CRISPR technologies for bacterial systems: Current achievements and future directions

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Advances in bacteria-based bio-industries are historically linked to strain engineering innovations.
• CRISPR/Cas systems are revolutionizing biotechnology and biology.
• CRISPR/Cas applications are less explored in bacteria compared to eukaryotes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review CRISPR/Cas systems and enabling technologies.
• To describe CRISPR/Cas-derived tools for bacterial strain development.
• To explore potential industrial applications of CRISPR/Cas technologies in bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on CRISPR/Cas systems.
• Description of CRISPR/Cas technologies for genome editing and gene expression regulation.
• Exploration of emerging CRISPR/Cas applications in bacterial typing, tracking, virome identification, vaccination, and antimicrobials.

Main Results:

• CRISPR/Cas technologies enable advanced bacterial genome editing and gene expression regulation.
• CRISPR/Cas systems show potential for bacterial strain typing, tracking, virome identification, vaccination, and novel antimicrobial strategies.
• CRISPR/Cas-based chromosome imaging can be adapted for studying bacterial chromosomal dynamics.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR/Cas technologies hold significant promise for advancing bacterial systems in industrial microbiology, synthetic biology, and beyond.
• Further development of complementary techniques is needed to broaden CRISPR/Cas applications in bacteria.
• Understanding the patent landscape is crucial for future CRISPR technology development in bacterial systems.