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Biomedical subjects

M E Sharpe

Publications and source records attributed to M E Sharpe.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1976

Isolation of lipoteichoic acids from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and deacylated lipoteichoic acid have been isolated from the bovine-rumen Gram-negative anaerobe Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens by phenol extraction. Lipoteichoic acid (21.8 mumol phosphorus/g cells) consisted of a conventional 1, 3-phosphodiester-linked chain of glycerol phosphate units joined covalently to a glycolipid. It was not substituted with glycosyl or D-alalyl ester groups. Deacylated lipoteichoic acid (57.5 mumol phosphorus/g cells) was similar in constitution but lacked fatty acid esters. Lipoteichoic acid reacted serologically with antisera to the glycerol phosphate backbone of known lipoteichoic acids. The presence of similar teichoic acid polymers has also been demonstrated in some other strains of B. fibrisolvens and this is of significance in demonstrating that teichoic acids can occur in Gram-negative bacteria.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Glycerol teichoic acid as an antigenic determinant in a Gram-negative bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens.

An antigenic determinant isolated from a strain of the Gram-negative bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens reacted with specific antisera to the polyglycerophosphate backbone of membrane teichoic acids of lactobacilli. It gave a reaction of identity with membrane glycerol lipoteichoic acid and glycerol teichoic acid preparations from lactobacilli, and with phenol extracts of other Gram-positive bacteria. The antigen-antibody reactions was strongly inhibited by glycerol-phosphoryl-glycerol-phosphoryl-glycerol and the chemical composition was consistent with glycerol teichoic acid. It was concluded that this Gram-negative bacterium contained a glycerol teichoic acid whose polyglycerophospate backbone was acting as antigenic determinant. Extracts of 33 out of 52 other strains of butyrivibrios examined gave similar reactions.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1972

Some slime-forming heterofermentative species of the genus Lactobacillus.

Lactobacillus coprophilus subsp. confusus (NCDO 1586) and 18 other strains of slime-forming heterofermentative lactobacilli obtained from diverse sources are considered to form a new species on the basis of their physiological characteristics and similarities of their pyruvate reductases and lactate dehydrogenases. It is suggested that these strains should be named Lactobacillus confusus (Holzapfel & Kandler) comb. nov. (L. coprophilus subsp. confusus Holzapfel & Kandler), reasons being given. The type strain is NCDO 1586 (NCIB 9311, ATCC 10881). Strains of Lactobacillus vermiforme and Lactobacillus viridescens also form slime. However, L. vermiforme was readily separated from the other two by the criteria used. Although physiological characteristics separated L. viridescens from L. confusus, a relationship between these two species and also between them and the leuconostocs was indicated by the properties of the pyruvate reductases and lactate dehydrogenases. The slime produced by all species was found to be a glucan, probably a dextran, containing primarily alpha-1-6-glycosidic linkages.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1972

Common antigenic determinant in a rumen organism and in salmonellae containing the antigen O4.

Nineteen of 28 strains of rumen organisms isolated from a cow on a high roughage diet and identified morphologically as butyrivibrios, reacted to a low agglutinin titer with salmonella antisera, forming five groups. However only one strain reacted with polyvalent O salmonella antiserum. This strain reacted with O4 factor serum and with antisera to Salmonella strains containing the antigen O4, and agglutinin absorption tests showed the presence of an antigen identical to O4. When 16 further strains of butyrivibrio-like rumen organisms isolated from three cows and one steer were examined, one possessed an antigen similar to but not identical with the antigen O9, and two strains reacted with specific O6,7 factor serum but were not examined further. These four strains were presumptively identified by physiological tests as butyrivibrios. The possible site of antigenic stimulation by such organisms is discussed.

Absorption↗