Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1991 May, 100(5 Pt 1), 385 - 8 Early biochemical events in pneumococcal otitis media: arachidonic acid metabolites in middle ear fluid; Nonomura N et al.; The concentrations of four arachidonic acid metabolites, prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, leukotriene B4, and leukotriene C4, were measured in middle ear fluid of chinchillas 6 to 72 hours after middle ear inoculation of log-phase, heat-killed encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae organisms . Compared with saline-inoculated ears, significant increases in the mean concentrations of all four metabolites were observed in the pneumococcus-inoculated ears 24 hours after inoculation, but not after 6, 48, or 72 hours . Since pneumococcus inoculation caused an influx of inflammatory cells as early as 6 hours after inoculation, before the increase in arachidonate metabolites, the initial stimulus for inflammatory cell chemotaxis is probably not metabolic products of arachidonic acid such as leukotriene B4 . These metabolites may, however, amplify the subsequent inflammatory response. Infect Immun, 1991 May, 59(5), 1656 - 60 Glucosyltransferase gene polymorphism among Streptococcus mutans strains; Chia JS et al.; Genetic polymorphisms in genes coding for the glucosyltransferases were detected among Streptococcus mutans serotype c strains by Southern blot analysis with DNA probes located within the gtfB gene (H . Aoki, T . Shiroza, M . Hayakawa, S . Sato, and H . K . Kuramitsu, Infect . Immun . 53:587-594, 1986) . Restriction endonucleases were used to examine genomic DNAs isolated from serotype a to h strains . The variations were readily detected among 33 strains of serotype c by EcoRI and PstI restriction enzyme digestions . Serotypes e and f, which are genetically similar to serotype c, also had comparable polymorphism; however, serotypes a, b, d, g, and h did not hybridize to the same DNA probes in parallel experiments . Further analysis of enzymatic activities for glucan synthesis and sucrose-dependent adherence revealed no significant differences among the serotype c strains . Our results suggested that genetic polymorphisms existing in S . mutans serotype c strains may reflect a complexity in genes coding for the glucosyltransferases, which are produced ubiquitously in members of the S . mutans group. Srp Arh Celok Lek, 1991 May-Jun, 119(5-6), 162 - 5 {Rheumatic fever in the 80s}; Vukovic D; Two contradictory changes related to rheumatic fever existed in the 80's . A constant, almost dramatic fall of rheumatic fever incidence occurred in the second half of the 80's . This fact was explained by improvement of living conditions and way of life, as well as by a developed health service . But, unexpectedly, a sudden rise of rheumatic fever incidence occurred in many states of the United States of America in that period . The medical experts were reminded that similar danger might also be expected in other countries . This increase of rheumatic fever incidence was followed by severe forms of the disease . In the 80's intensive epidemiologic, microbiologic and molecular researches of the beta haemolytic streptococcus A and parallel genetic investigations of the population with rheumatic fever, were undertaken . The aim of these studies was to discover the rheumatogenic factor in the streptococcus and to differentiate it from the immunogenic one, as well as to detect the genetic factor in the sick people . In this way these findings would be the best contribution to the knowledge of the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever and to a more efficacious protection (vaccination). Infect Immun, 1991 May, 59(5), 1803 - 10 Restriction fragment length polymorphisms and sequence variation within the spaP gene of Streptococcus mutans serotype c isolates; Brady LJ et al.; A restriction fragment length polymorphism study was undertaken to determine the extent and location of heterogeneity within spaP encoding the Mr 185,000 cell surface protein P1 (antigen I/II) of Streptococcus mutans serotype c isolates . The gene was found to be highly conserved except for a central variable (V) region predicted to encode less than 150 amino acids . Sequence analysis identified two V-region variants . These differences were independent of the geographic source of the isolates . Southern analysis using synthetic oligonucleotide probes indicated that nonretention of P1 (I/II) by some isolates is not due to a deletion of the 3'-terminal DNA necessary to encode an intact carboxy terminus. MMWR Recomm Rep, 1991 Apr 26, 40(RR-5), 1 - 25 Pelvic inflammatory disease: guidelines for prevention and management; Photolabeling of dextransucrase from Streptococcus sanguis with p-azidophenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside; Department of Chemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210Dextransucrase from Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10558 was photolabeled using p-azidophenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside with an apparent rate constant of inactivation of 1.40 min-1 . The dissociation constant for this compound, which acts as an acceptor molecule in the enzymatic reaction, is 90 microM . Apparently two acceptor binding sites exist on dextransucrase as shown by (i.) photolabeling the enzyme with p-azidophenyl-alpha-D-{5,6-3H}glucopyranoside and (ii.) fluorescence titration experiments. Carbohydr Res, 1991 Apr 24, 211(2), 261 - 77 Synthesis of a spacer-containing repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23F; van Steijn AM et al.; The synthesis is reported of 3-aminopropyl 4-O-(4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-beta-L-rhamnopyranoside 3'-(glycer-2-yl sodium phosphate) (25 beta), which represents the repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23F (American type 23) {(----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----4)-{Glycerol-(2-P----3)} {alpha-L- Rhap-(1----2)}-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-L-Rhap-(1----)n) . 2,4,6-Tri-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (5) was coupled with ethyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-1-thio-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (6) . Deacetylation of the resulting disaccharide derivative, followed by benzylidenation, and condensation with 2,3,4-trio-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (10) afforded ethyl 4-O-{3-O-allyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-O-(2,3,4-trio-O-acetyl- alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl}-2,3-di-O-benzyl-1-thio - alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (11) . Deacetylation of 11, followed by benzylation, selective benzylidene ring-opening, and coupling with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (15) gave ethyl 4-O-{3-O-allyl-6-O-benzyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6- tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl}-2,3-di-O-benzyl-1-thio-alpha-L - rhamnopyranoside (16) . Deacetylation of 16 followed by benzylation, deallylation, and acetylation yielded ethyl 4-O-{3-O-acetyl-6-O-benzyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopy ran osyl)- 2-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl }-2,3- di-O-benzyl-1-thio-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (20) . The glycosyl bromide derived from 20, when coupled with 3-benzyloxycarbonylamino-1-propanol, gave the beta-glycoside (21 beta) as the major product . Deacetylation of 21 beta followed by condensation with 1,3-di-O-benzylglycerol 2-(triethylammonium phosphonate) (27), oxidation, and deprotection, afforded 25 beta. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1991 Apr 15, 198(8), 1410 - 2 Endocarditis in a cow; Tyler JW et al.; Bacterial endocarditis of the tricuspid valve was diagnosed in a cow with weight loss, reduced milk production, and intermittent fever . Clinical signs of disease included jugular and mammary vein pulses, tachycardia, large cardiac silhouette, and grade-III/V holosystolic murmur . The diagnosis was also supported by echocardiographic findings and isolation of Streptococcus viridans from blood samples . The cow was treated with penicillin, furosemide, acetylsalicylic acid, heparin, and potassium chloride and survived 14 months after the diagnosis, producing 1 live calf and 4 viable embryos . The cow's heart rate exceeded an upper normal limit of 80 beats/min during most of the initial 4 months of treatment . Additional clinical signs of disease that were observed during treatment included diarrhea, ventral edema, and coughing . General medicine and cardiology textbooks have previously minimized the potential benefits of anticoagulant use in cases of septic endocarditis . The advent of routinely performed embryo transfer procedures may make treatment of endocarditis feasible in cattle with exceptional genetic merit. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1991 Apr 15, 198(8), 1398 - 400 Recovery of Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus from fresh and frozen bovine milk; Villanueva MR et al.; Three hundred seventy-three milk samples were screened for Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus . After sample storage at -20 C for 23 days, the frequency of Str agalactiae isolation increased 2.50 times . The frequency of S aureus isolation increased 1.48 times in the same interval . Increases in the proportion of these isolates were highly significant (P = 0.000006 and 0.0001, respectively) . Results of the study indicate that optimal procedures for microbiological testing for these mastitis pathogens may include preculture freezing . The magnitude of the increase in the proportion of isolates indicates the existence of an important population of infected cattle shedding bacteria at concentrations not detected by use of standard microbiological techniques. J Biol Chem, 1991 Apr 15, 266(11), 6714 - 9 Structural determination and immunochemical characterization of the type V group B Streptococcus capsular polysaccharide; Wessels MR et al.; The type V capsular polysaccharide of group B Streptococcus has been isolated and purified, and its repeating unit structure determined . The native type V polysaccharide contains D-glucose, D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, and sialic acid in a molar ratio of 3:2:1:1 . Methylation analysis and 1H NMR and 13C NMR analysis of the native type V polysaccharide and of its specifically degraded products permitted the determination of the repeating unit structure of the type V polysaccharide: {formula: see text} The type V polysaccharide has certain structural features in common with other group B streptococcal capsular polysaccharides but is antigenically distinct: no immunologic cross-reactivity was observed between type V and types Ia, Ib, II, III, or IV polysaccharides . Studies of antibody binding to the partially degraded forms of the type V polysaccharide indicated that the native epitope is complex, involving most if not all of the sugar residues of the repeating unit. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Apr 15, 63(2-3), 339 - 45 Construction of scrA::lacZ gene fusions to investigate regulation of the sucrose PTS of Streptococcus mutans; Sato Y et al.; The scrA gene coding for sucrose EnzymeII of the phosphoenolpyruvate dependent phosphotransferase system previously isolated from Streptococcus mutans was fused in vitro to the promoterless lacZ' gene to monitor the expression of the scrA gene . The scrA::lacZ gene fusion was introduced back into S . mutans GS-5IS3 by two independent transformation procedures involving either linear or plasmid DNA to produce both scrA and scrA+ mutants . These mutants should prove useful for analyzing the regulation of sucrose transport in S . mutans. J Immunol Methods, 1991 Apr 8, 138(1), 77 - 86 A method for generating antigen-specific rat T helper cell clones; Katz J et al.; T lymphocytes play an important role in host responses to microbial antigens, and therefore, in order to facilitate studies to determine the mechanisms involved in the regulation of these responses, a method for the generation of T cell clones with specificity to microbial whole cell (WC) antigens has been developed . T cells were purified from the spleen of rats immunized with WC antigen of either the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutans or the gram-negative bacterium Bacteroides gingivalis and cultured with irradiated Sephadex G-10-passed spleen (feeder) cells and the homologous WC antigen for the generation of T cell clones . Clonal growth of the T cells was maintained for up to 6 months by co-culturing similar numbers of T cells, feeder cells and WC antigen; however, the addition of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2) was not required . Phenotypic characterization of the cloned T cells showed that they were CD4+ T helper (Th) cells which did not express the leukocyte-common antigen, but did express receptors for 1L-2 . These T cells required the presence of homologous WC antigen for growth and their antigen specificity was further confirmed by the ability of the T cells to proliferate in response to the homologous WC, but not to heterologous microbial WC, antigen . These T cells were further characterized for their ability to produce cytokines, specifically 1L-2 and interferon-gamma, and to provide help for B cell responses to microbial WC antigen . This study describes a reproducible method for the generation of rat Th cell clones with specificity to microbial WC antigens which will be valuable for defining the mechanisms involved in T cell regulation of responses to either gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria. Carbohydr Res, 1991 Apr 2, 211(1), 25 - 39 Synthesis of two phosphate-containing "heptasaccharide" fragments of the capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae types 6A and 6B; Slaghek TM et al.; The "heptasaccharides" O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)- O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-alpha, beta-L-rhamnopyranose 2''-{O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----3)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-D-ribit-5-yl sodium phosphate} (25) and O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl- (1----3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-alpha, beta-L-rhamnopyranose 2''-{O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----3)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-ribit-5-yl sodium phosphate} (27), which are structural elements of the capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae types 6A and 6B ({----2)- -alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----3)-alpha-L-Rhap- (1----X)-D-RibOH-(5-P----}n; 6A X = 3, 6B X = 4), respectively, have been synthesized . 