Significance of lysogeny for the metabolism of Desulfovibrio spp. strains isolated from aquatic environments of Georgia.

Aims: Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are ecologically important group of anaerobic micro-organisms that can reduce sulphate to form hydrogen sulphide-a toxic gas causing iron corrosion on metal surfaces. In this work, SRB strains were isolated from aquatic environments in the country of Georgia to determine their lysogenicity and the role of temperate phages in host metabolism.

Methods And Results: SRB strains were isolated in samples from the Black Sea coast of Georgia.

[New Virulent Bacteriophages Active against Multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains].

The sensitivity of 512 newly isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strains to six classes of anti-microbial preparations has been studied. Antibiotic-resistant strains were selected and genotyped. Three new virulent bacteriophages of the families Myoviridae and Podoviridae were isolated against these strains.

Evaluation of lytic activity of staphylococcal bacteriophage Sb-1 against freshly isolated clinical pathogens.

In recent decades the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains has become a serious threat to the treatment of infectious diseases. Drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus has become a major problem in hospitals of many countries, including developed ones. Today the interest in alternative remedies to antibiotics, including bacteriophage treatment, is gaining new ground.

[Morphologic and physico-chemical characteristics of staphylococcal bacteriophage SB-1 virions].

Virions of polyvalent staphylococcal bacteriophage SB-I have an octaedric head (800 X 700 A) and a long contractive process (1800 X 150 A). The phage particle with a molecular weight of 150 X 10(6) daltons contains 48% double-stranded RNA and 52% protein. The proteinic component of the phage consists of 18 heterogeneic polypeptide chains.

[Investigation of serological features and molecular heterogeneity of virion proteins of morphologically related phages].

Some interaction process peculiarites of morphologically related phate T4, DDVI and FI1 with the corresponding antiphageous sera in cross reactions of neutralisation have been investigated. Close serological relationship of phage T4 and DDVI was demonstrated. Inactivation of phage FI1 in these serological reactions showed anomalous nature and did not submit to the rules of the first step reaction.