Uncovering the hidden diversity of bacteriophages through isolate-based research
Elina Laanto
Bacteriophages, like all viruses, display remarkable diversity in the type and size of their genetic material, as well as in the structure and dimensions of their virus particles. However, much of this diversity remains unexplored due to the vast, almost unimaginable number of phages in our biosphere. Uncovering it through isolate-based research can provide valuable insights into how phage-bacterium interactions play a crucial role in shaping nature, while also paving the way for new tools in molecular biology and phage-based applications. In this talk, I will present how environmental phages studied here in Jyväskylä are advancing our understanding of phage biology and phage-host interactions, highlighting examples that span from some of the smallest to the largest known phage genomes.
