Articles tagged with Bacteriophages
Researchers have identified a novel phage called ES17 that can specifically locate and destroy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The phage's ability to bind to mucins and heparan sulfate enables it to target bacteria in high-mucin environments, potentially preventing infections.
A study from Texas A&M AgriLife Communications reveals that membrane-localized phage proteins may help revitalize and enhance existing antibiotics. Researchers identified 35 unique lysis genes in E. coli bacteria, which could potentially represent new mechanisms for bacterial cell lysis.
Researchers have developed an efficient method to study phage-microbe interactions, which can reveal bacterial receptors exploited by phages and cellular mechanisms used to respond to infection. The approach has implications for understanding microbiomes, developing new medicines and addressing antibiotic-resistant infections.
A new lung delivery system using phage particles has been developed to induce potent antibody responses in mice and non-human primates without causing lung damage.
Researchers identified distinct gut microbiome signatures in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), including higher levels of Bacteroides and lower levels of Blautia. A biomarker-based diagnostic tool may help physicians diagnose MDD, providing a companion to clinical interviews.
Researchers discovered a unique RNA polymerase in crAss-like phages that helps transcribe its genes. The enzyme was found to be inactive in standard tests but active when exposed to specific conditions, revealing new insights into the mechanism of viral infections.
Researchers have shed light on the atomic resolution structure of the phage DNA tube, a crucial component of phage therapy. The 3D structure reveals a hollow tube with flexible linkers, allowing negatively charged DNA to pass through smoothly. This study marks a significant milestone in integrated structural biology.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Communications have discovered that some phages can stop bacteria from sharing genes for antibiotic resistance by attaching to and disarming pili on bacterial surface. This discovery may lead to new treatments for infections, reducing the need for antibiotics or gentler alternatives.
Researchers discovered a two-component system in the Butters prophage that blocks entry of some phages, but not others, from attacking a strain of mycobacteria. The study advances phage therapy development and may lead to engineering phage-resistant bacteria.
Scientists developed a novel colorimetric sensor using genetically engineered viruses to detect airborne chemicals, showing practical applicability. The sensor's high sensitivity and mass-producibility hold promise for various real-life applications, including detecting harmful industrial chemicals and assessing air quality.
A new study reveals a wide array of previously unknown microbial defense mechanisms against viral threats, with 29 widespread novel defense mechanisms found in nearly one-third of all sequenced prokaryote genomes.
A comprehensive database of 33,242 unique viral populations in the human digestive system has been assembled by Ohio State University scientists. This discovery reveals a complex relationship between viruses and bacteria in the gut, with higher diversity associated with healthier individuals.
A new protocol developed by San Diego State University researchers can produce therapeutic phages in as little as two to three weeks, cutting the typical processing time in half. The guidelines combine traditional techniques with modern filtration technology to reduce endotoxin levels and increase phage yields.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals the intricate choreography of phage assembly and its impact on bacterial infections. The research provides new insights into the mechanism of action of phages, which could lead to more precise and effective treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections.
Australian researchers have developed a phage cocktail therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in diabetic foot ulcers. The treatment has shown promising results, effectively decreasing bacterial load and improving wound healing.
A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests that phage therapy could be a game-changer in treating complex bacterial infections in prosthetic joints. The treatment has shown promising results in patients with biofilm-related infections, which are notoriously difficult to eradicate with antibiotics.
Research reveals a complex interaction between bacteria and their viruses in the gut, where some bacteria can resist infection while others remain susceptible. The study suggests that beneficially altering the gut microbiome through bacterial viruses could offer a new treatment for disease.
A new hypercompact CRISPR enzyme, CasΦ, has been discovered in huge bacteriophages and provides a powerful tool for genome editing. It can target a wider range of genetic sequences than current CRISPR-Cas proteins, making it a promising alternative for cellular delivery.
A review paper argues that bacteriophages are essential for maintaining healthy bacterial communities around plant roots, which is vital for plant growth. The researchers suggest that these phages can stimulate microbes to protect plants during droughts and transfer DNA between cells, leading to new functionalities.
