J. Jeljaszewicz

Purification and some properties of the staphylococcal extracellular lipase

Staphylococcal lipase has been purified by application of a multistep procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography followed by gel filtration through Sepharose CL-4B. A purified enzyme was obtained which appeared to be homogeneous by molecular sieving, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sucrose gradient centrifugation. The enzyme was then subjected to physicochemical analysis. It has been found that staphylococcal lipase appears in two molecular forms: light (45 kDa) and heavy (300 kDa). Amino acid analysis indicates that lipase contains 17 amino acids with a prevalence of hydrophobic amino acids. No sulfur-containing amino acid was found in the enzyme molecule. The lipase contains about 2% sugars and some amount of lipids. The lipase preparation is stable within pH 5.0 to 9.0 and exhibits maximal activity at pH 8.0. The optimal temperature for the enzymatic reaction was established at 55 degrees C.

Digestive tract microflora liberates low molecular weight peptides with immunotriggering activity

Antibiotic digestive tract decontamination in BALB/c-mice resulted in a significant reduction of peritoneal macrophage function and lymphocyte proliferation. Considerable evidence has accumulated showing that certain species of the indigenous gastrointestinal (GI)-tract microflora, e.g. Bacteroides sp., Clostridium sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Propionibacterium sp., liberate low molecular weight peptides which are able to trigger basic immune responses. Eradication of the GI-tract microflora apparently results in a lack of peptide production correlating to immunosuppression in experimental BALB/c-mice. Substitution of peptides in GI-tract decontaminated mice reconstituted macrophage function as well as proliferation of lymphatic tissue.

Prevalence of Types of Diplococcus pneumoniae and their Susceptibility to 30 Antibiotics

One hundred fifteen strains of Diplo-coccus pneumoniae were randomly isolated from septic lesions not associated with the respiratory tract, and sputum, throat and nose in 16 center

Immunomodulation by Propionibacteria

Summary The ability of bacteria and bacterial products to modulate the immune response to unrelated antigens is well documented. Propionibacteria are amongst the most potent immunomodulators stimulating cell populations involved in nonspecific resistance. Generally, the activated immune system provides protection from infectious pathogens and malignancies via mechanisms of recognition and elimination. Accordingly, administration of propionibacteria could be shown to be of benefit in the treatment of neoplastic and infectious diseases. Thus, it can be recommended for further clinical investigations.

Comparative study on the immunostimulatory potency of differentPropionibacterium strains

Abstract198 strains ofPropionibacterium acnes, P. avidum, andP. granulosum were tested for their immunostimulatory potency using splenomegaly as index of stimulation, the activity differed widely from strain to strain. The antitumor and antimetastatic properties of six strains with differing stimulation activities were carefully examined. A close correlation between spleen enlargement and antitumor effects could be observed. The simple spleen enlargement test is recommended for determination of the immunopotency of propionibacteria and for the standardisation of vaccine preparations.

Modification of Baird-Parkers's classification system ofStaphylococcus albus

The purpose of our study was to check the possibilities of differentiating coagulase-negative staphylococci with the help of biochemical and morphological characteristics. Altogether 59 reactions were examined on a material of 147 strains, which were isolated from human pathogenic processes in USA, Canada, Denmark, CSSR and Germany.In accordance with previous observations of Mortensen and Kocur [16,18], the anaerobic glucose-fermentation test [28] proved not to be always a reliable criterion for separating the two generaStaphylococcus andMicrococcus. Therefore anIntermediate group between these two genera was proposed and described. 95 of our 147 pathogenic coccal strains were established asStaphylococcus albus, 48 strains belonged to theIntermediate group, and four strains were classified asMicrococcus.A modified Baird-Parker system was elaborated for classification of coagulase-negative staphylococci. This system was based on the following tests: phosphatase- and acetoin-reactions, aerobic fermentation of mannitol and lactose. With the help of this modified system all pathogenicStaphylococcus albus-strains examined could be grouped. All the other tested characteristics showed no strict taxonomic correlations.

The Genome of Staphylococcus aureus: A Review

The genome of Staphylococcus aureus consists of a single circular chromosome (2.7-2.8 mbp) plus an assortment of extrachromosomal accessory genetic elements: conjugative and nonconjugative plasmids, mobile elements (IS, Tn, Hi), prophages and other variable elements. Plasmids (1-60 kbp) are classified into 4 classes and there are 15 known incompatibility groups. Mobile elements of the genome (0.8-18 kbp) appear in the chromosome or in plasmids of classes II and III. Prophages (45-60 kbp) are integrated in the bacterial chromosome, and they are UV- or mitomycin-inducible. Temperate bacteriophages of S. aureus are members of the Siphoviridae and the serological groups A, B and F occur most frequently. In the paper presented, the characteristics of chromosome, plasmids, transposons and other genetic elements of S. aureus genome are given and an alphabetical list of known genes of this species is included.

