The targeting of nucleases to specific DNA sequences facilitates genome editing. Recent work demonstrated that the CRISPR-associated (Cas) nuclease Cas9 can be targeted to sequences in vitro simply by modifying a short7 CRISPR RNA (crRNA) guide. Here we use this CRISPR-Cas system to introduce marker-free mutations in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The approach involves re-programming Cas9 by using a crRNA complementary to a target chromosomal locus and introducing a template DNA harboring a desired mutation and an altered crRNA recognition site for recombination with the target locus. We exhaustively analyze Cas9 target requirements to define the range of targetable sequences and show strategies for editing sites that do not meet these requirements. Alone or together with recombineering, CRISPR assisted editing induces recombination at the targeted locus and kills non-edited cells leading to a recovery of close to a 100% of edited cells. Multiple crRNA can be used to modify several loci simultaneously. Our results show that CRISPR-mediated genome editing only requires programming of the crRNA and template sequences and thus constitutes a useful tool for genetic engineering.

/pdf/rna-guided-editing-of-bacterial-genomes-using-crispr-cas-5b5bwzbrz4.pdf

RNA-guided editing of bacterial genomes using CRISPR-Cas systems

Caspase-1 activation by inflammasome scaffolds comprised of intracellular nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) and the adaptor ASC is believed to be essential for production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 during the innate immune response. Here we show, with C57BL/6 Casp11 gene-targeted mice, that caspase-11 (also known as caspase-4) is critical for caspase-1 activation and IL-1β production in macrophages infected with Escherichia coli, Citrobacter rodentium or Vibrio cholerae. Strain 129 mice, like Casp11(-/-) mice, exhibited defects in IL-1β production and harboured a mutation in the Casp11 locus that attenuated caspase-11 expression. This finding is important because published targeting of the Casp1 gene was done using strain 129 embryonic stem cells. Casp1 and Casp11 are too close in the genome to be segregated by recombination; consequently, the published Casp1(-/-) mice lack both caspase-11 and caspase-1. Interestingly, Casp11(-/-) macrophages secreted IL-1β normally in response to ATP and monosodium urate, indicating that caspase-11 is engaged by a non-canonical inflammasome. Casp1(-/-)Casp11(129mt/129mt) macrophages expressing caspase-11 from a C57BL/6 bacterial artificial chromosome transgene failed to secrete IL-1β regardless of stimulus, confirming an essential role for caspase-1 in IL-1β production. Caspase-11 rather than caspase-1, however, was required for non-canonical inflammasome-triggered macrophage cell death, indicating that caspase-11 orchestrates both caspase-1-dependent and -independent outputs. Caspase-1 activation by non-canonical stimuli required NLRP3 and ASC, but caspase-11 processing and cell death did not, implying that there is a distinct activator of caspase-11. Lastly, loss of caspase-11 rather than caspase-1 protected mice from a lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide. These data highlight a unique pro-inflammatory role for caspase-11 in the innate immune response to clinically significant bacterial infections.

Non-canonical inflammasome activation targets caspase-11

Innate immunity provides the first line of defence against invading pathogens and provides important cues for the development of adaptive immunity. Type-2 immunity-responsible for protective immune responses to helminth parasites and the underlying cause of the pathogenesis of allergic asthma-consists of responses dominated by the cardinal type-2 cytokines interleukin (IL)4, IL5 and IL13 (ref. 5). T cells are an important source of these cytokines in adaptive immune responses, but the innate cell sources remain to be comprehensively determined. Here, through the use of novel Il13-eGFP reporter mice, we present the identification and functional characterization of a new innate type-2 immune effector leukocyte that we have named the nuocyte. Nuocytes expand in vivo in response to the type-2-inducing cytokines IL25 and IL33, and represent the predominant early source of IL13 during helminth infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. In the combined absence of IL25 and IL33 signalling, nuocytes fail to expand, resulting in a severe defect in worm expulsion that is rescued by the adoptive transfer of in vitro cultured wild-type, but not IL13-deficient, nuocytes. Thus, nuocytes represent a critically important innate effector cell in type-2 immunity.

