∞ generated and posted on 2022.02.08 ∞
Phage-resistant bacterial genetic variants.
| Bacteriophage Insenstive Mutants generally are selected for by exposure of bacterial populations to overwhelming quantities of a specific phage type. |
BIMs are typically achieved through mutations affecting bacterial-surface molecules, interfering especially with virion attachment. Phage-susceptible bacteria can also be converted to BIMs by either genetic engineering or naturally occurring horizontal gene transfer.
BIMs are useful whenever bacteria are grown in large quantities (fermentation industries) but are problematic for phage therapy just as antibiotic resistance is problemic for antibiotic treatments.
Next | Previous phage therapy-related terms: Breadth of Activity | Bacterial Half Life.
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