Speakers - 2026

The global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has created an urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antibiotics. Bacteriophages—viruses that specifically infect bacteria—have re-emerged as a precision solution due to their specificity, safety, and compatibility with the human microbiota. This presentation will explore the historical and contemporary applications of phage therapy, integrating decades of Eastern European clinical experience with modern genomic and microbiota research. Recent studies indicate that phages can selectively eliminate multidrug-resistant pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, while preserving the ecological balance of the host microbiome. Innovations such as personalized phage cocktails, engineered phages, and phage-derived enzymes enhance specificity and efficacy. Understanding phage–microbiota interactions also reveal their regulatory roles within gut, skin, and respiratory ecosystems, offering new perspectives on infection control and microbiome management. By synthesizing historical clinical practices with modern molecular approaches, this talk presents a comprehensive framework for the clinical implementation of phage therapy. Attendees will gain practical and theoretical insights, including strategies for phage cocktail design, safety protocols, and potential translational applications in research and clinical practice.

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