Growth characteristics of Bartonella henselae in a novel liquid medium: primary isolation, growth-phase-dependent phage induction, and metabolic studies.

Bartonella henselae is a zoonotic pathogen that usually causes a self-limiting infection in immunocompetent individuals but often causes potentially life-threatening infections, such as bacillary angiomatosis, in immunocompromised patients. Both diagnosis of infection and research into the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis have been hindered by the absence of a suitable liquid growth medium. It has been difficult to isolate B. henselae directly from the blood of infected humans or animals or to grow the bacteria in liquid culture media under laboratory conditions. Therefore, we have developed a liquid growth medium that supports reproducible in vitro growth (3-h doubling time and a growth yield of approximately 5 x 10(8) CFU/ml) and permits the isolation of B. henselae from the blood of infected cats. During the development of this medium, we observed that B. henselae did not derive carbon and energy from the catabolism of glucose, which is consistent with genome nucleotide sequence data suggesting an incomplete glycolytic pathway. Of interest, B. henselae depleted amino acids from the culture medium and accumulated ammonia in the medium, an indicator of amino acid catabolism. Analysis of the culture medium throughout the growth cycle revealed that oxygen was consumed and carbon dioxide was generated, suggesting that amino acids were catabolized in a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle-dependent mechanism. Additionally, phage particles were detected in the culture supernatants of stationary-phase B. henselae, but not in mid-logarithmic-phase culture supernatants. Enzymatic assays of whole-cell lysates revealed that B. henselae has a complete TCA cycle. Taken together, these data suggest B. henselae may catabolize amino acids but not glucose to derive carbon and energy from its host. Furthermore, the newly developed culture medium should improve isolation of B. henselae and basic research into the pathogenesis of the bacterium.

Treponema pallidum 3-phosphoglycerate mutase is a heat-labile enzyme that may limit the maximum growth temperature for the spirochete.

In the causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum, the gene encoding 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, gpm, is part of a six-gene operon (tro operon) that is regulated by the Mn-dependent repressor TroR. Since substrate-level phosphorylation via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway is the principal way to generate ATP in T. pallidum and Gpm is a key enzyme in this pathway, Mn could exert a regulatory effect on central metabolism in this bacterium. To study this, T. pallidum gpm was cloned, Gpm was purified from Escherichia coli, and antiserum against the recombinant protein was raised. Immunoblots indicated that Gpm was expressed in freshly extracted infective T. pallidum. Enzyme assays indicated that Gpm did not require Mn(2+) while 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) was required for maximum activity. Consistent with these observations, Mn did not copurify with Gpm. The purified Gpm was stable for more than 4 h at 25 degrees C, retained only 50% activity after incubation for 20 min at 34 degrees C or 10 min at 37 degrees C, and was completely inactive after 10 min at 42 degrees C. The temperature effect was attenuated when 1 mM DPG was added to the assay mixture. The recombinant Gpm from pSLB2 complemented E. coli strain PL225 (gpm) and restored growth on minimal glucose medium in a temperature-dependent manner. Increasing the temperature of cultures of E. coli PL225 harboring pSLB2 from 34 to 42 degrees C resulted in a 7- to 11-h period in which no growth occurred (compared to wild-type E. coli). These data suggest that biochemical properties of Gpm could be one contributing factor to the heat sensitivity of T. pallidum.

Metabolism of 3H- and 14C-labeled glutamate, proline, and alanine in normal and adrenalectomized rats using different sites of tracer administration and sampling.

