phosphorus-radioisotopes and Bacterial-Infections

The method of nucleic acid hybridization opens up new possibilities in laboratory diagnosis. This method, which enables us to assay for definite nucleic acid sequences in the specimen, has the advantage of high specificity and a strong binding force between the analyte nucleic acid and the nucleic acid probe. So far this method primarily works with radioactive labels. The development of non-radioactive detection systems suited for routine laboratories with sufficient sensitivity is still at its origin. One broad field of application for nucleic acid hybridization is the detection of the genome of certain viruses or bacteria in the specimen. Another more future oriented potential of these methods lies in the investigation and diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.

Topics: Bacterial Infections; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry, Physical; DNA; Genes, Viral; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunologic Techniques; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Nucleic Acid Renaturation; Nucleic Acids; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Radioisotopes; RNA; Virus Diseases

Recent developments in recombinant DNA technology have made possible the production of gene probes consisting of cloned gene segments, cloned segments of DNA linked to genes, and synthetic gene fragments. Several methods have been developed by which these probes may be used for the diagnosis of human disease. This technology has been outstandingly successful for prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection in many genetic diseases. These methods have also been successfully applied to the analysis of human malignancies, by providing for the determination of cell lineage and clonality in lymphoid neoplasms. Finally, these methods have shown potential for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of some infectious diseases.

Topics: B-Lymphocytes; Bacterial Infections; Biotin; Cloning, Molecular; Deoxyribonucleotides; DNA; DNA Restriction Enzymes; DNA, Recombinant; Female; Genetic Carrier Screening; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Genotype; Hemophilia A; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Infections; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukocytes; Male; Muscular Dystrophies; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Phenylketonurias; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polymorphism, Genetic; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; RNA; T-Lymphocytes; Virus Diseases

Growing evidence suggests an association between intra-amniotic infection and premature initiation of parturition. We recently demonstrated that some factor(s) including endotoxin produced by the organism stimulates endogenous phospholipase A2 resulting in liberation of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin formation (Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 244: 1-6 (1988). The studies presented in this report were designated to evaluate the mechanism for endotoxin to stimulate phospholipase A2 using human endometrial fibroblasts. Exposure of the fibroblasts to endotoxin from Escherichia coli in the presence of [32P] phosphate increased 32P-labeling of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidyl-inositol (PI) in a dose-dependent and a time-dependent manners. The PA labeling occurred without a measurable lag time. These findings demonstrate that the endotoxin stimulates phosphoinositide metabolism in human endometrial fibroblasts by a receptor-mediated mechanism. Membrane phosphoinositide turnover stimulated by endotoxin results in cytosolic Ca2+ increment, liberation of arachidonic acid, which may be involved in the initiation of parturition.

Topics: Bacterial Infections; Cells, Cultured; Endometrium; Endotoxins; Escherichia coli; Female; Fibroblasts; Humans; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Phosphatidic Acids; Phosphatidylinositols; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Pregnancy

Calculation of bacterial clearance is a fundamental step in any study of in situ lung antibacterial defenses. A method is described whereby about 85% of a radiolabeled bacterial inoculum was consistently introduced into the bronchopulmonary tree of a mouse by the intratracheal route. Mice were then killed 1 and 4 hours later; their lungs were removed aseptically and homogenized, and viable bacteria and radiolabel counts were determined. Radiolabel counts fell slowly, and more than 80% of the original radiolabel was still present in homogenized lung samples from animals sacrificed 4 hours after challenge. Bacteria/isotope ratios for the bacterial inoculum and homogenized lung samples from animals sacrificed immediately after challenge were very similar. Bacterial clearance values were the same whether computed from bacterial counts alone or according to a radiolabel ratio method whereby the change in the bacteria/isotope ratio in ground lung aliquots was divided by a similar ratio from bacteria used to inoculate animals. Some contamination resulted from oral streptococci being swept into the bronchopulmonary free during the aspiration process. This contamination was not a problem when penicillin was incorporated into the agar and penicillin-resistant strains were used for the bacterial challenges.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Escherichia coli; Female; Inhalation; Lung; Mice; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Bacterial Infections; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Disease Susceptibility; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Nervous System Diseases; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Postoperative Complications

Topics: Bacterial Infections; Cell Survival; Chromium Radioisotopes; Hematopoiesis; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Humans; Isoflurophate; Kinetics; Leukocytosis; Neutropenia; Neutrophils; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Thymidine; Time Factors; Tritium

Topics: Bacterial Infections; Conjugation, Genetic; DNA, Bacterial; Enterobacteriaceae; Erwinia; Escherichia coli; Floxuridine; Humans; Micropore Filters; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Plants; Thymidine; Tritium

Although viral illnesses are predisposing causes for pulmonary bacterial infections, the interrelationships of viral virulence and host immunity to alterations in susceptibility to bacterial infection are incompletely understood. We used two mutant strains of encephalomyocarditis virus (minimally virulent Mengo-37A and a highly virulent Columbia SK [Col-SK]) to investigate these interrelationships. Mice that had been immunized to Mengo-37A, and nonimmunized controls, were challenged with aerosols containing 10(4) plaque-forming units of Mengo-37A or Col-SK per liter. The effect of each viral infection on pulmonary antibacterial activity was assessed 3 days later by measuring the capacity of the lungs to kill inhaled radiophosphorus ((32)P)-labeled Staphylococcus aureus. The degree of antibacterial dysfunction found was proportional to the virulence of the infecting virus. If the host was immune to the infecting virus, bactericidal function was not impaired by viral challenge. Neither mutant caused significant pulmonary damage; therefore: (i) viral-induced impairment in bactericidal activity reflects, quantitatively, the virulence of the virus and (ii) viral immunity protects pulmonary bacterial defenses by preventing damage to the phagocyte from the virus or its attendant metabolic abnormalities.

Topics: Aerosols; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Bacterial; Antigens, Viral; Bacterial Infections; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Encephalomyocarditis virus; Female; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Immunity; Immunization; Lung; Mice; Neutralization Tests; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Streptococcus; Virus Diseases

Topics: Animals; Aorta, Abdominal; Bacterial Infections; Constriction; Hypoxia; Lung; Macrophages; Male; Mice; Phagocytosis; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Pneumonia; Pulmonary Alveoli; Pulmonary Edema; Rats; Staphylococcal Infections; Thiourea