-
Systematic Reviews Oct 2023Food-borne diseases are a global public health issue with 1 in 10 people falling ill after eating contaminated food every year. In response, the food industry has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Food-borne diseases are a global public health issue with 1 in 10 people falling ill after eating contaminated food every year. In response, the food industry has implemented several new pathogen control strategies, such as biotechnological tools using the direct application of bacteriophages for biological control. We have undertaken a systematic review and meta-analysis that evaluated the efficiency of patented phages as a biological control for food-borne pathogens and determined the physical-chemical characteristics of the antimicrobial effect. Included and excluded criteria was developed. Included criteria: Phage patent files with an application in biological control on food and scientific articles and book chapters that used phages patented for food biological control. Excluded criteria: Patent documents, scientific articles, and book chapters that included phage therapy in humans, animals, and biological control on plants but did not have an application on food were not considered in our study. The systematic analysis identified 77 documents, 46 scientific articles, and 31 documents of patents and 23 articles was included in the meta-analysis. Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. comprised most of the targets identified in the screening, so that we focused on these strains to do the meta-analysis. There are a total of 383 and 192 experiments for Listeria and Salmonella phages for quantitative data analysis.Indexing databases for the bibliographic search (Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and PubMed (Medline) were addressed by an automated script written in Python 3 Python Core Team (2015) and deposited on GitHub ( https://github.com/glenjasper ).A random-effects meta-analysis revealed (i) significant antimicrobial effect of Listeria phages in apple, apple juice, pear, and pear juice, (ii) significant antimicrobial effect of Salmonella phages in eggs, apple, and ready-to-eat chicken, (iii) no heterogeneity was identified in either meta-analysis, (iv) publication bias was detected for Listeria phages but not for Salmonella phages. (v) ListShield and Felix01 phages showed the best result for Listeria and Salmonella biological control, respectively, (vi) concentration of phage and bacteria, time and food had significant effect in the biological control of Listeria, (vii) temperature and time had a significant effect on the antimicrobial activity of Salmonella phages. The systematic review and meta-analyses to determine the efficiency of bacteriophages previously patented against pathogenic bacteria on dairy products, meat, fruits and vegetables. Besides, the discovering of key factors for efficacy, so that future applications of phage biotechnology in foods can be optimally deployed.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteriophages; Foodborne Diseases; Listeria monocytogenes; Meat
PubMed: 37898821
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02352-9 -
The Lancet. Microbe May 2024Colonisation by bacterial pathogens typically precedes invasive infection and seeds transmission. Thus, effective decolonisation strategies are urgently needed. The... (Review)
Review
Colonisation by bacterial pathogens typically precedes invasive infection and seeds transmission. Thus, effective decolonisation strategies are urgently needed. The literature reports attempts to use phages for decolonisation. To assess the in-vivo efficacy and safety of phages for bacterial decolonisation, we performed a systematic review by identifying relevant studies to assess the in-vivo efficacy and safety of phages for bacterial decolonisation. We searched PubMed, Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant articles published between Jan 1, 1990, and May 12, 2023, without language restrictions. We included studies that assessed the efficacy of phage for bacterial decolonisation in humans or vertebrate animal models. This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42023457637. We identified 6694 articles, of which 56 (51 animal studies and five clinical reports) met the predetermined selection criteria and were included in the final analysis. The gastrointestinal tract (n=49, 88%) was the most studied bacterial colonisation site, and other sites were central venous catheters, lung, nose, skin, and urinary tract. Of the 56 included studies, the bacterial load at the colonisation site was reported to decrease significantly in 45 (80%) studies, but only five described eradication of the target bacteria. 15 studies reported the safety of phages for decolonisation. No obvious adverse events were reported in both the short-term and long-term observation period. Given the increasing life-threatening risks posed by bacteria that are difficult to treat, phages could be an alternative option for bacterial decolonisation, although further optimisation is required before their application to meet clinical needs.
Topics: Humans; Bacteriophages; Bacterial Infections; Animals; Bacteria; Phage Therapy
PubMed: 38452780
DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(24)00002-8 -
A systematic review and modeling of the effect of bacteriophages on O157:H7 reduction in vegetables.Heliyon Dec 2023Prevention and control of food pathogens are important for public health and O157:H7 infections are known as one of the most important food-borne bacterial diseases... (Review)
Review
Prevention and control of food pathogens are important for public health and O157:H7 infections are known as one of the most important food-borne bacterial diseases transmitted to humans. Vegetables can be a major source of O157:H7 bacteria. Bacteriophages have been considered in recent years as a natural method for controlling pathogens with minimal damage to the quality of vegetables. The performance of these natural antimicrobial agents is affected by various factors including time, temperature, phage and bacterial dose, method of phage application and origin of phages. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the works that have examined the effect of different factors to reduce O157:H7 bacteria by its specific phages and model their effect. In our study, 10 articles were chosen after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned in the methodology. The multivariate regression results showed that time, temperature, and method of phage application revealed a positive influence on the phage function, and with each unit of increase, the O157:H7 reduction increases by 0.4 %, 3 % and 0.94 % respectively, and 6 % for phage dose, but not statistically significant (P = 0.44). In addition, commercial-type phages were more effective than wild-type phages and this result was statistically significant (Beta = 0.99; P = 0.001). The results of this study indicate that the various factors, such as temperature, time, method of phage application and type of vegetables can play an important role to reduce O157:H7 in vegetables.
PubMed: 38058426
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22961 -
European Journal of Clinical... Aug 2023Bacteriophages (phages) are very promising biological agents for the prevention and control of bacterial biofilms. However, little is known about the parameters that can... (Review)
Review
Bacteriophages (phages) are very promising biological agents for the prevention and control of bacterial biofilms. However, little is known about the parameters that can influence the efficacy of phages on biofilms. This systematic review provides a summary and analysis of the published data about the use of phages to control pre-formed biofilms in vitro, suggesting recommendations for future experiments in this area. A total of 68 articles, containing data on 605 experiments addressing the efficacy of phages to control biofilms in vitro were included, after a search conducted in Web of Science, Embase, and Medline (PubMed). The data collected from each experiment included information about biofilm growth conditions, phage characteristics, treatment conditions and biofilm reduction. In most cases, biofilms were formed in the surface of microtiter plates (82.5%); the median time for biofilm formation was 24 h, as is the median treatment duration. Quantification of biofilm biomass (52.6%), viable cells (25.5%) and metabolic activity (17.9%) were the most common biofilm assessment methods. Correlation analysis revealed that some phage parameters can influence the treatment outcome: higher phage concentrations were strongly associated with improved biofilm control, leading to higher levels of biofilm reduction, and phages with higher burst sizes and shorter latent periods seem to be the best candidates to control biofilms in vitro. However, the great variability of the methodologies used prompts the need for the development of standardized in vitro methodologies to characterize phage/biofilm interactions and to assess the efficacy of phages to control biofilms.
Topics: Humans; Bacteriophages; Biofilms
PubMed: 37407800
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04638-1 -
The Journal of Infection Mar 2024Interest in phages as adjunctive therapy to treat difficult infections has grown in the last decade. However, phage dosing and delivery for orthopedic infections have... (Review)
Review
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.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Phage Therapy; Bacteria; Osteomyelitis; Arthritis, Infectious; Bacterial Infections
PubMed: 38373574
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106125 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024Bacteriophages associated with thermophiles are gaining increased attention due to their pivotal roles in various biogeochemical and ecological processes, as well as...
Bacteriophages associated with thermophiles are gaining increased attention due to their pivotal roles in various biogeochemical and ecological processes, as well as their applications in biotechnology and bionanotechnology. Although thermophages are not suitable for controlling bacterial infections in humans or animals, their individual components, such as enzymes and capsid proteins, can be employed in molecular biology and significantly contribute to the enhancement of human and animal health. Despite their significance, thermophages still remain underrepresented in the known prokaryotic virosphere, primarily due to limited in-depth investigations. However, due to their unique properties, thermophages are currently attracting increasing interest, as evidenced by several newly discovered phages belonging to this group. This review offers an updated compilation of thermophages characterized to date, focusing on species infecting the thermophilic bacilli. Moreover, it presents experimental findings, including novel proteomic data (39 proteins) concerning the model TP-84 bacteriophage, along with the first announcement of 6 recently discovered thermophages infecting : PK5.2, PK2.1, NIIg10.1, NIIg2.1, NIIg2.2, and NIIg2.3. This review serves as an update to our previous publication in 2021.
Topics: Bacillus; Bacteriophages; Proteomics
PubMed: 38542099
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063125 -
PHAGE (New Rochelle, N.Y.) Sep 2023Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a problem worldwide, affecting almost half a billion people each year. Increasing antibiotic resistance and limited therapeutic...
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a problem worldwide, affecting almost half a billion people each year. Increasing antibiotic resistance and limited therapeutic options have led to the exploration of alternative therapies for UTIs, including bacteriophage (phage) therapy. This systematic review aims at evaluating the efficacy of phage therapy in treating UTIs. We employed a comprehensive search strategy for any language, any animal, and any publication date. A total of 55 and clinical studies were included. Of the studies, 22% were published in a non-English language, 32.7% were before the year 1996, and the rest were after 2005. The results of this review suggest that phage therapy for UTIs can be effective; more than 72% of the included articles reported microbiological and clinical improvements. On the other hand, only 5 randomized controlled trials have been completed, and case reports and case series information were frequently incomplete for analysis. Overall, this comprehensive systematic review identifies preliminary evidence supporting the potential of phage therapy as a safe and viable option for the treatment of UTIs.
PubMed: 37771568
DOI: 10.1089/phage.2023.0024 -
Biofilm Jun 2024This study investigates the potential of using bacteriophages to control foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel surfaces in the food industry. Biofilm-forming...
This study investigates the potential of using bacteriophages to control foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel surfaces in the food industry. Biofilm-forming bacteria can attach to stainless steel surfaces, rendering them difficult to eradicate even after a thorough cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Bacteriophages have been proposed as a possible solution, as they can penetrate biofilms and destroy bacterial cells within, reducing the number of viable bacteria and preventing the growth and spread of biofilms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the potential of bacteriophages against different biofilm-forming foodborne bacteria, including , , , , and . Bacteriophage treatment generally causes a significant average reduction of 38 % in biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel. Subgroup analyses revealed that phages are more efficient in long-duration treatment. Also, applying a cocktail of phages is 1.26-fold more effective than applying individual phages. Phages at concentrations exceeding 10 PFU/ml are significantly more efficacious in eradicating bacteria within a biofilm. The antibacterial phage activity decreases substantially by 3.54-fold when applied at 4 °C compared to temperatures above 25 °C. This analysis suggests that bacteriophages can be a promising solution for controlling biofilms in the food industry.
PubMed: 38234712
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100170 -
Medical Principles and Practice :... 2024This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the literature on the therapeutical application of bacteriophages.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the literature on the therapeutical application of bacteriophages.
METHODS
First, a bibliometric analysis was performed using the database Web of Science to determine annual number of publications and citations. Second, a systematic literature review was conducted on randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) of phage therapy in PubMed.
RESULTS
Over the past decade, the number of publications on bacteriophage therapy increased more than fourfold with 212 articles in 2011 and 739 in 2022. The systematic search in PubMed yielded 7 RCTs eligible for inclusion, reporting on a total of 418 participants. Identified indications in this study included bacterial diarrhea, urinary tract infections, infected burn wounds, chronic otitis, chronic venous leg ulcers, and chronic rhinosinusitis. In three studies, mild to moderate adverse events were reported in 10/195 participants (5.1%). Three of the studies reported a statistically significant difference in outcomes comparing phage therapy with standard of care or placebo.
CONCLUSION
Phage therapy has gained increasing interest over the years. RCTs on different indications suggest the safety of phage therapy; however, reasons why phage therapy is not yet well accepted are limitations in the study designs. For a successful translation into clinical practice researchers and clinicians should learn from the earlier experiences and consider issues such as the quality of phage preparation, sensitivity testing, titer and dosages, as well as access to the infection site and stability for standardized protocols and future trials.
Topics: Humans; Phage Therapy; Bacterial Infections; Varicose Ulcer; Urinary Tract Infections; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37879316
DOI: 10.1159/000534717 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023New approaches to managing infections in cardiac and peripheral vascular surgery are required to reduce costs to patients and healthcare providers. Bacteriophage (phage)... (Review)
Review
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.
PubMed: 38136718
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121684