Leicester scientists develop rapid sequencing technique to accelerate phage therapy against superbugs

University of Leicester researchers developed a rapid technique to sequence phage genomes in under a week, accelerating the fight against antibiotic resistance.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 2, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the University of Leicester

A Rapid Alternative to Traditional Antibiotics

Scientists at the University of Leicester’s Becky Mayer Centre for Phage Research have achieved a significant breakthrough in the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The team has developed a rapid, cost-effective technique to identify and characterize bacteriophages—viruses that specifically target and destroy harmful bacteria. Unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can inadvertently kill beneficial bacteria, phages are highly specific "precision medicines." However, the clinical application of phage therapy has long been hindered by the slow and expensive process of isolating and sequencing the correct viral strains. This new method effectively turbocharges the development pipeline, offering a viable path toward routine phage-based treatments.

Eliminating the Purification Bottleneck

Traditionally, sequencing a phage genome required large quantities of purified viral DNA, a process that necessitated large-scale purification and weeks of laboratory work. The new technique developed by Dr. Andrew Millard and his colleagues allows for sequencing directly from "plaques"—the tiny clear zones on a petri dish where phages have successfully killed bacteria. By working with these minuscule amounts of material, the researchers have eliminated the need for time-consuming purification stages. This shift allows scientists to analyze hundreds of genomes simultaneously, reducing the turnaround time from several months to under seven days.

Leveraging Oxford Nanopore Technology

The breakthrough was made possible through the integration of Oxford Nanopore sequencing and advanced DNA amplification methods. This technology allows for the real-time analysis of long DNA strands, providing a reliable and comprehensive map of the phage's genetic makeup. Doctor Andrew Millard, co-lead of the phage centre, noted that the speed of this method allows researchers to quickly identify the "best" phages for therapeutic use, ensuring that only the most effective and safe viruses are added to clinical libraries. This scalability is essential for creating the vast repositories of phages needed to address the diverse range of drug-resistant bacteria found in patients today.