Preservation by freezedrying and the stability of virulence of Salmonella typhimurium

Differences in the ability to withstand freeze-drying were demonstrated among strains of Salmonella typhimurium. On the average, the number of viable cells in freeze-dried cultures stored at 5 C for 12 to 18 months was approximately one half as large as that found 24 hr after freeze-drying. The viability in samples stored at higher temperatures declined rapidly and was correlated with the dryness of the sample. The virulence for mice of three strains of S. typhimurium did not change appreciably when samples were kept for 1 or 2 years as freeze-dried samples stored at 5 C, or as agar cultures stored at 5 C or at room temperature.

Resistance of salmonellae isolated in 1962 to chloretetracycline

Among 652 salmonellae examined, Salmonella typhimurium displayed a much higher incidence of resistance to chlortetracycline than did other serotypes. Among S. typhimurium cultures from man, the incidence of resistance (38%) increased markedly over that of cultures isolated 3 years previously (13.9%), whereas a similar increase was not noted among cultures from fowls. Resistance among cultures from animals other than fowls (72.5%) was due largely to the high incidence of resistance among cultures from bovine sources (93.7%).

Transmissible drug resistance in an epidemic strain of Salmonella typhimurium

Among 309 cultures ofSalmonella typhimurium, phage-type 27, fifteen, isolated from eight patients, were found to be resistant to the three drugs, streptomycin, tetracycline and sulphathiazole. This triple resistance could be transferred by growth in mixed broth culture to a strain ofSkigella sonneiand back again to sensitive cultures ofS. typhimurium. In whole cultures the resistance was stable, but spontaneous loss could be demonstrated in a small proportion of the organisms in such cultures. No elimination of resistance was demonstrated after treatment with acriflavine. Resemblances to the multiple drug resistance in enteric bacteria reported from Japan are noted.

The author is most grateful to Dr E. S. Anderson, Director of the Enteric Reference Laboratory, Colindale, N.W. 9, for phage-typing the cultures ofSalmonella typhimurium, and to Dr K. Patricia Carpenter, Director of the Dysentery Reference Laboratory, for supplying cultures ofSh. sonneiwhich were essential for the experimental work.

Spontaneous segregation and recombination of resistance factors in Salmonella typhimurium

Watanabe, Tsutomu (Keio University, Tokyo, Japan) and Keong W. Lyang. Episomemediated transfer of drug resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. V. Spontaneous segregation and recombination of resistance factors in Salmonella typhimurium. J. Bacteriol. 84:422-430. 1962.-It was found that spontaneous segregation of the transmissible multiple drug resistance [resistance to streptomycin (Sm), chloramphenicol (Cm), tetracycline (TC), and sulfonamide (Su)] takes place so frequently in Salmonella typhimurium strain LT-2 (Su, Sm, Cm, Tc) as to allow a clone analysis of the segregation of resistance factors with replica plating. Su-, Sm-, and Cm- resistance factors together were spotaneously lost most frequently, whereas the spontaneous loss of Tc-resistance factor alone was rather infrequent. The complete loss of the resistance factors was also noted with low frequencies. The mechanism of the spontaneous segregation of the resistance factors was assumed to be due to either genetic exchange between the resistance factors and host genome or incomplete replication of the transmissible resistance factors (composed of resistance factors and resistance-transfer factor). In relation to the mechanism of spontaneous segregation of the transmissible resistance factors, circular models of the transmissible resistance factors are presented. Four-drug-resistant strains were produced by transferring segregant types of transmissible resistance factors (Su, Sm, Cm) and (Tc) to the strains with (Tc) and (Su, Sm, Cm), respectively. In these four-drug-resistant strains, the two types of transmissible resistance factors were found to be in two different states; in one state the two types of transmissible resistance factors exist in the same cells independently of each other, and in the other state a transmissible resistance factor, which was produced as a result of recombination of the two types of transmissible resistance factors, is present. Two unusual strains of LT-2 with Su-, Sm-, and Cm-resistance factors and with four resistance factors were found. These strains could not transfer their resistance factors to Escherichia coli K-12 by conjugation. Their resistance factors were spontaneously segregated as frequently as those of LT-2 (Su, Sm, Cm) and LT-2 (Su, Sm, Cm, Tc), and the transfer of (Tc) to strain LT-2 with nontransmissible Su-, Sm-, and Cm-resistance factors gave rise to two types of clones; one could transfer the four resistance factors as a unit to K-12 by conjugation, and another could transfer only (Tc) and frequently segregated two types of clones; one had (Tc) and another had nontransmissible Su, Sm-, and Cm-resistance factors. From these findings, the unusual strains with nontransmissible resistance factors are assumed to have a "defective" resistance-transfer factor.

TRANSFER OF EPISOMIC ELEMENTS TO PROTEUS. II. NATURE OF LAC+ PROTEUS STRAINS ISOLATED FROM CLINICAL SPECIMENS

Falkow, Stanley (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.), J. A. Wohlhieter, R. V. Citarella, and L. S. Baron. Transfer of episomic elements to Proteus. II. Nature of lac(+)Proteus strains isolated from clinical specimens. J. Bacteriol. 88:1598-1601. 1964.-Strains of Proteus mirabilis exhibiting the unusual property of utilizing lactose (lac(+)) have been reported in clinical material. A genetic examination discloses that the lac(+) determinants in these Proteus strains are associated with an infectious element, P, which is distinct from the sex factor of Escherichia coli K-12. The composite genetic element, P-lac, is readily transmissible to other enteric species and possesses properties which conform to those of an episomic element of the transfer variety. CsCl density-gradient studies of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from lac(+)P. mirabilis indicate that the P-lac(+) element did not arise in this species, but was acquired from an organism possessing a markedly different DNA base composition.

A NEW ENRICHMENT MEDIUM FOR SALMONELLAE

A new enrichment medium for the isolation of salmonella types from faeces is described.

The inhibitory substances for coliform organisms and enterococci in this medium are magnesium chloride and sodium hydrogen selenite.

The new medium was found in routine diagnostic work to be superior to the Mueller–Kauffmann medium in the isolation ofSalmonella typhiand only a little inferior in the isolation of other salmonella types.

When used in addition to the standard media the new medium increases the number of positive results.

I am indebted to Dr Jadranka Zajc-Satler for the identification of the salmonella types isolated and to Mrs I. Mamilovič, Miss P. Ferbežar, and Mrs D. Zavodnik for technical assistance.

THE ISOLATION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF RABBIT GAMMA M- AND GAMMA G-ANTI-SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM ANTIBODIES

Rabbit γM- and γG-anti-S. typhimurium antibodies were isolated by combined immune specific and physical methods and some of their properties in immunological systems were measured. γM-Antibody was detectable at lower concentrations and revealed a higher specific activity than the γG-globulins. Indirect studies indicated that the γG-globulin was the more "avid" immunoglobulin. Treatment of the γM-globulin with the reducing agent 2-ME decreased but did not destroy the immune activity of the subunits. The results confirm the necessity of analysis of purified immunoglobulin antibodies to evaluate the significance of their biological properties secondary to their interaction with antigens.

BIOSYNTHESIS OF SERINE IN ESCHERICHIA COLI AND SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM

Umbarger, H. E. (Long Island Biological Association, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), Merle A. Umbarger, and Patrick M. L. Siu. Biosynthesis of serine in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. J. Bacteriol. 85:1431-1439. 1963.-Evidence for the operation in extracts of Escherichia coli of a pathway from glucose to serine involving 3-phosphoglycerate, phosphohydroxypyruvate, and phosphoserine as intermediates was obtained by the technique of isotopic competition. The steps of the pathway were demonstrated in extracts of E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The first reaction was studied in the reverse of the biosynthetic direction by observing the disappearance of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in the presence of phosphohydroxypyruvate. The enzyme catalyzing this reaction was missing in two E. coli mutants that required serine or glycine for growth and in a representative of one of two genetically distinct classes of S. typhimurium serine-glycine auxotrophs. The second reaction, the amination of phosphohydroxypyruvate, was also studied in the reverse of the biosynthetic direction using alpha-ketoglutarate as the amino acceptor in a transamination reaction with phosphoserine. The final step, the cleavage of phosphoserine, could not be catalyzed by extracts prepared from cells of S. typhimurium serine-glycine auxotrophs of the second genetic class. It has been concluded that these three reactions provide the only significant pathway to serine in these organisms.

MUTATIONS TO PENICILLIN RESISTANCE IN THE ENTEROBACTERIACEAE THAT AFFECT SENSITIVITY TO SERUM AND VIRULENCE FOR THE MOUSE

Roantree, Robert J. (Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.), and John P. Steward. Mutations to penicillin resistance in the Enterobacteriaceae that affect sensitivity to serum and virulence for the mouse. J. Bacteriol 89:630-639. 1965.-Series of mutants resistant to benzylpenicillin or alpha-aminobenzylpenicillin were derived from serum-resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella by the gradientplate technique. Serum-sensitive mutants were detected in series derived from 16 of the 19 strains used, and these retained the parental O type. Most series were characterized by a mutational step to a high degree of sensitivity to serum. Penicillin-resistant mutants of virulent S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis were less virulent than the parent strains; those which were very sensitive to serum usually showed the greatest loss of virulence. One class of mutants from S. enteritidis was sensitive to human serum but virulent for mice. We found that the mice lack bactericidal antibody against this strain and that immunization with it leads to a high degree of protection.

BACTERIAL NUCLEOTIDASES

Kohn, J. (Queen Mary's Hospital, London, England) and J. L. Reis. Bacterial nucleotidases. J. Bacteriol. 86:713-716. 1963.-The 3- and 5- nucleotidase activity in various bacterial species was investigated. Both enzymes were found in bacterial extracts in varying proportions. The nucleotidases were found to be very active in Proteus vulgaris, in which organism they were studied in detail. The relative activities, the pH optima, and the effect of metal ions were investigated. It was concluded that bacterial 3- and 5-nucleotidases are distinct and separate enzymes.

