Microbial metabolism of alkylbenzene sulphonates effect of α-methyl branching of the alkyl side chain on oxidation by a Bacillus species

A Bacillus species originally elected for the ability to utilise unbranched-alkyl-side-chain-alkylbenzene-sulphonate (ABS) isomers as the sole source of carbon and sulphur was found to be able to utilise various α-methyl-branched-alkyl-side-chain(ABS) isomers in a similar minimal nutrient role. The enzymic mechanism involved in α-methyl-branched-alkyl-side-chain biodegradation of various ABS isomers by the Bacillus was demonstrated to involve the classical β-oxidation sequence characteristic of unbranched-fatty-acid oxidation, by appropriate enzyme induction experiments. Results obtained from such enzyme induction studies plus an examination of the behaviour of these induced enzymes during separation by gel-filtration indicated a single set of enzymes to be responsible for the β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acid isomers, unbranched-alkyl-side-chain (ABS) isomers and α-methyl-branched-alkyl-side-chain (ABS) isomers in the Bacillus species. The substrate-specificity of partially purified enzymes after growth on appropriate substrates confirmed the operation in this microorganism of a single β-oxidation pathway capable of catalysing the oxidation of a wide range of different chemicals containing either unbranched or α-methyl-branched alkyl side chains.     

Microbial metabolism of alkylbenzene sulphonates Enzyme system of a Bacillus species responsible for Β-oxidation of the alkyl side chain of alkylbenzene sulphonates

A Bacillus species was isolated from sewage capable of utilising alkylbenzene sulphonates (ABS) as the sole source of carbon and sulphur. The enzymic mechanism involved in alkyl-side-chain biodegradation of various ABS detergent isomers by the Bacillus species was demonstrated to involve the classical-Β-oxidation equence characteristic of long-chain fatty acid oxidation, by appropriate enzyme inductions. The combined results from both enzyme induction studies and molecular separation of induced enzymes by gel-filtration indicated a single set of enzymes to be responsible for the Β-oxidation of both ABS isomers and long-chain fatty acid isomers in the Bacillus species. The substrate specificity of partially purified enzymes after growth on appropriate substrates confirmed the feasibility of a single Β-oxidation pathway in this microorganism capable of catalising the oxidation of a wide range of different synthetic and naturally occurring chemicals and biochemicals containing alkyl side chains. This work was supported at Newcastle by grants from the Science Research Council and The Royal Society.     

Putrescine-oxidase activity in adult bovine serum and fetal bovine serum.

Putrescine-oxidase activity was found in fetal bovine serum (FBS) with a pH optimum of 8.0 and in adult bovine serum (ABS) with a pH optimum of 9.8. The crude FBS enzyme had a KM for putrescine of 2.58 x 10(-6) M and a Vmax of 0.53 nmol per hr per 50 microliter serum. Aminoguanidine competitively inhibited the enzyme with a KI of 1.8 x 10(-8) M. Spermidine and spermine proved competitive inhibitors of putrescine for both the FBS and the crude ABS putrescine oxidases. The Vmax for the ABS putrescine oxidase was 2.10 nmol per hr per 50 microliter serum, and the KM for putrescine, 50.3 x 10(-6) M. The K1 of the ABS putrescine oxidase for aminoguanidine was 41 x 10(-6) M. On the basis of both the KM and KI values, the adult serum enzyme, at its optimal pH of 9.8, bound spermidine and spermine more avidly than the smaller putrescine and aminoguanidine; whereas the FBS enzyme, at pH 8.0, bound aminoguanidine and putrescine more tightly than the larger polyamines. Each of the enzymes retained over 80% of its activity after heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min. Applications of these data to the study of polyamines in tissue culture and to the purification of diamine oxidases are discussed.     

