All articles tagged with #phages
Stanford researchers used Evo 2, a generative AI, to design and synthesize 16 bacteriophages that kill E. coli more effectively than the natural ΦX174. Evo 2 is open-source, enabling others to design new genomes, but the work was done with a non-pathogenic strain in a secure lab; experts caution that governance and biosafety measures must keep pace as the technology could extend to larger organisms and broader biothreat concerns.
A temperate phage (FRφ) remodels the host’s flagellin from the native FliCH to a phage-encoded FliCP, enhancing motility, aiding immune evasion, and boosting host colonization; the phage enters via the FhuA outer membrane receptor and can remodel flagella even without the host’s preexisting flagella.
A study on the ISS shows that microgravity alters how bacteria and their phages interact: E. coli and phage T7 infect more slowly without convection, leading to distinct mutations in both organisms; space-evolved phages become better at binding and, when tested back on Earth, are more effective against certain UTI-causing E. coli—highlighting potential for phage therapies and astronaut health research, albeit with cost barriers to replicating microgravity experiments.
A study aboard the International Space Station finds that bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts evolve and infect differently in microgravity, with slower infection and distinct mutation trajectories, suggesting space-driven biology could help engineer more potent phages against drug-resistant pathogens on Earth.
Researchers comparing E. coli infected with the T7 phage aboard the International Space Station to Earth controls found microgravity altered infection dynamics and drove space-exposed bacteria and phages to accumulate distinct mutations. The ISS-evolved phages developed changes in receptor-binding proteins that improved their ability to infect bacteria, and when tested back on Earth they showed increased activity against common urinary tract infection–causing E. coli strains, suggesting space conditions could inform future phage therapies despite practical costs.
Scientists studied bacteria and their viruses aboard the International Space Station and found that microgravity drives phages to evolve in ways that boost their ability to infect bacteria. When space-adapted phages were returned to Earth, they showed increased activity against common, drug-resistant E. coli strains, suggesting space-driven mutations could help optimize phage therapies for infections on Earth, though the practical costs of space-based research remain a consideration.
The Panoptes system in bacteria uses decoy cyclic nucleotides to defend against phages by detecting phage anti-defense proteins like Acb2 that sequester these signaling molecules, thereby activating membrane-disrupting effectors to prevent phage replication.
The article discusses how understanding bacterial defense systems like Kiwa, a sensor that detects phage attacks, can improve phage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections, highlighting the ongoing microbial arms race and the potential for tailored phage treatments.
Scientists are combating drug-resistant superbugs with phages, nature's oldest predators, in clinical trials targeting various infections, including urinary tract infections, joint infections, and diabetic foot ulcers. Labs are developing libraries of phages and using genetic engineering to create billions of phages in real time, customized to each patient's unique bacterial profile. This next-generation approach shows promise in eradicating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and presents various methods of administration, raising questions about the most effective approach.
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, playing a crucial role in Earth's ecosystems. Harmless to humans, phages inject their genes into bacterial cells, causing them to replicate the virus instead of sustaining themselves. These viruses, which outnumber all other living entities on Earth, have evolved to infect and destroy bacteria in virtually every environment. Phages are found in vast quantities in water, soil, and even in the air. Their abundance and diversity make them an essential part of the living fabric of the planet, driving innovation, diversification, and change.
Bacteriophages, viruses that attack bacteria, have shown promise in treating antibiotic-resistant infections, but they are unapproved drugs in the US, UK, and Western Europe. Patients must seek compassionate-use authorization from government regulators to receive them. However, the National Institutes of Health has given $2.5 million to 12 US institutions to research phage therapies, and several clinical trials are underway in the US, UK, and Europe. A committee of the UK Parliament has also launched an inquiry into whether phages could be brought to market there.
Bacteriophages, viruses that attack bacteria, are being researched as a potential solution to antibiotic resistance. While phages have been used for decades in some countries, they are unapproved drugs in the US, UK, and Western Europe. However, over 100 patients in the US have received emergency phage treatments, and trials are underway to test their safety and efficacy. Phages are appealing because they are specific to one type of bacteria, penetrate complex matrices, and are abundant. However, regulatory structures and the challenge of scale pose obstacles to their widespread use. Nonetheless, researchers are hopeful that phages could be a novel way of treating infections and saving lives.