Bacteriophages Against Pathogenic Bacteria and Possibilities for Future Application in Africa

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect prokaryotic cells. Phages exist in many shapes and sizes with the majority of them being less than 100 nm in size. Essentially, the majority of phages identified are double-stranded DNA virions with the remaining few being found as RNA or single-stranded DNA viruses. These biological entities are plentiful in different environments, especially in wet sources. Treatment of a bacterial disease using phage application has been documented in the pre-antibiotic era. Different studies have emerging to value the efficacy of phage use in in-vitro and in-vivo based systems against specific bacterial agents of humans, animals or plant diseases. The process represents a natural and nontoxic framework to avert infections due to pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Most of the published researches on the usefulness of phages against disease-causing bacteria (including antimicrobial-resistant strains) of humans, animals or plants are emerging from the US and European countries with very few studies available from Africa. This review assesses published articles in the area of phage applications against pathogenic or antimicrobial-resistant bacteria from experimental, clinical and field settings. The knowledge and skill of isolating lytic phages against bacteria can be operational for its simpler procedures and economic benefit. Future studies in Africa and other emerging countries may consider in-house phage preparations for effective control and eradication of pathogenic and multidrug resistant bacteria of humans, animals and plants.

Automated summary

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect prokaryotic cells, mainly existing in shapes smaller than 100 nm. They are abundant in various environments and offer a natural and non-toxic approach to prevent infections caused by pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Studies from the US and European countries have shown the potential efficacy of phage application against disease-causing bacteria.