A cell population (55) is cultured on a cell culture substrate (50) while agents contained in agent reservoirs (31, 33, 35) at predefined positions in a culture container (10) diffuse through the substrate (50) and form at least partly overlapping concentration gradients in the substrate (50) within combination areas (41, 43, 45) and substantially non-overlapping concentration gradients in the substrate (50) peripheral to an outer boundary of the agent reservoirs (31, 33, 35). Inhibition end points (61, 63, 65) of respective inhibition zones (60, 62, 64) substantially lacking any growth of the cell population (55) peripheral to the outer boundary of the agent reservoirs (31, 33, 35) and growth end points (71, 73, 75) of respective growth zones (70, 72, 74) comprising growth of the cell population (55) within the combination areas (41, 43, 45) are determined and used to determine interaction effects between the agents on the cell population (55).

Methods for identifying and providing therapeutic solutions for treating polymicrobial infections, such as but not limited to urinary tract infections, based on concordance between ABR genes and antibiotic susceptibility. The methods herein feature detection and identification of organisms of the polymicrobial infection, phenotypic pooled sensitivity tests for determining the susceptibility or resistance of the polymicrobial infection in the sample to an antibiotic or other therapeutic agent, and identification of resistance genes, e.g., genetic markers that may indicate resistance to a particular treatment. Together, the data can be applied against databases of antibiotic/therapeutic susceptibility or resistance for particular known polymicrobial infections in order to provide one or more therapeutic solutions for the polymicrobial infection.

Methods for identifying and providing therapeutic solutions for treating polymicrobial infections, such as but not limited to urinary tract infections, based on concordance between ABR genes and antibiotic susceptibility. The methods herein feature detection and identification of organisms of the polymicrobial infection, phenotypic pooled sensitivity tests for determining the susceptibility or resistance of the polymicrobial infection in the sample to an antibiotic or other therapeutic agent, and identification of resistance genes, e.g., genetic markers that may indicate resistance to a particular treatment. Together, the data can be applied against databases of antibiotic/therapeutic susceptibility or resistance for particular known polymicrobial infections in order to provide one or more therapeutic solutions for the polymicrobial infection.

A method of making a live cell construct is carried out by: (a) providing a non-cellular support having a top surface and a bottom surface, (b) contacting live undifferentiated cells to the non-cellular support, and then (c) propagating a gastrointestinal epithelial cell monolayer on said top surface. In some embodiments, the live cells in the monolayer include: (i) undifferentiated cells (e.g., stem or progenitor cells); and (ii) optionally, but in some embodiments preferably, differentiated cells (e.g., enterocytes, Paneth cells, enteroendocrine cells, tuft cells, microcells, intra-epithelial lymphocytes, and/or goblet cells). Constructs formed by such methods and methods of using the same (e.g., in high through-put screening) are also described.

A method of making a live cell construct is carried out by: (a) providing a non-cellular support having a top surface and a bottom surface, (b) contacting live undifferentiated cells to the non-cellular support, and then (c) propagating a gastrointestinal epithelial cell monolayer on said top surface. In some embodiments, the live cells in the monolayer include: (i) undifferentiated cells (e.g., stem or progenitor cells); and (ii) optionally, but in some embodiments preferably, differentiated cells (e.g., enterocytes, Paneth cells, enteroendocrine cells, tuft cells, microcells, intra-epithelial lymphocytes, and/or goblet cells). Constructs formed by such methods and methods of using the same (e.g., in high through-put screening) are also described.

The present disclosure provides a technique enabling analysis of cell viability information and nucleic acid information together for each single cell in a cell population when analyzing the composition of the cell population. The present disclosure discloses a method that is for analyzing the composition of a cell population and that comprises: a step for providing gel capsules in each of which a single cell of the cell population is encapsulated in a state of being labeled with a labeling agent, where the labeling agent distinctively labels a living cell and a dead cell; a step for amplifying a nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population; a step for obtaining cell viability information for each single cell of the cell population; and a step for analyzing the amplified nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population.

The present disclosure provides a technique enabling analysis of cell viability information and nucleic acid information together for each single cell in a cell population when analyzing the composition of the cell population. The present disclosure discloses a method that is for analyzing the composition of a cell population and that comprises: a step for providing gel capsules in each of which a single cell of the cell population is encapsulated in a state of being labeled with a labeling agent, where the labeling agent distinctively labels a living cell and a dead cell; a step for amplifying a nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population; a step for obtaining cell viability information for each single cell of the cell population; and a step for analyzing the amplified nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population.

The present document is directed to a method for the detection and/or enumeration of Listeria bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes in a sample, said method comprising culturing a sample possibly containing Listeria bacteria in a culture medium comprising rhamnose, one or more of an antibiotic, a pH colour indicator and LiCl.

The present document is directed to a method for the detection and/or enumeration of Listeria bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes in a sample, said method comprising culturing a sample possibly containing Listeria bacteria in a culture medium comprising rhamnose, one or more of an antibiotic, a pH colour indicator and LiCl.

Systems and methods for microbe identification (ID) in the context of phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Approaches for rapidly identifying polymicrobial samples are introduced that following perform one or more ID methods, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), PCR, or DNA hybridization, following sample incubation in two or more different media, including at least one selective media. Parallel ID and AST workflows are provided that may reduce the time from sample to AST result.