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6-Tuliposide B is a secondary metabolite occurring specifically in tulip anthers. Recently, a potent antibacterial activity of 6-tuliposide B has been reported. However, its molecular target has not yet been established, nor its action mechanism. To shed light on such issues, 6-tuliposide B and tulipalin B analogues were synthesized and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) was examined using a broad panel of bacterial strains. As the results of SAR among a total of 25 compounds, only tulipalin B and the compounds having 3',4'-dihydroxy-2'-methylenebutanoate (DHMB) moieties showed any significant antibacterial activity. Moreover, the 3'R analogues of these compounds displayed essentially the same activities as 6-tuliposide B and the structure of the 3'R-DMBA moiety was the same as that of the proposed active moiety of cnicin. These results suggest that 6-tuliposide B has the same action mechanism as proposed for cnicin and bacterial MurA is one of the major molecular targets of 6-tuliposide B., (2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

High incorporation of D-[U-13C] glucose and L-[indole-2-13C] tryptophan into indocarbazostatin B (2) was observed in a biosynthetic study using a mutant strain, Streptomyces sp. MUV-7-8. The original strain, Streptomyces sp. TA-0403 produced a small amount of indocarbazostatin (1) and indocarbazostatin B (2), which displayed potent biological activities. To facilitate biosynthetic studies, we selected high indocarbazostatin producing mutant strains. The first mutants, Streptomyces sp. MUV-6-83 and MUV-6-17, produced indocarbazostatins C (3) and D (4) as well as 1 and 2. When the production medium was supplemented with D-tryptophan, the MUV-6-17 mutant produced K252c (5), whereas when L-tryptophan was added, it produced K252d (6). On further UV treatment of the mutant strain MUV-6-83, we finally obtained a new mutant producer, Streptomyces sp. MUV-7-8, that produced 2 as a major metabolite with higher productivity. This mutant producer enabled us to do a feeding experiment of the envisioned precursors, glucose and tryptophan.

The production of a group 3 beta-lactamase permitted Escherichia coli to raise the MICs of ceftazidime, cefpirome, and meropenem greatly but those of imipenem and piperacillin only slightly. The ratios of maximum rate of hydrolysis to K(m) of ceftazidime, cefpirome, and piperacillin were lower than those of meropenem and imipenem for the group 3 beta-lactamase. The permeability coefficients for piperacillin and meropenem were higher than those for ceftazidime and cefpirome. Imipenem had the highest permeability coefficient.

The in-vitro activity of T-5575, 2-carboxypenam, a new parenteral antibiotic and its stability to beta-lactamases were compared with those of ceftazidime and imipenem. The activity of T-5575 was equal or superior to that of ceftazidime or imipenem against Gram-negative bacteria that produced penicillinase with the exception of the enzyme OXA-1. Against strains that produced Cephalosporinase and zinc-dependent beta-lactamase, the activity of T-5575 was superior to that of ceftazidime or imipenem. T-5575 was a poor substrate and had low affinity for beta-lactamases produced by Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The activity of T-5575 was less influenced by the derepressed production of chromosomal enzymes than that of ceftazidime. Overall, T-5575 had excellent activity against Gram-negative pathogens that produced various types of beta-lactamases.

The in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of clarithromycin (CAM), a new oral macrolide antibiotic, were compared with those of erythromycin (EM), josamycin (JM) and rokitamycin (RKM). The antibacterial spectrum and in vitro activities of CAM were similar to those of EM. Therapeutic efficacies of CAM against various experimental infections in mice--including systemic infections caused by gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and subcutaneous abscess due to S. aureus, and bacterial pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae--were superior to those of EM, JM and RKM. CAM exhibited higher serum levels than EM in mice after a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg.

