title: A minireview on the in vitro and in vivo experiments with anti-Escherichia coli O157:H7 phages as potential biocontrol and phage therapy agents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Herbal & Traditional Medicines Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Salehe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zargham
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sepehrizadeh
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutics Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amirpour-Rostami
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: mikael.skurnik@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skurnik
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000254:growth & development; D061046:Biological Control Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000821:virology*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000071059:Phage Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents
keywords: Antimicrobials; Bacteriophages; Biocontrol; EHEC