Methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing a bacterial infection in a subject are provided, in which the subject is administered a fecal sample obtained from a donor subject via fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The fecal sample contains bacteriophages that target the bacteria causing the infection. In some embodiments, the fecal sample containing the bacteriophages can be obtained from a donor subject who previously had the same infection but is now cured.

A method of treating, reducing or preventing bacterial infection in a wound, the method comprising: applying a film on the wound, the film including a biodegradable polymer with bacteriophages dispersed therein, wherein the polymer is a poly (ester amide urea).

The present invention concerns a production bacterial cell for producing phage particles or phage-derived delivery vehicles, said production bacterial cell stably comprising at least one phage structural gene(s) and at least one phage DNA packaging gene(s), said phage structural gene(s) and phage DNA packaging gene(s) being derived from a first type of bacteriophage, wherein the expression of at least one of said phage structural gene(s) and/or at least one of said phage DNA packaging gene(s) in said production bacterial cell is controlled by at least one induction mechanism, and wherein said production bacterial cell is from a bacterial species or strain different from the bacterial species or strain from which said first type of bacteriophage comes and/or that said first type of bacteriophage targets.

Described herein are compositions for treating or preventing a viral infection comprising bacteriophages that bind to the virus and block or inhibit viral entry into a host cell. Bacteriophage libraries may be screened to identify bacteriophages that bind to a virus of interest, and the identified bacteriophages may be used to treat or prevent an infection caused by the virus of interest. Also described herein are methods of treating or preventing a viral infection by administering a bacteriophage composition to a subject in vivo or to a surface in vitro. The bacteriophages in the composition may bind to the virus and inhibit viral entry into a host cell, thereby reducing the infectivity of the virus. Reducing the infectivity of the virus may treat or prevent the viral infection.

The present invention concerns a production bacterial cell for producing lytic phage particles or lytic phage-derived delivery vehicles, said production bacterial cell stably comprising at least one phage structural genes and at least one phage DNA packaging genes, said phage structural gene(s) and phage DNA packaging gene(s) being derived from a lytic bacteriophage, wherein the expression of at least one of said phage structural genes and/or at least one of said phage DNA packaging gene(s) in said production bacterial cell is controlled by an induction mechanism.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for killing a target bacterium. Also disclosed are engineered bacteriophages.

The present invention provides a gene including an M13 p5 expressing cassette, which includes a promoter, a ribosome binding site (RBS) and a protein 5 (p5) coding region, wherein at least one base of sequences between the RBS and the p5 coding region is mutated. Using this gene may increase production of single-stranded DNA.

In alternative embodiments, provided are compositions, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods, for purifying bacteriophage. Provided herein is are practicable methods, or protocols, that are “Good Laboratory Manufacturing Practice” (GLMP), for phage isolation, selection, liter-scaled cultivation, and purification. In alternative embodiments, GLMP protocols as provided herein employ membrane filtration processes to yield at least about 300 treatment doses at about 10.sup.9 plaque-forming units with endotoxin levels within human therapeutic regulatory limits. In alternative embodiments, provided are formulations or pharmaceutical preparations of bacteriophage comprising 10.sup.9 PFU, 10.sup.10 PFU, 10.sup.11 PFU, or 10.sup.12 PFU or more per unit dose and endotoxin levels below about 5.5 EU.Math.mL.sup.−1, or below about 5.0 EU.Math.mL.sup.−1.

There is disclosed a method of engineering bacteriophages comprising: identifying a bacteriophage with only one attachment gene; isolating said bacteriophage; removing said attachment gene from the genome of said bacteriophage; and inserting a non-natural attachment gene into the genome of said bacteriophage wherein said non-natural attachment gene is specific for attaching to a selected bacteria. There is also disclosed a mutant bacteriophage comprising a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding a first specific attachment gene, the first specific attachment gene being different than an inactivated attachment gene and being specific for a selected bacteria. In another embodiment, there is disclosed a method of eliminating a microbial contaminant, the method comprising: obtaining one or more lytic enzymes produced by a mutant bacteriophage; applying the one or more lytic enzymes to a bacterial contaminant, without prior infection of the bacterial contaminant with a bacteriophage, to eliminate the bacterial contaminant.

One aspect of the invention provides a method of generating bacteriophages adapted to infect a target bacterial strain. The method comprises: providing host bacteria that are susceptible to phage as input to a host chemostat containing phage; providing target bacteria that are related to the host bacteria, but not susceptible to phage as input to a target chemostat containing phage; filtering outflows from the host chemostat and the target chemostat to isolate phage from the populations of the host bacteria, the target bacteria, and macromolecules; combining the outflows; and introducing the combined outflow into each of the host chemostat and the target chemostat.