[Chemotaxonomical methods in the diagnostics of clinical strains causing actinobacterial infections].

The application of polyphasic taxonomic studies to identify several strains of Actinobacteria is presented. These microorganisms cause opportunistic infections relatively often (especially in immunocompromised patients), but their proper classification is difficult and they may be mistaken with other similar taxa. The article involves some clinical isolates properly identified by extended analysis, including simplified chromatographic methods (TLC, GLC).

Structural and serological characterization of the major glycolipid from Rothia mucilaginosa.

Structural studies on the major glycolipid isolated from Rothia mucilaginosa were carried out utilising specific chemical degradation, NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF-MS). The glycolipid was found to be a dimannosylacylmonoglyceride in which the carbohydrate part was the glycerol-linked dimannoside alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-sn-Gro (Man A-Man B-Gro), of which Man B was esterified at O-6 by a fatty acid residue. A second fatty acid substituted the secondary methylene position of the glycerol residue, in contrast to the glycolipid previously found in R.

Novel bacterial polar lipids containing ether-linked alkyl chains, the structures and biological properties of the four major glycolipids from Propionibacterium propionicum PCM 2431 (ATCC 14157T).

Propionibacterium propionicum belongs to the "acnes group" of propionibacteria, which is currently considered as clinically important because of its growing potential in infections, in particular with those connected with immune system dysfunctions. Propionibacteria are thought to be actinomycete-like microorganisms and may still cause diagnostic difficulties. The chloroform-methanol extracts of the cell mass of P.

[Nocardia and human nocardiosis].

Nocardia spp. are pathogens commonly found in soil worldwide, and they cause mostly opportunistic infections in humans and animals, complicating both immunodepressive states and primary diseases. Nocardiosis is difficult to proper microbiological and clinical diagnosis because of its non-specific symptoms, which manifest as the cutaneous and sub-cutaneous infections, lung symptoms and the dissemination through the bloodstream to other organs.

Structure of the major glycolipid from Rothia dentocariosa.

Structural studies of the major glycolipid isolated from Rothia dentocariosa were carried out by specific chemical degradation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The glycolipid was found to be a dimannosylacylmonoglyceride in which the carbohydrate part was the glycerol-linked dimannoside alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-sn-Gro, and the internal mannose was esterified at C-6 by fatty acid residue. The other fatty acyl chain substituted the primary methylene position of glycerol.

Rare, suppurative pulmonary infection caused by Nocardiopsis dassonvillei recognized by glycolipid markers.

An opportunistic actinomycete was isolated as the only etiological agent of a severe, suppurative pulmonary infection. The strain was rapidly recognised as Nocardiopsis by the taxonomically important and immunologically active glycolipid markers (G1 and G2). Identification of the clinical isolate, from a group of actinomycetes mainly known as soil habitants, was definitely proved by chemotaxonomic studies (cell wall/sugar, phospholipid and fatty acid types) as well as by genomic data (GC content, DNA-DNA reassociation).

Structural studies of the major glycolipid from Saccharopolyspora genus.

A major glycolipid was isolated from the well characterized Saccharopolyspora species, S. hirsuta, S. rectivirgula, S.

[Structure and antigenicity of the major glycolipid from opportunistic bacteria Rhodococcus equi].

Some results from structural and immunological studies of the major glycolipid from Rhodococcus equi were presented. This glycolipid showed to be a glucosylmonomycolate (GMM) with an aliphatic chain C38. Its value as taxonomic and immunodiagnostic marker was discussed.

A simple method for differentiation of Propionibacterium acnes and Propionibacterium propionicum.

TLC glycolipid profiles of several culture collection and clinical strains of Propionibacterium acnes and Propionibacterium propionicum were examined. The former were characterized by weak orcinol-positive minor glycolipids of type g, while the others had mainly strong orcinol-positive major glycolipids of type G. The simple and rapid small scale procedure seemed to be useful for differentiation of these phenotypically similar and genotypically closely related species irrespective of their serotypes.

[Pneumonia complicated by bacteremia with Stomatococcus mucilaginosus].

