Bacteriophage

A bacteriophage (from Greek “phagos” = “eater”) is a virus that has specialised in infecting bacteria. Bacteriophages need this host bacterium to multiply. The phage transfers its RNA or DNA into the bacterium. There the transcription, translation and replication of the phage’s nucleic acid takes place. Finally, new phage shells are formed and the bacterium dissolves to release the new phage. Depending on the type of host bacterium, we speak of coliphages (bacteriophages of the bacterium Escherichia coli), salmonellaphages (bacteriophages of Salmonella), actinophages (bacteriophages of actinomycetes), among others.

Research is currently underway into the extent to which phages could represent a possible alternative to common antibiotics. Particularly with regard to multi-resistant pathogens, phage therapy is a promising approach.

The susceptibility of bacteriophages to disinfectants is provided in accordance with EN 13610.



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