Bifidobacterium

Microbiologica, 1986 Oct, 9(4), 443 - 54
Related structures in the plasmid profiles of Bifidobacterium asteroides, B . indicum and B . globosum; Sgorbati B et al.; Seventy strains of B . asteroides isolated from the honey bees Apis mellifera and A . cerana raised in 15 different countries, 73 strains of B . indicum from Apis dorsata and A . cerana from The Philippines and 28 strains of B . globosum isolated from feces of various animals and sewage, were studied for the existence of related structures among their plasmid complements with the Southern blot-hybridization technique . Thirteen different structures were found in B . asteroides and three in B . indicum and B . globosum . A total of twenty five strains were used as source of probes in the hybridization experiments.

Microbiologica, 1986 Oct, 9(4), 415 - 22
Related structures in the plasmid profiles of Bifidobacterium longum; Sgorbati B et al.; The plasmid profiles of 123 strains of B . longum were examined with the Southern blot-hybridization technique to reveal the existence of related structures . B . longum is the apparently unique species among those commonly found in man, which harbours extrachromosomal elements . Seven different structures were found and their frequency and distribution given . Twelve strains were used a source of probes in the hybridization experiments.

Poult Sci, 1986 Sep, 65(9), 1801 - 7
Microflora of the bursa of Fabricius of chickens; Kimura N et al.; Bacterial flora of the bursa of Fabricius of chickens consisted of Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococci and Lactobacilli . The colonization of the bacteria in the bursa of Fabricius and the intestinal tract occurred simultaneously shortly after hatching . Intestinal bacteria inoculated directly onto the anal lips of newly hatched chickens were not recovered from the bursa after 2 hr post-inoculation except resident strains of the bursa and Bifidobacteria . These results suggest a possibility that various bacteria, which are possibly incorporated into the bursa by pumping mechanisms synchronized with the respiratory movement, can be subjected to a selective elimination mechanism of the host.

Vopr Pitan, 1986 Sep-Oct, (5), 22 - 5
{Possibility of fortifying milk nutrient mixtures for children with lactoglobulin against E . coli and Proteus}; Zlatnik EIu; Sweet milk nutrient mixtures, biologically active additives (BAA) and lactic acid ferments, intended for child nutrition, were enriched with the immune preparation lactoglobulin against E . coli and Proteus . Serological and immunochemical investigations of hemagglutinating activity and other characteristics of lactoglobulin in the enriched milk mixtures and BAA evidenced that the preparation retained its full value during the technological process and in the period of storage . No signs of lactoglobulin degradation during the production of a test batch of the milk mixture and BAA were detected, and a high hemagglutinating activity with respect to enteropathogenic E . coli and Proteus was recorded . This permitted the author to recommend the lactoglobulin-enriched sweet mixtures for prevention of acute intestinal infections and dysbacteriosis in young children . The in vitro study of the lactoglobulin interaction with pure cultures of lactobacillus and bifidobacteria showed its inertness to eubacteria . Four strains studied retained their growth and acid-forming properties after combined incubation with lactoglobulin and did not inhibit its activity . A conclusion has been made on the possibility of enrichment of lactic acid products, intended for child nutrition, with lactoglobulin against E . coli and Proteus.

Vopr Pitan, 1986 Jul-Aug, (4), 14 - 7
{Microfloral changes in the small and large intestines of chronic enteritis patients on diet therapy including sour milk products}; Sukhov SV et al.; The microflora of the small and large intestines was studied in 105 patients with chronic enteritis . Significant amounts of various microorganisms were detected in the small intestine . The content of E . coli, bacteroids, bifidobacteria in feces diminished, while that of staphylococcus, enterococcus and fungi rose . The patients were given diet N 4 (intended for enteritis patients) containing lactic acid products (200 ml, 5 times/day, during 24 days); 38 patients received shubat, 30--koumiss and 37--kefir . Koumiss proved to be most effective in the treatment of intestinal dysbacteriosis . Shubat possessed a lower antibiotic activity . Kefir administration did not produce significant shifts in the intestinal microflora . Lactic acid products were ineffective in fungous and Proteus dysbacteriosis . Koumiss and shubat could be recommended for the therapy of certain types of intestinal dysbacteriosis, thus restricting the use of antibacterial drugs.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 May, 34(5), 440 - 4
{In vitro activity of roxithromycin, new semisynthetic macrolide against obligate anaerobes}; Dubreuil L et al.; The "in vitro" susceptibility to roxithromycin and three other macrolides of 236 anaerobes isolated from clinical samples in 1984/1985 was determined by an agar-dilution method on Wilkins Chalgren medium . 90% of Gram positive cocci were susceptible to both roxithromycin and josamycin (MIC less than 1 mg/l, whereas 1 mg/l erythromycin and 2 mg/l spiramycin were able to inhibit respectively 46 and 86% of the same tested strains . No resistance to the four macrolides was observed among Eubacterium, propionibacterium and Bifidobacterium . Two C . perfringens strains and one C . difficile strain were resistant to all four macrolides, while 97% of Clostridium sp . strains were inhibited by 4 mg/l erythromycin, josamycin or roxithromycin . Against Gram positive anaerobes, roxithromycin was equal or superior to erythromycin and spiramycin . At a concentration of 4 mg/l, roxithromycin inhibited 82% of B . fragilis strains . Roxithromycin and josamycin were more active against Gram negative bacilli that erythromycin and spiramycin . Macrolides had no effect on Fusobacterium strains . In this study, 4 mg/l roxithromycin inhibited 217 of the 236 anaerobic strains investigated (92%).

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Mar, (3), 92 - 5
{Effect of human immunoglobulins on microflora of the large intestine in nonspecific ulcerative colitis}; Glad'ko IA et al.; The use of commercial preparations of human immunoglobulin for the treatment of ulcerous colitis produces a positive effect on the microflora of the large intestine, contributing to the disappearance of Proteus, the lactose-negative forms of enterobacteria and the hemolytic variants of staphylococci, as well as to the increase of the amount of useful indigenous microflora (bifidobacteria and lactobacteria) . The quantitative and qualitative improvement of the microflora leads, possibly, to the decrease of the intoxication of the body, improvement in the activity of the intestine and increased vitamin formation, thus giving a pronounced clinical effect and improvement in the endoscopic picture of the mucous membrane of the large intestine, peculiar for this disease.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 60(2), 121 - 6
A note on ultra-violet red fluorescence of anaerobic bacteria in vitro; Brazier JS; Anaerobes other than the Bacteroides melaninogenicus group isolated from clinical material produce an ultra-violet red fluorescence when grown under certain conditions in vitro . These organisms include other members of the genus Bacteroides as well as strains of some species of Clostridium, Bifidobacterium and Actinomyces . The major fluorescent pigment was identified as protoporphyrin IX . Factors necessary for the production of fluorescence are the presence of blood or haem and a fermentable carbohydrate during growth on a solid medium . Fluorescence intensity was related to the concentration of blood and fermentable carbohydrate present but was independent of inoculum size . Certain commercially available blood agar bases designed specifically for the isolation of fastidious anaerobes from clinical material which contain added carbohydrate were shown to induce fluorescence in certain organisms . This may lead to the misidentification of some anaerobes as B . melaninogenicus.

Ter Arkh, 1986, 58(6), 94 - 6
{Use of immunoglobulin for treating patients with nonspecific ulcerative colitis}; Khalif IL et al.; The therapeutic effect of human immunoglobulins was assessed in 29 patients with nonspecific ulcerative colitis, as was their influence on intestinal flora . A 5 to 15 ml dose of immunoglobulin was administered intramuscularly every other day, 3 injections altogether . The clinical and endoscopic effect of treatment was positive in 21 patients (72.4%) . Large-intestinal mucosal imprints were studied histologically in 17 patients . Inflammation subsided in 11 patients (64.7%), and glandular epithelial proliferation declined in 4 (23.5%) . In the course of treatment, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria were considerably increased in number, while opportunity organisms were decreased, a possible cause of the positive clinical effect.

Clin Physiol Biochem, 1986, 4(2), 150 - 8
Mechanisms of ferric and ferrous iron uptake by Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus; Bezkorovainy A et al.; Iron uptake studies in Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus were carried out using ferric citrate at iron concentrations above 0.01 mM and pH 7, ferrous iron at concentrations less than 0.01 mM at pH 5 . Two ferric iron transport systems were distinguished: the temperature-insensitive polymer, and the temperature-sensitive monomer uptake . Both showed a saturation phenomenon . The transport of ferrous iron at concentrations below 0.01 mM was temperature-dependent, and its affinity for iron was higher than that of a system operating at iron concentrations higher than 0.01 mM . The use of various metabolic inhibitors indicated that ferrous iron transport at pH 5 at both high and low iron concentrations was mediated by transport-type ATPase . Proton gradient dissipators abolished ferrous iron uptakes as well as the ferric monomer uptake . Uptake of the ferric polymer was insensitive to metabolic inhibitors . The functional significance of the various types of iron transport systems may be related to the nutritional immunity phenomenon.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1986, 49, 73 - 84
Effect of beta-lactam prodrugs on human intestinal microflora; Sjovall J et al.; The ampicillin prodrugs bacampicillin, pivampicillin, and talampicillin, the mecillinam prodrug pivmecillinam and the sulbactam prodrug sulbactam pivoxil all have a greatly improved oral availability compared to the parent drug . They show no antibacterial activity themselves until transformed into active drugs after absorption . This double advantage makes them less likely to influence the intestinal microbial ecosystem . Ampicillin has been reported to cause marked changes in the colon microflora, particularly as regards Enterobacter species, Klebsiella species, enterococci, lactobacilli, bacteroides, and clostridia, in contrast to pivampicillin, which did not exert much influence . Similarly, talampicillin has been reported to have less influence than ampicillin on the colon flora . Diarrhoea was more common after ampicillin and was accompanied by an overgrowth of Candida . Pivmecillinam has been reported to reduce the number of Escherichia coli and lactobacilli . No changes were seen in the colon flora of subjects receiving bacampicillin tablets . This was verified in a parallel group study, in which one group was given the combination of bacampicillin and sulbactam pivoxil, the other bacampicillin, for seven days . Of the subjects given the combination, five had a moderate and ten a considerable change in their colon microflora . The subjects were often heavily colonized by new aerobic strains such as enterococci, E . coli, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Aeromonas, and yeasts . Among the anaerobes, Veillonella, the bifidobacteria-lactobacillus group, and bacteroides decreased . Some strains of clostridia decreased but there was also a colonization with new strains . One subject was colonized with Clostridium difficile . Diarrhoea was seen only during the week of active drug administration in the group given the combination . The symptoms generally appeared on the second or third day of treatment and had, in most cases, subsided at the end of treatment . The results illustrate the correlation between disturbances in the intestinal microbial ecosystem and intestinal adverse reactions.