Alanine, glutamate and proline labeled with 14C and 3H were infused into fasted normal and adrenalectomized rats. Alanine was administered by the A-V mode (arterial administration-venous sampling), and glutamate and proline by both the A-V and V-A (venous administration-arterial sampling) modes. The kinetics of 14C alanine and 14C glutamate differed markedly from those of the tritium-labeled compounds, but there was little difference in the kinetics of 3H and 14C proline. The replacement rate calculated from the A-V mode for glutamate was about half that obtained in the V-A mode, but there was little difference with proline. The masses of the amino acids (total content of amino acids in the body) were calculated from the washout curves of the tritium-labeled compounds after the infusion of tracer was terminated. The masses for the normal rats were 407 mumol/kg for alanine, 578 mumol/kg for glutamate and 296 mumol/kg for proline. The so-called distribution spaces calculated conventionally from total masses and the amino acid concentrations in plasma are much greater than the volume of the body, reflecting the fact that amino acid concentrations in tissues greatly exceed those in plasma. Adrenalectomy markedly affected the kinetics of the three amino acids, and their replacement rates were greatly reduced. The proline and glutamate masses were reduced by at least one half, while that of alanine was unchanged. Adrenalectomy markedly reduced the conversion of proline to glutamate. The hydrocortisone regimen used in this study restored the metabolism of alanine and glutamate to normal, but had no effect on that of proline.

Metabolism of trimethylamines in kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) and marine and freshwater pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha).

3H or 14C labeled tracers were used to investigate the metabolism of trimethylamine (TMA), trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), choline, and betaine in free swimming kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus). An indwelling cannula in the ventral aorta was used to administer tracer and with-draw blood samples. The concentrations of TMA and TMAO were determined in liver, muscle, and plasma. The TMA liver content is higher than that of muscle (0.85 vs less than 0.01 mumoles/g wet tissue) while the amount of TMAO in muscle greatly exceeds its liver concentration (60 vs 0.04 mumoles/g wet tissue). Prolonged fasting (21 and 75 days) or feeding the fish a squid diet containing high levels of TMAO did not alter the tissue concentrations of TMA or TMAO, suggesting that these compounds are endogenous in origin and that their tissue concentrations are subject to regulation. Comparison of the radiospecific activities of TMA and TMAO, and the administered TMA tracer suggest that TMA is channeled directly to TMAO in the liver without equilibration in the hepatic TMA pool. The conversion kinetics of TMA to TMAO and the distribution of these amines in liver and muscle with time suggest that labeled TMA is rapidly taken up into a sequestered pool from which it is slowly released, oxidized to TMAO in the liver, and then transported via the circulation to the muscle mass. The location of this proposed sequestered TMA pool was not determined. Experiments with labeled choline and betaine suggest that these compounds are interconverted in the liver and that enzymes are present for conversion of choline in equilibrium betaine----TMA----TMAO. Labeled dimethylamine (DMA) was not metabolized and is, therefore, probably not a precursor of TMA and TMAO. [14C]Trimethylamine (TMA) was also used to investigate the possible role of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) as an osmoregulatory compound in migrating prespawning cannulated Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) taken from marine or fresh water environments. Marine and fresh water salmon oxidized administered [14C]TMA to TMAO; labeled metabolites other than TMA and TMAO were not detected. Four hours after [14C]TMA injection about 10% of the administered dose was present in muscle as labeled TMAO and about 33% as TMA. Unlike our finding in kelp bass, [14C]TMAO was not recovered in liver, although low amounts of labeled TMA were found (0.4% of administered dose). Labeled TMA and TMAO, however, were detected in liver after [14C]betaine administration to a marine salmon, indicating that TMA-mono-oxygenase is present in salmon liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Molecular cloning of cDNA from hepatitis A virus strain HM-175 after multiple passages in vivo and in vitro.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) strain HM-175 was passaged six times in marmosets, 59 times in cell culture and purified from infected cell culture supernatant fluid. The viral RNA was extracted, copied into cDNA and the cDNA:RNA hybrids were cloned into the PstI site of plasmid pBR322. The cDNA clones were authenticated by hybridization to RNA extracted from HAV-infected cells and clones representing the 3' end of the genome were identified using a previously authenticated cDNA clone. The clones represented all but 29 bases of the HAV genome. They were compared to HAV strain HM-175 cDNA cloned from viral RNA after three passages in marmosets on the basis of restriction endonuclease mapping and DNA sequencing. No differences were found in either the presence or absence of restriction endonuclease sites using 33 different restriction enzymes. Sequencing of cDNA representing bases 29 to 1002 of the HAV genome revealed eight base changes all of which were within the 5' noncoding region.

