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[an unusual cause of myocardial infarct. bacterial mitral valve endocarditis, valve ring and myocardial abscess with direct coronary lesion].we report on a 45-year-old man with bacterial mitral valve endocarditis and valve-ring abscess following a staphylococcus aureus sepsis with septic shock and respiratory insufficiency. a thrombosis of the marginal branch of the left circumflex coronary artery with a myocardial infarction occurred as a consequence of the unusual location of the abscess which spread to the left ventricular lateral wall with an encasement of this blood vessel, and with destruction of the arterial wall. the patient ...19938328178
human alveolar macrophages inhibit immunoglobulin production in response to direct b cell mitogen.b lymphocytes are crucial participants in pulmonary immune defense. however, excess local antibody production is associated with accelerated lung destruction in several types of lung disease. the purpose of the current study was to study the potential role of alveolar macrophages (am) in the local regulation of immunoglobulin (ig) production in the lung in response to a direct b cell mitogen, staphylococcus aureus cowan strain (sac). am, when added to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, caused a ...19938338683
an alternative method for t-cell receptor repertoire analysis: clustering of human v-beta subfamilies selected in responses to staphylococcal enterotoxins b and e.we have designed a convenient procedure for the analysis of v beta repertoire expression in polyclonal t-cell populations. in this procedure t-cell rna is converted to cdna, polydc-tailed with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and submitted to one-side specificity pcr amplification with a constant region oligonucleotide primer. the amplified material is then analysed by reverse spot-test hybridization: after 32p-labelling, the amplification product is put to hybridize on a membrane where spe ...19938341282
photoaffinity labeling of human placental nad(+)-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase with [alpha-32p]2n3nad+. identification of a peptide in the adenine ring binding domain.oxidation of many prostaglandins at c-15 results in the formation of 15-keto metabolites, which have reduced biological activity. this reaction is catalyzed by nad(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. using the photoaffinity analog of nad+, [alpha-32p]nicotinamide-2-azidoadenine dinucleotide, we have identified a peptide in the adenine ring binding domain of the nad+ binding site of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. the specificity of photolabeling was demonstrated by saturat ...19938344929
taurolidine: in vitro activity against multiple-antibiotic-resistant, nosocomially significant clinical isolates of staphylococcus aureus, enterococcus faecium, and diverse enterobacteriaceae.taurolidine at < or = 1,250 micrograms/ml killed all 37 isolates of multiple-antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus aureus (n = 9), enterococcus faecium (n = 17), and enterobacteriaceae (n = 11). time-kill experiments disclosed that bovine serum (65% v/v) only marginally retarded the bactericidal activity of 2,000 and 1,000 micrograms/ml of taurolidine against the various strains. taurolidine at 2,000 micrograms/ml did not antagonize the bactericidal activity of 50% (v/v) fresh human serum against ...19938370323
sub-lethal concentrations of clarithromycin interfere with the expression of staphylococcus aureus adhesiveness to human cells.it has been known for some time that some antibiotics, generally at sub-lethal concentrations, are able to alter the morphology and the shape of bacteria. however, more subtle molecular alterations can also be present, such as disorganization of bacterial surface architecture, which leads to changes in the surface electrical charge that can influence the forces of attraction or repulsion responsible for interaction of bacterial surfaces with environmental surfaces. bacterial adhesion to epitheli ...19938371124
passive local immunotherapy of experimental staphylococcal pneumonia with human intravenous immunoglobulin.staphylococcus aureus remains a life-threatening agent of nosocomial pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. the increasing incidence of strains exhibiting wide-spectrum resistance to antibiotics, such as methicillin-resistant s. aureus (mrsa), requires new therapeutic strategies. there is renewed interest in passive immunization with human plasma-derived immunoglobulins (ivig) as antiinfective agents. the efficacy of ivig was tested in an experimental model of staphylococcal pneumonia, using b ...19938376815
staphylococcus aureus toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 and streptococcus pyogenes erythrogenic toxin a modulate inflammatory mediator release from human neutrophils.we studied the influence of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 and streptococcal erythrogenic (pyrogenic) toxin a (eta) on intact and digitonin-permeabilized human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (pmns). as was shown by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 or eta alone, in the absence of any additional stimulus, did not induce the generation of the chemoattractant leukotriene b4 (ltb4) from pmns in a wide range of concentrations. in ...19938381770
in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of e-4868, a new fluoroquinolone with a 7-azetidin ring substituent.e-4868, (-)-7-[3-(r)-amino-2-(s)-methyl-1-azetidinyl]-1-(2,4- difluorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-6-fluoro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, is a new fluoroquinolone with an azetidine moiety at the 7 position. the in vitro activity of e-4868 has been compared with those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and fleroxacin, while the activity of ciprofloxacin was used as reference for in vivo studies. the mics of e-4868 for 90% of the isolates tested (mic90s) were 0.06 to 0.5 microgram/ml against gram-positive or ...19938388202
phagocytic function of monocyte-derived macrophages is not affected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.the immunopathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection is characterized by the failure to control opportunistic infections. here, the direct effect of hiv on macrophage phagocytic function was studied. hiv-1-infected monocyte-derived macrophages expressed as many fc gamma and complement receptors as did control macrophages. the function of these receptors was not affected by hiv-1 infection since binding and internalization of opsonized escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus ...19938390549
staphylococcal enterotoxin b up-regulates interleukin-2 receptor beta chain expression on tonsillar b cells.the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin b (seb) selectively up-regulates the interleukin-2 receptor (il-2r) beta chain (p70) without up-regulating the il-2r alpha chain (cd25) on a human tonsillar b cell population depleted of t cells. this action of seb, probably mediated by binding to major histocompatibility complex class ii, renders b cells sensitive to t cell-derived il-2 and is sufficient for induction of vigorous dna synthesis with low concentrations of il-2. this explains one of the ...19938405068
induction of release of tumor necrosis factor from human monocytes by staphylococci and staphylococcal peptidoglycans.the role of cytokines in gram-positive infections is still relatively poorly defined. the purpose of this study was to establish whether or not intact staphylococci and purified peptidoglycans and peptidoglycan components derived from staphylococci are capable of stimulating the release of tumor necrosis factor (tnf) by human monocytes. we show here that intact staphylococci and purified peptidoglycans, isolated from three staphylococcus epidermidis and three s. aureus strains, were indeed able ...19938406805
