Strains Of Streptococcus Bovis Research Articles

Comparative in vitro activity of norfloxacin against urinary tract pathogens

The in vitro activity of norfloxacin (MK366) against 477 aerobic gram-negative and gram-positive clinical isolates was compared to that of nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, cephalexin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, and the combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Norfloxacin was more active than the other agents against all gram-negative organisms tested. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were less than or equal to 0.125-32 mg/l with 90% inhibited (MIC90) by 4 mg/l; MICs of the Enterobacteriaceae including Serratia marcescens were less than or equal to 0.125-8 mg/l with an MIC90 of less than or equal to 4 mg/l. There was also excellent activity against the gram-positive cocci including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and the enterococci, with MICs less than or equal to 0.125-4 mg/l and an MIC90 less than or equal to 4 mg/l. Only 8 of 477 organisms were norfloxacin-resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 16 mg/l): 3 of 100 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 3 of 10 Pseudomonas maltophilia and 2 of 15 Streptococcus bovis strains. In contrast, 97% of the gram-positive cocci and 49% of the gram-negative bacilli were nalidixic acid-resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 32 mg/l). Norfloxacin shows excellent activity against a wide range of bacteria and merits further study as a urinary antibacterial agent.

Gentamicin-thallous-carbonate medium for isolation of fecal streptococci from foods.

Gentamicin-thallous-carbonate (GTC) agar was formulated by Donnelly and Hartman (Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 35:576-581, 1978) to select for fecal streptococci in sewage and water samples. The present study was conducted to determine the usefulness of GTC agar for the enumeration of fecal streptococci in foods. Comparisons were made with KF streptococcal (KF), Pfizer selective enterococcus (PSE), and thallous acetate (TA) agars. Samples of ground beef pork sausage, frozen broccoli, frozen fish, and ice cream were examined. Presumptive streptococcal counts obtained on GTC agar were significantly higher than those obtained on KF and PSE agars and were comparable to those obtained on TA agar. GTC was more sensitive than KF or PSE agars primarily because of the recovery of greater numbers of Streptococcus bovis and Streptococcus equinus strains. Percentages of confirmed fecal streptococci obtained on GTC, KF, PSE, and TA agars were 70, 95, 80, and 74, respectively. Differences between these percentages were not statistically significant, but they indicated that selectivity of GTC agar could be improved. Advantages of using GTC agar to isolate fecal streptococci from foods include a short incubation time (16 to 18 h) and large, distinct colonies that facilitate rapid enumeration and subsequent confirmation.

Anaerobic cocci from the bovine alimentary tract, the amino acids of their cell wall peptidoglycans and those of various species of anaerobic Streptococcus.

Physiological characteristics of 45 strains of anaerobic cocci isolated from the rumen, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and faeces of pre‐ruminant and ruminating calves and cows were examined. Among these strains were unusually anaerobic strains of Streptococcus bovis, Gram negative cocci resembling Megasphaera elsdenii but not fermenting lactic acid and strains resembling Coprococcus catus. The amino acid composition of the cell wall peptidoglycans of these and strains of anaerobic streptococci was determined.

Streptococcus bovis--an approach to its classification and its importance as a cause of bovine mastitis.

Six streptococci isolated in high numbers from different mastitis samples have been identified as strains of Streptococcus bovis. The properties of the strains were compared with those strains of Strep, bovis from culture collections and also with those of two strains of Strep. mutans. Physiological properties, including ability to form capsules and dextran, the properties of the lactate dehydrogenases and hybridization between the deoxyribonucleic acid of the unknown strains and the reference strain of Strep. bovis were determined. It is concluded that Strep. bovis comprises strains with heterogeneous properties. No subgroups were apparent. The pathogenicity to the udder was determined for eight strains of Strep. bovis and one of Strep. mutans.

The Redox Potential of Growing Cultures of Streptococcus Rovis Orla-Jensen Compared with Other Facultative Anaerobes

The changes of redox potential were measured in growing cultures of three strains of Streptococcus bovis, together with three strains of Staphylococcus aureus and one strain of each of Lactobacillus plantaram, Lactobacillus casei, and Eschericia coli. It was found that both S. aureus and E. coli could reduce the redox potential of the growth medium to very low values (between —400 mv and —600 mv), whereas the streptococci and lactobacilli were able to cause only slight or insignificant changes of the redox potential. Respirometric measurements confirmed that the capacity of oxygen consumption of S. bovis was very small compared to that of E. coli and S. aureus. On this basis the authors conclude that S. bovis in all probability is unable to contribute significantly to maintenance of the low redox potential of its natural habitat, the rumen. This function must be carried out by other bacteria, such as enterobacteria or staphylococci, which are capable of performing a true, aerobic respiration.

Production of branched-chain volatile fatty acids by certain anaerobic bacteria.

Net production of isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, and 2-methylbutyric acid by cultures of Bacteroides ruminicola and Megasphaera elsdenii on media that contained Trypticase or casein hydrolysate continued (up to 5 days) after growth had ceased. Only trace quantities of these acids were produced in a medium that contained a mixture of amino acids that did not include the branched-chain amino acids. M. elsdenii produced increased quantities of the branched-chain fatty acids in a medium that contained Trypticase when glucose was reduced or eliminated from the culture medium. However, B. ruminicola produced increased quantities of branched-chain fatty acids and of phenylacetic acid from Trypticase when glucose was supplied at 3 mg/ml rather than at 1 mg/ml. Single strains of Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas ruminantium, Bacteroides amylophilus, and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens did not produce branched-chain fatty acids.

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A strain of Streptococcus bovis isolated from bovine rumen has a strong fermentability of raw starch and produces a single extra-cellular α-amylase, and the activity of this amylase on raw starch is remarkable when compared with ordinary bacterial amylase. Authors have studied the crystallization and some characteristics of this amylase. It was known that this amylase came under the category of bacterial saccharif ying α-amylase from the mutarotation of reducing sugar produced and the mode of action on soluble starch. This crystallized amylase was adsorbed on raw starch completely, and showed acceleration of the starch digestion under the presence of Ca2+. Especially, various raw grain starches were dissolve completely producing chiefly glucose and maltose. The remarkable activity for raw starch suggests that this amylase should be specially called as “raw starch hydrolase.”

Succession of Streptococcus bovis strains with differing bacteriophage sensitivities in the rumens of two fistulated sheep

The bacteriophage sensitivity of the Streptococcus bovis population resident in the rumens of two fistulated sheep was monitored for 112 days. During this time, three changes in the bacteriophage sensitivity of S. bovis occurred in the absence of detectable bacteriophages. Identical changes in bacteriophage sensitivity occurred simultaneously in both animals and, except for the relatively short periods of changeover in phage sensitivity, the S. bovis population in the rumens of the two sheep was homogeneous with respect to phage sensitivity.

Bacteriocins of Streptococcus bovis

Forty-seven strains of Streptococcus bovis were tested for bacteriocin production. Fourteen were found to produce bacteriocins, while all 47 were sensitive to at least one of these bacteriocins. The bacteriocins, on the basis of their host range on S. bovis strains, formed six groups. A representative of each group was selected and characterized by temperature stability, sensitivity to trypsin and lipase, sedimentation by centrifugation, ability to pass through dialysis tubing, host range on other bacterial species, and conditions for production in liquid media. A correlation between mannitol fermentation and bacteriocin production was noted.

Lysogeny in Streptococcus bovis

Forty-eight strains of Streptococcus bovis were tested for induction with mitomycin C. Eleven inducible strains were found and the lysates of all 11 contained bacteriophage-like particles. The lysate of one strain also contained large numbers of particles which closely resembled polyheads. Eight of the lysates produced zones of inhibition on indicator strains and viable bacteriophages were detected in six lysates. The sources of the S. bovis were ovine and bovine rumen fluid (23 strains), ovine and bovine feces (5 strains), blood cultures from human endocarditis (8 strains), and a wide variety of other sources (12 strains). Only 1 of 23 rumen S. bovis strains was lysogenic, which suggests that lysogenic S. bovis strains are not an important source of bacteriophages in the rumen.

Isolation and identification of rumen bacteria capable of anaerobic phloroglucinol degradation.

