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W Ludwig

Publications and source records attributed to W Ludwig.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Gram-positive bacteria with a high DNA G+C content are characterized by a common insertion within their 23S rRNA genes.

An insertion of about 100 bases within the central part of the 23S rRNA genes was found to be a phylogenetic marker for the bacterial line of descent of Gram-positive bacteria with a high DNA G + C content. The insertion was present in 23S rRNA genes of 64 strains representing the major phylogenetic groups of Gram-positive bacteria with a high DNA G+C content, whereas it was not found in 23S rRNA genes of 55 (eu)bacteria representing Gram-positive bacteria with a low DNA G + C content and all other known (eu)bacterial phyla. The presence of the insertion could be easily demonstrated by comparative gel electrophoretic analysis of in vitro-amplified 23S rDNA fragments, which contained the insertion. The nucleotide sequences of the amplified fragments were determined and sequence similarities of at least 44% were found. The overall similarity values are lower than those of 16S and 23S rRNA sequences of the particular organism. Northern hybridization experiments indicated the presence of the insertion within the mature 23S rRNA of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1991

Differentiation of lactococci by rRNA gene restriction analysis.

Strains of the subspecies of Lactococcus lactis could be differentiated by rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). 16S rRNA-specific oligonucleotide as well as polynucleotide DNA probes were used for the detection of restriction fragments. In addition, a site-specific probe was designed for the intergenic spacer region of 23S and 5S rRNA genes. For all lactococcal strains the putative presence of six rRNA operons was confirmed. A non-radioactive hybridization assay was used based on hybrid detection by chemiluminescence. Specific patterns were found for any of the strains investigated. Subspecies-specific restriction fragments could be identified in addition to the strain-specific patterns.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Identification in situ and phylogeny of uncultured bacterial endosymbionts.

The use of Koch's technique to isolate bacteria in pure cultures has enabled thousands of bacterial species to be characterized. But for the many microorganisms that have never been cultivated, DNA amplification in vitro using the polymerase chain reaction is now making their genes accessible. Here we use this technique to study bacteria of the genus Holospora, which live in ciliates and whose phylogenetic relationship has remained unknown because they are impossible to cultivate. Species of Holospora are highly infectious and live in the nuclei of their specific host cells: H. elegans and H. undulata infect micronuclei of Paramecium caudatum, whereas H. obtusa infects the macronucleus in other strains of the same host species; Holospora species have a common developmental cycle. We have amplified, cloned and sequenced gene fragments encoding ribosomal RNA of H. obtusa. The phylogenetic position of H. obtusa in the alpha group of Proteobacteria was determined by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The sequences were then used to design species- as well as genus-specific rRNA hybridization probes, which enabled us to detect and differentiate individual cells of the endosymbionts in situ. The large amount of rRNA in the cells indicates a high physiological activity of the endosymbionts in the host nuclei.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A novel eubacterial phylum: comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of a tuf-gene of Flexistipes sinusarabici.

A tuf-gene of Flexistipes sinusarabici has been cloned and sequenced. The primary structure of the predicted elongation factor protein was compared with available sequences of homologous genes and elongation factors Tu or 1 alpha of eubacteria, archaebacteria and eukaryotes. Based on elongation factor Tu data Flexistipes sinusarabici belongs to the eubacterial kingdom but no specific relationship to any phylum was detected. The amino acid of the elongation factor Tu of F. sinusarabici exhibits no striking pecularities. Among the highly conserved positions only two are different. Sites of known or postulated functions are conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Propionigenium modestum: a separate line of descent within the eubacteria.

The complete nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA from Propionigenium modestum was determined and compared with 380 16S rRNA sequences from representatives of all eu- and archaebacterial phyla known so far. The phylogenetic analysis of this data set indicated P. modestum to represent a new separated line of descent within the radiation of eubacterial phyla moderately related to cyanobacteria and Gram-positive bacteria with low DNA GC content.

