In Silico Prediction and Selection of Target Sequences in the SARS-CoV-2 RNA Genome for an Antiviral Attack.

ABSTRACT: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has urged the development of protective vaccines and the search for specific antiviral drugs. The modern molecular biology tools provides alternative methods, such as CRISPR-Cas and RNA interference, that can be adapted as antiviral approaches, and contribute to this search. The unique CRISPR-Cas13d system, with the small crRNA guide molecule, mediates a sequence-specific attack on RNA, and can be developed as an anti-coronavirus strategy. We analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 genome to localize the hypothetically best crRNA-annealing sites of 23 nucleotides based on our extensive expertise with sequence-specific antiviral strategies. We considered target sites of which the sequence is well-conserved among SARS-CoV-2 isolates. As we should prepare for a potential future outbre

SUBMITTER: Hussein M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8880226 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature