Bacteroides

J Hyg (Lond), 1978 Aug, 81(1), 89 - 97
The distribution of Bacteroides fragilis serotypes amongst clinical strains; Elhag KM et al.; Three hundred and twenty-two strains of Bacteroides fragilis isolated from infected patients at three different hospitals were tested against 20 type specific B . fragilis antisera using the tube agglutination technique . Of these strains 41.3% were assigned to a single O-serotype, a further 20.5% were agglutinated by several antisera and could not be classified and the remainder showed no reactions . Three different serotypes were prevalent in the three hospitals and minor geographical variation was observed . No correlation was found between serotypes and the origin of infection, but those from the blood were the most readily typable strains . No correlation was found between serotypes and biotypes of B . fragilis.

Ann Surg, 1978 Aug, 188(2), 249 - 54
Veterans Administration Cooperative Study on Bowel Preparation for Elective Colorectal Operations: impact of oral antibiotic regimen on colonic flora, wound irrigation cultures and bacteriology of septic complications; Bartlett JG et al.; A ten hospital cooperative study comparing prophylactic oral neomycin and erythromycin base versus placebo demonstrated clinical efficacy of the antibiotics in preventing septic complications following elective colon operations . The present report concerns microbiological studies accomplished during this trial . Cultures of colon contents during surgery showed the antibiotic prep reduced concentrations of both aerobes and anaerobes by approximately 10(5) bacteria/ml . Virtually all major bacterial components of the normal flora were affected . Wound irrigation specimens at the time of closure failed to predict subsequent wound infection, but significantly fewer antibiotic recipients had positive irrigation cultures . Postoperative stool specimens showed that the oral antibiotics did not cause an emergence in resistant forms . Bacteriological studies of postoperative infections indicated that most postoperative infections involved a mixed aerobic-anaerobic flora, and that Bacteroides fragilis accounted for six of eight episodes of bacteremia.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1978 Aug, 86(4), 229 - 36
Rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic factor generated in vivo by Bacteroides fragilis lipopolysaccharide . I . Isolation and physico-chemical characterization; Sveen K; By chromatographic separation on Sephadex gels a peptide, termed the lipopolysaccharide-induced chemotactic factor (LPS-CF), has been isolated from inflammatory exudate . The exudate was obtained from Teflon chambers implanted subcutaneously in rabbits 3 h after LPS from Bacteroides fragilis ss . fragilis had been injected . Three chemotactic peaks were eluted by fractionation of the exudate on Sephadex G-200 columns; one major peak with molecular weight of approximately 16,000 and two minor peaks with molecular weights of approximately 68,000 and 7,000 . Refiltration of the major peak on G-75 showed the same elution profile as that found on G-200 columns . By addition of 8 M urea to the elution fluid only the major and the low molecular weight peaks appeared . The molecular weight of the major chemotactic peak was calculated to 16,000 on Sephadex gels, and also using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and equilibrium centrifugation . The chemotactic factor was quite heat-stable and was also non-dialyzable, and freezing and thawing as well as storage at 4 degrees C for several weeks did not impede its activity . This chemotactic factor is probably identical to the cytotaxic fragment split off from C5 upon interaction with LPS.

Br J Surg, 1978 Aug, 65(8), 555 - 8
Influence of bowel preparation and antimicrobials on colonic microflora; Arabi Y et al.; The influence of three types of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation on colonic microflora has been studied in 88 patients undergoing elective bowel resection and compared with 21 controls . Neither conventional bowel preparation (CBP) using oral magnesium sulphate, enemas and rectal washouts nor whole bowel irrigation (WBI) via a nasogastric tube influenced the type or number of organisms in the colon at the time of operation . The administration of an elemental diet (ED) was associated with only a small reduction the numbers of Escherichia coli (P less than 0.02) . The addition of oral neomycin and metronidazole for 48 h before operation to all three methods of bowel preparation was associated with a highly significant reduction in the counts per ml of E . coli (P less than 0.001) and Bacteroides fragilis (P less than 0.001) in the colon . There was no correlation between the diameter of the lesion being resected with the numbers of bacteria in the colon even when oral neomycin and metronidazole were added to the bowel preparation.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1978 Aug, 86(4), 237 - 45
Rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic factor generated in vivo by Bacteroides fragilis lipopolysaccharide . II . Antigenic and biologic properties; Sveen K; Preparations of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotactic factor isolated from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory exudate in rabbits were immunogenic in guinea pigs . Complete fusion of the precipitation lines produced against anti-CF by LPS-CF (molecular weigth 16,000) and material eluted on Sephadex G-200 columns with molecular weights (MW) of 68,000, 16,000 and 7,000 was found . Also, the chemotactically active material with MW of 68,000 and 7,000 eluted on G-75 columns after fractionation of the fraction of MW 16,000 from the G-200 eluate was antigenically identical to LPS-CF in double diffusion in agar . Normal rabbit serum (NRS) incubated with LPS, LPS-induced wound chamber exudate and NRS alone gave lines of precipitation against the anti-LPS-CF sera identical to that of LPS-CF . The capacity of LPS-CF to attract PMNs was significantly higher than that of LPS, and a peak in the number of PMNs in the exudate of wound chambers implanted in rabbits was found 4 h after the local injection of LPS-CF . When injected intraperitoneally in C5 deficient mice, LPS-CF stimulated a PMN migration which was only slightly below that in C5 normal mice . Antisera to LPS-CF inhibited the chemotactic activity of LPS-CF as well as that of LPS-NRS when the supernatants were tested using the Boyden's technique . Also, preincubation of PMNs with LPS-CF suppressed the migration towards a chemotactic gradient of LPS-CF molecules of these PMNs.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Aug, 8(2), 123 - 6
Preparation of prereduced anaerobically sterilized media and their use in cultivation of anaerobic bacteria; Chan EC et al.; Several modifications of the roll-tube method have made it simpler for routine use in the isolation and growth of anaerobic bacteria . These include use of a check valve for the production of prereduced anaerobically sterilized media; a Salvarsan tube under oxygen-free gas pressure for the dispensing of molten prereduced anaerobically sterilized agar medium; a Kelly infusion bottle with a graduated pipette side arm (also under gas pressure) for quantitative delivery of fluid prereduced anaerobically sterilized media; and screw-capped prescription bottles for the cultivation of anaerobes . Colonies of Bacteroides melaninogenicus were easily identified and counted by this method . Other anaerobic bacteria have also been cultivated successfully.

Arch Surg, 1978 Jul, 113(7), 853 - 7
A review . Lessons from an animal model of intra-abdominal sepsis; Bartlett JG et al.; Intra-abdominal sepsis that involves multiple aerobic and anaerobic bacteria derived from the colonic flora was studied in Wistar rats to determine the relative roles of various microbial species . The rats challenged with pooled colonic contents showed a biphasic disease . Initially, there was acute peritonitis, Escherichia coli bacteremia, and high mortality . In rats that survived this acute peritonitis stage, intra-abdominal abscesses developed, and anaerobic bacteria were the preponderant organisms . Subsequent experiments showed that antibiotics directed against coliforms prevented mortality, whereas agents active against anaerobes reduced the incidence of abscesses . Challenges with Escherichia coli alone produced bacteremia and death, whereas pure cultures of Bacteroides fragilis caused intra-abdominal abscesses . These observations suggest that both coliforms and anaerobes are important pathogens in intra-abdominal sepsis, although the different types of microbes appear to play distinctive roles in the sequence of pathological events.

Obstet Gynecol, 1978 Jul, 52(1 Suppl), 68S - 69S
Postpartum cytomegalovirus infection . A hazard of multiple transfusions; Bryan CS et al.; A patient whose postpartum course included the defibrination syndrome and Bacteroides septicemia developed recurrent high fever . Cytomegalovirus infection was suspected on the basis of the clinical features and a history of massive blood transfusion, and was confirmed by subsequent observations . Recognition of this disease and its typically benign course averts the need for extensive diagnostic procedures, exploration, and empiric drug therapy trials.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Jul, 138(1), 74 - 80
Quantitative determination of the serum antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis in women with pelvic inflammatory disease; Kasper DL et al.; The antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis in women with acute pelvic inflammatory disease was quantitated using a sensitive radioactive antigen-binding assay . Antibody detected by this technique correlated highly with antibody measured by quantitative precipitin analysis (r = 0.99) . Paired acute- and convalescent-phase sera obtained from women from whom B . fragilis subspecies fragilis was isolated by culdocentesis showed significantly greater changes in antibody concentration than corresponding sera obtained from women with gonococcal or nongonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease when B . fragilis subspecies fragilis was not isolated from the cul-de-sac . These data indicate that the steady state of immunity to this capsular antigen is perturbed in patients with acute nongonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease from whom this organism can be cultured . This finding may indicate that B . fragilis can play a significant role in acute pelvic inflammatory disease and can be involved early in the infectious process.

Nouv Presse Med, 1978 Jun 10, 7(23), 2045 - 8
{Bacteroides fragilis bacteremias: clinical and evolutive features about 33 cases (author's transl)}; Cadoz M et al.; The frequency of non soil dwelling anaerobic infections is increasing . The authors report 33 cases of Bacteroides fragilis bacteremias, and study the responsabilities of different factors of prognosis (especially age and underlying conditions) . Nitroimidazoles are very active against all Bacteroides fragilis . This therapy is the drug of choice for such infections.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 Jun, 106 Pt 2, 353 - 60
Origins of fermentation products formed during growth of Bacteroides ruminicola on glucose; Mountfort DO et al.; Bacteriodes ruminicola grown on complex medium with glucose as carbon source gave acetate, CO2, formate and succinate as main fermentation products . No evidence was found for significant glucose catabolism by pathways other than the Embden-Meyerhof sequence . However, {U-14C}glucose fermentation gave products whose specific radioactivities were much lower than expected . There appear to be two main causes . Firstly, a rapid exchange occurred between metabolic intermediates and CO2, probably due to reversibility of the pathway between phosphoenolpyruvate and fumarate . Secondly, non-glucose precursors, mainly peptides and acetate, added to the medium as growth factors, also gave rise to the above end-products . The distortions that such reactions introduce into measurements of ATP molar growth yields based on product analyses and measurements of carbon flux based on radioactivity recovered in products are discussed.

