A scheme for the identification of thermophilic actinomycetes associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Purification and characterization of the produced hyaluronidase by Brucella Intermedia MEFS for antioxidant and anticancer applications

Hyaluronidase (hyase) is an endoglycosidase enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid (HA) and is mostly known to be found in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. In the current study, eleven bacteria isolates and one actinomycete were isolated from a roaster comb and screened for hyase production. Seven isolates were positive for hyase, and the most potent isolate was selected based on the diameter of the transparent zone. Based on the morphological, physiological, and 16 S rRNA characteristics, the most potent isolate was identified as Brucella intermedia MEFS with accession number OR794010. The environmental conditions supporting the maximum production of hyase were optimized to be incubation at 30 ºC for 48 h and pH 7, which caused a 1.17-fold increase in hyase production with an activity of 84 U/mL. Hyase was purified using a standard protocol, including precipitation with ammonium sulphate, DEAE as ion exchange chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography using Sephacryle S100, with a specific activity of 9.3-fold compared with the crude enzyme. The results revealed that the molecular weight of hyase was 65 KDa, and the optimum conditions for hyase activity were at pH 7.0 and 37 °C for 30 min. The purified hyase showed potent anticancer activities against colon, lung, skin, and breast cancer cell lines with low toxicity against normal somatic cells. The cell viability of hyase-treated cancer cells was found to be in a dose dependent manner. Hyase also controlled the growth factor-induced cell cycle progression of breast cancer cells and caused relative changes in angiogenesis-related genes as well as suppressed many pro-inflammatory proteins in MDA cells compared with 5-fluorouracil, indicating the significant role of hyase as an anticancer agent. In addition, hyase recorded the highest DPPH scavenging activity of 65.49% and total antioxidant activity of 71.84% at a concentration of 200 µg/mL.

Bacterial diversity in 110 thermal hot springs of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

Thermal hot springs are present throughout the world and constitute a unique habitat for microbial diversity. The current investigation is conducted to study the bacterial diversity of thermophilic microorganisms in thermal hot springs of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). As of today, 110 geothermal hot springs have been explored for microbial diversity. In this study, we observed that the growth of thermophilic bacteria isolated from thermal hot springs of IHR ranges between 40 and 100 °C, and pH of 3.5-8 have been reported in the literature. The major bacterial species reported from the thermal hot springs of IHR are Bacillus spp., Geobacillus spp., Paenibacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Anoxybacillus, Paenibacillus, Brevibacillus, Aneurinibacillus, Thermus aquaticus, Aquimonas, Flavobacterium, etc. Furthermore, bacterial isolates from thermal hot springs of IHR have been reported to produce various enzymes and metabolites such as amylase, β-galactosidase, cellulase, nitrate reductase, acetoin, caffeine degradation enzymes, lipase, urease, and laccase. Metagenomic study and the entire genomic shotgun project have established the impact of physicochemical parameters (temperature and pH) on developing the microbiome. We have discussed the discoveries of microbiological data on the hot springs of IHR until the end of year 2021. As a whole, the microbiome adapts themselves as successful inhabitants to extreme environmental conditions and also serves as a diverse resource for potential applications in health, food, and environment.

Selective isolation, antimicrobial screening and phylogenetic diversity of marine actinomycetes derived from the Coast of Bejaia City (Algeria), a polluted and microbiologically unexplored environment

AIMS

The current study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of actinomycetes in the Coast of Bejaia City using selective isolation, as well as their bioactivity and phylogenitic diversity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Different selective media and methods were used, leading to the isolation of 103 actinomycete strains. The number of strains was influenced by isolation procedures and their interactions based on a three-way ANOVA and a post hoc Tukey test, which revealed that using M2 medium, dilution of samples followed by moderate heat treatment, and sampling at 10-20 m yielded the highest numbers of actinomycetes. The isolates were screened for their antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic microorganisms using agar and well diffusion methods. Of all the isolates, ten displayed activity against at least one Gram-positive bacterium, of which P21 showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis, with a diameter of 32, 28 and 25 mm respectively. Subsequently, active isolates were assigned to Streptomyces spp. and Nocardiopsis spp. based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, including a putative new Streptomyces species (S3). The phenotypic characteristics of the P21 strain were determined, and interesting enzymatic capacities were shown.

