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Biomedical subjects

J W Foster

Publications and source records attributed to J W Foster.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Photodynamic inactivation of newcastle disease virus with acridine orange.

Newcastle disease virus in allantoamnionic fluid was photosensitized with acridine orange, and then photodynamically inactivated. The inactivation rate was directly proportional to light intensity and to dye concentrations up to a level of approximately 100 to 200 mug/ml. Inactivation occurred at approximately an exponential rate for the first 4.5 log(10) units of virus, and then continued at a decreasing rate.

Journal Article↗

Detoxification and immunogenic properties of endotoxin-containing precipitate of Brucella abortus.

Badakhsh, Fred F. (University of Georgia, Athens), and John W. Foster. Detoxification and immunogenic properties of endotoxin-containing precipitate of Brucella abortus. J. Bacteriol. 91:494-498. 1966.-Endotoxin-containing precipitates (ECP) were prepared from Brucella abortus strain 19A by aqueous ether extraction followed by ethyl alcohol precipitation. Lysozyme was the most effective of several enzymes tried for detoxification of endotoxin present in the precipitate. Trypsin was shown to reduce mouse lethal toxicity but not rabbit dermal toxicity. Immunological studies of ECP and enzyme-treated ECP demonstrated that lysozyme did not harm the immunogenic property of ECP, whereas heat, ribonuclease, lipase, and proteolytic enzymes had an adverse effect. Serological reactivity of ECP was increased after lysozyme treatment, whereas ribonuclease reduced serological activity.

Animals↗

Dipicolinic acid synthesis in Penicillium citreo-viride.

Hodson, Phillip H. (University of Texas, Austin), and J. W. Foster. Dipicolinic acid synthesis in Penicillium citreo-viride. J. Bacteriol. 91:562-569. 1966.-Dipicolinic acid (DPA) accumulation in culture filtrates of the mold Penicillium citreo-viride was studied in surface and submerged cultures. Good DPA yields were obtained in suspensions of washed, submerged mycelium in the presence of a carbon and a nitrogen source but in the absence of other minerals essential for growth. Fumaric acid was the only other acid formed in significant amounts. Glucose and glycerol were superior to various salts of organic acids as carbon sources, and certain amino acids were excellent nitrogen sources. l-Leucine, l-norvaline, l-tyrosine, and l-histidine were superior to urea, NH(4)Cl, or NaNO(3) as nitrogen precursors for DPA production. d-Norvaline was useless for DPA production. Glycerol-2-C(14) and -1-C(14), C(14)O(2), and l-leucine-C(14), l-tyrosine-C(14), and l-histidine-C(14) were tested as precursors in conjunction with suitable carbon and nitrogen sources. The DPA was decarboxylated chemically, and the distribution of C(14) was determined in the pyridine-C and in the carboxyl-C. The data are consistent with Martin and Foster's suggestion for bacteria that the DPA molecule is formed by a condensation of C(3) plus C(4) precursors, the resulting 2-keto, 6-aminopimelic acid derivate undergoing ring closure to form a heterocyclic precursor of DPA. The C(14)O(2) experiments indicate that oxaloacetate is formed by beta-carboxylation of pyruvate, this in turn probably becoming aspartic acid beta-semialdehyde, the C(4) compound which condenses with a second pyruvate. The enhancement of DPA formation by l-norvaline, l-leucine, and l-histidine is not ascribable to their functioning either as a source of nitrogen or carbon. l-Tyrosine, in a glycerol medium, contributed nearly 40% of the DPA carbon. The mechanism of biosynthesis of C(7) straight-chain and cyclic compounds is discussed.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Chemical degradation of dipicolinic acid-C14 and its application in biosynthesis by Penicillium citreo-viride.