Syntrophic interactions during degradation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid by a two species bacterial culture

During synthrophic growth of Hydrogenophaga palleronii (strain S1) and Agrobacterium radiobacter (strain S2) with 4-aminobenzene sulfonate (4ABS) only strain S1 desaminates 4ABS by regioselective 3,4-dioxygenation. The major part of the metabolite catechol-4-sulfonate (4CS) is excreted and further metabolized by strain S2. Although both organisms harbour activities of protocatechuate pathways assimilation of the structural analog 4CS requires first of all enzyme activities with broader substrate specificity: protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase and carboxymuconate cycloisomerase activities were identified which in addition to the natural substrates also convert 4CS requires first of all enzyme activities with Carboxymethyl-4-sulfobut-2-en-4-olide (4SL) was identifed as a metabolite. Its further metabolism requires a desulfonating enzyme which eliminates sulfite from (4SL) and generates maleylacetate. Convergence with the 3-oxoadipate pathway is catalyzed by a maleyl acetate reductase, which was identified in cell-free extracts of both organisms S1 and S2. Characteristically, only strain S1 can oxidize sulfite and thus contributes to the interdependence of the two bacteria during growth with 4ABS.     

Design,synthesis and application of benzyl‐sulfonate biomimetic affinity adsorbents for monoclonal antibody purification from transgenic corn

The human anti‐human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody 2G12 (mAb 2G12) is one of the most broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV that recognizes a unique epitope on the surface glycoprotein gp120. In the present work, a limited affinity‐ligand library was synthesized and evaluated for its ability to bind and purify recombinant mAb 2G12 expressed in transgenic corn. The affinity ligands were structural fragments of polysulfonate triazine dye Cibacron Blue 3GA (CB3GA) and represent novel lead scaffolds for designing synthetic affinity ligands. Solid phase chemistry was used to synthesize variants of CB3GA lead ligand. One immobilized ligand, bearing 4‐aminobenzyl sulfonic acid (4ABS) linked on two chlorine atoms of the triazine ring (4ABS‐Trz‐4ABS), displayed high affinity for mAb 2G12. Absorption equilibrium, 3D molecular modelling and molecular dynamics simulation studies were carried out to provide a detailed picture of the 4ABS‐Trz‐4ABS interaction with mAb 2G12. This biomimetic affinity ligand was exploited for the development of a facile two‐step purification protocol for mAb 2G12. In the first step of the procedure, mAb 2G12 was purified on an S‐Sepharose FF cation exchanger, and in the second step, mAb 2G12 was purified using affinity chromatography on 4ABS‐Trz‐4ABS affinity adsorbent. Analysis of the antibody preparation by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay showed that the mAb 2G12 was fully active and of sufficient purity suitable for analytical applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mouse knockout of the cholesterogenic cytochrome P450 lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase (Cyp51) resembles Antley-Bixler syndrome

Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS) represents a group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by skeletal, cardiac, and urogenital abnormalities that have frequently been associated with mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 or cytochrome P450 reductase genes. In some ABS patients, reduced activity of the cholesterogenic cytochrome P450 CYP51A1, an ortholog of the mouse CYP51, and accumulation of lanosterol and 24,25-dihydrolanosterol has been reported, but the role of CYP51A1 in the ABS etiology has remained obscure. To test whether Cyp51 could be involved in generating an ABS-like phenotype, a mouse knock-out model was developed that exhibited several prenatal ABS-like features leading to lethality at embryonic day 15. Cyp51(-/-) mice had no functional Cyp51 mRNA and no immunodetectable CYP51 protein. The two CYP51 enzyme substrates (lanosterol and 24,25-dihydrolanosterol) were markedly accumulated. Cholesterol precursors downstream of the CYP51 enzymatic step were not detected, indicating that the targeting in this study blocked de novo cholesterol synthesis. This was reflected in the up-regulation of 10 cholesterol synthesis genes, with the exception of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase. Lethality was ascribed to heart failure due to hypoplasia, ventricle septum, and epicardial and vasculogenesis defects, suggesting that Cyp51 deficiency was involved in heart development and coronary vessel formation. As the most likely downstream molecular mechanisms, alterations were identified in the sonic hedgehog and retinoic acid signaling pathways. Cyp51 knock-out mice provide evidence that Cyp51 is essential for embryogenesis and present a potential animal model for studying ABS syndrome in humans.     

