First isolation of Dysgonomonas mossii from intestinal juice of a patient with pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Dysgonomonas species were first designated in 2000. However, clinical infections due to this microorganism have rarely been described. Our aim was to present the first isolation of Dysgonomonas mossii from intestinal juice of a patient with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Predominantly appearing grayish-white colonies grown on chocolate and sheep blood agar plates were characterized morphologically by Gram stain, biochemically by automated instrument using Vitek II ID-GNB card together with commercially available kit systems, ID-Test HN-20 and API rapid ID 32A32A, and genetically by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene of the organism using a Taq DyeDeoxy Terminator Cycle Sequencing and a model 3100 DNA sequencer instrument. The isolate was further characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility using MicroFast 4J Panels and additional biochemical and physiological properties. RESULTS: The isolate was finally identified as D. mossii from the findings of the morphological, cultural, and biochemical properties together with the comparative sequence of the 16S rRNA genes. The isolate was highly susceptible to many antibiotics but resistant to penicillins and cephems. CONCLUSIONS: As D. mossii was rarely encountered in the clinical microbiology laboratory, it may be misidentified as an X-factor-dependent Haemophilus species due to its negative result for the porphyrin test. Accumulation of the case reports with the isolation of this species is expected to elucidate the infections due to D. mossii. The presence of D. mossii caused no significant clinical infection despite repeated isolations, as the patient had no conspicuous abdominal complaints. However, our report is a noteworthy and useful piece of information.

Suppressive effect of rice extract on Helicobacter pylori infection in a Mongolian gerbil model.

BACKGROUND: Rice extract has been shown to protect gastric mucosa from stress-induced damage. In this study, the antibiotic effect and the anti-inflammatory effect of orally administered aqueous rice extract on Helicobacter pylori infection and H. pylori-induced gastritis, respectively, in Mongolian gerbils were investigated. METHODS: Fifty specific-pathogen-free male Mongolian gerbils, seven weeks old, were divided into four groups: uninfected, untreated animals (group A); uninfected, rice extract-treated animals (group B); H. pylori-infected, untreated animals (group C); and H. pylori-infected, rice extract-treated animals (group D). Group C and D animals were killed 12 weeks after H. pylori infection (i.e., at 19 weeks of age) and group A and B animals were also killed at age 19 weeks. The stomachs were removed for histopathological examination with hematoxylin-and-eosin staining and anti-5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunostaining, and to determine the bacterial burden. Serum anti-H. pylori antibody titers were also tested. RESULTS: In groups A and B, the gastric mucosa showed no inflammatory cell infiltration and a few BrdU-reactive cells. Group C animals developed marked chronic active gastritis in the gastric mucosa, and BrdU-labeled cells in the gastric mucosa markedly increased in number. In group D animals, a significant reduction occurred in the degree of neutrophilic polymorphonuclear cell infiltration into the gastric mucosa, in the BrdU-labeling indices of gastric epithelial cells, and in anti-H. pylori antibody titers in the serum (P < 0.01), compared with although H. pylori was not completely eradicated. CONCLUSIONS: The rice extract was effective in suppressing inflammation and epithelial cell proliferation in the gastric mucosa in H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils. The rice extract has potential to exhibit a protective effect on H. pylori-related gastric mucosal diseases.

Physical and genetic map of Enterococcus faecium ATCC19434 and demonstration of intra- and interspecific genomic diversity in enterococci.

A physical map of the Enterococcus faecium ATCC19434 chromosome was constructed by NotI, I-CeuI and Sse8387I. The chromosome was a circular DNA of 2600 kb in size, and contained six rRNA operons (rrn). The locations and orientations of the six rrn operons and 24 different determinants were mapped. Genomes of three additional E. faecium strains were also analyzed by I-CeuI digestion, and the genome sizes were found to vary from 2550 to 2995 kb. We further investigated the genome sizes and number of rrn operons in four E. faecalis, one E. avium, and one E. durans strains. The genome sizes were larger than E. faecium: 3000-3250 kb in E. faecalis, 3445 kb in E. avium, and 3070 kb in E. durans. E. avium and E. durans contained six rrn operons as in E. faecium, but all the E. faecalis strains possessed four rrn operons.

[Antimicrobial susceptibility and beta-lactamase productivity of recent clinical isolates during the period between December 1999 and February 2000].

Antimicrobial susceptibility testings of 24 antimicrobial agents against 605 clinical strains belonging to 10 species were carried out according to the micro-broth dilution method of NCCLS M7-A4. The productivity of beta-lactamase was also determined against them isolated at 8 medical facilities in Nagano prefecture, Japan during the period between December 1999 and February 2000. When applied the nitrocefin method, beta-lactamase productivity was demonstrated to be positive for 89.2% of 74 S. aureus, 4.3% of 94 H. influenzae, and 100% of 69 M. (B.) catarrhalis isolates. On the other hand, when used the acidometry method, penicillinase/cephalosporinase were found to be positive for 21.2%/9.6% of 52 E. coli, 29.0%/3.2% of 31 K. pneumoniae, 53.2%/100% of 47 E. cloacae, 0%/11.1% of 99 S. marcescens, and 25.9%/55.6% of 54 P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively. Among the beta-lactamase-producers including P. aeruginosa isolates, only 2 E. coli isolates were found to be ESBL-producers. Besides, 9.6% (9/94) of H. influenzae isolates were proved to be BLNAR strains.

Natural antibiotic function of a human gastric mucin against Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infects the stomachs of nearly a half the human population, yet most infected individuals remain asymptomatic, which suggests that there is a host defense against this bacterium. Because H. pylori is rarely found in deeper portions of the gastric mucosa, where O-glycans are expressed that have terminal alpha1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine, we tested whether these O-glycans might affect H. pylori growth. Here, we report that these O-glycans have antimicrobial activity against H. pylori, inhibiting its biosynthesis of cholesteryl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, a major cell wall component. Thus, the unique O-glycans in gastric mucin appeared to function as a natural antibiotic, protecting the host from H. pylori infection.