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Applications of Bacteriophages

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2026) | Viewed by 13517

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, 80-308G Dańsk, Poland
Interests: regulation of DNA replication; control of gene expression; oxidative stress in bacterial virulence; molecular mechanisms of mucopolysaccharidoses; development of novel therapeutic options
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bacteriophages (or shortly phages), the viruses infecting prokaryotic cells, have been discovered over a century ago. When their nature was discovered, they became excellent models in basic biological studies, especially at the molecular level. However, subsequent studies indicated that they have properties that make them useful in various applications. They were recognized as tools in various fields of genetic engineering and biotechnology and in many medical aspects.

This Special Issue is devoted to disseminating studies and opinions on the applications of bacteriophages in different areas, from gene cloning to phage display technology, from developing new materials to phage therapy. Both original and review articles are welcome because they focus on bacteriophage applications in at least one specific field. The manuscripts may describe the development or optimization of laboratory methods, as well as the presentation of the use of phages in specific fields of science, technology, medicine, and other areas. Papers on bacteriophages infecting any kind of prokaryotic organisms are welcome. Studies conducted using molecular methods are especially encouraged for submission.

Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Wegrzyn
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • bacteriophages
  • gene cloning
  • phage display technology
  • phage

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2952 KB  
Article
A Lytic Mosigvirus Phage (GADS24) from a Poultry-Farm Environment: Genome-Resolved Characterization and In Vitro Biocontrol-Relevant Phenotyping Against Escherichia coli
by Jehan Alrahimi, Ghadah Alsubhi, Alia Aldahlawi, Fatemah S. Basingab, Mohammed A. Imam, Hashim Felemban, Najwa Alharbi, Sana Alshaik, Hala S. Sonbol, Kawther Zaher and Esam I. Azhar
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031276 - 27 Jan 2026
Viewed by 540
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli (E. coli) at the poultry–human interface motivates evaluating strictly lytic bacteriophages as targeted biocontrol candidates. A lytic E. coli phage (GADS24) was isolated from poultry waste in Saudi Arabia. Plaque formation and host range were assessed against [...] Read more.
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli (E. coli) at the poultry–human interface motivates evaluating strictly lytic bacteriophages as targeted biocontrol candidates. A lytic E. coli phage (GADS24) was isolated from poultry waste in Saudi Arabia. Plaque formation and host range were assessed against 10 clinical E. coli isolates. Virion morphology was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Whole-genome sequencing (Illumina) and annotation (Prokka/RAST) were followed by comparative genomics (BLASTn 2.15.0, ANI JSpeciesWS: 2014–2025 Ribocon GmbH—Version: 5.0.3, dDDH GGDC: GGDC 3.0 and phylogenetic/proteomic analyses for taxonomic placement. GADS24 formed clear plaques and lysed 5 of 10 clinical E. coli isolates tested. TEM revealed an icosahedral capsid (~72.6 nm) and a contractile tail (~131.7 nm), consistent with Tevenvirinae/Mosigvirus morphology. The dsDNA genome is 168,896 bp (GC 43.8%) with 268 predicted ORFs and two tRNA genes (tRNA-Arg and tRNA-Met); no lysogeny-related genes were detected. The closest relative was Escherichia phage JN02 (98.44% ANI; 57.8% dDDH), supporting assignment to Mosigvirus while indicating a genome-resolved distinct lineage. The genome is available in GenBank (OQ703618). GADS24 represents a genome-resolved, strictly lytic Mosigvirus with in vitro biocontrol-relevant phenotyping against E. coli, supporting follow-up development for poultry-associated infection control and deeper phage–host interaction studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Bacteriophages)
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25 pages, 5758 KB  
Article
Analysis of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Gene Response Patterns in Patients Receiving Phage Therapy
by Hubert Kasprzak, Maciej Przybylski, Wojciech Fortuna, Sławomir Letkiewicz, Paweł Rogóż, Barbara Bubak, Andrzej Górski and Ryszard Międzybrodzki
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010172 - 23 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Phage therapy (PT) is a promising alternative for antibiotic-resistant infections, but its immunomodulatory effects in clinical settings remain poorly understood. This exploratory observational study aimed to characterize pro- and anti-inflammatory gene response patterns in ten patients undergoing personalized PT at the Phage Therapy [...] Read more.
Phage therapy (PT) is a promising alternative for antibiotic-resistant infections, but its immunomodulatory effects in clinical settings remain poorly understood. This exploratory observational study aimed to characterize pro- and anti-inflammatory gene response patterns in ten patients undergoing personalized PT at the Phage Therapy Unit in Wrocław. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and granulocytes were analyzed to assess changes in the expression of 22 selected immune-related genes associated with innate and adaptive immune signaling pathways. While no uniform pattern of immune gene expression was observed across the cohort, individual cases exhibited significant up- or downregulation of specific genes. Interestingly, we identified biological age as a potential determinant of the host response. Specifically, older patients showed higher activation of the innate sensing machinery in PBMCs, characterized by a higher TLR4 fold change which may reflect the “inflammaging” phenomenon. These findings suggest that chronic exposure to bacterial viruses (bacteriophages), unlike many viral infections, does not trigger a predictable, significant systemic immune activation and that immune responses to PT are highly individualized by host- and phage-related biological factors. By documenting this spectrum of real-world responses, our work provides baseline data and hypotheses to guide the rational design of future preclinical and clinical investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Bacteriophages)
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Review

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21 pages, 3467 KB  
Review
Overview of Phage Defense Systems in Bacteria and Their Applications
by Xiaomei Xu and Pengfei Gu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13316; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413316 - 12 Dec 2024
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 11159
Abstract
As natural parasites of bacteria, phages have greatly contributed to bacterial evolution owing to their persistent threat. Diverse phage resistance systems have been developed in bacteria during the coevolutionary process with phages. Conversely, phage contamination has a devastating effect on microbial fermentation, resulting [...] Read more.
As natural parasites of bacteria, phages have greatly contributed to bacterial evolution owing to their persistent threat. Diverse phage resistance systems have been developed in bacteria during the coevolutionary process with phages. Conversely, phage contamination has a devastating effect on microbial fermentation, resulting in fermentation failure and substantial economic loss. Accordingly, natural defense systems derived from bacteria can be employed to obtain robust phage-resistant host cells that can overcome the threats posed by bacteriophages during industrial bacterial processes. In this review, diverse phage resistance mechanisms, including the remarkable research progress and potential applications, are systematically summarized. In addition, the development prospects and challenges of phage-resistant bacteria are discussed. This review provides a useful reference for developing phage-resistant bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Bacteriophages)
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