bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature-pulse-induced "memory" in Bacillus subtilis macrofibers and a role for protein(s) in the left-handed-twist state
Authors: Favre D , Karamata D , Mendelson N H
Published: January 2020

Macrofibers in steady-state growth at one temperature were subjected to pulses of various durations at a temperature at which the opposite helix hand would form and then returned to the initial temperature. In an upshift pulse (20 to 48 degrees C), at least 3 min of incubation was required to induce a transient inversion that occurred later after return to 20 degrees C. Longer pulses resulted in shorter delays in onset of the transient inversion. This "memory" of a brief high-temperature pulse suggests that even a small amount of material can influence the twist of the entire macrofiber. Similar results were found for temperature downshift pulses corresponding to the opposite inversion. Adding chloramphenicol during the temperature pulse blocked the establishment of memory associated with the right-to-left inversion but not that associated with left-to-right inversion. In contrast, inhibiting peptidoglycan synthesis with D-cycloserine during the temperature pulse did not prevent establishment of memory. Inhibiting protein synthesis in mutants fixed as left-handed structures over the entire temperature range induced conversion to right-handedness but did not affect mutants fixed as right-handed structures. Adding protease to either live or formaldehyde-killed macrofibers always induced rotations of right-handed orientation. Steady-state growth in the presence of protease was found to shift the initial macrofiber twist towards the right-hand end of the twist spectrum. The phenomenon was observed in several mutants with different initial twists.
Regulation and genetic enhancement of beta-amylase production in Clostridium thermosulfurogenes
Authors: Hyun H H , Zeikus J G
Published: January 2020

We studied the general mechanism for regulation of beta-amylase synthesis in Clostridium thermosulfurogenes. beta-Amylase was expressed at high levels only when the organism was grown on maltose or other carbohydrates containing maltose units. Three kinds of mutants altered in beta-amylase production were isolated by using nitrosoguanidine treatment, enrichment on 2-deoxyglucose, and selection of colonies with large clear zones on iodine-stained starch-glucose agar plates. beta-Amylase was produced only when maltose was added to cells growing on sucrose in wild-type and catabolite repression-resistant mutant strains, but the differential rate of enzyme synthesis in constitutive mutants was constant regardless of the presence of maltose. In carbon-limited chemostats of wild-type and catabolite repression-resistant mutant stains, beta-amylase was expressed on maltose but not on glucose or sucrose. beta-Amylase synthesis was immediately repressed by the addition of glucose. Therefore, we concluded that beta-amylase synthesis in C. thermosulfurogenes was inducible and subject to catabolite repression. The addition of cAMP did not eliminate the repressive effect of glucose. The mutants were generally characterized in terms of beta-amylase production, growth properties, fermentation product formation, and alterations in glucose isomerase and glucoamylase activities. A hyperproductive mutant produced eightfold more beta-amylase on starch medium than the wild type and more rapidly fermented starch to ethanol.
Efficient synthesis and secretion of a thermophilic alpha-amylase by protein-producing Bacillus brevis 47 carrying the Bacillus stearothermophilus amylase gene
Authors: Tsukagoshi N , Iritani S , Sasaki T , Takemura T , Ihara H , Idota Y , Yamagata H , Udaka S
Published: January 2020

Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus brevis 47-5, carrying the Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase gene on pUB110 (pBAM101), synthesized the same alpha-amylase as the donor strain as determined by the enzyme's thermal stability and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence. Regardless of the host, the 34-amino acid signal peptide of the enzyme was processed at exactly the same site between two alanine residues. B. brevis 47-5(pBAM101) secreted the enzyme most efficiently of the hosts examined, 100, 15, and 5 times more than B. stearothermophilus, Escherichia coli HB101(pH1301), and B. subtilis 1A289(pBAM101), respectively. The efficient secretion of the enzyme in B. brevis 47-5(pBAM101) was suggested to be due to the unique properties of the cell wall of this organism.
Structural differences in the catalytic subunits of form I and form II ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides
Authors: Gibson J L , Tabita F R
Published: January 2020

There are significant differences in the large subunits of form I and form II ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase isolated from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Two-dimensional peptide mapping of carboxymethylated large subunits clearly indicates that there are differences in the primary structure of the two proteins. These results are supported by limited proteolysis with three different proteases and by subsequent analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These data, in conjunction with immunological studies and investigations on the regulation of the two enzymes, support the conclusion that the large subunits of form I and form II ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase may be different gene products.
Porphyrin binding by the surface array virulence protein of Aeromonas salmonicida
Authors: Kay W W , Phipps B M , Ishiguro E E , Trust T J
Published: January 2020

Congo red binding by virulent A-layer-containing (A+) and avirulent A-layer-deficient (A-) strains of Aeromonas salmonicida was examined. Congo red binding to A+ cells was enhanced by salt and thus hydrophobically driven, but at low Congo red concentrations binding was salt independent. Congo red was bound by A+ cells by a kinetically distinct mechanism (Kd, 0.25 microM) which was absent in A- isogenic strains. Purified A-layer protein ("A protein") protein A also bound Congo red with similar affinity (Kd, 0.40 microM). Congo red binding was structurally specific; it was not influenced by a wide variety of compounds including amino acids and nucleotides and only weakly inhibited by structurally similar dyes. However, protoporphyrin IX and hemin were strong competitive inhibitors of Congo red binding. Protoporphyrin and hemin were bound only by A+ strains (KdS of 0.41 and 0.63 microM, respectively). Furthermore, binding of these porphyrins was strongly inhibited by Congo red but weakly inhibited by hematoporphyrin. Purified A protein also bound protoporphyrin IX and hemin with affinities similar to those of A+ cells (KdS of 0.94 and 0.41 microM, respectively.
Sigma 29-like protein is a common sporulation-specific element in bacteria of the genus Bacillus
Authors: Trempy J E , Haldenwang W G
Published: January 2020

A monoclonal antibody specific for an antigenic determinant on the Bacillus subtilis sporulation-induced sigma factor sigma 29 reacted with proteins similar in size to sigma 29 in extracts of sporulating Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus natto, and Bacillus pumilus but not in extracts prepared from vegetatively growing cultures of these bacteria. These results indicate that RNA polymerase modifications, initially described for B. subtilis, are likely to be common among sporulating Bacillus spp. and that at least some of the specific modifications that are observed in sporulating B. subtilis are conserved among members of this genus.
F'-coded, temperature-sensitive lambda cI857 repressor gene for easy construction and regulation of lambda promoter-dependent expression systems
Authors: Mieschendahl M , Müller-Hill B
Published: January 2020

We describe the construction and properties of an F' factor which carries the temperature-sensitive cI857 allele of the repressor gene of coliphage lambda and which lacks the lambda cro function. This episome can easily be transferred to any F- and F' Escherichia coli strain, thus facilitating the construction and regulation of lambda promoter-dependent expression systems without the use of defective prophages.
EFFECT OF TUNGSTATE ON THE UPTAKE AND FUNCTION OF MOLYBDATE IN
AZOTOBACTER AGILIS
Authors: Bulen William A.
Published: January 2020

Bulen, William
A. (Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Yellow Springs, Ohio). Effect of tungstate on the uptake and function of molybdate in
Azotobacter agilis
. J. Bacteriol.
82:
130–134. 1961.—The reported competitive inhibition of molybdate by tungstate was investigated in an effort to elucidate molybdenum functions associated with nitrogen fixation by
Azotobacter agilis
(
A. vinelandii
). Growth, respiration, and N
2
15
-incorporation experiments with normal and molybdenum-deficient cells indicated that tungstate inhibits the uptake of molybdate but does not compete with the metabolically functional molybdenum of cells metabolizing N
2
. Neither a molybdenum requirement nor a tungstate inhibition was observed with cells metabolizing urea.
COMPLEMENT FIXATION TEST IN EXPERIMENTAL CLINICAL AND SUBCLINICAL MELIOIDOSIS
Authors: Nigg Clara , Johnston Margaret M.
Published: January 2020

Nigg, Clara
(University of California, Berkeley),
and Margaret M. Johnston
. Complement fixation test in experimental clinical and subclinical melioidosis. J. Bacteriol.
82:
159–168. 1961.—Soluble stable antigens prepared from
Pseudomonas pseudomallei
gave 4+ complement fixation reactions in a dilution of 1 to 8,000 when tested with specific rabbit antiserum diluted 1 to 10,000.

The complement fixation reaction was positive in 100% of experimentally infected rabbits 9 to 11 days postinfection. Infected guinea pigs and monkeys showed similar results.

Monkeys inoculated with very small infecting doses of
P. pseudomallei
developed positive complement fixation reactions in the absence of clinical manifestation of infection. An anamnestic complement-fixing antibody response could be induced in such monkeys, after the titer had dropped to approximately the preinfection level, by inoculating very small doses of viable
P. pseudomallei
or larger doses of killed melioidosis vaccine.

The complement fixation test described appeared to be both sensitive and specific, and should be of value in human melioidosis which cannot be diagnosed on the basis of clinical manifestations alone.

It is suggested that subclinical infections may play a role in the epidemiology of human meliodosis. The potential application of the complement fixation test to serological surveys in areas where melioidosis occurs endemically is discussed.
MYCOPLASMA INOCUUM
SP. N., A SAPROPHYTE FROM CHICKENS
Authors: Adler H. E. , Shifrine M. , Ortmayer Herrad
Published: January 2020

Adler
, H. E. (University of California, Davis), M.
Shifrine, and Herrad Ortmayer
.
Mycoplasma inocuum
sp. n., a saprophyte from chickens. J. Bacteriol.
82:
239–240. 1961.—A new species of
Mycoplasma
was isolated from the infraorbital sinuses of chickens. The organism, a saprophyte, differs from all known mycoplasmas of avian origin. A description of this isolate is given. It has been named
Mycoplasma inocuum
sp. n.
HANSENULA WICKERHAMII
SP. N., A NEW YEAST FROM FINNISH SOIL
Authors: Capriotti Augusto
Published: January 2020

Capriotti, Augusto
(l'Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy).
Hansenula wickerhamii
sp. n., a new yeast from Finnish soil. J. Bacteriol.
82:
259–360. 1961.—
Hansenula wickerhamii
sp. n. is described; it was isolated from a Finnish soil, and is named in honor of Lynferd J. Wickerham.
BACTERIAL DISSIMILATION OF STREPTOMYCIN
Authors: Klein Dolph , Pramer David
Published: January 2020

Klein, Dolph
(Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N. J.),
and David Pramer
. Bacterial dissimilation of streptomycin. J. Bacteriol.
82:
505–510. 1961.—The influence of various nutritional and environmental factors on the dissimilation of streptomycin by a pseudomonad isolated from soil was investigated, and conditions most suitable for growth of the bacterium, in a medium that contained streptomycin as a sole source of energy, nitrogen, and organic carbon, were determined. Development of the bacterium as measured by plate counts was correlated with degradation of streptomycin as measured by both biological and spectrophotometric assay procedures.

