Microbial single-strand annealing proteins enable CRISPR gene-editing tools with improved knock-in efficiencies and reduced off-target effects

Unlocking the potential of iPSC-derived immune cells: engineering iNK and iT cells for cutting-edge immunotherapy

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a revolutionary tool in cell therapies due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types, unlimited supply, and potential as off-the-shelf cell products. New advances in iPSC-derived immune cells have generated potent iNK and iT cells which showed robust killing of cancer cells in animal models and clinical trials. With the advent of advanced genome editing technologies that enable the development of highly engineered cells, here we outline 12 strategies to engineer iPSCs to overcome limitations and challenges of current cell-based immunotherapies, including safety switches, stealth edits, avoiding graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), targeting, reduced lymphodepletion, efficient differentiation, increased in vivo persistence, stemness, metabolic fitness, homing/trafficking, and overcoming suppressive tumor microenvironment and stromal cell barrier. With the development of advanced genome editing techniques, it is now possible to insert large DNA sequences into precise genomic locations without the need for DNA double strand breaks, enabling the potential for multiplexed knock out and insertion. These technological breakthroughs have made it possible to engineer complex cell therapy products at unprecedented speed and efficiency. The combination of iPSC derived iNK, iT and advanced gene editing techniques provides new opportunities and could lead to a new era for next generation of cell immunotherapies.

Adenoviral Vector System: A Comprehensive Overview of Constructions, Therapeutic Applications and Host Responses

Adenoviral vectors are crucial for gene therapy and vaccine development, offering a platform for gene delivery into host cells. Since the discovery of adenoviruses, first-generation vectors with limited capacity have evolved to third-generation vectors flacking viral coding sequences, balancing safety and gene-carrying capacity. The applications of adenoviral vectors for gene therapy and anti-viral treatments have expanded through the use of in vitro ligation and homologous recombination, along with gene editing advancements such as CRISPR-Cas9. Current research aims to maintain the efficacy and safety of adenoviral vectors by addressing challenges such as pre-existing immunity against adenoviral vectors and developing new adenoviral vectors from rare adenovirus types and non-human species. In summary, adenoviral vectors have great potential in gene therapy and vaccine development. Through continuous research and technological advancements, these vectors are expected to lead to the development of safer and more effective treatments.

Development of multiplexed orthogonal base editor (MOBE) systems

Base editors (BEs) enable efficient, programmable installation of point mutations while avoiding the use of double-strand breaks. Simultaneous application of two or more different BEs, such as an adenine BE (which converts A·T base pairs to G·C) and a cytosine BE (which converts C·G base pairs to T·A), is not feasible because guide RNA crosstalk results in non-orthogonal editing, with all BEs modifying all target loci. Here we engineer both adenine BEs and cytosine BEs that can be orthogonally multiplexed by using RNA aptamer-coat protein systems to recruit the DNA-modifying enzymes directly to the guide RNAs. We generate four multiplexed orthogonal BE systems that enable rates of precise co-occurring edits of up to 7.1% in the same DNA strand without enrichment or selection strategies. The addition of a fluorescent enrichment strategy increases co-occurring edit rates up to 24.8% in human cells. These systems are compatible with expanded protospacer adjacent motif and high-fidelity Cas9 variants, function well in multiple cell types, have equivalent or reduced off-target propensities compared with their parental systems and can model disease-relevant point mutation combinations.

Retron Library Recombineering: Next Powerful Tool for Genome Editing after CRISPR/Cas

Retron library recombineering (RLR) is a powerful tool in the field of genome editing that exceeds the scope and specificity of the CRISPR/Cas technique. In RLR, single-stranded DNA produced in vivo by harnessing the in-built potential of bacterial retrons is used for replication-dependent genome editing. RLR introduces several genomic variations at once, resulting in pooled and barcoded variant libraries, thus permitting multiplexed applications. Retron-generated RT-DNA has already shown promise for use in genome editing. Thus, this new tool will result in fresh, intriguing, and surprising developments in molecular biology and its juncture with other disciplines of research, including medicine, agriculture, and microbiology. In this review, we discuss the current state of this brand-new tool that could eventually boost genome editing research.

