Bacteriophages: Species and purpose

Phagolysis - the process of destruction by phages of bacteria, usually occurs in the affected organ with spontaneous recovery. In the event that self-healing has not occurred, the body can be helped by the introduction of an appropriate bacteriophage obtained under the conditions of a pharmaceutical enterprise. Bacteriophages are called bacterial viruses that, when encountered with microbial cells sensitive to them, penetrate inside and cause their dissolution (lysis).

In translation from the Greek bacteriophage means "a devourer of bacteria." In nature, these microorganisms are very diverse and constitute the largest known group of viruses to date . Phages have a different structure from plant, animal and human viruses, a more complex structure. They are found in atmospheric precipitation, in air, in soil, in food, on objects, skin, animal hair, in short, wherever bacteria occur.

In recent years, interest in bacteriophages, used as an alternative to antibiotics, has increased. And it is not surprising, both these drugs directly affect the causative agents of infections. However, antibiotics, as is known, are destructive not only to the pathogenic flora, but also to the beneficial. Bacteriophages, the species of which are different, act selectively, only on "their" bacteria, leaving fragments from it. Actually, that's why scientists did not come up with names for them, because it's easier to name them according to the bacteria they affect.

Bacteriophages: Species

They produce streptococcal, coli-protein, klebsiellezny, staphylococcal, pseudomonasal, salmonella, dysentery, typhoid bacteriophages, as well as "Intestifag" and "Piobacteriophage".

The activity of drugs is determined by the degree of their dilution, at which the lysis of a sensitive culture occurs. Thus, titer 10 in the 6th degree means that this bacteriophage exhibits lytic properties at a dilution of 1,000,000 times. At a temperature of 4-6 C, the drugs retain their properties up to 12 years.

Depending on the form of release, the activity of the bacteriophage also differs. Types of drugs can affect both individual pathogens, and several at once. Monophages affect several strains of a single bacterium. To complex preparations (polyvalent) include the bacteriophage "Sextafag", which simultaneously can suppress the activity of staphylococci, streptococci, including enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella. In addition, there is the "Intestifag", intended for the treatment of intestinal infections, it includes salmonella, typhoid, dysentery, proteus, coli and streptococcal (entero- enteric ) phages.

Use drugs for dysbacteriosis, intestinal infections, inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system and broncho-pulmonary apparatus, for the treatment of purulent-septic processes, as well as for diseases of the oral cavity and sinuses of the nose. They are used either inside, including in the form of enemas, and locally - for gargles, rinsing wounds, syringings. For example, "Bacteriophage klebsiella polyvalent purified", intended for the treatment of oesa, rhinoscleroma, infections caused by the bacterium Klebsiella pneumonia, is used inhalation in the lesions of the trachea, larynx and pharynx, tyurundum moistened in liquid is injected, with otitis, used for rinsing with sinusitis. With cystitis, enterocolitis, urethritis, pneumonia, the drug is taken orally.

Bacteriophages have a lot of advantages over antibiotics. They do not have side effects, they are prescribed even for newborns and pregnant women, they are not addictive. They can be combined with any medicines, and also used to prevent infectious diseases. These drugs have a beneficial effect on the formation of immunity, do not suppress the natural flora, their effect is manifested within 2-4 hours after ingestion. To them, the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms does not develop .

Bacteriophages have one drawback. Their types, used today in medicine, are still few, which limits their use in many infections.

Prospects of application

In order to successfully apply biologics, it is necessary to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to them. However, scientists noticed an interesting regularity: the sensitivity of microorganisms to phages does not decrease, but on the contrary, it increases, which is explained by the enrichment of preparations with new cultures. To date, the bacteriophage staphylococcus successfully lyses up to 90% of all strains of these bacteria isolated from purulent-septic lesions.

Many infectious disease specialists believe that phagotherapy will soon revolutionize the fight against diseases. Immunologists see the prospect of using these drugs where immunotherapy is powerless. According to the data of analytical studies, phage production will become one of the most promising directions of pharmacology in the next few years.