Periodic analyses of culture filtrates indicated that the three constituent moieties of the streptomycin molecule underwent simultaneous transformation when the antibiotic was degraded microbiologically. Washed cell suspensions were capable of immediate and rapid oxidation of streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, and hydroxystreptomycin, but cell-free sonic extracts, in the absence and presence of cofactors, did not oxidize streptomycin or any of a number of derivatives or degradation products of the antibiotic. Evidence was obtained that the bacterial dissimilation of streptomycin involves an oxidation system in which methylene blue can act as hydrogen acceptor.
ANTIGENIC STUDIES OF CANDIDA
Authors: Hasenclever H. F. , Mitchell William O. , Loewe Joseph
Published: January 2020

Hasenclever
, H. F. (U. S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md.),
William O. Mitchell, and Joseph Loewe
. Antigenic studies of Candida. II. Antigenic relation of
Candida albicans
group A and group B to
Candida stellatoidea
and
Candida tropicalis
. J. Bacteriol.
82:
574–577. 1961.—Previous work in our laboratory has shown the presence of two antigenic groups within the species
Candida albicans
. These groups have been designated as groups A and B. Subsequent studies have been conducted to show the antigenic relationship of these groups with
Candida stellatoidea
and
Candida tropicalis
.

Antisera to two strains each of
C. albicans
group A,
C. albicans
group B,
C. stellatoidea
, and
C. tropicalis
were used in this investigation. Individual suspensions from each of nine strains of
C. stellatoidea
and from ten strains each of the other groups and species were used to test the agglutinative properties of unadsorbed and adsorbed antisera. Separate samples of antisera to each immunizing strain were reciprocally cross adsorbed with the other immunizing strains and tested for agglutination.

The results indicated that
C. albicans
group A and
C. tropicalis
were antigenically identical and
C. albicans
group B and
C. stellatoidea
were antigenically indistinguishable.
GLUCOSE DEHYDROGENATION IN BACTERIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: Hauge Jens G.
Published: January 2020

Hauge, Jens
G. (National Institute for Public Health, Oslo, Norway). Glucose dehydrogenation in bacteria: a comparative study. J. Bacteriol.
82:
609–614. 1961.—Extracts of a series of bacteria reported to convert glucose to gluconic acid via particulate enzyme systems were fractionated by differential centrifugation into heavy particles, light particles, and particle-free supernatant.

Particles from
Acetobacter suboxydans, Pseudomonas fluorescens
, and
Bacterium anitratum
had several features in common, notably a high activity with indophenol as acceptor and no significant activity with methylene blue, tetrazolium, diphosphopyridine nucleotide, or triphosphopyridine nucleotide. The pH optima with indophenol were lower than those with oxygen as acceptor. These features are in line with the hypothesis that the particles of these organisms oxidize glucose with a tightly bound niacinamide coenzyme as primary acceptor.

A triphosphopyridine nucleotide-linked glucose dehydrogenase was found present in the supernatant fraction of
P. fluorescens
.

Azotobacter vinelandii
and
Aerobacter aerogenes
particles oxidized glucose to a measurable degree with oxygen as acceptor only.
ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE AND SEROLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF
MYCOBACTERIUM, ACTINOMYCES, STREPTOCOCCUS
, AND
DIPLOCOCCUS
Authors: Kwapinski Jerzy B. , Snyder Marshall L.
Published: January 2020

Kwapinski, Jerzy
B. (South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg),
and Marshall L. Snyder
. Antigenic structure and serological relationships of
Mycobacterium, Actinomyces, Streptococcus
, and
Diplococcus
. J. Bacteriol.
82:
632–639. 1961.—Chemical fractions, 72 in all, from four strains of
Mycobacterium
, four strains of
Actinomyces
, and four strains of
Streptococceae
, were tested in homologous and heterologous antisera prepared against intact cells and chemical fractions of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.

Antigens isolated from the cytoplasm of these bacteria proved to be serologically related to each other. In contrast, most of the cell-wall antigens, except those extracted with either 30% sodium hydroxide or formamide at 100 to 130 C, were species specific. Sera prepared against the individual fractions of
Mycobacterium
reacted only with the strain of
Mycobacterium
from which they were isolated.
UNSATURATED AMINO ACIDS V
Authors: Shapira Jacob , Dittmer Karl
Published: January 2020

Shapira, Jacob
(Department of Chemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee)
and Karl Dittmer
. Unsaturated amino acids. V. Microbiological properties of some halogenated olefinic amino acids. J. Bacteriol.
82:
640–647. 1961.—It has been shown previously that several amino acid analogues containing unsaturated linkages were inhibitors of the growth of
Escherichia coli
and
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. This paper reports the results obtained when a series of unsaturated halogen-containing amino acids was examined. The
cis
isomer of ω-chloroallylglycine showed the greatest toxicity yet found in this series of unsaturated amino acids toward
E. coli
, whereas the
trans
-isomer was usually far less toxic. The major effect of
cis
-ω-chloroallylglycine in
E. coli
appeared to be to extend the lag phase before the normal rate of growth began. A wide variety of amino acids was capable of partially or completely preventing the toxicity of low levels of these compounds. At higher levels, relatively few amino acids (primarily valine, leucine, and glutamic acid) were effective. In
E. coli, cis
-ω-chloroallylglycine showed an unusual [Formula: see text] relationship with both glutamic acid and valine over a wide range in concentration.
GLUCOSE UPTAKE AND DISSIMILATION BY X-IRRADIATED, STARVED, AND DIVISION-INHIBITED YEAST
Authors: Spoerl Edward , Quiner C. W.
Published: January 2020

