Micrococcus Pyogenes Research Articles

Antibiotic-resist micrococcic infections: guest editorial.

The subject of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic strains of Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus (Staphylococcus) has been studied extensively by many workers since penicillin became abundant and its use widespread. Most of the early studies were confined to the problem of penicillin resistance, but more recently several additional antibiotics have also been extensively employed and the problem of resistance to antibiotics other than penicillin has also received serious study. The increasing incidence of infections with micrococci that are resistant to many and sometimes to all of the most widely used agents on which reliance must be placed to combat such infections has, of course, caused much concern and has been the subject of many reviews and editorial comments in many leading medical journals, includingThe Journal. 1 It has been pointed out by many workers, and on the basis of numerous studies, that the major problem of penicillin-resistant micrococci is one

Staphylococcal endocarditis; some clinical and therapeutic observations on thirty eight cases.

Infections due to Micrococcus pyogenes (Staphylococcus) are becoming increasingly difficult to manage because of the remarkable tendency of members of this genus to develop resistance to penicillin and other antibiotics. Although the individual strains vary considerably in this respect, the majority of staphylococci isolated from hospital patients and personnel in several clinics are currently being found to be penicillin-resistant.* During the past few years we have followed the course of several patients with staphylococcal endocarditis. Of interest is a comparison of the results of therapy in this group with a much larger series obtained by reviewing the records of all such cases at the Johns Hopkins Hospital for the past 20 years. This series was divided arbitrarily into three periods. The first was 1933-1943, a time in which no well-established antibiotic treatment was available, although penicillin was used in a few of the later cases in doses which we now

The Chemistry of Heparin

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an account of the more recent developments in the chemistry of heparin together with the significant features of the earlier work. Heparin, the blood anticoagulant present in circulatory tissue is now recognized to be an important and chemically unique polysaccharide of considerable biological significance. To ascertain the origin of its blood-coagulating properties, crude cephalin was submitted to a careful fractionation. Fractions were obtained which unexpectedly inhibited the coagulation of oxalated, dog serum. This was a significant discovery because no anticoagulant had previously been found in mammalian tissue. Because of its abundance in liver, the anticoagulant material was named “heparin.” In addition to its role in the blood-coagulation process, heparin shows other types of biological activity, such as its action in clearing fat globules from the blood stream (alimentary lipemia) and its use in the treatment of frost-bite. Heparin also possesses activity toward certain strains of bacteria; for example, in a protein-free medium, heparin was found to be bacteriostatic toward Micrococcus pyogenes at 100 p.p.m.

Factors influencing the synthesis of penicillinase by Micrococcus pyogenes

Some of the factors influencing synthesis of penicillinase by M. pyogenes are described. Adaptive formation of the enzyme by this organism was not observed under conditions permitting adaptive formation by Bacillus cereus. Penicillinase activity of cells harvested from various media varies considerably suggesting the possibility that certain agents may suppress enzyme formation.

Chloramphenicol resistance in Micrococcus pyogenes. II. Intermediary metabolism of sensitive and resistant strains.

SummaryResistance to chloramphenicol in M. pyogenes is accompanied by 1) high endogenous respiration, 2) loss of ability to oxidize pyruvate and acetate, and 3) increased formation of lactic acid from glucose. The antibiotic exerts no depressant effect on any of these reactions carried out by a strain sensitive to the drug. Attempts to reconstitute the pyruvate oxidase system of intact cells resistant to the antibiotic have been unsuccessful.

The effect of potassium upon the growth of Micrococcus pyogenes.

The effect of potassium upon the growth of Micrococcus pyogenes.

Mixed Bacterial Infections in Relation to Antibiotic Activities

Summary A high degree of protection was obtained by antibiotic-producing Micrococcus pyogenes var. albus strains of the human ocular microflora in mixed infections of mice with Clostridium septicum. Protection was obtained against at least 1,000 LD50 doses of this latter organism. The protection is most probably associated with in vivo secretion of functioning antibiotics. Strong correlation of in vitro and in vivo results with strains of varying antibiotic properties points to this conclusion. Failure to observe any differences in the abilities of these strains to survive in the tissues tends to rule out the possibility of nonspecific factors being operative. Solid protection was obtained both against the Clostridium septicum spores and vegetative cells. Living micrococci were more protective than heat-killed organisms. The latter apparently owe their small to moderate degree of prophylactic abilities to strongly adsorbed or intracellular antibiotic. This could not be washed off, and attempts to grow these organisms without antibiotic production were failures. Antibiotic-producing micrococci injected at sites removed from the Cl. septicum inoculation site, also seemed to confer a small degree of protection against lethal outcome. Delay in the injection of the antibiotic-producing micrococci until 2 or 5 hours after the Cl. septicum inoculum, greatly reduced the effectiveness of the protection, but did not completely eliminate it. Some of the animals injected after 5 hours had already developed local gas gangrene. The data presented strongly indicate that the human bacterial flora may represent a rich source of potentially valuable antibiotics for certain limited infections.

