University of Toronto researchers have discovered nine new genes used by bacteria to protect themselves against phages—viruses that infect them.

In a study published in Nature Microbiology, the researchers describe how they used a combination of bioinformatics and laboratory testing—on sediment samples obtained from tanks at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada—to identify the previously unknown defense genes.

The findings could have profound implications for the development of strategies to treat bacterial infections, particularly those that are drug resistant.