Disclosed is a method for detection and/or quantification of microorganism in a liquid sample, in particular in a water sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) distributing the liquid sample into a number of different discrete volume portions in a linear distribution pattern, or diluting the liquid sample into a number of dilution samples by a dilution factor of a linear distribution pattern; (b) allowing the microorganism to grow; and (c) applying the Most Probable Number method to the linearly distributed volume portions or the linearly diluted dilution samples to detect and/or quantify the microorganism. The invention also discloses a sample holder for detection and/or quantification of microorganism in a liquid sample, wherein the sample holder is structured to hold the liquid sample in a number of different compartments, wherein the different compartments respectively define a linear volume distribution.

Genetically modified microorganisms which are resistant to infection by bacteriophages and that retain their kinetic parameters and methods of making the same.

Genetically modified microorganisms which are resistant to infection by bacteriophages and that retain their kinetic parameters and methods of making the same.

Compositions comprising microbiome regulators are provided, as well as methods of using the same for the modulation of the human microbiota and to treat or prevent related diseases, disorders, or conditions.

Compositions comprising microbiome regulators are provided, as well as methods of using the same for the modulation of the human microbiota and to treat or prevent related diseases, disorders, or conditions.

A medium containing (A) a chromogenic substance which develops a color when decomposed by β-glucosidase or a fluorogenic substance which develops a fluorescence when decomposed by β-glucosidase; (B) a chromogenic substance which develops a color when decomposed by phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C or a fluorogenic substance which develops a fluorescence when decomposed by phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C; and (C) a sugar that is useful for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes and/or Listeria ivanovii.

A method for directed exaptation includes dividing an original microorganism monoculture into subcultures that are subjected to different exaptation agents to obtain diversified substrains. At least one of the exaptation agents is selected to favor survival of sub strains exhibiting desired traits. The steps of dividing and subjecting may be iterated using at least some of the diversified substrains. Performance of diversified substrains is assessed and those that meet performance criteria for at least one desired trait are selected. Exaptation agents may include mutagenesis agents, training, horizontal gene transfer opportunities, and stressors. Substrains may be co-incubated with other living or dead microorganisms known to be preferentially adapted to have the desired trait. Diversified substrains may be combined into a multiculture microorganism population, to which microorganisms from the original monoculture may be added. The method may be used to create a treatment for a Multiple-Antibiotic Resistant Infection, preferably including a kill switch.

A method for directed exaptation includes dividing an original microorganism monoculture into subcultures that are subjected to different exaptation agents to obtain diversified substrains. At least one of the exaptation agents is selected to favor survival of sub strains exhibiting desired traits. The steps of dividing and subjecting may be iterated using at least some of the diversified substrains. Performance of diversified substrains is assessed and those that meet performance criteria for at least one desired trait are selected. Exaptation agents may include mutagenesis agents, training, horizontal gene transfer opportunities, and stressors. Substrains may be co-incubated with other living or dead microorganisms known to be preferentially adapted to have the desired trait. Diversified substrains may be combined into a multiculture microorganism population, to which microorganisms from the original monoculture may be added. The method may be used to create a treatment for a Multiple-Antibiotic Resistant Infection, preferably including a kill switch.

The present invention relates to a method for detecting a pathogenic strain having resistance to carbapenem antibiotics in a biological sample. According to the present invention, it is possible to directly identify carbapenemases, specifically KPC, OXA, NDM, IMP, VIM and/or GES protein, by mass spectrometry, thereby making it possible to quickly determine not only whether a pathogenic strain has resistance to antibiotics, but also the type of protein involved in the resistance. According to the present invention, the physical and chemical properties of each carbapenemase in vivo, such as the unique N-terminal truncation length, methionine residue oxidation and disulfide bond formation in each type of carbapenemase, are identified and are reflected on reference mass values. Accordingly, it is possible to more closely detect the presence of an antibiotic-resistant strain with high reliability, and thus the present invention may be advantageously used to establish an appropriate strategy for antibiotic administration at an early stage of infection.

Methods and composition related to the engineering of a novel protein with methionine-γ-lyase enzyme activity are described. For example, in certain aspects there may be disclosed a modified cystathionine-γ-lyase (CGL) comprising one or more amino acid substitutions and capable of degrading methionine. Furthermore, certain aspects of the invention provide compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer with methionine depletion using the disclosed proteins or nucleic acids.