Eur J Biochem, 1985 Sep 16, 151(3), 657 - 61 Structural studies of the polysaccharide part of the cell wall lipopolysaccharide from Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343; Weintraub A et al.; The structure of the polysaccharide part of the lipopolysaccharide from Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 has been determined using sugar and methylation analysis as the principal tools . Phenol--water extraction followed by a phenol--chloroform--light petroleum extraction yielded a lipopolysaccharide suitable for structural analysis . Analysis of sugars using alditol acetates showed that the polysaccharide contained L-rhamnose, D-galactose and D-glucose in the approximate molar ratios of 1:5:1 . After weak acid hydrolysis, two polysaccharide fractions were isolated by gel permeation chromatography: PSI and PSII with the sugar molar ratios 1:5:1 and 1:2:1 respectively . Chromium trioxide oxidation revealed that all galactosyl residues have the beta configuration, and that the rhamnosyl and glucosyl residues have the alpha configuration . From methylation analysis of lipopolysaccharide and the PS I and PS II fractions the following structures could be deduced. Arch Microbiol, 1985 Sep, 142(4), 362 - 4 Heat shock stress in Bacteroides fragilis; Goodman HJ et al.; The response to heat shock was investigated in the obligate anaerobe Bacteroides fragilis . The cells responded quickly to stress and synthesised seven heat shock proteins immediately upon exposure to heat . The apparent molecular weights of the seven proteins differed from the apparent molecular weights of the proteins induced by UV irradiation, O2 and H2O2 . Heat shock did not induce phage reactivation whereas UV irradiation, O2 and H2O2 did induce phage reactivation systems . Ethanol did not elicit the heat shock response . Two heat resistant B . fragilis mutants were isolated . Both mutants lost the ability to synthesise the same two heat shock proteins . It is concluded that the heat shock response and the responses to UV irradiation, O2 and H2O2 represent two independent groups of stress responses in B . fragilis. Infect Immun, 1985 Sep, 49(3), 494 - 7 Bacteroides endodontalis and other black-pigmented Bacteroides species in odontogenic abscesses; van Winkelhoff AJ et al.; Twenty-eight odontogenic abscesses were examined for the presence of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp . Of the 28 samples, 26 were found to contain one or more species of black-pigmented Bacteroides . Abscesses were divided into three categories according to the tissue of origin: endodontal, periodontal, and pericoronal . Four abscesses which developed after extraction were also examined . It was found that Bacteroides endodontalis, a newly described species of asaccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides, was isolated almost exclusively from periapical abscesses of endodontal origin . B . intermedius proved to be the most frequently isolated species in all of the samples . B . gingivalis was present in all of the periodontal abscesses studied, as well as in two endodontal abscesses . B . melaninogenicus was recovered once from a pericoronal abscess . Precautions for the isolation of B . endodontalis are discussed. Infect Immun, 1985 Sep, 49(3), 487 - 93 Relationship between gingival crevicular fluid and serum antibody titers in young adults with generalized and localized periodontitis; Tew JG et al.; The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between concentrations of antibodies in serum and those in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with juvenile periodontitis and severe periodontitis . Most antigens used to quantitate antibodies were obtained from a panel of bacteria associated with juvenile periodontitis or severe periodontitis . We further investigated variation in antibody titer among different periodontal sites and the extent to which antibody in GCF is locally derived . Titers of antibody, total immunoglobulin G (IgG), and human serum albumin were determined with sensitive radioimmunoassays . The relationship between serum and GCF antibody was complex . Both person-to-person variability and marked variability within the same subject were found among different sites of similar clinical status . The site-to-site variability was found not only for antibody reactive with periodontal organisms, but also for antitetanus toxoid, total IgG, and even human serum albumin . Generally the variability was in the degree of depression of the level in GCF relative to that in serum . However, anti-Bacteroides gingivalis and anti-Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in GCF often exceeded the level in serum . When antibody titers in serum and GCF were calculated per milligram of human serum albumin, most of the apparent depressions of antibody in GCF disappeared . The ratio of antibody in serum to that in GCF approached unity for all organisms except B . gingivalis and A . actinomycetemcomitans Y4, which were markedly elevated . Furthermore, the level of IgG per milligram of human serum albumin in GCF was about twice the level in serum . We believe that human serum albumin reflects serum contribution to the GCF, and we therefore attribute the increased level of IgG per milligram of albumin in GCF to local synthesis . It appears that anti-B . gingivalis and anti-A . actinomycetemcomitans represent an important portion of this local antibody synthesis, since most seropositive patients with severe or juvenile periodontitis had at least one site elevated, and the magnitudes of the elevations were large in many sites . Those sites yielding elevated antibody exhibited no obvious differences in clinical parameters of probeable depth or attachment level as compared with sites in which antibody levels in GCF were similar to serum levels . Elevated antibody in GCF may relate to changes in disease activity that are not detectable by usual clinical measures. J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Sep, 131 ( Pt 9), 2479 - 83 Isolation and physiological characterization of mitomycin C-sensitive/UV-sensitive mutants in Bacteroides fragilis; Abratt VR et al.; Mutants of Bacteroides fragilis sensitive to mitomycin C were isolated after mutagenesis with ethyl methane sulphonate . One mutant (MTC25) was markedly sensitive to mitomycin C but was unaffected as regards UV sensitivity; another mutant (UVS9) was sensitive to UV radiation but was only moderately sensitive to mitomycin C . Caffeine decreased the survival after UV-irradiation of the wild-type, MTC25 and UVS9 strains by the same relative amount . Aerobic liquid holding recovery occurred in each of the three strains . The MTC25 and UVS9 mutants showed reduced host cell phage reactivation . The wild-type, MTC25 and UVS9 strains all showed UV- and H2O2-induced phage reactivation . The physiological characterization of the MTC25 and UVS9 mutants indicates that it is possible to differentiate between mechanisms for the repair of mitomycin C- and UV-induced DNA damage in B . fragilis. J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Sep, 22(3), 435 - 7 Lack of constitutive beta-glucosidase (esculinase) in the genus Fusobacterium; Edberg SC et al.; Esculin has been incorporated into both a medium and test with 20% bile for many years to differentiate Bacteroides from Fusobacterium organisms . After 24 to 48 h, all members of the Bacteroides fragilis group grow in 20% bile and hydrolyze esculin . Fusobacterium mortiferum can both grow in bile and hydrolyze esculin, thus limiting the use of the bile-esculin medium and test . The hypothesis that constitutive esculinase (beta-glucosidase) could differentiate Bacteroides from Fusobacterium organisms was investigated . Clinical isolates and American Type Culture Collection clones of the B . fragilis group and other species of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium were tested . All B . fragilis were positive within 30 min . In no case was a Fusobacterium organism positive for constitutive enzyme in a hydrolyzable substrate-based test . The percentage of positive results for other species of Bacteroides agreed with those published in the literature for the esculin test . The genus Fusobacterium can be separated from Bacteroides organisms based on a lack of constitutive beta-glucosidase in the former in a 30-min one-tube test. Res Vet Sci, 1985 Sep, 39(2), 165 - 72 Temporal relationships and characterisation of extracellular proteases from benign and virulent strains of Bacteroides nodosus as detected in zymogram gels; Gordon LM et al.; Extracellular proteases produced by Bacteroides nodosus in a peptone rich modified trypticase-arginine-serine broth medium were separated and characterised by relative mobility (Rf) in electrophoretic zymogram gels . One benign and two virulent protease banding patterns were established with isolates from sheep, cattle and goats . They correlated with other laboratory tests for virulence but were independent of serogroup . The electrophoretic zymogram method was unable to differentiate intermediate from virulent strains . The time required for the production of maximum levels and numbers of protease bands was four to five days for benign and five to six days for virulent B nodosus . Elevated temperatures (above 45 degrees C) and pH extremes (below pH 6 and above pH 9) modified the electrophoretic banding patterns . The molecular weights of the proteases ranged from 8000 to 43,000 daltons and the isoelectric points from pH 4.90 to 5.90 . They are serine proteases and this property can be utilised in affinity purification of these molecules. Am J Med Sci, 1985 Sep, 290(3), 111 - 3 Anaerobic mediastinitis complicating median sternotomy; Smith PS et al.; Two cases of mediastinitis and bacteremia caused by Bacteroides species following median sternotomy are described . In both patients, purulent sternal drainage and signs of systemic toxicity led to the diagnosis . Surgical reexploration and administration of appropriate antibiotics effected clinical cure . Although there is only a single previous case of anaerobic mediastinitis following median sternotomy incision reported, these two cases suggest that this unusual infection may not be so rare as previously thought. J Clin Periodontol, 1985 Sep, 12(8), 648 - 59 Gram negative species associated with active destructive periodontal lesions; Dzink JL et al.; Apical subgingival plaque samples were taken from 19 subjects exhibiting active destructive periodontal disease . The predominant cultivable Gram negative species from 50 active sites were compared to 69 inactive sites of comparable pocket depth and attachment level loss . Active disease sites were chosen which showed a significant loss of attachment within a two-month interval . Proportions of Gram negative rods were higher in active periodontal disease sites than in inactive sites . Species which were found to be significantly elevated only in active sites were Bacteroides intermedius, "fusiform" Bacteroides, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Wolinella recta . Fusobacterium nucleatum, Capnocytophaga gingivalis and Eikenella corrodens were found in significantly increased proportions in active sites of some subjects and inactive sites of others. Obstet Gynecol, 1985 Sep, 66(3), 377 - 83 Cefmenoxime therapy for gynecologic and obstetric infections; Rao B et al.; Cefmenoxime, a new third-generation cephalosporin, was used as a single drug in the therapy for female genital tract infections . Therapeutic response was considered satisfactory in 21 of 22 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease, six of nine tuboovarian abscesses, two of three severe wound infections, and all five cases of endometritis . Overall, 34 of 39 patients responded . The peak serum antibiotic levels in this study ranged from 15.8 to 64 (average 48.7) micrograms/mL, and the trough level ranged from 0.9 to 4 (average 3.1) micrograms/mL . Cefmenoxime was tested in vitro against 424 isolates of anaerobes including 208 strains of bacteroides of which 80 were Bacteroides fragilis . Cefmenoxime inhibited the growth of 90% or greater of the organisms (minimal inhibitory concentration 90) at less than or equal to 64 micrograms/mL . The minimal inhibitory concentration for 75% of B fragilis was 32 micrograms/mL . This study suggests that cefmenoxime as a single-drug therapy is effective in the treatment of female genital tract infections caused by aerobic (including the gonococcus) and anaerobic bacteria. J Infect, 1985 Sep, 11(2), 131 - 7 Experimentally induced subcutaneous infection by black pigmented Bacteroides species in rats; Pancholi V et al.; In a rat model of anaerobic subcutaneous abscess developed to study the pathogenicity of pure cultures of black pigmented Bacteroides sp . (Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Bacteroides intermedius) maximum lesions were seen between 7 and 15 days after inoculation . Abscesses were produced by one type strain each of B . melaninogenicus and B . intermedius and by 20 of 25 clinical isolates of black pigmented Bacteroides species. J Bacteriol, 1985 Sep, 163(3), 1080 - 6 Analysis of outer membrane proteins which are associated with growth of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron on chondroitin sulfate; Kotarski SF et al.; By analyzing outer membrane proteins of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels, we were able to identify 10 protein spots that were associated with growth on chondroitin sulfate but not with growth on glucuronic acid or other monosaccharides . These proteins were distinct from the outer membrane polypeptides that were associated with growth on two other negatively charged polysaccharides, polygalacturonic acid and heparin . Of the 10 protein spots that were associated with growth on chondroitin