PHAGEFUTURE
1550 BCE
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River blindness has been described in ancient Egyptian texts dating back thousands of years, showing how humanity has been battling this illness since the dawn of civilization.
1917
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Bacteriophages are formally identified by French-Canadian microbiologist Félix d'Herelle, being the first to propose their potential use as a treatment for bacterial infections.
1917
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Jean-Louis-Félix Balle discovers the link between the blackfly and the transmission of river blindness, solidifying our understanding of the disease's transmission mechanism.
1923
1928
1940
1952
1950s
1974
1977
1987
1990s
2008
Phage Discovery
First Record
Blackfly Connection
Penicillin
Phage Genetics
Ivermectin
Antibiotic Revolution
Phage Therapy
OCP Formation
Wolbachia
MDP Creation
Antibiotic Resistance
Modern Phage Use
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Félix d'Herelle successfully treats a patient with severe dysentery using bacteriophages, marking the beginning of phage therapy.
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Sir Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin, the first antibiotic, which revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections.
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German-American biologist Max Delbrück demonstrates that bacteriophages can undergo genetic mutations, paving the way for future genetic research.
Scientific discovery of ivermectin, a medication with a broad spectrum of activity against various parasites, including those that cause river blindness (onchocerciasis).
The widespread introduction and success of antibiotics reduces the attention given to phage therapy in Western countries thought it continues to be researched and used in some parts of the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes the OCP (Onchocerciasis Control Programme) to combat river blindness in West Africa through vector control and other measures.
The presence of intracelluar bacteria in Onchocerca volvulus was first described in 1977, and these bacteria were later identified as endosymbiotic Wolbachia.
Merck & Co. announces its commitment to donate Mectizan (ivermectin) for the treatment of river blindness, providing the drug free of charge to those who need it.
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, highlighting the need for new strategies to combat bacterial infections.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the first bacteriophage-based product (ListShield) for use in the United States, marking a renewed interest in phage therapy.
2023
PhageFuture
The revolutionary technology of PhageFuture begins design and production. It is planned to put into production as soon as possible, with the intent of transforming millions of lives.
FUTURE
After extensive design and experimentation, PhageFuture entered into mass production and administration. After wide distribution to all those infected and at risk for river blindness, the disease is eradicated from humans, with all traces of it being erased after two decades.
