Phages are tiny viruses that only infect bacteria, their actions underpin all kinds of natural systems on earth, but few people have even heard of them. Our research teams at the Universities of Liverpool and Salford are unveiling more about what phages can teach us about the fundamental biology of our planet and how they can be used as medicines to combat bacterial diseases. We have teamed up with creative partners to take you on an interactive journey of phage discovery.

Phages are the most abundant and diverse organisms on the planet out-numbering bacteria by 10:1 wherever they’re found. Collectively they carry a treasure trove of tools that could be used to help with diagnostics, infection prevention and treatment, as well as nano wires and monitoring climate change. Search for QR codes around our exhibit to discover some of the phages that have been characterised so far and how they impact the world around us.

As you collect each phage, you can view them on our digital microscope and test out their therapeutic potential.

This augmented reality platform was designed and produced by FeedAR with creative and scientific input from the Universities of Salford and Liverpool and the ICTV: International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses .

Phages come in all shapes and sizes, from simple filament-like forms to complex, space-ship-like structures. Their structure isn’t just for looks — it affects how they attach to bacteria, inject their genetic material, and ultimately how they could be used in medicine, biotechnology, or research. By designing your own phage, you’ll think about form and function together, just like real scientists do.

Design your own and watch it get turned into a 3D, computer-generated, image. You can see it float about down a microscope and see it in action!

This augmented reality platform was designed by FeedAR with scientific and creative input from the Universities of Salford and Liverpool. 3D printed stamps designed and produced by Ethan Dawson .

Phages have a crucial role to play in the evolution of bacteria and understanding how they work could open the door to several new strategies for treating bacterial diseases.

Try out our interactive models of giant bacteria and phages to find out more. To play the game, you’ll need to find the right phage “key” to fit the right molecule on the bacterial surface to trigger infection and see what happens.

Our giant models were designed and produced by the University of Salford Morson Makerspace with scientific input from the Universities of Salford and Liverpool. Now you can 3D print your own.

Through clinical trials or personalised treatment, phage therapy has been used to successfully treat bacterial infections on a global scale. In the UK, phages can be used as compassionate therapy in cases where patients are critically ill and all other medicines have failed. In some countries, like Georgia, phage therapy has been used for over 100 years, treating thousands of people. Countries like Belgium, Australia and the USA are increasingly using therapeutic phages, and there are some promising new clinical trials.

The University of Liverpool is home to the CF-Trailfinder Innovation Hub dedicated to finding and developing phages to treat chronic infections in people with cystic fibrosis.

If you are interested in running your own phage workshop in a school or youth centre, we have resources to help!

Download the Information About Phages (pdf) to learn more about phages and how they work.

Download our 3D printer files and instructions to make your own set of giant phage infection models with accompanying teaching resources here.

You can use these templates to make cardboard models of phages and customise them with sticky gems to represent different structural phage proteins and create faberge phages!

Or why not go out and collect samples to add to the UK citizen phage library.

Recommended Reading: The Good Virus by Tom Ireland.

Find out more about our activities here. If you’re interested in one of our team to develop a workshop with your school or youth centre, contact Professor Chloe James:c.james@salford.ac.uk or Professor Heather Allison:hallison@liverpool.ac.uk.

As microbiologists, we get to see the microscopic world of bacteria and viruses that are seemingly invisible. Now you can see them too in virtual reality! Try out our immersive journey through the lungs of someone with cystic fibrosis. Choose your path through the airways to find the bacteria that inhabit these channels, and watch the impact of phages as they meet their target bacteria.

VR-Airways was created by whoispaulmiller and Reflex Arc with scientific input from the Universities of Salford and Liverpool and guidance from The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

You can find out more about phage research through the “And the Microbes” comic book series created by Dr Jamie Hall