Antimicrobial resistance poses the highest risk to human health; 1.27 million deaths have been reported due to AMR as of 2019. MDR is also recognised as a severe burden on the healthcare sector, which is not only responsible for increasing treatment costs but also causes irreversible adverse effects on patients due to inadequate usage of antibiotics. Recently, the increased MDR pattern has been reported in clinically significant microbes such as Escherichia, Campylobacter, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, Enterococci, Clostridium, Klebsiella, Salmonella and Mycobacterium against many antibiotics such us., vancomycin, fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, kanamycin, sulphonamides, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, cephalosporins and penicillin. Excessive usage of antibiotics allows pathogens to become more resistant, induces resistance in non-pathogens and enhances the rate of biofilm-associated infections. Exploration of phages’ efficacies to eliminate the resistant clinical pathogens is already underway; however, a more robust and optimal medicinal approach could only bring this strategy to execute in the real world against MDR.

The therapeutic nature of bacteriophages was reported in the early 20th century in patients who were observed recovering from shigella infection. However, penicillin was a real success, allowing scientists to explore more antibiotics. Later on, the efficacy of Phages has been investigated against specific MDR microbes like Lactococcus and vibrio (Fish), E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter (Farm animals & Food products). The therapeutic nature of mycobacteriophages was also noticed against M. abscessus and M. chelonae to treat lung and cutaneous infections. Recent advancements in the clinical trials of phage drugs to treat otitis, UTI, and prosthetic joint infections have controlled MDR pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Antibiotics and phage synergy are other popular strategies to combat MDR. The determination of phage plus lysin dosage may extend their pharmacological properties.

Moreover, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic studies are the utmost requirements for using non-antibiotic antimicrobials. We aim to curate the latest collection of innovative, original research – phage drug development, experimental, preclinical and clinical trials. The potential of phage therapy and its implications for controlling MDR infections in the population is our ultimate goal.

Authors are invited to contribute under the scope defined as phage therapeutics and its implications in controlling infectious diseases. The submissions should demonstrate the potentials/ or challenges of phage modalities via original research (Phage Drug Development, Experimental Studies, Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Studies, Preclinical, Clinical trials, Pilot studies, etc.), reviews, perspectives, technical reports and case studies, mainly focussing on the application of phages in medicine. We propose the following vital themes:

 Microbial Synthesis of phage drugs and nanoparticles to fight against MDR pathogens.

 MDR infections to treat with phage drugs- Experimental/Preclinical and clinical studies.

 Phage and Antibiotics’ Synergy

 Phage-host relationships and linked immunological response to combat antibiotic resistance.

 Antimicrobial applications of phages to control nosocomial MDR infections.

 The role of microbiome plus phages is to prevent the bacterial infection.

Submit your idea

Impact

Frontiers in Antibiotics

Submit your idea

Impact