Generative Protein Design
AI-Designed Biological Tools
Proteins can recognize DNA and carry out genetic changes. We explore generative AI approaches to design new versions of these biological tools, with the aim of improving performance and reaching a broader range of microbial hosts.
Designing proteins for microbial genome engineering with machine learning.
In Situ Programming
Develop tools to edit DNA within microbial communities.
Published methods in this area
- MAGICDelivers genetic payloads to native gut bacteria by conjugation, inside the host.Ronda et al. · Nature Methods · 2019
- INTEGRATERNA-guided transposition for accurate, multiplexed, kilobase-scale insertion.Vo, Ronda et al. · Nature Biotechnology · 2021
- MetaEditCombines conjugative delivery with RNA-guided DNA insertion to modify selected gut bacteria within communities, demonstrated in mice.Gelsinger, Ronda et al. · Science · 2025
Other directions in this area
Environmental Microbiome Engineering
Editing agricultural and environmental microbiomes
Exploring how in situ microbiome programming could address agricultural and environmental challenges, including methane production in livestock through IGI's BIOME initiative.
Mobilome Engineering
Genetic delivery with mobile elements
We engineer conjugative plasmids, transposons, and phage-derived systems for targeted genetic delivery. The aim is to deliver cargo to selected bacterial species that current microbiome editing tools cannot readily reach.