Translational Barriers to Phage Endolysin Deployment for Antimicrobial Resistance Control in Africa

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing crisis in Africa, worsened by limited diagnostics, uncontrolled antibiotic use, and weak drug development pipelines. Phage-derived endolysins—promising next-generation antimicrobials—offer strong potential due to their rapid action and low risk of resistance, yet their development in Africa remains minimal.

This review identifies key barriers preventing progress, including limited scientific capacity, lack of infrastructure (e.g., phage repositories), weak regulatory frameworks, reliance on imports, and poor integration into national AMR strategies. It also highlights a mismatch between global research priorities and Africa’s specific pathogen landscape.

To address this gap, the paper calls for targeted investments in capacity building, regulatory harmonization, funding, and regional collaboration—positioning Africa not just as a recipient, but as an active contributor to future AMR solutions.