Scientists at Eligo Bioscience Achieve CRISPR Breakthrough in Gut Microbiome Gene Editing

Jul 10, 2024, 10:35 PM

Scientists have successfully developed a CRISPR-based gene-editing tool that can modify bacterial populations in the gut microbiome of living mice. This breakthrough, achieved by the team at Eligo Bioscience and published in Nature, demonstrates the ability to perform in vivo bacterial genome editing with nearly 100% efficiency. The technique involves engineering a phage-derived vector to deliver a base editor, specifically targeting Escherichia coli colonizing the mouse gut. This represents a significant advancement in microbiome therapeutics and synthetic biology, offering new possibilities for manipulating the gut microbiome. Previously, the ability to manipulate the gut microbiome was restricted to pre- and probiotics, as noted by researcher David Bikard.