Remove DNA Remove Immune Response Remove Science
article thumbnail

Scientists engineer CRISPR enzymes that evade the immune system

Broad Institute

Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Cyrus Biotechnology have now engineered two CRISPR nucleases, Cas9 and Cas12, to mask them from the immune system. The team identified protein sequences on each nuclease that trigger the immune system and used computational modeling to design new versions that evade immune recognition.

article thumbnail

A Visual Guide to Genome Editors

Codon

Certain CRISPR components can add short DNA sequences from the genomes of defeated viruses into the bacterium’s own genome, creating a type of protective “memory.” The core of the CRISPR immune response is a guide RNA (gRNA) that binds to a CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein. pyogenes , making it more specific.

DNA 82
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Owning A Dog May Protect Against Eczema

PLOS: DNA Science

The condition stems from a misdirected immune response to a substance – an allergen – that does not actually present a threat. Because genes encode proteins, analyzing the proteins at the site of action – skin – can reflect what’s going on at the DNA level. What is the mechanism?

DNA 61
article thumbnail

DNA element with a murky past is borrowing cell's repair machinery

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

They hijack a little-known piece of the cell's DNA repair function to close themselves into a ring-like shape and then create a matching double strand. The finding upends 40 years of conventional wisdom and may offer new insights into cancer, viral infections and immune responses.

DNA 189
article thumbnail

Designing a Better Probiotic. CRISPR Hubris?

PLOS: DNA Science

The molecular tools of CRISPR were borrowed and developed from the natural immune response of bacteria to viruses – bacteriophages – that infect them. DNA Science recently covered perfumes resurrected from extinct plants, but using older and less precise recombinant DNA technology. CRISPR Hubris?

article thumbnail

The immune system’s role in lung cancer risk

Drug Target Review

HLA are the critical molecules that our immune systems use to present peptides to T cells and facilitate recognition and killing in immune responses to pathogens. HLA-II presents peptides to CD4 T cells thought to be important for indirectly helping immune responses and facilitating antibody production.

article thumbnail

Targeted drug treatment leads tumor cells to imitate viral infection

Broad Institute

Reporting in Science , researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have made a surprising discovery about these drugs. They found that mIDH1 inhibitors trick the tumor cells into thinking they are infected with a virus, causing the immune system to mount an antiviral response.