Contemporary Questions in Pulmonary and Critical Care Infections-Is Bacteriophage Therapy the New (Old) Frontier STANLEY

Is Bacteriophage Therapy the New (Old) Frontier STANLEY

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The session on contemporary questions in pulmonary and critical care infections, presented by Dr. Gail L. Stanley from Yale University, focuses on the potential of bacteriophage therapy as an innovative approach to address the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance. One of the primary objectives is to highlight the clinical applications and future directions of bacteriophage therapy, which uses viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria.<br /><br />Bacteriophage therapy is not a new concept; it was co-discovered by Frederick Twort and Félix d’Herelle in the early 20th century and has been used in Europe extensively. However, its clinical application has been hampered by concerns around standardization, efficacy, and delivery methods, necessitating clinical trials for better validation. Over 400,000 cases have been cited in literature, particularly in treating multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections such as those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.<br /><br />Phage therapy works by either directly killing bacteria (lytic phages) or exerting evolutionary pressure on them, potentially decreasing their virulence. At Yale, compassionate use of phage therapy, employing naturally sourced phages, has shown promising outcomes in treating MDR infections, including those in cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB) cases.<br /><br />Despite these successes, there are challenges such as bacterial resistance to phages and the need for tailored therapeutic cocktails to account for individual immune responses. Clinical trials, including the Cystic Fibrosis Bacteriophage Study (CYPHY) at Yale, are ongoing to explore various delivery methodologies and efficacy.<br /><br />The Yale Center for Phage Biology & Therapy plays a pivotal role in advancing phage therapy through its programs in biodiversity, biotechnology, translational research, and clinical trials to address these questions comprehensively.

Keywords

bacteriophage therapy

antimicrobial resistance

multidrug-resistant infections

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

clinical trials

cystic fibrosis

Yale University

phage therapy challenges

compassionate use

Yale Center for Phage Biology

Cystic Fibrosis