bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nitrous oxide reduction by members of the family Rhodospirillaceae and the nitrous oxide reductase of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata
Authors: McEwan A G , Greenfield A J , Wetzstein H G , Jackson J B , Ferguson S J
Published: January 2020

After growth in the absence of nitrogenous oxides under anaerobic phototrophic conditions, several strains of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata were shown to possess a nitrous oxide reductase activity. The enzyme responsible for this activity had a periplasmic location and resembled a nitrous oxide reductase purified from Pseudomonas perfectomarinus. Electron flow to nitrous oxide reductase was coupled to generation of a membrane potential and inhibited by rotenone but not antimycin. It is suggested that electron flow to nitrous oxide reductase branches at the level of ubiquinone from the previously characterized electron transfer components of R. capsulata. This pathway of electron transport could include cytochrome c', a component hitherto without a recognized function. R. capsulata grew under dark anaerobic conditions in the presence of malate as carbon source and nitrous oxide as electron acceptor. This confirms that nitrous oxide respiration is linked to ATP synthesis. Phototrophically and anaerobically grown cultures of nondenitrifying strains of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, and Rhodospirillum rubrum also possessed nitrous oxide reductase activity.
Identification of an inducible catabolic system for sialic acids (nan) in Escherichia coli
Authors: Vimr E R , Troy F A
Published: January 2020

Escherichia coli K-12 and K-12 hybrid strains constructed to express a polysialic acid capsule, the K1 antigen, were able to efficiently use sialic acid as a sole carbon source. This ability was dependent on induction of at least two activities: a sialic acid-specific transport activity, and an aldolase activity specific for cleaving sialic acids. Induction over basal levels required sialic acid as the apparent inducer, and induction of both activities was repressed by glucose. Induction also required the intracellular accumulation of sialic acid, which could be either added exogenously to the medium or accumulated intracellularly through biosynthesis. Exogenous sialic acid appeared to be transported by an active mechanism that did not involve covalent modification of the sugar. Mutations affecting either the transport or degradation of sialic acid prevented its use as a carbon source and have been designated nanT and nanA, respectively. These mutations were located by transduction near min 69 on the E. coli K-12 genetic map, between argG and glnF. In addition to being unable to use sialic acid as a carbon source, aldolase-negative mutants were growth-inhibited by this sugar. Therefore, the intracellularly accumulated sialic acid was toxic in aldolase-deficient E. coli strains. The dual role of aldolase in dissimilating and detoxifying sialic acids is consistent with the apparent multiple controls on expression of this enzyme.
Regulation of sialic acid metabolism in Escherichia coli: role of N-acylneuraminate pyruvate-lyase
Authors: Vimr E R , Troy F A
Published: January 2020

In Escherichia coli, synthesis of sialic acid is not regulated by allosteric inhibition mediated by cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuNAc). Evidence for the lack of metabolic control by feedback inhibition was demonstrated by measuring the intracellular level of sialic acid and CMP-NeuNAc in mutants defective in sialic acid polymerization and in CMP-NeuNAc synthesis. Polymerization-defective mutants could not synthesize the polysialic acid capsule and accumulated ca. 25-fold more CMP-NeuNAc than the wild type. Mutants unable to activate sialic acid because of a defect in CMP-NeuNAc synthetase accumulated ca. sevenfold more sialic acid than the wild type. An additional threefold increase in sialic acid levels occurred when a mutation resulting in loss of N-acylneuraminate pyruvate-lysase (sialic acid aldolase) was introduced into the CMP-NeuNAc synthetase-deficient mutant. The aldolase mutation could not be introduced into the polymerization-defective mutant, suggesting that any further increase in the intracellular CMP-NeuNAc concentration was toxic. These results show that sialic acid aldolase can regulate the intracellular concentration of sialic acid and therefore the concentration of CMP-NeuNAc. We conclude that regulation of aldolase, mediated by sialic acid induction, is necessary not only for dissimilating sialic acid (E.R. Vimr and F. A. Troy, J. Bacteriol. 164:845-853, 1985) but also for modulating the level of metabolic intermediates in the sialic acid pathway. In agreement with this conclusion, an increase in the intracellular sialic acid concentration was correlated with an increase in aldolase activity. Direct evidence for the central role of aldolase in regulating the metabolic flux of sialic adid in E. coli was provided by the finding that exogenous radiolabeled sialic acid was specifically incorporated into sialyl polymer in aldolase-negative strain but not in the wild type.
Occurrence of succinyl derivatives in the catabolism of arginine in Pseudomonas cepacia
Authors: Vander Wauven C , Stalon V
Published: January 2020

Pseudomonas cepacia NCTC 10743 utilizes arginine as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen for growth. Arginine is degraded to glutamate via succinyl derivatives. The catabolic sequence in this pathway is L-arginine----N2-succinylarginine----N2-succinylornithine--- -N2-succinylglutamate semialdehyde----N2-succinylglutamate----glutamate + succinate. The formation of the enzymes responsible for arginine degradation is regulated not only by induction but also by both carbon and nitrogen catabolite repression.
Initiation of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli after induction of dnaA gene expression from a lac promoter
Authors: Bremer H , Churchward G
Published: January 2020

Escherichia coli HB282 carries a dnaA46(Ts) allele on the chromosome, a wild-type dnaA allele under the control of the lacUV5 promoter on the multicopy plasmid pBC32, and an overproducing lac repressor allele on an F' factor. When the plasmid dnaA gene is repressed, the strain is thermosensitive. After a temporary deficiency in active dnaA protein at nonpermissive temperature, the addition of isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside to the culture was found to produce a burst of initiations within 5 to 10 min at 30% of the origins in 90% of the cells. Initiations then continued at a rate slightly faster than the mass-doubling time such that after 2 h the origin-to-mass ratio of the control culture was restored.
Regulation by carbon source of enzyme expression and slime production in bacterium W3A1
Authors: Davidson V L
Published: January 2020

Slime production by bacterium W3A1 was greatly enhanced during growth on methanol and, to a lesser extent, during growth on trimethylamine. Of the major dehydrogenases synthesized, trimethylamine and methylamine dehydrogenases were induced to different levels by certain carbon sources, while methanol dehydrogenase was expressed during growth on all carbon sources.
Adaptive response and enhancement of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis by chloramphenicol in Streptomyces fradiae
Authors: Baltz R H , Stonesifer J
Published: January 2020

Streptomyces fradiae expressed an adaptive response to treatment with small doses of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) that caused a reduction in mutagenesis by treatment with larger doses of MNNG. Treatment of S. fradiae with high levels of MNNG in the presence of chloramphenicol caused enhancement of mutagenesis, independent of the adaptive response.
Identification of a temperature-sensitive mutation in the htpR (rpoH) gene of Escherichia coli K-12
Authors: Waghorne C , Fuerst C R
Published: January 2020

A new mutation in the htpR (rpoH) gene of Escherichia coli K-12 was identified. The mutation resulted in a temperature-sensitive phenotype in terms of cell growth and bacteriophage lambda development. As in the case of the classical htpR tsn-165 mutation, synthesis of heat shock polypeptides was not induced in strains carrying the mutation described here.
Kinetic studies of temperature-induced helix hand inversion in Bacillus subtilis macrofibers
Authors: Favre D , Thwaites J J , Mendelson N H
Published: January 2020

The inversion of Bacillus subtilis macrofibers from right to left handedness induced by a temperature upshift was compared with inversion from left to right handedness induced by a temperature downshift. Following an upshift the new steady-state growth rate was achieved prior to inversion of helix orientation. There was no discernible perturbation of growth rate at the time of inversion. The time required after a temperature shift up or down for fiber rotation in the original sense to cease was dependent on the temperature to which the fibers were transferred and was always shortest when this temperature was highest. The results suggest a basic asymmetry in the two inversion processes. Cessation of rotation in the right-to-left inversion appeared to reflect contributions of the old and new wall materials that depended on their twist values, whereas the left-to-right inversion appeared to require that a specific amount of newly made wall material be inserted into the cell surface. The degree of twist of the newly inserted right-handed material appeared not to influence the timing of inversion.
Identification of a Rhizobium meliloti pSym2011 region controlling the host specificity of root hair curling and nodulation
Authors: Truchet G , Debellé F , Vasse J , Terzaghi B , Garnerone A M , Rosenberg C , Batut J , Maillet F , Dénarié J
Published: January 2020

In Rhizobium meliloti 2011 nodulation genes (nod) required to nodulate specifically alfalfa are located on a pSym megaplasmid. Nod- derivatives carrying large pSym deletions were isolated. By complementation of these strains with in vivo- and in vitro-constructed episomes containing pSym of sequences and introduction of these episomes into Agrobacterium tumefaciens, we show (i) that from a region of pSym of about 360 kilobases, genes required for specific alfalfa nodulation are clustered in a DNA fragment of less than 30 kilobases and (ii) that a nod region located between nifHDK and the common nod genes is absolutely required for alfalfa nodulation and controls the specificity of root hair curling and nodule organogenesis initiation.
Characterization and sequence analysis of pilin from F-like plasmids
Authors: Frost L S , Finlay B B , Opgenorth A , Paranchych W , Lee J S
Published: January 2020

Conjugative pili are expressed by derepressed plasmids and initiate cell-to-cell contact during bacterial conjugation. They are also the site of attachment for pilus-specific phages (f1, f2, and QB). In this study, the number of pili per cell and their ability to retract in the presence of cyanide was estimated for 13 derepressed plasmids. Selected pilus types were further characterized for reactivity with anti-F and anti-ColB2 pilus antisera as well as two F pilus-specific monoclonal antibodies, one of which is specific for a sequence common to most F-like pilin types (JEL92) and one which is specific for the amino terminus of F pilin (JEL93). The pilin genes from eight of these plasmids were cloned and sequenced, and the results were compared with information on F, ColB2, and pED208 pilin. Six pilus groups were defined: I, was F-like [F, pED202(R386), ColV2-K94, and ColVBtrp]; IIA was ColB2-like in sequence but had a lowered sensitivity to f1 phage due to its decreased ability for pilus retraction [pED236(ColB2) and pED203(ColB4)]; IIB was ColB2-like but retained f1 sensitivity [pED200(R124) and pED207(R538-1)]; III contained R1-19, which had a ColB2-like amino terminus but had an additional lysine residue at its carboxy terminus which may affect its phage sensitivity pattern and its antigenicity; IV was R100-1-like [R100-1 and presumably pED241(R136) and pED204(R6)] which had a unique amino-terminal sequence combined with a carboxy terminus similar to that of F. pED208(Folac) formed group V, which was multipiliated and exhibited poor pilus retraction although it retained full sensitivity to f1 phage. The pED208 pilin gene could not be cloned at this time since it shared no homology with the pilin gene of the F plasmid.
Two functions of the E protein are key elements in the plasmid F replication control system
Authors: Rokeach L A , Søgaard-Andersen L , Molin S
Published: January 2020

By using a plasmid carrying a translational fusion between the E gene of the IncFI plasmid F and the lacZ gene, we located the operator of the autogenously regulated E gene to an inverted repeat overlapping the E-gene promoter and showing perfect homology to part of the sequence found in all the direct repeats of two regions exerting an inhibitory effect on F replication, incB and incC. Excess E protein provided in trans to an F plasmid increased the replication frequency of the F plasmid. This stimulatory effect was counteracted by increased dosages of incB or incC. A model is proposed for the replication control system of F in which the key elements are autoregulation of E-gene expression and titration of E protein by incB and incC.
Cloning, structure, and expression of the Escherichia coli K-12 hisC gene
Authors: Grisolia V , Carlomagno M S , Nappo A G , Bruni C B
Published: January 2020

We used an expression vector plasmid containing the Escherichia coli K-12 histidine operon regulatory region to subclone the E. coli hisC gene. Analysis of plasmid-coded proteins showed that hisC was expressed in minicells. A protein with an apparent molecular weight of 38,500 was identified as the primary product of the hisC gene. Expression was under control of the hisGp promoter and resulted in very efficient synthesis (over 100-fold above the wild-type levels) of imidazolylacetolphosphate:L-glutamate aminotransferase, the hisC gene product. The complete nucleotide sequence of the hisC gene has been determined. The gene is 1,071 nucleotides long and codes for a protein of 356 amino acids with only one histidine residue.
TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE PSEUDOMONADS
Authors: Colwell R. R. , Liston J.
Published: January 2020

Colwell
, R. R. (University of Washington, Seattle),
and J. Liston
. Taxonomic relationships among the pseudomonads. J. Bacteriol.
82:
1–14. 1961.—An electronic computer technique, utilizing the Adansonian principle that every feature should have equal weight, was applied in an effort to derive a taxonomy of the Pseudomonas-Achromobacter group of gram-negative, asporogenous, rodlike bacteria. The validity of the general method was tested by an analysis of 40 well defined strains, principally derived from type culture collections and representative of different genera and families of the
Pseudomonadales
and the
Eubacteriales
. The analysis clearly separated groups which are recognized to be taxonomically distinct.

Aerogenic Aeromonas were most similar to the
Enterobacteriaceae
and taxonomically distinct from the anaerogenic
Aeromonas formicans
which was more similar to the Pseudomonas group. Oxidative
Vibrio
species grouped with Pseudomonas and probably should be renamed Pseudomonas. Fermentative
Vibrio
species showed affinities with
A. formicans
.

Fifty-four
Pseudomonas
strains out of 58 tested in an analysis of 80 bacterial cultures, clustered into four large groups: group 1, a marine group within which appeared a psychrophilic, nonproteolytic species subgroup related to
Vibrio beijerinckii
and a subgeneric subgroup which included
Pseudomonas elongata
; group 2, a subgeneric mesophilic group including
Vibrio percolans
and associated with
Pseudomonas fragi
; group 3, a fluorescent pigment-producing group, including three subgroups, a psychrophilic aeruginosa-like species group, a mesophilic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
species group, and a heterogeneous subgeneric group containing
Vibrio cuneatus
and related to
Pseudomonas fluorescens
and
Pseudomonas pavonacea
; group 4, a subgeneric nonpigment-producing, mesophilic group, which included
Vibrio tyrogenus, Pseudomonas ovalis
, and
Pseudomonas denitrificans
.
FLUORESCEIN AMINE MEDIA FOR RAPID DIFFERENTIATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI
Authors: Kimler Alexander
Published: January 2020

Kimler, Alexander
(National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.). Fluorescein amine media for rapid differentiation of staphylococci. J. Bacteriol.
82:
106–109. 1961.—By modifying conventional media to include blood, mannitol, and fluorescein amine, staphylococci may be isolated and identified directly.
Staphylococcus aureus
, mannitol positive, fluoresces, whereas
Staphylococcus epidermidis
, mannitol negative, does not.
AGGLUTININ-ADSORPTION ANALYSIS OF
VIBRIO FETUS
Authors: Reich C. V. , Heist C. E. , Dunne H. W.
Published: January 2020

Reich
, C. V. (Pennsylvania State University, University Park), C. E.
Heist, and H. W. Dunne
. Agglutinin-adsorption analysis of
Vibrio fetus
. J. Bacteriol.
82:
210–214. 1961.—All pathogenic strains of
Vibrio fetus
are apparently members of a single serotype. Within this broad grouping, it was possible to define the relationship of certain selected strains by a system of complete reciprocal adsorption and cross agglutination. Formalin treated suspensions of
V. fetus
, and controlled titer homologous rabbit antisera were used. The results of a set of reactions, involving five strains, were analyzed as a complete reaction pattern. A system of 12 antigens and 4 haptens, each alphabetically characterized, was necessary to reproduce schematically the experimentally obtained reaction pattern. One of the antigens, designated as antigen A, was a somatic antigen present on every strain of
V. fetus
examined. Evidence indicates that this antigen represented about 5% of the total antigenic area of the cell surface.
PHYLOGENY OF PHOSPHOMANNAN-PRODUCING YEASTS II
Authors: Slodki M. E. , Wickerham Lynferd J. , Cadmus M. C.
Published: January 2020

