Phage therapy

Phage Therapy

Phage therapy (pronunciation: /feɪdʒ θɛrəpi/) is a type of medical treatment that uses bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, to treat bacterial infections. The term "phage therapy" comes from the Greek word "phagein," which means "to eat," and the term "therapy," which means "treatment."

History

The concept of phage therapy was first proposed in the early 20th century by Frederick Twort and Félix d'Herelle, who independently discovered bacteriophages. However, it was not until the 1980s that phage therapy began to gain more widespread attention, due in part to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Mechanism of Action

Phage therapy works by using bacteriophages to infect and kill bacteria. The bacteriophages bind to specific receptors on the surface of the bacteria, inject their genetic material, and then use the bacteria's own machinery to replicate. This process eventually causes the bacteria to burst, releasing new bacteriophages that can go on to infect other bacteria.

Applications

Phage therapy has been used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including those caused by E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa. It has also been used to treat infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

Advantages and Disadvantages

One of the main advantages of phage therapy is that it can be used to treat infections that are resistant to antibiotics. Additionally, because bacteriophages are highly specific, they do not harm the body's normal flora. However, one of the main disadvantages is that the body's immune system can sometimes mount a response against the bacteriophages, rendering the therapy less effective.

Related Terms

• Bacteriophage
• Antibiotic resistance
• Bacterial infection

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Phage therapy
• Wikipedia's article - Phage therapy

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