Spoerl, Edward
(U. S. Army Medical Research Laboratory, Fort Knox, Ky.)
and C. W. Quiner
. Glucose uptake and dissimilation by X-irradiated, starved, and division-inhibited yeast. J. Bacteriol.
82:
764–769. 1961.—Estimates of the relative participation of the pentose cycle and the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathways in sugar dissimilation, by means of C
14
O
2
recoveries from yeast cells fed specifically labeled glucose, showed significant differences indicating less pentose cycle activity in starved irradiated cells than in unirradiated cells. This result is in qualitative agreement with previously observed respiratory quotient values, which indicated greater glycolytic activity in starved irradiated cells; this implicates a change in pathways of dissimilation in the responses observed following irradiation and starvation. A concurrent lower rate of uptake of glucose from the medium was observed for unirradiated, starved cells as compared to irradiated cells. The possibility that the membrane is the site of the cellular change involved in these responses is discussed.
UTILIZATION OF S-ADENOSYLMETHIONINE BY MICROORGANISMS
Authors: Shapiro Stanley K.
Published: January 2020

Shapiro, Stanley K.
(Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Ill.). Utilization of S-adenosylmethionine by microorganisms. J. Bacteriol.
83:
169–174. 1962.—Two types of mutants of
Aerobacter aerogenes
that utilize S-adenosylmethionine for growth are described. One type also responds to methionine, 5′methylthioadenosine, or a combination of homocysteine and S-methylmethionine. The second type of mutant responds only to S-adenosylmethionine or a combination of adenine and S-ribosylmethionine. The most common type of methionine mutant is unable to utilize S-adenosylmethionine for growth. The mutants are able to utilize the compounds that support growth as the sole source of sulfur. S-Adenosylhomocysteine is not utilized for growth by any of the mutants of
A. aerogenes
described here. There are no significant differences between the mutants and the wild type in the enzymatic decomposition of S-adenosylmethionine or in the activity of the homocysteine transmethylases. S-Adenosylmethionine does not replace the methionine requirement of the lactic acid bacteria, although
Lactobacillus arabinosus
shows half-maximal growth with the sulfonium compound and homocysteine. S-Adenosylhomocysteine is not utilized for growth by these organisms.
COLONIAL GROWTH OF
MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM
OBSERVED WITH THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE
Authors: Shifrine Moshe , Pangborn Jack , Adler Henry E.
Published: January 2020

Shifrine, Moshe
(University of California, Davis),
Jack Pangborn, and Henry E. Adler
. Colonial growth of
Mycoplasma gallisepticum
observed with the electron microscope. J. Bacteriol.
83:
187–192. 1962.—
Mycoplasma gallisepticum
strain S
6
was grown on collodion film on solid medium. Samples were removed every few hours, fixed, washed, shadowed, and observed with the electron microscope. Three distinct forms of growth were observed: elementary cells (hexagonally shaped), platycytes, and exoblasts. A tentative mode of growth was postulated. The significance of the angular morphology to the relation between mycoplasmas and L-forms of bacteria is discussed.
USE OF 8-AZAGUANINE FOR THE ISOLATION OF AUXOTROPHIC MUTANTS OF
BACILLUS MEGATERIUM
Authors: Wachsman J. T. , Mangalo R.
Published: January 2020

Wachsman, J. T.
(University of Illinois, Urbana)
and R. Mangalo
. Use of 8-azaguanine for the isolation of auxotrophic mutants of
Bacillus megaterium
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
35–37. 1962.—8-Azaguanine is bactericidal for
Bacillus megaterium
strain KM, primarily under conditions where growth is possible. This analogue has been used to enrich for auxotrophic mutants in ultraviolet-irradiated populations. The survivors were found to contain from 1.6 to 33.0% amino acid auxotrophs and from 19 to 29% pyrimidine nucleoside auxotrophs. Since many different biological systems are sensitive to 8-azaguanine, the use of this analogue to enrich for auxotrophic mutants may have a more general application than techniques currently employed.
EVALUATION OF A NEW METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF HOMOGENEOUS MYCELIAL SUSPENSIONS
Authors: Guidry D. J. , Trelles G. H.
Published: January 2020

Guidry, D. J.
(Louisiana State University, New Orleans)
and G. H. Trelles
. Evaluation of a new method for the preparation of homogeneous mycelial suspensions. J. Bacteriol.
83:
53–60. 1962.—An all-glass tissue homogenizer (providing both conical and cylindrical grinding surfaces) was employed in the preparation of homogeneous mycelial suspensions. Pellets of mycelium from constant shake liquid culture were submitted to grinding for various periods of time. The effect of grinding time on optical density of the homogenate, hyphal fragment size, and viability of the fungus was determined. A grinding time of 4 min was found to yield suspensions of mycelium in which 89% of the hyphal fragments contained four or less than four cells.

Optical density was used as the basis for both preparation of standard samples of inoculum and measurement of growth. Preparation of a light transmittance curve facilitates the preparation of suspensions of any desired concentration.

Although plate colony counts on samples from the same flask showed satisfactory agreement, there was appreciable variation in counts on samples from different flasks.

The variation in growth from flasks receiving equal samples of inoculum was also determined. Results indicate that, at concentrations of mycelium equal to an optical density of 0.301, a difference of 15% or more in the optical density of two samples (10 flasks per sample) can be accepted as significant.

Some of the factors influencing variation in viability of inoculum as well as variation in flask growth have been determined. Ways in which experimental errors can be kept to a minimum are discussed.
TIME AND CONCENTRATION RELATIONSHIPS IN THE LONG-CHAIN REACTION OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI IN HOMOLOGOUS ANTISERUM AND AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF TEST RESULTS
Authors: Hahn Jerome J. , Cole Roger M.
Published: January 2020

Hahn, Jerome J.
(National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.)
and Roger M. Cole
. Time and concentration relationships in the long-chain reaction of group A streptococci in homologous antiserum and an improved method for evaluation of test results. J. Bacteriol.
83:
85–96. 1962—We have described a statistically controlled method for evaluating the long chain reaction of group A streptococci grown in homologous antisera. The method is based on the chi-square analysis of the frequency distribution of chain lengths found in test and control sera, and is called the Size-Class Frequency method. Useful tables for rapid application of the method are presented. It is reproducible, and is simpler, more rapid, and more sensitive than the previously described method.

