Binding agents able to disrupt bacterial biofilms of diverse origin are described, including monoclonal antibodies secreted by human B lymphocytes. Methods to prevent formation of or to dissolve biofilms with these binding agents are also described. Immunogens for eliciting antibodies to disrupt biofilms are also described.

Dehydrated biofilm assemblies and methods for manufacturing dehydrated biofilm assemblies are disclosed. An example dehydrated biofilm assembly may include a dehydrated biofilm assembly for use in antimicrobial testing. The dehydrated biofilm assembly may include a substrate and a dehydrated biofilm secured to the substrate. The dehydrated biofilm may include a viable population of micro-organisms. The dehydrated biofilm may be configured to retain securement to the substrate and exhibit a biofilm phenotype upon hydration.

Disclosed is a method for identifying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus through detection a mass signal at m/z of 6580-6600 in the MALDI-TOF mass spectrum. Also disclosed is a novel peptide biomarker, which consists of SEQ NO ID:5 and the use thereof for detection and/or identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The invention relates to the field of biomedicine. In particular, the invention relates to a live strain of Staphylococcus aureus and uses thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a live strain of Staphylococcus aureus which lacks adenosine synthase A (AdsA) activity, to a vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus infection comprising said live strain, and a method for preventing and/or treating Staphylococcus aureus infection in a subject by administering said live strain.

Covalently cross-linked pilus polymers displayed on the cell surface of Gram-positive bacteria are assembled by class C sortase enzymes. These pilus-specific transpeptidases located on the bacterial membrane catalyze a two-step protein ligation reaction—first, cleaving the LPXTG motif of one pilin protomer to form an acyl-enzyme intermediate, and second, joining the terminal threonine to the nucleophilic lysine residue residing within the pilin motif of another pilin protomer. Informed by the high-resolution crystal structures of corynebacterial pilus-specific sortase (SrtA) and by developing structural variants of the sortase enzyme whose catalytic pocket has been unmasked by activating mutations, we have developed new reagents capable of forming isopeptide bonds in vitro. The reagents disclosed herein can catalyze ligation of isolated SpaA domains in vitro provide a facile and versatile new platform for protein engineering and bio-conjugation that has major implications for biotechnology.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a detection means whereby Staphylococcus aureus can be identified at a high accuracy. An aspect of the present invention relates to a medium for detecting S. aureus which comprises one or more kinds of nutrient components, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of -glucosidase, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of phosphatase and 0.5 mg/cm.sup.3 or more of sodium colistin methanesulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a sheet for detecting S. aureus, said sheet comprising the aforesaid medium, and a method for detecting S. aureus with the use of the medium and sheet as described above.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a detection means whereby Staphylococcus aureus can be identified at a high accuracy. An aspect of the present invention relates to a medium for detecting S. aureus which comprises one or more kinds of nutrient components, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of -glucosidase, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of phosphatase and 0.5 mg/cm.sup.3 or more of sodium colistin methanesulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a sheet for detecting S. aureus, said sheet comprising the aforesaid medium, and a method for detecting S. aureus with the use of the medium and sheet as described above.

The present invention refers to a method for the production of live attenuated bacterial strains, suitable as vaccine candidates, comprising the steps of: A. providing a bacterial strain capable of expressing glutamate racemase and possibly D-amino acid transaminase and comprising a peptidoglycan cell wall, and B. inactivating the gene or genes encoding for the glutamate racemase enzyme and, if needed, the gene or genes encoding for the enzyme D-amino acid transaminase in such way that the bacterial strain is no longer capable of expressing a functional glutamate racemase and/or a functional D-amino acid transaminase;
wherein the inactivation of said genes causes said bacterial strain to be auxotrophic for D-glutamate.

Binding agents able to disrupt bacterial biofilms of diverse origin are described, including monoclonal antibodies secreted by human B lymphocytes. Methods to prevent formation of or to dissolve biofilms with these binding agents are also described. Immunogens for eliciting antibodies to disrupt biofilms are also described.

The invention provides in part methods of treating cancers of a specific organ or tissue by administering a composition that is antigenically specific for one or more microbes that are pathogenic in the specific organ or tissue in which the cancer is situated.