Four researchers represented the Center at Viruses of Microbes, held from July 6–10 in Prague, Czech Republic

Researchers from the Center for Research in Biology of Bacteria and Bacteriophages (CEPID B3) took part in Viruses of Microbes, the world’s leading international conference on bacteriophages, or phages. Held from July 6 to 10 in Prague, Czech Republic, this year’s meeting was organized around the theme “Uncovering New Interactions, Innovations, and Applications” and brought together experts from around the globe to present and discuss cutting-edge research on virus–host interactions, phage therapy, synthetic virology, bioinformatics, and environmental biotechnology.

Jéssica Duarte da Silva, a postdoctoral researcher in the Laboratory of Bacterial Molecular Biology, represented CEPID B3 by presenting her research on the diversity and evolutionary relationships of bacteriophages that infect Salmonella, a bacterium responsible for major foodborne infections in humans. Her work provides an updated overview of these viruses, highlighting both well-characterized lineages and still poorly explored groups. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the evolution and diversity of Salmonella phages while providing a foundation for future research and bacterial control strategies.

Fernando Pacheco Nobre Rossi, Jéssica Duarte da Silva, and Pedro Rossi Andrade alongside other Brazilian participants at the event.

Also representing CEPID B3, Katia Ospino, a PhD candidate in the Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics, presented research aimed at expanding the host range of bacteriophages capable of infecting Escherichia coli. Using a directed evolution approach, the study sought to select phage variants able to infect bacterial strains that were previously resistant. This strategy may contribute to the development of new therapies against bacterial infections – an increasingly important field as antibiotic resistance continues to emerge as one of the greatest threats to global public health.

Katia Ospino presenting her research at Viruses of Microbes.

Fernando Pacheco Nobre Rossi and Pedro Rossi Andrade, researchers from the Bioinformatics Laboratory and the Laboratory of Microbial Interactions, respectively, presented PELICAN, a newly developed tool designed to improve the accuracy and reliability of bacteriophage genome annotation. The software integrates the outputs of multiple bioinformatics tools and applies computational methods to enhance gene prediction, providing a more robust approach to phage genome curation and supporting both research and practical applications involving bacteriophages.

Fernando Pacheco Nobre Rossi, Jéssica Duarte da Silva, and Pedro Rossi Andrade during Viruses of Microbes.

Beyond showcasing research conducted in Brazil, CEPID B3’s participation in the conference strengthened collaborations with national and international research groups and provided an opportunity to follow the latest advances in a strategic field for the development of new bacteriophage-based technologies. The event also reinforced the international relevance of the Center’s research efforts. In total, more than 900 participants attended the conference.

Abstracts of these and other studies presented during the meeting are available in the official conference abstract book, which can be accessed on the event’s website.