Slodki
, M. E. (U. S. Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Ill.),
Lynferd J. Wickerham, and M. C. Cadmus
. Phylogeny of phosphomannan-producing yeasts. II. Phosphomannan properties and taxonomic relationships. J. Bacteriol.
82:
269–274. 1961.—Primitive species of yeasts belonging to the genus
Hansenula
and closely related genera produce extracellular phosphorylated mannans from glucose. These polysaccharides, called phosphomannans, contain mannose and mannose 6-phosphate as the only carbohydrate constituents. A comparative study of these phosphomannans yielded valuable phylogenetic information bearing on the yeasts that produce them. Strains of the same species elaborate similar phosphomannans. An inverse relationship was found between the evolutionary status of the organism and the degree of phosphorylation of its phosphomannan.
EFFECT OF
l
-CYSTINE ON INITIATION OF ANAEROBIC GROWTH OF
ESCHERICHIA COLI
AND
AEROBACTER AEROGENES
Authors: Gorini Luigi
Published: January 2020

Gorini, Luigi
(Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.). Effect of
l
-cystine on initiation of anaerobic growth of
Escherichia coli
and
Aerobacter aerogenes
. J. Bacteriol.
82:
305–312. 1961.—Under anaerobic conditions
Escherichia coli
and
Aerobacter aerogenes
, inoculated in a mineral-citrate-glucose medium at densities up to 10
6
bacteria per ml, exhibit a long lag, or fail to initiate growth at all. Growth is initiated rapidly if the medium is supplemented with various SH or SS compounds. Of these the most active is
l
-cystine, which is fully effective at 1 to 2 μ
m
.

In a heavily seeded semisolid medium without cystine, turbidity rapidly appears at the aerobic surface and then slowly extends throughout the anaerobic region of the culture. This finding implies that a sufficiently dense anaerobically growing culture creates conditions in the medium which eliminate the requirement for cystine. The nature of this effect on the medium has not been determined, but certain possibilities (pH, pCO
2
) have been eliminated.

The anaerobic cystine requirement becomes more pronounced in the presence of Cu
++
, at concentrations far lower than those required for inhibition under aerobic conditions. While it is possible that cystine is acting by complexing the toxic metal ion, it seems more likely that
l
-cystine is an essential metabolite, poorly produced under anaerobic conditions, and that the marked toxicity of Cu
++
under anaerobic conditions depends on its complexing of cystine.
METHOD FOR THE SELECTION OF BACTERIA THAT SYNTHESIZE URONIC ACID-CONTAINING POLYSACCHARIDES
Authors: Markovitz Alvin
Published: January 2020

Markovitz, Alvin
(University of Chicago, Chicago). Method for the selection of bacteria that synthesize uronic acid-containing polysaccharides. J. Bacteriol.
82:
436–441. 1961.—A method has been devised for selecting bacteria that synthesize uronic acid-containing polysaccharides from soil samples. The method depends on the addition of high concentrations of SO
4
=
to a liquid enrichment medium.
FORMATION OF NITRITE AND NITRATE BY ACTINOMYCETES AND FUNGI
Authors: Hirsch P. , Overrein L. , Alexander M.
Published: January 2020

Hirsch
, P. (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York), L.
Overrein, and M. Alexander
. Formation of nitrite and nitrate by actinomycetes and fungi. J. Bacteriol.
82:
442–448. 1961.—Nitrite was produced by strains of
Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Streptomyces, Micromonospora
, and
Streptosporangium
in media containing ammonium phosphate as the sole nitrogen source. The quantity of nitrite formed was small, and the concentration was affected by pH and by the relative levels of carbon and nitrogen.
Aspergillus flavus
produced little nitrite from ammonium but formed in excess of 100 parts per million of nitrate-nitrogen. Peroxidase activity and heterotrophic nitrification were reduced in acid conditions, but mycelial development of the fungus was not markedly affected. The inability of
A. flavus
to form nitrate and nitrite at low pH appears to result from a selective effect of pH upon nitrification rather than being a consequence of the decomposition of nitrogenous intermediates.
LABELING PROCEDURES EMPLOYING CRYSTALLINE FLUORESCEIN ISOTHIOCYANATE
Authors: Griffin Charles W. , Carski Theodore R. , Warner George S.
Published: January 2020

Griffin, CharlesW. (Baltimore Biological Laboratory, Baltimore, Md.),Theodore R. Carski, and George S. Warner. Labeling procedures employing crystalline fluorescein isothiocyanate. J. Bacteriol.82:534–537. 1961.—The effect of altering the ratio of dye to protein in the labeling of three immune globulins with crystalline fluorescein isothiocyanate was the purpose of the study. Direct staining of group A streptococci and rabies-infected mouse brain, and indirect staining ofTreponema pallidum(Nichols strain) comprised the three immunological systems selected for investigation. Maximal specific staining and minimal nonspecific background staining were demonstrated by the use of low dye-to-protein labeling ratios.
DETERMINATION, BY SPODOGRAPHY, OF THE INTRACELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF MINERAL MATTER THROUGHOUT THE LIFE HISTORY OF
BACILLUS CEREUS
Authors: Knaysi Georges
Published: January 2020

Knaysi, Georges
(Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.). Determination, by spodography, of the intracellular distribution of mineral matter throughout the life history of
Bacillus cereus
. J. Bacteriol.
82:
556–563. 1961.—The intracellular distribution of mineral matter throughout the life history of
Bacillus cereus
strain C
3
was investigated by microincineration for which the term spodography is suggested. The organism was grown in microcultures on collodion membranes supported by agar media. At various stages of development, microcultures were floated on distilled water, picked onto cover glasses, air-dried, and incinerated at 500 to 525 C. The mineral residue is deposited in situ and shows the distribution of mineral matter in the cells. Study of the spodograms thus obtained shows that in the spore mineral matter is concentrated in a peripheral layer surrounding a minerally poor core. As soon as the spore begins to germinate, often before one notes any change in its optical properties, the minerally rich layer increases in thickness while the core becomes gradually smaller and finally disappears. The germ cell appears nearly homogeneous, with evidence of mineral aggregation into discrete granules more readily seen in subsequent generations. The nuclei of the vegetative cells are sites of mineral accumulation. In the compound nuclei, minerals seem to be concentrated in a superficial ring around a minerally poor center. In the young forespore, mineral matter is homogeneously distributed. As the spore stage is approached, however, the mineral matter tends to occupy a peripheral position as in the completed spore. The results indicate that the calcium dipicolinate of the spore is principally in the minerally rich, peripheral layer. The relation of this layer to the other peripheral structures of the spore has not been determined. Observation was made with a phase microscope in dark contrast and using a dry objective.
MANIFESTATIONS OF INJURY IN YEAST CELLS EXPOSED TO SUBZERO TEMPERATURES II
Authors: Mazur Peter
Published: January 2020

Mazur, Peter
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.). Manifestations of injury in yeast cells exposed to subzero temperatures. II. Changes in specific gravity and in the concentration and quantity of cell solids. J. Bacteriol.
82:
673–684. 1961.—It has previously been established that subjecting cells of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
to rapid cooling to −30 C results in cell death and in certain morphological alterations. The alterations consisted of the loss of the central vacuole and a 50% decrease in volume. The present experiments were concerned with determining whether the volume decrease was the result of the loss of water alone or of water plus cellular solutes. The density of the “frozenthawed” cells was found to increase from 1.14 to 1.25 g/cm
3
on the basis of measurements of the sedimentation rate of the cells. Interferometric and refractometric measurements indicated, furthermore, that the concentration of cell solids increased from 20 to 28%, whereas the total mass of cell solids decreased from 25 to 17 μμg/cell. The decrease in cell volume was thus shown to be the result of loss of solution from the cells, a solution containing 11 to 16% solids. Measurements of the rate of dialysis suggested that most or all of these solids had a molecular weight below 600. The findings are consistent with the view that low-temperature exposure destroyed the vacuolar membrane and sufficiently damaged the permeability barriers of the cell to permit escape of low molecular weight compounds. The damage was present a few seconds after thawing, and may, therefore, have been a direct result of intracellular ice crystals which, on the basis of previous studies, are believed to be responsible for death from low-temperature exposure.
STUDIES OF STREPTOCOCCAL CELL WALLS VI
Authors: Hayashi James A. , Walsh Gerald
Published: January 2020

Hayashi, James
A. (University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago)
and Gerald Walsh
. Studies of streptococcal cell walls. VI. Effects of adjuvants on the production of type-specific antibodies to cell walls and isolated M protein. J. Bacteriol.
82:
736–742. 1961.—Mineral oil adjuvant was shown to assist in type-specific immunization of rabbits, when use was made of isolated cell walls or pH 2-extracted M protein from type 14 group A hemolytic streptococci. The antibodies produced were type specific, and passively protected mice that were challenged with virulent type 14 streptococci. A single injection each week for 4 weeks gave good levels of antibody. Simultaneous immunization with three different types of group A streptococci resulted in production of antibodies against all three types.
EVIDENCE FOR THE DE NOVO SYNTHESIS OF THE ALPHA-AMYLASE OF
PSEUDOMONAS SACCHAROPHILA
Authors: Eisenstadt Jerome M. , Klein Harold P.
Published: January 2020

Eisenstadt, Jerome
M. (Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.)
and Harold P. Klein
. Evidence for the de novo synthesis of the alpha-amylase of
Pseudomonas saccharophila
. J. Bacteriol.
82:
798–807. 1961.—Chloramphenicol at a concentration of 20 μg per ml inhibited the appearance of the inducible α-amylase of
Pseudomonas saccharophila
. This inhibition was observed when induction was attempted in buffer or in a complete medium. Preinduced cells were also prevented from forming this enzyme under similar conditions. Under all the conditions tested, there was no lag in chloramphenicol inhibition, thus suggesting an absence of any protein precursor in amylase formation.

Cells suspended in a complete medium without a nitrogen source lost their capacity to form this enzyme when subsequently induced in buffer. When cells were grown in the presence of radioactive sulfate and then subjected to starvation, the radioactivity of the amino acid pool diminished only slightly. However, examination of the free amino acid pool by paper chromatography showed that the loss of enzyme inducibility was accompanied by the disappearance of glutamine, aspartic acid, and a third, unidentified, compound. Enzyme-forming ability was restored by the addition, to starved cells of casein hydrolysate, glutamate, glutamine, or aspartate. Other amino acids tested were ineffective in this regard.