A newly discovered ocean virus is hijacking the metabolism of the most abundant organism on Earth, Prochlorococcus marinus. The virus alters the ability of P. marinus to store carbon and counter the greenhouse gas effect, potentially preventing gigatons of carbon from being taken out of the air annually.
Researchers from SMART have discovered a new defence mechanism found in some bacteria that uses phosphorothioates to protect their DNA. This discovery enables scientists to tackle existing challenges in bacterial resistance to antibiotics and has huge implications for phage therapy.
Researchers from Skoltech and international collaborators investigated the BREX defense mechanism, which bacteria use to protect themselves from viral infection. They found that a multipurpose viral protein called Ocr can mimic DNA and disable this defense system.
Researchers have developed a chemically modified phage capsid that perfectly fits influenza viruses, preventing them from infecting lung cells. The new approach shows promise for treating seasonal and avian flus.
Researchers from University of Jyväskylä uncovered historical data on phage therapy's successful use against dysentery and staphylococcal infections in Brazil. The study sheds light on the revived interest in phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have successfully harnessed bacteria's ability to create peptides with noncanonical amino acids, enabling the expansion of phage display libraries. This new method paves the way for new peptide-based therapeutics in cancer and other human diseases.
Researchers used CRISPR-Cas system to effectively target and eliminate specific gut bacteria, including Clostridioides difficile, the pathogen that causes colitis. The study demonstrates the potential of this approach in preventing disease and promoting human gut health.
Researchers found over 350 huge phages with genomes four times larger than average, including the largest bacteriophage to date. These viruses carry genes normally found in bacteria and use them against their hosts, bridging the gap between non-living and living organisms.
Researchers identified 351 large phages carrying bacterial genes, including CRISPR and ribosomal proteins, which blur the line between life and non-life. These enormous phages use these genes against their bacterial hosts and have the potential to provide new tools for genome engineering.
Research suggests that bacteriophages found in children's intestinal tracts may play a role in childhood stunting. The viruses affect bacterial communities in the gut, and altering these communities could help improve health. This discovery offers hope for developing new cost-efficient therapies.
Bacterial autoimmunity occurs when the CRISPR-Cas system targets viral DNA incorporated into the host genome, leading to damaging autoimmunity. The absence of this key immune system can be beneficial for bacterial survival and proliferation. Anti-CRISPR proteins also provide protection for the host by disabling its immune system.
Researchers found compounds in commonly consumed foods trigger phage production, killing harmful bacteria and promoting beneficial bacteria growth. This 'landscape' approach has far-reaching implications for controlling harmful microbes and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.
Researchers at UC San Diego have discovered a bacterial immune system that works by abortive infection, where the infected cell self-destructs. This new system could be employed to improve treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections through phage therapy.
Research team around Dr Thomas Böttcher studies phage-host interactions to understand the transition from latent to active states, with potential applications for developing alternative antibiotics. The team aims to uncover molecular signals controlling dormant phages and their impact on the human microbiome.
Phages construct an impenetrable compartment to protect their vulnerable DNA from CRISPR and restriction enzymes. This unique mechanism makes them virtually indestructible, with only two jumbo phages showing pan-CRISPR resistance.
Researchers at University of Jyväskylä found that bacteria-infecting viruses preferentially bind to mucosal surfaces, providing extra immunity against bacterial infections. This symbiotic model shows phages enriched in mucus, where encounters with host bacteria are more probable.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine successfully applied phage therapy in mice for a condition not considered a classic bacterial infection: alcoholic liver disease. Phages target the cytolysin toxin produced by Enterococcus faecalis, reducing bacteria and alleviating liver damage.
Researchers successfully applied phage therapy to mice with alcohol-related liver disease, eradicating the disease by targeting destructive gut bacteria. Nearly 90% of patients with cytolysin-positive alcoholic hepatitis died within 180 days, but phage therapy showed promise in treating the condition.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created synthetic phages that can recognize and attack a broader range of bacterial strains, providing a potential solution for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. The synthesized phages share the same genome but have different receptor binding proteins, allowing them to target specific hosts.
A new study by the University of Exeter found that bacteria evolving alongside other microbes develop resistance to phages using an immune mechanism called CRISPR-Cas. This resistance does not reduce the bacteria's virulence, with similar effects expected in humans.
