CRISPR-Cas Innovative Strategies for Combating Viral Infections and Enhancing Diagnostic Technologies

CRISPR-Cas in Viral Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Authors

  • Farzana Shahin Department of Biological Sciences, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan
  • Aiman Ishfaq Department of Biological Sciences, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan
  • Iqra Asif Department of Biological Sciences, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan
  • Asif Bilal Department of Biological Sciences, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8588-9835
  • Shan Masih Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Pakistan
  • Tooba Ashraf Department of Allied Health Sciences, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan
  • Bushara Umar Department of Allied Health Sciences, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan
  • Rabia Ishfaq Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i3.1537

Keywords:

CRISPR-Cas, viral diagnostics, SHERLOCK, COVID-19, viral genome editing, therapeutic interventions

Abstract

Background: CRISPR-Cas technology has transformed molecular diagnostics and therapeutic strategies for viral infections, particularly COVID-19. Its ability to precisely edit viral genomes and detect viral RNA/DNA offers a novel approach to combating persistent viral infections.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic potential of CRISPR-Cas systems in viral infections, with a focus on COVID-19.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 peer-reviewed studies were conducted, including clinical trials and experimental research. Data collection involved searching PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using keywords such as "CRISPR-Cas," "viral diagnostics," and "COVID-19." Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with pooled sensitivity and specificity estimates calculated for CRISPR-based diagnostics.
Results: CRISPR-based diagnostics, including SHERLOCK and DETECTR, achieved pooled sensitivity of 94% (95% CI: 92%-96%) and specificity of 97% (95% CI: 95%-99%) for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Therapeutic interventions using CRISPR-Cas9 showed an 84% reduction in viral replication across HIV and Hepatitis B studies (95% CI: 80%-88%).
Conclusion: CRISPR-Cas technologies demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic potential, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further clinical validation is needed to enhance global healthcare applications.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

From Encounter With a Mysterious Repeated Sequence to Genome Editing Technology. J Bacteriol. 2018;200(7)

Grissa I, Vergnaud G, Pourcel C. The CRISPRdb Database and Tools to Display CRISPRs and to Generate Dictionaries of Spacers and Repeats. BMC Bioinformatics. 2007;8:172.

Rath D, Amlinger L, Rath A, Lundgren M. The CRISPR-Cas Immune System: Biology, Mechanisms and Applications. Biochimie. 2015;117:119-28.

Beloglazova N, Brown G, Zimmerman MD, Proudfoot M, Makarova KS, Kudritska M, et al. A Novel Family of Sequence-Specific Endoribonucleases Associated With the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. J Biol Chem. 2008;283(29):20361-71.

Wiedenheft B, Sternberg SH, Doudna JA. RNA-Guided Genetic Silencing Systems in Bacteria and Archaea. Nature. 2012;482(7385):331-8.

Lillestol RK, Redder P, Garrett RA, Brugger K. A Putative Viral Defence Mechanism in Archaeal Cells. Archaea. 2006;2(1):59-72.

Makarova KS, Grishin NV, Shabalina SA, Wolf YI, Koonin EV. A Putative RNA-Interference-Based Immune System in Prokaryotes: Computational Analysis of the Predicted Enzymatic Machinery, Functional Analogies With Eukaryotic RNAi, and Hypothetical Mechanisms of Action. Biol Direct. 2006;1:7.

Suenaga T, Kohyama M, Hirayasu K, Arase H. Engineering Large Viral DNA Genomes Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System. Microbiol Immunol. 2014;58(9):513-22.

Bi Y, Sun L, Gao D, Ding C, Li Z, Li Y, et al. High-Efficiency Targeted Editing of Large Viral Genomes by RNA-Guided Nucleases. PLoS Pathog. 2014;10(5)

Agarwalla PK, Aghi MK. Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Engineering and Preparation. Methods Mol Biol. 2012;797:1-19.

