Expanded viral immunity in cholera bacteria linked to large-scale outbreaks in Latin America

Cholera bacteria aren't just battling antibiotics and public health measures—they are also constantly under attack from bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect and kill bacteria. These viruses don't just influence individual infections; they can make or break entire epidemics. In fact, certain bacteriophages are thought to limit the size and duration of cholera outbreaks by killing off Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium behind the disease.