CRISPR/Cas9 Based Editing of Hepatitis B Virus Genome by Designing Guide RNA Targeting Surface, Core, Polymerase and HBx Region

Abstract

Background: Nucleos(t)ide analogs approved for therapy of hepatits B virus (HBV) infection reduce only viral DNA load and have no effect on episomal cccDNA. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tool cleaves specific target DNA followed by either homology-directed repair or non-homologous end joining with insertions or deletions. This consists of a sgRNA (single guide RNA) and Cas9 protein. The sgRNA guides the Cas9 nuclease to cut specific DNA sequences by recognizing the protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) and a complementary target DNA sequence.