Bacteroidaceae↗
PubMed1991

Phylogenetic diversity in the genus Bacillus as seen by 16S rRNA sequencing studies.

Comparative sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal (r)RNAs or DNAs of Bacillus alvei, B. laterosporus, B. macerans, B. macquariensis, B. polymyxa and B. stearothermophilus revealed the phylogenetic diversity of the genus Bacillus. Based on the presently available data set of 16S rRNA sequences from bacilli and relatives at least four major "Bacillus clusters" can be defined: a "Bacillus subtilis cluster" including B. stearothermophilus, a "B. brevis cluster" including B. laterosporus, a "B. alvei cluster" including B. macerans, B. maquariensis and B. polymyxa and a "B. cycloheptanicus branch".

Bacillus↗
PubMed1991

Transfer of Brevibacterium divaricatum DSM 20297T, "Brevibacterium flavum" DSM 20411, "Brevibacterium lactofermentum" DSM 20412 and DSM 1412, and Corynebacterium glutamicum and their distinction by rRNA gene restriction patterns.

The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and chemotaxonomic studies indicated that the glutamic acid producers Brevibacterium divaricatum DSM 20297T (T=type strain), "Brevibacterium flavum" DSM 20411, "Brevibacterium lactofermentum" DSM 1412 and DSM 20412, Corynebacterium lilium DSM 20137T, and Corynebacterium glutamicum DSM 20300T and DSM 20163 are members of the same species. It is proposed that all of these strains should be classified in the species Corynebacterium glutamicum. Another glutamic acid-producing strain, Corynebacterium callunae DSM 20147T, was not related at the species level to C. glutamicum and should retain its separate species status. A restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in which oligonucleotides targeted against conserved regions of 16S and 23S rRNA genes were used as hybridizing probes distinguished the individual strains. This method may be a helpful tool for strain identification.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1991

Age- and sex-biased underdetection of hypertension in a rural clinic.

A process-of-care audit to assess completeness of hypertension detection among practice users was conducted by a rural family practice. For the two-year period 1983-1984, there were 5,620 practice users, ages 18-74. A cross-sectional study of the frequency of the diagnosis hypertension in these patients was carried out. Age-sex specific rates were calculated and compared to expected rates based on national prevalence estimates. Completeness of detection varied in direct proportion to age, from a low of 7% in the 18-24 group, to a high of 95% in the 65-74 group. For every age group women had a higher detection rate than men. The overall practice detection rate was 71%. Despite a practice emphasis on hypertension, detection appeared incomplete, especially among young men. Possible explanations are infrequent visits by young men, systematic error in blood pressure measurement, and definitional differences between primary care practice and national prevalence studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Sequence of subunit c of the sodium ion translocating adenosine triphosphate synthase of Propionigenium modestum.

The 30 N-terminal amino acid residues of the purified ATPase c subunit of Propionigenium modestum have been determined. An oligonucleotide mixture was derived from this sequence and used as probe for cloning the corresponding gene in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence of the gene has been determined and compared with those of ATPase c subunits from other bacteria and chloroplasts. Peculiar sequence similarities are found only at the C-terminus between the c subunits of the ATPases from P. modestum and from Vibrio alginolyticus, another putative Na(+)-translocating ATPase.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1990

The phylogenetic position of Peptococcus niger based on 16S rRNA sequence studies.

A 1330 base-pair fragment of a 16S rRNA gene has been amplified, cloned and sequenced. Comparison to other 16S rRNA sequences of eubacteria showed that P. niger represents a deep branch within the subdivision "Gram-positive with Gram-negative cell walls". It is not related to peptostreptococci, representatives of this genus studied so far are more closely related to clostridia.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1990

Complete nucleotide sequences of seven eubacterial genes coding for the elongation factor Tu: functional, structural and phylogenetic evaluations.

