DOCSLIB.ORG

CRISPR-Cas System: a Brief History and Future in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
CRISPR-Cas System: a Brief History and Future in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases IDCM NEWSFEED Infect Dis Clin Microbiol 2019; 1(1): 2-5 CRISPR-Cas System: A Brief History and Future in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Barış Otlu Department of Medical Microbiology, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey he discovery of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRIS- PR) and CRISPR-Associated System (Cas) have led to revolutionary advancements T in almost every field of biology. The CRISPR-Cas system is part of an adaptive immune system in bacteria, and this system protects the organism from invading ge- netic elements of bacteriophages and plasmids. In this article, the discovery of the CRIS- PR-Cas system, its mechanism of action, and particularly its use in infectious diseases will be discussed. BRIEF HISTORY Though the CRISPR sequence was first recognised in the alkaline phosphatase iap( ) gene of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in 1987, the biological function of these unusual repeat sequenc- es has long been undetermined (1). Francisco Mojica was the first scientist who char- acterised the CRISPR sequences. Francisco Mojica and his colleague Ruud Jansen used the term “CRISPR” in their personal communications, then Jensen first used this term in one of his articles in 2002 (2). Finally, Mojica and et al. (3) showed that these repeat sequences matched with the genome parts of bacteriophages, plasmids, and prophages, and the authors developed a thesis projecting that CRISPR was the adaptive immune Corresponding Author: system of bacteria. In the same year, two distinct research groups published similar Barış Otlu results from their work performed on the genomes of Yersinia pestis and Streptococcus E-mail: thermophilus (S. thermophilus) (4, 5). Furthermore, in the S. thermophilus study, a shared [email protected] gene sequence was also defined on the forward sequences of all spacers, homologues to Received: March 29, 2019 that of the viral genes. This sequence–essential for recognising the target–was named as Accepted: April 19, 2019 the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence (5). Published: May 30, 2019 Suggested Citation: In parallel studies, genes encoding DNA-repair proteins specific for hyperthermophilic Otlu B. CRISPR-Cas System: A Brief History and Future in archea, were shown to be related to CRISPR, and were later defined as thecas (CRIS- the Diagnosis and Treatment PR-associated) genes (6). Cas proteins have helicase and nuclease functions, hence their of Infectious Diseases. Infect ability to unwind and cut the targeted DNA segments. Comparative analyses of the Dis Clin Microbiol 2019; 1: 2-5. genome indicated that CRISPR and cas proteins work together, and prokaryotic cells DOI: 10.5152/idcm.2019.19007 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. 2 CRISPR-Cas System have an acquired immune system similar to that DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC USE IN INFECTIOUS of the RNA-interference (RNAi) seen in eukaryotic DISEASES cells (7). After the first realisation of its potency in genomic Significant advancements have been gained from engineering, the CRISPR-Cas system was after that studies in industrial microbiology for a better un- considered to be the excellent tool for genomic ma- derstanding of the CRISPR system. Bacteria are nipulations due to its easy-to-design and easy-to- extensively used in fermentation processes and use properties (12). It exhibited an almost four-fold biotechnology. However, the bacteria used in in- improved efficiency compared with previous ap- dustrial applications are extremely sensitive to proaches utilised for genomic manipulations, such phage attacks, and this situation may affect pro- as ZFN (zinc-finger nucleases) and TALEN (tran- duction. In a recent investigation, the response of S. scription activator-like effector nucleases). Because thermophilus, a common organism used in yoghurt of these advantages, the CRISPR-Cas system has and cheese production, to a bacteriophage attack become widely used for diagnostic and therapeutic was studied. In this experimental study; following purposes (13). the phage attack, new spacers produced from the phage genomic sequences were integrated into the The CRISPR-Cas system has expanded our under- bacterial genome, and the phage resistance pheno- standing of microbe-host interactions and provid- type of the cell could be changed by the addition ed some important benefits for the treatment and or removal of these sequences (8). By this way, the diagnosis of infections. Today, multidrug-resistant new phage sequences inserted into the CRISPR lo- pathogens and persistent viral infections such as cus (added to the genomic library) were shown to HSV, HIV, and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) are the main have a protective role in subsequent phage attacks, interest areas for CRISPR-based infectious disease namely the adaptive immunity of the bacteria. therapeutics. One of the major questions regarding the CRIS- Recently, silencing the antimicrobial resistance PR-cas system was related to the mechanism by and restoration of antimicrobial susceptibility– which cas proteins were directed to their targets. and virulence genes of bacteria could be achieved Firstly, the spacer sequences in the CRISPR sys- using the CRISPR technology, without harming the tem, which arise from the phage genome, were normal microbiota (14). Citorik et al. (15) recently transcribed with small RNAs, known as crRNA that demonstrated successful elimination of the eae were responsible for guiding the cas proteins to gene– a gene necessary for the intimate attach- the target DNA (9). From the studies on the CRIS- ment to epithelial cells–of enterohemorrhagic E. PR-Cas9 system, in addition to the crRNA, a second coli (EHEC) with the RNA-guided Cas9 system. In small trans-activating CRISP RNA (tracrRNA) was that study, the RNA-guided Cas9 system was de- discovered in 2011. Both RNAs formed a duplex livered to EHEC by a phagemid. With this approach which directed the Cas9 to its target (10). used in the EHEC-infected Galleria mellonella lar- vae model, the number of bacteria was reduced Jinek et al. (11) showed that the crRNA and trac- by approximately 20-fold. Additionally, it was rRNA are complementary to each other, a finding shown that the genes encoding beta-lactamase that may be the most substantial advancement and carbapenemase enzymes could be inhibited in after the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas system. This a mixed organism population in an agent-specif- double-stranded guide directs Cas9 from PAM to ic manner (14, 15). Considering the progressively the invading DNA and mediates its cutting. The in- increasing antimicrobial resistance, using CRISPR vestigators designed a new molecule called guide technology to manipulate the susceptibility pat- RNA (gRNA) by combining the crRNA and tracrRNA. terns of the infecting pathogens to the antimicro- This discovery facilitated the targeted recognition bials before or during treatment may be possible in and guided cleavage at any position on the genome. the near future. Barış Otlu 3 Infect Dis Clin Microbiol 2019; 1(1): 2-5 A number of viral pathogens produce persistent agnosis of infectious diseases, surveillance of emerg- infections by integrating their genome episomally ing pathogens, microbial genotyping, and antimicro- or into the human chromosomal DNA during infec- bial resistance detection have been developed (21). tion. Both in vitro and animal model studies have For the diagnosis of infectious diseases, newer appli- provided substantial data that highlight the CRIS- cations of the CRISPR system are being used, such as PR technology as a promising therapeutic method “collateral cleavage” mediated by Cas12 and Cas13 which can be used to eliminate or reduce chronic nucleases. These applications are generally based and resistant viral infections. There are a number on the cutting principle of a designed RNA using the of experimental studies in the literature, which CRISPR-Cas system, which is a probe-like structure have shown that proviral DNA, integrated into the having reporter and quencher molecules on both host’s genome following acute HIV infection, can sides. When the designed CRISPR-Cas system binds be cleared by the CRISPR technology or have its ex- to the target sequence, the reporter RNAs are cut by pression reduced. Yin et al. (16) achieved the elimi- the “collateral cleavage” effect of the Cas13 endonu- nation of HIV proviral DNA from neural progenitor clease, separating the reporter and quencher from cells in 2017. In that study, the researchers used each other, and hence allowing the signal from the an adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying multiple reporter molecule to be measured (14, 22, 23). sgRNAs and S. aureus Cas9. In a similar study, HIV-1 proviral