Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
08:46

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

1.6K

Phage therapy: Targeting intestinal bacterial microbiota for the treatment of liver diseases

Jumpei Fujiki1,2, Bernd Schnabl1,3

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

JHEP Reports : Innovation in Hepatology
|November 15, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Phage therapy offers a promising alternative to antibiotics for combating antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This review explores its potential in treating gut and liver diseases by targeting the gut microbiota.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Antibiotics have long been the primary treatment for bacterial infections, but rising antimicrobial resistance necessitates alternative strategies.
  • Bacterial microbiota play a crucial role in gastrointestinal and liver diseases, making targeted interventions highly desirable.
  • Bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, are being re-evaluated for their therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental virological characteristics of phages.
  • To summarize current knowledge on the intestinal phageome and its alterations in liver diseases.
  • To assess the efficacy of phage therapy in preclinical and clinical studies for gastrointestinal and liver conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of basic phage virology.
  • Analysis of studies on intestinal phageome composition and its association with liver diseases.
  • Evaluation of preclinical and clinical research on phage therapy for gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

Main Results:

  • Phages possess specific bactericidal properties suitable for targeted microbiota modulation.
  • Changes in the intestinal phageome are linked to the pathogenesis of various liver diseases.
  • Preclinical and clinical data suggest phage therapy's potential efficacy against relevant bacterial pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Phage therapy presents a viable strategy to address antimicrobial resistance, particularly in the context of gut and liver diseases.
  • Understanding the phageome is critical for developing effective phage-based therapeutic approaches.
  • Further research and clinical trials are needed to overcome challenges and realize the full potential of phage therapy.
Keywords:
Alcohol use disorderAlcohol-associated hepatitisGut-liver-axisMicrobiomeNAFLDNASHPSCPhageomeVirome

More Related Videos

Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model05:41

Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model

Published on: April 6, 2022

2.9K
Phage Therapy Application to Counteract Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Cystic Fibrosis Zebrafish Embryos11:20

Phage Therapy Application to Counteract Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Cystic Fibrosis Zebrafish Embryos

Published on: May 12, 2020

6.6K

Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
70.8K
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
35
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
62.3K
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management01:29

Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management

Upon diagnosis, managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves addressing several crucial aspects. The primary goals include resting the bowel, correcting malnutrition, and providing symptomatic relief. Resting the bowel may consist of medications to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Correcting malnutrition is essential, often requiring dietary adjustments and nutritional supplements. Symptomatic relief aims to ease pain, diarrhea, and other discomforts in IBD.
Pharmacologic...
134
Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy01:16

Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy

Helicobacter pylori, a resilient gram-negative bacterium, can thrive in the stomach's harsh, acidic environment. Infection with H. pylori leads to a cascade of events within the stomach lining. One of the critical disruptions caused by this bacterium is the interference with somatostatin production, a hormone responsible for regulating acid secretion. This interference tips the balance, escalating acid secretion and diminishing bicarbonate levels. This imbalance compromises the defensive...
419
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects...
31