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Beyond Antibiotics – Are Phages Our Allies?

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Viruses: Intimate Invaders

Abstract

Phages are a special class of viruses that infect and often kill bacteria. With the growing rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is an imminent need for new and different approaches to combat bacterial infections. Phage therapy, giving patients specific phages to kill off infection-causing bacteria, is an old idea that is seeing a resurgence of interest. This chapter will discuss the history, process, advantages, and limitations of using phage to treat bacterial infections.

The field of bacterial viruses is a fine playground for serious children who ask ambitious questions.

Max Delbrück, recipient of the 1969 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine

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Wilson, V.G. (2022). Beyond Antibiotics – Are Phages Our Allies?. In: Viruses: Intimate Invaders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85487-4_12

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