- Volume 21, Issue 4, 1986
Volume 21, Issue 4, 1986
- Short Article
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A Modified Scheme for Biotyping Gardnerella Vaginalis
More LessSummaryA scheme is proposed for biotyping Gardnerella vaginalis, based on detection of hippurate hydrolysis, β-galactosidase (ONPG) and lipase, and fermentation of arabinose, galactose and xylose. Seventeen biotypes were found among 197 strains from asymptomatic women and patients with bacterial vaginosis (non-specific vaginitis). The distribution of biotypes was similar in both populations but some biotypes were found more frequently in patients. The proposed scheme is compared with those previously described.
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- Article
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Subclass Distribution of IgG and IgA Responses to Rubella Virus in Man
More LessSummaryMonoclonal anti-subclass antibodies were used in a micro-ELISA method to determine rubella-specific IgG subclass antibodies in serum from 22 subjects who had acute rubella or had been vaccinated, from 10 infants with congenital rubella, and in serum and synovial fluid samples from 21 patients with chronic arthritis. In nearly all samples IgG1 was the only type of IgG antibody detected. In acute infections it was present within 10 days of the onset of the rash. IgG4 antibody was detected in sera from two immune individuals. Rubella-specific IgA1 subclass antibody was detected by the same technique in sera from 6 of 12 subjects with acute rubella as early as 3 days but not later than 28 days after the appearance of the rash.
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Coxsackie B Virus-Specific IgM Antibody and Myocardial Infarction
More LessSummaryThe ELISA technique was shown to be group-specific for the detection of IgM antibodies against coxsackie B viruses, and probably against a wider range of enteroviruses. No evidence was obtained that recent coxsackie B-virus infection predisposes to myocardial infarction.
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Growth of Clostridium Difficile and Production of Toxins A and B in Complex and Defined Media
More LessSummaryThe ability of several strains of Clostridium difficile to grow and to produce toxins A and B in complex and defined culture media has been studied with special reference to the amino-acid composition of the medium. The production of these toxins varied with the strain used and with the composition of the growth medium. Toxin A production was not inextricably linked to production of toxin B since conditions were found in which only one or other toxin was produced.
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An in-vitro model of colonisation resistance to Clostridium difficile infection
More LessSummaryTo investigate the importance of the normal gut flora in preventing the establishment of Clostridium difficile in vivo we have developed an in-vitro test system based on growth in faecal emulsions. Growth of C. difficile and cytotoxin production are inhibited in faecal emulsions from healthy adults, but not in sterilised emulsions; the importance of viable bacteria in the inhibitory system is evident. Generally, faecal emulsions derived from infants, children and geriatric patients were less inhibitory than those from healthy adults. Those from bottle-fed infants were significantly less inhibitory than those from breast-fed infants. Decreased levels of cytotoxin in the latter group were attributed to the acidic pH of the stools. With the different patient groups studied, faecal samples not inhibitory to C. difficile in vitro were obtained from 21% of patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, 33% of those taking antibiotics but who did not have diarrhoea, 18·7% of those with diarrhoea unassociated with antibiotics, and 79% of those with C. difficile-mediated diarrhoea. In some cases inhibition was due to low faecal pH, as in some infants, and in others to other filterable substances. The degree of inhibition could not be linked to specific volatile fatty acids or enzymes.
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Pathophysiology of Experimental Aeromonas Hydrophila Infection in Mice
More LessSummaryA virulent fish strain of Aeromonas hydrophila was inoculated intramuscularly into laboratory mice (B10.G strain). Histological, biochemical and haematological changes during the first 36 h of the infection were measured. Inoculation led to septicaemia, tissue damage, endotoxic shock and death. Histological examination revealed: (1) severe muscle necrosis at the injection site; (2) oedema, haemorrhage and neutrophil infiltration of the lung; and (3) focal parenchymal necrosis in the liver. Significant increases in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, intestinal bilirubin and blood urea nitrogen were noted in blood and intestinal samples; decreased plasma glucose and haematological changes were also recorded. Ketones, increased protein, glucose, bilirubin and blood were detected in the urine. Endotoxaemia was demonstrated as early as 2 h after inoculation and persisted for more than 36 h. The changes resembled those described for certain other experimental infections in laboratory animals. Our results suggest that endotoxin contributed to the pathogenesis of aeromonas infection in mice.