sulfate, 4 could be detected on immunoblots with antiserum that had been raised against outer membranes from bacteria grown on chondroitin sulfate and then cross-adsorbed with membranes from bacteria grown on glucose . Synthesis of these four proteins appeared to be regulated coordinately with synthesis of the two enzymes that degrade chondroitin sulfate, chondroitin lyase I and II . Although one of the four proteins (Mr 110,000) was similar in molecular weight to the chondroitin lyases, the cross-adsorbed antiserum which detected this outer membrane protein did not cross-react with either of these two enzymes. J Periodontol, 1985 Aug, 56(8), 443 - 6 Clinical and microbiological evaluation of therapy for juvenile periodontitis; Kornman KS et al.; Eight patients (mean age 15.6 yrs) with severe molar-incisor bone loss and pocket formation characteristic of juvenile periodontitis were entered into a clinical protocol of three sequential stages: scaling and root planing (S/RP); S/RP concurrent with systemic tetracycline therapy (1 gm/day for 28 days); periodontal surgery concurrent with systemic tetracycline therapy . Clinical and microbiological examinations were scheduled at baseline, at 1 to 2 months after Stage I, at 1 to 2 months after completion of tetracycline therapy in Stages II and III, and during recall . A decision to progress to the next stage or to place the patient on a 3-month recall was based solely on clinical findings (suppuration, bleeding upon probing and pocket depth) at the deepest site in each patient . Paperpoint subgingival plaque samples from representative affected sites were analyzed for percentage of total cultivable microflora composed of black-pigmented Bacteroides species (BPB), surface translocating bacteria (STB) and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) . At baseline, all sites bled to probing, seven of eight sites showed suppuration, and deepest pocket depths averaged 8.0 mm . STB were detected in one and BPB in four sites, respectively, and all sites demonstrated Aa, which constituted approximately 40% of the total cultivable flora . S/RP alone had essentially no effect on either clinical or microbiological findings, and all patients progressed to Stage II . Five went on to Stage III . S/RP with tetracycline was clinically and microbiologically more effective at sites in which Aa was predominant . Surgery was required in all sites containing high levels of both BPB and Aa . These results suggest that microbiological diagnosis may be useful in selecting and monitoring treatment for juvenile periodontitis. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Aug, 16(2), 189 - 97 In-vitro and in-vivo activity of metronidazole against Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides spp . and Mobiluncus spp . in bacterial vaginosis; Jones BM et al.; An open, randomized, culture-controlled clinical study was designed to compare the efficacy of a single 2 g dose of metronidazole (Elyzol) with standard 7-day therapy in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) . Forty-one of 47 (87%) patients given the single dose and 30 of 33 (91%) given the 7-day treatment were found to be cured seven days after treatment . At final assessment, 24 of 34 (71%) patients given the single dose and 22 of 28 (79%) given the 7-day treatment remained cured . The two regimes were equally efficaceous in eradicating Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides spp . and Mobiluncus spp . (anaerobic curved rods) from vaginal specimens from patients with BV . The in-vitro activity of metronidazole and its hydroxy metabolite was determined for 11 strains of Gard . vaginalis, 17 strains of Bacteroides spp . and 14 strains of Mobiluncus spp . which had been isolated from patients prior to treatment . The MIC of metronidazole against Gard . vaginalis varied between 2 and greater than or equal to 128 mg/l (median MIC 32 mg/l), but the hydroxy metabolite showed a markedly increased activity against eight of the strains tested (median MIC 4 mg/l) . The MIC of metronidazole against the Mobiluncus spp . varied between 0.5 and greater than or equal to 128 mg/l (median MIC 16 mg/l) and the hydroxy metabolite showed little increased activity (median MIC also 16 mg/l) . The Bacteroides organisms were highly susceptible to metronidazole and to the hydroxy metabolite, each having a median MIC of 1 mg/l. J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Aug, 59(2), 171 - 81 Identification of fusobacteria in a routine diagnostic laboratory; Bennett KW et al.; A scheme for differentiating Fusobacterium spp . and Leptotrichia spp . from Bacteroides spp . was devised after examining 114 strains of fusobacteria and asaccharolytic bacteroides (17 reference strains and 97 clinical isolates) . Sensitivity to a 300 micrograms/ml plate of phosphomycin and an acid reaction on a lysine plate were found to be reliable for differentiating Fusobacterium spp . and L . buccalis from Bacteroides . Using a short set of simple cultural and biochemical tests, isolates could be identified as F . necrophorum, F . necrogenes, F . nucleatum, F . varium or L . buccalis . These tests were: indole, lecithinase, phosphatase, DNase and gas production, aesculin and casein hydrolysis, greening of casein/methylene blue agar, nitrite reduction, bile tolerance and haemolysis on horse blood agar. Obstet Gynecol, 1985 Aug, 66(2), 239 - 40 Relationship of vaginitis to the sex of conceptuses; Minkoff H et al.; The relative viability of X-bearing and Y-bearing spermatozoa is influenced by factors in the vagina such as pH . The vaginal environment, in turn, is influenced by its flora . This study examined the relationship of the vaginal flora to the sex of conceptuses . It was found that women who carried Trichomonas vaginalis or Bacteroides sp or who had nonspecific vaginitis at first prenatal visit were significantly more likely to deliver females than women who carried none of these organisms (54 versus 37%, P less than .02). J Periodontol, 1985 Aug, 56(8), 464 - 9 Reaction of human sera from juvenile periodontitis, rapidly progressive periodontitis, and adult periodontitis patients with selected periodontopathogens; Vincent JW et al.; The levels of serum antibody reactive to selected periodontopathogens were determined in 182 clinically characterized patients: 35 healthy control, 50 juvenile periodontitis, 42 adult periodontitis and 55 rapidly progressive periodontitis . Reactive antibody levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with whole cell preparations of Bacteroides gingivalis, Capnocytophaga (Bacteroides) ochraceus, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Y-4) serving as antigens . Increased reactivity to B . gingivalis and F . nucleatum was observed in all three disease groups studied while antibody reactive to A . actinomycetemcomitans was increased in juvenile and rapidly progressive periodontitis . Antibody levels reactive to C . ochraceus in healthy subjects did not differ from those observed in any disease patient groups . Possible implications in the etiology and progression of the diseases coupled with environmental changes which occur in the econiche of the periodontal pocket are described. J Periodontol, 1985 Aug, 56(8), 457 - 63 Generalized juvenile periodontitis, defective neutrophil chemotaxis and Bacteroides gingivalis in a 13-year-old female . A case report; Wilson ME et al.; Host immune responses and the predominant subgingival microflora were evaluated in a 13-year-old female exhibiting a severe form of generalized juvenile periodontitis . The patient's neutrophils were chemotactically depressed but exhibited a normal oxidative capacity . Serum IgG antibody to Bacteroides gingivalis and to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotype c were elevated . Significantly, B . gingivalis constituted 8 to 16% of the cultivable microflora and 13 to 20% of the total cell count in subgingival plaque samples obtained from five out of five periodontally diseased sites examined . It was not detectable in a healthy site . A . actinomycetemcomitans was recovered in small numbers from all subgingival plaque samples taken . The present study provides additional evidence for an etiologic association between B . gingivalis and generalized juvenile periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol, 1985 Aug, 12(7), 540 - 52 Relationship between some subgingival bacteria and periodontal pocket depth and gain or loss of periodontal attachment after treatment of adult periodontitis; Slots J et al.; We studied the association between post-treatment periodontal disease activity and subgingival Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides intermedius, spirochetes and motile rods . 20 adults, 22-62 years, with moderate-to-severe periodontitis participated in a split-mouth treatment study . All individual quadrants received supragingival cleaning and in addition, subgingival scaling and a NaHCO3-NaCl-H2O2 slurry, subgingival scaling alone, slurry alone, or no subgingival treatment . Post-treatment periodontal disease status was determined over a period of 12 months by changes in probing periodontal pocket depth and probing periodontal attachment level . Subgingival specimens obtained by paper point-sampling were evaluated for B . gingivalis and B . intermedius using indirect immunofluorescence and for spirochetes and motile rods using bright light phase contrast microscopy . A total of 142 periodontitis lesions representing all 4 quadrants of the 20 subjects were studied . The relationship between clinical data and bacteria was analyzed using logistic regression . The probability of the study organisms being present in subgingival sites at 3 to 6 months after treatment increased with increased residual pocket depth . The presence of B . gingivalis showed a strong positive association (p less than 0.004) with loss of periodontal attachment . A significant association was also found for spirochetes (p less than 0.008) but not for motile rods (p greater than 0.35) or B . intermedius (p greater than 0.13) . Similar results were obtained at 12 months after therapy, except that the presence of motile rods was significantly associated with loss of periodontal attachment (p less than 0.03) . Caution must be exercised when using B . gingivalis or spirochetes to evaluate treatment efficacy . If the presence of these organisms was utilized to indicate progressing periodontitis, many active lesions could be identified, and only 1 to 17% and 13 to 43% of sites in remission at 3-6 months after therapy would be expected to harbor B . gingivalis and spirochetes, respectively . The consequences of treating periodontal sites in remission would mainly be limited to cost and inconvenience . However, since several active periodontitis lesions did not reveal the organisms, treatment decisions based solely on the absence of the organisms may result in the omission of needed therapy . As a practical consideration, periodontal treatment should be continued as long as B . gingivalis and maybe spirochetes are detectable in the subgingival microflora . In the absence of these organisms, and until additional periodontal pathogens have become known, the decision to continue or conclude periodontal therapy must b J Med Microbiol, 1985 Aug, 20(1), 39 - 48 Characterisation of cryptic plasmids in clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis; Beul HA et al.; A screening method for plasmids in the fragilis group of Bacteroides spp . was developed, taking account of the lysozyme resistance of these species; 26 strains, 24 of them B . fragilis, were investigated by this method . Eleven strains contained plasmids and up to three different plasmids were found in individual strains . The plasmids belonged to five different size classes of mol . wt (10(6} 2.8, 3.5, 3.6, 4.2 and 19 . Plasmids of equal size showed homology; no homology was found between plasmids of different sizes . Plasmids of equal size showed identical restriction patterns with 17 restriction endonucleases . Restriction maps were constructed for the five classes of plasmid. J Bacteriol, 1985 Aug, 163(2), 623 - 8 Bacteroides intermedius binds fibrinogen; Lantz MS et al.; The binding of Bacteroides intermedius VPI 8944 to human fibrinogen has been characterized . The binding is time dependent, at least partially reversible, saturable, and specific . On an average, a maximum of 3,500 fibrinogen molecules bind per bacterial cell, with a dissociation constant of 1.7 X 10(-11) M . These bacteria also exhibit a fibrinogenolytic activity which can be partially inhibited by protease inhibitors . Bacteria release fibrinogenolytic activity into the surrounding medium without loss of binding activity, but more pronounced fibrinogen breakdown occurs when 125I-labeled fibrinogen is associated with the bacteria, suggesting that fibrinogen is degraded at the cell surface . Fibrinogen binding by B . intermedius might represent a mechanism of bacterial tissue adherence. J Bacteriol, 1985 Aug, 163(2), 730 - 4 Fimbriae from the oral anaerobe Bacteroides gingivalis: physical, chemical, and immunological properties; Yoshimura F et al.; Circular dichroism spectra indicated the predominance of beta-sheet structure in Bacteroides gingivalis fimbriae regardless of the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate . By using a computer program, the alpha-helix, beta-sheet, and beta-turn contents and the remainder were estimated to be 0, 55, 18, and 27%, respectively, judging from the circular dichroism spectra of the fimbriae . Heating for 5 min at 100 degrees C in sodium dodecyl sulfate was necessary to denature the fimbriae into their constituent protein (fimbrilin) monomers with a reduced content of beta-sheet structure . The amino-terminal amino acid sequence of the fimbrilin was different from partial or complete amino acid sequences of fimbrilins so far determined from Bacteroides nodosus, which falls into the same nonfermentative species of the genus Bacteroides as B . gingivalis, and from various other bacteria . Fimbrilin monomers had an isoelectric point of 6.0 . Examination of antibodies against fimbriae and sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured fimbrilin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reinforced a previous notion (F . Yoshimura, K . Takahashi, Y . Nodasaka, and T . Suzuki, J . Bacteriol . 