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Evaluation of Phage Therapy in the Context of Enterococcus faecalis and Its Associated Diseases
Bolocan, Andrei S. Upadrasta, Aditya de Almeida Bettio, Pedro H. Clooney, Adam G. Draper, Lorraine A. Ross, R. Paul Hill, Colin
Bolocan, Andrei S.
Upadrasta, Aditya
de Almeida Bettio, Pedro H.
Clooney, Adam G.
Draper, Lorraine A.
Ross, R. Paul
Hill, Colin
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2019-04-20
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Bolocan, A.S.; Upadrasta, A.; de Almeida Bettio, P.H.; Clooney, A.G.; Draper, L.A.; Ross, R.P.; Hill, C. Evaluation of Phage Therapy in the Context of Enterococcus faecalis and Its Associated Diseases. Viruses 2019, 11, 366. https://doi.org/10.3390/v11040366
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) or bacterial viruses have been proposed as natural antimicrobial
agents to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria associated with human infections. Enterococcus faecalis
is a gut commensal, which is occasionally found in the mouth and vaginal tract, and does not
usually cause clinical problems. However, it can spread to other areas of the body and cause
life-threatening infections, such as septicemia, endocarditis, or meningitis, in immunocompromised
hosts. Although E. faecalis phage cocktails are not commercially available within the EU or USA,
there is an accumulated evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies that have shown phage efficacy,
which supports the idea of applying phage therapy to overcome infections associated with E. faecalis.
In this review, we discuss the potency of bacteriophages in controlling E. faecalis, in both in vitro and
in vivo scenarios. E. faecalis associated bacteriophages were compared at the genome level and an
attempt was made to categorize phages with respect to their suitability for therapeutic application,
using orthocluster analysis. In addition, E. faecalis phages have been examined for the presence
of antibiotic-resistant genes, to ensure their safe use in clinical conditions. Finally, the domain
architecture of E. faecalis phage-encoded endolysins are discussed.