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F Namavar

Publications and source records attributed to F Namavar.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Killing of Escherichia coli by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the presence of Bacteroides fragilis.

The inhibitory effect of Bacteroides fragilis on the in vitro killing of Escherichia coli by polymorphonuclear leucocytes was studied with two pairs of E coli and B fragilis isolated from human wound infections. Both B fragilis strains behaved similarly: they inhibited the killing of one E coli strain, while the killing of the other E coli strain was not affected. The different behaviour of the two E coli strains depended on their need for fresh serum in the killing by the polymorphonuclear leucocytes. The inhibitory effect of the B fragilis strains could be completely accounted for by their effect on complement.

Bacteroides fragilis↗

Pathogenic synergy: mixed intra-abdominal infections.

In this article we review our researches into the pathogenesis of mixed infections. These may conveniently be divided into in vitro and in vivo studies. In vitro we confirmed that interference with the killing of aerobes by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN's) is a property of the Bacteroides strains tested and appears to depend on competition for opsonins i.e. complement factors. Further studies are in progress to define which complement factors and which bacterial structures are involved. The influence of B. fragilis on chemotaxis has also been studied. Our preliminary data suggest that B. fragilis is itself poorly chemotactic and reduces the chemoattractivity of Proteus mirabilis. This observation is surprising when we consider that abscess formation is the hall-mark of B. fragilis infections and needs clarification. In vivo we have developed a skin infection model in mice which is economical and gives reproducible and quantitative results. In this model we have demonstrated pathogenic synergy between Escherichia coli and B. fragilis. Further studies are planned to assess the role of complement and bacterial factors in this in vivo synergy.

Animals↗

The role of different K antigens of Escherichia coli in phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The importance of K antigens from six strains of Escherichia coli for the interaction with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was studied. The major factor influencing this interaction was the ability of strains to activate complement by the classical route during opsonisation, this process being reduced for most K-positive strains. Interference of K antigens with the functioning of common pili as adhesions of eukaryotic cells was not observed nor a toxic effect of K antigens on PMNL.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis by mixed anaerobic and aerobic bacteria.

The induction of chemotactic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) by anaerobic and aerobic bacteria alone or in combination was evaluated. Washed cells as well as the supernate of Proteus mirabilis were chemotactic for leukocytes. The supernate of cultures of two strains of Bacteroides fragilis contained small amounts of chemotactic factors. No chemotactic factors were released from the non-fragilis Bacteroides strains. The supernates of cultures of anaerobic bacteria were capable of inhibiting chemotaxis of leukocytes to the chemotactic factors of P. mirabilis. P. mirabilis and two strains of B. fragilis generated chemotactic factors in serum but none of the other Bacteroides spp. tested were able to induce serum chemotactic factors.

Adult↗

Killing capacity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

The killing by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes of several species of bacteria, some of which were catalase positive, was examined in vitro in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. When all conditions other than the oxygen tension were identical, killing after 30 min was slightly greater in aerobic than in anaerobic conditions. However, after 60 and 120 min the difference between aerobic and anaerobic killing was smaller, and killing was nearly complete for all strains tested. These results conflict with the common opinion that oxygen is essential for efficient killing. Minor differences in experimental conditions can greatly influence results, and may be responsible for the discrepancy between this study and some previous studies on this subject.

Aerobiosis↗

K antigens of Escherichia coli and virulence in urinary-tract infection: studies in a mouse model.

The importance of K antigens of Escherichia coli as virulence factors was studied by comparing groups of mice given either strains of E. coli isolated from urinary tract infection in humans or mutant strains differing only in the absence of the K antigen. K antigens proved to be of minor importance for mouse nephropathogenicity; however, with the exception of the K(A) antigen, they contributed substantially to deaths attributed to more general infection. Possible mechanisms for the virulence of strains with K antigens are discussed in terms of the bactericidal effect of serum and phagocytosis.

Animals↗

Effect of anaerobic bacteria on killing of Proteus mirabilis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Killing of Proteus mirabilis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was tested in the presence of different Bacteroides species. In vitro experiments showed that anaerobic bacteria interfered with the killing of aerobic bacteria. However, this inhibitory effect was not a property of all Bacteroides species. Bacteroides gingivalis W83 showed the greatest inhibitory effect of the five Bacteroides strains tested. Killing of P. mirabilis was inhibited by the culture supernatant of B. gingivalis but not by washed cells. Two factors were found in the supernatant of B. gingivalis to account for the inhibitory effect. One was heat stable with a molecular weight of less than 3,500 and inhibited the killing activity of leukocytes, and the other was heat labile and partly inactivated the complement system. The killing experiments paralleled chemiluminescence measurements.

Bacteroides↗

Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of coagulase-negative staphylococci.