Diminished FAD binding in the Y459H and V492E Antley-Bixler syndrome mutants of human cytochrome P450 reductase

Numerous mutations/polymorphisms of the POR gene, encoding NADPH:cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CYPOR), have been described in patients with Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS), presenting with craniofacial dysmorphogenesis, and/or disordered steroidogenesis, exhibiting ambiguous genitalia. CYPOR is the obligate electron donor to 51 microsomal cytochromes P450 that catalyze critical steroidogenic and xenobiotic reactions, and to two heme oxygenase isoforms, among other redox partners. To address the molecular basis of CYPOR dysfunction in ABS patients, the soluble catalytic domain of human CYPOR was bacterially expressed. WT enzyme was green, due to air-stable FMN semiquinone (blue) and oxidized FAD (yellow). The ABS mutant V492E was blue-gray. Flavin analysis indicated that WT had a protein:FAD:FMN ratio of approximately 1:1:1, whereas approximately 1:0.1:0.9 was observed for V492E, which retained 9% of the WT k(cat)/K(m) in NADPH:cytochrome c reductase assays. V492E was reconstituted upon addition of FAD, post-purification, as shown by flavin analysis, activity assay, and near UV-visible CD. Both Y459H and V492E were expressed as membrane anchor-containing proteins, which also exhibited FAD deficiency. CYP4A4-catalyzed omega-hydroxylation of prostaglandin E1 was supported by WT CYPOR but not by either of the ABS mutants. Hydroxylation activity was rescued for both Y459H and V492E upon addition of FAD to the reaction. Based on these findings, decreased FAD-binding affinity is proposed as the basis of the observed loss of CYPOR function in the Y459H and V492E POR mutations in ABS.     

Putrescine-oxidase activity in adult bovine serum and fetal bovine serum

Summary Putrescine-oxidase activity was found in fetal bovine serum (FBS) with a pH optimum of 8.0 and in adult bovine serum (ABS) with a pH optimum of 9.8. The crude FBS enzyme had a K_M for putrescine of 2.58×10⁻⁶ m and a V_max of 0.53 nmol per hr per 50 μl serum. Aminoguanidine competitively inhibited the enzyme with a K_I of 1.8×10⁻⁸ m. Spermidine and spermine proved competitive inhibitors of putrescine for both the FBS and the crude ABS putrescine oxidases. The V_max for the ABS putrescine oxidase was 2.10 nmol per hr per 50 μl serum, and the K_M for putrescine, 50.3×10⁻⁶ m. The K₁ of the ABS putrescine oxidase for aminoguanidine was 41×10⁻⁶ m. On the basis of both the K_M and K_I values, the adult serum enzyme, at its optimal pH of 9.8, bound spermidine and spermine more avidly than the smaller putrescine and aminoguanidine; whereas the FBS enzyme, at pH 8.0, bound aminoguanidine and putrescine more tightly than the larger polyamines. Each of the enzymes retained over 80% of its activity after heating at 56°C for 30 min. Applications of these data to the study of polyamines in tissue culture and to the purification of diamine oxidases are discussed. This work was supported in part by a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.     

Solar UV-B effects on PSII performance in Betula nana are influenced by PAR level and reduced by EDU: results of a 3-year experiment in the High Arctic

The long-term and diurnal responses of photosystem II (PSII) performance to near-ambient UV-B radiation were investigated in High Arctic Betula nana. We conducted an UV exclusion experiment with five replicated blocks consisting of open control (no filter), photosynthetic active radiation and UV-B transparent filter control (Teflon), UV-B-absorbing filter (Mylar) and UV-AB-absorbing filter (Lexan). Ethylenediurea (EDU), a chemical normally used to protect plants against ozone injury, was sprayed on the leaves both in the field and in an additional laboratory study to investigate if EDU mitigated the effects of UV-B. Chlorophyll-a fluorescence induction curves were used for analysis of OJIP test parameters. Near-ambient UV-B radiation reduced across season maximum quantum yield (TR(o) /ABS = F(v) /F(m)), approximated number of active PSII reaction center (RC/ABS) and the performance index (PI(ABS)), despite improved leaf screening against UV-B with higher content of UV-B-absorbing compounds and a lower specific leaf area. EDU application counteracted the negative impact of UV-B on TR(o) /ABS, RC/ABS and PI(ABS) . This indicates that the mechanisms behind UV-B and ozone damage share some common features. The midday depression was present in all treatments, but TR(o) /ABS and PI(ABS) were persistently lower in near-ambient UV-B compared to UV-B reduction. The recovery phase was particularly impaired in near-ambient UV-B and interactive effects between treatment × hour raised TR(o) /ABS, RC/ABS and PI(ABS) higher in reduced UV-B compared to near-ambient UV-B. This demonstrates current solar UV-B to reduce the PSII performance both on a daily as well as a seasonal basis in this High Arctic species.     

