Predatory Virus Can Attack Cholera Bug’s Immune System, Says Study

Predatory Virus Can Attack Cholera Bug’s Immune System, Says StudyA study conducted by a team of researchers at the Tufts University School of Medicine has unveiled a virus, whose predatory instincts can help it attack the immune system of the cholera bug.

Published in the journal Nature, the review found that the bacteriophage could turn the skyjacked immune system to hinder the defensive mechanism of the cholera bug. It is being said that phage's move helps them to replicate and attack more cholera bugs. Phage, as per the report, is the short name for bacteriophage.

Scientists previously were of the belief that phages were only were there as primitive DNA or RNA particles. Therefore, they could not have the erudition of an adaptive immune system.

But, the bacteria's potential has raised hopes amongst researchers to effectively target superbugs. The bugs currently show resistance to the available promising antibiotics.

Professor of molecular biology and microbiology, Andrew Camilli, and colleagues focused on a phage, which attacks Vibrio cholera, responsible for occurrence of cholera.

"Virtually all bacteria can be infected by phages. About half of the world`s known bacteria have this adaptive immune system, called CRISPR/Cas, used primarily to provide immunity against phages", said postdoctoral fellow Kimberley D. Seed in Camilli`s lab.