Advances In Research On Genome Editing Crispr-Cas9 Technology.

BACKGROUND: The current era of genome engineering has been revolutionized by the evolution of a bacterial adaptive immune system, CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) into a radical technology that is making an expeditious progress in its mechanism, function and applicability.. METHODS: A systematic literature review study was carried out with the help of all available information and online resources.. RESULTS: In this review, we intend to elucidate different aspects of CRISPR in the light of current advancements. Utilizing a nonspecific Cas9 nuclease and a sequence specific programmable CRISPR RNA (crRNA), this system cleaves the target DNA with high precision. With a vast potential for profound implications, CRISPR has emerged as a mainstream method for plausible genomic manipulations in a range of organisms owing to its simplicity, accuracy and speed. A modified form of CRISPR system, known as CRISPR/Cpf1 that employs a smaller and simpler endonuclease (Cpf1) than Cas9, can be used to overcome certain limitations of CRISPR/Cas9 system. Despite clear-cut innovative biological applications, this technology is challenged by off-target effects and associated risks, thus safe and controlled implementation is needed to enable this emerging technique assist both biological research and translational applications. CONCLUSIONS: CRISPR/Cas9 systems will undoubtedly revolutionize the study and treatment of both immunologic and allergic diseases. Concerned authorities should formulate and authorize such laws and regulations that permit the safe and ethical use of this emerging technology for basic research and clinical purposes.

Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Control of a Tick-Borne Disease- Kyasanur Forest Disease: Current Status and Future Directions.

In South Asia, Haemaphysalis spinigera tick transmits Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), a flavivirus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever with neurological manifestations such as mental disturbances, severe headache, tremors, and vision deficits in infected human beings with a fatality rate of 3-10%. The disease was first reported in March 1957 from Kyasanur forest of Karnataka (India) from sick and dying monkeys. Since then, between 400 and 500 humans cases per year have been recorded; monkeys and small mammals are common hosts of this virus. KFDV can cause epizootics with high fatality in primates and is a level-4 virus according to the international biosafety rules. The density of tick vectors in a given year correlates with the incidence of human disease. The virus is a positive strand RNA virus and its genome was discovered to code for one polyprotein that is cleaved post-translationally into 3 structural proteins (Capsid protein, Envelope Glycoprotein M and Envelope Glycoprotein E) and 7 non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5). KFDV has a high degree of sequence homology with most members of the TBEV serocomplex. Alkhurma virus is a KFDV variant sharing a sequence similarity of 97%. KFDV is classified as a NIAID Category C priority pathogen due to its extreme pathogenicity and lack of US FDA approved vaccines and therapeutics; also, the infectious dose is currently unknown for KFD. In India, formalin-inactivated KFDV vaccine produced in chick embryo fibroblast is being used. Nevertheless, further efforts are required to enhance its long-term efficacy. KFDV remains an understudied virus and there remains a lack of insight into its pathogenesis; moreover, specific treatment to the disease is not available to date. Environmental and climatic factors involved in disseminating Kyasanur Forest Disease are required to be fully explored. There should be a mapping of endemic areas and cross-border veterinary surveillance needs to be developed in high-risk regions. The involvement of both animal and health sector is pivotal for circumscribing the spread of this disease to new areas.