BACTERIOPHAGE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Researchers have devised a straightforward method to store, identify, and distribute phages, especially in emergency situations involving antibiotic-resistant infections i.e. Transportable Bacteriophage Therapy Discovery.

Bacteriophage

• About: It is a virus that specifically infects bacteria.
• Terminology: The term "bacteriophage" comes from Greek words meaning "bacteria eater," reflecting their role in destroying bacterial cells.
• Ubiquity in Nature: Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities in the world.
• Found: Diverse environments including soil, deep within the earth’s crust, within plants, animals, and oceans.
• Variety and Specificity: Thousands of types of bacteriophages exist, each targeting specific types of bacteria or archaea.
• Also known simply as "phages," these viruses exhibit highly specific host ranges.

• Structure:

oAll bacteriophages consist of a nucleic acid molecule (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat.

oThe nucleic acid can be double-stranded or single-stranded, depending on the phage type.

How does it infect bacteria?

• Attachment and Invasion: Bacteriophages attach to susceptible bacteria using tail fibers or surface proteins, injecting their genetic material into the host bacterium.
• Hijacking Cellular Machinery: Once inside, bacteriophages take control of the host cell's machinery, redirecting it to produce viral components instead of performing normal cellular functions.
• Assembly and Lysis: New bacteriophages are assembled within the host bacterium. Eventually, the host cell bursts (lyses), releasing the newly formed phages to infect other bacteria.
• Transduction: During infection, bacteriophages can transfer fragments of host bacterial DNA to new host bacteria in a process called transduction, potentially altering genetic traits.

Uses

• Bacteriophages can effectively target and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• They offer potential alternatives to antibiotics, particularly in treating infections that resist conventional treatments.
• Phage therapy involves using bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals.
• It is being researched as a promising approach against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), offering tailored treatments for specific bacterial strains.