I am CEO of Phage International. Because some parents of autistic children have contacted our clinic, I have attended a couple of the autism conferences to find out more about your community.
Bacteriophages (phages) are the most prolific form of life on earth and as their name indicates, they have evolved over three billion years to become highly effective predators of bacteria. They do this by attaching to the surface of the bacterium, replicating inside and eventually destroying the host via a process called lysis. Most importantly, bacteriophages are "host specific" meaning they will only infect one species or strain of bacteria; therefore, the normal flora is left intact. As such, they represent a formidable weapon in our war against bacterial infections. Because replication is so rapid (one phage can produce two billion offspring in two hours) bacteria have little opportunity to develop resistance. In addition, once the target bacteria have been destroyed, the phages are no longer capable of reproduction and subsequently disappear through natural processes / leaving no harmful residues. This environmentally friendly characteristic of phages is a major advantage when compared to conventional antibiotics, where toxic residues have lead to many problems.
Bacteriophages occur widely in nature as part of the complex feedback and control mechanisms
that regulate the numbers of bacteria in the biosphere. These naturally occurring viruses
outnumber bacteria tenfold and each is highly specific to a particular species or strain of bacteria.
Phage therapy products are self-amplifying, highly specific, do not affect the body's normal
bacterial flora, have no serious side-effects, and are self-limiting. What is more, the phages can be tailored for a single disease in a single individual or combined into "cocktails" to treat a group of diseases across a general population.
Phage Therapy remains an integral part of Georgia's medical system including all state-run hospitals and medical facilities.
For more information, please check out our clinic web site: Phage Therapy Center.