Viruses that Infect Bacteria -- Could Bacteriophages be a Go-to Alternative??

In the early twentieth century, researchers actually believed DNA -- the essential genetic material which makes up every living organism -- to be a useless molecule because it was just 'too simple.' Researchers went on to later find out that viral DNA is an essential component for phage replication, which demonstrates that DNA is, in fact, the necessary molecule for viral replication to occur. With this being said, bacteriophages, or bacteria infecting viruses, were the ultimate reason for this particular biological discovery to occur in the first place.

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Bacteriophages are extremely simple in nature and are found everywhere in our society, but they are quite difficult to understand because they often times do not follow the basic historical rules of Biology. There are many mysteries about these extremely versatile viruses, but there are also a number of known roles which phages are able to play in our society, as well. Some of these include: their exceptional ability to cooperate with bacterial host cells in order to affect the environment (both positively and negatively), the role in which they play with disease and etiologic agents, their roles in symbiotic relationships, and more.

Bacteriophages interact with a bacterial host by attaching on to a bacterial receptor and then injecting their DNA directly inside the host cell. After the DNA has been injected into the host, cell replication of the phage occurs until the host bacterium lyses and new phages are released. As previously mentioned, phages have the ability to affect our environment in many different ways. For example, phages have been identified as a potential source of genetic soil changes, heritable changes in vegetation and ocean waters, the processes of biological evolution, as well as climate change, just to name a few.

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Phages are continuously being studied by researchers because there is so much information about them that we still do not know. Phage therapy and phage genomes, for example, are a couple of areas where we are still lacking complete knowledge and a full understanding. In some industries, phage treatment is becoming more and more popular as we continue to learn more about these complex viruses.

To illustrate, lytic phages are being used as a bacterial control mechanism in the food industry, farming practices, as well as with specific antibiotic treatment protocols. Phages also have the potential to help fight against the devastation of a number of plant species by mixing them directly with certain pesticides that are being applied to our crop supply.

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All of these phage discoveries which are still currently being studied, monitored, and expanded upon may potentially be able to provide enormous advancements to occur in regards to the immense field of biological sciences. The barrier which seems to be holding us back, however, is the fact that they are extremely difficult to fully understand due to their extremely rapid rates of replication.

Phage research is an extremely vital aspect of biology because if we can encode some of these unknowns and make further advancements in categories where we are less proficient, then we could ultimately make some enormous changes in our society for the better. A more sustainable future can be made possible with the help of bacteriophage research.

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Could phages be used as an alternative to some antibiotics since the resistance of such treatment methods are beginning to become less and less efficient?

Could phages be a vital role player in terms of answering questions regarding climate change, marine biology, diseases with unknown origins?

Please share your thoughts below and get this discussion STEEM rolling!!