtained when cultures were supplied with air (20 cm3/min) and CO2 (5 cm3/min) via a sintered glass sparger.

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 1990 Apr-Jun, 23(2), 91 - 5
{Hospital infections in a high-risk nursery: 2-year analysis}; Flenik LT et al.; A prospective study of nosocomial infections in a nursery was undertaken in the Hospital of University of Parana . Infections were identified during a 2 year period from August 1987 to July 1989 with a monthly analysis of prevalence site and agents responsible for nosocomial infections . The biannual mean was 30% . Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated pathogen . The most common site of nosocomial infections was muco-cutaneous . Educational measures were the most important factor in reduction of nosocomial infection rates.

J Craniofac Surg, 1990 Apr, 1(2), 88 - 90
Involvement of the thymus and cellular immune system in craniofacial malformation syndromes; Scheuerle AE et al.; Craniofacial structures, the aortic arch, thymus, and parathyroid glands all arise from the embryologic pharyngeal pouches, and DiGeorge and Job craniofacial malformation syndromes have defined immunologic deficiencies . The question addressed by this study is whether patients with other pharyngeal pouch malformations could also have immunologic abnormalities . Twelve patients, 4 female and 8 male, were selected at random from the Tampa Bay Craniofacial Center . Their diagnoses included: cleft lip/cleft palate, hemifacial microsomia/Goldenhar syndrome, Treacher-Collins syndrome, craniofacial hemangiomata, cranio-synostosis syndromes, and Tessier 13 cleft . Fresh blood samples were analyzed against age-matched controls for immunoglobin number, using immunoelectrophoresis, T-cell, B-cell, and natural killer cell quantity via Coulter counter and monoclonal antibody labeling, as well as lymphocyte stimulation and response functions with phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, and Staphylococcus aureus mitogens . All patients studied had some abnormality of their immune systems . Seven had specific T-cell abnormalities and three patients had abnormalities in all three categories studied . This indicates that patients with any pharyngeal pouch malformation may have an abnormality of the immune system.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Apr, 15 Suppl A, 23 - 34
Study of the influence of protein binding on serum bactericidal titres and killing rates in volunteers receiving ceftazidime, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone; Van der Auwera P et al.; The influence of protein binding on anti-staphylococcal activity of cefotaxime, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone was evaluated using an ex vivo cross-over study in human volunteers . Serum inhibitory and bactericidal titres were measured using samples collected 1 h and 6 h after infusion of 2 g of cefotaxime and ceftazidime and 1 g of ceftriaxone . Time-kill curves were done using the same samples . Twelve strains of Staphylococcus aureus were studied including six capsulated strains of known capsule types . Two media were compared: Mueller-Hinton and 'capsule' medium . The MICs and MBCs of oxacillin-susceptible strains measured in capsule medium were higher than in Mueller-Hinton, hence the higher serum inhibitory and bactericidal titres in the latter medium . The effect of protein binding was evaluated, using the difference between expected serum titres, from serum concentration and MICs or MBCs measured in serum-free medium, and the area under the time-kill curve corrected for the serum concentration and the sensitivity of the strains . The anti-staphylococcal activity of ceftriaxone was markedly affected by its strong protein binding.

Agents Actions, 1990 Apr, 30(1-2), 250 - 3
Reactivity of human basophils to anti-IgE and protein A in atopic dermatitis; Sainte-Laudy J et al.; We compared by basophil degranulation and histamine release the reactivity to protein A and anti-IgE of the basophils from 3 groups of patients: group I (blood donors), group II (rhinitis) and group III (atopic dermatitis) . We demonstrated that histamine release and basophil degranulation gave tightly correlated results and that by both methods group III was significantly (p less than 0.01) more sensitive to the effectors than the two other groups . Protein A and anti-IgE stimulation curves showed a rebound effect at low concentrations of effectors . This was, however, only significant (p less than 0.01) for group III . Bacterial hypersensitivity may be IgE-mediated and may be related to the increased sensitivity to bacterial antigens and the severity of atopic dermatitis in patients infected by Staphylococcus aureus.

J Neurosci Res, 1990 Apr, 25(4), 535 - 44
Myelin basic protein: interaction with calmodulin and gangliosides; Chan KF et al.; The structural characteristics of myelin basic protein (MBP) involved in protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions were investigated . Rabbit MBP could bind calmodulin (CaM) in the presence of Ca2+ to form a complex that remained undissociated in 8 M urea . However, no tight complex formation was observed when the divalent cation was absent . These results suggest that MBP may contain a hydrophobic domain similar to those in the other well-characterized CaM-binding proteins . The stoichiometry of calmodulin binding to MBP was approximately 1:1 . Prior limited proteolysis of MBP with trypsin abolished the formation of the MBP-CaM complex, indicating that the entire MBP polypeptide may be involved in the recognition of the hydrophobic clefts in CaM . MBP also formed tight complexes with gangliosides, but the presence of Ca2+ was not required . Binding of gangliosides to MBP-CaM complex released CaM from the complex . The ganglioside-binding sites in MBP were determined after trisecting the protein at two glutamic acid residues with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease . Subsequent binding studies revealed that a 9.5-kDa polypeptide, which may correspond to the NH2-terminal domain (residues 1-83) of MBP, had higher affinity for the binding of lucifer yellow CH-labeled GM1 than did the other two polypeptides, of apparent molecular mass (Mr) 5,500 and 4,500, respectively . Among the various proteins in purified guinea pig brain myelin, synaptosomes, and synaptosomal membranes, MBP was found to have the highest affinity in binding lucifer yellow CH-GM1.

Arthritis Rheum, 1990 Apr, 33(4), 533 - 41
Septic arthritis . Staphylococcal induction of chondrocyte proteolytic activity; Williams RJ 3rd et al.; We report herein that cartilage proteolytic activity increased in bovine and rabbit articular cartilage after treatment with a purified staphylococcal culture medium or intraarticular infection with Staphylococcus aureus . Staphylococcal culture medium increased the release of gelatinolytic, collagenolytic, and caseinolytic activity into the medium of isolated chondrocytes or cartilage organ culture . The proteolytic activities were determined in assays using radiolabeled substrate and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Staphylococcal culture medium was proteolytically inactive by both assay techniques . RNA synthesis of isolated chondrocytes was unaffected by staphylococcal culture medium, whereas overall protein synthesis was inhibited by 84% . An analysis of extracts of Staphylococcus aureus-infected rabbit knee cartilage by substrate gels showed increased gelatinolytic and caseinolytic activity compared with extracts of uninfected knee cartilage . Our data suggest that the rapid loss of proteoglycan and persistent degradation of cartilage in staphylococcal septic arthritis is due to the production and activation of chondrocyte proteases.

Am J Vet Res, 1990 Apr, 51(4), 524 - 32
Effects of bovine mammary secretion during the early nonlactating period and antibiotics on polymorphonuclear neutrophil function and morphology; Lintner TJ et al.; The effect of bovine mammary secretion during the early nonlactating period and of antibiotic preparations on bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) phagocytic function and morphology were evaluated in a series of in vitro multifactorial experiments . Benzathine cloxacillin (CL), benzathine cephapirin (CE), sodium novobiocin (NO), and a combination of dihydrostreptomycin with procaine penicillin G (DP) were prepared in the presence and absence of a peanut oil aluminum monostearate vehicle . The PMN were isolated from bovine blood, and the effect of each antibiotic preparation on PMN function and morphology was evaluated in a buffer, fat, skin, and a combination of fat with skim from bovine mammary secretion during the nonlactating period . The fat and skim were diluted with buffer to approximate their concentration in mammary secretion . Phagocytic functions of PMN were monitored by fluorescent microscopy, which made it possible to estimate both ingestion and intracellular killing of bacteria by PMN . Changes in PMN morphology were monitored by transmission electron microscopy . The ability of PMN to ingest and kill Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was significantly decreased by fat, skim, CL, CE, NO, and DP . Effects of some antibiotics on ingestion and killing of bacteria by PMN were influenced by the addition of vehicle and by interactions with mammary secretion . Neutrophil morphology was altered by fat, skim, CL, CE, NO, and DP . The detrimental effects of CL, CE, NO, and DP on PMN morphology were influenced (some significantly) by the presence of vehicle and interactions with mammary secretion . There were significant correlations among secretion- and antibiotic-induced changes in PMN ingestion of bacteria, PMN killing of bacteria, and PMN morphology.

FEBS Lett, 1990 Mar 26, 262(2), 269 - 74
Sequence location of a putative transglutaminase cross-linking site in human vitronectin; Skorstengaard K et al.; We attempted to locate the glutamine residue in human vitronectin, susceptible to cross-linking by transglutaminases . Vitronectin was incubated with 14C-labelled putrescine and plasma factor XIIIa and, after reduction and alkylation, the vitronectin was digested with trypsin . HPLC of the digest followed by scintillation counting revealed one major and two minor radioactivity labelled peaks . Sub-digestion with Staphylococcus aureus protease, sequence analysis and mass-spectrometry of the resulting peptides demonstrated that Gln-93 of vitronectin had incorporated putrescine . Additionally, Gln-73, Gln-84 and Gln-86 were found to be minor sites for incorporation.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Mar 15, 265(8), 4652 - 6
Role of upstream sequences in the expression of the staphylococcal enterotoxin B gene; Mahmood R et al.; The staphylococcal enterotoxin B gene (seb) is positively regulated at the transcriptional level (Gaskill, M . E., and Khan, S . A . (1988) J . Biol . Chem . 263, 6276-6280) . The sequences involved in the regulation of transcription of the seb gene have been studied by deletion analysis . A multicopy Staphylococcus aureus plasmid carrying the cloned seb gene was used to generate a series of mutants that are deleted in the upstream region of this gene . The levels of enterotoxin B protein and mRNA produced by the deletion mutants were analyzed . A region between 59 and 93 nucleotides upstream of the transcription initiation site was found to be required for transcription and expression of the seb gene . Deletion of this sequence greatly reduced or eliminated transcription of the seb gene . DNA-protein binding experiments showed that cell-free extracts made from an staphylococcal enterotoxin B-producing strain contain protein(s) that specifically bind to the upstream region . This protein may be involved in the transcriptional activation of the seb gene.

Biochem J, 1990 Mar 15, 266(3), 853 - 61
Beta-lactamases as fully efficient enzymes . Determination of all the rate constants in the acyl-enzyme mechanism; Christensen H et al.; The rate constants for both acylation and deacylation of beta-lactamase PC1 from Staphylococcus aureus and the RTEM beta-lactamase from Escherichia coli were determined by the acid-quench method {Martin & Waley (1988) Biochem . J . 254, 923-925} with several good substrates, and, for a wider range of substrates, of beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus . The values of the acylation and deacylation rate constants for benzylpenicillin were approximately the same (i.e . differing by no more than 2-fold) for each enzyme . The variation of kcat./Km for benzylpenicillin with the viscosity of the medium was used to obtain values for all four rate constants in the acyl-enzyme mechanism for all three enzymes . The reaction is partly diffusion-controlled, and the rate constant for the dissociation of the enzyme-substrate complex has approximately the same value as the rate constants for acylation and deacylation . Thus all three first-order rate constants have comparable values . Here there is no single rate-determining step for beta-lactamase action . This is taken to be a sign of a fully efficient enzyme.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Mar 15, 56(3), 313 - 7
Do beta-lactam antibiotics permeabilize the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria? An electrochemical investigation; Jouenne T et al.; The effects of cefotaxime and EDTA on the reducing activity of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus cultures growing in the presence of lipoic acid (LA) were investigated by potential-time measurements . The potentiometric responses of E . coli cultures exposed to EDTA indicated enhanced transmembrane transport of LA as a consequence of the outer membrane permeabilization by the chelator, whereas EDTA exerted no effect on the reducing activity of S . aureus cultures . In the same way, cefotaxime stimulated the reducing activity of E . coli, but not that of S . aureus . These results suggest that cefotaxime, and, more generally, a great variety of beta-lactam antibiotics, are able to permeabilize the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.

FEBS Lett, 1990 Mar 12, 262(1), 20 - 4
Evidence for a molten globule state as a general intermediate in protein folding; Ptitsyn OB et al.; The folding of globular proteins occurs through intermediate states whose characterisation provides information about the mechanism of folding . A major class of intermediate states is the compact 'molten globule', whose characteristics have been studied intensively in those conditions in which it is stable (at acid pH, high temperatures and intermediate concentrations of strong denaturants) . In studies involving bovine carbonic anhydrase, human alpha-lact-albumin, bovine beta-lactoglobulin, yeast phosphoglycerate kinase, beta-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus and recombinant human interleukin 1 beta, we have demonstrated that a transient intermediate which accumulates during refolding is compact and has the properties of the 'molten globule' state . We show that it is formed within 0.1-0.2 s . These proteins belong to different structural types (beta, alpha + beta and alpha/beta), with and without disulphide bridges and they include proteins with quite different times of complete folding (from seconds to decades of minutes) . We propose that the formation of the transient molten globule state occurs early on the pathway of folding of all globular proteins.

Biochemistry, 1990 Mar 6, 29(9), 2251 - 6
Topological disposition of the sequences -QRKIVE- and -KETYY in native (Na+ + K+)-ATPase; Bayer R; The dispositions with respect to the plane of the membrane of lysine-905 in the internal sequence -EQRKIVE- and of lysine-1012 in the carboxy-terminal sequence -RRPGGWVEKETYY of the alpha-polypeptide of sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase have been determined . These lysines are found in peptides released from the intact alpha-polypeptide by the extracellular protease from Staphylococcus aureus strain V8 and by trypsin, respectively . Synthetic peptides containing terminal sequences of these were used to prepare polyclonal antibodies, which were then used to prepare immunoadsorbents directed against the respective peptides . Sealed, right-side-out membrane vesicles containing native (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were labeled with pyridoxal phosphate and sodium {3H}borohydride in the absence or presence of saponin . The labeled alpha-polypeptide was isolated from these vesicles and digested with appropriate proteases . The incorporation of radioactivity into the peptides binding to the immunoadsorbent directed against the sequence pyrERXIVE increased 3-fold in the presence of saponin as a result of the increased accessibility of this portion of the protein to the reagent when the vesicles were breached by saponin; hence, this sequence is located on the cytoplasmic face of the membrane . It was inferred that the carboxy-terminal sequence -KETYY is on the extracytoplasmic face since the incorporation of radioactivity into peptides binding to the immunoadsorbent directed against the sequence -ETYY did not change when the vesicles were breached with saponin.

Med J Aust, 1990 Mar 5, 152(5), 240 - 5
Successful control of endemic MRSA in a cardiothoracic surgical unit; Brady LM et al.; After a substantial increase in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit at St . Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, a prospective study was undertaken in early 1986 to ascertain the carrier status of all patients entering the Unit . Of 84 patients, 27.4% were found to carry MRSA and the perineum was the major site of carriage, with 69.6% of MRSA positive cases carrying the organism in this site . As a result of these findings, the period of perioperative antibiotic cover was shortened, whole-body washing of patients with a 1% triclosan preparation was instituted and routine postoperative perineal swabs were taken . During the 18 months after implementation of these policies, a highly significant reduction in the number of MRSA carriers and infections was observed . The monitoring of perineal colonization proved to be a useful marker for increases in MRSA in the Unit.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Mar, 172(3), 1225 - 31
Enhancement of protein translocation across the membrane by specific mutations in the hydrophobic region of the signal peptide; Goldstein J et al.; The hydrophobic region of the signal peptide of the OmpA protein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane was extensively altered in its hydrophobicity and predicted secondary structure by site-specific mutagenesis . The mutated signal peptides were fused to nuclease A from Staphylococcus aureus, and the function of the signal peptide was examined by measuring the rate of processing of the signal peptide . Six of the 12 mutated signal peptides in the nuclease hybrid were processed faster than the wild-type . In particular, the processing of the mutated signal peptide in which the alanine residue at position 9 was substituted with a valine residue was enhanced almost twofold over the processing of the wild-type signal peptide . In addition, the production of nuclease A fused with this mutated signal peptide also increased twofold . However, these effects were not observed when the mutated signal peptide was fused to TEM beta-lactamase . Analysis of the present mutations suggests that both overall hydrophobicity and distinct structural requirements in the hydrophobic region have important roles in signal peptide function.

Am J Emerg Med, 1990 Mar, 8(2), 134 - 48
Emergencies in continuous dialysis patients: diagnosis and management; Cloonan CC et al.; The number of patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis is growing in the United States . To provide adequate emergent care to these patients emergency physicians must understand the alterations in normal physiologies present in these patients and how this may affect care . Cardiovascular disease and infection (especially Staphylococcus aureus sepsis) are the leading causes of death among dialysis patients . These patients are also subject to a significantly higher incidence of life-threatening electrolyte disturbances, particularly hyperkalemia and hypercalcemia, than the general population . Suicide, cardiac tamponade, intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding disorders, and bowel infarction are also much more frequent . The inability of dialysis patients to excrete drugs, metabolites, toxins, and fluids significantly alters their responses to common emergencies and should directly influence their care . Failure to recognize these differences in physiology may result in the use of standard forms of emergency therapy that may compound, rather than treat, the underlying disorder . Although most dialysis patients who come into an emergency department have conditions that can, and should, be managed by their nephrologist, the presence of a life threatening emergency requires prompt, appropriate therapy by the emergency physician.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Mar, (3), 65 - 8
{Chemiluminescence of human lymphocytes in reactions with Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan}; Maianskii AN et al.; The capacity of S . aureus peptidoglycan (PG) for inducing the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of human lymphocytes has been studied . Lymphocytes taken from adult donors have been found to give dose-dependent reaction to S . aureus PG, while lymphocytes from newborn infants have been inert under the same conditions . Essential differences in the kinetics of response to PG (the maximum intensity of chemiluminescence occurs in 25-30 minutes) and to phytohemagglutinin (the maximum intensity is reached in 1 minute) were observed . These results are considered as the manifestation of specific sensitization to bacterial peptidoglycans, which may be rapidly detected by reactive chemiluminescence.

Postgrad Med J, 1990 Mar, 66(773), 227 - 8
Repeated echocardiography: essential in the management of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis; O'Sullivan JJ et al.; Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in a previously healthy 25 year old man is described . Repeated echocardiography recorded rapid progression of aortic root and interventricular septal involvement and, even though the patient was clinically stable, early surgery was advised with a satisfactory outcome . This case report clearly demonstrates the vital role of repeated cross-sectional echocardiography in the management of such cases.

No Shinkei Geka, 1990 Mar, 18(3), 285 - 8
{Cervical spinal epidural abscess: case report}; Kuwata T et al.; Most cases of spinal epidural abscesses occur in a midthoracic or lower lumbar location . Cervical spinal epidural abscess is distinctly rare, and its prognosis is not favorable due to respiratory problems . We report a case of cervical spinal epidural abscess . A 77-year-old male was admitted because of tetraparesis and dyspnea . Two months before admission, he had been treated by femoro-femoral bypass for arteriosclerosis obliterans , and he had suffered from postoperative wound infection one month later . He had noticed neck pain two days before admission, followed by a numbness and motor weakness in both hands . Neurological examination showed flaccid tetraplegy with an absence of DTRs, paralysis of intercostal muscles, loss of sensation below the C4 dermatome, and bladder dysfunction . A spinal CT scan revealed a mass lesion in the anterior epidural space from C2 to C6, which displaced the spinal cord posteriorly . A myelogram showed complete blockage of contrast medium at the level of C7-T1 . He was treated by emergency laminectomy of C3 to C6 with evacuation of the epidural abscess . Culture showed staphylococcus aureus, for which appropriate antibiotics were administered . In spite of such an intensive treatment, the patient showed poor neurological improvement and died 42 days after operation.

Mol Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 4(3), 393 - 404
The coagulase of Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 . Sequence analysis and virulence of site-specific coagulase-deficient mutants; Phonimdaeng P et al.; The sequence of the coagulase gene (coa) from Staphylococcus aureus strain 8325-4 is reported . The deduced amino acid sequence of the coagulase protein is compared with previously reported sequences of coagulases from strains 213 and BB . The secreted mature forms of coagulase proteins are composed of three distinct segments: (i) the N-terminal 150-270 residues, which are c . 50% identical, (ii) a central region with high (greater than 90%) residue identities, and (iii) a C-terminal region composed of repeated 27-amino-acid residue sequences . The variable N-terminal sequences are probably responsible for antigenic differences among coagulases of different serotype . The region of coagulase which binds to prothrombin and activates it to form staphylothrombin is also located in the N-terminal half of the protein . A site-specific substitution mutation in the coa gene, which abolished plasma clotting activity, was isolated by recombinational allele-replacement in strains 8325-4 and M60 . The Coa- mutants did not show diminished virulence in subcutaneous and intramammary infections of mice . No evidence for a role for coagulase in virulence of toxigenic or nontoxigenic strains was obtained . This contradicts findings of several groups using Coa- mutants generated by chemical mutagenesis and suggests that the earlier results were obtained with strains that had suffered additional mutations in virulence-related genes.

Vet Med (Praha), 1990 Mar, 35(3), 171 - 8
{Detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in milk and milk products}; Grieger C et al.; For food evaluation the determination of the number of Staphylococcus aureus (hereinafter S . aureus) colonies is insufficient in view of present scientific knowledge . The results, advantages and shortcomings of diagnostic methods are demonstrated on an example of three methods of detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in milk and milk products . 133 strains were investigated by the method of biotyping of S . aureus strains . Four strains of S . aureus were included in biotype A, seven xin-producing strains were isolated seventeen times by detection of 96 S . aureus strains were not included in any biotype, the other strains belonged to biotypes C and E . This method can be used as an auxiliary method of evaluation of foods containing S . aureus bacteria . The agar-gel precipitation method of enterotoxin detection in isolated strains of S . aureus has just restricted validity . The enteroto-strains . The main shortcoming of this method is a fact that the result concerning the isolated strains need not be identical with the result of enterotoxin detection in food . Direct assays of staphylococcal enterotoxins in milk and milk products using an enzymoimmunological method seem to be the most promising, mainly due to their high sensitivity (0.0001-0.001 micrograms.ml1-) and other advantages . Positive and negative results are presented on an example of two model trials with winter sheep milk cheese.

J Dairy Sci, 1990 Mar, 73(3), 661 - 6
Systemic dry cow therapy--a preliminary report; Soback S et al.; Efficacy of three different treatment regimens in the elimination and prevention of Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infection was studied in 106 dry cow periods . At drying off, norfloxacin nicotinate was given subcutaneously to 44 cows at 10 mg/kg, oxytetracycline-HCl was administered intramuscularly to 18 cows at 20 mg/kg, 500 mg cephapirin benzathine were infused into each udder quarter of 21 cows, and a group of 23 cows served as an untreated control . Number of existing Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infections was reduced only in the norfloxacin nicotinate treatment group . New infection rate appeared lower in the two systemic treatment groups . The percentage of infected quarters remained the same throughout the dry period in the norfloxacin treatment group but number of infected quarters increased by 33 to 85% (significant in the cephapirin group) in the other groups . Minimal inhibitory concentration of the drugs for 57 S . aureus isolates was determined . Isolates were sensitive to norfloxacin and cephapirin and moderately sensitive to oxytetracycline . Results suggest that systemic dry cow therapy using norfloxacin nicotinate, which possesses large distribution volume, long half-life, and is highly active against the pathogen involved, was more effective than the other treatments.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1990 Mar, 107(3), 400 - 8
Purification and amino acid sequence of basic protein II, a lysine-49-phospholipase A2 with low activity, from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom; Liu SY et al.; A basic protein (pI 10.3), named basic protein II, was purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) after four chromatographic steps . The amino acid sequence of this protein was determined by sequencing the S-pyridylethylated derivative and its peptides produced by chemical (cyanogen bromide) and enzymatic (chymotrypsin, clostripain, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease) cleavages . The protein consisted of 122 amino acid residues and was found to be identical in sequence to basic protein I from the same source except that Asp-58 of basic protein I is replaced by asparagine . Like basic protein I, the structural feature of basic protein II is that Tyr-28 and Asp-49 common in phospholipases A2 from snake venoms and mammalian pancreas are replaced by asparagine and lysine, respectively . Thus, basic protein II belongs to the category of lysine-49-phospholipase A2 . The action of basic protein II on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine released only oleic acid, indicating that it has phospholipase A2 activity . Its molar activity toward 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, however, was only 1.7% of that of T . flavoviridis phospholipase A2 isolated previously . Affinity for Ca2+ and reactivity toward p-bromophenacyl bromide of basic protein II were 8 and 5.3 times, respectively, smaller than those of phospholipase A2 from the same source, substantiating the low phospholipase A2 activity of basic protein II.

Agents Actions, 1990 Mar, 29(3-4), 259 - 65
Influence of superoxide dismutase on staphylococcal arthritis--a histological and biochemical investigation using an experimental animal model; Linhart WE et al.; The effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on staphylococcal arthritis has not been successfully evaluated to date . A suitable animal model has been developed to investigate a possible correlation . Using 16 rabbits divided into four groups, we injected the knee joints of two groups with Staphylococcus aureus and the other two with NaCl . One group in each of the two treatment groups was also injected with SOD . Blood samples and samples of joint fluid were taken at 12 hour intervals . Lipids were measured in plasma and joint fluid . The joints were examined macroscopically and microscopically using a scoring system to quantitate the deterioration of joint structures . Lipid peroxide concentrations measured in plasma differed in each of the groups, with higher values found in animals with septic arthritis compared with controls . The estimations made of lipid peroxide in joint fluid also displayed extreme variability, with the highest values found in animals with Staphylococcal arthritis treated with SOD . Histological examination also verified that the infected joints injected with SOD showed significantly more inflammation, a higher amount of bacteria in the joint cavity, and more distinct joint damage than joints injected only with bacteria . The mechanisms responsible for this SOD effect remain to be determined.

J Burn Care Rehabil, 1990 Mar-Apr, 11(2), 112 - 7
Comparative evaluation of zinc sulfadiazine and silver sulfadiazine in burn wound infection; Fox CL Jr et al.; One percent silver sulfadiazine has been commonly used as a topical antimicrobial agent after a burn injury . Incidence of burn wound colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in patients treated with silver sulfadiazine has spurred research for other agents . A topical preparation that contains zinc and sulfadiazine (Zad-G) was evaluated for in vitro antibacterial spectrum and in vivo efficacy . Muscle biopsy specimens of rats treated with Zad-G appear to have fewer colonies of S . aureus than groups treated with silver sulfadiazine . Topical therapy with Zad-G for patients with burns was comfortable, reduced wound infection, and was comparable to therapy with silver sulfadiazine . A topical Zad-G preparation that contains zinc sulfadiazine appears to be an effective alternative to silver sulfadiazine in the treatment of burn wounds.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Mar, 34(3), 484 - 6
Affinities of SM-7338 for penicillin-binding proteins and its release from these proteins in Staphylococcus aureus; Sumita Y et al.; SM-7338, a carbapenem antibiotic, had high affinities for penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 1, 2, and 4 of Staphylococcus aureus but not for PBP 3 when a competition assay with {14C}benzylpenicillin was used . However, binding of {14C}SM-7338 was saturated for PBP 3 at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml . These results were due to the rapid release of SM-7338 from PBP 3-SM-7338 complexes with a half-life of 2 min.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Mar, 34(3), 420 - 5
Use of extracts versus whole-cell bacterial suspensions in the identification of Staphylococcus aureus beta-lactamase variants; Kernodle DS et al.; We previously have shown that extracts of S . aureus isolates which produce the recognized serotypes of staphylococcal beta-lactamase (A, B, C, D) differ in the rates at which they hydrolyze selected cephalosporins, exhibiting substrate profiles which are distinctive for each serotype . In an effort to simplify the methods employed in identifying the different staphylococcal beta-lactamases, we evaluated whether distinctive substrate profiles could be obtained by using whole-cell suspensions of 115 beta-lactamase-producing isolates of S . aureus . Compared with extracts from the same strains, the whole-cell bacterial suspensions not only were simpler to prepare but enabled beta-lactamase typing of a higher proportion of the evaluated strains (86 versus 97%, respectively) . Furthermore, the use of whole-cell bacterial suspensions enabled the simultaneous quantitation of the beta-lactamase activity exhibited by each strain . Additionally, by comparing the quantitative activity of beta-lactamase-induced and -uninduced preparations of the same strain, induction ratios (i.e., induced/uninduced activity) could be derived, yielding information regarding the regulation of beta-lactamase production by each strain . We believe that the utilization of whole-cell methods, such as those employed in this study, will facilitate the investigation of qualitative and quantitative differences in beta-lactamase production among clinical and reference isolates of S . aureus.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Mar, 34(3), 413 - 9
Inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis by ramoplanin; Somner EA et al.; Ramoplanin, a new lipoglycopeptide antibiotic, inhibits cell wall peptidoglycan biosynthesis in gram-positive bacteria . In both Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus megaterium, UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptides (UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptides) accumulated at concentrations of ramoplanin close to the MIC, indicating that inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis occurred after formation of cytoplasmic precursors . Susceptible bacteria bound or accumulated approximately 5 x 10(4) molecules of ramoplanin per cell, only 1/100th of the amount of vancomycin which binds to groups within peptidoglycan conforming to the pattern L-alpha alpha (amino acid)-D-alpha alpha-D-alpha alpha, suggesting that ramoplanin has a different target site . This was confirmed by in vitro studies involving a wall-membrane particulate fraction from Gaffkya homari in which peptidoglycan synthesis from UDP-MurNAc-tetrapeptide was inhibited by ramoplanin but not by vancomycin . The incorporation of peptidoglycan precursors into nascent peptidoglycan of a toluenized cell preparation of B . megaterium was inhibited by ramoplanin, indicating that the antibiotic acts at a step before transpeptidation . In vitro studies of a wall-membrane particulate fraction of B . megaterium indicated that ramoplanin did not prevent the formation of lipid intermediate I (undecaprenyl-P-P-MurNAc-pentapeptide) but inhibited the next reaction in which N-acetylglucosamine is transferred to that lipid intermediate . The high concentrations required to inhibit in vitro peptidoglycan-synthesizing systems probably reflect the high concentrations of target sites present . High concentrations of ramoplanin also damage certain properties of the cell membrane, but low concentrations only affected wall synthesis in intact bacteria without perturbing membrane function . These studies indicate that the primary target of ramoplanin is peptidoglycan biosynthesis and that the probable reaction inhibited is the N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-catalyzed conversion of lipid intermediate I to lipid intermediate II.

Br Vet J, 1990 Mar-Apr, 146(2), 165 - 70
Some observations on the effects of age of calves on the phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus by polymorphonuclear leucocytes; Woldehiwet Z et al.; The effects of age on bovine polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell function were investigated by comparing the efficiencies of phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus by peripheral blood leucocytes sequentially obtained from 15 calves between the ages of less than 1 and 84 days . One group of seven calves was kept in a controlled environmental chamber with air temperature of 5 degrees C and 58% relative humidity (RH) and another group of eight calves was kept at 16 degrees C and 58% RH . The calves were given a diet a liquid milk substitute and dry food, and were weaned abruptly from the liquid diet at 35 days of age . The in-vitro efficiencies of phagocytosis, and of killing, Staphylococcus aureus by peripheral blood leucocytes were similar for calves in air temperatures of 5 degrees C and 16 degrees C (P greater than 0.05) . Peripheral blood leucocytes obtained from calves of less than 1 day of age were more efficient in phagocytosing S . aureus than those obtained when the same calves were 14-84 days of age (P less than 0.001) . Peripheral blood leucocytes obtained when the calves were 42 and 56 days of age were significantly less efficient in phagocytosing and killing S . aureus than those obtained when the same calves were less than 1, 14, 28, 70 and 84 days of age (P less than 0.001).

