University of East Anglia researchers make gene-editing breakthrough to understand ocean microbes

In the UK, researchers have made a major breakthrough in developing gene-editing tools to improve our understanding of one of the most important ocean microbes on the planet.

The international project, co-led by scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, unlocks the potential of the largest untapped genetic resource for the development of natural products such as novel antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic and antifungal compounds.

The three-year collaborative project, supported primarily by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, involved 53 international laboratories comprising more than 100 researchers. It has resulted in the development of new genetic model systems, summarized in a synthetic ‘Transformation Roadmap’. This outlines DNA delivery methods, gene expression constructs and genome editing approaches, and is available as a resource for the wider research community.