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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.01.18.700149

Genetic biosensor for optimizing double-stranded RNA production by bacterial symbionts

Navarro-Escalante, L.·VanDieren, A. J.·Barrick, J. E.
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Abstract

There is growing interest in engineering animal and plant microbiomes to deliver double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for RNA interference (RNAi) applications. We developed a genetically encoded biosensor that uses bimolecular fluorescence complementation to monitor dsRNA levels within bacterial cells to accelerate the symbiont-mediated RNAi design-build-test cycle. We validated performance of the sensor in Escherichia coli and demonstrated enhanced dsRNA accumulation in engineered strains of the aphid symbiont Serratia symbiotica.

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Navarro-Escalante, L., VanDieren, A. J., Barrick, J. E.. 2026-01-18. Genetic biosensor for optimizing double-stranded RNA production by bacterial symbionts. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.18.700149

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