Poster preparation and presentation information
Thank you for considering presenting your work as a poster at this conference. Below are the key details and submission guidelines.
Deadlines
- Poster abstracts (as MS Word) must be submitted by 15th August.
- Digital posters (as PDF) and flash-talk videos must be submitted by 20th August.
Poster preparation & format
Poster size
Digital-only presenters
- Save your poster in A1 or A0, landscape or portrait format.
- Page size is flexible if presenting only digitally.
In-person presenters
- Print your poster in A1 portrait format only
- Larger or landscape posters may not be displayed due to space constraints
File naming
For submission, name your digital poster files as follows:
- <your surname>-Phg26-Poster.
- Example: for David Jones, name your file as Jones-Phg26-Poster.
- Do not use generic names such as: Oxford-poster, phages2026, Oxford-phage-poster.
Digital poster submission
All poster presenters, whether attending virtually or in person, are required to submit a digital version (as PDF) of their poster via the designated upload link. Posters will be made accessible to all conference participants via the secure ‘Download PHG26 Documents’ page, ensuring visibility across both virtual and in-person audiences.
- Submit your final PDF poster (<5MB) via the designated upload link
- Do not send posters or abstracts by email
- Ensure your submission is final—once published, it cannot be replaced
- Late submissions may not be included in the programme
Poster presentation
Presentation timing
Presenting digitally only
- Currently, there is no scheduled time for presenting digital posters. Instead, virtual attendees will be able to interact with poster presenters via the Zoom chatbox during the conference.
- A specific poster presentation session may be announced later.
Presenting in-person
- Bring a printed A1 portrait poster for display
- Larger or landscape posters may not be displayed due to space constraints
- You are responsible for printing and transporting your poster
- You may be assigned a specific day and time for display
Presentation via a flash-talk video
To maximise visibility, exposure and engagement, we encourage all poster presenters, whether presenting digitally or in-person, to submit a short video (max 5 minutes) introducing their work. Videos will be featured on the LPMHealthcare YouTube channel.
Instructions
- Download the official opening slide (PhgOx26 first slide) and use it as the first slide of your presentation (see example: https://youtu.be/XatqenCd_IU?si=Yu1PooCD4JmSLAiz).
- Record your presentation using Zoom or any preferred platform. Keep it under 5 minutes.
- Save your video in a YouTube-compatible format (e.g., MP4)
- Send your video via a file transfer service such as MailBigFile or WeTransfer to: PhageOxford@gmail.com
Any further information about the poster presentations will be available in the future on this page.
Before uploading your poster, you must make sure that you follow ALL of the instructions above!
Accepted posters
(Presenters in Bold)
Accepted poster abstracts will be displayed below. If your abstract has been accepted for presentation but it does not appear in the list below, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing PhageOxford@gmail.com.
Phage-Loaded Contact Lenses for Ocular Infections
Ameera Abu-Qiyas1, Said El Turk2, Haider Butt2,3, Ahmed F Yousef1,4
1Department of Biological Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi UAE
2Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi UAE
3Advanced Digital & Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) Research Group, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi UAE
4Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi UAE
Eye (ocular) infections affect millions globally and impose serious complications, including visual impairment and blindness. Among the bacterial pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause, responsible for up to 70% of contact lens-associated keratitis cases. P. aeruginosa is particularly challenging due to its ability to cause rapid corneal destruction, form robust biofilms, and exhibit high levels of antibiotic resistance. Contact lens wearers are especially prone to chronic eye infections due to high rates (up to 81%) of biofilm formation in lens storage cases and on lenses themselves that are notoriously recalcitrant to antibiotic treatments. To circumvent this global threat, we developed 3D-printed contact lenses and impregnated them with bacteriophages that specifically prey on P. aeruginosa. The 3D printing approach enables precise control over lens geometry for personalized design, while the self-replicating nature of the bacteriophages permits sustained antibacterial activity even at low initial dosing. In vitro evaluations demonstrated that UAE wastewater sourced phages loaded into lenses exhibit strong antibacterial efficacy against P. aeruginosa strains, with inhibition of bacterial growth comparable to the last-resort fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin. This proof-of-concept study establishes bacteriophage-impregnated 3D-printed lenses as a promising low-cost platform for both therapeutic and prophylactic management of P. aeruginosa ocular infections. Importantly, the approach offers promising potential for extension to other bacterial pathogens and integration into combinatorial antimicrobial strategies.
