The bacteriophage named “NEU2023,” isolated from a natural pond on the Near East University campus, was determined to be a completely new virus species. The new beneficial virus was named “Alasiavirus,” inspired by the ancient name of Cyprus, and introduced to the world literature.
Researchers from Near East University and La Trobe University in Australia determined that the bacteriophage isolated from a natural pond on the Near East University campus was a completely new virus species and belonged to a previously unidentified genus. The new beneficial virus, of which DNA sequence has been completed, was named “Alasiavirus” after Alasia, the ancient name for the island of Cyprus.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that poses a significant threat in infectious diseases and has developed resistance to many antibiotics, causes severe infections, especially in patients with weakened immune systems. New bacteriophages discovered as part of an international project led by Dr. Ferdiye Taner, a researcher at the Near East University Experimental Health Sciences Research Institute, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Steve Petrovski from La Trobe University, are emerging as a promising alternative treatment for this resistant bacterium. The bacteriophages, isolated from a natural pond on the Near East University campus and determined to be effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were registered in the US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database as “Pseudomonas phage NEU2023” and “Pseudomonas phage NEU2024” and entered the world’s scientific literature.
Alasiavirus in the world’s literature!
The DNA sequences of both bacteriophages have been completed and made available internationally. Genome analysis has determined that NEU2023 is a completely new virus species and belongs to a previously unidentified genus. Scientists have named this new virus genus “Alasiavirus.” The name “Alasia” was derived from the ancient Bronze Age name for Cyprus and introduced to the scientific community as a marker of the virus’s origin. Alasiavirus will now serve as a reference in the literature for the classification of bacteriophages with similar properties.
The research team included scientists such as Dr. Ferdiye Taner, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Steve Petrovski, and Liana Theodoridis, along with Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Başustaoğlu, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Üsküdar Güçlü.
The results of the scientific study have been accepted for publication by the journal “Phage: Therapy, Applications, and Research”, the world’s only internationally peer-reviewed journal published in the field of bacteriophages. The journal, ranked in the Q1 category, is among the most respected scientific publications in its field.
Dr. Ferdiye Taner said, “The discovery of Alasiavirus will be a great source of hope in the fight against antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacteriophage has the potential to be an effective alternative treatment method not only in the laboratory but also in clinical practice in the future. It is a great source of pride for us to bring a scientific achievement from Cyprus to the world literature in this project, which we are conducting in international collaboration.”
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “The discovery of Alasiavirus is a result of the dedication of our researchers and the strong ties we have established with the international scientific community.”
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, expressed their great pride in making a significant discovery that has entered the world’s scientific literature. He added, “Our researchers named the beneficial virus they isolated from the pond on our campus Alasiavirus, after the ancient names of Cyprus, demonstrating the cultural as well as scientific significance of this achievement.”
“This discovery demonstrates the strength of our university’s research infrastructure and international collaboration capacity, and is a significant step that will shed light on future biotechnological treatments,” said Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, adding; “The discovery of Alasiavirus is a result of the dedication of our researchers and the strong ties we have established with the international scientific community.”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “I am delighted to be a part of such a significant discovery in my field of expertise, microbiology.”
Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stated that the discovery of Alasiavirus is a result of the importance Near East University places on its pioneering work in health and biotechnology. He added, “The identification of the NEU2023 bacteriophage discovered on our campus as a completely new virus species offers an important treatment option for human health in antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.”
Thanks to the initiative of our researcher and an international collaboration with La Trobe University in Australia, this bacteriophage has been introduced into the world scientific literature. I feel proud to be a part of such an important discovery in the field of microbiology, which is my own specialty.
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ, “Alasiavirus is not just an academic discovery, it is also an innovative scientific message from Cyprus. This discovery provides a promising step towards alternative solutions against antibiotics, which will shape future biotechnological treatments.”