Rekindling of a Masterful Precedent; Bacteriophage: Reappraisaland Future Pursuits

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Israa M. Abd-Allah¹  Khaled M. Aboshanab¹  Ghadir S. El-Housseiny¹  Nadia A. Hassouna¹  Ibrahim S. Yahia² 

[1] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt;Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), Advanced Functional Materials & Optoelectronic Laboratory (AFMOL), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia;Nanoscience Laboratory for Environmental and Bio-Medical Applications (NLEBA), Semiconductor Lab., Metallurgical Lab, Physics Department, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt;

关键词: bacteriophage;    phage therapy;    antibiotic resistance;    phage proteins;    phage pharmacotherapy;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fcimb.2021.635597

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Antibiotic resistance is exuberantly becoming a deleterious health problem world-wide. Seeking innovative approaches is necessary in order to circumvent such a hazard. An unconventional fill-in to antibiotics is bacteriophage. Bacteriophages are viruses capable of pervading bacterial cells and disrupting their natural activity, ultimately resulting in their defeat. In this article, we will run-through the historical record of bacteriophage and its correlation with bacteria. We will also delineate the potential of bacteriophage as a therapeutic antibacterial agent, its supremacy over antibiotics in multiple aspects and the challenges that could arise on the way to its utilization in reality. Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and genetic engineering of bacteriophages and its proteins will be briefly discussed as well. In addition, we will highlight some of the in-use applications of bacteriophages, and set an outlook for their future ones. We will also overview some of the miscellaneous abilities of these tiny viruses in several fields other than the clinical one. This is an attempt to encourage tackling a long-forgotten hive. Perhaps, one day, the smallest of the creatures would be of the greatest help.

【 授权许可】

CC BY