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Siopi M, Skliros D, Paranos P, Koumasi N, Flemetakis E, Pournaras S, Meletiadis J. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bacteriophage therapy: a review with a focus on multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024:e0004424. [PMID: 39072666 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00044-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYDespite the early recognition of their therapeutic potential and the current escalation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, the adoption of bacteriophages into mainstream clinical practice is hindered by unfamiliarity with their basic pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties, among others. Given the self-replicative nature of bacteriophages in the presence of host bacteria, the adsorption rate, and the clearance by the host's immunity, their PK/PD characteristics cannot be estimated by conventional approaches, and thus, the introduction of new considerations is required. Furthermore, the multitude of different bacteriophage types, preparations, and treatment schedules impedes drawing general conclusions on their in vivo PK/PD features. Additionally, the drawback of acquired bacteriophage resistance of MDR pathogens with clinical and environmental implications should be taken into consideration. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of the field of PK and PD of bacteriophage therapy with a focus on its application against MDR Gram-negative infections, highlighting the potential knowledge gaps and the challenges in translation from the bench to the bedside. After reviewing the in vitro PKs and PDs of bacteriophages against the four major MDR Gram-negative pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii complex, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, specific data on in vivo PKs (tissue distribution, route of administration, and basic PK parameters in animals and humans) and PDs (survival and reduction of bacterial burden in relation to the route of administration, timing of therapy, dosing regimens, and resistance) are summarized. Currently available data merit close scrutiny, and optimization of bacteriophage therapy in the context of a better understanding of the underlying PK/PD principles is urgent to improve its therapeutic effect and to minimize the occurrence of bacteriophage resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Siopi
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Skliros
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Paschalis Paranos
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikoletta Koumasi
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Flemetakis
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Spyros Pournaras
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Joseph Meletiadis
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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2
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Pedersen EC, Lerche CJ, Schwartz FA, Ciofu O, Azeredo J, Thomsen K, Moser C. Bacteriophage therapy and infective endocarditis - is it realistic? APMIS 2024. [PMID: 39007242 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe infection of the inner heart. Even with current standard treatment, the mean in-hospital mortality is as high as 15-20%, and 1-year mortality is up to 40% for left-sided IE. Importantly, IE mortality rates have not changed substantially over the past 30 years, and the incidence of IE is rising. The treatment is challenging due to the bacterial biofilm mode of growth inside the heart valve vegetations, resulting in antibiotic tolerance. Achieving sufficient antibiotic anti-biofilm concentrations in the biofilms of the heart valve vegetations is problematic, even with high-dose and long-term antibiotic therapy. The increasing prevalence of IE caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria adds to the challenge. Therefore, adjunctive antibiotic-potentiating drug candidates and strategies are increasingly being investigated. Bacteriophage therapy is a reemerging antibacterial treatment strategy for difficult-to-treat infections, mainly biofilm-associated and caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, significant knowledge gaps regarding the safety and efficacy of phage therapy impede more widespread implementation in clinical practice. Hopefully, future preclinical and clinical testing will reveal whether it is a viable treatment. The objective of the present review is to assess whether bacteriophage therapy is a realistic treatment for IE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie C Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Johann Lerche
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Oana Ciofu
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joana Azeredo
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Kim Thomsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Zealand University Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Claus Moser
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
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3
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Ponce Benavente L, Wagemans J, Hinkel D, Aguerri Lajusticia A, Lavigne R, Trampuz A, Gonzalez Moreno M. Targeted enhancement of bacteriophage activity against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms through an evolutionary assay. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1372325. [PMID: 39040906 PMCID: PMC11260789 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1372325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus´ biofilm-forming ability and rapid resistance development pose a significant challenge to successful treatment, particularly in postoperative complications, emphasizing the need for enhanced therapeutic strategies. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has reemerged as a promising and safe option to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, questions regarding the efficacy of phages against biofilms and the development of phage resistance require further evaluation. Expanding on the adaptable and evolutionary characteristics of phages, we introduce an evolutionary approach to enhance the activity of S. aureus phages against biofilms. Unlike other in vitro directed evolution methods performed in planktonic cultures, we employed pre-stablished biofilms to do a serial-passage assay to evolve phages monitored by real-time isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC). The evolved phages demonstrated an expanded host range, with the CUB_MRSA-COL_R9 phage infecting 83% of strains in the collection (n = 72), surpassing the ISP phage, which represented the widest host range (44%) among the ancestral phages. In terms of antimicrobial efficacy, IMC data revealed superior suppression of bacterial growth by the evolved phages compared to the ancestral CUB-M and/or ISP phages against the respective bacterial strain. The phage cocktail exhibited higher efficacy, achieving over 90% suppression relative to the growth control even after 72 h of monitoring. Biofilm cell-counts, determined by RT-qPCR, confirmed the enhanced antibiofilm performance of evolved phages with no biofilm regrowth up to 48 h in treated MRSA15 and MRSA-COL strains. Overall, our results underscore the potential of biofilm-adapted phage cocktails to improve clinical outcomes in biofilm-associated infections, minimizing the emergence of resistance and lowering the risk of infection relapse. However, further investigation is necessary to evaluate the translatability of our results from in vitro to in vivo models, especially in the context of combination therapy with the current standard of care treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Ponce Benavente
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt, Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Dennis Hinkel
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alba Aguerri Lajusticia
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andrej Trampuz
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt, Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mercedes Gonzalez Moreno
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt, Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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4
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Berryhill BA, Burke KB, Fontaine J, Brink CE, Harvill MG, Goldberg DA, Konstantinidis KT, Levin BR, Woodworth MH. Enteric Populations of Escherichia coli are Likely to be Resistant to Phages Due to O Antigen Expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.08.566299. [PMID: 37986824 PMCID: PMC10659284 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.08.566299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
There is a surfeit of bioinformatic data showing that bacteriophages abound in the enteric microbiomes of humans. What is the contribution of these viruses in shaping the bacterial strain and species composition of the gut microbiome and how are these phages maintained over time? To address these questions, we performed experiments with Escherichia coli and phages isolated from four fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) doses as representative samples of non-dysbiotic enteric microbiota and develop and analyze the properties of a mathematical model of the population and evolutionary dynamics of bacteria and phage. Our models predict and experiments confirm that due to production of the O antigen, E. coli in the enteric microbiome are likely to be resistant to infection with co-occurring phages. Furthermore, our modeling suggests that the phages can be maintained in the population due to the high rates of host transition between resistant and sensitive states, which we call leaky resistance. Based on our observations and model predictions, we postulate that the phages found in the human gut are likely to play little role in shaping the composition of E. coli at the strain level in the enteric microbiome in healthy individuals. How general this is for other species of bacteria in the enteric flora is not yet clear, although O antigen expression is common across many taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon A. Berryhill
- Department of Biology, Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
- Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG), Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (GDBBS), Laney Graduate School, Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Kylie B. Burke
- Department of Biology, Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Jake Fontaine
- Department of Biology, Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Catherine E. Brink
- Ocean Science & Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mason G. Harvill
- Department of Biology, Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - David A. Goldberg
- Department of Biology, Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Konstantinos T. Konstantinidis
- Ocean Science & Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bruce R. Levin
- Department of Biology, Emory University; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Michael H. Woodworth
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
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5
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Villa N, Tartari E, Glicenstein S, de Villiers de la Noue H, Picard E, Marcoux PR, Zelsmann M, Resch G, Hadji E, Houdré R. Optical Trapping and Fast Discrimination of Label-Free Bacteriophages at the Single Virion Level. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308814. [PMID: 38282203 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
There is a recent resurgence of interest in phage therapy (the therapeutic use of bacterial viruses) as an approach to eliminating difficult-to-treat infections. However, existing approaches for therapeutic phage selection and virulence testing are time-consuming, host-dependent, and facing reproducibility issues. Here, this study presents an innovative approach wherein integrated resonant photonic crystal (PhC) cavities in silicon are used as optical nanotweezers for probing and manipulating single bacteria and single virions with low optical power. This study demonstrates that these nanocavities differentiate between a bacterium and a phage without labeling or specific surface bioreceptors. Furthermore, by tailoring the spatial extent of the resonant optical mode in the low-index medium, phage distinction across phenotypically distinct phage families is demonstrated. The work paves the road to the implementation of optical nanotweezers in phage therapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Villa
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Enrico Tartari
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Simon Glicenstein
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Grenoble INP, IRIG, PHELIQS, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Hugues de Villiers de la Noue
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages and Phage Therapy, Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences (CRISP), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Picard
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Grenoble INP, IRIG, PHELIQS, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Pierre R Marcoux
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, DTIS, L4IV, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Marc Zelsmann
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA/LETI Minatec, LTM, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Grégory Resch
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages and Phage Therapy, Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences (CRISP), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Hadji
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Grenoble INP, IRIG, PHELIQS, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Romuald Houdré
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
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6
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Alipour-Khezri E, Skurnik M, Zarrini G. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophages and Their Clinical Applications. Viruses 2024; 16:1051. [PMID: 39066214 PMCID: PMC11281547 DOI: 10.3390/v16071051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious risk to contemporary healthcare since it reduces the number of bacterial illnesses that may be treated with antibiotics, particularly for patients with long-term conditions like cystic fibrosis (CF). People with a genetic predisposition to CF often have recurrent bacterial infections in their lungs due to a buildup of sticky mucus, necessitating long-term antibiotic treatment. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are a major cause of CF lung illness, and P. aeruginosa airway isolates are frequently resistant to many antibiotics. Bacteriophages (also known as phages), viruses that infect bacteria, are a viable substitute for antimicrobials to treat P. aeruginosa infections in individuals with CF. Here, we reviewed the utilization of P. aeruginosa bacteriophages both in vivo and in vitro, as well as in the treatment of illnesses and diseases, and the outcomes of the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Alipour-Khezri
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51368, Iran;
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Human Microbiome Research Program, and Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gholamreza Zarrini
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51368, Iran;
