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The Enemy of My Enemy: New Insights Regarding Bacteriophage-Mammalian Cell Interactions

Katie Bodner1, Arin L Melkonian1, Markus W Covert1

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Systems Modeling of Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.

Trends in Microbiology
|November 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages (phages), abundant microbes, can influence bacterial infections by altering mammalian cell physiology. Understanding these phage-mammalian cell interactions is crucial for advancing phage therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant biological entities in the human body.
  • Their role in human health, beyond bacterial infections, is increasingly recognized.
  • Phages can modulate mammalian cell physiology and influence host cell interactions with intracellular bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which phages interact with mammalian cells.
  • To highlight how these interactions impact bacterial infections and host cell defense.
  • To discuss the implications for phage therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing recent findings on phage-mammalian cell interactions.
  • Analysis of studies utilizing advances in genome engineering and microscopy.
  • Examination of phage uptake, distribution, and intracellular receptor interactions.

Main Results:

  • Phages can enter and modulate mammalian cells, influencing host cell defense against intracellular bacteria.
  • Phage-mediated dissemination of virulence factors can alter bacterial infection severity.
  • Novel roles for phages in modulating host cell physiology are being uncovered.

Conclusions:

  • Phage-mammalian cell interactions represent a significant area of research with therapeutic potential.
  • Understanding these interactions is key to developing effective phage-based therapies.
  • Future research should focus on the intricate mechanisms of phage-host cell crosstalk.
Keywords:
bacteriabacteriophagehuman–phage interactionsinnate immunityphage therapyprophage induction

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