Bacteriophages and their applications: general aspects and a new insight in Ethiopia

Abstract

Bacteriophages, having a variety of function in different disciplines, are viruses that invade bacterial cells. Phages are enormously essential to the ecology and evolution of bacteria, and have huge impacts on global weather patterns. Due to their easiness to manipulate, they have been used in dissimilar types of genetic analysis and also implemented in hydrological tracing. Modified filamentous bacteriophages can be used in the production of nanodevices and as an agent in extraction of triacylglycerols. While their invention over a decade, they have been subjugated mainly to treat infections caused by bacteria. Phage therapy could become a welcome option in this era with a paucity of new antibiotic to battle against multi-drug resistant pathogens. This enemy of bacteria can also be used to combat antimicrobial resistance. This annotation is tried to touch the current progress in bacteriophage research and applications including biocontrols, diagnostic purposes, drug innovation and new drug delivery systems. Regarding efforts made in Ethiopia, there is limited study on isolation of phage and their therapeutic potential. Antibiotic resistance is of major community health concern in Ethiopia. Hence, the idea of using bacteriophage should be taken into consideration and health professionals should have to show inclination towards phage therapy. Moreover, substantial academic efforts have to be made before approval of phage utilization in Ethiopia.