title: Bilophila wadsworthia, gen. nov. and sp. nov., a unique gram-negative anaerobic rod recovered from appendicitis specimens and human faeces.
abstract: Strongly catalase-positive Gram-negative anaerobic rods were isolated from approximately half of all intra-abdominal specimens received from patients with gangrenous and perforated appendicitis, and subsequently also from normal faecal specimens. The organism was originally detected on Bacteroides-bile-aesculin (BBE) agar, and grew slowly on non-selective anaerobic media containing blood. It was stimulated by bile and differed from other known genera by being urease- and catalase-positive, and by reducing nitrate. It did not reduce sulphate. Other anaerobic Gram-negative rods showed no homology by DNA dot-blot hybridization. The thermal melting profile of chromosomal DNA showed 39-40 mol% G + C. The whole-cell fatty acid methyl ester profile included cyclic and branched long-chain acids, and differed from those of all other anaerobes that have been tested. beta-Lactamase was not detected. The name Bilophila wadsworthia gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for this organism.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Anaerobic Bacteriology Research Laboratory, V.A. Wadsworth Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90073.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Summanen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Downes
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wexler
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Finegold
mesh_terms: D001064:Appendicitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001646:Bile; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005734:Gangrene; D006089:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000382:microbiology; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005227:Fatty Acids; D009566:Nitrates; D002374:Catalase; D014510:Urease