4 HN users recommended this explainer4 months2018–2026score 4
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN commenters link it whenever phage therapy or antibiotic resistance comes up, as an accessible overview.
An animated Kurzgesagt explainer on bacteriophages, viruses that kill bacteria, covering how they infect and burst cells and their potential as therapy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
“Relevant Kurzgesagt video explaining _everything_ about bacteriophage[1].” (HN, 2018)
Kurzgesagt goes through bacterophages in this video: [this video] I think this is the case mentioned by Kurzgesagt in the video, although he doesn't use names, so I can't be sure. Super cool, anyways!
Relevant Kurzgesagt video explaining _everything_ about bacteriophage[1]. I posted this a while ago, but since it's a video it didn't get much attention. [1]: [this video]
Explains bacteriophages comprehensively in an accessible animated format.
The latter half of a charming video by Kurzgesagt[0] talks about the tension between anti-bacterial resistance and bacteriophage defenses - we might be able to see-saw treatments based on what local microbes have adapted to. I only mention it as a tangent, and because your comment makes me think you'd be interested. [0] [this video]
Covers tension between antibiotic resistance and phage defenses, suggesting alternating treatments.
Thank you very much. I google a bit and here in germany we are allready building a database and a stock of phagea for specific bacteria. They allready have over 1000 phages. They also have „phage cocktails“ for broadband. They also state your points. Thanks again. Here the link in german [link] And this video is rly interesting [this video]
Interesting introduction to phages and their therapeutic use.
Counterpoint: A recent Kurzgesagt video suggests that we may be able to deploy bacteriophages (bacteria-attacking viruses) to combat superbugs. [this video] Note: I'm not a doctor/biologist/etc., so I cannot comment on the details of this claim (e.g. how far away we are from a widely deployed phage-based treatment).
The whole concept of phage therapy is somehow based on this: Bacteriophages inject DNA into specific bacteria that makes them copy the phage inside them until they burst open. Basically use viruses against bacteria. [this video]
Illustrates how phages infect and burst bacteria, the basis of phage therapy.
I have no idea if this is true, but I remember seeing in a Kurzgesagt video that developing phage resistance reduces antibiotic resistance, and vice versa. So you might corner bacteria by using both. [this video]
Mentions phage resistance trading off against antibiotic resistance.
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