Biotechnological applications of bacteriophages: State of the art

• Published in: Microbiological research Vol. 212-213; pp. 38 - 58
• Main Authors: Harada, Liliam K., Silva, Erica C., Campos, Welida F., Del Fiol, Fernando S., Vila, Marta, Dąbrowska, Krystyna, Krylov, Victor N., Balcão, Victor M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.07.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria - virology; Bacterial biosensing; Bacterial Infections - prevention & control; Bacterial Infections - therapy; Bacteriophages; Bacteriophages - classification; Bacteriophages - genetics; Bacteriophages - physiology; Biofilm control; Biofilms; Biological Control Agents; Biosensing Techniques; Biotechnology - methods; Corrosion; Corrosion control; Dental Caries - therapy; Disinfection; DNA Packaging; Food biopreservation and safety; Food Preservation; Food Safety - methods; Gene delivery; Gene Transfer Techniques; Humans; Nanostructures - virology; Phage display; Phage therapy; Phage Therapy - methods; Science & Technology; Structural and functional stabilization; Surface disinfection; Vaccination; Vaccine carriers; Vaccines; Bacteriophages; Food biopreservation and safety; Bacterial biosensing; Gene delivery; Corrosion control; Phage display; Biofilm control; Surface disinfection; Phage therapy; Vaccine carriers; Structural and functional stabilization
• ISSN: 0944-5013; 1618-0623; 0944-5013
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2018.04.007

Bacteriophage particles are the most abundant biological entities on our planet, infecting specific bacterial hosts in every known environment and being major drivers of bacterial adaptive evolution. The study of bacteriophage particles potentially sheds light on the development of new biotechnology products. Bacteriophage therapy, although not new, makes use of strictly lytic phage particles as an alternative in the antimicrobial treatment of resistant bacterial infections and is being rediscovered as a safe method due to the fact that these biological entities devoid of any metabolic machinery do not have affinity to eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, bacteriophage-based vaccination is emerging as one of the most promising preventive strategies. This review paper discusses the biological nature of bacteriophage particles, their mode(s) of action and potential exploitation in modern biotechnology. Topics covered in detail include the potential of bacteriophage particles in human infections (bacteriophage therapy), nanocages for gene delivery, food biopreservation and safety, biocontrol of plant pathogens, phage display, bacterial biosensing devices, vaccines and vaccine carriers, biofilm and bacterial growth control, surface disinfection, corrosion control, together with structural and functional stabilization issues.