The dCas9-based genome editing in Plasmodium yoelii

Genetic editing is a powerful tool for functional characterization of genes in various organisms. With its simplicity and specificity, the CRISPR-Cas9 technology has become a popular editing tool, which introduces site-specific DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), and then leverages the endogenous repair pathway for DSB repair via homology-directed repair (HDR) or the more error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways. However, in the Plasmodium parasites, the lack of a typical NHEJ pathway selects for DSB repair through the HDR pathway when a homologous DNA template is available. The AT-rich nature of the Plasmodium genome exacerbates this drawback by making it difficult to clone longer homologous repair DNA templates. To circumvent these challenges, we adopted the hybrid catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9)-microbial single-stranded annealing proteins (SSAP) editor to the Plasmodium genome. In Plasmodium yoelii, we demonstrated the use of the dCas9-SSAP, as the cleavage-free gene editor, by targeted gene deletion and gene tagging, even using shorter homologous DNA templates. This dCas9-SSAP method with a shorter DNA template, which did not require DSBs, independent of HDR and NHEJ, would be a great addition to the existing genetic toolbox and could be deployed for the functional characterization of genes in Plasmodium, contributing to improving the ability of the malaria research community in characterizing more than half of genes with unknown functions.IMPORTANCEMalaria caused by Plasmodium parasites infection remains a serious threat to human health, with an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths worldwide in 2022, according to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Here, we demonstrated the use of dCas9-single-stranded annealing protein, as the cleavage-free gene editor in Plasmodium yoelii, by targeted deletion and gene tagging, even using shorter homologous DNA templates. This method with a shorter DNA template, which did not require DSBs, independent of HDR and NHEJ, showing the potential significance in greatly improving our ability to elucidate gene functions, would contribute to assisting the malaria research community in deciphering more than half of genes with unknown functions to identify new drug and vaccine targets.

Recent advances in CRISPR-Cas9-based genome insertion technologies

Programmable genome insertion (or knock-in) is vital for both fundamental and translational research. The continuously expanding number of CRISPR-based genome insertion strategies demonstrates the ongoing development in this field. Common methods for site-specific genome insertion rely on cellular double-strand breaks repair pathways, such as homology-directed repair, non-homologous end-joining, and microhomology-mediated end joining. Recent advancements have further expanded the toolbox of programmable genome insertion techniques, including prime editing, integrase coupled with programmable nuclease, and CRISPR-associated transposon. These tools possess their own capabilities and limitations, promoting tremendous efforts to enhance editing efficiency, broaden targeting scope and improve editing specificity. In this review, we first summarize recent advances in programmable genome insertion techniques. We then elaborate on the cons and pros of each technique to assist researchers in making informed choices when using these tools. Finally, we identify opportunities for future improvements and applications in basic research and therapeutics.

Heterologous Single-Strand DNA-Annealing and Binding Protein Enhance CRISPR-Based Genome Editing Efficiency in Komagataella phaffii

The industrial yeast Komagataella phaffii is a highly effective platform for heterologous protein production, owing to its high protein expression and secretion capacity. Heterologous genes and proteins are involved in multiple processes, including transcription, translation, protein folding, modification, transportation, and degradation; however, engineering these proteins and genes is challenging due to inefficient genome editing techniques. We employed Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage single-stranded DNA-annealing protein (SSAP) PapRecT and P. aeruginosa single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) PaSSB to introduce SSAP-SSB-based homology recombination, which facilitated K. phaffii CRISPR-based genome engineering. Specifically, a host-independent method was developed by expressing sgRNA with PapRecT-PaSSB in a single plasmid, with which only a 50 bp short homologous arm (HA) reached a 100% positive rate for CRISPR-based gene insertion, reaching 18 colony-forming units (CFU) per μg of donor DNA. Single deletion using 1000 bp HA attained 100%, reaching 68 CFUs per μg of donor DNA. Using this efficient CRISPR-based genome editing tool, we integrated three genes (INO4, GAL4-like, and PAB1) at three different loci for overexpression to realize the collaborative regulation of human-lactalbumin (α-LA) production. Specifically, we strengthened phospholipid biosynthesis to facilitate endoplasmic reticulum membrane formation and enhanced recombinant protein transcription and translation by overexpressing transcription and translation factors. The final production of α-LA in the 3 L fermentation reached 113.4 mg L-1, two times higher than that of the strain without multiple site gene editing, which is the highest reported titer in K. phaffii. The CRISPR-based genome editing method developed in this study is suitable for the synergistic multiple-site engineering of protein and biochemical biosynthesis pathways to improve the biomanufacturing efficiency.

