Cancer Res, 1985 Jan, 45(1), 25 - 31 Vaccination of adult and newborn mice of a resistant strain (C57BL/6J) against challenge with leukemias induced by Moloney murine leukemia virus; Reif AE; Adult or newborn C57BL/6J mice were immunized with isogenic Moloney strain MuLV-induced leukemia cells irradiated with 10,000 rads or treated with low concentrations of formalin . Groups of immunized and control mice were challenged with a range of doses of viable leukemia cells, and tumor deaths were recorded for 90 days after challenge . Then, the doses of challenge cells which produced 50% tumor deaths were calculated for immunized and control mice . The logarithm of their ratio quantified the degree of protection provided by immunization . For adult C57BL/6J mice, a single immunization with MuLV-induced leukemia cells was not effective; either cells plus Bacillus Calmette-Guerin or Corynebacterium parvum, or else two immunizations with irradiated leukemia cells were needed to produce statistically significant increases in the values of the doses of challenge cells which produced 50% tumor deaths . Cross-protection was obtained by immunization with other isogenic MuLV-induced leukemias, but not by immunization with isogenic carcinogen-induced tumors or with an isogenic spontaneous leukemia . For newborn mice, a single injection of irradiated leukemia cells provided 1.3 to 1.5 logs of protection, and admixture of B . Calmette-Guerin or C . parvum increased this protection to 2.4 to 2.7 logs . Since irradiated and frozen-thawed MuLV-induced leukemia cells contained viable MuLV, leukemia cells treated with 0.5 or 1.0% formalin were tested as an alternative . A single injection of formalin-treated isogenic leukemia cells admixed with C . parvum provided between 1.7 and 2.8 logs of protection . These results demonstrate that a single vaccination of newborn animals against a highly antigenic virally induced leukemia produces strong protection against a subsequent challenge with viable leukemia cells. Br J Ophthalmol, 1985 Jan, 69(1), 29 - 31 Embolic retinopathy due to Corynebacterium minutissimum endocarditis; Herschorn BJ et al.; Infective embolic retinopathy as a sequela of bacterial endocarditis is described in a 31-year-old woman with mitral valve prolapse . The infective organism, Corynebacterium minutissimum, has not been previously found to cause ocular or multisystem diseases . It is a common mucocutaneous inhabitant which causes erythrasma . In our case report both ocular involvement and septicaemia were present . The infection was confirmed by positive serial blood cultures . Mitral valve prolapse was confirmed by echocardiography . On clinical examination the retinopathy consisted of white intraretinal lesions which resolved with antibiotic therapy . By fluorescein angiography focal areas of hypofluorescence corresponding to the white fundus lesions were present . Optic disc oedema was also seen. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1985, 30(6), 485 - 92 Fermentation production of L-homoserine by Corynebacterium sp . and its possible use in the preparation of threonine and lysine; Plachy J et al.; A mutant Corynebacterium sp . requiring threonine and cultivated for 3 d in a medium containing 15% sucrose, 8% corn-steep and 50 micrograms biotin per litre accumulated 14.5 g L-homoserine per litre . The possibility of fermenting the homoserine obtained for threonine and lysine production was investigated. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1985, 20(3), 214 - 8 The effect of combination treatment with alpha-difluoromethylornithine and Corynebacterium parvum on B16 melanoma growth and tumoricidal effector cell generation in vivo; Bowlin TL et al.; The objective of the present investigation was to establish whether a known lymphoreticular-stimulating agent Corynebacterium parvum would augment the established antitumor activity of alpha-difluoromethylornithine in vivo . Furthermore, since C . parvum is known to boost cell mediated cytotoxicity, the effect of DFMO (DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine X HCl X H2O) treatment was evaluated on macrophage and natural killer (NK) cell tumoricidal activity . DFMO administered alone, 1% or 2% in drinking water, inhibited 49.4% or 88.0% of B16 melanoma growth in vivo, respectively . Administration of C . parvum alone, three doses of 300 micrograms each, inhibited tumor growth 57.4% . When administered together, DFMO and C . parvum treatment resulted in 89.8% (1% DFMO) or 97.4% (2% DFMO) inhibition of melanoma growth depending upon the dose of DFMO . C . parvum-treated animals had increased levels of macrophage-mediated tumoricidal activity directed against B16 melanoma cells in vitro, however, NK cell activity was reduced . DFMO treatment alone had no effect on macrophage or NK cell tumoricidal activity . In animals receiving both C . parvum and DFMO treatments macrophage-mediated tumoricidal activity was augmented . These results demonstrate that C . parvum can augment the antitumor activity of DFMO in vivo, possibly through macrophage activation . Furthermore, in contrast to many other cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, DFMO is apparently not immunosuppressive regarding tumoricidal effector cells. Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(5), 372 - 82 Multiple drug-resistant Corynebacteriaceae: in vitro and in vivo (murine) studies; Traub WH; Five multiple-drug-resistant (MDR) Corynebacterium isolates, which differed in several biochemical traits, were sensitive to rifampin, vancomycin and ciprofloxacin; ciprofloxacin was more active than enoxacin and norfloxacin . The MDR Corynebacterium isolates uniformly were resistant against fresh human serum, but varied in susceptibility to fresh, defibrinated human blood . In combined blood plus antimicrobial drug assays, vancomycin was more active than rifampin, which in turn was more active than ciprofloxacin . Outbred NMRI mice essentially were resistant against the MDR Corynebacterium isolates, as were mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide (leukopenia), type II Carrageenan (blockade of macrophages), or zymosan (depletion of complement), or with the combination of cyclophosphamide plus zymosan . However, mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide plus type II Carrageenan proved somewhat more susceptible. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1985, 20(2), 117 - 21 Cytotoxic factor production by Kupffer cells elicited with Lactobacillus casei and Corynebacterium parvum; Hashimoto S et al.; The ability of Kupffer cells, spleen macrophages, pulmonary macrophages, and peritoneal macrophages (PM) to produce cytotoxic factor (CTF) was investigated in vitro . The production of CTF by Kupffer cells elicited with Corynebacterium parvum (CP) or Lactobacillus casei YIT9018 (LC9018) was higher than that of spleen, pulmonary macrophages, or PM . In addition, oxygen radical (OR) production by Kupffer cells or PM was measured . The production of OR by Kupffer cells or PM was significantly augmented by i.v . or i.p . injection of LC9018 or CP . No significant correlation was observed between the increase in OR production by Kupffer cells or PM and CTF production by Kupffer cells or PM elicited with either organism . It was suggested that activated Kupffer cells may be one important source of CTF production in serum and that the CTF-producing macrophages may be different from the OR-producing macrophages. Am J Vet Res, 1985 Jan, 46(1), 13 - 5 Detection of Corynebacterium equi-specific antibody in horses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Hietala SK et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was developed to measure naturally occurring Corynebacterium equi specific antibody in horse serum . Antibody against C equi was demonstrated in normal adults and was passively transferred to foals . Adult levels of specific antibody were reached by 5 to 6 months of age in healthy foals . Decreased early antibody levels were demonstrated in a limited number of foals with confirmed C equi infection. Vet Med Nauki, 1985, 22(8), 79 - 86 {Effect of ultraviolet-irradiated autologous blood on the biochemical indices of sheep with a Corynebacterium infection}; Filipov Zh et al.; Twelve sheep were used in two groups of six animals each (a control and a test one) . Both control and test animals were infected with a 24-hour broth culture of Corynebacterium pyogenes . The infection was followed up in the course of five days after which the animals of both groups were subjected to autohemotransfusion, whereas the blood transfused with the controls was not treated, and the blood transfused with the test animals was treated with ultra violet rays in vitro . Following the transfusion of both untreated and treated blood the amount of blood sugar rose, it reaching higher levels in the case UV-treated blood . There were changes in the total protein and the protein fractions induced by the Corynebacterial infection, however, the initial levels were more rapidly restored in the case of transfusing UV-treated blood . With autohemotransfusion the values of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase in all animals dropped . The change was more rapidly and more strongly expressed with the transfusion of UV-treated blood. Vet Med Nauki, 1985, 22(5), 85 - 9 {Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin trihydrate in sheep infected experimentally with Corynebacterium pyogenes and Escherichia coli}; Drumev D et al.; A comparative experiment was carried out with sheep that were infected i/v and via the joints with Corynebacterium pyogenes and Escherichia coli, and with normal sheep left as controls . The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined of amoxicillin-trihydrate following its i/m application to all animals in a 20 percent oil suspension . It was found that there was delayed excretion of the antibiotic, and as a rule it was maintained in higher concentrations in the diseased animals . the differences were likely to be due to changes in the metabolic processes and to injury of the kidneys. Urol Res, 1985, 13(3), 123 - 30 Quantitative measurements of humoral immune response in mice to a FANFT induced bladder tumor; Studer UE et al.; Using unfixed mouse bladder tumor cells (MBT) as target cells and a modified avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) method made it possible to detect a humoral immune response in C3H mice with growing MBT tumors . The rise of the serum levels is significant (p less than 0.005) when compared to control animals and correlates with the tumor size . Mice with recurrences after surgical removal of the primary tumor had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher serum values than animals without recurrence . Purulent or granulomatous inflammatory changes, muscle necrosis, growth of a lymphoma or an ovarian carcinoma did not significantly change the results (p less than 0.05) . Injection of myeloma cells from a different strain of mice caused a minimal, but significant increase in the values when compared to controls (p less than 0.0001) . However, the slope of the curve differed significantly (p less than 0.05) from that in mice with MBT tumors . Irradiated MBT cells or Corynebacterium parvum used as immunomodulators significantly increased the serum values (p less than 0.001) . In the presence of a growing MBT tumor, however, the immunomodulation did not substantially falsify the results . The serum values were related to the corresponding tumor sizes. Vet Med Nauki, 1985, 22(2), 59 - 66 {Biochemical changes in the blood of sheep with experimental Corynebacterium infection}; Borisov I; Investigations were carried out with 24 sheep divided into two groups of twelve animals . The first group were infected via the lateral recessus of the tarsal joint with 2 cm3 of a 24-hour broth culture of Corynebacterium pyogenes, and the second one were infected i/v with 3 cm3 of the same culture . The changes in the total protein, protein fractions, and blood electrolites in the blood were followed up . It was found that the infection of Corynebacterium pyogenes affected the total reactivation of the animals and led to immunobiologic reconstruction changes . There were hyperproteinemia which depended on the route of infection as well as the severity of its course, and hyperglobulinemia which was "at the expense of' blood albumin . Noticed were also hypercalcemia, hyperpotassemia, and lower sodium and phosphorus levels. J Leukoc Biol, 1985 Jan, 37(1), 101 - 8 In vitro generation of procoagulant activity by Corynebacterium parvum-stimulated mononuclear leukocytes; Miragliotta G et al.; Thromboembolic complications are known in cancer patients after i.v . administration of Corynebacterium parvum . We examined the ability of this organism to induce production of procoagulant activity by human blood mononuclear leukocytes in vitro . After 4 hours incubation Corynebacterium parvum was an effective stimulant for mononuclear leukocytes, behaving in the same way as the typical gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, whereas mononuclear cells incubated with Staphylococcus aureus were not affected . Corynebacterium parvum used was found devoid of endotoxin by the Limulus assay and was not affected by Polymyxin B, which, on the contrary, inhibited Escherichia coli-induced production of procoagulant activity . Intact Corynebacterium parvum may be required for the production of procoagulant activity and, although this specific aspect of the research will require further study, from the exposed data it is concluded that such a production could be a factor contributing to the pathogenesis of the coagulopathy following Corynebacterium parvum therapy. Acta Neuropathol (Berl), 1985, 68(1), 22 - 6 The effect of treatment with Corynebacterium parvum on the development and growth of experimental hematogenic metastases of schwannoma in the rat; Bash JA et al.; Single i.v . administration of Corynebacterium parvum 5 days before i.v . injection of 10(6) tissue cultured syngeneic