scholarly journals CRISPR technology a silver lining in combating COVID-19 pandemic

Author(s):  
Ritesh Kumar Shukla ◽  
N Venkat Appa Rao

Technological advancements have trigged the research arena of life sciences. This has resulted not only in the co-evolution of science and technology but also in building up novel ways to tackle life threatening pandemic like situations. The use of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology in combating the recent COVID-19 pandemic is evidence to this. The technique was originally identified as a microbial adaptive immune system, in which the microbes use RNA-guided nucleases to cleave foreign genetic material. Subsequently, molecular biologists started harvesting this technique in accelerating the genetic engineering/ chimeric DNA methods. During COVID-19 outbreak, the scientists are trying to mould the CRISPR technology in the successful and rapid detection of the virus and also in the treatment of COVID- 19 infection. Thus the application of this technique comes as a ray of hope not only for fighting against COVID but also can be used as weapon for unseen future pandemics.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Parkes ◽  
Fiona Kemm ◽  
Liu He ◽  
Tom Killelea

The genetic signature of natural CRISPR-Cas systems were first noted in a 1989 publication and were characterized in detail from 2002 to 2007, culminating in the first report of a prokaryotic adaptive immune system. Since then, CRISPR-Cas enzymes have been adapted into molecular biology tools that have transformed genetic engineering across domains of life. In this feature article, we describe origins, uses and futures of CRISPR-Cas enzymes in genetic engineering: we highlight advances made in the past 10 years. Central to these advances is appreciation of interplay between CRISPR engineering and DNA repair. We highlight how this relationship has been manipulated to create further advances in the development of gene editing.


2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 74-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.E. Abaturov ◽  
◽  
E.A. Agafonova ◽  
N.I. Abaturova ◽  
V.L. Babich ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 2004979
Author(s):  
Jun‐Young Park ◽  
Sung Jean Park ◽  
Jun Young Park ◽  
Sang‐Hyun Kim ◽  
Song Kwon ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Sonia George ◽  
Trevor Tyson ◽  
Nolwen L. Rey ◽  
Rachael Sheridan ◽  
Wouter Peelaerts ◽  
...  

Background: α-Synuclein (α-syn) is the predominant protein in Lewy-body inclusions, which are pathological hallmarks of α- synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Other hallmarks include activation of microglia, elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the activation of T and B cells. These immune changes point towards a dysregulation of both the innate and the adaptive immune system. T cells have been shown to recognize epitopes derived from α-syn and altered populations of T cells have been found in PD and MSA patients, providing evidence that these cells can be key to the pathogenesis of the disease. Objective To study the role of the adaptive immune system with respect to α-syn pathology. Methods: We injected human α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the striatum of immunocompromised mice (NSG) and assessed accumulation of phosphorylated α-syn pathology, proteinase K-resistant α-syn pathology and microgliosis in the striatum, substantia nigra and frontal cortex. We also assessed the impact of adoptive transfer of naïve T and B cells into PFF-injected immunocompromised mice. Results: Compared to wildtype mice, NSG mice had an 8-fold increase in phosphorylated α-syn pathology in the substantia nigra. Reconstituting the T cell population decreased the accumulation of phosphorylated α-syn pathology and resulted in persistent microgliosis in the striatum when compared to non-transplanted mice. Conclusion: Our work provides evidence that T cells play a role in the pathogenesis of experimental α-synucleinopathy.


mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander P. Hynes ◽  
Simon J. Labrie ◽  
Sylvain Moineau

ABSTRACT The adaptive immune system of prokaryotes, called CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated genes), results in specific cleavage of invading nucleic acid sequences recognized by the cell’s “memory” of past encounters. Here, we exploited the properties of native CRISPR-Cas systems to program the natural “memorization” process, efficiently generating immunity not only to a bacteriophage or plasmid but to any specifically chosen DNA sequence. IMPORTANCE CRISPR-Cas systems have entered the public consciousness as genome editing tools due to their readily programmable nature. In industrial settings, natural CRISPR-Cas immunity is already exploited to generate strains resistant to potentially disruptive viruses. However, the natural process by which bacteria acquire new target specificities (adaptation) is difficult to study and manipulate. The target against which immunity is conferred is selected stochastically. By biasing the immunization process, we offer a means to generate customized immunity, as well as provide a new tool to study adaptation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gezina TML Oei ◽  
Kirsten F Smit ◽  
Djai vd Vondervoort ◽  
Daniel Brevoord ◽  
Arjan Hoogendijk ◽  
...  

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