J Reprod Immunol, 1990 Mar, 17(1), 17 - 26
Production of IL-6 (BSF-2/IFN beta 2) by mononuclear cells in premature and term infants; Saito S et al.; The production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) was examined in premature neonates (48 cases, including 3 miscarried fetuses) and fullterm neonates (20 cases) . The IL-6 production by mononuclear cells was measured after stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan Strain I (SAC), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . The production in full-term neonates was similar to that in healthy adults, whereas it was significantly lower in premature neonates without premature rupture of the membrane (PROM) . However, in premature infants with PROM a normal level of IL-6 production was observed in mononuclear cells stimulated with SAC, PHA and LPS . Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the IgM concentration in the cord serum and IL-6 production by LPS-stimulated mononuclear cells.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 28(3), 458 - 62
Antibody responses to protein A in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and endocarditis; Greenberg DP et al.; To assess the significance of antibody to Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SpA) in human sera, we developed a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . SpA antibody levels in 23 patients with S . aureus endocarditis (IE), 21 patients with non-IE S . aureus bacteremia, and 33 controls were measured . Geometric mean levels of antibody to SpA were significantly higher in S . aureus IE patients (134 ELISA units {EU}) than in uninfected controls (52 EU; P less than 0.01) . Also, a significantly greater proportion of S . aureus IE patients (12 of 23) and S . aureus non-IE bacteremia patients (11 of 21) had antibody levels greater than an arbitrary threshold of 100 EU compared with uninfected controls (0 of 23; P less than or equal to 0.001) . However, no significant differences in geometric mean SpA antibody levels between the bacteremic patients with and without IE were noted . The sensitivity and specificity of this ELISA to distinguish patients with S . aureus IE from those with non-IE bacteremia were low (52 and 48%, respectively) . There was a significant association between SpA antibody levels and either immunoglobulin G or immunoglobulin M teichoic acid antibody levels (r = 0.406, P less than 0.05; r = 0.571, P = 0.002, respectively) . For patients from whom multiple sera were available (13 IE and 5 non-IE patients), SpA antibody levels were measured over time and showed a wide temporal variation of immune responses . We conclude that antibody responses to SpA can be measured in many patients with invasive S . aureus disease but that the levels are of insufficient sensitivity or specificity to be of clinical use as a diagnostic or prognostic test.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 28(3), 447 - 51
Encapsulation of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from mastitic milk: relationship between capsular polysaccharide types 5 and 8 and colony morphology in serum-soft agar, clumping factor, teichoic acid, and protein A; Sutra L et al.; A total of 193 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bovine, caprine, and ovine mastitis producing type 5 or 8 capsular polysaccharides were investigated for colony morphology in serum-soft agar and agglutinability by an anti-teichoic acid serum, after cultivation in modified staphylococcus medium no . 110 . Also, 40 of these strains were cultivated in brain heart infusion and submitted to clumping factor and protein A detection tests . Considering capsular serotyping as a reference method, diffuse growth in serum-soft agar and inagglutinability by anti-teichoic acid serum identified, respectively, 57.5 and 45% of encapsulated strains cultivated in brain heart infusion and 85.5 and 77.2% of those cultivated in modified staphylococcus medium 110 . Consequently, these indirect techniques underestimated encapsulation and were greatly influenced by culture conditions . Whatever the medium used, diffuse colony morphology in serum-soft agar was generally characterized by a masking of teichoic acid and protein A . By contrast, these surface antigens were detected in association with compact morphology; the presence of a thin or discontinuous capsular material could explain this result . Moreover, the masking of teichoic acid and the removal of capsular polysaccharide by washing in saline suggest that type 8 capsular polysaccharide is more abundant and labile than type 5.

J Adolesc Health Care, 1990 Mar, 11(2), 166 - 9
Toxic shock syndrome in three adolescent males; Kniffin WD Jr et al.; Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is associated with a spectrum of Staphylococcus aureus infections and is not just a disease of menstruating females . We report three cases of TSS in adolescent males . In one case the origin of infection was a cauterized wart that did not appear clinically infected . Two cases were associated with bacteremia and had demonstrable acute phase antibody to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) . One of these patients died . The S . aureus strain from this patient did not produce TSST-1 but did produce enterotoxin D . The historical and clinical features of TSS are reviewed.

Eur J Immunol, 1990 Mar, 20(3), 551 - 5
Interleukin 4 receptors on normal human B lymphocytes: characterization and regulation; Zuber CE et al.; Human interleukin 4 (IL 4) up-regulates the expression of CD23 on both resting and "in vivo" activated B cells but induces proliferation and/or differentiation only on "in vitro" activated B lymphocytes . Resting B cells express 360 high-affinity IL 4 receptors (R) per cell (Kd = 25-75 pM) . Activation of resting B cells with anti-IgM antibody or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) results in a two-to-threefold increase of IL 4R number without alteration of IL 4R affinity for IL 4 . Flow cytometric analysis of biotinylated IL 4 binding shows that IL 4R expression is up-regulated on virtually all anti-IgM-stimulated B cells, but only on a subpopulation of larger cells among SAC-activated B lymphocytes . Culturing cells for 40 h with optimal concentrations of IL 4 does not significantly affect IL 4R levels on resting and anti-IgM-preactivated B lymphocytes but triples IL 4R levels on SAC-preactivated B cells . Removal of IL 4 from cell cultures results in a two-to-fourfold increase of IL 4R levels 2 h later, suggesting an increase in IL 4R turnover . Resting and activated B cells degrade 125I-labeled IL 4 at 37 degrees C . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of IL 4 binding molecules on resting, "in vivo" activated and anti-IgM-activated B cells reveals the same three species of 130, 80-75, 70-65 kDa . Thus, IL 4 displays its different biological activities on resting and activated B cells through IL 4R of the same affinity, gross biochemical structure and ability to mediate IL 4 degradation.

Biochem J, 1990 Mar 1, 266(2), 399 - 406
Purification and characterization of a hyaluronan-binding protein from rat chondrosarcoma; Crossman MV et al.; Swarm rat chondrosarcoma contains a hyaluronan-binding protein of molecular mass 102 kDa (HABP102) . The protein is present in 4 M-guanidinium chloride extracts of the chondrosarcoma and can be incorporated into reconstituted proteoglycan aggregates, but it is not present in native proteoglycan aggregates or in 0.5 M-guanidinium chloride extracts . HABP102 is unlikely to be an integral membrane protein, as it does not require detergent for extraction, is not enriched in hydrophobic amino acids and does not bind avidly to octyl-Sepharose . The protein stains poorly with Coomassie Blue and is only visible on PAGE gels after staining with silver . Disulphide bonds are essential for the binding of HABP102 to hyaluronan, and bivalent cations are not required for this interaction . HABP102 can be purified from dissociative chondrosarcoma extracts by sequential density-gradient centrifugation, hyaluronan-Sepharose affinity chromatography and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography . The amino acid composition is similar to that of domains 1-4 of the chondrosarcoma proteoglycan core protein, but peptide analysis after digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase and chymotrypsin and different immunoreactivity suggest that HABP102 is not closely related to proteoglycan hyaluronan-binding region . HABP102 is a glycoprotein containing N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, mannose and galactose.

Am J Pathol, 1990 Mar, 136(3), 623 - 30
Pentoxifylline-induced modulation of human leukocyte function in vitro; Josaki K et al.; We previously demonstrated that pentoxifylline stimulated leukocyte migration in vitro and leukocyte accumulation in vivo and protects neonatal mice from experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus infections . In the present studies we have investigated pentoxifylline's effect on human leukocyte function in vitro . In these studies we demonstrate that pentoxifylline at low concentrations (ie, 0.01 and 0.1 mg/ml) stimulates both leukocyte migration and microbicidal activity in vitro . Alternatively, low concentrations (0.001 to 0.1 mg/ml) of pentoxifylline had no significant effect on the binding uptake of S . aureus by leukocytes, nor did it enhance phagocytic degranulation . At extremely low concentrations (0.001 mg/ml), pentoxifylline enhanced oxygen metabolism by human leukocytes, as reflected by increased H2O2 production and chemiluminescence (CL) . At higher concentrations (ie, 0.1 to 1 mg/ml), pentoxifylline consistently suppressed these leukocyte functions in vitro . Thus, this study supports the following hypothesis: 1) the in vivo effects of pentoxifylline may involve a direct effect on both leukocyte mobilization and microbicidal activity, and 2) the enhanced microbicidal activity induced by pentoxifylline may be a result of enhanced leukocyte oxygen metabolism . In summary, pentoxifylline appears to be an interesting immunomodulator (ie, immunoenhancement and immunosuppression) of leukocyte function in vitro, but additional studies will be required before the efficacy of pentoxifylline in man can be determined.

Am J Med Sci, 1990 Mar, 299(3), 158 - 63
The effect of HIV infection on phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human pulmonary alveolar macrophages; Musher DM et al.; Pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) play a central role in host defense against pulmonary infection . The authors studied the number, viability, and ultrastructure of PAM recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage from normal and HIV-infected subjects, and their ability to phagocytose and kill Staphylococcus aureus . PAM from HIV-infected subjects who did not have pneumonia were present in greater numbers and phagocytosed significantly more opsonized Staphylococcus aureus (32.5% and 27.3% for nonsmokers and smokers, respectively) than did PAM from healthy controls (19.5% and 18.2%) . In 15 patients with AIDS and pneumonia (due to Pneumocystis carinii in 13/15), viability of PAM and their phagocytic capacity were significantly reduced; in smokers with AIDS and pneumonia, the PAM yield was also dramatically decreased . Killing of S . aureus was similar by PAM from all patient groups . HIV infection was associated with the electron microscopic finding in PAM of extensively ruffled PAM cell-surfaces and ingestion of lymphocytes . Thus, HIV infection stimulates the phagocytic capacity and produces morphologic changes consistent with the possibility that PAM are activated by this retroviral infection . In patients with AIDS who develop pneumonia, especially in smokers, the number, viability and phagocytic capacity of PAM are significantly decreased; our study could not determine whether this diminished activity reflects evolution of the HIV infection or a secondary effect of the pneumonia.

J Clin Invest, 1990 Mar, 85(3), 821 - 35
Ultrastructural localization of cytochrome b in the membranes of resting and phagocytosing human granulocytes; Jesaitis AJ et al.; Affinity-purified rabbit anti-neutrophil cytochrome b light or heavy chain antibodies were used to immunocytochemically and biochemically localize cytochrome b in neutrophils and eosinophils . The antibodies were monospecific, recognizing polypeptides of 91 and 22 kD, respectively, on Western blots of whole neutrophil extracts . The antibodies were used in Western blot analysis of subcellular fractions of purified neutrophils to confirm that the distribution of cytochrome b spectral absorbance matched that of the two subunits . Thin sections of cryofixed, molecular distillation-dried granulocytes were labeled with the anti-cytochrome b antibodies, followed by incubation with biotin-conjugated secondary antibody, and final labeling with streptavidin-conjugated colloidal gold . Electron microscopy revealed that the cytochrome b light and heavy chains were localized primarily (80%) to 0.1-0.2-micron round or elliptical granule-like structures in neutrophils and 0.4-0.5-micron granules in eosinophils . Approximately 20% of the cytochrome b was localized to the surface, confirming the subcellular fractionation studies . Double staining experiments on the neutrophils, using polyclonal rabbit anti-lactoferrin antibody, indicated that the cytochrome-bearing structures also contained lactoferrin and thus were specific granules . When the analysis was performed on neutrophils that had phagocytosed Staphylococcus aureus, cytochrome b was found in the phagosomal membrane adjoining the bacterial cell wall.

J Pediatr Orthop, 1990 Mar-Apr, 10(2), 250 - 4
Diaphyseal primary subacute osteomyelitis in children; Hoffman EB et al.; Six patients with subacute diaphyseal osteomyelitis of 200 with acute osteomyelitis who were seen and treated at the Red Cross Children's Hospital in a 3-year period (1985-1987) are reported . All six patients had a history of a minimum of 2 weeks' duration and the radiographic picture of a linear periosteal reaction, which was either single or laminated . This radiographic picture was indistinguishable from round cell tumors of bone . The final diagnosis was established by a histology consistent with a subacute osteomyelitis . In two patients, a positive culture of Staphylococcus aureus was obtained . All of the patients healed after treatment with cloxacillin . Radiographic resolution was noted in all patients within 6 months of treatment.

Immunology, 1990 Mar, 69(3), 435 - 42
Release of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from human eosinophils following adherence to IgE- and IgG-coated schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni; Moqbel R et al.; The release of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from human low-density eosinophils following adherence to live or formalin-fixed schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni coated with parasite-specific IgE or IgG obtained from pooled human anti-S . mansoni serum has been studied . IgE-rich fractions were obtained after fractionation of pooled immune sera on fast-protein liquid chromatography (FPLC; polyanion SI-17 column) and were identified by parasite-specific RAST . Contaminating IgG was removed by adsorption on a Staphylococcus aureus-protein A affinity column . IgG-rich FPLC fractions were identified by a specific ELISA assay . IgG-dependent activities were confirmed by protein A adsorption . Low-density eosinophils adhered to live and formalin-fixed schistosomula coated with specific antisera and released 11.7 +/- 2.7 and 16.5 +/- 3.5 pmoles of LTC4/10(6) cells, respectively . LTC4 release induced by A23187 (5 x 10(-6) M) from the same cells was 80 +/- 24 pmoles/10(6) cells and 9.9 +/- 1 pmoles/10(6) cells in the presence of Sepharose particles (CNBr-activated 4B beads) covalently coated with normal human IgG . Fixed schistosomula coated with FPLC-purified IgE and IgG gave 7.6 +/- 0.4 and 6.0 +/- 0.1 pmoles of LTC4 per 10(6) low-density eosinophils, respectively . The same IgE- and IgG-rich fractions induced eosinophil-mediated cytotoxicity of live schistosomula in vitro . Removal of IgE by an anti-IgE affinity column abolished both the IgE-dependent release of LTC4 and the in vitro killing of larvae . Conversely, IgG-dependent activities were abolished by protein A, but not anti-IgE, adsorption . Normal density eosinophils generated undetectable amounts of LTC4 when incubated with IgE-coated schistosomula, whereas with IgG-coated larvae 4.6 pmoles/10(6) cells were obtained . Following preincubation with platelet-activating factor (PAF) (10(-7) M) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) (10(-7) M), normal density eosinophils released LTC4 when in contact with larvae coated with antigen-specific IgE . Lyso-PAF had no effect in any of the systems tested . The synthetic chemotactic tripeptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) had no influence on IgE-dependent release of LTC4 from eosinophils . In contrast, FMLP (10(-7) M) enhanced the IgG-dependent LTC4 release, with PAF and LTB4 also showing a small enhancing effect . None of these agents substantially altered the release potential of low-density eosinophils in either IgE- or IgG-dependent events . Thus the results presented here indicate that in an IgE-dependent system, human low-density eosinophils can be induced to adhere to and kill IgE-coated helminthic targets and release biologically relevant amounts of LTC4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Stroke, 1990 Mar, 21(3), 472 - 5
Neurologic complications of late prosthetic valve endocarditis; Keyser DL et al.; We reviewed the records of 20 patients with late prosthetic valve endocarditis who were hospitalized at the University of Iowa between 1985 and 1988 . There were 14 men and six women, aged 20-80 (mean 57.9) years . The infected valves were mechanical in 11 patients (six aortic and five mitral) and bioprosthetic in the other nine . Echocardiography in 12 patients demonstrated vegetations in one . Among the 20 patients, neurologic complications occurred in eight (40%), six of whom had mechanical valves (five mitral and one aortic) . Infection with Staphylococcus aureus occurred in four of the eight patients (50%) with neurologic complications . Of the eight patients with neurologic complications, ischemic stroke was diagnosed in four, transient ischemic attacks in one, and intracranial hemorrhage in three . Prothrombin times at the time of the intracranial hemorrhage were 2.2, 1.5, and 1.3 times control in these three patients . Cerebral angiography done in four of the eight patients with neurologic complications failed to show mycotic aneurysms . Nine of the 20 patients (seven men and two women, mean age 66.8 years) died less than or equal to 90 days after the diagnosis of late prosthetic valve endocarditis . Half of the eight patients with neurologic complications died (three men and one woman, mean age 62.3 years), and all three patients with intracranial hemorrhage died . Our data suggest that the neurologic complications of late prosthetic valve endocarditis are more common with mechanical valves, particularly in the mitral position, and are associated with a high mortality.

Clin Orthop, 1990 Mar, (252), 198 - 204
Pyarthrosis of the knee . Treatment considerations; Lane JG et al.; Patients with pyarthrosis of the knee can be effectively managed by several different methods . A retrospective review of patients with the diagnosis of septic arthritis of the knee was undertaken to determine the efficacy of two different treatment programs . Multiple-needle arthrocentesis was contrasted with formal arthrotomy drainage . In this series, patients with a longer than three-day history of a knee pyarthrosis and those with Staphylococcus aureus or enteric gram-negative organisms on culture benefited from open drainage procedures in lieu of repeated aspiration techniques.

Birth, 1990 Mar, 17(1), 25 - 30
A randomized controlled trial of a nursery ritual: wearing cover gowns to care for healthy newborns; Rush J et al.; The routine wearing of individual cover gowns by nurses and visitors for direct care of healthy newborns was usual practice on the maternity ward of a regional referral center . We conducted a randomized trial in which cover gowns were not provided for care of infants in the experimental group (n = 222), but were maintained for control infants (n = 230) . The principal outcome measured was Staphylococcus aureus colonization of the newborn nares or umbilicus on day 3 or day of discharge . Twenty percent (n = 51) of the experimental group (no gown) had a positive culture compared with 21 percent (n = 47) of the controls . Of the infants with positive cultures, two in each group exhibited symptoms of overt S . aureus infection . Experimental infants were similar to controls with respect to feeding method, route of delivery, amount of time spent rooming-in, and average number of visitors per day . In the group of positively cultured infants, the mothers experienced longer labor, and more vaginal examinations in labor, and the number of males undergoing circumcision was higher . We concluded that routine use of cover gowns was unwarranted, and we have altered the ward policy accordingly . This also has had a positive economic effect.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Mar, 34(3), 442 - 7
Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of concurrent oral ciprofloxacin and rifampin therapy in elderly patients; Chandler MH et al.; The purpose of this clinical study was to investigate the influence of concomitant drug therapy with ciprofloxacin and rifampin on the individual pharmacokinetic profile of each agent in elderly patients . Twelve nursing home patients (age, 74 +/- 7 years), colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, were randomized to receive 14-day therapy with oral ciprofloxacin (750 mg every 12 h) (group A; n = 6) or ciprofloxacin (750 mg every 12 h) and oral rifampin (300 mg every 12 h) (group B; n = 6) . Serial blood samples were obtained from 0 to 12 h following ciprofloxacin doses 1 and 13 and from 0 to 36 h after the last ciprofloxacin dose . No significant differences (P greater than 0.05) were found between or within groups in any pharmacokinetic parameter . The mean ciprofloxacin oral clearance values were 0.35 +/- 0.06, 0.41 +/- 0.15, and 0.38 +/- 0.11 liter/h per kg for doses 1, 13, and 28, respectively, in group A patients . The mean oral clearance values in group B patients for the respective doses were 0.53 +/- 0.36, 0.32 +/- 0.13, and 0.36 +/- 0.17 liter/h per kg . Likewise, no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) in rifampin pharmacokinetic parameters were found when compared with historical controls . These data suggest that ciprofloxacin and rifampin may be given concomitantly in standard clinical dosing regimens . The combination results in therapeutic levels of both drugs and appears to be safe for administration to elderly nursing home patients.

J Clin Pathol, 1990 Mar, 43(3), 246 - 52
Coagulase testing compared with commercial kits for routinely identifying Staphylococcus aureus; Rossney AS et al.; Five commercial Staphylococcus aureus identification kits--Staphaurex (Wellcome), Staphylase (Oxoid), Staphyslide (bioMerieux), Biostaph (Medlabs) and Bacto Latex (Difco)--were evaluated for the routine identification of S aureus from primary plates in the routine microbiology laboratory . Comparison was made with two methods of tube coagulase testing and five slide methods for detecting clumping factor (slide coagulase testing) . Performances were assessed for two groups of organisms, staphylococcal species alone and a combined staphylococcal and non-staphylococcal species group . The effects of growth on selective media and storage of isolates at room temperature and 4 degrees C were investigated . Selective media cannot be recommended, nor can storage of isolates before testing . Ranked according to efficiency value with the combined staphylococcal and non-staphylococcal species group, the kits and coagulase methods performed as follows (the figures in parentheses are the efficiency values for the staphylococcal group alone): tube coagulase reference method 100% (100%), tube coagulase SJH method 99% (99%), Staphaurex 94% (97%), Staphylase 93% (96%), slide coagulase method No 4 93% (94%), slide coagulase method No 5 93% (93%), Bacto Latex 92% (95%), Staphyslide 92% (95%), and Biostaph 87% (91%) . It is concluded that a commercial S aureus identification kit should not replace tube coagulase testing for the routine identification of the organism from primary plates and that, even the kits with the best performances, have little advantage over a good slide coagulase test method.

Genetics, 1990 Mar, 124(3), 455 - 71
Characterization and nucleotide sequence of the cryptic cel operon of Escherichia coli K12; Parker LL et al.; Wild-type Escherichia coli are not able to utilize beta-glucoside sugars because the genes for utilization of these sugars are cryptic . Spontaneous mutations in the cel operon allow its expression and enable the organism to ferment cellobiose, arbutin and salicin . In this report we describe the structure and nucleotide sequence of the cel operon . The cel operon consists of five genes: celA, whose function is unknown; celB and celC which encode phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system enzyme IIcel and enzyme IIIcel, respectively, for the transport and phosphorylation of beta-glucoside sugars; celD, which encodes a negative regulatory protein; and celF, which encodes a phospho-beta-glucosidase that acts on phosphorylated cellobiose, arbutin and salicin . The mutationally activated cel operon is induced in the presence of its substrates, and is repressed in their absence . A comparison of proteins encoded by the cel operon with functionally equivalent proteins of the bgl operon, another cryptic E . coli gene system responsible for the catabolism of beta-glucoside sugars, revealed no significant homology between these two systems despite common functional characteristics . The celD and celF encoded repressor and phospho-beta-glucosidase proteins are homologous to the melibiose regulatory protein and to the melA encoded alpha-galactosidase of E . coli, respectively . Furthermore, the celC encoded PEP-dependent phosphotransferase system enzyme IIIcel is strikingly homologous to an enzyme IIIlac of the Gram-positive organism Staphylococcus aureus . We conclude that the genes for these two enzyme IIIs diverged much more recently than did their hosts, indicating that E . coli and S . aureus have undergone relatively recent exchange of chromosomal genes.

J Burn Care Rehabil, 1990 Mar-Apr, 11(2), 105 - 11
A long-term study and correlation of lymphocyte and neutrophil function in the patient with burns; Ogle CK et al.; Twenty-five patients were studied to determine the effects of thermal injury on neutrophil bactericidal function and superoxide release and on lymphocyte proliferation . Neutrophils in patients with burns had depressed killing of Staphylococcus aureus for more than 150 days after burn injury, but killing of Escherichia coli returned to normal . FMLP-stimulated superoxide release by neutrophils in patients with burns was depressed for over 100 days after burn injury, whereas superoxide release by neutrophils in patients with burns stimulated with serum-opsonized zymosan was depressed for 42 days after burn injury . In patients with burns lymphocyte proliferation, with phytohemagglutinin as a mitogen, was suppressed for up to 85 days after injury, then returned to normal . The mixed lymphocyte response was suppressed up to 170 days after injury.

J Med Microbiol, 1990 Mar, 31(3), 207 - 12
A new class of conjugative plasmid in Staphylococcus aureus; Udo EE et al.; Plasmid pWBG637, a Staphylococcus aureus conjugative plasmid having no known resistance phenotype, was compared with other conjugative plasmids in S . aureus by restriction endonuclease analysis, incompatibility testing and DNA-DNA hybridisation . It differed from the other conjugative plasmids on all three criteria and thus belongs to a new class of conjugative plasmids.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1990 Mar, (3), 9 - 11
{Cloning of alpha-hemolysin gene from Staphylococcus aureus strain 015}; Meshveliani DK et al.; The genomic library of Staphylococcus aureus O15 has been constructed on the EMBL-3 vector . The synthetic oligonucleotide probes to N- and C-end regions of alpha-hemolysin permitted identification of the recombinant bacteriophage clone RS-1 containing a gene for this protein . The restriction map of the cloned fragment has been constructed for restriction endonucleases SalGI, EcoRV, PstI, PvuII . Expression of the alpha-hemolysin gene in phagolysate of the recombinant clone RS-1 (1000 units per ml) has been demonstrated.

Infection, 1990 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 113 - 6
Influence of mannitol on the penetration of teicoplanin into infected CSF of experimental Staphylococcus aureus meningitis of rabbits; Manquat G et al.; We investigated the influence to mannitol injections on the teicoplanin penetration into CSF in experimental bacterial meningitis of rabbits . Experimental bacterial meningitis was obtained by intracisternal inoculation of 10(7) cfu of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus . The experimental bacterial meningitis was controlled 18 h later by cisternal puncture . At this time (T0) mannitol (solution for injection 20%) was injected (bolus), at a dosage of 3 ml/kg, into the carotid arteria . Immediately after the previous bolus, teicoplanin was administered through the same line over 5 min, at a dosage of 5 mg/kg . Cerebrospinal fluid was obtained 30 min and 2 h after injection was completed, and serum samples were obtained at the same time . Results were (mg/l) in cerebrospinal fluid: (Table; see text) (* p less than 0.05 comparing the two regimens at T0 + 2 h, and comparing regimen teicoplanin + mannitol infusion at T0 + 30 sec and + 2 h) . This is very promising for the treatment of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacterial meningitits and should support further investigations.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1990 Mar, 79(3), 322 - 7
Characterization of the common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen (CD10) as an activation molecule on mature human B cells; Kiyokawa N et al.; Distinct expression pattern of CD10 molecules during B cell activation was analysed using in vivo and in vitro systems . By two-colour flowcytometrical analysis, CD10 was found to be expressed at a specific stage of in vivo activating B cells . The expression of CD10 during B cell activation appeared to be unique from that of other activation-related B cell antigens including L29, MA6, OKT9 and OKT10 . Although the expression of CD10 was associated with that of the activation-related B cell antigens, CD10+ B cells could be separated in the distinct fractions to those expressing other activation-related B cell antigens when fractionated by cell gravity . In particular, certain CD10+ B cells were detected positive for the resting B cell antigen, L30 . In vitro studies revealed that CD10+ B cells arose from CD10- B cells at an early step of B cell activation, and disappeared lately when activated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I . Collectively, CD10 was an antigen transiently expressed at an early phase of B cell activation process . Expression of CD10 and other antigens on Burkitt's lymphomas (15 cases) was studied next . All cases were CD10+, and 87% (13 cases) were also L30+ . In addition, six of CD10+ L30+ cases were L29+ . This observation suggested that Burkitt's lymphomas were phenotypically similar to the B cells at an early phase of activation, those expressing CD10 and L30, simultaneously . The present study has dissected a precise expression pattern of CD10 on mature B cell activation in vitro and in vivo, and could be implicated for the histogenesis of one of the poorly characterized B cell lymphoma, namely Burkitt's lymphoma.

J Clin Invest, 1990 Mar, 85(3), 899 - 903
In vitro autoantibody production by normal adult and cord blood B cells; Pisetsky DS et al.; To investigate the repertoire of autoantibodies in humans, anti-DNA and rheumatoid factor (RF) production in vitro was assessed in cultures of adult peripheral blood B cells and neonatal umbilical venous blood B cells . B cells were stimulated under various culture conditions, using an immobilized monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody and adult T cells or Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in the presence or absence of adult T cells or factors derived from mitogen-stimulated adult T cells as polyclonal B cell activators . Total IgM, as well as IgM anti-DNA and RF, were assessed by ELISA . Total IgM production was induced from adult and neonatal B cells with SA plus T cell factors, as well as anti-CD3-stimulated T cells . RF was induced from adult and cord blood B cells by either mode of stimulation, whereas significant anti-DNA production was observed only when B cells were stimulated with anti-CD3-activated T cells . These results confirm the presence of B cell precursors for autoantibodies in the preimmune as well as normal adult repertoire, and indicate that the production of anti-DNA and RF appears to be regulated independently.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1990 Mar, (3), 21 - 4
{Expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A gene in heterologous systems}; Chikindas ML et al.; The genomic library of Staphylococcus aureus genes on the plasmid vector pSL5 has been constructed . The library contains a 2.5 kb HindIII DNA fragment including the gene for enterotoxin A . The entA gene on the high copy number plasmids in the Escherichia coli cells deficient in proteolysis determines the synthesis of enterotoxin A in the amounts comparable to the ones in the parent strain Staphylococcus aureus FRI 722(H).

Int J Pept Protein Res, 1990 Mar, 35(3), 219 - 27
Semisynthesis of carboxy-terminal fragments of thermolysin; De Filippis V et al.; Enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of two polypeptide fragments, one of which is obtained by chemical synthesis, in the presence of proteolytic enzymes and in aqueous organic solvents constitutes a convenient procedure for the synthesis of proteins and their analogs . This novel semisynthetic procedure was investigated for preparing COOH-terminal fragments of the metallo-protease thermolysin . Fragment 205-316, obtained by autolysis of the protein in the presence of EDTA, was first cleaved selectively with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease at the level of the single Glu302 residue into fragments 205-302 and 303-316 . Upon incubation for 2-5 days of fragment 205-302 with a 5-fold excess of peptide 303-316, prepared by solid phase synthesis, with V8-protease in 0.1 M ammonium acetate, pH 6.0, containing 50% glycerol as organic cosolvent, enzyme-catalyzed reformation of the peptide bond was achieved in yields up to approximately 90% (based on fragment 205-302) . The same procedure was used to prepare also the thermolysin fragments 205-315 and 205-311 by enzymatic coupling of fragment 205-302 to peptide 303-315 or 303-311, these last prepared by proteolytic digestion of the synthetic peptide 303-316 . This procedure of semisynthesis opens up an approach for the site-directed modification of the tetrahelical COOH-terminal fragment 205-316 of thermolysin at the level of its helical segment encompassing residues 301-312 in the native, intact protein . Such analogs will be useful for examining structure-folding-stability relationships in this folded fragment possessing domain-like characteristics.

Infection, 1990 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 109 - 12
Gram-positive bacterial sepsis in rat and tissue lipolytic activity on commercial parenteral fat emulsions; Meraihi Z et al.; To study the influence of a gram-positive sepsis on the metabolism of circulating lipids, fasted rats were injected with saline (control group) or with a suspension of heat-killed or live Staphylococcus aureus . 18 h later, body temperature was increased, while albuminemia and ketonemia were decreased in the group injected with heat-killed bacteria, as opposed to the control group . Passing from these groups to the group injected with live bacteria, more differences appeared: increase of triglyceridemia and free cholesterolemia; decrease of esterified cholesterol levels and especially of the in vitro activity of diaphragm, heart and adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase and of hepatic lipase . The decrease of lipolytic activities occurred whether they were measured on a fat emulsion containing long-chain or medium- and long-chain triglycerides . The fact that for the latter the activity was always higher than for the former suggests that the host infected with gram-positive bacteria would clear exogenous fat more easily in the case of medium-chain triglycerides.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 1990 Mar, 19(1), 11 - 4
Is enteric Staphylococcus a causative agent of skeletal muscle abscesses in children?
Visvanathan R.
In a study of 46 children under the age of 10 years treated for pyogenic muscle abscesses, stool culture revealed Staphylococcus aureus in association with malnutrition, gastrointestinal infections and weaning . Naturally occurring protease-inhibitors were associated with the diets of these children along with poor standards of food hygiene . A study on 60 healthy age-matched controls showed a significant increase in the stool culture yields of S . aureus during weaning onto a traditional solid diet . It is probable that the bacterial overgrowth in the bowel in these states is associated with the development of muscle abscesses caused by this organism.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1990 Mar 1, 1037(3), 290 - 6
Primary structure of a 7Fe ferredoxin from Streptomyces griseus; Trower MK et al.; The complete primary structure of a Streptomyces griseus (ATCC 13273) 7Fe ferredoxin, which can couple electron transfer between spinach ferredoxin reductase and S . griseus cytochrome P-450soy for NADPH-dependent substrate oxidation, has been determined by Edman degradation of the whole protein and peptides derived by Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase and trypsin digestion . The protein consists of 105 amino acids and has a calculated molecular weight, including seven irons and eight sulfurs, of 12,291 . The ferredoxin sequence is highly homologous (73%) to that of the 7Fe ferredoxin from Mycobacterium smegmatis . The N-terminal half of the sequence, which is the Fe-S clusters binding domain, has more than 50% homology with other 7Fe ferredoxins . In particular, the seven cysteines known from the crystal structure of Azotobacter vinelandii ferredoxin I to be involved in binding the two Fe-S clusters are conserved.

An Med Interna, 1990 Mar, 7(3), 133 - 7
{Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia at a general hospital}; Gomez Gomez J et al.; 70 cases of bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus Aureus were studied . 49 (70%) males, and 21 (30%) females; 45 (64.5%) cases being nosocomial and 25 (35.4%) community acquired . The complications were significantly associated to the community acquired bacteremia (p less than 0.001), endocarditis and cutaneous abscesses being the most frequent (4) . The group of cases with rapidly lethal prognosis was significantly associated to an increase of mortality (p less than 0.001), while lethal and non-lethal groups showed a decrease in mortality (p less than 0.001) . We did not find a statistically significant association between nosocomial and community acquired bacteremias nor between antibiotic therapy and the mortality rate, chi 2 = 1.747.303 (N.S.), chi 2 = 1.323.806 (N.S.).

