A method of producing novel bacteriophages with expanded host-range and bacteriophages with expanded host ranges are disclosed. The method produces mutant phage strains which are infectious to a second host and can be more infectious to their natural host than in their natural state. The method includes repeatedly passaging a selected phage strain into bacterial cultures that contain varied ratios of its natural host bacterial strain with a bacterial strain that the phage of interest is unable to infect; the target-host. After each passage the resulting phage are purified and screened for activity against the target-host via double-overlay assays. When mutant phages that are shown to infect the target-host are discovered, they are further propagated in culture that contains only the target-host to produce a stock of the resulting mutant phage.

One embodiment provides a commensal gut production platform for ex vivo production of human gut commensal microbiota. Another embodiment provides devices, systems and methods for ex vivo culturing of gut microflora in a system that mimics the human gut environment. The culturing of the commensal microbiota in the disclosed systems produces gut microbiota having defined characteristics and properties that can be exploited to treat various conditions in a subject.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for rapid detection of microorganisms such as Cronobacter spp. in a sample. A genetically modified bacteriophage is also disclosed which comprises an indicator gene in the late gene region. The specificity of the bacteriophage, such as Cronobacter-specific bacteriophage, allows detection of a specific microorganism, such as Cronobacter spp. and an indicator signal may be amplified to optimize assay sensitivity.

One embodiment provides a commensal gut production platform for ex vivo production of human gut commensal microbiota. Another embodiment provides devices, systems and methods for ex vivo culturing of gut microflora in a system that mimics the human gut environment. The culturing of the commensal microbiota in the disclosed systems produces gut microbiota having defined characteristics and properties that can be exploited to treat various conditions in a subject.

One embodiment provides a commensal gut production platform for ex vivo production of human gut commensal microbiota. Another embodiment provides devices, systems and methods for ex vivo culturing of gut microflora in a system that mimics the human gut environment. The culturing of the commensal microbiota in the disclosed systems produces gut microbiota having defined characteristics and properties that can be exploited to treat various conditions in a subject.

One embodiment provides a commensal gut production platform for ex vivo production of human gut commensal microbiota. Another embodiment provides devices, systems and methods for ex vivo culturing of gut microflora in a system that mimics the human gut environment. The culturing of the commensal microbiota in the disclosed systems produces gut microbiota having defined characteristics and properties that can be exploited to treat various conditions in a subject.

One embodiment provides a commensal gut production platform for ex vivo production of human gut commensal microbiota. Another embodiment provides devices, systems and methods for ex vivo culturing of gut microflora in a system that mimics the human gut environment. The culturing of the commensal microbiota in the disclosed systems produces gut microbiota having defined characteristics and properties that can be exploited to treat various conditions in a subject.

Described herein is a protein display selection method which uncouples a protein of interest (POI) library from the display selection system. Display of the POI can be achieved by forming a covalent bond between the POI and the anchor protein post expression either by enzymatic protein ligation (e.g. SpyLigase, SnoopLigase, sortase, butelase, peptiligase etc.) or by spontaneous covalent bond formation (e.g. SpyTag/SpyCatcher, SnoopTag/SnoopCatcher, etc.). The POI library is fused to a tethering sequence, for example SpyTag, at the C-terminus of the POI which then forms a covalent bond to a capture sequence found on an anchor protein, for example, the SpyCatcher-fused anchor protein, e.g., a SpyCatcher-geneIII protein (SpyCatcher-pIII) fusion, for the most common form of phage display. Nucleic acid constructs, host cell systems and methods of producing the protein display systems are also provided.

In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture and kits, and methods, to enrich for and/or isolate microbes such as viruses and/or phages capable of targeting, e.g., binding to, targeting, and/or killing or otherwise making non-viable or non-pathogenic, specific or desired microbes such as bacteria. In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture comprising: a virus and/or a phage (a bacteriophage). In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture and kits containing a virus and/or a phage (a bacteriophage) enriched for, selected for or isolated by a method as provided herein, or a microbe containing a virus and/or a phage (a bacteriophage) enriched, selected for and/or isolated by a method as provided herein.

A method of selectively separating a biological target from a sample including the biological target material or suspected of including the biological target includes the steps of (i) providing a solid including ureide moieties at its surface, (ii) contacting the sample with the solid, whereby a substantial fraction of the biological target in the sample binds to the ureide moieties, and (iii) separating the solid from the sample.