Rapid and sensitive detection of Yersinia pestis using amplification of plague diagnostic bacteriophages monitored by real-time PCR

Phage-based detection of bacterial pathogens

Bacterial pathogens cause significant morbidity and mortality annually to both humans and animals. With the rampant spread of drug resistance and the diminishing effectiveness of current antibiotics, there is a pressing need for effective diagnostics for detection of bacterial pathogens and their drug resistances. Bacteriophages offer several unique opportunities for bacterial detection. This review highlights the means by which bacteriophages have been utilized to achieve and facilitate specific bacterial detection.