FEBS Lett, 1990 Feb 26, 261(2), 226 - 30
On the purification of notexin . Isolation of a single amino acid variant from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus; Chwetzoff S et al.; Venom of the Australian tiger snake, Notechis scutatus scutatus was fractionated by conventional ion-exchange chromatography . The fraction containing notexin, a well-known single-chain toxic phospholipase A2, was further purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography . Two main components were isolated and the major one corresponded to notexin . The other component, designated as notechis Ns, was an isoform of notexin . Notechis Ns and notexin possessed similar in vitro esterase activity, in vitro neuromuscular activity and in vivo lethality . Amino acid composition and sequence of the Staphylococcus aureus V8-protease peptides demonstrated that primary structures of notechis Ns and notexin differed from each other by a single substitution amongst 119 amino acids: Lys----Arg at position 16.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Feb 25, 265(6), 3484 - 8
Specificity of RepC protein in plasmid pT181 DNA replication; Zock JM et al.; The plasmid pT181 of Staphylococcus aureus consists of 4437 base pairs and encodes resistance to tetracycline . Initiation of pT181 DNA replication specifically requires the plasmid-encoded initiator protein, RepC . The initiator protein binds specifically to a 32-base pair sequence within the pT181 origin of replication . RepC protein also has a nicking-closing activity that is specific for the pT181 origin . Replication of pT181 initiates by covalent extension of the nick and proceeds by a rolling circle mechanism . Two other small, multicopy plasmids pC221 and pS194 belong to the pT181 family and have common structural organization and replication properties . The replication proteins and replication origins of these plasmids have extensive sequence homologies, although they belong to different incompatibility groups . In spite of this homology, the replication proteins and replication origins of these three plasmids do not show any cross-reactivity in vivo . We have carried out a series of in vitro experiments to determine the specificity of pT181-encoded initiator protein, RepC . DNA binding experiments showed that although the binding of RepC to the pT181 origin was very efficient, little or no binding was seen with pC221 and pS194 origins . The nicking-closing activity of RepC was found to be equally efficient with the pC221 and pS194 plasmids . The plasmids pC221 and pS194 replicated efficiently in a RepC-dependent in vitro system . However, replication of these plasmids was greatly reduced in the presence of a competing pT181 origin . The results presented here suggest that nicking-closing by RepC at the origin is not sufficient for maximal replication and that tight binding of RepC to the origin plays an important role in the initiation of DNA replication.

N Engl J Med, 1990 Feb 22, 322(8), 505 - 9
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and infection in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Luzar MA et al.; We studied 140 consecutive patients beginning continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) at one of seven hospitals to assess the relation of the nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus to subsequent catheter-exit-site infection or peritonitis . Shortly before the implantation of the catheters, the patients' anterior nares were cultured for the presence of S . aureus . Antibiotics were not prescribed for the S . aureus carriers, but all the patients were monitored for signs of catheter infection (median follow-up, 10.4 months) . At the initiation of CAPD, 63 patients (45 percent) carried S . aureus in the nares . Nasal carriage was more frequent among the 30 patients with diabetes (77 percent) than among the 110 without the disease (36 percent) . The carriers of S . aureus had a significantly higher rate of exit-site infection than the noncarriers (0.40 vs . 0.10 episode per year; P = 0.012) . Of these episodes, 24 of 34 were caused by S . aureus . The rates of peritonitis of all bacterial types did not differ significantly between the groups, but all 11 episodes of peritonitis caused by S . aureus occurred among the carriers . In 85 percent of the patients with clinical S . aureus infections, the strain from the nares and the strain causing the infection were similar in phage type and antibiotic profile . We conclude that in patients beginning ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, the nasal carriage of S . aureus is associated with an increased risk of catheter-exit-site infection and that the performance of nasal cultures before the implantation of the catheter can identify patients at high risk of subsequent morbidity.

Med Clin (Barc), 1990 Feb 17, 94(6), 208 - 11
{Meningitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus . Analysis of 16 cases}; Falco Ferrer V et al.; During the period between 1982 and 1987, 16 cases of meningitis due to Staphylococcus aureus were diagnosed . Nine patients (56%) had undergone a previous neurosurgical operation and 5 of them were carriers of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt . Seven patients (44%) had spontaneous meningitis . Fever and meningeal signs were the most common clinical findings . 50% of patients were comatose . The Gram stain of CSF showed Gram positive cocci in 7 cases . Blood cultures were positive in all patients with spontaneous meningitis and negative in the neurosurgical group . Overall mortality rate was 37.5%, and it was lower in the neurosurgical group than in the spontaneous meningitis . Other factors associated with a poor outcome were advanced age, bacteremia and septic shock.

JAMA, 1990 Feb 16, 263(7), 961 - 6
Failure of cephalosporins to prevent Staphylococcus aureus surgical wound infections; Kernodle DS et al.; Approximately 35,000 Staphylococcus aureus surgical wound infections occur annually in the United States . To investigate why S aureus causes infection despite the perioperative administration of cephalosporins, we compared 35 methicillin-susceptible isolates recovered from deep wound infections that complicated cefazolin prophylaxis (18 of 1650 patients) and cefamandole prophylaxis (17 of 3702 patients) with 64 colonizing isolates from presurgical patients . Compared with both colonizing and cefamandole-associated isolates, S aureus isolates from cefazolin-associated infections were more resistant to cefazolin by specialized assays . Staphylococcus aureus isolates that produced the A and C variants of staphylococcal beta-lactamase were associated with infections following cefazolin and cefamandole prophylaxis, respectively . These isolates hydrolyze the respective cephalosporins rapidly, suggesting that staphylococcal survival after perioperative prophylaxis may be mediated by in vivo degradation of the prophylactically administered cephalosporin . These data indicate that some S aureus wound infections occur because of deficiencies in antimicrobial effectiveness that are not detectable by routine susceptibility tests . This finding has important implications for the therapy and prevention of S aureus infection.

J Immunol, 1990 Feb 15, 144(4), 1432 - 7
Phosphatidylinositol-linked FcRIII mediates exocytosis of neutrophil granule proteins, but does not mediate initiation of the respiratory burst; Huizinga TW et al.; In this report, we present data on the activation of different neutrophil effector functions by two distinct Fc-gamma receptors, FcRII and FcRIII . We and others have shown previously that IgG-dependent activation of phagocytosis and superoxide generation is mediated via FcRII . IgG-dependent exocytosis of granule proteins was assessed with Staphylococcus aureus Oxford opsonized with human IgG or with IgG-coated latex . Both anti-FcRII mAb and anti-FcRIII-F(ab')2 mAb inhibited this release, whereas the combination of these mAb inhibited this process more strongly than either mAb alone . This indicates that both FcRII and FcRIII are involved in IgG-dependent release of granule proteins . Cross-linking of the receptors by anti-FcR mAb and F(ab')2 fragments of goat-anti-mouse-Ig showed again that both FcRII and FcRIII mediate lysozyme release, whereas cross-linking of a control antigen (CD67) did not . By measuring the release of elastase and lactoferrin, we found that cross-linking of either FcRII or FcRIII induced release of both azurophilic and specific granules . Under these conditions, we did not measure any activation of the respiratory burst . When FcRIII was removed by treatment of neutrophils with glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, the lysozyme release induced by cross-linking of FcRIII was lower than the release from control neutrophils, whereas the release induced by cross-linking of FcRII was similar . Therefore, we conclude that IgG-dependent activation of neutrophils follows two distinct pathways: one via transmembrane FcRII, activating both the NADPH oxidase and the release of granule proteins (as was demonstrated previously by us and by others), and the other via phosphatidylinositol-linked FcRIII, activating exocytosis of granule proteins.

J Immunol, 1990 Feb 15, 144(4), 1181 - 6
Activation of MHC class I-restricted CD8+ CTL by microbial T cell mitogens . Dependence upon MHC class II expression of the target cells and V beta usage of the responder T cells; Herrmann T et al.; The T cell response to microbial T cell mitogens (MTM) such as enterotoxins from Staphylococcus aureus (SE) and the soluble mitogen from Mycoplasma arthritidis, resemble the minor lymphocyte stimulatory locus (Mls) response in several aspects . An important feature of the Mls response is it restriction to CD4+ cells . This study demonstrates that in contrast to Mls, the MTM response includes both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets . Both CD4+ and CD8+ cells expanded in IL-2 after stimulation with SEB showed preferential expression of T cell receptors bearing V beta 8 domains . Mouse and human target cells could be lysed in the presence of MTM both by MTM-stimulated CD8+ lymphocytes and by MHC class I-restricted CTL clones of defined Ag specificity . MTM-induced lysis required the expression of MHC class II, but not class I Ag, on the target cells . Inhibition studies of SEB and Ag-dependent cytolysis by CTL clones underlined the crucial role of CD3 and LFA-1 in both instances, but showed CD8 dependence only for AG-dependent cytolysis . Together these findings suggest important differences between the putative MTM-mediated interaction of TCR with MHC molecules and the classical TCR/MHC interaction involved in MHC-restricted Ag recognition.

Eur J Biochem, 1990 Feb 14, 187(3), 581 - 7
Delta-haemolysin from Staphylococcus aureus and model membranes . A solid-state 2H-NMR and 31P-NMR study; Dufourc EJ et al.; Solid-state 2H NMR and 31P NMR of 2H-enriched chains and polar head groups, respectively, of dipalmitoylglycerophosphatidylcholine/water dispersions were undertaken to investigate the action of delta-haemolysin from Staphylococcus aureus on biomembranes . When the lipid/toxin molar ratio, Ri, is greater than or equal to 10, the gel-phase 2H powder patterns and the temperature of the gel-fluid phase transition, tc, are unchanged by the presence of the toxin whereas the 31P powder spectra of polar head groups are perturbed . At t greater than tc, a detailed analysis of methylene ordering indicates that delta-haemolysin orders the lipid chains near tc and disorders them for t much greater than tc . These findings are interpreted in terms of peptide location with regard to the membrane and suggest that the position of the toxin depends on the temperature relative to tc . Experiments carried out at Ri = 4 exhibit sharp, isotropic 2H-NMR lines, at t greater than tc, indicating that delta-haemolysin promotes the appearance of very small objects undergoing fast isotropic reorientation which average to zero the quadrupolar interaction . Below tc, one observes gel-phase powder patterns which indicate that the bacterial toxin is unable to form such small structures with ordered dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine phospholipids . From comparison of the action of delta-haemolysin with that of melittin on same lipids {Dufourc et al . (1986) Biochemistry 25, 6448-6455} it results that both toxins perturb similarly fluid-phase lipids at elevated temperature, but they behave differently with gel-phase lipids, the former toxin being less efficient in membrane restructuring than the latter.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1990 Feb 9, 1037(2), 227 - 32
Unusual fucoidin-binding properties of chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen; Jones R; Previous work (Jones, R . (1987) Cell Biol . Int . Reports 11, 833 and Jones et al . (1988) Development 102, 781-792) has shown that sperm proacrosin (the zymogen form of the acrosomal proteinase acrosin, EC 3.4.21.10) has the capacity to recognize and bind sulphated polysaccharides and that this property is important for the initial stages of fertilization in mammals . To investigate whether this behaviour is specific to proacrosin, a variety of other proteinases (chymotrypsinogen, trypsinogen, thrombin, elastase, plasminogen, pepsin, Streptomyces griseus proteinase and V8 proteinase from Staphylococcus aureus) were immobilized on nitrocellulose and probed with {125I}fucoidin . Only chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen retained significant amounts of the probe with Kd values of 1.4.10(-6) M and 3.0.10(-5) M, respectively . Proteinase inhibitors were ineffective as blocking agents suggesting that enzymic activity is not involved in recognition . However, the tertiary structure of the proteins is important, since cleavage of intramolecular disulphide bonds with 2-mercaptoethanol reduced binding by 50-60% . Competition experiments with a variety of mono- and polysaccharides suggest that the number and disposition of sulphate groups is critical for interaction with basic residues on the protein . It is concluded that, like proacrosin, chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen are bifunctional proteins.

Biochemistry, 1990 Feb 6, 29(5), 1186 - 94
Photoaffinity labeling of the Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor with an aryl azide derivative of phosphatidylserine; Blanton MP et al.; A photoactivatable analogue of phosphatidylserine, 125I-labeled 4-azidosalicylic acid-phosphatidylserine (125I ASA-PS), was used to label both native acetylcholine receptor (AchR)-rich membranes from Torpedo californica and AchR membranes affinity purified from Torpedo reconstituted into asolectin (a crude soybean lipid extract) vesicles . The radioiodinated arylazido group attaches directly to the phospholipid head group and thus probes for regions of the AchR structure in contact with the negatively charged head group of phosphatidylserine . All four subunits of the AchR incorporated the label, with the alpha subunit incorporating approximately twice as much as each of the other subunits on a per mole basis . The regions of the AchR alpha subunit that incorporated 125I ASA-PS were mapped by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestion . The majority of label incorporated into fragments representing a more complete digestion of the alpha subunit was localized to 11.7- and 10.1-kDa V8 cleavage fragments, both beginning at Asn-339 and of sufficient length to contain the hydrophobic regions M1, M2, and M3 was also significantly labeled . In contrast, V8 cleavage fragments representing roughly a third of the amino-terminal portion of the alpha subunit incorporated little or no detectable amount of probe.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1990 Feb 1, 276(2), 481 - 5
Probing the yeast 5 S RNA-protein complex by fluorescence and controlled proteolytic digestion; Yeh LC et al.; The nature of the interaction between the RNA and the protein component in the yeast 5 S rRNA-L1a complex was assessed using fluorescence and controlled proteolytic and RNase digestion . (a) Influence of L1a on the RNA conformation was monitored by ethidium fluorescence and controlled RNase T1 digestion . The complex was digested with alpha-chymotrypsin, Staphylococcus aureus protease V8, subtilisin, or trypsin . Both termini of L1a in the complex were readily accessible to proteases . Proteolytic digestion of the complex resulted in a reduction in fluorescence intensity if ethidium was added after proteolysis . No change was observed when ethidium was allowed to react with the complex prior to proteolysis . Neither the rate of proteolysis nor the resultant peptide pattern was affected by the presence of ethidium . T1 digestion of intact RNP and trypsin-treated RNP produced different oligonucleotide patterns . Both the fluorescence and the T1 digestion data suggest that the conformation of the RNA moiety was influenced by the protein . (b) Influence of the RNA molecule on L1a conformation in the complex was monitored by limited proteolysis . Whereas the protein in the complex was relatively sensitive to proteases, free protein was completely resistant to digestion under identical conditions . The trypsin sensitivity of L1a in complexes containing different truncated 5 S RNA molecules was studied also . Upon removal of residues 31-49 of the 5 S RNA molecule, L1a in the complex became resistant to proteolysis . These results are interpreted in a model in which specific regions of both the RNA and the protein are involved in the interaction.

Am J Vet Res, 1990 Feb, 51(2), 269 - 74
Phagocytosis, bactericidal activity, and oxidative metabolism of milk neutrophils from dairy cows fed selenium-supplemented and selenium-deficient diets; Grasso PJ et al.; Six primiparous Holstein cows were fed a Se-deficient diet, beginning at least 90 days before their first calving, and 6 other primiparous cows were given the same diet plus a supplement of 2 mg of Se/cow/d as sodium selenite . All cows were fed their diets for the duration of the experimental period . One uninfected quarter of each cow was injected with 25 micrograms of Escherichia coli endotoxin at postpartum week 5 . Leukocytes were isolated by centrifugation from milk collected at postinjection hour 16 . Isolated cells were 92 +/- 3% neutrophils and were incubated with Staphylococcus aureus or E coli in a 1:300 ratio . Phagocytosis and intracellular killing by neutrophils were assessed after 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes by a fluorochrome assay, using acridine orange . Viability of neutrophils was assessed by use of trypan blue . Superoxide anion production and hydrogen peroxide production by neutrophils also were determined . Cows fed Se-deficient diets had significantly (P less than 0.05) lower blood Se concentration and blood glutathione peroxidase activity than cows fed Se-supplemented diets . Selenium status had no effect on the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils . Neutrophils obtained from cows fed Se-supplemented diets killed a significantly (P less than 0.05) higher percentage of ingested bacteria than did neutrophils from cows fed the Se-deficient diet . Viability was significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced by incubation with S aureus in neutrophils from both groups of cows, with neutrophils from Se-deficient cows having lower viability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nippon Hifuka Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Feb, 100(2), 175 - 83
{Cutaneous microbiologic profiles of Japanese adults residing in the United States of America}; Nishijima S et al.; Quantitative cutaneous bacteriological profile analysis was performed on 20 healthy Japanese adults . Five ecologically different sites were cultured, the forehead, anterior nares, axilla, perineum, and fourth interspace . Antibiotic sensitivity patterns were determined for the various species of coagulase negative cocci (CNS) . Aerobic organisms were found in densities exceeding 10(6) per sample for all sites except the forehead (10(4)), while anaerobic Propionibacteria were found in quantities ranging from 10(5) to 10(6) per sample except for the toe web space, which was devoid of anaerobic organisms . CNS were ubiquitous . Staphylococcus aureus varied from 15% to 35% . Lipophilic diphtheroids were found in 50% of the subjects on the forehead and nearly 100% on other sites, whereas multiple antibiotic resistant lipophilic diphtheroids (Group JK) were found in the perineum of 35% and in the toe space of 15% . Gram negative bacilli were uncommon on the forehead, axilla, and the toe web space, but were found in 50% or more in the anterior nares and perineum . Penicillin and ampicillin resistant CNS were commonly seen, while oxacillin and cephalosporin resistance were uncommon . Tetracycline and erythromycin resistance was seen in 35% to 40%.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Feb, 43(2), 233 - 8
{In vitro synergism of two-drug combinations among cefamandole, flomoxef and imipenem against MRSA}; Inoue M et al.; First of all, vancomycin (VCM) showed good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-sensitive and -resistant strains . MIC90 of VCM was 1.56 micrograms/ml . Effects of different 2-drug combinations among cefamandole (CMD), flomoxef (FMOX) and imipenem (IPM), and activity of VCM alone were examined in vitro against 5 clinical isolates of methicillin-sensitive S . aureus (MSSA) and 22 isolates of methicillin-resistant S . aureus (MRSA) . In a checkerboard study, synergism was observed against 4 strains of the 5 MSSA and all 22 strains of the MRSA with IPM and CMD, FMOX and IPM, and FMOX and CMD combinations . Mean MICs of these combinations were as low as one-fourth to one-tenth as those of individual drugs.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Feb, 43(2), 228 - 32
{Antibacterial activity of norfloxacin on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Comparison with oral antibacterial agents}; Iwata S et al.; Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of norfloxacin (NFLX) to 133 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from clinical patients were investigated and compared with those of minocycline (MINO), erythromycin (EM), amoxicillin (AMPC), cefaclor (CCL) and fosfomycin (FOM) . MIC90 of these drugs were 3.13 micrograms/ml with NFLX, 0.39 micrograms/ml with MINO, greater than 100 micrograms/ml with EM, 50 micrograms/ml with AMPC, greater than 100 micrograms/ml with CCL and greater than 100 micrograms/ml with CCL and greater than 100 micrograms/ml with FOM . MIC distribution patterns with 2 peaks were recognized with EM and FOM . Of 55 strains resistant to all of EM, AMPC, CCL and FOM, 50 and 54 strains were well susceptible to NFLX and MINO, respectively . The present investigation demonstrated relatively potent antibiotic effect of NFLX against MRSA . Considering the safety of NFLX to children which have been confirmed and reported separately, it can be concluded that NFLX is a useful oral antimicrobial drug in the treatment of children with MRSA infections.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1990 Feb, 107(2), 280 - 6
Purification and characterization of two forms of cytochrome P-450 with omega-hydroxylase activities toward prostaglandin A and fatty acids from rabbit liver microsomes; Kikuta Y et al.; Two forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-450), designated as P-450LPGA omega 1 and P-450LPGA omega 2, have been purified to specific contents of 17.9 and 11.1 nmol P-450/mg protein, respectively, from liver microsomes of rabbits treated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a peroxisomal proliferator . The purified P-450LPGA omega 1 and P-450LPGA omega 2 were found to have apparent molecular weights of 52,500 and 53,000, respectively . They showed absorption maxima at 451 and 450 nm in the carbon monoxide-difference spectra for their reduced forms, respectively . The two P-450s both efficiently catalyzed the omega-hydroxylation of prostaglandins A1 (PGA1) and A2 (PGA2), as well as the omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation of fatty acids such as laurate, myristate, and palmitate . In a reconstituted system, various metal ions such as Na+ and Mg2+ stimulated these reactions . The P-450s exhibited no detectable activity toward several xenobiotics tested . The two P-450s showed different peptide map patterns following limited proteolysis with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease or papain . The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences (ALNPTRLPGSLSGLLQVAGL and ALSLTRLPGSFSGFLQAxGLLGLLL) of P-450LPGA omega 1 and P-450LPGA omega 2 were identical at 18/20 and 19/24 positions with that of the lung prostaglandin omega-hydroxylase from pregnant rabbits, respectively . An antibody against P-450LPGA omega 2 recognized a 52,000-53,000 molecular weight protein(s) in rabbit liver microsomes . The intensity of the immunoblot was significantly increased in liver microsomes from rabbits treated with DEHP, but not with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Feb, 28(2), 368 - 73
{Four cases of airway infections caused by MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)}; Osakabe Y et al.; Currently, infections caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) pose a great problem clinically . We present 4 patients with MRSA infections experienced by us . In these patients the infection was localized in the trachea and main bronchus . The first patient was a 62-year-old man . After undergoing operation for early gastric cancer, he had septic shock and was admitted to our center . The second was a 60-year-old man . After he underwent operation for advanced gastric carcinoma at another hospital septicemia developed due to suture failure and he was admitted to our center . The third was a 38-year-old woman who was admitted to our center because of grades II degrees-III degrees burns on 75 to 80% of her body surface area . The fourth was a 60-year-old man who was admitted to our center because of rupture of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta . It is assumed that MRSA has quite different characteristics from the usual MSSA (methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) in that it produces a new penicillin-bound protein (PBP-2') within cells . Thus, from the fiberoptic bronchoscopy findings of our own cases it is considered that there may be cases in which the observed lesion is localized in the central airway alone, without involvement of the segmental bronchi . We believe it necessary to take some prompt measures under a suspicion of airway infection caused by MRSA in the following cases: (1) compromised hosts under tracheal intubation, (2) patients who are under treatment with second or third generation cephalosporins, and (3) patients with production of bloody sputum, and (4) endotoxin-positive patients.

Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi, 1990 Feb, 28(2), 320 - 9
{Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from sputum and clinical features of bronchopulmonary infection due to MRSA during 4 years (1985-1988)}; Mukae H et al.; Clinical and bacteriological studies were carried out to investigate the isolation of MRSA from sputa and 13 cases with bronchopulmonary infections due to MRSA, during 4 years from 1985 to 1988 at the Hokusyo Central Hospital . The isolation rate of MRSA in Staphylococcus aureus from sputum increased from 0% in 1985 to 51.4% in 1988, and especially from patients in wards for aged people . Most of the MRSA strains were isolated from patients with underlying diseases, or bed sores . The roentgenographic appearances in bronchopulmonary infection patients due to MRSA, showed infiltration and cavitation . Seven out of 13 cases of bronchopulmonary infection due to MRSA died, in spite of therapy with current antibiotics, suggesting poor prognosis of this infection.

J Bioenerg Biomembr, 1990 Feb, 22(1), 39 - 50
Identification of a crotoxin-binding protein in membranes from guinea pig brain by photoaffinity labeling; Hseu MJ et al.; Crotoxin is a neurotoxic phospholipase A2 capable of blocking synaptic transmission by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters . The photoaffinity labeling technique was used to identify the neural membrane molecules involved in the binding of crotoxin . A photoactivatable, radioactive derivative of crotoxin was synthesized by reacting crotoxin with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate and with Na{125I} . Photoirradiation of synaptosomes from guinea pig brains in the presence of the crotoxin derivative resulted in the formation of a major radioactive conjugate of 100,000 daltons as revealed by autoradiography of a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern . Pretreatment of the synaptosomes with trypsin, Staphylococcus aureus protease, or papain prevented the formation of this conjugate . The conjugate was not detected when plasma membranes from several nonneural tissues replaced the brain synaptosomes . Unmodified crotoxin inhibited the formation of this adduct with an IC50 of about 10(-8)M . Mojave toxin, caudoxin, notexin, Naja naja PLA, and taipoxin also inhibited adduct formation with different potencies, while beta-bungarotoxin and pancreatic PLA were ineffective . We concluded that an 85,000-dalton protein is the major component responsible for the binding of crotoxin to synaptosomal membranes.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Feb, 64(2), 231 - 5
{A case of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection followed by Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia}; Yano T et al.; A 19-year-old young man was admitted to our hospital complaining of fever and general fatigue . There were infiltrative shadows and pleural effusions in the both lung fields . Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was diagnosed because of the elevation of mycoplasma antibody titers in the serum and pleural fluid . There was no recovery in clinical symptoms in spite of the administration of the EM (1200 mg) and CLDM (1200 mg) combination chemotherapy . Three week after admission, a cavity-like shadow appeared in the lt . middle lung field on the chest X-ray film, suprative arthritis and penicillin resistant S . aureus by blood culture test were found . Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection followed by S . aureus bacteremia was diagnosed . After the administration of antibiotics (CTT, FMOX) the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings improved 2 month after admission . Clinical and basic studies about the dual infection between M . pneumoniae and several bacteria were discussed.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1990 Feb, 24(2), 135 - 46
The mechanism of enhanced intraphagocytic killing of bacteria by liposomes containing antibiotics; Dees C et al.; Liposomes containing aminoglycosides have been shown to enhance the killing of Brucella abortus and Staphylococcus aureus inside bovine phagocytic cells . This study examined the mechanism by which liposomes containing aminoglycoside enhance the intracellular killing of bacteria . Liposomes with entrapped aminoglycoside were found to significantly enhance the intraphagocytic killing of bacteria in bovine phagocytic cells (in vitro) when compared to free drug . Liposomes with entrapped aminoglycoside were also found to deliver significantly higher levels of aminoglycoside into phagocytic cells when compared to free drug (gentamicin) or free drug and liposomes without entrapped antibiotic . Antibiotic delivered to adherent phagocytic cells could be detected 3 days after treatment of the cells with liposomes containing aminoglycoside . No antibiotic could be detected in the supernatants of phagocytic cell cultures 3 days after treatment with liposomes containing antibiotic was only observed when the intraphagocytic bacteria were sensitive to the antibiotic entrapped in the liposomes . The rate of phagocytosis of S . aureus by cells treated with cationic liposomes (no entrapped antibiotic) did not differ from the rate of phagocytosis of control cells not treated with cationic liposomes . This study shows that the enhanced intraphagocytic killing of bacteria in bovine phagocytic cells occurs by direct delivery of entrapped antibiotic into the phagocytic cell by the liposome delivery vehicle and not by nonspecific enhancement of phagocytic cell function . Liposomes containing aminoglycoside appear to have no toxic effects on phagocytic cell function or viability in vitro.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Feb, 34(2), 277 - 80
Uptake and intracellular activity of an optically active ofloxacin isomer in human neutrophils and tissue culture cells; Pascual A et al.; The penetration of an optically active ofloxacin isomer {(-)-ofloxacin} into human neutrophils and different tissue culture cells (HEp-2, McCoy, MDCK, and Vero) was studied and compared with that of ofloxacin by a fluorometric assay . The cellular-to-extracellular-concentration ratios (C/E) of (-)-ofloxacin were always higher than 6, significantly greater than those of ofloxacin at extracellular concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/liter . The penetration of (-)-ofloxacin and ofloxacin was doubled when neutrophils were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate but not affected after ingestion of opsonized Staphylococcus aureus . The C/E ratios of (-)-ofloxacin and ofloxacin for different tissue culture epithelial cells and fibroblasts were lower than those of neutrophils but still higher than 2 . Both compounds produced a significant reduction in viable intraphagocytic S . aureus during 3 h of exposure to antimicrobial agents . We conclude that (-)-ofloxacin appears to reach higher intracellular concentrations than ofloxacin, remaining active inside the neutrophils.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Feb, 34(2), 257 - 60
Efficacy of ofloxacin in experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis; Kaatz GW et al.; The efficacy of ofloxacin was compared with that of vancomycin in the therapy of experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis . Rabbits infected with either a methicillin-susceptible (MSSA-1199) or a methicillin-resistant (MRSA-494) test strain were treated with ofloxacin (20 mg/kg of body weight every 8 h) or vancomycin (17.5 mg/kg of body weight every 6 h) for 4 days . The antimicrobial agents were found to be equally effective in clearing bacteremia and in reducing bacterial counts in vegetations and in renal and splenic tissue of animals infected with either test strain . The drugs were of equal efficacy in curing MRSA-494 endocarditis . No resistance to ofloxacin emerged in either test strain during therapy . We conclude that in this model ofloxacin is as efficacious as vancomycin and that, unlike for other fluoroquinolones we have evaluated, resistance to the drug does not develop during therapy of this serious S . aureus infection.

Neth J Surg, 1990 Feb, 42(1), 14 - 5
Pyomyositis: an unusual complication of Staphylococcus aureus infection; Poldermans D et al.; Pyomyositis, an unusual complication of Staphylococcus aureus infection . Treatment consists of surgical drainage and antibiotics.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 28(2), 207 - 10
Comparison of the staphylocoagulase activities of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus intermedius on Chromozym-TH; Raus J et al.; The staphylocoagulases of Staphylococcus intermedius (39 strains from clinical samples from dogs and 1 strain from a pigeon) and Staphylococcus aureus (40 strains from nine different animal species) were compared by using the chromogenic methods of Engels et al . (W . Engels, M . Kemps, and C . P . A . van Boven, J . Clin . Microbiol . 14:496-500, 1981) . S . intermedius produced staphylocoagulase which resembled that of S . aureus in its rate and method of action on prothrombin, but S . intermedius produced it in lesser amounts . Therefore, chromogenic substrate tests such as Chromozym-TH (Boehringer GmbH, Mannheim, Federal Republic of Germany) (as described by Engels et al.) can be used for the detection of staphylocoagulase in both of these species . However, to detect accurately the presence of S . intermedius staphylocoagulase by this method, preconcentration of the extracellular proteins or an extension of the reaction time of the test would be required . The method described by Engels et al . was designed specifically for clinical laboratories that handle human samples . Under those circumstances the method could be regarded as specific, enabling an identification of S . aureus only . However, as both S . aureus and S . intermedius give positive results in this test, in veterinary diagnostic laboratories, heavy reliance must not be placed on this test for determination of organisms to the species level.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Feb, 25 Suppl B, 7 - 14
Susceptibility to fusidic acid among Danish Staphylococcus aureus strains and fusidic acid consumption; Faber M et al.; A total of 8176 Danish Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from cases of bacteraemia during the years 1963 to 1987 were investigated for resistance to fusidic acid . During the whole period 1% of the strains or less were resistant (MIC of 2 mg/l or more) . The total Danish consumption of fusidic acid during the same period increased from 0.008 to 0.029 defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day . The resistant strains were mainly sporadic isolates with the phage-types and antibiotic-resistance patterns predominant in Denmark at the time of their isolation.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Feb, 25 Suppl B, 45 - 52
Clinical experiences with fusidic acid in cystic fibrosis patients; Jensen T et al.; A survey of Staphylococcus aureus lung infection in 243 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) was conducted between 1986 and 1988 . A total of 217 patients (89%) received 1605 courses of anti-staphylococcal therapy given during this period . The majority of courses comprised combined therapy with two anti-staphylococcal drugs . The combination of dicloxacillin and fusidic acid was employed most frequently . Some patients were given other anti-staphylococcal regimens, because of penicillin allergy (14 cases) or dyspeptic side effects with fusidic acid (21 patients) . A small but significant increase in precipitins against S . aureus was observed during the study period . Bacterial resistance to the anti-staphylococcal drugs used remained at a low level (strains resistant to methicillin less than 0.1%, strains resistant to fusidic acid 1.2%) . When the isolates were compared with 56,140 strains of S . aureus isolated from non-CF patients hospitalized in Denmark over the same period, no differences in phagetypes or in antibiotic resistance were seen, indicating that selection of strains and cross infection do not seem to be a major problem in CF patients.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Feb, 25 Suppl B, 33 - 8
Staphylococcal bacteraemia and endocarditis and fusidic acid; Eykyn SJ; In 1980, we reported an association between the use of fusidic acid (particularly the intravenous formulation) and jaundice in patients who had received the drug for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia during the previous 10 years . We have continued to use fusidic acid for severe staphylococcal infections, but have recommended oral administration whenever possible . In the earlier study the incidence of jaundice in patients given intravenous fusidic acid was 48%, but in the recent study of 145 patients it was 17% . Whereas 71% of patients receiving fusidic acid in the earlier series were given the intravenous drug (with or without oral) only 25% of patients were given the intravenous drug in the recent series . The incidence of jaundice in those patients treated only with the oral formulation was 13% in the earlier study and 6% in the recent study . Although jaundice was usually reversible, it is nevertheless an unwanted side effect . Resistance of S . aureus to fusidic acid remains at around 1%; it may be present on primary isolation or arise during treatment . This seems to occur particularly in patients with endocarditis or bone infection despite the use of fusidic acid in combination with another antibiotic . After some 25 years of clinical use, fusidic acid remains a most useful anti-staphylococcal antibiotic; the intravenous preparation should be avoided when possible.

Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1990 Feb, 12(1), 94 - 8
Increasing cytostatic effects of ricin A chain and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A through in vitro hydrophobization with fatty acid residues; Alakhov VYu et al.; In order to impart an ability for receptor-independent transmembrane transfer to water-soluble proteins, it has been suggested that they be hydrophobized by lipid groups (fatty acids, etc.) . To this end, systems of reversed micelles of surfactants in organic solvents were used as reaction media for protein modification . It was shown that after introduction of a hydrophobic anchor (stearic acid residue) the toxic effect of ricin A-chain (in the absence of B-chain) on intact cells became very close to that of the native toxin . As a result of stearic acid acylation, the activity of Staphylococcal enterotoxin A increased by nearly 1.5-2 orders . The observed phenomena can be explained by receptor-independent intracellular translocation of the hydrophobized toxins.

Neurosurgery, 1990 Feb, 26(2), 234 - 7
Percutaneous automated biopsy in the diagnosis of primary infectious spondylitis; Onik G et al.; Three cases of primary infectious spondylitis, two caused by Staphylococcus aureus and one by tuberculosis, were diagnosed using the method previously described for automated percutaneous discectomy . All three patients, in whom biopsy using fine needle techniques previously was unsuccessful, had positive cultures from specimens obtained using the automated method . The method combines the advantages of local anesthesia and minimal morbidity with the obtaining of adequate material for culture and pathological examination.

J Okla State Med Assoc, 1990 Feb, 83(2), 60 - 3
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a descriptive analysis on veterans; Hall LE et al.; Concern over complications of a potentially large outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prompted intensive monitoring and establishment of effective communication lines between infection control practitioners, nurses, physicians, and microbiology personnel . From October, 1986, through September, 1987, 77 patients at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Oklahoma City had MRSA . Charts were available for review on 63 of these patients . When those with charts available were reviewed, 41 patients had nosocomial (NC) and 22 had community-acquired (CA) MRSA . Of the 41 NC patients, 34 were infected (of which 17 died during hospitalization) and 7 colonized (3 died) . Of the 22 CA patients, 15 were infected (4 died) and 7 colonized (2 died) . Length of stay was NC-infected, mean 51.8 days; NC-colonized, 38.9 days; CA-infected, 14.9 days; and CA-colonized, 16.1 days . This study shows the importance of NC MRSA, especially as it relates to hospital costs and care of many extended stay patients.

Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1990 Feb, 29(2), 273 - 5
Safety of vancomycin in acute porphyria; Hift R et al.; A 27-year-old female with acute intermittent porphyria presented in a life-threatening acute attack . She developed a Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia and was treated with intravenous vancomycin for 4 weeks . Porphyrins and their precursors were monitored and declined during the course of therapy . The safety of vancomycin in people with the acute porphyrias has not previously been documented, and we conclude that, in this case, the use of vancomycin was without ill-effect.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 56(2), 555 - 9
Production of staphylococcal enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle; Otero A et al.; Synthesis of enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle was investigated with Staphylococcus aureus type strains FRI137 and FRI361 and S . aureus isolates M5 (C1) and L2 (C2) of animal origin . Both enterotoxins were produced during the exponential growth phase or at the beginning of the stationary phase . The minimal incubation time (7 to 12 h) and the lowest population (10(7) to 2 x 10(9) CFU/ml) associated with detectable enterotoxin (1 to 6.5 ng/ml) were related to the total amount of toxin produced after 24 h . Thermonuclease was detected in all samples whenever enterotoxins were detected . Furthermore, strain FRI137 produced thermonuclease earlier and at lower cell populations than it did enterotoxin C1 . Patterns of enterotoxin and thermonuclease synthesis did not correlate . The concentration of toxins increased throughout the growth cycle, while the concentration of thermonuclease remained constant during the last hours of the growth cycle.

J Lab Clin Med, 1990 Feb, 115(2), 217 - 23
Identification of Staphylococcus aureus binding proteins on isolated porcine cardiac valve cells; Campbell KM et al.; Infective endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus may be initiated by bacterial binding to cardiac valve cells . We investigated binding of whole S . aureus organisms to preparations of isolated porcine cardiac valve proteins . Cultured endothelial and subendothelial cells were surface labeled with iodine 125 . After preabsorption with Escherichia coli, an organism that only rarely causes infective endocarditis, binding of surface proteins to S . aureus was assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent autoradiography . The results showed that cardiac valve endothelial cells expressed a major S . aureus-binding protein with an approximate apparent molecular weight of 120,000 . In contrast, cardiac valve subendothelial cells expressed on their surface a single species of binding protein with an approximate apparent molecular weight of 220,000; immunoblot analysis suggested that this protein was fibronectin . We also used radiolabeled S . aureus to probe cellular proteins transferred to nitrocellulose membranes . This technique identified a 125,000 molecular weight protein that bound S . aureus in endothelial cell extracts . We conclude that specific S . aureus binding to cardiac valve cells is mediated by different receptors for endothelial and subendothelial cells.

J Infect Dis, 1990 Feb, 161(2), 250 - 4
Alternative activity of beta-lactam antibiotics against methicillin- and cephem-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of respiratory tract mucus; Igarashi K et al.; Methicillin- and cephem-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains were found to be unable to grow in sputum from patients treated with a beta-lactam antibiotic . Sputum containing no beta-lactams also exhibited bactericidal activity when the MRSA strain was pretreated with a subinhibitory concentration of a beta-lactam; however, lysozyme-free sputum was inactive . Peptidoglycan of MRSA grown in the presence of cefazolin was susceptible to lysis by respiratory mucus . Hen albumen lysozyme contained the same activity against beta-lactam-treated MRSA . The median minimum inhibitory concentration of cefazolin for 45 S . aureus strains (including 20 MRSA strains) shifted from approximately 50 micrograms/ml to approximately 0.78 microgram/ml by addition of 1 mg/ml of hen albumen lysozyme to susceptibility-testing media . Such lysozyme-dependent antistaphylococcal activity was manifested specifically with beta-lactams (9 penicillins, 10 cephalosporins, 3 cephamycins, 1 oxacephem, and 1 carbapenem).

Rev Clin Esp, 1990 Feb, 186(3), 127 - 30
{Primary pyomyositis in mild climates . Presentation of 2 new cases}; Jimenez-Mejias ME et al.; Pyomyositis is an acute bacterial infection which affects striated muscles . It is a relatively rare process in mild climates . Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for 90-95% of cases . Klebsiella pneumoniae pyomyositis is extremely rare with only one other case reported in a mild climate . Two new cases of pyomyositis are described one caused by K . pneumoniae, increasing thus the etiology spectrum in our country, and the other caused by S . aureus ending in fatality, with two focus of pyomyositis (one of which was chronic) and multisystemic secondary affectation . We highlight the appearance of this process in our environment and the necessity to keep it in mind when making a differential diagnosis in order to recognize it and treat it as soon as possible since its prognosis depends on the moment the diagnosis is made.

J Chemother, 1990 Feb, 2(1), 17 - 9
Comparison of the efficiency of three methods for the determination of staphylococcal beta-lactamase; Banic S et al.; Three methods for demonstrating the production of beta-lactamase in resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus were compared . The "satellite phenomenon" method proved to be more sensitive than the nitrocefin test and the iodometric test.

J Radiol, 1990 Feb, 71(2), 93 - 6
{Pyogenic abscess of the psoas}; Kraiem C et al.; 11 cases (7 primary and 4 secondary) of pyogenic psoas abscesses are reported . In all cases Staphylococcus aureus was isolated on blood culture or pus drained under ultra-sonographic control . US is very useful for diagnosis and the follow up of psoas pyogenic abscesses . Percutaneous aspiration and drainage of psoas abscesses under ultrasonographic control combined to antibiotherapy is an effective therapeutic procedure . Our experience suggests that antibiotherapy alone is an effective therapy of presuppurative pyogenic psoas abscesses and even in collected and non complicated primary psoas abscesses.

Ann Plast Surg, 1990 Feb, 24(2), 134 - 8
In vitro adherence of bacteria to prosthetic grafting materials; Brewer AR et al.; Adherence of bacteria to prosthetic grafting material is thought to play an important role in the ultimate development of prosthetic infections . To evaluate the role of bacterial adherence in the initiation and colonization of prosthetic materials, Proplast II, Gore-Tex, and silicone were evaluated for adherence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Bacteria were radio labeled and incubated with the study material . Adherence was determined by scintillation . Adherence to Proplast II and Gore-Tex reached a maximum at approximately 45 minutes of incubation and demonstrated a detachment phenomenon with E . coli . Similar results were noted with S . aureus, but with a maximal attachment at approximately 30 minutes . Interestingly, bacterial attachment to silicone continued to increase throughout the time of the incubation . In addition, adherence of S . aureus was at a faster rate than E . coli . Attachment of bacteria is a multifactorial process . However, the PTFE graft demonstrates a slower rate of attachment, lower total number of attached bacteria, and faster detachment . The importance of this phenomenon may help explain the foreign body effect of increased susceptibility to infection of foreign materials.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Feb, 25 Suppl B, 15 - 21
Clinical relevance of resistance to fusidic acid in Staphylococcus aureus; Shanson DC; The clinical relevance of resistance to fusidic acid in Staphylococcus aureus is reviewed . Resistance due to a one-step chromosomal mutation emerges readily in vitro . These variants appear defective and are not encountered clinically as frequently as would be expected . The majority of strains isolated from patients probably have plasmid-mediated resistance . The plasmid may be unstable both in vitro and in vivo . There appears to be a low incidence of resistance emerging when fusidic acid is used alone to treat acute infections; however, there is a higher incidence in chronic infections . When fusidic acid is given concurrently with another antibacterial agent to treat severe infection, resistance may be acquired in up to 1% of cases . The use of fusidic acid topically to treat acute skin infection in domiciliary practice does not appear to be epidemiologically hazardous . Over the last 20 years, during which fusidic acid has been used widely in the management of staphylococcal infection, the general level of resistance has remained low at 1-2%.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Feb, 34(2), 245 - 51
Staphylococcus aureus ventriculitis treated with single-dose intraventricular vancomycin or daptomycin (LY146032): bacterial and antibiotic kinetics in hydrocephalic rabbits; Haworth CS et al.; Vancomycin and a new antibiotic, daptomycin (LY146032), were tested in vitro and in vivo against Staphylococcus aureus . In vivo tests were performed with rabbits with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus . Five groups of rabbits were studied: untreated ventriculitis, intraventricular vancomycin only, and ventriculitis treated with intraventricular vancomycin (30 micrograms or 120 micrograms) or daptomycin (7.5 micrograms) . Results of this study were as follows . (i) S . aureus demonstrated static growth in cerebrospinal fluid in vitro and in ventriculitis at a maximum titer of 10(5) to 10(6) CFU/ml . (ii) In vitro time kill curves in cerebrospinal fluid matched those in vivo . (iii) Single-dose intraventricular vancomycin did not lower S . aureus concentrations over 8 h, whereas daptomycin did . (iv) Ventriculitis did not significantly alter the clearance of intraventricular vancomycin . (v) Intraventricular half-lives were approximately 2.8 h (maximum) for vancomycin and 4.5 h for daptomycin . (vi) Vancomycin was detectable in the periventricular white matter only in the presence of ventriculitis . Daptomycin was also detectable in the periventricular white matter of rabbits with ventriculitis, but in amounts too small to quantitate . We concluded that daptomycin achieved greater bactericidal activity, more rapid killing kinetics, and a longer half-life in the ventricle than vancomycin did in this model.

J Med Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 31(2), 125 - 32
Characterisation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by biotyping, immunoblotting and restriction enzyme fragmentation patterns; Coia JE et al.; We have characterised 45 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Glasgow Royal Infirmary by means of simple biotyping, immunoblotting of exported proteins and restriction enzyme fragmentation patterns (REFP) of plasmid DNA . The strains were subdivided into four groups (A-D) on the basis of biotype . Immunoblotting and restriction enzyme fragmentation generated a number of unique patterns . Analysis of these patterns by means of Dice coefficients of similarity separated them into two major immunoblot groups (Blot1 and Blot2) and two major REFP groups (FP1 and FP2) . There was strong positive correlation between Blot1 and FP1 groups and between Blot2 and FP2 groups . In addition, Blot1-FP1 isolates were almost exclusively of biotypes A or C, whereas Blot2-FP2 isolates were of biotypes B or D . The methods described here have provided comprehensive epidemiological information which has been valuable in studying the origin and spread of MRSA.

Arerugi, 1990 Feb, 39(2 Pt 1), 82 - 9
T cell regulation of in vitro IgM-rheumatoid factor production by normal human B cells . Differential effects of stimulation with immobilized monoclonal antibodies to CD3 and Staphylococcus aureus; Hirohata S et al.; The roles of T cells in in vitro IgM-RF production were examined utilizing two different polyclonal B cell stimulators, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SA) and immobilized mAb to the CD3 molecular complexes (64.1) . In cultures stimulated with SA, T4 cells alone but not T8 cells alone could support IgM-RF production . This function of T4 cells could be replaced by IL2 alone or factors generated from mitogen activated T cells (TF) . Moreover, when IL2 was supplemented to the cultures, T8 cells as well as T4 cells enhanced the IgM-RF production . Treatment of the T cell subsets with mitomycin C decreased or abrogated the helper function along with a decrease in IL2 production by the T cell subsets in SA stimulated cultures . By contrast, in cultures stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3, T4 cells that had been treated with mitomycin C could induce production of large amounts of IgM-RF, whereas control T4 cells as well as control T8 cells suppressed IgM-RF production . These results indicate that the regulatory functions of T cells in IgM-RF production might be different depending upon the nature of stimulation signals.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Feb, (2), 18 - 20
{The cloning and expression of the Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A gene in Escherichia coli cells}; Chikindas ML et al.; Gene ent-A has been cloned on phage vector pSL5 with the use of the gene library of S . aureus FR1722(H) . It is located within DNA fragment Hind III having 2,500 nucleotide pairs.

Z Gesamte Hyg, 1990 Feb, 36(2), 80 - 1
Successful hand hygiene in hospital; Makela P; Healthy skin and especially hand skin is a good individual barrier . On terms of healthy skin the hand washing and disinfection methods will effectively remove transient and lower resident flora if needed . Disturbed skin on the other hand may harbor pathogens like gram negative rods or Staphylococcus aureus strains as part of resident flora . Even the best hand hygiene methods will fail . There for other more gentle hand hygiene methods should be tested in use situations too . The alternatives are especially important for those layable to skin problems during dry and cold periods . Preliminary emulsion cleansing and then rinsing to traditional water and soap washing has shown to be a possibly hand skin caring alternative, which results in good reduction of bacteria when connected with alcohol disinfection.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 Feb, 9(2), 145 - 7
Failure of teicoplanin therapy in two neutropenic patients with staphylococcal septicemia who recovered after administration of vancomycin; Brunet F et al.; A report is given on two neutropenic patients with staphylococcal septicemia caused by Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus (both strains methicillin-resistant) who failed to respond to therapy with teicoplanin . Both strains were resistant to teicoplanin (MIC 16 and 8 mg/l respectively), but remained sensitive to vancomycin (MIC 2 and 4 mg/l respectively) . Replacement of teicoplanin with vancomycin led to full recovery of both patients and their discharge from hospital . These two cases emphasize the importance of clinical and microbiological monitoring of patients with staphylococcal septicemia, even when glycopeptides are used for treatment.

Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1990 Feb, 37(1), 28 - 30
The effect of interferon-gamma intramammary administration on mammary phagocyte function; Fox LK et al.; The effect of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma on intramammary phagocyte function of mammary gland was studied in 4 Holstein cows (Study 1) and 7 Holstein cows (Study 2) . Recombinant bovine interferon-gamma was intramammarily infused on day 6 of the dry period and phagocytes were collected from lacteal secretions and tested in vitro 24 hours later . Results from Study 1 indicate that phagocytosis of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was significantly increased after than before interferon treatment . Similarly, the number of bacteria killed/active phagocyte was enhanced by treatment . Results from Study 2 suggested a trend towards increased production of oxygen dependent bactericidal components and increased killing ability by phagocytes exposed to interferon as compared to control phagocytes . These results from both studies suggest that intramammary infusions of bovine interferon-gamma can stimulate phagocyte function during the early phase of the dry period.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1990 Feb, 79(2), 164 - 9
Stimulation of the respiratory burst and promotion of bacterial killing in human granulocytes by intravenous immunoglobulin preparations; Marodi L et al.; We have examined the effect of two i.v . immunoglobulin preparations on the metabolic and functional activities of neutrophil granulocytes from the peripheral blood . Production of superoxide anion (O2-) by granulocytes was measured through superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome C after incubation of cells for various times together with immunoglobulin (concentration ranging from 0.25 to 5.0 mg/ml) . The results showed dose-dependent response of O2- production independent of the incubation time . Granulocytes containing ingested Staphylococcus aureus released a significantly (P less than 0.001) larger amount of O2- and killed a higher number (P less than 0.001) of viable bacteria in the presence of 5 mg/ml immunoglobulin than did cells incubated in the absence of extracellular i.v . immunoglobulin . These data raise the possibility that immunoglobulin concentrates for i.v . use may enhance the anti-bacterial activities of phagocytic cells through direct stimulation of the respiratory burst . Inflammatory reactions observed during i.v . immunoglobulin infusion in hypo- or agammaglobulinaemic patients may also be related to phagocytic cell activation.

Acta Virol, 1990 Feb, 34(1), 64 - 70
Coxiella burnetii fails to stimulate human neutrophil superoxide anion production; Akporiaye ET et al.; This study investigated the release of superoxide anion (O2-) as an indicator of the oxidative metabolism of human neutrophils during the phagocytosis of Phase I Coxiella burnetti . Human neutrophils were incubated for 1 hr at 37 degrees C with opsonized or unopsonized viable Phase I Coxiella burnetii (MOI was 100 : 1) and superoxide anion formation was measured by the reduction of ferricytochrome C . The data revealed that during its phagocytosis by human neutrophils, C . burnetii (opsonized or unopsonized) fails to stimulate superoxide anion production . In contrast, the uptake of Staphylococcus aureus or zymosan was accompanied by the release of measurable O2- . This release of O2- was abrogated by the addition of 100 micrograms/ml of superoxide dismutase (SOD) . These results suggest that the establishment of C . burnetii within neutrophils, as occurs during persistent infection, may be due to the failure to stimulate the metabolic burst during phagocytosis.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Feb, 15(2), 137 - 42
The value of nasal mupirocin in containing an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an orthopaedic unit; Barrett SP; An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) occurred in two adjacent orthopaedic wards following the admission of a known carrier . The outbreak was not contained by ward closure or by standard infection control measures . Eventually several nasal carriers were identified and treated with nasal mupirocin, following which the outbreak ended.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Feb, 15(2), 127 - 35
Importation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Baghdad to Dublin and subsequent nosocomial spread; Humphreys H et al.; We report the spread of a methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (MGRSA) from the Middle East and its subsequent dissemination within two hospitals in Dublin . The index case, a 30-year-old male with serious blast injuries was transferred from a Baghdad hospital to a Dublin hospital in May 1985 . He was heavily infected with two MGRSA strains, one of which spread and was responsible for numerous episodes of nosocomial infection . This strain was very similar to MGRSA isolates recovered in a Baghdad hospital during 1984 . This imported strain has now spread to two hospitals in our group causing sepsis . This report emphasizes the difficulty of detecting an imported strain in an endemic area, but above all points to the potential for spread when there is considerable movement of patients and personnel.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Feb, 15(2), 117 - 25
Hong Kong strains of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus have similar virulence; French GL et al.; While most authorities agree that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are as pathogenic as methicillin-sensitive strains (MSSA), some believe that MRSA are relatively avirulent opportunists, and that their importance has been exaggerated . We present evidence that Hong Kong strains of MRSA and MSSA are equally pathogenic: they have similar virulence in animal models; they are isolated in similar proportions from both deep and superficial clinical sites including blood; in patients with hospital-acquired bacteraemias mortality rates are similar when adjusted for clinical factors; and in both animals and patients with systemic MRSA infection, mortality rates are significantly reduced by vancomycin therapy . Efforts to control the spread of MRSA are justified, and in invasive sepsis early treatment with vancomycin may be life-saving.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1990 Feb, 79(2), 240 - 5
Effects of a novel immunosuppressive agent, FK506, on human B cell activation; Suzuki N et al.; We examined the effect of new immunosuppressive agent, FK506, on the human B cell function, in comparison with that of cyclosporin A (CyA) and tried to define the discrete activation step(s) which is selectively affected by FK506 and CyA . We used polyclonal B cell activators, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) . We found that (i) the initial B cell activation process by PWM, which is on the basis of T cell-dependent manner, is susceptible to the inhibitory effects of FK506 and CyA, while initial B cell activation on the basis of T cell-independent manner by SAC is resistant to these drugs; (ii) they also inhibit helper factor production by T cells; (iii) once they are activated, the B cells become resistant to inhibition by the drugs; and (iv) on an equimolar basis, FK506 exhibits 100-fold greater inhibitory activity than does CyA . Thus FK506 mainly interferes with interactions between T cells and other cells which are essential for B cell activation process, resulting in inhibition of B cell function.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 25, 265(3), 1274 - 81
A calcium-dependent galactose-binding lectin from the tunicate Polyandrocarpa misakiensis . Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequence; Suzuki T et al.; A lectin was isolated from the homogenate of the tunicate Polyandrocarpa misakiensis by heat treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and high-performance ion-exchange chromatography . Analytical gel filtration on Superose 12 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the lectin is a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of approximately 15 kDa . The lectin bound to an immobilized D-galactose column in the presence of calcium ion with a threshold of 500 microM and eluted completely with 5 mM EDTA . It did not bind to an immobilized D-mannose or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine column . Thus, Polyandrocarpa lectin was found to be a calcium-dependent galactose-binding lectin . The complete amino acid sequence of Polyandrocarpa lectin was determined by automated or manual Edman sequencing of the peptides derived by digestion with trypsin, endoproteinase Asp-N, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and pepsin . It is composed of 125 residues, contains no carbohydrate group, and has a calculated molecular mass of 14,034 Da . The lectin contains four half-cystines, and Cys-21 and Cys-119 and also Cys-96 and Cys-111 form intrachain disulfide bridges, respectively . The amino acid sequence of Polyandrocarpa lectin shows about 20-30% homology with those of fly, barnacle, sea urchin, and several vertebrate lectins that belong to C-type lectin (Drickamer, K . (1988) J . Biol . Chem . 263, 9557-9560) . Although the physiological role of Polyandrocarpa lectin is not clear, preliminary experiments suggest that the lectin may be related to defense mechanisms because it has a strong antibacterial activity.

Biochemistry, 1990 Jan 16, 29(2), 583 - 90
Purification and characterization of type II DNA topoisomerase from mouse FM3A cells: phosphorylation of topoisomerase II and modification of its activity; Saijo M et al.; Type II topoisomerase has been purified from mouse FM3A cells by using P4 phage knotted DNA as a substrate . Analysis of the purified enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two bands of apparent molecular masses of 167 and 151 kDa . Partial digestion of the two bands with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease indicated that the two polypeptides were structurally related . The enzyme required ATP and Mg2+ for activity . dATP could substitute for ATP, and ITP was slightly effective at 5-10 mM . The activity was sensitive to 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA), coumermycin, and ethidium bromide . A protein kinase activity was detected in the partially purified topoisomerase II fraction, and this protein kinase was further purified . The protein kinase phosphorylated the purified topoisomerase II, and the phosphorylation of topoisomerase II by the kinase increased the activity by 8.6-fold over that of the unmodified enzyme . The treatment of the purified topoisomerase II with alkaline phosphatase abolished the enzyme activity almost completely, and the treatment of the dephosphorylated topoisomerase II with the protein kinase restored the enzyme activity . The protein kinase activity was not stimulated by Ca2+ or cyclic nucleotides, and the aminoacyl residue phosphorylated by the kinase was serine . Enzymatic properties of the kinase were very similar to those of the kinase reported to be tightly associated with the Drosophila topoisomerase II {Sander, M., Nolan, J . M., & Hsieh, T.-S . (1984) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 81, 6938-6942} . The immunoprecipitation of nuclear extracts prepared from 32P-labeled cells with anti-mouse topoisomerase II antiserum indicated that DNA topoisomerase II existed in mouse cells as a phosphoprotein.

Ann Intern Med, 1990 Jan 15, 112(2), 102 - 7
Nosocomial sepsis associated with interleukin-2; Snydman DR et al.; STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, clinical magnitude, and risk factors for nosocomial bacteremia in patients given interleukin-2 with or without (+/-) lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells for cancer immunotherapy . DESIGN: Cohort study . SETTING: Clinical study unit of tertiary medical center . PATIENTS: All patients entering the interleukin-2 +/- LAK cancer immunotherapy protocol during a 28-month period . Control groups were patients in a surgical intensive care unit, patients receiving total parenteral nutrition, and patients with solid tumors . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty of 107 (19%) interleukin-2-treated patients developed sepsis; in 12 of these patients, sepsis was intravenous catheter-associated . The bacteremia rate among patients receiving total parenteral nutrition, in the surgical intensive care unit, or having solid tumors was 2.8%, 4.1%, and 1.9%, respectively . Staphylococcus aureus was the pathogen in 13 courses; Staphylococcus epidermidis, in 5; and Escherichia coli, in 2 . Two patients died; three developed suppurative thrombophlebitis; one developed septic arthritis; one, septic arterial aneurysm; and one, peritonitis with probable meningitis . Colonization with S . aureus increased the risk of S . aureus bacteremia 6.3-fold (95% CI, 2.8 to 14.5; P less than 0.001); skin desquamation at the catheter site increased the relative risk 2.0-fold (95% CI, 1.3 to 3.1; P = 0.031) . Both colonization with S . aureus and skin desquamation increased the relative risk of S . aureus bacteremia 14.5-fold (95% CI, 4.1 to 50.9; P less than 0.0001) . CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcal bacteremia is more frequent in patients receiving interleukin-2 therapy and is associated with substantial morbidity and toxic skin reactions.

J Immunol, 1990 Jan 15, 144(2), 562 - 9
IL-2 dependence of the promotion of human B cell differentiation by IL-6 (BSF-2); Splawski JB et al.; The effect of rIL-6 on the growth and differentiation of highly purified human peripheral blood B cells was examined . IL-6 alone induced minimal incorporation of {3H}thymidine by unstimulated or Staphylococcus aureus (SA)-stimulated B cells and did not augment proliferation induced by SA and IL-2 . Similarly, IL-6 alone did not support the generation of Ig-secreting cells (ISC) or induce the secretion of Ig by unstimulated or SA-stimulated B cells . However, IL-6 did augment the generation of ISC and the secretion of all isotypes of Ig induced by SA and IL-2 . Maximal enhancement of B cell responsiveness by IL-6 required its presence from the initiation of culture . Delaying the addition of IL-6 to B cells stimulated with SA and IL-2 beyond 24 h diminished its effect on ISC generation . However, increased Ig production but not ISC generation was observed when IL-6 was added to B cells that had been preactivated for 48 h with SA and IL-2 . This effect was most marked when the activated B cells were also stimulated with IL-2 . IL-6 in combination with other cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-4 did not induce the secretion of Ig or generation of ISC in the absence of IL-2 . Moreover, antibody to IL-6 did not inhibit the effect of IL-2 on the growth and differentiation of B cells stimulated with SA, but did inhibit the IL-6-induced augmentation of Ig secretion by B cells stimulated with SA and IL-2 . IL-6 alone enhanced T cell dependent induction of B cell differentiation stimulated by PWM . Part of this enhancement was related to its capacity to increase the production of IL-2 in these cultures . These results indicate that IL-6 has several direct enhancing effects on the differentiation of B cells, all of which are at least in part dependent on the presence of IL-2 . In addition, IL-6 can indirectly increase B cell differentiation by increasing IL-2 production by T cells.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 15, 265(2), 1036 - 40
Active site labeling of dopamine beta-hydroxylase by two mechanism-based inhibitors: 6-hydroxybenzofuran and phenylhydrazine; Farrington GK et al.; 6-Hydroxybenzofuran and phenylhydrazine are mechanism-based inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (D beta H; EC 1.14.17.1) . We report here the isolation and characterization of radiolabeled peptides obtained after inactivation of D beta H with {3H}6-hydroxybenzofuran and {14C}phenylhydrazine followed by digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease . Inactivation of D beta H with {3H}6-hydroxybenzofuran gave only one labeled peptide, whereas inactivation with {14C}phenylhydrazine gave several labeled peptides . Each inhibitor labeled a unique tyrosine in the enzyme corresponding to Tyr477 in the primary sequence of the bovine enzyme (Robertson, J . G., Desai, P . R., Kumar, A., Farrington, G . K., Fitzpatrick, P . F., and Villafranca, J . J . (1990) J . Biol . Chem . 265, 1029-1035) . In addition, {14C}phenylhydrazine also labeled a unique histidine (His249) as well as several other peptides . Examination of the complete peptide profile obtained by high pressure liquid chromatography analysis also revealed the presence of a modified but nonradioactive peptide . This peptide was isolated and sequenced and was identical whether the enzyme was inactivated by 6-hydroxybenzofuran or phenylhydrazine . An arginine at position 503 was missing from the sequence cycle performed by Edman degradation of the modified peptide, but arginine was present in the identical peptide isolated from native dopamine beta-hydroxylase . These data are analyzed based on an inactivation mechanism involving formation of enzyme bound radicals (Fitzpatrick, P . F., and Villafranca, J . J . (1986) J . Biol . Chem . 261, 4510-4518) interacting with active site amino acids that may have a role in substrate binding and binding of the copper ions at the active site.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 15, 265(2), 1029 - 35
Primary amino acid sequence of bovine dopamine beta-hydroxylase; Robertson JG et al.; Fifty-eight tryptic and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease generated peptides from bovine dopamine beta-hydroxylase were isolated by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography and sequenced . These peptide sequences were compared with the deduced amino acid sequences of bovine and human dopamine beta-hydroxylase obtained from the cloned cDNAs . Bovine peptide sequences had five differences with the sequence derived from the bovine cDNA, and four of the changes could be accounted for by a single base change in the DNA . N-terminal sequence analysis of the bovine enzyme indicated that it contained two N termini, one of which is 3 amino acids longer than the other and begins with the sequence Ser-Ala-Pro . The amino acid sequences deduced from the bovine and human cDNAs are 19 and 25 amino acids longer, respectively, and these additional amino acids represent leader peptide sequences . Two bovine peptide sequences contained glycosylation sites and gave positive tests for carbohydrate residues, and two others contained the consensus sequence for a glycosylation site but were negative in the carbohydrate test . The bovine enzyme contains 6 Trp, as compared with 7 in the bovine cDNA and 8 in the human cDNA . The protein and bovine cDNA contain 24 Tyr each, as compared with 26 in the human cDNA . These numbers indicate that the true epsilon 1% 280 = 8.95, and, therefore, that it is 28% lower than the previously determined value . The data also identify 5 His-containing regions that may be involved in Cu2+ coordination at the active site.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 15, 265(2), 794 - 800
Purification and characterization of membrane-bound and cytosolic forms of diacylglycerol kinase from rat brain; Kato M et al.; Two different types of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) have been purified 10,455-fold (DGK I) and 7,410-fold (DGK IV) from the cytosol and membrane fractions of rat brain, respectively . The cytosolic DGK was purified by successive chromatographies on Affi-Gel Blue, Q-Sepharose F.F., Mono Q, hydroxylapatite, and ATP-agarose . The membrane-bound DGK was purified from the 2 M NaCl extract of membranes by chromatography on Affi-Gel Blue, phenyl-Superose, hydroxylapatite, and ATP-agarose . The resultant preparations contained homogeneous enzymes with a Mr of 110,000 (DGK I) and 150,000 (DGK IV) as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . These enzymes both phosphorylate 1,2-dioleoyl glycerol at rates of 11.5 mumol/min/mg protein for DGK I and 5.2 mumol/min/mg protein for DGK IV . Both enzymes require divalent cations and ionic detergents for activity . Magnesium is the most potent cation for both enzymes, but Ca2+ was also found to be fairly effective . Manganese is less effective than Mg2+ or Ca2+ . Anionic detergents such as sodium deoxycholate or sodium cholate stimulate the activities of both enzymes, although DGK IV is stimulated more markedly than DGK I at lower concentrations . The optimal pH for the two enzymes was found to be the same, pH 7.4 . Some phospholipids such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol elevate the kinase activities of these kinases even in the absence of detergents . DGK IV is activated more significantly than DGK I by low amounts of phospholipids . The two enzymes also show structural differences . DGK I and DGK IV give different peptide maps after digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease or alpha-chymotrypsin . The results suggest that these enzymes are different forms of DGK and may be involved in different biological processes.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 15, 265(2), 1111 - 23
Ca2(+)-induced conformational changes and location of Ca2+ transport sites in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase as detected by the use of proteolytic enzyme (V8); le Maire M et al.; Treatment of Ca2(+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum with V8 protease from Staphylococcus aureus produced appreciable amounts of a Ca2(+)-ATPase fragment (p85) in the presence of Ca2+ (E1 conformation of the enzyme), along with many other peptide fragments that were also formed in the presence of {ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)}tetraacetic acid (E2 conformation) . p85 was formed as a carboxyl-terminal cleavage product of Ca2(+)-ATPase by a split of the peptide bond between Glu-231 and Ile-232 . Other conformation-dependent V8 splits were localized to the "hinge" region, involved in ATP binding, between the middle and COOH-terminal one-third of the Ca2(+)-ATPase polypeptide chain . Representative split products in this region (p48,p31) were identified as NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal cleavage products of p85 . In the membrane p85 probably remains associated with its complementary NH2-terminal fragment(s) and retains the capacity to bind Ca2+ as evidenced by resistance to V8 degradation in Ca2+ and ability to become phosphorylated by ATP . However, the hydrolysis rate of the phosphorylated enzyme is reduced, indicating that peptide cleavage at Glu-231 interferes with Ca2+ transport steps after phosphorylation . Binding of Ca2+ to V8 and tryptic fragments of Ca2(+)-ATPase was studied on the basis of Ca2(+)-induced changes in electrophoretic mobility and 45Ca2+ autoradiography after transfer of peptides to Immobilon membranes . These data indicate binding by the NH2-terminal 1-198 amino acid residues (corresponding to the tryptic A2 fragment) and the COOH-terminal 715-1001 amino acid residues (corresponding to p31) . By contrast the central portion of Ca2(+)-ATPase, including the NH2-terminal portion of p85, is devoid of Ca2+ binding . These results question an earlier proposition that Ca2(+)-binding is located to the "stalk" region of Ca2(+)-ATPase (Brandl, C . J., Green, N . M., Korczak, B., and MacLennan, D . H.) (1986) Cell 44, 597-607) but are in agreement with recent data obtained by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of Ca2(+)-ATPase (Clarke, D . M., Loo, T . W., Inesi, G., and MacLennan, D . H . (1989) Nature 339, 476-478) . These different studies suggest that Ca2+ translocation sites may have an intramembranous location and are formed predominantly by the carboxyl-terminal part of the Ca2(+)-ATPase polypeptide chain.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1990 Jan 15, 166(1), 259 - 66
The alpha 1-adrenergic photoaffinity probe {125I}arylazidoprazosin binds to a specific peptide of P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant cells; Safa AR et al.; Much evidence suggests that P-glycoprotein (P-gp) confers multidrug-resistance (MDR) in tumor cells by energy-dependent efflux of hydrophobic cytotoxic agents . In this study, we have used the alpha 1-adrenergic photoaffinity probe, {125I}arylazidoprazosin ({125I}AAP), and identified P-gp as a specific acceptor for prazosin . Drugs to which MDR cells are resistant, including vincristine, vinblastine, doxorubicin, actinomycin D and colchicine as well as agents reversing MDR, including verapamil, nicardipine, prenylamine, diltiazem, trifluoperazine, dibucaine, reserpine, monensin, and progesterone, differentially reduced {125I}AAP photolabeling of P-gp . We also analyzed the influence of alpha 2-adrenergic drugs and dopaminergic drugs on {125I}AAP photolabeling of P-gp . Limited proteolysis of {125I}AAP photolabeled P-gp with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease revealed that prazosin binds to a single 8 kDa fragment of P-gp.

