Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42294726›Full record

ArticleMicrobiology spectrum2026

Systematic combinatorial optimization of three-phage cocktails against multidrug-resistant

Meshack Tweya Omwega, Moses Gachoya, Justin Nyasinga, Martin Georges, Collins Kigen, Kevin Kamanyi, Samuel Nyamweya, Erick Odoyo, Lillian Musila

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Microbiology spectrum, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Meshack Tweya OmwegaKenya Medical Research Institute, Kericho, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0001-6475-3798
Moses GachoyaMicrobiology Hub Kericho, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research-Africa, Kericho, Kenya.ORCID 0009-0005-8665-2345
Justin NyasingaKenya Medical Research Institute, Kericho, Kenya.
Martin GeorgesKenya Medical Research Institute, Kericho, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0002-4505-7380
Collins KigenKenya Medical Research Institute, Kericho, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0002-4893-1213
Kevin KamanyiDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Parasitology, Kisii University, Kisii, Kenya.
Samuel NyamweyaDepartment of Pathology, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya.
Erick OdoyoKenya Medical Research Institute, Kericho, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0002-9533-2803
Lillian MusilaMicrobiology Hub Kericho, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research-Africa, Kericho, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0003-1418-6523

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) IMPORTANCE: Bacteriophage cocktails are increasingly proposed as alternatives to antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria, yet their development remains largely empirical. This study challenges the assumption that the combination of effective phages yields additive or synergistic benefits. Through systematic evaluation of all possible three-phage combinations from five phages, we discovered that antagonistic interactions (50%) predominated over synergistic effects (10%), with some cocktails performing worse than individual phages. Using the Highest Single Agent independence model, we established a quantitative framework for rational cocktail design that identified a therapeutically superior formulation. This approach is generalizable across bacterial pathogens and provides a critical validation step for phage therapy development. Our findings demonstrate that rational testing of phage interactions is essential before

Indexed as

BacteriophagesDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialPhage TherapyPseudomonas aeruginosaPseudomonas InfectionsPseudomonas PhagesAnimalsAnti-Bacterial AgentsHumansAnti-Bacterial Agentsantimicrobial resistancebacteriophage therapybiofilmcombinatorial optimizationGalleria mellonellaHighest Single Agent independence modelinvertebrate infection modelphage cocktail designphage cocktailsphage interactionsPseudomonas aeruginosasynergy

Identifiers

PMID42294726
PMCPMC13339895

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.