bromochloroacetic-acid and Staphylococcal-Infections

To determine whether inflamed and uninflamed epidermoid cysts differ in the number and/or type of bacteria inhabiting them.. A controlled study. We obtained aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture specimens from 25 inflamed and 25 uninflamed epidermoid cysts.. A university medical center.. Nonimmunocompromised adults without recent systemic use of antibiotics.. The 2 groups did not differ significantly with respect to number of bacterial isolates, "no growth" cultures, and aerobic, anaerobic, or potential pathogens cultured.. The microbiological milieu of inflamed epidermoid cysts is similar to that of uninflamed cysts. Possible mechanisms for inflammation are discussed.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bacteria, Aerobic; Bacteria, Anaerobic; Colony Count, Microbial; Cysts; Erythema; Female; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Inflammation; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Peptostreptococcus; Skin Diseases; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Suppuration

We describe here a novel peeling skin condition (PSC) in 2 neonatal Pacific walruses (

Topics: Alaska; Animals; Keratins; Staphylococcal Infections; Walruses

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a major public health problem worldwide because of its strong resistance to a variety of antibiotics. Natural immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies have been reported to protect against microbial infections. In the present study, the function of a monoclonal natural anti-keratin antibody IgM (named 3B4) in MRSA infection was evaluated. The binding of 3B4 to MRSA was studied using immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometry (FCM). The binding of 3B4 to mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and complement activation were detected by ELISA. For the in vivo study, transgenic mice for the VH gene from 3B4 (TgVH 3B4) were used. After infection, the bacterial burden was examined in the kidney, spleen and enterocelia. Inflammatory cytokine levels and the neutrophil ratio in peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) were assessed by ELISA and FCM, respectively. Additionally, the total serum hemolytic activity (CH50) in the early stage of infection was detected by ELISA. The results showed that 3B4 bound directly to MRSA and MBL, and the interaction between 3B4 and MRSA/MBL led to the activation of the classic and the MBL pathway in vitro. After 48 h of MRSA infection, the bacterial load in the kidney, spleen and enterocelia was significantly decreased in TgVH 3B4 mice (P < 0.05) compared with wild-type mice. Levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were increased after MRSA infection. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in TgVH 3B4 mice were decreased by 49.1% and 59.4% compared to wild-type mice. Additionally, the neutrophil ratio in the PLF of TgVH 3B4 mice was decreased by 65.9%. The CH50 value was significantly higher in TgVH 3B4 mice than in wild-type mice, indicating that 3B4 promoted the activation of the complement system in MRSA infected mice. The results reveal an important role of 3B4 in the anti-MRSA immune response, and the complement activation contributes to this effect.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Binding Sites; Complement Activation; Cytokines; Immunoglobulin M; Keratins; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Protein Binding; Staphylococcal Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a wide range of infections, including soft tissue infections and potentially fatal bacteremias. The primary niche for S. aureus in humans is the nares, and nasal carriage is a documented risk factor for staphylococcal infection. Previous studies with rodent models of nasal colonization have implicated capsule and teichoic acid as staphylococcal surface factors that promote colonization. In this study, a mouse model of nasal colonization was utilized to demonstrate that S. aureus mutants that lack clumping factor A, collagen binding protein, fibronectin binding proteins A and B, polysaccharide intercellular adhesin, or the accessory gene regulator colonized as well as wild-type strains colonized. In contrast, mutants deficient in sortase A or clumping factor B (ClfB) showed reduced nasal colonization. Mice immunized intranasally with killed S. aureus cells showed reduced nasal colonization compared with control animals. Likewise, mice that were immunized systemically or intranasally with a recombinant vaccine composed of domain A of ClfB exhibited lower levels of colonization than control animals exhibited. A ClfB monoclonal antibody (MAb) inhibited S. aureus binding to mouse cytokeratin 10. Passive immunization of mice with this MAb resulted in reduced nasal colonization compared with the colonization observed after immunization with an isotype-matched control antibody. The mouse immunization studies demonstrate that ClfB is an attractive component for inclusion in a vaccine to reduce S. aureus nasal colonization in humans, which in turn may diminish the risk of staphylococcal infection. As targets for vaccine development and antimicrobial intervention are assessed, rodent nasal colonization models may be invaluable.