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Group, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51368, Iran
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7
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Pirnay JP, Djebara S, Steurs G, Griselain J, Cochez C, De Soir S, Glonti T, Spiessens A, Vanden Berghe E, Green S, Wagemans J, Lood C, Schrevens E, Chanishvili N, Kutateladze M, de Jode M, Ceyssens PJ, Draye JP, Verbeken G, De Vos D, Rose T, Onsea J, Van Nieuwenhuyse B, Soentjens P, Lavigne R, Merabishvili M. Personalized bacteriophage therapy outcomes for 100 consecutive cases: a multicentre, multinational, retrospective observational study. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:1434-1453. [PMID: 38834776 PMCID: PMC11153159 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01705-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
In contrast to the many reports of successful real-world cases of personalized bacteriophage therapy (BT), randomized controlled trials of non-personalized bacteriophage products have not produced the expected results. Here we present the outcomes of a retrospective observational analysis of the first 100 consecutive cases of personalized BT of difficult-to-treat infections facilitated by a Belgian consortium in 35 hospitals, 29 cities and 12 countries during the period from 1 January 2008 to 30 April 2022. We assessed how often personalized BT produced a positive clinical outcome (general efficacy) and performed a regression analysis to identify functional relationships. The most common indications were lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissue, and bone infections, and involved combinations of 26 bacteriophages and 6 defined bacteriophage cocktails, individually selected and sometimes pre-adapted to target the causative bacterial pathogens. Clinical improvement and eradication of the targeted bacteria were reported for 77.2% and 61.3% of infections, respectively. In our dataset of 100 cases, eradication was 70% less probable when no concomitant antibiotics were used (odds ratio = 0.3; 95% confidence interval = 0.127-0.749). In vivo selection of bacteriophage resistance and in vitro bacteriophage-antibiotic synergy were documented in 43.8% (7/16 patients) and 90% (9/10) of evaluated patients, respectively. We observed a combination of antibiotic re-sensitization and reduced virulence in bacteriophage-resistant bacterial isolates that emerged during BT. Bacteriophage immune neutralization was observed in 38.5% (5/13) of screened patients. Fifteen adverse events were reported, including seven non-serious adverse drug reactions suspected to be linked to BT. While our analysis is limited by the uncontrolled nature of these data, it indicates that BT can be effective in combination with antibiotics and can inform the design of future controlled clinical trials. BT100 study, ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05498363 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
- European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Non-traditional Antibacterial Therapy (ESGNTA), Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Sarah Djebara
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Griet Steurs
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johann Griselain
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christel Cochez
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven De Soir
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tea Glonti
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - An Spiessens
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emily Vanden Berghe
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sabrina Green
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Wagemans
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cédric Lood
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Nina Chanishvili
- Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Mzia Kutateladze
- Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | | | - Jean-Pierre Draye
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gilbert Verbeken
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniel De Vos
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Rose
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jolien Onsea
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Brieuc Van Nieuwenhuyse
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Pediatric Department, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick Soentjens
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maya Merabishvili
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
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8
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Khosravi A, Chen Q, Echterhof A, Koff JL, Bollyky PL. Phage Therapy for Respiratory Infections: Opportunities and Challenges. Lung 2024; 202:223-232. [PMID: 38772946 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-024-00700-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
We are entering the post-antibiotic era. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical problem in chronic lung infections resulting in progressive respiratory failure and increased mortality. In the absence of emerging novel antibiotics to counter AMR infections, bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, have become a promising option for chronic respiratory infections. However, while personalized phage therapy is associated with improved outcomes in individual cases, clinical trials demonstrating treatment efficacy are lacking, limiting the therapeutic potential of this approach for respiratory infections. In this review, we address the current state of phage therapy for managing chronic respiratory diseases. We then discuss how phage therapy may address major microbiologic obstacles which hinder disease resolution of chronic lung infections with current antibiotic-based treatment practices. Finally, we highlight the challenges that must be addressed for successful phage therapy clinical trials. Through this discussion, we hope to expand on the potential of phages as an adjuvant therapy in chronic lung infections, as well as the microbiologic challenges that need to be addressed for phage therapy to expand beyond personalized salvage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya Khosravi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive, Beckman Center, Room B237, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Qingquan Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arne Echterhof
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan L Koff
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul L Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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9
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Passerini M, Petri F, Suh GA. Phage Therapy for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices and Vascular Grafts: A Targeted Literature Review. Pathogens 2024; 13:424. [PMID: 38787276 PMCID: PMC11123972 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and vascular grafts are some of the most dreaded complications of these otherwise life-saving devices. Many of these infections are not responsive to conventional treatment, such as systemic antibiotics and surgical irrigation and debridement. Therefore, innovative strategies to prevent and manage these conditions are warranted. Among these, there is an increasing interest in phages as a therapeutical option. In this review, we aim to collect the available evidence for the clinical application of phage therapy for CIED and vascular graft infections through literature research. We found 17 studies for a total of 34 patients. Most of the indications were left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (n = 20) and vascular graft infections (n = 7). The bacteria most often encountered were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 18) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 16). Clinical improvements were observed in 21/34 (61.8%) patients, with microbiological eradication in 18/21 (85.7%) of them. In eight cases, an adverse event related to phage therapy was reported. Phage therapy is a promising option for difficult-to-treat CIED and vascular graft infections by means of an individualized approach. Clinical trials and expanded access programs for compassionate use are needed to further unveil the role of phage therapy in clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Passerini
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Infectious Disease, ASST FBF Sacco Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy;
- ESGNTA–ESCMID Study Group for Non-Traditional Antibacterials, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Petri
- Department of Infectious Disease, ASST FBF Sacco Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy;
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 55905 MN, USA
| | - Gina A. Suh
- ESGNTA–ESCMID Study Group for Non-Traditional Antibacterials, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 55905 MN, USA
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10
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Naknaen A, Samernate T, Saeju P, Nonejuie P, Chaikeeratisak V. Nucleus-forming jumbophage PhiKZ therapeutically outcompetes non-nucleus-forming jumbophage Callisto. iScience 2024; 27:109790. [PMID: 38726363 PMCID: PMC11079468 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
With the recent resurgence of phage therapy in modern medicine, jumbophages are currently under the spotlight due to their numerous advantages as anti-infective agents. However, most significant discoveries to date have primarily focused on nucleus-forming jumbophages, not their non-nucleus-forming counterparts. In this study, we compare the biological characteristics exhibited by two genetically diverse jumbophages: 1) the well-studied nucleus-forming jumbophage, PhiKZ; and 2) the newly discovered non-nucleus-forming jumbophage, Callisto. Single-cell infection studies further show that Callisto possesses different replication machinery, resulting in a delay in phage maturation compared to that of PhiKZ. The therapeutic potency of both phages was examined in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that PhiKZ holds certain superior characteristics over Callisto. This research sheds light on the importance of the subcellular infection machinery and the organized progeny maturation process, which could potentially provide valuable insight in the future development of jumbophage-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ampapan Naknaen
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanadon Samernate
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Panida Saeju
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Poochit Nonejuie
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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11
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Khong E, Oh JJ, Jimenez JM, Liu R, Dunham S, Monsibais A, Rhoads A, Ghatbale P, Garcia A, Cobián Güemes AG, Blanc AN, Chiu M, Kuo P, Proost M, Kline A, Aslam S, Schooley RT, Whiteson K, Fraley SI, Pride DT. A simple solid media assay for detection of synergy between bacteriophages and antibiotics. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0322123. [PMID: 38526142 PMCID: PMC11064537 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03221-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) has necessitated the development of alternative therapies to deal with this global threat. Bacteriophages (viruses that target bacteria) that kill ARB are one such alternative. Although phages have been used clinically for decades with inconsistent results, a number of recent advances in phage selection, propagation, and purification have enabled a reevaluation of their utility in contemporary clinical medicine. In most phage therapy cases, phages are administered in combination with antibiotics to ensure that patients receive the standard-of-care treatment. Some phages may work cooperatively with antibiotics to eradicate ARB, as often determined using non-standardized broth assays. We sought to develop a solid media-based assay to assess cooperativity between antibiotics and phages to offer a standardized platform for such testing. We modeled the interactions that occur between antibiotics and phages on solid medium to measure additive, antagonistic, and synergistic interactions. We then tested the method using different bacterial isolates and identified a number of isolates where synergistic interactions were identified. These interactions were not dependent on the specific organism, phage family, or antibiotic used. A priori susceptibility to the antibiotic or the specific phage were not requirements to observe synergistic interactions. Our data also confirm the potential for the restoration of vancomycin to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) when used in combination with phages. Solid media assays for the detection of cooperative interactions between antibiotics and phages can be an accessible technique adopted by clinical laboratories to evaluate antibiotic and phage choices in phage therapy.IMPORTANCEBacteriophages have become an important alternative treatment for individuals with life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) infections. Because antibiotics represent the standard-of-care for treatment of ARB, antibiotics and phages often are delivered together without evidence that they work cooperatively. Testing for cooperativity can be difficult due to the equipment necessary and a lack of standardized means for performing the testing in liquid medium. We developed an assay using solid medium to identify interactions between antibiotics and phages for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. We modeled the interactions between antibiotics and phages on solid medium, and then tested multiple replicates of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and Stenotrophomonas in the assay. For each organism, we identified synergy between different phage and antibiotic combinations. The development of this solid media assay for assessing synergy between phages and antibiotics will better inform the use of these combinations in the treatment of ARB infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Khong
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Joseph J. Oh
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Julian M. Jimenez
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Roland Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sage Dunham
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Alisha Monsibais
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Alison Rhoads
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Pooja Ghatbale
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Andrew Garcia
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Alisha N. Blanc
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Megan Chiu
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Peiting Kuo
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Marissa Proost
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ahnika Kline
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Saima Aslam
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert T. Schooley
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Katrine Whiteson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Stephanie I. Fraley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - David T. Pride
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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12
