Science
Scientists seem to have found a way to use viruses to cope with other highly drug-resistant microbes that many experts call nothing more than the curse of the genus human. We are talking about so-called superinfections (or superinfections), which cause many infectious diseases that cannot be effectively treated with the help of modern medicine. Scientists have adopted bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) that can infect harmful bacteria and, multiplying within them, destroy superinfections. Despite the fact that bacteriophages have been studied as antibacterial agents for almost a hundred years (since their discovery in 1915), scientists have not always been able to effectively use the properties of these bacteria.
“Each bacteriophage reacts specifically to a specific type of bacteria and needs an appropriate host cell (a cell carrying the virus) to reproduce in it,” said David Harper ( David Harper, Chief Science Officer at AmpliPhi Bioscience Corporation, a British biotechnology company dedicated to the in-depth study of bacteria, microorganisms and viruses. — “The more similar bacterial targets exist, the faster bacteriophages spread, killing these cells. That is why it is likely that it will be possible to benefit greatly from treatment with bacteriophages in the fight against various infectious diseases characterized by significant the spread of pathogenic bacteria — for example, in case of chronic infections of the ears, lungs or serious injuries.”
“For infections of this type, a tiny portion of viruses — less than one thousandth, or even one millionth of a gram — will be enough. This dose will need to be administered directly to the site of infection by spraying the drug, using drops or cream. A significant advantage of bacteriophages is that they do not infect human cells, which means they are a fairly safe treatment, Harper said at the presentation the results of his research held in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference. — The need for a new An approach to solving the problem of resistance to pathogenic viruses is extremely important and urgent, as this will help save many lives.” It is reported that clinical trials of new drugs based on bacteriophages are currently in full swing.