SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTION OF CELLS USING ENGINEERED TRANSDUCTION PARTICLES

Systems and methods for detecting and/or identifying target cells (e.g., bacteria) using engineered transduction particles are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes mixing a quantity of transduction particles within a sample. The transduction particles are associated with a targe t cell. The tran sduction particles are non -replicative, and are engineered to include a nucleic acid molecule formulated to cause the target cell to produce a series of re porter molecules. The s ample and the transduction particles are maintained to express the series of the reporter molecules when target cell is present in the sample. A signal associated with a quantity of the reporter molecules is rece ived. In some embodiments, a magnitude of the signal is in dependent from a quantity of the transduction particle above a predetermined quantity.