Researchers from the Sagona Lab at the University of Warwick UK are investigating how “giant” phages can treat lung infections. The researchers have been looking for phages that target the Burkholderia cenocepacia bacteria, which causes potentially fatal lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. The team searched for phages in wastewater and then isolate those that killed B.cenocepacia. Upon further testing, the team discovered a phage that not only killed B. cenocepacia but had a genome which was more than double the size of an average phage. More than 85% of the phages’ genes have unknown functions. Dr. Lewis and her colleagues are now sequencing the DNA of this phage to discover additional hosts and potentially beneficial actions. More information can be found here https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/news/?newsItem=8a17841b8e9e9db2018ea408f23d719c