Phages and phage therapy: past, present and future

Abstract

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. Since their discovery in the last century, they have proved their effectiveness in biocontrol of bacteria. In this mini-review, we provide a brief history of bacteriophages, their life cycle and classification. We also discuss the potential use of bacteriophage in clinical therapy as an alternative to antibiotics, comparing their advantages and disadvantages.