Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 May, 34(5), 647 - 50 {Synergistic effect of thiamphenicol and cephalothin on Bacterioides fragilis (author's transl)}; Isono M et al.; Synergistic effect of thiamphenicol (TP) and cephalothin (CET) on Bacteroides fragilis was proved in vitro . Especially its effect was much clear on B . fragilis which is possible to produce beta-lactamase . Synergistic bactericidal effect of TP and CET was proved . Chemotherapeutic effect of TP and CET against experimental mixed infectious mouse due to E . coli (beta-lactamase -) and B . fragilis (beta-lactamase +) was proved. Rev Infect Dis, 1981 May-Jun, 3(3), 535 - 42 Therapeutic efficacy of 29 antimicrobial regimens in experimental intraabdominal sepsis; Bartlett JG et al.; An animal model of colonic perforation was used to examine the efficacy of 29 antimicrobial regimens in the treatment of intraabdominal sepsis . Efficacy was judged on mortality during the first 12 days after challenge and on the incidence of intraabdominal abscess noted at necropsy upon completion of the experiment . In general, antimicrobial agents that are active against coliform bacteria prevented early mortality, whereas drugs that are active against Bacteroides fragilis were most effective in reducing the incidence of late abscess formation . Exceptions were metronidazole, which produced a significant reduction in early mortality, and chloramphenicol, which caused only a modest reduction in the incidence of abscess . Optimal results were obtained with several regimens that showed good in vitro activity against both coliforms and B . fragilis. J Infect Dis, 1981 May, 143(5), 635 - 8 Bacteremia due to Bacteroides fragilis after elective appendectomy in renal transplant recipients; Fisher MC et al.; Bacteremia caused by Bacteroides fragilis occurred in four of 75 children after renal transplantation, and B . fragilis was the most common cause of postoperative bacteremia . Bacteroides bacteremia was significantly associated with performance of elective appendectomy at the time of transplantation (P less than 0.01) and with profound lymphocytopenia (P = 0.01) . No patient received antibiotics at the time of surgery or prior to the first positive blood culture, yet B . fragilis was the single organism isolated from blood and abscesses in these patients . A role for lymphocytes in containment of B . fragilis has not been suggested previously, although unexplained occurrence of bacteroides bacteremia in immunocompromised patients has occasionally been reported . Lymphocytes themselves may be important in this host-bacterium interaction, or lymphocytopenia may be the marker for a more generalized deficiency in host defenses. Can J Microbiol, 1981 May, 27(5), 517 - 30 Cellulolytic activity of the rumen bacterium Bacteroides succinogenes; Groleau D et al.; Bacteroides succinogenes S-85 grows readily in media containing 0.2% (w/v) filter paper cellulose or microcrystalline cellulose as the carbohydrate source . During growth, the cells appear to adhere to the cellulose . Cell-free culture supernates and cell extracts from cellulose-grown cultures had very low hydrolytic activity against either filter paper or crystalline cellulose (Avicel) as substrate, although H3PO4-swollen cellulose, carboxmethylcellulose, and cellobiose were readily hydrolyzed . Cells grown on either cellobiose or glucose exhibited cell-bound carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) and cellobiase activities . Cultures grown on cellulose had seven to eight times more CMCase activity than either cellobiose- or glucose-grown cultures . Seventy percent of the CMCase activity was present in the supernate, of which 50--60% was associated with sedimentable membranous fragments . the cellobiase, which was largely cell associated, appeared to be constitutive, and the only product detected on enzymic hydrolysis of cellobiose was glucose . The cellobiase activity was strongly inhibited by 0.02 M tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (Tris), pH 7.1, but this was partially relieved by phosphate ions . These data indicate that B . succinogenes S-85 contains high endo-beta-1,4-glucanase and beta-1,4-glucanase and beta-1,4-glucosidase-like activities. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 May, 19(5), 700 - 4 Isoelectric focusing of Bacteroides melaninogenicus group beta-lactamases; Timewell RM et al.; beta-Lactamases extracted by sonication from the Bacteroides melaninogenicus group organisms (B . asaccharolyticus, B . melaninogenicus, B . bivius, and B . oralis) were found to be in the form of complexes with molecular weights of greater than or equal to 40 x 10(6), and this resulted in failure to characterize them by isoelectric focusing . Purification by el filtration in the presence of deoxycholate resulted in beta-lactamase preparations from B . bivius with pI's of 5.7 . A beta-lactamase preparation extracted by osmotic shock from B . bivius also had a pI of 5.7 . Osmotic shock preparations from B . asaccharolyticus, B . melaninogenicus, and B . oralis had two bands of equal intensity with pI's of 4.2 and 4.35. J Med Microbiol, 1981 May, 14(2), 205 - 12 Presence of diaminopimelic acid in propionate-negative Bacteroides species and in some butyric acid-producing strains; Hammann R et al.; AThe presence of diaminopimelic acid (m-DAP) in strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus, B . bivius and other species as well as in unidentified strains of Bacteroides was investigated by thin-layer chromatography . Strains of B . bivius and B . disiens all contained m-DAP as did the subspecies intermedius and melaninogenicus of B . melaninogenicus . Strains of B . asaccharolyticus and similar black pigment-producing butyrate-positive isolates showed heterogeneity . Asaccharolytic strains were DAP negative, whereas two strains fermenting glucose were positive . Some of the non-pigmented propionate-negative and butyrate-negative unidentified strains also contained DAP . The consistent finding of m-DAP in strains of B . bivius, B . disiens, and B . melaninogenicus indicates that DAP detection might be of value in the identification of these species. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1981 Apr 23, 664(1), 148 - 55 Phospholipase A activity in supernatants from cultures of Bacteroides melaninogenicus; Bulkacz J et al.; The phospholipase A activity in culture supernatants of two strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus is described . The enzyme utilize phosphatidylcholine as substrate and produce mainly lysophosphatidylcholine and free fatty acids . The activities are Ca2+-independent, are not affected by the presence of a chelating agent, have a broad pH range (5-9) and an optimum temperature for activity of approx . 50 degrees C . The activity in a growing bacterial culture increases from the end of the lag phase to the late exponential phase of growth . Analysis of the products resulting from the actions of the enzymes on L-alpha-palmitoyl-beta-oleoyl{1-14C}phosphatidylcholine indicates that the enzymes are phospholipase A1 (EC 3.1.1.32). Z Kinderchir, 1981 Apr, 32(4), 310 - 4 Perforated appendix and antibiotics; Kekomaki M et al.; 60 consecutive children operated for perforated appendicitis were treated randomly with either penicillin and streptomycin or with clindamycin and gentamycin . Suppurative complications occurred somewhat more often and were definitely more severe in the former group . The number of hospital days spent in the treatment of these complications were three times as great in the former than in the latter group . Bacteroides fragilis could be isolated in most of the severe infections treated without clindamycin . Two out of 28 patients treated with clindamycin presented with severe diarrhoea. Infect Immun, 1981 Apr, 32(1), 225 - 31 Production of experimental ulcerative colitis in gnotobiotic guinea pigs with simplified microflora; Onderdonk AB et al.; Conventional guinea pigs provided with a solution of 5% (wt/vol) degraded carrageenan as the sole source of oral fluids developed ulcerations of their ceca and large intestines within 30 days . Similar lesions were not detected in germfree guinea pigs treated in an identical manner, suggesting that an intestinal microflora was necessary for development of intestinal lesions . To simplify the bacterial flora required for production of cecal ulcerations, 10 pools consisting of 10 bacterial strains each were isolated from the cecal microflora of carrageenan-treated animals . Groups of germfree guinea pigs were associated with 2 of the 10 pools by orogastric intubation and observed for development of disease . One-half of each group was treated with carrageenan . The two bacterial pools were characterized by the presence of cytopathic effects for WI-38 and Vero cells, increased chemotactic activity, and increased concentrations of long-chain fatty acids . The results indicated that animals associated with those two pools developed cecal ulcerations during carrageenan treatment . Preliminary results also indicated that cecal ulcerations developed in germfree animals mono-associated with a strain of Bacteroides vulgatus isolated from one of the pools, regardless of whether carrageenan was administered, suggesting a bacterial involvement in disease development in the absence of carrageenan treatment. J Clin Immunol, 1981 Apr, 1(2), 106 - 12 The maintenance of B-cell and T-cell function in frozen and stored human lymphocytes; Donaldson SL et al.; The objective of this study was to identify and test a convenient means for long-term storage of lymphocytes taken from clinically characterized patients without losing B- or T-cell function . Accordingly, peripheral blood lymphocytes were frozen and stored, and portions of each sample were subsequently assayed for T-cell blastogenic response and B-cell Jerne plaquing at various time intervals after freezing . A comparison of the cell counts of fresh and frozen cultures indicated that cell were recovered after freezing . Furthermore, these cells showed no significant differences in (i) cell viability; (ii) blastogenic response to antigens of Actinomyces maeslandii, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and tetanus toxoid; (iii) blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen; and (iv) polyclonal B-cell response to pokeweed mitogen as measured by the direct Jerne plaque assay . The retained blastogenic and plaquing responses seen in frozen cultures indicated the maintenance of both T-cell and B-cell function, respectively . This is the first reported demonstration of Jerne plaquing of normal human lymphocytes after freezing . It appears that freezing techniques provide a means for repeating and extending both T- and B-cell assays using frozen stored portions of the same cell samples. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Apr, 123(Pt 2), 223 - 32 Hydrolysis of leaf Fraction 1 protein by the proteolytic rumen bacterium Bacteroides ruminicola R8/4; Hazlewood GP et al.; Proteolytic activity in a batch culture of Bacteroides ruminicola R8/4 was maximal and largely (greater than 90%) cell-associated during the mid-exponential phase of growth . The cell-bound protease was not inactivated during storage at --70% C, was not significantly affected by pH over the range 5.9 to 8.2, but was subject to substrate inhibition by Fraction 1 protein (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase; EC 4.1.1.39) and was most active in the presence of thiol reagents . Radioactive Fraction 1 protein was hydrolysed by non-growing and growing cells of B . ruminicola R8/4 with the production of peptides and free amino acids . Deaminase activity was absent . Radioactive amino acids were incorporated into bacterial proteins from {14C}Fraction 1 protein without substantial change in specific radioactivity. Infect Immun, 1981 Apr, 32(1), 398 - 9 Effect of Bacteroides fragilis on the peritoneal clearance of Escherichia coli in mice; Reznikov M et al.; A report that Bacteroides fragilis inhibited the killing of facultative anaerobes by human leukocytes in vitro prompted us to look for such inhibition in the peritoneal cavities of mice . No evidence that this phenomenon was operative could be found. J Bacteriol, 1981 Apr, 146(1), 121 - 7 Stability in Escherichia coli of an antibiotic resistance plasmid from Bacteroides fragilis; Rashtchian A et al.; A Bacteroides fragilis strain resistant to penicillin G, tetracycline, and clindamycin was screened for the presence of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) . Agarose gel electrophoresis of ethanol-precipitated DNA from cleared lysates of this strain revealed two plasmid DNA bands . The molecular weights of the plasmids were estimated by their relative mobility in agarose gel and compared with standard plasmids with known molecular weights . The molecular weights were 3.40 +/- 0.20 x 10(6) and 1.95 +/- 0.05 x 10(6) for plasmids pBY1 and pBY2, respectively . Plasmid DNA purified by cesium chloride-ethidium bromide gradient centrifugation was used to transform a restriction- and modification-negative strain of Escherichia coli . Penicillin G- and tetracycline-resistant transformants were screened for the presence of plasmid DNA . A plasmid band corresponding to a molecular weight of 1.95 x 10(6) was present in all transformants tested . Curing experiments demonstrated that the plasmid, referred to as pBY22 when present in transformants, was responsible for penicillin G and tetracycline resistance . Plasmid pBY22 was mobilized and transferred to other E . coli strains by plasmid R1drd-19 . Stability of pBY22 was examined in different E . coli strains and was shown to be stably maintained in both restriction-negative and restriction-positive strains . Unexpectedly, pBY2 and pBY22 were resistant to digestion by 12 different restriction endonucleases. J Oral Pathol, 1981 Apr, 10(2), 87 - 94 Complement-dependent histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, induced by lipopolysaccharides from Bacteroides oralis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Veillonella parvula; Nygren H et al.; The capacity of phenol/water extracted lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Veillonella to induce histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells has been evaluated by means of a bioassay using atropinized guinea pig ileum and a fluorescence assay . Histamine release was found to be completely complement dependent . It was also found that LPS of Veillonella have the greatest capacity to induce histamine release and Bacteroides have the weakest. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Apr, 13(4), 798 - 800 Rapid detection and identification of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus by immunofluorescence; Weissfeld AS et al.; Bacteroides fragilis group and Bacteroides melaninogenicus group fluorescent-antibody kits were evaluated with 188 clinical specimens and 116 fresh aerobic and anaerobic bacterial isolates . Fluorescent-antibody and culture results corresponded in 88% of clinical specimens of the B . fragilis group and 94% of clinical specimens of the B . melaninogenicus group . There was greater than or equal to 90% correlation for both kits with colony smears . Antigen sharing by Bacteroides bivius, Bacteroides disiens, and B . melaninogenicus was demonstrated. Infect Immun, 1981 Apr, 32(1), 198 - 203 Black-pigmented Bacteroides spp . in the human oral cavity; Zambon JJ et al.; Five healthy children under 6 years of age, five healthy adults, and 10 adult periodontitis patients were examined for the prevalence and distribution of black-pigmented Bacteroides in the oral cavity . A total of 13 samples was obtained from each individual, including four supragingival and four subgingival dental plaques, dental occlusal surface, buccal mucosa, dorsal tongue, tonsil, and whole saliva . Black-pigmented Bacteroides were recovered from nine adult periodontitis patients . Healthy adults harbored the organisms in low incidence and proportions, whereas the children exhibited no cultivable black-pigmented Bacteroides . The organisms were isolated in highest proportions from dental plaque, especially subgingival plaque, and from the tonsil area, indicating that these sites constitute the organisms' primary ecological niche in the oral cavity . The predominant isolate was Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp . intermedius followed by Bacteroides gingivalis and B . melaninogenicus subsp . melaninogenicus . B . melaninogenicus subsp . levii constituted low proportions of supragingival microflora of one adult periodontitis patient . A positive correlation was demonstrated between the proportion of black-pigmented Bacteroides (mainly B . melaninogenicus subsp . intermedius) and both the severity of gingival inflammation and the periodontal pocket depth, suggesting that these organisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of certain forms of periodontal disease. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1981 Mar, 47(1), 1 - 9 An experimentally induced phlegmonous abscess by a strain of Bacteroides gingivalis in guinea pigs and mice; Kastelein P et al.; The virulence of B . gingivalis strain W83 was studied in an experimental animal model . Cells grown overnight, washed and resuspended in broth, were injected intradermally or subcutaneously in the back of guinea pigs, rats and mice . This strain proved to be very virulent, causing a severe phlegmonous abscess in guinea pigs . Also in mice, which are thought to be resistant to infections with black-pigmented Bacteroides strains, the same type of infection could be induced . Rats proved to be rather insensitive . The model presented can be used as a simple virulence test for these anaerobic bacteria. J Urol, 1981 Mar, 125(3), 376 - 8 Anaerobic bacteria in suppurative infections of the male genitourinary system; Bartlett JG et al.; Cultures were done to determine the prevalence of anaerobic bacteria in 18 male patients with suppurative infections of the genitourinary tract . The types of infections studied were scrotal abscess, prostatic abscess, scrotal gangrene and perinephric abscess . Anaerobic bacteria were recovered in 16 of the 18 specimens examined . These 16 specimens yielded a total of 48 anaerobic strains and 19 aerobic or facultative strains . The dominant organism isolated was Bacteroides fragilis, which was found in 11 patients . It would appear that most suppurative infections of the male genitourinary tract involve anaerobic bacteria . These observations have important implications regarding recommendations for cultures and selection of antimicrobials. Can J Surg, 1981 Mar, 24(2), 139 - 41, 184 Preventing anaerobic infection in surgery of the colon; Lewis RT et al.; A randomized prospective study of antibiotic prophylaxis was carried out in patients who underwent elective surgery of the colon . The wound infection rate in 70 patients who received cephradine intravenously in the perioperative period (group 1) was 25%, compared with 8% in 60 patients who received metronidazole and erythromycin base orally before operation (group 2) . Both Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli were cultured from the majority of wound infections in group 1, but B . fragilis was not found in any group 2 patients . Wound contamination indicated by wound class or by culture of the subcutaneous tissue of the wound before closure was the best predictor of subsequent wound infections . These results suggest a dominant role for intestinal anaerobes in the genesis of wound infections after colonic surgery and show that antibiotics specifically directed against these organisms can substantially reduce the rate of wound infection. Br J Surg, 1981 Mar, 68(3), 185 - 9 The effect of topical povidone-iodine on the incidence of infection in surgical wounds; Walsh JA et al.; A randomized stratified clinical trial of topical povidone-iodine in 627 patients undergoing abdominal procedures demonstrated a reduction in postoperative wound sepsis in female patients, in patients receiving subcutaneous low dose heparin and during the first quarter of the trial when the infection rate in control subjects was high . Overall, there was no significant reduction in wound sepsis after administration of povidone-iodine due mainly to a high infection rate in povidone-iodine treated male appendix operations where, by chance, there was an increased incidence of contamination with Bacteroides fragilis . Postoperative stay in those developing wound infection was significantly reduced in the povidone-iodine group . This is considered as indirect evidence for a decrease in severity of wound infection. J Infect Dis, 1981 Mar, 143(3), 487 - 94 Antibiotic levels in infected and sterile subcutaneous abscesses in mice; Joiner KA et al.; The pharmacokinetic properties of 10 antimicrobial agents were examined in sterile and infected encapsulated subcutaneous abscesses in mice . The inoculum for sterile abscesses was autoclaved cecal contents; that for infected abscesses was autoclaved cecal contents combined with Bacteroides fragilis . The antimicrobial agents examined were rosaramicin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, and six beta-lactam antibiotics . All antimicrobial agents entered abscesses, produced peak levels of biological activity that were somewhat delayed in comparison to serum levels, and were present in negligible levels 8 hr after administration . The highest concentration in abscesses was achieved with rosaramicin and clindamycin, with peak levels of 43%--63% of the peak serum level . Peak levels of other antimicrobial agents in sterile abscesses were 13%--27% of the peak serum level . Levels of biologically active during were significantly lower in infected abscesses than in sterile abscesses for antimicrobial agents that are inactivated by B . fragilis beta-lactamase. J Oral Surg, 1981 Mar, 39(3), 221 - 3 Penicillin-resistant bacteroides melaninogenicus infection of the mandible; Bahn SL et al.; Oral infections caused by gram-negative anaerobes are now recognized more frequently than in the past because of improved culturing techniques . A case of B melaninogenicus infection secondary to a fractured mandible, in which the organisms were both clinically resistant and insensitive on culture to penicillin, is presented . The organism was also shown to produce beta-lactamase . Clindamycin is appropriate dosage resulted in diarrhea, which precluded its continuation . Erythromycin therapy was curative in this case . In all cases in which the clinical course does not reflect the expected reasonable response to the appropriate antibiotic therapy, bacterial resistance to a drug should be considered, and laboratory testing for resistance and sensitivities should be performed. J Med Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 14(1), 131 - 40 The pathogenicity of Bacteroides fragilis and related species estimated by intracutaneous infection in the guinea-pig; Maskell JP; The pathogenicity of 42 strains of Bacteroides of human origins was estimated by intracutaneous injection of bacterial suspensions into guinea-pig skin . Comparisons of living and heat-killed suspensions revealed that B . fragilis strains maintained themselves and possibly multiplied in the skin, whereas the lesions induced by non-fragilis strains appeared to be due mainly to toxicity . Measurement of skin pathogenicity in terms of the number of viable organisms in the inoculum that produced a lesion 10 mm in diameter showed that B . fragilis was, on average, 17 times as pathogenic as non-fragilis strains . Skin tests of pathogens may be of value in the analysis of virulence factors of Bacteroides and possibly of other anaerobic organisms. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1981 Feb, 20(2), 117 - 22 Aspiration pneumonia in institutionalized children . A retrospective comparison of treatment with penicillin G, clindamycin and carbenicillin; Brook I; The antibiotic therapy of aspiration pneumonia was retrospectively reviewed in 74 institutionalized children with lung abscess (10), necrotizing pneumonia (12), and pneumonitis (52) . Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 69 patients (93%); and in 67 (90.5%), they were mixed with aerobic bacteria . Penicillin G was given to 20 patients, clindamycin to 20, and carbenicillin to 34 . Gentamicin was concurrently given to 35 of the patients . The mean duration of therapy in the three types of pulmonary infection was: lung abscess 30.2 days, necrotizing pneumonia 26.6 days, and pneumonitis 15.1 days . The mean duration of fever after initiation of therapy was 5.8 days, 8.1 days, and 3.4 days, respectively . The mean time for radiologic clearance was 35.6 days for lung abscess, 39.2 days for necrotizing pneumonia, and 13.5 days for pneumonitis . The three antibiotics were equally effective in all patients, including those from whom Bacteroides fragilis was recovered. Z Kinderchir, 1981 Feb, 32(2), 184 - 7 Adrenal abscess in a neonate due to gas-informing organisms: a diagnostic dilemma; Bekdash BA et al.; A case of adrenal abscess due to bacteroides and peptostreptococcus in a 16-day-old infant is presented . The clinical manifestations consisted of a huge abdominal swelling associated with fever and lethargy . This is the first case report of an adrenal abscess due to gas-forming organisms, a finding which makes the preoperative diagnosis more difficult . Surgical drainage, subtotal excision of the abscess wall under cover of antibiotics and preservation of the ipsilateral kidney were followed by survival. J Clin Pathol, 1981 Feb, 34(2), 221 - 3 Effect of adding cysteine to brain-heart infusion broth on the isolation of Bacteroides fragilis from experimental blood cultures; Shanson DC et al.; Adding 0.05% cysteine to brain-heart infusion broth greatly improved the recovery of three strains of Bacteroides fragilis from simulated blood cultures . No bacteroides were isolated after 24 hours' incubation in brain-heart infusion broth without added cysteine, and this was therefore a poor medium for the isolation of B . fragilis . Results with brain-heart infusion broth containing 0.05% cysteine were similar to those obtained with commercially prepared Thiol and Brewer's thioglycollate media. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1981 Feb, 248(4), 526 - 31 Neuraminidases of Bacteroidaceae die neuraminidasen von bacteroidaceen; Hammann R et al.; Neuraminidases can be detected in members of the anaerobic gram-negative non-sporing rods (Bacteroidaceae), especially in the genus Bacteroides . B . fragilis, the most virulent species, has the highest neuraminidase activity, while the other intestinal species exhibit markedly lower activities or the enzyme is completely absent . Members of the Bacteroides oralis group, so far investigated, degrade only substrates of lower molecular weight. J Bacteriol, 1981 Feb, 145(2), 867 - 72 Physical characterization of Bacteroides fragilis R plasmid pBF4; Welch RA et al.; Bacteroides fragilis V479-1 has previously been shown to harbor a self-transmissible 27 X 10(6)-dalton plasmid (pBF4) which confers lincosamide-macrolide resistance . The present study has focused on the physical properties of pBF4 . The plasmid was found to be present in 1 to 2 copies per chromosomal equivalent . pBF4 was genetically stable, although spontaneously occurring plasmidless segregants could be detected at low frequency (approximately 1%) . This frequency was unaffected by growth of cells in ethidium bromide . About one-third of all spontaneously occurring macrolide-lincosamide-sensitive clones of strain V479-1 were found to contain pBF4 molecules that carried deletions . Ten independently obtained deletion derivatives of pBF4 from lincosamide-macrolide-sensitive strains were compared with the parental pBF4 by restriction endonuclease cleavage analysis . A restriction site map of pBF4 was constructed, and the location of the deletions was approximated . Self-annealed pBF4 molecules, examined by electron microscopy, revealed the presence of two pairs of inverted repeat (IR) sequences on the plasmid . IR-1 was about 400 base pairs in length, and its two component members were separated by an intervening sequence of about 15 kilobases . IR-2 was about 75 base pairs in length, and its component members were separated by 4.2 kilobases . Each of the deletions of pBF4 studied had a terminus at or near the same IR-2 sequence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Feb, 19(2), 248 - 52 In vitro activity of N-formimidoyl thienamycin, moxalactam, and other new beta-lactam agents against Bacteroides fragilis: contribution of beta-lactamase to resistance; Brown JE et al.; N-Formimidoyl thienamycin (N-F-thienamycin) and moxalactam were compared with other currently available and investigational antibiotics against 100 clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis by an agar dilution method . N-F-thienamycin was the most active among the beta-lactam agents tested, with a minimal inhibitory concentration for 90% of isolates (MIC90) of 0.25 micrograms/ml . Moxalactam was next in activity, with an MIC90 of 4 micrograms/ml . N-F-thienamycin was somewhat more active, and moxalactam was slightly less active, than metronidazole and clindamycin . An increase in inoculum size caused an increase in the MIC of N-F-thienamycin, cefoperazone, and cefotaxime . This inoculum effect could influence the usefulness of these drugs in certain clinical conditions . The minimal bactericidal concentration was less than two times the MIC for most agents and less than four times the MIC for all beta-lactam agents at each inoculum size tested . Investigation of the mechanism of resistance to beta-lactam agents demonstrated a correlation between the level of resistance and beta-lactamase activity in each strain tested . N-F-thienamycin and cefoxitin were not hydrolyzed, and moxalactam was less susceptible to hydrolysis than the other beta-lactam antibiotics . Moxalactam and N-F-thienamycin may prove to be useful against infections with B . fragilis. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 13(2), 369 - 79 Relationships between serological groups and deoxyribonucleic acid homology groups in Bacteroides fragilis and related species; Babb JL et al.; The serological properties of antigens extracted from strains of Bacteroides fragilis and related species belonging to several different deoxyribonucleic acid homology groups were investigated . Antisera prepared against Formalin-treated whole cell suspensions of representative strains were tested against cell suspensions, cell wall preparations, and extracts of homologous and heterologous strains by using agglutination, immunodiffusion, and hemagglutination techniques . Serological results indicated that the species were antigenically distinct, although minor cross-reactions were observed . Homology groups, including the two B . fragilis subgroups, were relatively homogeneous, although the presence of serotypes within each homology group was suggested . Immunodiffusion tests demonstrated, however, that each possessed a mosaic antigen composition; at least 6 antigenic determinants could be demonstrated in B . fragilis 2553, and up to 10 were found in B . fragilis 2393 . Hemagglutination tests using antigen extracts also indicate a mosaic of antigens in each strain. J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jan, 34(1), 87 - 9 Bacteraemia due to a rifampicin-resistant strain of Bacteroides fragilis; Bullock DW et al.; A strain of Bacteroides fragilis with high-level chromosomal resistance to rifampicin was isolated by blood culture from a patient with bacteraemia after gastrointestinal surgery . He had been receiving antituberculous therapy with rifampicin for nine months . This resistance led to some difficulty in the recognition and identification of the isolate by methods that depended upon antibiotic sensitivity patterns. J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 8 - 13 Incorporation of leucine into phospholipids of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; Smith RD et al.; L-{4,5-3H}- or L-{U-14C}leucine was incorporated by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron into acid-precipitable material even when the bacteria were treated with concentrations of tetracycline high enough to prevent growth . Similar results were obtained when L-{2,3,4-3H}valine or L-{4,5-3H}isoleucine was used instead of leucine . In bacteria which had been treated with tetracycline, the acid-precipitable label was not solubilized by treatment with protease, lysozyme, or deoxyribonuclease . However, virtually all of the label was extractable with chloroform-methanol, indicating that the label had been incorporated into membrane lipids . Since L-{1-14C}leucine was not incorporated into lipids, leucine was probably decarboxylated before incorporation . When a chloroform extract from bacteria which had been labeled with both {32P}phosphate and {3H}leucine was resolved into component phospholipids by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography, 3H was incorporated into all of the phospholipids . When these phospholipids were deacylated, the 3H from leucine was associated with released fatty acids rather than with the head groups . Thus, it appears that B . thetaiotaomicron can utilize leucine and similar amino acids not only by incorporating them into protein but also by incorporating portions of these amino acids into membrane phospholipids. J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 466 - 71 Influence of heme and vitamin B12 on growth and fermentations of Bacteroides species; Chen M et al.; We examined the effects of heme on the growth and fermentations of Bacteroides species . Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 25285 required heme for growth and produced malate and lactate as major products of glucose fermentation when the concentration of heme was 1 ng/ml . With 1 microgram of heme per ml, malate was not formed, lactate production decreased, and succinate and acetate were the major fermentation products . B . eggerthii ATCC 27754 grew without heme, with the production of mainly malate and lactate from glucose . Its fermentation with 1 microgram of heme per ml was similar to that of B . fragilis grown with the same concentration of heme . B . splanchicus VPI 6842 grew without heme, with the production of mainly malate, acetate, and H2 from glucose . With 1 microgram of heme per ml, malate disappeared, H2 decreased significantly, and succinate, acetate, and butyrate were the major products . The addition of vitamin B12 to media containing 1 microgram of heme per ml caused all species to produce propionate at the expense of succinate and, with B . splanchnicus, also at the expense of butyrate . Thus, the concentration of heme and the presence of vitamin B12 significantly influenced the course of glucose fermentation by these bacteria. J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 1 - 7 Effect of oxygen on liquid holding recovery of Bacteroides fragilis; Jones DT et al.; Liquid holding recovery (LHR) in ultraviolet-irradiated Bacteroides fragilis cells occurred under aerobic conditions but was inhibited by anaerobic conditions . The increase in survival after aerobic LHR resulted in an increase in the shoulder regions of the ultraviolet survival curves . Maximum LHR was obtained after holding the cells for 2 to 3 h . LHR was temperature dependent, and in stationary-phase cells LHR was independent of nutrients . Higher levels of LHR occurred in exponential-phase cells than in stationary-phase cells, and LHR was affected by nutrients in exponential-phase cells . Sublethal concentrations of caffeine and acriflavine inhibited LHR . In addition to LHR, minimal medium recovery also occurred in the concentration of {3H}thymine-containing dimers in the acid-insoluble fraction of the cells . A corresponding increase in {3H}thymine-containing dimers was observed in the acid-soluble fraction after LHR . Although a small proportion of irradiated cells produced filaments, this phenomenon was not directly related to LHR in B . fragilis. Acta Chir Scand, 1981, 147(5), 347 - 51 The effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on experimental Bacteroides fragilis infection in the rat liver; Tonjum S et al.; An experimental intra-abdominal model for producing Bacteroides fragilis abscesses in the rat liver was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HO) at 3 ATA (atmospheres absolute) . Two different experiments were performed . In the first experiment one half of the animals were inoculated with B . fragilis, and the other half were sham-operated . Whether the inoculated or sham-operated animals were given single or repeated HO treatment at 3 ATA for 90 min, the bacteriological pattern was about the same . In the second experiment all the animals were inoculated with B . fragilis; half of the animals were given HO at 3 ATA for 90 min as single or repeated treatments, and the other half acted as controls receiving no HO . Even if the HO treatment was given every day during 21 days, B . fragilis could be recovered in all inoculated animals 22 days after inoculation. Chir Pediatr, 1981, 22(6), 416 - 8 {Splenic abscess caused by Ristella fragilis : a case report of a 2 years-old boy (author's transl)}; Galifer RB et al.; This is a case report concerning a 2 years-old white boy who suffered sepsis fever with isolation in blood culture of an anaerobic bacteria (Ristella or Bacterioides fragilis) . Despite continued specific therapy with clindamycine, a mass rapidly developed in the upper left portion of the abdomen which was investigated by plain film, barium enema, upper G.I . series and ultrasound study . The diagnosis of splenic abscess was only made at laparotomy . Splenectomy was a difficult procedure and needed an extension to the chest because of diaphragmatic adhesions . Culture of pus from the excised spleen grew bacteroides fragilis also, and metronidazole was added for therapy . Recover was uneventful with a 3 years follow-up . The authors emphasized the difficulty of clinical diagnosis of splenic abscess, the difficulty of bacteriological study of anaerobic bacteria and the scarceness of such cases, especially in pediatric literature . They ask the question about the legitimacy of splenectomy. Akush Ginekol (Sofiia), 1981, 20(4), 355 - 7 {Complication following the vaginal use of potassium permanganate for an abortion}; Atanasov A et al.; PIP: Complications after abortifacient use of potassium permanganate in a 22-year old woman are described . Approximately 1 month prior to admission, the patient placed in the vagina a bag with potassium permanganate for 12 hours . Gynecological examination showed stenosis of the vagina, enlargement of the uterus, and adhesions in the cervix and vagina . The patient underwent surgical separation of the vagina, daily irrigations of the vagina, and postoperative administration of ampilillin . Microbiological analysis of the vaginal discharge showed the presence of bacteroides melaninogenics and Peptostreptococcus sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and cephalosporin . These findings indicate the role of chemical injury of the vagina in pathogenesis of the endogenous anaerobic genital infection . Chemotherapy, 1981, 27(4), 252 - 8 Antimicrobial activity and synergism of cefuroxime on anaerobic bacteria; Thadepalli H et al.; In vitro efficacy of cefuroxime was tested against 333 clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria, including 80 strains of Bacteroides fragilis . Its activity was compared with that of cefamandole and cefoxitin . In addition, the antimicrobial synergism of cefuroxime was tested in combination with either penicillin or carbenicillin against B . fragilis . At 16 microgram/ml, cefuroxime inhibited 70% of all anaerobic bacteria, but it was ineffective against 64% of B . fragilis strains tested . Cefuroxime in combination with penicillin or carbenicillin exerted excellent synergistic activity against two of the three isolates of B . fragilis tested and had an additive effect on the other . Although cefuroxime by itself is ineffective against B . fragilis, it acts synergistically with penicillin or carbenicillin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jan, 19(1), 144 - 6 Antimicrobial susceptibility of Capnocytophaga; Forlenza SW et al.; Capnocytophaga (Bacteroides ochraceus, Center for Disease Control biogroup DF-1) is associated with sepsis in granulocytopenic patients and is isolated in large numbers from the affected periodontal pockets in patients with juvenile periodontosis . The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of 17 antimicrobial agents for 13 strains of Capnocytophaga organisms were determined . In addition, the ratio of the MBC to the MIC for each antimicrobial agent was determined for each strain . At concentrations of 1 microgram/ml or less, penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, erythromycin, and clindamycin killed 90% of the strains . At concentrations of 3.12 microgram/ml or less, tetracycline, metronidazole, cefoxitin, and chloramphenicol killed 90% of the strains . None of the aminoglycosides tested demonstrated antibacterial activity at 50 microgram/ml . Penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, and cefoxitin exhibited MBC/MIC ratios of 4 or less with all strains . Erythromycin, tetracycline, and metronidazole exhibited MBC/MIC ratios of 4 or less for 12 of 13 strains . The MICs of cephalothin and cefazolin for 90% of the strains were 25 and 50 microgram/ml, respectively . The MBC/MIC ratios for these drugs were 4 or less for 12 of 13 and 7 of 13 strains, respectively . The MIC of cefamandole for 90% of the strains was 3.12 microgram/ml; however, only nine strains had an MBC/MIC ratio of 4 or less. Res Vet Sci, 1981 Jan, 30(1), 28 - 31 Effect of alum-precipitated or oil-adjuvant Bacteroides nodosus vaccines on the resistance of sheep to experimental foot rot; Egerton JR et al.; The feet of sheep which had been given two doses of oil adjuvant foot rot vaccine were completely resistant to direct challenge with a virulent homologous culture of Bacteroides nodosus four weeks after vaccination, partially resistant after eight weeks but completely susceptible after 12 weeks . Sheep given two doses of alum precipitated vaccine, or a dose of oil emulsion vaccine followed by a dose of alum precipitated vaccine, were resistant four weeks but not eight weeks later . Foot rot in affected, vaccinated sheep was more severe in those which had received the alum precipitated vaccine than in those given the oil emulsion vaccine, but vaccinated sheep were always less severely affected than controls . Where oil emulsion vaccine provided the primary stimulation, agglutinin titres were 18,000 four weeks after revaccination with either vaccine, falling to 4000 after a further four weeks . Significantly poorer titres were observed when two doses of alum precipitated vaccine only were given. Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 507 - 9 Model of intraabdominal abscess in mice; McConville JH et al.; Intraperitoneal inoculation of sterile mouse feces into mice produced intraabdominal abscesses . The addition of Bacteroides fragilis increased the incidence and the number of abscesses. Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 504 - 6 Production of lesions in gnotobiotic mice by inoculation with Treponema hyodysenteriae; Joens LA et al.; Treponema hyodysenteriae was established in the ceca of gnotobiotic mice in the absence of other organisms . Superficial mucosal lesions characteristic of swine dysentery were present in the ceca of mice inoculated with T . hyodysenteriae in combination with viable Bacteroides vulgatus . Deep crypt necrosis was detected in the ceca of mice inoculated with T . hyodysenteriae alone. Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 182 - 92 Serum antibodies to oral Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (Bacteroides gingivalis): relationship to age and periondontal disease; Mouton C et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay microplate method was used for measuring levels of antibody specific for the oral serotype of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (Bacteroides gingivalis) in serum samples obtained from umbilical cords, infants, children, periodontally normal adults, and edentulous adults . Serum from patients with various periodontal diseases, including adult periodontitis, localized juvenile periodontitis, generalized juvenile periodontitis, post-localized juvenile periodontitis, and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, were also studied . A positive correlation between increase in age and increase in both prevalence and level of specific antibody in the G, A, and M classes of immunoglobulins was observed . This indicates that antibodies reactive with oral B . asaccharolyticus found in up to 84% of normal adults are natural antibodies, presumably with a protective role . Among the patient groups, those with adult periodontitis were found to have levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to oral B . asaccharolyticus that were five times higher than the antibody levels found in control subjects . The levels of IgG antibodies to this organism in the other patient groups were comparable to the levels found in the control group . However, 50% of the individuals in the generalized juvenile periodontitis group had high levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to B . asaccharolyticus, suggesting heterogeneity with respect to immune response in these patients . These results indicate that antibodies to oral B . asaccharolyticus (B . gingivalis) occur at low levels in most normal children and adults and that the rise in titer of the specific antibodies of each major class of immunoglobulins parallels the ontogenic change in serum levels of that isotype . In contrast, there is a marked increase in titer of immunoglobulin G antibodies to oral B . asaccharolyticus in the group of patients with adult periodontitis and in patients with the generalized form of juvenile periodontitis. Arzneimittelforschung, 1981, 31(5), 764 - 70 Susceptibility of the species of genus bacteroides recently isolated from clinical specimens to 20 antimicrobial agents; Nasu M et al.; Susceptibility of 105 strains of bacteroides species (including 82 strains of B . fragilis, 8 strains of B . distasonis, 5 strains of B . thetaiotaomicron, 4 strains of B . vulgatus, 3 strains of B . ovatus and 3 other strains) isolated from patients to chemotherapeutic agents was determined by an agar dilution technique . Good to excellent inhibition rates (75--100% of strains) were found for carbenicillin, ticarcillin, piperacillin, apalcillin, minocycline, chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, rifampicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and lincomycin. Arch Fr Pediatr, 1981 Jan, 38(1), 41 - 5 {Bacteroides fragilis . Maternal-placental and foetal contamination (author's transl)}; Larroche JC et al.; In order to study the maternal-placental and foetal contamination, cytologic study and aerobic-anaerobic cultures were performed on 1 000 placentae of infants who were referred to the Intensive Care Unit . Bacteroides were isolated from 30 specimens, and on smears, Gram negative bacteria were found on 11 of these cases . Only in 2 infants Bacteroides were isolated from blood, gastric aspirate and meconium; 20 infants were said to be infected on clinical and biological bases; eight were normal . Bacteroides infection is usually benign; the symptoms are not specific; the diagnosis is often delayed and the treatment uneasy . Nowadays, Carbenicillin, Ticarcilin, Cefoxin or Metronidazole are advised, according to the sensibility of the organism. Acta Chir Scand, 1981, 147(3), 215 - 8 Septic wound complications after whole bowel irrigation before colorectal operations; Raahave D et al.; Ninety-three patients for whom a colorectal operation was planned had their bowel prepared mechanically by orthograde irrigation . The tube was sited in the duodenum via the pylorus under X-ray and TV control . The procedure was discontinued in 2 patients (2%), 15 patients (16%) experienced nausea and vomiting, while 76 patients (82%) experienced no discomfort . The mean duration of the irrigation was 216 min (90-476 min) and the mean volume of fluid used 10.21 (5.0 -15.0 1) . There were no significant differences between pre-irrigation and post-irrigation blood chemistry . Twenty-three patients developed postoperative abdominal wound sepsis (26.7%), 4 (4.7%) had an intraabdominal abscess; 9 out of 12 patients (75%) had perineal wound sepsis . Escherichia coli and Bacteroides were the dominant species cultured from colorectal mucosa during operation as well as from infected abdominal and perineal wounds . Although the irrigation technique seems to clean the bowel to a degree not previously seen, this in itself is no guarantee of avoiding post-operative wound sepsis after colorectal operations. Scand J Infect Dis, 1981, 13(2), 137 - 40 Tinidazole as preventive treatment in elective colonic surgery; Persson S et al.; Peroperative tinidazole and placebo treatment were compared with respect to incidence of postoperative infections in a double blind investigation on patients admitted for elective bowel surgery . Patients in the tinidazole group had a significantly reduced postoperative infection rate, compared with the placebo group (7.4% and 46%, respectively) . Complications in general were fewer in the tinidazole group and costs for antibiotic treatment decreased . All tinidazole-treated patients had clinically effective blood concentrations of the drug at the time of the operation . In contrast with the placebo-treated subjects, the individuals who developed postoperative wound infections from the tinidazole group had no growth of anaerobic bacteria and no antibody response to Bacteroides sp . The use of tinidazole may therefore be recommended for the prevention of postoperative anaerobic infections in patients undergoing bowel surgery. Circ Shock, 1981, 8(5), 601 - 11 Effects of live Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis on metabolism and hepatic pO2; Rink RD et al.; Rats were infused intraaterially with 10(9) live E coli, or 10(10) live B fragilis, or 0.9% NaCl solution . Within 6 hr or sooner E coli-treated rats extensive hepatic hypoxia (mean hepatic pO2 less than 5 mm Hg), hypoglycemia, lactacidemia, and microscopic evidence of sinusoidal damage and hepatocyte hypoxia . Mortality was 100% within 24 hr . Rats which received B fragilis showed significantly less hepatic hypoxia (mean hepatic pO2 13.8 mm Hg) and lactacidemia and were euglycemic at 6 hr . Hepatic tissue showed congested sinusoids and depletion of glycogen . Mortality was 0% in 24 hr . NaCl-treated rats were stable over 6 hr of observation; mean hepatic pO2 was 20.6 mm Hg . We suggest that the events associated with acute lethal E coli bacteremia are related in part to strutural interference of the hepatic microcirculation . Although the effects of B fragilis bacteremia were appreciably less pronounced, the ability to establish hypoxic foci may have important implications. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Jan, 41(1), 325 - 6 Bacteroides species: maintenance of laboratory strains; Baldwin WW et al.; A medium composed of blood agar base (40 g/liter), yeast extract (5 g/liter), and cysteine hydrochloride (0.05 g/liter), completely filling screw-cap tubes (13 by 100 mm), can keep Bacteroides species alive for at least 10 months without refrigeration. Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 181(4), 559 - 61 Transposon-like structures in the Bacteroides fragilis MLS plasmid plP 410; Magot M et al.; Homoduplexes of plasmid plP 410 encoding MLS resistance in Bacteroides fragilis strain 92 revealed two "transposon-like" structures: a 17.4 kb loop flanked by 0.75 inverted repeats, and a 4.5 kb loop flanked by 0.2 kb inverted repeats . The large structure is deleted in a derivative plasmid harboured by a MLS susceptible strain . We have also showed that the long and short inverted repeats are structurally related. Acta Microbiol Pol, 1981, 30(2), 159 - 63 A note on the fermentation of pectin by pure strains and combined cultures of rumen bacteria; Szymanski PT; Bacteroides ruminicola, pure or combined with Selenomonas ruminantium, and Lachnospira multiparus, pure or combined with Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens, were grown on a medium with pectin as energy source . There was a difference in fermentation products between the pure and combined cultures and efficiency of substrate utilization was better with the combined cultures. Int J Oral Surg, 1981, 10(Suppl 1), 178 - 82 Treatment of experimental mandibular osteomyelitis with hyperbaric oxygen and antibiotics; Triplett RG et al.; Osteomyelitis was created in surgically fractured rabbit mandibles by the inoculation of Bacteroides melaninogenicus . After the disease was established, the animals were randomly divided into four groups: Group I, 16 animals, received hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment alone (100% oxygen at two atmospheres pressure absolute for 2 hours daily for 40 treatments); Group II, eight animals, were untreated controls; Group III, five animals, received HBO therapy plus antibiotic treatment; and Group IV, five animals, received antibiotic treatment alone . At completion of 40 treatments, end-point assessment of the disease was performed by bacterial cultures, quantitative mobility measurements, subjective scoring, and microscopic examination of tissue to detect signs of oxygen toxicity . Mandibular osteomyelitis was not eliminated in any of the animals in this study, regardless of treatment . There was significantly greater stability in Group I (HBO treatment alone) than in Group II (untreated) animals (p less than 0.01) . There was no significant difference, however, between animals in Group III (HBO and antibiotics) and Group IV (antibiotics alone) (p less than 0.05) . No detrimental effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivered at two atmospheres pressure for 80 h were observed. Arch Oral Biol, 1981, 26(12), 963 - 9 Characterization of volatile sulphur production by pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of oral Bacteroides; Tonzetich J et al.; Marked differences were observed in intermediate sulphur metabolism between non-pathogenic strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus var melaninogenicus (CP-) and pathogenic Bacteroides melaninogenicus asaccharolyticus (CP+) . The CP+ strains, which produced collagenase and protease and caused formation of abscesses when injected subcutaneously into groins of guinea pigs, produced copious amounts of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) which consisted predominantly of CH3SH and (CH3S)2 . Hydrogen sulphide occurred in considerably lesser amounts . CP+ cultures yielded 8-fold more total volatile S, 15-fold more CH3SH and 260-fold more (CH3S)2 during 24 h of incubation in trypticase-yeast extract medium . Whereas H2S accounted for 60 per cent of the total volatile S content of the head-space of CP- cultures, it