Phagolysates are sterile solutions obtained through the destruction (lysis) of bacterial cells by specialized viruses known as bacteriophages (or simply phages).
In simple terms: a culture of specific bacteria is "infected" with viruses that consume them; the viruses multiply inside the bacteria and rupture them from within. The resulting liquid is cleared of bacterial debris and filtered to become a medication or a research material.
What is a phagolysate made of?
The finished solution contains:
Active bacteriophages — live viral particles ready to destroy new bacteria.
Lysis products — fragments of bacterial cell walls, along with their proteins and enzymes. Interestingly, these can act as a natural immunostimulant, "training" our immune system to recognize the enemy.
Where and why are they used?
1. Medicine and veterinary science (Phage therapy)
Phagolysates form the basis of bacteriophage preparations (e.g., staphylococcal, streptococcal, or polyvalent pyobacteriophage).
Purpose: They are used to combat bacterial infections (purulent wounds, tonsillitis, intestinal infections, dysbiosis).
Advantage: Unlike antibiotics, phagolysates strike with precision—targeting only specific types of bacteria without harming beneficial gut microflora. Furthermore, they offer a solution when bacteria have developed antibiotic resistance.
2. Vaccine production
Some vaccines are produced using phagolysates because the dissolved bacterial fragments elicit a strong immune response but cannot cause the disease themselves.
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