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bioRxiv · 10.1101/314542

CRISPR-Cas9 interference in cassava linked to the evolution of editing-resistant geminiviruses

Mehta, D.·Stürchler, A.·Hirsch-Hoffmann, M.·Gruissem, W.·Vanderschuren, H.
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Abstract

We used CRISPR-Cas9 in the staple food crop cassava with the aim of engineering resistance to African cassava mosaic virus, a member of a widespread and important family of plant-pathogenic DNA viruses. We found that between 33 and 48% of edited virus genomes evolved a conserved single-nucleotide mutation that confers resistance to CRISPR-Cas9 cleavage. Our study highlights the potential for virus escape from this technology. Care should be taken to design CRISPR-Cas9 experiments that minimize the risk of virus escape.

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Mehta, D., Stürchler, A., Hirsch-Hoffmann, M., Gruissem, W., Vanderschuren, H.. 2018-05-04. CRISPR-Cas9 interference in cassava linked to the evolution of editing-resistant geminiviruses. https://doi.org/10.1101/314542

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