Psittacosis Group Research Articles

Portein-gold labelling of ultrathin sections of wheat spot mosaic-affected wheat plants

Wheat spot mosaic (WSpM), which frequently occurs with wheat streak mosaic virus was first reported in 1956 from Alberta. Singly isolated, WSpM causes chlorotic spots, chlorosis, stunting, and sometimes death of the wheat plants. The vector responsible for transmission is the eriophyid mite,Eriophyes tulipaeKiefer. The examination of leaf ultrastructure by electron microscopy has revealed double membrane bound bodies (DMBB’s) 0.1-0.2 μm in diameter. Dispersed fibrils within these bodies suggested the presence of nucleic acid. However, neither ribosomes characteristic of bacteria, mycoplasma and the psittacosis group of organisms nor an electron dense core characteristic of many viruses was commonly evident.In an attempt to determine if the DMBB’s contain nucleic acids, RNase A, DNase I, and lactoferrin protein were conjugated with 10 nm colloidal gold as previously described. Young root and leaf tissues from WSpM-affected wheat plants were fixed in glutaraldehyde, postfixed in osmium tetroxide,and embedded in Spurr’s resin.

Preliminary characterization of a chlamydial agent isolated from embryonated snow goose eggs in northern Canada.

Chlamydiae-like, streptomycin-resistant parasites have been isolated from a high percentage of embryonated snow goose eggs collected at various stages of incubation; the agents stained specifically by immunofluorescence with antiserum against psittacosis and multiplied intensively in the yolk sacs of chicken embryos and induced in mice the production of antibodies that reacted in complement-fixing (CF) tests with a psittacosis group antigen. The isolates showed a high infectivity, but a low pathogenicity for chick embryos and mice. High doses of the isolate produced no cytopathic effect (CPE) in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages and L cells. Release of lysosomal acid phosphatase did not occur in the inoculated macrophages throughout the time of observation.

Initial step in catabolism of glucose by the meningopneumonitis agent.

The relative rates of catabolism of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate by intact-cell suspensions of the meningopneumonitis agent, a member of the psittacosis group (Chlamydia), and the properties of the hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of these suspensions were investigated. It is proposed that the hexokinase is a host enzyme bound to the surface of the meningopneumonitis cell and that glucose-6-phosphate is the first substrate in the conversion of hexose to pentose to be attacked by enzymes synthesized by the meningopneumonitis agent.

Studies on the Biophysical Characteristics of Antibodies Produced in Birds and Mammals in Response to Experimental Chlamydial Infection (Psittacosis)

Summary Circulating complement-fixing and agglutinating antibodies—produced in turkeys, pigeons, sheep, rabbits and a calf at early and late stages of experimental infection with agents of the genus Chlamydia (psittacosis group)—were analyzed by sucrose gradient centrifugation and electrophoretic methods. All species, except pigeons, produced antibodies of the fast sedimenting type early in the course of experimental infection and slow sedimenting type in the later stages. Only slow sedimenting antibodies were found in pigeons. Both molecular types were readily detectable in turkey serums using the indirect complement fixation (ICF) method and in the other species using the direct complement fixation method. Agglutinating antibodies detected by the capillary tube method of Mason were principally of the fast sedimenting type. Electrophoretic patterns of whole serums and gradient separated fractions confirmed that the antibodies were of the γ-globulin type. Inactivating serums at 56°C or 65°C caused a marked shift in the electrophoretic mobility of serum albumin, and 65°C inactivation reduced the γ2-globulin content. The serologic activity of fast sedimenting antibodies produced in the calf was eliminated by 65°C heating (as was previously shown by others). However, heating the serums or gradient fractions thereof from turkeys or sheep not only inactivated the fast sedimenting antibodies but also reduced the titers of slow sedimenting antibodies.

Viruses of the lymphogranuloma-psittacosis group isolated from opossums: opossum virus b.

EARLIER I reported1 the isolation from opossums of two distinct new disease agents belonging to the lymphogranuloma-psittacosis group (PLGV), designated them opossum viruses A and B, and described studies with opossum virus A (OVA). This communication reports investigations with opossum virus B (OVB), by the same procedures used with OVA.

The Relation of the Psittacosis Group (Chlamydiae) to Bacteria and Viruses

The Relation of the Psittacosis Group (Chlamydiae) to Bacteria and Viruses

Patterns of response to sulfadiazine, D-cycloserine and D-alanine in members of the psittacosis group.

Patterns of response to sulfadiazine, D-cycloserine and D-alanine in members of the psittacosis group.

Isolation of bedsoniae from the joints of patients with Reiter's syndrome.

Studies in 16 patients with Reiter's syndrome, consisting of arthritis, urethritis and/or conjunctivitis, suggest that bedsoniae (psittacosis-lymphogranuloma vene-reum-trachoma group of microorganisms) may play a role in arthritis in man. Attempts to isolate bedsoniae from synovial material or urethral and conjunctival scrapings from 8 patients were successful in 5 instances. Five of the 16 patients had significant complement-fixation liters against a psittacosis group antigen.

