CRISPR enzymes and systems

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/325,892 filed Feb. 15, 2019, which is a National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/US2017/047458, filed Aug. 17, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/376,372 filed Aug. 17, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/437,031 filed Dec. 20, 2016. The entire contents of the above-identified applications are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

This invention was made with government support under grant numbers MH100706 and MH110049 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

The contents of the electronic sequence listing (“BROD-0971US-CONI_ST26.xml”; Size is 96,890 bytes; was created on Oct. 17, 2023) is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention generally relates to systems, methods and compositions related to Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and components thereof. The present invention also generally relates to delivery of large payloads and includes novel delivery particles, particularly using lipid and viral particle, and also novel viral capsids, both suitable to deliver large payloads, such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), CRISPR protein (e.g., Cas, Cas9), CRISPR-Cas or CRISPR system or CRISPR-Cas complex, components thereof, nucleic acid molecules, e.g., vectors, involving the same and uses of all of the foregoing, amongst other aspects. Additionally, the present invention relates to methods for developing or designing CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics.

Recent advances in genome sequencing techniques and analysis methods have significantly accelerated the ability to catalog and map genetic factors associated with a diverse range of biological functions and diseases. Precise genome targeting technologies are needed to enable systematic reverse engineering of causal genetic variations by allowing selective perturbation of individual genetic elements, as well as to advance synthetic biology, biotechnological, and medical applications. Although genome-editing techniques such as designer zinc fingers, transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), or homing meganucleases are available for producing targeted genome perturbations, there remains a need for new genome engineering technologies that employ novel strategies and molecular mechanisms and are affordable, easy to set up, scalable, and amenable to targeting multiple positions within the eukaryotic genome. This would provide a major resource for new applications in genome engineering and biotechnology.

The CRISPR-Cas systems of bacterial and archaeal adaptive immunity show extreme diversity of protein composition and genomic loci architecture. The CRISPR-Cas system loci has more than 50 gene families and there is no strictly universal genes indicating fast evolution and extreme diversity of loci architecture. So far, adopting a multi-pronged approach, there is comprehensive cas gene identification of about 395 profiles for 93 Cas proteins. Classification includes signature gene profiles plus signatures of locus architecture. A new classification of CRISPR-Cas systems is proposed in which these systems are broadly divided into two classes, Class 1 with multisubunit effector complexes and Class 2 with single-subunit effector modules exemplified by the Cas9 protein. Novel effector proteins associated with Class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems may be developed as powerful genome engineering tools and the prediction of putative novel effector proteins and their engineering and optimization is important.

The development of CRISPR-Cas RNA-guided endonucleases for eukaryotic genome editing has sparked intense interest in the use of this technology for therapeutic applications.

Extensive research has led to the identification of different technologies which can address the challenges of safety and efficacy. In order to allow the translation of this genome editing technologies to the clinic. There is a need for the development of an algorithm for developing a CRISPR-Cas based therapeutic, which takes into account the different variables which need to be considered.

In contrast to small molecule therapies, which target highly conserved protein active sites, treatment of disease at the genomic level must contend with significant levels of genetic variation in patient populations. Recently, large scale sequencing datasets from the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) and 1000 Genomes Project have provided an unprecedented view of the landscape of human genetic variation. This variation can affect both the efficacy of a CRISPR-based therapeutic, by disrupting the target site, and its safety, by generating off-target candidate sites.

Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

In certain example embodiments, an engineered CRISPR-Cas effector protein that complexes with a nucleic acid comprising a guide sequence to form a CRISPR complex, and wherein in the CRISPR complex the nucleic acid molecule target one or more polynucleotide loci and the protein comprises at least one modification compared to the unmodified protein that enhances binding of the CRISPR complex to the binding site and/or alters editing preferences as compared to wildtype. The editing preference may relate to indel formation. In certain example embodiments, the at least one modification may increase formation of one or more specific indels at a target locus. The CRISPR-Cas effector protein may be Type II CRISPR-Cas effector protein. In certain example embodiments, the CRISPR-Cas protein is Cas9 or orthologue thereof.

In certain other example embodiments, the invention is directed to vectors for delivery of the CRISPR-Cas system, including vector based systems allowing for encoding of both the effector protein and guide sequence in a single vector.

In certain other example embodiments, the invention relates to methods for developing or designing CRISPR-Cas systems. In an aspect, the present invention relates to methods for developing or designing CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. The present invention in particular relates to methods for improving CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. Key characteristics of successful CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics involve high specificity, high efficacy, and high safety. High specificity and high safety can be achieved among others by reduction of off-target effects.

The methods of the present invention in particular involve optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality, as described herein further elsewhere. Optimization of the CRISPR-Cas system in the methods as described herein may depend on the target(s), such as the therapeutic target or therapeutic targets, the mode or type of CRISPR-Cas system modulation, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapeutic target(s) modulation, modification, or manipulation, as well as the delivery of the CRISPR-Cas system components. One or more targets may be selected, depending on the genotypic and/or phenotypic outcome. For instance, one or more therapeutic targets may be selected, depending on (genetic) disease etiology or the desired therapeutic outcome. The (therapeutic) target(s) may be a single gene, locus, or other genomic site, or may be multiple genes, loci or other genomic sites. As is known in the art, a single gene, locus, or other genomic site may be targeted more than once, such as by use of multiple gRNAs.

These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the example embodiments will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated example embodiments. These and other embodiments are disclosed or are obvious from and encompassed by, the following Detailed Description.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 a - f : Depicts how human genetic variation significantly impacts the efficacy of RNA-guided endonucleases. (a), Schematic illustrating the genomic target, RNA guide, and target variation. (b), Fraction of residues for individual nucleotides containing variation in the ExAC dataset. (c), Fraction of 2-nt PAM motifs altered by variants in the ExAC dataset. (d), Percent of targets variants at different allele frequencies for each CRISPR endonuclease. (e), Cumulative targets containing variants for each enzyme. (f), Fraction of targets containing homozygous variants at different allele frequencies. The mean and standard deviation for all enzymes is shown.

FIG. 2 a - c : Depicts how a selection of platinum targets maximizes population efficacy. (a), Schematic showing target variation within exon 2 of PCSK9-001, with regions containing high coverage in the ExAC dataset indicated (black lines below exons). (b), Frequency of target variation plotted by cut site position for targets spanning the start of PCSK9-001 exon 2, with targets shown in (a) indicated by arrows. The horizontal line at 0.01% separates platinum targets (grey) from targets with high variation (dark grey). The classification for each target is depicted below for each enzyme (grey or dark grey boxes). (c), Classification of targets for each enzyme spanning exons 2-5 of PCSK9-001.

FIG. 3 a - c : Depicts how human genetic variation significantly impacts CRISPR endonuclease therapeutic safety. (a), Schematic illustrating off-target candidates arising due to multiple different haplotypes. SEQ ID NOs 71-75 indicate the on-target sequence (SEQ ID NO: 71) and variants (SEQ ID NOs: 72-75). Bolded nucleotides, except for the PAM site (TGG), indicate variation from the on-target site. (b), Number of off-target candidates for each CRISPR endonuclease at different allele frequencies. (c), Distribution of the number of off-target candidates per platinum target for each CRISPR endonuclease.

FIG. 4 a - d : Depicts how gene- and population-specific variation informs therapeutic design. (a), Distribution of the number of off-target candidates per platinum target for 12 therapeutically relevant genes. (b), Total off-target candidates for platinum targets spanning exons 2-5 of PCSK9-001 are shown for each enzyme. (c), Principal component analysis (PCA) separating 1000 Genomes individuals into super populations based on patient-specific off-target profiles for platinum targets spanning 12 therapeutically relevant genes. PC2 and PC3 are shown. AFR, African; AMR, Ad mixed American; EAS, East Asian; EUR, European; SAS, South Asian. (d), Proposed therapeutic design framework.

FIG. 5 a - e : Left part of each panel, fraction of PAMs altered by variants in the ExAC dataset; center, distribution of PAM-altering variant frequencies; right part of each panel, fraction of homozygous variants by frequency. Data shown for AsCpf1 (a), SpCas9-VQR (b), SpCas9 (c), SaCas9 (d), and SpCas9-VRER (e).

FIG. 6 a - d : Top part of each panel, distribution of target variation for therapeutically relevant genes. Targets with frequencies of variation less than 0.01% (dark grey line) are considered platinum. Bottom part of each panel, fraction of all targets in these genes containing variation. Data shown for AsCpf1 (a), SpCas9-VWR (b), SpCas9-WT (c), SaCas9-WT (d).

FIG. 7 : Separation of 1000 Genomes individuals into super populations based on patient specific off-target profiles for targets spanning 12 therapeutically relevant genes. Principal components 1-5 shown. AFR, African; AMR, Ad mixed American; EAS, East Asian; EUR, European; SAS, South Asian.

FIG. 8 : Separation of 1000 Genomes individuals into populations based on patient specific off-target profiles for targets spanning 12 therapeutically relevant genes. Principle components 1-5 shown. CHB, Han Chinese in Beijing, China; JPT, Japanese in Tokyo, Japan; CHS, Southern Han Chinese; CDX, Chinese Dai in Xishuangbanna, China; KHV, Kinh in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; CEU, Utah Residents (CEPH) with Northern and Western Ancestry; TSI, Toscani in Italia; FIN, Finnish in Finland; GBR, British in England and Scotland; IBS, Iberian Population in Spain; YRI, Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria; LWK, Luhya in Webuye, Kenya; GWD, Gambian in Western Divisions in the Gambia; MSL, Mende in Sierra Leone; ESN, Esan in Nigeria; ASW, Americans of African Ancestry in SW USA; ACB, African Caribbeans in Barbados; MXL, Mexican Ancestry from Los Angeles USA; PUR, Puerto Ricans from Puerto Rico; CLM, Colombians from Medellin, Colombia; PEL, Peruvians from Lima, Peru; GIH, Gujarati Indian from Houston, Texas; PJL, Punjabi from Lahore, Pakistan; BEB, Bengali from Bangladesh; STU, Sri Lankan Tamil from the UK; ITU, Indian Telugu from the UK.

FIG. 9 : Separation of 1000 Genomes individuals by sex based on patient specific off-target profiles for targets spanning 12 therapeutically relevant genes. Principle components 1-5 shown.

FIG. 10 : Is a diagram depicting example parameters to be selected and optimized in accordance with certain example embodiments.

FIG. 11 shows illustrations of AAV-CRISPR protein of the invention, wherein Cas9 protein is fused or tethered to VP3, for example at the N-terminus of VP3. Cas9 is attached to some, but not all VP3 subunits to avoid steric blocking of cell entry sites on AAV surface. In the AAV9.Cas9 vector, a Cas9 protein fused or tethered to the C-term of VP1, VP2 or VP3 is depicted.

FIG. 12 A- 12 B show a Western blot confirming expression of Cas9-VP3 fusion proteins in cells transfected with plasmids encoding for Cas9 and Cas9-VP3 fusions (AAVCas9:wt 1:6). ( FIG. 12 A ), Left panel: SYPRO Ruby protein staining of fractions from AAVCas9:wt 1:6. Right panel: Anti-SpCas9 blotting of fractions from AAVCas9:wt 1:6. ( FIG. 12 B ), Left panel: SYPRO Ruby protein staining of fractions from wtAAV9. Right panel: Anti-SpCas9 blotting of fractions from wtAAV9.

FIG. 13 illustrates exterior loops and interior sites in AAV9 VP3 for protein insertion.

FIG. 14 depicts electron micrography of wtAAV. Dark particle centers indication empty particles.

FIG. 15 depicts electron micrography of AAV.Cas9 virus particles comprising 50wtAAV:10AAVCas9.

FIG. 16 depicts electron micrography of AAV.Cas9 virus particles comprising 30wtAAV:30AAVCas9.

FIGS. 17 A- 17 B depicts sortase-mediated protein linkage. ( FIG. 17 A ) schematic of proteins anchored to a cell wall via sortase in Gram-positive bacteria is shown (see, Guimares, et al., Nat. Prot. 2013). ( FIG. 17 B ) linkage of Cas9 to AAV by TEV-sortase method. CRISPR protein modified at its C terminus with the LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 78) sortase-recognition motif followed by a handle for purification (often His6) is incubated with sortase A. Sortase cleaves the threonine-glycine bond and forms an acyl intermediate with threonine. Addition of TEV-cleaved AAV (“probe”) comprising N-terminal glycine residues ligates the AAV to the C terminus of the CRISPR protein (see, Guimares, et al., Nat. Prot. 2013).

