1
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Yang H, Patel DJ. Structures, mechanisms and applications of RNA-centric CRISPR-Cas13. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:673-688. [PMID: 38702571 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01593-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Prokaryotes are equipped with a variety of resistance strategies to survive frequent viral attacks or invading mobile genetic elements. Among these, CRISPR-Cas surveillance systems are abundant and have been studied extensively. This Review focuses on CRISPR-Cas type VI Cas13 systems that use single-subunit RNA-guided Cas endonucleases for targeting and subsequent degradation of foreign RNA, thereby providing adaptive immunity. Notably, distinct from single-subunit DNA-cleaving Cas9 and Cas12 systems, Cas13 exhibits target RNA-activated substrate RNase activity. This Review outlines structural, biochemical and cell biological studies toward elucidation of the unique structural and mechanistic principles underlying surveillance effector complex formation, precursor CRISPR RNA (pre-crRNA) processing, self-discrimination and RNA degradation in Cas13 systems as well as insights into suppression by bacteriophage-encoded anti-CRISPR proteins and regulation by endogenous accessory proteins. Owing to its programmable ability for RNA recognition and cleavage, Cas13 provides powerful RNA targeting, editing, detection and imaging platforms with emerging biotechnological and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory of RNA Innovation, Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dinshaw J Patel
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Qin M, Deng C, Wen L, Luo G, Meng Y. CRISPR-Cas and CRISPR-based screening system for precise gene editing and targeted cancer therapy. J Transl Med 2024; 22:516. [PMID: 38816739 PMCID: PMC11138051 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05235-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Target cancer therapy has been developed for clinical cancer treatment based on the discovery of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) -Cas system. This forefront and cutting-edge scientific technique improves the cancer research into molecular level and is currently widely utilized in genetic investigation and clinical precision cancer therapy. In this review, we summarized the genetic modification by CRISPR/Cas and CRISPR screening system, discussed key components for successful CRISPR screening, including Cas enzymes, guide RNA (gRNA) libraries, target cells or organs. Furthermore, we focused on the application for CAR-T cell therapy, drug target, drug screening, or drug selection in both ex vivo and in vivo with CRISPR screening system. In addition, we elucidated the advantages and potential obstacles of CRISPR system in precision clinical medicine and described the prospects for future genetic therapy.In summary, we provide a comprehensive and practical perspective on the development of CRISPR/Cas and CRISPR screening system for the treatment of cancer defects, aiming to further improve the precision and accuracy for clinical treatment and individualized gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Qin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Foshan Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Foshan Women and Children Hospital), Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Chunhao Deng
- Chinese Medicine and Translational Medicine R&D center, Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519031, China
| | - Liewei Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China
| | - Guoqun Luo
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Foshan Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Foshan Women and Children Hospital), Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China.
| | - Ya Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China.
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3
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Miranda LS, Rudd SR, Mena O, Hudspeth PE, Barboza-Corona JE, Park HW, Bideshi DK. The Perpetual Vector Mosquito Threat and Its Eco-Friendly Nemeses. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:182. [PMID: 38534451 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are the most notorious arthropod vectors of viral and parasitic diseases for which approximately half the world's population, ~4,000,000,000, is at risk. Integrated pest management programs (IPMPs) have achieved some success in mitigating the regional transmission and persistence of these diseases. However, as many vector-borne diseases remain pervasive, it is obvious that IPMP successes have not been absolute in eradicating the threat imposed by mosquitoes. Moreover, the expanding mosquito geographic ranges caused by factors related to climate change and globalization (travel, trade, and migration), and the evolution of resistance to synthetic pesticides, present ongoing challenges to reducing or eliminating the local and global burden of these diseases, especially in economically and medically disadvantaged societies. Abatement strategies include the control of vector populations with synthetic pesticides and eco-friendly technologies. These "green" technologies include SIT, IIT, RIDL, CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive, and biological control that specifically targets the aquatic larval stages of mosquitoes. Regarding the latter, the most effective continues to be the widespread use of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ls) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti). Here, we present a review of the health issues elicited by vector mosquitoes, control strategies, and lastly, focus on the biology of Ls and Bti, with an emphasis on the latter, to which no resistance has been observed in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Silva Miranda
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Sarah Renee Rudd
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Integrated Biomedical Graduate Studies, and School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Oscar Mena
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Piper Eden Hudspeth
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - José E Barboza-Corona
- Departmento de Alimentos, Posgrado en Biociencias, Universidad de Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato 36500, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
| | - Dennis Ken Bideshi
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
- Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92504, USA
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4
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Shi P, Wu X. Programmable RNA targeting with CRISPR-Cas13. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-9. [PMID: 38764173 PMCID: PMC11110701 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2351657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 system has enabled precise engineering of endogenous RNAs, significantly advancing our understanding of RNA regulation and the development of RNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This review aims to provide a summary of Cas13-based RNA targeting tools and applications, discuss limitations and challenges of existing tools and suggest potential directions for further development of the RNA targeting system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiguo Shi
