Effect of glucose and thiamine concentrations on the formation of macroconidia in dermatophytes. Occurrence of dysgonic Microsporum canis strains in Athens, Greece.

Data collected from multiple trials with 110 fresh and preserved clinical isolates of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes, T. violaceum, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum revealed that production of macroconidia depends on glucose and thiamine concentrations in the medium. Optimal macroconidia production was obtained at the critical concentrations of 5 g l-1 glucose and 0.6 g l-1 thiamine when the two compounds were used in combination. The same conditions also encouraged macroconidia production in aconidial strains of T. verrucosum. Cutaneous inoculation in immunocompetent laboratory rabbits further enhanced the macroconidia producing capacity of the tested strains. Emphasis was placed on the occurrence of dysgonic/atypical strains of M. canis, which readily reverted to their typical phenotypes after growth on medium supplemented with 0.6 g l-1 thiamine, a process greatly augmented after cutaneous animal inoculation. It was verified that selective exogenous factors affect macroconidial production and that the dysgonic group of M. canis constitutes an epidemiologically significant group in the Greater Athens area. This is the first report of the occurrence of such M. canis strains from Greece.

Survival of bacteriophage 1 of the Salmonella typhimurium phage typing scheme in 4 different types of sterile soil.

The survival of bacteriophage 1 of the Salmonella typhimurium phage typing scheme was studied in four different types of sterile soil at 4.20 and 37 degrees C. The longevity of the phage was generally short, not exceeding 36 days and depended on the temperature and the type of soil.

A case of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis.

The authors report a case of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis in a non-drug-addicted young patient who, 6 months before the manifestation of endocarditis, was submitted to cardiac surgery. This is the first report from Greece and the second found in the accessible literature.

Survival of bacteriophage 1 of the Salmonella typhimurium phage typing scheme in different liquid pharmaceutical preparations.

The survival of bacteriophage 1 of the Salmonella typhimurium phage typing scheme was studied in seven commonly used liquid pharmaceutical preparations of different composition. Commercially available flacons of Septobore colyre, Thilodexine eye drops, Bradoral gargle solution, Novalgin drops, Garamycin injection, Anatoxal-antigen tetanic purificate and Antidiphtheric serum, were used. It was found that the phage viability in these drugs varied greatly. Thus in Septobore the page was almost completely eliminated in less than one week, while in Garamycin the number of plaque forming units (PFU) remained stable during the experiment (18 months). The viability of the phage showed intermediate values in the other five pharmaceutical preparations. The possible reasons for these differences in viability and the significance of phage (and viruses) survival in medicins are discussed.

Survival of bacteriophage 1 of the Salmonella typhimurium phage typing scheme in different liquid maintenance media and at different temperatures.

The survival of Bacteriophage 1, of the Salmonella typhimurium phage typing scheme, was studied in nutrient broth, saline and distilled water at 4 degrees C, 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C. From the results of this work it can be concluded that the survival of the phage is longer at 4 degrees C in all three maintenance media and that the survival is longer in both nutrient broth and saline than in distilled water.

Survival of shigellae in soil.

The survival of four Shigella strains in soil (Sh. sonnei, Sh. boydii, Sh. flexneri and Sh. dysenteriae) was studied under various conditions. Their survival period was tested in two different types of sterile soil at 18-20 degrees C and in one type of soil at 4 and 37 degrees C. This latter type of soil, after enrichment with casaminoacids or (NH4)2HPO4 was also used for testing again the survival of the strains at 18-20 degrees C. Though the initial number of the inoculated microorganisms was quite high (10(7) to 10(8) micr. per g of soil) the survival periods were generally short (6 to 39 days). It was found that their viability depended mainly on the bacterial species and not so much on the type of soil, enriched or not, and the temperature. Thus the survival period in soil was always longer for Sh. sonnei and Sh. boydii and shorter for Sh. flexneri and Sh. dysenteriae. The incubations at 4 degrees C or in enriched soil increased and in 37 degrees C decreased the longevity of the strains but for a few days.

The value of plasmid studies in the epidemiology of infections due to drug-resistant Salmonella wien.

Since 1969 strains of Salmonella wien that are resistant to multiple antibacterial drugs have caused widespread epidemics of enteritis in Europe and North Africa. Of 113 British strains examined between January 1970 and January 1977, 67 were multi-resistant. These strains and 22 strains from six other countries were examined to determine their plasmid content. Two plasmids were found in the vast majority of strains: an FIme factor, conferring resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, streptomycin, spectinomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines (ACKSSpSuT), and a nonautotransferring plasmid of resistance type ASSu. The FIme plasmids have dual incompatibility: they are incompatible with group FI factors and with the MP10 plasmid of Salmonella typhimurium, which belongs to a separate group. Other plasmids found in S. wien included principally a ColIa factor and an autotransferring plasmid that codes for ampicillin resistance and belongs to compatibility group I2. The similarity in plasmid content of strains isolated in widely separated areas suggests that they have a clonal origin.

Lipid composition of Escherichia coli in relation to resistance to penicillin.

Clinical isolates of Escherichia coli sensitive and resistant to penicillin were compared in lipid composition and 14C-labelled penicillin uptake, as possible factors in resistance. Except for a slight increase in the triglyceride fraction in sensitive strains there were no qualitative or quantitative differences in the classes of extractable lipids present. Gas-liquid chromatography of the phospholipid and triglyceride fatty acids of the polar and non-polar fatty acids of the bound lipids showed that the same kinds of fatty acids were present. There was an increase of myristate in the chloroform-methanol extractable lipids of highly resistant strains accompanied by a rather general decrease of other fatty acids. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the polar-bound lipids showed an increase of the beta-hydroxydecanoic acid in the resistant strains. By studying the uptake of 14C-labelled benzylpenicillin and the crypticity of the beta-lactamase, evidence has been produced that a decreased permeability of resistant strains to penicillin cooperates with beta-lactamase to induce a high level of resistance. The altered lipid metabolism may reflect the special architectural changes in the cell wall which cause decreased permeability.