Enzymatic activities on purine pyrimidine metabolism in nine mycoplasma species contaminating cell cultures.

The study of mycoplasma enzymes involved in nucleotide degradation and base salvage pathways allowed determination of enzyme profiles for some species. The activity of adenosine phosphorylase seems to be the biochemical test of choice to detect mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures. All mycoplasmas tested had a very high level of activity compared to very low activity in human cell cultures, rendering the technic sensitive even at a low degree of contamination.

[Mycoplasmas and fertility (author's transl)]. / Mycoplasmes et fertilite.

PIP: This article investigates the pathogenic role of mycoplasmas, especially ureaplasma urealyticum, and mycoplasma hominis, on female and male sterility, on pregnancy evolution, and on perinatal infections. Many studies attest to the presence of mycoplasmas in cervical and tubal infections, and in cases of purperal fever, and relate on the possible influence of mycoplasmas on spontaneous abortions, infections in utero, and infections in the new born. The diagnosis of mycoplasmatic infections is easy and feasible in every laboratory; treatment is usually and successfully done by antibiotics.^ieng

[In vitro activity of Septivon-Lavril toward mycoplasma pathogenic to humans]. / Activité in vitro du Septivon-Lavril vis-à-vis des mycoplasmes pathogènes pour l'homme.

Septivon-Lavril is bactericidal in vitro towards species of mycoplasmas responsible for vaginal infections and their complications (U. urealyticum and M. hominis) and for the Stevens-Johnson syndrome (M. pneumoniae). As the active doses are inferior to those recommended for external use, this product, Trichlorocarbanilide, presents a clinical interest.

AdoP assay detection of mycoplasmal contamination in biological media.

The AdoP assay has been shown to be reliable in controlling the absence of mycoplasmas in filtered sera. We therefore compared its effectiveness with that of other tests in the detection of animal cell contamination by mycoplasmas.

[In vitro activity of nitroxoline on urogenital mycoplasmas]. / Activité in vitro de la nitroxoline sur les mycoplasmes uro-génitaux.

The product nitroxoline was studied in vitro for its activity towards Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. In view of the low MIC values obtained, it seems nitroxoline could be used in the treatment of urinary infections. It is bactericidal, and should not produce resistant strains.

[RNA fragments, in vivo inhibitors of Shope fibroma and vaccinia virus multiplication]. / ARN-fragments, inhibiteurs in vivo de la multiplication des virus du fibrome de Shope et de la vaccine

RNA-fragments rich in purine nucleotides and resulting from degradation of ribosomal RNA from E. coli M 500 Sho-R with pancreatic RNase exhibit only in vivo an inhibitory effect on Shope fibroma and vaccinia virus multiplication.

[Value of the antibiogram technic for the treatment of urogenital infection with Ureaplasma (author's transl)]. / Valeur de l'antibiogramme pour le traitement des infections urogénitales à Ureaplasma.

We have currently established the spectrum of sensitivity of the isolated strains to various antibiotics before prescribing the appropriate treatment. A microtechnic has been used. The most active antibiotics are: minocyclin, pristinamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracyclin, kanamycin, tobramycin, streptomycin, in this order.

[Value of the antibiogram for the treatment of urogenital Ureaplasma infections]. / Valeur de l'antibiogramme pour le traitement des infections urogénitales à Ureaplasma.

We have currently established the spectrum of sensitivity of the isolated strains to various antibiotics before prescribing the appropriate treatment. A microtechnic has been used. The most active antibiotics are: minocyclin, pristinamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracyclin, kanamycin, tobramycin, streptomycin, in this order.

Cross-reactive antibodies to mycoplasmas found in human sera by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in patients' sera with M. pneumoniae infection were measured by the complement fixation (CF) test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Many patients' sera cross-reacted with heterologous mycoplasmal ELISA antigens such as M. hominis, M. hyorhinis, M. orale, M. pulmonis and M. salivarium. The sera with high CF (CF greater than or equal to 40) titers gave significantly higher ELISA values to M. hyorhinis (P less than 0.001) and M. pulmonis (P less than 0.001), which are not parasitic for humans, than those with low CF (CF less than 20) titer. Human normal immunoglobulin G (human normal IgG) containing 98% or more IgG, prepared from pooled plasma of at least 500 normal human donors, showed ELISA reactions with all mycoplasmal strains used. The nonspecific adsorption of human normal IgG on the surface of plate wells and on medium components which might contaminate mycoplasmal ELISA antigens could be disregarded. These results suggest that cross-reactive antibodies to mycoplasmas exist in human sera, and they affect the results of ELISA for serodiagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection.

Assay for detection of adenosine phosphorylase from mycoplasmas.