- Department of Medicine and Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xuebing Wu
- Department of Medicine and Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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5
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Wang B, Yang H. Progress of CRISPR-based programmable RNA manipulation and detection. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1804. [PMID: 37282821 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Prokaryotic clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR associated (CRISPR-Cas) systems provide adaptive immunity by using RNA-guided endonucleases to recognize and eliminate invading foreign nucleic acids. Type II Cas9, type V Cas12, type VI Cas13, and type III Csm/Cmr complexes have been well characterized and developed as programmable platforms for selectively targeting and manipulating RNA molecules of interest in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. These Cas effectors exhibit remarkable diversity of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) composition, target recognition and cleavage mechanisms, and self discrimination mechanisms, which are leveraged for various RNA targeting applications. Here, we summarize the current understanding of mechanistic and functional characteristics of these Cas effectors, give an overview on RNA detection and manipulation toolbox established so far including knockdown, editing, imaging, modification, and mapping RNA-protein interactions, and discuss the future directions for CRISPR-based RNA targeting tools. This article is categorized under: RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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6
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Weng SC, Antoshechkin I, Marois E, Akbari OS. Efficient sex separation by exploiting differential alternative splicing of a dominant marker in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011065. [PMID: 38011259 PMCID: PMC10703412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Only female mosquitoes consume blood giving them the opportunity to transmit deadly human pathogens. Therefore, it is critical to remove females before conducting releases for genetic biocontrol interventions. Here we describe a robust sex-sorting approach termed SEPARATOR (Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter) that exploits sex-specific alternative splicing of an innocuous reporter to ensure exclusive dominant male-specific expression. Using SEPARATOR, we demonstrate reliable sex selection from early larval and pupal stages in Aedes aegypti, and use a Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS) to demonstrate scalable high-throughput sex-selection of first instar larvae. Additionally, we use this approach to sequence the transcriptomes of early larval males and females and find several genes that are sex-specifically expressed. SEPARATOR can simplify mass production of males for release programs and is designed to be cross-species portable and should be instrumental for genetic biocontrol interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Che Weng
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Igor Antoshechkin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Eric Marois
- CNRS UPR9022, INSERM U1257, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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7
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Weng SC, Antoshechkin I, Marois E, Akbari OS. Efficient Sex Separation by Exploiting Differential Alternative Splicing of a Dominant Marker in Aedes aegypti. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.16.545348. [PMID: 37398094 PMCID: PMC10312783 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.16.545348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Only female mosquitoes consume blood and transmit deadly human pathogens. Therefore, it is critical to remove females before conducting releases for genetic biocontrol interventions. Here we describe a robust sex-sorting approach termed SEPARATOR (Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter) that exploits sex-specific alternative splicing of an innocuous reporter to ensure exclusive dominant male-specific expression. Using SEPARATOR, we demonstrate reliable sex selection from larval and pupal stages in Aedes aegypti, and use a Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS®) to demonstrate scalable high-throughput sex-selection of first instar larvae. Additionally, we use this approach to sequence the transcriptomes of early larval males and females and find several genes that are sex-specifically expressed in males. SEPARATOR can simplify mass production of males for release programs and is designed to be cross-species portable and should be instrumental for genetic biocontrol interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Che Weng
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Igor Antoshechkin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125, USA
| | - Eric Marois
- CNRS UPR9022, INSERM U1257, Université de Strasbourg, France
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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8
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Bot JF, van der Oost J, Geijsen N. The double life of CRISPR-Cas13. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 78:102789. [PMID: 36115160 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Since the discovery of RNA-programmable nucleases from the prokaryotic adaptive immune system CRISPR-Cas, these proteins have seen rapid and widespread adoption for biotechnological and clinical research. A recently discovered system, CRISPR-Cas13, uses CRISPR RNA guides to target RNA. Interestingly, RNA targeting by Cas13 results in cleavage of both target RNA and bystander RNA. This feature has been used to develop innovative diagnostic tools for the detection of specific RNAs. Unlike in vitro detection of RNA using collateral RNA cleavage, however, initial studies of mammalian cells only revealed highly specific target RNA-knockdown activity. Although these findings have been confirmed subsequently, several recent publications do report Cas13-mediated toxicity and collateral RNA cleavage when using Cas13 in eukaryotes. Here, we review these conflicting observations and discuss its potential molecular basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorik F Bot
- Dept. of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Leiden node, the Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Niels Geijsen
- Dept. of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Leiden node, the Netherlands.
