An overview: CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing for viral vaccine development

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Gene-editing technologies offer significant advantages over traditional vaccine manufacturing, including enhanced immune response, increased production rates, improved stability, precise immunogenic activity, and reduced adverse effects.
• The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/associated protein 9 (Cas9) system is a leading gene-editing tool due to its efficiency, utility, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Approach:

• This review explores the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in vaccine development and viral vector delivery systems.
• We examine strategies for vaccine design using CRISPR/Cas9, including its use in engineering viruses for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
• The review also discusses the limitations and future potential of CRISPR/Cas systems in vaccinology.

Key Points:

• CRISPR/Cas9 enables precise genomic modification for advanced vaccine development.
• Antiviral applications of CRISPR/Cas9 include knockout, knock-in, gene activation/deactivation, RNA targeting, and cell line editing to prevent viral infections.
• CRISPR/Cas systems can enhance vaccine production yields by removing detrimental genes from viruses.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR/Cas9 technology represents a transformative approach to vaccine manufacturing, offering enhanced efficacy and safety.
• The versatility of CRISPR/Cas systems opens new avenues for developing innovative vaccines and delivery strategies.
• Further research into CRISPR/Cas applications promises to accelerate the development of next-generation vaccines for human and animal health.