With antibiotic resistance on the rise, bacterial contamination of food is becoming more problematic. ###Scientists report that they have developed an antibacterial ‘sugar-glass’ coating in which viruses that destrliquid magnesium laxativeoy bacteria are embedded and are kept stable for up to three months, according to in a study in American Chemimagnesium citrate for constipation liquidcal Society’s Biomaterials Science & Engineering. ###The coating could someday be used in the food packaging and processing industries to help prevent food-borne illnesses and deaths.###Bacteriophages, also known as ‘phages’, are viruses that infect and kill bacteria. ###Unlike antibiotics, which act like sledgehammers, wipinnow foods magnesiumg out all bacteria, phages specifically target single strains of these germs, leaving beneficial microbes unharmed. ###For example, phages are useful for selectively decontaminating cheese — a food that relies heavily on the presence of beneficial bacteria for its flavor. ###As phages are naturally found on fruits and vegetables and do not affect the odor, taste, safety or appearance of foods, scientists are investigating whether these “bacteria-eaters” could have an expanded role in promoting food safety. ###However, incorporating phages into food packaging has been challenging. ###Drying them out so they can be added to various types of films can kill the viruses. ###Other methods for stabilizing phages are also problematic, requiring special handling or equipment. ###Carlos D.M. Filipe, M. Monsur Ali and collmagnesium citrate what is iteagues sought to find a simple way to stabilize and extend the shelf life of these viruses embeddcalcium citrate 315ed in coatings used on food.###The researchers embedded phages into soluble “sugar glasses” or films made with pullulan, a polysaccharide used to prolong the shelf life of fruits and eggs; trehalose, a sugar used as stabilizing agent in freeze drying; or a combination of two substances. ###They then drop-cast or coated the mixtures onto butcher paper and allowed them to air dry overnight at room temperature. ###Phages embedded in pullulan or trehalose alone lost their antibacterial effects within one or two weeks. ###Those embedded within the combined pullulan-trehalose mixture could still infect bacteria such as Lysteria monocytogenes up to three months later. ###They conclude that the pullulan-trehalose combination had a synergistic effect on bacteriophage stability and is a promising, simple method for protecting food from bacterial contamination. ###The authors acknowledge funding from the National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada, Grand Challenges Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (Ontario).