Topics: Adhesins, Bacterial; Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigens, Bacterial; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Growth Inhibitors; Keratins; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Nasal Mucosa; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcal Vaccines; Staphylococcus aureus; Vaccines, Inactivated

Infection by Staphylococcus epidermidis, an opportunistic pathogen, has become a major problem due to the increased use of implanted medical devices and the growing number of patients who are therapeutically or infectiously immunosuppressed. These infections appear to proceed via modulation of the coagulation and complement systems. In this communication we describe the purification and characterization of a novel extracellular proteinase from an oral strain of S. epidermidis that can degrade fibrinogen, complement protein C5, and several other proteins. This proteinase has a strong preference for cleavage after glutamic acid residues, but not after aspartic acid. The S. epidermidis enzyme may be a multifunctional protein which not only provides this organism with both the ability to evade the complement defense system and to dysregulate the coagulation cascade, but also supplies nutrients for its growth through the degradation of Glu-rich proteins.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cattle; Complement C5; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fibrinogen; Humans; Keratins; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecular Weight; Mouth Diseases; Protease Inhibitors; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Serine Endopeptidases; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus epidermidis

In contrast to wild-type mice, genetically engineered Mucin1 (Muc1) null animals display a marked propensity for development of blepharitis and conjunctivitis. Molecular approaches confirmed the presence of Muc1 mRNA and protein in the conjunctival tissue of wild-type mice and identified the bacterial species in Muc1 null symptomatic mice.. Muc1 null animals housed in a conventional facility were examined for visually apparent inflammation of the eye and surrounding tissue. Blood taken from overtly affected animals was assayed for antibodies to common murine viral agents. Swabs of infected eyes and whole eye preparations were used to detect and speciate bacterial pathogens. Frozen sections of whole eye, lid margin, and Harderian gland were immunostained with antibodies to Muc1 and cytokeratin 14, both epithelial cell markers. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed on RNA isolated from conjunctiva and Harderian gland of wild-type mice to compare relative levels of transcript.. Student's unpaired t-test performed on the eye inflammation frequency of Muc1 null mice confirmed a statistical significance (P < 0.01) when compared to wild-type background animals housed in the same room. Analysis of blood samples from affected Muc1 null animals detected no common murine viral pathogens. Bacterial analysis of conjunctival swabs and whole eye preparations demonstrated the presence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Streptococcus type alpha, and Corynebacterium group G2. Muc1 antibody staining of wild-type sections revealed the presence of Muc1 on conjunctival goblet and non-goblet cells and on the epithelium of the Harderian gland. Serial sections stained with cytokeratin 14 antibody confirmed the epithelial nature of cells expressing the Muc1 protein. RNA from conjunctiva and Harderian gland subjected to RT-PCR and northern blot analysis showed an abundance of Muc1 transcript in these tissues.. Muc1 mRNA and protein are present in murine conjunctival and Harderian gland epithelia. Animals lacking Muc1 mRNA and protein are predisposed to developing eye inflammation when compared to wild-type animals with an intact Muc1 gene. Muc1 appears to play a critical protective role at the ocular surface, presumably by acting as a barrier to infection by certain bacterial strains.

Topics: Animals; Blepharitis; Conjunctiva; Conjunctivitis, Bacterial; Corynebacterium Infections; DNA Primers; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Harderian Gland; Keratins; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Mutant Strains; Mucin-1; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Staphylococcal Infections; Streptococcal Infections

When a subareolar breast abscess (SBA) is incised and drained, an extraordinarily high frequency of recurrence is noted.. To develop a pathogenesis-based treatment plan, 24 women with a total of 84 abscesses were monitored.. In nine women SBA was under the left areola, under the right, in 7 and in eight the SBA occurred either simultaneously or sequentially under both areolae. In 11 of 24 patients a chronic lactiferous duct fistula also existed. In four of 24 patients four SBAs were treated with antibiotics; alone; all recurred. In 16 of 24 patients initial treatment was incision and drainage plus antibiotics; all recurred. When the abscess plus the plugged lactiferous duct was excised, there were no recurrences; however, in four patients a new abscess in a different duct occurred, which was treated by en bloc resection of all subareolar ampullae, without further recurrence. Patients with a fistulous tract had the fistula, its feeding abscess, and its plugged lactiferous duct excised, without recurrence. In first time SBA the organism was usually staphylococcus; in recurrences mixed flora was isolated. Pathologic findings ranged from squamous metaplasia with keratinization of lactiferous ducts to chronic abscess.. The cause of SBA is plugging of lactiferous duct within the nipple by keratin. To prevent recurrence the abscessed ampulla with its plugged proximal duct needs excision.

Topics: Abscess; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Breast; Combined Modality Therapy; Cutaneous Fistula; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Humans; Keratins; Mastitis; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Nipples; Recurrence; Smoking; Staphylococcal Infections; Vitamin A Deficiency

Staphylococcus aureus isolated from mastitis (14 bovine and 11 ovine strains) exhibited an ability to adhere to epithelial primary cultures from ovine mammary gland and to a rat epithelial cell line, RIE-1. Strain differences in the degree of adherence were observed in both cases. These differences were maintained when comparing different epithelial sources (rat vs. ovine). RIE-1 cells can thus be used as a model for studying staphylococcal adherence to epithelial cells. Changes in bacterial adherence were observed according to the bacterial growth phase. The magnitude of these changes differed among strains. Bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity was not related to the degree of adherence to mammalian epithelial cells.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Adhesion; Cattle; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Intestines; Keratins; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mastitis; Mastitis, Bovine; Rats; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surface Properties

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Focal Infection; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Psoriasis; Staphylococcal Infections; Streptococcal Infections; Tonsillectomy; Tonsillitis

Teat canal keratin (n = 461) and mammary gland secretions (n = 370) were collected from 31 unbred and 85 primigravid Jersey heifers from one research and three commercial dairy herds. Of 97 heifers from which secretion samples were obtained, 96.9% had intramammary infections and 29% showed clinical symptoms. Seventy-five percent of quarters were infected. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 36 (37.1%) heifers and 55 (14.9%) quarters. One hundred and eight (93.1%) heifers and 326 (70.7%) quarters had teat canals colonized with mastitis pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from teat canal keratin samples from 36 (31%) heifers and 57 (12.3%) quarters. The three most common species isolated from secretion and teat canal keratin samples were Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus hyicus, and S. aureus. Secretions from infected (n = 240) and uninfected (n = 85) quarters had SCC of 13.6 X 10(6)/ml and 5.7 X 10(6)/ml. Macrophages were the most numerous cell type in secretions of infected and uninfected quarters. Quarters with teat canal colonization, but with no intramammary infections, exhibited higher SCC in secretion (9.3 X 10(6)/ml) than quarters without both teat canal colonizations and intramammary infections (4.9 X 10(6)/ml). Data indicated that intramammary infections and teat canal colonizations were more prevalent and SCC higher than previously realized in dairy heifers.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Keratins; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mastitis, Bovine; Neutrophils; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Prevalence; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus

In the present study we characterized the phenotypes of infiltrating mononuclear cells in angular cheilitis lesions to further explore the pathogenesis of this disorder. Frozen sections from lesions infected by Candida albicans and/or Staphylococcus aureus were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis utilizing monoclonal antibodies directed to subsets of T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and macrophages. In addition, the expression of Class II antigens (HLA-DP, -DQ, -DR), the interleukin 2- and transferrin-receptors was studied on resident and infiltrating cells. An intense infiltration of T-lymphocytes was accompanied by expression of Class II antigens on the epidermal keratinocytes in lesion infected by Candida albicans. The Staphylococcus aureus infected lesions displayed a diffuse infiltration of T-lymphocytes but virtually no expression of Class II antigen by epidermal keratinocytes. These observations suggest that the cell-mediated arm of the immune system is involved in the inflammatory reaction of lesions infected by Candida albicans. In addition, the present study confirms that epidermal expression of Class II antigens is closely related to the type and magnitude of the infiltrating T-lymphocyte. Finally, these findings indicate that the type of inflammatory reaction in angular cheilitis is primarily dependent on the isolated microorganism, although the clinical pictures of the disorder are virtually identical.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Candidiasis, Oral; Cheilitis; Epidermis; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; HLA-DP Antigens; HLA-DQ Antigens; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Keratins; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Staphylococcal Infections; T-Lymphocytes

Vascular prosthetic graft infection is one of the most catastrophic problems complicating vascular surgery. The purpose of the present study was to determine the efficacy of binding an antibiotic to a vascular prosthesis via a glucosaminoglycan-keratin luminal coating (GKLC). Ten adult mongrel dogs had polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts inserted into the right common carotid artery and PTFE grafts with GKLC bonded with cefoxitin inserted into the left common carotid artery. Before the neck incision was closed, an infusion of 1 X 10(8) Staphylococcus aureus was administered intravenously during a 15-minute period to each dog. Grafts were harvested at 10 different time periods (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, and 28 days). At the time of harvesting, cultures were taken of the lumen of each graft. Washout of antibiotic from the graft lumen was determined by measuring zones of inhibition of disks excised from the antibiotic grafts that were placed on S. aureus plates. Results demonstrated that only 1 of the 10 GKLC-cefoxitin grafts was infected compared with 10 of 10 regular PTFE grafts (p less than 0.003). Regression analysis showed antibiotic elution to occur in an exponential fashion (r = 0.9654) with no detectable antibiotic present after 10 days. GKLC with cefoxitin significantly protects the PTFE graft lumen from infection during bacteremia compared with regular PTFE. The role of antibiotic-bound grafts in relation to the use of intravenous antibiotics will need to be determined by further studies.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Cefoxitin; Dogs; Glycosaminoglycans; Keratins; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Keratins; Mammary Glands, Animal; Micrococcus; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Cattle; Female; Keratins; Lactation; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mastitis, Bovine; Microscopy, Electron; Pregnancy; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus