BEZEEHUNGEN ZWISCHEN HYDROPHOBDUTÃT, RAMAGGLUTINATION UND ADHARENZAIECHANISMEN VON STREPTOCOCCUS SUIS

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus suis hat eine besondere Bedeutimg Js 1nfektionserreger bei Schwein, anderen Tieren und such beim Menschen_ Die untersuchten Streptokokkenkultnren der vorliegenden Arbeit konnten aufgnmd kultureller, biochemischer und serologischer Untersuchungen als Streptococc-us\u27 suis identifiziert werden_ Die Serotypisieiung der Kulturen gelang nut 28 verschiedenen monospezifischen Typenaniiseren_ Die innerhalb der S. suis-Kulturen festellbaren Typenantigene waren fibetwiegend den Serotypen 2, 112 and 1 zatzuordnesi. Das Vorkommen der Typenantigenmia-okapsel stand in direkter Beziehtmg zu Oberflicherdadungen der Mittman_ Die Oberftichanhydrophobizitit konnte im llexadecanadlArenztest fesgestdlt werden. S. sibs-Kulturen mit hydrophoben Oberfitcheneigenschaften agghiliniertert Erythrozyten vom lk/fensch, Schwein und Kaninchen_ Die.Beitehungen zwischen Hydrophobizitat, Hinnaggkaination and adhirierenden Eigenschaften der Kulturen konnte mit 3 Zellmodellen gezeigt werden. S. suis-Kulturen, die eine Hamagglutination zeigten, wiesen eine deutliche Adhirenz an HeLaZellen, an Epithelzellen and an Ltmgenmakrophagen vom Kaninche

Experimental Bilharziasis in animals: IV. Chemoprophylaxis in Bilharziasis

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A Highly Pathogenic Strain of Staphylococcus sciuri Caused Fatal Exudative Epidermitis in Piglets

Staphylococcus sciuri are important human pathogens responsible for endocarditis, peritonitis, septic shock, urinary tract infection, pelvic inflammatory disease and wound infections. However, little information is known regarding the pathogenicity of S. sciuri to animals. From the pericardial fluid of a diseased piglet with exudative epidermitis (EE), we isolated a strain of Staphylococcus in pure culture. Surprisingly, this isolate was a member of S. sciuri rather than S. hyicus as identified by its biochemical traits and also by analysis of 23S ribosomal DNA using Internal Transcribed Spacer PCR. In addition, inoculation of newborn piglets with 1×10(10) CFU of the isolate by oral feeding or intra-muscular injection successfully reproduced EE in piglets, which suggested that the oral intake of the pathogen by the animals is one of the major routes of exposure. These unexpected findings prioritized S. sciuri as important zoonotic agents, which may have ramifications for human medicine

Novel IgG-degrading enzymes of the IgdE protease family link substrate specificity to host tropism of <i>Streptococcus</i> species

Recently we have discovered an IgG degrading enzyme of the endemic pig pathogen S. suis designated IgdE that is highly specific for porcine IgG. This protease is the founding member of a novel cysteine protease family assigned C113 in the MEROPS peptidase database. Bioinformatical analyses revealed putative members of the IgdE protease family in eight other Streptococcus species. The genes of the putative IgdE family proteases of S. agalactiae, S. porcinus, S. pseudoporcinus and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus were cloned for production of recombinant protein into expression vectors. Recombinant proteins of all four IgdE family proteases were proteolytically active against IgG of the respective Streptococcus species hosts, but not against IgG from other tested species or other classes of immunoglobulins, thereby linking the substrate specificity to the known host tropism. The novel IgdE family proteases of S. agalactiae, S. pseudoporcinus and S. equi showed IgG subtype specificity, i.e. IgdE from S. agalactiae and S. pseudoporcinus cleaved human IgG1, while IgdE from S. equi was subtype specific for equine IgG7. Porcine IgG subtype specificities of the IgdE family proteases of S. porcinus and S. pseudoporcinus remain to be determined. Cleavage of porcine IgG by IgdE of S. pseudoporcinus is suggested to be an evolutionary remaining activity reflecting ancestry of the human pathogen to the porcine pathogen S. porcinus. The IgG subtype specificity of bacterial proteases indicates the special importance of these IgG subtypes in counteracting infection or colonization and opportunistic streptococci neutralize such antibodies through expression of IgdE family proteases as putative immune evasion factors. We suggest that IgdE family proteases might be valid vaccine targets against streptococci of both human and veterinary medical concerns and could also be of therapeutic as well as biotechnological use

