Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry has emerged as a rapid, cost-effective alternative for bacterial species identification. Identifying 60 blind-coded nonfermenting bacteria samples, this international study (using eight laboratories) achieved 98.75% interlaboratory reproducibility. Only 6 of the 480 samples were misidentified due to interchanges (4 samples) or contamination (1 sample) or not identified because of insufficient signal intensity (1 sample).Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has emerged as a fast and costeffective alternative for bacterial species identification in microbiology. On the basis of mass analysis of the protein composition of a bacterial cell, which is assumed to be characteristic for each bacterial species, it is possible to determine the species within few minutes, starting from whole cells, cell lysates, or crude bacterial extracts (2, 3, 5, 6). The proof of principle of MALDI-TOF MS for bacterial species identification was shown a decade ago (2, 5, 6); however, due to low reproducibility, it has not been widely adopted in clinical microbiology. We have recently shown that use of a larger mass range for detection (2,000 to 20,000 Da), dedicated analysis software for spectral pattern matching, and a highquality reference database of spectra generated from qualitycontrolled culture collection strains resulted in accurate species identifications, with high intralaboratory reproducibility (7). For interlaboratory reproducibility, there are only very limited data available (8, 10). We therefore evaluated the interlaboratory reproducibility for MALDI-TOF MS-based species identification in a multicenter study, applying the above-described MALDI-TOF MS improvements.(

Porphyromonas gingivalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Helicobacter pylori have been shown to be associated with adult periodontal disease, chronic lung infections, and peptic ulcers, respectively. The ability of these bacteria to stimulate E-selectin expression and promote neutrophil adhesion, two components necessary for the recruitment of leukocytes in response to infection, was investigated. Little or no stimulation of E-selectin expression was observed with either P. gingivalis or H. pylori when whole cells, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or cell wall preparations added to human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells were examined. P. aeruginosa was able to induce E-selectin to near-maximal levels; however, it required approximately 100 to 1,000 times more whole cells or LPS than that required by E. coli. Neutrophil-binding assays revealed that LPS and cell wall preparations obtained from these bacteria did not promote endothelial cell adhesiveness by E-selectinindependent mechanisms. In addition, P. gingivalis LPS blocked E-selectin expression by LPS obtained from other bacteria. We propose that lack of E-selectin stimulation and the inability to promote endothelial cell adhesiveness are two additional indications of low biologically reactive LPS. We suggest that this property of LPS may contribute to host tissue colonization. In addition, the ability of P. gingivalis to inhibit E-selectin expression may represent a new virulence factor for this organism.

The transport of Fe(III)-siderophore complexes and vitamin B 12 across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli requires the TonB-dependent energy transduction system. A set of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was generated against an E. coli TrpC-TonB fusion protein to facilitate structure and function studies. In the present study, the epitopes recognized by these MAbs were mapped, and their distribution in gram-negative organisms was examined. Cross-species reactivity patterns obtained against TonB homologs of known sequence were used to refine epitope mapping, with some epitopes ultimately confirmed by inhibition experiments using synthetic polypeptides. Epitopes recognized by this set of MAbs were conserved in TonB homologs for 9 of 12 species in the family Enterobacteriaceae (including E. coli), including previously unidentified TonB homologs in Shigella, Citrobacter, Proteus, and Kluyvera species. These homologs were also detected by a polyclonal ␣-TrpC-TonB serum that additionally recognized the known Yersinia enterocolitica TonB homolog and a putative TonB homolog in Edwardsiella tarda. These antibody preparations failed to detect the known TonB homologs of either Pseudomonas putida or Haemophilus influenzae but did identify potential TonB homologs in several other nonenteric gram-negative species. In vivo chemical cross-linking experiments demonstrated that in addition to TonB, auxiliary components of the TonB-dependent energy transduction system are broadly conserved in members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, suggesting that the TonB system represents a common system for high-affinity active transport across the gram-negative outer membrane.The outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria is a diffusion barrier that excludes a variety of toxic agents from the cell proper. This barrier is circumvented by small hydrophilic nutrients, which can enter the periplasmic space by simple diffusion through nonspecific aqueous channels created by porin proteins, and by certain larger nutrients, which can enter the periplasm by facilitated diffusion through stereospecific pores like LamB. Conversely, a third group of nutrients, Fe(III)-complexed siderophores and vitamin B 12 , are dependent on active transport via high-affinity outer membrane receptors to enter the periplasmic space.The active transport of Fe(III)-bearing siderophores and vitamin B 12 (as well as certain colicins and bacteriophage that exploit this process) across the outer membrane is complicated by the absence of a local energy source. Free diffusion of protons through porins renders the outer membrane unable to sustain an electrochemical potential sufficient to energize active transport. In addition, periplasmic phosphatases preclude the use of high-energy phosphate carriers as an energy source. Early experiments with 80 and T5 found that the electrochemical potential of the cytoplasmic membrane was required for irreversible adsorption of these phage, suggesting that the energy for this outer membrane phenomenon originates at the cytoplasmic me...

Cat, cattle, dog, horse, human, mink, pig, and rabbit platelets were separated from plasma by gel filtration. The gel-filtered platelets (GFP) were treated with thrombin to induce maximal granule secretion and the potential dense granule constituents ATP, ADP, serotonin (5-HT), Ca2+, and Mg2+ were measured in GFP and in the control and thrombin-treated platelets and in the respective supernatants. The amount of Ca2+, Mg2+, 5-HT, ATP, and ADP within the nonreleasable pool for all species varied between 3.1 and 10.0 mumol/10(11) platelets for Ca2+ and Mg2+ was less than 1.5 mumol/10(11) platelets for ADP and 5-HT and was between 2.0 and 5.0 mumol/10(11) platelets for ATP. Marked differences were observed in the releasable fraction. Human platelets were characterized by the largest releasable Ca2+ pool (greater than 10 mumol/10(11) platelets), the smallest secretable 5-HT and Mg2+ pool (less than 0.5 mumol/10(11) platelets), and the lowest ATP-to-ADP ratio (greater than 1.0). Pig platelets had the highest amount of releasable Mg2+ (approximately 8.0 mumol/10(11) platelets). Rabbits platelets released the most 5-HT (greater than 3.0 mumol/10(11)) and had the highest ATP/ADP (greater than 5.0). The releasable pool of Ca2+, Mg2+, ATP, and ADP in the remaining species varied in mumol/10(11) platelets from approximately 1.5-4.0, approximately 1.0-3.0, 0.5-3.5, and approximately 0.5-1.5, respectively.

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 produced by the periovulatory follicle in response to the midcycle LH surge is essential for successful ovulation in primates. Granulosa cells express the PG synthesis enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 in response to the LH surge, but elevated cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA levels precede rising follicular fluid PGE2 levels by 24 h. Therefore, PG metabolism may play a significant role in regulating follicular concentrations of PGE2 during the periovulatory interval. To test this hypothesis, granulosa cells, follicular fluid, and whole ovaries were obtained from adult monkeys receiving exogenous gonadotropins to stimulate development of multiple, large follicles at times spanning the 40-h periovulatory interval. Ovarian expression of the NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxy PG dehydrogenase (PGDH) was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. PGDH mRNA levels were low in granulosa cells obtained 0 h after hCG, rose 10-fold 12 h after hCG, and were not different from 0 h by 24-36 h after hCG administration. Granulosa cell PGDH protein was present 0-12 h after hCG but was low/nondetectable 36 h after hCG administration. Follicular fluid PGE2 levels were low at 0-12 h, slightly higher at 24 h, and then rose 10-fold to peak at 36 h hCG. Levels of biologically inactive PGE2 metabolites in follicular fluid were also low at 0 h but elevated at 12-24 h after hCG, times at which PGE2 levels remain low. Therefore, PGDH is present in the primate periovulatory follicle in a pattern consistent with modulation of follicular PGE2 levels during the periovulatory interval, supporting the hypothesis that gonadotropin-regulated PGDH plays a role in the control and timing of ovulation in primates.