The overall goal of this project was to develop molecular based tools to measure the diversity and content of the bacterial microflora in the pig intestinal tract. The approach was to create DNA libraries based on the presence of a signal sequence found in all bacteria: 16S rRNA. This is a standard means used to classify bacteria. Because the intestinal bacteria are not uniformly distributed an...

This review focuses on diarrhea caused by toxins released by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. These bacteria are known to produce toxins that have adverse effects on the intestinal tissue in Man and animals. E. coli is contracted through the ingestion of water or food contaminated by this bacterium. Generally, E. coli colonizes the intestinal mucosa where it multiplies and causes damage to the...

The human bowel is host to a diverse group of bacteria with over 500 different bacterial species contributing to this diversity. Until recently these bacteria were regarded as residents without any specific functions. The last two decades have seen a radical change in our understanding of the interactions between the gut flora and their eukaryotic hosts and there is a growing appreciation of th...

BACKGROUND Kiwifruit is high in pectic polysaccharides and dietary fiber. This study aimed to find out how the ingestion of kiwifruit will affect intestinal microbiota populations, namely Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus. METHODS Freeze dried kiwifruit (equivalent of two fresh kiwifruits) was given to each of the six subjects daily for four days. Faec...

Ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin were effective in the treatment of Yersinia enterocolitica O9 intestinal infection in mice. Amikacin was less effective. The impact of these drugs on indigenous bacteria from the intestinal microbiota was studied.

BACKGROUND Compromised barrier function and intestinal inflammation are common complications of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that the lack of enteral nutrients in TPN might select commensal or pathogenic bacteria that use mucus as a substrate, thereby weakening the protection provided by the intestinal mucus layer. DESIGN Ileal microbiota profiles of ...

BACKGROUND The intestinal microbiota is increasingly linked to the pathogenesis of chronic enteropathies (CE) in dogs. While imbalances in duodenal and fecal microbial communities have been associated with mucosal inflammation, relatively little is known about alterations in mucosal bacteria seen with CE involving the ileum and colon. AIM To investigate the composition and spatial organizatio...