CONCLUSION

The recovery of actinomycetes along the Coast of Bejaia City was influenced by the isolation procedure. Ten strains displayed interesting antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, of which the P21 strain was selected as the most active strain.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This work provides a new insight into the occurrence of actinobacteria in the Coast of Bejaia. It suggests also that polluted environments such as Bejaia Bay could provide access to interesting actinomycetes as sources of antibiotic leads.

Cohnella laeviribosi sp. nov., isolated from a volcanic pond

A novel thermophilic and endospore-forming Gram-positive bacterium capable of assimilating and isomerizingl-ribose was isolated from a volcanic area in Likupang, Indonesia. The isolate, RI-39T, was able to grow at high temperatures (37–60 °C); optimum growth was observed at pH 6.5 and 45 °C. The strain contained MK-7 (87 %) as the main respiratory quinone and had a DNA G+C content of 51 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of the isolate were iso-C16 : 0and anteiso-C15 : 0and the predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate represents an evolutionary lineage that is distinct from those of otherCohnellaspecies. Based on morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, it is proposed that strain RI-39Trepresents a novel species,Cohnella laeviribosisp. nov. The type strain is RI-39T(=KCTC 3987T=KCCM 10653PT=CCUG 52217T).

Rhodococcus phenolicus sp. nov., a novel bioprocessor isolated actinomycete with the ability to degrade chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene and phenol as sole carbon sources

The aerobic degradation of phenol, chlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene as a sole carbon source has been observed in bacterial Gram-positive strain G2PT isolated from a wastewater bioprocessor. Cells display branching mycelia fragmenting into rod and coccoid elements when grown on TSA. Aerial hyphae formation occurs when grown on phenol and chlorinated aromatics as the sole carbon source. Growth was observed at up to 0.75% phenol as a sole carbon source, indicating a strong tolerance for the compound. The 16S rRNA gene sequence shares the greatest similarity with members of the Rhodococcus genus, with the closest shared nucleotide identity of 98% with the aromatic toxin degrading bacteria Rhodococcus zopfii DSM 44108T. Neighbor-joining and parsimony analysis of Corynebacterineae 16S rRNA gene sequences consistently places strain G2PT in a clade shared with R. zopfii within the Rhodococcus rhodochrous subclade. Based on a unique polyphasic profile involving phenotypic, ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, mol% DNA G+C content and fatty acid composition, G2PT is proposed to represent a previously uncharacterized, novel species in the genus Rhodococcus. The name Rhodococcus phenolicus is proposed for the isolate with the type strain G2PT (= DSM 44812) (= NRRL B-24323) [corrected]

Nocardioides aromaticivorans sp. nov., a dibenzofuran-degrading bacterium isolated from dioxin-polluted environments

Seven strains of dibenzofuran (DF)-degrading bacteria isolated from dioxin-polluted environments were characterized. These isolates were able to grow with dibenzofuran as the sole carbon and energy source. During the growth with dibenzofuran, they produced a soluble yellow metabolite that exhibited a unique pH-dependent shift of absorption maxima. Dibenzo-p-dioxin and biphenyl were also degraded with pigment production. The isolates were strictly aerobic and chemoorganotrophic and had gram-positive, nonmotile, rod-shaped cells. Chemotaxonomic analyses showed that cells contained L,L-diaminopimeric acid in the peptidoglycan, branched-chain fatty acids as major fatty acids, and menaquinone MK-8(H4) as the sole respiratory quinone. The G + C content of the DNA of the isolates ranged from 72.0 to 72.4 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates were very similar to each other (> or = 99.8%). The phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates formed a cluster with species of the genus Nocardioides with Nocardioides simplex and Nocardioides nitrophenolicus as their nearest neighbors. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed that the isolates showed a hybridization level of less than 55% to any tested species of the genus Nocardioides. Based on these data, Nocardioides aromaticivorans sp. nov. is proposed for the new DF-degrading isolates. The type strain is strain H-1 (IAM 14992, JCM 11674, DSM 15131).

