Abstract: An anaerobic chamber system to evaluate human enteric disease is described herein that can be used to test therapeutic components. In specific embodiments, the anaerobic chamber is used to determine the effect of one or more bacterial communities on ex vivo enteroid cultures. In one application, the anaerobic chamber system is used to determine the efficacy of therapeutic components in ameliorating human enteric disease using personalized medicine.

Abstract: A system for identifying novel antimicrobial agents is disclosed that includes the steps of attaching a &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein target to a solid support, exposing the &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein target to a &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein and an analyte, and detecting the effect of the analyte on the binding of the &bgr;-lactamase protein to its protein target, wherein a decrease in binding between the &bgr;-lactamase protein target and the &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein indicates that the analyte affects the interaction between &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein and its protein target.

Abstract: An composition, method and system for identifying novel antimicrobial agents including the steps of, displaying a &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein on a virus, contacting the virus with a &bgr;-lactamase binding protein target, selecting for the virus that has a higher affinity for the target and testing the &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein for antimicrobial activity, is disclosed. The invention also includes a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein comprising a &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor protein and an affinity carrier and the protein expressed therefrom. Mutant &bgr;-lactamase inhibitor proteins may be produced, characterized, isolated and expressed in prokaryotic cells and used as antimicrobial agents.