Comment Might finally solve the issues around using Phages (Score 4, Interesting) 64
We have been trying to use Bacteriophages for treatment of bacterial infections for about 50 years. The Russians have gotten the closest they have a giant bank of phages available and a variety of mixed phage products. The issue is phages are highly particular about the bacteria they attack there are thousands of different ones for just Staph Aureus for example and getting the right one involves culturing the bacteria and then seeing if the phages help. The problem is patients with such infections don't have the many days this process takes. Antibiotics that destroy a lot of different bacteria have been used in preference because its something you can take right away. With chronic issues however phages are used, but mostly just in Russian medicine, they are the only people to have access to a big bank of the biologics are a reasonable safe process for making and testing them.
If we can identify which phage will help or even better print one on an RNA/DNA printer then we might be able to use these to treat serious concerning conditions like sepsis with them. This has real potential as an approach, phages have been very interesting for a long time and there is little concern about biological impact here because every bacteria has phages in nature already and they inert in animal cells they only go after the bacteria they are designed to deal with. Being able to create them as needed will eliminate the need for big banks of storage of phages and identifying the right one solves the speed of treatment. This could unlock a new way of dealing with problematic infections that only destroy the bacteria that are a problem leaving your various microbiomes alone. Most western people have lost some key bacteria in their gut due to the use of antibiotics so we definitely need something better than the generic antibiotics we have today.