Fera Science Webinar – Academic perspectives on current research in bacteriophages

Fera Science Webinar – Academic perspectives on current research in bacteriophages

In late June Fera Science held a webinar entitled: “From Research to Regulation: A deep dive into bacteriophage applications and challenges”. As the name suggests, the webinar focused on bacteriophages (viruses that devour bacteria) as a form of biocontrol against microbial pathogens. The webinar featured five guest speakers who discussed academic research, regulation, and commercial applications of bacteriophages.

Prof. Ville-Petri Friman from the University of Helsinki delivered a presentation: “Academic perspectives on current research in bacteriophages”. This presentation focused on his research around the soil borne pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum that uses root asphyxiation to cause wilting and is prevalent in potato rot. Unfortunately, there is no effective control method at present and this study aims to assess bacteriophages as a potential biocontrol against this bacterium.  The study was especially interested in assessing and implementing lytic bacteriophages due to their ability to impact the bacterium’s reproductive cycle.

Prof. Friman displayed results from the study thus far leading to positive outcomes. Results of the study found that bacteriophages when used in combination (“a cocktail”) caused a significant linear decrease in both disease incidence and pathogen density. Moreover, when four different bacteriophages were used in combination there was a greater impact with repeated applications at different times of application. Finally, the study also found that many positive bacteria such as Actinobacteria increased in number while R. solanacearum decreased, demonstrating a possible synergistic antagonism.

Prof. Friman also discussed the eventual possibility of bacteriophage resistance; however, research has shown that bacteriophage resistance is very costly in terms of energy for the bacteria and there is a trade off with pathogenicity meaning the bacteria are less harmful but more resistant to bacteriophages.

Research such as that conducted by Prof. Friman and his team is helping to shed light on the complex and multi-faceted interactions occurring between bacteria and bacteriophages, on plant immunity and on the overall environment.

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