Conjugative CRISPR System Cuts Resistance

Mobile gene drive-like platform spreads between bacteria and reduces ampicillin resistance by up to 5 logs while enabling cassette reversal

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The engineered plasmid pPro-MobV significantly reduced ampicillin-resistant bacteria by three to five logs in various strains.
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Conjugation assays demonstrated a 40% transfer frequency of the plasmid between Escherichia coli donor and recipient strains.
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Induction of the lambda Red–Cas9 operon resulted in a 1,000-fold decrease in ampicillin-resistant colonies and a 100-fold increase in spectinomycin-resistant colonies.
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Homology-based deletion mechanisms were enhanced in RecA-deficient strains, with 75% of colonies exhibiting this deletion after induction.
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The study highlights the potential of the Pro-AG platform for microbiome engineering and strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

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