Phage Therapy
Abstract
Phage therapy (PT) is also called bacteriophage therapy. In this therapy, viruses used to treat bacterial infections. Therefore, bacterial viruses are also called phages or bacteriophages. Thus, they only attack bacteria; therefore, phages are harmless to people, animals, and plants. Natural enemies of bacteria are the bacteriophages. The bacteriophage means the “bacteria eater” the bacteria mostly found in soil, sewage, water, among other places. These viruses allow the bacteria to grow appropriately naturally. Not so many people are aware of the phage therapy, but it’s not a recently discovered theory, it has been there for over 100 years. Thus, treatment is a known measure. However, there is a need for researchers to carry out more research on bacteriophages. Therefore, the disease therapy that enables the development of the bacteria considered useful alternatives to antibiotics.
Introduction
Bacteriophages or rather phages are bacterial viruses that enter into the bacterial cells. In the case of lytic phages, they disrupt the metabolism in the bacteria hence causing the bacterium to lyse. The history of the phages is claimed through findings by a British bacteriologist by the name Ernest Hankin, who made a report in 1896 after the marked presence of the antibacterial activity (against the Vibrio Cholerae). He later observed the Ganges and Jumna, in the water in India. He then suggested that the substance unidentified (which was passed through the fine porcelain filters and was heat-labile) altered through the responsibility from the given phenomenon to limit the cholera epidemics spread. After two years, the Russian bacteriologist Gamaleya observed a similar event. He had recently worked with bacteria Bacillus subtilis. The observations made the bacteriophage phenomenon seem related. Phage therapy then discovered to be therapeutic bacteriophages is used to provide treatment for the pathogenic bacterial infections. Therefore, bacteriophages are known as phages, and they are a form of viruses. Phages attach to the bacterial cells causing an injection to the viral genome into the cavity (Pirnay, 2015).
Bacteriophages destroy bacteria through the bursting of the bacteria. All this happens through the binding of the virus into the bacteria (Abedon, 2015). The infection of the bacteria done in the genes (DNA or RNA). The reproduction of the phage virus allows the virus to copy itself while it’s inside the bacteria. The new infections are about 1000 in copies in each bacterium. In the end, the virus breaks open by the release of the bacteriophages. The multiplications of bacteriophages are only done inside the bacterium. The bacterium is then lysed (dead), and the repetition stops. Phages lay dormant during hibernation until the growth of more bacteria. There is an increased report of the antimicrobial resistance that allows the new limited antibiotic discovered, and developed (Abedon, 2015). Therefore, through the fuelling of the innovation, as determined through field research, the revitalization of the phage (bacteriophage) mainly has led to the utilization of the lytic phages to allowing the killing of their respective bacterial hosts. The human cells then become intact and will enable the reduction of the impact in broad through the commensal bacteria that result in the use of antibiotics. The phage therapy becomes rapidly evolved as a result of the life-saving cases that are mainly therapeutic in the clinical trials in multiples; Moreover, among the challenges that the alternative antibiotic face are the policy and regulations in the surrounding clinical use and compassionate implementation cases.
In both Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, phage genuinely became a discovery that spread widely. All this is as a result of the therapeutic phage used as integration within the health care industry (Lin, 2017). However, potential therapy has recently investigated as a result of rigorous scientific standards. Critical information, as a result, clinical trial and success, include adequate characterization through phage selection as well as the targeted bacteria in humans. The data required, besides the formulations, dosing, and efficacy, without the characterization of the foundation, can be well-planned through the targeted value. Therefore, reports that are detailed to improve the quality of future research have allowed the replication and extension of the studies done recently, also the appropriate disease target through the consideration of the phage therapy (Lin, 2017). An example given is through the species specificity, and characterizations in most of the phages are generally desirable in monomicrobial diseases. Through the uniqueness, a significant limitation from the polymicrobial infection led to the administration of the phage through the combination of a suitable antibiotic—the provided considerations given through an imperative safety of the patience in clinical trials. Therefore, the removal of the pathogen through the consequent overgrowth in a second could allow the potentially fatal consequences.
On the other hand, the broad-host-range allows the phages to be shared than it is currently believed. Therefore, through the biases part, the isolation methods in phages allow the disparity through much further research. Among the current challenges in the progressing phage therapy in the clinic have not provided a validate, and an adequate clinical trial that controlled. Therefore, through the additional care, taken through the planning and designing of such experiments have provided the phage therapy through a naturally shared parallel, and standard drug in the clinical trials (Malik, 2017). However, their several factors unique to phages. The pharmacological considerations such as the dosage from the potential to the exponentially increase upon the interest in reaching the bacteria. Therefore, through the current give dosage, another proposal from the phages requires direct contact with the bacteria, and if broadly distributed, then they will be less efficient. Through the topical applications, the widely used is, however, addressed to achieve success (Malik, 2017). Therefore, after immunotherapy considerations, and combination of therapy, the approach given to phage cocktails provide a broader spectrum, and through the reduced activities, the chances given through the formation resistance significantly increase. The challenge assessed through the inflammatory effects and the potentiality for genes through the transfer of the phage to the development in the opposition for all phages in the cocktail.
An argument on the exposure of the bacteriophages (phages) has occurred in humans every day, and safe evidence in the context of clinical trials is then considered and addressed. Firstly, the relation to the sterility and phage preparation considering the purification as well has led to the imperative of products through excluding of toxins, and bacterial debris in the compilation from the good manufacturing practices providing a quality equivalence in the standard assurance (Nobrega, 2015). The quality parameters recommended to the bacteriophage to the products and from the point of phage the identification through the processes of manufacturing. The practice identified above is necessary for the consideration of safety before clinical trials.
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that invade the bacterial cells, and in the case of lytic phages, the disruption of bacterial metabolism causes the bacterium to destruct. Phage therapy is also the therapeutic use of lytic bacteriophages that enable the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections. Therefore, the bacterial host range of the phage is generally narrower as compared to antibiotics selected for the applications in the clinical tests. Phage is mostly specific for one species of bacteria considered to be able to lyse in specific strains in a species (Nobrega, 2015). Therefore, there is a limited host range, which can be advantageous in the phage therapy principle. The results provided are less harmful to the human body. The potential disadvantages in the clinical tests are associated with the narrow host range of most strains from the phage. Therefore, bacteria may become resistant to phages, but it is incomparably easier to develop a new phage other than a new antibiotic. Therefore, as bacteria evolve through resistance, the phages naturally evolve alongside them. Thus, when the super bacterium appears, the super phage can attack the bacterium. Phages, however, have particular advantages for localized use, and therefore, they penetrate deeper into the presence of infections. The phages will tend to stop reproducing, once the specific bacteria targeted is destroyed. Phages tend not to develop secondary resistance, and this leads to the application of phages in the range of infections.
Conclusion
Phages are formally known as bacteriophages, which are viruses that solely kill, and selectively target bacteria. Phages are the most common entities in the biological nature; they effectively fight and destroy the multi-drug resistant bacteria after the antibiotics fail. Phages still succeed in the destruction of bacteria, and this will spare one’s life from an infection. Therefore, the main concern is the increased rate of “superbugs,” which happen to be more resistant as compared to antibiotics. The phages still develop an impact on human health and can increase the longevity of life. Therefore, they’re still issues combined with the lacking of regulation as approved by the phage processes therapy.
References
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