Efficient precise integration of large DNA sequences with 3'-overhang dsDNA donors using CRISPR/Cas9

CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing tools have tremendously boosted our capability of manipulating the eukaryotic genomes in biomedical research and innovative biotechnologies. However, the current approaches that allow precise integration of gene-sized large DNA fragments generally suffer from low efficiency and high cost. Herein, we developed a versatile and efficient approach, termed LOCK (Long dsDNA with 3'-Overhangs mediated CRISPR Knock-in), by utilizing specially designed 3'-overhang double-stranded DNA (odsDNA) donors harboring 50-nt homology arm. The length of the 3'-overhangs of odsDNA is specified by the five consecutive phosphorothioate modifications. Compared with existing methods, LOCK allows highly efficient targeted insertion of kilobase-sized DNA fragments into the mammalian genomes with low cost and low off-target effects, yielding >fivefold higher knock-in frequencies than conventional homologous recombination-based approaches. This newly designed LOCK approach based on homology-directed repair is a powerful tool suitable for gene-sized fragment integration that is urgently needed for genetic engineering, gene therapies, and synthetic biology.

Plant base editing and prime editing: The current status and future perspectives

Precise replacement of an allele with an elite allele controlling an important agronomic trait in a predefined manner by gene editing technologies is highly desirable in crop improvement. Base editing and prime editing are two newly developed precision gene editing systems which can introduce the substitution of a single base and install the desired short indels to the target loci in the absence of double-strand breaks and donor repair templates, respectively. Since their discoveries, various strategies have been attempted to optimize both base editor (BE) and prime editor (PE) in order to improve the precise editing efficacy, specificity, and expand the targeting scopes. Here, we summarize the latest development of various BEs and PEs, as well as their applications in plants. Based on these progresses, we recommend the appropriate BEs and PEs for both basic plant research and crop improvement. Moreover, we propose the perspectives for further optimization of these two editors. We envision that both BEs and PEs will become the routine and customized precise gene editing tools for both plant biological research and crop improvement in the near future.

Strategies to improve homology-based repair outcomes following CRISPR-based gene editing in mosquitoes: lessons in how to keep any repair disruptions local

Programmable gene editing systems such as CRISPR-Cas have made mosquito genome engineering more practical and accessible, catalyzing the development of cutting-edge genetic methods of disease vector control. This progress, however, has been limited by the low efficiency of homology-directed repair (HDR)-based sequence integration at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and a lack of understanding about DSB repair in mosquitoes. Innovative efforts to optimize HDR sequence integration by inhibiting non-homologous end joining or promoting HDR have been performed in mammalian systems, however many of these approaches have not been applied to mosquitoes. Here, we review some of the most relevant steps of DNA DSB repair choice and highlight promising approaches that influence this choice to enhance HDR in the context of mosquito gene editing.

CRISPR-Cas12a System With Synergistic Phage Recombination Proteins for Multiplex Precision Editing in Human Cells

The development of CRISPR-based gene-editing technologies has brought an unprecedented revolution in the field of genome engineering. Cas12a, a member of the Class 2 Type V CRISPR-associated endonuclease family distinct from Cas9, has been repurposed and developed into versatile gene-editing tools with distinct PAM recognition sites and multiplexed gene targeting capability. However, with current CRISPR/Cas12a technologies, it remains a challenge to perform efficient and precise genome editing of long sequences in mammalian cells. To address this limitation, we utilized phage recombination enzymes and developed an efficient CRISPR/Cas12a tool for multiplexed precision editing in mammalian cells. Through protein engineering, we were able to recruit phage recombination proteins to Cas12a to enhance its homology-directed repair efficiencies. Our phage-recombination-assisted Cas12a system achieved up to 3-fold improvements for kilobase-scale knock-ins in human cells without compromising the specificity of the enzyme. The performance of this system compares favorably against Cas9 references, the commonly used enzyme for gene-editing tasks, with improved specificity. Additionally, we demonstrated multi-target editing with similar improved activities thanks to the RNA-processing activity of the Cas12a system. This compact, multi-target editing tool has the potential to assist in understanding multi-gene interactions. In particular, it paves the way for a gene therapy method for human diseases that complements existing tools and is suitable for polygenic disorders and diseases requiring long-sequence corrections.

Validation Study to Determine the Accuracy of Widespread Promoterless EGFP Reporter at Assessing CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Homology Directed Repair

An accurate visual reporter system to assess homology-directed repair (HDR) is a key prerequisite for evaluating the efficiency of Cas9-mediated precise gene editing. Herein, we tested the utility of the widespread promoterless EGFP reporter to assess the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination by fluorescence expression. We firstly established a promoterless EGFP reporter donor targeting the porcine GAPDH locus to study CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination in porcine cells. Curiously, EGFP was expressed at unexpectedly high levels from the promoterless donor in porcine cells, with or without Cas9/sgRNA. Even higher EGFP expression was detected in human cells and those of other species when the porcine donor was transfected alone. Therefore, EGFP could be expressed at certain level in various cells transfected with the promoterless EGFP reporter alone, making it a low-resolution reporter for measuring Cas9-mediated HDR events. In summary, the widespread promoterless EGFP reporter could not be an ideal measurement for HDR screening and there is an urgent need to develop a more reliable, high-resolution HDR screening system to better explore strategies of increasing the efficiency of Cas9-mediated HDR in mammalian cells.

dCas9-based gene editing for cleavage-free genomic knock-in of long sequences

Gene editing is a powerful tool for genome and cell engineering. Exemplified by CRISPR–Cas, gene editing could cause DNA damage and trigger DNA repair processes that are often error-prone. Such unwanted mutations and safety concerns can be exacerbated when altering long sequences. Here we couple microbial single-strand annealing proteins (SSAPs) with catalytically inactive dCas9 for gene editing. This cleavage-free gene editor, dCas9–SSAP, promotes the knock-in of long sequences in mammalian cells. The dCas9–SSAP editor has low on-target errors and minimal off-target effects, showing higher accuracy than canonical Cas9 methods. It is effective for inserting kilobase-scale sequences, with an efficiency of up to approximately 20% and robust performance across donor designs and cell types, including human stem cells. We show that dCas9–SSAP is less sensitive to inhibition of DNA repair enzymes than Cas9 references. We further performed truncation and aptamer engineering to minimize its size to fit into a single adeno-associated-virus vector for future application. Together, this tool opens opportunities towards safer long-sequence genome engineering.

Wang, Qu et al. developed a genome-editing system, utilizing catalytically inactive Cas9 fused to microbial single-strand annealing proteins, for kilobase-scale insertion in human cells without introducing DNA nicks or breaks.

Bacterial Retrons Enable Precise Gene Editing in Human Cells

Retrons are bacterial genetic elements involved in anti-phage defense. They have the unique ability to reverse transcribe RNA into multicopy single-stranded DNA (msDNA) that remains covalently linked to their template RNA. Retrons coupled with CRISPR-Cas9 in yeast have been shown to improve the efficiency of precise genome editing via homology-directed repair (HDR). In human cells, HDR editing efficiency has been limited by challenges associated with delivering extracellular donor DNA encoding the desired mutation. In this study, we tested the ability of retrons to produce msDNA as donor DNA and facilitate HDR by tethering msDNA to guide RNA in HEK293T and K562 cells. Through heterologous reconstitution of retrons from multiple bacterial species with the CRISPR-Cas9 system, we demonstrated HDR rates of up to 11.4%. Overall, our findings represent the first step in extending retron-based precise gene editing to human cells.