EFFECTS OF BACTERIAL ENDOTOXINS ON METABOLISM. VII. ENZYME INDUCTION AND CORTISONE PROTECTION

Cortisone acetate administered to mice at the same time as either the LD(50) or 2 x LD(50) of endotoxin significantly protected against lethality. Delaying the injection of cortisone to 1, 2, or 4 hours after that of endotoxin resulted in loss of protection with the possible exception of a 1 hour delay with the LD(50) of endotoxin. Associated with this loss of protection was the failure of the hormone to induce liver tryptophan pyrrolase. Normal mice given only cortisone showed an increase in enzyme activity nearly three times that of control values when assays were carried out either 4 or 17 hours after the hormone was given. Endotoxin-poisoned mice showed normal levels of enzyme activity with concurrent injection of cortisone but depressed levels of enzyme when the cortisone injection was delayed for only 1 hour or more. Apparently, therefore, enzyme induction (or maintenance) is related to survival in endotoxin poisoning. In line with this hypothesis was the observation that inhibitors of enzyme (protein) synthesis were found to potentiate the lethal action of endotoxin and to prevent the protective effect of cortisone. The inhibitors employed were actinomycin D, ethionine, 2-thiouracil, and 8-azaguanine. Activity of liver tryptophan pyrrolase was lowered by endotoxin and elevated by cortisone. When the two were given concurrently, normal enzyme activity was maintained. Chloramphenicol, an active inhibitor of protein synthesis in microorganisms but with limited effect in mammals, was without observable influence in these respects. Mice 18 hours postinfection with Salmonella typhimurium, strain SR-11, given at a level that caused first deaths on the 3rd day, had a lower than normal activity of liver tryptophan pyrrolase and responded to cortisone induction with a smaller increase in enzyme level than that found in control mice. Each is characteristic of endotoxin poisoning. Animals 42 hours postinfection were free of these signs of endointoxication, an observation in agreement with earlier experiments where other measures of endotoxin were employed.

BIPOLARITY OF INFORMATION TRANSFER FROM THE SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM CHROMOSOME

Apparently the leucine and tryptophan gene clusters are polarized in opposite directions on the Salmonella chromosome. Either the direction of polarity is independently determined for each operon or the bacterial chromosome may consist of more than one multi-operon unit of DNA, each such unit determining the direction of polarity of its constituent genes. Each hypothesis results in a different prediction concerning the distribution of operon polarity directions on the chromosome and the functional status of chromosomal inversions.

MUTANT OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM DEFICIENT IN THE CARBON DIOXIDE-FIXING ENZYME PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVIC CARBOXYLASE

Theodore, Theodore S. (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.), and Ellis Englesberg. Mutant of Salmonella typhimurium deficient in the carbon dioxide-fixing enzyme phosphoenolpyruvic carboxylase. J. Bacteriol. 88:946-955. 1964.-Resting cells of Salmonella typhimurium wild type (C(+)dg(s)) and the C(-)dg(s) mutant characterized by impaired glucose and glycerol metabolism are able to oxidize Krebs cycle intermediates to the same extent. The wild type oxidized glucose and pyruvate "completely," and the mutant oxidized these substrates at a reduced rate and incompletely, with the accumulation of acetate. Resting cells of the wild type in the presence of NaHCO(3)-C(14) and glucose incorporated 11 times more CO(2) than did similar suspensions of the mutant. Extracts prepared from cells previously grown in a mineral glucose supplemented medium revealed that the mutant was deficient in the CO(2)-fixing enzyme phosphoenolpyruvic carboxylase (PEP carboxylase). This enzyme was found to be present in the wild-type extracts. It catalyzes the formation of oxaloacetate from phosphoenolpyruvate and CO(2) in the presence of Mn(++) or Mg(++). No added nucleotides are required for its activity. Since only low levels of phosphoenolpyruvic carboxykinase activity are present in extracts prepared from both kinds of cells grown in a mineral glucose supplemented medium, and perhaps only trace amounts of the malic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvic carboxytransphosphorylase, and of the enzyme requiring pyruvate, CO(2), and adenosine triphosphate are present, it was concluded that PEP carboxylase is required for CO(2), fixation in this organism. The loss of this enzyme prevents the growth of the mutant in a mineral-glucose or mineral-glycerol medium, and results in the incomplete oxidation of glucose and pyruvate with the accumulation of acetate. This is the first demonstration of the essential role of this particular enzyme in CO(2) fixation in chemoorganotrophs.

ISOLATION OF SALMONELLAE BY SELECTIVE MOTILITY SYSTEMS

Salmonellae were isolated from naturally infected swine and human feces by means of selective migration through semisolid enrichment (SM) media in modified "U" tubes. Comparative studies showed that recovery of Salmonella by SM techniques was equal or superior to that of standard procedures employed in two routine diagnostic laboratories. Primary Salmonella isolations from SM enrichment were relatively free from normal fecal bacteria and often pure. The SM method required only 15% of the media and correspondingly less time and skill than the usual methods for isolating Salmonella.