As many of you know, many microbial infections are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics. Some examples include infections caused by MRSA (resistant to most legacy penicillins), VRE (resistant to vancomycin), and multi drug resistant strains of tuberculosis. Newer agents are holding the line for now, ie Linezolid for VRE, Vancomycin and Ceftaroline for MRSA. However, eventually, the bacteria will become resistant to these newer agents.
An interesting possibility in treating these ever evolving pathogens is to use their own weapon against them: biological adaptability. A bacteriophage is a viral particle that attacks bacteria, and may co-evolve and change itself to circumvent bacterial resistance against the viral onslaught.
http://en.wikipedia....i/Phage_therapy
No method is perfect, and this one is no exception, as there are many unique challenges and relative inexperience in the western world in incorporating this technique in the arsenal against infectious disease. Many phages are also highly specific and not as adaptable when bacteria mutate and become resistant.
Considering that phages have such promise, have there been any serious efforts directed to develop this into an accessible treatment option in the west?
Edited by Sdescon, 16 February 2012 - 11:13 AM.