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9
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Harvey-Samuel T, Xu X, Anderson MAE, Carabajal Paladino LZ, Purusothaman D, Norman VC, Reitmayer CM, You M, Alphey L. Silencing RNAs expressed from W-linked PxyMasc "retrocopies" target that gene during female sex determination in Plutella xylostella. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2206025119. [PMID: 36343250 PMCID: PMC9674220 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206025119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Lepidoptera are an insect order of cultural, economic, and environmental importance, representing ∼10% of all described living species. Yet, for all but one of these species (silkmoth, Bombyx mori), the molecular genetics of how sexual fate is determined remains unknown. We investigated this in the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a globally important, highly invasive, and economically damaging pest of cruciferous crops. Our previous work uncovered a regulator of male sex determination in P. xylostella-PxyMasc, a homolog of B. mori Masculinizer-which, although initially expressed in embryos of both sexes, is then reduced in female embryos, leading to female-specific splicing of doublesex. Here, through sequencing small RNA libraries generated from early embryos and sexed larval pools, we identified a variety of small silencing RNAs (predominantly Piwi-interacting RNAs [piRNAs]) complementary to PxyMasc, whose temporal expression correlated with the reduction in PxyMasc transcript observed previously in females. Analysis of these small RNAs showed that they are expressed from tandemly arranged, multicopy arrays found exclusively on the W (female-specific) chromosome, which we term "Pxyfem". Analysis of the Pxyfem sequences showed that they are partial complementary DNAs (cDNAs) of PxyMasc messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, likely integrated into transposable element graveyards by the noncanonical action of retrotransposons (retrocopies), and that their apparent similarity to B. mori feminizer more probably represents convergent evolution. Our study helps elucidate the sex determination cascade in this globally important pest and highlights the "shortcuts" that retrotransposition events can facilitate in the evolution of complex molecular cascades, including sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Pirbright GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | | | | | - Deepak Purusothaman
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Pirbright GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria. C. Norman
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Pirbright GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
| | - Christine. M. Reitmayer
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Pirbright GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Pirbright GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
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10
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Applications of CRISPR/Cas13-Based RNA Editing in Plants. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172665. [PMID: 36078073 PMCID: PMC9454418 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) system is widely used as a genome-editing tool in various organisms, including plants, to elucidate the fundamental understanding of gene function, disease diagnostics, and crop improvement. Among the CRISPR/Cas systems, Cas9 is one of the widely used nucleases for DNA modifications, but manipulation of RNA at the post-transcriptional level is limited. The recently identified type VI CRISPR/Cas systems provide a platform for precise RNA manipulation without permanent changes to the genome. Several studies reported efficient application of Cas13 in RNA studies, such as viral interference, RNA knockdown, and RNA detection in various organisms. Cas13 was also used to produce virus resistance in plants, as most plant viruses are RNA viruses. However, the application of CRISPR/Cas13 to studies of plant RNA biology is still in its infancy. This review discusses the current and prospective applications of CRISPR/Cas13-based RNA editing technologies in plants.
