Systems, methods, and compositions for treating or preventing bacterial infection and for reducing or preventing bacterial overpopulation

Abstract

Kits for use in treating or preventing an infection caused by a primary bacterium or for use in reducing or preventing overpopulation of the primary bacterium can include a bystander bacterium having a genomically-encoded bacteriotoxin specific for at least the primary bacterium and a first bacteriophage tropic for the bystander bacterium. The bystander bacterium can be provided as a live culture and infection of the bystander bacterium by the first bacteriophage causes expression of the genomically-encoded bacteriotoxin. Methods of treating or preventing an infection caused by a primary bacterium or for reducing or preventing overpopulation of the primary bacterium can include administering a bacteriophage tropic for a bystander bacterium that has a genomically-encoded bacteriotoxin that is expressed upon infection by the first bacteriophage and is specific for at least the primary bacterium.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.