A new article was published this week in the journal Toxins' "Special Issue on Management of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Waters." The article provides a review of cyanophage lifecycles, diversity, and environmental factors influencing virulence, and dives into the history of cyanophage-host relationships across seven prominent potentially toxic North American cyanobacteria strains (1990-2019). Additionally, the publication discusses potential factors influencing the application of cyanophages as a cyanobacteria control strategy moving forward with considerations towards efficacy, optimization, and scalability.
The article was selected as a "Feature Paper" as it provides an outlook on future directions of research and possible applications in the field to advance the current state of science. Specifically, this review highlights an emerging area of both basic and applied research for mitigating and managing harmful cyanobacteria blooms. Read the full publication here.