A CRISPR-Cas9 system protecting E. coli against acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global issue, and engineers have developed an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system to protect bacteria from horizontal gene transfer. The system targets eight AMR genes and is cloned with Cas9 and transacting tracrRNA on a medium copy plasmid. The system blocks HGT through transformation, transduction, and conjugation, effectively protecting E. coli MG1655 from acquiring targeted resistance genes. It also blocks conjugation of clinical plasmids and protects E. coli Nissle 1917 from acquiring AMR genes. This innovative approach offers a solution to the growing problem of AMR.