Reprogramming Targeted-Antibacterial-Plasmids (TAPs) to achieve broad-host range antibacterial activity

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance results in antibiotic inefficiency against multidrug resis-tant bacterial strains. Alternative treatment to antibiotics must be investigated to fight bacterial infections and limit this global public health problem. We recently developed an innovative strategy based on mobilizable Targeted-Antibacterial-Plasmids (TAPs) that deliver CRISPR/Cas systems with strain-specific antibacterial ac-tivity, using the F plasmid conjugation machinery for transfer into the targeted strains. These TAPs were shown to specifically kill a variety of Enterobacteriaceae strains, including E. coli K12 and the pathogen strains EPEC, Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter rodentium. Here, we extend the host-range of TAPs using the RP4 plasmid conjugation system for their mobilization, thus allowing the targeting of E. coli but also phylogenetically distant species, including Salmonella enterica Thyphimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio cholerae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This work demonstrates the versatility of the TAP strategy and represents a significant step toward the development of non-antibiotic strain-specific antimicrobial treatments.

Automated summary

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance has led to the inefficiency of antibiotics against multidrug resistant bacterial strains. We have developed a novel strategy using mobilizable Targeted-Antibacterial-Plasmids (TAPs) that deliver strain-specific antibacterial activity through CRISPR/Cas systems. By utilizing the F plasmid conjugation machinery and RP4 plasmid conjugation system, we have successfully targeted a variety of bacterial strains, including E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Vibrio, and Pseudomonas.