It is difficult to deny the fact that antibiotics are extremely effective in the treatment of mass diseases some two hundred years ago was considered practically incurable. However, these drugs have many side effects, affecting virtually all of our body. But is it possible to maintain the positive effect of the medicine, getting rid of the negative? Turns out it’s not so difficult.
As is often the case, came to the aid of nature itself. At the moment, a team of scientists from George Mason University conducts full-scale research of drugs which can be the safe alternative to antibiotics. New drugs are basically bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are, of course, is not a new invention, and they live freely in nature. Essentially bacteriophages is of particular viruses selectively infecting specific bacterial cells. Getting inside the cell, the viruses multiply and cause eventually the death of the latter. If “teach” bacteriophages to target specific bacteria, they will act no worse of antibiotics. As stated by the study’s author, Taylor Wallace,
“Antibiotics not always without consequences, treat diseases, as often after powerful drugs have to take other drugs to cope with the consequences of treatment.”
The results of the conducted clinical trials have confirmed the safety of drugs and almost 100% portability of bacteriophages from the human body. New drugs can be used as an alternative antibiotic therapy in the treatment of lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Some experts even suggest that in the future, these bacteriophages can be used for therapy of other organs and systems.
“Already, bacteriophages efficiently and without consequences can eliminate the stomach pain, chronic diarrhea and other infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract”.
Antibiotics have side-effects. But can they be replaced by something?
Vladimir Kuznetsov