represented only 8 per cent of the volatile S in CP + systems . Although the CP-organisms did not grow as well as CP +, the differences in concentration of VSC may be only partly related to the disparity in growth rates . When the VSC concentrations were calculated on the basis of equivalent optical density of 1.0, the CP + strains still produced over 3-fold more total volatile S, 6-fold more CH3SH and 100-fold more (CH3S)2 . A similar allowance for growth rate suggests that CP-strains may possess a greater potential to produce H2S . Both groups metabolized S-containing amino acids and serine, resulting in appreciable increases in H2S production by CP- . However, the two groups appeared to metabolize the carbon moiety of cystine an cysteine by different pathways . The addition of glucose to the medium depressed total volatile S production by both CP+ and CP-strains, attributable mostly to lower H2S levels . Whereas the omission of yeast extract and charcoal treatment of trypticase did not adversely effect the activity of CP+, it further markedly reduced the capacity of CP-cultures to produce VSC . These results suggest that VSC analysis offers a convenient means of assessing strain differences and pathogenic potential of B . melaninogenicus. Res Vet Sci, 1981 Jan, 30(1), 32 - 7 Comparison of alum-absorbed or non-alum-absorbed oil emulsion vaccines containing either pilate or non-pilate Bacteroides nodosus cells in inducing and maintaining resistance of sheep to experimental foot rot; Thorley CM et al.; Highly pilate (P) or non-pilate (NP) cells of Bacteroides nodosus were compounded into oil emulsion (O) either with or without prior absorption onto alum (A) . The abilities of these four preparations (referred to as PAO, NPAO, PO and NPO vaccines) to stimulate antibody production and to protect sheep from foot rot were compared . Two injections of PAO vaccine protected sheep against homologous challenge 12 weeks after the second dose by PO, NPO and NPAO vaccines were less effective . Sheep were protected against homologous challenge for 14 weeks after a single dose of PAO vaccine and for 22 weeks after three doses; an ameliorative effect was still evident 40 weeks after the third dose . Protection against challenge with two heterologous strains was demonstrated at six weeks after three doses of vaccine . A numerical system of scoring the lesions also confirmed that foot rot in vaccinated sheep challenged outside the 'protective' period of the vaccine was somewhat less severe than in controls . PAO vaccine induced much higher and more persistent titres of agglutinins than the other vaccines tested . There was a relationship between agglutinin titres and resistance to homologous challenge. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1980 Dec, 151(6), 735 - 9 The circulatory effects of an acute infusion of anaerobes in a rabbit model; O'Donnell TF Jr et al.; Results of this study show that an acute infusion of Bacteroides fragilis into a rabbit model is associated with a transitory and minimal lowering of mean arterial pressure . Peak left ventricular systolic pressure and its first derivative decreased significantly, but these abnormalities lasted for less than three minutes . By contrast, an infusion of Fusobacterium necrophorum is associated with a profound depression of mean arterial pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure and its first derivative, circulatory changes which are observed with a gram-negative aerobic infection . The lack of profound and permanent alterations in circulatory dynamics with the infusion of Bacteroides fragilis may be related to that organism's lack of classical endotoxin . While these studies were conducted in a nonprimate model, they should stimulate verification in a primate model . If validated, these results question the role of Bacteroides fragilis in producing septic shock. J Bacteriol, 1980 Dec, 144(3), 967 - 74 Chemical and physical differentiation of superoxide dismutases in anaerobes; Gregory EM et al.; Superoxide dismutase activity in crude or partially purified cell extracts from several species and strains of obligate anaerobe Bacteroides was inhibited instantaneously by NaN3 and was inactivated rapidly upon incubation with H2O2 . The extent of NaN3 inhibition varied from 41 to 93%, and the half-life of the enzymatic activity in 5 mM H2O2 ranged from 1.2 to 6.1 min, depending upon the organism tests . When grown in a defined medium containing 59Fe, Bacteroides fragilis (VPI 2393) incorporated radiolabel into a 40,000-molecular-weight NaN3- and H2O2-sensitive superoxide dismutase but did not incorporate 54Mn into that protein under similar growth conditions . The anaerobe Actinomyces naeslundii (VPI 9985) incorporated 54Mn but not 59Fe into a NaN3-insensitive and H2O2-resistant superoxide dismutase . The apparent molecular weight of the superoxide dismutase from this and several other Actinomyces spp . was estimated to be 110,000 to 140,000 . Comparison of these data with studies of homogeneous metallosuperoxide dismutases suggests that the Bacteroides spp . studied contain a ferrisuperoxide dismutase, whereas Actinomyces spp . contain a managanisuperoxide dismutase. J Bacteriol, 1980 Dec, 144(3), 898 - 903 Nature, type of linkage, quantity, and absolute configuration of (3-hydroxy) fatty acids in lipopolysaccharides from Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 and related strains; Wollenweber HW et al.; The main fatty acids present in lipopolysaccharides from Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 were identified as 13-methyl-tetradecanoic, D-3-hydroxypentadecanoic, D-3-hydroxyhexadecanoic, D-3-hydroxy-15-methyl-hexadecanoic, and D-3-hydroxyheptadecanoic acids . Of these, 13-methyl-tetradecanoic acid is exclusively ester bound, and 3-hydroxy-15-methyl-hexadecanoic acid is exclusively involved in amide linkage . The other 3-hydroxy fatty acids are both ester and amide bound . All 3-hydroxy fatty acids possess the D configuration, and the 3-hydroxyl group of ester-linked 3-hydroxy fatty acids is not substituted . Lipopolysaccharides of related Bacteroides species (B . thetaiotaomicron, B . ovatus, B . distasonis, and B . vulgatus) showed a fatty acid spectrum with both similar and distinct features compared to that of B . fragilis lipopolysaccharides. J Bacteriol, 1980 Dec, 144(3), 1179 - 81 Effect of oxygen on Bacteroides fragilis survival after far-ultraviolet irradiation; Jones DT et al.; Bacteroides fragilis cells were more sensitive to far-ultraviolet radiation under aerobic conditions than under anaerobic conditions . The percentage of pyrimidine dimers assayed after irradiation under both conditions was similar. Scand J Dent Res, 1980 Dec, 88(6), 535 - 42 Bone resorption stimulated by lipopolysaccharides from Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Veillonella, and by the lipid A and the polysaccharide part of Fusobacterium lipopolysaccharide; Sveen K et al.; Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from oral strains of Veillonella, Fusobacterium and Bacteroides stimulated the release of 45Ca from prelabeled fetal rat bones in culture . There was a typical dose-response relationship between the quantities of released 45Ca and LPS used for stimulation . Bacteroides-LPS proved to be the less active inducer of 45Ca release . LPS had no stimulating effect on the release of 45Ca from devitalized bone . The stimulated 45Ca release was paralleled by an increase in the culture medium of hydroxyproline and lactate . This, together with the findings of numerous osteoclasts in stained histological specimens of the experimental bones, indicates that LPS stimulated the osteoclasts to bone resorption . Heparin, which did not directly induce 45Ca release, potentiated the bone resorption stimulating capability of LPS . The lipid A and the polysaccharide portion of Fusobacterium LPS also stimulated bone resorption and, remarkably, the polysaccharide portion showed the greatest activity . This may explain the mode of action of LPS lacking a typical lipid A . It is suggested that stimulation of osteoclasts by LPS may result from activation of complement components by lipid A or its polysaccharide portion. J Clin Periodontol, 1980 Dec, 7(6), 489 - 94 Antimicrobial effect of fluorides on Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus; Yoon NA et al.; This study was undertaken to determine whether the suspected periodontopathogens Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss melaninogenicus and intermedius and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus are killed by clinically used topical fluorides . The viability of each organism was examined after exposure to three fluoride compounds, stannous (SnF2), acidulated phosphate (APF), and neutral sodium (NaF), for 1 and 8 h . Stannous fluoride was found to be effective at lowest fluoride concentrations with APF next in effectiveness . NaF required the highest concentrations of fluoride to kill test organisms . Longer exposure times were found to be more effective at lower concentrations . Data obtained in this study with gram-negative organisms support and extend previous information regarding the antibacterial effect of fluorides against gram-positive periodontopathogens. J Infect Dis, 1980 Nov, 142(5), 750 - 6 Variations of Bacteroides fragilis with in vitro passage: presence of an outer membrane-associated glycan and loss of capsular antigen; Kasper DL et al.; The amount of capsular antigen produced by Bacteroides fragilis appears to decrease significantly with in vitro passage on blood agar plates of strain 23745 . This decrease in the quantity of isolable capsule is associated with the emergence of a small transparent colony type variant . The small colony type strain also has a glycogenlike material associated with its outer membrane . This glycogen is found intracellularly but is not associated with the outer membrane on the mucoid colony variant that predominates after passage in animals--the large colony type . No concomitant alteration in outer membrane proteins or lipopolysaccharides is associated with this colonial transformation . Electron micrographs, with either ruthenium red staining or indirect ferritin antibody staining of the capsular antigen, confirm the relative loss of capsule with in vitro passage . Thus, care must be taken during in vitro studies of the antigenic structure of B . fragilis to define the degree of passage of the strain. Am J Med Sci, 1980 Nov-Dec, 280(3), 143 - 9 Metronidazole treatment of Bacteroides fragilis infections; Melo JC et al.; Seven patients with Bacteroides fragilis infections were treated with intravenous and/or oral metronidazole . Infections treated included endocarditis, osteomyelitis, lung abscess, empyema, peritonitis, septicemia, and pelvic infection . Some patients had failed to respond to therapy with chloramphenicol or clindamycin or both . Metronidazole was used alone or in combination with aminoglycosides . Serum levels of metronidazole several times in excess of the minimal inhibitory concentrations for the organisms were easily achieved and in one patient the CSF metronidazole level was equal to that of the serum . Response to therapy with metronidazole was considered to be excellent . The only serious side effect noted was hypotension, which occurred in the last patient . Therapy was discontinued, and therefore therapeutic results could not be evaluated . Metronidazole appears to be a safe and effective agent in the treatment of B fragilis infections. Aust Vet J, 1980 Nov, 56(11), 517 - 21 Isolation and characterisation of Bacteroides nodosus from foot lesions of cattle in Western Australia; Richards RB et al.; Thirty one isolates of Bacteroides nodosus were obtained from foot lesions observed on cattle at 3 abattoirs . All isolates were similar to the B . nodosus of ovine benign footrot (BFR) in their response to the degrading proteinase test . At one abattoir, where the interdigital lesions were examined in detail, 9 of 10 isolates were obtained from hyperkeratotic lesions with deep fissures . Traceback to 8 of the farms of origin which carried both sheep and cattle, revealed BFR in sheep on 4 farms . The significance of B . nodosus in interdigital lesions in cattle, and its possible pathogenicity, are discussed. Am J Med, 1980 Nov, 69(5), 782 - 5 Serious infection with Leptotrichia buccalis . Report of a case and review of the literature; Morgenstein AA et al.; Leptotrichia buccalis is an obligately anaerobic, gram-negative rod classified as a member of the family Bacteroidaceae . Organisms found in this family (Bacteroides and Fusobacteria) are frequent causes of severe infection in human beings . L . buccalis is a constituent of normal oral flora . Leptotrichia has rarely been recovered from mixed infections primarily of the head and neck . It has not previously been reported as a cause of serious infection in man . We report a case of cavitary pneumonia and septicemia caused by L . buccalis . The colonial morphology and gram stain of L . buccalis are characteristic . Definitive identification is made by gas-liquid chromatography . Leptotrichia have been shown to contain potent endotoxin . L . buccalis has the potential to be a virulent, pathogenic microorganism, especially in the compromised host. J Dent Res, 1980 Nov, 59, 1750 - 6 Local immunity to Bacteroides gingivalis in periodontal disease; Kagan JM; The histopathologic status of gingival tissue was assessed according to the criteria of Page and Schroeder.(5) Rhodamine-labeled bacteria were used to assess the antigenic specificity of plasma cells in the tissue . Examination of tissue sections revealed that 31.6% of plasma cells in the advanced lesions bound the labeled bacterium, compared with only 3.1% of the cells in the early lesions . These results indicate that local immunity to Bacteroides gingivalis in greater in the more advanced than in the earlier forms of periodontal disease. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1980 Nov, 50(5), 457 - 61 The relationship of Bacteroides melaninogenicus to symptoms associated with pulpal necrosis; Griffee MB et al.; The canal contents of thirty-three cariously and traumatically exposed pulpless teeth were sampled with a special technique and cultured anaerobically for growth in prereduced thioglycollate and for Bacteroides melaninogenicus on selective blood agar plates . The presence of B . melaninogenicus was compared with the presence or absence of eight symptoms associated with pulpal necrosis and the presence or absence of growth in thioglycollate . B . melaninogenicus was found to be significantly related to pain, sinus tract formation and foul odor . Suggested relationships were found between the organism and the presence of apical sensitivity and local swelling . Growth in prereduced thioglycollate occurred more often from teeth in which B . melaninogenicus was present . With the sampling technique used, positive growth in the thioiglycollte ranged from 88 percent at the initial appointment to 72 percent at the fill appointment. Can J Comp Med, 1980 Oct, 44(4), 440 - 6 Serotypic and biochemical characterization of Bacteroides nodosus isolates from Oregon; Schmitz JA et al.; Ninety-seven Bacteroides nodosus isolates were characterized by the tube agglutination test . Fourteen serotypes were identified including isolates that were serologically similar to Australian serotypes A, B and C . One additional isolate remains untyped and possibly represents another serotype . The isolates were cultured from 20 different flocks . Multiple isolates were obtained from 15 of the flocks and 13 of these had two to seven different B . nodosus serotypes . Eleven B . nodosus isolates representing one Australian and ten Oregon serotypes were nonfermentative in various carbohydrates and did not produce indole . These isolates all exhibited proteolytic activity . The prototype strains of 12 of the 14 serotypes demonstrated virulence as assessed by an elastase production assay. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Oct, 18(4), 502 - 5 Tetracycline transport in Bacteroides fragilis; Fayolle F et al.; In susceptible strain of Bacteroides fragilis, tetracycline uptake is biphasic . The initial phase is independent of adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis, which is coupled to fumarate reduction; this phase is not altered by expression of tetracycline resistance genes in a resistant strain . The second phase appears to occur by active transport, since it is largely reduced by rotenone, an inhibitor of electron transport to fumarate; moreover, this phase is under negative control of the tetracycline resistance gene. J Bacteriol, 1980 Oct, 144(1), 200 - 4 Cellular distribution and linkage of D-(-)-3-hydroxy fatty acids in Bacteroides species; Mayberry WR; Two strains of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and two strains of Bacteroides fragilis were analyzed for total fatty acid, total lipid fatty acid, and total bound fatty acid profiles . Extracted lipids and defatted cell residues were subjected to sequential alkaline and acid methanolyses to distinguish ester- and amide-linked fatty acids in each fraction . In the lipid fractions, all the ester-linked fatty acids were nonhydroxylated, whereas all of the amide-linked fatty acids were hydroxylated . In the nonextractable fractions, both hydroxy and nonhydroxy fatty acids were found in both ester and amide linkage, although hydroxy acids predominated . The fatty acid profiles of the bound fractions differed widely from those of the lipid fractions . Bound fatty acid represented approximately 10% of the total cellular fatty acids. J Infect Dis, 1980 Oct, 142(4), 594 - 601 beta-Lactamase activity in human pus; Bryant RE et al.; Pus was obtained from patients with polymicrobial intraabdominal abscesses or polymicrobial empyema . Physical and chemical characteristics of 12 specimens were examined, and bacterial isolates were enumerated . Pus supernatant of six specimens rapidly inactivated penicillin, cephalothin, and cefazolin . Carbenicillin and ticarcillin were similarly degraded by supernatant of certain pus specimens . Cefoxitin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin were not appreciably inactivated by pus supernatant . Degradation of penicillin and cephalosporin congeners in pus was due to the presence of beta-lactamase, as shown by chemical interaction with nitrocefin, chromatography, and inhibition by the beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid . Pus supernatant containing beta-lactamase activity reduced the bactericidal activity of carbenicillin against Bacteroides fragilis in whole pus in an abscess model in vitro . Bactericidal activity of clindamycin or cefoxitin was not impaired in pus containing beta-lactamase. Infect Immun, 1980 Oct, 30(1), 263 - 71 Specificity of immunoglobulin M antibodies in normal human serum that participate in opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron by by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Bjornson AB et al.; Studies were performed to determine the specificity of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in normal human serum that participate in opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing of Bacteroides fragilis 1365 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron 1343 by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Purified normal human IgM was adsorbed with washed heat-killed cells of the homologous strains and heterologous strains of B . fragilis, B . thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides distasonis, and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and with erythrocytes coated with outer membrane complex prepared from the homologous strains . Hypogammaglobulinemic serum was supplemented with the adsorbed IgM preparations, and the ability of the supplemented sera to support opsonophagocytosis and killing of B . fragilis 1365 and B . thetaiotaomicron 1343 by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was measured in vitro under anaerobic conditions . Normal IgM adsorbed with heat-killed cells of B . fragilis 1365 and B . thetaiotaomicron 1343 or with erythrocytes coated with outer membrane complex prepared from these strains failed to restore the ability of hypogammaglobulinemic serum to support opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing of the homologous strain . In contrast, adsorption of normal IgM with heat-killed cells of the heterologous strains did not alter its opsonophagocytosis-promoting activity for either test strain . These results indicated that the IgM antibodies in normal human serum that participate in opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing of B . fragilis 1365 and B . thetaiotaomicron 1343 are directed against strain-specific antigenic determinants contained in the outer membrane complex. Can J Microbiol, 1980 Oct, 26(10), 1178 - 83 Characterization of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and B . melaninogenicus oral isolates; Mayrand D et al.; Experiments were designed to characterize a number of oral "pigmented" Bacteroides isolates with regard to their pathogenicity in an experimental model system and a number of other properties . T these include fatty acid determination, hemagglutination studies, collagenase and protease activities, and vitamin K dependency . Oral B, asaccharolyticus and B, melaninogenicus isolates differed from one another in phenylacetic acid production, hemagglutination, collagenase activity, and pathogenicity . All B . asaccharolyticus were found to be pathogenic in the vivo mixed infection model and this property could be correlated with biochemical enzymatic activities. J Infect Dis, 1980 Sep, 142(3), 332 - 7 Growth of Bacteroides fragilis inoculated on rabbit tracheal explant in an atmosphere environment; Murakami T et al.; Mucous membrane of rabbit tracheal explant on a solid agar medium that was point-inoculated with Bacteroides fragilis, an obligate anaerobe, was exposed directly to air and cultivated in an atmospheric environment, in a simulation of the in vivo condition . Continuous spreading of B . fragilis on the mucous membrane and consistent increase in viable counts in the infected explant were demonstrated . Thus, rabbit tracheal explant exposed to air was successfully inhabited with anaerobic bacteria . In contrast, no bacterial growth was observed on explants inactivated by ultraviolet irradiation, freezing and thawing, or heat . Histologic examinations by light and electron microscopy showed characteristic distribution of the infecting bacteria on the mucous surfaces and in the submucosal tissues. Arch Microbiol, 1980 Sep, 127(2), 145 - 56 Treponema bryantii sp . nov., a rumen spirochete that interacts with cellulolytic bacteria; Stanton TB et al.; A saccharolytic spirochete that associated and interacted with cellulolytic bacteria was isolated from bovine rumen fluid . Isolation was accomplished by means of a procedure involving serial dilution of a sample of rumen fluid into a cellulose-containing agar medium . Clear zones appeared within the medium as a result of cellulose hydrolysis by rumen bacteria . The saccharolytic spirochete and a cellulolytic bacterium later identified as a strain of Bacteroides succinogenes were isolated from the clear zones . The spirochete did not utilize cellulose, but grew in coculture with the cellulotytic bacterium in cellulose-containing media . When cocultured in these media the spirochete used, as fermentable substrates, soluble sugars released from cellulose by the cellulolytic bacterium . In cellulose-containing agar medium the spirochete enhanced cellulose breakdown by the B . succinogenes strain . Electron microscopy showed that the helical spirochete cells possessed an outer sheath, a protoplasmic cylinder, and two periplasmic fibrils . Under a CO2 atmosphere, in a reduced medium containing inorganic salts, rumen fluid, glucose, and NaHCO3, the spirochete grew to a final density of 1.9 X 10(9) cells/ml . Succinate, acetate, and formate were products of the fermentation of glucose by growing cells . CO2 (HCO3-), branched short-chain fatty acids, folic acid, biotin, niacinamide, thiamine, pyridoxal, and a carbohydrate were required for growth of the spirochete . The results of this study indicated that the rumen spirochete represents a new species of Treponema . It is proposed that the new species be named Treponema bryantii. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1980 Sep, 19(9), 639 - 40 Osteomyelitis and bacteremia caused by Bacteroides fragilis: a complication of fetal monitoring; Brook I; A neonate monitored with scalp electrodes during delivery presented with a scalp abscess, osteomyelitis and bacteremia . Bacteroides fragilis was recovered from the blood culture, and polymicrobial aerobic and anaerobic flora were isolated from the aspirated purulent material . Attention should be paid to the possibility of such complications in infants requiring fetal monitoring. Br J Surg, 1980 Sep, 67(9), 636 - 8 An experimental study of the relationship between synergistic wound sepsis and suture materials; McGeehan D et al.; In wounds on the back of guinea-pigs an inoculum of 6 x 10(5) of Escherichia coli and of Bacteroides fragilis produced a frank infection rate of 27 per cent . Addition of a catgut or a braided nylon tie statistically significantly increased the rate to 56 and 48 per cent respectively . Prolene and silk produced much smaller, non-significant rises . The rate with polyglycolic acid was 18 per cent which, though not statistically significant, suggests the possibility that this material produces conditions unfavourable to multiplication of bacteria that produce this type of infection. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 Aug 15, 137(8), 914 - 22 High-dose cefamandole therapy in obstetric and gynecologic infections; Gall SA et al.; Increased understanding of bacterial infections of the pelvis has led to the frequent administration of double and triple antimicrobial chemotherapy for polymicrobial infections in hospitalized patients . This study evaluated the use of high-dose cefamandole as a single agent in the treatment of obstetric and gynecologic infections . Cefamandole was administered by intravenous infusion of 2 gm every 4 hours or, less often, every 3 hours . Twenty patients were entered into the study, 11 with postpartum endometritis and nine with pelvic inflammatory disease . Seventeen of the 20 patients (85%) were successfully treated; all failures were in the endometritis group . The aerobic organisms and the gram-positive anaerobic organisms isolated from these infections were susceptible in vitro to cefamandole at attainable serum concentrations . The bacteroides isolated were more resistant . The data suggest that high-dose cefamandole therapy is effective as a single agent for the majority of moderate obstetric and gynecologic infections. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980 Aug, 247(3), 424 - 9 Thin layer chromatography for rapid detection of carbohydrate utilization by Bacteroides strains; Hammann R et al.; 19 weakly saccharolytic Bacteroides strains of different species were tested by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for their fermentative abilities for fructose, sucrose, lactose, galactose, and raffinose . Conventional fermentation tests were run parallel . In general, a good agreement between both methods was recorded . Two strains, however, showed a degradation in the TLC test without an acidification . With some strains, sucrose as a substrate yielded a fructose spot, lactose a galactose spot, and raffinose a melibiose spot, indicating an incomplete degradation of these carbohydates. J Dairy Sci, 1980 Aug, 63(8), 1248 - 63 Ammonia saturation constants for predominant species of rumen bacteria; Schaefer DM et al.; Ammonia saturation constants were determined for representative pure cultures of predominant, anaerobic, fermentative rumen bacteria . Based on growth experiments with ammonia limited continuous cultures, average estimates for ammonia saturation constants of Bacteroides amylophillus and Bacteroides ruminicola were 10.5 and 23.5 microM ammonia-nitrogen, respectively . With ammonia-limited linear-growth cultures, the estimates for the ammonia saturation constants of B . amylophilus, B . ruminicola, and Selenomonas ruminantium were, respectively, 6, 33.5, and 18 microM ammonia nitrogen . By a third method, which involved estimation of ammonia concentration in the medium when the growth rate of ammonia-limited batch cultures reached half maximal, the ammonia saturation constant was determined for the species mentioned as well as Megaspaera elsdenii and Ruminococcus flavefaciens . Except for M . elsdenii, saturation constants of the other bacteria were less than 50 microM ammonia nitrogen . An organism with a saturation constant for ammonia of 50 microM growing in a medium containing 1 mM ammonia should achieve 95% of its maximum specific growth rate . Many of the predominant species of rumen bacteria are efficient scavengers of ammonia. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd, 1980 Aug, 40(8), 671 - 7 {The role of anaerobic bacteria in the post-partum period: clinical significance and treatment (author's transl)}; Lang N et al.; Anaerobic bacteria in the lochia are frequently isolated healthy post-partum patients and from those with post-partum infections . The true pathogenic significance of these anaerobic bacteria is uncertain . Investigations appeared to show that the incidence of anaerobic bacteria is by and large the same as in the vaginal and intestinal flora . In this investigation we showed: 1) anaerobic bacteria are rare in the vaginal flora of pregnant patients in the third trimester, 2) a definite difference exists in the number of anaerobic bacteria in normal lochia versus infected lochia, 3) in post-partum infections qualitative differences exist between the anaerobic isolates . The strains of the bacteroides oralis group become the predominant anaerobic bacteria . It is concluded that members of the bacteroides oralis group which are normally not present in the human intestinal flora play a specific role in post-partum infections . The anti-microbial treatment of post-partum infections has to take this into account . The eminent therapeutic importance of the 5-Nitro-Imidazoles is discussed. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1980 Aug, 19(8), 541 - 4 Neonatal pneumonia caused by members of the Bacteroides fragilis group; Brook I et al.; Three infants who presented with premature rupture of membranes and neonatal pneumonia caused by organisms belonging to members of the B . fragilis group are reported . In all 3 instances, the organisms were recovered from tracheal aspirates and in 2 from blood cultures as well . Two of the newborns, treated with ampicillin and gentamicin, succumbed to their infections . The third, treated with clindamycin, recovered . Appropriate antibiotic coverage taking into account the penicillin-resistant anaerobes seems warranted for infants with neonatal pneumonia. J Bacteriol, 1980 Aug, 143(2), 753 - 60 Glutamine-stimulated amino acid and peptide incorporation in Bacteroides melaninogenicus; Lev M; The uptake of a number of amino acids and dipeptides by cells and spheroplasts of Bacteroides melaninogenicus was stimulated by the presence of glutamine; 50 mM glutamine induced maximum uptake of glycine or alanine, and glutamine stimulated the uptake of glycine over a wide concentration range (0.17 to 170 mM) . Glutamine stimulated the uptake of the dipeptides glycylleucine and glycylproline at significantly faster rates compared with glycine and leucine . The amino acids whose uptake was stimulated by glutamine were incorporated into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material, and the inclusion of chloramphenicol or puromycin did not affect this incorporation . The uptake of glutamine by cells was concentration dependent . In contrast, in the absence of chloramphenicol 79% of the glutamine taken up by cells supplied with a high external concentration (4.4 mM) was trichloroacetic acid soluble . Glutamate and alpha-ketoglutarate were identified in the intracellular pool of glutamine-incubated spheroplasts . The amino acids and peptides were incorporated into cell envelope material, and a portion (30 to 50%) of the incorporated amino acids could be removed by trypsinization or treatment with papain . The effect of glutamine was depressed by inhibitors of energy metabolism, suggesting that glutamine-stimulated incorporation is an energy-mediated effect. J Bacteriol, 1980 Aug, 143(2), 582 - 7 Hydroxy fatty acids in Bacteroides species: D-(--)-3-hydroxy-15-methylhexadecanoate and its homologs; Mayberry WR; Acid hydrolysates of 140 strains, representing 11 species of the genus Bacteroides, were analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography for total cellular fatty acid . All samples contained components which appeared to be hydroxy fatty acid . The relative amount and chain length distribution of the hydroxy fatty acids, as well as the nonhydroxy fatty acids, varied according to species . To characterize the presumed hydroxy acids, a composite of some 40 of these samples was analyzed by thin-layer and capillary gas-liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, infrared spectrophotometry, and polarimetry . The hydroxy acids were shown to be of the D-(--)-3-hydroxy acid family . The predominant component was the iso-branched D-(--)-3-hydroxy-15-methylhexadecanoic acid . Lesser amounts of the iso-branched 15-carbon, straight-chain 16-carbon, and anteiso-branched 17-carbon acids were also found. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Aug, 18(2), 220 - 5 Characterization of three different beta-lactamases from the Bacteroides fragilis group; Olsson-Liljequist B et al.; beta-Lactamases from five strains of Bacteroides fragilis and two strains of Bacteroides uniformis, all resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, were compared by means of isoelectric focusing and enzyme kinetic measurements . beta-Lactamases from the five B . fragilis strains were identical, whereas those from the two B . uniformis strains were distinguished from each other and also from the B . fragilis enzymes . The two B . uniformis strains were relatively resistant to cefoxitin (minimal inhibitory concentration, 32 micrograms/ml), but only one of the strains, B . uniformis 2986, was found to rapidly inactivate cefoxitin . This apparently enzymatic inactivation of cefoxitin seemed to be of minor importance, and the main factor for cefoxitin resistance was considered to be a decreased permeability of the drug . Transfer of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics from these beta-lactamase-producing strains of B . fragilis and B . uniformis to a non-beta-lactamase-producing strain of Bacteroides distasonis was attempted, but with these isolates no transfer of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics was demonstrated. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1980 Aug, 50(2), 103 - 9 Bacteriology and treatment of dental infections; Kannangara DW et al.; The microbiologic and therapeutic aspects of sixty-one cases of pyogenic dental infection were studied through the use of modern anaerobic culture methods . Forty-five (74 percent) patients had anaerobic infections . Among them, eighteen (29.5 percent) had Bacteroides fragilis, of which six were resistant to penicillin at 16 microgram/ml . but all were susceptible to clindamycin at less than 2 microgram/ml . Of twenty-five patients treated with 4 to 20 million units of penicillin per day, twenty were cured and did not suffer relapse . The five patients in whom treatment failed had mandibular fractures infected with B . fragilis . Of ten patients treated with clindamycin (600 mg . intravenously every 6 hours), which included five patients with B . fragilis infections, all were cured . The presence of B . fragilis in dental infections has not been recognized . Dental infections associated with mandibular fracture that fail to respond to conventional penicillin therapy should be routinely cultured for B . fragilis. J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 119(Pt 2), 485 - 91 The influence of extracellular hydrogen on the metabolism of Bacteroides ruminicola, Anaerovibrio lipolytica and Selenomonas ruminantium; Henderson C; Strains of three anaerobic rumen bacteria, Bacteroides ruminicola, Anaerovibrio lipolytica and Selenomonas ruminantium, were able to use extracellular H2 to reduce fumarate to succinate . Each bacterium possessed membrane-bound hydrogenase and fumarate reductase activity . Membrane-bound cytochrome b was reducible by H2 and oxidizable by fumarate in each bacterium . The apparent Km values for hydrogen of the hydrogenases were 4 . 5 x 10(-6) M, 1 . 4 x 10(-5) M and 4 . 4 x 10(-5) M for B . ruminicola, A . lipolytica and S . ruminantium, respectively . The apparent Km values for fumarate of the fumarate reductases were approximately 1 . 0 x 10(-4) M for each bacterium. J Bacteriol, 1980 Aug, 143(2), 781 - 8 Induction of chondroitin sulfate lyase activity in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; Salyers AA et al.; Chondroitin sulfate lyase (EC 4.2.2.4) was present constitutively at low levels (0.06 to 0.08 U/mg of protein) in cells of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron which were growing on glucose or other monosaccharides . When these uninduced bacteria were incubated with chondroitin sulfate A (5 mg/ml), chondroitin sulfate lyase specific activity increased more than 10-fold within 90 min . Synthesis of ribonucleic acid and of protein was required for induction, and induction was sensitive to oxygen . The disaccharides which resulted from chondroitinase action did not act as inducers, nor did tetrasaccharides or hexasaccharides obtained by digestion of chondroitin sulfate with bovine testicular hyaluronidase . None of these substances was taken up by uninduced cells; they may not have been able to penetrate the outer membrane . The smallest oligomer capable of acting as an inducer was the outer membrane . The smallest oligomer capable of acting as an inducer was the octassacharide . Oligomers larger than the octassacharide induced chondroitin lyase activity nearly as well as intact chondroitin sulfate. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 12(2), 205 - 7 Radioimmunoassay for Bacteroides fragilis infections; Hoppes WL et al.; Radioimmunoassay methods were evaluated for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies against Bacteroides fragilis antigen . Of 12 serum samples from patients with B fragilis infections, 9 had higher concentrations of immunoglobulin G antibodies than any from 11 control subjects . Of 9 serum samples from infected patients, 6 had higher concentrations of immunoglobulin M than any from control subjects . Six serum samples from patients with Escherichia coli bacteremia did not contain elevated concentrations of immunoglobulin G or immunoglobulin M antibodies against B . fragilis antigen. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 12(2), 288 - 90 Production of phenylacetic acid by strains of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and Bacteroides gingivalis (sp . nov.); Kaczmarek FS et al.; Strains of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies isolated from human and animal sources were examined for the production of phenylacetic acid . B . asaccharolyticus strains isolated from sites in humans and monkeys always produced phenylacetic acid . B . asaccharolyticus strains isolated from human nonoral sites consistently failed to produce this product . This metabolic difference correlates with the genetic dichotomy recently found to exist between oral and nonoral B . asaccharolyticus strains. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {A}, 1980 Jul, 88(4), 263 - 8 Effects of a chemotactic factor and Bacteroides fragilis lipopolysaccharide on bone resorption in tissue culture; Sveen K; Release of previously incorporated 45Ca from fetal rat bone in tissue culture was stimulated by preparations of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic factor isolated from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory exudate in rabbits as well as by Bacteroides fragilis LPS . High concentrations of released hydroxyproline and lactate seemed to correlate well as a high percentage of 45Ca liberated into the culture medium . An active bone resorption was stimulated by a concentration of 1 microgram/ml of the chemotactic factor . The peak in amount of released 45Ca was at a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml of the chemotactic factor (LPS-CF) as well as of the LPS preparation, whereas the parathyroid hormone was most active at 1 IU/ml . Their effect was connected with the formation of osteoclasts . Neither LPS-CF nor LPS stimulated a release of 45Ca or hydroxyproline from heat-devitalized bones . Heparin added to LPS-CF did not enhance its resorptive potential, whereas when added to LPS it had a synergistic effect . It is suggested that the bone resorptive effect exerted by LPS may be caused by chemotactic factors elaborated by activation of the complement system, and that these factors may be of importance in the pathophysiology of periodontal disease. J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Jul, 119(1), 211 - 5 Purification of a mucopolysacharidase from Bacteroides distasonis; Rudek W et al.; A mucopolysaccharidase derived from a pathogenic strain of Bacteroides distasonis was isolated and purified by fractionation with cold acetone and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, pH 8.0 . Three detectable enzyme activities from concentrated supernatant filtrates were obtained in a fraction precipitated by three volumes of cold acetone; these were DNAase, hyaluronidase and chondroitinase-like activity . Separation of the DNAase was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography . Fractions designated as purified mucopolysaccharidase contained both hyaluronidase and chondroitinase-like activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Jul, 18(1), 164 - 6 Beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Bacteroides species from children; Brook I et al.; Two hundred twenty-four isolates of Bacteroides sp . were recovered from recurrently inflamed tonsils, infected peritoneal fluid, abscesses, wounds, and burns of hospitalized children . Isolates were examined for beta-lactamase production by the chromogenic cephalosporin analog 87/312 methodology . Altogether, 119 isolates were beta-lactamase producers . Of these, 53 were in the B . fragilis group, 28 were in the B . melaninogenicus groups, 12 were B . oralis, 4 were B . ruminicola subsp . brevis, and 22 were Bacteroides sp . Of 28 beta-lactamase-producing strains of B . melaninogenicus, 25 were recovered from tonsils . These observations indicate that in pediatric patients there is a significant incidence of beta-lactamase producers among anaerobes other than B . fragilis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1980 Jul-Aug, 88(4), 327 - 31 Otic topical agents; Fairbanks DN; Ototopical preparations are available for the treatment of obstruction, dermatitis, pain, and infection of the ear canal and the mastoid and tympanic structures . Most preparations contain alcohol and some type of mild acid, both of which provide nonspecific antiseptic activity against fungi and bacteria . For bacterial infections the combination of neomycin and polymyxin offers the best therapeutic spectrum against common pathogens . Ototoxicity from topical use in man is a theoretic possibility but not a practical problem . Chloramphenicol (otic) is an alternative in infections caused by bacteroides, but not by the more common P aeruginosa . When otic preparations are too painful for application through a tympanic perforation, an ophthalmic preparation may be more acceptable. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Jul, 40(1), 40 - 7 Purification of glycoside hydrolases from Bacteroides fragilis; Berg JO et al.; Six glycoside hydrolases in the culture medium of Bacteroides fragilis--alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and alpha-L-fucosidase-were systematically purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration chromatography, and density gradient isoelectric focusing . The isoelectric focusing resolved the glycosidases into distinct, well-separated fractions and revealed three differently charged forms of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and of alpha-L-fucosidase . Furthermore, alpha-glucosidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase were shown to possess dual affinities for the respective galactoside substrates, and beta-galactosidase also hydrolyzed beta-D-fucoside . alpha-Glucosidase was purified to homogeneity, as indicated by a thin-layer isoelectric focusing zymogram technique . The glycosidases, with exception of beta-glucosidase and the acid alpha-L-fucosidase, were each separated from other glycosidic activities to 99% . The molecular weights varied between 58,000 and 125,000 . The pH optima ranged from 4.8 to 6.9. Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 1980 Jul-Aug, 18(1), 44 - 7 Susceptibility of abortion patients to infection: Correlation to cervical flora; Paavonen J et al.; Cervical bacterial microflora was studied with a semiquantitative method in 29 women both before and after the termination of their pregnancy . The main findings were high prevalence of anaerobic bacteria (in 72%-79% of the specimens) consisting predominantly of Bacteroides species and anaerobic Gram-positive cocci, and low prevalence of aerobic bacteria (in 24%-38% of the specimens) . Among the other microbes studied, the prevalence of Chlamydia excretors was high (24%), probably reflecting a promiscuous study population . Seventeen percent of the women developed febrile postabortion endometritis or salpingits . However, the cervical culture results predicted neither the patient prone to infection nor her response to antimicrobial treatment, suggesting the need for more data concerning the virulence properties of the bacteria, together with isolation of the organism from an infected site. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Jun, 17(6), 1001 - 3 Hydrolysis of Cefotaxime by a beta-lactamase from Bacteroides fragilis; Pechere JC et al.; A beta-lactamase isolated from a strain of Bacteroides fragilis subsp . fragilis possessed hydrolytic activity toward cefotaxime . This antibiotic was degraded to a lower extent than was cephalothin, cephaloridine, and cefamandole, whereas cefoxitin remained unaffected by the enzyme . Kinetic parameters Vmax and Km for cefotaxime were calculated at 0.172 mumol/min and 1.1 X 10(-2) mM, respectively. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 11(6), 682 - 6 Evaluation of Fluoretec-M for detection of oral strains of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and Bacteroides melaninogenicus; Mouton C et al.; Fluoretec-M is a polyvalent conjugate used in direct fluorescent-antibody staining for identification of the Bacteroides asaccharolyticus-Bacteroides melaninogenicus group . The Fluoretec-M reagent detected all oral and nonoral test strains of B . melaninogaenicus subsp . intermedius, all test strains of B . melaninogenicus subsp . melaninogenicus, and the nonoral strains of B . asaccharolyticus . However, the Fluoretec-M polyvalent reagent and the monovalent conjugates which constitute Fluoretec-M did not detect the oral strains B . asaccharolyticus . The use of Fluoretec-M can therefore generate false-negative results in studies of specimens from oral cavity and from nonoral sites in which an infection with B . asacacharolyticus of oral origin may have taken place . It is suggested that antibodies reactive with the oral antigenic type of B . asaccharolyticus be included in the preparative procedure of the Fluoretec-M reagent. Z Kinderchir Grenzgeb, 1980 May, 30(1), 16 - 9 {The syndrome of the fifth postoperative day after appendicectomy (author's transl)}; Berlien P et al.; 41 children were subjected to re-laparotomy because of obstruction after appendectomy . The causes were entero-colitis, occlusive ileus, rupture of the bowel and suture insufficiency . In this paper we report 6 children who had none of these complications . In these 6 children a "5-day syndrome" consisted usually of a fatal outcome with severe general peritonitis without a leakage of the appendix stump . Infection caused the endogenous spread of Bacteroides, following paralytic ileus and septicaemia . Early therapy with antibiotics and eventual re-laparotomy is then necessary. Postgrad Med J, 1980 May, 56(655), 351 - 3 Primary meningitis caused by Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium necrophorum; Islam AK et al.; A fatal case of meningitis due to Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium necrophorum is reported . This appears to be the first case in which meningitis due to these organisms was not secondary to a disease elsewhere in the body . The organisms are difficult to culture and strict anaerobic methods should be used whenever they are suspected . Intravenous metronidazole is probably the antibiotic of choice. Thorax, 1980 May, 35(5), 340 - 6 Characteristics and management of chronic destructive pneumonia; Cameron EW et al.; In 12 years 627 patients presented to Wentworth Hospital, Natal with chronic destructive pneumonia (CDP) . Common symptoms were haemoptysis, the production of foul-smelling sputum, and chest pain . The disease pursued a chronic course with acute exacerbations which may be lethal . The majority of patients were African men aged between 20 and 50 years who were free from other significant disease apart from dental infection . Radiographically and pathologically CDP had the characteristics of a necrotising pneumonia, and microbiological investigation showed mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora in the lower respiratory tract . Gram-positive aerobic cocci and Bacteroides species were the predominant organisms . In 120 patients treatment regimens were based on chloramphenicol, in 429 cephalosporins, and in 78 on combination therapy with cephalosporins, penicillin, and metronidazole . One hundred and seventy patients also required operative management in an attempt to control progress of the disease . The overall inpatient mortality rate from CDP was 7.8% . In the group of patients treated with combination therapy the mortality rate was 1.3%. Infect Immun, 1980 May, 28(2), 633 - 7 Participation of normal human immunoglobulins M, G, and A in opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Bjornson AB et al.; Restoration of the ability of hypogammaglobulinemic serum to support opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was achieved by supplementation with normal human immunoglobulin M, but not with normal human immunoglobulin G . Polymorphonuclear leukocyte bactericidal activity in the presence of immunoglobulin A-deficient human serum was equivalent to that observed in the presence of normal human serum. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 May, 11(5), 522 - 6 Characteristics of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus from dental plaques of beagle dogs; Syed SA; Gram-negative, non-saccharolytic, brown- or black-pigment-forming, nonmotile anaerboic coccobacilli, capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide and identified as Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (B . melaninogenicus subsp . asaccharolyticus), were isolated from the supra- and subgingival plaques of beagle dogs with gingivitis or periodontitis . The organisms remained viable for many hours in an aerobic atmosphere as evidenced by their ability to grow subsequently in an anaerobic environment . They also grew well on agar media that were not reduced before use . Although blood was required for pigmentation of colonies, organisms grew on media that lacked hemin, menadione, blood, or reducing compounds . Increased oxygen tolerance, catalase activity, and different nutritional requirements differentiate these organisms from strains of B . asaccharolyticus isolated from humans. Surgery, 1980 May, 87(5), 560 - 6 Systemic prophylaxis with metronidazole (Flagyl) in elective surgery of the colon and rectum; Bjerkeset T et al.; The effect of metronidazole prophylaxis in elective colonic and rectal surgery was studied in a prospective double-blind trial in which metronidazole was compared with a placebo . Fifty-six patients were included in the study, and the patients were randomly allocated to the two groups . Twenty-five patients received 2 gm of metronidazole the day before operation and 1.2 gm as a single daily dose for 5 days after operation . Twenty-one patients were given placebos in the same dosage . Before operation all patients were prepared with mechanical evacuation of the bowel . A significantly lower frequency of wound spesis, intraabdominal complications, and septicemia was found in the metronidazole group as compared to the placebo group . The incidence was 4.0% and 36%, respectively . Following protectomy, infection in the perineal area occurred in 33% and 43% of the respective groups . In the metronidazole-treated patients, however, this was the only complication, whereas 50% of the patients in the placebo group developed intraabdominal complications as well . After operation anaerobic bacteria were isolated from 8% of the patients who received prophylactic metronidazole . In the control group 67% of the patients had a positive postoperative anaerobic culture . Bacteroides fragilis was isolated from 13 of 14 patients with postoperative infection in the placebo group . B . fragilis was not isolated from any of the metronidazole-treated patients . The study indicates that anaerobic bacteria are the major contributors to would infection following colonic and rectal surgery and that metronidazole prophylaxis greatly reduces the frequency of postoperative infection. Obstet Gynecol, 1980 May, 55(5), 587 - 90 Bacteremia in post-Cesarean section endomyometritis: differential response to therapy; DiZerega GS et al.; Presented are blood culture results obtained from 200 patients with post-cesarean section endomyometritis treated with either penicillin-gentamicin or clindamycin-gentamicin . Their clinical course is correlated to their blood culture results by the fever index . Fifty-three percent of the 60 organisms isolated from 48 patients were anaerobic bacteria . Patients from whose blood cultures anaerobic bacteria were recovered had higher fever indexes than did those with aerobic isolates (P less than .05) . Clindamycin-gentamicin patients from whose blood cultures anaerobic organisms were isolated had less febrile morbidity than did comparable penicillin-gentamicin patients . Patients with Bacteroides fragilis bacteremia had the highest fever indexes overall . Therefore, patients with post-cesarean section endomyometritis have less febrile morbidity if they are initially treated with a drug effective against anaerobic bacteria, especially B fragilis. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 May