Frontiers in microbiology : from antibiotics to AIDS

A. Review Lectures by Invited Speakers.- Section I: Chemotherapy.- - Introduction to Section I.- - ?-Lactam antibiotics as carbonyl donors of the active-site serine ?-lactamases, DD-peptidases and LL-peptidases.- - New antifungal agents: a result of target-oriented drug design.- - Antiviral chemotherapy: design or serendipity ?.- Section II: Intestinal Microflora.- - Introduction to Section II.- - The indigenous gastrointestinal microflora.- - Metabolism of endogenous substances.- - Seeking explanations for pharmacological and toxicological phenomena in the metabolic reactions of the intestinal flora.- Section III: Humoral Factors in Immunity.- - Introduction to Section III.- - Mechanisms of natural resistance.- - Regulation of cell growth by interferon and tumor necrosis factor.- - The role of interleukin-1 in mediating host defense mechanisms.- Section IV: Tumor Immunity.- - Introduction to Section IV.- - Mechanisms of resistance to viruses and tumors, and the development of vaccines.- - Total lymphoid irradiation.- Section V: New Horizons in Virus Research.- - Introduction to Section V.- - Perspectives in disease prevention by vaccines.- - The challenge of chronic virus infections.- - Structure and function of the genome of HTLV-III and related viruses: current concepts on the role of HTLV-III in the pathogenesis of AIDS.- B. Contributions from the Rega Institute.- I. Research Unit.- - Synthesis and activity of some new cephalosporins.- - Incorporation of nucleoside analogues into oligonucleotides.- - 2?-5?-Oligoadenylates (2-5A) as mediators of interferon action. Synthesis and biological activity of new 2-5A analogues.- II. Research Unit.- - Cloning and expression of an rRNA methylase gene in Streptomyces venezuelae phage VWB.- - Coprostanic acids and a C29-dicarboxylic bile acid in peroxisomal diseases.- - Bile acid desulfation by the gut microflora.- - Steroid desulfation by the gut microflora.- - Biohydrogenation of fatty acids by intestinal bacteria.- - Classification of the genus Eubacterium.- - Isolation and characteristics of Clostridium HDCA-1, nova species.- III. Research Unit.- - Heterogeneity of recombinant murine interferon-? (MuIFN-?).- - Monoclonal antibodies against murine interferon-? and their use to investigate the role of endogenous interferon-? invivo.- - The interrelationship between interleukin-1, interferon-? and hemopoietic growth factors.- - Studies on gene expression in Streptomyceslividans.- IV. Research Unit.- - The influence of local immune suppression on polyoma virus-induced vascular tumors.- - Induction of transplantation tolerance after total lymphoid irradiation: influence of thymus transplantation or blood transfusions.- V. Research Unit.- - Mechanism of antiviral action of 5-substituted 2?-deoxyuridines: (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2?-deoxyuridine (IVDU) as compared to its carbocyclic analogue (C-IVDU).- - Therapeutic implications of the unusually long half-life of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil (BVUra) in vivo.- - S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase as target enzyme for antiviral agents: studies with adenosine kinase-deficient rat cells.- - Antiviral activity of (S)-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)-adenine [(S)-HPMPA].- - Selective inhibitory effects of (S)-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonyl-methoxypropyl)adenine and 2?-nor-cGMP on the replication of adenovirus invitro.- - In search of antiviral compounds against the AIDS virus.