A rare strain of Stomatococcus mucilaginosus (formerly Micrococcus) was isolated from blood of a patient after pneumonia, which was causing an enlargement of lymph nodes and groin fistula. Chemical composition of cell wall of this microorganism (analysis of amino acids and diagnostically important sugars), elementary composition of lipids (fatty acids, phospholipids and glycolipids) and molar percentage of guanine and cytosine (%GC), were determined. Results completely agreeable with results published elsewhere were obtained which resulted in reclassification of this species (Kocur (1982, Int.

[Anaerobic Propionibacterium in opportunistic infections].

In three cases, two of which regarded exudative pericardium inflammation and one of lung abscess, biopsy revealed negative bacteriological results. Blood cultures resulted in culture of anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria from Propionibacterium genus. Precise chemo- geno-taxonomic studies were performed which confirmed generic identification of isolated strains.

Effect of natural and synthetic immunomodulators on the synthesis of interferon by peritoneal cells of mice.

The effect of different natural and synthetic immunomodulators on the spontaneous interferon (IFN) synthesis by freshly isolated resident peritoneal cells of BALB/c, NZB and C3H mice was investigated. Actinomycetal glycolipids isolated from Curtobacterium betae, Faenia rectivirgula, Rothia dentocariosa and Saccharopolyspora hirsuta at the concentration 1-20 micrograms/ml were found to potentiate the IFN synthesis by the peritoneal cells of BALB/c mice. Similar results were obtained when dsRNA, LPS of Shigella sonnei and lipid A isolated from the LPS were used.

[Aerobic actinomycetes and their significance in human and animal pathology. I. Actinomycetales infections--characteristics, etiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis].

Aerobic actinomycetes causing nocardiosis, GRT-(Gordona, Rhodococcus, Tsukamurella) infections, actinomycetomas, dermatophilosis and extrinsic allergic alveolitis, including etiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of the diseases are described. The name "actinomycetosis" for all these diseases has been proposed. Many clinical important and potential pathogens, as well as an increasing number of opportunistic, immunosuppressed and immunocompromised cases are discussed.

Kitasatosporia setae, an interesting actinomycete strain isolated from Spitsbergen soil.

The phenotypic and genotypic properties as well as cell chemistry of an interesting actinomycete, which converted certain azacarbazoles into highly cytotoxic derivatives, were established. The strain was also compared with two similar Japanese actinomycetes of Kitasatosporia gen. nov.

Immunogenic properties of glycolipids of Nocardiopsis dassonvillei.

Two specific glycolipids identified as monomannosyl diglyceride (G1) and monoacylated glucose (G2), isolated from Nocardiopsis dassonvillei strains, were found to be biologically active. They elicited antibody response in rabbits when administered with some carrier components: lecithine, methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA) and Freund incomplete adjuvant (FIA). Antibodies to the glycolipids were detected in antisera to G1 and in the sera against crude cell antigen of N.

Sugar-containing lipids in the classification of representative Actinomadura and Nocardiopsis species.

The major sugar-containing lipids of some Actinomadura and Nocardiopis strains--recognized as an important agent of actinomycetoma -- were analyzed by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. It was demonstrated that Nocardiopsis dassonvillei strains contained two characteristic glycolipids identified as monomannosyl diglyceride and monoacylated glucose. None of them was found in the representatives of Actinomadura madurae and Actinomadura pelletieri strains, which possessed phosphatidylinositol-mannosides as major sugar-containing lipids.

Serological study of Nocardia pellegrino.

The serological relationship between Nocardia pellegrino strains was studied by means of immunodiffusion technique. Seven reference precipitation systems, including Nocardia asteroides (three strains), N. pellegrino Sn 5112, Rhodococcus, rhodochrous (two strains) and N.

Immunogenicity of methyl esters of nocardomycolic acids.

Immunogenicity of methyl esters of fatty acids of nocardiae (Nocardia (Nocardia asteroides ATCC 19247, N, brasiliensis N318 and N. caviae N231) was studied. The rabbit antisera obtained against the lipid fractions reacted in the complement fixation test (CF) and in the pash sive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (PCA).

Free mycolic acids as criteria in the classification of Gordona and the 'rhodochrous' complex.

The methyl esters of free mycolic acids from representative strains of Gordona bronchialis, G. rubra, G. terrae and Nocardia kirovani each gave, on mass spectroscopy, homologous series of anhydromycolic esters containing from one to four double bonds with the main components of the parent mycolic acids centered on 56, 58, 62 or 64 carbon atoms (total range from C52 to C66).