microbiology, CRISPR/Cas

Researchers are using CRISPR for precise genetic manipulation of human-associated microbes as a promising avenue for improving human health.

A study employing CRISPR/Cas9 to explore the evolutionary beginnings of some giant viruses finds evidence their large genomes arose from gene duplications.

The findings more than double the number of known defense mechanisms, piquing the interests of molecular biology tool developers.

AcrIIA4, an inhibitor protein from the Listeria bacteriophage, can block DNA from binding to Cas9 during genome editing.

The latest CRISPR deactivators to be discovered turn off the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 widely used in genome editing.

A metagenomics analysis finds Cas9 in archaea for the first time, along with two previously unknown Cas nucleases from bacteria.

In bacteriophage genomes, researchers find three anti-CRISPR proteins that naturally inhibit CRISPR-Cas9 in one bacterial species and can do the same in human cells. 

Newer CRISPR tools for manipulating transcription will help unlock noncoding RNA’s many roles.

Understanding the biological roots of cooperation might help resolve some of the biggest scientific challenges we face.

The gene behind a butterfly’s mimicry; the evolution of adipose fins; bacteria and bowel cancer; plants lacking plastid genomes