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Phage Therapy Application to Counteract Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Cystic Fibrosis Zebrafish Embryos
Published on: May 12, 2020
Modular Approach to Select Bacteriophages Targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa for Their Application to Children
Victor Krylov1, Olga Shaburova1, Elena Pleteneva1
1Laboratory for Genetics of Bacteriophages, Department of Microbiology, I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera Moscow, Russia.
Insights
Phage therapy offers a promising approach to combat antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. This strategy involves using bacterial viruses to create tailored treatments that overcome bacterial resistance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Pediatric Pulmonology
Background:
- Antibiotic-resistant *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* poses a significant threat to children with cystic fibrosis (CF).
- Phage therapy, using bacterial viruses, is explored as an alternative to antibiotics for CF lung infections.
- Ensuring continuous treatment efficacy against evolving bacterial resistance is a critical challenge.
Approach:
- A modular approach utilizing mono- and hetero-species phage mixtures is proposed.
- Rapid selection of phages with enhanced lytic activity is crucial.
- Visual recognition of phage characteristics on *P. aeruginosa* PAO1 lawns facilitates rapid spectrum enhancement.
Key Points:
- The study focuses on phage therapy for antibiotic-resistant *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* in pediatric CF patients.
- Addressing bacterial resistance requires adaptable phage treatment strategies.
- Well-studied, safe phage groups are essential for reliable therapeutic development.
Conclusions:
- A modular phage therapy approach can be rapidly tailored to combat resistant bacterial mutants.
- This strategy aims to ensure sustained treatment efficacy in CF patients.
- Phage therapy presents a viable alternative for managing chronic *P. aeruginosa* infections in CF lungs.
Abstract:
This review discusses the potential application of bacterial viruses (phage therapy) toward the eradication of antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). In this regard, several potential relationships between bacteria and their bacteriophages are considered. The most important aspect that must be addressed with respect to phage therapy of bacterial infections in the lungs of CF patients is in ensuring the continuity of treatment in light of the continual occurrence of resistant bacteria. This depends on the ability to rapidly select phages exhibiting an enhanced spectrum of lytic activity among several well-studied phage groups of proven safety. We propose a modular based approach, utilizing both mono-species and hetero-species phage mixtures. With an approach involving the visual recognition of characteristics exhibited by phages of well-studied phage groups on lawns of the standard P. aeruginosa PAO1 strain, the simple and rapid enhancement of the lytic spectrum of cocktails is permitted, allowing the development of tailored preparations for patients capable of circumventing problems associated with phage resistant bacterial mutants.
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