bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Method of Preparing Immunizing Antigens for the Production of Anti-M Sera Against Certain Serotypes of Group A Streptococci
Authors: Ashworth Helen , Harrell William K.
Published: January 2020

Ashworth, Helen
(Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.),
and William K. Harrell
. New method of preparing immunizing antigens for the production of anti-M sera against certain serotypes of group A streptococci. J. Bacteriol.
89:
141–145. 1965.—Antisera against types 4, 29, 41, and 46 streptococci have been prepared by use of a vaccine killed by adjusting the
p
H to 11.7 and heating for 1 hr at 56 C. Heating at the high
p
H destroyed the antigenic material responsible for the major reciprocal crosses present in cells of types 4, 29, and 46 without affecting the M protein. Antisera prepared with the “alkaline-treated” vaccine did not contain the major reciprocal crosses. Antibodies against the M protein were shown to be present by the bactericidal test, failure to react in the precipitin test with acid extracts of homologous trypsinized cells, and retention of the precipitin reaction after absorption with homologous trypsinized cells. The antisera did not react with the “B” antigen of the provisional type B 3264. Type 11 antisera prepared with alkaline-treated vaccine did not contain antibodies against the M protein. The usefulness of this type vaccine, particularly for the preparation of type 4 antiserum, is discussed, as well as its limitations.
Host-Parasite Relationships Among Group A Streptococci III. Depression of Reticuloendothelial Function by Streptococcal Pyrogenic Exotoxins
Authors: Hanna Edgar E. , Watson Dennis W.
Published: January 2020

Hanna, Edgar
E. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis),
and Dennis W. Watson
. Host-parasite relationships among group A streptococci. III. Depression of reticuloendothelial function by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins. J. Bacteriol.
89:
154–158. 1965.—Measurement of the rate of clearance of colloidal carbon from the circulating blood is an effective and simple technique for assessing the functional state of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of experimental animals. This paper concerns a study of the RES function in rabbits after treatment with streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins. Intravenous injection of 1.0 ml of the toxin produced by a strain of type 18, group A streptococcus caused a prolonged (at least 24 hr) depression of RES function. The activity at 48 hr after toxin injection was about equal to that in control animals. Repeated intravenous injections of the toxin abolished the initial depressing effect on RES function, but did not cause stimulation. In comparison, intravenous injection of equivalent doses of endotoxin prepared from
Escherichia coli
COO8 also caused an initial depression of RES function; however, in contrast with the effect of exotoxin, stimulation occurred as early as 24 hr and was about twice as active at 48 hr. The prolonged depression by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin is suggested as one means by which this toxin potentiates lethality and tissue damage by other toxins such as streptolysin O and endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria.
Electron Microscopy of Leptospires I. Anatomical Features of
Leptospira pomona
Authors: Ritchie A. E. , Ellinghausen Herman C.
Published: January 2020

Ritchie
, A. E. (National Animal Disease Laboratory, Ames, Iowa),
and Herman C. Ellinghausen
. Electron microscopy of leptospires. I. Anatomical features of
Leptospira pomona
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
223–233. 1965.—Anatomical features of
Leptospira pomona
are described. Most cells in the logarithmic phase of growth, when examined in whole cell “negative-stained” preparations, display a homogeneous finely granular protoplasmic cylinder. Some cells contain discrete or complex lamellar structures. The cell termini are attached to the protoplasmic cylinder by a membrane system. Each organism appears to have two independent axial filaments originating from opposite ends of the cell. The axial filaments are composed of a closely knit bundle of some 12 to 15 individual strands. A simple model suggesting a locomotory function for the axial filaments is presented. A superficial callouslike mass is occasionally observed in the cell's terminal region. The enveloping sheath is similar to the cytoplasmic membrane; both are triple-layered and ca. 50 A thick. The sheath preferentially forms blebs at the cell termini and midway along the protoplasmic cylinder. Septal-wall formation occurs at the mid region of the cell, and it is concluded that simple transverse binary fission is the predominant mode of reproduction.
Isolation of Mutants Affecting Tryptophanase Production in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Gartner Theodore K. , Riley Monica
Published: January 2020

Gartner, Theodore
K. (University of California, Davis),
and Monica Riley
. Isolation of mutants affecting tryptophanase production in
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
313–318. 1965.—Mutants of
Escherichia coli
K-12 were isolated which appear to have suffered an alteration in the regulation system governing tryptophanase synthesis. A novel selection method was used to isolate tryptophanase mutants from tryptophan synthetase deletion mutants. Mutants were obtained which exhibited the following phenotypes either singly or in combination with others: constitutivity and inducibility at 13 C (wild type is not inducible at 13 C), constitutivity and hyperinducibility at 37 C. Mutation to constitutivity at 13 C seems to require two mutational changes of the wild type. Other mutants, presumably structural gene mutations, were isolated which lack tryptophanase activity under all conditions tested.
Genetic Analysis of Tryptophanase Mutants of
Escherichia coli
Authors: Gartner Theodore K. , Riley Monica
Published: January 2020

Gartner, Theodore
K. (University of California, Davis),
and Monica Riley
. Genetic analysis of tryptophanase mutants of
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
319–325. 1965.—The tryptophanase structural gene
tna
, and one of the tryptophanase regulation genes,
R
1
tna
, are closely linked, and lie between the
pyr-E
and
ilv
genes on the
Escherichia coli
chromosome. The mutant form of the regulation gene, which confers the properties of inducibility at 13 C, constitutivity at 37 C, and hyperinducibility at 37 C, is dominant over the wild form of the gene. Another regulation gene,
R
2
tna
, confers constitutivity at 13 C and does not map at the same locus as the
R
2
tna
gene.
Adsorption of Cationic (Basic) Dyes by Fixed Yeast Cells
Authors: Giles Charles H. , McKay Robert B.
Published: January 2020

Giles, CharlesH. (The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland),and Robert B. McKay. Adsorption of cationic (basic) dyes by fixed yeast cells. J. Bacteriol.89:390–397. 1965.—The adsorption of 10 typical cationic dyes on formalin-fixed yeast cells has been studied by determining isotherms, and the results are consistent with an ion-exchange mechanism. The adsorption on this complex substrate is similar to that on the simpler substrate, alumina. The dyes are probably aggregated when adsorbed, and the size of the aggregates increases with increase in the molecular weight of the dye ion. After considering the possible adsorption sites, and comparing the data with adsorption on simpler substrates, we suggest that the most important adsorption sites may be phosphate or other strongly acidic groups.
Studies of Streptococcal Cell Walls VII. Carbohydrate Composition of Group B Cell Walls
Authors: Wittner Masako K. , Hayashi James A.
Published: January 2020

Wittner, Masako
K. (Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital, Chicago, Ill.),
and James A. Hayashi
. Studies of streptococcal cell walls. VII. Carbohydrate composition of group B cell walls. J. Bacteriol.
89:
398–402. 1965.—Group B streptococcal cell walls contain 63% protein, 10% rhamnose, 18% hexose (mainly galactose, but also some glucose), 7% hexosamine (mainly glucosamine, but also galactosamine), and 3% muramic acid. The group and type antigens were extracted from isolated cell walls by acid treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis, and fractionated either with ethanol or on a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column. Serological and chemical analyses of the fractions obtained in the two fractionation methods show that the group antigen is a rhamnose-rich polysaccharide and that the type antigen is rich in galactose and contains hexosamines.
Cell-Culture Response to Fibroma Virus
Authors: Verna John E.
Published: January 2020

Verna, John
E. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). Cell-culture response to fibroma virus. J. Bacteriol.
89:
524–528. 1965.—Three established rabbit cell lines (Minnesota CRP, RbK, and RbH) were infected with Shope's rabbit fibroma virus (Patuxent strain). The responses of the cell lines to virus infection differed from one another. Minn. CRP cells produced plaques (1 to 2 mm) on the 4th or 5th day which possessed characteristic cellular aggregates at the periphery of the plaque. Minn. RbH cells underwent degeneration with the elongation of cells and no aggregation formation. Minn. RbK cells responded with foci of cellular aggregates and no plaque formation. The resulting number of characteristic lesions in each cell line was related to virus dilution. The history of virus passage had no effect on the resulting lesion. All cells appeared to be equally sensitive to fibroma virus infection. Conclusive evidence for a viral-induced proliferative effect in RbK cells has not been found.
Effect of Integrated Sex Factor on Transduction of Chromosomal Genes in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Pittard James
Published: January 2020

Pittard, James
(Yale University, New Haven, Conn.). Effect of integrated sex factor on the transduction of chromosomal genes in
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
680–686. 1965.—Generalized transducing phage P1kc can contransduce the markers
tna
and
ilv
in
Escherichia coli
K-12 at a frequency of approximately 25%. When sex factor is integrated into the donor chromosome between
tna
and
ilv
, as in Hfr AB313, the entire sequence
tna
F
ilv
is not cotransduced at a detectable frequency, nor is F cotransduced with either
tna
or
ilv
. The frequency with which
ilv
is transduced from Hfr AB313 to female recipients is approximately one-eighth the frequency obtained when either F
+
or female strains are used as donors. This reduction of transduction frequency does not occur if the recipient is an Hfr male similar to AB313. The reduction is attributed to pairing difficulties which occur when the transduced fragment carrying the
ilv
genes also carries sex-factor material. When
ilv
+
is transduced from a female to an
ilv
−
derivative of AB313, 70% of the transductants are converted to F
+
males. A model is proposed to account for all of these observations.
Genetic Instability in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Schwartz Norman M.
Published: January 2020

Schwartz, Norman
M. (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.). Genetic instability in
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
712–717. 1965.—Results obtained from a transductional analysis demonstrated that an extremely unstable reversion of
lac
−
is a suppressor mutation. This mutation suppresses 2 of 22 different
lac
−
alleles tested. Five different Hfr strains transferred the suppressor soon after mating and at low frequency. Acridine orange enhanced the segregation of
lac
−
clones from the unstable suppressed mutant. Stable suppressed
lac
−
clones were produced by the unstable suppressed mutant. Two such stable suppressors were transferred at high frequency and mapped at different chromosomal sites on the basis of time of entry data. One of the stable suppressed
lac
−
mutants reverted to the unstable suppressed
lac
−
state. It is proposed that the suppressor is carried on an extrachromosomal element. The differences in stability observed may reflect differences in the state of the suppressor-bearing element.
Growth Rate and Toxicity of
Salmonella typhimurium
Authors: Shands J. W.
Published: January 2020

Shands
, J. W. (University of Florida, Gainesville). Growth rate and toxicity of
Salmonella typhimurium
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
799–802. 1965.—
Salmonella typhimurium
was grown at a rapid rate in enriched medium and at an extremely slow rate in a chemostat. Greater than fivefold differences in size were produced. However, there was no appreciable difference in the toxicity of equal numbers of organisms, as determined by
ld
50
in BCG-infected mice.
Restoration of Virulence to a Strain of
Shigella flexneri
by Mating with
Escherichia coli
Authors: Formal Samuel B. , LaBrec E. H. , Schneider H. , Falkow Stanley
Published: January 2020

