Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
10:16
Author Spotlight: Development of Simplified CRISPR-Based Tests for Rapid Detection of Infectious Diseases
Published on: August 16, 2024
2.5K
Computational Detection of CRISPR/crRNA Targets
Ambarish Biswas1, Peter C Fineran, Chris M Brown
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|May 19, 2015
Summary
CRISPR-Cas systems use spacer sequences to identify foreign DNA. A new bioinformatic tool, CRISPRTarget, predicts these targets from CRISPR array sequences, aiding in understanding microbial defense mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bioinformatics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- CRISPR-Cas systems are adaptive immune mechanisms in bacteria and archaea.
- These systems target foreign nucleic acids using guide RNAs derived from CRISPR arrays.
- Spacer sequences within CRISPR arrays dictate target specificity, with flanking motifs (PAMs) aiding discrimination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a bioinformatic method for identifying foreign nucleic acid targets of CRISPR-Cas systems.
- To leverage CRISPR array sequences for predicting targeted sequences in invader genomes.
Main Methods:
- Development of the CRISPRTarget bioinformatic tool.
- Utilizing CRISPR array sequences (e.g., from CRISPRDetect/CRISPRDirection) as input.
- Analyzing spacer sequences and flanking motifs for target identification.
Main Results:
- CRISPRTarget can predict the foreign nucleic acids targeted by specific CRISPR arrays.
- The method considers spacer-target complementarity and PAM sequences for accurate prediction.
Conclusions:
- CRISPRTarget provides a valuable tool for predicting CRISPR-Cas system targets.
- This aids in understanding the specificity and function of microbial adaptive immunity.
Related Concept Videos
01:59CRISPR
60.1K
Genome editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA via the addition, removal, or rearrangement of genetic material at specific genomic locations. These types of techniques could potentially be used to cure genetic disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. One popular and widely used DNA-editing research tool that could lead to safe and effective cures for genetic disorders is the CRISPR-Cas9 system. CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced...
60.1K
01:59CRISPR
19.0K
19.0K
02:53CRISPR and crRNAs
20.4K
Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
20.4K
01:28CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing
3.1K
The CRISPR-Cas system serves as a bacterial defense mechanism against invading genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids, forming the foundation for its adaptation as a powerful genome-editing tool. Originally discovered in prokaryotes, this system has been repurposed to revolutionize genetic engineering across a wide range of organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. The core component, Cas9, is an endonuclease derived from Streptococcus pyogenes, capable of introducing...
3.1K
02:31Homologous Recombination
65.9K
The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
65.9K
01:23The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR
1.0K
CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats is a adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea that protects against viral infections. This system enables prokaryotic cells to identify, remember, and neutralize foreign genetic elements, primarily bacteriophages, by storing fragments of the invader’s DNA as a genetic memory.The CRISPR immune response begins during an initial infection. Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins play a central role in this...
1.0K