Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biotechnology

Salmonella spp. food and water-borne infections are considered one of the epidemic burdens in developing countries, and considered as an indicator of food and water hygiene. Bacteriophages were used actively in the first decades of the 20th century in order to treat many bacterial infections but its importance decreases upon the discovery of chemical antibiotics. The reemergence of many multidrug-resistant bacterial strains restarts the research interest in this area. This study has been carried out to assess the ability of locally isolated bacteriophages to become efficient bio-control agents and detection tools against Salmonella spp. bacteria. Twenty-eight phages were isolated from environmental samples by enriched culture technique. Some of the isolated phages were characterized by host range analysis, restriction analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and transmission electron microscopy. Selected phage was then used to investigate phage potential for biocontrol of Salmonella in chicken meat and milk. Phage was also used for detection of Salmonella in water using phage amplification technique employing a novel virucidal agent. In conclusion, the results could be used to develop a kit for Salmonella detection and a biocontrol agent for preventing Salmonella contamination in food industry, leading to safer food and water in developing countries

Issued also as CD