Recent studies using culture-independent methods have characterized the human airway microbiota and report microbial communities distinct from other body sites. Changes in these airway bacterial communities appear to be associated with inflammatory lung disease, yet the pro-inflammatory properties of individual bacterial species are unknown. In this study, we compared the immune stimulatory cap...

The in-vitro activity of colistin sulphomethate sodium was compared with that of other commonly used antimicrobial agents against 377 recent clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria (including 94 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients with cystic fibrosis) and 16 organisms with defined resistance patterns. Colistin was active against most strains of P. aeruginosa (MIC90 4 mg/L), Shi...

The antifungal activity of some statins against different fungal species has been reported. Thus, at the first moment, the in vitro antifungal activity of simvastatin, atorvastatin and pravastatin was tested against Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. Then, in a second approach, considering that the best results were obtained for simvastatin, this drug was evaluated in combination with antifunga...

Sampling techniques to detect airborne Salmonella species (spp.) in two pilot scale broiler houses were compared. Broilers were inoculated at seven days of age with a marked strain of Salmonella enteritidis. The rearing cycle lasted 42 days during the summer. Airborne Salmonella spp. were sampled weekly using impaction, gravitational settling, and impingement techniques. Additionally, Salmonell...

Introduction and objective: Detection of the common allergen airborne fungi in any region is critical for prevention and treatment of allergic fungal diseases. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the most common airborne fungal species of Isfahan, investigate their allergic reactions in animal and obtain local fungal strains for use as antigens in allergy tests to be used. Materials...

—During research on black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), we repeatedly observed a female American badger (Taxidea taxus) hunting prairie dogs on a colony in southern Phillips County, Montana. During 1–14 June 2006, we observed 7 aboveground attacks (2 successful) and 3 successful excavations of prairie dogs. The locations and circumstances of aboveground attacks suggested that the ...

Catenovulum sp. strain DS-2, isolated from intestines of Haliotis diversicolor, is able to degrade agar and produce agaro-oligosaccharides. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Catenovulum sp. strain DS-2.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal susceptibility profile of Trichosporon species isolated from different sources employing the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method and E-test method. Thirty-four isolates of Trichosporon spp. and six CBS reference samples were tested for their susceptibility to Amphotericin B, 5-flucytosine, Fluconazole, Itraconazol...

Successful Polistes dominulus nests can be started by one or more nest founding queens (foundresses). Consequently, there is much interest in the specific benefits that induce cooperation among foundresses. Here, we experimentally demonstrate one major benefit of cooperation, namely that multiple foundresses increase colony productivity. This increase is close to the value predicted by subtract...

1. Distribution and abundance patterns are influenced by cellular responses to abiotic stressors. 2. The freshwater clam Sphaerium sp. inhabits swamp/stream systems in Uganda, in which dissolved O 2 (DO), pH and water transparency form ecotonal gradients along tributary streams. Along a swamp/stream transect, clam abundance was negatively related to DO, pH and transparency; clams were most abun...