FREDERICK, Md. (March 22, 2024) Dr. Biswajit Biswas, chief of Bacterial Phage Science Division and Eric Starkey-Siebert, research assistant, both with Naval Medical Research Command's (NMRC) Biological Defense Research Directorate (BDRD), discuss results of bacteriophage treated cultures. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. Phage therapy offers a potential antimicrobial treatment in instances where antibiotics are no longer effective. Phages are also being investigated as a potential vehicle for a future generation of vaccines that don't require cold chain. NMRC is engaged in a broad spectrum of activities, from basic science in the laboratory to field studies in austere and remote areas of the world to investigations in operational environments. In support of the Navy, Marine Corps, and joint U.S. warfighters, researchers study infectious diseases, biological warfare detection and defense, combat casualty care, environmental health concerns, aerospace and undersea medicine, medical modeling, simulation, operational mission support, epidemiology and behavioral sciences. (U.S. Navy photo by Mike Wilson)