Immune Dynamics in Phage Therapy: From Molecular Interactions to Clinical Perspectives

Phage therapy has recently garnered significant attention as an alternative or adjunctive approach to conventional antibiotic treatments, especially against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Despite promising clinical outcomes noted in numerous case studies, the successful clinical integration of phage therapy has been hindered by gaps in understanding the complex interactions between phages and the host immune system. Unanswered questions remain regarding how phages modulate innate and adaptive immunity, how immune components influence phage activity and persistence, and what specific molecular mechanisms underpin these dynamic interactions. Moreover, recent studies on the fitness trade-offs associated with phage-resistance have opened new avenues in phage therapy. This approach seeks to attenuate the virulence and immune evasion of pathogenic bacteria, even when phage-resistant variants emerge. Although numerous advances have recently been made, insights into both beneficial and detrimental immune responses during phage therapy are essential for its safe and effective transition into broader medical use.



This Research Topic aims to enhance the understanding of the fundamental molecular mechanisms underpinning phage interactions with host immunity, and to translate these insights into improved therapeutic strategies and safer clinical applications. Key objectives include identifying specific immune pathways triggered during phage therapy, evaluating host immune responses in clinical trials, investigating immunological changes in target pathogenic bacteria induced by phage therapy or phage exposure, and establishing strategies to optimize immunological outcomes in therapeutic settings.



To gather further insights within the context of immune responses to phage therapy, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:



• Molecular mechanisms of phage recognition and immune modulation.

• Host innate and adaptive immune responses elicited by therapeutic phages.

• Interactions between phages and immune effector cells.

• Immunological responses and virulence of phage-resistance variants.

• Influence of immune responses on phage persistence, efficacy, and therapeutic outcome.

• Immunological biomarkers for predicting efficacy and safety of phage interventions.

• Advances and challenges in clinical trials utilizing phage therapy from an immunological perspective.

• Strategies for optimizing immune responses to enhance phage therapy effectiveness.



We invite original research articles, reviews, perspective articles, and clinical case studies that contribute significantly to expanding our knowledge in this critical field.