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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
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Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
Published on: October 14, 2011
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A Mammalian Cell's Guide on How to Process a Bacteriophage
1School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia;
Annual Review of Virology
|September 29, 2023
Summary
Bacteriophages (phages) interact with mammalian cells despite not infecting them. This review details phage-mammalian cell surface interactions, internalization, and intracellular fate, impacting health and disease.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria.
- Their ubiquity in the human body and interactions with mammalian cells are increasingly recognized.
- The human virome and clinical applications of phages highlight the importance of phage-mammalian interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a mechanistic overview of phage-mammalian cell interactions.
- To detail phage internalization processes and intracellular fate.
- To summarize the current understanding of phage-mammalian interactions in health and disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of phage-mammalian interactions.
- Mechanistic analysis of cell surface binding and internalization.
- Summary of current research on health and disease associations.
Main Results:
- Phages interact with mammalian cell surfaces.
- Phages can be internalized by mammalian cells through various processes.
- The intracellular fate and biological consequences of these interactions are under investigation.
Conclusions:
- Phage-mammalian interactions are complex and multifaceted.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial given the growing use of phages in clinical settings.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the full impact of phages on mammalian health and disease.
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