What are Phages?
Bacteriophages, commonly called phages, are viruses that infect bacteria. Phages were formally discovered in the early 1900s, with the first publication coming out in 1915. Phages are nucleic acids – either RNA or DNA – which are surrounded by a coat that often predominantly consists of protein (called capsid proteins, or capsomeres). The protein capsid’s job is to protect the nucleic acid, the genome of the virus, both within infected cells and while infecting other cells. Phages are the most abundant virus on the planet and are found in soil and water everywhere.
Phage Life Cycle
Research Questions
What culture methods can be employed to generate bacteriophages with maximized therapeutic efficiency in vivo and in vitro?
How can the culturing of bacteriophages be standardized in preparation for use as a therapeutic cocktail?
How can the culturing of bacteriophages be standardized in preparation for use as a therapeutic cocktail?