peptide mapping of recombinant human interferon-gamma by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with on-line identification by thermospray mass spectrometry and uv absorption spectrometry.the detection and identification of minor peaks in a complex peptide map of recombinant human interferon-gamma was realized by on-line analysis of the eluted peptides using thermospray mass spectrometry and uv absorbance spectrometry. by this procedure the time-consuming process of collection, purification and chemical sequence analysis is avoided. owing to the formation of multiple charged ions, the domain of the covered masses is extended. fragmentation of the peptides in the thermospray sourc ...19938408439
comparison of the opsonic activity of human surfactant protein a for staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pneumoniae with rabbit and human macrophages.surfactant protein a (sp-a) is a glycosylated apoprotein that may facilitate bacterial phagocytosis and contribute to early bacterial clearance in the lung. the effect of sp-a on attachment (or ingestion) of staphylococcus aureus and type 25 pneumococci to rabbit alveolar macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages was studied. sp-a bound to s. aureus and type 25 pneumococci in a calcium-dependent manner. bacteria-associated sp-a significantly increased attachment of s. aureus, but not pn ...19938418186
two adjacent residues in staphylococcal enterotoxins a and e determine t cell receptor v beta specificity.the t cell receptor (tcr) v beta-determining region of two bacterial superantigens, staphylococcal enterotoxin a (sea) and see, has been mapped to the cooh-terminal region of sea and see using a panel of recombinant sea/see hybrids. total tcr v beta mrna enrichment in human peripheral blood t cell cultures was determined by a novel single-tube amplification technique using a redundant v beta-specific primer. sea routinely enriched mrna coding for hv beta 1.1, 5.3, 6.3, 6.4, 6.9, 7.3, 7.4, and 9. ...19938418198
spontaneous ulcerative keratitis in immunocompromised patients.we studied the occurrence of ulcerative keratitis in five eyes of four patients who were examined at the university of maryland hospital ophthalmology clinic over a 12-month period. all were young women who were intravenous drug abusers, with no known predisposing factors for ulcerative keratitis. two patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids), one was human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-positive, and the fourth refused hiv testing. one had a corneoscleral limbus to corneoscleral limb ...19938430729
in vivo antibacterial activity of fk037, a novel parenteral broad-spectrum cephalosporin.fk037 has potent therapeutic activity against lethal systemic infections and experimental local infections due to a wide variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococcus pneumoniae, enterobacteriaceae and pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice. in murine systemic infections, fk037 was the most effective of the cephalosporins and imipenem tested against highly methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (h-mrsa). it was more effective than ceftazidime against selec ...19938436563
regulation of b cell function by bucillamine, a novel disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.bucillamine [n-(2-mercapto-2-methylpropionyl)-l-cysteine] (buc) is a thiol compound that differs from d-penicillamine (dpc) in that it contains two free sulfhydryl groups. clinical trials have demonstrated that its efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis is superior to that of dpc, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. we therefore examined the effects of buc on the in vitro function of human b cells in comparison to those of dpc. igm production was induced from highly purified b cells from heal ...19938440072
immunosuppressive effects of pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin a on human b-lymphocytes.in this study we investigated the effects of exotoxin a on proliferation and differentiation of human b-cells in vitro. exotoxin a at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml inhibited the proliferation of b-cells preactivated by insolubilized anti-igm antibody or by formalinized staphylococcus aureus particles, plus il-2 or il-4. b-cell blasts obtained after preactivation of tonsillar b-cells produce igg and igm in culture supernatants, and this ig production is enhanced by il-2 or il-4. exotoxin a in ...19938446960
down-regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type (hiv-1) production after stimulation of monocyte-derived macrophages infected with hiv-1.macrophages infected with human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) can be stimulated as a result of secondary infections. the effect of stimulation of hiv-1-infected monocyte-derived macrophages on hiv-1 production by these cells was studied. exposure of macrophages to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or to opsonized escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus, or zymosan resulted in a decrease in hiv production. hiv production was inversely related to the degree of stimulation, measured as lucigenin-enhan ...19938450245
a novel antimicrobial central venous catheter impregnated with benzalkonium chloride.catheter-related sepsis is a common complication associated with the use of central venous catheters (cvc). in an attempt to overcome this problem benzalkonium chloride was incorporated into a cvc polymer. the effect of the presence of benzalkonium chloride on microbial colonization of the cvc was then assessed in vitro. mics and mbcs of benzalkonium chloride for a range of organisms were performed and good activity against gram-positive organisms was confirmed. in order to assess the antimicrob ...19938463171
on the mechanism of the activation of human plasminogen by recombinant staphylokinase.the mechanism of activation of human plasminogen by recombinant staphylokinase (star) was studied using the active site titrant p-nitrophenyl-p'-guanidinobenzoate (npgb). npgb prevented active site exposure in equimolar mixtures of plasminogen and star but reacted stoichiometrically with mixtures preincubated in the absence of titrant. active site generation occurred progressively, with a marked initial lag phase followed by an exponential growth phase, and was associated with the conversion of ...19938463338
the two staphylococcal bi-component toxins, leukocidin and gamma-hemolysin, share one component in common.staphylococcal bi-component toxins, leukocidin and gamma-hemolysin, consist of two protein components, i.e. f and s for leukocidin and h gamma i and h gamma ii for gamma-hemolysin. in this study we purified h gamma i and h gamma ii to homogeneity from the culture medium of staphylococcus aureus rimd 310925 and compared their properties with those of f and s purified from the same source. the n-terminal 59- and c-terminal 2-residue amino acid sequences, apparent molecular mass, and isoelectric po ...19938467905
luminol enhanced fc-receptor dependent chemiluminescence from peripheral pmn cells. a methodological study.maximal luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (cl) of pmn cells after fc-gamma-receptor stimulation is a way to study the cell activity in connection with phagocytic function. optimal conditions for such a method were elaborated for practical clinical use. after blood sampling and gentle mixing the blood sample was allowed to stand at +20 degrees c for not more than 1 h. the pmn cells prepared at +20 degrees c were washed at +4 degrees c with a phosphate buffer containing human serum albumin. a gen ...19938469916
