SNF Sinergia Grant for fight against urinary tract infections with bacteriophages

As Balgrist University Hospital writes in its media release, the dramatic increase in antibiotic resistance calls for new therapeutic approaches. Bacteriophages are viruses that occur naturally everywhere. For the first time, they will now be used to treat patients with urinary tract infections. As part of the innovative research project, Prof. Martin Loessner from the Department of Health Sciences and Technology and his team are producing artificial bacteriophages that are specifically used against urinary tract infections. Like natural bacteriophages, they attach themselves to bacteria and infect them with their genetic material, resulting in many new bacteriophages. These finally burst the bacteria and then attack other bacteria.

According to Balgrist University Hospital, this therapeutic application is unique in the world and could lead to a breakthrough in the fight against antibiotic resistance.