How exactly do the bacteriophages operate and cure a disease?
A bacteriophage attaches itself, through specific receptors, to the surface of the host bacterial cell and injects its nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) into the bacterium. The bacteriophage DNA redirects the bacterial cell’s biosynthetic machinery to produce hundreds of new bacteriophages which, when released, destroy the bacterial cell. The new bacteriophages invade other bacteria in the vicinity and the process is repeated about every thirty minutes until all of the bacteria are eliminated. (Refer Figure.3). At this time, the bacteriophages, being non-living entities, self-eliminate because the bacteria that they require as hosts no longer exist. Advantages of bacteriophage therapy Bacteriophages have the potential for treating all bacterial diseases including those resistant to antibiotics. In addition to treating bacterial diseases, bacteriophage preparations can be used as prophylactics to control or prevent epidemics. To prevent infection, they can be used to treat the surfaces and inst
