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Streptococcus uberis causes clinical and subclinical mastitis in cattle and sheep, but it is unknown whether the composition of Strep. uberis populations differs between host species. To address this, we characterized a collection of bovine and ovine Strep. uberis isolates with shared geographical and temporal origins by means of an expanded multilocus sequence typing scheme. Among 14 ovine and 35 bovine isolates, 35 allelic profiles were detected. Each allelic profile was associated with a single host species and all but one were new to the multilocus sequence typing database. The median number of new alleles per isolate was higher for ovine isolates than for bovine isolates. None of the ovine isolates belonged to the global clonal complexes 5 or 143, which are commonly associated with bovine mastitis and which have a wide geographical distribution. Ovine isolates also differed from bovine isolates in carriage of plasminogen activator genes, with significantly higher prevalence of pauB in ovine isolates. Isolates that were negative for yqiL, one of the targets of multilocus sequence typing, were found among ovine and bovine isolates and were not associated with a specific sequence type or global clonal complex. One bovine isolate carried a gapC allele that was probably acquired through lateral gene transfer, most likely from Streptococcus salivarius. We conclude that ovine isolates are distinct from bovine isolates of Strep. uberis, and that recombination between isolates from different host species or bacterial species could contribute to changes in virulence gene profiles with relevance for vaccine development.

16 alpha-Fluoro-17 beta-, 16 alpha-fluoro-17 alpha-, and 16 beta-fluoro-17 beta-[6,7-3H]estradiol were prepared from [6,7-3H]estrone via fluorination of 3,17-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-[6,7-3H]estratetraene with N-fluoropyridinium triflate and reduction of 16 alpha/beta-fluoro[6,7-3H]estrone with NaBH4. The three isomers were separated by silica-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. They were administered intravenously (4 mumol/kg to anaesthetized male rats. Their biliary metabolites (90-97% of dose over 6 h) were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and compared with those of [6,7-3H]17 beta-estradiol. The four estrogens and their hydroxylated and methoxylated metabolites were excreted as glucuronides. C-16 fluorination blocked C-16 hydroxylated and also the dehydrogenation of the C-17 hydroxyl group. The 16 alpha-17 beta isomer was extensively glucuronylated at C(O)3 but also underwent aromatic hydroxylation and methoxylation before conjugation. Its C-17 epimer was subject to much greater aromatic hydroxylation but the catecholestrogen was O-methylated to a greater relative extent. The 16 beta-17 beta derivative underwent alicyclic as well as substantial aromatic hydroxylation and yielded numerous isomeric glucuronides of O-methylated catechols. Thus, the fluorine exerted complex effects (inhibitory and enhancing) on both localized (D-ring) and distal (A-ring) biotransformations of the estradiol molecule; the direction and magnitude of the effects being dependent upon the stereochemistry at C-16 and C-17. These findings provide structural guidelines for restricting the metabolism of tumor-imaging fluoroestrogens and thereby enhancing their delivery to the target tissue.

The furan dicarboxylic acid, 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoic acid (5-propyl FPA) accumulates in the plasma of patients with chronic renal failure and is a major contributor to the drug binding defect of uraemic plasma. This acid has also been implicated in several other aspects of the uraemic syndrome: anaemia, irregularities of thyroid function, neurological symptoms and inhibition of active tubular secretion. The acid is not commercially available and its synthesis, starting with Meldrum's acid and methyl succinyl chloride, is described. The pKa values were measured by titration and values of 3.2 and 3.6 respectively were assigned to the carboxylic acid groups attached directly to the ring at position 3 and at position 2 (on the side-chain). The partition coefficient (log P) between hydrochloric acid and octanol was 1.2 and the distribution coefficient (log D; octanol-phosphate buffer pH 7.4) was −0.59. The pKa values and the degree of hydrophobic character of 5-propyl FPA are consistent with those of other protein-bound acids which undergo active tubular secretion by the kidney and this substance may serve as an endogenous marker for the effects of drugs and disease on this process.

Recent methods for the preparation of compounds bearing a carbonnitrogen double bond and two heteroatom substituents on carbon are described. The chapter is restricted to compounds with at least one halogen substituent (usually chlorine of bromine) and to those with at least one chalcogen (oxygen, sulfur, or selenium). The most important classes of such compounds are carbonimidic dichlorides (also known as isocyanide dichlorides), isoureas, isothioureas, and isoselenoureas. Carbonimidic dichlorides are available by a variety of methods, including addition of chlorine to isocyanides and chlorination of isothiocyanates. Several of the other compounds in this chapter can be obtained from carbonimidic dichlorides by nucleophilic displacement of one or both chlorine atoms. Isothioureas and isoselenoureas are most commonly obtained by alkylation of thioureas and selenoureas.

Polymerizations of methyl methacrylate initiated by organocuprates in tetrahydrofuran solution have been investigated. The heterocuprate lithium n-butylcyanocuprate was found to be an effective initiator at - 78°C, and lithium di-n-butylcuprate was confirmed as an effective initiator; both species give rapid polymerization to virtually complete conversion of monomer. Polydispersities (Mw/Mn ) are about 1.5. Polymerizations have an inherent termination reaction and a low initiator efficiency. Polymerization of methyl vinyl ketone is virtually uncontrollable, and polymerizations of methyl methacrylate are inhibited by styrene.