• CRISPR-Cas Systems in Combating Bacterial Infections: A Systematic Review of Therapeutic Potential and Limitations
  • Mina Shirmohammadpour,1 Arman Taran,2 Bahman Mirzaei,3,*
    1. Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
    2. Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
    3. Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran


  • Introduction: The growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has highlighted the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. CRISPR-Cas systems have emerged as a groundbreaking tool in gene editing with potential to selectively target and eliminate pathogenic bacteria. This review systematically assesses recent advances in the application of CRISPR-Cas systems as antimicrobial agents against bacterial infections.
  • Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published between January 2015 and April 2024. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies were selected based on relevance to CRISPR-based antimicrobial applications. Articles focused solely on diagnostics or non-bacterial targets were excluded.
  • Results: Out of 842 initially retrieved articles, 37 met inclusion criteria. CRISPR-Cas9 and Cas13 systems showed significant efficacy in targeting multidrug-resistant strains such as E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus. Delivery methods included bacteriophage vectors, nanoparticles, and conjugative plasmids. Phage-mediated delivery demonstrated the highest specificity and efficiency. However, challenges such as off-target activity, host immune responses, delivery limitations, and lack of clinical trial data were consistently reported.
  • Conclusion: CRISPR-Cas technology holds great promise as a next-generation antimicrobial strategy. While current findings are encouraging, further studies are needed to optimize delivery systems and evaluate safety and efficacy in clinical settings.
  • Keywords: CRISPR-Cas, Antimicrobial Resistance, Phage Delivery, Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria, Gene Editing