The international team of scientists made an important discovery that can significantly influence the understanding of mechanisms for the development of antibiotic resistance. In the tests of fluids of the human body, a previously unknown type of virus, which infects bacteria, has been revealed. These viruses, known as bacteriophages, can be important for the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Bacteriophages are viruses that attack and infect bacteria. The detection of these viruses in the human body has serious consequences for science, as they can convey genes of antibiotic resistance, which allows bacteria to become more resistant to treatment. This ability of the phages poses new challenges to science, because the development of antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest medical problems of the present. Research group, headed by scientists from the University of Medical Sciences. Karl Landsteiner and Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine found 43 different bacteriophages in the specimens of human fluids. The results of the study were published in the International Scientific Journal and greatly expand our understanding of the role of phages in the human body.
Scientists describe the found bacteriophages as "viral dark matter" of the human body. This phenomenon is poorly understood, as only a few research groups in the world have been studying phages in the human body. This discovery emphasizes the complexity and mystery of a person's microbioma, which plays a key role in maintaining health. The balance between different types of bacteria in the human body is critical for health. Bacteriophages can attack certain bacteria, which in turn can lead to a violation of the bacterial balance, which is an important factor in the development of various diseases.
Despite the fact that research is focused on the study of phages and their role in the fight against bacteria, researchers pay special attention to how these viruses can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. Increasing antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious global medical problems, and so far science does not have a clear answer to how phages can interact with antibiotic resistance mechanisms. However, the results of this study can be an important step towards solving this problem, as they can understand more deeply how phages can affect the development of bacterial resistance to drugs. This discovery also points to the need for further studies that would better understand how bacteriophages interact with a person's microbiota and how they can be used in the future to develop new approaches to the treatment of infections and combat antibiotic resistance.
If the study of phages and their role in the development of antibiotic resistance will continue, it can open up new opportunities to create alternative treatments that will help fight dangerous bacteria that are not amenable to traditional antibiotics.
