Phage therapy in finfish aquaculture: how to get there?

Abstract

As antimicrobial resistance threatens the future of the aquaculture industry, numerous studies have investigated the use of phages against aquaculture diseases over the past decades. Despite reports of efficient pathogen control, commercial phage solutions are sparse. We discuss limitations of phage therapy and provide suggestions for the progression towards commercially viable solutions. We argue that phage therapy in aquaculture should focus on disease prevention rather than on treatment to reduce the need for antimicrobials. Further, the phage-delivery methods should target the variable pathogen distribution throughout the production chain. Finally, the key challenges of host-specificity and resistance should be tackled by developing predictive tools that can be used to assess phage-pathogen compatibility within a realistic timeframe.