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Dominic C, Pye HV, Mishra EK, Adriaenssens EM. Bacteriophages for bronchiectasis: treatment of the future? Curr Opin Pulm Med 2024; 30:235-242. [PMID: 38345396 DOI: 10.1097/mcp.0000000000001050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by dilated airways, persistent sputum production and recurrent infective exacerbations. The microbiology of bronchiectasis includes various potentially pathogenic microorganisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is commonly cultured from patients' sputum. P. aeruginosa is difficult to eradicate and frequently exhibits antimicrobial resistance. Bacteriophage therapy offers a novel and alternative method to treating bronchiectasis and can be used in conjunction with antibiotics to improve patient outcome. RECENT FINDINGS Thirteen case reports/series to date have successfully used phages to treat infections in bronchiectasis patients, however these studies were constrained to few patients ( n = 32) and utilized personalized phage preparations and adjunct antibiotics. In these studies, phage therapy was delivered by inhalation, intravenously or orally and was well tolerated in most patients without any unfavourable effects. Favourable clinical or microbiological outcomes were seen following phage therapy in many patients. Longitudinal patient follow-up reported regrowth of bacteria and phage neutralization in some studies. There are five randomized clinical controlled trials ongoing aiming to use phage therapy to treat P. aeruginosa associated respiratory conditions, with limited results available to date. SUMMARY More research, particularly robust clinical trials, into how phages can clear respiratory infections, interact with resident microbiota, and how bacteria might develop resistance will be important to establish to ensure the success of this promising therapeutic alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Dominic
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Hannah V Pye
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park
| | - Eleanor K Mishra
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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13
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Loganathan A, Bozdogan B, Manohar P, Nachimuthu R. Phage-antibiotic combinations in various treatment modalities to manage MRSA infections. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1356179. [PMID: 38659581 PMCID: PMC11041375 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1356179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a significant challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections, particularly in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Phage-antibiotic combination therapy is now being utilized as a preferred therapeutic option for infections that are multi-drug resistant in nature. Methods: In this study, we examined the combined impact of the staph phage vB_Sau_S90 and four antibiotics on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We conducted experiments on three different treatment sequences: a) administering phages before antibiotics, b) administering phages and antibiotics simultaneously, and c) administering antibiotics before phages. Results: When the media was supplemented with sub-inhibitory concentrations of 0.25 μg/mL and 1 μg/mL, the size of the plaque increased from 0.5 ± 0.1 mm (in the control group with only the phage) to 4 ± 0.2 mm, 1.6 ± 0.1 mm, and 1.6 ± 0.4 mm when fosfomycin, ciprofloxacin, and oxacillin were added, respectively. The checkerboard analysis revealed a synergistic effect between the phages and antibiotics investigated, as indicated by a FIC value of less than 0.5. The combination treatment of phages and antibiotics demonstrated universal efficacy across all treatments. Nevertheless, the optimal effectiveness was demonstrated when the antibiotics were delivered subsequent to the phages. Utilizing the Galleria mellonella model, in vivo experiments showed that the combination of phage-oxacillin effectively eliminated biofilm-infected larvae, resulting in a survival rate of up to 80% in the treated groups. Discussion: Our findings highlight the advantages of using a combination of phage and antibiotic over using phages alone in the treatment of MRSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Loganathan
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India
| | - Bulent Bozdogan
- Medical Microbiology Department, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Türkiye
| | - Prasanth Manohar
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India
| | - Ramesh Nachimuthu
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India
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14
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Berkson JD, Wate CE, Allen GB, Schubert AM, Dunbar KE, Coryell MP, Sava RL, Gao Y, Hastie JL, Smith EM, Kenneally CR, Zimmermann SK, Carlson PE. Phage-specific immunity impairs efficacy of bacteriophage targeting Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus in a murine model. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2993. [PMID: 38582763 PMCID: PMC10998888 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47192-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy is a promising approach to address antimicrobial infections though questions remain regarding the impact of the immune response on clinical effectiveness. Here, we develop a mouse model to assess phage treatment using a cocktail of five phages from the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae families that target Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus gut colonization. Phage treatment significantly reduces fecal bacterial loads of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus. We also characterize immune responses elicited following administration of the phage cocktail. While minimal innate responses are observed after phage administration, two rounds of treatment induces phage-specific neutralizing antibodies and accelerate phage clearance from tissues. Interestingly, the myophages in our cocktail induce a more robust neutralizing antibody response than the siphophages. This anti-phage immunity reduces the effectiveness of the phage cocktail in our murine model. Collectively, this study shows phage-specific immune responses may be an important consideration in the development of phage cocktails for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D Berkson
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Claire E Wate
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Garrison B Allen
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Alyxandria M Schubert
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Kristin E Dunbar
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Michael P Coryell
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Rosa L Sava
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Yamei Gao
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Viral Products, Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Jessica L Hastie
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Emily M Smith
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Charlotte R Kenneally
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Sally K Zimmermann
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA
| | - Paul E Carlson
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Division of Bacterial Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20832, USA.
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15
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Aslam S, Roach D, Nikolich MP, Biswas B, Schooley RT, Lilly-Bishop KA, Rice GK, Cer RZ, Hamilton T, Henry M, Luong T, Salabarria AC, Sisk-Hackworth L, Filippov AA, Lebreton F, Hall L, Nir-Paz R, Onallah H, Livni G, Shostak E, Wieder-Finesod A, Yahav D, Yerushalmy O, Alkalay-Oren S, Braunstein R, Khalifa L, Rimon A, Gelman D, Hazan R. Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventricular assist device infections: findings from ineffective phage therapies in five cases. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0172823. [PMID: 38470133 PMCID: PMC10989018 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01728-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly used for management of heart failure; infection remains a frequent complication. Phage therapy has been successful in a variety of antibiotic refractory infections and is of interest in treating LVAD infections. We performed a retrospective review of four patients that underwent five separate courses of intravenous (IV) phage therapy with concomitant antibiotic for treatment of endovascular Pseudomonas aeruginosa LVAD infection. We assessed phage susceptibility, bacterial strain sequencing, serum neutralization, biofilm activity, and shelf-life of phage preparations. Five treatments of one to four wild-type virulent phage(s) were administered for 14-51 days after informed consent and regulatory approval. There was no successful outcome. Breakthrough bacteremia occurred in four of five treatments. Two patients died from the underlying infection. We noted a variable decline in phage susceptibility following three of five treatments, four of four tested developed serum neutralization, and prophage presence was confirmed in isolates of two tested patients. Two phage preparations showed an initial titer drop. Phage biofilm activity was confirmed in two. Phage susceptibility alone was not predictive of clinical efficacy in P. aeruginosa endovascular LVAD infection. IV phage was associated with serum neutralization in most cases though lack of clinical effect may be multifactorial including presence of multiple bacterial isolates with varying phage susceptibility, presence of prophages, decline in phage titers, and possible lack of biofilm activity. Breakthrough bacteremia occurred frequently (while the organism remained susceptible to administered phage) and is an important safety consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Aslam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health and the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Dwayne Roach
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Mikeljon P. Nikolich
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Biswajit Biswas
- Naval Medical Research Command – Frederick, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert T. Schooley
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health and the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Gregory K. Rice
- Naval Medical Research Command – Frederick, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
- Leidos, Inc, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Regina Z. Cer
- Naval Medical Research Command – Frederick, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Theron Hamilton
- Naval Medical Research Command – Frederick, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew Henry
- Naval Medical Research Command – Frederick, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
- The Geneva Foundation, Tacoma, Washington, USA
| | - Tiffany Luong
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | | | - Andrey A. Filippov
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Francois Lebreton
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Lindsey Hall
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Ran Nir-Paz
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hadil Onallah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gilat Livni
- Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Eran Shostak
- Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Anat Wieder-Finesod
- The Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Dafna Yahav
- The Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ortal Yerushalmy
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sivan Alkalay-Oren
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ron Braunstein
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amit Rimon
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Daniel Gelman
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ronen Hazan
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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16
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Moghadam MT, Mojtahedi A, Salamy S, Shahbazi R, Satarzadeh N, Delavar M, Ashoobi MT. Phage therapy as a glimmer of hope in the fight against the recurrence or emergence of surgical site bacterial infections. Infection 2024; 52:385-402. [PMID: 38308075 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-024-02178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Over the last decade, surgery rates have risen alarmingly, and surgical-site infections are expanding these concerns. In spite of advances in infection control practices, surgical infections continue to be a significant cause of death, prolonged hospitalization, and morbidity. As well as the presence of bacterial infections and their antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation is one of the challenges in the treatment of surgical wounds. METHODS This review article was based on published studies on inpatients and laboratory animals receiving phage therapy for surgical wounds, phage therapy for tissue and bone infections treated with surgery to prevent recurrence, antibiotic-resistant wound infections treated with phage therapy, and biofilm-involved surgical wounds treated with phage therapy which were searched without date restrictions. RESULTS It has been shown in this review article that phage therapy can be used to treat surgical-site infections in patients and animals, eliminate biofilms at the surgical site, prevent infection recurrence in wounds that have been operated on, and eradicate antibiotic-resistant infections in surgical wounds, including multi-drug resistance (MDR), extensively drug resistance (XDR), and pan-drug resistance (PDR). A cocktail of phages and antibiotics can also reduce surgical-site infections more effectively than phages alone. CONCLUSION In light of these encouraging results, clinical trials and research with phages will continue in the near future to treat surgical-site infections, biofilm removal, and antibiotic-resistant wounds, all of which could be used to prescribe phages as an alternative to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ali Mojtahedi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shakiba Salamy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Shahbazi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Naghmeh Satarzadeh
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Majid Delavar
- Vice President of Health and Executive Vice President, Rey Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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17
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Zamora PF, Reidy TG, Armbruster CR, Sun M, Van Tyne D, Turner PE, Koff JL, Bomberger JM. Lytic bacteriophages induce the secretion of antiviral and proinflammatory cytokines from human respiratory epithelial cells. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002566. [PMID: 38652717 PMCID: PMC11037538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is a therapeutic approach to treat multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections that employs lytic bacteriophages (phages) to eliminate bacteria. Despite the abundant evidence for its success as an antimicrobial in Eastern Europe, there is scarce data regarding its effects on the human host. Here, we aimed to understand how lytic phages interact with cells of the airway epithelium, the tissue site that is colonized by bacterial biofilms in numerous chronic respiratory disorders. Using a panel of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages and human airway epithelial cells (AECs) derived from a person with cystic fibrosis (CF), we determined that interactions between phages and epithelial cells depend on specific phage properties as well as physiochemical features of the microenvironment. Although poor at internalizing phages, the airway epithelium responds to phage exposure by changing its transcriptional profile and secreting antiviral and proinflammatory cytokines that correlate with specific phage families. Overall, our findings indicate that mammalian responses to phages are heterogenous and could potentially alter the way that respiratory local defenses aid in bacterial clearance during phage therapy. Thus, besides phage receptor specificity in a particular bacterial isolate, the criteria to select lytic phages for therapy should be expanded to include mammalian cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula F. Zamora
