coli DALRA These results indicated that small RNA can be used as

coli DALRA. These results indicated that small RNA can be used as a tool for regulating ALA accumulation in E. coli. “
“Protease inhibitor cocktails are routinely

added to clinical samples used for proteomic studies to inactivate proteases. As these same samples are often used for microbial studies, we determined whether the addition of protease inhibitors could affect the quantitative or qualitative assessment of microbial profiles. Twenty-two saliva samples were collected and processed immediately with or without the addition of a protease inhibitor cocktail. Conventional cultivation methods were used to evaluate total bacterial growth. Total genomic DNA was isolated and a specific 16S rRNA gene-targeted region was PCR-amplified and separated Selumetinib nmr by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. A combination of 1D sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and LC-MS/MS methods Cyclopamine was used to determine the effect of the protease inhibitors on the integrity of salivary proteins and peptides. Interestingly, no significant differences were observed in either the bacterial growth and composition or the integrity of salivary proteins between the two groups. Correlation coefficients between the paired samples

for total cultivable microbiota (r2=0.847), total mutans streptococci (r2=0.898), total oral lactobacilli (r2=0.933), and total Streptococcus mutans (r2=0.870) also exceeded expected values. The results suggest that the addition of a protease inhibitor cocktail in saliva samples does not impact the growth of oral microbiota or compromise the ability to characterize its composition. Proteases are widely distributed in most animals, plants, and microorganisms. They constitute one of the largest functional groups of proteins (Rawlings et al.,

2010). Proteases play critical roles in regulating the activity of proteins and enzymes during the life cycle of cells. CHIR-99021 in vivo Proteases inhibitors (PI) inhibit the proteolytic cleavage of proteins, and they are generally grouped into five major types: cysteine, serine, threonine, aspartate, and metalloproteinase, according to the amino-acid-active site responsible for proteolytic cleavage (Supuran et al., 2002). As proteases are involved in intra- and extracellular biological processes, protease inhibitors also play an important role in modulating multiple molecular events in all forms of organisms. It has been reported that some protease inhibitors affected bacterial morphological differentiation, evasion ability, biofilm formation, and the acquisition of nutrients (Curtis et al., 2002; Armstrong, 2006; Tsang et al., 2008). Studies have demonstrated that the presence of endogenous protease inhibitors, such as cystatins in saliva, inhibited the growth of some oral bacteria (Blankenvoorde et al., 1998; van Nieuw Amerongen et al., 2004).

in nonsporulating bacteria, such as those identified as Curtobact

in nonsporulating bacteria, such as those identified as Curtobacterium sp. (isolate 13_AG11AC13b) and Brevundimonas sp. (isolate 9_AG11AC12a), suggests a possible horizontal transmission of the gene as well (Urbanczyk et al., 2012). However, the possibility

remains that the data presented here are biased by the type of bacteria able to survive in amber and/or those that are cultivable. The lack of amplification of luxS in Gram-negative bacteria isolated from amber still leaves a gap in terms of the status of the gene in this bacterial group. The luxS sequences corresponding to the amber Inhibitor Library in vitro bacteria accounted for the differences in the tree topologies of both genes considered. The reason is that the luxS sequences CT99021 nmr grouped with Bacillus spp., whereas the 16S rRNA gene sequences formed distinct clades in the

phylogenetic tree. This suggests that luxS in the ancient bacteria tested was acquired by horizontal gene transfer from Bacillus spp. Our data suggest that the lateral transmission of luxS took place at least 40 million years ago. While the exact time of the horizontal transmission of luxS is certainly hard to estimate, it is possible that it was acquired over 40 million years ago by certain bacteria. The similarity of the luxS tree topology to that corresponding to the 16S rRNA gene suggests that in extant bacteria, luxS may have been acquired mainly by vertical transmission (Lerat & Moran, 2004; Sun et al., 2004). The biological reasons and mechanisms of the horizontal transfer of luxS are a matter of further research, but this is a rare event in extant bacteria (Schauder et al., 2001). The relatively low mutation rate of luxS (similar to that of the 16S rRNA gene) may suggest that the gene has been conserved for millions of years and may have an important function in ancient microorganisms as well. Although this may be apparent, no data so far have shown directly that luxS has been conserved for millions of years. This, in

