Dr. Irene Chen on Bacteriophages: ChemTalk Interview Episode 12

Pop quiz! What biological agent is most abundant on all of planet Earth? Hint: it’s a type of virus with hyper-specificity, allowing infection of different bacterial species. If you guessed bacteriophages, you’re correct! These phages are viruses that target bacterial cells and subsequently kill their host as they use parts of the bacterial cells to replicate. In this podcast episode, Claris and Roxanne interview Dr. Irene Chen of UCLA biochemistry. We discuss what these viruses are, how they work, and the challenges and benefits of using them in the realm of human health and infectious diseases. We hope you enjoy!

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Thank you for watching and see you next time!