Bacteroides

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 concentrations of metronidazole . This prompted us to study the response of one such strain to metronidazole therapy . Mice with 3-day-old subcutaneous abscesses induced by 'susceptible' Escherichia coli (accompanied by potentiating agent and obligately anaerobic Bacteroides fragilis) were given metronidazole by mouth (250 mg/kg/dose 12 hourly) either as a two- or a four-dose course . This therapy reduced the viable numbers of E . coli/abscess by a mere 0.3 log10 and 0.7 log10, respectively . Assays showed that concentrations of metronidazole in abscess-contents compared favourably with those in the earlier in vitro experiments . But measurement of redox potentials in abscesses indicated that the conditions in these (-191 mV vs . Ag/AgCl) were not nearly as reduced as those in experiments in vitro (-650 mV) . This, and the known dependence of metronidazole on low redox potentials for expression of its antimicrobial ability, appears to be the explanation for the poor anticoliform effect in the subcutaneous abscess model . Full assessment of the clinical implications of these observations must await the availability of data regarding redox potentials in clinical situations.

J Clin Pathol, 1985 Jan, 38(1), 86 - 91
Killing of Escherichia coli by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the presence of Bacteroides fragilis; Vel WA et al.; The inhibitory effect of Bacteroides fragilis on the in vitro killing of Escherichia coli by polymorphonuclear leucocytes was studied with two pairs of E coli and B fragilis isolated from human wound infections . Both B fragilis strains behaved similarly: they inhibited the killing of one E coli strain, while the killing of the other E coli strain was not affected . The different behaviour of the two E coli strains depended on their need for fresh serum in the killing by the polymorphonuclear leucocytes . The inhibitory effect of the B fragilis strains could be completely accounted for by their effect on complement.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1985, 35(1A), 348 - 50
Beta-lactamases from Bacteroides fragilis active against oximino-cephalosporins; Werner RG et al.; Four clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis were resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins with exception to 7-alpha-methoxy cephalosporins such as latamoxef (moxalactam) and cefoxitin . In contrast the 6-alpha-methoxy penicillin temocillin was not active . The beta-lactam resistance correlates with the presence of two beta-lactamases with an isoelectric point (IEP) = 4.9 and 5.4, respectively . The necessity of antimicrobial susceptibility testing before the therapy of infections with anaerobic bacteria is discussed.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1985, 46, 96 - 100
Treatment of anaerobic septicemia; Kalager T et al.; Septicemia caused by anaerobic bacteria is indistinguishable from septicemia caused by aerobic bacteria . High age, origin in the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract, malignancies and surgery or invasive, diagnostic procedures are indicative of anaerobic etiology . Between 5% and 15% of all septicemias are anaerobic . Benzylpenicillin is active against most anaerobic bacteria, and nitroimidazoles, clindamycin and chloramphenicol are dependable drugs in the treatment of bacteroides septicemias . Surgical drainage and debridement are of major importance, and proper measures to prevent circulatory failure are mandatory . Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may have a dramatic effect . The use of corticosteroids and endorphin antagonists is controversial . Exchange transfusions have been attempted, but further clinical trials are necessary to establish their place in the management of anaerobic septicemia.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1985, 46, 33 - 6
Adhesion of anaerobic gram-negative bacteria to mucosal surfaces; Hofstad T et al.; Fusobacterium nucleatum and black-pigmented Bacteroides species adhere to red blood cells and crevicular epithelium . The attachment of the bacteroides, but not F . nucleatum, is associated with the presence of fimbriae-like structures on the bacterial surface . Such structures have been observed also in unencapsulated Bacteroides fragilis able to adhere to human red cells and cheek epithelium . Encapsulated B . fragilis adheres to porcine brush borders, but the number of adhering cells per brush border fragment is low.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1985, 46, 106 - 14
The therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in patients with periodontal disease; Loesche WJ; Periodontal disease is the collective term given to a variety of inflammatory conditions in the tissue that supports and secures the teeth to the jawbone . The inflammatory response is to bacterial products and/or bacteria that enter the tissue from the dental plaque . The dental plaque is a complex microbial community containing over 190 different taxa that exist on the tooth surfaces . In periodontitis the majority of the plaque bacteria are anaerobes including the black pigmented bacteroides species and motile forms such as spirochetes . This suggested that a systemic antimicrobial specific for anaerobes might be of value in the treatment of periodontitis . Two double blind studies are reviewed which indicate that metronidazole plus mechanical debridement of the root surfaces is significantly better than placebo plus mechanical debridement in the treatment of advanced cases of periodontitis especially when the periodontal pockets are 6 mm or more in depth.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1985, 46, 101 - 5
Treatment of orofacial infections of odontogenic origin; Heimdahl A et al.; Acute purulent orofacial infections are often of odontogenic origin . The microorganisms and the anatomical site involved, largely determine the clinical manifestations . The infections are usually self-limiting but serious complications may ensue . Direct invasion of different anatomical spaces may cause mediastinitis, airway obstruction and also intracranial spread . Anaerobic bacteria belonging to the normal oropharyngeal flora (anaerobic cocci, bacteroides and fusobacteria) are usually isolated from orofacial abscesses . Surgical treatment including incision and drainage is essential . The drug of choice for antimicrobial therapy is penicillin . Penicillin resistant anaerobic bacteria may however make penicillin ineffective and antimicrobial agents such as metronidazole or clindamycin are then recommended to be used.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 21(1), 24 - 8
Bacterial chromosomal restriction endonuclease analysis of the homology of Bacteroides species; Bradbury WC et al.; Chromosomal DNAs of selected Bacteroides organisms whose relatedness had been previously determined by "conventional" filter-annealing studies (J . L . Johnson, Int . J . Syst . Bacteriol . 28:245, 1978) were further analyzed by restriction endonuclease analysis coupled with the Southern hybridization procedure (E . M . Southern, J . Mol . Biol . 98:503, 1975) . By comparing their EcoRI restriction fragment patterns in agarose gel electrophoresis, each Bacteroides strain could be clearly differentiated . As a simple and direct means for comparison purposes this method was particularly useful for differentiating genetically similar organisms such as Bacteroides strains of the same species which shared greater than 75% homology . In contrast, bacterial chromosomal restriction endonuclease analysis in conjunction with Southern hybridizations was most effectively used to determine the significance of low levels of homology (less than 24%) as this technique provided additional information on the nature and relative distribution of that homology when the areas of homology were displayed as reproducible bands in autoradiograms.

Microbios, 1985, 42(171S), 273 - 85
The influence of incubation time and medium composition on fatty acid production by some Bacteroides species; Salt WG et al.; Thirteen strains (eleven species) of Bacteroides have been examined for the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) . Two media, cooked meat glucose (CMG) and peptone yeast glucose (PYG) were examined quantitatively by gas liquid chromatography (glc) after anaerobic incubation at 37 degrees C for up to 7 days . Growth and medium pH were monitored in PYG for two species . The SCFA profile was established after 12 h and the amount of acids produced was greater in CMG than in PYG; both CMG and PYG contained SCFAs prior to inoculation . Maximum acid production and lowering of pH appear to coincide with the stationary phase of growth . Results are discussed in terms of a standardized approach to the identification of anaerobic bacteria.

Vet Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 10(2), 107 - 16
Motility in relation to virulence of Bacteroides nodosus; Depiazzi LJ et al.; Fourteen Bacteroides nodosus isolates from footrot lesions of sheep were examined microscopically and all were found to have twitching motility . The mean percentage of cells showing motility was 40% and 9% for virulent and benign strains, respectively . This corresponded with mean agar colony diameters of 17 mm and 7 mm, respectively, for these strains . Two strains of intermediate virulence had values of motility and colony diameter similar to the benign strains . However, the intermediate and the virulent strains produced relatively stable protease compared to the benign strains . All virulent, benign and intermediate strains produced abundant pili . Included for comparison in this study was an avirulent variant strain which was highly motile, formed large colonies and produced stable protease, but showed no pili on electron microscopy . It was concluded that the properties of motility and protease stability may be used to distinguish, in the laboratory, wild-type virulent, benign and intermediate strains of B . nodosus.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1985, 34(1), 47 - 53
Properties of Bacteroides fragilis antigens with specificity B; Sawicka-Grzelak A et al.; Five different serologically active preparations were extracted from Bacteroides ovatus ATCC 8483 strain . These substances and sixteen preparations of culture supernatants all giving a positive reaction with antiserum of serotype B were used as inhibitors in haemagglutination inhibition test . The results showed that substances obtained from the culture supernatants differ from endotoxin of Bacteroides ovatus ATCC 8483 serotype B.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1985, 51(3), 263 - 73
Immunochemical investigations of antigens isolated from Bacteroides ovatus strain ATCC 8483; Beckmann I et al.; A saline extract (SE) and a phenol/water extract (WL) were prepared from Bacteroides ovatus strain ATCC 8483 . A fraction CS was isolated from the culture supernatant . WL was further split by ultracentrifugation into lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and supernatant (L1) . Fractions SE, WL, LPS and L1 reacted serologically with homologous antiserum but did not cross-react with antisera against heterologous Bacteroides serotypes . Fraction CS was inactive in haemagglutination, haemagglutination inhibition and immunoelectrophoresis tests . SE, WL, LPS and L1 proved to be serologically heterogeneous . A distinct serological specificity for SE was demonstrated . The serological reactivity in SE and WL was not altered after treatment with proteolytic enzymes yet completely destroyed in WL and partially in SE by sodium metaperiodate . SE, WL, LPS and L1 contained the sugar components rhamnose, fucose, ribose, mannose, galactose, glucose and glucosamine in different molar ratios for each fraction . Galactosamine was found in WL and LPS, uronic acid in WL and L1 . Two unidentified aminohexoses were detected in WL, one of which was also detectable in L1 and SE . 2-Keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid was demonstrated in LPS and L1 after strong acid hydrolysis.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1984 Dec 15, 150(8), 965 - 72
Risk factors for prematurity and premature rupture of membranes: a prospective study of the vaginal flora in pregnancy; Minkoff H et al.; Prematurity remains a major cause of perinatal mortality in the United States . Some research has indicated that infectious agents play a role in either initiating preterm labor, causing premature rupture of the membranes, or preventing tocolysis . This study attempted to determine if the presence of various vaginal pathogens in early pregnancy was associated with the subsequent development of premature rupture of membranes or preterm labor . We found that among 233 evaluable patients those with Trichomonas vaginalis were significantly more likely to have premature rupture of the membranes (p less than 0.03), and those with Bacteroides sp . were more likely to be delivered of their infants before 37 weeks (p less than 0.03) and to have infants weighing less than 2500 gm (p less than 0.05) . Those with Ureaplasma urealyticum more frequently began preterm labor (p less than 0.05) . Preterm premature rupture of the membranes was found significantly more often among patients with Bacteroides sp . Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that those associations were not related to the number of previous abortions, deliveries, or preterm deliveries or to maternal age . We conclude that microbiologic screening in early pregnancy may aid in the assessment of patient risk for preterm delivery.

Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci, 1984 Dec, 62 ( Pt 6), 717 - 26
Physiological properties and plasmid content of Bacteroides spp; Riley TV et al.; A collection of 50 clinical isolates of Bacteroides was examined for plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid content . An attempt was then made to correlate the presence of plasmids with a specific phenotypic property . Of the 20 Bacteroides which contained plasmids, 18 were found to harbour plasmids of less than or equal to 9.8 megadaltons . The most common plasmid had a molecular weight of 4.8 megadaltons and was found in 9 strains . Most strains had multiple plasmid bands . All strains were examined for resistance to penicillin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, tetracycline, sulphamethoxazole, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, arsenate, silver, cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead, nickel and cobalt, and for the production of beta-lactamase, heparinase, deoxyribonuclease, haemolysins and bacteriocins . Using a Chi-squared analysis, there was no statistically significant correlation between any of these phenotypic traits and the presence of plasmids, except bacteriocin production . A total of 15 out of 20 (75%) of plasmid-containing strains produced bacteriocins while only 10 out of 30 (33%) of plasmid-free strains were capable of bacteriocin production (chi 2, p less than 0.005) . Attempts to transfer or cure resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals or bacteriocin production were not successful.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 57(3), 405 - 11
Immunochemical and biological studies of antigens isolated from a strain of Bacteroides fragilis; Meisel-Mikolajczyk F et al.; Phenol/water-extracted lipopolysaccharide and a fraction of HM, extracted with acetate buffer pH 2.0, from Bacteroides fragilis strain 62/73 are antigenically different as shown by immunodiffusion, passive haemagglutination, haemagglutination inhibition and preliminary chemical investigations . Biological activity, assessed with the local Shwartzmann reaction, was demonstrated for the lipopolysaccharide whereas antigen HM was almost inactive in this test . HM is immunogenic in rabbits . Antibodies against HM were detected in seven out of ten sera of healthy humans.

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Dec, 45(12), 2631 - 3
Susceptibility of Bacteroides from swine abscesses to 13 antibiotics; Benno Y et al.; The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 129 strains of genus Bacteroides, isolated from abscesses in pigs, for 13 different antimicrobial agents were determined by an agar-dilution method under anaerobic conditions . Clindamycin, the most active antibiotic tested, had a median MIC of 0.8 micrograms/ml . Penicillin G, talampicillin, minocycline, chloramphenicol, and cefoxitin also inhibited all isolates at lower concentrations . Some isolates of B pyogenes were susceptible to gentamicin (MIC, 0.4 micrograms/ml), erythromycin (MIC, 0.8 micrograms/ml), cephalexin (MIC, 0.8 micrograms/ml), and cefoxitin (MIC, 3.2 micrograms/ml) . Erythromycin, at a concentration of 3.2 micrograms/ml, was active against 70% of B suis tested, but it was less active against the other Bacteroides species . Some strains tested were resistant to streptomycin and neomycin.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 20(6), 1122 - 5
Differentiation of Bacteroides ovatus and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron by means of bacteriophage; Cooper SW et al.; Two members of the Bacteroides fragilis group, B . ovatus and B . thetaiotaomicron, are difficult to distinguish by biochemical methods . They are currently identified on the basis of their variable ability to ferment salicin . We studied a method of identification for these two species by using cell lysis by bacteriophages . A total of 38 bacteriophages were used to distinguish the two species . Identification by bacteriophages was compared with species identification by prereduced anaerobically sterilized biochemical testing with salicin as the differentiating test . A total of 215 clinical isolates biochemically identified as B . ovatus or B . thetaiotaomicron were tested . A total of 100% of the strains identified as B . ovatus by bacteriophages produced strong acid in salicin (pH less than or equal to 5.4) . However, 40% of the strains identified as B . thetaiotaomicron by bacteriophages also produced strong acid in salicin, and an additional 39% produced weak acid (pH 5.5 to 5.7) . This study demonstrates that salicin fermentation is an inadequate test for the differentiation of B . ovatus and B . thetaiotaomicron.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 20(6), 1060 - 4
Comparison of anaerobic susceptibility results obtained by two methods of inoculum preparation; Bourgault AM et al.; We evaluated the use of inocula prepared directly from blood agar plates in agar dilution susceptibility tests of anaerobic bacteria and compared the results with susceptibility results obtained from the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards proposed thioglycolate broth cultures . The objectives were to evaluate the reproducibility of each of the two methods of inoculum preparation and to compare the MICs obtained by each method . The reproducibility studies were conducted on 14 stock strains . The mode MICs obtained by the direct agar method were identical to those obtained by the reference broth method 74% of the time and within +/- 1 log2 dilution 100% of the time . The degree of reproducibility of each of the two methods was identical (93% +/- 1 log2 dilution) . MIC results obtained by the direct agar method agreed with the MICs obtained by the reference broth culture method in 92.9% of 1,125 MIC data pair determinations performed on stock cultures . The reproducibility of the direct agar method within +/- 1 log2 dilution step for 115 fresh clinical isolates was 93%, including 93.4% of the results with the Bacteroides fragilis group . Only two very major discrepancies (false-susceptible by the agar method) were identified among the 708 MIC data pairs on these clinical isolates . Preparation of inocula directly from growth on agar plates provides a rapid and reproducible method for agar dilution susceptibility testing of anaerobes.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Dec, 14(6), 633 - 40
Therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties of rifampicin in a Bacteroides fragilis intra-abdominal abscess; Fu KP et al.; The efficacy of rifampicin in treating a Bacteroides fragilis infection was investigated and compared to clindamycin and metronidazole in an experimental model of intra-abdominal abscess in mice . Rifampicin, when given subcutaneously, showed activity superior to that of clindamycin in reducing the incidence of abscess formation as well as the number of Bacteroides organisms recovered from the abscess, and rifampicin was comparable in efficacy to metronidazole when given orally at the same dose level . The comparative pharmacokinetic properties of rifampicin and clindamycin demonstrated that the peak serum and abscess levels reached with rifampicin were significantly higher than those of clindamycin . The half-life of rifampicin in serum and in the abscess was longer than that of clindamycin.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 18(3), 355 - 63
The bactericidal action of human serum on Bacteroides species; Rotimi VO et al.; Sera obtained from 60 healthy normal subjects were tested for their inhibitory action against four clinical isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group . All the sera inhibited clinical strains of B . vulgatus and B . ovatus, 92% of 60 sera inhibited B . thetaiotaomicron and 62% inhibited B . fragilis . Bacterial inhibition required components of uninactivated serum and was related to the serum concentrations and species of the bacteria . The viable counts of all the strains, except B . fragilis, were significantly reduced in pooled sera from patients with anaerobic systemic infections and from non-infected patients . The bactericidal activity of the sera from infected patients was more pronounced than that of the 'normal' sera, on all strains except B . fragilis . These observations may explain in part the predominance of B . fragilis in serious clinical infections involving anaerobes.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 48(6), 1111 - 7
Alternative pathways for biosynthesis of leucine and other amino acids in Bacteroides ruminicola and Bacteroides fragilis; Allison MJ et al.; Bacteroides ruminicola is one of several species of anaerobes that are able to reductively carboxylate isovalerate (or isovaleryl-coenzyme A) to synthesize alpha-ketoisocaproate and thus leucine . When isovalerate was not supplied to growing B . ruminicola cultures, carbon from {U-14C}glucose was used for the synthesis of leucine and other cellular amino acids . When unlabeled isovalerate was available, however, utilization of {U-14C}glucose or {2-14C}acetate for leucine synthesis was markedly and specifically reduced . Enzyme assays indicated that the key enzyme of the common isopropylmalate (IPM) pathway for leucine biosynthesis, IPM synthase, was present in B . ruminicola cell extracts . The specific activity of IPM synthase was reduced when leucine was added to the growth medium but was increased by the addition of isoleucine plus valine, whereas the addition of isovalerate had little or no effect . The activity of B . ruminicola IPM synthase was strongly inhibited by leucine, the end product of the pathway . It seems unlikely that the moderate inhibition of the enzyme by isovalerate adequately explains the regulation of carbon flow by isovalerate in growing cultures . Bacteroides fragilis apparently also uses either the isovalerate carboxylation or the IPM pathway for leucine biosynthesis . Furthermore, both of these organisms synthesize isoleucine and phenylalanine, using carbon from 2-methylbutyrate and phenylacetate, respectively, in preference to synthesis of these amino acids de novo from glucose . Thus, it appears that these organisms have the ability to regulate alternative pathways for the biosynthesis of certain amino acids and that pathways involving reductive carboxylations are likely to be favored in their natural habitats.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 3(6), 538 - 41
Wound infection rates after intraincisional plus systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in an animal model; Moesgaard F et al.; The effect of intraincisional application of antibiotics in addition to systemic antibiotic prophylaxis was evaluated in a randomized blind study using a guinea pig model of surgical wound infection . Wounds were contaminated with 10(7) Escherichia coli plus 10(8) Bacteroides fragilis . Wound infection was defined as accumulation of pus draining spontaneously or after opening the wound . Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis with gentamicin plus clindamycin significantly reduced the wound sepsis rate from 83% in the control group to 20% in the treated group (p less than 0.001) . Intraincisional application of antibiotics in addition to systemic prophylaxis did not further reduce the rate of wound sepsis (p greater than 0.8).

J Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 160(3), 949 - 57
Purification and characterization of a novel type of fimbriae from the oral anaerobe Bacteroides gingivalis; Yoshimura F et al.; Fimbriae and their constituent protein (fimbrilin) were purified to homogeneity from the bacterial wash fluid and cell lysate fraction, respectively, of Bacteroides gingivalis 381 . Fimbriae, observed by negative staining, were curly, single-stranded filaments with a diameter of ca . 5 nm . The apparent molecular weight of the fimbrilin was 43,000 . Fimbriae were resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate denaturation at 70 degrees C . Heating at 100 degrees C in sodium dodecyl sulfate was needed to completely dissociate them to monomers of fimbrilin . Different sets of antigenic determinants seemed to be exposed on the surfaces of fimbriae and sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured fimbrilin . Purified fimbriae did not show either hemagglutinating activity or hemagglutination inhibitory activity, although it has been inferred on the basis of circumstantial evidence that fimbriae are correlated to hemagglutinating activity of the organism . Hemagglutinin activity, however, was detected in culture supernatant, and this observation suggests that fimbriae of a different type or a lectin-like protein may be acting as hemagglutinin in B . gingivalis.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 160(3), 1184 - 7
Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding pilin of Bacteroides nodosus, the causal organism of ovine footrot; Elleman TC et al.; The nucleotide sequence encoding pilin, the monomer protein subunit of the pilus from Bacteroides nodosus, has been determined . The sequence predicts a short, positively charged, amino-terminal segment which is absent from the amino acid sequence of mature pilin . The coding sequence is preceded upstream by a sequence of five nucleotides complementary to the 3' end of 16S rRNA of Escherichia coli--a potentially good ribosome binding site--and even further upstream by an AT-rich region preceding several potential recognition sites for RNA polymerase . The coding sequence is followed by a region of hyphenated dyad symmetry having the potential to act as a rho-independent terminator of transcription.

J Dent Res, 1984 Nov, 63(11), 1284 - 8
Effect of splint placement on black-pigmented Bacteroides and spirochetes in the dental plaque of beagle dogs; Mikx FH et al.; The gingival microbiota in beagle dogs was investigated during a period of 42 days after the placement of continuous wire and arch bar splints . The splints were found to induce an increase in helicoidal-shaped micro-organisms and black-pigmented Bacteroides . Two different asaccharolytic Bacteroides types were isolated and tentatively identified as B . gingivalis and B . asaccharolyticus . In addition, B . intermedius-like organisms were isolated . The last two species were observed only after splint placement . The local accumulation of helicoidal-shaped micro-organisms in the epithelial tissue rather than in the micro-ulcerations was regarded as an indication of an active role for these spirochetes in the disease process . The observed shift toward tissue-invading and potentially pathogenic micro-organisms after splinting stresses the need for antimicrobial measures during splint placement in order to minimize periodontal destruction.

Scand J Gastroenterol, 1984 Nov, 19(8), 1027 - 30
Tinidazole prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery; Laitinen S et al.; Bowel wall concentrations of tinidazole in two patient groups undergoing elective colorectal surgery were determined 8 h (22 patients) and 12 h (26 patients) after a single 500-mg intravenous infusion . In addition, the efficacy of 1-day tinidazole prophylaxis with 8- and 12-h dosage intervals in the prevention of postoperative infection complications was evaluated . The mean bowel wall tinidazole concentrations 8 and 12 h after infusion were 5.1 +/- 2.5 micrograms/g and 4.3 +/- 1.8 micrograms/g, respectively, which are considerably higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration for Bacteroides fragilis strains . Three patients out of 48 (6.3%) developed a wound infection: 1 from the 8-h dosage interval group (4.5%) and 2 from the 12-h interval group (7.7%) . Wound cultures revealed only aerobic growth . The results confirm that an adequate bowel wall concentration remains for more than 12 h after a single 500-mg intravenous infusion of tinidazole . One-day tinidazole prophylaxis is an effective means of preventing postoperative infections after colorectal surgery.

Aust Vet J, 1984 Nov, 61(11), 348 - 52
Differences between strains of Bacteroides nodosus in their effects on the severity of foot-rot, bodyweight and wool growth in Merino sheep; Stewart DJ et al.; The effects of 3 ovine and one bovine strains of Bacteroides nodosus on the severity of foot-rot, bodyweight and wool growth were compared in Merino sheep in a field experiment . Based on the severity of the induced foot lesions, one strain was classed as virulent (causing underrunning lesions in most feet), one was benign (causing lesions of the interdigital skin only), and 2, including the bovine strain, were of intermediate virulence (causing underrunning lesions in a small proportion of feet) . Differences among strains in their effect on foot-rot severity and bodyweight were significant when compared over the whole experimental period, but were not significant at any single time of measurement, because of large differences between replicates . Bodyweight loss and severity of foot-rot caused by the virulent strain were significantly greater than that caused by the benign strain . The intermediate strains lay between these 2 extremes in terms of both bodyweight and foot-rot scores but were not significantly different from either in a statistical sense . Total greasy wool weight did not differ among groups over the whole experiment, but the rate of wool growth during the period when foot lesions were most prevalent and severe was reduced appreciably by the virulent strain and to a lesser extent by the intermediate strains.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1984 Nov, 27(11), 703 - 6
The rubber dam as a means to isolate contaminated peritoneal defects after colonic resection; Meijer RW et al.; After colonic resections, peritoneal defects exposed to colonic flora and blood may become the seat of localized peritonitis and cause small-bowel adhesions and obstruction . In the past five years, we have seen 14 patients where one or both of these complications was anticipated for one of the following reasons: presence of an abscess cavity, local infection or accidental tear of the colon . In these patients a rubber sheet was stitched to the edges of the peritoneal defect with absorbable sutures and brought out through the abdominal wall . In all patients the rubber dam functioned as a passive drain and as a barrier between the peritoneal defect and the small bowel . Three weeks later the rubber dam was removed by traction . None of these patients developed small-bowel obstruction and no adverse effects from the rubber sheet were seen . The working mechanism of the rubber dam was investigated in female Wistar rats . After removing the peritoneum between the left kidney and pelvis, the defect was covered with a rubber dam . A capsule with a standard solution of Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, and autoclaved feces was used to initiate peritonitis under the rubber dam . The rubber proved to act as an efficient drain and barrier . No abscesses or small-bowel adhesions were seen . In the control group, 75 per cent of the animals died from generalized peritonitis or developed an abscess.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Nov, 14(5), 537 - 42
Prevention of post-appendicectomy sepsis by mezlocillin and metronidazole: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial; McIntosh GS et al.; In a double-blind trial a 6% infection rate resulted from the use of a single peroperative dose of mezlocillin in emergency appendicectomy for non-perforated disease . No advantage was demonstrated by mezlocillin over the 8% infection rate achieved with metronidazole . There was only one anaerobic infection in the mezlocillin group although Bacteroides fragilis had been isolated at operation from all three infected cases and many other uninfected patients . No anaerobic infections were detected in the metronidazole group.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Nov, 14(5), 499 - 508
Antimicrobial activity of latamoxef (moxalactam) against both Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli in an intraperitoneal abscess model; Harris RW et al.; The antimicrobial activity of latamoxef (moxalactam) was examined against Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli individually and in combination in an intraperitoneal tissue capsule animal model during ten days of therapy given at 40 mg/kg/day . Mean peak serum concentration was 32.8 mg/l . Mean capsular latamoxef concentrations during samplings on days three, seven and ten were 1.8 mg/l for Bact . fragilis, 0.7 mg/l for E . coli, less than 0.5 mg/l for polymicrobial infection and 3.4 mg/l in uninoculated controls . Capsular colony counts for Bact . fragilis and E . coli monomicrobial infections decreased by 2.2 and 4.0 log10 cfu respectively and 1.9 and 3.6 log10 cfu in polymicrobial infections . Latamoxef concentrations necessary to eliminate viable bacteria in both monomicrobial and polymicrobial capsules were not achieved.

Ann Surg, 1984 Nov, 200(5), 561 - 6
Perioperative antibiotic therapy for penetrating injuries of the abdomen; Gentry LO et al.; From 1979 through 1981, 152 patients with penetrating injuries of the intra-abdominal gastrointestinal tract were placed on one of three different perioperative antibiotic regimens in a prospective randomized fashion . The three regimens were A) cefamandole 2 grams every 4 hours, B) cefoxitin 2 grams every 6 hours, and C) ticarcillin 3 grams every 4 hours and tobramycin 1.5 mg/kg every 8 hours . Antibiotics were administered intravenously before and for 48 hours following surgical exploration and repair . The three treatment groups were similar with respect to age, average number of organ injuries, and distribution of organ injuries . Cefoxitin-treated patients experienced uneventful recoveries more often than cefamandole-treated patients (94% vs . 80.3%, p less than 0.05) when the incidence of gram-negative wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess formation was considered, while the number of patients who experienced uneventful recoveries in the ticarcillin-tobramycin group was not statistically different from the other two groups of patients . Bacteroides fragilis was isolated from three of the six abscesses occurring in the cefamandole-treated group, while no anaerobes were isolated from abscesses in patients treated with either of the other two regimens . The results of this study suggest that the most effective perioperative antibiotic regimen for patients with penetrating gastrointestinal wounds should possess activity against both aerobic and anaerobic flora of the bowel.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Nov, 26(5), 694 - 8
Role of Bacteroides bivius beta-lactamase in beta-lactam susceptibility; Lacroix JM et al.; The susceptibility of 46 clinical isolates of Bacteroides bivius to amoxicillin, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, ceftizoxime, cephaloridine, cephalothin, moxalactam, penicillin G, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid in a ratio of 2:1, carbenicillin, cefamandole, and ceftazidime was determined by an agar dilution technique . For the first eight agents susceptibility testing was also done with the addition of clavulanic acid (0.75 microgram/ml) . For all agents, beta-lactamase-positive strains (35, using a nitrocefin slide test) were inhibited at higher concentrations than beta-lactamase-negative strains . Clavulanic acid reduced the susceptibility of the beta-lactamase-positive strains to the level of the beta-lactamase-negative strains to all agents . We prepared crude extracts of beta-lactamase from six strains . Activity against nitrocefin was directly related to their susceptibilities . The beta-lactamase had a mixed-substrate profile, hydrolyzing both penicillins and cephalosporins . Our results suggest a slow inactivation of cefoxitin, ceftizoxime, and moxalactam by the beta-lactamase . Clavulanic acid and cefoxitin inhibited the enzyme, whereas p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and cloxacillin did not . Thus, there was a clear relationship between beta-lactamase activity and susceptibility to beta-lactams, including cefoxitin and third-generation cephalosporins . The substrate and inhibition profiles of the B . bivius beta-lactamase were different from those of enzymes found in the "B . fragilis group."

J Immunol, 1984 Nov, 133(5), 2294 - 300
LPS regulation of the immune response: separate mechanisms for murine B cell activation by lipid A (direct) and polysaccharide (macrophage-dependent) derived from Bacteroides LPS; Williamson SI et al.; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Bacteroides fragilis has been reported to stimulate mitogenic responses in spleen cell cultures from the classical LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mouse strain; however, we have shown that purified splenic B cells from C3H/HeJ mice are hyporesponsive to phenol-water extracted LPS from B . fragilis ATCC 25285 (B-LPS) . In the present study, B-LPS and its purified lipid A and polysaccharide components were tested for their ability to induce mitogenic and polyclonal IgM synthesis in spleen cell and purified splenic B cell cultures from classical LPS-responsive and -hyporesponsive mice . Mitogenic responses to B-LPS and E . coli K235 LPS(Ph) of whole spleen cells (2 X 10(5) cells/culture) or purified B cells (5 X 10(5) cells/culture) from classical LPS-responsive mouse strains (C3H/HeN, BALB/c, C57BL/6J, C57BL/10Sn, and DBA/2), F1 mice (derived from crosses between LPS responsive and C3H/HeJ mice), and classical LPS-hyporesponsive mice (C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScN) were high, intermediate, and low, respectively . When a higher number of whole spleen cells (5 X 10(5) cells/well) were cultured, B-LPS induced high mitogenic responses in C3H/HeN, intermediate responses in F1, and lower but significant responses in C3H/HeJ cultures . Similar results were obtained when polyclonal IgM synthesis was assessed in cultures containing 1 X 10(6) cells/culture . In contrast, the purified lipid A component of B-LPS failed to induce mitogenic responses in either whole spleen or purified B cell cultures . The addition of purified splenic B cells from C3H/HeJ mice to C3H/HeN or C3H/HeJ splenic adherent cells resulted in mitogenic responses to B-LPS, implying that the hyporesponsiveness to B-LPS seen in whole spleen cell cultures from C3H/HeJ mice at the lower cell concentration was due to limiting numbers of M phi . When splenic B cells and M phi from either C3H/HeN or C3H/HeJ mice were incubated with the lipid A or the polysaccharide moiety of B-LPS, lipid A induced mitogenic responses only in C3H/HeN cultures, whereas the polysaccharide moiety induced similar responses in both C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ cultures . These results suggest that Bacteroides lipid A does not stimulate B cells from the classical LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mouse strain, whereas the polysaccharide moiety of B-LPS is biologically active and mediates B cell stimulation via M phi.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Nov, 160(2), 748 - 54
Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding the structural subunit of Bacteroides nodosus fimbriae; Anderson BJ et al.; Bacteroides nodosus is the primary causative agent of ovine foot rot . Virulent isolates of this bacterium contain fimbriae which appear to play a major role in both infectivity and protective immunity . This paper presents the cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding the structural subunit of the fimbriae of B . nodosus . Total DNA was isolated from B . nodosus VCS 1001 (serogroup A), digested with HindIII, and inserted into the positive-selection vector pTR262 . Recombinant E . coli clones were screened directly with anti-fimbrial antiserum by using a colony immunoassay . Several positive colonies were identified, each of which contained the same 5.5-kilobase HindIII insert . The prototype has been designated pBA101 . Some clones also contained additional flanking sequences from the B . nodosus genome . Western transfer analyses verified that the positive clones were producing the B . nodosus fimbrial structural subunit, molecular weight ca . 17,500 . The level of expression of the antigen in E . coli was comparable to that in B . nodosus itself and was unaffected by the insertion site or orientation of the cloned fragment, indicating that synthesis was being directed from an internal promoter . Restriction mapping and deletion analyses localized the fimbrial subunit gene to the vicinity of a PvuII site near the central region of the original HindIII insert . The expressed antigen was located in the membrane-cell wall fraction and may be exposed on the surface of the recombinant E . coli cells.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Nov, 160(2), 740 - 7
Isolation and characterization of Bacteroides nodosus fimbriae: structural subunit and basal protein antigens; Mattick JS et al.; We examined the isolation of fimbriae from Bacteroides nodosus . It was found that the best preparations were obtained from the supernatant of washed cells cultured on solid medium, from which fimbriae could be recovered in high yield and purity by a simple one-step procedure . Analysis of such preparations by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis showed that greater than 98% of the protein consisted of fimbrial structural subunits whose molecular weight was ca . 17,000 . These preparations also usually exhibited minor contamination with a polypeptide of ca . 80,000 molecular weight, as well as trace amounts of lipopolysaccharide . Attempts to release additional fimbriae by the traditional means of subjecting the bacterial cells to physical stress, such as shearing or heating, resulted primarily in an increase in the level of contamination, without significant gain in the yield of fimbriae . Removal of the 80,000-dalton component could not be achieved by any of a variety of techniques normally used in fimbriae purification, including isoelectric precipitation, MgCl2 precipitation, and CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation, implying a direct physical association with the fimbrial strand . Electron micrographs of fractions containing this protein show cap-shaped structures attached to the ends of what appeared to be fimbrial stubs . These observations suggest that the 80,000-dalton polypeptide may actually constitute the basal attachment site which anchors the fimbria to the outer membrane, analogous to a similar protein recently described in enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli . In B . nodosus, this 80,000-dalton protein is a major surface antigen, and like the fimbrial subunit, exhibited variation in electrophoretic mobility between serotypically different isolates.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Nov, 81(22), 7203 - 6
Plasmid transfer from Escherichia coli to Bacteroides fragilis: differential expression of antibiotic resistance phenotypes; Guiney DG et al.; A unique shuttle plasmid, pDP1, has been constructed to mediate gene transfer between Escherichia coli and the Gram-negative anaerobe Bacteroides fragilis . pDP1 contains the pBR322 replicon and the Bacteroides clindamycin resistance plasmid pCP1 linked to the transfer origin of the broad host range plasmid RK2 . pDP1 can be transferred from E . coli to B . fragilis by the RK2 conjugation system even though RK2 itself is not maintained in the Bacteroides recipients . The antibiotic resistance and replication functions of pDP1 have been mapped by deletion analysis, and a 5-kilobase portion of the plasmid has been identified as the essential region for maintenance in Bacteroides . Comparison of the resistance conferred by pDP1 on E . coli and B . fragilis shows that antibiotic resistance genes are expressed differently in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . These results document the feasibility of gene transfer from E . coli to B . fragilis and demonstrate the usefulness of this conjugation system to study genetic structure and expression in Bacteroides.

Am J Surg, 1984 Oct 19, 148(4A), 5 - 7
Plasma levels of ceftriaxone in cardiovascular surgery; Geroulanos S et al.; In 512 patients undergoing major cardiovascular surgery, this prospective, randomized study compared the effectiveness of perioperative prophylaxis with either ceftriaxone or cefuroxime . In the ceftriaxone group, 254 patients received a single 2 g dose given intravenously at the start of anesthesia followed by a 1 g dose 24 hours later . In the cefuroxime group, 258 patients received 1.5 g at the start of anesthesia, followed by 1.5 g given intravenously every 12 hours for 2 days postoperatively . Postoperative infectious complications developed in only 12 patients in each group (4.7 percent) . In 53 patients the mean serum concentration of ceftriaxone 24 hours after administration of the 2 g dose was 37.4 micrograms/ml, a level far in excess of the minimal inhibitory concentrations of usual cardiovascular pathogens with the exception of Bacteroides species and Pseudomonas species . We conclude that a single 2 g dose of ceftriaxone given at the time of cardiovascular surgery should provide adequate prophylaxis.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Oct, 26(4), 606 - 7
Augmentation of the in vitro activity of azlocillin against Bacteroides fragilis by clavulanic acid; Bansal MB et al.; Azlocillin was active against 90% of 154 strains of Bacteroides fragilis at a concentration of 64 micrograms/ml . Twenty-eight strains of B . fragilis with an azlocillin MIC of greater than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml were retested with a combination of azlocillin plus clavulanic acid . Of these strains, 71% showed a 4- to 32-fold decrease in the MIC of azlocillin plus clavulanic acid.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 48(4), 890 - 2
Intracellular glycosidases of human colon Bacteroides ovatus B4-11; Reddy NR et al.; Activity of various glycosidases in the intracellular enzyme fraction of Bacteroides ovatus B4-11 was investigated . During 120 h of incubation at 37 degrees C, ca . 30% of the crude hemicellulose was hydrolyzed by an intracellular enzyme fraction of strain B4-11 . Xylose was the major sugar released from crude hemicellulose . Glycosidases (alpha-1,6-glucosidase, alpha-1,4-glucosidase, beta-1,4-glucosidase, and beta-1,4-xylosidase) were induced in B . ovatus B4-11 by crude hemicellulose and heteroxylan . When B . ovatus B4-11 was grown on either crude hemicellulose or heteroxylan, the predominant enzyme in the intracellular enzyme fraction was beta-1,4-xylosidase.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Oct, 14(4), 367 - 72
The in-vitro susceptibility of the Bacteroides fragilis group to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid; Brown EM; The susceptibility to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid of 150 strains belonging to the Bacteroides fragilis group was tested by both disc diffusion and agar dilution methods . On the basis of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), at least 99% of the isolates were sensitive to this agent . However, problems encountered with the disc diffusion method suggest that at present it is unsatisfactory for assessing the in-vitro activity of amoxycillin-clavulanic acid against this group of organisms.

Cancer Lett, 1984 Oct, 24(3), 311 - 6
Tumour enhancement associated with induction of abscesses in mice bearing a transplantable solid tumour; Finlay-Jones J et al.; A model of intraabdominal sepsis in the tumour-bearing host was established in order to study the interactions between host, tumour and infecting organisms . BALB/c mice bearing a transplanted tumour were given an intraperitoneal inoculum containing Bacteroides fragilis, Escherichia coli and bran as an abscess-potentiating agent . Tumour-bearing mice formed abscesses which were not significantly smaller than in controls except late in tumour growth . The bacterial contents of the abscesses were not significantly different to controls . In contrast, mice given an abscess-inducing mixture at or near the time of tumour cell inoculation had tumours which were significantly larger than in controls . The mechanism of tumour enhancement is not known.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 64 - 7
Adoptive transfer of immune enhancement of experimental ulcerative colitis; Onderdonk AB et al.; Previous experiments with the carrageenan model for ulcerative colitis have shown that the inflammatory response in guinea pigs can be enhanced by immunization with and subsequent feeding of Bacteroides vulgatus to experimental animals . The present studies showed that only certain strains of B . vulgatus are capable of provoking immune enhancement of ulcerative colitis . Animals were fed carrageenan and various strains of viable B . vulgatus after immunization with a strain of B . vulgatus isolated from a guinea pig with experimentally induced colitis . Histological comparison of immune and nonimmune groups revealed that immune animals which received B . vulgatus from a patient with inflammatory bowel disease had a significantly (P less than 0.025) greater number of histopathological lesions at 21 days than did nonimmune animals . Immune animals receiving B . vulgatus isolated from a clinically normal source did not show any significant difference in disease status when compared to nonimmune animals . Additional experiments showed that adoptive transfer of spleen cells from animals immunized with B . vulgatus to nonimmune recipient animals is effective in transferring the immune enhancement demonstrated in actively immunized animals . Animals which received immune spleen cells with concurrent feeding of B . vulgatus showed a significant (P less than 0.005) increase in inflammation over control groups, in the absence of high titers of circulating antibody . These experiments indicate that B . vulgatus strain-specific factors are important to immune enhancement of experimental disease and also suggest an involvement of the cell-mediated immune system in this model.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 285 - 7
Production of monoclonal antibodies that recognize specific and cross-reactive antigens of Bacteroides gingivalis; Hanazawa S et al.; Four monoclonal antibodies directed against Bacteroides gingivalis were established by hybridoma technology . Their reactivity against B . gingivalis, Bacteroides intermedius, and Bacteroides melaninogenicus was detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Three monoclonal antibodies specifically reacted with B . gingivalis . One recognized antigens that were cross-reactive between B . gingivalis and B . intermedius . These monoclonal antibodies provide new tools for antigenic analysis of B . gingivalis.

Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci, 1984 Oct, 62 ( Pt 5), 589 - 95
Abscess induction in beige (bg/bg) mutant mice; Finlay-Jones JJ et al.; Humans with Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) and several animal species with similar defects have been reported to have increased susceptibility to infection, including abscess formation, associated with granulocyte abnormalities . These defects were investigated by comparing mice of the SB/Le strain, homozygous for the beige mutation, with their heterozygous littermates and with normal BALB/c mice with respect to the ability to form intraabdominal abscesses . Mice were autopsied 7 days after the intraperitoneal inoculation of a mixture of Bacteroides fragilis, Escherichia coli and an abscess-potentiating agent, bran . Although homozygous beige mice formed more numerous abscesses than controls, the total abscess sizes and bacterial contents were not significantly different . Histopathologically, the abscesses resembled those in normal mice . Phagocytic killing assays using granulocytes from beige mice of the SB/Le and C57BL/6J strains showed no significant differences between homozygous beige mice and controls . Within the context of these experiments in which neutrophil function in vivo and in vitro was examined with respect to anaerobic and facultative Gram-negative bacteria, it is concluded that beige mice can respond adequately to an infectious bacterial challenge . The increased susceptibility to an infection seen in various species with CHS-like disease may relate to virulence factors of the infecting organisms and defects in host defences documented by others but not manifest in these experiments.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Oct, 258(1), 112 - 9
Synergistic lethality in experimental infections with Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis; Rodloff AC et al.; Using an animal model, a synergism in lethality of infections with Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis is described . This synergism was dependent on certain dosage combinations of the infectious agents . It was demonstrated that animal-passaged, laboratory-passaged, and heat-killed B . fragilis alike were capable of producing this synergism . However, animal-passaged B . fragilis showed superior recovery rates from animal organs.

Bull Tokyo Med Dent Univ, 1984 Sep, 31(3), 145 - 53
New method for local drug delivery using resorbable base material in periodontal therapy; Noguchi T et al.; A new method for local drug delivery to the subgingival plaque was developed using hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) as a base material . Using this material prepared in the form of strips containing antimicrobial drugs, the clinical and microbiological effects by this method on the human periodontal disease were studied . Before the clinical trials, the rate of the drug release from the strips was studied . Both drugs used in this study (CH: chlorhexidine and TC: tetracycline) were released almost within 2 hours from the strips in vitro . In the gingival crevicular fluid, however, it was found that the TC was maintained for 24 hours after the local delivery . Five patients who had deep pockets contralaterally were selected . The CH-containing HPC strips (5%) were applied in one pocket of each patient and the placebo strips were applied in other pocket on day 0, 2 and 4 . Plaque Index, Gingival Index, probing depth and the presence or absence of bleeding on probing were recorded on day 0, 2, 4 and 6 . Marked reduction of bleeding on probing was found in the pockets applied the CH-containing HPC strips . There was a significant reduction in the proportion of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus in these pockets (p less than 0.01).

Can J Microbiol, 1984 Sep, 30(9), 1133 - 6
Properties of oral asaccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides; Mayrand D et al.; Bacteroides endodontalis, a newly described asaccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides, along with the other two recognized species of this group (B . gingivalis and B . asaccharolyticus) were studied for their susceptibility to various dyes and inhibitory agents and for some of their enzymatic activities to facilitate differentiating between them . Bacteroides endodontalis resembles B . asaccharolyticus physiologically except for the fact that the former cannot grow on media containing methylene blue, neutral red, or 3% sodium chloride, whereas B . asaccharolyticus can . On the other hand, B . endodontalis and B . gingivalis can grow on a medium containing Congo red while B . asaccharolyticus cannot.

Clin Rheumatol, 1984 Sep, 3(3), 381 - 3
Septic polyarthritis due to bacteroides fragilis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis; Dawes PT et al.; A case of septic polyarthritis is described in a patient with severe RA who had not received steroid therapy . The organism involved, Bacteroides fragilis, was sensitive to metronidazole.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Sep, 20(3), 519 - 24
Monoclonal antibodies to Bacteroides fragilis lipopolysaccharide; Linko-Kettunen L et al.; Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Bacteroides fragilis were produced by immunizing mice before hybridization with bacterial outer membranes solubilized with Triton X-100 . Nineteen stabile clones were established . They all produced antibodies that reacted more strongly with purified B . fragilis LPS than with crude sonicated antigen in an enzyme immunoassay . Four MoAbs were studied by immunoblotting and enzyme immunoassay inhibition . Immunoblotting confirmed that the target of the MoAbs was LPS . Marked and homogeneous staining occurred in the immunoblotting with both purified LPS and outer membranes in the molecular weight range of 8,000 to 27,000 . In enzyme immunoassay inhibition, MoAbs reacted positively with 93 to 96% of B . fragilis strains, including prototype strains ATCC 23745 and NCTC 9343 . Within the B . fragilis group, the MoAbs reacted positively with two of five B . ovatus strains and two to six of nine B . thetaiotaomicron strains . No marked cross-reactivity with other bacteria was observed . These results confirm earlier findings that the B . fragilis LPS contains an immunodominant antigenic determinant common to almost all B . fragilis isolates.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Sep, 26(3), 410 - 3
Comparison of the activities of penicillin G and new beta-lactam antibiotics against clinical isolates of Bacteroides species; Aldridge KE et al.; MICs were determined for 218 clinical isolates of Bacteroides by a broth microdilution method . Imipenem was the most active antibiotic tested . Azlocillin, mezlocillin, and cefoxitin had comparable activities, with resistance among members of the B . fragilis group and B . capillosus . Ceftizoxime was the most active cephalosporin tested . Members of the B . fragilis group showed high levels of resistance to cefotetan and ceftazidime . Resistance to penicillin G varied from 0 to 14%.

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Sep, 9(5), 453 - 66
Reactivity of sera from sheep immunised with individual outer membrane proteins of Bacteroides nodosus against heterologous bacterial strains; Emery DL; In order to identify those bacterial antigens which might be involved in immunity against ovine footrot, antisera were raised in sheep to 6 proteins in the outer membrane complex (OMC) of one strain of Bacteroides nodosus . Examination of the specificity of these antisera by Western blotting, crossed immunoelectrophoresis (XIEP) and IEP, revealed that they recognized the homologous OMC protein, but did not precipitate either undenatured pili or OMC, nor could they agglutinate the homologous bacteria . In contrast, anti-OMC and anti-pili sera could precipitate OMC or pili respectively, and agglutinate whole bacteria . Subsequent analysis of these sera against 5 strains of B . nodosus from different serogroups revealed that Proteins 1, 3 and 4 had a similar antigenic structure in all strains examined . The reactivity of anti-pili sera was restricted to homologous bacteria whereas anti-pilin sera (raised against denatured pili) also reacted with pilin from 2 of 3 heterologous strains . However, none of the patterns of staining or absorption of any of these sera matched the spectrum of cross-protection afforded by vaccination of sheep with B . nodosus strain 198 cells . The results question the role of individual OMC proteins in cross-protective immunity and may imply that interactions between several bacterial components are involved in the phenomenon.

Infect Immun, 1984 Sep, 45(3), 550 - 7
Purification and characterization of an immunoglobulin A1 protease from Bacteroides melaninogenicus; Mortensen SB et al.; Attention has recently been focused on bacterial proteases with the capacity to cleave immunoglobulin A (IgA proteases) as possible pathogenic factors in bacterial meningitis, gonorrhoea, and destructive periodontal disease . Here, we describe a method for the rapid purification of a specific IgA1 protease from Bacteroides melaninogenicus . The IgA1 protease was purified 6,172-fold with a yield of 9% by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-ion exchange chromatography, and separation on a preparative TSK-G 3000SWG high-pressure gel permeation chromatography column . The enzyme was specific for human IgA1 and cleaved a prolyl-seryl peptide bond in the hinge region of the alpha 1 chain between residues 223 and 224 . The molecular weight of the enzyme was 62,000, the isoelectric point was 5.0, and the Km was 3.4 X 10(-6) . The enzyme was active over a broad pH range and had maximal activity at pH 5.0 . B . melaninogenicus IgA1 protease was classified as a thiol protease on the basis of its inhibition by traditional protease inhibitors and the fact that it was active only under reducing conditions.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Sep, 14 Suppl B, 39 - 43
The activity of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime against Bacteroides species compared to 7-methoxy cephems and other anti-anaerobe drugs; Jones RN; The combination of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime was tested against 83 Bacteroides strains (seven species) isolated from several hospitals . The combination greatly enhanced the anti-anaerobic spectrum of cefotaxime: 79.7% of tested strains were synergistically killed by the combination . Although the combination appears clinically efficacious, it is only comparable to cefoxitin and still less active than clindamycin, chloramphenicol and metronidazole.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Sep, 48(3), 626 - 32
Characterization of plant polysaccharide- and mucin-fermenting anaerobic bacteria from human feces; Bayliss CE et al.; Organisms able to grow on arabinogalactan, pectin, xylan, wheat bran, guar, apple cell walls, and mucin were isolated by enrichment from human feces . The number of polysaccharide fermenters and the properties of the predominant bacteria varied between subjects . The ability to use one polysaccharide was not related to the ability to use others . Some organisms (e.g., Bacteroides spp.) isolated on other substrates also utilized mucin, but were not isolated in the mucin enrichment . The mucin fermenters isolated by enrichment had a very restricted ability to utilize complex polysaccharides and their constituent monosaccharides, suggesting that the presence of plant polysaccharides in the human colon is unlikely to prevent the use of colonic mucin as an energy source by bacteria . Characterization with a range of biochemical tests showed that many of the isolates, but especially the mucin fermenters, did not resemble organisms described previously.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 18(1), 39 - 46
Degradation of albumin, haemopexin, haptoglobin and transferrin, by black-pigmented Bacteroides species; Carlsson J et al.; Strains of six black-pigmented Bacteroides species and one un-named strain were examined for their ability to degrade the plasma proteins albumin, haemopexin, haptoglobin and transferrin . Strains of B . gingivalis were most effective, degrading all four plasma proteins at different rates . Strains of B . intermedius and B . asaccharolyticus showed intermediate activities, degrading different individual plasma proteins; strains of B . melaninogenicus, B . loeschei and B . denticola were least active, degrading only haemopexin . These findings are discussed in relation to the availability in tissue fluids of iron for bacterial growth.

Infect Immun, 1984 Aug, 45(2), 403 - 9
Fractionation of hemagglutinating and bacterial binding adhesins of Bacteroides gingivalis; Boyd J et al.; An outer membrane complex containing hemagglutinating and bacterial aggregating activity has been isolated from Bacteroides gingivalis . Examination of the membrane material by biochemical analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunological means revealed that the crude outer membrane preparation contained three major proteins and a lipopolysaccharide population that displayed size heterogeneity . At least two membrane proteins as well as the lipopolysaccharide were found to be antigenically active by immunoblot analysis . With gel chromatography and a lipopolysaccharide disaggregating buffer the membrane material was separated into two fractions . An accompanying separation of the two adherence activities was observed . The first membrane fraction, containing mostly protein and carbohydrate material, was found to contain the bacterial aggregating activity . This fraction also contained a high-molecular-weight lipopolysaccharide population . The second membrane fraction, consisting of low-molecular-weight lipopolysaccharide, protein, and loosely bound lipid was found to contain the hemagglutinating activity.

Arch Surg, 1984 Aug, 119(8), 894 - 8
Bacteroides bacteremia . Analysis of 142 episodes from one metropolitan area; Bryan CS et al.; Overall mortality for 142 patients with Bacteroides bacteremia encountered in the four hospitals of one metropolitan area between 1977 and 1982 was 41% . Only 43% of deaths of these patients, however, were attributed directly to Bacteroides infection according to the criteria used in this study . Deaths of patients with Bacteroides bacteremia, compared with deaths of patients with bacteremia due to aerobic gram-negative rods, were less likely to occur early after onset of bacteremia . Choice of antimicrobial therapy had no obvious relationship to eventual outcome . Nonobstetrical Bacteroides bacteremia identifies a group of patients at high risk of death during hospitalization . The diversity of both clinical and microbiologic features of these infections, however, makes specific recommendations regarding optimum therapy difficult to formulate.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Aug, 26(2), 211 - 3
Comparative inhibition of bacterial and microsomal 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetases by L-cycloserine and other inhibitors; Sundaram KS et al.; Eleven compounds were examined for their capacity to inhibit the first enzyme of the sphingolipid pathway, 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase . Of these, L-cycloserine was the most potent, affecting both bacterial and brain microsomal enzymes to a significant degree at 0.04 mM . D- and L-cycloserine irreversibly inactivated the enzyme, indicating a suicide substrate mode of action . L-Cycloserine was a more potent inhibitor of the growth of Bacteroides levii than was D-cycloserine, indicating that inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis could be a factor in the growth inhibition.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Aug, 26(2), 145 - 8
Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 1,292 isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group in the United States: comparison of 1981 with 1982; Cuchural GJ Jr et al.; A susceptibility survey of 537 strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group from eight centers in the United States was continued at the Tufts New England Medical Center in 1982 . The results were compared with those of 755 organisms analyzed in 1981 . Nine antimicrobial agents were tested by an agar dilution method . The respective percentages of resistance for 1981 and 1982 were as follows (%): cefoxitin, 8 and 10; moxalactam, 22 and 12; cefotaxime, 54 and 48; cefoperazone, 57 and 54; piperacillin, 12 and 7; clindamycin, 6 and 3; metronidazole, 0 and 0; chloramphenicol, 0 and 0; and tetracycline, 63 and 59 . Regional differences in resistance rates were found . Declines in resistance to moxalactam, piperacillin, and clindamycin were noted at the participating hospitals . An outbreak of cefoxitin resistance was noted at the Tufts New England Medical Center, where the rate increased from 14 to 30% . The various species of the B . fragilis group had differing patterns of resistance; B . fragilis was the most susceptible species . Significant cross resistance among the beta-lactam agents was found . These data indicate the need to determine the susceptibility patterns of the B . fragilis group organisms within each hospital.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Aug, 150(2), 202 - 12
Hypoprothrombinemia in febrile, neutropenic patients with cancer: association with antimicrobial suppression of intestinal microflora; Conly JM et al.; Serial, twice-weekly prothrombin times were determined in 108 febrile, granulocytopenic patients with cancer who were prospectively randomized to receive empiric antimicrobial therapy with moxalactam plus ticarcillin (M/T) or tobramycin plus ticarcillin (T/T) . Thirty of 54 patients given M/T and 13 of 54 patients given T/T developed prothrombin times that were greater than or equal to 2 sec beyond control values (P less than .001) after a mean of 6.5 days of antimicrobial therapy . Serious bleeding episodes were more frequent in the group given M/T than in that given T/T (10 and two patients, respectively; P less than or equal to .05) . Serial quantitative stool cultures revealed that both Escherichia coli and Bacteroides species were suppressed by greater than or equal to 5 log10 in eight of nine patients given M/T and in three of nine given T/T (P less than .05, Fisher's exact test) . A significant reduction of the population of E . coli and Bacteroides fragilis, organisms that are major producers of bacterially synthesized menaquinones, was associated with a high incidence of hypoprothrombinemia . These observations support the hypothesis that menaquinones may play an important physiological role in the maintenance of blood coagulation during episodic dietary deficiency of phylloquinone.

