bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spherical Lactic Acid-producing Bacteria of Southern-grown Raw and Processed Vegetables
Authors: Mundt J. Orvin , Graham Wanda F. , McCarty I. E.
Published: December 2020

The frequency and levels of population of the spherical lactic acid-producing bacteria were determined on raw and processed yellow summer and zucchini squash, a variety of greens, green beans, okra, southern peas, and butter and lima beans, and on fresh cucumbers and corn flowers. Six taxa occurred consistently:
Leuconostoc mesenteroides
, yellow-pigmented streptococci,
Streptococcus faecium, Aerococcus viridans
, and
S. faecalis
and
S. faecalis
var.
liquefaciens
. The same taxa occurred with the same order of frequency on processed, frozen vegetables, but with a marked decrease in the occurrence of
S. faecalis
var.
liquefaciens. S. lactis, S. cremoris, S. equinus, S. bovis
, and pediococci were isolated infrequently. No other member of the viridans group of the streptococci and no member of the pyogenic group was isolated. Approximately 88% of the cultures were identified. Total counts of the lactic-acid-producing bacteria rarely exceeded 10
5
per gram of sample, and there was a reduction by 90% during the second year of study, probably because of drought. Only one bacterial species was found on 40% of the raw and 34% of the processed vegetable samples. Two or more species or taxa were present on the remainder of 153 raw and 56 processed vegetable samples.
A. viridans
was present on squash, greens, okra, and southern peas, and its frequency of occurrence on vegetables suggests that plants are its natural habitat.
Characteristics of
Clostridium botulinum
Type F Isolated from the Pacific Coast of the United States
Authors: Eklund M. W. , Poysky F. T. , Wieler D. I.
Published: December 2020

Some of the physiological and biochemical characteristics of a type F strain recently isolated from the United States were studied and compared with those of the prototype Langeland type F strain. The recent isolates were nonproteolytic, fermented sucrose and ribose, produced spores of low thermal resistance, produced a protoxin activated by trypsin, and grew and produced toxin at 38 F (3.3 C) from a spore inoculum. The prototype Langeland strain was proteolytic, did not ferment sucrose or ribose, and produced spores of relatively high thermal resistance, and the toxin of 3-day-old cultures was not activated by trypsin. Approximately two to three times the minimal lethal dose (MLD) of type F toxin from either Langeland or nonproteolytic strains was cross-neutralized by 1,000 anti-MLD of type E antitoxin. Antitoxin serums prepared by immunizing rabbits with the toxoid of the nonproteolytic type F isolate neutralized the toxin of the Langeland strain, but did not show cross-neutralization with the toxins of other types of
Clostridium botulinum
.
Growth Yields of Bacteria on Selected Organic Compounds
Authors: Mayberry W. R. , Prochazka G. J. , Payne W. J.
Published: December 2020

Cell yields were determined for two bacterial soil isolants grown aerobically in minimal media on a variety of synthetic organic compounds. 1-Dodecanol, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, and diethylene, triethylene, and tetraethylene glycols were tested. Two “biochemicals,” succinate and acetate, were also tested for comparison. Yields were calculated on the basis of grams of cells obtained per mole of substrate utilized, gram atom of carbon utilized, mole of oxygen consumed, and equivalent of “available electrons” in the substrates. This latter value appears to be nearly constant at 3 g of cells per equivalent of “available electrons.” Yields predicted on this basis for other bacteria and for yeasts on other substrates are in fair agreement with reported values.
Microbial Penetration and Utilization of Organic Aircraft Fuel-Tank Coatings
Authors: Crum M. G. , Reynolds R. J. , Hedrick H. G.
Published: December 2020

Microorganisms have been found as contaminants in various types of aircraft fuel tanks. Their presence introduces problems in the operation of the aircraft, including destruction of components such as the organic coatings used as protective linings in the fuel tanks. Microbial penetration and utilization of the currently used organic coatings, EC 776, DV 1180, PR 1560, and DeSoto 1080, were determined by changes in electrical resistances of the coatings; mycelial weight changes; growth counts of the bacteria; and manometric determinations on
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(GD-FW B-25) and
Cladosporium resinae
(QMC-7998). The results indicate EC 776 and DV 1180 to be less resistant to microbial degradation than the other coatings. Organic coatings, serving as a source of nutrition, would be conducive to population buildups in aircraft fuel tanks.
Seasonal Variations in Survival of Indicator Bacteria in Soil and Their Contribution to Storm-water Pollution
Authors: Van Donsel Dale J. , Geldreich Edwin E. , Clarke Norman A.
Published: December 2020

Survival of a fecal coliform (
Escherichia coli
) and a fecal streptococcus (
Streptococcus faecalis
var.
liquifaciens
) was studied through several years at shaded and exposed outdoor soil plots. Death rates for both organisms were calculated for the different seasons at both sites. The 90% reduction times for the fecal coliform ranged from 3.3 days in summer to 13.4 days in autumn. For the fecal streptococcus, 90% reduction times were from 2.7 days in summer to 20.1 days in winter. During summer, the fecal coliform survived slightly longer than the fecal streptococcus; during autumn, survival was the same; and in spring and winter the fecal streptococcus survived much longer than the fecal coliform. Both organisms were isolated from storm-water runoff collected below a sampling site when counts were sufficiently high in soil. Isolation was more frequent during prolonged rains, lasting up to 10 days, than during short rain storms. There was evidence of aftergrowth of nonfecal coliforms in the soil as a result of temperature and rainfall variations. Such aftergrowth may contribute to variations in bacterial count of storm-water runoff which have no relation to the sanitary history of the drainage area.
Recovery of Microorganisms Shed by Humans into a Sterilized Environment
Authors: Sciple G. W. , Riemensnider D. K. , Schleyer C. A. J.
Published: December 2020