The nucleotide sequences of cloned genes coding for the elongation factor Tu of seven eubacteria have been determined. These genes were from Anacystis nidulans, Bacillus subtilis, Bacteroides fragilis, "Deinonema" spec., Pseudomonas cepacia, Shewanella putrefaciens and Streptococcus oralis. The primary structures of the genes were compared to the available sequences of prokaryotic elongation factors Tu and eukaryotic elongation factors 1 alpha. A conservation profile was determined for homologous amino acid residues. Sites of known or putative functions are usually located at highly conserved positions or within highly conserved sequence stretches. The aligned 24 amino acid sequences were used as basis for a phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree corroborates the kingdom as well as phylum concept deduced from 16S rRNA data.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Assessment of compliance-related attitudes in psychiatry. A comparison of two questionnaires based on the Health Belief Model.

In a study of 118 psychiatric patients two questionnaires of similar content that are supposed to predict compliance with pharmacotherapy in psychiatry were examined, "COSS" and "KK-Skala". These questionnaires assess the patient's attitudes towards his illness, pharmacotherapy, and the physician. Patient compliance was judged by the treating physicians. The results of discriminant analyses indicated that about two thirds of the patients were correctly classified into "compliant" and "moderately or not compliant" (as judged by the physicians) by means of COSS and KK-Skala, respectively. It is a matter for further research whether these results reflect in fact moderate associations between patient attitudes and compliant behavior or are due to limitations of the questionnaires and of the study design.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Visible injury responses.

During a five year experiment on the causes of forest disease, symptoms of visible injury and pest infestations in trees treated with various air pollutants in open-top chambers were observed. Though the long-term experiment was originally not intended to include such investigations, insect infestation and some discoloration of the trees (Beech, Fagus sylvatica; Fir, Abies alba; Spruce, Picea abies) could not be avoided. Abundance and size of some of the insects were measured after two years and at the end of the experiment. Because it was unknown when the first infestation in the chambers occurred, quantitative investigations of the population size provided little information. Visible injury on leaves and needles was infrequent in general. When it occurred, it appeared to be caused by at least three stress factors. However, three different types of symptoms on beech and fir could be attributed mainly to air pollutants. These symptoms consisted of two types of foliar necrosis and browning in beech and needle tip chlorosis in fir. These symptoms have been observed under certain conditions in the German forests. The spruce clone used, however, developed no injuries which could be connected definitely to treatment effects.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Taxonomic study of anaerobic, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria from breweries: emended description of Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus and description of Pectinatus frisingensis sp. nov., Selenomonas lacticifex sp. nov., Zymophilus raffinosivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., and Zymophilus paucivorans sp. nov.

A collection of 47 strains of obligately anaerobic, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that were isolated mainly from spoiled beer and pitching yeast was studied to learn more about their taxonomic positions. A new species of the genus Pectinatus, Pectinatus frisingensis, a new species of the genus Selenomonas, Selenomonas lacticifex, and a new genus comprising two species, Zymophilus raffinosivorans and Zymophilus paucivorans, are described. All of the strains contained directly cross-linked meso-diaminopimelic acid-containing peptidoglycan and in addition the diamine cadaverine or (rarely) putrescine. The diamine was covalently linked to the alpha-carboxyl group of D-glutamic acid in the peptide subunit of peptidoglycan. Lipid F was also found as a characteristic cellular compound. The phylogenetic relationships of members of these new species were examined by reverse transcriptase sequencing of 16S rRNA or by DNA-DNA hybridization studies or both. All of the organisms belong to the subdivision containing species with gram-negative cell walls within the phylum of gram-positive bacteria. This finding is in good agreement with the presence of a peptidoglycan that contains diamine.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1990

Identification of lactococci and enterococci by colony hybridization with 23S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes.

Specific sequences of 23S rRNA of Lactococcus lactis, Enterococcus faecalis, Enteroccus faecium, and Enterococcus malodoratus/Enterococcus avium were identified, and complementary oligonucleotide probes were synthesized. The specificity of the probes was evaluated by dot blot and colony hybridizations. The probes can be used for the specific detection and identification of colonies of the corresponding species in mixed cultures.

Base Sequence↗