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Wang J, Zhang M, Pei J, Yi W, Fan L, Wang C, Xiao X. Isolation and identification of a novel phage targeting clinical multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum isolates. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1361045. [PMID: 38572320 PMCID: PMC10987712 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1361045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Over the past decade, Corynebacterium striatum (C. striatum), an emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen, has significantly challenged healthcare settings, especially those involving individuals with weakened immune systems. The rise of these superbugs necessitates innovative solutions. Methods This study aimed to isolate and characterize bacteriophages targeting MDR-C. striatum. Utilizing 54 MDR-C. striatum isolates from a local hospital as target strains, samples were collected from restroom puddles for phage screening. Dot Plaque and Double-layer plate Assays were employed for screening. Results A novel temperate bacteriophage, named CSP1, was identified through a series of procedures, including purification, genome extraction, sequencing, and one-step growth curves. CSP1 possesses a 39,752 base pair circular double-stranded DNA genome with HK97-like structural proteins and potential for site-specific recombination. It represents a new species within the unclassified Caudoviricetes class, as supported by transmission electron microscopy, genomic evolutionary analysis, and collinearity studies. Notably, CSP1 infected and lysed 21 clinical MDR-C. striatum isolates, demonstrating a wide host range. The phage remained stable in conditions ranging from -40 to 55°C, pH 4 to 12, and in 0.9% NaCl buffer, showing no cytotoxicity. Discussion The identification of CSP1 as the first phage targeting clinical C. striatum strains opens new possibilities in bacteriophage therapy research, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools against pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Jiao Pei
- Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Wei Yi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Li Fan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiangyang No.1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
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2
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Faltus T. The Medicinal Phage-Regulatory Roadmap for Phage Therapy under EU Pharmaceutical Legislation. Viruses 2024; 16:443. [PMID: 38543808 PMCID: PMC10974108 DOI: 10.3390/v16030443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy is a promising approach to treating bacterial infections. Research and development of bacteriophage therapy is intensifying due to the increase in antibiotic resistance and the faltering development of new antibiotics. Bacteriophage therapy uses bacteriophages (phages), i.e., prokaryotic viruses, to specifically target and kill pathogenic bacteria. The legal handling of this type of therapy raises several questions. These include whether phage therapeutics belong to a specially regulated class of medicinal products, and which legal framework should be followed with regard to the various technical ways in which phage therapeutics can be manufactured and administered. The article shows to which class of medicinal products phage therapeutics from wild type phages and from genetically modified (designer) phages do or do not belong. Furthermore, the article explains which legal framework is relevant for the manufacture and administration of phage therapeutics, which are manufactured in advance in a uniform, patient-independent manner, and for tailor-made patient-specific phage therapeutics. For the systematically coherent, successful translation of phage therapy, the article considers pharmaceutical law and related legal areas, such as genetic engineering law. Finally, the article shows how the planned legislative revisions of Directive 2001/83/EC and Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 may affect the legal future of phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Faltus
- Chair of Public Law, Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle an der Saale, Germany
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3
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Oliveira A, Dias C, Oliveira R, Almeida C, Fuciños P, Sillankorva S, Oliveira H. Paving the way forward: Escherichia coli bacteriophages in a One Health approach. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:87-104. [PMID: 36608263 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2161869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli is one of the most notorious pathogens for its ability to adapt, colonize, and proliferate in different habitats through a multitude of acquired virulence factors. Its presence affects the food-processing industry and causes food poisoning, being also a major economic burden for the food, agriculture, and health sectors. Bacteriophages are emerging as an appealing strategy to mitigate bacterial pathogens, including specific E. coli pathovars, without exerting a deleterious effect on humans and animals. This review globally analyzes the applied research on E. coli phages for veterinary, food, and human use. It starts by describing the pathogenic E. coli pathotypes and their relevance in human and animal context. The idea that phages can be used as a One Health approach to control and interrupt the transmission routes of pathogenic E. coli is sustained through an exhaustive revision of the recent literature. The emerging phage formulations, genetic engineering and encapsulation technologies are also discussed as a means of improving phage-based control strategies, with a particular focus on E. coli pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Carla Dias
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Oliveira
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pablo Fuciños
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sanna Sillankorva
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Hugo Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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4
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Villa N, Tartari E, Glicenstein S, de Villiers de la Noue H, Picard E, Marcoux PR, Zelsmann M, Resch G, Hadji E, Houdré R. Optical Trapping and Fast Discrimination of Label-Free Bacteriophages at the Single Virion Level. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2308814. [PMID: 38282203 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
There is a recent resurgence of interest in phage therapy (the therapeutic use of bacterial viruses) as an approach to eliminating difficult-to-treat infections. However, existing approaches for therapeutic phage selection and virulence testing are time-consuming, host-dependent, and facing reproducibility issues. Here, this study presents an innovative approach wherein integrated resonant photonic crystal (PhC) cavities in silicon are used as optical nanotweezers for probing and manipulating single bacteria and single virions with low optical power. This study demonstrates that these nanocavities differentiate between a bacterium and a phage without labeling or specific surface bioreceptors. Furthermore, by tailoring the spatial extent of the resonant optical mode in the low-index medium, phage distinction across phenotypically distinct phage families is demonstrated. The work paves the road to the implementation of optical nanotweezers in phage therapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Villa
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Enrico Tartari
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Simon Glicenstein
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Grenoble INP, IRIG, PHELIQS, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Hugues de Villiers de la Noue
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages and Phage Therapy, Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences (CRISP), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Picard
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Grenoble INP, IRIG, PHELIQS, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Pierre R Marcoux
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, DTIS, L4IV, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Marc Zelsmann
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA/LETI Minatec, LTM, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Grégory Resch
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages and Phage Therapy, Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences (CRISP), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Hadji
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Grenoble INP, IRIG, PHELIQS, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Romuald Houdré
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
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5
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Pirnay JP, Merabishvili M, De Vos D, Verbeken G. Bacteriophage Production in Compliance with Regulatory Requirements. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2734:89-115. [PMID: 38066364 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3523-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we discuss production requirements for therapeutic bacteriophage preparations. We review the current regulatory expectancies and focus on pragmatic production processes, implementing relevant controls to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of the final products. The information disclosed in this chapter can also serve as a basis for discussions with competent authorities regarding the implementation of expedited bacteriophage product development and licensing pathways, taking into account some peculiarities of bacteriophages (as compared to conventional medicines), such as their specificity for, and co-evolution with, their bacterial hosts. To maximize the potential of bacteriophages as natural controllers of bacterial populations, the implemented regulatory frameworks and manufacturing processes should not only cater to defined bacteriophage products. But, they should also facilitate personalized approaches in which bacteriophages are selected ad hoc and even trained to target the patient's infecting bacterial strain(s), whether or not in combination with other antimicrobials such as antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Maia Merabishvili
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniel De Vos
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gilbert Verbeken
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
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6
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Burz SD, Causevic S, Dal Co A, Dmitrijeva M, Engel P, Garrido-Sanz D, Greub G, Hapfelmeier S, Hardt WD, Hatzimanikatis V, Heiman CM, Herzog MKM, Hockenberry A, Keel C, Keppler A, Lee SJ, Luneau J, Malfertheiner L, Mitri S, Ngyuen B, Oftadeh O, Pacheco AR, Peaudecerf F, Resch G, Ruscheweyh HJ, Sahin A, Sanders IR, Slack E, Sunagawa S, Tackmann J, Tecon R, Ugolini GS, Vacheron J, van der Meer JR, Vayena E, Vonaesch P, Vorholt JA. From microbiome composition to functional engineering, one step at a time. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0006323. [PMID: 37947420 PMCID: PMC10732080 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00063-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYCommunities of microorganisms (microbiota) are present in all habitats on Earth and are relevant for agriculture, health, and climate. Deciphering the mechanisms that determine microbiota dynamics and functioning within the context of their respective environments or hosts (the microbiomes) is crucially important. However, the sheer taxonomic, metabolic, functional, and spatial complexity of most microbiomes poses substantial challenges to advancing our knowledge of these mechanisms. While nucleic acid sequencing technologies can chart microbiota composition with high precision, we mostly lack information about the functional roles and interactions of each strain present in a given microbiome. This limits our ability to predict microbiome function in natural habitats and, in the case of dysfunction or dysbiosis, to redirect microbiomes onto stable paths. Here, we will discuss a systematic approach (dubbed the N+1/N-1 concept) to enable step-by-step dissection of microbiome assembly and functioning, as well as intervention procedures to introduce or eliminate one particular microbial strain at a time. The N+1/N-1 concept is informed by natural invasion events and selects culturable, genetically accessible microbes with well-annotated genomes to chart their proliferation or decline within defined synthetic and/or complex natural microbiota. This approach enables harnessing classical microbiological and diversity approaches, as well as omics tools and mathematical modeling to decipher the mechanisms underlying N+1/N-1 microbiota outcomes. Application of this concept further provides stepping stones and benchmarks for microbiome structure and function analyses and more complex microbiome intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Dan Burz
