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Biomedical subjects

E L Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to E L Thomas.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Characterisation of Brucella abortus strain 19 cultures isolated from vaccinated cattle.

Thirty-four cultures recovered from material of bovine origin in England, Scotland and Wales were identified unequivocally as Brucella abortus strain 19 (S19). All had the properties of carbon dioxide-independent B abortus biotype 1 strains, were inhibited by penicillin G and thionin blue at standard concentrations and behaved in oxidative metabolism and guinea pig virulence tests as typical S19. Their sensitivity to i-erythritol varied somewhat between cultures as did reference subcultures of S19. Of the total number of isolates, 11 were recovered from abortion material or cyetic products, 10 were from calves which died from a hypersensitivity reaction within 24 hours of S19 vaccination and the remainder were from milk or internal organs. From the evidence available, there is little to suggest that calfhood vaccination with S19 has resulted in persistent systemic infection in other than a very small proportion of the animals inoculated.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Effects of adding potassium iodate to milk before UHT treatment. I. Reduction in the amount of deposit on the heated surfaces.

Additions of potassium iodate to milk at 0.05 and 0.1 mM (10 and 20 ppm) before UHT treatment markedly reduced the rate at which pressure built up during processing. This permitted the use of longer processing times before unacceptable pressures were reached in the heat exchangers. Iodate reduced the amount of protein deposited, particularly in the higher temperature sections of the plant, but had no effect on the deposition of minerals. The more compact nature of the highly mineral deposits offered less resistance to the flow path. Reduction in the amount of protein deposited is likely to be caused by increased denaturation of beta-lactoglobulin and oxidation of heat activated sulphydryl groups by the iodate, thus reducing the formation of high molecular weight polymers of sulphur-containing proteins at the heated surfaces. Increasing the level of sulphydryl groups in the milk through the addition of L-cysteine-HCl caused an increase in the amount of deposit formed during UHT treatment. Whilst little detrimental effect on the quality of milk resulted from additions of iodate at 0.05 mM, milks with 0.1 mM-iodate became bitter during subsequent aseptic storage. Bitterness was a result of iodate-induced proteolysis of casein.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Peroxidase antimicrobial system of human saliva: requirements for accumulation of hypothiocyanite.

Human saliva was fractionated to determine the components required for production and accumulation of the antimicrobial oxidizing agent, hypothiocyanite ion (OSCN-). The required components were: 1) peroxidase activity and thiocyanate ion (SCN-), 2) the saliva sediment, which produced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence of oxygen and a divalent cation, and 3) heat-stable factors of the saliva supernatant. The supernatant factors were separated into high- and low-mol wt fractions. The high-mol wt fraction contained both peptide and carbohydrate, and its activity was partially inhibited by proteolytic treatment. The low-mol wt fraction contained carbohydrate and could be replaced by a number of mono- and di-saccharides. Glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine were the most effective, whereas neutral sugars such as sucrose were less effective. Sucrose competed with glucosamine, so that lower levels of OSCN- were obtained with increasing amounts of sucrose. The sugars stimulated production of H2O2 by the saliva sediment. Production of H2O2 was greater in the presence of glucosamine than of neutral sugars. Also, the ratio of OSCN- accumulation to H2O2 production was greater in the presence of glucosamine. The results suggest that peroxidase-mediated antimicrobial activity is modulated by the carbohydrate composition of whole saliva and by certain protein and glycoprotein components.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1980

Hypothiocyanite ion: detection of the antimicrobial agent in human saliva.

The median concentration of hypothiocyanite (OSCN-) in freshly collected whole saliva was 10 microM. The OSCN- concentration increased to a median value of 36 microM during incubation for one h at 37 degrees in vitro. This increase was partially inhibited by adding certain sugars (especially sucrose). The results suggest that OSCN- is a naturally occurring component of human saliva. Also, dietary carbohydrate may inhibit OSCN- accumulation and antimicrobial action in saliva.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Prevention and treatment of symblepharon.

Symblepharon after acute conjunctival injury can be prevented by separating the raw surfaces for one to two weeks, until re-epithelialization takes place. We have used a soft contact lens and a conjunctival ring without a corneal center, or lined the eyelid and palpebral conjunctiva with plastic. This often eliminates the need for mucous membrane grafts. Symblepharon can interfere with intraocular surgery and disrupt cataract incisions unless they are divided and separated at the time of surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Myeloperoxidase, hydrogen peroxide, chloride antimicrobial system: nitrogen-chlorine derivatives of bacterial components in bactericidal action against Escherichia coli.

