Busting Bad Bacteria With Their Viral Enemies

17:17 minutes

Bacteriophages are viruses that prey on bacteria. Reporting in the Journal of Animal Science, researchers write that phages might be a useful food additive to kill pathogenic E. coli bacteria in packaged beef or spinach. Study author Paul Ebner of Purdue University discusses the use of phages in food products, and whether they’d play nice with the friendly microbes in our guts.

Segment Guests

Paul Ebner

Paul Ebner is an associate professor in animal sciences at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Meet the Producer

About Christopher Intagliata

@cintagliata

Christopher Intagliata was Science Friday’s senior producer. He once served as a prop in an optical illusion and speaks passable Ira Flatowese.

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Meet the Producer

About Christopher Intagliata