Archive for year: 2019

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Sharp rise in antibiotic-resistant pathogens in India

In India, the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is increasing sharply. This was reported by Sebastian Manns, correspondent for ARD radio in New Delhi, and by Indian media on June 5, 2019. A study by the Indian health authorities found…

Concern about hospital-acquired pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa

28 patients at the Cologne Medical Care Center have fallen ill with a bacterial infection. All had been treated for back pain – such as herniated discs. An 84-year-old man has now died as a result of the infection – presumably with the pathogen…

How Predators Influence Our Gut Microbiota: Bacteriophages

The gut microbiome is a complex and interconnected ecosystem of species. And, as in any ecosystem, some organisms are predators and others are prey. A new study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Wyss Institute examines the…

How Predators Influence Our Gut Flora – Bacteriophages

The gut microbiome is a complex, interconnected ecosystem of species. And as in any ecosystem, some organisms are predators and others are prey. A new study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Wyss Institute examines…
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Antibiotics are contaminating rivers worldwide

The research team looked for residues of 14 commonly prescribed antibiotics in rivers from 72 different countries. Antibiotics were found in almost two thirds of the samples. Three medicines stand out Dangerous levels of pollution were measured…
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Phages saved my daughter’s life – Phage Therapy

A cocktail of phages saved the life of a teenager who had a deadly and seemingly untreatable infection. Isabelle's body was attacked by bacteria, and she was given less than a 1% chance of survival. However, doctors at Great Ormond Street…

Phage Therapy: Which Factors Determine the Bioavailability of Phages?

Bacteriophages are no longer forgotten viruses: scientists and practitioners seek to understand the pharmacokinetics of phages in animals and humans and to investigate bacteriophages as therapeutics, nanotransporters, or microbiome components.…
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Killer Bacteria: Death Toll from Antibiotic Resistance Rises

They have such appetizing names as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Acinetobacter spp. And they are modern killers that are claiming more and more lives.…

Viruses may help treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis

Using a freshwater fish model of cystic fibrosis (CF), the researchers found that a combination of bacteriophages and antibiotics is effective against the disease. Pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria is the leading cause of…
Bacteriophage
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Successful treatment of an antibiotic-resistant bone infection with phages and antibiotics

A patient with an infection of the left tibia with XDR Acinetobacter baumannii and MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae was treated with bacteriophages and antibiotics. After a short time, an improvement in the tissue was observed. The pathogens could…

Bacteriophages of the Human Gut

The human gut microbiota consists of a multitude of different microorganisms. While the bacterial microorganisms of the gut microbiota have been well analyzed, comparatively little is known about the composition and physiological significance…

WHO: Limit the use of antibiotics to preserve their effectiveness

Antibiotics cannot cure infections caused by viruses. Nevertheless, flu season leads to increased use of antibiotics every year. During the winter months, several studies have observed an increase in antibiotic prescribing, particularly for…

Safety and efficacy of a bacteriophage cocktail in an in vivo sinusitis model

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) phage cocktail in a sheep model of rhinosinusitis. The sheep rhinosinusitis model was adapted to simulate a PA infection in the frontal sinuses…
Bacteriophages combat moderately resistant bacteria in wastewater

Bacteriophages combat multidrug-resistant bacteria in wastewater

The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a major threat to public health. These bacteria enter the environment when wastewater leaves the treatment plant. The purification steps currently used in wastewater treatment plants are unable…

Antibiotic resistance to be the leading cause of death by 2050

The report published on Wednesday in Nairobi cited numerous examples: For instance, by 2050, antibiotic-resistant infections are expected to be the leading cause of death worldwide. To prevent this, many more people must gain access to affordable…
Phage studies in the USA in 2019

Phage studies in the USA in 2019

Two clinical phage trials are being conducted in the USA in 2019. The first study is a trial investigating the efficacy and safety of orally administered bacteriophages for intestinal adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) in patients with…
Antibiotic Resistance in the Arctic
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Antibiotic Resistance in the Arctic

We are now finding the effects of excessive antibiotic use even in the Antarctic. Researchers have detected hundreds of different resistance genes in the soil in Antarctica. This gene confers resistance to antibiotics on bacteria. Even the super-gene…

Bacteriophages as Medicinal Products in the Fight Against Infections

Antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide. To meet this challenge, the development of alternative therapies is urgently required. Consequently, the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, the Leibniz Institute…