Inactivation of the human papillomavirus E6 or E7 gene in cervical carcinoma cells by using a bacterial CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided endonuclease

HPV-driven cancers: a looming threat and the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 for targeted therapy

Cervical and other anogenital malignancies are largely caused by E6 and E7 oncogenes of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which inhibit important tumor suppressors like p53 and pRb when they are persistently activated. The main goal of traditional treatments is to physically or chemically kill cancer cells, but they frequently only offer temporary relief, have serious side effects, and have a high risk of recurrence. Exploring the efficacy and accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in both inducing death in HPV-infected cancer cells and restoring the activity of tumor suppressors is our main goal. In this study, we propose a novel precision oncology strategy that targets and inhibits the detrimental effects of the E6 and E7 oncogenes using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. In order to do this, we create unique guide RNAs that target the integrated HPV DNA and reactivate p53 and pRb. Reactivation is meant to halt aberrant cell development and restart the cell's natural dying pathways. This review discusses the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 in targeting HPV oncogenes, with a focus on studies that have demonstrated its promise in cancer treatment. Given the absence of a definitive treatment for papillomavirus infection and its subsequent association with various cancers, future clinical trials and experimental investigations appear essential to establish and evaluate the therapeutic potential of CRISPR-based approaches. This approach provides a less invasive alternative to conventional treatments and opens the door to personalized care that considers the genetic makeup of each patient's tumor.

High-Risk HPV Oncoproteins and PD-1/PD-L1 Interplay

Human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers often arise from a background of chronic inflammation. Systemic treatment for advanced HPV-related cancers has been disappointing due to their strong resistance to chemotherapy and even to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Recently, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has revolutionized the systemic treatment of advanced HPV-related cancers. For the first time, clinical trials testing ICIs, anti-CTLA-4, and anti-PD1/PDL1 reported a survival benefit in patients with sorafenib resistance. However, it took a long time to find the right combination regimen to use ICIs in combination with the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab to substantially prolong overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced HPV-related cancer after sorafenib. This review provides a comprehensive history of ICI therapy in HPV-related cancer, up-to-date information on the latest ICI clinical trials, and discusses the recent development of novel ICIs that would potentially lead to a new checkpoint blockade therapy for advanced HPV-related cancer.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) mediated cancers: an insightful update

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a DNA virus, is a well-documented causative agent of several cancers, including cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and head & neck cancers. Major factors contributing to HPV-related cancers include persistent infection and the oncogenic potential of particular HPV genotypes. High-risk HPV strains, particularly HPV-16 and HPV-18, are responsible for over 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide, as well as a significant proportion of other genital and head and neck cancers. At the molecular level, the oncogenic activity of these viruses is driven by the overexpression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins. These oncoproteins dysregulate the cell cycle, inhibit apoptosis, and promote the accumulation of DNA damage, ultimately transforming normal cells into cancerous ones. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in HPV-related cancer biology and epidemiology. The review highlights the molecular pathways of HPV-driven carcinogenesis, focusing on the role of viral oncoproteins in altering host cell targets and disrupting cellular signalling pathways. The review explores the therapeutic potential of these viral proteins, and discusses current diagnostic and treatment strategies for HPV-associated cancers. Furthermore, the review highlights the critical role of HPV in the development of various malignancies, emphasizing the persistent challenges in combating these cancers despite advancements in vaccination and therapeutic strategies. We also emphasize recent breakthroughs in utilizing biomarkers to monitor cancer therapy responses, such as mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, proteins, and genetic markers. We hope this review will serve as a valuable resource for researchers working on HPV, providing insights that can guide future investigations into this complex virus, which continues to be a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality.

Molecular Insights into HPV-Driven Cervical Cancer: Oncoproteins, Immune Evasion, and Epigenetic Modifications

Cervical cancer ranks third in mortality and fourth in incidence among women worldwide as one of the leading causes of death from cancer in females. The main reason behind cervical carcinogenesis is long-term infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, particularly HPV16 and HPV18. This review investigates HPV distribution across the world, along with cervical cancer molecular development mechanisms and current treatment strategies. Epidemiological data show that disease patterns vary significantly between different geographic regions because underdeveloped nations bear a higher disease burden. The molecular mechanisms of oncogenes E6 and E7 disrupt tumor suppressor pathways, while epigenetic modifications through DNA methylation and miRNA dysregulation promote malignant cell transformation. The reduction in HPV infection through prophylactic vaccination has shown promise, yet barriers related to accessibility and coverage still exist. The therapeutic technologies of gene expression inhibitors together with immunotherapies and epigenetic targeting agents show promise but require optimization to achieve specific targeting while minimizing off-target effects. A combined approach that integrates HPV vaccination with early diagnosis and molecular-specific therapies represents the most effective method to manage cervical cancer impact. The future care of patients will require increased translational research along with better immunization programs to drive prevention and therapeutic outcomes.

The Potential Therapeutic Applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one the most prevalent types of cancer. Despite current chemotherapy's success, patients with GI cancer continue to have a dismal outcome. The onset and progression of cancer are caused by alterations and the abnormal expression of several families of genes, like tumor-suppressor genes, oncogenes, and chemotherapy-resistant genes. The final purpose of tumor therapy is to inhibit cellular development by modifying mutations and editing the irregular expression of genes It has been reported that CDH1, TP53, KRAS, ARID1A, PTEN, and HLA-B are the commonly mutated genes in GI cancer. Gene editing has become one potential approach for cases with advanced or recurrent CRC, who are nonresponsive to conventional treatments and a variety of driver mutations along with progression cause GI progression. CRISPR/Cas9 technique is a reliable tool to edit the genome and understand the functions of mutations driving GI cancer development. CRISPR/Cas9 can be applied to genome therapy for GI cancers, particularly with reference to molecular-targeted medicines and suppressors. Moreover, it can be used as a therapeutic approach by knocking in/out multiple genes. The use of CRISPR/ Cas9 gene editing method for GI cancer therapy has therefore resulted in some improvements. There are several research works on the role of CRISPR/Cas9 in cancer treatment that are summarized in the following separate sections. Here, the use of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in GI and the use of CRISPR/Cas9 is discussed in terms of Targeting Chemotherapy Resistance-related Genes like; KRAS, TP53, PTEN, and ARID1A.

Treatment and Prevention of HPV-Associated Skin Tumors by HPV Vaccination

HPV-associated dermatological diseases include benign lesions like cutaneous warts and external genital warts. In addition, HPV infection is associated with the development of epithelial skin cancers, in particular cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). In contrast to anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers caused by mucosal HPV types of genus alpha papillomavirus, cSCC-associated HPV types belong to the genus beta papillomavirus. Currently available HPV vaccines that target mucosal HPV types associated with anogenital cancer and genital warts are type-specific and provide no cross-protection against beta HPV. When implementing vaccination to beta HPV to prevent skin tumors, it must be considered that acquisition of these HPV types occurs early in childhood and that the risk for cSCC increases with growing age and decreasing immune surveillance. Thus, individuals considered for beta HPV vaccination usually have pre-existing infection and are largely immunocompromised. On the other hand, worldwide increasing incidence rates of epithelial skin cancer reflect an urgent need for skin cancer prevention measures. Based on the pathogenic involvement of beta HPV, vaccination may represent a promising prevention strategy. Indeed, various procedures of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination have been developed, and some of them have shown efficiency in animal models. Thus far, however, none of these vaccine candidates has been approved for application in humans.

A temperature-sensitive and less immunogenic Sendai virus for efficient gene editing

The therapeutic potential of gene editing technologies hinges on the development of safe and effective delivery methods. In this study, we developed a temperature-sensitive and less immunogenic Sendai virus (ts SeV) as a novel delivery vector for CRISPR-Cas9 and for efficient gene editing in sensitive human cell types with limited induction of an innate immune response. ts SeV demonstrates high transduction efficiency in human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) including transduction of the CD34+/CD38-/CD45RA-/CD90+(Thy1+)/CD49fhigh stem cell enriched subpopulation. The frequency of CCR5 editing exceeded 90% and bi-allelic CCR5 editing exceeded 70% resulting in significant inhibition of HIV-1 infection in primary human CD14+ monocytes. These results demonstrate the potential of the ts SeV platform as a safe, efficient, and flexible addition to the current gene-editing tool delivery methods, which may help further expand the possibilities in personalized medicine and the treatment of genetic disorders.

IMPORTANCE

Gene editing has the potential to be a powerful tool for the treatment of human diseases including HIV, β-thalassemias, and sickle cell disease. Recent advances have begun to overcome one of the major limiting factors of this technology, namely delivery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing machinery, by utilizing viral vectors. However, gene editing therapies have yet to be implemented due to inherent risks associated with the DNA viral vectors typically used for delivery. As an alternative strategy, we have developed an RNA-based Sendai virus CRISPR-Cas9 delivery vector that does not integrate into the genome, is temperature sensitive, and does not induce a significant host interferon response. This recombinant SeV successfully delivered CRISPR-Cas9 in primary human CD14+ monocytes ex vivo resulting in a high level of CCR5 editing and inhibition of HIV infection.

The anti-tumor efficacy of a recombinant oncolytic herpes simplex virus mediated CRISPR/Cas9 delivery targeting in HPV16-positive cervical cancer

Cervical cancer, often driven by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections such as HPV16 or HPV18, remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. HPV16, found in about 90% of cervical cancer patients, harbors key oncogenic related genes (E6, E7, E2, E5) and an upstream regulatory region (URR) that contribute to cancer progression. This study introduces a novel approach using a recombinant oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) named SONC103, armed with a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system. The aim was to target and disrupt integrated HPV16 genes in cervical cancer cells. Results demonstrated SONC103's capability to specifically and effectively knock down HPV16 oncogenes, thereby reducing cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Analyses further revealed loss of HPV16 DNA probes in infected cells' chromosomes, significant regulation of cellular processes related to tumor apoptosis, and downregulation of E6/E7 oncoproteins while increasing tumor suppressor proteins P53 and pRB. Notably, SONC103 exhibited substantial inhibition of tumor growth in a murine xenograft cervical cancer model. This study showcases the potential of the recombinant oncolytic HSV-1 virus (SONC103) in combating HPV16-positive cervical cancer by targeting oncogenes and facilitating oncolysis.

Exosomes for CRISPR-Cas9 Delivery: The Cutting Edge in Genome Editing

Gene mutation correction was challenging until the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein (Cas). CRISPR is a new era for genome modification, and this technology has bypassed the limitations of previous methods such as zinc-finger nuclease and transcription activator-like effector nuclease. Currently, this method is becoming the method of choice for gene-editing purposes, especially therapeutic gene editing in diseases such as cardiovascular, neurological, renal, genetic, optical, and stem cell, as well as blood disorders and muscular degeneration. However, finding the optimum delivery system capable of carrying this large complex persists as the main challenge of this technology. Therefore, it would be ideal if the delivery vehicle could direct the introduction of editing functions to specific cells in a multicellular organism. Exosomes are membrane-bound vesicles with high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity; they offer the best and most reliable way to fill the CRISPR/Cas9 system delivery gap. This review presents the current evidence on the molecular mechanisms and challenges of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome modification. Also, the role of CRISPR/Cas9 in the development of treatment and diagnosis of numerous disorders, from malignancies to viral infections, has been discussed. Lastly, the focus is on new advances in exosome-delivery technologies that may play a role in CRISPR/Cas9 delivery for future clinical settings.

Potential Therapeutic Targets for the Treatment of HPV-Associated Malignancies

This review article aims to summarize broadly recent developments in the treatment of HPV-associated cancers, including cervical cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Relatively new treatments targeting the key HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins, including gene editing with TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9, are discussed. Given the increased immunogenicity of HPV-related diseases, other therapies such as PRR agonists, adoptive cell transfer, and tumor vaccines are reaching the clinical trial phase. Due to the mechanism, immunogenicity, and reversibility of HPV carcinogenesis, HPV-related cancers present unique targets for current and future therapies.

Skin Lesions Caused by HPV-A Comprehensive Review

This narrative review provides a comprehensive analysis of skin lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Human papillomavirus is an infection involving a virus that is omnipresent and can range from benign wart lesions to malignant skin growths. This review includes an analysis of the skin manifestations caused by HPV, and the need for continued successful diagnostic techniques and treatment methods, given the increasing rates of infection among people worldwide. We reviewed all 135 studies related to pathophysiology involving skin, risk factors, and early detection methods like biopsy and molecular testing, from 2000 to 2023. The current treatments, including cryotherapy and laser therapy, are discussed, while the review emphasizes the role of HPV vaccination in preventing infection. Recommendations for the future would involve the improvement of public education and increased vaccine coverage, together with innovative therapies toward better management or control of skin diseases associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV). By advancing these recommendations, we will be in a better position to prevent and treat HPV skin conditions, thus improving the health condition of the general public across the world.