schwannoma cells in Lewis rats resulted in extension of survival time (P less than 0.05) . There was a significant decrease in metastatic tumor incidence for lung, heart, and kidney and decreased lung tumor growth with approximately 50% of the lung tumor burden of untreated controls (P less than 0.05) . Rats treated similarly with C . parvum 10 days after tumor cell injection showed no enhanced survival; to the contrary, their survival was shortened . Moreover, tumor incidence in the post-treated group was not significantly different from the control but significantly increased in comparison to the pretreated group . Enhanced lung tumor growth resulted in a final tumor burden about twice that of untreated controls (P less than 0.05). J Clin Lab Immunol, 1985 Jan, 16(1), 41 - 6 Effects of immunization of mothers on the immune reaction of their offspring . II . Significance of enhanced antigen elimination by maternal antibodies on the suppression of the offspring; Izuchi K et al.; In the offspring of sheep erythrocyte (SRBC)- or chicken erythrocyte (CRBC)-immunized mothers, generation of cytotoxicity and plaque forming cells (PFC) were suppressed, while delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was not . We performed experiments to analyse the mechanism of this suppression . Antigen specific antibodies, which enhanced opsonization or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), might have a close relation to the suppression (1) . The suppression was weakened by a high-dose of antigen challenge or macrophage blockade with colloidal carbon, while enhanced by macrophage activation with Corynebacterium parvum . In contrast, secondary immune responses in the offspring showed the same amplitude as in normal mice . Therefore, the suppression in the offspring might be a result from the early antigen elimination by enhanced opsonization or ADCC due to passive antibodies . But, generation of memory cells or effector cells of DTH might not be affected in the presence of passively transferred antibodies. Cell Immunol, 1985 Jan, 90(1), 24 - 31 Establishment of growth factor-dependent MOPC 104E cell line in vitro; Shrestha K et al.; The MOPC 104E cell line has been adapted to grow in vitro using a combination of feeder layer and growth factor(s) . The growth of this myeloma cell line is dependent on the presence of growth factor(s) . Growth-promoting activity generated from T-cell-mitogen-stimulated, Corynebacterium parvum-stimulated spleen cell culture supernatant, and peritoneal adherent cell culture supernatants gives dose-dependent proliferation . Generation of growth factors in the serum-free bovine serum albumin-substituted media and a rapid assay system based on {3H}thymidine uptake for the quantitation of growth promoting activity are described. Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac, 1985, 86(4), 241 - 4 {Actinomycosis . What describes the pathological events referred to by this term?}; Gaillard A; The disease named "actinomycosis" hadn't found its final position in infections pathology . Many terms were successively created to describe in a better way similar entities: actinomycosis, pseudo-actinomycosis, actinobacteriosis, corynebacteriosis, ramibacteriosis.. . is just a part of the terminology . After the analysis of the classical conception of the "actinomycosis" and, also, the latest data, the author came to the conclusion that the facts are just a clinical manifestation, related to the germ, of the large syndrome of the Infections of the soft tissues. Leuk Res, 1985, 9(1), 175 - 84 Immunomodulation of NK and ADCC by Corynebacterium parvum in acute myeloid leukaemia patients; Hokland P et al.; Natural killer (NK)- and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity assays were performed using cryopreserved effector cells in AML patients receiving i.c . and s.c . injections of Corynebacterium parvum . A dose related increase in NK could be demonstrated with peaks in NK at day 1 with full Cp dosage and at day 14 with 50% doses . This increase was attributable to the Cp vaccine since normal donors receiving tetanus toxoid or pneumococcal polysaccharide and AML patients randomized not to receive Cp did not show similar NK boosting . The increase was probably due to interferon induction in vivo and could be demonstrated with purified T- and non-T-lymphocyte subsets . However, longitudinal measurements showed that the ability of Cp to boost NK was gradually lost over 4-6 months . ADCC studies showed that while lymphocyte-ADCC was not consistently affected by Cp, monocyte-ADCC was enhanced with maximal cytotoxicity at day 14. Exp Cell Biol, 1985, 53(2), 85 - 92 Effects of murine tumor necrosis factor on Friend erythroleukemic cells; Suyama K et al.; Tumor necrosis inducing factor (TNF), a 140,000 molecular weight glycoprotein present in the serum of Corynebacterium parvum endotoxin-treated mice, was cytotoxic toward Friend virus-transformed erythroleukemic cells (FELC) . These cells grow in culture as undifferentiated pro-erythroblasts but can be induced to differentiate in a limited fashion along the erythroid pathway to orthochromatic normoblasts by various agents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) . Partially and highly purified preparations of TNF were cytotoxic toward logarithmically growing FELC whereas a comparable serum protein fraction from C . parvum treated mice or endotoxin from E . coli had no effect upon FELC viability . DMSO-induced cells were more sensitive to the action of TNF requiring only about half the concentration needed to produce 50% kill in noninduced cells . Inhibition of hemoglobin formation was TNF dose-related and could be decreased by 94% . TNF was also cytotoxic toward DMSO-induced cells in stationary phase and mitomycin C treated noninduced FELC . Neuraminidase modification of the surface of FELC increased the cytotoxicity of TNF by 50% . These results demonstrate that TNF destroys FELC whether they are nondividing, dividing or partially differentiated and suggest that TNF may accomplish this by affecting cell metabolism after internalization. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1985, 19(3), 183 - 8 Evaluation of in vivo and in vitro effectivity of immune defense against a spontaneously arising, nonlymphoid rat tumor . I . Analysis of natural immune defense; Zoller M; Possible mechanisms of natural defense against a nonimmunogenic, nonlymphoid rat tumor were evaluated in vitro and examined for effectivity in vivo, using BSp6S, the subcutaneously grown transplantation line of a spontaneously arising fibrosarcoma in the BDX rat strain, which is highly susceptible to natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages (Mo) . The role of nonspecific immune defense in vivo was demonstrated by eliminating NK cells by irradiation and Mo by silica treatment . Especially after depletion of NK cells a significant acceleration of tumor growth and a reduction in the number of cells required for tumor takes was observed . Activation of Mo by Corynebacterium parvum (CP) did lead to retardation of tumor growth; prevention of tumor growth was only achieved after inoculation of a marginal dose of tumor cells . Activation of NK cells was of minor influence . It is concluded that NK cells and Mo are the main influences on survival time, the effectiveness of NK cells being limited to early periods of tumor growth. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1985, 19(2), 130 - 5 Development of hyporesponsiveness of natural killer cells to augmentation of activity after multiple treatments with biological response modifiers; Saito T et al.; Four biological response modifiers (BRMs), MVE-2 (maleic anhydride divinyl ether), Corynebacterium parvum (C . Parvum), PolyICLC (polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid stabilized with poly-L-lysine), and mouse alpha beta-interferon (alpha beta-IFN), were tested to assess whether repeated treatments would repeatedly induce or sustain augmented levels of natural killer (NK) cell activity and/or macrophage (M0)-mediated inhibition of tumor cell growth . In contrast to a significant increase in splenic NK activity obtained with a single treatment with each of the agents, multiple treatments with these BRMs led to a progressive decrease in the degree of augmentation of NK activity . In contrast, multiple injections with these agents resulted in sustained augmentation of M0-mediated reactivity . Separation of the spleen cells by Percoll discontinuous density gradient centrifugation indicated that with mice treated once with each BRM high levels of NK activity were detected in the lower density fractions and that these fractions contained a higher percentage of large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) than that found in comparable fractions from normal mice . In contrast, cells in the lower density fractions from mice that received multiple treatments had decreased NK activity and an appreciably lower proportion of LGLs . These results indicate that the development of hyporesponsiveness to augmentation of splenic NK-cell activity following multiple treatments with BRMs may be attributable to a decreased percentage of LGLs, the effector cell population responsible for NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Microbiol Immunol, 1985, 29(12), 1175 - 84 Correlation of in vitro properties of Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi with virulence for mice; Takai S et al.; To study the virulence of Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi, seven ATCC strains of different serotypes were tested for their LD50 in mice, clearance of the organism from the lungs and spleen following intravenous or intratracheal inoculation, and in vitro interaction with murine peritoneal macrophages . Strains ATCC 33704 and 33705 were virulent for mice and multiplied in the lungs and spleen, resulting in death of the animal in 5 days . The other five strains were avirulent for mice . The number of bacteria in the lungs and spleen of mice given these five strains decreased immediately . Pulmonary clearance of strains ATCC 33703, 33706, and 33707 was significantly more rapid than that of the virulent strains ATCC 33704 and 33705 12 hr after inoculation . Complete clearance of the avirulent strain ATCC 33707 occurred by day 14, while that of virulent ATCC 33704 and 33705 strains occurred by day 30 . The virulent strains ATCC 33704 and 33705 were resistant not only to phagocytosis but also to intracellular killing by macrophages . Strains ATCC 33702 and 33706 were rapidly killed by macrophages although they were rather resistant to phagocytosis . Strain ATCC 33703 was easily phagocytized though resistant to killing by macrophages . The most avirulent strains, ATCC 33707 and 6939, were easily phagocytized and rapidly killed by macrophages . These results indicate that virulence appeared to be related to the ability of the organisms to resist clearance from the lungs and spleen and to resist phagocytosis and intracellular killing by macrophages. Proc Natl Sci Counc Repub China B, 1985 Jan, 9(1), 70 - 3 Utilization of glutamate accumulating bacterial cells for production of ribonucleotides; Hsieh WT; Corynebacterium glutamicum cells are industrially used for glutamate production . However, the waste that contains microbial cells, cellular debris, residual sugars, ammonia and metabolites seriously pollutes the environment . The cells are recovered and utilized for ribonucleotide production so that the pollution caused by the cells is eliminated . Nucleic acid is extracted from the cells and is hydrolyzed with nuclease P1 from Penicillium citrinum . The hydrolysate is fractionated with Dowex-50 and Dowex-1 into 5'-CMP, 5'-UMP, 5'-GMP and 5'-AMP . The products are characterized by electrophoresis, ultraviolet light absorbance, and 5'-nucleotidase. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1985 Jan, (1), 17 - 22 {Cloning in Escherichia coli of the mutant gene coding the diphtheria toxin}; Iakubovich NV et al.; Bacteriophage beta 45 of Corynebacterium diphtheriae was harvested . The extracted DNA of the bacteriophage was digested by the restriction endonuclease BamHI and inserted into the BamHI cleavage site of pUC19 vector plasmid . Plasmid pNVY5 containing a mutant gene crm45 of diphtheriae toxin in a 3.9 bpn fragment was isolated from the hybrid plasmids obtained . Cell free extracts of E . coli strain TG1 (pVNY5) contain the nontoxic protein crm45 possessing the specific enzymatic activity of diphtheriae toxin (ADP ribosylation on wheat elongation factor two) . According to orientation of BamHI fragment in pNVY5 plasmid it is concluded that the crm45 gene is expressed using its own promoter. J Ultrastruct Res, 1985 Jan, 90(1), 80 - 8 Cytochemical study of macrophage lysosomal inorganic trimetaphosphatase and acid phosphatase; Petty HR et al.; Cytochemical investigations have associated acid inorganic trimetaphosphatase (TMPase) activity with the lysosomes of certain cell types . We have used the modified staining technique of Berg to show that this enzyme activity is present in normal mononuclear phagocytes and macrophage cell lines . We have found this enzyme activity to be present in murine RAW264 macrophages, in human U937 macrophages, in normal human blood monocytes, and in guinea pig peritoneal macrophages . All of the RAW264 and U937 macrophages showed intense TMPase activity . Many of the human monocytes and most of the guinea pig macrophages were labeled by this method . The reaction product was associated with the lysosomes of these cell types . The lysosomal staining-pattern was similar to that of acid phosphatase . Differences with regard to Golgi staining were noted . This indicates that TMPase is a lysosomal enzyme of mammalian macrophages . The distinction between TMPase and acid phosphatase activity has been demonstrated by measuring the pH optimum of each enzyme . Using substrates identical to those of the ultrastructural cytochemistry, we show that the pH optimum of TMPase is 4.0 and that of acid phosphatase is 5.0 . The enzymatic activities are therefore ultrastructurally and biochemically distinct . Following phagocytosis of latex, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), or Corynebacterium parvum, TMPase has been found to be associated with phagosomes . This enzyme may take part in the degradation of phagocytosed materials, particularly microorganisms which contain inorganic polyphosphates and metaphosphates. Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol Incl Mol Pathol, 1985, 48(4), 317 - 24 The involvement of dendritic cells in the handling of the immune stimulant C . parvum . A morphological investigation using immunoperoxidase techniques; Mignot MH et al.; In earlier experiments we showed that locally administered Corynebacterium parvum (C . parvum) stimulated the T-cell system and had a beneficial effect on the recurrence rate of surgically resected cancers of the uterine cervix . In this paper we report the use of an immunoperoxidase technique to trace C . parvum antigen in the draining lymph nodes . In a guinea pig model the popliteal lymph node was studied after the injection of 70 micrograms of C . parvum in the hind footpad . At 6 h, intact bacteria were detected in sinus histiocytes . A transient granuloma formation was apparent between days 2 and 6, originating in the subcapsular and interfollicular areas . Three antigen-positive cell types were observed in these granulomas: a) cytophagocytic macrophages which were weakly positive, the antigen being distributed in clumps; b) dendritic cells with a strong, fine-granular positivity and c) some epithelioid cells with a small positive cytoplasmic rim . The majority of epithelioid cells was negative . Antigen-positive dendritic cells were also observed just beyond the granulomas in the T-dependent paracortical area . These cells are known as interdigitating cells (IDC) and present antigen to T-cells . Ten days following C . parvum injection the lymph node follicles became positive and the antigen could be detected in the long cellular protrusions of the dendritic reticulum cells (DRC) . DRC probably play a part in immunological memory by trapping antigen in the form of immune complexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Am J Vet Res, 1985 Jan, 46(1), 212 - 4 Diagnosis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infections in sheep, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Maki LR et al.; Lambs infected with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (ovis) by injecting suspensions of live bacteria into the wool-free area of the axilla developed antibody against cell wall antigens and antitoxin, as measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . The toxin was a better antigen for measuring infection than was the cell wall antigen . The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay appeared to be as sensitive as the antihemolysin inhibition test for detecting antitoxin and was easier to perform. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1985, 7(5), 783 - 7 Importance of coordinated immune stimulation in experimental antitumor treatment; Cerutti I et al.; We have proposed an antitumor therapeutic model in mice grafted with Crocker 180TG cells . The treatment strategy involves a coordinated immune stimulation which should always precede treatment of target cells . Potent stimulators mobilizing the majority of immune competent cells can be injected only once since repetition results in adverse effects on the response . Thus, to circumvent this difficulty, we propose the amplification, after a single shot of Corynebacterium parvum extract, of the immune response by cimetidine . Indeed, it has been reported that cimetidine inhibits suppressor T cell functions . The second phase acting on the target employs interferon and arginine butyrate since they reconvert a number of transformed target cells to normal phenotype . Important antitumor effects can be obtained in the present model even if the treatment is initiated relatively late after tumor graft . All the drugs employed are harmless on normal cells and are used at relatively low concentrations. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1985, 64(3), 175 - 94 Immunomodulators and allergy; Valcurone G et al.; The role played by immunomodulation in allergy is critically reviewed . The prospective mechanisms of immunomodulation, specifically including those showing relation with allergic phenomena, are taken into consideration, examining the main interfering factors . Type I, IgE-mediated immunoreaction, in its two aspects, IgE synthesis and mediator's release, is analyzed, bearing in mind some agents involved or affecting these processes, mimicking immunomodulation . Other agents, such as Corynebacterium granulosum derivatives and glucocorticoids have been also appraised, to highlight their action in this connection. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1984 Dec 15, 150(8), 998 - 9 Clinically silent polymicrobial amnionitis and intrauterine fetal death associated with a Cu-7 intrauterine contraceptive device; Waites KB et al.; PIP: This article presents a case of silent polymicrobial amnionitis with subsequent intrauterine fetal death in a 34-year old woman who conceived with a Cu-7 IUD in place . There were no apparent pregnancy complications or symptoms of uterine infection during early pregnancy . At 16 weeks gestation, the patient underwent amniocentesis for cytogenetic studies . 5 different microorganisms--Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mitis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum--were isolated from the amniotic fluid . 2 week later, intrauterine fetal death was detected . U . urealyticum was at this point isolated from the cervix and placental and fetal tissues . This organism, which has been associated with chorioamnionitis, spontaneous abortion, and neonatal death, is suspected to have contributed to the fetal death in this case . U . urealyticum can invade the amniotic sac with fetal membranes intact and persist for 8 weeks without overt effects . This case illustrates the risks associated with nonremoval of an IUD after contraceptive failure . Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 1984 Dec, 51(4), 263 - 7 An improved Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccine for sheep; Cameron CM et al.; Extensive experiments in mice confirmed that the immunogenicity of a Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccine could not be significantly improved with the use of various adjuvants . Immunity against C . pseudotuberculosis likewise could not be enhanced by incorporating various immunostimulants into the vaccine or by the use of live vaccines . However, a combination of aluminium hydroxide gel and saponin as adjuvant did have a beneficial effect . This vaccine was tolerated better, and a smaller dose apparently protected sheep more effectively against intralymph node challenge than the currently available alum-precipitated vaccine. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Dec, 258(2-3), 296 - 309 Fatty acid composition of a Propionibacterium acnes vaccine and its relationship to immunostimulatory activity; Julak J et al.; The distribution of lipids of Propionibacterium acnes (Corynebacterium parvum) vaccine strain in chloroform-methanol, ethanol and light petroleum extracts was determined . Firmly bound lipids released by hydrolysis were also investigated . The petroleum extract differs from other lipidic fractions in its fatty acid composition . The presence of linolic, tuberculostearic and 10-ketostearic acids and branched fatty alcohols was observed in addition to previously described fatty acids of P . acnes . Changes in fatty acid composition during growth of the vaccine strain were determined and extremes were found at 95 h of cultivation . These extremes coincided with a maximum in the immunostimulatory efficiency as measured by the spleen enlargement test . The biological activity of static and stirred cultures of the vaccine strain was in correlation with their fatty acid composition. Vaccine, 1984 Dec, 2(4), 261 - 4 Effect of stearoyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine on host resistance to Corynebacterium kutscheri infection in cortisone-treated mice; Ishihara C et al.; Opportunistic corynebacteriosis was induced successfully by infection with Corynebacterium kutscheri in cortisone-treated mice and the ability of stearoyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine derivatives in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution or encapsulated into liposomes for restoring impaired resistance was examined . 6-O-Stearoyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (L18-MDP) in liposomes and N alpha-acetyl muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-N epsilon-stearoyl-L-lysine (MDP-Lys-L18) both in PBS solution and in liposomes were shown to restore depressed resistance to infection of C . kutscheri when injected intravenously before infection . Treatment with L18-MDP in cortisone-treated mice inhibited growth of C . kutscheri in the liver and kidney for as long as three days after infection. J Pediatr Surg, 1984 Dec, 19(6), 810 - 7 The effect of the immunomodulator corynebacterium parvum on hemisplenectomized mice; Cooney DR et al.; The immunomodulator Corynebacterium parvum stimulates the reticuloendothelial system and causes splenic hypertrophy . The ability of C parvum to stimulate splenic regeneration in hemisplenectomized mice and decrease susceptibility to intranasal pneumococcal challenge was studied . Mice were divided into two groups, control sham-operated (n = 48) and hemisplenectomized (n = 47) animals . Ten days later, each group was divided into two subgroups, those injected with C parvum (700 mcg IVP) and those injected with an equivalent volume of saline . The animals were challenged with Streptococcus pneumoniae, which was injected into one nostril three weeks postoperatively, and mortality was assessed . Four and one-half weeks postoperatively, splenic tissue was removed, measured, weighed, and submitted for histologic examination . The number of spleen cells per gram of tissue was assessed . Treatment with C parvum resulted in a significant increase in the splenic weight in both hemisplenectomized and control animals compared to similar saline-injected mice (P less than 0.001) . The percentage increase in spleen weight of hemisplenectomized mice (106%) was significantly greater than that for control animals (56%; P less than 0.01) . There was no significant difference among experimental groups in the number of spleen cells per gram of splenic tissue or in the histologic characteristics, indicating that C parvum stimulated relatively normal splenic growth . Survival following pneumococcal challenge was significantly increased for hemisplenectomized mice by C parvum treatment to a level that did not significantly differ from control mice . This study demonstrates that in mice the deficits related to resistance to infection and spleen size following hemisplenectomy are significantly improved by treatment with C parvum. J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 20(6), 1219 - 20 Recurrent breast abscesses caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum; Berger SA et al.; A 42-year-old woman developed severe, recurrent breast abscesses caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum . Prior reports of C . minutissimum infection have been limited to erythrasma, a minor dermatosis . The microbiological and clinical features of this species were reviewed. Immunopharmacology, 1984 Dec, 8(3-4), 121 - 8 Attempts to use thiabendazole to improve the immune response in dexamethasone-treated or stressed cattle; Roth JA et al.; Thiabendazole was evaluated in two separate experiments for its ability to enhance the immune response in dexamethasone-treated or stressed cattle . In the first experiment the cattle received either no drug treatment (controls), dexamethasone intramuscularly (IM), or dexamethasone IM plus thiabendazole orally . All animals were inoculated with heat-killed Brucella abortus strain 19, equine ferritin, tetanus toxoid, and live Corynebacterium equi at the time dexamethasone therapy was initiated . Dexamethasone (0.04 mg/kg/day IM for 3 days) significantly (p less than 0.05) inhibited the lymphocyte blastogenic response to mitogens and the antibody response to ferritin and tetanus toxoid . Thiabendazole given orally (16 mg/kg/day) beginning 24 h prior to antigen and dexamethasone administration and continued for 6 days failed to prevent the dexamethasone-induced suppression of the lymphocyte blastogenic or antibody responses . In the second experiment 51 cattle were divided into a control group and a thiabendazole-treated group . The animals were stressed by weaning, injection of antigen (equine ferritin, tetanus toxoid, B . abortus strain 19 and killed bovine viral diarrhea virus) and castration of the bulls on the day that thiabendazole therapy was started . Thiabendazole administered orally for 5 days at a dosage of 20 mg/kg did not enhance the antibody response to any of the antigens, and was associated with a significantly lower antibody response to B . abortus. Parasitology, 1984 Dec, 89 ( Pt 3), 417 - 24 The importance of parasite load in the killing of Plasmodium vinckei in mice treated with Corynebacterium parvum or alloxan monohydrate; Cox FE et al.; Mice pre-treated with Corynebacterium parvum and later challenged with Plasmodium vinckei become infected but do not die whereas control mice do . When pre-treated mice were challenged with 1, 10, 1 X 10(2), 1 X 10(4), 1 X 10(5) or 1 X 10(6) parasites, the pre-patent periods correlated directly with the number of parasites injected, but the subsequent parasitaemias reached similar levels . This suggests that parasite killing, resulting from pre-treatment with C . parvum, is not triggered until the parasite load has reached a particular threshold . The injection of alloxan monohydrate, which brings about the release of toxic oxygen intermediates thought to be involved in non-specific immunity, has little effect on P . vinckei infections until the parasitaemia is relatively high . This indicates that oxygen-mediated parasite killing also does not occur until the parasitaemia has reached a particular threshold . It is suggested that it is only at relatively high parasitaemias that the factors involved in parasite killing are able to enter the infected red blood cells. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Dec, 258(4), 492 - 7 Serotaxonomical analyses of strains referred to Nocardia amarae and Rhodococcus equi; Ridell M; Four strains of Nocardia amarae and four strains of Rhodococcus equi (earlier designated Corynebacterium equi) were analysed by means of the comparative immunodiffusion technique for taxonomical purposes . Nineteen reference precipitation systems, representing different species of Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Streptomyces, and related taxa were employed . The N . amarae strains differed serologically from the reference strains of Nocardia and their assignment to the latter genus was therefore questioned . Furthermore, the results provided additional evidence for the view that R . equi belongs to the genus Rhodococcus and not to the genus Corynebacterium. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1984 Dec, 55(4), 187 - 93 Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of mastitis pathogens isolated from Bloemfontein dairy herds; Swartz R et al.; The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacteria associated with subclinical mastitis in Bloemfontein fresh milk dairy herds were determined . A total of 141 bacterial strains tested, consisted of Staphylococcus aureus (93 strains), coagulase negative staphylococci (17), streptococci (12), Corynebacterium bovis (8), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7) and enterobacteria (4) . Antibiotic susceptibility was determined qualitatively using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and quantitatively by determining the minimal inhibitory concentrations using the agar dilution method . The utilization of commercial intramammary antibiotic preparations on the dairy farms is also discussed . The Gram-positive bacteria were generally not exceptionally resistant to the antibiotics tested . S . aureus susceptibility figures for penicillin G were 66% and for methicillin (or cloxacillin) 100% . The coagulase negative staphylocci in contrast were relatively more resistant than the coagulase positive staphylococci . The enterobacteria and particularly the P . aeruginosa strains, were extremely resistant to all antibiotics tested . In the latter case even carbenicillin and gentamicin susceptibility figures were low . A general mastitis control programme is discussed. J Hyg (Lond), 1984 Dec, 93(3), 405 - 17 Conversion by corynephages and its role in the natural history of diphtheria; Groman NB; The conversion of non-toxinogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae to toxinogeny has been reviewed . The biology of converting phage and the relationship of converting phages to nonconverting phages are summarized . The significance of these findings to the natural history and evolution of diphtheria is assessed. Immunobiology, 1984 Dec, 167(5), 495 - 505 Thymus-recruited peritoneal exudate T lymphocytes; Koga Y et al.; The role of the thymus in the generation of antigen-reactive peritoneal exudate T lymphocytes (PETLs) was examined in mice injected with Corynebacterium parvum (C . parvum), which exerted functions as a trigger of T cell recruitment from the thymus and as an antigen to induce antigen-reactive T cells . The proliferative response of antigen-reactive PETLs was higher in sham mice than in adult-thymectomized (ATx) mice 3 weeks after injection of C . parvum . When indomethacin (INDO) was injected simultaneously with an injection of proteose peptone for collecting PETLs, the response to C . parvum decreased to an undetectable level in ATx mice, and to a low but still positive level in sham mice . The addition of PGE2 to the culture suppressed the proliferative response of PETLs from Sham mice, but did not suppress the response of ATx mice . These results suggested the existence of different subsets in antigen-reactive T cells in terms of thymus-dependency and PGE2-dependency or -sensitivity. Immunobiology, 1984 Dec, 168(3-5), 172 - 81 Heterogeneity of macrophages and dendritic cells as accessory cells; Lee KC et al.; A number of different antigens was used to define the functional limits of Ia-bearing murine dendritic cells and macrophages in the processing and presentation of antigens for T cell activation . The results show considerable functional overlap as well as differences attributable to known properties of the cells . Thus both cell types could present soluble antigens up to the size of polymeric flagellin (M.W . in millions) about equally well . The nonphagocytic dendritic cells were most effective at inducing mixed leukocyte reactions in accordance with their high constitutive level of Ia expression . On the other hand, splenic macrophages were three to nine times better than dendritic cells at presenting particulate, heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum organisms to T cells lines, and small activated macrophages from bone marrow cultures were three times better again than splenic macrophages . Large activated bone marrow macrophages were not effective antigen presenters probably because of nonspecific suppression . These observations are consistent with the phagocytic and lysosomal activities of macrophages that enable them to ingest and process particulate antigen efficiently . Nevertheless, the capacity of dendritic cells and the dendritic-like line, P388.AD.4, to present particulate bacterial antigens suggests that these cells could either do the processing extracellularly or pick up soluble antigenic moieties shed from the bacteria and antigen processing macrophages . Glutaraldehyde fixation of C . parvum presumably stopped antigen shedding, since it produced a greater reduction of the T cell response with dendritic cells and P388.AD.4 as presenting cells than with macrophage presenters . Alternatively, the fixation could make the bacteria less "digestible" to dendritic cells than to macrophages . More characterization of the fate of antigens following encounter with accessory cells is necessary to distinguish between these possibilities. J Leukoc Biol, 1984 Dec, 36(6), 719 - 27 Increased transglutaminase activity in elicited and activated macrophages: relationship to production of superoxide anion; Harris LK et al.; To evaluate whether transglutaminase (TG) might be involved in production of oxygen metabolites, TG activity was measured in resident, in activated, and in elicited murine peritoneal macrophages . These various types of macrophages show a wide diversity in their ability to generate oxygen metabolites . Like other transglutaminases, the macrophage enzyme was found to be a calcium-dependent enzyme that was stabilized by dithiothreitol and inhibited by dansylcadaverine . The TG activity was approximately six-times higher in lysates of LPS-elicited macrophages compared with lysates of resident macrophages; this paralleled the six-fold increase in phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated release of superoxide anion (O2-) . From mixing experiments, the difference in TG activity was not due to an endogenous cellular inhibitor in the resident cells . The apparent Km of TG for putrescine was similar in lysates of resident and LPS-elicited macrophages, but the Vmax was significantly greater in lysates of LPS-elicited cells . Macrophages obtained from mice injected with either viable bacillus Calmette-Guerin, muramyl dipeptide, or killed Corynebacterium parvum released three- to six-times more O2- than did resident macrophages . The TG activity in these macrophages was also two- to six- times higher than in resident cells . However, macrophages that were primed by exposure to LPS in vitro exhibited increased production of O2- but no increase in TG activity . We conclude that enhanced TG activity is not a prerequisite for the enhanced O2- production observed in activated macrophages. Int J Cancer, 1984 Nov 15, 34(5), 717 - 23 Mouse Lewis lung carcinoma and hepatoma ascites treatment by combination of liposome chemotherapy and non-specific immunotherapy; Patel KR et al.; Liposomes have been used as biological carriers of anti-tumor drugs, and their potential use has been tested in mouse Lewis lung carcinoma and hepatoma ascites tumor models . Ara-C3 given by the intraperitoneal i.p . route either at 35 mg/kg in a single dose or at 2.5 mg/kg/dose with 5 doses/day for 3 days had no effect on the average survival time of i.v . implanted LLC . However, the same single dose of Ara-C encapsulated in positively charged MLV significantly improved the average survival time of LLC-bearing mice . MTX was chosen as a test drug for the treatment of hepatoma ascites . Non-encapsulated MTX given at either 3 or 30 mg/kg by the i.p . route had little effect on the average survival of i.p.-implanted hepatoma ascites . However, MTX encapsulated in SUV at a 3 mg/kg dose by the i.p . route significantly improved the average survival time of tumor-bearing mice . A combination of chemotherapy and non-specific immunotherapy has also been tested with these 2 tumor models . Two non-specific microbial immune stimulators, Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) and Corynebacterium parvum (CP) were tested by both the i.v . and i.p . routes . A combination of BCG therapy with non-encapsulated anti-tumor drugs was not effective for either of the tumor models . A combination of BCG therapy with liposome therapy appeared to improve the average survival time of LLC-bearing mice . In particular, BCG treatment by the i.p . route in combination with liposome therapy resulted in a 20% long-term survival rate among treated mice . However, BCG therapy by either route in combination with SUV encapsulated MTX therapy had no effect on the average survival time of hepatoma ascites-bearing mice . Immunostimulation with CP at a given dose appears to be superior to BCG therapy for both tumor models . In the treatment of LLC, injection of CP by either the i.v . or i.p . route appears to be equally effective in combination with liposome therapy . However, for the treatment of hepatoma ascites, CP was only effective by the i.p . route, in combination with liposome therapy. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1984 Nov-Dec, 135B(3), 251 - 67 Description of Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum sp . nov., a leprosy-derived Corynebacterium; Brown S et al.; Leprosy-derived corynebacteria (LDC) have been extensively studied over the past decade . A composite of their biological properties (cell morphology, staining reactions, cellular inclusions and guanine-plus-cytosine content of their deoxyribonucleic acid; 16 strains studied) and their chemical structures (peptidoglycan type, major cell wall polysaccharide, major glycolipid as well as characteristic mycolic acids) appears to define them as members of the genus Corynebacterium . In relation to other corynebacteria found in humans, including "JK corynebacteria", they seem to be distinct . They are here named Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum sp . nov . because they produce a 10-methyloctadecanoic (tuberculostearic) acid (8 strains studied) . This and some of their other attributes are considered in relation to properties of leprosy bacilli and Mycobacterium leprae. J Infect, 1984 Nov, 9(3), 286 - 8 Corynebacterium ulcerans infection associated with untreated milk; Bostock AD et al.; Infection with Corynebacterium ulcerans has been previously reported in association with cows' milk . Further evidence that the disease is a zoonosis is given in this report of infection in a consumer of untreated milk . The organism was isolated from a sample of milk, and from two cows in a herd of 93 Jersey cattle . One of the farm workers was a symptomless nasal carrier. Am J Vet Res, 1984 Nov, 45(11), 2428 - 30 Equine humoral immune response to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi; Ellenberger MA et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to test equine serum for the presence of antibodies to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi . Experimental ponies had no detectable antibody to R equi before exposure to the bacterium . After experimental inoculation, animals in groups that received live R equi subcutaneously or intranasally/intratracheally developed high titers to R equi . Noninoculated controls remained seronegative . Serum was also collected from horses of various ages that were naturally exposed to R equi . There was a wide range of anti-R equi titers in these horses . Because experimentally infected horses seroconverted when some naturally infected foals did not seroconvert, the function of antibody in resistance to R equi infection remains unknown. Am J Vet Res, 1984 Nov, 45(11), 2424 - 7 Equine cell-mediated immune response to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi; Ellenberger MA et al.; A lymphocyte blastogenic assay was developed to serve as an in vitro correlate of cell-mediated immunity to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi (R equi) in the equine species . Lymphocytes obtained from a group of experimental ponies showed no response in cell culture to R equi heat extract or lysozyme extract antigens . Ponies were assigned to groups for experimental inoculation . Three ponies were inoculated subcutaneously with live R equi, 3 were given live R equi by intranasal and intratracheal routes, and 4 ponies were left untreated . Lymphocytes from all inoculated ponies had a mitogenic response to R equi antigens in lymphocyte blastogenic assays performed between the 7th and 40th days after inoculation . Lymphocytes from noninoculated control ponies remained unresponsive to R equi antigens . Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions developed in all experimentally exposed ponies after intradermal administration of the R equi antigen preparations . In a 2nd phase of experimentation, blastogenesis assays were performed on lymphocytes from horses in herds with endemic R equi infections . Results indicated that many of the animals had significant (stimulation index greater than 2) cell-mediated responses to the bacterium, but there was no distinct correlation between the immune response and clinical history . These data indicated that cell-mediated immunity is involved in the interaction of the equine immune system with R equi. Am J Vet Res, 1984 Nov, 45(11), 2393 - 5 Comparison of protection induced in lambs by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis whole cell and cell wall vaccines; Brogden KA et al.; Colostrum-deprived lambs were vaccinated IM with 10 mg (dry weight) of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis whole cells (WC) or cell walls (CW) and their immunity was challenged by IV injection of 3.1 X 10(4) colony-forming units of C pseudotuberculosis . Before challenge exposure, the logarithmic mean antibody titers were 2.0837 in lambs that were vaccinated with WC, 2.6858 in lambs that were vaccinated with CW, and 1.4214 in control lambs . Significant protection was demonstrated by fewer abscesses and organisms in the lungs of lambs vaccinated with WC or CW (P less than 0.05) than in control lambs . By the same criteria, more protection was provided to lambs vaccinated with CW than to lambs vaccinated with WC. Am J Vet Res, 1984 Nov, 45(11), 2251 - 5 Aspects of bacteriology and endocrinology of cows with pyometra and retained fetal membranes; Olson JD et al.; In an effort to clarify the pathogenesis of pyometra, 20 cows with retained fetal membranes and 20 without, but with contemporary calving dates were studied . They were palpated and their uteri were subjected to sample collections for bacteriologic cultural examinations twice weekly for 4 weeks . Blood samples were obtained each day and evaluated for serum progesterone concentration . Three cows without and 3 with retained fetal membranes developed pyometra during the study, resulting in 3 groups designated control (CON), cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM), and cows with pyometra (PYO) . Bacterial isolations occurred less frequently in the CON group than in the PYO and RFM groups . Growth patterns of bacteria also varied between groups . Coliform and incidental bacteria disappeared from the uterus of the PYO group by the end of the 3rd week . In contrast, heavy growth of Corynebacterium pyogenes and gram-negative anaerobic bacteria developed during this same period in the PYO group . In cows with pyometra, the significant persistent pathogenic bacteria recovered were C pyogenes and gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, especially Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus . Anaerobic bacteria were isolated simultaneously with C pyogenes in most cows of the PYO group, but less often in CON and RFM groups, and highest growth levels were present near the time of ovulation . Clinically, pyometra usually developed about 10 days after observation of concurrent ovulation and high growth levels of C pyogenes and gram-negative anaerobic bacteria . A hypothesis is presented for development of pyometra in the cow. J Dairy Sci, 1984 Nov, 67(11), 2571 - 9 Effect of intramammary device on new infection rate, milk yield, and milk somatic cell counts in maryland dairy herds; Corlett NJ et al.; Effectiveness of a polyethylene intramammary device against naturally occurring infections was evaluated in three Maryland herds over 2 yr . Treated cows {62} were fitted with intramammary devices in all quarters of udders . Control cows {62} were sham treated . Rates of new intramammary infection over single lactation in treated and control quarters of primiparous cows averaged 18 and 27% . Reduction of infection rate was due primarily to fewer Corynebacterium bovis infections . Infection rate between multiparous cow treatments were similar . In uninfected quarters cell counts in strippings averaged .11 to .13 X 10(6)/ml and in quarters fitted with intramammary devices concentrations were only .22 to .31 X 10(6) cells/ml . But in infected quarters with intramammary devices, cell counts of strippings were 1.38 to 1.48 X 10(6)/ml . Concentrations of somatic cells of strippings in infected quarters without devices averaged .48 to .63 X 10(6)/ml . Dairy herd improvement cell counts for primiparous and multiparous cows with and without intramammary devices were similar and averaged .2 X 10(6)/ml . Neither milk nor fat production differed . The intramammary device as currently designed is incapable of stimulating a leukocytosis sufficient in stripping milk to prevent intramammary infection. Infection, 1984 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 387 - 9 Prevalence of diphtheria carriers in a population with disappearing clinical diphtheria; Kalapothaki V et al.; Ten years ago the incidence of diphtheria was relatively high in Greece and a survey of school children had revealed a carrier prevalence of non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae of 3,4% . A similar survey undertaken now has revealed that the disease seems to be disappearing . Among 895 school children (6-13 years-old) in seven primary schools of different socioeconomic levels, only seven were carriers of non-toxigenic C . diphtheriae strains, corresponding to a prevalence of 0.8% . Toxigenic strains were not found . All carriers were pupils of the same school, and the carrier state was more frequent during the first three school years . All the carriers were found in a school serving a socioeconomically deprived area . A statistically significant association was found between the prevalence of C . diphtheriae and of other non-pathogenic Corynebacteria. Obstet Gynecol, 1984 Nov, 64(5), 708 - 14 Lymphocyte cytotoxicity in the peritoneal cavity and blood of patients with ovarian cancer; Berek JS et al.; After an intensive course of combination chemotherapy, 16 patients with minimal residual ovarian cancer that was documented at second-look laparotomy, had an indwelling Tenckhoff catheter placed and underwent multiple peritoneal saline lavages . Lymphocyte-enriched populations from the peritoneal cavity and peripheral blood were obtained by density gradient centrifugation and examined for cell-surface phenotype and a variety of immune functions, including natural killer cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity . Phenotypic characterization revealed that peritoneal lymphocytes consisted primarily of T cells and cells bearing receptors for the crystallizable fragment of immunoglobulin G (IgG) (crystallizable fragment-receptor), and contained a very low number of B cells . Peritoneal natural killer lymphocyte cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity were very low in all but two patients . Incubation of peritoneal lymphocytes with Corynebacterium parvum and interferon in vitro did not result in augmented cytotoxicity against susceptible targets . Supernatants from cultured peritoneal cells of all patients markedly inhibited natural cytotoxic activity of normal donor blood lymphocytes . These results suggest that lymphocytes collected from the peritoneal cavity of patients with minimal residual ovarian cancer are deficient in natural and antibody-dependent cytotoxic effector function . This deficiency may influence the host's ability to control the spread and proliferation of tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity. J Exp Med, 1984 Nov 1, 160(5), 1431 - 49 Augmentation of organ-associated natural killer activity by biological response modifiers . Isolation and characterization of large granular lymphocytes from the liver; Wiltrout RH et al.; Natural killer (NK) activity in the rat and human has been attributed to cells having the morphology of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) . However, this association has been less clear in the mouse, largely because of difficulties in obtaining highly enriched populations of LGL from normal spleen and blood . We have previously observed that the administration of the biological response modifier (BRM) maleic anhydride divinyl ether (MVE-2) strongly augmented NK activity in lung and liver, and the augmented NK activity coincided with increased resistance to the formation of experimental metastases in these organs . The degree of NK augmentation was most striking in the liver, an unexpected and previously unreported observation . In the present study, both MVE-2 or Corynebacterium parvum induced a dramatic augmentation of liver NK activity, which reached maximum levels 3-5 d after treatment . This augmentation of NK activity in the liver coincided with a large increase in the number of lymphoid cells with the morphological characteristics of LGL that could be isolated from enzymatically digested suspensions of perfused liver . The yield of LGL per liver following BRM treatment corresponded to a 10-50-fold increase as compared to normal mice . LGL were purified from these enzymatically digested suspensions of perfused liver by depletion of adherent cells on nylon wool columns and subsequent enrichment for low-density lymphoid cells by fractionation on Percoll density gradients . The enrichment of LGL correlated with greatly increased NK activity against YAC-1 . Conversely, the higher-density fractions were depleted of both LGL and NK activity . This increase in NK activity in the liver was suppressed by in vivo treatment with anti-asialo GM1 (asGM1) serum . This treatment also resulted in a corresponding reduction in both the total number and percentage of LGL . By flow cytometry analysis, the phenotype of the majority of these highly cytolytic LGL isolated from the livers of BRM-treated mice were asGM1+, Thy-1+, Ly-5+, Qa-5+, Mac-1+, and Gma-1+, whereas these LGL were Ly-1-, Lyt-2-, L3T4-, and surface Ig- . We conclude that the livers of BRM-treated mice can provide a rich source of highly active mouse LGL that could be used for further characterization of this lymphocyte subset . Further, these studies imply a potential for BRM therapy of neoplastic or viral diseases through augmentation of organ-associated immune responses. Cancer Res, 1984 Nov, 44(11), 5118 - 23 Role of inflammatory neutrophils in antitumor effects induced by intraperitoneal administration of Corynebacterium parvum in mice; Lichtenstein AK et al.; We studied the role of inflammatory neutrophils in the antitumor effects that follow i.p . injection of Corynebacterium parvum (1400 micrograms) into C3HeB/FeJ mice challenged with the murine ovarian teratocarcinoma . Peritoneal neutrophils, obtained from mice 6 hr after injection of C . parvum, exerted significant antitumor effects when injected admixed with murine ovarian terato-carcinoma cells into the peritoneal cavities of normal mice . Treatment of recipient mice with whole-body irradiation or repeated injections of silica prevented the antitumor effects, indicating that neutrophils were activating a second effector mechanism in recipient mice . Peritoneal cells obtained at 24 or 72 hr or at 7 or 11 days following C . parvum injection were considerably less effective in activation of this effector mechanism . Heat-killed C . parvum (6 hr)-induced neutrophils activated antitumor responses, but thioglycolate-induced cells were without effect . Antitumor responses in mice receiving peritoneal neutrophils were not due to simple transfer of C . parvum organisms in the inocula . These results indicate that inflammatory neutrophils, elicited into the peritoneal cavity by injection of C . parvum, play an important role in the activation of subsequent antitumor effects. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Nov, (11), 44 - 50 {Comparison of the physicochemical structure of DNA in Corynebacterium related to C . diphtheriae v . mitis, intermedius and gravis}; Krylova MD et al.; The hybridization of DNA of 19 C . diphtheriae v . mitis strains with DNA of 3H-labeled C . diphtheriae v . mitis strain C7(beta) tox+ resulted in revealing four homology levels: I (102-98%), II (78-68%), III (61-50%) and IV (42-25%) . Homology levels I and II differed from one another on the level of species . In the hybridization of DNA of the same strains with DNA of 3H-labeled C . diphtheriae v . gravis (group II) strain 165(1) tox+ three homology levels were revealed; levels I and II differed from one another on the level of the genus . In the first and second series of the experiments the distribution of DNA of the above strains on these levels not always coincided . The genomes of C . diphtheriae v . mitis strains 7111 tox+ and 132 tox+ were shown to differ from those of both reference strains on the level of the genus . In strains C7(beta) tox+ and PW-8 tox+ Massachusetts the genetic similarity of their genomes on the level of species was disclosed . Among C . diphtheriae v . mitis and intermedius strains at least 5 homology levels were revealed; this fact suggests the presence of at least 5 bacterial species among them . The relationship of strains on the level of species within groups I and II of C . diphtheriae v . gravis was confirmed: DNA of the related strains belonging to the corresponding group were always to be found within the same homology level . Also confirmed was the fact that the strains of groups I and II, as well as strain C7(beta) tox+, differed on the level of species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Infect Immun, 1984 Nov, 46(2), 531 - 6 The gene for type A streptococcal exotoxin (erythrogenic toxin) is located in bacteriophage T12; Weeks CR et al.; The infection of Streptococcus pyogenes T25(3) with the temperate bacteriophage T12 results in the conversion of the nontoxigenic strain to type A streptococcal exotoxin (erythrogenic toxin) production . Although previous research has established that integration of the bacteriophage genome into the host chromosome is not essential for exotoxin production, the location of