Mechanisms of pathogenicity of anaerobic bacteria of clinical interest.

The host factors leading to anaerobic infection and the various models of anaerobic infection, namely direct effect of a single toxin, multiple toxin-aggressin-systems, enterotoxic mechanisms, endogenous infections with non-clostridial anaerobes, and synergistic infections, are reviewed. Production of carcinogens and co-carcinogens by anaerobes is also discusssed.