Multiplex CRISPR strategy targeting viral genome for agriculture and clinical use

Abstract

AbstractAfrican Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease with exceptionally high lethality in domestic pigs and wild boar worldwide1, 2, without any effective vaccine or drug to prevent its spread. In this study, we established a multiplexable CRISPR-Cas-gRNA system targeting 13 genomic loci in the ASF virus genome that could prevent viral replication by cutting its genome. Furthermore, we generated pig strains expressing the multiplexable CRISPR-Cas-gRNA via germline genome editing and demonstrated that the gene-edited pigs were more resistant to ASFV infection and less likely to spread the virus upon infection. As far as we know, our study presents the first living organism generated via germline editing to demonstrate resistance to viral infection via CRISPR-Cas. We anticipate our work to be helpful for both agricultural and biomedical applications, such as xenotransplantation.