PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D J Brenner

Publications and source records attributed to D J Brenner.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Occurrence and distribution of serotypes of the Arizona subgroup of Salmonella strains in the United States from 1967 to 1976.

The Salmonella Arizona subgroup contains gram-negative enteric bacteria that are closely related to other salmonellae biochemically, serologically, and genetically. Although the Arizona subgroup may be isolated from a wide variety of nonhuman and human sources, the arizonae are uncommonly recognized as human pathogens, and surprisingly little is known about their epidemiology. From 1967 through 1976, the Centers for Disease Control received 858 Arizona subgroup cultures from human and nonhuman sources representing 143 different serotypes in 33 somatic groups; several serotypes had not been previously reported. The 374 cultures from humans represent 71 different serotypes; extraintestinal isolates were present in 31 (44%) serotypes. Compared with data from a previous 20 years of surveillance, the proportion of Arizona subgroup strains isolated from stools, blood, and other sites was remarkably stable, but several serotypes showed marked changes in their frequency of isolation. In total, the ratio of extraintestinal to intestinal isolates was 0.37, but marked serotype-specific variation was noted, suggesting differences in virulence associated with serotype.

Amphibians↗

Enterobacter asburiae sp. nov., a new species found in clinical specimens, and reassignment of Erwinia dissolvens and Erwinia nimipressuralis to the genus Enterobacter as Enterobacter dissolvens comb. nov. and Enterobacter nimipressuralis comb. nov.

Enterobacter asburiae sp. nov. is a new species that was formerly referred to as Enteric Group 17 and that consists of 71 strains, 70 of which were isolated from humans. Enterobacter asburiae sp. nov. strains gave positive reactions in tests for methyl red, citrate utilization (Simmons and Christensen's), urea hydrolysis, L-ornithine decarboxylase, growth in KCN, acid and gas production from D-glucose, and acid production from L-arabinose, cellobiose, glycerol (negative in 1 to 2 days, positive in 3 to 7 days), lactose, D-mannitol, alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, salicin, D-sorbitol, sucrose, trehalose, and D-xylose. They gave negative reactions in the Voges-Proskauer test and in tests for indole, H2S production, phenylalanine, L-lysine decarboxylase, motility, gelatin, utilization of malonate, lipase, DNase, tyrosine clearing, acid production from adonitol, D-arabitol, dulcitol, erythritol, i(myo)-inositol, melibiose, and L-rhamnose. They gave variable reactions in tests for L-arginine dihydrolase (25% positive after 2 days) and acid production from raffinose (69% positive after 2 days). Thirty-four Enterobacter asburiae sp. nov. strains were tested for DNA relatedness by the hydroxyapatite method with 32PO4-labeled DNA from the designated type strain (1497-78, ATCC 35953). The strains were 69 to 100% related in 60 degrees C reactions and 63 to 100% related in 75 degrees C reactions. Divergence within related sequences was 0 to 2.5%. Relatedness of Enterobacter asburiae sp. nov. to 84 strains of members of the Enterobacteriaceae was 5 to 63%, with closest relatedness to strains of Enterobacter cloacae, Erwinia dissolvens, Enterobacter taylorae, Enterobacter agglomerans, Erwinia nimipressuralis, and Enterobacter gergoviae. All strains tested were susceptible to gentamicin and sulfdiazine, and most were susceptible to chloramphenicol, colistin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, carbenicillin and streptomycin. All strains were resistant to ampicillan, cephalothin, and penicillin, and most were resistant or moderately resistant to tetracycline. Enterobacter asburiae sp. nov strains were isolated from a variety of human sources, most prevalent of which were urine (16 strains), respiratory sources (15 strains), stools (12 strains), wounds (11 strains), and blood (7 strains). The clinical significance of Enterobacter aburiae is not known. As a result of this and previous studies, proposals are made to transfer Erwinia dissolvens and Erwinia nimipressuralis to the genus Enterobacter as Enterobacter dissolvens comb. nov. and Enterobacter nimipressuralis comb. nov., respectively.

Adult↗

11th serogroup of Legionella pneumophila isolated from a patient with fatal pneumonia.