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11
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CRISPR-Based Programmable Nucleic Acid-Binding Protein Technology Can Specifically Detect Fatal Tropical Disease-Causing Pathogens. J Trop Med 2022; 2022:5390685. [PMID: 36199433 PMCID: PMC9529443 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5390685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Diagnostic approaches capable of ultrasensitive pathogen detection from low-volume clinical samples, running without any sophisticated instrument and laboratory setup, are easily field-deployable, inexpensive, and rapid, and are considered ideal for monitoring disease progression and surveillance. However, standard pathogen detection methods, including culture and microscopic observation, antibody-based serologic tests, and primarily polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-oriented nucleic acid screening techniques, have shortcomings that limit their widespread use in responding to outbreaks and regular diagnosis, especially in remote resource-limited settings (RLSs). Recently, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based programmable technology has emerged to challenge the unmet criteria of conventional methods. It consists of CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) capable of targeting virtually any specific RNA or DNA genome based on the guide RNA (gRNA) sequence. Furthermore, the discovery of programmable trans-cleavage Cas proteins like Cas12a and Cas13 that can collaterally damage reporter-containing single-stranded DNA or RNA upon formation of target Cas-gRNA complex has strengthened this technology with enhanced sensitivity. Current advances, including automated multiplexing, ultrasensitive single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based screening, inexpensive paper-based lateral flow readouts, and ease of use in remote global settings, have attracted the scientific community to introduce this technology in nucleic acid-based precise detection of bacterial and viral pathogens at the point of care (POC). This review highlights CRISPR-Cas-based molecular technologies in diagnosing several tropical diseases, namely malaria, zika, chikungunya, human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS), tuberculosis (TB), and rabies.
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Zhang D, Peng C, Li C, Li Y, Zhang H, Li N, Xiao P. Metavirome Analysis of Culex tritaeniorhynchus Reveals Novel Japanese Encephalitis Virus and Chikungunya Virus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:938576. [PMID: 35846772 PMCID: PMC9280054 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.938576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To explore the Culex tritaeniorhynchuses–specific virome, 6400 C. tritaeniorhynchuses were collected in Honghe autonomous prefecture, China. Abundant virus sequences were obtained from 28 viral families using metavirome sequencing. Herein, several viruses in C. tritaeniorhynchuses virome were verified using the PCR technique, which covers Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Getah virus, and even Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Seven JEV gene sequences were amplified successfully, of which JEV-China/CT2016E-1 shared the highest homology with the known JEV sequence isolated in Korea, 1946, with at least 96.1% nucleotide (nt) identity, which belonged to genotype III. Nine CHIKV gene sequences were amplified, which shared the highest with at least 93.0% nt identity with CHIKV from Thailand isolated in 2007, which was assigned to genotype Asian. Remarkably, CHIKV was isolated from C. tritaeniorhynchus in China for the first time. It was initially confirmed that the isolated virus CHIKV-China/CT2016-1 may increase infectivity after passaging in Vero cells from BHK-21 cells. Collectively, our study reveals the diversity, properties, and potential virus susceptibility dynamics of the C. tritaeniorhynchus virome and sheds new perspectives on the viral ecology in other important biological vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Zhang
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory for Virology and Immunology, Institute of Virology, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chengcheng Peng
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory for Virology and Immunology, Institute of Virology, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chenghui Li
- College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Yiquan Li
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - He Zhang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Nan Li
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory for Virology and Immunology, Institute of Virology, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Li, ; Pengpeng Xiao,
| | - Pengpeng Xiao
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory for Virology and Immunology, Institute of Virology, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Li, ; Pengpeng Xiao,
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13
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Xue Y, Chen Z, Zhang W, Zhang J. Engineering CRISPR/Cas13 System against RNA Viruses: From Diagnostics to Therapeutics. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9070291. [PMID: 35877342 PMCID: PMC9312194 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9070291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, RNA viruses have been threatened people’s health and led to global health emergencies. Significant progress has been made in diagnostic methods and antiviral therapeutics for combating RNA viruses. ELISA and RT-qPCR are reliable methods to detect RNA viruses, but they suffer from time-consuming procedures and limited sensitivities. Vaccines are effective to prevent virus infection and drugs are useful for antiviral treatment, while both need a relatively long research and development cycle. In recent years, CRISPR-based gene editing and modifying tools have been expanded rapidly. In particular, the CRISPR-Cas13 system stands out from the CRISPR-Cas family due to its accurate RNA-targeting ability, which makes it a promising tool for RNA virus diagnosis and therapy. Here, we review the current applications of the CRISPR-Cas13 system against RNA viruses, from diagnostics to therapeutics, and use some medically important RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, dengue virus, and HIV-1 as examples to demonstrate the great potential of the CRISPR-Cas13 system.