In the presence of Escherichia coli, myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of chloride ion resulted in formation of long-lived chloramine and/or chloramide derivatives of bacterial components. The same amount of these nitrogen-chlorine (N-Cl) derivatives was obtained with either hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or the myeloperoxidase system, indicating that myeloperoxidase catalyzed the oxidation of chloride to HOCl. Identical killing was obtained with HOCl or the myeloperoxidase system. About 30 to 50% of the oxidizing equivalents of HOCl were detected as N-Cl derivatives of peptides or peptide fragments that were released from the bacteria. The apparent molecular weight distribution of the peptides decreased with increasing amounts of HOCl, suggesting that peptides were fragmented by oxidative cleavage of chloramide derivatives of peptide bonds. The remaining 50 to 70% of the oxidizing equivalents of HOCl were rapidly consumed in peptide bond cleavage or the oxidation of other bacterial components. There was a close correspondence between the oxidation of bacterial sulfhydryls and bactericidal action. The N-Cl derivatives were lost and the oxidation of bacterial sulfhydryls increased over a period of several h at 37 degrees C. These changes were accompanied by increased killing. The increase in sulfhydryl oxidation and killing could be prevented by washing the bacteria to remove the N-Cl derivatives. Therefore, the N-Cl derivatives could oxidize bacterial components long after the myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of chloride was complete.

Chloramines↗
PubMed1979

Myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride antimicrobial system: effect of exogenous amines on antibacterial action against Escherichia coli.

Exogenous ammonium ions (NH(4) (+)) and amine compounds had a profound influence on the antibacterial activity of the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride system against Escherichia coli. The rate of killing increased in the presence of NH(4) (+) and certain guanidino compounds and decreased in the presence of alpha-amino acids, polylysine, taurine, or tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane. Myeloperoxidase catalyzed the oxidation of chloride to hypochlorous acid, which reacted either with bacterial amine or amide components or both or with the exogenous compounds to yield chloramine or chloramide derivatives or both. These nitrogen-chlorine derivatives could oxidize bacterial components. Killing was correlated with oxidation of bacterial components. The rate of oxidation of bacterial sulfhydryls increased in the presence of the compounds that increased the rate of killing and decreased in the presence of the other compounds. The reaction of HOCl with NH(4) (+) yielded monochloramine (NH(2)Cl), which could be extracted into organic solvents. The N-Cl derivatives of bacterial components or of polylysine, taurine, or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane could not be extracted. The effect of NH(4) (+) on killing is attributed to the ability of NH(2)Cl to penetrate the hydrophobic cell membrane and thus to oxidize intracellular components. Polylysine, taurine, and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane formed high-molecular-weight, charged, or polar N-Cl derivatives that would be unable to penetrate the cell membrane. These results suggest an important role for leukocyte amine components in myeloperoxidase-catalyzed antimicrobial activity in vivo.

Amines↗
PubMed1978

Susceptibility of Escherichia coli to bactericidal action of lactoperoxidase, peroxide, and iodide or thiocyanate.

The bactericidal action that results from lactoperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of iodide or thiocyanate was studied, using Escherichia coli as the test organism. The susceptibility of intact cells to bactericidal action was compared with that of cells with altered cell envelopes. Exposure to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, to lysozyme and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or to osmotic shock were used to alter the cell envelope. Bactericidal action was greatly increased when the cells were exposed to the lactoperoxidase-peroxide-iodide system at low temperatures, low cell density, or after alteration of the cell envelope. When thiocyanate was substituted for iodide, bactericidal activity was observed only at low cell density or after osmotic shock. Low temperature and low cell density lowered the rate of destruction of peroxide by the bacteria. Therefore, competition for peroxide between the bacteria and lactoperoxidase may influence the extent of bactericidal action. Alteration of the cell envelope had only a small effect on the rate of destruction of peroxide. Instead, the increased susceptibility of these altered cells suggested that bactericidal action required permeation of a reagent through the cell envelope. In addition to altering the cell envelope, these procedures partly depleted cells of oxidizable substrates and sulfhydryl components. Adding an oxidizable substrate did not decrease the susceptibility of the altered cells. On the other hand, mild reducing agents such as sulfhydryl compounds did partly reverse bactericidal action when added after exposure of cells to the peroxidase systems. These studies indicate that alteration of the metabolism, structure, or composition of bacterial cells can greatly increase their susceptibility to peroxidase bactericidal action.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1978

Cofactor role of iodide in peroxidase antimicrobial action against Escherichia coli.

