Some of the best links we picked up around the internet
By: Gorm Palmgren - Jun. 25, 2021
Top picks
A new alternative to canonical CRISPR-knockout (KO) screens relies on cytosine base editing rather than Cas9-induced DNA double-strand breaks. The new method works by perturbing gene start codons or splice sites or introducing premature termination codons.
High editing and homology-directed repair (HDR) efficiencies are obtained with a new delivery system using dendrimer-based lipid nanoparticles (dLNPs). Each dLNP contain Cas9 mRNA, single-guide RNA, and donor DNA, and the weight ratios of the three nucleic acids are systematically optimised to increase efficiency.
Editas Medicine has started to enrol the first of two planned pediatric cohorts in the Phase 1/2 BRILLIANCE clinical trial of EDIT-101. EDIT-101 is intended to treat people with the blindness disease Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) by editing inherited mutations in the CEP290 gene.
ERASE is a new customised CRISPR lateral flow strip for use in a simple, rapid, ultrasensitive, and highly specific assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection. ERASE can detect down to 1 copy/μL with 90.7% positive predictive agreement and 99.2% negative predictive agreement.
A review looks at the various methods for using CRISPR-Cas13-based platforms for COVID-19 diagnostics. Detailed and illustrated descriptions of assays like SHERLOCK, SHINE and CREST are given as well as a discussion of challenges and opportunities of point-of-care testing by CRISPR-Cas13 sensors.
Reviews
The diversification of the CRISPR toolbox is the subject of a review that explores the broad range of CRISPR applications. Among the applications beyond gene editing, the review mentions controlling gene expression, imaging and diagnostics, and it also takes a look at methods to perform quality control of primary outcomes.
The challenges and opportunities of CRISPR-based molecular biosensing is the subject of a review. The review focuses upon future advancements required to enable rapid, simple, sensitive, specific, multiplexed, amplification-free, and shelf-stable CRISPR-based molecular biosensors.
Opinion
"When is it Safe to Edit the Human Germline" is the title of a philosophical study by Janella Baxter, a PhD in philosophy. Baxter sets off with Jiankui He's two CRISPR babies and argues that the recent policy proposals to regulate human germline gene editing are inadequate.
CRISPR-Act3.0 is a new robust CRISPR activation system for simultaneous activation of multiple genes in plants, namely rice, Arabidopsis and tomato. CRISPR-Act3.0 is based on dCas9 and a sgRNA scaffold that includes several MS2 RNA aptamers that can bind multiple VP64-activators. Up to seven genes could be detected simultaneously, and activation was fourfold to sixfold higher than other state-of-the-art systems.