IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,492,421
Granted Patent B2
US 12,492,421 · App. 18/350,263 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Devices and methods for detecting microorganisms using recombinant reproduction-deficient indicator bacteriophage

Inventors: Stephen Erickson (White Bear Township, MN); Jose S. Gil (Winnetka, CA); Minh Mindy Bao Nguyen (Shoreview, MN); Wendy S. Hahn (Hugo, MN)
Assignee: Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
C12Q1/10C12N7/00C12Q1/66C12N2795/00021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,492,421
App. No.
18/350,263
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions, methods, kits and systems for rapid detection of microorganisms using a reproduction-deficient indicator bacteriophage. The specificity of such reproduction-deficient indicator bacteriophage for binding and infecting particular microorganisms of interest allows targeted and sensitive detection of a microorganism of interest.

Claims (26)

1 . A method of detecting at least two microorganisms of interest in a sample, comprising:

incubating a sample with at least two recombinant phages, each comprising an indicator gene in a late gene region of genome of the phage, wherein the recombinant phages are reproduction-deficient, and wherein the recombinant phages are capable of specifically infecting one or more microorganism of interest; and,

detecting products of the indicator genes, wherein positive detection of the products of the indicator genes indicates that the microorganisms of interest are present in the sample.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two recombinant phages comprise a different indicator gene.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two recombinant phages are capable of specifically infecting a different microorganism of interest.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two recombinant phages are capable of infecting a plurality of microorganisms of interest.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganisms of interest comprises at least one of E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria , and Staphylococcus.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of the microorganisms of interest comprises at least two different categories of bacteria.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least two different categories of bacteria comprise one or more of at least two different genera of bacteria, at least two different species of bacteria, at least two different strains of bacteria, or at least two different serotypes of bacteria.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a food, environmental, water, or commercial sample.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method detects as few as 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 microorganisms in the sample.

10 . A kit for detecting at least two microorganisms of interest in a sample comprising:

at least two recombinant phages, each comprising an indicator gene in a late gene region of genome of the phage, wherein the recombinant phages are reproduction-deficient, and wherein the recombinant phages are capable of specifically infecting one or more microorganism of interest; and

a substrate for reacting with products of the indicator genes to detect the products of the indicator genes.

11 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two recombinant phages comprise a different indicator gene.

12 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two recombinant phages are capable of specifically infecting a different microorganism of interest.

13 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein the at least two recombinant phages are capable of infecting a plurality of microorganisms of interest.

14 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein the microorganism of interest comprises at least one of E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria , and Staphylococcus.

15 . The kit of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of the microorganisms of interest comprises at least two different categories of bacteria.

16 . The kit of claim 15 , wherein the at least two different categories of bacteria comprise one or more of at least two different genera of bacteria, at least two different species of bacteria, at least two different strains of bacteria or at least two different serotypes of bacteria.

17 . A system for detecting at least two microorganisms of interest comprising:

at least two recombinant phages, each comprising an indicator gene in a late gene region of genome of the phage, wherein the recombinant phages are reproduction-deficient, and wherein the recombinant phages are capable of specifically infecting one or more microorganism of interest; and

components for detecting the products of the indicator genes.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein each of the at least two recombinant phages comprise a different indicator gene.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein each of the at least two recombinant phages are capable of specifically infecting a different microorganism of interest, wherein the different microorganism of interest comprises a different genera of bacteria, a different species of bacteria, a different strain of bacteria, or a different serotype of bacteria.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the microorganisms of interest comprise at least one of E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria , and Staphylococcus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: ERICKSON, STEPHEN; GIL, JOSE S.; NGUYEN, MINH MINDY BAO; HAHN, WENDY S.
To: LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
Reel/Frame 071579/0763 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17003493 · Aug 26, 2020
Provisional Application 62891701 · Aug 26, 2019
Related Publication 20230348952A1 · Nov 2, 2023
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