ISOLATED FECAL MICROORGANISMS CAPABLE OF 7 α-DEHYDROXYLATING BILE ACIDS

Abstract
Strains of microorganisms capable of 7α-dehydroxylation of chenodeoxycholate were isolated from rat and human feces. All the strains were strictly anaerobic, non-motile, moderately themioresistant Gram-positive rods. They showed some saccharolytic properties with the production of both acid and gas. They were H2S-positive but indole-, skatole-, citrate-, catalase-, and oxidase-negative.