They are the first researchers to show that CRISPR, a resilient gene-editing tool, can be used against COVID-19. The group, led by Professor Qianben Wang of Duke Medical School, published their findings in Nature Chemical Biology on Tuesday. .
If further studies show that the remedy is effective in humans, it may only offer a prevention strategy that lasts for several days and can face ever-changing coronavirus variants.
How’s work
This remedy focuses on an enzyme called CTSL, which coronaviruses want to introduce into human cells.
Researchers have long tried CTSL to prevent coronavirus infections, but they’ve run into a problem: The enzyme is also imperative to many of the body’s overall processes.
Wang and his team used two to solve this problem.
First, they developed an incredibly specific approach so that CRISPR only targets lung cells. He said 94% of the nanoparticles injected into the mice’s frame reached the lungs. His lab has a patent pending in the United States and Europe for nanoparticle technology.
They also used a gene-editing strategy that only stops CTSL production for a few days or a week, promising that the framework will be able to continue to work thereafter.
Together, those strategies safely and effectively prevented COVID-19 from entering the mice’s cells and temporarily stopped the virus in mice that were already infected.
The prevention of COVID-19 with gene editing, an intervention at the DNA and RNA level that has stimulated innovation in several areas, has a number of benefits over vaccines that have been had lately.
All three vaccines on the market work by identifying the virus’ spike protein and mobilizing the immune formula to attack it. This means that if the spike protein changes, the effectiveness of the vaccine would likely be reduced, a fact that fitness officials are now grappling with. the appearance of new subvariants of omicron.
In contrast, the CRISPR method seeks to locate the coronavirus to kill it. It targets the source of an enzyme on which all coronaviruses are based, making it resistant to the constant mutations of the virus.
Because the lab’s strategy also doesn’t count on the body’s immune system, there may also be other benefits if it works in humans. This might be a better way for other people with weakened immune systems who haven’t benefited from vaccines. .
Chronology
This generation is still far from having proven its efficacy in humans, let alone being available to the public.
It is expected to undergo rigorous human clinical trials before approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Wang’s lab is an investment and potentially a business partner to drive this process forward.
They also continue to investigate whether the remedy can be administered simply through an aerosol rather than an intravenous line. Wang said he envisions other people carrying something like an asthma inhaler at major sporting events or long plane trips and taking a puff before or after to lower their risk.
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