Open AccessIsolation, identification and characterization of human intestinal bacteria with the ability to utilize chloramphenicol as the sole source of carbon and energy
Author(s) -
Xin Zhao,
Fengwei Tian,
Gang Wang,
Xiaoming Liu,
Qiuxiang Zhang,
Hao Zhang,
Wei Chen
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01440.x
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , acetamide , chloramphenicol , carbon source , bacteria , klebsiella pneumoniae , strain (injury) , energy source , escherichia coli , food science , biochemistry , antibiotics , gene , ecology , anatomy , astrobiology , renewable energy , genetics
Five aerobic intestinal bacterial strains that utilized chloramphenicol ( CAP ) as sole carbon and energy source were isolated from fecal samples collected from healthy volunteers. Based on 16 S r RNA gene sequence analysis, four of the five strains were identified as K lebsiella pneumoniae and one as E scherichia fergusonii . The degradation rate of strain I‐10‐ CHL ( E . fergusonii ) varied with the initial concentration of CAP . The p H value also had an effect on the degradation rate of CAP and bacterial growth. A p H of 6.5 was optimal for CAP degradation and growth of strain I‐10‐ CHL ( E . fergusonii ). In mixed substrate batch cultivations, where CAP was one of the components, glucose, acetamide and CAP were utilized simultaneously. The presence of glucose and acetamide increased the growth and substrate degradation rates of CAP . During incubation with E . fergusonii cells, reduction intermediates (1‐ p ‐nitrophenyl‐2‐amino‐1,3‐propanediol) were observed. The strains capable of utilizing CAP were CAP ‐susceptible, which indicates that the mechanism of CAP assimilation by the strains is independent on that of CAP resistance. The role of this CAP reduction pathway in the physiology of K . pneumoniae and E . fergusonii is unknown.