Description of the numerically predominant anaerobes that occur in the large intestine

Range Table - link Log10(g dry wt.)^-1
Organism Human Homo sapiens
Reference G. T. Macfarlane and G. R. Gibson, Metabolic Activities of the Normal Colonic Flora, chapter 2 in Human Health: The Contribution of Microorganisms, Edited by S. A. W. Gibson, Springer-Verlag 1994 link , p.20 table 2.1
Primary Source See refs beneath table
Comments P.19 bottom paragraph: "Anaerobic bacteria appear to outnumber aerobic species by a factor of about 1000. The principal anaerobic groups and some of their characteristics are shown in Table 2.1. Many studies have shown that Gram negative rods belonging to the Bacteroides fragilis group are the numerically predominant bacteria in the colon, and it has been estimated that they can account for up to 30% of the total anaerobic count (Macy and Probst 1979). The other main groups consist of an assortment of Gram positive rods and cocci. Chief amongst these are the bifidobacteria, which have been reported to constitute as much as 25% of the gut flora, with B. adolescentis and B. longum predominating in adults (Mitsuoka 1984 Scardovi 1986)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 112839