A Legionella-like organism (strain 797-PA-H; ATCC 43130) was isolated from a specimen taken from an endotracheal tube of a patient 4 days before death and from the left lung at autopsy. Growth characteristics were consistent with those for Legionella species. Strain 797-PA-H gave negative test results with available direct immunofluorescence assay conjugates and with slide agglutination test antisera prepared against the 22 Legionella species and 35 serogroups now recognized. Minimal reactivity (1 to 2 +) was observed with both tests by using reagents prepared against the Legionella-like organism Lansing 3. Reciprocal absorption studies, however, showed that the cross-reactive antibodies could be removed easily. Physiologic, gas-liquid chromatographic, and DNA hybridization tests revealed that the strain belonged to the species Legionella pneumophila. Therefore, strain 797-PA-H was designated as the type strain of a new L. pneumophila serogroup, serogroup 11.

Aged↗

Aeromonas intestinal infections in the United States.

To evaluate the clinical and epidemiologic aspects of aeromonas enteritis, we studied the cases of 34 persons nationwide from whom Aeromonas hydrophila had been isolated in large numbers from stool in 1984. Compared with 68 control subjects, these patients were more likely to have drunk untreated water, usually from private wells (odds ratio = 20.9; p less than 0.01). Eighteen of the isolates belonged to a single DNA-relatedness group of the eight described for Aeromonas species, but no clear correlation between illnesses in patients and any tested genotypic or phenotypic characteristic of recovered organisms was found. Gastrointestinal complaints tended to be chronic in infected adults and acute and severe in children. Nine patients had become ill after taking antimicrobial agents to which recovered Aeromonas species were resistant; 5 persons took antimicrobials to which their Aeromonas strains were susceptible and had alleviation or resolution of their gastrointestinal symptoms. These findings indicate that at least some Aeromonas strains are enteropathogenic for the normal host and that these organisms are acquired by drinking untreated water.

Adult↗

Dosimetry comparison and characterisation of an Al K ultrasoft x-ray beam from an MRC cold-cathode source.

Ultrasoft x-rays of 0.3-5 keV have provided a unique tool for the investigation of intracellular mechanisms of radiation action in biological organisms, including mammalian cells. However, their use presents unique practical problems in dosimetry and experimental design. Detailed interpretation of the biological results requires reliable dosimetry and well characterised monoenergetic beams. This paper presents a comparison between two fundamentally different dosimetric techniques, namely the ionisation current in an extrapolation chamber and photon counts in a proportional counter. Agreement within 7% was obtained when these two methods were applied to an Al K x-ray beam (1.5 keV) from an MRC cold-cathode transmission target discharge tube as previously used in many biological experiments. Photographic film was calibrated as a relative dosimetric technique and used for investigation of the intensity uniformity of the radiation field. These techniques provide a comprehensive characterisation of the beam in the position of the biological cells, including photon flux (or absorbed dose rate), spectral purity (showing much less than 1% bremsstrahlung relative to characteristic Al x-rays) and uniformity over the irradiation area (within about 5% for mammalian cell irradiations).

Cell Survival↗

Water-related nosocomial pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 and 10.

Between August 1978 and November 1983, 21 cases of pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila occurred in the Leiden University Hospital, mainly among immunocompromised patients. A new serogroup of L. pneumophila, designated serogroup 10 (prototype strain Leiden 1), was isolated from bronchial secretions of four patients, and five patients had serological evidence of infection with this organism. Nine patients had a culture-confirmed infection with L. pneumophila serogroup 1. L. pneumophila serogroups 1 and 10 were also isolated from the hot potable water supply in the building to which 19 of the 21 patients had been admitted. The isolates of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 from patients and the hot potable water were identical in studies with monoclonal antibodies and had the same plasmid profiles. These findings provide further evidence that in our hospital potable water contaminated with L. pneumophila is a source of infection, mainly in immunocompromised patients.

Adult↗

Legionella anisa: a new species of Legionella isolated from potable waters and a cooling tower.

Between March 1980 and June 1981, five strains of Legionella-like organisms were isolated from water. Four were recovered from potable water collected from hospitals in Chicago, Ill., and Los Angeles, Calif., during outbreaks of nosocomial legionellosis. The fifth strain was isolated from water collected from an industrial cooling tower in Jamestown, N.Y. The strains exhibited biochemical reactions typical of Legionella species and were gram-negative motile rods which grew on buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar but not on blood agar, required cysteine, and were catalase positive, urease negative, nitrate negative, hippurate negative, and nonfermentative. All strains were positive for oxidase and beta-lactamase and produced a brown, diffusible pigment. Of the five strains, four exhibited blue-white autofluorescence under long-wavelength UV light. The fatty-acid composition and ubiquinone content of these strains were consistent with those of other Legionella species. Direct fluorescent-antibody examination of the five strains with conjugates to previously described Legionella species demonstrated no cross-reactions except with the conjugates to L. longbeachae serogroup 2 and L. bozemanii serogroup 2. Four strains gave a 4+ reaction to the L. longbeachae serogroup 2 conjugate and the fifth strain gave a 1+ reaction. Each of the five strains gave a 4+ reaction with the conjugate to L. bozemanii serogroup 2. DNAs from the five strains were highly related (84 to 99%) and showed 5 to 57% relatedness to other Legionella species. These strains constitute a new species in the genus Legionella, and the name Legionella anisa sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of L. anisa is WA-316-C3 (ATCC 35292).

Air Conditioning↗

Genetic structure of populations of Legionella pneumophila.

The genetic structure of populations of Legionella pneumophila was defined by an analysis of electrophoretically demonstrable allelic variation at structural genes encoding 22 enzymes in 292 isolates from clinical and environmental sources. Nineteen of the loci were polymorphic, and 62 distinctive electrophoretic types (ETs), representing multilocus genotypes, were identified. Principal coordinates and clustering analyses demonstrated that isolates received as L. pneumophila were a heterogeneous array of genotypes that included two previously undescribed species. For 50 ETs of L. pneumophila (strict sense), mean genetic diversity per locus was 0.312, and diversity was equivalent in ETs represented by isolates recovered from clinical sources and those collected from environmental sources. Cluster analysis revealed four major groups or lineages of ETs in L. pneumophila. Genetic diversity among ETs of the same serotype was, on average, 93% of that in the total sample of ETs. Isolates marked by particular patterns of reactivity to a panel of nine monoclonal antibodies were also genetically heterogeneous, mean diversity within patterns being about 75% of the total. Both Pontiac fever and the pneumonic form of legionellosis may be caused by isolates of the same ET. The genetic structure of L. pneumophila is clonal, and many clones apparently are worldwide in distribution. The fact that L. pneumophila is only 60% as variable as Escherichia coli raises the possibility that isolates recovered from clinical cases and man-made environments are a restricted subset of all clones in the species as a whole.

Alleles↗

Koserella trabulsii, a new genus and species of Enterobacteriaceae formerly known as Enteric Group 45.

The name Koserella trabulsii is proposed for a group of Enterobacteriaceae formerly called Enteric Group 45. This group consists of 12 strains that were originally identified as atypical Hafnia alvei. K. trabulsii strains were negative for indole production, Voges-Proskauer, H2S production, urea hydrolysis, phenylalanine deaminase, and acid production from glycerol, lactose, sucrose, and D-sorbitol; they were positive for methyl red, citrate (Simmons), lysine and ornithine decarboxylases, arginine dihydrolase (negative in 1 to 2 days and positive in 3 to 7 days), and acid production from cellobiose and melibiose; and they were resistant to the Hafnia-specific bacteriophage of Guinée and Valkenburg. They were tested for DNA relatedness by the hydroxyapatite method with 32PO4-labeled DNA from the designated type strain (CDC 3349-72, ATCC 35313). The 12 strains were 87 to 99% related in 60 degrees C reactions. Relatedness of K. trabulsii to 71 DNA hybridization reference strains of representative species of Enterobacteriaceae was 4 to 37%. It was 15 to 16% related to H. alvei. All strains were susceptible to nalidixic acid, sulfadiazine, gentamicin, kanamycin, and chloramphenicol, and 83% were susceptible to nalidixic acid, sulfadiazine, gentamicin, kanamycin, and chloramphenicol, and 83% were susceptible to tetracycline. Most of the strains were resistant or intermediate to penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, colistin, and cephalothin. Five of the strains were isolated from wounds, three were from the respiratory tract, and one each was from a stool, knee fluid, water, and an unknown source. The clinical significance of this organism is not known; therefore, future studies should focus on its isolation and its relationship to human disease.

Adult↗

Escherichia fergusonii and Enterobacter taylorae, two new species of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from clinical specimens.