Researchers have developed engineered viruses to target specific strains of bacteria, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. The new approach could provide a targeted alternative to traditional antibiotics.
MIT researchers developed engineered bacteriophages that can kill different strains of E. coli by making targeted mutations in a viral protein. The new approach creates a large number of phage variants and tests them against resistant strains, showing promise for overcoming multidrug resistance.
Researchers discovered a tripartite relationship between sponges, bacteria, and bacteriophages, where viruses protect bacteria from being digested. The study found that sponge viruses have unique functions and may enable symbiotic co-existence between hosts and microbes.
Researchers at McMaster University developed a novel antibacterial gel made entirely from bacteria-killing viruses, which can be targeted to attack specific forms of bacteria. The gel holds promise for numerous beneficial applications in medicine and environmental protection.
A recent study has found bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, living in kitchen sponges. The phages were isolated from used kitchen sponges and shown to be effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The discovery could potentially provide a new solution to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
A world-first study uses 'good viruses' to eliminate targeted bacteria in green sea turtles without harming non-targeted 'good bacteria'. Researchers have identified the potential for phage therapy as an alternative treatment for bacterial infections in marine animals.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego discovered a complex process where viral components are transported along filaments within bacterial cells. This 'treadmill-like' structure allows for efficient movement of cargo, similar to human cell mechanisms, and has significant implications for understanding phage therapy.
A new study reveals that bacteriophages can have a profound impact on the dynamics of the gut microbiome, causing a cascade of effects on other species and modulating metabolite levels. This finding has significant implications for therapeutic use and understanding the potential effects of other treatments.
Scientists at Indiana University found that bacteria can evolve new genes from phages, a discovery that could help advance research on bacterial resistance. The study shows bacteria's ability to transform an implement of war into a tool to create life.
A 15-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis was treated with genetically engineered bacteriophages to combat a life-threatening, drug-resistant infection. The treatment led to the clearance of skin nodules and improvement in liver function, demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy.
Researchers developed a peptide called FRW that binds specifically to endothelial cell junctions in the blood-brain barrier, paving the way for novel diagnostic imaging strategies and therapies. The new technique also reveals differences between the blood-retina and blood-brain barriers.
Researchers discovered that bacteria can distinguish themselves from closely related competitors through the use of a virus. A novel phage, SW1, controls formation of a demarcation line by utilizing one of the host's cryptic prophage proteins, providing conditional benefits to E. coli K-12.
Researchers discovered a link between filamentous phages and antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients. The viruses form biofilms that sequester antibiotics, allowing resistant bacteria to thrive.
Certain bacteriophages exacerbate bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis patients, particularly with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These phage-carrying bacteria are more resistant to standard antibiotics, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers found that bacteria can recognize themselves using phages, which helps them repel competitors and gain a fitness advantage.
Researchers studied viruses that infect pathogenic bacteria called bacteriophages to develop a vaccine against bacterial infection. They found that some bacteriophages induce an anti-viral response in humans, which can hinder the clearance of bacterial infections.
A Stanford study finds that a bacterial pathogen produces a virus that increases its ability to infect humans and causes the immune system to mount an antiviral response. The discovery could lead to new ways of preventing chronic infections by keeping antibiotic-resistant bacteria from getting a foothold in wounds.
Researchers have identified a new group of massive viruses, known as megaphages, that target specific bacteria found in the guts of individuals eating non-Western, high-fiber diets. These phages, which are 10 times larger than average phages, can carry genes that exacerbate human illnesses and may move between humans and animals.
Researchers at University of Otago have discovered that bacteria can use 'slipped spacers' to boost their immunity against viruses, which may hold promise for biotechnology applications and alternative treatments for infectious diseases. This finding could also impact the dairy industry by preventing bacterial resistance to phages.
Researchers at Princeton University have discovered a virus that can listen in on bacterial conversations and kill diseases like E. coli and cholera. The virus, VP882, uses cross-kingdom communication to take the risk out of its decision-making process.
Researchers at NUS Medicine and University of Glasgow have discovered lateral transduction, a new mode of genetic transfer that enables the transfer of large sections of bacterial chromosomes between bacteria. This highly efficient mechanism could explain the rapid evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains.