Phagmids are better than bacteriophages

According to the data presented in the journal Nano Letters (Krom et al., Engineered Phagemids for Nonlytic, Targeted Antibacterial Therapies – VM), scientists took bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria - as the basis of particles. Unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics, bacteriophages act very specifically, destroying only specific bacteria.

Among the disadvantages of using bacteriophages is the likelihood of serious side effects. "Bacteriophages kill a bacterium by lysis of a cell, that is, literally blowing it up. This can lead to the release of dangerous toxins," explained the head of the study James Collins (James Collins).

In order to avoid the development of such side effects, scientists have developed "phagmids", the action of which is similar to the action of bacteriophages: they affect only certain cells, but do not cause bacterial cell lysis. At the first stage, the authors of the study obtained plasmids – ring DNA molecules – the introduction of which into a bacterial cell triggers the synthesis of toxic substances. Toxins suppress vital processes such as DNA replication, but do not lead to an "explosion" of the cell.

Drawing from the article in Nano Letters – VM.

After studying various peptides and toxins, the authors of the study found that some of them combine into "phagmids". It is important that the developed method has a very high specificity. Thus, the destruction of pathogenic bacteria will not lead to the destruction of beneficial bacteria.

The authors of the study stressed that the use of "phagmid" probably does not lead to the development of bacterial resistance. Scientists have already confirmed the effectiveness of particles on Escherichia coli, and in the near future they will try to destroy the cholera pathogen with the help of "phagmids".

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03.07.2015