FIG. 18 depicts linkage of Cas9 to AAV by split intein reconstitution.

FIG. 19 shows interior packaging of proteins:

FIG. 20 shows Interior SunTag-GFP. Western blots detect VP3 (top left) and GFP (bottom left) for native VP3 and VP3-GFP fusion. Electron micrographs show GFP-filled capsid ( 103 ).

FIG. 21 depicts Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Rabies virus (RV) sources of packaging vesicles.

FIG. 22 shows a schematic for transduction of cells with lentiviral vectors packaged in vesicular stomatitis virus-G (VSVG) vesicles. (Cronin et al., Curr Gene Ther. 5 (4): 387-398 (2005)).

FIG. 23 depicts infection of TLR19 cells with VSVG and RVG vesicles harboring Cas9 and sgRNA inducing frameshift mutations to allow mCherry expression. Cas9 RNP vesicles were synthesized by contransfection of VSVG (or RVG) with eSpCas9(1.1) and GFPg2 plasmid.

The figures herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

General Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Definitions of common terms and techniques in molecular biology may be found in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2 nd edition (1989) (Sambrook, Fritsch, and Maniatis); Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 4 th edition (2012) (Green and Sambrook); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (1987) (F. M. Ausubel et al. eds.); the series Methods in Enzymology (Academic Press, Inc.): PCR 2: A Practical Approach (1995) (M. J. MacPherson, B. D. Hames, and G. R. Taylor eds.): Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual (1988) (Harlow and Lane, eds.): Antibodies A Laboratory Manual, 2 nd edition 2013 (E. A. Greenfield ed.); Animal Cell Culture (1987) (R.I. Freshney, ed.); Benjamin Lewin, Genes IX, published by Jones and Bartlet, 2008 (ISBN 0763752223); Kendrew et al. (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, published by Blackwell Science Ltd., 1994 (ISBN 0632021829); Robert A. Meyers (ed.), Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: a Comprehensive Desk Reference, published by VCH Publishers, Inc., 1995 (ISBN 9780471185710); Singleton et al., Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1994), March, Advanced Organic Chemistry Reactions, Mechanisms and Structure 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1992); and Marten H. Hofker and Jan van Deursen, Transgenic Mouse Methods and Protocols, 2nd edition (2011).

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term “optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequent described event, circumstance or substituent may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within the respective ranges, as well as the recited endpoints.

The terms “about” or “approximately” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, are meant to encompass variations of and from the specified value, such as variations of +/−10% or less, +/−5% or less, +/−1% or less, and +/−0.1% or less of and from the specified value, insofar such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosed invention. It is to be understood that the value to which the modifier “about” or “approximately” refers is itself also specifically, and preferably, disclosed.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “an example embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention. For example, in the appended claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

It will be appreciated that the terms Cas enzyme, CRISPR enzyme, CRISPR protein, Cas protein and CRISPR Cas are generally used interchangeably and at all points of reference herein refer by analogy to novel CRISPR effector proteins further described in this application, unless otherwise apparent, such as by specific reference to Cas9. The CRISPR effector proteins described herein are preferably Cas9 effector proteins.

All publications, published patent documents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as though each individual publication, published patent document, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated as being incorporated by reference.

Overview

In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein are directed to engineered CRISPR-Cas effector proteins that comprise at least one modification compared to an unmodified CRISPR-Cas effector protein that enhances binding of the of the CRISPR complex to the binding site and/or alters editing preference as compared to wild type. In certain example embodiments, the CRISPR-Cas effector protein is a Type II effector protein. In certain other example embodiments, the Type V effector protein is Cas9 or an orthologs or engineered variant thereof. Example Cas9 proteins suitable for use in the embodiments disclosed herein are discussed in further detail below.

In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein are directed to viral vectors for delivery of CRISPR-Cas effector proteins, including Cas9. In certain example embodiments, the vectors are designed so as to allow packaging of the CRISPR-Cas effector protein within a single vector. There is also an increased interest in the design of compact promoters for packing and thus expressing larger transgenes for targeted delivery and tissue-specificity. Thus, in another aspect certain embodiments disclosed herein are directed to delivery vectors, constructs, and methods of delivering larger genes for systemic delivery.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods for developing or designing CRISPR-Cas systems. In an aspect, the present invention relates to methods for developing or designing optimized CRISPR-Cas systems a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, therapeutic development, bioproduction, and plant and agricultural applications. In certain based therapy or therapeutics. The present invention in particular relates to methods for improving CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. Key characteristics of successful CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics involve high specificity, high efficacy, and high safety. High specificity and high safety can be achieved among others by reduction of off-target effects. Improved specificity and efficacy likewise may be used to improve applications in plants and bioproduction.

Accordingly, in an aspect, the present invention relates to methods for increasing specificity of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. In a further aspect, the invention relates to methods for increasing efficacy of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. In a further aspect, the invention relates to methods for increasing safety of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to methods for increasing specificity, efficacy, and/or safety, preferably all, of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics.

In certain embodiments, the CRISPR-Cas system comprises a CRISPR effector as defined herein elsewhere.

The methods of the present invention in particular involve optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality, as described herein further elsewhere. Optimization of the CRISPR-Cas system in the methods as described herein may depend on the target(s), such as the therapeutic target or therapeutic targets, the mode or type of CRISPR-Cas system modulation, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapeutic target(s) modulation, modification, or manipulation, as well as the delivery of the CRISPR-Cas system components. One or more targets may be selected, depending on the genotypic and/or phenotypic outcome. For instance, one or more therapeutic targets may be selected, depending on (genetic) disease etiology or the desired therapeutic outcome. The (therapeutic) target(s) may be a single gene, locus, or other genomic site, or may be multiple genes, loci or other genomic sites. As is known in the art, a single gene, locus, or other genomic site may be targeted more than once, such as by use of multiple gRNAs.

CRISPR-Cas system activity, such as CRISPR-Cas system design may involve target disruption, such as target mutation, such as leading to gene knockout. CRISPR-Cas system activity, such as CRISPR-Cas system design may involve replacement of particular target sites, such as leading to target correction. CISPR-Cas system system design may involve removal of particular target sites, such as leading to target deletion. CRISPR-Cas system activity may involve modulation of target site functionality, such as target site activity or accessibility, leading for instance to (transcriptional and/or epigenetic) gene or genomic region activation or gene or genomic region silencing. The skilled person will understand that modulation of target site functionality may involve CRISPR effector mutation (such as for instance generation of a catalytically inactive CRISPR effector) and/or functionalization (such as for instance fusion of the CRISPR effector with a heterologous functional domain, such as a transcriptional activator or repressor), as described herein elsewhere.

Engineered CRISPR-Cas Systems

In general, CRISPRs (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats), also known as SPIDRs (SPacer Interspersed Direct Repeats), constitute a family of DNA loci that are usually specific to a particular bacterial species. The CRISPR locus comprises a distinct class of interspersed short sequence repeats (SSRs) that were recognized in E. coli (Ishino et al., J. Bacteriol., 169:5429-5433 [1987]; and Nakata et al., J. Bacteriol., 171:3553-3556 [1989]), and associated genes. Similar interspersed SSRs have been identified in Haloferax mediterranei, Streptococcus, Anabaena , and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (See, Groenen et al., Mol. Microbiol., 10:1057-1065 [1993]; Hoe et al., Emerg. Infect. Dis., 5:254-263 [1999]; Masepohl et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1307:26-30 [1996]; and Mojica et al., Mol. Microbiol., 17:85-93 [1995]). The CRISPR loci typically differ from other SSRs by the structure of the repeats, which have been termed short regularly spaced repeats (SRSRs) (Janssen et al., OMICS J. Integ. Biol., 6:23-33 [2002]; and Mojica et al., Mol. Microbiol., 36:244-246 [2000]). In general, the repeats are short elements that occur in clusters that are regularly spaced by unique intervening sequences with a substantially constant length (Mojica et al., [2000], supra). Although the repeat sequences are highly conserved between strains, the number of interspersed repeats and the sequences of the spacer regions typically differ from strain to strain (van Embden et al., J. Bacteriol., 182:2393-2401 [2000]). CRISPR loci have been identified in more than 40 prokaryotes (See e.g., Jansen et al., Mol. Microbiol., 43:1565-1575 [2002]; and Mojica et al., [2005]) including, but not limited to Aeropyrum, Pyrobaculum, Sulfolobus, Archaeoglobus, Haloarcula, Methanobacterium, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methanopyrus, Pyrococcus, Picrophilus, Thermoplasma, Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Streptomyces, Aquifex Porphyromonas, Chlorobium, Thermus, Bacillus, Listeria, Staphylococcus, Clostridium, Thermoanaerobacter, Mycoplasma, Fusobacterium, Azoarcus, Chromobacterium, Neisseria, Nitrosomonas, Desulfovibrio, Geobacter, Myxococcus, Campylobacter, Wolinella, Acinetobacter, Erwinia, Escherichia, Legionella, Methylococcus, Pasteurella, Photobacterium, Salmonella, Xanthomonas, Yersinia, Treponema , and Thermotoga.

General Features of Cas9 Effector Protein

The application describes methods for using CRISPR-Cas proteins for polynucleotide editing and modifications. This is exemplified herein with Cas9, whereby a number of Cas9 orthologs or homologs have been identified. It will be apparent to the skilled person that further Cas9 orthologs or homologs can be identified and that any of the functionalities described herein may be engineered into other Cas9 orthologs, including chimeric enzymes comprising fragments from multiple orthologs.

Methods for Identifying New CRISPR-Cas Loci

The Cas9 gene is found in several diverse bacterial genomes, typically in the same locus with cas1, cas2, and cas4 genes and a CRISPR cassette. Furthermore, the Cas9 protein contains a readily identifiable C-terminal region that is homologous to the transposon ORF-B and includes an active RuvC-like nuclease, an arginine-rich region.

For instance, computational methods of identifying novel CRISPR-Cas loci are described in EP3009511 or US2016208243 and may comprise the following steps: detecting all contigs encoding the Cas1 protein; identifying all predicted protein coding genes within 20 KB of the cas1 gene; comparing the identified genes with Cas protein-specific profiles and predicting CRISPR arrays; selecting unclassified candidate CRISPR-Cas loci containing proteins larger than 500 amino acids (>500 aa); analyzing selected candidates using methods such as PSI-BLAST and HHPred to screen for known protein domains, thereby identifying novel Class 2 CRISPR-Cas loci (see also Schmakov et al. 2015, Mol Cell. 60 (3): 385-97). In addition to the above mentioned steps, additional analysis of the candidates may be conducted by searching metagenomics databases for additional homologs. Additionally or alternatively, to expand the search to non-autonomous CRISPR-Cas systems, the same procedure can be performed with the CRISPR array used as the seed.

In one aspect the detecting all contigs encoding the Cas1 protein is performed by GenemarkS which a gene prediction program as further described in “GeneMarkS: a self-training method for prediction of gene starts in microbial genomes. Implications for finding sequence motifs in regulatory regions.” John Besemer, Alexandre Lomsadze and Mark Borodovsky, Nucleic Acids Research (2001) 29, pp 2607-2618, herein incorporated by reference.

In one aspect the identifying all predicted protein coding genes is carried out by comparing the identified genes with Cas protein-specific profiles and annotating them according to NCBI Conserved Domain Database (CDD) which is a protein annotation resource that consists of a collection of well-annotated multiple sequence alignment models for ancient domains and full-length proteins. These are available as position-specific score matrices (PSSMs) for fast identification of conserved domains in protein sequences via RPS-BLAST. CDD content includes NCBI-curated domains, which use 3D-structure information to explicitly define domain boundaries and provide insights into sequence/structure/function relationships, as well as domain models imported from a number of external source databases (Pfam, SMART, COG, PRK, TIGRFAM). In a further aspect, CRISPR arrays were predicted using a PILER-CR program which is a public domain software for finding CRISPR repeats as described in “PILER-CR: fast and accurate identification of CRISPR repeats”, Edgar, R. C., BMC Bioinformatics, January 20; 8:18 (2007), herein incorporated by reference.

