Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy Polish Academy of Sciences Rudolfa Weigla 12 , 53 - 114 Wrocław

Research on the biology of bacteriophages and their use in the treatment of bacterial infections Research into the isolation of phages specific to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains was continued utilizing 42 environmental samples. Seven specific bacteriophages which did not demonstrate lytic activity to other microorganisms of the Pseudomonadaceae family were isolated. Electonmicroscopic examination of the phages showed that they belonged to two morphological types of the Myoviridae family: one to type A1 and six to type B1. A purified preparation of T4 phage showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on free-radical production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated by the LPS of E. coli. There was no visible anti-metastatic activity of purified Hoc protein from T4 phage in mice treated with the protein one hour before B16 melanoma cell graft and no effect of protein gp Hoc on the migration of these cells. A retrospective analysis was conducted of certain parameters of inflammation, i.e. therapy-resistant bacterial infections who qualified for phage treatment within the project "Experimental Phage Therapy of Antibiotic Therapy-Resistant Infections, Including MRSA Infections". Data from 30 patients with inflammation of the bone, peri-prosthesis, or soft tissue, in the majority of cases induced by S. aureus, were analyzed. No significant changes in mean serum levels of CRP were observed in the first week of phage therapy compared with baseline CRP levels measured before therapy began (32.6 vs. 27.9 mg/l, n=11). However, significant (p<0.05) decreases in CRP level measured between the 7 th and 30 th days of phage therapy (27.1 vs. 19.8 mg/l, n=30) were noted. After completion of therapy, the mean serum CRP level was lower as well (25.7 vs. 18.6 mg/l, n=17), although this result was not statistically significant. Similar tendencies were observed in changes in mean leukocytosis values, but mean ESR in the patients before, during, and after therapy did not change significantly.