160:949-957, 1984) that different sets of antigenic determinants seemed to be exposed on their surfaces. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1985 Jul, 30(7), 507 - 11 {Identification of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium using antibiotic- and bile-impregnated disks}; Kultaev MS et al.; Fifty-nine strains of gram-negative non-sporulating anerobic bacteria were identified to the genus . Comparison of the data on the biochemical identification with the phenotypes by sensitivity to antibiotics and bile showed, that the bacteroids of the fragilis group had the same phenotype . Sensitivity was determined with anaerodisks impregnated with antibiotics and bile . The other species of bacteroids and fusobacteria had several phenotypes . However, these phenotypes being non-specific for the species were characteristic of the genus: none of the bacteroid species had the fusobacteria phenotype . The presented table of the bacteroid and fusobacteria phenotypes by sensitivity to antibiotics and bile may be useful in identification of these organism. J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Jul, 22(1), 56 - 61 Serogrouping of Bacteroides vulgatus by the agglutination test; Okamura N et al.; The agglutination technique was used to establish a serological classification scheme for Bacteroides vulgatus strains isolated from normal human feces and clinical specimens, especially from ulcerative colitis patients . Absorbed antisera to 10 strains of B . vulgatus were prepared . These 10 absorbed antisera were species specific . Of 90 B . vulgatus strains tested, 55 (61%) were agglutinated by one or more of these 10 absorbed antisera . A total of 27 serological patterns were grouped into 18 serogroups; 10 of these serogroups contained only one group component, whereas the other 8 serogroups were composed of more than one component . This serological classification could be used to study the epidemiology of this organism. J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Jul, 22(1), 125 - 6 Evaluation of xylan fermentation for the identification of Bacteroides ovatus and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; Cooper SW et al.; The reliability of xylan fermentation in distinguishing Bacteroides ovatus from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron was examined with strains previously identified by DNA homology studies or bacteriophage sensitivity testing or both . All of the 12 B . ovatus strains produced acid ranging from pH 5.0 to 5.6 in peptone-yeast-xylan broth; none of the 19 B . thetaiotaomicron strains produced acid, and the final pH was 6.0 or 6.1 . Xylan fermentation and bacteriophage sensitivity-DNA homology appear to be equivalent in their ability to differentiate these two Bacteroides species. J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Jul, 22(1), 75 - 9 Further characterization of Bacteroides endodontalis, an asaccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides species from the oral S cavity; van Winkelhoff AJ et al.; In this study, the isolation, characterization, and identification of Bacteroides endodontalis is described . It was found that this asaccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides species is associated with infected dental root canals and oral submucous abscesses . B . endodontalis could be differentiated from B . gingivalis by a negative direct hemagglutination test and the absence of trypsin and N-acetyl-beta-glucosamidase . B . endodontalis could be differentiated from B . asaccharolyticus by the absence of alpha-fucosidase, its inability to grow in an atmosphere of 95% N2-5% H2, and a growth requirement for menadione . Immune serum raised against B . endodontalis strain HG 370T agglutinated only B . endodontalis cells . Precautions for the isolation of B . endodontalis are discussed. Br J Surg, 1985 Jul, 72(7), 548 - 50 Influence of rectal washout on bacterial counts in the rectal stump; Scammell BE et al.; Forty-three patients undergoing a restorative colorectal resection were randomized to have their rectal stump washed out with either 0.9 per cent saline, 2.5 per cent povidone-iodine or 0.3 per cent sodium hypochlorite . The bacterial counts before and after washout for Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test . There was no significant difference in the counts for E . coli before and after washout with saline (log 9.7-log 9.7 organisms/ml) and saline had no influence on the counts of B . fragilis (log 7.9-log 6.5 organisms/ml) . Hypochlorite was associated with a significant reduction in E . coli counts (log 6.1-log 1.1 organisms/ml, P less than 0.005) and the counts of B . fragilis (log 8.1-log 0.0 organisms/ml, P less than 0.005) . The counts of B . fragilis were significantly reduced by povidone-iodine (log 8.1-log 1.1 organisms/ml, P less than 0.005) but there was no significant reduction in counts of E . coli (log 5.6-log 5.3 organisms/ml) . The data suggest that sodium hypochlorite is better than povidone-iodine or saline as a rectal washout for colorectal anastomosis. Surgery, 1985 Jul, 98(1), 20 - 4 The incidence of wound infection after stapled or sutured bowel anastomosis and stapled or sutured skin closure in humans and guinea pigs; Panton ON et al.; In a study of antimicrobial prophylaxis in colorectal surgery, a higher incidence of wound sepsis was noted in patients who underwent stapled rather than sutured anastomoses and skin closures . There were six wound infections in 69 patients (8.7%) who underwent nonstapled anastomoses compared with seven in 28 (25%) in whom GIA or EEA staplers were used (p = 0.003) . Excluding the EEA-stapled cases, the infection rate was 29% (p = 0.022) . In patients who underwent sutured anastomoses, there were no wound infections in 21 whose skin was closed with sutures compared with five in 38 patients (13%) with stapled skin closure (p = 0.082) . In an experimental guinea pig model dual incisions were infected with Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli . One incision was then closed with staples, the other with sutures . There was a statistically significant (p = 0.016) advantage to the use of staplers . The possible significance of these results is discussed. Am J Med, 1985 Jun 7, 78(6A), 110 - 2 Treatment of skin and soft tissue infections with imipenem/cilastatin; Fass RJ et al.; Ninety-eight adult patients with skin and soft tissue infections caused by a variety of bacterial pathogens were treated with imipenem/cilastatin (71), cefazolin (21), or moxalactam (six) at three medical centers . Favorable clinical responses were observed in 87 of the 90 evaluable cases (97 percent) . Most etiologic pathogens were eradicated during treatment including five of seven which demonstrated in vitro resistance to the therapeutic agent . Strains that persisted during treatment were not associated with therapeutic failure except in one cefazolin-treated patient who was infected with Bacteroides fragilis . All three drugs were well tolerated and no specific patterns of adverse reactions were observed. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Jun, 27(6), 968 - 70 In vitro activity of cefbuperazone against Bacteroides spp; Dias MB et al.; The activity of cefbuperazone was tested in vitro against 287 clinical isolates of Bacteroides spp . Cefbuperazone showed good activity against B . fragilis, B . vulgatus, and other Bacteroides species, comparable to that of cefoxitin . It was relatively ineffective against B . distasonis and the B . thetaiotaomicron-ovatus group and was not active against cefoxitin-resistant Bacteroides spp. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1985 Jun, 89(6), 945 - 7 Myocardial infarction complicated by myocardial rupture and Bacteroides sepsis; Mills SA et al.; A patient in whom a myocardial rupture complicated recent myocardial infarction was found to have cardiac and systemic Bacteroides sepsis; he had just completed a course of steroids . Surgical repair of the cardiac rupture, mediastinal irrigation with povidone-iodine, and broad-spectrum antibiotics resulted in the patient's recovery. J Embryol Exp Morphol, 1985 Jun, 87, 115 - 28 Cell interactions in preimplantation embryos: evidence for involvement of saccharides of the poly-N-acetyllactosamine series; Rastan S et al.; Roles of cell surface carbohydrates containing the 3-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine and poly-N-acetyllactosamine sequences (SSEA-1 and I antigens, respectively) in the compaction of mouse embryos have been investigated using the endo-beta-galactosidase of Bacteroides fragilis to modify the surface of cleavage-stage embryos . Treatment with this enzyme abolished SSEA-1 activity and diminished I antigen activity on the embryonic cell surface . Embryos cultured in the presence of endo-beta-galactosidase from the 2- to 4-cell stage onwards, or treated with the enzyme at the compacting 8-cell stage, continued to compact and proceeded to form blastocysts at the normal rate . However, when compacted 8- to 16-cell embryos were experimentally decompacted in calcium-free medium, treated for 1 h with endo-beta-galactosidase and returned to normal culture medium, the time taken for 50% of the embryos to recompact was prolonged five-fold . There was an even greater delay if these embryos were maintained in culture medium containing the enzyme . Blastocysts were eventually formed under both conditions . Thus, endo-beta-galactosidase did not affect compaction unless the embryos were first decompacted . On the assumption that recompaction and de novo compaction occur by similar mechanisms, we propose that carbohydrate-binding molecules are involved which have high affinities for poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures and protect them from digestion by endo-beta-galactosidase. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Jun, 15(6), 701 - 14 In-vitro and in-vivo activities of a novel cephamycin MT-141 against the Bacteroides fragilis group in comparison with six cephem antibiotics; Kasai T et al.; MT-141 inhibited 90% of the clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis at 3.13 mg/l, whereas six reference cephem antibiotics inhibited them at 12.5- greater than 100 mg/l . MT-141 was stable to the Bacteroides beta-lactamases, but the stability alone could not explain the potent activity of MT-141 against the other Bacteroides spp., which produced only small amounts of beta-lactamase, but were resistant to other cephem antibiotics . MT-141 exhibited a higher killing rate and more potent in-vivo efficacy than the reference cephem antibiotics against Bact . fragilis No . 36 combined with Escherichia coli No . 29 . In conclusion, the in-vitro and in-vivo anti-bacteroides activities of MT-141 ranked first among those of the cephem antibiotics compared. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Jun, 15 Suppl C, 5 - 14 The mode of action of Sch 34343: affinity for the penicillin binding proteins of Escherichia coli K-12 and Bacteroides fragilis; Piddock LJ et al.; The competition of the new penem antibiotic, Sch 34343, for the penicillin-binding-proteins (PBPs) of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis was studied . Sch 34343 caused rounding of cells, and then sphaeroplast formation and lysis in both organisms . The primary target in both organisms was PBP 2, and at higher concentrations PBP 1a and 1b (and 1c in Bact . fragilis) . These targets were inhibited at well below therapeutically achievable concentrations . The results indicate that in E . coli and Bact . fragilis, the bactericidal activity of Sch 34343 is related to inhibition of two out of three 'essential' PBPs. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Jun, 15 Suppl C, 199 - 206 In-vivo bactericidal activity of Sch 34343 in Bacteroides fragilis abscesses and in Bacteroides fragilis-Escherichia coli abscesses; Wells CL et al.; Bacteroides fragilis pure-culture abscesses and Bact . fragilis-Escherichia coli mixed-culture abscesses were initiated subcutaneously in mice and intraperitoneally in rats . Within 1 h after injection of Sch 34343, the drug was present in higher concentrations in the abscesses than in the blood of infected animals . After five days of Sch 34343 therapy with either 100 or 400 mg/kg administered five times a day to mice with subcutaneous abscesses, the numbers of Bact . fragilis in pus decreased approximately three log-fold, reflecting a killing of 99.99% of the viable Bact . fragilis, while the numbers of E . coli decreased approximately 0.5 log-fold, reflecting a killing of 50% of the viable E . coli . After five days of therapy with either 50 or 150 mg/kg administered five times a day to rats with intraperitoneal fibrin clot abscesses, the viable Bact . fragilis again decreased three log-fold; the viable E . coli decreased one log-fold in rats given the higher dosages of the drug . Sch 34343 is a promising agent for the treatment of anaerobic infections because it can penetrate into anaerobic abscesses and can kill large numbers of bacteria within abscesses. J Med Microbiol, 1985 Jun, 19(3), 325 - 31 Pathogenic synergy between Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis: studies in an experimental mouse model; Verweij-van Vught AM et al.; An animal model is described for quantitative evaluation of pathogenic synergy between Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis in which adjuvants were not required for abscess formation . Two sets of strains of E . coli and B . fragilis isolated from human wound infections were tested . Pathogenic synergy was observed in only one of the two combinations and was dependent on properties of E . coli. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Jun, 15 Suppl C, 173 - 6 In-vitro activity of Sch 34343 against anaerobic bacteria; Wexler H et al.; The in-vitro activity of Sch 34343, was compared with that of imipenem against 226 strains of anaerobic bacteria . Sch 34343 was identical in activity to imipenem, inhibiting 99.5% of the organisms tested at 16 mg/l (the breakpoint for both drugs) . Imipenem was slightly more active than Sch 34343 against Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Veillonella, although both drugs inhibited all organisms in these groups below breakpoint levels. J Periodontol, 1985 Jun, 56(6), 330 - 3 Changes of subgingival total colony forming units and black pigmented bacteroides after a single irrigation of periodontal pockets with 1.64% SnF2; Schmid E et al.; Periodontal pockets of 11 subjects were irrigated once with either 1.64% SnF2 or saline applied by syringe . Changes on the total anaerobic colony forming units (CFU) and black pigmented bacteroides (BPBs) of the irrigated pockets were assessed for 31 days . The results showed little change of the CFUs by either single application of SnF2 or saline . However, SnF2 irrigation produced a decrease in the BPBs for 1 week with the greatest effect (1/2 log reduction) being seen at 3 days after the irrigation . Some subjects had more impressive reductions in BPBs, yet four of the 11 subjects showed no reductions in BPBs in those sites irrigated with SnF2 . Further studies with frequent irrigation intervals are necessary to evaluate the potential usefulness of SnF2 for subgingival irrigation. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1985 May 15, 186(10), 1086 - 9 Changes in prevalence and susceptibility of obligate anaerobes in clinical veterinary practice; Hirsh DC et al.; Of 3,133 clinical specimens obtained from domestic animals, 26% contained species of bacteria that were obligate anaerobes . Members of the genera Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and Peptostreptococcus accounted for 77% of the isolates . On the average, 2 species of obligate anaerobes were found in each specimen, usually admixed with facultatively anaerobic bacteria . Of those specimens containing an obligate anaerobe, 20% contained one isolate that was resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, and cephalothin . These resistant isolates belonged to the genus Bacteroides, the most common being Bacteroides fragilis . Approximately one third of these penicillin-resistant isolates was resistant to tetracycline as well . All isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, tetracycline (excluding penicillin-resistant Bacteroides), metronidazole, and clindamycin. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1985 May, 259(3), 295 - 306 Isolation, characterization and ecological distribution of recently recognized propionic acid-negative Bacteroides species from human sources; Hammann R; 140 strains of anaerobic, Gram-negative, propionate-negative, non-pigmented rods (Bacteroides oralis group) were isolated from normal flora and from clinical specimens . They were characterized by physiological tests, gas chromatography of the acid end products, and determination of the G + C content of their DNA . In addition, their distribution in the various biotopes of the human body (oropharyngeal tract, genitourinary tract, and gut) and in clinical specimens was investigated . The strains could be assigned to the recently described species Bacteroides denticola, B . buccae, B . buccalis, and B . oris, or to B . bivius, B . disiens and B . oralis . In the investigated group, especially B . bivius exhibits an antibiotic resistance--particularly against the beta-lactam antibiotics--comparable to that of B . fragilis. J Infect, 1985 May, 10(3), 268 - 71 Bacteroides fragilis isolated post mortem from an abscess in a myocardial infarct; Richards J; An unusual case of an abscess complicating a myocardial infarct is described . Similar cases reported so far are reviewed, with special attention to modes of presentation, possible sources of infection and complications. J Gen Microbiol, 1985 May, 131 ( Pt 5), 1077 - 82 Subcellular localization of D-glucanases in Bacteroides oralis Ig4a; Takahashi N et al.; Three D-glucan-hydrolysing enzymes from Bacteroides oralis Ig4a have been isolated . Two of them are dextranases which hydrolyse (1----6) but not (1----3) linked alpha-D-glucans; one (EC 3.2.1.11, 1,6-alpha-D-glucan 6-glucanohydrolase) is localized in the periplasm, and the other, which is an exo-enzyme (EC 3.2.1.70, 1,6-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrolase), in the cytoplasm . The third is a mutanase (EC 3.2.1.59, 1,3-(1,3;1,4)-alpha-D-glucan 3-glucanohydrolase) that hydrolyses (1----3) but not (1----6) linked alpha-D-glucans, and is present only in the cytoplasm. Infect Immun, 1985 May, 48(2), 402 - 8 Succinic acid, a metabolic by-product of Bacteroides species, inhibits polymorphonuclear leukocyte function; Rotstein OD et al.; Anaerobes, in particular Bacteroides spp., are the predominant bacteria present in mixed intra-abdominal infections, yet their critical importance in the pathogenicity of these infections is not clearly defined . Succinic acid, a major fatty acid by-product of Bacteroides metabolism, was tested for its effect on neutrophil function to determine whether it might play a role in enhancing the virulence of Bacteroides-containing infections . At pH 5.5 but not pH 7.0, succinic acid at concentrations commonly found in clinical abscesses profoundly inhibits in vitro neutrophil function . It virtually obliterates phagocytic killing of Escherichia coli and reduces neutrophil random migration and chemotactic response to formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and C5a . These effects occur in conjunction with a reduced chemiluminescent peak and delayed time to the peak . The effect on neutrophils is only partially reversible by multiple washings . These findings suggest that succinic acid may be an important Bacteroides virulence factor when present in the microenvironment of a mixed intra-abdominal infection in which concentrations are high and the pH of the medium is reduced. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 May, 27(5), 876 - 8 In vitro efficacy of sulbactam combined with ampicillin against anaerobic bacteria; Wexler HM et al.; An ampicillin-sulbactam combination was compared with ampicillin alone, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and metronidazole against 272 strains of anaerobic bacteria . Chloramphenicol and ampicillin-sulbactam were the most effective, inhibiting 98 to 99% of strains tested at breakpoint (16 micrograms/ml) . The combination of sulbactam and ampicillin was much more effective than ampicillin alone against Bacteroides fragilis strains but did not differ substantially from ampicillin alone against Fusobacterium spp., gram-positive rods, and gram-positive cocci. Plasmid, 1985 May, 13(3), 182 - 92 Comparison of the transposon-like structures encoding clindamycin resistance in Bacteroides R-plasmids; Smith CJ et al.; The R-plasmids pBF4, pBFTM10, and pBI136 encode transmissible clindamycin resistance (Ccr) in Bacteroides spp . These plasmids are distinct replicons but the regions implicated in Ccr share some homology and appear to have a transposon-like structure . To better understand the mechanism of dissemination and to locate the Ccr determinant(s), the genetic and structural properties of the Ccr regions of each plasmid were compared and contrasted . For this work a single EcoRI restriction fragment containing the Ccr region from each plasmid was cloned into pBR322 in Escherichia coli . Results of restriction mapping and heteroduplex experiments showed that the pBF4 EcoRI-D and pBFTM10 EcoRI-B fragments shared more than 90% base sequence homology but that the EcoRI-C fragment of pBI136 had diverged significantly . The pBI136 fragment also did not confer tetracycline resistance in E . coli as shown for the pBF4 EcoRI-D fragment (D.G . Guiney, P . Hasegawa, and C . E . Davis, 1984, Plasmid 11, 248-252) . Heteroduplex experiments showed that the pBI136 EcoRI-C and pBF4 EcoRI-D fragments shared a 1.2-kb region of homology attributed to a directly repeated sequence which bounds the Ccr region . Southern hybridization studies indicated that an additional 0.85 kb of the pBI136 EcoRI-C fragment was homologous to the EcoRI-D fragment of pBF4 . This region was characterized by its sequential restriction endonuclease sites for HindIII, AvaII, and DdeI, and it is proposed that the Ccr gene(s) resides in this area. J Bacteriol, 1985 May, 162(2), 626 - 32 Evidence that the clindamycin-erythromycin resistance gene of Bacteroides plasmid pBF4 is on a transposable element; Shoemaker NB et al.; We constructed a shuttle vector, pE5-2, which can replicate in both Bacteroides spp . and Escherichia coli . pE5-2 contains a cryptic Bacteroides plasmid (pB8-51), a 3.8-kilobase (kb) EcoRI-D fragment from the 41-kb Bacteroides fragilis plasmid pBF4, and RSF1010, an IncQ E . coli plasmid . pE5-2 was mobilized by R751, an IncP E . coli plasmid, between E . coli strains with a frequency of 5 X 10(-2) to 3.8 X 10(-1) transconjugants per recipient . R751 also mobilized pE5-2 from E . coli donors to Bacteroides uniformis 0061RT and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron 5482 with a frequency of 0.9 X 10(-6) to 2.5 X 10(-6) . The Bacteroides transconjugants contained only pE5-2 and were resistant to clindamycin and erythromycin . Thus, the gene for clindamycin and erythromycin resistance must be located within the Eco RI-D fragment of BF4 . A second recombinant plasmid, pSS-2, which contained 33 kb of pBF4 (including the EcoRI-D fragment and contiguous regions) could also be mobilized by R751 between E . coli strains . In some transconjugants, a 5.5-kb (+/- 0.3 kb) segment of the pBF4 portion of pSS2 was inserted into one of several sites on R751 . In some other transconjugants this same 5.5-kb segment was integrated into the E . coli chromosome . This segment could transfer a second time onto R751 . Transfer was RecA independent . The transferred segment included the entire EcoRI-D fragment, and thus the clindamycin-erythromycin resistance determinant, from pBF4. Aust Vet J, 1985 May, 62(5), 153 - 9 The protection given by pilus and whole cell vaccines of Bacteroides nodosus strain 198 against ovine foot-rot induced by strains of different serogroups; Stewart DJ et al.; A highly purified pilus vaccine prepared from cells of Bacteroides nodosus strain 198 provided a high level of protection against homologous challenge and small, not statistically significant, levels of protection against challenge with 4 other strains each from different serogroups . In a second experiment, a partially purified pilus vaccine from strain 198 induced significant immunity to 1 of 4 heterologous strains which were different from those used in the first experiment . In a third experiment a strain 198 whole cell vaccine produced significant immunity against 3 of 6 heterologous strains used in the first 2 experiments . There was no obvious relationship between the colony type, degree of piliation and level of cross-protection obtained against a particular strain . The results provide further evidence that immunogens associated with, but distinct from, the pilus are involved in cross-protection and that cross-protective antigens are common to some, but not all, strains. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1985 Apr 15, 151(8), 1098 - 110 Current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of tuboovarian abscess; Landers DV et al.; Tuboovarian abscess is a well-recognized complication of acute salpingitis and has been reported in as many as one third of hospital admissions for acute salpingitis . The incidence of tuboovarian abscess is expected to increase as a result of the current epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases and their sequelae . Patients with tuboovarian abscess most commonly present with lower abdominal pain and an adnexal mass(es) . Fever and leukocytosis may be absent . Ultrasound, computed tomographic scans, laparoscopy, or laparotomy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis . Tuboovarian abscess may be unilateral or bilateral regardless of intrauterine contraceptive device usage . Tuboovarian abscess is polymicrobial with a preponderance of anaerobic organisms . An initial conservative antimicrobial approach to the management of the unruptured tuboovarian abscess is appropriate if the antimicrobial agents used can penetrate abscesses, remain active within the abscess environment, and are active against the major pathogens in tuboovarian abscess, including the resistant gram-negative anaerobes such as Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides bivius . However, if the patient does not begin to show a response within a reasonable amount of time, about 48 to 72 hours, surgical intervention should be undertaken . Suspicion of rupture should remain an indication for immediate operation . Once operation is undertaken, a conservative approach with unilateral adnexectomy for one-side tuboovarian abscess is appropriate if future fertility or hormone production is desired. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Apr, 15(4), 463 - 70 Satranidazole: experimental evaluation of activity against anaerobic bacteria in vitro and in animal models of anaerobic infection; Gowrishankar R et al.; Satranidazole, a 5-nitroimidazole derivative, was tested for its activity against reference strains and clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria in vitro and in two murine models of anaerobic infection in comparison with metronidazole, tinidazole, ornidazole and clindamycin . The MIC90 of satranidazole against 50 clinical isolates of anaerobes was 0.25 mg/l which was four-fold lower than the MIC90 of metronidazole, tinidazole and ornidazole (MIC90 = 1.0 mg/l) . In a fatal murine infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum, ATCC 27852, the ED50 of satranidazole was 2.1 +/- 0.62 mg/kg while for metronidazole, ornidazole, tinidazole and clindamycin, the values were 11.31 +/- 1.99, 8.70 +/- 2.21, 13.19 +/- 2.39 and 7.10 +/- 1.73 respectively . In a subcutaneous Bacteroides fragilis abscess in mice, satranidazole alone produced a three log reduction in cfu of the infecting organism at 10 mg/kg, the lowest dose tested . At 100 mg/kg, only satranidazole and clindamycin effected a complete sterilization of abscesses. J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Apr, 58(4), 371 - 9 The effect of ammonia treatment on the solubilization of straw and the growth of cellulolytic rumen bacteria; Kolankaya N et al.; Pre-treatment of straw with anhydrous ammonia increased its susceptibility to solubilization by the predominant cellulolytic bacteria from the rumen, Bacteroides succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus and R . flavefaciens . Ammonia treatment also increased the production of microbial protein and fermentation products by all three species . Scanning electron microscope observations of straw during digestion suggested that the attack of straw by these bacteria was accompanied by the formation of substantial numbers of adherent microcolonies. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1985 Apr, 238(1), 83 - 9 Characterization of the O2-induced manganese-containing superoxide dismutase from Bacteroides fragilis; Gregory EM; A manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) has been isolated from extracts of O2-induced Bacteroides fragilis . The enzyme, Mr 43,000, was a dimer composed of noncovalently associated subunits of equal size . A preparation whose specific activity was 1760 U/mg had 1.1 g-atoms Mn, 0.3 g-atoms Fe, and 0.2 g-atoms Zn per mol dimer . Exposing the enzyme to 5 M guanidinium chloride, 20 mM 8-hydroxyquinoline abolished enzymatic activity . Dialysis of the denatured apoprotein in buffer containing either Fe (NH4)2(SO4)2 or MnCl2 restored O2- . scavenging activity . The iron-reconstituted enzyme was inhibited 89% by 2 mM NaN3, similar to other Fe-containing superoxide dismutases . The Mn-reconstituted and native MnSOD were inhibited approximately 50% by 20 mM NaN3 . Addition of ZnSO4 to dialysis buffer containing either the iron or manganese salt inhibited restoration of enzymatic activity to the denatured apoprotein . MnSOD migrated as a single protein band coincident with a single superoxide dismutase activity band in 7.5 or 10% acrylamide gels . Isoelectric focusing resulted in a major isozymic form with pI 5.3 and a minor form at pI 5.0 . Mixtures of the MnSOD and the iron-containing superoxide (FeSOD), isolated from anaerobically maintained B . fragilis {E . M . Gregory and C . H . Dapper (1983) Arch . Biochem . Biophys . 220, 293-300}, migrated as a single band on acrylamide gels and isoelectrically focused to a major protein band (pI 5.3) and a minor band at pI 5.0 . The amino acid composition of MnSOD was virtually identical to that of the FeSOD . The data are consistent with synthesis of a single superoxide dismutase apoprotein capable of accepting either Mn or Fe to form the holoenzyme. J Med Microbiol, 1985 Apr, 19(2), 195 - 201 Comparative growth of Bacteroides species in various anaerobic culture media; Eley A et al.; The growth of five species of Bacteroides in four anaerobic culture media was continuously monitored turbidimetrically . Interspecies differences were observed in the growth of Bacteroides spp . in the various media, but growth in Brain Heart Infusion broth supplemented with yeast extract, haemin and menadione, was consistently better than in Wilkins-Chalgren, Thioglycollate or Schaedler broths . Microscopy of cultures grown overnight in Brain Heart Infusion broth showed that the bacteria exhibited normal morphology but most species grown in the other media displayed filamentation or chain formation . Four of the five species grown in Schaedler broth also exhibited spheroplast formation . This morphological change occurred in the stationary phase of growth, was reduced by inclusion of NaCl in the medium and was abolished in Schaedler broth prepared at double the recommended strength. Scand J Dent Res, 1985 Apr, 93(2), 119 - 27 Subgingival microorganisms and bacterial virulence factors in periodontitis; Slots J et al.; Considerable information has come forth in recent years on the pathogenic organisms in human periodontitis and the sequence of events by which they produce periodontal disease . Important periodontopathogens include Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides intermedius and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans . Virulence factors of B . gingivalis and B . intermedius may mainly involve enzymes with potential to interfere with host defenses and to disintegrate periodontal tissues . Pathogenic properties of A . actinomycetemcomitans appear predominantly to be exerted by leukotoxin and other noxious products. J Periodontol, 1985 Apr, 56(4), 187 - 94 Effects of scaling and root planing on subgingival microbial proportions standardized in terms of their naturally occurring distribution; Hinrichs JE et al.; This investigation included a cross-sectional component (284, 20-40-year-old subjects/568 sites) and a longitudinal component (19 subjects with moderate to advanced periodontitis/76 sites) . Subgingival plaque samples and clinical data were obtained from all upper second bicuspids and first molars in the longitudinal subjects and from both upper first molars in the cross-sectional subjects . The purpose was to: determine/confirm changes in proportions of selected subgingival microorganisms following root planning combined with conventional oral hygiene procedures in the longitudinal subjects, evaluate those changes in terms of an estimate of the naturally occurring distribution of subgingival microorganisms based on data obtained from the cross-sectional subjects and relate shifts in the subgingival microorganisms to changes in clinical measurements . Changes following treatment at sites with pre-instrumentation probing depths greater than or equal to 4.5 mm included cocci, 18.3 to 46.9%; spirochetes, 20.9 to 3.1%; total motile organisms, 28.5 to 5.9%; Fusobacterium spp., 10.2 to 2.2%; and dark-pigmented Bacteroides spp., 14.0 to 9.7% . Translating proportions of microorganisms in samples from subjects in the longitudinal treatment study to equivalent percentile ranks within the large cross-sectional data base demonstrated that at probing depths greater than or equal to 4.5 mm cocci moved from below the 50th percentile in our estimate of the naturally occurring distribution of subgingival microorganisms to above, and spirochetes, total motile organisms and Fusobacterium spp . moved from above the 50th percentile to below . The microbiological findings were consistent with statistically significant improvements in clinical measurements . Statistically significant changes also occurred in microorganisms at sites with initial probing depths less than 4.5 mm. Scand J Dent Res, 1985 Apr, 93(2), 153 - 7 Inactivation of guinea-pig serum proteinase inhibitors by Bacteroides gingivalis; Herrmann BF et al.; The activity of proteinase inhibitors of guinea-pig serum was evaluated by using trypsin as test enzyme . Strains of black-pigmented Bacteroides species were incubated with serum under anaerobic conditions . Strains of Bacteroides gingivalis inactivated the trypsin inhibitors of guinea-pig serum within 1 h, while the other strains reduced the activity of the trypsin inhibitors by less than 50% within 48 h . The inactivation of proteinase inhibitors of guinea-pig serum by B . gingivalis may be an important pathogenic mechanism in the spreading necrotic infections induced in guinea pigs by pure cultures of this species. Aust Vet J, 1985 Apr, 62(4), 116 - 20 Differences between breeds of sheep in their responses to Bacteroides nodosus vaccines; Stewart DJ et al.; In a field experiment on irrigated pasture, sheep of several breeds were vaccinated twice, subcutaneously, in the upper neck, with Bacteroides nodosus vaccine containing either depiliated cells (DC vaccine), or whole, piliated cells (WC vaccine) and the responses were measured over the following 14 weeks . DC vaccine was as effective as WC vaccine in protecting against the development of foot-rot under conditions of moderate challenge, although the WC vaccine induced significantly higher pilus agglutinating antibody titres . Foot-rot developed in significantly more vaccinated Merinos (Peppin and Saxon strains) than in Romney Marsh, Dorset Horn or Border Leicester breeds . Agglutinating antibody titres after WC vaccination were significantly lower in the Peppin Merino than in the other sheep for the first 6 weeks, while after DC vaccination the titres remained elevated longer in the Border Leicester and Saxon Merino and were significantly higher from 6 weeks onwards . Reactions at the inoculation sites were generally larger in the British breeds than in the Merinos and among the former the reactions were largest, most numerous and most frequently discharged their contents in the Dorset Horn . Bodyweight gains in all vaccinated sheep were initially reduced, compared with controls, but the differences were no longer significant after the eighth week. Aust Vet J, 1985 Mar, 62(3), 85 - 8 Failure of oral zinc therapy to alleviate Bacteroides nodosus infections in cattle and sheep; Egerton JR et al.; Cattle and sheep with Bacteroides nodosus infection were treated orally with both high (65 mg Zn/kg and 82 mg Zn/kg) and low (1 mg Zn/kg and 8.6 mg Zn/kg) doses of zinc sulphate respectively . The lower dose rates administered weekly for one month, in the case of cattle, or daily for 2 weeks, in the case of sheep, had no effect either on serum zinc levels or the prevalence or severity of infection in treated animals . High dose rates of zinc (approximately 2.5 g Zn per head per day) were required to elevate serum levels above those normally present in both cattle and sheep . Even these dose rates continued daily for about 2 weeks had no beneficial effect on B . nodosus infection in either species. Can J Microbiol, 1985 Mar, 31(3), 302 - 4 Cytotoxic effects of culture supernatants of oral bacteria and various organic acids on Vero cells; Grenier D et al.; Dilute culture filtrates of the three asaccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides species as well as B . macacae, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and animal strains resembling B . gingivalis were cytotoxic for the African green monkey kidney cell line (Vero cells) . Butyric or propionic acid, major metabolic products of these bacteria, seem to be responsible for the characteristic morphological changes observed . Among the organic acids studied, only butyric, propionic, and valeric acids exhibited cytotoxic effects . Finally, cumulative effects (as opposed to synergistic) were observed when mixtures of two organic acids were tested. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Mar, 27(3), 413 - 5 Antimicrobial activity of HR810 against 419 strict anaerobic bacteria; Jones RN et al.; HR810 and four other new beta-lactams were tested against 419 recent clinical anaerobic bacterial isolates . HR810 was found to have an antimicrobial spectrum most similar to that of cefotaxime, inhibiting 52.6% of Bacteroides fragilis group strains and 97.2% of all other anaerobic strains at an MIC of less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml . Cefoxitin was found to have a narrower antimicrobial spectrum against the gram-positive anaerobic bacteria (8.4 to 10.1% less) than HR810 and cefotaxime, respectively. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Mar, 27(3), 324 - 31 Antimicrobial susceptibilities of anaerobic bacteria isolated from female genital tract infections; Hill GB et al.; Certain species or subspecies of anaerobic bacteria are isolated with higher frequency from female genital tract infections than from other anatomic sites . To gain susceptibility data more specific to the treatment of these infections, nine antimicrobial agents were tested by an agar dilution technique against 230 anaerobic bacteria isolated solely from obstetric and gynecological infections . These genital isolates were, in general, very susceptible to imipenem (most active, inhibiting all gram-negative rods at less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml), clindamycin (all isolates inhibited at less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml), metronidazole (all gram-negative rods inhibited at less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml), and chloramphenicol . Penicillin G had generally low activity against Bacteroides spp., not restricted to just the Bacteroides fragilis group, although it was very active against gram-positive species . Bacteroides bivius, a species uniquely common in female genital infections, was particularly resistant (90% MIC, 64 U/ml) . Also, the Bacteroides melaninogenicus isolates were less susceptible than previously reported for isolates not exclusively from genital sites . Compared with moxalactam, cefotaxime, and cefoperazone, cefoxitin usually demonstrated equal or greater activity against most Bacteroides spp., with the exception of greater activity of moxalactam against B . fragilis (formerly subsp . fragilis) . Resistance to moxalactam was observed among strains of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, a common genital isolate . Overall, the activities of these four drugs were not as predictable as those observed for clindamycin, metronidazole, chloramphenicol, and imipenem. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1985 Mar, 3(2), 131 - 7 Disc diffusion method to screen for high-level resistance to clindamycin and erythromycin in the Bacteroides fragilis group; Callihan DR et al.; High-level clindamycin resistance in Bacteroides species was investigated by measuring zone sizes surrounding 2 micrograms clindamycin and 60 micrograms erythromycin discs, using a nonstandardized disc diffusion method, and by determining minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) . The absence of a zone of inhibition surrounding either disc was predictive for all isolates having high-level resistance to both antibiotics (MIC greater than 256 micrograms/ml), characteristic of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) cross-resistance . Although zone size could not be used as an absolute predictor of MIC, a clindamycin zone diameter of less than 17 mm was suggestive of strains with a moderate level of clindamycin resistance (MIC greater than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml), regardless of erythromycin zone size . Disc diffusion testing using a combination of clindamycin and erythromycin discs can be a useful screening method for detection of clindamycin-resistant Bacteroides species, occurring either alone or as part of the MLS resistance phenotype. Am J Med, 1985 Mar, 78(3), 513 - 4 Anaerobic myocardial abscess following myocardial infarction; Finley RW et al.; An anaerobic myocardial abscess due to Bacteroides fragilis developed in a 60-year-old man when he had an acute myocardial infarction while recuperating from surgery for a paracolonic abscess . Anaerobic bacteremia is a common event and may lead to infection in areas of low oxygen tension far removed from the original portal of entry. Clin Orthop, 1985 Mar, (193), 146 - 9 Air in painful total hip arthroplasty: diagnosis and treatment; Bach BR Jr et al.; A 78-year-old woman presented with a painful total hip arthroplasty five years postoperation . Plain radiographs revealed air in the hip joint . Aspiration of the hip indicated hip sepsis, and arthrogram showed communication of the hip joint with the sigmoid colon . Cultures grew Bacteroides fragilis . Abdominal exploration showed a ruptured diverticulum that decompressed through the sciatic notch into the total hip arthroplasty . A colostomy was performed, and the hip joint was drained and debrided laterally at the same operation . The prosthesis was later removed with all cement, and the hip was converted to a Girdlestone resection . The authors conclude that air or gas shadows in a painful total hip arthroplasty are an ominous finding and mean either joint sepsis with a gas-forming bacteria or communication of the joint with a hollow viscus and sepsis. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 1985 Mar, 1(1), 83 - 91 Laminitis and interdigital dermatitis and heel horn erosion . A European perspective; Peterse DJ; Laminitis is one of the most important claw disorders in dairy herds . Nutrition, calving, burdening of the lateral claw of the rear feet, and hereditary susceptibility are all contributing factors . Interdigital dermatitis in cattle may be a result of infection by Bacteroides nodosus and Fusobacterium necrophorum . If this infection becomes chronic, heel horn erosion is its consequence. J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Mar, 58(3), 327 - 31 A micro-chamber for continuous microscopic monitoring of anaerobic bacteria; Eley A et al.; A recently developed apparatus is described that allows continuous microscopic monitoring of bacteria grown in anaerobic conditions . Four species of Bacteroides were tested using this equipment and normal and reproducible growth rates were obtained in all cases. Infect Immun, 1985 Mar, 47(3), 638 - 47 Biochemical and immunobiological properties of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Bacteroides gingivalis and comparison with LPS from Escherichia coli; Koga T et al.; Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) were isolated from Bacteroides gingivalis and Escherichia coli by the phenol-water and butanol-water procedures . The phenol-water-extracted LPS from B . gingivalis 381 was composed of 46% carbohydrate, 23% hexosamine, 18% fatty acid, and 5% protein . The major component sugars of this preparation were glucose, glucosamine, rhamnose, galactose, galactosamine, and mannose, and their molecular ratio was 1:0.9:0.7:0.6:0.6:0.4, respectively . Neither heptose nor 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate was detected . The butanol-water-extracted LPS from this strain was composed of 76% glucose, 7% fatty acid, and 13% protein, and it was associated with a number of polypeptides (13 to 56 kilodaltons) . The main fatty acid of both LPS preparations was palmitic acid . It was found that biological activities of LPS from B . gingivalis were comparable to those of LPS from E . coli in terms of activation of the clotting enzyme of Limulus amebocyte lysate, mitogenicity, polyclonal B cell activation, and stimulation of interleukin 1 production in BALB/c mice . Furthermore, LPS-nonresponsive C3H/HeJ spleen cells were found to yield good mitogenic responses to both phenol-water-extracted LPS and butanol-water-extracted LPS from B . gingivalis or butanol-water-extracted LPS from E . coli . On the other hand, spleen cells from LPS-responsive C3H/HeN mice responded well to all these LPS preparations. J Bacteriol, 1985 Mar, 161(3), 1069 - 73 Characterization of Bacteroides ovatus plasmid pBI136 and structure of its clindamycin resistance region; Smith CJ; Genetic and physical analyses were used to characterize the Bacteroides ovatus R plasmid pBI136 . Results from restriction endonuclease cleavage studies were used to construct a physical map of the plasmid for the enzymes EcoRI, BamHI, ClaI, XbaI, SalI, and SmaI . Based on the sizes of restriction fragments generated in these studies, the plasmid was estimated to be 80.6 kilobase pairs (kb) . A 7.2-kb region of the plasmid required for resistance to lincosamide and macrolide (LM) antibiotics was mapped by analysis of spontaneously occurring LM-sensitive deletion derivatives . Hybridization studies showed that this region and an adjoining 2.9-kb EcoRI fragment were responsible for the previously reported homology among Bacteroides plasmids pBF4, pBFTM10, and pBI136 . Within this region of homology, 0.5 kb was attributed to a directly repeated sequence thought to bound the LM resistance determinant on pBF4 and pBFTM10 . Two pBI136 EcoRI fragments spanning the putative LM resistance region were cloned in Escherichia coli, and heteroduplex analysis of these recombinant plasmids revealed the presence of a 1.2-kb directly repeated sequence . These results suggested that the pBI136 LM resistance determinant resides on an 8.4-kb segment of DNA containing 6.0 kb of intervening DNA sequences bounded by a 1.2-kb directly repeated sequence. Can J Microbiol, 1985 Mar, 31(3), 238 - 50 Characteristics of the outer membrane of selected oral Bacteroides species; Williams GD et al.; The outer membranes from selected oral Bacteroides species were isolated and characterized morphologically, chemically, and physically . Both sucrose density gradient centrifugation and sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed outer membranes which varied slightly with the species, as well as showing complex polypeptide patterns after SDS--PAGE . The polypeptide distribution revealed a species-specific pattern; however, there was often a variation within a given species in many minor polypeptide bands, with heat-modifiable minor peptides occurring in nearly all species . Protein-associated carbohydrates occurred in several species . Outer membrane fragments (blebs) recovered by ultracentrifugation of the growth supernatants were either nearly identical to the outer membrane polypeptide patterns, or contained reduced amounts of specific polypeptides, again varying with the species . 125I-labelling of whole cells indicated possible surface exposure for several of the major polypeptides. Can J Microbiol, 1985 Feb, 31(2), 97 - 103 Description of an unusual gram-negative anaerobic rod isolated from periodontal pockets; Amundrud DG et al.; A Gram-negative rod which grew with an unusual colonial "water-drop" form was isolated from periodontal pocket samples from 12 patients . Six strains were characterized by biochemical tests, cell wall analyses, malate dehydrogenase mobilities, protein profiles, and serology . By these criteria, the organisms formed a group of similar strains which were anaerobic, nonmotile, nonsporing, Gram-negative rods resembling Bacteroides . Comparison of the isolates to American Type Culture Collection strains of Bacteroides showed that they represented a closely related group, distinct from the described species of oral Bacteroides . Initial results on the DNA of the isolates suggested a base ratio of 54-57% G + C . Despite the DNA G + C base ratios currently accepted for the Bacteroides (28-61 mol% G + C), many species fall into a narrower range of 40-52 mol% G + C . This range would exclude the organisms described here and suggests that placing them into the genus Bacteroides may be inappropriate. Can J Microbiol, 1985 Feb, 31(2), 161 - 72 Effects of peptidoglycans from periodontal pathogens on selected biological activities of CD-1 murine peritoneal macrophages; Barnard M et al.; Resident CD-1 murine peritoneal macrophages were exposed to various concentrations of purified peptidoglycan isolated from members of the genera Bacteroides, Eikenella, and Actinomyces . Macrophage viability, the release of lysozyme, acid phosphatase, and prostaglandins E1 and E2 were assayed as a function of peptidoglycan concentration and time . Macrophages responded as a function of peptidoglycan concentration with increased release of acid phosphatase and prostaglandins; all cells remained greater than 90% viable during the course of the experiments . However, concentrations of peptidoglycan greater than 50 micrograms/mL were toxic to the macrophages, while the peptidoglycan from B . capillus strain 925.08 and Actinomyces viscosus strain T14AV consumed complement by both the classical and the alternate pathways . Cellular lysozyme activity and phagocytosis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were significantly reduced in the presence of peptidoglycan . When viewed by scanning electron microscopy, the activated macrophages were rounded, lacked distinct pseudopod extensions, and possessed an increased number of microvilli and plasma membrane associated vesicles . These morphological alterations occurred as early as 3 h . Transmission electron microscopy revealed the purified peptidoglycan to have been taken up into numerous phagosomes; however, even after 24 h incubation, it was only partially degraded. Can J Microbiol, 1985 Feb, 31(2), 154 - 60 Isolation and characterization of the peptidoglycans from selected gram-positive and gram-negative periodontal pathogens; Barnard MR et al.; The peptidoglycans from several Gram-negative and Gram-positive periodontal pathogens were isolated, purified, and characterized both morphologically and chemically . In addition, the effects of the mureolytic enzymes, lysozyme, M-1 N-acetyl-muramidase, and the AM-3 endopeptidase, on the peptidoglycans were examined . These enzymes were found to be highly effective in the degradation of the purified peptidoglycans; however, a Bacteroides capillus peptidoglycan-protein complex exhibited a greater resistance to these enzymes . Morphologically, the peptidoglycans consisted of large saccular sheets which, when viewed by scanning electron microscopy, contained numerous holes and tears . Chemically, the peptidoglycans consisted of muramic acid, glucosamine, alanine, glutamic acid, and meso-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) . One Bacteroides species, Bacteroides gingivalis strain W, contained glycine and LL-DAP, suggestive of an indirectly cross-linked A3 gamma peptidoglycan. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {C}, 1985 Feb, 93(1), 7 - 11 Clearance of Bacteroides fragilis lipopolysaccharide in vivo; Sveen K; The clearance of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Bacteroides fragilis was studied, using wound chambers implanted subcutaneously in rabbits . The primary skin inflammatory reaction, the Limulus amoebocyte lysate test and the haemagglutination inhibition test all demonstrated a more rapid elimination of LPS from the wound chambers after the second injection, compared to the elimination rate after the first injection given three days earlier . The clearance rate of LPS was significantly higher (0.003 greater than or equal to p greater than or equal to 0.0006) and the number of accumulated leukocytes in the inflammatory exudate significantly lower (p less than or equal to 0.05) after the second injection . Antibodies to B . fragilis LPS in the exudate before the second endotoxin injection was of the 19S IgM class . This suggests that phagocytes in the granulation tissue lining the chamber walls may be of importance in the elimination of endotoxin. J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Feb, 21(2), 282 - 3 Bacteroides fragilis meningitis; Odugbemi T et al.; A fatal case of pyogenic meningitis due to Bacteroides fragilis in a 6-year-old boy is reported . The need for processing cerebrospinal fluid of patients with underlying conditions such as chronic otitis media for recovery of both aerobes and anaerobes is discussed. J Med Microbiol, 1985 Feb, 19(1), 85 - 94 Degradation of human immunoglobulins G and M and complement factors C3 and C5 by black-pigmented Bacteroides; Sundqvist G et al.; Strains of Bacteroides, Capnocytophaga and Fusobacterium were examined by immunological methods for their ability to degrade the human serum proteins IgG, IgM, C3 and C5 . The proteolytic activity of the strains was measured in terms of the breakdown of serum into trichloroacetic acid-soluble material . Only black-pigmented Bacteroides strains showed proteolytic activity . Strains of B . gingivalis degraded IgG, IgM, C3 and C5, strains of B . intermedius IgG and C3, strains of B . endodontalis C3 and IgG and a strain of B . loeschei degraded only IgG . These findings are discussed in relation to the pathogenicity of the black-pigmented Bacteroides. J Bacteriol, 1985 Feb, 161(2), 493 - 9 Location and characteristics of enzymes involved in the breakdown of polygalacturonic acid by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; McCarthy RE et al.; When Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is grown in medium which contains polygalacturonic acid (PGA) as the sole carbon source, two different polygalacturonases are produced: a PGA lyase (EC 4.2.2.2) and a PGA hydrolase (EC 3.2.1.15) . Both enzymes are cell associated . The PGA hydrolase appears to be an inner membrane protein . The PGA lyase is a soluble protein that associates with membranes under certain conditions . The PGA lyase was purified to apparent homogeneity . It has a molecular weight (from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) of 74,000, a pH optimum of 8.7, a pI of 7.5, and a Km for PGA of 40 to 70 micrograms/ml . It requires calcium for maximal activity . The main product of this enzyme appears to be a disaccharide that contains a delta 4,5-unsaturated galacturonic acid residue . The PGA hydrolase can be solubilized from membranes with 2% Triton X-100 and has been partially purified . It has a pH optimum of 5.4 to 5.5, a pI of 4.7 to 4.9, and a Km for PGA of 350 to 400 micrograms/ml . The main product of this enzyme appears to be galacturonic acid . The specific activities of both PGA hydrolase and PGA lyase increase at the same rate when bacteria are exposed to PGA . The two enzymes therefore appear to be similarly regulated. J Dent Res, 1985 Feb, 64(2), 106 - 11 Glycylprolyl dipeptidylaminopeptidase from Bacteroides gingivalis; Abiko Y et al.; Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activity was found in the culture medium of Bacteroides gingivalis 381 . The enzyme, hydrolyzing glycylprolyl-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide, was purified 750-fold from culture medium by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and DEAE Bio Gel A column chromatography . The molecular weight, determined by gel filtration, was approximately 160,000 . The isoelectric point of the enzyme, estimated by isoelectric focusing using polyacrylamide disk gel electrophoresis, was about pH 6.2 . The optimum pH of the enzyme was about 8.0, and the Km value was 0.05 mM . The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and diisopropylfluorophosphate . The purified enzyme specifically cleaved glycylprolyl dipeptide from partially digested type I collagen. Arch Surg, 1985 Feb, 120(2), 146 - 51 Lethal microbial synergism in intra-abdominal infections . Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis; Rotstein OD et al.; The ability of Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli to produce synergistic mortality when mixed into intraperitoneal (IP) fibrin clots was tested in rats . The addition of B fragilis (2 X 10(9) colony-forming units/clot) to E coli (2 X 10(8) colony-forming units/clot) in the clot significantly enhanced both early and late mortality rates when compared to either E coli or B fragilis alone . Multiple washings of B fragilis prior to mixing with E coli in the clot delayed the enhancement of lethality from 24 to 48 hours . By seven days, washed B fragilis was as synergistic with E coli as unwashed B fragilis plus E coli . Furthermore, unwashed killed B fragilis was as synergistic when mixed with E coli in the fibrin clot as unwashed living B fragilis . However, washed dead B fragilis plus E coli produced no greater mortality than E coli alone . The lethality of an IP clot containing E coli was significantly increased when B fragilis was mixed with it in the same clot, injected free IP, and or implanted into a separate IP clot . Intraperitoneal E coli-fibrin clot lethality was not increased by subcutaneous B fragilis and was only slightly enhanced by intravenous B fragilis inoculation . The strain of B fragilis used in these studies did not produce fibrinolysins at any concentration . The data support the idea that synergistic mortality between E coli and B fragilis in this model is caused by a heat-stable surface factor produced by B fragilis, which acts to increase the lethal effects of E coli. Can J Microbiol, 1985 Feb, 31(2), 134 - 8 Detection of collagenase activity in oral bacteria; Mayrand D et al.; Collagenolytic activity of 12 species of oral bacteria was assessed using two methods of detection . Except for two species, all bacterial strains tested were capable of degrading at least one general protein substrate . Results of collagenolytic activity in a growth assay indicate that Bacteroides gingivalis is the only bacterium capable of degrading collagen when the substrate is sterilized using ethylene oxide . However, if the substrate is sterilized by autoclaving, in the presence or absence of the growth medium, other bacterial species could be shown to be collagenolytic . Collagenolytic activity was also demonstrated when whole or broken cells were used in a {14C}collagen assay . Results from this assay and from inhibition studies indicate that collagenolytic activity can either be the result of the combined activities of both a specific collagenase and nonspecific proteases (B . gingivalis) or nonspecific proteases only (other strains in this study), although in the latter case, the time taken to hydrolyze collagen can be 10 times longer than with a specific collagenase. J Bacteriol, 1985 Feb, 161(2), 500 - 6 Purification and characterization of two alpha-galactosidases associated with catabolism of guar gum and other alpha-galactosides by Bacteroides ovatus; Gherardini F et al.; When Bacteroides ovatus is grown on guar gum, a galactomannan, it produces alpha-galactosidase I which is different from alpha-galactosidase II which it produces when grown on galactose, melibiose, raffinose, or stachyose . We have purified both of these enzymes to apparent homogeneity . Both enzymes appear to be trimers and have similar pH optima (5.9 to 6.4 for alpha-galactosidase I, 6.3 to 6.5 for alpha-galactosidase II) . However, alpha-galactosidase I has a pI of 5.6 and a monomeric molecular weight of 85,000, whereas alpha-galactosidase II has a pI of 6.9 and a monomeric molecular weight of 80,500 . alpha-Galactosidase I has a lower affinity for melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose (Km values of 20.8, 98.1, and 8.5 mM, respectively) than does alpha-galactosidase II (Km values of 2.3, 5.9, and 0.3 mM, respectively) . Neither enzyme was able to remove galactose residues from intact guar gum, but both were capable of removing galactose residues from guar gum which had been degraded into large fragments by mannanase . The increase in specific activity of alpha-galactosidase which was associated with growth on guar gum was due to an increase in the specific activity of enzyme I . Low, constitutive levels of enzyme II also were produced . By contrast, enzyme II was the only alpha-galactosidase that was detectable in bacteria which had been grown on galactose, melibiose, raffinose, or stachyose. Aust Vet J, 1985 Feb, 62(2), 47 - 9 The role of Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus in the aetiology of interdigital necrobacillosis in cattle; Clark BL et al.; When cultures of known pathogenic strains of Fusobacterium necrophorum, isolated either from cattle or sheep were injected through the interdigital skin of cattle typical lesions of interdigital necrobacillosis were produced . The inclusion of Bacteroides melaninogenicus in the inoculum did not appear to contribute to the development of lesions. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 1985 Fall, 7(3), 301 - 2 Anaerobic osteomyelitis in sickle cell disease: association and pathophysiology; Bannatyne RM et al.; A 10-year-old boy with sickle cell disease developed osteomyelitis of the humerus associated with blood cultures positive for Bacteroides fragilis . Clinical and radiological resolution followed a 10-day course of intravenous clindamycin . Attention is drawn to the definite but poorly recognized association between sickle cell disease and anaerobic osteomyelitis, and the probable pathophysiology is described. Microbiol Immunol, 1985, 29(5), 395 - 403 Fatty acid composition and Shwartzman activity of lipopolysaccharides from oral bacteria; Mashimo J et al.; The composition and the nature of the linkage of fatty acids and the Shwartzman activity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations derived from oral gram-negative bacteria including Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides loesheii, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans were examined . 3-Hydroxylated and nonhydroxy fatty acids of various chain lengths were found in all of the LPS preparations . All nonhydroxy fatty acids were found to be ester-bound, and part of the 3-hydroxy fatty acids in the LPS of B . gingivalis, E . corrodens, F . nucleatum, and A . actinomycetemcomitans were shown to be involved in ester linkage . It was also suggested that the hydroxy group of the ester-bound 3-hydroxy fatty acid of the LPS of F . nucleatum and A . actinomycetemcomitans is at least partly substituted by another fatty acid, but in the LPS of B . gingivalis and E . corrodens it is not . The main amide-linked fatty acid of the LPS of B . gingivalis, E . corrodens, F . nucleatum, and A . actinomycetemcomitans was 3-hydroxyheptadecanoic, 3-hydroxydodecanoic, 3-hydroxyhexadecanoic, and 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, respectively . The results of the Shwartzman assay showed that the E . corrodens LPS was the most active among the preparations tested, and that the Shwartzman toxicity of Bacteroides LPS is extremely low. Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(4), 297 - 303 Relative antibacterial efficacy of clindamycin and metronidazole against Bacteroides fragilis in vitro and in experimentally infected mice; Dijkmans BA et al.; The antibacterial activity of clindamycin and metronidazole against Bacteroides fragilis was quantitated in vitro by MIC determination and colony counting at 24 h and in vivo from the effects on an experimental B . fragilis infection in mice; this infection was established after co-inoculation of B . fragilis and Escherichia coli . In vitro, clindamycin was 8 to 16 times more effective than metronidazole in terms of MIC values, and more than 30 times according to colony counts at 24 h . In vivo clindamycin was almost 8 times less effective than metronidazole according to dose . This was partly due to its less favorable pharmacokinetic properties, but clindamycin was still only 1.6 times more effective than metronidazole according to free plasma concentrations . In vivo neither clindamycin nor metronidazole had any antibacterial effect against E . coli . The discrepancy between the in vivo and in vitro results for B . fragilis is discussed. Clin Neurol Neurosurg, 1985, 87(2), 131 - 2 Anaerobic meningitis in an infant associated with pilonidal cyst abscess; Brook I; A 5-month-old infant whose infected pilonidal sinus was surgically removed, developed meningitis due to Bacteroides fragilis . A similar organism was also recovered from the infected pilonidal cyst along with anaerobic Gram positive cocci . The patient was treated with intravenous chloramphenicol for 4 weeks and recovered without sequela . Attention should be paid to the possibility of meningitis due to anaerobes in children with an infected pilonidal sinus. Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(3), 173 - 7 Augmentation effect of clavulanic acid with penicillin, cephalothin and ticarcillin against Bacteroides fragilis; Bansal MB et al.; The effect of clavulanic acid on the in vitro activity of beta-lactam antibiotics against Bacteroides fragilis (154 strains) was tested . The MIC90 on 154 strains of B . fragilis tested was greater than 64 micrograms/ml for penicillin and cephalothin, and greater than 128 for ticarcillin alone . 32 strains of B . fragilis relatively resistant to the test beta-lactam antibiotics (most of them beta-lactamase producers) were retested with the addition of clavulanic acid . 90% of the strains were then inhibited by less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml of penicillin and cephalothin, and by 32 micrograms/ml of ticarcillin . The strongest beta-lactamase producers were the most susceptible, and this was not influenced by change in pH of the diluent for clavulanic acid from 6.0 to 7.4 . Both penicillin and cephalothin when combined with clavulanic acid were highly effective against B . fragilis but the therapeutic relevance of these combinations remains to be evaluated. J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 131 ( Pt 1), 1 - 6 Primary structure of pilin protein from Bacteroides nodosus strain 216: comparison with the corresponding protein from strain 198; McKern NM et al.; The amino acid sequence of pilin protein from Bacteroides nodosus strain 216 was determined . The protein had a calculated molecular weight of 15962 and contained the same number of amino acid residues (151) as the pilin from the previously sequenced strain 198 . The sequence of the first 44 residues was common to both strains, including the unusual amino-terminal amino acid, N-methylphenylalanine . Of the remaining 107 residues, 37% of them differed between the two strains . Comparison of hydrophilicity profiles constructed from the sequence data indicated that a conserved region around residues 71-72 was probably the site of an antigenic determinant. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1985, 173(6), 319 - 28 Indirect serum haemagglutinating antibody response to black pigmented Bacteroides during experimental pure infections in rats; Pancholi V et al.; The humoral immune response during experimental infection with black pigmented bacteroides was studied by the indirect haemagglutination test . Both Bacteroides melanimogenicus (ATCC 25845) and B . intermedius (ATCC 25611), grown in semi-solid agar culture, produced pure subcutaneous, intra-abdominal and lung infections . In each of these infection models, B . intermedius was found to be more pathogenic than B . melaninogenicus on the basis of gross pathology of the lesion, bacteriological and histopathological findings, and the capacity to produce persistent infection . Cytoplasmic extracts of these strains were used as an antigen for the indirect haemagglutination test . In all the infections, B . intermedius provoked a better and higher antibody response than did B . melaninogenicus, suggesting a potent immunogenic property of the former strain . Peak antibody titres in both groups during all the above infections were seen between the 10th and 15th days post infection (p.i.), which was precisely 3-5 days after peak lesion was achieved . A significant IHA antibody titre persisted up to days 30-37 p.i . These findings suggest that the antibodies to the black pigmented Bacteroides are not protective, but may play a role in the pathogenesis of the diseases. Acta Otolaryngol, 1985 Jan-Feb, 99(1-2), 60 - 6 Efficacy of Metronidazole in experimental Bacteroides fragilis otitis media; Thore M et al.; The efficacy of metronidazole in otitis media due to Bacteroides fragilis was evaluated in a guinea pig model . Fifty-nine animals received an injection of 10(8) live B . fragilis bacteria through the tympanic membrane into the right middle ear cavity and metronidazole therapy was started 7 days later . On day 14 after challenge the animals were sacrificed and their middle ears analysed . Intraperitoneal injection of 6 mg metronidazole (about 20 mg per kg) once daily, 6 mg twice daily and 15 mg (50 mg per kg) once daily reduced the incidence of culture positive ears from 13/17 among untreated controls to 7/17 (p = 0.08), 3/10 (p = 0.05) and 2/15 (p = 0.001), respectively . The therapeutic efficacy of metronidazole in experimental otitis media was less than that expected from the concentrations of drug recorded in serum and the drug levels presumed to be achieved in the middle ear effusion. Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(1), 29 - 33 Infection with clindamycin-resistant bacteroides uniformis; Zar FA et al.; We report a case of osteomyelitis due to a strain of Bacteroides uniformis highly resistant to clindamycin . The patient failed to respond to intravenous clindamycin therapy and eventually required amputation . This is the first documented occurrence of high-level clindamycin resistance in a clinical isolate of B . uniformis. Infect Immun, 1985 Jan, 47(1), 166 - 8 Comparison of Bacteroides zoogleoformans strains isolated from soft tissue infections in cats with strains from periodontal disease in humans; Love DN et al.; A total of 11 strains of Bacteroides zoogleoformans were isolated from 11 of 106 different cat subcutaneous "fight wound" abscesses and were among a total of 143 Bacteroides species isolated from these samples . They constituted 3.4% (11 of 325) of all anaerobic isolates . The cat strains and strains of B . zoogleoformans isolated from humans with periodontal disease were similar phenotypically as determined by biochemical reactions, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of soluble proteins, and guanine plus cytosine ratios of DNA . Eight cat strains and five human strains tested had 45 to 54% DNA homology with the type strain of B . zoogleoformans . The eight cat strains and five human strains (excluding the type strain) were related by DNA homology at 70 to 77% . There was 85 to 90% intragroup DNA homology among the cat strains and 86 to 89% intragroup homology among the five human strains . The implications for epidemiology and human and animal ecology are discussed. Arch Oral Biol, 1985, 30(5), 391 - 6 Glycosaminoglycan-depolymerizing enzymes produced by anaerobic bacteria isolated from the human mouth; Tipler LS et al.; A number of obligately anaerobic bacteria, some implicated in periodontal disease, were screened for their ability to produce enzymes capable of degrading hyaluronic acid and chondroitin-4-sulphate . Two screening methods were used following anaerobic incubation at 37 degrees C for 7 days . One involved incorporating the respective substrates and bovine-serum albumin into agar plates and, after incubation, flooding the plates with 2 M acetic acid . Clear zones were produced around colonies which produced enzymes capable of depolymerizing the substrates . The second was a sensitive spectrophotometric procedure based on the ability of certain bacteria to produce eliminase enzymes, which degrade the substrates to unsaturated products having a characteristic u.v . absorption at 232 nm . Strains of Bacteroides gingivalis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus degraded both substrates whereas Bacteroides asaccharolyticus degraded neither substrate by either method . Some bacteria gave negative results with the plate method whereas the more sensitive spectrophotometric assay proved positive . The number of anaerobic bacteria capable of degrading hyaluronic acid and chondroitin-4-sulphate in vitro may therefore have been underestimated in previous studies. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1985, 46, 7 - 13 The classification and differentiation of the anaerobic gram-negative rods; Barnes EM; Within the family Bacteroidaceae differentiation of the genera Leptotrichia, Fusobacterium and Bacteroides still depends largely on the accumulation of certain fermentation products . The application of newer techniques, both genetical and chemical is leading to a reappraisal of the current classification . So far attention has focussed on the genus Bacteroides and has been concerned with the status of B . fragilis and related organisms and the description of a number of new species within the B . ruminicola/oralis group . The differentiation of pigment-producing strains, all known originally as B . melaninogenicus, has led to the establishment of at least 9 species . The transfer of certain Bacteroides species to new genera is also being considered. Scand J Infect Dis, 1985, 17(3), 311 - 21 Efficacy of amoxycillin and benzylpenicillin combined with clavulanic acid against Bacteroides fragilis in vitro and in experimentally infected mice; Dijkmans BA et al.; Because the insensitivity of Bacteroides fragilis to penicillins is due to betalactamase formation, the potentiating effect of the betalactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid on the action of amoxycillin and benzylpenicillin against this bacterium was studied in vitro and in an experimental infection in mice . The addition of clavulanic acid to amoxycillin and benzylpenicillin resulted in a marked synergistic effect against B . fragilis, as assessed by both MIC determinations and in 4-h growth curves . In the experimental infection, where co-inoculation with Escherichia coli was obligatory for the outgrowth of B . fragilis, both penicillins had a dose-dependent effect on both species . However, the addition of clavulanic acid to amoxycillin and benzylpenicillin did not increase the effect of the penicillins against B . fragilis or against E . coli . Because a synergistic effect might have remained undetected in vivo, the experimental conditions were varied, i.e . the drugs were administered in the proliferation phase of B . fragilis, the clavulanic acid to betalactam ratios were varied, and the drugs were given after inoculation of B . fragilis in which betalactamase production has been induced . However, even after variation of the experimental conditions the addition of clavulanic acid to benzylpenicillin did not result in a potentiation of the effect of benzylpenicillin against B . fragilis. Microbios, 1985, 43(173), 115 - 33 A comparative study of three bacteriocins of Bacteroides fragilis; Riley TV et al.; Three different bacteriocins produced by strains of Bacteroides fragilis were compared in terms of their production kinetics, physico-chemical nature, and action on macromolecular synthesis in a common indicator strain . Bacteriocin 78/438 was produced during the logarithmic growth phase, was thermolabile and stable between pH 5 and 9 . It was susceptible to trypsin and pepsin, and affected DNA, RNA and protein syntheses in susceptible cells . Bacteriocin A49 was produced during the stationary growth phase, was thermolabile and stable between pH 7 and 9 . This bacteriocin was also susceptible to trypsin and pepsin, but only RNA synthesis was affected in the indicator strain . Bacteriocin A55 differed markedly from both 78/438 and A49, and was found to be predominantly cell-bound, resistant to inactivation by high temperatures and stable over a wide pH range of 2 to 12 . It was susceptible to trypsin but resistant to pepsin . A55 had a delayed effect on macromolecular synthesis with DNA synthesis being inhibited after 60 min . With all three bacteriocins, killing of the indicator strain followed single hit kinetics with the interaction of bacteriocin and target cell occurring in two stages . Killing by bacteriocin A55 was much slower than the other two and this may be related to its effect on macromolecular synthesis . The killing action of all three bacteriocins was dependent on the growth phase of the susceptible cells. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1985, 174(3), 131 - 7 Effect of the presence of black pigmented Bacteroides of differing pathogenicity on the phagocytosis of Escherichia coli by rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes; Pancholi V et al.; An investigation was made of the ability of rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) to phagocytose Escherichia coli in the presence of two species of black pigmented Bacteroides (B . melaninogenicus and B . intermedius) . When both the bacteria were opsonized together in the presence of normal rat serum, B . melaninogenicus and B . intermedius impaired the phagocytosis of E . coli significantly . However, the phagocytosis of these black pigmented Bacteroides remained unaffected in the presence of E . coli . The inhibition of phagocytosis was seen only after the initial first hour of incubation . The inhibition of phagocytosis of E . coli in the presence of B . intermedius was more than in the presence of B . melaninogenicus . The above observation confirms the important role played by black pigmented Bacteroides in experimental mixed infections with E . coli as observed by us earlier. Eur Surg Res, 1985, 17(3), 155 - 9 Standardized intraabdominal abscess formation with generalized sepsis: pathophysiology in the rat; Hansson L et al.; Gelatine capsules containing Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis in a standardized mixture with rat colonic content and barium sulfate were implanted intraabdominally into rats . Capsules of 0.75 g gave approximately 50% mortality whereas 0.35 and 1.10 g caused no or 100% mortality, respectively . In subsequent experiments, using the 0.75 g capsule, all animals became ill with signs of tachypnea, piloerection, low physical activity and hypersecretion of saliva 6-8 h after the implantation . The animals reduced their water and food intake substantially and the body weight decreased . A significant reduction in blood pressure, glucose and leukocyte and platelet counts was found 12 h after challenge . Blood cultures obtained at 12, 24, 48 and 60 h all grew E . coli but none B . fragilis . Succumbed animals revealed diffuse peritonitis with growth of E . coli and B . fragilis at autopsy, whereas surviving animals showed abscess formation at investigation on day 8 after challenge . It was concluded that the model closely resembled intraabdominal abscess formation with sepsis in man. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Jan, 15(1), 77 - 82 Combined activity of metronidazole and gentamicin on Bacteroides fragilis in vivo and in vitro; Dijkmans BA et al.; A mixed aerobic/anaerobic infection in mice was established by co-injecting Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli into a thigh muscle . Metronidazole administration 6 h after this inoculation resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of Bact . fragilis at 18 h after drug administration . Co-administration of gentamicin with metronidazole resulted in a significant decrease of the numbers of E . coli but did not markedly influence the effect of metronidazole on Bact . fragilis. Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(1), 50 - 4 Response of a 'susceptible' Escherichia coli to metronidazole therapy: an investigation using experimental subcutaneous abscesses; Reznikov M et al.; Earlier experiments under anaerobic conditions in vitro had indicated that Gram-negative facultative anaerobes were susceptible to therapeutically attainable