Recombinant K1E Bacteriophage Rapid Bacterial Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying bacterial strains and determining antibiotic susceptibility are challenging due to slow conventional lab tests, difficulties in culturing fastidious bacteria, and antibiotic resistance, which complicates accurate and timely treatment decisions.
Innovation Solution
Development of recombinant K1E bacteriophages with a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding bioluminescent, fluorescent, or chemiluminescent proteins, allowing for rapid identification of bacterial strains expressing K1 capsule genes and assessment of antibiotic susceptibility by detecting reporter protein expression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional lab tests are used for bacterial identification, then accuracy can be maintained, but the incubation period extends up to several days
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/cultural methods (incubation, visual inspection of colonies) with a biological sensing system using bacteriophages that specifically infect target bacteria and produce detectable signals (luminescence, fluorescence, color change), enabling rapid identification without lengthy incubation periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bacteriophages as intermediary agents that bridge the gap between bacterial presence and detectable signal. The phages act as mediators by specifically binding to and infecting target bacteria, then producing observable signals that indicate bacterial presence and identity, thereby enabling rapid detection
2Measurement precision
If fastidious bacteria are cultured for identification, then accurate strain characterization is possible, but many strains are not amenable to culturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses bacteriophages as intermediaries that can infect and produce signals within bacteria directly in clinical samples without requiring prior culturing. This eliminates the culturing step entirely while maintaining the ability to identify and characterize bacterial strains through phage-mediated signal production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables bacteria to serve themselves by producing detectable signals through phage infection directly in the clinical sample matrix, eliminating the need for external culturing support that fastidious bacteria require. The bacteria's own metabolic machinery is harnessed by the phage to produce the detectable signal
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional methods are used for bacterial identification, then established protocols can be followed, but observable behavior of some strains is not readily distinguishable from others
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different bacteriophage strains with specific host ranges and different reporter gene expressions (luminescent, fluorescent, chromogenic) to differentiate between specific bacterial strains. Each phage-bacteria interaction produces a localized, specific signal that identifies particular strains, enabling precise differentiation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes and other visual signal changes (luminescence, fluorescence) as readable outputs to differentiate bacterial strains. Different phages produce different colored signals or luminescence patterns when infecting specific bacterial strains, making strain differentiation visually apparent and easily distinguishable
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and accurate identification of bacterial strains and determination of antibiotic susceptibility, reducing the time required for treatment decisions and overcoming limitations of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
the reporter protein is a bioluminescent protein
Implementation Method 2
the reporter protein is a fluorescent protein
Implementation Method 3
the reporter protein is a chemiluminescent protein
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides compositions including recombinant K1E bacteriophages, methods for making the same, and uses thereof. The recombinant K1E bacteriophages disclosed herein are useful for the identification and/or antibiotic susceptibility profiling of specific bacterial strains/species present in a sample.