A microtechnique is described which permits simple evaluation of the activity of the enzyme adenosine phosphorylase (AdoP), present in all mycoplasmas tested thus far. The good solubility and stability of AdoP and the sensitivity of the assay should be advantageous in detecting mycoplasmas in biological samples such as animal sera, cell cultures and vaccines.

[Effect of lymecycline on pathogenic mycoplasmas]. / Activité de la lymécycline sur les mycoplasmes pathogènes.

Results of sensitivity to antibiotic in vitro and results of antibiotic treatment in vivo seem to recognize so far lymecycline as the tetracycline to prescribe in infections by mycoplasmas.

[Problems in detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures (author's transl)]. / Valeur de la technique de coloration d'ADN pour le dépistage de contamination des cultures cellulaires par les mycoplasmes.

A total of 135 cell lines was examined for mycoplasma contamination using two techniques: isolation and specific DNA-staining with DAPI or "Hoechst 33258". The two techniques showed similar results in 64% of the cases of cell contamination while the remainder was detected only by one or the other techniques: 12,82% by the staining technique and 23% by the isolation technique, which shows that the 2 techniques are complementary. The staining technique is very quick, easy to execute, very sensitive, and should be the method of choice to detect contamination when the mycoplasma do not grow in acellular media.

Demonstration of cross-reactive antibodies to mycoplasmas in human sera by ELISA and immunoblotting.

Varying levels of cross-reactivity to some mycoplasma species were observed in the sera of patients infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and even in normal human sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The absorption of the patients' sera with M. pneumoniae lysate showed the decrease in ELISA titers not only to M. pneumoniae, but also to other mycoplasma species. These results suggested the existence of cross-reactive antibodies to mycoplasmas in human sera. Cross-reactive antibodies to M. pneumoniae and other mycoplasmas in the patients' sera were also demonstrated by Western blotting technique.

Adenosine phosphorylase activity as a technique for detection of mycoplasmas in biological media.

The importance of cell culture contamination by mycoplasmas is well recognized, but the means used to detect such contamination still need improvement. Most mycoplasmas possess an enzyme, adenosine phosphorylase, which is not found in cell lines. We used the ultramicromethod of Uitendaal et al. to detect the presence of mycoplasmas in sera and in tissue culture medium. The absence of adenosine phosphorylase activity seems to be the best guarantee that a serum is not contaminated by mycoplasmas. This test is also most efficient for the detection of mycoplasmas in tissue or cell cultures in vitro.

[Complications of infections attributed to cytomegalovirus in a group of 52 kidney transplant patients]. / Incidence des infections attribuables au cytomégalovirus dans un groupe de 52 transplantés rénaux.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after renal transplantation was studied over a one year period in 52 patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs. During the infectious episodes, viral shedding was systematically detected in the blood and urines by culture on MRC5 cells and CMV antibodies were titrated in the serum by ELISA (IgG: M. A. Bioproducts, IgM: immunocapture Wellcome) and compared to the initial antibody titer determined the day of transplantation. Primary CMV infection was observed in 6 of 22 seronegative patients, attested by CMV shedding from urine and/or blood and by the emergence of CMV IgM antibodies. This primary infection was severe, including at least 4 of the following features: fever greater than 38 degrees C, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, cytolytic hepatitis, pneumonia, impaired renal function, neurological syndrome, usually occurring about 6 weeks after transplantation. Reactivation was found in 12 of 30 seropositive patients, as shown by excretion of CMV in the urine and significant rise of specific antibodies. This reactivation occurring about 9 weeks after surgery was symptomatic in 5 patients with severe illness and associated with the presence of IgM antibodies in 2 cases. Rise of CMV antibodies was observed in 10 seropositive patients without excretion of virus. It coincided with symptomatic infection in only three patients who displayed severe symptoms, with presence of CMV IgM antibodies in one case. As previously reported, we confirm that CMV infection is a frequent complication of organ transplantation. It may be clinically silent in renal transplant patients or cause problems ranging from fever to pneumonia or retinitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Bronchial brushing in severe lung diseases in children]. / Le brossage bronchique dans les pneumopathies graves de l'enfant.

A distal bronchial brushing was performed in 25 children having severe lung diseases. The age of the patients ranged from 7 days to 14 years. Seventeen children were immuno-depressed. Bacteria were isolated five times (2 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1 Serratia marcenscens, 1 Acinetobacter lwoffi), viruses twice (cytomegalovirus, syncytial respiratory virus), Pneumocystis carinii, four times. Cytologic study revealed malignant cells, and cells with intranuclear inclusions, evoking a viral infection. This procedure appears to be harmless in children over 2 years of age. In younger children there is a risk of pneumothorax. the principal indication for distal bronchial brushing is lung disease in immuno-depressed children. It may, however, also be useful in prolonged, treatment-resistant, severe lung diseases.