Prof. Domenico Frezza, member of Targeting Phage Therapy’s Scientific Committee, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Italy, will join the 8th World Congress Targeting Therapy this June in Berlin.
Topic :
Optimizing the Phage-Bacteria Ratio for Phage Therapy: Metagenomic Insights into Microbial Balance and Dysbiosis
Summary :
Phage therapy is attracting increasing attention as a promising strategy to combat bacterial antimicrobial resistance, with a wide range of potential applications. The effectiveness of phage treatment is highly dependent on the specific environment in which it is applied. For instance, infections such as cholera or meningitis may necessitate complete bacterial eradication, whereas conditions like skin disorders or gastrointestinal diseases involve a delicate interplay between pathogenic and commensal bacteria. In such cases, merely reducing the pathogenic bacterial load may not be sufficient to restore microbial homeostasis.
A striking example is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where maintaining a balanced microbiome is crucial. Recurrent dysbiosis and unstable microbial recovery in IBD underscore the limitations of conventional antibiotic treatments and highlight the potential benefits of probiotics and prebiotics. However, these approaches often overlook the role of phages in shaping microbial communities and restoring equilibrium.
One of the key challenges in microbiome-based therapies is the variability between individuals with healthy and dysbiotic microbiomes. Since there is no universal definition of a “healthy equilibrium,” therapeutic interventions must account for this complexity. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising strategy, demonstrating the potential to restore microbial balance. Notably, FMT is not devoid of phages, suggesting that phages play a crucial role in maintaining microbial stability.
Metagenomic analyses provide valuable insights into the intricate interactions between phages and bacteria, offering a roadmap for optimizing phage therapy. By leveraging these insights, researchers can develop more precise and effective therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring microbial homeostasis in dysbiotic conditions.