title: Learning from bacteriophages - advantages and limitations of phage and phage-encoded protein applications.
abstract: The emergence of bacteria resistance to most of the currently available antibiotics has become a critical therapeutic problem. The bacteria causing both hospital and community-acquired infections are most often multidrug resistant. In view of the alarming level of antibiotic resistance between bacterial species and difficulties with treatment, alternative or supportive antibacterial cure has to be developed. The presented review focuses on the major characteristics of bacteriophages and phage-encoded proteins affecting their usefulness as antimicrobial agents. We discuss several issues such as mode of action, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, resistance and manufacturing aspects of bacteriophages and phage-encoded proteins application.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland. zuzanna.drulis-kawa@microb.uni.wroc.pl
authors.forename: Zuzanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Drulis-Kawa
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Majkowska-Skrobek
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maciejewska
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Delattre
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavigne
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014764:Viral Proteins