Surgery, 1984 Aug, 96(2), 384 - 94
The development of a model of subacute lung injury after intra-abdominal infection; Kirton OC et al.; Acute respiratory failure in humans often follows extrathoracic sepsis . The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of repeated episodes of intra-abdominal sepsis over several weeks on the structure and function of rat lung . Intermittent peritonitis and a bacteremia of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis were produced by weekly intra-abdominal implants of gelatin capsules containing these organisms (3.0 +/- 1.0 X 10(7) and 5.0 +/- 1.0 X 10(7) colony-forming units/ml, respectively; mean +/- SEM) . After 4 weeks alveolar walls were thickened and cellular with focal areas of alveolar space consolidation: circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes were increased (12.2 +/- 1.2 to 19.9 +/- 2.0 X 10(3)/mm3; p less than 0.05), as were plasma levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (0.56 +/- 0.08 to 1.02 +/- 0.18 ng/ml; p less than 0.01) . After 8 weeks the capillary bed was dilated and the alveolar walls and ducts appeared less cellular but showed fibrosis: The WBC count had increased to 25.5 +/- 1.0 X 10(3) (p less than 0.01) . After 4 or 8 weeks of intermittent sepsis there was no increase in the pulmonary artery pressure or vascular resistance or any change in arterial oxygen tension, plasma thromboxane beta 2 level, or platelet count . We conclude that repeated bouts of sepsis and bacteremia in the rat cause progressive injury to lung alveoli without evidence of altered blood gas tensions or pulmonary hemodynamics.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Aug, 14(2), 133 - 8
The effect of clavulanic acid on the susceptibility of Bacteroides fragilis to three acyl-ureidopenicillins, ampicillin and carbenicillin; Simpson CN et al.; The susceptibilities of 50 clinical isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group to ampicillin, carbenicillin, mezlocillin, azlocillin and piperacillin were similar, modal MICs being 8-32 mg/l . However, in the presence of clavulanic acid, 45 and 43 strains became susceptible (MIC less than or equal to 4 mg/l) to ampicillin and carbenicillin respectively whilst 27, 37 and 35 strains became susceptible (MIC less than or equal to 4 mg/l) to mezlocillin, azlocillin and piperacillin . Clavulanic acid did not influence the susceptibility of six (12%) strains . The isoelectric points of the beta-lactamases from Bact . fragilis and Bact . thetaiotaomicron were similar to those found by others.

Can J Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 30(8), 1008 - 13
Immunogold electron microscopy of surface antigens of oral bacteria; Mouton C et al.; Colloidal gold particles 3-6 nm in diameter were prepared and stabilized with the IgG fraction of polyspecific rabbit antisera produced against four different oral bacteria . The immunogold markers were used in homologous reactions to label the bacteria in a preembedding procedure for electron microscopy . An indirect immunofluorescence procedure was concurrently used to optimize the labelling conditions before observation with the electron microscope . The immunogold markers labelled fibrillar structures extending outward 50-275 nm from the Gram-positive cell envelopes and a fuzzy 5-10 nm thick capsulelike layer on the outer aspect of Bacteroides gingivalis . The immunogold method appears to be a simple, rapid, and inexpensive procedure suitable for the study of bacterial surface antigens and can be upgraded with the use of monospecific antibodies.

FEBS Lett, 1984 Jul 23, 173(1), 103 - 7
Isolation of the gene encoding pilin of Bacteroides nodosus (strain 198), the causal organism of ovine footrot; Elleman TC et al.; The gene for pilin, the monomeric protein subunit from which the pilus of Bacteroides nodosus is constructed, has been isolated . Isolation was achieved by cloning the fragmented genome of B . nodosus in Escherichia coli RR1 using the plasmid vector pBR322 . Pilin-producing colonies were identified by screening with a colony immunoassay using antiserum from a sheep immunized against purified pili from B . nodosus strain 198, and were further characterized by immunoblot analysis . Final confirmation of the presence of the pilin gene was by nucleotide sequence data which translated to the known pilin amino acid sequence.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Jul, 150(1), 20 - 4
Transfer of tetracycline or clindamycin resistance among strains of Bacteroides fragilis in experimental abscesses; Butler E et al.; The ability of strains of Bacteroides fragilis resistant to clindamycin and/or tetracycline to transfer resistance to a susceptible recipient strain in experimental subcutaneous abscesses in mice was investigated . The results indicated that such transfer took place at a frequency similar to that observed in vitro . Transfer of resistance determinants at infected sites may play a role in the epidemiology of disseminated resistance to antimicrobial agents.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 47 - 51
Immunoglobulin G response to subgingival gram-negative bacteria in human subjects; Naito Y et al.; Serum and gingival crevicular fluid from normal healthy adults and patients with periodontitis were screened for immunoglobulin G antibodies to antigens from Bacteroides gingivalis 381, Bacteroides intermedius 24, Bacteroides loescheii ATCC 15930, Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 25586, Eikenella corrodens 1073, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 29522, and Capnocytophaga sp . strain M-12 . Immunoglobulin G antibody titers to the antigens were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . The antibody levels to B . gingivalis in serum and gingival crevicular fluid were significantly higher in the samples from patients with periodontitis than in samples from healthy individuals . Although there were individual differences within patient groups, a positive correlation (P less than 0.01) was found between the serum immunoglobulin G levels to B . gingivalis and the development of periodontitis . The antibodies to F . nucleatum (P less than 0.05), E . corrodens (P less than 0.05), and A . actinomycetemcomitans were slightly higher in patients with periodontitis than in normal subjects . There were no remarkable differences between the two groups in titers to B . intermedius, B . loescheii, and Capnocytophaga sp.

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Jul, 9(3), 227 - 36
The thermostability of proteases from virulent and benign strains of Bacteroides nodosus; Depiazzi LJ et al.; Protease enzymes, produced by Bacteroides nodosus strains isolated from animals with virulent and benign forms of ovine footrot, were partially purified by ultra-filtration, ion exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography . Each enzyme had a similar pH optimum, was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethyleneglycot-bis-aminoethylether-N,N-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), but was not inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline . The results suggest that these enzymes are serine proteases that require divalent cations for activity . The enzymes could be distinguished by their differential temperature stability and differing susceptibility to irreversible inactivation by EDTA . Both enzymes were stabilised by incubation in the presence of Ca2+, but the enzyme purified from the virulent isolate required less Ca2+ for maximum stability . These results suggest that the differential thermostability of the protease activity detected in virulence tests is an intrinsic property of the protease enzymes.

Biochem J, 1984 Jul 1, 221(1), 179 - 88
Proteolytic and chemical dissection of the human erythrocyte glucose transporter; Cairns MT et al.; Treatment of the purified, reconstituted, human erythrocyte glucose transporter with trypsin lowered its affinity for cytochalasin B more than 2-fold, and produced two large, membrane-bound fragments . The smaller fragment (apparent Mr 18000) ran as a sharp band on sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis . When the transporter was photoaffinity labelled with {4-3H}cytochalasin B before tryptic digestion, this fragment became radiolabelled and so probably comprises a part of the cytochalasin B binding site, which is known to lie on the cytoplasmic face of the erythrocyte membrane . In contrast, the larger fragment was not radiolabelled, and ran as a diffuse band on electrophoresis (apparent Mr 23000-42000) . It could be converted to a sharper band (apparent Mr 23000) by treatment with endo-beta-galactosidase from Bacteroides fragilis and so probably contains one or more sites at which an oligosaccharide of the poly(N-acetyl-lactosamine) type is attached . Since the transporter bears oligosaccharides only on its extracellular domain, whereas trypsin is known to cleave the protein only at the cytoplasmic surface, this fragment must span the membrane . Cleavage of the intact, endo-beta-galactosidase-treated, photoaffinity-labelled protein at its cysteine residues with 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid yielded a prominent, unlabelled fragment of apparent Mr 38000 and several smaller fragments which stained less intensely on SDS/polyacrylamide gels . Radioactivity was found predominantly in a fragment of apparent Mr 15500 . Therefore it appears that the site(s) labelled by {4-3H}cytochalasin B lies within the N-terminal or C-terminal third of the intact polypeptide chain.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 118 - 21
Bacteriological study of periodontal lesions in two sisters with juvenile periodontitis and their mother; Okuda K et al.; A total of five bacteriological samples from the periodontal pockets of two sisters with localized juvenile periodontitis and their mother with advanced periodontitis was studied . Gram-negative anaerobic rods were predominant in the samples . Bacteroides intermedius and Bacteroides loescheii were the most predominant species . The antigenicity and bacteriocinogenicity of these isolates were quite similar . Serum immunoglobulin G antibody levels of the subjects to gram-negative periodontopathic bacteria were measured by using the micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . The levels of antibodies to saccharolytic black-pigmented Bacteroides species were significantly higher than the levels in healthy young females.

Dig Dis Sci, 1984 Jul, 29(7), 643 - 8
Altered motility and duration of bacterial overgrowth in experimental blind loop syndrome; Justus PG et al.; To better understand the pathogenesis of the increased motility previously described in the blind loop rat, we studied the relationship between duration of bacterial overgrowth and both myoelectric activity and bacterial flora in this model . Myoelectric studies and quantitative bacterial cultures were performed on self-filling and self-emptying (control) blind loop rats one, two, and three weeks postoperatively . All self-filling blind loop rats had greater random action potential activity and higher frequencies of migrating action potential complexes than controls (P less than 0.05) . One-week self-filling blind loop rats had a higher frequency of migrating action potential complexes (P less than 0.05) and a higher ratio of counts of Escherichia coli to Bacteroides species (P less than 0.05) than the two- or three-week self-filling blind loop groups . Thus, qualitative changes in myoelectric activity occur during the development of bacterial overgrowth in the blind loop rat which may reflect evolving alterations in the bacterial flora.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 172 - 9
Effects of an immunomodulating agent on peripheral blood lymphocytes and subgingival microflora in ligature-induced periodontitis; Manti F et al.; The peripheral blood lymphocyte populations and the subgingival levels of black-pigmented Bacteroides species were monitored during the conversion of chronic gingivitis to progressing periodontitis in cynomolgus monkeys . In addition, the effects of an immunomodulating agent, the pentapeptide of thymopoietin (TP5), were determined . After the induction of active periodontitis, proportions of helper T-cells (OKT-4 positive) decreased from 31.5 to 26.4%, and proportions of B-cells (surface immunoglobulin positive) increased from 44.5 to 51.8% . Proportions of suppressor T-cells (OKT-8 positive) remained unchanged, but the numbers of OKT-8-positive cells increased . During this same time period the total cultivable subgingival flora increased from 1.5 X 10(6) to 3.5 X 10(6) per sample, with Bacteroides gingivalis increasing from 5.3 to 16.6% of the total cultivable subgingival flora . After 10 weeks of active periodontitis, animals were treated with either TP5 or placebo . Treatment with TP5 produced an increase in helper T-cells but had no effect on B-cells . The OKT-4/OKT-8 cell ratio, which decreased from 1.3 to 0.8 with disease induction, was increased to 1.1 after TP5 treatment but remained at 0.9 in placebo-treated animals . TP5 had no effect on the total cultivable subgingival flora but significantly decreased the subgingival proportions of B . gingivalis and other black-pigmented Bacteroides species . In this model system, active periodontitis was associated with an increase in B . gingivalis, a decreased helper/suppressor T-cell ratio, and increased levels of B-cells . Treatment with TP5 increased the helper/suppressor T-cell ratio and decreased B . gingivalis levels, suggesting that lymphocyte subsets have the potential to influence subgingival levels of potential periodontal pathogens.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jul, 26(1), 39 - 41
Comparative activities of aztreonam and cefotaxime against Escherichia coli and Bacteroides spp . in pure and mixed cultures; Soriano F et al.; The activities of aztreonam and cefotaxime against one Escherichia coli strain and three Bacteroides strains have been studied by using pure and mixed cultures of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . A fixed concentration (8 micrograms/ml) of cefotaxime or aztreonam killed E . coli that was exposed in pure culture, but the pressure of Bacteroides spp . in the same system deteriorated cefotaxime, allowing the full growth of E . coli after 24 h . On the other hand, the presence of Bacteroides spp . produced less deterioration of aztreonam, which reduced the initial E . coli inoculum . This observation could be useful in clinical practice when treating mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 17(3), 247 - 57
Phagocytic and serum killing of capsulate and non-capsulate Bacteroides fragilis; Reid JH et al.; The relative susceptibilities of capsulate and non- capsulate variants of Bacteroides fragilis to serum and phagocytic killing were investigated . The capsule of B . fragilis did not confer resistance to serum killing . Phagocytic killing of non- capsulate B . fragilis occurred at bacterial concentrations of 1 X 10(6) and 1 X 10(7) cfu/ml . Capsulate B . fragilis organisms were also phagocytosed and killed at a concentration of 1 X 10(6) cfu/ml, but phagocytosis and killing were impaired at a concentration of 1 X 10(7) cfu/ml.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 17(3), 237 - 46
The growth and survival of capsulate and non-capsulate Bacteroides fragilis in vivo and in vitro; Patrick S et al.; The growth of capsulate and non- capsulate Bacteroides fragilis in chambers implanted in the mouse peritoneal cavity was compared . Capsulate and essentially non- capsulate (less than 1% capsulate ) populations of B . fragilis strains NCTC9343 and NCTC10584 consistently grew exponentially to greater than 10(9) cfu/ml within 24 h in vivo, and low numbers of capsulate bacteria were maintained in the essentially non- capsulate population; however, the degree of capsulation of the capsulate population decreased by more than 60% . B . fragilis ATCC23745 differed from strains NCTC9343 and NCTC10584 in that growth was unpredictable and only occurred in some of the implanted chambers . Capsule production by cells of strain ATCC23745 varied from chamber to chamber: sometimes the proportion of capsulate cells increased after prolonged implantation . This could occur with either an increase or decrease in viable numbers in vivo and also after in-vitro incubation of this strain in chambers . The survival of capsulate and non- capsulate B . fragilis strains NCTC9343 and ATCC23745 was compared in aerobic and anaerobic conditions in vitro . In anaerobic conditions, capsulate and non- capsulate strain NCTC9343 survived equally well, whereas capsulate ATCC23745 survived better than its non- capsulate variants . Capsulate populations of both strains survived better than non- capsulate in aerobic conditions.

Can J Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 30(6), 863 - 6
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Bacteroides succinogens; Begbie R et al.; Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) extracts of bacterial cells was used to assess the similarity of polypeptide patterns in 15 isolates of the rumen cellulolytic bacterium Bacteroides succinogens . Analysis of densitometer traces of the polypeptide band patterns suggested that the majority of the isolates tested were closely related to the type strain S85 . Representatives of other species of Gram-negative rumen bacteria had distinct SDS-PAGE patterns, and it is concluded that SDS-PAGE is a useful aid to the identification of B . succinogenes.

Can J Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 30(6), 809 - 19
Morphological stabilization of the glycocalyces of 23 strains of five Bacteroides species using specific antisera; Lambe DW Jr et al.; Cells of five Bacteroides species were examined following treatment with homologous antisera and staining with ruthenium red . They were enveloped by glycocalyces and these extensive fibrous exopolysaccharide matrices were fully retained as an integral "capsule" by some cells, while other cells showed "capsule" as well as detached glycocalyx components forming an intercellular "slime." . These extensive glycocalyces collapsed during dehydration for electron microscopy and formed electron-dense accretions on cell surfaces and electron-dense reticula in intercellular spaces when the cells were treated with heterologous antiserum or when antibody stabilization was omitted . The glycocalyces of all strains, both stabilized and unstabilized, were observed outside the outer membranes of cell walls that showed the "classic" gram-negative structural organization . Appropriate modifications of the indirect fluorescent antibody test demonstrated an integral "capsule" on all strains examined; detached glycocalyx and varying amounts of slime were demonstrated after stabilization with homologous, but not heterologous, antiserum.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 3(3), 199 - 202
Wound infection rates following preoperative versus intraoperative commencement of antibiotic prophylaxis; Moesgaard F et al.; The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis initiated one hour prior to contamination or at the time of contamination was evaluated in a randomized blind study using a guinea pig model of surgical wound infection . Would infection, defined as accumulation of pus draining spontaneously or after opening of the wound, developed in 135 guinea pigs after intraincisional contamination before wound closure with 10(7) Escherichia coli plus 10(8) Bacteroides fragilis . Antibiotic prophylaxis with gentamicin plus clindamycin significantly reduced the wound sepsis rate from 82% in the control group of 61 animals to 19% in the two treated groups of 68 and 67 animals (p less than 0.001) . However, the timing of antibiotic prophylaxis did not influence wound sepsis rates, rectal temperature during the postoperative period, or bacterial recovery from wound infections.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1984 Jun, 57(6), 652 - 61
Identification of bacteria in immunopathologic mechanisms of human dental pulp; Pekovic DD et al.; Serial frozen sections from human dental pulp were used for the identification of oral bacteria in immunopathologic mechanisms . Sera raised against Actinomyces viscosus, A . naeslundii, Bacteroides gingivalis, and B . melaninogenicus ss . intermedius, commercial sera against human immunoglobulins, complement, and monoclonal antibodies against human T cells were used in a double-staining immunofluorescence technique . Sections of dental pulp from normal teeth showed no penetration of bacteria or bacterial antigens and no signs of inflammation . A unique aspect of the present study was the demonstration that penetrating bacteria and bacterial antigens in the pulp of involved teeth were always associated with antibodies and frequently also with complement . A . viscosus has been found most frequently in complement-fixing immune complexes followed by B . gingivalis . A . naeslundii and B . melaninogenicus ss . intermedius were found only in complexes with antibodies . The involvement of plasma cells and T cells was also demonstrated . In the dental pulps of diseased teeth, cytotoxic and Arthus type immunopathologic reactions occurred.

