The Cas13-based CARVER platform successfully detected and destroyed viral RNA across multiple single-stranded RNA viruses, including LCMV, IAV, and VSV.
Does the Cas13-based CARVER platform inhibit and detect single-stranded RNA viruses?
The CARVER platform using Cas13 can effectively detect and inhibit a wide range of single-stranded RNA viruses, offering a potential tool for rapid diagnostic and antiviral drug development.
The CRISPR effector Cas13 could be an effective antiviral for single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses because it programmably cleaves RNAs complementary to its CRISPR RNA (crRNA). Here, we computationally identify thousands of potential Cas13 crRNA target sites in hundreds of ssRNA viral species that can potentially infect humans. We experimentally demonstrate Cas13's potent activity against three distinct ssRNA viruses: lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV); influenza A virus (IAV); and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Combining this antiviral activity with Cas13-based diagnostics, we develop Cas13-assisted restriction of viral expression and readout (CARVER), an end-to-end platform that uses Cas13 to detect and destroy viral RNA. We further screen hundreds of crRNAs along the LCMV genome to evaluate how conservation and target RNA nucleotide content influence Cas13's antiviral activity. Our results demonstrate that Cas13 can be harnessed to target a wide range of ssRNA viruses and CARVER's potential broad utility for rapid diagnostic and antiviral drug development.
Freije et al. (2019) studied Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viral infections. Cas13 (CARVER platform) was evaluated on Antiviral activity and viral RNA detection. The Cas13-based CARVER platform successfully detected and destroyed viral RNA across multiple single-stranded RNA viruses, including LCMV, IAV, and VSV.