Cyclitol utilization associated with the presence of Klebsielleae in botanical environments.

Bacteria of the tribe Klebsielleae are capable of metabolizing the cyclitols myoinositol, sequoyitol, and pinitol, which are present in aqueous extracts of redwood. Of the combined Klebsiella isolates from clinical and environmental origins, 100% (138/138), 97% (34/35), and 86% (119/138) fermented inositol, sequoyitol, and pinitol, respectively. These compounds were also used as a sole source of carbon and energy by Klebsiella. Similar results were obtained with Enterobacter isolates, but most other enteric bacteria tested could not metabolize cyclitols. Strains of Klebsiella multiplied to levels exceeding 10(5)/ml in aqueous extracts of nonsterile redwood within 6 days. Most other enteric bacteria did not grow in these extracts. Cyclitol metabolism was found to correlate well with the ability to multiply in redwood extract in the presence of cyclitol-negative indigenous bacteria. The capacity to use cyclitols, which are present in a variety of plant material, might afford Klebsielleae of both environmental and clinical origins an advantage in competing for nutrients and colonizing botanical environments.