Advances in delivery systems for CRISPR/Cas-mediated cancer treatment: a focus on viral vectors and extracellular vesicles

The delivery of CRISPR/Cas systems holds immense potential for revolutionizing cancer treatment, with recent advancements focusing on extracellular vesicles (EVs) and viral vectors. EVs, particularly exosomes, offer promising opportunities for targeted therapy due to their natural cargo transport capabilities. Engineered EVs have shown efficacy in delivering CRISPR/Cas components to tumor cells, resulting in inhibited cancer cell proliferation and enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity. However, challenges such as off-target effects and immune responses remain significant hurdles. Viral vectors, including adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) and adenoviral vectors (AdVs), represent robust delivery platforms for CRISPR/Cas systems. AAVs, known for their safety profile, have already been employed in clinical trials for gene therapy, demonstrating their potential in cancer treatment. AdVs, capable of infecting both dividing and non-dividing cells, offer versatility in CRISPR/Cas delivery for disease modeling and drug discovery. Despite their efficacy, viral vectors present several challenges, including immune responses and off-target effects. Future directions entail refining delivery systems to enhance specificity and minimize adverse effects, heralding personalized and effective CRISPR/Cas-mediated cancer therapies. This article underscores the importance of optimized delivery mechanisms in realizing the full therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas technology in oncology. As the field progresses, addressing these challenges will be pivotal for translating CRISPR/Cas-mediated cancer treatments from bench to bedside.

In vitro study of HPV18-positive cervical cancer HeLa cells based on CRISPR/Cas13a system

The E6 protein is a known oncogene in cervical cancer and plays a key role in the development and progression of cervical cancer by reducing the expression level of the tumor suppressor protein P53 and ultimately leading to enhanced cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis. Therefore, antiviral agents that inhibit the expression of E6 oncoprotein are expected to be potential therapies for human cervical cancer. Here we developed CRISPR/Cas13a: crRNA dual plasmid system and demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas13a could effectively and specifically knock down human papillomavirus 18 E6 mRNA, downregulate the expression level of E6 protein, and restore the expression of the tumor suppressor gene P53 protein, thereby inhibiting the growth of cervical cancer cells and increasing their apoptosis, the E6-2, E6-3, and E6-5 groups resulted in apoptosis rates of 25.4%, 22.4%, and 22.2% in HeLa cells. Moreover, CRISPR/Cas13a enhances the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction of cisplatin in cervical cancer HeLa cells. The CRISPR/Cas13a system targeting HPV E6 mRNA may be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of human papillomavirus-associated cervical cancer.

CircRNA as an Achilles heel of cancer: characterization, biomarker and therapeutic modalities

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs characterized by their lack of 5' caps and 3' poly(A) tails. These molecules have garnered substantial attention from the scientific community. A wide range of circRNA types has been found to be expressed in various tissues of the human body, exhibiting unique characteristics such as high abundance, remarkable stability, and tissue-specific expression patterns. These attributes, along with their detectability in liquid biopsy samples such as plasma, position circRNAs an ideal choice as cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Additionally, several studies have reported that the functions of circRNAs are associated with tumor proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. They achieve this through various mechanisms, including modulation of parental gene expression, regulation of gene transcription, acting as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, and encoding functional proteins. In recent years, a large number of studies have focused on synthesizing circRNAs in vitro and delivering them to tumor tissue to exert its effects in inhibit tumor progression. Herein, we briefly discuss the biogenesis, characteristics, functions, and detection of circRNAs, emphasizing their clinical potential as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. We also provide an overview the recent techniques for synthesizing circRNAs and delivery strategies, and outline the application of engineered circRNAs in clinical cancer therapy.

Harnessing the evolving CRISPR/Cas9 for precision oncology

The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 system, a groundbreaking innovation in genetic engineering, has revolutionized our approach to surmounting complex diseases, culminating in CASGEVY™ approved for sickle cell anemia. Derived from a microbial immune defense mechanism, CRISPR/Cas9, characterized as precision, maneuverability and universality in gene editing, has been harnessed as a versatile tool for precisely manipulating DNA in mammals. In the process of applying it to practice, the consecutive exploitation of novel orthologs and variants never ceases. It's conducive to understanding the essentialities of diseases, particularly cancer, which is crucial for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. CRISPR/Cas9 is used not only to investigate tumorous genes functioning but also to model disparate cancers, providing valuable insights into tumor biology, resistance, and immune evasion. Upon cancer therapy, CRISPR/Cas9 is instrumental in developing individual and precise cancer therapies that can selectively activate or deactivate genes within tumor cells, aiming to cripple tumor growth and invasion and sensitize cancer cells to treatments. Furthermore, it facilitates the development of innovative treatments, enhancing the targeting efficiency of reprogrammed immune cells, exemplified by advancements in CAR-T regimen. Beyond therapy, it is a potent tool for screening susceptible genes, offering the possibility of intervening before the tumor initiative or progresses. However, despite its vast potential, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in cancer research and therapy is accompanied by significant efficacy, efficiency, technical, and safety considerations. Escalating technology innovations are warranted to address these issues. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is revolutionizing cancer research and treatment, opening up new avenues for advancements in our understanding and management of cancers. The integration of this evolving technology into clinical practice promises a new era of precision oncology, with targeted, personalized, and potentially curative therapies for cancer patients.

Precision oncology revolution: CRISPR-Cas9 and PROTAC technologies unleashed

Cancer continues to present a substantial global health challenge, with its incidence and mortality rates persistently reflecting its significant impact. The emergence of precision oncology has provided a breakthrough in targeting oncogenic drivers previously deemed "undruggable" by conventional therapeutics and by limiting off-target cytotoxicity. Two groundbreaking technologies that have revolutionized the field of precision oncology are primarily CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and more recently PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras) targeted protein degradation technology. CRISPR-Cas9, in particular, has gained widespread recognition and acclaim due to its remarkable ability to modify DNA sequences precisely. Rather than editing the genetic code, PROTACs harness the ubiquitin proteasome degradation machinery to degrade proteins of interest selectively. Even though CRISPR-Cas9 and PROTAC technologies operate on different principles, they share a common goal of advancing precision oncology whereby both approaches have demonstrated remarkable potential in preclinical and promising data in clinical trials. CRISPR-Cas9 has demonstrated its clinical potential in this field due to its ability to modify genes directly and indirectly in a precise, efficient, reversible, adaptable, and tissue-specific manner, and its potential as a diagnostic tool. On the other hand, the ability to administer in low doses orally, broad targeting, tissue specificity, and controllability have reinforced the clinical potential of PROTAC. Thus, in the field of precision oncology, gene editing using CRISPR technology has revolutionized targeted interventions, while the emergence of PROTACs has further expanded the therapeutic landscape by enabling selective protein degradation. Rather than viewing them as mutually exclusive or competing methods in the field of precision oncology, their use is context-dependent (i.e., based on the molecular mechanisms of the disease) and they potentially could be used synergistically complementing the strengths of CRISPR and vice versa. Herein, we review the current status of CRISPR and PROTAC designs and their implications in the field of precision oncology in terms of clinical potential, clinical trial data, limitations, and compare their implications in precision clinical oncology.

