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<ol><li>To detect various metabolites of phytoestrogens,produced by the metabolism of these compounds by pure culture of bacteria typiical of that isolated from human microflora, and elucidation of the metabolic pathways of phytoestrogens by human intestinal bacteria. <li>To assess the estrogenic effect of each phytoestrogen metabolite produced by intestinal bacteria. <li>To determine the bacteria species producing estrogenic metabolites from phytoestrogens and elucidation of enzymes involved in various steps of these metabolic processes. <li>To determine the effects of phytoestrogens and their metabolites on the population,composition, metabolic activity, and enzyme production of bacteria from the human gastrointestinal tract.</ol>
FY 2000 Accomplishments: <ol><li>Bacterial species from the human intestinal tract that are involved in the conversion of daidzin and genistein to more estrogenic compounds, daidzein and genistein,were detected. <li>Intestinal anaerobic bacteria with demethylating enzymes were used to produce estrogenic metabolites from natural isoflavonoids. <li>Anaerobic bacteria from the human intestinal tract involved in the reductive metabolism of daidzein and genistein were identified.</ol>
<p> FY 2001 Plans: <ol><li>Detect specific bacteria from the human intestinal tract involved in the conversion of phtoestrogens (daidzein and genistein) to estrogenic and nonestrogenic end products. <li>Evaluate the effect of fluoroquinolones on resistance development in anaerobic bacteria from the human intestinal tract, mechanism of resistance development, impact on metabolic activities,and the dissemination of resistance to bacterial pathogens. <li>Develop resistance to nithro antimicrobial drugs in bacteria from the human intestinal tract and evaluation of the role of reductive enzymes in resistance development.</ol>