Utilization of mixtures of carbon compounds by yeasts

As a tool for the classification of yeasts a method is presented for determining the aerobic utilization of each of 28 carbon compounds distributed over 4 mixtures containing respectively 10, 7, 7 and 4 of these compounds. Paper chromatography is used to follow the eventual disappearance of each individual carbon compound from the medium. This method is compared to the well-known standard method where a growth response to singly offered compounds in liquid medium is used for biochemical characterization. The proposed method has two advantages: results are obtained more rapidly and with less work, and the paper-chromatographic method may reveal a time sequence of utilization. Both the new method and the established standard method were applied to eight yeasts. Although the backgrounds are different, the experimental results were similar. The method presented is suitable for the differentiation of species as well as of strains within one species. It should be considered for use in taxonomy.     

Comparison of methods for the identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) species identification is still difficult for most clinical laboratories. The scheme proposed by Kloos and Schleifer and modified by Bannerman is the reference method used for the identification of staphylococcal species and subspecies; however, this method is relatively laborious for routine use since it requires the utilization of a large number of biochemical tests. The objective of the present study was to compare four methods, i.e., the reference method, the API Staph system (bioMérieux) and two methods modified from the reference method in our laboratory (simplified method and disk method), in the identification of 100 CNS strains. Compared to the reference method, the simplified method and disk method correctly identified 100 and 99% of the CNS species, respectively, while this rate was 84% for the API Staph system. Inaccurate identification by the API Staph method was observed for Staphylococcus epidermidis (2.2%), S. hominis (25%), S. haemolyticus (37.5%), and S. warneri (47.1%). The simplified method using the simple identification scheme proposed in the present study was found to be efficient for all strains tested, with 100% sensitivity and specificity and proved to be available alternative for the identification of staphylococci, offering, higher reliability and lower cost than the currently available commercial systems. This method would be very useful in clinical microbiology laboratory, especially in places with limited resources.     

Validation of a questionnaire method for estimating extent of menstrual blood loss in young adult women.

The objective of this study was to validate two indirect methods for estimating the extent of menstrual blood loss against a reference method to determine which method would be most appropriate for use in a population of young adult women. Thirty-two women aged 18 to 29 years (mean +/- SD; 22.4 +/- 2.8) were recruited by poster in Dunedin (New Zealand). Data are presented for 29 women. A recall method and a record method for estimating extent of menstrual loss were validated against a weighed reference method. Spearman rank correlation coefficients between blood loss assessed by Weighed Menstrual Loss and Menstrual Record was rs = 0.47 (p = 0.012), and between Weighed Menstrual Loss and Menstrual Recall, was rs = 0.61 (p = 0.001). The Record method correctly classified 66% of participants into the same tertile, grossly misclassifying 14%. The Recall method correctly classified 59% of participants, grossly misclassifying 7%. Reference method menstrual loss calculated for surrogate categories demonstrated a significant difference between the second and third tertiles for the Record method, and between the first and third tertiles for the Recall method. The Menstrual Recall method can differentiate between low and high levels of menstrual blood loss in young adult women, is quick to complete and analyse, and has a low participant burden.     

Development of a Fast, Reproducible and Effective Method for the Extraction and Quantification of Proteins of Micro-algae

The best method that was developed to extract protein from Chlorella was by sonic disruption of the cells for 3 cycles of 1 min. at 70W on ice in the presence of 1% (w/v) SDS. The best method to quantify the amount of protein in algal extracts is the staining method with the dye bicinchoninic acid. The developed method is reliable for the tested fresh-water micro-alga Chlorella, is also acceptable for the fresh-water micro-alga Chlamydomonas, but is not reliable for the marine micro-algae Dunaliella, Rhodomonas and Synechococcus. The extraction method was the most critical factor factor for determination of proteins in micro-algae and needs to be optimized for each algal species.     

