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J MacDougall

Publications and source records attributed to J MacDougall.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Physical map of the linear chromosome of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi 212, a causative agent of Lyme disease, and localization of rRNA genes.

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, and other members of the Borrelia genus are unique among characterized bacteria in having a linear chromosome. A restriction map of the chromosome of B. burgdorferi 212 was constructed by making extensive use of digestions in agarose blocks of restriction endonuclease fragments or chromosomal DNA that had been purified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A total of 47 digestion sites for the enzymes SgrAI, SacII, MluI, BssHII, EagI, SmaI, NaeI, and ApaI were located. In most regions of the map, the gap between sites is 50 kbp or less, and 122 kbp is the largest distance between adjacent sites. The mapping data were consistent with previous conclusions that the B. burgdorferi chromosome is linear. The total size of the B. burgdorferi 212 chromosome was determined to be 946 kbp from the sums of the sizes of SacII, MluI, BssHII, and SmaI fragments, making it one of the smallest known bacterial chromosomes. The rRNA genes were found to be located near the center of the chromosome. One copy of the 16S rRNA gene (rrs) and two copies of the 23S rRNA gene (designated rrlA and rrlB), the latter pair in a tandem repeat, were detected. This particular complement of these two genes has not been reported for another bacterium.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1992

Homology of a plasmid from the spirochete Treponema denticola with the single-stranded DNA plasmids.

The 2,647-bp nucleotide sequence of cryptic plasmid pTD1, isolated from the oral spirochete Treponema denticola, was determined. The sequence revealed two open reading frames, A and B, which encode polypeptides of 335 and 235 amino acids, respectively. Open reading frame A shows sequence similarity to genes that encode replication proteins from a group of plasmids common in gram-positive bacteria, which replicate via a single-stranded intermediate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Isolation and characterization of a plasmid from Treponema denticola.

Agarose gel electrophoresis of whole genomic DNA of the oral spirochaete Treponema denticola has revealed a plasmid-like fraction. Purification and restriction enzyme analysis has confirmed the presence of a 2.6-kb circular plasmid, which has been mapped for restriction sites and cloned into the Escherichia coli plasmid pUC18. Southern blot analysis of genomic T. denticola DNA, using the plasmid as a probe, has shown that the plasmid is present only as an extra-chromosomal element. No plasmid-coded recombinant gene product from a PstI insert in pUC18 has been detected in host cells of E. coli by SDS-PAGE or immunoblotting with polyclonal immune rabbit serum to T. denticola. The discovery of this plasmid may provide a useful tool in the application of new molecular approaches in spirochaetal biology.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1991

Emergency cervical cerclage.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of emergency cervical cerclage. DESIGN: Retrospective review of patients who underwent emergency cervical cerclage between August 1986 and August 1989. SETTING: University College and the Middlesex Hospitals obstetric unit, a neonatal referral centre. SUBJECTS: 19 women between 16 and 28 weeks gestation with a cervical dilatation between 3 and 10 cm. There were two twin pregnancies. INTERVENTIONS: Amniocentesis and bacteriological assessments were performed prior to cerclage and prophylactic antibiotics were given. Insertion of sutures was aided by a combination of techniques described previously. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prolongation of gestation and pregnancy outcome. Bacteriological findings at delivery and maternal and fetal morbidity were also recorded. RESULTS: Membranes remained intact in all the women after cerclage. Fifteen live babies were born and 13 of them survived (survival rate 63%). Gestation was prolonged from between 1 and 19 weeks in these patients and the gestational age at delivery ranged from 25 to 41 weeks. All eight intrauterine or neonatal deaths were associated with infection. Infecting organisms included Escherichia coli, Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Fusobacterium spp. Pregnancy was prolonged for less than or equal to 5 weeks in these infected pregnancies. A cervical laceration occurred in a patient who had the suture inserted at full dilatation and subsequently laboured, but there were no other maternal complications. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency cervical cerclage can prolong pregnancy and influence the outcome favourably.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Antibody response of fibrocystic patients to homologous 0-typable and 0-defective isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Antibody titres to Pseudomonas aeruginosa of sera from 60 adult fibrocystic patients were determined in an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with whole cells of homologous isolates which had been classified according to 0-antigen state by their reactivity with 0-typing antisera. Patients who were continuously colonised with Ps aeruginosa gave the highest titres: range 1500-64000 (mean 11000) and 500-48000 (mean 9000) with homologous 0-typable and 0-defective isolates, respectively. Lower titres to both varieties of isolates were obtained with recently colonised patients, and non-colonised patients gave titres with reference laboratory strains marginally above those of healthy controls. Serum titres of patients with sequential isolates were strain dependent and did not correlate with the 0-antigen state of the strain. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblot analysis of these sera and strains showed antibody binding primarily to high molecular weight 0-repeating units of lipopolysaccharide. It is concluded that the 0-antigen of the strain of Ps aeruginosa used in the ELISA test does not influence the titre obtained with fibrocystic sera, and it is recommended that serum titres should be assessed with a panel of homologous isolates from patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Staff nurses' attitudes toward nursing research: a descriptive survey.

