Tribute to Giorgi Eliava and the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage

Although little is known about Professor Giorgi Eliava, without his avid support of bacteriophage research, our knowledge about phage therapy might not have been acquired. A tribute to the life of Professor Eliava and the institute he founded is presented in the peer-reviewed journal PHAGE: Therapy, Applications, and Research. Click here to read the article.

Nina Chanishvil, from the George Eliva Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology & Virology, in Tbilisi, Georgia, and coauthors, provide an overview of Eliava life, beginning with his studies to become a doctor. In 1917, Eliava became head of the Tbilisi Bacteriology Laboratory. He went to France to work at the Pasteur Institute in Paris in 1919-1921 among several famous bacteriologists. In the early 1920s he learned of Felix d’Herelle’s discovery of bacteriophages and the two subsequently became acquainted, collaborated and formed a friendship. Eliava returned to Georgia where, in 1923 he initiated the foundation of the Institute of Bacteriology, the antecedent of the present-day Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology & Virology. In 1937, Eliava was suddenly arrested by Stalin’s regime, sentenced to death, and executed.

As the authors note, “In 2008 the institute founded a nonprofit organization, the Eliava Foundation, which in its turn formed several companies: Eliava Phage therapy Center, Diagnostic Center, Pharmacy, and Eliava BioPreparations.”

About the Journal

PHAGE: Therapy, Applications, and Research is the only peer-reviewed journal dedicated to fundamental bacteriophage research and its applications in medicine, agriculture, aquaculture, veterinary applications, animal production, food safety, and food production. Led by Editor-in-Chief, Martha Clokie, PhD, University of Leicester, United Kingdom, the Journal showcases groundbreaking research, reviews, commentaries, opinion pieces, profiles and perspectives dedicated to defining the roles of phages in all facets of microbiology and microbial ecology and exploring their potential to manipulate bacterial communities and treat infection. More information is available on the PHAGE website.

About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry’s most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm’s more than 100 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.