Old hands on the LSS website will recall our constant advocacy of bacteriophages as a complement to the development of new chemical antibiotics. Just one of our little hobbyhorses, and like all hobbyhorses, it comes with limitations. One of which is that many diseases, both of humans and other living things, aren’t caused by bacteria. They’re caused by viruses.(Remember Covid-19, anyone?)
Up to now the best way to deal with viruses is by vaccination. But what if we could open a second front, as t’were? If viruses can attack bacteria and take them out for us, could they do the same job on other viruses? Fortunately the answer seems to be “yes”. We have two pieces for you today, gentle readers. One from the indefatigable Stacey Liberatore of the Mail, and one from National Geographic, which more than hint at the possibility of developing virus hunter killers, “virophages”, if you will, that will provide a true 21st century addition to our pharmacoepia.[1] [2]
One thing is certain; very little progress on this will come from the Middle East, where they spend all their time and money on ancient intractable feuds. The rest of us will have to take up the slack.
[1]https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12721303/vampire-viruses-bacteria-cells-biting.html
[2]https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-virophage-a-virus-that-infects-other-viruses
#bacteriophage #virophage #health #medicine #virus #disesase
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