International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Interactions of Bacteriophages with Animal and Human Organisms—Safety Issues in the Light of Phage Therapy Magdalena Podlacha 1 , Łukasz Grabowski 2 , Katarzyna Kosznik-Kaw´snicka 2 , Karolina Zdrojewska 1 , Małgorzata Stasiłoj´c 1 , Grzegorz W˛egrzyn 1 and Alicja W˛egrzyn 2,* 1 Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland;
[email protected] (M.P.);
[email protected] (K.Z.);
[email protected] (M.S.);
[email protected] (G.W.) 2 Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland;
[email protected] (Ł.G.);
[email protected] (K.K.-K.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +48-58-523-6024 Abstract: Bacteriophages are viruses infecting bacterial cells. Since there is a lack of specific receptors for bacteriophages on eukaryotic cells, these viruses were for a long time considered to be neutral to animals and humans. However, studies of recent years provided clear evidence that bacteriophages can interact with eukaryotic cells, significantly influencing the functions of tissues, organs, and systems of mammals, including humans. In this review article, we summarize and discuss recent discoveries in the field of interactions of phages with animal and human organisms. Possibilities of penetration of bacteriophages into eukaryotic cells, tissues, and organs are discussed, and evidence of the effects of phages on functions of the immune system, respiratory system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, urinary tract, and reproductive system are presented and discussed.