Formal, Samuel
B. (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.),
E. H. LaBrec, H. Schneider, and Stanley Falkow
. Restoration of virulence to a strain of
Shigella flexneri
by mating with
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
835–838. 1965.—Three spontaneous avirulent variants of
Shigella flexneri
5 were isolated and employed as genetic recipients in matings with
Escherichia coli
K-12. The various hybrid classes isolated from these matings were subsequently examined for their ability to induce keratoconjunctivitis and to kill pretreated guinea pigs. All hybrids derived from two of the variants remained avirulent. A majority of the
mal
+
hybrids of the third avirulent variant were observed to be restored to complete virulence.
X Irradiation of a Sensitive and a Resistant Strain of
Escherichia coli
under Controlled Oxygen Concentrations
Authors: Van Soestbergen A. A.
Published: January 2020

van Soestbergen
, A. A. (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y.). X irradiation of a sensitive and a resistant strain of
Escherichia coli
under controlled oxygen concentrations. J. Bacteriol.
89:
1032–1034. 1965.—Radiosensitive and radioresistant strains of
Escherichia coli
were given an X-ray dose of 4,544 rad at various controlled O
2
concentrations, and the results were subjected to probit analysis. A ϰ
2
test gave no evidence of heterogeneity of departure from fitted parallel probit lines obtained after plotting the probit of the surviving fractions of each of the two strains on the logarithm of the O
2
concentration. Under the conditions of the experiment, the ratio of the oxygen concentrations at which equal fractions of populations of
E. coli
B/r and
E. coli
B-s were killed by X irradiation was estimated to be about 4.4.
Serological Analyses of Cellular Slime Mold Development II. Preferential Loss, During Morphogenesis, of Antigenic Activity Associated with the Vegetative Myxamoebae
Authors: Sonneborn D. R. , Levine L. , Sussman M.
Published: January 2020

Sonneborn, D. R. (Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.), L.Levine, and M. Sussman. Serological analyses of cellular slime mold development. II. Preferential loss, during morphogenesis, of antigenic activity associated with the vegetative myxamoebae. J. Bacteriol.89:1092–1096. 1965.—A major antigenic component ofDictyostelium discoideum(vegetative myxamoebae) is retained during morphogenesis up to the final stages of fruiting-body construction. It is found in the cells constituting the stalk of the mature fruit but is undetectable in the spores. The nature of the preferential loss of antigen from this cell contingent is unknown. Antiserum prepared against the vegetative myxamoebae is cytotoxic and reduces cell viability by several orders of magnitude at dilutions of about 1:100.
Ecology of Nasal Staphylococci
Authors: Davis Nour A. , Davis G. H. G.
Published: January 2020

Davis, Nour
A. (University of Lagos Medical School, Lagos, Nigeria),
and G. H. G. Davis
. Ecology of nasal staphylococci. J. Bacteriol.
89:
1163–1168. 1965.—The rate of nasal carriage of
Staphylococcus aureus
in Nigerian adults (46%) approximates that found in other countries. The rate in infants under 12 months was ca. 70%, which exceeds that found elsewhere, e.g., England. The incidence of penicillin resistance in nasal staphylococci (50 to 60%) is about the same as has been found in strains isolated from infections in outpatients in urban centers in this country. Mannitol-polymyxin agar was used for the selection and differentiation of coagulase-positive staphylococci and proved to be valuable in such studies. Our results clearly show that the degree of colonization by
S. aureus
significantly influences, or is influenced by, the rate of incidence of other bacteria in the vestibular flora, particularly in the case of diphtheroids and coagulase-negative cocci. The relationship between the degree of nasal microbial colonization and social and other factors is discussed.
Growth of Male-Specific Bacteriophage in
Proteus mirabilis
Harboring F-Genotes Derived from
Escherichia coli
Authors: Horiuchi Kensuke , Adelberg Edward A.
Published: January 2020

Horiuchi, Kensuke
(Yale University, New Haven, Conn.),
and Edward A. Adelberg
. Growth of male-specific bacteriophage in
Proteus mirabilis
harboring F-genotes derived from
Escherichia coli
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
1231–1236. 1965.—Male-specific bacteriophage MS2 was shown to infect and grow in
Proteus mirabilis
strains which harbor F-genotes derived from
Escherichia coli
K-12. The burst size was 2,000 to 3,000, which is similar to that in
E. coli
K-12, whereas the latent period was 45 min, definitely longer than that in
E. coli
. In spite of the multiplication of MS2 in male
P. mirabilis
in broth,
P. mirabilis
strains failed to show plaque formation by MS2 on agar plates; this failure may be related to the low efficiency of phage adsorption. No host-controlled modification of MS2 by
P. mirabilis
was detected.
Isolation and Purification of the Intracytoplasmic Membranes of
Rhodospirillum rubrum
Authors: Holt Stanley C. , Marr Allen G.
Published: January 2020

Holt, Stanley
C. (University of California, Davis),
and Allen G. Marr
. Isolation and purification of the intracytoplasmic membranes of
Rhodospirillum rubrum
. J. Bacteriol.
89:
1413–1420. 1965.—When
Rhodospirillum rubrum
was disrupted in a French pressure cell, two colored bands were observed after density-gradient centrifugation: an upper band containing chromatophores and a lower band containing cell envelopes. A similar analysis of the pigmented components after disruption by osmotic shock revealed the presence of a third band intermediate between the upper and lower bands. Brief sonic treatment of the contents of this intermediate band produced typical chromatophores. The results establish that chromatophores are produced by fragmentation of the intracytoplasmic membrane.
Characterization of Conjugation Factors in
Escherichia coli
Cell Walls I. Inhibition of Recombination by Cell Walls and Cell Extracts
Authors: Lancaster John H. , Goldschmidt E. P. , Wyss Orville
Published: January 2020

Lancaster, John
H. (University of Texas, Austin),
E. P. Goldschmidt, and Orville Wyss
. Characterization of conjugation factors in
Escherichia coli
cell walls. I. Inhibition of recombination by cell walls and cell extracts. J. Bacteriol.
89:
1478–1481. 1965.—An assay procedure was devised to determine quantitatively the interference with conjugation of cell-wall fragments from both male and female strains of
Escherichia coli
. The fertility of the donor is reflected in the assay. Phenol extracts from the cell walls were active, and chemical analysis suggested that the activity resided in the lipopolysaccharide fraction.
Enhancement by Adenine of the Inhibition of
Salmonella typhimurium
by Ethionine
Authors: Smith Robert C. , Salmon W. D.
Published: January 2020

Smith, Robert
C. (Auburn University, Auburn. Ala.),
and W. D. Salmon
. Enhancement by adenine of the inhibition of
Salmonella typhimurium
by ethionine. J. Bacteriol.
89:
1494–1498. 1965.—The inhibition by ethionine of the growth of
Salmonella typhimurium
was increased by adenine and several other purines. This effect was counteracted by the addition of methionine to the cultures. There was no preferential inhibition of nucleic acid or protein synthesis by adenine plus ethionine. Adenine stimulated the uptake of radioactive ethionine by the cells. Adenine may produce the effects observed by increasing the rate at which ethionine enters the cell and reaches its primary site of antibacterial action.
Development of Resistance to Polyene Antibiotics in
Candida albicans
Authors: Hebeka Elias K. , Solotorovsky Morris
Published: January 2020

Hebeka, Elias
K. (Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N.J.),
and Morris Solotorovsky
. Development of resistance to polyene antibiotics in
Candida albicans. J. Bacteriol
.
89:
1533–1539. 1965.—Strains of
Candida albicans
resistant to the polyenes candidin and amphotericin B, but not to nystatin, were developed by sub-culturing the organism in gradually increasing concentrations of the antibiotic in broth on a shaker, or by repeated transfer on gradient plates. Demonstration of resistance on solid media was best observed when a purified agar, Ionagar no. 2 (Oxoid), was used in preparing the medium. Strains that were 150-fold resistant to candidin, and 4-, 16-, 45-, and 60-fold resistant to amphotericin B were developed. The degree of resistance depended on the strain, the type of medium, and, most importantly, on the antibiotic used. The polyenes candidin, amphotericin B, nystatin, and fungimycin and the nonpolyenes griseofulvin and eulicin were used to extend the scope of study of cross-resistance. Cells rendered resistant to candidin were also resistant to amphotericin B, but not to nystatin, fungimycin, or griseofulvin. Cells rendered resistant to amphotericin B showed cross-resistance to candidin, but not to nystatin, fungimycin, or griseofulvin. Candidinor amphotericin B-resistant strains were more sensitive to eulicin than their parent strains. Increased resistance to candidin or amphotericin B was accompanied by a decrease in virulence for mice, the rate of growth, the ability to reduce bismuth sulfite, and by an increased tendency for filamentation. No change in the ability to form chlamydospores was noticed.
Enzymatic Degradation of Ribosomes During Endogenous Respiration ofPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Gronlund Audrey F. , Campbell J. J. R.
Published: January 2020

Gronlund, AudreyF. (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada),and J. J. R. Campbell. Enzymatic degradation of ribosomes during endogenous respiration ofPseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol.90:1–7. 1965.—From sedimentation analyses it was found that the ribosomal content ofPseudomonas aeruginosadecreased during endogenous respiration. A greater degree of degradation of 50Sthan 30Sribosomes occurred during the 3-hr starvation period. The enzyme responsible for the initiation of ribosome degradation and present in the ribosome fraction was identified as polynucleotide phosphorylase. The enzyme was inactive in intact 70Sribosomes, but was active in low magnesium ion concentrations which allowed the 70Sribosome to dissociate. Polynucleotide phosphorylase was not solubilized after dissociation of the 70Sparticle, but remained firmly attached to the 50Sand 30Sribosomes, the ribonucleic acid of which served as substrate.
Inhibition of Growth, Synthesis, and Permeability in
Neurospora crassa
by Phenethyl Alcohol
Authors: Lester Gabriel
Published: January 2020

Lester, Gabriel
(Reed College, Portland, Ore.). Inhibition of growth, synthesis, and permeability in
Neurospora crassa
by phenethyl alcohol. J. Bacteriol.
90:
29–37. 1965.—Inhibition of the growth of
Neurospora crassa
in still culture was detected at 0.05% and was complete at a level of 0.2% phenethyl alcohol (PEA). Benzyl alcohol was less inhibitory, and 3-phenyl-1-propanol and phenol were more inhibitory, than PEA; benzylamine and phenethylamine were less inhibitory than the analogous hydroxylated compounds. Inhibition by PEA was not reversed by synthetic mixtures of purines and pyrimidines or vitamins, or by casein digests, yeast extract, or nutrient broth. The germination of conidia was inhibited by PEA, but after an exposure of 8.5 hr no loss of viability was observed. The addition of PEA to growing shake cultures caused a simultaneous inhibition of growth and of the syntheses of ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids and protein; the relationships of these compounds to mycelial dry weight and to one another were constant in growing mycelia, and PEA did not significantly affect these relationships. PEA partially inhibited the uptake of glucose, but severely restricted the accumulation of
l
-leucine,
l
-tryptophan, or α-aminoisobutyric acid in germinated conidia. The efflux of α-aminoisobutyric acid from germinated conidia was somewhat enhanced by PEA, but this effect was not so pronounced as the (complete) inhibition of α-aminoisobutyric acid accumulation by PEA. It is suggested that PEA affects primarily the initial influx of α-aminoisobutyric acid rather than the subsequent retention of α-aminoisobutyric acid.
Catalase Activity in
Anaplasma marginale
Authors: Wallace W. R. , Dimopoullos G. T.
Published: January 2020