Hum Nutr Appl Nutr, 1986, 40 Suppl 1, 27 - 37
Prospects for further approximation of infant formulas to human milk; Roberts AK; In this study: breast-fed babies developed a flora rich in bifidobacteria with lower counts of enterobacteria; bacteroides and clostridia, if detected were usually present in low numbers; formula-fed babies usually had high counts of bifidobacteria and enterobacteria; bacteroides plus clostridia were isolated with higher counts and from a larger percentage of babies than in the breast-fed group; and conalbumin did not appear to bring the gut flora of formula-fed babies nearer to that observed in breast-fed infants.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1986 Jan-Jun, 79(1-6), 113 - 23
{Interference of the intestinal ecosystem of mice in the oral administration of lyophilized live bacteria}; Gismondo MR et al.; Oral vaccines mode by living or killed bacteria are commonly used to restore normal intestinal flora; it's not well know, however, which bacteria play the leading part in this ecosystem . In the present paper Authors have intended to compare the effectiveness of an oral vaccine, made by Bifidobacterium bifidus and Lactobacillus acidofilus, with another of similar use, made by Enterococci, to increase the mouse resistance to lethal Salmonella enteritidis infections . According to collected microbiological data and M.E.S . photos, the association Bifidob./Lactobac . is more effective than Enterococci to enhance resistance to the experimental infection.

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 1985 Dec, 31(6), 599 - 606
Exopeptidase profiles of bifidobacteria; Minagawa E et al.; The exopeptidase activities of five different strains of bifidobacteria occurring habitually in healthy human intestinal canal were measured on 61 synthetic substrates . The cluster analysis, based on the results, indicates that four strains, with the exception of Bifidobacterium adolescentis a M101-4, have similar exopeptidase profiles . All CFE from these five strains contained at least three kinds of aminopeptidases (aminopeptidase with broad substrate specificity, aminopeptidase hydrolyzing selectively X-Pro type and aminopeptidase hydrolyzing selectively Pro-X type) and carboxypeptidase.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Nov, 131 ( Pt 11), 3091 - 8
Further studies on thymidine kinase: distribution pattern of the enzyme in bacteria; Saito H et al.; Various micro-organisms (131 strains of 73 species) were studied for their ability to produce thymidine kinase (TK; EC 2.7.1.21) . Taking the specific TK activity of Escherichia coli K12 {specific activity of sonicated cell extracts 95-194 pmol min-1 (mg protein)-1} as 100%, the test organisms had the following relative specific TK activities . In the Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus (21-84%) showed higher activity than Staph . epidermidis (1-20%) and Streptococcus (1-7%) except for one strain of Strep . pyogenes (29%) . Neisseria sicca, a Gram-negative coccus, lacked TK . Gram-positive endospore-forming rods showed significant activity (Bacillus, 13-51%; Clostridium perfringens, 9-18%) except for one strain of B . megaterium (2%) and C . difficile (1-3%) . Among the Gram-positive asporogenous rods, Listeria monocytogenes and six species of Lactobacillus (especially L . brevis, L . buchneri and L . casei) had moderate to high activity (23-348%) but L . acidophilus, L . bulgaricus, L . lactis and L . cellobiosus had low activity (0-8%) . Of the species of Pseudomonas studied, most lacked TK but Ps . fluorescens and Ps . maltophilia had significant TK activity (15-53%) . Of the Gram-negative facultative anaerobes, Vibrio lacked TK, while Enterobacteriaceae, including Salmonella (148-1120%), Escherichia (59-141%), Klebsiella (78-299%) and Serratia (61-110%), had a high activity . Proteus had a somewhat lower activity (0-34%) except for 'Pr . rettgerella' (307%) . Propionibacterium and Bifidobacterium and related organisms other than Streptomyces, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Corynebacterium and Mycobacterium lacked TK . The seven species of Candida tested, and Cryptococcus neoformans, essentially lacked TK.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Dent Res, 1985 Oct, 64(10), 1195 - 8
Predominant obligate anaerobes in human carious dentin; Hoshino E; With the adoption of an anaerobic glove box system, we isolated and identified the predominant micro-organisms in lesions of carious dentin from four permanent third molars . The overwhelming majority of the micro-organisms isolated from both shallow and deep layers of carious dentin were obligate anaerobes, suggesting that conditions in the dentin were strictly anaerobic . The predominant obligate anaerobes were Gram-positive rods which were identified as members of the following genera: Propionibacterium, Eubacterium, Arachnia, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Actinomyces . Clostridia, Gram-negative rods (Bacteroides and Fusobacterium) and Gram-positive cocci (Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, and Streptococcus) were also isolated, although they constituted a minor part of the flora.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Sep, (9), 20 - 5
{Correction of intestinal microflora in chemotherapeutic dysbacteriosis using bifidobacterial and lactobacterial autologous strains}; Korshunov VM et al.; The oral administration of kanamycin (40 mg/kg) or ampiox (500 mg/kg) to guinea pigs for 5 days led to disturbances in their normal intestinal microflora, manifested by a sharp decrease in the levels of lactobacteria and bifidobacteria, as well as by the appearance of large amounts of enterobacteria and enterococci, normally not detected in the proximal and distal sections of the intestinal tract . In adult volunteers receiving kanamycin orally in a dose of 40 mg/kg for 5 days disturbances in microbiocenosis also occurred: the amount of enterococci, staphylococci, lactobacteria and bifidobacteria considerably decreased, enterobacteria becoming the dominating microorganisms . Three oral administrations of bifidobacterial and lactobacterial autostrains immediately after the abolition of the antibiotic facilitated the rapid and effective restoration of the intestinal microflora.

Immunology, 1985 Sep, 56(1), 43 - 50
Immunological responses to monoassociated Bifidobacterium longum and their relation to prevention of bacterial invasion; Yamazaki S et al.; After monoassociation of Bifidobacterium longum with germ-free BALB/c mice (nu/+, heterozygous to nu gene), B . longum was recovered (10(2)-10(4) viable units per organ) from the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and kidneys for 2 weeks post intragastric inoculation, but not after 4 weeks and later . Cessation of bacterial translocation was not observed in monoassociated nude (nu/nu) mice . Anti-B . longum IgA antibody was detected by ELISA using B . longum cell wall antigen in bile from Week 1 and in ileac wall extract from Week 8 post-association in both nu/+ and nu/nu mice . Total IgA levels in bile, ileac wall extract and caecal contents were also elevated in both mice after monoassociation . Cell-mediated immunity measured by the footpad test and macrophage migration inhibition test using B . longum protein fraction was detected in nu/+ mice in Week 4 and later, but not in nu/nu mice . Nu/nu mice reconstituted 4 weeks prior to monoassociation with lymphocytes from flora bearing nu/+ mice developed delayed footpad reactivity and bacterial translocation stopped after 4 weeks . Cell-mediated immunity rather than IgA antibody correlated well with the cessation of translocation.

Z Gastroenterol, 1985 Aug, 23(8), 425 - 31
{Qualitative and quantitative detection of bacterial flora in experimental blind loop syndrome of the rat}; Menge H et al.; In the blind loop syndrome bacterial overgrowth--accompanied by an increase in bile acid deconjugation--is thought to be responsible for the observed morphological alterations of the small intestinal mucosa with its concomitant malabsorption syndrome . Since in this chain of events the bacterial overgrowth is of primary importance, we have performed a complete qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the intraluminal flora in rats with surgically created self-filling blind loops . The results show a significant increase in bacteria of the aerobic growing genera E . coli and Streptococcus (Enterococcus), and of the anaerobic growing genus Bacteroides, in one single rat also of the genera Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium . In order to elucidate which strains of bacteria are predominantly responsible for the morphological and functional alterations observed in the stagnant loop syndrome, germ-free rats with self-filling blind loops should be contaminated selectively with bacteria of these genera.

