Scientists experiment with using viruses to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Recently, Northwestern University modified DNA from a bacteriophage, a virus that attacks bacteria, to combat Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of hospital infections, a highly antibiotic resistant bacteria, responsible for 3,000,000 cases in the US annually, and 35,000 deaths. These infections are expected to increase as bacteria continue to develop new ways to resist antibiotics.
The experimenters used electroporation - short, high-voltage pulses of electricity - to poke holes in the bacteria's outer cell. The phage DNA then enters the bacteria through this stimulated “infection”. So far, these trials have been successful at eliminating the bacteria.
The idea of treatment without side effects - modifying viruses to attack specific bacteria - seems to be a much better alternative than current antibiotics used today that affect many different systems in the human body. Scientists are given much more incentive to explore this new field, as much is still unknown about phages, despite the existence of billions. As those at Northwestern University see it, the goal is to one day mass produce these modified phages as a therapeutic that will save billions.
Article: https://phys.org/news/2024-01-viruses-deadly-pathogens.html
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