Transport of phosphate across the osmotic barrier of Micrococcus pyogenes; specificity and kinetics.

SUMMARY: The system coupling inorganic phosphate exchange across the osmotic barrier of Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) strain Duncan is highly specific for phosphate, probably for the H2PO′4 ion. Arsenate, however, can replace phosphate. The exchange is inhibited by thiol reactors, certain anions and certain uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. The specificity and kinetics of the exchange suggest that the phosphate is carried in the osmotic barrier as R-phosphate groups moved to and fro across the barrier by thermal agitation, the heat of activation for the movement being 37,400 cal. mole, of which at least 17,700 cal./mole is an entropy component. The exchange of the phosphate of the R-phosphate groups in the barrier with inorganic phosphate on either side may be enzymically catalysed, the free energy of the R-phosphate bond being conserved. Alternatively, the R-phosphate groups may dissociate or hydrolyse, forming free H2PO′4 ion and R, the latter then being unable to return across the barrier until R-phosphate is again formed by the spontaneous uptake of H2PO′4 ion.

The binding of penicillin in relation to its cytotoxic action. II. The reactivity with penicillin of resistant variants of streptococci, pneumococci, and staphylococci.

1. In a previous study, the differing sensitivity of bacterial strains as they occur in nature appeared to be correlated with their correspondingly differing reactivity with penicillin. Presumably, the over-all reactivity of the cell with penicillin paralleled that of the vulnerable cell component(s). However, when penicillin-resistant variants of these strains (Streptococcus pyogenes, Micrococcus pyogenes, Diplococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus faecalis) were produced by serial passage through increasing concentrations of antibiotic, this correlation between resistance and the ability of the cell to bind penicillin was no longer apparent. Some resistant variants bound more penicillin than the parent, sensitive cell (Streptococcus faecalis, Micrococcus pyogenes), some were unchanged in their reactivity (Diplococcus pneumoniae, Micrococcus pyogenes), and some bound less (Streptococcus pyogenes, Micrococcus pyogenes). One resistant variant of Micrococcus pyogenes at first showed enhanced reactivity with penicillin; on continued passage through antibiotic, there was a further increase in resistance, but now associated with a significantly decreased reactivity. In the case of Diplococcus pneumoniae, a resistant variant at first reacted normally with penicillin; on continued passage in antibiotic, its binding affinity for penicillin gradually decreased, but with no associated further increase in resistance. 2. The reactivity with penicillin of cell-free sonic extracts of the resistant variants paralleled that of the intact organisms. Permeability considerations therefore did not seem involved in the increased resistance produced by serial passage in antibiotic. 3. The penicillin-resistant variants did not have an enhanced capacity to degrade the free intracellular antibiotic. 4. Possible alternative explanations are discussed in the text.

An Outbreak of Staphylococcal Arthritis in Turkey Poults

INTRODUCTIONSTAPHYLOCOCCAL arthritis has been recognized for many years as a disease entity occurring in all domestic fowl. This condition is due to Micrococcus pyogenes var aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) and occurs in a chronic or acute form (Lucet, 1892; Hole and Purchase, 1931). The disease symptoms are generally lameness, hobbling gait, swollen joints, anorexia and ultimately emaciation (Hole and Purchase, 1931; Jungherr, 1933; Gwatkin, 1940). Attempts to treat the disease with drugs or with autogenous bacterins have been unsuccessful or inconclusive (Jungherr and Plastridge, 1941; Madsen, 1942; Hinshaw and McNeil, 1952). In this study are presented the details of an outbreak of staphylococcal arthritis in turkey poults, which was successfully treated with antibiotics.HISTORY OF OUTBREAKIn June 1953, 408 Broad Breasted Bronze (B.B.B.) turkey poults were started and were to serve as part of the next year’s breeder flock. These birds were apportioned into two pens of approximately 200 …

An investigation of cytochrome c oxidase activity in bacteria

Cytochrome c oxidase activity was investigated in extracts of yeast, heart muscle, and bacteria by observing the ability of the preparations to oxidize reduced cytochrome c. There was no significant cytochrome c oxidase activity in extracts of Acetobacter pasteurianum, Aerobacter aerogenes, Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus lysodeikticus, Sarcina lutea, and Micrococcus pyogenes var. albus, whereas the suspensions of broken yeast cells and heart muscle particles showed great activity. Thus the respiratory enzymes of these bacteria are different from that of yeast and mammalian tissues.

BACTERIOLOGY OF THE EYE

THE BACTERIA which may be recovered from the normal human eye have been recorded in the literature a number of times.* The consistent findings of Micrococcus pyogenes var. albus (Staphylococcus albus) and diphtheroids in the great majority of cultures from the conjunctivae and lids of normal eyes characterize these reports. The present investigation is a study of the organisms grown from eye cultures of patients admitted to the Thigpen-Cater Eye Hospital for cataract extraction over the period from 1947 to 1952. The organisms recovered are considered as normal flora in that there are included only those cultures from patients who, upon ophthalmological examination at the time cultures were made, revealed no evidence of an infectious process in either eye. A point of interest which warrants a brief report of the results was the frequency with which certain members of the enteric Gram-negative group of bacteria were encountered. The importance of

Micrococcic (Staphylococcic) Enteritis Following the Use of Aureomycin or Terramycin

Summary We have accumulated evidence that resistant strains of Micrococcus pyogenes have developed in our hospitalized patients as a result of administration of aureomycin or terramycin and that these resistant strains of micrococci, when present in the intestine in more or less pure culture, may produce varying degrees of gastrointestinal and systemic reactions. The administration of erythromycin by mouth in doses of 300 to 400 mg., four times daily, will eliminate the micrococci from the intestine and alleviate the untoward symptoms.

A rapid phosphatase test for Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus for detection of potentially pathogenic strains.

Journal Article A Rapid Phosphatase Test for Micrococcus Pyogenes Var. Aureus: For Detection of Potentially Pathogenic Strains Get access M. L. White, B.A., M. L. White, B.A. Department of Bacteriology, University of California, Los Angeles, California Mr. White is Research Assistant and Dr. Pickett is Associate Professor. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar M. J. Pickett, Ph.D. M. J. Pickett, Ph.D. Department of Bacteriology, University of California, Los Angeles, California Mr. White is Research Assistant and Dr. Pickett is Associate Professor. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar American Journal of Clinical Pathology, Volume 23, Issue 11_ts, November 1953, Pages 1181–1183, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/23.11_ts.1181 Published: 01 November 1953 Article history Received: 22 June 1953 Published: 01 November 1953

Paths of phosphate transfer in Micrococcus pyogenes: phosphate turnover in nucleic acids and other fractions.

SUMMARY: The paths of transfer of phosphate groups during uptake of inorganic orthophosphate by Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus (strain Duncan) have been studied by following the incorporation of 32P-labelled phosphate groups into the phospholipid (LP), acid-soluble inorganic (AI) and organic (AO), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA) and glycerophospho-protein complex (PGP) fractions of the cells. In resting cells a strictly reciprocal exchange of inorganic phosphate across the osmotic barrier is half complete in 70 min. During respiration or growth, phosphate moves inward through the osmotic barrier at the same rate as during rest, but the outward movement is abolished. Phosphate accumulates mainly in the AI, AO and LP during respiration, but in all the fractions during growth. Most of the phosphate of the organic fractions is drawn through the AI. The RNA is formed from the nucleotides of the AO, while the DNA phosphate is derived either directly from the AI or from intermediates in the AO. Little or no turnover of RNA or DNA phosphate occurs during growth, and phosphate is not transferred directly or indirectly from RNA to DNA or vice versa. The PGP, although the major constituent of the mechanically rigid cell envelope, does not participate as a whole in phosphate transfer reactions during rest or respiration; but during growth the amount of PGP increases in proportion to the expansion of cell envelope area. The LP phosphate exhibits rapid turnover during respiration and growth.

Transport of phosphate across the surface of Micrococcus pyogenes; nature of the cell inorganic phosphate.