three-dimensional structure of a human immunoglobulin with a hinge deletion.x-ray analysis at 3.2-a resolution revealed that the mcg igg1 (lambda chain) immunoglobulin is a compact t-shaped molecule. because of the hinge deletion, the fc fragment lobe is pulled tightly upward into the junction of the fab arms. along the molecular twofold axis, the fab arms are joined by an interchain disulfide bond between the two light chains. the antigen combining sites consist of large irregular cavities at the tips of the fab regions. potential complement (c1q) binding sites on fc a ...19938483943
differential action of cycloheximide and activation stimuli on transcription of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, il-1 beta, il-8, and p53 genes in human monocytes.in the present study we have analyzed superinduction of tnf-alpha mrna and enhancement of tnf-alpha gene transcription by cycloheximide (chx) in human blood monocytes isolated by continuous percoll gradient and activated in vitro. in the same monocyte cultures, we have compared the rate of gene transcription of tnf-alpha, il-1 beta, il-8, and the p53-antioncogene under the influence of plastic adherence, staphylococcus aureus cowan 1 (sac), and chx added at different times of monocyte culture. i ...19938496597
recurrent corneal infections in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.a 29-year-old female intravenous drug abuser infected with the human immunodeficiency virus suffered recurrent, bilateral corneal infections over an 11-month period. multiple infectious organisms were responsible, including capnocytophaga species, candida albicans, staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococcus, and a-streptococcus. one eye was eviscerated because of corneal perforation and loss of vision; the second eye has maintained good vision. predisposing factors usually associat ...19938500341
effects of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene on the superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin (tsst-1)-induced proliferation and antibody secretion by human lymphocytes.toxic shock syndrome toxin (tsst-1), a 22-kda exotoxin secreted by staphylococcus aureus, can act as a nominal antigen and induce proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion in human b-cells. the purpose of the present studies was to examine the effect of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (dmba), a well-characterized immunosuppressant of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity in murine lymphocytes, upon the mixed lymphocyte reaction (mlr) and tsst-1-induced immune responses in human lymphocytes. th ...19938504901
a baculovirus-expressed fusion protein containing the antibody-binding domain of protein a and insect luciferase.a fusion construct encoding two antibody-binding sites of protein a from staphylococcus aureus and click beetle, pyrophorus plagiophthalamus, luciferase (lucgr) was designed and expressed using the baculovirus system. the construct was inserted under the transcriptional regulation of the polyhedrin gene promoter of the autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (acnpv) and expressed in the insect spodoperta frugiperda cell line during viral infection. the properties of the resultant chime ...19938512706
microbial superantigens induce nf-kappa b in the human monocytic cell line thp-1.staphylococcal superantigens bind to mhc class ii molecules and induce transcriptional activation of il-1 beta and tnf-alpha genes in human monocytic cells. the understanding of the mechanisms by which superantigens activate cytokine gene expression is incomplete. in this study, we demonstrate that toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tsst-1) and staphylococcal enterotoxins a and b induce the activation of nf-kappa b, a transcriptional enhancer that binds to sequences found in both the il-1 beta and tn ...19938515079
recombinant interferon-gamma preserves human granulocyte bactericidal and chemoluminescence activities.the effects of recombinant human interferon (ifn)-gamma on functions of human granulocytes (pmnl) were investigated. incubation with ifn-gamma for up to 24 h enhanced the chemoluminescent (cl) response of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (pmnl) to staphylococcus aureus, fmlp, opsonized zymosan, and pma in a dose-dependent fashion for concentrations of 1-1000 units/ml. short exposures to tumor necrosis factor (tnf)-alpha also enhanced the cl responses of pmnl, but the effects ifn-gamma and tnf alpha ...19938515099
[influence of antagonistic bacteria on quantity of staphylococci in the oral cavity].the study was aimed at establishment whether antagonistic influence between physiological oral cavity bacterial flora and staphylococci do exist and whether they influence on quantity of staphylococci in oral cavity environment. in samples of saliva taken from group of 11-13 year old children and a group of adults of both sexes, determinations were performed regarding total number of bacteria, number and percentage of bacteria inhibiting in vitro growth of standard indicator strain staphylococcu ...19938189821
inhibition of bacterial adhesion by sub-inhibitory concentrations: brodimoprim vs trimethoprim.there is accumulating evidence that sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-mics) of many antibiotics are not without effect on bacteria and even though they do not kill bacteria, they are still able to interfere with some important aspects of bacterial cell function. the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of sub-mics of brodimoprim and trimethoprim on escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus adhesiveness to human mucosal cells. sub-mics of brodimoprim down to 1/32 mic (0.03 mic ...19938195836
in vitro investigation of the intraphagocytic bioactivities of ciprofloxacin and the new fluoroquinolone agents, clinafloxacin (ci-960) and pd 131628.in this study the intraphagocytic bioactivities of the new fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents clinafloxacin (ci-960) and pd 131628 (the active metabolite of ci-990) were investigated in vitro at final concentrations of 0.0005-0.5 microgram/ml using human neutrophils and the combination of a radiometric and a colony-counting method, which enabled us to distinguish between intracellular bacteriostatic and bactericidal mechanisms. ciprofloxacin was included for comparison. staphylococcus aureus ( ...19938222871
interference by subinhibitory concentrations of azithromycin with the mechanism of bacterial adhesion to human epithelial cells.azithromycin is the first member of a novel 15-membered-ring 'azalide' group of macrolides that has entered into clinical practice, and its activity is not restricted to gram-positive bacteria, but extends also to gram-negative bacteria. the aim of this study was to investigate the ability of subinhibitory concentrations (sub-mics) of azithromycin to interfere with the mechanism of bacterial adhesion to human epithelial cells. azithromycin induced a significant inhibition of adhesion from 1/2 to ...19938222872
chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis: a new experimental rat model.a rat model of chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis was developed. fibrin glue (5 microliters) and staphylococcus aureus (2 x 10(6) cfu/5 microliters) were inoculated into the proximal metaphysis of the tibia. the rats were killed at intervals of between 1 and 6 months, and the tibias were removed. induced lesions were evaluated by radiographic, macroscopic, and histological examinations and bacterial counts. roentgenograms revealed osteomyelitis in more than 90% of the tibias. gross bone pathol ...19938225597
effects of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma on the secretion of igg4 from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.whereas ige antibodies are linked with allergy, igg4 antibodies may reflect the state of immunity and protection against a particular antigen. it has been shown that interleukin (il)-4 is required for induction of ige synthesis. in order to elucidate the role of il-4 in the production of igg4 and to compare igg4 and ige regulatory processes, we quantified these immunoglobulin isotypes after in vitro culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pbmc) in the presence of il-4. the production of i ...19938238809
