Treating and preventing microbial infections

A method for treating a pathogenic E. coli bacterial infection in a human or animal subject caused by E. coli bacteria (first bacteria) of a first species or strain, the method comprising selectively killing the first bacteria comprised by the subject by cutting a target site comprised by the genomes of the first bacteria, wherein the cutting is carried out using a programmable nuclease,

• wherein the programmable nuclease is programmed to cut the target site,
• wherein the subject is suffering from a further disease or condition other than the pathogenic bacterial infection and the method comprises administering a therapy to the subject for treating or preventing the further disease or condition, wherein the nuclease treats the infection and the therapy is efficacious in the presence of the programmed nuclease to treat or prevent the disease or condition;
• wherein (i) the subject is a cancer patient and the therapy is a cancer therapy, wherein the therapy comprises administration of a haematopoietic stem cell transplant, chemotherapeutic agent, immune checkpoint inhibitor, immune checkpoint agonist or an immune cell enhancer;
• adoptive cell therapy;
• radiation or surgery;
• or wherein (ii) the therapy is a tissue, organ or cell transplant;
• wherein a reduction of the infection by at least 100-fold is maintained for at least 60 minutes after commencement of the treatment;
• and
• wherein the nuclease is a Cas nuclease.