[Activated Sludge Bacteria Transforming Cyanopyridines and Amides of Pyridinecarboxylic Acids].

Species diversity of bacteria from the activated sludge of Perm biological waste treatment facilities capable of transformation of cyanopyridines and amides of pyridinecarboxylic acids was investigated. Enrichment cultures in mineral media with 3-cyanopyridine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source were used to obtain 32 clones of gram-negative heterotrophic bacteria exhibiting moderate growth on solid and liquid media with 3- and 4-cyanopyridine. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that the clones with homology of at least 99% belonged to the genera Acinetobacte, Alcaligenes, Delftia, Ochrobactrum, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Xanthobacter. PCR analysis showed that 13 out of 32 isolates contained the sequences (-1070 bp) homologous to the nitrilase genes reported previously in Alcaligenes faecalis JM3 (GenBank, D13419.1). Nine clones were capable of nitrile and amide transformation in minimal salt medium. Acinetobacter sp. 11 h and Alcaligenes sp. osv transformed 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide, while most of the clones possessed amidase activity (0.5 to 46.3 mmol/(g h) for acetamide and 0.1 to 5.6 mmol/(g h) for nicotinamide). Nicotinamide utilization by strain A. faecalis 2 was shown to result in excretion of a secondary metabolite, which was identified as dodecyl acrylate at 91% probability.

[Transformation of 2- and 4-cyanopyridines by free and immobilized cells of nitrile-hydrolyzing bacteria].

The transformation dynamics of 2- and 4-cyanopyridines by cells suspended and adsorbed on inorganic carriers has been studied in the Rhodococcus ruber gt 1 strain possessing nitrile hydratase activity and the Pseudomonas fluorescens C2 strain containing nitrilase. It was shown that both nitrile hydratase and nitrilase activities of immobilized cells against 2-cyanopyridine were 1.5-4 times lower compared to 4-cyanopyridine and 1.6-2 times lower than the activities of free cells against 2-cyanpopyridine. The possibility of obtaining isonicotinic acid during the combined conversion of 4-cyanopyridine by a mixed suspension of R. ruber gt 1 cells with a high level of nitrile hydratase activity and R. erythropolis 11-2 cells with a pronounced activity of amidase has been shown. Immobilization of Rhodococcus cells on raw coal and Pseudomonas cells on china clay was shown to yield a heterogeneous biocatalyst for the efficient transformation of cyanopyridines into respective amides and carbonic acids.

[Treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults: efficacy of domestic intravenous immunoglobulin in immune thrombocytopenia]. / Lechenie idiopaticheskoi trombotsitopenicheskoi purpury u vzroslykh: éffektivnost' otechestvennogo immunoglobulina dlia vnutrivennogo vvedeniia pri immunnykh trombotsitopeniiakh.

AIM: The study of effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in therapy of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High doses of IVIG (0.2-0.4 g/kg b.w. for 4-6 days) were given to 6 female patients aged 20 to 59 years (median--39 years) with immune thrombocytopenia. 4 patients had primary ITP resistant to glucocorticosteroids (GCS) and 1 female had chronic ITP treated by splenectomy without effect. 1 patient with rheumatoid arthritis developed severe thrombocytopenia combined with agranulocytosis when treated with nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs. RESULTS: The response was observed in 5 of 6 patients (in 4 patients resistant to GCS and 1 RA patient). In 3 of them the effect was rated as excellent (platelets level > 150,000 per cubic millimeter), in 2 patients it was good (platelets count from 50,000 to 150,000 per cubic millimeter). Splenectomy was performed in 4 cases with ITP on day 8-14 after IVIG therapy. The 2- and 6-month follow-up evidenced for good results of the surgical treatment. The RA patient showed a stable rise of the blood count. Serious side effects of IVIG therapy were not registered. CONCLUSION: IVIG of Russian produce is effective in the treatment of drug-induced thrombocytopenia and ITP resistant to GCS.