McMaster University researchers identify trait in broad-spectrum phages

Researchers at McMaster University have identified a key trait that allows certain bacteriophages, or phages, to infect a broader range of bacterial strains. While many phages are highly specific to single bacterial strains, making them difficult to use clinically, some possess a broader spectrum of activity.

In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research team discovered that these broader-spectrum phages share specific forms of structural diversity in their tail fibers. These fibers allow the viruses to attach to various hair-like appendages on bacteria, known as pili.

To investigate this, the team studied the interaction between phages and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common multidrug-resistant bacterium responsible for hospital-acquired infections. Principal investigator Lori Burrows noted that understanding these mechanisms could assist in identifying or designing phage therapies with wider clinical utility against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.