Abstract
Lytic Campylobacter phages, which can be used to combat this pathogen in animals and on food products, have been studied for more than 30 years. Though, due to some peculiarities of the phages, which hampered their isolation and particularly their molecular analysis for a long time, progress in this research field was rather slow. Meanwhile, the situation has changed and much more is known about the biology and genetics of those phages. In this article, we address specific issues that should be considered when Campylobacter phages are studied, starting with the isolation and propagation of the phages and ending with a thorough characterization including whole-genome sequencing. The basis for advice and recommendations given here is a careful review of the scientific literature and experiences that we have had ourselves with Campylobacter phages.
Highlights
Campylobacteriosis is one of the most frequently reported foodborne illnesses in humans [1]
Lytic Campylobacter phages, which can be used to combat this pathogen in animals and on food products, have been studied for more than 30 years
We address specific issues that should be considered when Campylobacter phages are studied, starting with the isolation and propagation of the phages and ending with a thorough characterization including whole-genome sequencing
Summary
Campylobacteriosis is one of the most frequently reported foodborne illnesses in humans [1]. There are some older reports on siphoviruses infecting Campylobacter, but little information on these phages is available [30,31] According to their genome size and morphology, lytic Campylobacter phages have been divided into three groups [21]. The successive application of a group III and a group II phage reduced the numbers of C. jejuni in chickens most efficiently [15]. Some aspects important for Campylobacter phage research and application have already been discussed by others [47,48,49] These papers provide some general information and protocols on the isolation, propagation, and characterization (i.e., host range determination, protein profiling, receptor type identification, Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis) of Campylobacter phages as well as on the use of the phages in live birds and food. Due to new insights into this subject and experiences in our laboratory, this article gives additional information on what should be noted and reviews some issues, which have not yet been considered (e.g., propagation of the phages in liquid cultures, strategies for the isolation and sequencing of the phage DNA)
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