Probiotics have become enormously popular supplements. Unlike fecal transplants, taking oral probiotics is inefficient and needs to be replenished every day. But when bacteria-killing phages were added to probiotics in the animal model, there was a 40-100-fold increase in beneficial intestinal flora with huge reductions pathogenic E.coli. Combining probiotics with phages may represent a new standard of intestinal balance.
This particular probiotic contains phage technology that decimates malevolent Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in your intestine. This is the troublesome strain of E. coli called H10407 that causes abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and gas, and suppresses growth of beneficial bacteria. Thus a state of dysbiosis.
Actually after trying it for a month I didn't notice it to be any more effective than the other helpful probiotics that I have taken. But this particular brand was targeting E. Coli. Phage therapy has been developed to target an array of pathogens such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E. coli, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas. Success rates range up to 80%-95%.
What if phage technology were developed (if it hasn't already) to target Clostridium Difficile? Or Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)? If not a cure than perhaps very close to at least managing this disease.
www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/item02125/FLORASSIST-GIwww.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2017/1/Intestinal-Health/Page-01one group of laboratory mice was given the probiotic B. longum in combination with the disease-causing E. coli strain H10407. A second group of mice was given the same mixture, but with the addition of the phage cocktail that targets E. coli.
After 24 hours, compared with the control group, animals in the phage-treated group gave powerful evidence of a reduction in the disease-causing bacteria as can be seen on the following page:
about a 10-fold decrease of E. coli in the small intestine
about a 100-fold decrease of E. coli in the colon (large intestine)
about a 100-fold decrease of E. coli in fecal matter
At the same time, the phage-treated animals showed remarkable increases in the beneficial (B. longum) bacteria as follows:
about 100-fold increase of B. longum in the small intestine
about 100-fold increase of B. longum in the colon
about 40-fold increase of B. longum in fecal matter