Pathogenic characteristics of Escherichia coli strains in cases of asymptomatic bacteriuria and symptomatic urinary tract infections

The aim of this study was to examine if E. coli isolated from asymptomatic bacteriuria differed in pathogenic features from strains isolated from symptomatic infections of urinary tract. In this study 130 strains of E. coli isolated from women having asymptomatic bacteriuria and 112 strains isolated from patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection were examined. It was shown that E. coli isolated from patients with symptomatic urinary tract infection showed the more frequently ability to cause mannose-resistant haemagglutination of human erythrocytes, resistance to bactericidal activity of serum and haemolytic properties than those isolated from asymptomatic bacteriuria. These strains showed also the higher ability to adhere to Vero cells in tissue culture. Among E. coli strains isolated from persons with asymptomatic bacteriuria the pathogenic features were most frequently found in strains from healthy women and the most rarely in isolated from diabetic women.     

Preliminary studies on the characterization and distribution of Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species on animal skin.

A total of 221 strains of staphylococci and 98 strains of micrococci isolated from the skins of Eastern gray squirrels, Southern flying squirrels, raccoons, opossums, squirrel monkeys, swine, sheep, horses, cattle, and dogs were characterized in a preliminary attempt to resolve their natural relationships and distribution in nature. Staphylococci demonstrating the widest host range included Staphylococcus xylosus and unnamed Staphylococcus sp. 3. Unnamed Staphylococcus sp. 2 was isolated only from sheep, Staphylococcus sp. 4 only from opossums, Staphylococcus sp. 5 only from squirrel monkeys, and Staphylococcus sp. 6 only from swine. The predominant species isolated from human skin, including S. epidermidis, S. hominis, S. haemolyticus, and S. capitis, were either not isolated or only rarely isolated from animal skin. Micrococcus varians was the predominant Micrococcus species isolated from animal skin. M. luteus was only occasionally isolated. M. lylae, M. sedentarius, M. roseus, M. kristinae, and M. nishinomiyaensis, species occasionally isolated from human skin, were not isolated from animal skin.     

Agricultural animals as a source of yersiniosis

The role of agricultural animals as the sources of infection was studied. 8 Yersinia strains were isolated from 83 samples taken from cattle. Yersinia were isolated from feces, udder washings and milk. In the examination of 63 samples obtained from sheep the infective agent was isolated from feces in 6 cases. 6 Yersinia strains were isolated from 92 fecal samples taken from pigs. Y. enterocolitica were isolated from sick animals. The isolated strains were classified with serovars 03, 058, 08 and 09. In the foci of animal infection thus revealed antibodies to various Yersinia strains were detected in the blood sera of the animal-tending personnel, which indicates the professional character of the spread of this infection among humans. The infection is probably transferred by the contact and alimentary routes.     

Five new Candida species

Summary The following five new yeast species are described:Candida beechii isolated from cider,C. blankii isolated from a mink,C. cacaoi isolated from fermenting cacao,C. freyschussii isolated from wood pulp andC. melibiosica isolated from sputum.     

Differences in the initial events of infection of Botrytis cinerea strains isolated from tomato and grape

Various stages of the infection process among B. cinerea strains isolated from tomatoes or grapes, belonging to different genetic groups, were compared. It was found that strains of B. cinerea isolated from either grapes or tomatoes showed differences in adhesion patterns and in the percentage of germination on tomato cutin. In strains isolated from tomato the first stage of adhesion occurred faster than in strains isolated from grape. At the same time strains isolated from tomato showed a higher percentage of germination on tomato cutin than the other strains after 9 h of incubation. The production and isoenzymatic patterns of polygalacturonases, pectin methyl esterases, pectin lyases, p-nitrophenylbutyrate esterases and laccases by B. cinerea in solid-state fermentation also were analyzed. Correlation between the production of these enzymes and the origin of the strains was not found. On the other hand all strains produced different isoenzymes and a common pattern between the strains was not observed. The ability of B. cinerea strains to colonize tomato leaves also differs between the isolated strains obtained from grapes and tomato. Strains isolated from tomato were more virulent on tomato leaves than strains isolated from grapes.     

The flavonol glycosides in the fruit of Pyrus communis L. cultivar Bon Chrétien

1. Two new flavonol glycosides were isolated from the fruit of Pyrus communis L. cultivar Bon Chrétien. These were identified as isorhamnetin 3-rhamnogalactoside and a derivative of isorhamnetin 3-glucoside which was associated (possibly acylated) with an unknown aliphatic organic acid. 2. The melting point of isorhamnetin 3-glucoside isolated from Bon Chrétien pears is different from that of isorhamnetin 3-glucoside previously isolated from Argemone mexicana and Calendula officinalis. 3. Isorhamnetin 3-rhamnoglucoside was isolated from the fruit of Pyrus communis L. cultivar Bon Chrétien. This glycoside appears to be identical with narcissin, previously isolated from Narcissus tazetta and Lilium auratum. 4. Isoquercitrin, previously reported to be present in pear leaves, was isolated from the fruit of Bon Chrétien pears. 5. The isolated glycosides were present in the peels and flesh of the fruit, but were absent from the cores.     

银杏内生菌的分离及其抑菌活性筛选

从健康的银杏（Ginkgo biloba）茎和叶片中分离内生菌,结果从银杏叶和茎上共分离到内生真菌20株,其中9株来自银杏茎部,11株来自银杏叶部;内生放线菌23株,其中15株来自于银杏茎部,8株来自于银杏叶部;内生细菌15株,其中8株来自于银杏茎部,7株来自于银杏叶部。以金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus）、枯草芽胞杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）、大肠埃希菌（Escherichia coli）、黑曲霉（Aspergillus niger）、酿酒酵母（Saccharomyces cerevisiae）作为指示菌,采用双层平板法对内生菌进行抑菌活性筛选,结果表明：20株内生真菌中有12株出现了抑菌活性,有抑菌活性菌株的比例为60.0%;23株内生放线菌中,仅3株出现了抑菌活性,有抑菌活性菌株的比例为13.0%;15株内生细菌中,有4株出现了抑菌活性,有抑菌活性菌株的比例为26.7%。     

安徽地区大豆根瘤菌遗传多样性研究

采用RAPD技术对分离自安徽地区的大豆根瘤菌和部分参比菌株进行了遗传多样性和系统发育研究.结果表明:来自山东即墨、宿州灵壁、凤阳小溪河和六安金寨的菌株归为慢生型根瘤菌、来自安庆宿松、凤阳中都城、巢湖含山、滁州天长、淮北杜集、蚌埠淮上的菌株归为S.xinjiangensis,来自滁州全椒和风阳韭山洞的菌株是与花生根瘤菌和苜蓿根瘤菌更接近的快生型根瘤菌.而1株来自巢湖庐江的大豆根瘤菌和其它菌株的遗传距离较远,单独归为一类,其遗传地位特殊.     

Characterization and genetic variability of Fusarium verticillioides strains isolated from corn and sorghum in Brazil based on fumonisins production, microsatellites, mating type locus, and mating crosses

Fusarium verticillioides (Gibberella fujikuroi mating population A) is a producer of fumonisins and one of the main contaminants of corn grains. In Brazil, some studies analyzing strains isolated from corn have demonstrated high levels of fumonisins, whereas the levels for strains isolated from sorghum have been found to be low. In the present study, we investigated the genetic diversity of 22 F. verticillioides strains isolated from corn and 21 strains isolated from sorghum cultivated in the State of S?o Paulo, Brazil. Differences in the genetic profile were observed between the strains isolated from the two substrates using single primer amplification reaction by polymerase chain reaction (SPAR-PCR). Fumonisins levels were higher in strains isolated from corn than in those isolated from sorghum. The MAT-1 and MAT-2 alleles were identified by PCR, and the isolates were subsequently crossed with Fusarium thapsinum (G. fujikuroi mating population F) reference strains because this species is morphologically similar to F. verticillioides and produces low levels of fumonisins. The SPAR haplotypes of some strains isolated from sorghum were similar to the F. thapsinum reference strain haplotypes, but there was no fertile mating between the strains isolated from the two substrates and the F. thapsinum references strains. The MAT-1:MAT-2 proportion was 5:17 and 14:7 for isolates from corn and sorghum, respectively.     

