Biocontrol Ltd, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, UK.
Lett Appl Microbiol. 2010 Oct;51(4):363-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2010.02916.x. Epub 2010 Aug 26.
Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses and have been used for almost a century as antimicrobial agents. In the West, their use diminished when chemical antibiotics were introduced, but they remain a common therapeutic approach in parts of eastern Europe. Increasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria has driven the demand for novel therapies to control infections and led to the replacement of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Alongside this, increased pressure to improve food safety has created a need for faster detection of pathogenic bacteria. Hence, there has been a resurgence of interest in bacteriophage applications, and this has encouraged the emergence of a large number of biotech companies hoping to commercialize their use. Research in Europe and the United States has increased steadily, leading to the development of a range of applications for bacteriophage agents for the healthcare, veterinary and agricultural sectors. This article will attempt to answer the question of whether bacteriophages are now delivering on their potential.
噬菌体是细菌病毒，作为抗菌剂已经使用了近一个世纪。在西方，当化学抗生素被引入时，它们的使用减少了，但在东欧部分地区，它们仍然是一种常见的治疗方法。细菌对抗生素的耐药性不断增加，促使人们寻求新的疗法来控制感染，并导致在畜牧业中抗生素的替代。与此同时，为了提高食品安全而增加的压力，也需要更快地检测致病菌。因此，人们对噬菌体应用的兴趣再次高涨，这也促使了大量希望将其商业化的生物技术公司的出现。欧洲和美国的研究稳步增加，导致开发出一系列用于医疗保健、兽医和农业领域的噬菌体制剂的应用。本文将试图回答噬菌体是否正在发挥其潜力的问题。
