The Super-Viruses Fighting Back: What is Phage Therapy?
In a world where “superbugs” are becoming resistant to our strongest antibiotics, scientists are looking to a tiny, ancient ally: Bacteriophages.
Often called “phages,” these are viruses that have one specific job: to find and destroy bacteria.
Why Phages are the Future of Medicine
Unlike antibiotics, which can be like a “carpet bomb” for your gut—killing both bad and good bacteria- phage therapy is a precision strike**.**
Hyper-Specific: Each phage targets only one specific strain of bacteria, leaving your healthy microbiome untouched.
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Evolutionary Edge: As bacteria evolve to resist them, phages evolve right back to keep the fight going.
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Low Toxicity: Since they are made of DNA and proteins and only interact with bacteria, they are generally safe for human cells.
How Does It Work?
Think of a phage as a biological “lunar lander.” It attaches to the surface of a harmful bacterium, injects its genetic material, and turns the bacterium into a phage-making factory. Eventually, the bacterium bursts, releasing thousands of new phages to go hunt down the rest of the infection.
Fun Fact: Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. There are more phages in the world than every other organism combined!
"As antibiotic resistance grows, do you think Phage Therapy will eventually replace traditional antibiotics, or will they always be a secondary ‘backup’ plan?
Let’s discuss below!"
MBH/PS