Indirect immunofluorescence assay for the detection of hepatitis A virus-specific serum immunoglobulins.

Hepatitis A virus-specific BSC-1 cells were used for the detection of serum immunoglobulins to hepatitis A virus by indirect immunofluorescence. Of 150 serum samples tested, specific immunoglobulin M was detected only in patients with serologically confirmed acute hepatitis A, while specific immunoglobulin G was detected in patients with acute or past clinical hepatitis A as well as many patients with no known history of hepatitis.

Metabolism of tritium- and 14C-labeled alanine in rats.

[3-3H]- and [U-14C]alanine were administered to starved rats by bolus injection and by continuous infusion. The specific activities of alanine, glucose, and lactate in blood were followed. The tracer kinetics of alanine depended on the site of tracer administration and sampling. Tracer was either administered into the aorta and blood sampled from the vena cava (A-VC mode) or tracer was administered into the vena cava and arterial blood sampled (V-A mode) (Katz, J. F. Okajima, and A. Dunn. Biochem J. 194: 513-524, 1981). When tracer was infused in the A-VC mode the plateau specific activity of alanine was about half that obtained in the V-A mode. The parameters of alanine turnover were calculated from the specific activities obtained in the A-VC mode. The calculated apparent replacement rate averaged 1.9 mg.min-1.kg-1 for [U-14C]- and 3.9 mg.min-1.kg-1 for [3-3H]alanine, indicating a carbon recycling of about 50%. The apparent contribution of alanine carbon to that of glucose is 15%. The maximal activity in plasma water is attained at about 5 min after bolus injection of [3-3H]alanine and that of [14C]glucose in blood is attained about 10 min after the injection of [U-14C]alanine. Maximal specific activity of [3H]- and [14C]lactate is attained within about 1 min after injection. The apparent mean transit time and alanine mass were calculated from the areas of washout curves after the continuous infusion was terminated. The mean transit time for [3H]alanine was 10 min and apparent total body mass of alanine of the order of 40 mg/kg. The apparent means transit time for [U-14C]alanine ranged from 33 to 66 min corresponding to a mass of the order of 100 mg/kg of alanine or 40 mg/kg of alanine carbon.

Amino acid gluconeogenesis and glucose turnover in kelp bass (Paralabrax sp.).

The glucose replacement rate, plasma glucose concentration, glucose body mass, and amino acid gluconeogenesis were determined in vivo in fed and fasted kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) using [6-3H]glucose administered with [U-14C]glutamate, [U-14C]aspartate, or [U-14C]alanine. Fasting (14 days) and prolonged starvation (72 days) do not produce changes in the replacement rate, body mass, or plasma concentration of glucose. The removal of amino acids from the circulation is rapid in both fed and fasting states with nearly 50% of the administered 14Ctracer disappearing by 5 min. The incorporation of [14C]amino acid carbon into the body glucose mass is also rapid with significant amounts of tracer appearing within 15 min after administration. Gluconeogenesis from alanine and glutamate is increased by fasting whereas that from aspartate is diminished. The gluconeogenic rate is comparable to that previously observed in rats (Dunn, A., M. Chenoweth, and J. G. Hemington. The relationship of adrenal glucocorticoids to transaminase activity and gluconeogenesis in the intact rat. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 237: 192-202, 1971), although the glucose replacement rate is significantly lower. We propose that the paradoxically high rate of gluconeogenesis in fish may serve to provide carbohydrate precursors for mucus synthesis in these carnivorous animals with limited carbohydrate intake.

The determination of lactate turnover in vivo with 3H- and 14C-labelled lactate. The significance of sites of tracer administration and sampling.

