Bacteriophage Genome Editing

Bacteriophages (phages) are a highly diverse class of viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They play an irreplaceable role in biotechnology, antimicrobial therapy, microbiome modulation, and fundamental biological research. Common model and applied phages include the T-series (e.g., T4, T7), lambda phage, M13 phage, and various specific phages targeting pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli.

Each phage type offers unique infection and lysis characteristics tailored to specific applications:

T7 Phage: As a typical lytic phage, T7 is a widely used host for expression and display. Its highly efficient transcription system makes it a cornerstone in recombinant protein expression, phage display technology, and synthetic biology.

lambda Phage: A classic temperate phage with dual regulatory mechanisms (lysogenic and lytic). It is essential for constructing genomic libraries and molecular cloning vectors, as well as studying gene transduction and prokaryotic genetic mechanisms.

Target-Specific Phages: These are vital tools for addressing clinical multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Beyond serving as direct antimicrobial agents, they act as ideal delivery vehicles for CRISPR-Cas systems to precisely intervene in bacterial resistance mechanisms.

Filamentous Phages (e.g., M13): These offer diverse value in nanomaterials, novel vaccine development, and antibody library construction, including high-throughput screening of peptides and applications in biosensors.

Our Service Advantages

• High Efficiency & Precision: By combining in vivo homologous recombination with CRISPR/Cas-based counter-selection technology, we achieve superior editing efficiency. Our precise targeting design effectively circumvents lethal mutations in the phage genome and minimizes off-target effects.

• Versatile & Customizable: We support a wide range of editing modalities, including knockouts (KO), knock-ins (KI), point mutations, and large-fragment replacements. We also offer custom modifications of Receptor Binding Proteins (RBPs) or the loading of effector elements (such as CRISPR-Cas arrays) to suit various life cycles and delivery requirements.

• Broad Applicability: Our services cover both temperate and lytic phages, applicable to standard laboratory strains as well as wild-type phages isolated from environmental or clinical sources. We support marker-free continuous editing and high-efficiency purification of recombinant phages.

• Controllable Timelines: Standard project cycles typically range from 2 to 5 months (2–3 months for model phages; 3–5 months for complex wild-type phages). Our standardized workflows ensure reliable, reproducible results.