Biochemical Differentiation and Comparison of Desulfovibrio Species and Other Phenotypically Similar Genera

Abstract

Seventeen human clinical isolates representing four species of Desulfovibrio were characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequences and tests for catalase, indole, nitrate, bile, urease, formate-fumarate stimulation, desulfoviridin, motility, and hydrogen sulfide production, plus susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Eighty additional strains representing 10 phenotypically similar genera (Bilophila, Selenomonas, Capnocytophaga, Campylobacter, Bacteroides, Sutterella, Anaerobiospirillum, Dialister, Veillonella, and Mobiluncus) were included for comparison. All Desulfovibrio species produced H 2 S and were desulfoviridin positive, and all Desulfovibrio species except D. piger were motile. The four Desulfovibrio species could be distinguished from each other using tests for catalase, indole, nitrate, urease, and growth on bile, with the following results ( Sulfate-reducing bacteria are a diverse group of organisms that include Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium, Desulfobulbus, Desulfobacter, Desulfococcus, Desulfosarcina, Desulfobacterium, Desulfonema, Desulfotomaculum, and Thermodesulfobacterium. This group of organisms has a variety of morphologies, biochemical properties, and nutritional requirements. With the exception of Desulfovibrio spp., they are found only in the natural environment (4,30).Desulfovibrio is one of the first genera described and the most thoroughly studied genus among the sulfate-reducing bacteria (4, 5). These are sulfate-reducing, nonfermenting, anaerobic, gram-negative bacilli characterized by the presence of a pigment, desulfoviridin, which fluoresces red in alkaline pH and blue-green in acid pH under long-wavelength UV light (15,28) and by a strong sulfurous odor in broth media.Desulfovibrio spp. are ubiquitous, found in the environment, such as soil, water, and sewage, as well as in the digestive tracts of animals and humans (4,5,17,20,25,27,31). Two of the Desulfovibrio species, D. piger and D. fairfieldensis, have never been isolated from outside the human body and can be considered natural inhabitants of the intestinal tract, where sulfates abound (10,17,19). The organisms are usually recovered from mixed cultures and may cause human infections. They have been isolated from a variety of sources, such as brain

Effect of Organic Substrate Composition on Microbial Community Structure of Pilot-Scale Biochemical Reactors Treating Mining Influenced Water

“…In terms of the diversity of the SRB found, there appeared to be a slight edge for the lignocellulose-based BCRs, in which 3-4 different kinds of SRB were identified, whereas 2-3 different kinds were identified in the ETOH BCRs. These SRB may vary from one another in terms of substrate utilization capabilities, kinetics and other characteristics such as tolerance to oxygen exposure and other stresses (Warren et al, 2005). This could have a significant impact on BCR performance.…”

Synergistes Group Organisms of Human Origin

“…Biochemical testing. Biochemical tests performed at the R. M. Alden Research Laboratory included determination of susceptibility to special potency disks of kanamycin (1,000 g), vancomycin (5 g), and colistin (10 g) as well as catalase, spot indole, nitrate reduction, growth on bile, urease, growth stimulation with formate/fumarate, and SIM (sulfide-indole-motility), as described previously (22). In addition, an enzymatic profile was determined using the RapID ANA II system (Remel, Lenexa, KS) according to the manufacturer's instructions.…”

Jonquetella anthropi gen. nov., sp. nov., the first member of the candidate phylum ‘Synergistetes’ isolated from man

“…Culture-independent studies have demonstrated their presence in man during endodontic or periodontic infections, in dental caries (Munson et al, 2002(Munson et al, , 2004Siqueira & Rôças, 2005, 2007Hutter et al, 2003), in subgingival plaque (Paster et al, 2001), in faeces (Horz et al, 2006) and in vaginal flora (A. Damay, H. Marchandin, L. Roudière, C. Teyssier, H. Dechaud, H. Jean-Pierre, E. Jumas-Bilak, unpublished results). However, only eight human isolates have been reported to date (Munson et al, 2002;Warren et al, 2005;Horz et al, 2006).…”

“…Strain RMA 10849 was obtained from the collection of the R. M. Alden Research Laboratory, Santa Monica, CA, USA. This isolate originated from a sacral wound and was previously described as an unnamed organism by Warren et al (2005) and further described as belonging to 'Synergistes' group organisms by Horz et al (2006). Colony morphology and the responses of the strains to special potency disks (Jousimies-Somer et al, 2002) were observed on Columbia sheep blood agar plates.…”

“…In this study, we characterized six strains of unknown, anaerobic Gram-negative rods with fastidious growth, including one isolate initially studied by Warren et al (2005). The five strains labelled 'ADV' were isolated between February 2002 and November 2006 from different patients hospitalized in the University Hospital of Montpellier, France.…”