the gene on the bacteriophage or bacterial chromosome had not been determined . In the present investigation, recombinant DNA techniques were used to determine whether the gene specifying type A streptococcal exotoxin (speA) production is located on the bacteriophage chromosome . Bacteriophage T12 was obtained from S . pyogenes T25(3)(T12) by induction with mitomycin C, and after isolation of bacteriophage DNA by phenol-chloroform extraction, the DNA was digested with restriction enzymes and ligated with Escherichia coli plasmid pHP34 or the Streptococcus-E . coli shuttle vector pSA3 . Transformation of E . coli HB101 with the recombinant molecules allowed selection of E . coli clones containing bacteriophage T12 genes . Immunological assays with specific antibody revealed the presence of type A streptococcal exotoxin in sonicates of E . coli transformants . Subcloning experiments localized the speA gene to a 1.7-kilobase segment of the bacteriophage T12 genome flanked by SalI and HindIII sites . Introduction of the pSA3 vector containing the speA gene into Streptococcus sanguis (Challis) resulted in transformants that secreted the type A exotoxin . Immunological analysis showed that the type A streptococcal exotoxin produced by E . coli and S . sanguis transformants was identical to the type A exotoxin produced by S . pyogenes T25(3)(T12) . Southern blot hybridizations with the cloned fragment confirmed its presence in the bacteriophage T12 genome and its absence in the T25(3) nonlysogen . Therefore, the gene for type A streptococcal exotoxin is located in the bacteriophage genome, and conversion of S . pyogenes T25(3) to toxigenicity occurs in a manner similar to the conversion of Corynebacterium diphtheriae to toxigenicity by bacteriophage beta. Clin Orthop, 1984 Nov, (190), 96 - 108 Antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement: current concepts; Buchholz HW et al.; Antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement has been used routinely since 1972 at the authors' hospitals, where a series of some 22,000 joint arthroplasty operations was performed from 1964-1983 . The current status of the material is presented with up-to-date follow-up statistics on prophylactic therapy and on established deep infections . The results of 869 exchange arthroplasties are compared with results published in 1981 . In the future, results will be presented in the form of survival curves . The method by which survival tables and curves are constructed is critical . Investigators should use survival curves for ease of comparison and because of the wide range of possibilities in an analysis of covariable factors . A retrospective actuarial analysis was made of 825 one-stage reimplantations in which antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement was used for infected total hip arthroplasties . Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly encountered organism . Failure rates of prostheses infected by S . aureus, S . species, and anaerobic corynebacteria did not differ statistically . A factor that significantly contributed to failure of this method of treatment was Pseudomonas infection . By actuarial analysis five years after operation, a success (survival) rate of 77% was calculated. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1984 Nov, 3(5), 683 - 6 Normal cultivable microflora in upper jejunal fluid in children without gastrointestinal disorders; Justesen T et al.; Bacteriological studies of uncontaminated upper jejunal fluid were performed in 51 Danish children without gastrointestinal disorders . Thirty-seven percent of the samples were sterile {less than 10(1) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml} . In 25% of the cases, the total number of microorganisms exceeded 10(5) CFU/ml . The microorganisms isolated most frequently were: Streptococcus, sp . ("Viridans group"), Veillonella parvula, Hemophilus parainfluenzae, Lactobacillus, sp., Corynebacterium, sp., Actinomyces, sp., Bacteroides, sp., and Hemophilus influenzae, each found in more than 10% of the children . The upper range for the number of microorganisms isolated exceeded 10(5) CFU/ml for most of the species isolated of which the vast majority belonged to an "oral type" of flora . Enterococci were isolated in small numbers in three children, and Enterobacteriaceae were not found. J Wildl Dis, 1984 Oct, 20(4), 319 - 27 Pathologic changes and microorganisms found in bighorn sheep during a stress-related die-off; Spraker TR et al.; An all-age die-off of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis c . canadensis Shaw) occurred from late October 1980 through March 1981 in Waterton Canyon, Colorado, with a loss of 75 to 85% of the sheep . The cause of death was a subacute to chronic bronchopneumonia and the primary etiologic agents isolated from the respiratory system were a Pasteurella sp., P . multocida, Corynebacterium pyogenes, and Protostrongylus stilesi Dikmans, 1931 . The underlying predisposing factors that initiated this die-off were believed to be related to multiple chronic environmental stressors associated with the building of a dam which included human contact, vehicular traffic, atmospheric dust, noise and harassment . The die-off was succeeded by a 100% lamb mortality the following summer and a 67% lamb mortality the next two summers . The pneumonia found in these lambs was similar to that found in adult sheep during the previous die-off, except that mature lungworms were absent. Lab Anim Sci, 1984 Oct, 34(5), 480 - 3 Bacterial and mycoplasmal flora of the middle ear of laboratory rats with otitis media; Eamens GJ; Purulent otitis media was confirmed at necropsy in 35 laboratory rats, 14 of which had shown clinical signs of middle ear infection . The bacterial flora of both the affected and grossly normal middle ears was similar, often mixed, and comprised mainly of Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Pasteurella pneumotropica and Corynebacterium spp . Twenty-one isolates of Mycoplasma spp . were recovered from the middle ears of 11 rats with purulent otitis media and one normal rat . Fourteen of the isolates were further identified as either Mycoplasma arthriditis (eight isolates) or Mycoplasma pulmonis (six isolates) . In ears affected with otitis media, mycoplasmas were isolated significantly more often from subclinical than from clinical cases, while Pasteurella pneumotropica was isolated significantly more often from clinical than subclinical cases. Immunobiology, 1984 Oct, 167(4), 359 - 64 Relationship between natural killer (NK) cells and interferon (IFN) alpha-producing cells in human peripheral blood . Studies with a monoclonal antibody with specificity for human natural killer cells; Abb J et al.; The relationship between NK active and IFN alpha-producing cells in human peripheral blood was studied with a monoclonal antibody with specificity for NK cells (anti-Leu11b) . Removal of Leu11b antigen expressing leukocytes with antibody-mediated complement-dependent lysis resulted in a marked reduction of NK activity . In contrast, the depletion of Leu11b positive cells did not affect the production of IFN alpha in response to influenza A/X31 virus, Corynebacterium parvum, or Molt 4 human leukemic cells . The results indicate that NK activity and synthesis of IFN alpha are mediated by different leukocyte subpopulations . The findings further suggest that the augmentation of the cytotoxic activity of NK cells by IFN may not be the consequence of positive self-regulation, but rather of cellular cooperation. Mod Vet Pract, 1984 Oct, 65(10), 787 - 90 Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals; Genetzky RM et al.; Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi pneumonia is diagnosed by thoracic auscultation, radiographic and hematologic examination, and transtracheal aspiration . Treatment may be unsuccessful because of the organism's tendency to cause pulmonary abscesses . A 2-month-old, depressed, anorectic, febrile Quarter Horse colt, previously unresponsive to penicillin therapy, had loud, moist breath sounds in the ventral lung fields . Chest radiographs revealed pneumonia . Based on culture and sensitivity tests on organisms isolated from transtracheal washes, chloramphenicol and erythromycin, and then oral trimethoprim-sulfadiazine, were given, in addition to supportive therapy . The animal was fully recovered within 2 months. J Hyg (Lond), 1984 Oct, 93(2), 381 - 8 The carriage of Corynebacterium suis in male pigs; Jones JE et al.; This investigation was designed to determine the prevalence of Corynebacterium suis in the preputial diverticulum of pigs of various age groups, located in different parts of the U.K., and to demonstrate whether the organism is transmissible between male pigs . C . suis was isolated from almost 90% of 224 adult males, distributed among 25 pig units in widely separated regions of the country and in 96% of 66 pigs aged 5-6 months originating from six different herds in East Anglia . The rate of isolation of C . suis from younger pigs depended, at least in part, on the system of husbandry practised . Thus, in one herd, A, in which young pigs were maintained in comparative isolation, none of 26 pigs aged 5-8 weeks harboured C . suis; however, in the same herd, the organism was isolated from 77% of 64 pigs aged 9-15 weeks which were in close contact with male pigs aged up to 6 months . In another herd, B, in which individual litters were housed in the same pen from birth to 5 months of age, C . suis was isolated once from only one of 36 pigs in the age range 5-17 weeks, sampled on two occasions, with an interval of 5 weeks between each sampling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Cornell Vet, 1984 Oct, 74(4), 331 - 43 Endometritis in the mare caused by a Coryneform organism--a case report and experimental studies; Blue MG et al.; Persistent purulent endometritis in a mare was attributed to an unclassified species of Corynebacterium . Following intrauterine infusions of 20% betadine for 5 days the purulent vulval discharge ceased and the mare appeared clinically normal . Based on histological examination of endometrial biopsy samples, the severe acute inflammatory reaction had largely resolved 2 days after therapy . Three maiden mares considered resistant to bacterial endometritis received single intrauterine inoculations of 1.8 X 10(9) colony-forming units of the Corynebacterium species . The uterine response was followed by vaginal speculum examinations, uterine cultures and cytology, and endometrial histology . After an acute inflammatory reaction, each mare had recovered completely within 2 weeks . Most rapid recovery occurred in the mare in estrus at the time of inoculation . Subsequent secondary infections were detected in two mares . The uncertainty of correlations between results obtained by various diagnostic techniques emphasized the problems associated with each . This report illustrates the concept that endometritis in individual mares may relate more to as yet unidentified "mare factors" controlling uterine defense than to primary invasion by bacteria. Acta Leprol, 1984 Oct-Dec, 2(2-4), 351 - 8 Occurrence of antigen BCG 60 in leprosy derived corynebacteria and other coryneforms; Papa FP et al.; Previous studies have shown that anti BCG 60 monoclonal antibody could recognize major antigen A 7 of M . leprae . In the present investigation we attempted to search the presence of the same antigen from the strains of Leprosy Derived Corynebacteria (LDC+), which were isolated from leprosy lesions and were supposed to be the cultivable form of the leprosy bacillus . A comparative study was equally performed on 7 strains of Corynebacteria which were isolated in France and had no relation with leprosy patients (LDC-) . Utilizing the ELISA technique with an anti BCG 60 monoclonal antibody, it was found that all the three LDC+ strains contained an antigenic determinant common to M . leprae, however no LDC+ specificity was found as this antigenic determinant was also revealed on two LDC- strains. Acta Leprol, 1984 Oct-Dec, 2(2-4), 237 - 48 Freeze-etching and freeze-fracture structural features of cell envelopes in mycobacteria and leprosy derived corynebacteria; Benedetti EL et al.; The structural properties of the cell wall and cell membrane of several mycobacteria and of Leprosy Derived Corynebacteria are investigated by freeze-etching and freeze-fracture . In all cases the freeze-fracture split the cell wall in two asymmetric halves . The cell wall fracture faces of the mycobacteria are characterized by a filamentous network which vary with respect to the amount and complexity among microorganism of the same species and even more of different species . In LDC the structure organization of the cell wall and cell membrane differs from that of mycobacteria . The most stricking difference is the presence on the fracture faces of the LDC cell wall of different classes of particulated entities of yet unknown nature . In the mycobacteria and LDC the periseptal annuli likely provide a potential frame for cell envelope and cell membrane assembly. Acta Leprol, 1984 Oct-Dec, 2(2-4), 153 - 74 Propionibacterium, Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium and Lepra bacilli; Barksdale L et al.; Evidence is presented which suggests that certain key markers of lepra bacilli reside collectively in Proprionibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum and Mycobacterium leprae . The unrestricted replication of Mycobacterium leprae depends most probably upon the presence of an immune-deficiency-inducing viral agent or possibly on the combined effects of the organisms considered. Can J Comp Med, 1984 Oct, 48(4), 370 - 3 Antibody to equi factor(s) in the diagnosis of Corynebacterium equi pneumonia of foals; Prescott JF et al.; Antibody to equi factor(s) in cases of Corynebacterium equi pneumonia in foals was detected using C . pseudotuberculosis exotoxin sensitized calf red blood cells . The test was standardized using antitoxin produced in rabbits by injection of equi factor(s) . All sera from ten foals