Rhodococcus tukisamuensis sp. nov., isolated from soil

A novel strictly aerobic, heterotrophic, mesophilic bacterium, strain Mb8(T), was isolated from soil in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan. The G+C content of strain Mb8(T) was 66.0 mol%. It had mycolic acids with 44-52 carbon atoms and C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 (9) as the major fatty acids. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H(2)). The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose. 16S rDNA, chemotaxonomic and morphological data indicated that this strain clearly belonged to the genus RHODOCOCCUS: Based on phenotypic properties and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain Mb8(T) (=JCM 11308(T)=NCIMB 13903(T)) has been assigned to the genus Rhodococcus as the type strain of Rhodococcus tukisamuensis sp. nov.

Random amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis for rapid identification of thermophilic Actinomycete-like bacteria involved in hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a pulmonary disease characterised by inflammation that can be caused by, amongst other substances, a subset of 4 thermophilic mycelial bacteria: Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, Saccharomonospora viridis, Thermoactinomyces sacchari, and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. Air sampling analyses in highly contaminated environments are often performed to evaluate exposure to these species which are difficult and fastidious to identify by conventional techniques. The aim of this study was to use amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) to develop a method of identification for those thermophilic organisms that would be more rapid and simple. Strains of these 4 species were obtained from the American type culture collection (ATCC) and were characterized using biochemical tests and ARDRA patterns obtained on their partial-lenght amplified 16S rDNAs. To validate this approach, ARDRA with two restriction enzymes, TaqI and HhaI, was applied to 49 thermophilic actinomycete-like strains from environmental samples (sawmills). The results obtained show that combining some cultural characteristics and biochemical tests, such as xanthine or hypoxanthine decomposition, growth in the presence of NaCl, lysozyme or novobiocin, and spore resistance over 100 degrees C provide a rough identification and selection of the genera of interest. Consequently, target species could be confirmed by digestion of partial-lenght 16S rDNA with the use of Taql and HhaI restriction enzymes that gave specific restriction patterns. ARDRA analyses on the 49 environmental actinomycete-like organisms revealed the presence of 8 Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, 2 Saccharomonospora viridis, and 15 Thermoactinomyces vulgaris strains, the other strains had restriction patterns different than those of the species of interest. Results of the present study will be applicable to other potential HP environments such as dairy barns, peat bogs and compost plants.

Purification of the antigenic components of pigeon dropping extract, the responsible agent for cellular immunity in pigeon breeder's disease

BACKGROUND

Pigeon breeder's disease (PBD) is a lung disease caused by inhalation of antigens derived from pigeons.

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to characterize the responsible component of pigeon dropping extract (PDE) for PBD.

METHODS

First, crude PDE was applied to SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting by using antibodies in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Second, 9 bands of PDE were separated by SDS-PAGE and used for antigen-induced PBMCs. Finally, amino-terminal sequencing was conducted on an isolated 21-kd protein by 2-dimensional electrophoresis.

RESULTS

Immunoblots with BAL fluid from patients with PBD identified 9 bands. Similar patterns were observed by using BAL fluid from 10 control patients (9 with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 1 asymptomatic breeder), except for the 21-kd protein, which was detected in 10 patients with PBD and 1 asymptomatic breeder. The stimulation indices of PBMCs determined by using proteins electroeluted from the 9 bands were higher in patients with PBD than in the 10 control patients. The 21-kd protein was separated into 5 spots by 2-dimensional electrophoresis; these spots were all reactive with BAL fluid from patients with PBD as determined by immunoblotting. The sequence of the 21-kd protein had 57% identity to a Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome X reading frame. A synthetic peptide, derived from the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal of the native protein, induced significant proliferation of PBMCs obtained from 5 patients with PBD, but not with PBMCs obtained from control patients.

CONCLUSION

The 21-kd protein is the only protein that identified individuals exposed to pigeons by immunoblotting. Only PBMCs from patients with PBD showed significant proliferation to the 21-kd protein and to the synthetic peptide on the basis of the N-terminal sequence of the native peptide. The 21-kd protein will be an important antigen for studies on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of PBD.

Airborne dust and aeroallergen concentrations in different sources of feed and bedding for horses

Standardized methods were used to make quantitative and qualitative assessments of respirable dust and aeroallergens in feed and bedding for horses. Concentrations of airborne dust were measured by using a Rion particle counter, and levels of major aeroallergens implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were measured by using an Andersen sampler. Laboratory conditions allowed comparison of the different sources of forage, supplements, and bedding without external influences such as ventilation, external temperature and horse activity affecting the result. Grass silages of approximately 50% dry matter and alfalfa pellets appeared to be very good sources of forage with low levels of dust and aeroallergens. The studied good quality straw was significantly less dusty with fewer allergens than the wood shavings. Supplements, such as whole grains and molassed concentrates, contained many respirable particles and aeroallergens. Rolled grains were significantly more dusty than good hay.

Farmer's lung: patients' IgG2 antibodies specifically recognize Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula proteins and carbohydrate structures

Farmer's lung is a frequent form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis. In Europe and Northern America the main source of the antigenic components that induce farmer's lung is the bacterium Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (Micropolyspora faeni). It remains unclear, however, which S. rectivirgula components are responsible for the disease. We approached these problems by investigating the serologic reaction of patients with farmer's lung and demonstrated specific binding of patients' IgG2 to S. rectivirgula antigens. No such antibodies were found in exposed, unaffected subjects. Thus IgG2 antibodies reacting with S. rectivirgula antigens are useful for the serologic diagnosis of patients with farmer's lung and for the isolation of disease-causing antigens. After separation of S. rectivirgula extract on concanavalin A-Sepharose (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), we found that approximately one third of the patients' IgG2 reactivity occurred with nonglycosylated proteins. Among these, we characterized two major acidic proteins with molecular weights of 12 and 30 kd, respectively, and with identical N-terminal sequences. Approximately two thirds of the patients' IgG2 reactivity was observed against concanavalin A-binding glycoproteins that contained mainly glucose, mannose, and galactose residues. Deglycosylation of the concanavalin A-bound fraction indicated that most of the IgG2 reactivity occurred with the carbohydrate components.

Thermophilic actinomycetes in cane sugar mills: an aeromicrobiologic and seroepidemiologic study

Aerial prevalence of clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes and occurrence of precipitating antibodies against them in sera of 153 exposed workers have been reported. The study was carried out in two cane sugar mills namely, the Upper Doab Sugar Mills and the Ramala Sugar Mills, located in north-west India. In both the sugar mills, T. sacchari was the predominant species, it accounted for 55.1% and 50.3% of the total population of thermophilic actinomycetes, followed by T. vulgaris (19.7% and 23.7%), T. thalpophilus (21.1% and 17.1%), Saccharomonospora viridis (3.4% and 5.0%) and Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (Faenia rectivirgula) (0.7% and 3.9%), respectively. Precipitating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes were demonstrable in 34 (22.2%) workers; T. sacchari alone accounted for 20 of the positive precipitin reactions, followed by S. rectivirgula in 10. The mean absorbance values for IgG antibody activity against T. sacchari as well as S. rectivirgula were found to be elevated significantly in the symptomatic workers than in the asymptomatic workers (p < 0.05) or unexposed controls (p < 0.001). However, the difference in IgG antibody activity was insignificant between precipitin-positive symptomatic workers and precipitin-positive asymptomatic workers. The results indicate that clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes are widely prevalent in cane sugar mills, and T. sacchari and S. rectivirgula are the major species involved in the sensitization of the bagasse workers in India.

