A Look at Phage Therapy One Hundred Years After the Bacteriophages Discovery

Abstract

This overview discusses the literature data on the use of bacteriophages in the treatment of both acute and chronic infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Traditionally, phage therapy is based on the use of naturally occurring phages for infection and lysis of bacteria at the site of infection. It has fundamental advantages over antibiotic therapy. At the same time, it has some disadvantages. Currently, the application of biotechnological methods, such as the development of the recombinant bacteriophages, makes it possible to eliminate the shortcomings of antimicrobial phage therapy and to expand its opportunities due to the use of lytic proteins of phages and their modified derivatives.