The effect of prefixation on the diameter of chromosome fibers isolated by the Langmuir trough-critical point method

The effect of prefixation on the diameter of chromosome fibers isolated by the Langmuir trough-critical point method has been investigated in several species of plants and animals. In barley, fibers isolated from endosperm without prefixation have an average diameter of between 240 and 250 A, and are similar in dimensions and structure to the chromosome fibers isolated from animals by this method. Chromosome fibers from other tissues of the same plant are smaller in diameter when isolated without prefixation, approximating 200 A. After prefixation in 2% buffered formalin, isolated fibers from the three barley tissues studied are reduced in diameter, to approximately 120-130 A for endosperm and leaflet and to 140 A for root tip. Chromosome fibers isolated from newt erythrocytes also show a significantly reduced diameter after formalin prefixation, to approximately 120 A.     

烧伤病房患者创面金葡菌分布及耐药性分析

目的分析烧伤病房患者不同创面金葡菌的分布及耐药性,为临床合理选用抗菌药提供依据。方法对2006年1月至2013年12月间中国人民解放军第八五医院烧伤病房患者创面分离出金葡菌,采用K—B纸片扩散法进行药物敏感试验。分析金葡菌的耐药性,并对难愈性创面、非难愈性创面的耐甲氧西林金葡菌（MRSA）与甲氧西林敏感金葡菌（MSSA）的耐药性进行对比分析。结果分离出金葡菌112株,其中难愈性创面有70株MRSA和17株MSSA来自难愈性创面,16株MRSA和9株MSSA来自非难愈性创面。金葡菌对青霉素、红霉素、克林霉素的耐药率较高（分别为94．64％、81．25％和74．11％）,对复方新诺明、呋喃妥因的耐药率较低（分别为16．07％和1．79％）,对万古霉素、利奈唑烷的耐药率为0。MRSA的耐药率高于MSSA。来源于难愈性创面与非难愈性创面的MRSA仅在对利福平的耐药率上有明显差异,而来源于两创面的MSSA的耐药率无明显差异。结论创面金葡菌中MRSA的构成比高,难愈性创面MRSA耐药严重,应积极防控创面MRSA感染和扩散。     

Heterogeneity within Fusobacterium nucleatum, proposal of four subspecies

Fusobacterium nucleatum strains, isolated from man and animals, were shown to comprise four centres of variation within the species by using a variety of biochemical tests. DNA-DNA hybridization data indicated that they should differences between the groups to warrant their placement into four subspecies for which we propose the following: F. nucleatum subsp. nucleatum (commonly isolated from diseased sites), F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum (from healthy sites, most frequently isolated), F. nucleatum subsp. fusiforme (from healthy sites, most frequently isolated), F. nucleatum subsp. fusiforme (from healthy sites, rarely isolated) and F. nucleatum subsp. animalis from the colon of animals.     

