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Publications

Journal Article Ahead of print

PubMed: 42492299 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2026.101902

Neutralizing antibodies are not detected against endogenous bacteriophages in their respective host.

Biologicals 95:101902

Authors: Sonam Rastogi, Alka Shukla, Mayank Gangwar, Sudhir Kumar Singh, Manoj Kumar, Deepak Kumar, Vandana Rastogi, Chanda Hemaliya, Gopal Nath

Affiliations

  • Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
  • Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
  • Clinical Studies and Trial Unit, Division of Development Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.
  • Department of Statistics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
  • Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
  • Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Bacteriophages are increasingly recognized as vital modulators of the human microbiome and promising candidates for alternative antimicrobial therapies. Critics raise concerns about immune neutralization with prolonged use. This study examines the presence of bacteriophages in human body fluids and assesses their interaction with autologous and heterologous serum to evaluate immune neutralization of human phage isolates.

METHODS

Inactivation and neutralization experiments were conducted by exposing samples to neat serum and complement-inactivated serum for 1 h to assess their ability to inactivate human-origin phages.

RESULTS

This finding suggests that autologous bacteriophages from human subjects are recognized as self. These phages were not inactivated by either the complement system or neutralized by either homologous or heterologous antibodies.

CONCLUSION

This finding indicates that endogenous phages may reduce worries that antibody or complement activation could inactivate them. It provides evidence that these phages might bypass antibody- or complement-induced neutralization, thereby strengthening their case for therapeutic use.

MeSH

Serum, Antibodies, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Bacteriophages, Complement System Proteins, Therapeutics