Bacteriophage Diversity in Different Habitats and Their Role in Pathogen Control

Abstract

Bacteriophages are selective to their host bacteria and do not have any direct interaction with other members of the indigenous flora of the community. In any niche, the diversity of phage is directly proportional to the associated discriminating bacterial population as a host. Pathogens including MDR bacteria in wastewater are responsible for big outbreaks in many developing nations and the biggest emerging threat to public health. Every effort leading to reduction of pathogens in the environment has to be promoted and implemented for establishing a healthy and sustainable environment. The inefficient functioning of STPs is the significant reservoir of diverse bacterial population, including MDR. A biocontrol capability through phage has been demonstrated in the control of pathogens in food industry, medicine, aquaculture and agriculture and could be implemented to environment. In order to apply phage formulation in the environment, it must be a wild type and should be well characterised; that includes genome annotation, validation of genes of obligate lytic cycle and without the virulence factors. The implementation will demand long-term trials with microbial community. This can be ensured through advances in metagenomics, which will monitor shifts in the community structure after phage interventions. Phages would emerge as eco-friendly biocontrol agents and could be considered as an obvious alternative to chemical disinfectant and preservatives.