Biochem J, 1985 Jun 15, 228(3), 683 - 8
Phosphatidylglycerol as biosynthetic precursor for the poly(glycerol phosphate) backbone of bifidobacterial lipoteichoic acid; Op den Camp HJ et al.; Phosphatidylglycerol functions as donor of the sn-glycerol 1-phosphate units in the synthesis in vitro of the 1,2-phosphodiester-linked glycerol phosphate backbone of the lipoteichoic acids of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum . The incorporation was catalysed by a membrane-bound enzyme system . After addition of chloroform/methanol the product formed coprecipitated with protein . The material was phenol-extractable and was co-eluted with purified lipoteichoic acid on Sepharose 6B . The reaction was stimulated by Triton X-100, UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose, but Mg2+ ions had no effect . The apparent values for Km and Vmax . of the phosphatidylglycerol incorporation were 1.4 mM and 3.1 nmol/h per mg of membrane protein, respectively . Labelled UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose were not incorporated into the lipoteichoic acid fraction by the particulate membrane preparation.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1985 Jun, 181(1-2), 52 - 63
{Microflora in swine slurry as a parameter in determining the efficiency of deodorizing treatment . II . Treatment with ammonium peroxydisulfate}; Hennlich W; Fresh and stored liquid manure from the pig could be deodorized by addition of 2% (w/v) Ammonperoxodisulfate (= APS) . This effect was accompanied by a rapid increase of the redox potential up to +400 mV, fluctuating oxygen contents of maximal 0.8 mg/l, a significant decrease of pH below 7.0, a complete decomposition of organic nitrogen compounds and a considerable increase of total nitrogen caused by APS-addition . After 20 days, odour production could be noted again in the fresh slurry sample . It is assumed, that this effect is due to a population of yeasts, vigorously grown up towards the end of the test . The stored slurry sample was shown to be stable with respect to deodorization effect and yeasts could be found in portions lesser than 1% . In the fresh as well as in the stored slurry samples, organisms of the genus Bifidobacterium dominated towards the end of manure handling . In spite of an oxidised substrate it is assumed, that these anaerobic to aerotolerant microorganisms found a microbiotope with a reduced environment inside the flocks, built up by APS-addition . The facultatively anaerobic microorganisms, for the most part of the genus Bacillus, which mainly belong to producers of odorous compounds almost could be eliminated within 20 days at the latest by APS-treatment . It should be focused to prevent a secondary odour production by H2S-forming yeasts . This may be managed in future by an odour-reducing minimal APS-addition under a 2%-application . In addition, the costs of APS-treatment of liquid piggery waste could be reduced considerably.

Vopr Pitan, 1985 May-Jun, (3), 17 - 20
{Effectiveness of using Maliutka and Malysh adapted propionic-acidophilus mixtures in the combined treatment of congenital hypotrophy}; Loskutova IE; The physical and psychomotor development, immune responsiveness, and intestinal microflora were studied in 82 infants with congenital hypotrophy depending on the nutrition pattern . It was shown that children who received the propionic-acidophilic mixtures Malyutka and Malush manifested the highest daily weight gain, the most rapid disappearance on the manifestations of food allergy, an increase in immune responsiveness . A decrease in the cultivation rate of Proteus vulgaris and pathogenic staphylococcus, as well as an increase in the cultivation of bifidobacteria . The data obtained permit recommending the use of the propionic-acidophilic mixtures Malyutka and Malysh in combined treatment of children with congenital hypotrophy.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 May, 27(5), 749 - 52
In vitro activity of Sch 34343 and cefbuperazone against anaerobic bacteria; Shafran SD et al.; The in vitro activities of Sch 34343, a new penem antibiotic, and cefbuperazone, a new cephamycin antibiotic, were determined against 459 clinical anaerobic bacterial isolates and compared with the activities of imipenem and cefoxitin, respectively, by an agar dilution method . Both penems showed potent and similar activity against all anaerobic bacteria tested, particularly Peptococcus spp., Bacteroides fragilis, and Clostridium perfringens . All organisms except a single strain of Fusobacterium necrogenes were inhibited by an 8 micrograms/ml concentration of either Sch 34343 or imipenem . Overall, gram-positive bacilli, particularly Lactobacillus species, Clostridium difficile, and Bifidobacterium and Actinomyces species, were relatively more resistant to either penem than other genera of anaerobic bacteria tested . Cefbuperazone demonstrated only modest activity against a wide spectrum of anaerobic bacteria . It had excellent and selective activity against B . fragilis and Bacteroides vulgatus but was highly inactive against Bacteroides distasonis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron within the B . fragilis group . Both cephamycins showed virtually no activity against C . difficile and Lactobacillus spp . Although cefbuperazone was more active against Bifidobacterium spp., it had less activity against Fusobacterium spp., Eubacterium spp., and all Bacteroides spp . other than B . fragilis and B . vulgatus.

Poult Sci, 1985 May, 64(5), 832 - 40
Effects of sorbic acid feed fungistat on the intestinal microflora of floor-reared broiler chickens; Sofos JN et al.; The intestinal microflora of a group of broilers fed a diet containing .04% sorbic acid from Days 1 through 49 of their lives was compared with broilers given a diet without the fungistat . Four broilers from each group were killed at 7, 21, 35, and 49 days, and intestinal sections of the duodenum, the lower small intestine, and both ceca were removed aseptically . Samples of the contents of the intestinal sections were analyzed microbiologically . Groups of microorganisms analyzed included total aerobes, total anaerobes, coliforms, streptococci, lactobacilli, clostridia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, yeasts, and molds . Generally, there was a large variation in viable counts of microorganisms for birds of the same treatment . Of the nine groups of microorganisms analyzed the highest counts obtained (greater than 10(6)/g) were for total aerobes, total anaerobes, lactobacilli, and Bifidobacterium . Coliforms, streptococci, and clostridia showed intermediate counts (greater than 10(3)/g), while yeasts and molds and Bacteroides showed the lowest counts (greater than 10(2)/g) . Total microbial numbers, in most cases and irrespective of sorbic acid treatment, were highest in the ceca, lower in the small intestine, and still lower in the duodenum . There were no major trends of microbial population changes observed in a given treatment, intestinal location, or group of organisms with age and time on feed . Inclusion of sorbic acid in the feed did not influence total aerobes, total anaerobes, lactobacilli, streptococci, Bifidobacterium, and clostridia . However, broilers on sorbic acid-containing feed had, at 49 days of age, lower coliform counts in the duodenum, lower yeast and mold counts in the ceca, and higher Bacteroides counts in the ceca.

Cancer Res, 1985 Mar, 45(3), 1300 - 7
A new morphologically characterized cell wall preparation (whole peptidoglycan) from Bifidobacterium infantis with a higher efficacy on the regression of an established tumor in mice; Sekine K et al.; Three kinds of morphologically distinct cell wall preparations were isolated from heat-killed Bifidobacterium infantis and examined for the relative antitumor efficacy with syngeneic Meth A fibrosarcoma in BALB/c mice . Ultrastructural examinations revealed that cell wall skeleton (CWS) did not retain morphologically recognizable cell wall structure but showed fibrous structure . By contrast, a new cell wall preparation, whole peptidoglycan (WPG), which was isolated from whole cells without being subjected to physically destructive methods, completely retained the intact cell wall structure . When WPG was disrupted by sonic treatment, it retained some degree of physical integrity of cell wall structure, as compared with CWS . The results of chemical analysis indicated that the three cell wall preparations had similar chemical properties . A single s.c . injection of either CWS, WPG, or sonicated WPG in a mixture with tumor cells resulted in a significant suppression of the tumor growth . They were of equally high activity . However, when WPG, sonicated WPG, or CWS was injected intralesionally five times into mice bearing 5-day-old tumors, the incidence of complete tumor regression was demonstrated to decrease in the order of 70, 40, and 20%, respectively . The in vitro cytotoxicity test excluded the possibility that the tumor cell destruction was the result of direct cytotoxicity of the cell wall preparations . From these findings, it was concluded that WPG was an active stimulator of host-mediated response at the tumor-growing sites.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Mar, 131 ( Pt 3), 661 - 8
Immunochemical studies on the lipoteichoic acids of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum; Op den Camp HJ et al.; Antisera to lipoteichoic acid of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum were obtained by injecting lipoteichoic acid/methylated BSA complexes into rabbits . Precipitin tests showed that the glycerol phosphate backbone is primarily responsible for serological specificity while the polysaccharide part of the molecule plays a minor role . Whole cells of B . bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum were capable of absorbing antibodies, indicating the presence of lipoteichoic acid (14% of the total content) at or near the bacterial surface . Cross-reactivity with strains of the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus was tested using absorption of antiserum by whole bacteria and reactivity of phenol extracts . The results indicated that lipoteichoic acid is a common antigen within the genus Bifidobacterium . The cross-reactivity with the lactobacilli tested was very low.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1985, 51(3), 303 - 12
Cell surface hydrophobicity of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum; Op den Camp HJ et al.; The possible role of lipoteichoic acid with respect to cell surface properties of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum was studied . Standard suspensions of bacteria were mixed with octane or xylene . B . bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum was shown to possess a strongly hydrophobic cell surface . Hydrophobicity of the bacteria could be reduced by treatment with trypsin, pepsin (at pH 4.5), HCl and penicillin . The latter treatment resulted in an increased excretion of lipoteichoic acid . Albumin was capable of inhibiting the adherence to octane when it was present in the assay buffer . The data suggest that both protein and lipoteichoic acid may be involved in cell surface hydrophobicity . A great divergence in cell surface properties was observed within the genus Bifidobacterium.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 49(1), 250 - 2
Modulation of cytotoxin production by Clostridium difficile in the intestinal tracts of gnotobiotic mice inoculated with various human intestinal bacteria; Corthier G et al.; Gnotobiotic mice died 2 days after inoculation of a cytotoxigenic Clostridium difficile strain . Protection occurred when mice were previously inoculated with a strain of Escherichia coli or Bifidobacterium bifidum . Intestinal cytotoxin production was highly reduced in the surviving mice, whereas the C . difficile population level did not decrease to a great extent.

Infect Immun, 1985 Jan, 47(1), 332 - 4
Interaction of bifidobacterial lipoteichoic acid with human intestinal epithelial cells; Op den Camp HJ et al.; Binding of the lipoteichoic acids of Bifidobacterium bifidum to human colonic epithelial cells appeared to be specific, reversible, and cell concentration and time dependent . A single population of approximately 8.3 X 10(8) binding sites per cell was detected, with a dissociation constant of 125 microM . Ester-linked fatty acids are essential for binding.

