Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1980, 28(2), 345 - 55 Studies on acquired systemic resistance in mice with oral immunization with Shigella sonnei; Kowalewska D et al.; Virulent, viable Shigella sonnei bacilli introduced orally, induced in mice resistance against lethal intravenous (i.v.) infection with dysentery bacilli . The immunized animals survived lethal infection and also bacilli were effectively destroyed in the spleen and liver of the immunized animals . It was shown that orally induced immunity may be transferred into nonimmunized mice by means of serum and spleen cells taken on definite days after immunization of donors . Protective activity of serum appeared to be dependent on the presence of specific antibodies and was correlated with their titer . Protective activity of spleen cells occurred about 6 days after immunization of the cell donors with the bacilli . Cell suspensions, prepared from the spleens taken from donors on day 6, protected 100% of the recipients of these cells from lethal infection . Results of these studies indicate that bacterial infection developing in the intestine mobilizes besides local immunity also general immunity . Mechanism of the general immunity induced by orally administered dysentery bacilli is discussed. Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1980 Jan-Mar, 25(1), 27 - 33 {Plesiomonas shigelloides isolated from 2 patients with acute enteritis}; Lucinescu S et al.; Three Plesiomonas shigelloides strains were isolated from 2 cases of acute enteritis . The bacilli developed in pure or predominantly pure cultures on ADCL and Istrati-Meitert isolation media . A description is given of the morphologic, cultural, biochemical properties and sensitivity of the strains to antibiotics . One of the patients presented agglutinins in a 1/40+ + titre . The arguments lending support to the causative role of these bacilli are discussed . It is for the first time that isolation of Plesiomonas shigelloides has been reported in Romania. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus, 1980 Jan-Feb, 17(1), 48 - 51 Corneal ulceration due to Shigella flexneri; Kelinske M et al.; Shigella keratitis with ulceration is a rare occurrence with only four previous reports in the literature . Corneal ulceration appears to be characteristically superficial with a predilection for the inferior cornea . In the case reported here, resolution of ulceration occurred with the use of gentamicin and chloramphenicol, following a poor response to sulfacetamide . Experimental evidence strongly suggests that the course of infection is usually self-limited but that corneal scarring is a common sequelae . In the majority of the clinical cases reported to date, corneal ulceration has responded to appropriate antimicrobials with resolution, but has left residual opacification . To the extent that all of the cases were in young children, assessment of the degree of visual loss has been difficult to ascertain. Infect Immun, 1980 Jan, 27(1), 102 - 6 Action of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the respiration of mouse liver mitochondria; McGivney A et al.; Escherichia coli O127:B8 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibited oxygen consumption by isolated mouse liver mitochondria at 10 micrograms of LPS per mg of protein when glutamate + malate was the substrate and adenosine 5'-diphosphate had been added (state 3 respiration), but had little effect when adenosine 5'-diphosphate was not added (state 4 respiration) . LPS stimulated state 4 respiration at 10 micrograms/mg of mitochondrial protein when succinate was the substrate but had little effect on state 3 respiration . Lipid A from Shigella sonnei at 2 micrograms/mg of mitochondrial protein also stimulated state 4 respiration but did not affect state 3 respiration with succinate as the substrate . Lipid A, unlike LPS, caused a decrease in the adenosine 5'-diphosphate/O ratio . LPS at 100 micrograms/mg of mitochondrial protein impaired the reduction of cytochromes aa3, c, and b when succinate was the substrate but not when reduced nicotinamide dinucleotide, dithionite, or glutamate was the substrate. Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol, 1980, 214(1), 39 - 46 Shigella endotoxin-induced ocular inflammation in the normal and sensory denervated rabbit eye; Unger WG et al.; Injection of Shigella endotoxin (2 mug) into the vitreous chamber of a normal rabbit eye induces on infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, miosis, a moderately intense dilation of iris, conjunctival and limbal vessels, and a breakdown in the blood-aqueous and blood-vitreal barriers . Significant amounts of soluble blood protein and prostaglandin-like (PG) material are found in the aqueous and vitreous humours withdrawn at 24 h . Endotoxin injected into the sensory denervated eye elicits similar vascular changes which appear to occur less rapidly than in normal eyes . conversely, the levels of aqueous and vireal PG-like material, as well as the capacity of excised irides to form PG from exogenous precursors, seems greater in the denervated eyes . If PG is an important mediator of ocular changes in the early phases, the results suggest that the action of this inflammatory autacoid in facilitating the ocular changes is less effective in eyes deprived of functional sensory nerves. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Jan, 17(1), 101 - 2 Rise and fall of shigella antibiotic resistance; Meyer PW et al.; Ampicillin resistance of shigellae first appeared in Omaha in 1971, peaked at 68% between 1973 and 1974, and declined to 7% between 1977 and 1978 . This reflected the rise and fall of strains with nine different multiple antibiotic resistance patterns that included ampicillin. J Recept Res, 1980, 1(2), 199 - 213 Interaction of Shigella shigae cytotoxin with receptors on sensitive and insensitive cells; Eiklid K et al.; The effect of a cytotoxin isolated from Shigella shigae has been tested on different cell lines . HeLa S3 cells, as well as some other human carcinoma cells, were killed by picomolar to femtomolar concentrations of the pure toxin, whereas certain other human carcinoma cells and a variety of non-epithelial cells from human tissue and from various animal tissues were resistant to-nanomolar concentrations of the toxin . Binding studies with 125 I-labelled Shigella shigae cytotoxin showed that the sensitive HeLa S3 cells contain 1.3 x 10(6) binding sites per cell, whereas in an insensitive HeLa cell line 2.6 x 10(5) sites per cell were measured . In all cases the apparent association constant, Ka was found to be about 10(10) M-1 . The binding occurred fairly rapidly, whereas dissociation of bound toxin occurred at a very slow rate, even in the presence of excess unlabaled toxin . All toxin sensitive cell lines bound similar amounts of toxin as HeLa S3 cells, whereas some of the resistant cell lines did not contain measurable amounts of toxin receptors. Scand J Rheumatol, 1980, 9(1), 17 - 23 Monocyte function in rheumatoid arthritis; Bar-Eli M et al.; Monocytes derived from peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had a marked defect in their bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus albus and Listeria monocytogenes; whereas the phagocytic capacity of monocytes from RA patients for both Staph . albus and Shigella flexneri was similar to that of monocytes from healthy subjects . There were no significant differences between the patient and control groups with regard to antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of monocyte against antibody-coated EL4 leukemia tumor cells . No correlation was observed between the rheumatoid factor (RF) titer in the serum of RA patients and the ADCC capacity of their monocytes . The ADCC of normal monocytes was reduced markedly following their incubation with serum from RA patients . It suggested that the defect in bactericidal activity in monocytes from RA patients may explain, at least in part, the susceptibility of RA patients to infections. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Jan, 11(1), 65 - 7 Microscopic examination of stools from nonhuman primates as a way of predicting the presence of Shigella; Hirsh DC et al.; Microscopic examination of stool samples from captive nonhuman primates with diarrhea for the presence or absence of leukocytes or erythrocytes or both as a means of predicting the presence of Shigella spp . was performed . Analysis of the data multivariately by means of a log linear model did not show a three-way association between diarrhea, Shigella, and the presence or absence of cells. Vopr Med Khim, 1980 Jan-Feb, 26(1), 23 - 30 {Change in the nonesterified fatty acid makeup of Shigella flexneri No . 15172 type 3a in the process of passage on developing chick embryos}; Avkhutskaia GS et al.; Composition of nonesterified fatty acids/NEFAj from Shigella Flexneri was similar to that from other Gram-negative bacteria of the enteritic group . At the same time, NEFA of the dysenteric bacteria contained comparatively high amount of branched and cyclopropane-bearing fatty acids . Adaptation of Shigella Flexneri in the medium of developing chicken embryo led to a distinct increase in total NEFA content as well as of cyclopropane-bearing and saturated fatty acids in the bacteria and to a decrease in content of branched-chain and unsaturated fatty acids . Total content of NEFA and of unsaturated fatty acids was increased, but their qualitative composition became poor in amnions of developing chicken embryons under conditions of their infection with the Shigella. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980, 248(1), 81 - 90 Studies on bacteriocin production and sensitivity of Klebiella strains using the Abbott-Shannon sets of standard strains; Israil AM; In the present study, the bacteriocin production of 308 Klebsiella strains and bacteriocin sensitivity of 131 Klebsiella strains were investigated by help of the two Abbott and Shannon sets of standard strains for colicin typing of Shigella sonnei . 63% of Klebsiella strains were found to be bacteriocin producers . Although a certain bacteriocin production pattern was predominant in 8 of 11 outbreaks studied it could not be demonstrated that this marker could confer any epidemiological relationship among the strains of the same focus . 70% of Klebsiella strains were colicin sensitive . Three different patterns of colicin sensitivity were described and one of them was predominant (in 89% of cases) . Three different patterns of colicin sensitivity were described and one of them was predominant (in 89% of cases) . Some particular aspects of colicin sensitivity in strains isolated from 2 subjects of the same focus are pointed out and the significance of this market for epidemiologicala strains were colicin sensitive . Three different patterns of colicin sensitivity were described and one of them was predominant (in 89% of cases) . Some particular aspects of colicin sensitivity in strains isolated from 2 subjects of the same focus are pointed out and the significance of this market for epidemiological studies is discussed. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980, 248(1), 38 - 44 Studies on R-plasmid-determined drug resistance in serotypes 792 (E . coli O 28a28c:K73) and 145-46 (E . coli O 164); Trifonova A et al.; The drug resistance of 2368 strains belonging to serotypes 792 (E . coli O 28a28c:K73) and 145-46 (E . coli O 164) was studied . These serotypes were commonly found as causative agents of dysentery-like diseases in Bulgaria . It was established that the percentage of resistant strains of serotype 792 was by factor 2 higher than in serotype 145-46 . This finding was connected to the epidemic spread of this serotype in children communities, where the antibiotic therapy is a routine practice . A great diversity was found in the drug resistance types . The tetracycline type ranged first, followed by the chloramphenicol, ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfonamide, tetracycline type . A large part of the resistant strains carried R-plasmids . Fin + R-plasmids, coding for a synthesis of F-specific pili and determining multiple drug resistance, were most frequently found . Some R-plasmids of serotype 792 strains inhibited the growth of several Shigella bacteriophages, whereas R-plasmids of serotype 145-46 did not show any inhibiting activity . It is suggested to use the type of drug resistance and the characteristics of R-plasmids as supplementary epidemiological markers. Johns Hopkins Med J, 1979 Dec, 145(6), 209 - 16 Mucus-stimulating substances in human body fluids assayed in an invertebrate mucous cell system; Bang BG et al.; An in vitro cell system has been shown to respond differentially to body fluids from normal subjects and from those with disorders of mucus secretion . The urn cell complex of the marine invertebrate Sipunculus nudus responds to mucus-stimulating substances (MSS) in normal human lacrimal fluids and stool filtrates by producing mucus . The process of mucus secretion can be directly observed, and the amount produced can be measured, in a calibrated light microscope . MSS are decreased in lacrimal fluids of patients with dry-eye conditions, while they are periodically increased in filtered stools of patients with acute Shigella dysentery and acute cholera . MSS are remarkably increased isotonic dilutions of sera of rabbits with acute mucoid enteritis, but are absent from sera of normal rabbits . MSS are present in isotonic dilutions of normal human sera which are heated to 85 degrees C for 4 minutes, but are absent from similarly processed sera of immunosuppressed patients . Mean MSS values of