Otago scientist explores controversial phage therapy
Photo:
AFP
Phage therapy has been hailed as the next line of defence against the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
The therapy works by using viruses to kill and selectively target bacteria.
It is not approved for use in NZ, and is seen as a controversial treatment.
But as concerns about antibiotic resistance grow - The World Health Organisation has called antimicrobial resistance one of the top global public health threats - phage therapy is increasingly becoming of interest to scientists and the general public.
Dr Leah Smith is a research fellow in the University of Otago's department of microbiology and immunology and has been researching how phages can be evolved.
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