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Senka Causevic
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alma Dal Co
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marija Dmitrijeva
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Garrido-Sanz
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Greub
- Institut de microbiologie, CHUV University Hospital Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Clara Margot Heiman
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Christoph Keel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Soon-Jae Lee
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Luneau
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Malfertheiner
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sara Mitri
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bidong Ngyuen
- Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Omid Oftadeh
- Laboratory of Computational Systems Biotechnology, EPF Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Grégory Resch
- Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, CHUV University Hospital Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Asli Sahin
- Laboratory of Computational Systems Biotechnology, EPF Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ian R. Sanders
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emma Slack
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Janko Tackmann
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robin Tecon
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Jordan Vacheron
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Evangelia Vayena
- Laboratory of Computational Systems Biotechnology, EPF Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Vonaesch
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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7
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Zurabov F, Petrova M, Zurabov A, Gurkova M, Polyakov P, Cheboksarov D, Chernevskaya E, Yuryev M, Popova V, Kuzovlev A, Yakovlev A, Grechko A. Adaptive Phage Therapy for the Prevention of Recurrent Nosocomial Pneumonia: Novel Protocol Description and Case Series. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1734. [PMID: 38136768 PMCID: PMC10741035 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays there is a growing interest worldwide in using bacteriophages for therapeutic purposes to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, driven by the increasing ineffectiveness of drugs against bacterial infections. Despite this fact, no novel commercially available therapeutic phage products have been developed in the last two decades, as it is extremely difficult to register them under the current legal regulations. This paper presents a description of the interaction between a bacteriophage manufacturer and a clinical institution, the specificity of which is the selection of bacteriophages not for an individual patient, but for the entire spectrum of bacteria circulating in the intensive care unit with continuous clinical and microbiological monitoring of efficacy. The study presents the description of three clinical cases of patients who received bacteriophage complex via inhalation for 28 days according to the protocol without antibiotic use throughout the period. No adverse effects were observed and the elimination of multidrug-resistant microorganisms from the bronchoalveolar lavage contents was detected in all patients. A decrease in such inflammatory markers as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin was also noted. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of an adaptive phage therapy protocol in intensive care units for reducing the amount of antibiotics used and preserving their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fedor Zurabov
- Research and Production Center “MicroMir”, 107031 Moscow, Russia; (A.Z.); (M.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Marina Petrova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
| | - Alexander Zurabov
- Research and Production Center “MicroMir”, 107031 Moscow, Russia; (A.Z.); (M.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Marina Gurkova
- Research and Production Center “MicroMir”, 107031 Moscow, Russia; (A.Z.); (M.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Petr Polyakov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
| | - Dmitriy Cheboksarov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
| | - Ekaterina Chernevskaya
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
| | - Mikhail Yuryev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
| | - Valentina Popova
- Research and Production Center “MicroMir”, 107031 Moscow, Russia; (A.Z.); (M.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Artem Kuzovlev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
| | - Alexey Yakovlev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
| | - Andrey Grechko
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, 10703 Moscow, Russia; (M.P.); (P.P.); (D.C.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (A.K.); (A.Y.); (A.G.)
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8
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Pirnay JP, Verbeken G. Magistral Phage Preparations: Is This the Model for Everyone? Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S360-S369. [PMID: 37932120 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is increasingly put forward as a promising additional tool to help curb the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. However, industrially manufactured phage medicinal products are currently not available on the European Union and United States markets. In addition, it is expected that the business purpose-driven phage products that are supposed to be marketed in the future would mainly target commercially viable bacterial species and clinical indications, using fixed phage cocktails. hospitals or phage therapy centers aiming to help all patients with difficult-to-treat infections urgently need adequate phage preparations. We believe that national solutions based on the magistral preparation of personalized (preadapted) phage products by hospital and academic facilities could bring an immediate solution and could complement future industrially manufactured products. Moreover, these unlicensed phage preparations are presumed to be more efficient and to elicit less bacterial phage resistance issues than fixed phage cocktails, claims that need to be scientifically substantiated as soon as possible. Just like Belgium, other (European) countries could develop a magistral phage preparation framework that would exist next to the conventional medicinal product development and licensing pathways. However, it is important that the current producers of personalized phage products are provided with pragmatic quality and safety assurance requirements, which are preferably standardized (at least at the European level), and are tiered based on benefit-risk assessments at the individual patient level. Pro bono phage therapy providers should be supported and not stopped by the imposition of industry standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic resistance; bacterial infection; bacteriophage therapy; magistral preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
- European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Non-traditional Antibacterial Therapy (ESGNTA), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Verbeken
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
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9
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Abedon ST. Automating Predictive Phage Therapy Pharmacology. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1423. [PMID: 37760719 PMCID: PMC10525195 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses that infect as well as often kill bacteria are called bacteriophages, or phages. Because of their ability to act bactericidally, phages increasingly are being employed clinically as antibacterial agents, an infection-fighting strategy that has been in practice now for over one hundred years. As with antibacterial agents generally, the development as well as practice of this phage therapy can be aided via the application of various quantitative frameworks. Therefore, reviewed here are considerations of phage multiplicity of infection, bacterial likelihood of becoming adsorbed as a function of phage titers, bacterial susceptibility to phages also as a function of phage titers, and the use of Poisson distributions to predict phage impacts on bacteria. Considered in addition is the use of simulations that can take into account both phage and bacterial replication. These various approaches can be automated, i.e., by employing a number of online-available apps provided by the author, the use of which this review emphasizes. In short, the practice of phage therapy can be aided by various mathematical approaches whose implementation can be eased via online automation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
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10
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Onallah H, Hazan R, Nir-Paz R, Brownstein MJ, Fackler JR, Horne B, Hopkins R, Basu S, Yerushalmy O, Alkalay-Oren S, Braunstein R, Rimon A, Gelman D, Khalifa L, Adler K, Abdalrhman M, Gelman S, Katvan E, Coppenhagen-Glazer S, Moses A, Oster Y, Dekel M, Ben-Ami R, Khoury A, Kedar DJ, Meijer SE, Ashkenazi I, Bishouty N, Yahav D, Shostak E, Livni G, Paul M, Gross M, Ormianer M, Aslam S, Ritter M, Urish KL, La Hoz RM, Khatami A, Britton PN, Lin RCY, Iredell JR, Petrovic-Fabijan A, Lynch S, Tamma PD, Yamshchikov A, Lesho E, Morales M, Werzen A, Saharia K. Refractory Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections treated with phage PASA16: A compassionate use case series. MED 2023; 4:600-611.e4. [PMID: 37562400 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing number of compassionate phage therapy cases were reported in the last decade, with a limited number of clinical trials conducted and few unsuccessful clinical trials reported. There is only a little evidence on the role of phages in refractory infections. Our objective here was to present the largest compassionate-use single-organism/phage case series in 16 patients with non-resolving Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. METHODS We summarized clinical phage microbiology susceptibility data, administration protocol, clinical data, and outcomes of all cases treated with PASA16 phage. In all intravenous phage administrations, PASA16 phage was manufactured and provided pro bono by Adaptive Phage Therapeutics. PASA16 was administered intravenously, locally to infection site, or by topical use to 16 patients, with data available for 15 patients, mainly with osteoarticular and foreign-device-associated infections. FINDINGS A few minor side effects were noted, including elevated liver function enzymes and a transient reduction in white blood cell count. Good clinical outcome was documented in 13 out of 15 patients (86.6%). Two clinical failures were reported. The minimum therapy duration was 8 days with a once- to twice-daily regimen. CONCLUSIONS PASA16 with antibiotics was found to be relatively successful in patients for whom traditional treatment approaches have failed previously. Such pre-phase-1 cohorts can outline potential clinical protocols and facilitate the design of future trials. FUNDING The study was funded in part by The Israeli Science Foundation IPMP (ISF_1349/20), Rosetrees Trust (A2232), United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (2017123), and the Milgrom Family Support Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadil Onallah
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Ronen Hazan
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Ran Nir-Paz
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel.
