Background

• Hundreds of microbiota genes are associated with host biology/disease
• However, unraveling the causal contribution of a microbiota gene to host biology remains difficult as many of the genes are encoded by nonmodel gut commensals and are not genetically targetable
• While genetic toolsets are readily available for model bacteria, many nonmodel gut bacteria (e.g., Lachnospiraceae and Prevotella) are not genome sequenced, and it is unknown how to introduce exogenous DNA or which gene manipulation tool to use
• Unmet Need: A generalizable approach to identify gene transfer methodology and build gene manipulation tools for nonmodel microbes in the gut