PhageCast

How do you create a research environment where people feel safe to make mistakes? And how do you balance publishing pressure, scientific quality and mental health?In this episode, we speak with Lone Brønsted, Professor at the University of Copenhagen, leader of the PHAGEBio research group and current president of the ISVM.We cover her work on bacteriophages, phage–host interactions, and what it means to do excellent science.We discuss in the episode the molecular mechanisms that determine how phages recognize their hosts, with a particular focus on receptor-binding proteins and the diversity of strategies phages use to identify and infect bacterial cells. We also talk about phage dark matter and the challenges of studying phages that remain poorly characterized.We then discuss examples of her research involving important bacterial pathogens, including ESBL-producing E. coli and Salmonella, and why a strong fundamental understanding of phage biology is essential if we want to translate phage research into new applications.A major part of the conversation moves beyond the science to explore what scientific excellence actually means. We discuss research culture, leadership, effective communication, responsibility, and how to create a safe environment where people can make mistakes, particularly during difficult periods.We also talk about how to retain talented researchers, how to balance the pressure to publish with the need to produce high-quality science, and how to protect mental health throughout the process.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Yang Shen, R&D Director at ACD Pharma in Norway, about the use of bacteriophages in aquaculture and the challenges of controlling bacterial diseases in fish farming.We begin with an introduction to aquaculture, discussing how fish are produced, why bacterial infections are a major challenge, and how antibiotic use is regulated in this industry. Yang explains the most important pathogens affecting salmon production, including Yersinia ruckeri and Moritella viscosa, and how environmental factors such as biofilms and climate change influence disease outbreaks.We then focus on Custus®YRS, the world's first commercial bacteriophage product for aquaculture, developed to control Yersinia ruckeri infections in salmon. We discuss how phages are delivered in aquaculture systems, the emergence of bacterial resistance, and the advantages and limitations of phage therapy compared with conventional antibiotics.Finally, Yang shares his career journey from academia to industry, reflecting on the differences between both environments, what he looks for in young researchers, and his advice for PhD students and scientists in the phage world.

In this episode of Phage Bites, we speak with Luciana Meneses about her recent Nature Communications study on the directed evolution of phages in biofilms and how this approach can improve the control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.We discuss how phages can adapt to the heterogeneous bacterial populations found within biofilms, the experimental evolution strategy used in the study, and how evolved phages achieved improved recognition of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. We also cover the methods used to characterize these adaptations. A major focus of the conversation is the relevance of these findings for phage therapy. We discuss how bacterial populations within biofilms are far from uniform, why this heterogeneity can limit the efficacy of phage treatments, and how evolving phages under biofilm conditions may generate variants better suited to target clinically relevant bacterial subpopulations.We also explore the broader implications of using experimental evolution as a strategy to improve phage performance against chronic biofilm-associated infections.Finally, Luciana shares her experience as a PhD student in the Azeredo Lab, reflects on the challenges and rewarding aspects of the project, and offers advice for students and young researchers interested in the field of phage biology.Do not forget that Viruses of Microbes is still accepting inscriptions and will take place in Prague from 6-10 July 2026.

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Jeremy Barr, Professor at Monash University, about his work on bacteriophages in the human gut and the ecological and functional roles of temperate phages within the microbiome.We discuss his recent study Isolation, engineering and ecology of temperate phages from the human gut, focusing on prophages in gut bacteria and how frequently they may enter the lytic cycle. We cover the experimental approaches used to isolate and characterize temperate phages from gut bacteria, including induction, bacterial and human cells. We speak about environmental factors that may influence prophage induction, including dietary compounds, and how epithelial perturbation during inflammation can shape gut virome dynamics.We then explore evolutionary and genomic aspects of gut temperate phages, including the presence of prophages lacking integrases, the role of diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs), and possible evolutionary trajectories toward prophage domestication. We also discuss polylysogeny and whether temperate phages may serve as stable platforms for gene delivery in microbiome-associated contexts.Finally, Jeremy shares reflections on the process of publishing the study in Nature, including how the manuscript evolved during peer review, and lessons learned during the revision process.Do not forget that Viruses of Microbes is still accepting inscriptions and will take place in Prague from 6-10 July 2026.

In this episode, we speak with Luisa de Sordi, Associate Professor at Sorbonne University ain France, about her work on bacteriophages in the gut and their role in Crohn’s disease.We discuss her recent Cell Reports study examining whether bacteriophages can cross the intestinal barrier and enter the bloodstream, and how this process differs between healthy individuals and patients with Crohn’s disease. The study shows that certain phages translocate at higher levels in Crohn’s patients. We also cover the experimental approach used to track phages across epithelial layers, including fluorescent labeling and other methods and questions they answered!We then turn to her recent work in Gastroenterology, where her team analyzed the blood virome in Crohn’s disease. We also asked some personal questions and got some valuable advice! Stay till the end if you want to hear it!