PubMed · 299248
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J K Harcourt. 1977. Some common problems with materials.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/299248/
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Mucoid alginate-producing mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are major pathogens in debilitating chronic pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. The mucoid phenotype results from alginate biosynthesis whose genes are arranged in at least three chromosomal loci. Structural genes are located at the 34-min region and regulatory genes at 9 min. A third cluster at the 70 min region contains muc mutations which affect transcription of a key structural gene, algD, in response to environmental stimuli. Control of mucoidy includes bacterial signal transduction systems, histone-like elements controlling nucleoid structure and, possibly, factors affecting superhelicity. Thus, the control of mucoidy in P. aeruginosa has become one of the focal systems for analysis of how bacterial pathogens adapt to the host environment.
Total genomic DNA of 13 pseudomonads representing rRNA homology groups I-IV were screened for sequences homologous to four Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate (alg) genes by Southern hybridization. Biotinylated probes for three structural genes (algA, algC and algD) and one regulatory gene (algR1) were prepared. Genomic DNA of strains representing group I (P. syringae pv. glycinea, P. viridiflava and P. corrugata) hybridized with all four gene probes. Hybridizing fragments were of differing sizes, indicating that evolutionary divergence among group I members has occurred. P. corrugata has not been reported to synthesize alginate. Genomic DNA from representatives of groups II-IV gave no or very weak hybridization with the probes except for algC. This study indicates that the ability to produce alginic acid as an exopolysaccharide among the pseudomonads is restricted to members of rRNA homology group I in agreement with earlier physiological studies.
This article describes results from one of the sites involved in a multi-centred comparative study designed to assess the performance of a collagen-alginate dressing used in the treatment of leg ulceration. The research methods used in the trial, as well as the results, will be of interest to practising nurses. Those involved in similar work are invited to submit articles to be considered for publication in future issues of this supplement.