Neat Science in a Messy World: The global impact of human behaviour on phage therapy, past and present

The scientific potential of bacteriophage (phage) therapy is gaining recognition in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, phages are not well understood by the general population in the West and this is a major barrier to phage therapy. This piece takes an interdisciplinary approach to public “acceptability,” highlighting the significant impact that human behavior has had on the development of bacteriophage science to date, before addressing what current human factors might impact on the future exploitation of this scientific field. It argues that the history and status of phage therapy are not identical across the world, and that more understanding of different cultural attitudes in different places is essential. In addition, it argues that from a Western perspective, human issues relating to phage therapy make this science particularly susceptible to media hype and misunderstanding. Further study of the human dimensions is, therefore, crucial in any future development of phage therapy as a response to AMR.