Targeted Destruction of Viral RNA by CRISPR-Cas13

Smart overview of the Invention

Coronaviruses are a group of enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses that can cause significant diseases in both animals and humans. In cattle, bovine coronavirus leads to serious health issues such as calf scours and respiratory disease. In humans, coronaviruses are responsible for severe respiratory illnesses, including SARS, MERS, and COVID-19, which have the potential to cause global pandemics. The lack of effective vaccines for human coronavirus infections emphasizes the urgent need for alternative treatment methods.

Targeted Therapeutics Using CRISPR

A method has been developed to treat viral infections using CRISPR technology. This involves administering CRISPR RNA (crRNA) that contains a guide sequence complementary to specific viral RNA sequences, alongside a Cas protein like Cas13. The Cas protein may include additional features, such as localization signals to enhance its effectiveness in targeting viral RNA.

Specificity of CRISPR RNAs

The guide sequences of the crRNA can be tailored to target various viral infections. For coronaviruses, these sequences can match genomic or subgenomic mRNA sequences, including leader and structural protein sequences. Similarly, for influenza viruses, the crRNA can be designed to align with specific genomic RNA sequences associated with critical viral proteins.

Delivery Systems for CRISPR Components

A delivery system is proposed that combines packaging plasmids, transfer plasmids containing crRNA and Cas protein sequences, and envelope plasmids for effective introduction into host cells. The envelope proteins can be derived from coronaviruses or influenza viruses to ensure compatibility and enhance the delivery of the therapeutic components.

Composition and Variability of CRISPR Elements

The invention includes compositions featuring crRNAs that may also contain direct repeat (DR) sequences and tandem arrays of crRNAs for enhanced targeting capabilities. These compositions are aimed at providing a versatile approach to combating viral infections by allowing for precise targeting of viral RNA sequences in different viruses.