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S Nowicki

Publications and source records attributed to S Nowicki.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Lethal outcome of uterine infection in pregnant but not in nonpregnant rats and increased death rate with inhibition of nitric oxide.

PROBLEM: Limited information is available on potential differences in sensitivity to urogenital infections between pregnant and nonpregnant hosts. METHOD OF STUDY: In this study, we evaluated Escherichia coli infectious complications in pregnant and nonpregnant rats and the effect of nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on the outcome of an experimental uterine infection. RESULTS: Of the infected pregnant animals, 31% were found dead in 24-48 hr. The death rate was increased 2-fold (66%) with L-NAME treatment. No deaths occurred in nonpregnant animals with or without L-NAME treatment. The rate of uterine infection in pregnant animals was about 10-fold higher than in nonpregnant animals. CONCLUSION: We propose that infectious complications of pregnancy may be related to gestation-dependent sensitivity to the pathogenic microorganism and the host NO status.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning and characterization of Dr-II, a nonfimbrial adhesin-I-like adhesin isolated from gestational pyelonephritis-associated Escherichia coli that binds to decay-accelerating factor.

Bacterial adhesins play an important role in the colonization of the human urogenital tract. Escherichia coli Dr family adhesins have been found to be frequently expressed in strains associated with pyelonephritis in pregnant females. The tissue receptor for known Dr adhesins has been localized to the short consensus repeat-3 (SCR-3) domain of decay accelerating factor (DAF), a complement regulatory protein. In this report, we identified and cloned draE2, a gene encoding a novel 17-kDa DAF-binding adhesin, Dr-II, from a strain of E. coli associated with acute gestational pyelonephritis. Despite the significant sequence diversity between Dr-II and Dr family adhesins, the receptor of Dr-II was found to be the SCR-3 domain of DAF. Sequence analysis of the 186-amino-acid Dr-II open reading frame revealed significant diversity from other members of the Dr adhesin family, including Dr, AFA-I, AFA-III, and F1845, but only an 8-amino-acid difference in sequence from that of the 17-kDa nonfimbrial adhesin NFA-I of unknown receptor specificity. N-terminal peptide sequencing of the purified adhesin confirmed the identity of the open reading frame and indicated cleavage of a 28-amino-acid signal peptide. Antibodies raised against purified Dr-II adhesin exhibited little or no cross-reactivity to Dr adhesin. Characterization of the biological properties demonstrated that like the Dr adhesins, Dr-II was associated with the ability of E. coli to bind to tubular basement membranes and Bowman's capsule and to be internalized into HeLa cells.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1997

Pelvic inflammatory disease isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae are distinguished by C1q-dependent virulence for newborn rats and by the sac-4 region.

The virulence mechanism of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is not well understood, and an objective diagnostic method to identify patients with PID is lacking. We investigated the hypothesis that development of PID was associated with a C1q-dependent virulence property of gonococcal strains. Recent development of a C1q-dependent experimental model of gonococcal infection (S. Nowicki, M. Martens, and B. Nowicki, Infect. Immun. 63:4790-4794, 1995) created an opportunity to evaluate this hypothesis in vivo. Therefore, the virulence of 32 clinical isolates (18 PID isolates and 14 local infection [LI] isolates) was evaluated in experimental rat pups. A serum bactericidal assay was used to characterize a gonococcal serum-resistant (ser(r)) phenotype. PCR primers designed to amplify a suitable-size gonococcal sac-4 DNA fragment (unique for serum-resistant donor JC1) were used to evaluate the association of serum-resistant genotype sac-4 with two phenotypes: C1q-dependent virulence expressed in vivo and resistance to bactericidal activity of human serum expressed in vitro. Strains were also characterized by auxotyping and serotyping. Of 32 gonococcal strains, 15 (46.7%) caused C1q-dependent bacteremia in rat pups and were sac-4 positive and ser(r). However, of the 15 isolates, 13 (87%) represented strains associated with human PID and 2 (13%) were associated with LI. None of the strains that were completely serum-sensitive (ser(s)) and sac-4 negative produced C1q-dependent bacteremia in rat pups, suggesting that both ser(r) and sac-4 were required for infection. The serum-resistant recombinant recipient of sac-4 produced C1q-dependent bacteremia in the rat model similarly to the serum-resistant donor of sac-4; the serum-sensitive parent strain did not produce bacteremia. These data suggest that sac-4-mediated serum resistance conferred C1q-dependent virulence and is a unique characteristic associated with PID. These newly identified features may contribute to the understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of PID-associated strains and open perspectives for establishing novel diagnostic methods.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Gestational pyelonephritis--associated Escherichia coli isolates represent a nonrandom, closely related population.

OBJECTIVE: A select group of Escherichia coli strains known as uropathogenic cause pyelonephritis in nonpregnant individuals. We investigated whether Escherichia coli from gestational pyelonephritis represent a random population or possess common uropathogenic characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: Repetitive element sequence-based polymerase chain reaction, plasmid profiles, hemolysin, and O serotypes were assayed from Escherichia coli isolates of 57 pregnant patients with acute pyelonephritis at different gestational ages. RESULTS: The majority of the first trimester isolates fell primarily into repetitive element sequence-based patterns 1 and 3 and O6, O15, and O75 serotypes. Second-trimester isolates had multiple patterns with high-frequency repetitive element sequence-based polymerase chain reaction 1 and 5 and an unknown (OX) serotype. Pattern 3, predominantly O75 serotype, was found primarily among third-trimester isolates. CONCLUSION: It is likely that Escherichia coli associated with acute pyelonephritis during different trimesters of pregnancy represents nonrandom closely related isolates, and some of these strains may be characteristic in pregnant patients only.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Origins of generalized control expectancies: reported child stress and observed maternal control and warmth.

The relations among reported stressful events, maternal control and warmth, and children's locus of control of reinforcement were investigated. Fifty-five 2nd-grade. U.S. children completed the Children's Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, and their mothers completed a modified form of Coddington's Life Events Scale for their child. Mother and child also were videotaped while they worked together on three puzzles. The results indicated that, compared with children with external control expectancies, children with internal control expectancies had experienced less stress in their lives. Furthermore, when observed interacting with their children, mothers of children with internal control expectancies were rated as displaying less control and more warmth than mothers of children with external control expectancies. The findings generally are consistent with predictions based on Rotter's social learning theory for the development of individual differences in generalized control expectancies.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Rapid cyclic changes in density and accessibility of endometrial ligands for Escherichia coli Dr fimbriae.

The mechanisms of developing infection in young, noncompromised individuals are well understood. Colonization is prerequisite for the development of infection. In human, ligands serving bacterial colonization belong to common antigens. Consequently, a majority of individuals should be sensitive to infection at all times. We hypothesize that the temporal patterns of some infections and sensitivity to them are associated with sudden changes in the density and accessibility of common receptors. Endometrial samples from women having normal menstrual cycles were examined for histological location, receptor density, and in situ hybridization of Dr (decaying-accelerating factor) ligands for Escherichia coli Dr fimbriae. Significant up-regulation and luminal expression of Dr ligands occurred during the secretory phase, whereas receptors were expressed in the basement membrane and in smaller quantities during the proliferative phase. This observation agrees with our hypotheses that some ligands recognized by bacterial adhesins change their compartmentalization and, most importantly, that they up-regulate expression at specific times.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Demethylation of 3-O-methyldopa in the kidney: a possible source for dopamine in urine.

The possibility that demethylation of 3-O-methyldopa (OM-dopa) in the kidney could provide a source for dopamine in the urine was explored in male Wistar rats aged 60-90 days, using in vivo and in vitro approaches. The results showed that endogenous OM-dopa is filtered, reabsorbed and extensively metabolized in the kidney. Infusion of OM-dopa into anesthetized rats increased significantly urinary excretion of Na+, dopa, dopamine, and 3,4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Whole kidney homogenates, slices from renal cortex, and microdissected proximal tubules produced significant amounts of both dopa and dopamine when incubated with OM-dopa. Renal cortex slices produced dose-dependent amounts of dopa and dopa-mine when incubated with 1-100 microM OM-dopa. Incubation of microdissected proximal tubule segments with 1 microM OM-dopa produced a fourfold (P < 0.025) increment in dopa and a twofold (P < 0.05) increment in dopamine (an effect similar to that observed with 1 microM L-dopa). One micromolar OM-dopa or 1 microM L-dopa decreased (P < 0.05) Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase activity measured at maximal velocity condition in proximal tubules. In conclusion, these experiments show that in vitro the kidney is able to produce dopamine by demethylation of OM-dopa, while the results of the OM-dopa infusion suggest that this conversion may also occur in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Association of colony variation in Serratia marcescens with the differential expression of protease and type 1 fimbriae.

