http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/06/can-bacteria-slaying-viruses-defeat-antibiotic-resistant-infections-new-us-clinical?utm_campaign=news_daily_2018-06-22&et_rid=389974365&et_cid=2131862
I believe it is a promising alternative, at least in theory. This is because viruses are highly host specific and therefore makes for a good approach in targeted therapy without adverse side effects. Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) only target bacterial cells and do not infect eukaryotic cells just like antibiotics(ideally) only target bacterial cells. Like what the article said, the high specificity of viruses can also be a challenge to work with since no single virus is known to infect a broad range of bacteria. I think that is where genetic engineering steps in to engineer viruses that have a broader target range without jumping into eukaryotic cells or killing off protective normal flora.
Yes need a good quality research to answer that important question
I believe it is a promising alternative, at least in theory. This is because viruses are highly host specific and therefore makes for a good approach in targeted therapy without adverse side effects. Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) only target bacterial cells and do not infect eukaryotic cells just like antibiotics(ideally) only target bacterial cells. Like what the article said, the high specificity of viruses can also be a challenge to work with since no single virus is known to infect a broad range of bacteria. I think that is where genetic engineering steps in to engineer viruses that have a broader target range without jumping into eukaryotic cells or killing off protective normal flora.
I think this kind of therapeutical use of bacteriophages will certaily have the right to be effective in some cases. But my own experience in using anti-Staphylococcus bacteriophage in carriers of St. aureus was not so inspiring.
The key phrase in your question is "antibiotic-resistant infections". It is difficult to see phages being widely used ahead of antibiotics in empirical therapy due to their high bacterial host specificity. But in directed-therapy against known pathogenic isolates, including those for which antibiotics are not effective due to resistance, phages may offer an alternative anti-infective therapy. The bacterial host specificity can be an advantage as mentioned, but there is still some way to go before phage therapy products receive FDA approval for human use. Similar to the development of gene therapy products, the immune response to the administered phage dose will need to be carefully evaluated.
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