News in Bacteriophages
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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NewsMushroom chemical teams with phages to deliver a one-two punch to MRSA
A chemical found in mushrooms can be teamed with bacteriophages to deliver a one-two punch to antibiotic-resistant infections, reveals a study presented at MLS Future Forum 2025.
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NewsZoo poo might hold the secrets to new medical treatments
Scientists are hoping the collection of poo from tigers, elephants, giraffes and other exotic animals, could contain the secret to finding new medical treatments. Although a waste product to the animals, hidden amongst it are thousands of phages which are potentially capable of fighting bacterial infections.
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NewsNew insights could help phages defeat antibiotic resistant bacteria
Researchers have worked out how bacteria defend themselves against viruses called phages and the new insights could be key to tackling antibiotic resistance. The new research is the first to describe how a bacterial defence mechanism against phages, called Kiwa, works.
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NewsResearchers reveal remarkable antimicrobial activity in hydrogen boride nanosheets
Hydrogen boride (HB) nanosheets represent an exciting new frontier in the search for technologies that can combat microbes in everyday settings. Researchers discovered that they exhibit excellent antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
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NewsNew study sheds light on how bacteria ‘vaccinate’ themselves with genetic material from dormant viruses
Scientists have gained understanding on how bacteria defend themselves from phages, through gaining “memories” from predecessor dormant phages. The study will inform new phage therapies for bacterial infections that confer resistance to antibiotics.
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NewsNew insights into phage–bacteria interactions in the gut microbiome
Researchers studied the interactions between bacteria and phages within the gut microbiome and highlighted the significance of the phage community to shape the microbiome that contributes to host health and diseases.
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NewsStudy links gut microbiome changes to increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Researchers have found that specific species and strains of bacteria are linked to changes in the functioning of the gut microbiome and a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes.
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NewsWHO releases report on state of development of antibacterials
Although the number of antibacterial agents in the clinical pipeline increased from 80 in 2021 to 97 in 2023, there is a pressing need for innovative agents for serious infections and to replace those becoming ineffective due to widespread use, the WHO says.