beta-Lactam antibiotic-induced release of free endotoxin: in vitro comparison of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2-specific imipenem and PBP 3-specific ceftazidime.

The relative effects of two beta-lactam antibiotics, penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2-specific imipenem and PBP 3-specific ceftazidime, upon in vitro induction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release were investigated against smooth- and rough-LPS mutant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Free LPS liberated from both isolates are 10- to 40-fold higher for ceftazidime-exposed cultures than control or imipenem-treated cultures after 4-8 h at 35 degrees C despite equivalent MICs. Lethalities of filtrates in mice correlated with in vitro endotoxin assay results. Sub-MIC levels of ceftazidime induced filamentation and LPS release without significant bacterial lysis. Amounts released not only matched the quantities achieved at inhibitory concentrations (e.g., 1-, 2-, and 50-times MIC) of ceftazidime but significantly exceeded levels of LPS liberated by exposure to imipenem, less than or equal to 100 times its MIC. Sub-MIC levels of imipenem released relatively small amounts of free LPS while reducing colony counts approximately 2 logs more than equivalent amounts of ceftazidime after 2 h. Data suggest that ceftazidime-induced filamentation releases larger quantities of bioreactive LPS than nonfilamentous fast-lysing imipenem.

The role of lipopolysaccharide in the exposure of protective antigenic sites on the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis.

A species-specific monoclonal IgM antibody (mAb) 9BF8 directed against the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis neutralized several chlamydial serovars in a complement-independent manner. The presence of Mg2+ ions negated the neutralization in serovars F, L1 and L2, but not in serovars A, B, E, D and K. The ability of monovalent Fab-fragments of this mAb to neutralize chlamydial infectivity in a Mg-independent manner suggested that conformational alterations on the chlamydial surface induced by the cation hindered the IgM but allowed the smaller Fab fragment access to its epitope. In order to determine the chlamydial component that binds Mg, elementary bodies (EB) of serovars E and L1 were treated with EDTA at pHs 8 and 9. The infectivity of the treated EB and the amount of released LPS were determined. Only after EDTA treatment at pH 9, as the LPS release increased, did the binding of the mAb on the chlamydial surface become Mg-independent. The infectivity of the EB was almost completely lost after such a treatment. These results suggest that the chlamydial LPS has the potential to modulate the exposure of antigenic sites on the MOMP, when it is cross-linked by Mg2+. They further imply that serovars protected by Mg and those that are not differ in the surface topology of one particular MOMP epitope, but are antigenically very similar. This difference might be of considerable importance in vivo.

Antimicrobial action of nisin against Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide mutants.

The antimicrobial activity of nisin against outer membrane lipopolysaccharide mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 was investigated. Nisin sensitivity was associated with the extent of saccharide deletions from the outer membrane core oligosaccharide. The results indicated that the core oligosaccharide in lipopolysaccharide plays a role in nisin sensitivity.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptors on murine splenic B cells and the 70Z/3 pre-B-cell line appear to be identical and bind human IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta differentially.

In this study murine splenocytes were found to possess specific, high-affinity IL-1 receptors (IL-1R) capable of binding radiolabeled human IL-1 alpha with a Kd of 2-6 x 10(-10) M. Experiments performed with purified splenic B cells demonstrated that B cells express low levels of IL-1R (100-200 receptors per cell). Separation of splenic B cells into high- (resting) and low-density (in vivo-activated) fractions showed that low-density B cells expressed 2-fold more IL-1R compared with high-density B cells suggesting that IL-1R are upregulated on B-cell activation. In vitro stimulation of B cells with mitogens resulted in a 5- to 10-fold increase in IL-1R expression compared to IL-1R levels on unstimulated B cells. Receptors on the murine pre-B-cell line 70Z/3, which possesses type II IL-1R, and murine splenic B cells appear to be identical. Cross-linking studies demonstrated that the 125I-labeled IL-1/IL-1R complex on B cells and 70Z/3 IL-1R was found to block binding of IL-1 to IL-1R on 70Z/3 and splenic B cells, but not to type I IL-1R on murine EL4 thymoma cells. Competitive inhibition experiments showed differential binding of human IL-1 beta to splenic B cells and 70Z/3 cells as a function of temperature. The IL-1R on 70Z/3 and splenic B cells bound human IL-1 alpha, murine IL-1 alpha, and murine IL-1 beta with high affinity at both 4 degrees and 37 degrees C. In contrast, the affinity of IL-1R on these same cell types for human IL-1 beta was significantly reduced at 37 degrees C compared to 4 degrees C. The reduced binding affinity for human IL-1 beta was due to an increased off-rate at 37 degrees C compared with 4 degrees C. Characterization of IL-1R on murine splenic B cells will help clarify the role of IL-1 in the regulation of the immune response.

Endotoxin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid correlate with clinical severity and neurologic outcome of Haemophilus influenzae type B meningitis.

Endotoxin concentrations were measured in paired samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 38 patients with Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis. On admission, the median concentration of endotoxin in cerebrospinal fluid was 104 ng/mL and decreased rapidly in follow-up samples. From 17 to 48 hours after admission, 50% of the patients had concentrations of less than 1 ng/mL. Endotoxin concentrations correlated significantly with concentrations of interleukin 1 beta, protein, and glucose in cerebrospinal fluid, duration of secondary fever, and neurologic abnormalities during hospitalization and on follow-up examinations. Twenty-eight percent of patients with endotoxin concentrations of 100 ng/mL or more on admission had long-term complications, compared with none of those with lower endotoxin concentrations (relative risk, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.53 to 3.48). These results indicate that quantitation of endotoxin in cerebrospinal fluid could be a valuable aid in identifying those children at increased risk of complications during Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis and provide additional evidence that the Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis lipo-oligosaccharide is important in the pathogenesis of meningitis.