Modern Approaches to Bacteriophage Therapy of Infectious Diseases

The literature review includes works by domestic and foreign authors concerning the use of bacteriophages as an alternative method of therapy and prevention of the development of the inflammatory process in case of bacterial infections. The paper provides historical information about phage therapy. The properties of moderate and virulent bacteriophages, the main mechanisms of interaction of bacteriophage-based preparations with a bacterial cell are considered. Special attention is paid to the characteristic differences between the bacteriophage–bacterium interaction and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms. The review contains information about the features of the surface binding of phages to microorganisms, anti-phage bacterial protection systems, as well as about the molecular and genetic antibacterial mechanisms of phage counteraction. The data on experimental and clinical studies of anti-phage cellular and humoral immunity and the effect of phages on cytokine production are presented. The literature review highlights the current state of the issue of the therapeutic and prophylactic significance of bacteriophages in relation to a wide range of bacterial infections. Special attention is paid to the literature concerning the study of information on the use of bacteriophages for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by particularly dangerous microorganisms. The review contains information on the use of phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics method to combat bacterial infection, both as an independent means of prevention and treatment, and in combination with antibiotic therapy. The data on the various mechanisms of synergy of bacteriophage preparations and antibiotics are presented. The review includes literature sources describing the occurrence of pathological reactions to the introduction of bacteriophages, as well as examples convincingly proving the effectiveness of an integrated approach strategy with the inclusion of phages in infectious disease control schemes, which should occupy a certain niche in the future.