Antibiotic era at an end?

[reptilians]

Well evolution tells us that it should eventually happen. When it will fully happen is still pretty dam far off.

[brianp]

Whatever happened to bacteriophages - viruses that attack specific bacteria? Wasn't this therapy heralded a few years back as potentially superior to antiobiotics because it could target only the pathogens leaving the useful bacteria unharmed?

[Pebble]

Whatever happened to bacteriophages - viruses that attack specific bacteria? Wasn't this therapy heralded a few years back as potentially superior to antiobiotics because it could target only the pathogens leaving the useful bacteria unharmed?

Like most things, rather more complicated than the Daily Wail first reported:


Environ Microbiol. 2009 Nov;11(11):2789-805. Epub 2009 Aug 18.
The role of interactions between phage and bacterial proteins within the infected cell: a diverse and puzzling interactome.
Roucourt B, Lavigne R.

Division of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21 box 2462, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
Interactions between bacteriophage proteins and bacterial proteins are important for efficient infection of the host cell. The phage proteins involved in these bacteriophage-host interactions are often produced immediately after infection. A survey of the available set of published bacteriophage-host interactions reveals the targeted host proteins are inhibited, activated or functionally redirected by the phage protein. These interactions protect the bacteriophage from bacterial defence mechanisms or adapt the host-cell metabolism to establish an efficient infection cycle. Regrettably, a large majority of bacteriophage early proteins lack any identified function. Recent research into the antibacterial potential of bacteriophage-host interactions indicates that phage early proteins seem to target a wide variety of processes in the host cell - many of them non-essential. Since a clear understanding of such interactions may become important for regulations involving phage therapy and in biotechnological applications, increased scientific emphasis on the biological elucidation of such proteins is warranted.


Future Microbiol. 2010 Jul;5(7):1041-55.
Bacteriophages of Pseudomonas.
Ceyssens PJ, Lavigne R.

Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, bus 2462, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
Pseudomonas species and their bacteriophages have been studied intensely since the beginning of the 20th century, due to their ubiquitous nature, and medical and ecological importance. Here, we summarize recent molecular research performed on Pseudomonas phages by reviewing findings on individual phage genera. While large phage collections are stored and characterized worldwide, the limits of their genomic diversity are becoming more and more apparent. Although this article emphasizes the biological background and molecular characteristics of these phages, special attention is given to emerging studies in coevolutionary and in therapeutic settings.

[brianp]

Like most things, rather more complicated than the Daily Wail first reported:

Thanks - but, if I've understood these extracts correctly, they are merely saying we don't fully understand how bacteriophages work or their potential side effects. They don't really address the basic issue - do bacteriophages reliably and effectively cure bacterial infections in humans? Of course I'm just an interested layman who studied physics and chemistry but knows bugger all about biology beyond O'level, so I may be way off the mark.

[Pebble]

Basically they work sometimes, but not reliably or predictably. So as yet not part of practice. Need much greater understanding before worthwhile sizeable clinical trials can be considered.

[brianp]

Basically they work sometimes, but not reliably or predictably. So as yet not part of practice. Need much greater understanding before worthwhile sizeable clinical trials can be considered.

Thank you.