Aqueous biphasic system for the partial purification of Bacillus subtilis carboxymethyl cellulase

Carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) hydrolyses cellulose into glucose and is useful in various industrial applications. Conventional CMCase purification methods are rather complicated and time-consuming; thus, a cost-effective strategy for CMCase recovery is on demand. Polyethylene-glycol (PEG)/sodium citrate aqueous biphasic system (ABS) was adopted in this study to investigate the effectiveness of the ABS in the recovery of extracellular Bacillus subtilis CMCase from fermentation broth. Comprehensive optimization steps were executed that took into consideration the ABS variables of PEG molecular weight, tie-line length (TLL), volume ratio (V_R), crude loading, pH and the addition of sodium chloride (NaCl). A CMCase recovery yield (Y_B) of 88.82% ± 0.69, a purification fold (P_F) of 4.8 and a partition coefficient (K) of 0.44 ± 0.03 were achieved from the bottom phase of the PEG 6000/citrate ABS with TLL of 42.16% (w/w), V_R of 0.29, 1% of (w/w) NaCl, pH 7.0, and 20% (w/w) crude loading. CMCase was mainly segregated to the salt-rich bottom phase because of the hydrophilicity of the enzyme surface. The highly effective recovery technique was further confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis. Overall, the present study suggests that the ABS is a potential purification strategy for extracellular CMCase.     

Degradation of Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate by Pseudomonas Species

Pseudomonas sp. HK-1 showed a direct relation between the concentration of alkyl benzene sulfonate (ABS) supplied and cell yields. Since growth on ABS alone did not occur, it was necessary to correlate the total energy obtained by the cells to the ABS concentration when glucose was supplied in a limiting concentration. Several types of metabolic attack in addition to the sulfonate removal were noted: (i) side-chain utilization as indicated by the production of tertiarybutyl alcohol and isopropanol and (ii) ring metabolism as indicated by the presence of phenol, catechol, mandelic acid, benzyl alcohol, and benzoic acid in spent growth media. Utilization of ABS was greatly enhanced by the presence of phenol. This enhancement suggests co-metabolism and that limited concentrations of phenolic products derived from ABS must be accumulated to get active metabolism of the ABS molecule.     

Efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper on bone healing in diabetic rats: a stereological and histopathological study

We evaluated the effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) and routine antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) on early healing of bone defects in diabetic rats. We used 48 rats in the study. Diabetes was induced in 24 rats using streptozotocin; the remaining 24 healthy untreated rats served as controls. Twelve of the diabetic rats and 12 of the healthy rats were treated with AP for 3 days before surgery. Bilateral bone defects were created in the mandible of all animals. ABS was applied to the defects on the left sides of the mandibles, while nothing was applied to the right sides. Animals were sacrificed on days 7 and 14 after operation and examined for histopathology and by stereology. The volume of newly formed bone was significantly less in the diabetic rats on both days 7 and 14. Local administration of ABS significantly increased the mean volume of newly formed bone in both diabetic and nondiabetic rats at days 7 and 14. No significant difference in new bone formation was found between AP and ABS treatment in diabetic rats. Both AP and local administration of ABS have beneficial effects on bone healing in diabetic animals.     

Morpho-histochemical changes in the liver and intestine of young giltheads (fish-nursery), Sparus aurata, L., induced by acute action of the anionic tensioactive alkylbenzene sulphonate.

In the present study we have assessed the effect on the survival and the morpho-histochemical changes in the liver and intestine of young giltheads (fish-nursery), Sparus aurata, L., induced by acute action of the anionic tensioactive, alkyl benzene sulphonate (ABS). Firstly, the LC50 of ABS at 96 hours was found to be 0.6 mg/L. Secondly, lots with 50 young giltheads (fish-nursery) were exposed to ABS concentrations of 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 mg/L, to obtain the surface tension value and exposure time required for 50% mortality of the specimens at each tested concentration. Exposure to ABS caused several forms of histopathological damage in the liver (the radial arrangement of hepatocytes was lost) and intestine (destruction of the structure of villi and increase in thickness of the other three layers). In addition, changes in bio-macromolecule components (proteins in general, siderophile proteins, neutral mucopolysaccharides, glycogen and acid mucopolysaccharides) were observed. The degree of these alterations was dependent upon the ABS concentration. These changes could have detrimental effects on the growth and survival of the species.     

Porous Allograft Bone Scaffolds: Doping with Strontium

Strontium (Sr) can promote the process of bone formation. To improve bioactivity, porous allograft bone scaffolds (ABS) were doped with Sr and the mechanical strength and bioactivity of the scaffolds were evaluated. Sr-doped ABS were prepared using the ion exchange method. The density and distribution of Sr in bone scaffolds were investigated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Controlled release of strontium ions was measured and mechanical strength was evaluated by a compressive strength test. The bioactivity of Sr-doped ABS was investigated by a simulated body fluid (SBF) assay, cytotoxicity testing, and an in vivo implantation experiment. The Sr molar concentration [Sr/(Sr+Ca)] in ABS surpassed 5% and Sr was distributed nearly evenly. XPS analyses suggest that Sr combined with oxygen and carbonate radicals. Released Sr ions were detected in the immersion solution at higher concentration than calcium ions until day 30. The compressive strength of the Sr-doped ABS did not change significantly. The bioactivity of Sr-doped material, as measured by the in vitro SBF immersion method, was superior to that of the Sr-free freeze-dried bone and the Sr-doped material did not show cytotoxicity compared with Sr-free culture medium. The rate of bone mineral deposition for Sr-doped ABS was faster than that of the control at 4 weeks (3.28±0.23 µm/day vs. 2.60±0.20 µm/day; p<0.05). Sr can be evenly doped into porous ABS at relevant concentrations to create highly active bone substitutes.     

Removal of ABS from solutions by a common fungus of sewage

Conclusions Phialophora jeanselmei (Margarinomyces heteromorphum) is very common in sewage treatment systems, and can remove ABS from solution even in the absence of glucose. Because glucose is present in sewage treatment systems either as a pollutant or as a byproduct of the metabolism of other organisms, it appears that, to some extent, ABS is removed by this organism. Additional work is needed to determine whether this organism can be made a nucleus of an artificial population deliberately established to act upon some special types of wastes; whether a mononucleate-monospore culture capable of more rapid and more complete removal of ABS can be developed; and what pathways of metabolism and decomposition of ABS might be involved with the idea of breaking into the chains of reaction with other organisms.In the presence of added glucose,Phialophora jeanselmei was found to be capable of removing ABS from shaken and still culture solutions containing an ABS concentration of 10 ppm. More adsorption on the mycelium took place in still culture than in aerated culture. In shaken culture a greater loss of ABS from solution resulted; this may be due to metabolic processes since the ABS was neither found in solution nor adsorbed on the mycelium. While wild cultures are capable of a demonstrable amount of activity, culture efficiency could be improved if selected monospore-mononucleate cultures were developed.     

一肾一包型高血压大鼠动脉压力反射敏感性的变化

本文用苯肾上腺素和硝普钠改变血压,同步记录心动周期,用平均动脉血压-心动周期关系为指标,研究了 Grollman一肾一包型肾性高血压大鼠动脉压力感受性反射敏感性(Ar-terial baroreflex sensitivity,ABS)的变化。实验分为三组:Grollman 高血压组,假手术组和正常组,手术后三周进行实验,结果如下:Grollman 高血压组的 ABS 明显低于假手术组(P<0.01);侧脑室注射150μg Captopril 后,Grollman 高血压组和假手术组的 MAP都下降,但 Grollman 组更明显(注射35 min 时,P<0.01 Fig.1),注射后35到60 min时,假手术组的 MAP 已趋稳定水平,而 Grollman 组仍有下降趋势。注射后60 min 时高血压组的 ABS 比注射前60 min 值明显增加,而假手术组的增加不明显(Fig.2)。此外向正常动物 i.v.c.注射8μg 血管紧张素Ⅱ,MAP 显著增加但 ABS 则显著下降。上述结果提示在Grollman 肾性高血压形成期,ABS 下降,这可能与中枢血管紧张素Ⅱ含量的增加有关。     

ABNORMAL SHOOT 6 interacts with KATANIN 1 and SHADE AVOIDANCE 4 to promote cortical microtubule severing and ordering in Arabidopsis