Let's make it personal: CRISPR tools in manipulating cell death pathways for cancer treatment

Advancements in the CRISPR technology, a game-changer in experimental research, have revolutionized various fields of life sciences and more profoundly, cancer research. Cell death pathways are among the most deregulated in cancer cells and are considered as critical aspects in cancer development. Through decades, our knowledge of the mechanisms orchestrating programmed cellular death has increased substantially, attributed to the revolution of cutting-edge technologies. The heroic appearance of CRISPR systems have expanded the available screening platform and genome engineering toolbox to detect mutations and create precise genome edits. In that context, the precise ability of this system for identification and targeting of mutations in cell death signaling pathways that result in cancer development and therapy resistance is an auspicious choice to transform and accelerate the individualized cancer therapy. The concept of personalized cancer therapy stands on the identification of molecular characterization of the individual tumor and its microenvironment in order to provide a precise treatment with the highest possible outcome and minimum toxicity. This study explored the potential of CRISPR technology in precision cancer treatment by identifying and targeting specific cell death pathways. It showed the promise of CRISPR in finding key components and mutations involved in programmed cell death, making it a potential tool for targeted cancer therapy. However, this study also highlighted the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed in future research to fully realize the potential of CRISPR in cancer treatment.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technique to control fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in crop plants with special reference to maize

Fall Armyworm imposes a major risk to agricultural losses. Insecticides have historically been used to manage its infestations, but it eventually becomes resistant to them. To combat the pest, a more recent strategy based on the use of transgenic maize that expresses Bt proteins such as Cry1F from the bacteria has been used. Nonetheless, there have been numerous reports of Cry1F maize resistance in FAW populations. Nowadays, the more effective and less time-consuming genome editing method known as CRISPR/Cas9 technology has gradually supplanted these various breeding techniques. This method successfully edits the genomes of various insects, including Spodoptera frugiperda. On the other hand, this new technique can change an insect's DNA to overcome its tolerance to specific insecticides or to generate a gene drive. The production of plant cultivars resistant to fall armyworms holds great potential for the sustainable management of this pest, given the swift advancement of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its varied uses. Thus, this review article discussed and critically assessed the use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology in long-term fall armyworm pest management. However, this review study focuses primarily on the mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in both crop plants and insects for FAW management.

A temperature-sensitive and interferon-silent Sendai virus vector for CRISPR-Cas9 delivery and gene editing in primary human cells

The transformative potential of gene editing technologies hinges on the development of safe and effective delivery methods. In this study, we developed a temperature-sensitive and interferon-silent Sendai virus (ts SeV) as a novel delivery vector for CRISPR-Cas9 and for efficient gene editing in sensitive human cell types without inducing IFN responses. ts SeV demonstrates unprecedented transduction efficiency in human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) including transduction of the CD34+/CD38-/CD45RA-/CD90+(Thy1+)/CD49fhigh stem cell enriched subpopulation. The frequency of CCR5 editing exceeded 90% and bi-allelic CCR5 editing exceeded 70% resulting in significant inhibition of HIV-1 infection in primary human CD14+ monocytes. These results demonstrate the potential of the ts SeV platform as a safe, efficient, and flexible addition to the current gene-editing tool delivery methods, which may help to further expand the possibilities in personalized medicine and the treatment of genetic disorders.

Generation of murine tumor models refractory to αPD-1/-L1 therapies due to defects in antigen processing/presentation or IFNγ signaling using CRISPR/Cas9

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand 1 (PD-L1) fails to provide clinical benefit for most cancer patients due to primary or acquired resistance. Drivers of ICB resistance include tumor antigen processing/presentation machinery (APM) and IFNγ signaling mutations. Thus, there is an unmet clinical need to develop alternative therapies for these patients. To this end, we have developed a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to generate murine tumor models refractory to PD-1/-L1 inhibition due to APM/IFNγ signaling mutations. Guide RNAs were employed to delete B2m, Jak1, or Psmb9 genes in ICB-responsive EMT6 murine tumor cells. B2m was deleted in ICB-responsive MC38 murine colon cancer cells. We report a detailed development and validation workflow including whole exome and Sanger sequencing, western blotting, and flow cytometry to assess target gene deletion. Tumor response to ICB and immune effects of gene deletion were assessed in syngeneic mice. This workflow can help accelerate the discovery and development of alternative therapies and a deeper understanding of the immune consequences of tumor mutations, with potential clinical implications.

Harnessing CRISPR technology for viral therapeutics and vaccines: from preclinical studies to clinical applications

The CRISPR/Cas system, identified as a type of bacterial adaptive immune system, have attracted significant attention due to its remarkable ability to precisely detect and eliminate foreign genetic material and nucleic acids. Expanding upon these inherent capabilities, recent investigations have unveiled the potential of reprogrammed CRISPR/Cas 9, 12, and 13 systems for treating viral infections associated with human diseases, specifically targeting DNA and RNA viruses, respectively. Of particular interest is the RNA virus responsible for the recent global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which presents a substantial public health risk, coupled with limited efficacy of current prophylactic and therapeutic techniques. In this regard, the utilization of CRISPR/Cas technology offers a promising gene editing approach to overcome the limitations of conventional methods in managing viral infections. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the latest CRISPR/Cas-based therapeutic and vaccine strategies employed to combat human viral infections. Additionally, we discuss significant challenges and offer insights into the future prospects of this cutting-edge gene editing technology.

An Update on the Application of CRISPR Technology in Clinical Practice

The CRISPR/Cas system, an innovative gene-editing tool, is emerging as a promising technique for genome modifications. This straightforward technique was created based on the prokaryotic adaptive immune defense mechanism and employed in the studies on human diseases that proved enormous therapeutic potential. A genetically unique patient mutation in the process of gene therapy can be corrected by the CRISPR method to treat diseases that traditional methods were unable to cure. However, introduction of CRISPR/Cas9 into the clinic will be challenging because we still need to improve the technology's effectiveness, precision, and applications. In this review, we first describe the function and applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. We next delineate how this technology could be utilized for gene therapy of various human disorders, including cancer and infectious diseases and highlight the promising examples in the field. Finally, we document current challenges and the potential solutions to overcome these obstacles for the effective use of CRISPR-Cas9 in clinical practice.

HPV16 E6 Oncogene Contributes to Cancer Immune Evasion by Regulating PD-L1 Expression through a miR-143/HIF-1a Pathway

Human Papillomaviruses have been associated with the occurrence of cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer that affects women globally, while 70% of cases are caused by infection with the high-risk types HPV16 and HPV18. The integration of these viruses' oncogenes E6 and E7 into the host's genome affects a multitude of cellular functions and alters the expression of molecules. The aim of this study was to investigate how these oncogenes contribute to the expression of immune system control molecules, using cell lines with integrated HPV16 genome, before and after knocking out E6 viral gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, delivered with a lentiviral vector. The molecules studied are the T-cell inactivating protein PD-L1, its transcription factor HIF-1a and the latter's negative regulator, miR-143. According to our results, in the E6 knock out (E6KO) cell lines an increased expression of miR-143 was recorded, while a decrease in the expression of HIF-1a and PD-L1 was exhibited. These findings indicate that E6 protein probably plays a significant role in enabling cervical cancer cells to evade the immune system, while we propose a molecular pathway in cervical cancer, where PD-L1's expression is regulated by E6 protein through a miR-143/HIF-1a axis.

Comprehensive review of CRISPR-based gene editing: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy

The CRISPR system is a revolutionary genome editing tool that has the potential to revolutionize the field of cancer research and therapy. The ability to precisely target and edit specific genetic mutations that drive the growth and spread of tumors has opened up new possibilities for the development of more effective and personalized cancer treatments. In this review, we will discuss the different CRISPR-based strategies that have been proposed for cancer therapy, including inactivating genes that drive tumor growth, enhancing the immune response to cancer cells, repairing genetic mutations that cause cancer, and delivering cancer-killing molecules directly to tumor cells. We will also summarize the current state of preclinical studies and clinical trials of CRISPR-based cancer therapy, highlighting the most promising results and the challenges that still need to be overcome. Safety and delivery are also important challenges for CRISPR-based cancer therapy to become a viable clinical option. We will discuss the challenges and limitations that need to be overcome, such as off-target effects, safety, and delivery to the tumor site. Finally, we will provide an overview of the current challenges and opportunities in the field of CRISPR-based cancer therapy and discuss future directions for research and development. The CRISPR system has the potential to change the landscape of cancer research, and this review aims to provide an overview of the current state of the field and the challenges that need to be overcome to realize this potential.

Natural Biopolymer-Based Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for Cancer Treatment

Over the last decade, the clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has become the most promising gene editing tool and is broadly utilized to manipulate the gene for disease treatment, especially for cancer, which involves multiple genetic alterations. Typically, CRISPR/Cas9 machinery is delivered in one of three forms: DNA, mRNA, or ribonucleoprotein. However, the lack of efficient delivery systems for these macromolecules confined the clinical breakthrough of this technique. Therefore, a variety of nanomaterials have been fabricated to improve the stability and delivery efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In this context, the natural biopolymer-based carrier is a particularly promising platform for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery due to its great stability, low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Here, we focus on the advances of natural biopolymer-based materials for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery in the cancer field and discuss the challenges for their clinical translation.

CRISPR/Cas9 Landscape: Current State and Future Perspectives

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 is a unique genome editing tool that can be easily used in a wide range of applications, including functional genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, biotechnology, plant engineering, livestock breeding, gene therapy, diagnostics, and so on. This review is focused on the current CRISPR/Cas9 landscape, e.g., on Cas9 variants with improved properties, on Cas9-derived and fusion proteins, on Cas9 delivery methods, on pre-existing immunity against CRISPR/Cas9 proteins, anti-CRISPR proteins, and their possible roles in CRISPR/Cas9 function improvement. Moreover, this review presents a detailed outline of CRISPR/Cas9-based diagnostics and therapeutic approaches. Finally, the review addresses the future expansion of genome editors' toolbox with Cas9 orthologs and other CRISPR/Cas proteins.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Targeting of BPV-1-Transformed Primary Equine Sarcoid Fibroblasts

Equine sarcoids (EqS) are fibroblast-derived skin tumors associated with bovine papillomavirus 1 and 2 (BPV-1 and -2). Based on Southern blotting, the BPV-1 genome was not found to be integrated in the host cell genome, suggesting that EqS pathogenesis does not result from insertional mutagenesis. Hence, CRISPR/Cas9 implies an interesting tool for selectively targeting BPV-1 episomes or genetically anchored suspected host factors. To address this in a proof-of-concept study, we confirmed the exclusive episomal persistence of BPV-1 in EqS using targeted locus amplification (TLA). To investigate the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of BPV-1 episomes, primary equine fibroblast cultures were established and characterized. In the EqS fibroblast cultures, CRISPR-mediated targeting of the episomal E5 and E6 oncogenes as well as the BPV-1 long control region was successful and resulted in a pronounced reduction of the BPV-1 load. Moreover, the deletion of the equine Vimentin (VIM), which is highly expressed in EqS, considerably decreased the number of BPV-1 episomes. Our results suggest CRISPR/Cas9-based gene targeting may serve as a tool to help further unravel the biology of EqS pathogenesis.

CRISPR-Cas Technology as a Revolutionary Genome Editing tool: Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications

Programmable nucleases are powerful genomic tools for precise genome editing. These tools precisely recognize, remove, or change DNA at a defined site, thereby, stimulating cellular DNA repair pathways that can cause mutations or accurate replacement or deletion/insertion of a sequence. CRISPR-Cas9 system is the most potent and useful genome editing technique adapted from the defense immune system of certain bacteria and archaea against viruses and phages. In the past decade, this technology made notable progress, and at present, it has largely been used in genome manipulation to make precise gene editing in plants, animals, and human cells. In this review, we aim to explain the basic principle, mechanisms of action, and applications of this system in different areas of medicine, with emphasizing on the detection and treatment of parasitic diseases.

Genome editing mRNA nanotherapies inhibit cervical cancer progression and regulate the immunosuppressive microenvironment for adoptive T-cell therapy

CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing is promising for therapy of cervical cancer by precisely targeting human papillomavirus (HPV). To develop CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing nanotherapies, a pH-responsive hybrid nonviral nanovector was constructed for co-delivering Cas9 mRNA and guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting E6 or E7 oncogenes. The pH-responsive nanovector was fabricated using an acetalated cyclic oligosaccharide (ACD), in combination with low molecular weight polyethyleneimine. Thus obtained hybrid ACD nanoparticles (defined as ACD NP) showed efficient loading for both Cas9 mRNA and E6 or E7 gRNA, giving rise to two pH-responsive genome editing nanotherapies E6/ACD NP and E7/ACD NP, respectively. Cellularly, ACD NP exhibited high transfection but low cytotoxicity in HeLa cervical carcinoma cells. Also, efficient genome editing of target genes was achieved in HeLa cells, with minimal off-target effects. In mice bearing HeLa xenografts, treatment with E6/ACD NP or E7/ACD NP afforded effective editing of target oncogenes and considerable antitumor activities. More importantly, treatment with E6/ACD NP or E7/ACD NP notably promoted CD8+ T cell survival by reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby leading to synergistic antitumor effects by combination therapy using the gene editing nanotherapies and adoptive T-cell transfer. Consequently, our pH-responsive genome editing nanotherapies deserve further development for the treatment of HPV-associated cervical cancer, and they can also serve as promising nanotherapies to improve efficacies of other immune therapies against different advanced cancers by regulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

