PHAGE THERAPY - SCI
& TECH
News: Could phage therapy help
combat antimicrobial resistance?
What's in the news?
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Recently, A study conducted by the University of
Exeter shows that the public is aware of and accepts the use of
bacteria-killing viruses, known as phage therapy, as an alternative to
antibiotics.
Phage Therapy:
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It is a treatment approach that uses bacteriophages, which are viruses that
infect and kill specific bacteria.
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The method involves using these viruses to target
and destroy bacterial infections, serving as an alternative to antibiotics.
Significance:
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Phages are highly specific in their action,
targeting only the specific bacteria they are programmed to attack, which can
potentially reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Go back to basics:
Bacteriophages:
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These are viruses that infect bacteria and use them as hosts for their replication.
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They are highly diverse and can target different types of bacteria.
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It was discovered by Frederick Willian Twort in
1915 (Great Britain) and Felix d’Herelle in 1917 (France).