Abstract: Lamboid bacteriophage capable of specifically interacting with and delivering nucleic acid molecules to eukaryotic cells are disclosed. Such bacteriophage-derived gene transfer systems target one or more specific receptors on eukaryotic cells, for instance by incorporating mutant tail fiber proteins or by incorporating known ligands for specific eukaryotic receptors into lambda phage. Also disclosed are methods for identifying and producing modified bacteriophage tail fiber polypeptides capable of specifically interacting with eukaryotic transmembrane proteins. Methods of treating diseases using such gene transfer systems are also disclosed.