Characterization of a Bacteriophage GEC_vB_Bfr_UZM3 Active against Bacteroides fragilis.

Bacteroides fragilis is a commensal gut bacterium that is associated with a number of blood and tissue infections. It has not yet been recognized as one of the drug-resistant human pathogens, but cases of the refractory infections, caused by strains that are not susceptible to the common antibiotic regimes established for B. fragilis, have been more frequently reported. Bacteriophages (phages) were found to be a successful antibacterial alternative to antibiotic therapy in many cases of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. We have characterized the bacteriophage GEC_vB_Bfr_UZM3 (UZM3), which was used for the treatment of a patient with a chronic osteomyelitis caused by a B. fragilis mixed infection. Studied biological and morphological properties of UZM3 showed that it seems to represent a strictly lytic phage belonging to a siphovirus morphotype. It is characterized by high stability at body temperature and in pH environments for about 6 h. Whole genome sequencing analysis of the phage UZM3 showed that it does not harbor any known virulence genes and can be considered as a potential therapeutic phage to be used against B. fragilis infections.

Galactose specific lectins from prostate tissue with different pathologies: biochemical and cellular studies.

BACKGROUND: Galectins-galactose-specific lectins are involved in various types of cell activities, including apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, inflammation and cell transformation. Galectins are implicated in prostate malignat transformation. It is not known yet if prostate glands with different grade of pathologies are expressing different galectins and if these galectins express different effects on the cell viability. METHODS: Cytosolic galactose-spesific lectin fractions from prostate tissue with different diagnosis were purified by affinity chromatography and analyzed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulphate. The lectin effects in a source-dependent maner were studied on cell viability on peripheral lymphocytes by MTT reduction method and on apoptosis by flow cytometry method. RESULTS: Affinity purified galactose-specific lectins fractions from normal and pathological tissue samples are characterized with different protein composition and they express different effects on cell viability and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: The effects of cytosolic galactose-specific lectins depend on the source of lectin fraction (glandular tissue disease). We suppose that the released cytosolic galectins from prostatic high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma tissue could suppress the immune status of the host patients.