Viperins are known to function in the eukaryotic antiviral response, and now they’ve been found in prokaryotes. Aude Bernheim (Weizmann Institute of Science) and colleagues published a new paper in Nature on prokaryotic viperins, which protect against phages. Paper | Press release
The use and selection of excipients are critical to stabilize phages in solid formulations. Yajie Zhang (University of Texas at Austin) and colleagues have reviewed the current classes of phage excipients, outstanding challenges with phage formulation, and new strategies that could help.
Niels Vander Elst (Ghent University) and colleagues published a new paper in Antibiotics on the characterization of two phage lysins, PlySs2 and PlySs9, which have in vitro lytic activity against bovine mastitis pathogen Streptococcus uberis.
What’s the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes in complete/near-complete phage genomes? The Millard Lab did an analysis; here are the results.
Clément Girardot wrote a new piece on phage therapy for The Guardian’s Global Development section; in it he interviews Tobi Nagel and Martha Clokie of Phages for Global Health.
Micreos has initiated a clinical trial to evaluate a topically-applied phage endolysin as a therapy for Atopic Dermatitis.
The Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, an Indian research institute, has been developing phage cocktails for aquaculture. They’ve now transferred their phage technology to Salem Microbes Private Ltd, so it can be made available to shrimp farms.
An international team of scientists are calling for the European Union to enforce non-animal antibody production, and phage display may be the ideal replacement. Report | Press release.