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Thomas G. Reidy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Catherine R. Armbruster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ming Sun
- Center for Biological Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Daria Van Tyne
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Paul E. Turner
- Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Program in Microbiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jonathan L. Koff
- Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jennifer M. Bomberger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
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18
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Dicks LMT, Vermeulen W. Bacteriophage-Host Interactions and the Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophages. Viruses 2024; 16:478. [PMID: 38543843 PMCID: PMC10975011 DOI: 10.3390/v16030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to over-prescribing antibiotics. Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. Enzymes such as endolysins, exolysins, endopeptidases, endosialidases, and depolymerases produced by phages interact with bacterial surfaces, cell wall components, and exopolysaccharides, and may even destroy biofilms. Enzymatic cleavage of the host cell envelope components exposes specific receptors required for phage adhesion. Gram-positive bacteria are susceptible to phage infiltration through their peptidoglycan, cell wall teichoic acid (WTA), lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), and flagella. In Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), pili, and capsules serve as targets. Defense mechanisms used by bacteria differ and include physical barriers (e.g., capsules) or endogenous mechanisms such as clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) systems. Phage proteins stimulate immune responses against specific pathogens and improve antibiotic susceptibility. This review discusses the attachment of phages to bacterial cells, the penetration of bacterial cells, the use of phages in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the limitations of phage therapy. The therapeutic potential of phage-derived proteins and the impact that genomically engineered phages may have in the treatment of infections are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon M. T. Dicks
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa;
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19
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Young J, Lee SW, Shariyate MJ, Cronin A, Wixted JJ, Nazarian A, Rowley CF, Rodriguez EK. Bacteriophage therapy and current delivery strategies for orthopedic infections: A SCOPING review. J Infect 2024; 88:106125. [PMID: 38373574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Interest in phages as adjunctive therapy to treat difficult infections has grown in the last decade. However, phage dosing and delivery for orthopedic infections have not been systematically summarized. METHODS Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a SCOPING review through September 1st, 2023, of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Central. RESULTS In total, 77 studies were included, of which 19 (24.7%) were in vitro studies, 17 (22.1%) were animal studies, and 41 (53.2%) were studies in humans. A total of 137 contemporary patients receiving phage therapy are described. CONCLUSIONS Direct phage delivery remains the most studied form of phage therapy, notably in prosthetic joint infections, osteomyelitis, and diabetic foot ulcers. Available evidence describing phage therapy in humans suggests favorable outcomes for orthopedic infections, though this evidence is composed largely of low-level descriptive studies. Several phage delivery devices have been described, though a lack of comparative and in-human evidence limits their therapeutic application. Limitations to the use of phage therapy for orthopedic infections that need to be overcome include a lack of understanding related to optimal dosing and phage pharmacokinetics, bacterial heterogeneity in an infection episode, and phage therapy toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Young
- Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | | - Mohammad J Shariyate
- Musculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative, Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - John J Wixted
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ara Nazarian
- Musculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative, Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Christopher F Rowley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edward K Rodriguez
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Wiebe KG, Cook BWM, Lightly TJ, Court DA, Theriault SS. Investigation into scalable and efficient enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli bacteriophage production. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3618. [PMID: 38351153 PMCID: PMC10864315 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53276-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
As the demand for bacteriophage (phage) therapy increases due to antibiotic resistance in microbial pathogens, strategies and methods for increased efficiency, large-scale phage production need to be determined. To date, very little has been published on how to establish scalable production for phages, while achieving and maintaining a high titer in an economical manner. The present work outlines a phage production strategy using an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-targeting phage, 'Phage75', and accounts for the following variables: infection load, multiplicity of infection, temperature, media composition, harvest time, and host bacteria. To streamline this process, variables impacting phage propagation were screened through a high-throughput assay monitoring optical density at 600 nm (OD600) to indirectly infer phage production from host cell lysis. Following screening, propagation conditions were translated in a scalable fashion in shake flasks at 0.01 L, 0.1 L, and 1 L. A final, proof-of-concept production was then carried out in a CellMaker bioreactor to represent practical application at an industrial level. Phage titers were obtained in the range of 9.5-10.1 log10 PFU/mL with no significant difference between yields from shake flasks and CellMaker. Overall, this suggests that the methodology for scalable processing is reliable for translating into large-scale phage production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie G Wiebe
- Cytophage Technologies Inc., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | | | - Deborah A Court
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Steven S Theriault
- Cytophage Technologies Inc., Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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21
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Allemailem KS. Recent Advances in Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Multidrug Resistance and Novel Approaches of CRISPR/Cas9-Based Genome-Editing to Combat This Health Emergency. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:1125-1143. [PMID: 38344439 PMCID: PMC10859101 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s453566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The rapid spread of multidrug resistance (MDR), due to abusive use of antibiotics has led to global health emergency, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Bacteria attain MDR by different means such as antibiotic modification/degradation, target protection/modification/bypass, and enhanced efflux mechanisms. The classical approaches of counteracting MDR bacteria are expensive and time-consuming, thus, it is highly significant to understand the molecular mechanisms of this resistance to curb the problem from core level. The revolutionary approach of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated sequence 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), considered as a next-generation genome-editing tool presents an innovative opportunity to precisely target and edit bacterial genome to alter their MDR strategy. Different bacteria possessing antibiotic resistance genes such as mecA, ermB, ramR, tetA, mqrB and blaKPC that have been targeted by CRISPR/Cas9 to re-sensitize these pathogens against antibiotics, such as methicillin, erythromycin, tigecycline, colistin and carbapenem, respectively. The CRISPR/Cas9 from S. pyogenes is the most widely studied genome-editing tool, consisting of a Cas9 DNA endonuclease associated with tracrRNA and crRNA, which can be systematically coupled as sgRNA. The targeting strategies of CRISPR/Cas9 to bacterial cells is mediated through phage, plasmids, vesicles and nanoparticles. However, the targeting approaches of this genome-editing tool to specific bacteria is a challenging task and still remains at a very preliminary stage due to numerous obstacles awaiting to be solved. This review elaborates some recent updates about the molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and the innovative role of CRISPR/Cas9 system in modulating these resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, the delivery approaches of this genome-editing system in bacterial cells are discussed. In addition, some challenges and future prospects are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled S Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah51452, Saudi Arabia
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22
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Zamora PF, Reidy TG, Armbruster CR, Sun M, Van Tyne D, Turner PE, Koff JL, Bomberger JM. Lytic bacteriophages interact with respiratory epithelial cells and induce the secretion of antiviral and proinflammatory cytokines. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.06.579115. [PMID: 38370761 PMCID: PMC10871231 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.06.579115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Phage therapy is a therapeutic approach to treat multidrug resistant infections that employs lytic bacteriophages (phages) to eliminate bacteria. Despite the abundant evidence for its success as an antimicrobial in Eastern Europe, there is scarce data regarding its effects on the human host. Here, we aimed to understand how lytic phages interact with cells of the airway epithelium, the tissue site that is colonized by bacterial biofilms in numerous chronic respiratory disorders. We determined that interactions between phages and epithelial cells depend on specific phage properties as well as physiochemical features of the microenvironment. Although poor at internalizing phages, the airway epithelium responds to phage exposure by changing its transcriptional profile and secreting antiviral and proinflammatory cytokines that correlate with specific phage families. Overall, our findings indicate that mammalian responses to phages are heterogenous and could potentially alter the way that respiratory local defenses aid in bacterial clearance during phage therapy. Thus, besides phage receptor specificity in a particular bacterial isolate, the criteria to select lytic phages for therapy should be expanded to include mammalian cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula F. Zamora
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH
| | - Thomas G. Reidy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Catherine R. Armbruster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Ming Sun
- Center for Biological Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Daria Van Tyne
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Paul E. Turner
- Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Jonathan L. Koff
- Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Jennifer M. Bomberger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH
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23
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Fletcher J, Manley R, Fitch C, Bugert C, Moore K, Farbos A, Michelsen M, Alathari S, Senior N, Mills A, Whitehead N, Soothill J, Michell S, Temperton B. The Citizen Phage Library: Rapid Isolation of Phages for the Treatment of Antibiotic Resistant Infections in the UK. Microorganisms 2024; 12:253. [PMID: 38399657 PMCID: PMC10893117 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance poses one of the greatest threats to global health and there is an urgent need for new therapeutic options. Phages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria and phage therapy could provide a valuable tool for the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections. In this study, water samples collected by citizen scientists as part of the Citizen Phage Library (CPL) project, and wastewater samples from the Environment Agency yielded phages with activity against clinical strains Klebsiella pneumoniae BPRG1484 and Enterobacter cloacae BPRG1482. A total of 169 and 163 phages were found for K. pneumoniae and E. cloacae, respectively, within four days of receiving the strains. A third strain (Escherichia coli BPRG1486) demonstrated cross-reactivity with 42 E. coli phages already held in the CPL collection. Seed lots were prepared for four K. pneumoniae phages and a cocktail combining these phages was found to reduce melanisation in a Galleria mellonella infection model. The resources and protocols utilised by the Citizen Phage Library enabled the rapid isolation and characterisation of phages targeted against multiple strains. In the future, within a clearly defined regulatory framework, phage therapy could be made available on a named-patient basis within the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Fletcher
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Robyn Manley
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Christian Fitch
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Christina Bugert
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Karen Moore
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Audrey Farbos
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Michelle Michelsen
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Shayma Alathari
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Nicola Senior
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Alice Mills
- Exeter Science Centre, Kaleider Studios, 45 Preston Street, Exeter EX1 1DF, UK
| | - Natalie Whitehead
- Exeter Science Centre, Kaleider Studios, 45 Preston Street, Exeter EX1 1DF, UK
| | - James Soothill
- Microbiology, Virology and Infection Control, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Stephen Michell
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
| | - Ben Temperton
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK (B.T.)
