Phage Lysins for Fighting Bacterial Respiratory Infections: A New Generation of Antimicrobials.

ABSTRACT: Lower respiratory tract infections and tuberculosis are responsible for the death of about 4.5 million people each year and are the main causes of mortality in children under 5 years of age. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial pathogen associated with severe pneumonia, although other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are involved in respiratory infections as well. The ability of these pathogens to persist and produce infection under the appropriate conditions is also associated with their capacity to form biofilms in the respiratory mucous membranes. Adding to the difficulty of treating biofilm-forming bacteria with antibiotics, many of these strains are becoming multidrug resistant, and thus the alternative therapeutics available for combating this kind of

SUBMITTER: Vazquez R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6232686 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature