The invention relates to C. acnes carrying DNA vectors with a C. acnes phage packaging signal and a gene of interest. The invention encompasses a C. acnes producer cell carrying DNA vectors, with a C. acnes phage packaging signal and a gene of interest, for the production of phage-derived particles that can robustly transduce C. acnes receiver cell allowing transgene expression. The invention encompasses C. acnes phage-derived particles carrying these vectors, C. acnes containing these vectors or modified by transduction of these phage-derived particles, and methods of using these phage-derived particles.

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 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.

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 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.

The invention relates to C. acnes carrying DNA vectors with a C. acnes phage packaging signal and a gene of interest. The invention encompasses a C. acnes producer cell carrying DNA vectors, with a C. acnes phage packaging signal and a gene of interest, for the production of phage-derived particles that can robustly transduce C. acnes receiver cell allowing transgene expression. The invention encompasses C. acnes phage-derived particles carrying these vectors, C. acnes containing these vectors or modified by transduction of these phage-derived particles, and methods of using these phage-derived particles.

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.

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 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.

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.