Sulopenem, a new penem antibiotic, was compared with other antibiotics with regard to in vitro antibacterial and bactericidal activities, stabilization against beta-lactamases, and effect on the release of lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Sulopenem showed more potent activities than other antibiotics against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 2. Sulopenem showed potent bactericidal activities (MIC/MBC) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Time kill studies against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii showed potent bactericidal activities of sulopenem. 3. Sulopenem was found to possess a stronger activity than other antibiotics against beta-lactamase-producing strains except P. aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. 4. In particular, sulopenem was found to be more stable to the hydrolysis by various beta-lactamases produced by Gram-negative bacteria than any other antibiotics tested. Vmax/Km values of sulopenem were smaller than those of cefotiam for all tested beta-lactamases, which reflected a broad antibacterial spectrum of sulopenem. 5. E. coli ML4707 exposed to sulopenem and imipenem released less endotoxin than did controls at all concentration ranges tested. In contrast, the strain exposed to ceftazidime at bacteriostatic concentrations released a large amount of endotoxin.

A beta-lactamase was purified from Serratia marcescens GN16694; it hydrolyzed T-5575 and oxime-type cephalosporins, i.e., cefuroxime and ceftazidime. Its isoelectric point and molecular weight were 8.6 and 42,000, respectively. This enzyme was not inhibited by EDTA and clavulanic acid. This enzyme is an unusual beta-lactamase and has been classified as a group 1 cephalosporinase.

We devised an accurate procedure with which to measure the affinities of beta-lactam antibiotics for penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2' in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the present study, we used two isogenic strains of MRSA, on heterogeneous and the other homogeneous, derived from the methicillin-susceptible strain FDA209P, harbouring the mecA gene. In these MRSA strains, PBP2' was saturated by [14C]benzylpenicillin (PCG) at a concentration of 300 mg/L. In addition, the saturation of PBP2' by [14C]PCG required an incubation period of 30 min. According to these results, the precise affinities of beta-lactam antibiotics for PBP2' were determined by the 'accurate competition assay', using a high concentration of [14C]PCG and extending the reaction time. This procedure yielded lower IC50 values of beta-lactams than the 'usual competition assay'. However, each beta-lactam had almost the same affinity for PBP2' in heterogeneous and homogeneous strains. These results suggest there is a factor(s) other than PBP2' responsible for controlling resistance levels and the heterogeneity or homogeneity of MRSA strains.

In in vitro susceptibility tests, the new penem CP-70,429 showed potent antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Xanthomonas maltophilia. CP-70,429 was stable to various types of beta-lactamases except for the enzyme from X. maltophilia and was 16- to 128-fold more active than the other compounds against beta-lactamase-producing strains of Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii.

Only a limited number of strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) moderately resistant to arbekacin (ABK) have been isolated clinically. Three inactivated products of ABK have been obtained by reaction with excess amounts of a crude enzyme preparation extracted from an ABK-resistant MRSA strain (MIC, 25 micrograms/ml). The 2"-O-phosphate was the major product together with small amounts of the 6'-N-acetate and the double modification product. The structures of these modification products were determined by MS and NMR spectral analyses.

Comparison has been made on the stability of 4 carbapenems and 3 penems against porcine renal dehydropeptidase-I (DHP-I). Evaluated were the carbapenems (5R,6S)-3-[[2-(formimidoylamino)ethyl]thio]-6-[(R)-1-hydroxyethyl] - 7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid monohydrate, CAS 74431-23-5, in the following called FAC, (5R,6S)-3-[(S)-1-(acetimidoylpyrrolidin-3-yl)thio]-6-[(R)-1- hydroxyethyl]-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0] hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, CAS 87726-17-8, in the following called AHC, (4R,5S,6S)-3-[[(3S,5S)-5-dimethylcarbamoylpyrrolidin-3-yl]thio]-6- [(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-4-methyl-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2- carboxylic acid trihydrate, CAS 96036-03-2, in the following called DHC. (1R,5S,6S)-2-[(6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a] [1,2,4]triazolium-6-yl)thio]-6-[(R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-1-methyl-ca rbapen - 2-em-3-carboxylate, in the following called DHM, and the penems (5R,6S)-6-[(R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-7-oxo-3-[(R)-2-tetrahydrofuryl]-4-thia-1 - azabicyclo [3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid sodium salt, in the following called HTC, (5R,6S)-2-carbamoyloxymethyl-6-[(1R)-hydroxyethyl]-2-penem-3-carboxylic acid, in the following called CHC, (5R,6S)-6-[(R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-3-[(3S)-(cis-1-oxotetrahydrothiophen++ +-3-yl) thio]-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, in the following called HHC. According to the comparison of the Vmax/Km ratios, the order of stability of the compounds to hydrolysis by renal DHP-I was as follows: DHM >> DHC > HHC > AHC > HTC > CHC > FAC. From this result it is particularly noteworthy that DHM has extremely high stability against renal DHP-I.

The significance of the discovery of prontosil in 1932 as the initiating step in the development of the modern era of antimicrobial chemotherapy is reviewed. The history of the discovery and the development of chemotherapeutic agents, from penicillin in 1929 to present-day antibiotics, are summarized. The various mechanisms by which bacteria are able to overcome the protective effects of these therapeutic agents (from the sulphonamides to the new fluoroquinolones) and develop resistance to them are discussed in detail. Attempts to elucidate the mechanisms by which resistance to chemotherapeutic agents develops are vital to the future of antimicrobial chemotherapy.

E1040 showed the most potent activity (MIC for 90% of strains, 6.25 micrograms/ml) among beta-lactams tested against 70 strains of imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Two strains showed high-level resistance to E1040; one strain produced a type II oxyiminocephalosporin-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase (group 3), and the other produced an enzyme similar to a type II penicillinase (OXA-1). Both beta-lactamases contributed to resistance to E1040.

YM133, the 4"-O-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetyltylosin, is a new macrolide. The in vitro activity of YM133 was compared with those of erythromycin, josamycin, and rokitamycin by an agar dilution method. YM133 inhibited 90% of the tested isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella spp., and anaerobic bacteria at less than or equal to 1.56 micrograms/ml. The drug inhibited 90% of erythromycin-resistant staphylococci and Streptococcus pyogenes at less than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml. YM133 showed activity against erythromycin-, josamycin-, and rokitamycin-resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 100 micrograms/ml) strains of staphylococci, streptococci, Bacteroides spp., and Clostridium spp. Enterococci were less susceptible to other YM133-like macrolides. Unlike other macrolides, YM133 showed killing activity, and the MBC/MIC ratios of YM133 for several strains were 1:32, whereas those of erythromycin were 4:1,024. In a time-kill curve study, the reduction of viable cells started within 2 h after the addition of YM133.

KP-736, a new cephen antibiotic with a broad antibacterial spectrum and potent antipseudomonal activity, was evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity in comparison with ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and cefpirome. KP-736 was significantly more active than the test compounds against gram-negative bacteria, including the Pseudomonas group and ceftazidime-, cefotaxime-, or imipenem-resistant strains, but less active against gram-positive bacteria. KP-736 had very high affinities for penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP 3) of Escherichia coli K-12 and PBP 1A and PBP 3 of Pseudomonas aerugiosa NCTC 10490 and showed potent bactericidal activities against these two strains. It was stable to hydrolysis by penicillinases and cephalosporinases but was slightly hydrolyzed by oxyiminocephalosporinases and type II penicillinase.

The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of fortimicin A (FTM-A) alone against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were compared with those of FTM-A in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics. As tested by the checkerboard method, most beta-lactam antibiotics tested had synergistic effects on the inhibitory activity of FTM-A against one strain of P. aeruginosa. Addition of a sublethal concentration of carbenicillin resulted in a significant increase in the rate of bacterial killing of FTM-A against P. aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity of FTM-A against 50 gentamicin-susceptible and 50 gentamicin-resistant clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa was clearly enhanced by addition of a subinhibitory concentration of carbenicillin or piperacillin.

