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Bacteriophage as Biocontrol Agents

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Bacteriophages

Abstract

Bacteriophages produce an antibacterial effect, but that does not make them the same thing as conventional chemical antibacterial agents (antibiotics). Despite this, large amounts of time and resources are being spent on putting bacteriophage therapeutics through the established “antibiotic development pathway”. But, at least so far, this approach does not seem to be delivering. The nature of bacteriophages and their relationship to existing biological controls are discussed, supporting the conclusion that bacteriophages need to be used as what they really are – biological control agents targeting bacteria, working in an as yet unproven (if not entirely novel) clinical setting. As such, they have the unique advantages of biological control agents, as well their equally unique limitations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evolution Biotechnologies, Colworth Science Park, Bedford, UK

    David R. Harper

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  1. David R. Harper
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Correspondence to David R. Harper .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Evolution Biotechnologies, Milton Keynes, UK

    David R. Harper

  2. Dept. of Microbiology, The Ohio State University Dept. of Microbiology, Mansfield, OH, USA

    Stephen T. Abedon

  3. GeneWEAVE Biosciences, Roche Molecular Systems GeneWEAVE Biosciences, Los Gatos, AR, USA

    Benjamin H. Burrowes

  4. Evolution Biotechnologies, Milton Keynes, UK

    Malcolm L. McConville

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Harper, D.R. (2020). Bacteriophage as Biocontrol Agents. In: Harper, D.R., Abedon, S.T., Burrowes, B.H., McConville, M.L. (eds) Bacteriophages. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40598-8_10-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40598-8_10-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40598-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40598-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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