turn, raises new questions about the possible role(s) of luxS in QS and metabolic processes in ancient bacteria. It is known that the primary role of LuxS resides in the activated methyl cycle, and this remains to be addressed for ancient bacteria (Winzer et al., 2003; Vendeville et al., 2005; Xavier tuclazepam & Bassler, 2005a, b; Rezzonico & Duffy, 2008). Notably, the luminescence assays confirmed the activity of luxS in the amber isolates tested. The high luminescence of the reporter strain at 4 h suggests that AI-2 could be important for processes associated with the mid-log phase, as in the case of biofilm formation (Auger et al., 2006). These data, although preliminary, open the opportunity to further determine the possible role of AI-2 in these unique isolates. It is known that luxS has an essential role in metabolic pathways; yet, its role in other biological processes (e.g. virulence), as those shown with extant bacteria, is a matter of further research.

, 2006) Recently, fungicidal as well as bactericidal AMPs have b

, 2006). Recently, fungicidal as well as bactericidal AMPs have been found and isolated from a wide range of organisms, including amphibians, invertebrates, plants, insects and mammals (Hwang & Vogel, 1998; Zasloff, 2002). Papiliocin (RWKIFKKIEKVGRNVRDGIIKAGPAVAVVGQAATVVK-NH2) is a 37-residue peptide isolated from the larvae of the swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus (Kim et al., 2010). [Correction added on 24 August after online publication:

38 corrected to 37 in this sentence and also in the Abstract; also a G has been removed from the end of the amino acid sequence.] In this study, the antifungal activity and mechanism of papiliocin were investigated and its antifungal properties were suggested. Peptide synthesis was carried out by Anygen Co. (Gwangju, Korea). The following procedures for peptide synthesis are offered by Anygen Co. learn more The assembly of peptides consisted of a 60-min cycle for each residue at ambient temperature as follows: (1) the 2-chlorotrityl (or 4-methylbenzhydrylamine amide) resin was charged to a reactor and then washed with dichloromethane and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), respectively, and (2) a coupling

step with vigorous shaking using a 0.14 mM solution of Fmoc-l-amino acids and Fmoc-l-amino acids preactivated for approximately 60 min with a 0.1 mM solution of 0.5 M HOBt/DIC in DMF. Finally, the peptide was cleaved from the resin using a trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) cocktail solution at ambient EPZ5676 temperature (Merrifield, 1986; Sheppard, 2003). Analytical and preparative reverse-phase HPLC runs were performed using a Shimadzu 20A or 6A gradient system. Data were collected using an SPD-20A detector at 230 nm. Chromatographic separations were achieved with a 1%/min linear gradient of

buffer B in A (A=0.1% TFA in H2O; B=0.1% TFA in CH3CN) selleck chemicals llc over 40 min at flow rates of 1 and 8 mL min−1 using Shimadzu C18 analytical (5 μm, 0.46 cm × 25 cm) and preparative C18 (10 μm, 2.5 cm × 25 cm) columns, respectively. Aspergillus flavus (KCTC 1375), Aspergillus fumigatus (KCTC 6145), Aspergillus parasiticus (KCTC 6598), Malassezia furfur (KCTC 7744), Trichophyton rubrum (KCTC 6345) and Trichosporon beigelii (KCTC 7707) were obtained from the Korean Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC) (Daejeon, Korea). Candida albicans (TIMM 1768) was obtained from the Center for Academic Societies (Osaka, Japan). Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) and Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019) were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, VA). Fungal cells were cultured in YPD broth (Difco), containing yeast extract, peptone and dextrose (50 g L−1), with aeration at 28 °C.