Leading the future of Phage Therapy: Targeting Microbiome in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Birhanu Ayelign1,2,3, Shoukat Afshar-Sterle1,2, Ryan O’Keefe1,2, Mwila Kabwe4, Annalisa Carli1, 2, Bushra Amin5, Joseph Tucci4, Michael Buchert1,2
1Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
3Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
4Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
5Mass Spectrometry research and infrastructure, la Trobe university, Australia
The study of the cancer microbiota is an emerging research area that has gained attention through discoveries of the tumour-associated bacterial species that can be tumourigenic. Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a recognised cancer-associated oral microbiome linked to tumour growth, immune suppression, and resistance to therapy. Clinical use of antibiotics targeting F. nucleatum has failed, leading to worse patient outcomes. Thus, there remains a significant gap in understanding tumour-promoting mechanisms and efficiently targeting the bacterium. We aimed to address a critical unmet need by understanding how tumour-associated bacteria contribute to cancer progression and discovering a world-first novel FNU1 bacteriophage capable of eliminating these bacteria. Cancer cells were infected with F. nucleatum and subsequently treated with FNU1 bacteriophage. Functional assays demonstrated that F. nucleatum infection significantly increased cellular migration, proliferation and viability in infected cells. While FNU1 bacteriophage treatment blocks F. nucleatum-induced cancer cell proliferation and migration. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I). Infected cells showed significant downregulation of MHC-I expression, as confirmed by Western blot analysis, which revealed reduced levels of MHC-I and associated chaperone proteins involved in MHC-I maturation and translocation. Treatment with FNU1 reversed these changes, restoring MHC-I expression and chaperone protein levels. Label-free quantitative proteomics employing high-resolution LC–MS/MS identified distinct infection-associated proteomic signatures enriched in pro-tumorigenic pathways. Differential expression analysis demonstrated that these alterations were significantly reduced following bacteriophage treatment, indicating extensive reprogramming of infection-driven cellular pathways.
CRISPRi-mediated regulation in multicellular genetic circuits
Abhinav Pujar1, Anchita Sharma1, Hadi Jbara1, Tom Zaplana1, Guillermo Rodrigo2, Manish Kushwaha1
1Université Paris-Saclay, INRAe, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
2Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC-University of Valencia, 76980 Paterna, Spain
As synthetic genetic circuits grow more complex, distributing computation across multiple cell populations is important to reduce metabolic burden and improve system robustness. For these multicellular systems to work effectively, cells need reliable and scalable ways to communicate. Small-molecule signals, such as quorum sensing molecules, are often used, but they are limited in the number of distinct messages they can carry and the amount of information they can transmit. DNA-based communication through bacteriophage transduction offers a versatile, information-rich alternative that can encode complex instructions and enable modular, programmable circuit design. Here, we present a library of five M13 phagemid variants with distinct replication origins, including those based on the Standard European Vector Architecture (SEVA) family, designed to tune the growth and secretion dynamics of sender strains. We paired these phagemids with an intercellular CRISPRi system for precise quantification of genetic payload delivery. Using the platform, we transferred a metabolic pathway that stays inactive in the senders and is only turned on in receiver cells, demonstrating low-leakiness and modular control of metabolic functions. In addition, we are exploring CRISPRi-mediated regulation of DNA export to selectively control which phage messages are transmitted from sender cells. Together, these strategies lay the foundation for programmable, DNA-mediated communication in multicellular synthetic consortia and open exciting possibilities for distributed, multicellular genetic computation.
Efficacy of an experimental bacteriophage preparation to support disinfection and improve the welfare of poultry housing systems in the elimination of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in vitro
Pyzik Ewelina1, Urban-Chmiel Renata1, Korona-Głowniak Izabela2, Suśniak Katarzyna2, Ciesielka Marzanna3, Całka Paulina3, Dec Marta1, Herman-Ostrzyżek Klaudia1
1Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
2Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
3Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
The high global consumption of poultry raises concerns about the risks associated with the prevalence of APEC (Avian Pathogenic E. coli) strains, which cause colibacillosis in poultry. A major challenge in controlling these infections is the limited effectiveness of antibiotic therapy due to bacterial resistance associated with biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an experimental bacteriophage preparation intended to improve the welfare of poultry housing systems by eliminating APEC strains in vitro. Bacteriophages were isolated from the feces of ducks, turkeys, and broiler chickens collected from litter. Purification and propagation of the isolated phages, determination of lytic spectra, and titer were carried out using the double-layer agar method on 0.7% LB agar. Morphological characterization of phages was performed by TEM microscopy (Xie et al., 2005). The experimental preparation consisted of a cocktail of lysate of 9 bacteriophages specific for APEC, concentrated in TM buffer to a final titer ≥10⁹ PFU/mL. The in vitro activity of phage cocktail was evaluated based on its ability to eradicate biofilms formed in microtiter plates containing LB medium. Analysis enabled the isolation of phages exhibiting lytic activity against the tested APEC strains. Morphological examination in TEM revealed virions indicating that they belong to the class Caudoviricetes, Myophages, based on their virion morphology. In vitro evaluation of phage kinetics, based on their ability to eradicate biofilms formed by APEC strains, demonstrated an antibacterial efficacy exceeding 70%, which can be considered substantial. Moreover, the developed preparation showed high effectiveness in in vivo reaching 82.6%. The most effective control of APEC strains is achieved using bacteriophages isolated from the specific poultry species targeted. Combining different groups of phages can substantially enhance the antibacterial activity of phage preparations. The preparation developed from bacteriophages isolated from various poultry species may offer a straightforward strategy to broaden the application of phages for improving the welfare of poultry. This research was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, OPUS27 project No 2024/53/B/NZ6/00046.
