Scientist engineered a chicken resistant to virus using CRISPR.

Using the CRISPR genome editing, researchers have created a chicken resistant to ALV-J Virus.

Chicken is the most important source of food in many countries. It is a preferred food over other meat product as it is considered more hygienic and less expensive. The booming poultry industry is currently estimated to be worth 46.3 billion.

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) has been a major concern for the poultry industry. The virus is responsible for huge economic loss incurred to poultry farmers due to viral infection of chickens. The virus gets inside the cell of chicken by binding to a receptor, called chicken NHE-1 which resides on the surfaces of the chicken cell. This receptor is necessary for the virus to enter the cell.

Using CRISPR genome editing, a scientist first collected the germ cells and deleted three nucleotides in a gene that codes for the receptor. The germs cells were grown and made developed into a mature bird. The birds were then tested for its resistance by infecting the cells with the virus. They found that the virus could not infect the cell since the receptor has been deleted. Both in vitro and in vivo supports the claim of resistance.

There have been various reports concerning the off-targets of CRISPR Cas genome editing in the past. So, the researcher checked the off-targets. They could not find a single off-target. This shows that CRISPR is a genome-editing tool with high specificity.

This also shows that editing the gene for a virus receptor could confer resistance to the virus.

Reference: Precise CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the NHE1 gene renders chickens resistant to the J subgroup of avian leukosis virus. PNAS, Jan 2020.

Our top Stories

RNA editing, CRISPR-Cas 13 provides herd immunity against dsDNA phage.

CRISPR-cas13: the only RNA editing CRISPR till date. CRISPR RNA targeting CRISPR-cas13 provides immunity against dsDNA phage without cutting the genome, unlike the other 5 types which work by cutting the genome. CRISPR-Cas13 works differently. It provides herd immunity to the bacteria. CRISPR-Cas13 There are six types of CRISPR in literature till now (1-6). CRISPR Cas VI is the only one that cuts the RNA. It cuts the RNA transcript complementary to the target sequence of the mRNA . After cutting the complementary RNA, it starts cutting all other mRNAs of the phage which Scientists called Collateral damage. This is the phenomena that provide Herd immunity. 3D structure of CRIPSR-Cas References: Cas13 Helps Bacteria Play Dead when the Enemy Strikes. Cell Host and Microbe . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2019.06.012 Follow and like Layman's Biology Facebook page for more news

American Diabetes Association says prediabetes treatment works.

Prediabetes is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar, but not enough to be called Diabetic. This condition is considered a warning sign for the people. The person has a high chance of developing type 2 diabetes if he continues the same lifestyle without any medication. But it is not too late, it's possible to bring a blood sugar level back to normal. Lifestyle changes, weight loss, and medication are believed to help to bring the blood sugar level back to normal. However, its effective has always been controversial. According to American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) Professional Practice Committee, they say it has been shown that healthy eating and regular physical activity have been shown (along with the medication metformin for select patients) to delay or prevent progression to diabetes. Reference: Evidence supports prediabetes treatment. Science 26 Apr 2019: ...

Scientists found two anti-viral drugs which kills novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV).

The recent outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan has infected thousands of people, especially in China. As of till now 30,00 confirmed cases have been reported in mainland China. Additionally, imported cases of coronavirus were identified in many other countries including Thailand, Japan, South Korea, United States, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, India, France, Australia, and Canada. The cause of the outbreak has been named novel coronavirus (2019- nCoV ). This virus belongs to the same family as SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV) which cause epidemic and killed many in the early 2000s. The virus is spreading everywhere infecting thousands of innocent people. But there is no drug available for treatment. Scientists around the globe are working their best to develop a drug for the treatment of infected patients. The quickest solution is to check whether we can treat patients using the drugs that are currently available for treating ...

CRISPR can now be used as a drug delivery molecule.

Drugs (or any molecules) could be delivered to the target site and released under the control of CRISPR 12a. CRISPR Cas12a James Collins, MIT, Cambridge used CRISPR to deliver drug molecules . They used water-filled polymers that are held together by strands of DNA, known as DNA hydrogels. To alter the properties of these materials, Collins's team used a form of CRISPR called Cas12a. (The gene-editor CRISPR–Cas9 uses the Cas9 enzyme to snip a DNA sequence at the desired point.) The Cas12a enzyme can be programmed to recognize a specific DNA sequence. The enzyme cuts its target DNA strand, then severs single strands of DNA nearby. This property allowed the researchers to build a series of CRISPR-controlled hydrogels containing a target DNA sequence and single strands of DNA, which breaks up after Cas12a recognizes the target sequence in a stimulus. The break-up of the single DNA strands triggers the hydrogels to change shape or, in some ...

Science Stories

Search This Blog