Cutting back malaria: CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of Plasmodium

Brief Funct Genomics. 2019 Sep 24;18(5):281-289. doi: 10.1093/bfgp/elz012.

Abstract

CRISPR/Cas9 approaches are revolutionizing our ability to perform functional genomics across a wide range of organisms, including the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. The ability to deliver single point mutations, epitope tags and gene deletions at increased speed and scale is enabling our understanding of the biology of these complex parasites, and pointing to potential new therapeutic targets. In this review, we describe some of the biological and technical considerations for designing CRISPR-based experiments, and discuss potential future developments that broaden the applications for CRISPR/Cas9 interrogation of the malaria parasite genome.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; Plasmodium; apicomplexan; gene regulation; genome editing; malaria; parasite.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / genetics
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / metabolism*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics*
  • Gene Editing*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Plasmodium / genetics*
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems / chemistry
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9