J Hyg (Lond), 1978 Jun, 80(3), 439 - 49
A study of the surface and somatic antigens of Bacteroides fragilis; Elhag KM et al.; Antisera against live cultures of 20 strains of Bacteroides fragilis produced in rabbits agglutinated homologous whole-cell as well as O-antigen suspensions with several cross-reactions . Pure specific antisera were produced by absorbing cross-reacting antigens . O-antisera reacted against O-antigens but failed to do so against most whole-cell suspensions, suggesting the presence of surface structures which might have blocked the reactions . The titres of the whole-cell antisera were not significantly higher than those of O-antisera, but the reactions were more definite and easier to read . This system may prove useful in serological studies of B . fragilis.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Jun, 35(6), 1166 - 73
Adhesion of Bacteroides succinogenes in pure culture and in the presence of Ruminococcus flavefaciens to cell walls in leaves of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne); Latham MJ et al.; Bacteroides succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens are two of the most important cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen . Adhesion of B . succinogenes in pure culture, and in mixed culture with R . flavefaciens, to the various types of cell walls in sections of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L . cultivar S24) leaves was examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy . B . succinogenes adhered to the cut edges of most plant cell walls except those of the meta- and protoxylem . It also adhered, though in much smaller numbers, to the uncut surfaces of mesophyll, epidermal, and phloem cell walls . In mixed culture, both species adhered in significant numbers to the cut edges of most types of plant cell wall, but R . flavefaciens predominated on the epidermis, phloem, and sclerenchyma cell walls . B . succinogenes predominated on the cut edges and on the uncut surfaces of the mesophyll cell walls, and its ability to adhere to uncut surfaces of other cell walls was not affected by the presence of the ruminococcus . Both organisms rapidly digested the epidermal, mesophyll, and phloem cell walls . Zones of digestion were observed around bacteria of both species when attached to the lignified cell walls of the sclerenchyma, but not when attached to the lignified xylem vessels.

J Hyg (Lond), 1978 Jun, 80(3), 385 - 9
Counts on viable Bacteroides fragilis: a modification of the microdroplet technique; Kelly MJ; A modification of Sharpe's microdroplet counting technique is presented which permits viable counting of Bacteroides fragilis . Lysed horse blood was added to 0.1 soy digest agar droplets and 2% was found to be the optimal concentration which combined adequate intradroplet colony size with acceptable visibility on the counting screen of the Colworth Droplette machine.

Arch Microbiol, 1978 May 30, 117(2), 145 - 52
The pathway of formation of acetate and succinate from pyruvate by Bacteroides succinogenes; Miller TL; Bacteroides succinogenes produces acetate and succinate as major products of carbohydrate fermentation . An investigation of the enzymes involved indicated that pyruvate is oxidized by a flavin-dependent pyruvate cleavage enzyme to acetyl-CoA and CO2 . Active CO2 exchange is associated with the pyruvate oxidation system . Reduction of flavin nucleotides is CoASH-dependent and does not require ferredoxin . Acetyl-CoA is further metabolized via acetyl phosphate to acetate and ATP . Reduced flavin nucleotide is used to reduce fumarate to succinate by a particulate flavin-specific fumarate reductase reaction which may involve cytochrome b . Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) is carboxylated to oxalacetate by a GDP- specific PEP carboxykinase . Oxalacetate, in turn, is converted to malate by a pyridine nucleotide-dependent malate dehydrogenase . The organism has a NAD-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase . The data suggest that reduced pyridine nucleotides generated during glycolysis are oxidized in malate formation and that the electrons generated during pyruvate oxidation are used to reduce fumarate to succinate.

Res Vet Sci, 1978 May, 24(3), 300 - 4
The occurrence, prevalence and transmission of Bacteroides nodosus infection in cattle; Laing EA et al.; Following reports of findings of ovine foot-rot flora in the feet of cattle, a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Bacteroides nodosus infection in the apparently normal cattle population . We found that 34.5 to 74.2 per cent of the animals examined on different farms had B nodosus present in one or more feet . B nodosus was not the most prevalent bacterium observed in smears from cattle . Other Gram negative species including Fusiformis necrophorus and many Gram positive cocci and coccobacilli were also present . Macroscopic lesions in the interdigital skin characterised by erosion and hyperkeratosis were usually associated with the occurrence of B nodosus . B nodosus isolated from cattle induced mild interdigital dermatitis in experimental cattle and sheep and the infection was transmitted to recipient cattle and sheep under field conditions . Virulent foot-rot of sheep was not transmitted to recipient cattle in conditions where the disease spread to susceptible sheep.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 May, 35(5), 841 - 6
Enumeration and isolation of anaerobic microbiota of piggery wastes; Spoelstra SF; Media for enumeration of the microbiota of anaerobically stored piggery wastes were tested . Highest colony counts were obtained with 80 to 100% farm slurry supernatant included in the anaerobic roll tube media . Colony counts with these media numbered 2 X 10(9) to 12 X 10(9)/g (wet weight), which represents about 20% of the microscopic counts . Lower percentages of slurry supernatant in the media gave lower colony counts . Addition of glucose, cellobiose, and starch or of Trypticase to media with 20% slurry supernatant did not increase colony counts . Higher values were obtained when hemicellulose preparations were added to these media . Incubation at 25 degrees C gave the highest numbers . Incubation at 15 to 37 degrees C gave counts of about 70 and 10%, respectively, of those at 25 degrees C . Of the colonies picked for isolation, about 20% were obtained in pure culture . The isolates apparently belonged to the genera Peptococcus, Ruminococcus, Peptococcus, Ruminococcus, Pepostreptococcus, and Bacteroides.

Res Vet Sci, 1978 May, 24(3), 293 - 9
Studies on the antigenic structure of Bacteroides nodosus; Stewart DJ; The antigenic mosaics of three Bacteroides nodosus isolates (198, 199 and 127) were studied to elucidate the nature of the protective immunogen . In vaccinated sheep the three isolates induced high homologous serum agglutinin titres but it was also apparent that 198 and 199 shared a major surface antigen not present on 217 . This major cross-reacting antigen was not detected with rabbit antisera . The fimbriae, consisting predominantly of protein, induced high homologous titres in rabbits and represented the type-specific antigen . Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from each of the isolates induced low agglutinin titres and high 2-mercaptoethanol-sensitive indirect haemagglutinating antibody titres . The heat-stable LPS contained at least two common carbohydrate O antigen determinants but no type-specific O antigens were detected.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 May, 11(2), 203 - 7
A method for the isolation of Bacteroides melaninogenicus from the human mouth; Holbrook WP et al.; Isolation procedures involving the direct plating of specimens and the use of selective, non-selective, transport and enrichment media were compared in respect of their value for the recovery of Bacteroides melaninogenicus from the gingival sulcus . A selective medium containing kanamycin and vancomycin enhanced the recovery rate of B . melaninogenicus . VMGII transport medium was convenient to use and gave as good a recovery rate as that obtained with plates directly inoculated in the clinic.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1978 Apr, 86(2), 93 - 100
The importance of C5 and the role of the alternative complement pathway in leukocyte chemotaxis induced in vivo and in vitro by Bacteroides fragilis lipopolysaccharide; Sveen K; Chambers implanted subcutaneously in C5 normal (C5 N) and C5 deficient (C5 D) mice were used to examine the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the wound chamber fluid in response to injected Bacteroides fragilis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . The difference in PMN migration was highly significant between the two mouse strains, the C5 D mice showing no initial, but a low, delayed migration . The results from the study indicated that chemotaxis plays a major role in the accumulation of PMNs in the acute inflammatory response . Intraperitoneal endotoxin stimulation also showed a significantly lower total number of leukocytes in the exudate from C5 D mice as well as a delayed migration of cells compared to C5 N mice . No leukotactic mediators were elaborated in C5 D serum or exudate upon incubation with LPS when tested in a modified Boyden chamber . However, endotoxin-induced wound chamber fluid in C5 D mice showed an increasing leukotactic activity at the same time as the acute inflammatory response subsided in C5 N mice . Incubation of B . fragilis LPS in C4 deficient (C4 D) guinea pig serum indicated that the LPS was able to activate complement components to generated split products chemotacic for rabbit PMNs via the alternative complement pathway.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Apr, 137(4), 437 - 42
Inactivation of penicillin G during experimental infection with Bacteroides fragilis; O'Keefe JP et al.; An animal model implanted with intraperitoneal plastic reservoirs was used for study of the penetration of penicillin G into sites infected with Bacteroides fragilis . Penicillin G was given to rabbits, and its concentration in uninfected reservoirs and in those infected with B . fragilis was determined . The mean percentage penetration ({concentration in capsule divided by peak concentration in serum} X 100) of penicillin into uninfected capsules was 19.9%, whereas that into heavily infected capsules was 1.5% . The percentage penetration of radiolabeled penicillin into infected capsules was 12.5%, whereas the proportion of bioactive drug in the same capsules was again very low (1%) . These results show that there is a modest reduction in penetration of penicillin into infected sites and a striking inactivation of the drug by B . fragilis in this experimental model.

Biomedicine, 1978 Apr, 29(2), 61 - 3
The bacteriology of cavitating pulmonary infections and empysema . Studies of transtracheal aspirates and pleural fluid; Petit JC et al.; A prospective study of bacteriology in 14 cases of cavitating pulmonary infections and empyema is reported . Bacteriologic results were based on transtracheal aspirates or pleural fluid . Appropriate anaerobic bacteriologic methods were employed . Anaerobic bacteria were recovered in 11 patients (79%); they were the only pathogens isolated in 6 patients . The predominant species were Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Bacteroides fragilis and Peptostreptococcus . Aerobic bacteria were present in 7 patients . The results indicate that anaerobes play a key role in most cases of cavitating pulmonary infections and empyema, and that proper culture of adequat specimens will generally establish the bacteriological diagnosis.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Mar, 24(3), 336 - 8
Breakdown of psyllium hydrocolloid by strains of Bacterioides ovatus from the human intestinal tract; Salyers AA et al.; Strains of Bacteroides ovatus from human feces produced extracellular enzymes which degraded psyllium hydrocolloid . Other species of saccharolytic bacteria which are found in high concentrations in human feces did not degrade psyllium.

Infect Immun, 1978 Mar, 19(3), 1088 - 91
Encapsulation of Bacteroides species; Babb JL et al.; Capsules were detected by the India ink method in cultures of Bacteroides fragilis, B . vulgatus, B . thetaiotaomicron, and B . ovatus . No capsules were found in the five strains of B . distasonis examined.

Infect Immun, 1978 Mar, 19(3), 1083 - 7
Adherence of Bacteroides fragilis in vivo; Onderdonk AB et al.; The ability of the encapsulated species Bacteroides fragilis to adhere to rat peritoneal mesothelium was compared to the adherence of unecapsulated strains of Bacteroides (B . distasonis, B . vulgatus, B . thetaiotaomicron, B . ovatus, and B . "other") . Adherence was assayed by attaching plexiglas plates containing 8-mm holes to the peritoneal mesothelium of anesthetized rats . Cell suspension (0.25 ml) was incubated in each well, after which the suspension was aspirated, and a 4-mm punch biopsy was removed . Viable organisms adhering to the biopsy specimen were enumerated by plate count following washing of the biopsy tissue . It was found that B . fragilis adhered significantly better to mesothelial tissue (10(3.00) colony-forming units per biopsy) than unencapsulated species of Bacteroides (10(1.07) colony-forming units per biopsy) . This effect was not due to differential oxygen sensitivity of the various inocula . Immunization of rats with capsular polysaccharide did not demonstrate decrease in the adherence of B . fragilis; however, preincubation of the mesothelium with purified capsular polysaccharide resulted in a substantial reduction in adherence . These results indicate that B . fragilis adheres to rat peritoneal mesothelium better than unencapsulated species and suggests that the capsular polysaccharide of B . fragilis plays some role in this increased adherence.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1978 Mar, 13(3), 373 - 82
Purification and properties of beta-lactamase from Bacteroides fragilis; Britz ML et al.; Beta-Lactamase activity was detected either biologically or using the chromogenic cephalosporin 87/312 in 20 clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis with penicillin G minimal inhibitory concentrations of 10 to 100 micrograms/ml . Strain AM78 (minimal inhibitory concentration, greater than 1,000 micrograms/ml) was used to optimize the conditions for production, assay, and storage of the enzyme . The enzymes are cell associated, with less than 1% of activity being found in culture fluids during growth, and can be released from the cell surface by modified osmotic shock procedure . This procedure causes concomitant release of cyclic phosphodiesterase activity . Substrate profiles and the effects of inhibitors were determined for enzymes partially purified by osmotic shock release and gel filtration . The enzymes are cephalosporinases with some penicillinase activity and are inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, cloxacillin, and carbenicillin . The molecular weight, as determined by gel filtration, is 29,000 to 31,000 . A method for the purification of the beta-lactamase from strain AM78 is described: the specific activity of the purified enzyme was 3,424 U/mg, about 3,000-fold that of the crude, cell-associated enzyme.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Mar, 35(3), 558 - 62
Reduction of azo dyes by intestinal anaerobes; Chung KT et al.; Reduction of seven azo dyes (amaranth, Ponceau SX, Allura Red, Sunset Yellow, tartrazine, Orange II, and methyl orange) was carried out by cell suspensions of predominant intestinal anaerobes . It was optimal at pH 7.4 in 0.4 M phosphate buffer and inhibited by glucose . Flavin mononucleotide caused a marked enhancement of azo reduction by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron . Other electron carriers, e.g., methyl viologen, benzyl viologen, phenosafranin, neutral red, crystal violet, flavin adenine dinucleotide, menadione, and Janus Green B can replace flavin mononucleotide . These data suggest that an extracellular shuttle is required for azo reduction.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1978 Feb 15, 172(4), 468 - 71
Swine dysentery: studies of gnotobiotic pigs inoculated with Treponema hyodysenteriae, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Fusobacterium necrophorum; Harris DL et al.; Transmission experiments were carried out in gnotobiotic pigs to determine whether lesions typical of swine dysentery could be produced by oral inoculation of Treponema hyodysenteriae in combination with Bacteroides vulgatus or Fusobacterium necrophorum, or both . Each of the organisms had been isolated from swine with early lesions of the disease . Lesions were not found in 6 pigs inoculated with T hyodysenteriae alone, in 4 pigs given F necrophorum and T hyodysenteriae, or in 4 pigs given B vulgatus and F necrophorum . Lesions typical of swine dysentery developed in 8 pigs given B vulgatus, F necrophorum, and T hyodysenteriae as well as in 3 of 4 pigs given B vulgatus and T hyodysenteriae . In both of these groups, the inoculated bacteria were recovered from the colon, and T hyodysenteriae was demonstrated in the colonic crypts, epithelium, and lamina propria . The pathogenicity of the T hyodysenteriae was shown by the development of characteristic signs and lesions of swine dysentery in 12 of 14 naturally farrowed pigs inoculated with T hyodysenteriae alone.

Acta Orthop Scand, 1978 Feb, 49(1), 98 - 101
A case of septic arthritis in multiple joints due to Bacteroides fragilis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis; Ryeen AC et al.; A case of arthritis in multiple joints due to B . fragilis ssp . fragilis is described . The patient was a 55-year-old man badly disabled by rheumatoid arthritis . The patient's immune response to the isolated strain was studied and a significant titre reduction during the course of the disease was observed . The serum antibodies of the patient cross-reacted with heterologous strains of B . fragilis ssp . fragilis . It is suggested that indirect immunofluorescence tests against a certain number of B . fragilis strains could be performed with serum from a patient in whom an infection with B . fragilis is suspected.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 35(2), 439 - 43
Colonial variation, capsule formation, and bacteriophage resistance in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; Burt S et al.; A Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron strain segregated two unstable colonial variants at high frequency . There is a correlation between colony morphology, encapsulation, Giemsa staining, and bacteriophage resistance.

Bull N Y Acad Med, 1978 Feb, 54(2), 196 - 204
Tetracyclines in gynecologic infections; Ledger WJ; PIP: The use of tetracyclines in salpingitis and in postsurgical gynecological infections is outlined . Unless the patient is allergic, the drug of choice in gonococcal salpingitis is penicillin or a derivative . However, a study of outpatients with gonococcal salpingitis showed that a majority of 197 women studied became asymptomatic 5 days after starting tetracycline treatment . In nongonococcal acute salpingitis, evidence is good that both aerobic and anaerobic organisms are usually involved, especially Chlamydia and Bacteroides fragilis . Penicillin must be infused intravenously in large doses to effect eradication, but the newer tetracycline analogs are effective in a majority of patients . The following dose schedule for the analogs is recommended: intravenous doxycycline, a loading dose of 200 mg is administered slowly over several hours followed by 100 mg every 12 hours until the patient has been afebrile for 24-36 hours, then switch to oral forms . For postoperative infections, doxycycline is effective in treatment . In a comparative study of doxycycline and cephalothin, patients suffering intraabdominal contamination by gastrointestinal contents from perforation were divided in half; half were treated with the tetracycline analog and 74% responded; the other half were treated with the cephalothin and response was 57% .

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 35(2), 269 - 73
Formation of glycosidases in batch and continuous culture of Bacteroides fragilis; Berg JO et al.; Nine strains of bacteroides fragilis were cultivated in stirred fermentors and tested for their ability to produce glycosidases . B . fragilis subsp . vulgatus B70 was used for optimizing the production of glycosidases . The highest bacterial yield was obtained in proteose peptone-yeast extract medium . The optimum pH for maximal bacterial yield was 7.0, and the optimum temperature for growth was 37 degrees C . The formation of glycosidases was optimal between pH 6.5 and 7.5, and the optimum temperature for synthesis of glycosidases was between 33 and 37 degrees C . Culture under controlled conditions in fermentors gave more reproducible production of glycosidases than static cultures in bottles . The strain was also grown in continuous culture at a dilution rate of 0.1 liter/h at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C with a yield of 2.0 mg of dry weight per ml in the complex medium . The formation of glycosidases remained constant during the entire continuous process.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Jan, 24(1), 36 - 44
Some effects of arsenic on the rumen microflora; an in vitro study; Forsberg CW; The rate of fermentation of the rumen microflora was inhibited almost 30% by 5 micrograms/ml of arsenic added in the form of arsenite, although 304 micrograms/ml was required to cause 50% inhibition . Arsenate was less inhibitory . The rate of fermentation of a separated bacterial fraction was inhibited 37% by 1 microgram of arsenite per millilitre, whereas 100 micrograms/ml had little effect on the fermentation of a separated protozoal fraction . Similar results were obtained for arsenate . Both fractions had the capacity to take up arsenate, but the protozoa took it up more readily to a higher intracellular concentration . Both arsenate and arsenite inhibited the growth of a number of rumen bacteria in pure culture at concentrations as low as 5 micrograms of arsenic per millilitre . The greater resistance of Megasphaera elsdenii to arsenate as compared with that of Bacteroides succinogenes was not related to the inability to take up the element . In conclusion, the concentrations of arsenic causing a significant inhibitory effect on the fermentative activity and growth of some rumen bacteria are less than that reported to be toxic to ruminant animals.

Infection, 1978, 6(6), 266 - 70
Anaerobic bacteria: evaluation of disc susceptibility to four cephalosporins; Dubois J et al.; The disc diffusion technique was evaluated with 178 strains of anaerobes and four cephalosporins (cephalothin, cefamandole, cefazolin and cefoxitin) . Good correlation in results was found in comparison with the agar dilution technique (p less than 0.001) with the exception of cefamandole and cefazolin against anaerobic cocci (p greater than 0.05) . Choosing a breakpoint of 8 microgram/ml for distinguishing susceptible and resistant strains, we determined corresponding incubation, the rate of error is less than 1% for false susceptible and less than 5% for false resistant . However, some strains of anaerobic cocci required a 48 hour incubation period for allowing visible growth . Moreover, a great deal (60.5%) of overlapping zone diameters made interpretation of disc diffusion test difficult among Bacteroides fragilis strains classed as susceptible, intermediate and resistant occuring with cefoxitin . The results have shown that the cephalothin disk will not accurately predict susceptibility of B . fragilis to cefoxitin.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1978, 10(2), 152 - 4
Metronidazole treatment of liver abscess due to bacteroides fragilis; Back E et al.; A 67-year-old woman with a liver abscess due to Bacteroides fragilis was treated with metronidazole 0.4 g orally every 8 h for 6 weeks . There was a rapid clinical improvement even though no surgical drainage was performed . By the indirect immunofluorescence technique using the patient's own strain as an antigen the antibody titer declined from 5120 to 80 in 6 months, suggesting eradication of the infecting agent.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1978, 44(1), 1 - 14
Quantitative gas chromatography of Bacteroides species under different growth conditions; Lindner JG et al.; From 56 strains of strictly anaerobic gram-negative rods isolated from stool and purulent lesions the fermentation products in the presence and absence of hemin were determined by quantitative gas-solid chromatography, using a simple and more rapid chromatographic procedure . With hemin the fermentation products were propionic, acetic, lactin and succinic acid . Without hemin no or little succinic acid was formed and the main products were lactic and acetic acid . In both groups the distribution of subspecies was determined and the production of fatty acids measured quantitatively . Fourteen strains of the lesion group showed a higher metabolic activity, resulting in an increased total acid production caused by an excessive production of acetic and lactic acid . This characteristic is probably a virulence factor in these strains . All strains were protoporphyrin- and oxgall-dependent . It is postulated that these substances are used for the production of cytochromes which permits the formation of succinic acid by a fumarate reductase resulting in an increased growth rate and growth yield.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1978, 100(5), 294 - 302
{Clinical significance of common anaerobes in pyogenic infections of the female genitalia}; Brockmann J et al.; From 1972-1977 one hundred and fouteen pyogenic infections of gynaecologic and obstetric patients at UFK Halle had retrospectively been examined . 168 isolations were analysed . By improving the methods of taking away, transporting and bacteriologic cultivation the specimens anaerobic organisms were recovered in 67.3% of all positive results . The pathogenic importance of them is being emphasized by 30,8% of anaerobic monoinfections . The difficult culture of these microogranisms requires a close cooperation between hospital and the place of research . In the treatment surgical operative measures often are preferred to use of chemotherapeutica because of the latter is characterized by a distinctive resistance against numerous antibiotica . This is especially characteristics of Genus Bacteroides besides E . coli the most isolated organism of all.

