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

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...

Phage discovery gets its groove back with Phage DisCo Bacteriophage research has been all the rage, and for good reason; these bacteria killing viruses may be the solution to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are broad-acting drugs that kill every type of bacteria in their path. But this relief is short-lived. Bacterial pathogens can evolve to withstand antibiotics faster than the pharmaceutical industry can make them. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, it’s no wonder that bacteriophages are the newest viral sensation.   Unlike antibiotics, phage therapy offers a more precise approach to treat bacterial infections that is harder for evolution to evade. Bacteriophages – also known as phages – act as microscopic hitmen. To kill only their specific target, a phage recognizes a unique protein receptor found on bacteria cells’ surface. Phages that use different receptors are needed for phage therapy. Multiple phages with different targets are combined into a “phage cocktail” ...

The Genomic Revolution and Phage Therapy: From Discovery to Precision Medicine (1990s–2010) The closing decade of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st century marked a pivotal era in the history of phage therapy. The rapid advancements in genomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology transformed our understanding of bacteriophages, propelling them from largely empirical treatments to agents of precision medicine. Between the 1990s and 2010, this transformative period saw not only the reawakening of scientific interest in phage therapy but also the emergence of new methodologies that would lay the groundwork for contemporary applications targeting antibiotic-resistant infections. Photo taken from :  https://phage.directory/capsid/building-a-phage-lab The Genomic Era: Decoding Phage Biology The introduction and widespread adoption of DNA sequencing technologies radically shifted bacteriophage research. Prior to this period, knowledge of phage genetics was rudimenta...