Ganoderma lucidum is a fungus usually used in traditional Chinese medicine. The high value of G. lucidum is related to its polysaccharides content. Crude polysaccharides from G. lucidum (GLCP) were obtained using hot water extraction method. There is about 0.57 g of GLCP in 1 g crude of G. lucidum. The prebiotic potential of GLCP was tested against probiotic bacteria namely: Bifidobacterium longum BB536, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei Shirota. The prebiotic potentials were studied in 10 mL basal Trypticase Phytone Yeast (abbreviated as bTPY) medium (without glucose) supplemented with various concentrations of GLCP (abbreviated as bTPYglcp) (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%). bTPY medium supplemented with glucose (abbreviated as bTPYglu) and inulin (abbreviated bTPYinu) were used as comparison. Viable cell counts of the bacteria and the pH of the medium were determined during anaerobic incubation period of 0 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h at 37 °C. In the presence of carbohydrate source, cultures showed various degree of growth increment. With regards to the growth supporting property: bTPYglu, bTPYglu+glcp, bTPYglcp and bTPYinu were ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively. Interestingly, in bTPYglcp medium, bacterial growth increased with increasing GLCP concentrations when incubated until 24 h. B. longum BB536 was ranked first (10.53 log cfu/mL) in term of their growth in this medium. Growth of B.pseudocatenulatum G4 was ranked second with 10.40 log cfu/mL. This study shows that, GLCP could support the growth of the bacteria tested.

Aims: Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram positive pathogen distributed worldwide and represents a rising problem for both hospitals and community. The aims of the study were to examine the antibiograms, toxin profiles as well as the genetic diversity of a set of S. aureus isolates from clinical and food samples. Methodology and results: To get some insights on the genetic heterogeneity and test for the presence of certain virulence genes, all isolates were subjected to different PCR amplifications and antibiotic sensitivity analysis. The mecA gene was detected in both clinical and food isolates. Resistance to penicillin and amoxicillin was observed in both clinical and food isolates. About 88% of both food and clinical isolates harbored the toxin gene sea, while 70% and 29% of clinical and food isolates respectively, harbored sec. The seb gene was detected in 59% and 18% of clinical and food isolates, respectively. Dendrograms prepared from the VNTR, antibiograms and toxin profiles, revealed 89, 52 and 12 clusters, respectively. Thus, suggesting a very high heterogeneity among the isolates. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Strains used in this study showed high heterogeneity when examined by VNTR or antibiograms, while appeared less heterogeneous when dendrogram was generated based on toxin profiles. This study highlights the fact that methicillin resistance in S. aureus might be generated within the health institutions or the community. Obtained results also might help health authorities understand the origin of methicillin resistant clones within the study area.
Staphylococcus ; Drug Resistance, Microbial