The Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC) is one of the few centers in the world that specializes in all the steps required to treat phages.  The IPTC was established in collaboration between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and aims to provide …

Over the past two years, we developed a preliminary phage-bacteria matching pipeline, which we termed “clinical phage microbiology” (for phage treatment). This process includes bacterial characterization, phage efficacy testing in plaque assay and kinetic assays, assessing phage-antibiotics or phage-phage combinations, phage neutralization by serum components, and more.

We consider the adaptation of phages to the target bacterium as an art in order to provide optimal treatment. For adaptation, we perform a comprehensive series of tests that we call “Clinical Phage Microbiology”, aimed at exploring the combination and conditions that are best suited for optimal killing of the bacterium.

To predict the success of treatment we use additional models that simulate different types of infections, and different modes of phage administration. The models include in vivo experiments, testing for substances that interact with the phages, and phage stability in the various forms of administration.

Over the past three years, we performed 13 compassionate phage treatments in Israel. The treatments were varied and included an osteomyelitis infection, berlin heart, post-transplant infections, and more. We were also involved in other compassionate treatments globally, providing both phages and advice and a clinical trail.