Wallace, W. R.
(Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge),
and G. T. Dimopoullos
. Catalase activity in
Anaplasma marginale
. J. Bacteriol.
91:
309–311. 1965.—Extracts of erythrocytes infected with
Anaplasma marginale
were found to contain more catalase activity than normal erythrocytic preparations. The increase in catalase activity appeared concurrently with increases in the number of erythrocytes containing
Anaplasma
bodies. Antisera against normal bovine erythrocytes and
Anaplasma
-infected erythrocytes were prepared in rabbits to test the source of increased catalase activity during anaplasmosis. Antiserum against normal erythrocytes decreased the catalase activity of extracts of normal erythrocytes by 271 units per ml and of partially purified
Anaplasma
bodies by only 120 units. Rabbit antiserum against
Anaplasma
-infected bovine erythrocytes removed only 73 units of activity from normal erythrocytes, but decreased the activity of the partially purified
Anaplasma
bodies by 260 units, indicating the association of catalase with the marginal body.
Immunochemistry of the Group-Specific Polysaccharide of
Nocardia brasiliensis
Authors: Estrada-Parra Sergio , Zamora Abel , Bojalil L. F.
Published: January 2020

Estrada-Parra, Sergio
(Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, México, D.F., México),
Abel Zamora, and L. F. Bojalil
. Immunochemistry of the group-specific polysaccharide of
Nocardia brasiliensis
. J. Bacteriol.
90:
571–574. 1965.—The group-specific polysaccharide of
Nocardia brasiliensis
was further purified, yielding an amorphous white material with the following characteristics: [α]
D
20
= + 48; nitrogen, 0.5%; phosphorus, 0.1%; and ash as sodium, 0.8%. The polymer is made of
d
-arabinose and
d
-galactose in a molar ratio of 3:1, and no other sugars were detected. Mild hydrolysis liberates mainly arabinose. The polysaccharide consumes 3.46 μmoles of periodate per mg of polymer in 15 days at 4 C (this value remains constant after 4 more days). Oxidation results in destruction of two of the arabinose, with the formation of two glycerols after borohydride reduction and hydrolysis. The polysaccharide oxidized by periodate and reduced under mild acid hydrolysis at 20 C yields glycerol and a polymer formed by galactose and arabinose (in a ratio of 1:1) which is resistant to a second oxidation. Therefore, the polysaccharide is probably formed by a main chain of glactose linked 1,3 and arabinose linked 1,2 or 1,3 or both, and nonreducing side chains of arabofuranose residues. The intact polysaccharide cross-reacts with sera from patients with active tuberculosis, and this, as well as the homologous reaction, is abolished by oxidation with periodate.
Cytological Distribution of the Products of Oxidative Assimilation in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Tomlinson Geraldine A. , Campbell J. J. R.
Published: January 2020

Tomlinson, Geraldine
A. (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada),
and
J. J. R.
Campbell
. Cytological distribution of the products of oxidative assimilation in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. J. Bacteriol.
90:
599–603. 1965.—Washed-cell suspensions of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
incorporated C
14
largely into the membrane fractions and cytoplasm during oxidative assimilation of uniformly labeled glucose. The ribonucleic acid (RNA) associated with the membranes and the cytoplasm had very high specific activity in contrast to that of the ribosomes. The protein of each fraction comprised the major portion of the radioactivity of that cytological fraction. The proteins of the cytoplasm constituted the predominant product of assimilation. The low level of activity in the ribosomal RNA and protein suggests that oxidative assimilation is not the replenishment of endogenous reserves. The ribosomal fraction, which contained 19.6% of the protein and 65% of the RNA of the extract, incorporated only 2 to 3% of the radioactivity. In contrast, the membrane fraction contained 15.3% of the protein and 6.6% of the RNA, but incorporated 13 to 14% of the radioactivity.
Nonphotoreactivating Repair of Ultraviolet Light-Damaged Transforming Deoxyribonucleic Acid by
Micrococcus lysodeikticus
Extracts
Authors: Elder Robert L. , Beers Roland F.
Published: January 2020

Elder, Robert
L. (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.),
and Roland F. Beers, Jr.
Nonphotoreactivating repair of ultraviolet light-damaged transforming deoxyribonucleic acid by
Micrococcus lysodeikticus
extracts. J. Bacteriol.
90:
681–686. 1965.—Extracts from
Micrococcus lysodeikticus
repair
Haemophilus influenzae
transforming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damaged by ultraviolet light radiation. The repair is demonstrable over a wide dose range, with a constant dose reduction factor for a given concentration of DNA. The active component in the crude extract may be separated into a heat-stable dialyzable and a heat-labile nondialyzable component. The dialyzable fraction contains at least one component which appears to limit the maximal level of repair. Mg
2+
ions are required for the repair process.
Control of Tissue Reactions in Monkeys Vaccinated with Viable
Coccidioides immitis
by Prevaccination with Killed
Coccidioides immitis
Authors: Converse J. L. , Deauville G. A. , Snyder E. M. , Ray J. G. , Seaquist M. E.
Published: January 2020

