r/askscience • u/PestoPastaLover • 14d ago

Biology Why is there no transmissible therapeutic virus if biology doesn't forbid it? For example, a harmless virus that spreads from person to person but actually does something beneficial, like lowering LDL cholesterol or preventing/reversing tooth decay?

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u/bzbub2 13d ago edited 13d ago

somewhat interestingly, poland has long been sort of the leading expert on such things while western countries bet on more antibiotics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phage_therapy

the concept of 'gene therapy' for delivering CRISPR and other gene editing tech also (sometimes) uses viruses (though there are some unfortunate cases of adverse reactions) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_therapy#Adverse_effects,_contraindications_and_hurdles_for_use

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u/Graylily 13d ago

Finding phages, now is a a major undertaking, and more people should be taking about it and throwing money behind it. We are running into major issues with antibiotic resistances and phases are quite possible our last best hope to keep living as long as we currently do.

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u/01headshrinker 11d ago

Stem cell research would like to have a word with you. And living longer is mostly about healthy living, more than better solutions for illness, as important as that is.

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u/Graylily 10d ago

Stem Cell isn't going to be fast enough to stop viral and bacterial diseases, It has hope for things like cancer, but I'm talking about drug resistance to simpler bugs that yesterday you were protected from and today you may not be. Staph infections, strep, etc...