[Campbell Biology P.921] Based on the information provided, why was phage therapy a critical... | Practice Question

Based on the information provided, why was phage therapy a critical and effective treatment for Dr. Tom Patterson's superbug infection after standard antibiotic treatments failed?

  • A: Phage therapy quickly removed the gallstone blockage that caused the infection.
  • B: Tom's superbug had evolved resistance to all known viruses, making phages the only option.
  • C: The superbug possessed 51 different antibiotic-resistance genes, rendering standard antibiotics ineffective, while phages could specifically target and destroy the resistant bacteria without harming human cells.
  • D: Phage therapy boosted Tom's immune system to fight the infection more effectively than antibiotics.

Explanation

The text clearly states that Tom's bacterium had '51 different antibiotic-resistance genes,' meaning 'none of the standard antibiotic treatments were working, and my husband was dying.' Phages, on the other hand, 'attack bacteria, but not human cells,' and are 'specific for a particular bacterium,' directly killing them.