Morphology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa typing phages of the Lindberg set.

Eighteen phages were studied by electron microscopy. They belonged to eight morphotypes representing the Myoviridae, Siphoviridae and Podoviridae families of tailed phages. Twelve phages were members of known species and six phages belonged to three new species. Results correlated closely with serological and DNA-DNA hybridization data. Induced and non-induced propagating bacteria were investigated for lysogeny. All strains produced R-type pyocins, phage-like particles or inhibitory reactions. The identity of typing phages should be controlled periodically.

Studies on bacteriophage penetration in patients subjected to phage therapy.

Two healthy volunteers and 56 patients with suppurative bacterial infections were tested for penetration of oral administered bacteriophage to the blood circulation system and urinary tract. In the blood and urine samples collected from patients before phage therapy application, no presence of "wild phages" was confirmed. Examination performed on the 10th day of phage therapy revealed the presence of bacteriophages in 47 of 56 blood samples tested; positive result of examination was obtained in 9 cases of 26 urine samples.

Immunogenic effect of bacteriophage in patients subjected to phage therapy.

Fifty seven cases of bacterial infections subjected to phage therapy were tested for a production of antibodies against the applied bacteriophages. Monoinfections confirmed in 40 patients were caused in majority of cases by pyogenic Staphylococci (29 cases) and rarely by Gram-negative bacteria: Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas (11 cases). Polyinfections caused by the above types of bacteria were recorded in 17 cases. The titer of neutralizing and hemagglutinating antibodies was determined before phage therapy, in the 10th day and in some cases in the 21st day of its course. The effect of natural and immune antibodies on the final result of therapy was analyzed.

Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections in the years 1981-1986.

In the years 1981-1986 bacteriophage therapy was applied in 550 cases (100 treated in 1986) of suppurative bacterial infections. Positive results were obtained in 508 cases (92.4%). In 38 cases (6.9%) a transient improvement was observed and in 4 cases (0.7%) phage treatment proved ineffective. Considering that majority of patients (518 cases, 94.2%) were resistant to antibiotic treatment, the results of phage therapy may be regarded as favorable.

Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections. V. Evaluation of the results obtained in children.

The results of phage therapy applied in 114 cases of suppurative bacterial infections in children were analyzed. Positive therapeutic results were obtained in 109 (95.6%) cases. The results confirmed great effectiveness of bacteriophages in the treatment of septic infections, spontaneous or postoperative, caused by pyogenic Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas bacteria.

Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections. IV. Evaluation of the results obtained in 370 cases.

The results of phage therapy applied in 370 cases of suppurative bacterial infections were analyzed. Positive therapeutic results were obtained in 342 (92.4%) cases. The results obtained confirmed the previous findings on great effectiveness of bacteriophages in the treatment of septic infections, spontaneous or postoperative, caused by pyogenic Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas bacteria.

Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections. VI. Analysis of treatment of suppurative staphylococcal infections.

Analysis of phage therapy results was carried out on 273 cases of spontaneous and postoperative septic staphylococcal infections. The treatment appeared effective in 254 (93.0%) cases. Detailed analysis of the results obtained in particular disease categories revealed that staphylococcal bacteriophages may be efficiently applied in the treatment of suppurative staphylococcal infections resistant to antibiotics.

Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections. III. Detailed evaluation of the results obtained in further 150 cases.

The results of phage therapy applied in further 150 cases of suppurative bacterial infections were analyzed. Positive therapeutic results were obtained in 137 cases (91.3%). The results obtained confirmed the previous findings on great effectiveness of bacteriophages in the treatment of septic infections, spontaneous or postoperative, caused by pyo genic Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas.

Application of bacteriophage in the phagocytic test.

The use of a specific bacteriophage to remove non-phagocytized bacteria from the surface of phagocytic cell membrane made possible more precise determination of a number of phagocytized organisms.

Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections. II. Detailed evaluation of the results.

The results of treatment with specific bacteriophages of 184 nosologic units diagnosed in 138 cases as septic bacterial infections, presented in the first part of this report, were submitted to detailed analysis. The results obtained revealed that phage therapy may be successfully applied in the treatment of septic infections induced by Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas as well as of the digestive system infections induced by Shigella and Salmonella. They also widened the scope of phage therapy application.

Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections. I. General evaluation of the results.

