Publications
Science (New York, N.Y.)Nov 2025 |
390
(
6774
),
eadx7604
DOI:
10.1126/science.adx7604

Metagenomic editing of commensal bacteria in vivo using CRISPR-associated transposases

Gelsinger, Diego Rivera; Ronda, Carlotta; Ma, Junjie; Kar, Om B; Edwards, Madeline; Huang, Yiming; Mavros, Chrystal F; Sun, Yiwei; Perdue, Tyler; Vo, Phuc Leo; Ivanov, Ivaylo I; Sternberg, Samuel H; Wang, Harris H
Product Used
Genes
Abstract
Although metagenomic sequencing has revealed a rich microbial biodiversity in the mammalian gut, methods to genetically alter specific species in the microbiome are highly limited. Here, we introduce Metagenomic Editing (MetaEdit) as a platform technology for microbiome engineering that uses optimized CRISPR-associated transposases delivered by a broadly conjugative vector to directly modify diverse native commensal bacteria from mice and humans with new pathways at single-nucleotide genomic resolution. Using MetaEdit, we achieved in vivo genetic capture of native murine Bacteroides by integrating a metabolic payload that enables tunable growth control in the mammalian gut with dietary inulin. We further show in vivo editing of segmented filamentous bacteria, an immunomodulatory small-intestinal microbial species recalcitrant to cultivation. Collectively, this work provides a paradigm to precisely manipulate individual bacteria in native communities across gigabases of their metagenomic repertoire.
Product Used
Genes

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