Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene. Erste Abteilung Originale. Reihe A: Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Parasitologie最新文献

114 strains of anaerobic and microaerophilic coryneform bacteria from different origins were investigated for production of free extracellular hyaluronidase (hyaluronate glycanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.36). A quantitative technique was applied measuring the release of N-acetyl-glucosamine groups from purified human potassium hyaluronate. The strains belonged to the following species: Propionibacterium acnes, P. avidum, P. granulosum, P. lymphophilum, the formerly so-called Corynebacterium parvum, P. freudenreichii subsp. freudenreichii and shermanii, P. thoenii, P. acidi-propionici, C. minutissimum, and Arachnia propionica. All together, 59 out of 114 (approximately 51.8%) tested strains showed clearly measurable hyaluronidase activities. P. acnes, the propionibacterium species most frequently found in acne vulgaris lesions, proved to be the most active species tested, 44 out of 64 (approximately 68.8%) P. acnes strains being positive. 5 strains producing hyaluronate glycanohydrolase activities of more than 60 mU/ml in thioglycollate broth cultures could be detected. P. avidum and P. granulosum strains were positive in only 45.0% and 33.3%, respectively, and their mean hyaluronidase activities were significantly lower. Differences in hyaluronidase activities of P. acnes strains isolated from acne vulgaris lesions and strains from normal human skin could not be found. The possible pathogenic role of propionibacteria hyaluronidase in acne vulgaris is discussed.

The immune sera for Kloeckera africana, K. corticis, K. javanica var. javanica and K. javanica var. lafarir agglutinated Salmonella cholerae-suis (O:6(2),7). The immune serum for S. cholerae-suis agglutinated K. africana, K. corticis, K. javanica var. javanica and K. javanica var. lafarii. Absorption and agglutination cross tests demonstrated common antigenic factor(s) between above mentioned yeasts and Salmonella O:7 antigen and also K. javanica var. lafarii and Salmonella O antigens 6 and 7.

Various steroids in the culture medium of Streptomyces hydrogenans cause a rapid decrease of the relative GTP content of the cells. The relative ATP level is significantly diminished in the presence of progesterone and testosterone acetate. The initial decrease of the relative GTP content is proportional to the growth inhibitory effect of the steroids tested. There is no relationship between steroid-dependent induction of the synthesis of 20 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the ability of the steroids to decrease the relative GTP content of the cells.

Patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection often develop various autoantibodies including cold agglutinins, cold antibodies reacting with lymphocytes, antibodies against various tissue antigens, for instance brain and lung and smooth muscle antibodies. Various mechanisms that may be responsible for the induction of these autoimmune responses and the possible pathogenicity of these autoantibodies are discussed.

In concentrations of 6 microgram/ml Fosfomycin acted bactericidal against E. coli ATCC 10536. The sensitivity of E. coli was evaluated by turbidity measurement (Table 1) and by counting colony forming units (CFU) (Table 2). Thus the bactericidal action began at different times in respect to the concentration and the method of documentation: turbidity fell 30-120 min after the administration of 6 microgram/ml and 10-30 min after 60 microgram/ml; CFU were reduced 10-30 min after 6 microgram/ml and 3-10 min after 60 microgram/ml. Before the cytoplasm and DNA-region were disorganized with reduced electron density, some elongated (up to more than 20 micron) cells occurred (Fig. 1,2). More prominent alterations in shape and ultrastructure were obvious 120 min after 6 microgram/ml (Fig. 5) and after 30 min when 60 microgram Fosfomycin per ml were administered (Fig. 3, 4), i.e. considerably later than the reduction of reproductivity.

NMRI mice were immunized with acetone-killed bacteria of 6 salmonella R mutants, 5 homologous and 6 heterologous Salmonella S forms and 3 E. coli R mutants. The animals were then challenged with graded amounts of live S. typhimurium. The results show that the protection obtained was dependent on the number of immunizing injections and on the time interval between them. Thus in the case of Salmonella R-mutants two immunizations increased the LD50 of challenge by an index of two (log 10) compaired to one immunization. A third immunization led to only a small further increase, the protection however, was longer lasting. A 3 fold immunization with two Salmonella typhimurium mutants, one SR- and one Ra form, led to a protection comparable to that obtained with S form bacteria. In contrast to the R-mutants, with Salmonella typhimurium S form a high degree of long-lasting protection was achieved already after a single immunization, and was not increased significantly by repeated injections. In animals immunized with Salmonella typhimurium S form the difference between non-lethal and 100% lethal challenge dose varied by a factor of 10 (one injection dose). In contrast, in animals immunized with Salmonella R mutants the above differences were more gradual extending over 3, 4 or more infection doses. This was also true for animals immunized with lower doses of S. typhimurium S form and for the non-immunized control animals. For comparison the protective effect of heterologous Salmonella S forms and of E. coli R-mutants was studied. These were found to be less effective in affording protection to Salmonella typhimurium than the above Salmonella R forms. The various strains used for immunization may be placed in the following sequence in order of decreasing protection: Salmonella typhimurium S form, Salmonella R-mutants, heterologous Salmonella S forms, E. coli R mutants. In a parallel investigation the antibody inducing properties of Salmonella R mutants and heterologous Salmonella S forms were studied. In all cases homologous hemaglutinating antibodies to all the strains used for immunization were detectable. In immunization with Salmonella R mutants in addition to homologous titres, agglutinating antibodies to Salmonella typhimurium S form were also produced in significant amounts. There was, however, no correlation between the time of appearance of protection and that of appearance of antibodies nor between the hight of antibody titres and degree of protection. The detection of agglutinins to the infecting microorganisms represents therefore no valid criterium for the effectiveness of R mutants and heterologous Salmonella S forms as protective vaccines. From the present results it is concluded that in addition to the O antigen one or more further cell components exist which are involved in rendering animals immune to Salmonella typhimurium and probably also to other Salmonella S form bacteria.

Based on literature data and own experiences the author gives an outlook about pathogenicity of avian mycoplasmas. In chickens and turkeys M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae (in addition to it M. meleagridis exclusively in turkeys) are the most important mycoplasmas producing respiratory disease, inflamation of synovial membranes and other lesions. Their pathogenic effect is very much influenced by dose of agent, route of entry of microorganism, age of birds, virulence and tropism of organism as well as associated other mycoplasma or virus or bacterial or fungal infections and conditions of environment. These facts rise difficulties in serological diagnostic and erradication program. Recently ureaplasma infection was also established in chickens and turkeys which can also be associated with respiratory disease. From ducks A. laidlawii, M. anatis and various unclassified strains were isolated, among these M. anatis and unclassified arginine splitting mycoplasma strains proved to be pathogenic. In geese M. gallinarum, A. laidlawii and A. axanthum were detected. A. axanthum showed pathogenicity for goslings and goose embryos. Its effect is exacerbated by associated parvovirus infection.

Since their original isolation from the genital tract of man, ureaplasmas, previously termed T-strain mycoplasmas, have been isolated from a variety of animal species. Under experimental conditions they have been shown to cause mastitis in cattle, goats and mice, and observations made on naturally-occurring bovine pneumonia, as well as the results of experimental inoculation, suggest that ureaplasmas are responsible for a portion of bovine cuffing pneumonia. Ureaplasmas have been isolated from the genital tract of a wide variety of animals and have the potential for causing disease in this anatomical area, as the results of experimental intra-urethral inoculation of goats, for example, indicate. However, there are no data, as yet, to incriminate ureaplasmas as a cause of naturally-occurring genital tract disease nor as a cause of infertility, the latter being an area in which the results of studies are often conflicting and difficult to interpret. In man, the rôle of ureaplasmas in genito-urinary disease has been a bone of contention for many years. Experimentally, ureaplasmas produce bladder calculi in rats but so far there is no evidence that they do so in man. Further, there are no convincing data to support the notion that infertile couples possessing ureaplasmas should be treated with tetracyclines. There is an undoubted association between spontaneous abortion and low birth-weight on the one hand and the presence of ureaplasmas in the mother, abortus or infant on the other. However, evidence that the organisms cause abortion is lacking and whether they are directly responsible for low birth-weight is unknown. The association between chorioamnionitis and ureaplasma isolation is provocative enough to stimulate further work. In the case of non-gonococcal urethritis, the weight of evidence suggests that ureaplasmas cause the disease in some men. This is based on quantitative isolation, volunteer inoculation, as well as treatment studies including the use of antibiotics, such as rifampicin, which differentiate between chlamydiae and ureaplasmas.