[The mutagenicity of organic microcontaminants in the environment. I. The mutagenicity of selected herbicides and insecticides in the Salmonella microsome test (Ames test) with regard to the pathogenic potency of contaminated ground and drinking water]. / Untersuchungen zur Mutagenität organischer Mikrokontaminationen in der Umwelt. I. Mitteilung: Die Mutagenität ausgewählter Herbizide und Insektizide im Salmonella-Mikrosomen-Test (Ames-Test) unter Berücksichtigung der pathogenen Potenz kontaminierter Grund- und Trinkwässer.

For determination of the mutagenicity of herbicides and insecticides in working and environmental relevant concentrations we examined 26 pure substances of the chemical groups of polychlorinated alicyclic hydrocarbons, phenoxy fatty acids and and triazines with the Salmonella-microsome-test (S. typhimurium strains TA 97, TA 98, TA 100 and TA 102 with and without metabolic activation with Aroclor 1254 induced rat liver microsome fraction). Only one substance--Chlorthiamide--showed mutagenicity in concentrations of 0.001 microgram/plate. In all the other substances examined we found numbers of revertants near the spontaneous mutagenic rates. However a human carcinogenic potential can't be excluded, because several toxicological studies with mammalians showed a carcinogenic activity of organohalogenic insecticides without mutagenic activity in biological short term tests.

[Detection of HIV-1 antigen--determination using 3 different test systems]. / Der Nachweis von HIV-1-Antigen--Bestimmung mit Hilfe von drei verschiedenen Testsystemen.

51 human sera containing antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus 1 (= HIV-1) were examined for HIV-1-antigen by three different enzyme immunoassay procedures (= EIA) of Abbott, Organon and Dupont. Sensibilities, handling as well as the correlation with the clinical stages of HIV-infection were compared. The EIA's diagnosed in accordance 6 sera which contained HIV-1-antigen and 42 sera to be HIV-1-antigen negative. 3 sera showed differences: according to the EIA of Organon none of these sera contained HIV-1-antigen, the EIA of Abbott (but not of Dupont) analysed HIV-1-antigen in one of these sera, in the other two sera only the EIA of Dupont showed HIV-1-Antigen. It is concluded that the differences in these 3 serum samples may originate not only in the different types of EIA used (indirect/direct procedure) but also in the different capture antibodies provided (antibodies against p-24 antigen or polyvalent antibodies).

Genetic studies on toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) producing Staphylococcus aureus strains from Austria, the USA and West Germany.

DNA preparations obtained from 10 different toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 positive S. aureus strains from Austria, the USA and West Germany were examined in respect of their homology to the TSST-1 gene of pRN6101. Whole cell DNA was digested with HpaII or EcoRI, separated on agarose gels and transferred to nitrocellulose; furthermore the dotblot procedure was used. The radioactively labelled gene probe used was the 300 bp BamHI-HindII fragment of the TSST-1 gene region of pRN6101. All S. aureus strains had homology with this fragment. Homology was located on fragments of different molecular size. Therefore it is concluded that the TSST-1 DNA fragment has different locations in the chromosome of different S. aureus strains.

Amino acid requirements of Staphylococcus aureus strains from Germany and Austria that produce toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1).

Amino acid requirements of 156 toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) producing Staphylococcus aureus strains from Germany and 37 strains from Austria have been determined. They were compared with TSST-1 negative S. aureus. Most of the strains required proline and valine with no significant differences between TSST-1 positive and negative S. aureus. There was no correlation between tryptophan auxotypy and TSST-1 producing strains. On complete chemically defined medium good bacterial growth was usually observed. Nevertheless, many strains stopped toxin production under these conditions. S. aureus strains with TSST-1 synthesis on complete medium required phenylalanine and cysteine for TSST-1 production mainly.

[IgM antibodies to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in human sera and human immunoglobulins]. / IgM-Antikörper gegen das Toxic-shock Syndrom Toxin-1 in Humanseren und Human-Immunglobulinen.

IgM antibodies against toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) in 1990 human sera and in 14 human immunoglobulin preparations were determined using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. High levels of IgM antibody titres could be found beginning with the third month of life within the first 5 years of age. They were also very common in the age group of 21 up to 25 years. In no case of IgM antibodies with titres higher than 1:251 symptoms could be observed as described for toxic shock syndrome. Of the human immunoglobulin preparations, Pentaglobin contained IgM antibodies against TSST-1 only. The results show that most of the infections with TSST-1 producing Staphylococcus aureus are of subclinical nature or are of less dramatic course than the commonly known toxic shock syndrome.

[The mutagenicity of surface water, waste water and drinking water in the Rhine-Neckar region in the Salmonella microsome test (Ames Test)]. / Zur Mutagenität von Oberflächenwasser, Abwasser und Trinkwasser des Rhein-Neckar-Raums im Salmonella-Mikrosomen-Test (Ames-Test).

We have shown recently that the quality of surface water in urban and industrialized regions is of dubious hygienic. Therefore, in further studies we examined 46 water samples between October and November 1986 from the Rhine-river and its tributaries between km 400 and 440 using the Salmonella mutagenicity test (Ames-test). Additionally, we examined 8 samples from the waterworks of Mannheim and 4 samples from a lake in the Mannheim area. Each of our 464 samples was examined using Salmonella strains TA 97, TA 98, TA 100 and TA 102 with and without Aroclor-1254-induced S9-fraction from rat liver. 9.7% of the water samples showed mutagenic effects in the Ames test, the majority (70%) with low activity. High mutagenic effects were found in the waste water of the purification plants of Mannheim and Ludwigshafen and of some small but very highly contaminated brooks (Kraichbach, Leimbach). Two out of 8 untreated water samples of the waterworks of Mannheim showed mutagenic effects in the undiluted water following metabolic activation. We never found mutagenic effects in all samples taken from the same site. The Ames-test is a useful screening procedure for the determination of mutagenic or cancerogenic effects of environmental contaminants. It allows an evaluation of mixtures of anthropogenically polluted environmental samples for potentially genotoxic effects. Our results show that our water resources pose ecological hazards. This should be prevented by a better control of the industrial and communal waste water before it is allowed to flow into the river.

Staphylococcus aureus producing toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) in clinical specimens and vaginal swabs in Mannheim, West Germany.

624 Staphylococcus aureus strains from our clinical laboratory were screened for toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (= TSST-1) production and 16.7% of the strains were found to be positive. TSST-1-positive strains were isolated from material which originated from males and females with the same frequency. The strains were found in swabs from the respiratory tract, the conjunctiva, in sputum and wounds. TSST-1-positive strains were more resistant to arsenate and cadmium ions than non-producers; their sensitivity to the antibiotics (when tested), was no different. The toxin-producing strains were lysed above all by the bacteriophages 29, 52, 80, 55, 75 and 83A. We isolated 19 S. aureus strains from 321 vaginal swabs: one of these strains was TSST-1-positive. Most of the strains were found in swabs from women using tampons. It has been concluded that the infection with TSST-1 positive S. aureus is either of subclinical course or that in most of the cases, the syndrome is of a less dramatic course than usually described. Quite certainly the syndrome is underdiagnosed in Germany.

[IgG antibodies to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) in human sera]. / IgG-Antikörper gegen das Toxic shock Syndrom Toxin-1 (TSST-1) in Humanseren.

IgG antibodies against toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) in 2002 human sera were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results indicate a very early common exposure to TSST-1 in German males and females. The antibody titers are increasing up to the age of 20. They continue to increase further from the mid-thirties, reaching a peak level in the mid-fifties. Toxic shock syndrome is rarely described in Germany. It is possible, therefore, that most of the infections with TSST-1 producing S. aureus are of a subclinical nature. An atypical, less dramatic course than the commonly known toxic shock syndrome is also discussed.

[The effect of magnesium on the formation of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) by Staphylococcus aureus]. / Der Einfluss von Magnesium auf die Bildung des Toxic-shock Syndrom Toxins-1 (TSST-1) durch Staphylococcus aureus.

The influence of magnesium on the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) by Staphylococcus aureus was examined. As media we used: Standard-I-Nutrient Broth, Todd Hewitt Broth, Mueller-Hinton Broth, Isosensitest Broth and a chemically defined liquid medium. The magnesium content of these media was determined using flame photometry and was subsequently changed using magnesium sulfate to the magnesium concentrations as shown in table 1. In each of these media the TSST-1 positive S. aureus strains MN8 and T 40 were grown at 37 degrees C, 18 h, vigorously shaken. Then the colony forming units (cfu) were determined. Toxin assays were performed by immunodiffusion after concentrating the culture fluids 100-fold using ethanol precipitation. Concentrations of toxin per milliliter were determined by comparison with standard toxin preparations using hyperimmune-TSST-1 antisera as described. The cfu and the amount of TSST-1 produced are shown in table 1. No link could be demonstrated between TSST-1 production and magnesium concentration of the media used. Our results are in agreement with the ones published by Schlievert and disagree with the results from Mills.

[Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus in vaginal smears]. / Toxic-shock-Syndrom Toxin-1-produzierende Staphylococcus-aureus-Stämme in Vaginal-abstrichen.

21 Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from 391 vaginal swabs. This corresponds to a frequency of 5.3%. In females using tampons this frequency was 7%, in users of napkins 2.4%. 2 out of these 21 S. aureus strains produced toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1). Both strains originated from women using tampons. Therefore, 5 out of 1000 women must be expected to carry TSST-1-producing S. aureus strains within their vagina.

Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1): influence of its production by subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations.