Using this method, we have shown that the long-chain reaction reaches a maximum and then declines with time of incubation. The time at which the maximal response and height are attained depends directly on the initial antibody concentration and inversely on the initial antigen concentration. The inter-relationships of time, antibody concentration, total number of cocci, total number of chains, and long-chain frequency (or chain length) are presented in the discussion.

In view of the findings reported here, we suggest a re-evaluation of possible methods of “dechaining” or “chaining” among group A streptococci. Present evidence appears inadequate to explain the long-chain reaction on the basis of inhibition of a single enzyme.
CULTURE AND METABOLISM OF
MYCOPLASMA GLLISEPTICUM
Authors: Gill James W.
Published: January 2020

Gill, James
W. (University of New Hampshire, Durham). Culture and metabolism of
Mycoplasma gallisepticum
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
213–218. 1962.—
Mycoplasma gallisepticum
A5969, a strong-growing pleuropneumonia-like organism pathogenic for poultry, was found to be intolerant of extremes of temperature and potassium ion concentration. It ferments glucose to the benefit of cell yield, but glycolysis appears not to be essential to growth. Anaerobic growth can be maintained if pyruvate is added as a hydrogen recipient.

A transamination system between glutamic acid and aspartic acid, more rapid toward the formation of aspartic acid, was found in a frozen-cell preparation.

Two small peptides were observed to be produced by the organism and liberated into the medium under normal growth conditions. The composition of the peptides shows a relationship to the cell wall of certain bacteria.
SEROLOGY OF THE SOLUBLE ANTIGENS OF
CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS
TYPES A-F BY AGAR-GEL DIFFUSION
Authors: Ellner Paul D. , Bohan Carolyn D.
Published: January 2020

Ellner, Paul
D. (University of Vermont, Burlington)
and Carolyn D. Bohan
. Serology of the soluble antigens of
Clostridium perfringens
types A–F by agar-gel diffusion. J. Bacteriol.
83:
284–296. 1962.—A serological study by agar-gel diffusion of the soluble antigens of 39 strains of the
Clostridium perfringens
group has shown them to be extremely heterogeneous. Strain variation occurred within the six types, and common antigens shared among the six types were frequently observed. Attempts to produce type-specific sera by absorption were unsuccessful, due to incomplete removal of common antibodies.
EFFECT OF pH AND INORGANIC SALTS ON PENICILLINASE FORMATION IN
STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
Authors: Leitner Felix , Cohen Sidney
Published: January 2020

Leitner, Felix
(Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, Ill.)
and Sidney Cohen
. Effect of pH and inorganic salts on penicillinase formation in
Staphylococcus aureus
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
314–323. 1962.—
Staphylococcus aureus
strain 55-C-1 exhibited a progressive increase in penicillinase activity as the pH of its growth medium dropped from 6.0 to 4.7. At pH 4.7, the increase in enzymic activity was inhibited markedly by Ca
++
, somewhat less by Mg
++
, and moderately by NaCl, KCl, and NH
4
Cl. Inhibition by NaH
2
PO
4
was greater than by NaCl. Growth at the same pH, in small concentrations of Fe(NH
4
)
2
(SO
4
)
2
(10
−5
to 10
−6
m
), elevated penicillinase activity strikingly, an effect shared to a lesser degree with FeCl
3
, CoCl
2
, and, very slightly, MnCl
2
. The available evidence indicated that the changes in enzymic activity were the result of changes in rate of formation of the enzyme.
NATURAL OCCURRENCE OF INDUCED OR ARTIFICIAL FLAGELLAR ANTIGENS IN
SALMONELLA NEWPORT
Authors: Douglas G. W. , McWhorter Alma C. , Edwards P. R.
Published: January 2020

Douglas
, G. W. (Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.),
Alma C. McWhorter, and P. R. Edwards
. Natural occurrence of induced or artificial flagellar antigens in
Salmonella newport
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
348–350. 1962.—Two epidemiologically related cultures of
Salmonella newport
, which possessed naturally occurring artificial or induced antigens in phase 2, were studied. It was demonstrated that similar antigens may be obtained by cultivation of normal
S. newport
cultures in appropriate antisera. These antigens were assigned the symbols 1,12. The diagnostic problems posed by the natural occurrence of induced antigens are mentioned.
TRANSFORMATION OF STREPTOCOCCI TO STREPTOMYCIN RESISTANCE
Authors: Perry Dennis , Slade Hutton D.
Published: January 2020

Perry, Dennis
(Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.)
and Hutton D. Slade
. Transformation of streptococci to streptomycin resistance. J. Bacteriol.
83:
443–449. 1962.—A total of 43 strains of streptococci, belonging to serological groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, O, and Q, and three ungroupable strains were exposed to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from streptomycin-resistant streptococci belonging to groups A, C, D, G, H, and ungroupable strains. Transformation to streptomycin resistance was obtained with streptococci belonging to groups F, H, and O and a serologically unclassifiable streptococcus. The transformable streptococci incorporated DNA from both homologous and heterologous groups and strains of streptococci. Certain strains within a group served as DNA donors but not as DNA recipients, and certain strains served as DNA donors for some strains but not for others. Even within an individual group, not all strains were transformable. The number of transformants was influenced by the source of DNA and the DNA recipient strain used. Substances which affect cell permeability did not enable transformation to occur. Radioisotope studies with P
32
-labelled DNA showed that nontransformable strains incorporated amounts of DNA comparable to the transformable strains.
A DEFINED AGAR MEDIUM FOR GENETIC TRANSFORMATION OF
NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS
Authors: Catlin B. Wesley , Schloer Gertrude M.
Published: January 2020

