Grant: Project Grant

Like us, bacteria can be infected and killed by viruses. These viruses are known as bacteriophages, or phages for short. Phages have been shown to play important roles in controlling bacterial populations in many different environments, including the human body. Recent studies have shown that the phages found in diseased individuals are dramatically different than in healthy individuals and encode more antibiotic resistance genes and other virulence factors. In addition, phages have been directly linked with many dangerous human diseases, including diphtheria, botulism, cholera, and toxic-shock syndrome. We use Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterial species that causes severe lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, as a model system to study the many ways that phages make bacteria more dangerous. This work will allow us to better understand how the viruses and bacteria that co-exist in our bodies contribute to infections.