In a further aspect, the case by case analysis is performed using PSI-BLAST (Position-Specific Iterative Basic Local Alignment Search Tool). PSI-BLAST derives a position-specific scoring matrix (PSSM) or profile from the multiple sequence alignment of sequences detected above a given score threshold using protein-protein BLAST. This PSSM is used to further search the database for new matches, and is updated for subsequent iterations with these newly detected sequences. Thus, PSI-BLAST provides a means of detecting distant relationships between proteins.

In another aspect, the case by case analysis is performed using HHpred, a method for sequence database searching and structure prediction that is as easy to use as BLAST or PSI-BLAST and that is at the same time much more sensitive in finding remote homologs. In fact, HHpred's sensitivity is competitive with the most powerful servers for structure prediction currently available. HHpred is the first server that is based on the pairwise comparison of profile hidden Markov models (HMMs). Whereas most conventional sequence search methods search sequence databases such as UniProt or the NR, HHpred searches alignment databases, like Pfam or SMART. This greatly simplifies the list of hits to a number of sequence families instead of a clutter of single sequences. All major publicly available profile and alignment databases are available through HHpred. HHpred accepts a single query sequence or a multiple alignment as input. Within only a few minutes it returns the search results in an easy-to-read format similar to that of PSI-BLAST. Search options include local or global alignment and scoring secondary structure similarity. HHpred can produce pairwise query-template sequence alignments, merged query-template multiple alignments (e.g. for transitive searches), as well as 3D structural models calculated by the MODELLER software from HHpred alignments.

In certain example embodiments, methods for identifying novel CRISPR loci may include comparison to properties and elements of known CRISPR loci. Example methods are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/376,387 filed Aug. 17, 2016 and entitled “Methods for identifying Class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems,” U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/376,383 filed Aug. 17, 2016 and entitled “Methods for Identifying Novel Gene Editing Elements,” and Shmakov et al. “Diversity and evolution of class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems,” Nat Rev Microbiol. 2017 15 (3): 169-182. Finally, methods such as those disclosed above may also be adaptive to identify genomic structures comprising repeating motifs in general as opposed to specific known CRISPR objects such as Cas9.

It should be further recognized that putative novel CRISPR-Cas loci may be further discovered and/or integrated, in particular for relevant nuclease activity, using the methods disclosed in the section below under the header “Methods for determining on/off target activity and selecting suitable sequences/guides.”

Orthologs of Cas9

The terms “orthologue” (also referred to as “ortholog” herein) and “homologue” (also referred to as “homolog” herein) are well known in the art. By means of further guidance, a “homologue” of a protein as used herein is a protein of the same species which performs the same or a similar function as the protein it is a homologue of. Homologous proteins may but need not be structurally related, or are only partially structurally related. An “orthologue” of a protein as used herein is a protein of a different species which performs the same or a similar function as the protein it is an orthologue of. Orthologous proteins may but need not be structurally related, or are only partially structurally related. Homologs and orthologs may be identified by homology modelling (see, e.g., Greer, Science vol. 228 (1985) 1055, and Blundell et al. Eur J Biochem vol 172 (1988), 513) or “structural BLAST” (Dey F, Cliff Zhang Q, Petrey D, Honig B. Toward a “structural BLAST”: using structural relationships to infer function. Protein Sci. 2013 April; 22 (4): 359-66. doi: 10.1002/pro.2225.). See also Shmakov et al. (2015) for application in the field of CRISPR-Cas loci. Homologous proteins may but need not be structurally related, or are only partially structurally related.

The Cas9 gene is found in several diverse bacterial genomes, typically in the same locus with cas1, cas2, and cas4 genes and a CRISPR cassette Furthermore, the Cas9 protein contains a readily identifiable C-terminal region that is homologous to the transposon ORF-B and includes an active RuvC-like nuclease, an arginine-rich region.

In particular embodiments, the effector protein is a Cas9 effector protein from an organism from a genus comprising Streptococcus, Campylobacter, Nitratifractor, Staphylococcus, Parvibaculum, Roseburia, Neisseria, Gluconacetobacter, Azospirillum , Sphaerochaeta, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium , or Corynebacte.

In particular embodiments, the effector protein is a Cas9 effector protein from an organism from a genus comprising Carnobacterium, Rhodobacter, Listeria, Paludibacter, Clostridium , Lachnospiraceae, Clostridiaridium, Leptotrichia, Francisella, Legionella, Alicyclobacillus, Methanomethylophilus, Porphyromonas, Prevotella , Bacteroidetes, Helcococcus , Letospira, Desulfovibrio, Desulfonatronum , Opitutaceae, Tuberbacillus, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Methylobacterium , or Acidaminococcus.

In further particular embodiments, the Cas9 effector protein is from an organism selected from S. mutans, S. agalactiae, S. equisimilis, S. sanguinis, S. pneumonia; C. jejuni, C. coli; N. salsuginis, N. tergarcus; S. auricularis, S. carnosus; N. meningitides, N. gonorrhoeae; L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii; C. botulinum, C. difficile, C. tetani, C. sordellii . In particular embodiments, the effector protein is a Cas9 effector protein from an organism from Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus , or Streptococcus thermophilus Cas9.

The effector protein may comprise a chimeric effector protein comprising a first fragment from a first effector protein (e.g., a Cas9) ortholog and a second fragment from a second effector (e.g., a Cas9) protein ortholog, and wherein the first and second effector protein orthologs are different. At least one of the first and second effector protein (e.g., a Cas9) orthologs may comprise an effector protein (e.g., a Cas9) from an organism comprising Streptococcus, Campylobacter, Nitratifractor, Staphylococcus, Parvibaculum, Roseburia, Neisseria, Gluconacetobacter, Azospirillum, Sphaerochaeta, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium, Corynebacter, Carnobacterium, Rhodobacter, Listeria, Paludibacter, Clostridium , Lachnospiraceae, Clostridiaridium, Leptotrichia, Francisella, Legionella, Alicyclobacillus, Methanomethylophilus, Porphyromonas, Prevotella , Bacteroidetes, Helcococcus , Letospira, Desulfovibrio, Desulfonatronum , Opitutaceae, Tuberbacillus, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Methylobacterium or Acidaminococcus ; e.g., a chimeric effector protein comprising a first fragment and a second fragment wherein each of the first and second fragments is selected from a Cas9 of an organism comprising Streptococcus, Campylobacter, Nitratifractor, Staphylococcus, Parvibaculum, Roseburia, Neisseria, Gluconacetobacter, Azospirillum, Sphaerochaeta, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium , Corynebacter, Carnobacterium, Rhodobacter, Listeria, Paludibacter, Clostridium , Lachnospiraceae, Clostridiaridium, Leptotrichia, Francisella, Legionella, Alicyclobacillus, Methanomethylophilus, Porphyromonas, Prevotella , Bacteroidetes, Helcococcus , Letospira, Desulfovibrio, Desulfonatronum , Opitutaceae, Tuberbacillus, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Methylobacterium or Acidaminococcus wherein the first and second fragments are not from the same bacteria; for instance a chimeric effector protein comprising a first fragment and a second fragment wherein each of the first and second fragments is selected from a Cas9 of S. mutans, S. agalactiae, S. equisimilis, S. sanguinis, S. pneumonia; C. jejuni, C. coli; N. salsuginis, N. tergarcus; S. auricularis, S. carnosus; N. meningitides, N. gonorrhoeae; L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii; C. botulinum, C. difficile, C. tetani, C. sordellii; Francisella tularensis 1, Prevotella albensis , Lachnospiraceae bacterium MC2017 1, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus , Peregrinibacteria bacterium GW2011_GWA2_33_10, Parcubacteria bacterium GW2011_GWC2_44_17 , Smithella sp. SCADC, Acidaminococcus sp. BV3L6, Lachnospiraceae bacterium MA2020 , candidatus Methanoplasma termitum, Eubacterium eligens, Moraxella bovoculi 237 , Leptospira inadai , Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006, Porphyromonas crevioricanis 3, Prevotella disiens and Porphyromonas macacae , wherein the first and second fragments are not from the same bacteria.

In a more preferred embodiment, the Cas9 is derived from a bacterial species selected from Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus , or Streptococcus thermophilus Cas9. In certain embodiments, the Cas9p is derived from a bacterial species selected from Francisella tularensis 1 , Prevotella albensis , Lachnospiraceae bacterium MC2017 1, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus , Peregrinibacteria bacterium GW2011_GWA2_33_10, Parcubacteria bacterium GW2011_GWC2 44_17 , Smithella sp. SCADC, Acidaminococcus sp. BV3L6, Lachnospiraceae bacterium MA2020 , candidatus Methanoplasma termitum, Eubacterium eligens, Moraxella bovoculi 237, Leptospira inadai , Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006, Porphyromonas crevioricanis 3, Prevotella disiens and Porphyromonas macacae . In certain embodiments, the Cas9p is derived from a bacterial species selected from Acidaminococcus sp. BV3L6, Lachnospiraceae bacterium MA2020. In certain embodiments, the effector protein is derived from a subspecies of Francisella tularensis 1, including but not limited to Francisella tularensis subsp. Novicida.

The nucleic acid-targeting system may be derived advantageously from a Type VI CRISPR system. In some embodiments, one or more elements of a nucleic acid-targeting system is derived from a particular organism comprising an endogenous RNA-targeting system. In particular embodiments, the Type VI RNA-targeting Cas enzyme is C2c2. In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a effector protein which comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence homology to the wild-type sequence of any of Leptotrichia shahii C2c2, Lachnospiraceae bacterium MA2020 C2c2, Lachnospiraceae bacterium NK4A179 C2c2, Clostridium aminophilum (DSM 10710)C2c2, Carnobacterium gallinarum (DSM 4847)C2c2 , Paludibacter propionicigenes (WB4)C2c2, Listeria weihenstephanensis (FSL R9-0317)C2c2, Listeriaceae bacterium (FSL M6-0635) C2c2, Listeria newyorkensis (FSL M6-0635)C2c2, Leptotrichia wadei (F0279)C2c2, Rhodobacter capsulatus (SB 1003)C2c2, Rhodobacter capsulatus (R121)C2c2, Rhodobacter capsulatus (DE442)C2c2, Leptotrichia wadei (Lw2)C2c2, or Listeria seeligeri C2c2.

In particular embodiments, the homologue or orthologue of Cas9 as referred to herein has a sequence homology or identity of at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, such as for instance at least 95% with Cas9. In further embodiments, the: homologue or orthologue of Cas9 as referred to herein has a sequence identity of at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, such as for instance at least 95% with the wild type Cas9. Where the Cas9 has one or more mutations (mutated), the homologue or orthologue of said Cas9 as referred to herein has a sequence identity of at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, such as for instance at least 95% with the mutated Cas9.

In an embodiment, the Cas9 protein may be an ortholog of an organism of a genus which includes, but is not limited to Streptococcus sp. or Staphilococcus sp.; in particular embodiments, Cas9 protein may be an ortholog of an organism of a species which includes, but is not limited to Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus , or Streptococcus thermophilus Cas9. In particular embodiments, the homologue or orthologue of Cas9p as referred to herein has a sequence homology or identity of at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, such as for instance at least 95% with one or more of the Cas9 sequences disclosed herein. In further embodiments, the homologue or orthologue of Cas9 as referred to herein has a sequence identity of at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, such as for instance at least 95% with the wild type SpCas9, SaCas9 or StCas9.

In particular embodiments, the Cas9 protein of the invention has a sequence homology or identity of at least 60%, more particularly at least 70, such as at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, such as for instance at least 95% with SpCas9, SaCas9 or StCas9. In further embodiments, the Cas9 protein as referred to herein has a sequence identity of at least 60%, such as at least 70%, more particularly at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, such as for instance at least 95% with the wild type SpCas9, SaCas9 or StCas9. The skilled person will understand that this includes truncated forms of the Cas9 protein whereby the sequence identity is determined over the length of the truncated form.

In an embodiment of the invention, the effector protein comprises at least one HEPN domain, including but not limited to HEPN domains described herein, HEPN domains known in the art, and domains recognized to be HEPN domains by comparison to consensus sequences and motifs.

Determination of PAM

Determination of PAM can be ensured as follows. This experiment closely parallels similar work in E. coli for the heterologous expression of StCas9 (Sapranauskas, R. et al. Nucleic Acids Res 39, 9275-9282 (2011)). Applicants introduce a plasmid containing both a PAM and a resistance gene into the heterologous E. coli , and then plate on the corresponding antibiotic. If there is DNA cleavage of the plasmid, Applicants observe no viable colonies.

In further detail, the assay is as follows for a DNA target. Two E. coli strains are used in this assay. One carries a plasmid that encodes the endogenous effector protein locus from the bacterial strain. The other strain carries an empty plasmid (e.g. pACYC184, control strain). All possible 7 or 8 bp PAM sequences are presented on an antibiotic resistance plasmid (pUC19 with ampicillin resistance gene). The PAM is located next to the sequence of proto-spacer 1 (the DNA target to the first spacer in the endogenous effector protein locus). Two PAM libraries were cloned. One has a 8 random bp 5′ of the proto-spacer (e.g. total of 65536 different PAM sequences=complexity). The other library has 7 random bp 3′ of the proto-spacer (e.g. total complexity is 16384 different PAMs). Both libraries were cloned to have in average 500 plasmids per possible PAM. Test strain and control strain were transformed with 5′PAM and 3′PAM library in separate transformations and transformed cells were plated separately on ampicillin plates. Recognition and subsequent cutting/interference with the plasmid renders a cell vulnerable to ampicillin and prevents growth. Approximately 12 h after transformation, all colonies formed by the test and control strains where harvested and plasmid DNA was isolated. Plasmid DNA was used as template for PCR amplification and subsequent deep sequencing. Representation of all PAMs in the untransformed libraries showed the expected representation of PAMs in transformed cells. Representation of all PAMs found in control strains showed the actual representation. Representation of all PAMs in test strain showed which PAMs are not recognized by the enzyme and comparison to the control strain allows extracting the sequence of the depleted PAM.

Codon Optimized Nucleic Acid Sequences

Where the effector protein is to be administered as a nucleic acid, the application envisages the use of codon-optimized Cas9 sequences. An example of a codon optimized sequence, is in this instance a sequence optimized for expression in a eukaryote, e.g., humans (i.e. being optimized for expression in humans), or for another eukaryote, animal or mammal as herein discussed; see, e.g., SaCas9 human codon optimized sequence in WO 2014/093622 (PCT/US2013/074667) as an example of a codon optimized sequence (from knowledge in the art and this disclosure, codon optimizing coding nucleic acid molecule(s), especially as to effector protein (e.g., Cas9) is within the ambit of the skilled artisan). Whilst this is preferred, it will be appreciated that other examples are possible and codon optimization for a host species other than human, or for codon optimization for specific organs is known. In some embodiments, an enzyme coding sequence encoding a DNA/RNA-targeting Cas protein is codon optimized for expression in particular cells, such as eukaryotic cells. The eukaryotic cells may be those of or derived from a particular organism, such as a plant or a mammal, including but not limited to human, or non-human eukaryote or animal or mammal as herein discussed, e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, livestock, or non-human mammal or primate. In some embodiments, processes for modifying the germ line genetic identity of human beings and/or processes for modifying the genetic identity of animals which are likely to cause them suffering without any substantial medical benefit to man or animal, and also animals resulting from such processes, may be excluded. In general, codon optimization refers to a process of modifying a nucleic acid sequence for enhanced expression in the host cells of interest by replacing at least one codon (e.g., about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, or more codons) of the native sequence with codons that are more frequently or most frequently used in the genes of that host cell while maintaining the native amino acid sequence. Various species exhibit particular bias for certain codons of a particular amino acid. Codon bias (differences in codon usage between organisms) often correlates with the efficiency of translation of messenger RNA (mRNA), which is in turn believed to be dependent on, among other things, the properties of the codons being translated and the availability of particular transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules. The predominance of selected tRNAs in a cell is generally a reflection of the codons used most frequently in peptide synthesis. Accordingly, genes can be tailored for optimal gene expression in a given organism based on codon optimization. Codon usage tables are readily available, for example, at the “Codon Usage Database” available at www.kazusa.orjp/codon/and these tables can be adapted in a number of ways. See Nakamura, Y., et al. “Codon usage tabulated from the international DNA sequence databases: status for the year 2000” Nucl. Acids Res. 28:292 (2000). Computer algorithms for codon optimizing a particular sequence for expression in a particular host cell are also available, such as Gene Forge (Aptagen; Jacobus, PA), are also available. In some embodiments, one or more codons (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, or more, or all codons) in a sequence encoding a DNA/RNA-targeting Cas protein corresponds to the most frequently used codon for a particular amino acid. As to codon usage in yeast, reference is made to the online Yeast Genome database available at www.yeastgenome.org/community/codon_usage.shtml, or Codon selection in yeast , Bennetzen and Hall, J Biol Chem. 1982 Mar. 25; 257 (6): 3026-31. As to codon usage in plants including algae, reference is made to Codon usage in higher plants, green algae, and cyanobacteria , Campbell and Gowri, Plant Physiol. 1990 January; 92 (1): 1-11.; as well as Codon usage in plant genes , Murray et al, Nucleic Acids Res. 1989 Jan. 25; 17 (2): 477-98; or Selection on the codon bias of chloroplast and cyanelle genes in different plant and algal lineages , Morton B R, J Mol Evol. 1998 April; 46 (4): 449-59.

Modified Cas9 Enzymes

In particular embodiments, it is of interest to make us of an engineered Cas9 protein as defined herein, such as Cas9, wherein the protein complexes with a nucleic acid molecule comprising RNA to form a CRISPR complex, wherein when in the CRISPR complex, the nucleic acid molecule targets one or more target polynucleotide loci, the protein comprises at least one modification compared to unmodified Cas9 protein, and wherein the CRISPR complex comprising the modified protein has altered activity as compared to the complex comprising the unmodified Cas9 protein. It is to be understood that when referring herein to CRISPR “protein”, the Cas9 protein preferably is a modified CRISPR enzyme (e.g. having increased or decreased (or no) enzymatic activity, such as without limitation including Cas9. The term “CRISPR protein” may be used interchangeably with “CRISPR enzyme”, irrespective of whether the CRISPR protein has altered, such as increased or decreased (or no) enzymatic activity, compared to the wild type CRISPR protein.

Several small stretches of unstructured regions are predicted within the Cas9 primary structure. Unstructured regions, which are exposed to the solvent and not conserved within different Cas9 orthologs, are preferred sides for splits and insertions of small protein sequences. In addition, these sides can be used to generate chimeric proteins between Cas9 orthologs.

Based on the above information, mutants can be generated which lead to inactivation of the enzyme or which modify the double strand nuclease to nickase activity. In alternative embodiments, this information is used to develop enzymes with reduced off-target effects (described elsewhere herein). In certain example embodiments, the information is used to to develop enzymes with altered editing preferences as compared to wild type.

In one example embodiment, a modified Cas9 protein comprises at least one modification that alters editing preference as composed to wild type. In certain example embodiments, the editing preference is for a specific insert or deletion within the target region. In certain example embodiments, the at least one modification increases formation of one or more specific indels. In one example embodiment, the at least on modification is in the binding region including the targeting region and/or the PAM interacting region. In another example embodiment, the at least one modification is not in the binding region including the targeting region and/or the PAM interacting region. In one example embodiment, the one or more modification are located in or proximate to a RuvC domain. In another example embodiment, the one or more modification are located in or proximate to a HNH or Nuc domain. In another example embodiment, the one or more modification are in or proximate to a bridge helix. In another example embodiment, the one or more modifications are in or proximate to a recognition lobe. In another example embodiment, the at least one modification is present or proximate to a D10 active site residue. In another example embodiment, the at least one modification is present in or proximate to a linker region. The linker region may form a linker from a RuCv domain to the bridge helix. In certain example embodiments, the one or more modifications are located at at residues 6-19, 51-60, 690-696, 698-700, 725-734, 764-786, 802-811, 837-871, 902-929, 976-982, 998-1007, or a combination thereof, of SpCas9 or a residue in an ortholog corresponding or functionally equivalent thereto.

In certain example embodiments, the at least one modification increases formation of one or more specific insertions. In certain example embodiments, the at least one modification results in an insertion of an A adjacent to an A, T, G, or C in the target region. In another example embodiment, the at least one modification results in insertion of a T adjacent to an A, T, G, or C in the target region. In another example embodiment, the at least one modification results in insertion of a G adjacent to an A, T, G, or C in the target region. In another example embodiment, the at least one modification results in insertion of a C adjacent to an A, T, C, or G in the target region. The insertion may be 5′ or 3′ to the adjacent nucleotide. In one example embodiment, the one or more modification direct insertion of a T adjacent to an existing T. In certain example embodiments, the existing T corresponds to the 4 th position in the binding region of a guide sequence. In certain example embodiments, the one or more modifications result in an enzyme which ensures more precise one-base insertions or deletions, such as those described above. More particularly, the one or more modifications may reduce the formations of other types of indels by the enzyme. The ability to generate one-base insertions or deletions can be of interest in a number of applications, such as correction of genetic mutants in diseases caused by small deletions, more particularly where HDR is not possible. For example correction of the F508del mutation in CFTR via delivery of three sRNA directing insertion of three T's, which is the most common genotype of cystic fibrosis, or correction of Alia Jafar's single nucleotide deletion in CDKL5 in the brain. As the editing method only requires NHEJ, the editing would be possible in post-mitotic cells such as the brain. The ability to generate one base pair insertions/deletions may also be useful in genome-wide CRISPR-Cas negative selection screens. In certain example embodiments, the at least one modification, is a mutation. In certain other example embodiment, the one or more modification may be combined with one or more additional modifications or mutations described below including modifications to increase binding specificity and/or decrease off-target effects.

In certain example embodiments, the engineered CRISPR-cas effector comprising at least one modification that alters editing preference as compared to wild type may further comprise one or more additional modifications that alters the binding property as to the nucleic acid molecule comprising RNA or the target polypeptide loci, altering binding kinetics as to the nucleic acid molecule or target molecule or target polynucleotide or alters binding specificity as to the nucleic acid molecule. Example of such modifications are summarized in the following paragraph.

Suitable Cas9 enzyme modifications which enhance specificity in particular by reducing off-target effects, are described for instance in PCT/US2016/038034, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In particular embodiments, a reduction of off-target cleavage is ensured by destabilizing strand separation, more particularly by introducing mutations in the Cas9 enzyme decreasing the positive charge in the DNA interacting regions (as described herein and further exemplified for Cas9 by Slaymaker et al. 2016 (Science, 1; 351 (6268): 84-8). In further embodiments, a reduction of off-target cleavage is ensured by introducing mutations into Cas9 enzyme which affect the interaction between the target strand and the guide RNA sequence, more particularly disrupting interactions between Cas9 and the phosphate backbone of the target DNA strand in such a way as to retain target specific activity but reduce off-target activity (as described for Cas9 by Kleinstiver et al. 2016, Nature, 28; 529 (7587): 490-5). In particular embodiments, the off-target activity is reduced by way of a modified Cas9 wherein both interaction with target strand and non-target strand are modified compared to wild-type Cas9.

The methods and mutations which can be employed in various combinations to increase or decrease activity and/or specificity of on-target vs. off-target activity, or increase or decrease binding and/or specificity of on-target vs. off-target binding, can be used to compensate or enhance mutations or modifications made to promote other effects. Such mutations or modifications made to promote other effects include mutations or modification to the Cas9 effector protein and/or mutation or modification made to a guide RNA.

With a similar strategy used to improve Cas9 specificity (Slaymaker et al. 2015 “Rationally engineered Cas9 nucleases with improved specificity”), specificity of Cas9 can be further improved by mutating residues that stabilize the non-targeted DNA strand. This may be accomplished without a crystal structure by using linear structure alignments to predict 1 ) which domain of Cas9 binds to which strand of DNA and 2) which residues within these domains contact DNA.

However, this approach may be limited due to poor conservation of Cas9 with known proteins. Thus it may be desirable to probe the function of all likely DNA interacting amino acids (lysine, histidine and arginine).

