Prevention of Viral Diseases by Gene Targeting

Research Topic Highlights

This article collection delves into current advancements and applications of CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology targeted towards combating infectious diseases, particularly viral infections such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. The collected articles highlight that CRISPR-based methods effectively inhibit viral gene expression or disrupt viral genomes when targeting conserved genomic regions, highlighting efficiency rates of up to 100% in certain HIV-1 cell models. Additionally, advanced CRISPR screening methods have been employed to unveil critical host-virus interactions underlying viral entry and replication across diverse pathogens, including HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, hepatitis viruses, and threatening bacterial infections like Mycobacterium and Salmonella. Insights gained are instrumental in designing novel host-directed therapeutic strategies and CRISPR-mediated therapies targeting both viral components and essential host factors. Computational methodologies aiding the selection of optimal CRISPR components, such as evaluating varied Cas protein effectiveness and protospacer motifs (PAM), expand the therapeutic capacity and precision of CRISPR technology. Overall, these studies constitute a significant move forward in harnessing sophisticated genome editing platforms against viral pathogens as potential curative or preventive therapeutic interventions.

Context and Scope

The recent development of new gene targeting related tools (e.g. base editors, prime editing, GRAND, pfAGO, SHERLOCK, DETECTR, PAC-MAN, ABACAS, etc.) and the identification of novel regulators in virus lifecycles brings us the opportunity to combat viral diseases by using genome editing of both viral or host targets. In addition, the emerging and re-emerging viruses continue to threaten humans and animals. However, we don't have enough methods to treat viral diseases yet. Gene targeting shows a promising prospect in the prevention of viral diseases in the future.

The goal of this Research Topic is to cover recent advances in the prevention of viral diseases by gene targeting - specifically for the serious viral diseases caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV), Zika Virus (ZIKV), Dengue Virus (DENV), West Nile Virus (WNV), Influenza Virus, Ebola Virus (EBOV) etc. We would like to bring the significant progresses in gene editing or modification of classic or novel host factors that are involved in the life cycle of these viruses to the attention of the scientific community. In addition, the promising and emerging methods for the detection of viral infections are also needed in combating viral diseases.

We welcome research articles, review articles, letters and short communications that cover the following areas, but are not limited to:
• New detection tools in viral infection
• Novel methods in viral genome editing, including RNA and DNA viruses
• Disruption of viral genes by gene editing
• Gene targeting or modification of host factors in the prevention of viral diseases

Keywords: Viral diseases, gene editing, gene targeting, viral gene, host factor, CRISPR/Cas9, SARS-CoV-2, HIV-1, Genome Editing, Host-Pathogen Interaction, Viral Infection, CRISPR Screening, Gene Therapy, Protospacer Adjacent Motif (PAM), Viral Latency, Therapeutic Strategies, Infectious Diseases, Host Factors, Gene Knockout, Computational Biology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.