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Related Concept Videos

DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome01:23

Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...

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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

A "Plug-And-Display" Nanoparticle Vaccine Platform Based on Outer Membrane Vesicles Displaying SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain
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A "Plug-And-Display" Nanoparticle Vaccine Platform Based on Outer Membrane Vesicles Displaying SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain

Published on: July 25, 2022

Bacteriophage nanoparticles: an emerging modular delivery platform.

Linzi Whiley1, Hannah X Zhu2, Alfonso E Garcia-Bennett3

  • 1School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|June 4, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophage nanoparticles offer a modular alternative to traditional drug delivery systems. These adaptable nanomedicines are nearing clinical use, with potential for AI-guided design and combination therapies.

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Nanomedicine
  • Molecular Engineering

Background:

  • Traditional nanoparticles often require application-specific reformulation for drug and vaccine delivery.
  • Bacteriophage-derived nanoparticles present a genetically encoded, structurally defined, and modular solution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in bacteriophage-derived nanoparticles.
  • To highlight their tunable properties (scaffold, surface, cargo) and hybrid constructs.
  • To survey their diverse applications and translational challenges.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on bacteriophage-derived nanoparticles.
  • Analysis of tunable design axes: scaffold, surface, and cargo.
  • Examination of hybrid phage-polymer/lipid/inorganic constructs.
  • Survey of applications including vaccines, gene transfer, and microbiome editing.

Main Results:

  • Phage nanoparticles can be engineered for enhanced stability, targeting, and loading capacity.
  • Hybrid constructs expand the versatility of phage-based nanomedicines.
  • Applications range from multivalent vaccines to precision microbiome editing.
  • Clinical trials are underway for virus-like particle vaccines and CRISPR-enhanced phages.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophage nanoparticles are a promising platform for reusable, plug-and-play nanomedicines.
  • Emerging opportunities include AI-guided design, cell-free synthesis, and standardized chassis.
  • These nanomedicines are approaching clinical translation, addressing key challenges in drug and vaccine delivery.