Use of bile acids and bile salts as anti bacterial agents for inhibition of bacterial conjugation and horizontal gene transfer

A method of inhibiting bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer of enteric bacteria, the method comprising contacting enteric bacteria with an effective amount of a bile acid or a bile salt, wherein said bile acid comprises lithocholic acid or glycocholic acid or salt thereof at a concentration of 1-5% (w/v), wherein said effective amount does not affect viability of said bacteria, and wherein when said bile acid or bile salt is comprised in a composition comprising antibiotics, said antibiotics are selected from the group consisting of penicillin, clavulanate acid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolone, cephalosporin, macrolide, azalide, sulfonamide, ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, minocycline, doxycycline, vancomycin, bacitracin, kanamycin, neomycin, gentamycin, erythromycin, spectinomycin, zeomycin and streptomycin, thereby inhibiting the bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer of said enteric bacteria.

A method of inhibiting bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer, the method comprising contacting bacteria with an effective amount of a bile acid or a bile salt, wherein said bile acid comprises lithocholic acid or glycocholic acid or salt thereof at a concentration of 1-5% (w/v), wherein said bacteria are resistant to said bile acid or said bile salt, and wherein said effective amount does not affect viability of said bacteria, and wherein said bile acid or said bile salt is not co-formulated with an antibiotics.

A method of inhibiting bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer, the method comprising contacting bacteria with an effective amount of a composition consisting of a bile acid or a bile salt, wherein said bile acid comprises lithocholic acid or glycocholic acid or salt thereof at a concentration of 1-5% (w/v), wherein said bacteria are resistant to said bile acid or said bile salt, and wherein said effective amount does not affect viability of said bacteria, thereby inhibiting the bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer.

A method of inhibiting bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer, the method comprising contacting bacteria with an effective amount of a bile acid or a bile salt, wherein said bile acid comprises lithocholic acid or glycocholic acid or salt thereof at a concentration of 1-5% (w/v), wherein said bacteria are resistant to said bile acid or said bile salt, and wherein said effective amount does not affect viability of said bacteria, and wherein said bile acid or bile salt is comprised in a composition comprising antibiotics, said antibiotics are selected from the group consisting of penicillin, clavulanate acid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolone, cephalosporin, macrolide, azalide, sulfonamide, ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, minocycline, doxycycline, vancomycin, bacitracin, kanamycin, neomycin, gentamycin, erythromycin, spectinomycin, zeomycin and streptomycin, thereby inhibiting the bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer.

A method of inhibiting bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer, the method comprising contacting bacteria with an effective amount of a bile acid or a bile salt, wherein said bile acid comprises lithocholic acid or glycocholic acid or salt thereof at a concentration of 1-5% (w/v), wherein said bacteria are resistant to said bile acid or said bile salt, and wherein said effective amount does not affect viability of said bacteria, and wherein the method further comprises contacting said bacteria with antibiotics, said bile salt or said bile acid and said antibiotics not being co-formulated, thereby inhibiting the bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer.

A method of inhibiting bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer, the method comprising contacting bacteria with an effective amount of a bile acid or a bile salt, wherein said bile acid comprises lithocholic acid or glycocholic acid or salt thereof at a concentration of 1-5% (w/v), wherein said bacteria are resistant to said bile acid or said bile salt, and wherein said effective amount does not affect viability of said bacteria, and wherein said contacting is by coating, spraying, misting, soaking, dispersing, powdering, flushing, wiping, dipping, rinsing, spreading, wetting, immersing, painting or adhering to a surface, thereby inhibiting the bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer.

A method of inhibiting bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer, the method comprising contacting bacteria with an effective amount of a bile acid or a bile salt, wherein said bile acid comprises lithocholic acid or glycocholic acid or salt thereof at a concentration of 1-5% (w/v), wherein said bacteria are resistant to said bile acid or said bile salt, and wherein said effective amount does not affect viability of said bacteria, and wherein said bile acid or said bile salt is attached to a surface, thereby inhibiting the bacterial conjugation or bacterial horizontal gene transfer.