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Bacteriophage Biodefense

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Bacteriophages: Practical Applications for Nature's Biocontrol

Abstract

Bacteriophages are a double-edged sword in nature and in the hands of a skilled scientist. On the one hand they are able to spread invasive exotoxins, virulence factors of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), to other bacteria via lysogenic bacteriophages which could be used as a possible biothreat. On the other hand, they can be a safeguard or a watchdog to provide enormous benefit via lytic bacteriophages to combat bioterrorism and by developing many novel environmentally friendly technologies. For example, we may develop rapid diagnostics for biothreats or bioalarms and biocontrol to prevent and treat attacks in situ. We constructed a model that can contain the impact of classic agents of biological warfare such as Bacillus anthracis spores’ using aerosols to protect people and animals in crowded areas, malls, schools, stadia, airports, on farms, etc. Other models are used to illustrate the rapid implementation of programmed bacteriophages to engage or dismantle threats post attack with bacterial pathogens. Please note that although our phage programming technology (Chap. 1) can be used to induce the development of a lytic phage from the prophage state, this approach is not practical when dealing with a biothreat agent since the procedure requires a few days or even weeks to complete on samples that are collected. Thus we use highly virulent, lytic programmed phages that can effectively compete and swiftly target the bacterial biothreat agents and to ensure the bacteria are free of prophage contaminants. We also present some important means of reducing bacterial transmission and infection in this chapter.

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  1. Applied Bio Research Inc., Windsor, ON, Canada

    Sabah A. A. Jassim & Richard G. Limoges

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  1. Sabah A. A. Jassim
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Correspondence to Sabah A. A. Jassim .

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Jassim, S.A.A., Limoges, R.G. (2017). Bacteriophage Biodefense. In: Bacteriophages: Practical Applications for Nature's Biocontrol . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54051-1_7

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