SUMMARY: An osmotic barrier, impermeable to inorganic phosphate ions, is present near the external surface of Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus (strain Duncan). The barrier encloses a volume of 1·66 ± 0·07 ml./g. dry-wt. cells, within which the inorganic phosphate of the cell is confined at a concentration of c. 0·1 m. The inorganic phosphate of the internal and external media exhibit a rapid reciprocal exchange, sensitive to traces of heavy metals. The existence of the osmotic barrier and the characteristics of the phosphate exchange are not in accord with an exchange-adsorption hypothesis; they are in accord with an exchange-diffusion hypothesis, according to which phosphate is shuttled across the osmotic barrier by carrier molecules. There is no experimental justification for supposing the acid-soluble inorganic phosphate of M. pyogenes to exist as an acid-labile compound.

Effect of the culture medium on the oxidation of acetate by Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus

The tryptone yeast-extract medium used in these studies appeared to contain a dialyzable substance which interfered in some way with the ability of the cells of Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus to oxidize acetate. In a synthetic medium, glucose produced a similar effect. The inhibited acetate-oxidizing system of the cells was stimulated by succinate or glutamate at pH 7.5 but not at pH 5.5.

Erythromycin for infections due to Micrococcus pyogenes.

One of the most important current problems in the therapy of infectious disease is the management of infections due to strains of Micrococcus pyogenes (Staphylococcus aureus) that are resistant to many antibiotics. We have attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of erythromycin in the treatment of such infections. Although we have used erythromycin in a variety of infections due to organisms susceptible to its action, this report is concerned only with the results obtained with its use in M. pyogenes infection. In most of these cases the organisms were relatively insensitive to penicillin, streptomycin, aureomycin, and oxytetracycline (Terramycin). There are indications that in the constant changes that are occurring in the bacterial population many strains of M. pyogenes are naturally or have become resistant to penicillin, streptomycin, aureomycin, and oxytetracycline; for example, it was evident in a report from the Mayo Clinic by Needham and Nichols1that 60% of the

Effects of X-Irradiation and Adrenalectomy on Phagocytic Activity

Summary Following intravenous injection of Thorotrast into normal mice about 50% of the ThO2 is taken up by the liver and 17% by the spleen. While the liver is about 10 times as large as the spleen and shows a greater total uptake of ThO2, the ThO2 uptake of splenic tissue per unit dry weight is almost 4 times that of hepatic tissue. The splenic uptake of ThO2 in mice is linearly related to the amount of Thorotrast injected for doses up to 0.15 ml per mouse. With this dose each spleen contains about 6 mg of ThO2 which makes up 15% of the dry weight of the organ. With doses above 0.15 ml the phagocytic cells of the spleen tend to become saturated, while with smaller doses the ability of the cells to take up additional ThO2 does not appear to be influenced by the ThO2 already ingested. X-irradiation (350 r) caused a great reduction in splenic weight but did not influence the 72 hour splenic or hepatic uptake of ThO2 in mice. Doses from 100 r to 600 r were also without effect on the splenic uptake of ThO2. After intraperitoneal injection with Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus, leukocytes from the peritoneal cavities of irradiated mice (350 r) contained more bacteria than leukocytes from normal animals. Adrenalectomy caused a reduction in the phagocytic activity of mouse leukocytes which was marked at two days after adrenalectomy. By the sixth day after adrenalectomy however, the control and adrenalectomized groups were not significantly different in this respect. No change in splenic or hepatic uptake of ThO2 was noted to follow adrenalectomy in mice. In rats, however, adrenalectomy caused a threefold reduction in the 24 hour splenic uptake of ThO2.

The treatment of urinary-tract infections with a new antibiotic -- magnamycin.

MAGNAMYCIN hydrochloride is a new monobasic antibiotic possessing strong inhibitory activity predominantly against gram-positive bacteria. Preliminary tests on laboratory animals demonstrated that the drug exhibited low toxicity and did not exhibit cross resistance with other antibiotics in general use.¶ In vitro tests showed it to be highly effective against many gram-positive organisms, including enterococci and penicillin-resistant Micrococcus pyogenes (var. aureus), both of which are becoming increasingly difficult to eradicate.In this preliminary report, 15 patients with genitourinary infections were selected for treatment with Magnamycin because the majority had failed to respond to other antibiotics, including sulfonamides, penicillin, streptomycin, aureomycin, . . .