From the Journals

Conjugative CRISPR System Cuts Resistance

Mobile gene drive-like platform spreads between bacteria and reduces ampicillin resistance by up to 5 logs while enabling cassette reversal

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A proof-of-principle study published in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance explored a gene drive-like system using a 65-kilobase plasmid, pPro-MobV, to effectively combat antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Researchers demonstrated that this plasmid allows efficient horizontal transfer of an anti-antibiotic resistance cassette, significantly reducing ampicillin-resistant colony-forming units in various strains while showing enhanced effects in RecA-deficient strains. This strategy may lead to advanced methodologies in microbiome engineering and address challenges like antibiotic resistance.

Original Source(s)

Conjugative CRISPR System Cuts Resistance

Mobile gene drive-like platform spreads between bacteria and reduces ampicillin resistance by up to 5 logs while enabling cassette reversal

  • by Julie Greenbaum

  • February 13, 2026

  • 4 min

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