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PubMed1978

Immunological relatedness of ribosomes from mycobacteria, nocardiae and corynebacteria, and microorganisms in leprosy lesions.

Serological relatedness of ribosomes from microorganisms of the Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Corynebacterium genera has been analyzed by the microplate immunodiffusion technique. Mycobacterium and Nocardia proved homogeneous and closely related taxa, whereas Corynebacterium was found to be a heterogeneous phylum connected by remote links to the others. The taxonomic position of "diphtheroid microorganisms" (non-acid-fast, gram-positive bacteria morphologically similar to corynebactria), which were found together with Mycobacterium leprae in human leprosy lesions, was also investigated. Ribosomes of diphtheroid bacteria strongly cross-reacted with antisera against several mycobacteria and nocardiae but not against corynebacteria. Moreover, ribosomes from independently isolated diphtheroid strains proved serologically related and yielded strong cross-reactions with antisera against M. leprae as well as with sera from leprosy patients. Hence, diphtheroid microorganisms represent a homogeneous group immunologically related to mycobacteria in general and more specifically to M. leprae.

Corynebacterium↗
PubMed1979

Interaction of Nocardia asteroides at different phases of growth with in vitro-maintained macrophages obtained from the lungs of normal and immunized rabbits.

The interactions of cells of Nocardia asteroides GUH-2 during different stages of growth with cultured macrophages obtained from the lungs of nonimmunized and immunized rabbits were studied. The nocardial cells from all stages grew intracellularly in "normal" alveolar macrophages; however, log-phase cells increased in numbers more rapidly than did stationary-phase cells. Macrophages obtained from the lungs of specifically immunized rabbits effectively inhibited the growth of stationary-phase cells but only temporarily retarded the growth of log-phase organisms. Specific antiserum added to the nocardial cells before incubation with presensitized macrophages caused enhanced phagocytosis and inactivation of the log-phase cells but had no effect on the fate of the stationary-phase nocardia. In addition, it was fo-nd that log-phase cells were phagocytized less effectively by normal macrophages than were the stationary-phase cells, and log-phase cells were more toxic to the macrophage monolayer. From these data we conclude that secondarily induced macrophages play a major role in host resistance to pulmonary nocardial infections, and antibody may be important for effective host resistance to the filamentous form of N. asteroides. Since the nocardia were able, with time, to overcome these effects, it appears that additional host factors (such as T-lymphocytes) must be involved in an effective host response to N. asteroides.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Role of superoxide dismutase and catalase as determinants of pathogenicity of Nocardia asteroides: importance in resistance to microbicidal activities of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

The roles of nocardial superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in the resistance of Nocardia asteroides to the microbicidal properties of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were determined in vitro. The neutrophils killed ca. 80% of the cells of the less virulent N. asteroides 10905 and ca. 50% of the log phase of the more virulent N. asteroides GUH-2 after 180 min of incubation. These phagocytes were not able to kill early-stationary-phase cells of strain GUH-2 that contained 10 times more intracytoplasmic catalase than log-phase cells of the same culture. However, the polymorphonuclear leukocytes were able to kill more than 50% of the cells of early-stationary-phase strain GUH-2 after treatment with purified antibody specific for surface-associated SOD. No killing was observed when the bacteria were treated with normal rabbit immunoglobulin G or with serum obtained from rabbits immunized against whole nocardial cells (containing little or no activity against SOD). These phagocytes killed more than 99% of Listeria monocytogenes used as a control. Chlorpromazine-treated polymorphonuclear leukocytes killed L. monocytogenes (70%) but they were not able to kill antibody-treated cells of N. asteroides GUH-2. Exogenously added SOD partially protected strain 10905, which lacked surface-associated enzyme, but it had no effect on the killing of strain GUH-2, which already possessed significant amounts of surface-bound SOD. In contrast, catalase added to the nocardiae provided almost complete protection to the log-phase cells of strain GUH-2, but strain 10905 was only partially protected. SOD combined with catalase had additive activity which completely protected the cells of strain 10905. A mutant of N. asteroides GUH-2 (SCII-C) is more virulent during the log phase than is the parental strain. This mutant contained at least 7 times more catalase at this stage of growth than did the parent. No other differences between these two strains were observed during the log phase. In sharp contrast to those of the parent, log-phase cells of this high-catalase mutant were not killed by polymorphonuclear phagocytes. These data indicate a role for both SOD and catalase in the resistance of Nocardia spp. to human neutrophils, and they represent at least two factors associated with virulence.

