Gut bacterial strains susceptible to transferred fecal bacteriophages

Gut bacterial strains susceptible to transferred fecal bacteriophages represent the specific microbial populations in a recipient's gastrointestinal tract that are targeted and lysed by viruses introduced via fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or fecal virome transplantation (FVT). This interaction is a critical component of microbiome-based therapies, as the selective elimination of certain bacterial strains by donor-derived phages can drive the restoration of a healthy microbial ecosystem (Draper et al., 2018; Ott et al., 2017). The susceptibility of these bacteria is highly specific, depending on the compatibility between phage receptor-binding proteins and bacterial surface structures like lipopolysaccharides or porins. In clinical settings, such as the treatment of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, the successful transfer and action of these phages are associated with positive patient outcomes and long-term microbiota stability (Zuo et al., 2018). However, this target is complex and dynamic, as bacteria can develop resistance through mechanisms like CRISPR-Cas systems or surface receptor modification. Understanding the landscape of susceptible strains is essential for the development of standardized, phage-based precision medicines for metabolic and inflammatory diseases (Rasmussen et al., 2020).

Other names

Phage-susceptible gut bacteriaBacteriophage-sensitive intestinal microbiotaTarget bacteria of fecal viromeFMT-transferred phage targets

Bacteriophages exert their effect through the lytic cycle, where they bind to specific bacterial surface receptors, inject genetic material, and hijack the host machinery to produce new virions, ultimately causing bacterial cell lysis and death (Draper et al., 2018; Rasmussen et al., 2020).