J Immunol, 1985 Jan, 134(1), 573 - 6
A novel IgA protease from Clostridium sp . capable of cleaving IgA1 and IgA2 A2m(1) but not IgA2 A2m(2) allotype paraproteins; Fujiyama Y et al.; Three bacterial strains of Bifidobacterium and Clostridium sp . from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (I.B.D.) and Streptococcus pneumoniae from a patient with pneumonia were identified to produce extracellular proteases cleaving IgA into Fab and Fc fragments . Although the proteases from the Bifidobacterium and the Streptococcus pneumoniae showed the characteristics of typical IgA1 proteases, cleaving the IgA of only the IgA1 subclass, the protease from Clostridium sp . revealed a dual substrate specificity, in that it cleaved both IgA1 and IgA2 of the A2m(1) allotype . The latter protease, however, did not show any activity with respect to the IgA2 of the A2m(2) allotype . Fc fragments isolated from the IgA1 and the IgA2 A2m(1) by digestion with the Clostridium sp . protease were identified to have an identical amino terminal residue of valine . The site of cleavage in both the alpha 1 and the alpha 2 of A2m(1) by the protease was assumed to be an identical peptide bond at Pro(221)-Val(222), which is a common one present just before the hinge of both the alpha 1 and the alpha 2 of the A2m(1) but not of the alpha 2 of the A2m(2) . The protease was sensitive to ethylene-diamino tetraacetic acid, a chelating agent, similar to other already reported IgA1 proteases.

Microbiol Immunol, 1985, 29(6), 487 - 97
Reverse effect of gram-positive bacteria vs . gram-negative bacteria on adjuvant-induced arthritis in germfree rats; Kohashi O et al.; Germfree (GF) F344 rats developed severe adjuvant-induced arthritis with a 100% incidence after a single intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) . Specific pathogene-free (SPF) rats developed less severe arthritis with a lower incidence . The rats colonized with Escherichia coli or Bacteroides developed mild disease comparable to that in SPF rats . The rats colonized with Bifidobacterium, Propionibacterium acnes, Lactobacillus casei, L . fermentum, L . murini, and L . acidophilus developed more severe disease than that in GF rats . Furthermore, the rats colonized with a mixture of E . coli and the above lactobacilli developed very mild disease similar to that in SPF rats . These results suggest that gram-negative bacteria, such as E . coli and Bacteroides, may suppress the disease, possibly through their lipopolysaccharides, and may be responsible for the lower susceptibility of SPF rats; gram-positive bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, P . acnes, and lactobacilli, may enhance the disease, possibly through their peptidoglycans; and E . coli may play a dominant role in modulating the development of adjuvant-induced arthritis.

J Steroid Biochem, 1984 Nov, 21(5), 563 - 9
Bacterial formation of aldosterone metabolites; Winter J et al.; The experiments described in this paper demonstrate that most of the metabolic alterations of the aldosterone molecule, hitherto attributed to hepatic enzymes, equally well may be carried out by enzymes synthesized by anaerobic bacteria from the human gut . The steroid reductases synthesized by Clostridium paraputrificum, Clostridium J-1, and Clostridium innocuum convert aldosterone to the 3 alpha, 5 beta tetrahydroaldosterone (THA), 3 beta, 5 alpha-THA, and 3 alpha, 5 alpha-THA, respectively . All three enzymes metabolize 5 alpha.dihydroaldosterone to a single compound: 3 beta, 5 alpha-THA . Bifidobacterium adolescentis reduces aldosterone to 20 beta-dihydroaldosterone . In mixed cultures of B . adolescentis and clostridia, the individual enzymes operate independently of each other; however, about half of the aldosterone metabolites are in the free form and half in the acetal form . By appropriate selection of substrate and bacterial strains, therefore, it is possible to biosynthesize not only three of the THA isomers but also the hexahydroisomers in free form as well as in the acetal form.

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1984 Nov, 3(5), 709 - 12
Urea utilization by the intestinal flora, of infants fed mother's milk and a formula diet, as measured with the 15N-tracer technique; Heine W et al.; 15N-Incorporation by intestinal bacteria was measured under different feeding conditions in 16 infants after a single oral loading of 165 mg {15N2}urea X kg-1 body weight as a tracer . In five subjects on a mother's milk diet, the 15N-excess in the isolated intestinal bacteria was 1.08 (0.17-1.85) atom-% . The mean 15N-excess in the intestinal flora of five formula-fed subjects did not differ significantly from these values {0.63 (0.17-1.05) atom-%} . A trend to a higher incorporation of 15N from labeled urea by the intestinal flora was seen in four infants, who were adapted to an increased nutritional urea supply on a special formula, containing 14 g of milk protein, 80 g lactose, 36 g fat, and 0.35 g urea X L-1 . The same observation was made in two infants with chronic renal failure . The incorporation of urea nitrogen by the putrefactive intestinal flora of infants on a formula diet as well as by the bifidobacterial flora of those on mother's milk feeding indicates the utilization of ureas as a source of bacterial protein and nucleic acid synthesis . The adaptive usage of urea for the bacterial metabolism can be considered as a sign of supportive detoxification by the intestinal flora.

Gene, 1984 Nov, 31(1-3), 251 - 5
BinI: a new site-specific endonuclease from Bifidobacterium infantis; Khosaka T et al.; A new restriction endonuclease, BinI, from Bifidobacterium infantis 659 has been isolated . By mapping and sequencing of the cleavage sites on SV40 DNA, it was deduced that BinI recognizes the asymmetric pentanucleotide sequence (formula; see text) and cleaves at the sites indicated by the arrows, generating mononucleotide 5'-terminal extensions . BinI is a member of a unique class of Type-II restriction endonucleases which recognize a specific but asymmetric sequence and cleave at a site several bases away.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1984 Nov, 365(11), 1309 - 21
{H-NMR spectroscopy . Specificity of microbial sialidases against complex substrates}; Friebolin H et al.; The specificities of one viral and five bacterial sialidases were investigated by 1H-NMR-spectroscopy with substrates or substrate mixtures containing two sialic acid residues of different linkage types . This technique allows - in contrast to the methods used before - the simultaneous determination of the rates of hydrolysis of both NeuAc linkages in a single experiment . The substrate specificities of the enzymes are discussed on the basis of the relation of the rate constants k/k' . The data obtained are more exact and more informative than those of separate experiments as reported previously . Among the enzymes investigated, i.e . sialidases of fowl plague virus (FPV = VKH), Clostridium perfringens (CP), Vibrio cholerae (VC), Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicum (BBif), Bifidobacterium lactentis (BLac), and Arthrobacter ureafaciens (AU), the activity of the viral sialidase VKH shows the highest, the activities of the Bifidobacterium sialidases the lowest dependence on the nature and on the linkage type of the different substrates . All sialidases preferentially cleave the NeuAc alpha 2-3-Gal linkage with the exception of the enzyme of Arthrobacter ureafaciens (AU) which shows a higher affinity to alpha 2-6 linkages . However, this does not apply to the side-arm-linked NeuAc alpha 2-6 structure in NeuAc alpha 2-3 Gal beta 1-3 (NeuAc alpha 2-6)-GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc (Substrate B) . This substrate in generally cleaved very slowly and is hardly affected by the viral enzyme . After the alpha 2-3 linkage, the alpha 2-8 bond in NeuAc alpha 2-8 NeuAc alpha 2-3 Gal beta 1-4Glc(Substrate A) is most susceptible for the sialidases VKH, CP and VC . An elongation of the carbohydrate chain (Substrate D) is accompanied by a reduction of the rate of cleavage for all enzymes . The experiments with alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, and with the glycopeptides obtained by proteolytic degradation of the latter, revealed the same specificity towards the alpha 2-3 and the alpha 2-6 linkages as the oligosaccharides . Influenced by the chemical nature and the size of the substrate, NeuAc is released from the native alpha 1-acid glycoprotein more quickly than from the corresponding glycopeptide . All sialidases investigated so far are strictly exo-enzymes as could be demonstrated by the cleavage of NeuAc alpha 2-8 NeuAc alpha 2-3 Gal beta 1-4Glc (Substrate A).

Microbiologica, 1984 Oct, 7(4), 341 - 5
Species of the Bifidobacterium in the feces of infants; Biavati B et al.; A total of 907 strains of bifidobacteria isolated from the feces of breast-fed and artificial milk-fed infants were studied . Their assignment to known species of the genus Bifidobacterium was primarily based on DNA homology relationships . The strains were classified as B . bifidum, B . breve, B . catenulatum, B . dentium, B . infantis, B . longum and B . pseudocatenulatum . The distribution of these species is reported.

Microbiologica, 1984 Oct, 7(4), 331 - 9
Colonization of a human intestine by four different genotypes of Lactobacillus acidophilus; Sarra PG et al.; To understand the effect on a human host suffering from intestinal disorders we supplied non fat milk cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus for 25 days . The picture of the faeces bacterial count was completely different before and after treatment and we noticed increases in lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and coliforms while the clostridia decreased . The lactobacilli treatment solved the diarrohea problem . Of the four genetic lines of L . acidophilus supplied only D179, isolated from calf faeces, and ATCC 4356 of human origin were found able to colonize the intestine of the little girl, while 255S isolated from swine and D328 isolated from calf faeces, did not find favourable growth conditions.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Sep 12, 795(2), 301 - 13
Structure of the lipoteichoic acids from Bifidobacterium bifidum spp . pennsylvanicum; Op den Camp HJ et al.; The lipoteichoic acids from Bifidobacterium bifidum spp . pennsylvanicum were extracted from cytoplasmic membranes or from disintegrated bacteria with aqueous phenol and purified by gel chromatography . The lipoteichoic acid preparations contained phosphate, glycerol, galactose, glucose and fatty acids in a molar ratio of 1.0:1.0:1.3:1.2:0.3 . Chemical analysis and NMR studies of the native preparations and of products from various acid and alkaline hydrolysis procedures gave evidence for the structure of two lipoteichoic acids . The lipid anchor appeared to be 3-O-(6'-(sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl)diacyl-beta-D-galactofuranosyl)-sn-1, 2-diacylglycerol . The polar part showed two structural features not previously described for lipoteichoic acids . A 1,2-(instead of the usual 1,3-) phosphodiester-linked sn-glycerol phosphate chain is only used substituted at the terminal glycerol unit with a linear polysaccharide, containing either beta(1----5)-linked D-galactofuranosyl groups or beta(1----6)-linked D-glucopyranosyl groups.

