Perspectives of biological bacteriophage-based tools for wastewater systems monitoring and sanitary control

Abstract Treatment systems consist of a series of various organisms interacting and playing important ecological roles in water treatment, though some undesirable species can appear, prejudicing the process. The main critical sources of wastewater involve hospitals, clinics, and livestock areas, where zoonotic, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and biofilm can be present. Bacteriophages are viruses capable of controlling bacterial communities and destabilizing biofilms homeostasis. Even though phages were discovered more than 100 ago, only in recent years they have emerged as an alternative against harmful bacteria, primarily due to alarming increase of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. In this context, bacteriophages can be applied as biotechnological tools in control of bacteria and biofilms, as well as serving as important efficiency bioindicators of wastewater treatment systems. This chapter will explore the possibilities of sanitary control utilizing bacteriophages as bioindicators and biocontrollers in wastewater systems. We discuss the advantages and concerns surrounding bacteriophage utilization in environmental open systems.