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R E Weaver

Publications and source records attributed to R E Weaver.

105 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Cellular fatty acid composition of selected Pseudomonas species.

The cellular fatty acid composition of 10 reference strains representing eight species of Pseudomonas was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. A variety of acids were detected in these organisms, including branched and straight-chained acids, cyclopropane, and hydroxy acids. Comparison of the presence and relative amounts of these acids among strains was useful for distinguishing various Pseudomonas species.

Chromatography, Gas↗

An unclassified gram-negative rod isolated from the pharynx on Thayer-Martin medium (selective agar).

An oxidase-positive, small gram-negative rod was isolated on Thayer-Martin medium (TM) inoculated with pharyngeal swabs obtained during surveys to detect Neisseria carriers. In one survey, this organism was isolated from 48% of the subjects, and 50 or more colonies were present on the majority of the primary isolation plates. Other characteristics of the organism, which has been given the provisional designation "TM-1," include: delayed production (2 to 10 days) of acid from glucose, formation of gas during nitrate reduction, and the frequent formation of "pits" in the agar surface. On TM, nonpitting colonies of TM-1 are morphologically similar to colonies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. lactamica. Comparison of the characteristics of TM-1 strains with other similar fastidious gram-negative organisms encountered in clinical laboratories indicates that TM-1 is a distinct species. Further studies are required before proper taxonomic placement can be made.

Adult↗

Pseudomonas putrefaciens isolates from clinical specimens.

A total of 109 cultures of Pseudomonas putrefaciens isolated from clinical specimens were studied. The cultures were separated into two groups. The majority of the group 1 isolates, comprising 31 cultures, were characterized by (i) growth in plain nutrient broth, but no growth in broth supplemented with NaCl at concentrations of 7% and above, (ii) no growth on Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar, and (iii) production of acid from the carbohydrates, sucrose, maltose, arabinose, and dextrin. Most group 2 isolates, comprising 78 cultures, were (i) unable to grow in plain nutrient broth, but grew well in broth supplemented with NaCl at a concentration of 7 to 10%, (ii) able to grow on SS agar, and (iii) unable to produce detectable amounts of acid from any of the carbohydrates tested except for variable results with glucose and fructose.

Agar↗

Neisseria lactamicus sp. n., a lactose-fermenting species resembling Neisseria meningitidis.

The biochemical and serological characteristics of lactose-utilizing strains of Neisseria were determined. These organisms were found in the nasopharynx of man and grew well on Thayer-Martin Selective Medium. They were compared with N. meningitidis to ascertain whether they were variants of this species. Differences between the lactose-using strains and the recognized species of Neisseria were considered significant enough to warrant designation of a new species, Neisseria lactamicus. This group has not been widely recognized as being separate from N. meningitidis; therefore, the normal incidence and clinical significance of these organisms has not been fully established. These organisms are oxidase-positive and positive for beta-D-galactosidase activity; they demonstrate fermentation in King Oxidation-Fermentation Medium; and they produce acid from only glucose, lactose, and maltose, of the 27 substrates incorporated in Cystine Trypticase Agar. Individual strains vary in their ability to grow on Nutrient Agar at both 25 and 37 C and in their pigmentation on Loeffler Medium. Results indicated that these organisms are serologically distinct from the N. meningitidis serogroups. Only 34 of 116 strains of N. lactamicus were smooth and could be tested by slide agglutination. None of the 34 could be grouped as N. meningitidis group A, B, C, D, X, Y, or Z. Thirty-one of these strains could, however, be specifically grouped with antisera prepared with N. lactamicus strains. Cross absorptions confirmed that N. lactamicus is serologically distinguishable from N. meningitidis.

Culture Media↗

Fatty acid composition of Neisseria species as determined by gas chromatography.

Duplicate cultures of 53 strains representing 9 species of Neisseria were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography for cellular fatty acids. N. sicca, N. mucosa, N. flava, N. flavescens, N. perflava, N. subflava, and the several serotypes of N. meningitidis examined were found to comprise a fairly homogeneous group on the basis of the percentages of individual fatty acids present. Lactose-fermenting Neisseria also were in this group. N. catarrhalis, however, contained decanoic acid in addition to the acids occurring in the other species. Moreover, the 18 C-saturated and monoenoic acids together constituted 36% of the total fatty acid composition for N. catarrhalis, while the comparable mean value for the other species was less than 13%.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Infections caused by Moraxella, Moraxella urethralis, Moraxella-like groups M-5 and M-6, and Kingella kingae in the United States, 1953-1980.

From 1953 to 1980 the Centers for Disease Control received 933 isolates of bacteria belonging to species of the genus Moraxella, Moraxella-like Moraxella urethralis, now renamed Oligella urethralis, unnamed groups M-5 and M-6, and Kingella kingae. Ordinarily sterile sites were the source of 233 isolates. Moraxella nonliquefaciens, the most common isolate (356 strains), was recovered from upper respiratory or ocular sites in 208 (58%) of the cases. Moraxella osloensis was next most common (199 strains) but was the most frequent blood isolate (44 cases). K. kingae appeared especially invasive, with 58 of 78 isolates from blood, bone, or joint. Of the K. kingae strains, 75% were recovered from children under 6 years, compared with 23% of the other strains from that age group (P less than .01). Of the 74 isolates of group M-5, 53 were from wounds caused by dog bites; no other organism in this series was recovered from such wounds. Sixteen of the 28 M. urethralis isolates were from urine. Cases occurred as single infections, with no evidence of clusters. Of patients with infection of ordinarily sterile sites, 9.3% died; only bacteremia, meningitis, and empyema caused fatalities. Most referring laboratories (98%) had not identified the organisms to species, and only 30% had identified them to correct genus. Susceptibility testing by broth dilution revealed low MICs of penicillin (mean, 0.3; 64% less than 1 micrograms/mL). Moraxella, M. urethralis, M-5, M-6, and Kingella are important but frequently misidentified pathogens for humans; penicillin appears to be the treatment of choice.

Adult↗

Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (biotype 4) as a neonatal, maternal, and genital pathogen.

Between 1976 and 1981 Haemophilus influenzae was identified in 16 women with postpartum bacteremia and 36 neonates with bacteremia or meningitis. H. influenzae was also recovered from neonatal or genital cultures of 50 additional patients. By counter-immunoelectrophoresis 17% of neonatal isolates from blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were type b. All remaining strains (94% overall) were nontypable (NT). Of the NT blood or CSF isolates, 38% belonged to biotype 4. Of all the NT biotype 4 isolates referred to the Centers for Disease Control during the study, 82% were of genital, neonatal, or maternal origin, a finding that suggests that this isolate is a genital biotype. Clinical disease was similar to that observed in patients infected with group B Streptococcus except for the infrequent (11%) occurrence of meningitis. Maternal bacteremia resulted in mild febrile illness, while neonatal bacteremia was associated with a high incidence of shock, respiratory distress (50%), and death (30%). H. influenzae bacteremia in these two patient groups was rare in Houston before 1976, but since then it has been responsible for 2.5% of cases of significant bacteremia. NT H. influenzae should be recognized as a definite neonatal, maternal, and genital pathogen.

Female↗