Res Vet Sci, 1978 Jan, 24(1), 14 - 9
The role of various antigenic fractions of Bacteroides nodosus in eliciting protection against foot-rot in vaccinated sheep; Stewart DJ; Sheep were vaccinated against foot-rot with various antigenic extracts of Bacteroides nodosus and challenged to assess their resistance . The protective immunogen was shown to be a heat-labile, high molecular weight surface antigen which was removed by ultrafiltration and was either identical to or closely associated with the fimbriae of the organism . Resistance appeared to be associated with the presence of a single high molecular precipitinogen distinct from the 0 antigen . Agglutinating antibodies to the surface antigen in immunised sheep were predominantly IgG1 whereas the 0 antigen induced predominantly IgM indirect haemagglutinating antibodies . Reactions at vaccination sites were less marked to the surface antigen than to the 0 antigen.

Infect Immun, 1978 Jan, 19(1), 265 - 71
Immunoelectron microscopic localization of lipopolysaccharides in the cell wall of Bacteroides oralis and Fusobacterium nucleatum; Dahlen G et al.; Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been extracted and purified from two anaerobic gram-negative bacteria: Bacteroides oralis and tfusobacterium nucleatum . Chemical analysis of the preparations showed a great proportion of neutral sugars, mainly glucose, in LPS of B . oralis . In rabbits, LPS of B . oralis induced both immunoglobulin M and G antibodies in contrast to LPS of F . nucleatum, to which only immunoglobulin M antibodies were produced . An immunohistochemical method with horseradish peroxidase-labeled antibodies was used to localize LPS antigens at the ultrastructural level . An electron-dense reaction product, representing an immune complex consisting of bacterial surface antigens and specific rabbit immunoglobulin labeled with peroxidase, was surrounding the cell wall, whereas appropriate controls were negative . The findings of the present study show that LPS of Bacteroides are probably bound to a complex, including glucans, in the outer membrane of the cell wall . LPS of Fusobacterium resemble LPS of other gram-negative bacteria.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1978, 10(3), 213 - 8
Antibody response in thirteen patients with Bacteroides fragilis infections; Schwan A et al.; 13 patients with Bacteroides fragilis infections were studied for antibody response against the infecting strain using indirect immunofluorescence (IFL), passive hemagglutination (HA) and tube agglutination (TA) . With indirect IFL significant titre changes in IgG were found in 12/13 cases, in IgA in 8/13 and in IgM in 4/13 cases . With passive HA significant titre changes were found in 11/13 cases and with TA in 6/11 cases . The rise in antibody titre was fast and persisted for a long time in most cases . Of the methods used the indirect IFL was the most convenient for clinical use.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1978, (13), 83 - 7
Newer cephalosporins and cephamycins--a review; Norrby R; Since the introduction of cephalothin and cephaloridine as the first parenteral cephalosporins and cephalexin as the first member of the group which is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, several new cephalosporin derivatives have been developed . Most of these have no major advantages over cephalothin, cephaloridine or cephalexin . Increased knowledge about the importance of beta-lactamases for bacterial resistance against beta-lactam antibiotics has focused interest on development of drugs with increased resistance to degradation by these enzymes . Among the caphalosporins, cefamandole and cefuroxime have been found to be markedly more active against beta-lactamase producing Gram-negative bacteria . A new group of beta-lactam antibiotics, the cephamycins, have been introduced with cefoxitin as the first clinically useful member . Cefoxitin has the spectrum of a beta-lactamase-resistant cephalosporin and is also active against Bacteroides fragilis . The review concentrates on the antibacterial spectrum of these three new antibiotics and on their clinical efficacy.

Poult Sci, 1978 Jan, 57(1), 85 - 9
Effects of anaerobic bacteria on Eimeria tenella infection in bacteria-free, monofloral, and conventional chickens; Dykstra DD et al.; Bacteria-free, monofloral, and conventional chicks were infected with Eimeria tenella . Monofloral chicks were established by inoculating birds in several gnotobiotic isolators with a single species of Escherichia coli or with one of three Bacteroides sp . isolates (No . 157, No . 202, or No . 366) . Daily weights of individual birds were recorded for six days post-infection (PI) . On Day 6 PI all birds were sacrificed and cecal lesions were scored . Conventional, infected birds lost weight on days 5 and 6 PI and showed severe lesions . Birds maintained as monofloral groups with isolates of Bacteroides sp . No . 157, No . 202 or E . coli showed equally severe lesions, but lost weight only on day 6 PI . Conventional, uninfected birds with no lesions, birds infected with Bacteroides sp . isolate No . 366 with mild lesions, and bacteria-free birds with mild to severe coccidial lesions all continued to gain weight on each day post-infection.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1978 Jan, 69(1), 36 - 40
A reliable test for differentiation and presumptive identification of certain clinically significant anaerobes; Hansen SL et al.; A modification of the slide catalase test was evaluated to determine its reliability for the presumptive identification of certain anaerobic gram-negative and gram-positive organisms isolated from clinical specimens . A total of 650 fresh isolates was evaluated . Growth from a trypticase blood agar plate or Schaedler's agar with laked blood was transferred to a slide and a drop of 15% H2O2 with Tween 80 added . Veillonella alcalescens, Proprionibacterium species, Peptococcus species, and Bacteroides fragilis, B . thetaiotaomicron, B . distasonis, B . ovatus, and B . vulgatus were positive by this method . Comparative slide and tube catalase tests were performed with the above-mentioned bacteroides species by growing each isolate on trypticase soy agar, Brucella agar, brain-heart infusion agar, each with and without added hemin, and on Schaedler's agar . Four solutions of H2O2 were used, 3 and 15%, and 3 and 15% with Tween 80 . The addition of Tween 80 to H2O2 increased the sensitivity of the reaction with both slide and tube methods . The 15% H2O2 with Tween 80 consistently gave the most rapid and persistent positive reaction . A slide catalase test in combination with a Gram stain should be performed on each anaerobic isolate; this would significantly decrease the time required for presumptive identification of many anaerobic organisms.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978, 242(3), 419 - 21
Comparison of Fusobacterium sp . versus Bacteroides sp . in the monoxenic cultivation of E . histolytica; Scheff GJ; By means of the performed studies it was established that 6 Fusobacteria strains enhanced the growth of E . histolytica while 4 Bacteroides strains did not possess this property.

Vox Sang, 1978, 35(6), 370 - 4
Tk polyagglutination associated with reduced A and H activity; Inglis G et al.; Tk polyagglutinable erythrocytes are described in which A and H activities were reduced . It is suggested that Bacteroides fragilis isolated from cultures of the patient's blood was responsible for each of these membrane modifications.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Jan, 240(1), 106 - 11
The nature of clotting and fibrinolytic activities of Bacteroids melaninogenicus; Wegrzynowicz Z et al.; From the supernatant of B . melaninogenicus ss . asaccharolyticus culture, a protein fraction was isolated by ethanol precipitation . The fraction was tested for the presence of clotting and fibrinolytic activities by application of quantitative techniques and specific substrates for measurement of prothrombin and plasminogen activation, and collagenase and elastase activity . It is postulated that ability of Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss . asaccharolyticus extracellular factors to clot fibrinogen and activate plasminogen, are due to a limited proteolysis by the proteolytic enzymes produced by this microorganism and not to the existence of specific B . melaninogenicus coagulase of plasminogen activator.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Dec, 6(6), 567 - 70
Effect of temperature on survival of Bacteroides fragilis subsp . fragilis and Escherichia coli in pus; Hagen JC et al.; Approximately 40 to 60% of Bacteroides fragilis subsp . fragilis in pus from experimental intra-abdominal abscesses lost their viability within 24 h when stored at refrigeration temperature (4 degrees C) either aerobically or anaerobically . No viability loss of B . fragilis was noted when pus was stored at 25 degrees C . Only slight loss of viaability of B . fragilis was observed at 15 degrees C . Escherichia coli coexisting in pus with B . fragilis increased several 100fold in 24 h when stored at 25 degrees C, but no significant growth occurred when they were kept at 15 degrees C . Approximately 20 to 40% of E . coli lost their viability when such pus was stored at 4 degrees C . We suggest that 15 degrees C may be an alternative temperature for storage of anaerobic specimens in laboratories where some delay in routine processing is unavoidable.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Dec, 136(6), 789 - 95
Quantitative determination of the antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis in an animal model of intraabdominal abscess formation; Kasper DL et al.; The humoral antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis was quantitated in an animal model of intraabdominal abscess formation using a sensitive quantitative radioactive antigen-binding assay . Antibody detected by this technique correlated highly with antibody measured by quantitative precipitin analysis (r = 0.943) . Animals infected with encapsulated B . fragilis develop high levels of circulating serum antibody to the capsular polysaccharide . This antibody can be induced by implantation of live organisms, heat-killed organisms, heterologous strains of B . fragilis, and various outer membrane components that contain the capsular antigen . The immunogenicity of the capsular polysaccharide could be enhanced when administered as part of the outer membrane or when not separated from outer membrane proteins . Evidence of an antibody response to this capsular polysaccharide offers support for the demonstrated pathogenic potential of encapsulated B . fragilis.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Dec, 239(4), 510 - 3
Clotting and fibrinolytic activities of Bacteroides melaninogenicus; Pulverer G et al.; 106 strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss . asaccharolyticus, intermedius and melaninogenicus were tested for production of extracellular blood clotting and fibrinolytic factors . 78.3% of tested strains caused clotting of rabbit plasma and 79.2% activated human plasminogen . Strains producing the clotting or fibrinolytic factor only were isolated . Both factors were quite active, as positive results for most strains were detected within one hour of incubation in controlled test system.

Ann Surg, 1977 Nov, 186(5), 559 - 63
Bacteroides bacteremia; Lawrence PF et al.; When appropriate culture techniques are employed, Bacteroides bacteremia is found more frequently than might be expected and usually follows contamination from the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tracts . Survival is closely related to the extent of organ impiarment preceding the bacteremia . Proper therapy is based on early recognition of the source of bacteremia and adequate surgical drainage . Antibiotics do not appear to improve survival, particularly when used without drainage . Further studies are needed to identify patients with impaired host resistance who are particularly susceptible to these organisms.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Nov, 34(5), 586 - 90
Alkaline phosphatase activity of rumen bacteria; Cheng KJ et al.; Of the 54 strains of rumen bacteria examined for alkaline phosphatase (APase) production, 9 of 33 gram-negative strains and none of 21 gram-positive strains produced the enzyme . The APase of the cells of the three strains of Bacteroides ruminicola that produced significant amounts of the enzyme was located in the periplasmic area of the cell envelope, whereas the enzyme was located in the strains of Selenomonas ruminantium and Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens was associated with the outer membrane . The localization of APase production in the cells of natural populations of rumen bacteria from hay-fed sheep was accomplished by reaction product deposition, and both the proportion of APase-producing bacteria and the location of the enzyme in the cell envelope of the producing cells could be determined . We suggest that this procedure is useful in detecting shifts in the bacterial population and the release of cell-bound APase that accompany feedlot bloat and other sequelae of dietary manipulation in ruminants.

JAMA, 1977 Oct 31, 238(18), 1933 - 5
Doxycycline in abdominal surgery; Klein RA et al.; Twenty patients undergoing urgent or emergency surgical procedures where intra-abdominal infection was suspected were treated with doxycycline hyclate . Wound infections involving anaerobic, aerobic, or facultative bacteria developed in four of 11 patients treated with doxycycline alone . Nine other patients received higher doses of doxycycline plus gentamicin sulfate . Five of these had postoperative infections primarily involving anaerobic organisms . Bacteremia with a doxycycline-resistant Bacteroides fragilis developed in one patient during therapy . Serum levels of doxycycline, even at the higher dosage, were below the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of a number of potential pathogens isolated at the time of surgery . Doxycycline is not indicated in cases of serious intra-abdominal infection unless the infecting flora are known to be susceptible.

Br Med J, 1977 Oct 15, 2(6093), 991 - 3
Bacteriological study of otogenic cerebral abscesses: chemotherapeutic role of metronidazole; Ingham HR et al.; In nine consecutive patients with otogenic cerebral abscesses a mixed growth of aerobic and obligate anaerobic bacteria was isolated from the pus in five patients, and in the remaining four obligate anaerobes were the sole isolates . The commonest obligate anaerobe isolated was Bacteroides fragilis, which was present in all but one patient . The patients were all treated with metronidazole for the anaerobic organisms and with appropriate chemotherapy against the aerobic organisms isolated . All the patients recovered and only one was left with a neurological deficit . As otogenic cerebral abscesses constitute a major proportion of all cerebral abscesses, the use of metronidazole against obligate anaerobic bacteria, which tend to dominate in such abscesses, should reduce the high mortality from this condition.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1977 Oct 7, 163(3), 183 - 94
Susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics and production of beta-lactamase in Bacteroides fragilis; Olsson B et al.; Using the agar dilution technique, 231 strains of Bacteroides fragilis, isolated during a 2-year period from human infections, were identified at subspecies level and were tested for susceptibility to 13 beta-lactam antibiotics . The penicillins were benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, cloxacillin, and the recently described penicillin derivatives cyclacillin, ticarcillin, and PC-904 . The following cephalosporin derivatives were tested: cephaloridine, cephalothin, cephalexin, cefamandole and cefuroxime . The cephamycin C derivative cefoxitin was also included in the study . Cefoxitin was the most effective drug tested since more than 80% of the strains were inhibited by 8 microgram/ml or less, and no strain had a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of more than 64 microgram/ml . There was no marked difference in sensitivity among the subspecies with exception of subspecies vulgatus, which was slightly more sensitive to all antibiotics tested . The size of the inoculum was an important factor for obtaining reproducible results in the sensitivity tests . Increased inocula resulted in markedly higher MICs for cephaloridine and cefuroxime . Production of beta-lactamase was performed on all isolates by a chromogenic cephalosporin substrate and about 90% of the strains were found to be beta-lactamase producers.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Oct, 34(4), 386 - 90
Requirement of heme for growth of Bacteroides fragilis; Sperry JF et al.; Heme or protoporphyrin IX was required for growth of Bacteroides fragilis in a defined medium . The amount of heme necessary for half-maximal growth was 2 to 10 ng/ml (3.8 to 15 pmol/ml) among the Bacteroides species and strains tested . The growth rate, metabolic products from glucose fermentation, and cell yields were affected by the concentration of heme in the medium and by the length of time the culture was incubated . When heme was growth limiting (4 ng/ml), growth rates decreased by 50%, cultures started producing lactic and fumaric acids, and the cell yields declined . The cell yield for B . fragilis (ATCC 25285) at 24 h in medium containing 6.5 microgram of heme per ml was 69 g (dry weight) of cells per mol of glucose compared to 16 g (dry weight) of cells per mol of glucose with 4 ng of heme per ml . B . fragilis was unable to grow in defined medium when a porphyrin precursor, delta-aminolevulenic acid or porphobilinogen, was added in place of heme.

Vox Sang, 1977 Oct, 33(4), 246 - 51
BS II lectin: a second hemagglutinin isolated from Bandeiraea simplicifolia seeds with affinity for type III polyagglutinable red cells; Judd WJ et al.; BS II lectin, a second hemagglutinin isolated from Bandeiraea simplicifolia seeds, agglutinated the red cells from 11 patients manifesting the 'acquired B' antigen phenomenon . The results of serological studies indicate that this lectin has specificity for the type III polyagglutinable receptors rather than for the 'B-like' antigens present on 'acquired B' red cells . Two other blood samples which did not possess 'acquired B' antigens were also found to react with BS II lectin . Both of these samples were shown to have properties similar to those reported for Tk red cells . The serological characteristics of red cells modified in vitro by a culture broth of Bacteroides fragilis suggest that type III polyagglutinable receptors are identical to those associated with Tk red cells.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Oct, 136(4), 597 - 600
Transfer of multiple antibiotic resistance from Bacteroides fragilis to Escherichia coli; Mancini C et al.; Multiple antibiotic resistance was transferred from a clinical isolate of Bacteroides fragilis to a strain of Escherichia coli K12 . Resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalothin, tetracycline, minocycline, and chloramphenicol was transferred as a unit, but the resistance markers became segregated during storage of the recipient strains.

J Hyg (Lond), 1977 Oct, 79(2), 233 - 41
Serological studies of Bacteroides fragilis; Elhag KM et al.; Using direct agglutination methods, a simple serological scheme for the classification of Bacteroides fragilis is described . Twenty strains of B . fragilis were selected by a process of sucessive screening from 151 strains obtained from various sources . O-antigens were prepared from the 20 strains, and used to raise antisera in rabbits . Each of the 20 antisera reacted with its homologous antigen and eight antisera cross-reacted with other subspecies . These cross-reactions were successfully removed after absorption of the antisera with the cross-reacting antigens, resulting in 19 type-specific antisera, titres ranging from 40 to 320, and 19 distinct serotypes of B . fragilis . There was no correlation between the antigenic and the biochemical characteristics of these strains and no cross-reactions occurred with other gram-negative anaerobes, B . melaninogenicus, Sphaerophorus necrophorus and Fusobacterium necrogenes.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Oct, 6(4), 425 - 32
Fluorescent-antibody studies on selected strains of Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis; Abshire RL et al.; Antisera against seven strains of Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis were produced from dense suspensions of whole cells . These sera exhibited high agglutination titers with homologous antigens . Reciprocal cross-reactions in agglutination tests with each immunizing strain yielded lower titers . Both the indirect and direct fluorescent-antibody techniques were used to evaluate these reagents in the serological identification of 24 defined strains of B . fragilis subspecies fragilis . Subspecies and even strain specificities were noted with particular antisera . A pooled antiserum and conjugate were prepared and studied . Study results showed that specific and high-titered antisera against strains within this subspecies can be produced by the methods described herein and that possibly more than one serotype exists within the seven strains studied . The development of more antibody pools will be necessary to encompass a wider antigenic coverage before the fluorescent-antibody technique can be relied upon altogether for serologically identifying isolates of B . fragilis subspecies fragilis . Test data showed that the indirect method of fluorescent-antibody staining with whole antiserum is an excellent means of identifying strains of this organism.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 6(3), 298 - 302
Selective medium for isolation of Bacteroides nodosus; Gradin JL et al.; The sensitivity of Bacteroides nodosus, the causative agent of sheep foot rot, to 24 selected antimicrobial agents was tested . Many contaminants ordinarily associated with foot rot lesions were sensitive to lincomycin, whereas B . nodosus demonstrated resistance to this antibiotic . A concentration of 1 microgram of lincomycin per ml of basal medium optimally inhibited contaminants while allowing growth of B . nodosus . The basal medium was Eugon agar with 0.2% yeast extract and 10.0% defibrinated horse blood . Parallel inoculations of 31 foot rot lesion specimens onto basal medium and basal medium containing lincomycin (selective medium) were performed . B . nodosus was isolated from 16 of the specimens cultured on the selective medium and from only 3 of the specimens cultured on the basal medium . The concentration of agar in the standard Eugon medium was found to influence the growth of B . nodosus in the presence of lincomycin . Trimethoprim also exhibited potential selectivity for B . nodosus.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Sep, 131(3), 809 - 14
Tetrapyrrole utilization by Bacteroids ruminocola; McCall DR et al.; Reduced versus oxidized difference spectra of whole cells and pyridine hemochromogens of heme-requiring isolates of Bacteroides ruminicola are altered when deuteroporphyrin or mesoporphyrin replaces protoheme as a growth factor . During growth in the presence of either deuteroporphyrin or mesoporphyrin, whole cells exhibit peaks at 545 t547, 515 to 518, and 412 to 413 nm . Pyridine hemochromogen spectra confirm the presence of meso -or deuteroheme in cells grown in the presence of meso- or deuteroporphyrin . No evidence was found for the conversion of either meso- or deuteroporphyrin to protoheme . Cells grown in the presence of the manganese of magnesium chelates of protoheme form iron-containing hemes . Neither spontaneous decomposition of noniron metalloporphyrin chelates nor spontaneous formation of hemes from Fe2+ and metal-free porphyrins was detected . Protoheme-synthesizing isolates of B . ruminicola fail to use preformed metal-free porphyrins, but form both protoheme- and deuteroheme-containing cytochromes when grown in the presence of manganese deuteroheme . Versatility in tetrapyrrole utilization by B . ruminicola appears to reflect the ability of the organism to mediate the removal of nonferrous ions and to insert Fe2+ into the tetrapyrrole nucleus . The orgamism also forms functional b-type cytochromes with prosthetic groups other than protoheme.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 23(9), 1252 - 6
Deoxyribonucleic acid base composition of certain species of the genus Bacteroides; Reddy CA et al.; The moles percent guanine plus cytosine content of the DNA (% G + C) of 15 Bacteroides strains representing six species was determined . One group, including three strains of Bacteroides ruminicola, two strains of B . melaninogenicus, two strains of B . succinogenes, and one strain of B . oralis (JI), had a % G + C of 47.6--50.3 and a second group including two strains of B . amylophilus, four strains of B . fragilis, and one strain of B . succinogenes had a lower % G + C of 40.3--42.7 . The taxonomic relationships among these bacteroides species were discussed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 6(3), 280 - 4
Superoxide dismutase in Bacteroides fragilis and related Bacteroides species; Carlsson J et al.; Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was demonstrated in cell-free extracts of Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides distasonis, Bacteroides ovatus, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron . The strains were grown under anaerobic conditions in Trypticase soy broth, and the specific activity of SOD in the extracts was, in most strains, higher than in cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli B grown under anaerobic conditions . Isoelectric focusing of the extracts in polyacrylamide gel demonstrated distinct forms of SOD in the different species.