An appartus and technique for quantitative comparison of the aerobic bacterial flora disseminated by human subjects has been developed. Dissemination from three healthy subjects was studied weekly for 3 weeks. Viable particles recovered ranged from 100,000 for one subject during a 30-min period to 620,000 for another subject during a 10-min period. One of the three subjects showed appreciably less variation in numbers of organisms shed than did the other two subjects. When the subjects were examined on consecutive days while wearing sterilized clothing, total particles recovered were reduced and variations in recoveries from run to run were slightly lessened. Three consistent nasal carriers of
S. aureus
were measured for dissemination. No viable
Staphylococcus aureus
was recovered from two of the carriers. However, 460,000 typable
S. aureus
particles were recovered during a 60-min period from the third carrier.
Bioautographic Technique for a Rapid Survey of Microbial Populations for the Production of Antibiotics and Other Metabolites
Authors: Meyers Edward , Smith Dorothy A. , Donovick Richard
Published: December 2020

A method is described for the detection of microorganisms capable of producing antibiotics or other metabolites. The microbial population under study was bioautographed against any desired indicator organism. This was easily accomplished by lifting the entire agar layer out of a petri dish on which the microbial population was grown and transferring it to an agar surface seeded with an indicator organism. The use of this technique in the search for metabolites other than antibiotics is pointed out. The advantages of the method, over previously reported methods, are discussed.
Influence of Phosphate Compounds on Certain Fungi and Their Preservative Effects on Fresh Cherry Fruits (
Prunus cerasus
, L.)
Authors: Post F. J. , Coblentz W. S. , Chou T. W. , Salunkhe D. K.
Published: December 2020

Studies were conducted to ascertain the retarding effects of four phosphate compounds (sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium tetraphosphate, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate) on molding of fresh cherries (
Prunus cerasus
, L.). In vitro studies on their antimycotic effects against the most common fungal spoilers,
Penicillium expansum, Rhizopus nigricans
, and
Botrytis
sp., were also carried out. Sodium tetraphosphate appeared to be the most effective compound in preserving cherries and also had the greatest antimycotic effects in the in vitro studies. A 10% concentration, when applied as a dip, inhibited fungal growth on fresh cherries for up to 30 days of storage at 1.1 C (34 F) and a relative humidity of 94%, whereas untreated controls showed fungal growth at 14 days. Following in order of effectiveness were sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate.
Continuous Production of
Clostridium tetani
Toxin
Authors: Zacharias Bengt , Björklund Marianne
Published: December 2020

The continuous production of
Clostridium tetani
toxin has been carried out in a 1-liter stirred culture vessel for as long as 65 days. Toxin production of approximately 120 flocculating units per ml was maintained with a dilution rate of 0.125 hr
-1
, a temperature of 34 C, a
p
H of 7.4, and the addition to the medium of 0.1 g of potassium chloride per liter. The average minimal lethal intraperitoneal dose of the toxin in mice was approximately 10
6
per ml.
Proteinase Production by a Species of
Cephalosporium
Authors: Oleniacz Walter S. , Pisano Michael A.
Published: December 2020

An unidentified
Cephalosporium
species produced an extracellular proteinase when grown in a variety of fermentation media under submerged culture conditions. Maximal enzyme yields were obtained in a medium containing 2% corn meal, 1% soybean meal, and 0.5% CaCO
3
in tap water. Optimal proteinase production in this medium occurred within a 72- to 96-hr growth period. High enzyme yields were also attained with media in which cottonseed meal, Fermatein, Pharmamedia, or soybean-α-protein was substituted for the soybean meal. The substitution of these ingredients for the corn meal resulted in significantly decreased proteinase yields. The addition of minerals or vitamins to the corn meal-soybean meal fermentation medium failed to enhance proteinase production. The enzyme was most active in an alkaline environment; maximal caseinolysis occurred at
p
H 7.5, whereas
p
H 8.5 was optimal for either hemoglobin or β-lactoglobulin hydrolysis. Enzymatic activity was also noted with either bovine albumin fraction V or soybean-α-protein substrates, whereas ovalbumin was not susceptible to enzymatic attack. The enzyme was stable within the
p
H range of 3.0 to 9.5 at 25 C for 2 hr, and at 5 C for 24 hr. The proteinase was stable upon heating for 10 min at 35 to 45 C, but it was totally inactivated at 70 C. The proteinase was unaffected by soybean inhibitor, partially inactivated by lima bean inhibitor, and completely inactivated by ovomucoid inhibitor.
Incorporation of 8-Azaguanine and Guanine by
Cladosporium resinae
Authors: Smith R. L. , Harrill Joan C.
Published: December 2020

With
14
C-tagged 8-azaguanine and guanine in a Bushnell-Haas medium with glucose as a carbon source, the rate of incorporation of the two bases was determined in
Cladosporium resinae
. There was a marked preference for the incorporation of 8-azaguanine over guanine.
Antiviral Activity of Carbobenzoxy Di- and Tripeptides on Measles Virus
Authors: Miller F. A. , Dixon G. J. , Arnett G. , Dice J. R. , Rightsel W. A. , Schabel F. M. , Mclean I. W.
Published: December 2020

A series of simple carbobenzoxy peptides showed high and consistent antiviral chemotherapeutic activity in cell culture. In general, greatest activity was found against the measles-distemper or herpesvirus groups, or both, but various representatives of the series had quantitatively and qualitatively different antiviral activities. Several of the compounds, showing the highest antimeasles activity, were investigated extensively. In human cell culture plaque assays, these compounds were active against measles virus at levels of from 15 to 500 μg/ml. At single doses of about 250 to 500 mg/kg, orally in three animal species, significant serum levels of drugs were detected in virus cell culture assays. The mode of action appeared to be therapeutic, as an effect was seen in cell systems infected for at least 24 hr before treatment.
New Diagnostic System for the Identification of Lactose-fermenting Gram-negative Rods
Authors: Wolfe Marian W. , Amsterdam Daniel
Published: December 2020

The identification of prompt lactose-fermenting gram-negative rods has generally relied heavily upon colonial morphology coupled with one or more indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer, citrate (IMViC) parameters, hydrogen sulfide, and motility. Studies were undertaken to compare diagnoses dependent solely upon the more orthodox criteria to a system for identification based upon hydrogen sulfide, ornithine decarboxylase, and citrate utilization (HOC). The results suggest that the IMViC scheme of identification is neither consistent nor applicable when applied to the current nomenclature of the above group of organisms and should be discarded, whereas the HOC system may prove to be of significant value to clinical microbiologists.
Susceptibility of Salmonellae to Cephalosporins and to Nine Other Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Adams Richard , Nelson John D.
Published: December 2020

Three cephalosporin-related antibiotics and nine other antimicrobial agents were studied for in vitro effectiveness against 54 recently isolated strains of
Salmonella
. Minimal inhibitory concentrations determined by the plate dilution method demonstrated the following percentages of resistance: ampicillin, 6%; tetracycline, 13%; streptomycin, 52%; sulfadiazine, 94%; cephaloglycin, 96%; and lincomycin, 100%. No strains were resistant to cephalothin, cephaloridine, chloramphenicol, colistimethate, kanamycin, and polymyxin B. The commonest serotype studied,
S. typhimurium
, showed the greatest antibiotic resistance, with 21% resistant to ampicillin, 36% resistant to tetracycline, and 71% resistant to streptomycin. Cephalothin and cephaloridine were highly effective in vitro but inhibitory concentrations of 20 to 40 μg of cephaloglycin per ml were required for the majority of
Salmonella
strains.
Enumeration of Autotrophic Ammonium-oxidizing Bacteria in Marine Waters by a Direct Method
Authors: Finstein M. S.
Published: December 2020

A membrane filter method was developed for enumerating, in mixed populations, autotrophic nitrifying bacteria which transform ammonium to nitrite. It gave counts in good agreement with estimates obtained by using a most-probable-number procedure. Compared to the most-probable-number procedure, the membrane method is convenient and precise. A means of extending the sensitivity of the membrane method is presented.
Air Filters for Germ-free Isolators
Authors: Yale Charles E. , Vivek Alapakkam R.
Published: December 2020

A germ-free isolator must have a perfect bacterial filter. This paper describes a new, relatively inexpensive, stainless-steel filter frame, which is easily and quickly assembled and protects the enclosed filter material at all times. Resistance to the flow of air was less than 4 inches of water at an airflow of 30 ft
3
/min through the filter frame with 204 inches
2
of surface area and four, one-half inch thick pieces of fiberglass filter material. This filter performed satisfactorily in our gnotobiotic laboratory and was found to be consistently 100% efficient in removing an aerosol containing
Serratia marcescens
from an air stream under a variety of operating conditions.
Phage Typing Scheme for
Salmonella braenderup
Authors: Sechter I. , Gerichter C. B.
Published: December 2020

A phage typing scheme for
Salmonella braenderup
based on both phage sensitivity and lysogenicity patterns is presented. Three
S. braenderup
symbiotic phages (br A, br B, and br C) were used in the phage sensitivity test, and three indicator strains were used for the lysogenicity test. The 424 strains examined were grouped in 15 of 64 possible types within this scheme. The most frequent types were: A
1
(32%), G
5
(21%), F
2
(14%), and H
1
(8%). All of the strains isolated successively from the same person belonged to the same type, as did the strains isolated from groups of individuals related to a common source.
Murine Toxicity of
Cochliobolus carbonum
Authors: Hamilton Pat B. , Nelson R. R. , Harris B. S. H.
Published: December 2020

Seventeen wild-type strains of the phytopathogenic fungus
Cochliobolus carbonum
, tested by intraperitoneal injection into mice, were lethal within 48 hr. The lethal effect appeared to be a toxic rather than an infectious process, because death occurred within 3 hr after injection of two of the isolates and heat-killed cultures were lethal. Assays of ascospore progeny from two crosses involving three isolates indicated that the toxic metabolites were under genetic control and quantitative regulation. Studies of the toxicological, cultural, and chemical characteristics of these three strains indicated that more than one murine toxin was present.
Detection and Incidence of Specific Species of Spoilage Bacteria on Fish
Authors: Chai T. , Chen C. , Rosen A. , Levin R. E.
Published: December 2020

