Deciphering and targeting host factors to counteract SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus infections: insights from CRISPR approaches

Zhifen Cui; Hongyan Wang; Yizhou Dong; Shan-Lu Liu; Qianben Wang

doi:10.3389/fgeed.2023.1231656

Deciphering and targeting host factors to counteract SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus infections: insights from CRISPR approaches

Front Genome Ed. 2023 Jul 13:5:1231656. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1231656. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Zhifen Cui¹, Hongyan Wang¹, Yizhou Dong², Shan-Lu Liu³, Qianben Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.
² Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn Genomics Institute, Precision Immunology Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
³ Center for Retrovirus Research, Viruses and Emerging Pathogens Program, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.

Abstract

Severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other coronaviruses depend on host factors for the process of viral infection and replication. A better understanding of the dynamic interplay between viral pathogens and host cells, as well as identifying of virus-host dependencies, offers valuable insights into disease mechanisms and informs the development of effective therapeutic strategies against viral infections. This review delves into the key host factors that facilitate or hinder SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication, as identified by CRISPR/Cas9-based screening platforms. Furthermore, we explore CRISPR/Cas13-based gene therapy strategies aimed at targeting these host factors to inhibit viral infection, with the ultimate goal of eradicating SARS-CoV-2 and preventing and treating related coronaviruses for future outbreaks.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas13-based gene therapy; CRISPR/Cas9-based screening; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus infections; host factors.

Publication types

Review