Infect Immun, 1977 Sep, 17(3), 655 - 60
Gliding motility and actinomycin D sensitivity of Fusobacterium nucleatum and other gram-negative rods; Abbott DM et al.; Six strains of gram-negative anaerobic fusiform rods (Fusobacterium and Bacteroides spp.), isolated from deep subgingival locations in humans, were examined for (i) gliding motility in slide cultures, (iii) cell densities on nutrient agar surfaces, and (iii) sensitivity to actinomycin D . Known gliding (FBt) and nonmotile (NM) strains of Myxococcus xanthus served as controls for the gliding and cell density experiments . In the present study, three strains of gram-negative fusiforms from the oral cavity, identified as Fusobacterium nucleatum (1a and P-1) and Bacteroides sp . (P-14), demonstrated characteristics similar to the gliding control strain M . xanthus . The only gliding oral strain sensitive to actinomycin D was a Bacteroides sp . (P-14).

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1977 Aug, 85(4), 262 - 70
Chemical composition, serological reactivity and endotoxicity of lipopolysaccharides extracted in different ways from Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Bacteroides oralis; Hofstad T et al.; Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) extracted from strains of Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Bacteroides oralis with phenol-water, trichloroacetic acid, EDTA or liquid phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether (PCP) and isolated by ultracentrifugation, varied considerably in their quantitative chemical composition . Negligible yields of LPS were obtained by PCP-extraction . All preparations were more or less serologically active . All methods (except PCP) extracted the same O-antigenic determinants from B . fragilis . Endotoxic activity, as measured by primary skin inflammations in rabbits, was low but was present in all preparations . Proteins (and/or lipoproteins) co-precipitated with LPS in the ultracentrifuge.

Ann Sclavo, 1977 Jul-Aug, 19(4), 769 - 72
{The role of anaerobic bacteria in meningeal infections (author's transl)}; Zorzenon M et al.; The finding is described of a Gram-negative bacterium in cerebrospinal fluid of a patient suffering from internal hydrocephalus and taken in the hospital of Udine with symptoms of meningitis . The isolated bacterium belongs to the genus Bacteroides . The cases of meningitis are indicated in which the bacteriological examination of the cerebrospinal fluid for anaerobes is recommended.

Int Dent J, 1977 Jun 2, 27(2), 114 - 8
Juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis); Manson JD; Juvenile periodontitis, characterized by early age of onset, rapid rate of periodontal tissue destruction and selective tooth involvement in the absence of commensurate aetiological factors, is recognized as a distinct clinical entity . The present paper describes the clinical findings and some immunological characteristics in a group of thirty-four patients under the age of thirty . Clinical aspects studied included the influence of sex, race, family history and general health . Immunological findings relating to the level of immunoglobulins in serum and saliva, lymphocyte transformation in response to veillonella, bacteroides, fusobacterium and actinomyces species and to ultrasonicated plaque, and the inhibition of macrophage migration by these antigens . Differences were shown to exist between those patients below the age of 22 years and the group aged 23-29 years.

Can Med Assoc J, 1977 May 21, 116(10), 1156 - 8
Myocardial abscess complicating healed myocardial infarction; Weisz S et al.; An isolated myocardial abscess due to Bacteroides fragilis developed in the scar of a myocardial infarction . Fever, chills and signs of pericarditis were the main clinical features . Mild enteritis 1 week prior to the onset of symptoms related to the abscess was the most likely cause of the bacteremia . The diagnosis was established at thoracotomy, performed because of cardiac tamponade . Thirteen other cases of isolated bacterial myocardial abscess accompanying myocardial infarction have been reported, but all the infarctions were recent . Surgical resection for a suspected myocardial abscess should be considered in view of the high mortality, largely from cardiac rupture.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 May, 33(5), 1118 - 24
Laminarinase (beta-glucanase) activity in Bacteroides from the human colon; Salyers AA et al.; Laminarin, a beta(1 leads to 3)-glucan similar to those found in plant cell walls, is fermented by some species of anaerobic bacteria from the human colon . Laminarinase (EC 3.2.1.6) and beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) activities were determined in strains representing Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides distasonis, and an unnamed deoxyribonucleic acid homology group of Bacteroides fragilis . In all three species, laminarinase activity was inducible by laminarin and was predominantly cell bound . The products of laminarinase activity varied with each species . In the case of B . thetaiotaomicron, the major product of laminarin hydrolysis was glucose (70 to 90%), and there were small amounts of laminaribiose (G2) and oligomers of glucose as high as G4 . In the case of group '0061-1,' glucose (40 to 50%) and oligomers of glucose as high as G6 were found . The laminarinase of B . distasonis differed from the laminarinases of the other two species in that it mainly produced oligomers of glucose (G2-G5) . beta-Glucosidase activity was also found in all three species . beta-Glucosidase was induced by glucose-containing disaccharides as well as by laminarin . The beta-glucosidases of the three Bacteroides species differed with respect to level of activity, induction pattern, and sensitivity to inhibition by D-glucono-1,5-lactone.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 May, 33(5), 1030 - 6
Characterization of the predominant bacteria occurring in the rumen of goats (Capra hircus); Dehority BA et al.; A total of 44 strains of bacteria were isolated from rumen contents of the goat . Based on morphology, Gram stain, anaerobiosis, motility, and fermentation end products, they were grouped into 11 different types . For each type, all or representative strains were characterized in detail . The type, number of strains characterized over total number of strains, and identification were as follows: type 1, 6/21, atypical Butyrivibrio fibriosolvens; type 2, 6/9, atypical Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens; type 3, 3/3, genus uncertain; type 4, 2/2, genus uncertain; type 5, 3/3, Streptoccous bovis; type 6, 1/1, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens; type 7, 1/1, Bacteroides ruminicola subsp . ruminicola; type 8, 1/1, Bacteroides ruminicola subsp . brevis; type 9, 1/1, family Peptococcaceae, genus uncertain; type 10, 1/1, genus Bacteroides; type 11, 1/1, genus Bacteroides . About 70% of the isolated strains were classified as Butyrivibrio, which is quite high compared with previous studies in cattle on similar rations . Of the 30 strains listed as type 1 and 2, the 12 studied further were characterized as atypical Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, which differed from the species description primarily by their inability to hydrolyze starch and lack of gas production.

South Med J, 1977 May, 70(5), 617 - 9
Fatal colitis in a hemophilic patient with inhibitor; Schwartz KA et al.; A severe colitis developed in a hemophilic patient following an antibiotic regimen which included clindamycin . A surgical procedure, total hip replacement, had been complicated by the appearance of a powerful factor VIII inhibitor and a Bacteroides fragilis infection . The resulting bleeding diathesis was successfully managed with the use of an "activated prothrombin complex"; however, the occurrence of colitis following intravenous clindamycin therapy proved to be fatal . Clindamycin, like the related antibiotic lincomycin, appears to have significant intestinal toxicity and should be restricted to the treatment of life-threatening proven Bacteroides infections.

Arch Otolaryngol, 1977 May, 103(5), 278 - 80
Anaerobic bacteria in chronic otitis media; Jokipii AM et al.; The bacteriology of 70 consecutive cases of active chronic otitis media was studied . Using appropriate technology, anaerobic bacteria were recovered in 33%, Bacteroides species accounting for one half of them . They were always found in mixed infections involving the average of 3.8 bacteria, 1.9 anaerobic, and 1.9 facultative species . The bacteriology was relatively stable from one ear to the other in the ten bilateral cases studied . The results were alike in the groups differing with respect to local antimicrobial therapy or appearance of the middle ear discharge . The cases with chronic otitis in spite of previous radical surgery presented more often with anaerobic infection than the unoperated ones, and none of them yielded sterile cultures . The recognition of anerobic middle ear infections may be clinically significant because the susceptibilities of the organisms to antimicrobial agents and to air are characteristically different from those of aerobic or facultative bacteria.

J Infect Dis, 1977 May, 135(5), 787 - 99
Purification and immunochemical characterization of the outer membrane complex of Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies asaccharolyticus; Mansheim BJ et al.; Morphologic study of Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies asaccharolyticus by electron microscopy disclosed the presence of a capsule and a cell wall structure otherwise typical of a gram-negative organism . An outer membrane complex was isolated with use of gentle methods . Relative purity of the preparation was confirmed by electron microscopy and by the formation of a single band in a sucrose density gradient . Gel chromatography was used for separation of the major components of the membrane . Antigenicity of the first component, a protein-polysaccharide complex, which cross-reacted with antiserum to another strain of the same subspecies . This component probably represents the capsular antigen and may prove to be the basis for serogrouping . The second membrane fraction differed chemically from the first fraction and represents the lipopolysaccharide component of the outer membrane . Notably, this component lacks 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, one of the backbone sugars of aerobic, gram-negative lipopolysaccharides.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Apr, 33(4), 745 - 50
Characteristics of Bacteroides isolates from the cecum of conventional mice; Tannock GW; Bacteroides isolates from the cecum of conventional mice were characterized and grouped according to their ability to ferment or hydrolyze carbohydrates and other compounds believed to be present in the intestinal ecosystem . The isolates were divided into 11 groups on the basis of the fermentation of glucose, cellobiose, gum arabic and xylan (hemicelluloses), N-acetylglucosamine, and dextrin; the hydrolysis of starch and casein (proteolysis); and the production of indole . Stock cultures of B . fragilis, B . distasonis, B . ovatus, B . vulgatus, and B . ruminicola were characterized in the same way . The strains isolated most frequently from the mouse cecum resembled B . fragilis (except that arabinose was fermented) and B . thetaiotaomicron.

