| Through the years, many promising tools for gene editing have been developed including
zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), CRISPRassociated
protein 9 (Cas9), and homing endonucleases (HEs). These novel technologies are now
leading new scientific advancements and practical applications at an inimitable speed. While most
work has been performed in eukaryotes, CRISPR systems also enable tools to understand and
engineer bacteria. The increase in the number of multi-drug resistant strains highlights a necessity for
more innovative approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of infections. CRISPR has given scientists
a glimmer of hope in this area that can provide a novel tool to fight against antimicrobial resistance.
This system can provide useful information about the functions of genes and aid us to find potential
targets for antimicrobials. This paper discusses the emerging use of CRISPR-Cas systems in the fields
of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases with a particular emphasis on future prospects. |