Advancing the design and delivery of CRISPR antimicrobials

Autor: Daphne Collias, Chase L. Beisel, Jennie R. Fagen, Atul K. Singh
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering. 4:57-64
ISSN: 2468-4511
DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2017.10.001
Popis: CRISPR-Cas systems are prokaryotic immune systems whose RNA-guided nucleases have been co-opted for applications ranging from genome editing and gene regulation to in vitro diagnostics and DNA imaging. Here, we review the current efforts toward repurposing CRISPR nucleases as programmable antimicrobials. Antimicrobial activity is achieved by targeted cleavage of multidrug-resistance plasmids or the bacterial chromosome, resulting in antibiotic sensitivity or cell death. As part of the review, we discuss the different types of nucleases available for CRISPR antimicrobials, the use of bacteriophages as delivery vehicles, and opportunities to enhance antimicrobial activity, delivery, and specificity. Through further advances, these programmable DNA-targeting antimicrobials may help quell the spread of antimicrobial resistance and provide a tool for the manipulation of complex microbial communities.
Databáze: OpenAIRE