Aims:  This study was undertaken to evaluate the oxalate‐degrading activity in several Lactobacillus species widely used in probiotic dairy and pharmaceutical preparations. Functional characterization of oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase and formyl‐CoA transferase in Lactobacillus acidophilus was performed in order to assess the possible contribution of Lactobacillus in regulating the intestinal oxalate homeostasis. Methods and Results:  In order to determine the oxalate‐degrading ability in 60 Lactobacillus strains belonging to 12 species, a screening was carried out by using an enzymatic assay. A high variability in the oxalate‐degrading capacity was found in the different species. Strains of Lact. acidophilus and Lactobacillus gasseri showed the highest oxalate‐degrading activity. Oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase and formyl‐CoA transferase genes from Lact. acidophilus LA14 were cloned and sequenced. The activity of the recombinant enzymes was assessed by capillary electrophoresis. Conclusions:  Strains of Lactobacillus with a high oxalate‐degrading activity were identified. The function and significance of Lact. acidophilus LA14 oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase and formyl‐CoA transferase in oxalate catabolism were demonstrated. These results suggest the potential use of Lactobacillus strains for the degradation of oxalate in the human gut. Significance and Impact of the Study:  Identification of probiotic strains with oxalate‐degrading activity can offer the opportunity to provide this capacity to individuals suffering from an increased body burden of oxalate and oxalate‐associated disorders.

Poor responsiveness to either clopidogrel or ticlopidine at steady state was common, whereas nonresponders to both drugs were relatively infrequent (3.5%, 95% confidence interval 1.5% to 7.9%), suggesting that poor response to thienopyridines may frequently be a drug-specific mechanism.

By analyzing simultaneously selected SNPs, it might be possible to glean precious information in predicting VLU onset or in stratifying patients according to their potential to heal. Although significant, our findings must be considered preliminary and the proposed prognostic indicators considered with caution, before ulterior more extensive studies in different populations can eventually confirm the present findings.

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These results provide evidences for the presence of pharmacogenetic relationship between peculiar coagulation-balance gene polymorphisms and different levels of PDT-V effectiveness in patients with AMD-related CNV.