Isolation rate of enterotoxigenic staphylococci in patients with sepsis, pneumonia and burns

The occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus strains producing enterotoxins of types SEA and SEB, which isolated from patients of different profile and caused the infectious process accompanied by pronounced intoxication without vomiting and enteric disturbances, was determined by means of the indirect hemagglutination test. The collection included 28 strains isolated in sepsis, 38 strains isolated in pneumonia, 57 strains isolated from patients with burns and 23, from the hands and nasopharynx of the medical staff. Among the staphylococcal strains isolated in sepsis, 75.6% synthesized SEA and 5.4%, SEB. The occurrence of SEA- and SEB-positive strains isolated in pneumonia was, respectively, 42.1% and 2.6%. From patients with burns SEA-positive staphylococci were mainly isolated (92.9%). Only 3% of the cultures isolated in wound infections produced SEA. From the medical staff, 13.4% of SEA-positive strains and 17.3% of SEB-positive strains were isolated. The data obtained from this study indicate the expediency of the determination of the enterotoxigenic properties of S. aureus clinical isolates in medical institutions for prophylactic measures with a view to the prevention of the spread of pathogenic clones.     

Serological variants of Yersinia enterocolitica circulating in different geographical areas of the Soviet Union

The serological variants of a number of Y. enterocolitica strains isolated in different regions of the USSR (1,085 strains isolated from humans and animals in the North-West of the RSFSR, 76 strains isolated from humans and animals in the Krasnodar Territory and 114 strains isolated from humans only in the area east of Lake Baikal) were determined. 25 serological variants were registered in these 3 regions of the USSR. The cultures isolated from rodents belonged mostly to serovars 06,30; 03; 05; 04,33; 019,8; 016; and from humans, to serovars 03; 05; 07,8; 016; 06,30; 09.     

Genetic Diversity of Algal Viruses Which Lyse the Photosynthetic Picoflagellate Micromonas pusilla (Prasinophyceae)

The genetic similarity among eight clones of Micromonas pusilla virus (MpV) isolated from five geographic locations was measured by DNA hybridization. Our objective was to explore the existence of genetically distinct populations of MpV by comparing the similarity among MpVs isolated from a single water sample to the similarity among viruses isolated from geographically distant locations. The highest and lowest similarities we observed were 70% (plusmn) 1.1% (mean (plusmn) standard error [SE], n = 3) for virus strains SP1 and SP2 isolated from a California coastal water sample and 13% (plusmn) 1.9% for strains SP2 and PB6; the latter was isolated from New York estuarine water. However, the similarity between MpV isolated from a single water sample was not always greater than the similarity between viruses isolated from different locations. Viruses PB7 and PB8 were isolated from a single New York estuarine sample but were only 16% (plusmn) 0.5% similar, whereas PB7 was quite similar (43% (plusmn) 2.9%) to PL1, a virus from Texas coastal water. Overall, the similarity among MpVs isolated from a single geographic location, 34% (plusmn) 12.6% (mean (plusmn) SE, n = 4), was not significantly different from the similarity among MpVs isolated from geographically distant locations, 26.6% (plusmn) 2.7% (mean (plusmn) SE, n = 24) (P = 0.92, Mann-Whitney U test). Clones of MpV were more similar to each other than they were to the related algal virus PBCV-1, and three groups of MpVs consisting of (i) PL1, SG1, PB6, and PB7, (ii) PB8, and (iii) GM1, SP1, and SP2 were resolved. The genetic variation among MpVs isolated from a single water sample was as large as the variation between viruses isolated from different oceans. If MpVs within a geographic location share genetic characteristics not shared with MpVs from geographically distant locations, this was not reflected in the overall similarity of their genomes.     

Genotypic heterogeneity of Streptococcus oralis and distinct aciduric subpopulations in human dental plaque

The genotypic heterogeneity of Streptococcus oralis isolated from the oral cavity was investigated using repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR. Unrelated subjects harbored unique genotypes, with numerous genotypes being isolated from an individual. S. oralis is the predominant aciduric bacterium isolated from noncarious tooth sites. Genotypic comparison of the aciduric populations isolated at pH 5.2 with those isolated from mitis-salivarius agar (MSA) (pH 7.0) indicated that the aciduric populations were genotypically distinct in the majority of subjects (chi(2) = 13.09; P = 0.0031). Neither the aciduric nor the MSA-isolated strains were stable, with no strains isolated at baseline being isolated 4 or 12 weeks later in the majority of subjects. The basis of this instability is unknown but is similar to that reported for Streptococcus mitis. Examination of S. oralis strains isolated from cohabiting couples demonstrated that in three of five couples, genotypically identical strains were isolated from both partners and this was confirmed by using Salmonella enteritidis repetitive element PCR and enterobacterial PCR typing. These data provide further evidence of the physiological and genotypic heterogeneity of non-mutans streptococci. The demonstration of distinct aciduric populations of S. oralis implies that the role of these and other non-mutans streptococci in the caries process requires reevaluation.     