DNA was cleared from infected blood mon- The first platform produced was named “Specif- onuclear cells by using a lentivirus vector in a hu- ic High Sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter Unlocking” manised mice model (17). (SHERLOCK). This platform uses Cas13a cleavage which is developed following the isothermal recom- Similar studies were also performed for Herpes vi- binase amplification (RPA) or reverse transcription ruses such as HSV-1, CMV, and EBV. In these stud- (RT) RPA. Gootenberg and et al. (22), using the SHER- ies, viral genes could be eliminated from the host LOCK platform, could directly detect Zika and Den- genome using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and gRNA gue viruses from saliva in less than two hours. The targeting. Van Diemen et al. (18) successfully
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CRISPR-Cas9, Dickey-Wicker, and the Inner Space Race
    Health Matrix: The Journal of Law- Medicine Volume 28 Issue 1 Article 9 2018 Shining City on a Hill at the Edge of Tomorrow: CRISPR-Cas9, Dickey-Wicker, and the Inner Space Race Zachary A. Zalewski Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/healthmatrix Part of the Health Law and Policy Commons Recommended Citation Zachary A. Zalewski, Shining City on a Hill at the Edge of Tomorrow: CRISPR-Cas9, Dickey-Wicker, and the Inner Space Race, 28 Health Matrix 469 (2018) Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/healthmatrix/vol28/iss1/9 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Journals at Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Health Matrix: The Journal of Law- Medicine by an authorized administrator of Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. Health Matrix 28·Issue 1·2018 Shining City on a Hill at the Edge of Tomorrow: CRISPR-Cas9, Dickey-Wicker, and the Inner Space Race Zachary A. Zalewski† Contents Preface ................................................................................ 470 Introduction ........................................................................ 472 I. On Targeted Genome Editing: Towards Mastering (and Possibly Redesigning) the Blueprint of Life; a “Brief” History of CRISPR-Cas9 Development ......... 477 II. The CRISPR-Cas9 Gold Rush: Developments at Home and Abroad .................................................................. 485 A. The People’s Republic
    [Show full text]
  • Tomato Class II Glutaredoxin Mutants Generated Via Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing Technology Are Susceptible to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
    Tomato class II glutaredoxin mutants generated via multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology are susceptible to multiple abiotic stresses by Tayebeh Kakeshpour B.S., University of Tabriz, 2012 M.S., Tarbiat Modares University, 2015 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources College of Agriculture KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2020 ABSTRACT Gene silencing technologies such as clustered regulatory short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 and RNA interference (RNAi) created a revolution in genome engineering. They are highly site-specific, simple, fast, and cost-effective. Since their discovery, gene silencing technologies have extensively been implemented in various organisms including humans, animals, plants, and microbes. They have been used for both basic science studies such as gene functional analysis and applied science such as medicine and crop improvement. In this work, we used multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 system to knock out all four members of the class II glutaredoxin (GRX) gene family including S14, S15, S16 and S17 in tomato and RNAi technology to express mouse complement 3 (C3) and complement factor 7 (CF7) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in lettuce. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are induced under abiotic and biotic stresses and also as byproducts of aerobic metabolism, and their overproduction causes oxidative damage to macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. GRXs are small ubiquitous proteins that are known to be involved in cellular redox homeostasis by reducing disulfate bonds and scavenging ROS. To investigate the functions of each member of class II GRX gene family in tomato’s response to abiotic stresses, single and multiple knockout lines for class II GRXs were obtained using multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 system.
    [Show full text]
  • REVIEW OPMENT Vol
    ISSN: 0972-7566 Vol. 23 | No. 1 | March 2021 BIOTECHNOLOGY ASIAN AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW Special Issue on CRISPR and Genome Editing: Impacts and Implications Editorial Introduction Human Heritable Genome Editing – Potential and Current Status for Clinical Use Navneesh Yadav and B. K. Thelma Model Legislation and the Transnational Governance of Human Heritable Gene Editing Andrea Boggio Gene Editing –Ethical Pathways to Connect Science & Society Roli Mathur From Genome Editing to Battling a Pandemic: The Rise of CRISPR Poorti Kathpalia and Debojyoti Chakraborty Perspective Asian Biotechnology and Development Review Editorial Board Editor Sachin Chaturvedi Director General, RIS Managing Editor K. Ravi Srinivas Consultant, RIS Assistant Editor Amit Kumar Assistant Professor, RIS International Editorial Advisory Board Aggrey Ambali Head of Science, Technology and Innovation Hub (NSTIH), NEPAD Nares Damrogchai Chief Executive Officer, Genepeutic Bio, Bangkok Vibha Dhawan Director General, TERI, New Delhi Reynaldo V. Ebora Executive Director, Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD), The Philippines Jikun Huang Professor and Director, Centre for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP), China Dongsoon Lim Dong-EUI University, College of Commerce and Economics, South Korea William G. Padolina President, National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines Balakrishna Pisupati United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya Bambang Purwantara Director, Southeast Asian Regional Centre for
    [Show full text]
  • CRISPR in Plant Breeding
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Creative Components Dissertations Spring 2019 CRISPR in Plant Breeding Edward Rowe Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/creativecomponents Part of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons Recommended Citation Rowe, Edward, "CRISPR in Plant Breeding" (2019). Creative Components. 238. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/creativecomponents/238 This Creative Component is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Creative Components by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CRISPR in Plant Breeding An Overview of the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats System and its potential impacts on Plant Breeding by Ted Rowe A creative component submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Major: Plant Breeding Program of Study Committee: Shuizhang Fei Thomas Lübberstedt Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2019 Copyright © Ted Rowe, 2019. All rights reserved. Page | 1 Table of Contents: Introduction………………………………………………………………….…………...…….3 Background………………………………………………………………….………...……….3 Mechanisms of the CRISPR/Cas9 System…………………………………...……………6 Applications of CRISPR in Plant Breeding……………...……………....………………12 Potential Concerns of Using CRISPR/Cas9…………………….…………………….…17 Regulation
    [Show full text]
  • The BBVA Foundation Distinguishes Emmanuelle Charpentier, Jennifer Doudna and Francisco Mojica, Instigators of the CRISPR “Revolution” in Genome Editing
    www.fbbva.es BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biomedicine The BBVA Foundation distinguishes Emmanuelle Charpentier, Jennifer Doudna and Francisco Mojica, instigators of the CRISPR “revolution” in genome editing The “simplicity and versatility” of this technique, as the jury describes it, which allows to “cut and paste” DNA cheaply and efficiently, has led to its rapid adoption in laboratories the world over “to understand gene function and treat disease” Mojica’s research work in the saline marshes of Santa Pola in Alicante laid the foundations for the future field. There, the Spanish scientist discovered DNA repeat sequences which some bacteria use as a defense mechanism to fight off viral infections Subsequent work by Charpentier and Doudna followed to decipher the CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism harnessing it into “a universal genome editing tool,” in the words of the jury, which has paved the way for therapeutic applications in diseases like cancer or AIDS Madrid, January 31, 2017.- The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Biomedicine category is shared, in this ninth edition, by Emmanuelle Charpentier, Jennifer Doudna and Francisco Martínez Mojica, whose pioneering work has ignited “the revolution in biology permitted by CRISPR/Cas 9 techniques.” These tools facilitate genome modification with an unprecedented degree of precision, and far more cheaply and straightforwardly than any previous method. Not unlike today’s simple, intuitive word processing programs, CRISPR/Cas 9 is able to “edit” the genome by “cutting and pasting” DNA sequences: a technology so efficient and powerful that it has spread like wildfire round the laboratories of the world, explains the jury, “as a tool to understand gene function and treat disease.” The prize jury, formed by eight European and American experts (see below), described the development of this technique as a triumph of basic research, “driven by sheer curiosity,” adds Robin Lovell-Badge of the Francis Crick Institute in London.
    [Show full text]
  • Copia De ÍNDICE.Docx
    6 Jennifer Doudna: CRISPR-Cas9 Rocío Mondaca Marcelo, M. Blanca Nieto Ponce, Paula Ochoa Mejía and Julio Ramírez Guerrero Summary— Jennifer Doudna, a well-known scientist due to her excellent achievements, is a leading figure in what is referred to as the "CRISPR revolution" for her fundamental work and leadership in developing CRISPR-mediated genome editing. This was possible thanks to the previous description of the CRISPR system by Francisco Mojica. This article discusses some of the kinetics aspects related to the process in order to have a greater understanding of how this technique works. Furthermore, we have taken into account the ethical issues that arise with the creation of this innovative development. Key words— Jennifer Doudna, Ribozyme, Hepatitis Delta, CRISPR-Cas9, Kinetic model, RGN, Kcat, Koff —————————— ◆ —————————— 1. INTRODUCTION Ennifer Anne Doudna was born in Washington, D.C. on the first time. The project ended in 1996 at Yale University J February 19, 1964. She is an American biochemist, Pro- by announcing the three-dimensional structure of the fessor of Chemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology catalytic core of the Tetrahymena Group I ribozyme, a par- at the University of California, Berkeley. She has been an ticular type of catalytic RNA capable of removing introns investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through transesterifications and subsequently joining ad- (HHMI) since 1997 and since 2018 she has the position of jacent exons. It was a major achievement because before principal investigator at the Gladstone Institutes, as well as this, only a single RNA structure had been checked: trans- a professor at the University of California, San Francisco fer RNA (tRNA), which was much smaller and simpler than [1].
    [Show full text]
  • CRISPR-Based Strategies in Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Therapy
    Infection https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-020-01554-w REVIEW CRISPR‑based strategies in infectious disease diagnosis and therapy Alexandra Binnie1,2,3,4 · Emanuel Fernandes2,3 · Helder Almeida‑Lousada2,3,4 · Ramon Andrade de Mello2,3,5 · Pedro Castelo‑Branco2,3,4,6 Received: 19 June 2020 / Accepted: 6 November 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021 Abstract Purpose CRISPR gene-editing technology has the potential to transform the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, but most clinicians are unaware of its broad applicability. Derived from an ancient microbial defence system, these so-called “molecular scissors” enable precise gene editing with a low error rate. However, CRISPR systems can also be targeted against pathogenic DNA or RNA sequences. This potential is being combined with innovative delivery systems to develop new therapeutic approaches to infectious diseases. Methods We searched Pubmed and Google Scholar for CRISPR-based strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Reference lists were reviewed and synthesized for narrative review. Results CRISPR-based strategies represent a novel approach to many challenging infectious diseases. CRISPR technolo- gies can be harnessed to create rapid, low-cost diagnostic systems, as well as to identify drug-resistance genes. Therapeutic strategies, such as CRISPR systems that cleave integrated viral genomes or that target resistant bacteria, are in development. CRISPR-based therapies for emerging viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, have also been proposed. Finally, CRISPR systems can be used to reprogram human B cells to produce neutralizing antibodies. The risks of CRISPR-based therapies include of-target and on-target modifcations.
