Genetic Engineering and Biosynthesis Technology: Keys to Unlocking the Chains of Phage Therapy

Phage treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in humans, animals, and plants: The current status and future prospects

Phages, including the viruses that lyse bacterial pathogens, offer unique therapeutic advantages, including their capacity to lyse antibiotic-resistant bacteria and disrupt biofilms without harming the host microbiota. The lack of new effective antibiotics and the growing limitations of existing antibiotics have refocused attention on phage therapy as an option in complex clinical cases such as burn wounds, cystic fibrosis, and pneumonia. This review describes clinical cases and preclinical studies in which phage therapy has been effective in both human and veterinary medicine, and in an agricultural context. In addition, critical challenges, such as the narrow host range of bacteriophages, the possibility of bacterial resistance, and regulatory constraints on the widespread use of phage therapy, are addressed. Future directions include optimizing phage therapy through strategies ranging from phage cocktails to broadening phage host range through genetic modification, and using phages as vaccines or biocontrol agents. In the future, if phage can be efficiently delivered, maintained in a stable state, and phage-antibiotic synergy can be achieved, phage therapy will offer much needed treatment options. However, the successful implementation of phage therapy within the current standards of practice will also require the considerable development of regulatory infrastructure and greater public acceptance. In closing, this review highlights the promise of phage therapy as a critical backup or substitute for antibiotics. It proposes a new role as a significant adjunct to, or even replacement for, antibiotics in treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Engineering bacteriophages for targeted superbug eradication

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, termed "superbugs," presents a formidable challenge to global health. These pathogens, often responsible for persistent nosocomial infections, threaten the effectiveness of conventional antibiotic therapies. This review delves into the potential of bacteriophages, viruses specifically targeting bacteria, as a powerful tool to combat superbugs. We examined the latest developments in genetic engineering that improve the efficacy of bacteriophages, focusing on modifications in host range, lysis mechanisms, and their ability to overcome bacterial defense systems. This review article highlights the CRISPR-Cas system as a promising method for precisely manipulating phage genomes, enabling the development of novel phage therapies with enhanced efficacy and specificity. Furthermore, we discussed developing novel phage-based strategies, such as phage cocktails and phage-antibiotic combinations. We also analyzed the challenges and ethical considerations associated with phage engineering, emphasizing the need for responsible and rigorous research to ensure this technology's safe and effective deployment to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

Phage therapy: A primer for orthopaedic trauma surgeons

Phage therapy (PT) continues to attract interest in the fight against fracture-related infection (FRI), particularly for recurring infections that have not been resolved using conventional therapeutic approaches. The journey PT has taken from early clinical application in the pre-antibiotic era to its recent reintroduction to western clinical practice has been accelerated by the increased prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens in the clinic. This review will present PT's potential as a precise, adaptable, and effective treatment modality, with a focus on patient and phage selection, as well as the various administration protocols currently applied to patients. The challenges for PT, for example the most optimal application technique and dosing, are also discussed and underscore the importance of personalized approaches and the urgent need for more robust clinical evidence. Future perspectives, including phage engineering and innovative delivery systems will be discussed, as they may broaden the applicability of PT to a point where it may become a standard rather than an option of last resort for orthopedic infection management.

Phage therapy: A renewed approach against oral diseases caused by Enterococcus faecalis infections

Antibiotics play an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases. Long-term overuse or misuse of antibiotics, however, has triggered the global crisis of antibiotic resistance, bringing challenges to treating clinical infection. Bacteriophages (phages) are the viruses infecting bacterial cells. Due to high host specificity, high bactericidal activity, and good biosafety, phages have been used as natural alternative antibacterial agents to fight against multiple drug-resistant bacteria. Enterococcus faecalis is the main species detected in secondary persistent infection caused by failure of root canal therapy. Due to strong tolerance and the formation of biofilm, E. faecalis can survive the changes in pH, temperature, and osmotic pressure in the mouth and thus is one of the main causes of periapical lesions. This paper summarizes the advantages of phage therapy, its applications in treating oral diseases caused by E. faecalis infections, and the challenges it faces. It offers a new perspective on phage therapy in oral diseases.