Bacteriophages that infect bacillus bacteria (anthrax)

Abstract

The invention provides bacteriophages that infect Bacillus bacteria, including Bacillus anthracis , and compositions containing the bacteriophages. The invention also provides methods for using the bacteriophages of the invention to prevent and treat infection of an organism by Bacillus bacteria. Methods and materials to decontaminate a surface or an organism that is contaminated with Bacillus bacteria or Bacillus spores is also provided.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A biosensor comprising a detector operatively coupled to a  Bacillus  bacteriophage. 
     
     
         57 . The biosensor of  claim 56 , wherein the detector is a piezoelectric device, an acoustic wave device, a surface plasmon resonance device, an optical fiber device or a light addressable potentiometric sensor device. 
     
     
         58 . The biosensor of  claim 56 , wherein the biosensor is adapted to detect a bacterium or a bacterial spore. 
     
     
         59 . The biosensor of  claim 58 , wherein the bacterium is a  Bacillus  bacterium. 
     
     
         60 . The biosensor of  claim 59 , wherein the  Bacillus  bacterium is a  Bacillus anthracis  bacterium. 
     
     
         61 . The biosensor of  claim 58 , wherein the bacterial spore is a  Bacillus  spore. 
     
     
         62 . The biosensor of  claim 61 , wherein the  Bacillus  spore is a  Bacillus anthracis  spore. 
     
     
         63 . The biosensor of  claim 56 , wherein the bacteriophage is selected from NikoA (ATCC accession number PTA-4171), DDBa (ATCC accession number PTA-4172) and MHWa (ATCC accession number PTA-4173), or recombinant forms thereof. 
     
     
         64 . A biosensor comprising a detector comprising an acoustic wave device operably coupled to a  Bacillus  bacteriophage for detecting a bacterium or a bacterial spore.