Evidence of horizontal gene transfer between human and animal commensal Escherichia coli strains identified by microarray.

Bacteria exchange genetic material by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). To evaluate the impact of HGT on Escherichia coli genome plasticity, 19 commensal strains collected from the intestinal floras of humans and animals were analyzed by microarrays. Strains were hybridized against an oligoarray containing 2700 E.

Effects on gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria mediated by 5-aminolevulinic Acid and 5-aminolevulinic acid derivatives.

Due mainly to the extensive use of antibiotics, the spread of multiresistant bacterial strains is one of the most worrying threats to public health. One strategy that can be used to overcome potential shortcomings might be the inactivation of these microorganisms by 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or 5-ALA derivative-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). 5-ALA has no photoactive properties, but when it is given exogenously, it acts as a precursor of photosensitive porphyrins predominantly in tissues or organisms that are characterized by a high metabolic turnover, such as tumors, macrophages, and bacteria.

Distribution and characterization of integrons in Escherichia coli strains of animal and human origin.

One hundred and twenty clinical and commensal Escherichia coli strains isolated in Switzerland from humans and from companion and farm animals were analysed for the prevalence of integrons of classes 1, 2, and 3 and for the characterization of their gene cassettes. The relationships between integron carriage and host category, and between integron carriage and phylogenetic E. coli lineage were also analysed.