The Deadliest Being on Planet Earth – The Bacteriophage
The Deadliest War on Earth: Bacteriophages
Introduction to Bacteriophages
- A war has been ongoing for billions of years, led by bacteriophages, the deadliest entities on Earth, responsible for massive daily deaths.
- Phages are unique viruses that exist in a state between life and death; they have an icosahedral head and a long tail with leg-like fibers.
- There are more phages on Earth than all other organisms combined, including bacteria, and they inhabit various environments including human bodies.
The Mechanism of Phage Action
- Phages kill up to 40% of oceanic bacteria daily but only target specific bacterial strains as their prey.
- They attach to bacteria using tail fibers and inject genetic material through a syringe-like mechanism.
- Once inside, the bacteria is hijacked to produce new phages until it bursts from pressure caused by 'endolysin', leading to its death.
The Rise of Antibiotics and Superbugs
- Humans have turned to phages due to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics against evolving bacterial strains known as superbugs.
- Antibiotics were discovered about 100 years ago and initially viewed as a powerful solution against bacterial infections.
- Overuse of antibiotics has led to increased resistance among bacteria, resulting in superbugs that could cause more deaths than cancer by 2050.
Potential Solutions with Phage Therapy
- Phage therapy offers hope as these specialized viruses can be injected into humans without harming them since humans are immune to phages.
- Unlike antibiotics that indiscriminately kill good bacteria, phages act like guided missiles targeting specific harmful bacteria only.
The Arms Race Between Bacteria and Phages
- Both phages and bacteria evolve continuously; however, if bacteria develop resistance against certain phages, they may lose their immunity against antibiotics too.
- This dynamic creates a potential catch-22 situation where treating infections with both could lead to successful outcomes.
Case Study: Successful Treatment Using Phage Therapy
- A patient infected with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa was treated successfully with phage injections alongside ineffective antibiotics after years of suffering.
- Despite promising results from experimental treatments, pharmaceutical companies remain hesitant due to lack of official approval and investment.
Future Directions for Phage Research