Intestinal Microflora of BALB/c-Mice and Function of Local Immune Cells

BALB/c-mice were treated for 7 days with oral nonabsorbable dosages of mezlocillin to achieve digestive tract decontamination. Such a procedure resulted in rapid eradication of most species of aerobic and anaerobic intestinal microflora. Various functions of peritoneal macrophages (e.g. chemiluminescence response, chemotactic motility, bactericidal and cytostatic ability) and lymphocyte proliferation were decreased in decontaminated animals as compared to non-treated controls.

Tierexperimentelle Untersuchungen zur Beeinflussung des Immunsystems durch Ofloxacin

Ofloxacin, one of the new group of quinolone antibiotics, was investigated with respect to its possible interactions with different parameters of the immune system. The study was performed in vivo on Balb/c-mice treated for seven days with different doses of the antibiotic and in vitro on human phagocytes from peripheral blood. It was found that ofloxacin does not affect cellular or humoral immune responses in mice. Moreover, human phagocytic cells exposed in vitro even to high concentrations of the drug did not show any significant changes in their function. On the other hand, it was observed that subinhibitory concentrations of ofloxacin induced an increased susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus 511-Jena to the bactericidal activity of phagocytes.ZusammenfassungOfloxacin, das zur Gruppe der neuen Chinolon-Antibiotika gehört, wurde auf eine mögliche Beeinflussung verschiedener Parameter des Immunsystems überprüft. Die Untersuchungen wurden sowohlin vivo an sieben Tagen mit Ofloxacin in verschiedenen Dosierungen behandelten Balb/c-Mäusen durchgeführt als auchin vitro an peripheren Blut-Phagozyten des Menschen. Ofloxacin beeinflußte weder die spezifischen zellulären und humoralen Immunantworten der Maus noch die Funktion der menschlichen Phagozyten bei Exposition gegenüber hohen Dosen der Substanzin vitro. In subinhibitorischen Konzentrationen führte Ofloxacin zu einer erhöhten Empfindlichkeit vonStaphylococcus aureus 511-Jena gegenüber der bakteriziden Aktivität der Phagozyten.SummaryOfloxacin, one of the new group of quinolone antibiotics, was investigated with respect to its possible interactions with different parameters of the immune system. The study was performedin vivo on Balb/c-mice treated for seven days with different doses of the antibiotic andin vitro on human phagocytes from peripheral blood. It was found that ofloxacin does not affect cellular or humoral immune responses in mice. Moreover, human phagocytic cells exposedin vitro even to high concentrations of the drug did not show any significant changes in their function. On the other hand, it was observed that subinhibitory concentrations of ofloxacin induced an increased susceptibility ofStaphylococcus aureus 511-Jena to the bactericidal activity of phagocytes.

Morphology and function of liver after intravenous and intraportal injections of the immunomodulating agent Propionibacterium granulosum.

An immunomodulator, cell walls from Propionibacterium granulosum strain KP-45 (PG), has been applied in rabbits to test its influence on morphology and function of liver cells. For investigation of distribution in internal organs, the PG preparation was 51Cr-labelled and injected i.v. into mice. Functional liver tests were performed in rabbits injected intravenously or intraportally with PG. Morphologic studies (light and electron microscopy) of liver sections were performed in mice and rats injected intravenously with PG, 1-60 d prior to liver examination. Intravenous or intraportal application of PG did not cause detectable clinical symptoms during the whole observation period (1-60 d). During the first 3-7 d, elevation of serum globulins and transaminases (SGOT, SGPT) were noted with reappearance of normal values after 14-20 d. 131I-labelled Bengal Rose injected into PG-treated rabbits was trapped mostly in the spleen, and to a smaller extent in liver, where radioactivity was significantly lower than in saline-injected control animals. 51Cr-labelled PG injected i.v. into mice were after 60-90 min localized preferentially in lungs and liver, where the radioactivity was much higher than in the spleen. Morphological studies revealed that 6 h following i.v. injection of PG, there appeared partial clearing of the hepatocyte cytoplasm and lowering of their basophilic content with enhancement of pinocytic activity of the hepatocytes. This was accompanied by enlargement of RES cells in liver with enhanced intracellular digestion, higher number of lysosomes and appearance of phagocytic vacuoles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)