Abstract
Alfredo J. Guerra works in the field of molecular parasitology and structural biology. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how "Efficient Gene Disruption in Diverse Strains of Toxoplasma gondii Using CRISPR/CAS9" by Bang Shen et al. (mBio 5:e01114-14, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01114-14) and "Efficient Genome Engineering of Toxoplasma gondii using CRISPR/CAS9" by Saima M. Sidik et al. (PLoS One 9:e100450, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0100450) made an impact on him by successfully implementing strategies to genetically manipulate T. gondii using CRISPR/CAS9 gene editing technology.
Highlights
It is difficult to overstate the extent to which CRISPR/CAS9 gene editing technology has changed the landscape of genome editing
As a relative newcomer to the field of molecular parasitology, there are two papers that strongly influenced my current research in Toxoplasma gondii: “Efficient Gene Disruption in Diverse Strains of Toxoplasma gondii Using CRISPR/CAS9” by Shen et al (1) and “Efficient Genome Engineering of Toxoplasma gondii Using CRISPR/CAS9” by Sidik et al (2)
Genetic manipulation of T. gondii has been more manageable than that of related apicomplexan parasites, namely Plasmodium spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., genetic manipulation in a site-specific manner remained a laborious task and was generally limited to special genetic backgrounds. Both Shen et al and Sidik et al probed the idea of adapting CRISPR/CAS9 to genetically manipulate T. gondii. These two papers showed that CRISPR/CAS9 can be used to disrupt specific genes by introduction of insertions and deletions via the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway but can be used to tag specific genes and generate point mutations in a site-specific manner
Summary
It is difficult to overstate the extent to which CRISPR/CAS9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats with CAS9) gene editing technology has changed the landscape of genome editing. As a relative newcomer to the field of molecular parasitology, there are two papers that strongly influenced my current research in Toxoplasma gondii: “Efficient Gene Disruption in Diverse Strains of Toxoplasma gondii Using CRISPR/CAS9” by Shen et al (1) and “Efficient Genome Engineering of Toxoplasma gondii Using CRISPR/CAS9” by Sidik et al (2).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
