Survival of Escherichia coli in the environment: fundamental and public health aspects

In this review, our current understanding of the species Escherichia coli and its persistence in the open environment is examined. E. coli consists of six different subgroups, which are separable by genomic analyses. Strains within each subgroup occupy various ecological niches, and can be broadly characterized by either commensalistic or different pathogenic behaviour. In relevant cases, genomic islands can be pinpointed that underpin the behaviour. Thus, genomic islands of, on the one hand, broad environmental significance, and, on the other hand, virulence, are highlighted in the context of E. coli survival in its niches. A focus is further placed on experimental studies on the survival of the different types of E. coli in soil, manure and water. Overall, the data suggest that E. coli can persist, for varying periods of time, in such terrestrial and aquatic habitats. In particular, the considerable persistence of the pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 is of importance, as its acid tolerance may be expected to confer a fitness asset in the more acidic environments. In this context, the extent to which E. coli interacts with its human/animal host and the organism''s survivability in natural environments are compared. In addition, the effect of the diversity and community structure of the indigenous microbiota on the fate of invading E. coli populations in the open environment is discussed. Such a relationship is of importance to our knowledge of both public and environmental health.     

Characteristics of the range of mutations in nystatin resistance induced in yeasts by 6-N-hydroxylaminopurine

A simple procedure for induction of nistatin-resistant mutants in yeasts under the action of 6-N-hydroxylaminopurine (HAP) is proposed. Some differences between the spectra of mutations induced by HAP and UV-light are observed: HAP induces dominant and double recessive mutants more frequently.     

Measurement of positional isotope exchange rates in enzyme-catalyzed reactions by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry: application to argininosuccinate synthetase

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) has been used to measure positional isotope exchange rates in enzyme-catalyzed reactions. The technique has been applied to the reactions catalyzed by acetyl-CoA synthetase and argininosuccinate synthetase. The FAB technique is also able to quantitatively determine the oxygen-18 or oxygen-17 content of nucleotides on as little as 10 nmol of material with no prior derivatization. Acetyl-CoA synthetase has been shown by FAB-MS to catalyze the positional exchange of an oxygen-18 of ATP from the beta-nonbridge position to the alpha beta-bridge position in the presence of acetate. These results are consistent with acetyl adenylate as a reactive intermediate in this reaction. Argininosuccinate synthetase was shown not to catalyze a positional isotope exchange reaction designed to test for the formation of citrulline adenylate as a reactive intermediate. Argininosuccinate synthetase was also found not to catalyze the transfer of oxygen-18 from [ureido-18O]citrulline to the alpha-phosphorus of ATP in the absence of added aspartate. This experiment was designed to test for the transient formation of carbodiimide as a reactive intermediate. These results suggest that either argininosuccinate synthetase does not catalyze the formation of citrulline adenylate or the enzyme is able to completely suppress the rotation of the phosphoryl groups of PPi.     

Rectus abdominis myocutaneous free-flap reconstruction following a cranio-orbital-maxillary resection for neurofibrosarcoma

An unusual case of neurofibrosarcoma of the cranio-orbital-maxillary region was resected by a combined neurosurgical and plastic surgical team. The resulting defect was reconstructed in one stage with a free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, obviating the need for subsequent prosthetic obturation of the maxillary defect. This reconstructive technique expedited the patient's convalescent period, allowing him to return to work 3 weeks following surgery. Wound healing was uneventful, and the cosmetic result was acceptable to the patient.     

Murine retrovirus-induced spongiform encephalomyelopathy: host and viral factors which determine the length of the incubation period.

A molecular clone of wild mouse ecotropic retrovirus CasBrE (clone 15-1) causes a spongiform neurodegenerative disease with a long incubation period, greater than or equal to 6 months. This virus infects the central nervous system (CNS) at low levels. In contrast, a chimeric virus, FrCasE, containing env and 3' pol sequences of 15-1 in a Friend murine leukemia virus background, infects the CNS at high levels and causes a rapid neurodegenerative disease with an incubation period of only 16 days. With both viruses, the induction of neurologic disease is dependent on inoculation during the perinatal period. Since the length of the incubation period of this disease appears to be a function of the relative level of CNS infection, we have attempted to identify the viral and host factors which determine the relative level of virus infection of the CNS. It was previously shown that the CNS is susceptible to infection only during the perinatal period (M. Czub, S. Czub, F. J. McAtee, and J. L. Portis, J. Virol. 65:2539-2544, 1991). Here we have found that the susceptibility of the CNS wanes progressively or gradually as a function of the age of the host, this age-dependent resistance being complete by 12 to 14 days of age. Utilizing a group of chimeric viruses, we found that the relative level of CNS infection achieved after inoculation of mice at 1 day of age was a function of the kinetics of virus replication and spread in peripheral organs. Viruses which reached peak viremia titers early (5 to 7 days of age) infected the CNS at high levels, and viruses which reached peak titers later infected the CNS at lower levels. Among the group of viruses examined in the current study, the kinetics of peripheral virus replication and spread appeared to be influenced primarily by sequences within the R-U5-5' leader region of the viral genome. These results suggested that the relative level of CNS infection was determined very early in life and appeared to be a function of a dynamic balance between the kinetics of virus replication in the periphery and a progressively developing restriction of virus replication in the CNS.     

Epigamic selection by males as evidenced by courtship partner preferences in the checkered white butterfly (Pieris protodice)

Free-flying males of the checkered white butterfly, Pieris protodice, were presented with tethered females that varied with respect to both size (as measured by forewing length) and age (as measured by wing wear). Because males make a substantial investment in their offspring through nutrients passed to the female during copulation, they were expected to court young and large females for longer times than older and smaller females, and they did so. Additional experiments further suggest that size discriminations are made on the basis of apparent wing area and age discriminations are made on the basis of an age-related increase in ultraviolet reflectance that occurs in females. The discussion examines the adaptive value of these discriminations.