A collaborative team of micro- and immunobiologists from Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Yale University, and the University of Pittsburgh has uncovered compelling evidence indicating that future research endeavors utilizing bacteriophages to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections must take into account the host’s cellular response to such treatment.
In recent years, the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections has rendered many traditional treatments ineffective, prompting scientists to explore alternative solutions. One promising avenue involves the use of bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria, rendering them unable to reproduce.
While most bacteriophage research has been conducted in Eastern Europe, with some trials currently underway, the focus has primarily been on identifying effective phages against specific bacteria strains. However, the team behind this new study emphasizes the importance of understanding how host cells interact with these phages during treatment.
Past studies have suggested that phages replicate exclusively within bacterial cells, minimizing their impact on human cells. Nevertheless, the researchers argue that overlooking the host immune response is a critical oversight. To illustrate this point, they conducted experiments exposing human lung epithelial cells to bacteriophages targeting infection-causing bacteria.
2024-04-26 17:00:02
Post from phys.org