Bacteriophages: An Important Tool To Help Combat the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

Description

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells. They are ubiquitous in the environment and are recognized as the most abundant biological agent on earth. They are extremely diverse in size, morphology, and genomic organization. All consist of a nucleic acid genome encased in a shell of phage-encoded capsid proteins, which protect the genetic material and mediate its delivery into the next host cell. Electron microscopy has allowed the detailed visualization of hundreds of phage types, some of which appear to have "heads," "legs", and "tails". Despite this appearance, phages are non-motile and depend upon Brownian motion to reach their targets.

Objectives

Presenters

1. Dr. Tobi Nagel
   Research Scientist
   Phages for Global Health