J Dent Res, 1984 Aug, 63(8), 1037 - 9
The ureolytic microflora of immature dental plaque before and after rinsing with a urea-based mineralizing solution; Gallagher IH et al.; Ureolytic bacteria were detected in the plaque flora of six subjects, and included members of the genera Actinomyces, Bifidobacterium, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus . Proportions of these organisms did not change after subjects mouthrinsed thrice daily for four days with a plaque-mineralizing solution which contained urea and mono-fluorophosphate . The effectiveness of this rinse depends on the rapid metabolism of urea to alkali by plaque organisms, causing fluoridated apatite to precipitate in the matrix . Analysis of our data suggests that a numerically minor component of the flora, with a high turnover rate, is responsible for most of the ureolysis and the subsequent mineral precipitation.

Vet Med (Praha), 1984 Aug, 29(8), 473 - 7
{Adherence of bacteria to epithelial cells of the rumen wall}; Kmet' V et al.; A method was developed for the quality and quantity testing of the adherence of bacteria to epithelial cells isolated from the rumen wall of sheep and cows . It was possible by this method to include the tested strains of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Staphylococcus and Escherichia microorganisms in groups of highly adherent, intermediate and slightly adherent microorganisms . The possibilities of using this method for the study of influencing the adherence of epimural rumen bacteria are studied.

Br Poult Sci, 1984 Apr, 25(2), 227 - 31
Bile acid deconjugation and attachment of chicken gut bacteria: their possible role in growth depression; Cole CB et al.; Bacteria isolated from the chicken gut were tested for their ability to deconjugate bile acids and attach to chicken epithelial cells (crop squamous cells and duodenal brush borders) . Clostridium perfringens, streptococci and some of the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were able to deconjugate all 4 substrates whereas the bacteroides deconjugated only the taurine conjugates and the coliforms were completely inactive . None of the strains of Escherichia coli or streptococci attached to squamous cells, but the anaerogenic coliform, the strain of Klebsiella aerogenes and the lactobacilli did show attachment . Attachment to brush borders was obtained with the anaerogenic coliforms, K . aerogenes, 2 out of 5 of the lactobacilli, and 4 out of 9 of the streptococci, but none of the strains of E . coli.

Z Ernahrungswiss, 1984 Mar, 23(1), 41 - 51
Barrier effect of Bifidobacterium longum on a pathogenic Escherichia coli strain by gut colonization in the germ-free rat; Faure JC et al.; The predominance of Bifidobacteria in normal breast-fed babies is well established . Even under unfavourable hygienic conditions of delivery and during the breast-feeding period Bifidobacteria develop and colonize the intestinal tract at high concentrations . In the present study we investigated the interaction between Bifidobacterium longum and a pathogenic E . coli strain in the germ-free rat . Sequential counts of the two bacterial strains allowed their proliferation to be followed . Electron microscopic as well as light microscopic examinations of selected intestinal mucosa segments revealed minor morphological changes . Bifidobacterium completely protected the rats against mortality from a consecutive infection with E . coli . Repeated inoculation of Bifidobacteria even decreased and kept down the initial E . coli population . Thus it appears that the germ-free rat is an appropriate model to study the development and interaction of both bacterial species and that the sequence of inoculation is most important.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S62 - 6
Anaerobes as normal oral flora; Sutter VL; The human mouth provides a suitable habitat for numerous bacterial genera . Anaerobic genera or genera that include anaerobic members found in the oral cavity are Actinomyces, Arachnia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, Fusobacterium, Lactobacillus, Leptotrichia, Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Propionibacterium, Selenomonas, Treponema, and Veillonella . The incidence of anaerobes varies with age of the individual and with specific sites sampled . In edentulous infants, the incidence of anaerobes is relatively low . In adults, anaerobes are invariably present but are more prevalent in samples from the gingival sulcus than they are in samples from the gingival margin, tooth surfaces, buccal mucosa, tongue, or saliva . In samples from the healthy gingival sulcus, anaerobic, gram-positive bacilli are found in the range of 5%-14%; gram-negative bacilli in the range of 13%-29%; Veillonella in the range of 2%-8%; and gram-positive cocci in the range of 1%-15% of the cultivable flora . From marginal plaque and plaque from the tooth surface, gram-positive bacilli, gram-positive cocci, and Veillonella appear to be the predominant anaerobes . In saliva, Veillonella are the most numerous anaerobes.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Mar-Apr, 6 Suppl 1, S187 - 92
Anaerobic infections in childhood; Brook I; Anaerobic bacteria are part of the normal flora of mucous membranes and outnumber aerobic bacteria in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract . Anaerobes can be isolated from pediatric patients with various infections when appropriate techniques for transportation and cultivation of samples are employed . Frequently anaerobes are isolated in combination with other facultative or aerobic bacteria . The genera or groups of anaerobes most frequently isolated from pyogenic infections in children are (in order of decreasing frequency) OFFteroides, Clostridium, gram-positive cocci, Fusobacterium, gram-positive rods (Eubacterium, Lactobacillus, Propionibacterium, Actinomyces, and Bifidobacterium), and gram-negative cocci (Veillonella and Acidaminococcus) . Clostridium perfringens causes bacteremia and wound infections . Clostridium botulinum can produce a paralytic toxin that causes a lethal illness in adults and a paralytic syndrome in infants . Clostridium difficile can cause antibiotic-associated colitis or diarrhea . Bacteroides fragilis is most frequently involved in intraabdominal infections, infections of the female genital tract, subcutaneous abscesses, and bacteremia . Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Bacteroides oralis are the predominent anaerobes in orofacial infections and aspiration pneumonia . Fusobacterium species are pathogens in aspiration pneumonia, brain abscesses, and orofacial infections . Anaerobic gram-positive cocci can be recovered from all types of infections but predominate in respiratory tract and intra-abdominal infections . Recognition of the pathogenic qualities of the various anaerobic organisms can assist in their prompt identification and in the initiation of appropriate therapy.

Z Ernahrungswiss, 1984 Mar, 23(1), 66 - 75
{Bacteria and dietary fiber}; Bomar MT; The presence of cellulose particles, so in-vitro studies have shown, influences the growth rate and metabolic activity of the bacteria Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Chromobacterium violaceum . After the homogenization in Waring Blendor, the growth rate has been found to be highest in a medium containing 10% cellulose particles and to show a decreasing tendency in media containing 5%, 1% and 0% cellulose . The biochemical intensity, judged by glucose consumption and intensity of nitrate reduction, showed an inverse tendency . It seems necessary to add also the factor "biochemical activity" of the microorganisms to the effect of dietary fibres in the intestinal tract.

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1984, 3(1), 137 - 42
Effect of various metals and calcium metabolism inhibitors on the growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus; Topouzian N et al.; In view of the facts that the normal intestinal flora exerts beneficial effects and that bifidobacteria are a more important component in the breast-fed than in the bottle-fed infant, factors affecting the growth of the latter microorganisms are of interest . A series of transition and other metals were shown to be growth inhibitors of Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus . Such inhibition could be reversed fully or partially by 0.5-1.0 mM Fe2+ in the case of Zn2+, Cu2+, Au3+, Pt4+, La3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+, but not with Ag+, Hg2+, and VO2+ . In addition, 2-4 mM Ca2+ substantially relieved the inhibitory effects of Zn2+, Mn2+, and La3+, and partially relieved the effects of Cd2+ . Mg2+ was ineffective in relieving Zn2+ inhibition, but Ba2+ and Sr2+ could replace Ca2+ to some extent . The calcium metabolism antagonists verapamil, ruthenium red, 2-chloroadenosine, lasalocid, Ca-ionophore A-23187, and calmodulin inhibitors W-5 and W-7 inhibited microbial growth . Inhibition could be relieved fully or partially with 0.5-1 mM Fe2+ . Mg2+ relieved the inhibition by lasalocid, Ca-ionophore A-23187, and verapamil, whereas Ca2+ was effective only in the case of Ca-ionophore A-23187 . We conclude that calcium and magnesium fluxes play an important role in the physiology of the bifidobacteria and that several metal growth inhibitors interfere with iron metabolism.

Clin Physiol Biochem, 1984, 2(6), 291 - 7
Iron uptake by the microaerophilic anaerobe Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus; Bezkorovainy A; A system was designed to investigate ferrous iron transport into Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus . It involved the incubation of the organisms with labeled ferrous iron in the Norris medium at pH 5, in which the bacteria had grown . Iron uptakes were similar under aerobic and anaerobic conditions . Ferrous but not ferric iron was taken up by the organisms . Iron uptake showed saturation kinetics and a marked temperature dependence . 2,4-Dinitrophenol and thenoltrifluoroacetate but not azide or trypsin treatment inhibited iron uptake . Zinc inhibited iron uptake competitively . Iron uptake from used medium was much greater than that from fresh medium at the same pH . It is concluded that ferrous iron uptake by the microorganisms is a carrier-mediated active phenomenon, inhibited by zinc, which may involve a substance elaborated into the medium by the organism.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(6-7), 689 - 93
Microecology of the gastrointestinal tract and the immunological status under food allergy; Kuvaeva IB et al.; In children suffering from food allergy the microecology of the gut and the immune status were examined . As a rule, sensitization due to the penetration of the epithelial barrier of the intestinum by macromolecules of the food is not accompanied by deficiency of secretory IgA . In all cases dysbacteriosis of different degree was observed with a characteristic picture of deficiency of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli combined with rising numbers of Enterobacteriaceae . Correlations to an altered immune response are obvious.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(6-7), 619 - 25
{The effect of nutrition on intestinal flora}; Mitsuoka T; In several groups of probands the influence of nutrition on the gut flora has been examined . In old people there is a striking decrease in the numbers of Bifidobacteria whereas those of Clostridium perfringens strongly increase and those of Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacilli can be found somewhat higher than in the compared group . In a group of longevitial old aged men nourished with a fibre-rich diet these alterations are found less striking . Changing from a mixed Japanese diet to a "western diet" a tendentious decrease in the total number of bacteria and in the numbers of Bifidobacteria, Eubacteria, and in moderate, in the numbers of Streptococci, too, could be determined . Simultaneously, a considerable development of nitrosamines occurred . In C3H/Hemice a glucomannan containing (fibre-rich) diet caused a substantial increase in the evidence frequency of Bifidobacterium and in the numbers of Enterobacteriaceae . Parallel with these results incidence and average number of noduli of manifested hepatic carcinoma decreased remarkably.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(4), 449 - 55
{Use of the gnotobiotic rat for determination of the in vivo activity of Bifidobacterium beta-galactosidase}; Schulze J et al.; Under the conditions of in vitro cultivation, the height of the beta-galactosidase activity of Bifidobacterium spec . is essentially influenced by the composition of the culture medium . The use of gnotobiotic (germ-free and monoassociated with Bifidobacterium longum) rats permitted to differentiate in the chyme between beta-galactosidase activities of mucosal and microbial origin . In germ-free animals, the chyme in the small intestine and the colon contains nearly 10-20% of the activity measured in the mucosa (in each case expressed as g on a wet-weight basis) . Monoassociation with B . longum does not affect the lactose-splitting activity of the chyme in the small intestine, but increases the activity of the chyme in the colon to twice the value of the mucosal activity . In the monoassociated animals, feeding of lactose leads to a further multiple increase of the chymal beta-galactosidase activity in the caecum, colon and faeces.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(6-7), 723 - 6
{Growth of anaerobes of the upper small intestine using the glovebox technic}; Bernhardt H et al.; With 80 patients a microecologic analysis of the duodenal flora has been performed . Due to the optimal cultivation technique with the glove-box more frequently as supposed till now, anaerobes with partial high numbers could be detected, and classified to different types of dysbiosis . A striking role among the isolated and classified gram-positive roots play the genera Eubacterium, Propionibacterium, Actinomyces, and Bifidobacterium . Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus are to be found frequently, too . Furthermore the numbers of gram-negative anaerobes are high.

FEBS Lett, 1983 Nov 14, 163(2), 170 - 4
Two site-specific endonucleases BinSI and BinSII from Bifidobacterium infantis; Khosaka T et al.; Two site-specific endonucleases, BinSI and BinSII, were isolated from Bifidobacterium infantis S76e . BinSI was found to be an isoschizomer of EcoRII, while BinSII was shown to have the same sequence and cutting specificity as BbeI, 5'-GGCGC decreases C-3' . Both BinSII- and BbeI-generated DNA fragments could be ligated with HaeII-generated DNA fragments.

Infect Immun, 1983 Nov, 42(2), 716 - 20
Extracellular dextranase activity produced by human oral strains of the genus Bifidobacterium; Kaster AG et al.; Three strains of anaerobic, dextranase-producing, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from human dental plaque associated with root carious lesions . The isolates produced a molar ratio of acetate to lactate from glucose fermentation ranging from 1.1 to 1.9 . Each strain also produced fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase . The isolates were identified as belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, but from their carbohydrate fermentation patterns they did not appear to be strains of Bifidobacterium dentium . These microorganisms fermented high-molecular-weight dextrans . A partial characterization of the dextranase activity was included in this study and revealed an extracellular dextranase with a pH optimum of 7.1 . Analysis of the dextran degradation products demonstrated the liberation of saccharides larger than 1 glucose unit . It was concluded that this enzyme used an endohydrolytic mode of dextran cleavage.

Pediatrics, 1983 Sep, 72(3), 317 - 21
Development and differences of intestinal flora in the neonatal period in breast-fed and bottle-fed infants; Yoshioka H et al.; The development of stool bacterial flora was studied in breast-fed and bottle-fed infants . In both groups of infants, the intestine was first colonized with enterobacteria and their number attained 10(9) per gram of feces . On day 6, bifidobacteria were the predominant organisms in the stool of breast-fed infants, exceeding enterobacteria by a ratio of 1,000:1, whereas enterobacteria were the predominant organisms in formula-fed infants, exceeding bifidobacteria by approximately 10:1 . At 1 month of age, bifidobacteria were the most prevalent organisms in both groups but the number of these organisms in the stool of bottle-fed infants was approximately one tenth that of breast-fed infants . The properties of breast milk that promote the growth of bifidobacteria and suppress the growth of coliform and other potentially pathogenic organisms, theoretically, would help to minimize the incidence of neonatal diseases caused by these organisms . The results would support the advantages of breast-feeding for optimal care of newborn infants.

Antibiotiki, 1983 Jun, 28(6), 418 - 21
{Antibiotic sensitivity of bifidobacteria and lactobacteria used in the preparation of bifidobacterin and lactobacterin}; Grigor'eva VM et al.; Sensitivity of industrial strains and market preparations, such as bifidumbacterin and lactobacterin was studied with respect to 19 antibiotics . The MIC was determined with the method of serial dilutions . It was shown that bifidumbacteria and lactobacteria were either highly sensitive or markedly resistant to the antibiotics.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Jun, (6), 77 - 81
{Quantitative relationships between various representatives of gastrointestinal microflora of experimental animals (rats) in normal conditions and after immunosuppression with imuran}; Amanov NA; The influence of imuran (an analog of nitrogen ioprin) on the quantitative relationship between lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, bacteroids and aerobic autoflora in different sections of the gastrointestinal tract of white rats was studied under experimental conditions . On days 7-14-30 after the introduction of imuran into the gastrointestinal tract dysbacteriosis developed; it was characterized by a decrease in the number of lactobacilli and asporogenic anaerobic microflora and an increase in the number of aerobic microorganisms . By days 60-90 the content of aerobic microbes in all sections of the gastrointestinal tract was still elevated, while the rapid restoration of the number of bacteroids took place . Therefore, immunosuppression therapy with imuran may give rise to autoinfectious complications caused by different representatives of infective microflora.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Jun, (6), 41 - 6
{Adaptation of the antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria in the intestines of normal and pathogen-free animals}; Pinegin BV et al.; Antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria have the ability to actively interact with mucosal tissue from the intestine of mice and rats in vitro and to adapt well in the intestinal tract of normal and germ-free rats, when introduced both with and without antibiotics; in some cases antibiotics enhance the ability of bifidobacteria to adapt in the intestine . The interaction between antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria and mucosal tissue from the intestine remains unaffected by the prolonged action of 0.1M SDS and Tween-80 solutions, 0.1% trypsin and hyaluronidase . Antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria introduced into the intestinal tract of rats in combination with gentamycin effectively inhibit the multiplication of exogenous enterobacteria infecting the digestive tract after the cessation of the antibiotic administration.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1983 May-Jun, 134A(3), 339 - 49
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Bifidobacterium; Matteuzzi D et al.; The susceptibility pattern of 459 strains of bifidobacteria, representing 15 species, to 16 antimicrobial agents was determined by the broth dilution method . The majority of the strains derived from human faeces . Penicillin G, erythromycin, clindamycin, vancomycin and bacitracin were the most active compounds; they inhibited 90% of the strains at less than 1.6 micrograms/ml . All strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol (MIC90 = 2.0-5.8 micrograms/ml) and also to lincomycin (MIC50 = 0.64-1.5 micrograms/ml) . Neomycin, streptomycin and tetracycline presented a great variability in their activity . Most strains were resistant to polymyxin B, nalidixic acid, kanamycin, gentamicin and metronidazole . The only variation in susceptibility which was observed among the different species concerned Bifidobacterium suis, which generally appeared to be more resistant than other species.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 May, (5), 28 - 32
{Joint use of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria in treating acute intestinal infections}; Pinegin BV et al.; Acute dysentery and other acute intestinal diseases with obscure etiology are accompanied by pronounced intestinal dysbacteriosis which is manifested, on one hand, by the increased levels of Escherichia, enterobacteria, staphylococci and by the appearance of Klebsiella and Proteus in large amounts and, on the other hand, by an essential decrease in the number of lactic acid streptococci, lactobacteria, bifidobacteria . The treatment of dysentery and other intestinal diseases with obscure etiology with antibiotics, while eliminating the infective agent, leads to the aggravation of intestinal dysbacteriosis . The combined use of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria in intestinal infections with obscure etiology contributes to the effective restoration of normal intestinal microflora already in the process of antibiotic therapy.

Microbiologica, 1983 Apr, 6(2), 169 - 73
Plasmids and phages in Bifidobacterium longum; Sgorbati B et al.; Fourteen strains of Bifidobacterium longum were tested for phage production with UV and mitomycin C as inducing agents . Only four strains released phage-like particles; of these four strains, two harbour plasmids, while two are apparently plasmid free . The induced phages have heads of dimensions ranging from 49 to 56 nm and tails from 76 to 268 nm long . No correlation is evident between any of the large variety of plasmids of B . longum and induced phages.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Jan, (1), 59 - 64
{Use of antibiotic-resistant Bifidobacterium in treating ulcerative-necrotic enterocolitis in young children}; Pinegin BV et al.; Ulceronecrotic colitis in premature children is accompanied by the development of pronounced intestinal dysbacteriosis characterized by a sharp increase in the number of Escherichia, enterococci, staphylococci and the appearance of opportunistic enterobacteria (Klebsiella, Serratia, Citrobacter, Proteus) in large amounts . Clinical convalescence was observed in 2 weeks in children receiving antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria with antibiotics and in 3-4 weeks in children receiving commercial bifidobacteria with antibiotics, while children treated only with antibiotics showed no signs of clinical convalescence during the whole course of treatment . After the course of treatment the most effective recovery of the intestinal microflora was observed in the group of patients who had received antibiotics in combination with antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria . It was manifested by a decrease in the number of Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Serratia, staphylococci and enterococci simultaneously with an increase in the number of endogenous lactobacilli and bifidobacteria . In those children who had received commercial bifidobacteria in combination with antibiotics or had been treated only with antibiotics the process of the recovery of the intestinal microflora was considerably less pronounced than in the patients of the first group; a decrease in the number of Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus and Serratia occurred to a lesser extent, and at the same time an essential increase in the number of enterococci and staphylococci was observed . The level of endogenous lactobacilli and bifidobacteria was considerably reduced . Antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria actively took in the intestine of the patients . On day 5 after the course of treatment was over their level was (4.3 +/- 0.4) X 10(4) cells/g feces.

Antibiotiki, 1983 Jan, 28(1), 18 - 22
{Aerobic and anaerobic microflora in experimental drug-induced enterocolitis}; Poliak MS et al.; The results of studying aerobic and anaerobic intestinal microflora of rabbits with experimental enterocolitis caused by administration of 7-chlor-7-desoxylincomycin are presented . An increased number of E . coli and some other gram-negative bacteria was noted . It was shown that the quantitative and qualitative composition of the obligate anaerobic microflora was changed: the number of cells of the bacteroids, bifidobacteria, peptococci and peptostreptococci resistant to the antibiotic was low, but the number of clostridia cells resistant to the antibiotic was high . On the basis of a thorough investigation the latter cultures were classified as belonging to Cl . butyricum.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1983 Jan, 66(1), 135 - 9
High performance liquid chromatographic determination of Bifidobacterium bifidum growth factors in human milk; Ashoor SH et al.; An isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the determination of Bifidobacterium bifidum growth factors in human milk . The method involves the gradual addition of 3 volumes of ethanol to the milk sample, filtration, and analysis of the growth factors in the filtrate by HPLC . The HPLC system consisted of a carbohydrate analysis column, a water-acetonitrile (70 + 30) solvent system, a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and a refractive index detector . The method is simpler and requires less time than the present microbiological method . Moreover, it revealed for the first time the presence of 2 separable growth factors in all human milk samples tested . The HPLC method developed is sensitive and can be used to monitor the type and the amount of growth factors in mothers' milk during lactation.

Ann Rech Vet, 1983, 14(4), 354 - 9
Implantation and development of the gut flora in the newborn animal; Ducluzeau R; The newborn mammal, germfree in the mother's uterus, steps in complex microbial environment as soon as born . Bacterial development in the digestive cavities of the newborn animal, from the environmental bacteria, occurs very quickly . Within three hours after birth a small microbial population is present in the piglet, baby mouse or human baby . Within twelve hours after birth, dominant microbial population of the newborn animal can be as important as that of the adult animal . In any case, this highest level is reached within 24 h after birth . Studying several animal species, one observes a certain diversity in the steps of establishment of the principal bacterial groups . For instance, facultative anaerobic bacteria appear before strictly anaerobic bacteria in the young mouse, whereas the opposite situation happens in the young hare . In the calf and the piglet, strictly and facultative bacteria establish approximatively at the same time . On day one after birth E . coli and Streptococci establish in the human infant, and also species belonging to genus Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium . This last genus becomes dominant from 4 to 5 days after birth . The newborn successively meets three different bacterial ecosystems: maternal vagina, maternal feces and finally environment where it is reared . Each of these three ecosystems probably takes a role in the elaboration of the newborn animals flora, but in proportion difficult to estimate . Any way, one can state that the newborn possess powerful systems to sort out certain specific bacterial species among those constituting the environmental population to which he is exposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Dec, 44(6), 1428 - 34
Cellulolytic and non-cellulolytic bacteria in rat gastrointestinal tracts; Macy JM et al.; Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species were the predominant organisms isolated from small intestinal (jejunal) contents of rats, and lactic acid was the only organic acid detected . The numbers of cellulolytic bacteria in small intestines were low (approximately 10(3)/g) . The fermentation in ceca was different from that in intestines, as, in addition to small amounts of lactic acid, high concentrations of volatile fatty acids were detected . The mixed cecal microflora was able to digest cellulose (pebble-milled Whatman no . 1) and cabbage . High numbers of cellulolytic bacteria were found (0.5 X 10(8) to 12.2 X 10(8)/g; 6% of total viable bacteria) . The predominant celluloytic organism isolated was Bacteroides succinogenes . Ruminococcus flavifaciens was isolated from a few animals . The kinds and numbers of the predominant non-cellulolytic organisms isolated from rat ceca were similar to those described by previous workers.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Oct, 1(5), 267 - 71
A new selective medium for the culture of clostridia from human faeces; de Vos N et al.; A new selective medium, sulphite-polymixin-milk (SPM) agar, for the isolation of clostridia from faeces is described . This medium contains whole cow's milk, which favours the growth of clostridia over that of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium spp., and only small amounts of colistin (10 micrograms/ml) for suppressing growth of coliforms . The alkaline end-products of clostridia give rise to yellow colonies on a red background which are easy to distinguish from the red colonies of other not completely inhibited bacteria . The medium is suitable for isolation of many clostridia species . Comparisons were made between SPM and several other media for recovery of clostridia . The detection limit on SPM agar was more than 10(3) below that on Reinforced Clostridia Agar (Oxoid CM101).

J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Sep, 128 (Pt 9), 2121 - 31
Plasmids in the genus Bifidobacterium; Sgorbati B et al.; A total of 1461 bacterial isolates, representing 24 different species of the genus Bifidobacterium, were examined for the presence of plasmid DNA . Approximately 20% of the isolates contained detectable plasmids, but only four species were presented: B . longum, the predominant bifid species in the human intestine; B . globosum, the most common in animals; and B . asteroides and B . indicum, species found exclusively in the intestines of western and asiatic honey bees, respectively . Multiple plasmids were common among isolates of B . longum and B . asteroides, while all plasmid-bearing isolates of B . globosum and 60% of B . indicum isolates contained only one plasmid each . Certain multiple plasma profiles were predominant among the B . longum and B . asteroides isolates.

J Med Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(2), 189 - 203
The microbial ecology of the large bowel of breast-fed and formula-fed infants during the first year of life; Stark PL et al.; The succession of bacterial populations in the large bowel of seven breast-fed and seven formula-fed infants was examined during the first year of life . The composition of the intestinal microflora varied according to the infant's diet . During the first week of life breast-fed and formula-fed infants were colonised by enterobacteria and enterococci followed by bifidobacteria, Bacteroides spp., clostridia and anaerobic streptococci . From week 4 until solid foods were given, breast-fed babies had a simple flora consisting of bifidobacteria and relatively few enterobacteria and enterococci . Formula-fed babies during the corresponding period were more often colonised by other anaerobes in addition to bifidobacteria and had higher counts of facultatively anaerobic bacteria . The introduction of solid food to the breast-fed infants caused a major disturbance in the microbial ecology of the large bowel as counts of enterobacteria and enterococci rose sharply and colonisation by Bacteroides spp., clostridia and anaerobic streptococci occurred . This was not observed when formula-fed infants began to take solids; instead, counts of facultative anaerobes remained high while colonisation by anaerobes other than bifidobacteria continued . At 12 months, the anaerobic bacterial populations of the large bowel of breast-fed and formula-fed infants were beginning to resemble those of adults in number and composition and there was a corresponding decrease in the number of facultative anaerobes . These changes are discussed in relation to changes in susceptibility to gastro-intestinal infection.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1982 May, 130(5), 284 - 6
{Urea as a substrate for the intestinal flora of the infant (author's transl)}; Heine W et al.; The significance of the relatively high urea content of mothers milk for infant nutrition was investigated using 15N urea as a tracer by oral loading tests and an in-vitro culturing of bifidobacteria . The urea level of 6 mother's milk specimens was found to be 295 +/- 49 mg/l . There was a distinct incorporation of 15N into the intestinal bacterial fraction following 15N urea loadings in 3 infants, receiving mother's milk and 2 cows milk formulas which contained 1.8 and 2.1% of protein . The incorporation rate did not differ between the single types of feeding . In contrast to these findings the 15N incorporation into the bacterial flora of an infant suffering from kidney insufficiency was about 30 times higher than in healthy infants . Bifidobacteria infants derived from the feces of a breastfed infant utilised 15N from 15N urea added to the culture medium in concentrations of 20 mg per 100 ml . After incubating the culture for 2 days at 37 degrees C the 15N-excess of nitrogen fraction of the bifidobacteria amounted to 0.47 atom-% . Urea therefore can directly serve as a substrate for bifidobacteria on mother's milk feeding.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1982 May-Jun, 133(3), 417 - 23
Urease activity in the genus Bifidobacterium; Crociani F et al.; The urease activity of 414 strains representing 21 species of the genus Bifidobacterium was surveyed . The strongest ureolytic strains belong mostly to the species B . suis and only a few to B . breve, B . magnum and "subtile" homology group . The study of some strongly ureolytic strains showed that urea and organic nitrogen concentration did not influence urease production . The high urease activity found also in the absence of urea suggested that this enzyme is not inducible . An ammonia concentration of 14 mM did not repress urease activity.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 May, (5), 50 - 3
{Effect of the combined use of antibiotic-resistant bifidobacteria and the corresponding antibiotics on the survivability of irradiated mice}; Korshunov VM et al.; The combined administration of antibiotic-resistant bifidobacterial strains and the corresponding antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamycin or kanamycin) leads to a greater increase in the survival rate of irradiated mice than the administration of antibiotics only and is a promising method for the treatment of post-irradiation intestinal dysbacteriosis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Apr, (4), 50 - 6
{Principles of decontaminating the small intestine with bacterial preparations in experimental antibiotic dysbacteriosis}; Martynov AI et al.; Introduction of antibiotic-resistant bifidobacterial and lactobacterial strains, separately or together, does not decrease the degree and duration of contamination of the small intestine by enterobacteria after oral administration of antibiotics in large doses . The use of antibiotic-resistant bifidobacterial and lactobacterial strains allows one to decrease contamination of the small intestine by enterobacteria, resulting from the administration of antibiotics in near-therapeutic doses . The therapeutic effectiveness of bacterial preparations with respect to antibiotic dysbacteriosis has been found to depend on the level of resistance to the administered antibiotic . Antibiotic-resistant strains of bifidobacteria decrease the number of opportunistic microorganisms in the intestine in cases of dysbacteriosis caused by irradiation and administration of antibiotics.

Infect Immun, 1982 Mar, 35(3), 861 - 8
Purification and certain properties of a bacteriocin from Streptococcus mutans; Ikeda T et al.; An inhibition factor from Streptococcus mutans strain C3603 (serotype c) was purified and isolated, and its properties indicated that it was a bacteriocin . Bacteriocin C3603 is a basic protein with a pI value of 10 and a molecular weight of 4,800 . The activity of this bacteriocin was not affected by pH over a range of 1.0 to 12.0 or by storage at 100 degrees C for 10 min at pH 2.0 to 7.0 or storage at 121 degrees C for 15 min at pH 4.0 . Pronase; papain, phospholipase C, trypsin, and alpha-amylase had no effect on the activity of the bacteriocin, whereas alpha-chymotrypsin and pancreatin were partially active against it . Bacteriocin activity was greater against certain S . mutans strains of serotypes b, c, e, and f than against certain S . mutans strains of serotypes a, d, and g . Bacteriocin C3603 was also effective against selected strains of S . sanguis, S . salivarius, S . bovis, S . faecium, S . lactis, Lactobacillus casei, L . plantarum, L . fermentum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum, Propionibacterium acnes, and Bacteroides melaninogenicus, but it was not effective against certain strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Corynebacterium parvum, and Candida albicans . The inhibition of S . mutans strains BHT and PS-14 by bacteriocin C3603 was found to be due to the bacteriocidal activity of the bacteriocin . When water or a diet containing bacteriocin C3603 was consumed by gnotobiotic and specific pathogen-free rats infected with S . mutans PS-14, the caries score was found to be significantly reduced.

Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(11), 993 - 1005
Biotransformation of 1-nitropyrene in intestinal anaerobic bacteria; Kinouchi T et al.; Mutagenic nitroaromatic compounds have recently been found in photocopies, urban atmosphere, automobile exhaust and wastewater . 1-Nitropyrene (1-NP) is readily formed when pyrene, ubiquitous in the environment, is exposed to nitrogen dioxide in the urban atmosphere or in automobile exhaust, and is highly mutagenic, inducing 449 his+ revertants/plate/nmol from Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 in the absence of S9 fraction in the Salmonella-microsome test . It is possible to swallow sputum or some food containing 1-NP and it would come into contact with the normal bacterial flora . We determined the 1-NP nitroreductase activity in environmental and laboratory bacterial strains . We found that the mutagenicity of 1-NP mixed with the feces of a healthy man or a culture of anaerobic bacteria was decreased . The product proved to be 1-aminopyrene (1-AP), based on its fluorescence spectrum, its mass spectrum, and its characteristic thin layer chromatographic and high performance liquid chromatographic patterns . The 1-NP nitroreductase activity of aerobic bacteria was low, but crude extracts from the anaerobic bacteria, i.e., Bacteroides fragilis, B . thetaiotaomicron, B . vulgatus, Fusobacterium mortiferum, F . nucleatum, Clostridium perfringens, C . sporogenes, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B . bifidum, Eubacterium lentum, E . limosum, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, all easily converted 1-NP to 1-AP and proportionally decreased the mutagenic activity of 1-NP.

Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(5), 363 - 73
Studies on streptococci . II . Colonization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from rats and humans in the gastrointestinal tract of rats; Kawal Y et al.; The population levels of bacteria in the contents and the walls of the gastrointestinal tract of gnotobiotic rats inoculated with lactic acid bacteria (streptococci, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria) from humans and rats were determined . Lactobacilli as well as streptococci isolated from rats colonized in the digestive tracts of the gnotobiotic rats at a high population level, characteristically highest in the stomach . On the other hand, in the rats inoculated with human lactic acid bacteria, streptococci were dominant in the lower tract . The human lactobacilli or bifidobacteria did not colonize when the organisms in each genus were inoculated together, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria colonized . Observations on the species of streptococci showed that the intestinal type of streptococci was found to colonize at a high population level, but the oral type was not . Stains of the same genus of lactic acid bacteria from humans and from rats showed different colonization patterns.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Jan, (1), 48 - 54
{Characteristics of experimental antibiotic-induced dysbacteriosis}; Martynov AI et al.; Changes in the microflora of the large and small intestines in mice and guinea pigs after the oral administration of canamycin (a hardly absorbable antibiotic) and ampiox (an easily absorbable antibiotic) in different doses . The administration of these antibiotics in different doses (therapeutic, subtherapeutic and over therapeutic) led to an increase in the number of opportunistic microorganisms and the contamination of the small intestine by these organisms . These changes were also well pronounced in guinea pigs, normally having no enterobacteria . After the administration of the antibiotics was stopped, opportunistic microorganisms were gradually eliminated from the small intestine . The rate of decontamination depended on the administered dose of the antibiotic: the higher the dose was the longer the process of the decontamination of the small intestine lasted . An increase in the amount of opportunistic microbes in the large intestine and the decontamination of the small intestine occurred simultaneously with the decrease in the amount of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in both the small and large intestines.

Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(3), 217 - 23
The development of an altered gingival crevicular microflora in the alloxan-diabetic rat; McNamara TF et al.; The microflora of the rat gingival crevice were examined at various time intervals after inducing experimental diabetes . A variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative cocci and short rods were isolated from the normal rat crevice . Within a week after alloxan administration, Leptotrichia buccalis was detected for the first time . Other features in the diabetic animals included an increased frequency of isolation of Proteus spp., Lactobacillus spp . and decrease of Escherichia coli . Occasionally, a decrease was also observed in Bacteroides spp . and Streptococcus spp . No difference was observed between diabetic and non-diabetic animals in the isolation of Selonomonas, Campylobacter, Bifidobacterium and Actinomyces . Plaque accumulation was markedly increased in the diabetic rats . It was concluded that the change in gingival microflora resulted from diabetes-induced alterations in the sulcular environment (such as increased substrate levels, e.g . glucose and urea, and decreased oxygen) and that the microbiological changes preceded the depending of the periodontal pocket.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1982, 35, 9 - 15
The normal human anaerobic microflora; Evaldson G et al.; Anaerobic bacteria are prevalent among the bacterial populations of the human body, particularly on mucous membrane surfaces . The major sites with a rich anaerobic normal microflora are the mouth, the gastrointestinal tract and the female genital tract . The oral cavity harbours more than 300 different bacterial species . The concentrations of bacteria in saliva are 10(8) to 10(9) colony forming units/ml and anaerobic bacteria outnumber aerobic bacteria by 10:1 . On the tooth surfaces, the concentrations of bacteria are 10(10) to 10(11) cfu/ml with a predominance of anaerobes . Bacterial concentrations in gingival scrapings are 10(11) to 10(12) cfu/ml with anaerobic bacteria outnumbering aerobic bacteria by 1000:1 . In the saliva and on the tongue surface, the predominant anaerobic bacteria are cocci, while in the gingival crevice large concentrations of gram-negative rods are recovered . Microorganisms found in the upper intestinal tract are different from those in the lower intestinal tract . In the stomach and the proximal small bowel, the microorganisms found as normal flora are a reflection of the oral flora . Bacterial concentrations in this region are 10(2)-10(5) cfu/ml intestinal content . In the colon, bacterial concentrations of 10(11)-10(12) cfu/g faeces are found . About 500 different bacterial species are recovered in the lower intestine . The most common anaerobic microorganisms are bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and bacteroides . Recent studies have used quantitative techniques for analyses of the vaginal flora and it has been found that anaerobic bacteria outnumber aerobic bacteria in the vagina by approximately 10:1 . The most prevalent bacteria are peptococci, present in counts of 10(7)-10(8) cfu/ml . Lactobacilli, corynebacteria, eubacteria and bacteroides are also isolated.

J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 127 (Pt 2), 237 - 59
A numerical taxonomic study of members of the Actinomycetaceae and related taxa; Schofield GM et al.; Two hundred and twenty-two representatives of the Actinomycetaceae and related taxa, including reference cultures, received strains and fresh isolates, were tested using 124 unit characters . The data were examined using numerical taxonomic techniques with various coefficients and average linkage clustering; the variation in composition of the clusters obtained from the different coefficients was slight . Most species included in the study formed discrete phena, which exhibited good differential characters . Actinomyces israelii was particularly well-defined and A . naeslundii and A . viscosus, although grouping together, did show divergence in several test results . Actinomyces bovis was initially linked with representatives of genera other than Actinomyces, these being Bifidobacterium, Corynebacterium pyogenes and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae . The strains of Bacterionema matruchotii and Rothia dentocariosa formed tight distinct clusters associated only at low similarity levels with other members of the family Actinomycetaceae . The Arachnia propionica phenon, although well-defined, appeared to consist of two subclusters which could be assigned to serotypes 1 and 2 . Tests which may be useful in identification are tabulated and the relationships between the various taxa are discussed.

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