Press release written by Fedor Zurabov at MicroMir.
The collaborative teams of the Research and Production Centre “Micromir” and the Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Reanimatology and Rehabilitation have published the results of using two compositions of bacteriophages in the rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19. The article was published in Viruses.
This work is the first to use complex phage cocktails targeting several bacterial species for rehabilitation of patients.
Oral cocktails
The cocktail for oral administration produced by RPC “MicroMir” included 43 phages active against clinical strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter kobei, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus caprae, Staphylococcus suсcinus, Enterococcus faecium, and Citrobacter freundii. The preparation consisted of a sterile suspension of phage particles in a physiological solution. The titer of each bacteriophage was between 105 and 106 PFU/mL.
Inhalation cocktails
The cocktail for inhalation produced by RPC “MicroMir” included 45 phages active against clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. ozanae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus caprae, Staphylococcus suсcinus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae. The preparation consisted of a sterile suspension of phage particles in a physiological solution. The titer of each bacteriophage was between 105 and 106 PFU/mL.
Results of Post-Covid Phage therapy Rehabilitation
The results showed the safety of this application and the absence of side effects. The phage therapy group showed statistically significant improvements in saturation and respiratory rate as well as a decrease in inflammatory markers, such as ESR and Bacteroides fragilis group/Faecalibacterium prausnitzii ratio, according to PCR analysis of gut microbiota. The results demonstrate the relevance of bacteriophages in the rehabilitation of the microbiota of patients who have undergone COVID-19 and received antibiotic treatment.
Research sources:
Bacteriophage Cocktails in the Post-COVID Rehabilitation
Fedor M. Zurabov, Ekaterina A. Chernevskaya, Natalia V. Beloborodova, Alexander Yu. Zurabov, Marina V. Petrova, Mikhail Ya. Yadgarov, Valentina M. Popova, Oleg E. Fatuev, Vladislav E. Zakharchenko, Marina M. Gurkova, Ekaterina A. Sorokina, Egor A. Glazunov, Tatiana A. Kochetova, Victoria V. Uskevich, Artem N. Kuzovlev & Andrey V. Grechko. Published in Viruses 2022 | DOI: 10.3390/v14122614
About MicroMir
Research and production center “MicroMir” was founded in 2011. They stand for an eco-friendly approach to the human microbiome. MicroMir’s production center was built and operates in accordance with GMP regulations.
Currently, the company’s product portfolio includes 4 preparations with bacteriophages for humans, 1 product with bacteriophages for prevention and treatment of endometritis of bacterial etiopathogenesis in cows is registered as a drug for veterinary use in Russia, 1 preparation with bacteriophages for prevention of bacterial diseases in poultry farming is registered in Hungary. Jointly with Iskra, a cosmetic product with bacteriophages for problem skin has been registered and supplied to Japan. The company continues to develop preparations with bacteriophages for humans and livestock and actively cooperates with clinical institutions and agricultural producers.