Catlin, B. Wesley
(Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.)
and Gertrude M. Schloer
. A defined agar medium for genetic transformation of
Neisseria meningitidis
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
470–474. 1962.—An agar medium was developed for use in quantitative genetic studies of
Neisseria meningitidis
strain 15. It contains eight inorganic salts, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, arginine, cysteine, glycine, sodium glutamate, and purified agar. Abundant surface growth in the absence of supplemental carbon dioxide was obtained during 50 serial subcultures. A close correspondence was found between numbers of parental type colonies developing on the defined medium and on a complex medium. Cells subcultured serially three or four times on defined agar medium and placed directly into a solution of transforming deoxyribonucleic acid in defined liquid medium were susceptible to transformation without additional supplements. Of the treated population, 0.1 to 0.3% of the cells were transformed to streptomycin resistance.
EFFECT OF SODIUM SULFATE AND MAGNESIUM SULFATE ON HETEROPOLYSACCHARIDE SYNTHESIS IN GRAM-NEGATIVE SOIL BACTERIA
Authors: Markovitz Alvin , Sylvan Susan
Published: January 2020

Markovitz, Alvin
(University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.)
and Susan Sylvan
. Effect of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate on heteropolysaccharide synthesis in gram-negative soil bacteria. J. Bacteriol.
83:
483–489. 1962.—The effect of Na
2
SO
4
and MgSO
4
on heteropolysaccharide biosynthesis has been investigated in gram-negative bacteria isolated from soil. These bacteria may be divided into three arbitrary groups on the basis of the effect of Na
2
SO
4
and MgSO
4
on heteropolysaccharide synthesis:
group 1
, synthesis of polysaccharides containing uronic acid is inhibited by increasing the concentration of sulfate ion;
group 2
, synthesis of polysaccharides containing uronic acid is stimulated by sulfate ions;
group 3
, synthesis of polysaccharide
not
containing uronic acid is stimulated minimally by Na
2
SO
4
.
STUDIES ON THE METABOLIC FUNCTION OF BRANCHED-CHAIN VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS, GROWTH FACTORS FOR RUMINOCOCCI I
Authors: Allison Milton J. , Bryant Marvin P. , Doetsch Raymond N.
Published: January 2020

Allison, Milton
J. (Dairy Cattle Research Branch, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Md.), M. P. Bryant, and R. N. Doetsch. Studies on the metabolic function of branched-chain volatile fatty acids, growth factors for ruminococci. I. Incorporation of isovalerate into leucine. J. Bacteriol.
83:
523–532. 1962.—
Ruminococcus flavefaciens
strain C94, a cellulolytic rumen bacterium, requires either isobutyrate or isovalerate for growth. The organism was grown in the presence of C
14
-labeled isovalerate, and the metabolic fate of the labeled carbon was studied to obtain information on the functions of this growth factor. Radioactivity from isovalerate-1-C
14
and isovalerate-3-C
14
was found mainly in the protein and lipid fractions of the cells. The C
14
in protein was all in leucine, indicating that a function of isovalerate was to serve as a carbon skeleton for leucine synthesis.

As C
14
in leucine synthesized from isovalerate-1-C
14
was entirely in carbon 2, the intact isovalerate molecule was apparently incorporated into leucine. This is evidence that leucine was synthesized by a mechanism different from that previously demonstrated in other microorganisms.

R. flavefaciens
has a definite but limited ability to incorporate exogenous amino acids, including leucine. It incorporated 2% of the C
14
during growth in uniformly labeled (UL) C
14
-
Chlorella
protein hydrolyzate;
Escherichia coli
incorporated 37% of the label under similar conditions. In another experiment, a limited amount of exogenous leucine-2-C
14
was incorporated into protein of
R. flavefaciens
. The requirement for isovalerate was not replaced by
dl
-leucine or 2-ketoisocaproate. It is suggested that isovalerate or isobutyrate is required because
R. flavefaciens
has a limited ability to incorporate exogenous branched-chain amino acids and a limited ability to synthesize the isopropyl group found in these amino acids and in other components of the cell.
ABSENCE OF A CHLORAMPHENICOL-INSENSITIVE PHASE OF STREPTOMYCIN ACTION
Authors: Plotz Paul H. , Davis Bernard D.
Published: January 2020

Plotz, Paul
H. (Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.)
and Bernard D. Davis
. Absence of a chloramphenicol-insensitive phase of streptomycin action. J. Bacteriol.
83:
802–805. 1962.—Previous findings have suggested the possibility that the damaging effect of streptomycin on the bacterial cell membrane is only preliminary to an intracellular lethal action. Since the membrane effect requires protein synthesis, a two-stage action might be recognized if the second stage did not require protein synthesis. Indeed, it has been reported that
Escherichia coli
cells, pretreated with streptomycin, are not protected by chloramphenicol from subsequent killing by streptomycin in a nitrogen-free medium. However, we were unable to confirm this report or to observe any chloramphenicol-insensitive phase of streptomycin action in a growth medium. It is, therefore, not yet possible to decide whether the lethal event occurs at the membrane or within the cell.
PHENOTYPIC ALTERATIONS IN THE COLONIAL MORPHOLOGY OF
BRUCELLA ABORTUS
DUE TO A BACTERIOPHAGE CARRIER STATE
Authors: Jones Lois M. , McDuff C. R. , Wilson J. B.
Published: January 2020

