CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing Technique for Fish Disease Management: Current Study and Future Perspective

Area of Science:

• Aquaculture
• Genomics
• Disease Management

Background:

• Aquaculture faces persistent challenges in treating diverse diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
• Existing treatments often fall short of providing permanent solutions for all aquatic pathogens.
• Genome-editing technologies offer potential for innovative disease prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of CRISPR-Cas genome-editing technology in aquaculture disease management.
• To highlight CRISPR-Cas as a precise, cost-effective alternative to existing genome-editing tools.
• To discuss the potential of CRISPR-Cas in ensuring aquaculture sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on CRISPR-Cas applications in aquaculture.
• Discussion of CRISPR-Cas mechanisms, including RNA-guided immunity and DNA modification.
• Synthesis of bioinformatics tools for CRISPR-Cas single-guide RNA design.

Main Results:

• CRISPR-Cas technology demonstrates efficacy against various aquaculture pathogens, including *Chilodonella* protozoa, nervous necrosis virus (NNV), bacterial diseases in channel catfish, and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp.
• CRISPR-Cas offers advantages in precision, cost, and ease of use compared to other genome-editing methods.
• Novel applications like nucleotide modification and DNA tagging are emerging.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR-Cas technology presents a promising avenue for sustainable aquaculture disease control.
• Further research and development are needed to overcome limitations and optimize CRISPR-Cas implementation.
• This review provides a foundation for understanding and adopting CRISPR-Cas in aquaculture health management.