“Objective  A large-scale national survey was conducted to


“Objective  A large-scale national survey was conducted to assess the general public’s attitudes about, need for and satisfaction with community pharmacists and the services they provide in Taiwan. Method  Computer-assisted telephone interviews were find more conducted by a contract agency using random-digit dialing procedures to achieve a nationally representative sample of adult residents. An 18-item interview survey questionnaire was developed

based on previous similar surveys and a pretest-type process was employed by monitoring early responses of interviews to ensure understanding by respondents. Key findings  A total of 9066 phone exchanges were dialed resulting in 2658 conversations with potential respondents and 1089 completed interviews. Overall, 45.6% of respondents agreed that community pharmacists always treat them sincerely and 41.2% agreed that community pharmacists have the ability to answer their questions. Fewer respondents agreed that community pharmacists were the first professional they consulted for answers about medication use (31.7%) and that they

generally Y-27632 molecular weight trusted the pharmacist (33.2%). Older respondents had more favourable perceptions and respondents with more education had less favourable perceptions. About half of the respondents reported a need for medication use instructions, help in developing personal medication records and

help in filling chronic-disease prescriptions. A majority of respondents were satisfied with specific pharmacist services; however, Temsirolimus mw only 8.5–22.5% of respondents previously had experienced these services. Fewer respondents reported general satisfaction with community pharmacist services. Conclusion  Although generally consumers had less-than-positive perceptions about community pharmacists, their responses revealed some level of trust of pharmacists, awareness of the services that pharmacists may be able to provide and satisfaction with services provided by pharmacists. “
“University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Stockton, California, USA Division of Gastroenterology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA To describe a quality improvement initiative to improve deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis rates among hospitalized medicine patients. A standardized admission order-set with an embedded risk-assessment tool and DVT prophylaxis orders was developed. An audit 2 months after the intervention showed the use of optimal DVT prophylaxis was 91%, an increase from 75%. Chart review 1 year after the implementation of the order-set revealed that the increase in DVT prophylaxis was sustained at 95%.


“Objective  A large-scale national survey was conducted to


“Objective  A large-scale national survey was conducted to assess the general public’s attitudes about, need for and satisfaction with community pharmacists and the services they provide in Taiwan. Method  Computer-assisted telephone interviews were selleck inhibitor conducted by a contract agency using random-digit dialing procedures to achieve a nationally representative sample of adult residents. An 18-item interview survey questionnaire was developed

based on previous similar surveys and a pretest-type process was employed by monitoring early responses of interviews to ensure understanding by respondents. Key findings  A total of 9066 phone exchanges were dialed resulting in 2658 conversations with potential respondents and 1089 completed interviews. Overall, 45.6% of respondents agreed that community pharmacists always treat them sincerely and 41.2% agreed that community pharmacists have the ability to answer their questions. Fewer respondents agreed that community pharmacists were the first professional they consulted for answers about medication use (31.7%) and that they

generally AZD8055 solubility dmso trusted the pharmacist (33.2%). Older respondents had more favourable perceptions and respondents with more education had less favourable perceptions. About half of the respondents reported a need for medication use instructions, help in developing personal medication records and

help in filling chronic-disease prescriptions. A majority of respondents were satisfied with specific pharmacist services; however, Fossariinae only 8.5–22.5% of respondents previously had experienced these services. Fewer respondents reported general satisfaction with community pharmacist services. Conclusion  Although generally consumers had less-than-positive perceptions about community pharmacists, their responses revealed some level of trust of pharmacists, awareness of the services that pharmacists may be able to provide and satisfaction with services provided by pharmacists. “
“University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Stockton, California, USA Division of Gastroenterology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA To describe a quality improvement initiative to improve deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis rates among hospitalized medicine patients. A standardized admission order-set with an embedded risk-assessment tool and DVT prophylaxis orders was developed. An audit 2 months after the intervention showed the use of optimal DVT prophylaxis was 91%, an increase from 75%. Chart review 1 year after the implementation of the order-set revealed that the increase in DVT prophylaxis was sustained at 95%.

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that despite being an
<

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that despite being an

affluent country with 100% fluoridation of water supplies, caries remains high in preschool children in Singapore. Malay children, a minority group, had more dental decay compared with other ethnic groups, which may be attributed to certain cariogenic homecare practices that were more prevalent in this group. Of interest, the study found that prolonged breastfeeding, although not associated with the presence of decay, contributed to the severity of dental decay in this population. Collectively, these findings suggest that despite past successes with current preventive methods to reduce caries, other risk factors such www.selleckchem.com/products/epacadostat-incb024360.html as child’s race, and dietary and breastfeeding habits need to be addressed to lower caries levels in Singapore. Why this paper is important to paediatric dentists Despite being a fully urbanized and 100% fluoridated country,

the occurrence of dental caries (dt and ds scores of 2.2 and 3.0, respectively) was high in 18- to 48-month-old preschool children in Singapore. This highlights the need to focus on other contributory risk factors such as dietary habits that may be unique in certain minority races and other cariogenic habits such as the extended length of breastfeeding. The authors declare that they have Tacrolimus order no conflict of interest. “
“International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2010; 20: 235–241 Background:  The aetiology of low caries incidence in Down syndrome (DS) children is not entirely clear. Aim.  To compare sialochemistry and oral mucosal pH between Down syndrome Teicoplanin children with caries (DS-Ca) and caries free (DS-CaF), and healthy children with caries (C-Ca) and caries free (C-CaF). Design.  The study group comprised 70 children with DS (mean age 4.41 ± 1.9 years); 32 healthy children (mean age 9.22 ± 2.7 years) served as control. Groups were further subdivided according to caries status: DS-Ca, DS-CaF, C-Ca and C-CaF. Sialochemistry analysis included calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl). Mucosal pH, plaque and gingival

indices (PI and GI), and caries status were recorded. Results.  DMFT/dmft were significantly lower in the DS group. Cl and Ca levels were significantly higher in the DS-Ca compared to the C-Ca and the C-CaF children. Na and K were significantly higher in DS-Ca group compared to DS-CaF group. PI and GI were significantly higher in DS-C children compared to DS-CaF children. Conclusions.  DS may manifest itself in the salivary glands. Consequently, different electrolyte salivary environment may form, leading to lower caries rates among DS children. “
“There is limited evidence about the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in paediatric dentistry. Appropriate use of CBCT is particularly important because of greater radiation risks in this age group.

This is further confirmed by growth of the bacterium on 1-hydroxy

This is further confirmed by growth of the bacterium on 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. The presence of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase activity in the cell-free extracts indicates the cleavage and further degradation of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene to salicylaldehyde. The salicylaldehyde formed is oxidized by an NAD+ requiring salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase to salicylic acid (metabolite C1). The activity of this enzyme is noticed in the cell-free extracts of cells grown on chrysene, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid and salicylic acid. The

salicylate after decarboxylation and successive hydroxylation is converted to a terminal Talazoparib ic50 aromatic metabolite, catechol. The catechol is further converted to cis,cis-muconic acid via the ortho-cleavage pathway by catechol-1,2-dioxygenase. The protocatechuate also did not serve as a carbon source and the activity of both protocatechuate dioxygenase is not observed

in the cell-free extract. Hence the Lumacaftor datasheet aromatic compounds in this bacterium may be degraded through catechol formation but not through either gentisic acid or protocatechuate. Based on the results obtained from the metabolite characterization and enzyme assay, a tentative pathway is proposed for chrysene degradation in Pseudoxanthomonas sp. PNK-04 (Fig. 3). However, insight into the enzyme activities involved in the upper pathway is necessary to provide better knowledge of the bacterial catabolism of chrysene. The ability of this bacterium to degrade chrysene and other aromatic compounds suggests it has potential in the remediation of aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. We thank the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, India, for the analysis of standards and chrysene metabolites by LC-ESI-MS and the University Clomifene Grant Commission (UGC) for supporting the Department through the UGC-SAP programme. Fig. S1. Mass spectrum of salicylic acid (a) standard, (b) metabolite from a culture of PNK-04. Fig.

S2. Mass spectrum of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (a) standard, (b) metabolite from a culture of PNK-04. Fig. S3. Mass spectrum of hydroxy phenanthroic acid from a culture of PNK-04. Please note: Wiley-Blackwell is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting materials supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing material) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. “
“Fungi of the genus Fusarium are important plant pathogens and contaminants of cereal grains producing different types of mycotoxins. Enniatins are a group of mycotoxins with ionophoric properties frequently detected in North European grains. Within the Fusarium complex responsible for grain infection, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium poae and Fusarium tricinctum are the most potential enniatins producers. This study presents the development of two quantitative TaqMan MGB (Minor Groove Binder) assays for the specific quantification of F. avenaceum/F. tricinctum and F. poae esyn1 genotypes, respectively.

