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Engineering viral vectors for high-throughput CRISPR genetic screens in plants

Objective

Tools based on CRISPR-Cas systems hold great potential both for fundamental plant genetics and precision crop breeding. Unlike traditional mutagenic approaches, CRISPR-Cas systems allow for the simultaneous delivery of thousands of unique guide RNAs, enabling the generation of collections of higher-order mutants for rapid functional screens and the discovery of genetic interactions. However, CRISPR technology suffers from a ‘transformation bottleneck’; relatively few crop genotypes can be transformed and often only a handful of mutant lines can be produced. In virus-induced genome editing (VIGE), plant viruses are engineered to deliver gRNAs into cells. Such a capability is highly attractive for CRISPR knock-out (KO) screens as it could simplify the delivery and generate large populations of mutant lines in a broader range of crop genotypes. However, the application of VIGE for CRISPR KO screens is hampered by the lack of a proper viral-based multiplex gRNA delivery vector. My host lab has pioneered the development of CRISPR KO screens in plants, and in VISCREEN I will combine this knowledge with my expertise on VIGE to scale up CRISPR-Cas-mediated manipulation of plant genomes. The main objectives of my project are: (i) to develop Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) for high-throughput CRISPR screens in wheat and maize; and (ii) to engineer and validate a set of viral vectors for VIGE in soybean. The viral vector-based, high-throughput editing systems developed in VISCREEN will expand CRISPR screens in a wider variety of crops and allow to test fundamental biological questions that are limited by functional redundancy. Overall, this innovative approach will make me a well-trained academic researcher with the capabilities to develop a professional career within the plant genome editing field.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinator

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 154 418,67
Address
OUDE MARKT 13
3000 LEUVEN
Belgium

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (1)

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