Jones, Lois
M. (University of Wisconsin, Madison), C. R.
McDuff, and J. B. Wilson
. Phenotypic alterations in the colonial morphology of
Brucella abortus
due to a bacteriophage carrier state. J. Bacteriol.
83:
860–866. 1962.—In the course of examining a number of
Brucella
cultures with a brucellaphage, it was observed that
B. abortus
cultures of intermediate colonial morphology, which had a blue-gray colonial appearance, were not lysed within 24 hr; in 48 hr they had developed sticky white growth in the area of the phage drop. When this growth was streaked on agar plates, both white and blue-gray colonies developed. White colonies which were sticky always carried phage and upon restreaking always gave rise to both white and blue-gray colonies. White colonies which were not sticky were rough and phage resistant. Blue-gray colonies produced only blue-gray colonies, did not carry phage, and were similar to the parent in their response to phage. When sticky white colonies were incubated for 6 hr or more in phage antiserum, all phage was eliminated and only blue-gray colonies developed. It was believed that the sticky white colonies were carrier clones in which lysis was delayed until after cell division, thus resulting in the establishment of a colony containing some phage-free progeny. With the accumulation of phage, the colony became sticky. This effect may be caused by the action of bacteriophage enzymes on the cell walls.

Brucellaphage had an extremely slow rate of adsorption on a culture of intermediate colonial morphology. A phage mutant which was more strongly lytic for cultures of intermediate colonial morphology was selected from the original phage. The adsorption rate of this phage was more rapid and the latent period shorter. A serological difference between phages could not be demonstrated.
GROWTH OF
AZOTOBACTER
IN DEUTERIUM OXIDE
Authors: Johnstone D. B.
Published: January 2020

Johnstone
, D. B. (University of Vermont, Burlington). Growth of
Azotobacter
in deuterium oxide. J. Bacteriol.
83:
867–870. 1962.—To the small list of bacteria that are reported to have been cultured in fully deuterated media can be added
Azotobacter agilis
and
A. vinelandii
. Moreover, these bacteria, although growing in a deuterium oxide medium with deuterated carbon sources, will fix atmospheric nitrogen. Lag periods occur prior to growth, and wide morphological variation is apparent during adaptation to a deuterated environment. A convenient method is presented for measuring, by infrared spectroscopy, the amount of water that accumulates in a D
2
O medium; during incubation this amounts to about 1% per day. Prevention of this accumulation of water indicates that growth, after a lag period, probably is not supported by accumulated hydrogen.
HETEROCARYOSIS-LIKE PHENOMENON IN
BACILLUS SUBTILIS
Authors: Ikeda Y. , Iijima T.
Published: January 2020

Ikeda
, Y. (University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan)
and T. Iijima
. Heterocaryosis-like phenomenon in
Bacillus subtilis
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
1025–1028. 1962.—When a mixture of methionine-dependent, histidine-dependent, streptomycin-resistant cells and tryptophan-dependent, streptomycin-sensitive cells of
Bacillus subtilis
K is plated on minimal medium supplemented with asparagine and streptomycin, tiny colonies consisting of both component cells and X-type cells appear at a frequency of about 10
−6
. Because the X-type cell segregates persistently both components and X-type, even after spore formation, it is considered to be a heterocaryon or a syncaryon possessing two kinds of genomes in a common cytoplasm.
ENZYMATIC PROPERTIES OF A PHAGE-INDUCED LYSIN AFFECTING GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI
Authors: Doughty C. C. , Hayashi James A.
Published: January 2020

Doughty
, C. C. (University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago)
and James A. Hayashi
. Enzymatic properties of a phage-induced lysin affecting group A streptococci. J. Bacteriol.
83:
1058–1068. 1962.—Phage-induced lysis of group C streptococci releases into the medium a lysin which completely lyses group A streptococci. Partial purification of the lytic activity yields 47% of the original activity with a 17-fold purification. The activity was assayed by observing lysis of group A streptococci under standard conditions. The optimal pH range for lysis is from 6.0 to 6.7. A monovalent cation requirement satisfied by Na
+
, K
+
, or Li
+
is shown by the lysin. Lysis is stimulated by ethylenedi-aminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), chlortetracycline, streptomycin, and penicillin. It is inhibited by
p
-hydroxymercuribenzoate (
p
HMB), and the inhibition is reversed by cysteine. Other inhibitors include ristocetin A and specific antisera against the lysin. Isolated group A streptococcal cell walls are partially lysed by massive amounts of lysin. This partial lysis is not affected by EDTA,
p
HMB, chlortetracycline, streptomycin, or ristocetin A. It is concluded that the enzymatic process of lysis of isolated cell walls is not identical to the more complex process resulting in lysis of intact cells.
OXIDATION OF POLYOLS BY
NOCARDIA CORALLINA
Authors: Maurer P. R. , Batt R. D.
Published: January 2020

Maurer
, P. R. (University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand)
and R. D. Batt
. Oxidation of polyols by
Nocardia corallina
. J. Bacteriol.
83:
1131–1139. 1962.—Two diphosphopyridine nucleotide-linked polyol dehydrogenases were induced in
Nocardia corallina
strain S, and grown on either mannitol or sorbitol. One enzyme was labile and was specific for the conversion of sorbitol to
d
-fructose.

The second enzyme, which converted
d
-mannitol to
d
-fructose and, more slowly,
d
-arabitol to
d
-xylulose, was named the
d
-mannitol dehydrogenase. The configurations of the hydroxyl groups at carbons 2, 3, 4, and 5 of substrates for this enzyme were stereospecific. Formation of the enzyme was induced by
d
-mannitol and
d
-sorbitol but not by
d
-arabitol.

Extracts of cells grown on either mannitol or sorbitol catalyzed the oxidation of the reduced form of diphosphopyridine nucleotide in the presence of
d
-fructose and
d
-xylulose.

Cell suspensions of the organism oxidized mannitol, sorbitol, glycerol, inositol, and fructose but not dulcitol,
d
-arabitol,
d
-xylulose, or
l
-sorbose.
CHLORAMPHENICOL-SENSITIVE AND -INSENSITIVE PHASES OF THE LETHAL ACTION OF STREPTOMYCIN
Authors: Hurwitz Charles , Rosano Carmen L.
Published: January 2020

Hurwitz, Charles
(Veterans Administration Hospital, Albany, N.Y.)
and Carmen L. Rosano
. Chloramphenicol-sensitive and -insensitive phases of the lethal action of streptomycin. J. Bacteriol.
83:
1202–1209. 1962.—If chloramphenicol is added to sensitive
Escherichia coli
cells at the same time as streptomycin, the lethal effect of the latter drug is prevented. If the cells receive a prior exposure to streptomycin before the addition of chloramphenicol, the bacteria are then susceptible to killing by streptomycin in the presence of chloramphenicol.

These results are interpreted to mean that the lethal action of streptomycin can be divided into chloramphenicol-sensitive and chloramphenicol-insensitive stages. It is proposed that during the chloramphenicol-sensitive stage, a streptomycin-initiated protein synthesis occurs, and that this protein synthesis must precede the actual killing by streptomycin. Inorganic phosphate has no effect on the chloramphenicol-sensitive phase, but does prevent killing by streptomycin. Evidence is presented arguing against the formation of a leaky permeability barrier as being the primary cause of death of cells exposed to streptomycin.
IMMUNIZATION OF MICE AGAINST COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS
Authors: Converse J. L. , Castleberry M. W. , Besemer A. R. , Snyder E. M.
Published: January 2020

Converse
, J. L. (U. S. Army Chemical Corps, Frederick, Md.), M. W.
Castleberry, A. R. Besemer, and E. M. Snyder
. Immunization of mice against coccidioidomycosis. J. Bacteriol.
84:
46–52. 1962—The observed lower virulence of
Coccidioides immitis
arthrospores of the M-11 strain compared with the Cash strain was ascribed to the lower ability of the M-11 spores to invade the lungs and brain. Endospores of strain M-11, grown in synthetic medium, were equally as virulent by the intraperitoneal route as arthrospores of strain Cash. Immunization of mice with viable strain M-11 arthrospores protected approximately 50% of the animals against challenge with strain Cash arthrospores. This was evidenced by lower mortality over a 5-month period and lack of gross pathological lesions in killed animals. Although fewer lesions resulted after the use of a viable vaccine, higher survival was obtained with formaldehyde-killed arthrospores. Either preparation tended to confine the infection to the peritoneal cavity.
NATURAL OCCURRENCE OF FOUR REVERSIBLE FLAGELLAR PHASES IN CULTURES OF
SALMONELLA MIKAWASHIMA
Authors: Edwards P. R. , Sakazaki R. , Kato I.
Published: January 2020

Edwards
, P. R. (Communicable Disease Center, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Ga.), R.
Sakazaki, and I. Kato
. Natural occurrence of four reversible flagellar phases in cultures of
Salmonella mikawashima
. J. Bacteriol.
84:
99–103. 1962—Study of cultures of
Salmonella mikawashima
isolated from reptiles revealed that single colonies of some strains contained three distinct H phases and that colonies of other cultures contained four such phases. In addition to the usual
y
and
e,n,z
15
phases of
S. mikawashima
, two additional antigens which occurred naturally and which were identical with naturally occurring H antigens of the Arizona group, designated
z
47
and
z
50
, were recognized. Some cultures were represented by the formula
6,7:y:-e,n,z
15
:z
47
, some by
6,7:y:e,n,z
15
:z
50
, and some by
6,7:y:e,n,z
15
:z
47
:z
50
. The four H antigens were serologically unrelated, and each could be caused to revert to the others. Spontaneous reversions also were observed. The organisms underwent loss variation, and stable diphasic forms were encountered in which the
e,n,z
15
phase occurred in conjunction with
y, z
47
, or
z
50
, indicating that the three antigens may be alternative forms of phase 1.
COMPARISON OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL CYCLES OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE GENUS
NOCARDIA
Authors: Adams James N. , McClung Norvel M.
Published: January 2020

Adams, James
N. (University of Georgia, Athens)
and Norvel M. McClung
. Comparison of the developmental cycles of some members of the genus
Nocardia
. J. Bacteriol.
84:
206–216. 1962.—A staining technique specific for cell walls was used to determine the characteristic development of
Nocardia rubra, N. erythropolis, N. asteroides
, and
N. canicruria
comb. nov. When inoculated on a fresh medium, these organisms were observed to germinate, with the production of one or more germ tubes from coccoid, ovoid, and short bacillary cells. Upon continued incubation, the germ tubes elongated to form filaments from which branches could be formed. Two other mechanisms of branching were noted. One was a result of multiple germination of cells and the other a result of single or multiple germination of short chains of cells. Both of these mechanisms could be readily differentiated from true branching. Mycelial formation varied in extent among the species studied and was governed, in part, by the types of branching which an organism exhibited. After the phase of branching development has been completed, fragmentation of the filaments and branches occurred as a result of the separation of the corresponding filament fragments following the random deposition of septa along the lengths of the cells. As the culture age increased, the separating filament fragments became shorter until they ultimately reached sizes like those of cells found in the inoculum. The observed developmental cycles of the genus
Nocardia
were compared to those which have been described for the genera
Mycobacterium
and
Streptomyces
, and the taxonomic implications of the differences between these developmental cycles was discussed.