Eur J Biochem, 1990 Jan 12, 187(1), 49 - 58
Identification and characterization of the major chicken bone phosphoprotein . Analysis of its synthesis by cultured embryonic chick osteoblasts; Gotoh Y et al.; The major phosphoprotein synthesized by cultured chicken embryo osteoblasts had a molecular mass of approximately 66 kDa . The 32P label on the protein was cleaved by acid phosphatase treatment and O-{32P}phosphoserine and O-{32P}phosphothreonine could be identified after partial acid hydrolysis . The phosphoprotein contributed approximately 2.0% of the total protein synthesized by osteoblasts and was shown to be secreted, as shown by its presence in the culture media . Glycosylation was demonstrated by the fact that it could be labelled with {3H}galactosamine . The major approximately 66-kDa phosphoprotein was resolved by isoelectric focusing into three major variants with pI values ranging over 3.7 - 3.9; all three forms appear to be the result of variation in the extent of protein phosphorylation . An identical approximately 66-kDa phosphoprotein could be extracted from chicken bones which had both the same range of pI values and an identical elution position following DEAE-Sephacel chromatography . Analysis of the protein isolated from bone demonstrated the presence of sialic acid and, while amino-terminal sequence analysis and internal tryptic fragment sequence analysis of about 25% of the protein revealed little similarity to the rat phosphoprotein osteopontin, a conserved nine-residue sequence spanning the Arg-Gly-Asp cell-binding site of the rat protein osteopontin, was identified in the approximately 66-kDa chicken protein . Peptide mapping with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease of the in vivo protein compared to the in vitro synthesized protein demonstrated identical peptide fingerprints . The two proteins also had comparable amino acid compositions . Several smaller-molecular-mass phosphoproteins ranging in size over about 55 - 29 kDa were also observed in the HCl extracts of bone . Peptide mapping of these species demonstrated that the approximately 66-kDa, approximately 55-kDa, and approximately 45-kDa species had a common core of peptide fragments . Pulse/chase experiments in culture revealed no evidence for a defined pathway of intracellular proteolysis associated with the approximately 66-kDa species since this phosphoprotein remained the prevalent species after a 24-h chase . Because of the predominant association of all the smaller-molecular-mass forms with the cell layer and an absence of a quantitative conversion to any of the smaller forms over a 24-h chase, these results suggested that the lower-molecular-mass species were not the result of proteolytic processing during synthesis or secretion, but rather represent proteolysis of the approximately 66-kDa component in the extracellular matrix.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Biochemistry, 1990 Jan 9, 29(1), 102 - 13
Two-dimensional NMR studies of staphylococcal nuclease . 2 . Sequence-specific assignments of carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 signals from the nuclease H124L-thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate-Ca2+ ternary complex; Wang JF et al.; Samples of staphylococcal nuclease H124L (cloned protein overproduced in Escherichia coli whose sequence is identical with that of the nuclease isolated from the V8 strain of Staphylococcus aureus) were labeled uniformly with carbon-13 (26% ul 13C), uniformly with nitrogen-15 (95% ul 15N), and specifically by incorporating nitrogen-15-labeled leucine ({98% 15N}Leu) or carbon-13-labeled lysine ({26% ul 13C}Lys), arginine ({26% ul 13C}Arg), or methionine ({26% ul 13C}Met) . Solutions of the ternary complexes of these analogues (nuclease H124L-pdTp-Ca2+) at pH 5.1 (H2O) or pH* 5.5 (2H2O) at 45 degrees C were analyzed as appropriate to the labeling pattern by multinuclear two-dimensional (2D) NMR experiments at spectrometer fields of 14.09 and 11.74 T: 1H-13C single-bond correlation (1H{13C}SBC); 1H-13C single-bond correlation with NOE relay (1H{13C}SBC-NOE); 1H-13C single-bond correlation with Hartmann-Hahn relay (1H-{13C}SBC-HH); 1H-13C multiple-bond correlation (1H{13C}MBC); 1H-15N single-bond correlation (1H-{15N}SBC); 1H-15N single-bond correlation with NOE relay (1H{15N}SBC-NOE) . The results have assisted in spin system assignments and in identification of secondary structural elements . Nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOE's) characteristic of antiparallel beta-sheet (d alpha alpha NOE's) were observed in the 1H {13C}-SBC-NOE spectrum of the nuclease ternary complex labeled uniformly with 13C . NOE's characteristic of alpha-helix (dNN NOE's) were observed in the 1H{15N}SBC-NOE spectrum of the complex prepared from protein labeled uniformly with 15N . The assignments obtained from these multinuclear NMR studies have confirmed and extended assignments based on 1H{1H} 2D NMR experiments {Wang, J., LeMaster, D . M., & Markley, J . L . (1990) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)}.

Biochemistry, 1990 Jan 9, 29(1), 88 - 101
Two-dimensional NMR studies of staphylococcal nuclease . 1 . Sequence-specific assignments of hydrogen-1 signals and solution structure of the nuclease H124L-thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate-Ca2+ ternary complex; Wang JF et al.; Staphylococcal nuclease H124L is a recombinant protein produced in Escherichia coli whose sequence is identical with that of the nuclease produced by the V8 variant of Staphylococcus aureus . The enzyme-metal ion activator-nucleotide inhibitor ternary complex, nuclease H124L-thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate-Ca2+, was investigated by two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques . Efficient overproduction of the enzyme facilitated the production of random fractionally deuterated protein, which proved essential for detailed NMR analysis . 1H NMR spin systems were analyzed by conventional 2D 1H{1H} methods: COSY, relayed COSY, HOHAHA, and NOESY . Assignments obtained by 1H NMR experiments were confirmed and extended by 1H-13C and 1H-15N heteronuclear NMR experiments {Wang, J., Hinck, A . P., Loh, S . N., & Markley, J . L . (1990) Biochemistry (following paper in this issue)} . Spectra of the ternary complexes prepared with protein at natural abundance and at 50% random fractional deuteration provided the information needed for sequence-specific assignments of 121 of the 149 amino acid residues . Short- and intermediate-range NOE connectivities allowed the determination of secondary structural features of the ternary complex: three alpha-helical domains and three antiparallel beta-pleated sheets with several reverse turns . A number of nonsequential long-range HN-HN and H alpha-HN connectivities revealed additional information about the spatial arrangement of these secondary structural elements . The solution structure of this ternary complex shows a close correspondence to the crystal structure of the nuclease wt-thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate-Ca2+ ternary complex {Cotton, F . A., Hazen, E . E., & Legg, M . J . (1979) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 76, 2551-2555}.

Biochemistry, 1990 Jan 9, 29(1), 299 - 304
Characterization of zero-length cross-links between rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C and troponin I: evidence for direct interaction between the inhibitory region of troponin I and the NH2-terminal, regulatory domain of troponin C; Leszyk J et al.; Interactions between troponin C (TnC) and troponin I (TnI) play an important role in the Ca2(+)-dependent regulation of vertebrate striated muscle contraction . Previous attempts to elucidate the molecular details of TnC-TnI interactions, mainly involving chemically modified proteins or fragments thereof, have led to the widely accepted idea that the "inhibitory region" (residues 96-116) of TnI binds to an alpha-helical segment of TnC comprising residues 89-100 in the nonregulatory, COOH-terminal domain . In an attempt to identify other possible physiologically important interactions between these proteins, 1-ethyl-3-{3-(dimethylamino)propyl}carbodiimide (EDC) was used to produce zero-length cross-links in the complex of rabbit skeletal muscle TnC and TnI . TnC was activated with EDC and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and then mixed with an equimolar amount of TnI {Grabarek, Z., & Gergely, J . (1988) Biophys . J . 53, 392a} . The resulting cross-linked TnCXI was cleaved with cyanogen bromide, trypsin, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease (SAP) . Cross-linked peptides were purified by reverse-phase HPLC and characterized by sequence analysis . The results indicated that residues from the regulatory Ca2(+)-binding site II in the NH2-terminal domain of TnC (residues 46-78) formed cross-links with TnI segments spanning residues 92-167 . The most highly cross-linked residues in TnI were Lys-105 and Lys-107, located in the inhibitory region . These results yield the first evidence for an interaction between the N-terminal domain of TnC and the inhibitory region of TnI.

Biochemistry, 1990 Jan 9, 29(1), 145 - 53
Cryoenzymology of staphylococcal beta-lactamase: trapping a serine-70-linked acyl-enzyme; Virden R et al.; Various cryosolvents were investigated for their suitability in cryoenzymological experiments with beta-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus PC1 . On the basis of the minimal effects on the catalytic and structural properties of the enzyme, ternary solvents containing ethylene glycol, methanol, and water were found most suitable . The interaction of beta-lactamase with a number of substrates was studied at subzero temperatures . In general, the reaction profiles were similar to those in aqueous solution at above-zero temperatures, with the exception of the slower rates . For cephalosporin substrates, such as PADAC, in which the 3'-substituent may leave to form a more stable form of the acyl-enzyme {Faraci, W., & Pratt, R . (1985) Biochemistry 24, 903-910}, this intermediate could be readily stabilized at subzero temperatures . At -40 degrees C the slow rate of deacylation in the reaction with the chromophoric substrate 6 beta-{(furylacryloyl)amino}penicillanic acid permitted the acyl-enzyme to be stoichiometrically accumulated . This intermediate was then stabilized at low pH with trifluoroacetic acid . Isolation by centrifugal gel filtration, followed by pepsin digestion, gave a penicilloyl-labeled peptide which was isolated by HPLC . Subsequent trypsinolysis of this peptide gave a single labeled peptide, corresponding to the octapeptide surrounding the active-site serine, Ser-70.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 5, 265(1), 371 - 5
Mast cells contain spleen-type prostaglandin D synthetase; Urade Y et al.; Prostaglandin D synthetase activity in the cytosol (100,000 x g, 1-h supernatant) fraction of peritoneal mast cells of adult rats (105.0 nmol/min/mg protein) was the highest among such activities in various rat tissues and cells . As judged by the absolute requirement for glutathione for the reaction (Km = 300 microM), the Km value for prostaglandin H2 (200 microM), and insensitivity of the activity to 1 mM 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, the enzyme in mast cells was similar to rat spleen prostaglandin D synthetase and differed from rat brain prostaglandin D synthetase or glutathione S-transferase, all of which catalyze the isomerase reaction from prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin D2 . In immunotitration analyses, the activity in mast cells showed a titration curve exactly identical with that of the purified spleen-type enzyme and almost completely absorbed by an excess amount of antibody against this enzyme, but it remained unchanged after incubation with antibodies against the brain-type enzyme and glutathione S-transferase isozymes thus far purified . In Western blot after two-dimensional electrophoresis of crude extracts of mast cells, a single immunoreactive spot was observed with antibody against the spleen-type enzyme at the same position as that of the purified enzyme (Mr = 26,000, pI = 5.2) . Furthermore, the immunoreactive protein obtained from mast cells showed the same peptide fingerprints as those of the purified spleen-type enzyme, after partial digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease or trypsin . In immunoperoxidase staining, the immunoreactivity of the spleen-type enzyme was found in the cytosol of tissue mast cells in various organs such as thymus, intestine, stomach, and skin of adult rats . These findings indicate that prostaglandin D2 is produced by the spleen-type synthetase in mast cells of various tissues.

J Biol Chem, 1990 Jan 5, 265(1), 569 - 81
Identification of a cytoplasmic region of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit by epitope mapping; Pedersen SE et al.; Analysis of the binding of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) has demonstrated that a region of the alpha-subunit between alpha-156 and alpha-179 is exposed on the cytoplasmic surface of the nicotinic post-synaptic membrane . A panel of mAbs was produced that recognized sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured subunits of the Torpedo AChR . Antibodies recognizing alpha-subunit were distinguished in terms of their ability to bind alpha-subunit fragments generated by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease: an 18-kDa fragment beginning at Val-46, a 20-kDa fragment beginning at Ser-173/Ser-162, and a 10 kDa fragment beginning at Asn-339 . Three mAbs, selected for binding to each of the V8-protease alpha-subunit fragments, respectively, were characterized in detail . The location of epitopes recognized by both anti-V8-18 and anti-V8-20 mAbs was determined to be within alpha-156 to alpha-179 by isolation of small immunoreactive peptides from proteolytic digests of the alpha-subunit, while the mAb reactive to V8-10 was bound to an epitope within alpha-339 to alpha-386 . Quantitative evaluation of binding of the anti-V8-18 and anti-V8-20 mAbs to overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to alpha-147 to alpha-179 localized the epitopes to distinct portions of this region . Further screening of the panel of mAbs using these synthetic peptides revealed three additional mAbs that bind in this region . The mAbs that bound the three distinct V8-protease alpha-subunit fragments were shown to bind to native AChR by indirect immunofluorescence on frozen sections of Torpedo electric organ . Binding to the native AChR was to the cytoplasmic surface of the AChR since the mAbs could bind to AChR in native vesicles, in which the AChR is oriented right-side-out, only after permeabilization of the vesicles by alkaline treatment or after scrambling of the orientation of the AChR by solubilization and reconstitution into liposomes . The location of the mAb-binding sites at the cytoplasmic surface of the AChR was visualized directly by freeze-etch immunoelectron microscopy . The identification of alpha-156 and alpha-179 as containing a cytoplasmic exposed sequence implies the existence of two non-hydrophobic transmembrane sequences between the site of N-glycosylation (Asn-141) and Cys-192, a site alkylated by the cholinergic affinity labels.

J Biomed Mater Res, 1990 Jan, 24(1), 95 - 105
Sepsis of vascular catheters . II: In vitro disinfection of colonized tubing; Dennis MB Jr et al.; Preparatory to development of in situ disinfection of implanted catheters, silicone rubber tubing colonized by incubation with Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, or Klebsiella pneumoniae was used to test the efficacy of various chemicals in vitro . Protocols sterilizing all segments colonized for 24 h (n = 30) were immersion into 50% povidone iodine for 5 and 60 min, 100% povidone iodine for 5, 15, and 60 min, 1.2 x 10(3) ppm chlorine dioxide for 15 and 60 min, and 1.2 x 10(3) ppm chlorine dioxide buffered to pH 5.1 for 60 min . Immersion in up to 2% chlorhexidine, 7.4% formaldehyde, or 6% sodium hypochlorite for up to 60 min failed to sterilize all segments . None of 117 control segments were sterilized . Segments colonized for seven days were sterilized by immersion into 100% povidone iodine for 15 or 60 min . Use of 1.2 x 10(3) ppm chlorine dioxide for 60 min sterilized 97% of segments tested . Lower concentrations and shorter exposure times failed to sterilize all segments . Eighteen silicone rubber catheters, colonized on the outer surface, were all sterilized within 24 h by a chlorine dioxide solution placed in the lumen and diffusing through the wall to kill the bacteria.

Diabetes Care, 1990 Jan, 13(1), 71 - 4
Preservatives in insulin preparations impair leukocyte function . In vitro study; van Faassen I et al.; m-Cresol and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate are preservatives in insulin preparations . As previously reported, in diabetic patients on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, users of insulin-containing m-cresol had significantly more inflamed infusion sites than users of insulin with methyl p-hydroxybenzoate . This study assessed the influence of insulin with and without these preservatives on leukocyte function . Leukocyte function was investigated in a killing experiment, expressed as the percentage of bacteria killed after 60 min incubation of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), polymorphonuclear leukocytes, serum, and insulin preparations . Because preservative is retained by the infusion device, insulin with preservative was tested before and after 1 and 4 days perfusion with a PVC pump catheter . After perfusion, the amount of preservative was reduced (percentage of original concentration after 1 and 4 days 8 and 30% m-cresol and 42 and 72% methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, respectively) . The killing percentage in insulin with m-cresol reduced compared with insulin without preservative (mean +/- SE 95.4 +/- 0.8%) and the control without insulin (95.8 +/- 0.8%), both before and after 1 and 4 days perfusion (74.8 +/- 0.7, 80.2 +/- 2.8, and 80.6 +/- 1.6%, respectively; P less than 0.01) . The same occurred in insulin with methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (85.0 +/- 0.9% before and 88.4 +/- 0.9 and 86.2 +/- 0.8% after 1 and 4 days perfusion; P less than 0.05) . All insulin preparations with m-cresol caused lower killing percentages than corresponding insulin preparations with methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (P less than 0.05) . These results demonstrate that both preservatives impaired leukocyte function, but m-cresol was the most noxious in this respect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arch Microbiol, 1990, 154(1), 73 - 81
Penicillin-induced changes in the cell wall composition of Staphylococcus aureus before the onset of bacteriolysis; Sidow T et al.; To analyze if chemical cell wall alterations contribute to penicillin-induced bacteriolysis, changes in the amount, stability, and chemical composition of staphylococcal cell walls were investigated . All analyses were performed before onset of bacteriolysis i.e . during the first 60 min following addition of different penicillin G doses . Only a slight reduction of the amount of cell wall material incorporated after penicillin addition at the optimal lytic concentration was observed as compared to control cells . However, the presence of higher penicillin G concentrations reduced the incorporation of wall material progressively without bacteriolysis . Losses of wall material during isolation of dodecylsulfate insoluble cell walls were monitored to assess the stability of the wall material following penicillin addition . Wall material grown at the lytic penicillin concentration was least stable but about 30% of the newly incorporated wall material withstood even the harsh conditions of mechanical breakage and dodecylsulfate treatment . Dodecylsulfate insoluble cell walls were used for chemical analyses . While peptidoglycan chain length was unaffected in the presence of penicillin, other wall parameters were considerably altered: peptide cross-linking was reduced in the wall material synthesized after addition of penicillin; reductions from approx . 85% in controls to about 60% were similar for lytic and also for very high penicillin concentrations leading to nonlytic death . O-acetylation was also reduced after treatment with penicillin; this effect paralleled the occurrence of subsequent bacteriolysis at different drug concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg, 1990, 24(1), 31 - 5
The effect of zinc oxide on Staphylococcus aureus and polymorphonuclear cells in a tissue cage model; Sunzel B et al.; The effect of zinc oxide on S . aureus (209 P) was studied in steel net tissue cages implanted subcutaneously in guinea pigs and rabbits . Zinc oxide installed in the tissue cages created high, sustained concentrations of zinc in the cage fluid throughout the study . In a concentration of 22 mmol/l zinc oxide reduced viable counts in tissue cage fluid inoculated with S . aureus . No deleterious effect was observed on polymorphonuclear cell function.

Arch Microbiol, 1990, 153(6), 580 - 4
Branched respiratory chain in aerobically grown Staphylococcus aureus--oxidation of ethanol by cells and protoplasts; Artzatbanov VYu et al.; Addition of ethanol and some other primary alcohols, except methanol, to cells and protoplasts (but not membrane particles) considerably stimulated the rate of oxygen consumption . This additional respiration was strongly inhibited by 0.1 mM KCN . The cyanide inhibition curve of endogenous substrate oxidation was slightly biphasic while in the presence of ethanol it became clearly biphasic having Ki values of approx . 0.1 and 0.5 mM . Based on the steady-state cytochrome spectra in the presence of 0.1 mM KCN, we attributed the lower Ki to cytochrome a602 . Proteolysis of protoplasts external membrane proteins did not change the rate of endogeneous substrate oxidation but prevented the inhibition of this respiration by low concentrations of KCN and stimulation of oxygen consumption by ethanol . The activity of NAD(+)-dependent ethanol dehydrogenase in the cytoplasm was found to be 520 nmol NADH- x min-1 x mg-1 protein . Proteolysis of external membrane proteins apparently inhibits the operation of the cytochrome a602-containing electron transport branch inducing the suppression of electron flow from NADH to oxygen.

NAACOGS Clin Issu Perinat Womens Health Nurs, 1990, 1(1), 115 - 22
Infection prevention and control for HIV and other infectious agents in obstetric, gynecologic and neonatal settings; Jackson MM; Personnel working in obstetric and gynecologic settings have long recognized their increased risks for infection with the hepatitis B virus and many have been immunized with hepatitis B vaccine . Staphylococcus aureus cross-transmission among neonates in newborn nurseries in the 1950s was a major impetus for the development of hospital infection control programs . In recent years, however, it is concerns about infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that have caused health care workers and hospitals to rethink traditional infection risk reduction strategies and change them . This article describes infection risks peculiar to obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal settings and presents practical approaches for reducing these risks, both for patients and for health care workers.

Indian J Lepr, 1990 Jan-Mar, 62(1), 39 - 44
Conjunctival microbial flora in leprosy; Garg SP et al.; Conjunctival sacs of seventy-one leprosy patients, paramedical and medical personnel working in a Leprosy Home were cultured . None of these eyes had any pathology of the outer eye . Surprisingly, 46.2% of the culturally positive eyes carried accepted pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus being the commonest . Determining the preoperative bacterial flora and their elimination before undertaking intraocular surgery is recommended.

Z Versuchstierkd, 1990, 33(2), 65 - 71
Septic arthritis--an experimental animal model useful in free oxygen radical research; Linhart WE et al.; An experimental animal model for bacterial joint inflammation has been tested . Using 16 rabbits divided into 4 groups, we injected knee joints of two groups with Staphylococcus aureus and the other 2 with NaCl . One group in each was also injected with superoxide dismutase (SOD) . A technique was developed which allowed frequent standardized aspirations of the joints carried out through the patella tendon . By this means, we aspirated 16 joints 112 times over 72 h, obtaining estimates of the activity of intra-articularly injected SOD . TBA-reactive substances (TBARS) measured in joint fluid and plasma were different in each of the groups, with the highest values found in animals with septic arthritis treated with SOD . Leucocyte and differential blood cell counts were checked at 12 hour intervals.

Mikrobiol Zh, 1990 Jan-Feb, 52(1), 59 - 61
{The antimicrobial activity of 5-styryl-2-furoylmethyltriphenyl phosphonium bromides and their derivatives}; Prodanchuk NG et al.; 5-styryl-2-furoylmethyltriphenyl phosphonium bromides and their derivatives produce (due to their chemical structure) to a greater or lesser extent the pronounced antimicrobic effect on a number of test cultures of the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . The Gram-positive microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus and B . subtilis proved to be most sensitive to the studied compounds.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Jan, 43(1), 131 - 8
{Annual changes in isolation of MRSA in our department and chemotherapeutic effect of antibiotics including minocycline against postoperative infections of methicillin-resistant S . aureus}; Yokoyama T et al.; Assessment has been made, using MIC values and coagulase types, of 214 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the lesions of inpatients at the First Surgical Department, Hiroshima University, from 1983 to 1988 . The obtained results are summarized below: 1 . Frequency of MRSA among all the strains of S . aureus during a period from 1983 to 1987 was higher than 50% . 2 . Highly methicillin-resistant strains (MIC of methicillin greater than 100 micrograms/ml) emerged in 1984 and thereafter, showed a trend of increase through 1987 . 3 . The highly methicillin-resistant strains are of coagulase II type strain and they are considered to be inhospital epidemic strains . 4 . Both ofloxacin and minocycline (MINO) showed good activities against highly methicillin-resistant strains, but many resistant strains were resistant to beta-lactam and aminoglycoside agents . Based on the above basic assessment, chemotherapies mainly using MINO were performed on cases of MRSA infections experienced at the First Surgical Department, Hiroshima University in a period from July, 1987, to November, 1988, and the following results were obtained . 1 . Drugs used were: single MINO in 2 cases; MINO+imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS) in 4 cases; MINO+IPM/CS+tobramycin in 1 case; MINO+cefmetazole (CMZ) in 1 cases; and MINO+fosfomycin+CMZ (changed to MINO+Amikacin) in 1 case, a total of 9 cases . Clinical result showed remarkable effectiveness of these therapies in 3 cases with some degrees of effectiveness in 6 cases, thus the therapies were all effective or better . 2 . No particular abnormality was observed in subjective or objective symptoms or clinical laboratory tests, judged from values obtained before and after administration of MINO . The above results agreed with well those of the basic assessment, suggesting the possibility that the chemotherapies mainly using MINO would exhibit effectiveness on MRSA infections.

Int J Biochem, 1990, 22(5), 461 - 70
Human and murine cytosolic epoxide hydrolase: physical and structural properties; Dietze EC et al.; 1 . Human and murine liver cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (CEH) had an apparent Mw of 59,000 by SDS-PAGE . 2 . Peptide maps of CNBr, trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 digests, as well as amino acid analysis, showed that human and murine CEH were similar . Uninduced and clofibrate induced murine CEH appeared qualitatively identical . 3 . The CEHs shared antigenic determinants as determined by Western blotting . 4 . Circular dichroism spectra indicate that human CEH had 39% alpha-helix . Uninduced and clofibrate induced murine CEH had 38 and 35% alpha-helix, respectively.

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 1990 Jan, 38(1), 243 - 5
Phytogrowth-inhibitory and antibacterial activities of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-dithiane and its derivatives; Inamori Y et al.; 2,5-Dihydroxy-1,4-dithiane (I) and its derivatives (II-IV) showed rather marked inhibitory activities on the growth of the roots of two plant species . All compounds tested had phytogrowth-inhibitory activities . These compounds markedly inhibited the growth of the two plant species at the concentration of 1.0 x 10(-3) M . Seeds of Brassica rapa treated with 2,5-dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dithiane (III) and its diacetate (IV) at the same concentration failed to germinate . Among these compounds, IV showed the most potent inhibitory activity on the two plant species . The radicles of both plant species treated with these compounds at concentrations higher than 1.0 x 10(-4) M showed negative geotropism, even though germination occurred . The compounds except for 2,5-diacetoxy-1,4-dithiane (II) also had antibacterial activities . In particular, III had rather marked antibacterial activity and its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Staphylococcus aureus IFO-3060 and Escherichia coli IFO-12734 was 4.0 micrograms/ml.

Aust Vet J, 1990 Jan, 67(1), 6 - 8
Survey of intramammary infections in ewes on the New England Tableland of New South Wales; Watson DL et al.; Samples of mammary secretion were collected aseptically from 1093 ewes in 8 separate flocks . Most of the ewes were suckling lambs 4 to 6 weeks old . Standard bacteriological tests were carried out on the samples to identify the organisms involved in intramammary infections . Data on age, breed, lactational status and clinical status of the gland and its secretion were recorded at the time of sampling . The prevalence of intramammary infection was 14% of ewes (8% of glands) . There was a tendency for prevalence of intramammary infection to be positively correlated with age of the ewe (two-year-old and six-year-old ewes had, respectively, 4.4% and 14.0% of glands infected) . This relationship was highly significant for Border Leicester x Merino ewes . There were also significant differences in infection prevalence between breeds . infected glands had a higher prevalence of clinical abnormalities of udder, teat and secretion than did non-infected glands . Staphylococcus aureus was overwhelmingly the most frequently isolated bacterium being responsible for 40% of all intramammary infections.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Jan, (1), 72 - 5
{The role of T-lymphocytes in the development of a humoral immune response to the corpuscular antigen of Staphylococcus aureus}; Liashchenko KP et al.; The dependence of humoral immune response and the formation of immunological memory to corpuscular staphylococcal antigen (CSA) on the T-system of immunity was studied in experiments on B-mice and on mice with the congenital absence of the thymus (nude) . Primary and secondary immune response to CSA in athymic mice was found to be considerably less than in normal animals . After the repeated immunization of genetically athymic mice the pronounced secondary reaction of the formation of antibodies to CSA was observed . As shown in this investigation carried out with the use of adoptive transfer techniques, the induction of memory B-cells to CSA may occur in animals with congenital or experimentally induced T-immunodeficiency . The conclusion was made on the T-dependence of humoral immune response to CSA, the formation of immunological memory to this antigen being relatively T-independent.

Salud Publica Mex, 1990 Jan-Feb, 32(1), 64 - 73
{Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for detecting S . aureus enterotoxins B and C in milk}; Suarez-Semour MA et al.; Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins B and C, were obtained from strains 243 and 361 respectively . An immunoenzymatic technique was standardized both quantitative and qualitatively . We were able to detect enterotoxin to nanogram level on extracts from artificially contaminated milk . This ELISA immunoenzymatic technique implemented by us under the operative conditions of our working environment, resulted to be easy to handle, consumes only a short time, has a low cost and great diagnostic sensitivity.

Int J Dermatol, 1990 Jan-Feb, 29(1), 31 - 4
Cutaneous infections in Trinidad; Suite M; Skin infection is common in patients with any skin diseases where pruritus is a prominent feature . A retrospective analysis was performed on the results of skin swab cultures from patients with eczema and a variety of other conditions . This paper presents the findings of bacteriologic culture and sensitivity testing of 131 swabs from 122 patients over a period of 22 months and examines the results in terms of the reported relationship between scabies and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis . Staphylococcus aureus was most often isolated, and this appears to indicate that antistaphylococcal antibiotics should be the first line of treatment in the absence of the results of cultures.