heated sera of children with cystic fibrosis are higher than those of controls . The active factor in tears and serum is a large molecule and is heat-stable. J Bacteriol, 1979 Dec, 140(3), 1129 - 32 Siderophore synthesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella sonnei during iron deficiency; Perry RD et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae 298/53 and Shigella sonnei 43-GG9 exhibited restricted growth and enterochelin synthesis only under iron-deficient conditions . S . sonnei also produced an unidentified secondary hydroxamate siderophore. J Immunol, 1979 Dec, 123(6), 2558 - 62 Lipid A from endotoxin: antigenic activities of purified fractions in liposomes; Banerji B et al.; Isolation of lipid A by acid hydrolysis of Shigella flexneri lipopolysaccharide resulted in a product that consisted of a heterogeneous mixture of bands when visualized by thin layer chromatography . Differential extraction with ethyl acetate and chloroform, or extraction with EDTA, followed by chloroform-methanol-water (Bligh-Dyer extraction), or a combination of both extraction schemes, resulted in partial purification of immunologically active lipid A . Eight fractions were purified further by preparative thin layer chromatography, and each of the fractions had phosphate, carbohydrate, and esterified fatty acids . Upon incorporation into liposomes, five of the eight purified fractions reacted with anti-lipid A serum, but the three fractions with the most number of esterified fatty acids failed to react with anti-lipid A serum . At least one fraction that originally was unreactive with anti-lipid A serum became reactive as a hapten inhibitor upon removal of esterified fatty acids by alkaline hydrolysis . Alkali-treated fractions from "unreactive" and "reactive" lipid A had similar activities as hapten inhibitors . Our data suggest that lipid A can exist in multiple forms that differ by the number and placement, and possibly by the type, of fatty acids linked to the carbohydrate of lipid A . Highly acylated forms of lipid A do not react with antiserum against the unpurified lipid A mixture, but removal of fatty acids does expose immunoreactive groups. Cutis, 1979 Nov, 24(5), 514 - 23 Reiter's disease: modern concepts; Good AE; Reiter's disease (RD) is a reactive arthritis syndrome in which arthritis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, and urethritis are the main features . It may be an acute and self-limited disease or it may cause severe debilitation . It generally follows an infectious episode, such as Shigella dysentery or nonspecific urethritis . Recent evidence has shown that patients in whom RD develops have a genetic disposition since the presence of HLA-B27 correlates highly with RD . Therapy of RD involves supportive care. Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1979 Oct-Dec, 24(4), 213 - 22 {Studies concerning dysenteric infections in a closed children's community before and after antidysenteric vaccination . I . Epidemiological considerations on acute intestinal infections}; Dragomir I et al.; In the closed children's community studied between 1 Jan . 1976 and 13 June 1977, a high proportion (54%) of the total number of acute intestinal infections was of dysenteric etiology, i.e . 46,9% in the 0--1 year age-group and 21,1% in the 1--3 years age-group, the dominant Shigella subtype being represented by Shigella flexneri 2a (25.1%) . As only 37.2% of the total number of dysentery cases were manifested by enterocolitis and a high proportion (33.3%) ran a chronic course, the disease was not immediately diagnosed, an inadequate treatment was applied and a great number of carriers appeared . This, together with the high receptivity of such communities, accounts for the endemoepidemic character of the infection . Antidysenteric vaccination with the VADIZEN Dr . Istrati live bacillus vaccine, followed by a period of postvaccinal protection, with diminution in the number of dysentery, carriage and enteritis cases, both among the vaccinated and the non-vaccinated children, proves the utility of this vaccine in closed children's communities. Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1979 Oct-Dec, 24(4), 207 - 12 {Characteristics of the outbreak and control of an epidemic of bacillary dysentery of hydric origin}; Paraschivescu I et al.; In December 1978, an unexpected outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred in a shoe factory . The clinical, epidemiological and laboratory investigations established the hydric origin of the dysentery due to Shigella flexneri 3 a, caused by the illicit communication of the drinking water and industrial water mains . The antiepidemic measures promptly taken arrested the outbreak in three days ; there were no secondary, contact cases. Antibiotiki, 1979 Oct, 24(10), 750 - 5 {Results of testing a new method of using antibiotics in nutrient media for the isolation of Shigella: the 2-streak method}; Priamukhina NS et al.; A new variant of media with antibiotics for isolation of Shigella, i.e . a method of 2 streaks each containing different antibiotics was tested in analysis of excrements from patients with acute dysentery . It was found that the new method is more effective than the well known method of gradient plates (isolation of Shigella in one series of the experiments amounted to 85.2 and 64.7 per cent respectively, and in the other series of the experiments the respective figures were 95.4 and 89.3 per cent) . Its efficiency was lower as compared to the procedure of inoculation onto 2 plates, i.e . onto the media with and without an antibiotic (isolation of Shigella was 67.5 and 77.4 per cent respectively) . The new method provided a higher frequency of Shigella isolation as compared to inoculation onto the media without an antibiotic, as well as onto any of the media used with one antibiotic . The method of 2 streaks offers wider possibilities for choosing the antibiotics for adding to the nutrient medium, as well as estimation of the antibioticograms and species structures of Shigella distributed in a concrete area. J Rheumatol, 1979 Sep-Oct, 6(5), 562 - 6 Search for Reiter's syndrome after an outbreak of Shigella sonnei dysentery; Kaslow RA et al.; Forty-seven % of 4,205 individuals living in a Puerto Rican community developed Shigella sonnei dysentery . Questionnaire and, where relevant, clinical evaluation of 1,970 patients and the remaining 2,235 unaffected residents disclosed no cases of Reiter's syndrome (RS) . Among the possible explanations for failure to observe any cases is the important suggestion that S . sonnei is not arthritogenic. Clin Gastroenterol, 1979 Sep, 8(3), 645 - 62 Shigella infections; Keusch GT; Shigellosis is a complex disease involving two distinct organs and two distinctive clinical presentations of intestinal involvement . It is also associated with a wide variety of extra-intestinal manifestations . Because these may precede the onset of diarrhoea/dysentery, and confuse the diagnosis, it is safe to denote shigellosis as a protean clinical problem . The disease is readily spread by contact because so few organisms are required to establish infection . It may also be spread through contaminated food or water, related to either defective sewage or a human carrier, and explosive outbreaks may occur in closed populations . Homosexuals are also at risk of venereal transmiddion of infection . Shigellosis is treatable with effective oral antimicrobials, responding both clinically and microbiologically . When organism are sensitive, ampicillin is the current drug of choice, and when they are resistant to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole appears to be the best choice . Dehydration is not usually severe, and responds to oral rehydration therapy, which is highly recommended along with early refeeding. Isr J Med Sci, 1979 Sep, 15(9), 754 - 60 Etiology of acute gastroenteritis in children in Israel: role of human reoviruslike agent and bacterial pathogens; Jonas A et al.; A study of acute gastroenteritis in children was carried out with the aim of establishing the prevalence of human reoviruslike agent (HRLA) and its relation to other enteric pathogens in Israel . The stools of 384 children with acute diarrhea referred to a pediatric emergency service were screened for HRLA by counterimmunoelectroosmorphoresis (CIEOP) and for pathogenic bacteria . Evidence of HRLA infection was found in 65 patients (17%) . The highest infection rate prevailed during the cool season (25%), with a peak prevalence (41%) in November, when both the temperature and humidity were low . A very high proportion of HRLA was found in children younger than 36 months and no HRLA infection was observed in those older than nine years . The highest prevalence occurred in infants younger than six months, a situation rarely encountered in other countries . The main clinical features of HRLA infection were fever, vomiting, dehydration, signs of upper respiratory infection and carbohydrate intolerance . Bacterial pathogens accounted for 45% of enteric infections . Shigella species predominated (28%) during the summer season, especially in older children . In 38% of the study group, no etiologic agent could be detected . None of the 50 control subjects showed evidence of viral or bacterial pathogens in stools. Hosp Pract, 1979 Aug, 14(8), 33 - 40 Recognition mechanisms in infectious disease; Keusch GT; Recent studies have begun to elucidate the nature of pathogen-host recognition mechanisms . Not only is our understanding of the nature of infection thereby growing, but there is promise of an entirely new approach to treatment--by inhibiting or preventing the contact between pathogen and target cell, the first step in the infectious process . Models have largely been elucidated for shigella infections and cholera. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Aug, (8), 31 - 6 {Recurrent Sonne dysentery morbidity caused by Shigella of varying enzymatic types}; Briko NI et al.; The proportion of repeated cases of dysentery caused by Sh . sonnei does not exceed 3.59% of the total number of bacteriologically confirmed cases of this infection . The frequency of reinfection depended on the enzymatic type of the causative agent . The rarest cases of reinfection were those occurring after the primary infection with Sh . sonnei, biochemical type 2, whereas the most frequent after the primary infection with Sh . sonnei, type 3 . Reinfection with heterologous Sh . sonnei was registered mostly 6-12 months after the primary infection, and with homologous Sh . sonnei after a 1 year and later. J Invest Dermatol, 1979 Aug, 73(2), 147 - 9 Monocyte function in psoriasis; Bar-Eli M et al.; Monocytes derived from the peripheral blood of psoriatic patients demonstrated a significantly higher phagocytic capacity (36 to 40%) for both 125I-labeled Shigella flexneri and 125I-labeled Staphylococcus albus compared with monocytes from healthy subjects . Monocytes from psoriatic patients showed a 2-to-4fold increase in bactericidal capacity against S . albus when compared with normal monocytes . However, the bactericidal capacity of monocytes from diphylline-treated patients did not differ from that of the control subjects . The antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity against EL4 tumor cells was found to be similar in both psoriatic patients and control subjects . It is postulated that these abnormalities of monocyte function in psoriasis are caused by a decreased cAMP/cGMP ratio similar to the decreased cAMP/cGMP ratio found in the lesional epidermis of this disease . It seems therefore, that the psoriatic abnormality is not confined to only one type of cell, the epidermal cell. Med Trop (Mars), 1979 Jul-Aug, 39(4), 457 - 62 {The role of immunization against bacterial enteric infections (author's transl)}; Rey M; The author reviews critically the available vaccines against salmonellosis and shigellosis, the more sophisticated vaccines against these two infections and cholera presently under experimentation and using parenteral or oral dispensing . To contribute to public health planning, with particular reference to developping countries, the authors points on the necessity to evaluate carefully the merits of the different techniques aiming at controling bacterial enteric infections . Sanitation seems to be the most effective and the less expensive technique. Med Trop (Mars), 1979 Jul-Aug, 39(4), 445 - 52 {Shigellosis in Tananarive (Madagascar) I - Epidemiologic and clinic features (author's transl)}; Capdevielle P et al.; Reviewing 67 cases of human adult shigellosis observed in Madagascar, the authors emphasize some epidemiologic and clinic features : high frequency during rainy season, usual dysenteriform aspect or diarrhoeas with fever, hemorragic forms, severity according to anterior state of colon and rectum, severity if cases associated with amoebiasis or schistosomiasis (Schistosoma mansoni). J Bacteriol, 1979 Jul, 139(1), 132 - 6 Distribution of glycerophospholipid-cholesterol acyltransferase in selected bacterial species; MacIntyre S et al.; The distribution of glycerophospholipid-cholesterol acyltransferase in selected bacterial species was examined . Enzyme activity was demonstrated in cell-free growth media from all members of the family Vibrionaceae which were tested except Plesiomonas shigelloides . In each case, enzyme was produced in exponential to early stationary phase and was excluded from Sepharose 6B, indicating a complex of high molecular weight . In a limited survey of other families, Stahylococcus aureus was the only organism outside the Vibrionaceae which was shown to produce the enzyme . In this case, however, the enzyme exhibited much less activity against erythrocyte membranes and appeared to have a lower molecular weight . The reasons for these differences and the importance of the acyltransferase as a biochemical identification tool are discussed. Med Trop (Mars), 1979 Jul-Aug, 39(4), 453 - 6 {Shigellosis in Tananarive (Madagascar) . II : Bacteriologic and therapeutic features (author's transl)}; Capdeville P et al.; In acute dysenteries or diarrhoeas shigellae are the bacterial organisms which are the most frequently isolated from coprocultures . The most frequent sub-group is sub-group B (S . flexniri) . In vitro, shigellae are sensible to all antibiotics but often resistant to sulfamids . Treatment is not difficult. Med Trop (Mars), 1979 Jul-Aug, 39(4), 365 - 8 {Travelers' diarrhea (author's transl)}; Andre LJ et al.; "Travelers' diarrhea" is an acute diarrhea sometimes associated with vomiting and afflicting travelers recently arrived in tropical or subtropical countries . Its incidence ranges from 20 to 50 p . 