Top-down approach to construct a genome-minimized Bacillus subtilis strain. Genome minimization in Bacillus subtilis

We use a top-down approach to reduce the genome of B. subtilis in order to obtain a minimal strain with robust growth on complex medium at 37°C. We have evaluated the function of each gene of the B. subtilis genome and identified essential, important and dispensable genomic regions.For this purpose, we are using an efficient markerless and scarless deletion method and a system allowing induction of genetic competence in the complete cell population.