L-[3-3H,U-14C]Lactate was administered to starved rats either as a bolus or by continuous infusion. Tracer administration was performed two ways: injection into the vena cava and sampling from the aorta (V-A mode), or injection into the aorta and sampling from the vena cava (A-VC mode). The specific-radioactivity curves after infusion or injection differed markedly with the two procedures. However, the specific radioactivities of 14C-labelled glucose derived from [U-14C]lactate were similar in the two modes. The apparent turnover rates of lactate calculated from the 3H specific-radioactivity curves in the V-A mode were about half those obtained from the 3H specific-radioactivity curves in the A-VC mode. The apparent contribution of lactate carbon to glucose carbon calculated from specific-radioactivity curves of the A-VC mode was greater than that obtained from the V-A mode. The apparent recycling of lactate carbon calculated from the specific radioactivities for [U-14C]- and [3-3H]-lactate was greater in the A-VC mode than the V-A mode. [U-14C] Glucose was administered in the two modes, but in contrast with lactate the specific radioactivities were only slightly different. An analysis to account for these observations is presented. It is shown that the two modes represent sampling from different pools of lactate. The significance of sites of tracer administration and sampling for the interpretation of tracer kinetics of compounds present in intracellular and extracellular spaces, and with a high turnover rate, is discussed. We propose that for such compounds, including lactate, alanine and glycerol, the widely used V-A mode leads to a marked underestimate of replacement, mass and carbon recycling, and that the A-VC mode is the preferred method for the assessment of these parameters.

Metabolism of 3H- and 14C-labelled lactate in starved rats.

1. [2-(3)H,U-(14)C]- or [3-(3)H,U-(14)C]-Lactate was administered by infusion or bolus injection to overnight-starved rats. Tracer lactate was injected or infused through indwelling cannulas into the aorta and blood was sampled from the vena cava (A-VC mode), or it was administered into the vena cava and sampled from the aorta (V-A mode). Sampling was continued after infusion was terminated to obtain the wash-out curves for the tracer. The activities of lactate, glucose, amino acids and water were followed. 2. The kinetics of labelled lactate in the two modes differed markedly, but the kinetics of labelled glucose were much the same irrespective of mode. 3. The kinetics of (3)H-labelled lactate differed markedly from those for [U-(14)C]lactate. Isotopic steady state was attained in less than 1h of infusion of [(3)H]lactate but required over 6h for [U-(14)C]lactate. 4. (3)H from [2-(3)H]lactate labels glucose more extensive than does that from [3-(3)H]lactate. [3-(3)H]Lactate also labels plasma amino acids. The distribution of (3)H in glucose was determined. 5. Maximal radioactivity in (3)HOH in plasma is attained in less than 1min after injection. Near-maximal radioactivity in [(14)C]glucose and [(3)H]glucose is attained within 2-3min after injection. 6. The apparent replacement rates for lactate were calculated from the areas under the specific-radioactivity curves or plateau specific radioactivities after primed infusion. Results calculated from bolus injection and infusion agreed closely. The apparent replacement rate for [(3)H]lactate from the A-VC mode averaged about 16mg/min per kg body wt. and that in the V-A mode about 8.5mg/min per kg body wt. The apparent rates for [(14)C]lactate (;rate of irreversible disposal') were 8mg/min per kg body wt. for the A-VC mode and 5.5mg/min per kg body wt. for the V-A mode. Apparent recycling of lactate carbon was 55-60% according to the A-VC mode and 35% according to the V-A mode. 7. The specific radioactivities of [U-(14)C]glucose at isotopic steady state were 55% and 45% that of [U-(14)C]lactate in the A-VC and V-A modes respectively. We calculated, correcting for the dilution of (14)C in gluconeogenesis via oxaloacetate, that over 70% of newly synthesized glucose was derived from circulating lactate. 8. Recycling of (3)H between lactate and glucose was evaluated. It has no significant effect on the calculation of the replacement rate, but affects considerably the areas under the wash-out curves for both [2-(3)H]- and [3-(3)H]-lactate, and calculation of mean transit time and total lactate mass in the body. Corrected for recycling, in the A-VC mode the mean transit time is about 3min, the lactate mass about 50mg/kg body wt. and the lactate space about 65% of body space. The V-A mode yields a mass and lactate space about half those with the A-VC mode. 9. The area under the wash-out curve for [(14)C]lactate is some 20-30 times that for [(3)H]lactate, and apparent carbon mass is 400-500mg/kg body wt. and presumably includes the carbon of glucose, pyruvate and amino acids, which are exchanging rapidly with that of lactate.

Adrenal glucocorticoid permissive regulation of muscle glycogenolysis: action on protein phosphatase(s) and its inhibitor(s).

Adrenal glucocorticoids exert a permissive action on the glycogen phosphorylase cascade. Epinephrine activation of muscle phosphorylase and phosphorylase b kinase is depressed in adrenalectomized rats. Phosphorylase phosphatase activity is increased by steroid lack, and normal epinephrine inhibition of the enzyme does not occur. Phosphorylase b kinase phosphatase activity is also increased; epinephrine, however, does not inhibit activity in muscle from normal or adrenalectomized rats. Protein phosphatase inhibitor activity is depressed in boiled dialyzed preparations made from adrenalectomized rat muscle. Cortisol resplacement therapy restores protein phosphatase inhibitor activity, decreases increased protein phosphatase activity, and restores normal epinephrine-induced activation of phosphorylase b kinase and phosphorylase and epinephrine inhibition of phosphorylase phosphatase.

Fructose-6-phosphate substrate cycling and glucose and insulin regulation of gluconeogenesis in vivo.

The question whether glucose or insulin regulates gluconeogenesis by effecting changes in the fructose-6-phosphate (F-6-P) substrate cycle (phosphofructokinase (PFK), fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase)) was investigated in vivo in fasted normal rats using [3-3H,U-14C]- or [3-3H,6-14C]glucose. The plasma glucose 3H/14C ratio was used as an index of substrate cycling because 3H loss from the liver hexose phosphate pool is limited by the activities of PFK and FDPase during gluconeogenesis and glycolysis, respectively. The 3H/14C ratio was corrected where necessary for glucose or insulin-induced changes in reincorporation of 14C from C-6 to C-1-3 of plasma glucose. A glucose infusion producing hyperglycemia and insulinemia was accompanied by decreased hepatic glucose production and diminished F-6-P substrate cycling, i.e., decreased FDPase activity. When insulin was infused along with glucose to produce high plasma insulin levels and avoid hypo- or hyperglycemia, the 3H/14C decay rate did not change, suggesting that the hormone does not influence basal rates of gluconeogenesis or PFK or FDPase activities. These in vivo results suggest that increased blood glucose levels inhibit gluconeogenesis and depress F-6-P substrate cycling. Whether these cycle changes constitute primary regulatory actions of glucose or occur secondarily to other metabolic events resulting from excess hexose (e.g., increased glycogen synthetase activity) cannot now be concluded.

Inhalation anesthetics.

The inhalation anesthetics affect operating room personnel as well as the patient. This occupational exposure is similar in all respects to industrial solvent exposures. Although the extent of the hazard is not yet established, it is clear that only quite low levels of these active chemical should be allowed in the operating room air.

Fructose-6-phosphate substrate cycling and hormonal regulation of gluconeogenesis in vivo.

The possible role of the hepatic fructose-6-phosphate substrate cycle (phosphofructokinase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase) in the rapid hormonal regulation of gluconeogenesis was investigated in vivo in fasted normal and adrenalectomized rats after administration of [3-3H, U-14C]- or [3-3H, 6-14C]glucose. The plasma glucose 3H/14C ratio was used as an index of substrate cycling because the amount of 3H loss from liver hexose phosphates is determined by the extent of cycling. PFK and FDPase activities limit 3H loss during gluconeogenesis and glycolysis, respectively. Glucagon-stimulated hepatic glucose production is always accompanied by increased substrate cycling, i.e., increased FDPase and PFK activities. The high PFK activity may be a secondary event due possibly to elevated cellular fructose-6-phosphate levels. Decreased substrate cycling, i.e., lowered FDPase activity, always accompanies the depressed hepatic glucose production that occurs during hyperglycemia. Glucagon has no effect on substrate cycling in adrenalectomized rats that are insensitive to the hormone. The in vivo experiments presented provide evidence, although indirect, that glucagon administration results in changes in the fructose-6-phosphate substrate cycle in a living animal. Whether these changes are primary regulatory events or occur secondarily to hormone actions elsewhere is not known.