Mol Gen Genet, 1990 Jan, 220(2), 329 - 33
Nucleotide sequence of the staphylococcal enterotoxin C3 gene: sequence comparison of all three type C staphylococcal enterotoxins; Hovde CJ et al.; The structural gene entC3, which encodes staphylococcal enterotoxin C3 was cloned from the genome of Staphylococcus aureus FRI-913 and sequenced . The primary amino acid sequence of the toxin was deduced from the nucleotide sequence data . entC3 contains 801 bp and encodes a precursor protein of 266 amino acids . Glutamic acid was found to be the N-terminus of mature enterotoxin C3 . Thus, the first 27 residues of the toxin precursor comprise the signal peptide, and the mature toxin contains 239 amino acids with a molecular weight of 27,563 daltons . Enterotoxin C3 differs from enterotoxin C2 by four amino acids and from enterotoxin C1 by nine residues . The 167 C-terminal residues of the three toxins are identical, except for one conservative amino acid substitution in enterotoxin C3 . The degree of immunological relatedness among the three Type C enterotoxins is proportional to their molecular relatedness . This study also provides evidence that the N-termini of Type C enterotoxins determine subtype-specific antigenic epitopes, while more conserved C-terminal regions determine biological properties and cross-reactive antigenic epitopes shared with other pyrogenic toxins.

Leuk Res, 1990, 14(3), 263 - 71
Human B lymphocytes express the p75 component of the interleukin 2 receptor; Begley CG et al.; The nature of the interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor on purified human B lymphocytes was examined . Both normal and malignant cells showed evidence of a 70-75,000 mol . wt (p75) IL-2 binding molecule as assessed by 125I-labeled IL-2 binding and receptor cross-linking . On normal, Tac-negative B lymphocytes the estimated number of p75 binding sites was 1100 per cell and the dissociation constant (Kd) was 1.7 nM . Consistent with this, cross-linking experiments demonstrated the presence of an IL-2 binding molecule of 70-75,000 mol . wt . Purified B cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) also expressed the p75 IL-2 binding molecule . In the HCL samples, a small number of high-affinity IL-2 binding sites were detected (27-90) while the majority of binding sites (2100-10,800) were typical of low-affinity p55 Tac binding . IL-2 added to the purified normal and CLL B lymphocytes led to the induction of p55 Tac expression and the generation of high-affinity IL-2 receptors . This response to IL-2 was equivalent to the response observed when normal B lymphocytes were stimulated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I.

Ann Pediatr (Paris), 1990 Jan, 37(1), 21 - 5
{Nosocomial Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus septicemias in neonates}; Gouyon JB et al.; Sixteen neonates developed staphylococcal septicemia (S . epidermidis in 10 cases and S . aureus in six) . Two infections were due to maternofetal contamination and four to contaminated foreign material . Clinical symptoms included non-specific evidence of neonatal bacterial infection and, in S . aureus infections, suggestive skin or bone localizations . Fifteen patients recovered without sequelae and one died as a result of S . aureus septicopyemia . In view of the patterns of resistance to antimicrobial agents exhibited by S . aureus and S . epidermidis, the vancomycin-amikacin combination seems the most appropriate treatment in neonatal staphylococcal septicemias . However, the fosfomycin-cefotaxim combination can be proposed for the treatment of staphylococcal infections with osteoarticular or meningeal involvement.

J Orthop Trauma, 1990, 4(1), 81 - 4
Indium-111 leukocyte scanning and fracture healing; Mead LP et al.; This study was undertaken to determine the specificity of indium-111 leukocyte scans for osteomyelitis when fractures are present . Midshaft tibial osteotomies were performed in 14 New Zealand white rabbits, seven of which were infected postoperatively with Staphylococcus aureus per Norden's protocol . All 14 rabbits were scanned following injection with 75 microCi of indium 111 at 72 h after osteotomy and at weekly intervals for 4 weeks . Before the rabbits were killed, the fracture sites were cultured to document the presence or absence of infection . The results of all infected osteotomy sites were positive, whereas no positive scans were found in the noninfected osteotomies . We concluded from this study that uncomplicated fracture healing does not result in a positive indium-111 leukocyte scan.

J Dairy Sci, 1990 Jan, 73(1), 115 - 24
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis with penicillin and novobiocin: antibiotic concentrations and bacteriologic status in milk and mammary tissue; Owens WE et al.; Cows with Staphylococcus aureus mastitis received either one or two intramammary infusions containing 100,000 U penicillin G and 150 mg novobiocin . Milk and tissue samples were obtained from each quarter . Peak mean penicillin and novobiocin concentrations from antibiotic-positive tissue samples were .013 U/mg and .06 microgram/mg, respectively, for quarters treated once . Quarters treated twice had peak mean penicillin and novobiocin concentrations of .057 U/mg and .06 microgram/mg, respectively . Viable Staphylococcus aureus were isolated intermittently from milk and tissue samples of quarters positive for penicillin and novobiocin for both treatment groups . Histological analysis of mammary parenchyma demonstrated marked decreases in luminal area and increases in connective tissue area and leukocyte infiltration in S . aureus-infected quarters compared with uninfected controls, suggesting that reduction in milk collecting space and presence of inflammatory changes may be responsible for poor drug distribution.

Br Vet J, 1990 Jan-Feb, 146(1), 50 - 6
Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from animal and human sources in Brazil; Lopes CA et al.; The susceptibilities of 760 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from animal infections (400), human infections (300) and healthy human carriers (60) to seven antibiotics were determined by an agar dilution technique . The isolates from human infections were more resistant to a wider spectrum of antibiotics than were the strains from animal infections and healthy human carriers . Amikacin and gentamicin were the most active drugs against all groups of strains.

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, 1990 Jan, 2(1), 91 - 8
Pulmonary surfactant protein A enhances the host-defense mechanism of rat alveolar macrophages; van Iwaarden F et al.; The effects of surfactant, surfactant lipids, and surfactant protein A (SP-A) on the surface phagocytosis of {3H}thymidine-labeled Staphylococcus aureus (SAE) by rat alveolar macrophages were studied . Alveolar macrophages only ingest SAE when the bacteria are opsonized with rat serum prior to incubation with alveolar macrophages . Preincubation or "opsonization" of the bacteria with surfactant did not result in phagocytosis by the macrophages . However, preincubation of the macrophages with surfactant increased the phagocytosis of rat serum-opsonized bacteria by approximately 70% when compared to the control macrophages . The factor present in surfactant causing the stimulation of the phagocytosis is probably SP-A . Preincubation of macrophages with human SP-A enhanced the phagocytosis to the same extent as whole surfactant, whereas preincubation with surfactant lipids had no effect on the phagocytosis . The SP-A-induced enhancement of the phagocytosis is time, temperature, and concentration dependent . Phagocytosis of opsonized SAE by alveolar macrophages was maximal after 15 min of incubation and at an SP-A concentration of 1 micrograms/ml . No phagocytosis occurred at 0 degrees C . In addition, whole surfactant and SP-A induce a lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence response in alveolar macrophages . The chemiluminescence response is initiated after 15 min of incubation and reaches a maximum after 30 min . The concentration of SP-A needed for an optimal response is in the same order of magnitude as the concentration needed for maximal enhancement of the phagocytosis of SAE by alveolar macrophages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ther Drug Monit, 1990 Jan, 12(1), 29 - 34
Pharmacokinetics of intravenous vancomycin in patients with end-stage renal failure; Tan CC et al.; The pharmacokinetics of a 500-mg dose of i.v . vancomycin were studied in six Chinese patients with end-stage renal failure . Serum vancomycin concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography . Observed peak and trough (at 168 h postinfusion) concentrations were in the range of 14.2-35.0 micrograms/ml and 2.8-5.5 micrograms/ml, respectively . The data were analyzed using the PCNONLIN . In all six patients, the data could be fitted well by both the biexponential and triexponential models, but in three patients the latter model provided a better fit . Two-compartment pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the six patients were t 1/2 alpha 1.13 +/- 0.25 h (mean +/- SEM), t 1/2 beta 121.3 +/- 8.2 h, Vc 0.45 +/- 0.09 L/kg, Vss 1.00 +/- 0.12 L/kg, ClT 5.90 +/- 0.69 ml/kg/h, and the calculated Cmax 25.0 +/- 6.1 micrograms/ml . The mean vancomycin serum protein binding was 18.5 +/- 12.0% as compared with a mean of 46.0% in pooled serum from normal controls . Hemodialysis had no significant effect on vancomycin protein binding or clearance . On the basis of our kinetic study, 500 mg of vancomycin given every seven days is probably adequate treatment for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in end-stage renal failure patients, but further clinical studies are necessary to confirm this.

J Infect, 1990 Jan, 20(1), 73 - 82
An outbreak of pemphigus neonatorum; Dancer SJ et al.; During the summer of 1987, an epidemic of pemphigus neonatorum took place at Guy's Hospital . It involved more than 80 neonates in the maternity unit . Swabs from the umbilical stumps of the babies and from the noses of several attending midwives yielded Staphylococcus aureus of phage-type Group II 3A/3C . Despite an extensive disinfection policy, which included identification and treatment of carriers, the outbreak persisted for 3 months . Final resolution came only after detailed epidemiological research revealed those midwives most likely to be involved . After these had been singled out for further treatment, the outbreak ended . The epidemic strains were later subjected to reverse phage-typing, plasmid profiling and in vivo testing for production of epidermolytic toxin in order to confirm true carriers and cases . Retrospective analysis identified those persons most likely to have been responsible for propagation of the epidemic strain . The exact course of the outbreak was then clarified.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1990 Jan, 11(1), 23 - 6
Effectiveness of simple measures to control an outbreak of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in an intensive care unit; Guiguet M et al.; Between June 1985 and March 1986, 14 cases of severe nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, including septicemia, were observed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a 400-bed cancer reference center . Simple control measures including contact isolation of colonized patients and reinforcement of handwashing practices among personnel were followed by a sharp decrease in the rate of infection and colonization . An epidemiological investigation showed that a single serophage variant MRSA strain was involved; peak incidence of infection was 17 per 100 ICU patient discharges; the index case was identified as a patient admitted from another hospital and the epidemic strain was then transmitted from patient-to-patient in the ICU; risk factors for acquiring infection were length of prior hospitalization, invasive procedures and number of antibiotic treatments; dissemination of the strain to other wards was only anecdotal . These results stress the effectiveness of simple measures to control outbreaks of MRSA nosocomial infections even in immunocompromised cancer patients.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Jan, 28(1), 150 - 1
Correlation between esterase electrophoretic types and capsular polysaccharide types 5 and 8 among methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus; Branger C et al.; The relationship between capsular polysaccharide types 5 and 8 and esterase electrophoretic types (zymotypes) in 160 French clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus was studied . Methicillin-susceptible strains of capsular types 5 and 8 were represented by 11 zymotypes, indicating a high polymorphism . Methicillin-resistant strains were mainly distributed in only two distinct populations . The predominant population was represented by strains of zymotype 6 and capsular type 5, and the second population was represented by strains of zymotype 14 and capsular type 8.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1990 Jan, 141(1), 89 - 93
The incidence and significance of Staphylococcus aureus in respiratory cultures from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus; Levine SJ et al.; This study assessed the incidence and clinical significance of recovery of Staphylococcus aureus from the respiratory tract of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) . In a retrospective review of 129 consecutive episodes of respiratory disease in HIV-seropositive patients where respiratory tract cultures were obtained, S . aureus was recovered in 30 (23%) of the episodes . Twenty-nine of these were evaluated in this study, and the recovery of S . aureus was found to represent pneumonia in 8 cases (28%), to be of indeterminate significance in 18 cases (62%), and to represent colonization in 3 cases (10%) . Episodes of S . aureus pneumonia were usually community-acquired (seven of eight episodes) and had an acute or subacute clinical presentation . Fever and physical signs of pneumonia were present in all patients . Chest radiographic presentations varied, but local infiltrates were seen in seven of eight episodes . Concomitant pulmonary disorders were common (seven of eight episodes) . All patients were appropriately treated; five patients recovered and three died, giving a mortality rate of 38% . We conclude that S . aureus is a frequent isolate from respiratory tract cultures of HIV-seropositive patients referred for evaluation of pulmonary disease . It can cause a pneumonia with a high mortality rate, as it did in 6% of all episodes of pulmonary disease reviewed in this study . Clinicians should be aware that HIV-seropositive patients may develop respiratory disease secondary to S . aureus infection and that when this organism is suspected, appropriate antibiotic therapy should be instituted.

Postgrad Med, 1990 Jan, 87(1), 287 - 8
Primary psoas abscess . An often insidious infection; Haines JD Jr et al.; Psoas abscess is most often caused by infection with Staphylococcus aureus . Classic symptoms are localized pain, persistent fever, and a limp or flexion problem of the hip . Diagnosis can be confirmed by ultrasound or computed tomographic scan . Appropriate treatment consists of drainage of the abscess and antibiotic therapy.

J Med Microbiol, 1990 Jan, 31(1), 57 - 64
Typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by antibiotic resistance phenotypes; Gillespie MT et al.; The identification of new epidemic strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is essential for rapid, effective infection control . We have developed a typing method which uses antibiotic sensitivity patterns to differentiate methicillin-resistant S . aureus and which is faster and more cost-effective than biochemical analysis or bacteriophage typing . Characterisation of phenotypes which are chromosomally-encoded, plasmid- or chromosomally-encoded or exclusively plasmid-mediated has enabled us to separate Australian strains of methicillin-resistant S . aureus into 11 classes, representatives of which were indistinguishable by bacteriophage type, or plasmid profile alone . The value of this procedure is thus clearly shown.

J Infect Dis, 1990 Jan, 161(1), 52 - 3
Treatment of experimental chronic osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus with ampicillin/sulbactam; Norden CW et al.; Ampicillin/sulbactam was used for the treatment of experimental osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus in rabbits . Treatment with 200 mg/kg (ampicillin) three times a day sterilized 40% of infected rabbit bones . The results of 4 weeks of treatment with ampicillin/sulbactam for chronic experimental staphylococcal osteomyelitis were comparable to those obtained previously with cephalothin and with oxacillin in previous studies and were not as good as those with clindamycin alone or combination therapy that included rifampin.

J Infect Dis, 1990 Jan, 161(1), 138 - 42
Short-chain fatty acids produced by anaerobic bacteria inhibit phagocytosis by human lung phagocytes; Eftimiadi C et al.; The effect of short-chain fatty acids on the phagocytic activity of human alveolar macrophages and neutrophils was investigated . These acids, butyric, propionic, and succinic, are produced by anaerobic bacteria . The results indicate that phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by human lung phagocytes is strongly inhibited by the end products of anaerobic catabolism and support the hypothesis that the antiphagocytic activity present in the supernatants of anaerobic cultures may be dependent on the presence of short-chain fatty acids.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1990 Jan, 15(1), 80 - 3
Toxic shock syndrome with Staphylococcus aureus exit-site infection in a patient on peritoneal dialysis; Sherbotie JR et al.; Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) associated with exit-site infection but without peritonitis has not been described . We report a case of TSS with an isolated Staphylococcus aureus exit-site infection in a boy on chronic peritoneal dialysis . The exit site had minimal erythema and no purulence . This report re-emphasizes the fact that mildly appearing cutaneous infections in patients with chronic renal failure may have significant consequences . Particular attention should be given to patients who present with constitutional symptoms that may be of short duration . The importance of culturing all sites in such cases is highlighted . The prevalence of TSS with exit-site infections is unknown, but TSS should be considered in patients presenting with similar features.

Radiology, 1990 Jan, 174(1), 233 - 6
Acute experimental osteomyelitis and abscesses: detection with MR imaging versus CT; Chandnani VP et al.; Acute experimental osteomyelitis and abscesses were induced in the proximal tibia and surrounding soft tissues, respectively, in 67 New Zealand white rabbits . Fifty-three rabbits were injected with a Staphylococcus aureus solution and 26, with sterile saline in tibial medullae and/or surrounding soft tissues . Contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed 7 days after inoculation . Immediately after imaging, the animals were killed and necropsy was performed . MR imaging was more sensitive than CT in the detection of osteomyelitis (94% vs 66%, P less than .025) and abscesses (97% vs 52%, P less than .001) . MR imaging was equally specific as CT in the exclusion of osteomyelitis (93% vs 97%, chi 2 = 0) but less specific than CT in the exclusion of abscesses (77% vs 100%, P less than .025) . The overall accuracy of MR imaging was somewhat, although not significantly, greater than that of CT in the detection of both osteomyelitis (93% vs 80%) and abscesses (87% vs 75%).

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1990, 12(8), 859 - 69
Effect of tuftsin stimulation on the microbicidal activity exerted by blood monocyte-macrophages of leprosy patients; Iyer RR et al.; The ability of blood monocyte/macrophages from normal donors, tuberculoid leprosy (BT/TT) and lepromatous leprosy (BL/LL) patients to exert enhanced microbicidal activity was assayed after stimulating with 0.8 microM tuftsin, as a function of the duration of cultures in vitro . Normal and BT/TT macrophage cultures showed a statistically significant increase in microbicidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus at all ages of culture (6 h to 14 days), though the overall magnitude of the enhancement shows a decrease with increasing culture age in the same populations . However, 14-day old BL/LL macrophage cultures were unable to undergo tuftsin-mediated stimulation of microbicidal activity against S . aureus and even, fresh 6 h-old cultures exhibited a tuftsin-stimulated response profile similar to 14-day old normal and BT/TT cultures . Also, 7 and 14-day cultures of normal, BT/TT and BL/LL macrophages were unable to inhibit/kill intracellular Mycobacterium leprae after a single stimulation with 0.8 microM tuftsin . However, serial, daily stimulation with 0.8 microM tuftsin resulted in 77-140% inhibition of 3H-thymidine uptake by the 12th day of cultures in vitro in the three groups . These results suggest that BL/LL macrophages exhibit a premature inability to undergo tuftsin stimulated microbicidal activity, which may possibly be reversed by serial dosage of tuftsin.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1990, 12(8), 847 - 58
Modulation of human lepromatous monocyte-macrophage functions in vitro by tuftsin; Iyer RR et al.; Human peripheral blood monocytes/macrophages derived from normal donors, patients of tuberculoid leprosy (BT/TT) and lepromatous leprosy (BL/LL) were assayed for stimulated phagocytic responses to the potent macrophage stimulator "Tuftsin" (NH2-Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-OH) after varying periods (6 h to 14 days) of culture in vitro . The assays consisted of visual scoring of ingested Mycobacterium leprae and radiometric measurement of ingested 14C-acetate labelled Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Ra) . While normal and BT/TT macrophages showed a progressively increasing ability for tuftsin-stimulated phagocytosis with increasing age of culture in vitro, BL/LL macrophages showed the opposite response so that 14-day cultures were refractory to a stimulatory dose of up to 7.0 microM (10 to 20 times the optimal dose for normal and BT/TT macrophages) . The 14-day BL/LL macrophage cultures were, however, responsive to 35 microM tuftsin (100 times the optimal dose for normal macrophages) . Analysis of the dose-response curves also indicates that BT/TT cultures despite exhibiting an apparent similarity to normal macrophages demonstrate a rightward shift for a maximal stimulated phagocytosis . Finally SEM photo-micrographs of 14-day macrophage cultures of the three groups revealed that while normal and BT/TT cultures demonstrated an increase in membrane ruffling and filopodia on stimulation with 0.8 microM tuftsin, BL/LL cultures exhibited none of the features associated with stimulation . From the above findings, we conclude that lepromatous macrophages may display an aberrant differentiation profile leading to a terminal state of unresponsiveness and that the defect may possibly lie at the level of tuftsin receptor expression or transmembrane signal transduction.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(6), 392 - 5
Cefadroxil kinetics and dynamics in a pediatric patient with acute osteomyelitis; Nahata MC et al.; Cefadroxil has been used for the treatment of acute osteomyelitis . However, its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics have not been studied in these patients . We evaluated the kinetics and dynamics of cefadroxil in a pediatric patient with osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus . After initial clinical improvement on intravenous nafcillin, the patient received oral cefadroxil, 60 mg/kg every 12 h . Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 h; bactericidal titers were determined at 2 and 12 h . Cefadroxil was measured by an HPLC method . The peak and trough serum concentration of cefadroxil was 35.4 and 0.5 micrograms/ml, respectively . The oral clearance and elimination half-life were 11.5 ml/min/kg and 2.4 h, respectively . The peak bactericidal titer was 1:4 and the trough titer was less than 1:2 for the infecting organism . The child's finger appeared worse with an increase in swelling and erythema after 2 days of cefadroxil therapy . Cefadroxil was discontinued and the patient was treated successfully with intravenous nafcillin . The apparent failure of cefadroxil therapy can be explained by lower than recommended peak (greater than or equal to 1:8) and trough (greater than or equal to 1:2) titers for therapeutic success . Thus, an alternative dosage regimen of cefadroxil should be considered in the future studies.

Ann Pharm Fr, 1990, 48(2), 81 - 6
{The pharmacodynamics of Pycnocomon rutifolium (Vahl.) Hoffmans and Link . Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity}; Herrera MD et al.; The acute and subchronic antiinflammatory activity of Pycnocomon rutifolium (Vahl.) Hoffmans and Link has been studied resulting that it is active to acute inflammation . Likewise the antibacterial activity in vivo to a infection by Staphylococcus aureus has been proved outcoming positive.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 70, 87 - 90
Antibiotic prophylaxis in major head and neck surgery when clean-contaminated wounds are established; Friberg D et al.; The case reports of 26 consecutive patients undergoing major head and neck surgery establishing direct wound communication between skin and mucosa of the oral cavity or the pharynx were analysed with respect to postoperative wound infections . All but two of the patients were perioperatively administered benzylpenicillin or benzylpenicillin in combination with tinidazole . The frequencies of wound infections were 23-25% when only severe infections as fistulation, pus-formation were taken into account, but 59-75% when also mild infections, not likely to impair the healing, were considered . The most frequently isolated pathogen in the wound infections was beta-lactamase producing Staphylococcus aureus . It is concluded that antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the risk of severe wound infections by approximately 50% . Antimicrobial prophylaxis can only be regarded as an important complement to good surgical techniques.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1990, 22(6), 729 - 33
Hydrophobic material in routine umbilical cord care and prevention of infections in newborn infants; Meberg A et al.; In a prospective randomized study 2 different regimens for umbilical disinfection in newborn infants were tested: (i) a bandage of hydrophobic material (Sorbact; n = 1,213), and (ii) daily cleansing with 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% ethanol (n = 1,228) . Infections were registered in the nursery as well as after discharge until 6 weeks of age, and bacterial cultures taken from infected areas . A total of 410 infections were registered in 377 (15.4%) of the 2,441 infants . Total infection rates of 16.3 and 14.6% were found in the hydrophobic material group and the chlorhexidine-ethanol group respectively (p greater than 0.05) . No differences were found between the groups in infection rates in the nursery (8.9 vs . 8.7%), after discharge (7.4 vs . 5.9%), or in rates of different types of infections (conjunctivitis, pyoderma, paronychia, omphalitis) (p greater than 0.05) . 536 strains were isolated . 498 (92.9%) were gram-positive, 45 (8.4%) gram-negative, and 7 (1.3%) candida strains . 229 (55.9%) were Staphylococcus aureus strains . No differences were found between the two groups concerning distribution of the different strains isolated . Separation of the umbilical cord occurred significantly later in the hydrophobic material group than in the chlorhexidine-ethanol group (6.2 +/- 2.2 vs . 5.8 +/- 2.1 days; p less than 0.05) . Hydrophobic material does not prevent infections more effectively compared to 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol.

Biopolymers, 1990, 30(3-4), 273 - 7
Studies on the conformation of and metal ion binding by teichoic acid of Staphylococcus aureus; Pal MK et al.; Teichoic acid (TA) isolated from the gram-positive bacteria S . aureus binds cationic dyes like pinacyanol (PCYN), 1,9-dimethyl methylene blue, acridine orange, etc., depicting blue-shifted metachromasia, and they bind the cationic dye carbocyanine depicting the red-shifted J band . TAs do not show any uv absorption band, and exhibition of tailing CD in the short uv region hints at its chiral conformation . Chiral conformation of TA has been confirmed from the induction of strong biphasic CD in the TA-carbocyanine system . Relative affinities for Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ have been probed from the disruption of metachromasia of the TA-dye system by these ions . Results show Ca2+ and Mg2+ to be almost equally effective in destroying the metachromasia of the TA-PCYN system, thus not supporting the hypothesis of special affinity for Mg2+ ion.

Int J Biochem, 1990, 22(12), 1445 - 52
Isolation and some properties of bovine brain 100 kDa heat shock protein; Itoh H et al.; 1 . The 100 kDa protein was purified from bovine brains . 2 . The antibody against the 100 kDa brain protein was prepared and was monospecific to the antigen . 3 . The antibody cross-reacted with HeLa cell HSP100 (100 kDa heat shock protein) . 4 . The physicochemical, immunochemical properties and a partially amino acid sequence indicated that the 100 kDa protein was HSP100 . 5 . Peptide mapping using Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease showed a core peptide with 10 kDa molecular mass common to both HSP100 and HSP90 . 6 . The amino acid sequence of the 10 kDa fragment of the 100 kDa protein showed a high homology with that of human HSP90 (38-60); the difference was only two of 23 amino acid residues determined.

Ann Radiol (Paris), 1990, 33(3), 200 - 3
{Pyomyositis in AIDS . Apropos of a case}; Vicens JL et al.; Pyomyositis is a purulent infection of skeletal muscle, a rare entity in temperate climates . The disease has been rarely reported in patients with AIDS . Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant organism . This article presents a case of pyomyositis following insertion of a central venous catheter . Imaging techniques (ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance) are useful for diagnosis . The ultrasound-guided aspiration allows isolation of the etiologic agent . The traditional management is medical and surgical.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1990, 37(2), 179 - 86
The effect of methicillin on the fatty acid composition of total polar lipid in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Rozgonyi F et al.; The effect of two concentrations of methicillin on the fatty acid (FA) distribution in intracellular total polar lipid (TPL) of the log-phase cultures of a methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain No . 5814R was studied during a period of 2 h . Half the MIC of methicillin (= 1000 micrograms/ml) caused 18.6% increase in branched-FAs and a same decrease in straight-FAs, while one MIC (= 2000 micrograms/ml) of the drug induced a moderate change in those of TPL . The ratio of branched-FAs to straight-FAs increased from 1.24 to 1.56 in the presence of 1/2 x MIC of methicillin and reduced from 1.24 to 0.87 in the presence of 1 X MIC of the antibiotic . In TPL of the control cultures it gradually decreased from 1.24 to 0.77 . It is concluded that under the effect of methicillin, FA composition of TPL in methicillin resistant cocci does not change as dramatically as in methicillin sensitive ones indicating lipid synthesis in methicillin resistant S . aureus to be less sensitive to the action of methicillin than in methicillin susceptible strains . This may contribute to the resistance against the lytic effect of the drug . Membrane lipid properties seem to be involved in the mechanisms of methicillin resistance.

Stomatol DDR, 1990 Jan, 40(1), 33 - 4
{Phagocytosis estimation in patients with post juvenile periodontitis by using isotope method}; Zietek M; The report presents the phagocytosis estimation in patients with post-juvenile periodontitis applying the staphylococcus aureus bacteria marked with C14 isotope . The examination was carried out in 20 patients and 10 controls . Statistically significant decrease of phagocytosis was found in diseased patients . No difference was noticed in phagocytosis at various concentrations of serum.

Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(7), 587 - 605
Characterization of gentamicin-resistant respiratory-deficient (res-) variant strains of Staphylococcus aureus; Lewis LA et al.; Exposure of sensitive cells of Staphylococcus aureus to concentrations of gentamicin higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration, results in the recovery of low level resistant strains with a greatly altered phenotype (variants) . Because the phenotypic alteration in these strains is so great the expected diagnostic characterization of these variants as S . aureus is obscured . Starting with a genetically-marked parent strain, a comprehensive cytological, physiological, morphological, genetic and biochemical analysis of the variants isolated from it was carried out . The genetic lineage of the variants to the parent was also established by DNA/DNA hybridization . Variants result from mutations in the hemin biosynthesis locus, the effect of which is to disrupt the synthesis of components of the electron transport system, lipid synthesis and selected nucleotide synthesis . Thus the strains are defective in aerobic and anaerobic respiration, (res-), in active transport of aminoglycosides (which confers low level resistance), export of characteristic exo-enzymes, and in cell wall composition and structure.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1990, 12(3), 479 - 512
Protein A induced abrogation of cyclophosphamide toxicity is associated with concomitant potentiation of immune function of host; Zaidi SI et al.; This report confirms our previous observation that protein A (PA) of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I reduces the cyclophosphamide (Cy) induced toxicity . PA treated animals recover quickly from the toxic effects of Cy . We have exhaustively studied the role of specific and nonspecific immunity in the protection of the animals . It was observed that PA helped the animals in the accelerated regeneration of leukocytes of blood (p less than 0.001) and different lymphoid organs like thymus (p less than 0.001), spleen (p less than 0.01) and bone marrow (p less than 0.01) . Increased number and function of macrophages was also observed in PA (p less than 0.001) and PA+Cy (p less than 0.001) groups . PA, on one hand enhanced the cell mediated immunity while suppressed the humoral immunity as was assessed by increase in delayed type hypersensitivity response (p less than 0.001) and decreased in plaque forming cells (p less than 0.001), EAC-rosettes (p less than 0.001), hemagglutination (p less than 0.001) and hemolysin titre (p less than 0.05) . On the basis of above observations we propose that the immunomodulatory activity of PA helped the animals to remain alive in two ways- (1) by early generation of the cells depleted by the Cy thus helping animals to repair the damaged immune system and fast clearance of the toxic metabolites of Cy (2) by temporarily suppressing the cells responsible for humoral immunity which are more susceptible to Cy metabolites.

Biorheology, 1990, 27(3-4), 445 - 8
Flow cytometry analysis of human neutrophils labeled with rhodamine phalloidin: effect of pentoxifylline; Freyburger G et al.; Pentoxifylline (PTX) has been reported to enhance the early accumulation of neutrophils at the site of Staphylococcus aureus subcutaneous infection in mice (1) and to stimulate in vitro PMN chemotaxis, particularly under dense agarose (2) . Among the biochemical events contributing to chemotaxis are actin polymerization (3) . The membrane cytoskeleton is believed to control the lateral mobility of integral membrane proteins as well as influencing cell shape and mobility . Thus, pharmacological modulations of neutrophil chemotaxis may be related to an effect of the pharmacological agents on the membrane cytoskeleton . The present study was designed to characterize the effect of PTX on actin polymerization of freely-suspended PMN before and after stimulation by the chemotactic factor f-MLP . We used flow cytometry to determine the proportion of actin in the filamentous form, and Rhodamine-Phalloidin as fluorescent probe (4) . PTX decreased actin polymerization in response to stimulation by f-MLP . The reduction in F-actin by PTX was higher in the samples with higher activation ratios as compared with untreated PMN.

Acta Vet Scand, 1990, 31(2), 223 - 6
A method for monitoring antibodies against staphylococcal DNases; Hoie S et al.; When small amounts of DNase produced by Staphylococcus aureus, S . intermedius or S . hyicus were added to Toluidine Blue DNA Agar (TDA), a medium for demonstration of staphylococcal antiDNases was produced . By applying this medium in microtitre plates, a test system for titration of staphylococcal antibodies in serum samples was developed . A colour change from blue to pink could be observed when the DNase was allowed to act, i.e . when no staphylococcal antiDNases were present in the samples . When serum with neutralizing antibodies were applied, no colour change developed . An end-point could easily be demonstrated in dilutions of the serum . A description of the method, including certain of its limitations is given.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(4), 254 - 8
Relevance of protein binding to cephalosporin antimicrobial activity in vivo; Mays B et al.; Protein binding, serum kinetics and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for Staphylococcus aureus were determined for cefoxitin, cefazolin, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone in the rabbit . MICs of cefazolin and cefoxitin were also measured for Escherichia coli . Varying concentrations of the bacteria were administered intradermally to create areas of cellulitis, which were quantified as mean erythematous areas (EAs) . Despite large differences in protein binding of the antibiotics (range 12-88%) and antibiotic dosing to allow serum concentrations to drop below the respective MICs, there was no statistical difference in the mean EAs of the animals after bacterial challenge . Antibiotic protein binding did not alter the course of cellulitis nor correlate with bacterial MIC in this model.

