What is a bacteriophage?
Quick Answer
A bacteriophage is a virus that infects bacteria. Some phages can destroy specific bacterial species and are being studied as alternatives to antibiotics.
The Full Story
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that use bacteria as hosts in order to replicate. They were first identified in the 1910s by Frederick Twort and Felix d’Herelle, and they are among the most abundant biological entities on Earth. Many phages are highly specific, targeting only certain bacterial strains, which makes them useful in laboratory research and in some experimental treatments. Phage therapy has a long history in parts of Eastern Europe and is seeing renewed scientific interest because of antibiotic resistance.
Key Facts
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"The tiny viruses that hunt bacteria"
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