Phylogenetic analysis and characterization of the activity of three bacteriophages isolated from poultry living environments, ECBR1, ECBR3 and ECBR4, against pathogenic APEC strains
Urban-Chmiel Renata1, Pyzik Ewelina1, Ciesielka Marzanna2, Całka Paulina2, Korona-Głowniak Izabela3, Suśniak Katarzyna3, Andrzej Krajka4, Dec Marta1, Herman-Ostrzyżek Klaudia1
1Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
2Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
3Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
4Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin; Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics, Department of Fundamentals of Computer Science, Poland
High poultry consumption is one of the factors contributing to the common occurrence of pathogenic APEC (avian pathogenic E.coli) strains inducing colibacillosis in poultry. The global problem of drug-resistance among pathogens has also led to a number of measures taken to reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry. The limited possibilities for fighting bacterial infections have prompted the search for alternative methods to antibiotics with using bacteriophages. The aim of the study was to characterize APEC-specific phages isolated from poultry as potential tools for controlling bacteria. The study was conducted using faecal samples from broiler chickens kept in free-range farming systems. Phenotypic characterization of phages was based on TEM microscopy, the range of lytic activity against APEC strains, and the stability of titres in standard and altered pH conditions. Genetic analysis of phages was based on genome analysis and comparison with the genomes of other phages. The aim of the analysis was to determine the taxonomic identity of the phages and to confirm their strictly lytic nature by analysing their complete genome. Three bacteriophages, ECBR1, ECBR3, ECBR4, exhibiting lytic properties against APEC strains, were isolated. Morphological analysis (TEM) showed that all phages belonged to Caudoviricetes. The lytic titre was 1010 PFU/ml. Lytic activity against the APEC ranged from 43.5% to 76.1%. The study confirmed that phages were lytic, and lytic genes were mapped in their genome, including RIIA and RIIB lysis, LTs, and LIN; no AMR genes were detected. The phages showed low phylogenetic similarity to one another, at a maximum level of 30%. The results indicate that APEC-specific phages have significant antibacterial potential. This creates the potential for their use as alternatives to antibiotics to control infections, especially given that costs of developing phage preparations is much lower than the cost of producing antibiotics. Due to the lack of full knowledge of the metabolism, kinetics and their effects on eukaryotic cells, further research is essential. This research was fully funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, OPUS27 project No 2024/53/B/NZ6/00046.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend: Exploring bacteriophage therapy for intracellular infection
Hannah I Lewis1,2, Charlotte Hind1, Dann Turner3, Hywel Morgan2, Mark Sutton1
1UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK
2University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
3University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
Urinary tract infections are among the most common reason for antibiotic treatment. However, rising antimicrobial resistance increasingly limits therapeutic options, particularly due to the ability of uropathogens to invade and persist within host cells, evading both immune responses and conventional antibiotics. Bacteriophages (phages) represent a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics; however, their narrow host range necessitates time-consuming, low-throughput screening. Microfluidic impedance cytometry (MIC) is a rapid, label-free technique that characterises single cells based on their electrical properties, offering potential for assessing intracellular infection and treatment response. In this study, a model intracellular infection was characterised using MIC. Single-cell dielectric properties of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-infected THP-1-derived macrophages were measured. Infected macrophages exhibited increased electrical diameter and electrical deformability, alongside reduced cytoplasmic conductivity compared to control cells. Intracellular Salmonella is known to restructure the host actin cytoskeleton and alter metabolic and defence pathways. The observed electrical characteristics correlate with these well-established infection processes and are supported by flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence imaging. A Salmonella-specific phage (ΦEnt1) was screened for host susceptibility, and its intracellular therapeutic efficacy will be evaluated through monitoring changes in defined electrical properties. MIC provides a wide range of functionally relevant measurements, enabling real-time, high-throughput, single-cell analysis. Ongoing work will extend this approach to less well-characterised models, including bladder epithelial systems for UTI-focused phage therapy screening.