Without being bound by theory, in an aspect of the invention, the methods and mutations described provide for enhancing conformational rearrangement of Cas9 domains to positions that results in cleavage at on-target sits and avoidance of those conformational states at off-target sites. Cas9 cleaves target DNA in a series of coordinated steps. First, the PAM-interacting domain recognizes the PAM sequence 5′ of the target DNA. After PAM binding, the first 10-12 nucleotides of the target sequence (seed sequence) are sampled for sgRNA: DNA complementarity, a process dependent on DNA duplex separation. If the seed sequence nucleotides complement the sgRNA, the remainder of DNA is unwound and the full length of sgRNA hybridizes with the target DNA strand. The nt-groove between the RuvC and HNH domains stabilizes the non-targeted DNA strand and facilitates unwinding through non-specific interactions with positive charges of the DNA phosphate backbone. RNA: cDNA and Cas9: ncDNA interactions drive DNA unwinding in competition against cDNA: ncDNA rehybridization. Other cas9 domains affect the conformation of nuclease domains as well, for example linkers connecting HNH with RuvCII and RuvCIII. Accordingly, the methods and mutations provided encompass, without limitation, RuvCI, RuvCIII, RuvCIII and HNH domains and linkers. Conformational changes in Cas9 brought about by target DNA binding, including seed sequence interaction, and interactions with the target and non-target DNA strand determine whether the domains are positioned to trigger nuclease activity. Thus, the mutations and methods provided herein demonstrate and enable modifications that go beyond PAM recognition and RNA-DNA base pairing. In an aspect, the invention provides Cas9 nucleases that comprise an improved equilibrium towards conformations associated with cleavage activity when involved in on-target interactions and/or improved equilibrium away from conformations associated with cleavage activity when involved in off-target interactions. In one aspect, the invention provides Cas9 nucleases with improved proof-reading function, i.e. a Cas9 nuclease which adopts a conformation comprising nuclease activity at an on-target site, and which conformation has increased favorability at an off-target site. Sternberg et al., Nature 527 (7576): 110-3, doi: 10.1038/nature15544, published online 28 Oct. 2015. Epub 2015 Oct. 28, used Förster resonance energy transfer FRET) experiments to detect relative orientations of the Cas9 catalytic domains when associated with on- and off-target DNA.

For SpCas9, the single and combination mutants listed herein including in the foregoing Examples are presently considered advantageous as having demonstrated preferred specificity enhancement SpCas9 and SaCas9 mutants, including those tested and those otherwise within this disclosure are listed below in Tables 1-7.

Representative examples of SpCas9 mutants are listed in Table 6 below.

In certain embodiments, the modification or mutation comprises a mutation in a RuvCI, RuvCIII, RuvCIII or HNH domain. In certain embodiments, the modification or mutation comprises an amino acid substitution at one or more of positions 12, 13, 63, 415, 610, 775, 779, 780, 810, 832, 848, 855, 861, 862, 866, 961, 968, 974, 976, 982, 983, 1000, 1003, 1014, 1047, 1060, 1107, 1108, 1109, 1114, 1129, 1240, 1289, 1296, 1297, 1300, 1311, and 1325; preferably 855; 810, 1003, and 1060; or 848, 1003 with reference to amino acid position numbering of SpCas9. In certain embodiments, the modification or mutation at position 63, 415, 775, 779, 780, 810, 832, 848, 855, 861, 862, 866, 961, 968, 974, 976, 982, 983, 1000, 1003, 1014, 1047, 1060, 1107, 1108, 1109, 1114, 1129, 1240, 1289, 1296, 1297, 1300, 1311, or 1325; preferably 855; 810, 1003, and 1060; 848, 1003, and 1060; or 497, 661, 695, and 926 comprises an alanine substitution. In certain embodiments, the modification comprises K855A; K810A, K1003A, and R1060A; or K848A, K1003A (with reference to SpCas9), and R1060A. in certain embodiments, in certain embodiments, the modification comprises N497A, R661A, Q695A, and Q926A (with reference to SpCas9).

Other mutations may include N692A, M694A, Q695A, H698A or combinations thereof and as otherwise described in Kleinstiver et al. “High-fidelity CRISP-Cas9 nucleases with no detectable genome-wide off-target effects” Nature 529, 590-607 (2016). In addition mutations and/or modifications within the REC3 domain (with reference to SpCas9-HF1 and eSpCas9(1.1)) may also be targeted for increased target specifity and as further described in Chen et al. “Enhanced proofreading governs CRISPR-Cas9 targeting accuracy” bioRxiv Jul. 6, 2017 doi: dx.doi.org/10.1101/160036. Other mutations may be located in an HNH nuclease domain as further described in Sternberg et al. Nature 2015 doi: 10.1038/nature15544.

In some embodiments, a vector encodes a Cas that is mutated to with respect to a corresponding wild-type enzyme such that the mutated Cas lacks the ability to cleave one or both strands of a target polynucleotide containing a target sequence. For example, an aspartate-to-alanine substitution (D10A) in the RuvC I catalytic domain of Cas9 from S. pyogenes converts Cas9 from a nuclease that cleaves both strands to a nickase (cleaves a single strand). Other examples of mutations that render Cas9 a nickase include, without limitation, H840A, N854A, and N863A. As a further example, two or more catalytic domains of Cas9 (RuvC I, RuvC II, and RuvC III or the HNH domain) may be mutated to produce a mutated Cas9 substantially lacking all DNA cleavage activity. In some embodiments, a D10A mutation is combined with one or more of H840A, N854A, or N863A mutations to produce a Cas9 enzyme substantially lacking all DNA cleavage activity.

In certain of the above-described Cas9 enzymes, the enzyme is modified by mutation of one or more residues including but not limited to positions D10, E762, H840, N854, N863, or D986 according to SpCas9 protein or any corresponding ortholog. In an aspect the invention provides a herein-discussed composition wherein the Cas9 enzyme is an inactivated enzyme which comprises one or more mutations selected from the group consisting D10A, E762A, H840A, N854A, N863A and/or D986A as to SpCas9 or corresponding positions in a Cas9 ortholog. In an aspect the invention provides a herein-discussed composition, wherein the CRISPR enzyme comprises H840A, or D10A and H840A, or D10A and N863A, according to SpCas9 protein or a corresponding position in a Cas9 ortholog.

Deactivated/Inactivated Cas9 Protein

Where the Cas9 protein has nuclease activity, the Cas9 protein may be modified to have diminished nuclease activity e.g., nuclease inactivation of at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 97%, or 100% as compared with the wild type enzyme; or to put in another way, a Cas9 enzyme having advantageously about 0% of the nuclease activity of the non-mutated or wild type Cas9 enzyme or CRISPR enzyme, or no more than about 3% or about 5% or about 10% of the nuclease activity of the non-mutated or wild type Cas9 enzyme. This is possible by introducing mutations into the nuclease domains of the Cas9 and orthologs thereof.

In certain embodiments, the CRISPR enzyme is engineered and can comprise one or more mutations that reduce or eliminate a nuclease activity. When the enzyme is not SpCas9, mutations may be made at any or all residues corresponding to positions 10, 762, 840, 854, 863 and/or 986 of SpCas9 (which may be ascertained for instance by standard sequence comparison tools). In particular, any or all of the following mutations are preferred in SpCas9: D10, E762, H840, N854, N863, or D986; as well as conservative substitution for any of the replacement amino acids is also envisaged. The point mutations to be generated to substantially reduce nuclease activity include but are not limited to D10A, E762A, H840A, N854A, N863A and/or D986A. In an aspect the invention provides a herein-discussed composition, wherein the CRISPR enzyme comprises two or more mutations wherein two or more of D10, E762, H840, N854, N863, or D986 according to SpCas9 protein or any corresponding or N580 according to SaCas9 protein ortholog are mutated, or the CRISPR enzyme comprises at least one mutation wherein at least H840 is mutated. In an aspect the invention provides a herein-discussed composition wherein the CRISPR enzyme comprises two or more mutations comprising D10A, E762A, H840A, N854A, N863A or D986A according to SpCas9 protein or any corresponding ortholog, or N580A according to SaCas9 protein, or at least one mutation comprising H840A, or, optionally wherein the CRISPR enzyme comprises: N580A according to SaCas9 protein or any corresponding ortholog; or D10A according to SpCas9 protein, or any corresponding ortholog, and N580A according to SaCas9 protein. In an aspect the invention provides a herein-discussed composition, wherein the CRISPR enzyme comprises H840A, or D10A and H840A, or D10A and N863A, according to SpCas9 protein or any corresponding ortholog.

Mutations can also be made at neighboring residues, e.g., at amino acids near those indicated above that participate in the nuclease activity. In some embodiments, only the RuvC domain is inactivated, and in other embodiments, another putative nuclease domain is inactivated, wherein the effector protein complex functions as a nickase and cleaves only one DNA strand. In a preferred embodiment, the other putative nuclease domain is a HincII-like endonuclease domain. In some embodiments, two Cas9 variants (each a different nickase) are used to increase specificity, two nickase variants are used to cleave DNA at a target (where both nickases cleave a DNA strand, while minimizing or eliminating off-target modifications where only one DNA strand is cleaved and subsequently repaired). In preferred embodiments the Cas9 effector protein cleaves sequences associated with or at a target locus of interest as a homodimer comprising two Cas9 effector protein molecules. In a preferred embodiment the homodimer may comprise two Cas9 effector protein molecules comprising a different mutation in their respective RuvC domains.

The inactivated Cas9 CRISPR enzyme may have associated (e.g., via fusion protein) one or more functional domains, including for example, one or more domains from the group comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of methylase activity, demethylase activity, transcription activation activity, transcription repression activity, transcription release factor activity, histone modification activity, RNA cleavage activity, DNA cleavage activity, nucleic acid binding activity, and molecular switches (e.g., light inducible). Preferred domains are Fok1, VP64, P65, HSF1, MyoD1. In the event that Fok1 is provided, it is advantageous that multiple Fok1 functional domains are provided to allow for a functional dimer and that gRNAs are designed to provide proper spacing for functional use (Fok1) as specifically described in Tsai et al. Nature Biotechnology, Vol. 32, Number 6, June 2014). The adaptor protein may utilize known linkers to attach such functional domains. In some cases it is advantageous that additionally at least one NLS is provided. In some instances, it is advantageous to position the NLS at the N terminus. When more than one functional domain is included, the functional domains may be the same or different.

In general, the positioning of the one or more functional domain on the inactivated Cas9 enzyme is one which allows for correct spatial orientation for the functional domain to affect the target with the attributed functional effect. For example, if the functional domain is a transcription activator (e.g., VP64 or p65), the transcription activator is placed in a spatial orientation which allows it to affect the transcription of the target. Likewise, a transcription repressor will be advantageously positioned to affect the transcription of the target, and a nuclease (e.g., Fok1) will be advantageously positioned to cleave or partially cleave the target. This may include positions other than the N-/C-terminus of the CRISPR enzyme.

Elements of the Nuclear Targeting System

In general, “nucleic acid-targeting system” as used in the present application refers collectively to transcripts and other elements involved in the expression of or directing the activity of nucleic acid-targeting CRISPR-associated (“Cas”) genes (also referred to herein as an effector protein), including sequences encoding a nucleic acid-targeting Cas (effector) protein and a guide RNA (comprising crRNA sequence and a trans-activating CRISPR/Cas system RNA (tracrRNA) sequence), or other sequences and transcripts from a nucleic acid-targeting CRISPR locus. In some embodiments, one or more elements of a nucleic acid-targeting system are derived from a nucleic acid-targeting CRISPR system. In some embodiments, one or more elements of a nucleic acid-targeting system is derived from a particular organism comprising an endogenous nucleic acid-targeting CRISPR system. In general, a nucleic acid-targeting system is characterized by elements that promote the formation of a nucleic acid-targeting complex at the site of a target sequence. In the context of formation of a nucleic acid-targeting complex, “target sequence” refers to a sequence to which a guide sequence is designed to have complementarity, where hybridization between a target sequence and a guide RNA promotes the formation of a DNA or RNA-targeting complex. Full complementarity is not necessarily required, provided there is sufficient complementarity to cause hybridization and promote formation of a nucleic acid-targeting complex. A target sequence may comprise RNA polynucleotides. In some embodiments, a target sequence is located in the nucleus or cytoplasm of a cell. In some embodiments, the target sequence may be within an organelle of a eukaryotic cell, for example, mitochondrion or chloroplast. A sequence or template that may be used for recombination into the targeted locus comprising the target sequences is referred to as an “editing template” or “editing RNA” or “editing sequence”. In aspects of the invention, an exogenous template RNA may be referred to as an editing template. In an aspect of the invention the recombination is homologous recombination.

Typically, in the context of an endogenous nucleic acid-targeting system, formation of a nucleic acid-targeting complex (comprising a guide RNA hybridized to a target sequence and complexed with one or more nucleic acid-targeting effector proteins) results in cleavage of one or both RNA strands in or near (e.g. within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 50, or more base pairs from) the target sequence. In some embodiments, one or more vectors driving expression of one or more elements of a nucleic acid-targeting system are introduced into a host cell such that expression of the elements of the nucleic acid-targeting system direct formation of a nucleic acid-targeting complex at one or more target sites. For example, a nucleic acid-targeting effector protein and a guide RNA could each be operably linked to separate regulatory elements on separate vectors. Alternatively, two or more of the elements expressed from the same or different regulatory elements, may be combined in a single vector, with one or more additional vectors providing any components of the nucleic acid-targeting system not included in the first vector. Nucleic acid-targeting system elements that are combined in a single vector may be arranged in any suitable orientation, such as one element located 5′ with respect to (“upstream” of) or 3′ with respect to (“downstream” of) a second element. The coding sequence of one element may be located on the same or opposite strand of the coding sequence of a second element, and oriented in the same or opposite direction. In some embodiments, a single promoter drives expression of a transcript encoding a nucleic acid-targeting effector protein and a guide RNA embedded within one or more intron sequences (e.g. each in a different intron, two or more in at least one intron, or all in a single intron). In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-targeting effector protein and guide RNA are operably linked to and expressed from the same promoter.

In general, a CRISPR system is characterized by elements that promote the formation of a CRISPR complex at the site of a target sequence (also referred to as a protospacer in the context of an endogenous CRISPR system). In the context of formation of a CRISPR complex, “target sequence” refers to a sequence to which a guide sequence is designed to target, e.g. have complementarity, where hybridization between a target sequence and a guide sequence promotes the formation of a CRISPR complex. The section of the guide sequence through which complementarity to the target sequence is important for cleavage activity is referred to herein as the seed sequence. A target sequence may comprise any polynucleotide, such as DNA or RNA polynucleotides and is comprised within a target locus of interest. In some embodiments, a target sequence is located in the nucleus or cytoplasm of a cell.

In general, the term “guide sequence” is any polynucleotide sequence having sufficient complementarity with a target polynucleotide sequence to hybridize with the target sequence and direct sequence-specific binding of a nucleic acid-targeting complex to the target sequence. In some embodiments, the degree of complementarity between a guide sequence and its corresponding target sequence, when optimally aligned using a suitable alignment algorithm, is about or more than about 50%, 60%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97.5%, 99%, or more. Optimal alignment may be determined with the use of any suitable algorithm for aligning sequences, non-limiting example of which include the Smith-Waterman algorithm, the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm, algorithms based on the Burrows-Wheeler Transform (e.g. the Burrows Wheeler Aligner), ClustalW, Clustal X, BLAT, Novoalign (Novocraft Technologies, ELAND (Illumina, San Diego, CA), SOAP (available at soap.genomics.org.cn), and Maq (available at maq.sourceforge.net). In some embodiments, a guide sequence is about or more than about 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, or more nucleotides in length. In some embodiments, a guide sequence is less than about 75, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 12, or fewer nucleotides in length. The ability of a guide sequence to direct sequence-specific binding of a nucleic acid-targeting complex to a target sequence may be assessed by any suitable assay (as described in EP3009511 or US2016208243). For example, the components of a nucleic acid-targeting system sufficient to form a nucleic acid-targeting complex, including the guide sequence to be tested, may be provided to a host cell having the corresponding target sequence, such as by transfection with vectors encoding the components of the nucleic acid-targeting CRISPR sequence, followed by an assessment of preferential cleavage within or in the vicinity of the target sequence, such as by Surveyor assay as described herein. Similarly, cleavage of a target polynucleotide sequence (or a sequence in the vicinity thereof) may be evaluated in a test tube by providing the target sequence, components of a nucleic acid-targeting complex, including the guide sequence to be tested and a control guide sequence different from the test guide sequence, and comparing binding or rate of cleavage at or in the vicinity of the target sequence between the test and control guide sequence reactions. Other assays are possible, and will occur to those skilled in the art.

A guide sequence may be selected to target any target sequence. In some embodiments, the target sequence is a sequence within a gene transcript or mRNA. In some embodiments, the target sequence is a sequence within a genome of a cell.

In some embodiments, a guide sequence is selected to reduce the degree of secondary structure within the guide sequence. Secondary structure may be determined by any suitable polynucleotide folding algorithm. Some programs are based on calculating the minimal Gibbs free energy. An example of one such algorithm is mFold, as described by Zuker and Stiegler (Nucleic Acids Res. 9 (1981), 133-148). Another example folding algorithm is the online webserver RNAfold, developed at Institute for Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Vienna, using the centroid structure prediction algorithm (see e.g. A. R. Gruber et al., 2008 , Cell 106 (1): 23-24; and P A Carr and G M Church, 2009 , Nature Biotechnology 27 (12): 1151-62). Further algorithms may be found in U.S. application Ser. No. 61/836,080; incorporated herein by reference.

In certain embodiments, a guide RNA or crRNA may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of a direct repeat (DR) sequence and a guide sequence or spacer sequence, and optionally a tracr sequence. In certain embodiments, the guide RNA or crRNA may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of a direct repeat sequence fused or linked to a guide sequence or spacer sequence, and optionally a tracr sequence. In certain embodiments, the direct repeat sequence may be located upstream (i.e., 5′) from the guide sequence or spacer sequence. In other embodiments, the direct repeat sequence may be located downstream (i.e., 3′) from the guide sequence or spacer sequence. For the Cas9 orthologs identified to date, the direct repeat is located downstream 3′ of the guide sequence.

In relation to a nucleic acid-targeting complex or system preferably, the crRNA sequence has one or more stem loops or hairpins and is 30 or more nucleotides in length, 40 or more nucleotides in length, or 50 or more nucleotides in length; In certain embodiments, the crRNA sequence is between 42 and 44 nucleotides in length, and the nucleic acid-targeting Cas protein is Cas9.

In some embodiments, a guide sequence is about or more than about 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, or more nucleotides in length. In some embodiments, a guide sequence is less than about 75, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 12, or fewer nucleotides in length. Preferably the guide sequence is 10-30 nucleotides long. In certain embodiments, the spacer length of the guide RNA is from 15 to 35 nt. In certain embodiments, the spacer length of the guide RNA is at least 15 nucleotides. In certain embodiments, the spacer length is from 15 to 17 nt, e.g., 15, 16, or 17 nt, from 17 to 20 nt, e.g., 17, 18, 19, or 20 nt, from 20 to 24 nt, e.g., 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24 nt, from 23 to 25 nt, e.g., 23, 24, or 25 nt, from 24 to 27 nt, e.g., 24, 25, 26, or 27 nt, from 27-30 nt, e.g., 27, 28, 29, or 30 nt, from 30-35 nt, e.g., 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, or 35 nt, or 35 nt or longer.

In some embodiments, the direct repeat has a minimum length of 16 nts. In further embodiments the direct repeat has a length longer than 16 nts, preferably more than 17 nts, and has more than one stem loop or optimized secondary structures. In some embodiments, the guide sequence is at least 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25 nucleotides, or between 16-30, or between 16-25, or between 16-20 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, direct repeats may be identified in silico by searching for repetitive motifs that fulfill any or all of the following criteria: 1. found in a 2Kb window of genomic sequence flanking the type II CRISPR locus; 2. span from 20 to 50 bp; and 3. interspaced by 20 to 50 bp. In some embodiments, 2 of these criteria may be used, for instance 1 and 2, 2 and 3, or 1 and 3. In some embodiments, all 3 criteria may be used.

The “tracrRNA” sequence or analogous terms includes any polynucleotide sequence that has sufficient complementarity with a crRNA sequence to hybridize. In general, a tracr mate (or direct repeat) sequence includes any sequence that has sufficient complementarity with a tracr sequence to promote one or more of: (1) excision of a guide sequence flanked by tracr mate sequences in a cell containing the corresponding tracr sequence; and (2) formation of a CRISPR complex at a target sequence, wherein the CRISPR complex comprises the tracr mate sequence hybridized to the tracr sequence. In relation to a nucleic acid-targeting complex or system preferably, the tracr sequence has one or more hairpins and is 30 or more nucleotides in length, 40 or more nucleotides in length, or 50 or more nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-targeting effector protein is part of a fusion protein comprising one or more heterologous protein domains (e.g., about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more domains in addition to the nucleic acid-targeting effector protein). In some embodiments, the CRISPR effector protein is part of a fusion protein comprising one or more heterologous protein domains (e.g. about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more domains in addition to the CRISPR enzyme). A CRISPR enzyme fusion protein may comprise any additional protein sequence, and optionally a linker sequence between any two domains. Examples of protein domains that may be fused to a CRISPR enzyme include, without limitation, epitope tags, reporter gene sequences, and protein domains having one or more of the following activities: methylase activity, demethylase activity, transcription activation activity, transcription repression activity, transcription release factor activity, histone modification activity, RNA cleavage activity and nucleic acid binding activity. Non-limiting examples of epitope tags include histidine (His) tags, V5 tags, FLAG tags, influenza hemagglutinin (HA) tags, Myc tags, VSV-G tags, and thioredoxin (Trx) tags. Examples of reporter genes include, but are not limited to, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) beta-galactosidase, beta-glucuronidase, luciferase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), HcRed, DsRed, cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), and autofluorescent proteins including blue fluorescent protein (BFP). A CRISPR enzyme may be fused to a gene sequence encoding a protein or a fragment of a protein that bind DNA molecules or bind other cellular molecules, including but not limited to maltose binding protein (MBP), S-tag, Lex A DNA binding domain (DBD) fusions, GAL4 DNA binding domain fusions, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) BP16 protein fusions. Additional domains that may form part of a fusion protein comprising a CRISPR enzyme are described in US20110059502, incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, a tagged CRISPR enzyme is used to identify the location of a target sequence.

In some embodiments, a CRISPR enzyme may form a component of an inducible system. The inducible nature of the system would allow for spatiotemporal control of gene editing or gene expression using a form of energy. The form of energy may include but is not limited to electromagnetic radiation, sound energy, chemical energy and thermal energy. Examples of inducible system include tetracycline inducible promoters (Tet-On or Tet-Off), small molecule two-hybrid transcription activations systems (FKBP, ABA, etc), or light inducible systems (Phytochrome, LOV domains, or cryptochrome). In one embodiment, the CRISPR enzyme may be a part of a Light Inducible Transcriptional Effector (LITE) to direct changes in transcriptional activity in a sequence-specific manner. The components of a light may include a CRISPR enzyme, a light-responsive cytochrome heterodimer (e.g. from Arabidopsis thaliana ), and a transcriptional activation/repression domain. Further examples of inducible DNA binding proteins and methods for their use are provided in U.S. 61/736,465 and U.S. 61/721,283 and WO 2014/018423 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,889,418, 8,895,308, US20140186919, US20140242700, US20140273234, US20140335620, WO2014093635, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, a loop in the guide RNA is provided. This may be a stem loop or a tetra loop. The loop is preferably GAAA, but it is not limited to this sequence or indeed to being only 4 bp in length. Indeed, preferred loop forming sequences for use in hairpin structures are four nucleotides in length, and most preferably have the sequence GAAA. However, longer or shorter loop sequences may be used, as may alternative sequences. The sequences preferably include a nucleotide triplet (for example, AAA), and an additional nucleotide (for example C or G). Examples of loop forming sequences include CAAA and AAAG. In some embodiments, a recombination template is also provided. A recombination template may be a component of another vector as described herein, contained in a separate vector, or provided as a separate polynucleotide. In some embodiments, a recombination template is designed to serve as a template in homologous recombination, such as within or near a target sequence nicked or cleaved by a nucleic acid-targeting effector protein as a part of a nucleic acid-targeting complex.

