CRISPR Cuts Turn Gels into Biological Watchdogs

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CRISPR Cuts Turn Gels into Biological Watchdogs

August 30, 2019 by Irina Robu

Update 6/11/2020

CRISPR-IL used to develop next-gen genome editing products

Haifa-based Pluristem Therapeutics is a regenerative medicine company that plans to develop next-generation multi-species genome editing products for human, plant and animal DNA that could improve work done in the pharma, agriculture and aquaculture industries.
The CRISPR-IL consortium includes Sheba Medical Center and Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Weizmann Institute of Science, IDC Herzliya and Tel-Aviv University.
This consortium is also joined by Pluristem Therapeutics, which plans to bring together a team of multi-disciplinary experts to develop artificial intelligence based end-to-end genome-editing solutions.
The genome editing product designed by Pluristerm should improve existing technology.
The project also includes “the computational design of on-target DNA modification, with minimal accidental, off-target modifications, improve modification efficiency.
The product provides an accurate measuring tool to ensure the desired modification.

SOURCE

https://www.jpost.com/health-science/pluristem-joins-crispr-il-to-develop-next-gen-genome-editing-products-630337?utm_source=ActiveCampaign

CRISPR cuts turn gels into biological watchdogs

Reporter: Irina Robu, PhD

Genome editing if of significant interest in the prevention and treatment of human diseases including single-gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and sickle cell disease. It also shows great promise for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, mental illness and human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, ethical concerns arise when genome editing, using technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 is used to alter human genomes.

James Collins, bioengineer at MIT and his team worked with water-filled polymers that are held together by strands of DNA, known as DNA hydrogels. To alter the properties of these materials, these scientists turned to a form of CRISPR that uses a DNA-snipping enzyme called Cas12a, which can be programed to recognize a specific DNA sequence. The enzyme then cuts its target DNA strand, then severs single strands of DNA nearby. This property lets scientists to build a series of CRISPR-controlled hydrogels encapsulating a target DNA sequence and single strands of DNA, which break up after Cas12a identifies the target sequence in a stimulus. The break-up of the single DNA strands activates the hydrogels to change shape or completely dissolve, releasing a payload.

According to Collins and his team, the programmed hydrogels will release enzymes, small molecules and human cells as part of a smart therapy in response to stimuli. However, in order to make it a smart therapeutic, the researchers in collaboration with Dan Luo, bioengineer at Cornell University placed the CRISPR- controlled hydrogels into electric circuits. The circuit is switched off in response to the detection of the genetic material of harmful pathogens such as Ebola virus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The team used these hydrogels to develop a prototype diagnostic tool that sends a wireless signal to identify Ebola in lab samples.

Yet, it is evident that these CRISPR-controlled hydrogels show great potential for the prevention and treatment of diseases.

SOURCE

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02542-3?utm_source=Nature+Briefing