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Phage Prevalence in the Human Urinary Tract-Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Implications

Maciej Żaczek1, Beata Weber-Dąbrowska1,2, Ryszard Międzybrodzki1,2,3

  • 1Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.

Microorganisms
|November 20, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Phages, viruses that infect bacteria, are abundant in the human body, including the urinary tract. Their role in urinary tract infections (UTIs) and potential therapeutic uses are under investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Human Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Metagenomic analyses reveal a high abundance of bacteriophages (phages) in various human body sites, often exceeding eukaryotic virus numbers.
  • Phages are known to influence bacterial metabolism and community structure, but their specific roles in human body fluids remain largely unexplored.
  • The human urobiome, particularly phage presence and function in the urinary tract, is under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current data on phage presence within the human urinary tract.
  • To explore the potential implications of phage presence in urinary tract health and disease.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of phages in managing urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent metagenomic studies and scientific reports.
  • Analysis of data concerning phage distribution across different human anatomical sites.
  • Synthesis of information on the known functions of phages in microbial ecosystems.

Main Results:

  • Phages are demonstrably abundant in the human body, including urine samples.
  • The presence and activity of phages in the urinary tract are linked to individual health status.
  • Limited data exists on the specific role of phages in the context of urinary tract infections.

Conclusions:

  • Phages are a significant component of the human microbiome, including the urobiome.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of phages in urinary tract health and disease.
  • Phage therapy presents a potential avenue for novel treatments for recurrent urinary tract infections.
Keywords:
antibiotic resistancemicrobiomephage circulationphage therapyurinary tracturinary tract infections (UTIs)urobiomeuropathogenic bacteria

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