Catalase↗
PubMed1974

Probable L-forms of Nocardia asteroides induced in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Mouse peritoneal macrophages were infected with varying numbers of Nocardia asteroides 10905, and the fate of the ingested organisms was determined by viable plate count (VPC), light microscopy (LM), immunofluorescent microscopy (IM), and electron microscopy (EM). The results obtained with these methods differed. VPC indicated that intracellular Nocardia decreased in numbers during the first 12 days, followed by significant increases after 16 days. LM suggested that N. asteroides 10905 was slowly degraded by macrophages with no subsequent increases observed. In contrast, IM demonstrated large numbers of intracellular Nocardia throughout the experiment. EM studies of infected macrophages failed to demonstrate intact bacteria after 8 days; however, wall-less and spheroplast-like organisms were seen. These results suggested that N. asteroides 10905 was present within the macrophages in an altered form. By using hypertonic culture medium, we were able to isolate, from infected macrophages, organisms which exhibited many of the properties of bacterial L-forms. IM demonstrated these variants to be of nocardial origin. These altered forms also reverted to typical nocardial cells either spontaneously or upon transfer into broth. These findings indicate that N. asteroides 10905 is capable of existing within macrophages in an altered state. Further investigation is in progress to determine whether these altered forms represent L-forms or transitional-phase variants.

Animals↗
PubMed1964

Interrelationships among Mycobacteria and Nocardiae.

Manion, R. E. (Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.), S. G. Bradley, H. H. Zinneman, and W. H. Hall. Interrelationships among mycobacteria and nocardiae. J. Bacteriol. 87:1056-1859. 1964.-A total of 134 strains of mycobacteria and nocardiae were tested for susceptibility of 24 mycobacteriophages. On the basis of capability of diverse strains to serve as alternative propagating hosts for particular viruses, relationships among the actinomycetes were proposed. Cultures received as Mycobacterium smegmatis, M. ranae, M. butyricum, and M. chelonei were nearly identical, indicating that they are members of a single taxon. M. phlei and M. fortuitum strains constituted two distinct but related groups. Moreover, strains of M. smegmatis and Nocardia asteroides were susceptible to two variant actinophages originally isolated on N. brasiliensis.

Bacteriophage Typing↗
PubMed1988

Modified Thayer-Martin medium for recovery of Nocardia species from contaminated specimens.

Specimens submitted for isolation of Nocardia species are frequently contaminated with other bacteria. Although decontamination with sodium hydroxide or benzalkonium chloride can remove these bacteria, this treatment is also toxic for Nocardia species. We demonstrate that modified Thayer-Martin medium can be used for selective isolation of Nocardia species.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1987

Nocardia infection in splenectomized patients: case reports and a review of the literature.

Opportunistic infections are increasingly becoming a problem in cancer patients amongst whom infection with Nocardia species is particularly difficult to detect due to the capricious natural history of the disease. Three cases of Nocardia infection in patients who had undergone splenectomy for haematological malignancy are presented. These cases illustrate the diverse mode of presentation, the natural history and the difficulties in early and accurate diagnosis of Nocardia infection. Despite the difficulties in arriving at the correct diagnosis, these cases highlight the importance of early institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics should be given in adequate doses to control the initial infection and be maintained for a prolonged period to prevent relapses.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Nocardia globerula NHB-2: a versatile nitrile-degrading organism.

A versatile nitrile-degrading bacterium was isolated by enrichment culture from the soil of a forest near Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India, and was identified as Nocardia globerula. This organism contains 3 enzymes with nitrile-degrading activity: nitrilase, nitrile hydratase, and amidase. Nocardia globerula NHB-2 cells grown on nutrient broth supplemented with 1% glucose and 0.1% yeast extract exhibited nitrile hydratase-amidase activity specific for saturated aliphatic nitriles or amide, while addition of acetonitrile in nutrient broth yielded cells with nitrile hydratase-amidase that in addition to saturated aliphatic nitriles-amide also hydrolyzed aromatic amide. Nocardia globerula NHB-2 cultivated on nutrient broth containing propionitrile exhibited nitrilase activity that hydrolyzed aromatic nitrile and unsaturated aliphatic nitrile. The versatility of this organism in the hydrolysis of various nitriles and amides makes it a potential bioresource for use in organic synthesis.

Amides↗
PubMed1975

[Phagocytosis and intracellular proliferation of Nocardia asteroides (strain Weipheld) in cell structures in vitro. 1. Alveolar macrophages of guinea-pigs (author's transl)].

