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  • Perspective
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Bacteriophages and their potential for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 19, pages 135–144 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Although bacteriophages have been overshadowed as therapeutic agents by antibiotics for decades, the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and a better understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in human health and disease have brought them back into focus. In this Perspective, we briefly introduce basic phage biology and summarize recent discoveries about phages in relation to their role in the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic liver disease. In addition, we review preclinical studies and clinical trials of phage therapy for enteric disease and explore current challenges and potential future directions.

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Fig. 1: Intestinal phageome of healthy individuals and patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Fig. 2: Manipulation of the gut microbiota by phages.
Fig. 3: Potential applications of phages.

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Acknowledgements

B.S. was supported in part by a Biocodex Microbiota Foundation Grant, NIH grants R01 AA024726, U01 AA026939, by Award Number BX004594 from the Biomedical Laboratory Research & Development Service of the VA Office of Research and Development and services provided by P30 DK120515 and P50 AA011999.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Yi Duan & Bernd Schnabl

  2. Department of Medicine, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA

    Yi Duan & Bernd Schnabl

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Ry Young

  4. Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Ry Young

  5. Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Ry Young & Bernd Schnabl

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Y.D. researched data for the article, made a substantial contribution to discussion of content, wrote the article, and reviewed/edited the manuscript before submission. R.Y. and B.S. made a substantial contribution to discussion of content and reviewed/edited the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Bernd Schnabl.

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Competing interests

B.S. has been consulting for Ferring Research Institute, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, HOST Therabiomics, Mabwell Therapeutics, Patara Pharmaceuticals and Takeda. B.S.’s institution UC San Diego has received grant support from BiomX, NGM Biopharmaceuticals, CymaBay Therapeutics, Synlogic Operating Company, Prodigy Biotech and Axial Biotherapeutics. B.S. is founder of Nterica Bio. UC San Diego has filed several patents with B.S. and Y.D. as inventors related to this work. R.Y. was formerly involved with GangaGen (Bangalore, India) as a member of its scientific advisory board.

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Duan, Y., Young, R. & Schnabl, B. Bacteriophages and their potential for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 19, 135–144 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00536-z

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