WASHINGTON D.C. : Researchers have come up with a method which involves the use of Viruses to kill harmful gut bacteria, hence eliminating the need for antibiotics.
The study focused on the safety and tolerability of using bacteria-specific viruses known as 'bacteriophages' to eliminate disease-causing bacteria in the gut.
The clinical study named as Bacteriophage for Gastrointestinal Health (PHAGE) Study is the first clinical study to have provided patients with Bacteriophages and the results were presented at American Society for Nutrition annual meeting, Nutrition 2018, held in Boston.
The research included 31 people who reported significant gastrointestinal distress at the beginning of the study, but who were not diagnosed with any specific gastrointestinal disorder. Study participants were assigned to either a placebo or treatment group for the first four weeks of the study, followed by a two-week washout period and an additional four weeks on the opposite treatment. The treatment group received four bacteriophage strains that specifically eliminate E. coli, a pathogen that can contribute to gastrointestinal irregularities and stomach upset.
The new treatment could be used in place of antibiotics to get rid of harmful gut bacteria and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria that are known to enhance gastrointestinal health, immune function and anti-inflammatory processes.
"People taking antibiotics can develop resistance and experience gastrointestinal distress since antibiotics kill both bad and good bacteria in the gut. Using viruses that infect only specific types of bacteria but spares good ones . " said study co-investigator Taylor C. Wallace from the George Mason University.
The researchers reported that the study participants tolerated the bacteriophage with no adverse side effects reported during the course of treatment. There was a significant decline in the inflammatory marker, Interleukin 4 that is associated with allergic reaction and Clostridium perfringens. On the other hand there was a significant increase in several health-promoting bacterial species.
The team said that the bacteriophage treatment can be used to eliminate nutritional deficiencies along with eliminating harmful bacteria. Developing countries are seeking to support testing of bacteriophages to eliminate the problem of Chronic diarrhoea and associated malnutrition, which accounts for the second most common causes of childhood death worldwide.