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Current challenges and future opportunities of phage therapy

Journal Article · · FEMS Microbiology Reviews
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. CEB – Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
  2. Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, Netherlands
ABSTRACT

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health challenge worldwide, whose implications for global health might be devastating if novel antibacterial strategies are not quickly developed. As natural predators of bacteria, (bacterio)phages may play an essential role in escaping such a dreadful future. The rising problem of antibiotic resistance has revived the interest in phage therapy and important developments have been achieved over the last years. But where do we stand today and what can we expect from phage therapy in the future? This is the question we set to answer in this review. Here, we scour the outcomes of human phage therapy clinical trials and case reports, and address the major barriers that stand in the way of using phages in clinical settings. We particularly address the potential of phage resistance to hinder phage therapy and discuss future avenues to explore the full capacity of phage therapy.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain
OSTI ID:
1734395
Journal Information:
FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Journal Name: FEMS Microbiology Reviews Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 44; ISSN 1574-6976
Publisher:
Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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