Compositions and methods for non-antibiotic treating of bacterial infections by blocking or disrupting bacterial genes involved in virulence or viability

Abstract

Provided are modified Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity islands of a variety of types and origins. The pathogenicity island are characterized as having a polynucleotide comprising a bacterial pathogenicity island nucleotide sequence (a “B-PINS”) that contains one or more modifications (“modified B-PINS”), that include i) a deletion or disruption of at least one virulence determinant of the B-PINS; and ii) an insertion of at least one cargo sequence. The polynucleotide are capable of being packaged within a bacterium into a phage-like particle that comprises a bacteriophage capsid, tail and tail fiber proteins in the form of an antibacterial drone (“ABD”). The ABD is capable of infecting bacteria such that at least one cargo sequence is introduced into bacteria infected by the ABD. Pharmaceutical and other compositions the ABDs are also included. Bacteria that make the ABDs are provided, as are isolated and/or purified ABDs. Methods of killing or otherwise modifying bacteria using the ABDs are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.