Phage therapy

Definition

Phage therapy is the therapeutic use of bacteriophages to treat pathogenic bacterial infections. It leverages viruses that specifically target and destroy bacteria.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Phage therapy can be an alternative to antibiotics, especially for antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.
2. Bacteriophages are highly specific, targeting only particular species or strains of bacteria.
3. Phage therapy was widely used before the discovery of antibiotics but has seen renewed interest due to rising antibiotic resistance.
4. Administering phages can be done through various routes including oral, topical, and injectable forms.
5. Phage therapy's effectiveness depends on identifying the correct phage for the specific bacterial infection.

Review Questions

• What is one major advantage of phage therapy over traditional antibiotics?
• Why is specificity in bacteriophages both an advantage and a limitation in phage therapy?
• How has the rise of antibiotic resistance influenced interest in phage therapy?

Related terms

Bacteriophage:

A virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.

Antibiotic Resistance:

The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic.

Lytic Cycle:

A process where a bacteriophage takes over a cell's machinery to produce more phages, resulting in cell lysis.