| | | | | | - Bri'Anna Horne
- Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Robert Hopkins
- Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Subhendu Basu
- Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Ortal Yerushalmy
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Sivan Alkalay-Oren
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Ron Braunstein
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Amit Rimon
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Daniel Gelman
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Leron Khalifa
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Karen Adler
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Mohanad Abdalrhman
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Shira Gelman
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Eyal Katvan
- The Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; Peres Academic Center, Rehovot 7610202, Israel
| | - Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Allon Moses
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Yonatan Oster
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Michal Dekel
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Ronen Ben-Ami
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Amal Khoury
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Daniel J Kedar
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Suzy E Meijer
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Itay Ashkenazi
- Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Nancy Bishouty
- Pharmacy Department, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Dafna Yahav
- Infectious Disease Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel
| | - Eran Shostak
- Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Gilat Livni
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Mical Paul
- Rambam Health Care Campus and Faculty of Medicine, The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3109601, Israel
| | - Menachem Gross
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Matityahou Ormianer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Saima Aslam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michele Ritter
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kenneth L Urish
- Bone and Joint Center, Magee Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Ricardo M La Hoz
- Division of Infectious Disease and Geographic Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ameneh Khatami
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Philip N Britton
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ruby C Y Lin
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Jonathan R Iredell
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Petrovic-Fabijan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Stephanie Lynch
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Pranita D Tamma
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alexandra Yamshchikov
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY 14617, USA; Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14617, USA
| | - Emil Lesho
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY 14617, USA
| | - Megan Morales
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Alissa Werzen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Jefferson Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kapil Saharia
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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11
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Abedon ST. Schlesinger Nailed It! Assessing a Key Primary Pharmacodynamic Property of Phages for Phage Therapy: Virion Encounter Rates with Motionless Bacterial Targets. DRUGS AND DRUG CANDIDATES 2023; 2:673-688. [PMID: 38770155 PMCID: PMC11104014 DOI: 10.3390/ddc2030034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses of bacteria and have been used as antibacterial agents now for over one-hundred years. The primary pharmacodynamics of therapeutic phages can be summed up as follows: phages at a certain concentration can reach bacteria at a certain rate, attach to bacteria that display appropriate receptors on their surfaces, infect, and (ideally) kill those now-adsorbed bacteria. Here, I consider the rate at which phages reach bacteria, during what can be dubbed as an 'extracellular search'. This search is driven by diffusion and can be described by what is known as the phage adsorption rate constant. That constant in turn is thought to be derivable from knowledge of bacterial size, virion diffusion rates, and the likelihood of phage adsorption given this diffusion-driven encounter with a bacterium. Here, I consider only the role of bacterial size in encounter rates. In 1932, Schlesinger hypothesized that bacterial size can be described as a function of cell radius (R , or R 1 ), as based on the non-phage-based theorizing of Smoluchowski (1917). The surface area of a cell-what is actually encountered-varies however instead as a function R 2 . Here, I both provide and review evidence indicating that Schlesinger's assertion seems to have been correct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
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12
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Köhler T, Luscher A, Falconnet L, Resch G, McBride R, Mai QA, Simonin JL, Chanson M, Maco B, Galiotto R, Riat A, McCallin S, Chan B, van Delden C. Personalized aerosolised bacteriophage treatment of a chronic lung infection due to multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3629. [PMID: 37369702 PMCID: PMC10300124 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy has been suggested as an alternative or complementary strategy for the treatment of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Here, we report the favourable clinical evolution of a 41-year-old male patient with a Kartagener syndrome complicated by a life-threatening chronic MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, who is treated successfully with iterative aerosolized phage treatments specifically directed against the patient's isolate. We follow the longitudinal evolution of both phage and bacterial loads during and after phage administration in respiratory samples. Phage titres in consecutive sputum samples indicate in patient phage replication. Phenotypic analysis and whole genome sequencing of sequential bacterial isolates reveals a clonal, but phenotypically diverse population of hypermutator strains. The MDR phenotype in the collected isolates is multifactorial and mainly due to spontaneous chromosomal mutations. All isolates recovered after phage treatment remain phage susceptible. These results demonstrate that clinically significant improvement is achievable by personalised phage therapy even in the absence of complete eradication of P. aeruginosa lung colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo Köhler
- Service of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Alexandre Luscher
- Service of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Léna Falconnet
- Service of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Grégory Resch
- Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences (CRISP), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Juliette L Simonin
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marc Chanson
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raphaël Galiotto
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Riat
- Diagnostic Bacteriology Laboratory, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Shawna McCallin
- Department of Neuro-Urology Balgrist Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Christian van Delden
- Service of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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13
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Jin Y, Li W, Zhang H, Ba X, Li Z, Zhou J. The Post-Antibiotic Era: A New Dawn for Bacteriophages. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050681. [PMID: 37237494 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Phages are the most biologically diverse entities in the biosphere, infecting specific bacteria. Lytic phages quickly kill bacteria, while lysogenic phages integrate their genomes into bacteria and reproduce within the bacteria, participating in the evolution of natural populations. Thus, lytic phages are used to treat bacterial infections. However, due to the huge virus invasion, bacteria have also evolved a special immune mechanism (CRISPR-Cas systems, discovered in 1987). Therefore, it is necessary to develop phage cocktails and synthetic biology methods to infect bacteria, especially against multidrug-resistant bacteria infections, which are a major global threat. This review outlines the discovery and classification of phages and the associated achievements in the past century. The main applications of phages, including synthetic biology and PT, are also discussed, in addition to the effects of PT on immunity, intestinal microbes, and potential safety concerns. In the future, combining bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and classic phage research will be the way to deepen our understanding of phages. Overall, whether phages are an important element of the ecosystem or a carrier that mediates synthetic biology, they will greatly promote the progress of human society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youshun Jin
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Huaiyu Zhang
- Animal Pathology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Xuli Ba
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhaocai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jizhang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
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14
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Petrovic Fabijan A, Iredell J, Danis-Wlodarczyk K, Kebriaei R, Abedon ST. Translating phage therapy into the clinic: Recent accomplishments but continuing challenges. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002119. [PMID: 37220114 PMCID: PMC10204993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is a medical form of biological control of bacterial infections, one that uses naturally occurring viruses, called bacteriophages or phages, as antibacterial agents. Pioneered over 100 years ago, phage therapy nonetheless is currently experiencing a resurgence in interest, with growing numbers of clinical case studies being published. This renewed enthusiasm is due in large part to phage therapy holding promise for providing safe and effective cures for bacterial infections that traditional antibiotics acting alone have been unable to clear. This Essay introduces basic phage biology, provides an outline of the long history of phage therapy, highlights some advantages of using phages as antibacterial agents, and provides an overview of recent phage therapy clinical successes. Although phage therapy has clear clinical potential, it faces biological, regulatory, and economic challenges to its further implementation and more mainstream acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Petrovic Fabijan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katarzyna Danis-Wlodarczyk
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- P3 Research Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, United States of America
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15
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Makky S, Abdelrahman F, Rezk N, Easwaran M, El-Shibiny A. Phages for treatment Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 201:1-19. [PMID: 37770166 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is denoted as one of the highly threatening bacteria to the public health. It has acquired many virulent factors and resistant genes that make it difficult to control with conventional antibiotics. Thus, bacteriophage therapy (phage therapy) is a proposed alternative to antibiotics to fight against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. Many phages have been isolated that exhibit a broad spectrum of activity against P. aeruginosa. In this chapter, the common virulent factors and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistance genes in P. aeruginosa were reported. In addition, recent efforts in the field of phage therapy against P. aeruginosa were highlighted, including wild-type phages, genetically modified phages, phage cocktails, and phage in combination with antibiotics against P. aeruginosa in the planktonic and biofilm forms. Recent regulations on phage therapy were also covered in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salsabil Makky
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Fatma Abdelrahman
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Nouran Rezk
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt
| | - Maheswaran Easwaran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ayman El-Shibiny
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt; Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, Arish, Egypt.
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16
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Abedon ST. Bacteriophage Adsorption: Likelihood of Virion Encounter with Bacteria and Other Factors Affecting Rates. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:723. [PMID: 37107086 PMCID: PMC10135360 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12040723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
For ideal gasses, the likelihood of collision of two molecules is a function of concentrations as well as environmental factors such as temperature. This too is the case for particles diffusing within liquids. Two such particles are bacteria and their viruses, the latter called bacteriophages or phages. Here, I review the basic process of predicting the likelihoods of phage collision with bacteria. This is a key step governing rates of phage-virion adsorption to their bacterial hosts, thereby underlying a large fraction of the potential for a given phage concentration to affect a susceptible bacterial population. Understanding what can influence those rates is very relevant to appreciating both phage ecology and the phage therapy of bacterial infections, i.e., where phages are used to augment or replace antibiotics; so too adsorption rates are highly important for predicting the potential for phage-mediated biological control of environmental bacteria. Particularly emphasized here, however, are numerous complications on phage adsorption rates beyond as dictated by the ideals of standard adsorption theory. These include movements other than due to diffusion, various hindrances to diffusive movement, and the influence of assorted heterogeneities. Considered chiefly are the biological consequences of these various phenomena rather than their mathematical underpinnings.
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17
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Khalifa AA, Hussien SM. The promising role of bacteriophage therapy in managing total hip and knee arthroplasty related periprosthetic joint infection, a systematic review. J Exp Orthop 2023; 10:18. [PMID: 36786898 PMCID: PMC9929010 DOI: 10.1186/s40634-023-00586-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Total hip and knee arthroplasty periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) poses a management dilemma owing to the emergence of resistant organisms. A promising option is Bacteriophage therapy (BT) was used as an adjuvant for PJI management, aiming at treating resistant infections, decreasing morbidity, and mortality. The current review aimed to demonstrate the role and safety of using BT as an adjuvant to treat PJIs. METHODS A systematic search was performed through four databases (Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) up to March 2022, according to the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS Our systematic review included 11 case reports of 13 patients in which 14 joints (11 TKAs and three THAs) were treated. The patients' average age was 73.7 years, underwent an average of 4.5 previous surgeries. The most common organism was the Staphylococcus aureus species. All patients underwent surgical debridement; for the 13 patients, eight received a cocktail, and five received monophage therapy. All patients received postoperative suppressive antibiotic therapy. After an average follow-up of 14.5 months, all patients had satisfactory outcomes. No recurrence of infection in any patient. Transaminitis complicating BT was developed in three patients, needed stoppage in only one, and the condition was reversible and non-life-threatening. CONCLUSION BT is a safe and potentially effective adjuvant therapy for treating resistant and relapsing PJIs. However, further investigations are needed to clarify some BT-related issues to create effective and reproducible therapeutics. Furthermore, new ethical regulations should be implemented to facilitate its widespread use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A. Khalifa
- grid.412707.70000 0004 0621 7833Orthopaedic Department, Qena Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, South Valley University, Kilo 6 Qena-Safaga Highway, Qena, 83523 Egypt ,grid.412707.70000 0004 0621 7833Qena Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Sarah M. Hussien
- grid.412707.70000 0004 0621 7833Qena Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
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18
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Mitropoulou G, Koutsokera A, Csajka C, Blanchon S, Sauty A, Brunet JF, von Garnier C, Resch G, Guery B. Phage therapy for pulmonary infections: lessons from clinical experiences and key considerations. Eur Respir Rev 2022; 31:31/166/220121. [PMID: 36198417 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0121-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Lower respiratory tract infections lead to significant morbidity and mortality. They are increasingly caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, notably in individuals with cystic fibrosis, hospital-acquired pneumonia and lung transplantation. The use of bacteriophages (phages) to treat bacterial infections is gaining growing attention, with numerous published cases of compassionate treatment over the last few years. Although the use of phages appears safe, the lack of standardisation, the significant heterogeneity of published studies and the paucity of robust efficacy data, alongside regulatory hurdles arising from the existing pharmaceutical legislation, are just some of the challenges phage therapy has to overcome. In this review, we discuss the lessons learned from recent clinical experiences of phage therapy for the treatment of pulmonary infections. We review the key aspects, opportunities and challenges of phage therapy regarding formulations and administration routes, interactions with antibiotics and the immune system, and phage resistance. Building upon the current knowledge base, future pre-clinical studies using emerging technologies and carefully designed clinical trials are expected to enhance our understanding and explore the therapeutic potential of phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Mitropoulou
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland .,University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Shared first authorship
| | - Angela Koutsokera
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Shared first authorship
| | - Chantal Csajka
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Blanchon
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Paediatric Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Paediatrics, Department of Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alain Sauty
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Division of Pulmonology, Neuchâtel Hospital Network, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Francois Brunet
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Cell Production Centre, Dept of Interdisciplinary Centres, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christophe von Garnier
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégory Resch
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Centre for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.,Shared last authorship
| | - Benoit Guery
- University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Service of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Shared last authorship
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19
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Laucirica DR, Stick SM, Garratt LW, Kicic A. Bacteriophage: A new therapeutic player to combat neutrophilic inflammation in chronic airway diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1069929. [PMID: 36590945 PMCID: PMC9794625 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1069929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent respiratory bacterial infections are a clinical burden in several chronic inflammatory airway diseases and are often associated with neutrophil infiltration into the lungs. Following recruitment, dysregulated neutrophil effector functions such as increased granule release and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) result in damage to airway tissue, contributing to the progression of lung disease. Bacterial pathogens are a major driver of airway neutrophilic inflammation, but traditional management of infections with antibiotic therapy is becoming less effective as rates of antimicrobial resistance rise. Bacteriophages (phages) are now frequently identified as antimicrobial alternatives for antimicrobial resistant (AMR) airway infections. Despite growing recognition of their bactericidal function, less is known about how phages influence activity of neutrophils recruited to sites of bacterial infection in the lungs. In this review, we summarize current in vitro and in vivo findings on the effects of phage therapy on neutrophils and their inflammatory mediators, as well as mechanisms of phage-neutrophil interactions. Understanding these effects provides further validation of their safe use in humans, but also identifies phages as a targeted neutrophil-modulating therapeutic for inflammatory airway conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Laucirica
- Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen M. Stick
- Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Luke W. Garratt
- Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Anthony Kicic
- Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
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Proof-of-Concept Standardized Approach Using a Single-Disk Method Analogous to Antibiotic Disk Diffusion Assays for Routine Phage Susceptibility Testing in Diagnostic Laboratories. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0030922. [PMID: 36416554 PMCID: PMC9746313 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00309-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Application of bacteriophages is increasingly being implemented in clinical therapies. Prior susceptibility testing should be regarded as mandatory, but standards are lacking. The objective of this research was to develop a highly standardized methodology to facilitate phage susceptibility testing (PST) in clinical microbiology routine laboratories. Therefore, EUCAST methods established for single disk-based antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) were adapted. In a first step, basic parameters were evaluated using well-studied Escherichia phage T4-Escherichia coli combinations. In addition, test results were compared to those from conventional spot test and efficiency of plating (EOP) approaches. In a second step, the applicability of the methodology and the most promising test parameters were demonstrated for five other frequently isolated clinical bacterial species and their corresponding phages. At present, the method predominantly leads to qualitative rather than quantitative results. This disk-based approach provides a standardized, easy-to-handle, reproducible and reliable PST protocol by relying on well-established routine procedures in diagnostic laboratories. IMPORTANCE Application of bacteriophages in clinical therapies is attractive due to increasing rates of isolation of multidrug-resistant bacteria worldwide. As the phage effect is highly specific, prior susceptibility testing of target bacteria is mandatory. Of note, established standards are lacking. In this research, we adapted the single-disk method for antibiotic susceptibility testing to phage susceptibility testing (PST) in order to provide a standardized, easy-to-handle, reproducible, and reliable PST protocol for application in diagnostic routine laboratories.
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Biological properties of Staphylococcus virus ΦSA012 for phage therapy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21297. [PMID: 36494564 PMCID: PMC9734660 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25352-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus virus ΦSA012 has a wide host range and efficient lytic activity. Here, we assessed the biological stability of ΦSA012 against temperature, freeze-thawing, and pH to clinically apply the phage. In addition, inoculation of ΦSA012 through i.p. and i.v. injections into mice revealed that phages were reached the limit of detection in serum and accumulated notably spleens without inflammation at 48 h post-inoculation. Furthermore, inoculation of ΦSA012 through s.c. injections in mice significantly induced IgG, which possesses neutralizing activity against ΦSA012 and other Staphylococcus viruses, ΦSA039 and ΦMR003, but not Pseudomonas viruses ΦS12-3 and ΦR18 or Escherichia viruses T1, T4, and T7 in vitro. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis showed that purified anti-phage IgG recognizes the long-tail fiber of staphylococcus viruses. Although S. aureus inoculation resulted in a 25% survival rate in a mouse i.p. model, ΦSA012 inoculation (i.p.) improved the survival rate to 75%; however, the survival rate of ΦSA012-immunized mice decreased to less than non-immunized mice with phage i.v. injection at a MOI of 100. These results indicated that ΦSA012 possesses promise for use against staphylococcal infections but we should carefully address the appropriate dose and periods of phage administration. Our findings facilitate understandings of staphylococcus viruses for phage therapy.
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Khatami A, Foley DA, Warner MS, Barnes EH, Peleg AY, Li J, Stick S, Burke N, Lin RCY, Warning J, Snelling TL, Tong SYC, Iredell J. Standardised treatment and monitoring protocol to assess safety and tolerability of bacteriophage therapy for adult and paediatric patients (STAMP study): protocol for an open-label, single-arm trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e065401. [PMID: 36600337 PMCID: PMC9743374 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been renewed interest in the therapeutic use of bacteriophages (phages); however, standardised therapeutic protocols are lacking, and there is a paucity of rigorous clinical trial data assessing efficacy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We propose an open-label, single-arm trial investigating a standardised treatment and monitoring protocol for phage therapy. Patients included will have exhausted other therapeutic options for control of their infection and phage therapy will be administered under Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration Special Access Scheme. A phage product with high in vitro activity against the targeted pathogen(s) must be available in line with relevant regulatory requirements. We aim to recruit 50-100 patients over 5 years, from any public or private hospitals in Australia. The standardised protocol will specify clinical assessments and biological sampling at scheduled time points. The primary outcome is safety at day 29, assessed by the frequency of adverse events, and overseen by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board. Secondary outcomes include long-term safety (frequency of adverse events until at least 6 months following phage therapy), and feasibility, measured as the proportion of participants with>80% of minimum data available for analysis. Additional endpoints assessed include clinical response, patient/guardian reported quality of life measures, phage pharmacokinetics, human host immune responses and microbiome analysis. All trial outcomes will be summarised and presented using standard descriptive statistics. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Participant inclusion will be dependent on obtaining written informed consent from the patient or guardian. The trial protocol was approved by the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee in December 2021 (Reference 2021/ETH11861). In addition to publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, a lay summary of study outcomes will be made available for participants and the public on the Phage Australia website (https://www.phageaustralia.org/). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Registered on ANZCTR, 10 November 2021 (ACTRN12621001526864; WHO Universal Trial Number: U1111-1269-6000).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameneh Khatami
- The Children's Hospital at Westmead Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David A Foley
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medical WA, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Morgyn S Warner
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, The University of Adelaide Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Elizabeth H Barnes
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anton Y Peleg
- Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jian Li
- Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen Stick
- Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Nettie Burke
- Former CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ruby C Y Lin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julia Warning
- Office for Health and Medical Research, New South Wales Ministry of Health, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas L Snelling
- The Children's Hospital at Westmead Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Steven Y C Tong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
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Ferry T, Kolenda C, Laurent F, Leboucher G, Merabischvilli M, Djebara S, Gustave CA, Perpoint T, Barrey C, Pirnay JP, Resch G. Personalized bacteriophage therapy to treat pandrug-resistant spinal Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4239. [PMID: 35869081 PMCID: PMC9306240 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31837-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone and joint infections (BJI) are one of the most difficult-to-treat bacterial infection, especially in the era of antimicrobial resistance. Lytic bacteriophages (phages for short) are natural viruses that can selectively target and kill bacteria. They are considered to have a high therapeutic potential for the treatment of severe bacterial infections and especially BJI, as they also target biofilms. Here we report on the management of a patient with a pandrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa spinal abscess who was treated with surgery and a personalized combination of phage therapy that was added to antibiotics. As the infecting P. aeruginosa strain was resistant to the phages developed by private companies that were contacted, we set up a unique European academic collaboration to find, produce and administer a personalized phage cocktail to the patient in due time. After two surgeries, despite bacterial persistence with expression of small colony variants, the patient healed with local and intravenous injections of purified phages as adjuvant therapy. Here, the authors describe a patient with a pandrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa spinal abscess successfully treated with a personalized combination of phage therapy and antibiotics.
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24
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Ács N, Holohan R, Dunne LJ, Fernandes AR, Clooney AG, Draper LA, Ross RP, Hill C. Comparing In Vitro Faecal Fermentation Methods as Surrogates for Phage Therapy Application. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122632. [PMID: 36560636 PMCID: PMC9786711 DOI: 10.3390/v14122632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The human microbiome and its importance in health and disease have been the subject of numerous research articles. Most microbes reside in the digestive tract, with up to 1012 cells per gram of faecal material found in the colon. In terms of gene number, it has been estimated that the gut microbiome harbours >100 times more genes than the human genome. Several human intestinal diseases are strongly associated with disruptions in gut microbiome composition. Less studied components of the gut microbiome are the bacterial viruses called bacteriophages that may be present in numbers equal to or greater than the prokaryotes. Their potential to lyse their bacterial hosts, or to act as agents of horizontal gene transfer makes them important research targets. In this study in vitro faecal fermentation systems were developed and compared for their ability to act as surrogates for the human colon. Changes in bacterial and viral composition occurred after introducing a high-titre single phage preparation both with and without a known bacterial host during the 24 h-long fermentation. We also show that during this timeframe 50 mL plastic tubes can provide data similar to that generated in a sophisticated faecal fermenter system. This knowledge can guide us to a better understanding of the short-term impact of bacteriophage transplants on the bacteriomes and viromes of human recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Ács
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | - Ross Holohan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | - Laura J. Dunne
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Adam G. Clooney
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | | | - R. Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
- Correspondence:
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Nakatsu CH, Pavlovic NB, Byappanahalli MN. Bacteria common to rhizosphere communities of Asiatic bittersweet across a post-glacial landscape. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.999099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive plants such as Asiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.) are a significant problem for land managers as they impact plant species composition, disrupt nutrient dynamics and structure of native ecosystems, and are difficult to eradicate. As a result of the increasing abundance of Asiatic bittersweet across the eastern U.S., we have been investigating underlying factors potentially contributing to the success of this plant. Recently, ecologists have been investigating the role of plant-soil-microbe interactions contributing to plant invasion. This work has led to question: are there certain microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungi) contributing to the success of some invasive plants? We hypothesize that despite differences in geologic age of soils where Asiatic bittersweet has established in the Indiana Dunes National Park there are sufficient common factors that led to common bacterial taxa in their rhizosphere. The objectives were to determine differences and commonalities in the soil chemistry, plant community and bacterial communities of Asiatic bittersweet plants. To achieve these objectives, bittersweet plants were collected at thirteen locations in the national park from soils ranging in geologic age from 150 to over 14,500 years. Surrounding soil chemistry, plant cover and the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of these Asiatic bittersweet were compared. Asiatic bittersweet coverage of sampling sites ranged from 2 to 77% averaging 52 ± 2%. There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in alpha diversity (Shannon, Faith’s PD and Pielou’s evenness) and beta diversity (Bray Curtis, Jaccard, unweighted Unifrac, weighted Unifrac) among the samples when grouped by soil age or habitat. Despite these differences in the bacterial communities from different soil ages and habitats, some bacterial taxa (e.g., Bacillus, Streptomyces, Sphingomonas and Rhizobiales) previously found in other studies to be beneficial to plant growth were found in every rhizosphere community sampled. These microbes provide insight into a possible contributing factor to the success of this invasive plant at the Indiana Dunes National Park, and a strategy for future work to reduce the impact of Asiatic bittersweet establishment and offer some new strategies to manage this nuisance species.
