Industrial Phage Development Services

Background

The rise of antimicrobial resistance has driven demand for alternative microbial control strategies across multiple industries. Bacteriophages, or phages—viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria—offer a highly selective, sustainable, and scalable approach to microbial biocontrol. Industrial applications for phage technology span food processing, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater treatment.

Industrial Applications of Phages

• Food Processing: Phages are used to target and eliminate foodborne pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli on raw and processed foods. Their precision helps enhance food safety without altering taste, texture, or microbiome balance.
• Pharmaceuticals: In the pharmaceutical industry, phages are explored for both therapeutic use and bioprocess control. They serve as precision tools in phage therapy and as agents to prevent or manage bacterial contamination during drug manufacturing.
• Wastewater Treatment: Phages are being investigated as targeted tools to control harmful bacteria in wastewater systems. They can help reduce biofilm formation, improve sludge management, and lower the reliance on chemical disinfectants, supporting greener treatment strategies.
• Waste Management: Phages are applied to selectively reduce harmful bacteria in waste streams, including in wastewater treatment plants and solid waste systems. They help control biofilm formation, minimize odor and sludge buildup, and offer a sustainable alternative to chemical disinfectants.
• Facility Sanitation: Phages are used to specifically target and eliminate bacterial contaminants on equipment and surfaces in production environments. Their precision reduces the risk of cross-contamination, complements traditional cleaning methods, and supports safer, chemical-free sanitation protocols.

Creative BioMart Microbe offers industrial phage development services, which are designed to help organizations harness the power of phages with precision and efficiency. Whether you aim to replace chemical antimicrobials, target specific pathogens, or develop proprietary biocontrol formulations, our tailored solutions guide you from concept to implementation. Contact us for more information.

Service Procedure

Service Details

• Target Pathogen Profiling: We begin with the identification of target bacterial contaminants in industrial settings through environmental sampling, strain isolation, and microbial profiling. Feasibility studies are conducted to determine phage sensitivity and define project scope.
• Phage Discovery & Screening: Using targeted host strains, we isolate and screen lytic phages from environmental sources. High-throughput assays are employed to select phages with high efficacy, broad host range (or specificity where needed), and strong biofilm-disrupting capabilities.
• Characterization & Quality Assessment: Selected phages are extensively characterized through genomic sequencing, host range testing, and thermal/pH stability profiling. Safety assessment ensures absence of lysogenic genes, toxins, or undesirable traits, in line with industrial safety and regulatory standards.
• Formulation Development: Phages are formulated into stable, user-friendly formats suitable for industrial use, such as liquid concentrates, sprays, coatings, or surface wipes. Formulations are optimized for shelf stability, delivery method, and compatibility with process conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, materials).
• Pilot-Scale Testing & Process Integration: Customized pilot studies are conducted within simulated or operational environments to evaluate real-world performance. Application protocols are developed for integration into existing sanitation, processing, or waste management systems.
• Regulatory & Commercial Support: We provide technical documentation, risk assessments, and regulatory guidance to facilitate product registration and market launch. Our team also supports intellectual property strategy, partner engagement, and scale-up planning.

Applications Supported

Food & Beverage Processing Control of bacterial contamination on surfaces, in water lines, and equipment	Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Manufacturing Biofilm management and cleanroom hygiene solutions	Industrial Water Systems Phage-based treatment of biofouling bacteria in cooling towers and water circuits	Waste Management Reduction of odor-causing and pathogenic bacteria in waste streams	Facility Sanitation Development of surface disinfectants and cleaning agents with phage activity

Our Advantages

• Targeted Solutions: We develop phage formulations that precisely match your microbial control goals with strain-specific targeting.
• Customizable Workflow: Our modular approach adapts to any stage of your development cycle, from R&D to product launch.
• Broad Environmental Sampling: Access to global phage sources increases diversity and chances of isolating potent candidates for resistant or niche pathogens.
• Advanced Screening Platforms: High-throughput systems ensure rapid, data-driven selection of high-efficacy phage candidates.
• Regulatory Expertise: Our team understands the regulatory pathways for phage applications in food, agriculture, and health-related sectors.
• Quality and Safety Focused: Every candidate is screened for lysogenicity, endotoxins, and undesired genetic elements to meet safety standards.
• Industry-Tested Protocols: Proven SOPs and validation protocols ensure performance, reproducibility, and industrial readiness.

Case Study

Case Study 1: Degradation of Listeria monocytogenes biofilm by phages belonging to the genus Pecentumvirus.

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen known for forming resilient biofilms that resist common sanitizers and environmental stresses in food processing environments. This persistence contributes to frequent food contamination and recalls. Lytic bacteriophages offer a potential solution due to their broad activity against Listeria spp. In this study, nine Listeria phages were screened for host range and anti-biofilm activity, with phage CKA15 showing the most promise. Under simulated dairy processing conditions, CKA15 achieved a 2-log reduction in L. monocytogenes biofilms, highlighting its potential as an effective bio sanitation tool.

Figure 1. Biofilm viability assay result for phages with varying degrees of efficacy at degrading viability of Lm19111 biofilms. (A) CKA8, (B) CKA14, and (C) CKA15. Initial phage titers ranged from 8 to 5 log PFU/mL, with increments of 1 log PFU/mL. Red color is indicative of the presence of respiring Lm19111 causing reduction of tetrazolium. Biofilm cultivation and phage treatment were performed as for crystal violet assay. (Cucić et al., 2024)

Case Study 2: Effects of phage cocktail, probiotics, and their combination on growth performance and gut microbiota of broiler chickens.

This study explored the combined use of bacteriophage cocktails and probiotics as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry farming. While probiotics alone have shown benefits, their effectiveness can be limited by competition with existing gut microbes. By pairing probiotics with phages, researchers observed improved growth performance and enhanced gut microbiota diversity in chickens. The findings highlight the potential of phage-probiotic combinations as a viable and optimized alternative to AGPs in commercial poultry production.

Figure 2. Structure of gut microbiota supplemented with different dietary treatments in ilea of 35-day old chickens investigated using the canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) of the Bray–Curtis similarity index. Treatments: C = control (basal diet); 1ϕ = BD + 1 g/kg phage cocktail; 2ϕ = BD + 2 g/kg phage cocktail; P = BD + 1 g/kg probiotic; 1ϕP =BD + 1 g/kg phage cocktail + 1 g/kg probiotic; 2ϕP = BD + 2 g/kg phage cocktail + 1 g/kg probiotic. (Shaufi et al., 2023)

FAQs

References:

1. Cucić S, Ells T, Guri A, Kropinski AM, Khursigara CM, Anany H. Degradation of Listeria monocytogenes biofilm by phages belonging to the genus Pecentumvirus. Dozois CM, ed. Appl Environ Microbiol. Published online February 5, 2024:e01062-23. doi:10.1128/aem.01062-23
2. De Melo AG, Levesque S, Moineau S. Phages as friends and enemies in food processing. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 2018;49:185-190. doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2017.09.004
3. Shaufi MAM, Sieo CC, Chong CW, et al. Effects of phage cocktail, probiotics, and their combination on growth performance and gut microbiota of broiler chickens. Animals. 2023;13(8):1328. doi:10.3390/ani13081328