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Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Application of CRISPR Interference CRISPRi for Gene Silencing in Pathogenic Species of Leptospira
Published on: August 14, 2021
Phenotypic Function of Legionella pneumophila Type I-F CRISPR-Cas
Ting Mo1, Hong Yu Ren2, Xian Xian Zhang1
1Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi China;Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi China;National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Objective:
CRISPR-Cas protects bacteria from exogenous DNA invasion and is associated with bacterial biofilm formation and pathogenicity.
Methods:
We analyzed the type I-F CRISPR-Cas system of Legionella pneumophila WX48, including Cas1, Cas2-Cas3, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, and Cas6f, along with downstream CRISPR arrays. We explored the effects of the CRISPR-Cas system on the in vitro growth, biofilm-forming ability, and pathogenicity of L. pneumophila through constructing gene deletion mutants.
Results:
The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system did not affect the in vitro growth of wild-type or mutant strains. The biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation of the mutant strains were weaker than those of the wild type owing to the regulation of type IV pili and Dot/Icm type IV secretion systems. In particular, Cas6f deletion strongly inhibited these processes.
Conclusion:
The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system may reduce biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation in L. pneumophila.
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