Phagocytosis and intracellular proliferation of Nocardia asteroides (Weipheld) were studied in alveolar macrophages from normal guinea-pigs that had been immunized in two stages and guinea-pigs that had undergone long-term cortisone treatment (28 mg/kg/day over 30 days). The highest phagocytosis values were found in the guinea-pigs that had been immunized in two stages (3.85-6.82%). In the case of normal macrophages, values of 2.90-4.95% were observed. The lowest values (2.10-3.6%) were found for macrophages from those guinea-pigs that had been treated with hydrocortisone. Differences between the groups were statistically significant. Following phagocytosis, the phagocytosis index was seen rising in all three groups, reaching its highest values for alveolar macrophages from the cortisone-treated guinea-pigs (after 8 hours - 1.15). The cytotoxic effects of Nocardia upon the cells in the lung washing liquid from normal guinea-pigs immunized in two steps and guinea-pigs treated with high cortisone doses over an extended period were exhibiting identical trends. After 8 hours' exposure, 22.6% dead and decayed cells were found, against 5.9% in normal controls. Leucocytes proved to be most susceptible to the cytotoxic effect of Nocardia; alveolar macrophages were less and small lymphocytes least susceptible.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Pneumonia caused by Nocardia nova].

This is the first clinical report of a case of pneumonia caused by Nocardia nova in Japan. A 52 year-old woman who had received steroids and cyclophosphamide for six years because of polymyositis was admitted to our hospital for further examination. On admission she had a mild cough, and her chest radiography and computed tomography revealed bilateral multiple nodules, some of which were cavitated. She developed a cough productive of yellow sputum and fever up to 38 degrees C. Examination of the sputum revealed a gram-positive branched organism and sputum cultures repeatedly grew Nocardia species. The isolate was identified as Nocardia nova later. Clinical recovery was obtained readily upon treatment with imipenem and trimethoprim methoxazole, though the latter drug was discontinued because of nausea and anorexia. This drug was therefore replaced with oral minocycline, which proved to be ineffective clinically although susceptibility testing of the drug showed positive sensitivity. Minocycline was replaced with clarithromycin, after which chest radiography and computed tomography showed almost total resolution of the infiltrates. Clarithromycin may be an alternative oral agent to sulfonamides or minocycline when these agents are ineffective or not tolerated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2002

[Nocardia farcinica brain abscess: clinical and specific radiological findings and management. Report of two cases in immunononcompromised patients].

Nocardia spp. cerebral abscesses are rare and usually occur in immunocompromised patients. We report two recent cases of cerebral abscesses due to Nocardia farcinica in immunocompetent patients and review the literature about diagnosis and therapeutic issues. Outcome was good for the two patients following an early identification of the bacteria. Stereotactic biopsy was performed in one case and craniotomy with excision of the abscess in the other case. In both cases, complete identification of the bacteria could be achieved, followed by prolonged antibiotic therapy. Exposure to the germ (mainly telluric) is often difficult to suspect from the past medical history of the patient. Diagnosis is also unexpected. Despite the typically and characteristic aspect on CT and MRI, specific identification and anti-microbial sensitivity profiles are necessary to optimize treatment. In some rare cases, unusual species like Nocardia farcinica, can be resistant to numerous antibiotics requiring adjustments of medical management. Early identification of the bacteria is necessary to achieve good outcome in immunocompetents patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Metabolism of silicon as a probable pathogenicity factor for Mycobacterium & Nocardia spp.

The role of silicon (Si) in metabolism and growth of 22 strains of mycobacteria and 3 strains of nocardiae, which were mostly pathogenic, was studied on Kirchner's medium solidified with sodium metasilicate (KSM) and the C-free solidified metasilicate minimal medium (SMM) consisting of mineral salts only. On KSM, initial growth of mycobacteria appeared to be better, compared with that on Lowenstein-Jensen medium (LJM), although subsequent growth on the former was slower. On SMM lacking C, growth of mycobacteria and nocardiae could be achieved, only after repeated passages. These findings indicate that the mycobacteria and nocardiae are able to utilise Si at least to a limited extent, possibly as an alternative to C, with greater chances of survival.

Culture Media↗
PubMed2006

[Molecular cloning of an amidase gene from Nocardia sp. and its expressionin Escherichia coli].

The amidase of Nocardia sp. is one of important industrial enzymes. Based on DNA and protein sequence alignment from different strains, a new gene of amidase was successfully cloned from Nocardia YS-2002, which is widely used for industrial production of acrylamide in China. DNA sequence analyses showed that the 1466bp cloned-fragment contains promoter, open reading frame and terminating-palindrome. Protein sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that the amidase coming from Nocardia sp. YS-2002 is a kind of specialamidase, without the typical conserved sequence of the amidases. Enzymatic characteristics predictions indicated that the molecular weight and pI of the new amidase is approximately 38.05 kD and 4.88, respectively, and it would be stable when heterogeneously expressed in E. coli. By inserting the ORF of the amidase into plasmid pET-28a(+), a recombinant strain, pEAB, was selected using E. coli BL21(DE3) as the host. SDS-PAGE analyses of both the whole cells and ultrasonic-treated cells confirmed the feasibility of the heterogeneous expression of amidase in the recombinant E. coli. But the activity of amidase in E. coli BL21(DE3) not more than 0.5 u/mg, because most of the enzymes expressed were formed as inclusion bodies.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative study of the phage sensitivity of actinomycetes and their Nocardia-like variants].

The work was aimed at studying the resistance of three streptomycetes (Streptomyces chrysomallus, S. azureus and S. roseoflavus var. roseofungini) and their spontaneous Nocardia-like variants lacking aerial mycelium and spores against nine polyphages isolated mainly from soil. Some Nocardia-like variants were found to differ from their parent cultures in the resistance against certain actinophages. S. chrysomallus VKM Ac-590 and Ac-628 variants lost resistance against the phages. S. azureus VKM Ac-719 and S. roseoflavus var. roseofungini VKM Ac-770 variants became resistant to the phages. The changed phage resistance of the streptomycetes and their Nocardia-like variants was attributed to the disorganised process of adsorption (8 and 7%, respectively, against 70 and 90% for the parent strains).

Adsorption↗
PubMed1979

Association of macrophage activation with antitumor effect on rat syngeneic fibrosarcoma by Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton.

The antitumor activities of the cell wall skeleton (CWS) of Nocardia rubra were demonstrated for syngeneic fibrosarcoma (AMC-60) in ACI/N rats in regard to macrophage activation. In the 24-hr cytolytic test, activated macrophages which were fractionated from peritoneal exudate cells induced by i.p. injection of Nocardia CWS showed significant cytolytic activity for [125I]iododeoxyuridine-labeled tumor cells. Activated macrophages also strongly inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into the tumor cells during the 24-hr cytostatic test. When tumor cells were inoculated s.c. with activated macrophages in the Winn-type transfer assay, subsequent tumor growth was significantly inhibited. Repeated i.p. injection of the CWS seemed to enhance these antitumor activities of macrophages. The therapeutic effect of Nocardia CWS was assessed with the ascites tumor and with the solid tumor inoculated i.m. into the hind leg. In the former treatment, repeated i.p. injections completely prevented the accumulation of ascites fluid and resulted in prolongation of the survival period. The peritoneal macrophages harvested from these survivors had a strong cytolytic activity for tumor cells in the cytolytic test. In the latter treatment, repeated intratumoral injections inhibited the growth of primary tumor and prevented metastasis. Furthermore, peritoneal resident macrophages from these tumor-bearing rats treated intratumorally with the CWS were found to be cytolytic for tumor cells in the cytolytic test.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological analysis of cells of Nocardia at various developmental stages during morphogenesis.

High antibody titres and a single precipitin line of identity were obtained with hyperimmune rabbit serum prepared against filamentous cells of Nocardia asteroides strain 55 and the cells of three other strains of Nocardia, indicating the presence of a group antigen between the strains. High titres were also obtained with the hyperimmune serum and the three different cell forms (filamentous, rod-like and spherical cells) of the homologous strain, indicating that each developmental stage was highly antigenic. The antibodies were completely removed by absorption with the various cell forms, suggesting a similarity of the antigens. A single common antigen was demonstrated between the three developmental stages by immunodiffusion, indicating that there was no antigenic alteration occuring during morphogenesis of the genus Nocardia.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1978

Serological study of Nocardia pellegrino.

The serological relationship between Nocardia pellegrino strains was studied by means of immunodiffusion technique. Seven reference precipitation systems, including Nocardia asteroides (three strains), N. pellegrino Sn 5112, Rhodococcus, rhodochrous (two strains) and N. erythropolis were used. With one exception all of the strains of Nocardia pellegrino examined, seemed to be serologically related to the reference strain of N. pellegrino Sn 5112. They showed 4-5 common precipitates.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1995

[Possibilities of the use of gas-liquid chromatography in the identification of Nocardia microorganisms].

By determination of fatty acid composition of bacterial cells, gas-liquid chromatography can quickly identify Nocardia microorganisms isolated from the infected material. The study of fatty acid spectrum of the reference and fresh cultures Nocardia has found their homogeneity. Such fatty acids as hexadecenoic, hexadecanoic, octadecenoic, octadecanoic and tuberculostearic acids occurred most frequently. Differential criteria are proposed for Nocardia microorganisms basing on gas-liquid chromatography data on fatty acid spectra from mycobacteria to other nonmycobacterial acid-fast microorganisms.

Chromatography, Gas↗