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Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

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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...
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Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
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DNA Bacteriophages01:26

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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...
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Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

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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...
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Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
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Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings
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Phage therapy for environmental biotechnology applications.

Suniti Singh1, Rachel Samson1, Francis Hassard1,2

  • 1Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Microbiology
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Bacteriophages offer a promising alternative to antibiotics for environmental applications. Research shows their potential in soil, energy, and water systems, but challenges remain in scaling up production and regulation.

Keywords:
biofuel systemengineered water systempatent landscapephage therapysoil-vegetable system

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Environmental compartments are key sites for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) evolution.
  • Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria, offering a targeted alternative to conventional biocides.
  • The environmental application, intellectual property, and commercial readiness of phages are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize recent progress in phage-based interventions across various environmental sectors.
  • To analyze the intellectual property landscape of phage technology.
  • To identify bottlenecks and propose a roadmap for advancing environmental phage therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and meta-analysis of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) database.
  • Synthesis of phage applications in soil remediation, crop protection, biofuel/petro-energy, and water systems.
  • Identification of challenges in manufacturing, regulation, and phage strategy (single vs. cocktail).

Main Results:

  • Phages show efficacy in suppressing plant pathogens, mitigating microbiologically influenced corrosion, and treating water contamination.
  • Patent activity is increasing but geographically concentrated (China and US dominate).
  • A significant gap exists between lab-scale proof-of-concept and commercial products.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental phage therapy has broad potential across diverse sectors.
  • Key challenges include scalable Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), regulatory harmonization, and optimizing phage deployment strategies.
  • A roadmap involving high-throughput discovery, synthetic tailoring, and adaptive regulatory pathways is proposed to advance phage therapy as a One Health solution.