Pseudomonas putrefaciens
has been found to constitute one of the major species of spoilage bacteria on haddock fillets. The initial population of this organism on fillets of high bacterial quality is uniformly below 4% and most frequently no greater than 1%. During refrigerated storage, the organism increases at a more rapid rate than the total psychrophilic population, comprising 50 to 90% of the total population when the total count exceeds 10
6
/g of tissue. Fluorescent pseudomonads were shown to constitute a second group of predominant pseudomonads constituting up to 19.3% of the total population after 8 days of refrigerated storage. Of a total of 45 fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from haddock fillets, 14 (31.1%) were found to be potent fish spoilers. The use of a soft-agar-gelatin plating technique showed a parallel increase of proteolytic organisms with total count indicating that proteolytic organisms other than
P. putrefaciens
and fluorescent pseudomonads increase at a slower rate than these two groups.
Limitations of Thioglycolate Broth as a Sterility Test Medium for Materials Exposed to Gaseous Ethylene Oxide
Authors: Doyle John E. , Mehrhof William H. , Ernst Robert R.
Published: December 2020

Although ethylene oxide is a reliable sterilizer, the process may be limited by diffusion. Thus, situations may exist where microorganisms are protected from the sterilizing gas. It is possible that the exterior of a substance may be sterilized, whereas the interior is not. We investigated three general types of materials in which this limitation of diffusion could occur: the bore of glass and plastic tubing, the center of cotton balls, and plastic adhesive film/paper backing interface. These materials were contaminated as close to their geometric center as possible with
Bacillus subtilis
var.
niger
spores occluded in crystals of sodium chloride. After exposure of the contaminated materials (except aluminum foil) to ethylene oxide, thioglycolate broth (a standard sterility-test medium) indicated sterility, whereas Trypticase Soy Broth indicated nonsterility. It is likewise possible that aerobic microorganisms, surviving in or on material after exposure to dry heat or steam sterilization processes, would not be recovered by thioglycollate broth. Entrapped aerobic organisms will probably not grow out in the low oxygen tension zone of an anaerobic medium such as thioglycollate broth. It is recommended than an aerobic medium such as Trypticase Soy Broth be used concurrently with thioglycolate broth for sterility testing.
Freeze-drying Various Strains of
Shigella
Authors: Berman Sanford , Altieri Patricia L. , Groffinger Albert , Lowenthal Joseph P. , Formal Samuel B.
Published: December 2020

Of six candidate strains of
Shigella
prepared in Brain Heart Infusion broth as freeze-dried vaccine, low survival rates were obtained with two of the most promising strains. Survival rates with these two strains were increased to acceptable levels when the organisms were suspended in a medium consisting of 8.2% sucrose, 0.01 M phosphate, 0.07% monosodium glutamate, and 2.5% human serum albumin. Alteration of the freezing temperature did not improve the recovery rates significantly.
Effect of Streptomycin on Some Enzyme Systems of
Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Mandal Amalendu , Majumdar S. K.
Published: December 2020

Streptomycin slightly inhibited lactic and malic dehydrogenases of
Bacillus subtilis
, and inhibited isocitric dehydrogenase to about 60%. The formation of lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic dehydrogenase, α-alanine dehydrogenase, and succinic dehydrogenase was stimulated by the antibiotic at a concentration causing 50% inhibition of bacterial growth. Streptomycin had practically no influence on the formation of malic dehydrogenase, but the antibiotic produced 48% inhibition of the synthesis of isocitric dehydrogenase.
Kalafungin, a New Antibiotic Produced by
Streptomyces tanashiensis
Strain Kala
Authors: Johnson Leroy E. , Dietz Alma
Published: December 2020

Kalafungin is a new antimicrobial agent obtained from the culture broth of a soil isolate of
Streptomyces tanashiensis
, designated
Streptomyces tanashiensis
strain Kala UC-5063. Kalafungin is a chemically stable, nonpolyene agent which is ex-extremely inhibitory in vitro against a variety of pathogenic fungi, yeasts, protozoa, gram-positive bacteria, and, to a lesser extent, gram-negative bacteria.
Production of Streptococcal M-Typing Antisera
Authors: Facklam Richard R. , Moody Max D.
Published: December 2020

M-antigens of seven M-types of group A streptococci were used to compare antigenic response in six breeds of rabbits: New Zealand White, New Zealand Red, Dutch, Googy, California, and Palomino. No appreciable differences among breeds were demonstrated. M-types used for immunization varied considerably in their ability to evoke a response of an antibody which met rigid criteria for streptococcal M-typing antisera. The importance of the injection and bleeding schedule and absorption conditions for preparing type-specific absorbed antisera were demonstrated. Evaluating and processing sera from individual animals at an optimal time rather than using pooled sera enhanced the possibilities for preparing satisfactory type-specific antisera.
Viral Depuration by Assaying Individual Shellfish
Authors: Seraichekas H. R. , Brashear D. A. , Barnick J. A. , Carey P. F. , Liu O. C.
Published: December 2020

