Bacteriophage therapy
Kate Hodgson
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences
Division of Health Sciences
University of South Australia
Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Tel: +61 8 8302 1374
Email: hodkr002@mymail.unisa.edu.au
Microbiology Australia 34(1) 28-31 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA13009
Published: 20 March 2013
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect only bacteria. They exhibit one of two types of life cycle; lytic (virulent) or lysogenic (temperate). They are non-toxic to other organisms, infecting, and in the case of lytic phages, multiplying rapidly within the bacterial host, ultimately killing it. Lysogenic phages can remain in a quiescent state where the genome is integrated into the bacterial chromosome or exist as a plasmid. Some enhance bacterial virulence by encoding genes for toxins or antibiotic resistance. Lytic phages are preferred for therapy as lysogenic phages may not result in host death and can transfer undesirable genes through transduction. The history of prophylactic and therapeutic use of phages since their discovery over 90 years ago by d’Herelle (1917) and Twort (1915) are outlined in comprehensive reviews by Sulakvelidze et al., Merril and Hanlon. Inconsistent and unreliable results combined with the discovery of antibiotics led to a decline in research in the West. The emphasis changed to the use of phages as tools for fundamental molecular studies focussing on the nature, replication and regulation of genes. These studies clarified the biology of phages and provided a foundation for investigation into phage therapy and biocontrol.
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