Occurrence of thermophilic actinomycetes in natural substrates in Nigeria

Thermophilic actinomycetes were isolated from 163 (48.95%) of 333 samples of vegetable substrates and soil from different sites in Anambra and Enugu States in Nigeria. Thermoactinomyces (Tha.) vulgaris was the most common, occurring in 32.4% of samples while Tha. thalpophilus was isolated from 20.1%. Tha. sacchari, Saccharomonospora (Sam.) viridis and Saccharopolyspora (Sap.) rectivirgula were isolated from 3-10.5% of the samples examined. Streptomyces (Stm.) thermovulgaris occurred in 2.7% and Thermomonospora spp. in 0.6% of samples. Except for Stm. thermovulgaris and, perhaps, Thermomonospora spp., all the species isolated are known to be allergenic in man. The five known allergenic species were abundant in hay and maize silage. T. vulgaris and T. thalpophilus were also frequently isolated from rice straw. Tha. vulgaris, Tha. thalpophilus and Sap. rectivirgula were all most numerous in hay while Tha. sacchari was most numerous in maize silage. The widespread occurrence of thermophilic actinomycetes in Nigeria emphasizes the need for investigation of their role in allergic respiratory disorders.

Interactions between active-site-serine beta-lactamases and mechanism-based inactivators: a kinetic study and an overview

The interactions between three class A beta-lactamases and three beta-lactamase inactivators (clavulanic acid, sulbactam and olivanic acid MM13902) were studied. Interestingly, the interaction between the Streptomyces cacaoi beta-lactamase and clavulanate indicated little irreversible inactivation. With sulbactam, irreversible inactivation was found to occur with the three studied enzymes, but no evidence for transiently inactivated adducts was found. Irreversible inactivation of the S. albus G and S. cacaoi enzymes was particularly slow. With olivanate, irreversible inactivation was also observed with the three enzymes, but with the S. cacaoi enzyme, no hydrolysis could be detected. A tentative summary of the results found in the literature is also presented (including 6 beta-halogenopenicillanates), and the general conclusions underline the diversity of the mechanisms and the wide variations of the rate constants observed when class A beta-lactamases interact with beta-lactamase inactivators, in agreement with the behaviours of the same enzymes towards their good and poor substrates.

Microbiological agents as health risks in indoor air

Ambient air may be contaminated with or carry significant levels of a variety of potentially harmful microorganisms. There are three major sources of such microbes: a) those arising from microbial decomposition of various substrates associated with particular occupations (e.g., "moldy" hay leading to hypersensitivity pneumonitis), b) those associated with certain types of environments (e.g., Legionnaires' bacteria in water supplies), and c) those stemming from infective individuals harboring a particular pathogen (e.g., tuberculosis). This presentation deals primarily with important microorganisms from occupational and environmental sources and clearly differentiates from case to case transmission via droplet nuclei infection. Microorganisms that are uniformly injurious are differentiated from those that are more opportunistic (i.e., those that cause problems only in people with preexisting debilities). Such microorganisms are categorized according to whether they are allergenic, infectious, or capable of inducing toxic or inflammatory reactions when inhaled. Representative examples from each of these categories, which include bacteria, fungi, rickettsia, and amoebae, are discussed. The conditions responsible for the entrance of significant numbers of these microbes into the air, the mechanisms by which they produce injury, and the methods of prevention are also considered. With attention given to some of the basic sources and requirements for such microorganisms to reproduce and enter the ambient air environment, it is a relatively simple matter to prevent the occurrence of health problems.

Occurrence and significance of precipitating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes in the sera of dairy herd workers, Nangali, Delhi

