Phage Prevalence in the Human Urinary Tract—Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Implications

Microorganisms

Beata Weber-Dąbrowska¹  Maciej Żaczek¹  Ryszard Międzybrodzki¹  Andrzej Górski¹ 

[1] Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland;

关键词: phage therapy;    urinary tract;    uropathogenic bacteria;    urinary tract infections (UTIs);    antibiotic resistance;    microbiome;   

DOI  :  10.3390/microorganisms8111802

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Recent metagenomic analyses imply an immense abundance of phages in the human body. Samples collected from different sites (lungs, skin, oral cavity, intestines, ascitic fluid, and urine) reveal a generally greater number of phage particles than that of eukaryotic viruses. The presence of phages in those tissues and fluids reflects the paths they must overcome in the human body, but may also relate to the health statuses of individuals. Besides shaping bacterial metabolism and community structure, the role of phages circulating in body fluids has not been fully understood yet. The lack of relevant reports is especially visible with regard to the human urobiome. Certainly, phage presence and the role they have to fulfill in the human urinary tract raises questions on potential therapeutic connotations. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans and their treatment poses a difficult therapeutic dilemma. Despite effective antibiotic therapy, these infections tend to recur. In this review, we summarized the recent data on phage presence in the human urinary tract and its possible implications for health and disease.

【 授权许可】

Unknown