This is further confirmed by growth of the bacterium on 1-hydroxy

This is further confirmed by growth of the bacterium on 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. The presence of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase activity in the cell-free extracts indicates the cleavage and further degradation of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene to salicylaldehyde. The salicylaldehyde formed is oxidized by an NAD+ requiring salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase to salicylic acid (metabolite C1). The activity of this enzyme is noticed in the cell-free extracts of cells grown on chrysene, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid and salicylic acid. The

salicylate after decarboxylation and successive hydroxylation is converted to a terminal Selleck MS 275 aromatic metabolite, catechol. The catechol is further converted to cis,cis-muconic acid via the ortho-cleavage pathway by catechol-1,2-dioxygenase. The protocatechuate also did not serve as a carbon source and the activity of both protocatechuate dioxygenase is not observed

in the cell-free extract. Hence the SB203580 clinical trial aromatic compounds in this bacterium may be degraded through catechol formation but not through either gentisic acid or protocatechuate. Based on the results obtained from the metabolite characterization and enzyme assay, a tentative pathway is proposed for chrysene degradation in Pseudoxanthomonas sp. PNK-04 (Fig. 3). However, insight into the enzyme activities involved in the upper pathway is necessary to provide better knowledge of the bacterial catabolism of chrysene. The ability of this bacterium to degrade chrysene and other aromatic compounds suggests it has potential in the remediation of aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. We thank the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, India, for the analysis of standards and chrysene metabolites by LC-ESI-MS and the University mafosfamide Grant Commission (UGC) for supporting the Department through the UGC-SAP programme. Fig. S1. Mass spectrum of salicylic acid (a) standard, (b) metabolite from a culture of PNK-04. Fig.

S2. Mass spectrum of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (a) standard, (b) metabolite from a culture of PNK-04. Fig. S3. Mass spectrum of hydroxy phenanthroic acid from a culture of PNK-04. Please note: Wiley-Blackwell is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting materials supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing material) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. “
“Fungi of the genus Fusarium are important plant pathogens and contaminants of cereal grains producing different types of mycotoxins. Enniatins are a group of mycotoxins with ionophoric properties frequently detected in North European grains. Within the Fusarium complex responsible for grain infection, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium poae and Fusarium tricinctum are the most potential enniatins producers. This study presents the development of two quantitative TaqMan MGB (Minor Groove Binder) assays for the specific quantification of F. avenaceum/F. tricinctum and F. poae esyn1 genotypes, respectively.

No lysis of other B flavum ATCC strains, B lactofermentum BLOB

No lysis of other B. flavum ATCC strains, B. lactofermentum BLOB or C. glutamicum RM3 was observed. Consequently, the same strains were used for lysis studies of BFK20 endolysin along with two controls –B. subtilis wt PY79 (Gram-positive control) and E. coli XL1 Blue (Gram-negative control). The corynebacteria and bacilli cells were prepared as described (Materials and methods). The purified BFK20 endolysin gp24′T (without His6Tag) and its catalytic domain gp24CD were used in the turbidity reduction assay. The lytic activity of BFK20 endolysin towards the host cells of B. flavum CCM 251 was not as strong (Fig. 4a) as might have been expected

based on the lytic activity of previously characterized endolysins (Low et al., 2005; Briers et al., 2007). Moreover, BFK20 endolysin this website lysed the other six corynebacterial strains tested with higher efficiency than the original

host cells. Brevibacterium lactofermentum BLOB cells were lysed 20 times faster by the entire endolysin compared with lysis of B. flavum CCM 251 cells (Fig. 4c). Corynebacterium glutamicum RM3 and B. flavum ATCC strains 21474, 21128, 21127 and 21129 were also lysed more efficiently 5-FU in vivo (Fig. 4a and c). Interestingly, the lytic activity of the catalytic domain alone (gp24CD) was 13 times higher on the host cell substrate than that of the entire endolysin and about eight times higher for the other corynebacterial strains (Fig. 4b and c). Possibly the antibacterial activity of BFK20 endolysin was increased by removing