/pdf/nuocytes-represent-a-new-innate-effector-leukocyte-that-406cf5i7lc.pdf

Nuocytes represent a new innate effector leukocyte that mediates type-2 immunity

A recombination system has been developed for efficient chromosome engineering in Escherichia coli by using electroporated linear DNA. A defective lambda prophage supplies functions that protect and recombine an electroporated linear DNA substrate in the bacterial cell. The use of recombination eliminates the requirement for standard cloning as all novel joints are engineered by chemical synthesis in vitro and the linear DNA is efficiently recombined into place in vivo. The technology and manipulations required are simple and straightforward. A temperature-dependent repressor tightly controls prophage expression, and, thus, recombination functions can be transiently supplied by shifting cultures to 42 degrees C for 15 min. The efficient prophage recombination system does not require host RecA function and depends primarily on Exo, Beta, and Gam functions expressed from the defective lambda prophage. The defective prophage can be moved to other strains and can be easily removed from any strain. Gene disruptions and modifications of both the bacterial chromosome and bacterial plasmids are possible. This system will be especially useful for the engineering of large bacterial plasmids such as those from bacterial artificial chromosome libraries.

/pdf/an-efficient-recombination-system-for-chromosome-engineering-4acmootzcr.pdf

An efficient recombination system for chromosome engineering in Escherichia coli

The breadth of genomic diversity found among organisms in nature allows populations to adapt to diverse environments. However, genomic diversity is difficult to generate in the laboratory and new phenotypes do not easily arise on practical timescales. Although in vitro and directed evolution methods have created genetic variants with usefully altered phenotypes, these methods are limited to laborious and serial manipulation of single genes and are not used for parallel and continuous directed evolution of gene networks or genomes. Here, we describe multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE) for large-scale programming and evolution of cells. MAGE simultaneously targets many locations on the chromosome for modification in a single cell or across a population of cells, thus producing combinatorial genomic diversity. Because the process is cyclical and scalable, we constructed prototype devices that automate the MAGE technology to facilitate rapid and continuous generation of a diverse set of genetic changes (mismatches, insertions, deletions). We applied MAGE to optimize the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate (DXP) biosynthesis pathway in Escherichia coli to overproduce the industrially important isoprenoid lycopene. Twenty-four genetic components in the DXP pathway were modified simultaneously using a complex pool of synthetic DNA, creating over 4.3 billion combinatorial genomic variants per day. We isolated variants with more than fivefold increase in lycopene production within 3 days, a significant improvement over existing metabolic engineering techniques. Our multiplex approach embraces engineering in the context of evolution by expediting the design and evolution of organisms with new and improved properties.

/pdf/programming-cells-by-multiplex-genome-engineering-and-2adz9ioaw6.pdf

Programming cells by multiplex genome engineering and accelerated evolution

The bacterial chromosome and bacterial plasmids can be engineered in vivo by homologous recombination using either PCR products or synthetic double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) or single‐stranded DNA as substrates. Multiple linear dsDNA molecules can be assembled into an intact plasmid. The technology of recombineering is possible because bacteriophage‐encoded recombination proteins efficiently recombine sequences with homologies as short as 35 to 50 bases. Recombineering allows DNA sequences to be inserted or deleted without regard to the location of restriction sites and can also be used in combination with CRISPR/Cas targeting systems. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Recombineering: Genetic Engineering in Escherichia coli Using Homologous Recombination

Assembly of intact, replicating plasmids from linear DNA fragments introduced into bacterial cells, i.e. in vivo cloning, is a facile genetic engineering technology that avoids many of the problems associated with standard in vitro cloning. Here we report characterization of various parameters of in vivo linear DNA assembly mediated by either the RecET recombination system or the bacteriophage λ Red recombination system. As previously observed, RecET is superior to Red for this reaction when the terminal homology is 50 bases. Deletion of the E. coli xonA gene, encoding Exonuclease I, a 3’→5’ single-strand DNA exonuclease, substantially improves the efficiency of in vivo linear DNA assembly for both systems. Deletion of ExoI function allowed robust RecET assembly of six DNA segments to create a functional plasmid. The linear DNAs are joined accurately with very few errors. This discovery provides a significant improvement to previously reported in vivo linear DNA assembly technologies.

/pdf/enhancement-of-recet-mediated-in-vivo-linear-dna-assembly-by-288trpm6.pdf

Enhancement of RecET-mediated in vivo linear DNA assembly by a xonA mutation

The technology of recombineering, in vivo genetic engineering, was initially developed in Escherichia coli and uses bacteriophage‐encoded homologous recombination proteins to efficiently recombine DNA at short homologies (35 to 50 nt). Because the technology is homology driven, genomic DNA can be modified precisely and independently of restriction site location. Recombineering uses linear DNA substrates that are introduced into the cell by electroporation; these can be PCR products, synthetic double‐strand DNA (dsDNA), or single‐strand DNA (ssDNA). Here we describe the applications, challenges, and factors affecting ssDNA and dsDNA recombineering in a variety of non‐model bacteria, both Gram‐negative and ‐positive, and recent breakthroughs in the field. We list different microbes in which the widely used phage λ Red and Rac RecET recombination systems have been used for in vivo genetic engineering. New homologous ssDNA and dsDNA recombineering systems isolated from non‐model bacteria are also described. The Basic Protocol outlines a method for ssDNA recombineering in the non‐model species of Shewanella. The Alternate Protocol describes the use of CRISPR/Cas as a counter‐selection system in conjunction with recombineering to enhance recovery of recombinants. We provide additional background information, pertinent considerations for experimental design, and parameters critical for success. The design of ssDNA oligonucleotides (oligos) and various internet‐based tools for oligo selection from genome sequences are also described, as is the use of oligo‐mediated recombination. This simple form of genome editing uses only ssDNA oligo(s) and does not require an exogenous recombination system. The information presented here should help researchers identify a recombineering system suitable for their microbe(s) of interest. If no system has been characterized for a specific microbe, researchers can find guidance in developing a recombineering system from scratch. We provide a flowchart of decision‐making paths for strategically applying annealase‐dependent or oligo‐mediated recombination in non‐model and undomesticated bacteria. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Recombineering in Non‐Model Bacteria

Methods are disclosed herein for inducing homologous recombination in a host cell comprising a target nucleic acid, using a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule. The single-stranded nucleic acid molecule has a sufficient number of nucleotides homologous to the target nucleic acid to enable homologous recombination with the target nucleic acid. The host cell includes a de-repressible promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding a single-stranded binding protein and is deficient for mismatch repair. Isolated host cells of use in this method are also disclosed.

Host cells deficient for mismatch repair

Twomutations intheninRregion ofbacteriophage lambdathatbypass a requirement forantitermination havebeenstudied. Onemutation, byp,hasbeencloned andmappedbymarker rescuetoa 417-base-pair segment intheninRregion ofthegenome.Analysis ofthebypmutation byusing promoter detection vectors, DNA sequencing, andS1nuclease analysis showedthatthebypmutation created a new promoterthat transcribed geneQ.Thesecond mutation analyzed was thedeletion nin3. Sequence analysis revealed that 2,485 basepairs oftheninRregion wereremoved, beginning within therengeneandending inan openreading frame termed ninG.ThetR2andtR3terminators, andprobably others, were removedbythenin3deletion, thereby allowing thephagetobeN independent andtogrowinhosts defective forNusantitermination factors. Thelytic growth ofbacteriophage lambdaiscontrolled at thelevel oftranscription bya systemoftermination and antitermination (12). Afterinfection ofEscherichia coli, transcription isinitiated on thelambdagenome attwo promoters, PL andPR.Theleftward transcript proceeds from PL acrosstheessential geneN andisterminated attLl. The rightward transcript fromPR spans gene cro totRl,where approximately halfofthetranscripts are terminated. The remaining transcripts continue through genes 0 andP and

Nina Costantino

Papers

Recombineering: Genetic Engineering in Escherichia coli Using Homologous Recombination

Enhancement of RecET-mediated in vivo linear DNA assembly by a xonA mutation

Recombineering in Non‐Model Bacteria

Host cells deficient for mismatch repair

Analysis ofMutations intheninRRegion ofBacteriophage Lambda ThatBypass a Requirement forLambdaN Antitermination