Guilherme Wenceslau, a master’s student at The Center for Research in Biology of Bacteria and Bacteriophages (CEPID B3), based at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of São Paulo (IQ/USP), received the Best Poster Award in the Graduate Category at the IV Latin American Bacteriophage Conference. The event took place on March 12–13 in Montevideo, Uruguay, and is considered the leading regional meeting dedicated to bacteriophage research.

Wenceslau’s participation was marked by the presentation of the study “Dual RNA-seq Reveals Distinct Infection Dynamics of Two Lytic Phages in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14,” developed over the past two years as part of his master’s research. The project – an initiative of Aline Maria da Silva (in memoriam) and Layla Farage Martins – investigates how two types of viruses that infect bacteria, known as bacteriophages or phages, take control of bacterial cells during infection.

“Our main motivation was to investigate, in greater depth, how phages and bacteria interact during the infection process,” Wenceslau explains. “To do this, we used an approach known as dual RNA-seq, which allows us to simultaneously analyze gene expression in both the virus and the host”. He highlights that one of the method’s key advantages is its ability to reveal, with temporal resolution, the molecular dynamics of infection – from the bacterium’s initial responses to the mechanisms by which the phage ‘hijacks’ the host cell.

The results presented at the conference show that the two viruses analyzed, named ZC01 and ZC03, employ distinct infection strategies: while the former rapidly reprograms bacterial metabolism within minutes of infection, the latter promotes a more gradual reorganization of the cell. Nevertheless, both affect key processes essential for bacterial survival, such as iron acquisition and cell-to-cell communication. “Although the study was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, the findings pave the way for investigations in more complex experimental systems,” the researcher notes.

Among more than 50 posters presented by researchers from across Latin America, the work stood out as one of the best. “This award means a great deal to me”, says Wenceslau. “It reinforces that every effort and challenge is worthwhile when driven by a greater purpose.” He adds that, following the international recognition, his plans include expanding this line of research toward applied perspectives, particularly in the use of phages as therapeutic alternatives to antibiotics. “I intend to continue exploring this topic in future stages of my academic training, possibly during a PhD, expanding the investigation to more complex experimental models and integrating approaches from molecular biology, microbiology, tissue engineering, and bioinformatics”, he concludes.

IV Latin American Bacteriophage Conference

The Latin American Bacteriophage Conference is held every two years in different countries across the region, aiming to foster scientific exchange, strengthen collaborations, and advance bacteriophage research in Latin America.

In 2026, the event took place in Montevideo, Uruguay, on March 12–13, bringing together more than 100 participants from countries such as Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Brazil was represented by Germán Sgró, also a researcher at CEPID B3. The program also included presentations by start-ups and talks by international speakers, promoting dialogue between academia and industry.

According to Wenceslau, it was clear that bacteriophage research in Latin America is strongly oriented toward solving local challenges. “A Uruguayan company, for example, reported the compassionate use of phages in the treatment of severe diseases, with successful outcomes in two cases”, he notes.

For the researcher, the conference represented a strategic opportunity to build connections, establish collaborations, and gain insight into initiatives developed in neighboring countries. “It was also important to see that Latin America is quite advanced in applying bacteriophages in areas such as agriculture, animal health, and human health. This opens the door to future collaborations, including with CEPID B3”, he concludes.