Correlates of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections in a prison inmate population: results from a multicentre study in Italy.

A cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates of infection for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis viruses B and C (HBV and HCV) in a sample of inmates from eight Italian prisons. A total of 973 inmates were enrolled [87.0% males, median age of 36 years, 30.4% intravenous drug users (IDUs), 0.6% men who have sex with men (MSWM)]. In this sample, high seroprevalence rates were found (HIV: 7.5%; HCV: 38.0%; anti-HBc: 52.7%; HBsAg: 6.7%). HIV and HCV seropositivity were associated strongly with intravenous drug use (OR: 5.9 for HIV; 10.5 for HCV); after excluding IDUs and male homosexuals, the HIV prevalence remained nonetheless relatively high (2.6%). HIV prevalence was higher for persons from Northern Italy and Sardinia. The age effect was U-shaped for HIV and HCV infections; HBV prevalence increased with age. Tattoos were associated with HCV positivity (OR: 2.9). The number of imprisonments was associated with HIV infection, whereas the duration of imprisonment was only associated with anti-HBc. The probability of being HIV-seropositive was higher for HCV-seropositive individuals, especially if IDUs. In conclusion, a high prevalence of HIV, HCV, and HBV infections among inmates was observed: these high rates are in part attributable to the high proportion of IDUs. Frequency of imprisonment and tattoos were associated, respectively, with HIV and HCV positivity. Although it is possible that the study population is not representative of Italy's prison inmate population, the results stress the need to improve infection control measures users was prisons.

Candida amidevorans sp. nov., a new ascomycetous anamorph yeast from soil.

A strain of an undescribed Candida species was isolated from soil. A description of the new species Candida amidevorans is given and its distinction from the most closely resembling species of the genus is discussed.

Algal organic matter and plant growth.

Since investigations on the ecology of soil algae have shown that this microbial group constitutes an important component of the soil biota, the evaluation of the role played by micro-algae in soil economy and plant growth has caused a lively interest. Working in the well defined conditions of gnotobiotic cultures, it has been shown that micro-algae actively interact with higher plants at the level of the root apparatus. These interactions give rise to favourable effects on the growth of seedlings. The same results were obtained when the plants were grown in soil under axenic-conditions. Biosynthesis of growth-promoting substances by micro-algae must be considered a factor of primary importance in the explanation of these results. Nevertheless, the physiological and biochemical bases of plant-micro-algae interactions are more complex, and many other problems are to be taken into account before a satisfactory explanation can be put forward. The results summarized here on the favourable influences, exerted by some algal strains on the growth of higher plants, show that the study of the plant-micro-algae relationships, to which poor attention has been devoted up to this time, besides contributing to a better understanding of the role played by micro-algae in soil fertility, may be of interest in relation to agricultural applications and crop algalization.

Cyanide reduction by nitrogenase in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas gelatinose Molisch.

Intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosa, grown in N-free medium, reduce cyanide to methane and ammonia at a rate 5--8 times lower than acetylene. Cyanide reduction in whole cells is distinctly more sensitive to cyanide inhibition compared with enzyme preparations. These results are discussed in view of the exploitation of nitrogen-fixing photobacteria in the anaerobic detoxification of cyanide-containing wastewaters.