In an embodiment, the template nucleic acid alters the sequence of the target position. In an embodiment, the template nucleic acid results in the incorporation of a modified, or non-naturally occurring base into the target nucleic acid.

The template sequence may undergo a breakage mediated or catalyzed recombination with the target sequence. In an embodiment, the template nucleic acid may include sequence that corresponds to a site on the target sequence that is cleaved by an Cas9 mediated cleavage event. In an embodiment, the template nucleic acid may include sequence that corresponds to both, a first site on the target sequence that is cleaved in a first Cas9 mediated event, and a second site on the target sequence that is cleaved in a second Cas9 mediated event.

In certain embodiments, the template nucleic acid can include sequence which results in an alteration in the coding sequence of a translated sequence, e.g., one which results in the substitution of one amino acid for another in a protein product, e.g., transforming a mutant allele into a wild type allele, transforming a wild type allele into a mutant allele, and/or introducing a stop codon, insertion of an amino acid residue, deletion of an amino acid residue, or a nonsense mutation. In certain embodiments, the template nucleic acid can include sequence which results in an alteration in a non-coding sequence, e.g., an alteration in an exon or in a 5′ or 3′ non-translated or non-transcribed region. Such alterations include an alteration in a control element, e.g., a promoter, enhancer, and an alteration in a cis-acting or trans-acting control element.

A template nucleic acid having homology with a target position in a target gene may be used to alter the structure of a target sequence. The template sequence may be used to alter an unwanted structure, e.g., an unwanted or mutant nucleotide. The template nucleic acid may include sequence which, when integrated, results in: decreasing the activity of a positive control element; increasing the activity of a positive control element; decreasing the activity of a negative control element; increasing the activity of a negative control element; decreasing the expression of a gene; increasing the expression of a gene; increasing resistance to a disorder or disease; increasing resistance to viral entry; correcting a mutation or altering an unwanted amino acid residue conferring, increasing, abolishing or decreasing a biological property of a gene product, e.g., increasing the enzymatic activity of an enzyme, or increasing the ability of a gene product to interact with another molecule.

The template nucleic acid may include sequence which results in: a change in sequence of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more nucleotides of the target sequence.

A template polynucleotide may be of any suitable length, such as about or more than about 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 500, 1000, or more nucleotides in length. In an embodiment, the template nucleic acid may be 20+/−10, 30+/−10, 40+/−10, 50+/−10, 60+/−10, 70+/−10, 80+/−10, 90+/−10, 100+/−10, 1 10+/−10, 120+/−10, 130+/−10, 140+/−10, 150+/−10, 160+/−10, 170+/−10, 1 80+/−10, 190+/−10, 200+/−10, 210+/−10, of 220+/−10 nucleotides in length. In an embodiment, the template nucleic acid may be 30+/−20, 40+/−20, 50+/−20, 60+/−20, 70+/−20, 80+/−20, 90+/−20, 100+/−20, 1 10+/−20, 120+/−20, 130+/−20, 140+/−20, I 50+/−20, 160+/−20, 170+/−20, 180+/−20, 190+/−20, 200+/−20, 210+/−20, of 220+/−20 nucleotides in length. In an embodiment, the template nucleic acid is 10 to 1,000, 20 to 900, 30 to 800, 40 to 700, 50 to 600, 50 to 500, 50 to 400, 50 to300, 50 to 200, or 50 to 100 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the template polynucleotide is complementary to a portion of a polynucleotide comprising the target sequence. When optimally aligned, a template polynucleotide might overlap with one or more nucleotides of a target sequences (e.g. about or more than about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 or more nucleotides). In some embodiments, when a template sequence and a polynucleotide comprising a target sequence are optimally aligned, the nearest nucleotide of the template polynucleotide is within about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, or more nucleotides from the target sequence.

The exogenous polynucleotide template comprises a sequence to be integrated (e.g., a mutated gene). The sequence for integration may be a sequence endogenous or exogenous to the cell. Examples of a sequence to be integrated include polynucleotides encoding a protein or a non-coding RNA (e.g., a microRNA). Thus, the sequence for integration may be operably linked to an appropriate control sequence or sequences. Alternatively, the sequence to be integrated may provide a regulatory function.

The upstream and downstream sequences in the exogenous polynucleotide template are selected to promote recombination between the chromosomal sequence of interest and the donor polynucleotide. The upstream sequence is a nucleic acid sequence that shares sequence similarity with the genome sequence upstream of the targeted site for integration. Similarly, the downstream sequence is a nucleic acid sequence that shares sequence similarity with the chromosomal sequence downstream of the targeted site of integration. The upstream and downstream sequences in the exogenous polynucleotide template can have 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% sequence identity with the targeted genome sequence. Preferably, the upstream and downstream sequences in the exogenous polynucleotide template have about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the targeted genome sequence. In some methods, the upstream and downstream sequences in the exogenous polynucleotide template have about 99% or 100% sequence identity with the targeted genome sequence.

An upstream or downstream sequence may comprise from about 20 bp to about 2500 bp, for example, about 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, or 2500 bp. In some methods, the exemplary upstream or downstream sequence have about 200 bp to about 2000 bp, about 600 bp to about 1000 bp, or more particularly about 700 bp to about 1000 bp.

In certain embodiments, one or both homology arms may be shortened to avoid including certain sequence repeat elements. For example, a 5′ homology arm may be shortened to avoid a sequence repeat element. In other embodiments, a 3′ homology arm may be shortened to avoid a sequence repeat element. In some embodiments, both 5′ and 3′ homology arms may be shortened to avoid including certain sequence repeat elements.

In some methods, the exogenous polynucleotide template may further comprise a marker. Such a marker may make it easy to screen for targeted integrations. Examples of suitable markers include restriction sites, fluorescent proteins, or selectable markers. The exogenous polynucleotide template of the invention can be constructed using recombinant techniques (see, for example, Sambrook et al., 2001 and Ausubel et al., 1996).

In certain embodiments, a template nucleic acids for correcting a mutation may designed for use as a single-stranded oligonucleotide. When using a single-stranded oligonucleotide, 5′ and 3′ homology arms may range up to about 200 base pairs (bp) in length, e.g., at least 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, or 200 bp in length.

Suzuki et al. describe in vivo genome editing via CRISPR/Cas9 mediated homology-independent targeted integration (2016, Nature 540:144-149).

Accordingly, in some aspects or embodiments, the CRISPR system comprises (i) a CRISPR protein or a polynucleotide encoding a CRISPR effector and (ii) one or more polynucleotides engineered to: complex with the CRISPR protein to form a CRISPR complex; and to complex with the target sequence.

In some embodiments, the therapeutic is for delivery (or application or administration) to a eukaryotic cell, either in vivo or ex vivo.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein is a nuclease directing cleavage of one or both strands at the location of the target sequence, or wherein the CRISPR protein is a nickase directing cleavage at the location of the target sequence.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein is a Cas9 protein complexed with a CRISPR-Cas system RNA polynucleotide sequence, wherein the polynucleotide sequence comprises:

a) a guide RNA polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to a target HBV sequence; and (b) a tracr mate RNA polynucleotide, and (c) on the same or a different polynucleotide a tracr sequence.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein is a Cas9, and the system comprises:

I. a CRISPR-Cas system RNA polynucleotide sequence, wherein the polynucleotide sequence comprises: (a) a guide RNA polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to a target sequence, and (b) a tracr mate RNA polynucleotide, and (c) on the same or a different polynucleotide a tracr sequence II. a polynucleotide sequence encoding the Cas9, optionally comprising at least one or more nuclear localization sequences, wherein the tracr mate sequence hybridizes to the guide sequence and directs sequence-specific binding of a CRISPR complex to the target sequence, and wherein the CRISPR complex comprises the CRISPR protein complexed with (1) the guide sequence that is hybridized or hybridizable to the target sequence, and (2) the tracr mate sequence that is hybridized or hybridizable to the tracr sequence, and the polynucleotide sequence encoding a CRISPR protein is DNA or RNA.

In some embodiments, Cas9 is Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 or Streptococcus thermophilus Cas9.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein further comprises one or more nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) capable of driving the accumulation of the CRISPR protein to a detectible amount in the nucleus of the cell of the organism.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein comprises one or more mutations.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein has one or more mutations in a catalytic domain, and wherein the protein further comprises a functional domain.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR system is comprised within a delivery system, optionally:

a vector system comprising one or more vectors, optionally wherein the vectors comprise one or more viral vectors, optionally wherein the one or more viral vectors comprise one or more lentiviral, adenoviral or adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors; or a particle or lipid particle, optionally wherein the CRISPR protein is complexed with the polynucleotides to form the CRISPR complex.

In some embodiments, the system, complex or protein is for use in a method of modifying an organism or a non-human organism by manipulation of a target sequence in a genomic locus of interest.

In some embodiments, the polynucleotides encoding the sequence encoding or providing the CRISPR system are delivered via liposomes, particles, cell penetrating peptides, exosomes, microvesicles, or a gene-gun. In some embodiments, a delivery system is included. In some embodiments, the delivery system comprises: a vector system comprising one or more vectors comprising the engineered polynucleotides and polynucleotide encoding the CRISPR protein, optionally wherein the vectors comprise one or more viral vectors, optionally wherein the one or more viral vectors comprise one or more lentiviral, adenoviral or adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors; or a particle or lipid particle, containing the CRISPR system or the CRISPR complex.

In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein has one or more mutations in a catalytic domain, and wherein the enzyme further comprises a functional domain.

In some embodiments, a recombination/repair template is provided.

Vectors

In general, and throughout this specification, the term “vector” refers to a nucleic acid molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has been linked. It is a replicon, such as a plasmid, phage, or cosmid, into which another DNA segment may be inserted so as to bring about the replication of the inserted segment. Generally, a vector is capable of replication when associated with the proper control elements.

Vectors include, but are not limited to, nucleic acid molecules that are single-stranded, double-stranded, or partially double-stranded; nucleic acid molecules that comprise one or more free ends, no free ends (e.g., circular); nucleic acid molecules that comprise DNA, RNA, or both; and other varieties of polynucleotides known in the art. One type of vector is a “plasmid,” which refers to a circular double stranded DNA loop into which additional DNA segments can be inserted, such as by standard molecular cloning techniques. Another type of vector is a viral vector, wherein virally-derived DNA or RNA sequences are present in the vector for packaging into a virus (e.g., retroviruses, replication defective retroviruses, adenoviruses, replication defective adenoviruses, and adeno-associated viruses). Viral vectors also include polynucleotides carried by a virus for transfection into a host cell. Certain vectors are capable of autonomous replication in a host cell into which they are introduced (e.g., bacterial vectors having a bacterial origin of replication and episomal mammalian vectors). Other vectors (e.g., non-episomal mammalian vectors) are integrated into the genome of a host cell upon introduction into the host cell, and thereby are replicated along with the host genome. Moreover, certain vectors are capable of directing the expression of genes to which they are operatively-linked. Such vectors are referred to herein as “expression vectors.” Vectors for and that result in expression in a eukaryotic cell can be referred to herein as “eukaryotic expression vectors.” Common expression vectors of utility in recombinant DNA techniques are often in the form of plasmids.

Recombinant expression vectors can comprise a nucleic acid of the invention in a form suitable for expression of the nucleic acid in a host cell, which means that the recombinant expression vectors include one or more regulatory elements, which may be selected on the basis of the host cells to be used for expression, that is operatively-linked to the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed. Within a recombinant expression vector, “operably linked” is intended to mean that the nucleotide sequence of interest is linked to the regulatory element(s) in a manner that allows for expression of the nucleotide sequence (e.g., in an in vitro transcription/translation system or in a host cell when the vector is introduced into the host cell). Advantageous vectors include lentiviruses and adeno-associated viruses, and types of such vectors can also be selected for targeting particular types of cells.

