Graham Hatfull’s research on bacteriophages, especially mycobacteriophages, has driven synthetic biology advancements in genetic engineering and phage therapy. His lab develops tools for precise genome editing in mycobacteria, including vectors and recombineering systems. A key application is phage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, providing alternative treatments for diseases like tuberculosis. Hatfull also founded the SEA-PHAGES program, engaging students in phage discovery and contributing to the identification of numerous phages. His work offers novel solutions in synthetic biology, particularly for addressing bacterial infections through engineered phages.
"Genome synthesis, assembly, and rebooting of therapeutically useful high G+C% mycobacteriophages"
Ko CC, Sikkema AP, Lauer MJ, Amarh ED, Garlena RA, Russell DA, Chew N, Li T, Harrison IM, Ellefson J, Hatfull GF, Lohman GJS. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2025, 122, 46, e2523871122
"Amplification, purification, and lyophilization of mycobacteriophages for therapeutic use"
Viland MD, Abad L, Jacobs-Sera D, Freeman KG, Russell DA, Garlena RA, Mowry E, Yu S, Lauer MJ, Vehring R, Guerrero-Bustamante C, Hatfull GF. Microbiol Spectr. 2025, 13, 12, e0227725
"All the world’s a phage"
Hatfull GF. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2025,122, 43, e2523344122
"Cryo-EM and cryo-ET reveal the molecular architecture and host interactions of mycobacteriophage Douge"
Maharana J, Wang CH, Tsai LA, Liao YT, Yang CH, Shen MC, Macale LS, Tran TN, Narsico J, Perez RJ, Tewary SK, Wu JL, Lin HY, Chang SW, Franklin A, Moynihan PJ, Jacobs-Sera D, Freeman KG, Hatfull GF, Lowary TL, Ho MC. Cell Rep. 2025, 44, 8,116057
"Stabilization mechanism accommodating genome length variation in evolutionarily related viral capsids"
Podgorski JM, Podgorski J, Abad L, Jacobs-Sera D, Freeman KG, Brown C, Hatfull GF, Luque A, White SJ. Nat Commun. 2025, 16, 1, 6554