title: Virulence determinants in nonsporeforming anaerobic bacteria.
abstract: The literature dealing with adherence, host-protective mechanisms and tissues damaging products of nonsporeforming anaerobes is reviewed. The adherence mechanisms are poorly understood. There is evidence for that encapsulation plays a role in the pathogenicity of Bacteroides fragilis and black-pigmented bacteroides. A leukocidin is produced by Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Ig protease, collagenase and a trypsin-like enzyme by some Bacteroides species. Some Bacteroides fragilis strains produce an enterotoxin. The pathogenetic role of endotoxin is unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hofstad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D014774:Virulence / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases