Understanding bacteriophages
Ultra-microscopic viruses that selectively target and kill bacteria may mitigate antimicrobial resistance.
Danielle joined Drug Discovery News as a freelance science writer in 2021. She earned her PhD from Yale University in 2017 and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine.
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Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to healthcare. Luckily, ultra-microscopic viruses called bacteriophages might hold a solution. Scientists first discovered bacteriophages over 100 years ago. Since then, scientists have developed phage therapies that specifically target and kill harmful bacteria, leaving helpful bacteria untouched. Once abandoned in favor of more recent discoveries using antibiotics, more scientists are revisiting the idea of phage therapy for mitigating bacterial diseases. In this infographic, explore the history of virus-consuming bacteriophages, how they work, and their therapeutic potential.
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Check out this article to learn more about how scientists are tackling antimicrobial resistance through other innovative treatments, improved surveillance, and education.
