Bacteriophages: The Tiny Allies Against Antibiotic Resistance

Bacteriophages, viruses that specifically infect and kill bacteria, are emerging as a potential solution to one of the most pressing medical issues of our time: antibiotic resistance. This resurgence comes as the medical community grapples with the rise of superbugs that are increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics. On the latest episode of the Show Me the Science podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill shed light on the significance of phages, which were first described over a century ago but faded from prominence with the advent of antibiotics.

Under a microscope, bacteriophages resemble alien spacecraft, showcasing their unique structures. According to Prof O’Neill, these tiny entities vary in size, with some measuring up to 200 nanometres, while others can be as small as 20 nanometres. To put this in perspective, a nanometre is one billionth of a metre, making phages significantly smaller than the bacteria they target. “They are everywhere; if you take a sample of seawater, you will find billions of them,” he explained, highlighting their ubiquity.

Despite their abundance, bacteriophages depend on a host to survive. “The important fact here is they kill the bacteria in this process,” Prof O’Neill noted. The potential to harness phages for medical treatments gained traction in the 1940s and 1950s. However, the discovery of antibiotics, particularly penicillin, overshadowed this promising avenue of research.

Recently, interest in phages has been reignited within the scientific community. Over the past decade, researchers have been investigating their potential applications, especially in treating diseases linked to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One such area is the treatment of cystic fibrosis, where the bacterium Pseudomonas poses significant challenges. This bacterium can form a robust biofilm in the lungs, making it difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics.

Prof O’Neill outlined how bacteriophages could specifically target and eliminate Pseudomonas, helping manage infections in cystic fibrosis patients. “They’ve got a bacteriophage to kill the bacteria that cause much of the symptomology and disease progression in cystic fibrosis,” he said, emphasizing the potential impact on patient outcomes. If successful, this approach could greatly improve the quality of life for those affected by the disease.

In addition to cystic fibrosis, phages may also offer hope for treating other serious conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), sepsis, and infections caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). As antibiotic resistance continues to escalate, the exploration of bacteriophages represents a critical step toward developing alternative therapies.

The growing recognition of phages in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections marks an important shift in medical research. With the potential to revolutionize treatment options, they may soon play a pivotal role in addressing one of healthcare’s most formidable challenges. As the scientific community continues to explore these tiny but powerful allies, the future of treating bacterial infections looks increasingly promising.