Near East University Advances Phage Therapy Research With New Triple Phage Cocktail Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

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As antimicrobial resistance continues to threaten healthcare systems worldwide, researchers at Near East University are advancing the development of bacteriophage-based therapies targeting multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The university recently announced the isolation of a third therapeutic bacteriophage, named NEU2025, representing another major step in the institution’s expanding phage therapy program.

Dr Ferdiye Taner, neu.edu.tr

The newly identified phage was isolated through a collaboration between Near East University and La Trobe University in Australia. Genome analysis classified NEU2025 within the Pbunavirus group, a family of lytic bacteriophages known for infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the most clinically problematic opportunistic pathogens associated with hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is particularly concerning because of its remarkable ability to develop multidrug resistance through mechanisms such as efflux pumps, biofilm formation, enzymatic antibiotic degradation, and membrane permeability modifications. The bacterium is frequently associated with chronic respiratory infections, wound infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and severe infections in immunocompromised patients.

According to the research team, NEU2025 demonstrated activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas strains isolated from clinical samples. More importantly, its combination with the previously identified phages NEU2023 and NEU2024 has allowed researchers to develop a “triple phage cocktail” strategy designed to broaden bacterial targeting while reducing the probability of bacterial escape through phage resistance.

The concept of phage cocktails has become increasingly important in modern phage therapy research. Because bacteria can rapidly evolve resistance against individual bacteriophages, combining multiple phages with distinct receptor recognition mechanisms significantly improves therapeutic robustness. Multi-phage formulations may also enhance biofilm penetration and bacterial clearance in chronic infections where antibiotics alone often fail.

Near East University’s phage research program first gained international scientific attention with the discovery of NEU2023, later classified as a novel viral species named Alasiavirus after the ancient historical name of Cyprus, Alasia. The addition of NEU2024 and now NEU2025 considerably expands the therapeutic potential of the project and strengthens the university’s long-term objective of implementing clinically applicable phage therapy protocols.

To further accelerate translational development, members of the research team recently visited the George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology in Tbilisi, Georgia, one of the world’s most historically important centers for therapeutic phage research. During the visit, researchers examined phage production pipelines, regulatory frameworks, and clinical implementation strategies currently used in therapeutic settings.

The program also included international workshops involving clinicians and microbiologists from several countries, with discussions focusing on Good Manufacturing Practice standards, patient treatment protocols, bacteriophage characterization, and the evolving role of phage therapy in global antimicrobial resistance strategies.

Researchers involved in the project believe the next major step will be obtaining the regulatory approvals necessary to initiate broader clinical implementation. According to the university team, their long-term objective is not only to use phage therapy as a last-resort intervention, but eventually to integrate it earlier in infection management for multidrug-resistant bacterial diseases.

As interest in phage therapy continues to expand globally, the Near East University initiative reflects the growing effort to transform bacteriophages from experimental biological agents into standardized clinical therapeutics capable of complementing or replacing antibiotics in selected infections.


Source: https://neu.edu.tr/near-east-university-we-are-very-close-to-implementing-phage-therapy/

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