The “Speed of Science” – CRISPR’s crRNA soon to make mRNA obsolete? Move over Cas9 that targets DNA, here comes Cas12a2 that targets RNA

A few months ago, I posted an article that referenced this darker side to CRISPR technology.

CRISPR Covid 'Vaccines' Can Alter A Person's Thinking, Alter Their Behavior, Tech Can Be Remotely Controlled - Are People Already Being Controlled? (rumble.com) (42 minutes)

and this more positive aspect of CRISPR:

ICYMI: The role of CRISPR in the fight against COVID-19 - Society for Science that had these bullet points:

“Feng shared three main ways CRISPR is being used to fight COVID-19:

·        As a diagnostic, CRISPR-based tests have been developed to detect coronavirus signatures in patient samples like nose swabs or saliva. One example is the rapid test Feng and his colleagues made in collaboration with Sherlock Biosciences. The test was granted “emergency use authorization” by the FDA in early May.

·        To better understand how the coronavirus infects cells. “Using CRISPR, scientists can inactivate or activate different genes in our cells to figure out what the anchors are that the coronavirus needs to latch onto,” Feng explained. Understanding what these anchors are can in turn help researchers come up with drugs to possibly block the virus.

·        Using CRISPR as a therapeutic. While this a longer-term project, Feng mentioned there are already people looking into how CRISPR can be used to directly destroy the virus.”

Well, it looks like the “speed of science” is moving apace and maybe, just maybe there has been a breakthrough.

For those technically minded, here is a paper published a week or so ago.

Cas12a2 elicits abortive infection through RNA-triggered destruction of dsDNA | Nature

“Here we report that RNA targeting by the type V single-effector nuclease Cas12a2 drives abortive infection through non-specific cleavage of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). After recognizing an RNA target with an activating protospacer-flanking sequence, Cas12a2 efficiently degrades single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and dsDNA. Within cells, the activation of Cas12a2 induces an SOS DNA-damage response and impairs growth, preventing the dissemination of the invader. Finally, we harnessed the collateral activity of Cas12a2 for direct RNA detection, demonstrating that Cas12a2 can be repurposed as an RNA-guided RNA-targeting tool. These findings expand the known defensive abilities of CRISPR–Cas systems and create additional opportunities for CRISPR technologies.”

I read the paper and whilst the words make sense, understanding them was another matter! Great images though. “drives abortive infection” sounds like a winner, so does “..preventing the dissemination of the invader.” – which sounds to me like preventing dissemination of spike protein!

Here is a 3 minute 30 second video that is a great primer about CRISPR.

USU Biochemists Describe Structure and Function of Newly Discovered CRISPR Immune System - YouTube

Here is an article that covers the technical paper:

New killer CRISPR system is unlike any scientists have seen (freethink.com)

“A unique CRISPR system that destroys infected cells is unlike anything scientists have ever seen before — and it could revolutionize how we use the powerful gene editing technology in the future.”

“While other CRISPR systems bind to their target sequence, make their cut, and then stop, the researchers learned through a technique called “cryo-electron microscopy” that when Cas12a2 binds to its target, it seems to “activate,” transforming in shape.”

“Once activated, the protein can bind to any genetic material that comes near it, whether its single-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA, or double-stranded DNA. Cas12a2 then starts shredding the material, making multiple cuts in indiscriminate locations.

Because the genetic material can belong to the bacteria itself, the result can be cellular death. Essentially, CRISPR causes the infected cell to self-destruct — rather than let it become a virus factory.”

Onwards!

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