Bacteriophage receptors play a crucial role in host recognition and the initiation of bacterial infection, making their characterization essential for understanding bacteriophage–host interactions and advancing novel biotechnological applications. The aim of this bachelor's thesis was to review the structure and function of bacteriophage receptors, the mechanisms underlying receptor recognition, and current methods for their characterization and isolation. The thesis is based on a comprehensive review of scientific literature addressing bacteriophages, bacterial receptors, and receptor-binding proteins. Both polysaccharide and protein receptors and their role in determining host specificity are discussed. The review describes genetic approaches for receptor identification, including the selection of phage-resistant mutants, transposon insertion sequencing, and CRISPR interference, as well as functional adsorption assays, biochemical isolation techniques, and structural methods, particularly cryo-electron microscopy. The reviewed literature demonstrates that modern methodologies enable accurate identification of bacteriophage receptors and provide detailed insight into the molecular interactions between receptors and receptor-binding proteins. This knowledge supports the development of more effective phage therapy, rational design of phage cocktails, rapid diagnostic tools, and novel antimicrobial strategies. Future advances are expected to rely on the integration of high-throughput screening approaches, structural biology, and bioinformatics, further expanding the application of bacteriophages in medicine, veterinary science, and biotechnology.
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