Poekilocerus pictus is a voracious feeder of Calotropis procera and Calotropis gigantia, sequestering the cardiac glycosides in the body tissues. In search of relationship between the insect’s intestinal microorganisms and cardiac glycosides, microorganisms from the intestines of P. pictus were isolated, cultured at different pH, and biochemically characterized. Bacterial species identified on the basis of morphological, cultural, biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis were Pseudomonas sp, Pseudomonas aurogenosa, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Bacillus cereus, and Enterococcus sp. These bacterial isolates, grown in the presence of the cardiac glycosides at different pH, would be promising candidates in pursuit of understanding the relationship with reference to species specificity. Association of bacteria within the intestine allowing insect to withstand concentration of cardiac glycosides, which are taken up by the insect from host plant C. procera or C. gigantia during feeding habit is discussed.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are a major cause of infections associated with indwelling medical devices. Strains of CoNS produce slime and form biofilms on polymer surfaces, which is associated with their pathogenicity. This study evaluated the correlation between adherence of CoNS and composition of vascular catheters composed of polyurethane and silicone, by the phenotypic analysis of slime production, the presence of icaAD and atlE genes, and by comparing the relationship between oxacillin-resistant (MRS) and oxacillin-susceptible (MSS) CoNS and biofilm formation. All MRS isolates included in this study demonstrated the ability to form biofilms but on the other hand, only 50% of MSS were capable of forming biofilms. All CoNS demonstrated degrees of adherence using different materials (polyurethane and silicone). The results of this study suggest a strong correlation between slime production and the level of resistance to oxacillin, since 100% of MSS strains did not produce slime and 90% of MRS strains were slime producers. Two particular hospital samples were notable due to their high MICs (≥ 128 mg/mL), with both demonstrating the ability to produce slime and the presence of the icaAD gene. These findings emphasize the choice of material of the catheter and the required care to be taken at the time of insertion and maintenance to avoid contamination with CoNS. Our results highlight that continuous training for correct handling measures is necessary to prevent intravascular as well as peripheral catheter infections on the hospital ward.