![]() In this regard, it is important to note that anaerobic culturing requires some specialized equipment. Thus, while it is appropriate that this unit include a discussion of anaerobic culturing techniques, the methods discussed here may not be suitable for many other anaerobic bacteria since they are not as rigorous in their exclusion of oxygen at all stages of media preparation and inoculation. That said, they are one of the most aerotolerant anaerobic species known and a recent report ( Baughn and Malamy, 2004) has suggested that they may actually slowly divide in the presence of nanomolar concentrations of oxygen. ![]() The single most important consideration when culturing the Bacteroides is that they are obligate anaerobes and they will not divide in the presence of oxygen. Although there has been considerable interest in the mechanisms responsible for the transmissible, acquired antibiotic resistance, it is their innate resistance to aminoglycosides and vancomycin that has proven to be important for development of selective media for their isolation (see Smith et al., 2006). Due to a combination of innate and acquired mechanisms the Bacteroides species are resistant to a wide array of commonly used antibiotics which can complicate antimicrobial therapy of anaerobic infections. All of these factors are important considerations when culturing these organisms. Their ability to successfully colonize mammals is due in part to their extended aerotolerance, simple nutritional requirements, and ability to utilize diverse carbohydrate substrates for carbon and energy. Largely due to their proximity to the human host, several Bacteroides species can be opportunistic pathogens and they are frequently isolated from a range of anaerobic infections including intraabdominal and pelvic abscesses, soft tissue, female genital tract, and bacteremia. They are the predominate members of the indigenous intestinal flora in humans where they contribute to normal intestinal development, physiology and function. This unit describes methods for culturing, storage, and maintenance of the Gram-negative, anaerobic Bacteroides species Members of the genus Bacteroides play important roles in human and animal health ( Smith et al.,2006).
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