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24
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Le HT, Lubian AF, Bowring B, van der Poorten D, Iredell J, George J, Venturini C, Ahlenstiel G, Read S. Using a human colonoid-derived monolayer to study bacteriophage translocation. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2331520. [PMID: 38517357 PMCID: PMC10962583 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2331520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are estimated to be the most abundant microorganisms on Earth. Their presence in human blood suggests that they can translocate from non-sterile sites such as the gastrointestinal tract where they are concentrated. To examine phage translocation ex vivo, we adapted a primary colonoid monolayer model possessing cell diversity and architecture, and a thick layer of mucus akin to the colonic environment in vivo. We show that the colonoid monolayer is superior to the Caco-2 cell-line model, possessing intact and organized tight junctions and generating a physiologically relevant mucus layer. We showed, using two different phages, that translocation across the colonoid monolayer was largely absent in differentiated monolayers that express mucus, unlike Caco-2 cultures that expressed little to no mucus. By stimulating mucus production or removing mucus, we further demonstrated the importance of colonic mucus in preventing phage translocation. Finally, we used etiological drivers of gut permeability (alcohol, fat, and inflammatory cytokines) to measure their effects on phage translocation, demonstrating that all three stimuli have the capacity to amplify phage translocation. These findings suggest that phage translocation does occur in vivo but may be largely dependent on colonic mucus, an important insight to consider in future phage applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huu Thanh Le
- Blacktown Clinical School, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alicia Fajardo Lubian
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (CIDM), Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bethany Bowring
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (CIDM), Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - David van der Poorten
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (CIDM), Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jacob George
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
- School of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carola Venturini
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (CIDM), Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Golo Ahlenstiel
- Blacktown Clinical School, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
- Blacktown Mt Druitt Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Scott Read
- Blacktown Clinical School, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
- Blacktown Mt Druitt Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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25
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Xu Y, Sun J, Hu J, Bao Z, Wang M. Characterization and Preliminary Application of a Novel Lytic Vibrio parahaemolyticus Bacteriophage vB_VpaP_SJSY21. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17529. [PMID: 38139356 PMCID: PMC10744069 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Litopenaeus vannamei is one of the most economically significant aquatic species globally. However, the emergence of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in recent years has resulted in substantial losses within the L. vannamei farming industry. Phage therapy holds promise as an effective strategy for preventing and controlling bacterial infections like AHPND, thereby promoting the healthy and sustainable growth of the shrimp aquaculture sector. In this study, a novel and unique Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteriophage, named vB_VpaP_SJSY21, was successfully isolated from sewage samples. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was observed that phage SJSY21 has an elongated shell. Notably, phage SJSY21 exhibited high infection efficiency, with an optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of only 0.01 and a remarkably short latent period of 10 min, resulting in a lysis quantity of 508. Furthermore, phage SJSY21 demonstrated notable heat resistance and the capacity to withstand high temperatures during preservation, thus holding potential for application in phage therapy. Whole-genome sequencing and analysis confirmed that phage SJSY21 has a genome size of 110,776 bp, classifying it as a new member of the short-tailed bacteriophage family. Additionally, cultivation experiments indicated that phage SJSY21 has the potential to enhance the survival of L. vannamei in culture systems, thereby offering innovative prospects for the application of phage therapy in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajin Xu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (Y.X.); (J.S.); (Z.B.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572040, China
| | - Jun Sun
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (Y.X.); (J.S.); (Z.B.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572040, China
| | - Jingjie Hu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (Y.X.); (J.S.); (Z.B.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572040, China
| | - Zhenmin Bao
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (Y.X.); (J.S.); (Z.B.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572040, China
| | - Mengqiang Wang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (Y.X.); (J.S.); (Z.B.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572040, China
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26
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Forti F, Bertoli C, Cafora M, Gilardi S, Pistocchi A, Briani F. Identification and impact on Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence of mutations conferring resistance to a phage cocktail for phage therapy. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0147723. [PMID: 37966242 PMCID: PMC10714927 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01477-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In this work, we identified the putative receptors of 16 Pseudomonas phages and evaluated how resistance to phages recognizing different bacterial receptors may affect the virulence. Our findings are relevant for the implementation of phage therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, which are difficult to treat with antibiotics. Overall, our results highlight the need to modify natural phages to enlarge the repertoire of receptors exploited by therapeutic phages and suggest that phages using the PAO1-type T4P as receptor may have limited value for the therapy of the cystic fibrosis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Forti
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Bertoli
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Cafora
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Gilardi
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Pistocchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Briani
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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27
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Fujiki J, Schnabl B. Phage therapy: Targeting intestinal bacterial microbiota for the treatment of liver diseases. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100909. [PMID: 37965159 PMCID: PMC10641246 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy has been overshadowed by antibiotics for decades. However, it is being revisited as a powerful approach against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. As bacterial microbiota have been mechanistically linked to gastrointestinal and liver diseases, precise editing of the gut microbiota via the selective bactericidal action of phages has prompted renewed interest in phage therapy. In this review, we summarise the basic virological properties of phages and the latest findings on the composition of the intestinal phageome and the changes associated with liver diseases. We also review preclinical and clinical studies assessing phage therapy for the treatment of gastrointestinal and liver diseases, as well as future prospects and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Fujiki
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Bernd Schnabl
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
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28
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Simpson EA, MacLeod CS, Stacey HJ, Nagy J, Jones JD. The Safety and Efficacy of Phage Therapy for Infections in Cardiac and Peripheral Vascular Surgery: A Systematic Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1684. [PMID: 38136718 PMCID: PMC10740750 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
New approaches to managing infections in cardiac and peripheral vascular surgery are required to reduce costs to patients and healthcare providers. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is a promising antimicrobial approach that has been recommended for consideration in antibiotic refractory cases. We systematically reviewed the clinical evidence for phage therapy in vascular surgery to support the unlicensed use of phage therapy and inform future research. Three electronic databases were searched for articles that reported primary data about human phage therapy for infections in cardiac or peripheral vascular surgery. Fourteen reports were eligible for inclusion, representing 40 patients, among which an estimated 70.3% of patients (n = 26/37) achieved clinical resolution. A further 10.8% (n = 4/37) of patients showed improvement and 18.9% (n = 7/37) showed no improvement. Six of the twelve reports that commented on the safety of phage therapy did not report adverse effects. No adverse effects documented in the remaining six reports were directly linked to phages but reflected the presence of manufacturing contaminants or release of bacterial debris following bacterial lysis. The reports identified by this review suggest that appropriately purified phages represent a safe and efficacious treatment option for infections in cardiac and peripheral vascular surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Simpson
- Medical Microbiology, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
| | - Caitlin S MacLeod
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
- Division of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
| | - Helen J Stacey
- Public Health, Kings Cross Hospital, Clepington Road, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD3 8EA, UK
| | - John Nagy
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
| | - Joshua D Jones
- Medical Microbiology, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
- Infection Medicine, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
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29
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Holger DJ, El Ghali A, Bhutani N, Lev KL, Stamper K, Kebriaei R, Kunz Coyne AJ, Morrisette T, Shah R, Alexander J, Lehman SM, Rojas LJ, Marshall SH, Bonomo RA, Rybak MJ. Phage-antibiotic combinations against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in in vitro static and dynamic biofilm models. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0057823. [PMID: 37855639 PMCID: PMC10648846 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00578-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections pose a severe threat to public health and are responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Phage-antibiotic combinations (PACs) are a promising strategy for combatting multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and difficult-to-treat P. aeruginosa infections. Ten MDR/XDR P. aeruginosa strains and five P. aeruginosa-specific phages were genetically characterized and evaluated based upon their antibiotic susceptibilities and phage sensitivities. Two selected strains, AR351 (XDR) and I0003-1 (MDR), were treated singly and in combination with either a broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum phage, phage EM-T3762627-2_AH (EM), or 14207, respectively, and bactericidal antibiotics of five classes in biofilm time-kill analyses. Synergy and/or bactericidal activity was demonstrated with all PACs against one or both drug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains (average reduction: -Δ3.32 log10 CFU/cm2). Slightly improved ciprofloxacin susceptibility was observed in both strains after exposure to phages (EM and 14207) in combination with ciprofloxacin and colistin. Based on phage cocktail optimization with four phages (EM, 14207, E20050-C (EC), and 109), we identified several effective phage-antibiotic cocktails for further analysis in a 4-day pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic in vitro biofilm model. Three-phage cocktail, EM + EC + 109, in combination with ciprofloxacin demonstrated the greatest biofilm reduction against AR351 (-Δ4.70 log10 CFU/cm2 from baseline). Of remarkable interest, the addition of phage 109 prevented phage resistance development to EM and EC in the biofilm model. PACs can demonstrate synergy and offer enhanced eradication of biofilm against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa while preventing the emergence of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana J. Holger
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Amer El Ghali
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Natasha Bhutani
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Katherine L. Lev
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Kyle Stamper
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Taylor Morrisette
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Rahi Shah
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jose Alexander
- Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, AdventHealth Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Susan M. Lehman
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Laura J. Rojas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Epidemiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Steven H. Marshall
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Robert A. Bonomo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Epidemiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael J. Rybak
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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El Ghali A, Stamper K, Kunz Coyne AJ, Holger D, Kebriaei R, Alexander J, Lehman SM, Rybak MJ. Ciprofloxacin in combination with bacteriophage cocktails against multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ex vivo simulated endocardial vegetation models. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0072823. [PMID: 37877697 PMCID: PMC10649104 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00728-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa-associated infective endocarditis represents difficult-to-treat, deep-seated infections. Phage-antibiotic combinations have shown to eradicate multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa, limit the development of phage resistance, and restore antibiotic sensitivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of phage-ciprofloxacin (CIP) combinations in 4-day ex vivo simulated endocardial vegetation (SEV) models against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. Two P. aeruginosa isolates, extensively drug-resistant AR351 and MDR I0003-1, were selected for their drug resistance and sensitivity to phage. Three phages [LL-5504721-AH (LL), E2005-C (EC), and 109] and CIP were evaluated alone and in combination for their activity and influence on drug and phage resistance using 24-h time-kill analysis. The three-phage cocktail (q24h) in combination with CIP (400 mg q12h) was then tested in dynamic 4-day ex vivo SEV models, with reduction of log10 CFU/mL compared using ANOVA with Bonferroni analysis. Compared to other combinations, CIP-LL-EC-109 demonstrated synergistic and bactericidal activity from starting CFU/g against AR351 and I0003-1 (-Δ5.65 and 6.60 log10 CFU/g, respectively; P < 0.001). Additionally, CIP-LL-EC-109 mitigated phage resistance, while all other therapies had a high degree of resistance to >1 phages, and all phage-containing regimens prevented CIP mean inhibitory concentration increases compared to CIP alone for both AR351 and I0003-1 at 96 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer El Ghali
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Kyle Stamper
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Dana Holger
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jose Alexander
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, AdventHealth Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Susan M. Lehman
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael J. Rybak
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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31