Kanie, Matuso (Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan), Shigeo Fujimoto, and J. W. Foster. Chemical degradation of dipicolinic acid-C(14) and its application to biosynthesis by Penicillium citreo-viride. J. Bacteriol. 91:570-577. 1966.-A chemical degradation of dipicolinic acid-C(14) has been worked out, enabling determination of the specific radioactivity of the carboxyl-carbons (carbons-7 and -8), and of the following carbons of the pyridine ring: carbons-2 and -6 combined, carbons-3 and -5 combined, and carbon-4. The degradation was applied to dipicolinic acid synthesized by washed, submerged mycelium of the mold from glucose and C(14)O(2), and from glucose-1-C(14), -2-C(14), and -6-C(14). The distribution of radioactivity within the labeled dipicolinic acids is consistent with operation of respiratory cycles and with the incorporation of one molecule of CO(2) in the pyridine acid. A C(3) compound is a primary building block. The C(7) chain is believed to result from a C(3) plus C(4) condensation, pyruvic acid and aspartic acid beta-semialdehyde being proposed as likely precursors. Other aspects of the biosynthesis of C(7) open-chain compounds and of dipicolinic acid are discussed.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Response of Bacillus spores to combinations of germinative compounds.

Foerster, Harold F. (University of Texas, Austin), and J. W. Foster. Response of Bacillus spores to combinations of germinative compounds. J. Bacteriol. 91:1168-1177. 1966.-Spores of 21 strains of Bacillus megaterium and 25 other strains representing 13 species of Bacillus were produced under standardized conditions. The germination of a washed spore suspension of each strain was measured as a response to various combinations of 30 different germinative compounds. The strains were first typed with respect to their response to "primary" germination compounds, i.e., glucose, l-alanine, inosine, and l-alanine-inosine mixture, and also Na(+) and K(+). The second stage was the determination of the response to various organic and inorganic anions and cations, each strain being supplied with the "primary" compounds best for it. Marked differences in germination patterns were observed among species and strains of the same species. No relation to established taxonomic lines was evident. A nonspecific requirement for ions was found for all strains, but not all ions were effective. A striking degree of interchangeability of germinative chemicals was found. "Fractional germination" was very common. A mixture of l-alanine and inosine and various ions was the best germinative solution for most strains. Some anomalous germination patterns were encountered. Those studied included a strain whose cells lysed spontaneously upon germination and other strains for which l-leucine had striking germinative powers.

Alanine↗

Endotrophic calcium, strontium, and barium spores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus cereus.

Foerster, Harold F. (The University of Texas, Austin), and J. W. Foster. Endotrophic calcium, strontium, and barium spores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus cereus. J. Bacteriol. 91:1333-1345. 1966.-Spores were produced by washed vegetative cells suspended in deionized water supplemented with CaCl(2), SrCl(2), or BaCl(2). Normal, refractile spores were produced in each case; a portion of the barium spores lost refractility and darkened. Thin-section electron micrographs revealed no apparent anatomical differences among the three types of spores. Analyses revealed that the different spore types were enriched specifically in the metal to which they were exposed during sporogenesis. The calcium content of the strontium and the barium spores was very small. From binary equimolar mixtures of the metal salts, endotrophic spores accumulated both metals to nearly the same extent. Viability of the barium spores was considerably less than that of the other two types. Strontium and barium spores were heat-resistant; however, calcium was essential for maximal heat resistance. Significant differences existed in the rates of germination; calcium spores germinated fastest, strontium spores were slower, and barium spores were slowest. Calcium-barium and calcium-strontium spores germinated readily. Endotrophic calcium and strontium spores germinated without the prior heat activation essential for growth spores. Chemical germination of the different metal-type spores with n-dodecylamine took place at the same relative rates as physiological germination. Heat-induced release of dipicolinic acid occurred much faster with barium and strontium spores than with calcium spores. The washed "coat fraction" from disrupted spores contained little of the spore calcium but most of the spore barium. The metal in this fraction was released by dilute acid. The demineralized coats reabsorbed calcium and barium at neutral pH.

Acids↗

Papain-treated globulins in specific and cross-reacting immunofluorescent staining.

Jones, Wallis L. (Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.), and J. W. Foster. Papain-treated globulins in specific and cross-reacting immunofluorescent staining. J. Bacteriol. 91:984-986. 1966.-Cross-reaction staining with preimmune and specific fluorescein conjugates to Corynebacterium diphtheriae was studied by use of papain-treated antisera. Enzyme-treated antisera were labeled and chromatographically separated into three fractions. Fractions were tested by both direct and inhibition fluorescent-antibody procedures. The cross-reaction staining was found in all three fractions, whereas specific staining was found in only two fractions.

Animals↗

Influence of exchangeable ions on germinability of bacterial spores.

Rode, L. J. (The University of Texas, Austin), and J. W. Foster. Influence of exchangeable ions on germinability of bacterial spores. J. Bacteriol. 91:1582-1588. 1966.-Native spores of Bacillus megaterium Texas, and H-spores produced by titration of native spores to pH 4 with mineral acid, did not germinate in a solution of alanine and inosine unless a strong electrolyte was present. Ca-spores prepared from either H-spores or native spores did germinate efficiently in the same solution without a strong electrolyte. Of several other bivalent cations tested, only strontium and barium could substitute for calcium in conditioning spores for subsequent germination in the absence of an electrolyte. Variable responses were obtained with different metal ion forms of 62 unidentified soil isolates and several stock species of Bacillus. Although the pattern of response was not uniform in all organisms, ions played a crucial role in the germinability of the great majority of strains tested.

Alanine↗

Quantitative aspects of exchangeable calcium in spores of Bacillus megaterium.

Rode, L. J. (The University of Texas, Austin), and J. W. Foster. Quantitative aspects of exchangeable calcium in spores of Bacillus megaterium. J. Bacteriol. 91:1589-1593. 1966.-More than 90% of the calcium in Ca(45)-labeled native spores was released from the cells during germination. Some 95% of the spore calcium was not exchangeable when ungerminated native spores were titrated to pH 4 with HNO(3). Ca, Mg, Na, Si, and Fe were displaced from the spores by H(+). The adsorption of Ca(45) by H-spores and its subsequent release were studied under a variety of conditions. The isolated "coat fraction" of spores adsorbed substantial amounts of Ca(45). Release of the adsorbed Ca was achieved with various reagents.

Adsorption↗

A methane-dependent coccus, with notes on classification and nomenclature of obligate, methane-utilizing bacteria.

Foster, J. W. (The University of Texas, Austin), and Richard H. Davis. A methane-dependent coccus, with notes on classification and nomenclature of obligate, methane-utilizing bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 91:1924-1931. 1966.-A new coccus-shaped bacterium capable of aerobic growth at the expense of methane or methanol in a mineral salts medium is described. The organism did not grow at the expense of any of the conventional substrates or homologous hydrocarbons tested. It is gram-negative, nonmotile, and thermotolerant. It grows well at 50 C, optimally at 37 C, but does not grow at 55 C. The cells are encapsulated and have a characteristic diplococcoid arrangement. Washed, "resting-cell" suspensions oxidized certain primary alcohols and short-chain alkanes, an example of "nongrowth oxidation." Of the methane-C utilized, 86% was "fixed" in organic form; the remainder was oxidized to CO(2). The guanine-cytosine content of the extracted deoxyribonucleic acid was 62.5%. Obligate methane-utilizing bacteria are considered as "one-carbon" organisms rather than hydrocarbon utilizers. The assimilation pathway in the obligate methane-methanol bacteria is different from that in the facultative methanol utilizers. Nomenclatural problems arising from the use of the prefix "Methano-" to denote both bacteria that oxidize methane and bacteria that produce methane are discussed. The obligate, one-carbon, methane-methanol bacteria are considered as "methyl" utilizers, and the prefix "Methylo-" is suggested as a solution to the problem of generic cognomens. "Methylococcus capsulatus" gen. n., sp. n. is the name proposed for the new methane coccus.

Bacteria↗