Ann Intern Med, 1977 Apr, 86(4), 456 - 71
Gram-negative rod bacteremia: microbiologic, immunologic, and therapeutic considerations; Young LS et al.; During the last 2 decades, Gram-negative rod bacteremia has become the leading infectious disease problem in American hospitals . With improvements in conventional microbiologic techniques, bacteremic infection can be diagnosed reliably within 3 days using only three sets of cultures . Clinical management still requires aggressive, presumptive use of antimicrobials in patients with the most adverse host factors . In the latter group, the use of combinations of antibiotics that interact synergistically in vitro has improved clinical results . In bacteremia due to anaerobes, particularly Bacteroides species, drainage of infected sites is probably more important than specific drug therapy . Various host defects have been associated with Gram-negative bacteremia; the most common in the nonleukopenic patient is impaired opsonization . The evidence that endotoxins are involved in the pathophysiology of Gram-negative bacillemia is inferential . Nevertheless, both clinical and experimental evidence suggest that active or passive immunization with endotoxin components or antigens similar to Gram-negative polysaccharides may be protective.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Apr, 5(4), 416 - 26
Clinical evaluation of a simple, rapid procedure for the presumptive identification of anaerobic bacteria; Holland JW et al.; A simple, rapid procedure for the presumptive identification of anaerobic bacteria has been evaluated . Two hundred and thirty-five clinical isolates were identified using gas-liquid chromatography and 3-ml volumes of a few selected test media . These test media were stored aerobically and incubated in GasPak anaerobic jars . The average incubation time was 39 h . This procedure, when compared to the results of our standard identification procedure, correctly identified 98% of the isolates to the genus level, 83% to the species level, and 83% of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus to the subspecies level . Fifty-three of the isolates were also identified by using 0.5-ml volumes of test media stored, inoculated, and incubated in an anaerobic glove box . The 3-ml-and the 0.5-ml-volume procedures correctly identified comparable percentages of the 53 isolates.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Apr, 130(1), 445 - 54
Energy-dependent incorporation of sphingolipid precursors and fatty acids in Bacteriodes melaninogenicus; Lev M et al.; Washed cells of Bacteroides melaninogenicus are unable to incorporate the sphingolipid precursor 3-ketodihydrosphingosine (3KDS) or dihydrosphingosine into the complete sphingolipids ceramide phosphorylethanolamine (CPE) and ceramide phosphorylglycerol (CPG), whereas growing cultures are able to do so . This result suggested that an energy source was required by washed cells to initiate the incorporation of 3KDS . Investigation of a number of energy sources for B . melaninogenicus showed that glutamine was active in driving the incorporation of 3KDS . This system shows saturation kinetics . Besides glutamine, only asparagine and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) are effective; glutamate and other compounds are inactive . The glutamine-driven system is sensitive to 2,4-dinitrophenol, azide, N,N'- dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone . Asparagine plus NADH shows a synergistic effect in stimulating the incorporation of 3KDS into CPE and CPG in washed cells . However, glutamine plus NADH and glutamine plus asparagine show no such synergy . The cytochrome-free mutant of B . melaninogenicus, strain S, incorporates 3KDS in a manner similar to the parent strain when glutamine is used to drive the reaction; NADH or asparagine, however, are ineffective when used with strain S . Vitamin K-depleted cells of B . melaninogenicus are similar to vitamin K-grown cells, when glutamine or NADH is used to drive the 3KDS incorporation . Glutamine and NADH are also effective in stimulating the incorporation of palmitate and acetate by washed cells of B, melaninogenicus . Increased incorporation of these fatty acids into CPE, CPG, 3KDS, and other phospholipids is significantly increased by the presence of glutamine or NADH . Thus, energization of the membrane of B . melaninogenicus by glutamine or the electron transport system by NADH or asparagine is required for sphingolipid and other phospholipid synthesis . The relationship of this energization to possible transport of sphingolipid precursors is discussed.

Br Med J, 1977 Mar 5, 1(6061), 607 - 10
Metronidazole in prevention and treatment of bacteroides infections in elective colonic surgery; Willis AT et al.; A double-blind randomised trial was carried out among 46 patients undergoing elective colonic surgery; 27 patients received prophylactic metronidazole and 19 received placebo . Anaerobic infections did not develop in any of the metronidazole-treated patients, but did develop in 11 (58%) of 19 controls who were subsequently successfully treated with metronidazole.

Anesth Analg (Paris), 1977 Mar-Apr, 34(2), 367 - 79
{Increase of anaerobic infections . Prevalence of Bacteroides . Apropos of 17 cases in abdominal surgery}; Coulbois B et al.; Seventeen cases of anaerobic infections in abdominal surgery are reported . Predominance of bacteroides is evident (9/17), especially bacteroides fragilis . The clinical manifestations of bacteroides infections are severe: 7 septicemias and 2 parietal infections, being the cause of the death in four patients . Bacteroides infection develops preferently in an old patient, with severe disease, in colic surgery especially in emergency . Bacteroides are characterized by their polyresistance to antibiotics: beta-lactamins, except carbenicillin, and aminosids . Metronidazole is a powerful bactericidal agent with a very low toxicity, particularly active in the treatment of these affections, as well as clindamycin . If oral route is impossible, chloramphenicol, I.V . tetracyclin, and above all carbenicillin are able to be used with success.

Infect Immun, 1977 Mar, 15(3), 871 - 3
Experimental Bacteroides fragilis endocarditis in rabbits; Carrizosa J et al.; A serum-resistant strain of Bacterioides fragilis that did not produce heparinase was used to study the characteristics of B . fragilis endocarditis in the rabbit experimental model . The infective dose required to produce endocarditis in 50% of rabbits was significantly lower for rabbits with left-sided intracardiac catheters (log10 6.3 colony-forming units +/- 0.6/ml) as compared with right-sided intracardiac catheters (log10 7.7 colony-forming units +/- 0.8/ml) . After 3 days of infection, bacterial titers of the tricuspid vegetations were significantly lower than titers of aortic vegetations (P less than 0.01), although at 5 days the titers were similar (P greater than 0.05) . The weights of tricuspid vegetations, although similar at 3 days (P less than 0.05) . There were no spontaneous deaths during 12 days of infection . In rabbits with the catheter removed before infection, bacterial titers were similar to those titers in rabbits with the catheter continuously in place . This model will permit study of various drug regimens for treatment of this disease.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Mar, 135 Suppl, S13 - 7
Experimental infections with anaerobic bacteria in mice; Wilkins TD et al.; Experimental anaerobic infections in mice are reviewed with a description of a model of pure Bacteroides fragilis infection . In this experimental situation, B . fragilis produces large subcutaneous abscesses in the groins of mice that can be diagnosed without autopsy . This infection was treated effectively with clindamycin in doses that produced levels of drug in blood similar to those attainable in humans.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Mar, 129(3), 1298 - 302
Production and some properties of catalase and superoxide dismutase from the anaerobe Bacteroides distasonis; Gregory EM et al.; The catalase level of Bacteroides distasonis (ATCC 8503, type strain) varied with the amount of hemin supplied to the medium when the cells were grown in either a prereduced medium containing 0.5% peptone, 0.5% yeast extract, and 1% glucose or in a prereduced, defined heme-deficient medium . The effect of hemin on catalase production could not be duplicated by ferrous sulfate or ferrous ammonium citrate . Catalase activity reached peak values in late log phase, whereas superoxide dismutase specific activity remained constant throughout the culture growth cycle . The catalase was a nondialyzable, cyanide and azide-sensitive, heat-labile protein that coeluted with bovine erythrocyte catalase from Sepharose 6 B . Analysis of polyacrylamide gels stained for catalase activity and for heme showed a correspondence between the single catalytic activity band and one of three heme-protein bands . These data suggest a heme-protein of approximately 250,000 molecular weight . The superoxide dismutase was a cyanide-insensitive protein of approximately 40,000 molecular weight that migrated electrophoretically on acrylamide gels as a single band of activity.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Mar, 135 Suppl, S25 - 9
Therapy for infections due to anaerobic bacteria: an overview; Finegold SM; Several classes of antimicrobial agents (e.g., penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin) are useful in treatment of infections due to anaerobic bacteria . However, certain anaerobic bacteria have shown a striking resistance to antimicrobial agents . In vitro susceptibility tests are useful for selection of optimal therapy . The choice of agent depends, to some extent, on the organisms responsible for the infection . Bacteroides fragilis is the most commonly encountered anaerobe, and it is also the most resistant to antimicrobial agents . Other factors influencing the selection of therapy include pharmacologic characteristics, degree of bactericidal activity, and toxicity . Proper therapy for anaerobic infections often requires intensive antimicrobial therapy for a prolonged period . Surgical intervention, including drainage of abscesses and excision of necrotic tissue, is important.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Mar, 129(3), 1537 - 44
Purification and some properties of an extracellular alpha-amylase from Bacteroides amylophilus; McWethy SJ et al.; A medium was developed to obtain maximum yields of extracellular amylase from Bacteroides amylophilus 70 . Crude enzyme preparation, obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation of cell-free broth, contained six amylolytic isoenzymes that were detected by isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . One of these amylases was purified by diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration techniques . Some properties of the purified extracellular alpha-amylase were: optimum pH, 6.3; optimum temperature, 43 degrees C: PH stability range, 5.8 to 7.5; isoelectric point, pH 4.6; molecular weight, 92,000 (by sodium dodecyl sulfatedisc gel electrophoresis); and sugars causing inhibition, cyclomaltoheptaose, cyclomaltohexaose, and alpha-d-phenylglucoside . In addition, Ca2+ and Co2+ were strong activators,and Hg2+ was a strong inhibitior; all other cations were slightly stimulatory . Dialysis against 0.01 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid caused a 58% loss of activity that was restored to 92% of the original by the addition of 0.04 M Ca2+ . The enzyme affected a blue-value-reducing-value curve characteristic of alpha-type amylases . The relative rates of hydrolysis of amylose, soluble starch, amylopectin, and dextrin were 100, 97, 92, and 60%, respectively; Michaelis constants for these substrates were 18.2, 18.7, 18.2, and 16.7 mumol of d-glucosidic bond/liter, respectively . The enzyme degraded maize (corn) starch granules to some extent and had relatively little activity on potato starch granules.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Feb 23, 486(2), 351 - 8
Partial purification and characterization of NAD-dependent 7alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; Sherrod JA et al.; A NAD-dependent 7alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was purified 18-fold over the activity in crude cell extracts prepared from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron NCTC 10852 using Bio-Gel A 1.5-M column chromatography . A molecular weight of 320 000 was estimated for the partially purified intact enzyme . Substrate saturation kinetics were performed using the 18-fold purified enzyme and the lowest Km values were obtained for 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy bile acid and bile salt substrates including chenodeoxycholic acid (Km 0.048 mM), glycochenodeoxycholic acid (Km 0.083 mM) and taurochenodeoxycholic acid (Km 0.059 mM) . In contrast, 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy bile acid and bile salts had higher Km values, i.e . cholic acid (Km 0.22 mM), glycoholic acid Km 0.32 mM) and taurocholic acid Km 0.26 mM) . NAD had a Km value of 0.20 mM . The possible physiological significance of 7alpha-hydroxy bile acid oxidation to intestinal bacteroides strains was accessed by determining the rate of conversion of {14C}-cholic acid to 7-ketodeoxy{14C}cholic acid by whole cell suspensions under different incubation conditions . The rate of biotransformation of bile acid to keto-bile acid incubated anaerobically under N2 gas increased markedly when potential electron acceptors such as fumarate (10 mM) or menadione (4 mM) was added exogenously . These results suggest that bile acid oxidation reactions may be linked to energy-generating systems in this bacterium.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Feb, 33(2), 319 - 22
Fermentation of mucin and plant polysaccharides by strains of Bacteroides from the human colon; Salyers AA et al.; Ten Bacteroides species found in the human colon were surveyed for their ability to ferment mucins and plant polysaccharides ("dietary fiber") . A number of strains fermented mucopolysaccharides (heparin, hyaluronate, and chondroitin sulfate) and ovomucoid . Only 3 of the 188 strains tested fermented beef submaxillary mucin, and none fermented porcine gastric mucin . Many of the Bacteroides strains tested were also able to ferment a variety of plant polysaccharides, including amylose, dextran, pectin, gum tragacanth, gum guar, larch arabinogalactan, alginate, and laminarin . Some plant polysaccharides such as gum arabic, gum karaya, gum ghatti and fucoidan, were not utilized by any of the strains tested . The ability to utilize mucins and plant polysaccharides varied considerably among the Bacteroides species tested.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1977 Feb 1, 127(3), 250 - 4
Antimicrobial effect of amniotic fluid against anaerobic bacteria; Thadepalli H et al.; Amniotic fluid samples were obtained at term and tested for their antimicrobial effect on anaerobes, Peptostreptococcus (Ps.) anaerobius, Peptococcus (Pc.) prevotii, Bacteroides (B.) fragilis, and B . coagulans with facultative Escherichia (E.) coli serving as control . Amniotic fluid had only temporary bacteriostatic effect on Pc . prevotii and B . fragilis for 8 to 16 hours . This effect lasted for only 8 hours on Ps . anaerobius . On the contrary, the bacteriostatic effect of amniotic fluid was well sustained on E . coli and B . coagulans, lasting for the entire test periods of 20 and 32 hours, respectively . At the end of the time intervals mentioned, Ps . anaerobius, Pc . prevotii, and B . fragilis exhibited logarithmic growth, confirming the earlier reports that it is not nutritionally deficient . Amniotic fluid exhibited temporary bacteriostatic effect on Ps . anaerobius, P . prevotii, and B . fragilis, but this effect was well sustained against B . coagulans.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1977 Feb, 85B(1), 9 - 13
Cross-reactivity of Bacteroides fragilis O antigens; Hofstad T; The cross-reactivity of O antigens prepared from Bacteroides fragilis, other Bacteroides species and from Fusobacterium has been examined by indirect haemagglutination and inhibition of haemagglutination . Fifteen of 20 B . fragilis ss . fragilis strains showed O-antigenic cross-reactivity with one or more of the test strains of B . fragilis ss . fragilis: NCTC 9343, Lille E 323 and SBL B55 . The same applies also to 3 strains classified as B . coagulans, B . hypermegas and B . putredinis . The multispecificity of B . fragilis O antigens is pronounced . Test systems for demonstration of 9 specificities, all harboured by one or more of the 3 test strains, have been worked out.

