ABSTRACT
Cholera is an ancient disease that is caused by the ingestion of aerobic, commashaped gram-negative bacterium, Vibrio cholerae. Cholera toxin (CT) is a member of the A-B-type ADP-ribosylating toxin that exploits retrograde transport as a means to gain entry into the cytosol of host cells. Display phages are bacterial viruses that present random peptide sequences on their surface capsid protein(s), usually for the study of peptide–protein, protein–protein, and protein–DNA interactions. An alternative approach for the delivery of CT7 phage to the gut of a mouse is to convert the normal flora Escherichia coli into CT7-producing strains. The chapter examines the properties of genetically engineered probiotic E. coli for the delivery of this toxin neutralizing the display phage to the intestinal flora of a mouse. The use of biological agents has been generally confined to military-led conflicts. However, there has been an increase in in-state-based terrorism, including the use of biological agents.
