The XENONnT dark matter experiment.

The multi-staged XENON program at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso aims to detect dark matter with two-phase liquid xenon time projection chambers of increasing size and sensitivity. The XENONnT experiment is the latest detector in the program, planned to be an upgrade of its predecessor XENON1T. It features an active target of 5.

Searching for Heavy Dark Matter near the Planck Mass with XENON1T.

Multiple viable theoretical models predict heavy dark matter particles with a mass close to the Planck mass, a range relatively unexplored by current experimental measurements. We use 219.4 days of data collected with the XENON1T experiment to conduct a blind search for signals from multiply interacting massive particles (MIMPs).

Search for New Physics in Electronic Recoil Data from XENONnT.

We report on a blinded analysis of low-energy electronic recoil data from the first science run of the XENONnT dark matter experiment. Novel subsystems and the increased 5.9 ton liquid xenon target reduced the background in the (1, 30) keV search region to (15.

Evaluation of a new chromogenic medium for the isolation and presumptive identification of Salmonella species from stool specimens.

The performance of BBL CHROMagar Salmonella (Becton Dickinson, France), a new selective chromogenic medium for the isolation and presumptive identification of Salmonella spp., was evaluated. On this medium, which is a modification of CHROMagar Salmonella (CHROMagar Microbiology, France) with enhanced selectivity, the colonies of Salmonella are stained in mauve (rose-violet), while those of other organisms appear in blue-green or are not stained by any of the chromogens of the medium.

Key enzymes for the degradation of benzoate, m- and p-hydroxybenzoate by some members of the order Actinomycetales.

A preliminary screening of numerous species of the order Actinomycetales, especially of the genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Pseudonocardia, and Streptomyces, showed that many of them are able to metabolize benzoate (B) and p-hydroxybenzoate (pHB) as indicated by growth and change of color of the pH-indicator of an agar medium. Subsequent experiments with liquid cultures which allowed the analysis of substrate utilization by thin layer chromatography confirmed these results. The study of the degradative pathway proved that B was metabolized via catechol (C), pHB via protocatechuate (P) and m-hydroxybenzoate (mHB) via gentisate (G).

Evaluation of BBL CHROMagar orientation medium for detection and presumptive identification of urinary tract pathogens.

The microbiological performance of BBL CHROMagar Orientation medium and CPS ID2 agar was compared to that of Columbia agar with 5% sheep blood and MacConkey agar without crystal violet for the enumeration and presumptive identification of bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections. Of a total of 658 clinical urine specimens, 118 specimens yielded no growth, 402 specimens yielded growth with cell counts of > or = 10(5) CFU/ml, and 138 specimens yielded growth with cell counts of < 10(5) CFU/ml. Of the specimens with cell counts of > or = 10(5) CFU/ml, 163 were pure cultures and 239 were mixed cultures.

Endocarditis caused by a Leptotrichia buccalis-like bacterium in a patient with a prosthetic aortic valve.

The isolation of a Leptotrichia buccalis-like bacterium from the blood of a patient with endocarditis associated with a prosthetic aortic valve is reported. The organism was isolated from different blood cultures. It was similar but not completely identical to Leptotrichia buccalis.

Characterization of NAD-dependent 3 alpha- and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and of NADP-dependent 7 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Peptostreptococcus productus.

A human fecal isolate, characterized by morphological, physiological and biochemical data as a strain of Peptostreptococcus roductus, was shown to contain NAD-dependent 3 alpha- and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and a NADP-dependent 7 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. All enzyme activities could be demonstrated in crude extracts and in membrane fractions. The 3 alpha- and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were synthesized constitutively.

Application of non-radioactive BACTEC system to sterility testing and hygiene.

The applicability of the non-radioactive BACTEC NR 660 system for the detection of low viable counts of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (including non-fermenters and aerobic spore-forming bacteria) and fungi was investigated. The BACTEC system together with the usual BACTEC NR 6A and NR 7A media was able to detect most of the organisms without supplementation of the media; for growth of lactobacilli and other acidophilic organisms, sterile orange juice was used as a supplement. Microbial growth was detected from pure cultures and also from artificially contaminated beverages and ointment bases.

Newly recovered and delineated microbial species of the human genital tract.

Several new genitourinary Bacteroides species and the new Mobiluncus/Falcivibrio have been described since 1977. The normal vaginal flora consists mainly of lactobacilli and other "non-pathogenic" aerobes and anaerobes. Under unknown circumstances, organisms may increase in number, displacing the normal lactobacillus flora and raising the vaginal pH.

NADP-dependent 3 beta-, 7 alpha- and 7 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities from a lecithinase-lipase-negative Clostridium species 25.11.c.

