Phages are not known to infect humans so there’s no real fear that they will attack human cells. The main concerns are the release of endotoxins when the bacteria are killed by the phage because high concentrations of these toxins are harmful to humans. Also, the human immune system will attempt to stop the phages by creating antibodies, which can harm someone whose immune system is already fighting the bacteria.
Phages are only known to infect bacteria, and each species of phage only infects one or two types of bacteria, so there is a wide variety of phage on the planet. There is no research proving that phage have ever infected another type of organism besides bacteria.
Since we were never able to determine the cluster of the phage, it is hard to tell what other bacteria it could infect besides M. smeg. However, M. smeg has the ability to infect humans causing skin rashes, so the phage could be used against that specific infection. Further testing is required to determine what other bacteria the phage could infect.
Are there any potential dangers to using phages as treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (i.e. infecting humans)?
Phages are not known to infect humans so there’s no real fear that they will attack human cells. The main concerns are the release of endotoxins when the bacteria are killed by the phage because high concentrations of these toxins are harmful to humans. Also, the human immune system will attempt to stop the phages by creating antibodies, which can harm someone whose immune system is already fighting the bacteria.
Nice job identifying your macrophage. Could you go more in depth into why you chose your methods to identify this bacteriophage?
Plaques and electron micrographs are often the cheapest and most efficient ways to identify a phage without having to sequence the phage’s DNA.
You said that phages are the most plentiful organism on the planet. What types of organisms do phages typically interact with/impact?
Phages are only known to infect bacteria, and each species of phage only infects one or two types of bacteria, so there is a wide variety of phage on the planet. There is no research proving that phage have ever infected another type of organism besides bacteria.
Is there a specific application you think your phage could be used in for research based on your conclusions of its type?
Since we were never able to determine the cluster of the phage, it is hard to tell what other bacteria it could infect besides M. smeg. However, M. smeg has the ability to infect humans causing skin rashes, so the phage could be used against that specific infection. Further testing is required to determine what other bacteria the phage could infect.