Several clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens were found to dissociate on peptone glycerol agar into colonies with red and pink or white and gray phenotypes that differ in the expression of proteolytic activity and mannose-sensitive type of hemagglutination. Colonies of red and white type were proteolytically active but did not express hemagglutination, whereas pink and gray colonies were protease-deficient but agglutinated guinea pig erythrocytes. Site-directed mutagenesis of a red laboratory strain S. marcescens SM6 resulted in selection of protease negative derivative prt::G7 which expressed the pink phenotype with hemagglutinating activity. It is suggested that a DNA-regulatory element may be involved in this type of colony variation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Dr fimbriae coding region associated hemolytic activity of Escherichia coli.

We investigated the hemolytic activity of Escherichia coli strain EC901 carrying plasmid pBJN406 containing genes draA-E involved in expression of the mannose-resistant Dr hemagglutinin, and in its isogenic insertion mutants devised with Tn5, Tn3, and TnphoA. While E. coli BN406 displayed rapid hemolytic activity against equine erythrocytes, insertion mutations in draD and draE, but not in draA, draB, and draC, abolished all hemolytic activity. These data suggest a role for draD and draE in the expression of hemolysis.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1995

Intrarenal dopamine participation in frusemide diuretic and natriuretic responses to frusemide.

1. Dopamine (DA) involvement in the renal response to frusemide was analysed using the isolated perfused rat kidney preparation. Endogenous DA levels were increased through the infusion of its precursor levodopa (LD) (0.5 or 1 microM) whereas benserazide (50 or 100 microM), an inhibitor of the enzyme L-dopa-decarboxylase, was used to decrease DA synthesis. 2. Frusemide administration (0.3-20 nmols) induced a dose-dependent increase in fractional excretion of water (FE H2O), sodium (FE Na+) and glucose (FEG). FE Na+ elicited by the diuretic was enhanced 30-40% by 0.5 microM of LD (n = 5, P < 0.05), and 60-80% by LD 1 microM (n = 5, P < 0.05). FE H2O produced by the diuretic was enlarged 80-100% by 0.5 microM (n = 5, P = 0.05), and 130-170% by 1 microM of LD (n = 5, P < 0.01). The increase produced by both concentrations of LD on FEG was 200% for the lowest dose of the diuretic (n = 5, P < 0.01), and 90% for the highest (n = 5, P < 0.05). 3. Benserazide (BZ) (100 microM) decreased the F.E. Na+ induced by frusemide (n = 5, P < 0.05) by 32-42%, and completely abolished frusemide effects on FE H2O and FEG (n = 5). 4. In conclusion, our results suggest that endogenous dopamine participates in the frusemide-induced diuresis and sodium excretion within the kidney, and that the participation of extrarenal factors is not essential for this effect. Dopamine may be involved in frusemide-induced inhibition of proximal sodium reabsorption.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Gonococcal infection in a nonhuman host is determined by human complement C1q.

Human C1q displayed a dose-dependent protection of gonococcal cells (GC) from the bactericidal effect of newborn rat serum. All rat pups injected with C1q-preincubated GC developed bacteremia, while none of the animals injected with GC only were infected. After clearance of bacteremia at day 6, live GC could still be recovered from tested organs, including the liver. Preincubation of GC with higher concentrations of C1q was associated with increased morbidity. In contrast to human serum as a source of C1q, rat, rabbit, and mouse sera did not increase the in vivo virulence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. C1q-deficient human serum, heat-inactivated C1q or human serum, type IV collagen, and complement C3 were inefficient in inducing infection. Experimental infection by C1q-preincubated GC was inhibited by anti-C1q antibodies in a dose-dependent fashion, demonstrating a causal effect of C1q function. This report demonstrates the novel finding that human C1q, a component of the human immune system with a general function for elimination of infection, may increase GC virulence and result in the development of disseminated infection in a nonhuman host.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

dra-related X adhesins of gestational pyelonephritis-associated Escherichia coli recognize SCR-3 and SCR-4 domains of recombinant decay-accelerating factor.

