Bacteriophages for detection and control of foodborne bacterial pathogens—The case of Bacillus cereus and their phages

Bacillus cereus is among the primary food-poisoning pathogenic bacterium that causes diarrhea and emetic types of diseases throughout the world. Recent advances show that bacteriophages become important tools in detection and control of foodborne bacterial pathogens in foods. They gain the interest of researchers for the food industries mainly because they are host-specific and harmless to humans. Studies showed that bacteriophages could be employed as natural or engineered, whole or part, and temperate or virulent type in designing a range of tools for the detection and control of foodborne bacterial pathogens. This article discusses the recent methods and advances in the utilization strategies of bacteriophages in detection and control of foodborne pathogens, with particular focus on B. cereus pathogen. Moreover, the article presents the latest and relevant information of B. cereus-infecting phages with respect to their potential applications in foods to address food safety issues. It also reflects future research directions by indicating gap of studies on the area.