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A Review on Mycobacteriophages: From Classification to Applications
Sepideh Hosseiniporgham1, Leonardo A Sechi1,2
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2022
Summary
Mycobacteriophages offer new hope for diagnosing and treating challenging mycobacterial infections, including drug-resistant tuberculosis. These viruses can overcome bacterial defenses, paving the way for innovative theranostic applications in medicine.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mycobacterial infections, including tuberculosis, pose significant global health threats.
- Diagnosis and treatment are hindered by bacterial intracellularity, cell wall structure, and rising antibiotic resistance.
- Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and declining antibiotic susceptibility in nontuberculous mycobacteria exacerbate these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review potential mycobacteriophages for targeting difficult mycobacteria.
- To highlight the theranostic applications of these phages in medicine.
- To focus on phages infective to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Mycobacterium abscessus.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of mycobacteriophage research.
- Analysis of phage infectivity against pathogenic mycobacteria.
- Evaluation of theranostic potential for diagnosis and treatment.
Main Results:
- Mycobacteriophages can penetrate mycobacterial cell walls, facilitating diagnosis and treatment.
- Specific phages show promise against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and M. abscessus.
- Phage DS6A demonstrates infectivity against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.
Conclusions:
- Mycobacteriophages represent a promising therapeutic and diagnostic strategy for mycobacterial infections.
- Further research is needed to develop phages targeting specific pathogenic mycobacteria.
- These viruses offer a novel approach to combatting antibiotic resistance in mycobacterial diseases.
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