Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0348321 (Haemophilus)
 15,372 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

It was noted in our laboratory that certain strains of Haemophilus influenzae yielded zone sizes interpreted as resistant to the ampicillin (AMP) disk on chocolate-Mueller-Hinton agar (CMH) but showed no evidence of beta-lactamase (beta-Lac) activity. Although it is known that a second mechanism of AMP resistance exists, strains with this mechanism are uncommon. To investigate this apparent discrepancy, a study of 100 consecutive clinical isolates of H. influenzae collected over a 6-month period was performed. Isolates were simultaneously tested against five antibiotics (AMP, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, and AMP-sulbactam) on CMH and on two brands of Haemophilus test medium (HTM) by using the disk diffusion procedure and National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) standards. By using CMH and NCCLS standard M2-A3-S2, strains of H. influenzae showing zone sizes of greater than or equal to 20 mm with AMP were considered sensitive. By using HTM and NCCLS standard M2-A4, strains showing zone sizes of greater than or equal to 25 mm to AMP on HTM were considered sensitive. Intermediate strains had zone sizes of 22 to 24 mm. The majority of isolates (68%) were sensitive to all antibiotics. Two percent of the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol. Seventeen percent of the isolates were AMP-resistant, beta-Lac-producing strains of H. influenzae. Thirteen percent of the isolates gave at least one intermediate or resistant zone for AMP but were beta-Lac negative. MIC determinations with NCCLS standard M7-A2 were performed with resistant and intermediate strains. MICs for beta-Lac-producing strains of H. influenzae were >/= 8.0 microgram/ml. MICs for beta-Lac-negative strains were </= 1.0 microgram/ml and were highly reproducible. If one uses the current NCCLS zone diameter interpretive criteria, results should be viewed with caution. Further investigation of zone size interpretive criteria is warranted. It is suggested that in the case of serious infections with H. influenzae, beta-Lac-negative, AMP-resistant or -intermediate strains be confirmed by the MIC procedure.
 ...
PMID:Investigation of ampicillin-intermediate strains of Haemophilus influenzae by using the disk diffusion procedure and current National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. 162 20

A sialidase (neuraminidase, acylneuraminosyl hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.18) has been discovered and isolated from Gardnerella vaginalis (ex. Haemophilus vaginalis), a possibly pathogenic inhabitant of the female genital tract. Bacteria were grown in peptone-yeast-extract medium with 2.0 mM N-acetylmannosamine as enzyme inductor under CO2 atmosphere. Sialidase activity was found in the bacterial sediment and in the culture medium. The enzyme was liberated from the cells by ultrasonic treatment. Purification was performed by 60-80% ammonium sulfate precipitation and by column chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B and Sephadex G 200. The enzyme revealed a molecular weight in the range of Mr 75 000 and a pH optimum at 5.5. Among the different types of NeuAc-containing glycoconjugates, the enzyme exhibits its highest activities towards the globular glycoproteins alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and fetuin. Taking their cleavage rate as 100, it is around 55 for II3NeuAc-Lac, 45 for bovine submaxillary mucin, 35 for II6NeuAc-Lac and IV3, III6NeuAc2-LcOse4. The rates for III8,II3NeuAc2-Lac, gangliosides and colominic acid are below 20. Due to its specificity pattern, the enzyme may play a role in the pathogenic process of G. vaginalis infections.
 ...
PMID:A newly discovered sialidase from Gardnerella vaginalis. 633 32

Competence for transformation in Haemophilus influenzae is stimulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP) and requires the cAMP-dependent catabolite regulatory protein CRP. Thus, understanding the control of competence will require understanding how cAMP levels are regulated. As a first step, we have cloned the H. influenzae adenylate cyclase gene (cya) by complementing the Lac- phenotype of delta cya Escherichia coli. Its sequence specifies an 843-amino-acid protein which has significant identity to other known bacterial adenylate cyclases (41 to 43% and 61% identical to the cya genes of enteric bacteria and of Pasteurella multocida, respectively). As seen in other bacterial cya genes, there is evidence for regulation similar to that demonstrated for E. coli: the presence of a strong consensus CRP binding site within the promoter of the gene may provide feedback control of cAMP levels by repressing cya transcription, and translation may be limited by the weak ribosome binding site and by initiation of protein synthesis with GUG rather than AUG or the UUG used in other bacterial cya genes. We confirmed the essential role of cAMP in competence by constructing and characterizing H. influenzae cya mutants. This strain failed to develop competence either spontaneously or after transfer to a competence-inducing medium. However, it became as competent as its wild-type parent in the presence of exogenous cAMP. This result suggests that the failure of exogenously added cAMP to induce optimum competence in wild-type cells is not due to a limitation to the entry of cAMP into the cells. Rather, it strongly favors models in which competence induction requires both an increase in intracellular cAMP and a second as yet unidentified regulatory event. H. influenzae strains mutant in cya or crp were unable to ferment xylose or ribose. This confirms that influenzae, like E. coli, uses cAMP and CRP to regulate nutrient uptake and utilization and lends increasing support to the hypothesis that DNA uptake is mechanism of nutrient acquisition.
 ...
PMID:The Haemophilus influenzae adenylate cyclase gene: cloning, sequence, and essential role in competence. 822 61