A composition and method for identifying a microbial composition that inhibits colonization of an enteric pathogen in an animal is disclosed. The method includes removing a microbial sample from a digestive tract of at least one healthy individual, culturing the microbial sample, isolating one or more microbial species within the microbial sample, and identifying one or more isolated microbial species. The method further includes determining one or more bile-tolerant properties of the one or more isolated microbial species, and creating one or more microbial compositions of the one or more isolated microbial species that are bile-tolerant. The method further includes determining an ability of the one or more microbial compositions to inhibit growth of an enteric pathogen in at least one of an assay, and identifying one or more microbial compositions from the one or more microbial compositions capable of inhibiting growth of enteric pathogens in an animal.

A composition and method for identifying a microbial composition that inhibits colonization of an enteric pathogen in an animal is disclosed. The method includes removing a microbial sample from a digestive tract of at least one healthy individual, culturing the microbial sample, isolating one or more microbial species within the microbial sample, and identifying one or more isolated microbial species. The method further includes determining one or more bile-tolerant properties of the one or more isolated microbial species, and creating one or more microbial compositions of the one or more isolated microbial species that are bile-tolerant. The method further includes determining an ability of the one or more microbial compositions to inhibit growth of an enteric pathogen in at least one of an assay, and identifying one or more microbial compositions from the one or more microbial compositions capable of inhibiting growth of enteric pathogens in an animal.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for antimicrobial quantification and functional measurement. In one aspect, a method for quantifying antimicrobial comprises: obtaining a biological sample from a patient receiving an antimicrobial; incubating the biological sample with a reference microbial strain and a fluorophore for detecting cell lesion; measuring a first signal of fluorescent intensity in the incubated biological sample using flow cytometry; and comparing the first signal to a calibrating curve previously generated for the antimicrobial, thereby quantifying the antimicrobial present in the biological sample.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for antimicrobial quantification and functional measurement. In one aspect, a method for quantifying antimicrobial comprises: obtaining a biological sample from a patient receiving an antimicrobial; incubating the biological sample with a reference microbial strain and a fluorophore for detecting cell lesion; measuring a first signal of fluorescent intensity in the incubated biological sample using flow cytometry; and comparing the first signal to a calibrating curve previously generated for the antimicrobial, thereby quantifying the antimicrobial present in the biological sample.

A method for distribution of supports impregnated with antibiotics includes a step of positioning of a plurality of tubular containers, each one containing a plurality of supports impregnated with antibiotics and stacked, in a corresponding plurality of seats of a dispenser. Extraction of at least a first support from a first container is performed using an extractor, the step of extraction being performed in correspondence of an upper end of the first container and comprising a movement of the first support between a first position inside of the first container and a second position extracted from the first container, said first position and said second position lying substantially in correspondence of an upper surface of the dispenser. Collection of the first support from the second position is performed using a collector. Transportation of the first support towards a culture plate by the collector is performed.

A method for distribution of supports impregnated with antibiotics includes a step of positioning of a plurality of tubular containers, each one containing a plurality of supports impregnated with antibiotics and stacked, in a corresponding plurality of seats of a dispenser. Extraction of at least a first support from a first container is performed using an extractor, the step of extraction being performed in correspondence of an upper end of the first container and comprising a movement of the first support between a first position inside of the first container and a second position extracted from the first container, said first position and said second position lying substantially in correspondence of an upper surface of the dispenser. Collection of the first support from the second position is performed using a collector. Transportation of the first support towards a culture plate by the collector is performed.

A multiplexed and encapsulated 3D cell co-culture drug testing or screening method which discloses an in vitro drug testing kit suitable for testing the effect of one or more drugs of interest on multiple biological processes in one or more target cell types.

The present invention relates to inhibitors of the interaction between H. pylori HopQ and a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family as well as to immunogenic compositions based on H. pylori HopQ. The present invention further relates to the use of the inhibitors and immunogenic compositions for preventing or treating a disease or disorder caused by or associated with H. pylori.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for community-based screening of polymicrobial infections for the selection and administration of antibiotics and antibiotic combinations for treating infections associated with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic sinus infections. The methods and compositions of this disclosure are advantageous in the sense that antibiotic effectiveness is assessed with respect to a community of microbes rather than a single microbial population, thus reflecting more accurately the in vivo disease environment and enabling the identification of beneficial antimicrobial therapeutics even when the primary bacterial strain shows antibiotic resistance.

The present invention concerns a method of measuring antimicrobial susceptibility of microbes using a suitable device or system. Also provided are a device and a system suitable for measuring antimicrobial susceptibility of microbes and use of the device and system to measure the antimicrobial susceptibility of microbes.