R. Kilpper-Bälz

Bio: R. Kilpper-Bälz is an academic researcher from Technische Universität München. The author has contributed to research in topics: Enterococcus durans & Streptococcus suis. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 19 publications receiving 2808 citations.

Transfer of Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus faecium to the Genus Enterococcus nom. rev. as Enterococcus faecalis comb. nov. and Enterococcus faecium comb. nov.

Abstract: The results of deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid-ribosomal ribonucleic acid hybridization studies demonstrated that Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus faecium are distantly related to the non-enterococcal streptococci (Streptococcus bovis and Streptococcus equinus) of serological group D and to other streptococci. On the basis of our results and those of previous studies, we propose that S. faecalis and S. faecium be transferred to the genus Enterococcus (ex Thiercelin and Jouhaud) nom. rev. as Enterococcus faecalis (Andrewes and Horder) comb. nov. and Enterococcus faecium (Orla-Jensen) comb. nov., respectively. A description of the genus Enterococcus nom. rev. and emended descriptions of E. faecalis and E. faecium are given.

Enterococcus avium nom. rev., comb. nov.; E. casseliflavus nom. rev., comb. nov.; E. durans nom. rev., comb. nov.; E. gallinarum comb. nov.; and E. malodoratus sp. nov.

Abstract: Biochemical, chemical, and genetic data indicate that strains labeled Streptococcus avium (Nowlan and Deibel), "Streptococcus casseliflavus" (Vaughn, Riggsby and Mundt), "Streptococcus durans" (Sherman and Wing), "Streptococcus faecalis subsp. malodoratus" (Pette), and Streptococcus gallinarum (Bridge and Sneath) are closely related to members of the genus Enterococcus Schleifer and Kilpper-Balz. We propose that these taxa be classified as members of the genus Enterococcus, as Enterococcus avium nom. rev., comb. nov., Enterococcus casseliflavus nom. rev., comb. nov., Enterococcus durans nom. rev., comb. nov., Enterococcus malodoratus sp. nov., and Enterococcus gallinarum comb. nov., respectively.

Characterization and identification of Enterococcus species isolated from the intestines of animals

Abstract: Tests useful for the identification of Enterococcus strains were applied to a collection of isolates from animal intestines and to reference strains, all of which were capable of growth on 40% bile and in 6.5% NaCI. Most strains could be identified as known species, and their characteristics corresponded, with a few exceptions of minor importance, with those described for Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus mundtii, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus avium, and Enterococcus casseliflavus. However, some diagnostically important carbohydrate reactions of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains differed from those given in the species descriptions and in recent reports. Production of acid from d-raffinose andd-xylose by E. faecium varied with the host species from which the strains were isolated. E. durans and E. gallinarum were isolated only from poultry, whereas E. avium was found only in mammals.

The life and times of the Enterococcus.

Abstract: Enterococci are important human pathogens that are increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents. These organisms were previously considered part of the genus Streptococcus but have recently been reclassified into their own genus, called Enterococcus. To date, 12 species pathogenic for humans have been described, including the most common human isolates, Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium. Enterococci cause between 5 and 15% of cases of endocarditis, which is best treated by the combination of a cell wall-active agent (such as penicillin or vancomycin, neither of which alone is usually bactericidal) and an aminoglycoside to which the organism is not highly resistant; this characteristically results in a synergistic bactericidal effect. High-level resistance (MIC, greater than or equal to 2,000 micrograms/ml) to the aminoglycoside eliminates the expected bactericidal effect, and such resistance has now been described for all aminoglycosides. Enterococci can also cause urinary tract infections; intraabdominal, pelvic, and wound infections; superinfections (particularly in patients receiving expanded-spectrum cephalosporins); and bacteremias (often together with other organisms). They are now the third most common organism seen in nosocomial infections. For most of these infections, single-drug therapy, most often with penicillin, ampicillin, or vancomycin, is adequate. Enterococci have a large number of both inherent and acquired resistance traits, including resistance to cephalosporins, clindamycin, tetracycline, and penicillinase-resistant penicillins such as oxacillin, among others. The most recent resistance traits reported are penicillinase resistance (apparently acquired from staphylococci) and vancomycin resistance, both of which can be transferred to other enterococci. It appears likely that we will soon be faced with increasing numbers of enterococci for which there is no adequate therapy.

Plasmid-mediated resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin in Enterococcus faecium.

Abstract: THE glycopeptide antibiotic agents vancomycin and teicoplanin are useful in the treatment of severe infections due to gram-positive bacteria.1 2 3 Staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci are a...

The Complete Genome Sequence of the Lactic Acid Bacterium Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis IL1403

Abstract: Lactococcus lactis is a nonpathogenic AT-rich gram-positive bacterium closely related to the genus Streptococcus and is the most commonly used cheese starter. It is also the best-characterized lactic acid bacterium. We sequenced the genome of the laboratory strain IL1403, using a novel two-step strategy that comprises diagnostic sequencing of the entire genome and a shotgun polishing step. The genome contains 2,365,589 base pairs and encodes 2310 proteins, including 293 protein-coding genes belonging to six prophages and 43 insertion sequence (IS) elements. Nonrandom distribution of IS elements indicates that the chromosome of the sequenced strain may be a product of recent recombination between two closely related genomes. A complete set of late competence genes is present, indicating the ability of L. lactis to undergo DNA transformation. Genomic sequence revealed new possibilities for fermentation pathways and for aerobic respiration. It also indicated a horizontal transfer of genetic information from Lactococcus to gram-negative enteric bacteria of Salmonella-Escherichia group. [The sequence data described in this paper has been submitted to the GenBank data library under accession no. AE005176.]