Phage Therapy for Drug-Resistant Pathogens: Difference between revisions
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<br>In this project, I will be researching phage therapy as a defense against drug-resistant pathogens, specifically bacteria. Typically, antibiotics are used in order to combat bacterial infections and have had a lot of success. Although, when antibiotics are used often, bacteria is capable of developing a resistance to the drug, rendering it much less effective. A newer potential defense of pathogens is phage therapy. Phage therapy uses bacteriophages, which are viruses that target and infect bacteria. Each type of bacteria is susceptible to a number of bacteriophages [1]. When using a bacteriophage to target a pathogen, bacterial lysis often occurs, leading to the breakdown of a cell’s membrane and bursting of the cell [1]. This would be a successful result in targeting a pathogen. The use of phage therapy actually dates back to the early 1900s, even before antibiotics were discovered. Once antibiotics were widely used, phage therapy dissipated but now that bacteria are developing drug-resistant characteristics, the use of phage therapy has gained a renewed interest and is continuously expanding. | <br>In this project, I will be researching phage therapy as a defense against drug-resistant pathogens, specifically bacteria. Typically, antibiotics are used in order to combat bacterial infections and have had a lot of success. Although, when antibiotics are used often, bacteria is capable of developing a resistance to the drug, rendering it much less effective. A newer potential defense of pathogens is phage therapy. Phage therapy uses bacteriophages, which are viruses that target and infect bacteria. Each type of bacteria is susceptible to a number of bacteriophages [1]. When using a bacteriophage to target a pathogen, bacterial lysis often occurs, leading to the breakdown of a cell’s membrane and bursting of the cell [1]. This would be a successful result in targeting a pathogen. The use of phage therapy actually dates back to the early 1900s, even before antibiotics were discovered. Once antibiotics were widely used, phage therapy dissipated but now that bacteria are developing drug-resistant characteristics, the use of phage therapy has gained a renewed interest and is continuously expanding. | ||
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Citations: <ref name=aa>[https://ncia.wwnorton.com/ebook-microbio5=pdf Slonczewski, J. L., & Foster, J. W. (2017). In Microbiology an evolving science. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Retrieved March 16, 2021.]</ref> | Citations: <ref name=aa>[https://ncia.wwnorton.com/ebook-microbio5=pdf Slonczewski, J. L., & Foster, J. W. (2017). In Microbiology an evolving science. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Retrieved March 16, 2021.]</ref> | ||
Revision as of 14:32, 17 March 2021
By [Katie Orefice]
In this project, I will be researching phage therapy as a defense against drug-resistant pathogens, specifically bacteria. Typically, antibiotics are used in order to combat bacterial infections and have had a lot of success. Although, when antibiotics are used often, bacteria is capable of developing a resistance to the drug, rendering it much less effective. A newer potential defense of pathogens is phage therapy. Phage therapy uses bacteriophages, which are viruses that target and infect bacteria. Each type of bacteria is susceptible to a number of bacteriophages [1]. When using a bacteriophage to target a pathogen, bacterial lysis often occurs, leading to the breakdown of a cell’s membrane and bursting of the cell [1]. This would be a successful result in targeting a pathogen. The use of phage therapy actually dates back to the early 1900s, even before antibiotics were discovered. Once antibiotics were widely used, phage therapy dissipated but now that bacteria are developing drug-resistant characteristics, the use of phage therapy has gained a renewed interest and is continuously expanding.
Citations: [1]
