Application of bacteriophages EP75 and EP335 efficiently reduces viable cell counts of Escherichia coli O157 on beef and vegetables.

Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are common etiological agents of food borne illnesses and outbreaks, most often caused by consuming contaminated beef products, followed by raw vegetables and dairy products. Patients infected with E. coli O157 are more likely hospitalized than patients infected with non-O157 STEC, making E.

Complete Genome Sequences of Escherichia coli Phages vB_EcoM-EP75 and vB_EcoP-EP335.

Phages vB_EcoM-EP75 (EP75) and vB_EcoP-EP335 (EP335) specifically infect Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing (STEC) O157 strains. EP75 has a genome size of 158,143 bp and belongs to the genus The genome size of EP335 is 76,622 bp, and it belongs to the genus .

Phages of Listeria offer novel tools for diagnostics and biocontrol.

Historically, bacteriophages infecting their hosts have perhaps been best known and even notorious for being a nuisance in dairy-fermentation processes. However, with the rapid progress in molecular microbiology and microbial ecology, a new dawn has risen for phages. This review will provide an overview on possible uses and applications of Listeria phages, including phage-typing, reporter phage for bacterial diagnostics, and use of phage as biocontrol agents for food safety.

Genome Sequence of Salmonella bongori Strain N268-08 [corrected].

Salmonella bongori is a close relative of the highly virulent members of S. enterica subspecies enterica, encompassing more than 2,500 serovars, most of which cause human salmonellosis, one of the leading food-borne illnesses. S.

Long tail fibres of the novel broad-host-range T-even bacteriophage S16 specifically recognize Salmonella OmpC.

We report isolation and characterization of the novel T4-like Salmonella bacteriophage vB_SenM-S16. S16 features a T-even morphology and a highly modified 160 kbp dsDNA genome with 36.9 mol % G+C, containing 269 putative coding sequences and three tRNA genes.

Reporter bacteriophage A511::celB transduces a hyperthermostable glycosidase from Pyrococcus furiosus for rapid and simple detection of viable Listeria cells.

Reporter bacteriophages for detection of pathogenic bacteria offer fast and sensitive screening for live bacterial targets. We present a novel strategy employing a gene encoding a hyperthermophilic enzyme, permitting the use of various substrates and assay formats. The celB gene from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus specifying an extremely thermostable β-glycosidase was inserted into the genome of the broad host range, virulent Listeria phage A511 by homologous recombination.

Reduction of Listeria monocytogenes on the surface of fresh channel catfish fillets by bacteriophage Listex P100.

Bacteriophage Listex P100 (phage P100) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.

Bacteriophage for biocontrol of foodborne pathogens: calculations and considerations.

The use of phage or phage products in food production has recently become an option for the food industry as a novel method for biocontrol of unwanted pathogens, enhancing the safety of especially fresh and ready-to-eat food products. While it can be expected that many more phage products currently under development might become available in the future, several questions may be raised concerning the use of such products, regarding both immediate and long-term efficacy, consumer safety, and application methods. The available evidence suggests that, with a few caveats, safety concerns have been satisfactorily addressed.

PEGylation of bacteriophages increases blood circulation time and reduces T-helper type 1 immune response.

The increasing occurrence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is of growing concern, and must be counteracted by alternative antimicrobial treatments. Bacteriophages represent the natural enemies of bacteria. However, the strong immune response following application of phages and rapid clearance from the blood stream are hurdles which need to be overcome.

Application of bacteriophages for detection and control of foodborne pathogens.

The incidence of foodborne infectious diseases is stable or has even increased in many countries. Consequently, our awareness regarding hygiene measures in food production has also increased dramatically over the last decades. However, even today's modern production techniques and intensive food-monitoring programs have not been able to effectively control the problem.

Augmentation of the antimicrobial efficacy of antibiotics by filamentous phage.

A significant increase in sensitivity to several antibiotics was observed in vitro after infection of the two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains O1 and K with the filamentous phage Pf3 and Pf1, respectively. Moreover, upon infection with phage Pf1 a P. aeruginosa K strain harboring a plasmid-borne gentamicin resistance gene could be resensitized to the antibiotic.

Therapy of experimental pseudomonas infections with a nonreplicating genetically modified phage.

Bacteriophage therapy of bacterial infections has received renewed attention owing to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. A side effect of many antibiotics as well as of phage therapy with lytic phage is the release of cell wall components, e.g.

Reduced virulence of a hfq mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa O1.

The Sm-like protein Hfq has been implicated in the regulation of sigmaS-dependent and sigmaS-independent genes in E. coli and in the regulation of virulence factors in both, Yersinia enterocolitica and Brucella abortus. Here, we have studied the effect of Hfq on virulence and stress response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1).