[Hydroxyethyl starch--an interim report].

Since the beginning of this century, a few biopolymers have been used as basic materials for volume substitution. Aside from gelatin and dextran, modified starch (hydroxyethyl starch, HES) is currently the first-choice means. Due to special manufacturing processes, different hydroxyethyl starches are now available.

Occurrence of plasmids in black-pigmented gram-negative anaerobes.

Black-pigmented Gram-negative anaerobes are causative agents of pyogenic infections and are closely linked to various forms of periodontal diseases. Whereas many studies have shown a high incidence of plasmids in intestinal Bacteroides spp., there have been only a few reports of plasmid analyses in pigmented Gram-negative anaerobes.

In vivo utilization of N-(phosphonomethyl)-anilines and related substances by Pseudomonas spec. GS.

Utilization of various phosphonates as source for phosphorus by the glyphosate degrading strain Pseudomonas spec. GS was investigated. Metabolites of phosphonate degradation were characterized indicating the cleavage of the C-P-bound as primary step of breakdown.

[Glyphosate utilization by Pseudomonas spec. GS].

Pseudomonas spec. GS grown in the presence of 14C-labelled glyphosate metabolizes the herbicide to inorganic phosphate as well as in respect of utilization of the C-skeleton. Furthermore it was shown that the primary step of degradation is the breakdown of the C-P-bond, because sarcosine was found as a transient metabolite.