Researchers have successfully restored vision in mice with retinitis pigmentosa using a new CRISPR-based genome editing technique. The PE SpRY system corrected genetic mutations and restored normal electrical responses to light, preserving vision into old age. This breakthrough offers potential for treating inherited blindness.
A team of researchers has developed a sensitive method to detect viral nucleic acids using 'glow-in-the-dark' proteins, achieving high sensitivity and speed for clinical diagnostic tests. The LUNAS assay successfully detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in under 20 minutes at low concentrations.
Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute have established a system to report CRISPR activation effectiveness in stem cells, revealing key features influencing its efficiency. The study found that bivalent genes can be robustly activated by CRISPRa and that cell state and gene location impact its success.
Researchers have developed a new method for downregulating gene translation in plants using upstream open reading frames (uORFs). The study, published in Nature Biotechnology, demonstrates the potential for precise and incremental regulation of gene expression.
Researchers identified a new mutation in the desmoplakin gene that leads to cardiac disease arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The mutation affects heart muscle cell connections and ion channel function, highlighting the importance of desmosomes in maintaining healthy heart function.
A review of gene editing techniques suggests that the CRISPR/Cas method could be a game-changer for rice crops threatened by climate change and high food demand. The study highlights its efficiency in improving yield, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and grain quality.
Gene therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 lipid nanoparticles has been shown to be highly effective in reducing target protein expression in mice. The new delivery system increases the efficiency of in vivo gene therapy, paving the way for safe and effective treatment.
Researchers created human organoid models of fatty liver disease to shed light on drug responses and disease biology. The models identified a common mechanism for effective drugs that block lipid generation from sugars, suggesting personalized medicine applications.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that PAX5 is strongly associated with impaired insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. The research team identified 94 previously known genes and discovered many new genes differently expressed in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers discovered a cluster of enzymes in bacteria that can be reprogrammed to edit proteins and potentially treat human diseases such as Parkinson's and Crohn's. The study also identified key components of the bacterial immune system, including two on-off switches, that could be targeted therapeutically.
Researchers developed an AI algorithm to predict prime editing efficiency and accuracy, enabling faster and more precise genome editing. By analyzing a large data set of over 100,000 pegRNAs, the tool identifies key properties influencing prime editing success.
A new study uses CRISPR-Cas9 to modify a gene that makes plants susceptible to viruses, resulting in strong resistance to multiple potyvirus isolates. This approach broadens genetic diversity and generates resistance without altering protein function or expression.
A study by UC San Francisco and Stanford Medicine found that removing the oxytocin receptor does not interfere with monogamy or giving birth. Prairie voles bred without receptors for oxytocin showed similar mating, attachment, and parenting behaviors as regular voles.
Researchers from Heidelberg University have developed a new 'VIP admission ticket' that enables efficient delivery of enzymes to the nucleus, enhancing the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 and related methods. This breakthrough opens up new areas for genetic screening and potentially therapeutic applications.
The CABBI team successfully demonstrated precision gene editing in miscanthus, a promising perennial crop for sustainable bioenergy production. The results will accelerate efforts to tap the huge potential of this highly productive but genetically complex grass as a source for biofuels, renewable bioproducts, and carbon sequestration.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital created a new class of technologies called CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs) to overcome diverse disease-causing mutations. The optimized approach improves product purity and genome-wide specificity, offering a potential solution for inserting entire genes into the genome.
Researchers developed a flexible genetic hacking system to convert split gene drives into full gene drives, enabling safe testing and potential real-world applications. The new system revealed surprising fitness costs of full drive systems, with slower-than-predicted spread rates in cage experiments.
Researchers discovered a new CRISPR protein that can degrade single-stranded RNA, DNA, and double-stranded DNA, enabling the development of inexpensive and highly sensitive diagnostic tests for various infectious diseases. The test could combine high sensitivity and accuracy with rapid at-home diagnostic features.
Scientists have identified a unique CRISPR nuclease that not only recognizes and cleaves viral RNA but also damages other RNA and DNA inside the cell, impairing bacterial growth. This discovery opens up new possibilities for molecular diagnostics and direct detection of RNA biomarkers.
Researchers at Utah State University have discovered a newly found CRISPR immune system, Cas12a2, which deactivates foreign genes to protect cells. This unique system elicits abortive infection in target cells, causing them to become senescent.
Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn have discovered a new function of CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors, which produce small signal molecules that bind to proteins, activating an emergency response. This discovery opens up new possibilities for treating diseases using CRISPR technology.
The new PASTE tool combines precise targeting of CRISPR-Cas9 with integrases to insert large chunks of DNA into the genome without inducing double-stranded breaks. This approach holds promise for treating diseases with multiple mutations, such as cystic fibrosis, with high efficiency and minimal unwanted effects.
A new microfluidic multiplexed chip uses CRISPR technology to detect SARS-CoV-2 and monitor antibiotic levels, offering a rapid and sensitive solution for managing COVID-19 patients. The test omits nucleic acid amplification and can be easily adapted to new virus mutations.
Researchers develop CRISPR-Cas systems associated with transposons to rewrite large chunks of DNA in organisms like E. coli. This expands the CRISPR toolbox for flexible genome editing and has significant implications for therapeutics, biotechnology, and agriculture.
Scientists have discovered that the ferredoxin/thioredoxin pathway is essential for light-dependent activation reactions in chloroplasts, crucial for normal plant growth and efficient photosynthesis. The study used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create a mutated plant specimen with a defective Fd/Trx pathway.
A new CRISPR genome editing treatment has shown promising results in alleviating swelling and reducing the frequency of attacks in hereditary angioedema patients. The treatment, NTLA-2002, targets the KLKB1 gene and reduces kallikrein production, a protein responsible for debilitating swelling attacks.
Researchers at Sloan Kettering Institute develop MACHETE, a novel technique to study copy number alterations in cancer genomes. The method enables the efficient study of CNA deletions in laboratory models, which may help identify patients likely to respond to immunotherapies.
Researchers at North Carolina State University developed a CRISPR-based system that uses engineered bacteriophages to deliver genetic payloads to specific bacteria, even in complex environments. This technology enables precise single-letter changes to the genome without double-strand DNA breakage.
New insights into the processing of hormones in the human gut reveal dozens of peptides regulating appetite, bowel movement, and insulin secretion. By studying human intestinal organoids, researchers characterized potentially novel gut hormones, including glucagon, and explored its role in human physiology.
Researchers discover chemical inhibitor TIS108 significantly lowers Striga infestation without affecting plant growth or grain yield. The study shows canonical strigolactones contribute to seed germination in root parasitic weeds and play a major role in stimulating invasion by Striga.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new control system for synthetic genes that can precisely regulate protein production in mammalian cells. The system uses CRISPR proteins to activate target genes and can be tuned to produce specific quantities of proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies.
Researchers have successfully treated six children with relapsed and treatment-resistant B-ALL using CRISPR-edited T cells, achieving deep remission in four patients. The treatment has shown promise as a viable alternative to currently available treatments.
Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a prodrug form of curcumin called TBP1901, which has shown anti-tumor effects without causing harm. The study found that TBP1901's conversion to active curcumin is dependent on the enzyme GUSB, suggesting its potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers have developed a pioneering gene editing strategy that can repair faulty genes in immune cells, offering new hope for patients with conditions like CTLA-4 insufficiency. The technique uses CRISPR/Cas9 to target and correct the faulty gene, preserving important regulatory mechanisms.
Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center have identified a new therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a more aggressive and deadly form of disease. Using CRISPR/CAS9 screening, scientists pinpointed the UBA1 enzyme as an ideal target, which can be inhibited by the novel drug TAK-243 to effectively kill cancer cells.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a procedure to quantify unintended changes that accompany on-target CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, potentially threatening the efficacy and safety of therapies. The new method uses single-molecule sequencing with unique molecular identifiers to detect large deletions, insertions, and chromosomal...
A new CRISPR-Cas approach, SpRYgests, allows for precise DNA cleavage at any sequence, expanding the utility of molecular cloning approaches. This innovation simplifies and expedites DNA editing and has potential clinical implications.
The study found that microbial enzymes are essential for the digestion of pectin in leaf beetles, allowing them to access nutrient-rich plant cells. The researchers also discovered that leaf beetle species acquire these enzymes through horizontal gene transfer from other microbes.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new CRISPR-based therapy platform that can deliver cargo to a broader range of tissue and cell types, increasing its potential for treating various diseases. The platform achieves this by transforming the Cas-9 protein into a spherical nucleic acid and loading it with critical components.
Brown algae's unique pigments have evolved through a complex genetic pathway, enabling them to harness more light energy than green plants. This discovery could lead to insights into fucoxanthin's health applications and improved photosynthetic efficiency for biofuels production.
Researchers at KIT have developed a method to suppress nine-tenths of a chromosome using CRISPR/Cas molecular scissors, preventing genetic exchange and allowing positive traits to be passed on together. This technique can improve the efficiency of crop breeding by combining favorable traits in one plant.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes and UCSF have developed a new approach to introduce long DNA sequences into cells with remarkable efficiency. The technology, which uses single-stranded DNA templates, overcomes the limitations of traditional viral vectors and has the potential to make cell therapies faster, better, and less expensive.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a new CRISPR system called Craspase, which has the potential to develop promising antiviral and tissue engineering tools in animals and plants. The study uses cryo-electron microscopy snapshots to explain how Craspase identifies RNA targets and activates proteases.
Scientists at UC San Francisco and Gladstone Institutes use CRISPR-based edit to render therapeutic T cells more resilient, overcoming a major factor limiting cancer immunotherapies' success. The discovery may help improve treatment of both solid and liquid tumors.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) to control invasive fruit fly populations. The technology uses CRISPR editing to target key genes in female viability and male fertility, resulting in a fertility dead end for the species.
A team of researchers from Princeton University and the Broad Institute created a fast, accurate, and equipment-free diagnostic test for COVID-19. The test uses CRISPR technology to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants and can be performed at home without special equipment, improving sensitivity and specificity compared to existing tests.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have discovered how to shift damaged brain cells from a diseased state into a healthy one using CRISPR technology. The study found that reprogramming microglia cells can help remove protein plaques and protect synapses, potentially treating Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have found that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing can trigger cell toxicity and genomic instability, particularly in regions near the tumour suppressor protein p53. The study identified 3,300 targeted spots with strong toxic effects, highlighting the need for safer CRISPR reagents.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes developed a tool called Retro-Cascorder, which logs a cell's genetic activity for days at a time. This allows scientists to create living biosensors that can record changes to their environment.
A new study from Tel Aviv University found that CRISPR therapeutics can lead to a significant loss of genetic material in treated cells, potentially destabilizing the genome and promoting cancer. The researchers detected up to 10% of cells with lost chromosomes, highlighting the need for extra care when using this technology.
NC State researchers discovered a new way to make the difficult-to-characterize gut bacterium Bifidobacterium more responsive to antibiotics. They also found tiny changes in different strains that reflect large differences in their characteristics, highlighting the need for individualized CRISPR-based genome engineering approaches.
Loss of the Y chromosome in white blood cells causes fibrosis in the heart, impaired heart function, and death from cardiovascular diseases in men. Men with this genetic change have an increased risk of developing age-related diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Rice University bioscientists have developed a novel approach to control the expression of 'silent' genes in bacteria using CRISPR technology. This strategy could lead to the discovery of new antibiotics and has potential applications in antifungal and anticancer agents, as well as agriculture.
Experimental study finds large DNA insertions caused by retrotransposition can increase cancer risk in human cells edited with CRISPR/Cas9. In contrast, base editing and prime editing show much lower rates of retrotransposition.
A new CRISPR strategy, employing natural DNA repair machinery, provides a foundation for novel gene therapy strategies to cure genetic diseases. The technique, known as homologous chromosome-templated repair, uses "nicks" of single DNA strands to correct genetic defects.
A Danish research study has made significant discoveries about the CRISPR/Cas9 protein and its gRNA component, enabling more accurate gene modification. The findings aim to optimize the effectiveness of gene editing, addressing concerns over 'off-target effects'.
A new study from Tel Aviv University developed a unique treatment for AIDS that may be developed into a vaccine or a one time treatment. The treatment involves engineering type B white blood cells to secrete anti-HIV antibodies in response to the virus.
Bacteria's CRISPR system uses spacers to store viral information, but must balance risk of autoimmunity with immune memory. Longer spacers reduce autoimmune response risk, allowing more spacers to be stored without triggering an immune reaction.
Researchers used CRISPR technology to modify the ratio of amylose and amylopectin in potatoes, increasing culinary and industrial uses. The study found that potatoes with high amylopectin content have potential applications in bioplastics, food additives, adhesives, and ethanol production.
Scientists from the University of Maryland developed CRISPR-Combo, a method to edit multiple genes in plants while simultaneously changing gene expression. This new tool enables genetic engineering combinations that work together to boost functionality and improve breeding of new crops.