From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy

ABSTRACT: Objectives: The unregulated use of antibiotics has led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. This study explores bacteriophage therapy as an alternative treatment, highlighting its history, significance, and advancements in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tasnime Abdo Ahmad, Samar El Houjeiry, Souha S. Kanj, Ghassan M. Matar, Esber S. Saba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213716524004375
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850103051822563328
author Tasnime Abdo Ahmad
Samar El Houjeiry
Souha S. Kanj
Ghassan M. Matar
Esber S. Saba
author_facet Tasnime Abdo Ahmad
Samar El Houjeiry
Souha S. Kanj
Ghassan M. Matar
Esber S. Saba
author_sort Tasnime Abdo Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Objectives: The unregulated use of antibiotics has led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. This study explores bacteriophage therapy as an alternative treatment, highlighting its history, significance, and advancements in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. Methods: A comprehensive literature review on bacteriophage therapy was conducted, focusing on its development, clinical trials, and patient treatment applications. The study also examined challenges, limitations, criteria for ideal phage selection, and manipulation techniques. Results: The United States and several European countries have advanced in phage therapy, progressing from clinical trials to patient treatment, whereas Middle Eastern countries are still in the early stages. Bacteriophages offer specificity, abundance, and minimal side effects, but challenges like safety concerns and potential resistance limit their widespread use. Conclusion: Bacteriophage therapy shows promise as an antibiotic alternative but faces safety and resistance challenges. Continued research and better regulatory frameworks, especially in the Middle East, are needed to realize its potential.
format Article
id doaj-art-a837d535f088495daebe31bb41a0c4bb
institution DOAJ
issn 2213-7165
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
spelling doaj-art-a837d535f088495daebe31bb41a0c4bb2025-08-20T02:39:38ZengElsevierJournal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance2213-71652024-12-013923123910.1016/j.jgar.2024.10.259From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapyTasnime Abdo Ahmad0Samar El Houjeiry1Souha S. Kanj2Ghassan M. Matar3Esber S. Saba4Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.ABSTRACT: Objectives: The unregulated use of antibiotics has led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. This study explores bacteriophage therapy as an alternative treatment, highlighting its history, significance, and advancements in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. Methods: A comprehensive literature review on bacteriophage therapy was conducted, focusing on its development, clinical trials, and patient treatment applications. The study also examined challenges, limitations, criteria for ideal phage selection, and manipulation techniques. Results: The United States and several European countries have advanced in phage therapy, progressing from clinical trials to patient treatment, whereas Middle Eastern countries are still in the early stages. Bacteriophages offer specificity, abundance, and minimal side effects, but challenges like safety concerns and potential resistance limit their widespread use. Conclusion: Bacteriophage therapy shows promise as an antibiotic alternative but faces safety and resistance challenges. Continued research and better regulatory frameworks, especially in the Middle East, are needed to realize its potential.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213716524004375BacteriophageAntimicrobial resistanceBacteriaPhage therapy
spellingShingle Tasnime Abdo Ahmad
Samar El Houjeiry
Souha S. Kanj
Ghassan M. Matar
Esber S. Saba
From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy
Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
Bacteriophage
Antimicrobial resistance
Bacteria
Phage therapy
title From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy
title_full From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy
title_fullStr From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy
title_full_unstemmed From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy
title_short From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy
title_sort from forgotten cure to modern medicine the resurgence of bacteriophage therapy
topic Bacteriophage
Antimicrobial resistance
Bacteria
Phage therapy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213716524004375
work_keys_str_mv AT tasnimeabdoahmad fromforgottencuretomodernmedicinetheresurgenceofbacteriophagetherapy
AT samarelhoujeiry fromforgottencuretomodernmedicinetheresurgenceofbacteriophagetherapy
AT souhaskanj fromforgottencuretomodernmedicinetheresurgenceofbacteriophagetherapy
AT ghassanmmatar fromforgottencuretomodernmedicinetheresurgenceofbacteriophagetherapy
AT esberssaba fromforgottencuretomodernmedicinetheresurgenceofbacteriophagetherapy