The in vitro and in vivo activities of Sm-1652 were compared with those of other cephalosporins. SM-1652 possessed a wide antibacterial spectrum which included activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It also exhibited potent antibacterial activities against gram-positive cocci and clinical isolates of glucose nonfermentative bacteria. Most notably, its activity against glucose nonfermentative bacteria was the highest of all of the drugs tested. The bactericidal activity of SM-1652 was compared with that of cefoperazone. The difference between the minimum bactericidal concentration and the minimum inhibitory concentration of SM-1652 was actually smaller than that of cefoperazone for Escherichia coli and clinical isolates of indole-positive Proteus spp. SM-1652 was stable for most cephalosporinases but was hydrolyzed to some extent by penicillinases. The in vivo therapeutic effect of SM-1652 against infections in mice was better than those of cefazolin and cefoxitin. The in vivo antipseudomonal activity of SM-1652 was second to that of cefsulodin.

Microbial kinetics of Escherichia coli NIHJ JC-2 and E. coli B/r were investigated in the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics. To maintain a constant drug concentration during the experiment, a novel technique, using a dialysis membrane tube containing the drug solution, was successfully employed. The drug-affected generation curves of E. coli exhibited common features. After the addition of drug, an apparent lag period was noted, followed by a first-order decrease of the sensitive organisms and, 6 h later, by a regrowth of resistant organisms, depending on the antibiotic concentration used. The relationship between the apparent generation rate constant, kapp, and the antibiotic concentration was found to be nonlinear. This phenomenon is consistent with a saturable receptor site model for the drug action. A good linear free energy relationship was observed between the microbial kinetic parameter, kmax, and the alkaline degradation rate constants, kOH, of the cephalosporins studied.

The antibacterial activity of sisomicin (SS), a new aminoglycoside antibiotic active toward clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was determined and compared with that of the gentamicin C complex. Both drugs were effective against these strains and showed almost the same antibacterial activity. A few strains were found to be resistant to SS. The antibiotic was inactivated by a cell-free extract from the SS-resistant strains due to acetylation of the drug. Comparative studies of the inactivation of the drugs which lack a 6'-amino group in the amino sugar linked to 2-deoxystreptamine strongly suggested that SS inactivation was due to acetylation of the 6'-amino group of the 4',5'-didehydropurpurosamine moiety.

Pseudomonas aerugionsa phages F 116 and G 101, propagated on ML 4262 strain into which gentamicin-tobramycin resistance determinants have been increased by means of conjugation, from wild-type strains Vy 28, 29 and 34, were capable to transduce R determinants to PAO 1670 strain. Transfer ability was co-transduced as well, with exception of transductants selected with streptomycin. "Autoplaque formation" ability, occurring in original wild-type strain Vy 28, could be co-tranduced with all tobramycin-resistant determinants by F116 but not G 101 phage.

Amifloxacin showed potent inhibitory activity against DNA gyrase of Escherichia coli. The difference in the susceptibilities of lipopolysaccharide-deficient Salmonella typhimurium mutants and their parent strain was less than twofold, and the difference in the susceptibilities of porin-deficient E. coli mutants and their parent strain was less than twofold. There was cross resistance among the quinolone group of agents; however, the decrease in MIC for norB mutants was slightly lower than that of other fluoroquinolones. Cell lysis was induced with combined treatment of amifloxacin and sodium dodecyl sulfate in E. coli. The frequency of mutants spontaneously resistant to amifloxacin was extremely low in all species tested.

The induction of beta-lactamase in Enterobacter cloacae GN5797 was studied by using 23 beta-lactam antiobiotics, including newly introduced drugs, as inducers. the beta-lactam antibiotics can be classified into three groups on the basis of their inducer activity. Among the tested cephalosporins, cephamycin derivatives such as cefoxitin, cefmetazole, and YM09330 had high inducer activity even at low drug concentrations. On the other hand, cefoperazone, cefsulodin, piperacillin, and apalcillin showed low inducer activity when compared with the other cephalosporins.