Converse
, J. L. (U.S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), G. A.
Deauville, E. M. Snyder, J. G. Ray, and M. E. Seaquist
. Control of tissue reactions in monkeys vaccinated with viable
Coccidioides immitis
by prevaccination with killed
Coccidioides immities
. J. Bacteriol.
90:
783–788. 1965.—Control of undesirable tissue reactions resulting from the subcutaneous injection of 150 viable arthrospores of
Coccidioides immitis
(strain D-76) was obtained by four injections of formalin-killed arthrospores 14, 12, 8, and 4 weeks (total dose, 36 mg) before injection of the viable arthrospores. Only 6 and 12% of these vaccinated animals exhibited ulceration and lymphadenopathy, respectively, as compared with 100 and 83% of the animals receiving only the viable vaccine. Agar-gel immunodiffusion precipitin titers of approximately 1:64 were evident 3 months after vaccination in animals receiving both vaccines, as compared with 1:128 in those injected with the viable vaccine alone. The above data indicated that somatic reactions to injection of a viable vaccine could be eliminated by preinjection of a killed vaccine. However, 6 months after vaccination, respiratory challenge (7,500 strain Cash arthrospores) indicated that this treatment also impaired the protective effect of the viable vaccine. All animals receiving both vaccines developed mild pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, whereas only 50% of the animals receiving only the viable vaccine were infected. In addition, the group receiving both vaccines demonstrated a more rapid and higher postchallenge precipitin titer. All vaccinated animals (those receiving the killed, the viable, or a combination of the two vaccines) survived for 4 months after challenge, as compared with 88% mortality (50% within 14 days) in the nonvaccinated controls.
Time-Lapse Photomicrography of Lashing, Flexing, and Snapping Movements in
Escherichia coli
and
Corynebacterium
Microcultures
Authors: Hoffman Heiner , Frank Michael E.
Published: January 2020

Hoffman, Heiner
(New York University, New York, N.Y.),
and Michael E. Frank
. Time-lapse photomicrography of lashing, flexing, and snapping movements in
Escherichia coli
and
Corynebacterium
microcultures. J. Bacteriol.
90:
789–795. 1965.—A series of four consecutive photomicrographs of snapping by an
Escherichia coli
cell pair indicates that this maneuver consists initially of lashing movements of one cell unattached to the underlying surface and consequent flexion of the second cell, which is strongly attached to the underlying surface at its distal end. This is followed by a final unidirectional movement of the unattached cell which carries the attached cell with it. Lashing movements were also observed in microcultures of fusobacteria and a
Corynebacterium
, and photomicrographs were obtained of the latter. The observations cannot be interpreted to support the conventional hypothesis that snapping is a response to partial rupture of the capsule during cell division. A new hypothesis is suggested which is based upon motile intracellular granules that have been observed to break out of
E. coli
, corynebacteria, and fusobacteria cells, typically from the cell ends. Photomicrographs of the minute granules were obtained for both
E. coli
and the
Corynebacterium
.
Endotoxin-Induced Susceptibility to Staphylococcal Infection and Its Reversal by Adrenergic Blocking Agents
Authors: Sultzer Barnet M. , Freedman Henry H.
Published: January 2020

Sultzer, Barnet
M. (Princeton Laboratories, Inc., Princeton, N.J.),
and Henry H. Freedman
. Endotoxin-induced susceptibility to staphylococcal infection and its reversal by adrenergic blocking agents. J. Bacteriol.
90:
1001–1006. 1965.—The transient phase of increased susceptibility to bacterial infection in mice provoked by prior administration of small doses of endotoxin was investigated for possible mediation by vasoactive substances. Animals were given endotoxin intravenously shortly before intraperitoneal injection of
Staphylococcus aureus
Smith, thereby lowering the lethal inoculum 10-fold. To determine whether this susceptibility state could be obviated, mice were pretreated with phenoxybenzamine or dibenzylchlorethylamine. Mortality decreased from an average of 81% in the endotoxin control groups to about 23% in the treated mice, closely approximating the mortality in control mice injected with saline and staphylococci. Neither antiadrenergic agent independently altered the resistance of mice to a higher lethal staphylococcal challenge, nor did these materials induce extravascular leukocyte mobilization into the peritoneal cavity. The results suggest a possible role of vasoactive staphylococcal α-toxin, as well as epinephrine or epinephrine-like factors, in this altered state of resistance to staphylococcal infection.
Microbiological Method for the Determination of
l
-Tryptophan
Authors: Sebek Oldrich K.
Published: January 2020

Sebek, Oldrich
K. (The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.). Microbiological method for the determination of
l
-tryptophan. J. Bacteriol.
90:
1026–1031. 1965.—The ability of
Chrombacterium violaceum
to utilize
l
-tryptophan for the synthesis of a purple pigment, violacein, served as a basis for the development of a quantitative estimation of this amino acid. The method consists of suspending washed colorless cells of the organism in an agar layer, placing a paper disc impregnated with a tryptophan solution on top of the layer, and allowing the system to incubate. As tryptophan diffuses into the agar, it is converted into violacein, and appears as a zone of striking purple color. Since the diameter of the zone is a function of the amount of tryptophan applied, the amino acid can be quantitatively estimated within the range of 10 to 320 μg per sample with 5.6% standard deviation. The method is fairly specific for free tryptophan, since only indole, indole-3-pyruvic acid, and, to a small degree, anthranilic acid interfere. Other amino acids, tissue homogenates, tryptophan in peptide linkage, or compounds related to this amino acid do not affect its determination. The bacterium does not utilize tryptophan for the synthesis of cellular material unless its growth has been initiated by another substrate.
Electron Microscopy of Bundled Flagella of the Curly Mutant of
Salmonella abortivoequina
Authors: Mitani Michiko , Iino Tetsuo
Published: January 2020

Mitani, Michiko
(National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan),
and Tetsuo Iino
. Electron microscopy of bundled flagella of the curly mutant of
Salmonella abortivoequina
. J. Bacteriol.
90:
1096–1101. 1965.—The arrangement of flagella was observed by dark-field and electron microscopy in three strains of
Salmonella abortivoequina
, namely, normal flagellar, curly flagellar, and paralyzed curly flagellar strains. With dark-field microscopy, bundled flagella could be seen in 5 to 10% of actively moving normal or curly mutant cells. Under the electron microscope, a great many bundled flagella were observed in the curly mutant strain, but in the normal strain most of the flagella were dissociated or the bundles were rather loose and irregular. Normal flagella seem to separate easily during the process of preparation, but not the curly ones. Single flagella were found to run parallel with each other and to form a bundle consisting of five or more flagella; the bundle was spirally gyrating, with the characteristic flagellar wave. It is thought that the bundle observed with the electron microscope corresponds to that observed under the dark-field microscope. Further, the marked decrease of bundle formation in the paralyzed curly mutant cells suggests that bundle formation is not caused by curly flagellar structure per se, but corresponds to the mode of locomotion of peritrichously flagellated bacteria.
Inhibition of Protein Synthesis by Polypeptide Antibiotics I. Inhibition in Intact Bacteria
Authors: Ennis Herbert L.
Published: January 2020

Ennis, Herbert
L. (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.). Inhibition of protein synthesis by polypeptide antibiotics. I. Inhibition in intact bacteria. J. Bacteriol.
90:
1102–1108. 1965.—The mechanism of inhibition of growth of cells by the polypeptide antibiotics of the PA 114, vernamycin, and streptogramin complexes was studied. This inhibition apparently was due to the selective inhibition of protein synthesis by these antibiotics. Ribonucleic acid synthesis was unaffected by concentrations of the antibiotics which completely inhibited protein synthesis. Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was slightly inhibited. These antibiotics are composed of a number of components. Mixtures of equal amounts of PA 114 A and PA 114 B or vernamycin A and Bα were more active in stopping protein synthesis in intact cells than each of the components of the antibiotic complex alone. Mutants resistant to one of the antibiotics were resistant to all of the group and, in addition, were resistant to erythromycin and oleandomycin.
Effect of Polymyxin B, Tyrocidine, Gramicidin D, and Other Antibiotics on the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate
Authors: Merrick J. M.
Published: January 2020

Merrick
, J. M. (State University of New York, Buffalo). Effect of polymyxin B, tyrocydine, gramicidin D, and other antibiotics on the enzymatic hydrolysis of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate. J. Bacteriol.
90:
965–969. 1965.—Previous studies have demonstrated that native poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) granules isolated from
Bacillus megaterium
are surrounded by a discrete membranelike structure. Morphological alterations of PHB granules are mainly characterized by membrane fragmentation, and can be correlated with decreased susceptibility of the polymer to enzymatic hydrolysis by soluble factors. In the present investigation, the inhibitory effect of a variety of surface-active and other antibiotics on the enzymatic depolymerization of PHB was examined. The most potent inhibitors were polymyxin B, tyrocidine, and gramicidin D. These polypeptide antibiotics are known to attack other types of membranous structures. The results, therefore, support previous evidence that the membrane or similar constituents of PHB granules are intimately involved in its metabolism. Chlortetracycline was also found to be a potent inhibitor of the depolymerization, but its mechanism of action may be different from the other antibiotics. The polymer-synthesizing enzyme(s), also localized on the granules, is inhibited by tyrocidine and gramicidin D but not by polymyxin B or chlortetracycline.
Lifetime of Bacterial Messenger Ribonucleic Acid
Authors: Moses V. , Calvin M.
Published: January 2020

Moses
, V. (University of California, Berkeley),
and M. Calvin
. Lifetime of bacterial messenger ribonucleic acid. J. Bacteriol.
90:
1205–1217. 1965.—When cells from a stationary culture of
Escherichia coli
were placed in fresh medium containing inducer for β-galactosidase, growth, as represented by increase in turbidity and by total protein synthesis, started within 30 sec. By contrast, β-galactosidase synthesis was greatly delayed compared with induction during exponential growth. Two other inducible enzymes (
d
-serine deaminase and
l
-tryptophanase) and one repressible enzyme (alkaline phosphatase) showed similar lags. The lags were not due to catabolite repression. They could not be reduced by pretreatment of the culture with inducer, or by supplementing the fresh medium with amino acids or nucleotides. The lag was also demonstrated by an i
−
mutant constitutive for β-galactosidase synthesis. An inhibitor of ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis, 6-azauracil, preferentially inhibited β-galactosidase synthesis compared with growth in both inducible and constitutive strains. Puromycin, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, acted as an inhibitor at additional sites during the induction of β-galactosidase synthesis. No inhibition of the reactions proceeding during the first 20 sec of induction was observed, but puromycin seemed to prevent the accumulation of messenger RNA during the period between 20 sec and the first appearance of enzyme activity after 3 min. It is suggested that these observations, together with many reports in the literature that inducible enzyme synthesis is more sensitive than total growth to some inhibitors and adverse growth conditions, can be explained by supposing that messenger RNA for normally inducible enzymes is biologically more labile than that for some normally constitutive proteins. The possible implications of this hypothesis for the achievement of cell differentiation by genetic regulation of enzyme synthesis are briefly discussed.
Relationship ofMycoplasma pneumoniaeto Other HumanMycoplasmaSpecies Studied by Gel Diffusion
Authors: Taylor-Robinson David , Sobeslavský Otakar , Chanock Robert M.
Published: January 2020

