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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
11:31
'Bioluminescent' Reporter Phage for the Detection of Category A Bacterial Pathogens
Published on: July 8, 2011
Bacteriophage reporter technology for sensing and detecting microbial targets
1The University of Tennessee Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Knoxville, 37996, USA.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|December 18, 2010
Summary
Bacteriophages (phages) are bacterial viruses that can be used for pathogen detection. New phage-based assays offer rapid, sensitive, and easy methods for identifying and monitoring bacterial threats in various settings.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically infect bacteria.
- Phage host range knowledge has historically enabled bacterial identification through phage typing.
- Advancements in understanding phage-host interactions have driven the development of novel detection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution and application of phage-based diagnostic assays.
- To highlight the versatility of phages in pathogen detection and monitoring.
- To discuss the integration of phage detection technologies with advanced biosensors.
Main Methods:
- Exploitation of phage-host recognition specificity for diagnostic purposes.
- Utilization of phage infection cycle stages for detection assay development.
- Advancement of phage-mediated assays towards biosensor integration.
Main Results:
- Phage typing assays have been a long-standing method for bacterial identification.
- Numerous rapid, sensitive, and user-friendly phage-mediated detection assays have been developed.
- These assays are adaptable for pathogen monitoring, detection, and enumeration.
Conclusions:
- Phages offer a highly specific biological tool for bacterial pathogen identification.
- Phage-based detection technologies are continuously improving, offering versatile applications.
- Future developments focus on integrating phage assays with advanced sensing technologies for enhanced pathogen surveillance.
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