) and Gram-positive (R. equi, Staphylococcus

aureus) bacteria resistant to multiple classes of conventional antibiotics. A modified microdilution method was used to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antimicrobial peptide. The study revealed that eCATH1 was active against all equine isolates of E. coli, S. enterica, K. pneumoniae, Pseudomonas spp. and R. equi tested, with MICs of 0.5–16 μg mL−1, but was not active against most isolates of S. aureus. In conclusion, the activity of the equine antimicrobial peptide eCATH1 appears to not be hampered CYC202 cost by the antibiotic resistance of clinical isolates. Thus, the data suggest that eCATH1 could be useful, not only in the treatment of R. equi infections, but also of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. “
“Bacteriophage Recombineering of Electroporated DNA (BRED) has been described for construction of gene deletion and point mutations in mycobacteriophages. Using BRED, we inserted a Phsp60-egfp cassette (1143 bp) into the mycobacteriophage D29 genome to construct a new reporter phage, which was used for detection of mycobacterial cells. The cassette was successfully NVP-LDE225 in vitro inserted

and recombinant mycobacteriophage purified. DNA sequencing of the cassette did not show any mutations even after several phage generations. Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 cells were infected with D29::Phsp60-egfp (MOI of 10) and evaluated for EGFP expression by microscopy. Fluorescence was observed at around

2 h after infection, but dissipated in later times because of cell lysis. We attempted to construct a lysis-defective mutant by deleting the lysA gene, although we were unable to purify the mutant to homogeneity even with complementation. These observations demonstrate the ability Sitaxentan of BRED to insert c. 1 kbp-sized DNA segments into mycobacteriophage genomes as a strategy for constructing new diagnostic reporter phages. “
“Although studies have reported numerous effects of coffee on human health, few studies have examined its specific effects on gut microbiota. This study aimed to clarify the influence of coffee and galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) consumption on gut microbiota and host responses. After mice consumed coffee and GOS, their intestines were sampled, and the bacterial counts were measured with quantitative RT-PCR. Results showed that GOS consumption significantly increased total bacteria counts in the proximal colon. Although Escherichia coli and Clostridium spp. counts significantly decreased in the proximal colon, Bifidobacterium spp. counts increased remarkably in the same area. A bacterial growth inhibition assay was also conducted, and the results showed that E. coli growth was inhibited only by a coffee agar. Host responses were also investigated, revealing that coffee and GOS consumption remarkably increased aquaporin8 expression in the proximal colon. In conclusion, coffee has antibiotic effects, and GOS significantly decreased E.