Control of microorganisms in microbial communities
AssigneeSyngulon SA
InventorPhilippe Gabant
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Abstract
Methods of producing a secreted antimicrobial peptide in a microbial community are described. The method can comprise administering a nucleic acid to at least one of the desired microbial organisms of the microbial community in situ. The genetically modified desired microbial organism secretes the antimicrobial peptide. Microbial communities are described.
Claims34
A method of producing a secreted antimicrobial peptide in a microbial community in situ, the method comprising:
- identifying desired microbial organisms as members of the microbial community;
- administering a nucleic acid to at least one of the desired microbial organisms of the microbial community in situ, wherein the nucleic acid encodes an antimicrobial peptide that does not kill or arrest the reproduction of the identified desired microbial organisms,
- whereby the at least one desired microbial organism is genetically modified to express the antimicrobial peptide;
- and
- allowing the genetically modified desired microbial organism to grow in the microbial community, whereby the genetically modified desired microbial organism secretes the antimicrobial peptide.
The method of any one of claim 1-8, wherein administering the nucleic acid comprises administering two or more different nucleic acids encoding different antimicrobial peptides. The method of any one of claims 8-9, wherein the different antimicrobial peptides are together selected to target an antibiotic-resistant infection.
A microbial community comprising:
- desired microbial organisms, wherein at least one of the desired microbial organisms is genetically modified, comprising a first nucleic acid encoding:
- a first antimicrobial peptide that does not target the desired microbial organisms;
- and
- a secretion signal in-frame to the first antimicrobial peptide;
- and
- a cell-free second nucleic acid having the same sequence as the first nucleic acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.