CRISPR TECHNOLOGY

CRISPR TECHNOLOGY

Lay Summary

CRISPR technology is a simple but powerful model used to edit genome. The tool allows researchers to alter sequences of DNA and modify the functions of gene. CRISPR technology is mainly applied in the correction of genetic defects. It is also used in treatment and prevention of the spread of diseases and in improving the quality of crops. However, the promise of CRISPR technology also raised concerns. Commonly, CRISPR is used as a shorthand of for CRISPR-associated in enzymes, which act like pairs of molecular scissors that can cut DNA strands. CRISPR technology was adapted from the natural defense mechanism of archaea and bacteria. The two organism used CRISPR-derived RNA and various proteins of Cas such as Cas9, and foil attacks by foreign bodies and viruses. They obtain the objective by chopping and destroying the DNA of an invader. Transferring these models into other complex organisms, it allows manufacturing and editing of genes. The topic of CRISPR technology is important because it creates awareness about DNA editing and modifications of the gene functions. This way, this topic simplifies DNA and gene concepts for researcher. This topic is also essential for healthcare practitioners and physicians because it outlines ways, in which the CRISPR technology can be used to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases from spreading. This review focuses on the feasibility of CRISPR technology in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. The review concludes by stating that the advancement of CRISPR technology is almost solving most of the healthcare issues as it is now very close to treating human diseases entirely.

Key Words

Pro-AG systems

Gene editing

Antibiotics

Bacteria resistance

Guide RNA

CRISPR-Cas9

CRISPR guide

DNA

RNA

Introduction

CrispR technology have advanced tremendously over a short period. Just recently, it CrispR  was not more than just a cryptic acronym. Some people also knew it as a drawer for keeping products fresh. Today, CRISPR Cas9 as the most vital technology for editing genes. It is widely used in the research sector to accelerate experiments, grow crops that are resistant to pesticides, and for designing drugs that can be used to treat various types of diseases such as sickle cell anemia.

Technology advancement has transformed CRISPR into an entirely effective model in the field of science. However, some issues have also been raised concerning its negative impacts. Base editors are capable of rewriting individual letters of DNA. The editors home within a particular DNA area and can swap certain bases namely A, C, T or G, for other individuals. However, the outcome of the swap can make the gene editors to perform some unnecessary editing.  Nonetheless, the currently developed CRISPR technologies are capable of reducing editing errors by enabling independent editing. Independent editing of CRISPR can be detected by sequencing the genome entirely several times. However, more worries are registered about the cost and time consuming nature of the approach. Regardless the same, scientists agree that the presently developed CRISPR technologies offer efficient solutions to disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The technology is also used as a defense mechanism for bacteria.

This review focuses on the use of CRISPR technologies in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases such as sickle cell anemia. Finally, the paper will offer a review of Crispr and Bacterial resistance.

Main Body

Use of Crispr for Disease Diagnosis

Certain CRISPR protein versions produces realties signals whenever they detect RNA sequences or DNA matching. This potential has made CRISPR technologies suitable for use in detecting any disease that contain nuclear acid biomarkers. According to Bruch, Urban and Dincer (2019, p.971), CRISPR technology can also be programmed to detect sequences from viruses, bacteria, or from any genetic mutation within the human body cells. The researcher-designed guide RNAs, which allow CRISPR to target a pathogen specifically form a compound. An example of pathogen that CRISPR can easily detect is ZIka virus. Upon finding the viral RNA in a sample, CRISPR cleaves molecule of a reporter that changes the color to indicate the presence of the target.

The use of CRISPR to diagnose diseases is unique compared to the gene detecting. The application of CRISPR to diagnose a disease leverages RNA guided programmability to search for any nucleic acid that could be present. This nature makes the process quite different from the well-known gene editing. Notably, other proteins of CRISPR called Cas12, Cas13, and Cas14 that are used to diagnose disease generate indiscriminate cleavage when the protein has found a matching target (Bruch, Urban and Dincer, 2019, p.971). Hence, CRISPR has facilitated the disease diagnosis process.

CRISPR diagnostics leverages the power of the target CRISPR guide with the DNA Cas enzyme cutting power. Foss, Hochstrasser and Wilson (2019, p.1389) state that when CRISPR is used to diagnose a disease, the components of CRISPR-Cas are modified to induce a florescent signal or a color in response to negative or positive presence of the target sequence. Usually, this indicates a state of a disease. CRISPR-based diagnostic model offer precision targeting to researchers (Foss, Hochstrasser and Wilson, 2019, p.1389). The model also provide high specificity  and sensitivity at a monetary cost and low timeframe.

Use of Crispr for Disease Treatment

The currently advanced CRISPR is promising cure for any disease. However, the first disease that it would cure are still unknown. The use of CRISPR-Cas9 started in 2012. However, its ability to make editing facilitated its advancement to the point of offering cure solutions to disease such as cancer and possibly Aids. One of the existing impacts of CRISPR-Cas9 is alteration of the way scientists conduct their researches. However, every scientist is eagerly expecting its first use in human to cure disease. Theoretically, CRISPR technology helps in editing genetic mutations and cure the diseases cause by the mutation. Practically, scientists have just started to develop therapy versions of CRISPR, with most of the things about it still remaining unknown.  Fortunately, scientists have already started to tackle several disease with the help of CRISPR-Cas9.

The first CRISPR-Cas9 cure solutions could be on cancer. The highly advanced version of CRISPR technology from China, tests the potentiality of gene editing model to cure advanced esophagus cancer. The testing of the cure is being carried out at Hangzhou Cancer Hospital. The process begins with extraction of the cells of immune from the patient. CRISPR modifies the cells to eliminate genes that encode for PD-1 protein. Some tumors are capable of binding to the protein on the immune cell surface and prevent them from attaching. CRISPR can also be used to cure some blood disorders. The first trial pf CRISPR in the US and Europe that has already enrolled one patient, can treat beta-thalassemia. It is developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, and uses CRISPR technology to harvest the stem of a born marrow cells of the patient. CRISPR treats genetic blindness because most hereditary blindness are caused by a specific type of mutation hence, can easily be instructed by CRISPR-Cas9 to target and modify the gene. Scientists also offer proof that CRISPR can be used to cut the HIV virus DNA and hence, cure it. The use of CRISPR to cure Aids entails attacking the HIV virus in its hidden form, which has been making it impossible for therapies to eliminate it.

 Crispr and Bacterial Resistance

The advantage of the powerful technologically advanced version of CRISPR is used to fight bacteria resistance, which had been a threat to human life for several years (Simeonov and Marson, 2019, p.571). The use of CRISPR to solve the issue of bacteria resistance was first demonstrated in animals. According to Gibson and Yang (2017, p.205), the environmental sources of bacteria resistance are transmittable to humans, and have contributed to the dramatic rise in drug-resistant bacteria, which the health experts warning that antibiotic resistance threats could increase in the coming years. However, this problem could be solved through the recently developed Pro-AG features, which is a modified version of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in DNA. It was developed by working with Escherichia coli bacteria, and is used to disrupt the functions of bacteria genes to conferrer resistance of antibiotics. Precisely, the Pro-AG systems solves  the thorny challenge in antibiotics resistance, which is presented in plasmids form, calculated from a DNA that can replicate the genome bacteria independently (Gibson and Yang, 2017, p.205). Various copies of plasmids that carry the resistance of antibiotic-genes are capable of existing in all the cells and transfer the resistance of antibiotics between bacteria to cause a daunting issue to a successful treatment.  According to Simeonov and Marson (2019, p.571), Pro-AG works cut and insert mechanism to disrupt antibiotics resistance activity. Through Pro-AG, CRISPR solves the bacteria resistance issue.

Conclusion

The ability of CRISPR technology to diagnose, treat and prevent the spread of technology poses a significant advancement in the health sector. The ability of CRISPR to detect RNA sequences or DNA matching and produce a color signal makes it suitable for disease diagnosis. Most essentially, its ability to detect and alter the genes of hiding viruses makes it recommendable for treating even some of the deadliest disease such as HIIV and Aids. Finally, Pro-AG features, a modified version of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in DNA, is used to address the thorny challenges in resisting bacteria. Hence, the advanced CRISPR technology is capable of addressing most of the human health issues entirely.

References

Foss, D.V., Hochstrasser, M.L. and Wilson, R.C., 2019. Clinical applications of CRISPR‐based genome editing and diagnostics. Transfusion, 59(4), pp.1389-1399.

Gibson, G.J. and Yang, M., 2017. What rheumatologists need to know about CRISPR/Cas9. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 13(4), p.205.

Simeonov, D.R. and Marson, A., 2019. CRISPR-based tools in immunity. Annual review of immunology, 37, pp.571-597.

Bruch, R., Urban, G.A. and Dincer, C., 2019. CRISPR/Cas Powered Multiplexed Biosensing. Trends in biotechnology, 37(8), pp.791-792.