INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF
CancerGenetics
An overview Comparative Effectiveness of Phage Therapy and Conventional Antibiotics in Treating Antibiotic-Resistant Infections: A Molecular Perspective
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Shima Marvani,1,*
1. Department of biology,Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
- Introduction: The rise of antibiotic-resistant infections poses a critical challenge to modern medicine. As traditional antibiotics lose their effectiveness, alternative therapies such as phage therapy are garnering attention. This article delves into the molecular mechanisms underpinning the efficacy of phage therapy compared to conventional antibiotics in combating antibiotic-resistant infections. Antibiotic resistance typically arises through several molecular mechanisms. These include the production of enzymes like beta-lactamases that degrade antibiotics, modifications of target sites that reduce drug binding, increased efflux of antibiotics from bacterial cells, and alterations in metabolic pathways to bypass the effects of antibiotics.
- Methods: Bacteria can acquire resistance genes via horizontal gene transfer, further exacerbating the problem. Conventional antibiotics combat bacterial infections through various mechanisms. Beta-lactams, such as penicillin, inhibit cell wall synthesis by targeting penicillin-binding proteins. Aminoglycosides, like gentamicin, disrupt protein synthesis by binding to the bacterial ribosome. Fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, interfere with DNA replication by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. While these mechanisms are effective against susceptible bacteria, they become ineffective when resistance mechanisms are present. Phage therapy employs bacteriophages, viruses that specifically infect and lyse bacteria. Bacteriophages recognize and attach to specific receptors on the bacterial surface, inject their genetic material, and hijack the bacterial machinery to produce progeny phages. The bacterial cell eventually lyses, releasing new phages to infect other bacterial cells. This process, known as the lytic cycle, is highly specific to the target bacteria and does not affect human cells or beneficial microbiota.
- Results: Comparative studies have shown that phage therapy can be as effective, if not more so, than conventional antibiotics in treating antibiotic-resistant infections. For instance, phage therapy has demonstrated success in treating chronic infections such as those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen known for its resistance to multiple antibiotics.
- Conclusion: Clinical trials and compassionate use cases have reported promising outcomes, including the resolution of infections unresponsive to antibiotics. However, challenges remain, such as the need for personalized phage preparations, regulatory hurdles, and the potential for phage resistance.
- Keywords: Clinical trials Antibiotics Phage therapy
