The Interactions between Phages and Their Hosts

Dear Colleagues,

Phages (viruses that infect bacteria) are very specific to their host bacteria. There is an increasing understanding that eukaryotic cells such as human cells are not completely immune to phages. In the context of tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the major global health problems of the 21st century, the exploitation of phages for therapeutic purposes has never been so important. One key aspect in the application of phages in biotechnology and medicine is a foundational understanding of phage–bacteria interactions and, to a large extent, interactions with human and animal cell lines.

We appreciate that there are many hurdles to overcome before the therapeutical potential of phages can be fully established. One of the barriers to therapeutic phage development is the lack of sufficient scientific evidence of in vivo phage–host interactions. It is also becoming increasing clear that parameters obtained from in vitro assays are difficult to extrapolate in in vivo settings. Obviously, more effort is needed to study phage–host interactions with model systems that can translate preclinical findings into what will happen in humans.

This Special Issue will focus on the ongoing progress and novel discoveries in the field of phage–host interactions to accelerate phage therapeutic applications and maintain the momentum of phage research. Understanding phage–host interactions paves the way for the emerging subject of phage pharmacology.

In this Special Issue, we welcome contributions from the following aspects:

1. The molecular mechanism of the first step of phage–bacteria interactions: the adsorption of phages onto a bacterial surface. The adsorption process involves an interaction between the receptor-binding proteins (RBPs) located on the phage tails and phage receptors on the bacterial surface, including the outer membrane proteins, lipopolysaccharides, components of bacterial capsules, pili and flagella, etc.
2. Phage–host arms races, such as phages producing anti-restriction and/or anti-CRISPR molecules to counterattack bacterial defence systems to prevent phage infection, the phage take-over of bacterial transcription, etc.
3. The mechanism underlying phage particle assembly and the lysis of host cells.
4. Observational or mechanistic studies on phage life cycles and pre-clinical studies on phage therapy.
5. The impact of phage–eukaryotic interactions on phage–bacteria dynamics.
6. Phage-resistant bacteria.
7. Phage pharmacokinetics and phage pharmacodynamics.
8. Considerations of technical advancements in phage product development. 

Dr. Jinyu Shan
Dr. Ahmed Dowah
Dr. Yuqing Liu
Dr. Janet Nale
Guest Editors

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