Yoon Hwang's Team Finds 14 Phages That Kill E. faecalis, Targeting 77% of Failed Root Canals
Updated
Updated · KERA News · Jul 13
Yoon Hwang's Team Finds 14 Phages That Kill E. faecalis, Targeting 77% of Failed Root Canals
1 articles · Updated · KERA News · Jul 13
Summary
A follow-up PLOS ONE paper found many of 14 newly identified bacteriophages effectively wiped out antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, pointing to a possible root-canal cleaning treatment and broader use against hard-to-treat infections.
The Navy-backed project focused on E. faecalis because the bacterium appears in up to 77% of failed root canals and can also cause urinary tract, bloodstream and heart-valve infections.
Researchers isolated the phages from wastewater in Austin, Arlington and Laredo, sequenced all 14 genomes and identified one entirely new species after launching the search in 2024.
phage therapy remains niche in the U.S., but the work adds to efforts to supplement antibiotics as resistance worsens; researchers estimate antimicrobial-resistant infections could kill nearly 40 million people worldwide between 2025 and 2050.
With new 'superbug'-killing viruses discovered, what's stopping them from reaching U.S. patients now?
Are these newly discovered phages a final cure, or just the next weapon in an endless evolutionary war with bacteria?
Fourteen Novel Bacteriophages Offer Breakthrough Against Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis in Root Canal Infections
Overview
A team led by microbiologist Yoon Hwang at the Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio has made a breakthrough by discovering and characterizing 14 new bacteriophages from Texas wastewater that specifically target Enterococcus faecalis, a major cause of stubborn root canal infections. These phages, named through a unique and locally inspired process, have been officially recognized by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Their ability to attack E. faecalis offers a promising new solution for treating infections that are resistant to conventional antibiotics, marking an important step forward in dental infection control.