BIOPHAGE PHARMA (fka BIPMF)

[Ubertino]

Eye on Health: Spray on Virus

Scientists believe there are viruses in the Chesapeake Bay that, when isolated from the water and sprayed on food, kill bacteria... making that food safer to eat. But a Baltimore biotech firm just got approval from the FDA to do just that. Scientists say these six viruses... called bacteriophages... are already all over our food...... the environment... even in our stomachs... millions of them. It's nature's way of killing bacteria... in this case.. deadly listeria.

The firm says it sold the technology to a major food manufacturer...whose name is being kept secret for now. Lunch meats and other ready-to-eat meat sprayed with the viruses should hit store shelves within six months. But can they convince consumers it's safe... or even necessary? Foods sprayed with the viruses will have "bacteriophage preparation" listed with other ingredients on the label. The firm is working on a similar product to kill salmonella and e-coli and hopes one day to put the bacteria-eating viruses in household cleaners... and even medicines for sick patients who've become resistant to antibiotics.

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http://www.wrcbtv.com/news/index.cfm?sid=3124