Journal of Pesticides and Biofertilizers Shilpa Deshpande Kaistha 1* . J Pesticides and Biofertilizers http://doi.org/05.2018/16.10017 Bacteriophages as Biopesticides Shilpa Deshpande Kaistha 1*, Pramila Devi Umrao 1 , Sadhana Singh Sagar 2 1 Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences & Biotechnology, CSJM University, Kanpur, India . 2 Department of Microbiology, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, India . *Corresponding Author: Shilpa Deshpande Kaistha, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences & Biotechnology, CSJM University, Kanpur. Email: shilpakaistha@gmail.com, +91 9839765491 Received date: March 18, 2018; Accepted date : April 02, 2018; Published date: May 23, 2018. Citation this Article: Shilpa Deshpande Kaistha, Pramila Devi Umrao, Sadhana Singh Sagar, Bacteriophages as Biopesticides., , j pesticides and bio fertilizers, Doi : http;//doi.org/05.2018/16.100017. Copyright: © 2018. Shilpa Deshpande Kaistha. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Bacterial phytopathogens are responsible for the devastating loss of economical crop worldwide and tremendous efforts are being made to devise ways of controlling global food loss to pathogens using a myriad of strategies. The use of bacteriophages as biopesticides is gaining popularity due to their several advantages over conventional control measures. Recent developments in nanosciences and bioformulation technology are making it possible to convert laboratory based research efforts into commercial products which can be effective, beneficial and environmental friendly in the agricultural fields. This mini-review examines the recent developments in the field of phage treatments for control of phytopathogens and challenges that need to be circumvented for it to be a preferred therapy option. Keyword Bacteriophages, Phage Treatments, Phytopathogen, Bioformulations, Biocontrol Agents. Introduction Bacteriophages or viruses which specifically target and lyse bacterial cells, have been extensively studied as biocontrol agents since their discovery in the 1915 by Twort and d’Herelle in 1917 [1]. Bacteriophages or phages are nanosize, obligate intracellular lytic agents with high degree of host specificity which makes them ideal for targeting bacterial pathogens [2]. Recent surge in the technological developments in genetic engineering and nanosciences has burgeoned novel applications for phages in the detection and biocontrol of pathogens in clinical medicine, food industry as well as plant diseases [3,4]. Phage bioformulations as biopesticides for protection against plant pathogenic bacterial species causing destructive and economically devastating diseases is being widely explored as a viable option in integrated disease management [5]. Bacteriophages are nanometer size biological entities composed of DNA genome encapsulated in an icosahedral protein coat/capsid classified in the Order Caudovirales [2]. The three main phage families within the Order include family Myoviridae with rigid contractile tails; Podoviridae with short contractile tails and Siphoviridae with flexible long tails. The phages typically infect via its capsid or tail proteins interacting with specific proteins receptors on the host surface. Upon successful host contact, the phage genome is injected into the host cytosol where it commences its productive lifecycle. Phages are typically classified as virulent/lytic phages or lytic and lysogenic/temperate phages. Temperate phage may choose a lysogenic intermediate stage in their life cycle and integrate their genome into host DNA. The Host cells in its subsequent divisions perpetuate the phage genome. Eventually, the phage genome may excise from the host DNA and pursue a productive replication strategy wherein multiple copies of viral genome and outer capsid and structural proteins are synthesized. Several copies of the infectious phage are assembled and eventually host cell is lysed with the release of several virion copies in the environment. Temperate phages are usually not a choice for phage based biocontrol as they may show properties such as superinfection immunity that is the lysogenized host bacteria may show immunity to infection by the same phage type. Additionally, temperate phages may encode for host bacteria virulent factors and must be tested before bing considered as a candidate for phage based biopesticide [6]. Typically hence, isolation and characterization of lytic phages are preferred for the development of biopesticide formulations [5,7]. Phage based biopesticide systems Phage treatments have numerous advantages over conventional phytopathogen control agents. 1) Phages are self replicating and auto dosing agents: The phages thrive on specific hosts and once the host is eliminated, they are automatically self-limited unlike chemical or other cellular biological agents. The number of phages in the environment hence remains regulated due to auto dosing phenomenon. Moreover, due their prokaryotic host specificity they do not affect eukaryotic cells [6]. Auctores Publishing – Volume1-10017 www.auctoresonline.org Page - 01 Review Article Open Access