PhD defence M.M. (Michèle) Molendijk

Bacteriophage Therapy. Bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo phage efficacy

On Tuesday 26 August 2026, M.M. Molendijk will defend the doctoral thesis titled:  Bacteriophage Therapy. Bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo phage efficacy

Promotor
Prof. dr. M.P.G. Koopmans
Promotor
Prof. dr. A. Verbon
Promotor
Dr. W.J.B. van Wamel
Co-promotor
Dr. M. de Graaf
Date
Tuesday 26 Aug 2025, 15:30 - 17:00
Type
PhD defence
Space
Professor Andries Querido room
Building
Education Center
Location
Erasmus MC
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Below is a brief summary of the dissertation: 

Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have saved millions of lives. However, bacteria are increasingly developing resistance, making infections more difficult to treat. In 2017, the WHO identified the ESKAPE pathogens as a serious global health threat, including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This bacterium can develop resistance to various antibiotics and can form biofilms, further complicating treatment.
Phage therapy presents a potential solution. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria and are widely found in water and soil. They target specific bacterial strains without disrupting the patient’s natural microbiota. Additionally, some phages can degrade biofilms, enhancing antibiotic efficacy. However, challenges remain: bacteria can develop phage resistance, and phage efficacy depends on various environmental factors.
This study investigated the diversity of therapeutic phages in wastewater, revealing their global distribution. Furthermore, findings indicated that S. aureus phages are inactivated in human serum, affecting phage therapy. Research on biofilm-associated infections in LVAD heart implants demonstrated that phage-antibiotic combinations can have synergistic effects, though results varied. In an ex vivo burn wound model, phages successfully reduced bacterial loads on both porcine and human skin, particularly when applied preventively.
These findings emphasize the importance of realistic experimental conditions in phage selection. Moreover, cross-disciplinary collaboration is crucial to optimizing phage therapy and effectively combating antibiotic-resistant infections in the future

More information

The public defence will start exactly at 15.30 hrs. The doors will be closed once the public defence starts, latecomers can access the hall via the fourth floor. Given the solemn nature of the meeting, we advise not to bring children under the age of 6 to the first part of the ceremony. 
A livestream link has been provided to candidate. 

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