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Międzybrodzki R, Kasprzak H, Letkiewicz S, Rogóż P, Żaczek M, Thomas J, Górski A. Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Obstacles for Phage Therapy From the Perspective of Clinical Practice. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S395-S400. [PMID: 37932117 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages present unique features that enable targeted killing of bacteria, including strains resistant to many antibiotics. However, phage pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics constitute much more complex and challenging aspects for researchers than those attributable to antibiotics. This is because phages are not just chemical substances, but also biological nanostructures built of different proteins and genetic material that replicate within their bacterial hosts and may induce immune responses acting as simple antigens. Here, we present a few examples of how primary general assumptions on phage pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are verified by current preclinical and clinical observations, leading to conclusions that may not be obvious at first but are of significant value for the final success of phage therapy in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hubert Kasprzak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Sławomir Letkiewicz
- Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Collegium Medicum, Jan Długosz University, Częstochowa, Poland
| | - Paweł Rogóż
- Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maciej Żaczek
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jamon Thomas
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Clinic of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Infant Jesus Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
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Aslam S. Phage Therapy in Lung Transplantation: Current Status and Future Possibilities. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S416-S422. [PMID: 37932113 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with chronic lung disease and lung transplantation have high rates of colonization and infection from multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms. This article summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding phage therapy in the setting of lung transplantation. Phage therapy has been used in several lung transplant candidates and recipients on a compassionate use basis targeting mostly MDR gram-negative infections and atypical mycobacterial infections with demonstrated clinical safety. Phage biodistribution given intravenously or via nebulization has not been extensively studied, though preliminary data are presented. Phage interacts with both the innate and adaptive immune system; current literature demonstrates the development of serum neutralization in some cases of phage therapy, although the clinical impact seems variable. A summary of current clinical trials involving patients with chronic lung disease is presented, though none are specifically targeting lung transplant candidates or recipients. In addition to treatment of active infections, a variety of clinical scenarios may benefit from phage therapy, and well-designed clinical trials involving this vulnerable patient population are needed: pre- or peritransplantation use of phage in the setting of MDR organism colonization may lead to waitlisting of candidates currently declined by many centers, along with potential reduction of waitlist mortality rates and posttransplant infections; phage may be used for biofilm-related bronchial stent infections; and, finally, there is a possibility that phage use can affect allograft function and chronic rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Aslam
- Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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Pirnay JP, Verbeken G. Magistral Phage Preparations: Is This the Model for Everyone? Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S360-S369. [PMID: 37932120 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is increasingly put forward as a promising additional tool to help curb the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. However, industrially manufactured phage medicinal products are currently not available on the European Union and United States markets. In addition, it is expected that the business purpose-driven phage products that are supposed to be marketed in the future would mainly target commercially viable bacterial species and clinical indications, using fixed phage cocktails. hospitals or phage therapy centers aiming to help all patients with difficult-to-treat infections urgently need adequate phage preparations. We believe that national solutions based on the magistral preparation of personalized (preadapted) phage products by hospital and academic facilities could bring an immediate solution and could complement future industrially manufactured products. Moreover, these unlicensed phage preparations are presumed to be more efficient and to elicit less bacterial phage resistance issues than fixed phage cocktails, claims that need to be scientifically substantiated as soon as possible. Just like Belgium, other (European) countries could develop a magistral phage preparation framework that would exist next to the conventional medicinal product development and licensing pathways. However, it is important that the current producers of personalized phage products are provided with pragmatic quality and safety assurance requirements, which are preferably standardized (at least at the European level), and are tiered based on benefit-risk assessments at the individual patient level. Pro bono phage therapy providers should be supported and not stopped by the imposition of industry standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic resistance; bacterial infection; bacteriophage therapy; magistral preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
- European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Non-traditional Antibacterial Therapy (ESGNTA), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Verbeken
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
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34
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Suh GA, Ferry T, Abdel MP. Phage Therapy as a Novel Therapeutic for the Treatment of Bone and Joint Infections. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S407-S415. [PMID: 37932115 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Solutions for bone and joint infection (BJI) are needed where conventional treatments are inadequate. Bacteriophages (phages) are naturally occurring viruses that infect bacteria and have been harnessed for refractory bone and joint infections (BJI) in many case reports. Here we examine the safety and efficacy of English-language published cases of BJI since 2010 with phage therapy. From 33 reported cases of BJI treated with phage therapy, 29 (87%) achieved microbiological or clinical success, 2 (5.9%) relapsed with the same organisms, and 2 (5.9%) with a different organism. Of these 4 relapses, all but 1 had eventual clinical resolution with additional surgery or phage treatments. Eight out of 33 cases (24%) reported mild, transient adverse events with no serious events reported. Further work is needed to understand the true efficacy of phages and the role of phages in BJI. Opportunities lay ahead for thoughtfully designed clinical trials adapted to individualized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina A Suh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minnesota, USA
| | - Tristan Ferry
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hospital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Matthew P Abdel
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minnesota, USA
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35
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Fujiki J, Nakamura K, Nakamura T, Iwano H. Fitness Trade-Offs between Phage and Antibiotic Sensitivity in Phage-Resistant Variants: Molecular Action and Insights into Clinical Applications for Phage Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15628. [PMID: 37958612 PMCID: PMC10650657 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, phage therapy has been overshadowed by the widespread use of antibiotics in Western countries. However, it has been revitalized as a powerful approach due to the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Although bacterial resistance to phages has been reported in clinical cases, recent studies on the fitness trade-offs between phage and antibiotic resistance have revealed new avenues in the field of phage therapy. This strategy aims to restore the antibiotic susceptibility of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, even if phage-resistant variants develop. Here, we summarize the basic virological properties of phages and their applications within the context of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, we review the occurrence of phage resistance in clinical cases, and examine fitness trade-offs between phage and antibiotic sensitivity, exploring the potential of an evolutionary fitness cost as a countermeasure against phage resistance in therapy. Finally, we discuss future strategies and directions for phage-based therapy from the aspect of fitness trade-offs. This approach is expected to provide robust options when combined with antibiotics in this era of phage 're'-discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Fujiki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Keisuke Nakamura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nakamura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
- Phage Therapy Institute, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Iwano
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
- Phage Therapy Institute, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan
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Hetta HF, Rashed ZI, Ramadan YN, Al-Kadmy IMS, Kassem SM, Ata HS, Nageeb WM. Phage Therapy, a Salvage Treatment for Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Causing Infective Endocarditis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2860. [PMID: 37893232 PMCID: PMC10604041 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is defined as an infection of the endocardium, or inner surface of the heart, most frequently affecting the heart valves or implanted cardiac devices. Despite its rarity, it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. IE generally occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other germs from another part of the body, such as the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart. The epidemiology of IE has changed as a consequence of aging and the usage of implantable cardiac devices and heart valves. The right therapeutic routes must be assessed to lower complication and fatality rates, so this requires early clinical suspicion and a fast diagnosis. It is urgently necessary to create new and efficient medicines to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial (MDR) infections because of the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance on a worldwide scale. MDR bacteria that cause IE can be treated using phages rather than antibiotics to combat MDR bacterial strains. This review will illustrate how phage therapy began and how it is considered a powerful potential candidate for the treatment of MDR bacteria that cause IE. Furthermore, it gives a brief about all reported clinical trials that demonstrated the promising effect of phage therapy in combating resistant bacterial strains that cause IE and how it will become a hope in future medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helal F. Hetta
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt;
| | - Zainab I. Rashed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Z.I.R.); (Y.N.R.)
| | - Yasmin N. Ramadan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Z.I.R.); (Y.N.R.)
| | - Israa M. S. Al-Kadmy
- Branch of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad P.O. Box 10244, Iraq
| | - Soheir M. Kassem
- Department of Internal Medicine and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assiut 71515, Egypt;
| | - Hesham S. Ata
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Wedad M. Nageeb
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt;
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McCallin S, Drulis-Kawa Z, Ferry T, Pirnay JP, Nir-Paz R. Phages and phage-borne enzymes as new antibacterial agents. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023:S1198-743X(23)00528-1. [PMID: 37866680 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent and resistant infections caused by bacteria are increasing in numbers and pose a treatment challenge to the medical community and public health. However, solutions with new agents that will enable effective treatment are lacking or delayed by complex development and authorizations. Bacteriophages are known as a possible solution for invasive infections for decades but were seldom used in the Western world. OBJECTIVES To provide an overview of the current status and emerging use of bacteriophage therapy and phage-based products, as well as touch on the socioeconomic and regulatory issues surrounding their development. SOURCES Peer-reviewed articles and authors' first-hand experience. CONTENT Although phage therapy is making a comeback since its early discovery, there are many hurdles to its current use. The lack of appropriate standardized bacterial susceptibility testing; lack of a simple business model and authorization for the need of many phages to treat a single species infection; and the lack of knowledge on predictable outcome measures are just a few examples. In this review, we explore the possible routes for phage use, either based on local specialty centres or by industry; the current status of phage therapy, which is mainly based on single-centre or single-bacterial cohorts, and emerging clinical trials; local country-level frameworks for phage utilization even without full authorization; and the use of phage-derived products as alternatives to antibiotics. We also explore what may be the current indications based on the possible availability of phages. IMPLICATIONS Although phages are emerging as a potential treatment for non-resolving and life-threatening infections, the models for their use and production still need to be defined by the medical community, regulatory bodies, and industry. Bacteriophages may have a great potential for infection treatment but many aspects still need to be defined before their routine use in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawna McCallin
- Department of Neuro-Urology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tristan Ferry
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Centre interrégional de référence pour la prise en charge des infections ostéoarticulaires complexes, CRIOAc Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Infectious Diseases, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; CIRI-Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ran Nir-Paz
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Israeli Phage Therapy Center of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
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38
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Green SI, Clark JR, Santos HH, Weesner KE, Salazar KC, Aslam S, Campbell JW, Doernberg SB, Blodget E, Morris MI, Suh GA, Obeid K, Silveira FP, Filippov AA, Whiteson KL, Trautner BW, Terwilliger AL, Maresso A. A Retrospective, Observational Study of 12 Cases of Expanded-Access Customized Phage Therapy: Production, Characteristics, and Clinical Outcomes. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:1079-1091. [PMID: 37279523 PMCID: PMC10573729 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is undermining modern medicine, a problem compounded by bacterial adaptation to antibiotic pressures. Phages are viruses that infect bacteria. Their diversity and evolvability offer the prospect of their use as a therapeutic solution. Reported are outcomes of customized phage therapy for patients with difficult-to-treat antimicrobial resistant infections. METHODS We retrospectively assessed 12 cases of customized phage therapy from a phage production center. Phages were screened, purified, sequenced, characterized, and Food and Drug Administration-approved via the IND (investigational new drug) compassionate-care route. Outcomes were assessed as favorable or unfavorable by microbiologic and clinical standards. Infections were device-related or systemic. Other experiences such as time to treatment, antibiotic synergy, and immune responses were recorded. RESULTS Fifty requests for phage therapy were received. Customized phages were generated for 12 patients. After treatment, 42% (5/12) of cases showed bacterial eradication and 58% (7/12) showed clinical improvement, with two-thirds of all cases (66%) showing favorable responses. No major adverse reactions were observed. Antibiotic-phage synergy in vitro was observed in most cases. Immunological neutralization of phages was reported in 5 cases. Several cases were complicated by secondary infections. Complete characterization of the phages (morphology, genomics, and activity) and their production (methods, sterility, and endotoxin tests) are reported. CONCLUSIONS Customized phage production and therapy was safe and yielded favorable clinical or microbiological outcomes in two-thirds of cases. A center or pipeline dedicated to tailoring the phages against a patient's specific AMR bacterial infection may be a viable option where standard treatment has failed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina I Green