Proc Chin Acad Med Sci Peking Union Med Coll, 1990, 5(2), 69 - 74
Establishment of a human B cell line that responds specifically to B cell growth factor; Zhu LP et al.; A human B cell line (3D5) that responds specifically to B cell growth factor (BCGF) has been developed by a sequence of Staphylococcus aureus Cowen I activation, EB virus immortalization, and cloning . Proliferative response to PHA-stimulated T cell supernatant (PHA-T-Sup) and nonresponsiveness to rIL-2 stimulation were factors used to screen positive cells . Phenotype analysis with a flow cytometer indicated that: 1) 3D5 is a B cell line: 100% of the cells were positive for B1 marker and 59% were positive for sIg, while T3 and Mo 1 were negative; 2) 3D5 is an activated B cell line: both Tac and 4F2 markers of activated (but not of resting) B cells were 100% positive; 3) 3D5 expresses high molecular weight BCGF (HMW-BCGF) receptor-associated epitope BA5 . 3D5 cells proliferated in response to cpBCGF stimulation in a dose-dependent manner . HMW-BCGF also induced 3D5 cells to proliferate . Interestingly, no proliferation could be detected in the presence of rIL-2, rIL-4, or rIFN-r . The data show that 3D5 cells are specifically BCGF-responsive B cells . Using 3D5 cells as target, BCGF activity was detected in crude BCGF preparation sedimented by 85% (NH4)2SO4 and chromatographed in a DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column from PHA-T-Sup . T24 cell supernatant with B cell differentiation factor (BCDF) activity could not induce 3D5 cells to differentiate into immunoglobulin-secreting cells.

Nephron, 1990, 56(2), 212 - 3
Sternoclavicular joint infection in hemodialysis patients; Renoult E et al.; Infection of the sternoclavicular joint due to Staphylococcus aureus occurred in 2 hemodialysis patients . Good results were achieved in both cases by applying appropriate antibiotic therapy . Sternoclavicular joint sepsis is rare . However, it is often associated with underlying conditions, and hemodialysis must be recalled as one of the possible predisposing factors.

Pediatr Pathol, 1990, 10(5), 825 - 8
Pneumomyocardium: an unusual complication of barotrauma; Lee DR et al.; We report a 22-day-old infant who developed Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia with abscesses, pneumatoceles, and sepsis at 10 days of life . Mechanical ventilation was complicated by pneumothorax . At autopsy, a collection of air was found in the interventricular septum of the heart, a lesion we have termed pneumomyocardium . No hemorrhage, inflammatory infiltrate, organisms, or necrotic debris was found on the edge of the area of interstitial emphysema in the heart . We believe that the pneumomyocardium arose as a consequence of barotrauma.

Neoplasma, 1990, 37(5), 573 - 8
Treatment of murine EL4 leukemia in ascitic form with anti-Thy 1.2 specific immunotoxins; Marches R et al.; C57BL/6 mice with EL4 leukemia cells in ascitic form were intraperitoneally treated with ricin A chain-multivalent antibody immunotoxins . The immunotoxins containing rabbit IgG anti-Thy 1.2 antibodies complemented by protein A of Staphylococcus aureus were able to interact specifically with the target cells and to induce an antitumor effect as revealed by an increase in survival time of the mice . No apparent secondary effects consecutive to a cytotoxic action on the normal Thy 1.2 antigen bearing cells were observed with the immunotoxin doses used.

Henry Ford Hosp Med J, 1990, 38(1), 16 - 20
Management of chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis of the temporal bone: the use of hyperbaric oxygen; Schweitzer VG; Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is an effective adjunct in the management of selected otolaryngologic problems including radiation-induced necrosis of the temporal bone, malignant external otitis, mandibular osteoradionecrosis and refractory osteomyelitis, soft tissue head and necrotizing fasciitis, compromised skin flaps and grafts, acute air or gas embolism, and otologic barotrauma . We describe the management of a patient with insidious Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis of the temporal bone by the use of HBO preoperatively and postoperatively in conjunction with surgical debridement . The possible application of angiogenic agents and tetracycline bone-labeling in combination with HBO therapy in the management of refractory neurotologic disease is discussed.

Z Rechtsmed, 1990, 103(7), 547 - 54
Fatal complications of intramuscular and intra-articular injections; Kortelainen ML et al.; Four fatalities related to intramuscular and intra-articular injections are reported . In two of these cases a Staphylococcus aureus sepsis developed, as a consequence of injections into the left hip joint in one and in the lateral upper quadrant of the gluteal region in the other . The intra-articular injection of triamcinolone produced severe pain, but no marked signs of purulent arthritis were seen at autopsy, probably because of the anti-inflammatory effect of the corticosteroid . A cutaneous infection was seen in the gluteal region of the other patient, but no apparent abscess formation . In another case of intra-articular injection, purulent knee joint arthritis developed after an injection of glucosaminoglycan . The patient died of renal insufficiency, which was probably connected with the treatment of the arthritis with tobramycin and cefuroxim . The fourth case was that of a mentally ill patient who suffered sudden cardiac arrest after an intramuscular injection of chlorpromazine, but with no apparent signs of an anaphylactic reaction . It is suggested that vasodilatation and drop in blood pressure caused by the chlorpromazine could have had some effect, while cardiotoxicity of other psychotropic drugs with which he had been treated cannot be ruled out.

Oncogene Res, 1990, 5(4), 277 - 85
Cloning, sequencing, and expression of mouse c-ets-1 cDNA in baculovirus expression system; Chen JH; The protooncogene c-ets-1 is preferentially expressed in lymphoid cells . The protein product of this gene has been found to be a phosphorylated nuclear protein . When lymphocytes are stimulated with calcium ionophore, hyperphosphorylation of c-ets-1 occurs . In order to study the biological and biochemical functions of the c-ets-1 protein in detail, it is important to prepare adequate quantity of the c-ets-1 protein . To this end, we have cloned, sequenced, and expressed mouse c-ets-1 cDNA in baculovirus expression vector . Sequence analysis indicated that mouse c-ets-1 cDNA codes for a 50/51-kd protein . Since the mouse c-ets-1 protein in mouse lymphocytes is a 60/62-kd protein, the result obtained indicated that the c-ets-1 protein undergoes posttranslational modification by phosphorylation . When the c-ets-1 cDNA was expressed in the baculovirus expression vector, insect cells infected with a recombinant virus synthesizes a protein of the same size but with 50-100 times more of the c-ets-1 protein than that of mouse lymphocytes . The Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease mapping analysis of mouse c-ets-1 proteins synthesized in mouse and insect cells showed that they are identical . Thus, the c-ets-1 protein synthesized in insect cells will allow us to purify and study the functions of the c-ets-1 protein in detail.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1990, 22(3), 249 - 57
Spinal epidural abscesses in adults: review and report of iatrogenic cases; Ericsson M et al.; A retrospective review of the medical records of adults with diagnosed spinal epidural abscess (SEA) admitted to the Departments of Neurosurgery and Infectious Diseases at the University Hospital of Umea, Sweden, during a 10-year-period (1978-1987) is presented . 10 patients were diagnosed as having SEA during the study period . An iatrogenic origin was suspected in 5 . Spondylitis was the most common source of infection . Bacteriological aetiology was confirmed in 8 cases and Staphylococcus aureus was the most common aetiological agent . Trauma and degenerative diseases of the spine, were underlying conditions in 6 cases . Laminectomy was performed in 7 cases . 5/6 patients operated within 48 h after onset of neurological symptoms improved . The remaining case with therapy resistant tuberculous spondylitis died . One patient with surgery after 96 h became paretic . 2/3 conservatively treated patients had a successful outcome while the third patient had a permanent paraparesis due to missed diagnosis . Early diagnosis and early laminectomy are still the most important prognostic factors . Recommended initial antibiotic therapy is the combination of a cephalosporin with extended spectrum and metronidazole.

Mikrobiol Zh, 1990 Jan-Feb, 52(1), 48 - 52
{A comparative study of the IgG-binding components of the membrane in different strains of Staphylococcus aureus using the indirect hemagglutination reaction and an immunofluorescence method}; Ovcharova EN et al.; A comparative estimation of IgG-binding activity of 85 S . aureus clinical strains was carried out by the method of indirect hemagglutination reaction . The S . aureus strain selected as a result of screening was found to exceed by more than an order the Cowan I strain obtained from the L . A . Tarasevich State Institute of Standards and Control of the Medical Biological Drugs in the IgG-binding activity . It was established that the ratio of two types of IgG-binding sites located on the S . aureus surface, varied depending on the strain, composition and quality (liquid or solid) of the culture medium.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1990 Jan-Feb, 26(1), 93 - 100
{The effect of bacteriolytic preparation lysoamidase on Staphylococcus aureus 209P cells}; Abramochkin GV et al.; The effect of the bacteriolytic preparation "Lysoamidase" on Staphylococcus aureus 299 P was studied . The maximum activity of the preparation was observed at pH 8.0 ionic strength 0.01-0.02 M and 50-60 degrees of the incubation medium . The electron microscopic examination revealed that "Lysoamidase" hydrolyzed the cell wall in one or several points with the following osmotic shock and extrusion of the cytoplasm . In an isotonic solution (1 M sucrose) "Lysoamidase" caused protoplast formation.

Indian J Med Res, 1990 Jan, 91, 18 - 20
Effects of plumbagin on antibiotic resistance in bacteria; Durga R et al.; Plumbagin, a compound derived from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica (Chitramool) was studied for its effect on the development of antibiotic resistance using antibiotic sensitive strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . A delayed growth was seen when these organisms were inoculated into the antibiotic (streptomycin/rifampicin) medium, due to development of resistance in some of the cells . However, the growth was completely prevented when the bacteria were grown in the medium containing antibiotic and plumbagin together, and this was attributed to prevention of development of antibiotic resistant cells.

Minerva Chir, 1990 Jan, 45(1-2), 19 - 27
{Infectious endocarditis . Role of surgical therapy}; Glieca F et al.; The problem of infectious endocarditis (IE) is approached through a review of personal experience . The series examined consists of patients, 17 with active and 21 dormant infection . Furthermore 12 in the first group, 18 in the second had natural heart valves, while 5 in group I, 3 in group II had been given artificial ones . After an analysis of the aetiopathogenic, clinical and diagnostic aspects of the condition with emphasis on the fact that Staphylococcus aureus is currently more responsible for infections in natural valves and the epidermidis for acute prosthesis infections which have a higher early and late mortality rate (40% in hospital, 33.3% long-term), the paper discusses the criteria for surgical intervention . In line with opinions expressed in the literature, it is pointed out that, while the patient's haemodynamic status is certainly the main criterion for any decision, other factors such as embolism, impaired conduction, kidney failure and expansion of the infection to contiguous tissues, should not be under-estimated.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1990, 179(1), 25 - 30
Screening media for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from non-sterile body sites; Flournoy DJ et al.; Four hundred and forty clinical isolates were tested on Baird-Parker and Vogel-Johnson agars with 6 micrograms/ml of oxacillin, to determine their growth characteristics on these potential screening media for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) . While both media performed well individually, a combination biplate with each medium may be the most useful in screening patients for MRSA from normally non-sterile sites.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1990, 22(1), 25 - 30
Normal leukocyte counts in Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia; al Awar B et al.; Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia is still a serious disease with a high mortality . The absence of leukocytosis in serious bacterial infections is generally considered as an unfavourable prognostic sign . The leukocyte pattern in 75 patients with S . aureus septicaemia was reviewed retrospectively . In the 66 patients where leukocyte determinations were done within 2 days of positive blood culture, 21 presented without leukocytosis which contrasts to only 1/35 patients with Escherichia coli septicaemia studied as controls (p less than 0.001) . During follow up of S . aureus septicaemia only 5 of the patients developed leukocytosis greater than 10 x 10(9)/l and 2 leukopenia . There was no significant difference in mortality in patients without initial leukocytosis (14%) compared to patients with initial leukocytosis (24%) . Except for septic arthritis, which was associated significantly more often with leukocytosis, complications were found with about the same frequency in both groups . Thus absence of leukocytosis seems not be an unfavourable prognostic sign in S . aureus septicaemia.

Br J Plast Surg, 1990 Jan, 43(1), 88 - 93
A silicone gel sheet dressing containing an antimicrobial agent for split thickness donor site wounds; Sawada Y et al.; Treatment of a split thickness donor site wound in 20 patients by means of a silicone gel sheet containing Ofloxacin, an antimicrobial agent, has been tested . For a comparison, each wound was divided into two parts, one for the silicone gel treatment and the other with a collagen sheet (10 cases) or an ointment-impregnated gauze (10 cases) . Although Staphylococcus aureus was detected in three wounds treated with the collagen sheet, no wound treated with the silicone gel developed an infection even though the infected wound was adjacent . Results have shown that prompt epithelialisation occurred in the silicone gel-covered wounds, with little exudate and pain compared to wounds treated with either of the dressings . Although some wounds treated with the silicone gel tended to exhibit a slightly prolonged redness compared to wounds treated with an ointment-impregnated gauze, no subsequent cosmetic problem resulted.

Pediatrie, 1990, 45(9), 611 - 7
{Osteoarticular infections in newborn infants}; Francois P et al.; The authors report 13 cases of osteoarticular infection observed during the first month of life . The origin was iatrogenic in 7 cases . The diagnosis was based on local inflammatory signs and standard X-ray . The joints most often affected were the hip (8 out of 19 localizations) and the ankle (5/19) . The causative bacteria was mostly isolated from blood culture (10/13 cases) and was staphylococcus aureus in 11 cases . Treatment included prolonged antibiotic-therapy for 1-4 months, plus evacuation by joint punctures and immobilization of the affected limb with a plaster or traction . Functional sequellae were observed in 3 children and essentially concerned the hip.

Vox Sang, 1990, 59 Suppl 1, 38 - 43
Lymphocyte proliferation in AIDS-related complex/Walter-Reed 5 patients: response to herpes simplex virus and tuberculin antigen and mitogen during intravenous immunoglobulin treatment . The ARC-IVIG Study Group; Krickeberg H et al.; In a randomized, controlled double-blind study, 15 patients with AIDS-related complex/Walter-Reed 5 (ARC/WR5) were compared during 6 months intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment (0.4 g/kg body weight every 2 weeks) with 15 placebo-treated patients . This study was aimed at the lymphocyte response to T and B cell mitogens and antigens . 3H-thymidine uptake was determined after stimulation with the unspecific mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), formalinized Staphylococcus aureus-Cowan I (SAC), and with the antigens tuberculin and herpes simplex virus (HSV) at the onset, on days 85, 183, 267 and 351; IgG and IgM antibodies against HSV were measured by ELISA . In addition, 30 untreated HIV-negative controls were tested . For the T cell mitogen PHA, T-cell-dependent B cell mitogen PWM and B cell mitogen SAC, no differences between the two patient groups were observed before therapy nor in the course of therapy or the 6-month observation period thereafter . The entire patient group showed significantly impaired mitogenic response on day 1 as compared to the controls . There was no significant difference in response to tuberculin between the patients and HIV-negative controls, nor for both patients groups before and in the course of treatment . All patients had IgG antibodies against HSV . Three of them showed blastogenic lymphocyte response to HSV on day 1 . Among 19 seropositive controls, 7 individuals showed positive HSV lymphocyte response; but for both patient groups, there was no significant difference before and in the course of the treatment and observation period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Med Vet Mycol, 1990, 28(2), 173 - 81
Killing of Coccidioides immitis by hypochlorous acid or monochloramine; Galgiani JN; To identify possible explanations for the resistance of Coccidioides immitis to killing by human neutrophils, its susceptibility to typical oxidants generated during the neutrophil respiratory burst was compared to the sensitivity of other microbes . When microbial suspensions were exposed to hypochlorous acid, arthroconidia or spherules of C . immitis were killed more slowly than yeast cells of Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata or Staphylococcus aureus . In contrast, exposure to the more lipophilic oxidant, monochloramine, produced equivalent rates of killing for spherules and yeast cells of C . glabrata, and arthroconidia were killed more rapidly . When larger microbial concentrations were used, significantly greater concentrations of hypochlorous acid were required to kill equivalent percentages of spherules as compared to yeast cells of C . glabrata . Mixing studies with either whole spherules or extracts of spherules demonstrated that these substances could also block hypochlorous acid killing of S . aureus . These studies suggest possible mechanisms whereby C . immitis might resist oxidative phagocytic killing.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Jan, 25(1), 73 - 81
Induction of beta-lactamase and methicillin resistance in unusual strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Boyce JM et al.; Two unusual, heterogeneously-resistant, strains of Staphylococcus aureus appeared resistant to oxacillin, but susceptible to methicillin by disc diffusion methods . In agar dilution tests, both strains were oxacillin-resistant . One was susceptible to methicillin, and the other gave a paradoxical reaction, with growth only on plates containing low (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/l) and high (32 and 64 mg/l) concentrations of antibiotic . Induction of methicillin resistance was tested by inoculating each strain on to agar plates containing an inhibitory concentration of methicillin (8 mg/l), and then placing discs containing inducers (oxacillin, nafcillin, methicillin and CBAP {2-(2'-carboxyphenyl) benzoyl-6-aminopenicillanic acid}) on the agar surface . Colonies grew only around discs containing effective inducers . Oxacillin and CBAP were much more potent inducers of methicillin resistance and beta-lactamase than was nafcillin or methicillin . These data suggest that the mechanism that regulates induction of the low-affinity penicillin binding protein (PBP-2') may be altered in these strains . Similar mechanisms appear to induce both beta-lactamase and methicillin resistance.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(2), 136 - 40
In vitro activity of daptomycin against 297 staphylococcal isolates; Digranes A et al.; The in vitro activity of daptomycin against 297 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and S . epidermidis sensu strictu was compared with the activities of cephalothin, dicloxacillin, tobramycin, and vancomycin . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by an agar dilution method . Cephalothin and dicloxacillin showed the highest activity against S . aureus on a weight-for-weight basis, all isolates being inhibited by 0.5 mg/l or less of either agent . Cephalothin was somewhat more active against S . epidermidis than was dicloxacillin . Daptomycin and vancomycin exhibited high and similar activity against both S . aureus and S . epidermidis (MIC90% = 1 and 2 mg/l, respectively) . Tobramycin was highly active against S . aureus, but the activity against S . epidermidis was greatly variable (MIC range less than or equal to 0.03 - greater than or equal to 16 mg/l) . The activity of daptomycin was markedly influenced by the test medium; the MICs were generally 32 times higher when the isolates were tested on Iso-Sensitest agar than on Mueller-Hinton agar . Supplementation of Iso-Sensitest agar with increasing concentrations of calcium potentiated the activity of daptomycin substantially, the results obtained on Iso-Sensitest agar supplemented with 20 mg Ca2+/l being similar to those obtained on Mueller-Hinton agar.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Jan, 28(1), 97 - 102
Diversity and stability of restriction enzyme profiles of plasmid DNA from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Zuccarelli AJ et al.; Nosocomial infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a significant epidemiological problem . Detecting the sources of epidemic strains and preventing their access to patients, however, depend upon the availability of techniques to reliably distinguish among MRSA strains . We evaluated restriction enzyme analysis of plasmid DNA for use as an epidemiological marker of MRSA strains . The diversity of plasmid types was assessed by examining 120 clinical and environmental MRSA isolates from five southern California hospitals and from the American Type Culture Collection . Thirty-seven distinctive EcoRI digestion patterns were observed . We characterized each strain by the number of plasmids it contained and the sizes of the fragments that were generated by EcoRI . Very few of the isolates (4.2%) lacked plasmids, and some (6.7%) contained DNA that was not digested by EcoRI . Several isolates (12.5%) contained two or more plasmids . We were able to assess the stability of MRSA plasmid types by tracking epidemic strains over a 2-year period . We also examined successive isolates from 10 individual patients during their hospitalization . In all but one case, the patient's plasmid profiles remained unchanged . We conclude that the diversity and stability of MRSA plasmid types make them excellent epidemiological markers . In support of this conclusion, we found that our data provided significant epidemiological insights . Two epidemic strains, accounting for more than half of the infections, were identified in the five hospitals . The remaining cases were sporadic, caused by MRSA strains that appeared very infrequently and that may have originated from sources outside the hospitals.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1990, 92(4), 334 - 42
Cytokine control of peripheral-blood CD23 expression and sCD23 release: differential regulation by IL-2 and IL-4; Fischer A et al.; CD23 expression on peripheral-blood lymphocytes (PBL) was studied under the influence of cytokines . It is shown that IL-2 induced CD23 expression on human peripheral-blood B cells . Evidence is presented that the IL-2 induced CD23 expression and release of soluble CD23 (sCD23) are not mediated by IL-4 . In comparison to IL-4, the IL-2-induced CD23 expression and sCD23 release revealed kinetic differences and were not inhibited by anti-IL-4 . The prestimulation of PBL with Staphylococcus aureus strains Cowan 1 (SAC) led to a pronounced reduction in basal CD23 expression and to a change in the response of cytokines . Subsequent stimulation with IL-4 induced CD23 to the same extent as on unstimulated cells, whereas the IL-2-induced CD23 expression and sCD23 release were greatly reduced . Interferon gamma showed no effects on the IL-4-stimulated CD23 expression of SAC-PBL, whereas the IL-2-induced CD23 expression was suppressed . Furthermore, we demonstrate that the stimulation with IL-2/IL-4 inhibits the effects of the individual cytokine; this inhibition is also seen for immunoglobulin (E, G, M) synthesis.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1990, 22(6), 717 - 23
Influence of cytostatic treatment on the efficacy of erythromycin and roxithromycin in a staphylococcal infection in mice; Calame W et al.; Mice made monocytopenic with etoposide or both granulocytopenic and monocytopenic with cyclophosphamide were infected in a thigh muscle with 3 x 10(6) CFU of Staphylococcus aureus; 1 h later erythromycin or roxithromycin was administered, and 4 h after that the number of CFU per thigh was determined . In vitro as well as in vivo, the maximal effect of both antibiotics was only bacteriostatic . Monocytopenia did not diminish the efficacy of either erythromycin or roxithromycin in vivo, whereas the combination of granulocytopenia and monocytopenia markedly decreased the efficacy of both drugs: a 4-fold dose increase was necessary to obtain the same final number of CFU at the site of infection as in the controls . It is concluded that granulocytes contributed substantially to antibiotic efficacy against S . aureus in this short-term infection model.

Neurosurg Rev, 1990, 13(4), 285 - 8
Epidural spinal abscesses; Dei-Anang K et al.; Fifteen cases of peridural empyemas are reported . 12 patients reported with motor dysfunction of the lower extremities and pain radiating from the spine . In one case, localized pain of the spine was discovered and in two cases there were no signs of spinal or radiating pain . Treatment in all cases was laminectomy and systemic antibiotic administration . Microbiological analysis showed staphylococcus aureus in 11 cases . 9 patients recovered with no neurological defects, two had major improvement of the paresis, and one died . Three patients with paraplegia recovered from the primary infection.

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg, 1990, 4(3), 142 - 6
Pretreatment of prosthetic valve sewing-ring with the antibiotic/fibrin sealant compound as a prophylactic tool against prosthetic valve endocarditis; Karck M et al.; Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) remains a dreaded complication following heart valve replacement despite perioperative antibiotic (AB) prophylaxis . In order to increase the AB concentration in the sewing ring, an experimental study including topical application of the gentamicin derivative EMD 46/217 and fibrin sealant (F) as AB-carrier was initiated . In vitro pretreatment of Dacron with the gentamicin derivative and F was followed by constant AB release for 3 weeks . In a subsequent animal study, four Dacron rings with different pretreatment were implanted in the descending aorta of 10 pigs after direct contamination with 10(8) Staphylococcus aureus solution . One ring was pretreated with the AB/F compound, a second ring with the AB alone . Ring 3 (no pretreatment) and ring 4 (F alone) served as controls . After 1 week, the sewing rings and their corresponding implantation sites were assayed for measurement of AB-content and for culture . The AB content of AB/F-rings was 24.99 +/- 7.16 micrograms/g wet weight, while rings pretreated with the AB alone contained no measurable drug amounts with the exception of one specimen (0.5 microgram/g) (AB/F vs . AB-rings: P less than 0.0005) . The corresponding implantation sites to AB/F rings contained 1.07 +/- 0.54 micrograms/g AB, whereas in only 2 of 10 implantation sites of AB rings, low AB levels were found (0.05 and 0.2 micrograms/g) (AB/F vs . AB ring implantation sites: P less than 0.0005) . While all control rings and 9 of 10 AB rings were infected, 5 of 10 AB/F rings remained sterile after culture (AB/F vs . AB rings: P = 0.05) . This finding correlated with the AB content in the suture rings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Z Versuchstierkd, 1990, 33(1), 57 - 61
Staphylococcus aureus phage types in barrier-maintained colonies of SPF mice and rats; Wullenweber M et al.; From 1985 to 1987 within the framework of our health monitoring programme, the occurrence of S . aureus in our rodent colonies and their caretakers have been surveyed . To obtain further information on S . aureus subtypes, isolates were subjected to phage typing using the international set of bacteriophages . Strains derived from pathological processes but also randomly chosen isolates from healthy animal carriers and the personnel underwent lysotyping . With respect to the animals every hygienic unit harbours its characteristic S . aureus lysotype(s) . Among these, usually one pattern dominates in pathological processes and healthy carriers, although the spectrum of phage types distributed among the caretakers shows a much greater variation and some of the attendants are suspected to be not only transient carriers . A comparison with an earlier investigation done in our institute about a decade ago (Lenz et al . 1978) shows the prevalence of completely different phage types.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Jan, 25(1), 69 - 72
In-vitro selection of resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to teicoplanin and vancomycin; Watanakunakorn C; Nineteen strains of Staphylococcus aureus (five penicillin-susceptible and methicillin-susceptible, four methicillin-susceptible and penicillin-resistant, and ten methicillin-resistant) were serially subcultured in broth media containing a subinhibitory concentration (half the MIC) of either teicoplanin or vancomycin . The MIC of the antibiotic was again measured after five passages in antibiotic-containing broth . The experiment was terminated after 25 passages . After passage fifteen strains exhibited an eight-fold or greater increase in MIC of teicoplanin . On the other hand, only two strains exhibited even an unstable four-fold increase in MIC of vancomycin.

Rev Infect Dis, 1990 Jan-Feb, 12(1), 125 - 7
Immune complex glomerulonephritis associated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: response to corticosteroid therapy; McKinsey DS et al.; Immune complex glomerulonephritis developed in a patient with high-grade Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia . Renal function declined steadily despite treatment with a prolonged course of bactericidal antimicrobial agents and apparent cure of the staphylococcal infection . Following initiation of corticosteroid therapy, renal function improved dramatically . Judicious use of corticosteroids should be considered in patients with persistent renal dysfunction secondary to infection-associated immune complex glomerulonephritis.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1990 Jan-Dec, 83(1-12), 84 - 7
{Protection of an oral vaccine against experimental infection of mice and its role combined with the administration of penicillin}; Gismondo MR et al.; The AA . studied the immunologic profile of an oral vaccine to prevent the experimental infection in mice and its effect when it was administered with antibiotic . The mice were infected with Staphylococcus aureus and protected by the vaccine administration . Our results confirmed the higher survival in the group that used this combination . The observed mortality was lower in group of mice treated with vaccine and penicillin combination, than in the untreated group.

Biomed Sci, 1990 Jan, 1(1), 33 - 6
Fatty acylation of proteins for translocation across cell membranes; Kabanov AV et al.; An effective method for the artificial attachment of lipid anchors to water-soluble proteins has been developed . Protein molecules are modified by a water-insoluble reagent, e.g . fatty acid chloride, in a reversed-micelle system . The resulting fatty acylated proteins are able to translocate across lipid membranes and penetrate intact cells . This makes possible the transport of modified antiviral antibodies across the haemato-encephalic barrier into the brain and hence virus suppression in infected cells . The effect is illustrated by the marked (hundredfold) increase in biological activity of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A after fatty acylation . These phenomena are discussed in relation to in vivo data indicating that the posttranslational modification of proteins by fatty acids and phospholipids is very common in nature, and that the lipid modification of proteins may be a step in protein transport in vivo.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1990, 16(8), 397 - 402
Nasal carriage of MRSA: the role of mupirocin and outlook for resistance; Hill RL et al.; Since the first attempts (1) to eradicate nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus with local applications of penicillin, many other topical and systemic antimicrobial agents have been tested, all with limited success . More recently, mupirocin has been much more successful and, in a controlled trial, nasal carriage of S . aureus was eliminated in all subjects and when re-colonisation eventually took place, only 29% had relapsed with their pre-treatment strain . During an MRSA outbreak at a London hospital, standard infection control measures failed to prevent colonisation and infection of more than two hundred patients, but the use of mupirocin was associated with epidemiological control . Of forty patients and thirty-two staff studied, 98.6% of staff and 90.1% of patient-weeks were free of nasal MRSA after treatment . Although resistance to at least 40 mg/l of mupirocin can be produced in vitro and resistant S . aureus have been isolated from patients undergoing prolonged skin treatment with mupirocin, there has been no evidence for the emergence of mupirocin resistance as a mechanism for the relapse of nasal carriage.

Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(9), 723 - 35
Characterization of plasmids that confer inducible resistance to 14-membered macrolides and streptogramin type B antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus; Janosi L et al.; During a period from 1978 to 1989, 413 Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated at 27 different geographical regions in Hungary; they exhibited an inducible resistance to the 14-membered macrolides and streptogramin type B antibiotics, but not to the 16-membered macrolides and lincosamides: this resistance is referred to as PMS resistance phenotype . The isolates were mostly associated with patients suffering from staphylococcal diseases and with hygienic screenings in hospitals and closed communities . They were rarely isolated from food-poisoning cases, food hygienic screenings, or animal sources . Strains with PMS resistance phenotype were resistant to penicillin (99.0%), tetracycline (78.7%), and chloramphenicol (63.0%); however, they were susceptible to oxacillin . Most of them (94.2%) belonged to the phage type 52-complex . The determinant for PMS phenotype was located on plasmids, which also encoded beta-lactamase production and cadmium ion resistance, but not arsenate resistance . Three types of plasmid with molecular size of 50 kilobases (kb), 23.8 kb, and 16.8 kb, were found among the strains with PMS resistance phenotype, and the 50 kb and 23.8 kb plasmids also encoded mercury resistance . The 16.8 kb and 23.8 kb plasmids belonged to incompatibility group 1.

Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(8), 643 - 52
Localization of a determinant mediating partial macrolide resistance in Staphylococcus aureus; Matsuoka M et al.; Four out of more than 8,200 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in Japan between 1961 and 1980 were constitutively resistant to a variety of macrolide antibiotics except tylosin and rokitamycin, but susceptible to lincosamide and streptogramin type B antibiotics (PM) . The data obtained by agarose gel electrophoresis, CsCl-ethidium bromide density gradient analysis, diagnosis with ATP-dependent deoxyribonuclease, and a test transducing into a rec- mutant with phage 80L2 propagated on PM-resistant S . aureus all suggested that the determinant for the PM-resistance is located in chromosome.

Toxicon, 1990, 28(6), 675 - 83
Activity requirements of epidermolytic toxin from Staphylococcus aureus studied by an in vitro assay; Smith TP et al.; The activity of epidermolytic toxin from Staphylococcus aureus was studied in vitro using discs of neonatal mouse skin . By assessing the loss of skin integrity as a function of toxin dose and time, it was possible to put the assay on a semi-quantitative basis . Epidermolysis occurred without any change in rate from pH 3.8 to 8.7, and at an increasing rate in the temperature range of 0-37 degrees C . Activity was observed even at the lowest temperature . More than 30 inhibitors of energy metabolism, central metabolic pathways, receptor binding or proteolysis, individually failed to prevent epidermolysis and it is suggested that intoxication cannot be dependent on receptor-mediated endocytosis . Five metal-ion chelators inhibited epidermolysis, due to an effect on the tissue rather than on the toxin . Using X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, it was shown that epidermolytic toxins do not contain any essential metal ions . Some transition metals, but not Ca2+ or Mg2+, prevented the chelator-dependent inhibition of epidermolysis.

Lymphokine Res, 1990 Fall, 9(3), 345 - 54
Molecular cloning of the baboon interferon-gamma cDNA; Dijkmans R et al.; Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a cytokine produced by T lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells which has a key function in resistance against infections . Baboon (Papio anubis) IFN-gamma was produced by stimulation of baboon splenocytes with a lysate of Staphylococcus aureus . This interferon was active on human cells and could be seroneutralized with a polyclonal antiserum against human IFN-gamma, but not with antisera against human interferon-alpha and interferon-beta . Poly(A)(+)-RNA was isolated from baboon splenocytes and fractionated according to its sedimentation coefficient by sucrose density centrifugation . BaIFN-gamma mRNA was present in the 15 S fraction as was shown by hybridization with a human IFN-gamma cDNA probe . A cDNA library was constructed and a clone containing the complete BaIFN-gamma cDNA was isolated . The cDNA codes for a polypeptide of 165 amino acids of which the 23 N-terminal may serve as signal peptide . BaIFN-gamma differs at 11 residues from human IFN-gamma . Southern analysis of chromosomal DNA confirmed some of the nucleotide sequence differences between baboon and human IFN-gamma . The baboon IFN-gamma cDNA was placed under control of a trc promoter and brought to expression in Escherichia coli cells . Recombinant baboon IFN-gamma could be seroneutralized with certain monoclonal anti-human IFN-gamma antibodies . The presented work leads to the availability of recombinant baboon IFN-gamma for animal experiments but also yields new insight in the structure-function relationship of IFN-gamma.

Mol Immunol, 1990 Jan, 27(1), 87 - 94
The incidence of a new human cross-reactive idiotype linked to subgroup VHIII heavy chains; Crowley JJ et al.; Cross-reactive idiotypes (CRI) on human rheumatoid factors (RF), which are identified by murine monoclonal antibodies (mAb), have proved useful in defining both the incidence and the structural characteristics of these autoantibodies . In this study, a new murine anti-idiotypic reagent, mAb B6, has been used to identify and define the expression of a distinct heavy chain CRI . The B6 CRI was found on 20% of monoclonal IgM (16 of 81), but on only 5% of monoclonal IgA (1 of 20) and on no monoclonal IgG . In addition, this CRI was expressed exclusively on a subset of Ig derived from the VHIII protein variable region subgroup . In immunoblotting experiments, the mAb B6 bound directly to the heavy (H) chains of CRI positive proteins . The B6 CRI was found frequently on monoclonal IgM-RF molecules, and the mAb B6 could inhibit the binding of the RF to its IgG antigen . It was also demonstrated that Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SpA), which has recently been shown to bind to the F(ab) region of VHIII molecules, could block the interaction of some B6 CRI positive IgM to the anti-CRI . These experiments suggest that the B6 CRI is a marker for one or a few VHIII genes and that it is expressed commonly on IgM paraproteins, many of which have RF activity.

Infection, 1990 Jan-Feb, 18(1), 53 - 6
Clinical significance of Staphylococcus aureus in cystic fibrosis; Marks MI; Staphylococcus aureus is usually the first bacterial pathogen detected in the respiratory secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis . This review briefly examines the characteristics of this host-parasite relationship in terms of current knowledge about the toxicity of the organism, mechanisms of respiratory tract injury, therapy and prevention . Recent evidence indicates that viral infection plays a role in the initial damage of the respiratory epithelial cells and staphylococcal colonization ensues . Affinity of staphylococcus for cystic fibrosis mucus, mucociliary abnormalities and unknown factors contribute to persistent colonization with this organism causing progressive pulmonary damage and possibly influencing Pseudomonas infection . Most of the evidence today indicates that aggressive antibiotic management directed against S . aureus is warranted in all stages of bronchopulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis . Future efforts to prevent colonization and the toxic and immunopathic consequences of staphylococcal infection are also important . One study is in progress that examines antibiotic prevention in the early stages of cystic fibrosis . Future investigations need to address other strategies including vaccines, antitoxins, anti-inflammatory agents, immunomodulators, and antibiotic regimens.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1990 Jan, 11(1), 13 - 6
Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in a nursing home: eradication with mupirocin; Cederna JE et al.; Recent reports have emphasized an increase in both infection and colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in institutionalized older patients . We studied whether or not local treatment with mupirocin ointment could eliminate nasal colonization with S aureus . A total of 102 patients in a Veterans Administration nursing home were screened for S aureus nasal colonization . Thirty-nine patients (38.2%) were colonized, 18 with methicillin-sensitive Saureus (MSSA) and 21 with MRSA . Almost half of all colonized patients were in the most dependent functional category and there was a significant association of MRSA colonization, but not MSSA colonization, with poor functional status . Colonized patients were treated with mupirocin ointment applied to the anterior nares twice daily for seven days . After treatment, MSSA persisted in only two patients and MRSA in only one patient; thus, nasal colonization was eliminated in 91.4% of colonized patients . At one month and two months follow-up, 11 patients became transiently recolonized and three became persistently recolonized with S aureus . Mupirocin was well tolerated with no side effects noted . Mupirocin ointment may be useful in controlling nasal colonization with S aureus in the nursing home setting.

Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, 1990, 15(1), 41 - 50
Purification and characterization of an 85 kDa talin-binding fragment of vinculin; Groesch ME et al.; Vinculin and talin are adhesion plaque proteins which have been shown to interact with each other in vitro . In order to begin to investigate where the talin-binding domain is in vinculin, vinculin was digested with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease to generate two major fragments of 85 and 30 kDa, and these fragments were purified . Nitrocellulose overlays with 125I-talin and the 125I-85 kDa vinculin fragment and sucrose density gradient centrifugation demonstrated that the talin-binding domain was localized to the 85 kDa vinculin fragment . Quantification of 125I-talin binding in the overlays showed that four times more talin bound to the 85 kDa fragment as compared to intact vinculin . Competitive immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that unlabeled 85 kDa fragment was about three-fold more effective at competing for 125I-85 kDa binding to talin than was unlabeled vinculin . These results suggest that the 30 kDa fragment inhibits the vinculin-talin interaction even though the talin-binding domain is localized in the 85 kDa fragment.

Infect Immun, 1990 Jan, 58(1), 32 - 6
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide potentiates gamma interferon-induced cytotoxicity for normal mouse and rat fibroblasts; Dijkmans R et al.; Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) can be cytolytic for normal mouse fibroblasts isolated from embryonic or adult tissue (R . Dijkmas, B . Decock, H . Heremans, J . Van Damme, and A . Billiau, Lymphokine Res . 8:25-34, 1989) . This cytotoxicity has been shown to be transcription and translation dependent, thereby suggesting involvement of a suicidelike mechanism . The dose of IFN-gamma required for cytotoxicity is higher than that needed for antiviral and macrophage activation but can be reduced 10- to 100-fold by cotreatment of the cells with tumor necrosis factor or interleukin-1 (IL-1) or both, two cytokines that by themselves are not toxic for these cells . Here, we show that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which alone has no effect on the viability of mouse fibroblasts, stimulates cell suicide induced by IFN-gamma . The effect was observed in cultures that were virtually free of nonfibroblastoid cells . LPS showed its toxicity-enhancing effect only if applied on the cells simultaneously with or immediately after treatment with IFN-gamma . Pretreatment of the cells with LPS was ineffective . Inclusion of antibodies directed against tumor necrosis factor alpha or IL-1 alpha in the culture medium did not block the cytotoxic effect of combined IFN-gamma plus LPS treatment . The time courses of cell toxicity appearance in fibroblasts treated with combined IFN-gamma plus LPS or IFN-gamma plus IL-1 were similar . In addition to LPS, heat-killed gram-negative (Escherichia coli) but also gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes) bacteria were found to enhance IFN-gamma-induced cell death . These findings suggest that IFN-gamma formed in vivo during infectious processes directly aggravates tissue destruction.

Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 1990, 41(5-6), 263 - 8
{Changes in protein fractions of milk obtained from cows with mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus . Preliminary studies}; Kostyra E; The effect was studied of cow udder infection with S . aureus on changes of milk proteins . The tested milk was derived from two cows of the black-white lowland breed aged 5 years in the second stage of lactation . Proteins soluble and insoluble at pH 4.6 were characterized by means of starch-urea and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The solution of nitrogen compound reacting with ninhydrin and soluble at pH 4.6 was separated by gel filtration, thin-layer chromatography and high-voltage paper electrophoresis, thin-layer chromatography and high-voltage paper electrophoresis . In the milk of the infected cow degradation of alpha s, beta and kappa casein, and increased content of gamma immunoglobulin . In whey proteins a rise was observed of serum albumin content and a decrease of beta-lactoglobulin and alpha lactoalbumin . In the solution after precipitation of casein at pH 4.6 in the milk of the infected cow a greater number of fractions reacting with ninhydrin was found . The observed range of degradation changes in milk protein in the infected cow (S . aureus) suggests that it has a negative effect on the technological, nutritional and hygienic value of milk.

Acta Vet Hung, 1990, 38(1-2), 69 - 75
Electron microscopic study of the peritoneal macrophages of rats with chronic fascioliasis and the carcinogenic effect of diethylnitrosamine; Mizinska-Boevska Y et al.; The ultrastructure of peritoneal macrophages of rats with chronic fascioliasis and the carcinogenic effect of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) were studied . The phagocytic activity of macrophages on Staphylococcus aureus were examined in its dynamics (in the 1st, 5th and 24th h) . The ultrastructural changes of the macrophages were the most pronounced in animals injected eight times with DENA and the weakest in the group of animals infected twice with Fasciola hepatica . As to the phagocytic activity of the macrophages the following events were observed: attraction and adhesion of the bacterial cells to the surface of the macrophages, their inclusion in phagosomes; partial to full lysis of the bacteria; and formation of residual bodies . The phagocytosis was the most active in macrophages obtained from animals infected twice with Fasciola hepatica and the weakest in those from the DENA-treated animals.

Przegl Epidemiol, 1990, 44(4), 363 - 4
{Conservative treatment of multiple brain abscesses}; Garlicki A et al.; Non-surgical treatment of multiple cerebral abscesses in 67 old man was described . Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from cerebral spinal fluid . The patient was treated with antibiotics and metronidazole and was discharged in satisfactory state after 40 days.

Allerg Immunol (Leipz), 1990, 36(4), 367 - 73
{Staphylococcus aureus (STA), a B- and T-cell mitogen}; Mansfield HW et al.; Mitogenesis in peripheral blood lymphocyte and separated T and non-T cells cultures activated with formalin-fixed and heated staphylococcus aureus strain 520 (STA) was studied . The peak of DNA-synthesis in presence of STA is on day 7 . The maximum of proliferation was found for T cell on day 7 and for non-T cells on day 3 after stimulation with STA . We found a strong correlation between the expression of CD25 antigen and the 3H-thymidine incorporation . It is concluded that B and T cell proliferation can be studied without purifying the cells using the different proliferation kinetics in presence of STA.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 209 - 17
Intracellular pharmacokinetics and localization of antibiotics as predictors of their efficacy against intraphagocytic infections; Tulkens PM; To be effective against intracellular bacteria, antibiotics must not only reach and preferably be retained in the infected subcellular compartments, but also be able to express their activity therein . beta-lactams are most often ineffective because they fail to concentrate in phagocytes . Aminoglycosides are taken up at a very slow rate and localize almost exclusively in lysosomes where their activity is largely defeated by the acid pH . Lincosamides and macrolides accumulate rapidly by phagocytes, and distribute both in lysosomes and in cytosol . Yet, most surprisingly, macrolides are active, whereas lincosamides are not, or only weakly active against sensitive organisms . Fluoroquinolones are also accumulated by phagocytes, but are not associated with a specific organelle . They show good activity against most sensitive organisms . A model of Staphylococcus aureus-infected macrophages is presented to determine the intrinsic intracellular activity of antibiotics, i.e . to distinguish the influence of drug uptake from the other factors that modulate drug activity such as drug disposition and inactivation . This approach confirms the superiority of the fluoroquinolones as compared to presently available macrolides or to lincosamides . Thus, analysis of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior of antibiotics in appropriate models of infected cells may help in directing future research towards improved derivatives, and may rationalize their use in vivo.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 74, 113 - 7
Paradoxical effects of antibiotics; Holm SE et al.; The paradoxical effect of antibiotics is defined as a substantially reduced bacterial killing at antibiotic levels above the minimal bactericidal concentration in vitro . This phenomenon which was originally described for beta-lactam antibiotics in their reactions against Gram-positive bacteria has later been noted with aminoglycosides against Gram-negatives and other antibiotic-microorganism combinations, indicating a multifaceted background . The clinical significance of the paradoxical effect is unknown . However, the phenomenon can be demonstrated in vitro at levels easily achievable in clinical situations, as illustrated in our own experiments, where clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were tested for a paradoxical effect versus several penicillins . In most strains exhibiting a paradoxical effect, this effect occurred at concentrations as low as 10xMIC . The relationship between paradoxical effect and tolerance is discussed.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1990, 16(8), 377 - 83
Ramoplanin versus methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: in vitro experience; Brumfitt W et al.; The authors have investigated the activity of ramoplanin against 162 isolates of MRSA from some twenty-six countries around the world . MICs were determined by the plate dilution method in isosensitest agar with an inoculum of 10(6) cfu . MBCs were measured by replication, using velvet pads, from MIC plates after 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C . Time-kill curves were determined from viable counts of cultures in Isosensitest broth (inoculum ca . 5.0 x 10(6) cfu/ml) taken at intervals during shaking culture at 37 degrees C for up to 24 h . Ciprofloxacin, mupirocin, rifampicin, teicoplanin and vancomycin were used as comparison compounds . The following MIC90 (MBC90) values (mg/l) were obtained against a selection of 60 strains: ciprofloxacin 0.8 (1.8), mupirocin 0.27 (19.0), ramoplanin 0.5 (1.0), rifampicin 0.007 (0.01), teicoplanin 1.2 (greater than 32) and vancomycin 2.2 (greater than 32.0) . In time-kill experiments, ramoplanin at 20 mg/l and ciprofloxacin at 3.0 mg/l produced 99.9% killing in less than 4h . Mupirocin at 4.0 mg/l was only slowly bactericidal . No resistance was found to mupirocin, ramoplanin, teicoplanin or vancomycin in the 162 isolates tested, whereas ca . 20% resistance was found to ciprofloxacin and rifampicin . The absence of resistance, the high intrinsic activity and the rapid bactericidal effect of ramoplanin against this diverse group of MRSA are very encouraging, and suggest that clinical trials are indicated.

Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien), 1990, 51, 381 - 2
Perifocal brain oedema in experimental brain abscess in rats; Nakagawa Y et al.; An experimental cerebral abscess model in which staphylococcus aureus was inoculated into the brain parenchyma of rats was evaluated for perifocal brain oedema . Blood-brain barrier permeability was studied using various kinds of tracers; sodium fluorescein as a small molecule and Evans blue and HRP as macromolecular tracers . Brain abscess with clear delineation of fibrous capsule formation were found in all animals . Extravasation of tracers was demonstrated in the capsule (Evans blue), extracellular space (HRP) and white matter (sodium fluorescein) . There were two types of oedema formation, so called vasogenic oedema and cytotoxic brain oedema.

Acta Biochim Pol, 1990, 37(1), 121 - 4
Effect of Cd2+ on ATP synthesis coupled to electron transfer in cadmium-resistant and -sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; Tynecka Z et al.; In the Cd2(+)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 17810R which contains the plasmid-coded Cd2+ efflux system, accumulation of Cd2+ was highly reduced . Consequently, neither respiration nor ATP synthesis coupled to electron transfer were inhibited . The plasmidless S . aureus strain 17810S accumulated Cd2+ via the Mn2+ porter down the membrane potential (delta phi) which resulted in inhibition of respiration and of ATP synthesis.

Perit Dial Int, 1990, 10(2), 135 - 40
Peritoneal defence mechanisms and Staphylococcus aureus in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD); Davies SJ et al.; Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients due to S . aureus is associated with an adverse clinical outcome, suggesting impaired clearance of this organism by the host . The ability of peritoneal macrophages (PM0) derived from CAPD patients to take up S . aureus and mount a respiratory burst was investigated . Whilst significant activity was observed in the absence of opsonin, both parameters of phagocytosis were augmented by addition of 20% pooled human serum (PHS), complement-depleted PHS, and fibronectin . When used as sole opsonin, fibronectin resulted in a dose-related increase in chemiluminescent response by both blood neutrophils and PM0 . The opsonic activity of dialysis effluent, as judged by neutrophil chemiluminescence, correlated with IgG and fibronectin content, but not with complement as assessed by C3 levels . The addition of urokinase to dialysate improved its opsonic properties whilst having no effect on the activity of PHS-20%; this would suggest that the formation of fibrin in dialysate, promoted by S . aureus, interferes with phagocytosis . This and the low IgG, complement and fibronectin levels in dialysate may explain in part the relatively poor clearance of this organism from the peritoneum.

Perit Dial Int, 1990, 10(1), 31 - 5
Exit-site infection during continuous and cycling peritoneal dialysis in children; Levy M et al.; A 10-year retrospective review of pediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis showed that 50 of 83 had 132 episodes of exit-site infection (ESI) . Thirty-nine episodes were purulent . The most prevalent organism was Staphylococcus aureus . Staphylococcus epidermidis was also common, usually occurring in purulent infections . Gram-negative organisms were responsible for 23 ESIs, with Pseudomonas species being the most common . Age, sex, concomitant primary disease type, length of training, dressing techniques, quality of daily dialysis technique, use of diapers, and pyelostomies did not affect the incidence of ESI . However, 40% of children with a skin infection from other sites had associated peritoneal catheter ESI . Thirty-eight episodes of ESI in 28 patients resulted in peritonitis; the main organisms involved were Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas species . Catheters were replaced in 13 patients with peritonitis, but there was no difference in the incidence of ESI before and after catheter replacement.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1990, 16(5), 205 - 14
The worldwide problem of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Brumfitt W et al.; Strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to both methicillin and aminoglycosides (e.g . gentamicin) emerged during the late 1970s . They have now become established in hospitals throughout the world, and outbreaks of infection and colonization cause severe clinical and managerial problems . Therapeutic options are limited and clearance of the carrier state may be difficult . Much is known about the genetic and biochemical properties of the organisms but more work is necessary both to develop antibiotics active against these strains and to formulate effective measures for their control.

Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(10), 801 - 8
Isolation of a serologically different compact-colony-forming active substance from strains of Staphylococcus aureus; Yoshida K et al.; To observe the possible serological heterogeneity of compact-colony-forming active substance (CCFAS), heat-killed vaccines were prepared by two strains of Staphylococcus aureus, strains SMU 1-46 and SMU 7931, cultured in 0.03 M trishydrochloride-buffered brain heart infusion, pH 8.4 . After immunization with the vaccine in rabbits, antibody responses were observed during a period of six weeks after the immunization either by homologous and heterologous organisms using alkaline serum-soft agar technique . The results showed that remarkable antibody production was shown only against homologous strain, but not against heterologous strain . The antibodies were absorbed out only with highly purified preparation of CCFAS extracted from homologous strain and not with heterologous CCFAS . Differences of the major chemical composition of the substances showed that highly purified CCFAS extracted from strain SMU 7931 contained 2.84 and 2.04 times higher amounts of galactose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galacturonic acid than those of CCFAS obtained from strain SMU 1-46.

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990, 13(4), 209 - 16
Isolation of a plasmid from "canine" Staphylococcus epidermidis mediating constitutive resistance to macrolides and lincosamides; Schwarz S et al.; A small plasmid of 2.5 kB mediating constitutive resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-(ML)antibiotics could be detected in a "canine" Staphylococcus epidermidis-culture . This plasmid, designated as pSES 1, was identified by interspecies protoplast transformation into Staphylococcus aureus RN 4220 . A detailed restriction map of pSES 1 could be constructed using the restriction endonucleases Acc I, Bcl I, Cfo I, Cla I, Hind III, Hinf I, Mbo I, Sst I and Taq I . This map allowed structural comparisons of pSES 1 with plasmids from "human" Staphylococcus- and Bacillus-species, also mediating macrolide-lincosamide resistance (MLR) . On the basis of its restriction map, pSES 1 proved to be similar to the plasmids pNE 131 from "human" S . epidermidis, pE 194 from "human" S . aureus and pIM 13 from B . subtilis.

Br J Neurosurg, 1990, 4(6), 493 - 5
Post-operative infections of osteoplastic compared with free bone flaps; Rasmussen S et al.; A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the rate of infection in free and osteoplastic bone flaps after craniotomy . Two hundred and two craniotomies were performed in 98 cases of tumour, 35 cases of trauma and 69 cases of vascular disease . The overall incidence of infection was 6.4% (13 cases) . The infectious agents were Staphylococcus aureus in four cases; Pneumococcus and gram-positive rods each in one case . In seven cases no infectious agent was identified . In 127 cases with free bone flaps eight (6.3%) were infected, and in 75 cases with osteoplastic bone flaps five (6.7%) were infected . One of five (20%) osteoplastic and four of eight (50%) free bone flaps had to be removed in order to accomplish healing, suggesting that an osteoplastic bone flap may be preserved more often in cases of infection.

Adv Perit Dial, 1990, 6, 130 - 2
Staphylococcus aureus exit-site and tunnel infection in CAPD; Scalamogna A et al.; Fifty-six S . aureus episodes of catheter exit-site tunnel infections were diagnosed in 40 out of 163 patients treated by CAPD for 30 +/- 22 months, with standard double-cuff Tenckhoff catheters . The rate of infection was 1 episode every 29 patient/months . Local care and antibiotic therapy were effective in 52% of the cases . Whereas in 29 episodes in which the medical therapy failed to eradicate the infection the entire area of granulation tissue and cellulitis was excised then the outer dacron cuff was shaved from the silicone catheter . With this treatment 13 episodes (48%) were cured while, in the remaining 14 patients the catheters were removed because of peritonitis in 10; and for failure to eradicate the infection in 4.

Acta Biochim Pol, 1990, 37(1), 117 - 20
Energy donor-dependent effect of Cd2+ on {14C}glutamate transport in Staphylococcus aureus; Malm A et al.; In starved cells of Cd2(+)-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus 17810S preloaded with either glutamate or pyruvate, {14C}glutamate transport was blocked by 10 microM Cd2+, whereas in cells preloaded with lactate, {14C}glutamate transport was not affected . This differential effect of Cd2+ could be due to the presence or absence of dithiols in the substrate oxidizing systems . In starved cells of Cd2(+)-resistant strain 17810R preloaded with either of the three substrates, {14C}glutamate transport was insensitive to 10 microM Cd2+.

Infection, 1990 Jan-Feb, 18(1), 57 - 60
Staphylococcus aureus in patients with cystic fibrosis: an epidemiological analysis using a combination of traditional and molecular methods; Goering RV et al.; An epidemiological analysis of Staphylococcus aureus was conducted in a study group of 157 cystic fibrosis patients cultured over a 30-month period . The resulting S . aureus isolates were categorized by bacteriophage type, plasmid profile, and (in some instances) chromosomal restriction fragment pattern of the culture-positive patients with S . aureus (34 of 157) 44% only were sporadically infected while 68% shared identical strains with one or more other patients . Six patients exhibited persistent infection (for up to ten months) which, in three individuals, occurred as cycles of carriage and reappearance . By contributing toward our understanding of the persistence and spread of S . aureus in cystic fibrosis patients these data should aid in clarifying the role this organism may play in the course of the disease.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Jan, 15(1), 73 - 82
A laboratory assessment of the antimicrobial effectiveness of glove washing and re-use in dental practice; Bagg J et al.; This study has assessed the ability of five hand-washing agents, Hibisol, Hibiscrub, Betadine, 70% isopropyl alcohol and bar soap, to decontaminate the surfaces of Biogel D, Surgikos Microtouch and Ansell Gammex latex medical gloves after repeated inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus . The glove and hand-washing agents were compared in a Latin Square experiment, and a standardized handwashing regime followed . Each of the gloves used in the study was later tested electrically for micropuncture formation . On the basis of microbial recovery, no specific combination of glove and hand washing agent proved superior, the marker organism being isolated on a sporadic basis . In addition, 17% of the gloves showed evidence of micropunctures after five sequential inoculations and washings . These results suggest that, even under strictly controlled conditions, glove surfaces cannot be reliably and consistently cleaned of microbial contamination, nor can they be guaranteed to remain puncture-free . Ideally, therefore, a new pair of gloves should be worn for each patient.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1990 Jan, 87(1), 225 - 9
A single clone of Staphylococcus aureus causes the majority of cases of toxic shock syndrome; Musser JM et al.; Genetic relationships among 315 isolates of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus expressing toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) recovered primarily from humans with toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in five countries on two continents were determined by analyzing electrophoretically demonstrable allelic variation at 20 chromosomal enzyme loci . Forty-nine distinctive electrophoretic types (ETs), representing multilocus enzyme genotypes, were identified . Cluster analysis of the ETs revealed two major phylogenetic divisions separated at a genetic distance of 0.35 and seven branches diverging from one another at distances greater than or equal to 0.20 . A single clone (ET 41) accounted for 88% of cases of TSS with a female urogenital focus and 53% of TSS cases involving nonurogenital (predominantly wound) infections . With few exceptions, strains representing different phylogenetic lines had characteristic TSST-1 gene (tst) restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns obtained by digestion of genomic DNA with Cla I . Strains recovered from ovine and bovine hosts with mastitis were genotypically distinct from the major human TSS clone . The expression of TSST-1 in cell lineages representing the total breadth of multilocus genotypic diversity in the species S . aureus as a whole is interpreted as evidence that the TSST-1 gene is evolutionarily old . The recovery of a single clone from the majority of individuals afflicted with TSS having a urogenital focus and from the genital tract of a large proportion of asymptomatic female carriers strongly suggests that this clone is especially well adapted for colonization of these anatomic sites.

Acta Paediatr Hung, 1990, 30(3-4), 449 - 59
Influence of D-penicillamine on metabolic and functional activities of neutrophil granulocytes; Szabo I et al.; Influence of D-Penicillamine (DPA) on metabolic and functional activities of neutrophil granulocytes was investigated in vitro by measuring superoxide anion production and beta-glucuronidase release as well as by determining phagocytic and intracellular killing activities of cells . Preincubation with DPA in the concentration range of 0.5-5.0 mM resulted in 28-53% increase in superoxide anion production by granulocytes stimulated with 10(-7) M FMLP . DPA in the same concentration range resulted in 145-371% rise in the FMLP-stimulated beta-glucuronidase release . However, uptake and subsequent killing of viable Staphylococcus aureus was not influenced by incubation of granulocytes with various concentrations of DPA (0.5-5.0 mM) . From these results we conclude that DPA may influence the superoxide anion production and beta-glucuronidase release in granulocytes without altering the phagocytic and intracellular killing activities of these cells . We suppose that the unchanged antibacterial activity of neutrophil granulocytes is resulted by the two opposite DPA effects: acting extracellularly reduces free radical level while the direct membrane effect results in enhancing metabolic activity in granulocytes.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(6), 428 - 34
Daptomycin versus vancomycin treatment for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in a murine model; Smith K et al.; Daptomycin (LY 146032), a new lipopeptide antimicrobial agent with activity against gram-positive bacteria, was compared to vancomycin in the treatment of staphylococcal bacteremia in a murine model . Two hundred and ninety-nine mice were inoculated with 1 x 10(8) bacteria by the tail vein, and treatment was begun 3 days later . Two dosage regimens of each drug were used: 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg administered every 12 h for 14 days . A control group received no therapy . Survival was determined 31 days after inoculation . There was no significant difference in survival in any of the four treatment groups . The survival in all treatment groups was significantly greater than in the control group . Serum levels of daptomycin remained longer in the therapeutic range than serum levels of vancomycin . In the murine model of staphylococcal disease, daptomycin treatment was as effective as treatment with vancomycin.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(6), 422 - 7
Effect of azithromycin, roxithromycin and erythromycin on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte function against Staphylococcus aureus; Pascual A et al.; The effect of three macrolides (azithromycin, roxithromycin and erythromycin) on the interaction in vitro of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with Staphylococcus aureus was examined . The exposure of S . aureus to 0.25 MIC of roxithromycin and erythromycin but not of azithromycin significantly increased the uptake of opsonized bacteria by human PMNs . The preincubation of PMNs with 1, 10 and 25 mg/l of the three antimicrobial agents did not affect either the uptake of S . aureus or the superoxide radical production by human PMNs . At these same concentrations the three agents showed slight but not significant intracellular activity in PMNs against S . aureus . It is concluded that treatment of S . aureus with subinhibitory concentrations of roxithromycin and erythromycin enhanced phagocytosis by PMNs, but the three macrolides tested did not directly affect the functions of human PMNs against S . aureus.

Ann Chir Plast Esthet, 1990, 35(5), 415 - 7
{Apropos of a case of infection after esthetic rhinoplasty}; Abifadel M et al.; Infection after rhinoplasty is infrequent occurring in less than 1% of cases . When it does occur it may be due to devascularised spicule of bone or in a hematoma . Of much less frequent occurrence is the toxic shock syndrome associated or not with nasal packing and due to staphylococcus aureus . When administering prophylactic antibiotic in nasal surgery one must take into consideration their own hazards: drug reaction, candida infection or resistant staphylococcus aureus.

Int Immunol, 1990, 2(7), 603 - 14
Surface immunoglobulin ligands and cytokines differentially affect proliferation and antibody production by human CD5+ and CD5- B lymphocytes; Nawata Y et al.; Normal human peripheral blood B lymphocytes were separated into CD19+ CD5+ and CD19+ CD5- subsets by dual-color FACS sorting . In most experiments the cells were activated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) and cultured in the absence or presence of recombinant human IL-1 alpha, IL-2, or IL-6, or combinations of these cytokines . Unstimulated CD5+ and CD5- B cells showed a comparable, low level of incorporation of {3H}thymidine into DNA . SAC stimulated proliferation of CD5+ and CD5- B cells, and this proliferation was augmented by IL-2 in the case of CD5- B cells . Anti-mu beads stimulated some proliferation of the CD5- subset and augmented SAC-induced proliferation of these cells . In contrast, anti-mu beads did not stimulate proliferation of the CD5+ subset and had no effect on SAC-induced proliferation of these cells . CD5+ B cells activated by anti-mu beads were stimulated to proliferate in the presence of IL-4, but not in the presence of IL-2 . These observations support the interpretation that two signals are required for proliferation of CD5+ B cells . Using a two-step culture system, SAC activation itself did not induce Ig production by either subset of purified B cells . However, it primed the cells for antibody production in the presence of IL-2 . IL-1 and IL-6 by themselves augmented antibody formation by these cells slightly, if at all . However, IL-6, and to a lesser extent IL-1, augmented antibody production in the presence of IL-2 . Under the culture conditions used CD5- B cells produced IgM, IgG, and IgA whereas the CD5+ B cells produced almost exclusively IgM . The expression on B cells of surface activation markers was analyzed after culture for 2 days with SAC or anti-mu beads . In both subsets expression of Leu-23 and Leu-21 was increased, with some differences in intensity (Leu-23 greater in CD5+ cells, Leu-21 greater in CD5- cells) . SAC increased IL-2R expression to a greater extent than anti-mu beads . In neither subset was expression of CD23 increased . These observations are discussed in the context of the possible role of the CD5+ subset of B lymphocytes as components of a system of natural immunity.

J Basic Microbiol, 1990, 30(5), 341 - 7
Anti-staphylococcal serine proteinase and other serum factors in phagocytosis; Miedzobrodzki J et al.; The interactions between polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), Staphylococcus saprophyticus cells and rabbit antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus V8 serine proteinase or normal rabbit serum proteins were investigated . The effect of opsonization on phagocytosis due to human peripheral polymorphonuclear cells was measured . The results were as follows: phagocytosis index values were relatively increased after the incubation of PMN cells with anti-serine proteinase gamma-globulin serum fraction, anti-serine proteinase IgG, non-immunized rabbit serum or with complement.

Biotherapy, 1990, 2(3), 223 - 6
Successful treatment for perinephric abscess with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor following nephrectomy in a patient of myelodysplastic syndrome: a case report; Tamura K et al.; The 35-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and granulocytopenia with dry cough and high fever was eventually found to have a left perinephric abscess of Staphylococcus aureus . He underwent left nephrectomy and drainage of perinephric space in conjunction with appropriate antibiotics . However, because of persistent granulocytopenia, Staph . aureus never cleared up with formation of only poor granulation . Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was added to the above treatment leading to prompt improvement in granulocytopenia and emergence of the good granulation tissue . G-CSF will probably become one of the important agents in treating MDS with granulocytopenia.

Plasmid, 1990 Jan, 23(1), 1 - 15
Mutational and physiological analyses of plasmid pT181 functions expressing incompatibility; Highlander SK et al.; Plasmid pT181 is a small multicopy plasmid from Staphylococcus aureus that belongs to incompatibility group 3 and expresses two distinct types of incompatibility, Inc3A and Inc3B . Inc3A incompatibility is expressed by the primary replication control determinant, copA, which specifies two small transcripts, RNA I and RNA II, that jointly inhibit the synthesis of the rate-limiting initiator protein, RepC . Inc3B incompatibility is expressed by the leading strand replication origin and is due to competition for RepC . The copA region from each of 11 different pT181 copy number mutants was cloned onto the pT181-compatible vector, pE194, and tested for its ability to inhibit the replication of pT181 and its copy number mutants . The pT181 replication origin was also cloned and tested for its ability to inhibit the replication of the same plasmids . In general copA mutations that alter the production or sequence of RNA I and RNA II greatly reduced or completely eliminated Inc3A activity . Unlike the wild-type, all of the copy mutants were resistant to Inc3B inhibition . The separately cloned wild-type copA and ori regions each reduced the copy number of pT181 in proportion to their gene dosage, but neither blocked replication completely . It is proposed that the cloned Inc determinants cause incompatibility by interfering with the plasmid's copy correction mechanism; this interference destabilizes the plasmid even under conditions where its average copy number is not greatly reduced.

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