Talk of the Nation, April 4, 2008 · In the days before
modern antibiotics, some researchers saw viruses that can seek
out and destroy bacteria — called bacteriophages — as promising
candidates for fighting infections. Now, as more organisms
develop resistance to existing antibiotics, phage research is
finding new favor.
At the Society for General
Microbiology meeting in Edinburgh, researchers presented work on
incorporating bacteriophages into dressings for wounds and
cleaning materials used in hospitals. The scientists found a way
to bind the phages to polymer particles, allowing the viruses to
remain active for up to three weeks rather than breaking down
after a few hours. The hope is that the phage-based approach
will provide new weapons in the battle against dangerous
bacteria.
Alexander Sulakvelidze and
Thomas Hausler discuss bacteriophages and their place in modern
medicine with Ira Flatow. Sulakvelidze is Vice President of
Research and Development at Intralytix, a biotechnology company.
Hausler is the author of Viruses vs. Superbugs: A Solution to
the Antibiotics Crisis and a science reporter for Swiss Public
Radio.
