Ancient Virus Blueprint Offers Hope Against Superbugs
A detailed 3D map of a bacteria-hunting virus, created by a University of Otago-led research team, is revealing ancient origins and offering latest promise in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The study, published in Science Advances, focuses on Bas63, a bacteriophage – a virus that infects bacteria – specifically targeting E. Coli. Researchers from Otago and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology collaborated to explore the virus’s structure in molecular detail, aiming to understand how its tail functions during infection .
The Rise of Phage Therapy
Bacteriophages are attracting increasing attention as scientists seek alternatives to traditional antibiotics due to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. “Bacteriophage viruses are non-harmful to all multi-cellular life and able to very selectively target and kill a target bacterium,” explains Dr. James Hodgkinson-Bean, lead author of the study and a PhD graduate from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Otago . “Due to this, they are increasingly being researched and applied in ‘phage therapy’ to treat highly drug-resistant bacteria.”
These viruses are described as “exquisitely intricate” and utilize large mechanical structures, known as ‘tails,’ to infect bacteria .
Unlocking the Secrets of the Viral Tail
The research team’s detailed examination of Bas63’s molecular structure provides crucial insights into how the tail functions during the infection process. “This kind of research is important for understanding how we can select the optimal bacteriophages for therapies, and to understand the differences in infectious behavior we see in the lab,” says Dr. Hodgkinson-Bean .
Ancient Origins and Evolutionary Insights
Beyond its therapeutic potential, the study reveals clues about the virus’s ancient origins. Researchers identified structural features previously observed only in distantly related viruses, suggesting evolutionary connections extending back billions of years, even before the emergence of multi-cellular life .
“We know through structural studies that bacteriophages are related to Herpes viruses – this relationship is thought to extend back billions of years to before the emergence of multi-cellular life,” explains Dr. Hodgkinson-Bean. “when we look at bacteriophage structure, we are looking at living fossils, primordial ancient beings.”
Broader Applications
Associate Professor Mihnea Bostina, also of Otago’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, highlights the broader implications of this research. “Our detailed blueprint of a bacteriophage advances rational design for medical, agricultural, and industrial applications, from treating infections to combating biofilms in food processing and water systems” .
The 3D data, showcasing the virus’s unique features like whisker-collar connections and diverse tail fibers, could also inspire innovation in fields like art and animation .
Building on Previous Discoveries
This discovery builds upon earlier work by the same research group, which recently published a study in Nature Communications focusing on pathogens affecting potatoes .