Barriers to Bacterial Genome Editing

Each bacterium requires a different editing tool, making it necessary to redevelop methods for each new strain. Existing CRISPR-based systems have also shown low efficiency in some species, resulting in delayed experiments.

Revolutionary Recombineering with Retrons

The research team designed a retron-based recombineering system, enabling the self-production of ssDNA templates during DNA replication. When applied to various bacterial lineages, this system demonstrated high editing success rates, transcending species differences. Notably, it also enabled precise modification of microorganisms that were previously impossible to edit using conventional methods.

Paving the Way for Future Microbial Engineering

We can now rapidly engineer microorganisms found in diverse environments. New bio-solutions with direct applications in food, medicine, environmental remediation, and other areas of daily life are expected to emerge.