Evaluation of a Scanner-Assisted Colorimetric MIC Method for Susceptibility Testing of Gram-Negative Fermentative Bacteria

We describe the ScanMIC method, a colorimetric MIC method for susceptibility testing of gram-negative fermentative bacteria. The method is a slight modification of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) recommended broth microdilution method that uses a redox indicator 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to enhance the estimate of bacterial growth inhibition in a microplate and a flatbed scanner to capture the microplate image. In-house software was developed to transform the microplate image into numerical values based on the amount of bacterial growth and to generate the MICs automatically. The choice of indicator was based on its low toxicity and ease of reading by scanner. We compared the ScanMIC method to the NCCLS recommended broth microdilution method with 197 coliform strains against seven antibacterial agents. The interpretative categorical agreement was obtained in 92.4% of the assays, and the agreement for MIC differences (within ±1 log₂ dilution) was obtained in 96% for ScanMIC versus broth microdilution and 97% for a two-step incubation colorimetric broth microdilution versus the broth microdilution method. The method was found to be labor-saving, not to require any initial investment, and to show reliable results. Thus, the ScanMIC method could be useful for epidemiological surveys that include susceptibility testing of bacteria.     

Comparative evaluation of agar dilution and broth microdilution methods for antibiotic susceptibility testing of Helicobacter cinaedi

The aim of this study was to establish a broth microdilution method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Helicobacter cinaedi and to assess the prevalence and mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance in Japanese clinical isolates. A broth microdilution method using modified Levinthal broth was developed and compared with the agar dilution method for testing susceptibility to ampicillin, gentamicin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. The minimum inhibitory concentrations obtained by these two methods were almost the same for all the antibiotics tested, demonstrating the broth microdilution method to be a suitable and reliable technique for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A broth microdilution method for antimicrobial susceptibility test for H. cinaedi was established. This method is expected to help improve treatment.     

Comparison of two methods for extraction of enchytraeids

A comparison was made of two methods for the extraction of enchytraeids, the O’Connor (1957) method and the Römbke (1995) method; the latter was originally proposed as a standard method for monitoring environmental pollution. The average number of enchytraeids extracted by the Römbke method was significantly greater. This simple and convenient method was shown to be as efficient as the traditional method when applied in both laboratory and field studies.     

Evaluation of a scanner-assisted colorimetric MIC method for susceptibility testing of gram-negative fermentative bacteria

We describe the ScanMIC method, a colorimetric MIC method for susceptibility testing of gram-negative fermentative bacteria. The method is a slight modification of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) recommended broth microdilution method that uses a redox indicator 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to enhance the estimate of bacterial growth inhibition in a microplate and a flatbed scanner to capture the microplate image. In-house software was developed to transform the microplate image into numerical values based on the amount of bacterial growth and to generate the MICs automatically. The choice of indicator was based on its low toxicity and ease of reading by scanner. We compared the ScanMIC method to the NCCLS recommended broth microdilution method with 197 coliform strains against seven antibacterial agents. The interpretative categorical agreement was obtained in 92.4% of the assays, and the agreement for MIC differences (within +/-1 log(2) dilution) was obtained in 96% for ScanMIC versus broth microdilution and 97% for a two-step incubation colorimetric broth microdilution versus the broth microdilution method. The method was found to be labor-saving, not to require any initial investment, and to show reliable results. Thus, the ScanMIC method could be useful for epidemiological surveys that include susceptibility testing of bacteria.     

Quantitation of immobilized proteins

A method for the quantitative determination of immobilized proteins based on the binding and subsequent elution of Coomassie Blue R is presented. Also presented is a method for the immobilization of proteins in solution by entrapment in polyacrylamide. These entrapped proteins are then available for use in the assay method presented. Other analytical procedures can also be performed on the entrapped proteins, either alone or in combination with the protein quantitation. The dye binding and elution method presented provides a sensitive and, in most applications, rapid method for the quantitative detection of immobilized proteins. Rather than immobilization being an obstacle to the assay method, this approach utilizes the advantages of immobilization for the removal of excess reagents. Application of this approach to several types of immobilized protein are presented.     

Calculation of the proximity function of electrons

A new semianalytical method to calculate the proximity function for electrons is proposed. An integral equation for the proximity function that can be solved by using information on the spatial dose distributions is obtained. The proximity function for electrons in the energy range from 10 eV to 10 keV is calculated by solving the equation numerically, using a set of electron collision cross sections for water vapor. The results are in good agreement with those obtained using the Monte Carlo method. The proposed method can be used for electrons of high energies much more efficiently than the Monte Carlo method.     

酵母双杂交相关方法的改良及应用

对酵母双杂交实验过程中较为耗时的阳性克隆鉴定过程进行改进,以期建立一种快速有效的鉴定方法。分别采用液氮冻融法、超声破碎法、渗透压破壁法以及煮沸裂解法裂解酵母细胞,获得质粒作为PCR模板,直接测序鉴定筛选到的相互作用蛋白。以液氮冻融法和超声破碎法裂解细胞获得的质粒为模板进行PCR,得到特异的产物,测序鉴定结果明确,与经典的鉴定方法相比效果相当,但更加经济快捷;而渗透压破壁法和煮沸裂解法则效果不好。说明前两种方法可代替常规方法用于阳性克隆的鉴定,从而加快酵母双杂交实验中大量阳性克隆的筛查工作。     

Development of a microtiter plate-based method for determination of degradation profile of nitrophenolic compounds

A microtiter plate-based assay was developed for the automatic monitoring of degradation profile of the yellow-coloured nitrophenolic compounds. The method enables to reduce the intervals between measurements of substrate concentration to minutes and to overcome the problem of discontinuity of sampling typical for conventional methods. The concentrations of nitrophenolic compounds were calculated from the absorbance values determined automatically by BIOSCREEN C. Verification of the method was based on the comparison of results with the conventional HPLC method results. The values of the rate and saturation constants were comparable for both the microtiter plate-based assay and the conventional HPLC method. The automatic method described here seems to be efficient for the screening degradation studies, which requires the treatment of quantity of samples.     

The standardization of infectivity titrations of poliovaccines--a WHO collaborative study

The reproducibility of a method for infectivity titrations of live poliovaccines using microtitre plates was investigated in a WHO collaborative study involving eight laboratories. The large variation (up to 100-fold) in estimates of infectivity observed between laboratories using their local methods of assay was reduced to no more than fourfold when a common method was used. However, expressing infectivities relative to those of the monovalent reference viruses improved the agreement between the laboratories irrespective of the titration method employed. On the basis of these results, WHO adopted the common method used in the study as its recommended method for poliovirus titrations and established the preparations studied as international reference materials for the infectivity titrations of live poliovaccines.     

Method for rapid screening of pesticide mineralization in soil

A method has been developed for the analysis of (14)CO(2) evolution from the mineralization of (14)C-labelled organic compounds in soil samples. The new method is less space demanding and substantially cuts down laborious manual work compared to the traditional incubation bottle method used. Furthermore, the use of scintillation cocktail is largely reduced with the new method. In the new method, (14)CO(2) is trapped in filter paper held in the lid of a 20 ml glass vial by surface tension. The trapping solution used is Ca(OH)(2), which fixates CO(2) in the filter paper and the analysis of trapped (14)CO(2) is done using the Cyclone trade mark Storage Phosphor system. The lids are placed in a 32 well holder and exposed to a phosphor screen prior to scanning in a Cyclone trade mark scanner. The new filter method has been tested and compared to results obtained using the traditional method. The results show good agreement but due to a smaller capacity for CO(2) with the filter method compared to the traditional method, the interval between sampling has to be shorter using the filter method when the CO(2) development is high. The detection limits for the filter method is higher compared to the traditional method. With the filter method, the level of radioactivity has to exceed 300 dpm before detection is possible, while the same limit for the traditional method is around 30 dpm. On the other hand, the gas trapping faster and the efficiency is higher with the filter method.     

Quantification of airborne microorganisms and investigation of their interactions with non-living particles

A fluorescence method was developed for the direct counting of airborne microorganisms and for the examination of their interactions with other aerosol particles. The method is based on a combination of the aerosol sampling technique using a cascade impactor and the selective dyeing of the trapped microorganisms with ethidium bromide. The method enables both the total microorganism concentrations and their counts in clusters to be evaluated. The new method and the cultivation method, enabling the colony-forming units (CFU) to be determined, were compared. Based on the results obtained by the fluorescence technique, a procedure is suggested for the conversion of CFU data to bacteria and yeast concentrations.     

Measurement of penicillin acylase and cephalosporin acylase in fermentation broths

Summary The p-dimethylamino-benzaldehyde method of Bomstein and Evans, the ninhydrin method of Marrelli and the new p-dimethyl-amino-benzaldehyde method of Kornfeld were evaluated for analysis of penicillin-V acylase and cephalosporin-V acylase in fermentation broths. The ninhydrin method was the method of choice for cephalosporin-V acylase, whereas the Kornfeld method had certain advantages with respect to penicillin-V acylase.     

Visualization of isozymes which generate inorganic phosphate

A sensitive, new enzymatic method for the detection of isozymes which liberate inorganic phosphate (or pyrophosphate) is described. The new method for the detection of phosphate differs from the established method for nucleoside phosphorylase by the substitution of one reagent. The new enzymatic method, compared to existing methods for the detection of phosphate on electrophoretic gels, is advantageous due to its sensitivity and generation of a nondiffusible formazan chromogenic product.     

Demonstration of Monophenoloxidase Activity of Tyrosinase after Electrophoresis

The improved method presented here for localizing monophenoloxidase activity of tyrosinase (E.C. 1.14.18.1.) after electrophoresis is based on the transfer of electrons from the monophenolic substrate, tyrosine methyl ester, to an artificial acceptor, phenazine methosulfate, and subsequent reduction of nitro blue tetrazo-lium into a violet formazan. This method is rapid, sensitive and versatile compared to the standard method. The electron transferred from mono-phenol can be accepted directly by nitro blue tetrazolium; although the background of the gel is clear, the sensitivity is decreased. The mono-phenol-PMS-NBT method is suitable for both plant and animal samples. This method can also be used for histochemical demonstration of monophenoloxidase activity.     

Evaluating a new method to estimate the rate of leaf respiration in the light by analysis of combined gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements

Day respiration (R(d)) is an important parameter in leaf ecophysiology. It is difficult to measure directly and is indirectly estimated from gas exchange (GE) measurements of the net photosynthetic rate (A), commonly using the Laisk method or the Kok method. Recently a new method was proposed to estimate R(d) indirectly from combined GE and chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) measurements across a range of low irradiances. Here this method is tested for estimating R(d) in five C(3) and one C(4) crop species. Values estimated by this new method agreed with those by the Laisk method for the C(3) species. The Laisk method, however, is only valid for C(3) species and requires measurements at very low CO(2) levels. In contrast, the new method can be applied to both C(3) and C(4) plants and at any CO(2) level. The R(d) estimates by the new method were consistently somewhat higher than those by the Kok method, because using CF data corrects for errors due to any non-linearity between A and irradiance of the used data range. Like the Kok and Laisk methods, the new method is based on the assumption that R(d) varies little with light intensity, which is still subject to debate. Theoretically, the new method, like the Kok method, works best for non-photorespiratory conditions. As CF information is required, data for the new method are usually collected using a small leaf chamber, whereas the Kok and Laisk methods use only GE data, allowing the use of a larger chamber to reduce the noise-to-signal ratio of GE measurements.