When cells were induced in buffer in the presence of labeled methionine, amylase was formed at a linear rate over a 3-hr period. Furthermore, both the cellular proteins and the extracellular amylase became labeled at a linear rate.

These observations are discussed in relation to the problem of protein turnover, and are interpreted as evidence for the de novo synthesis of α-amylase in this organism.
PESTICINS I
Authors: Brubaker Robert R. , Surgalla Michael J.
Published: January 2020

Brubaker, Robert
R. (U. S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.)
and Michael J. Surgalla
. Pesticins. I. Pesticin-bacterium interrelationships, and environmental factors influencing activity. J. Bacteriol.
82:
940–949. 1961—A second bacteriocin-like substance produced by all tested strains of
Pasteurella pestis
and
P. pseudotuberculosis
is described. This activity, termed pesticin II, is active against the two avirulent
P. pestis
strains, A12 and Java. These strains do not produce pesticin I, which inhibits the growth of type I strains of
P. pseudotuberculosis
. Pesticin I was also found to be active against certain strains of
Escherichia coli
, strain A12, but not strain Java, and some
P. pestis
isolates which also produce pesticin I. A number of
E. coli
strains produce a substance which also inhibits the growth of strains A12 and Java; the activity of this substance is dependent upon the presence of high concentrations of Ca
++
.

The activity of both pesticins is inhibited under anaerobic conditions or in the presence of antiserum. The activity of pesticin I, but not pesticin II, is suppressed by Fe
+++
, hemin, certain hemin-containing proteins, Mg
++
, and inorganic phosphate. Suppression of pesticin I activity by Fe
+++
can be reversed by the addition of either Ca
++
or Sr
++
or by metal chelating agents. All tested strains of
P. pestis
and
P. pseudotuberculosis
produce a metabolite which suppresses the activity of pesticin I. The activity of this substance, termed pesticin I inhibitor, is enhanced by Fe
+++
, and to a lesser extent by Mg
++
or by inorganic phosphate; its activity is suppressed by Mn
++
and by protamine sulfate.
REACTIONS OF SPORES AND CELLS OF
BACILLUS CEREUS
WITH PYRIMIDINE RIBOSIDES
Authors: Lawrence N. L. , Tsan Yun-Chuan
Published: January 2020

Lawrence
, N. L. (University of Alabama, Birmingham)
and Yun-Chuan Tsan
. Reaction of spores and cells of
Bacillus cereus
with pyrimidine ribosides. J. Bacteriol.
83:
228–233. 1962.—Cytidine deaminase and uridine ribosidase were essentially inactive in heat-resistant spores of
Bacillus cereus
T, but the activity increased as the spores germinated and proceeded to the vegetative form. The activity of germinated spores on cytidine was evident only after several hours lag, but then was nearly equal to that of vegetative cells. Cytosine deaminase was absent from all these preparations, but deoxycytidine was deaminated at nearly the same rate as cytidine. In the absence of added phosphate, cytidine was converted to uracil by intact vegetative cells more completely than was uridine.
RESPONSE OF
ESCHERICHIA COLI
AUXOTROPHS TO HEAT AFTER TREATMENT WITH MUTAGENIC ALKYL METHANESULFONATES
Authors: Strauss Bernard S.
Published: January 2020

Strauss, Bernard
S. (The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.). Response of
Escherichia coli
auxotrophs to heat after treatment with mutagenic alkyl methanesulfonates. J. Bacteriol.
83:
241–249. 1962.—Heating in buffer at 48 C resulted in a large increase in the frequency of revertants obtained after treatment of restingphase cells of
Escherichia coli
strain WP-2 (a tryptophan-requiring mutant of strain B/r) with ethyl methanesulfonate. This effect was not obtained with the mutagenic homologue, methyl methanesulfonate. Cells treated with ethyl methanesulfonate lost their sensitivity to heat soon after the start of incubation in growth medium; chloramphenicol added to the growth medium preserved the sensitivity. Cells in the exponential growth phase which were treated with ethyl methanesulfonate were rapidly killed by heat treatment. Methyl methanesulfonate was more effective as a killing agent than the ethyl derivative. Heat effects on mutation frequency were obtained with a second tryptophan-requiring mutant of
E. coli
B/r and with a tryptophan-requiring mutant of
E. coli
K-12.
COMPARISON OF LIPID COMPOSITION OF PLEUROPNEUMONIA-LIKE AND L-TYPE ORGANISMS
Authors: Smith Paul F. , Rothblat George H.
Published: January 2020

Smith, Paul
F. (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)
and George H. Rothblat
. Comparison of pleuropneumonia-like and L-type organisms. J. Bacteriol.
83:
500–506. 1962.—The content of total lipid and nonsaponifiable lipid depended upon the type of organism; the greatest amounts were found in pleuropneumonia-like organisms that required cholesterol for growth and in L-1, the L-form of
Streptobacillus moniliformis
. Decreasing amounts were found in nonsterol-requiring strains of pleuropneumonia-like organisms, the stable L-form of
Proteus
, salt-requiring L-forms, and finally, the bacterial parents of the L-type organisms. Nonsterol-requiring pleuropneumonia-like organisms could synthesize their own nonsaponifiable lipid, but sterol-requiring strains could not. Ability or inability to synthesize nonsaponifiable lipid was often carried over to the L-type organisms from the bacterial parent. More nonsaponifiable lipid was found in the sedimentable fraction (cell membrane) than in the nonsedimentable fraction (protoplasm) of both pleuropneumonia-like and L-type organisms. None of the nonsaponifiable lipid synthesized by any organism tested appeared to be 3-β-hydroxy sterol. Differences in ability of various organisms to take up cholesterol and to be lysed by digitonin were established.
ENDOGENOUS RESPIRATION OF
STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
Authors: Ramsey H. H.
Published: January 2020