100 . It may cause severe deshydratation which is dangerous for third age tourists with humoral or visceral impairments . Recovery must not be expected before 3 to 10 days . Viruses do not seem frequently responsible and, among other causes (salmonellae, shigellae, staphylococci), colibacilli have a main role . They give cholera-like syndromes due to two enterotoxines . Treatment is symptomatic . Prophylaxis is important and chemical drugs as methyl-5-oxine must be prescribed rather than antibiotics which may induce resistances. J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Jul, 113(1), 73 - 81 Characterization of plasmids from antibiotic-resistant Shigella isolates by agarose gell electrophoresis; Jamieson AF et al.; Gel electrophoresis of DNA from 95 clinical isolates of Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri resistant to antibiotics revealed a heterogeneous plasmid population . Most of the plasmids were smaller than 6 megadaltons (Mdal) . Six S . sonnei isolates with the most common antibiotic resistance pattern were characterized . They had two plasmids in common: one was a self-transmissible Fi+ plasmid of 46 Mdal encoding resistance to streptomycin and sulphafurazole . In addition, several cryptic plasmids ranging in size from 1.0 to 24.5 Mdal were present . Mobilization of the 5.5 Mdal SuSm plasmid and a 1.0 Mdal cryptic plasmid was demonstrated with all six S . sonnei isolates during conjugation . This mobilization was mediated by the 46 Mdal self-transmissible Fi+ R plasmid and also by a 24.5 Mdal Fi- plasmid carrying no known drug resistance determinants. Eur J Biochem, 1979 Jul, 98(1), 309 - 16 Somatic antigens of Shigella . The structure of the specific polysaccharide of Shigella newcastle (Sh . flexneri type 6) lipopolysaccharide; Dmitriev BA et al.; The specific polysaccharide was obtained from the lipopolysaccharide of Shigella newcastle by mild acid hydrolysis and further purified by permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-50 . It was found to consist of L-rhamnose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid residues and O-acetyl groups in the molar ratios of 2:1:1:1 . On the basis of 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis, Smith degradation, and chromium trioxide oxidation, the following structure can be assigned to the repeating oligosaccharide unit of the polysaccharide:-4)DGalA(beta 1-3)DGalNAc-(beta 1-2)LAc3Rha(alpha 1-2)LRha(alpha 1-, where GalA = galacturonic acid . GalNAc = N-acetylgalactosamine, Ac3Rha = 3-O-acetylrhamnose . The structural and immunochemical data presented prove that Sh . newcastle lipopolysaccharide belongs to a 'non-classical' type of somatic antigens with acidic O-specific polysaccharide chains. Antibiotiki, 1979 Jul, 24(7), 532 - 5 {Course of dysentery and the specific alteration of the neutrophils in children in the use of monomycin and a diet with an increased protein content}; Vereshchagin IA et al.; Acute dysentery mainly due to Shigella sonnei and dynamics of the neutrophil damage index (NDI) of the blood were studied in 80 children at the age of 1 to 14 . 20 children (group 1) were treated with monomycin under conditions of a diet with an excessive content of protein (by 25% higher than the physiological norm) . 60 children or 3 groups of 20 children each were not subject to such conditions and were considered as control groups . Reduction in the time of recovery (by 4 days) and bacteriological sanation (by 6 days) of the convalescents in the 1st group decreased as compared to that in the control groups . The test for the NDI of the blood was close in all the groups . It was concluded that an excessive protein content in the diet increased the efficacy of monomycin therapy in dysentery children . It is recommended that the diet with an excessive protein content be used in monomycin treatment of dysentery children. Ann Sclavo, 1979 Jul-Aug, 21(4), 435 - 47 {Researches on the production of inhibitory substances by strains of "N . meningitidis" (author's transl)}; Barbuti S et al.; The possibility to produce some inhibitory substances has been researched in 85 strains of N . meningitidis belonging to different serogroups . By the double layer agar method, 9 of these strains have inhibited the growth of one or more indicator strains . We had the best results at 37 degrees C and 30 degrees C in tests made incubating 3 producer strains in different experiment conditions; the "Brain heart infusion agar" and the "Heart infusion agar" were the best and fittest culture media, used for the production of these substances . Several attempts to get the production of bacteriocins in liquid culture media have always given negative results, both by spontaneous growing and by ultraviolet irradiation and mitomycin induction . We were able to get 3 among these substances from as many strains of N . meningitidis (from the 85 tested) in the supernatant, only growing the strains in soft agar and centrifuging these growths . So these 3 bacteriocins had inhibited the growth of the 92% of the tested N . meningitidis, but they were inactive towards 296 bacterial strains belonging to Gram-positive and Gram-negative species (including the 15 strains of Shigella and E . coli given as indicators in the research of colicins), 70 strains of Mycoplasma and 9 L-forms of Pr . mirabilis and of St . aureus . Only 3 L-forms obtained from as many strains of N . meningitidis resulted to be inhibited by the three bacteriocins. Trop Geogr Med, 1979 Jun, 31(2), 213 - 23 Epidemiology of Shigella dysenteriae, type 1 infections, in Dacca urban area; Khan M et al.; A prospective study of 47 families with an index case of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 was conducted in the urban areas of Dacca . The subsequent infection rates in contacts type 1 were 30.6% and 28.3% in the age groups 0--4 and 5--9 . Total secondary infection rate was 20.4% with rates in males higher than in females . Among the contacts 12.5% developed diarrhoea caused by the same serotype, but 22.1% developed diarrhoea with undiagnosed causes . For one hospitalised case there were seven symptomatic cases and 10 infections . All the infected infants age 0--4 developed diarrhoea and one fourth needed hospitalisation; but none aged over 9 needed it . Of these families 19% coincidentally had infections with other shigela types . Many factors were related with the higher infection rate . Use of open source of water was a significant factor . Multiple resistance to antibiotic was found, however, Shigella shiga was sensitive to Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Colistin and Furazolidone. Infect Immun, 1979 Jun, 24(3), 879 - 86 Shigella infection of Henle intestinal epithelial cells: role of the bacterium; Hale TL et al.; Epithelial cell infection by Shigella flexneri 2a was studied in an in vitro model system . Using the Henle 407 human intestinal epithelial cell line as host cells, a standardized experimental protocol which allowed quantitative measurement of infection was developed . Intravellular residence of infecting organisms was confirmed by indirect fluorescent-antibody staining of unfixed and methanol-fixed (Henle 407) cells and by quantitative bacteriological culture of disrupted host cells after infection . The process of shigella entry into cells was evaluated by chemical or physical modulation of the bacterium under controlled experimental conditions . Shigella were subjected to mild heat, ultraviolet radiation aminoglycoside antibiotics, and immunoglobulins raised against S . flexneri 2a . The data show that heat-stable antigens on the bacterial surface are not solely responsible for infectivity of S . flexneri 2a . Furthermore, it was shown that physiological and synthetic functions of shigellae are required for entry into host cells. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Jun, (6), 49 - 54 {Data to substantiate the early immunological diagnosis of dysentery}; Kaplin VN et al.; The interaction of the whole blood from patients with dysentery and gastrointestinal diseases of non-dysenteric etiology, with the causative agents of dysentery, Sh . sonnei and Sh . flexneri, and saprophytic, staphylococci labeled with radioactive isotopes was studied in vitro . In dysentery an increase in the capacity of the blood for Shigella fixation was observed from the beginning of the disease . During the 1st week of the disease this reaction was strictly specific and accompanied by a decrease in the fixation of staphylococci, but later the reaction became relatively specific . An increase in Shigella fixation occurred considerably earlier than immune antibody formation, as revealed by the indirect hemagglutination test . This research substantiates the possibility of an earlier immunological diagnosis of dysentery as compared with the serological methods. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Jun, (6), 35 - 8 {Sh . flexneri population heterogeneity according to the cellular fatty acid makeup}; Vasiurenko ZP; The composition of fatty acids in the cells of 100 clones of Sh . flexneri, strain 9054, isolated from a dysentery patient was studied by the method of gas chromatography . Fatty acid composition in 75 clones was similar to the fatty acid composition of the initial culture: 25 clones differed to a variable degree from the prevailing group of clones in the content of unsaturated and cyclopropane fatty acids and, to a considerably lesser extent, in the content of palmitic acid and a number of other saturated fatty acids . After the change of the culture medium (agar and broth) the differences in the fatty acid composition of the clones could still be observed . The data obtained in this study indicate the heterogeneity of Shigella population in the composition of cellular fatty acids. Antibiotiki, 1979 Jun, 24(6), 461 - 4 {Level and nature of the drug resistance of Shigella flexneri}; Morozova NS et al.; Characteristics of antibiotic resistance of 300 strains of Shigella flexner 2a isolated from patients within 1976--1977 in the regions where these bacteria were very rare for a long period of time were studied . It was shown that most of the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol (88.1 per cent), tetracycline (94.8 per cent), streptomycin (89.1 per cent), polymyxin M (82.4 per cent) and others . 46.5--61.6 per cent of the isolates were resistant to neomycin antibiotics . A high level of the resistance was also noted: the bactericidal effect was registered in 52.0-74.0 per cent of the cultures at a dose of 500--1000 microgram/ml . 91.4 per cent of the strains possessed multiple dug resistance, 78.8 per cent of them being simultaneously resistant to 4--7 drugs . Transmissive R-plasmids were found in 68.8 per cent of the isolates . After exposure to acridine dyes the plasmid nature of the resistance was confirmed in 72.3 per cent of the cultures . Variability of the r-determinant sets in r-plasmids was noted . Strains (64.9 per cent) carrying r-determinants Tc, Cm, Sm and Tc, Cm were more frequent . Strains with one transmissive r-determinant were usually solitary. Antibiotiki, 1979 Jun, 24(6), 458 - 60 {Dynamics of the change in sensitivity of shigellae to gentamycin and cephaloridine in vitro}; Shershevskaia RS; The dynamics of the changes in the Shigella sensitivity to gentamicin and cephaloridin was studied in vitro using liquid nutrient media with gradually increasing concentrations of the drugs . 50 passages were performed . It was found that Shigella flexner and sonnei decreased their sensitivity to gentamicin to a little extent and remained middle sensitive . Sensitivity of Shigella flexner to cephaloridin also changed to a little extent, while Shigella sonnei became moderately resistant. Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1979 May-Jun, 51(3), 231 - 5 {Effect of metabolism products of Shigella sonnei, Sh . flexneri and Sh . shigae on proteolytic activity of the organism connective tissue}; Demikhovskaia AA et al.; The activity of proteolytic enzymes, neutral proteinases and cathepsins E+D, was determined in homogenates from the tissues of capsules formed around diffusion chambers with shigella (Shigella sonnei, Sh . flexneri, Sh . shigae) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 days after their implantation to the abdominal cavity of rabbits . The specific proteolytic activity in the capsule tissues in the experimental variants is higher in all the studied periods than in the control and its singularities depend on the microbe species . The rise in the proteolytic activity is the highest under the effect of the Sh . shigae metabolism products, the influence of Sh . flexneri and Sh . sonnei in this respect is somewhat less pronounced. Infect Immun, 1979 May, 24(2), 580 - 2 Molecular characterization of plasmids from virulent and spontaneously occurring avirulent colonial variants of Shigella flexneri; Kopecko DJ et al.; Spontaneous transition of Shigella flexneri from T- to O-type colonies with concomitant loss of virulence dose not appear to be accompanied by a change in any of the four plasmic species found in the virulent parent. Infect Immun, 1979 May, 24(2), 441 - 8 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A antibodies to Shigella flexneri antigens; Keren DF; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed to detect class-specific antibodies to Shigella flexneri lipopolysaccharide antigens . This enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system has been used to measure antibodies present in serum or intestinal secretions without further purification . It is considerably more sensitive than passive hemagglutination, allowing detection of as little as 1.3 ng of specific immunoglobulin G antibody per ml in immune sera . Optimal conditions for this assay are outlined in this report. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 May, (5), 78 - 83 {Search for host specificity systems in Shigella using DD-series phages}; Tediashvili MI et al.; A total of 712 Shigella strains were studied with the use of dysentery diagnostic phages DD II, DD VI and DD VII in order to reveal the systems of host DNA specificity . The study comprised 4 tests: mass screening by the intensity of phagolytic reaction of phages in various strains; and the determination of the parameters of adsorption . As a result, an effective modification and restriction systems were revealed in Sh . sonnei 311 with the use of phage DD II . Bacteriophage DD VII was effectively restricted in E . coli CK, BB and BB/T4 . Cross titration showed that the modification and restriction systems of E . coli BB and BB/T4 differed from the specificity system of E . coli CK . Phage DD VI had an exceptionally broad spectrum of activity and was not sensitive to any known restriction system. Arch Ophthalmol, 1979 May, 97(5), 888 - 9 Corneal ulceration secondary to intestinal Shigella sonnei; Roper DL; A 34-month-old boy had a corneal ulcer due to Shigella sonnei . To my knowledge, this is the first documented case reported where the same organism was recovered from the stool . One other case of S sonnei and two cases of S flexneri corneal ulcers have appeared in the literature . All cases have been in young black boys between the ages of 23 months and 6 years . The exact pathogenesis remains unclear, but direct fecalocular inoculation into a preexisting epithelial defect, a probable herpetic dendrite in this case, is most likely. Am J Epidemiol, 1979 Apr, 109(4), 493 - 501 Etiology of gastroenteritis among Americans living in the Philippines; Echeverria P et al.; Between December 1975 and June 1976, American military personnel with diarrhea who were seen at an outpatient clinic at Clark Air Force Base Hospital were investigated to determine the etiology of their disease . Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were detected in 16% (18/115), rotavirus in 4% (4/111), salmonellae in 3% (3/115), shigellae in 2% (2/115) and Giardia lamblia in 2% (3/152) of patients with diarrhea . Thus from only 27% of the subjects studied were identifiable potential pathogenic agents found . The incidence of gastroenteritis increased in May and June with the increase in rainfall; however, there was no increase in the proportion of diarrhea caused by any of these identifiable enteric pathogens . Americans experienced a seasonal increase of diarrhea similar to that affecting the Philippine population in Manila . Enterotoxigenic E . coli was the most common identifiable enteric pathogen among Americans with diarrhea at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines during the study, though even in these cases, it may not have been the agent responsible for their illness. Pediatrics, 1979 Apr, 63(4), 511 - 6 Shigella vaginitis: report of 38 patients and review of the literature; Murphy TV et al.; Thirty-eight cases of Shigella vaginitis were identified in a retrospective review of records kept over the past 14 years . The cases of vaginitis were due to three subgroups of Shigella . Vaginitis varied in severity and duration, persisting for several months in some instances . In 47% of the cases, there was associated bloody vaginal discharge . Only two children had diarrhea temporally associated with vaginitis, but six others had had diarrhea . Many treatment modalities were used . Systemic antibiotic therapy appeared more effective than topical antimicrobials in the few patients who could be evaluated . Review of the literature revealed 32 additional cases, including four in adult women. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1979 Apr, 18(4), 401 - 8 The effect of endotoxin-induced intraocular inflammation on the rat lens epithelium; Worgul BV et al.; Intraocular inflammation induced by an intravitreal injection of Shigella endotoxin into the rat eye produces early changes in the number of dividing cells of the lens epithelium and affects the organization of the meridional rows . A depression in mitotic activity in the germinative zone is observed during the first 24 hr after injection . At 48 hr, despite the continued mitotic inhibition in the germinative zone, an increase in cell division occurs in the central zone . By 72 hr, the germinative zone mitosis reappears and exceeds control values, whereas the central zone mitotic activity returns to normal . At that time mitotic figures are found in the transitional zone . Disorganization of the meridional rows is seen as early as 12 hr after injection (the first time period observed) and reaches a peak by 48 hr . During the next 5 days, however, the severity of the disorganization diminishes . By the seventh day the rows appear, for the most part, fully recovered, and the mitotic activity reaches normal or near-normal levels in all regions . The details of these observations and their possible relationship to inflammatory cataracta complicata are discussed. Postgrad Med, 1979 Mar, 65(3), 215 - 8 Sexually transmitted infections in homosexual men; Babb RR; Because of the form of sexual contact and the number of such contacts among homosexual men, physicians should be watchful for sexually transmitted infections in the homosexual community . Hepatitis B, anorectal gonorrhea, shigellosis, amebiasis, and giardiasis are now known to be among these infections . For treatment to be effective and epidemics avoided, physicians should question affected male patients about their sexual habits and advise abstinence from sexual contact until treatment is finished and cultures or smears are negative. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Mar, 243(1), 57 - 73 The problem of interaction of shigella with epithelial cells; Petrovskaya VG et al.; A review and analysis of data on the investigation of factors concerning the initial events of interaction of Shigella with epithelial cells: attachment of penetration are presented . In the experiments with 3H-labeled bacteria it was shown that although common pili confer adhesive properties to bacteria but the penetration of Shigella into the cell is not increased . It was stated that LPS of Shigella O antigen plays an important role not only in interaction with cellular and humoral factors of the macroorganism defence but also in an initial stage of attachment of bacteria to the membrane of epithelial cells . However LPS of O antigen does not provide the penetration of the agent into the cell . In filtrates of virulent strains of Shigella flexneri, in contrast to those of smooth mutants and hybrids, lacking penetration ability, a biologically active factor (BAF) of protein or lipoprotein nature which reduced the LD50 of virulent and avirulent bacteria in infection of chicken embryos on chorioallantoic membrane, decreases ID50 and complicates the course of the infectious process in conjunctival infection of guinea pigs with virulent Shigella strain was revealed . S . flexneri transductant with a restored ability to induce kerato-conjunctivitis restored an ability to produce the BAF as well . Comparison of these data with the findings of other investigators was carried out . Perspectives of interpretation of penetration mechanism of Shigella into epithelial cells are discussed. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Mar, (3), 40 - 2 {Electron microscopic study of experimental infection . II . A study of the dynamics of Shigella infection}; Korinteli VI et al.; The dynamics of experimental Shigella infection of chick embryo fibroblasts was studied with the use of electron microscopy . The antibiotic-resistant forms of Sh . sonnei 1,188 was found to be incapable of invasion into the fibroblast cytoplasm and intracellular proliferation . The destruction of fibroblasts observed during the infection was seemingly caused by the action of bacterial endotoxins. Antibiotiki, 1979 Mar, 24(3), 207 - 10 {Experimental study of the effectiveness of antibacterial preparations in treating dysentery}; Suptel' EA et al.; It was found that for successful elaboration of effective schemes for the use of antibacterial drugs in treatment of dysentery it was necessary to exploit various experimental models providing consideration of the drug toxicity and effect on the extra- and intracellular growth of the bacteria in addition to the other factors . The administration of enteroceptol for 3 days followed by furazolidon showed the best therapeutic effect in the treatment of guinea pigs with Shigella keratoconjunctivitis and Syrian hamsters with dysentery . The above drugs had low toxicity which was shown in the experiments with Hep-2 cell cultures . It was concluded that the use of the drugs with different modes of action was advisable in treatment of dysentery. J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 9(3), 437 - 40 Simple, differential staining technique for enumerating rickettsiae in yolk sac, tissue culture extracts, or purified suspensions; Silverman DJ et al.; A differential staining method employing acridine orange-stained rickettsiae and safranin-stained standardized suspensions of Shigella dysenteriae is described for enumerating rickettsiae harvested during various stages of the growth cycle. Can J Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 25(2), 233 - 5 Inhibitory effect of cocoa powder on the growth of a variety of bacteria in different media; Park CE et al.; The inhibitory effect of cocoa powder on 102 organisms belonging to 13 genera was determined . All organisms tested were inhibited by 5% cocoa . Shigella, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Bacillus were the most sensitive . The degree of inhibition depended on the organism, temperature of incubation, and the medium in which the cocoa powder was suspended . Of six media tested, lactose broth and nutrient broth were the most inhibitory, while non-fat dry milk was the least inhibitory . Supplementing NB with tryptone or casein reduced the toxicity of cocoa. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1979 Feb-Mar, 130(2), 195 - 202 {Phage-typing modifications induced by in vitro transfer of R plasmids . II . -- Phage-typing of Shigella sonnei (author's transl)}; Toucas M; Forty-two antibiotic resistance plasmids and twelve metabolic plasmids have been transferred to a strain of Shigella sonnei . The phage-typing modifications have been investigated after transfer of the different above described plasmids . Eleven of the R plasmids and five of the metabolic plasmids affect phage sensitivity . These modifications are not specific for any compatibility group. Immunology, 1979 Feb, 36(2), 199 - 205 Macrophage fatty acid composition and phagocytosis: effect of unsaturation on cellular phagocytic activity; Schroit AJ et al.; In order to manipulate the physical properties of the macrophages membrane, methods were developed which potentiated the incorporation of exogenously supplied fatty acids into membrane lipids . Chromatograms of macrophages which were grown in the presence of a variety of fatty acids demonstrated that exogenously supplied unsaturated fatty acids (palmitoleic, oleic, elaidic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids) were readily incorporated into the cells and selectively altered the fatty acyl composition of macrophage phospholipids . Up to 38% of the total cellular phospholipids were found to be derived from the exogenously added fatty acid supplements . The incorporation of the different fatty acids into cellular phospholipids had striking effects on cellular phagocytic activity . These effects were found to correlate with the degree of unsaturation, and the cis- or trans-double bond configuration . Thus, macrophage phagocytic ingestion rates of 125I-labelled Shigella flexneri were found to alter by more than 2-fold after the cells were cultivated in the presence of cis unsaturated fatty acids. Antibiotiki, 1979 Feb, 24(2), 100 - 5 {Antibiotic resistance of Shigella in different regions of the USSR}; Solodovnikov IuP et al.; Shigella were most sensitive to polymyxin ceporin, ampicillin, neomycin and furazolidone and resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline and streptomycin . Shigella resistant simultaneously to two or three drugs mainly to tetracycline + chloramphenicol, tetracycline + streptomycin and tetracycline + chloramphenicol + streptomycin were most frequent . The frequency of the Shigella strains carrying R-plasmids increased from 28 per cent in 1969--1970 to 72.6 per cent in 1977 . The Shigella strains isolated during the dysentery outbreak in 1973--1977 carried the R-factor controlling resistance to tetracycline + chloramphenicol, tetracycline + chloramphenicol + streptomycin, tetracycline + chloramphenicol + streptomycin + neomycin . Interaction between separate biochemical types, colicinogenicity and drug resistance classes was found in the Shigella isolates . The data on the effect of antibiotic (tetracyclines) intensive use in stock-raising defining wide spread of the R-plasmids controlling resistance to these drugs were obtained. J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 9(2), 288 - 9 Invasive strain of Escherichia coli belonging to O group 29; Toledo MR et al.; A strain of Escherichia coli isolated from a child with diarrhea was biochemically similar and antigenically identical (O and K antigens) to the standard strain of E . coli O group 29 and was positive in the Sereny test for invasiveness, which suggests that it can cause a Shigella-like illness. Infect Immun, 1979 Feb, 23(2), 465 - 71 Characteristics of lipid A-protein complex from endotoxin of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (S and R strains); Sourek J et al.; Mild acetic acid hydrolysis of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide-protein complex) of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (S and R forms) yielded a lipid A-protein complex that consisted of amino acids, fatty acids, and sugar and, in terms of chemical composition, displayed no marked differences between the S and R forms . Its protein portion (53 to 56%) consisted of at least 16 amino acids . In the fatty acid portion (14 to 18%), myristic, 3-hydroxymyristic, palmitic, and stearic acids accounted for 50% . The sugar portion (10 to 12%) consisted solely of glucosamine . The remainder was unidentified substances, most of which contained phosphorus . Lipid A-protein complexes derived from both S and R forms were not toxic for mice in doses up to 1,000 microgram/mouse, but their Linulus test activity had increased considerably as compared with the starting lipopolysaccharide-protein complex material: from 10(-6) to 10(-10--10(-12) mg/ml . The lipid A-protein complexes were readily soluble in a water solution of triethylamine, in dimethyl sulfoxide, and in pyridine. Postgrad Med, 1979 Feb, 65(2), 173 - 6, 178-9 Acute infectious diarrhea in children; Barkin RM; Effective management of acute diarrheal disease depends on an understanding of the mechanisms and the pathogens responsible for diminished absorption of water from the intestines or increased secretion of water and electrolytes into the intestines . Initial therapy consists of fluid management, with hospitalization if dehydration is significant . Antibiotics are useful in treating specific disease entities, such as shigellosis . Careful attention to clinical status and follow-up is essential. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Jan 26, 561(1), 232 - 9 Specificity and functions of guanine methylase of Shigella sonnei DDVI phage; Nikolskaya II et al.; DNA methylase methylating adenine with formation of 6-methylaminopurine has been identified in Shigella sonnei 1188 cells which are the natural host of DDVI phage . At the same time, in DNA of DDVI phage replicating both in Sh . sonnei 1188 cells and in Escherichia coli B cells 7-methylguanine was found as the only minor base in amounts of 0.25 and 0.27 mol per 100 mol of nucleotides, respectively . The extract of the infected cells was found to contain both kinds of DNA methylases: virus-specific guanine methylase and cellular adenine methylase . The lack of 6-methylaminopurine in DNA of this phage is explained by reversible inhibition of the cell enzyme in the infected cells . The amount of methyl groups transferred by DDVI-specific methylase on DNA does not depend on the species of the infected cells and is similar in the case of unmodified SD phage DNA and DNA of T2 phage methylated by E . coli B enzyme . Guanine methylase has been shown to be a DDVI-induced modification enzyme and to protect against restriction of B-type . It methylates double-stranded DNAs only and is inhibited by S-adenosylhomocysteine. Arzneimittelforschung, 1979, 29(5), 849 - 51 {Treatment of diarrhea with difenoxin hydrochloride in children (author's transl)}; Pece H; In an open clinical study symptomatic treatment was given to 93 children aged 16 days to 24 months who suffered from acute diarrhea . All the patients received antidiarrheal diet suited to their age . If indicated, the children were rehydrated with electrolyte and buffer solutions . In order to reduce the intestinal motility as well as the loss of water and electrolyte in the stool, but not to stop the stools, difenoxin hydrochloride (Lyspafen) in the commercial composition was prescribed . The dose was 1 drop/kg body weight/day administered in 3 single doses . The preparation was administered to the children for 4-6 days on the average . Regardless of the bacteriological findings in the stools, very good results were obtained in 59 patients (63.44%); sufficient results in 19 children (20.43%); and poor results in 15 children (16.13%) . In the group with negative stool samples very good results were obtained in 74% of the patients . The therapeutic results were very good to sufficient in the majority of cases belonging to the group with facultative pathogenic germs and pathogenic coli in the stools . In 66.67% (4 cases) of the children infected by Salmonellae and Shigellae the treatment was insufficient . No undesirable adverse reactions were seen in the children treated . Summing-up of the results revealed that cure of or improvement in the diarrhea was obtained in 83.87% of the test population. Antibiotiki, 1979 Jan, 24(1), 25 - 36 {Antibiotic sensitivity and the characteristics of transmissive R plasmids in Shigella belonging to various species}; Givental' NI et al.; Sensitivity of 241 Shigella strains isolated from patients at various regions of the USSR in 1975--1978 was tested with respect to 14 antibiotics by the method of serial dilutions . 90.5 per cent of the isolates proved to be resistant to the antibacterial drugs and the greater part of 75.9 per cent of them had multiple resistance . The resistance of the Shigella was most pronounced and frequent with respect to tetracycline, streptomycin, levomycetin, as well as ampicillin and carbenicillin . Gentamicin, cephaloridin, polymyxin M, kanamycin, monomycin, neomycin and rifampicin were highly active against the Shigella . More than 50 per cent of the isolates were sensitive to levomycetin, ampicillin and carbenicillin . Differences in the frequency of the resistant strains and the spectrum of the antibiotic resistance of different Shigella subgroups (species) were observed . The study of 173 multiple resistant Shigella strains showed that about 67 per cent of the strains had a capacity for transduction of the resistance markers into the recipient cells of E . coli . The conjugative R-plasmids were most frequent in Sh . boydii and Sh . sonnei (95 and 95 per cent respectively), less frequent in Sh . flexneri and Sh . newcastle (68 and 53 per cent respectively) and least frequent in the mannitol negative Shigella (25 per cent) . The capacity for transduction of R-plasmids in the strains carrying the determinants of resistance to 2 or 3 antibiotics was higher than in the strains carrying the determinant of resistance to one antibiotic . The clinical Shigella strains tested mainly had transmissive R-plasmids of fi--character (79 per cent). Postgrad Med J, 1979, 55 Suppl 4, 82 - 4 Comparison of cefaclor and ampicillin in the treatment of shigellosis; Ostrower VG; Fifty-four children with acute diarrhoea were treated orally with 50 mg/kg/day of either ampicillin in 4 divided doses, or with cefaclor in 3 divided doses for 5 days . Shigella was isolated from the stool of 28 patients, 6 of whom were hospitalized . All isolates, including ampicillin-resistant strains, were susceptible in vitro to cefaclor . For ampicillin-sensitive infections, the clinical response and clearing of Shigella from stools appeared to occur more rapidly in patients treated with ampicillin than in those treated with cefaclor . In areas where ampicillin resistance is a problem, cefaclor appears not to be a drug of choice for the treatment of Shigella. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1979, 27(5), 693 - 9 Comparison of some Shigella flexneri (Escherichia coli) hybrids in cross agglutination and agglutinin absorption tests; Lachowicz TM et al.; Antigenic structure of Lac+ hybrids selected from Escherichia coli x Shigella flexneri crosses was compared in the cross agglutination and absorption tests . Identity of the hybrids from the recipients of serotype 2a and variant Y was proved, as well as from serotypes 1b and 4b . The latter hybrids were coupled with Shigella flexneri strains 3a, 3b and 3c . The hybrids appeared almost identical with serotype 3c. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1979, 121B, 341 - 50 Phagocyte functions in familial Mediterranean fever; Bar-Eli M et al.; Monocytes derived from peripheral blood of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (F.M.F.) demonstrated lower phagocytic capacity for Shigella flexneri and depressed bactericidal activity against S . albus when compared to monocytes from healthy individuals . Treatment of patients with colchicine did not alter these functions . On the other hand, chemokinesis of PMN of F.M.F . patients was enhanced especially during attacks . Colchicine treatment decreased significantly the PMN chemotactic migration. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1979, 73(6), 656 - 60 Sub-populations of peripheral lymphocytes from patients with shigella bacillary dysentery with associated leucocytosis; Jackson TM et al.; In this study we ascertained the proportion and absolute number of T, B and nul cell peripheral lymphocytes from Shigella dysenteriae type I patients and compared these results with those from age matched controls . Single blood samples were collected from 13 Bangladeshi children who complained of symptoms for one or more weeks . Patients were divided into two categories, with and without a leukaemoid response . The leukaemoid response was primarily granulocytic in nature, but there was a substantial increase in the mean number of lymphocytes . Over one third of the lymphocytes were nul cells . These cells rose proportionally to the decrease of T-cells, as the proportion of B-cells remained within normal range . One leukaemoid patient died . The absolute number of lymphocytes was normal and the B-cells were normal in respect of both proportions and absolute numbers . T-cell percentage and numbers were well below normal values. Genetika, 1979, 15(10), 1767 - 74 {Functional interactions of the genomes of Shigella sonnei phages and Escherichia coli phage T4 in mixed infection}; Zamchuk LA et al.; A comparative study of Shigella sonnei phages U and G and Escherichia coli phage T4 has shown that enzymes coded for by the Sh . sonnei phages can functionally substitute for some T4-coded products . This finding in indicative of an evolutionary relationship between T-even phages and disenteric phages U and G . The U phage is uncapable to compensate amber mutants for the genes that control the conversion of cytosine into 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine (5-HMC) and the glucosylation of the latter, which agrees with our earlier finding that the U phage DNA contains no 5-HMC . U and G phages are also found to exclude the T4 phage in the course of mixed infection. Infect Immun, 1979 Jan, 23(1), 178 - 80 Mitomycin C stimulates production of a toxin in Shigella species that causes morphological changes in Chinese hamster ovary cells; Takeda Y et al.; Shigella dysenteriae produced a toxin that caused morphological changes in Chinese hamster ovary cells which was different from the neurotoxin (Y . Takeda, K . Okamoto, and T . Miwatani, Infect . Immun . 18:546--548, 1977) . It was found that the toxin was produced not only by S . dysenteriae but also by S . flexneri, S . boydii, and S . sonnei . The production of the toxin was stimulated by the addition of 1 microgram of mitomycin C per ml to the culture in the early logarithmic growth phase. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1979, 73(6), 677 - 9 Enhanced T-cell rosette formation in shigellosis by the in vitro use of thymopoietin; Jackson TM et al.; The results from this study suggest that the large nul cell lymphocyte population seen in patients with Shigella dysentery, does contain a sub-population of cells that will respond in vitro to thymopoietin, a bovine thymic extract, by increased E-rosette formation . It is felt that this sub-population is in fact immature T-cells . A previous study has shown that an unusual leukaemoid reaction develops in a substantial number of patients with Shigella dysentery . The leukaemoid response was primarily granulocytic in nature but there was also a substantial increase in the mean number of lymphocytes . The proportion of the various populations of lymphocytes from leukaemoid and non-leukaemoid subjects were altered, B-cells remained constant, while the T-cells were depressed with a corresponding rise in the proportion of nul cells . The cumulative results of this and other studies demonstrate that the T-cell arm of immunity is compromised in shigellosis . Indeed the degree of compromise may ultimately be the decisive factor in determining the severity of this disease. Allerg Immunol (Leipz), 1979, 25(1), 25 - 31 Humoral factors of local immunity in shigellosis; Chernokhvostova EV; Secretory immunoglobulins and antibodies were studied in dysentery patients of various age groups and in healthy persons . It is established that the level of IgA (mostly sIgA)) in coprofiltrates of patients is considerably increased and that the local production of sIgA starts very short (in 2--3 days) after the beginning of the disease . Specific coproantibodies are chiefly sIgA-antibodies . Increase of IgG in coprofiltrates is observed at early stages of the disease and is evidently due to transudation of serum proteins through the damaged mucosal membrane . High concentration of IgM is found mostly in coprofiltrates of children and is evidently the result of its local synthesis . -- Local immune response in shigellosis develops independently of systemic antibody formation . Increase of serum IgA level and appearance of sIgA-antibodies in sera of patients show the participation of local antibody forming system in formation of systemic immunity in intestinal infections. Am J Clin Nutr, 1979 Jan, 32(1), 229 - 33 Shigellosis and Escherichia coli diarrhea: relative importance of invasive and toxigenic mechanisms; O'Brien AD et al.; Shigellae and dysentery-like Escherichia coli must invade the epithelium of the colon to cause disease which can present as dysentery, diarrhea, or both . This paper addresses the possible role of a Shigella dysenteriae-like (Shiga-like) toxin in the pathogenesis of shigellosis and E . coli diarrheal diseases . The possibility for such a role is suggested by the following observations: 1) diarrhea, considered to be a result of secretion of water by the small bowel, is frequently observed in shigellosis, a large bowel disease . 2) Even though shigellae do not invade the jejunum of monkeys fed Shigella flexneri, jejunal secretion is seen in animals with diarrhea . 3) The Shiga toxin of S . dysenteriae has enterotoxic activity and other serotypes of shigellae produce Shiga-like toxins . 4) E . coli 015 RDEC-1 causes a diarrheal disease and frequently death in young rabbits . This organism neither produces E . coli enterotoxins nor is it invasive, but it may produce low levels of a Shiga-like toxin. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1979, 27(4), 571 - 7 Antigenic similarity of morphologic type CIII1 bacteriophages; Krzywy T et al.; The aim of the study was to demonstrate antigenic differentiation among bacteriophages belonging to the same morphologic type--CIII1 according to Krzywy and Slopek or A2 according to Ackermann . Twenty-six bacteriophages which multiplied on various strains of bacteria of the genera Escherichia, Shigella and Klebsiella, were studied . Serologic tests were done by the quantitative complement fixation test . Immune sera against 5 phi E . coli . D8 Sh . flexneri, G35 Sh . sonnei and Kl7 Klebsiella bacteriophages were obtained from rabbits . It was shown that bacteriophages of CIII1 morphologic type, with morphologically identical virion had different antigenic specificity . On the basis of results obtained the phages could be divided into eight serologic groups . The bacteriophages for which antisera were obtained belonged to four different serologic groups . All bacteriophages had some common antigens with 5 phi E . coli phage . The similarity points to a phylogenetic relationship among phages of CIII1 morphologic type. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull, 1978 Dec, 4(2), 86 - 93 Disease agents carried by flies in Dacca city; Khan AR et al.; Studies were conducted to determine the different disease agents naturally carried by flies in Dacca city by collecting outdoor unbaited flies from 8 different representative locations and identifying the agents in the laboratory . Out of 96 fly pools containing 25 flies each, 62.5%, 46.9%, 15.6%, 8.3%, 8.3%, 15.6% and 6.2% of the pools were found positive for Ascaris lumbrioeides, Trichuris trichiura, Hookworm, Enterebious vermicularis eggs and Entamoeba coli, Trichomonas spp Giardia spp . cysts, respectively . Similarly, out of the same number of fly pools, 8.3%, 6.25%, 66.6%, 20.8% and 29.2% of the pools were found positive for Shigella flexner-3, Cholera vibrio, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas, respectively besides many other non-pathogenic bacteria. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1978 Dec, 86(12), 700 - 3 {Effect of leukocyte pyrogen on the phagocytic properties of macrophages in tissue culture}; Krotkova MR et al.; The effect of rabbit leukocytic pyrogen (LP) on the phagocytic activity of the peritoneal macrophages of albino mice against shigellae was investigated . The dose-effect dependence was revealed: high LP doses depressed the phagocytosis, and low ones were insufficiently effective; addition of average LP doses against the kanamycin background stimulated both the absorption phase and that of shigella digestion . Phagocytosis stimulation with LP was also accompanied by an increase of the acid phosphatase lysosomal enzyme activity in macrophages; the RNA content was not changed. Eur J Biochem, 1978 Nov 2, 91(1), 279 - 84 Structural studies of Shigella flexneri O-antigens; Kenne L et al.; The structures of the O-antigens of all known serotypes and subserotypes of Shigella flexneri have been reinvestigated . The results support the assumption that these antigens are composed of a basic tetrasaccharide repeating unit (1), to which alpha-D-glucopyranosyl and/or O-acetyl groups are attached at different positions . Leads to 3)-beta-D-GlcNAcp-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1 leads to 3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1 leads to The immunological determinants responsible for O-factors I, II, IV, V and 7, 8 contain alpha-D-gluco-pyranosyl groups, the locations of which have been determined . O-Factor 6 is due to O-acetyl groups, linked to O-2 of the 3-substituted alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl residue in unit 1 and O-factor III seems to be due to the same groups . The chemical natures of the determinants responsible for O-factors 4 and 3, 4 are still obscure . The structural studies indicate that the immunological classification of Sh . flexneri serotypes and subserotypes, as regards these O-factors, may need revision. Vopr Virusol, 1978 Nov-Dec, (6), 724 - 31 {System of host specificity and the DNA methylases of shigellae and their phages}; Nikol'skaia II et al.; In Shigella sonnei cells there is a host DNA specificity system responsible for modification and restriction of DDII phage . DNA methylase from Shigella stutzeri cells is specific for adenine and catalyses the appearance of 6-'-methylaminopurine in the acceptory DNA . Methylases from Shigella sonnei cells are specific for adenine and cytosine and provide for the presence of 6'-methylaminopurine and 5'-methylcytosine in DNA . The modifying activity of these cells may be equally likely associated with both the enzymes . A simplified version of the additional methylation test has been developed for the study of enzyme specificity . The results of additional and cross methylation suggest that several adenine methylases are present in the cells of these Shigella, one of these enzymes being shared by Shigella stutzeri and Shigella sonnei . The DNA's isolated from Shigella sonnei and Shigella stutzeri cells are undermethylated and in vitro undergo additional methylation upon incubation with the appropriate enzyme. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Nov, (11), 38 - 41 {Immunochemical findings about the high molecular weight surface antigens of Shigella sonnei}; Iarovaia LM et al.; The authors studied immunochemical properties of the high molecular fraction of surface soluble antigens obtained by extraction with salt solutions from Sh . sonnei (virulent strain 1041) dried with acetone . The high molecular fraction was isolated by gel-filtration on Sepharose-4B . Along with the O-somatic antigen, this fraction contained thermostable and thermolabile antigens resistant to trypsin and RNA-ase treatment, and also protein-containing antigens disintegrated by trypsin . In difference from the O-somatic antigen, one of the thermostable components was completely precipitated with 50% alcohol. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Nov, 75(11), 5580 - 4 Naturally occurring promoter down mutation: nucleotide sequence of the trp promoter/operator/leader region of Shigella dysenteriae 16; Miozzari G et al.; The promoter/operator/leader region of the trp operon of Shigella dysenteriae 16 has single base pair differences from the corresponding region of Escherichia coli at positions -24 and -13 . The difference at -13 was shown to be responsible for the 90% reduction in promoter function characteristic of the trp operon of S . dysenteriae . The base pair difference at position -13 also renders the operator partially constitutive . This allows the organism to maintain relatively high repressed levels of the trp enzymes and increases the relative importance of attenuation as a transcription control mechanism . These findings and the earlier observation that the trpE protein of S . dysenteriae is only slightly active explain the low in vivo expression of the trp operon of this organism . Nutritional studies suggest that operons involved in other amino acid biosynthetic pathways in S . dysenteriae 16 may be similarly partially inactivated. Isr J Med Sci, 1978 Oct, 14(10), 1048 - 55 Isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica from clinical cases in Northern Israel; Shmilovitz M et al.; Bacteriologic data and some clinical and epidemiologic aspects concerning 53 clinical cases associated with Yersinia enterocolitica are described . This is the first published report of human cases of Y . enterocolitica infection in Israel . Seventy-eight isolates of Y . enterocolitica were obtained from stool cultures of these cases, with 94% on SS agar plates . The isolation of the organism, including its differentiation from related bacteria, is discussed . In 88% of 50 cases, the organisms were of serotype 0:3, biotype 4, phage type VIII and in 12%, serotype 0:1, 2a, 3, biotype 3, phage type XI . Sensitivity in vitro to antibacterial drugs and evaluation of the serologic diagnosis are also considered . With two exceptions, all 53 patients had acute enteritis, clinically similar to shigellosis . The cases came from towns and villages throughout northern Israel and were detected from July 1976 to November 1977 . Children under five years of age were 76% of the cases . Five cases appeared in two small institutional outbreaks . It is suggested that infection probably occurs in other parts of the country as well, and that difficulty in laboratory diagnosis is the reason for the lack of reported cases. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Oct, (10), 77 - 82 {Production of auxotrophic mutants of Shigella sonnei}; Nastichkin IA et al.; Use of selection method with R . Ffm phage offered a possibility of obtaining R-forms of Sh . sonnei from the population of bacteria of phase II with a low frequency of natural dissociation . Mono- and polyauxotrophic mutant of I, II and R-phases by hir, ilv, pro, and mtl markers were obtained by treatment of Sh . sonnei strains with nitrosoguanidine and ethyl-methanesulfonate . The frequency of mutation in two Sh . sonnei strains studied in this work (UBC and No . 941) by the same genetic regions proved to differ . The change of Sh . sonnei phase I into phase II was observed only in selection by proline marker which could be connected with the existence in this region of a gene controlling the dissociation process. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Sep, 241(3), 319 - 24 On the metabolic characteristics of hybrids Shigella flexneri x Escherichia coli, devoid of their ability for intracellular multiplication in the epithelial cells . IV . Growth characteristics in the presence of some tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates; Radoutcheva T et al.; The dynamics of avirulent xyl-str and xyl + hybrids Sh . flexneri was investigated in minimal medium in the presence of some tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (succinate, malate, fumarate) and pyruvate . It was established that the hybrids with a replaced xyl-str or xyl-region show a considerably lower rate of multiplication in artificial media than the virulent recipient strains. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1978 Sep 1, 173(5 Pt 2), 649 - 53 Interventions in diarrheas of infants and young children; DuPont HL; To prevent diarrhea, efforts must be directed toward decreasing environmental contamination of enteropathogens, altering exposure of persons to naturally occurring agents, or to increasing host tolerance to prevalent enteropathogens . A vaccine is feasible in the control of certain enteric infections among high risk groups: typhoid fever and cholera, in areas of hyperendemicity or during an epidemic, shigellosis in institutionalized populations that are at risk to develop illness due to known prevalent serotypes, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli for US travelers to Latin America, and perhaps rotavirus for all children under 3 years of age . In diarrhea, the most useful form of treatment is an oral glucose/electrolyte solution, which in most cases will prevent dehydration . Lactose containing foods should be removed from the diet early in the course of diarrhea . Antimicrobial agents are necessary in the treatment of typhoid fever, are useful in the treatment of shigellosis, giardiasis, and amebiasis, and are contraindicated in intestinal salmonellosis. J Invest Dermatol, 1978 Sep, 71(3), 186 - 8 Enhanced chemotactic and phagocytic activities of leukocytes in psoriasis vulgaris; Wahba A et al.; Leukocytes derived from the peripheral blood of psoriatic patients demonstrated an enhanced chemotactic response compared with leukocytes from healthy subjects . No significant difference was detected between the chemotactic response of leukocytes from patients with minimal or no skin involvement and those from patients with extensive lesions . Psoriatic leukocytes also had a significantly higher capacity to engulf 125I labeled Shigella flexneri than control leukocytes . It is postulated that a decrease in the cyclic AMP/cyclic GMP ratio in psoriatic leukocytes, similar to the imbalance of these 2 cyclic nucleotides found in the lesional epidermis of psoriasis, might be the cause of their enhanced chemotactic and phagocytic activities. Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci, 1978 Aug, 56(4), 507 - 11 Effects of changes in Mg++ ion concentration upon bacterial inhibition by beta-2-thienylalanine in defined media; Brown KJ et al.; Variation in the inhibition of growth of Escherichia coli and Shigella sp . in various media containing beta-2-thienylalanine was attributed to differences in concentrations of Mg++ ions . Random blood samples 112 infants were tested for elevated phenylalanine in the phenylketonuria (PKU) screening assay . Magnesium ion levels also affected the results of this assay . At 0.05 g/1 MgSO4, the concentration present in commerical PKU test agar, four false positives were detected, while no readings could be made due to overgrowth of the Bacillus subtilis test strain when the concentration was increased to 0.1 g/1. J Hyg (Lond), 1978 Aug, 81(1), 131 - 8 High and low level tetracycline resistance in Shigella sonnei; Hawkins WA et al.; The results presented in this paper confirm the existence of two types of tetracycline resistance in Shigella sonnei . One group of strains had a high level of resistance to tetracycline and oxytetracyline, with a variable level of minocycline resistance . The second group had a lower level of tetracycline resistance and were sensitive to minocycline . After conjugation with E . coli K12 the selected E . coli transconjugants had the same levels of resistance as the parent Sh . sonnei strain, with one exception . Sh . sonnei 87 was resistant to a high level of tetracycline, but was able to transfer only low level resistance . It is suggested that Sh . sonnei 87 carriers two plasmids: pSU1, a conjugative plasmid conferring a low level of tetracycline resistance, and pSU2, a non-conjugative plasmid which confers a high level of resistance to tetracycline. Gastroenterology, 1978 Aug, 75(2), 297 - 301 Whipple's disease: case report with immunological studies; Kirkpatrick PM Jr et al.; A patient with Whipple's disease is described whose small bowel biopsy demonstrated antigenicity to rabbit antisera to groups A, B, C, and G streptococci and Shigella flexneri, but not to antisera to pneumococcus or Shigella sonnei by immunofluorescent techniques . In addition, the patient's lymphocytes responded normally to phytohemagglutinin and to concanavalin A . These studies support the idea what Whipple's disease is mediated by a bacteria-like agent which shares certain antigenic similarities with groups A, B, C, and G streptococci and S . flexneri, and that T cell dysfunction does not appear to be an essential prerequisite for the disease. N Z Med J, 1978 Jul 12, 88(615), 9 - 10 The transfer of antibiotic resistance by R plasmids in Shigellae; Bremner DA; Forty-five strains of Shigella species isolated at Auckland Hospital from 1972--1974 were investigated for antibiotic resistance . Forty-two strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics and 11 strains transferred antibiotic resistance by conjugation to E . coli. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1978 Jul, 27(4), 840 - 2 Oxolinic acid for the treatment of chronic gastrointestinal Shigella carriers; Ribner BS et al.; Two patients were long-term gastrointestinal carriers of Shigella flexneri for 23 mo and 6 mo, respectively . Neither patient responded to oral antibiotics, despite in vitro sensitivity of the bacteria to the antibiotics administered . Oral oxolinic acid produced immediate cessation of the carrier state in both patients, with resolution of minor but persistent physical complaints. Biokhimiia, 1978 Jul, 43(7), 1228 - 32 {Study of the methylation process and DNA methylase specificity in Shigella}; Nikol'skaia II et al.; The nature and content of minor bases in DNA of 3 Shigella strains are investigated . DNAs from Shigella stutzeri 2, Sh . sonnei 1188 and Sh . sonnei 311 are found to contain 0.43, 0.56 and 0.45 mol.% of N6-methyladenine respectively . 5-methylcytosine (0.16 mol.%) is discovered in Sh . sonnei 311 . Substrate specificity of adenine methylase from Sh . sonnei 1188 with respect to phage DNAs of different host modification is investigated . Recognition sites for guanine methylase of DDVI phage and for adenine methylase of Sh . sonnei 1188 turned to be different . DNA of DDII phage grown in Sh . stutzeri 2 cells does not accept methyl groups under the treatment with Sh . sonnei 1188 extracts, but it is methylated by Escherichia coli extract . Adenine methylases of Sh . sonnei 1188 and Sh . stutzeri 2 are suggested to be either the same enzyme, or enzymes, which recognition sites are partially overlapped. J Virol, 1978 Jul, 27(1), 38 - 44 Interaction between bacteriophage Sf6 and Shigella flexner; Lindberg AA et al.; The Shigella flexneri phage Sf6 has an isometric head with hexagonal symmetry 53nm in diameter . The noncontractile tails in 16 nm long and terminates with a base plate containing six spikes . Sf6 is typical of the C phages in the morphological classification of Bradley . Phage Sf6 processes alpha-1,3-endorhamnosidase activity as demonstrated by methylation and reducing end group sugar analyses of the products obtained on interaction with the O-polysaccharide chain of S.flexneri strains which have the O-group 3,4 antigen . The major end product was an octasaccharide with the following structure: Rha III-GlcNAc-Rha I-Rha II-Rha III-GlcNAc-Rha I-Rha II . Acetylation of 0-2 of rhamnose III of the O-polysaccharide chain, either brought about by Sf6 lysogenization or found in wild-type S . flexneri (3b) strains, prevented enzymatic hydrolysis . O-deacetylation of the polysaccharide chain again made it susceptible to the S6f endorhamnosidase. Am J Epidemiol, 1978 Jul, 108(1), 47 - 52 Epidemiology of common-source outbreaks of shigellosis in the United States, 1961-1975; Black RE et al.; In 1961-1975, there were 72 foodborne and 38 waterborne outbreaks of shigellosis reported in the United States . Foodborne outbreaks were most often caused by salads with contamination attributed to poor hygiene of a food handler . Waterborne outbreaks most often involved semipublic water systems, and were usually the result of inadequate chlorination of water contaminated by human feces . In 110 common-source outbreaks, 16,541 persons were ill . The attack rate for both food- and waterborne shigellosis was 47%, and the case-fatality ratio was 0.1% in foodborne outbreaks and 0.2% in waterborne outbreaks. Br Med J, 1978 Jun 10, 1(6126), 1518 - 21 Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome complicating shigella dystentery in south Indian children; Raghupathy P et al.; Shigella dysentery caused 65% of all cases of acute renal failure (ARF) seen in children treated at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, during the 33 months ending September 1977 . In the 40 children with ARF secondary to shigella dysentery, haematological findings suggested that they were suffering from the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome, and glomerular hypercellularity and fibrin deposition were present in all 12 patients whose renal histology could be studied . Peritoneal dialysis was the main element of treatment: 43% of children who underwent dialysis improved, compared with only 25% of those who did not undergo dialysis . The haemolytic-uraemic syndrome precipitated by bacillary dystentery is therefore the most important cause of ARF in children aged under 5 years in Tamil Nadu and the adjoining area of Andhra Pradesh. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jun, (6), 100 - 2 {Action of Na-RNA on infection in mice infected with Shigella flexneri}; Zemskov MV et al.; Experiments were conducted on albino mice . Experimentally induced dysentery infection proved to become aggravated under the effect of yeast Na-RNA expressed in the increase of the number of animals which fell ill and perished . This phenomenon proved to be based on the acceleration of reproduction of the causative agent, with a simultaneous selection of its virulent clones seen both in vitro and in vivo. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 May, (5), 46 - 8 {Pathogenicity of the Shigella isolated from wild and game animals of the Far North of the USSR}; Grekova NA et al.; Experiments were conducted on guinea pigs . A study was made of the pathogenicity of brucellae culture isolated from various wild and Game animals of the extreme North of the USSR (wolf, polar fox, ermine, glutton) . The majority of the cultures under study proved to be highly pathogenic . Observations carried out led to the conclusion that brucella cultures circulating between the wild and domestic reindeers and migrating to other species of animals presented definite danger to the health of man. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 May, (5), 11 - 5 {Study of a collection of Shigella strains of provisional serovars (cultural and biochemical properties)}; Khomenko NA; The author studied 17 standard and local strains of shigellae of provisional serological variants (3873-50, 2000-53, 3341-53, 3615-53, 2710-54, 1621-54) . By a number of biochemical signs (alkalization of citrate agar of Christiansen and Molke's lacmus, the growth on acetate medium, utilization of soluble starch) and resistance to the genus-specific dysentery bacteriophage the cultures of serological variant 2000-53 possessed no properties of shigellae and were escherichia according to the general characteristics . The enzymatic and cultural properties of the rest of provisional serological variants corresponded to the characteristics of bacteria belonging to Shigella genus. Am J Epidemiol, 1978 May, 107(5), 433 - 8 Guillain-Barré syndrome: epidemiology of an outbreak; Khoury SA; In early January, 1976, an outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by contamination of the water supply system occurred in Salt, Jordan . This outbreak was followed by the appearance of peripheral neuropathy in 19 cases diagnosed as Guillain-Barre Syndrome . Clinically, gastroenteritis was suggestive of Shigellosis and one of nine patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, grew Shigella boydii . Epidemiology of the 19 cases with peripheral neuropathy is detailed . Seventeen patients had definite gastroenteritis symptoms prior to their neuropathy . The median incubation period was seven days. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 May, (5), 36 - 40 {Comparative study of the virulence of the Shigella isolated from bacterial carriers and from acute dysentery patients}; Ovchinnikova EA et al.; The authors present the results of study of the virulence of shigellae isolated from carriers and patients suffering from acute dysentery, on a continuous culture of E1 and Hep-2 cells . The virulence of shigellae isolated from carriers displayed no significant difference from the virulence of shigellae isolated from patients with a mild and moderately severe forms of dysentery . In the patient's organism shigellae were capable of retaining the initial virulence for a long time, despite the treatment and the influence of the macroorganism's protective factors . The authors believe that this was connected with the capacity of Shigellae to parasitic life in the cells of human intestinal epithelium, and, apparently, played a definite role in the formation of carrier state. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 May, (5), 20 - 6 {Experience with the diagnosis of dysentery in adults by determining antibodies to Shigella in the saliva}; Kolesnikova EN et al.; Concentration of immunoglobulins and titres of antibodies to Sh . sonnei, Sh . flexneri and enteropathogenic E . coli 0111 was determined in mixed saliva and the blood serum of patients suffering from Sonne dysentery, acute intestinal diseases of unknown etiology, and healthy individuals . The sum total immunoglobulin concentration in mixed saliva proved to be 53--81 times less than in the blood serum, but in the first substrate there was 53--75, and in the second--15% of immunoglobulin A . There proved to be distinct changes in the specific IgA-antibodies in the saliva of patients with Sonne dysentery . A preponderant accumulation of IgG-antibodies was noted in the blood serum . Elevation of both types of antibodies was maximal during the second week of the disease . Sonne dysentery was diagnosed in 80% of the patients by recording the intensity of shifts in the specific antibodies in the saliva, and in 63%--in the blood . The expediency of immunological testing of saliva for the diagnosis of dysentery is substantiated. J Infect Dis, 1978 May, 137(5), 641 - 4 Invasive Escherichia coli; Formal SB et al.; The present evidence indicates that Shigella-like pathogenicity is determined by a multiplacity of genes . Although deliberate attempts have been made to confer invasive virulence on E . coli strain K12 by employing classical procedures of recombination with virulent S . flexneri donor strains, they have not yet been successful . While we should, theoretically, be able to achieve this, the practical problem of testing for pathogenicity precludes screening larger numbers of hybrid clones for the acquisition of virulence . This increases the difficulty of successfully realizing that end . Nevertheless, since invasive-type pathogenicity is determined by multiple genetic loci, we consider it unlikely that random insertion of foreign DNA into the E . coli K12 genome could supply all of the genetic information necessary to convert this organism into an invasive enteric pathogen. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1978 May, 85(5), 545 - 7 {Stimulation of nonspecific resistance in mice with high- and low-molecular fractions of endotoxin on 2 models of Shigella infection}; Shpiliuk GF et al.; The capacity of S . paratyphi B endotoxin and its high molecular (HMF) and low molecular (LMF) fractions to stimulate the resistance of mice to shigella infection in intraperitoneal and intranasal challenge was investigated . The HMF developed high activity after the intraperitoneal injection (efficiency index--EI = 2.8) . All the preparations were less active on the lung model (EI = 1.6--1.7) . Materials of this work lead to the conclusion that in studying the phenomenon of nonspecific resistance induction conditions providing antitoxic and antiinfectious resistance should be considered separately. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1978 May, 17(5), 412 - 9 The insensitivity of the chicken eye to the inflammatory effects of x-rays in contrast to its sensitivity to other inflammatory agents; Stetz DE et al.; The effects of x-rays and three chemical agents, known to cause intraocular inflammation in mammalian eyes, were studied on the chicken eye because this species was reported to be insensitive to the cataractogenic effects of x-rays . Intravitreal injection of Shigella endotoxin and topical and/or intravitreal administration of PGE2, PGF2alpha, or arachidonic acid caused a breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier, as indicated by flare and increased protein concentration in the aqueous humor . Following endotoxin injection, there was also a large accumulation of cells in the anterior chamber . The ocular inflammatory effects of endotoxin and arachidonic acid were inhibited by indomethacin . Thus the chicken eye reacts to these inflammatory agents in a manner similar to that previously described for the rabbit . In contrast, the inflammatory response which was reported to occur in the rabbit eye 3 to 4 hr after exposure to 500 or 1000 rads of x-rays was not observed in the chicken eye even after expsoure to 10,000 rads . Minimal flare and a small cellular infiltration were observed in some eyes only after extensive swelling of the surrounding tissues had developed . It is concluded that the insensitivity of the chicken eye to x-rays is due to some unique difference in the chain of events which mediates, or prevents, the effects of ionizing radiation rather than to a general insensivity to inflammatory agents. N Engl J Med, 1978 Apr 27, 298(17), 927 - 33 Hemolytic-uremic syndrome after shigellosis . Relation to endotoxemia and circulating immune complexes; Koster F et al.; To investigate three possible causes of the acute hemolysis in the hemolytic-uremic syndrome, we studied prospectively 207 children and 34 adults with shigellosis in Bangladesh . Nineteen children showed acute hemolytic anemia, a leukemoid reaction, thrombocytopenia and oliguria; nine other had, in addition, a serum urea nitrogen level of over 100 mg per diciliter . Eight of the nine had pseudomembranous colitis, and six of the nine died . The frequency of bacteremia was similar in all grades of shigellosis . Circulating immune complexes were found in 10 of 20 patients with uncomplicated shigellosis and in four of six with severe hemolytic-uremic syndrome . Limulus assay for endotoxemia was positive in nine of 18 patients with hemolysis (50 per cent) and three of 61 with uncomplicated shigellosis (5 per cent) (P less than 0.001) . These data support the hypothesis that severe colitis in shigellosis is associated with circulating endotoxin from the colon producing coagulopathy, renal microangiopathy and hemolytic anemia. Jpn J Med Sci Biol, 1978 Apr, 31(2), 135 - 42 On the serology of Plesiomonas shigelloides; Shimada T et al.; The serology of 87 strains of Plesiomonas shigelloides was studied . Thirty O antigenic groups and 11 H antigens were defined within the 87 strains, and an antigenic schema consisting of 40 serovars was established . Some O antigens of P . shigelloides were identical or closely related to those of some Shigella serovars. J Hyg (Lond), 1978 Apr, 80(2), 275 - 80 Two epidemics of diarrhoeal disease possibly caused by Plesiomonas shigelloides; Tsukamoto T et al.; Two epidemics of water-borne diarrhoeal disease involving a total of 1000 persons are reported . In both epidemics, none of the usual bacterial entero-pathogens were recognized and Plesiomonas shigelloides was the only suspect aetiological agent isolated . The ecology of P . shigelloides was investigated in these outbreaks . It was recognized as an inhabitant of fresh surface water and its presence was closely related to warm weather. Intensive Care Med, 1978 Apr, 4(2), 91 - 2 Catheter-induced ascites--an unusual complication of parenteral feeding; Axelsson CK et al.; A nearly fatal complication of parenteral feeding is reported . An emaciated infant with severe Shigella dysentery was treated with intravenous feeding through a catheter in the inferior vena cava . After three days severe ascites developed acutely . Venocavography revealed effusion into the peritoneal cavity due to the catheter having penetrated the wall of the inferior vena cava. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Apr, (4), 59 - 62 {Immunoglobulins and antibodies of various classes in children immunized with live oral Shigella sonnei vaccine from the spontaneous mutant}; Kuz'min SN et al.; The authors determined the immunoglobulin and specific antibodies level in the blood serum of 17 children aged from 7 to 10 years during the immunization with live dysentery Some vaccine . Mancini's test demonstrated the absence of any differences in the amount of IgA and IgG in children of the given age group and in adults before the immunization; in comparison with adults, IgM was increased in children . 14 to 20 days after the immunization in children there was a significant elevation of the IgG only, whereas in adults the immunoglobulin level of all the 3 classes increased significantly . The titres of specific antibodies of the IgA-, IgG-classes and of hemagglutinins before the immunization detected by Coombs' test failed to differ in children from the titres of antibodies of these classes in adults; the level of IgM antibodies was much greater in children than in adults . The changes and accumulation of antibodies of various classes in children and adults during the enteral immunization with live dysentery vaccine differed significantly: in children the vaccine stimulated the IgA- and the IgM-antibody synthesis, whereas adults responded to the immunization by increased production of all the 3 antibody classes . On the basis of the noted immunological shifts a conclusions was drawn on a marked local immunization activity of the live enteral Sonne dysentery vaccine from the spontaneous mutant in children. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Apr, (4), 102 - 7 {Various aspects of competitive relationship between Shigella and Escherichia coli}; Bondarenko VM et al.; One of the aspects of antagonistic relations could be the competence of microorganisms for specific sites of attachement to the epithelium common for shigellae and some E . coli serological types; this was demonstrated on a model of shigella-induced keratoconjunctivitis and in experiments with the HEp-2 cells infected with H3-glucose-labeled Sh . flexneri 5a, with combined administration of the latter with E . coli 08 and 028 . The data obtained emphasized the importance for the development of the infectious process of the primary stage of shigella attachment to the epithelium . It was also revealed that the presence of common pili in the strains or production of colicine by bacteria intensified the antagonistic activity of E . coli, irrespective of their serological type. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Apr, 240(2), 184 - 90 Shigella sonnei colicine and phage types in East Bohemia region; Horak V et al.; From November 1972 to the end of 1975, Shigella sonnei types implicated in dysentery morbidity in a number of districts of East Bohemia region were studied . 301 strains subjected to phage typing and colicine typing were classified into 45 "combined" types . During the study five types prevailed in succession, each for a protracted period of time . Four of these types retained, in the great majority of cases, their original high drug sensitivity throughout the period of their prevalence . Other types were only encountered transiently and sporadically . As a result of a phagerestrictive effect of newly acquired plasmids there occurred, in rare instances in some strains, a change in phage type; or the colicine type changed while the phage type was retained as a result of another col factor having been acquired by the strain . The changes occurred in the course of epidemics. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Apr, (4), 126 - 31 {Current methods of intraspecies typing of Shigella sonnei . 3 . Bacteriophage typing}; Mamontova TN et al.; Data are presented concerning the study of the phage type of Sh . sonnei isolated in various regions of the USSR . The strains isolated belonged to 64 phage types corresponding to the Hammarstrom's scheme . A variety of Shigella sonnei phage types both in one and in different territories of the country provided future prospects for successful use of phage typing for the purpose of epidemiological supervision and analysis of dysentery morbidity. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Mar, (3), 60 - 5 {Ribosomal dysentery vaccine . I . Method of production, physical and chemical properties}; Levenson VI et al.; Studies of A . and G . Youmans on the experimental tuberculosis led to discovery of a fundamentally new type of vaccines (ribosomal vaccines) which proved to be highly effective in the prophylaxis of many experimental infections . Therefore it seems reasonable to prepare analogous vaccine from Shigellae for the study of its efficiency in experimental shigellosis . Ribosomal preparations from Shigella sonnei were prepared by sonic disruption of microbial cells followed by differential ultracentrifugation according to A . and G . Youmans' method with slight modifications . The yeild of ribosomal fraction was about 2 per cent by weight; all the series had an UV adsorption maximum at 260 nm, the ratio OD260:OD280 being approximately 2 . They contained about 55% of RNA, 35% of protein and no more than 8% of saccharides . As shown by centrifugation in sucrose gradient and by analytical ultracentrifugation the preparations were homogeneous . The presence of undissociated ribosomes was confirmed by electron microscopy . Thus, the ribosomal preparations obtained proved to be sufficiently purified for carrying out experimental investigations of their biological activity. JAMA, 1978 Feb 27, 239(9), 853 - 4 Single-dose tetracycline therapy for shigellosis in adults; Pickering LK et al.; Forty-two adults who had Shigella isolated from stool (26 symptomatic, 16 asymptomatic) received a single oral dose of tetracycline hydrochloride (2.5 g) . Minimal inhibitory concentrations of the 42 isolates demonstrated that 41% were sensitive to tetracycline . Sixteen of 18 patients with diarrhea who had tetracycline-resistant Shigella and all eight patients with diarrhea who had tetracycline-sensitive Shigella were clinical well and had Shigella-negative stools 48 hours after therapy . Fifteen of 16 asymptomatic patients demonstrated clearing of Shigella from stool within 48 hours of therapy . Single-dose tetracycline therapy is effective in the treatment of Shigella regardless of clinical expression of illness or in vitro sensitive of the organism. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1978 Feb, 85(2), 247 - 9 {Fistulated diffusion chamber and its use in studying microbial associations in vivo}; Mikhno IL et al.; The fistulated diffusion chamber intended for the cultivation of microbial associations in vivo was elaborated . The interralation between the yeast-like Candida albicans fungi, staphylococci, shigella Sonnei, the influence of each one upon the macroorganism, and its response to their combined action were studied. Gut, 1978 Feb, 19(2), 108 - 13 Escherichia coli antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease; Tabaqchali S et al.; Sera from 30 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (16 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 14 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were assayed for the presence of antibodies against 159 Escherichia coli O-antigens and compared with sera from 16 matched control subjects . The majority of patients with IBD had agglutinating antibodies to a higher number of Escherichia coli O-antigens and in higher titres than the control group . The number of positive agglutinins was O-33 mean 13.8 in CD, O-26 mean 7.9 for UC, and O-7 mean 1.5 in controls . Eight patients with IBD and arthropathy had antibodies to fewer O-antigens (O-7 mean 3.2) . The antibodies were in the IgG and IgM, in titres corresponding to original values . No specific O-serotypes were associated with IBD . Common serotypes, R-plasmid carrying serotypes, and those associated with shigella-like adult diarrhoea were de