University of Otago Researchers Develop Phage Therapy to Combat Bacterial Diseases in Cherry Orchards
Researchers at the University of Otago, led by Prof Peter Fineran and Dr Robert Fagerlund, are developing phage therapy to target bacterial diseases affecting cherry orchards in New Zealand. Funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the project focuses on combating Pseudomonas bacteria, which can cause significant crop losses.
The team is creating phage cocktails, combining multiple bacteriophages to effectively penetrate bacterial defenses and reduce resistance. This targeted approach aims to preserve beneficial bacteria while eliminating harmful ones.
Their research has also identified 'jumbo phages' that replicate safely inside bacteria and phages that use sugars to evade CRISPR gene editing systems. While phages are being trialed in hospitals and agriculture, the researchers emphasize they are not a replacement for antibiotics but a complementary treatment.
