{"id":7170,"date":"2026-04-01T12:23:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/what-are-bacteriophages-or-phages\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T13:43:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T11:43:21","slug":"what-are-bacteriophages-or-phages","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/what-are-bacteriophages-or-phages\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Bacteriophages or Phages"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class='flex_column av-31isg5-1110a504fede133c26d3d8e59f5d9eaa av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-2twmul-c10330841199c5fdf61029833c4408d7 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h1>Bacteriophages: The Precise Solution Against Bacterial Infections<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='hr av-2sg4f1-7a6355eb749e9e1e517164440d06e996 hr-short  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  hr-left'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-2ihe2d-46a1096515f88d6963af88fe09db9490 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Bacteriophages are the natural antagonists of bacteria and are found everywhere in our environment. In medicine, they are referred to as &#8220;intelligent drugs&#8221; because they independently recognize and specifically eliminate pathogens. This biological precision enables effective therapy even when conventional antibiotics no longer work.  <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"7\">Fact Check: Why Bacteriophages Are Safe<\/h3>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"8\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Natural Occurrence:<\/b> Phages are the most abundant organisms on Earth and have regulated the bacterial balance in nature for millions of years.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Maximum Safety:<\/b> Due to their biological structure, phages can exclusively infect bacteria; human cells remain completely unaffected.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Lock-and-Key Principle:<\/b> Each phage is specialized for a very specific bacterial strain (<b data-path-to-node=\"8,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"99\">host specificity<\/b>), enabling highly selective therapy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote data-path-to-node=\"9\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"9,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Clinical safety and efficacy are continuously validated through decades of expertise at the Georgian <b data-path-to-node=\"9,0\" data-index-in-node=\"98\">Eliava Institute<\/b> and through modern European manufacturing standards (<b data-path-to-node=\"9,0\" data-index-in-node=\"168\">GMP<\/b>).<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-3d3hzp-f0718e9e73d72ae4ac77b03dbcdf9dd8 av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_three_fifth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-39tt3x-e3f0ff41e3ebb28007a808bf31e53835\">\n.avia-image-container.av-39tt3x-e3f0ff41e3ebb28007a808bf31e53835 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-39tt3x-e3f0ff41e3ebb28007a808bf31e53835 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-39tt3x-e3f0ff41e3ebb28007a808bf31e53835 av-styling- avia_animated_image av-animated-when-visible-95 left-to-right avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_image  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image- avia-img-lazy-loading-not- avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/bacteriophage-2821660_1920-215x300.png\" alt='' title=''   itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-juse74ci-5af77d5fa2d6db43a8a5c64282cb7e06\">\n.avia-image-container.av-juse74ci-5af77d5fa2d6db43a8a5c64282cb7e06 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-juse74ci-5af77d5fa2d6db43a8a5c64282cb7e06 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-juse74ci-5af77d5fa2d6db43a8a5c64282cb7e06 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_image  avia-builder-el-last '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-7174 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-7174 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bacteriophage-2821660_640-e1555940284858.png\" alt='Bacteriophage' title='bacteriophage-2821660_640'  height=\"548\" width=\"457\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bacteriophage-2821660_640-e1555940284858.png 457w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bacteriophage-2821660_640-e1555940284858-250x300.png 250w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bacteriophage-2821660_640-e1555940284858-450x540.png 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 457px) 100vw, 457px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<div  class='hr av-2sg4f1-7a6355eb749e9e1e517164440d06e996 hr-short  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_two_fifth  el_before_av_three_fifth  hr-left'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-31isg5-1110a504fede133c26d3d8e59f5d9eaa av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_two_fifth  first flex_column_div  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-2ihe2d-46a1096515f88d6963af88fe09db9490 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 data-path-to-node=\"11\">How Bacterial Elimination Works<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12\">Bacteriophages work like biological precision tools. Their goal is the complete neutralization of pathogenic bacteria through the so-called <b data-path-to-node=\"12\" data-index-in-node=\"150\">lytic cycle<\/b>: <\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" data-path-to-node=\"13\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"13,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Recognition &amp; Binding:<\/b> The phage lands on the surface of the bacterium. It uses specific receptors to ensure it has found the correct target. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"13,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Injection:<\/b> Like a biological syringe, the phage injects its genetic information into the interior of the bacterial cell.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"13,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Replication:<\/b> The bacterium is reprogrammed and now produces thousands of new phage copies. At this stage, phages use enzymes such as <b data-path-to-node=\"13,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"139\">depolymerases<\/b> to actively break down protective bacterial barriers (<b data-path-to-node=\"13,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"189\">biofilms<\/b>). <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"13,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Lysis (Dissolution):<\/b> Once enough copies are present, the phage causes the bacterial cell to burst. The new phages are released to seek out additional pathogens in the environment. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-3d3hzp-f0718e9e73d72ae4ac77b03dbcdf9dd8 av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_three_fifth  el_before_av_textblock  flex_column_div  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-39tt3x-1f36c1dd237dbd0b2bdb42da58119bc8\">\n.avia-image-container.av-39tt3x-1f36c1dd237dbd0b2bdb42da58119bc8 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-39tt3x-1f36c1dd237dbd0b2bdb42da58119bc8 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-39tt3x-1f36c1dd237dbd0b2bdb42da58119bc8 av-styling- av-img-linked avia_animated_image av-animated-when-visible-95 left-to-right avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-11  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-1030x773.