ADVANCES IN CRISPR-CAS RESEARCH: BRIDGING MICROBIAL IMMUNITY AND MEDICAL INNOVATION

Abstract

CRISPR-Cas systems have emerged as powerful tools in molecular biology, originating from adaptive immune mechanisms in prokaryotes and evolving into transformative technologies in medical and genetic research. This study presents a hybrid approach integrating microbial CRISPR sequence analysis with human CRISPR screening data to explore the conceptual bridge between microbial immunity and medical innovation. Microbial datasets, including spacer and direct repeat sequences, were analysed to characterize structural diversity and evolutionary patterns of CRISPR arrays. In parallel, large-scale CRISPR screening datasets from human cell models were processed to identify gene essentiality profiles using sgRNA read counts, guide mapping, and normalization strategies. The results revealed a subset of genes essential for cellular viability, primarily associated with core biological processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and cell cycle regulation. Microbial analysis demonstrated extensive spacer diversity and conserved repeat structures, highlighting the adaptive nature of CRISPR systems. Comparative analysis indicated strong conceptual parallels between spacer-guided microbial targeting and sgRNA-mediated genome editing in human cells. While the study establishes a theoretical link between microbial CRISPR systems and modern biomedical applications, it also identifies limitations due to the absence of Cas protein and phage interaction data. Overall, this work provides an integrated perspective on CRISPR-Cas systems, emphasizing their evolutionary significance and translational potential in advancing genome engineering and therapeutic development.