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Partial Characterisation of a Soluble Haemagglutinin From Human Diarrhoeal Isolates of Aeromonas
More LessSummaryA soluble haemagglutinin has been identified in cell-free culture supernates of human diarrhoeal isolates of Aeromonas sobria, A. hydrophila and A. caviae. It was oligomeric; a major peak of haemagglutinating activity had an apparent mol. wt of 780000 but there was haemagglutinating activity throughout the mol. wt range <40000— > 106. Human group O, A and B, horse, rabbit, chicken and rat erythrocytes, but not those of sheep and cow, were agglutinated by the soluble haemagglutinin, in contrast to the cell-bound agglutinin. Agglutination was inhibited by fetuin, a complex glycoprotein, but not by simple sugars. The haemagglutinating activity was not affected by 0·5 m NaCl, dithiothreitol or the presence or absence of Ca++. It was unrelated to the haemolytic, enterotoxigenic and proteolytic activities present in cell-free extracts of A. sobria. All A. sobria, 73% of A. hydrophila and 68% of A. caviae strains tested produced this soluble haemagglutinin. A. caviae does not appear to be an enteric pathogen, therefore this soluble haemagglutinin alone is unlikely to be a virulence factor in Aeromonas spp.
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R-Plasmid Transfer in vivo: a Prospective Study
More LessSummaryTwo hundred and eighty-seven coliform bacteria were isolated from 116 rectal swabs or faecal specimens obtained from 113 patients. By means of plasmid analysis and resistance transfer (R-transfer) Escherichia coli was found to differ from other enteric genera in plasmid distribution. Criteria were proposed that enabled in-vivo "R-transfer potential" and in-vivo "R-transfer rate" to be calculated. From each of 22 of the 113 patients numerous coliforms were isolated, of which at least one per patient contained one or more self-transmissible R-plasmids potentially transferable to 43 other coliforms. Evidence indicated that R-plasmid transfer had occurred in vivo on two of the 43 potential occasions. These results are discussed in the context of plasmid ecology in the human host.
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Transfer of a Chromosomal Locus Responsible for Mucoid Colony Morphology in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated From Cystic Fibrosis Patients to P. Aeruginosa PAO
More LessSummaryThe locus responsible for mucoid colony morphology in five independent clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis patients have been transferred by means of pM060-mediated conjugation to the genetically characterised strain P. aeruginosa PAO. Genetic mapping has shown that in all five strains the locus is on the chromosome between 89’ and 94’, although it is not possible to say that the same locus is involved in each case. The way is now open for a more detailed genetic analysis of the loci responsible for mucoid colony morphology.
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P Fimbriation Among Biochemically Inactive Strains of Escherichia Coli of the Group Formerly Called Alkalescens-Dispar
More LessSummaryBiochemically inactive, non-motile strains of Escherichia coli of the group formerly known as Alkalescens-Dispar (AD) and of known AD serogroups were analysed for biotype, resistotype, type-1 fimbriation, P fimbriation and haemolysin production. All strains of AD serogroups O1 and O2 examined were P-fimbriate and of closely related bio-resistotypes, suggesting that they may be representatives of two E. coli P-fimbriate clones, members of which have not infrequently been isolated from infected urine.
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Staphylococcus Aureus Protein A-Antibody-Mediated Haemagglutination for the Analysis of Cross-Reactivity Between Phenol-Water Extracts of Bacteroides Fragilis
More LessSummaryPassive haemagglutination (PHA) and Staphylococcus aureus protein A-antibody-mediated haemagglutination (SAPA-AMHA) were used to analyse the cross-reactions of rabbit antisera against four stains of Bacteroides fragilis. There was cross-reactivity between all the strains tested but strain-specific reactions were obtained with three strains. Two to 32-fold higher antibody titres were obtained with SAPA-AMHA than with PHA. The antigen concentration required in inhibition assays was up to 32-fold higher for PHA than for SAPA-AMHA. The latter is a simple and superior alternative to PHA for such studies.
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Isolation of Haemophilus Influenzae and Haemophilus Parainfluenzae from Genital-Tract Specimens with a Selective Culture Medium
More LessSummaryA series of 2027 genital tract specimens was cultured for Haemophilus species on non-selective chocolate agar and on a selective medium (Choc-VBCA). The latter gave a significantly higher isolation rate. H. influenzae was isolated from 27 specimens and H. parainfluenzae from 81 specimens by use of the selective medium. The biotype distribution of both species was compared with that of an equal number of isolates from respiratory-tract secretions. H. influenzae biotypes II and IV were found to predominate in genital strains and biotypes II and III in respiratory strains. With H. parainfluenzae, biotype II was most frequent in both sites. Two new biotypes of H. parainfluenzae (VI and VII) are described. The significance of the use of selective media and of biotype distribution are discussed.
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The Detection of Leptospires by a Chemiluminescent Immunoassay
More LessSummaryRabbit serum hyperimmune to Leptospira interrogans var icterohaemorrhagiae serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, reference strain RGA was conjugated to the chemiluminescent label ABEI (6-[N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethyl amino]-2,3-dihydro-phthalazine-1,4-dione) in the presence of the coupling agent, EDC (1-ethyl-3(3-dimethyl amino-propyl)-carbodiimide HCl). The luminescent conjugate was incubated with homologous and heterologous antigens. The results indicate that chemiluminescence may provide an accurate and rapid method of detecting leptospires in biological fluids.
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