A study was carried out to further evaluate the practicability of viral depuration by assaying individual shellfish. The Northern quahaug and a strain of the type 1 attenuated poliovirus were used as the working model. Two types of depuration systems were employed: the small experimental tanks and a pilot-size tank with a capacity of approximately 24 bushels (836 liters) of shellfish. Volumes of the individual shellfish samples were found uniform throughout the experiments when a prior selection for the weight of the shellfish was made. There was also no significant difference in volumes of the individual samples during the course of depuration (24 to 96 hr). Under controlled hydrographic conditions, however, the uptake of virus in individual shellfish varied considerably. In general, the individual variability reached 10- to 100-fold. This wide variation would explain the variability of viral contents obtained in pooled samples during depuration as reported previously. During a later phase of depuration, although a great majority of shellfish were free of the virus, a few still harbored minimal amounts of contaminants. The presence of virus in some of the shellfish after various periods of depuration would, theoretically, be obscured by the pooling of the sampled shellfish. Further examination of the negative samples by assaying larger quantities than those routinely used revealed that a few still contained virus. To simulate naturally polluted shellfish as closely as technically possible, shellfish were polluted with minimal amounts of virus. The shellfish were cleansed more rapidly by the depuration process than were those polluted with more virus. Since the naturally polluted shellfish were shown to contain less virus than those studied in the laboratory, it is anticipated that the former type of shellfish may be cleansed more readily by this process within a reasonable period of time. Justification for a field trial of depuration in this country is presented.
Differentiation of
Aerobacter-Klebsiella
Isolated from Sugarcane
Authors: Nunez William J. , Colmer Arthur R.
Published: December 2020

Three hundred and eighty-four isolates were obtained in the completed test portion of the most probable number determinations of coliforms in sugarcane sources. Of these isolates, 88% were of the (- - + +) indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer, citrate (IMViC) type and were identified as
Aerobacter aerogenes
according to the protocol of the American Public Health Association (1). Employing 359 of these cultures, a comparative biochemical, serological, and pathogenicity study was carried out with
Klebsiella pneumoniae
CDC no. 2211-66 type 9. More than 86% of the organisms tested gave biochemical reactions typical of
K. pneumoniae
. Of the other isolates, 2% were
Enterobacter aerogenes
, and the remaining 12% were identified as atypical, nonmotile IMViC types. Comparable agglutination titers were also observed between
A. aerogenes
and the CDC strain of
K. pneumoniae
when several randomly selected sugarcane strains were reacted with prepared
K. pneumoniae
whole cell antiserum. Neither the
K. pneumoniae
reference organism nor selected sugarcane isolates displayed pathogenicity for mice. On the basis of all the analyses performed, it was suggested that such organisms be classified as
K. pneumoniae
.
System for Inoculation of Blood in the Laboratory
Authors: Ellner Paul D.
Published: December 2020

A system is described that provides for the collection of blood in Vacutainer tubes containing Liquoid (sodium polyanethol sulfonate) and for the transport of such blood to the laboratory for inoculation. The procedure is compared to one utilizing open flasks of media, and the advantages of the closed system are discussed.
Microbial Content of Nonsterile Therapeutic Agents Containing Natural or Seminatural Active Ingredients
Authors: Schiller I. , Kuntscher H. , Wolff A. , Nekola M.
Published: December 2020

The relationship was investigated between various chemical or pharmaceutical production processes and the extent of microbial contamination, of natural origin, of the resulting products. The products contained active ingredients of vegetable, enzymatic, or animal origin. It was concluded that (i) vegetable products practically free from microbes can be produced if the proper manufacturing steps are taken; (ii) sterilization of the media used to manufacture antibiotics, etc., produces products with little contamination; and (iii) products containing extracts of animal organs require careful refrigeration and addition of preservatives to produce acceptable levels of microbial contamination.
Pathogenesis of Lethal Shock After Intravenous Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B in Monkeys
Authors: Hodoval L. F. , Morris E. L. , Crawley G. J. , Beisel W. R.
Published: December 2020

The pathogenesis of shock in the rhesus monkey given intravenous staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is not understood. Several cardiovascular changes produced by a highly purified preparation of SEB were studied after administration of doses ranging from 50 to 1,000 μg/kg. Irreversible arterial hypotension was found consistently at the higher doses. Arterial blood pressure and cardiac output declined substantially as shock developed. Total peripheral vascular resistance did not rise at any time, but showed a significant fall during the late stages of shock. Portal and central venous pressures remained essentially unchanged. Venous O
2
content and pO
2
declined gradually throughout the period of toxemia, but arterial O
2
content remained constant until just prior to death, when a slight fall was noted in some monkeys. These changes were consistent with a pooling of blood in the peripheral vascular beds and seemed to resemble cardiovascular responses reported to occur in monkeys during shock due to bacterial endotoxin. Epinephrine, administered in the late stages of shock, caused arterial pressure to increase almost immediately and cardiac output to return to normal about 1 min later. Although life could occasionally be prolonged for several hours by continuous or intermittent epinephrine infusions, this therapy never succeeded in reversing the lethal effects of high doses of SEB.
Isolation and Role of Nonheme Iron Protein in
Clostridium botulinum
Authors: Dyer John K. , Anderson A. W.
Published: December 2020

A type of iron-bound protein was isolated from
Clostridium botulinum
by a modification of the method used for isolating ferredoxin from
C. pasteurianum
. This method involved acetone and diethylaminoethyl cellulose treatments followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation. The protein exhibited maximal absorption in the ultraviolet region near 260 mμ. Portions of the isolated iron protein were separated by disc electrophoresis and, following specific iron-bound protein staining, showed a positive reaction in the same position on the gel column as was first demonstrated by use of cell-free extract. Evidence accumulated by use of a cell-free extract of
C. botulinum
suggests that pyruvate is metabolized through a phosphoroclastic system as demonstrated in other clostridia. It is probable that ferredoxin is an electron mediator between pyruvic oxidase and hydrogenase for hydrogen evolution and acetyl phosphate formation.

