Precision Plasmids: Rewriting the Fight Against Resistance

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming harder to treat, but scientists are developing a precise genetic tool to target them: engineered plasmids that act like "sniper DNA." These customized plasmids can enter resistant bacteria, cut out the genes responsible for resistance, and kill only the harmful cells while protecting beneficial microbes. A recent report from the American Society for Microbiology shows how CRISPR-based plasmids can eliminate resistance genes in bacteria such as Enterococcus faecalis. This approach could reshape how we fight infections by shifting from broad antibiotics to targeted genetics tools. 

A review from the Journal of Nanobiotechnology explains how engineered CRISPR systems could be tailored to detect and neutralize resistant microbes on a larger scale. If refined these precision tools may help us stay ahead of rapidly evolving bacterial resistance