The study was prompted by the lack of information on the role of thermophilic actinomycetes in hypersensitivity pneumonitis in India. It reports the occurrence of precipitating antibodies against clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes in the sera of a population sample of dairy herd workers, Nangali, Delhi. Of 112 workers investigated, 28 (25%) showed precipitins against Faenia rectivirgula, 4 (3.2%) against Saccharomonospora viridis, 2 against Thermoactinomyces thalpophilus and one each against T. vulgaris and T. sacchari. The results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicated that IgG antibody activity against F. rectivirgula was significantly higher in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (p less than 0.05) of workers and the controls (p less than 0.01). Significant difference in F. rectivirgula IgG activity was also obtained between the precipitin-positive symptomatic group and the precipitin-positive asymptomatic group (p less than 0.05). In strong contrast, the IgG antibody activity against T. thalpophilus was found to be uniformly low. A limited aeromicrobiological sampling of the dairy farm revealed S. viridis (55.8%) to be the commonest species followed by T. vulgaris (19.2%), T. thalpophilus (18.5%), F. rectivirgula (5%) and T. sacchari (1.5%). On the basis of suggestive clinical and laboratory findings, farmer's lung disease was suspected in four dairy herd workers. A comprehensive clinical evaluation including pulmonary function studies on the dairy herd workers and their long-term follow-up is indicated to determine the extent of respiratory morbidity caused by F. rectivirgula, S. viridis, T. thalpophilus, T. sacchari and T. vulgaris in India.

Thermophilic actinomycetes associated with agro-environment of Punjab state (India)

Thermophilic actinomycetes (TAs) are unique high temperature aerobic bacteria which belong to the group actinomycetes. While working on hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), an immunological disorder, resulting from the inhalation of spores of thermophilic actinomycetes, it was considered worthwhile to record their occurrence in the environment of Punjab. Thermophilic actinomycetes isolated by spread plate method from nine different substrates of the Punjab environment were identified as 8 different species. Atmospheric occurrence of TAs was detected by exposing Petri dishes containing soy agar medium which were exposed in six different environments of the state. Seven thermophilic species were recorded. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris was the predominant species with 87.5, 87.1, and 100% prevalence in the soil, natural manure and the wheat field, respectively. The study is the first report of its kind from this region.

Distribution of clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes in vegetable substrates and soil in north-western India

Medically important thermophilic actinomycetes were isolated from 218 (64%) of 341 samples of vegetable substrates and soil examined from sites in north-western India. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris (T. candidus) was the commonest species, occurring in 56% of samples, followed by Saccharomonospora viridis in 29%, Thermoactinomyces thalpophilus in 27%, Faenia rectivirgula (Micropolyspora faeni) in 21% and Thermoactinomyces sacchari in 14%. T. vulgaris and T. thalpophilus were isolated from all types of substrate examined, with T. vulgaris always more common than T. thalpophilus. Of the other thermophilic actinomycetes, F. rectivirgula was isolated predominantly from hay (44%) and S. viridis (56%) and T. sacchari (44%) from sugar-cane bagasse. The largest populations of T. vulgaris and T. thalpophilus were found in paddy straw, followed by T. sacchari, S. viridis and F. rectivirgula in sugar-cane bagasse. The widespread occurrence of these clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes suggests that exposure of humans and animals to them may be frequent in north-western India. Studies are required to determine the prevalence of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) caused by thermophilic actinomycetes in the local population.

Dot-immunobinding assay in the detection of IgG antibodies against farmer's lung antigens

Circulating antibodies against Faenia rectivirgula, Thermoactinomyces candidus, T. vulgaris and Aspergillus fumigatus were studied in the sera of 14 clinically proven farmer's lung patients and 10 normal controls using three immunological methods. These methods were agar gel double diffusion (DD), biotin-avidin-linked immunosorbent assay (BALISA) and dot-immunobinding assay (DIBA). Agar gel diffusion, the least sensitive of the three methods, failed to detect antibodies in some of the patients, while BALISA detected antibodies even in the normal controls. However, the sensitivity of dot-immunobinding assay was in between DD and BALISA while the specificity was comparable to DD to all the antibodies except against A. fumigatus antigens. Dot-immunobinding assay gave faster results than DD and the blots can be stored as record for longer periods of time without fading.

Allergenic fungi and actinomycetes in smoking materials and their health implications

Street marijuana, commercial cigarettes and pipe tobaccos were studied for the presence of fungi and actinomycetes associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Aspergillus species and thermophilic actinomycetes were isolated from the smoking materials. In addition, Aspergillus fumigatus spores were isolated from marijuana smoke, indicating the potential hazard involved in developing serious disease. Precipitin antibodies against fungi, particularly Aspergillus, showed a higher prevalence in marijuana smokers, whereas only very few cigarette smokers and nonsmokers demonstrated antibodies to fungi. Cigarette smokers and nonsmokers showed more or less similar prevelance of antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes.

Characterization of Micropolyspora faeni antigens

Culture filtrate antigens of Micropolyspora faeni grown in a synthetic medium in a stirred fermentor were characterized. The culture filtrate antigens were fractionated by preparative isoelectric focusing with a pH gradient of 3.5 to 5.5. The fractions were pooled according to their reaction with rabbit anti-M. faeni sera. A pool containing two major antigens which were resolved by analytical isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis was obtained. One antigen was stainable with Coomassie blue and periodic acid-Schiff stain and was determined to have a mass of 51,000 daltons. The other antigen was stainable only with Coomassie blue and was determined to have a mass of 29,000 daltons. When used at 1 mg/ml, this pool reacted with the sera from all patients with farmer's lung disease by immunodiffusion but failed to react with control sera.

Crossed immunoelectrophoretic analysis of two antigen extracts of Thermoactinomyces candidus

A pyridine extract antigen and a double-dialysis antigen (DDA) obtained from Thermoactinomyces candidus were analyzed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. In addition, the heat lability, pronase sensitivity, and isolectric points of the components of the DDA were determined. By using antisera raised against crude pyridine extract antigen, two immunogenic components were resolved by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. A similar analysis of DDA using antisera raised against crude DDA revealed 15 immunogens. All but six components were heat labile, whereas pronase had little effect on the number of resolvable components. Intermediate gel crossed immunoelectrophoresis using antiserum raised to whole spores detected six immunogenic components, four of which were also detected by the anti-DDA serum. A total of 19 bands were obtained when the DDA was subjected to flatbed isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels. The isoelectric points for the various components were found to range from 3.5 to 5.7. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis using isoelectric focusing in the first dimension yielded at least 16 immunogenic components. Six components with isoelectric points falling in the range of 4.5 to 6.4 were found to be resistant to heat. A comparison with antigens obtained from other thermophilic actinomycetes is presented.

Antigenic relationships among thermophilic actinomycetes

Antigens from Micropolyspora faeni, Saccharomonospora viridis, Thermoactinomyces candidus, T. sacchari and T. vulgaris were prepared by growing them on dialysate of trypticase soy broth. Sera from rabbits immunized with these antigens were used to study cross-reactivity between thermophilic actinomycetes by antigen-antibody crossed immunoelectrophoresis and by agar gel double diffusion. Mi. faeni and S. viridis showed some degree of cross-reaction, but both failed to show any cross reactivity with Thermoactinomyces species. Antigens from Thermoactinomyces cross-reacted with members within the genus, but no reactivity against S. viridis or M. faeni antisera was detected. Hence, the presence of antibodies to several thermophilic actinomycetes in the sera of patients may be attributed to the exposure of the individual to different thermophilic actinomycetes rather than to the antigenic cross-reactivity between the organisms.

Use of casein, tyrosine, and hypoxanthine in the identification of nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli

Four hundred and five (405) strains of nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (NFB) were identified using conventional tests. The NFB studied include 323 originating from clinical specimens, 37 from environmental samples, and 45 authentic strains from other workers and from our culture collections. All these strains were studied for their ability to degradate casein, tyrosine, and hypoxanthine. It was found that these tests are useful in identifying NFB within 24 to 48 h when used with other tests.

Extracellular antigens of Micropolyspora faeni grown in synthetic medium

Extracellular antigens were prepared by growing Micropolyspora faeni in a new synthetic medium (SMSL), and this antigenic preparation was compared with antigens obtained by the double-dialysis method. These two preparations were tested against pooled sera from farmer's lung patients and rabbits immunized with these antigens by the agar-gel double-diffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis methods. The immunological cross-reactivity between M. faeni strains of diverse origin and between other species of thermophilic actinomycetes associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis was also investigated. The usefulness of two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis in the comparison and standardization of antigens is discussed.