the cell wall binding domain. Similarly, other lysins have been reported to exhibit higher antibacterial activity after removal of their C-terminal domains (Borysowski et al., 2006). The C-terminal domain is responsible for binding to the bacterial cell wall but it could also interact with the catalytic domain before the interaction with the cell wall substrate (Fischetti, Proteasome inhibitor 2010). A high-affinity binding to the catalytic domain may aid in controlling diffusion of the endolysin molecules after the phage progeny is released from the host cell. Neighboring host cells that are not yet infected by phages may be killed by the released endolysin molecules and this might either prevent or reduce new infections. It is possible that a similar inhibition of the catalytic domain activity by an interaction with the cell wall binding domain occurs in the BFK20 endolysin. We confirmed that BFK20 endolysin and its catalytic domain possess antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (corynebacteria, B. subtilis) (Fig. 5a and b). No degradation of Gram-negative E. coli was observed (Fig. 5a and b). Amidases generally have been suggested to display a broader spectrum of antibacterial activity than the other classes of endolysins because of the very frequent occurrence of the amide bond between N-acetylmuramic acid and l-alanine in peptidoglycan.

No lysis of other B flavum ATCC strains, B lactofermentum BLOB

No lysis of other B. flavum ATCC strains, B. lactofermentum BLOB or C. glutamicum RM3 was observed. Consequently, the same strains were used for lysis studies of BFK20 endolysin along with two controls –B. subtilis wt PY79 (Gram-positive control) and E. coli XL1 Blue (Gram-negative control). The corynebacteria and bacilli cells were prepared as described (Materials and methods). The purified BFK20 endolysin gp24′T (without His6Tag) and its catalytic domain gp24CD were used in the turbidity reduction assay. The lytic activity of BFK20 endolysin towards the host cells of B. flavum CCM 251 was not as strong (Fig. 4a) as might have been expected

based on the lytic activity of previously characterized endolysins (Low et al., 2005; Briers et al., 2007). Moreover, BFK20 endolysin selleck kinase inhibitor lysed the other six corynebacterial strains tested with higher efficiency than the original

host cells. Brevibacterium lactofermentum BLOB cells were lysed 20 times faster by the entire endolysin compared with lysis of B. flavum CCM 251 cells (Fig. 4c). Corynebacterium glutamicum RM3 and B. flavum ATCC strains 21474, 21128, 21127 and 21129 were also lysed more efficiently Selleck INCB024360 (Fig. 4a and c). Interestingly, the lytic activity of the catalytic domain alone (gp24CD) was 13 times higher on the host cell substrate than that of the entire endolysin and about eight times higher for the other corynebacterial strains (Fig. 4b and c). Possibly the antibacterial activity of BFK20 endolysin was increased by removing

the cell wall binding domain. Similarly, other lysins have been reported to exhibit higher antibacterial activity after removal of their C-terminal domains (Borysowski et al., 2006). The C-terminal domain is responsible for binding to the bacterial cell wall but it could also interact with the catalytic domain before the interaction with the cell wall substrate (Fischetti, Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II 2010). A high-affinity binding to the catalytic domain may aid in controlling diffusion of the endolysin molecules after the phage progeny is released from the host cell. Neighboring host cells that are not yet infected by phages may be killed by the released endolysin molecules and this might either prevent or reduce new infections. It is possible that a similar inhibition of the catalytic domain activity by an interaction with the cell wall binding domain occurs in the BFK20 endolysin. We confirmed that BFK20 endolysin and its catalytic domain possess antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (corynebacteria, B. subtilis) (Fig. 5a and b). No degradation of Gram-negative E. coli was observed (Fig. 5a and b). Amidases generally have been suggested to display a broader spectrum of antibacterial activity than the other classes of endolysins because of the very frequent occurrence of the amide bond between N-acetylmuramic acid and l-alanine in peptidoglycan.