Article
Virology
Hyun Keun Oh, Yoon Jung Hwang, Hye Won Hong, Heejoon Myung
Summary: A bacteriophage, PBEF129, was isolated and characterized in this study, infecting a variety of E. faecalis strains, including those with antibiotic resistance. Its genome is 144,230 base pairs in length, with a GC content of 35.9%. The phage has a wider host range and demonstrated efficacy in removing bacterial biofilms on the surface of in vitro cultured human intestinal cells comparable to cefotaxime, but lower than its parent phage.
Article
Microbiology
Jiazhen Liu, Yanpeng Zhu, Yang Li, Yuwen Lu, Kun Xiong, Qiu Zhong, Jing Wang
Summary: In this study, a bacteriophage EFap02 with the potential for treating drug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis infection was isolated. The phage proved to be tolerant to harsh environments and high temperature. However, phage-resistant mutants were found to have impaired biofilm formation.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Hadar Ben-Zaken, Reut Kraitman, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Leron Khalifa, Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Daniel Gelman, Gilad Ben-Gal, Nurit Beyth, Ronen Hazan
Summary: Conventional treatments fail to specifically target pathogenic bacteria and may eradicate beneficial bacteria, making dental caries one of the most common and challenging diseases. This study isolated and characterized a new Streptococcus mutans phage from human saliva samples, potentially paving the way for phage therapy development for dental caries.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Siyu Liu, Hongyun Lu, Shengliang Zhang, Ying Shi, Qihe Chen
Summary: Bacterial biofilms have high resistance to antimicrobial agents, posing a challenge in treating biofilm-based infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. Bacteriophages, as natural enemies of bacteria, offer potential alternatives due to their specificity, safety, and non-toxicity.
Article
Immunology
Min Song, Dongmei Wu, Yang Hu, Haiyan Luo, Gongbo Li
Summary: Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen that poses a threat to stroke patients by causing pneumonia and bacteremia. The development of antibiotic resistance in hospital-associated E. faecalis is a significant public health concern, but the combination of bacteriophages and antibiotics shows promising results in combating E. faecalis, preventing the development of resistance.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Samah Eid, Hala M. N. Tolba, Rehab Hamed, Nayera M. Al-Atfeehy
Summary: Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a severe issue to both poultry business and public health. This study focused on the isolation of E. coli from diseased broiler chickens and investigated their antimicrobial resistance and biofilm forming capacity. Phages were also studied to determine their presence in E. coli isolates and their ability to inhibit and dissolve biofilms. The results showed that phage therapy could be an attractive option for preventing and controlling multidrug resistant colibacillosis in broilers.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elyse Stachler, Anina Kull, Timothy R. Julian
Summary: Combining phages with chemical disinfectants can effectively remove bacteria in wet biofilms and on surfaces, prevent regrowth in dry biofilms, and potentially improve pathogen containment in healthcare and built environments.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Katarzyna Kosznik-Kwasnicka, Malgorzata Stasilojc, Lukasz Grabowski, Karolina Zdrojewska, Grzegorz Wegrzyn, Alicja Wegrzyn
Summary: In this study, we demonstrated the high efficacy and acceptable safety profiles of phage therapy against Salmonella enterica strains using vB_SenM-2 and vB_Sen-TO17 phages (both alone and in a cocktail). The phages effectively reduced bacterial cell number, bacterial biofilm, and showed better efficacy compared to known antibiotics. The safety of phage therapy was also confirmed using chromogenic tests and viability assays. The in vivo model showed a significant improvement in animal survival. These findings suggest the potential practical use of phage therapy in poultry farming.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xianghui Li, Yuhua He, Zhili Wang, Jiacun Wei, Tongxin Hu, Jiangzhe Si, Guangzhao Tao, Lei Zhang, Longxiang Xie, Abualgasim Elgaili Abdalla, Guoying Wang, Yanzhang Li, Tieshan Teng
Summary: The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a major challenge for global health, leading to an urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies due to a shortage of antibiotic pipelines. Phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS) has emerged as a promising approach to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens, by enhancing bacterial killing and reducing the development of antibiotic resistance through a combination of phages and antibiotics. Additionally, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of phage antibiotic synergy, as well as the potential of engineered phages in reducing bacterial pathogenicity, are addressed in this review.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Karen Hon, Sha Liu, Sophie Camens, George Spyro Bouras, Alkis James Psaltis, Peter-John Wormald, Sarah Vreugde
Summary: This study aimed to isolate and characterize phage as an alternative treatment option for multi-drug resistant E. coli infections. The newly isolated APTC-EC-2A phage showed promising properties, including stability at a broad pH range, ability to kill E. coli at different temperatures, and effectiveness against both planktonic and biofilm forms of the bacteria. Electron microscopy and genomic sequencing revealed that the phage belongs to the Myoviridae family and has lytic nature.
