Methods of detecting actively growing host organisms, including bacterial organisms, involving the detection of ribonucleic acid (RNA) products produced by unmodified infectious bioagents that infect the host organisms are provided. Related methods of assessing drug susceptibility and resistance are further provided. In addition to these surrogate detection methods, related reaction mixtures, kits, systems, and microfluidic cards are also provided.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising and methods of producing genetically engineered bacteriophages, bacteriophage-like particles and non-replicating transduction particles (NRTPs) that contain non-native tail fibers that display altered host specificity and/or reactivity. The present invention also relates to methods of using these bacteriophages and NRTPs for the development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and/or research reagents for bacteria-related diseases.

The present disclosure relates generally to bacterial delivery vehicles for use in efficient transfer of a desired payload into a target bacterial cell. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to bacterial delivery vehicles with desired host ranges based on the presence of a chimeric receptor binding protein (RBP) composed of a fusion between the N-terminal region of a RBP derived from a lambda-like bacteriophage and the C-terminal region of a different RBP, and/or the presence of an engineered branched receptor binding multi-subunit polypeptides (branched-RBP).

Bivalent immunogenic compositions against anthrax and plague are disclosed herein. One bivalent immunogenic composition comprises a triple fusion protein containing three antigens, F1 and V from Yersinia pestis and PA antigen from Bacillus anthracis fused in-frame and retaining structural and functional integrity of all three antigens. Another bivalent immunogenic composition comprises bacteriophage nanoparticles arrayed with these three antigens on the capsid surface of the bacteriophage nanoparticles. These bivalent immunogenic compositions are able to elicit robust immune response in a subject administered said the bivalent immunogenic compositions and provide protection to the subject against sequential or simultaneous challenge with both anthrax and plague pathogens.

The invention relates to the improvement of endonuclease-based antimicrobials by blocking DNA repair of double-strand break(s) (DSB(s)) in prokaryotic cells. In this respect, the invention especially concerns a method involving blocking DNA repair after a nucleic acid has been submitted to DSB, in particular by a Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) associated programmable double-strand endonuclease. The invention particularly relates to the use of an exogenous molecule that inhibits DNA repair, preferably a protein that binds to the ends of the double-stranded break to block DSB repair. The invention also relates to vectors, particularly phagemids and plasmids, comprising nucleic acids encoding nucleases and Gam proteins, and a pharmaceutical composition and a product containing these vectors and their application.

The present invention relates to bacteriophage therapy. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel bacteriophages having a high specificity against Staphylococcus aureus strains, their manufacture, components thereof, compositions comprising the same and the uses thereof in phage therapy and as companion diagnostic.

The present invention relates to bacteriophage therapy. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel bacteriophages having a high specificity against Staphylococcus aureus strains, their manufacture, components thereof, compositions comprising the same and the uses thereof in phage therapy and as companion diagnostic.

Methods and systems are provided for packaging reporter nucleic acid molecules into non-replicative transduction particles for use as reporter molecules. The non-replicative transduction particles can be constructed from viruses and use viral transduction and replication systems. The reporter nucleic acid molecules include a reporter gene, such as a reporter molecule or selectable marker, for detecting target genes or cells. Methods and systems are provided for detection of cells and target nucleic acid molecules using the non-replicative transduction particles as reporter molecules.

The present invention relates to the field of antimicrobial agents. In particular, the present invention relates to polypeptides comprising the sequence of a peptidoglycan hydrolase and a peptide sequence heterologous to the peptidoglycan hydrolase wherein said heterologous peptide sequence comprises a specific sequence motif which is 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 amino acids in length. The present invention relates also to corresponding nucleic acids, vectors, bacteriophages, host cells, compositions and kits. The present inventions also relates to the use of said polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors, bacteriophages, host cells, compositions and kits in methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy or in diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body. The polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors, bacteriophages, host cells, compositions and kits according to the invention may also be used as an antimicrobial in, e.g., food or feed, in cosmetics, or as disinfecting agent.

The present invention relates to bacteriophage therapy. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel bacteriophages having a high specificity against Escherichia coli strains, their manufacture, components thereof, compositions comprising the same and the uses thereof in phage therapy.