Bacteriophage therapy in the era of bacterial resistance: future prospects

Antibiotic misuse escalates antibacterial resistance. Bacteriophages are being explored as a viable solution. They not only destroy pathogens but also promote bacterial community homeostasis. This manuscript outlines bacteriophage therapeutic strategies, including cocktail therapy, synergistic therapy, and artificial phage modification. Also addressed are the phage effects on bacterial efflux pumps and their role in quorum sensing. The delivery methods and precautions of bacteriophage preparations are also listed. Potential future research may involve further exploring uncultured phage mechanisms using machine learning from the expanding phage gene database; or probe specific phage physiological activities and mechanisms using multiomics techniques.