CRISPR Tool Inactivates Antibiotic Resistant Genes

Researchers develop a novel CRISPR-based technology to remove antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Researchers from the University of California, San Diego have developed a new CRISPR-based tool called Pro-Active Genetics (Pro-AG) that can inactivate antibiotic resistant genetic elements in bacteria. The tool, named pPro-MobV, exploits a natural bacterial mating process to spread the CRISPR cassette components and disable antibiotic resistance. The technology has shown promise in combating antibiotic resistance in bacterial biofilms, which are difficult to treat with conventional methods.

Why it matters

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health crisis, with estimates of over 10 million deaths per year by 2050. This new CRISPR-based tool provides a novel approach to actively reverse the spread of antibiotic resistant genes, rather than just slowing or coping with their spread. It has potential applications in healthcare settings, environmental remediation, and microbiome engineering.

The details

The Pro-AG tool, pPro-MobV, is a second-generation technology similar to gene drives used in insects. It exploits a naturally created bacterial mating tunnel between cells to spread the CRISPR cassette components that inactivate antibiotic resistant genes. The system was demonstrated to be effective in bacterial biofilms, which are difficult to treat with antibiotics due to their protective layer of cells. The researchers also found the active genetic system could be carried and delivered by bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria, allowing for potential deployment of the pPro-MobV elements alongside engineered phage viruses.

  • The initial Pro-AG concept was developed by the research team in 2019.
  • The new pPro-MobV system was described in a study published in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance on February 9, 2026.

The players

Ethan Bier

Distinguished professor in the department of cell and developmental biology at the University of California, San Diego and corresponding author of the study.

Victor Nizet

Distinguished professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, who collaborated with Bier's lab on the initial Pro-AG concept in 2019.

Justin Meyer

Professor in the department of ecology, behavior, and evolution at the University of California, San Diego and co-author on the study.

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What they’re saying

“With pPro-MobV we have brought gene-drive thinking from insects to bacteria as a population engineering tool. With this new CRISPR-based technology we can take a few cells and let them go to neutralize antibiotic resistance in a large target population.”

— Ethan Bier, Distinguished professor (npj Antimicrobials and Resistance)

“This technology is one of the few ways that I'm aware of that can actively reverse the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes, rather than just slowing or coping with their spread.”

— Justin Meyer, Professor (npj Antimicrobials and Resistance)

What’s next

The researchers envision pPro-MobV elements to be deployed in conjunction with engineered phage viruses to combat antibiotic resistance in various settings, including healthcare, environmental remediation, and microbiome engineering.

The takeaway

This new CRISPR-based tool provides a promising approach to actively reverse the spread of antibiotic resistant genes, which is crucial for addressing the growing global health crisis of antibiotic resistance.