Using seven different toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) producing Staphylococcus aureus strains, we examined the influence on growth and toxin production of subinhibitory concentrations of clindamycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, kanamycin, tetracycline and tunicamycin. The behaviour of six S. aureus (= W/MT-strains) was identical, the one of S. aureus MN8 was different in part. Using the different subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations, bacterial growth was inhibited by tunicamycin only. Toxin production was influenced by clindamycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, kanamycin and tetracycline without simultaneous changes in the number of cells; MN8 was more sensitive to clindamycin and lincomycin than W/MT strains. Very small differences or no differences at all were found between the two bacterial groups in experiments using erythromycin, kanamycin and tetracycline. Tunicamycin caused elevated TSST-1 concentrations of 100% (MN8) or 65% (W/MT) above the control level if used at concentrations of 4 mg/l or 16 mg/l respectively; this result is interpreted as a higher output of TSST-1 caused by the damage to the bacterial cell wall. From these results it is not possible to conclude that different mechanisms of regulation of TSST-1 expression exist between S. aureus MN8 and the other TSST-1 positive S. aureus strains.

[IgG antibodies against toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 in human immunoglobulins]. / IgG Antikörper gegen das toxic shock Syndrom Toxin 1 (TSST-1) in Human-Immunglobulinen.

IgG antibodies against toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in human immunoglobulins were determined using the ELISA technique. Of the drugs for intramuscular application, hemogamma and beriglobin contained the highest amount of antibodies. The highest concentration of antibodies in drugs for intravenous application was found in Pseudomonas polyglobin and in Venimmun.

Determination of aminoglycoside resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by DNA hybridization.

A method is described for identification of the genes conferring aminoglycoside resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by dot-blot and Southern blot techniques. As radioactive probes, fragments of plasmids pAT48, pUBH2, and pH13, carrying the genes for an aminocyclitol-3'-phosphotransferase, an aminocyclitol-4'-adenylyltransferase, and an aminocyclitol-2''-phosphotransferase-aminocyclitol-6'-acetyltransferase, respectively, were used.

[Clinical significance, epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis of Campylobacter pyloridis]. / Klinische Bedeutung, Epidemiologie und Laboratoriumsdiagnostik von Campylobacter pyloridis.

In 1983, bacteriological examinations of gastric epithelium isolated a new species of bacteria, the so-called Campylobacter pyloridis. These bacteria were found in 50% of the gastroscopic examinations from patients with dyseptic disorders. C. pyloridis is a gram-negative curved bacterium. Up to now it has been found on the surface of the human gastric epithelium. C. pyloridis is rarely isolated from the healthy gastric epithelium. The gastric epithelium containing C. pyloridis mostly suffers from inflammatory infiltration or from pathological changes like chronic gastritis of type B. The route of infection is unknown. C. pyloridis has not yet been isolated outside of the human stomach. For laboratory diagnosis of a disease caused by C. pyloridis, the bacterium has to be isolated from gastric bioptic specimen. Another possibility is to check for high serum antibody levels against C. pyloridis. Direct microscopic examinations of gastric epithelium are also possible. The positive urease test is the main criterion to differentiate C. pyloridis from other human pathogenic campylobacter species. As therapeutic agents are recommended: bismuthates, amoxicillin, furazolidone and tinidazole. These agents are able to eliminate C. pyloridis from gastric epithelium and to fade away the gastritis.

[Synergism of ciprofloxacin with beta-lactam antibiotics, gentamicin, minocycline and pipemidic acid]. / Untersuchungen zum Synergismus von Ciprofloxacin mit beta-Laktam-Antibiotika, Gentamicin, Minozyklin und Pipemidsäure.

Studies on the Synergism of Ciprofloxacin with beta-Lactam Antibiotics, Gentamicin, Minocycline and Pipemidic Acid. Using Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae/Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains, we examined a possible influence of pipemidic acid, minocycline, gentamicin, cefazolin, mezlocillin and ampicillin on the antibiotic activity of ciprofloxacin. We found in all bacterial species synergistic influence by pipemidic acid. When ciprofloxacin was combined with gentamicin, synergism was observed in E. coli and in K. pneumoniae/oxytoca, additive effects in P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. In combination with minocycline we demonstrated synergism in S. aureus only. In all other bacterial species and antibiotic combinations we found neither synergism nor antagonism.

Chemically defined media for auxotyping of Campylobacter jejuni.

A set of chemically defined media has been developed for the cultivation of Campylobacter jejuni strains of human origin. A minimal medium, a complete medium and 5 different nutrient-deficient media (NDM1-NDM5) are described. Some of the strains investigated required L-methionine(lacking in NDM1), L-cystine and L-cysteine (NDM2), K2HPO4 (NDM 3), KH2PO4 (NDM4) and NAD, thiamine and calcium pantothenate (NDM5). 57.7% of the strains investigated required L-methionine. The strains grew at pH 6.6-7.7. The media described are not suitable for C. intestinalis.