Alternative infection models – a lecture course and experimental workshop

Course organised by MIMS and the MIMS affiliated National Doctoral Programme in Infections and Antibiotics (NDPIA)

22 - 25 August 2016, department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University (Map)

A series of lectures will describe and discuss the use of: C. elegans; zebrafish; chicken embryos; cell cultures, including organotypic models – organoids; mice; as well as in vivo imaging methodology, for studies of infections and host responses. The experimental workshop will include laboratory work demonstrating the use of C. elegans, zebrafish and chicken embryos for studies of bacterial infections. A maximum of 18 participants will be admitted for the complete course and experimental workshop. Additional participants may register for the lecture course only.

Registration deadline: 10 June, 2016.
More information and registration:
NDPIA website 

Cpf1: CRISPR-enzyme scissors cutting both RNA and DNA

[2016-04-20] Scientists delineate molecular details of a new bacterial CRISPR-Cpf1 system and open possible avenue for alternative gene editing uses like targeting several genes in parallel. (Nature 20 April 2016)

Only a few years after its discovery, it is difficult to conceive of genetics without the CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme scissors, which allow for a very simple, versatile and reliable modification of DNA of various organisms. Since its discovery, scientists throughout the world have been working on ways of further improving or adjusting the CRISPR-Cas9 system to their specific needs. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, the Umeå University in Sweden and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig have now discovered a feature of the CRISPR-associated protein Cpf1 that has previously not been observed in this family of enzymes: Cpf1 exhibits dual, RNA and DNA, cleavage activity. In contrast to CRISPR-Cas9, Cpf1 is able to process the pre-crRNA on its own, and then using the processed RNA to specifically target and cut DNA. Not requiring a host derived RNase and the tracrRNA makes this the most minimalistic CRISPR immune system known to date. The mechanism of combining two separate catalytic moieties in one allows for possible new avenues for sequence specific genome engineering, most importantly facilitation of targeting multiple sites at once, the so-called multiplexing.

Read more: Cpf1: CRISPR-enzyme scissors cutting both RNA and DNA