Principles, Methods, and Real-Time Applications of Bacteriophage-Based Pathogen Detection.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Waterborne pathogens present significant global health risks.
• Conventional bacterial detection methods are often slow, costly, and require pre-enrichment.
• Bacteriophages offer specific and rapid bacterial detection capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cutting-edge bacteriophage-based biosensor technologies for pathogen detection.
• To assess trends, outcomes, and challenges in phage-based pathogen detection.
• To highlight applications in developing low-cost lab-on-chip (LOC) and point-of-care (POC) devices.

Main Methods:

• Review of novel phage structures and immobilization techniques on electrode surfaces.
• Analysis of electrochemical and optical detection methods, including surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).
• Comprehensive assessment of bacteriophage-based biosensors for pathogen identification.

Main Results:

• Phage immobilization on electrodes enables sensitive detection of target bacterial cells.
• Electrochemical and optical methods, including SERS, are effective for phage-based detection.
• Emerging strategies facilitate the development of portable diagnostic tools.

Conclusions:

• Bacteriophage-based biosensors represent a promising approach for rapid and accurate pathogen detection.
• These biosensors can be integrated into low-cost LOC and POC devices for widespread use.
• Further research into phage immobilization and detection methods will advance diagnostic capabilities.