Images

Fig. 1
Terminal Disinfection in Hospitals with Quaternary Ammonium Compounds by Use of a Spray-Fog Technique
Authors: Friedman Herman , Volin Elaine , Laumann David
Published: December 2020

Spray-fogging of hospital rooms with a quarternary ammonium disinfectant was found to be an effective means of reducing the number of detectable airborne and surface bacteria. The level of bacterial contamination in hospital rooms was determined before and after fogging by means of the gravitational fallout method, the petri dish swab technique, and volumetric air-sampling procedures. Rooms vacated by patients infected with staphylococci, streptococci, pseudomonads, and salmonellae were tested and found to be effectively decontaminated of most of the detectable organisms by the fogging procedure.
Effect of Metallic Cations on the Viability of Phenol-treated
Escherichia coli
Authors: Harris N. D. , Richards J. P.
Published: December 2020

Five metallic cations (Fe
3+
, Cr
3+
, Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
, Mn
2+
; concentration range, 1.85 � 10
-4
to 37 � 10
-4
m
) were incorporated individually as chlorides into nutrient broth and agar media used for the recovery of phenol-treated
Escherichia coli
. The effects observed varied with the concentration and the ionic species. In nutrient agar, Fe
3+
and Cr
3+
were generally beneficial but were toxic at 37 � 10
-4
m
. Of the divalent ions tested, Ca
2+
and Mg
2+
usually gave higher counts in nutrient broth, except at a concentration of 9.25 � 10
-4
m
, whereas the effect of Mn
2+
was rather variable. Two possible explanations are suggested to explain these effects. Toxic materials may be removed from the media by the precipitates formed on the addition of Fe
3+
or Cr
3+
, or, in the case of the divalent ions, the integrity of the bacterial cell membranes may be maintained.
Rennin Enzyme of
Endothia parasitica
Authors: Sardinas Joseph L.
Published: December 2020

A microbiological screening program was instituted to search for an animal rennet substitute. Among 381 bacteria and 540 fungi tested, only one organism,
Endothia parasitica
, yielded a suitable enzyme substitute. The fungal rennin enzyme was crystallized and some of its properties were studied. It was found to be water-soluble, nondialyzable, precipitable with (NH
4
)
2
SO
4
and organic solvents (e.g., acetone and isopropanol), and destroyed by heating for 5 min at 60 C. It was determined to be most stable in water at
p
H 4.5 and to have an isoelectric point of
p
H 5.5. On acid hydrolysis, it yielded: alanine, ammonia, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine. No tryptophan was detected after alkaline hydrolysis. Its molecular weight was estimated to be in the range of 34,000 to 39,000. The milk-clotting activities of the fungal and animal rennins proved to be essentially identical in milk containing various concentrations of CaCl
2
. Both rennins manifested comparable clotting activities in milk at
p
H 6.0 to 7.0.
Bacteriology and Clinical Significance of Hemolytic
Haemophilus
in the Throat
Authors: Branson Dorothy
Published: December 2020

Hemolytic
Haemophilus
are rarely isolated in the clinical laboratory, as they do not grow on sheep or human blood-agar alone. On rabbit blood-agar they grow well and are hemolytic, but they grow less well and are not hemolytic on sheep blood-agar with added X and V factors. A survey was made to determine their incidence in pharyngitis. From 28 of 100 sore throats and from 57 of 100 normal throats, only normal bacterial flora were isolated. β-Streptococci were present in significant numbers in 9 sore and 11 normal throats; staphylococci in 8 sore and 4 normal throats; pneumococci in 20 sore and 11 normal throats;
H. influenzae
or
H. parainfluenzae
in 13 sore and no normal throats; hemolytic
Haemophilus
in 30 sore and 18 normal throats; enteric bacilli in 1 of each;
Candida
and
Neisseria
in 2 sore throats each. All of the 33 hemolytic
Haemophilus
isolates identified to species were
H. parahaemolyticus
. All were sensitive in vitro to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and tetracycline; 30 were sensitive to ampicillin and 30 to penicillin, 26 to novobiocin, and 12 to methicillin.
H. influenzae, H. parainfluenzae
, and
H. haemolyticus
are indistinguishable by Gram stain morphology, but
H. parahaemolyticus
is larger than the other three. Hemolytic and nonhemolytic species are indistinguishable by colonial morphology or by nutritional requirements; only hemolysis gives positive differentiation. Nevertheless, only rarely would this be of clinical importance.
H. parahaemolyticus
apparently may cause pharyngitis, but it is almost always susceptible to penicillin and rarely if ever causes sequelae.
Sporicidal Action of Auto-oxidized Ascorbic Acid for
Clostridium
Authors: Eller Charles , Edwards Fitzroy F. , Wynne E. Staten
Published: December 2020

