Gut Phages Interact with Human Cells, Opening New Therapeutic Avenues
Researchers at the Translational Microbiology Laboratory of the HUN-REN Biological Research Centre in Szeged have discovered that certain gut bacteriophages, or phages, can physically interact with human cells. While typically known to infect bacteria and not considered human pathogens, these phages utilize specific surface proteins as "molecular anchors." This mechanism facilitates attachment to human cells, cellular uptake, and extended retention within the gastrointestinal tract, as detailed in a study published in Nature Communications. The findings offer new insights into phage behavior within the human body and suggest potential pathways for therapeutic development.
Bacteriophages, commonly known as phages, are viruses that primarily infect bacteria and are not typically regarded as human pathogens. However, new research from the Translational Microbiology Laboratory at the Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre in Szeged, indicates that some gut phages possess the ability to physically interact with human cells.
The study identified specific phage surface proteins that function as "molecular anchors." These anchors play a crucial role in enabling the phages to attach to human cells, facilitating their uptake by these cells, and ensuring their prolonged presence within the gastrointestinal tract.
This discovery challenges existing perspectives on how phages behave once inside the body. The insights gained from understanding these interactions could be pivotal. They may unlock new opportunities for developing therapeutic strategies that leverage the unique properties of phages and their interaction with human physiology.
According to Phys.org, these findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
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