The dCas9-SSAP as a promising genome editing tool in malaria parasites

Measures to combat the Plasmodium parasites which cause malaria have become compromised because of reliance on a small arsenal of drugs, emerging drug resistance and the lack of effective vaccines. A promising avenue for addressing these challenges is the revolutionary gene-editing technology CRISPR-Cas9, due to its high efficiency and ease of design for genetic manipulation. The catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9)-microbial single-stranded annealing proteins (SSAP)(dCas9-SSAP) is a recently emerged next-generation gene editing system added to the ever-growing CRISPR-Cas9-based technologies. While the classical Cas9-nuclease technologies are "double-strand break, damage-repair systems", the dCas9-SSAP is distinctively a "cleavage-free" editing tool. Unlimited to the Plasmodium genome, Cas9-nucleases imprint inheritable genetic scars on the subject genomes when applied. Here, we discussed the DSB genotoxicity pitfalls of existing nuclease-based editing tools, especially CRISPR-Cas9, and how the dCas9-SSAP presents a formidable option to the drawbacks within the context of Plasmodium genome editing. Then, we sought to infer a plausible mechanistic framework that could account for dCas9-SSAP-mediated genome editing. Finally, we discussed how dCas9-SSAP aligns with Plasmodium parasites' biology. This review would set the stage for continued research into the potential of this new, exciting technology in malaria parasites.