CRISPR-based genomic tools for the manipulation of genetically intractable microorganisms

• Main Authors: Chavez, Alejandro (Author), Collins, James J. (Contributor), Shapiro, Rebecca (Author)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Medical Engineering & Science (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Synthetic Biology Center (Contributor), Collins, James J (Contributor), Shapiro, Rebecca Sara (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group, 2018-12-07T18:05:24Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

Genetic manipulation of microorganisms has been crucial in understanding their biology, yet for many microbial species, robust tools for comprehensive genetic analysis were lacking until the advent of CRISPR-Cas-based gene editing techniques. In this Progress article, we discuss advances in CRISPR-based techniques for the genetic analysis of genetically intractable microorganisms, with an emphasis on mycobacteria, fungi and parasites. We discuss how CRISPR-based analyses in these organisms have enabled the discovery of novel gene functions, the investigation of genetic interaction networks and the identification of virulence factors.