Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Sep 2024)
Optimization of bacteriophage therapy for difficult-to-treat musculoskeletal infections: a bench-to-bedside perspective
- Laura Bessems,
- Laura Bessems,
- Baixing Chen,
- Baixing Chen,
- Saartje Uyttebroek,
- Saartje Uyttebroek,
- David Devolder,
- Cédric Lood,
- Cédric Lood,
- Stefaan Verwimp,
- Paul De Munter,
- Paul De Munter,
- Yves Debaveye,
- Melissa Depypere,
- Melissa Depypere,
- Isabel Spriet,
- Isabel Spriet,
- Laura Van Gerven,
- Laura Van Gerven,
- Laura Van Gerven,
- Lieven Dupont,
- Lieven Dupont,
- Jeroen Wagemans,
- Vera van Noort,
- Vera van Noort,
- Rob Lavigne,
- Willem-Jan Metsemakers,
- Willem-Jan Metsemakers,
- Jolien Onsea,
- Jolien Onsea
Affiliations
- Laura Bessems
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laura Bessems
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Baixing Chen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Baixing Chen
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Saartje Uyttebroek
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Rhinology Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Saartje Uyttebroek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- David Devolder
- Pharmacy Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Cédric Lood
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Cédric Lood
- Center of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Stefaan Verwimp
- Center of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Paul De Munter
- Laboratory for Clinical Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Paul De Munter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Yves Debaveye
- 0Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Melissa Depypere
- 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Melissa Depypere
- 2Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Isabel Spriet
- Pharmacy Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Isabel Spriet
- 3Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laura Van Gerven
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Rhinology Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laura Van Gerven
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laura Van Gerven
- 4Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Lieven Dupont
- 5Department of Pneumology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Lieven Dupont
- 6Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Jeroen Wagemans
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Vera van Noort
- Center of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Vera van Noort
- 7Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Willem-Jan Metsemakers
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Willem-Jan Metsemakers
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Jolien Onsea
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Jolien Onsea
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1434397
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 14
Abstract
Given the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, scientists are urgently seeking adjunct antimicrobial strategies, such as phage therapy (PT). However, despite promising results for the treatment of musculoskeletal infections in our center, crucial knowledge gaps remain. Therefore, a prospective observational study (PHAGEFORCE) and a multidisciplinary approach was set up to achieve and optimize standardized treatment guidelines. At our center, PT is strictly controlled and monitored by a multidisciplinary taskforce. Each phage treatment follows the same pathway to ensure standardization and data quality. Within the PHAGEFORCE framework, we established a testing platform to gain insight in the safety and efficacy of PT, biodistribution, phage kinetics and the molecular interaction between phages and bacteria. The draining fluid is collected to determine the phage titer and bacterial load. In addition, all bacterial isolates are fully characterized by genome sequencing to monitor the emergence of phage resistance. We hereby present a standardized bench-to-bedside protocol to gain more insight in the kinetics and dynamics of PT for musculoskeletal infections.
Keywords
- bacteriophages
- bacteriophage therapy
- treatment optimization
- bench-to-bedside
- musculoskeletal infections
