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Bacteriophage therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms: a review
Zahra Chegini1, Amin Khoshbayan2, Majid Taati Moghadam1
1Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important bacterial pathogens that causes infection with a high mortality rate due to resistance to different antibiotics. This bacterium prompts extensive tissue damage with varying factors of virulence, and its biofilm production causes chronic and antibiotic-resistant infections. Therefore, due to the non-applicability of antibiotics for the destruction of P. aeruginosa biofilm, alternative approaches have been considered by researchers, and phage therapy is one of these new therapeutic solutions. Bacteriophages can be used to eradicate P. aeruginosa biofilm by destroying the extracellular matrix, increasing the permeability of antibiotics into the inner layer of biofilm, and inhibiting its formation by stopping the quorum-sensing activity. Furthermore, the combined use of bacteriophages and other compounds with anti-biofilm properties such as nanoparticles, enzymes, and natural products can be of more interest because they invade the biofilm by various mechanisms and can be more effective than the one used alone. On the other hand, the use of bacteriophages for biofilm destruction has some limitations such as limited host range, high-density biofilm, sub-populate phage resistance in biofilm, and inhibition of phage infection via quorum sensing in biofilm. Therefore, in this review, we specifically discuss the use of phage therapy for inhibition of P. aeruginosa biofilm in clinical and in vitro studies to identify different aspects of this treatment for broader use.
Insights
Phage therapy offers a promising alternative to antibiotics for combating Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. This review explores bacteriophages
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriophage Therapy
- Biofilm Research
Background:
- Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections pose a significant threat due to high mortality and antibiotic resistance.
- P. aeruginosa biofilms contribute to chronic, treatment-resistant infections and extensive tissue damage.
- Conventional antibiotics are often ineffective against established P. aeruginosa biofilms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of phage therapy for inhibiting P. aeruginosa biofilms.
- To explore the mechanisms by which bacteriophages combat P. aeruginosa biofilms.
- To discuss the potential and limitations of phage therapy in clinical and in vitro settings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical and in vitro studies on phage therapy for P. aeruginosa biofilm inhibition.
- Analysis of bacteriophage mechanisms including extracellular matrix destruction, antibiotic permeability enhancement, and quorum sensing inhibition.
- Examination of combined therapeutic approaches using bacteriophages with nanoparticles, enzymes, or natural products.
Main Results:
- Bacteriophages demonstrate efficacy in eradicating P. aeruginosa biofilms through multiple mechanisms.
- Combined therapies show enhanced effectiveness against biofilms compared to single agents.
- Limitations include phage host range, biofilm density, phage resistance, and quorum sensing interference.
Conclusions:
- Phage therapy is a viable alternative for treating P. aeruginosa biofilm infections.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations and optimize phage therapy for broader clinical application.
- Combination strategies hold significant potential for improved anti-biofilm efficacy.
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