with culture-diagnosed C . equi pneumonia had antibodies to equi factor(s) (titre range 8-256, mean 74.0) and nine sera from 11 foals with suspected C . equi pneumonia also showed antibodies (titre range 4-512, mean 136.4) . Two of five pneumonia foals with transtracheal aspirate cultures not yielding C . equi had such antibodies . Fifty-eight of 59 control horse sera had no antibodies; the one positive serum came from a foal on a farm where C . equi pneumonia was endemic . By contrast only five of 15 foals with experimentally-induced C . equi pneumonia had antibodies to equi factor(s), probably because the acute nature of the disease produced did not mimic the chronic course of the natural disease . Antibody to equi factor(s) can be used in the diagnosis of naturally-occurring corynebacterial pneumonia in foals. Int J Cancer, 1984 Sep 15, 34(3), 415 - 20 Treatment of intravenously implanted Lewis lung carcinoma with liposome-encapsulated cytosine arabinoside and non-specific immunotherapy; Patel KR et al.; Liposomes have been used as biological carriers of antitumor drugs, and their potential use has been tested using various mouse tumors . In this study, we describe a potential role of liposome-encapsulated 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) with a mouse solid lung tumor model . Non-encapsulated Ara-C at 25 mg/kg dose by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route on days 1, 4 and 7 had no improving effect on the average survival time of tumor-bearing mice compared to untreated control mice . However, the same dose of Ara-C encapsulated in multilamellar liposomes (MLV) improved the average survival of tumor-bearing mice by 60 to 80% . Ara-C was encapsulated more efficiently when DSPC or DPPC MLV were prepared at temperatures below their respective transition temperatures . DSPC and DPPC MLV prepared at 25 degrees C and DPPC MLV prepared at 50 degrees C were equally effective for in vivo therapy, while DSPC MLV prepared at 60 degrees C were not as effective . Non-specific immunotherapy using BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and CP Corynebacterium parvum) was effective, particularly when injected by the intravenous (i.v.) route, in prolonging the average survival of tumor-bearing mice . A combination of either i.v . BCG or i.p . CP with liposome therapy gave no further improvement in the average survival of tumor-bearing mice . However, a combination of either i.p . BCG or i.v . CP with liposome therapy was somewhat more effective than either liposome therapy or immunotherapy alone. Vet Med (Praha), 1984 Sep, 29(9), 563 - 8 {Findings of Corynebacterium equi Magnusson 1923 in connection with foal mortality in the Eastern Bohemia Region}; Vyslouzil L et al.; A case history of mass foal disease which affected ten of the total stock of 50 foals and killed eight is described . The disease was characterized by respiratory disorders and extensive pneumonias with abscess formation, metastatic abscesses in mesenterial lymph nodes and in other organs . As a result of the examination of two dead foals and three nasal smears from diseased animals, gram-positive bacteria were isolated from the lungs, pulmonary and abdominal abscesses and the nasal smears of the affected foals; with their cultivation, morphological and biochemical characteristics these bacteria correspond to the species Corynebacterium equi . The properties of the four isolated strains were compared with the most important literary data. J Immunol, 1984 Sep, 133(3), 1179 - 84 A comparison of the stimulatory activities of lymphoid dendritic cells and macrophages in T proliferative responses to various antigens; Guidos C et al.; The identities of murine accessory cells and the mechanism by which they process antigen and stimulate T cell proliferation have been examined with cell separation techniques and specific agents to block antigen catabolism . Using preparations of splenic dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages (M phi) with minimal cross-contamination, we found that only DC could induce syngeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR), whereas both DC and M phi could initiate allogeneic MLR . This observation may have significant implications for syngeneic MLR as a manifestation of self Ia recognition, and for the cell type that defines self Ia during ontogeny . DC and M phi could present soluble antigens such as purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) and Salmonella flagellin about equally well to antigen-specific T cell lines . M phi, however, were much more effective than the non-phagocytic DC at inducing T cell proliferation to whole Corynebacterium parvum organisms . These differences could not be attributed to differences in antigen uptake . The results suggest that the bacteria must be ingested and processed by phagocytes before T cell activation . Using the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine to inhibit antigen catabolism in accessory cells, we found that the presentation of large antigens by M phi and DC was abolished by chloroquine treatment, whereas T cell activation by antigens (such as PPD or integral membrane Ia for MLR) that apparently required no processing was relatively insensitive to chloroquine . Thus, in addition to differences between cells, discrete functions within each cell type can also be distinguished. Klin Wochenschr, 1984 Aug 16, 62(16), 793 - 4 Corynebacterium group JK peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Altwegg M et al.; Corynebacterium group JK is described as the aetiologic agent of a second episode of peritonitis which occurred after a period of antibiotic treatment for likely endogenous peritonitis . Inclusion of vancomycin is suggested for treatment of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis in patients colonized by these multiresistant bacteria. Vet Parasitol, 1984 Aug, 15(2), 165 - 8 The protective effect of pretreatment with killed Corynebacterium parvum against acute babesiosis in calves; Corrier DE et al.; Yearling calves were pre-treated intravenously (IV) with a 0.20 mg kg-1 dose of Corynebacterium parvum and challenged after 30 days by IV inoculation of 3 X 10(9) Babesia bigemina . The relatively low 0.20 mg kg-1 dose of C . parvum enhanced resistance as indicated by lower mean Babesia parasitemias and less severe decreases in packed-cell volumes than in non-treated calves, but failed to stimulate a significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) level of protection against B . bigemina challenge. J Biol Response Mod, 1984 Aug, 3(4), 371 - 8 Activation of peritoneal lymphocyte cytotoxicity in patients with ovarian cancer by intraperitoneal treatment with Corynebacterium parvum; Lichtenstein A et al.; Following an intensive course of combination chemotherapy, patients with minimal residual ovarian cancer were treated with increasing concentrations of intraperitoneal Corynebacterium parvum to assess whether or not natural killer (NK) cells could be activated . Immunotherapy was administered every 2 weeks, initially with a dose of 250 micrograms/m2, which was progressively escalated as tolerated . Each treatment induced a peritoneal cellular exudate which consisted primarily of neutrophils 48h after injection and of lymphocytes and macrophages at 7 and 14 days after injection . Peritoneal NK cytotoxicity increased during treatment in six of nine patients tested . NK precursor cells susceptible to in vitro activation with either C . parvum or interferon became detectable during treatment in all five patients tested . In four of these five, precursors were detected prior to the development of enhanced spontaneous NK activity . In four patients serially studied, peripheral blood NK activity increased during therapy . These results indicate that regional intraperitoneal therapy with C . parvum can enhance nonspecific antitumor cytotoxic mechanisms within the peritoneal cavity. Can J Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 30(8), 1052 - 7 Relationship between group JK corynebacteria and the biotypes of Corynebacterium genitalium and Corynebacterium pseudogenitalium; Evangelista AT et al.; Twenty-six strains of group JK corynebacteria had the same colonial morphology and biological reactions as the biotypes of the biovars of Corynebacterium genitalium and C . pseudogenitalium . Therefore, group JK corynebacteria can be assigned to the biovars of C . genitalium or C . pseudogenitalium . Although the strains differed in sensitivity to 16 antibiotics tested by Sensi-Discs or by the Micro-Media technique, they are uniformly sensitive to 4-5 micrograms/mL of vancomycin . Medium containing 10 micrograms vancomycin/mL was bactericidal and the killing time was dependent on the concentration . The rate of mutation to resistance to 10 micrograms vancomycin was greater than 1 in 10(10) corynebacteria . Therefore, vancomycin sensitivity is a stable characteristic of these corynebacteria which also indicates that group JK corynebacteria are strains of either C . genitalium or C . pseudogenitalium . Since group JK corynebacteria are considered pathogens, this finding supports the belief that C . genitalium is a pathogen and suggests that some biotypes of the commensal C . pseudogenitalium may infect compromised hosts. J Dairy Sci, 1984 Aug, 67(8), 1850 - 9 Efficacy of an iodine backflush for preventing new intramammary infections; Hogan JS et al.; Efficacy of an iodine backflush system for reducing new intramammary infection was tested in two 11-wk trials . Forty cows in each trial were paired by breed, age, stage of lactation, and intramammary infection status . Each pair was assigned randomly either to a group milked with clusters that were reverse flushed with water, 25 ppm iodine, water and air or to a group milked with clusters receiving no backflush treatment between cows . Backflushing clusters reduced infections caused by Corynebacterium bovis and coagulase-positive staphylococci in both trials . However, backflushing clusters produced no clear advantage for reducing new infections with coagulase-negative staphylococci, Gram-negative bacilli, or streptococci (species other than Streptococcus agalactiae) . No differences in somatic cell counts between experimental groups were observed . Teat cup liners and teat ends were swabbed after 120 and 1200 milkings/liner . Total microbial counts were significantly greater for liners that were not backflushed than from backflushed liners at each swabbing . However, no differences were significant between groups for mean teat end microbial counts in either trial. Am J Vet Res, 1984 Aug, 45(8), 1532 - 4 Experimental Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in lambs; Brogden KA et al.; Lambs were inoculated IV with 3.2 X 10(3) colony forming units (CFU) to 3.2 X 10(6) CFU of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis from a 6-hour broth culture supplemented with 0.1% sorbitan monooleate . After 28 days, multiple abscesses were observed in the lungs and lymph nodes . The number of abscesses in the lungs correlated with the inoculation dose . Two lambs given 10(5) CFU and 10(6) CFU died . Multiple abscesses occurred in other lambs given 10(6) CFU to 10(4) CFU and few abscesses occurred in lambs given 10(3) CFU . Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was isolated from lung abscesses, inoculation site abscesses, and lymph node abscesses, but not from normal tissues . Because this procedure consistently induced abscesses in the lungs, we believe it will be a suitable challenge system for studies on the prevention of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep. J Dairy Res, 1984 Aug, 51(3), 371 - 8 Observations on Corynebacterium bovis infection of the bovine mammary gland . I . Natural infection; Honkanen-Buzalski T et al.; Data from experiments in 55 commercial herds have been examined to study the patterns of Corynebacterium bovis infection . Such infections are most common in herds that are not subjected to regular control methods but their commercial significance appears to be small . In herds using teat disinfection and dry cow therapy levels of infection with this organism are low . There is no evidence from these data to suggest that C . bovis infections protect the udder against invasion by a major pathogen . On the contrary these infections do not persist when major pathogens invade. Br J Exp Pathol, 1984 Aug, 65(4), 441 - 51 Effects of soluble mediators generated during growth of the Landschütz ascites carcinoma on the chemotaxis of normal and Corynebacterium parvum-stimulated peritoneal leucocytes; McIntosh LC et al.; The influence of ascites fluid on the chemokinetic and chemotactic responses of mouse peritoneal leucocytes was investigated using modified Boyden chambers and the 'leading front' technique . The migration of normal cells towards endotoxin-activated mouse serum was significantly enhanced at high concentrations of fluid (40 and 20%) but was inhibited at lower concentrations (5 and 1%) . By comparison, the chemotactic responsiveness of cells harvested 3 days after Corynebacterium parvum (C . parvum) injection was uniformly and more markedly increased over a wide range of fluid concentrations (0.1-50%) . These effects were attributed to the presence of strong chemokinetic and chemotactic material in ascites fluid, which was not inactivated by heating . The activity was also demonstrated in the serum of tumour-bearing animals, was present to a much lesser extent in inflammatory exudate fluid and was absent from normal mouse serum . Detailed morphological studies of migrating cells revealed that although the ascites fluid contained a potent chemo-attractant for neutrophils, it inhibited the migration of mononuclear cells. Am J Vet Res, 1984 Aug, 45(8), 1648 - 9 Bacteria isolated from lymph nodes of California slaughter swine; Morse JW et al.; Lymph nodes from 280 slaughter swine from 9 California ranches were examined for the presence of aerobic microflora . Genera of interest which were isolated (and percentage of animals from which they were isolated) included