Phage therapy is an old method of combating bacterial pathogens that has recently been taken into consideration due to the alarming spread of antibiotic resistance. Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes hemorrhagic colitis and life-threatening Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). There are several studies on isolation of specific phages against E. coli O157:H7 and more than 60 specific phages have been published so far. Although in vitro experiments have been successful in elimination or reduction of E. coli O157:H7numbers, in vivo experiments have not been as promising. This may be due to escape of bacteria to locations where phages have difficulties to enter or due to the adverse conditions in the gastrointestinal tract that affect phage viability and proliferation. To get around the latter obstacle, an alternative phage delivery method such as polymer microencapsulation should be tried. While the present time results are not very encouraging the work should be continued as more efficient phage treatment regimens might be found in future.

The in vitro activity of BAY 12-8039 against 360 anaerobic clinical isolates was determined by the agar dilution method and compared to that of five other antimicrobial agents. BAY 12-8039 and imipenem were the most active agents tested. The following MIC90 values were determined for BAY 12-8039: Peptostreptococcus spp. (50 isolates), 1 mg/l; Propionibacterium acnes (30 isolates). 0.25 mg/l; Clostridium perfringens (30 isolates), 0.5 mg/l; Clostridium difficile (50 isolates), 2 mg/l; Bacteroides fragilis (50 isolates), 1 mg/l; non-fragilis Bacteroides, Porphyromonas, and Prevotella spp. (100 isolates), 2 mg/l; and Fusobacterium spp. (50 isolates), 0.25 mg/l. The results of the present study show that BAY 12-8039 may be useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of anaerobic infections.

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Summary Minocycline as a member of the tetracycline family is a lipophilic broad‐spectrum antibiotic, which can display some non‐antibiotic properties such as antioxidant, antiapoptosis, neuroprotection and modulation of pharmacological traits of drugs of abuse (ie, reward, sensitization and/or analgesia). Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of minocycline on morphine‐induced memory impairment and motor function in male Wistar rats. The behavioural responses were measured by a passive avoidance test for evaluating memory, and in the open field for studying motor function. Furthermore, the expression of Phospho‐cAMP response element‐binding protein (P‐CREB) and c‐Fos were assessed using immunohistochemistry in the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Our results showed that morphine dose‐dependently impairs memory consolidation, but not motor function. Maximum effect was achieved with morphine at dose of 5 mg/kg. Pretreatment with ICV injection of minocycline (50 μg/rat) prevented morphine‐induced memory impairment, but there was no effect on motor function. The results of immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that morphine decreased expression of P‐CREB positive cells compared to saline control group in the BLA, but not in the dorsal hippocampus. On the other hand, pretreatment of animals with ICV injection of minocycline increased the expression of P‐CREB in both brain areas. Moreover, there was no significant change in the expression of c‐Fos positive cells in above‐mentioned regions. In summary, our results indicated that pretreatment with ICV injection of minocycline prevented morphine‐induced memory impairment and increased P‐CREB expression in the dorsal hippocampus and BLA, which may explain its memory improvement property.

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