Phage and enzyme therapies in wound infections: From lab to bedside.
10.1097/CM9.0000000000003626
- Author:
Pan YANG
1
;
Jing LI
2
;
Zhangyong SONG
2
;
Bin CHEN
1
;
Shizhu LI
3
Author Information
1. Postdoctoral Research Station, Guangzhou Bay Area Institute of Biomedicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China.
2. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
3. State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Antibiotic-resistance;
Bacteria;
Enzymes;
Infection;
Phage;
Wound
- MeSH:
Humans;
Phage Therapy/methods*;
Wound Infection/drug therapy*;
Bacteriophages/enzymology*;
Enzyme Therapy/methods*;
Animals;
Bacterial Infections/therapy*
- From:
Chinese Medical Journal
2025;138(17):2102-2115
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacterial wound infections (WIs) impose major burdens on healthcare systems, exacerbated by ineffective therapies and stalled antibiotic development. Phage therapy and phage-derived enzymes have gained traction as potent alternatives, leveraging targeted bactericidal mechanisms to combat AR pathogens. In this review, we summarised the antimicrobial mechanisms of both phage therapy and phage-derived enzymes as antimicrobial therapy, and outlined recent advances in their use for in vitro , in vivo and clinical applications for WI management. In addition, we also highlights recent advancements in their development, driven by genetic engineering, chemical modifications, and artificial intelligence. Finally, we identified the potential barriers and challenges they may encounter in clinical practice and the corresponding strategies to address these issues. The entire review gives us a comprehensive understanding of the latest advances in phages and their derivative enzyme therapies for treating WIs, in the hope that research in this field will continue to improve and innovate, accelerating the transition from the laboratory to application at the bedside and ultimately improving the efficacy of treatment for AR bacterial WIs.