CRISPR-Cas9 System: A Prospective Pathway toward Combatting Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels throughout the world. To cope with this problem, scientists are working on CRISPR-based research so that antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be killed and attacked almost as quickly as antibiotic-sensitive bacteria. Nuclease activity is found in Cas9, which can be programmed with a specific target sequence. This mechanism will only attack pathogens in the microbiota while preserving commensal bacteria. This article portrays the delivery methods used in the CRISPR-Cas system, which are both viral and non-viral, along with its implications and challenges, such as microbial dysbiosis, off-target effects, and failure to counteract intracellular infections. CRISPR-based systems have a lot of applications, such as correcting mutations, developing diagnostics for infectious diseases, improving crops productions, improving breeding techniques, etc. In the future, CRISPR-based systems will revolutionize the world by curing diseases, improving agriculture, and repairing genetic disorders. Though all the drawbacks of the technology, CRISPR carries great potential; thus, the modification and consideration of some aspects could result in a mind-blowing technique to attain all the applications listed and present a game-changing potential.

Multi-faceted CRISPR/Cas technological innovation aspects in the framework of 3P medicine

Since 2009, the European Association for Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (EPMA, Brussels) promotes the paradigm change from reactive approach to predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM) to protect individuals in sub-optimal health conditions from the health-to-disease transition, to increase life-quality of the affected patient cohorts improving, therefore, ethical standards and cost-efficacy of healthcare to great benefits of the society at large. The gene-editing technology utilizing CRISPR/Cas gene-editing approach has demonstrated its enormous value as a powerful tool in a broad spectrum of bio/medical research areas. Further, CRISPR/Cas gene-editing system is considered applicable to primary and secondary healthcare, in order to prevent disease spread and to treat clinically manifested disorders, involving diagnostics of SARS-Cov-2 infection and experimental treatment of COVID-19. Although the principle of the proposed gene editing is simple and elegant, there are a lot of technological challenges and ethical considerations to be solved prior to its broadly scaled clinical implementation. This article highlights technological innovation beyond the state of the art, exemplifies current achievements, discusses unsolved technological and ethical problems, and provides clinically relevant outlook in the framework of 3PM.

CRISPR/Cas9 for hepatitis B virus infection treatment

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global health challenge. Despite the availability of effective preventive vaccines, millions of people are at risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current drug therapies inhibit viral replication, slow the progression of liver fibrosis and reduce infectivity, but they rarely remove the covalently sealed circular DNA (cccDNA) of the virus that causes HBV persistence. Alternative treatment strategies, including those based on CRISPR/cas9 knockout virus gene, can effectively inhibit HBV replication, so it has a good prospect. During chronic infection, some virus gene knockouts based on CRISPR/cas9 may even lead to cccDNA inactivation. This paper reviews the progress of different HBV CRISPR/cas9, vectors for delivering to the liver, and the current situation of preclinical and clinical research.

Inhibition of Cellular MEK/ERK Signaling Suppresses Murine Papillomavirus Type 1 Replicative Activities and Promotes Tumor Regression

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a significant public health concern due to their widespread transmission, morbidity, and oncogenic potential. Despite efficacious vaccines, millions of unvaccinated individuals and those with existing infections will develop HPV-related diseases for the next two decades. The continuing burden of HPV-related diseases is exacerbated by the lack of effective therapies or cures for most infections, highlighting the need to identify and develop antivirals. The experimental murine papillomavirus type 1 (MmuPV1) model provides opportunities to study papillomavirus pathogenesis in cutaneous epithelium, the oral cavity, and the anogenital tract. However, to date the MmuPV1 infection model has not been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of potential antivirals. We previously reported that inhibitors of cellular MEK/ERK signaling suppress oncogenic HPV early gene expression in vitro . Herein, we adapted the MmuPV1 infection model to determine whether MEK inhibitors have anti-papillomavirus properties in vivo . We demonstrate that oral delivery of a MEK1/2 inhibitor promotes papilloma regression in immunodeficient mice that otherwise would have developed persistent infections. Quantitative histological analyses revealed that inhibition of MEK/ERK signaling reduces E6/E7 mRNAs, MmuPV1 DNA, and L1 protein expression within MmuPV1-induced lesions. These data suggest that MEK1/2 signaling is essential for both early and late MmuPV1 replication events supporting our previous findings with oncogenic HPVs. We also provide evidence that MEK inhibitors protect mice from developing secondary tumors. Thus, our data suggest that MEK inhibitors have potent anti-viral and anti-tumor properties in a preclinical mouse model and merit further investigation as papillomavirus antiviral therapies.

Significance Statement

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections cause significant morbidity and oncogenic HPV infections can progress to anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Despite the availability of effective prophylactic HPV vaccines, millions of unvaccinated individuals, and those currently infected will develop HPV-related diseases over the next two decades and beyond. Thus, it remains critical to identify effective antivirals against papillomaviruses. Using a mouse papillomavirus model of HPV infection, this study reveals that cellular MEK1/2 signaling supports viral tumorigenesis. The MEK1/2 inhibitor, trametinib, demonstrates potent antiviral activities and promotes tumor regression. This work provides insight into the conserved regulation of papillomavirus gene expression by MEK1/2 signaling and reveals this cellular pathway as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of papillomavirus diseases.

Viral vectors and extracellular vesicles: innate delivery systems utilized in CRISPR/Cas-mediated cancer therapy

Gene editing-based therapeutic strategies grant the power to override cell machinery and alter faulty genes contributing to disease development like cancer. Nowadays, the principal tool for gene editing is the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system. In order to bring this gene-editing system from the bench to the bedside, a significant hurdle remains, and that is the delivery of CRISPR/Cas to various target cells in vivo and in vitro. The CRISPR-Cas system can be delivered into mammalian cells using various strategies; among all, we have reviewed recent research around two natural gene delivery systems that have been proven to be compatible with human cells. Herein, we have discussed the advantages and limitations of viral vectors, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in delivering the CRISPR/Cas system for cancer therapy purposes.

Advances in CRISPR therapeutics

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) renaissance was catalysed by the discovery that RNA-guided prokaryotic CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins can create targeted double-strand breaks in mammalian genomes. This finding led to the development of CRISPR systems that harness natural DNA repair mechanisms to repair deficient genes more easily and precisely than ever before. CRISPR has been used to knock out harmful mutant genes and to fix errors in coding sequences to rescue disease phenotypes in preclinical studies and in several clinical trials. However, most genetic disorders result from combinations of mutations, deletions and duplications in the coding and non-coding regions of the genome and therefore require sophisticated genome engineering strategies beyond simple gene knockout. To overcome this limitation, the toolbox of natural and engineered CRISPR-Cas systems has been dramatically expanded to include diverse tools that function in human cells for precise genome editing and epigenome engineering. The application of CRISPR technology to edit the non-coding genome, modulate gene regulation, make precise genetic changes and target infectious diseases has the potential to lead to curative therapies for many previously untreatable diseases.

Myriad applications of bacteriophages beyond phage therapy

Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entity on the planet, having pivotal roles in bacterial ecology, animal and plant health, and in the biogeochemical cycles. Although, in principle, phages are simple entities that replicate at the expense of their bacterial hosts, due the importance of bacteria in all aspects of nature, they have the potential to influence and modify diverse processes, either in subtle or profound ways. Traditionally, the main application of bacteriophages is phage therapy, which is their utilization to combat and help to clear bacterial infections, from enteric diseases, to skin infections, chronic infections, sepsis, etc. Nevertheless, phages can also be potentially used for several other tasks, including food preservation, disinfection of surfaces, treatment of several dysbioses, and modulation of microbiomes. Phages may also be used as tools for the treatment of non-bacterial infections and pest control in agriculture; moreover, they can be used to decrease bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance and even to combat global warming. In this review manuscript we discuss these possible applications and promote their implementation.

Advanced Nanomedicine for High-Risk HPV-Driven Head and Neck Cancer

The incidence of high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV)-driven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is on the rise globally. HR-HPV-driven HNSCC displays molecular and clinical characteristics distinct from HPV-uninvolved cases. Therapeutic strategies for HR-HPV-driven HNSCC are under investigation. HR-HPVs encode the oncogenes E6 and E7, which are essential in tumorigenesis. Meanwhile, involvement of E6 and E7 provides attractive targets for developing new therapeutic regimen. Here we will review some of the recent advancements observed in preclinical studies and clinical trials on HR-HPV-driven HNSCC, focusing on nanotechnology related methods. Materials science innovation leads to great improvement for cancer therapeutics including HNSCC. This article discusses HPV-E6 or -E7- based vaccines, based on plasmid, messenger RNA or peptide, at their current stage of development and testing as well as how nanoparticles can be designed to target and access cancer cells and activate certain immunology pathways besides serving as a delivery vehicle. Nanotechnology was also used for chemotherapy and photothermal treatment. Short interference RNA targeting E6/E7 showed some potential in animal models. Gene editing by CRISPR-CAS9 combined with other treatments has also been assessed. These advancements have the potential to improve the outcome in HR-HPV-driven HNSCC, however breakthroughs are still to be awaited with nanomedicine playing an important role.

CRISPR/Cas systems: Delivery and application in gene therapy

The CRISPR/Cas systems in prokaryotes such as bacteria and archaea are the adaptive immune system to prevent infection from viruses, phages, or other foreign substances. When viruses or phages first invade the bacteria, Cas proteins recognize and cut the DNA from viruses or phages into short fragments that will be integrated into the CRISPR array. Once bacteria are invaded again, the modified CRISPR and Cas proteins react quickly to cut DNA at the specified target location, protecting the host. Due to its high efficiency, versatility, and simplicity, the CRISPR/Cas system has become one of the most popular gene editing technologies. In this review, we briefly introduce the CRISPR/Cas systems, focus on several delivery methods including physical delivery, viral vector delivery, and non-viral vector delivery, and the applications of disease therapy. Finally, some problems in CRISPR/Cas9 technology have been proposed, such as the off-target effects, the efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms, and delivery of CRISPR/Cas system safely and efficiently to the target location.

Description of CRISPR-Cas9 development and its prospects in human papillomavirus-driven cancer treatment

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been recognized as the etiologic agents of various cancers and are called HPV-driven cancers. Concerning HPV-mediated carcinogenic action, gene therapy can cure cancer at the molecular level by means of the correction of specific genes or sites. CRISPR-Cas9, as a novel genetic editing technique, can correct errors in the genome and change the gene expression and function in cells efficiently, quickly, and with relative ease. Herein, we overviewed studies of CRISPR-mediated gene remedies for HPV-driven cancers and summarized the potential applications of CRISPR-Cas9 in gene therapy for cancer.

Advances in CRISPR/Cas9

CRISPR/Cas9 technology has become the most examined gene editing technology in recent years due to its simple design, yet low cost, high efficiency, and simple operation, which can also achieve simultaneous editing of multiple loci. It can also be carried out without using plasmids, saving lots of troubles caused by plasmids. CRISPR/Cas9 has shown great potential in the study of genes or genomic functions in microorganisms, plants, animals, and human beings. In this review, we will examine the history, structure, and basic mechanisms of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, describe its great value in precision medicine and sgRNA library screening, and dig its great potential in a new field: DNA information storage.

What Surgeons Need to Know About Gene Therapy for Cancer

The broad field of gene therapy offers numerous innovative approaches for cancer treatment. An understanding of the different modalities including gene replacement therapy, cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, cellular therapy, and gene editing is essential for managing patients with neoplastic disease. As in other areas of oncology, the surgeon plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. This review focuses on what the clinical surgeon needs to know to optimize the benefit of gene therapy for patients with cancer.

CRISPR/Cas9 system: a reliable and facile genome editing tool in modern biology

Genome engineering has always been a versatile technique in biological research and medicine, with several applications. In the last several years, the discovery of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 technology has swept the scientific community and revolutionised the speed of modern biology, heralding a new era of disease detection and rapid biotechnology discoveries. It enables successful gene editing by producing targeted double-strand breaks in virtually any organism or cell type. So, this review presents a comprehensive knowledge about the mechanism and structure of Cas9-mediated RNA-guided DNA targeting and cleavage. In addition, genome editing via CRISPR-Cas9 technology in various animals which are being used as models in scientific research including Non-Human Primates Pigs, Dogs, Zebra, fish and Drosophila has been discussed in this review. This review also aims to understand the applications, serious concerns and future perspective of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing.

A Novel Approach of Antiviral Drugs Targeting Viral Genomes

Outbreaks of viral diseases, which cause morbidity and mortality in animals and humans, are increasing annually worldwide. Vaccines, antiviral drugs, and antibody therapeutics are the most effective tools for combating viral infection. The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, in particular, raises an urgent need for the development of rapid and broad-spectrum therapeutics. Current antiviral drugs and antiviral antibodies, which are mostly specific at protein levels, have encountered difficulties because the rapid evolution of mutant viral strains resulted in drug resistance. Therefore, degrading viral genomes is considered a novel approach for developing antiviral drugs. The current article highlights all potent candidates that exhibit antiviral activity by digesting viral genomes such as RNases, RNA interference, interferon-stimulated genes 20, and CRISPR/Cas systems. Besides that, we introduce a potential single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that presents antiviral activity against various DNA and RNA viruses due to its unique nucleic acid hydrolyzing characteristic, promoting it as a promising candidate for broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics.

