THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF BRAZILIAN PHAGE THERAPY

Gabriel Magno de Freitas Almeida

All Papers

Submission

DOI

10.29327/cbv.271923

Paper Title

THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF BRAZILIAN PHAGE THERAPY

Authors

Gabriel Magno de Freitas Almeida

Modality

Resumo

Subject area

Básica

Publishing Date

04/01/2021

Country of Publishing

Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/cbv/271923-the-forgotten-tale-of-brazilian-phage-therapy

ISBN

978-65-5941-175-7

Keywords

bacteriophage , phages, phage therapy , history of virology , antimicrobial resistance

Summary

Bacteriophages (phages), viruses of bacteria, are remarkable organisms. Their use as means to treat bacterial infections (phage therapy) is being considered a viable solution to the modern antimicrobial resistance crisis. However, phage therapy is not a new concept. The discovery of phages in the early 20th century was closely tied to clinical practice, and in the early 1920s phage therapy spread from France to the rest of Europe and the Americas. Although the French, Georgian, Russian and Polish experiences with phage therapy are well documented, much of what has been made and achieved in other countries is still under-reported. One interesting missing piece of phage therapy history lies within South America. Mentioned only briefly in the recent scientific literature, the role of Brazil in using phages as treatment in the past is still shrouded in mystery. I have investigated the use of phage therapy by medical doctors from Brazil in the early 20th century. This research was made using reference collections of old medical texts from Brazilian Institutes, uncovering over 50 “forgotten” publications from 1921 to 1950. These contains enough information to show that Brazil was an important, but so far neglected, player of phage therapy in the past. From an early clinical trial in 1921 to massive testing in government troops during the Paulista revolution of 1924 to the gradual demise of phage therapy in the 1940s, there are interesting priority claims and missing pieces of phage therapy history to be learned. From a historical point of view, the Brazilian phage experience fills interesting gaps in our knowledge about the golden age of phage therapy, acknowledging milestones and researchers who were forgotten. From a practical point of view, phage use in Brazil can be taken as example of how to successfully treat pathogens that still cause problems nowadays. At the dawn of the post-antibiotic era, phage therapy revival is considered a promising countermeasure. Much has been achieved concerning phage use in the western world, although there is still a lot more to be done. The Brazilian experience adds up to the already known historical efforts of France, Georgia, Russia and Poland as a source of information to modern phage researchers. This work can also be helpful for increasing phage therapy awareness among Brazilian researchers, medical doctors and regulatory agencies, serving as a starting point for the revival of Brazilian phage therapy.

Title of the Event: XXXI Congresso Brasileiro de Virologia & XV Encontro de Virologia do Mercosul
Title of the Proceedings of the event: Anais do Congresso Brasileiro de Virologia & Encontro de Virologia do Mercosul
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital
DOI

How to cite

ALMEIDA, Gabriel Magno de Freitas. THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF BRAZILIAN PHAGE THERAPY.. In: Congresso Brasileiro de Virologia & Encontro de Virologia do Mercosul. Anais...Porto Alegre(RS) Online, 2020. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/cbv/271923-THE-FORGOTTEN-TALE-OF-BRAZILIAN-PHAGE-THERAPY. Access in: 27/04/2025