Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 Dec;17(12):1011-1041.
doi: 10.1080/14787210.2019.1694905. Epub 2019 Dec 2.

Biological challenges of phage therapy and proposed solutions: a literature review

Katherine M Caflisch  1 , Gina A Suh  2 , Robin Patel  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Biological challenges of phage therapy and proposed solutions: a literature review

Katherine M Caflisch et al. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: In light of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, phage (bacteriophage) therapy has been recognized as a potential alternative or addition to antibiotics in Western medicine for use in humans.Areas covered: This review assessed the scientific literature on phage therapy published between 1 January 2007 and 21 October 2019, with a focus on the successes and challenges of this prospective therapeutic.Expert opinion: Efficacy has been shown in animal models and experimental findings suggest promise for the safety of human phagotherapy. Significant challenges remain to be addressed prior to the standardization of phage therapy in the West, including the development of phage-resistant bacteria; the pharmacokinetic complexities of phage; and any potential human immune response incited by phagotherapy.

Keywords: Phage; endolysin; phage resistance; phage therapy; phagotherapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Compensatory bacterial resistance mechanisms to phage.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
In vivo phage efficacy studies published between January 1, 2007 and October 21, 2019, by infection and basscterial type.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
In vivo lysin efficacy studies published between January 1, 2007 and October 21, 2019, by infection and bacterial type.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Guttman B, Raya R, Kutter E. Basic phage biology In: Kutter E, Sulakvelidze A, editors. Bacteriophages: Biology and applications: CRC Press; 2004.
    1. Summers W History of phage research and phage therapy In: Waldor M, DI F,SL A, editors. Phages: their role in bacterial pathogenesis and biotechnology: ASM Press; 2005. p. 3–17.
    1. Wittebole X, De Roock S, Opal SM. A historical overview of bacteriophage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial pathogens [Review]. Virulence. 2014;5(1):209–218. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chanishvili N Bacteriophages as therapeutic and prophylactic means: summary of the Soviet and post Soviet experiences [Review]. Curr Drug Deliv. 2016. 01 May;13(3):309–323. - PubMed
    1. On an invisible microbe antagonistic to dysentery bacilli. Note by d’Herelle MF, presented by Roux M Comptes Rendus Academie des Sciences 1917; 165:373–5. Bacteriophage. 2011 2011/01/01;1(1):3–5.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources