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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Phage-mediated Delivery of Targeted sRNA Constructs to Knock Down Gene Expression in E. coli
Published on: March 20, 2016
Silencing of antibiotic resistance in E. coli with engineered phage bearing small regulatory RNAs
Vincent K Libis1, Aude G Bernheim, Clovis Basier
12013 Paris Bettencourt iGEM team, 75014 Paris, France.
Abstract:
In response to emergent antibiotic resistance, new strategies are needed to enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Here, we describe a phagemid-delivered, RNA-mediated system capable of directly knocking down antibiotic resistance phenotypes. Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) were designed to specifically inhibit translation of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and kanamycin phosphotransferase. Nonlytic phagemids coding for sRNA expression were able to infect and restore chloramphenicol and kanamycin sensitivity to populations of otherwise resistant E. coli. This modular system could easily be extended to other bacteria with resistance profiles that depend on specific transcripts.
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Types of RNA
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
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