use of fast protein size-exclusion liquid chromatography to study the unfolding of proteins which denature through the molten globule.fast protein size-exclusion liquid chromatography (sec-fplc) was used to study solvent-induced unfolding of six proteins. two of them (sperm whale myoglobin and hen white lysozyme) denature on the simple n (native)<-->u (completely unfolded) scheme. the other four proteins [bovine and human alpha-lactalbumin, bovine carbonic anhydrase b (bcab), and beta-lactamase from staphylococcus aureus] denature through the molten globule (mg) state (i.e., on the n<-->mg<-->u denaturation scheme). we have sh ...19938241185
serum inhibitory and bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in volunteers receiving novobiocin and rifampin alone and in combination.the combination of novobiocin and rifampin is effective in eliminating colonization due to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) and in treating experimental mrsa soft tissue infections. to evaluate novobiocin, rifampin, and the combination of the two agents for potential oral therapy in patients with mrsa infections, we measured the serum inhibitory and bactericidal activity from four volunteers against 20 mrsa strains obtained from seven different institutions. when stratton-relle ...19938243034
recombinant dna procedures for producing small antimicrobial cationic peptides in bacteria.natural polycationic antibiotic peptides have been found in many different species of animals and insects and shown to have broad antimicrobial activity. to permit further studies on these peptides, bacterial expression systems were developed. attempts to produce these peptides with an n-terminal signal sequence were unsuccessful due to the lability of the basic peptides. therefore, a number of different fusion protein systems were tested, including fusions to glutathione-s-transferase (gst) (on ...19938244033
co-elimination of mec and spa genes in staphylococcus aureus and the effect of agr and protein a production on bacterial adherence to cell monolayers.phenotypic loss of protein a production was tested in six methicillin-resistant (mcr) staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) isolates and their isogenic methicillin-sensitive (mcs) variants by a radiolabelled igg-binding assay with washed cells and by western blotting of supernates prepared from lysed washed cells. genomic dna was probed for homology with the protein a gene (spa) in ecori digests and for homology to the methicillin resistance gene (mec) in hindiii digests. the mcs variants had lost homolo ...19938246260
improved purification and biologic activities of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.an improved method for producing highly purified toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tsst-1) by preparative isoelectric focusing in a bio-rad rotofor cell and then chromatofocusing is described. purification to homogeneity was confirmed by silver staining after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (sds-page; 50 micrograms of protein was loaded), by immunoblotting with polyclonal rabbit antiserum raised against the crude culture supernatant used for purification, and by autoradiogr ...19938253961
[adult respiratory distress syndrome due to sepsis caused by staphylococcus aureus: a case report].a 59-year-old man, under treatment for osteoarthritis of the right hip joint, was admitted to the department of orthopedic surgery of health insurance nankai hospital with complaints of high fever and severe right hip joint pain. since he developed shock, he was transferred to the department of internal medicine. the laboratory data showed marked increase of acute phase reactants, and staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the abscess in the right hip joint. the chest x-ray film the next day sh ...19938255025
isolated sternoclavicular joint arthritis in heroin addicts and/or hiv positive patients: three cases.the authors describe three patients in whom septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (scj) occurred, drug addiction and human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection representing the predisposing conditions. infectious arthritis is well known in intravenous drug users, but it is rare in hiv positive patients, who are prone to bacterial infections from usual or unusual microorganisms. in one case, staphylococcus aureus methicillin sensitive was responsible for septic arthritis. in another ca ...19938258248
hla class ii molecule-mediated signal transduction mechanism responsible for the expression of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha genes induced by a staphylococcal superantigen.superantigens including staphylococcal enterotoxins (se) bind to major histocompatibility complex class ii molecules and interact with t cells bearing particular v beta chains. seb was shown to induce the expression of interleukin (il)-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (tnf)-alpha genes in human peripheral blood monocytes bearing hla class ii molecules. monoclonal antibodies directed against hla-dr and -dq abolished the seb-induced expression of both the il-1 beta and tnf-alpha genes, suggesting ...19938258334
molecular conversions of recombinant staphylokinase during plasminogen activation in purified systems and in human plasma.recombinant staphylokinase (star) is produced as a 136 amino acid protein with nh2-terminal sequence ser-ser-ser (mature star, hmw-star), which may be converted to lower molecular weight forms (lmw-star) by removal of the first six residues (yielding star-delta 6 with nh2-terminal gly-lys-tyr-) or the first ten residues (yielding star-delta 10 with nh2-terminal lys-gly-asp-). in the present study the occurrence and effects of these conversions during plasminogen activation by hmw-star were studi ...19938259556
effect of recombinant human interleukin-2 on the chemotaxis and chemiluminescence of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.recently, unusual frequency of bacteremia and neutrophil dysfunction during interleukin-2 (il-2) therapy for advanced cancer has been reported. to determine the cause of this dysfunction, we investigated the effects of recombinant human il-2 on the chemotaxis and chemiluminescence (cl) response of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (pmns) and the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (tnf-alpha), which is elevated after il-2 administration, on the chemotaxis of human pmns in vitro. after incuba ...19938294767
[the manifestation of functional heterogeneity of the peptidoglycans in opsonophagocytic reactions].the peptidoglycan activity of staphylococcus aureus ccm 885 and bifidobacterium bifidum 1 was studied in the opsonophagocytic system on the basis of the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of human neutrophils. b. bifidum peptidoglycan was more active in direct interaction with neutrophils. after treatment with normal human serum s. aureus peptidoglycan showed more pronounced neutrophil-stimulating properties. this phenomenon was in accord with a higher content of igg antibodies to s. aureus pep ...19938059563
selective inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase from problem human pathogens. 19938304174
regulation of normal human polyrnorphonuclear leucocytes by carnitine.the effect of carnitine, a drug that plays an essential role in mitochondria metabolism, on some of the most important human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (pmn) activation steps including modulation of adhesion molecule density, reactive oxygen species production, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (tnfalpha) production was investigated. the capability of carnitine in protecting pmn from deter ioration on storage was also studied. data shows that carnitine exerts considerable effects on all pmn fun ...199318475569
