The purpose of this report is to describe the influence of bile acids on antagonism between
Shigella flexneri 2a and the artificial flora in the intestine of germfree mice.
(1) The strain of
Shigella had no activity of metabolizing bile acids
in vitro. The strain of
Streptococcus faecalis was capable of hydrolyzing conjugeted bile acids
in vitro. The strain of
Escherichia coli was able to oxidize cholic acid to 7-ketodeoxycholic acid (7-KDCA)
in vitro. The strain of
Bacteroides distasonis had an
in vitro action to cause both deconjugation and oxidation of bile acids.
(2) After 1 week of monoassociation with
Shigella, germfree ICR mice were given
E. coil and
S. faecalis orally. When examined by the culture of feces,
Shigella showed the following attitude.
Shigella organisms in feces decreased gradually in number and disappeared in about 45 days.
E. coli and
S. faecalis persisted at a full growth level during the experimental period. The metabolites of bile acids having appeared in the small intestine were analyzed quantitatively by gaschromatography at the time of rejection of
Shigella. Besides, 7-KDCA was detectedd from an artificial bacterial flora having persisted for 6 weeks.
(3) After 1 week of monoassociation with
Shigella, germfree ICR mice were given
Bacteroides orally.
Shigella in feces from the infected mice did not decrease in number even 80 days after superinfection with
Bacteroides. At this point of time, no 7-KDCA was detected. When these mice were inoculated additionally with
E. coli, 7-KDCA appeared aid the
Shigella began to decrease in number in them.
(4) No 7-KDCA was detectable in the intestinal contents inspite of the presence of
Bacteroides, which could produce 7-KDCA in
in vitro experiments.
These results seem to indicate the importance of the 7-KDCA production for the rejection of
Shigella from the intestine.
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