Recent News 91 : Biasing Bacteriophage Behaviours - March 6, 2026 Seminar - Dr. Alexander Hynes

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March 6, 2026 Seminar - Dr. Alexander HynesDr. Alexander Hynes


Dr. Alexander Hynes

Associate Professor, Medicine, Farncombe Family Chair in Phage Biology, McMaster University

PI: Prof. Marcus Dillon

12 to 1 PM
IB 140 & Zoom

Title

Biasing Bacteriophage Behaviours

Abstract

Viruses that infect bacteria - bacteriophages - are known for their ability to lyse bacteria. However, this is not the only outcome of phage infection. Temperate phages can enter a lytic or lysogenic cycle - the former leading to lysis, the latter akin to dormancy. These phages are responsible for over 10^23 infections per second, and >75% bacteria already contain within their genomes at least one dormant phage awaiting the right signal to wake and lyse its host. The decision between lysis and lysogeny is arguably the most important in all of biology. We investigate how to bias this decision to better manipulate bacterial populations. Through high-throughput screens to identify new phage-waking signals, exploiting antibiotics that bias this behaviour, and even using a C. elegans mode of phage therapy, we show that this lysis-lysogeny decision likely already underpins the efficacy of many antibiotics, and possibly a wide array of commonly consumed compounds.

Visit the Farncombe Phage Lab website!


Copyright belongs to, article taken from : https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/biology/march-6-2026-seminar-dr-alexander-hynes

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