Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1990 Dec, 37(10), 767 - 9 CAMP-reaction among skin isolates obtained from a dog with an acute squamous eczema; Bruckler J et al.; The primary culture of a clinical specimen obtained from a dog with an acute squamous eczema revealed 3 different bacterial cultures . Two of these cultures, a beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus and a group B streptococcal culture, demonstrated synergistic hemolytic activities on this primary culture plate . The group B streptococcus had the serotype surface antigens Ib/c, protein antigen c in its c beta component. J Gen Microbiol, 1990 Dec, 136 ( Pt 12), 2545 - 50 The utilization of casein and amino acids by Streptococcus sanguis P4A7 in continuous culture; Rogers AH et al.; Streptococcus sanguis P4A7 was grown in glucose limited conditions in continuous culture at pH 7.0 in a chemically defined medium containing either free amino acids or casein as the organic nitrogen source . Apart from aspartate and threonine, which were poorly utilized at the higher dilution rates, all amino acids in the free-amino-acid medium were utilized to various extents . At the higher dilution rates, aspartate actually increased in concentration, probably due to deamidation of asparagine . The amino acid most utilized at all dilution rates was arginine, with up to 99% of the amino acid being consumed . Both casein and its alpha s1-casein fraction supported growth at a level only slightly lower than that obtained with the free-amino-acid medium, provided that either cysteine or thioglycollate was present . With the exception of tyrosine, nearly all of the amino acyl residues of alpha s1-casein were utilized to some degree . In general, the higher the concentration of each amino acid in the medium (whether free or as part of alpha s1-casein) the higher the extent of utilization by S . sanguis P4A7 . Only 50% of the arginyl residues (0.16 mM) of alpha s1-casein were utilized compared with 99% of free arginine (1.5 mM) under similar conditions, suggesting that only 50% of the alpha s1-casein arginine was accessible to the organism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Aust Vet J, 1990 Dec, 67(12), 440 - 2 Effects of antibiotic therapy at drying off on mastitis in the dry period and early lactation; Browning JW et al.; Four strategies for selecting cows for intramammary therapy with benzathine cloxacillin at drying off were compared in 12 Victorian dairy herds . The bacteriological status of all quarters of all (1044) cows was determined just before drying off, within 2 d of calving, and again 3 to 5 months after calving . All cases of clinical mastitis (from calving to mid-lactation) were recorded . Cows not infected at drying off were allocated randomly to 2 subgroups of approximately 350 cows each: not infected, not treated (NI-NT), or not infected, all quarters treated (NI-AT) . New infection rates in the dry period (3.8% for NI-NT vs 2.1% for NI-AT) and in early lactation (4.1% for NI-NT vs 3.9% for NI-AT) were low and these differences were not significant . Incidence of clinical mastitis in early lactation was almost 50% higher for the treated group of uninfected cows compared with the untreated group (0.05 less than p less than 0.1) . Cows infected in one or more quarters at drying off were split randomly into 2 subgroups of approximately 170 cows each: infected, all quarters treated (I-AT), or infected quarters treated only (I-QT) . The new infection rate during the dry period was nearly 4 times higher for I-QT (15.3%) due to significantly more new infections by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Dec, 64(12), 1556 - 60 {A case with acute suppurative thyroiditis due to Eikenella corrodens and alpha-Streptococcus}; Kawashita T et al.; A 6-year-old girl with acute suppurative thyroiditis is reported . She suffered from suppurative thyroiditis twice, and E . corrodens and alpha-streptococcus were grown from the abscess each time . They were sensitive to antibiotics used, but surgical drainage was necessary to cease to inflammation each time . E . corrodens seemed to be a causative organism with or without another organism in compromised patients and/or patients with anatomical abnormalities . The presented patient was supposed to have some anatomical abnormality such as an internal fistula from the piriform sinus connecting the perithyroidal space, however, no abnormalities were detected during these episodes. Lancet, 1990 Dec 1, 336(8727), 1345 - 7 Infective dermatitis of Jamaican children: a marker for HTLV-I infection; LaGrenade L et al.; In Jamaican children infective dermatitis is a chronic eczema associated with refractory nonvirulent Staphylococcus aureus or beta-haemolytic streptococcus infection of the skin and nasal vestibule . 14 children between the ages of 2 and 17 years with typical infective dermatitis, attending the dermatology clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica, were tested for antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) . All were seropositive, whereas 11 children of similar age with atopic eczema were all negative . In 2 of 2 cases of infective dermatitis, the biological mother was HTLV-1 seropositive . None of the 14 patients showed signs of adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma, though experience with previous cases of infective dermatitis indicates the possibility of such progression. J Biol Response Mod, 1990 Dec, 9(6), 592 - 6 Receptors for human plasminogen on the biological response modifier OK-432; Ullberg M et al.; The biological response modifier OK-432, constituting cell wall fragments from a group A Streptococcus strain and used in anticancer therapy trials, was tested for its ability to interact with different plasma proteins . The uptake of 125I-labelled protein was measured using a panel of six different plasma proteins all known to react with receptors on a majority of streptococcal strains . Of the proteins tested, plasminogen demonstrated the most substantial uptake, with uptake values ranging from 70 to 79% . A slight interaction with fibrinogen was also detected whereas no significant interaction was found with either human immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, serum albumin, or mouse albumin . The results with plasminogen suggest the possibility of a new explanation of the antitumor activity described for OK-432. Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris), 1990 Nov, 39(9), 507 - 11 {Incidence and severity of cardiac involvement in Streptococcus bovis septicemia . Report of 10 cases}; Oumeskour B et al.; Endocarditis due to the streptococcus Bovis is an affection which is more and more often recognized and whose link with the colic tumor pathology has been well established those last few years and confirmed in this study with a frequency of 60 p . cent . However, few studies have stated the gravity of the heart affection in streptococcus Bovis septicaemias . In this series of 10 streptococcus Bovis septicaemias, the valvular affection is frequent and serious . The vegetations are found in 9 cases out of 10 . The aortic affection is slightly more frequent (8 times out of 10), against 7 times out of 10 for the mitral affection (double mitroaortic affection, 6 times) . A valve replacement due to sub-acute or chronic cardiac failure was necessary in 6 cases out of 9, that is 66 p . cent . The mortality was nil. J Oral Rehabil, 1990 Nov, 17(6), 573 - 8 The production of secondary caries-like lesions on cavity walls and the assessment of microleakage using an in vitro microbial caries system; Gilmour SM et al.; The aim of this study was to assess microleakage along restored cavity walls using a new in vitro microbial technique . Extracted human teeth containing cavities restored with a microfine posterior composite were incubated in broth inoculated with a single strain of Streptococcus mutans for 10 days, using a sequential batch culture technique . Each margin of the cavities was finished in one of three ways: butt joint and etching; butt joint and no etching, or; bevel joint and etching . The assessment of microleakage was achieved by examining sections of the teeth histologically using polarized light for the presence or absence of caries-like cavity wall lesions . Outer (surface) lesions were also examined and displayed the characteristic zones of early natural caries lesions . The cavity wall lesions were observed as a translucent zone in 31% of butt and unetched margins, 16% of butt and etched margins, and 5% of bevelled and etched margins. J Infect, 1990 Nov, 21(3), 241 - 50 Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C) septicaemia in Hong Kong; Yuen KY et al.; The clinical findings relating to 11 patients in Hong Kong (HK) and to 43 patients described elsewhere, all with Streptococcus zooepidemicus septicaemia, are reviewed . There was a particular association with cardiovascular disease (27%) with seven cases of endocarditis, three of abdominal aortic aneurysm and two of deep venous thrombosis . Associations not previously reported included two cases of pharyngitis and two patients with persistent post-operative fever . The overall mortality was 22% . Both human and porcine strains of S . zooepidemicus from HK did not hydrolyse aesculin in contrast to the aesculin-positive biotypes reported previously . HK strains also had very mucoid colonies and capsules of hyaluronic acid were seen in electron micrographs . Samples of chromosomal DNA, extracted by means of HindIII restriction endonuclease, of strains from human beings and pigs were identical . The MIC of penicillin for all strains was less than or equal to 0.03 mg/l but the MBC for all was greater than 32 mg/l . Penicillin alone is generally sufficient for cure but combination with an aminoglycoside may be indicated in seriously ill patients . In our locality, pigs were incriminated as a possible source of human infection whereas consumption of contaminated dairy products is important elsewhere. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1990 Nov, 43(11), 1471 - 82 Carboxyhydrazides of the aglycone of teicoplanin . Synthesis and antibacterial activity; Trani A et al.; The condensation of the terminal carboxyl group of the deglucoteicoplanin (TD) with various substituted hydrazines produced hydrazide derivatives having different physico-chemical properties . This chemical modification of the carboxyl function does not affect the ability of teicoplanin antibiotics to interfere in bacterial cell-wall synthesis . The antibacterial activity of deglucoteicoplanin hydrazides (V) were found to depend mostly on their ionic character . All the hydrazides were slightly more active than TD on Escherichia coli . Those possessing an additional basic group were more in vitro active than TD against Gram-negative microorganisms . In Experimental Streptococcus pyogenes septicemia in the mouse, basic hydrazides were more active than other derivatives when administered subcutaneously although they are as potent as TD. Equine Vet J, 1990 Nov, 22(6), 422 - 5 Inflammatory components in uterine fluid from mares with experimentally induced bacterial endometritis; Pycock JF et al.; Exudate and uterine flushings were collected at either 30, 60, 120 or 240 mins after intrauterine infusions of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in genitally normal mares during oestrus . Uteri were also flushed without prior induction of endometritis . Protein concentrations in exudate and flushings increased with time and exudate pH decreased with time; the pH of flushings did not alter . Lysozyme and lactate dehydrogenase were present in flushings from non-infected uteri, but concentrations increased with time after infection . Immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 was undetectable before infection, but concentrations rose after infection . No neutrophils were present in non-infected flushings but, by 30 mins, there were significant (P less than 0.01) neutrophil numbers in exudate and flushings; thereafter numbers increased, particularly in exudate . Acute endometritis resembled acute inflammation at other sites in the horse and a significant response had occurred by 30 mins after experimental infection. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1990 Nov, 56(11), 3304 - 7 Low-affinity, high-capacity system of glucose transport in the ruminal bacterium Streptococcus bovis: evidence for a mechanism of facilitated diffusion; Russell JB; The glucose phosphotransferase system (PTS) of Streptococcus bovis could not account for the glucose consumption of exponential cultures, and the kinetics of glucose transport were biphasic . A PTS-deficient mutant lost the high-affinity, low-capacity system but retained its ability to take up glucose at high substrate concentrations . The low-affinity, high-capacity system did not require a proton motive force or ATP and could not be driven by an artificial membrane potential in the presence or absence of sodium . Since low-affinity transport was directly proportional to the external substrate concentration and exhibited counterflow kinetics, it appeared that a facilitated-diffusion mechanism was responsible for glucose transport at high substrate concentrations. J Cataract Refract Surg, 1990 Nov, 16(6), 755 - 6 Suture-wick endophthalmitis with sutured posterior chamber intraocular lenses; Schechter RJ; A patient had a corneal transplant with removal of an anterior chamber lens . As part of the procedure, an exchange posterior chamber lens was inserted and sutured transsclerally into the ciliary sulcus with two subconjunctival 10-0 polypropylene (Prolene) sutures . One month later the patient experienced a sudden decrease in vision and severe eye pain . Streptococcus viridans was cultured from the vitreous tap and the eye eventually was lost from this endophthalmitis . The infecting organism appeared to gain access to the eye through one of the Prolene sutures that had eroded through the conjunctiva and become exteriorized . This report presents a case in which an eroding 10-0 Prolene suture used for transscleral posterior chamber lens fixation was the probable mechanism causing endophthalmitis . This complication represents an avoidable risk unique to this type of intraocular lens fixation. Arch Surg, 1990 Nov, 125(11), 1472 - 4 Does survival depend on the amount of autotransplanted splenic tissue? Shokouh-Amiri MH, Rahimi-Saber S, Hansen CP, Olsen PS, Jensen SL. Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection was studied in 11 groups of rats allocated to sham operation, splenectomy, or splenic autotransplantation of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the removed spleen . Three months later, all rats were exposed intravenously to type 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae (median lethal dose, LD50, for control group) . Survivors were killed 13 days after the bacterial challenge . Autopsy showed that more splenic tissue was recovered in rats that received less than 50% splenic tissue compared with those that received 50% or more . More survivors were found among sham-operated rats (47.5%; 95% confidence intervals, 32 to 68) and rats that had 40% splenic tissue implanted (35%; confidence interval, 20 to 54) or those that were found to have regenerated 40% splenic tissue . We conclude that 40% of the spleen should be autotransplanted to protect the rat optimally against infection after splenectomy. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1990 Nov, 142(5), 1004 - 8 Characterization of distal bronchial microflora during acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis . Use of the protected specimen brush technique in 54 mechanically ventilated patients; Fagon JY et al.; To obtain accurate information on distal bronchial microflora during acute exacerbation in patients with chronic bronchitis, we prospectively studied 54 such patients who had been receiving mechanical ventilation because of hypercapnic respiratory failure . Fiberoptic bronchoscopy using a protected specimen brush (PSB) was performed on each patient within the first 24 h after admission . Cultures of protected brush specimens demonstrated no growth in 27 patients (50%) . With the exception of fever (38.2 +/- 0.8 versus 37.7 +/- 0.6 degrees C; p less than 0.05), the initial severity of the episode of exacerbation was similar in patients with and without infection . A total of 44 organisms were isolated in the 27 patients with positive cultures; the predominant pathogens were Hemophilus spp . and Streptococcus spp . (involved in 74% of cases), but other organisms were isolated in 12 of 27 patients . Mortality rates, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of hospitalization were not significantly different between patients with bronchial microflora treated with appropriate antimicrobial therapy (n = 27) and patients without bronchial microflora either receiving empirical antibiotic therapy (n = 18) or not (n = 9) . These data suggest that distal bronchial infection due to the usual pathogens, as far as shown by protected specimen brush cultures, may not be the sole or even the predominant cause of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Ann Emerg Med, 1990 Nov, 19(11), 1332 - 4 Toxic streptococcal syndrome; Gallo UE et al.; The streptococcal toxic shocklike syndrome is a recently recognized, multisystem disorder that shares many of the features of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, but is caused by toxins elaborated by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus . We describe a patient who fulfilled the major criteria for the clinical diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome (fever, hypotension, multisystem dysfunction, and diffuse macular erythroderma followed by desquamation) and who demonstrated serologic evidence suggesting streptococcal infection . In patients presenting with clinical findings consistent with a toxic shocklike syndrome, the emergency physician should consider streptococcal infection as a potential etiology. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1990 Nov, 163(5 Pt 1), 1609 - 11 Perinatal mortality in Victoria, Australia: role of group B Streptococcus; Fliegner JR et al.; Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus is the most common infective cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality . It is therefore surprising that no agreement exists for an approach to its prevention . There is also increasing evidence that occult infection may play an etiologic role in premature rupture of the membranes and preterm labor . In this report we review the role of group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal sepsis as a cause of perinatal wastage in the state of Victoria, Australia during the period 1982 to 1987 . Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus accounted for 1.7% of overall perinatal deaths, and for 30.3% (77 of 254) perinatal deaths directly attributable to infection . By comparison, over the same 6-year period, erythroblastosis accounted for 0.5% of perinatal wastage and there were only two deaths as a result of congenital syphilis . The true incidence of lethal group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection is probably greater because of the absence of histologic and bacteriologic studies in many perinatal deaths . We believe that intrapartum chemoprophylaxis with penicillin of all group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus-positive carrier mothers would significantly reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality from this cause. Stroke, 1990 Nov, 21(11), 1625 - 7 Giant basilar aneurysm in the course of subacute bacterial endocarditis; Calopa M et al.; We describe a man aged 42 years with mitral valve regurgitation who suffered from subacute bacterial endocarditis caused by Streptococcus morbillorum . The clinical picture began with a toxic syndrome . Five months later, the patient had an embolic episode and a right rostral pontine stroke, which was followed a few days later by an adversive focal seizure on the right . Despite antibiotic treatment, he suffered complete third nerve palsy . Arteriography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography of the brain showed a giant aneurysm in the rostral end of the basilar artery; the aneurysm was clipped . We discuss the clinical features, radiology, and characteristics of this aneurysm as a unique case of a giant bacterial aneurysm in the vertebrobasilar system. Neurology, 1990 Nov, 40(11), 1782 - 4 Streptococcus bovis meningitis: report of 2 cases; Purdy RA et al.; We describe 2 cases of Streptococcus bovis meningitis and review the 9 cases previously reported . This microorganism is a rare cause of meningitis in which there are no distinctive clinical or laboratory features . The Gram stain of the CSF is usually negative . Ten of the 11 cases had some underlying disease or comorbid condition that predisposed to S bovis infection: gastrointestinal disorder, endocarditis, CSF leak, polymyalgia rheumatica, and mandibular block . Treatment with high-dose penicillin is usually adequate. J Dent Res, 1990 Nov, 69(11), 1741 - 5 Polymorphism of submandibular-sublingual salivary proteins which promote adhesion of Streptococcus mutans serotype-c strains to hydroxyapatite; Kishimoto E et al.; Previously, we showed that human submandibular-sublingual (SMSL) salivas contain one or more proteins, Mr circa 300,000 daltons, which specifically promote adhesion of Streptococcus mutans serotype-c strains to hydroxyapatite . Also, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that the adhesion-promoting proteins (APPs) exhibit heterogeneity . The aims of the present study were to determine whether APPs are generally present in human SMSL salivary secretions and to characterize the noted heterogeneity . Acid-stimulated SMSL saliva samples were obtained from 54 Japanese subjects, and Mr values were obtained by SDS-PAGE . APPs were present in all saliva samples examined, though at significantly different concentrations . The APPs occurred as either single (20 subjects) or double bands (34 subjects), with a mean Mr (88 bands) of 297 kD and a range of 248-338 kD . A plot of the frequency distribution of the APPs according to Mr showed a trimodal distribution, with mean Mr values, standard deviations, and ranges for the three groups being 265 (S.D., 6.9; range, 248-278), 293 (S.D., 6.7; range, 280-305), and 320 (S.D., 7.0; range, 310-338) kD . Variations of Mr within groups may be attributed to experimental variation, although microheterogeneity cannot be excluded . Differences between groups can best be explained in terms of three polymorphic proteins, with low (L), intermediate (I), and high (H) Mr values . Six phenotypes were detected with L, I, H, LI, LH, and IH Mr bands . A Hardy-Weinberg analysis showed that the phenotype data fit a single-gene, three-alleles model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Bacteriol, 1990 Nov, 172(11), 6499 - 505 Unusual septum formation in Streptococcus pneumoniae mutants with an alteration in the D,D-carboxypeptidase penicillin-binding protein 3; Schuster C et al.; An internal 630-bp DNA fragment of the gene encoding penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP 3) (dacA) of Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in a lambda gt11 gene bank screened with anti-PBP 3 antiserum . The deduced 210-amino-acid sequence showed a high degree of homology to the low-molecular-weight PBPs 5 and 6 of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis PBP 5 . Viable mutants lacking a C-terminal part of PBP 3 were obtained after a plasmid containing the dacA fragment was integrated into the PBP 3 gene by homologous recombination . The truncated PBP 3* was still active in terms of beta-lactam binding . Most PBP 3 was found in the growth medium, indicating that membrane anchoring of PBP 3 is provided by the C terminus, as has been shown for other D,D-carboxypeptidases . The mutant cells grew with a slower generation time than the wild type in the shape of irregular enlarged spheres . In addition, as revealed by electron microscopy, cell separation was severely affected, septa were found unevenly distributed at multiple sites within the cells, and the murein layer appeared variable in thickness. Infect Immun, 1990 Nov, 58(11), 3779 - 87 Streptococcus pyogenes clinical isolates and lipoteichoic acid; Leon O et al.; Minimally subcultured clinical isolates of virulent nephritogenic and nonnephritogenic Streptococcus pyogenes of the same serotype showed major differences in lipoteichoic acid (LTA) production, secretion, and structure . These were related to changes in coccal adherence to and destruction of growing human skin cell monolayers in vitro . A possible relationship between cellular LTA content and group A streptococcal surface hydrophobicity was also investigated . Nephritogenic S . pyogenes M18 produced twice as much total (i.e., cellular and secretory) LTA as did the virulent, serologically identical, but nonnephritogenic isolate . Also, the LTAs from these organisms differed markedly . The polyglycerol phosphate chain of LTA from the nephritogenic isolate was longer (1.6 times) than was that from the nonnephritogenic isolate . Likewise, both LTAs indicated the presence of alanine and the absence of glucose . Amino sugars were found in LTA from only nephritogenic S . pyogenes . Teichoic acid, as a cellular component or secretory product, was not detected . The adherence of two different nephritogenic group A streptococcal serotypes (M18 and M2) exceeded that of the serologically identical but nonnephritogenic isolates (by about five times), indicating a correlation between virulent strains causing acute glomerulonephritis and adherence to human skin cell monolayers . Likewise, LTA from nephritogenic S . pyogenes M18 was more cytotoxic (1.5 times) than was that from the nonnephritogenic isolate for human skin cells, as determined by protein release . This difference was not perceptible by the more sensitive dye exclusion method (i.e., requiring less LTA), which emphasizes changes in host cell morphology and death . Also, the secretion of LTA by only virulent nephritogenic S . pyogenes M18 was exacerbated by penicillin (a maximum of four times) . Finally, while the adherence of nephritogenic S . pyogenes M18 decreased markedly after continued subculturing in vitro, the surface hydrophobicity did not. Infect Immun, 1990 Nov, 58(11), 3689 - 97 Insertional inactivation of the gene encoding a 76-kilodalton cell surface polypeptide in Streptococcus gordonii Challis has a pleiotropic effect on cell surface composition and properties; Jenkinson HF et al.; A library of Streptococcus gordonii DL1-Challis DNA was constructed in lambda gt11 . Phage plaques were screened for production of antigens that reacted with antiserum to S . gordonii cell surface proteins . A recombinant phage denoted lambda gt11-cp2 was isolated that carried 1.85 kb of S . gordonii DNA and that expressed an antigen with a molecular mass of 29 kDa in Escherichia coli . Antibodies that reacted with the expression product were affinity purified and were shown to react with a single polypeptide antigen with a molecular mass of 76 kDa in S . gordonii DL1-Challis . A segment (0.85 kb) of the cloned DNA within the transcription unit was ligated into a nonreplicative plasmid carrying an erythromycin resistance determinant and transformed into S . gordonii DL1-Challis . The plasmid integrated onto the chromosome, and expression of the 76-kDa polypeptide antigen was abolished . The gene inactivation had no obvious effect on bacterial growth or on a number of phenotypic properties, including hydrophobicity and adherence . However, it abolished serum-induced cell aggregation, mutant cells had reduced aggregation titers in saliva and in colostrum immunoglobulin A, and it also reduced coaggregation with some Actinomyces species . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles of cell envelope proteins from wild-type and mutant strains showed that as well as lacking the surface-exposed 76-kDa polypeptide, mutant cell envelopes were deficient in several other polypeptides, including those that bound to immunoglobulin A . Expression of the gene encoding the 76-kDa polypeptide in S . gordonii appeared to be critical for functional conformation of the cell surface. J Dent Res, 1990 Nov, 69(11), 1746 - 52 Characterization of the alpha-amylase receptor of Streptococcus gordonii NCTC 7868; Douglas CW; The purpose of the work described here was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the binding of salivary alpha-amylase to Streptococcus gordonii NCTC 7868 (Challis) . Of six types of alpha-amylase studied, only mammalian forms of the enzyme were found to bind to S . gordonii cells . Salivary alpha-amylase binding was inhibited by treatment of cells with trypsin and pronase, but not with pepsin or sodium periodate . Presence of starch, dextrin, or maltoheptaose partially inhibited binding of the enzyme to S . gordonii . Both mutanolysin extracts of cells and culture supernatants contained alpha-amylase-binding activity, which was partially purified by Sepharose CL-6B and DEAE-ion-exchange chromatography . Western blotting detected four putative receptor bands--65 kDa, 15 kDa, 12.5 kDa, and one with a very high molecular weight; the lower-molecular-weight components may be products of proteolytic degradation of the high-molecular-weight material, but their true relationship has yet to be determined . Pre-treatment of salivary alpha-amylase with these putative receptors partially inhibited subsequent binding of the enzyme to S . gordonii cells . When bound to cells, only 19% of the salivary alpha-amylase activity was detectable, suggesting that alpha-amylase binds to the receptor at or near the active site of the enzyme. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Nov, 60(3), 299 - 302 Carboxyl-terminal deletion analysis of the Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase-I enzyme; Kato C et al.; Sequential deletion of the carboxyl-terminal amino acids (including the six direct repeating units) of the glucosyltransferase-I (GTF-I) enzyme of Streptococcus mutans revealed differential effects on sucrase and GTF activities . Removal of all but one repeating unit resulted in a truncated enzyme with significant sucrase activity but no detectable GTF activity . These results are compatible with the presence of two functional domains in the enzyme. Indian J Pediatr, 1990 Nov-Dec, 57(6), 775 - 80 Post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis: a clinical, bacteriological and serological study; Rajajee S; Eight hundred and sixty four children were admitted with Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) at the Institute for Child Health, Madras, during the period January 1981 to January 1983 . Majority of the cases followed infected scabies or impetigo . 135 children were investigated and followed up for a period of 1-2 years . The disease had an excellent prognosis in these children . None of those examined 2 years after discharge had proteinuria or hypertension . Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus (BHS) was isolated in 13.4% of patients and 11.25% of skin infection controls . Eight different T types were identified in patients and 6 T types in pyoderma cases . All patients and 87% of skin infection controls had elevated anti-D Nase B titres, while ASO titres were not significantly raised. Ann Acad Med Singapore, 1990 Nov, 19(6), 777 - 80 Epidemiology of pneumococcal infection in Singapore (1977-1986); Ling ML et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from 43 children and 143 adults in a ten year period from 1977 through 1986 . There was a high incidence in the males, in the extremes of ages and in the Indian and Others racial groups . The overall mortality rate was 29.5% with a higher rate associated in those with chronic obstructive lung disease, smoking, malignancy and alcoholism, 0.5% of the isolates were resistant to penicillin (of intermediate resistance only) and 16% resistant to tetracycline . Common serotypes isolated were types 1, 4, 14, 3 and 6B, all of which are covered by the pneumococcal vaccine . In children, the common serotypes associated with primary bacteraemia were types 14 and 20; with pneumonia, types 6B, 14, 19A and with meningitis, types 6B, 19F and 19A . In adults, the common serotypes associated with primary bacteraemia were types 20, 11A and 1; with pneumonia, types 3, 4, 7F, 14; with meningitis, types 1, 13, 34 and with endocarditis, type 13 . Characteristics of pneumococcal infection, the organism's antibiogram and the serotype distribution are discussed in relation to the work of other investigators. Antibiot Khimioter, 1990 Nov, 35(11), 8 - 10 {Study of nisin, a polypeptide antibiotic produced by a culture of Streptococcus lactis, strain MSU}; Egorov NS et al.; The drug nisin produced by the lactic acid bacteria S . lactis, strain MSU, was identified and described . After 18-hour cultivation of the strain the fermentation broth was centrifuged . The centrifugate contained at an average 2000 IU/ml of the antibiotic . It was purified on silica gel C-3, the eluate was lyophilized and the dry substance was studied by disk electrophoresis in 20 per cent PAAG in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate . It was found that S . lactis, strain MSU, produced a polypeptide component of the molecular weight of 7000 D . Its electrophoretic mobility corresponded to that of nisaplin . Therefore, nisin was shown to be identical to nisaplin. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Nov, (11), 21 - 6 {The level of IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies and total antibodies to the low-molecular, cell-wall protein of Streptococcus group A without type specificity in the serum of patients with a streptococcal infection}; Molchanova TO et al.; The levels of IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies, as well as total antibodies, to group A streptococcal low-molecular cell-wall protein without type specificity were studied in the sera of patients with primary erysipelas, rheumatism in the active and inactive phases, seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in the sera of healthy donors . The average level of antibodies to low-molecular protein in the sera of all groups of patients was significantly higher than the sera of healthy donors . The analysis of the distribution of antibodies in accordance with their isotypes revealed the specific features of response, characteristic of each group of patients . For rheumatism patients, the positive correlation between response to low-molecular protein and response to group-specific polysaccharide A was established . This correlation was most pronounced in patients with rheumatism in the inactive phase. Curr Eye Res, 1990 Nov, 9(11), 1107 - 14 The role of pneumolysin in ocular infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae; Johnson MK et al.; Pneumolysin, a cytolytic protein produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, has many properties which suggest it may be an important virulence factor in pneumococcal ocular infections . To directly test this possibility, we have constructed pneumolysin-negative strains of S . pneumoniae and compared their virulence with that of the wild type in a rabbit model of intracorneal infection . A pneumolysin-negative strain produced by chemical mutagenesis (probably a point mutant) was found to be no less virulent than the parent strain . However, a strain bearing a deletion in the pneumolysin gene showed greatly reduced virulence . This strain produced less pathology while showing significantly higher bacterial counts . These results suggest that a property of the pneumolysin molecule other than its cytolytic (hemolytic) activity may be involved in its pathogenic mechanism of action . This property may be the ability to activate complement, known to be a function of pneumolysin, which results in influx of PMNs, reducing the bacterial counts but also producing tissue damage. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus, 1990 Nov-Dec, 27(6), 283 - 5 Postoperative endophthalmitis in children following cataract surgery; Good WV et al.; Three children developed endophthalmitis after cataract surgery . Each had signs and symptoms of either nasolacrimal duct obstruction or upper respiratory infection at the time of surgery . The causative organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae . Final visual acuities were 6/24, LP, and NLP, respectively . Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in infants has never been reported . These three cases drawn from two pediatric ophthalmology practices represent an incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis of 0.45% . Although this incidence report is potentially spurious, it indicates that postoperative endophthalmitis is a very real threat in infants . We recommend a thorough systems review and exam of upper airways and lacrimal system before undertaking intraocular surgery in young children . We also caution against simultaneous bilateral surgery. Biokhimiia, 1990 Nov, 55(11), 2031 - 7 {Heterogeneity of streptococcus group A cell wall protein components}; Blinnikova EI et al.; Cell wall surface proteins of group A streptococcus (M 29) were isolated by mild chemical extraction with 1 M hydroxylamine pH 6.0 (37 degrees C) . The proteins were purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-150 and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Trisacryl M . Using two independent methods (disc electrophoresis in 7.5% PAAG pH 8.9 and high pressure gel filtration), it was shown that after chromatography on Sephadex G-150 the original protein fraction contains up to 8 protein components, while SDS-PAAG electrophoresis performed according to Laemmli revealed up to 25 protein components in the same fraction . During SDS-PAAG electrophoresis six protein fractions performed after ion-exchange chromatography were resolved into 40 protein components whose molecular masses vary from 13 to 80 kDa . Possible reasons for the heterogeneity of surface proteins of group A streptococcus cell wall are discussed. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 1990 Nov, 30(4), 327 - 30 Risk factors for neonatal infection; Spaans WA et al.; A retrospective case-control study was designed to assess risk factors for neonatal infection . Nonprivate patients (8,215) who delivered in a period from January 1, 1983 to June 30, 1988 were studied . Ninety three cases of conjunctivitis (incidence 2.4/1,000), 104 cases of pneumonia (incidence 2.8/1,000), and 50 cases of sepsis (incidence 1.3/1,000) were identified . Group B streptococcus was cultured from septic neonates in 46% . Calculated Odds ratio's indicated prematurity/low birth-weight (OR 6.9) and antepartum fetal tachycardia (OR 6.3) as important risk factors for pneumonia/sepsis . Prematurity/low birth-weight (OR 3.0) and an abnormal presentation in the birth canal (OR 2.8) were identified as risk factors for conjunctivitis . After testing all the risk factors found by univariate analysis in a logistic regression model tachycardia (chi 2 35.21, p less than 0.001) remained an independent predictor for neonatal pneumonia/sepsis and abnormal vaginal presentation (chi 2 7.58, p 0.006) for conjunctivitis. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1990 Nov, 58(4), 255 - 63 Aggregation of oral bacteria by human salivary mucins in comparison to salivary and gastric mucins of animal origin; Koop HM et al.; Seventeen strains of oral bacteria of the genera Actinomyces (5), Bacteroides (3), and Streptococcus (9) were tested for aggregation by the human whole salivary mucin fraction (HWSM) in comparison to three types of animal mucin preparations from submandibular glands of cow (BSM) and sheep (OSM), and from the stomach of pig (PGM) . Considerable variation was seen with respect to the rate and titer of aggregation induced by these mucins . The aggregating activity of HWSM varied widely among the different bacterial strains . The Bacteroides group showed hardly any induced aggregation, whereas the final aggregation titers varied for S . sanguis (3 strains) between 12 and 48, for S . oralis (3 strains) between 6 and 48, for the S . mutans group (3 strains) between 6 and 96, and for the five Actinomyces strains even between 6 and 192 . For a particular strain, similar differences in titer were seen between the four mucins . For a human salivary mucin (MG-2) it has been described that sialic acid in the sequence NeuAc (alpha 2,3)Gal(beta 1,3)GalNac- was specifically involved in the interaction with S . sanguis strains, in contrast to S . rattus BHT . Our results, however, indicate that this sugar sequence is not a prerequisite for the aggregation of S . sanguis, as animal mucins, devoid of this structure, were equally well or even better capable of inducing aggregation . On the other hand, desialization of BSM and OSM largely abolished their aggregating capability towards S . rattus BHT . Moreover, it was found that BSM and OSM, which are comparable with respect to their major oligosaccharide structure, show considerable differences in aggregating activity towards the same bacterial strain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Gen Microbiol, 1990 Nov, 136 ( Pt 11), 2217 - 23 Construction of NotI restriction map of the Streptococcus mutans genome; Okahashi N et al.; Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the major causative organisms of human dental caries . Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFG) showed that the restriction enzyme NotI produced ten and six DNA fragments from the genomes of S . mutans strain MT8148 and S . sobrinus strain 6715, respectively . The sizes of the chromosomes of S . mutans and S . sobrinus were each estimated to be about 2200 kb . The NotI restriction map of S . mutans MT8148 genome was constructed by Southern blot analysis with probes that overlapped two adjacent NotI fragments . Several virulence-associated genes of S . mutans were placed on the NotI restriction map . In addition, unique 'fingerprints' of S . mutans chromosomal DNA digested with NotI were produced by PFG, and these may be useful for epidemiological studies. Vestn Otorinolaringol, 1990 Nov-Dec, (6), 52 - 4 {Diagnosis of bacterial allergy in patients with diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses}; Morozova SV et al.; A comprehensive allergological examinations of 92 patients with lesions of the nose and paranasal cavities and 20 essentially healthy subjects was carried out, using skin tests and neutrophil tests . Half of the patients showed sensitization to Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes allergens, which occurred more frequently in patients with chronic purulent sinusitis . It is recommended to expose such patients to allergological examinations and to prescribe, if indicated, desensitization therapy. J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Nov, 28(11), 2462 - 6 Characterization of prototype and clinically defined strains of Streptococcus suis by genomic fingerprinting; Mogollon JD et al.; A collection of Streptococcus suis strains from animal and human infections was examined for DNA-banding patterns after restriction endonuclease digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis . The endonuclease HaeIII produced the most discriminating restriction profiles among 23 serotypes studied . DNA from serotypes 9, 11, 12, and 16 was resistant to HaeIII cleavage . DNA from serotypes 9 through 16 was cleaved with HindIII and showed substantial genomic differences . We also examined 106 epidemiologically unrelated strains isolated from cases of pig meningitis or pneumonia and 5 strains isolated from cases of human meningitis in order to compare genomic fingerprinting and serotyping as epidemiological tools . Heterogeneity was found among fingerprints of serologically identical isolates, indicating genetic diversity within some serotypes . DNA fingerprints of some serotype 2 strains from different sources appeared identical, suggesting a clonal relationship among strains of this serotype . The data suggest that this technique represents an important tool for examining the natural history of disease caused by S . suis. Blood, 1990 Nov 1, 76(9), 1788 - 94 Seven-day administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to newborn rats: modulation of neonatal neutrophilia, myelopoiesis, and group B Streptococcus sepsis; Cairo MS et al.; Single-pulse administration of rhG-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) to neonatal rats was previously demonstrated to induce peripheral neutrophilia and modulate bone marrow (BM) neutrophil storage and proliferative pools (NSP + NPP) . In this study, we investigated the prolonged effects of 7 days of rhG-CSF therapy (5 micrograms/kg/per day) . Sprague-Dawley newborn rats (less than or equal to 24 hours) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) (daily for 7 days) with rhG-CSF or phosphate-buffered saline/human serum albumin (PBS/HSA) . RhG-CSF induced a significant early and late peripheral neutrophilia: 6,905 +/- 1,625 (day 1) and 9,223 +/- 515 microL (day 7) v 1,275 +/- 90/microL (P less than or equal to .0001) . In addition, 7 days of rhG-CSF resulted in a significant increase in the BM NSP: 3,247 +/- 190/microL v 1,677 +/- 339/microL (P less than or equal to .001) . There was, however, no depletion or significant change in the BM NPP . Seven days of rhG-CSF also induced a mild increase in BM CFU-GM colony formation (P less than or equal to .01) . There was, however, no significant change in liver/spleen CFU-GM colonies or in the CFU-GM proliferative rate in either the BM or liver/spleen cultures . Finally, 7 days of prophylactic rhG-CSF therapy resulted in a synergistic response with antibiotic therapy and significantly modulated the mortality rate during experimental group B streptococcal sepsis (GBS) (100% v 50%) (GvsC) (P less than or equal to .001) . Pulse rhG-CSF administered at 6 hours or 18 hours after GBS inoculation, however, failed to act synergistically with antibiotics to improve survival or prevent peripheral neutropenia . This study suggests that 7 days of prophylactic rhG-CSF therapy induces peripheral neutrophilia, myeloid maturation, increases neutrophil BM reserves and also may provide immunologic enhancement of neonatal host defense during experimental GBS in term neonatal rats. Carbohydr Res, 1990 Oct 25, 207(2), 237 - 48 Synthesis of structural elements of the capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae types 6A and 6B; Slaghek TM et al.; O-alpha-d-Glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-alpha, beta-L-rhamnopyranose (15), O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-al pha, beta-L-rhamnopyranose (17), O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)- O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-D-ribitol (23), and O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)- O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-ribitol (27), which are structural elements of the capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae types 6A and 6B ({----2)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1----3)-alpha-L-Rhap- (1----X)- D-Rib-ol-(5-P----}n; 6A X = 3, 6B X = 4), have been synthesised . Ethyl 3-O-allyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) was coupled with benzyl 2,4-di-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), and subsequent deallylation (----14) and debenzylation gave 15 . Condensation of 14 with ethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2) followed by debenzylation gave 17 . Acetylation of 17 followed by removal of AcO-1, conversion into the imidate, coupling with 1,2,4,5-tetra-O-benzyl-D-ribitol (11), deacetylation, and debenzylation gave 23 . Coupling of the imidate with 1-O-allyloxycarbonyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-D-ribitol (12) followed by deallyloxycarbonylation, deacetylation, and debenzylation yielded 27. Infect Immun, 1990 Oct, 58(10), 3407 - 14 An investigation into the mechanism of protection by local passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies against Streptococcus mutans; Ma JK et al.; Local oral passive immunization with Streptococcus mutans-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) (Guy's 13) prevented recolonization by indigenous S . mutans in human volunteers who had first been treated with a conventional antibacterial agent (chlorhexidine) . The F(ab')2 fragment of the MAb was as protective as the intact immunoglobulin G, but the Fab fragment of the molecule failed to prevent recolonization of S . mutans . In subjects receiving the MAb Fab fragment, S . mutans levels in dental plaque and saliva reappeared at a similar rate to that found in sham-immunized subjects who received either saline or a nonprotective MAb . In vitro, MAb had no bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal effect on S . mutans . However, S . mutans grown in the presence of either intact immunoglobulin G MAb or the F(ab')2 fragment formed very long chains, which resulted in clumping of the cells . S . mutans grown with either saline or the MAb Fab fragment formed significantly shorter chains, more characteristic of streptococcal growth in liquid media . The results suggest that the two binding sites of the MAb molecule may be an essential feature for preventing streptococcal colonization but that the ability to bind to phagocytes and activate complement which resides in the Fc fragment is not essential . Protection against colonization by S . mutans lasting up to 2 years was observed in immunized subjects, although MAb was applied over a period of only 3 weeks . Furthermore, functional MAb was detected up to 3 days following application of MAb to the teeth . The long-term protection could not be accounted for by a persistence of MAb on the tooth surface, and we have suggested that it may be due to a shift in the balance of the oral flora which discouraged recolonization by S . mutans . However, examination of the proportions of Streptococcus sanguis and veillonella species in the recolonization experiments failed to reveal a significant change in the proportions of either organism, which returned to approximately the preexperimental levels in both the immunized and control groups . These findings confirm the in vivo functional specificity of the MAb to S . mutans but are not consistent with the suggestion that S . sanguis or veillonella take over the niche vacated by S . mutans, unless the shift in the proportion of these organisms cannot be detected by the method used. J Virol, 1990 Oct, 64(10), 5149 - 55 Temperate bacteriophages of Streptococcus pneumoniae that contain protein covalently linked to the 5' ends of their DNA; Romero A et al.; We have characterized three temperate bacteriophages of pneumococcus (HB-3, HB-623, and HB-746) . Although all the phages belong to the same family, the polypeptide composition of the virions and the DNA restriction endonuclease analysis of their DNAs revealed differences among the three phages . The genomes of these bacteriophages have been isolated as DNA-protein complexes . The protein is specifically associated with the two 5' termini of the DNA as shown by experiments carried out with exonucleases . The protein bound to the DNA in the three phages studied, iodinated in vitro with 125I, has a molecular weight of 23,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Treatment of the complexes with chaotropic agents suggested that the protein is covalently bound to the 5' termini of the DNA . Comparative pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis and Southern hybridization of the SmaI restriction fragments of DNAs from one lysogenic bacteria and its parental strain revealed that the prophage genome was integrated in the host chromosome. J Dairy Sci, 1990 Oct, 73(10), 2774 - 84 Effects of novel intramammary device models on incidence of mastitis after experimental challenge; Nickerson SC et al.; First-calf heifers were fitted with five different intramammary device models prior to, or within 2 mo after parturition . Each model represented an increase in the weight of the device to be supported by the epithelial cells of the gland cistern . Each model was tested in four animals by placing devices in two quarters while remaining quarters served as controls . Foremilk and stripping quarter secretion samples were collected prior to device placement and weekly thereafter and analyzed for total and differential cell counts, bacteriologic status, and NAGase activity . During the prebacterial challenge treatment period, foremilk and stripping SCC as well as percentage of neutrophils and NAGase activity in most device-fitted quarters remained significantly elevated over controls . Frequency of naturally occurring intramammary infection during the prechallenge period was lowest in quarters fitted with Models 2, 4, and 5 . Frequency of infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci also tended to be lower in quarters fitted with Models 2, 4, and 5 . Approximately 4 mo after device placement, all quarters were challenged by intracisternal inoculation with about 565 cfu Streptococcus uberis . Results across all models combined showed that although mean foremilk and striping SCC and percentage of neutrophils were significantly elevated in device-fitted quarters immediately prior to bacterial challenge, only Model 4 showed a protective effect . Several models were superior to others in elevating SCC and percentage of neutrophils, but no differences in susceptibility to Strep . uberis infection were observed among models based on these cytological characteristics. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Oct, 60(1-2), 75 - 8 Duplication of the streptokinase gene in the chromosome of Streptococcus equisimilis H46A; Muller J et al.; The erythromycin resistance plasmid pSM752 carrying the cloned streptokinase gene, skc, was introduced by protoplast transformation into Streptococcus equisimilis H46A from which skc was originally cloned . Cells transiently supporting the replication of pSM752 gave rise to an erythromycin-resistant clone designated H46SM which was plasmid free and produced streptokinase at levels approximately twice as high as the wild type . Southern hybridization of total cell DNA with an skc-containing probe provided evidence for the duplication of the skc gene in the H46SM chromosome . The results, which have some bearing on industrial streptokinase production, can be best explained by a single cross-over event between the chromosome and the plasmid in the region of shared homology leading to the integration of pSM752 in a Campbell-like manner. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1990 Oct, 26(2), 203 - 8 Effect of milk or colostrum on phagocytosis of glass- or plastic-adherent Streptococcus agalactiae by bovine granulocytes; Rainard P; In the presence of milk, bovine polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) assumed a polarized shape, a feature of motile cells, and their adherence to plastic was augmented . Milk enhanced the phagocytosis of glass- or plastic-adherent Streptococcus agalactiae . In contrast, PMN were not stimulated by colostrum. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Oct, 64(10), 1295 - 304 {Asporogenic anaerobic empyema--clinical and bacteriological investigations of 31 patients with anaerobic empyema}; Takahashi M et al.; The author reviewed the records of 31 patients with asporogenic anaerobic empyema mostly seen in the wards of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Hospital during the 27 years between 1961 and 1988, and obtained the following results . 1 . There were 25 males and 8 females with an average age of 57.8 and 51.0 y/o (range, 25 to 79 y/o), respectively males more than forty years old occupied 74.2 percent of all cases . 28 patients (90%) had underlying conditions . 2 . The cases of mixed infections with anaerobes and aerobes were only 22.6% . 3 . The isolated bacteria were microaerophilic streptococcus, Bacteroides spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Fusobacterium spp . etc . in this order . 4 . There were no relationships between anaerobic infections with or without aerobes and putrid odor of pleural effusion . 5 . Bacteroides spp . were isolated most in the group with putrid pleural effusion, however, they were not isolated in the group without putrid pleural effusion at all . This fact suggests that there is an intimate relationship between putrid odor and Bacteroides spp . 6 . There was no deceased case which pleural effusion had been drained sufficiently with open or closed drainage . It suggests that sufficient drainage is the most important in therapeutic procedures of asporogenic anaerobic empyema. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Oct, 26 Suppl B, 111 - 6 Comparison of pefloxacin with ceftazidime in severe bronchopulmonary infections; Vanderdonckt J; In a prospective open randomized multicentre trial pefloxacin (400 mg twice daily, orally) or ceftazidime (2 g twice daily iv) were given to 82 and 88 patients, respectively, with serious bronchopulmonary infection, defined as: infection occurring in high risk patients, or infection that had failed to respond to previous antimicrobials, or infection by a multiresistant pathogen . An additional nitroimidazole was allowed if the culture demonstrated the presence of anaerobes considered pathogenic . Efficacy analysis was possible in 139 patients, 70 in the ceftazidime group, 69 in the pefloxacin group . In the efficacy population, 93 bacterial strains were isolated in the pefloxacin group and 89 in the ceftazidime group . There were more Streptococcus spp . in the ceftazidime group (21) than in the pefloxacin group (14) (P = 0.06) . A successful clinical response was observed in 45 patients give pefloxacin (65.2%) and 51 patients given ceftazidime (72.9%) . The difference was not statistically significant . There were two relapses with pefloxacin and six with ceftazidime . In the pefloxacin group 86 pathogens (91%) and in the ceftazidime group 78 pathogens (88%) were eradicated . There were 18 and 13 adverse reactions with ceftazidime and pefloxacin, respectively . In this study, pefloxacin was as effective and as safe as ceftazidime in the treatment of severe bronchopulmonary infections. J Rheumatol, 1990 Oct, 17(10), 1421 - 3 Septic Streptococcus milleri spondylodiscitis; Meyes E et al.; We describe 2 patients presenting lumbar spondylitis due to Streptococcus milleri . In both cases origin was related to preexistent intestinal pathology . Surgical drainage of a collection of pus was necessary in one case . Longterm antibiotic therapy led to full recovery . Despite confused nomenclature Streptococcus milleri must be considered a serious pathogen mainly associated with purulent infection with osteoarticular affinity. Hepatogastroenterology, 1990 Oct, 37(5), 498 - 502 Intraperitoneal administration of the biological response modifier OK-432 and peritoneal recurrence following gastrectomy; Tsujitani S et al.; In patients with gastric cancer invading the serosa, there is often peritoneal dissemination . In an attempt to control such peritoneal recurrences, OK-432, a compound composed of penicillin G-treated, attenuated Streptococcus pyogens of human origin, was administered intraperitoneally at the time of gastrectomy . The non-specific antitumor activity of the peritoneal macrophages was investigated for its cytostatic activity against the cultured human lung cancer cell line, QG-90 . OK-432 given intraperitoneally significantly increased the number of the peritoneal macrophages (p less than 0.05), and also enhanced the cytostatic activity (p less than 0.01) . On the basis of these findings, OK-432 IP after gastrectomy was given to 13 of 68 patients with gastric cancer invading the serosa and who underwent curative resection . The five-year survival rate of patients given the drug was 63.5%, while the rate was 52.9% in those not given the drug . OK-432 IP seemed to be effective when lymph node involvement was nil or limited to around the area of the stomach . The peritoneal recurrence rate was, however, not affected by OK-432 IP . Elevation of body temperature and some dehydration were the only observed side effects of OK-432 . In attempts to control peritoneal recurrences in patients with gastric cancer invading the serosa, randomized controlled trials on OK-432 IP are now being designed. Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao, 1990 Oct, 30(5), 389 - 92 {Establishment of standard strains of serotypes (groups) of Streptococcus pneumoniae in China}; Zhang L et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen which is responsible for life-threatening infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis as well as for less severe but highly prevalent diseases such as otitis media and sinusitis . The number of serogroups (types) of Streptococcus pneumoniae found in the world is total 46 groups or 83 types according to typing system of Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark . The standard strains established in our lab of 42 groups or 67 types distributed in 17 different regions in China . The significance of this study is that two of the new serotypes (10C, 16A) are first reported in the literature in which the microbes were the agents causing pneumococcal infections . Our standard strains also include some serotypes on rare occasions such as 19C and 22A and 33C which have been found only in Asia . Our findings not only increase the total number of known types of pneumococci from 83 to 85, but also indicate that China has made progress in the field of pneumococcal research . It is the first time to report establishing a series of standard strains of pneumococci involving many serotypes (groups) in China . The work is necessary as a preliminary for pneumococcal disease prevention and treatment . The standard strains listed here with providing the resource of strain and scientific basis for developing vaccine and biological products. Inflammation, 1990 Oct, 14(5), 561 - 9 Characterization of leukocyte chemotactic activity of bacteriocin from Streptococcus mutans Rm-10; Tsukamoto Y et al.; Bacteriocins have several biological activities in addition to their antibacterial effect . We investigated the chemotactic properties and mode of action of purified streptococcal bacteriocin . Bacteriocin purified from a culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans (S . mutans) Rm-10 induced chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes . Following purification, leukocyte migration appeared in one bacteriocin fraction, and this migration was dependent on the concentration gradient in dilution ranges from 1/960 to 1/15 . Chemotactic activity of the bacteriocin was heat labile and trypsin sensitive . Moreover, preincubation of bacteriocin with varying dilutions of its antiserum prepared in rabbits resulted in a significant loss of the chemotactic activity. Compr Ther, 1990 Oct, 16(10), 59 - 65 Causes, diagnosis, and treatment of pharyngitis; Huovinen P; Pharyngitis is a common disease of the respiratory tract that can be caused by several different viruses and bacterial organisms . Clinically speaking, the most important causative agent is group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) . Although rare, postpharyngitis complications arise as a result of disease caused almost exclusively by group A streptococcus . Because group A streptococcal pharyngitis usually responds well to antimicrobial treatment, it is important to diagnose it . Penicillin, erythromycin, and peroral first-generation cephalosporins have been documented to be effective . In addition to group A streptococcus, C . pneumoniae and M . pneumoniae have also been detected in patients with pharyngitis . The possibility of diagnosing these organisms is limited at the present . Clinical surveys are still needed, moreover, to evaluate the effect of antimicrobial treatment on the disease caused by these organisms . Although routine viral diagnostic methods do not help primary care physicians in treating patients with pharyngitis, information on bacteria and viruses in the immediate environment could prove to be of great help in daily clinical work. J Ky Med Assoc, 1990 Oct, 88(10), 545 - 6 Group C streptococcal meningitis with favorable recovery . A case report; Cheeseman M et al.; Group C beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, though an uncommon cause of meningitis in adults, often leads to the demise of the patient or a prolonged hospital course, usually with residual neurologic impairment . We report a case of group C streptococcal meningitis in a previously healthy young adult, with rapid and complete recovery following early initiation of IV penicillin therapy. J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Oct, 28(10), 2191 - 5 Monoclonal antibody recognizing a species-specific protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae; Russell H et al.; Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against a nonencapsulated strain (R36A) of Streptococcus pneumoniae were produced to aid in a search for antigens common to this species . By Western immunoblot analysis, a species-specific 37-kilodalton (kDa) protein was found in lysates of 24 different encapsulated strains of S . pneumoniae . Monoclonal antibodies against the 37-kDa antigen did not react with 55 heterologous strains representing 19 genera and 36 species of bacteria that can also cause acute lower respiratory tract disease . Immunogold staining suggests that the antigen is synthesized inside the pneumococcal cell . However, MAbs to the 37-kDa antigen bound whole cells in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the indirect immunofluorescence assay . Antibody-binding epitopes of the antigen are probably exposed on the outer surface of the pneumococcus cell wall . The effectiveness of the 37-kDa antigen as a useful diagnostic marker is under study. J Infect Dis, 1990 Oct, 162(4), 883 - 7 Prevalence of anti-group B streptococcal type III capsular IgG antibodies in the United Kingdom and an analysis of their specific IgG subclasses; Feldman RG et al.; Neonatal infection due to group B streptococcus (GBS) has a higher incidence in the USA than in the United Kingdom . A British population was investigated to ascertain the proportion of women who have protective anti-GBS type III IgG levels . Thirty-one (34%) of 90 pregnant women, 10 (43%) of 23 nonpregnant women, and 5 (50%) of 10 mothers of healthy colonized infants had anti-type III IgG greater than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml . Of 19 mothers who had infants infected with GBS type III, 17 (89%) had low specific IgG levels; of the other 2, the infants themselves had low IgG levels . The proportion of women in the UK with protective antibody levels is higher than in the USA . Sera (12) were assayed for anti-type III IgG isotypes; all contained IgG2, 6 had detectable IgG1, and 1 had IgG4. Gastroenterology, 1990 Oct, 99(4), 1149 - 52 A double-blind, controlled trial of bioflorin (Streptococcus faecium SF68) in adults with acute diarrhea due to Vibrio cholerae and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; Mitra AK et al.; The therapeutic efficacy of Bioflorin (Streptococcus faecium SF68; Gipharmex, Milan, Italy) in acute watery diarrhea was evaluated in 183 Bangladeshi adults . Vibrio cholerae organisms were isolated from stool cultures in 114 patients, and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli organisms were isolated in 41 . In addition to IV rehydration, patients were randomly assigned to receive either capsules of Bioflorin containing 1 X 10(9) of live SF68 or capsules of placebo containing killed SF68 once every 8 hours for 3 days . No other drugs were allowed during this period . Bioflorin was well tolerated . It is concluded that Bioflorin has no demonstrable antidiarrheal property in adults with acute diarrhea due to V . cholerae or enterotoxigenic E . coli infection. Am J Med, 1990 Oct, 89(4), 441 - 6 Streptococcus mitis sepsis in bone marrow transplant patients receiving oral antimicrobial prophylaxis; Classen DC et al.; PURPOSE: Streptococcal infection has increasingly become a problem in neutropenic patients . We report on an outbreak of Streptococcus mitis sepsis in six bone marrow transplant patients receiving oral antimicrobial prophylaxis . PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed an epidemiologic study of all patients in our bone marrow transplant program from 1986 to 1988 . The hospital and microbiology records for all patients were reviewed . All bone marrow patients were treated according to specified protocols, including an oral prophylactic antimicrobial regimen that was changed in late 1987 from vancomycin/polymyxin/tobramycin to norfloxacin . Identification, susceptibility testing, and whole cell protein analysis of streptococcal isolates were performed at the Reference and Antimicrobial Investigations Laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control . RESULTS: We detected six cases of S . mitis sepsis among 21 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation . No other concurrent pathogen was isolated from any patient at the time of the S . mitis bacteremia . Bacteremia developed within 72 hours of transplant in five of six patients and was associated with severe mucositis in four patients . An environmental study failed to reveal any common source for the outbreak, and whole cell protein analysis of all six S . mitis isolates revealed each to be distinct . Of 12 patients receiving oral vancomycin/polymyxin/tobramycin, one developed S . mitis bacteremia, versus five of nine patients receiving norfloxacin (p less than 0.03) . CONCLUSION: We believe S . mitis bacteremia is a potential complication of bone marrow transplantation and is associated with antimicrobial prophylaxis with norfloxacin, especially in the setting of mucositis. J Gen Microbiol, 1990 Oct, 136 ( Pt 10), 2099 - 105 Nucleotide sequence of the Streptococcus mutans gtfD gene encoding the glucosyltransferase-S enzyme; Honda O et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the Streptococcus mutans GS-5 gtfD gene coding for the glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water-soluble glucan (GTF-S) has been determined . The complete gene contains 4293 base pairs and the unprocessed protein is composed of 1430 amino acids with a molecular mass of 159814 Da . The amino terminus of the unprocessed protein resembles the signal sequences of other extracellular proteins secreted by S . mutans and that of the GTF-I secreted by Streptococcus downei . In addition, the GTF-S protein exhibits high amino acid similarity with the strain GS-5 enzymes responsible for insoluble glucan synthesis (GTF-I, GTF-SI) previously isolated and sequenced in this laboratory . These results indicate that all three gtf genes evolved from a common ancestral gene. Infect Immun, 1990 Oct, 58(10), 3462 - 4 Linkage of sucrose-metabolizing genes in Streptococcus mutans; Perry D et al.; Antibiotic resistance markers inserted adjacent to different cloned genes from Streptococcus mutans were used to determine the relative positions of these genes on the chromosome . The results showed that these genes, fru-1 and gbp, are closely linked to the gtfA-ftf-scrB cluster . However, gtfD was linked neither to this cluster nor to gtfB-gtfC. Shigaku, 1990 Oct, 78(3), 527 - 52 {Studies on suppurative lesion and bone distribution of peroral antimicrobial agents (LAPC and TFLX) to experimental infected rabbits}; Tanaka M et al.; The models of infection in the rabbits mandible using Streptococcus milleri and Bacteroides fragilis by the method of Satoh-Heimdahl were prepared . A penicillic peroral antimicrobial agent, lenamipicillin (LAPC), and pyridone carboxylic acid peroral antimicrobial agent, tosufloxacin tosilate (TFLX), were administered to infected and healthy groups . Drug concentrations in the serum, pus, mandible, maxilla, humerus, sternum, costa, ilium, femur, tibia, liver, and kidney were determined by a biological method . The data were submitted to pharmacodynamic analysis and compared . The following results were obtained . The concentration of LAPC in the serum and various bone tissues was 1.2-6.4 times higher in the infected group than in the healthy group . The concentration of TFLX in the serum and bone tissues was 1.1-3.7 times higher in the infected group than in the healthy group . Moreover, concentrations in the liver 1.1-fold and 2.1-fold higher in the infectious group than in the healthy group in the LAPC and TFLX administration groups, respectively, and 1.1-fold and 1.3-fold higher in the kidney in the LAPC and TFLX groups, respectively . Both LAPC and TFLX diffused to the pus more satisfactorily than to the serum . The Cmax ratios of pus to infected serum were 1.48 and 1.81 for LAPC and TFLX, respectively, and the AUC ratios of pus to infected serum were 1.31 and 1.62 in LAPC and TFLX, respectively . These results indicated that both LAPC and TFLX are distributed satisfactorily to the local foci in the mandible, and that their systemic diffusion exerted immediate clinical effects. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1990 Oct, 274(1), 40 - 9 Immunochemical characterization of type i carbohydrate antigen of "Streptococcus milleri" (Streptococcus anginosus); Konagawa R et al.; Type-specific carbohydrate antigen of the serotype i "Streptococcus milleri" was extracted with trichloroacetic acid from purified cell walls of the type strain K39K . The extracts were then purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex G-100 columns . The purified serotype i carbohydrate antigen produced a single precipitin band against its homologous type-specific antiserum, which fused with the band produced by the autoclaved extract of the type strain cells . The serotype i antigen was a polysaccharide composed of rhamnose, galactose and glucose in a molar ratio of 1.6:6.8:1.0 . The quantitative precipitin inhibition test with various haptenic sugars showed that galactose as well as lactose produced the greatest inhibition, which suggested that a galactose in terminal beta linkage is the immunodeterminant of the serotype i-specific antigen . Galactose was detected in the autoclaved extracts from cells of all the 15 serotype i strains tested. CLAO J, 1990 Oct-Dec, 16(4), 294 - 8 Ultraviolet radiation for the sterilization of contact lenses; Gritz DC et al.; Two sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation with peak wavelengths in the UV-C or UV-B ranges were compared for their ability to sterilize contact lenses infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acanthamoeba castellani, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger . Also examined was the effect of prolonged UV light exposure on soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses . The UV-C lamp (253.7 nm, 250 mW/cm2 at 1 cm) was germicidal for all organisms within 20 minutes but caused destruction of the soft lens polymers within 6 hours of cumulative exposure . UV-C caused damage to RGP lenses in less than 100 hours . The UV-B lamp (290-310 nm, 500 mW/cm2 at 1 cm) was germicidal for all organisms tested (except Aspergillus) with a 180-minute exposure and caused less severe changes in the soft lens polymers than did the UV-C lamp, although cumulative exposure of 300 hours did substantially weaken the soft lens material . RGP materials were minimally affected by exposure to 300 hours of UV-B . Ultraviolet light is an effective germicidal agent but is injurious to soft lens polymers; its possible utility in the sterilization of RGP lenses and lens cases deserves further study. APMIS, 1990 Oct, 98(10), 896 - 900 Cytological and bacteriological aspects of secretory otitis media; Olling S et al.; Bacteriological and cytological examinations were performed on 105 middle ear secretions from 66 children with middle ear effusion (MEE) of more than 3 months' duration . The secretions were searched for granulocytes and the activity of these cells was judged by their capacity for random locomotion and their ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium . The functional characteristics of the granulocytes were compared with the bacteriological findings on cultures from MEE . Bacteria commonly regarded as pathogens in middle ear infections (Hemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis or Streptococcus pneumoniae) were found in 25% of the secretions . Granulocytes with activity or lacking activity, virtually dead, were found in all secretions where these bacteria were isolated . In secretions where bacteria commonly regarded as commensals, mainly staphylococci, were isolated, about two thirds of the secretions showed phagocytes with or without activity . No relation between bacterial growth and the functional state of the granulocytes was observed . In contrast, no phagocytes were found in over 60% of MEE lacking bacterial growth . These findings suggest a role for bacteria in the development and maintenance of secretory otitis media. Rev Saude Publica, 1990 Oct, 24(5), 348 - 60 {The epidemiology of meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a metropolitan area, Brazil, 1960-1977}; de Moraes JC et al.; The epidemiology of meningitis caused by S . pneumoniae in the city of S . Paulo, Brazil, during the period 1960-77 is analysed . Data were obtained directly from the patients' records and registered on a pre-coded form . Cases of S . pneumoniae meningitis were confirmed by gram stain and/or culture of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) . During the period 1960-77, there was confirmation of 1,965 cases of S . pneumoniae meningitis, giving an average rate of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants . Children of less than 5 years of age accounted for 52% of cases and 39% were less than 1 year old . The average rates for children below 1 year of age were 37 and 30 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively, for the periods 1960-69 and 1970-77 . The rate of incidence for the peripheral zone--2.2 per 100,000 inhabitants--was practically double the rate for the central area--1.2 per 100,000 inhabitants--in the 1960's . The age standardized rates were 1.6, 1.5 and 2.0 for central, intermediate, and peripheral zones, respectively . In the 1970's these rates were 1.4, 1.5 and 2.0 . The average case fatality rate for the period was 47% which was inversely proportional to the number of CSF leucocytes at first examination . For children less than year old, the case fatality rate was 60% for the same period. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1990 Oct, 5(5), 280 - 7 Maintenance of proton motive force by Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus during growth in continuous culture; Hamilton IR; The components of the transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient, or proton motive force (PMF, delta p), were determined in cells of Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt and Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 27352 growing in continuous culture under conditions of changing glucose concentration, growth rate and growth pH . The pH gradient (delta pH) and membrane electrical potential (delta psi) were assayed with the weak acid, salicyclic acid, and the lipophilic cation, methyltriphenylphosphonium iodide, respectively . S . mutans Ingbritt growing in continuous culture (pH 7.0, dilution rate (D) = 0.1 h-1) at 8 glucose concentrations ranging from 2.8 to 288 mM maintained a relatively constant delta p of 58.3 mV (SD +/- 5.8) in spite of a transition from glucose to nitrogen-limited growth and significant changes in cell physiology . Changes included a decreasing yield constant, increasing glucose uptake rates in the chemostat, repression of Ellglc of the PEP phosphotransferase sugar transport system and decreasing glycolytic capacity of the cells as the medium glucose concentration increased . Changes in the dilution or growth rate of S . mutans Ingbritt from 0.1 to 1.0 h-1 and S . sobrinus from 0.1 to 0.8 h-1, when growing at pH 7.0 with limited glucose and lactose, respectively, resulted in significantly lower delta p values due to the dissipation of the delta psi . When the cells of S . mutans Ingbritt were grown with excess glucose (nitrogen limitation), lower delta p values were observed at pH 5.5, but not at pH 7.0.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Microb Pathog, 1990 Oct, 9(4), 275 - 84 The effect of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumolysin on human respiratory epithelium in vitro; Feldman C et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae culture filtrates and pneumolysin both slow human ciliary beating and damage respiratory epithelium in vitro . A polyclonal pneumolysin antibody bound to sepharose beads removed pneumolysin from culture filtrates and showed that pneumolysin alone was responsible for the effects on epithelium . In a 48-h organ culture pneumolysin caused ciliary slowing and epithelial disruption in a dose-dependent manner down to 5 ng/ml . Comparison of the ciliary slowing activity and pneumolysin concentration in filtrates in a continuous broth culture showed a maximal effect at 16 h (pneumolysin 7.5 micrograms/ml) . Later the activity decreased while the pneumolysin concentration increased (8.8 micrograms/ml) . This loss of activity was prevented by neutralisation of the acid pH of the culture medium . Eight different culture filtrates produced significant (P less than 0.05) ciliary slowing which correlated (r = 0.95) with simultaneously measured haemolytic (pneumolysin) activity . Substitution of tryptophan (position 433) by phenylalanine reduced the haemolytic and ciliary slowing activity of pneumolysin, but did not affect its ability to activate complement . There was no correlation between the ciliary slowing produced by the culture filtrate and that produced by the autolysate of a particular strain, nor between ciliary slowing and the extent of autolysis or the serotype of the strain. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1990 Oct, (10), 24 - 9 {The effect of sodium nucleinate on the population characteristics of Streptococcus groups A and C}; Khodyrev AP et al.; The influence of sodium nucleinate on the growth kinetics, streptokinase activity and virulence of streptococcal populations, groups A and C, was studied . As revealed in these studies, the kinetics of the growth of the populations of both strains in the exponential phase did not depend on the concentration of sodium nucleinate in the culture medium . Measurements made on hours 15, 20 and 24 of growth showed the presence of close, direct and statistically significant correlation between the content of biomass, as well as streptokinase activity and specific streptokinase activity, and the concentration of sodium nucleinate in the culture medium . On the basis of the calculation of the coefficients of determination, the main part (70-96%) of the total dispersion of each of the above-mentioned characteristics dispersion of each of the above-mentioned characteristics could be attributed to variations in the concentration of sodium nucleinate . Five passages of faintly virulent streptococcal strains, groups A and C, were not accompanied by a rise in their virulence. Aust Dent J, 1990 Oct, 35(5), 468 - 71 Utilization of nitrogenous compounds by oral bacteria; Rogers AH; In terms of the crucial acid-base balance in dental plaque, the bacterial catabolism of nitrogenous compounds, such as peptides and amino acids, is of importance because the end-products can raise plaque pH . Of particular significance is the fermentation of arginine by bacteria such as Streptococcus sanguis, a numerically important plaque organism . Aspects of the uptake of this amino acid were studied and it was also shown the organism can obtain arginine from small peptides, since it possesses cell-associated exo-peptidases . Furthermore, it could grow in media containing whole protein (casein), or one of its fractions, as the sole source of organic nitrogen . The studies thus showed that S . sanguis is well equipped, in terms of endo- and exo-peptidase activities, to obtain the metabolically important arginine from whole protein . It is suggested that knowledge of this type should lead to a better understanding of overall plaque metabolism--of relevance to both cariogenic and periodontopathic plaques. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1990 Oct, 87(20), 8125 - 9 Chimeric phage-bacterial enzymes: a clue to the modular evolution of genes; Diaz E et al.; Pneumococcal peptidoglycan amidase (N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase, EC 3.5.1.28) and phage CPL1 lysozyme degrade a common substrate (choline-containing pneumococcal cell walls); the former hydrolyzes the bond between muramic acid and alanine, whereas the latter breaks down the linkage between muramic acid and glucosamine . The amino acid sequences of their C-terminal domains are homologous . Chimeric genes were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis: a unique SnaBI restriction site in the cpl1 gene, coding for the phage lysozyme, was introduced at a location equivalent to the SnaBI site present in the lytA gene, which codes for the pneumococcal amidase . The resulting genes expressed lytic activities at levels similar to those of the parental genes . The gene products, which have been purified to electrophoretical homogeneity, exhibited unusual combined biochemical properties--e.g., by exchange of protein domains, we have switched the regulatory properties of these enzymes without altering their catalytic activities . Chimeric gene construction in Streptococcus pneumoniae and its bacteriophages is an excellent model to study the modular organization of genes and proteins and to help to establish evolutionary relationships between phage and bacteria . These constructions provide an experimental approach to the molecular processes involved in cassette recruitment during evolution and contribute support to the concept of bacteria as adaptable chimeras. Microbiologica, 1990 Oct, 13(4), 273 - 81 Conjugative mobilization of the cloned M6 protein gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae to Streptococcus pyogenes; Oggioni MR et al.; The host-vector system omega 6001-pDP36 was used to transfer the M6 protein gene (emm-6.1) of Streptococcus pyogenes to other S . pyogenes strains, isogenic and nonisogenic to D471, the strain from which emm-6.1 was originally cloned . The first step was to subclone emm-6.1 into the insertion vector pDP36 . The resulting plasmid, pRMB20, was used as donor in transformation to insert emm-6.1 into the conjugative transposon omega 6001 . Streptococcus pneumoniae DP1322, carrying omega 6001 integrated into the chromosome, was the recipient in the transformation experiment . omega 6001 containing emm-6.1 was then transferred by conjugation from S . pneumoniae to the chromosomes of M+ and M- S . pyogenes strains . S . pyogenes transconjugants contained one intact copy of emm-6.1 integrated into the chromosome, but no expression of M6 protein could be detected by Western blot analysis . We found no evidence of the positive transacting regulation of emm gene expression postulated by other authors . In fact, the cloned emm-6.1 was not expressed in three strains expressing their own M proteins (M5, M17 and a shorter M6) . In these partial diploids M protein genes were expressed only when present in the original chromosomal locus. J Infect Dis, 1990 Oct, 162(4), 875 - 82 A new heart-cross-reactive antigen in Streptococcus pyogenes is not M protein; Barnett LA et al.; To identify tissue-cross-reactive antigens other than M protein in Streptococcus pyogenes, proteins of M-positive strains and an M-negative strain were probed in Western blots for reactivity with cross-reactive streptococcal monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 36.2.2 and 54.2.8 . A protein(s) near a molecular mass of 60 kDa in extracts of five group A streptococcal serotypes and the M-negative strain reacted with the MAbs . A study of human antibody responses to purified membranes of S . pyogenes indicated a hyperreactivity to a 60-kDa protein in acute rheumatic fever . Since MAbs 36.2.2 and 54.2.8 are known to cross-react with myosin or actin and streptococcal M protein, the data suggest that a homology or conformation is shared between the 60-kDa antigen and M protein . Therefore, the 60-kDa antigen is a new heart- or tissue-cross-reactive antigen of S . pyogenes that shares immunologic epitopes with but is distinct from M protein. Infect Immun, 1990 Oct, 58(10), 3293 - 9 Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is serologically highly variable and is expressed by all clinically important capsular serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Crain MJ et al.; Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) has been shown previously to elicit antibodies protective against pneumococcal infection and to be necessary for full pneumococcal virulence in mice . The protein was originally defined by the two mouse monoclonal antibodies Xi64 and Xi126, which together recognized PspA on 14% of pneumococcal isolates . Some PspA molecules reacted with both antibodies, but most reacted with only one or the other . In the present study we demonstrated that PspA is produced by all pneumococci, confirming our hypothesis that there are variants of PspA which are not detected by Xi64 and Xi126 . We produced a rabbit antiserum and five additional monoclonal antibodies specific for PspA for these studies . The rabbit antiserum reacted with each of 95 pneumococcal isolated tested, comprising 16 capsular serotypes . One or more of the seven monoclonal anti-PspA antibodies reacted with 95% (53 of 57) of pneumococcal isolates tested . The specificity of the monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to PspA was confirmed in two ways: (i) by detection of molecules on wild-type pneumococci that are identical in molecular weight to those detected in Western blots (immunoblots) with Xi64 and Xi126 and (ii) by the use of mutants of Streptococcus pneumoniae that fail to produce PspA or that produce a truncated form of PspA . By using the seven monoclonal antibodies, we observed 31 PspA types among the 57 isolates . When the 53 strains reactive with the monoclonal antibodies were analyzed by capsular type as well as by serologic type and molecular weight of PspA, we observed 50 different clonotypes of pneumococci. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1990 Oct, 34(1), 97 - 102 Peptide and amino acid transport in Streptococcus bovis; Westlake K et al.; In amino acid transport studies with Streptococcus bovis using 14C-labelled amino acids, it has been shown that between 87% and 95% of cell-associated radioactivity was located in the cytosol . In similar studies with unlabelled peptides, most test peptide associated with S . bovis was truly intracellular . Using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the proteolytic activity in S . bovis was found to be largely cell-associated and of the serine-protease type, but stimulated by dithiothreitol . A wide range of extracellular peptide hydrolysing activities was demonstrated against the pentapeptide Leu-Trp-Met-Arg-Phe, which was completely hydrolysed to eight products after 10 min incubation . Some of this pentapeptide was transported intact, indicating the existence of mechanisms for the transport of peptides up to 751 Da . In studies with Arg-Phe-Ala, only Phe (F) and Ala (A), and to a much lesser extent Phe-Ala (FA) were transported after extracellular hydrolysis to FA, Arg (R), F and A . In this case, amino acid transport was much more predominant than peptide transport . The extent and nature of peptide transport was affected by the addition of protease inhibitors. Carbohydr Res, 1990 Sep 19, 205, 133 - 46 Synthesis of a tri- and a tetra-saccharide fragment of the capsular polysaccharide of type III group B Streptococcus; Pozsgay V et al.; Syntheses of the propyl glycosides (1-3) of beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc, beta-D-Glcp-(1----6)-{beta-D-Galp-(1----4)}-beta-D-GlcpNAc, and beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6)-{beta-D-Galp-(1----)}-beta-D- GlcpNAc, respectively, are reported . Reaction of allyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-6-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-beta-D-glucopyranos ide with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide under Hg(CN)2 catalysis, followed by oxidative removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group, gave allyl 2-acetamido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D- galactopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10) O-deacetylation of which, followed by hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation, gave 1 . Reaction of 10 with beta-D-glucopyranose penta-acetate and beta-lactose octa-acetate, under catalysis by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, and treatment of the products as for 10 gave 2 and 3, respectively . Attempted glycosylation of 10 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl bromide under catalysis by Hg(CN)2 or silver trifluoromethanesulfonate gave an orthoester . Complete assignments of the 1H- and 13C-n.m.r . spectra of 1-3 are reported together with their carbon spin-lattice relaxation times which indicate that 3 assumes a compact instead of an extended shape. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Sep 15, 59(3), 247 - 51 Enterococcus columbae, a species from pigeon intestines; Devriese LA et al.; Gram-positive cocci which dominate in the intestinal flora of domestic pigeons were found to constitute a new species of the genus Enterococcus . The strains were most closely related to Enterococcus cecorum, originally described as Streptococcus cecorum, a carboxyphilic species from chicken intestines, and to Enterococcus avium . The pigeon strains resemble E . cecorum and also many E . avium strains in their lack of group D antigen and in being more sensitive to NaCl than other enterococci . The type strain is strain STR 345 (= NCIMB 13013). FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Sep 15, 59(3), 315 - 8 Inhibition of the cooperative adhesion of Streptococcus sanguis to hydroxylapatite; Zhang XH et al.; The adhesion of Streptococcus sanguis to hydroxylapatite is a process involving several adhesins and receptors . Binding isotherms and Scatchard plots of the adhesion suggest that cooperative interactions occur at low cell densities . It was found that sulfolane, a hydrophobic-bond diluent, was capable of inhibiting the cooperative adhesion of S . sanguis to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite beads . Sodium thiocyanate, a chaotropic agent, inhibited not only cooperative adhesion, but also the adhesion thought to result from noncooperative interactions . It is suggested that strong chaotropic agents may not only inhibit adhesin-receptor complexes, but also may influence the secondary/tertiary structures of interacting species. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1990 Sep 15, 59(3), 345 - 9 Limited repertoire of the C-terminal region of the M protein in Streptococcus pyogenes; Relf WA et al.; We have amplified genomic sequences (emm) that may encode M protein from strains of Streptococcus pyogenes using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) . Genomic DNA from 22 isolates representing 14 M serotypes was selected for the study . Primers which corresponded to the observed N-terminal signal sequence and the variable C-terminal sequences of emm6, emm49 and ennX were used . PCR products using emm6 and emm49 oligonucleotides were classified into two mutually exclusive groups which correspond to the presence or absence of serum opacity factor . These findings support the concept of limited heterogeneity in the C-terminal sequences of the M protein. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1990 Sep, 163(3), 981 - 5 Risk factors associated with the increasing prevalence of pneumonia during pregnancy; Berkowitz K et al.; A retrospective chart review of 1120 antepartum admissions revealed the prevalence of antepartum pneumonia rose to 1 per 367 deliveries . A total of 26 cases in 9560 deliveries were identified with criteria of fever greater than 39 degrees C, productive cough, and radiologic findings of infiltrates or consolidation . Pregnancy-related outcome variables studied were prevalence of preterm labor or birth, birth weight, and trimester of occurrence . Pneumonia characteristics studied were rate and type of organisms recovered, seasonality, and severity of the illness and radiologic findings . Exposure variables relating to the development of pneumonia studied were underlying medical conditions, hematocrit, human immunodeficiency virus status, and drug use . Birth weight, hematocrit, human immunodeficiency virus status, and drug use were compared with a randomly selected sample of women drawn from the general population delivered of infants during the study time period . One patient experienced preterm delivery, which occurred 1 month after cure of pneumonia . Birth weight was significantly lower in the study group (2770 +/- 224 gm versus 3173 +/- 99 gm, p less than 0.01) . The most common organism recovered was Streptococcus pneumoniae . A total of 42% of patients had multilobar involvement and two required intubation . Cocaine use (52% in the study group versus 10% in the general population, p less than 0.01) and human immunodeficiency virus positivity (24% in the study group versus 2% in the general population, p less than 0.01) were significant risk factors for antepartum pneumonia. South Med J, 1990 Sep, 83(9), 1002 - 4 Pneumococcal sepsis and meningitis in adults with sickle cell disease; Olopoenia L et al.; Patients with sickle cell disease are predisposed to infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae . However, there has been only one published case of bacteremic pneumococcal meningitis in an adult with sickle cell anemia . We report here the cases of six adults with sickle cell disease, pneumococcal sepsis, and meningitis . Five patients were male and one was female . Their ages ranged from 18 to 34 years (mean, 25.7 years) . Five patients had the SS and one had the SC hemoglobin phenotype . Only one patient had received pneumococcal vaccine (14 valent) . This vaccine did not protect against the pneumococcal serotype causing his infection . All patients had high fever (mean, 39.8 degrees C {103.7 degrees F}) on admission; five had generalized weakness and four had neck stiffness . Leukocyte counts were greater than 30,000/mm3 in all patients . Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid in all patients . The cerebrospinal fluid showed pleocytosis in six patients, an elevated protein level in five, and hypoglycorrhachia in two . Complications included renal failure in four patients, disseminated intravascular coagulation in one, and seizures in another . Two patients died . Pneumococcal sepsis and meningitis are uncommon in adults with sickle cell disease, but they carry a high morbidity and mortality . Wider use of the new 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine in these patients is recommended. Ann Thorac Surg, 1990 Sep, 50(3), 355 - 9 Management of empyema thoracis; Ali I et al.; Over a 5-year period, 65 adult patients with empyema thoracis were treated . The cause of the empyema was postpneumonic in 52%, postresectional in 24%, a complication of minor surgical procedures in 14%, posttraumatic in 5%, and the result of miscellaneous causes in 5% . In the postpneumonic group, infection resulted from a single aerobic organism in 41%, multiple aerobic organisms in 9%, single anaerobic organisms in 12%, and mixed aerobic-anaerobic organisms in 18% . Peptostreptococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Peptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and diphtheroids were the most common organisms, accounting for 55% of bacterial isolates . All 34 patients with postpneumonic empyema were initially treated with drainage, which was successful in two thirds . The remainder, 12 patients, ultimately required thoracotomy . Decortication was combined with intrathoracic transposition of extrathoracic skeletal muscles in 9 patients . There was no reoperation or recurrence of infection, and thoracoplasty was avoided; residual spaces were filled by the transposed muscle. J Infect Dis, 1990 Sep, 162(3), 765 - 7 Cerebral botryomycosis: case study; Gillock CB et al.; After oral surgery, a 32-year-old man developed a brain abscess . Actinomycosis was suspected due to history, clinical findings, response to penicillin therapy, and demonstration of "sulfur granules" in the surgical specimen, but anaerobic cultures were negative for Actinomyces . Aerobic cultures yielded Streptococcus sanguis and Pseudomonas cepacia . Coccoid organisms demonstrated histologically reacted positively with periodic acid-Schiff, Gomori's methenamine silver, and Brown and Brenn stains, were Ziehl-Neelsen-negative, and did not include branching filaments . Fluorescent antibody assay for Actinomyces israelii was also negative . Electron microscopy revealed cell wall morphology and pattern of cell division characteristic of gram-positive cocci . These findings led to a final diagnosis of botromycosis due to S . sanguis . This third report of cerebral botryomycosis emphasizes the differential diagnosis with actinomycosis, the association with intermittently treated jaw disease, and identification of the causative agent by histologic, immunologic, and electron microscopic methods. Minerva Stomatol, 1990 Sep, 39(9), 723 - 8 {The microbiological aspects of dental caries: the evaluation of a protocol for isolating Streptococcus mutans}; Moniaci D et al.; The role of Streptococcus mutans in the etiopathogenesis of dental caries to set up a protocol for the culture and the identification of the bacterium, in order to obtain the isolation in an heterogeneous age, sex and stomatognathic population is described . A selected culture medium for mutans, Mitis Salivarius agar enriched with Bacitracin (MSB-agar), has been used as well as biochemical method based on carbohydrates fermentation by amplified bacterial flora for the identification of the bacterial genus. J Rheumatol, 1990 Sep, 17(9), 1230 - 6 Septic arthritis due to group C streptococcus: report and review of the literature; Ike RW; A case of polyarticular septic arthritis due to Lancefield group C streptococcus is described and the clinical details of 9 reported cases of septic arthritis due to group C streptococcus reviewed . Several features of the presentation and course of these patients, including polyarticular involvement (4/10), bacteremia (5/10), clinically important dysfunction in other systems (4/10 patients: cardiac, 3; CNS, 2; pneumonia, 1; gastrointestinal, 1), fatal outcome (3/10 patients, 2 during the course of active infection) and poor functional outcome in affected joints (4/7 surviving patients), serve to place group C streptococcus septic arthritis as a syndrome distinct from that usually expected with streptococcal septic arthritis . Specific features of the bacteriology of group C streptococcus are reviewed (including confusion with group A streptococcus when analyzed using nonserologic methods, occasional zoonotic source, and frequency of tolerance to penicillin) in order to emphasize the importance of both the specific identification of this particular streptococcal strain and the initiation of aggressive antibiotic therapy when group C streptococcus is identified as the causative agent in a case of septic arthritis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Sep, 34(9), 1795 - 6 Antistaphylococcal activity of pentamidine; Libman MD et al.; Pentamidine isethionate was bacteriostatic against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus sanguis, Micrococcus sp., and Candida albicans . S . aureus was inhibited by concentrations of 16 to 64 micrograms/ml and killed by 64 to greater than or equal to 128 micrograms/ml . Staphylococcal killing was consistently greater in the presence of cations and was unaffected by methicillin resistance. Infection, 1990 Sep-Oct, 18(5), 283 - 5 Nasopharyngeal culture in the pneumonia diagnosis; Hedlund J et al.; The diagnostic value of bacterial cultures from nasopharynx (NPH) was prospectively studied in 261 patients with community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization . NPH culture results were compared with those of other diagnostic methods: Culture from blood and sputum, pneumococcal antigen detection, enzyme immuno assay (EIA) for detection of antibodies against pneumococcal hemolysin and in selected cases bronchoscopy . Pneumococcal pneumonia was diagnosed by these other methods in 121 patients . Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected in NPH in 33 of these patients (27%, or 36% if only cultures obtained before start of antibiotics are considered), but in only four of the other 140 patients . For other species the relevance of NPH culture was uncertain . Because of its simplicity and high specificity NPH culture can be a valuable supplement to other diagnostic methods, particularly when sputum samples are difficult to obtain. FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1990 Sep, 2(2), 97 - 102 Purification and partial characterization of a cohaemolysin (CAMP-factor) produced by Streptococcus canis; Gurturk K et al.; A cohaemolysin from the culture supernate of a canine pathogenic group G streptococcus (S . canis) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity . The purification procedure involved ammonium sulphate precipitation, ultrafiltration, gel filtration and preparative isoelectric focusing . The cohaemolysin consisted of a single polypeptide chain, 18.6 kDa, with an isoelectric point at pH 5.1 . The protein reacted with an homologous antiserum, appeared to be trypsin-sensitive and relatively heat-stable . The cohaemolysin did not show any non-specific IgG binding activities. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1990 Sep, (9), 10 - 4 {The role of the plasmid in expression of the OF-type antigen of group A streptococcus}; Ravdonkias LE et al.; In our previous investigations we demonstrated the ability of some natural MLS plasmids to regulate the expression of several functionally related genes of Streptococcus pyogenes . In the present paper the mechanism of the plasmid effect of the SOR expression has been studied . The filter mating transfer of the plasmid pEL1 and pAM beta 1 into the recipient strain 154(8-3)SOR+ (cured of EmR) but not into the strain CSLL2SOR+ resulted in two types of transconjugants obtained: EmRSOR+ (90%) and EmRSOR- (10%) . It was found in DNA-DNA hybridization experiments that the OF-EmR transconjugants but not OF+EmR ones carry the same pEL1 plasmids that are harboured by the donor strain SM60ERL1 . Mutation to SOR- is considered to be the results of the plasmid of transposon DNA insertion into the homologous region of the recipient strain 154(8-3). Immunol Lett, 1990 Sep, 25(4), 347 - 53 Reduction by OK-432 of the monolayer contact-mediated inhibition of human natural killer cell activity; Yagita M et al.; In the present study we investigated the effect of OK-432, a streptococcus preparation, on the contact-mediated inhibition of human NK activity by primary cultures of monolayer cells . Either peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) or large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were incubated (2 x 10(6) cells/ml, total volume 2 ml) on confluent monolayer cells (uvea-derived fibroblasts, uvea-derived melanoma cells, or renal carcinoma cells) for 18 h in 24-well plates, washed twice, and tested for cytotoxicity against K562, a human myelogenous leukemia cell line, in a 4 h 51Cr-release assay . After contact with monolayer cells, NK activity of both PBL and LGL was significantly reduced . When these effector cells were preincubated with 0.1 U/ml of OK-432 for 18 h and then tested for the sensitivity to contact-mediated inhibition, the inhibition was significantly reduced . The pretreatment of monolayer cells with OK-432 or the addition of OK-432 into the coculture wells (of effector cells and monolayer cells) also significantly reduced the contact-mediated inhibition . Moreover, OK-432 (0.1 U/ml) reestablished the inhibited NK activity of PBL . These results suggest that OK-432 might enable NK cells to escape from the contact-mediated inhibition by monolayer cells and thus provide an additional potential mechanism for the observed clinical effectiveness of OK-432 reported by many groups. Jpn J Surg, 1990 Sep, 20(5), 593 - 6 Cervical thymic cyst as a cause of acute suppurative thyroiditis; Ozaki O et al.; A case of acute suppurative thyroiditis following a perithyroidal abscess, which was thought to have resulted from infection of a cervical thymic cyst, is reported herein . The patient was an 8 year old asthmatic Japanese boy who originally presented with tender swelling of the left anterior neck in July, 1986 . Although pharyngography could not clearly demonstrate the pyriform sinus fistula, a hypoechoic area around the left lobe of the thyroid gland was noted on ultrasonography . Incisional drainage revealed Streptococcus milleri . A diagnosis of acute suppurative thyroiditis was established, and a cystic tubular mass was surgically resected from the left perithyroidal space some time later . Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed partly cystic thymic tissue along with parathyroid tissue . These observations suggested that acute suppurative thyroiditis in this case was caused by a perithyroidal abscess and that a perithyroidal abscess may also result from infection of a cervical thymic cyst. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Sep, 64(9), 1232 - 8 {Type-specific antibody to type Ia, Ib, II and III group B Streptococcus in maternal and neonatal sera measured by ELISA}; Sugiyama M et al.; In order to determine the type-specific antibody to group B streptococcus (GBA) type Ia, Ib, II and III, the ELISA system was established in Research laboratories, Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd . We assayed type-specific antibody by this ELISA system in both maternal and neonatal (or cord) sera . The cut off levels were determined by the antibody levels of maternal and neonatal sera of 26 infected cases and 90 GBS carriers, that type Ia, Ib, II were 0.20 and type III was 0.15 . Prevalence of type-specific antibody levels were studied in 356 maternal sera (14 affected cases, 100 GBS carriers and 242 non carriers) . Antibody levels were positive in 47.2% of maternal sera to type Ia, 34.0% to type Ib, 46.9% to type II and 45.5% to type III . Antibody levels to type Ia, Ib, II and III were positive, respectively, in 100%, 88.2%, 25.0% and 42.9% of the sera of carrier mothers whose infants were not affected . Antibody levels in 50 pair sera of maternal and cord blood were well correlated. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Sep, 64(9), 1172 - 6 {Comparison between two systems for assaying the level of antibody against Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) type III}; Hoshina K et al.; Levels of antibody against GBS type III in pregnant women have been determined using ELISA assay method that we originally deviced . Toyo Jozo Co . have also introduced an assay system (the Toyo kit) that resembles ours . The present study was performed to compare our system with the Toyo kit . Correctivity between the two systems was good, giving a regression curve of Y = 1.18X - 0.60 and a correlation coeff