Escherichia fergusonii (formerly known as Enteric Group 10) and Enterobacter taylorae (formerly known as Enteric Group 19) are proposed as new species in the family Enterobacteriaceae. By DNA hybridization (32P, 60 degrees C, hydroxyapatite), strains of E. fergusonii were 90 to 97% related to the type strain (holotype) ATCC 35469. They were most closely related to Escherichia coli and more distantly related to species in other genera. E. fergusonii strains are positive for indole production, methyl red, lysine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase, and motility. They ferment D-glucose with gas production and also ferment adonitol, L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, maltose, D-xylose, trehalose, cellobiose, and D-arabitol. They are negative for Voges-Proskauer, citrate utilization (17% positive), urea hydrolysis, phenylalanine deamination, arginine dihydrolase, growth in KCN, and fermentation of lactose, sucrose, myo-inositol, D-sorbitol, raffinose, and alpha-methyl-D-glucoside. By DNA hybridization (32P, 60 degrees C, hydroxyapatite), strains of E. taylorae were 84 to 95% related to the type strain (holotype) ATCC 35317. Their nearest relative was E. cloacae, to which they were 61% related. Other named species were more distantly related. Strains of E. taylorae are positive for Voges-Proskauer, citrate utilization, arginine dihydrolase, ornithine decarboxylase, motility, growth in KCN medium, and malonate utilization. They ferment D-glucose with gas production and also ferment D-mannitol, L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, maltose, D-xylose, trehalose, and cellobiose. They are negative for indole production, methyl red, H2S production on triple sugar-iron agar, urea hydrolysis, phenylalanine deamination, lysine decarboxylase, gelatin hydrolysis, and fermentation of adonitol, i-inositol, D-sorbitol, and raffinose. Both new species occur in human clinical specimens. Two strains of E. fergusonii were isolated from blood. Five stains of E. taylorae were isolated from blood, and one was from spinal fluid. These blood and spinal fluid isolates suggest possible clinical significance, but this point requires further study.

Aged↗

Illness associated with Campylobacter laridis, a newly recognized Campylobacter species.

Campylobacter laridis, a recently described thermophilic Campylobacter species found principally in seagulls, has not previously been linked to illness in humans. Six clinical isolates of this species were referred to the national campylobacter reference laboratory in 1982 and 1983. Each isolate was confirmed by biochemical characterization and by DNA relatedness studies. The six isolates were obtained during an illness: enteritis in four, severe crampy abdominal pain in one, and terminal bacteremia in an immunocompromised host in one. The infections occurred in persons 8 months to 71 years old. Neither the geographic distribution nor the reports of the patients suggest that seagulls played a direct role in the epidemiology of these infections. This potential human enteric pathogen appears to be clinically, epidemiologically, and microbiologically similar to Campylobacter jejuni and may be mistaken for it if nalidixic acid susceptibility screening is not routinely performed.

Abdomen↗

Leminorella, a new genus of Enterobacteriaceae: identification of Leminorella grimontii sp. nov. and Leminorella richardii sp. nov. found in clinical specimens.

Leminorella is proposed as a new genus for the group of Enterobacteriaceae formerly known as Enteric Group 57. Strains of Leminorella gave positive tests for H2S production, acid production from L-arabinose and D-xylose, and tyrosine clearing; they were negative for indole production, Voges-Proskauer, urea hydrolysis, phenylalanine deaminase, motility, gelatin liquefaction, lysine and ornithine decarboxylases, arginine dihydrolase, growth in KCN, and acid production from adonitol, D-arabitol, cellobiose, erythritol, D-galactose, myo-inositol, lactose, maltose, D-mannitol, D-mannose, melibiose, alpha-CH3-glucoside, raffinose, L-rhamnose, salicin, D-sorbitol, sucrose, and trehalose. By DNA hybridization, strains of Leminorella were only 3 to 16% related to other Enterobacteriaceae and were divided into three groups. Leminorella grimontii is proposed as the type species for the genus and strain CDC 1944-81, ATCC 33999, is designated as the type strain. There were four strains of L. grimontii from stool specimens and two from urine specimens. L. richardii is proposed as the name for the second species (type strain, CDC 0978-82, ATCC 33998). All four L. richardii strains were from stool specimens. L. grimontii can be distinguished from L. richardii because it produces gas from glucose (100%) and acid from dulcitol (83%) and is methyl red positive (100%). One strain, CDC 3346-72, was more related to L. grimontii by DNA hybridization than to L. richardii, but the lower relatedness to both of these species indicated that it may be a third species. Biochemically it could not be distinguished from L. grimontii. All Leminorella strains were resistant (no zone of inhibition) to ampicillin, carbenicillin, and cephalothin. Some of the Leminorella strains were sent to us for Salmonella serotyping, and two reacted weakly in Salmonella antisera. The clinical significance of Leminorella is unknown.

