The ever-increasing threat to the world’s healthcare system and the constant need to find a replacement for existing antimicrobials have led to the development of antibiotic alternatives and complements. Among the promising alternatives are phage and their derivative products, including whole virions and enzymes derived from the virus. Most of the time, when mentioning phage therapy, most people associate it with having complete functioning virions that will be applied. However, it has been known that even phages lacking some of the parts may be able to fight bacteria. But what is a bit strange and interesting is that some bacteria...
What’s Better: Simplicity or Standardization in Bacteriophage Nomenclature?
Imagine you’re a scientist in the early 1900s, just discovering that tiny viruses can infect and destroy bacteria. You’re calling them “bacteriophages,” and it makes sense to name them based on their bacterial host. After all, if you find a virus that infects E. coli, why not call it an E. coli phage? Simple, right? But fast forward to today—our knowledge of these viruses has exploded, and things are far more complex. Does the simplicity of this host-based naming system still hold up, or is it time to embrace a more standardized, scientific approach? We, along with the Quadram Institute...
Understanding Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses
Viruses can classified into two main categories based on whether or not they have a lipid envelope surrounding their capsid. Some viruses bud off from their host’s lipid envelope and are therefore termed enveloped, while others do not and are termed non-enveloped viruses. This classification is crucial for understanding their behaviour, their interaction with host cells, and their implications for medical and environmental applications. In this article, we will explore the differences between these two types of viruses. Basic Definitions: Enveloped vs. Non-Enveloped Viruses Enveloped Viruses: Enveloped viruses are distinguished by their outer lipid bilayer membrane, or envelope, which is...
Discovery: Bacteriophages Turn Bacteria into ‘Zombie’ Cells
Marine microbes are essential for sustaining the ecosystem by ensuring nutrient circulation for all its members. Understanding this system is crucial for promoting the sustainable use of marine resources and protecting the environment. Bacteria are among the largest populations in the marine microbiome and significantly contribute to the ecosystem’s stability. Among the bacterial community, some, such as members of Pelagibacterales (SAR11), are more prevalent in a normally functioning ecosystem. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Germany, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in China, and PSL Research University in France have recently published their discovery in Nature....
Saccharibacteria: The parasite that protects its host against phage attack
In the vast and intricate realm of microbiology, bacteriophages, known colloquially as phages, reign as some of the most prevalent and potent organisms on Earth. These viral predators specialize in targeting bacteria with lethal precision. Their existence and interactions with bacteria are fundamental to the dynamics of microbial ecosystems. Recent research conducted by scientists at ADA Forsyth shed light on an aspect of this microbial battleground. Amidst the ongoing arms race between phages and bacteria, a third wheel has emerged—the ultrasmall bacterial parasites known as Saccharibacteria or TM7. TM7 is an extremely small coccus (200-300 nm) bacterium with a unique...
Study: Phage Found to Target Dormant Bacteria
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at ETH Zurich have uncovered a potential game-changer in the ongoing battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the team has discovered that certain bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria, can successfully target dormant bacteria, providing a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. Dormant bacteria are often referred to as persister cells. Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacterial cells that have the ability to enter a dormant or non-growing state, making them less susceptible to antibiotics. These cells can survive antibiotic treatment, contributing to the persistence of bacterial infections and posing challenges in therapeutic...
Study Unveils Viral Resilience Against Bacterial Restriction and Modification Mechanisms
In the microscopic battlefield of microbial warfare, bacteriophages emerge as natural adversaries and “predators” of bacteria, demonstrating a remarkable ability to target specific bacterial strains. Recognized as safe for humans, these viruses have recently garnered attention as potential alternatives to antibiotics, especially in the face of increasing antibiotic resistance among pathogenic microorganisms. A recent breakthrough study conducted by scientists from the Skoltech Laboratory of Metagenome Analysis, led by Artem Isaev, sheds light on the mysterious BF23 bacteriophage. Isolated in 1949, this elusive phage’s genomic sequence remained enigmatic until now. The researchers, as detailed in their publication (cited below), undertook a...
Discovery: A virus that attaches to another virus
In a groundbreaking discovery that began as a typical research project, a team from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) uncovered a viral phenomenon that had never been observed before: satellite viruses attaching themselves to helper viruses. This unique revelation sheds new light on the intricate relationships that exist in the phage and the whole viral world in general. It’s a known fact that some viruses, referred to as “satellites,” rely not only on their host organism but also on another virus known as a “helper.” These helper viruses play a crucial role in either constructing the satellite’s protective...
Bacteriophage Beauty Products: The Future of Skin Care in 2024?
With the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and skin sensitivities, it’s time for a new approach to beauty. Bacteriophage products may be the answer. Using bacteriophages to treat skin conditions is nothing new. It was first proposed in the 1920s when they were used to treat wounds in WWI soldiers who had become infected with gangrene. Today, bacteriophage products are increasingly being used to treat acne, eczema, and other inflammatory skin conditions. But that’s not all – these natural treatments are also being marketed as healthy alternatives to chemical-heavy and expensive cosmetic products on our shelves today. So what are they...
Phage mediated therapy for cancer
Bacteriophages are viruses that have high specificity for their hosts. Given the fact that their target host is bacteria, it makes them an attractive means of eradicating bacteria infections. These entities are capable of exhibiting a lytic cycle, which means that they kill (lyse) their host cell to disperse the replicated bodies to other hosts and spread infection. Despite having the most established means of fighting the bacteria i.e. anti-bacterial, bacteriophages are possible “last resort” strategies for treating infections. This has been proved by the ability of these viral particles to treat patients infested by “superbugs” There are some major...
