Viruses tend to have a negative connotation to them when in a human health context. What many perhaps do not know is that there are viruses that only attack bacteria. These naturally occurring viruses are called bacteriophages. This article denotes a potentially new way of treating bacterial infections that may be used in the near future. 

When bacteriophages were first discovered, they were thought to be very beneficial to treating infections as they do not target human eukaryotic cells. This research was interrupted by the discovery of antibiotics. Currently, some antibiotic treatments are becoming less effective, especially against Clostridium dificile, an intestinal pathogen responsible for many hospital infections. Bacteriophages are catching the eyes of researchers because they would be able to fight C. dificile infections without harming human cells or the necessary gut microbiota.

Experiments to test the effectiveness of the potential treatment were set up that involved a model of an elderly patient’s colon. To mimic hospital conditions, antibiotics were given to the colon and the opportunistic C. dificile established itself and produced its dangerous toxins. A certain bacteriophage that targets C. dificile cells was added and the number of C. dificile cells was counted after a set incubation period.

The bacteriophage significantly reduced the amount of C. dificile cells as well as decreased the total quantity of the toxin in the colon. Results also showed the beneficial intestinal flora remained nearly unaffected. The phage was not able to kill off all of the C. dificile cells. The suspected reasoning behind this is thought to be due to the fact that the phage follows a lysogenic cycle meaning it injects its DNA into the bacterial chromosome possibly causing the bacterial cell to become resistant to other phage attacks. Although some cells became somewhat resistant to the phage, it was found these particular cells did not produce the toxin. Ultimately, most C. dificile cells were killed and those that were not became significantly less dangerous.

Bacteriophage therapy is projected to have a bright future because the need for new treatments for bacterial infections is imperative.