All Bacteriophages articles
-
NewsScientists uncover mechanism used by three bacteria-killing viruses to target transporter
Biochemists have homed in on an underexplored small transporter called MurJ that is a vital part of the pathway bacteria use to build their chain-mail-like cell wall. Using advanced tools, the scientists have determined the common mechanism used by three different bacteria-killing viruses to block MurJ from doing its job.
-
NewsNewly discovered virus linked to colorectal cancer
Researchers have discovered a previously undescribed virus in a common gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis. The virus appears more frequently in patients with colorectal cancer.
-
NewsSilent enemies, smart weapons - switching off phage contamination using nanoparticles
Bacteriophages represent a serious threat to laboratories and industries that rely on bacterial cultures for production. Researchers have demonstrated an innovative solution that enables targeting the surface of bacteriophage through electrostatic interactions.
-
NewsNext generation genetics technology developed to counter the rise of antibiotic resistance
The new Pro-Active Genetics (Pro-AG) tool called pPro-MobV is a second-generation technology that uses an approach similar to gene drives to disable drug resistance in populations of bacteria.
-
FeaturesUnlocking the secrets of phages: DNA modification discoveries offer new weapons against antimicrobial resistance
Bacteria and their viral predator bacteriophages (phages) have coevolved for billions of years and are engaged in an endless arms race against each other. DNA modifications are among the most widespread defenses to block bacterial RM and CRISPR-Cas systems.
-
FeaturesBuilding integrated biobanks to defeat AMR in chronic wounds
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has evolved into a complex global health issue which has outstripped the development of new antibiotics and therapeutic strategies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 1.27 million deaths were attributed to AMR infections in 2019. By 2050, 10 million deaths are predicted at a cost of $100 ...
-
NewsUnder The Lens: Callum Cooper explores how bacteriophages could revolutionise medicine - and how we get to that point
In a compelling new video interview from Applied Microbiology International’s ‘Under the Lens’ series, Dr. Callum Cooper shares fascinating insights into one of medicine’s most promising frontiers: phage therapy.
-
VideoThe Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 2
In our second episode, Dr Callum Cooper joins Professor Emmanuel Adukwu to talk about all things bacteriophage, from alternatives to antibiotics, social impact, and regulation.
-
NewsFive new phages discovered in university’s Botanical Gardens
Five new bacteriophages have recently been discovered in the ponds of Lund University’s Botanical Gardens. Phages thrive wherever bacteria are found, which often means ponds and watercourses that are rich in organic material.
-
NewsNew collection of bacteria-eating viruses can tackle hospital superbug
An international team of researchers have comprehensively catalogued a new collection of bacteria-eating viruses called phages sourced, in part, from hospital wastewater. The phages have been shown to be effective against different strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae.
-
NewsResearchers expand virus-based treatment options for antibiotic-resistant infections
Phages are extremely specific about which strains of a bacterial species they will attack. This has limited their effectiveness against the most antibiotic-resistant strains. To overcome this problem, the research team “trained” the phages by allowing them to evolve together with the bacteria in a controlled laboratory setting for 30 days.
-
OpinionThe politics behind the global divide in bacteriophage therapy
The therapeutic potential of bacteriophages (or ‘phages’) has been widely dismissed for decades in the West, despite being regularly used to treat patients worldwide in the early and mid-20th century. In an age rife with disinformation, can the true potential of clinical phage technology be communicated to a public already uneasy about scientific intervention?
-
NewsBacteriophage characterization provides platform for rational design
Researchers have described the bacteriophage Bas63 in unprecedented detail, supporting new mechanistic understanding of how these viruses function.
-
NewsPhages with fully-synthetic DNA can be edited gene by gene
Scientists have developed a method to construct bacteriophages with entirely synthetic genetic material, allowing researchers to add and subtract genes at will.
-
NewsResearchers discover novel phage DNA modifications that offer new hope against antibiotic-resistant superbugs
A groundbreaking discovery reveals a unique way phages modify their DNA with arabinose sugars to protect themselves from bacterial defence systems. Natural DNA phage modifications occur at a higher rate than previously predicted, the study revealed.
-
NewsResearchers partner on $28M initiative to build a precision phage platform for promoting public health
Researchers have embarked on a five-year initiative that aims to harness the natural predators of bacteria – known as phages – as precision tools to shape the human microbiome and promote health.
-
NewsSpotlight on phage for a fascinating policy discussion
Scientists turned the spotlight onto the potential of phage in a recent AMI webinar that yielded a fascinating in-depth discussion that proved invaluable in clarifying the way forward. The ‘Phages for a Sustainable Future’ webinar has now been released as a video.
-
NewsBeyond viruses: Expanding the fight against infectious diseases
The newly renamed Gladstone Infectious Disease Institute has broadened its mission to address global health threats ranging from antibiotic resistance to infections that cause chronic diseases.
-
NewsScientists develop a virus cocktail to combat superbugs
Researchers have developed a bespoke phage therapy, Entelli-02, a five-phage cocktail designed specifically to target Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC), a group of bacteria responsible for severe, often difficult-to-treat infections.
-
News‘Microbial piracy’ uncovers new way to fight drug-resistant infections
Researchers have discovered how ‘pirate phages’ hijack other viruses to break into bacteria, sharing new genetic material for dangerous traits.