Bacteriophages: Potential antagonistic agents against medically and agriculturally harmful bacteria

Gursharan Singh

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India

Twinkle Saini

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India

Shewane Bishnoi

IIS deemed to be university, Jaipur, SFS Mansarovar, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Jatinder Singh

Department of Horticulture, SAGR, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India

Louis Cojandaraj

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India

Anis Mirza

Department of Horticulture, SAGR, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India

Shailendra Kumar Arya

Department of Biotechnology, University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panjab University (UIET), Chandigarh, India

Manju FNU

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14456/apst.2025.34

Keywords: Bacteriophages Drug resistance Bacteria Antibiotics Agriculture Biotechnology

Abstract

Bacteriophages are viruses that have evolved to be natural predators of prokaryotes, infecting and killing bacteria without harming the environment or human health. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are significant threat to humanity; millions of yearly suffer from these pathogens. Antibiotic resistance in disease-causing bacterial species is growing very commonly and rapidly both in developed and developing countries. Discovery and synthesis of new drugs are costly; moreover, low income-nations cannot afford the cost of manufacturing, research and development. The exploitation of diverse bacteriophages as antibacterial agents has much potential, especially against drug-resistant bacteria. However, phage biologists are grappling consistently to meet the regulatory standards for correct and safe strategies to introduce phage therapy in the routine health care system. Due to this hitch, fewer human trials have been evaluated where phage is used as a therapy against bacterial infections. On the other hand, the importance of bacteriophages in the agri-food business has recently received researchers’ attention. Bacteriophages are used as preservatives for food storage. However, since bacteriophages have been licensed recently as food additives, interest in “edible viruses” has grown. This review focuses on several vital aspects of bacteriophages, such as their isolation and identification, mode of action against their hosts, successful pieces of evidence where phages are used as a therapy against drug-resistant bacteria, and their use in food safety in the field of agriculture.

How to Cite

Singh, G., Saini, T. ., Bishnoi, S. ., Singh, J. ., Cojandaraj, L. ., Mirza, A. ., Kumar Arya, S. ., & FNU, M. . (2025). Bacteriophages: Potential antagonistic agents against medically and agriculturally harmful bacteria. Asia-Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 30(03), APST–30. https://doi.org/10.14456/apst.2025.34

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