Effects of UV-light on Bacillus sphaericus and its protection by chemicals.

Although when UV-irradiated seven most toxic strains of Bacillus sphaericus lost their viabilities between 2.5-4.5 min, their larvicidal activity was protected for longer periods. Benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, salicylaldehyde, methylene blue and yeast extract showed good protective effect for spore viability and larvicidal activity from UV inactivation in B. sphaericus. This protective effect has also been confirmed by SDS-PAGE analyses whereby the 42 kDa and 51 kDa toxic proteins bands did not disappear following UV treatment.

Analysis of the genetic determinant for production of the pediocin P of Pediococcus pentosaceus Pep1.

Pediococcus pentosaceus Pep1 is a vacuum-packaged Turkish sausage isolate which produces a potentially novel bacteriocin of the pediocin (anti-Listeria) family of peptides designated as pediocin P. Curing experiments and plasmid profile analysis indicated that both bacteriocin immunity and production determinants were linked and encoded by 9.0 MDa plasmid, pHD1.0. Attempts to transform purified plasmid pHD1.0 into recipient Escherichia coli JM109 cells by electroporation were successful but none of the E. coli JM109 cells were able to express and/or release pediocin P. However, P. pentosaceus PC, a plasmid-cured variant of P. pentosaceus Pep1 was successfully transformed with pHD1.0 by electroporation and Bac-Bacs P. pentosaceus PC cells restarted to express and/or release pediocin P again as indicated by the presence of zone of growth inhibition of L. plantarum NCDO 955 around colonies.

Dissemination of a single clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Turkish hospitals.

A collection of 39 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) stains derived from six different hospitals in Ankara and one hospital in Barsa, Turkey, were analyzed by multiple genotyping. In agreement with the other genotyping assays, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of DNA macrorestriction fragments identified genetic homogeneity among all MRSA isolates studies. It is concluded that a major clone of MRSA has spread through a large part of Turkey, causing longitudinally persistent colonization in all of the institutions surveyed.

[Latest developments in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis]. / Tüberkülozun serolojik tanisinda son gelismeler.

In the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis, we are in a period used molecular biological techniques instead of classical methods. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry are routinely used for this propose in some countries. In this review, the importance and potential of ELISA will be discussed for developing countries.

[Perspective: new pathogens: Branhamella catarrhalis, Capnocytophaga turleri, Corynebacterium group JK]. / Perspektif: yeni patojenler: Branhamella catarrhalis, Capnocytophaga türleri, Corynebacterium grup JK (CJK).

Branhamella catarrhalis is an important pathogen of upper and lower respiratory tract. According to findings in literature, it mostly causes bronchopulmonary infections. Capnocytophaga is a newly recognized genus of the gram negative bacilli. In various reports, it has been recognized that capnocytophaga mostly causes sepsis. Bacteria of Corynebacterium group JK (CJK) cause many important local infections and sepsis.

[The importance of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis]. / Tüberkülozun serolojik tanisinda enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testinin önemi.

The remainders of tuberculosis infection are still existing as a problem, as important and threatening as AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), especially in underdeveloped countries. The diagnosis of tuberculosis infection frequently creates problems which is related to clinical, radiological and bacteriological investigations and it requires a lot of time consumption. The ELISA procedure is a sensitive and reproducible technique and it doesn't require complex equipment. Recently, this technique provides hopeful results for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.

[Tuberculosis serodiagnosis, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and different mycobacterial antigens]. / Tüberküloz serolojisinde, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) ve farkli mikobakteri antijenlerinin önemi.

IgG antibody titer levels against two different antigens of M tuberculosis were investigated in the sera of 40 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 16 with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis and 24 healthy controls by using ELISA technique. While a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 88% were determined for MSO (mycobacterial sonicate antigen) antigen, a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity 73% were determined for the other PPD (Purified protein derivative) antigen. ELISA, for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis was compared in terms of sensitivity for AFB (acid fast bacilli stain) and culture methods. In this study, the sensitivity of ELISA was found as 92% for MSO antigen and 79% for PPD antigen while it was 58% for AFB method and 95% for the culture method.

[New enteropathogens: Aeromonas spp]. / Yeni enteropatojenler: Aeromonas türleri.

Aeromonas is one of the type of enteric pathogens which is commonly present in less developed countries. It leads to acute diarrhea in children and traveller's diarrhea in adults. Additionally it is also responsible from the extraintestinal infections. Aeromonas hydrophila is a bacteria which is isolated from water, soil, foods and rarely from intestinal tract of human. Aeromonas sobria is especially isolated from wound infection of scuba diver's. There are other types of Aeromonas such as salmonicida, punctata, caviae, masoucida and achromogenes.