One of the most effective methods of treating bacterial diseases are bacteriophages. These viruses infect bacterial cells, getting inside their agent and thereby infecting it. In nature, bacteriophages are found in almost all places where there are all conditions for the spread of bacteria that they infect. Thus, they act as an agent that controls the number of microorganisms in nature. The history of the discovery of this type of treatment is associated with the research of several scientists in the early twentieth century. Although several trials were conducted independently in the initial stages, bacteriophages were first described by English scientists. A couple of years later, the discovery of bacteriophages by the French-Canadian scientist F. D'Erell was reported.
In medicine, they are effectively used in the treatment of various bacteriological diseases. Phages are mainly used as an antibacterial drug. In our online shop " ”You can purchase bacteriophages for treatment. Since there are different types of phages, you can get detailed information about them on our website. Our experts are ready to consult and help you choose the right drug for treatment.
The mechanism of action of bacteriophages
Bacteriophages begin to act after they penetrate the cell of the infecting bacteria and multiply. According to the method of defeat, they are divided into moderate and virulent. The latter multiply faster, and lead to the death of infected cells. Although in some respects they are retreating to antibiotics, bacteriophages are still actively used in the treatment of bacteriological diseases due to their stability and ability to constantly act effectively. It is also worth noting the absence of side effects in the human body.
The action of bacteriophages can be represented by the following steps:
- At the beginning of the fibril, the bacteriophage will fix on the surface of the bacterium
- the genetic material of this agent is transmitted to the bacterium in a special way
- young phages develop inside bacteria
- Further, phage nucleic acid replication occurs.
- bacterial metabolism is rearranged, creating a condition for the propagation of phages
- bacteriophages infect the bacterium and come to the surface.
Today they are widely used against pseudomonads, streptococci, staphylococci, proteins and a number of other bacteria that can cause serious diseases in the body. Despite such widespread use, bacteriophages are also not without drawbacks. First of all, the specificity of this drug is isolated, since one type can affect only a certain type of cell. Therefore, there are problems in selecting the appropriate bacteriophage.
The course of treatment with this method takes longer than antibiotics. There is also an opinion that they indirectly affect the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, since they are able to transfer information from one cell to another.