Phage Therapy against Streptococcus pneumoniae: Modern Tool to Control Pneumonia

Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr. 2017;27(4):289-295. doi: 10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.2017019527.

Abstract

Phage therapy is important for treatment of drug-resistant pathogens as compared to antibiotics in this modern era. Since 1966, bacteriophages have been used as antibacterial agents and played a very crucial role in the expansion of molecular biology. Bacteriophages have been used to treat infection in Western medicine along with antibiotics. Antibacterial agents against the antibiotic resistance strains have been discovered. The lytic bacteriophage used for treatment in conventional phage therapy have shown hopeful results in human clinical cases. In animal models and in vitro studies, phages are used as therapeutics. Bacterial pathogens decreased with use of dual therapy of antibiotics and phages. Variation in intracellular targets of the type II DNA topoisomerases acquired by recombination with the fluoroquinolones have shown resistance. This review summarizes the role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in phage therapy. The study condenses the biochemical and structural data described for Streptococcus. pneumoniae biofilms.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteriophages / physiology*
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Fluoroquinolones / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Phage Therapy / methods
  • Pneumococcal Infections / therapy*
  • Pneumococcal Infections / virology*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / virology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Fluoroquinolones