Showing papers on "Klebsiella pneumoniae published in 1974"

Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae: Evidence for a Role of Glutamine Synthetase as a Regulator of Nitrogenase Synthesis

Abstract: Mutations causing constitutive synthesis of glutamine synthetase (GlnC(-) phenotype) were transferred from Klebsiella aerogenes into Klebsiella pneumoniae by P1-mediated transduction. Such GlnC(-) strains of K. pneumoniae have constitutive levels of glutamine synthetase. Two of three GlnC(-) strains of K. pneumoniae studied, each containing independently isolated mutations that confer the GlnC(-) phenotype, continue to synthesize nitrogenase in the presence of NH(4) (+). One strain, KP5069, produces 30% as much nitrogenase when grown in the presence of 15 mM NH(4) (+) as in its absence. The GlnC(-) phenotype allows the synthesis of nitrogenase to continue under conditions that completely repress nitrogenase synthesis in the wild-type strain. Glutamine auxotrophs of K. pneumoniae, that do not produce catalytically active glutamine synthetase, are unable to synthesize nitrogenase during nitrogen limited growth. Complementation of K. pneumoniae Gln(-) strains by an Escherichia coli episome (F'133) simultaneously restores glutamine synthetase activity and the ability to synthesize nitrogenase. These results indicate a role for glutamine synthetase as a positive control element for nitrogen fixation in K. pneumoniae.

Chromosomal Integration of Klebsiella Nitrogen Fixation Genes in Escherichia coli

Abstract: SUMMARY Escherichia coli, C-M7, a His+Nif+ hybrid obtained by intergeneric mating with a Klebsiella pneumoniae donor strain, also inherited the unselected markers gnd and rfb. The R factor, R144drd3, which had been used to confer fertility on the donor, was present, detectable as covalently closed circular DNA of molecular weight 69 x lo6 daltons. No other species of supercoiled DNA were isolated and the elimination of R144drd3 did not result in the loss of Klebsiella genes. Segregation analysis of donor markers indicated that the Klebsiella DNA was integrated at the his region of the E. coli chromosome in the probable order his-gnd-nif-rfb. Strain C-M7 produced a nitrogenase physiologically identical to that of K. pneumoniae, but synthesized a heteromeric species of gluconate-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Characterization of Klebsiella isolates from natural receiving waters and comparison with human isolates.

Abstract: Two hundred sixty-six strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from natural water sources in geographically diverse areas (Florida, Massachusetts, and Oregon) were analyzed to determine the serotype, biochemical, virulence, and antimicrobial susceptibility differences between these natural strains and human Klebsiella isolates. Sixty of 72 defined serotypes were found among 210 typable strains. Geographic patterns were present, but in general were not pronounced among serotypes. Reactions with 28 biochemical tests showed percentage responses which were very similar to the summaries of primarily human Klebsiella isolates (as reported by Edwards and Ewing, 1972) and that represented diverse geographic sampling. Virulence studies in representative strains showed no geographic variability and little difference from comparable hospital patient-obtained isolates. In contrast to human hospital isolates, strains demonstrated 90% or greater susceptibility to all antibiotics except ampicillin and carbenicillin; and in further contrast, there was little multiple antibiotic resistance beyond that with ampicillin and carbenicillin.

Beta-lactamase activity in ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract: The specific activity, substrate profile, response to inhibitors, inducibility, and cellular localization of the beta-lactamase produced by an ampicillin-resistant strain of Haemophilus influenzae type B were investigated. In these properties the enzyme resembles β-lactamases produced by other gram-negative bacilli more closely than those produced by gram-positive organisms. It is quite similar to an enzyme found in strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and differs significantly from those described in other gram-negative bacilli. Comparison of the substrate profile with the minimal inhibitory concentrations of various β-lactamase antibiotics suggests that the β-lactamase plays an important role in the antibiotic resistance of this organism.

Differentiation of the Oxytocum Group from Klebsiella by Deoxyribonucleic Acid-Deoxyribonucleic Acid Hybridization

Abstract: By deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid molecular hybridization, evidence was obtained that the bacteria of the Oxytocum group represent a distinct deoxyribonucleic acid homology group and are not indole-forming and gelatin-liquefying variants of Klebsiella aerogenes and Klebsiella pneumoniae (sensu lato), respectively, and not a subgroup within Klebsiella, as had been suggested previously. The establishment of a new, but presently unnamed, genus of Enterobacteriaceae, with one species, is proposed, represented by strain 497-2 of R. Hugh (ATCC 13182). Furthermore, none of a series of bacterial strains classified as Enterobacter, Hafnia, or Erwinia species was found to be related to Klebsiella or to the Oxytocum strains. The deoxyribonucleic acid reassociation values do not allow species differentiation within the true, indole-negative klebsiellae.

Properties of R Factors from Bordetella bronchiseptica

Abstract: Genetic properties and host ranges of R factors derived from Bordetella bronchiseptica of pig origin were examined. All of 61 R factors tested could confer resistance to streptomycin, sulfonamide, and aminobenzyl penicillin on their host bacteria. All of them were identified as fi − (no fertility inhibition) type and were found to exhibit no restriction of phages λ, φ80, P1, P2, T1, T3, T6, T7, W31, and BF-23. They could confer macarbomysin susceptibility on their host cells when infected. An Rte16, a representative R factor, was incompatible with both RP4 and R40a, which are classified as compatibility groups P and C, respectively. An Rte16 was conjugally transmissible to B. bronchiseptica, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella typhimurium , and Yersinia enterocolitica , but not to Shigella flexneri, S. sonnei, Proteus mirabilis, P. vulgaris, P. rettgeri, Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa .

Transferrable Resistance to Tobramycin in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae Associated with Enzymatic Acetylation of Tobramycin

Abstract: Among gram-negative bacilli isolated from burn wound cultures, some strains of Enterobacteriaceae were resistant to tobramycin (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC]≥ 20 μg/ml) but susceptible to gentamicin (MIC ≤ 5 μg/ml). One Klebsiella pneumoniae and two Enterobacter cloacae strains were selected for studies on their mechanisms of resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. Resistance to high concentrations of tobramycin (MICs of 25 to 50 μg/ml) was conjugally transferred to a susceptible Escherichia coli strain at rates of 1.2 × 10 −4 to 2.8 to 10 −4 per donor cell, suggesting that resistance is controlled by R factors. Resistances to tobramycin, kanamycin, and neomycin were cotransferred. Enzymatic activities were present that acetylated tobramycin, gentamicin, and kanamycin in osmotic lysates from the donor and transcipient strains. Enzymatic adenylylation of these aminoglycosides was not observed. The aminoglycoside-acetylating activities from K. pneumoniae and E. cloacae resembled kanamycin acetyltransferase (KAT) in their specificity for aminoglycoside substrates. Not all isolates of bacteria that produce KAT are resistant to tobramycin, but the factors that determine susceptibility or resistance to tobramycin in KAT-producing bacteria have not yet been established.

Electron Transport Carriers Involved in Nitrogen Fixation by the Coliform, Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract: SUMMARY: In cell-free extracts, pyruvate, formate, malate and NADPH provided reducing equivalents to the nitrogenase of the nitrogen-fixing colform, Klebsiella pnemoniae. Two electron carriers were isolated from extracts, both capable of mediating the transfer of reducing power between illuminated spinach chloroplasts and the nitrogenases of Klebsiella or Azotobacter vinelandii. One electron carrier was a flavoprotein, named Klebsiella flavodoxin (molecular weight about 21000); the second was not characterized. A similarity is suggested between Klebsiella and Escherichia coli in the generation and transport of low-potential reducing power from pyruvate.

Treatment of Pneumonia and Other Serious Bacterial Infections with Cephapirin

Abstract: Nineteen patients with pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Escherichia coli were treated with 4 to 18 g of cephapirin daily. There were three treatment failures. One patient each with pneumonia due to E. coli or S. pneumoniae died despite apparent eradication of the pathogen. Lobar pneumonia due to K. pneumoniae progressed during therapy in a third patient to lung gangrene, necessitating pneumonectomy. Five additional patients with pneumococcal pericarditis or septic bursitis, empyema, cannula-associated bacteremia, and thoractomy wound infection due to S. aureus were cured. All isolates of S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, and group A Streptococcus were inhibited by 0.8 mug of cephapirin per ml; minimal inhibitory concentrations of cephalothin were similar. Ninety percent of K. pneumoniae, 85% of Proteus mirabilis, 73% of E. coli, and 30% of Enterobacter were inhibited by 12.5 mug cephapirin per ml. All isolates of Pseudomonas, Serratia and indole-positive Proteus had a cephapirin minimal inhibitory concentration of [Formula: see text] 100 mug/mg. Serum concentrations after intravenous and intramuscular injection were similar to those reported for cephalothin. The intramuscular injections were moderately painful, and intravenous infusions caused phlebitis in three of nine patients treated with doses up to 18 g per day. Cephapirin appears comparable to cephalothin in vitro and is an effective agent in treatment of infection due to S. aureus and S. pneumoniae.