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June 1, 2021 by G. Saldana

Texas A&M AgriLife Research develops bacteriophage treatment for Pierce’s disease

World’s first organic treatment for Pierce’s disease in grapevines

Grapevine infected with Pierce’s disease
Grapevine infected with Pierce’s disease (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez, Ph.D.)

A Texas A&M AgriLife Research study has led to the discovery of the first curative and preventive bacteriophage treatment against the pathogen Xylella fastidiosa, which causes the deadly Pierce’s disease in grapevines.

A bacteriophage therapy is a precision treatment of bacterial infections that use viruses that only infect and kill the bacterium. Bacteriophages are considered a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating infections in humans, animals and plants.

The work to develop a bacteriophage treatment for Pierce’s disease was led by Carlos Gonzalez, Ph.D., Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology professor, and member of the Texas A&M AgriLife Center for Phage Technology in collaboration with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Story continues at AgriLife Today

Filed Under: News

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