Fu Y, Foden JA, Khayter C, Maeder ML, Reyon D, Joung JK, et al. High-Frequency Off-Target Mutagenesis Induced by CRISPR-Cas Nucleases in Human Cells. Nat Biotechnol. 2013;31(9):822-6.

Xu A, Qin C, Lang Y, Wang M, Lin M, Li C, et al. A Simple and Rapid Approach to Manipulate Pseudorabies Virus Genome by CRISPR/Cas9 System. Biotechnol Lett. 2015;37(6):1265-72.

Hwang WY, Fu Y, Reyon D, Maeder ML, Tsai SQ, Sander JD, et al. Efficient Genome Editing in Zebrafish Using a CRISPR-Cas System. Nat Biotechnol. 2013;31(3):227-9.

Zhong Z. CRISPR-Cas System: A Feasible Solution for Getting Rid of Persistent Viral Infection? Immunity. 2014;337:816-21.

Sorek R, Kunin V, Hugenholtz P. CRISPR—A Widespread System That Provides Acquired Resistance Against Phages in Bacteria and Archaea. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2008;6(3):181-6.

Terns MP, Terns RM. CRISPR-Based Adaptive Immune Systems. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2011;14(3):321-7.

Brouns SJ, Jore MM, Lundgren M, Westra ER, Slijkhuis RJ, Snijders AP, et al. Small CRISPR RNAs Guide Antiviral Defense in Prokaryotes. Science. 2008;321(5891):960-4.

Ebina H, Misawa N, Kanemura Y, Koyanagi Y. Harnessing the CRISPR/Cas9 System to Disrupt Latent HIV-1 Provirus. Sci Rep. 2013;3:2510.

Kahn JS, McIntosh K. History and Recent Advances in Coronavirus Discovery. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2005;24(11 Suppl)

Fehr AR, Perlman S. Coronaviruses: An Overview of Their Replication and Pathogenesis. Methods Mol Biol. 2015;1282:1-23.

Lin H, Li G, Peng X, Deng A, Ye L, Shi L, et al. The Use of CRISPR/Cas9 as a Tool to Study Human Infectious Viruses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021;11:590989.

Lino CA, Harper JC, Carney JP, Timlin JA. Delivering CRISPR: A Review of the Challenges and Approaches. Drug Deliv. 2018;25(1):1234-57.

Shmakov SA, Sitnik V, Makarova KS, Wolf YI, Severinov KV, Koonin EV. The CRISPR Spacer Space Is Dominated by Sequences From Species-Specific Mobilomes. mBio. 2017;8(5)

Ganbaatar U, Liu C. CRISPR-Based COVID-19 Testing: Toward Next-Generation Point-of-Care Diagnostics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021;11:663949.

Kumar P, Malik YS, Ganesh B, Rahangdale S, Saurabh S, Natesan S, et al. CRISPR-Cas System: An Approach With Potentials for COVID-19 Diagnosis and Therapeutics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020;10:576875.

Robinson PC, Liew DF, Tanner HL, Grainger JR, Dwek RA, Reisler RB, et al. COVID-19 Therapeutics: Challenges and Directions for the Future. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022;119(15)

Bilal A, Tanvir F, Ahmad S, Kanwal N, Zulfiqar H, Ishaq R. Pharmacokinetic Properties of Bioactive Compounds of Aloe Vera Against Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A (PAPP-A) Inducing Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Kurdish Stud. 2024;12(5):157-68.

Bilal A, Iftikhar A, Awais M, Asif I, Shaheen F, et al. Examining the Association Between Pesticide Exposures and Chronic Diseases in Agricultural Workers. Remittances Rev. 2024;9(2):2153-2176.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-29

How to Cite

Shahin, F., Ishfaq, A., Asif, I., Bilal, A., Masih, S., Ashraf, T., Umar, B., & Ishfaq, R. (2024). CRISPR-Cas Innovative Strategies for Combating Viral Infections and Enhancing Diagnostic Technologies: CRISPR-Cas in Viral Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 4(3), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i3.1537