基于CRISPR/Cas13a系统建立大口黑鲈弹状病毒检测方法

为了建立一种灵敏度高、特异性强并且适合现场诊断的大口黑鲈弹状病毒(Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus, MSRV)检测方法,研究基于CRISPR-Cas13a系统并结合多酶恒温核酸快速扩增(MIRA)技术建立了一种MSRV的检测方法。实验对MSRV序列进行多重序列比对分析后,针对MSRV衣壳蛋白(CP)基因的特异性区域设计两个靶点,并通过体外转录成特异性的crRNA,同时设计合成MIRA引物序列实现目标序列的等温扩增,最后结合Cas13a蛋白、crRNA、恒温扩增体系构建检测体系,并从高效crRNA的选择、反应温度、ssRNA报告探针浓度和Cas13a与crRNA的浓度比四个方面优化了反应体系,并采用最优检测体系对大口黑鲈样本进行检测验证。结果显示,在20μL检测体系中加入200 nmol/L Cas13a、100 nmol/L crRNA1、100 nmol/L crRNA2及500 nmol/L ssRNA报告探针,在37℃的情况下能够获得最佳的检测效果。并且该检测体系可以检测到10² fM的MSRV病毒,具有良好的特异性和灵敏...     

利用CRISPR/Cas9核酸酶靶向细菌必需基因的特异性抗菌剂研究（英文）

CRISPR/Cas9核酸酶是一种高效和精确的基因组DNA编辑工具。目前,CRISPR/Cas9被开发成一种新型抗菌剂,通过靶向破坏目标基因,例如抗生素耐药基因来诱导细菌死亡。本研究利用CRISPR携带多靶点优势,同时靶向大肠杆菌必需基因gyrA、gyrB和folA,以达到杀菌作用。本设计针对3个内源基因的CRISPR系列载体,分别含有1个、2个或3个靶点。当IPTG诱导Cas9表达后,CRISPR RNA (crRNA)和反式作用CRISPR RNA (trans-activating CRISPR RNA, tracrRNA)复合物募集Cas9切割靶基因,导致细菌死亡。随着crRNA中靶点数量的增加,杀菌效率显著提高。当含有3个靶点的crRNA作用于细菌基因组时,杀菌效率达到99.35%。此外,在存活的大肠杆菌中,crRNA表达质粒的靶序列和直接重复序列发现碱基缺失,而内源靶基因和Cas9基因均未发生突变。最后,该CRISPR系统还应用于其他大肠杆菌实验室菌株和产肠毒素K88菌株,并表现出高效的杀菌作用。我们设计了一种基于CRISPR/Cas9核酸酶的新型抗菌剂,为抗菌剂的研发提供新策略。     

基于CRISPR/Cas生物传感原理的病原菌检测技术研究进展*

病原菌的快速准确检测是实现疫情高效防控、疾病精准治疗、污染环境及时处置的关键。而现有的病原菌现场快速检测技术,主要以定性分析为主,假阳性/假阴性受到诟病,检测准确性仍有待提升,亟待发展基于新原理、新方法的病原菌快速检测技术。基于CRISPR(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)的生物传感技术因具有高灵活性(对不同的基因靶点只需改变crRNA序列)、高特异性(单碱基分辨)、高灵敏(优于10^-18 mol/L浓度)、可编程、可模块化、低成本、可在各种体外介质中高效稳定运行等独特优势,打破了传统分子诊断与检测技术的局限性,正在成为下一代病原菌检测技术的引领者。在该技术中,Cas效应蛋白被用作高特异性的序列识别元件,结合不同的生物传感机制,即可用于病原菌的高特异性快速灵敏检测。在总结CRISPR/Cas生物传感技术原理的基础上,综述了用于病原菌检测的CRISPR/Cas12和CRISPR/Cas13生物传感技术研究进展。通过阐述CRISPR/Cas生物传感技术在实际应用中面临的挑战,展望其未来的发展前景。     

CRISPR/Cas系统在抗病毒研究中的应用

近年来,CRISPR/Cas系统因其效率高、靶向性强、易操作等优势,已被广泛应用于多种病毒研究中。本文首先简单介绍了CRISPR/Cas系统的分类,并比较了Cas9和Cas12a与Cas13a的特点;其次重点介绍了CRISPR/Cas9通过靶向破坏病毒基因组,或编辑宿主关于病毒生命周期的关键因子的策略在抗病毒方面的各种应用,CRISPR/Cas13a采用靶向破坏病毒基因组方法在抗病毒中的应用,以及CRISPR/Cas12a和CRISPR/Cas13a在病毒基因检测中的应用。最后讨论了CRISPR/Cas在病毒研究中面临的挑战,并讨论了CRISPR/Cas12a作为抗病毒工具的潜在应用前景。由于CRISPR/Cas系统自身的优势,预计该系统将会给病毒相关的疾病诊断和控制带来革命性的变化。     

