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Bacteriophage Therapy – Lecture
ADR LG26
2nd February 2011 14:00 to 15:00
In 1917 the Canadian microbiologist Felix d’Herelle proposed
that bacteriophages, the natural enemies of bacteria, might be
applied to the control of bacterial diseases. Since then, within
the Former Soviet Union, bacteriophage therapy has been
extensively researched and applied in the treatment of a wide
range of bacterial infections, with phage therapy being
established as an independent field of science at the Eliava
Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology, Tbilisi,
Georgia.
During this time bacteriophage therapy was not explored as enthusiastically in the West as it
was in the Former Soviet Union and was eventually discarded with the arrival of antibiotics.
However, with the rise in incidence of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, it is once again
attracting global attention as a potential alternative to antibiotic therapy.
Dr. Nina Chanishvili, Ph.D. graduated from Tbilisi State University in 1976 and was awarded
her PhD in 1986; this was partly achieved at the Gamalea Institute of Epidemiology and
Microbiology, Moscow. Her post doctoral studies were undertaken at the Department of
Molecular Biology, University of Geneva.
Dr. Chanishvili has over 30 years experience in microbiology research and 15 years
managing a wide range of research projects including the study and exploitation of
bacteriophage, fermentation development (dairy starters) and environmental microbiology.
She is an author of over 120 publications and recently published a monograph: “A Literature
Review of the Practical Application of Bacteriophage Research”.
Since 1976 Dr Chanishvili has worked at the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology
and Virology, Tbilisi, Georgia where she is currently Head of the Laboratory for Genetics of
Micro-organisms.
We are delighted to invite you to this lecture on Bacteriophage Therapy at the University of
Leicester presented by Dr Nino Chanishvili from the Eliava Institute, Tbilisi, Georgia.