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Isaev A, Andriianov A, Znobishcheva E, Zorin E, Morozova N, Severinov K. Editing of Phage Genomes—Recombineering-assisted SpCas9 Modification of Model Coliphages T7, T5, and T3. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322060073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacterial cells—are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. The use of phages in fundamental research and industry requires tools for precise manipulation of their genomes. Yet, compared to bacterial genome engineering, modification of phage genomes is challenging because of the lack of selective markers and thus requires laborious screenings of recombinant/mutated phage variants. The development of the CRISPR-Cas technologies allowed to solve this issue by the implementation of negative selection that eliminates the parental phage genomes. In this manuscript, we summarize current methods of phage genome engineering and their coupling with CRISPR-Cas technologies. We also provide examples of our successful application of these methods for introduction of specific insertions, deletions, and point mutations in the genomes of model Escherichia coli lytic phages T7, T5, and T3.
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Save J, Que YA, Entenza J, Resch G. Subtherapeutic Doses of Vancomycin Synergize with Bacteriophages for Treatment of Experimental Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infective Endocarditis. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081792. [PMID: 36016414 PMCID: PMC9412893 DOI: 10.3390/v14081792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Recurrent therapeutic failures reported for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infective endocarditis (IE) with vancomycin may be due to poor bactericidal activity. Alternative antibacterial approaches using bacteriophages may overcome this limitation. Objectives. An experimental rat model of MRSA IE (EE) was used to examine the efficacy of vancomycin combined with a 1:1 bacteriophage (phage) cocktail composed of Herelleviridae vB_SauH_2002 and Routreeviridae 66. Methods. Six hours after inoculation with ca. 5 log10 colony forming units (CFU) of MRSA strain AW7, animals were treated with either: (i) saline, (ii) an equimolar two-phage cocktail (bolus of 1 mL followed by a 0.3 mL/h continuous infusion of 10 log10 plaque forming units (PFU)/mL phage suspension), (iii) vancomycin (at a dose mimicking the kinetics in humans of 0.5 g b.i.d.), or (iv) a combination of both. Bacterial loads in vegetations, and phage loads in vegetations, liver, kidney, spleen, and blood, were measured outcomes. Results. Phage cocktail alone was unable to control the growth of strain AW7 in cardiac vegetations. However, when combined with subtherapeutic doses of vancomycin, a statistically significant decrease of ∆4.05 ± 0.94 log10 CFU/g at 24 h compared to placebo was detected (p < 0.001). The administration of vancomycin was found to significantly impact on the local concentrations of phages in the vegetations and in the organs examined. Conclusions. Lytic bacteriophages as an adjunct treatment to the standard of care antibiotics could potentially improve the management of MRSA IE. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of antibiotics on phage replication in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Save
- Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Hospital of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yok-Ai Que
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - José Entenza
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégory Resch
- Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Hospital of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Lausanne, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
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Finstrlová A, Mašlaňová I, Blasdel Reuter BG, Doškař J, Götz F, Pantůček R. Global Transcriptomic Analysis of Bacteriophage-Host Interactions between a Kayvirus Therapeutic Phage and Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0012322. [PMID: 35435752 PMCID: PMC9241854 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00123-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Kayviruses are polyvalent broad host range staphylococcal phages with a potential to combat staphylococcal infections. However, the implementation of rational phage therapy in medicine requires a thorough understanding of the interactions between bacteriophages and pathogens at omics level. To evaluate the effect of a phage used in therapy on its host bacterium, we performed differential transcriptomic analysis by RNA-Seq from bacteriophage K of genus Kayvirus infecting two Staphylococcus aureus strains, prophage-less strain SH1000 and quadruple lysogenic strain Newman. The temporal transcriptional profile of phage K was comparable in both strains except for a few loci encoding hypothetical proteins. Stranded sequencing revealed transcription of phage noncoding RNAs that may play a role in the regulation of phage and host gene expression. The transcriptional response of S. aureus to phage K infection resembles a general stress response with differential expression of genes involved in a DNA damage response. The host transcriptional changes involved upregulation of nucleotide, amino acid and energy synthesis and transporter genes and downregulation of host transcription factors. The interaction of phage K with variable genetic elements of the host showed slight upregulation of gene expression of prophage integrases and antirepressors. The virulence genes involved in adhesion and immune evasion were only marginally affected, making phage K suitable for therapy. IMPORTANCE Bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is a common human and veterinary pathogen that causes mild to life-threatening infections. As strains of S. aureus are becoming increasingly resistant to multiple antibiotics, the need to search for new therapeutics is urgent. A promising alternative to antibiotic treatment of staphylococcal infections is a phage therapy using lytic phages from the genus Kayvirus. Here, we present a comprehensive view on the phage-bacterium interactions on transcriptomic level that improves the knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying the Kayvirus lytic action. The results will ensure safer usage of the phage therapeutics and may also serve as a basis for the development of new antibacterial strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Finstrlová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Mašlaňová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Jiří Doškař
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Friedrich Götz
- Microbial Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Roman Pantůček
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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29
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Gordillo Altamirano FL, Kostoulias X, Subedi D, Korneev D, Peleg AY, Barr JJ. Phage-antibiotic combination is a superior treatment against Acinetobacter baumannii in a preclinical study. EBioMedicine 2022; 80:104045. [PMID: 35537278 PMCID: PMC9097682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical phage therapy is often delivered alongside antibiotics. However, the phenomenon of phage-antibiotic synergy has been mostly studied in vitro. Here, we assessed the in vivo bactericidal effect of a phage-antibiotic combination on Acinetobacter baumannii AB900 using phage øFG02, which binds to capsular polysaccharides and leads to antimicrobial resensitisation in vitro. METHODS We performed a two-stage preclinical study using a murine model of severe A. baumannii AB900 bacteraemia. In the first stage, with an endpoint of 11 h, mice (n = 4 per group) were treated with either PBS, ceftazidime, phage øFG02, or the combination of phage and ceftazidime. The second stage involved only the latter two groups (n = 5 per group), with a prolonged endpoint of 16 h. The primary outcome was the average bacterial burden from four body sites (blood, liver, kidney, and spleen). Bacterial colonies from phage-treated mice were retrieved and screened for phage-resistance. FINDINGS In the first stage, the bacterial burden (CFU/g of tissue) of the combination group (median: 4.55 × 105; interquartile range [IQR]: 2.79 × 105-2.81 × 106) was significantly lower than the PBS (median: 2.42 × 109; IQR: 1.97 × 109-3.48 × 109) and ceftazidime groups (median: 3.86 × 108; IQR: 2.15 × 108-6.35 × 108), but not the phage-only group (median: 1.28 × 107; IQR: 4.71 × 106-7.13 × 107). In the second stage, the combination treatment (median: 1.72 × 106; IQR: 5.11 × 105-4.00 × 106) outperformed the phage-only treatment (median: 7.46 × 107; IQR: 1.43 × 107-1.57 × 108). Phage-resistance emerged in 96% of animals receiving phages, and all the tested isolates (n = 11) had loss-of-function mutations in genes involved in capsule biosynthesis and increased sensitivity to ceftazidime. INTERPRETATION øFG02 reliably drives the in vivo evolution of A. baumannii AB900 towards a capsule-deficient, phage-resistant phenotype that is resensitised to ceftazidime. This mechanism highlights the clinical potential of using phage therapy to target A. baumannii and restore antibiotic activity. FUNDING National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando L Gordillo Altamirano
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xenia Kostoulias
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Infection Program, Department of Microbiology Monash University, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dinesh Subedi
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Denis Korneev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Science, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anton Y Peleg
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Infection Program, Department of Microbiology Monash University, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Jeremy J Barr
