Deoxyribonucleic acid homologies among strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus and related species.

Saccharolytic, black-pigmented Bacteroides strains, which at present belong to the species Bacteroides melaninogenicus were classified on the basis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) base ratios and DNA hybridization studies. These strains were divided into several DNA homology groups, which showed no or low mutual DNA homology. A DNA homology group with a percentage guanine plus cytosine (G + C) of 42–43% was formed by three strains of Bact. melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus; the type strain of this subspecies, strain ATCC 25845, had about 60% DNA homology with this group. Strain ATCC 15930, which has been assigned to this subspecies, had a percentage G + C of 47% and showed no DNA homology with the former group. All strains of Bact. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius had a percentage G + C of 39–45%. A DNA homology group was formed by eight strains of this subspecies. The type strain of Bact. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius, ATCC 25611, showed relatively low DNA homology with this main DNA homology group. A strain of Bact. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius serotype C1 showed no DNA homology with the other strains tested. Furthermore two strains labelled ‘Bact. melaninogenicus subsp. levii’ were found to form a distinct DNA homology group. On the basis of the DNA homology results, the strains, which at present are classified in the species Bact. melaninogenicus, were clearly distinguished from strains of Bact. asaccharolyticus and Bact. gingivalis, and also from strains of related non-pigmented Bacteroides species.

[1]  T. V. Steenbergen,et al.  Genetic relationship between different subspecies of Bacteroides melaninogenicus , 2004, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.

[2]  J. de Graaff,et al.  Virulence of black-pigmented Bacteroides strains from periodontal pockets and other sites in experimentally induced skin lesions in mice. , 1982, Journal of periodontal research.

[3]  H. Shah,et al.  DNA base composition, DNA-DNA reassociation and isoelectric-focusing of proteins of strains designated Bacteroides oralis , 1982 .

[4]  T. V. Steenbergen,et al.  Confirmation of Bacteroides gingivalis as a Species Distinct from Bacteroides asaccharolyticus , 1981 .

[5]  J. Slots,et al.  Genetic Heterogeneity in Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (Holdeman and Moore 1970) Finegold and Barnes 1977 (Approved Lists, 1980) and Proposal of Bacteroides gingivalis sp. nov. and Bacteroides macacae (Slots and Genco) comb. nov. , 1980 .

[6]  B. Duerden,et al.  A scheme for the identification of clinical isolates of Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli by conventional bacteriological tests. , 1980, Journal of medical microbiology.

[7]  M. Collins,et al.  Fatty acid and isoprenoid quinone composition in the classification of Bacteroides melaninogenicus and related taxa. , 1980, The Journal of applied bacteriology.

[8]  J. Slots.  Subgingival microflora and periodontal disease. , 1979, Journal of clinical periodontology.

[9]  E. I. Garvie.  A Note on the Preparation of Deoxyribonucleic Acid from Streptococcus bovis and Variations in the Melting Temperature of Different Preparations , 1979 .

[10]  T. V. Steenbergen,et al.  DNA base composition of various strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus , 1979 .

[11]  S. Finegold,et al.  Report of the ICSB Taxonomic Subcommittee on Gram-Negative Anaerobic Rods: Proposal That the Saccharolytic and Asaccharolytic Strains at Present Classified in the Species Bacteroides melaninogenicus (Oliver and Wherry) Be Reclassified in Two Species as Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Bacteroides asa , 1977 .

[12]  C. W. Parr,et al.  Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of polypeptides from Bacteroides melaninogenicus. , 1977, The Journal of applied bacteriology.

[13]  M. P. Bryant,et al.  Deoxyribonucleic acid base composition of certain species of the genus Bacteroides. , 1977, Canadian journal of microbiology.

[14]  R. Williams,et al.  Comparison of the biochemical properties of Bacteroides melaninogenicus from human dental plaque and other sites. , 1976, The Journal of applied bacteriology.

[15]  R. Jerris,et al.  Description of a polyvalent conjugate and a new serogroup of Bacteroides melaninogenicus by fluorescent antibody staining , 1976, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[16]  S. A. Meyer,et al.  Rapid Procedure for the Approximate Determination of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid Base Composition of Micrococci, Staphylococci, and Other Bacteria , 1975 .

[17]  R. Williams,et al.  Biochemical Properties of Bacteroides melaninogenicus Subspecies , 1975 .

[18]  D. Lambe.  Determination of Bacteroides melaninogenicus serogroups by fluorescent antibody staining. , 1974, Applied microbiology.

[19]  S. Falkow,et al.  Use of a Single-Strand Specific Nuclease for Analysis of Bacterial and Plasmid Deoxyribonucleic Acid Homo- and Heteroduplexes , 1973, Journal of bacteriology.

[20]  J. Ley,et al.  Reexamination of the Association Between Melting Point, Buoyant Density, and Chemical Base Composition of Deoxyribonucleic Acid , 1970, Journal of bacteriology.

[21]  R. Gibbons,et al.  Biochemical and immunological heterogeneity of Bacteroides melaninogenicus. , 1967, Archives of oral biology.

[22]  R. Gibbons,et al.  Biochemical characteristics of Bacteroides melaninogenicus. A study of thirty-one strains. , 1962, Archives of oral biology.