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Biomedical subjects

J C Burnham

Publications and source records attributed to J C Burnham.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1970

Ultrastructure and cell division of a facultatively parasitic strain of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.

Some aspects of cell development and division of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus strain UKi2 were examined by use of electron microscopic techniques. Under saprophytic and parasitic conditions of growth, the comma-shaped cells enlarge, elongate, and form helical filaments. The mechanism of division appears to consist of an asymmetrical constriction of the filamentous cell by the cytoplasmic membrane, accompanied by a breakdown of the outer layers of the cell wall in the division region. During regeneration of the cell wall, the flagellum and flagellar sheath are formed. The development of the flagellum of the daughter cell is initiated prior to separation of the newly formed cells from the filament. Observations of B. bacteriovorus UKi2 grown under saprophytic and parasitic conditions indicate that development and ultrastructure are similar in both modes of growth.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1970

Polar lipids of Chromatium strain D grown at different light intensities.

The total amount and the composition of polar lipids of the photosynthetic bacterium Chromatium strain D grown in high (7,500 ft/c) and low (100 ft/c) incident white light were measured. Cells grown with low incident light as compared with cells grown in high incident light contained approximately 3.5 times more chlorophyll and contained significantly more internal membranes (chromatophores) as determined by electron microscopy. Nevertheless, there was approximately 40% more phospholipid in cells grown at 7,500 ft/c than in cells grown with 100 ft/c; the phospholipid composition of the cells was similar under both conditions of growth. These observations lead us to suggest that the organization and perhaps localization of the phospholipids in Chromatium may be dependent on the light intensity supplied during growth.

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed1968

Electron microscopic observations on the penetration of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus into gram-negative bacterial hosts.

The progressive stages in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus penetration into two strains of Escherichia coli were examined by use of electron microscopic techniques. The initial change observed in the ultrastructure of the host following parasitic attack was the swelling of the cell envelope at the site of attachment. The Bdellovibrio then appeared to pierce the center of this swelling, forming a pore in the outer wall layers of the host. The edges of this entry pore constricted the Bdellovibrio throughout its penetration into the host cell. Although partial disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane was always apparent, the parasite did not appear to actively penetrate through this barrier. An attempt is made to correlate the fine structural changes involved in penetration with the physiological data that have accumulated to date.

Bacterial Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1967

Adenosine phosphate hydrolases in cell fractions of Vitreoscilla.

Bound, soluble, and whole-cell fractions of two strains of the gliding bacterium Vitreoscilla were found to contain two enzymes capable of hydrolyzing adenosine phosphates: a Mg(++)-activated adenosine triphosphatase with a temperature optimum of 37 C, and a Mg(++)-activated adenosine diphosphatase with a temperature optimum of 55 C. Both enzymes had an optimal pH response between 8.5 and 9.5. Maximal activation was achieved at an ionic strength of 0.2 for the adenosine triphosphatase and at 0.3 to 0.4 for the adenosine diphosphatase. Preliminary studies indicated a molecular weight of approximately 50,000 for the adenosine diphosphatase and a molecular weight greater than 60,000 for the adenosine triphosphatase. Comparisons are made with previously reported characteristics of these enzymes in other bacteria, and a hypothesis is offered as to the role these enzymes have in the gliding mechanism.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of low concentrations of quinolone antibiotics on bacterial virulence mechanisms.

Recent studies have shown that exposure to quinolone antibiotics at or below the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) results in reduction in the level of production or total elimination of certain factors that contribute to the virulence of bacteria. This study was designed to determine whether low concentrations of enoxacin, lomefloxacin, and ciprofloxacin altered the morphology or affected the production of various virulence factors in several different genera of bacteria. The factors studied were nuclease and a toxin production in Staphylococcus aureus, cell size, pili and fimbriae production, and adherence of Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to urinary epithelial cells and dog bladder cells, and the major virulence factor in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. In addition, the effect of growth in low levels of enoxacin on phagocytosis of S. aureus by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was studied. Following exposure to subinhibitory levels of quinolones tested, significant reduction in activity or complete elimination was seen in all of those factors measured. Minor differences were noted in the efficiency of elimination among the three quinolones tested. At as low as 1/8 MIC there is significant enhancement of phagocytic activity by human PMNs. These data suggest that exposure to quinolones at concentrations below the MIC disrupts the regulatory mechanisms that control cell morphology, adherence as well as exocellular enzyme production and plasmid maintenance. This may mean that certain virulent organisms that survive exposure to quinolone antibiotics may be less likely to produce or maintain the disease state in susceptible hosts.

Adult↗