A powerful alternative to antibiotics

You’ve probably heard of probiotics for gut health. But did you know you can also supplement with ‘healthy’ viruses? Don’t worry, they don’t infect human cells!

Antibiotics are honesty amazing. They changed medicine for the better. But they’re widely overused and over prescribed and should almost always be saved for emergencies and life threatening infections

Oral phages can be a good alternative to antibiotics. But it’s important to keep in mind that oral phages (as opposed to the injectable forms often given in clinical practice) only work on infections in the gut. At least that’s what we know. They likely won’t work on systemic bacterial infections and they should absolutely not be used as an alternative to an antibiotic in the case of a life threatening infection or illness

In the ongoing battle against bacterial infections, antibiotic resistance has emerged as one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have accelerated the evolution of resistant bacteria, diminishing their efficacy. As the search for novel antimicrobials intensifies, bacteriophages (or phages) have garnered attention as a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. These viruses, which prey exclusively on bacteria (in other words, they are entirely unable to infect or damage human cells), offer a targeted approach to bacterial infections with a significantly reduced likelihood of developing resistance. Bacteriophages are almost like the bio-regulator version of antibiotics - targeted effects with virtually no side effects or off target impact

Bacteriophages were discovered independently by Frederick Twort in 1915 and Felix d'Herelle in 1917. The therapeutic potential of phages was recognized early on, leading to their use it treating bacterial infections before the widespread availability of antibiotics. However, the advent of antibiotics in the mid-20th century overshadowed phage therapy, relegating it to a historical footnote in many parts of the world. In the face of rising antibiotic resistance, therehas been a renewed interest in phage therapy, particularly in countries likeGeorgia and Russia (of course lol) where it has been continuously practiced.

Mechanisms of bacteriophages

Bacteriophages are highly specific viruses that infect and replicate within bacterial cells. The lifecycle of a bacteriophage can follow one of two paths: lytic or lysogenic. In the lytic cycle, a phage attaches to a bacterial cell and injects its genetic material. The phage DNA commandeers the bacterium's machinery to produce new phage particles. Once replication is complete, the phage releases an enzyme called endolysin, which breaks down the bacterial cell wall, causing the bacterium to lyse and release new phages ready to infect adjacent pathogenic bacteria.

The specificity of phages to their bacterial hosts is mediated by recognition proteins that bind to receptors on the bacterial cell surface. This specificity not only allows for the targeted elimination of pathogenic bacteria but also minimizes collateral damage to the beneficial microbiota, a common issue with broad spectrum antibiotics. This is important because we don't want bacteriophages kill our good gut bacteria. Interestingly enough, it's actually been demonstrated that phages can increase the diversity of good bacteria (like Bifido strains) in the gut. They're not only great for getting rid of bad microbes. They actively contribute to restoring the health of the micrbiome

The use of bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics offers several advantages. First, the specificity of phages reduces the likelihood of disrupting the body's normal flora, thus decreasing the risk of opportunistic infections like we said. Phages are. also less likely to contribute to the development of resistance due to their ability to evolve alongside their bacterial targets. When bacteria develop resistance to a phage, new phages can be isolated or engineered to circumvent this resistance, creating an adaptable therapeutic strategy. Regardless, bacteria typically do not develop resistance to phages though. It is possible but unlikely.

How to use phages

Oral phages can be used for non-serious infections of the gut like food poisoning, SIBO, stomach flu ect. They also be used in gut healing protocols to promote the diversity of healthy gut bacteria

Recommended products

Floraphage, 2 capsules daily on an empty stomach

Arthur Andrew Medical, Floraphage, Prebiotic Formula and Probiotic Multiplier, 90 Capsules https://a.co/d/1hMgPBu