Vésale Bioscience Rebrands as Inteliphage, Signaling Shift Toward Clinical Application of Phage Therapy
Belgian biotech company Vésale Bioscience has officially rebranded as Inteliphage, marking a strategic evolution in its mission and scope. The company, known for its work in bacteriophage research, states that (On their LinkedIn page) the name change reflects its transition from a research-oriented organisation to one focused on delivering phage-based therapies for clinical use. According to the company, the goal is to support healthcare professionals with more precise, adaptable, and accessible solutions to tackle persistent and drug-resistant bacterial infections. “Inteliphage” combines the concepts of intelligent therapy and phages — viruses that specifically target bacteria. The company describes its approach as...
Phage and AI come together to fight antimicrobial resistance at Phagos
Recently, Amazon has published an article on Phagos. Phagos an AI tech-bio start-up company, has utilized Amazon Web Services(AWS) to develop an AI model. With this AI model, performing phage-host matching becomes a lot easier. The phage therapy currently involves isolating specific phages from the environment, identifying those effective against a particular pathogenic bacterium, and then cultivating these selected phages, which is time-consuming. “Everything had to be done by hand,” said Alexandros Pantalis, Co-founder & CEO at Phagos. “You had to screen every single phage against every single bacterial strain. And then, every phage combination against every target bacterial strain...
Intralytix using Phages as Precision Medicine
Moving away from the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach to medicine, the precision medicine approach tailors treatment and prevention strategies to an individual’s unique characteristics, aiming to provide more effective and targeted healthcare interventions. Intralytix, a biotech company, is pioneering in precision approach in phage therapy. Founded in 1998, Intralytix is dedicated to developing safe, sustainable, and highly targeted phage-based solutions for a broad range of applications. From its inception, Intralytix has been developing phage-based products targeting food safety and environmental sanitation to cutting-edge treatments, most of them FDA approved. Choosing phages At Intralytix, the stark difference between phages and antibiotics is...
Enveloped vs Non-Enveloped Viruses: Key Differences, Structure & Examples
Understanding the difference between enveloped and non-enveloped viruses is key to virology, infection control, and antiviral development. This guide dives deep into their structure, behaviour, virulence, and relevance, including unique insights on bacteriophages (phages). What Is an Enveloped Virus? An enveloped virus is one that has an outer lipid bilayer membrane, called an envelope, surrounding its protein capsid and genetic material (RNA or DNA). This envelope is typically derived from the host cell’s own membrane during the virus budding process. Examples: HIV, Influenza, Herpesviruses, SARS-CoV-2, Cytomegalovirus, and Human Coronaviruses (229E, NL63, OC43). Structure of Enveloped Viruses Component Description Genome DNA...
CRISPR armed phage therapeautic to treat cancer patients
SNIPR Biome has conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. This is a Phase 1b clinical trial of SNIPR001 in patients with hematological cancer. These cancer patients, when treated with CRISPR armed phage therapeutic, showed positive results with successful target engagement. SNIPR001 was orally administered to 24 patients with hematological cancer. Hematological cancers (blood cancers) are a group of cancers affecting the bone marrow and cells of the immune system. These patients suffer from bacteremia, mainly caused by Escherichia coli, leading to significant mortality. Most of these isolates are fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. Fluoroquinolones are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat...
Shrimp Hatchery Rearing Systems to Utilize phages in fight against aquatic bacterial infections
Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) and Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture(CIBA) signed a memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with M/s Salem Microbes Private Limited, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India, for producing and marketing of the a “Phage based product” developed by the Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division (AAHED) of ICAR-CIBA, Chennai. This product formulation comprises a broad spectrum of lytic phages from aquaculture systems and coastal ecosystems in the country. Having proven its efficacy in field evaluation trials, this “cocktail of phages” can neutralise a wide range of specific pathogenic bacteria in the hatchery settings. An aquaculture hatchery is a facility dedicated to breeding,...
Conference on phages: Biology, Dynamics, and Therapeutics
The International Antiviral Society -USA has announced a 2.5-day conference on phages. Approximately 500 US and international attendees will be attending this conference. Being held from October 12 to 14, 2025, in Washington, DC, the conference will include talks, symposia, and workshops, abstract-driven presentations focused on recent scientific advances and future clinical applications of phages. Discussions will include current phage susceptibility testing, methods, validation for clinical use, and the potential of molecular approaches to testing. Clinical trials designs for phage therapy targeting antimicrobial-resistant and mycobacterial infections, with attention to regulatory considerations for treatment approval, will also be discussed. Other discussions will include...
UK Issues Pivotal Guidelines to Advance Safe Development of Phage Therapies
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has released a comprehensive new document aimed at guiding researchers and pharmaceutical companies in the safe development of phage therapies, virus-based treatments that target bacterial infections. MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon emphasised the urgency of innovation in infection treatment, stating, “With some infections growing increasingly resistant to antibiotics, patients urgently need new solutions. Phage therapy is one such promising approach. This guidance brings clarity to researchers and developers, supporting safe innovation while upholding the high safety and quality standards patients expect.” Tallon highlighted the UK’s broader ambition: “We’re working closely with industry...
Positive data from IV administered AP-SA02 in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia(SAB)-Armata pharmaceuticals
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a bloodstream infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) continues to be a major cause of community and healthcare-acquired bacteremia. Institutions are striving to improve their standards on infection control and infection prevention of SAB. Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of high-purity, pathogen-specific phage therapeutics announced positive results from its Phase 1b/2a diSArm trial, which evaluated AP-SA02, a novel intravenous (IV) administered multi-phage therapeutic for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), in the “intent-to-treat” population. The diSArm study (NCT05184764) is a Phase 1b/2a, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple...