New transposon tool maps essential phage genes and accelerates viral engineering
Researchers at the University of Otago developed 'phage Tn-seq,' a method that uses transposon mutagenesis and anti-CRISPR selection to identify essential genes in diverse bacteriophages. The technique also allows rapid insertion of new genetic cargo, such as fluorescent markers or anti-defense proteins, into phage genomes within days, overcoming previous barriers in phage engineering and functional genomics.