Bacteria are constantly under threat from phages—viruses that infect and often kill them. In this talk, Dr Landon Getz dives into how Vibrio species defend themselves, focusing on the role of integrons in storing and sharing phage defence tools. These genes can act like public goods, benefiting not just individual bacteria but the wider community. Drawing on new work from the Maxwell Lab, Landon will unpack how these genetic systems are shaped by evolutionary pressure and what they reveal about microbial cooperation, adaptation, and genome plasticity. His research adds to our understanding of the bacterial arms race with phages and offers insights into the future of phage therapy and resistance.