J. W. Moulder, The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria. Ciba Lectures in Microbial Biochemistry. 95 S., 30 Abb., 15 Tab. New York, London, Sydney 1964: John Wiley and Sons Inc. sh 30.—

Zeitschrift für allgemeine MikrobiologieVolume 6, Issue 2 p. 136-136 Buchbesprechung J. W. Moulder, The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria. Ciba Lectures in Microbial Biochemistry. 95 S., 30 Abb., 15 Tab. New York, London, Sydney 1964: John Wiley and Sons Inc. sh 30.— W. Schwartz, W. Schwartz (Hamburg)Search for more papers by this author W. Schwartz, W. Schwartz (Hamburg)Search for more papers by this author First published: 1966 https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.19660060209AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume6, Issue21966Pages 136-136 RelatedInformation

High Body Temperature of Pigeons and Sparrows As a Factor in Their Resistance to an Agent of the Psittacosis Group

It had been previously observed that large doses of a highly virulent, avian isolate of the psittacosis-LGV-trachoma (PLT) group of organisms originally recovered from turkeys failed to affect pigeons and sparrows while readily producing lethal infections in a variety of other birds and mammals (Page, 1965). On the suspicion that the unusually high normal body temperature (43 ± 0.5°C) of pigeons and sparrows might be a factor in the resistance of these birds to this PLT isolate, the in vitro rates of inactivation at 43 °C of the organisms infectivity for chicken embryos and the toxicity for mice were determined in comparison with an isolate of a strain normally found in pigeons and which causes disease in pigeons and sparrows. Growth rates of both isolates at 43 °C in cultures of mebryonic chicken tissues were also compared. The turkey isolate was inactivated in vitro at a consistently rapid rate at 43 °C while the pigeon isolate was relatively resistant to 43 °C inactivation. Both isolates failed to mult...

Endogenous Metabolism of Protein and Ribonucleic Acid in a Member of the Psittacosis Group

Journal Article Endogenous Metabolism of Protein and Ribonucleic Acid in a Member of the Psittacosis Group Get access James W. Moulder, James W. Moulder Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Dorothy L. Grisso, Dorothy L. Grisso Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Gloria J. Cho Gloria J. Cho Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 115, Issue 3, June 1965, Pages 254–262, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/115.3.254 Published: 01 June 1965 Article history Received: 13 November 1964 Published: 01 June 1965

The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria: Ciba Lectures in Microbial Biochemistry

The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria: Ciba Lectures in Microbial Biochemistry

The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria

This small book is a worthy companion to the author’s earlier volume “The Biochemistry of Intracellular Parasites.” Its subject is the group of infectious agents which cause psittacosis and ornithosis in birds, trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, inclusion conjunctivitis and pneumonitis in humans and enteritis, encephalitis, enzootic abortion, pneumonitis and meningopneumonitis in other mammals. Dr. Moulder’s thesis is that these obligate intracellular parasites are essentially bacteria and not viruses.With this in mind he reviews the morphology, growth characteristics, chemical composition and metabolic properties of these agents, including the effects of sulfonamides and antibiotics on metabolism and morphology. His summary of evidence to the effect that these microorganisms are highly adapted bacteria is thoroughly convincing. Since this book went to press, discoveries with respect to energy-yielding metabolic reactions in members of this group further substantiate his conclusions in this regard.

ENZYMES OF GLUCOSE CATABOLISM IN A MEMBER OF THE PSITTACOSIS GROUP.

Moulder, James W. (University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.), Dorothy L. Grisso, and Robert R. Brubaker. Enzymes of glucose catabolism in a member of the psittacosis group. J. Bacteriol. 89:810-812. 1965.-Extracts of preparations of the agent of meningopneumonitis made from infected chick-embryo allantoic fluid contained three enzymes of the pentose pathway of glucose degradation: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and phosphoglucose isomerase. Vertical starch-gel electrophoresis showed that the two dehydrogenases were qualitatively different from the corresponding enzymes of the host. Enzymes of the Embden-Meyerhof and Entner-Doudoroff pathways were not found.

Growth Characteristics of Three Agents of the Psittacosis Group in Human Diploid Cell Cultures

Growth Characteristics of Three Agents of the Psittacosis Group in Human Diploid Cell Cultures

CHANGES IN MOUSE PNEUMONITIS AGENT ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE TO CHLORTETRACYCLINE.

Moulder, James W. (University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.), Dorothy L. Novosel, and Ilse I. E. Tribby. Changes in mouse pneumonitis agent associated with development of resistance to chlortetracycline. J. Bacteriol. 89:17-22. 1965.-A chlortetracycline-resistant mutant of mouse pneumonitis agent, a member of the psittacosis group of microorganisms, differed in several ways from the susceptible stock from which it had been derived by serial chick-embryo passage in the presence of the antibiotic. It was almost completely resistant to chlortetracycline, had a longer growth cycle, produced many more very large particles, was not neutralized by parent antiserum and vice versa, was 10 times as resistant to d-cycloserine, and was highly lethal to mice when inoculated intracerebrally. These changes probably do not occur independently of one another but are the reflection of some genetically controlled change in the surface structure of the mouse pneumonitis particle which enables the resistant mutant to multiply in the presence of chlortetracycline.

The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria.James W. Moulder

<i>The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria.</i>James W. Moulder

Book Reviews : Psittacosis Group as Bacteria, by James W. Moulder. 95 pp. JOHN WILEY &amp; SONS. London and New York, 1964. £1 10s. 0d. [IAd /4

Book Reviews : Psittacosis Group as Bacteria, by James W. Moulder. 95 pp. JOHN WILEY &amp; SONS. London and New York, 1964. £1 10s. 0d. [IAd /4

NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM IN L CELLS INFECTED WITH A MEMBER OF THE PSITTACOSIS GROUP.

Multiplication of the meningopneumonitis agent in the cytoplasm of L cells in suspension culture is accompanied by parallel increases in cytoplasmic DNA, RNA, and phospholipid. Synthesis of RNA and phospholipid in infected cells is inhibited at the height of meningopneumonitis multiplication, but nuclear DNA synthesis is inhibited earlier and to a greater degree

The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria

The Psittacosis Group as Bacteria