2,4-Di-O-acetyl- 3-O-{2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D- galactopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl}-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (13) was coupled with 5-O-allyloxycarbonyl-1,2,4-tri-O- benzyl-D-ribitol (10), using trimethylsilyl triflate as a promotor (----14), and deallyloxycarbonylation (----15) and conversion into the corresponding triethylammonium phosphonate then gave 16 . Condensation of 16 with 4-methoxybenzyl 2,4-di-O-benzyl-3-O-{2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-3-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D- galactopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl}- alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (22) followed by oxidation and deprotection afforded 25 . 5-O-Allyl-1-O-allyloxycarbonyl-2,3-di-O-benzyl-D-ribitol (12) was coupled with 13, using trimethylsilyl triflate as a promoter, the resulting tetrasaccharide-alditol derivative 17 was deallyloxycarbonylated (----18), acetylated (----19), and deallylated (----20), and the product was converted into the triethylammonium phosphonate derivative 21 . Condensation of 21 with 22 followed by oxidation and deprotection afforded 27. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1991 Apr, 80(4), 423 - 7 Pneumococcal infections in splenectomized children are preventable; Konradsen HB et al.; Through the Danish National Patient Registry we identified all children 0-15 years old who had been splenectomized during the period 1979-87 and all children of the same age who, during the same period of time, had been admitted to a hospital because of either meningitis or bacteraemia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae . We wanted to see whether any of the splenectomized children had developed invasive pneumococcal infection during the observation period . A similar Danish study covering the period 1969-78, when pneumococcal vaccine was not available, has already been published (3) . Four per cent of the children splenectomized during that period developed invasive pneumococcal infection in contrast to none of the children splenectomized and vaccinated during the period 1979-87 . Since 1982 antibiotic treatment of splenectomized patients running a fever has been recommended, and we show that the program of pneumococcal vaccination and defined antibiotic prophylaxis has been highly efficacious in preventing post-splenectomy infections in children. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 1991 Apr, 23(4), 422 - 7 Effects of training on metabolic responses and performance capacity in Streptococcus pneumoniae infected rats; Ilback NG et al.; These experiments were designed to study whether endurance training prior to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in rats (N = 15 in each group) alters lethality, performance capacity, and related energy metabolism . A 5-d.wk-1, 4-wk-long pre-infection training program with gradually increasing swim time caused no protection from lethality (48% at 72 h post-inoculation), but performance capacity increased by 68% (P less than 0.01) . The catabolic responses as evidenced by changes in insulin and glucagon levels were less pronounced . Mobilization of free fatty acids increased twofold (P less than 0.01), and improved ketonemic adaptation (47%, P less than 0.01) occurred with concomitant saved carcass, liver, and skeletal muscle glycogen contents (P less than 0.01) . This shift from carbohydrate toward fat metabolism during exercise as a result of training was also reflected by 21% lower (P less than 0.01) blood lactate levels . It was concluded that the improved metabolic status, characterizing the trained as compared with the untrained host, is partly preserved during ongoing acute gram-positive bacterial infection. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 1991 Apr, 23(4), 415 - 21 Metabolic responses to swimming exercise in Streptococcus pneumoniae infected rats; Friman G et al.; The present study was performed to determine whether alterations in fuel reserves or energy substrate utilization might explain the performance decrements that occur in bacterial infections . Male Fisher-Dunning rats were studied at 24, 48, and 72 h after inoculation with Streptococcus pneumoniae . Rats were either sedentary or subjected to a 2-h swimming session at these three time points (N = 10 in each group) . A more than 60% reduction (P less than 0.01) in performance capacity was observed on day 3 of infection compared with that in noninfected controls . This infection in the rat is characterized by fever (P less than 0.01), depression of plasma zinc (P less than 0.01) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels (P less than 0.01), inhibition of the two- to threefold increase in fasting ketonemia, and a decreased (NS) insulin:glucagon ratio, indicating a catabolic state . Glycogen stores were reduced in the heart (47%), liver (43%), and skeletal muscles (39%) but not in the carcass . Superimposed exercise resulted in a further reduction but not depletion of liver, muscle, and carcass glycogen stores, a less pronounced lactic acid accumulation, and a lower oxygen debt . However, plasma FFA and ketone body levels were still maintained or even elevated, suggesting that fat is supplied as fuel during swimming exercise in this infection . Thus, results indicate that unavailability of energy substrates or lactacidosis is not limiting for performance capacity during this severe infection. Am J Vet Res, 1991 Apr, 52(4), 589 - 92 Field evaluation of a commercial M-protein vaccine against Streptococcus equi infection in foals; Hoffman AM et al.; A double-blind randomized clinical trial was undertaken to determine the value of parenterally administered Streptococcus equi M-protein vaccine in foals during an epizootic of strangles . Weaned mixed-breed foals (n = 664) housed on 2 adjacent feed-lots (A and B) arrived over a 5-day period, 2 weeks before primary vaccination . Foals in lot B (n = 114) were randomly administered vaccine (n = 59) or saline solution (placebo; n = 55) on 3 occasions at biweekly intervals . Foals in lot A (n = 450) were given 1 dose of vaccine (n = 225) or placebo . The following clinical observations were scored blindly by a single observer for all foals in lot B and for 120 (randomly sampled) foals in lot A on a single day, 2 (Lot B) and 6 (lot A) weeks after final vaccination: cervical lymphadenopathy, type of bilateral nasal discharge, and palpable swelling at injection site(s) . Bacteriologic culture of nasal swab specimens or lymph node aspirates from selected foals with clinical disease yielded S equi . Cervical lymphadenopathy was observed in 17 of 59 (29%) vaccinates and 39 of 55 (71%) nonvaccinated controls in lot B and in 32 of 60 (53%) vaccinates and 29 of 60 (48%) controls in lot A . Contingency chi 2 analysis confirmed significantly lower cervical lymphadenopathy rate (chi 2 = 18.5; P less than 0.001) and prevalence of mucopurulent nasal discharge (chi 2 = 11.4; P less than 0.01) for vaccinates in lot B only . Swelling(s) at the vaccine injection site were palpated in 44% of lot B and 29% of lot A vaccinates vs less than 2% of placebo controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Acta Odontol Scand, 1991 Apr, 49(2), 85 - 8 Caries-inhibitory effect of titanium tetrafluoride in rats; Skartveit L et al.; The purpose of this study was to evaluate the caries-inhibitory effect of TiF4 as compared with equimolar solutions of neutral and acidified NaF . Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were weaned 19 days after birth and given a cariogenic diet . They were randomly divided into four groups and given a 1-min topical treatment of the molar teeth on day 1 and day 17 of the experiment with the following solutions: group 1: 1% TiF4, pH 1.5; group 2: 1.3% NaF, pH 7.0; group 3: 1.3% NaF, pH 1.5; and group 4: control, distilled water . From day 2 the rats were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans twice weekly . On day 55 the rats were killed, and caries scored in accordance with Keyes . Total caries scored were (mean +/- SD): group 1, 12.7 +/- 9.5; group 2, 17.4 +/- 8.6; group 3, 14.3 +/- 9.7; and group 4, 29.5 +/- 9.0 . There were significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced caries scores for total caries and for buccal + lingual and sulcal areas for all test groups as compared with the control group . Differences between control and test groups in proximal surfaces and between fluoride groups were non-significant . The results showed that the caries-inhibitory effect of TiF4 is at least as good as that of NaF in rats. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Apr, 44(4), 422 - 8 Studies on beta-lactam antibiotics . III . Syntheses and antibacterial activities of new 3-(1,3-dithiolan-2-yl)cephalosporins, YM-22508, YM-16457 and their prodrug-type esters; Nagano N et al.; The syntheses and biological activities of new 7-beta-{(Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-hydroxy-iminoacetamido}-3-(1 ,3- dithiolan-2-yl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (YM-22508, 1a), 7-beta-{(Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2- methoxyiminoacetamido}-3-(1,3-dithiolan-2-yl)-3-cephem-4-carboxyli c acid (YM-16457, 1d) and their prodrug-type esters are described . Among them, YM-22561 (1c), the 1-acetoxyethyl ester of 1a, showed good in vivo efficacy in mice against infections of Staphylococcus aureus Smith, Streptococcus pyogenes S 23 and Escherichia coli NY-17 and a long plasma T1/2 in mice. J Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 163(4), 897 - 900 Pneumococcal soft-tissue infections: possible association with connective tissue diseases; DiNubile MJ et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae is not a well-recognized cause of soft-tissue infections . In less than 4 years, 12 cases of pneumococcal soft-tissue infection were identified through discussions with infections disease subspecialists in the Philadelphia area . Principal sites of involvement included skin and fascia, tongue, epiglottis, thyroid, brain, and breast . Pneumococcal bacteremia was documented in six cases (50%); in three of these, pneumococci were also cultured from the involved soft tissues . In the cases in which bacteremia was not demonstrated, pneumococci were isolated from the infected sites . Six patients had connective tissue diseases, of which five were diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus . Four of these patients were receiving corticosteroids when their infections developed . Two additional patients were HIV-seropositive intravenous drug users . S . pneumoniae may be a more important cause of soft-tissue infections than previously appreciated, especially in patients with connective tissue diseases. J Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 163(4), 812 - 8 Epidemiologic studies of group 9 pneumococci in terms of protein type and 9N versus 9V capsular type; Waltman WD et al.; The variability among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates of capsular group 9 was analyzed with a panel of six monoclonal antibodies to pneumococcal proteins . These antibodies differentiated the 104 group 9 isolates into 18 protein types and a group (PO) not typable with the antibody panel was used . Capsular type was determined for 87 isolates: 70% were capsular type 9V, 28% 9N, and 2% 9A . In terms of protein type, the 9V isolates were four times as diverse as the 9N isolates . Significant associations were observed between the protein type, geographic origin, and year of isolation . Statistically significant associations were also observed between different manifestations of pneumococcal disease and protein type of the capsular type 9V isolates . Thus, even within capsular types, pneumococci can be highly diverse; pneumococcal protein types may be useful in epidemiologic studies to distinguish related strains in the environment. J Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 163(4), 799 - 805 A model of pneumococcal pneumonia in chronically intoxicated rats; Davis CC et al.; To determine the role of chronic ethanol intoxication on the pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an ethanol-containing diet for 1 week before intratracheal challenge with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae and for 10 days after infection . Control rats were fed the same diet except that ethanol was replaced isocalorically with carbohydrate . Ethanol treatment increased pneumococcal bacteremia, levels of capsular polysaccharide antigenemia, and susceptibility to lethal pneumonia . Once dissemination occurred, ethanol-fed rats failed to eliminate pneumococci from the bloodstream . Ethanol-fed rats demonstrated a defect in late pulmonary clearance of pneumococci that was temporally associated with a significantly higher pneumonia severity index . Pneumonia was characterized by an intense polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, severe edema, and a fibrous exudate . Bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed the heightened inflammatory response in the lungs of ethanol-fed rats, suggesting that chronic ethanol intoxication did not impair polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment but may alter their antipneumococcal functions. J Nutr, 1991 Apr, 121(4), 556 - 62 Vitamin A status and the immune response to pneumococcal polysaccharide: effects of age and early stages of retinol deficiency in rats; Pasatiempo AM et al.; Production of antibodies to pneumococcal polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae, type III was determined in young rats at different ages and stages of vitamin A deficiency . At 30, 35 and 45 d of age, serum retinol concentrations of vitamin A-depleted rats were 46, 35 and 9%, respectively, of the serum retinol concentrations of pair-fed controls . Specific antibody production was low at 30 d of age for both vitamin A-depleted rats and control rats . Between 30 and 45 d of age, antibody production increased considerably in normal rats; however, the response of vitamin A-depleted rats was only 22% (P less than or equal to 0.001) that of controls at 35 d of age and 8% that of controls (P less than or equal to 0.001) for 45-d-old rats . Lymphocyte populations were examined by flow cytometry . The numbers of immunoglobulin M- and immunoglobulin D-positive cells changed with age, but not as a result of dietary treatment . The numbers of total T cells or helper and suppressor T cell subsets did not differ with age or with vitamin A status . These studies showed that the normal antibody response to pneumococcal polysaccharide develops rapidly after 30 d of age in the rat, that this antibody response is impaired even during the early stages of vitamin A deficiency, and that impaired antibody production does not seem to be accompanied by quantitative differences in splenic lymphocyte populations. Infect Immun, 1991 Apr, 59(4), 1535 - 43 Repeated DNA sequence involved in mutations affecting transport of sucrose into Streptococcus mutans V403 via the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system; Macrina FL et al.; Mutants of Streptococcus mutans V403 defective in the intracellular sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (product of the scrB gene) are sensitive to sucrose because of the intracellular accumulation of the phosphorylated sugar . Using a scrB mutant prepared by allelic exchange, we have isolated and characterized a number of sucrose-resistant revertants . One such mutant was found to lack the ability to transport sucrose into the cell via the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase system (PTS) . Genetic analysis of this strain revealed this lesion to be linked to the scrB gene . This was corroborated by the physical demonstration of an insertion mutation very near scrB . Taken together with DNA sequence information (Y . Sato, F . Poy, G . R . Jacobson, and H . K . Kuramitsu, J . Bacteriol . 171:263-271, 1989), our results indicated that all of the mutations characterized were located in the adjoining scrA gene which encodes the membrane-associated, sugar-specific enzyme II (EIIsucrose) component of the sucrose PTS in S . mutans . Biochemically, such a genetic lesion disables the sucrose PTS and prevents sucrose from entering the cell by this system . In this paper, we detail the nature of two independent insertion mutations and conclude them to be the result of duplicative transposition events into the scrA gene . This region of the chromosome was amplified and purified in large quantities by using the polymerase chain reaction . Examination of the amplified DNA revealed that the two independent insertion mutations were composed of sequences that were indistinguishable by size and by restriction site endonuclease maps . Their insertion points in the scrA gene were approximately 200 bp apart . The amplified DNA fragment was also used as a probe to demonstrate the presence of five copies of this element on the S . mutans V403 chromosome . A second strain, S . mutans V310, also was found to carry similarly arranged, multiple copies of this sequence on its chromosome, suggesting a clonal origin of V403 and V310 . The small size of this sequence, its presence in multiple copies on the V403 chromosome, and its ability to duplicate itself semiconservatively into remote sites argue compellingly that it is an insertion sequence element . One such insertion mutant, with a defective sucrose PTS, was tested for virulence in rats and was found to cause caries at levels similar to those of the wild-type strain. Infect Immun, 1991 Apr, 59(4), 1285 - 9 A 43-kilodalton pneumococcal surface protein, PspA: isolation, protective abilities, and structural analysis of the amino-terminal sequence; Talkington DF et al.; PspA is an antigenically variable surface protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae that appears to be essential for full pneumococcal virulence . In addition, monoclonal antibodies to PspA protect mice against infection with specific strains of pneumococci virulent for mice . In this study, we have isolated the 43-kDa N-terminal half of the native 84-kDa PspA and determined the sequence of the first 45 amino acids . This sequence, the first obtained for a pneumococcal surface protein, is consistent with that of an amphiphatic coiled-coil alpha helix with a 7-residue periodicity common to fibrous proteins such as tropomyosin and streptococcal M protein . The 7-residue periodicity begins with residue 8 and extends throughout the remaining sequence for nearly 11 turns of the helix . Mice immunized with this purified PspA segment were protected from fatal pneumococcal challenge, thus demonstrating that those PspA epitopes eliciting protection were present in the N-terminal half of the molecule. Obstet Gynecol, 1991 Apr, 77(4), 604 - 10 The epidemiology of group B streptococcal colonization in pregnancy . Vaginal Infections and Prematurity Study Group; Regan JA et al.; Risk factors for cervicovaginal group B streptococcal colonization at 23-26 weeks' gestation were studied in 7742 women participating in the Vaginal Infections and Prematurity study . The prevalence of group B Streptococcus was 18.6%, and was greatest in (predominantly Caribbean) Hispanics from New York City, followed by blacks, whites, and other (predominantly Mexican) Hispanics . Group B Streptococcus was more common among older women and women of lower parity, and less common among women living with their partner compared with those living alone . Current smoking was associated with a decreased risk of colonization, and group B Streptococcus was less common among women with more education . Increased risk was seen only with extreme increases in sexual activity including both frequent intercourse and multiple partners during the previous year . The risk of colonization was greater when there was concurrent colonization with Candida sp, but group B Streptococcus was not associated with carriage of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma hominis . External genital erythema and scaling, purulent vaginal discharge, and pH greater than 5 were associated with increased colonization . Although these associations can raise the clinical index of suspicion for group B streptococcal colonization in a given patient, the study data did not enable us to select a small group of women with a very high probability of colonization . We conclude that selective screening is not useful in detecting group B streptococcal colonization in pregnancy. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Apr, 6(2), 126 - 8 Metabolism of 17 beta-estradiol by oral Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Bacillus cereus and Candida albicans; Ojanotko-Harri A et al.; The ability of oral isolates of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Bacillus cereus and Candida albicans to metabolize 17 beta-estradiol was analyzed by thin-layer chromatography using 4-14C-estradiol as the substrate . All test microorganisms metabolized 17 beta-estradiol . Estrone was the main metabolic product, except for B . cereus, which converted 17 beta-estradiol mainly to unidentified, more polar metabolites . S . sanguis and B . cereus had the most active metabolism but S . mutans and C . albicans were also active. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Apr, 6(2), 123 - 5 Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of periapical abscess; Brook I et al.; Aspirates of pus from periapical abscesses in 39 patients were studied for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . Bacterial growth was present in 32 specimens . A total of 78 bacterial isolates (55 anaerobic and 23 aerobic and facultative) were recovered, accounting for 2.4 isolates per specimen (1.7 anaerobic and 0.7 aerobic and facultatives) . Anaerobic bacteria only were present in 16 (50%) patients, aerobic and facultatives in 2 (6%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora in 14 (44%) . The predominant isolates were Bacteroides spp . (23 isolates, including 13 Bacteroides melaninogenicus group), Streptococcus spp . (20), anaerobic cocci (18), and Fusobacterium spp . (9) . Beta-lactamase-producing organisms were recovered from 7 of the 21 (33%) specimens that were tested . This study highlights the polymicrobial nature and importance of anaerobic bacteria in periapical abscess. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Apr, 275(1), 46 - 53 Effect of calcium ions on cell surface electrostatics of Bacteroides gingivalis and other oral bacteria; Yamashita Y et al.; Surface electrostatics of Bacteroides gingivalis and other oral bacteria were examined . A polarization circuit was employed using platinum electrodes exposed in each bacterial suspension and the number of bacteria adsorbed to the anode and cathode were then estimated . In all bacteria (B . gingivalis, Streptococcus sobrinus, S . mutans, S . salivarius, S . sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus), the number of cells adsorbed to the anode were much greater than the number of cells adsorbed to the cathode . Treating these bacteria with calcium ions tended to decrease the ratio of the number of cells adsorbed to the anode to the number of cells adsorbed to the cathode in all bacteria examined . Moreover, in the case of B . gingivalis, the number of cells adsorbed to the anode and cathode was in an inverse relationship to the number counted before calcium ion treatment . These findings indicate that the cell surfaces of oral bacteria are generally negatively charged but only the cell surface electrostatics of B . gingivalis was dramatically affected by calcium ion treatment . Thus, divalent metal bridges such as calcium bridges contribute to the adherence of the periodontopathic bacterium, B . gingivalis rather than to that of other oral bacteria including cariogenic bacteria. Biochimie, 1991 Apr, 73(4), 353 - 5 Conversion of large heterologies in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Pasta F et al.; In genetic transformation, long deletions dramatically increase the frequency of wild-type recombinants in 2-point crosses . In 3-point crosses in which the deletion was localized between 2 point mutations we demonstrated that this hyper-recombination was the result of genetic conversion extending over several scores of bases outside the deletion . As this conversion did not require an active DNA polymerase A gene, it was proposed that the mechanism of conversion involves breakage and ligation between DNA molecules . A similar hyper-recombination was observed when donor DNA carried an insertion . These results suggest that long heterologies participated in recombination so that surrounding homologous regions are almost completely paired and that these long heterologies are converted . It appears that it is a process that evolved to correct errors of replication which lead to long deletions and which are not eliminated by other systems. J Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 163(4), 806 - 11 Differences of pathophysiology in experimental meningitis caused by three strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Tauber MG et al.; Differences in cytochemical and pathophysiologic abnormalities in experimental meningitis caused by pneumococcal strains A, B, and C were determined . Strain C produced the most severe abnormalities of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of lactate (P less than .01), protein (P less than .02), and glucose (P less than .01), CSF white blood cell count (P less than .04), cerebral blood flow (P less than .02), and clinical signs (P less than .05) . Brain edema occurred only with strains A anc C, with no association with disease severity; intracranial hypertension was also independent of disease severity . Strain B, not C, achieved the highest bacterial titers in the CSF (P less than .005) . The widely different abilities of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae to induce intracranial abnormalities suggest that virulence determinants affect not only evasion of defense during colonization and invasion, as shown in other models, but also determine the course of disease once infection has been established . Differences of cell-wall metabolism among pneumococcal strains may play a role in this latter phase of the development of meningitis. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 29(4), 782 - 7 Identification of epidemic strains of Streptococcus suis by genomic fingerprinting; Mogollon JD et al.; A natural outbreak of Streptococcus suis meningitis in two closed swine herds was studied . DNA fingerprinting, serotyping, and biochemical profiles were assessed . Multiple serotypes were recovered from these herds . In farm A, 50 S . suis strains were isolated from 330 swabs collected . Eighteen strains belonged to serotype 2, and 32 strains belonged to serotypes 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 . In farm B, 16 S . suis strains were recovered from a total of 70 samples . Eight strains belonged to serotype 7 and eight belonged to serotypes 2, 3, 5, and 8 . In each epidemiological situation, a single strain characterized by a distinctive restriction fragment pattern predominated among affected penmates . The epidemic serotype 2 strain was detected in farm A in weaned pigs between the ages of 5 and 7 weeks . In contrast, the pathogenic strain in farm B belonged to serotype 7 and was isolated from pigs up to 3 weeks of age . The results from both farms strongly suggest a lateral spread of these organisms . No vertical transmission could be shown in either herd . It was concluded that genomic fingerprinting is an appropriate method to distinguish outbreak isolates of S . suis from nonoutbreak strains, within the same serotype or from epidemiologically unrelated clusters of strains. Pol Arch Med Wewn, 1991 Apr, 85(4), 210 - 4 {Treatment of respiratory tract infections with pefloxacin}; Krolikowski W et al.; Pefloxacin, a 4-quinolone derivative, was administered in the dose of 800-1200 mg for the mean of 12 days to 24 patients with respiratory tract infection complicating chronic bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease . Patients with positive sputum culture and bacteria sensitive to pefloxacin were included in the study . Total eradication of the offending microorganisms was achieved in 54% of patients, and partial--in the next 20% . A poor efficacy of pefloxacin against Streptococcus species has been confirmed . In a few cases we have observed the development of resistance of isolated bacteria to pefloxacin during the course of treatment. Int Immunol, 1991 Apr, 3(4), 293 - 6 Murine polymorphonuclear leukocytes synthesize and secrete the third component and factor B of complement; Okuda T; Complement proteins in serum are synthesized mostly by hepatocytes and many other cell-types have also been shown to synthesize complement in various tissues . However, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) have never been reported to secrete complement . This paper demonstrates the synthesis and secretion of C3 and factor B by murine peritoneal exudate PMNs elicited with OK432 (Streptococcus preparation) . Using {35S}methionine incorporation and immunoprecipitation, C3 and factor B produced by PMN are found to be antigenically and physically identical to macrophage C3 and factor B . ELISA analysis reveals that culture supernatant of PMN--free of macrophage contamination--contains C3 antigen, and both flow cytometric analysis and immunoperoxidase staining also demonstrate the presence of intracellular C3 using special precautions to eliminate non-specific staining . The role of complement produced by PMN is currently unknown, but it is very important to take this new finding into consideration for further clarification of the roles of complement in extravascular inflammatory sites. J Chemother, 1991 Apr, 3(2), 86 - 90 Penicillin-binding proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae: alterations during development of intrinsic penicillin resistance; Hakenbeck R et al.; Four out of the five high molecular weight penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of Streptococcus pneumoniae are involved in the development of intrinsic penicillin resistance . In beta-lactam resistant laboratory mutants, point mutations in the PBP 2x-genes were identified that result in low penicillin-affinity mutant proteins . In contrast, PBPs 1a, 2x, and 2b of resistant clinical isolates are highly altered as can be recognized biochemically and immunologically; DNA sequence analysis of the PBP 2x gene from resistant strains confirmed these results . The variability of the three PBPs analyzed implies a very heterogeneous gene pool accessible to the pneumococcus that is used for recruitment of resistant PBP genes in wild type strains. Lymphokine Cytokine Res, 1991 Apr, 10(1-2), 43 - 50 The role of macrophages in experimental arthritis induced by Streptococcus agalactiae sonicate: actions of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) and other macrophage-modulating agents; Abd AH et al.; Intraperitoneal injection of Streptococcus agalactiae sonicated cells into Wistar rats causes a chronic relapsing polyarthritis resembling human rheumatoid arthritis . We report evidence favoring a role for macrophages in the pathology of this disease . S . agalactiae injected ip induced a high level of tumor necrosis factor release by peritoneal macrophages isolated subsequently, and had a similar effect when added to control peritoneal macrophages in culture . Ia antigen was induced on macrophages in both the peritoneum and affected joints following S . agalactiae injection . The role of macrophages in the disease process was studied by treating animals prior to S . agalactiae injection with varying concentrations of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), silica, and carrageenan, agents known to have a biphasic effect on macrophage function . They aggravated the pathology at low doses but prevented the disease at high doses . The most specific alteration of macrophage levels was achieved by injection of recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) . Treatment with CSF-1 early in the disease lead to significant worsening of the pathology . Administration of CSF-1 after 2 weeks reactivated the disease and extended the chronic phase . These data in combination with previous findings are consistent with nonimmune, macrophage-mediated pathology for this model of arthritis . The results have implications for therapeutic application of CSF-1. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Apr, 10(4), 304 - 15 Role of quinolones in the treatment of bronchopulmonary infections, particularly pneumococcal and community-acquired pneumonia; Thys JP et al.; In view of their antimicrobial activity and pharmacological properties, fluoroquinolones should be suitable for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections . The overall clinical success rate using enoxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, and ciprofloxacin ranges from 81% to 89% . Despite relatively high MICs of the fluoroquinolones for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the clinical success rate of these drugs in pneumococcal infections is 91%, but the eradication rate of this pathogen is lower (73%) . In addition, fluoroquinolones appeared to be as effective as standard antibiotic regimens for treatment of bronchopulmonary infections in most of the comparative trials reported . The new quinolones could be a good alternative for treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, especially if examination of the sputum reveals gram-negative pathogens . In community-acquired pneumonia, drugs other than quinolones seem indicated because of the limited efficacy of the new quinolones in the treatment of severe pneumococcal infections and the poor activity of these drugs against the anaerobic flora causing aspiration pneumonia . In contrast, new quinolones should be very suitable for treatment of nosocomial pulmonary infections due to gram-negative pathogens . Quinolones used with or without erythromycin and rifampin, might be useful in the treatment of Legionnaires' disease . The role of these drugs in treatment of Chlamydia and Rickettsiae infections remains to be defined. Jpn J Genet, 1991 Apr, 66(2), 173 - 87 Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the Arthrobacter dextranase gene and its expression in Escherichia coli and Streptococcus sanguis; Okushima M et al.; A bacterial strain, which assimilated dextran and water-insoluble glucan produced by Streptococcus mutans, was isolated from soil . The bacterium produced and secreted potent dextranase activity, which was identified as Arthrobacter sp . and named CB-8 . The dextranase was purified and some enzymatic properties were characterized . The enzyme efficiently decomposed the water-insoluble glucan as well as dextran . A gene library from the bacteria was constructed with Escherichia coli, using plasmid pUC19, and clones producing dextranase activity were selected . Based on the result of nucleotide sequencing analysis, it was deduced that the dextranase was synthesized in CB-8 cells as a polypeptide precursor consisting of 640 amino acid residues, including 49 N-terminal amino acid residues which could be regarded as a signal peptide . In the E . coli transformant, the dextranase activity was detected mostly in the periplasmic space . The gene for the dextranase was introduced into Streptococcus sanguis, using an E . coli-S . sanguis shuttle vector that contained the promoter sequence of a gene for glucosyltransferase derived from a strain of S . mutans . The active dextranase was also expressed and accumulated in S . sanguis cells. Ther Umsch, 1991 Apr, 48(4), 258 - 63 {Secondary prevention in HIV infection}; Weber R et al.; In HIV seropositive persons, secondary prophylaxis should prevent HIV-associated diseases, including opportunistic and other complications, and delay progression of HIV infection . Efforts to control transmission of secondary infections are of limited value, since these complications are mainly caused by endogenous opportunistic microorganisms . Vaccines are currently available for only a few of the pathogens that are potentially important in this clinical setting; they include influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae and hepatitis B . However, antibody responses to these vaccines may be unsatisfactory in immunocompromised persons . Chemoprophylactic regimens have been devised primarily for prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and tuberculosis . Recently, antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine has shown promise in delaying progression of AIDS in asymptomatic HIV seropositive individuals with impaired cellular immunity. Eur Respir J, 1991 Apr, 4(4), 503 - 4 Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia; Mannes GP et al.; We describe a patient, who had no pre-existing disease, with bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a rare complication . In spite of the use of antibiotics and intensive treatment the mortality rate of this kind of infection remains high . Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequently found micro-organism responsible for community-acquired pneumonia . In 25-35% of these patients pneumococcal bacteraemia is found, with a 2-3 times higher mortality rate than that for non-bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia. J Bacteriol, 1991 Apr, 173(8), 2617 - 24 Mry, a trans-acting positive regulator of the M protein gene of Streptococcus pyogenes with similarity to the receptor proteins of two-component regulatory systems; Perez-Casal J et al.; In the Streptococcus pyogenes M6 strain D471, an insertion of the conjugative transposon Tn916 into a region 2 kb upstream of the promoter of emm6 (the structural gene for the M protein) rendered the strain M negative (M . G . Caparon and J . R . Scott, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . USA 84:8677-8681, 1987) . In the present work, we show that this insertion mutation, mry-1, is 244 bp upstream of an open reading frame encoding a protein we call Mry . This protein is visible on a gel after transcription and translation in vitro . We have developed a technique for complementation analysis in S . pyogenes and have used it to show that the wild-type mry gene is dominant to two mutant alleles . This dominance indicates that Mry acts in trans as a positive regulator of the emm6 gene . The translated DNA sequence of mry has two regions of similarity to the motif common to the receptor protein of two-component regulatory systems . In addition, the N terminus of Mry has two regions resembling a helix-turn-helix motif . Mry does not appear to be a global regulator of virulence determinants in the group A streptococcus because there is no effect of the mry-1 mutation on production of the hyaluronic acid capsule or streptokinase. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 57(4), 1134 - 8 Adaptation of Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus hirae to acid stress in continuous culture; Belli WA et al.; Streptococcus mutans GS-5 and IB1600 adapted to growth in acidic environments in continuous culture at slow (generation time = 8.3 h) or fast (generation time = 2.4 h) rates of growth in complex medium with a restricted glucose supply . The extent of adaptation was indicated by changes in minimum pH values attained by harvested cells suspended in dense suspensions with excess glucose and by increased levels of ATPase activity assayed in permeabilized cells . Also, adapted cells better withstood potentially lethal acidification . Cells harvested from cultures growing at pH values close to 5 reduced suspension pH to lower values than cells from cultures maintained at pH 7 . Cells from pH 6 cultures were intermediate . The IB1600 strain had a higher level of constitutive acid resistance than the GS-5 strain and also was better able to adapt to growth in acidified media . Both had less adaptive capacity than Enterococcus hirae ATCC 9790 . Adaptation occurred rapidly, mainly within a single generation in continuous culture, while deadaptation occurred more slowly over multiple generations . The capacity of S . mutans to adapt to acid conditions is likely to be important in the ecology of dental plaque and also for the cariogenicity of the organism. Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 1991 Apr, 85(2), 259 - 62 Prevalence of pneumococci with increased resistance to penicillin in Saudi Arabia; Qadri SM et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, respiratory tract and other clinical specimens from 268 patients were tested for sensitivity to penicillin, using 1 micrograms oxacillin disks . Eighty-four (31%) of these isolates were found to be relatively resistant to penicillin. Pathology, 1991 Apr, 23(2), 139 - 44 The hemolytic and cytolytic activity of group B streptococcal hemolysin and its possible role in early onset group B streptococcal disease; Tapsall JW et al.; The in vitro and cytolytic properties of the hemolysin of group B streptococcus (GBS) were investigated using sheep erythrocytes and McCoy cells adapted for growth in a serum-deficient medium . The relationship between the hemolysin, various carrier molecules and phospholipids was examined . Starch-based carriers interfered with the inhibitory activity of phospholipids and solvents for the phospholipids reduced the activity of the hemolysin . These technical problems were resolved by use of an albumin-based carrier, a strain producing large amounts of hemolysin and sonication of the phospholipid . The hemolysin was cytolytic for McCoy cells and this activity and its hemolytic action on sheep erythrocytes were inhibited by a number of phospholipid components of surfactant . It is possible that GBS hemolysin has a direct or indirect role in the pathogenesis of the pneumonitis of early onset GBS infection. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1991 Apr, 25(2), 206 - 11 {Identification and treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus}; Kilic H; We examined the current developments and studies on identification, treatment and carrier states of group A beta haemolytic streptococcus, depending on the literature. Gene, 1991 Apr, 100, 225 - 9 Identification and initial characterization of glucose-repressible promoters of Streptococcus mutans; Lane MA et al.; Three catabolite-repressible promoters from Streptococcus mutans have been isolated . These promoters were identified by utilizing the vector pRQ200 which contains a promoterless amylase-encoding gene, a Gram- origin of replication, and an erythromycin-resistance determinant . A library of S . mutans DNA was constructed in pRQ200, amplified in Escherichia coli and integrated by Campbell-type insertion into the S . mutans chromosome following transformation . Colonies exhibiting amylase production on media lacking an extraneous carbohydrate source were screened for diminished amylase production on media containing glucose . The effect of glucose on these promoters has been characterized using a quantitative spectrophotometric assay of amylase activity. J Rheumatol Suppl, 1991 Apr, 29, 14 - 20 The role of the streptococcus in poststreptococcal reactive arthritis and childhood polyarteritis nodosa; Fink CW; Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis is most likely a form of acute rheumatic fever . However, it frequently differs by early development of arthritis after pharyngitis, more prolonged arthritis or arthralgia and a less dramatic response to aspirin . The use of prophylactic penicillin is discussed and advocated . Childhood polyarteritis may be divided into a cutaneous form and a more generalized form that usually involves the kidney but frequently also the gastrointestinal tract, heart, or nervous system . Nine children with polyarteritis nodosa are described and their disease related to a prior streptococcal infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1991 Apr 1, 88(7), 2668 - 72 Streptococcus pyogenes causing toxic-shock-like syndrome and other invasive diseases: clonal diversity and pyrogenic exotoxin expression; Musser JM et al.; Genetic diversity and relationships among 108 isolates of the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes recently recovered from patients in the United States with toxic-shock-like syndrome or other invasive diseases were estimated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis . Thirty-three electrophoretic types (ETs), representing distinctive multilocus clonal genotypes, were identified, but nearly half the disease episodes, including more than two-thirds of the cases of toxic-shock-like syndrome, were caused by strains of two related clones (ET 1 and ET 2) . These two clones were also represented by recent pathogenic European isolates . A previous report of a relatively high frequency of expression of exotoxin A among isolates recovered from toxic-shock-like syndrome patients in the United States was confirmed; and the demonstration of this association both within clones and among distantly related clones supports the hypothesis that exotoxin A is a causal factor in pathogenesis of this disease . Near identity of the nucleotide sequences of the exotoxin A structural gene of six isolates of five ETs in diverse phylogenetic lineages was interpreted as evidence that the gene has been horizontally distributed among clones, presumably by bacteriophage-mediated transfer. Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1991 Apr-Sep, 33(2-3), 109 - 19 {Epidemiologic and etiologic study of acute respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age}; Garcia Ramos E et al.; This study also included epidemiologic data to determine the risk factors for the enhancement of these infections . The coagglutination technique for the rapid diagnosis of streptococcus was tried . Five hundred and thirty one samples of pharingeal swabs were obtained from children with ARI . 74% were younger than one year old . Brochopneumonias constituted 66.39% of the cases . In total 357 agents were isolated 35% corresponding to bacteria in pure culture, 23.3% to mixed infections and 11.6% only viruses . The bacteria were: Haemphilus influenza (12.4%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (11%), Staphylococcus aureus (9%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.3%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 5 children and M . hominis in 3 . Adenoviruses were isolated in 98 patients, parainfluenza in 19, respiratory syncytial virus in 4, influenza in 1 and picornavirus in 2 . Predominating socioeconomic factors were: overcrowding, deficient schooling and low income of parents which favor malnutrition . The more frequent agents were constitutes by bacteria . Viruses were a less cause of infection . It was confirmed that babies under 12 months are more susceptible to bacterial pneumonia and prompt treatment with antimicrobial agents lowered the lethality . Low socioeconomic level is a possible predisposing factor for respiratory diseases. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Apr, 6(2), 65 - 71 Adaptation by Streptococcus mutans to acid tolerance; Hamilton IR et al.; Our previous continuous culture studies with strains of Streptococcus mutans have indicated that the organism has the capacity of adapt to growth in acidic environments . This study was undertaken to examine this question in more detail . S . mutans Ingbritt and the phosphotransferase system (PTS)-defective mutant, S . mutans DR0001/6, were grown in continuous culture at pH 7.5 and 5.5 or 5.1, and the pH optimum for glucose uptake and glycolysis and the capacity of the cells to generate pH gradients were determined over the pH range 4.5 to 8.0 with steady state, washed cells . In addition, the proton permeability of the cells was measured over the pH range by an acid pulse technique . The results indicate that the pH optimum for glucose uptake by S . mutans Ingbritt grown at pH 7.5 was 7.5 and this optimum shifted to 7.0 and 6.0 for cells grown at pH 5.5 and 5.1, whereas with the S . mutans DR0001/6, the optimum shifted from 7.5 to 7.0 for the pH 5.5 cells . A similar shift in the pH optimum for glycolysis was observed for the 2 strains, and this was particularly pronounced for cells incubated with glucose in the presence of gramicidin to dissipate proton gradients . The capacity of the cells to generate pH gradients was related to their metabolic activity, and although larger gradients were not formed by the pH 5.5 cells, these cells were nevertheless capable of maintaining gradients at a lower pH; S . mutans DR0001/6 generated 2-fold larger pH gradients at pH 5.5 than S . mutans Ingbritt.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Apr, 137 ( Pt 4), 757 - 64 Biochemical and genetic analysis of Streptococcus mutans alpha-galactosidase; Aduse-Opoku J et al.; The aga gene coding for alpha-galactosidase in Streptococcus mutans was detected in a recombinant gene library constructed in phage lambda . The gene was subcloned into plasmid vectors and shown to specify a novel protein of Mr 80,000 . Characterization of alpha-galactosidase from S . mutans and from recombinant Escherichia coli expressing aga indicated that the enzyme functions as a tetramer . The amino acid composition of the alpha-galactosidase, deduced from nucleotide sequencing of aga, gave a predicted Mr of 82,022 and revealed regions of homology to alpha-galactosidases encoded by the E . coli Raf plasmids and by Bacillus stearothermophilus . Inactivation of the aga gene in S . mutans resulted in loss of all alpha-galactosidase activity and abolished the ability to ferment melibiose; alpha-glucosidase activity was also lost, due to an indirect effect on the dexB gene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1991 Mar 29, 175(3), 1023 - 8 Degradation of connective tissue proteins by serine proteases from Streptococcus pneumoniae; Courtney HS; The proteolytic activity of pneumococcal culture supernatants was investigated . Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and diisopropylfluorophosphate inhibited the proteolytic activity by 94% indicating that the enzymes are serine proteases . Zymogram analysis with inhibitors utilizing a non-denaturing gelatin substrate gel revealed two classes of serine proteases; one sensitive to calcium chelators and one resistant . Enzymes from the culture supernatant cleaved fibronectin, fibrinogen, elastin, and laminin; whereas bovine albumin, and the human immunoglobulins, IgG, IgM, and IgA, were not cleaved . These results indicate that pneumococci produce previously unrecognized serine proteases that degrade several tissue and blood proteins. J Biol Chem, 1991 Mar 25, 266(9), 5464 - 71 Chimeric pneumococcal cell wall lytic enzymes reveal important physiological and evolutionary traits; Diaz E et al.; Two novel chimeric pneumococcal cell wall lytic enzymes, named LC7 and CL7, have been constructed by in vitro recombination of the lytA gene encoding the major autolysin (LYTA amidase) of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a choline-dependent enzyme, and the cpl7 gene encoding the CPL7 lysozyme of phage Cp-7, a choline-independent enzyme . In remarkable contrast with previous chimeric constructions, we fused here two genes that lack nucleotide homology . The CL7 enzyme, which contains the N-terminal domain of CPL7 and C-terminal domain of LYTA, exhibited a choline-dependent lysozyme activity . This experimental rearrangement of domains might mimic the process that have generated the choline-dependent CPL1 lysozyme of phage Cp-1 during evolution, providing additional support to the modular theory of protein evolution . The LC7 enzyme, built up by fusion of the N-terminal domain of LYTA and the C-terminal domain of CPL7, exhibited an amidase activity capable of degrading ethanolamine-containing cell walls . The chimeric amidase behaved as an autolytic enzyme when it was cloned and expressed in S . pneumoniae . The chimeric enzymes provided new insights on the mechanisms involved in regulation of the host pneumococcal autolysins and on the participation of these enzymes in the process of cell separation . Furthermore, our experimental approach confirmed the basic role of the C-terminal domains in substrate recognition and revealed the influence of these domains on the optimal pH for catalytic activity. Carbohydr Res, 1991 Mar 20, 210, 247 - 54 Structure of the type-specific polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus rattus; Pritchard DG et al.; The structure of the type-specific polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus rattus was determined by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and by 2D-1H- and 13C-n.m.r.-spectroscopy . The polysaccharide was found to possess the trisaccharide repeating unit----3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1----2)-{alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)}-alpha-L-+ ++Rhap- (1----. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax, 1991 Mar 19, 80(12), 301 - 5 {Fever, headache and paralysis of the left leg}; Flepp M et al.; A 17 year old man was hospitalized because of fever, headache and a paresis of his left leg . Radiologic findings demonstrated a subdural interhemispheric empyema on the right side as a complication of ipsilateral pansinusitis . Streptococcus milleri was cultured as the only pathogen from maxillary sinus suppuration . Pathogenesis and therapy of subdural empyema are discussed . Cure was achieved with ceftriaxone, flucloxacilline and ornidazole during one week followed by ceftriaxone as monotherapy during further five weeks . The importance of streptococcus milleri as causing agent of purulent lesions in internal organs is stressed. S Afr Med J, 1991 Mar 16, 79(6), 329 - 30 Evaluation of a commercial kit for detection of Streptococcus pyogenes in a burns unit; Hudson DA et al.; The presence of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus) may increase morbidity in burns patients . A rapid detection system enabling early therapeutic intervention is therefore desirable . A commercial kit (Wellcome Diagnostics Reveal Colour Strep A) was evaluated in a burns unit . Two separate studies were undertaken . The first compared two swabs taken from a particular burn site, one of which was cultured conventionally and the other processed for rapid detection . In the second study, swabs were processed routinely and then subjected to the rapid detection test in order to assess reproducibility of results . In our hands the rapid test was easy to perform and correlated well with conventional culture . We recommend the use of a rapid detection system for S . pyogenes as a useful adjunct to conventional culture methods. Immunol Lett, 1991 Mar, 27(3), 251 - 6 The comparative frequency of human T cells responding to a native antigen and a synthetic peptide derived from Streptococcus mutans; Childerstone AJ et al.; The frequency of human peripheral blood T cells responding to a 21-residue synthetic peptide (SP 21) derived from the sequence of a 3.8-kDa streptococcal antigen was estimated by limiting dilution analysis and compared with the frequency of cells responding to the native, cross-reactive 185-kDa streptococcal antigen . Frequency estimates were made by measuring both {3H}thymidine incorporation and IL 2 production in the same cell cultures . The results provided frequency estimates for SP 21-reactive cells of between 1:42 147 and 1:306 110, with a mean of 1:160 617 by {3H}thymidine incorporation, and 1:139 893 to 1:241 315 (mean 1:165 315) using the IL 2 assay . With the native 185-kDa streptococcal antigen, frequency estimates were between 1:38 393 and 1:86 142 (mean 1:169 934) according to the proliferative response and 1:22 462 and 1:100 400 (mean 1:61 189) by the IL 2 assay. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Mar, 29(3), 426 - 30 Detection of genes for enterotoxins, exfoliative toxins, and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 in Staphylococcus aureus by the polymerase chain reaction; Johnson WM et al.; Eight pairs of synthetic oligonucleotide primers were used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol to detect genes for staphylococcal enterotoxins A to E, exfoliative toxins A and B, and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from clinical specimens and contaminated foods . Primers were targeted to internal regions of the toxin genes, and amplification fragments were detected after the PCR by agarose gel electrophoresis . Unequivocal discrimination of toxin genes was obtained by the PCR by using nucleic acids extracted from 88 strains of S . aureus whose toxigenicity was established biologically and immunologically . In immunological assays, two strains of S . aureus produced equivocal results for production of enterotoxin C or toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, giving an overall concordance between phenotypic and genotypic identification of 97.7% . Primer specificity was established in the PCR by using nucleic acids from known toxin-producing bacterial pathogens and from nontoxigenic S . aureus . Strains of Streptococcus spp., including some producers of pyrogenic exotoxin A carrying the speA gene, were negative by the PCR designed to detect staphylococcal toxins . The detection limits were established for all the staphylococcal toxin genes within their respective PCR protocols . The identification of staphylococcal toxin genes in strains of S . aureus by the PCR offers a very specific, sensitive, relatively rapid, and inexpensive alternative to traditional immunological assays which depend on adequate gene expression for reliability and sensitivity. Res Vet Sci, 1991 Mar, 50(2), 190 - 4 Evaluation of methods used for detecting Streptococcus suis type 2 in tonsils, and investigation of the carrier state in pigs; Davies PR et al.; Streptococcus suis type 2 was isolated from the tonsils of 143 (76 per cent) of 188 pigs from three herds by culturing on media containing a specific antiserum . Culture of frozen sections of tonsillar tissue was more sensitive than culture of swabs or deep scrapes . The specificity of an indirect fluorescent antibody test for identifying S suis type 2 in mixed cultures was conservatively estimated to be 0.89 . The level of infection in one herd without a history of meningitis was lower than in two herds which had experienced repeated outbreaks . Differences between herds in the level of infection were due to differences in the number of organisms carried by pigs, more so than differences in the detectable carrier rate. Res Vet Sci, 1991 Mar, 50(2), 145 - 51 Immune responses to intramammary infusion with soluble (ovalbumin) and particulate (S uberis) antigens in the preparturient bovine udder; Nashar TO et al.; Pregnant non-lactating cows were immunised by intramammary infusion with killed Streptococcus uberis into one quarter and ovalbumin into another, at one week (group 2) or one week and two weeks (group 1) before the expected date of parturition . A small IgG1 and IgG2 antibody response to ovalbumin was detected in the serum of these cows . There was also a small increase in IgG1 and IgA serum antibody activity to S uberis . In whey the response was restricted to IgA with activity to S uberis . The IgA antibody response to S uberis in group 1 was significantly greater in the quarter immunised with bacteria than that of the control quarters for up to two months after calving . In contrast, the serum IgA response was short or absent in a number of animals. Fam Med, 1991 Mar-Apr, 23(3), 198 - 201 Antibiotic use in the treatment of non-streptococcal pharyngitis; Slawson DC et al.; Treatment of non-streptococcal pharyngitis (NSP) varies among physicians . Recent data regarding difficult-to-culture bacterial pathogens have increased interest in antibiotic treatment of NSP . This study examined physician behavior regarding antibiotic treatment of NSP in preparation for a prospective clinical trial . The records of 358 patients with pharyngitis-related diagnoses from a large private family physician practice and an urban hospital's housestaff clinic were reviewed . No significant relationship between the presence of streptococcus and the prescribing of antibiotics was found . Physicians gave antibiotics to 50% of patients with clinical signs and symptoms of pharyngitis . Many of these tested negative for streptococcus . Physicians used antibiotics effective against Mycoplasma and Chlamydia less than one half of the time . Projected costs of drug treatment for patients with NSP was $1,200 . Family medicine educators are encouraged to monitor their own and their residents' antibiotic prescribing behaviors when treating common upper respiratory infections. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1991 Mar, 143(3), 598 - 604 Group B streptococcus induces tumor necrosis factor in neonatal piglets . Effect of the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor pentoxifylline on hemodynamics and gas exchange; Gibson RL et al.; Group B streptococcus (GBS), a common neonatal gram-positive pathogen, causes similar pathophysiologic features in human newborns and neonatal animal models of sepsis . Previous reports suggest that mediators in addition to TxA2 and PGI2 contribute to the late effects of GBS infusion (2 to 4 h), which include persistent increases in Ppa, hypoxemia, systemic hypotension, and a progressive fall in CO . Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) infusion in animals produces several of the late GBS effects . We hypothesized that GBS causes increased serum TNF levels 2 to 4 h into infusion in neonatal piglets . We also postulated that the TNF inhibitor, pentoxifylline (PTF), would attenuate both GBS-induced TNF production and late GBS effects . In piglets infused with 1.25 x 10(9) cfu/kg/h of GBS, serum TNF levels (pg/ml, ELISA assay) significantly increased at 2 h (231 +/- 41) and at 4 h (1,047 +/- 290, n = 9) . In piglets infused with concomitant GBS + PTF, serum TNF levels at 4 h (208 +/- 39, n = 8) were reduced compared to GBS alone piglets (p less than 0.02) . Control piglets infused with 0.9% saline or PTF alone for 4 h had no detectable serum TNF (less than 35) . GBS alone and GBS + PTF infusion caused similar increases in serum TxB2 levels at 1, 2, and 4 h . Serum 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels (pg/0.1 ml) significantly increased at 4 h (85 +/- 18) with GBS alone, and were more elevated at 4 h (306 +/- 75) with GBS + PTF infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) South Med J, 1991 Mar, 84(3), 385 - 6 Postanginal sepsis with dysphagia; Sinnott JT 4th et al.; We have described a 10-year-old girl who had dysphagia followed abruptly by arthritis . Streptococcus pyogenes was identified as the pathogen by fasciotomy with bone biopsy, and a tonsillar fluid collection confirmed the diagnosis of postanginal sepsis . The patient was cured by a 6-week course of parenteral antibiotics. Laryngoscope, 1991 Mar, 101(3), 289 - 92 Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of peritonsillar abscess; Brook I et al.; Thirty-four aspirates of pus from peritonsillar abscesses that were studied for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria showed bacterial growth . A total 107 bacterial isolates (58 anaerobic and 49 aerobic and facultative) were recovered, accounting for 3.1 isolates per specimen (1.7 anaerobic and 1.4 aerobic and facultatives) . Anaerobic bacteria only were present in 6 (18%) patients, aerobic and facultatives in 2 (6%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora in 26 (76%) . Single bacterial isolates were recovered in 4 infections, 2 of which were Streptococcus pyogenes and 2 were anaerobic bacteria . The predominant bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (6 isolates), Bacteroides sp (21 isolates, including 15 Bacteroides melaninogenicus group), and Peptostreptococcus sp (16) and S . pyogenes (10) . beta-Lactamase-producing organisms were recovered from 13 (52%) of 25 specimens tested . This retrospective study highlights the polymicrobial nature and importance of anaerobic bacteria in peritonsillar abscess. Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 949 - 54 Modifications of plasma fibronectin in cystic fibrosis patients; Stanislawski L et al.; Recurrent pulmonary infections with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a major problem in cystic fibrosis (CF), leading to severe and progressive deterioration of the respiratory tract . Fibronectin (FN) has a binding site(s) for S . aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes . This bacterial bindings site(s) was studied by using FN from patients with CF and comparing them with FN purified from the plasma of bronchitis and normal subjects by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique . We found a decreased binding of the CF FN to these bacteria in all seven CF patients . Other differences between the CF FN and normal FN were a marked modification in the pattern of peptide migration in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after hydrolysis with various proteinases and an increase or decrease of the total sugar content of the FN. Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 900 - 6 Effect of growth rate and pH on intracellular levels and activities of the components of the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system in Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt; Vadeboncoeur C et al.; The growth of Streptococcus mutants Ingbritt in continuous culture at low pH or high growth rates repressed the biosynthesis of the components of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) . The cellular concentrations of the soluble components HPr, enzyme I (EI), and EIII for mannose (IIIman) and EII activity for glucose, mannose, 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), and fructose were determined in membrane preparations from cells grown at pHs from 8.0 to 5.0 and at dilution (D) or growth rates from 0.1 to 1.0 h-1 . The cellular levels of HPr and EI varied less than threefold under all of the growth conditions tested . On the other hand, EII activity in membranes from cells grown at D = 0.1 h-1 was repressed by growth at pHs below 8.0, with cells grown at pH 5.0 completely devoid of EII activity . In addition, cells grown at D = 0.5 and 1.0 h-1 exhibited little PTS activity for glucose, mannose, and 2DG and twofold-lower activity for fructose . These activities were stimulated by the addition of a membrane-free cytoplasmic fraction, and this activating activity was shown to be due to the presence of IIIman . Estimation of the cellular content of IIIman indicated that the synthesis of this factor was repressed by growth above and below pH 7.0 and was particularly sensitive to growth at high rates . These results indicate that with S . mutans Ingbritt, both pH and growth rate regulate the genes for the synthesis of EIIs involved in the phosphorylation of glucose, mannose, 2DG, and fructose and the gene for the formation of IIIman. Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 879 - 84 Fluid replacement protection of rabbits challenged subcutaneous with toxic shock syndrome toxins; Lee PK et al.; Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPE A) belong to a family of pyrogenic toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, respectively . Both toxins are responsible for causing toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and related illnesses, clinically characterized by multiorgan involvement . The most severe TSS symptom is acute hypotension and shock after the initial febrile response . In this study, we examined possible mechanisms of shock development in TSS, particularly the role of T-cell proliferation, endotoxin enhancement by toxins, and capillary leakage . American Dutch belted rabbits, with subcutaneously implanted miniosmotic pumps filled with either TSST-1 or SPE A, served as the animal model . For both TSST-1 and SPE A-treated rabbits, administration of cyclosporin A prevented toxin-induced T-cell proliferation but failed to protect the rabbits . Polymyxin B treatment of rabbits, to neutralize endogenous endotoxin, partially protected rabbits from challenge with either exotoxin; two of six rabbits survived on day 2 when treated with only TSST-1, whereas six of six animals survived after challenge with TSST-1 and polymyxin B . Similarly, with SPE A-treated rabbits, only 1 of 10 animals without polymyxin B treatment survived on day 8, but 4 of 6 rabbits survived on day 8 when given polymyxin B . Fluid replacement was successful in preventing lethality . Twelve of 14 rabbits survived when given TSST-1 with fluid, and all rabbits treated with SPE A and fluid survived . Finally, by using miniosmotic pumps, staphylococcal exfoliative toxin A and concanavalin A were administered to rabbits in an attempt to induce lethality . These two T-cell mitogens caused T-cell proliferation but failed to induce lethality in rabbits . The data suggest that toxin interactions causing vascular leakage and to some extent endotoxin enhancement are of major importance in development of hypotension and shock in TSS . It appears that T-cell proliferation may not contribute significantly to the induction of shock and death. J Infect Dis, 1991 Mar, 163(3), 644 - 6 Serotypes of respiratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae compared with the capsular types included in the current pneumococcal vaccine; Jorgenson JH et al.; The serotypes of 474 clinically significant Streptococcus pneumoniae respiratory isolates collected during a national surveillance study in 1987-1988 were compared to the capsular types included in the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine licensed for use in the United States . Overall, 355 isolates (74.9%) belonged to types included in the current vaccine, while another 65 (13.7%) were types serologically related to vaccine types and likely to be protective by virtue of cross-reactivity . Relatively few isolates (9.1%) belonged to nonvaccine