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14
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Tng PYL, Carabajal Paladino LZ, Anderson MAE, Adelman ZN, Fragkoudis R, Noad R, Alphey L. Intron-derived small RNAs for silencing viral RNAs in mosquito cells. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010548. [PMID: 35737714 PMCID: PMC9258879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the main vectors of mosquito-borne viruses of medical and veterinary significance. Many of these viruses have RNA genomes. Exogenously provided, e.g. transgene encoded, small RNAs could be used to inhibit virus replication, breaking the transmission cycle. We tested, in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus cell lines, reporter-based strategies for assessing the ability of two types of small RNAs to inhibit a chikungunya virus (CHIKV) derived target. Both types of small RNAs use a Drosophila melanogaster pre-miRNA-1 based hairpin for their expression, either with perfect base-pairing in the stem region (shRNA-like) or containing two mismatches (miRNA-like). The pre-miRNA-1 stem loop structure was encoded within an intron; this allows co-expression of one or more proteins, e.g. a fluorescent protein marker tracking the temporal and spatial expression of the small RNAs in vivo. Three reporter-based systems were used to assess the relative silencing efficiency of ten shRNA-like siRNAs and corresponding miRNA-like designs. Two systems used a luciferase reporter RNA with CHIKV RNA inserted either in the coding sequence or within the 3’ UTR. A third reporter used a CHIKV derived split replication system. All three reporters demonstrated that while silencing could be achieved with both miRNA-like and shRNA-like designs, the latter were substantially more effective. Dcr-2 was required for the shRNA-like siRNAs as demonstrated by loss of inhibition of the reporters in Dcr-2 deficient cell lines. These positive results in cell culture are encouraging for the potential use of this pre-miRNA-1-based system in transgenic mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are important globally, spreading viral diseases worldwide. Chikungunya virus causes epidemics of disease in people. Here we have investigated using two types of small RNAs and pathways inherent in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to target a piece of the chikungunya virus’s genome, potentially preventing viral replication. We express these small RNAs using a pre-miRNA-1 based system, inserted into the intron within a commonly used promoter. We have used reporter systems in cell lines which can give preliminary indications of how these systems might work in mosquitoes. Our results indicate that short-hairpin-like designs are more effective than micro-RNA-like designs at knocking down expression of their targets. This knock-down requires Dcr-2 indicating that the short-hairpin-like RNAs are likely using the endo-siRNA pathway to degrade mRNA which contains their complementary RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Y. L. Tng
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Zach N. Adelman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rennos Fragkoudis
- Arbovirus Pathogenesis Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Noad
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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15
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Sharma VK, Marla S, Zheng W, Mishra D, Huang J, Zhang W, Morris GP, Cook DE. CRISPR guides induce gene silencing in plants in the absence of Cas. Genome Biol 2022; 23:6. [PMID: 34980227 PMCID: PMC8722000 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02586-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas can provide potential advantages over DNA editing, such as avoiding pleiotropic effects of genome editing, providing precise spatiotemporal regulation, and expanded function including antiviral immunity. RESULTS Here, we report the use of CRISPR-Cas13 in plants to reduce both viral and endogenous RNA. Unexpectedly, we observe that crRNA designed to guide Cas13 could, in the absence of the Cas13 protein, cause substantial reduction in RNA levels as well. We demonstrate Cas13-independent guide-induced gene silencing (GIGS) in three plant species, including stable transgenic Arabidopsis. Small RNA sequencing during GIGS identifies the production of small RNA that extend beyond the crRNA expressed sequence in samples expressing multi-guide crRNA. Additionally, we demonstrate that mismatches in guide sequences at position 10 and 11 abolish GIGS. Finally, we show that GIGS is elicited by guides that lack the Cas13 direct repeat and can extend to Cas9 designed crRNA of at least 28 base pairs, indicating that GIGS can be elicited through a variety of guide designs and is not dependent on Cas13 crRNA sequences or design. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results suggest that GIGS utilizes endogenous RNAi machinery despite the fact that crRNA are unlike canonical triggers of RNAi such as miRNA, hairpins, or long double-stranded RNA. Given similar evidence of Cas13-independent silencing in an insect system, it is likely GIGS is active across many eukaryotes. Our results show that GIGS offers a novel and flexible approach to RNA reduction with potential benefits over existing technologies for crop improvement and functional genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandeep Marla
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Wenguang Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Divya Mishra
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | | | - David Edward Cook
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
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16
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Baddeley HJE, Isalan M. The Application of CRISPR/Cas Systems for Antiviral Therapy. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:745559. [PMID: 34723245 PMCID: PMC8549726 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.745559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As CRISPR/Cas systems have been refined over time, there has been an effort to apply them to real world problems, such as developing sequence-targeted antiviral therapies. Viruses pose a major threat to humans and new tools are urgently needed to combat these rapidly mutating pathogens. Importantly, a variety of CRISPR systems have the potential to directly cleave DNA and RNA viral genomes, in a targeted and easily-adaptable manner, thus preventing or treating infections. This perspective article highlights recent studies using different Cas effectors against various RNA viruses causing acute infections in humans; a latent virus (HIV-1); a chronic virus (hepatitis B); and viruses infecting livestock and animal species of industrial importance. The outlook and remaining challenges are discussed, particularly in the context of tacking newly emerging viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen J E Baddeley
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Isalan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Kordyś M, Sen R, Warkocki Z. Applications of the versatile CRISPR-Cas13 RNA targeting system. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 13:e1694. [PMID: 34553495 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas are adaptable natural prokaryotic defense systems that act against invading viruses and plasmids. Among the six currently known major CRISPR-Cas types, the type VI CRISPR-Cas13 is the only one known to exclusively bind and cleave foreign RNA. Within the last couple of years, this system has been adapted to serve numerous, and sometimes not obvious, applications, including some that might be developed as effective molecular therapies. Indeed, Cas13 has been adapted to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In a cell-free environment, Cas13 has been used in the development of highly specific, sensitive, multiplexing-capable, and field-adaptable detection tools. Importantly, Cas13 can be reprogrammed and applied to eukaryotes to either combat pathogenic RNA viruses or in the regulation of gene expression, facilitating the knockdown of mRNA, circular RNA, and noncoding RNA. Furthermore, Cas13 has been harnessed for in vivo RNA modifications including programmable regulation of alternative splicing, A-to-I and C to U editing, and m6A modifications. Finally, approaches allowing for the detection and characterization of RNA-interacting proteins have also been demonstrated. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the applications utilizing CRISPR-Cas13 that illustrate its versatility. We also discuss the most important limitations of the CRISPR-Cas13-based technologies, and controversies regarding them. This article is categorized under: RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Kordyś
- Department of RNA Metabolism, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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18
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Nguyen H, Wilson H, Jayakumar S, Kulkarni V, Kulkarni S. Efficient Inhibition of HIV Using CRISPR/Cas13d Nuclease System. Viruses 2021; 13:1850. [PMID: 34578431 PMCID: PMC8473377 DOI: 10.3390/v13091850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently discovered Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas13 proteins are programmable RNA-guided ribonucleases that target single-stranded RNA (ssRNA). CRISPR/Cas13-mediated RNA targeting has emerged as a powerful tool for detecting and eliminating RNA viruses. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of CRISPR/Cas13d to inhibit HIV-1 replication. We designed guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting highly conserved regions of HIV-1. RfxCas13d (CasRx) in combination with HIV-specific gRNAs efficiently inhibited HIV-1 replication in cell line models. Furthermore, simultaneous targeting of four distinct, non-overlapping sites in the HIV-1 transcript resulted in robust inhibition of HIV-1 replication. We also show the effective HIV-1 inhibition in primary CD4+ T-cells and suppression of HIV-1 reactivated from latently infected cells using the CRISPR/Cas13d system. Our study demonstrates the utility of the CRISPR/Cas13d nuclease system to target acute and latent HIV infection and provides an alternative treatment modality against HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Nguyen
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA; (H.N.); (H.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Hannah Wilson
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA; (H.N.); (H.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Sahana Jayakumar
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA; (H.N.); (H.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Viraj Kulkarni
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program; Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA;
| | - Smita Kulkarni
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA; (H.N.); (H.W.); (S.J.)
