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: A Soil Absorption System SAS can include at least two elongate water dispersion trenches, channels or slots cut or formed into a surface or the ground, and filled with dispersal media, which can include stone. Each trench can be about 1-6 inches wide, about 4-48 inches deep, and laterally spaced a minimum of about 3-24 inches or about 3-12 inches apart from each other. This arrangement can provide increased lateral water dispersion surface area relative to lateral trench direction.

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.

Abstract: The present application discloses immobilized enzymes and immobilized enzyme materials comprising a crosslinked enzyme having a support material which includes a biomass material different than the biomass used to initially derive the enzyme. Optionally, the immobilized enzyme further includes a polymeric material and/or the biomass which was used to initially derive the enzyme. The resulting immobilized enzyme materials may be biodegradable. The present application also discloses methods of making and using the disclosed immobilized enzyme materials.

Abstract: The present application discloses immobilized enzymes and immobilized enzyme materials comprising a crosslinked enzyme having a support material which includes a biomass material different than the biomass used to initially derive the enzyme. Optionally, the immobilized enzyme further includes a polymeric material and/or the biomass which was used to initially derive the enzyme. The resulting immobilized enzyme materials may be biodegradable. The present application also discloses methods of making and using the disclosed immobilized enzyme materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions, methods, systems and kits for the detection of microorganisms of the Shigella species, including S. flexneri, S. dysenteriae, S. sonnei, and S. boydii. The disclosure relates to recombinant phage operable to infect a S. flexneri microorganism, the phage comprising a detectable reporter. Detection systems of the disclosure may comprise a phage operable to infect a S. flexneri microorganism, and may comprise a reporter nucleic acid expressible upon infection of a S. flexneri microorganism by the phage. The system may be operable to detect the expression of the reporter. A detectable reporter may comprise any gene having bioluminescent, colorimetric and/or visual detectability. Live and infectious S. flexneri microbes may be detected by the compositions, methods, systems and kits described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions, methods, systems and kits for the detection of microorganisms of the Yersinia species including Yersinia pestis. The disclosure relates to recombinant phage operable to infect a Yersinia microorganism, the phage comprising a detectable reporter. Detection systems of the disclosure may comprise a phage operable to infect a Yersinia microorganism, and may comprise a reporter nucleic acid expressible upon infection of a Yersinia microorganism by the phage. The system may be operable to detect the expression of the reporter. A detectable reporter may comprise any gene having bioluminescent, colorimetric and/or visual detectability. For example, a detectable reporter may comprise one or more luxAB genes detectable by emission, enhancement and/or change in spectrum of bioluminescent light. Live and infectious Yersinia microbes may be detected by the compositions, methods, systems and kits described herein.

Abstract: The present application discloses immobilized enzymes and immobilized enzyme materials comprising a crosslinked organophosphate-degrading enzyme having a support material which includes a biomass material and/or a polymeric material. The resulting immobilized enzyme materials may be biodegradable. The present application also discloses methods of making and using the disclosed immobilized organophosphate hydrolase enzyme and enzyme materials.

Abstract: The present application discloses immobilized enzymes and immobilized enzyme materials comprising a crosslinked enzyme having a support material which includes a biomass material different than the biomass used to initially derive the enzyme. Optionally, the immobilized enzyme further includes a polymeric material and/or the biomass which was used to initially derive the enzyme. The resulting immobilized enzyme materials may be biodegradable. The present application also discloses methods of making and using the disclosed immobilized enzyme materials.

Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to the detection of bacterial blight are provided. In one embodiment, a detection system is provided comprising a phage operable to infect a Pseudomonas cannabina and/or Pseudomonas syringae microorganism, the phage comprising a detectable reporter configured and arranged to be expressed upon infection of the microorganism by the phage, wherein the detectable reporter comprises nucleic acid encoding a luxAB gene; and a detector operable to detect expression of the luxAB reporter nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions, methods, systems and kits for the detection of microorganisms of the Yersinia species including Yersinia pestis. The disclosure relates to recombinant phage operable to infect a Yersinia microorganism, the phage comprising a detectable reporter. Detection systems of the disclosure may comprise a phage operable to infect a Yersinia microorganism, and may comprise a reporter nucleic acid expressible upon infection of a Yersinia microorganism by the phage. The system may be operable to detect the expression of the reporter. A detectable reporter may comprise any gene having bioluminescent, colorimetric and/or visual detectability. For example, a detectable reporter may comprise one or more luxAB genes detectable by emission, enhancement and/or change in spectrum of bioluminescent light. Live and infectious Yersinia microbes may be detected by the compositions, methods, systems and kits described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery, identification and characterization of toxic agents which are lethal to pathogens and methods for targeting such toxic agents to a pathogen or pathogen infected cells in order to treat and/or eradicate the infection. In particular, the present invention relates to toxic agents which target bacteria at different stages of the bacterial life cycle, which are delivered alone or in combination to bacteria or bacteria-infected cells. The invention relates to toxic agents which are lethal to diseased cells and methods for targeting such toxic agent to a diseased cell in order to treat and/or eradicate the disease. The present invention relates to promoter elements which are pathogen-specific or tissue-specific and the use of such promoter elements to achieve pathogen-specific or tissue-specific expression of the toxic agent(s) and/or ribozyme(s) of the present invention.