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M Adamson

Publications and source records attributed to M Adamson.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Lactoperoxidase binding to streptococci.

There have been conflicting reports regarding the binding of lactoperoxidase to bacterial cell surfaces. We describe here the effects of cell-bound lactoperoxidase on acid production by suspensions of Streptococcus mutans (NCTC 10449) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate. Saline suspensions of log-phase bacteria were treated with 0.1 mg of lactoperoxidase per ml and were then washed thoroughly. The addition of hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate markedly reduced the acid production of these lactoperoxidase-treated bacteria but had no effect on the acid production of untreated controls. After a 3-h incubation in saline, the lactoperoxidase-treated bacteria produced acid in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate at the same rate as untreated bacteria. These observations suggest that lactoperoxidase is initially bound to the cell surface in an enzymatically active form at a concentration sufficient to inhibit acid production. The lactoperoxidase is slowly degraded or desorbed as the bacteria stand in saline suspension.

Cell Membrane

Enzyme activity of salivary lactoperoxidase adsorbed to human enamel.

Human saliva was incubated with human enamel powder, and the lactoperoxidase activity of the saliva was measured before and after incubation. Liquidphase lactoperoxidase activity was reduced in direct proportion to the weight of enamel powder added. Lactoperoxidase molecules were adsorbed to the enamel surface in an enzymatically active conformation, and this enamel-bound lactoperoxidase activity was also measured. The adsorption of lactoperoxidase was irreversible and produced at least a 40% increase in the concentration of lactoperoxidase in the enamel surface phase as compared with its concentration in the liquid phase. Enamel-bound lactoperoxidase, as well as the free enzyme, was capable of inactivating the key glycolytic enzyme hexokinase. The implications of the adsorption phenomenon for bacterial colonization are discussed.

Adsorption

Foetal breathing.

This article looks at the current thinking about foetal breathing. Initially, animal studies are discussed and factors affecting foetal breathing defined. These studies are then correlated with preliminary human foetal studies, leading to the possible role that breathing movements may play in defining hypoxaemia in the foetus a risk.

Anesthesia