In vivo CRISPRi screens reveal Escherichia coli functional adaptations in the mouse gut

Nat Microbiol. 2026 Sep 17

Abstract

Escherichia coli exhibits remarkable genetic diversity that enables it to adapt to the intestinal environment. Here we establish an in vivo CRISPR interference platform that leverages bacterial gene fitness as a high-resolution functional reporter of E. coli adaptations within mice harbouring a defined minimal microbial community (OligoMM12). The screen revealed that diet profoundly shapes the metabolic landscape of E. coli and the essential gene profile identified cross-feeding interactions. Comparison between a laboratory strain (MG1655), a uropathogenic strain (CFT073) and an adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC LF82) identified distinct genetic requirements for intestinal colonization, highlighting divergent motility, stress response and respiration strategies. In a host inflammatory environment, we found that AIEC LF82 preferably colonized the small intestine with a mobile genetic element, Gally prophage, playing an important role in modulating fitness. These findings provide a high-resolution genetic atlas of E. coli's functional adaptation and demonstrate the utility of functional genomics to probe the gut environment itself.