Phage therapy: new hope in the fight against antibiotic resistance

Author: Duan Yuechu and Huang Yanhong

In the vast universe of science, every exploration may bring new breakthroughs. This article published in Scientific American on December 31, 2024 focuses on the cutting-edge field of phage therapy, which reveals new ways to combat antibiotic resistance.

1. Research Background

The article was written by Saima Iqbal and edited by Tanya Lewis. The article mentioned that as microorganisms continue to become more resistant to antibiotics, the problem of antibiotic resistance is becoming increasingly serious. In this context, phage therapy has gradually come into people's attention. Phages are viruses that look like tiny rocket ships and can specifically attack and kill bacteria.

2. Research Content

1. Application of phage therapy: Phage therapy can be used to treat a variety of infectious diseases, such as those caused by Shigella, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and E. coli. Some food industry producers have used FDA-approved "phage spray" to purify food supplies such as lettuce and sausages.

2. The difference between bacteriophages and antibiotics: The biological mechanism of bacteriophages is different from that of human cells, but it matches the mechanism of bacteria almost perfectly. It can attach to bacteria, enter the bacteria and multiply in large numbers, eventually bursting the bacteria. While bacteria develop resistance to bacteriophages, bacteriophages can also evolve to produce more attachment mechanisms.

3. Development of phage therapy: Bacteriophages were first discovered in 1917, earlier than antibiotics. In the 1920s and 1930s, phages were widely used to treat infectious diseases with some success. However, due to excessive publicity of phages by some companies, American doctors considered phages too unpredictable and abandoned them. Since then, the widespread use of antibiotics has almost forgotten phages.

4. Current research progress: Today, as the problem of antibiotic resistance becomes more serious, phage therapy has once again attracted attention. Scientists extract phages from wastewater and test their bactericidal ability in laboratories and clinics. Currently, related experiments are underway, and more and more funds are being invested in phage research.

3. Research significance

1. Solve the problem of antibiotic resistance: Phage therapy provides a new way to solve the problem of antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics fail, phages can effectively kill bacteria and save patients' lives.

2. Promote medical progress: The development of this therapy is expected to bring new changes to the medical field, improve treatment effects, and reduce the occurrence of infectious diseases.

3. Explore new treatment methods: Research on phage therapy also provides ideas for exploring other new treatment methods, which helps promote the development of the entire medical field.

IV. Expert opinions

1. Expectations for phage therapy: Scientists believe that phage therapy has great potential and can become a powerful weapon in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

2. Challenges and difficulties: Although phage therapy has great prospects, it also faces some challenges. For example, the production and dosage control of phages need further research to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

3. Future Outlook: With the continuous deepening of research, phage therapy is expected to be more widely used in the future and bring benefits to human health.

In conclusion, phage therapy, as a new type of treatment, brings new hope to solve the problem of antibiotic resistance. Through in-depth research and continuous exploration, we believe it will play an important role in the future.