Phages targeting infected tissues: novel approach to phage therapy

Future Microbiol. 2015;10(2):199-204. doi: 10.2217/fmb.14.126.

Abstract

While the true efficacy of phage therapy still requires formal confirmation in clinical trials, it continues to offer realistic potential treatment in patients in whom antibiotics have failed. Novel developments and approaches are therefore needed to ascertain that future clinical trials would evaluate the therapy in its optimal form thus allowing for reliable conclusions regarding the true value of phage therapy. In this article, we present our vision to develop and establish a bank of phages specific to most threatening pathogens and armed with homing peptides enabling their localization in infected tissues in densities assuring efficient and stable eradication of infection.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; homing peptides; phage display; phage therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bacterial Infections / therapy*
  • Bacteriophages / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Peptides

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Peptides