The Burkholderia genus contains bacteria with biotechnological potential, but there are also pathogenic strains. For example, Burkholderia multivorans, a species within the genus, is particularly dreaded for its ability to infect the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, often leading to persistent chronic infections. To investigate pathogenesis by these microorganisms, it was optimized a faster and cost-effective CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic tool facilitating gene deletion and insertion in their genome. Recently published in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal, this study, led by Prof. Leonilde Moreira, was first-authored by Mirela Ferreira, a PhD student in Biotechnology and Biosciences (PhD programme BIOTECnico). See more.