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Justin R Clark
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Haroldo H Santos
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kyle E Weesner
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Keiko C Salazar
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Saima Aslam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - J William Campbell
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention, St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
| | - Sarah B Doernberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Emily Blodget
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Michele I Morris
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Gina A Suh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Karam Obeid
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Fernanda P Silveira
- Division of Infection Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrey A Filippov
- Wound Infections Department, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Katrine L Whiteson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Barbara W Trautner
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Austen L Terwilliger
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony Maresso
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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McCallin S, Kessler TM, Leitner L. Management of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in the post-antibiotic era: select non-antibiotic approaches. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023; 29:1267-1271. [PMID: 37301438 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the high frequency of patients presenting with urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the ensuing high degree of antibiotic prescription, UTI is a critical point of intervention for non-antibiotic treatments to curb the further development of antimicrobial resistance and provide risk-appropriate care for patients. OBJECTIVES To highlight several select non-antibiotic therapies for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI and relevant indications (prevention and complicated UTI) from recent literature. SOURCES PubMed, Google Scholar, and clinicaltrials.gov were searched for clinical trials published in the English language corresponding to non-antibiotic treatments for UTI. CONTENT The focus of this narrative review centres on a limited number of non-antibiotic therapies for the treatment of UTI based on (a) herbal extracts or (b) antibacterial strategies (e.g. bacteriophage therapy and D-mannose). The experience of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is also used to fuel discussion on the risk of developing pyelonephritis without antibiotics-compared with the projected harms of continuing their widespread use. IMPLICATIONS Non-antibiotic treatment strategies for UTI have shown varying results in clinical trials, and the current evidence does not yet indicate a clear, better alternative to antibiotics. However, the collective experience with non-antibiotic treatments suggests that there is a need to weigh the actual benefits/risks of unfettered, non-culture-confirmed antibiotic use in uncomplicated UTI. Given the different mechanisms of action of proposed alternatives, more in-depth knowledge on microbiological and pathophysiological factors influencing UTI susceptibility and prognostic indicators are highly needed to stratify patients most likely to benefit. The feasibility of alternatives in clinical practice should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawna McCallin
- Department of Neuro-Urology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Thomas M Kessler
- Department of Neuro-Urology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Leitner
- Department of Neuro-Urology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Chung KM, Nang SC, Tang SS. The Safety of Bacteriophages in Treatment of Diseases Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1347. [PMID: 37895818 PMCID: PMC10610463 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the urgency due to the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, bacteriophages (phages), which are viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria, are rising as a potential alternative to antibiotics. In recent years, researchers have begun to elucidate the safety aspects of phage therapy with the aim of ensuring safe and effective clinical applications. While phage therapy has generally been demonstrated to be safe and tolerable among animals and humans, the current research on phage safety monitoring lacks sufficient and consistent data. This emphasizes the critical need for a standardized phage safety assessment to ensure a more reliable evaluation of its safety profile. Therefore, this review aims to bridge the knowledge gap concerning phage safety for treating MDR bacterial infections by covering various aspects involving phage applications, including phage preparation, administration, and the implications for human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Mun Chung
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Sue C Nang
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Swee Seong Tang
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
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41
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Onallah H, Hazan R, Nir-Paz R, Brownstein MJ, Fackler JR, Horne B, Hopkins R, Basu S, Yerushalmy O, Alkalay-Oren S, Braunstein R, Rimon A, Gelman D, Khalifa L, Adler K, Abdalrhman M, Gelman S, Katvan E, Coppenhagen-Glazer S, Moses A, Oster Y, Dekel M, Ben-Ami R, Khoury A, Kedar DJ, Meijer SE, Ashkenazi I, Bishouty N, Yahav D, Shostak E, Livni G, Paul M, Gross M, Ormianer M, Aslam S, Ritter M, Urish KL, La Hoz RM, Khatami A, Britton PN, Lin RCY, Iredell JR, Petrovic-Fabijan A, Lynch S, Tamma PD, Yamshchikov A, Lesho E, Morales M, Werzen A, Saharia K. Refractory Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections treated with phage PASA16: A compassionate use case series. MED 2023; 4:600-611.e4. [PMID: 37562400 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing number of compassionate phage therapy cases were reported in the last decade, with a limited number of clinical trials conducted and few unsuccessful clinical trials reported. There is only a little evidence on the role of phages in refractory infections. Our objective here was to present the largest compassionate-use single-organism/phage case series in 16 patients with non-resolving Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. METHODS We summarized clinical phage microbiology susceptibility data, administration protocol, clinical data, and outcomes of all cases treated with PASA16 phage. In all intravenous phage administrations, PASA16 phage was manufactured and provided pro bono by Adaptive Phage Therapeutics. PASA16 was administered intravenously, locally to infection site, or by topical use to 16 patients, with data available for 15 patients, mainly with osteoarticular and foreign-device-associated infections. FINDINGS A few minor side effects were noted, including elevated liver function enzymes and a transient reduction in white blood cell count. Good clinical outcome was documented in 13 out of 15 patients (86.6%). Two clinical failures were reported. The minimum therapy duration was 8 days with a once- to twice-daily regimen. CONCLUSIONS PASA16 with antibiotics was found to be relatively successful in patients for whom traditional treatment approaches have failed previously. Such pre-phase-1 cohorts can outline potential clinical protocols and facilitate the design of future trials. FUNDING The study was funded in part by The Israeli Science Foundation IPMP (ISF_1349/20), Rosetrees Trust (A2232), United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (2017123), and the Milgrom Family Support Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadil Onallah
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Ronen Hazan
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Ran Nir-Paz
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel.
| | | | | | - Bri'Anna Horne
- Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Robert Hopkins
- Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Subhendu Basu
- Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Ortal Yerushalmy
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Sivan Alkalay-Oren
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Ron Braunstein
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Amit Rimon
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Daniel Gelman
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Leron Khalifa
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Karen Adler
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Mohanad Abdalrhman
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Shira Gelman
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Eyal Katvan
- The Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; Peres Academic Center, Rehovot 7610202, Israel
| | - Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
- The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Allon Moses
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Yonatan Oster
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center (HHUMC), Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Michal Dekel
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Ronen Ben-Ami
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Amal Khoury
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Daniel J Kedar
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Suzy E Meijer
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Itay Ashkenazi
- Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Nancy Bishouty
- Pharmacy Department, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel
| | - Dafna Yahav
- Infectious Disease Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel
| | - Eran Shostak
- Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Gilat Livni
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Mical Paul
- Rambam Health Care Campus and Faculty of Medicine, The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3109601, Israel
| | - Menachem Gross
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Matityahou Ormianer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112000, Israel
| | - Saima Aslam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michele Ritter
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kenneth L Urish
- Bone and Joint Center, Magee Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Ricardo M La Hoz
- Division of Infectious Disease and Geographic Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ameneh Khatami
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Philip N Britton
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ruby C Y Lin
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Jonathan R Iredell
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Petrovic-Fabijan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Stephanie Lynch
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Pranita D Tamma
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alexandra Yamshchikov
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY 14617, USA; Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14617, USA
| | - Emil Lesho
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY 14617, USA
| | - Megan Morales
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Alissa Werzen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Jefferson Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kapil Saharia
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Bradley JS, Hajama H, Akong K, Jordan M, Stout D, Rowe RS, Conrad DJ, Hingtgen S, Segall AM. Bacteriophage Therapy of Multidrug-resistant Achromobacter in an 11-Year-old Boy With Cystic Fibrosis Assessed by Metagenome Analysis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:754-759. [PMID: 37343220 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease associated with lung disease characterized by chronic pulmonary infection, increasingly caused by multiple drug-resistant pathogens after repeated antibiotic exposure, limiting antibiotic treatment options. Bacteriophages can provide a pathogen-specific bactericidal treatment used with antibiotics to improve microbiologic and clinical outcomes in CF. METHODS Achromobacter species isolates from sputum of a chronically infected person with CF, were assessed for susceptibility to bacteriophages: 2 highly active, purified bacteriophages were administered intravenously every 8 hours, in conjunction with a 14-day piperacillin/tazobactam course for CF exacerbation. Sputum and blood were collected for metagenome analysis during treatment, with sputum analysis at 1-month follow-up. Assessments of clinical status, pulmonary status and laboratory evaluation for safety were conducted. RESULTS Bacteriophage administration was well-tolerated, with no associated clinical or laboratory adverse events. Metagenome analysis documented an 86% decrease in the relative proportion of Achromobacter DNA sequence reads in sputum and a 92% decrease in blood, compared with other bacterial DNA reads, comparing pretreatment and posttreatment samples. Bacteriophage DNA reads were detected in sputum after intravenous administration during treatment, and at 1-month follow-up. Reversal of antibiotic resistance to multiple antibiotics occurred in some isolates during treatment. Stabilization of lung function was documented at 1-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Bacteriophage/antibiotic treatment decreased the host pulmonary bacterial burden for Achromobacter assessed by metagenome analysis of sputum and blood, with ongoing bacteriophage replication documented in sputum at 1-month follow-up. Prospective controlled studies are needed to define the dose, route of administration and duration of bacteriophage therapy for both acute and chronic infection in CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- John S Bradley
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego, and Rady Children's Hospital
| | - Hamza Hajama
- Department of Biology and Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University
| | - Kathryn Akong
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of California San Diego, and Rady Children's Hospital
| | - Mary Jordan
- Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Clinical Research
| | - Dayna Stout
- Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Clinical Research
| | - Ryan S Rowe
- Department of Biology and Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University
| | - Douglas J Conrad
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Sara Hingtgen
- Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Clinical Research
| | - Anca M Segall
- Department of Biology and Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University
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43
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Khong E, Oh J, Jimenez JM, Liu R, Dunham S, Monsibais A, Rhoads A, Ghatbale P, Garcia A, Cobián Güemes AG, Blanc AN, Chiu M, Kuo P, Proost M, Kline A, Aslam S, Schooley RT, Whiteson K, Fraley SI, Pride DT. A simple solid media assay for detection of synergy between bacteriophages and antibiotics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.23.554535. [PMID: 37662290 PMCID: PMC10473724 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.23.554535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) has necessitated the development of alternative therapies to deal with this global threat. Bacteriophages (viruses that target bacteria) that kill ARB are one such alternative. While phages have been used clinically for decades with inconsistent results, a number of recent advances in phage selection, propagation and purification have enabled a reevaluation of their utility in contemporary clinical medicine. In most phage therapy cases, phages are administered in combination with antibiotics to ensure that patients receive the standard-of-care treatment. Some phages may work cooperatively with antibiotics to eradicate ARB, as often determined using non-standardized broth assays. We sought to develop a solid media-based assay to assess cooperativity between antibiotics and phages to offer a standardized platform for such testing. We modeled the interactions that occur between antibiotics and phages on solid medium to measure additive, antagonistic, and synergistic interactions. We then tested the method using different bacterial isolates, and identified a number of isolates where synergistic interactions were identified. These interactions were not dependent on the specific organism, phage family, or antibiotic used. A priori susceptibility to the antibiotic or the specific phage were not requirements to observe synergistic interactions. Our data also confirm the potential for the restoration of vancomycin to treat Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) when used in combination with phages. Solid media assays for the detection of cooperative interactions between antibiotics and phages can be an accessible technique adopted by clinical laboratories to evaluate antibiotic and phage choices in phage therapy.
