Bacteriophages (phages for short) are bacteria-specific viruses that have been drawing attention when it comes to countering the ever-growing antibiotic bacterial resistance, and are being seen as one of the most promising technologies against multi-antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Although bacteriophages are commonly regarded only as anti-bacterial objects unable to directly interact with eukaryotic cell metabolism, an increasing quantity of evidence has indicated that bacteriophages can directly affect cells bacteria in both in vitro and in vivo applications, influencing the behavior of tissues and immune systems. In sight of this new range of applications, several authors have expressed enthusiasm in phage therapy as direct modulators of eukaryotic cells for clinical usage, highlighting the need for further investigations covering the pharmacology of these new “eukaryotic-viruses”, as even harmful interactions with eukaryotic cells were detected after phage therapy. The present review aims to cover and highlight mechanisms through which bacteriophages may interact with immune cells, analyzing potential clinical applications and obstacles presented in the use of bacteriophages as anti-inflammatory tools.

We report the use of bacteriophages for control of Salmonella Enteritidis in poultry production. Phage was isolated by the double-agar plate assay from agricultural waste samples, and one isolate, named SM1, was selected and propagated for application in poultry litter. Two experimental protocols were tested: single treatment and repeated treatment (re-application of phage SM1 after 6 h and 12 h). Each treatment cycle involved 25 g of poultry litter placed in plastic boxes and contaminated with 10⁵ Colony Forming Units mL⁻¹ (CFU mL⁻¹) of S. Enteritidis, in independent duplicates. The contaminated litter was treated with 10⁶ Plaque Forming Units mL⁻¹ (PFU mL⁻¹) of SM1 phage by dripping. Repeated application of phage SM1 reduced Salmonella counts by over 99.9%; the phage persisted in poultry litter for over 35 days. This study illustrates the application of SM1 treatment as a promising technology for bacterial control in production matrices that could allow safe and sustainable use of agricultural waste products as biofertilizers.

Biofilm-associated infections on biomedical devices represent a major clinical challenge due to their high tolerance to antimicrobial treatments and their association with chronic and recurrent infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a clinically relevant biofilm-forming pathogen, particularly on titanium-based implants used in medical and dental applications.In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the antibiofilm activity of bacteriophages (phages) against P. aeruginosa biofilms on titanium by assessing reductions in viable cell counts and biofilm biomass. The phages were tested both for their ability to eradicate mature biofilms and to prevent the formation of new ones. Phage treatment resulted in a marked reduction of biofilm biomass and viable cells(reductions exceeding 90%). . For the ATCC strain, reduction efficiencies ranged from 50.53% to 99.78%, while for the clinical isolate, reductions varied from 0.01% to 99.94%. Phages PA4 and PA5 showed the highest and most consistent activity, achieving reductions above 99%. Prophylactic application effectively inhibited biofilm formation. No clear dose–response relationship was observed, and efficacy varied depending on strain, phage, and infection conditions. Phages show strong potential as antibiofilm agents on titanium surfaces. The observed variability highlights the complexity of phage–biofilm interactions and supports further in vivo studies and the development of tailored phage-based strategies for device-associated infections.

Biofilm-associated infections on biomedical devices are a major clinical challenge. These infections are resistant to antimicrobial treatments and often cause chronic and recurrent problems. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant biofilm-forming pathogen, particularly on titanium-based implants used in medical and dental applications. Bacteriophages have emerged as a promising alternative for preventing and eradicating biofilms. This study evaluated the effectiveness of bacteriophages in controlling P. aeruginosa biofilms on titanium. It tested their ability to eradicate mature biofilms and prevent the formation of new ones. Microbiological assays, efficacy analyses, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. Bacteriophages significantly reduced biofilm biomass, with reductions over 90% in most cases. For the ATCC strain, efficiencies ranged from 50.53% to 99.78%. For the clinical strain, reductions varied between 0.01% and 99.94%. Among the tested phages, PA4 and PA5 were the most effective, consistently achieving reductions of over 99%. Prophylactic treatment completely inhibited biofilm formation, regardless of phage concentration or bacterial strain. Although variations in efficacy were observed depending on strain, phage type, and multiplicity of infection, complicating the establishment of a clear dose-response relationship, the results confirm the strong potential of bacteriophages as both therapeutic and preventive agents against biofilm-related infections on titanium biomedical devices. These findings provide a crucial foundation for future clinical and industrial applications, contributing to the development of safer and more reliable titanium-based implants.

O surgimento de patógenos ao longo da história evolutiva que utilizam vias ambientais de infecção/contaminação denotou a necessidade das ferramentas de monitoramento. Em meio a pandemia de COVID-19, causada pelo vírus SARS-CoV-2, a detecção do RNA viral no esgoto bruto tornou-se possível e útil como uma ferramenta epidemiológica, já que o vírus é excretado pelas fezes humanas. Métodos focados na detecção do RNA viral (técnicas baseadas em biologia molecular) e de partículas virais infecciosas (por cultura celular) foram utilizados para a detecção do SARS-CoV-2 em amostras de secreção de pacientes infectados. O monitoramento se mostra eficaz para compreender a circulação de vírus que utilizam rota fecal-oral, podendo antecipar futuros surtos em regiões específicas. Além disso, possibilita a observação das mutações e variantes em circulação num dado momento, através do sequenciamento. Este capítulo é um reporte das bases da ferramenta epidemiológica para o monitoramento viral em esgoto sanitário implementada pelo Laboratório de Virologia Aplicada da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, denominado “VigEAI” - Vigilância Epidemiológica Ambiental Integrativa.

Os bacteriófagos, entidades replicativas dependentes de bactérias, realizam seu ciclo replicativo dentro dessas células hospedeiras. Desde sua descoberta, a utilização dos bacteriófagos foi inicialmente incentivada, porém, posteriormente, desestimulado, sobretudo devido à predominância do uso e comércio de biocontroladores químicos. Nos últimos anos, novas pesquisas têm demonstrado as aplicações biotecnológicas promissoras dos bacteriófagos, particularmente em relação ao biocontrole de bactérias patogênicas. A capacidade lítica de certos bacteriófagos, revela um potencial no biocontrole de bactérias patogênicas em diferentes matrizes. Por outro lado, a transferência horizontal de genes de resistência entre diferentes grupos bacterianos, mediada por bacteriófagos com capacidade lisogênica, enfatiza a necessidade da compreensão acerca dos fagos envolvidos e dos genes de resistência predominantes em diversas matrizes ambientais. A resistência bacteriana, quando não controlada adequadamente, pode ter repercussões significativas no âmbito de saúde única, afetando a saúde animal e humana e potencialmente circulando e contaminando o ambiente. Este capítulo oferece uma análise aprofundada desses tópicos, destacando a importância crítica da pesquisa e aplicação responsável dos bacteriófagos na busca por soluções biotecnológicas.