𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆
The implementation of phage therapy faces significant challenges despite the promising potential to overcome antibiotic resistance. These challenges include:
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹
• Phages require individualized approval for each bacterial strain.
• Regulatory frameworks are also not yet standardized for phage therapy globally.
• Regulatory bodies can develop flexible, adaptive regulatory frameworks and create guidelines specific to phage therapy.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹
• The large-scale production of phages and the process of ensuring purity, stability, and consistency is complex and costly.
• One solution is investing in advanced bio manufacturing technologies and establishing standardized production protocols.
𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
• Bacteria develop resistance to phages via receptor mutations or defense mechanisms
• One can use phage cocktails.
• Alternatively, one can engineer phages to target multiple bacterial receptors
𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
• Phage therapy treatment is complicated due to the need for precise matching of phages to bacterial strains
• Therapists can expand phage libraries and improve diagnostic tools for rapid bacterial identification
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
• Globally, there is limited awareness among clinicians and patients about phage therapy and its benefits.
• Research scientists and phage advocates can conduct educational campaigns and publish successful case studies and clinical trial outcomes to improve public and clinical awareness.
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
• There is lack of standardized protocols for phage therapy use in clinical settings due to clinical guidelines.
• Researchers can develop and disseminate clinical guidelines based on emerging research and trial data.
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
• Phage therapy has high costs associated with personalized phage therapy
• Researchers can research cost-effective phage manufacturing processes and establish funding mechanisms.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
Despite these hurdles, phage therapy offers a promising solution to antibiotic-resistant infections, with the advantage of self-amplifying at infection sites, potentially reducing treatment costs by eliminating the need for repeated doses. To fully realize its potential, further research and standardized regulatory frameworks are essential for scaling its use.
Summarized by LINET LUSIMBA.
Photo: Olawade et al., 2024.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Olawade, D. B., Fapohunda, O., Egbon, E., Ebiesuwa, O. A., Usman, S. O., Faronbi, A. O., & Fidelis, S. C. (2024). Phage therapy: A targeted approach to overcoming antibiotic resistance. Microbial Pathogenesis, 107088. https://lnkd.in/dEZ5zkCt
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