Current research projects
EVREA-Phage
The project EVREA-Phage (DZIF funding started in July 2022) aims to provide phage therapy for intestinal VRE reduction, especially for immunosuppressed patients. It envisages to characterize (bacterio)phages and compose one phage cocktail directed against E. faecium for later oral phage application whether in liquid or in capsular form.
More information here
Taxonomy of bacterial viruses within the ICTV (International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses)
Apart from research aspects regarding probable application, novel sequencing methods led to a boost of available sequence data during the last years. By isolating novel phages and using sequence data and different tools for analysis like VICTOR (developed at the DSMZ), we also aim at getting more insight into the diversity of phages, pushing forward the viral taxonomy under the umbrella of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and providing those for the whole phage researcher community. In particular, the taxonomy of N4-like viruses lies in our responsibility.
Z-Project - Bacteriophage Repository, Services and Database Construction
within the Priority Programme “New Concepts in Prokaryotic Virus-host Interactions – From Single Cells to Microbial Communities” (SPP 2330).
Further completed projects
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, a biotech company located in Vienna focusses on bacteriophage to overcome infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The DSMZ amongst other research groups acts as a collaboration partner to examine the potential of phages and to develop three different phage-based drugs, in particular in the field of infected artificial joints.
- DBU (The German Federal Environmental Foundation), development of a phage cocktail against E. coli to reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry farming