DNA, Bacterial↗

"Campylobacter hyointestinalis" sp. nov.: a new species of Campylobacter found in the intestines of pigs and other animals.

The name "Campylobacter hyointestinalis" sp. nov. is proposed for a Campylobacter species that was isolated from the intestines of pigs with proliferative enteritis. "C. hyointestinalis" is also found in the feces of cattle and has been isolated from the intestine of a hamster. "C. hyointestinalis" is distinguished from previously described catalase-positive Campylobacter species by colony morphology, ability to produce H2S in triple sugar iron agar, ability to grow anaerobically in 0.1% trimethylamine N-oxide hydrochloride, resistance to nalidixic acid, susceptibility to cephalothin and metronidazole, and hydrogenase activity. Sixteen "C. hyointestinalis" strains were highly related (greater than or equal to 76%) by DNA-DNA hybridization (hydroxyapatite method, 50 and 65 degrees C). Other Campylobacter species were less than or equal to 30% related to "C. hyointestinalis." The type strain of "C. hyointestinalis" is designated 80-4577-4 (= ATCC 35217), and its DNA has a guanine-plus-cytosine content of 36 mol%.

Animals↗

Biochemical and genetic characteristics of atypical Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus strains isolated from humans in the United States.

During a 2-year period, 14 biochemically atypical Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus-like strains were received by the Campylobacter Reference Laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control. Sources of the isolates were blood, nine strains; stools, two strains; amniotic fluid, one strain; and abscesses, two strains. Atypical phenotypic characteristics exhibited by one or more strains were growth at 42 degrees C, 10 strains; no H2S by lead acetate paper, 3 strains; resistance to a 30-micrograms cephalothin disk, 2 strains; and nonmotility, 1 strain. By DNA-DNA hybridization, all 14 isolates and the type strain of C. fetus subsp. fetus (ATCC 27374) were 94 to 100% related in reassociation reactions at 50 degrees C, with 0.0 to 0.5% divergence, and were 86 to 100% related in reassociation reactions at 65 degrees C. Thus, all of these atypical strains were C. fetus subsp. fetus. MICs of 11 antimicrobial agents for these 14 strains were variable. All strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, and tetracycline, and most were susceptible to ampicillin, clindamycin, and penicillin. Eleven strains were resistant to cephalothin (MIC greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml), nine were resistant to rifampin (MIC greater than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml), and all were resistant to nalidixic acid (MIC greater than 32 micrograms/ml) and vancomycin (MIC greater than 32 micrograms/ml). One can expect to see biochemical variability in C. fetus subsp. fetus strains and to encounter such strains from a variety of human sources, the most important of which appears to be blood.

Campylobacter Infections↗

Second serogroup of Legionella feeleii strains isolated from humans.

Three strains of Legionella feeleii from patients with pneumonia (425-MI-H, 691-WI-H, and 693-WI-H) and one environmental strain (713-MI-E) received at the Centers for Disease Control for reference diagnostic testing were compared with the type strain WO-44C-C3 (ATCC 35072) by DNA hybridization, chemical analysis of cellular fatty acids and ubiquinones, biochemical tests, and serological characteristics. All four isolates were assigned to the L. feeleii species on the basis of DNA hybridization results. However, strains 691-WI-H and 693-WI-H were serologically distinct from strain WO-44C-C3, as shown by their minimal reactivity (1 to 2+) with a direct immunofluorescence conjugate prepared against L. feeleii serogroup 1 (strain WO-44C-C3). Therefore, strains 691-WI-H and 693-WI-H were placed in a new L. feeleii serogroup (serogroup 2). The reference strain of L. feeleii serogroup 2 is 691-WI-H (ATCC 35849).

Animals↗

Second serogroup of Legionella hackeliae isolated from a patient with pneumonia.

A Legionella-like organism (strain 798-PA-H, ATCC 35999) isolated from a lung aspirate was shown by DNA hybridization to belong to the species Legionella hackeliae. Growth, gas-liquid chromatographic, and physiologic characteristics were consistent with those of the type strain of L. hackeliae, Lansing 2 (ATCC 35250). However, 798-PA-H was minimally reactive with L. hackeliae direct immunofluorescence assay conjugate or slide agglutination test antiserum. Cross-absorption studies with 798-PA-H and Lansing 2 antisera supported placing 798-PA-H in a second serogroup of L. hackeliae.

Agglutination Tests↗