REVIEW article
Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.
Sec. Clinical Microbiology
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1588446
This article is part of the Research TopicRecent Advancements in the Research Models of Infectious DiseasesView all 8 articles
Harnessing Bacterial Immunity: CRISPR-Cas System as a Versatile Tool in Combating Pathogens and Revolutionizing Medicine
Provisionally accepted
- 1College of Dentistry, Anbar University, Anbar, Al Anbar, Iraq
- 2United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
- 3Department of Public Health, Anbar Governorate, Ramadi, Iraq
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Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology has emerged as an adaptable instrument for several uses. The CRISPR-Cas system employs Cas proteins and programmable RNA molecules to guide the recognition and cleavage of specific DNA regions, permitting accurate genome editing. It is derived from the bacterial immune system and allows for accurate and efficient modification of DNA sequences. This technique provides unparalleled gene editing, control, and precise alteration opportunities. This review aims to offer a comprehensive update of the core concepts of the CRISPR-Cas system and recent progress, while also providing an overview of the significant applications in diverse fields such as microbiology and medicine.The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique has facilitated substantial advancements in comprehending gene function, simulating diseases, and creating innovative therapeutics.CRISPR-based therapeutics present a hopeful prospect for addressing intricate ailments, including genetic disorders, malignancies, and infectious diseases, as they serve as viable substitutes for conventional pharmaceuticals. In microbiology, this method serves as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool that proves highly efficient in eliminating bacteria that have developed resistance to various antibiotics. Despite its significant potential, CRISPR encounters ethical, safety, and regulatory obstacles that necessitate meticulous deliberation.Concerns regarding off-target effects, poor delivery to target tissues, and unwanted side effects emphasize the necessity to thoroughly examine the technology. It is necessary to balance the advantages and difficulties CRISPR presents. Consequently, more rigorous preclinical and clinical experiments are essential before using it in humans.
Keywords: gene editing, CRISPR-Cas, Cas9, innovative therapeutics, Infections
Received: 05 Mar 2025; Accepted: 28 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Al-Ouqaili, Ahmed, Jwair and Al Marzooq. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Mushtak T.S. Al-Ouqaili, College of Dentistry, Anbar University, Anbar, Al Anbar, Iraq
Farah Al Marzooq, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.