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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Wang L, Fan X, Gonzalez Moreno M, Tkhilaishvili T, Du W, Zhang X, Nie C, Trampuz A, Haag R. Photocatalytic Quantum Dot-Armed Bacteriophage for Combating Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infection. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105668. [PMID: 35434949 PMCID: PMC9189633 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infection is one of the greatest challenges to public health, a crisis demanding the next generation of highly effective antibacterial agents to specifically target MDR bacteria. Herein, a novel photocatalytic quantum dot (QD)-armed bacteriophage (QD@Phage) is reported for combating green fluorescent protein-expressing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (GFP-P. aeruginosa) infection. The proposed QD@Phage nanosystem not only specifically binds to the host GFP-P. aeruginosa while preserving the infectivity of the phage itself, but also shows a superior capacity for synergistic bacterial killing by phage and by the photocatalytic localized reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from anchored QD components. Notably, this highly targeted QD@Phage nanosystem achieves robust in vitro antibacterial elimination for both planktonic (over 99.9%) and biofilm (over 99%) modes of growth. In a mouse wound infection model, this system also shows remarkable activity in eliminating the wound infection and promoting its recovery. These results demonstrate that the novel QD@Phage nanosystem can diversify the existing pool of antibacterial agents and inspire the development of promising therapeutic strategies against MDR bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Centre for Musculoskeletal SurgeryCharité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinCorporate Member of Freie Universität BerlinHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlinand Berlin Institute of HealthBerlin10117Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT)Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)Berlin13353Germany
| | - Xin Fan
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT)Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)Berlin13353Germany
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFreie Universität BerlinTakustraße 3Berlin14195Germany
| | - Mercedes Gonzalez Moreno
- Centre for Musculoskeletal SurgeryCharité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinCorporate Member of Freie Universität BerlinHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlinand Berlin Institute of HealthBerlin10117Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT)Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)Berlin13353Germany
| | - Tamta Tkhilaishvili
- Centre for Musculoskeletal SurgeryCharité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinCorporate Member of Freie Universität BerlinHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlinand Berlin Institute of HealthBerlin10117Germany
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious DiseasesUniversity of RostockRostock18057Germany
| | - Weijie Du
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT)Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)Berlin13353Germany
| | - Xianlong Zhang
- Department of OrthopedicsShanghai Sixth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200233China
| | - Chuanxiong Nie
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT)Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)Berlin13353Germany
| | - Andrej Trampuz
- Centre for Musculoskeletal SurgeryCharité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinCorporate Member of Freie Universität BerlinHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlinand Berlin Institute of HealthBerlin10117Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT)Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)Berlin13353Germany
| | - Rainer Haag
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFreie Universität BerlinTakustraße 3Berlin14195Germany
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31
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Kabwe M, Dashper S, Tucci J. The Microbiome in Pancreatic Cancer-Implications for Diagnosis and Precision Bacteriophage Therapy for This Low Survival Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:871293. [PMID: 35663462 PMCID: PMC9160434 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.871293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While the mortality rates for many cancers have decreased due to improved detection and treatments, that of pancreatic cancer remains stubbornly high. The microbiome is an important factor in the progression of many cancers. Greater understanding of the microbiome in pancreatic cancer patients, as well as its manipulation, may assist in diagnosis and treatment of this disease. In this report we reviewed studies that compared microbiome changes in pancreatic cancer patients and non-cancer patients. We then identified which bacterial genera were most increased in relative abundance across the oral, pancreatic, duodenal, and faecal tissue microbiomes. In light of these findings, we discuss the potential for utilising these bacteria as diagnostic biomarkers, as well as their potential control using precision targeting with bacteriophages, in instances where a causal oncogenic link is made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mwila Kabwe
- Department of Rural Clinical Sciences, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
| | - Stuart Dashper
- Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Joseph Tucci
- Department of Rural Clinical Sciences, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
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32
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Skurnik M. Can Bacteriophages Replace Antibiotics? Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:575. [PMID: 35625219 PMCID: PMC9137811 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11050575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing antibiotic resistance numbers force both scientists and politicians to tackle the problem, and preferably without any delay. The application of bacteriophages as precision therapy to treat bacterial infections, phage therapy, has received increasing attention during the last two decades. While it looks like phage therapy is here to stay, there is still a lot to do. Medicine regulatory authorities are working to deliver clear instructions to carry out phage therapy. Physicians need to get more practical experience on treatments with phages. In this opinion article I try to place phage therapy in the context of the health care system and state that the use phages for precision treatments will require a seamless chain of events from the patient to the phage therapy laboratory to allow for the immediate application of phages therapeutically. It is not likely that phages will replace antibiotics, however, they will be valuable in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria. Antibiotics will nevertheless remain the main treatment for a majority of infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Skurnik
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; ; Tel.: +358-50-3360981
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, HUSLAB, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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33
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Schwarz C, Mathieu J, Laverde Gomez JA, Yu P, Alvarez PJJ. Renaissance for Phage-Based Bacterial Control. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:4691-4701. [PMID: 34793127 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are an underutilized biological resource with vast potential for pathogen control and microbiome editing. Phage research and commercialization have increased rapidly in biomedical and agricultural industries, but adoption has been limited elsewhere. Nevertheless, converging advances in DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, microbial ecology, and synthetic biology are now poised to broaden phage applications beyond pathogen control toward the manipulation of microbial communities for defined functional improvements. Enhancements in sequencing combined with network analysis make it now feasible to identify and disrupt microbial associations to elicit desirable shifts in community structure or function, indirectly modulate species abundance, and target hub or keystone species to achieve broad functional shifts. Sequencing and bioinformatic advancements are also facilitating the use of temperate phages for safe gene delivery applications. Finally, integration of synthetic biology stands to create novel phage chassis and modular genetic components. While some fundamental, regulatory, and commercialization barriers to widespread phage use remain, many major challenges that have impeded the field now have workable solutions. Thus, a new dawn for phage-based (chemical-free) precise biocontrol and microbiome editing is on the horizon to enhance, suppress, or modulate microbial activities important for public health, food security, and more sustainable energy production and water reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory Schwarz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Sentinel Environmental, Houston, Texas 77082, United States
| | - Jacques Mathieu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Sentinel Environmental, Houston, Texas 77082, United States
| | - Jenny A Laverde Gomez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Sentinel Environmental, Houston, Texas 77082, United States
| | - Pingfeng Yu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Sentinel Environmental, Houston, Texas 77082, United States
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A Phage Foundry Framework to Systematically Develop Viral Countermeasures to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens. iScience 2022; 25:104121. [PMID: 35402883 PMCID: PMC8983348 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
At its current rate, the rise of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections is predicted to paralyze our industries and healthcare facilities while becoming the leading global cause of loss of human life. With limited new antibiotics on the horizon, we need to invest in alternative solutions. Bacteriophages (phages)—viruses targeting bacteria—offer a powerful alternative approach to tackle bacterial infections. Despite recent advances in using phages to treat recalcitrant AMR infections, the field lacks systematic development of phage therapies scalable to different applications. We propose a Phage Foundry framework to establish metrics for phage characterization and to fill the knowledge and technological gaps in phage therapeutics. Coordinated investment in AMR surveillance, sampling, characterization, and data sharing procedures will enable rational exploitation of phages for treatments. A fully realized Phage Foundry will enhance the sharing of knowledge, technology, and viral reagents in an equitable manner and will accelerate the biobased economy.
