Category: Latest News

Untapped Potential: Phage Model Systems as Next-Generation Therapeutic Agents

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology have introduced an innovative approach to strengthen the effectiveness of phage therapy against drug-resistant bacteria. As antibiotic resistance continues to rise globally, finding alternative treatments is increasingly urgent, and phages – viruses that target bacteria – have emerged as a promising option. The proposed procedure to…
Armed phages are heading for clinical trials

Armed phages are heading for clinical trials

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
Armed phages, engineered to carry a CRISPR–Cas , have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in combating Escherichia coli infections in animal models. Led by Antonia P. Sagona and Jessica Maree Lewis from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick in Coventry, UK, this research represents significant progress in the fight against bacterial infections. By…
Vibrio cholerae CBASS System Revolutionizes Antibiotic Sensitivity

Vibrio cholerae CBASS System Revolutionizes Antibiotic Sensitivity

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
On-target antifolate activity is essential for CBASS–antifolate interaction in V. cholerae. A recent study led by Ana Rita Brochado, published in Nature Microbiology, shed light on the modulation of resistance and killing by antifolate antibiotics through the Vibrio cholerae CBASS phage defense system. In their research, Brochado and her team, discovered that the cyclic-oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signaling system…

Nearly complete structure of bacteriophage DT57C has been revealed

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
Architecture of the DT57C bacteriophage. Scientists have unraveled the intricate molecular structure of bacteriophage DT57C, a member of the T5 family of tailed bacteriophages. These viruses are characterized by a long non-contractile tail and play a vital role in controlling bacterial populations. The DT57C bacteriophage, closely related to the well-known T5 phage, exhibits unique characteristics,…

Enhancing Precision in Phage Therapy: Insights from Phage Annotation and Nomenclature

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
A paper  by Robert A Edwards and Bhavya Papudeshi from Flinders University, focused on refining the understanding and application of bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, exerting a significant influence on microbial communities and ecosystems. They have garnered considerable attention for their potential role in combating antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy predominantly relies on lytic…

Exploring Phage Therapy: From Biological Mechanisms to Future Directions

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
Potential phage therapy applications from the One Health perspective In response to escalating antimicrobial resistance rates, the field of bacteriophage (phage) therapy, led by Robert T. Schooley and his team at the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,…

Phage Therapy Targets Gut Microbiota for Liver Disease Treatment

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
In a significant development, phage therapy is emerging as a solution against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, marking a shift from conventional antibiotic treatments. Recognizing the intricate connection between bacterial microbiota and gastrointestinal/liver diseases, researchers are aiming to leverage phages’ precise bactericidal action for targeted editing of the gut microbiota. Fujiki et al. provided an overview of the…
Virus Attacks Dormant Bacteria, Offering New Hope in Antibiotic Resistance Fight

Virus Attacks Dormant Bacteria, Offering New Hope in Antibiotic Resistance Fight

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
After six years of research, teams from the University of Basel and ETH Zurich have discovered a potentially crucial weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria: a virus named Paride that preys on and kills dormant bacteria. This bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause severe respiratory diseases and potentially fatal pneumonia, often enters a dormant state as a…

Bacteriophage Partnerships: Enhancing Stem Cell Transplant Success

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
Intestinal tissue during a graft-versus-host reaction: Donor cells (red) attack the body of the patient. Credit: Sebastian Jarosch, Dirk Busch / TUM After stem cell transplantation, the donated immune cells sometimes attack the patients’ bodies. This is known as graft versus host disease or GvHD. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Universitätsklinikum…

Rapid Bench to Bedside Therapeutic Bacteriophage Production

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy
An excellent paper by Luong et al. from San Diego State University has recently been published by Springer on Bacteriophage Therapy: From Lab to Clinical Practice. The comprehensive content of the paper includes: 1. Historical Context: Bacteriophages have been used in human therapeutics for over a century, with significant advancements in production techniques. 2. Modern…