Apmis

Mogensen, K. E.; Pyhälä, Lhsa; Törmä, E.; Cantell, K.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02331.xpmid: 4368958

After treatment with neuraminidase, human leukocyte interferon (HLI) retained its characteristic heterogeneity when subjected to isoelectric focusing. The clearance of HLI from the circulation of rabbits, injected intravenously, was unaffected by treatment with neuraminidase or subsequent treatment with galactose oxidase. Complementary chemical treatments were similarly without effect. None of the treatments resulted in destruction of biological activity. Sialic acid and galactose or its derivatives do not appear to contribute to either the antiviral activity or the pharmaco‐kinetics of HLI.

Joensen, Hogni Debes; Bloch, Buchardt

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02332.xpmid: 4368780

“Hundaland”, a disease occurring in the Faroe Islands, but of hitherto unknown aetiology, was found to be very similar to ecthyma contagiosum (orf). An enquiry among general practitioners in the Faroe Islands confirmed this similarity, and the disease was found to occur at an annual incidence of 25 per 40, 000 inhabitants. Electron microscopy of biopsies from persons suffering from the disease revealed ecthyma contagiosum virus (orf virus) particles in all biopsies examined.

Hansen, W.; Butzler, J. P.; Fuglesang, J. E.; Henriksen, S. D.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02333.xpmid: 4527859

Two penicillin and streptomycin resistant Moraxella strains have been isolated from clinical specimens in Belgium. These strains were identified as Moraxella osloensis by comparison with known strains of this species in conventional, cultural and biochemical tests and in genetic transformation. Clinical details, bacteriological investigations, antibiotic sensitivity and genetic compatibilites with reference strains are reported. Penicillin sensitivity, which so far has been used as an important criterion in the classification of Moraxella species, should not be taken to be an absolute requirement.

Skaug, Kjell; Tjøtta, Enok

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02334.xpmid: N/A

A modified, indirect immunofluorescent technique for the detection of specific serum Herpes simplex virus IgM antibodies is described. The previously necessary long incubation period with the serum for the determination of the IgM fluorescent antibody titre, is reduced from 3 to 1 hour after staphylococcal adsorption of IgG. This IgM test will also, in contrast to the previous procedure with untreated sera, give a more reliable and easy determination of the IgM titres, because the IgM fluorescence is more intense. Paired sera from 34 patients, taken approximately 6 and 15 days after the onset of symptoms, were examined. Sera from 11 patients showed a fourfold or greater rise in titre in the CFT and the IgG fluorescent antibody test, and 7 of these showed also a fourfold or greater rise in the IgM fluorescent antibody titre. The sera from the other patients, however, showed a constant titre in the CFT and the IgG fluorescent antibody test and were negative in the IgM test. The results show that in many cases a current Herpes simplex infection rapidly can be identified by this immunofluorescent technique.

Hougen, K. Hovind

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02335.xpmid: N/A

Treponema phagedenis, Treponema vincentii, and Treponema refringens were studied in the electron microscope by means of negative staining and sectioning techniques. The length and width of the cells were within the same limits for all three strains examined. Statistical analysis, however, demonstrated a difference in the wavelengths of the cells. Organisms of T. phagedenis and T. vincentii had blunt ends and possessed cell wall surface layers in which a regular substructure was only occasionally revealed, while cells of T. refringens had tapered ends and a distinctly structured cell wall surface layer. Generally, cells of the strains investigated had 4–6 flagella inserted at each end. Two bundles of flagella, one from each end of the cell, wound around the organism and overlapped in the middle of the cell. The flagella with their insertion organelles were identical for the three strains studied. Two bundles of cytoplasmic tubules were detected in the interior of the treponemes after treatment with either sodium deoxycholate or Myxobacter AL‐1 protease 1. The two bundles of cytoplasmic tubules overlapped in the middle of the cell. The results of the present morphological study are compared with results obtained by other investigators studying other characteristics of these strains and it is concluded that the three strains studied belong to three different species.

Black, Finn T.; Krogsgaard‐Jensen, A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02336.xpmid: 4604118

An indirect immunofluorescence technique using unfixed colonies is applied to human T‐mycoplasmas. The method is found to possess the same degree of specificity as the growth‐inhibition test and to be well suited for the identification and classification of T‐myco‐plasmas. The sensitivity is too low for the detection of antibodies in patient sera. A modification of the indirect haemagglutination test applicable to T‐mycoplasmas was less specific, but owing to its sensitivity it can be recommended as a supplement to the metabolic‐inhibition test in studies of antibodies in patient sera. The polyacrylamide‐gel electrophoresis appeared to be unsuitable for the identification and classification of human T‐mycoplasma serotypes.

Otnæss, Anne‐Brit; Little, Clive; Prydz, Hans

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02337.xpmid: 4212455

A sensitive method allowing rapid screening for the presence of phospholipase A or C in solutions or the production of these enzymes by bacteria is described. By this method, a phospholipase C hyper‐producing mutant has been detected.

Perch, B.; Kjems, E.; Ravn, T.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02338.xpmid: 4604154

The main part of strains of Streptococcus mutans isolated from the present Danish material of blood from patients with subacute endocarditis and from human teeth belonged to two of five serotypes established by Bratthall, viz. type c and type e. Two new types were established: type f and type g. Strain SL‐1 seems to constitute a distinct type. Strains of serotypes a and b have not been isolated in Denmark, and strains of serotypes d, g and SL have been isolated from teeth only. The registered differences in biochemical behaviour warrant a proposal of a subdivision into three biotypes.

Asbjørnsen, Gunnar

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02339.xpmid: N/A

Seventeen antimicrobial agents were added to serum in vitro and tested for their ability to influence the assay of folic acid activity by the L. casei method. Eight drugs were found to cause significant inhibition. The lowest serum concentrations needed to reduce the estimated folic acid activity by as much as 25 per cent were 0.5–1.0 μg/ml trimethoprim, just below 2.5 μg/ml carbenicillin, 2.5–5 μg/ml lincomycin or phenoxymethylpenicillin, 5–10 μg/ml erythromycin, 10–25 μg/ml benzylpenicillin, just above 25 μg/ml ampicillin and 25–125 μg/ml chloramphenicol.

Ewetz, L.; Strangert, K.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1974.tb02340.xpmid: 4604038

A sensitive, simple and rapid method for detection of bacteriuria has been developed. By means of a Luminol chemiluminescence method adapted to an Auto Analyzer it has been possible to indicate the presence of low concentrations of bacteria in urine specimens from an unselected clinical material. Less than 1 per cent of the investigated urine samples were false negatives and 7 per cent were false positives according to the Luminol method as compared with viable count. Blood is a disturbing factor. No special treatment of the specimens of urine was needed. The analysing time was only two minutes. Formaldehyde could be added without interfering with the analysis. As the reagents required are inexpensive, and with autoanalyzers available at many hospitals, the Luminol method might be of interest as a mass screening technique for bacteriuria.