Potential virulence factors (elastase, proteinase, lipase, phospholipase C, alginate) as well as surface properties (hydrophobicity, motility) were determined in 103 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients with cancer. Nontypable strains were the dominant group (60%), followed by serotypes O11 (17%), O12 (7%) and O4 (5%). Seventy-one strains (69%) produced high level of elastase (10-60 mg/L), 87% of the strains possessed high activity of proteinase (bacterial) (10-250 mg/L) and 69% of the strains demonstrated higher level of lipase (20-150 U/mL); these elevated levels of enzymes were associated mainly with nontypable strains. On the other hand, 79% of the strains did not produce or produced only a low level of phospholipase C and 60% of isolates did not manifest any or very low production of alginate. Hydrophobicity demonstrated by adherence of the bacteria to xylene was shown by 69% of strains; 94% of strains aggregated with ammonium sulfate. Motility in the range of 31-80 mm was found in 76 strains (74%). The considerable virulence of tested P. aeruginosa strains was confirmed. The nontypable strains manifested the most frequent group with high level of elastase, proteinase, lipase, hydrophobicity and motility.

• MeSH
• Alginates metabolism   MeSH
• Bacterial Adhesion MeSH
• Endopeptidases biosynthesis   MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases biosynthesis   MeSH
• Glucuronic Acid MeSH
• Hexuronic Acids MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipase biosynthesis   MeSH
• Neoplasms complications   microbiology   MeSH
• Opportunistic Infections complications   microbiology   MeSH
• Pancreatic Elastase biosynthesis   MeSH
• Pseudomonas Infections complications   microbiology   MeSH
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa classification   isolation & purification   pathogenicity   physiology   MeSH
• Serotyping MeSH
• Virulence MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Alginates MeSH
• Endopeptidases MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases MeSH
• Glucuronic Acid MeSH
• Hexuronic Acids MeSH
• Lipase MeSH
• Pancreatic Elastase MeSH

Resistance to 13 antimicrobial agents, resistance to the bactericidal activity of human serum, hydrophobic properties, lipolytic activity and production of histamine were determined in a total of 50 clinical Acinetobacter spp. strains (A. baumannii, A. lwoffii, A. calcoaceticus, A. haemolyticus). None of the tested isolates showed resistance to meropenem and none of A. lwoffii, A. calcoaceticus and A. haemolyticus strains were resistant to amikacin. Forty-six strains (92%) manifested resistance to ampicillin, 90% to cefuroxime, 68% to ciprofloxacin, 58% to piperacillin, gentamicin and cotrimaxazole, 50% to cefotaxime, 44% to amikacin, 42% to ceftazidime, 38% to piperacillin/tazobactam, 24% to netilmicin and 16% to ampicillin/sulbactam. In particular, A. baumannii and A. calcoaceticus strains showed considerable antibiotic resistance. Thirty-one isolates (62%) showed serum resistance; intermediate sensitivity was found in 19 isolates (38%). The majority of the strains (72%) demonstrated a strongly hydrophobic character; 16% of isolates exhibited moderate hydrophobic properties. All strains showed lipolytic activity; production of histamine was detected in 14 of 43 strains examined.

• MeSH
• Acinetobacter classification   drug effects   metabolism   physiology   MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Bacterial Adhesion * MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial MeSH
• Blood Bactericidal Activity * MeSH
• Histamine metabolism   MeSH
• Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions MeSH
• Acinetobacter Infections microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipase metabolism   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• Histamine MeSH
• Lipase MeSH

The impact of postantibiotic effect (PAE) of carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem) on the metabolism (biosynthesis of macromolecules, respiration), cell-surface hydrophobicity and motility of a clinical isolate of Enterobacter cloacae was examined. The metabolism was evaluated after 16 h and after 1 d of cultivation using 2x and 4x minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of both antibiotics for the induction of PAE. Imipenem at 4 x MIC did not induce PAE. After a 16-h cultivation (in the postantibiotic phase of both carbapenems), inhibition of nucleosynthesis and protein synthesis was found; after a 1-d cultivation, during regrowth stimulation of mainly 14C-leucine incorporation was found. The presence of the exogenous intermediates of citrate cycle, viz. 2-oxoglutarate, increased the respiratory activity of the cells. The cell-surface hydrophobicity (evaluated by three methods--bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbon, nitrocellulose-filter test and salt-aggregation test) decreased after PAE of both carbapenems; meropenem was more effective. Motility (an important virulence factor) was inhibited in the postantibiotic phase of both carbapenems; the 4 x MIC caused a higher inhibition.

• MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Enterobacter cloacae chemistry   drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions MeSH
• Imipenem pharmacology   MeSH
• Carbapenems pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Meropenem MeSH
• Movement drug effects   MeSH
• Thienamycins pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Imipenem MeSH
• Carbapenems MeSH
• Meropenem MeSH
• Thienamycins MeSH

Nitroxoline (5-nitro-8-quinolinol; NIQ) at subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) decreased the adherence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to catheter surface and significantly enhanced cell surface hydrophobicity. The surface hydrophobicity increased in the presence of sub-MIC of NIQ and also in an excess of Mg2+. The effect of NIQ on the cell surface was not related to the bacteriostatic effect of this agent. The increase in nitrogen and decrease in phosphate content in the cell surface was found in the presence of NIQ. NIQ did not inhibit the expression of fimbriae.

• MeSH
• Bacterial Adhesion drug effects   MeSH
• Cell Membrane chemistry   drug effects   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron MeSH
• Escherichia coli chemistry   drug effects   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Urinary Tract Infections drug therapy   etiology   MeSH
• Escherichia coli Infections drug therapy   etiology   MeSH
• Urinary Catheterization adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Nitroquinolines administration & dosage   pharmacology   MeSH
• Surface Properties MeSH
• In Vitro Techniques MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Nitroquinolines MeSH
• nitroxoline MeSH Browser