Dementia care initiative in primary practice – study protocol of a cluster randomized trial on dementia management in a general practice setting

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Current guidelines for dementia care recommend the combination of drug therapy with non-pharmaceutical measures like counselling and social support. However, the scientific evidence concerning non-pharmaceutical interventions for dementia patients and their informal caregivers remains inconclusive. Targets of modern comprehensive dementia care are to enable patients to live at home as long and as independent as possible and to reduce the burden of caregivers. The objective of the study is to compare a complex intervention including caregiver support groups and counselling against usual care in terms of time to nursing home placement. In this paper the study protocol is described.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The IDA (Initiative Demenzversorgung in der Allgemeinmedizin) project is designed as a three armed cluster-randomized trial where dementia patients and their informal caregivers are recruited by general practitioners. Patients in the study region of Middle Franconia, Germany, are included if they have mild or moderate dementia, are at least 65 years old, and are members of the German AOK (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse) sickness fund. In the control group patients receive regular treatment, whereas in the two intervention groups general practitioners participate in a training course in evidence based dementia treatment, recommend support groups and offer counseling to the family caregivers either beginning at baseline or after the 1-year follow-up. The study recruitment and follow-up took place from July 2005 to January 2009. 303 general practitioners were randomized of which 129 recruited a total of 390 patients. Time to nursing home admission within the two year intervention and follow-up period is the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints are cognitive status, activities of daily living, burden of care giving as well as healthcare costs. For an economic analysis from the societal perspective, data are collected from caregivers as well as by the use of routine data from statutory health insurance and long-term care insurance.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>From a public health perspective, the IDA trial is expected to lead to evidence based results on the community effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical support measures for dementia patients and their caregivers in the primary care sector. For health policy makers it is necessary to make their decisions about financing new services based on strong knowledge about the acceptance of measures in the population and their cost-effectiveness.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN68329593</p

Relation Between Encapsulation and Adherence Properties of Bacteria Streptococci of Serological Group B to DEAE-Sephacel (HUBUNGAN ANTARA KEBERADAAN KAPSUL DENGAN SIFAT ADHESIFITAS BAKTERI STREPTOKOKUS GRUP B PADA DEAE-SEPHACEL)

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Relation Between Encapsulation of Streptococci of Serological Group B and Adherence Properties of The Bacteria to Deae-Sephacel

Determination of surface charge of group B streptococci by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel revealed that bovine and human group B streptococcal isolates with protein surrface antigens alone, or bacteria with protein antigen in combination with polysacharide antigens, adhered strongly to the gel matrix. In contrary, cultures with polysacchaide antigens alone showed no comparable adherence properties. Removal of neuraminic acid from bacterial surface enhanced, but pronase treatment reduced the adherence values. The importance of type specific capsular sialylation for group B streptococcal surface charge could be confirmed with group B streptococci of serotype III and their transposon mutagenized asialocapsular mutants. In contrary to the encapsulated parent strains the asialo capsular mutants adhered strongly to the gel matrix. Comparable differences were observed with unencapsulated group B streptococcal variant strains and its isogenic encapsulated parent strains. The capsule material seemed to mask the surface proteins responsible for the adherence to the gel matrix. The determination of surface charge of group B streptococci by ion exchange chromatography might help to understand the importance of capsular sialylation for individual isolates of this bacterial species