Abstract: Methods for determining bacterial identity and susceptibility or resistance to antibiotic or antimicrobial agents are provided. In one embodiment, the bacteria is cultured in the presence or absence or the antibiotic agent to generate a plurality of primary cultures, which are then cultured in the presence or absence of transforming phages to generate a first secondary culture that comprise transformed bacteria that have been treated with the antibiotic agent and a second secondary culture that comprises transformed bacteria that have not been treated with the antibiotic agent. The recombinant phages are specific to the bacteria and comprise a heterologous marker. The susceptibility or resistance of the bacteria to the antibiotic or antimicrobial agent is determined by comparing a level or activity of the marker in the first and second secondary cultures.

Abstract: Methods for determining the susceptibility or resistance of bacteria to antibiotic agents are provided. In one embodiment, the methods include culturing the bacteria in the presence or absence or the antimicrobial agent to generate a primary culture which is then cultured in the presence or absence of transforming phages. The recombinant phages are specific to the bacteria and comprise a heterologous marker (e.g., a nucleic acid that is expressible as a detectable product such as an RNA or a protein). The susceptibility or resistance of the bacteria to the antimicrobial agent may be determined by assaying the culture for the presence or absence of the heterologous marker, wherein a reduction in the level or activity of the marker in the culture compared to the level or activity of the marker in a comparative culture indicates that the bacteria is sensitive to the antibiotic agent.

Abstract: Methods for determining bacterial identity and susceptibility or resistance to antibiotic or antimicrobial agents are provided. In one embodiment, the bacteria is cultured in the presence or absence or the antibiotic agent to generate a plurality of primary cultures, which are then cultured in the presence or absence of transforming phages to generate a first secondary culture that comprise transformed bacteria that have been treated with the antibiotic agent and a second secondary culture that comprises transformed bacteria that have not been treated with the antibiotic agent. The recombinant phages are specific to the bacteria and comprise a heterologous marker. The susceptibility or resistance of the bacteria to the antibiotic or antimicrobial agent is determined by comparing a level or activity of the marker in the first and second secondary cultures.