Bacteriophages Notes

Bacteriophages, often called phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria.
They are generally considered harmless to humans, animals, and plants.
Phages exhibit host-specificity, meaning they only infect particular types of bacteria.
They replicate within a host bacterium.
The presence of phages suggests the presence of their bacterial hosts.
Phage detection is a promising strategy for detecting microbial contamination in water due to its sensitivity compared to standard bacterial detection methods.

1896: Ernest Hanbury Hankin reported antibacterial action against cholera in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India; this agent could pass through fine porcelain filters.
1915: Frederick Twort, a British bacteriologist, discovered an agent capable of infecting and killing bacteria.
Twort's research was interrupted because of World War I, funding shortage and antibiotic discoveries.
September 3, 1917: Félix d'Hérelle, a French-Canadian microbiologist working at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, announced the discovery of