Ga. Botta et al., ROLE OF STRUCTURAL AND EXTRACELLULAR VIRULENCE FACTORS IN GRAM-NEGATIVE ANAEROBIC-BACTERIA, Clinical infectious diseases, 18, 1994, pp. 190000260-190000264
Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria belonging to the genera Bacteroides,
Prevotella, and Porphyromonas represent the most common cause of endog
enous, usually mixed, infections occurring after abdominal or gynecolo
gic surgery. Anaerobes are important pathogens in oral-cavity infectio
ns as well as in systemic infections that originate from the mouth. Cl
inical interest in these organisms is linked to the therapeutic proble
ms usually encountered in treating mixed infections. Despite their cli
nical relevance, very little is known about the pathogenetic mechanism
of anaerobic infections. In Bacteroides species, the capsule has been
thought to be important, and initially it was considered unique to Ba
cteroides fragilis, the most common pathogen. It has been claimed that
the capsule is involved in adhesion, abscess formation, and impaired
phagocytosis. However, other structures such as pili and extracellular
substances, including metabolic by-products (e.g., short-chain fatty
acids), have to be considered as potentially relevant pathogenetic mec
hanisms in anaerobic infections. Several extracellular enzymes have be
en investigated, but no clear evidence is available for establishing t
heir relevance in disease mechanisms. Special attention should be devo
ted to enzymes able to digest IgA (IgA proteases), a first-line defens
e mechanism that is active in the mucosal membranes.