Therapeutic potentials of CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology in human viral infections

Viral infections are a common cause of morbidity worldwide. The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to more attention to viral infections and finding novel therapeutics. The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been recently proposed as a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of viral diseases. Here, we review the research progress in the use of CRISPR-Cas technology for treating viral infections, as well as the strategies for improving the delivery of this gene-editing tool in vivo. Key challenges that hinder the widespread clinical application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology are also discussed, and several possible directions for future research are proposed.

Non-human primate papillomavirus E6-mediated p53 degradation reveals ancient evolutionary adaptation of carcinogenic phenotype to host niche

Non-human primates (NHPs) are infected with papillomaviruses (PVs) closely related to their human counterparts, but there are few studies on the carcinogenicity of NHP-PVs. Using an in vitro cell co-transfection assay, we systematically screened the biochemical activity of E6 proteins encoded by macaque PVs for their ability to bind and promote degradation of host p53 proteins. A host species barrier exists between HPV16 and MfPV3 with respect to E6-mediated p53 degradation that is reversed when p53 residue 129 is swapped between human and macaque hosts. Systematic investigation found that E6 proteins encoded by most macaque PV types in the high-risk species α12, but not other Alpha-PV clades or Beta-/Gamma-PV genera, can effectively promote monkey p53 degradation. Interestingly, two macaque PV types (MfPV10 and MmPV1) can simultaneously inhibit the expression of human and monkey p53 proteins, revealing complex cross-host interactions between PV oncogenes and host proteomes. Single point-mutant experiments revealed that E6 residue 47 directly interacts with p53 residue 129 for host-specific degradation. These findings suggest an ancient host niche adaptation toward a carcinogenic phenotype in high-risk primate PV ancestors. Following periods of primate host speciation, a loss-of-function mutation model could be responsible for the formation of a host species barrier to E6-mediated p53 degradation between HPVs and NHP-PVs. Our work lays a genetic and functional basis for PV carcinogenicity, which provides important insights into the origin and evolution of specific pathogens in host pathogenesis.

Exploring nano-enabled CRISPR-Cas-powered strategies for efficient diagnostics and treatment of infectious diseases

Biomedical researchers have subsequently been inspired the development of new approaches for precisely changing an organism's genomic DNA in order to investigate customized diagnostics and therapeutics utilizing genetic engineering techniques. Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is one such technique that has emerged as a safe, targeted, and effective pharmaceutical treatment against a wide range of disease-causing organisms, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, as well as genetic abnormalities. The recent discovery of very flexible engineered nucleic acid binding proteins has changed the scientific area of genome editing in a revolutionary way. Since current genetic engineering technique relies on viral vectors, issues about immunogenicity, insertional oncogenesis, retention, and targeted delivery remain unanswered. The use of nanotechnology has the potential to improve the safety and efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9 component distribution by employing tailored polymeric nanoparticles. The combination of two (CRISPR/Cas9 and nanotechnology) offers the potential to open new therapeutic paths. Considering the benefits, demand, and constraints, the goal of this research is to acquire more about the biology of CRISPR technology, as well as aspects of selective and effective diagnostics and therapies for infectious illnesses and other metabolic disorders. This review advocated combining nanomedicine (nanomedicine) with a CRISPR/Cas enabled sensing system to perform early-stage diagnostics and selective therapy of specific infectious disorders. Such a Nano-CRISPR-powered nanomedicine and sensing system would allow for successful infectious illness control, even on a personal level. This comprehensive study also discusses the current obstacles and potential of the predicted technology.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40097-022-00472-7.

Antiproliferative effects of AAV-delivered CRISPR/Cas9-based degradation of the HPV18-E6 gene in HeLa cells

Human papillomavirus infections are associated with most cervical cancers, which are the fourth most common cancer in women. HPV-E6 protein binds to protein p53 and inhibits its function, leading to the switching of normal cells toward cancer cells. Here, we disrupted the HPV-E6 gene and investigated its effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of HeLa cells. The HPV18-E6 gene was targeted with two designed sgRNAs cloned into an AAV-CRISPR-based plasmid. The AAV-E6-CRISPR/Cas9 virions were prepared and titrated in HEK293t cells. The cleavage created in the HPV-E6 gene was detected using the T7E1 assay. Cell cycle profiling, MTT assay, and annexin V/PI staining were performed. Also, the p53 protein level was measured by Western blotting. Our data showed that disruption of the HPV-E6 gene led to increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. A significant accumulation of infected cells in sub-G1 phase was observed in the cell profiling assay. Also, HPV-E6 gene disruption resulted in a significant increase in the level of P53 protein. Our findings indicated that AAV-mediated delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 can effectively target the HPV-E6 gene in HeLa cells, and its antiproliferative effects may provide therapeutic benefits of local administration of this gene-editing system for HPV-related cervical cancers.

Targeting Cancer with CRISPR/Cas9-Based Therapy

Cancer is a devastating condition characterised by the uncontrolled division of cells with many forms remaining resistant to current treatment. A hallmark of cancer is the gradual accumulation of somatic mutations which drive tumorigenesis in cancerous cells, creating a mutation landscape distinctive to a cancer type, an individual patient or even a single tumour lesion. Gene editing with CRISPR/Cas9-based tools now enables the precise and permanent targeting of mutations and offers an opportunity to harness this technology to target oncogenic mutations. However, the development of safe and effective gene editing therapies for cancer relies on careful design to spare normal cells and avoid introducing other mutations. This article aims to describe recent advancements in cancer-selective treatments based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system, especially focusing on strategies for targeted delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 machinery to affected cells, controlling Cas9 expression in tissues of interest and disrupting cancer-specific genes to result in selective death of malignant cells.

RNA-based gene targeting therapies for human papillomavirus driven cancers

While platinum-based chemotherapy, radiation therapy and or surgery are effective in reducing human papillomavirus (HPV) driven cancer tumours, they have some significant drawbacks, including low specificity for tumour, toxicity, and severe adverse effects. Though current therapies for HPV-driven cancers are effective, severe late toxicity associated with current treatments contributes to the deterioration of patient quality of life. This warrants the need for novel therapies for HPV derived cancers. In this short review, we examined RNA-based therapies targeting the major HPV oncogenes, including short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) as putative treatment modalities. We also explore other potential RNA-based targeting approaches such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and mRNA vaccines as future treatment modalities for HPV cancers. Some of these technologies have already been approved for clinical use for a range of other human diseases but not for HPV cancers. Here we explore the emerging evidence supporting the effectiveness of some of these gene-based therapies for HPV malignancies. In short, the evidence sheds promising light on the feasibility of translating these technologies into a clinically relevant treatment modality for HPV derived cancers and potentially other virally driven human cancers.