Five bacteriophages (Kpn5, Kpn12, Kpn13, Kpn17 and Kpn22), each having specificity against Klebsiella pneumoniae strain B5055, were isolated from sewage samples and characterized in terms of growth characteristics, genetic material, morphology and structural proteins. Adsorption rate as well as single step growth curve experiments showed variation among phages. Restriction enzyme digestion of DNA confirmed the presence of double stranded DNA as well as the heterogeneous nature of genetic material. RAPD-PCR was performed to further distinguish these closely related phages. Their genome fingerprint confirmed their diversity. Transmission electron microscopy, on the other hand, showed their morphological similarity; they were assigned to family Podoviridae, order Caudovirales on the basis of their head and tail morphology. Structural proteins resolved on SDS-PAGE showed the presence of similar major outer membrane proteins. The bacteriophages, belonging to Podoviridae family with short stumpy tails, were found to be nontoxic to mice. They showed maximum count in various organs at 6 h post inoculation, which persisted till 36 h. These phages thus have the potential to be used for phage therapy.

• MeSH
• Animal Structures virology   MeSH
• Bacteriophages classification   isolation & purification   physiology   ultrastructure   MeSH
• DNA Fingerprinting MeSH
• DNA, Viral genetics   MeSH
• DNA genetics   MeSH
• Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel MeSH
• Genetic Variation MeSH
• Genotype MeSH
• Klebsiella pneumoniae virology   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Sewage virology   MeSH
• Podoviridae classification   isolation & purification   physiology   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Virus Attachment MeSH
• Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Transmission MeSH
• Virion ultrastructure   MeSH
• Viral Proteins analysis   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Viral MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• Sewage MeSH
• Viral Proteins MeSH

The treatment of three patients suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis who were qualified for an experimental phage therapy protocol managed at the Phage Therapy Unit in Wrocław is described. They had previously been treated unsuccessfully with long-term targeted antibiotics, autovaccines, and laser biostimulation. Rectal application of phage lysates targeted against Enterococcus faecalis cultured from the prostatic fluid gave encouraging results regarding bacterial eradication, abatement of clinical symptoms of prostatitis, and lack of early disease recurrence.

• MeSH
• Bacteriophages chemistry   physiology   MeSH
• Biological Therapy * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Enterococcus faecalis isolation & purification   virology   MeSH
• Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections microbiology   therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prostatitis microbiology   therapy   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH