INTERVIEW
Interview with Dr. Ryan Cook: Exploring Viral Ecology and Human–Phage Interactions
We are pleased to share an interview The Phage conducted in collaboration with the Quadram Institute featuring Dr Ryan Cook, a post-doctoral…
Author: Raphael Hans Lwesya
Raphael Hans Lwesya is a PhD researcher and science communicator focused on bacteriophages, microbiology, and bioinformatics. He is the founder of The Phage, a platform dedicated to phage research, news, protocols and job opportunities.
Phage applications in plants
Phage cocktail cuts fire blight, without disrupting the flower microbiome
Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is one of the most destructive bacterial diseases affecting pear and apple orchards. It spreads rapidly…
Know your phage
Is Studying Viromics Worth the Effort?
Many people may not be familiar with the term viromics. Viromics refers to the study of viral communities using metagenomic approaches. Metagenomics,…
PHAGE THERAPY
Phagebiotics: Are Viruses the Next Gut Health Supplement?
Whenever we think of bacteriophages, we are often faced with very different perspectives on whether they are “good” or “bad.” Interest in…
Know your phage
Phagebiotics: A New Way of Thinking About Gut Health
The idea of phagebiotics comes from a simple shift in how we think about bacteriophages. Instead of viewing them only as tools…
Know your phage
Superinfection exclusion
One of the less talked-about but very interesting roles of bacteriophages is a process known as superinfection exclusion. This happens when a…
mentor
How to Succeed in Applying for a Phage-Related PhD (From Someone Who’s Been There)
Applying for a PhD often appears to follow similar expectations across disciplines, particularly the assumption that prior, field-specific experience is essential. However,…
Starter package
How Scientists Isolate Phages for Highly Pathogenic Bacteria
Bacteriophages are increasingly discussed as tools to study, control, or potentially treat infections caused by highly pathogenic bacteria. For scientists new to…
Research digest
Engineered Phage T4 Nanoparticles Wake Up Latent HIV—Without a Cytokine Storm
Why this study matters One of the biggest obstacles to curing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is its ability to hide silently inside…
Starter package
Common Laboratory Demonstrations Used to Explain the Principle of Phage Typing
Introduction Phage typing is a classic microbiological technique used to distinguish between closely related bacterial strains based on their susceptibility to specific…