| abstract |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for detecting and / or identifying a target cell (for example, a bacterium) using genetically engineered transduced particles. SOLUTION: A certain amount of transduced particles is mixed in a sample. Transduced particles are associated with target cells. The transduced particles are non-replicating and are genetically engineered to contain nucleic acid molecules that are formulated to cause the target cell to produce a series of reporter molecules. The sample and transduced particles are maintained to express a set of reporter molecules when the target cells are present in the sample. A signal associated with the amount of reporter molecule is received. In some embodiments, the magnitude of the signal is independent of the amount of transduced particles above a predetermined amount. FIG. 92. |