Phages are viruses that selectively target and kill bacteria. Their potential as a solution to antibiotic resistance has drawn increasing interest in recent years.

Developed at the Israeli Phage Therapy Center at the Hebrew University and Hadassah, the phage, named “KpRaz1” after a fallen Israeli soldier, specifically targets Klebsiella pneumoniae, a dangerous pathogen responsible for difficult-to-treat infections. If proven effective, “KpRaz1” may provide an alternative treatment for bacterial infections that no longer respond to antibiotics. According to the National Institute of Health, Klebsiella pneumoniae is responsible for approximately 10% of hospital-acquired infections.

The phage was named in honor of 27-year-old Master Sgt. Raz Abulafia, who fell in battle in northern Gaza on Nov. 14, 2023. His life partner, researcher Sigal Vorzhev, discovered and named the phage while working under the guidance of Prof. Ronen Hazan and alongside doctoral student Ortal Yerushalmy at the Faculty of Dentistry.