Editing Bacteriophage (section)

====Counteracting bioweapons and toxins====
Government agencies in the West have for several years been looking to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the former [[Soviet Union]] for help with exploiting phages for counteracting bioweapons and toxins, such as [[anthrax]] and [[botulism]].<ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Vaisman D | date = 25 May 2007 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/world/americas/25iht-institute.4.5869943.html | title = Studying anthrax in a Soviet-era lab – with Western funding | work = The New York Times }}</ref> Developments are continuing among research groups in the U.S. Other uses include spray application in horticulture for protecting plants and vegetable produce from decay and the spread of bacterial disease. Other applications for bacteriophages are as biocides for environmental surfaces, e.g., in hospitals, and as preventative treatments for catheters and medical devices before use in clinical settings. The technology for phages to be applied to dry surfaces, e.g., uniforms, curtains, or even sutures for surgery now exists. Clinical trials reported in ''Clinical Otolaryngology''<ref name="Wright2009"/> show success in veterinary treatment of pet dogs with [[otitis]].