A lecithinase-lipase-negative Clostridium sp. 25.11.

Quantitative studies on the vaginal flora of asymptomatic women and patients with vaginitis and vaginosis.

Vaginal washings of 22 patients with vaginitis, 11 with vaginosis, and 12 healthy subjects were investigated quantitatively and qualitatively for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and yeasts. Gardnerella vaginalis was recovered from 9 of the vaginitis patients, 7 of the vaginosis patients, and 4 of the asymptomatic subjects. Obligate anaerobes were found in 11 of the vaginitis patients, 4 of the vaginosis patients, and none of the control subjects.

Isolation, characterization and ecological distribution of recently recognized propionic acid-negative Bacteroides species from human sources.

140 strains of anaerobic, Gram-negative, propionate-negative, non-pigmented rods (Bacteroides oralis group) were isolated from normal flora and from clinical specimens. They were characterized by physiological tests, gas chromatography of the acid end products, and determination of the G + C content of their DNA. In addition, their distribution in the various biotopes of the human body (oropharyngeal tract, genitourinary tract, and gut) and in clinical specimens was investigated.

A newly discovered sialidase from Gardnerella vaginalis.

A sialidase (neuraminidase, acylneuraminosyl hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.

[Role of Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobes. Etiology of nonspecific colpitis].

Nonspecific vaginitis is a very common clinical syndrome. In patients with nonspecific vaginitis the normal, lactobacillus-dominated microbial flora is replaced by Gardnerella vaginalis and certain anaerobes, preferably bacteroides spp. The mechanisms by which anaerobes or Gardnerella vaginalis or a combination of these organisms produce the disease condition are still unknown.

[Efficacy of tinidazole against anaerobes in comparison with metronidazole, ornidazole, cefoxitin and lamoxactam].

The in vitro inhibitory activity of tinidazole, metronidazole, ornidazole, cefoxitin and moxalactam was determined against 150 isolates of clinically important anaerobes including Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides bivius and Clostridium perfringens by means of agar dilution tests. The members of 18 gramnegative and 14 grampositive species were inhibited by tinidazole at less than or equal to 0,01-8 micrograms/ml thus being without exception susceptible to the drug. A similar in vitro activity was recorded for metronidazole and ornidazole.

[Anaerobic effect of tinidazol compared with metronidazol, ornidazol, cefoxitin and lamoxactam].

The in vitro inhibitory activity of tinidazole, metronidazole, ornidazole, cefoxitin and moxalactam was determined against 150 isolates of clinically important anaerobes including Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides bivius and Clostridium perfringens by means of agar dilution tests. The members of 18 gramnegative and 14 grampositive species were inhibited by tinidazole at less than or equal to 0,01-8 micrograms/ml thus being without exception susceptible to the drug. A similar in vitro activity was recorded for metronidazole and ornidazole.

A reassessment of the microbial flora of the female genital tract, with special reference to the occurrence of Bacteroides species.

Two hundred and twelve randomly selected vaginal or uterine cervical specimens were investigated for the presence of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria and yeasts. Anaerobes of possible clinical significance, including Bacteroidaceae, Peptococcaceae and clostridia were isolated from 34% of the specimens and were identified to specific or generic level. Among the Bacteroidaceae isolated, B.

[CO2-dependent mutant of Salmonella typhi causing typhoid fever in two patients].

A CO2-dependent mutant of Salmonella typhi was isolated from anaerobic but not from aerobic blood-cultures of two patients with typhoid fever. Both patients diseased after return from their home country Turkey. The strains developed in a CO2-enriched atmosphere and under anaerobic but not aerobic culture conditions.

Presence of diaminopimelic acid in propionate-negative Bacteroides species and in some butyric acid-producing strains.

AThe presence of diaminopimelic acid (m-DAP) in strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus, B. bivius and other species as well as in unidentified strains of Bacteroides was investigated by thin-layer chromatography. Strains of B.

Neuraminidases of Bacteroidaceae die neuraminidasen von bacteroidaceen.

Neuraminidases can be detected in members of the anaerobic gram-negative non-sporing rods (Bacteroidaceae), especially in the genus Bacteroides. B. fragilis, the most virulent species, has the highest neuraminidase activity, while the other intestinal species exhibit markedly lower activities or the enzyme is completely absent.

Thin layer chromatography for rapid detection of carbohydrate utilization by Bacteroides strains.

19 weakly saccharolytic Bacteroides strains of different species were tested by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for their fermentative abilities for fructose, sucrose, lactose, galactose, and raffinose. Conventional fermentation tests were run parallel. In general, a good agreement between both methods was recorded.