Wolinella recta, Wolinella curva, Bacteroides ureolyticus, and Bacteroides gracilis are microaerophiles, not anaerobes

Abstract

Although the nonfermentative, asaccharolytic, putative anaerobes Wolinella curva, Wolinella recta, Bacteroides ureolyticus, and Bacteroides gracilis are phylogenetically related to the true campylobacters, the type strains of these species exhibited O2-dependent microaerophilic growth in brucella broth and on brucella agar. The optimum O2 levels for growth of these strains ranged from 4 to 14% in brucella broth and from 2 to 8% on brucella agar, when H2 was provided as the electron donor. No growth occurred under 21% O2, and scant or no growth occurred under anaerobic conditions unless fumarate or nitrate was provided as a terminal electron acceptor. Aspartate, asparagine, and malate also served as apparent electron acceptors. The organisms were catalase negative and, except for B. gracilis, oxidase positive. Catalase added to brucella broth enhanced growth. O2 uptake by all species was inhibited by cyanide and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide. We concluded that these organisms are not anaerobes but instead are microaerophiles, like their campylobacter relatives.