One hundred and thirty eight septic cases were treated with specific bacteriophages. According to the International Classification of the Diseases (WHO, 1977), the treated cases were divided to 9 categories. Nearly all cases were long-term infections with antibiotic resistant organisms. Only specific bacteriophages were used in association with several types of surgical procedure. The technique of treatment is described. In 129 (93.5%) cases the results were good, in 9 (6.5%) cases local improvement was observed. It is concluded that bacteriophage therapy may be helpful in the treatment of long-term suppurative infections.

Biological aspects of tuftsin activity.

Radioisotopic methods for determination of the biological activity of tuftsin was applied to study the stimulatory effect of this compound as well as of its components. This effect appeared to be dependent on the presence of two amino acids - Proline and Arginine. Administered jointly, they exert much stronger effect than separately.

Tuftsin-like activity of amino acids.

The results presented in this paper revealed high or moderate activity of ten out of nineteen amino acids tested. Strong activity stimulating phagocytosis was noted in the presence of leucine, isoleucine, proline, arginine and histidine; moderate in the presence of serine, cysteine, hydroxyproline, aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Alanine, glycine, valine, threonine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, methionine and lysine did not stimulate phagocytic activity of PMN.

Ultrastructure of bacteriophages used for typing of Staphylococcus aureus.

This paper reports the results of a study on the morphology, size and homogeneity of the bacteriophages used for typing Staphylococcus aureus. Fifty-five bacteriophages were studied. Preparations for the electron microscope were made directly from lysates or from purified and concentrated bacteriophages, and were contrasted with neutralized phosphotungstic acid (KPT) and examined under an electron microscope at x 40 000 microscopic magnification. The studied bacteriophages differed with regard to size and shape. The bacteriophages were classified into two morphological groups: BI and BIII. In the BI group, there morphological types were distinguished: B14, B15 and B16. Only one morphological type was distinguished in the BIII group, designated by the symbol BIII2. Only lysates of 42C, 70 and D bacteriophages contained virions of two morphological types: BI6 an BIII2. Until now, it is not clear whether the bacteriophages are a mixture of two different virions, or whether they represent variation in the size of their heads. Of the 55 bacteriophages studied, 25 were examined by other investigators. The results showed that of the 25 bacteriophages 5 belonged to different morphological types. It was concluded that the sets of standard bacteriophages should be checked by means of the electron microscope.

Immunological activity of fractions of thymus factor X (TFX).

Immunotropic activity of 5 fractions of thymus extract (TFX) was evaluated in vitro. It was shown that, except fraction IV, they exerted protective effect in relation to the cytotoxicity activity of hydrocortisone. Beside, all but fraction IV restored the ability of lymphocytes for rosette formation, suppressed previously by the introduction of imuran. In both experimental systems fraction V exhibited the strongest effect. The division of fraction V into subfractions--A and B showed that practically all thymosin activity is concentrated in subfraction B.

Tuftsin analogs with D-amino acid residues.

The syntheses of nine tuftsin analogs containing D-amino acid residues are described. Their biological activity is discussed in terms of possible influence of the configurational change in definite position of the peptide chain on the preservation of beta-bend conformation of the tetrapeptide.

Immunobiological and pharmacological properties of thymus factor X (TFX). I. Biological and pharmacological activity.

Detailed investigations on pharmacological properties of biologically active thymus extract were performed. Its acute and chronic toxicity was determined. Influence on the circulatory and the respiratory systems as well as on the parenchymatous and the smooth muscle organs, development of fetuses and reproductive functions were evaluated. Preparation TFX proved to be well tolerated and its acute action was manifested only at high doses injected intravenously. Its effect on the smooth muscle organs and its teratogenic activity were determined in the long-term experiments. It was assumed that it can be introduced in clinical use excluding women in the reproductive period.

Immunobiological and pharmacological properties of thymus factor X (TFX). II. Immunotropic activity.

Immunobiological effect of the active thymus extract (preparation TFX) was evaluated in vitro. It was shown that the preparation exerts a protective effect, in relation to the cytotoxic action of hydrocortisone, and restores lymphocyte sensitivity to imuran in thymectomized mice. The findings show that preparation TFX has an activity corresponding to that of Goldstein's thymosin. The unit of immunotropic activity of TFX was introduced. Besides, cell-mediated reactions (skin test, MIF) displayed immunogenic properties of TFX.