About

Capsid & Tail

Capsid & Tail is Phage Directory's periodical on the ins and outs of phage research, phage therapy, and the phage community. Since 2018 it has covered new papers, clinical cases, jobs, events, and conversations with the people doing the work. Browse every issue or subscribe via RSS.

Have an idea for a story or news to share? Email capsid@phage.directory.

Our mission

Advancing phage research through shared knowledge.

We serve those who research phages, those who commercialize phages, those who fund phage research and development, those who regulate phage technologies, and those who are interested in learning more about phages.

Our strategy is first to identify gaps in knowledge and resources, and then to help fill these gaps by providing information and by helping build connections and collaborations among the phage community.

Background

Phage therapy

We are facing a global antibiotic resistance crisis and we need additional or alternative ways to treat patients unable to fight against bacterial infections. Phage therapy is an increasingly viable and scientifically-accepted alternative to antibiotics.

Researchers around the world routinely cultivate phages against most bacterial pathogens faced by patients. However, safely and effectively giving these phages to critically ill patients is challenging — each phage treatment must be customized to each patient’s infection. This process requires a complex collaboration between scientists, doctors, regulatory bodies and families of patients on extremely short notice.

Phages in agriculture, the food industry, and veterinary medicine

Beyond phage therapy, phages are being used in agriculture, the food industry, and veterinary medicine. Similarly to phage therapy, phage applications in industry will need to rely on collaborations across disciplines.

Phage research

Phage research began about 100 years ago, and many groups have made substantial progress toward understanding phages. However, finding funding for this work is challenging. Increased collaboration among phage research groups and with groups from other disciplines can help scientists access research funding, thus supporting more efficient work in this area. In addition, major research areas such as microbiome and CRISPR studies are recognizing the importance of understanding and utilizing phages, and will benefit from working more closely with phage experts as their fields expand.

By building and maintaining a resource geared toward educating and connecting the phage community, we hope to make an impact on both phage research and on the use of phages to help solve real-world problems.

— Jessica & Jan

Contact

Questions or suggestions: hello@phage.directory.