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M Jacques

Publications and source records attributed to M Jacques.

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The normal microflora of the female rabbit's genital tract.

Microorganisms associated with the vagina, cervix and uterus of rabbits were isolated and identified. The predominant microorganisms isolated from the vaginas and cervices were coagulase-negative staphylococci, micrococci, and nonfermentative bacilli. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated frequently, but in small numbers, from the uteri. The pH of the rabbit vagina was found to be near neutrality. Our data indicate that the genital flora of female rabbits is relatively simple, regarding the number and type of microorganisms.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effects of mannose and N-acetylneuraminic acid on the envelope and the adherence of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolate to rabbit mesentery.

Sugars and sugar derivatives were investigated as potential inhibitors of adherence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; in this experiment rabbit mesentery was used as a reliable and convenient tissue. The adherence of N. gonorrhoeae isolate 2299 was reduced by half and more, as compared to controls, in the presence of 1,0 mg N-acetylneuraminic acid or D-mannose per ml of culture media, but not by the other sugars tested. Our data suggest that the N. gonorrhoeae isolate used in this work has mannose-binding related activity which participates in the process of its adherence to rabbit mesentery cells. In addition we observed that pretreatment of rabbit mesentery with concanavalin A, but not with peanut and wheat germ agglutinins, markedly decreased the adherence of gonococci as determined by microscopic counts of adhering bacterial cells.

Adhesiveness↗

Effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on adherence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in an experimental model.

The effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations (subMICs) of six commonly used antibiotics on adherence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to rabbit mesentery was studied. We found that, at 1/2 MIC, ampicillin, cefoxitin and penicillin G decreased adherence of gonococci by more than 65%, and erythromycin by approximately 40%; doxycycline and tetracycline had no appreciable effect. Results suggest that subMICs of some antibiotics could affect interactions of gonococci with some mammalian cells, more specifically adherence, a critical step in the pathogenesis of an infection.

Adhesiveness↗

Antibiotic susceptibilities and auxotypes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains from women with pelvic inflammatory disease or uncomplicated infections.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the auxotypes and the minimal inhibitory concentrations of four antibiotics for 50 isolates from women with gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease with those of 55 isolates from uncomplicated anogenital gonococcal infections. No significant differences in auxotype patterns and susceptibilities were found between isolates from the two groups.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Role of the sfiA-dependent cell division regulation system in Escherichia coli.

Several authors have suggested that the SOS-associated (sfiA-dependent) system of division inhibition, normally induced by perturbations of DNA replication, also regulates steady-state (unperturbed) cell division. The present work shows that mean cell mass is identical in sfiA+ and sfiA mutant cultures during steady-state growth, that mass adjustment is identical after shift up, that sfiA expression is not induced by shift up, and that a sfiA mutation does not cause aberrant chromosome segregation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Modulation by staphylococci of the response of mice infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Most strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae are rapidly eliminated from the peritoneal cavity of mice following an experimental infection. However, we could modify the rate of clearance of N. gonorrhoeae by preteating (48 h) the mice with sublethal doses of Staphylococcus aureus coagulase-positive strains which provoke the rapid appearance of activated phagocytes; we showed that these have increased activities of their B-galactosidase and their enzymes able to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). Presumably, these activated phagocytes participated in the more efficient elimination of N. gonorrhoeae cells from the peritoneal cavity, that is 3 log units instead of 1 for the control, within the first 2 hours after their injection. There was no increase in the clearance of N. gonorrhoeae from the peritoneal cavity of mice when these were pretreated with cyclophosphamide. The use of enzyme-treated staphylococci (protoplasts) showed that some component of the coagulase-positive S. aureus cell wall seems responsible for the stimulation observed. This modulation of the response of mice to N. gonorrhoeae could serve as an improved method to evaluate the virulence of different N. gonorrhoeae strains.

Animals↗

tif-Stimulated deoxyribonucleic acid repair in Escherichia coli K-12.

Bacterial survival is significantly increased after ultraviolet irradiation in tif sfi cells, provided that the thermosensitive tif mutation has been expressed at 41 degrees C before irradiation. This tif-mediated "reactivation of ultraviolet irradiated bacteria" needs de novo protein synthesis, as is the case for the tif-mediated reactivation of ultraviolet-irradiated phage lambda. However, in striking contrast to the phage reactivation process, this tif-mediated reactivation is no longer associated with mutagenesis. It also requires the presence of the uvrA+ excision function. These results strongly suggest the existence in Escherichia coli K-12 of a repair pathway acting on bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid which is inducible, error free, and uvr dependent.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Comparison of the immunogenicity of hamster cells transformed by adenovirus and Herpes simplex virus.

Hamsters vaccinated with adenovirus-transformed cells, modified by acetoacetylation or concanavalin A treatment, or with small numbers of living cells were partly or completely protected against challenge with 3 times 10-6 living cells. Treatment of vaccine cells with iodoacetate, Mitomycin C, neuraminidase plus Mitomycin C did not produce efficient vaccines. Herpes simplex virus-transformed cells treated by any of these procedures did not prevent, and frequently even enhanced, the growth of the homologous living cells; enhancement was often greater in female than in male hamsters. Protective and enhancing vaccines did not induce a different level of cell-mediated immunity, as detected by lymphocytotoxicity tests, which were positive for both homologous transformed cells and nontransformed hamster cells. In contrast, specific complement-dependent cytotoxic antibodies active only on adenovirus-transformed cells were induced by the protective acetoacetylated vaccine prepared from adenovirus-transformed cells; these antibodies were not present after nonprotective vaccinations. The appearance of herpes simplex virus tumors was delayed by treatment with the immunostimulant, Levamisole, or by preimmunization with Newcastle disease virus grown in SV40-transformed cells, but not by Newcastle disease virus grown in herpes simplex virus-transformed cells. Thus, only nonspecific treatments were able to impede herpes simplex virus tumor growth, while protection against adenovirus tumor was accompanied by specific cytotoxic antibodies.

Acetylation↗

Evaluation of the protective efficacy of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 detoxified lipopolysaccharides or O-polysaccharide-protein conjugate in pigs.

The major adhesin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, has been previously identified as the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Experiments in our laboratory have shown that mice immunised with different A pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 LPS preparations were protected against a challenge with a virulent A pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 isolate. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the protection of pigs against experimental A pleuropneumoniae infection following immunisation with two of these LPS preparations. Groups of five specific pathogen free (SPF) pigs were injected twice with one of the following antigen preparations: detoxified LPS, O-polysaccharide-BSA conjugate, a commercial bacterin, or PBS. Two weeks after the second injection, pigs were challenged intranasally with a virulent A pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 strain. Upon macroscopic examination, fibrino-haemorrhagic pleuropneumonia, compatible with A pleuropneumoniae infection, was observed in one to four pigs in each group. The more extensive lesions were present in control, unimmunised pigs and in animals vaccinated with the O-polysaccharide-BSA conjugate. The highest survival rate was recorded when the pigs had been immunised with detoxified LPS or the commercial bacterin. Taken together, our results suggest that a protection comparable with the one obtained with a commercial bacterin was observed when pigs were immunised with a single class of molecules, detoxified LPS. Most importantly, these results confirm the important role of A pleuropneumoniae LPS in protection against porcine pleuropneumonia. Finally, our results also support the idea that mice are not an appropriate model for the evaluation of porcine pleuropneumonia vaccines.

Actinobacillus Infections↗