J Periodontol, 1984 Jun, 55(6), 325 - 35
Metronidazole in periodontitis . I . Clinical and bacteriological results after 15 to 30 weeks; Loesche WJ et al.; The statistical association of certain anaerobic organisms such as black pigmented bacteroides (BPB) species and spirochetes with clinical signs of active periodontitis, i.e . bleeding upon probing and bone loss, suggests that the lesions may actually reflect a "specific infection" involving these or unidentified species . All the known oral species of BPB and spirochetes are anaerobes which suggests that antimicrobial treatment directed specifically against anaerobes might be effective in periodontal therapy . In this report, the short-term results of metronidazole treatment plus mechanical debridement in patients with extensive periodontal disease and of a double-blind clinical study in which metronidazole plus mechanical debridement is compared to placebo plus mechanical debridement are described . The findings indicate that 1 week of systemic metronidazole can optimize the clinical reduction of pockets and increase the apparent attachment in periodontitis patients who receive concurrent mechanical debridement of their root surfaces . In patients with extensive clinical involvement, metronidazole resulted in a significant reduction in the number of sites exhibiting pocket depths and attachment loss greater than or equal to 7 mm . When metronidazole plus mechanical debridement was compared with placebo plus mechanical debridement in a double-blind study, the metronidazole patients exhibited a significant improvement in those sites initially greater than or equal to 7 mm . The beneficial effect of the metronidazole was associated with a significant and sustained reduction of certain anaerobic organisms such as Bacteroides gingivalis and the large spirochetes . These data indicate that treatment aimed specifically toward the anaerobic component of the plaque flora can be associated with impressive clinical improvements 15 to 30 weeks after the initiation of treatment.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 130 ( Pt 6), 1481 - 7
Immunocytochemical labelling of Bacteroides nodosus pili using an immunogold technique; Beesley JE et al.; An immunogold labelling technique was used to label the pili of the bacterium Bacteroides nodosus . The labelling was distinct and highly specific, and individual pili could be recognised beneath the gold probe . The labelling of somatic antigens could be distinguished from that of pilus antigens . Furthermore, labelling of fragments of cytoplasm released by cell lysis and trapped in the pili could be distinguished from pilus labelling . An antiserum that had been raised against strain 80200 (serotype N) labelled pili of strain 215 (serotype B) . Double labelling experiments with this antiserum and the antiserum against strain 215 (serotype B) showed that both antisera label the same pili bundles . The ease of detection of the immunocytochemical reaction should enable this technique to be used as a routine screen for pilus antigens . It also possesses the potential for much wider applications for immunolabelling other antigens, such as viruses, that can be obtained in suspension.

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Jun, 45(6), 1073 - 8
Efficacy of ethylenediamine dihydriodide as an agent to prevent experimentally induced bovine foot rot; Berg JN et al.; Ethylenediamine dihydriodide (EDDI) was administered by capsule and as a feed premix to cattle in 2 studies . In study I (32 steers), EDDI was given at 0, 12.5, 50, and 200 mg/animal each day and in study II (36 steers) at 0, 30, and 200 mg/animal each day . Serum iodine levels were monitored during the studies . The cattle were inoculated intradermally in the interdigital space with a mixture of Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus to induce acute foot rot at day 15 (study I) or day 28 (study II) after EDDI administration was started . Lesions and lameness were evaluated 5 days after challenge exposure, using a subjective scoring system . The cattle receiving EDDI had significantly less severe lesions and lameness than control cattle in both studies (study I, P less than 0.003; study II, P less than 0.001) . The results indicated that EDDI was efficacious in prevention of foot rot . The studies demonstrated a direct relationship between dosage levels of EDDI and serum iodine levels . However, at the large dosage level (200 mg) there were some individuals that showed an inability to metabolize and excrete the iodine as demonstrated by high serum iodine levels (600 to 700 micrograms of iodine/dl of serum).

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1984 Jun, 2(3 Suppl), 47S - 53S
In vitro synergy and potentiation between cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime against clinical isolates of Bacteroides; Aldridge KE et al.; A broth microdilution checkerboard system was used to determine the activity of cefotaxime (CTX) and desacetylcefotaxime (des-CTX), alone and in combination, against 92 clinical isolates of Bacteroides species . Overall, CTX was only marginally more active than the metabolite . Resistance to both compounds was found among B . fragilis group, B . disiens, B . bivius, and B . capillosus . The combination of CTX with des-CTX resulted in a marked reduction of the MICs greater than or equal to fourfold for 82% of the strains tested . In addition, complete or partial synergy was noted with the combination against 85% of the strains tested . The ratio of CTX to des-CTX at the inhibitory endpoints varied widely, but in 75% of the cases it was 2:1 to 1:2 parts CTX to des-CTX.

J Biol Chem, 1984 May 25, 259(10), 6586 - 92
Endo-beta-D-galactosidases of Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia freundii hydrolyze linear but not branched oligosaccharide domains of glycolipids of the neolacto series; Scudder P et al.; The specificities of the endo-beta-galactosidases of Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia freundii towards linear and branched oligosaccharides of the lacto-N-glycosyl series were investigated using as substrates glycolipids containing (a) linear neolactotetra - or hexaosyl sequences, (b) branched biantennary neolactooctaosyl sequences, and (c) triantennary neolactononaor dodecaglycosyl sequences . Glycolipid and oligosaccharide hydrolysis products were identified by tlc and/or paper chromatography . The rate of hydrolysis was assessed in time course experiments in which the oligosaccharides released were quantified as 3H-labeled alditols . The salient observations were as follows . (i) With the substrates thus far tested in the present and a previous study ( Scudder , P., Uemura , K., Dolby , J., Fukuda, M.N., and Feizi , T . (1983) Biochem . J . 213, 485-494), the endo-beta-galactosidases from B . fragilis and E . freudii have indistinguishable specificities . (ii) The beta-galactosidic linkage of the branch point sequence (Formula: see text) is completely resistant to hydrolysis by these enzymes, although the unbranched sequence GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc/Glc is readily cleaved . (iii) At an optimal concentration of detergent, the endo-beta-galactosidase susceptibility of the GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc sequence near the ceramide moiety of branched glycolipids is similar to that of the corresponding sequence in linear glycolipids.

Am J Med, 1984 May 15, 76(5A), 91 - 8
Experimental aspects of intraabdominal abscess; Bartlett JG; Two animal models were used to examine the bacteriologic aspects and antibiotic treatment of intraabdominal abscess . The first model was designed to simulate the septic complications of colonic perforation using an inoculum of stool implanted intraperitoneally in rats . The results showed that coliforms were responsible for early lethality, Bacteroides fragilis appeared to play a particularly important role in abscess formation, and optimal treatment required antimicrobial regimens directed against both coliforms and anaerobes . The second model was designed to examine the pharmacokinetic properties of antibiotics and therapeutic efficacy of various antimicrobials in a subcutaneous abscess involving B . fragilis in mice . This work showed all drugs penetrated abscesses, although there was a diminishing antimicrobial effect with progressive delays in the time that treatment was initiated . It is suggested that bacteria within an abscess are in a stationary phase of growth so that early institution of treatment is critical for optimal in vivo activity, and bactericidal drugs may be preferred once an abscess has formed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 May, (5), 58 - 62
{Determination of the ecological niche of Bacteroides in the gastrointestinal tract--a study of a model of sterile intestines in germ-free animals}; Intizarov MM et al.; The interrelations of the population of microorganisms belonging to the genus Bacteroides with the structures of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free guinea pigs and mini-pigs have been studied . A considerable part of the population of these anaerobic microorganisms is associated in some way with the intestinal mucosa; at least, quite a number of these organisms inhabit mucins covering the mucosa . The determination of this ecological niche occupied by bacteroids in the intestinal microbiocenosis suggests that these organisms have considerable influence on the physiological functions and pathological states of the digestive tract.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 433 - 5
{Comparative bacteriostatic activity of ticarcillin, alone and combined with clavulanic acid, 5 cephalosporins and metronidazole against 100 strains of Bacteroides fragilis}; de Barbeyrac B et al.; In vitro activity against 100 strains of Bacteroides fragilis of ticarcillin alone and combined with 4 or 8 mg of clavulanic acid was compared with those of cefoxitin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, lamoxactam , ceftriaxone and metronidazole . The Cl 90 was 29.7 mg/l for ticarcillin alone, and 1.3 and 0.5 mg/l for ticarcillin combined with 4 and 8 mg of clavulanic acid respectively . Every strain was susceptible to ticarcillin combined with clavulanic acid (CMI less than or equal to 16 mg/l) and metronidazole (CMI less than or equal to 4 mg/l) . Among the cephalosporins tested, lamoxactam (Cl 90 : 1 mg/l) was the most active, followed by cefotaxime (22.7 mg/l), cefoxitin (23 mg/l), ceftriaxone (51.2 mg/l) and ceftazidime (347 mg/l).

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 May, 19(5), 639 - 44
Serological identification of oral Bacteroides spp . by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Ebersole JL et al.; A rapid method for identifying black-pigmented oral Bacteroides spp . is described . Species-specific rabbit antisera to Bacteroides gingivalis, B . intermedius, and B . melaninogenicus were used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to identify clinical isolates of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp . from humans . The results showed excellent agreement with biochemical identification of B . gingivalis and B . intermedius . Only 36% of the B . melaninogenicus isolates were identified with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, suggesting that this group of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp . is made up of more than one serotype . The serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay should enable rapid identification of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp . isolated from sites of oral diseases and may also be used to identify the presence of these organisms in complex bacterial mixtures from oral sites.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 May, 25(5), 662 - 5
Effect of clavulanic acid on the activities of ten beta-lactam agents against members of the Bacteroides fragilis group; Lamothe F et al.; Clavulanic acid reduced the MICs of amoxicillin, carbencillin , cefamandole, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftizoxime, cephalothin, and penicillin G, but not of cefoxitin or moxalactam, against 77 isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group, all rapidly beta-lactamase positive by the nitrocefin slide test . It had no effect on the susceptibilities of eight Bacteroides distasonis strains that were slowly beta-lactamase positive (18 h of incubation).

J Bacteriol, 1984 May, 158(2), 739 - 41
Large transmissible clindamycin resistance plasmid in Bacteroides ovatus; Smith CJ et al.; Bacteroides ovatus IB106 contained two plasmids, pBI106 (46 kilobases) and pBI136 (82 kilobases) . Transmissible clindamycin-erythromycin resistance (Ccr) was mediated by pBI136 , whose Ccr determinant was closely related to the determinant on the Bacteroides R plasmids pBF4 and pBFTM10 . Hybridization studies showed that pBI106 was not involved in Ccr transfer, but it shared extensive homology to pBF4 with the exception of the pBF4 region implicated in Ccr.

Infect Immun, 1984 May, 44(2), 241 - 4
Bacteroides fragilis: a possible cause of acute diarrheal disease in newborn lambs; Myers LL et al.; Bacteroides fragilis with enterotoxin-like activity (BFEL) was isolated from the feces of 24- to 48-h-old lambs with acute diarrheal disease on three different sheep ranches in the Northern Rocky Mountain region of the United States . The lamb intestinal loop test was used to enrich for the bacterium before its initial isolation . Pure cultures of B . fragilis from the feces of diarrheic lambs caused fluid accumulation in five of five lamb intestinal loop tests and in three of three calf intestinal loop tests . Two different serogroups of BFEL were found in diarrheic lambs, and a third serogroups was found in the feces of a diarrheic ewe . Enteric disease characterized by diarrhea, depression, and inappetence occurred in three of eight newborn, colostrum-fed lambs after oral challenge inoculation with viable BFEL . One of the three lambs died 32 h after challenge . Clinical signs of disease were similar to those observed in the naturally occurring disease . B . fragilis is an obligately anaerobic bacterium found in the intestinal tract of most animals and humans . It is a serious cause of extraintestinal infection in humans . The bacterium has not been reported to cause fluid accumulation in the intestine or to cause diarrhea in any species of animal.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1984 May, 17(2), 81 - 5
{Typing of Bacteroides fragilis by bacteriocin production}; Hor LI et al.; Sixty-four strains of Bacteroides fragilis isolated from clinical specimens were tested for their bacteriocin production . It showed that 65.6% of them produced bacteriocin(s) and gave different patterns of inhibition . Among them 9 with clear inhibition zones were chosen as the indicator strains . With this indicator s,et 75.2% of 109 clinically isolated B . fragilis strains could be typed, with type 482 as the predominant type . The colonial dissociants gave the same bacteriocin type, but small and opaque colonies tend to lose their bactericidal ability.

Res Vet Sci, 1984 May, 36(3), 382 - 4
Aetiological agents of necrobacillosis in captive wallabies; Oliphant JC et al.; In a series of 27 wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) with necrobacillosis, 14 animals were affected in the face, nine in the leg and six in the internal organs, two being affected in more than one site . Fusobacterium necrophorum was the predominating organism, occurring in 69 per cent of lesions, usually in heavy and occasionally in pure culture . Bacteroides species (six in all), often in considerable numbers, were found in 48 per cent of lesions, and F nucleatum in 14 per cent . Aerobes or facultative anaerobes, usually in small numbers, were present in 59 per cent of lesions . The organisms isolated often varied considerably from one part of the lesion to another.

Plasmid, 1984 May, 11(3), 248 - 52
Expression in Escherichia coli of cryptic tetracycline resistance genes from bacteroides R plasmids; Guiney DG Jr et al.; The putative clindamycin resistance region of the Bacteroides fragilis R plasmid pBF4 was cloned in the vector R300B in Escherichia coli . This 3.8-kb EcoRI D fragment from pBF4 expressed noninducible tetracycline resistance in E . coli under aerobic but not anaerobic growth conditions . The fragment does not express tetracycline resistance in Bacteroides, a strict anaerobe . The separate tetracycline resistance transfer system in the Bacteroides host strain V479-1 has no homology to the cryptic determinant on pBF4 . In addition, this aerobic tetracycline resistance determinant is not homologous to the three major plasmid mediated tetracycline resistance regions found in facultative gram-negative bacteria, represented by R100, RK2, and pBR322 . A similar cryptic tetracycline resistance fragment was cloned from pCP1, a separate clindamycin resistance plasmid from Bacteroides that shares homology with the EcoRI D fragment of pBF4 . This study identifies cryptic drug resistance determinants in Bacteroides that are expressed when inserted into an aerobically growing organism.

Vet Res Commun, 1984 May, 8(2), 77 - 91
Microtus species as new herbivorous laboratory animals: reproduction; bacterial flora and fermentation in the digestive tracts; and nutritional physiology; Kudo H et al.; In a study of the possible introduction of Japanese field vole (Microtus montebelli ) and Hungarian voles (M . arvalis) as herbivorous experimental animals, the following biological characteristics were investigated: breeding and reproductive performance; bacterial flora and fermentation in the digestive tracts; and nutritional physiology . The animals are polyestrus , show postpartum estrus on the day of parturition, and there is little or no delay in implantation due to lactation, especially in M . arvalis . On examination of vaginal smears, Japanese field vole did not show any definite pattern, whereas most Hungarian voles showed 6- to 18- day cycles . From the esophageal sac of voles fed rations with a high fiber content, cellulolytic bacteria similar to Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens , and Bacteroides succinogenes were isolated . More than 1 000 000/g anaerobic bacteria were present in the esophageal sac and the pattern and the types of bacteria resembled those found in the rumen . Gastric fermentation took place in the esophageal sac . The pH and total VFAs were much smaller in the fundic and pyloric regions of the stomach than in the esophageal sac . Acetic and lactic acids were the major fermentation products in the esophageal sac . Following deficiency or lowering of the cellulose decomposing abilities, a decrease of VFAs and an increase in lactic acid production in the esophageal sac were observed . These effects resulted in high glucose, FFA and ketone bodies in the blood, and a higher incidence of glucosuria . Diabetes induced by administrations of drugs such as alloxan, streptozotocin and phloridzin were compared using Microtus and mice . Microtus had low sensitivity to alloxan but high sensitivity to streptozotocin . The influence of monensin on Microtus was also investigated by using diets containing 20 and 80 mg/kg monensin . Diets containing 80 mg/kg monensin led to 50 % mortality in 7 weeks and growth was hindered . Gas production from the esophageal sac contents of voles in the monensin-medicated group was much smaller than that of the non-medicated group . In the monensin group the total VFA concentrations of the esophageal sac contents was decreased.

Anticancer Res, 1984 May-Jun, 4(3), 169 - 70
Anaerobic infection in the neutropenic host: anti-endotoxin effect of polymyxin; Bannatyne RM et al.; The neutropenic mouse model of endotoxin-associated anaerobic sepsis was used to evaluate the anti-endotoxic effect of polymyxin . Administered as two spaced doses after lethal challenge with Bacteroides fragilis polymyxin produced a statistically significant protective effect.

Plasmid, 1984 May, 11(3), 268 - 71
Homology between clindamycin resistance plasmids in Bacteroides; Guiney DG Jr et al.; Two different species of clindamycin-resistant Bacteroides were isolated from the same infection . One isolate contained a single 15-kb plasmid (pCP1) which encoded transferable clindamycin resistance . pCP1 appears similar to the Bacteroides clindamycin resistance plasmid pBFTM10 isolated independently by F.P . Tally, D.R . Snydman, M.J . Shimell, and M.H . Malamy (1982, J . Bacteriol . 151, 686-691) . The second strain had a 10-kb plasmid (pCP2) but did not transfer resistance . DNA hybridization studies revealed that pCP1 shares a 5-kb region of homology with the B . fragilis R plasmid pBF4 studied by R.A . Welch and F.L . Macrina (1981, J . Bacteriol . 145, 867-872) . This region in both plasmids was shown to be bounded by homologous direct repeats and contains the putative clindamycin resistance determinant . pCP1 and pCP2 were found to share extensive homology but sequences homologous to the clindamycin resistance region were missing from pCP2 and found instead in the whole cell DNA of the host strain . These results identify a transposon-like structure on Bacteroides clindamycin resistance plasmids.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Apr, 130 ( Pt 4), 771 - 7
Effect of UV irradiation on macromolecular synthesis and colony formation in Bacteroides fragilis; Schumann JP et al.; Irradiation of Bacteroides fragilis cells with far-UV light resulted in the immediate, rapid and extensive degradation of DNA which continued for 40 to 60 min after irradiation . During the degradation phase, DNA synthesis was decreased but was never totally inhibited . DNA degradation after irradiation was inhibited by chloramphenicol and caffeine . DNA synthesis in irradiated cells was reduced by chloramphenicol but resumed after 100 min at the same exponential rate as in irradiated cells without chloramphenicol . Irradiated cells continued to synthesize DNA for 40 min in the presence of caffeine but after this time DNA synthesis was completely inhibited and never recovered . RNA and protein synthesis were decreased by UV irradiation and the degree of inhibition was proportional to the UV dose . Colony formation was not affected immediately by UV irradiation and continued for a dose-dependent period before inhibition . There was an inverse relationship between UV dose and inhibition of colony formation which occurred sooner in cells irradiated with lower doses of UV light . The characteristics of DNA synthesis in B . fragilis cells after UV irradiation differ from those in wild-type Escherichia coli cells, where DNA synthesis is stopped immediately by UV irradiation, but resemble those in E . coli recA mutant cells where extensive degradation occurs following UV irradiation.

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Apr, 9(2), 169 - 79
Phagocytosis of Bacteroides nodosus by ovine peripheral blood leucocytes; Emery DL et al.; Phagocytosis of Bacteroides nodosus by ovine peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) was examined after organisms had been opsonized in sera from normal sheep, or from animals immune to, or infected with ovine footrot . Ingestion of bacteria, as assessed microscopically or by counting isotopically-labelled organisms spectrometrically was effected in suspensions by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) . Opsonization of bacteria in immune serum, particularly its IgG2 isotype, enhanced the rate of phagocytosis by PMN compared with that promoted by normal serum or medium alone . Whereas IgG2 from immune serum also increased the rate of ingestion of B . nodosus by adherent PMN, IgM and IgG1 from immune serum also initiated phagocytosis of bacteria by adherent ovine monocytes . Leucocytes from normal, immune or infected sheep of different breeds ingested B . nodosus with equal facility.

