CRISPR/Cas9 cleavage of viral DNA efficiently suppresses hepatitis B virus. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is prevalent, deadly, and seldom cured due to the persistence of viral episomal DNA (cccDNA) in infected cells. Newly developed genome engineering tools may offer the ability to directly cleave viral DNA, thereby promoting viral clearance. Here, we show that the CRISPR/Cas9 system can specifically target and cleave conserved regions in the HBV genome, resulting in robust suppression of viral gene expression and replication. Upon sustained expression of Cas9 and appropriately chosen guide RNAs, we demonstrate cleavage of cccDNA by Cas9 and a dramatic reduction in both cccDNA and other parameters of viral gene expression and replication. Thus, we show that directly targeting viral episomal DNA is a novel therapeutic approach to control the virus and possibly cure patients.

publication date

  • June 2, 2015

Research

keywords

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • DNA, Viral
  • Hepatitis B virus
  • Virus Replication

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4649911

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84934877005

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/nature14299

PubMed ID

  • 26035283

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 5