Smart viruses against resistant bacteria: VUB research opens new doors

The global rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), biologist Jessie Vandierendonck has been working on an innovative solution: using bacteriophages — viruses that specifically infect and destroy bacteria.

Bacteriophages, or simply phages, have been known for over a century but are now regaining attention as a promising alternative to antibiotics. In her doctoral research, Vandierendonck investigated how so-called temperate phages can be used to target harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli. While most E. coli strains are harmless, some variants can cause severe infections and are often resistant to existing treatments.

Vandierendonck combined the use of phages with bacterial toxin–antitoxin systems. She engineered genetically modified phages carrying toxin genes that, once inside the bacterial cell, become active and cause the cell to self-destruct. “By using phages as delivery vehicles for toxins, we can act with great precision — without harming beneficial bacteria,” she explains.

To maintain the delicate balance between toxin production and bacterial survival, she designed new cloning strategies to precisely regulate gene expression. She also identified several phages from enterohemorrhagic E. coli and described their genetic and morphological characteristics. In laboratory experiments, she demonstrated that the engineered phages were indeed capable of effectively killing their target bacteria.

Conducted within the Structural Biology Brussels research group under the supervision of Professor Remy Loris, Vandierendonck’s research marks an important step toward targeted, sustainable, and safe treatments against multidrug-resistant bacteria. “We hope this strategy will lay the foundation for a new era in the fight against infections,” she concludes.