Phage treatment of human infections

2011/03/01 by Stephen T. Abedon, Sarah J. Kuhl, Bob Blasdel +1 · 6 citations
Environmental Science · Immunology and Microbiology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Bacteriophages and microbial interactions #Microbial infections and disease research #Plant Virus Research Studies

paper · pdf · doi:10.4161/bact.1.2.15845

openalex publication_date 2011/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Phages as bactericidal agents have been employed for 90 years as a means of treating bacterial infections in humans as well as other species, a process known as phage therapy. In this review we explore both the early historical and more modern use of phages to treat human infections. We discuss in particular the little-reviewed French early work, along with the Polish, US, Georgian and Russian historical experiences. We also cover other, more modern examples of phage therapy of humans as differentiated in terms of disease. In addition, we provide discussions of phage safety, other aspects of phage therapy pharmacology, and the idea of phage use as probiotics.

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