In the battle against antibiotic resistance, many scientists have been trying to deploy naturally occurring viruses called bacteriophages that can infect and kill bacteria.
Bacteriophages kill bacteria through different mechanisms than antibiotics, and they can target specific strains, making them an appealing option for potentially overcoming multidrug resistance. However, quickly finding and optimizing well-defined bacteriophages to use against a bacterial target is challenging.
In a new study, MIT biological engineers showed that they could rapidly program bacteriophages to kill different strains of E. coli by making mutations in a viral protein that binds to host cells. These engineered bacteriophages are also less likely to provoke resistance in bacteria, the researchers found.
That is such uplifting news. I hope they continue to find answers to the worry of becoming immune to antibiotics. You always seem to find such useful information to share with us. Many thanks.
Thanks for link to MIT research. I came across Phage success some years ago at San Diego which led to the Eliava institute in Georgia (country) Ex Russian .
They have been using Phages for decades and have vast experience.
I sent to them Sputum samples that they assessed and provided a treatment protocol. Their tests did not show they had an exact match for the target bacteria but they were willing to tailor make a Phage to eliminate my problem bacteria. The cost was stated to be around $ 4,000.
Being a bit sceptical of old Russian technology I showed the protocol to the Royal Brompton Bronchiectasis specialists for reassurance.
The advice was strongly not to dabble into a foreign poorly regulated technology. Western hospitals are working hard to catch up on Phages but are some way from having them available at present. So whilst Phages may be the way to go, it's not for the moment in the UK.
There was a program on BBC 2 That i saw back around last Feb., it was fronted by Angela Rippon and where Phages had been used successfully by a lady in the midlands to treat Bronchiectasis, unfortunately no details except that the Phage had been supplied from Georgia.
Thanks for the follow up to my e-mail, it certainly shows you have first hand information relating to Phages. Yes, we have to wait and see but at least we know things are moving in the right direction. Take care.
This therapy has beeen used in UK a few months ago this year at gt ormond st, a 17 old with cystic fibrosis.
An american was treated successfully at a unit at San Diego Uni. I think it was called IPATH
It is being investigated in the west in a number of places 9 leicester and liverpool i think )but in Russia there is a clinic were it can be obtained without prescription, troube is identifying the cause unless they have found a quicker way
Interestingly, the long term implication of Paige Lawrence's thesis on the environmental effect on genetic transcription is one of a form of soft eugenics, in that it must call on state action to control and adjust the influenza virus. This must be challenging on certain ethical grounds concerning environmental consequences of clean-up policies.
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Prophylactic Antibiotics
Article on pneumonia, sepsis and antibiotic resistance