Neutralized ascorbic acid (AA), buffered or unbuffered and autoclaved or filter-sterilized, was sporicidal for
Clostridium
. A 0.2% concentration of AA was generally employed, and spore counts were made in a soft-agar modification of Wynne's medium in Prickett tubes. Spores of
Clostridium botulinum
115B were less susceptible than those of
C. sporogenes
PA 3679, whereas
C. bifermentans
spores were by far the most sensitive. At 75 C, spores of PA 3679 were killed at a rate of about 9% at 0 min (warm-up) to 99+% at 100 min. The lower the temperature, the longer the time needed for a given lethality. The percentage of killing increased with increasing concentrations of AA, and the rate of killing was lower at a higher concentration of spores. At least two mechanisms were operative: a major mechanism involving a product(s) of AA auto-oxidation, and a minor mechanism involving copper-ascorbate toxicity. AA reduced in natural gas was not sporicidal after 18.5 hr at 25 C, whereas 92% of the spores were killed by oxidized AA. Although H
2
O
2
per se was sporicidal, catalase did not reverse lethality of fresh or oxidized AA. Dehydroascorbate was as sporicidal as any AA preparation. Added copper (0.00001%) increased the rate of lethality of freshly prepared AA from 66 to 83% but was not effective with thoroughly oxidized AA. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, NH
4
+
, and phosphate partially reversed AA toxicity, deionized water had no effect, and complex media, as well as thioglycolate, eliminated AA lethality. Since the percentage of killing was affected by spore concentration, AA did not seem to stimulate “lethal germination.”
Preservation of Mycobacterial Cultures
Authors: Gruft Howard , Clark Mary E. , Osterhout Mary
Published: December 2020

Storage of cultures of mycobacteria by freezing in skimmed milk was determined to be an easier and more reliable method of maintaining viability and stability than lyophilization.
Microbiology of Anaerobic Sludge Fermentation
Authors: Mah Robert A. , Sussman Carol
Published: December 2020

An anaerobic medium containing sludge supernatant fluid and glucose was used for enumeration of bacteria from the sludge fermentation. Comparison of viable counts from several separate samples consistently showed 10 to 100 times more anaerobic than aerobic bacteria. However, viable counts of the various samples differed by as much as 10 times; this variation probably reflects a change in the natural environment or sampling errors, or a combination of the two. Direct microscopic counts yielded values of about 10
10
/ml. The discrepancy between viable (10
8
to 10
9
/ml) and direct counts may be due to large numbers of dead cells. Random isolates of representative colonies from high dilutions exhibited the ability to ferment sugars and are not likely to be methane bacteria.
Chemotherapeutic Studies of Mycobacterial Infections in Mice
Authors: Olitzki A. L. , Olitzki Zahavah , Davis C. L.
Published: December 2020

Of six antibiotics investigated, streptovaricin C had the most marked chemotherapeutic effect on
Mycobacterium kansasii
infections in mice. By the intraperitoneal route this antibiotic caused elimination of the pathogens from all organs. Kanamycin eliminated the pathogens from the lungs of all animals and from the spleens and livers of most of them. Bluensomycin also removed the pathogens from the lungs of all animals, and spectinomycin and lincomycin, from the lungs of the majority of the animals. The three latter antibiotics lowered the bacterial counts in liver and spleen. Streptovaricin C also decreased the bacterial counts in brain, spleen, and liver of mice inoculated intracerebrally with
M. kansasii
. In one experiment it completely eliminated this pathogen from the spleen and almost completely from the liver. The effect of streptovaricin C on the cerebral infection was more marked than that of streptovaricin complex. Respiratory and cerebral infections of mice with
M. avium
, serotypes I and II, were limited by streptovaricin C, and marked decreases of the bacterial counts in brain, lungs, spleen, and liver were observed.
Induction of an Inhibitor of Influenza Virus Hemagglutination by Treatment of Serum with Periodate
Authors: Beardmore W. B. , Jones K. V. , Clark T. D. , Hebeka E. K.
Published: December 2020

Serum is commonly treated with potassium periodate to destroy nonspecific inhibitors of influenza virus hemagglutination. We have observed, however, that such treatment of serum without pre-existing inhibitor produced high titers of inhibitor against certain strains of influenza virus. Inhibitor was induced in the serum from several different animal species but not in hamster or mouse serum. Periodate treatment of serum albumin, fraction V, from several animals, including man, creates this inhibitor. Our data indicate that the inhibitor induced in the serum of various animal species differs in its mechanism of induction and in its resistance to receptor-destroying enzyme and trypsin. Hemagglutination by B/Singapore/3/64, B/Colorado/2/65, B/Georgia/1/65, and B/Massachusetts/3/66 strains of influenza virus is inhibited by periodate-treated human serum at dilutions as high as 1:5,120. The routine use of periodate treatment of serum in diagnostic and surveillance studies of influenza virus infections is not recommended.
Food-borne Virus: Detection in a Model System
Authors: Herrmann John E. , Cliver Dean O.
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this study was to develop methods for detection and quantitation of food-borne virus. Samples (25 g) of cottage cheese, contaminated with various quantities of coxsackievirus type A9, comprised the model system. Two of the methods presented have at least a 50% probability of detecting virus at levels below 5 plaque-forming units/25-g sample. Noteworthy aspects of these methods include use of a glycine-NaOH buffer (
p
H 8.8) containing approximately 1
m
MgCl
2
as the diluent in which the sample is slurried, treatment of the slurry with Freon TF and bentonite to facilitate centrifuge clarification, and concentration of the clarified sample extract by a two-stage process employing polyethylene glycol followed by ultracentrifugation. Virus in the final 0.5-ml sample concentrate was detected and quantitated by the plaque technique in rhesus monkey kidney cell cultures. Processing of the sample requires approximately 2 days, and the inoculated cultures may have to be observed for as long as 7 days thereafter. If these levels of sensitivity are desired, and if 12 samples per day are tested on a routine basis, the cost savings achieved by employing these methods rather than testing sample extracts without concentration may range from 75 to 90%.
Differential Chromatographic Bioassay for the Gentamicin Complex
Authors: Wagman Gerald H. , Oden Edwin M. , Weinstein Marvin J.
Published: December 2020