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Nicholls P, Clark JR, Gu Liu C, Terwilliger A, Maresso AW. Class-Driven Synergy and Antagonism between a Pseudomonas Phage and Antibiotics. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0006523. [PMID: 37404162 PMCID: PMC10429645 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00065-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for severe infections in patients with burns, cystic fibrosis, and neutropenia. Biofilm formation gives physical refuge and a protected microenvironment for sessile cells, rendering cure by antibiotics a challenge. Bacteriophages have evolved to prey on these biofilms over millions of years, using hydrolases and depolymerases to penetrate biofilms and reach cellular targets. Here, we assessed how a newly discovered KMV-like phage (ΦJB10) interacts with antibiotics to treat P. aeruginosa more effectively in both planktonic and biofilm forms. By testing representatives of four classes of antibiotics (cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems), we demonstrated class-dependent interactions between ΦJB10 and antibiotics in both biofilm clearance and P. aeruginosa killing. Despite identifying antagonism between some antibiotic classes and ΦJB10 at early time points, all classes showed neutral to favorable interactions with the phage at later time points. In one notable example where the antibiotic alone had poor activity against both biofilm and high-density planktonic cells, we found that addition of ΦJB10 demonstrated synergy and resulted in effective treatment of both. Further, ΦJB10 seemed to act as an adjuvant to several antibiotics, reducing the concentration of antibiotics required to ablate the biofilm. This report shows that phages such as ΦJB10 may be valuable additions to the armamentarium against difficult-to-treat biofilm-based infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Nicholls
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Justin R. Clark
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carmen Gu Liu
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Austen Terwilliger
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony W. Maresso
- TAILΦR LABS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Lv S, Wang Y, Jiang K, Guo X, Zhang J, Zhou F, Li Q, Jiang Y, Yang C, Teng T. Genetic Engineering and Biosynthesis Technology: Keys to Unlocking the Chains of Phage Therapy. Viruses 2023; 15:1736. [PMID: 37632078 PMCID: PMC10457950 DOI: 10.3390/v15081736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Phages possess the ability to selectively eliminate pathogenic bacteria by recognizing bacterial surface receptors. Since their discovery, phages have been recognized for their potent bactericidal properties, making them a promising alternative to antibiotics in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. However, the rapid emergence of phage-resistant strains (generally involving temperature phage) and the limited host range of most phage strains have hindered their antibacterial efficacy, impeding their full potential. In recent years, advancements in genetic engineering and biosynthesis technology have facilitated the precise engineering of phages, thereby unleashing their potential as a novel source of antibacterial agents. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the diverse strategies employed for phage genetic engineering, as well as discuss their benefits and drawbacks in terms of bactericidal effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixuan Lv
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yuhan Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Kaixin Jiang
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Xinge Guo
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Fang Zhou
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Qiming Li
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Changyong Yang
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Tieshan Teng
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
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Kunz Coyne AJ, Herbin S, Caniff K, Rybak MJ. Steno-sphere: Navigating the enigmatic world of emerging multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Pharmacotherapy 2023; 43:833-846. [PMID: 37199104 DOI: 10.1002/phar.2828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen and frequent cause of serious nosocomial infections. Patient populations at greatest risk for these infections include the immunocompromised and those with chronic respiratory illnesses and prior antibiotic exposure, notably to carbapenems. Its complex virulence and resistance profile drastically limit available antibiotics, and incomplete breakpoint and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data to inform dose optimization further complicates therapeutic approaches. Clinical comparison data of first-line agents, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), quinolones, and minocycline, are limited to conflicting observational data with no clear benefit of a single agent or combination therapy. Newer antibiotic approaches, including cefiderocol and aztreonam- avibactam, are promising alternatives for extensively drug-resistant isolates; however, clinical outcomes data are needed. The potential clinical utility of bacteriophage for compassionate use in treating S. maltophilia infections remains to be determined since data is limited to in-vitro and sparse in-vivo work. This article provides a review of available literature for S. maltophilia infection management focused on related epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, identification, susceptibility testing, antimicrobial PK/PD, and emerging therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlan J Kunz Coyne
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Kaylee Caniff
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael J Rybak
- Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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47
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Tran NN, Morrisette T, Jorgensen SCJ, Orench-Benvenutti JM, Kebriaei R. Current therapies and challenges for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-related infections. Pharmacotherapy 2023; 43:816-832. [PMID: 37133439 DOI: 10.1002/phar.2806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections and contributes to significant increase in morbidity and mortality especially when associated with medical devices and in biofilm form. Biofilm structure provides a pathway for the enrichment of resistant and persistent phenotypes of S. aureus leading to relapse and recurrence of infection. Minimal diffusion of antibiotics inside biofilm structure leads to heterogeneity and distinct physiological activity. Additionally, horizontal gene transfer between cells in proximity adds to the challenges associated with eradication of biofilms. This narrative review focuses on biofilm-associated infections caused by S. aureus, the impact of environmental conditions on biofilm formation, interactions inside biofilm communities, and the clinical challenges that they present. Conclusively, potential solutions, novel treatment strategies, combination therapies, and reported alternatives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki N Tran
- Department of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center - The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Taylor Morrisette
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Medical University of South Carolina Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah C J Jorgensen
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - José M Orench-Benvenutti
- P3 Research Laboratory, Division of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Razieh Kebriaei
- P3 Research Laboratory, Division of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Inglis SS, Suh GA, Razonable RR, Schettle SD, Spencer PJ, Villavicencio MA, Rosenbaum AN. Infections in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Current State and Future Perspectives. ASAIO J 2023; 69:633-641. [PMID: 37145863 DOI: 10.1097/mat.0000000000001956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical circulatory support is increasingly being used as bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy in patients with advanced heart failure. Technologic improvements have led to increased patient survival and quality of life, but infection remains one of the leading adverse events following ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. Infections can be classified as VAD-specific, VAD-related, and non-VAD infections. Risk of VAD-specific infections, such as driveline, pump pocket, and pump infections, remains for the duration of implantation. While adverse events are typically most common early (within 90 days of implantation), device-specific infection (primarily driveline) is a notable exception. No diminishment over time is seen, with event rates of 0.16 events per patient-year in both the early and late periods postimplantation. Management of VAD-specific infections requires aggressive treatment and chronic suppressive antimicrobial therapy is indicated when there is concern for seeding of the device. While surgical intervention/hardware removal is often necessary in prosthesis-related infections, this is not so easily accomplished with VADs. This review outlines the current state of infections in patients supported with VAD therapy and discusses future directions, including possibilities with fully implantable devices and novel approaches to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara S Inglis
- From the Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Gina A Suh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Sarah D Schettle
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Philip J Spencer
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Andrew N Rosenbaum
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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49
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Opperman CJ, Wojno J, Goosen W, Warren R. Phages for the treatment of Mycobacterium species. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 201:41-92. [PMID: 37770176 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Highly drug-resistant strains are not uncommon among the Mycobacterium genus, with patients requiring lengthy antibiotic treatment regimens with multiple drugs and harmful side effects. This alarming increase in antibiotic resistance globally has renewed the interest in mycobacteriophage therapy for both Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. With the increasing number of genetically well-characterized mycobacteriophages and robust engineering tools to convert temperate phages to obligate lytic phages, the phage cache against extensive drug-resistant mycobacteria is constantly expanding. Synergistic effects between phages and TB drugs are also a promising avenue to research, with mycobacteriophages having several additional advantages compared to traditional antibiotics due to their different modes of action. These advantages include less side effects, a narrow host spectrum, biofilm penetration, self-replication at the site of infection and the potential to be manufactured on a large scale. In addition, mycobacteriophage enzymes, not yet in clinical use, warrant further studies with their additional benefits for rupturing host bacteria thereby limiting resistance development as well as showing promise in vitro to act synergistically with TB drugs. Before mycobacteriophage therapy can be envisioned as part of routine care, several obstacles must be overcome to translate in vitro work into clinical practice. Strategies to target intracellular bacteria and selecting phage cocktails to limit cross-resistance remain important avenues to explore. However, insight into pathophysiological host-phage interactions on a molecular level and innovative solutions to transcend mycobacteriophage therapy impediments, offer sufficient encouragement to explore phage therapy. Recently, the first successful clinical studies were performed using a mycobacteriophage-constructed cocktail to treat non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, providing substantial insight into lessons learned and potential pitfalls to avoid in order to ensure favorable outcomes. However, due to mycobacterium strain variation, mycobacteriophage therapy remains personalized, only being utilized in compassionate care cases until there is further regulatory approval. Therefore, identifying the determinants that influence clinical outcomes that can expand the repertoire of mycobacteriophages for therapeutic benefit, remains key for their future application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffel Johannes Opperman
- National Health Laboratory Service, Green Point TB-Laboratory, Cape Town, South Africa; DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Justyna Wojno
- Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Lancet Laboratories, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wynand Goosen
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rob Warren
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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50
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Naknaen A, Samernate T, Wannasrichan W, Surachat K, Nonejuie P, Chaikeeratisak V. Combination of genetically diverse Pseudomonas phages enhances the cocktail efficiency against bacteria. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8921. [PMID: 37264114 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36034-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage treatment has been used as an alternative to antibiotics since the early 1900s. However, bacteria may acquire phage resistance quickly, limiting the use of phage treatment. The combination of genetically diverse phages displaying distinct replication machinery in phage cocktails has therefore become a novel strategy to improve therapeutic outcomes. Here, we isolated and studied lytic phages (SPA01 and SPA05) that infect a wide range of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. These relatively small myophages have around 93 kbp genomes with no undesirable genes, have a 30-min latent period, and reproduce a relatively high number of progenies, ranging from 218 to 240 PFU per infected cell. Even though both phages lyse their hosts within 4 h, phage-resistant bacteria emerge during the treatment. Considering SPA01-resistant bacteria cross-resist phage SPA05 and vice versa, combining SPA01 and SPA05 for a cocktail would be ineffective. According to the decreased adsorption rate of the phages in the resistant isolates, one of the anti-phage mechanisms may occur through modification of phage receptors on the target cells. All resistant isolates, however, are susceptible to nucleus-forming jumbophages (PhiKZ and PhiPA3), which are genetically distinct from phages SPA01 and SPA05, suggesting that the jumbophages recognize a different receptor during phage entry. The combination of these phages with the jumbophage PhiKZ outperforms other tested combinations in terms of bactericidal activity and effectively suppresses the emergence of phage resistance. This finding reveals the effectiveness of the diverse phage-composed cocktail for reducing bacterial growth and prolonging the evolution of phage resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ampapan Naknaen
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanadon Samernate
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Wichanan Wannasrichan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Komwit Surachat
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Poochit Nonejuie
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Vorrapon Chaikeeratisak
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Cell and Biomolecular Imaging Research Unit (CBIRU), Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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