The phagocytosis and intracellular killing of different coagulase-negative staphylococcal species by polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes from one healthy donor were compared. The uptake of strains belonging to a given species varied from 60 to 80% with an average of 70% after 20 min incubation at 37 degrees C. Up to 95% of intracellular bacteria were killed after 10 min. There was no correlation between uptake capacity and species or biotype. The average rates of phagocytosis and killing strains whether isolated from urinary tract infections or from the skin were virtually the same.

Cells, Cultured↗

Nitroblue tetrazolium-dye reduction by rat peritoneal macrophages during the uptake of Diplococcus pneumoniae, type VI.

The relationship between the rate of particle ingestion and the rate of Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT)-dye reduction by macrophages was studied after incubation of peritoneal exudate macrophages with heat-killed type VI pneumococci. The adherence to a polyethylene surface of the macrophages during the uptake of the pneumococci was determined as well. In some experiments pneumococci opsonized with heat-stable opsonins were used as material to be ingested. The NBT-dye reduction and the surface adherence of the macrophages was enhanced when ingesting normal heat-killed pneumococci. During the uptake of opsonized, heat-killed pneumococci the macrophages showed an unaltered NBT-dye reduction and less adherence to a polyethylene surface as compared with macrophages incubated with normal heat-killed pneumococci. This implies that using opsonized pneumococci the quantitative NBT-dye reduction assay is not reliable as a parameter for macrophage phagocytosis, because the uptake was in fact enhanced. The surface adherence of the macrophages did not reflect the enhanced ingestion of opsonized bacteria either.

Animals↗

Taxonomy of coagulase-negative staphylococci: a comparison of two widely used classification schemes.

In a comparative study 351 strains of Micrococcus subgroups 1-3 (Baird-Parker, 1963, 1965, 1974) were classified according to the Kloos and Schleifer scheme (1975b). The results showed that Micrococcus subgroups 1, 2 and 3 are heterogeneous groups in the Kloos and Schleifer scheme. Strains belonging to Micrococcus subgroups 1 and 2 were mostly classified by the Kloos and Schleifer criteria as Staphylococcus hominis, Micrococcus subgroup 3 strains from the skin as S. cohnii, while Micrococcus subgroup 3 strains from urinary infections were classified mainly as S. saprophyticus. The correlation of novobiocin resistant S. saprophyticus biotype III (Baird-Parker, 1974) with S. saprophyticus (Kloos and Schleifer, 1975a, 1975b) when isolated from urine, was 80%. Although the Kloos and Schleifer scheme provides more information about biochemical characters, doubts are expressed about the validity of some of the species so delineated.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Novobiocin resistance and virulence of strains of Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from urine and skin.

A method was developed to study virulence of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Our results showed that coagulase-negative staphylococci injected into adult mice by the intracerebral route did not give rise to lethal infections, whereas mice aged 2 days were much more susceptible. Novobiocin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus saprophyticus were more virulent than strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Strains of S. saprophyticus biotype 3 of Baird-Parker's classification varied in virulence according to novobiocin sensitivity. In the classification of Kloos and Schleifer, S. saprophyticus biotype 3 can be subdivided into four distinct staphylococcal species, namely S. saprophyticus , S.cohnii, S.haemolyticus and S.warneri. S. chonii and S. saprophyticus were equally virulent for mice aged 2 days, but novobiocinsensitive S. haemolyticus was less virulent. On epidemiological grounds, however, it would seem that S. saprophyticus has some undefined advantage in invading the urinary tract.

Animals↗

Phagocytosis and killing of suspended and adhered bacteria by peritoneal cells after dialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of dialysis fluid containing various glucose concentrations on the phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus by rat peritoneal cells under conditions mimicking the in vivo situation. DESIGN: Phagocytosis and killing were evaluated by quantitation of the killing capacity of macrophages after in vivo phagocytosis of the bacteria as well as by an in vitro flow cytometric assay of the phagocytosis and killing of adhered bacteria by peritoneal cells. ANIMALS: Male Wistar rats. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: It was expected that the intraperitoneal administration of dialysis fluid would impair the capacity of peritoneal cells to eliminate bacteria. RESULTS: The first test revealed no effects of glucose concentration or dwell time on the killing of phagocytosed bacteria by macrophages, median percentages ranging between 29% and 64%. In the second series of experiments no effect of glucose concentration on the phagocytosis and killing of adhered bacteria was found either; however, longer dwell times significantly enhanced both the phagocytosis (at a dwell time of 1 hour, under 20%; at dwell times of 4 or 18 hours, above 20%, p < 0.02) and the killing (at a dwell time of 1 hour, under 53%; at dwell times of 4 and 18 hours, above 70%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Glucose concentration has no effect on the phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus, whereas the dwell time significantly enhances both of these functional capacities of peritoneal cells if the bacteria are adhered to surfaces.

Animals↗