Plant interphase cortical microtubules (cMTs) mediate anisotropic cell expansion in response to environmental and developmental cues. In Arabidopsis thaliana, KATANIN 1 (KTN1), the p60 catalytic subunit of the conserved MT‐severing enzyme katanin, is essential for cMT ordering and anisotropic cell expansion. However, the regulation of KTN1‐mediated cMT severing and ordering remains unclear. In this work, we report that the Arabidopsis IQ67 DOMAIN (IQD) family gene ABNORMAL SHOOT 6 (ABS6) encodes a MT‐associated protein. Overexpression of ABS6 leads to elongated cotyledons, directional pavement cell expansion, and highly ordered transverse cMT arrays. Genetic suppressor analysis revealed that ABS6‐mediated cMT ordering is dependent on KTN1 and SHADE AVOIDANCE 4 (SAV4). Live imaging of cMT dynamics showed that both ABS6 and SAV4 function as positive regulators of cMT severing. Furthermore, ABS6 directly interacts with KTN1 and SAV4 and promotes their recruitment to the cMTs. Finally, analysis of loss‐of‐function mutant combinations showed that ABS6, SAV4, and KTN1 work together to ensure the robust ethylene response in the apical hook of dark‐grown seedlings. Together, our findings establish ABS6 and SAV4 as positive regulators of cMT severing and ordering, and highlight the role of cMT dynamics in fine‐tuning differential growth in plants.     

A new aqueous biphasic system containing polypropylene glycol and a water-miscible ionic liquid

In this work, we proposed a novel aqueous biphasic system (ABS) composed of polypropylene glycol P400 (PPG P400) and hydrophilic ionic liquids (IL), 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (alkyl = ethyl or butyl), forming an upper polymer-rich phase and a lower IL-rich phase at ambient temperature. This new ABS can present interesting characteristics shared by ILs and polymers such as low volatility, good solvation ability, tunable physical properties, and high design capacity for achieving task-specific phase components to enhance the partitioning of target species. Ternary phase diagram of the novel ABS formed by PPG 400 and [C(2) mim]Br in water was measured at T = 298.15 K. Factors affecting the binodal curves such as the cation side alkyl chain length and the temperature were also evaluated. The results were successfully interpreted in terms of the kosmotropic/chaotropic nature of ILs. Furthermore, the phase behavior of the PPG-[C(2) mim]Br ABS is described by the NRTL model. Finally, the extraction potential of the proposed ABS was evaluated through its application to the extraction of the essential amino acids such as L-tryptophan and L-tyrosine. The partition coefficients here obtained demonstrated the fine potential of the proposed ABS for biomolecules separation.     

Elimination from bone marrow of a supplementary population participating in the proliferation of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells using mouse brain antiserum

Changes in the number of spleen exo-colonies and post-radiation repopulation of hematopoietic organs were studied in recipients upon injection of bone marrow treated with anti-brain serum (ABS) with and without thymocytes on days 9-14. It was shown that on days 9-11 colony formation in mice injected bone marrow treated with ABS was much lower than the control level. However, by day 14 the number of colonies increased drastically as compared to the control. Thymocyte supplementation normalized colony formation at any time of observation. Similar pattern is noted in post-radiation repopulation of spleen and bone marrow of mice injected bone marrow pretreated with ABS with or without thymocytes. It is assumed that ABS inactivates bone marrow cells participating in the regulation of CFUs proliferation.     

Evaluation of a Semiautomated System for Direct Fluorescent Antibody Detection of Salmonellae

A semi-automatic system under development by Aerojet Medical and Biological Systems for the direct fluorescent antibody detection of salmonellae was evaluated with various food, feed, and environmental samples. All samples were simultaneously examined by Automated Bioassay System (ABS), manual direct fluorescent antibody procedures and cultural procedures. The ABS gave satisfactory results with the processed samples. It detected all of the culturally positive powdered egg and candy samples with no false negative results and gave only 6.6 and 5.3% false positive rates, respectively. With meatmeal samples the ABS failed to detect one culturally positive specimen that was also positive by manual fluorescent antibody and gave one (1.1%) false-positive result. A high rate of false-negative results was obtained by ABS on unprocessed samples of creek water, poultry, and sausage. Adding another enrichment step to the protocol reduced the false-negative rate considerably but severely increased the false-positive rate. The instruments worked reasonably well, but research is needed to improve enrichment procedures for samples to be processed by the system.