Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect only bacteria. They exhibit one of two types of life cycle; lytic (virulent) or lysogenic (temperate). They are non-toxic to other organisms, infecting, and in the case of lytic phages, multiplying rapidly within the bacterial host, ultimately killing it¹. Lysogenic phages can remain in a quiescent state where the genome is integrated into the bacterial chromosome or exist as a plasmid. Some enhance bacterial virulence by encoding genes for toxins or antibiotic resistance². Lytic phages are preferred for therapy as lysogenic phages may not result in host death and can transfer undesirable genes through transduction¹. The history of prophylactic and therapeutic use of phages since their discovery over 90 years ago by d’Herelle (1917) and Twort (1915) are outlined in comprehensive reviews by Sulakvelidze et al, Merril and Hanlon²⁻⁴. Inconsistent and unreliable results combined with the discovery of antibiotics led to a decline in research in the West. The emphasis changed to the use of phages as tools for fundamental molecular studies focussing on the nature, replication and regulation of genes⁵,⁶. These studies clarified the biology of phages and provided a foundation for investigation into phage therapy and biocontrol. Refereed/Peer-reviewed