Alterations within the penicillin-binding domain of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) genes pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x were determined for 15 Canadian isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae. All penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae isolates showed a variety of PBP 2X substitutions and contained a Thr445-Ala change after the PBP 2B SSN motif. Only isolates for which penicillin MICs were > or =0.5 m...

Chlamydia pecorum causes asymptomatic infection and pathology in ruminants, pigs, and koalas. We characterized the antichlamydial effect of the beta lactam penicillin G on Chlamydia pecorum strain 1710S (porcine abortion isolate). Penicillin-exposed and mock-exposed infected host cells showed equivalent inclusions numbers. Penicillin-exposed inclusions contained aberrant bacterial forms and exh...

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for penicillin G, tetracycline, amoxicillin, and actinomycin D were determined for 81 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients attending public health clinics in the Piedmont region of South Carolina. Gonococcal isolates were also screened for highlevel resistance to streptomycin. Significant positive correlations (r >/= 0.45, P </= 0...

A homologue of the Escherichia coli penicillin acylase is encoded in the genomes of several thermophiles, including in different Thermus thermophilus strains. Although the natural substrate of this enzyme is not known, this acylase shows a marked preference for penicillin K over penicillin G. Three-dimensional models were created in which the catalytic residues and the substrate binding pocket ...

Penicillin G acylase from E. coli TA1 was immobilized by Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates (CLEA), a new method for immobilization. This biocatalyst and commercial immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA-450) were used to study the effect of pH, temperature and substrate concentration on the synthesis of ampicillin from phenyl glycine methyl ester (PGME) and 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA). Compare...

A simple two-chamber diffusion method was developed to study the diffusion properties of bacteriophages (phages). The apparent diffusion coefficients (D(app)) of Myoviridae phage T4 and filamentous phage fNEL were investigated, and the diffusion of the phages was found to be much slower than the diffusion of three antibiotics, ciprofloxacin, penicillin G, and tetracycline. D(app) of T4 and fNEL...

This study is pertaining to the production of penicillin G acylase (PGA) by Bacillus subtilis 8105MU331 in which PGA gene, under the control of thermal-induced promoter, was integrated. The key process parameters including induced-temperature, induced-time, and culture temperature were optimized in flask culture. A three-stage cultivation process was developed for PGA production with the expres...

In an area with a high incidence of gonorrhoea, where strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae having a reduced sensitivity to penicillin in vitro are common, there is an urgent need for effective routine therapy. Furthermore, when local conditions are such that diagnosis and therapy are in the hands of personnel with a limited training, treatment must be both simple and easy to administer. When the fo...

BACKGROUND Anomalous use of antibiotics and their entrance into the environment have increased concerns around the world. These compounds enter the environment through an incomplete metabolism and a considerable amount of them cannot be removed using conventional wastewater treatment. Therefore, the main objectives of this research are evaluation of the feasibility of using ultraviolet radiatio...

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), secondary to group A streptococcal infection is endemic in the developing as well as parts of the developed world with significant costs to the patient, and to the healthcare system. We briefly review the prevalence and cost of RHD in developed and developing nations. We subsequently develop a Markov model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three strategies (vs...