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

How Fast Do Bacteriophages Evolve and Adapt to Bacteria? Introduction Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect and replicate within bacterial hosts. As obligate parasites, they are engaged in a continuous evolutionary arms race with bacteria. The rate at which phages evolve has profound implications for microbial ecology, the development of phage therapy, and the understanding of virus–host co-evolution in general. This article explores how rapidly phages can adapt to bacterial defenses, what factors influence this speed, and how it compares to bacterial resistance and other evolutionary systems. Insights are drawn from experimental evolution studies, mathematical models, and natural ecosystems, including the key contribution by De Paepe & Taddei (2006) on phage life-history trade-offs. Illustration:  A Primer on Phage-Bacterium Antagonistic Coevolution,  https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-94309-7_25 Bacteriophage Evolution: A Dynamic Arms Race...

Can Bacteria Become Resistant to Bacteriophages Like They Do with Antibiotics? Introduction Bacteriophages (phages)—viruses that infect and kill bacteria—have gained renewed attention as potential alternatives or complements to antibiotics, particularly in the context of rising antimicrobial resistance. Phage therapy, long used in parts of Eastern Europe, is being reconsidered globally as a solution to drug-resistant infections. However, a crucial question arises: can bacteria become resistant to phages in the same way they become resistant to antibiotics? The short answer is yes—bacteria can evolve resistance to bacteriophages, but the underlying mechanisms, evolutionary dynamics, and clinical consequences are distinct from those associated with antibiotic resistance. This article explores the diverse strategies bacteria employ to resist phage infection, the evolutionary implications of phage-bacteria interactions, and how this resistance differs from antibiotic resistance. Mecha...

Why Don’t Bacteriophages Infect Human Cells? Introduction Bacteriophages, or simply phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, found in virtually every environment inhabited by bacteria, including the human body. Despite their ubiquity and close contact with humans, phages do not infect human cells. This raises a fundamental question: why are bacteriophages unable to infect human cells? The answer lies in the complex interplay of molecular recognition, host specificity, and cellular mechanisms of infection. This article explores the biological barriers that prevent phage infection in humans, with a particular focus on phage-host specificity and viral entry mechanisms. Illustration :   Interactions of Bacteriophages with Animal and Human Organisms—Safety Issues in the Light of Phage Therapy,  https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/16/8937 Host Specificity and Receptor Recognition The primary reason bacteri...

Emerging Technologies and the Future of Phage Therapy (2020–Today) The current decade marks a transformative chapter in the evolution of phage therapy, characterized by the convergence of cutting-edge technologies—artificial intelligence (AI), synthetic biology, and multi-omics approaches—that collectively revolutionize how bacteriophages are selected, engineered, and deployed against bacterial infections. This period represents not only a technological leap but also a conceptual shift, positioning phage therapy at the forefront of precision medicine and integrative antimicrobial strategies. Illustration taken from :  https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/820# The Fusion of AI and High-Throughput Screening One of the most significant advances since 2020 is the integration of artificial intelligence into phage research and clinical application. AI algorithms now facilitate the rapid identification of effective phages by analyzing massive datasets encompassing bacterial genomes, ...

Phage Therapy and Antibiotic Resistance: A Renaissance in the 21st Century (2010–2020) The first two decades of the 21st century witnessed a dramatic resurgence in the interest and application of bacteriophage therapy, driven by the global crisis of antibiotic resistance. As multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacterial infections surged worldwide, phage therapy re-emerged from decades of obscurity to become a critical contender in the fight against these “superbugs.” This period saw significant strides not only in clinical research but also in regulatory recognition, technological innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, marking a true renaissance of phage therapy. Illustration taken from : https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/21/7654 The Growing Crisis of Antibiotic Resistance By 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) and multiple national health agencies had sounded urgent alarms regarding the rapid rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It was e...

MicrobiotiX Finalizes KRW 20 Billion Series B, Securing Korea's First Bacteriophage Clinical Trial SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MicrobiotiX, a biotech developing novel bacteriophage-based therapeutics, announced on the 29th that it has completed an extended Series B investment round totaling 20 billion KRW. MicrobiotiX’s cumulative investment amount across rounds has now reached 29 billion KRW. Following a 15 billion KRW Series B investment secured in October of 2024, MicrobiotiX completed the final closing of the round this month by securing an additional 5 billion KRW from new investors, including Paratus Investment, Pureun Investment, and OTIUM CAPITAL. MicrobiotiX is a bacteriophage therapy company targeting diseases caused by super bacteria (multidrug-resistant bacteria). The company possesses a platform for phage therapy development, which includes a phage library panel targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria, an in silico module, and a cGMP-grade pha...

Precise Health awarded for innovation in phage therapy T he Valais-based startup Precise Health, supported by the Ark Foundation and based at the Energypolis campus in Sion, is racking up awards after awards. It recently received the Best Innovation Award at the 2025 Targeting Phage Therapy conference in Berlin. The company also received CHF 40,000 in support from the City of Sion's Innovation Boost Program, a program designed to encourage local economic development through innovative and sustainable projects. T he Targeting Phage Therapy Congress is the leading European event dedicated to phage therapy, a promising alternative to antibiotics for combating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The prize awarded to  Precise Health  recognizes the innovation of the young startup, an innovative digital platform capable of rapidly identifying the most suitable therapeutic phage for a given infection. This platform is based in particular on artificial intelligence and interconn...