Eight strains of rumen bacteria capable of degrading phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) under anaerobic conditions were isolated from enrichment cultures of the bovine rumen microflora established in a prereduced medium containing 0.02 M phloroglucinol. Five of the strains were facultatively anaerobic Gram-positive streptococci which were identified as Streptococcus bovis. Three strains of obligately anaerobic Gram-positive cocci were assigned to the genus Coprococcus. Anaerobic cultures of the Streptococcus bovis strains in a 40% rumen fluid medium initially containing 0.02 M phloroglucinol degraded 50-80% of the substrate within 2 days, whereas cultures of the Coprococcus strains degraded more than 80% of the substrate under the same conditions. The Streptococcus bovis strains were incapable of degrading phloroglucinol in brain heart infusion or in the medium of de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS broth) incubated aerobically.

Glycans from streptococcal cell walls: An antigenic triheteroglycan of 6-deoxy- l-talose, l-rhamnose and d-galactose from Streptococcus bovis

Two antigenic glycans have been isolated from the cell wall of Streptococcus bovis strain C3 by sequential extraction with HCl-KCl buffer of pH 2 and purified by filtration through Bio-gel. Chemical analysis showed that one glycan is a triheteroglycan of d-galactose, l-rhamnose and 6-deoxy- l-talose in the ratio of 2:1:1 and the other is a diheteroglycan of d-glucose and l-rhamnose in the ratio of 1:1. On the basis of the immunochemical data and the nature of acid hydrolytic products from the triheteroglycan, it is proposed that the triheteroglycan consists of a main chain of alternating rhamnose and 6-deoxy-talose residues with side chains of digalactosyl units. The terminal α-linked galactosyl residues are the immunodeterminants of the glycan. The deoxy sugar, 6-deoxy- l-talose, has not been detected previously in streptococcal cell walls and in S. bovis, this sugar is synthesized via the thymidine diphosphate hexose pathway.

Immunochemistry of Capsular Glucans Isolated from Streptococcus Bovis

Abstract Dextran-like capsular materials were isolated from the culture filtrates of Streptococcus bovis strains C3, C36, C48, C106, and S19 by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Quantitative precipitin analysis revealed a marked immunologic relationship among the capsular glucans of S. bovis. Inhibition studies, employing diglucose inhibitors, indicated that isomaltose was the most effective inhibitor of the reaction between the glucans and antiserum. Isomaltose, for example, inhibited 90% of the reaction between C36 glucan and its homologous antiserum. On the other hand, maltose at a concentration of 8 µmol/mg was almost as effective as isomaltose in inhibiting the reaction between C106 glucan and its homologous antiserum. These results indicate that isomaltose is a common feature of the capsular glucans isolated from a few selected strains of S. bovis. Further, the immunologic relationship which exists among the various glucans is, in part, dependent upon the proportion of the α 1–6 linkages as well as α 1–4 linkages in the carbohydrate chains. Evidence has been presented which indicates a chemical analogy between S. bovis glucans and clinical dextran.

Utilization of CO2 and acetate in amino acid synthesis by Streptococcus bovis.

Carbon dioxide exerts a marked influence on the metabolic activities and nutritional requirements of Streptococcus bovis. A requirement for CO2 exists when some strains are grown in media containing simple nitrogen sources(1–4); in other strains of S. bovis, CO2 is involved in the production of polysaccharides (5–6), and of destransucrase(7). Acetate also affects the metabolism of S. bovis. Bailey and Oxford found that it was required for dextran synthesis(6), and we demonstrated its ability to stimulate growth and to be incorporated into cells growing in an ammonium medium(3). This paper reports the utilization of CO2 and acetate in amino acid synthesis by S. bovis growing on different nitrogen sources, and elaborates further some of the nutritional requirements for growth of this organism in the absence of CO2. Materials and methods. Microbiological. The organism used was Streptococcus bovis strain P 10. Procedures for maintenance of cultures, performance of growth tests, and preparation of inocula were identical to those previously described(8). The basal medium was that of Prescott and Stutts(1), supplemented as indicated below with nitrogen sources consisting of (i) L-arginine, (ii) ammonium acetate, or (iii), the complex amino acid mixture of Henderson and Snell(9). Some growth experiments requiring removal of CO2 were performed with special flasks, (10), but usually, cultures were grown in 50 ml Erlenmeyer flasks, stoppered with porous plastic plugs, and incubated over 20% KOH in large vacuum desiccators. Shredded filter paper was immersed in the KOH solution to increase surface area, and the desiccator was evacuated to approximately 40 mm. In some experiments, cultures were incubated over the KOH in vacuo; in others, air was readmitted through a trap containing 20% KOH. The CO2 was supplied to cultures either as a filter-sterilized NaHCO3 solution, or as a gaseous atmosphere.

CONTINUOUS CULTURE OF SOME ANEROBIC AND FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RUMEN BACTERIA.

SUMMARY: Strains of Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas ruminantium, and an anaerobic lipolytic bacterium (5s) have been grown under carbohydrate-limiting conditions in continuous culture for long periods. With S. ruminantium and bacterium 5s the fermentation products varied with growth rate. Yield of organism in continuous culture of all three bacteria showed a maximum at a particular growth rate. The yield of S. ruminantium was much higher in continuous culture at optimum growth rate than in batch culture, and was also higher than can be explained on present concepts of the energy from fermentation available for growth. The various results are discussed in the light of results obtained with other bacteria and the conditions obtaining in the rumen.

FRUCTOSE-1,6-DIPHOSPHATE REQUIREMENT OF STREPTOCOCCAL LACTIC DEHYDROGENASES.

The lactic dehydrogenase of a strain of Streptococcus bovis specifically requires fructose-1,6-diphosphate for activity. Phosphate or fructose-1-6-diphosphate prevents inactivation of the dehydrogenase, but phosphate and other compounds cannot be substituted for the fructose-1,6-diphosphate required for activity. Lactic dehydrogenases of other species of Streptococcus show a similar requirement for fructose-1,6-diphosphate.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF STREPTOCOCCUS BOVIS AND RELATED ORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM CATTLE AND SHEEP

The physiological and serological properties of 153 strains of Streptococcus bovis isolated from cattle and sheep have been studied. With 12 specific antisera it was possible to type 75 of the isolates. Neither the fermentation of arabinose nor of raffinose was related to type specificity. The only strain fermenting mannitol was serologically distinct from all the other strains, and the type antigen was probably located on the cell wall whereas with the other 11 types it was capsular.The distribution of these types in cattle and sheep has been determined together with their changes in individual cows sampled on three occasions over 18 months.

Intracellular glycosidases of dextran-producing bacteria.

EXTENSIVE work on the mechanism of dextran production from sucrose by bacterial extracellular dextransucrase has not, so far, clearly established the identity of the initial acceptors involved in vivo in dextran chain initiation1,2. As a step to obtaining such information we have examined the intracellular glycosidase and transf erase activities of two dextran-producing bacteria. These were Leuconostoc mesenteroides (NRRL B512, NCIB 8590; from the National Collection of Industrial Bacteria, Torry Research Station, Aberdeen) and Streptococcus bovis (strain I)3.

Influence of nitrogen source on growth of Streptococcus bovis.

SummaryOf 37 organic nitrogeneous compounds tested, arginine was the most effective as a primary nitrogen source for 2 strains of Streptococcus bovis. Other compounds supporting growth were glutamine, citrulline, serine, histidine, and glucosamine. The majority of compounds tested, including most amino acids, failed to support growth. Another strain of S. bovis did not grow well on any one organic compound tested as a primary nitrogen source. Simple ammonium compounds, however, were extremely effective in serving as nitrogen source for all 3 strains.‡Growth in media containing ammonium salts was stimulated by acetate, and C14 labeled acetate was rapidly incorporated. No evidence was found for a mechanism involving degradation of arginine by resting cells or cell free extracts.

The nutritional requirements of rumen strains of Streptococcus bovis considered in relation to dextran synthesis from sucrose.

Five rumen strains of Streptococcus bovis all required biotin for good anaerobic production of dextran from sucrose in a simple acetate + bicarbonate + amino acids medium. Three of these strains required at least pantothenate also. When phosphate replaced acetate as a buffer, dextran production did not occur unless a soluble protein was also supplied in the medium.