Ameliorating the antimicrobial resistance crisis: phage therapy
1Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati, India.
IUBMB Life
|January 24, 2019
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance necessitates new treatments. Bacteriophage therapy offers a promising alternative, showing effectiveness against resistant bacteria, biofilms, and in combination with antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Infectious Diseases and Public Health
Background:
- Widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to antibiotic overuse limits treatment options for resistant pathogens.
- Bacteriophage therapy is emerging as a viable alternative to combat the AMR crisis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advantages of phage therapy.
- To update on recent developments and clinical trials in phage therapy.
- To highlight strategies for overcoming challenges in phage therapy implementation.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on bacteriophage therapy.
- Analysis of clinical trial data and advancements in phage technology.
- Discussion of synergistic effects with antibiotics and applications in biofilms and animal agriculture.
Main Results:
- Phage therapy demonstrates synergistic bactericidal effects with sub-lethal antibiotic doses.
- Lytic phages and their enzymes are effective against drug-tolerant biofilms and pathogens in farm produce.
- Engineered phages and novel formulations are addressing challenges like immune response and intracellular pathogen elimination.
Conclusions:
- Phage therapy presents a significant advancement in combating antimicrobial resistance.
- Ongoing clinical trials and technological innovations are paving the way for broader application of phage therapy.
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