Infection, 1977, 5(1), 13 - 6
{In vitro susceptibility of bacteroidaceae to cefoxitin and cephalothin (author's transl)}; Werner H et al.; The activity of the new cephamycin C derivatives cefoxitin against 102 clinical isolates of Bacteroidaceae (95 Bacteroides strains and 7 Fusobacterium-Sphaerophorus cultures) was determined by tube dilution and standardized agar diffusion tests and compared to that of cephalothin . Cefoxitin was more active than cephalothin against 56 Bacteroides fragilis strains, 19 Bacteroides thetaiota-omicron strains and two Bacteroides splanchnicus strains . The difference seemed less pronounced with five Bacteroides vulgatus and four Bacteroides variabilis cultures . Three Bacteroides melaninogenicus and six Bacteroides oralis strains displayed similar sensitivity to both cephalosporins . At concentrations of 32 microng/ml or less, cefoxitin inhibited 91% and cephalothin 33% of the Bacteroides strains . Two strains of Sphaerophorus varius were likewise much more sensitive to cefoxitin than to cephalothin (MIC values 8 micron8/ml of cefoxitin and 256 microng/ml of cephalothin) . Three other Sphaerophorus strains (the species necrophorus and freundii/mortiferum) and two of Fusobacterium fusiforme (Fusobacterium nucleatum) strains were very similar in their susceptibility to both cephalosporins . Statistical analysis of the relationship between MIC and zone size diameter showed relatively high correlation coefficients for cefoxitin and cephalothin (r=-0.741 and r=-0.703 respectively).

Jpn J Antibiot, 1977 Jan, 30(1), 13 - 21
{Therapy for severe anaerobic infections with clindamycin (author's transl)}; Kobayasi A et al.; Ten adult patients with severe Bacteroides infections were treated with 0.9 approximately 1.8 g/day of parenteral or oral clindamycin, and a child was treated with 0.3 g/day orally . Remarkable responses and cures were obtained in all the patients, who had no underlying diseases and pure anaerobic infections; a case of sepsis, two cases of liver abscess, a case of subcutaneous abscess and a case of spinal epidural abscess . The other six patients who had ultimately fatal underlying diseases or mixed infections did not respond well to the combination of clindamycin and the other antibiotics therapy, althought bacteriological cures were obtained in all but two cases . Clindamycin was well tolerated and generally nontoxic, nevertheless it was administrated for long term (34 approximately 49 days) . But transient development of transaminase was seen in a patient . The data suggested that clindamycin should be considered a first choice antibiotic for the treatment of an aerobic, especially, Bacteroides infections.

Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 45 - 50
Sensitivity of Bacteroidaceae to fosfomycin; Garcia JA et al.; The sensitivity of 116 strains of Bacteroides fragilis and 60 strains of Sphaerophorus to fosfomycin was studied . Of the 178 strains that were tested, 156 were isolated from pathological products in our department and the remainder came from the following collections: NCTC, ATCC and the Institut fur Mikrobiologie of the University of Bonn . Identification was made morphologically and biochemically in accordance with the scheme which we usually employ and which has previously been published . The sensitivities were determined by the progressive dilution method in a solid medium with a surface inoculation of the strain . The results obtained show that no matter what kind of B . fragilis was tested, none of them were sensitive to concentrations of 200 mug/ml fosfomycin . On the other hand, all strains of Sphaerophorus were sensitive to lesser concentrations than the aforementioned . The majority of these concentrations subsequently lie within therapeutic margins . The conclusion drawn from our results is that the sensitivity to fosfomycin constitutes a test for differentiating Bacteroides from Sphaerophorus and that fosfomycin is ineffective in injections caused by Bacteroides, although it is an active antibiotic against infections caused by Sphaerophorus.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 534 - 5
Carbohydrate repression of catalase synthesis in Bacteroides fragilis; Gregory EM et al.; Catalase formation by Bacteroides fragilis was immediately stopped upon addition of glucose to a culture growing in peptone medium . Each of eight other carbohydrates fermented by the organism also repressed catalase formation . Without added carbohydrate, the strains produced relatively large amounts of catalase (25 to 50 U/mg of protein).

Infection, 1977, 5(1), 17 - 21
{In vitro activity of mezlocillin, azlocillin and carbenicillin against bacteroidaceae with particular reference to bacteroides fragilis (author's transl)}; Werner H et al.; The in vitro susceptibility of approximately 90 Bacteroidaceae strains to the the new broad-spectrum penicillins mezlocillin and azlocillin was determined by tube dilution tests and compared to susceptibility to carbenicillin . Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron predominated among the strains tested . These strains are particularly important as pathogens and are known to produce beta-lactamase . At concentrations of 16 microng/ml or less, mezlocilin inhibited 81% of the Bacteroides cultures, and at 32 microng/ml 96% of the cultures . The amount of Bacteroides strains inhibited by 16 and 32 microng/ml of azlocillin was 67% and 93% respectively . Similar results were obtained with carbenicillin, concentrations of 32, 64 and 256 microng/ml inhibiting 55%, 87% and 94% of the strains respectively . Mezlocillin and azlocillin did not appear to be any more effective than carbenicillin against Sphaerophorus strains . Statistical analysis of the relationship between minimal inhibiting concentration and inhibition zone diameter showed that the susceptibility of Bacteroidaceae to mezlocillin, azlocillin and carbenicillin cannot be determined with sufficient accuracy by a standardized agar diffusion test.

Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 51 - 7
In vitro sensitivity of anaerobic bacteria to fosfomycin; Altes Gutierrez A et al.; The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined in 98 strains of anaerobic bacteria that came from clinical samples against fosfomycin, penicillin, cephalothin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, clindamycin and lincomycin . The results obtained indicate that fosfomycin is usually inactive against Bacteroides sp . and is active up to 32 mug/ml or less against 85% of Peptococcus and 95% of Peptostreptococcus, being consequently comparatively less active than the rest of the antibiotics that were tested against Bacteroides, sp., while against Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus it is less active than penicillin, cephalothin, clindamycin and lincomycin, and somewhat more active than chloramphenicol and tetracycline.

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1977, 35(5), 409 - 11
{Microgallery for the identification of anaerobic bacteria}; Drugeon H et al.; A microgallery for the identification of anaerobic bacteria (API 20A) was used with regard to 213 strictly anaerobic strains isolated between 1.12.74 and 30.11.75 in a hospital laboratory . Furthermore, 75 strains of Bacteroides fragilis isolated previously were added to this study . All the strains were identified by traditional methods . The results of tests performed with the microgallery alone permitted the species diagnosis in 72,2% of cases . Performing simultaneously complementary tests (7 to 9 Tubes, according to the nature of the bacteria) the species diagnosis was possible in 89.9% of cases . The main interest of this microgallery was its use for the identification of glucidolytic strains for it included the presence of 17 ternary substances . Its use for the other groups of strains was thus limited.

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