Fig. 3.

ATP inhibits the growth of stool anaerobic bacteria in vitro. Mouse stool samples were collected fresh directly in BHI media, homogenized, serially diluted, and then cultured under anaerobic conditions. For the growth of stool anaerobes, cultures were grown in a sealed plastic bag containing CO₂-producing gas pack and anaerobic condition indicators for 4 h at 37°C. Then the cultures were plated on Brucella (5% horse blood) agar plates and incubated in a sealed plastic bag containing CO₂-producing gas pack and anaerobic condition indicators for 3 days at 37°C (see materials and methods). A: effects of different targets of IAP on the growth of stool anaerobes. B: dose-response effects of ATP on the growth of stool anaerobes. C: effects of ATP derivatives on the growth of stool anaerobes. D: IAP reverses the inhibitory effects of ATP on the growth of stool anaerobes. Values are expressed as mean CFU ± SE. Statistics: 2-tailed Student's t-test; **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. The experiment was repeated at least 3 times showing similar results.