Exploiting CRISPR-Cas immune systems for genome editing in bacteria

- The machinery from CRISPR-Cas immune systems can be engineered into powerful genome editing machines.
- The sgRNA:Cas9 technology is a convenient novel tool for efficient alteration of bacterial genomes.
- Self-targeting by CRISPR is an effective screening tool for selection of low-frequency genotypes.
- In addition to editing genomic sequences, engineered variants of Cas9 may be harnessed for transcriptional control, epigenetics, and chromosome imaging.
- This technology holds much promise for implementation in probiotics and starter cultures of industrial interest.