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19
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Perčulija V, Lin J, Zhang B, Ouyang S. Functional Features and Current Applications of the RNA-Targeting Type VI CRISPR-Cas Systems. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2004685. [PMID: 34254038 PMCID: PMC8209922 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems are a form of prokaryotic adaptive immunity that employs RNA-guided endonucleases (Cas effectors) to cleave foreign genetic elements. Due to their simplicity, targeting programmability, and efficiency, single-effector CRISPR-Cas systems have great potential for application in research, biotechnology, and therapeutics. While DNA-targeting Cas effectors such as Cas9 and Cas12a have become indispensable tools for genome editing in the past decade, the more recent discovery of RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas systems has opened the door for implementation of CRISPR-Cas technology in RNA manipulation. With an increasing number of studies reporting their application in transcriptome engineering, viral interference, nucleic acid detection, and RNA imaging, type VI CRISPR-Cas systems and the associated Cas13 effectors particularly hold promise as RNA-targeting or RNA-binding tools. However, even though previous structural and biochemical characterization provided a firm basis for leveraging type VI CRISPR-Cas systems into such tools, the lack of comprehension of certain mechanisms underlying their functions hinders more sophisticated and conventional use. This review will summarize current knowledge on structural and mechanistic properties of type VI CRISPR-Cas systems, give an overview on the reported applications, and discuss functional features that need further investigation in order to improve performance of Cas13-based tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanja Perčulija
- The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian ProvinceProvincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic RegulationBiomedical Research Center of South ChinaKey Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life SciencesFujian Normal UniversityFuzhou350117China
- International College of Chinese StudiesFujian Normal UniversityFuzhou350117China
| | - Jinying Lin
- The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian ProvinceProvincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic RegulationBiomedical Research Center of South ChinaKey Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life SciencesFujian Normal UniversityFuzhou350117China
| | - Bo Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian ProvinceProvincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic RegulationBiomedical Research Center of South ChinaKey Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life SciencesFujian Normal UniversityFuzhou350117China
| | - Songying Ouyang
- The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian ProvinceProvincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic RegulationBiomedical Research Center of South ChinaKey Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life SciencesFujian Normal UniversityFuzhou350117China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and BiotechnologyPilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao)Qingdao266237China
- National Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesInstitute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
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20
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Abstract
Despite numerous viral outbreaks in the last decade, including a devastating global pandemic, diagnostic and therapeutic technologies remain severely lacking. CRISPR-Cas systems have the potential to address these critical needs in the response against infectious disease. Initially discovered as the bacterial adaptive immune system, these systems provide a unique opportunity to create programmable, sequence-specific technologies for detection of viral nucleic acids and inhibition of viral replication. This review summarizes how CRISPR-Cas systems-in particular the recently discovered DNA-targeting Cas12 and RNA-targeting Cas13, both possessing a unique trans-cleavage activity-are being harnessed for viral diagnostics and therapies. We further highlight the numerous technologies whose development has accelerated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Freije
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA,Ph.D. Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Pardis C. Sabeti
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA,Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Corresponding author
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21
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Tng PYL, Carabajal Paladino L, Verkuijl SAN, Purcell J, Merits A, Leftwich PT, Fragkoudis R, Noad R, Alphey L. Cas13b-dependent and Cas13b-independent RNA knockdown of viral sequences in mosquito cells following guide RNA expression. Commun Biol 2020; 3:413. [PMID: 32737398 PMCID: PMC7395101 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are vectors of the RNA viruses chikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue that currently have no specific therapeutic treatments. The development of new methods to generate virus-refractory mosquitoes would be beneficial. Cas13b is an enzyme that uses RNA guides to target and cleave RNA molecules and has been reported to suppress RNA viruses in mammalian and plant cells. We investigated the potential use of the Prevotella sp. P5-125 Cas13b system to provide viral refractoriness in mosquito cells, using a virus-derived reporter and a CHIKV split replication system. Cas13b in combination with suitable guide RNAs could induce strong suppression of virus-derived reporter RNAs in insect cells. Surprisingly, the RNA guides alone (without Cas13b) also gave substantial suppression. Our study provides support for the potential use of Cas13b in mosquitoes, but also caution in interpreting CRISPR/Cas data as we show that guide RNAs can have Cas-independent effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Ying Lei Tng
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | | | - Sebald Alexander Nkosana Verkuijl
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Jessica Purcell
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andres Merits
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, Tartu, 50411, Estonia
| | - Philip Thomas Leftwich
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Rennos Fragkoudis
- Arbovirus Pathogenesis, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
- The University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Rob Noad
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK.
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