Bacterial adhesins are important virulence factors that allow colonization of the human urogenital tract by Escherichia coli. Adhesins of the Dr family have been found to be more frequently expressed in strains associated with symptomatic urinary tract infections. Because of the high frequency of symptomatic urinary tract infections during pregnancy, we screened E. coli isolates from 64 gestational pyelonephritis patients for the expression of Dr and X adhesins to address their potential virulence roles in this population. Using PCR and primers for the afaB gene, we detected dra-related operons in 17 isolates (27%). On the basis of the lack of hemagglutination of Dr(a-) erythrocytes containing a point mutation in the decay-accelerating factor (DAF) short consensus repeat-3 (SCR-3) domain, 12 of these strains were categorized as classical Dr adhesins. The hemagglutination of O erythrocytes by Dr+ strains was blocked or reduced by a monoclonal antibody to the DAF SCR-3 domain. The remaining five dra-positive strains agglutinated Dr(a-) erythrocytes. Monoclonal antibody to the DAF SCR-3 domain failed to block O-erythrocyte hemagglutination. Adhesins in these strains did not fulfill criteria for Dr hemagglutinins because of the undefined receptor specificities and were categorized as X. E. coli strains bearing dra-related X adhesins bound to DAF cDNA-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. Three of these dra-related X-adhesin-bearing E. coli strains failed to attach to the SCR-3 delta deletion transfectant, which suggested that binding sites were located in the SCR-3 domain but outside the region blocked by the monoclonal anti-SCR-3 immunoglobulin G. The binding sites of the remaining two dra-related X adhesin strains were localized to the SCR-4 domain, as the attachment was shown to be abolished on an SCR-4 delta mutant but unaffected by an SCR-3 delta deletion. The heterogeneity in the binding sites of E. coli DAF (Dr) family adhesins from gestational pyelonephritis isolates may reflect the ability of the adhesins to evolve to recognize alternate peptide epitopes for efficient colonization.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1995

A decreased tubular uptake of dopa results in defective renal dopamine production in aged rats.

A major proportion of urinary dopamine derives from the renal decarboxylation of circulating dopa. This study evaluates the effects of aging on renal production of dopamine using 3- and 12-mo-old male Wistar rats. Urinary excretion of Na+, norepinephrine (NE), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, and dopa were similar in the two groups. Urinary dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were lower in older animals (dopamine, 20 +/- 6 vs. 47 +/- 7 nmol/24 h, P < 0.001; DOPAC, 142 +/- 36 vs. 304 +/- 56 nmol/24 h, P < 0.03). Urinary 3-O-methyldopa (OM-dopa) was higher in 12-mo-old rats (6.2 +/- 2.0 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.20 nmol/24 h, P < 0.03). Levels of dopa and NE in renal cortex from 12-mo-old rats were higher (P < 0.001) than in younger animals. Dopamine content in renal cortex from 3-mo-old rats was 295 +/- 64 pmol/g, whereas it was undetectable in 12-mo-old animals. Aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase activities were higher (P < 0.001) in renal cortex from 12-mo-old animals. Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity was similar in both groups. The uptake of dopa by the luminal membrane was explored using brush-border membrane vesicles. The Na(+)-gradient-driven (100 mM) uptake of dopa into vesicles from 3-mo-old animals showed at 10 s an overshoot threefold greater than the equilibrium uptake. The overshoot was blunted in 12-mo-old rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1995

Furosemide renal excretion rate and the effects of the diuretic on different tubular sites are modified by endogenous dopamine in normohydrated rats.

The present study was designed to explore the involvement of endogenous dopamine in furosemide excretion and in the actions of the diuretic on tubular sodium reabsorption. The dose-response relationship for the diuretic effect of furosemide given as i.v. bolus injections (0.2-7.5 mg.kg-1) was studied by clearance technique in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats treated with vehicle, benserazide (BZ) (25 mg.kg-1 i.v.) or SCH 23390 (50 micrograms.kg-1 + 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 i.v.). Furosemide induced the maximal diuresis 15 to 30 min after i.v. administration. The diuretic response was dose-dependent and was reduced in the animals treated with BZ and SCH 23390. Fractional sodium excretion was also increased by furosemide from 1.8 to 7.5% during the same period. This effect was reduced by both BZ or SCH 23390 by 35 to 50%. The effects of furosemide on proximal and distal renal tubules were dissected by measuring the renal lithium clearance (CLi+). Furosemide effective on proximal tubular sites (measured by FENa+ prox = CLi+/Cln) were completely abolished by BZ and SCH 23390, whereas both drugs reduced furosemide effects on distal tubular sites (measured by FENa+ distal = CNa+/CLi+) by 20 to 40%. Furosemide excretion rate during the peak response to the diuretic was measured in the urine. BZ and SCH 23390 diminished furosemide excretion by 45 to 80% as compared with vehicle-treated animals. The furosemide tubular effects and the proximal and distal functions measured by CLi+ determined during the peak response were correlated to the maximal excretion rate of furosemide in the urine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