Phage-Phagocyte Interactions and Their Implications for Phage Application as Therapeutics
Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak,
Beata Weber-Dąbrowska,
Barbara Owczarek,
Ryszard Międzybrodzki,
Marzanna Łusiak-Szelachowska,
Norbert Łodej,
Andrzej Górski
Affiliations
Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak
Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
Barbara Owczarek
Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
Ryszard Międzybrodzki
Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
Marzanna Łusiak-Szelachowska
Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
Norbert Łodej
Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
Andrzej Górski
Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla Street 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland
Phagocytes are the main component of innate immunity. They remove pathogens and particles from organisms using their bactericidal tools in the form of both reactive oxygen species and degrading enzymes—contained in granules—that are potentially toxic proteins. Therefore, it is important to investigate the possible interactions between phages and immune cells and avoid any phage side effects on them. Recent progress in knowledge concerning the influence of phages on phagocytes is also important as such interactions may shape the immune response. In this review we have summarized the current knowledge on phage interactions with phagocytes described so far and their potential implications for phage therapy. The data suggesting that phage do not downregulate important phagocyte functions are especially relevant for the concept of phage therapy.