    [Show full text]
  • CRISPR-Cas9 Induced Genome Editing, New Hope for Plant Molecular Biology: a Review
    Journal of Genetics and Genetic Engineering Volume 1, Issue 1, 2017, PP 58-67 CRISPR-Cas9 Induced Genome Editing, New Hope for Plant Molecular Biology: A Review Kaushik Kumar Panigrahi*, Jyotshnarani Pradhan1, Rama Krishna Satyaraj Guru2, Abhiram Dash and Ayesha Mohanty Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, India. 1Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India. Indira Gandhi Krishi Viswavidyalya, Raipur, India. *Corresponding Author: Kaushik Kumar Panigrahi, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, India. ABSTRACT What makes CRISPR so revolutionary is that it’s incredibly precise, the Cas9 enzyme is highly site specific and will act only on desired location. And also it’s incredibly cheap and easy. In the past, it might have cost thousands of dollars and weeks or months of fiddling to alter a gene. The CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated proteins) system was first identified in bacteria and archaea and can degrade exogenous substrates. Gene editing itself isn’t new. Various techniques to knock out genes have been around for years. It was developed as a gene editing technology in 2013. CRISPR/Cas9 technology is evolved from a type-II bacterial immune system and represents a new generation of targeted genome editing technology that can be applied to nearly all organisms. For the first time, researchers have been able to detect and characterize the mechanism of action by which the CRISPR complex binds and cleaves DNA using electron microscopy. We have unlimited possibilities. CRISPR helps us see that GMO/non-GMO binaries are overly simplistic. This one tool can perform many DNA nips and tucks and can up-regulate or down-regulate genes in ways that are not transgenic — yet are by no means inconsequential.
    [Show full text]
  • CRISPR/Cas9: Principle, Applications, and Delivery Through Extracellular Vesicles
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review CRISPR/Cas9: Principle, Applications, and Delivery through Extracellular Vesicles Katarzyna Horodecka and Markus Düchler * Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, 112 Sienkiewicza Street, 90-363 Lodz, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-42-6803-220 Abstract: The establishment of CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9) technology for eukaryotic gene editing opened up new avenues not only for the analysis of gene function but also for therapeutic interventions. While the original methodology allowed for targeted gene disruption, recent technological advancements yielded a rich assortment of tools to modify genes and gene expression in various ways. Currently, clinical applications of this technology fell short of expectations mainly due to problems with the efficient and safe delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components to living organisms. The targeted in vivo delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids and proteins remain technically challenging and further limitations emerge, for instance, by unwanted off-target effects, immune reactions, toxicity, or rapid degradation of the transfer vehicles. One approach that might overcome many of these limitations employs extracellular vesicles as intercellular delivery devices. In this review, we first introduce the CRISPR/Cas9 system and its latest advancements, outline major applications, and summarize the current state of the art technology using exosomes or microvesicles for transporting CRISPR/Cas9 constituents into eukaryotic cells. Citation: Horodecka, K.; Düchler, M. Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; extracellular vesicles; exosomes; microvesicles CRISPR/Cas9: Principle, Applications, and Delivery through Extracellular Vesicles. Int. J. Mol. Sci.
    [Show full text]
  • CRISPR: the Movie Patents)
    Books & arts enabled CRISPR to edit animal DNA (this is the work at the centre of the Broad’s contested CRISPR: the movie patents). And although a montage of headlines shows a subsequent flurry of experiments in which scientists edit various organisms, little A documentary showcases biology’s hottest tool — up is said about how these studies have pushed forward fields ranging from evolutionary to the point when things went awry. By Amy Maxmen biology to agriculture. Nor do we learn about scientists’ continuing struggle to use CRISPR to insert genes in many organisms other than t the start of Human Nature, a docu- Human Nature mice and flies. Their attempts often fail, or mentary about the gene-editing tool Director: Adam Bolt (2019) result in side effects or death. CRISPR, we meet a young man with https://wondercollaborative.org/ The film-makers probably feared that audi- sickle-cell anaemia. David Sanchez is ences would grow weary of details. But I was wise beyond his years, driving home future generations could inherit. The film will hungry for an update on what scientists are Athe injustice of his gruelling blood infusions be educational for people who haven’t heard actually doing right now. That’s especially true and shortened lifespan. Researchers are test- of CRISPR before; little will be new for those when it comes to editing people. But rather ing a therapy for his condition in clinical trials who have. Having covered the story from the than dwell on a couple of dozen CRISPR-based using CRISPR. beginning, I enjoyed watching the who’s who therapies in the early stages of testing, the film This is a film probing the unknown future of CRISPR’s early years speak for themselves.
    [Show full text]
  • Crispr-Cas9, Biosafety and Bioethics: a Jusphilosophical and Environmental Analysis of Genetic Engineering
    http://dx.doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v16i34.1490 CRISPR-CAS9, BIOSAFETY AND BIOETHICS: A JUSPHILOSOPHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF GENETIC ENGINEERING Émilien Vilas Boas Reis PhD in Philosophy from Universidade do Porto (2014), Doctor in Philosophy from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (2010), Master of Philosophy from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (2006) and graduated in Philosophy at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2004). He is Associate Professor at the Escola Superior Dom Helder Câmara (Belo Horizonte) at graduate and postgraduate levels (master’s /doctorate). E-mail:[email protected] Bruno Torquato de Oliveira Doctor and Master in Law from PUC Minas, Professor of the Master’s Degree in Direito Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentável at Escola Superior Dom Helder Câmara (Belo Ho- rizonte). He is the coordinator of the specialization course in Direito Urbanístico e Ambiental at PUC Minas Virtual, professor at the graduation and specialization courses in Law at PUC Minas and at the Escola Superior Dom Helder Câmara and researcher at Centro de Estudos em Biodireito – CEBID (cebid.com.br). E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The new genetic engineering technique CRISPR-Cas9 projects benefits and risks of genetically manipulating and altering living organisms in order to bring about characteristics that are favorable to themselves and to humans. With an interdisciplinary method, involving Philosophy, Law, Biosafety and Bioethics, this paper aims to verify the consequences that the use of this technique can bring to the genetic nature of organisms, especially from the ethical and legal points of view.
    [Show full text]
  • Kevin-Davies.Pdf
    The CRISPR Revolution: From Reading to Editing Genomes One Health Research Symposium Kevin Davies PhD Kansas City Executive Editor, August 19, 2018 The CRISPR Journal C R I S P R CRISPR in the Public Eye “Are you familiar with CRISPR?” We’ve gone from reading DNA… April 14, 2003 “My Dear Michael… 19 March 1953 Jim Watson and I have probably made a most important discovery… Our structure is very beautiful. D.N.A. can be thought of roughly as a very long chain with flat bits sticking out. The flat bits are called the ‘bases’… … Lots of love, Daddy” Cas Kramer (Univ Leicester) Cost Per Genome “The Chemists’ Pub” Sir Shankar Balasubramanian & David Klenerman The Panton Arms | University of Cambridge, UK “Project Jim” Houston 31 May 2007 The Portable Sequencer Quick et al. Nature February 2016 … to writing DNA… Shao et al., Luo et al. Nature July 2018 … to editing DNA CRISPR-Cas9: Precision Editing of DNA CRISPR: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Francisco Mojica Salt Lakes of Santa Pola CRISPR is a naturally occurring, bacterial immune defense system that provides a means to recognize, remember and destroy viral invaders CRISPR Timeline Heroes of CRISPR Emmanuelle Charpentier Jennifer Doudna Feng Zhang (MIT/Broad Institute) Lights. Camera. Action… CUT! CRISPR-Cas9 visualized by high-speed atomic force microscopy M. Shibata, H. Nishmasu et al. Nature Communications 8, 1430 (2017) Hiroshi Nishimasu (Univ Tokyo) Lander’s essay “is his masterwork, at once so evil and yet so brilliant that I find it hard not to stand in awe even as I picture him cackling loudly in his Kendall Square lair, giant laser weapon behind him poised to destroy Berkeley if we don’t hand over our patents.” --- Michael Eisen (HHMI/UC Berkeley) CRISPR Business (Doudna) (Charpentier) (Zhang) CRISPR Gene Therapy ex vivo in situ The Scientist Genome Editing B.C.
    [Show full text]