Taylor-Robinson, David(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Md.),Otakar Soběslavský, and Robert M. Chanock. Relationship ofMycoplasma pneumoniaeto other humanMycoplasmaspecies studied by gel diffusion. J. Bacteriol.90:1432–1437. 1965.—Conditions are presented for the production of four lines of precipitate betweenMycoplasma pneumoniaeantigen and homologous hyperimmune rabbit serum in double diffusion in agar. The specificity of the reaction was shown by the fact thatM. pneumoniaeantigen did not react with antisera to the other human mycoplasma species, nor didM. pneumoniaeantiserum produce lines with antigens prepared from the other human mycoplasmas. In addition, there was no reduction in the number or intensity of precipitation lines after absorption ofM. pneumoniaeantiserum with heterotypic mycoplasma antigens, or after absorption of heterotypic mycoplasma antisera withM. pneumoniaeantigen. These findings indicate that, of the human mycoplasma species so far studied,M. pneumoniaeis antigenically the most distinct.
Genetic Relatedness Among Mycoplasmas as Determined by Nucleic Acid Homology
Authors: Reich Paul R. , Somerson Norman L. , Rose James A. , Weissman Sherman M.
Published: January 2020

Reich, Paul
R. (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.),
Norman L. Somerson, James A. Rose, and Sherman M. Weissman
. Genetic relatedness among mycoplasmas as determined by nucleic acid homology. J. Bacteriol.
91:
153–160. 1966.—A sensitive membrane filter method to detect nucleic acid homology was used to determine genetic relatedness among mycoplasma isolates. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from mycoplasmas and used as a primer for synthesis of tritium-labeled, complementary ribonucleic acid (RNA) by the enzyme RNA polymerase. DNA from each mycoplasma isolate tested was reacted separately with complementary RNA synthesized with homologous or heterologous DNA as primer. The quantity of DNA-RNA hybrids formed was assayed by the nitrocellulose membrane filter method. The amount of radioactivity bound to the membrane filter was used to measure the degree of homology between the nucleic acids. The three mycoplasma isolates from human oral cavities (DC 63, V2785, Botteicher) and the prototype strain PG21 placed in the
Mycoplasma hominis
type 1 group by gel diffusion and complement-fixation testing were investigated with this technique. Analysis of the data confirmed their immunological grouping with the
M. hominis
type 1 and their distinction from other human mycoplasmas. In contrast to the data from immunological studies, none of the four isolates tested appeared to be identical to any other. Preliminary experiments with DNA from four other mycoplasma isolates from tissue cultures inoculated with human material revealed them to be closely related, and possibly identical. The advantages of this nucleic acid homology technique for the study of relatedness among mycoplasmas are described.
Effect of Actinomycin D on Immune Antibody, Normal Antibody, and Complement
Authors: Muschel Louis H. , Jackson Jean L. , Schmoker Karen
Published: January 2020

Muschel, Louis
H. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis),
Jean L. Jackson, and Karen Schmoker
. Effect of actinomycin D on immune antibody, normal antibody, and complement. J. Bacteriol.
91:
270–272. 1966.—The effect of actinomycin D on the immune response, when the antibiotic was administered to rabbits simultaneously with antigen, and its effect on naturally occurring levels of antibody and complement were determined. Those amounts of the antibiotic that effected a significant suppression of the immune response against deliberately injected antigens did not cause a decline in levels of naturally occurring antibody. Complement titers were also refractory to the antibiotic.
Oxidation and Assimilation of Carbohydrates by
Micrococcus sodonensis
Authors: Perry Jerome J. , Evans James B.
Published: January 2020

Perry, Jerome
J. (North Carolina State University, Raleigh),
and James B. Evans
. Oxidation and assimilation of carbohydrates by
Micrococcus sodonensis
. J. Bacteriol.
91:
33–38. 1966.—
Micrococcus sodonensis
is a biotin-requiring strict aerobe that cannot utilize carbohydrates as sole sources of carbon and energy. However, addition of mannose, glucose, sucrose, or maltose to a medium on which the organism can grow resulted in an increase in total growth.
M. sodonensis
oxidized these sugars without induction, thus indicating the presence of constitutive enzymes for their transport, activation, and metabolism. Under appropriate nonproliferating cell conditions, glucose was readily incorporated into essential constituents of the cell. When glucose-
1-C
14
and glucose-
6
-C
14
were oxidized by nonproliferating cells, the label was found in both the protein and nucleic acid fractions of the cell. The respiratory quotients of cells oxidizing glucose in saline and in phosphate buffer indicated assimilation of sugar carbon in buffer and virtually no assimilation in saline. The ability of
M. sodonensis
to completely oxidize glucose and to grow on intermediates of glucose oxidation but not on glucose suggests that glucose may suppress or repress some reaction(s) necessary for growth, and that growth substrates either derepress or circumvent this block.