Recombinant bacteriophage and methods for their use
Recombinant P4 bacteriophage containing modified tail fibers having a base plate attachment region (BPAR) from a P2 bacteriophage gene H product and a heterologous receptor binding domain (RBD) are disclosed. Methods for the use of the recombinant P4 bacteriophage, such as to detect the presence of a target bacterium in a sample, are also described.
1. A recombinant P4 bacteriophage comprising, a recombinant P4 bacteriophage genome comprising an engineered tail fiber gene, wherein the engineered tail fiber gene comprises a polynucleotide encoding a base plate attachment region (BPAR) of P2 phage, wherein the BPAR comprises amino acids 1-157 or 1-158 of the P2 bacteriophage gene H product, and a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a receptor binding domain (RBD).
2. The recombinant P4 bacteriophage of claim 1 , further comprising an antibiotic resistance gene.
3. The recombinant P4 bacteriophage of claim 1 , wherein the BPAR comprises amino acids 1-158 of the P2 bacteriophage gene H product.
4. The recombinant P4 bacteriophage of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide is from an L-413c, PS 17, BPP-1, CTX, VHML, CUS3, epsilon 15 HK620, sf6, ST64T, phiV10 phage, or encodes a tail spike-like protein.
5. The recombinant P4 bacteriophage of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes about 347 to 755 amino acids in length of the C-terminus of the RBD.
6. The recombinant P4 bacteriophage of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes amino acids 204-875, 211-875 or 217-875 from SEQ ID NO:60.
7. The recombinant bacteriophage of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant P4 genome further comprises a second engineered tail fiber gene, and wherein the second engineered tail fiber gene comprises a polynucleotide encoding a base plate attachment region (BPAR) of a P2 phage, wherein the BPAR comprises amino acids 1-157 or 1-158 of the P2 bacteriophage gene H product, and a second, different, heterologous polynucleotide encoding a receptor binding domain (RBD), wherein the second engineered tail fiber encoded thereby has a different binding specificity than the first engineered tail fiber.
8. The recombinant P4 bacteriophage of claim 7 , wherein the recombinant P4 bacteriophage is multivalent and binds more than one targeted receptor.
9. A mixture of the bacteriophage of claim 1 and a second bacteriophage that comprises a second engineered tail fiber gene, wherein the second engineered tail fiber gene comprises a polynucleotide encoding a base plate attachment region (BPAR) of a P2 phage, wherein the BPAR comprises amino acids 1-157 or 1-158 of the P2 bacteriophage gene H product, and a second, different, heterologous polynucleotide encoding a receptor binding domain (RBD), wherein the second engineered tail fiber encoded thereby has a different binding specificity than the engineered tail fiber of the first bacteriophage.
10. A bacteriophage library comprising a plurality of recombinant P4 bacteriophage members, wherein each member of the library comprises a recombinant P4 bacteriophage genome comprising an engineered tail fiber gene, wherein the engineered tail fiber gene comprises a polynucleotide encoding a base plate attachment region (BPAR) of a P2 phage, wherein the BPAR comprises amino acids 1-157 or 1-158 of the P2 bacteriophage gene H product, and a heterologous polynucleotide.
11. The library of claim 10 , wherein the BPAR comprises amino acids 1-158 of SEQ ID NO:25.
12. The library of claim 10 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes a receptor binding domain (RBD).
13. The library of claim 10 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide is from an L-413c, PS 17, BPP-1, CTX, VHML, CUS3, epsilon 15 HK620, sf6, ST64T, phiV10 phage, or encodes a tail spike-like protein.
14. The library of 10 , wherein the members further comprise an antibiotic resistance gene.
15. The library of claim 12 , wherein the receptor binding domain is a protein that binds and degrades cell surface structures.
16. The library of claim 15 , wherein the protein that binds and degrades cell surface structures is an enzyme.
17. A nucleic acid molecule comprising a recombinant P4 bacteriophage genome comprising an engineered tail fiber gene, wherein the engineered tail fiber gene comprises a polynucleotide encoding a base plate attachment region (BPAR) of a P2 phage, wherein the BPAR comprises amino acids 1-157 or 1-158 of the P2 bacteriophage gene H product, and a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a receptor binding domain (RBD).
18. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 17 , further comprising an antibiotic resistance gene.
19. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 17 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide is from an L-413c, PS 17, BPP-1, CTX, VHML, CUS3, epsilon 15 HK620, sf6, ST64T, phiV10 phage, or encodes a tail spike-like protein.
20. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 17 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide comprises amino acids 204-875, 211-875 or 217-875 from SEQ ID NO:60.
21. A method for detecting a target bacterium in a sample comprising,
contacting a sample suspected of containing a target bacterium with the recombinant P4 bacteriophage of claim 1 , wherein the receptor binding domain binds to the target bacterium, and wherein the recombinant bacteriophage further comprises a gene encoding resistance to an antibiotic to which the target bacterium is sensitive;
culturing the sample and the recombinant P4 bacteriophage; and
detecting the presence of the target bacterium in the sample by detection of growth of the target bacterium in the presence of the antibiotic.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide is from an L-413c, PS 17, BPP-1, CTX, VHML, CUS3, epsilon 15 HK620, sf6, ST64T, or phiV10 phage, or encodes a tail spike-like protein.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes about 347 to 755 amino acids in length of the C-terminus of the RBD.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes amino acids 204-875, 211-875 or 217-875 from SEQ ID NO:60.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the recombinant P4 genome further comprises a second engineered tail fiber gene, wherein the second engineered tail fiber gene comprising a second, different, heterologous polynucleotide encoding a receptor binding domain (RBD).
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the recombinant P4 bacteriophage is multivalent and binds more than one targeted receptor.