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35
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Zyman A, Górski A, Międzybrodzki R. Phage therapy of wound-associated infections. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2022; 67:193-201. [PMID: 35028881 PMCID: PMC8933295 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-021-00946-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Phages are viruses which can specifically infect bacteria, resulting in their destruction. Bacterial infections are a common complication of wound healing, and experimental evidence from animal models demonstrates promising potential for phage-dependent eradication of wound-associated infections. The studies discussed suggest that phage therapy may be an effective treatment, with important advantages over some current antibacterial treatments. Phage cocktails, as well as co-administration of phages and antibiotics, have been reported to minimise bacterial resistance. Further, phage-antibiotic synergism has been reported in some studies. The ideal dose of phages is still subject to debate, with evidence for both high and low doses to yield therapeutic effects. Novel delivery methods, such as hydrogels, are being explored for their advantages in topical wound healing. There are more and more Good Manufacturing Practice facilities dedicated to manufacturing phage products and phage therapy units across the world, showing the changing perception of phages which is occurring. However, further research is needed to secure the place of phages in modern medicine, with some scientists calling upon the World Health Organisation to help promote phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zyman
- Pharmacology Undergraduate Programme, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD UK
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Infant Jesus Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland
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36
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Łusiak-Szelachowska M, Międzybrodzki R, Drulis-Kawa Z, Cater K, Knežević P, Winogradow C, Amaro K, Jończyk-Matysiak E, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Rękas J, Górski A. Bacteriophages and antibiotic interactions in clinical practice: what we have learned so far. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:23. [PMID: 35354477 PMCID: PMC8969238 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00806-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) may be used as an alternative to antibiotic therapy for combating infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. In the last decades, there have been studies concerning the use of phages and antibiotics separately or in combination both in animal models as well as in humans. The phenomenon of phage–antibiotic synergy, in which antibiotics may induce the production of phages by bacterial hosts has been observed. The potential mechanisms of phage and antibiotic synergy was presented in this paper. Studies of a biofilm model showed that a combination of phages with antibiotics may increase removal of bacteria and sequential treatment, consisting of phage administration followed by an antibiotic, was most effective in eliminating biofilms. In vivo studies predominantly show the phenomenon of phage and antibiotic synergy. A few studies also describe antagonism or indifference between phages and antibiotics. Recent papers regarding the application of phages and antibiotics in patients with severe bacterial infections show the effectiveness of simultaneous treatment with both antimicrobials on the clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzanna Łusiak-Szelachowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland.,Phage Therapy Unit, Medical Center of the Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wrocław, 51-148, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Kathryn Cater
- Rush University Medical Center, 1620 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Petar Knežević
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Cyprian Winogradow
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland.,Phage Therapy Unit, Medical Center of the Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Justyna Rękas
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland.,Phage Therapy Unit, Medical Center of the Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland.,Infant Jesus Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-005, Warsaw, Poland
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37
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Ferry T, Lustig S, Laurent F, Soriano A. Editorial: Innovative Approaches in the Management of Bone and Joint Infection. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:789092. [PMID: 34869506 PMCID: PMC8639186 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.789092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Ferry
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Croix-Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre de Référence des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, UCBL1, Lyon, France
| | - Sébastien Lustig
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre de Référence des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Orthopaedic and Sport Surgery Unit, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Laurent
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre de Référence des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, UCBL1, Lyon, France.,Institut des Agents Infectieux, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Lyon, France
| | - Alex Soriano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.,University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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38
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Ferry T, Kolenda C, Briot T, Souche A, Lustig S, Josse J, Batailler C, Pirot F, Medina M, Leboucher G, Laurent F. Past and Future of Phage Therapy and Phage-Derived Proteins in Patients with Bone and Joint Infection. Viruses 2021; 13:v13122414. [PMID: 34960683 PMCID: PMC8708067 DOI: 10.3390/v13122414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage-derived therapies comprise phage therapy and the use of phage-derived proteins as anti-bacterial therapy. Bacteriophages are natural viruses that target specific bacteria. They were proposed to be used to treat bacterial infections in the 1920s, before the discovery and widespread over-commercialized use of antibiotics. Phage therapy was totally abandoned in Western countries, whereas it is still used in Poland, Georgia and Russia. We review here the history of phage therapy by focusing on bone and joint infection, and on the development of phage therapy in France in this indication. We discuss the rationale of its use in bacterial infection and show the feasibility of phage therapy in the 2020s, based on several patients with complex bone and joint infection who recently received phages as compassionate therapy. Although the status of phage therapy remains to be clarified by health care authorities, obtaining pharmaceutical-grade therapeutic phages (i.e., following good manufacturing practice guidelines or being “GMP-like”) targeting bacterial species of concern is essential. Moreover, multidisciplinary clinical expertise has to determine what could be the relevant indications to perform clinical trials. Finally “phage therapy 2.0” has to integrate the following steps: (i) follow the status of phage therapy, that is not settled and defined; (ii) develop in each country a close relationship with the national health care authority; (iii) develop industrial–academic partnerships; (iv) create academic reference centers; (v) identify relevant clinical indications; (vi) use GMP/GMP-like phages with guaranteed quality bioproduction; (vii) start as salvage therapy; (vii) combine with antibiotics and adequate surgery; and (viii) perform clinical trials, to finally (ix) demonstrate in which clinical settings phage therapy provides benefit. Phage-derived proteins such as peptidoglycan hydrolases, polysaccharide depolymerases or lysins are enzymes that also have anti-biofilm activity. In contrast to phages, their development has to follow the classical process of medicinal products. Phage therapy and phage-derived products also have a huge potential to treat biofilm-associated bacterial diseases, and this is of crucial importance in the worldwide spread of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Ferry
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre de Références des IOA Complexes de Lyon, CRIOAc Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
- StaPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, UCBL1, 69008 Lyon, France
- Correspondence:
| | - Camille Kolenda
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre de Références des IOA Complexes de Lyon, CRIOAc Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
- StaPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, UCBL1, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Briot
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Aubin Souche
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre de Références des IOA Complexes de Lyon, CRIOAc Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
- StaPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, UCBL1, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Sébastien Lustig
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre de Références des IOA Complexes de Lyon, CRIOAc Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
| | - Jérôme Josse
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre de Références des IOA Complexes de Lyon, CRIOAc Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
- StaPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, UCBL1, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Cécile Batailler
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre de Références des IOA Complexes de Lyon, CRIOAc Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
| | - Fabrice Pirot
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Laboratoire de Recherche et Développement de Pharmacie Galénique Industrielle, Faculté de Pharmacie, EA 4169 “Fonctions Physiologiques et Pathologiques de la Barrière Cutanée”, Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, 8, Avenue Rockefeller, CEDEX 08, 69373 Lyon, France
| | - Mathieu Medina
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Gilles Leboucher
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Frédéric Laurent
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (C.K.); (T.B.); (A.S.); (S.L.); (J.J.); (C.B.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (G.L.); (F.L.)
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre de Références des IOA Complexes de Lyon, CRIOAc Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
- StaPath Team, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, CIRI, Inserm U1111, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, UCBL1, 69008 Lyon, France
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39
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Wu N, Chen LK, Zhu T. Phage therapy for secondary bacterial infections with COVID-19. Curr Opin Virol 2021; 52:9-14. [PMID: 34800893 PMCID: PMC8576063 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
With more than 200 million people affected and 4.5 million deaths so far, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become one of the greatest disasters in human history. Secondary bacterial infections (SBIs) are a known complication of viral respiratory infections, and are significantly associated with poorer outcomes in COVID-19 patients despite antibiotic treatments. The increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria and the decreasing options available in our antimicrobial armory worsen this crisis and call for alternative treatment options. As natural killers of bacteria, phages are recognized as promising alternatives to antibiotics in treating pulmonary bacterial infections, however, little is known about their use for treating SBIs during virus pandemics such as COVID-19. This review highlights the situation of SBIs in COVID-19 patients, and the distinct strengths and limitations of phage therapy for their containment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Li-Kuang Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Tongyu Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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