serotypes, and only 2.3% were nontypable . The mucoid serotype 3 was most frequent (13.1% of total), followed by 19F (9.3%), 23F (7.4%), 6B and 14 (5.7% each), and 4 and 6A (5.5% each) . The most frequent type not included in the vaccine was type 16 (2.1% of all isolates) . Thus, nearly 89% of respiratory isolates included in this study were encompassed within the antigenic spectrum of the currently marketed pneumococcal vaccine. J Infect Dis, 1991 Mar, 163(3), 542 - 8 Extremely high incidence of antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Hungary; Marton A et al.; An epidemiologic survey of antibiotic resistance among pneumococcal isolates collected during 1988 and 1989 in Hungary indicated that as many as 58% of all isolates and 70% of isolates from children were resistant to penicillin . These figures surpass even the highest values reported thus far for Spain and South Africa for the same period . Almost or more than 70% of the penicillin-resistant isolates were also resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, and cotrimoxazole and approximately 30% to chloramphenicol . Intravenous administration of ampicillin (30 mg/kg) did not interfere with the growth in the cerebrospinal fluid of three resistant strains introduced into the rabbit model of experimental meningitis . No resistant strain showed beta-lactamase activity . A representative highly resistant strain contained altered penicillin-binding proteins (low penicillin affinities and abnormal molecular sizes) and was also resistant to the lytic and killing effects of penicillin. J Immunol, 1991 Mar 1, 146(5), 1463 - 9 An analysis of synthetic peptide restriction by HLA-DR alleles in T cells from human subjects, naturally sensitized by Streptococcus mutans; Childerstone A et al.; T cells from most human subjects show significant in vitro proliferative responses to a 185-kDa surface Ag from Streptococcus mutans as well as to synthetic peptides derived from the sequence of a Mr 3800 streptococcal Ag . T cells from subjects expressing each of the alleles from DR1 to DR7 responded to synthetic peptides of 17 or 21 amino acid residues . Furthermore, inhibition studies with mAb to HLA class I and class II Ag showed that the DR Ag was a restriction molecule for the proliferative responses . Mouse L cells transfected with DR1, DR2, DR4, DR5, and DR7 were used to confirm the permissive nature of the responses . An analysis of the fine specificity of the responses showed that the minimum peptides capable of stimulating T cells from subjects with different DR types varied by one or two residues . For DR2 and DR3 the shortest peptide was residues 6-15, an additional serine (residue 5) was required for DR1 and DR7 and an aspartic acid (residue 4) for DR4, DR5, and DR6 . Successful oral-mucosal bacterial colonisation in humans, by a largely commensal Streptococcus, might be associated with the permissive nature of the HLA-DR restriction of the response to a major streptococcal cell surface peptide . The peptide recognised in association with the HLA-DR molecule may induce an immune response that prevents central entry of the organism from the peripheral mucosal site. Cell Immunol, 1991 Mar, 133(1), 72 - 83 The repertoire diversity and magnitude of antibody responses to bacterial antigens in aged mice: I . Age-associated changes in antibody responses differ according to the mouse strain; Nicoletti C et al.; Aging influences the host immune responses in various ways . In aging mice we have studied the antibody responses to two unrelated bacterial antigens . Streptococcus pneumoniae R36a vaccine (Pn) and TNP coupled to Brucella abortus (TNP-BA) . Aged animals (20-24 months old) of the C57BL/6 strain had markedly reduced numbers of IgM antibody plaque-forming cells (PFC) to Pn as compared to young/adult mice (2-3 months old) . In contrast, the anti-Pn IgM PFC responses of aged BALB/c mice were consistently higher than they were in the young/adult mice . The increased anti-Pn responses were not due to a nonspecific immunostimulation, because the responses of aged BALB/c mice to TNP-BA were lower as compared to the adults . However, the aged BALB/c mice responded relatively poorly to Pn challenge, and their IgG responses (as determined by ELISA plaque assay) demonstrated a very high individual variability . The clonotypic diversity of anti-Pn response in young BALB/c and C57BL/6 is limited, such that the majority of PFC produce antibody that express all idiotopes (Id) of the T15 immunoglobulin encoded in the VH-S107/Vk22 genes . In contrast, the PFC from aged mice are diverse, expressing incomplete T15 Id or none at all, suggesting that the antibodies are encoded by altered T15 genes and by different, non-T15 genes . Our data demonstrate that the age-related changes in the magnitude of antibody response to certain antigens are influenced by the host genetic make-up, and that the changes in magnitude and diversity of antibody response may be unrelated to each other. Am J Vet Res, 1991 Mar, 52(3), 397 - 401 Activation of rainbow trout complement by C-reactive protein; Nakanishi Y et al.; The activation of the complement system of rainbow trout by trout C-reactive protein (CRP) was investigated . Complement fixation tests were performed by using rabbit hemolysin-sensitized sheep erythrocytes and rainbow trout complement . Purified CRP increased the consumption of complement in the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae C-polysaccharide (CPS), indicating the activation of the complement system . In contrast to this, acute phase serum activated the complement in the absence of CPS . Consumption of the complement by acute-phase serum was depressed when CRP was removed from acute-phase serum by CPS-sepharose 4B affinity chromatography . The acute-phase serum, as well as CRP plus CPS, suppressed in vitro growth of Vibrio anguillarum in the presence of complement, and enhanced the phagocytosis of the bacteria by glass-adherent peritoneal exudate cells . These results indicated that CRP has a role in host defense during acute-phase response through the activation of the complement system, enhancement of phagocytosis, and suppression of bacterial growth. Clin Prev Dent, 1991 Mar-Apr, 13(2), 9 - 12 The effect of sustained-release varnish of chlorhexidine in dental plastic shells on salivary Streptococcus mutans; Steinberg D et al.; The suppression of S . mutans is a predominate factor in preventing tooth decay . Sustained-release-delivery varnish of chlorhexidine was applied to dental plastic shells and administered to eight volunteers to be worn while sleeping . Salivary bacterial samples were taken on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 . A statistically significant reduction in S . mutans counts was recorded during the course of the study while a non-significant reduction in the total bacterial counts was found . Our results indicate that the application of chlorhexidine in the form of slow-release varnish in plastic shells is an effective intraoral drug delivery system resulting in reduction of S . mutans. Clin Prev Dent, 1991 Mar-Apr, 13(2), 29 - 31 Comparative evaluation of test parameters in plaque removal . A preliminary report; Jakober RL et al.; A comparative study was conducted to determine the effect of several parameters on the removal of simulated plaque . Streptococcus mutans grown in a 2% sucrose medium was allowed to deposit on porous ceramic tiles in the course of the culture growth to form simulated plaque . The tiles with the culture deposit were dried and stained with Safranin O stain, then used in the plaque removal studies . The parameters evaluated in the course of the study were (a) flowing cold water vs flowing hot water and (b) brushing with toothpaste alone vs brushing with hot water as well as brushing alone . It was observed that flowing hot water was more effective than flowing cold water in the removal of the simulated plaque . Brushing with hot water was found to be a more efficient means of removing the plaque than brushing with toothpaste or brushing alone . The study suggests that it is more effective to use hot water for plaque removal in the course of performing daily oral hygiene. J Rheumatol, 1991 Mar, 18(3), 473 - 5 Pyogenic arthritis caused by Streptococcus milleri in a nonimmunocompromised host; Mateo Soria L et al.; We describe a case of pyogenic arthritis caused by S . milleri (S . anginosus) in a non-immunocompromised host . No other septic focus was found . S . milleri is now widely recognized as an important cause of pyogenic infection, though it eluded suspicion for many years . The rarity of reports of articular infections by S . milleri might be due to problems associated with its recognition. J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Mar, 137 ( Pt 3), 483 - 9 Mutants of Streptococcus gordonii Challis over-producing glucosyltransferase; Haisman RJ et al.; Two mutants of Streptococcus gordonii which over-produced extracellular polysaccharide when grown on sucrose-containing medium were isolated after mutagenesis of strain Challis with ethyl methanesulphonate . The mutants, designated strains OB20 and OB30, expressed 2.6-fold and 4.7-fold respectively more glucosyltransferase (GTF) activities than the wild-type strain . Transformation experiments suggested that the two mutants carried different mutations, denoted gtf-20 and gtf-30 . A double mutant (gtf-20 gtf-30) was constructed and this strain produced 6.4-fold more GTF . Enzymes from wild-type and mutant strains were biochemically indistinguishable and they synthesized structurally identical glucans . Increasing the Na+ concentration of the bacterial growth medium reduced GTF production in all strains by about 60% . Tween 80 also inhibited enzyme production and more specifically reduced GTF synthesis by the mutants . The mutations gtf-20 and gtf-30 appear to define separate genetic loci involved in regulating expression of GTF activity in S . gordonii. J Bacteriol, 1991 Mar, 173(5), 1617 - 22 Tn5253, the pneumococcal omega (cat tet) BM6001 element, is a composite structure of two conjugative transposons, Tn5251 and Tn5252; Ayoubi P et al.; Tn5253, carrying tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistance determinants, is a 65.5-kb conjugative transposon originally detected in the chromosome of Streptococcus pneumoniae BM6001 . We have identified an 18-kb segment of DNA carrying the tet determinant within Tn5253 to be an independent conjugative transposon when removed from the context of the larger element . In vivo deletion of this DNA segment, now termed Tn5251, from within Tn5253 did not affect the conjugative transposition properties of the remaining sequences . Thus, Tn5253 is a composite element of two conjugative structures: Tn5252, constituting the sequences beyond Tn5251 within Tn5253, and Tn5251 . The transfer properties of Tn5252 and Tn5251 suggest that these may belong to two different classes of mobile elements even though they were initially found associated . The notion that a tet-carrying transposon like Tn5251 may have been the ancestral element in the evolution of the larger streptococcal conjugative transposons must be reevaluated in the light of present observations. Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 932 - 40 Effects of anaerobiosis and aerobiosis on interactions of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes with the dental plaque bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Capnocytophaga ochracea, and Bacteroides gingivalis; Thompson HL et al.; Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were able to generate and release superoxide anions upon stimulation of Streptococcus mutans, Bacteroides gingivalis, and Capnocytophaga ochracea when incubated aerobically but not when incubated anaerobically . Lysozyme release and phagocytosis by PMN were independent of oxygen, and no difference between PMN incubated aerobically or anaerobically was observed (PMN stimulated by B . gingivalis released 7.6% total lysozyme when aerobic and 6.9% when anaerobic) . There were variations in lysozyme release and phagocytosis for the three organisms, particularly for phagocytosis . B . gingivalis and C . ochracea yielded lower phagocytosis values than those for S . mutans, e.g., at 1 h 67% of the initial inoculum of S . mutans was phagocytosed (versus only 40% for B . gingivalis) . Transmission electron microscopy showed that both S . mutans and B . gingivalis were internalized into classical phagolysosomes . In contrast, C . ochracea showed two forms of internalization; C . ochracea either formed a classical phagolysosome or was tightly bound in the cytoplasm with no surrounding cell membrane . Intracellular killing of S . mutans and C . ochracea was unaffected by anaerobiosis, but killing of C . ochracea was much lower than that of S . mutans (1 x 10(7) to 2 x 10(7) bacteria killed compared with 5.1 x 10(7) bacteria killed at 6 h) . In contrast, a greater number of B . gingivalis was killed in the presence of oxygen (5.3 x 10(7) bacteria were killed when aerobically incubated and 1.9 x 10(7) bacteria were killed when anaerobically incubated) . These results suggest that the ability to survive anaerobically may enable some bacteria to evade PMN killing; however, abnormal phagocytosis may represent a more efficient way to evade both oxygen-dependent and -independent killing mechanisms, leading to enhanced virulence of the organism. J Dent Res, 1991 Mar, 70(3), 162 - 6 Protection of rats against dental caries by passive immunization with hen-egg-yolk antibody (IgY); Otake S et al.; Hen-egg-yolk antibody (IgY) was prepared against Streptococcus mutans MT8148 serotype c that was cultivated in medium containing sucrose, and it was used in passive caries-immunity studies . Specific pathogen-free rats infected with S . mutans MT8148 (c) and fed with a cariogenic diet containing more than 2% immune yolk powder developed significantly lower caries scores than did the ones infected with the same strain and fed with a diet containing only control yolk powder obtained from non-immunized hens . Similar results were obtained in an experiment with rats infected with S . mutans JC-2 (c) strain . Rats provided a diet supplemented with 0.5% immune water-soluble protein fraction containing S . mutans-specific IgY and challenged with S . mutans MT8148 exhibited significantly fewer caries lesions, compared with control rats on the normal diet. Int Ophthalmol, 1991 Mar, 15(2), 131 - 5 Suppurative keratitis in rural Bangladesh: the value of gram stain in planning management; Williams G et al.; External eye disease which result in corneal scarring are an important cause of blindness in Bangladesh and at the Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (EITC) over 200 cases of suppurative keratitis are managed each year . We reviewed the records of 127 cases of microbial keratitis to determine the relative contributions of Gram stain and culture to diagnosis of the causative organism . There were 107 culture-proven cases of microbial keratitis amongst the 127 patients in this study . Gram stain was positive in 89 cases which represents 70% of the total and 83% of all culture-proven cases . Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas sp were the commonest bacteria isolated and Aspergillus sp and Fusarium sp the commonest fungi . In 20 cases (16%) no organism was isolated on Gram stain or culture . Our results support the use of both Gram stain and culture in isolation of the causative organism in cases of suppurative keratitis in Bangladesh . However the low cost of Gram stain and its useful recovery rates for both bacteria and fungi support its use as an initial investigation for microbial keratitis at the secondary level of eye care in rural Bangladesh. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1991 Mar, 100(3), 236 - 43 Pathophysiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae otitis media: kinetics of the middle ear biochemical and cytologic host responses; Nonomura N et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important bacterial pathogen in the pathophysiology of otitis media . To elucidate the inflammatory responses that occur during pneumococcal otitis media, the kinetics of the biochemical and cytologic middle ear responses to heat-killed encapsulated and nonencapsulated pneumococci were studied in the chinchilla model . Inoculation of the middle ear cavity with at least 10(6) S pneumoniae cells induced an early, brief vascular response with leakage of small (albumin) followed by larger (alpha 2-macroglobulin) proteins, followed by sustained influx of acute inflammatory cells and lysozyme . The threshold for a sustained lysozyme response was 1,000 times lower for nonencapsulated than for encapsulated pneumococci . These results indicate that nonviable S pneumoniae organisms with an intact envelope initiate the middle ear inflammatory response . Therefore, interventions that enhance the clearance of pneumococcal cells from the middle ear may reduce the inflammatory response and prevent chronic middle ear inflammation. Int J Radiat Biol, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 711 - 6 Post-irradiation treatment with OK432 can prevent radiation-induced bone marrow death; Kurishita A et al.; The radioprotective effect of OK432, a Streptococcus haemolyticus preparation, on bone marrow death was examined in mice . The LD50 value was increased from 7.55 Gy in controls to 8.45 Gy in mice treated once with OK432 immediately after irradiation . Multiple administrations of the agent further elevated the LD50 value to 9.56 Gy . The radioprotective effect was also apparent when multiple treatments were commenced as late as 72 h after irradiation. Infect Immun, 1991 Mar, 59(3), 1093 - 9 Nucleotide sequence of a gene coding for a saliva-binding protein (SsaB) from Streptococcus sanguis 12 and possible role of the protein in coaggregation with actinomyces; Ganeshkumar N et al.; The nucleotide sequence of a 2.9-kb streptococcal DNA fragment which codes for two proteins with MrS of 36,000 (Streptococcus sanguis adhesin B {SsaB}) and 20,000 has been determined . The ssaB gene is 927 bp and codes for a 34,684-Da protein . The open reading frame coding for the 20-kDa protein is 489 bp and codes for a protein of 17,885 Da . The SsaB protein has a putative hydrophobic 19-amino-acid signal sequence resulting in a 32,620-Mr secreted protein, whereas the 20-kDa protein has no signal sequence . Both proteins are hydrophilic, and neither appears to have a hydrophobic membrane anchor sequence in the carboxy-terminal region . A DNA sequence homology of 73% exists between the cloned fragment containing the ssaB gene from S . sanguis 12 and the cloned fragment containing the type 1 fimbrial gene of S . sanguis FW213 (J.C . Fenno, D.J . LeBlanc, and P . Fives-Taylor, Infect . Immun . 57:3527-3533, 1989) . Amino acid comparisons of the SsaB and type 1 fimbrial proteins show 87% homology, indicating a close similarity of the two proteins . Antiserum raised against the cloned SsaB protein cross-reacts with a 38-kDa protein identified from Streptococcus gordonii (S . sanguis) PK488 which was proposed to mediate coaggregation with Actinomyces naeslundii PK606 (P.E . Kolenbrander and R.N . Andersen, Infect . Immun . 58:3064-3072, 1990) . The SsaB adhesion may play a role in oral colonization by binding either to a receptor on saliva or to a receptor on actinomyces. Agric Biol Chem, 1991 Mar, 55(3), 743 - 50 Streptococcal antitumor protein: expression in Escherichia coli cells and properties of the recombinant protein; Kanaoka M et al.; Streptococcal antitumor protein (SAGP) was produced by transformed E . coli JM103 carrying the SAGP gene downstream from the tac promoter . The purified recombinant SAGP had the same N-terminal amino acid sequence as that of the native SAGP isolated from Streptococcus pyogenes Su cells . Gel filtration analysis showed that the recombinant SAGP was a dimer, while the native SAGP was a tetramer . When the antitumor activity was tested against sarcoma 180 cells, the IC50 of the recombinant SAGP was 0.3 microgram/ml, about a quarter as active as the native SAGP . These results suggest that the quaternary structure of SAGP is important for the antitumor activity. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen . 1991 Feb 28;111(6):708. {Primary peritonitis in children}; Mathisen SR et al.; Primary peritonitis occurs rarely in childhood . The causative microbe is usually either streptococcus or pneumococcus . However, the incidence of gram negative anaerobic bacteria is increasing . The bacteria are cultured from fluid taken from the abdominal cavity during celiotomy . The abdominal viscera are normal, which excludes secondary peritonitis . We discuss the case of an infant who presented this disease entity. Med Klin (Munich), 1991 Feb 15, 86(2), 59 - 70 {Infectious endocarditis from the morphologic viewpoint: on the pathology and clinical aspects of 97 autopsy cases}; Groll A et al.; In continuous autopsy material between 1978 and 1987 an infectious endocarditis was present in 97 cases of 8745 postmortem examinations . Hospital acquired or iatrogenic infections were at the top of the list with 60% contribution and intravasal devices, cardiovascular or abdominal surgery acting as predominant entrance spots of the infection . In community acquired disease the portal of entry could not be ascertained in most of the cases . The spectrum of causative organisms showed staphylococcus aureus in first position (37%), followed by enterococci (20%), candida (12%) and gram-negative rods (10%) . Streptococcus viridans could be isolated in only one case . The majority of patients already had cardiac valve lesions before the onset of infection (48%), immune-defence tangent illnesses (47%) and/or were treated immunosuppressively (14%) . In many of the patients, however, no predisposing factors could be established . Factors determining the clinical outcome were - independent of the localization - the local destruction (47%), purulent and non-purulent myocarditis (58%), fresh myocardial infarction (17%) and embolization to various organs (76%), whereby the central nervous system was affected to a high degree (43%) . Only 39% of the analyzed cases were discovered at lifetime; especially mural (n = 10) and tricuspidal (n = 9) infections were overlooked . In spite of highly suspicious infection parameters, blood-cultures were drawn from only 59% of the patients; however, an antibiotic therapy had been given to 85% . Only through an early diagnosis before serious complications set in, the poor prognosis of infectious endocarditis can be improved by specific chemotherapy and well-timed surgical measures. Am J Med, 1991 Feb, 90(2), 206 - 10 Results of bronchoscopically obtained lower airway cultures from adult sickle cell disease patients with the acute chest syndrome; Kirkpatrick MB et al.; PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of bacterial pneumonia as a cause of the acute chest syndrome in adult patients with sickle cell disease based on bronchoscopically obtained lower airway cultures and to describe the clinical, laboratory, and roentgenographic features of the acute chest syndrome in a series composed entirely of adult patients with sickle cell disease . PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the hospital records from 19 episodes (18 patients) of acute chest syndrome in adult patients with sickle cell disease (greater than or equal to 19 years of age) who had undergone flexible bronchoscopy to obtain lower airway cultures between January 1979 and July 1987 . We also recorded patients' clinical, laboratory, and roentgenographic characteristics . RESULTS: Pneumonia was diagnosed in four of 19 episodes (21%) of acute chest syndrome based on quantitative cultures obtained at bronchoscopy . The pneumonia was caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in two patients and mixed aerobic and anaerobic organisms in the other two patients . Forty-four of 45 blood cultures were negative, and one grew Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was considered a contaminant . Chest roentgenograms revealed lower lobe involvement in 17 episodes (90%) and bilateral infiltrates in six (32%) . Pleural effusions occurred in seven episodes (37%), and pleural fluid samples obtained from five of these revealed sterile exudates . CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective study suggest that bacterial pneumonia is an uncommon cause of acute chest syndrome in adult patients with sickle cell disease . These results are consistent with previous retrospective studies using noninvasive techniques to diagnose pneumonia . Nevertheless, there appeared to be no reliable noninvasive variables that could accurately differentiate between patients with and without pneumonia and, consequently, we recommend empiric antibiotic therapy in addition to usual supportive care of these patients. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1991 Feb, 38(1), 11 - 6 Characterization of a murine IgG3 monoclonal antibody against Chlamydia-specific lipopolysaccharide and its purification by affinity chromatography on IgG Fc-receptors from Streptococcus dysgalactiae; Thiele D et al.; Purification of a murine IgG3 monoclonal antibody (Mab 22) directed against an epitope of Chlamydia-specific lipopolysaccharide by affinity chromatography on recently described solid phase IgG Fc-receptors from Streptococcus dysgalactiae is reported . SDS-PAGE studies revealed the purity of the eluted antibody . The purified Mab 22 was characterized by determination of class, subclass and light chain-type, and by dot tests and immunoblot analysis. Immun Infekt, 1991 Feb, 19(1), 8 - 11 {Stimulation of the immune system by microbial "superantigens"}; Fleischer B; The enterotoxins and the toxic-shock-syndrome toxin-1 of Staphylococcus aureus, the erythrogenic toxins of Streptococcus pyogenes as well as a still uncharacterized exoprotein of Mycoplasma arthritidis belong to a family of exotoxins, that have in common a potent mitogenic activity for T lymphocytes of several species . These proteins stimulate CD4(+)- and CD8+ T-lymphocytes by cross-linking the T-cell-antigen receptor with MHC-class-II molecules on accessory or target cells . They are functionally bivalent molecules having distinct interaction sites for variable parts of the T-cell receptor and for nonpolymorphic parts of MHC-class-II molecules . Due to their preferential action on T cells expressing certain V beta-parts of the T-cell receptor the designation "superantigens" has been proposed . The mechanism of T-cell stimulation has apparently been conserved in evolution and has been adapted to the host's T-cell-receptor repertoire . The T cells stimulating activity apparently contributes to the pathogenesis of certain infectious diseases . Noteworthy, mice express endogenous "superantigens" that have similar properties. J Protein Chem, 1991 Feb, 10(1), 49 - 59 The amino-terminal region of group A streptococcal M protein determines its molecular state of assembly and function; Khandke KM et al.; Group A streptococcal M protein, a major virulence factor, is an alpha-helical coiled-coil dimer on the surface of the bacteria . Limited proteolysis of type 57 streptococcus with pepsin released two fragments of the M57 molecule, with apparent molecular weights of 32,000 and 27,000 on SDS-PAGE . However, on gel filtration under nondenaturing conditions, each of these proteins eluted as two distinct molecular forms . The two forms corresponded to their dimeric and monomeric state as compared to the gel filtration characteristics of known dimeric coiled-coil proteins . The results of sedimentation equilibrium measurements were consistent with this, but further indicated that the "dimeric form" consisted of a dimer in rapid equilibrium with its monomer, whereas the "monomeric form" does not dimerize . The monomeric form was the predominant species for the 27 kD species, whereas the dimeric form predominated for the 32 kD species . Sequence analysis revealed the 27 kD species to be a truncated derivative of the 32 kD PepM57 species, lacking the N-terminal nonheptad region of the M57 molecule . These data strongly suggested that the N-terminal nonheptad region of PepM57 is important in determining the molecular state of the molecule . Consis