Bacteriophage: Against Bacterial Infections and Improving Overall Gut Health

Authors: Sunil Kumar; Praveen Saini; Gunjan Thakur; Shubhra Shekhar; Kaushal Kishor Prasad; Amit Rai; Kamlesh Prasad

Book: Transforming Food Analysis and Control: Non-Destructive Technologies and Innovations

Editors: K. Prasad, S. Shekhar, M. K. Paswan, and R. Ahuja

Publisher: SLIET Longowal

Publication year: 2026

Publication date: 2026-07-20

ISBN: 978-81-990304-1-1 (e-book); 978-81-990304-0-4 (hardback)

Chapter pages: 1–46

DOI: To be added after DOI registration.

Abstract

Bacterial infections, mainly caused by enterobacteria in livestock, poultry, and humans, are the leading cause of illness and mortality worldwide. Bacteriophages are bacterial-infecting viruses that interact dynamically with bacteria and mammalian cells, thereby greatly influencing human health. Despite the vast reservoirs of bacteriophages in the human body, their potential to treat bacterial diseases has been undermined by the widespread use of antibiotics for many years. Despite the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and our growing understanding of the gut microbiota’s significance for health, the exploitation of bacteriophages is making a comeback. Considering the recent trend, the article comprehensively summarizes bacteriophages, their classification, mechanisms of action, comparisons with antibiotics, and some important studies related to phage therapy. Their applications against bacterial infections (e.g., Tuberculosis) and for improving gut health (e.g., Inflammatory Bowel Disease) are also discussed. Also, some novel applications of bacteriophages, such as gene and vaccine delivery, bacterial detection (phage typing), immunomodulation, and use in the food industry, are covered. With the expanding scope of phage therapy, the present review underscores the need to exploit it further and overcome its limitations, thereby improving human health.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Gene regulation; Immunomodulation; Opsonization; Phage typing; Tuberculosis

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