As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, Locus Biosciences of North Carolina is turning to gene editing and bacteriophages to combat infections. The company is arming tiny viruses called bacteriophages with Crispr to boost their killing ability against urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by E. coli bacteria.
Bacteriophages, or phages for short, naturally infect and kill bacteria. They exist everywhere that bacteria do, including sewers and soil, and there are thousands of different types. Unlike antibiotics, which kill bacteria indiscriminately, phages are selective in the strains or species of bacteria they target, making them an attractive alternative for treating infections.
Phages were discovered more than 100 years ago and were used as medical treatments in the early 20th century. However, with the advent of antibiotics, phages fell out of use. With the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, researchers are once again interested in phage therapy. Locus Biosciences’ experimental treatment, which combines phages with Crispr, has shown promise in a small trial and may provide a new hope for treating UTIs.
Locus Biosciences’ approach may provide a new way to combat UTIs caused by E. coli bacteria. While larger studies are needed to confirm the benefits of phage therapy, the company’s research has shown promise in treating a growing health concern. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, phage therapy may offer a new solution for treating bacterial infections.
The rise of antibiotic resistance has led to a pressing need for alternative treatments for bacterial infections. Considering the alarming rate at which antibiotics are losing their effectiveness, one company’s innovative approach to using Crispr-enhanced bacteriophages to combat urinary tract infections (UTIs) offers a glimmer of hope.
Bacteriophages, or phages for short, are viruses that naturally infect and kill bacteria. By arming these phages with the gene-editing tool Crispr, researchers can boost their killing ability. This approach holds promise in treating UTIs caused by E. coli bacteria. What sets phages apart from antibiotics is their selectivity in targeting specific strains or species of bacteria, reducing the risk of harming beneficial bacteria.
Phage therapy was first used in the early 20th century, but it fell out of use with the advent of antibiotics. However, as the threat of antibiotic resistance grows, researchers are once again turning to phage therapy. By leveraging Crispr and phage therapy, scientists may be able to develop effective treatments for infections that no longer respond to traditional antibiotics.