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Phage neutralization by sera of patients receiving phage therapy
Viral Immunology
|June 4, 2014
Summary
Phage therapy (PT) can induce antiphage antibodies, particularly when administered locally. This antibody induction does not necessarily impede successful PT outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Phage therapy (PT) utilizes bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections.
- The potential for PT to induce an immune response, specifically antiphage antibodies, requires investigation.
- Understanding this immune response is crucial for optimizing PT efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if phage therapy (PT) induces antiphage antibodies in patients.
- To assess the impact of different phage administration routes and types on antibody induction.
- To correlate antiphage activity with PT outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Neutralization tests and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to measure antiphage activity in patient and volunteer sera.
- Sera were collected before, during, and after PT from 122 patients and 30 healthy volunteers.
- Phage inactivation rate (K) quantified serum neutralization capacity.
Main Results:
- Low antiphage activity was observed in healthy volunteers and before PT.
- Significant antiphage activity (high K rates) was detected in 12.3% of patients receiving local or local/oral PT, particularly with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis phages.
- Oral PT resulted in low antiphage activity.
- Antiphage activity generally decreased after therapy completion.
Conclusions:
- The induction of antiphage antibodies during PT is dependent on the route of administration and phage type.
- Local administration of phages is more likely to induce a detectable antiphage response.
- The presence of antiphage antibodies does not preclude a favorable outcome from phage therapy.
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