The mechanism of antimicrobial activity of the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-iodide (I(-)) system was investigated. Inhibition of respiration and loss of viability of Escherichia coli were used as measures of antimicrobial activity. Because the bacteria destroyed H(2)O(2), peroxidase antimicrobial action depended on the competition for H(2)O(2) between the bacteria and the peroxidase. Utilization of H(2)O(2) by the peroxidase was favored by (i) increasing either the peroxidase or the I(-) concentration, so as to increase the rate of oxidation of I(-), (ii) lowering the temperature to lower the rate of destruction of H(2)O(2) by the bacteria, and (iii) adding H(2)O(2) in small increments so as to avoid a large excess of H(2)O(2) relative to I(-). When utilization of H(2)O(2) by the peroxidase system was favored, the peroxidase system and iodine (I(2)) were equivalent. That is, antimicrobial action per mole of H(2)O(2) equaled that per mole of I(2). Also, identical antimicrobial action was obtained either by incubating the bacteria directly with the peroxidase system or by preincubating the peroxidase system so as to form I(2) and then adding the bacteria. On the other hand, peroxidase antimicrobial action could be obtained at low I(-) concentrations. These I(-) concentrations were lower than the concentration of I(2) that was required for antimicrobial action. It is proposed that peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of I(-) yields I(2), which reacts with bacterial components to yield the oxidized components and I(-). The I(-) that is released can be reoxidized and participate again in the oxidation of bacterial components. In this way, I(-) acts as a cofactor in the peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of bacterial components.

Coenzymes↗
PubMed1978

Oxidation of Escherichia coli sulfhydryl components by the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide-iodide antimicrobial system.

The chemical modification of bacterial components was studied following incubation of Escherichia coli with the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-iodide (I(-)) antimicrobial system or with iodine (I(2)). The oxidation of cell sulfhydryls and the iodination of cell components were measured. Both the peroxidase system and I(2) oxidized sulfhydryls. When the I(-) concentration in the peroxidase system was greater than 100 muM, the peroxidase system and I(2) were equivalent. That is, sulfhydryl oxidation or killing per mole of H(2)O(2) equaled that per mole of I(2). These results were consistent with peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of I(-) to yield 1 mol of I(2) per mol of H(2)O(2). Sulfhydryls were oxidized to yield sulfenic acids and free I(-). With I(-) concentrations in the range of 10 to 100 muM, the amount of sulfhydryls oxidized by the peroxidase system could exceed the amount of I(-). Because the oxidation of sulfhydryls to sulfenic acids did not consume I(-), one I(-) ion could participate in the oxidation of many sulfhydryls. With I(-) concentrations lower than 10 muM, complete oxidation of sulfhydryls was not obtained. Incorporation of I(-) into iodinated derivatives of bacterial components partly depleted the system of I(-) and limited the formation of I(2). These results indicated that antimicrobial activity was due to peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of I(-) to I(2), followed by I(2) oxidation of cell components. There was a direct relationship between sulfhydryl oxidation and antimicrobial action. Although iodination of bacterial components accompanied sulfhydryl oxidation, the amount of I(-) incorporation was not directly related to antimicrobial action. Also, incorporation of I(-) interfered with antimicrobial action at low I(-) concentrations.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1978

Lactoperoxidase, peroxide, thiocyanate antimicrobial system: correlation of sulfhydryl oxidation with antimicrobial action.

The antimicrobial activity of the lactoperoxidase, peroxide, thiocyanate system against Escherichia coli was directly related to the oxidation of bacterial sulfhydryls. Lactoperoxidase catalyzed the oxidation of thiocyanate, which resulted in the accumulation of hypothiocyanite ion, OSCN-. A portion of the bacterial sulfhydryls were oxidized by OSCN- to yield sulfenic acid and sulfenyl thiocyanate derivatives. The remaining sulfhydryls were not oxidized, although OSCN- was present in large excess. The oxidation of sulfhydryls to sulfenyl derivatives inhibited bacterial respiration. This inhibition could be reversed by adding sulfhydryl compounds to reduce the sulfenyl derivatives and the excess OSCN-. Also, this inhibition could be reversed by washing the cells so as to remove the excess unreacted OSCN-. After washing, the bacteria underwent a time-dependent recovery of their sulfhydryl content. This recovery resulted in recovery of the ability to respire. The inhibited cells were viable if diluted and plated shortly after the incubation with the lactoperoxidase, peroxide, thiocyanate system. On the other hand, long-term incubation in the presence of the excess OSCN- resulted in loss of viability. Also, the inhibition of respiration became irreversible. During this long-term incubation, the excess OSCN- was consumed and the sulfenyl derivatives disappeared.

Dithiothreitol↗