RESUMO
The aim of the study was to develop some approaches to evaluate the basic parameters of the humoral and cellular immune response to a bacteriophage, taking into account the multifactorial aspects of its interaction with both the pathogen and the macroorganism. The necessary reagents were obtained and a line of diagnostic ELISA test systems was designed to allow semi-quantitative assessment of the anti-bacteriophage IgG-antibody level in serum or other biological human fluids, as well as in preparations obtained from human blood. The need for neutralization reaction to determine the effect of detected antibodies on phage activity against a target bacterium has been proven. Testing the approaches used in the investigation of patients' blood sera showed that antibodies to bacteriophages synthesized during phage therapy are not always neutralizing. Also approaches have been developed to evaluate cell immunity reactions to bacteriophage namely to identify T-lymphocytes (T-helpers and cytotoxic lymphocytes) that can be activated in the presence of the phage under study (by expressing the early activation marker (CD69) and by the ability to produce IFNγ). Approbation of the technique in the study of lymphcytes in patients during phage therapy showed the presence of activated cells by both the CD69 expression and IFNγ production, the dynamics of which depended on the timing and frequency of therapy. The appearance of neutralizing anti-phage antibodies and corresponding activated T-lymphocytes should be taken into account in phage therapy, the effectiveness of which can directly depend not only on the activity of the phage against the target bacterium, but also on the response of the patient's immune system to the bacteriophage.