Fighting Infection with Phages

Around the world, harmful bacteria are gaining resistance to our most common antibiotics. However, a type of viruses called bacteriophages may provide a solution. In this video, NIAID experts Shayla Hesse, M.D., a Clinical Infectious Diseases Fellow at NIAID, and Randall Kincaid, Ph.D., a Senior Scientific Officer in the Concept Acceleration Program of NIAID's Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, explain how these "phages" function, and how NIAID is supporting new phage research.

[METX]

I think using bacteriophages to eradicate antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a very good idea. Hopefully more time and money will go towards the research involved in making this a reality.

[bush_kit]

Bacteria: I am inevitable

Phage: *and I am, phage*

[docnathan]

Highly Resistant Bacteria: you cant defeat me
Antibiotics: I know, but he can
Bacteriophage:

[isaiahwolftail]

It all seems so mechanical as if they are advance nanobots. Inside our bodies.

[swiggedyswoner]

Who’s here from Kersegzat only me okay

[yulfaweisulf]

This is strange ... on Star Trek Voyager in the first season, there is an episode where they talk about a virus that has infected a specific civilization and they call it "The Phage". It's even spelled the same. But these viruses here are supposed to attack bacterial infections without harming their hosts. I wonder why the writers chose to call the virus in that particular episode "The Phage"?

[razmerry]

They're so cuuute <3 I love these weird little guys

[thycooa]

Those things literally look terrifying

[ZahdShah]

How do you ensure the right phage is selected to infect the right bacterium? What are the components in the screening process? What happens if it is done wrong?

[ulradeja]

1:42 possible Jeopardy material, "Who is Felix D'herelle?"

[HazrimahAbRahim]

bacteria: you cant defeat us imune system: OH YEA? SAY HELLO TO MY TINY FRIEND

[Sweze]

so in the end, there will always be a parasite that will feast on you.. let this be a lesson kids

[MegaTrivial]

The coolest micro-creatures I have seen - bacteriophages...!!!

[robertsharpe]

I've been struggling with cronic Osteomyelitis in my L5S1 of my spine antibiotics our not working I would love to gave this tried on me I have 2 little kids who need me thanks Robert Sharpe.

[jenniferhenderson]

Is consideration being given to the fact that these living organisms could have negative side effects? Once they are done with the bacteria cells, is it possible that they would mutate and start feeding on other cell types? Is it possible that they might release substances that could cause a detrimental effect on the very organism they are meant to save?

[panagouras]

Dear Niaid thanks for the great video! I was wondering if you could grant me permission to use this video or another animation you may have showing the infection cycle.. We are a new startup company and we will attend an exhibition event in September so sth like that could be great to communicate what are phages actually able to do. Thanks in advance.

[thebluedragonontheskyscrap]

Bacteria: Haha am stronk. No antibiotic can defeat me.

Bacteriophage: Omae wa, mou shindieru

[SerPouncealot]

The lytic cycle is so repulsive. Like watching a spider egg hatch.

[patrikpetko]

Bacteria: who are you?
My name is Phage. BacterioPhage.

[indieisin]

I am a little late, but if anyone can answer this I would appreciate it. Could phages be responsible for curing or causing the remission of diseases in situations where alternative or homeopathic cures are thought to be responsible? From what I understand, the phages used to cure various diseases are found in nature, identified, and selectively reproduced in a lab setting in order to make enough of that particular phage for theraputic purposes. Does this mean if somebody with a particular disease comes across the a phage that kills that bacteria in the wild it would have no observable effect? At what threshold does a phage stand a chance of killing the bacteria? From everything I have been able to find, it seems like even a few phages could use a host bacteria to reproduce on a massive scale because they take over the bacteria and force it to produce more phages until the bacteria bursts.