CRISPR/CAS9-Mediated Antiviral Activity: A Tool to Combat Viral Infection.

Viruses hijack host cellular receptors and functions for replication, thereby posing a complication in identifying therapeutic targets. The CRISPR/Cas 9 platform has revolutionized gene-editing modalities in a wide range of cells and organisms with high potential in therapeutics. Recently, it has been put to work targeting human pathogenic viruses that interrupt receptors and functions with viral replication. This review encompasses major discoveries in CRISPR/Cas as an antiviral strategy. Additionally, challenges that demand consideration prior to its use in the clinic as part of the antiviral armamentarium are briefly addressed.