No abstract

Fatty acids of Fusobacterium species were examined by gas-liquid chromatography. Fusobacterium nucleatum, F. necrophorum, F. mortiferum, F. gonidiaformans and F. varium showed similar patterns, characterized by the presence of 3-hydroxytetradecanoate, n-tetradecanoate, hexadecenoate, n-hexadeconoate, ocadecenoate, n-octadecanoate and a component having the properties of octadecadienoate. Fusobacterium nucleatum contained 3-hydroxyhexadecanoate as a distinctive character. Simpler fatty acid patterns characterized by the absence of 3-hydroxytetradecanoate and other hydroxy fatty acids were observed in F. plauti, the single strain of F. prausnitzii and in the majority of strains classified as F. russii and F. naviforme. Neither methyl-branched nor cyclopropane fatty acids could be detected in any of the strains examined. In addition to fatty acid methyl esters, the chromatographic profiles of all species except F. mortiferum, F. gonidiaformans and F. naviforme contained substantial amounts of fatty aldehyde dimethyl acetals of chain lengths C14 to C18.

Peptidoglycan was purified from the oral bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum strain Fev 1, using boiling sodium dodecyl sulfate and pronase. The composition of this peptidoglycan was found to be similar to that of other gram-negative bacteria, except that it lacked diaminopimelic acid. Lanthionine, the monosulfur analog of diaminopimelic acid, was identified as the diaminodicarboxylic acid of this peptidoglycan. It is assumed that lanthionine replaced diaminopimelic acid. Thus, the peptidoglycan of F. nucleatum Fev 1 is one of the few known sources of naturally occurring lanthionine.

Abstract. Fluid from 41 non‐keratinizing jaw cysts was examined by cellulose acetate membrane (CAM) electrophoresis. Improved separation with more regular protein profiles was obtained after digestion with bovine testicular hyaluronidase of two cyst contents exhibiting pronounced viscosity. CAM electrophoretograms of cyst fluid and serum contained the same protein fractions, with the exception of the β2globulin band which was clearly demonstrated in only one cyst fluid, that from a median palatine cyst. Quantitation by scanning of the CAM eleclrophorelograms yielded contents of albumin, α1‐, and α2‐globulins which usually were proportionately lower in cyst fluid than in autologous serum while the β1‐globulin fraction was roughly similar. Relative concentrations of γ‐globulins were significantly higher in cyst fluid than in autologous scrum, rising to as much as 56% of the total cyst fluid protein content. The γ‐globulin band of cyst fluid generally was broad‐based (“polyclonal” pattern). Within these broad γ‐zones discrete, narrow, but well demarcated bands were occasionally seen (“oligoclonal” pattern). One cyst fluid exhibited a narrow‐based γ‐globulin band (“monoclonal” pattern). The electrophoretic patterns as well as other observations provide indirect evidence for the view that the bulk of the cyst fluid proteins are derived from the plasma and indicate that the γ‐globulin fraction is a mixture of extravasated arid locally produced immunoglobulins.

10582, B. ovatus ATCC 8483, B. distasonis ATCC 8503, and B. vulgatus ATCC 8482 were cultured in a 3-liter fermentor (Fl 103, Biotec, Stockholm) and grown to late logarithmic phase (16). After addition of Formalin (15), the organisms were harvested, washed twice in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4), and prepared for extraction of the LPS. B. fragilis strain E-323 was cultured in 500-ml screw-cap bottles filled to the top with medium (9). After incubation for 2 days 898