Strains of bacteria resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics have been increasing in number and are becoming troublesome in clinical medicine. The in vitro antibacterial activity of amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid was determined on selected ampicillin-resistant clinical isolates. Synergistic effects were produced by amoxicillin with clavulanic acid against ampicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Bacteroides fragilis. Inhibition of the beta-lactamases produced by the ampicillin-resistant strains was confirmed, especially against the penicillinases mediated by the R factor and the cephalosporinases produced by P.vulgaris and B. fragilis. The inhibitory effect of clavulanic acid against beta-lactamases was irreversible because of the high affinity of clavulanic acid to the enzymes.

Three types of Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated with respect to streptomycin (SM) and spectinomycin (SPC) resistance, namely, SM(r)SPC(r), SM(r)SPC(s), and SM(s)SPC(r) (r, resistant; s, sensitive). Curing experiments and transduction analysis of strain MS7990 (SM(r).SPC(r).EM(r)) (EM, erythromycin) disclosed that the loci governing SM and SPC resistance are different and exist on different nontransferable plasmids (r factor), one plasmid carrying the genes governing SM resistance and another possessing the genes governing resistance to both SPC and EM. Strain MS7990 (SM(r).SPC(r)) inactivated both drugs by adenylylation. Similarly, the SM(r)SPC(s) and SM(s)SPC(r) strains inactivated SM and SPC, respectively, by adenylylation, although the adenylylated positions of both drugs have not been established as yet. The adenylylated SM in staphylococci was shown to be different from 3''-adenylyl-SM, indicating the possibility of the existence of a different enzyme from SM3''-adenylyl transferase demonstrated in Escherichia coli strains.

T-3262, a new fluoroquinolone, showed a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. T-3262 had most potent activity against gram-positive cocci, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus spp. The MICs of T-3262 for 90% of strains tested were between 0.05 and 1.56 micrograms/ml. Against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the activities of T-3262 were almost equal to those of ciprofloxacin. Obligate anaerobes were also susceptible to T-3262. T-3262 was bactericidal for one strain each of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and P. aeruginosa at concentrations near its MIC; and fluoroquinolones, including T-3262, inhibited DNA gyrase activity at low concentrations. The 50% effective dose of T-3262 after oral administration against systemic infections with S. aureus in mice was about 6 times lower than that of ofloxacin and about 20 times lower than that of norfloxacin.

Arbekacin (HBK), 1-N[(S)-4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl]-3',4'-dideoxykanamycin B, showed broad antibacterial spectra against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was also effective against gentamycin- or tobramycin-resistant bacteria. HBK was resistant to various aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes except for AAC (2') and AAC (6')-IV, both of which slowly inactivated it. Even at higher dosages (150 mg/kg i.m. or greater, which resulted in some deaths), HBK never decreased the pinna reflex in guinea pigs, while 150 mg/kg or more of dibekacin (DKB) or amikacin (AMK) caused loss of this reflex. HBK has less ototoxicity than do DKB and AMK. This was confirmed by histopathological examination of the inner ear. The degree of nephrotoxicity of HBK was suggested to be similar to that of DKB as judged from serum biochemical tests, urinalysis, and histopathological findings.

AM-715 [1-ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid] is a new nalidixic acid analog. AM-715 has a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The antibacterial activity of AM-715 was greater than those of pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid. AM-715 had higher antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than did gentamicin. Most nalidixic acid-resistant bacteria were susceptible to AM-715, and cross-resistance was not observed between AM-715 and various antibiotics. The minimal concentration of AM-715 required to inhibit the growth of 75% of the total number of clinical isolates was as follows: Escherichia coli, 0.04 mug/ml; Klebsiella pneumoniae, 0.1 mug/ml; Serratia marcescens, 0.88 mug/ml; Enterobacter spp., 0.076 mug/ml; Staphylococcus aureus, 1.10 mug/ml; P. aeruginosa, 0.38 mug/ml; and nalidixic acid-resistant strains of gram-negative bacteria, 0.62 mug/ml. AM-715 at minimal inhibitory concentrations or at slightly higher concentrations had bactericidal activity against various species of bacteria. The effect of inoculum sizes on minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations of AM-715 against gram-negative bacteria was smaller than on those of pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid. The dose-response curve of AM-715 indicated a steep gradient, and the 50% inhibited doses of AM-715 were 0.014 mug/ml against E. coli ML4707 and 0.21 mug/ml against P. aeruginosa NC-5.

Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella pneumoniae were concurrently isolated from a patient with a urinary tract infection. Transferable drug resistant plasmids were isolated from both strains, pMS434 and pMS435. These plasmids belonged to incompatibility group K and both carried genes governing resistance to various aminoglycoside antibiotics, i.e., kanamycin, gentamicin C complex, streptomycin, and 3',4'-dideoxykanamycin B, in addition to those governing resistance to sulfanilamide and ampicillin. They inactivated kanamycin, gentamicin C complex and 3',4'-dideoxykanamycin by adenylylation and kanamycin by phosphorylation. Electron microscopic observations disclosed that the molecular weights of the plasmids were about 67.8 megadaltons. These results indicated the similarity in genetic constitution of the two plasmids. This was the second isolation of incompatibility group K plasmids, following that reported by Hedges and Datta (Nature 234: 220-221, 1971).

Amikacin-, tobramycin-, gentamicin- as well as carbenicillin-resistance has been found to be transducible, in various combinations of spectra both with the phage F 116 propagated on an Amikacin-resistant wild-type strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (No. BE 11) and with the phage AP 19 isolated from a different Amikacin-resistant strain (No. 578). Both strains were found to transfer Amikacin-resistance genes presumably by conjugation thus possessing an R plasmid coding for multiple antibiotic resistance. Evidence is presented that classical as well as wild-type phages may acquire and transmit antibiotic resistance genes among pseudomonads. This is particularly significant in view of the importance to preserve Amikacin as an effective reserve antibiotic for treatment of poly-resistant infections including those caused by P. aeruginosa.

DNA gyrase is a bacterial enzyme which catalyzes the ATP-dependent negative supercoiling of DNA. It is the accepted target of quinolones. The enzyme from Citrobacter freundii IID976 was purified by affinity chromatography on novobiocin-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose. It had two subunits, designated A and B, which closely resembled those of the enzyme from Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus in enzymatic requirements. The inhibitory effects of the quinolones on the supercoiling activities of the enzyme correlated with their antibacterial activities. New quinolones were better inhibitors of DNA gyrase than nalidixic acid and pipemidic acid. We also purified DNA gyrase from a spontaneous nalidixic acid-resistant mutant (M2-5). The gyrases from IID976 and M2-5 were defined as mixtures of subunits As+Bs (s, susceptible) and Ar+Br (r, resistant), respectively. The supercoiling activities of reconstituted Ar+Br and Ar+Bs were more resistant to quinolones than As+Bs and As+Br. These findings indicate that one mechanism of C. freundii resistance against quinolones is resistance modification of the A subunit protein.

Cefmenoxime, a new cephalosporin antibiotic, has been shown to be stable to a Staphylococcus aureus penicillinase and R plasmid-mediated type I and type IV penicillinases. It was also resistant to hydrolysis by most cephalosporinases, but was susceptible to hydrolysis by a Proteus vulgaris beta-lactamase. Cefmenoxime was active against cephaloridine-resistant species, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was moderately resistant to cefmenoxime. Cefmenoxime was an inducer of P. vulgaris beta-lactamase biosynthesis, but 1 microgram or more of the drug per ml, which inhibits most of the clinical isolates of P. vulgaris, was required for the production of detectable amounts of the enzyme. Cefmenoxime was a strong competitive inhibitor of beta-lactamases of Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, P. aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens, but it did not inhibit penicillinases in spite of its resistance to hydrolysis.

A clinical isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa GN315 resistant to amikacin (AK), a new semisynthetic antibiotic, inactivated AK by acetylation. The acetylating enzyme was purified approximately 146-fold from a crude extract of GN315 by affinity chromatography. Fractionated samples obtained by affinity chromatography showed almost the same inactivation curves toward 3',4'-dideoxykanamycin B (DKB) and AK. Partially purified AK-acetylating enzyme inactivated DKB and kanamycin A but could not inactivate gentamicin C(1). The optimal pH for their inactivation was 6.0 to 7.0, and the pH curves for the inactivation of both drugs were almost the same. These facts indicate that AK and DKB are inactivated by the same aminoglycoside-acetylating enzyme. Through elemental analysis, the inactivated AK was found to be a monoacetylated product of AK. A sample of inactivated AK was purified and compared with a synthetic 6'-N-acetyl AK by thin-layer chromatography, and the results indicated that AK was inactivated by acetylation of the 6'-NH(2) group. The ultraviolet, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the inactivated AK showed that AK was inactivated by the enzyme through acetylation of the amino group of 6'-amino-6'-deoxy-d-glucose moiety of AK. This enzyme, mediated by R factor, is capable of conferring resistance to AK, DKB, kanamycin, gentamicin, and sulfanilamide.

A total of 11,777 Escherichia coli strains were isolated from 90 chickens, 103 piglets, 96 calves, and 104 children in 1979 in Gunma Prefecture and tested for drug resistance and the presence of conjugative R plasmids. The percentages of individuals that excreted drug-resistant strains were: chickens, 100%; piglets, 99%; calves, 100%; and children, 64%. The frequency of isolation of drug-resistant strains among the total isolates was: chickens, 98%; piglets, 93%; calves, 94%; and children, 41%. Frequency of isolation of R plasmids among the strains tested was: chickens, 48%; piglets, 33%; calves, 38%; and children, 10%. Resistance patterns of the strains isolated most frequently among the four groups were tetracycline (TC), sulfonamides (SA) in single resistance, TC.SA in double resistance, TC.streptomycin (SM).SA in triple resistance and TC.SM.SA. kanamycin (KM) in quadruple resistance. R plasmids were isolated frequently from animals (over 33%) but infrequently from children (about 10%). The high frequency of isolation of drug-resistant strains and R plasmids from animals was caused by the heavy use of chemicals in the period of growth of younger animals.

N-Formimidoyl thienamycin (MK0787) was active against beta-lactamase-producing strains and was an effective inhibitor of beta-lactamases extracted and purified from these strains except for plasmid-mediated penicillinase type IV.

Subunit A and B proteins of DNA gyrase were separately purified from fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli GN14181 (MIC of ofloxacin, 100 micrograms/ml) and susceptible strain KL-16. The supercoiling activities of reconstituted Ar+Br (r, resistant) and Ar+Bs (s, susceptible) were 250-fold more resistant to new fluoroquinolones than those of As+Bs and As+Br.

The activities of T-1982 (sodium 7 beta-[(2R, 3S)-2-(4-ethyl-2, 3-dioxo-1-piperazine-carboxamido)-3-hydroxybutanamido]-7 alpha-methoxy-3-[(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)thiomethyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylate) against various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were compare with those of cefmetazole, cefoxitin, cefazolin, and cefoperazone. T-1982 was active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including genera resistant to the other cephalosporins. T-1982 exhibited greater activity than did cefmetazole, cefoxitin, cefazolin, or cefoperazone against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Serratia marcescens and was also highly active against Bacteroides fragilis. T-1982 was as stable to various beta-lactamases as were cefmetazole and cefoxitin. The therapeutic activities of T-1982 in mice experimentally infected with various gram-negative bacteria were superior to those of cefmetazole, cefoxitin, cefazolin, and cefoperazone.

Following the previous report on pharmacokinetics of micronomicin (MCR) in healthy volunteers, pharmacokinetic studies were made again in patients with different degree of renal impairment, and a nomogram was obtained. MCR at a dose of 60 mg/time was given by 1-hour drip infusion to 14 inpatients who consented to receive MCR (age: 35 to 84 years, Ccr: 17.96 to 104.35 ml/min). The blood collection was performed in accordance with the schedule made upon the degree of renal impairment, and the serum concentration was determined by HPLC method. The results were analyzed by MULT program using two- or one-compartment open model. The serum concentration (Cmax) just after administration of MCR was 5.8 +/- 0.9 microgram/ml (mean +/- S.D.). The biological half-life was 1.81 to 12.35 hours. Taking the above results into consideration together with the previous ones of healthy males, the following correlation was obtained between the elimination constant (Kel or beta) and Ccr calculated from S-Cr.: Kel or beta = 0.0038 X Ccr - 0.0097. Further, no side effect was observed in these studies. Elimination of MCR from blood was dependent on renal function like other aminoglycosides, and so it was possible to estimate the elimination constant from Ccr. From these results, a nomogram for the optimum dosage regimen of MCR was obtained.

AB206 (5,8-dihydro-5-methoxy-8-oxo-2H-1,3-dioxolo-4,5-g quinoline 7-carboxylic acid) is a novel antibacterial agent structurally related to nalidixic acid. AB206 has potent antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of gram-negative bacteria and is 4 to 18 times more active than nalidixic acid. AB206 inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which were resistnat to nalidixic acid. Cross-resistance was not observed between AB206 and various antibiotics, and most bacterial strains resistant to nalidixic acid were susceptible to AB206. AB206 showed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa. Chemotherapeutic effects after oral administration of AB206 in mice experimentally infected with E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Proteus morganii showed that AB206 was two to four times more potent than nalidixic acid.

The antibacterial activity of ofloxacin against Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was comparable to norfloxacin and enoxacin, and far exceeded the activity of pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid. The activity of ofloxacin was two to eight times less than that of ciprofloxacin. Ofloxacin was more active against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp., Legionella spp., and Bacteroides fragilis, than norfloxacin, enoxacin, pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid, and the activity of ofloxacin was comparable to that of ciprofloxacin. Ofloxacin was two to seven times more effective than norfloxacin in systemic infections in mice with S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens and P. aeruginosa. Ofloxacin strongly inhibited DNA supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase purified from E. coli KL-16. There is a parallel relationship between antibacterial activity of ofloxacin and its inhibitory action against DNA gyrases from ofloxacin-susceptible and ofloxacin-resistant clinical isolates of E. coli. These results indicate that the high bactericidal action of ofloxacin and the related new quinolone agents can be explained by their potent inhibitory activities against DNA gyrase in bacterial cells.

The antibacterial activities of K-4619 (3-de-O-methylsporaricin A sulfate) were compared with those of sporaricin A, amikacin, dibekacin, and gentamicin. K-4619 exhibited a high order of activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its activity against Providencia species and Serratia marcescens was the highest of all drugs tested. K-4619 was highly effective against bacteria that produce various aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes, except for 3-acetyltransferase I. The bactericidal activity of K-4619 was somewhat greater than that of amikacin. The activity of K-4619 against gram-negative bacteria increased at alkaline pH and was hardly affected by inoculum size, addition of horse serum, and composition of the medium. The in vivo protective effect of K-4619 against infections with Klebsiella pneumoniae, S. marcescens, and P. aeruginosa in mice was greater than that of sporaricin A. K-4619 was also active in mice infected with gentamicin- or amikacin-resistant strains bearing some of the aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes.

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of new quinolone-carboxylic acid derivatives are described. A compilation of MICs of nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid, and seven new quinolones (norfloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, NY-198, and AM-833) is presented. The new quinolones exhibit potent antibacterial activity against the enteric gram-negative bacteria. These compounds also are active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and gram-positive bacteria. MICs of these agents for Bacteroides fragilis are higher. Excellent bactericidal activity of new quinolones, the result of their strongly inhibitory activity against bacterial DNA gyrase, was found to be characteristic. The bioavailabilities of the new quinolones are discussed from the standpoint of their physicochemical properties. The quinolone compounds are classified roughly into three groups: lipophilic, hydrophilic, and intermediate agents. Ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and enoxacin belong to the hydrophilic group. The intermediate group, which includes ofloxacin, AM-833, NY-198, and pefloxacin, achieved higher serum levels after oral administration. Thus, the antibacterial activities of these agents in vivo are thought to reflect their antibacterial activities in vitro and their bioavailability.