四种广普性植物病毒高效mPCR检测方法的建立

本研究建立了能同时检测出烟草花叶病毒(TMV)、黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)、马铃薯X病毒(PVX)和马铃薯Y病毒(PVY)的多重RT-PCR体系。TMV、CMV、PVX、PVY是四种广普性植物病毒,寄主范围广泛,并且常常发生复合侵染。本研究以上述四种病毒的CP基因部分序列设计引物,以反转录的cDNA为模板,建立多重RT-PCR反应体系,分别扩增出211～417bp的不同长度的基因片断,并通过序列测定来确认扩增序列的特异性。将反转录合成的cDNA进行浓度稀释,来对多重RT-PCR与单重RT-PCR的灵敏度进行比较,结果证明,多重RT-PCR体系能够同时快速检测这四种病毒,并且有很高的灵敏度。     

基于CRISPR/Cas的分子诊断传感器在非核酸分子诊断中的应用

CRISPR/Cas不仅是一种重要的基因编辑工具,而且还是一种有效的分子诊断工具。目前基于CRISPR/Cas建立了一系列的分子诊断传感器系统,广泛应用于核酸、非核酸等检测过程中。与应用较广泛的核酸分子诊断传感器系统相比,基于CRISPR/Cas的非核酸检测系统目前尚未见系统性综述,因此本文围绕基于CRISPR/Cas12和CRISPR/Cas13建立的两大类非核酸分子传感器诊断系统的基本特征、工作流程及其检测原理等进行了全面综述,期望能为CRISPR/Cas分子诊断系统在体外诊断中的应用提供依据。     

CRISPR/Cas9技术在非模式植物中的应用进展

基因组编辑技术的出现对植物遗传育种及作物性状的改良产生了深远意义。CRISPR/Cas(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)是由成簇规律间隔短回文重复序列及其关联蛋白组成的免疫系统,其作用是原核生物(40%细菌和90%古细菌)用来抵抗外源遗传物质(噬菌体和病毒)的入侵。该技术实现了对基因组中多个靶基因同时进行编辑,与前两代基因编辑技术:锌指核酶(ZFNs)和转录激活因子样效应物核酶(TALENs)相比更加简单、廉价、高效。目前CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术已在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)、烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)、水稻(Oryza sativa)、小麦(Triticum aestivum)、玉米(Zea mays)、番茄(tomato)等模式植物和多数大作物中实现了定点基因组编辑,其应用范围不断地向各类植物扩展。但与模式植物和一些大作物相比,CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在非模式植物,尤其在一些小作物的应用中存在如载体构建、靶点设计、脱靶检测、同源重组等问题有待进一步完善。该文对CRISPR/Cas9技术在非模式植物与小作物研究的最新研究进展进行了总结,讨论了该技术目前在非模式植物、小作物应用的局限性,在此基础上提出了相关改进策略,并对CRISPR/Cas9系统在非模式植物中的研究前景进行了展望。     

植物CRISPR/Cas9多基因编辑载体构建和突变分析的操作方法

CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术是植物基因功能研究与作物改良的有效工具.为此,本实验室开发了高效的CRISPR/Cas9植物多基因编辑载体系统.本载体系统包括6个双元载体和12个含有不同U3/U6启动子的sg RNA中间载体,可满足对单子叶和双子叶植物的遗传转化以及不同抗生素筛选的要求,具有简便、高效,可同时对多基因进行编辑的特点.此外,为了能更高效地应用基因组编辑技术,还开发了一站式在线分析工具包CRISPR-GE.为方便研究人员利用CRISPR/Cas9系统进行植物基因组编辑,本文提供了从靶点选择、CRISPR/Cas9多靶点双元载体构建,以及对靶点突变序列的测序分析等详细的操作方法,以及常见的问题解答.     

靶向miRNA前体不同类型sgRNA的丰度及特异性评估

CRISPR/Cas技术能高效进行基因组定点编辑,但不同细菌来源或人工改造的Cas9以及Cpf1等核酸酶识别的PAM (protospacer adjacent motif)有差异,因此不同的基因编辑核酸酶可能采用不同类型的sgRNAs(small guide RNAs)。MicroRNAs (miRNAs)是一类调控性的小分子非编码RNAs,为了研究miRNA前体中是否可能存在特异性高的sgRNAs靶点,本文利用本课题组前期开发的生物信息学软件CRISPR-offinder,对靶向28 645条miRNA前体的11种不同类型sgRNA的丰度及特异性进行了分析,并利用CRISPR/Cas9慢病毒技术构建了猪miR-302/367基因簇敲除细胞系,对构建的猪miRNA敲除细胞系的效率进行了检测。结果表明,每个miRNA前体中平均存在约8种不同类型sgRNA的靶点;通过评估靶向猪miRNA前体sgRNA的脱靶效应,发现其中特异性高的sgRNA仅占18.2%;通过CRISPR/Cas9慢病毒技术成功构建了猪miR-302/367基因簇敲除细胞系,发现通过该技术构建miRNA敲除细胞系的效率为40%。本研究为利用CRISPR/Cas技术靶向敲除miRNA提供了重要资源。     

CRISPR-Cas9介导的基因组编辑技术的研究进展

CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated proteins)系统为细菌与古生菌中抵御外源病毒或质粒DNA入侵的获得性免疫系统。该系统在crRNA的指导下,使核酸酶Cas识别并降解外源DNA。其中,Ⅱ型CRISPR-Cas系统最为简单,仅包括一个核酸酶Cas9与tracrRNA：crRNA二聚体便可完成其生物功能。基于CRISPR-Cas9的基因组编辑技术的核心为将tracrRNA:crRNA设计为引导RNA,在引导RNA的指导下Cas9定位于特定DNA序列上,进行DNA双链切割,实现基因组的定向编辑。CRISPR-Cas9系统以设计操纵简便、编辑高效与通用性广等优势成为新一代基因组编辑技术,为基因组定向改造调控与应用等带来突破性革命。从CRISPR-Cas9介导的基因组编辑技术的发展与应用等方面综述其最新研究进展,并着重介绍该技术的关键影响因素,为相关研究者提供参考。     

Generation of virus‐resistant potato plants by RNA genome targeting

CRISPR/Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with molecular immunity against invading phages and foreign plasmids. The class 2 type VI CRISPR/Cas effector Cas13a is an RNA‐targeting CRISPR effector that provides protection against RNA phages. Here we report the repurposing of CRISPR/Cas13a to protect potato plants from a eukaryotic virus, Potato virus Y (PVY). Transgenic potato lines expressing Cas13a/sgRNA (small guide RNA) constructs showed suppressed PVY accumulation and disease symptoms. The levels of viral resistance correlated with the expression levels of the Cas13a/sgRNA construct in the plants. Our data further demonstrate that appropriately designed sgRNAs can specifically interfere with multiple PVY strains, while having no effect on unrelated viruses such as PVA or Potato virus S. Our findings provide a novel and highly efficient strategy for engineering crops with resistances to viral diseases.     

重组酶聚合酶扩增结合CRISPR-Cas12a快速检测十足目虹彩病毒1方法的建立

[背景] 十足目虹彩病毒1（Decapod Iridescent Virus 1,DIV1）可感染南美白对虾、中国对虾和日本对虾等,是危害对虾养殖业的主要病毒之一。当前高效、快速、简便地检测对虾是否感染DIV1是减少其发生和危害的重要途径。[目的] 将成簇的规律间隔短回文重复序列（Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats,CRISPR）及其相关蛋白12a （CRISPR Associated Protein 12a,Cas12a）,即CRISPR-Cas12a系统,与重组酶聚合酶扩增（Recombinase Polymerase Amplification,RPA）技术相结合,建立快速检测DIV1的方法（RPA-Cas12a）,并探讨该方法在实际样本检验中的应用价值。[方法] 通过提取DIV1 DNA,设计其RPA引物、crRNA及报告探针,优化并建立RPA结合CRISPR-Cas12a的快速检测方法,进一步分析该方法检测DIV1的灵敏度与特异性,并比较建立的方法与qPCR法的一致性。[结果] 建立的RPA-Cas12a快速检测方法可在40 min内实现对虾样本DNA中DIV1的检测,检测限为10 copies/reaction。用该方法分别对对虾白斑综合征病毒（White Spot Syndrome Virus,WSSV）、传染性皮下及造血组织坏死病毒（Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus,IHHNV）、虾肝肠胞虫（Enterocytozoon Hepatopenaei,EHP）及DIV1进行检测,结果仅DIV1发生特异性反应,而WSSV、IHHNV和EHP的检测结果均为阴性。采用RPA-Cas12a检测61份实际样本,结果均与qPCR检测法的阳性检出率一致。[结论] 建立的RPA-Cas12a方法检测十足目虹彩病毒1具有快速、简便、灵敏度高且特异性强的特点,为十足目虹彩病毒1的快速检测提供了新的工具。     

DNA targeting by the type I-G and type I-A CRISPR–Cas systems of Pyrococcus furiosus

CRISPR–Cas systems silence plasmids and viruses in prokaryotes. CRISPR–Cas effector complexes contain CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) that include sequences captured from invaders and direct CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to destroy corresponding invader nucleic acids. Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) harbors three CRISPR–Cas immune systems: a Cst (Type I-G) system with an associated Cmr (Type III-B) module at one locus, and a partial Csa (Type I-A) module (lacking known invader sequence acquisition and crRNA processing genes) at another locus. The Pfu Cmr complex cleaves complementary target RNAs, and Csa systems have been shown to target DNA, while the mechanism by which Cst complexes silence invaders is unknown. In this study, we investigated the function of the Cst as well as Csa system in Pfu strains harboring a single CRISPR–Cas system. Plasmid transformation assays revealed that the Cst and Csa systems both function by DNA silencing and utilize similar flanking sequence information (PAMs) to identify invader DNA. Silencing by each system specifically requires its associated Cas3 nuclease. crRNAs from the 7 shared CRISPR loci in Pfu are processed for use by all 3 effector complexes, and Northern analysis revealed that individual effector complexes dictate the profile of mature crRNA species that is generated.     

Genetic Characterization of Antiplasmid Immunity through a Type III-A CRISPR-Cas System

Many prokaryotes possess an adaptive immune system encoded by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). CRISPR loci produce small guide RNAs (crRNAs) that, in conjunction with flanking CRISPR-associated (cas) genes, combat viruses and block plasmid transfer by an antisense targeting mechanism. CRISPR-Cas systems have been classified into three types (I to III) that employ distinct mechanisms of crRNA biogenesis and targeting. The type III-A system in Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62a blocks the transfer of staphylococcal conjugative plasmids and harbors nine cas-csm genes. Previous biochemical analysis indicated that Cas10, Csm2, Csm3, Csm4, and Csm5 form a crRNA-containing ribonucleoprotein complex; however, the roles of these genes toward antiplasmid targeting remain unknown. Here, we determined the cas-csm genes that are required for antiplasmid immunity and used genetic and biochemical analyses to investigate the functions of predicted motifs and domains within these genes. We found that many mutations affected immunity by impacting the formation of the Cas10-Csm complex or crRNA biogenesis. Surprisingly, mutations in the predicted nuclease domains of the members of the Cas10-Csm complex had no detectable effect on antiplasmid immunity or crRNA biogenesis. In contrast, the deletion of csm6 and mutations in the cas10 Palm polymerase domain prevented CRISPR immunity without affecting either complex formation or crRNA production, suggesting their involvement in target destruction. By delineating the genetic requirements of this system, our findings further contribute to the mechanistic understanding of type III CRISPR-Cas systems.     

Improved Dot-Blot Hybridization Assay for Large-Scale Detection of Potato Viruses in Crude Potato Tuber Extracts

Abstract A rapid and simple technique has been developed to enhance the sensitivity of virus detection in dot-blot hybridization assay by up to 1000 fold. The procedure generally follows that of B aulcombe et al. (1984) but includes moderate heating of the nitrocellulose filter in 10XSSC, 0.5% SDS solution at 55°C after sample application. Using this procedure, four potato viruses (PVX, PVS, PVM and PVY) were detected with cloned virus-specific ³²P-cDNA probes in 2 μl spots containing 0.2–2 pg of purufied virus (0.1–1 ng/ml). The procedure was also successfully applied for the detection of PVX, PVS, PVM and PVY in crude potato tuber extracts.     

A Complex of Cas Proteins 5, 6, and 7 Is Required for the Biogenesis and Stability of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-derived RNAs (crRNAs) in Haloferax volcanii

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR-Cas) system is a prokaryotic defense mechanism against foreign genetic elements. A plethora of CRISPR-Cas versions exist, with more than 40 different Cas protein families and several different molecular approaches to fight the invading DNA. One of the key players in the system is the CRISPR-derived RNA (crRNA), which directs the invader-degrading Cas protein complex to the invader. The CRISPR-Cas types I and III use the Cas6 protein to generate mature crRNAs. Here, we show that the Cas6 protein is necessary for crRNA production but that additional Cas proteins that form a CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense (Cascade)-like complex are needed for crRNA stability in the CRISPR-Cas type I-B system in Haloferax volcanii in vivo. Deletion of the cas6 gene results in the loss of mature crRNAs and interference. However, cells that have the complete cas gene cluster (cas1–8b) removed and are transformed with the cas6 gene are not able to produce and stably maintain mature crRNAs. crRNA production and stability is rescued only if cas5, -6, and -7 are present. Mutational analysis of the cas6 gene reveals three amino acids (His-41, Gly-256, and Gly-258) that are essential for pre-crRNA cleavage, whereas the mutation of two amino acids (Ser-115 and Ser-224) leads to an increase of crRNA amounts. This is the first systematic in vivo analysis of Cas6 protein variants. In addition, we show that the H. volcanii I-B system contains a Cascade-like complex with a Cas7, Cas5, and Cas6 core that protects the crRNA.