title: Bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents against major pathogens in swine: a review.
abstract: In recent years, the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria has become a global concern which has prompted research into the development of alternative disease control strategies for the swine industry. Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) offer the prospect of a sustainable alternative approach against bacterial pathogens with the flexibility of being applied therapeutically or for biological control purposes. This paper reviews the use of phages as an antimicrobial strategy for controlling critical pathogens including Salmonella and Escherichia coli with an emphasis on the application of phages for improving performance and nutrient digestibility in swine operations as well as in controlling zoonotic human diseases by reducing the bacterial load spread from pork products to humans through the meat.
authors: School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 China ; Ministry of Education Center for Food Safety of Animal Origin, Dalian, 116600 China.
authors: Jiancheng
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 China.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 China ; Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201 China.
authors: Zhenhui
authors: Z
authors: Cao
authors: School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 China.
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 China.
authors: Xiaoyu
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Dalian SEM Bio-Engineering Technology Co. Ltd., Dalian, 116620 China.
authors: Shuying
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 China ; Ministry of Education Center for Food Safety of Animal Origin, Dalian, 116600 China.
authors: Yongping
authors: Y
authors: Xu
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Bacteriophage; Food safety; Phage therapy; Swine