Article
Virology
Abbas Soleimani-Delfan, Majid Bouzari, Ran Wang
Summary: The newly discovered E. faecalis bacteriophage vB_EfaS-DELF1 is specific, effective against vancomycin-resistant strains, lacks undesirable genes in its genome, and remains stable under various environmental conditions.
Review
Microbiology
Zhen Chen, Zhimin Guo, Hongbing Lin, Yue Tian, Peipei Zhang, Huishan Chen, Yawei Wang, Yuqin Shen
Summary: Periodontitis, a chronic progressive inflammation caused by plaque biofilm, is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. Phages in periodontal disease have received increasing attention, with studies reporting successful periodontitis treatment using phage therapy due to its specificity, rapid propagation, and effectiveness on bacteriophage biofilms. This research aims to lay the groundwork for improved periodontal treatment approaches.
FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rania Nassar, Mohannad Nassar, Morgana E. Vianna, Nerissa Naidoo, Fatma Alqutami, Eleftherios G. Kaklamanos, Abiola Senok, David Williams
Summary: IP6 demonstrated notable antimicrobial effects on various microorganisms, with faster bactericidal effects on Enterococcus faecalis at higher concentrations, and effective eradication of microbial biofilms.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Edison J. Cano, Katherine M. Caflisch, Paul L. Bollyky, Jonas D. Van Belleghem, Robin Patel, Joseph Fackler, Michael J. Brownstein, Bri'Anna Horne, Biswajit Biswas, Matthew Henry, Francisco Malagon, David G. Lewallen, Gina A. Suh
Summary: Phage therapy showed promising results in treating intractable biofilm-associated prosthetic knee infection and led to resolution of local symptoms and signs of infection, recovery of function, and absence of treatment-related adverse effects. Further studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of phage therapy for device-associated infections.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Fuqiang Song, Jun Sheng, Jishan Tan, Huajie Xie, Xiaoyu Wang, Wenqiong Guo
Summary: In this study, a bacteriophage SFQ1 was isolated from hospital sewage, which effectively infects E. faecalis strain EFS01 and disrupts the biofilms formed by E. faecalis. Therefore, SFQ1 has the potential for treating E. faecalis infections.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ortal Yerushalmy, Leron Khalifa, Naama Gold, Chani Rakov, Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Karen Adler, Shira Ben-Porat, Reut Kraitman, Niv Gronovich, Kerem Shulamit Ginat, Mohanad Abdalrhman, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Ran Nir-Paz, Ronen Hazan
Article
Virology
Hadar Ben-Zaken, Reut Kraitman, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Leron Khalifa, Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Daniel Gelman, Gilad Ben-Gal, Nurit Beyth, Ronen Hazan
Summary: Conventional treatments fail to specifically target pathogenic bacteria and may eradicate beneficial bacteria, making dental caries one of the most common and challenging diseases. This study isolated and characterized a new Streptococcus mutans phage from human saliva samples, potentially paving the way for phage therapy development for dental caries.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Chani Rakov, Shira Ben Porat, Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Ortal Yerushalmy, Mohanad Abdalrhman, Niv Gronovich, Lina Huang, David Pride, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Ran Nir-Paz, Ronen Hazan
Summary: Providencia spp. are emerging pathogens mainly in nosocomial infections, with Providencia stuartii playing a significant role in urinary tract infections and biofilm formation in catheterized patients. Multiple drug resistant P. stuartii is associated with hospital outbreaks, leading to difficult treatments. Phage therapy shows promise in combating antibiotic-resistant infections, but the limited availability of phages targeting Providencia spp. restricts its use. The isolation and characterization of bacteriophages from sewage samples, targeting clinical Providencia spp. strains, demonstrates potential for treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections, including urinary tract infections.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ameneh Khatami, Ruby C. Y. Lin, Aleksandra Petrovic-Fabijan, Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Sulaiman Almuzam, Philip N. Britton, Michael J. Brownstein, Quang Dao, Joe Fackler, Ronen Hazan, Bri'Anna Horne, Ran Nir-Paz, Jonathan R. Iredell
Summary: Adjunctive phage therapy showed significant therapeutic effect in treating chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteoarticular infection within two weeks. The release of bacterial cells into the bloodstream early in treatment led to transient fever and local pain, along with marked upregulation of innate immunity genes in the host transcriptome. After a week of therapy, adaptive immune responses developed and some immunomodulatory elements were also observed to be upregulated.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Kevin Paul, Maya Merabishvili, Ronen Hazan, Martin Christner, Uta Herden, Daniel Gelman, Leron Khalifa, Ortal Yerushalmy, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Theresa Harbauer, Sebastian Schulz-Juergensen, Holger Rohde, Lutz Fischer, Saima Aslam, Christine Rohde, Ran Nir-Paz, Jean-Paul Pirnay, Dominique Singer, Ania Carolina Muntau
Summary: Phage therapy was successfully used to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium infection in a critically ill one-year-old girl, demonstrating its potential as an effective treatment option in multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Amit Wolfoviz-Zilberman, Reut Kraitman, Ronen Hazan, Michael Friedman, Yael Houri-Haddad, Nurit Beyth
Summary: The SMHBZ8 phage therapy targeting S. mutans is effective in preventing dental caries in both in vitro and in vivo mouse models. Whether in suspension or with a sustained-release delivery system, it can prevent carious lesion development.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ronen Hazan, Miriam Schoemann, Michael Klutstein
Summary: Numerous observations have shown that microorganisms can survive long periods of nutrient deprivation and starvation, with many cells in all kingdoms of life found in prolonged starvation conditions. Bacteria exhibit genetic adaptations to long-term starvation, and the term "EPNP phase" is suggested to describe this phase. The endurance of prolonged nutrient prevention is conceptually and structurally conserved across all kingdoms of life, warranting further research into possible directions.
Correction
Infectious Diseases
D. Gelman, O. Yerushalmy, S. Alkalay-Oren
Article
Microbiology
Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Ortal Yerushalmy, Karen Adler, Leron Khalifa, Daniel Gelman, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Ran Nir-Paz, Ronen Hazan
Summary: PASA16, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage, was isolated from a soil sample and used to treat patients with persistent infections in different countries. The genome of PASA16 has been sequenced, analyzed, and deposited in GenBank.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hadil Onallah, Ronen Hazan, Ran Nir-Paz
Summary: The use of bacteriophages as a treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections is gaining interest, and the Israeli Phage Therapy Center has shown promising results with favorable clinical outcomes in 77.7% of cases. The center has received a growing number of requests for phage therapy, particularly for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
S. Aslam, O. Yerushalmy, A. Courtwright, C. Koval, M. Luong, K. Demir, S. Pouch, H. Onallah, R. Browunshtine, C. Rakov, D. Gelman, S. Coppenhagen-Glazer, J. Pilewski, J. Lipuma, R. Nir-Paz, R. Hazan.
JOURNAL OF HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Amit Rimon, Daniel Gelman, Ortal Yerushalmy, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Eyal Katvan, Ran Nir-Paz, Ronen Hazan
Summary: This study focuses on the history of phage therapy in Mandatory-Palestine and Israel, highlighting the treatments conducted and the efforts made in present-day Israel.
PHAGE-THERAPY APPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Shira Ben Porat, Daniel Gelman, Ortal Yerushalmy, Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Malena Cohen-Cymberknoh, Eitan Kerem, Israel Amirav, Ran Nir-Paz, Ronen Hazan
Summary: The study evaluated the feasibility of phage inhalation therapy using an in vitro model, showing that the titre reduction of phages was primarily associated with the nebulisation process, and there was no clear correlation between phage delivery and their physical or genomic dimensions.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Daniel Gelman, Ortal Yerushalmy, Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Chani Rakov, Shira Ben-Porat, Leron Khalifa, Karen Adler, Mohanad Abdalrhman, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Saima Aslam, Robert T. Schooley, Ran Nir-Paz, Ronen Hazan
Summary: Phage therapy is a promising method for treating bacterial infections, but there is currently inconsistency in evaluating bacteriophages in laboratories. The Clinical Phage Microbiology framework offers a method to match appropriate bacteriophage treatments, laying the foundation for standardizing laboratory protocols for personalized phage therapy in the future.
Article
Microbiology
Sivan Alkalay-Oren, Naama Gold, Leron Khalifa, Ortal Yerushalmy, Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer, Ran Nir-Paz, Ronen Hazan
Summary: EFGrKN and EFGrNG are new Enterococcus faecalis phages isolated from sewage samples in Israel. Their genomes have been sequenced, analyzed, and deposited in GenBank, showing potential for future phage therapy treatments based on their lytic activity in vitro.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)