About this Research Topic
The silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has intensified the need for alternatives to traditional small-molecule antibiotics. Phage therapy and phage-encoded proteins like lysins are among the most promising options. Phage therapy, the use of bacteriophage for the treatment of bacterial infections, is around 100 years old, but has experienced a renaissance over the last 10 - 15 years. Phages have distinctive features such as self-replication, minimal toxicity, easy isolation, and a narrow host range, making them attractive antimicrobial agents. Unlike antibiotics, phages are less likely to harm host microbiota or cause side effects like the overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens. However, immunogenicity and resistance remain challenges that need careful consideration. Technological advancements, including gene editing, cell-free production, and artificial intelligence, hold great promise to enhance phage therapy. Companion diagnostics to quickly identify effective phages and create optimal therapeutic combinations are crucial for advancing personalized phage therapy.
The goal of this research topic would be to bring together a comprehensive panel of manuscripts describing the potential of phage therapy produced by those scientists that are actively seeking to treat patients. The targeted authors will predominantly work in commercial research on programmes to bring phage therapy to the clinic and clinicians currently using phage therapy for compassionate use cases.
The scope of this research topic will be to create a collection of manuscripts on the undoubted potential of phage therapy by authors from companies and institutions that are working hard to bring phage therapy to the clinic as a viable therapeutic option. We are seeking manuscripts from authors with preclinical and clinical research programmes dedicated to phage therapy and clinicians using (or planning to use) phage therapy to treat patients. However, we wish to see a balanced argument presented and also encourage manuscripts describing the potential limitations of phage therapy and with potential solutions to overcome these issues.
The goal of this research topic would be to bring together a comprehensive panel of manuscripts describing the potential of phage therapy produced by those scientists that are actively seeking to treat patients. The targeted authors will predominantly work in commercial research on programmes to bring phage therapy to the clinic and clinicians currently using phage therapy for compassionate use cases.
The scope of this research topic will be to create a collection of manuscripts on the undoubted potential of phage therapy by authors from companies and institutions that are working hard to bring phage therapy to the clinic as a viable therapeutic option. We are seeking manuscripts from authors with preclinical and clinical research programmes dedicated to phage therapy and clinicians using (or planning to use) phage therapy to treat patients. However, we wish to see a balanced argument presented and also encourage manuscripts describing the potential limitations of phage therapy and with potential solutions to overcome these issues.
Keywords: Bacteriophage, Lysin, Antimicrobial, Antimicrobial resistance, Bacteriophage Research, Phage Therapy
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