Staff nurse involvement in clinical nursing research is dependent on the attitudes nurses hold toward research. An exploration of these attitudes was undertaken in a 464-bed midwestern teaching hospital as it developed its nursing research procedures. A questionnaire was developed which incorporated the Boothe Attitudes on Nursing Research Scale. All registered nurses (n = 925) at the facility were surveyed with a response rate of 77.8% (n = 720). Findings indicated that many nurses were interested in research and believed that the institution would support research activities and the implementation of research findings. Some deterrences to conducting research included: time, lack of knowledge, and the nurses's perception of the supervisory support and the research support services.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Polyagglutinating and non-typable strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis.

Serologically polyagglutinating (PA) and non-typable (NT) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are frequently isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, but are uncommon in other patients. From serologically typical parent strains, we isolated two variants (one PA, the other NT) which differed from the parent in bacteriophage susceptibility or in sensitivity to the bactericidal action of normal human serum. The PA and NT variants (strains 7/1 and 18S respectively) reacted with antiserum to the parent strains 7 and 18R but did not absorb homologous specific O antibody from antiserum to the parent strains. In contrast the parent strains absorbed anti-PA and anti-NT antibodies from antisera to the variant strains. The yield of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from acetone-dried cells of the parent strain 7 was similar to that of the PA derivative; but the NT strain 18S yielded only half the LPS of its parent strain. LPS of the variant 7/1 gave a banding profile by SDS-PAGE similar to that of the parent LPS 7, but lacked high-molecular-weight components. LPS of the variant 18S appeared to be grossly different in profile from LPS 18R. Of 533 isolates of P. aeruginosa that were tested with O antisera and with antisera to the two variants, 15% were O-typable and 22% were O-non-typable; 26% reacted with anti-PA serum alone, 10% with anti-NT serum alone, and 27% were agglutinated by both sera. There was a statistically significant correlation between serum sensitivity of CF isolates and their reaction with the PA or NT antisera.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1986

Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis by selective media.

Pseudomonas Isolation Agar (selective agent, Irgasan, 25 mg/1) and Pseudomonas Selective Agar (selective agents, cetrimide 200mg/1 and nalidixic acid 15 mg/1) inhibited some strains of P aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis sputum but did not inhibit isolates from other sources. Of 200 cystic fibrosis isolates, 22 were inhibited by 16 mg/1 Irgasan, 45 by 8 mg/1 nalidixic acid, and 15 by 128 mg/1 cetrimide. We recommend that cystic fibrosis sputum should be cultured on selective and non-selective media to maximise the isolation of P aeruginosa.

Carbanilides↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Extrachromosomal elements of spirochetes.

The spirochetes include some important pathogenic bacteria, Treponema, Borrelia and Leptospira. The pathogeneses of these spirochetes are very diverse. In an attempt to learn more about the virulence factors among the spirochetes, their genetic organization and capacity have been studied. Structural analysis of the genome in Borrelia has shown that the genome is composed of one linear maxi-chromosome with additional linear minichromosomes as well as several supercoiled circular plasmids. Moreover, the molecular analysis of the terminal ends of one of the linear minichromosomes has revealed that this unique replicon has sequence similarities with poxviruses and particularly the viral agent of African swine fever. The presence of nucleic-acid-containing vesicles and its possible role in mediating DNA transfer between borreliae is an additional, very interesting feature of these organisms. Treponema does not contain any linear DNA, chromosomal or extrachromosomal, however molecular characterization of a 2.6-kb plasmid of Treponema denticola has been performed with the aim of establishing cloning vehicles to study the virulence properties of the genus Treponema.

Borrelia↗