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S Stirm

Publications and source records attributed to S Stirm.

87 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1971

Escherichia coli capsule bacteriophages. II. Morphology.

The Escherichia coli capsule bacteriophages (K phages) described herein are specific for certain capsular strains of E. coli, all of them test strains for different E. coli K antigens. The phages are not adsorbed to the acapsular mutants of their host organisms nor to similar strains with serologically and chemically different capsular polysaccharides. Thirteen E. coli (and one Klebsiella) K phages were visualized in the electron microscope. Most viruses are similar to P22 and thus belong to Bradley group C; however, one each of group A (long, contractile tail) and group B (long, noncontractile tail) was also found. All K phages were seen to carry spikes but no tail fibers were detected. These results suggest that the structures responsible for the recognition of the thick (about 400 nm or more) capsular polysaccharide gels are located in these spikes.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1968

Escherichia coli K bacteriophages. I. Isolation and introductory characterization of five Escherichia coli K bacteriophages.

A set of five Escherichia coli K phages has been isolated. These phages are adsorbed to and lyse the capsular forms of the host bacteria, whereas their spontaneous, acapsular mutants are not affected. All host strains are heavily encapsulated test strains for E. coli K antigens of the thermostable A type and they readily segregate acapsular mutants. In four of the phage-host systems, all secondary growth obtained was found to be acapsular. When tested for host-range mutants on 38 strains of E. coli and Klebsiella, less than one mutant per 10(5) plaque-forming units was found. No cross-reacting neutralizing antibodies were obtained when rabbits were immunized with the K phages. The latent periods (between 16 and 30 min) and average burst sizes (between 145 and 580) were determined by one-step growth experiments.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1967

Episome-carried surface antigen K88 of Escherichia coli. II. Isolation and chemical analysis.

The K88 antigen was carried by episomal transfer to D282, a nonmotile Escherichia coli strain without K antigen. D520, obtained by this episomal transfer, was used for the extraction of K88 antigen. It was shown by the agar gel precipitation technique that some K88 antigen was released from D520 into suspending aqueous medium. The amount of liberated material was increased by gentle heating (60 C) or treatment in a Waring Blendor. The antigen was obtained from the extracts in a purified form by making use of its insolubility between pH 3.5 and 5.5 and of its high sedimentation rate (S(0) (20,w) = 36.7S). The homogeneity of the material was demonstrated by agar gel precipitation with D520 antiserum, by analytical ultracentrifugation, and by moving-boundary electrophoresis. Chemical analysis revealed that K88 is a pure protein containing all the common amino acids with the exception of cysteine-cystine. Purified K88 selectively precipitated the K88 antibodies from D520 antiserum and was shown to be immunogenic in rabbits.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1967

Episome-carried surface antigen K88 of Escherichia coli. 3. Morphology.

Two nonfimbriate strains of Escherichia coli and their K88(+) counterparts, obtained by episomal transfer of this antigen, were studied with the electron microscope. Specimens were prepared with the spray drop method and were studied after shadow-casting. Under these conditions, the alteration in surface structure, due to the acquisition of K88 antigen, appeared as a fur of fine filaments, distinctly more flexible than fimbriae. Purified K88 antigen was also studied and found to have the same structure.

Antigens↗