Phagolysis is the process of destruction by bacterial phages, usually occurs in the affected organ during spontaneous recovery. In the event that self-recovery has not occurred, the body can be helped by the introduction of an appropriate bacteriophage obtained in a pharmaceutical enterprise. Bacteriophages are bacteria viruses that, when meeting with microbial cells sensitive to them, penetrate and cause their dissolution (lysis).
Translated from Greek bacteriophage means "eater of bacteria." In nature, these microorganisms are very diverse and make up the largest of the currently known virus groups. Phages have a structure that is different from plant, animal, and human viruses, and is more complex. They are found in precipitation, in air, in soil, in food, on objects, skin, animal hair, in a word, wherever bacteria are found.
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in bacteriophages used as an alternative to antibiotics. And this is not surprising, and those and other drugs directly affect the causative agents of infections. However, antibiotics are known to be detrimental not only to pathogenic flora, but also to beneficial. Bacteriophages, the species of which are different, act selectively, only on “their” bacterium, leaving fragments from it. Actually, that’s why scientists didn’t come up with their names, because it’s easier to name them according to the bacteria that they act on.
Bacteriophages: species
They produce streptococcal, coli-protein, klebsiellosis, staphylococcal, pseudomonas aeruginosa, salmonella, dysentery, typhoid bacteriophages, as well as Intestifag and Pyobacteriophage.
The activity of drugs is determined by the degree of their dilution, at which lysis of a sensitive culture occurs. So, titer 10 to the 6th degree means that this bacteriophage exhibits lytic properties when diluted 1,000,000 times. At a temperature of 4-6 C, the preparations retain their properties for up to 12 years.
Depending on the form of release, bacteriophages also differ in activity. Types of drugs can affect both individual pathogens, and several at once. Monophages affect several strains of a single bacterium. Complex preparations (polyvalent) include the bacteriophage Sextafag, which is simultaneously able to suppress the activity of staphylococci, streptococci, including enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella. In addition, there is an Intestifag designed to treat intestinal infections, it includes salmonella, typhoid, dysentery, protea, coli and streptococcal (suppressing enterococci) phages.
They use drugs for dysbiosis, intestinal infections, inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system and bronchopulmonary apparatus, for the treatment of purulent-septic processes, as well as for diseases of the oral cavity and sinuses. They are used both inside, including in the form of enemas, and locally - for rinsing, washing wounds, douching. For example, the “Klebsiella polyvalent purified bacteriophage”, intended for the treatment of ozone, rhinoscleromas, infections caused by the Klebsiella pneumonia bacterium , is used by inhalation for lesions of the trachea, larynx and pharynx; With cystitis, enterocolitis, urethritis, pneumonia, the drug is taken orally.
Bacteriophages have many advantages over antibiotics. They have no side effects, they are prescribed even for newborns and pregnant women, they are not addictive. They can be combined with any medicines, and also used to prevent infectious diseases. These drugs have a beneficial effect on the formation of immunity, do not suppress the natural flora, their effect is manifested within 2-4 hours after administration. To them does not develop resistance of pathogenic microorganisms.
Bacteriophages have one drawback. Their types, used today in medicine, are still few in number, which limits their use in many infections.
Application prospects
In order to successfully use biological products, it is necessary to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to them. However, scientists noticed an interesting pattern: the sensitivity of microorganisms to phages does not decrease, but rather increases, which is explained by the enrichment of drugs with new cultures. To date, staphylococcal bacteriophage successfully lyses up to 90% of all strains of these bacteria secreted by purulent-septic lesions.
Many infectious disease specialists believe that phage therapy will soon revolutionize the fight against disease. Immunologists see the prospect of using these drugs where immunotherapy is powerless. According to analytical studies, in the next few years, one of the most promising areas of pharmacology will be the production of phages.