Reinventing the fight against bacteria, one phage at a time.

Cas13 Activation Controls Lysogeny in Type VI-A CRISPR In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Microbiology, researchers have unveiled a sophisticated mechanism by which the type VI-A CRISPR-Cas system in Listeria seeligeri differentially modulates the temperate phage life cycle. This study offers an unprecedented glimpse into how CRISPR immunity, long known for defending bacteria against phage infections, exhibits a remarkable conditional response that balances phage restriction with prophage tolerance. The findings challenge the conventional perception of CRISPR systems solely as bacterial antiviral machines, revealing nuanced control that preserves beneficial prophages while disarming lytic threats. CRISPR-Cas systems have been widely recognized as adaptive immune pathways in bacteria and archaea, providing sequence-specific protection against invading mobile genetic elements. Among the diverse types of CRISPR systems, the type VI CRISPR effector Cas13 is unique in its RNA-tar...

Phage-Antibiotic Combinations: What We Know, What We Don’t, and Where the Field Must Go Next Emerging preclinical, compassionate-use, and randomized trial data suggest phage–antibiotic combinations may benefit select patients with multidrug-resistant infections, yet critical gaps in standardization and evidence remain. Colorized scanning electron microscopy image of phage FG02 (orange) infecting Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria (green). Image Credit: Denis Korneev. Image credit: SIDP What We Know Antimicrobial resistance continues to outpace antibiotic development, leaving clinicians with increasingly limited options for multidrug-resistant infections. 1-3  In this context, bacteriophages have reemerged as a potential adjunctive therapeutic strategy rather than a replacement for antibiotics. Phage-antibiotic combinations (PACs) have gained attention for their ability to enhance bacterial killing, limit the emergence of resistance, and, in some cases, restore susceptibility to exist...

Bacteriophage Therapies for Lung Diseases Identifying novel therapeutics for treating patients with tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacterial infections and cystic fibrosis Technology Overview Dr. Rhea Coler Bacterial resistance to standard antibiotics is growing worldwide. In 2023, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections were antibiotic-resistant. In the United States, an estimated 2.8 million people contract an antibiotic-resistant infection annually, leading to 35,000 deaths every year. The bacterium that causes tuberculosis regularly evolves resistance to antibiotic treatment and many nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have natural resistance. Infectious disease specialist  Rhea Coler , PhD, develops innovative strategies to prevent and treat tuberculosis, NTM infections, and other bacterial lung diseases. Her lab is advancing the use of bacteriophages, which are viruses that attack bacterial cells, as highly specific antibacterial agents. Bacteriophages have the p...