Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
07:22
Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings
Published on: August 19, 2021
3.2K
Bacteriophages as a Potential 360-Degree Pathogen Control Strategy.
Maria D'Accolti1,2, Irene Soffritti1,2, Sante Mazzacane2
1Section of Microbiology, Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, and LTTA, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
Microorganisms
|January 30, 2021
Summary
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that kill bacteria and are being reconsidered for therapy and environmental decontamination due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Their ability to target multidrug-resistant bacteria makes them a promising alternative to antibiotics and chemical disinfectants.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect and kill bacteria.
- Phage therapy was largely abandoned with the advent of antibiotics but is resurging due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Chemical disinfectants also face resistance and environmental concerns, driving interest in alternatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies on the potential of bacteriophages as decontaminants.
- To focus on the application of phages for hospital sanitation.
- To highlight phage efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies evaluating phage efficacy.
- Analysis of phage application in various fields (farms, food, agriculture, aquaculture, wastewater).
- Specific focus on hospital environmental sanitation.
Main Results:
- Phages are effective against bacterial infections and can be used for biocontrol in diverse environments.
- Phage efficacy is maintained against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.
- Bacteriophages show promise for routine sanitation in hospitals to combat MDR bacteria.
Conclusions:
- Bacteriophages offer a viable alternative to antibiotics and chemical disinfectants.
- Phages are a promising tool for combating AMR in both therapeutic and environmental decontamination contexts.
- Hospital sanitation using phages is a key area for future research and application.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages
74.8K
Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
74.8K
01:28Biological Methods for Microbial Control
609
Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
609
01:26DNA Bacteriophages
426
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
426
00:43Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages
65.6K
In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
65.6K
01:16Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle
811
The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects...
811
02:53CRISPR and crRNAs
18.2K
Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
18.2K