In an international project led by Dr. Ferdiye Taner from the Near East University DESAM Research Institute and Associate Professor Dr. Steve Petrovski from La Trobe University in Australia, three bacteriophages isolated from the waters of a natural pond located on the Near East University campus have sparked hope in the fight against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most common source of hospital infections.
The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics poses a challenge in treating many bacterial infections, recognized as a global public health threat by the World Health Organization (WHO). Bacteriophages represent a promising alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections. Through international collaborations, the newly isolated bacteriophages by Near East University offer a robust alternative against antibiotic-resistant bacteria threatening global public health.
The project titled “Investigation of the Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance Spread in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains and Exploration of New Bacteriophages as an Alternative Treatment Approach” focuses on bacteriophages as an effective biological combat method against bacteria. Derived from the terms “bacteria” and “phage” (to eat), bacteriophages inject their genetic material into bacterial cells, causing them to multiply within the cell. As a result, the bacterial cell is ruptured and destroyed, releasing bacteriophages to infect subsequent target bacterial cells.
In addition to Dr. Ferdiye Taner and Associate Professor Dr. Steve Petrovski, the project involves Professor Dr. Ahmet Başustaoğlu and Associate Professor Dr. Aylin Üsküdar Güçlü from Başkent University, as well as other researchers such as Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Dr. Gökçe Akan, Dr. Gülten Tuncel, Prof. Dr. Murat Sayan, Doruk Kaynarca from Near East University, and Vaheesan Rajabal from La Trobe University.
Dr. Ferdiye Taner remarked, “The three new bacteriophages we have obtained have instilled great hope in our fight against antibiotic resistance.” Dr. Taner emphasized the importance of intensive research into the genetic structures and infection mechanisms of bacteriophages, aiming to better understand the types of bacteria they can target and develop more effective treatment methods. She stressed the urgency of addressing the increasing global public health concern of deaths caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and affirmed their commitment to continuing the research to discover new bacteriophages for use as an alternative treatment approach against antibiotic resistance.
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