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CRISPR and crRNAs

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Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
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Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...

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CRISPR

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

The Cultivation, Growth, and Viability of Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Quality Control Perspective

The Cultivation, Growth, and Viability of Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Quality Control Perspective

Published on: June 16, 2022

CRISPR-based engineering of next-generation lactic acid bacteria.

Claudio Hidalgo-Cantabrana¹, Sarah O'Flaherty¹, Rodolphe Barrangou¹

¹Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutritional Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.

Current Opinion in Microbiology

|June 17, 2017

Summary

CRISPR technology revolutionizes the engineering of probiotics like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. These advancements enhance food fermentation, improve gut colonization, and enable therapeutic applications such as vaccine delivery.

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Generation of Enterobacter sp. YSU Auxotrophs Using Transposon Mutagenesis

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Genetic Engineering
Food Science

Background:

Functional genomics studies have elucidated the genetic basis of food fermentations and host-probiotic interactions over two decades.
CRISPR-based technologies present novel opportunities for engineering microbial strains.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the application of CRISPR technologies for enhancing the functionalities of food microorganisms and probiotics.
To detail the potential of engineering Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria for improved fermentation, colonization, and therapeutic benefits.

Main Methods:

Leveraging CRISPR-Cas systems, both endogenous and engineered, for targeted genetic modification.
Repurposing native CRISPR-Cas systems to modulate gene expression and introduce new traits.
Utilizing engineered CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genetic alterations in probiotic bacteria.

Main Results:

CRISPR enables the development of next-generation probiotics with enhanced features for food applications.
Engineered probiotics show potential for improved host colonization and health benefits.
CRISPR-modified probiotics can be developed for advanced therapeutic uses, including vaccine delivery and immune modulation.

Conclusions:

CRISPR technology offers a powerful toolkit for advancing the engineering of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.
These engineered probiotics hold significant promise for improving human health and developing novel food products.
The strategic application of CRISPR systems can unlock new therapeutic potentials for probiotics.