A differential paper chromatographic assay for the components of the gentamicin complex, designated as C
1
, C
1a
, and C
2
, is described. The gentamicins are separated on paper strips with the lower phase of a solvent mixture consisting of chloroform, methanol, and 17% ammonium hydroxide (2: 1: 1, v/v). After chromatographic separation, the paper strips are plated against
Staphylococcus aureus
ATCC 6538P, and the zones of activity are quantified against known standards.
Relief of Casein Inhibition of
Bacillus stearothermophilus
by Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium
Authors: Ashton D. H. , Busta F. F. , Warren J. A.
Published: December 2020

Growth of
Bacillus stearothermophilus
strain NCA 1518 Smooth in Dextrose Tryptone Agar (DTA) was inhibited by sodium caseinate. Binding studies indicated that sodium caseinate, when present in DTA, had the capacity to effect an iron deficiency which could cause inhibition of growth. Additions of essential cations, iron (1 mM), calcium (5 mM), magnesium (10 mM), or hydrogen ion (
p
H 5.7), relieved inhibition. Responses to and interactions among these relief factors were analyzed statistically. Equations were fitted to the data and were used to estimate responses to all treatment combinations within the ranges tested. Results from these studies indicated that calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen ion acted by decreasing the binding capacity of the protein for iron, rendering this metal available for metabolic needs. Evidence was obtained that ferrous rather than ferric iron was the limiting factor in DTA containing sodium caseinate.
Modified Littman Oxgall Agar to Isolate
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Botard Robert W. , Kelley Donald C.
Published: December 2020

Littman Oxgall Agar was modified by adding an extract of
Guizotia abyssinica
seeds with a water diluent for rehydration. In this medium, colonies of
Cryptococcus neoformans
became brown, but the color failed to develop in eight other yeasts and yeast phases of diphasic organisms. The depression of saprophytic fungi noted on Littman Oxgall Agar was not lost in the modification.
Hemagglutinating Activity of Enteroviruses Recovered in Two Primary Cell Lines and a Stable Cell Line
Authors: Berquist K. R. , Fritts Suzanne P.
Published: December 2020

A microhemagglutination technique was used to detect hemagglutinating properties of enteroviruses recovered in two primary cell lines, monkey kidney (MK) and human amnion (HAm), and in a continuous cell line, human embryonic lung (HEL). During a 3-year period, 1,528 isolations of enteroviruses were tested for hemagglutinating activity and hemagglutination inhibition response; 96.3% of the viruses were also identified by virus neutralization tests. Enteroviruses recovered in HEL were far less likely to develop hemagglutinins than viruses isolated in MK or HAm. Of the enteroviruses known to agglutinate human type O cells, 77.8% of the primary viral isolates from MK, 62.1% of the isolates from HAm, and 20.3% of the isolates from HEL exhibited this property. An additional 8.1% of the isolations obtained in HEL hemagglutinated human cells after a single passage in MK. The microhemagglutination technique using microtiter equipment was simple to perform, saved time and valuable typing sera, and helped to obtain identifications rapidly.
Clostridium botulinum
Type F in the Soil of Argentina
Authors: Giménez Domingo F. , Ciccarelli Alberto S.
Published: December 2020

One strain of
Clostridium botulinum
belonging to type F has been isolated from a soil sample taken in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Comparative studies carried out with strain Langeland of
C. botulinum
type F have shown a few differences between the two strains.
Mechanism of Isolated Hemicellulose and Xylan Degradation by Cellulolytic Rumen Bacteria
Authors: Dehority B. A.
Published: December 2020

Although certain strains of cellulolytic rumen bacteria cannot utilize isolated hemicelluloses or xylan as a source of energy, all strains examined can degrade or solubilize these materials from an 80% ethyl alcohol insoluble to a soluble form. Centrifugation and washing of the cellobiose-grown bacterial cells did not affect the rate or extent of utilization or degradation or both. When the level of a nonutilizing culture inoculum (either normal or washed) was doubled, a corresponding increase in the initial rate of degradation was observed. With a nitrogen-free medium, utilization of xylan was almost completely inhibited for a utilizing strain, whereas degradation by either type of organism was not markedly affected. Cellobiose medium cell-free culture filtrates from a nonutilizing strain were able to degrade or solubilize xylan. The percentage of degradation increased with the volume of cell-free filtrate, and all activity was lost when the filtrate was boiled. No utilization (loss in total pentose) was observed with cell-free filtrates from utilizing or nonutilizing strains. The release of free hexose from insoluble cellulose by culture filtrates from a nonutilizing strain was very limited. On the other hand, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-70L) and cellulodextrins were degraded to an 80% ethyl alcohol soluble form by filtrates from both types of organisms. Similar enzyme activity was obtained in cell-free culture filtrates from four additional strains of cellulolytic rumen bacteria (one xylan utilizer and three nonutilizers). When the assays were carried out aerobically, CMC-70L solubilization was reduced to a much greater extent than xylan or cellulodextrin solubilization. The enzyme or enzymes responsible for the degradation of hemicellulose by cellololytic rumen bacteria unable to utilize the hemicellulose as an energy source appear to be constitutive in nature, and this activity may be a nonspecific action of a β-1, 4-glucosidase or -cellulase.