Historical sources for the use of Glycyrrhiza species include ancient manuscripts from China, India and Greece. They all mention its use for symptoms of viral respiratory tract infections and hepatitis. Randomized controlled trials confirmed that the Glycyrrhiza glabra derived compound glycyrrhizin and its derivatives reduced hepatocellular damage in chronic hepatitis B and C. In hepatitis C virus-induced cirrhosis the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was reduced. Animal studies demonstrated a reduction of mortality and viral activity in herpes simplex virus encephalitis and influenza A virus pneumonia. In vitro studies revealed antiviral activity against HIV-1, SARS related coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, arboviruses, vaccinia virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. Mechanisms for antiviral activity of Glycyrrhiza spp. include reduced transport to the membrane and sialylation of hepatitis B virus surface antigen, reduction of membrane fluidity leading to inhibition of fusion of the viral membrane of HIV-1 with the cell, induction of interferon gamma in T-cells, inhibition of phosphorylating enzymes in vesicular stomatitis virus infection and reduction of viral latency. Future research needs to explore the potency of compounds derived from licorice in prevention and treatment of influenza A virus pneumonia and as an adjuvant treatment in patients infected with HIV resistant to antiretroviral drugs.

The potent in vitro activity of GA against H. pylori provides a further explanation for its beneficial effect on peptic ulcers. Its effectiveness against clarithromycin-resistant strains provides hope that it can form the basis for an alternative therapeutic agent against H. pylori.

Antimicrobial resistance in genital mycoplasmas is increasing and shows global variation. We determined the susceptibilities of 469 mycoplamas, comprising 290 Mycoplasma hominis and 179 ureaplasma isolates collected during 1983 and 1989-2004, to eleven antibacterials by agar dilution. Additionally, we analyzed the results of routine E-testing during 2005-2008. Doxycycline was the most active tetracycline with (MIC₉₀ of 1 and 8 mg/L for ureaplasmas and M. hominis, respectively. Significantly more M. hominis isolates (approximately 10-13%) than ureaplasmas (approximately 1-3%) were resistant to tetracyclines. Ofloxacin was effective against both species (>95% susceptibility). Ciprofloxacin was moderately active against M. hominis and less active against ureaplasmas (70.3% and 35.2% susceptibility, respectively). Clarithromycin and josamycin were the most potent macrolides (MIC₉₀ of 0.5 mg/L) against ureaplasmas. Erythromycin had the lowest activity (MIC₉₀ of 8 mg/L) against ureaplasmas like clindamycin which was the most potent agent against M. hominis. Cross-resistance was found between tetracyclines (53-93%), macrolides and erythromycin (70-100%), and between erythromycin and ciprofloxacin (43-55%). M. hominis became more resistant to tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones between 1989 and 2004, although there was little change during 2005-2008. Ureaplasmas became more resistant to cipfloxacin during 1997 – 2004 and showed high resistance rates to erythromycin during 1989-2008. Doxycycline is still the drug of first-choice for the treatment of ureaplasmal infections and may be used for co-infection with M. hominis.

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Murine monoclonal and rabbit, murine, and human polyclonal antibodies against chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were characterized by the passive hemolysis and passive hemolysis inhibition assays and by absorption experiments with LPSs of Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia trachomatis, and a recombinant strain of Salmonella minnesota Re (r595-207) expressing the chlamydia-specific LPS epitope, as well as natural and synthetic partial structures of chlamydial LPS. Eleven monoclonal antibodies of the immunoglobulin M and G classes were characterized as chlamydia-specific by their failure to react with Re-type LPS, binding to a similar epitope for which the trisaccharide a-3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (KDO)-(2-8)-a-KDO-(2-4)-CL-KDO was an absolute prerequisite. For optimal binding, parts of the lipid A moiety were also involved; however, phosphoryl and ester-linked acyl groups and the reducing glucosamine residue of lipid A were dispensable. A similar antibody specificity was detected in lapine and murine hyperimmune sera after immunization with chlamydia, in addition to those recognizing more complex (e.g., those requiring the presence of phosphoryl residues) and less complex epitopes. Among the latter were those cross-reacting with Re-type LPS, which could be removed by absorption. The titers of different antibody specificities, in particular the ratio of chlamydiaspecific to cross-reactive antibodies, present in murine polyclonal antisera depended on the immunization protocol. The preferential formation of chlamydia-specific antibodies was observed after immunization with liposome-incorporated immunogens. Human sera from patients with suspected genital chlamydial infections were also found to contain chlamydia-specific and cross-reactive antibodies, the latter of which could be removed by absorption with Re-type LPS.