A sea anemone's environment affects discharge of its isolated nematocysts

Nematocysts were isolated from individuals of Calliactis tricolor maintained under different feeding schedules or in different salinities in an attempt to determine how these culture conditions influence the discharge of isolated nematocysts. In addition, the discharge frequencies of nematocysts isolated from two different populations of sea anemones found in two different environments were also compared. Undischarged acontial nematocysts were isolated by extrusion into 1 M sodium citrate and were then treated with 5 mM EGTA to initiate discharge. Nematocysts isolated from anemones maintained under three different feeding schedules showed significantly different responses to the test solution. Nematocysts isolated from anemones maintained in two different salinities did not differ significantly in discharge frequency. Nematocysts isolated from individuals from two separate populations of C. tricolor responded significantly differently to 5 mM EGTA and to deionized water, and these responses also depended upon the isolation solution used. Environmental conditions are known to have an impact on the physiological state of most organisms, but this is the first study providing evidence that the environment or feeding state of an anemone affects discharge of isolated nematocysts. Inherent differences in ionic and osmotic characteristics among nematocysts could explain some of the ambiguities when comparing past studies of isolated nematocyst discharge.     

A survey for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in migratory birds in coastal Japan

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was isolated from three specimens of two species of birds, the black-faced bunting (Emberiza spodocephala) and pied wagtail (Motacilla alba), of 528 specimens of birds examined from coastal regions in Japan. The two isolated strains of Y. pseudotuberculosis were identified as serovar 4b and serovar 3. This is the first isolation of Y. pseudotuberculosis from birds in Japan. Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from three specimens of the pied wagtail, one specimen of the reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) and one specimen of the rustic bunting (Emberiza rustica). Yersinia frederiksenii was isolated from two specimens of the gray-rumped sandpiper (Heteroscelus brevipes). Yersinia intermedia was isolated from one specimen of the pied wagtail.     

The polysaccharides of the brown seaweed Turbinaria murrayana

Polysaccharides of the brown seaweed Turbinaria murrayana were isolated. Laminaran (3.2%) was isolated from the hot-water extract of the algae by using ion-exchange chromatography. Fucans (2.1%) were isolated from the hot-water extract, as well (4.7%) as from the extract of the algae with dilute acid. Acid hydrolsysis of the isolated fucans revealed glucose, amnnose, fucose, glucuronic acid, xylose, and galactose. Alginic acid (22.6%) was separated, and reduced to a neutral polysaccharide. The polysaccharides isolated were analyzed by methylation and Smith degradation.     

Various biological properties of enterobacteria, isolated from patients with diarrhea

381 enterobacterial strains isolated from patients with acute enteric diseases were studied. Of these, 279 strains, as well as 20 strains isolated from 50 healthy children, were studied for the presence of adhesins, hemolysins and catalase. The comparison of the hemagglutinating activity of enterobacteria isolated from sick and healthy children revealed no essential differences between them. 15.8% of enterobacterial strains isolated from sick children possessed hemolytic activity, while strains isolated from healthy children did not induce the hemolysis of erythrocytes. All enterobacterial strains isolated from patients with acute enteric diseases were multi-resistant to antibiotics. A multitude of different antibiograms was obtained, most of them occurring only once. In 1985 the number of multiresistant (i. e. resistant to 11 and more antibiotics) strains dropped from 61% to 26..9% in comparison with 1981.