Alumni Digest / U of T / Ideas /
The bacterial defences behind a research prize
Karen Maxwell's Gairdner recognition honours discoveries about bacterial immunity and the viruses that may inform future approaches to antibiotic-resistant infections.
Karen Maxwell beside a laboratory bench in a biochemistry lab.Photo: U of T Alumni News
The context
Where the work begins
Karen Maxwell received a 2026 Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Award for research on the molecular contest between bacteria and bacteriophages, the viruses that infect them. The U of T biochemistry professor's lab has identified bacterial immune systems and examined how these defences respond to infection.
The takeaway
What follows
Some bacteria make small chemical compounds that prevent viral replication. Other protection comes from dormant viral DNA within bacterial genomes. Understanding those mechanisms could help researchers design more precise phage therapies for antibiotic-resistant infections. Maxwell's team also contributed to the discovery of inhibitors of CRISPR-Cas9, work scientists are using to develop more precise gene-editing tools.
Source reporting
The bacterial defences behind a research prize
Original summary by Alumni Digest, based on public source reporting. This independent publication is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Toronto. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.
