The potential of bacteriophages in treating multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogen infections

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. (ESKAPE) pathogens, have significantly reduced the effectiveness of antibiotics. In this context, bacteriophage therapy offers a promising alternative, targeting specific bacterial strains, disrupting biofilms, minimizing side effects, and preserve beneficial microbiota.

Areas recovered: This review focuses on patent applications and patents granted up to 18 October 2024, related to the application of bacteriophages or their derivatives in treating infections caused by ESKAPE pathogens, as well as the methods for selecting bacteriophages.

Expert opinion: Phage-based strategies to overcome AMR have piqued the interest of the scientific community owing to the limited efficacy of new antimicrobial agents. Bacteriophages, co-evolved with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, offer a diverse and cost-effective arsenal, especially beneficial for low- to middle-income countries. This review examines various patents on phage applications, including those on computational methods used for improving phage cocktail design, classical phages or phage-derived proteins, and potential combinations of antimicrobial agents and phages. The increasing number of phage-related patents, especially in China and the United States, suggests that the antimicrobial activity of bacteriophages is a research hotspot.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; alternative therapy; bacterial viruses; novel antimicrobials; phage particles; phage therapy; therapeutic strategies.