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Protoheme, a dispensable growth factor forBacteroides fragilis grown by batch and continuous culture in a basal medium

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Abstract

The growth yields of 10 strains ofBacteroides fragilis isolated from a variety of clinical sites were determined in (a) basal medium, (b) basal medium plus heme, and (c) basal medium plus heme and menadione. The molar growth yield values, expressed as a function of glucose (YG) and ATP produced (YATP) for 24 h and 48 h were used for a comparison of different strains. Considerable variation occurred among strains, but in general only the results from 24-h grown cells were reproducible. After this period, the microscopic appearance of cells changed dramatically from well-formed, intact cells to large collections of extracellular vesicles and lysed cells. All strains were stimulated by heme, but marked differences occurred among strains. The addition of heme and menadione to the basal medium increased the YG values of some strains, whereas others were unaffected. Heme-cultured cells produced acetate, propionate, and succinate as major metabolic end products and possessed cytochrome b, menaquinone-10, and fumarate reductase activity. Strain NCTC 9343 grown without added heme by continuous culture or batch culture produced cells that were morphologically and biochemically similar. Under both conditions these cells lacked cytochromes, menaquinones, and fumarate reductase activity, but produced high levels of lactate and fumarate together with lower levels of acetate, propionate, and succinate.

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  1. Haroun N. Shah

    Present address: Department of Oral Microbiology, The London Hospital Medical College, University of London, Turner Street, Whitechapel, E1 2AD, London, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait

    Tala A. R. Al-Jalili &  Haroun N. Shah

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  1. Tala A. R. Al-Jalili
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  2. Haroun N. Shah
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Al-Jalili, T.A.R., Shah, H.N. Protoheme, a dispensable growth factor forBacteroides fragilis grown by batch and continuous culture in a basal medium. Current Microbiology 17, 13–18 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01568812

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