Microbial agents

Contents Include pulmonary agents, heavy metals, organics, caustics, corrosives, strong oxldents and reducing agents, microbial hazards, human reproduction and Chemical exposure, and safety programs. 

Many attempts have been made to find cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors for development as hypocholesterolemic agents. Microbial secondary metabolites have been used as valuable natural sources in the development of novel cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors. Mevastatin and lovastatin were isolated from the fungi, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus terreus, respectively, as potent inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase which is involved in the rate-limiting step of cholesterol synthesis in mammals. These findings have led to the development of statins , which are drugs of choice in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. 

Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Drugs. The antimicrobial agents (119) flumequiae (160) and (161), and methylflumequiae (S-25930) (162) and (163) effectively eliminate a number of microbial pathogens via inhibition of the topoisomerase II enzyme of c-DNA containing bacteria (120) (see... 

Interleukin-1 OC and (3. IL-1 has radioprotective activity toward BM and other tissues (151,164). IL-1 is produced in response to endotoxin, other cytokines, and microbial and viral agents, primarily by monocytes and macrophages. Other nucleated cells can also produce it. IL-1 appears to play an important role in the regulation of normal hemopoiesis directly by stimulating the most primitive stem cells and indirectly by stimulating other hemopoietic factors, including G-CSF, GM-CSF, M-CSF, and IL-6. 

Sodium chlorite oxidation of com and rice starches is recommended for the production of textile sizes (101) and oxidized starch is recommended as a hardening agent in the immobilization of microbial cells within gelatin (102). 

There are two principal biotechnological appHcations dealing with steroids. Microbial agents are used for processing raw materials into useful intermediates for general steroid production and for specific transformations of steroids to advanced intermediates or finished products (120,145). 

In a biotechnology-based approach, Japanese workers have reported on the microbial conversion of 2-methylnaphthalene to both 2-methyl-1-naphthol and menadione by Jiodococcus (64). The intermediate 2-methyl-1-naphthol can readily be converted to menadione by a variety of oxidizing agents such as heteropoly acids (65) and copper chloride (66). A review of reagents for oxidizing 2-methylnaphthalene and naphthol is available (67). 

The addition of therapeutic or cosmetic agents to dentifrices has paralleled advances in knowledge about factors affecting the human dentition. Agents added to dentifrices can act directly on the host tooth stmcture or on specific oral accumulations, for example, the principal action of fluoride is on the tooth enamel. The primary action of an abrasive, however, is on an accumulated stained pellicle. Oral accumulations of interest to preventive dentistry are dental pellicles, dental plaque, dental calculus (tartar), microbial populations responsible for oral malodor, and oral debris (food residues, leukocytes, etc). Plaque is most important because of its potential to do harm. 

Sterilant is a chemical or physical agent that destroys all forms of microbial life. 

Saniti r is a chemical agent used on inanimate objects that reduces the number of microbial contaminants to safe limits as judged by pubHc health requirements. 

In 1958, the microbial alkaline protease Alcalase (Novo Industries) was produced by fermentation of a strain of Bacillus licheniformis. It had high StabiHty and activity at pH 8—10, was marketed in 1961, and was incorporated into Bio 40. However, it was not until the successful marketing of the presoaking agent Biotex in 1963 that detergent manufacturers saw the tme possibiHties of enzymes. 

---