Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Fion Wu

Prophage Discovery and Defense Mechanism Characterization in Bacteria

Just like humans, bacteria also face viral infections from viruses called phages. Interestingly, some phages don’t kill their host right away. They can quietly integrate into the bacterial genome as “prophages” and remain dormant for long periods. These prophages can later reactivate and destroy their host, but they may also offer surprising benefits. Some provide toxins to outcompete rival bacteria or virulence factors that promote disease, while others help defend the host from future phage attacks. This summer, I will isolate prophages from diverse bacteria, test their ability to infect other strains, and characterize how they protect their hosts from new phage infections.

Message To Sponsor

Thank you so much for supporting this opportunity! It offers me an incredible chance to immerse myself in microbiology research that I’m truly passionate about and contribute to meaningful discoveries. I’m especially excited to be involved in various stages of an experiment, which will definitely be an invaluable experience for my growth as a scientist.