Resistance Fighters: Aggies Use Genetic Engineering of Bacterial Viruses to Fight Antibiotic Resistance

By: TAMU Biology

Dr. Jolene Ramsey, a prominent researcher at Texas A&M University Department of Biology, has secured funding to support an innovative project aimed at combating antibiotic resistance through the genetic engineering of bacteriophages. This groundbreaking initiative, titled “Resistance Fighters: Aggies Use Genetic Engineering of Bacterial Viruses to Fight Antibiotic Resistance,” will provide valuable research opportunities for undergraduate students.

Since its establishment in 2022, the Ramsey Lab in the Biology Department at Texas A&M University has focused on understanding how bacterial viruses kill their host cells. Dr. Ramsey’s research program, based on her extensive training as a molecular virologist, aims to improve the use of bacterial viruses (phages) as treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and develop technologies to enhance human life. Dr. Ramsey’s proposal has received a cost-sharing grant from the College of Arts and Sciences, enabling three undergraduate students to participate in this cutting-edge research over the summer. The selected students will work half-time for 10 weeks in Dr. Ramsey’s lab, gaining hands-on experience in genetic engineering techniques. The research will involve using CRISPR/Cas technology to genetically engineer phages that infect harmless gut bacteria but can also kill urinary tract pathogens. At the end of the program, they will present their findings at a regional microbiology conference, showcasing their contributions to the scientific community.

The project will retain one trained undergraduate currently working in Dr. Ramsey’s lab and recruit two new students. This cohort approach aims to foster a collaborative research environment, providing students with the skills and experience needed to pursue careers in microbiology and genetic engineering. Texas A&M undergraduates performing research in Dr. Ramsey’s lab will be registered for research credit and benefit from formal mentoring, training in responsible conduct of research, biosafety procedures, oral presentations, scientific writing, and technical microbiology skills. These experiences will prepare them for careers in biotechnology and research.

For more information about Dr. Ramsey’s research and the “Resistance Fighters” project, please contact Dr. Ramsey.