Ramsey
, H. H. (Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.). Endogenous respiration of
Staphylococcus aureus
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
507–514. 1962.—The endogenous respiration of
Staphylococcus aureus
is dependent upon the medium used to grow the cell suspension. Within wide ranges, the concentration of glucose in the medium has no effect upon subsequent endogenous respiration of the cells, but the concentration of amino acids in the medium, within certain limits, has a very marked effect. The total carbohydrate content of the cells does not decrease during endogenous respiration. As endogenous respiration proceeds, ammonia appears in the supernatant, and the concentration of glutamic acid in the free amino acid pool decreases. Organisms grown in the presence of labeled glutamic acid liberate labeled CO
2
when allowed to respire without added substrate. The principal source of this CO
2
is the free glutamate in the metabolic pool; its liberation is not suppressed by exogenous glucose or glutamate. With totally labeled cells, the free pool undergoes a rapid, but not total, depletion and remains at a low level for a long time. Activity of the protein fraction declines with time and shows the largest net decrease of all fractions. Exogenous glucose does not inhibit the release of labeled CO
2
by totally labeled cells. Other amino acids in the free pool which can serve as endogenous substrates are aspartic acid and, to much lesser extents, glycine and alanine. The results indicate that both free amino acids and cellular protein may serve as endogenous substrates of
S. aureus
.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PARA-INFLUENZA 1 (HA-2) VIRUS III
Authors: Dick Elliot C. , Mogabgab William J.
Published: January 2020

Dick, Elliot
C. (Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La.)
and William J. Mogabgab
. Characteristics of para-influenza 1 (HA-2) virus. III. Antigenic relationships, growth, interaction with erythrocytes, and physical properties. J. Bacteriol.
83:
561–571. 1962—Hemagglutination-inhibition tests with rabbit and rooster immune sera showed HA-2-like strains of para-influenza 1 to be nearly as closely related antigenically to para-influenza 3 (HA-1) virus as to the Sendai strain of para-influenza 1; however, convalescent sera from humans infected with para influenza 1 virus exhibited four-fold or greater increases in antibody to HA-2 and Sendai viruses, but seldom to HA-1.

Para-influenza 1 (HA-2) infectivity was destroyed within 2 hr at temperatures approaching 50 C; at 36 C, infective virus disappeared by 80 hr. At a temperature of 44 C or below, the hemagglutinin (HA) titer remained unchanged for 100 hr; but at temperatures above this, hemagglutinin was destroyed rapidly. Virus infectivity was found to be most stable at very slightly acid or neutral pH and to be increasingly labile at pH values more extreme than 5.7 and 8.7. Hemagglutinin was generally more resistant than infectivity to extremes of reaction; this was most notable in the alkaline range.

In primary monkey-kidney tissue culture, virus was adsorbed in 5 hr, new infective virus was noted in 11 to 15 hr, and maximal amounts were detected at 60 hr and maintained through 132 hr. Production of hemagglutinin paralleled that of infectivity. The
tcid
50
/HA ratio was approximately 4.5.

With human type “O” erythrocytes, the HA titer of Copenhagen 222 virus suspensions was raised two- to fourfold by increasing the temperature of reaction and sedimentation from 4 C to room temperature. It could not be demonstrated that this thermal effect was due either to an increased total adsorption at an elevated temperature or to a greater rate of adsorption; the rate of hemagglutination was, however, increased by fourfold at the higher temperature.
ENZYMATIC DEBRIDEMENT OF THIRD-DEGREE BURNS ON GUINEA PIGS BY
CLOSTRIDIUM HISTOLYTICUM
PROTEINASES
Authors: Webster Marion E. , Altieri Patricia L. , Conklin David A. , Berman Sanford , Lowenthal Joseph P. , Gochenour Raymond B.
Published: January 2020

Webster, Marion
E. (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D. C.),
Patricia L. Altieri, David A. Conklin, Sanford Berman, Joseph P. Lowenthal, and Raymond B. Gochenour
. Enzymatic debridement of third-degree burns on guinea pigs by
Clostridium histolyticum
proteinases. J. Bacteriol.
83:
602–608. 1962.—An attempt has been made to correlate in vitro activities of
Clostridium histolyticum
H-4 proteinases, as measured against azocasein, azocoll, gelatin, and collagen, with their ability to debride full-thickness third-degree burns (360 C, 15 sec) on guinea pigs. The major portion of the debriding activity is tentatively identified as due to the delta-proteinase, in the absence of cysteine, and to a new proteinase contained in the same fraction in the presence of cysteine. Other proteinases produced by this strain were also capable of debriding burns. However, collagenase and the gelatinase of the 0 to 22% fraction did not appear to be essential for the debridement of these burns.

Studies of the proteinases produced by this organism have suggested that at least nine and probably more proteolytic enzymes are present. The need for more highly purified proteinases, in order to determine which enzyme(s) is responsible for debridement of guinea pig burns, is evident.
GENETIC INSTABILITY WITH EPISOME-MEDIATED TRANSFER IN
ESCHERICHIA COLI
Authors: Gundersen Wenche B. , Jyssum Kaare , Lie Sverre
Published: January 2020

Gundersen, Wenche
B. (Oslo University, Oslo. Norway),
Kaare Jyssum, and Sverre Lie
. Genetic instability with episome-mediated transfer in
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
616–623. 1962.—Hospital strains of
Escherichia coli
have been simultaneously screened for an increased mutation rate to streptomycin (Sm) resistance and to auxotrophy. Two strains were found with an increased mutation rate to Sm, but with no more than normal mutation rates in other loci tested. These loci included threonine, histidine, methionine, isoleucine-valine, resistance to tetracycline, and resistance to chloramphenicol.

The genetic determinant of the new type of instability of the Sm locus has been studied. In contrast to the Treffers mutator gene, the new mutator character was not found to follow the pattern of a chromosomial factor in genetic cross. The character was found to possess the properties generally ascribed to genetic determinants of an episome nature: (i) a spontaneous loss of the character, enhanced by treatment with ultraviolet irradiation and acridine dyes; (ii) a loss which apparently is permanent; and (iii) a transfer to a mutator-negative cell by infection, both to a homologous mutator-negative mutant and to a K-12 strain. This infection is favored by the presence of the F factor in the donor.
EPISOME-MEDIATED TRANSFER OF DRUG RESISTANCE IN
ENTEROBACTERIACEAE
IV
Authors: Watanabe Tsutomu , Fukasawa Toshio
Published: January 2020

Watanabe
, T. (Keio University, Tokyo, Japan)
and T. Fukasawa
. Episome-mediated transfer of drug resistance in
Enterobacteriaceae
. IV. Interactions between resistance transfer factor and F-factor in
Escherichia coli
K-12. J. Bacteriol.
83:
727–735. 1962. — Resistance transfer factor (RTF) present in F
+
and F′
+
strains was found to suppress completely the transfer of F-factor, F′, and host chromosomes. On the other hand, the presence of RTF in Hfr strains was found to reduce the frequencies of recombination to about 10
−2
of those in Hfr strains, regardless of the types of Hfr. RTF present in an F
+
strain with colicinogenic factor E
1
inhibited the transfer of the colicinogenic factor, whereas the transfer of colicinogenic factor I was not suppressed by RTF. A hypothesis that the genetic determinant of RTF controlling its “transfer system” is epistatic to that of F-factor is presented. It was also shown that F-factor present in recipients slightly suppresses the acceptance of RTF and that RTF present in recipients slightly reduces the acceptance of F-factor, F′, and host chromosomes. On the other hand, the acceptance of RTF by recipients in which RTF is present was found to be about 1% of that in recipients without RTF.
STABILIZATION OF PROTOPLASTS AND SPHEROPLASTS BY SPERMINE AND OTHER POLYAMINES
Authors: Tabor Celia W.
Published: January 2020

Tabor, Celia
W. (National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Md.). Stabilization of protoplasts and spheroplasts by spermine and other polyamines. J. Bacteriol.
83:
1101–1111. 1962.—Spermine (10
−3
m
) or spermidine prevents lysis of lysozyme-produced protoplasts of
Escherichia coli
W,
E. coli
B, and
Micrococcus lysodeikticus
in hypotonic media. Spheroplasts prepared by the action of penicillin are also stabilized by these concentrations of spermine and spermidine, but the protection is not as complete. Streptomycin, polylysine, and Ca
++
are also effective or partially effective stabilizers, but 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,5-diaminopentane, ornithine, Mg
++
, and monovalent cations have no protective action at 10
−3
m
concentration, and only a slight effect at higher concentrations. The osmotic stability conferred on protoplasts by spermine is irreversible. However, the protective effect of polyamines against lysis is not accompanied by restoration of viability to lysozyme protoplasts. There is a marked reduction in the loss of ultra-violet-absorbing material from the protoplasts to the medium when 10
−3
m
spermine is present.
FACTORS WHICH CONTROL MAXIMAL GROWTH OF BACTERIA
Authors: Sinclair N. A. , Stokes J. L.
Published: January 2020

Sinclair
, N. A. (Washington State University, Pullman)
and J. L. Stokes
. Factors which control maximal growth of bacteria. J. Bacteriol.
83:
1147–1154. 1962.—In a chemically defined medium containing 1% glucose and 0.1% (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
, both of these compounds are virtually exhausted by the growth of
Pseudomonas fluorescens
. If these carbon, energy, and nitrogen sources are added back to the culture filtrate, maximal growth to the level of the original culture is obtained. This process can be repeated several times with the same results. Eventually, however, the supply of minerals in the culture limits growth. When the nutrient levels are raised to 3% glucose and 0.3% (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
, lack of oxygen and low pH limit growth before the supply of nutrients is exhausted. There is no evidence that specific autoinhibitory substances are produced either in chemically defined or complex nitrogenous media or that physical crowding of the cells limits growth. The results with
Escherichia coli
are similar to those with
P. fluorescens
. However, after a few growth cycles aerobically and after only one growth cycle anaerobically, inhibitory substances, probably organic acids, accumulate and limit growth.