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The Good Virus: The Untold Story of Phages: The Most Abundant Life Forms on Earth and What They Can Do For Us

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What an amazing popular science book! I can’t remember the last time I thoroughly enjoyed reading one as much as this one. The Good Virus is truly a marvel from beginning to end! With such inconsistent results, phages got a bad reputation. When antibiotic drugs came along, doctors in most countries found them far more consistent and convenient. Over the course of the 20th century, much of the world abandoned the idea of using phages, and then virtually forgot all about it. As engaging as it is expansive, The Good Virus describes the distinctive biology and murky history of bacteriophage (generally shortened to ‘phage’), a form of life that is remarkably abundant yet obscure enough to have been termed the ‘dark matter of biology.’—David A. Shaywitz, Wall Street Journal

Ahead of what would become a pivotal battle of World War II and the defeat of the German Army, Yermol-yeva is said to have received a call from Stalin himself. “Is it safe to keep more than a million people at Stalingrad? Can the cholera epidemic interfere with the military plans?” he asked. Yermolyeva replied that she was winning on her front: no cholera outbreaks within the city. Now it was the Red Army’s turn to win on theirs. 4. Phages are fundamentally important to life on Earth. Below, Tom shares five key insights from his new book, The Good Virus: The Untold Story of Phages. Listen to the audio version—read by Tom himself—in the Next Big Idea App. https://cdn.nextbigideaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/05141256/BB_Tom-Ireland_MIX.mp3 1. Phages are nature’s antibiotics.Bacteria are also constantly evolving, but they can develop resistance to antibiotics in many different ways, not just through evolution. Some bacteria already have resistance mechanisms in place. As antibiotics become more prevalent in the environment, the bacteria will select for this resistant mechanism and it will become more dominant in the gene pool. The author points out that antibiotic resistance shows up even in places with very little antibiotic usage. When watching a program on The Great Courses, I learned that even the Hadza (one of the last remaining hunter gatherer groups) have antibiotic resistance despite having never been exposed to antibiotics suggesting that it is environmentally derived. This means that antibiotic resistance is a global problem. How a mysterious, super-powerful—yet long-neglected—microbe rules our world and can rescue our health in the age of antibiotic resistance. A masterful blend of jaw-dropping science and absorbing storytelling. . . . This book reminds us of the missed opportunities we simply cannot afford to miss again.—George McGavin, BBC and Discovery Channel presenter A new scientific frontier which couldn’t be more fascinating or vital. Phages are critical to our health, and the health of the whole planet. Brilliantly written and profound, this book is ahead of the curve and deserves to become a classic.—Daniel M. Davis, author of The Beautiful Cure and The Secret Body A masterful blend of jaw-dropping science and absorbing storytelling. . . . This book reminds us of the missed opportunities we simply cannot afford to miss again." George McGavin

There are almost certainly reasons why the widespread use of phage therapy has been slow to catch on, and these reasons seem to be downplayed in the book. The reasons for the slow penetration are said to be due to different belief systems between the West and East, and the IP issues with pharmaceutical companies. But is this really the case? It’s written superbly and in such a way that it’s accessible for all. It effortlessly breaks down complicated science into easy to understand nuggets and in such a way that you’ll enjoy it all along the way. I already knew a little about phages and it’s early beginnings and applications but there was so much I learnt and am still yet to know! It really is such an interesting area of science so it’s a must read for all. This well researched book deserves it's high rating. Even though I have studied nutrition and have a general interest in health care, I still found myself learning new things in every chapter. Rohwer and Barr discovered that phages living near these reefs had evolved the ability to adhere to and penetrate the corals’ mucous layer. The reward for the phages that could penetrate the mucous was access to lots of bacterial hosts immobilised in the mucous, and therefore greater reproductive success. Artificially removing the phages increased the chances of the coral beneath the mucous layer becoming infected with bacteria. So, in return for access to lots of potential hosts, the phages were helping reduce bacterial growth on the outer surface for the coral. Though Ireland’s relentless optimism about phage therapy’s potential can suggest that only miserly pharmaceutical companies stand in the way of the treatment’s widespread availability, phage therapy is a long way from being consistently effective at treating infections.

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A colorful redemption story for the oft-neglected yet incredibly abundant phage. . . . Ireland, an award-winning science journalist, approaches the subject of his first book with curiosity and passion, delivering a deft narrative that is rich and approachable." The New York Times Book Review - Alex Johnson

A colorful redemption story for the oft-neglected yet incredibly abundant phage. . . . Ireland, an award-winning science journalist, approaches the subject of his first book with curiosity and passion, delivering a deft narrative that is rich and approachable.—Alex Johnson, The New York Times Book Review Throughout the 20th century, scientists and doctors in places like Georgia, and other former Soviet countries like Russia and Poland, kept refining the use of phages as medicines. Drugs like penicillin were often hard to get in the Soviet Union and so they poured their efforts into producing thousands of litres of phage-based medicines every year. “When doctors in the West do try to use phages, it is often as a last resort.” The untold story of the most abundant life form on Earth, bacteriophages, and how they play a crucial role in our lives, our health and the health of our planet. I’ve just begun to read the book, and I love how the tone strikes a good balance between casual and scientific, making it an easy recommendation to aunts, uncles, and grandparents who want to learn more about phages. The thing I most liked about this book was the combination of Tom Ireland’s extensive research and his storytelling. The author went to great lengths to collect his knowledge on phages, and how they are important in our on-going battles against bacterial infections. He traveled around the world to understand the historical development of the great men and women who pioneered bacteriophage therapies, those who kept this belief and practice alive in the Soviet Union countries – especially Georgia – and for those rare scientists in the West who also believe in phages.While the book presented a good case for the positives of phage therapy, I felt it also diminished its risks and effectiveness of this process. On reading The Good Virus, one gets the sense that using phages is a “No brainer” solution to deal with drug resistant bacterial infections, versus something that needs much more investigation.

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