Bilophila wadsworthia is an anaerobic, Gram-negative, bile-resistant bacterium that is commonly found in the human colon and has been associated with various infections. Here are some key points about this bacterium:

1. Characteristics: Bilophila wadsworthia is an anaerobic, Gram-negative bacillus that can resist bile. It is asaccharolytic, meaning it does not break down sugars, and is usually urease positive. It produces distinctive "black-eyed" colonies on Bacteroides bile esculin (BBE) agar¹².
2. Clinical Relevance: This bacterium is often isolated from specimens of peritoneal fluid and tissue in patients with conditions like appendicitis. It has also been detected in various other clinical specimens, including blood, pleural fluid, joint fluid, and abscesses².
3. Health Impacts:
   • Infections: Bilophila wadsworthia has been linked to peritonitis, appendicitis, osteomyelitis, and gangrenous perforated appendicitis³⁴.
   • Dietary Influence: Studies have shown that dietary lipids promote the growth of Bilophila wadsworthia. The bacterium can exacerbate metabolic dysfunctions associated with a high-fat diet, such as inflammation, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and hepatic steatosis⁵.
   • Metabolic Effects: The bacterium can synergize with a high-fat diet, leading to higher inflammation and glucose dysmetabolism. Pharmacological interventions and probiotics like Lactobacillus rhamnosus have been shown to limit the negative impacts of Bilophila wadsworthia by reducing its expansion and inflammation⁵.
4. Taxonomy and Identification: Bilophila wadsworthia belongs to the family Desulfovibrionaceae. Identification in the laboratory includes growth on Bacteroides bile esculin agar, a positive catalase test, and an acid phosphatase test¹³.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the following sources:

• Bilophila wadsworthia: a unique Gram-negative anaerobic rod - PubMed
• Bilophila wadsworthia isolates from clinical specimens - PubMed
• Clinical importance of Bilophila wadsworthia - PubMed
• Impact on metabolic functions - Nat Commun

Footnotes

1. Bilophila wadsworthia: a unique Gram-negative anaerobic rod - PubMed ↩ ↩²

2. Bilophila wadsworthia isolates from clinical specimens - PubMed ↩ ↩²

3. Clinical importance of Bilophila wadsworthia - PubMed ↩ ↩²

4. Rapid identification of Bilophila wadsworthia - PubMed ↩

5. Bilophila wadsworthia aggravates high-fat diet induced metabolic dysfunctions in mice - Nat Commun ↩ ↩²