Manneke Pis joins the hunt for phages

Today, one of Belgium’s most iconic ambassadors, Manneke Pis, appeared in a rather unusual outfit: that of a phage hunter. The famous Brussels statue exchanged its traditional attire for a costume celebrating the fascinating world of bacteriophages, the viruses that specifically infect bacteria. While the outfit may have brought smiles to visitors, it also highlights a serious and increasingly important scientific field in which Belgium plays a leading international role. 

The costume is also a fitting tribute to the Belgian Phage Valley, a national ecosystem that brings together academia, industry and government to advance phage-based solutions for human and animal health, food safety, and sustainable agriculture. Belgium has become a recognized hotspot for bacteriophage research and innovation, with scientists and entrepreneurs developing new therapies, diagnostics and biocontrol solutions to combat bacterial diseases and antimicrobial resistance. 

The appearance of Manneke Pis as a phage hunter is therefore more than a light-hearted anecdote. It is a symbolic recognition of Belgium’s thriving phage community and its efforts to develop innovative solutions for some of the world’s most pressing health, agricultural and environmental challenges. 

At Phage Valley, we are delighted to see bacteriophages receiving attention in the hear of Brussels. If even Manneke Pis has joined the hunt, perhaps the future of phage innovation is becoming impossible to ignore.