Bacteriophage therapy: a potential solution for the antibiotic resistance crisis

Authors

  • Zhabiz Golkar South Carolina Center for Biotechnology, Claflin University, Orangeburg, United States
  • Omar Bagasra South Carolina Center for Biotechnology, Claflin University, Orangeburg, United States
  • Donald Gene Pace South Carolina Center for Biotechnology, Claflin University, Orangeburg, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3573

Keywords:

antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage, infectious disease

Abstract

The emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria has prompted interest in alternatives to conventional antimicrobials. One of the possible replacement options for antibiotics is the use of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents. Phage therapy is an important alternative to antibiotics in the current era of drug-resistant pathogens. Bacteriophages have played an important role in the expansion of molecular biology and have been used as antibacterial agents since 1966. In this review, we describe a brief history of bacteriophages and clinical studies on their use in bacterial disease prophylaxis and therapy. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of bacteriophages as therapeutic agents in this regard.

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Published

2014-02-13

How to Cite

1.
Golkar Z, Bagasra O, Pace DG (2014) Bacteriophage therapy: a potential solution for the antibiotic resistance crisis. J Infect Dev Ctries 8:129–136. doi: 10.3855/jidc.3573

Issue

Section

Reviews