immune function of patients receiving recombinant human interleukin-6 (il-6) in a phase i clinical study: induction of c-reactive protein and ige and inhibition of natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell activity.interleukin-6 (il-6) is a cytokine that acts on a variety of cell types, including myeloid progenitor cells and b and t lymphocytes. it has been found to activate cytotoxic t cells and natural killer (nk) cells and to induce t-cell-mediated antitumour effects in animal models. in a phase i clinical trial of recombinant human il-6, 20 patients with advanced cancer were entered to receive daily subcutaneous injections of il-6 over 7 days followed by a 2-week observation period and another 4 weeks ...19948306367
molecular basis for the interaction between human igm and staphylococcal protein a.to examine the relationship between vh gene usage and reactivity of immunoglobulins, we cloned b cells from peripheral blood from adults and from human neonatal cord blood by ebv transformation. nearly one-third of the b cell clones from both sources produced igm reactive with staphylococcal protein a (spa). none of such igm reacted with other antigens, except for the crude extract of staphylococcus aureus. all of 22 b cell clones producing igm reactive with spa expressed vh3 genes, while none o ...19948062451
early activation events induced by the staphylococcal superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in human peripheral blood monocytes.staphylococcal exotoxins (se) bind to mhc class ii molecules and induce the production of il-1 beta and tnf-alpha in human monocytic cells. here we show that stimulation of peripheral blood monocytes with toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tsst-1) induced rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of cytosolic protein substrates, accumulation of inositol phosphates, and de novo tyrosine phosphorylation of the plc-gamma 1 isozyme. accumulation of inositol phosphates was inhibited by preincubation of c ...19948299229
comparison of antibody activity against various microorganisms in intravenous immunoglobulin preparations determined by elisa and opsonic assay.in the present study the level of antimicrobial antibodies and the phagocytosis-promoting activity in immunoglobulin preparations produced for intravenous use were assessed. the level of antibodies directed against various microorganisms in six immunoglobulin preparations was determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) and was shown to be either equal to or higher than that of pooled normal human serum. all preparations were able to promote phagocytosis of staphylococcus aur ...19948301200
immunobiologic and biochemical properties of mutants of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.toxic shock syndrome (tss) is a multisystem illness caused mainly by staphylococcus aureus producing tss toxin-1 (tsst-1). a variant of tsst-1 has been isolated from ovine mastitis s. aureus. this toxin, tsst-ovine (tsst-o) is only weakly t cell mitogenic, is nonpyrogenic, does not enhance endotoxin shock, and does not cause tss in the miniosmotic pump model. the sequence of the ovine gene (tsto) differs from the tsst-1 gene (tsth) by 14 nucleotides that change seven amino acids in the mature pr ...19948254210
detection of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in human saliva and on denture surfaces.the prevalence of staphylococcus species and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) in human saliva and on denture surfaces was examined with selective media. a total of 166 saliva samples from dental students and individuals using dentures and 39 swab samples from denture surfaces were subjected in this study. the detected percentage of mrsa from saliva samples was 2.3%. five out of 39 swab samples of denture surface contained mrsa or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus epidermidis ...19948689735
binding of surfactant protein a to c1q receptors mediates phagocytosis of staphylococcus aureus by monocytes.during both steady-state conditions and inflammatory reactions in the lower airways, monocytes migrate to the alveoli where they come into contact with surfactant. surfactant is composed of phospholipids, neutral lipids, and specific proteins, and its main function is to reduce surface tension in the alveoli. the most abundant glycoprotein surfactant protein a (sp-a) affects the structure, function, and metabolism of pulmonary surfactant. the aim of the present study was to determine whether sp- ...19947977768
peptide synthesis catalyzed by the glu/asp-specific endopeptidase. influence of the ester leaving group of the acyl donor on yield and catalytic efficiency.we recently described a two-step enzymatic semisynthesis of the superpotent analog of human growth hormone releasing factor, [desnh2tyr1,d-ala2,ala15]-grf(1-29)-nh2 (4), from the precursor, [ala15,29]-grf(4-29)-oh (1). c-terminal amidation of 1 to form [ala15]-grf(4-29)-nh2 (2) was achieved by carboxypeptidase-y-catalyzed exchange of ala29-oh for arg-nh2. the target analog 4 was then obtained by acylation of segment 2 with desnh2tyr-d-ala-asp(oh)-or (3) (r = ch3ch2- or 4-no2c6h4ch2-) catalyzed b ...19947982755
juvenile pityriasis rubra pilaris associated with hypogammaglobulinaemia and furunculosis.we report a case of follicular keratosis with inflammatory changes, consistent with a diagnosis of atypical juvenile pityriasis rubra pilaris. an unusual feature was the occurrence of severe staphylococcus aureus folliculitis and furunculosis, a phenomenon rarely encountered in pityriasis rubra pilaris and the other follicular keratoses. standard antibiotic and antiseptic treatment for chronic s. aureus infection was ineffective. the patient was subsequently found to have hypogammaglobulinaemia, ...19947999608
a proposal for a coherent mammalian histone h1 nomenclature correlated with amino acid sequences.bio-rex 70 chromatography was combined with reverse-phase (rp) hplc to fractionate histone h1 zero and 4 histone h1 subtypes from human placental nuclei as previously described (parseghian mh et al., 1993, chromosome res 1:127-139). after proteolytic digestion of the subtypes with staphylococcus aureus v8 protease, peptides were fractionated by rp-hplc and partially sequenced by edman degradation in order to correlate them with human spleen subtypes (ohe y, hayashi h, iwai k, 1986, j biochem (to ...19948003976
bactericidal activity of synthetic peptides based on the structure of the 55-kilodalton bactericidal protein from human neutrophils.short (10- to 11-mer) hydrophilic peptides based on the structure of the 55-kda bactericidal protein (bp55, b/pi, and cap57) from human neutrophil granules were identified from the hydropathy plot of the 456-amino-acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequences of cdna clones for bp55 and b/pi. peptides corresponding to amino acid residues 90 to 99 (peptide #90-99), 86 to 99, or 90 to 102 of bp55 were bactericidal toward 5 x 10(6) pseudomonas aeruginosa cells at 0.6 x 10(-5) to 1.5 x 10(-5 ...19948005662
escherichia vulneris osteomyelitis of the tibia caused by a wooden foreign body.a new species in the family enterobacteriaceae, escherichia vulneris, was characterized by the centers for disease control and prevention in 1982. it has been shown to have a predilection for human wounds, and several case reports have described superficial wound infections with this rare organism. until now, however, there have been no reports of osteomyelitis occurring secondary to e vulneris infection. the authors present the case of a 13-year-old boy who fell on a stick and sustained a penet ...19948022648
