The inventive technology may include novel systems for regulation of the expression of bacterial genes through the introduction of antisense RNA (asRNA) that may disrupt expression of targeted pathogenic genes and/or their products (mRNA, proteins). In some embodiments, the inventive technology may include novel genetically engineered donor bacterial strains that are configured to efficiently and continuously deliver asRNA polynucleotides to a recipient pathogen and downregulate expression or one or more essential genes.