Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Enumeration of the Oxygen Sensitive Bacteria usually Present in the Intestine of Healthy Mice

Nature volume 220, pages 1137–1139 (1968)Cite this article

Abstract

THE gastrointestinal microflora of specific pathogen free mice usually includes several species of anaerobic bacteria. In a healthy state these organisms greatly outnumber the coliform bacilli and enterococci that are commonly but erroneously assumed to be the most characteristic inhabitants of the intestinal tract1–3. Earlier publications from this laboratory have presented the hypothesis that several species of anaerobic bacteria have evolved with the mouse, live symbiotically with it and play essential parts in its anatomical development as well as in physiological functions. Such organisms are intimately associated with gastrointestinal anatomy and can be regarded as constituting its autochthonous microflora. This hypothesis, if valid, applies equally well to other omnivorous animals, including man1–3.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dubos, R., Schaedler, R. W., Costello, R., and Hoet, P., J. Exp. Med., 122, 67 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dubos, R., Carworth Europe Collected Papers, 2, 11 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dubos, R., Gastroenterology, 51, 868 (1966).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Savage, D. C., and Dubos, R., J. Exp. Med., 128, 97 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Savage, D. C., Dubos, R., and Schaedler, R. W., J. Exp. Med., 127, 67 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hungate, R. E., Bact. Rev., 14, 1 (1950).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Drasar, B. S., J. Pathol. Bact., 94, 417 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Aranki, A., Syed, S. A., and Freter, R., Bact. Proc., 68, 94 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Schaedler, R. W., Dubos, R., and Costello, R., J. Exp. Med., 122, 59 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. ADRIAN LEE

    Present address: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rockefeller University, New York

    ADRIAN LEE, JAMES GORDON & RENÉ DUBOS

Authors
  1. ADRIAN LEE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. JAMES GORDON
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. RENÉ DUBOS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

LEE, A., GORDON, J. & DUBOS, R. Enumeration of the Oxygen Sensitive Bacteria usually Present in the Intestine of Healthy Mice. Nature 220, 1137–1139 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/2201137a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2201137a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing