Zhongqi Wu

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Pathogens, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 2   doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0006
Received: 05 Jan., 2024    Accepted: 18 Feb., 2024    Published: 11 Mar., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Wu Z.Q., 2024, Microbial predators: a new frontier in disease management, Molecular Pathogens, 15(2): 50-60 (doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0006)

Microbial predators play a critical role in disease management by naturally targeting and eliminating pathogenic microorganisms. This study comprehensively examines various types of microbial predators, including bacterial, fungal, and protist predators, and their mechanisms of predation, such as attachment and invasion, secretion of lytic enzymes, and consumption and digestion of prey. It emphasizes the significant impact of microbial predators in targeting pathogenic bacteria, controlling fungal infections, and their applications in agriculture and medicine. This study also discusses the advantages of microbial predators over traditional methods, potential challenges, and strategies to overcome these limitations. By showcasing successful case studies in agriculture, medicine, and environmental fields, it illustrates the practical benefits and effectiveness of microbial predators. This study outlines future research and development needs, technological innovations, and the integration of microbial predators with other disease management strategies. The findings underscore the importance of microbial predators in disease management and provide recommendations for future research to enhance their efficacy and application.

Microbial predators; Disease management; Bacterial predation; Fungal control; Agricultural applications