Bacteriophages (phages) are most abundant members of mucosal microbiomes. Colonizing mucosal surfaces with pathogen-targeting bacteriophages (i.e. phaging) can be used as prophylactic means against bacterial infections. Yet, the phage-bacterium interactions in the mucosal milieu are poorly understood, and the aspect of aging has been so far completely overlooked, although being central for our health and for the treatment of bacterial diseases using phage therapy. This project allows us to experimentally address these gaps and broaden our knowledge on the role of the mucosal milieu and its senescence on the medically relevant phage-bacterium interactions. The project is at the core of fundamental and topical questions of host-pathogen interactions, and can open new trajectories in understanding the ecology of host-associated microbial communities and how they shape health and disease during lifespan

2022

2026