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Apr, 9(2), 155 - 68
Analysis of the outer membrane proteins of Bacteroides nodosus, the causal organism of ovine footrot; Emery DL et al.; Examination by SDS-PAGE of lithium acetate extracts of several strains of depiliated Bacteroides nodosus revealed 6 major outer membrane proteins (including pilin) . The 5 membrane proteins exhibited approximate molecular weights of 75000, 50000, 38000, 34500 and 26500 whereas pilin had a MW of 17500 for the majority of strains . All proteins were accessible to lactoperoxidase-catalysed iodination and proteins 1, 2 and 5 were shown to be glycoproteins . Several attempts to isolate individual OMC proteins in pure form by selective solubilization and gel filtration were unsuccessful, but electroelution of individual outer membrane complex proteins resolved by SDS-PAGE provided sufficient quantities of antigen for immunization of sheep and for immunochemical analysis.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1984 Apr, 37(4), 401 - 7
Timed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of selected antimicrobial agents against Bacteroides fragilis isolated from clinical specimens; Masuda G; The activities of selected antimicrobial agents were evaluated for bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities for a large number of clinically obtained strains of Bacteroides fragilis, with special reference to the incubation time of the microbes with the drugs . If the mode of action of a drug is categorized as bactericidal when the ratio of bactericidal concentration/bacteriostatic concentration is low (less than or equal to 4), and as bacteriostatic when high (greater than or equal to 8), during given periods of incubation, then clindamycin, minocycline and chloramphenicol appeared to be bacteriostatic, and cefoxitin, cefmetazole, latamoxef (moxalactam) and metronidazole bactericidal, when the incubation time was brief (6 hours) . All these drugs acted bactericidally on most of the test strains, if the time of incubation was prolonged to 24 hours.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 158(1), 102 - 9
Isolation and characterization of outer membranes of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron grown on different carbohydrates; Kotarski SF et al.; To determine whether certain outer membrane proteins are associated with growth of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron on polysaccharides, we developed a procedure for separating outer membranes from inner membranes by sucrose density centrifugation . Cell extracts in 10% (wt/vol) sucrose-10 mM HEPES buffer (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid) (pH 7.4) were separated into two fractions on a two-step (37 and 70% {wt/vol}) sucrose gradient . These fractions were further resolved into outer membranes (p = 1.21 g/cm3) and inner membranes (p = 1.14 g/cm3) on sucrose gradients . About 20 to 26% of the total 3-hydroxy fatty acids from lipopolysaccharide and 2 to 3% of the total cellular succinate dehydrogenase activity were recovered in the outer membrane preparation . The inner membrane preparation contained 22 to 49% of the total succinate dehydrogenase activity and 2 to 3% of the total 3-hydroxy fatty acids from lipopolysaccharide . Outer membranes contained a lower concentration of protein (0.34 mg/mg {dry weight}) than did the inner membranes (0.68 mg/mg {dry weight}) . Molecular weights of inner membrane polypeptides ranged from 11,000 to 133,000 . The most prominent polypeptides had molecular weights ranging from 11,000 to 26,000 . In contrast, the molecular weights of outer membrane polypeptides ranged from 17,000 to 117,000 . The most prominent polypeptides had molecular weights ranging from 42,000 to 117,000 . There were several polypeptides in the outer membranes of bacteria grown on polysaccharides (chondroitin sulfate, arabinogalactan, or polygalacturonic acid) which were not detected or were not as prominent in outer membranes of bacteria grown on monosaccharide components of these polysaccharides.

J Hyg (Lond), 1984 Apr, 92(2), 165 - 75
The pathogenic properties of Fusobacterium and Bacteroides species from wallabies and other sources; Smith GR et al.; Intracerebral inoculation was more effective than intraperitoneal, intravenous or subcutaneous inoculation as a means of producing lethal infections with Fusobacterium necrophorum in mice . Strains varied in virulence but, of five examined, two had LD50 values as low as ca . 8000 and 14000 viable organisms . Profuse bacterial multiplication in the brain was demonstrated . Intravenous vaccination with a single large dose of heat-killed whole culture or washed bacterial cells failed to protect against intracerebral challenge . Intracerebral injection of other fusobacteria (F . nucleatum, F . varium and F . necrogenes) and of 22 strains belonging to 10 Bacteroides spp . was without apparent effect on mice, except for a slight transient illness in some animals given B . fragilis . This organism (five strains) differed from the other Bacteroides spp . tested, which included eight strains belonging to the fragilis group, in being eliminated more slowly from the mouse brain--a point that may be relevant to the special pathogenicity of B . fragilis in endogenous infections in man . There was no evidence that B . fragilis multiplied in the brain or that intravenous vaccination with a large dose of heat-killed homologous culture affected the rate at which it was eliminated.

Clin Nucl Med, 1984 Apr, 9(4), 184 - 6
Unexpected reversal of gallium-67 citrate avidity in an anaerobic hepatic abscess; Moreno AJ et al.; A case of anaerobic hepatic abscess (Bacteroides fragilis), which initially was imaged as a cold defect on Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy and, following percutaneous drainage, became Ga avid, is presented . Proposed mechanisms for this occurrence are given.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1984 Apr, 37(4), 384 - 8
Activity of ceftizoxime and comparative compounds against Bacteroides fragilis in a mouse model of anaerobic infection; Grappel SF et al.; A new mouse model of anaerobic infection with Bacteroides fragilis alone or in a mixed infection with Escherichia coli is described . It is established by implantation under the skin of a filter paper disk saturated with the appropriate bacterial suspension . The penetration of antibiotics into the implantation site can be detected by assaying the disk . The local infection can be both standardized and evaluated by determining the bacterial count on the disk . The antimicrobial efficacy of ceftizoxime was compared with other commercially available antibiotics administered in a single dose, 40 mg/kg subcutaneously, one hour after implantation of the disk . Using such a regimen ceftizoxime was found to be superior to a clindamycin-gentamicin combination and equal to or superior to cefoxitin in these models.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1984 Mar 15, 119(2), 814 - 9
L-cycloserine inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis in the anaerobic bacterium Bacteroides levii; Sundaram KS et al.; L-cycloserine was found to significantly inhibit the activity of the first enzyme of the sphingolipid pathway when added to growing cultures of Bacteroides levii . The effect of cycloserine on the synthesis of the sphingolipids showed that ceramidephosphorylethanolamine was inhibited to a greater degree than ceramidephosphorylglycerol, although synthesis of both was significantly inhibited by cycloserine as determined by {32P} incorporation and phosphorus determination . In contrast, synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol was not inhibited by L-cycloserine at 100 micrograms/ml . Peturbation of sphingolipid synthesis by L-cycloserine may therefore provide a useful tool for the study of the function of these membrane lipids.

Aust Vet J, 1984 Mar, 61(3), 85 - 8
The comparative susceptibility of five breeds of sheep to foot-rot; Emery DL et al.; Five breeds of sheep, Romney Marsh, Dorset Horn, Border Leicester, Peppin Merinos and Saxon Merinos were examined for their susceptibility to foot-rot by exposure to natural transmission of infection on irrigated pasture or by the application of pure cultures of Bacteroides nodosus to each foot in a pen experiment . On pasture, the sheep encountered a moderate challenge and the British breeds were more resistant than Merinos to the development of severe foot-rot . Resistance was manifested by a rapid resolution of relatively benign lesions in the interdigital skin, rather than a reduction in the number of feet affected . However, under more severe challenges with foot-rot in pens, all breeds were equally susceptible . There was little difference between resistant and susceptible sheep in the kinetics and magnitude of their antibacterial immune responses indicating that resistance did not depend on pre-existing antibody or a more rapid induction of antibody production . In each experiment, humoral immune responses against B . nodosus were not greatly elevated until under-running lesions of the hoof developed.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6(2), 189 - 99
Pathogenicity of anaerobic gram-negative rods: possible mechanisms; Hofstad T; The literature dealing with the pathogenicity of anaerobic gram-negative rods in humans is reviewed . Knowledge concerning definite pathogenic mechanisms is, at best, cursory . There is evidence that encapsulation plays a role in the pathogenicity of Bacteroides fragilis and some of the black-pigmented Bacteroides . A range of enzymes, among them collagenase and IgA protease, are produced by several Bacteroides species . Supernatants of Fusobacterium necrophorum cultures may be leukotoxic . Synergism between anaerobic gram-negative rods and other bacterial species has been demonstrated in experimental animals.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Mar, 130 ( Pt 3), 645 - 55
Crossed immunoelectrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the cell-surface antigens of Bacteroides fragilis; Cousland G et al.; Antisera were raised to whole, live cells of a reference strain (NCTC 9344) and two clinical isolates (GNAB 92 and GNAB 4) of Bacteroides fragilis . Each antiserum was reacted in crossed line immunoelectrophoresis (CLIE) with EDTA-heat-sonication-prepared outer membrane (OM) complex from 10 B . fragilis strains . In addition, the antisera were reacted with these antigens in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . In CLIE, the antisera raised to the reference strain and one of the clinical isolates (GNAB 92) demonstrated a heat labile antigen which was common to all 10 of the test strains . Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prepared from both the clinical isolates produced three major precipitin lines when reacted with their homologous antisera in crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) . In both cases, these three antigens were present as major components of the OM complex . Each antiserum reacted significantly in ELISA with all test OM complex preparations . Inhibition of ELISA showed that carbohydrates were the predominant cross-reactive antigens in ELISA and that in the case of the clinical isolate GNAB 4, most of the cross-reactive antigenic activity was present in the homologous LPS preparation.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Mar, 13(3), 245 - 55
Variations in susceptibility to latamoxef(moxalactam) and cefoxitin within the Bacteroides fragilis group; Eley A et al.; Conventional agar dilution MIC titrations, anaerobic turbidimetric monitoring and viable counting were used to investigate the response to latamoxef (moxalactam) and cefoxitin of four well characterized species within the Bacteroides fragilis group . MIC results indicated that Bact . fragilis and Bact . vulgatus were more susceptible to both antibiotics than were Bact . ovatus and Bact . thetaiotaomicron and that latamoxef was more active than cefoxitin . Continuous turbidimetric monitoring with parallel viable counting confirmed the greater susceptibility of Bact . fragilis and Bact . vulgatus, but also suggested that the differential in activity between latamoxef and cefoxitin was less than MIC titrations had indicated . Moreover, against the more resistant Bact . ovatus and Bact . thetaiotaomicron strains, cefoxitin actually appeared more active than latamoxef in bactericidal and bacteriolytic terms . The interpretation of these results is discussed in the light of the morphological response of the bacteria to the two antibiotics . Because species within the Bact . fragilis group appear to differ considerably in their beta-lactam antibiotic susceptibility there is a need for laboratories to test the antibiotic susceptibility of these organisms or to identify them presumptively to the species level if treatment with beta-lactam agents is contemplated.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S34 - 9
Role of complement in host resistance against members of the Bacteroidaceae; Bjornson AB; Considerable evidence has been reported in recent years suggesting that complement plays an important role in host resistance against members of the Bacteroidaceae . Most of the investigations in this area have focused on the genus Bacteroides because of its clinical importance . Various species of Bacteroides have been shown to activate the complement system in vitro via the classical and alternative pathways . Complement activation results in the generation of chemotactic factors that mobilize polymorphonuclear leukocytes to sites of infection . Activated complement also facilitates bacteriolysis and opsonophagocytic killing by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages . Strains possessing dense fibrillar polysaccharide capsules are resistant to both of these defense mechanisms . The putative importance of complement-dependent bacteriolysis and opsonophagocytic killing in resistance against Bacteroides infections in vivo requires confirmation . In addition, the role of complement in synergistic interactions between Bacteroides and facultative bacteria remains to be elucidated.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S30 - 3
Activation of Hageman factor by lipopolysaccharides of Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Fusobacterium mortiferum; Bjornson HS; Preincubation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Fusobacterium mortiferum with purified human Hageman factor (HF) followed by addition of purified human prekallikrein resulted in the activation of HF, as measured by the generation of kallikrein using the tripeptide substrate N-alpha-benzoyl-L-proline-L-phenylalanine-L-arginine-4-nitroanilide . Addition of purified HF, which had been preincubated with the LPS, to HF-deficient plasma resulted in the acceleration of the recalcification time . Addition of the LPS to HF-deficient plasma reconstituted with various concentrations of HF also resulted in the acceleration of the recalcification time; the magnitude of the acceleration correlated with the amount of HF used to reconstitute the deficient plasma . These results demonstrate that LPS of selected gram-negative anaerobes activate HF and thereby initiate the intrinsic pathway of coagulation.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S25 - 9
Capsular polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides from two strains of Bacteroides fragilis; Kasper DL et al.; The capsular polysaccharide from Bacteroides fragilis strain NCTC 9343 contained six sugars: L-fucose, D-galactose, D- and L-quinovosamine, D-glucosamine, and galacturonic acid . The capsule of B . fragilis strain ATCC 23745 in addition contained D-glucose, L-fucosamine, L-rhamnosamine, and a 3-amino-3,6-dideoxyhexose, but lacked D-quinovosamine . The latter capsule also contained alanine (4%) . The lipopolysaccharide of both strains contained the same sugars (L-rhamnose, D-glucose, D-galactose, and D-glucosamine) and fatty acids (13-methyltetradecanoic, 3-hydroxypentadecanoic as major constituents) . The capsular polysaccharide of both strains promoted abscess formation, whereas the lipopolysaccharide failed to do so.

Infect Immun, 1984 Mar, 43(3), 1080 - 4
Oxygen-independent killing of Bacteroides fragilis by granule extracts from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Wetherall BL et al.; Granule proteins from human neutrophils were prepared by extraction with acetate, and their antibacterial activity against Bacteroides fragilis was determined . Activity was highly dependent on pH; greatest killing occurred at the most acid pH tested (pH 5.0) . Optimum activity was observed at physiological ionic strength and low bacterial numbers . Killing was inhibited by incubation temperatures of less than 37 degrees C . Eight times more extract was required to kill 50% of stationary-phase bacteria, compared with those growing in logarithmic phase . The antibacterial effect of granule extract was destroyed by boiling, but some activity was retained after heating to 56 degrees C and 80 degrees C . Granule extract activity was tested under conditions in which oxygen-dependent antibacterial systems were inhibited . The rate and extent of killing was not affected by anaerobiosis, sodium azide, or cysteine hydrochloride . These results suggest that the activity of granule extract is independent of oxidative antibacterial systems, and therefore, under conditions that occur in anaerobic infections, potent leukocyte granule-associated mechanisms exist for the destruction of B . fragilis.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S254 - 9
Epidemiology and susceptibility of resistant Bacteroides fragilis group organisms to new beta-lactam antibiotics; Heseltine PN et al.; The epidemiology of the Bacteroides fragilis group and the interspecies frequencies of antibiotic resistance were examined . Susceptibilities were determined for 16 beta-lactam antibiotics, including seven new compounds . Fourteen percent of 287 patients with infection due to organisms of the B . fragilis group presented with bacteremia . Infections were as common among pediatric patients as among patients on the surgical services . Clindamycin resistance varied from 3% to 22% among the species . Resistance to clindamycin and cefoxitin was more likely to be encountered among Bacteroides species other than B . fragilis . These organisms were more commonly recovered from surgical wound specimens . Only N-formimidoylthienamycin showed predictably good activity against Bacteroides resistant to clindamycin or cefoxitin . The other new beta-lactam antibiotics had variable activities against these resistant strains, and significant differences were noted overall among the antimicrobial agents tested . Early speciation and susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of the B . fragilis group are needed, particularly if newer agents with unpredictable activities are used.

J Periodontol, 1984 Mar, 55(3), 159 - 69
Clinical, microbiological and immunological studies of a family with a high prevalence of early-onset periodontitis; Vandesteen GE et al.; Extensive clinical, laboratory and microbiological studies were performed on members of a family with an unusually high prevalence of early-onset severe periodontitis . Clinical observations included intraoral photographs and assessment of inflammation, plaque, probing depths and bone loss . Pocket bacteria were sampled, cultivated and identified . Immunological studies included assessment in vitro of neutrophil (PMN) and monocyte (MN) chemotaxis, assessment of PMN phagocytosis and other functions using the iodination assay, measurement of serum opsonic and chemoattractant activities and determination of levels of serum antibodies specific to various putative periodontal pathogens . The proband, a 19-year-old white woman, had rapidly progressive periodontitis (RP) . Of her six siblings available for study, all had juvenile periodontitis (JP), and both parents had been edentulous since early adulthood . Early edentulism and recurrent infections, especially otitis media, were prevalent in the forebearers, especially on the maternal side . Two married sisters of the proband had young male children with recurrent infections . Abnormalities in leukocyte chemotaxis were found in the proband, in two of her siblings and in both parents . The pocket flora was predominantly Gram-negative, anaerobic rods with a high prevalence of Bacteroides species, and serum antibodies specific to Bacteroides species were detected in the sera of five of the seven patients studied . Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was not found in any of the pockets studied, nor were antibodies specific to any of the three known serotypes of this bacterium detected in the serum of any of the patients . There was a relatively good correlation between the bacterial species isolated from the periodontal pockets and the antibodies found in the serum . PMN iodination and serum opsonic activity were normal in all of the patients . Thus not all JP patients have detectable Actinobacillus species in their periodontal pockets, nor do all have antibody detectable with the techniques we used specific to these bacteria in their serum . In contrast, JP patients may have Bacteroides species in their periodontal pockets and antibody specific to Bacteroides species in their serum . Although abnormal leukocyte chemotaxis is generally common in RP and JP patients, in this family the correlation between this defect and the presence of these diseases was poor.

J Biol Buccale, 1984 Mar, 12(1), 17 - 26
{Susceptibility of potential periodontopathic bacteria to metronidazole, spiramycin and their combination}; Mouton C et al.; A total of 65 bacterial strains originating mostly from subgingival plaque were tested for their susceptibilities to metronidazole, spiramycin, and their combination, ornidazole, erythromycin and tetracycline by means of an agar dilution technique . All agents were active against all anaerobic Gram-negative rods . Bacteroides gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum showed marked susceptibility to metronidazole (MIC less than or equal to 0.06 microgram/ml) whereas 4-64 micrograms/ml were required to inhibit the capnophilic Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Capnocytophaga . Gram-positive facultatives were resistant to nitro-imidazoles but were inhibited at macrolide concentrations less than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml . Except for F . nucleatum and Veillonella strains (2 less than or equal to MIC less than or equal to 128 micrograms/ml) macrolides were active against all other anaerobic bacteria tested . At concentrations less than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml the combination of spiramycin and metronidazole (2 : 1) was active against virtually all bacteria tested but our results failed to show a synergistic effect.

J Dent Res, 1984 Mar, 63(3), 422 - 6
Colonization of the subgingival area by Bacteroides gingivalis; Takazoe I et al.; The initial event in colonization of the subgingival area by B . gingivalis is its attachment to host cells and Gram-positive bacteria in pre-formed plaque . The level of B . gingivalis is partly governed by products of other plaque bacteria, especially by sanguicin . Once B . gingivalis resides in its nidus and starts to proliferate, expulsion of pre-existing residents may occur, especially of attached Gram-positive bacteria, through the inhibitory action of the B . gingivalis product, hematin . The bacteriocin produced by black-pigmented Bacteroides also seems to play an important role in their establishment . Melaninogenicus possessed strong inhibitory activity against Actinomyces species . This was not completely confirmed with fresh isolates of B . gingivalis from advanced periodontitis patients . Various factors other than inhibitory substances produced by B . gingivalis and related bacteria can also affect the colonization of this species . Since the crevice area is influenced by gingival fluid, the nature of specific antibody and the other affecting components should be considered collectively with the interaction between new predominant colonizers and other pre-existing residents.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1984 Mar, 27(3), 172 - 5
Intraincisional antibiotics in laparotomy wounds; Moesgaard F et al.; Concentrations of ampicillin after intraincisional instillation in laparotomy wounds were measured in ten patients undergoing appendectomy . Ampicillin, 1 gm, was instilled under the fascia and 1 gm in the subcutaneous space during wound closure . Wound secretion was collected every two hours during the first 24 postoperative hours by cannulation of a fine perforated drain placed in the subcutaneous space . Ampicillin was determined by a disk diffusion method . During the first eight hours the median concentration of ampicillin in wound secretion exceeded 1000 microgram/ml; 14 hours and 20 hours after wound closure the median concentrations were 73 and 14 microgram/ml, respectively . The effect of ampicillin in high concentrations on "resistant" strains of Bacteroides fragilis was demonstrated in an in vitro experiment . It is concluded that in colorectal surgery the effect on wound sepsis of intraincisional antibiotics as an addition to systemic antibiotic prophylaxis should be evaluated in a clinical trial.

J Infect, 1984 Mar, 8(2), 129 - 36
An experimental model for pyogenic liver abscess; McDonald MI et al.; We have developed a reproducible small-animal model for pyogenic liver abscess, suitable for investigating diagnostic and therapeutic modalities . Male New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2-3 kg were anaesthetized and the liver exposed . Gentle pressure was applied with forceps to the right hepatic lobe . A suspension of 10(5) colony forming units (cfu) Escherichia coli plus Fusobacterium necrophorum (10(6) cfu) plus Bacteroides fragilis (10(6) cfu) was immediately injected into a mesenteric vein . Two weeks later a palpable mass (mean diameter 4 cm) had developed . Thick pus could be aspirated percutaneously . Necropsy revealed a single, but often multiloculated, abscess at the site of the previous trauma . Injection of E . coli alone did not produce any abscesses and B . fragilis alone only small abscesses, with low and variable frequency . Inoculation with F . necrophorum alone produced large abscesses, and a dose-response relationship was established . This is a simple and reliable small-animal model useful in studies of imaging techniques, antibiotic regimens and invasive treatments for pyogenic liver abscess.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S96 - 100
A rat model of unilateral utero-tubo-ovarian abscess; Hammill HA et al.; Unilateral (utero-tubo-ovarian) abscesses were produced in rats with Bacteroides fragilis in pure culture . One horn of the rat's bicornuate uterus was ligated, and the inoculum of B . fragilis was placed in the uterine horn above the point of ligation . The 50% infecting dose (ID50) of B . fragilis was approximately 10(5) colony forming units (cfu) . When harvested the abscesses contained up to 10(8) cfu of B . fragilis in pure culture as well as many white blood cells . Abscesses were 2-3 cm in length and contained 0.5-1.5 ml of purulent material . The oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) of the abscesses ranged from -230 to -323 millivolts . Abscess formation was comparable in all four phases of the estrous cycle . In rats treated with depoestradiol (to create a high-estrogen state), the rate of growth and size of the abscesses (3-5 cm in length and 2-3 ml of purulent material) were greater than in untreated rats.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S91 - 5
Use of a model of intraabdominal sepsis for studies of the pathogenicity of Bacteroides fragilis; Onderdonk AB et al.; Over the past eight years, a Wistar rat model for intraabdominal sepsis has been developed and used to document the role of obligate anaerobes in this infections . The ability of Bacteroides fragilis alone to provoke abscesses in this model system is due to a species-specific capsular polysaccharide . It has been shown that active immunization of rats with capsular polysaccharide of B . fragilis protects these animals against the development of abscesses after intraperitoneal challenge with this species . Passive transfer of hyperimmune globulin provided protection against B . fragilis bacteremia in nonimmune, challenged animals but did not confer protection against abscess development . Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from immunized to nonimmunized animals resulted in protection against abscess following challenge with B . fragilis, a finding suggesting that a T cell-dependent immune response was involved in protection . It has also been shown that inbred, congenitally athymic OLA/Rnu rats that were actively immunized developed abscesses despite the presence of capsular antibody, as did 100% of unimmunized athymic control rats . However, no phenotypically normal, littermate control rats that were actively immunized developed abscesses . These data suggest that a T cell-dependent immune response is an important part of immunity to B . fragilis . Additional experiments are being performed to better define the immunologic and chemical basis for the protection afforded by immunization.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S242 - 8
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria; Rosenblatt JE; Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria has assumed greater importance in recent years because of (1) an increase in recognition of the clinical significance of anaerobes, (2) a decrease in predictability of susceptibility patterns, (3) the appearance of new antimicrobial agents with variable activity against anaerobes, (4) an increase in use of and demand for susceptibility data by clinicians, and (5) the availability of a standardized reference and practical methods for susceptibility testing of anaerobes . The broth microdilution and broth disk-elution techniques are suitable for clinical microbiology laboratories and have been shown to provide results comparable to those obtained with the reference agar-dilution method developed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards . The ability to produce beta-lactamase has been demonstrated in most strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group and in over half of other Bacteroides . Increasing resistance of B . fragilis to clindamycin has been reported, and the newer beta-lactam antibiotics, including moxalactam, piperacillin, cefoperazone, and cefotaxime, have variable activity against this organism . Most medical centers should perform susceptibility tests on anaerobes isolated from patients with bacteremia and bone and joint and central nervous system infections and on those anaerobes isolated in pure culture from other specimens and also should test anaerobic isolates on special request of clinicians.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S123 - 7
Anaerobic mediastinitis; Murray PM et al.; Anaerobic bacteria often are neglected in discussions of the bacteriology of mediastinitis . Two cases of anaerobic mediastinitis are reported and the literature in this field is reviewed . Anaerobes are important pathogens in the etiology of mediastinitis secondary to perforation of the esophagus, extension of a retropharyngeal abscess, or extension of cellulitis or abscess of dental origin from the neck . Although anaerobes indigenous to the oral cavity predominate in these cases, there are also a few cases reported involving Bacteroides fragilis . The source of the mediastinitis should be considered when antimicrobial therapy is initiated so that appropriate anaerobic coverage can be included when indicated.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S115 - 22
Anaerobes in infections of the head and neck and ear, nose, and throat; Busch DF; Anaerobic bacteria outnumber aerobes at most oropharyngeal sites, with counts up to 10(11)/ml of fluid, and have been implicated in infections of all structures of the head and neck . They are common in chronic otitis media, chronic sinusitis, and various soft-tissue infections . These infections are initiated primarily by mucosal breaks . Bacterial factors such as adhesiveness and antileukocytic activity also may play a role . Among the complications of these infections are brain abscess, aspiration pneumonia, and anaerobic sepsis . Treatment includes surgical drainage and use of antimicrobial agents active against the mixed flora commonly found . Penicillin is currently the drug of choice, but this may change with the emergence of beta-lactamase-producing strains of anaerobes such as Bacteroides melaninogenicus.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Mar, 13(3), 257 - 65
Synergistic activity of cefsulodin combined with cefoxitin and sulbactam against Bacteroides species; Fu KP et al.; The in-vitro activity of cefsulodin combined with sulbactam, cefoxitin or cefotaxime was investigated against 32 strains of beta-lactamase-producing Bacteroides species . Synergy of cefsulodin-sulbactam or cefsulodin-cefoxitin could be demonstrated against 30 of 32 and 32 of 32 strains tested at the concentrations readily achievable in serum . In the presence of 1 mg/l of sulbactam or cefoxitin, more than 90% of the Bacteroides isolated were inhibited by 32 mg/l of cefsulodin . The inhibitory activity of cefsulodin-sulbactam or cefsulodin-cefoxitin combinations was bactericidal against Bact . fragilis and Bact . vulgatus . In contrast, no synergistic inhibitory or bactericidal activities can be observed by the cefsoludin-cefotaxime combination . Both sulbactam and cefoxitin were potent inhibitors of beta-lactamases produced by Bact . fragilis and Bact . melaninogenicus suggesting that this inhibitory activity might be one of the factors contributing to the synergistic combinations.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S260 - 9
Mechanisms of resistance and resistance transfer in anaerobic bacteria: factors influencing antimicrobial therapy; Tally FP et al.; The resistance of anaerobic bacteria to a number of antimicrobial agents has an impact on the selection of appropriate therapy for infections caused by these pathogens . Resistance to penicillin in Bacteroides fragilis has long been recognized . Most resistance is due to chromosomal beta-lactamases that are cephalosporinases . Two new enzymes that inactivate the ureidopenicillins and cefoxitin have been described in B . fragilis . The most common mechanisms of cefoxitin resistance is by the blocking of penetration of the drug into the periplasmic space . The transfer of beta-lactamase and penicillinase and of cefoxitin resistance has been demonstrated . Penicillin resistance in other Bacteroides is mediated by a penicillinase . Chloramphenicol resistance is mediated by a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and by nitroreduction in anaerobic bacteria . Anaerobic bacteria are resistant to aminoglycosides because these organisms lack the oxidative transport system for intracellular drug accumulation . Metronidazole resistance, which is rarely encountered, is mediated by a decrease in nitroreduction of the compound to the active agent . Clindamycin-erythromycin resistance in B . fragilis is probably similar to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin resistance in aerobic bacteria . Two transfer factors, pBFTM10 and pBF4, which confer resistance to clindamycin have been described; the resistance determinant on them is widely distributed in nature . Tetracyline resistance in B . fragilis is mediated by a block in uptake of the drug . Transfer of tetracycline resistance is common; however, no transfer factor has been isolated . Transfer has been proposed to occur via a conjugal transposon . The special characteristics of the infected site influence the outcome of antimicrobial therapy, particularly in abscesses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Can J Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 30(2), 268 - 72
Evidence for a membrane-bound form of a bacteriocin of Bacteroides uniformis Tl-1; Austin-Prather SL et al.; The bacteriocin of Bacteroides uniformis T1-1 had previously been reported to have a molecular weight of greater than or equal to 300 000 . Reexamination of the B . uniformis bacteriocin revealed that the bacteriocin was found in association with membrane vesicles which had been released by bleb formation from the outer surface of the B . uniformis cells . The bacteriocin could be released from whole cells or purified membrane vesicles by treatment with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride or 7 M urea and had an apparent molecular weight of 5000-6200.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Feb, 56(1), 15 - 24
The enumeration of Bacteroides fragilis group organisms from sewage and natural waters; Allsop K et al.; A membrane filtration technique has been developed for the enumeration of Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) organisms from sewage and natural waters . The method uses the agar medium of Wilkins and Chalgren supplemented with gentamicin, penicillin, aesculin and ferric ammonium citrate . Membrane filters with 0.22 micron pores were significantly more efficient than those with 0.45 micron pores in the isolation of BFG . A preliminary incubation period of 4 h at 30 degrees C prior to 44 h at 37 degrees C yielded significantly higher numbers of BFG than direct incubation at 37 degrees C for 48 h.

South Med J, 1984 Feb, 77(2), 232 - 4
Bacteroides fragilis pelvic abscess: resolution with metronidazole therapy alone; Giron JA et al.; An 81-year-old woman had Bacteroides fragilis sepsis with a sonographically demonstrated, multiply echogenic collection in the pelvis . She failed to respond to clindamycin therapy . The patient and her family refused surgical intervention . On intravenous metronidazole alone, the patient's fever decreased, she improved, and the pelvic collection disappeared in a period of between six and 30 weeks.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1984 Feb, 129(2), 317 - 21
Cavitation in bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia . Causal role of mixed infection with anaerobic bacteria; Leatherman JW et al.; Cavitation developed in 4 of 24 patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia seen in 1 yr . Two of them had roentgenographic evidence of massive pulmonary gangrene . A total of 3 patients developed putrid sputum at the time of cavitation, proving that anaerobes were present . Culture confirmation of anaerobic etiology (Bacteroides fragilis) was obtained in 1 patient who had a thoracotomy for pulmonary gangrene . Putrid sputum was observed only in cavitary cases . Other clinical and epidemiologic features (bilateral infiltrates, alcoholism), which were more frequent in cavitary than in noncavitary cases, are often associated with anaerobic infection . These findings support the hypothesis that concomitant anaerobic infection may be responsible for cavitation in bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia.

Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Feb, 92(1), 14 - 24
Degradation in vivo of the C3 protein of guinea-pig complement by a pathogenic strain of Bacteroides gingivalis; Sundqvist GK et al.; The pathogenicity of five black-pigmented strains of Bacteroides was tested in subcutaneously implanted Teflon cages in guinea pigs . The tissue reaction around the cages was registered and the contents of the fluid of the cages were analyzed . Two strains of B . intermedius produced a localized abscess around the cages, while one strain (381) of B . gingivalis and an asaccharolytic strain (BN11a-f) different from B . gingivalis did not induce any signs of abscess formation . One strain (W83) of B . gingivalis caused extensive purulent breakdown of the tissues . When the inoculum of strain W83 contained more than 10(9) cells, the animals were killed . Strain W83 was the only strain that increased in number in the cage . The fluid of cages inoculated with strain W83 was also remarkably different from the fluid of cages inoculated with the other strains . The fluid had a high proteolytic activity . No C3 protein of complement and only traces of immunoglobulins could be detected in the fluid . Both strain W83 and strain 381 had a high proteolytic activity against whole guinea-pig serum and when bacteria of these two strains were incubated with guinea-pig serum for 24 h, almost all serum proteins, including the C3 protein, were degraded . These two strains might thus have similar capacity in perturbing the host defence when inoculated into the tissue cages . The actual difference in pathogenicity between the strains might be explained by a recent finding that the pathogenic strain W83, but not strain 381, requires complement in activating polymorphonuclear leukocytes . The degradation of the C3 protein by the pathogenic strain W83 of B . gingivalis thus may be the crucial event in its perturbation of the host defence . A degradation of the C3 protein by strain 381 would be of no help in eluding the host defence, since this strain activates polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the absence of complement.

Arch Surg, 1984 Feb, 119(2), 139 - 44
Fibrin in peritonitis . IV . Synergistic intraperitoneal infection caused by Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis within fibrin clots; Dunn DL et al.; We measured the rate of lethality and abscess formation in rats that underwent intraperitoneal implantation of fibrin clots contaminated with either Escherichia coli or Bacteroides fragilis alone or in combination, to determine whether the two organisms together would produce a synergistic infection . Ten-day mortality produced by 10(9) colony-forming units (CFU) of E coli was 33.3% . Encapsulated B fragilis led to 3.3% mortality . Escherichia coli (5 X 10(8) CFU) plus B fragilis (5 X 10(8) CFU) led to a sharp increase both in the rate and final ten-day mortality (80.0%) . Eighty percent of the rats that received E coli (10(9) CFU within fibrin clots) had abscesses determined on the basis of grossly purulent material . All animals that received B fragilis and survived ten days contained abscesses . Synergy between E coli and B fragilis was noted to occur only when 5 X 10(8) CFU of each organism was present within the fibrin clot . Lower numbers did not produce significant synergy compared with controls that received either E coli or B fragilis . Quantitation of the number of organisms present at 24 hours within contaminated fibrin clots demonstrated a similar amount of growth of both organisms, either when added alone or in combination as copathogens.

J Nutr, 1984 Feb, 114(2), 354 - 60
Effect of dietary fiber on a guinea pig intestinal anaerobe, Bacteroides ovatus; Johanning GL et al.; The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of fibrous plant components on the growth of intestinal bacteria . An anaerobe was isolated from the guinea pig cecum and identified as Bacteroides ovatus . The organism was grown anaerobically in two types of media and shown to require hemin or protoporphyrin IX . Treatment of the media with water-insoluble fractions of alfalfa, cabbage, spinach or wheat bran inhibited growth of the culture . Inhibition occurred whether the residue remained in the medium during culture growth or was removed before inoculation . A chelating resin also removed an essential component of the medium . Both treatments depleted the medium of hemin and addition of hemin restored growth and acid production . Treatment of the water-insoluble residues of alfalfa or cabbage with dilute NaOH decreased their inhibitory effects . This suggests that plant cell wall components possess unique and labile chemical properties . Dietary fiber may inhibit the growth of some anaerobic species in the lower intestinal tract by making hemin unavailable.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Feb, 25(2), 253 - 7
Purification and properties of a cell-bound bacteriocin from a Bacteroides fragilis strain; Southern JA et al.; A cell-bound bacteriocin was extracted from a Bacteroides fragilis BF-11 strain by treating the cells with a low-molarity buffer (0.01 M Tris-hydrochloride, pH 8.0) . Sucrose osmotic shock experiments and ultrasonic lysis of whole cells indicated that the majority of the bacteriocin was located at the cell surface . Culture supernatants contained no significant bacteriocin activity . The bacteriocin was purified by DEAE-cellulose and Sephacryl S200 chromatography and had an apparent molecular weight of approximately 7,000 . It was relatively heat stable and was inactivated by proteases . There was a delay of approximately 3.5 h before DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis were inhibited by the bacteriocin . Inhibition of macromolecular synthesis coincided with lysis of the susceptible indicator strain.

Infect Immun, 1984 Feb, 43(2), 644 - 8
Degradation of the human proteinase inhibitors alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin by Bacteroides gingivalis; Carlsson J et al.; Various strains of black-pigmented Bacteroides species were grown on horse blood agar and suspended in human serum . After various times of incubation the effect of the bacteria on the serum was evaluated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and "rocket" immunoelectrophoresis . The formation of trichloroacetic acid-soluble material in the suspensions and the capacity of the treated sera to inhibit the activity of trypsin were also determined . The two tested strains of Bacteroides gingivalis (W83, H185) degraded most serum proteins, including the plasma proteinase inhibitors alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin . They did not, however, degrade alpha-1-antichymotrypsin . Bacteroides intermedius NCTC 9336, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus NCTC 9337, and an asaccharolytic oral strain different from B . gingivalis (BN11a-f) did not degrade the plasma proteinase inhibitors . These strains were, however, able to inactivate the capacity of serum to inhibit the activity of trypsin.

Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(4), 237 - 43
Susceptibility of intestinal anaerobes to new beta-lactam antibiotics; Bansal MB et al.; In vitro susceptibility of 473 isolates of anaerobic bacteria derived from patients hospitalized for treatment of abdominal trauma was tested against third-generation cephalosporins--moxalactam, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, cefmenoxime--and a penicillin--N-formimidoyl thienamycin--by serial agar dilution method in the anaerobic glove box . There were 208 Bacteroides isolates including 80 Bacteroides fragilis and 100 peptococci and peptostreptococci . The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 75% of B . fragilis was less than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml for the cephalosporins tested and less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml for thienamycin . The MIC of B . fragilis and Bacteroides vulgatus was not much influenced by increased inoculum size . Characteristically, peptostreptococci and peptococci were resistant to all four cephalosporins tested with MIC 75% being 32-64 micrograms/ml . All five antibiotics in this study appear suitable for therapy of intraabdominal suppurative infections, but the poor activity of third-generation cephalosporins on anaerobic cocci can be a cause of concern.

Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl, 1984, 91, 13 - 30
Occurrence of penicillin-resistant and beta-lactamase-producing Bacteroides species in the oral cavity; Heimdahl A et al.; Bacteroides species are known to play an important role in orofacial infections . The present investigation shows that penicillin-resistant Bacteroides species are commonly found in the oral cavity and that their occurrence is related to previous penicillin therapy . Several of the penicillin-resistant isolates were also resistant to erythromycin and/or doxycycline while all strains were sensitive to clindamycin and tinidazole . the penicillin resistance was mainly due to beta-lactamase production . A selective cultivation method for detection of penicillin-resistant Bacteroides is described.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Jan, 13(1), 23 - 30
Cephalosporin-resistance in the Bacteroides fragilis group and the effect of clavulanic acid; Maskell JP et al.; Thirty-five beta-lactam-resistant isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group were examined for the susceptibility to eight cephalosporins, alone, and in combination with a subinhibitory concentration of the beta-lactamase inhibitor, clavulanic acid . The majority of strains tested became fully susceptible to cephaloridine, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone in the presence of clavulinic acid whereas the effect of the inhibitor on the susceptibility to compounds such as cefsulodin and ceftazidime and to a lesser extent cefoperazone varied according to species . Bact . fragilis strains almost invariably showed substantial reductions in MICs whereas those of other species, especially Bact . thetaiotaomicron, were influenced to a lesser extent . Susceptibility to cefoxitin was unaffected by the inhibitor but a few strains with high level resistance to latamoxef (moxalactam) became susceptible in the presence of clavulanic acid . All strains were found to produce beta-lactamase as determined by the nitrocefin test and these were characterized by isoelectric focusing.

Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl, 1984, 86, 185 - 90
An in vitro study of the attachment to vaginal epithelial cells of anaerobic curved rods, Bacteroides bivius and Bacteroides disiens; Moi H et al.; An in vitro test system was used to study the influence of different pH levels on the adherence of anaerobic curved rods (ACR) of the long (LCR) and short type (SCR), of Bacteroides bivius and B . disiens, to vaginal epithelial cells (VEC) obtained from healthy women . There was a significant increase in the adherence of ACR (p less than 0.05) and B . bivius (p less than 0.05) at decreasing acidity . LCR adhered significantly better than SCR at pH 7.5 as compared with pH 4.0 (p less than 0.01) . 'Clue cells' seen in wet mounts from vaginal discharge of women with bacterial vaginosis were very similar to VEC covered with ACR in in vitro tests.

Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl, 1984, 86, 157 - 65
Differential characteristics of a small gram-negative anaerobe associated with non-gonococcal urethritis which morphologically resembles Bacteroides ureolyticus; Fontaine EA et al.; Strains of a small, Gram-negative anaerobe described as 'NGU-associated' because of its apparent association with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), grew synergistically with anaerobic cocci on primary isolation . Subsequently, it was found that the addition of formate-fumarate to the media enhanced their growth . The organisms were asaccharolytic and, unlike most anaerobes, produced oxidase (cytochrome c) and tolerated 5% oxygen when grown in an atmosphere of 2% hydrogen, 7.5% carbon dioxide and 85.5% nitrogen . The strains examined appeared homogeneous culturally, morphologically and biochemically, and had some characteristics in common with Bacteroides ureolyticus (NCTC 10948) and Wolinella succinogenes (ATCC 29543) . However, the latter was flagellated and had a DNA G + C content (46-49 mol%) that was different from B . ureolyticus (28 mol%) and the NGU-associated strains (28-30 mol%) . These strains and B . ureolyticus shared many properties but electron microscopy of the NGU-associated strains revealed polar pili which were not seen on the strain of B . ureolyticus examined . Other tests which differentiated B . ureolyticus from the NGU-associated strains, being positive only for the latter, were lysine and ornithine decarboxylation, beta-haemolysis and growth in 5% oxygen: those that were negative for the NGU-associated strains were pitting of agar on primary culture and the production of acetate and lactate as metabolic end-products . Despite these differences, the NGU-associated strains may be biotypes or variants of B . ureolyticus, a species which we now consider needs further study and classification.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1984, 43, 34 - 43
Clindamycin resistance in anaerobic bacteria; Tally FP et al.; Knowledge of the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and resistance transfer in anaerobic bacteria has been gained over the past several years . There is widespread resistance to the beta-lactam antibiotics in the B . fragilis group of organisms and there is emerging penicillin resistance in other Bacteroides species . These resistances are usually mediated by chromosomal beta-lactamases . There have been two new beta-lactamases described in Bacteroides; a penicillinase which inactivates ureidopenicillins and another that inactivates cefoxitin . The transfer of the common beta-lactamase, penicillinase, and cefoxitin resistance has been documented in B . fragilis . The mechanism of tetracycline resistance in B . fragilis is the lack of accumulation of intracellular drug; the resistance is widespread in anaerobic bacteria and is seen in two-thirds of the B . fragilis strains . The transfer of tetracycline resistance is common, however, no transfer factor has yet been isolated . Clindamycin-erythromycin resistance in Bacteroides was first recognized in the mid-1970s and transferable resistance was described in 1979 . The mechanism of resistance is probably similar to macrolide-lincosamide-streptinogramin-resistance seen in aerobic bacteria . Two clindamycin resistance transfer factors, pBFTM10 and pIP410 (pBF4) have been described . A common resistance determinant found both on plasmids and chromosomes is widely distributed in nature and it probably resides on a transposon . DNA homology studies indicate that there is more than one type of clindamycin resistance in Bacteroides; a newly recognized clindamycin resistance determinant is transferable . Local outbreaks of clindamycin resistance have been noted in the United States and in Europe . The susceptibility of Bacteroides in the United States in 1983 from a multi-center study reveals a 5% incidence of resistance in B . fragilis and 1% in Bacteroides species . The rate of clindamycin resistance has remained steady over the past three years in the Bacteroides fragilis group.

Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl, 1984, 91, 61 - 72
Antimicrobial therapy for anaerobic infections; Finegold SM; Our increasing understanding of anaerobes and the infections they cause has reaffirmed that benzyl-penicillin is a useful agent when B . fragilis group organisms can be ruled out . At the same time, however, we have also learned that the number of instances in which penicillin-resistant bacteroides can be ruled out seems to be diminishing . For the most serious anaerobic infections, the clinician must turn to an agent such as chloramphenicol, clindamycin, or metronidazole . As a group, these drugs are the most reliably effective against clinically significant B . fragilis and most other anaerobes; gaps in their spectrum can be covered with benzyl-penicillin . A major drawback with chloramphenicol, in particular, remains its potential toxicity, a feature that underscores the importance of matching the antimicrobial weapon to the target . The less consistently reliable agents tend to be the less potentially toxic; they should be used if the anaerobic infection is judged not serious or life threatening . The more potent, potentially more toxic drugs should be used when life is in danger.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1984, 16(3), 297 - 303
Comparative study of netilmicin/tinidazole versus netilmicin/clindamycin in the treatment of severe abdominal infections; Henning C et al.; The efficacy of netilmicin combined with tinidazole (N + T) or clindamycin (N + C) in the treatment of severe abdominal infections was evaluated in a prospective randomized study with 20 patients in the N + T group and 21 patients in the N + C group . Normally the maintaining dose for netilmicin was 2.25 mg/kg every 12 h, for tinidazole 400 mg every 12 h and for clindamycin 300-600 mg every 6-8 h . The mean duration time of treatment was 8 days in the N + T group and 10 days in the N + C group respectively . In the N + T group 18 patients were cured and in the N + C group 17 patients . Among aerobic bacteria Escherichia coli was most frequently isolated and among anaerobes Bacteroides sp . All aerobic bacteria with 2 exceptions were susceptible to netilmicin and all anaerobic bacteria but 2 to tinidazole or clindamycin . Adequate serum levels were obtained for each antibiotic during therapy . In this study with a small number of patients the combination of netilmicin and tinidazole was as effective as netilmicin and clindamycin.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(6-7), 685 - 7
{Metronidazole and neomycin in wound infection prophylaxis in colon and rectal surgery}; Nowak W et al.; Anaerobes (e.g . Bacteroides) are more important in postoperation wound infections due to surgical operations of the large intestine than expected in the past . Prophylaxis of wound infection is possible by means of metronidazol and neomycin . Metronidazol affects anaerobes, exclusively.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(6-7), 627 - 34
Some studies of the bacterial flora associated with the mucosa of the human gastrointestinal tract; Peach SL et al.; Specimens of mucosal tissue of the small and large bowel obtained either by a colonoscope or during surgical operations were investigated quantitatively for their bacterial flora . A detailed prescription of the methodology using an anaerobic chamber is given . Most of the mucosal specimens of the small intestine as well as all the specimens of the large intestine contained bacteria (about 10(4) germs/g) . Predominantly, Bacteroides, gram-positive rods, and cocci were isolated . In contrast to the gut lumen flora anaerobic bacteria of the mucosal flora did not outnumber the aerobes . In patients with inflammatory bowel disease or with carcinoma of the colon the mucosal flora showed no demonstrable alterations even after undergoing a sulphonamide therapy.

Clin Ther, 1984, 6(4), 457 - 60
Anaerobic bacteria isolated from foot infections in diabetic patients: in vitro susceptibility to nine antibiotics; Ginunas VJ et al.; Twenty-nine isolates of anaerobic bacteria from foot infections in diabetic patients were tested, using the agar dilution method, for in vitro susceptibility to nine antimicrobial agents . Imipenem and metronidazole showed excellent activity; clindamycin and chloramphenicol were next in terms of efficacy . Cefoxitin and moxalactam demonstrated good activity, although three isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group were resistant to moxalactam . Penicillin G, cefotaxime, and cefoperazone showed poor activity against the B fragilis group but were quite active against other anaerobes . Among the newer beta-lactam antibiotics studied, imipenem, cefoxitin and, to a lesser extent, moxalactam appear promising for clinical use as anti-anaerobic antibiotics in the treatment of foot infections in diabetic patients.

Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl, 1984, 86, 173 - 7
Recovery of anaerobic curved rods and Gardnerella vaginalis from the urethra of men, including male heterosexual consorts of female carriers; Holst E et al.; Three hundred and nine men attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases were studied regarding urethral colonization with anaerobic curved rods (CR), Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides ureolyticus, as well as for chlamydiae and gonococci . Ten (3.2%) of the men harboured CR . All strains of CR were of the short variant (approximately 1 micron long) . Fourteen (4.5%) men were culture-positive for G . vaginalis and 58 (18.7%) for B . ureolyticus . Of the four men who were culture-positive for CR, but not for any other of the above-mentioned microbes, four had urethritis . From the 309 men, gonococci were isolated from 20 (6.4%) and chlamydiae from 96 (31.1%) . Of the 10 men with CR, two concomitantly harboured Chlamydia trachomatis, four B . ureolyticus, and one G . vaginalis . The corresponding figures for those men with urethritis and who were colonized with G . vaginalis only were one of six, and for those carrying B . ureolyticus 14 of 37 . None of 19 male consorts of the same number of women, harbouring the long variant (approximately 4 microns) of CR and G . vaginalis, were culture-positive for these two organisms.

Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl, 1984, 86, 117 - 24
Anaerobic curved rods in genital samples of women . Performance of different selective media, comparison of detection by microscopy and culture studies, and recovery from different sampling sites; Holst E et al.; Anaerobic curved rods (CR) frequently occur in the vaginal flora of women with non-specific vaginitis, more recently referred to as bacterial vaginosis (BV) . The reasons for difficulties in culturing CR include their anaerobic nature, slow rate of growth and presence in a highly mixed flora . The present study concerns the efficiency of three culture media--blood agar, a gonococcal medium, and Columbia agar--for recovery of CR . The possibility of improving selectivity by adding various antibiotics (e.g . nalidixic acid, colistin and tinidazole) to the media was also explored . The MICs for 157 CR strains and for 80 strains of anaerobic or facultatively anaerobic bacteria isolated from vaginal samples from women with BV were therefore determined . Columbia agar containing 1 micrograms/ml tinidazole in combination with either colistin (10 micrograms/ml) or nalidixic acid (15 micrograms/ml) proved the most efficient medium for recovery of CR . These antibiotic combinations effectively suppressed growth of Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobic cocci and species of Bacteroides.--In 291 women, comparison was made of the detection of CR morphotype bacteria in methylene-blue-stained smears and the results of vaginal cultures for CR . A long variant (2-4 micron) was found in 42% by direct microscopy and 43% by culture . A short variant (approx 1 micron), which, with two exceptions, was always concomitant with the long variant, was demonstrable in only 3% of vaginal smears and in 14% of the cultures.--Vaginal samples were approximately four times more often culture-positive for CR than were cervical samples from the same women.

Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl, 1984, 91, 21 - 30
Antimicrobial resistance and resistance transfer in anaerobic . A review; Tally FP et al.; A changing antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of anaerobic bacteria has been noted over the past decade . This paper reviews the mechanisms by which these organisms have become resistant to the selected antibiotics and reviews recent data demonstrating that anaerobic bacteria possess systems for transferring resistance determinants . Within Bacteroides there is widespread resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins and tetracycline compounds while there have been sporadic reports of resistance to clindamycin, cefoxitin, chloramphenicol and metronidazole . Transfer of resistance to penicillin, tetracycline and clindamycin has been demonstrated.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Jan, 13(1), 79 - 86
Quantification of the effect of anti-anaerobic drugs in experimental Bacteroides fragilis infection in mice; Dijkmans BA et al.; As a basis for the quantitation of the effect of anti-anaerobic drugs in vivo, an experimental thigh infection in mice was developed in which co-inoculation of Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli is obligatory for proliferation of Bact . fragilis . The inhibitory effect of metronidazole and tinidazole on the proliferation of Bact . fragilis was assessed in this model . Both metronidazole and tinidazole showed a significant dose-effect relationship with respect to the outgrowth of Bact . fragilis but not that of E . coli . The effect of both drugs on Bact . fragilis was similar and at all dosage levels a significant correlation was found between the numbers of Bact . fragilis and E . coli.

Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl, 1984, 86, 213 - 22
Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy . An association with prematurity and postpartum complications; Eschenbach DA et al.; Although bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common disorder associated with high concentrations of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms, BV has not yet been linked to infections outside the vagina . To investigate the association of BV with adverse outcomes during or following pregnancy, we analysed the prevalence of BV among women with and without premature labor, and early-onset postpartum endometritis . Bacterial vaginosis was identified by gas-liquid chromatographic criteria in 28 (49%) of 57 women giving birth at less than or equal to 37 weeks gestation or with birthweight less than 2500 g and in 27 (24%) of 114 women bearing an infant at term (p = 0.001) . Organisms associated with BV, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobic bacteria, and/or genital mycoplasmas, were recovered from the endometrium of 61 of 101 women with clinical signs of endometritis . G . vaginalis was the most frequent isolate from both the endometrium (38 patients) and the blood (8 patients) of women with postpartum endometritis . Bacteroides bivius was the most frequent anaerobic isolate from the endometrium (11 cases) and blood (4 cases) . Patients with both G . vaginalis and anaerobes isolated remained febrile significantly longer after beginning antibiotic therapy than did other patients (57.1 hours . vs . 36.3 hours, p = 0.02) . These data suggest that BV may be associated with prematurity and that BV may contribute to postpartum maternal infectious morbidity.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jan, 25(1), 131 - 3
Comparative antibacterial activities of 7 alpha-methoxy cephalosporins and 7 beta-methoxyiminoacetamido cephalosporins against Bacteroides fragilis; Kesado T et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activities of the newly developed 7 alpha-methoxy cephalosporins and 7 beta-methoxyiminoacetamido cephalosporins against 67 clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis and their resistance to the hydrolytic action of a beta-lactamase produced by B . fragilis were simultaneously compared . The minimal inhibitory concentrations that inhibited 90% of the 7 alpha-methoxy cephalosporins, cefoxitin, cefmetazole, moxalactam, and cefotetan, against the isolates were 4, 8, 8, and 16 micrograms/ml, respectively, and these antibiotics were entirely resistant to hydrolysis by beta-lactamases (0.10 mumol/h per mg of protein) of the isolates . By contrast, 7 beta-methoxyiminoacetamido cephalosporins represented by cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, and cefmenoxime were not effective, as indicated by the minimal inhibitory concentrations that inhibited 90%, 64, 32, and 128 micrograms/ml, respectively . Their antibacterial activities clearly corresponded to their resistance to the hydrolytic action of the beta-lactamase: namely, the correlation coefficients in regression curves of cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, and cefmenoxime, which were expressed by the antibacterial activity (x axis) and the beta-lactamase activity (y axis) were 0.098, 0.034, and 0.163, respectively.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jan, 25(1), 71 - 7
Synergism between penicillin, clindamycin, or metronidazole and gentamicin against species of the Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Bacteroides fragilis groups; Brook I et al.; Clinical isolates of the Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Bacteroides fragilis groups were tested for in vitro and in vivo susceptibility to penicillin, clindamycin, and metronidazole, used singly or in combination with gentamicin . The in vitro tests consisted of determinations of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) carried out with or without constant amounts of gentamicin . When used alone, gentamicin had negligible effects on the bacteria but significantly reduced the MICs of penicillin, clindamycin, and metronidazole against 11, 10, and 3, of the 15 strains of the B . melaninogenicus group, respectively . The 15 strains of the B . fragilis group were all beta-lactamase producers and were highly resistant to penicillin or the combination of penicillin and gentamicin . However, gentamicin reduced the MICs of clindamycin and metronidazole against 1 and 7 strains of this group, respectively . The in vivo tests were carried out in mice and consisted of measurements of the effects of the antimicrobial agents on the sizes and bacterial content of abscesses induced by subcutaneous injection of bacterial suspensions . The results of the in vivo tests were generally consistent with those obtained in vitro with strains of the B . melaninogenicus group . Synergism between gentamicin and penicillin, clindamycin, or metronidazole was shown in 13, 10, and 3 strains of this group, respectively . In vivo synergism was not clearly demonstrated with the strains of the B . fragilis group, possibly because clindamycin and metronidazole used alone were highly efficacious . We suggest that the synergistic effect of gentamicin is due to its increased transport into the bacterial cell in the presence of penicillin and, possibly, other antimicrobial agents . The newly recognized in vitro and in vivo synergism between penicillin and other antimicrobial agents and an aminoglycoside in B . melaninogenicus may have clinical implications that deserve to be investigated.

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