Mucus control: Applying concepts from bacteriophage-mucus interactions

本项目旨在研究黏液粘附噬菌体如何与黏液中的细菌相互作用，作为操纵微生物组的机制。动物粘膜表面细菌感染是严重的全球健康威胁。传统上抗生素被用来抑制粘膜感染，但抗生素耐药性意味着迫切需要新的治疗方法。噬菌体——感染细菌的病毒——可以杀死细菌，并可能在动物粘液中提供一层抗微生物免疫。预期的结果是解决噬菌体如何控制粘液中的细菌，并将概念应用于生物工程粘膜微生物组。

This project aims to examine how mucus-adherent bacteriophage interact with bacteria in mucus as a mechanism to manipulate microbiomes. Bacterial infections at mucosal surfaces in animals are a serious global health threat. Traditionally antibiotics have been used to curb mucosal infections, but antibiotic resistance means new therapies are urgently needed. Bacteriophage – viruses that infect bacteria – can kill bacteria and might provide a layer of antimicrobial immunity in animal mucus. The anticipated outcomes are resolving how bacteriophage control bacteria within mucus, and applying concepts to bioengineer mucosal microbiomes.