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

Telomere Phages Arm Klebsiella pneumoniae with Interbacterial Toxins: A New Mechanism for Intraspecies Dominance and Antimicrobial Innovation The discovery of bacteriophage-encoded toxin–antitoxin systems in drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae reveals a novel viral contribution to bacterial competition, reshaping our understanding of phage–bacteria dynamics and opening new avenues in antibiotic research. A recent study published in Science Advances (Byers et al., 2025) has uncovered an unexpected evolutionary alliance between Klebsiella pneumoniae and a previously obscure class of bacteriophages known as telomere phages . These viruses, which replicate inside their hosts without killing them, were found to endow the bacteria with potent protein toxins capable of lysing rival bacterial strains—granting a significant competitive advantage without the need for phage-induced lysis or direct interbacterial confrontation. The team, led by microbiologist Trevor Lithgow at Monash Univers...

Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference 2025: Driving Inclusive and Responsible Innovation The Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference 2025, held at FAO headquarters in Rome, brought together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders to focus on “Biotechnologies for a Sustainable Future: Driving Agrifood Systems Transformation.” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the critical role of biotechnologies—including genomics, gene editing, AI-powered bioinformatics, and notably bacteriophages—in transforming global food systems to be more productive, resilient, and sustainable. Phages, viruses that specifically target harmful bacteria, are increasingly recognized as powerful, natural tools for improving plant and animal health without relying on chemical pesticides or antibiotics. Their use represents a promising biotechnological innovation to combat disease, reduce environmental impacts, and support sustainable farming, especially benefiting small-scale producers and vulner...

Reprogramming the War Against Superbugs: How AI-Powered Phage Therapy Is Reinventing Precision Antimicrobials Antibiotic resistance has reached crisis levels globally. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics across human and veterinary medicine have driven bacteria to evolve rapidly, rendering many conventional drugs ineffective. According to the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance Project , antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has caused an estimated 1 million deaths annually since 1990 , a number projected to climb as pathogenic bacteria continue to outpace pharmaceutical innovation. In response to this looming threat, scientists and clinicians are revisiting one of microbiology’s most promising yet underutilized tools: bacteriophages , or phages. These viruses, which exclusively infect and destroy bacteria, offer a biological alternative to chemical antibiotics. Yet their full potential remains largely unrealized — not due to a lack of efficacy, but because of the immense complexi...

Reimagining Antimicrobial Frontiers: Insights from the 2025 Targeting Phage Therapy Congress In the era of mounting antibiotic resistance, bacteriophages—viruses that prey upon bacteria—have emerged as serious contenders in the race to develop novel antibacterial strategies. The 8th World Congress on Targeting Phage Therapy, held virtually in 2025, brought together researchers, clinicians, and biotech innovators from across the globe to explore how phage therapy is transitioning from experimental models to regulated medical and veterinary applications. While many attendees arrived seeking knowledge in their specific domains, the event proved to be a forum of expansive ideas, practical breakthroughs, and cautionary tales on phage evolution, resistance, and translational hurdles. The Veterinary Frontier: Skin, Ears, and Staphylococci Among the highlights of the congress was a session focused on veterinary applications of phage therapy, a rapidly growing niche that intersects animal he...

The Invisible Arms Race: How Vibrio cholerae Outsmarts Its Viral Predators A Silent Battle Beneath Every Epidemic When we think of cholera, we often visualize the catastrophic toll it has taken on human populations: contaminated water, overwhelmed hospitals, and the urgency of humanitarian aid. Yet beneath this visible crisis lies a microscopic war that may determine the very scope and shape of each outbreak. The cholera bacterium, Vibrio cholerae , is not merely a passive pathogen—it is a highly adaptable organism entrenched in an evolutionary struggle against viruses that specialize in its destruction. These viruses, known as bacteriophages (or simply phages), infect bacteria by injecting their genetic material into them, hijacking their cellular machinery, and ultimately destroying them to release new viral progeny. Phages are not just biological curiosities; they have been shown to directly influence the spread, duration, and severity of cholera outbreaks. Some strains of phage...

Phage Therapy: Understanding the Patient Journey Through a Personalized Treatment Antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge to modern medicine, leading to the resurgence of interest in alternative therapies such as bacteriophage therapy, or phage therapy. This approach utilizes viruses that specifically infect and kill bacteria, offering hope where traditional antibiotics fail. However, for many patients and practitioners alike, the pathway from diagnosis to treatment remains abstract and complex. By examining a typical patient’s journey through phage therapy, it becomes possible to demystify the process and highlight the personalized nature of this innovative treatment. Consider the case of Sarah, a 42-year-old woman from Boston, Massachusetts. After undergoing surgery to repair a chronic wound on her leg, Sarah developed an infection resistant to multiple antibiotics. Her infectious disease specialist recommended exploring phage therapy, which required travel to a special...