{"id":9147,"date":"2026-03-02T12:19:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/unkategorisiert\/bacteriophages-kill-dormant-bacteria\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:07:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T07:07:59","slug":"bacteriophages-kill-dormant-bacteria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/unkategorisiert\/bacteriophages-kill-dormant-bacteria\/","title":{"rendered":"Bacteriophages kill dormant bacteria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-lvp3i1wa-c26a8cff7d4df970d902c4281fc1176a\">\n.avia-image-container.av-lvp3i1wa-c26a8cff7d4df970d902c4281fc1176a img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-lvp3i1wa-c26a8cff7d4df970d902c4281fc1176a .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-lvp3i1wa-c26a8cff7d4df970d902c4281fc1176a av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_one_full  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-5096 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-5096 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fish-378286_960_720.jpg?fit=960%2C656&ssl=1\" alt='' title='fish-378286_960_720'  height=\"656\" width=\"960\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fish-378286_960_720.jpg?w=960&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fish-378286_960_720.jpg?resize=300%2C205&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fish-378286_960_720.jpg?resize=768%2C525&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fish-378286_960_720.jpg?resize=705%2C482&amp;ssl=1 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ca0k4d-40f08c4d48905b3c6cca8e086270b328\">\n.flex_column.av-ca0k4d-40f08c4d48905b3c6cca8e086270b328{\nborder-radius:20px 20px 20px 20px;\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px;\nbackground-color:#f3f3f3;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-ca0k4d-40f08c4d48905b3c6cca8e086270b328 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_image  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mmnnf9j3-15f39b1eabcd2797bb4ec7731498573a\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-mmnnf9j3-15f39b1eabcd2797bb4ec7731498573a .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mmnnf9j3-15f39b1eabcd2797bb4ec7731498573a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h1 class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"2\">Bacteriophages kill dormant bacteria: The breakthrough in the fight against chronic infections<\/h1>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\"><span class=\"\">In the world of microbiology, there is an adversary<\/span><span class=\"\"> that brings even the most advanced hospitals to their knees:<\/span><span class=\"\"> \u201cdormant\u201d bacteria,<\/span><span class=\"\"> also known as persister cells.<\/span><span class=\"\"> While conventional antibiotics remain completely ineffective against these inactive germs,<\/span><span class=\"\"> the latest research provides a groundbreaking answer.<\/span><span class=\"\"> <\/span><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"322\">Bacteriophage therapy<\/b><span class=\"\"> is proving capable<\/span><span class=\"\"> of cracking precisely these biological fortresses.<\/span><span class=\"\"> This article explains<\/span><span class=\"\"> why this discovery will fundamentally change the <\/span><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"471\">antibiotic resistance solutions<\/b><span class=\"\"> of the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"4\">Summary: Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"3\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\"><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Persister cells:<\/b><span class=\"\"> Bacteria can enter a dormant state<\/span><span class=\"\"> that makes them virtually invisible and invulnerable to almost all antibiotics.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\"><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Phage advantage:<\/b><span class=\"\"> Certain bacteriophages can penetrate dormant bacteria and eliminate them<\/span><span class=\"\"> once they \u201cwake up,\u201d or even damage them while they are dormant.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\"><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Chronic infections:<\/b><span class=\"\"> The ability<\/span><span class=\"\"> to kill dormant cells<\/span><span class=\"\"> is key to curing recurrent (relapsing) infections.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,3,0\"><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"5,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">PAS mechanism:<\/b><span class=\"\"> <\/span><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"5,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"21\">Phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS)<\/b><span class=\"\"> leverages the combination of both worlds<\/span><span class=\"\"> to break up even the toughest biofilms.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,4,0\"><b class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"5,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Precision medicine:<\/b><span class=\"\"> Phages act with high specificity and, unlike antibiotics, spare the patient\u2019s beneficial microbiome.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-b5680t-5d5c6d8919a53ea1cb002f09ba1f02b2\">\n.flex_column.av-b5680t-5d5c6d8919a53ea1cb002f09ba1f02b2{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-b5680t-5d5c6d8919a53ea1cb002f09ba1f02b2 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mmnnfq6i-7f0c29a3620c6726acd2e12b22b86d35\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-mmnnfq6i-7f0c29a3620c6726acd2e12b22b86d35 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mmnnfq6i-7f0c29a3620c6726acd2e12b22b86d35 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 data-path-to-node=\"7\">1. The problem of \u201cdormant\u201d bacteria (persisters)<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">Why do bladder infections, lung infections, or inflammation around implants often return weeks after a successful course of antibiotics? The answer lies in the existence of <b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"182\">persister cells<\/b>. <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"9\">What are persisters?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10\">Unlike classic antibiotic resistance, in which the bacterium changes its genetic material to neutralize a drug, persisters represent a survival strategy through inactivity. These bacteria almost completely shut down their metabolism. Because antibiotics usually target processes that occur when bacteria grow or divide (e.g., cell wall synthesis), they have no point of attack in \u201cdormant\u201d cells.  <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\">Once antibiotic therapy ends and conditions in the body become favorable again, these cells \u201cwake up,\u201d and the infection flares up again. This is one of the main reasons why chronic infections are so difficult to treat. <\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"12\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"13\">2. Bacteriophages: The hunters that never sleep<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">Bacteriophages (phages for short) are viruses that act as natural antagonists of bacteria. Unlike chemical agents, phages are biological entities that have specialized over billions of years in overcoming bacterial defense mechanisms. <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"15\">The lytic cycle and persisters<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">Current research, as described on <a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/unkategorisiert\/bacteriophages-kill-dormant-bacteria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi2nai-l5qTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ9AM\">phage.help<\/a>, shows that certain phages can attach to dormant bacteria. While an antibiotic waits for the bacterium to become active, the phage injects its genetic material even into inactive cells. <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17\">Some phages wait patiently inside the bacterium until it ramps up its metabolism again, then immediately take control and destroy the cell (lysis). Other phages produce enzymes that can directly attack the cell wall of the dormant bacterium. <\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"18\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"19\">3. Excursus: Georgia\u2019s legacy and the renaissance in the West<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20\">The use of phages is by no means new. In <b data-path-to-node=\"20\" data-index-in-node=\"48\">Georgia<\/b> (Eliava Institute, Tbilisi), patients have been treated with phage cocktails for over 100 years. While the West largely abandoned phage research after the discovery of penicillin, the East perfected the isolation of phages from the environment.  <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"21\">Why we can learn from Georgia today<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22\">In Georgia, it is routine clinical practice to use phages against chronically infected wounds where Western antibiotics have failed. Physicians there have long known that phages are particularly effective in biofilms\u2014those complex communities in which persister cells preferentially survive. This decades-long experience is now feeding into modern biotechnological research to develop standardized <b data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"420\">antibiotic resistance solutions<\/b> for the global market.  <\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"23\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"24\">4. Scientific focus: Phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS)<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25\">A central pillar of modern phage therapy is the insight that phages and antibiotics, as a team, often produce an effect that goes far beyond the sum of their individual parts. We refer to this as <b data-path-to-node=\"25\" data-index-in-node=\"212\">phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS)<\/b>. <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"26\">The PAS mechanism in detail<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"27\">The synergy is based on several fascinating biological interactions:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" data-path-to-node=\"28\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"28,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Filamentation:<\/b> Certain antibiotics (e.g., beta-lactams) at sublethal doses (doses that do not kill the bacterium immediately) stimulate bacteria to elongate without dividing. These enlarged surfaces provide phages with more space for receptors, massively increasing the infection rate and the number of phages produced within the bacterium. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"28,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Breaking up biofilms:<\/b> Bacteria in biofilms are protected by a matrix of sugars and proteins. Phages produce <b data-path-to-node=\"28,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"127\">depolymerases<\/b>\u2014enzymes that literally \u201ceat away\u201d at this biofilm. Once the matrix becomes porous, antibiotics that previously bounced off the surface can penetrate deep into the biofilm and kill the bacteria (including persisters).  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"28,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The evolutionary dilemma:<\/b> Bacteria that try to become resistant to phages often have to alter their surface structures. This change frequently causes them to lose their resistance to antibiotics. The bacterium faces a choice: either it dies from the phage, or it becomes susceptible to the antibiotic again.  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"29\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"30\">5. Why antibiotics alone often fail: The resistance crisis<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"31\">The global rise in multidrug resistance is one of the greatest threats to modern medicine. Classic antibiotics have three key disadvantages: <\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"32\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"32,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"32,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Low selectivity:<\/b> They often kill beneficial bacteria as well (microbiome), leading to side effects and further health problems.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"32,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"32,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Static effect:<\/b> They cannot adapt. Once a bacterium has developed resistance, the antibiotic remains ineffective. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"32,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"32,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Persister blindness:<\/b> As mentioned at the outset, antibiotics do not \u201csee\u201d inactive cells.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"33\"><b data-path-to-node=\"33\" data-index-in-node=\"4\">Bacteriophage therapy<\/b> addresses all three points: it is highly specific, phages co-evolve with their hosts, and they can eliminate dormant cells.<\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"34\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"35\">6. From research to the clinic: The patient\u2019s pathway<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"36\">Although the benefits are obvious, access to phage therapy in Germany is still often challenging. At present, it is mostly used as an \u201cindividual treatment attempt\u201d (under the Declaration of Helsinki) when all other options have been exhausted. <\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"37\">The phagogram as the key<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"38\">To ensure successful therapy, a <b data-path-to-node=\"38\" data-index-in-node=\"66\">phagogram<\/b> must first be created. In this process, the patient\u2019s bacteria are brought together in the laboratory with various phages to see which phage kills the specific pathogen most effectively. This personalized approach is at the core of modern phage therapy.  <\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"39\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"40\">7. FAQ \u2013 Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"41\"><b data-path-to-node=\"41\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">1. How do phages find dormant bacteria in the body?<\/b>  Phages move by diffusion and random collisions. Because they are extremely abundant and have highly specific receptors, they \u201crecognize\u201d their target bacteria by their surface structure, regardless of whether the bacterium is currently active or dormant. <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"42\"><b data-path-to-node=\"42\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">2. Can I undergo phage therapy in addition to my antibiotics?<\/b> Yes, this is often precisely the goal of <b data-path-to-node=\"42\" data-index-in-node=\"107\">phage-antibiotic synergy<\/b>. The combination can significantly increase the chances of recovery. However, this should always be done under the guidance of a specialized physician.  <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"43\"><b data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">3. Why do phages not kill my beneficial gut bacteria?<\/b>  Phages are specialists. A phage that kills a harmful <i data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"112\">Pseudomonas<\/i> bacterium cannot infect a beneficial <i data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"161\">Lactobacillus<\/i> in the gut. This is a decisive advantage over broad-spectrum antibiotics.  <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"44\"><b data-path-to-node=\"44\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">4. Where can I receive phage therapy?<\/b>  In Germany, there are specialized centers (e.g., in Berlin or Braunschweig) that use phages as part of studies or individual treatment attempts. Many patients also contact institutes in Belgium or Georgia. You can find more information on our <a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=https:\/\/www.phage.help\/behandlungen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi2nai-l5qTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ9QM\">treatment page<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"45\"><b data-path-to-node=\"45\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">5. Do phages also help against viruses such as COVID or influenza?<\/b>  No. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria only. They have no effect on human cells or other types of viruses.  <\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"46\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"47\">Conclusion: A biological weapon against time<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"48\">The discovery that <b data-path-to-node=\"48\" data-index-in-node=\"21\">bacteriophages kill dormant bacteria<\/b> is a turning point. It deprives the most dangerous pathogens of their most important hiding place. By making intelligent use of <b data-path-to-node=\"48\" data-index-in-node=\"181\">phage-antibiotic synergy<\/b> and integrating historical insights from Eastern Europe into modern medicine, we can finally tackle chronic infections at their root.  <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"49\"><b data-path-to-node=\"49\" data-index-in-node=\"4\">Bacteriophage therapy<\/b> is not only an alternative, but a necessary evolution in the fight against global antibiotic resistance. It is time we give these biological hunters the place in medicine that they deserve. <\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"50\"><b data-path-to-node=\"50\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Interesting links for you:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"51\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"51,0,0\"><a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/unkategorisiert\/study-the-power-of-bacteriophages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi2nai-l5qTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ9gM\">The power of bacteriophages \u2013 An overview<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"51,1,0\"><a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=https:\/\/www.phage.help\/allgemein\/was-sind-bakteriophagen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi2nai-l5qTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ9wM\">What exactly are bacteriophages?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"51,2,0\"><a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi2nai-l5qTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ-AM\">Contact &amp; advice in the expert forum<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"52\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"53\"><i data-path-to-node=\"53\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Note: This article is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-8vw4il-cfff8b64e26393b738e67cd43d5bce90\">\n.flex_column.av-8vw4il-cfff8b64e26393b738e67cd43d5bce90{\nborder-radius:0 0 0 0;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-8vw4il-cfff8b64e26393b738e67cd43d5bce90 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_three_fourth  autor first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-7od4h9-02cf5e18cc7d1ab7f5b4e190bf22919f\">\n.avia-image-container.av-7od4h9-02cf5e18cc7d1ab7f5b4e190bf22919f img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-7od4h9-02cf5e18cc7d1ab7f5b4e190bf22919f .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-7od4h9-02cf5e18cc7d1ab7f5b4e190bf22919f av-styling-circle avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-6  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\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-6904 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-6904 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1\" alt='' title='Elena Kastner'  height=\"300\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?resize=80%2C80&amp;ssl=1 80w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?resize=36%2C36&amp;ssl=1 36w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?resize=180%2C180&amp;ssl=1 180w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elena-Kastner.png?resize=705%2C705&amp;ssl=1 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-59x75p-64efb0e79965a106aa8da559d9c69f4d\">\n.flex_column.av-59x75p-64efb0e79965a106aa8da559d9c69f4d{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-59x75p-64efb0e79965a106aa8da559d9c69f4d av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  autor flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-3svovh-b45db16531a3548e03011e3196fa021f '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock autor-text'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Author: Elena Kastner<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-228w19-aad62d799a5ffdc09a596d090c200643 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock autor-text'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Elena Kastner is an experienced specialist journalist focusing on health communication. Her focus is on evidence-based reporting and quality assurance of medical information in the digital space. With her expertise, she bridges the gap between scientific depth and practical applicability.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":558,"featured_media":5096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","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,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unkategorisiert"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.phage.help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fish-378286_960_720.jpg?fit=960%2C656&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pazElU-2nx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/558"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9147"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9161,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9147\/revisions\/9161"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.phage.help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}