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-1030x773.png 1030w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-1500x1125.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-705x529.png 705w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-450x338.png 450w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf.png 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" class='avia_image '  aria-label='Phage Cycle'><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-7172 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-7172 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-300x225.png\" alt='' title='Phage Cycle'  height=\"225\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-1030x773.png 1030w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-1500x1125.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-705x529.png 705w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf-450x338.png 450w, https:\/\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Phagen-Kreislauf.png 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mnhmjpb3-ef38be208486f5d93bed0cb3f4afca1d '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 data-path-to-node=\"15\">Phages vs. Antibiotics: A Comparison<\/h2>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"16\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Conventional Antibiotics<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Therapeutic Phages<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"16,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Spectrum of Activity<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,1,1,0\">Broad-spectrum (also kills beneficial bacteria)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,1,2,0\">Highly specific (only the target pathogen is killed)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"16,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Microbiome<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,2,1,0\">Weakening of intestinal and skin flora<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,2,2,0\">Preservation of healthy bacterial flora<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"16,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Resistance Development<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,3,1,0\">Risk of new multidrug resistance<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,3,2,0\">Phages adapt evolutionarily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"16,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Biofilm Degradation<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,4,1,0\">Often ineffective against protective layers<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"16,4,2,0\">Effective destruction of biofilm matrix<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='hr av-2sg4f1-7a6355eb749e9e1e517164440d06e996 hr-short  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_one_full  hr-left'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-31isg5-1110a504fede133c26d3d8e59f5d9eaa av_one_full  avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-2twmul-0db037d2f1ebe4e6c06209e6a2a63cfb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>The History of Phage Therapy<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-2ihe2d-46a1096515f88d6963af88fe09db9490 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Bacteriophages were discovered in 1917 by French microbiologist Felix d&#8217;H\u00e9relle. Through his research, he recognized their effect against pathogenic bacteria and proposed using these bacteriophages for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. <\/p>\n<p>In the 1930s, many laboratories and pharmaceutical companies began developing and producing bacteriophages for medical applications.<br \/>\nHowever, with the discovery of antibiotics in the 1930s, interest in bacteriophages waned, as antibiotics killed all microbes and were easier to produce than bacteriophage products. Consequently, phage therapy fell into obscurity. <\/p>\n<p>Only a few scientific centers in Eastern Europe continued their work with bacterial viruses.<br \/>\nWith the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, interest in bacteriophages has increased again.<\/p>\n<p>Which Infections Could Be Treated with Bacteriophages?<\/p>\n<p>In Eastern Europe, bacteriophages are used in adults and children for the prevention and treatment of the following diseases:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Bacterial infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (enterocolitis, gastroenterocolitis, salmonellosis, shigellosis, dysbacteriosis, etc.);<br \/>\n\u2022 Bacterial diseases of the ears, oral cavity, throat, bronchi, and lungs (otitis, stomatitis, periodontitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, etc.);<br \/>\n\u2022 Bacterial eye diseases (conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis, etc.);<br \/>\n\u2022 Surgical infections (treatment of surgical and infected wounds, abscesses, phlegmons, furuncles, carbuncles, etc.)<br \/>\n\u2022 Burns<br \/>\n\u2022 Urogenital infections (cystitis, urethritis, colpitis, pyelonephritis, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>Bacteriophages are used both independently and in combination with other antibacterial agents.<br \/>\nPhage therapy is particularly useful when the pathogenic bacterium is resistant to antibiotics or when the patient is intolerant to antibiotics.<br \/>\nIn Eastern Europe, bacteriophages are administered in liquid form. The bacteriophages are applied to infected sites through topical application, irrigation, or instillation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<div  class='hr av-2sg4f1-7a6355eb749e9e1e517164440d06e996 hr-short  avia-builder-el-17  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_textblock  hr-left'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mnhmkwqw-bff9b6fb7af29067d12116cae7219bed '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"19\">Are Bacteriophages Dangerous to Humans?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20\">No. Bacteriophages are highly specialized viruses that exclusively use bacterial cells as hosts. Since they possess no receptors for human, animal, or plant cells, they cannot infect them. Clinically, they are considered one of the safest therapeutic methods in modern infectious disease medicine.   <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"21\">How Do Phages Find Their Target Bacteria?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22\">Phages move through random collisions and bind via their tail fibers according to the lock-and-key principle to specific proteins or sugar structures on the bacterial surface. Only when the structure matches exactly is the lytic process initiated, which virtually eliminates treatment errors. <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"23\">Why Are Phages Only Now Becoming Better Known in the West?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"24\">Due to the discovery of antibiotics, phage research in the West fell into the background in the mid-20th century. In light of the global antibiotic resistance crisis, phages are now being reevaluated through modern clinical trials according to EU standards and the successes of personalized medicine (compounded formulations). <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7170","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7170"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7230,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7170\/revisions\/7230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}