In vitro stimulation of Bacteroides fragilis growth by Escherichia coli

The interaction between Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli was investigated by following their growth kinetics in an in vitro mixed culture system. In Bacto-peptone or in a semisynthetic medium (SSM-M) Bacteroides fragilis could initiate growth only when a small number of viable Escherichia coli initially coexisted for a short period of time. Both Bacto-peptone and SSM-M previously spent by Escherichia coli also allowed Bacteroides fragilis growth to occur but the supplementation of heat killed Escherichia coli cells or viable cell homogenates to fresh media failed to stimulate Bacteroides fragilis growth. The in vitro stimulation of Bacteroides fragilis growth by Escherichia coli observed in this study may be best explained by the combination of (a) removal of oxygen and other toxic substances and (b) de novo production of Bacteroides fragilis growth stimulating factor(s) by coexistent Escherichia coli.