Researchers are exploring a new way to fight influenza using CRISPR, the gene-editing technology best known for its potential to treat genetic diseases. Traditional flu treatments and vaccines often struggle to keep up with the virus because influenza evolves so rapidly. The new approach aims to use a specific form of CRISPR, called CRISPR-Cas13, to directly attack the flu virus’s genetic material and stop it from replicating, potentially creating a broad-spectrum antiviral that could work against many different flu strains.
The concept comes from scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne. They want to engineer CRISPR-Cas13 so that it can be directed to target conserved regions of influenza RNA — parts of the virus’s genetic code that are common across virtually all strains and essential for its survival. By identifying these unchanging segments, researchers hope to design a system that can disrupt influenza’s ability to reproduce inside human cells, rather than targeting only specific flu subtypes as current drugs like Tamiflu do.
To deliver this CRISPR-based treatment, the team is considering using lipid nanoparticles, similar to those used in mRNA vaccines, to transport two molecular components into respiratory cells. The first would be an mRNA strand instructing cells to produce the Cas13 enzyme, and the second would be a guide RNA that directs Cas13 to the exact location on the flu virus’s RNA. Once there, Cas13 could cut the viral genetic material, halting replication at the source.
Scientists envision that this kind of antiviral could be used both as a treatment after infection and as a preventative measure during severe flu seasons. A nasal spray version could prime cells in the respiratory tract to produce Cas13 before infection occurs, giving the body an early defense. This strategy aims to create “pan-influenza” protection by focusing on parts of the virus that change little from strain to strain.
One early safety test was carried out using a “lung-on-a-chip” model developed at Harvard’s Wyss Institute. This laboratory model mimics human lung tissue and allows researchers to study how engineered cells respond to infection. In these tests, cells programmed to produce Cas13 helped suppress several influenza strains, including H1N1 and H3N2, without causing unexpected effects in the tissue. Researchers also observed a reduction in molecules associated with inflammation, which could be beneficial in severe infections.
Despite these promising early results, significant challenges remain before any CRISPR-based flu antiviral could become a practical clinical tool. Delivering the necessary molecules deep into lung tissue is complicated, and scientists must also ensure that the immune system does not react negatively to the bacterial protein used in the treatment. Experts also worry about “off-target effects,” where CRISPR might cut unintended RNA sequences in human cells, potentially causing harm.
In addition to the Cas13 strategy, some researchers are exploring alternative uses of CRISPR to fight influenza by altering human genes that the virus exploits. One example is targeting a gene called SLC35A1, which helps influenza enter cells. Reducing the activity of this gene could theoretically make human cells more resistant to infection, though such approaches are still in very early stages and require extensive safety testing.
Overall, while CRISPR-based antivirals remain experimental, they offer a new avenue for combating influenza that could overcome some of the limitations of existing treatments and better adapt to the virus’s ability to evolve.
Source: Wired
