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Between Centralization and Fragmentation: The Past, Present, and Future of Phage Collections
Grégory Resch1, Charlotte Brives2, Laurent Debarbieux3
1Laboratory of Bacteriophages and Phage Therapy, Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences (CRISP), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
PHAGE (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
|March 21, 2025
Summary
Bacteriophage (phage) collections lack systematic cataloging, hindering phage therapy and research. This review highlights the need for interconnected phage banking infrastructures to manage growing collections and integrate future advancements.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Bacteriophage (phage) collections have been established for over a century but lack systematic cataloging.
- This has led to fragmented knowledge regarding the contents and existence of phage banks.
- Renewed interest in phage therapy and biology has increased the number of collections, exacerbating the lack of coordination and standardization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the history and current status of microbial collections, with a focus on bacteriophage collections.
- To provide an overview of existing phage collections.
- To discuss the challenges and potential of centralizing therapeutically relevant phage collections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of historical and current microbial and bacteriophage collections.
- Analysis of the state of phage banking and cataloging.
- Discussion of future trends including synthetic biology and artificial intelligence.
Main Results:
- A historical lack of systematic cataloging has resulted in fragmented knowledge of phage collections.
- There is a rapid increase in the number of phage collections without adequate coordination or standardization.
- Sustainable, interconnected, and equitable phage banking infrastructures are needed.
Conclusions:
- The current state of phage collections necessitates the creation of centralized, standardized, and interconnected infrastructures.
- Addressing these needs is crucial for advancing phage therapy and phage biology research.
- Future developments in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence will further emphasize the need for robust phage banking systems.
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