The article presents the biology of bacteriophages and their diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including recombinants with the use of the phage display method. Clinical efficacy of phage therapy, especially in cases of antibiotic-resistant infections, including those complicated by MRSA strains, are underlined. The article also discusses the results of experimental studies, which can provide directions for future investigations and therapeutic applications of bacteriophages.
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections have caused serious therapeutic problem in medicine and veterinary practice. Resistance to antibiotics is currently increasing, which is related to, among other factors, the capability of bacteria to produce specific enzymes rendering them resistant to most available antibiotics. Renewed interest in the possibilities of using bacteriophages, viruses that can attack and destroy bacterial cells, in antibacterial therapy in humans and animals has been observed in many countries. Phage therapy of bacterial infections in humans has been conducted by our Institute since 1980. The most successful results were obtained in cases of meningitis, furunculosis, otitis media, cancer, and septicemia (100% of patients). Experimental phage therapy in animals is provided by many centers. Successful therapeutic and protective phage therapy has been observed in calves, piglets, lambs, chickens and mice. Our results on the phage treatment of colibacterosis in foxes, piglets and balanoposithis in bears have demonstrated its high effectiveness. A study on phage preparates for their use in bovine mastitis is currently underway.