Phage Into You

Phage Into You

Shengnan Huang, Huiyao Peng, Allison Madow, Angela M. Belcher

Koch Institute at MIT

The image demonstrates that the M13 phage has high draining efficiency to the draining lymph node and is in the right compartment of the draining lymph node to elicit strong immune response against the target cells.

Here we see the distribution of the M13 phage-based vaccine platforms in the mouse draining lymph node. The M13 phage is shown in green, B cells in red and T cells in blue. 

An M13 phage-based vaccine is a special type of vaccine that uses a harmless virus called M13 bacteriophage. This virus only infects bacteria, so it’s safe for people. The Belcher lab is working to use M13 phage to create vaccines against cancer and fungal infections. We do this by using the virus to show our immune system specific markers, which helps it recognize these harmful cells as threats. In simple terms, this vaccine uses a safe virus to help our immune system learn to find and fight certain types of cancer cells. It’s a smart and new way to strengthen our immunity and keep us healthy! 

 

 

Heart-shaped object speckled with neon green then a second layer before giving way to a deep blue cloudy center.

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