Salmonella (4.3%), beta-hemolytic streptococci (8.2%), Mycobacterium avium-complex (6.4%), Corynebacterium pyogenes (0.4%), and Aeromonas hydrophila (5.7%) . Patterns of bacterial isolations from swine herds may be of assistance in predicting herd health problems. J Dairy Res, 1984 Aug, 51(3), 379 - 85 Observations on Corynebacterium bovis infection of the bovine mammary gland . II . Experimental infection; Honkanen-Buzalski T et al.; Experiments are described in which lactating cows were exposed to Corynebacterium bovis either by dipping the teats in a suspension of the bacteria or by inoculating the bacteria into the teat duct or the teat sinus . All three methods readily led to 'infection' being established . The effect of these infections on somatic cell count was minor and no clinical mastitis resulted during the course of the experiments although some cases occurred subsequently . There was evidence that 44% of these infections were confined to the teat duct . Quarters excreting C . bovis in milk continued to do so during endotoxin-induced inflammation and showed a similar cellular response to that of uninfected quarters. Surgery, 1984 Aug, 96(2), 308 - 14 Immunomodulators in the treatment of peritonitis in burned and malnourished animals; Waymack JP et al.; Deficiencies in the immune system that lead to increased morbidity and mortality from infectious complications have been well documented in patients suffering from trauma, malnutrition, sepsis, and thermal injuries . We investigated the potential benefit of immune stimulation for preventing infection in such conditions in an animal model by evaluating three drugs: Corynebacterium parvum, thymopentin (TP-5), and CP-46,665 . One-hundred eighty female guinea pigs were rendered immunodeficient by first inflicting a 30% total body surface burn and then placing the animals on diets with calories inadequate to maintain body weight . One half of the animals were then given one of the three immunomodulators on the first, third, and fifth days after burn injury, to try to reverse immunodeficiency . The remaining animals received saline solution injections . Animal responses were evaluated by inserting a clot containing Escherichia coli and Bacillus fragilis into their peritoneal cavity 6 days after burn injury . The animals were followed for 21 days after burn injury . Autopsies on those that died revealed peritonitis and/or pneumonia; autopsies on these that survived showed no pneumonia and there was consistent resolution of peritonitis . TP-5 and CP-46,665, but not C . parvum, significantly improved survival rates and mean survival time in those animals receiving 100 kcal/kg/day . TP-5 and CP-46,665 may be of benefit to the severely stressed, malnourished surgical patient who is at risk of bacterial infection. Infect Immun, 1984 Aug, 45(2), 511 - 7 Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis responses to DNA probes derived from corynephage beta and Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Groman N et al.; Strains of Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Corynebacterium ovis) were examined for the production of diphtheria toxin . A majority of C . ulcerans strains (25 of 37) and 1 C . pseudotuberculosis strain (1 of 14) gave a positive Elek test for diphtheria toxin, and for all strains but 1, production of diphtheria toxin was inhibited at the same level of Fe2+ as was the Corynebacterium diphtheriae control . All Elek-positive cultures as well as two Elek-negative isolates of C . ulcerans gave a positive signal when hybridized with a DNA probe unambiguous for the diphtheria toxin gene (tox) under conditions of high stringency . The majority of probe-positive C . ulcerans strains contained three or more DNA restriction fragments that hybridized with converting corynephage beta, suggesting that in C . ulcerans as in C . diphtheriae there may be a relationship between toxinogeny and carriage of beta-related phage . Selected strains of C . diphtheriae, C . ulcerans, and C . pseudotuberculosis were examined for DNA homology by a semiquantitative technique . There was very little homology between C . diphtheriae and members of the other two species . Strains of C . ulcerans and C . pseudotuberculosis, although more closely related, appeared to belong to distinct species as well. J Clin Pathol, 1984 Jul, 37(7), 796 - 9 Detection of toxin production by Corynebacterium diphtheriae: results of a trial organised as part of the United Kingdom National External Microbiological Quality Assessment Scheme; Snell JJ et al.; Four strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae were sent to UK participants in the UK National External Microbiological Quality Assessment Scheme, who were asked to examine the strains for toxin production by in vitro methods . Laboratories achieved 162/176 (92%) and 160/175 (91%) correct results with two rapid toxin producers and 145/175 (82%) with a slow toxin producer . With a non-toxigenic strain 26/175 (15%) laboratories reported toxin production . Of the 173 laboratories reporting on all four strains, only 120 (69%) achieved the correct result for all . There was no significant association between the use of various methods and results, with the exception that laboratories using a full set of positive, weak positive, and negative controls made fewer errors than those not using controls . A number of unsatisfactory practices were revealed by the trial, however, and recommendations on preparation of inoculum, media, peptones, animal sera, and use of controls are made. Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 143 - 9 Genetic and biochemical evidence for a siderophore-dependent iron transport system in Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Russell LM et al.; During growth under conditions of iron deprivation, Corynebacterium diphtheriae secreted a siderophore into the culture medium . This extracellular siderophore was necessary for rates of iron uptake at pH 8.0 by C . diphtheriae C7 and related strains . We isolated a mutant of C . diphtheriae C7(beta), strain HC6, which did not make the corynebacterial siderophore . Strain HC6 grew very poorly, even under high-iron conditions, and had a severe defect in iron transport . Both growth and iron uptake by strain HC6 were greatly stimulated by the corynebacterial siderophore . We used strain HC6 to develop a bioassay for the corynebacterial siderophore and to look for other potential siderophores for C . diphtheriae . Among the purified phenolate and hydroxamate siderophores tested, only aerobactin was able to stimulate the growth of strain HC6 . Partial purification of the corynebacterial siderophore was achieved . The siderophore did not give positive reactions in the Arnow test for phenolates or the Csaky test for hydroxamates and may have a novel chemical structure. J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Jul, 130 ( Pt 7), 1863 - 70 Thymidine kinase of bacteria: activity of the enzyme in actinomycetes and related organisms; Saito H et al.; Various micro-organisms were studied for their thymidine kinase (adenosine 5'-triphosphate:thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.21) (TK) activity . The sonicated cell extract of Escherichia coli K12 had a TK activity of 35-66 pmol thymidine monophosphate formed min-1 (mg protein)-1 . The cell extracts of Salmonella typhimurium and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed a markedly higher (5- to 11-fold) TK activity . Somewhat lower but significant TK activity was detected in the cell extracts of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis and Proteus mirabilis . In contrast, weak TK activity, if any, was detected in the cell extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This was also the case with respect to the cell extracts of various actinomycetes (such as Nocardia and Streptomyces) and related organisms (such as Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium and Rhodococcus). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Jul, 81(14), 4505 - 9 Identification and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to an antigen expressed on activated macrophages; Koestler TP et al.; A hybridoma clone secreting a monoclonal antibody, designated MA158.2, that reacts with an antigen expressed on lymphokine-treated macrophages was produced by fusion of mouse myeloma cells with rat spleen cells immunized against C57BL/6 peritoneal macrophages rendered tumoricidal in vitro by incubation with the lymphokine macrophage-activating factor . The specificity of the antibody for activated macrophages and lack of reactivity with histologically diverse cell types was determined by radioimmune indirect binding and flow cytometry . MA158.2 antibody binds to mouse peritoneal macrophages elicited by nonspecific inflammatory agents and to tumoricidal macrophages elicited with Corynebacterium parvum . Resident peritoneal, splenic, and alveolar macrophages were only weakly positive . Several macrophage cell lines (P388D1, WEH1-231, J774, RAW 264.7), murine fibroblasts, and neutrophils did not bind detectable amounts of MA158.2 . Radioimmune indirect binding analysis demonstrated that cell suspensions prepared from C57BL/6 mouse spleen, thymus, and lymph node as well as polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, and T- and B-cell murine lymphomas were MA158.2 negative . Expression of the reactive antigen on the macrophage cell surface was enhanced 3-fold following in vitro activation of elicited macrophages with macrophage-activating factor and the kinetics of activation to the tumoricidal state paralleled the increased expression of the antigen recognized by MA158.2 . MA158.2 is a rat IgG2a antibody containing a single specific heavy and light chain that does not detect a polymorphic determinant . This monoclonal antibody will be a useful tool for monitoring the efficacy of agents in activating murine macrophages to the tumoricidal state and in analyzing the sequence of biochemical events that culminate in macrophage activation. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1984 Jul, 11(7), 1369 - 78 {Induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in tumor-bearing mice}; Tamura K et al.; Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can be induced in BALB/c mice bearing syngeneic tumor RL male 1 lymphoma or Meth A fibrosarcoma, by initial injection of either Corynebacterium parvum or BCG, in combination with a second injection of endotoxin (LPS) almost 10 days later . Either treatment resulted in hemorrhagic necrosis and complete regression of tumors in mice . The term, "endogenous induction of TNF therapy" was proposed for this trial . Although the TNF of tumor-bearing mice was identical to that of normal mice in molecular weight (about 40,000 daltons) and isoelectric point (4.4), and differed from IFN, the in vivo effect of endogenous TNF was much more remarkable than in mice receiving passive TNF administration . The mice bearing RL male 1 lymphoma cured after endogenous induction of TNF, rejected rechallenge of the same tumor cells but not Meth-A tumor cells . Splenocytes obtained from these cured mice were also found to be inhibitory in Winn's neutralization assay . The data indicate that tumor-specific immunity can be induced in mice receiving endogenous induction of TNF. J Immunol, 1984 Jul, 133(1), 519 - 26 Successful immunotherapy with intraperitoneal Corynebacterium parvum in a murine ovarian cancer model is associated with the recruitment of tumor-lytic neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity; Lichtenstein AK et al.; The rejection of a murine ovarian teratocarcinoma (MOT) after i.p . injection of Corynebacterium parvum was investigated . Treatment with C . parvum (1400 micrograms) 24 hr after i.p . inoculation of a lethal number of tumor cells (10(5} induced an antitumor effect that cured 75 to 95% of the mice . Morphologic analysis and an in vivo cytotoxicity assay that measured the rate of disappearance of radioactivity from the peritoneal cavity after injection of 125IUdR-labeled tumor cells indicated that the antitumor effect was initiated during the first 24 hr after C . parvum injection . During this period of time, host effector cells retrieved from the peritoneal cavity prevented tumor growth in a Winn assay and lysed radiolabeled MOT targets in a 4-hr Cr-release assay . After separation of peritoneal inflammatory cells on a Percoll gradient, neutrophil-enriched fractions demonstrated significant in vitro tumor lysis, but neutrophil-depleted populations were ineffective . Microscopic analysis of lysis at the single cell level confirmed that neutrophils were binding to and lysing MOT targets . Further characterization of these tumor cytolytic neutrophils revealed that they are nylon wool-adherent, not generated in indomethacin-pretreated mice (but effectively generated in whole body-irradiated mice), and achieve lysis within 30 min after binding to MOT targets . These results indicate that neutrophils must be considered potential antitumor effectors that can be recruited by treatment with biologic response modifiers. Clin Exp Immunol, 1984 Jul, 57(1), 139 - 48 Paradoxical presence of T cell anergy during successful T cell-dependent tumour immunotherapy: characterization of a state of T cell 'amnaesia' following systemic administration of C . parvum; McBride WH et al.; Systemic administration of Corynebacterium parvum causes T cell-dependent regression of an established methylcholanthrene-induced murine fibrosarcoma beginning 10 days after Cp injection . At this time, tumour specific effector T cell responses measured by reactivity in a T helper cell assay or in a Winn assay disappear only to return later . We refer to this temporary lapse in T cell reactivity as immunological 'amnaesia' . Antigen specific T cell responses within all lymphoid organs appear to be affected . The 'amnaesic' state is characterised by the presence of primed T cells but the absence of T effector cells and suppressor cells . The differentiation of the primed T cells is blocked proba