Phylogenetic analysis of pathogen-related oral spirochetes

Recently, Riviere et al. reported as yet uncultivable invasive oral spirochetes that cross-reacted with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for Treponema pallidum (G. R. Riviere, K. S. Elliot, D. F. Adams, L. G. Simonson, L. B. Forgas, A. M. Nilius, and S. A. Lukehart, J. Periodontol. 63:131-136, 1992; G. R. Riviere, M. A. Wagoner, S. A. Baker-Zander, K. S. Weisz, D. F. Adams, L. Simonson, and S. A. Lukehart, N. Engl. J. Med. 325:539-543, 1991; G. R. Riviere, K. S. Weisz, D. F. Adams, and D. D. Thomas, Infect. Immun. 59:3377-3380, 1991; G. R. Riviere, K. S. Weisz, L. G. Simonson, and S. A. Lukehart, Infect. Immun. 59:2653-2657, 1991). In an attempt to phylogenetically analyze these pathogen-related oral spirochetes, we used immunomagnetic separation, combined with comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes amplified in vitro by the PCR. The bacteria were immunomagnetically enriched from subgingival plaque samples of patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis by using MAb H9-2 specific for the 37-kDa endoflagellum sheath protein of T. pallidum. After PCR amplification with universal eubacterial primers 16S rRNA gene fragments were cloned into Escherichia coli. A total of 20 randomly selected recombinants were analyzed by sequencing about 200 to 300 bases of the 500-bp inserts. All the spirochetal 16S rRNA sequences clustered to previously described, as yet uncultivable cluster 7 treponemes of group I (B. K. Choi, B. J. Paster, F. E. Dewhirst, and U. B. Göbel, Infect. Immun. 62:1889-1895, 1994). With a sequence similarity of 96.4% the most closely related cultivable treponeme was Treponema vincentii, which also belongs to the group I treponemes. Subsequent immunological analysis of cultured treponemes with MAb H9-2 revealed that only T. vincentii strains showed specific immunofluorescence or a characteristic 37-kDa band in immunoblots. We therefore conclude that pathogen-related oral spirochetes constitute a heterogeneous population of treponemes comprising T. vincentii and T. vincentii-related organisms that have common epitopes cross-reacting with MAb H9-2.

Treponema maltophilum sp. nov., a small oral spirochete isolated from human periodontal lesions

A novel culture medium for cultivation of fastidious oral anaerobes is described. This medium, OMIZ-Pat, consists of a rich chemically defined basal medium supplemented with asialofetuin, as well as yeast extract and Neopeptone fractions. Addition of 1 mg of rifampin per liter and 100 mg of fosfomycin per liter allowed routine isolation of spirochetes by a limit dilution method in 96-well plates containing liquid OMIZ-Pat. In addition to members of the four previously recognized species of oral treponemes (Treponema denticola, Treponema pectinovorum, Treponema socranskii, and Treponema vincentii), 26 previously undescribed spirochete strains belonging to one group were isolated. We propose the name Treponema maltophilum sp. nov. for these small spirochetes, which have two endoflagella; one endoflagellum is attached at each cell pole, and the endoflagella overlap in the middle of the cell. Growth of these organisms was dependent on a carbohydrate like D-arabinose, L-fucose, D-maltose, L-rhamnose, D-ribose, D-sucrose, or D-trehalose and was inhibited by fetal bovine serum. T. Maltophilum is distinguished from other oral Treponema species by its 16S rRNA sequence, its protein and antigen patterns as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, and its characteristic alpha-glucosidase activity. The strains included in the new species on the basis of their 16S rRNA sequences are heterogeneous with respect to their alpha-fucosidase, and beta-glucuronidase activities, their dependence on N-acetylglucosamine, and their antigens as detected with patient antibodies. Strain BR is designated the type strain, and strains HO2A and PNA1 are reference strains of the new species.

Investigations on a Swiss area highly endemic for Echinococcus multilocularis

Anecdotal information suggested that a focus of hyperendemicity may be present in a small area of the Canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. Therefore, the prevalence of E. multilocularis was assessed both in the fox and the rodent population over a two-season-period. A high prevalence ranging between 47% and 56% was consistently determined in the fox population. An Arvicola terrestris population was infected at 39% in the first season of investigation and at 11% in the following season. A subsequent seroepidemiological survey in the population of inhabitants surrounding the area provided no indication of seroconversion and thus no indication of infection for humans. However, a longer-term survey will be needed to assess more precisely the risk of disease occurrence among these inhabitants.

Long-term Results on Quality of Life of Surgical Treatment of Obesity with Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

BACKGROUND: Few papers assess quality of life after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). METHODS: 100 patients with severe obesity (preoperatively mean BMI 41.7 kg m(2)) answered an interview 60 (+/- 2.5) months after VBG. RESULTS: There was no fatal outcome. Nine patients had pulmonary embolus; ten patients required reoperation because of stomal stenosis. Of the 89 patients that still bore a gastroplasty at the moment of the interview, 65 had lost more than 40% of their excess weight (= "success'). Improvement in quality of life of these 89 patients was reflected by significant diminution of depression and back pains. Significant diminution of arterial hypertension and improvement of professional satisfaction, and of social, physical, and sexual activity was significantly related to weight loss. CONCLUSION: VBG resulted generally in a favorable long-term effect on quality of life. However, patients should be informed preoperatively about potential side-effects such as possible persistent vomiting after several years, esophagitis and gastritis, restriction in the choice of foods and prolongation of meals.

Support of peptide-dependent growth of Bacteroides forsythus by synthetic fragments of haemoglobin or fetuin

The putative periodontal pathogen Bacteroides forsythus is a fastidious Gram-negative anaerobe with high proteolytic activity. For growth in a chemically defined medium containing insulin it required serum. Serum could be replaced by human haemoglobin or bovine asialofetuin, or by proteolytic fragments of these two proteins. Four such fragments consisting of from 8 to 18 amino acid residues were isolated and sequenced. Only aspartic acid, threonine, and valine were common to all peptides. An undecapeptide, Hba11, and a dodecapeptide, AsF12, were synthesized and found to be active at micromolar concentrations, but only when presented in combination with insulin. An analysis of amino acid requirements excluded a direct essential role of peptides as sources of amino acids in complete medium, except for valine. Should Bact. forsythus have an essential requirement for this amino acid, it could be satisfied by micromolar concentrations of peptide but not millimolar concentrations of the free amino acid in the absence of peptide. Bact. forsythus could salvage the essential amino acids lysine and isoleucine at 100-fold lower concentrations when presented in peptide-bound form compared to the free amino acids, and at 10-fold lower concentrations of peptide compared to Porphyromonas gingivalis W83, which in contrast to Bact. forsythus grew on free amino acids in the absence of insulin and peptides.

Aspartame as a source of essential phenylalanine for the growth of oral anaerobes

Phenylalanine and aspartic acid requirements were determined for 13 species of oral bacteria using the chemically defined medium OMIZ-W1. None of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus, Eikenella corrodens, Selenomonas sputigena, Treponema pectinovorum, T. socranskii, or Wolinella recta required either of these amino acid constituents of aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methylester). Phenylalanine was essential for the growth of Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Eubacterium timidum, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. vincentii, while aspartic acid was not required. With the exception of E. timidum, all phenylalanine-dependent strains could grow when the free amino acid was replaced by aspartame at concentrations at least 10-fold lower than those used for aspartame as an artificial sweetener.

Growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, T. pectinovorum, T. socranskii, and T. vincentii in a chemically defined medium

A chemically defined medium, OMIZ (Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Zürich)-W1 was developed. Medium OMIZ-W1 supports the long-term proliferation of a wide range of oral anaerobes, including representative strains of four Treponema species and Porphyromonas gingivalis. High concentrations of ascorbic acid and ammonium ions proved to be important for the growth of these organisms. T. denticola CD-1 grew in the absence of polyamines and long-chain fatty acids, T. pectinovorum and T. socranskii required polyamines, whereas T. vincentii depended on both polyamines and lecithin for growth. Specific requirements for purines and/or pyrimidines were detected, and these requirements could be used to distinguish Haemophilus-Actinobacillus group organisms. Some strains of P. gingivalis grew without vitamin K, while others were not satisfied by menadione but required its precursor 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Protoporphyrin IX or hemin equally satisfied the porphyrin requirements of P. gingivalis and Bacteroides forsythus, whereas ferrous sulfate was more efficiently used as a source of iron than was hemin. The cellular cohesiveness of P. gingivalis increased with high concentrations of hemin in the growth medium. Prevotella intermedia, B. forsythus, and several strains of P. gingivalis were more fastidious and required a protein or serum supplement to grow in medium OMIZ-W1.

Dependence of proliferation of Bacteroides forsythus on exogenous N-acetylmuramic acid

Bacteroides forsythus is the first wild-type or mutant bacterium found to require exogenous N-acetylmuramic acid for proliferation and maintenance of cell shape. This implies so far unknown pathways for peptidoglycan synthesis and a strict dependence of B. forsythus on other bacteria in its oral habitat. Addition of N-acetylmuramic acid to conventional bacteriological media allows routine cultivation of this fastidious organism.

Campylobacter-Wolinella group organisms are the only oral bacteria that form arylsulfatase-active colonies on a synthetic indicator medium

Most oral bacteria tested formed colonies on a chemically defined medium with a chromogenic arylsulfatase substrate. Arylsulfatase activity was, however, restricted to Campylobacter-Wolinella group organisms, including Wolinella recta, a possible periodontopathogen. W. recta was the only arylsulfatase-active species against which consistently high levels of antibody were detected in human sera.

Selected low-cohesion variants of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Haemophilus aphrophilus lack distinct antigens recognized by human antibodies

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans OMZ 346 A and Haemophilus aphrophilus OMZ 384 A, isolated on a synthetic selective and differentiating agar, show the highly cohesive and wall adherent growth in liquid medium which is typical for all primary oral isolates of these species. From each of them a low cohesion variant, OMZ 346 F and OMZ 384 F, respectively, was obtained by selection for cells growing in suspension. Screening of Western blots of these four strains with several human sera revealed the loss of a 4000 Mr antigen in both F strains. Human antibodies bound to the 4000 Mr band material on preparative Western blots of the A strains were eluted with 4 M magnesium chloride. These antibodies showed no cross-reaction between the 4000 Mr material of the two closely related species.

[Lung function and symptoms in employees of poultry farms]

Environmental measurements were made in different types of poultry confinement buildings. Levels of total dust 1.6 meters above the ground averaged 5.0 mg/m3. Ammonia levels averaged about 13 ppm with peak values of about 50 ppm. To study possible respiratory problems of the people working in these confinement buildings, the ventilatory lung function was measured and an interrogation concerning respiratory symptoms was carried out by 26 (7 females, 19 males) poultry farmers. A very high prevalence (10 of 26) of obstructive ventilatory lung function changes was found. The FEV1 values of the exposed men were significantly lower than the predicted normal values (ECCS). An association between duration of exposure and pulmonary function exists.

Actin III and myofilaments in different muscles of wildtype and the mutant raised of Drosophila melanogaster

The mutation raised (rsd, 3-95.4) of Drosophila melanogaster causes flightlessness as a consequence of abnormalities in the fibrillar flight muscles (FFMs). In this muscle type actin III is neither synthesized nor accumulated while adult tubular muscles of rsd flies are indistinguishable from wildtype. This paper demonstrates ultrastructural defects in rds FFMs and extends the biochemical comparison of adult wildtype and rsd muscles to larval muscles and to embryo cells differentiating in culture. The FFMs of mature rsd flies contain thick filaments in irregular bundles, but no thin filaments. Normal Z-discs are virtually absent. Instead, a large number of Z-disc residues are present in stacks attached to short filaments on either side. In newly emerged rsd flies the disorganization is less pronounced. The adult tubular muscles and the supercontracting muscles of third-instar larvae of rsd can ultrastructurally not be distinguished from wildtype. The present biochemical results indicate that not only FFMs of mature and newly emerged adults are affected by the rsd genotype. Synthesis of actin III is not detectable in rsd FFMs which corresponds to the heavy structural defects. In addition to the lack of actin III synthesis in rsd FFMs, three unidentified proteins (52 kDa, 80 kDa, 90 kDa) which are specific for wildtype FFMs are also not synthesized in rsd flies. Among all other muscle types studied, all of which are morphologically unaffected, only adult tubular muscle of rsd genotype showed no biochemical effect. Larval supercontracting muscle as well as embryo cells differentiating in culture failed to synthesize actin III in the case of rsd cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lower-extremity rotational problems in children. Normal values to guide management

We studied 1,000 normal lower extremities of children and adults in order to establish normal values for the rotational profile. The intrauterine position of the fetus molds the femur by rotating it laterally and molds the tibia by rotating it medially. These molding effects usually resolve spontaneously during infancy, and then genetically determined individual differences are unmasked. Rotational problems should be clinically evaluated and the findings compared with the normal values provided by this study. Out-toeing in infants, medial tibial torsion in toddlers, and medial femoral torsion in young children are extremes of a normal developmental pattern. In the vast majority, these rotational variations fall within the broad range of normal and require no treatment.

Pattern of peptide synthesis in Drosophila cell lines and their hybrids

Significant changes occurred in the rate of synthesis of several polypeptides in two different Drosophila cell lines following exposure to the steroid hormone, beta-ecdysone. For peptide 7/8, the synthetic rate increased by a factor of 10 in line S3 and by a factor of 1.3 in line MDR. In hormone-sensitive hybrids the rate increased by a factor of 3-4.5. For peptide 10 the synthetic rate decreased by a factor of 8 in line S3 but increased by a factor of 2 in line MDR. In hormone-sensitive hybrids the synthetic rate increased by a factor of 2-3. In hormone-insensitive cell lines no change in the rate of peptide synthesis occurred in the presence of hormone.

Acetylcholinesterase induction by beta-ecdysone in Drosophila cell lines and their hybrids

Drosophila S3 line cells maintain a high basal level of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, which is lost and then reinduced following exposure to the steroid, beta-ecdysone. Electrophoretic studies indicate that the basal and reinduced AChE activities may be different isozymes. In contrast, MDR line cells have a low basal AChE activity which is induced to a modest level by hormone. In S3/MDR hybrids the high basal level phenotype is extinguished, and the hormone-induced AChE level is modest. MDER line cells, which continue to grow in the presence of beta-ecdysone and are therefore termed resistant, show a low basal AChE level that is not further elevated by hormone. This phenotype and response also occurred in beta-ecdysone-resistant S3/MDER hybrids.

Localization of arginine kinase in muscles fibres of Drosophila melanogaster

Arginine kinase (AK), a monomeric protein of mol. wt. 40 000, was purified from adult Drosophila melanogaster. Antiserum to AK was raised in rabbits; its specificity was established by immunodiffusion tests and by immunoreplicas of electropherograms. After electrophoresis in non-denaturing conditions, the immunoreactive material was shown to possess enzymatic activity. Localization of AK by indirect immunofluorescence on washed myofibrils showed that at least a fraction of the total cellular AK is bound to the contractile apparatus. In muscle fibres of third instar larvae and in isolated adult fibrillar flight muscle myofibrils, AK was localized within the Z-line region. Adult tubular muscle fibres (tergal depressor of the trochanter) showed fluorescence in the A-band. In all cases, the localization was independent of the state of contraction. Vertebrate B- and M-type creatine kinases have previously been localized at the Z-line and A-band (M-line) regions, respectively. Isoenzymic forms of AK have not been detected in Drosophila, however.