biological and kinetic characterization of recombinant human macrophage inflammatory peptides 2 alpha and beta and comparison with the neutrophil activating peptide 2 and interleukin 8.we examined the biological and kinetic characteristics of two new members of the intercrine family of cytokines. human macrophage inflammatory peptides 2 alpha and beta (humip-2 alpha and beta) were compared to human interleukin 8 (huil-8), neutrophil activating peptide 2 (hunap-2), and n-formyl-l-methionyl-l-phenylalanine (fmlp). the humip-2 peptides were the least potent cytokine tested in triggering neutrophil degranulation. they were also less potent neutrophil chemotaxins than fmlp or huil- ...19948031995
interaction of the two components of leukocidin from staphylococcus aureus with human polymorphonuclear leukocyte membranes: sequential binding and subsequent activation.the sequential interaction between the two components s and f of leukocidin from staphylococcus aureus and the membrane of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils has been investigated in the presence of 1 mm ca2+. with 125i-labeled components, it has been shown that binding of the f component occurred only after binding of the s component. the kinetic constants of binding of both components were not statistically different (kd, approximately 5 nm; bm, approximately 35,000 molecules per cell), and b ...19948039887
efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and antibiotics in therapy of experimental murine staphylococcal mastitis.the mouse model was used to determine the efficacy of the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and antibiotic in treatment of experimentally induced staphylococcal mastitis. recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha alone administered to the mammary glands of lactating mice recruited significantly more polymorphonuclear neutrophils into the gland by 4 h posttreatment than did the untreated control. one hundred times less recombinant mouse tumor necrosis factor-alpha than human tumor necros ...19948046067
comparison of difco esp and organon teknika bact/alert continuous-monitoring blood culture systems.the difco esp and organon teknika bact/alert (bta) systems were evaluated in a clinical study of 5,421 aerobic and 5,035 anaerobic blood cultures. of 405 clinically significant positive cultures evaluated, 272 grew in both systems, 86 grew in esp only, and 47 grew in bta only (p < 0.005). of 320 organisms detected in aerobic bottles, 208 grew in both systems, 68 grew in esp only and 45 grew in bta only (p < 0.05), with staphylococcus aureus the only organism showing a statistically significant d ...19948051256
n-acetylcysteine enhances in vitro the intracellular killing of staphylococcus aureus by human alveolar macrophages and blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes and partially protects phagocytes from self-killing.the processes of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of bacteria by alveolar macrophages (ams) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (pmns) result in the production of reactive oxygen species that can induce self-damage to the phagocytic cells. n-acetylcysteine (nac), a mucolytic agent used to treat chronic respiratory inflammatory disorders, possesses antioxidant properties and has therefore been used for the prevention of damage induced by oxygen radicals. this study was designed to evaluate whe ...19948051494
propofol inhibits phagocytosis and killing of staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro.polymorphonuclear leukocytes (pmnl) are important components of the immunological defence system which protects the human organism from invading bacteria. using a fluorescence microscopic method, we examined the influence of propofol and its solvent intralipid on phagocytosis and killing of staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli by pmnl in vitro. propofol inhibited (p < or = 0.001) phagocytosis of staphylococcus aureus as well as escherichia coli. killing of staphylococcus aureus (p < or = 0 ...19948055616
effect of sparfloxacin on staphylococcus aureus adhesiveness and phagocytosis.we investigated the effect of sparfloxacin, a new broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone, on the morphology, adhesiveness and phagocytosis of a clinical isolate of staphylococcus aureus sensitive to this compound (mic = 0.06 mg/l). the strain was tested for its adherence to human buccal epithelial cells, measured by interference contrast microscopy, and for phagocytosis by guinea-pig peritoneal macrophages, measured by fluorescence microscopy. accumulation of sparfloxacin by macrophages was studied by m ...19948056692
histamine inhibits immunoglobulin production via histamine h2 receptors without affecting cell growth in human b cells.the effect of histamine upon immunoglobulin (ig) production and proliferation in human b cells was studied. histamine inhibited ig production by the human b cell lines im-9 and cbl in a dose-dependent fashion during 4 days of culture. as little as 10(-5) m was inhibitory. in contrast, proliferation was not affected. inhibition by histamine was blocked by histamine h2 antagonist, cimetidine, but not by histamine h1 antagonist, diphenhydramine. moreover, histamine h2 agonist dimaprit inhibited ig ...19947923922
the inhibitory effects of allopurinol on the production and cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor.allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, impaired the cytotoxic effect of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (tnf) against wehi cells. actinomycin d abolished the inhibition of cytotoxicity by allopurinol. allopurinol also exerted an inhibitory effect on the production of tnf by human mononuclear cells stimulated by either heat-killed staphylococcus aureus or e. coli lipopolysaccharide. it is suggested that allopurinol inhibits tnf cytotoxicity by decreasing the level of oxygen free radic ...19947935861
unilateral galactocele following augmentation mammoplasty.development of unilateral galactoceles following breast augmentation is reported in 2 young females. both galactoceles were drained and cultured. in 1 patient the implant was removed and a delayed reinsertion was undertaken. in the second patient the implant was replaced at the time of the drainage procedure. culture and sensitivity in 1 patient showed no growth and in the second patient revealed staphylococcus aureus. although the cause is unknown, galactocele formation may be due to manipulati ...19947944201
mutations affecting the activity of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tsst-1), the potent staphylococcal exoprotein linked to most cases of the toxic shock syndrome, is a v beta-restricted t-cell mitogen (a so-called "superantigen"). tsst-ovine (tsst-o) is a natural variant of tsst-1, and is produced by certain ovine mastitis-associated strains of staphylococcus aureus. compared to tsst-1, tsst-o is only weakly mitogenic for leporine or murine splenocytes. it differs from tsst-1 at 7 amino acid residues over its 194 amino acid length. ...19947947690
mediastinitis with an infection of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus treated by an omental transfer following cabg using a right gastroepiploic arterial graft: report of a case.we report a case of severe mediastinitis infected by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) after a coronary arterial bypass using the internal thoracic arteries and the right gastroepiploic artery (rgea) in which mediastinitis was treated by an omental transfer. the patient was a 60-year-old man diagnosed as having an acute myocardial infarction of the left anterior wall. there was severe coronary stenosis of three vessels involving the left main trunk. the patient underwent a coron ...19947949774
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus: do we just have to live with it?infection with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is a familiar problem in hospital patients and has been a global issue since the 1960s. control of this organism is expensive both financially and in terms of human resources. this article is an attempt to review the epidemiological evolution and our understanding of the organism and bring together possible solutions.19947950248
characterization and distribution of insertion sequence is1239 in streptococcus pyogenes.the human pathogenic bacterium streptococcus pyogenes causes pharyngitis, acute rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis and toxic-shock-like syndrome. the bacterium synthesizes several extracellular products, including the recently described streptococcal superantigen ssa, a molecule that shares considerable homology with several staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins. while studying allelic variation at the ssa locus, six isolates expressing serotypes m4, m23, m33, m41, m43, and provisional type pt4854 ...19947959039
gtp-binding proteins are involved in the modulated activity of human neutrophils treated with the panton-valentine leukocidin from staphylococcus aureus.significant amounts of leukotriene b4 (ltb4) are generated by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (pmns) after incubation with the panton-valentine leukocidin (luk-pv) from staphylococcus aureus v8 strains. we showed that gtp-binding proteins (g proteins) are involved in the luk-pv-activated signal transduction of pmns. adp-ribosylation of heterotrimeric g proteins by cholera and pertussis toxins decreased the luk-pv-induced ltb4-generation. in contrast, adp-ribosylation of the low-molecular-wei ...19947960106
conformational differences in human apolipoprotein b-100 among subspecies of low density lipoproteins (ldl). association of altered proteolytic accessibility with decreased receptor binding of ldl subspecies from hypertriglyceridemic subjects.we asked at what point in the metabolic cascade of very low density lipoproteins (vldl) to low density lipoproteins (ldl) the accessibility of proteolytic cleavage sites in b-100 changes, and we evaluated the effect of hypertriglyceridemia on the proteolytic accessibility, secondary structure, and receptor-binding affinity of b-100 in ldl subspecies of varying density. limited proteolysis with staphylococcus aureus v8 protease and cathepsin d identified the density (about 1.033 g/ml) between two ...19947961878
rapid assay for detection of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 from human sera.a noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that enables the quantitation of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tsst-1) to as little as 30 pg/ml and the detection of tsst-1 to 10 pg/ml in phosphate-buffered saline including 33% human serum or plasma was developed. it takes only 3 h to complete this assay after plate preparation. in this study, 64 human serum samples obtained from 30 patients with toxic shock syndrome or toxic shock syndrome-like symptoms were subjected to testing for the detec ...19948150970
sequestration of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in permeabilized neuroblastoma cells.the feasibility of using a permeabilized preparation of human sh-sy-5y neuroblastoma cells for studies of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (machr) sequestration has been evaluated. exposure of cells permeabilized with digitonin, streptolysin-o, or the alpha-toxin from staphylococcus aureus to oxotremorine-m (oxo-m) for 30 min resulted in a 25-30% reduction in the number of cell surface machrs, as monitored by the loss of n[3h]methylscopolamine ([3h]nms) binding sites. the corresponding value fo ...19948158129
management of prostatic abscess in patients with human immunodeficiency syndrome.to review and assess the management and evaluation of prostatic abscess in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (human immunodeficiency virus [hiv]).19948165764
superantigens."superantigens" is the term for a group of molecules that have in common an extremely potent stimulatory activity for t lymphocytes of several species. they stimulate cd4+, cd8+ and gamma delta + t cells by a unique mechanism: they cross-link variable parts of the t-cell receptor (tcr) with mhc class ii molecules on accessory or target cells. the interaction site on the class ii molecule and on the tcr is different from the peptide binding site; on the tcr it is the variable part of the beta cha ...19948166997
role of the sar locus of staphylococcus aureus in induction of endocarditis in rabbits.a regulatory locus on the staphylococcus aureus chromosome, designated sar, is involved in the expression of cell wall proteins, some of which are potentially important in the pathogenesis of endocarditis. for instance, mutant 11d2 (sar::tn917ltv1) was found to bind substantially less to matrix proteins (i.e., fibrinogen and fibronectin) than parent strain db. remarkably, these two strains did not differ in other phenotypes considered important in the initiation of endocarditis (e.g., binding to ...19948168933
superantigen modulation of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: activation of anergy determines outcome.experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (eae) is an autoimmune disease that can be induced by the adoptive transfer of cd4, myelin basic protein (mbp)-specific t cells. superantigens activate t cells expressing appropriate tcr v genes. in this study, mbp-specific t cells activated in vitro with a superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin b (seb), could adoptively transfer a severe form of eae in (plxsjl)f1 mice, but did not transfer disease in pl/j or sjl/j mice. seb treatment of donor mice anerg ...19948120406
novel path to apoptosis: small transmembrane pores created by staphylococcal alpha-toxin in t lymphocytes evoke internucleosomal dna degradation.peripheral-blood human t lymphocytes were treated with staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin. membrane permeabilization was assessed by measuring efflux of k+ and rb+ and influx of na+, ca2+, and propidium iodide. cellular atp and [3h]thymidine incorporation following lectin stimulation were measured as parameters for cell viability. internucleosomal cleavage characteristic of programmed cell death was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis and by quantifying low-molecular-weight, [3h]thymidine-lab ...19948132337
[maintenance hemodialysis in igd- lambda -type multiple myeloma associated with severe renal failure].a 52-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of oliguric renal failure. the patient was well until four weeks earlier, when he developed nausea and anorexia. the urea nitrogen was 179 mg/dl, creatinine 29.2 mg/dl, uric acid 19.0 mg/dl and potassium 8.6 meq/1. hemodialysis was started immediately after admission. bone marrow aspiration showed atypical plasma cell infiltration consistent with multiple myeloma. the immunoelectrophoresis revealed urinary lambda -type bence jones protein an ...19948139151
antibiotic penetration of and bactericidal activity within endothelial cells.it has been observed that the number of cases of infective endocarditis arising in patients who have no previous identifiable cardiac abnormalities is increasing, suggesting that direct bacterial interactions with endothelium may occur. furthermore, the prolonged natural history of endocarditis, need for lengthy therapy, and frequency of relapse suggest that intracellular bacteria that may be protected from antimicrobial action and host responses exist. using high-performance liquid chromatograp ...19948067738
the interplay of interleukin-10 (il-10) and interleukin-2 (il-2) in humoral immune responses: il-10 synergizes with il-2 to enhance responses of human b lymphocytes in a mechanism which is different from upregulation of cd25 expression.the role of the interplay of interleukin-2 (il-2) and interleukin-10 (il-10) in responses of human peripheral blood b cells stimulated by ligation of antigen receptors was examined in detail. highly purified peripheral blood b cells from normal human individuals were cultured with staphylococcus aureus cowan i (sa) in the presence or absence of il-10 and il-2. although il-10 alone could modestly induce ig production by sa-activated b cells, il-10 markedly enhanced the ig production in synergism ...19948069928
liver abscesses due to staphylococcus aureus in a patient with aids who underwent small bowel biopsy: case report and review.a 36-year-old man with overgrowth of staphylococcus aureus in the small bowel underwent a biopsy of the small bowel and presented 5 weeks later with multiple liver abscesses. to our knowledge, small bowel biopsy has never been associated with liver abscesses. we discuss the literature on liver abscesses in patients with aids and the risks of bacteremia following upper endoscopy and small bowel biopsy and propose that the etiology of the liver abscesses in our patient was seeding of the portal ve ...19948075275
characterization of the interaction between plasminogen and staphylokinase.binding parameters [association (ka) and dissociation (kd) rate constants, and affinity constants (ka = ka/kd)] for the interaction between recombinant staphylokinase (sakstar) and plasmin(ogen) were determined by real-time biospecific interaction analysis. the ka value for binding of sakstar to native human glu-plasminogen was 0.93 x 10(8) m-1 as compared to 2.0 x 10(8) m-1 and 1.6 x 10(8) m-1, respectively, for the binding to [s741a]recombinant plasminogen or lys-[s741a]recombinant plasminogen ...19948076635
ebv infection of b-cll cells in vitro potentiates their allostimulatory capacity if accompanied by acquisition of the activated phenotype.epstein-barr virus (ebv)-carrying immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (lcls) stimulate autologous t lymphocytes in vitro. this t-cell response is independent of the ebv-specific cellular memory because it also occurs in experiments with cells of seronegative individuals. the question can be posed whether the t-cell-stimulatory potential of the lcl is coupled to its immortalized state. b-cll cells were exploited to study this question because the majority of clones, represented by different pa ...19948077053
expression of a g-protein beta subunit-related gene during lymphocyte activation.using a subtractive strategy, we have cloned an activation-related gene from a human b cell cdna library. sequence analysis revealed that this gene was identical to h12.3, a gene belonging to an expanding family of guanine nucleotide-binding protein beta subunits. the expression of h12.3 was inducible in the late phase of mitogen-stimulated t and b cells. in t cells, il-2 and il-4 by themselves had no direct effect on the expression of h12.3, but they could augment the level of steady-state h12. ...19948080843
cd4pos, nk1.1pos t cells promptly produce interleukin 4 in response to in vivo challenge with anti-cd3.injection of anti-cd3 antibodies causes prompt expression of interleukin (il)-4, il-2, and interferon gamma (ifn-gamma) mrna among spleen cells. the optimal dose of anti-cd3 for such induction was 1.33 microgram/animal; lymphokine mrna was first observed at 30 min, peaked at 90 min, and was undetectable (for il-4) or had declined markedly by 4 h. cells harvested from spleens of mice injected with anti-cd3 90 min earlier secreted il-4, il-2, and ifn-gamma without further stimulation. by contrast, ...19947908323
superantigens produced by infectious pathogens: molecular mechanism of action and biological significance."superantigens" have in common an extremely potent stimulatory activity for cd4+, cd8+, and some gamma delta+ t lymphocytes. superantigens use a unique mechanism: they crosslink variable parts of the t cell receptor with mhc class ii molecules on accessory or target cells. the interaction site on the t cell receptor is the variable part of the beta-chain (v beta). there are several reasons why these molecules have aroused such tremendous interest in recent years. first, they have provided key in ...19947894042
bacteriophage surface display of an immunoglobulin-binding domain of staphylococcus aureus protein a.as a model system for the optimization of separation ligands by bacteriophage surface display, we have constructed a phage surface expression system for a single immunoglobulin-binding domain of protein a of staphylococcus aureus. protein a domain b is genetically fused to the gpiii adsorption protein of the filamentous bacteriophage m13, and hence displayed on the phage surface. phage displaying the protein a domain are selectively retained on human igg-sepharose. retention is due to specific p ...19947764430
anti-bacterial antibodies in epstein-barr virus (ebv)-transformed oligoclonal b-cell lines established from normal persons and autoimmune disease patients.we have established 950 and 430 oligoclonal b-lymphoblastoid cell lines (lcl) from two normal persons and eight autoimmune disease patients, respectively by using epstein-barr virus (ebv)-induced transformation. to re-evaluate the ebv technique for production of human monoclonal antibodies (mab) related to infectious disease, we screened these oligoclonal lcls for antibodies against 31 bacterial strains systematically. a total of 74 cultures out of 1380 were reactive to a total of 18 strains out ...19947765395
imaging the spatial distribution of membrane receptors during neutrophil phagocytosis.optical microscopy and image processing have been employed to study the distribution of several cell surface receptors on living human neutrophils during opsonin-dependent and opsonin-independent phagocytosis. receptors were labeled using fluorescein-, rhodamine-, or amca-conjugated f(ab')2 fragments of anti-fc gamma riiib (cd16), anti-cr3 (cd11b/cd18), and anti-upar (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor) antibodies, intact phycoerythrin-labeled interleukin 8, and fluorescein- or rhodam ...19947734243
involvement of protease inhibitors in staphylokinase-induced fibrin-specific fibrinolysis.we compared the fibrinolytic properties of recombinant staphylokinase (sak), a fibrin-specific plasminogen activator, with those of streptokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-pa) by means of the amidolytic method. we also investigated the involvement of alpha 2-macroglobulin, c1-inactivator and alpha 1-antitrypsin in sak-induced fibrin-specific fibrinolysis. both sak and t-pa activated plasminogen efficiently in the presence of fibrin in human plasma. although t-pa activated plasmino ...19947735201
evaluation of rapidec staph for identification of staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, and staphylococcus saprophyticus.rapidec staph is a test for presumptive identification of the principal human staphylococcal species, staphylococcus aureus, s. epidermidis, and s. saprophyticus. the test includes control and test cupules for fluorogenic detection of coagulase and chromogenic substrates for alkaline phosphatase and beta-galactosidase. these tests identify s. aureus, s. epidermidis, and s. saprophyticus, respectively. positive results with both chromogenic substrates provide a presumptive identification of s. xy ...19947814525
the role of immunoglobulin binding factors in the pathogenesis and therapy of aids.the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) gp120 and gp41 envelope proteins and staphylococcus aureus protein a (spa) all have fc receptor (fcr)-like immunoglobulin binding factor (ibf) activity for the fc constant fragments of human immunoglobulin g (igg). viral ibf may contribute to the pathology of hiv by jamming the network of fcr signals that control fcr-dependent immunity. conversely, the bacterial ibf spa has anti-retroviral activity that may involve antagonism of the immunopathological actio ...19947815974
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