Bacteriophages are natural killers of bacteria. They represent a plausible alternative to antibiotics. For phage therapy to be successful, we have to learn its effect on bacteria in different physiological states that can be found in human body. Bacteria with low metabolic activity in limiting conditions cause latent and persistent infections. Bacteriophage infected bacteria in limiting conditions enter a reversible dormant state called hibernation mode. In experimental work, dilution rate was used to determine bacterial growth rate. In the phase of limitation we approached the stationary growth phase and studied bacteriophage infection and propagation in E.coli with low metabolic activity. Hibernation effect or sudden increase of free bacteriophages was achieved with the adidion of fresh nutrients correspondingly with the increase of bacterial metabolic activity.
|