With regards to recombination and cloning methods, mention is made of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/815,730, published Sep. 2, 2004 as US 2004-0171156 A1, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The term “regulatory element” is intended to include promoters, enhancers, internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES), and other expression control elements (e.g., transcription termination signals, such as polyadenylation signals and poly-U sequences). Such regulatory elements are described, for example, in Goeddel, GENE EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGY: METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990). Regulatory elements include those that direct constitutive expression of a nucleotide sequence in many types of host cell and those that direct expression of the nucleotide sequence only in certain host cells (e.g., tissue-specific regulatory sequences). A tissue-specific promoter may direct expression primarily in a desired tissue of interest, such as muscle, neuron, bone, skin, blood, specific organs (e.g., liver, pancreas), or particular cell types (e.g., lymphocytes). Regulatory elements may also direct expression in a temporal-dependent manner, such as in a cell-cycle dependent or developmental stage-dependent manner, which may or may not also be tissue or cell-type specific. In some embodiments, a vector comprises one or more pol III promoter (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more pol III promoters), one or more pol II promoters (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more pol II promoters), one or more pol I promoters (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more pol I promoters), or combinations thereof. Examples of pol III promoters include, but are not limited to, U6 and H1 promoters. Examples of pol II promoters include, but are not limited to, the retroviral Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) LTR promoter (optionally with the RSV enhancer), the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (optionally with the CMV enhancer) [see, e.g., Boshart et al, Cell, 41:521-530 (1985)], the SV40 promoter, the dihydrofolate reductase promoter, the β-actin promoter, the phosphoglycerol kinase (PGK) promoter, and the EF1α promoter. Also encompassed by the term “regulatory element” are enhancer elements, such as WPRE; CMV enhancers; the R-U5′ segment in LTR of HTLV-I (Mol. Cell. Biol., Vol. 8 (1), p. 466-472, 1988); SV40 enhancer; and the intron sequence between exons 2 and 3 of rabbit β-globin (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., Vol. 78 (3), p. 1527-31, 1981). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the design of the expression vector can depend on such factors as the choice of the host cell to be transformed, the level of expression desired, etc. A vector can be introduced into host cells to thereby produce transcripts, proteins, or peptides, including fusion proteins or peptides, encoded by nucleic acids as described herein (e.g., clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) transcripts, proteins, enzymes, mutant forms thereof, fusion proteins thereof, etc.). With regards to regulatory sequences, mention is made of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/491,026, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. With regards to promoters, mention is made of PCT publication WO 2011/028929 and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/511,940, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Advantageous vectors include lentiviruses and adeno-associated viruses, and types of such vectors can also be selected for targeting particular types of cells.

In particular embodiments, use is made of bicistronic vectors for guide RNA and (optionally modified or mutated)CRISPR enzymes (e.g. Cas9). Bicistronic expression vectors for guide RNA and (optionally modified or mutated)CRISPR enzymes are preferred. In general and particularly in this embodiment (optionally modified or mutated)CRISPR enzymes are preferably driven by the CBh promoter. The RNA may preferably be driven by a Pol III promoter, such as a U6 promoter. Ideally the two are combined.

Vectors can be designed for expression of CRISPR transcripts (e.g. nucleic acid transcripts, proteins, or enzymes) in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. For example, CRISPR transcripts can be expressed in bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli , insect cells (using baculovirus expression vectors), yeast cells, or mammalian cells. Suitable host cells are discussed further in Goeddel, GENE EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGY: METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990). Alternatively, the recombinant expression vector can be transcribed and translated in vitro, for example using T7 promoter regulatory sequences and T7 polymerase.

Vectors may be introduced and propagated in a prokaryote or prokaryotic cell. In some embodiments, a prokaryote is used to amplify copies of a vector to be introduced into a eukaryotic cell or as an intermediate vector in the production of a vector to be introduced into a eukaryotic cell (e.g. amplifying a plasmid as part of a viral vector packaging system). In some embodiments, a prokaryote is used to amplify copies of a vector and express one or more nucleic acids, such as to provide a source of one or more proteins for delivery to a host cell or host organism. Expression of proteins in prokaryotes is most often carried out in Escherichia coli with vectors containing constitutive or inducible promoters directing the expression of either fusion or non-fusion proteins. Fusion vectors add a number of amino acids to a protein encoded therein, such as to the amino terminus of the recombinant protein. Such fusion vectors may serve one or more purposes, such as: (i) to increase expression of recombinant protein; (ii) to increase the solubility of the recombinant protein; and (iii) to aid in the purification of the recombinant protein by acting as a ligand in affinity purification. Often, in fusion expression vectors, a proteolytic cleavage site is introduced at the junction of the fusion moiety and the recombinant protein to enable separation of the recombinant protein from the fusion moiety subsequent to purification of the fusion protein. Such enzymes, and their cognate recognition sequences, include Factor Xa, thrombin and enterokinase. Example fusion expression vectors include pGEX (Pharmacia Biotech Inc; Smith and Johnson, 1988 . Gene 67:31-40), pMAL (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.) and pRIT5 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) that fuse glutathione S-transferase (GST), maltose E binding protein, or protein A, respectively, to the target recombinant protein. Examples of suitable inducible non-fusion E. coli expression vectors include pTrc (Amrann et al., (1988) Gene 69:301-315) and pET 11d (Studier et al., GENE EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGY: METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990) 60-89). In some embodiments, a vector is a yeast expression vector. Examples of vectors for expression in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae include pYepSec1 (Baldari, et al., 1987. EMBO J. 6:229-234), pMFa (Kuijan and Herskowitz, 1982. Cell 30:933-943), pJRY88 (Schultz et al., 1987. Gene 54:113-123), pYES2 (Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, Calif.), and picZ (InVitrogen Corp, San Diego, Calif.). In some embodiments, a vector drives protein expression in insect cells using baculovirus expression vectors. Baculovirus vectors available for expression of proteins in cultured insect cells (e.g., SF9 cells) include the pAc series (Smith, et al., 1983. Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:2156-2165) and the pVL series (Luckow and Summers, 1989. Virology 170:31-39).

In some embodiments, a vector is capable of driving expression of one or more sequences in mammalian cells using a mammalian expression vector. Examples of mammalian expression vectors include pCDM8 (Seed, 1987. Nature 329:840) and pMT2PC (Kaufman, et al., 1987. EMBO J. 6:187-195). When used in mammalian cells, the expression vector's control functions are typically provided by one or more regulatory elements. For example, commonly used promoters are derived from polyoma, adenovirus 2, cytomegalovirus, simian virus 40, and others disclosed herein and known in the art. For other suitable expression systems for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells see, e.g., Chapters 16 and 17 of Sambrook, et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL. 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989.

In some embodiments, the recombinant mammalian expression vector is capable of directing expression of the nucleic acid preferentially in a particular cell type (e.g., tissue-specific regulatory elements are used to express the nucleic acid). Tissue-specific regulatory elements are known in the art. Non-limiting examples of suitable tissue-specific promoters include the albumin promoter (liver-specific; Pinkert, et al., 1987 . Genes Dev. 1:268-277), lymphoid-specific promoters (Calame and Eaton, 1988 . Adv. Immunol. 43:235-275), in particular promoters of T cell receptors (Winoto and Baltimore, 1989 . EMBO J. 8:729-733) and immunoglobulins (Baneiji, et al., 1983 . Cell 33:729-740; Queen and Baltimore, 1983 . Cell 33:741-748), neuron-specific promoters (e.g., the neurofilament promoter; Byrne and Ruddle, 1989 . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5473-5477), pancreas-specific promoters (Edlund, et al., 1985 . Science 230:912-916), and mammary gland-specific promoters (e.g., milk whey promoter; U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,316 and European Application Publication No. 264,166). Developmentally-regulated promoters are also encompassed, e.g., the murine hox promoters (Kessel and Gruss, 1990 . Science 249:374-379) and the α-fetoprotein promoter (Campus and Tilghman, 1989 . Genes Dev. 3:537-546). With regards to these prokaryotic and eukaryotic vectors, mention is made of U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,059, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Other embodiments of the invention may relate to the use of viral vectors, with regards to which mention is made of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/092,085, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Tissue-specific regulatory elements are known in the art and in this regard, mention is made of U.S. Pat. No. 7,776,321, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In some embodiments, a regulatory element is operably linked to one or more elements of a CRISPR system so as to drive expression of the one or more elements of the CRISPR system.

In some embodiments, one or more vectors driving expression of one or more elements of a nucleic acid-targeting system are introduced into a host cell such that expression of the elements of the nucleic acid-targeting system direct formation of a nucleic acid-targeting complex at one or more target sites. For example, a nucleic acid-targeting effector enzyme and a nucleic acid-targeting guide RNA could each be operably linked to separate regulatory elements on separate vectors. RNA(s) of the nucleic acid-targeting system can be delivered to a transgenic nucleic acid-targeting effector protein animal or mammal, e.g., an animal or mammal that constitutively or inducibly or conditionally expresses nucleic acid-targeting effector protein; or an animal or mammal that is otherwise expressing nucleic acid-targeting effector proteins or has cells containing nucleic acid-targeting effector proteins, such as by way of prior administration thereto of a vector or vectors that code for and express in vivo nucleic acid-targeting effector proteins. Alternatively, two or more of the elements expressed from the same or different regulatory elements, may be combined in a single vector, with one or more additional vectors providing any components of the nucleic acid-targeting system not included in the first vector. nucleic acid-targeting system elements that are combined in a single vector may be arranged in any suitable orientation, such as one element located 5′ with respect to (“upstream” of) or 3′ with respect to (“downstream” of) a second element. The coding sequence of one element may be located on the same or opposite strand of the coding sequence of a second element, and oriented in the same or opposite direction. In some embodiments, a single promoter drives expression of a transcript encoding a nucleic acid-targeting effector protein and the nucleic acid-targeting guide RNA, embedded within one or more intron sequences (e.g., each in a different intron, two or more in at least one intron, or all in a single intron). In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-targeting effector protein and the nucleic acid-targeting guide RNA may be operably linked to and expressed from the same promoter. Delivery vehicles, vectors, particles, nanoparticles, formulations and components thereof for expression of one or more elements of a nucleic acid-targeting system are as used in the foregoing documents, such as WO 2014/093622 (PCT/US2013/074667). In some embodiments, a vector comprises one or more insertion sites, such as a restriction endonuclease recognition sequence (also referred to as a “cloning site”). In some embodiments, one or more insertion sites (e.g., about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more insertion sites) are located upstream and/or downstream of one or more sequence elements of one or more vectors. When multiple different guide sequences are used, a single expression construct may be used to target nucleic acid-targeting activity to multiple different, corresponding target sequences within a cell. For example, a single vector may comprise about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, or more guide sequences. In some embodiments, about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more such guide-sequence-containing vectors may be provided, and optionally delivered to a cell. In some embodiments, a vector comprises a regulatory element operably linked to an enzyme-coding sequence encoding a a nucleic acid-targeting effector protein. Nucleic acid-targeting effector protein or nucleic acid-targeting guide RNA or RNA(s) can be delivered separately; and advantageously at least one of these is delivered via a particle complex. nucleic acid-targeting effector protein mRNA can be delivered prior to the nucleic acid-targeting guide RNA to give time for nucleic acid-targeting effector protein to be expressed. Nucleic acid-targeting effector protein mRNA might be administered 1-12 hours (preferably around 2-6 hours) prior to the administration of nucleic acid-targeting guide RNA. Alternatively, nucleic acid-targeting effector protein mRNA and nucleic acid-targeting guide RNA can be administered together. Advantageously, a second booster dose of guide RNA can be administered 1-12 hours (preferably around 2-6 hours) after the initial administration of nucleic acid-targeting effector protein mRNA+guide RNA. Additional administrations of nucleic acid-targeting effector protein mRNA and/or guide RNA might be useful to achieve the most efficient levels of genome modification.

In some embodiments, a vector encodes a Cas9 effector protein comprising one or more nuclear localization sequences (NLSs), such as about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more NLSs. More particularly, vector comprises one or more NLSs not naturally present in the Cas9 effector protein. Most particularly, the NLS is present in the vector 5′ and/or 3′ of the Cas9 effector protein sequence In some embodiments, the RNA-targeting effector protein comprises about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more NLSs at or near the amino-terminus, about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more NLSs at or near the carboxy-terminus, or a combination of these (e.g., zero or at least one or more NLS at the amino-terminus and zero or at one or more NLS at the carboxy terminus). When more than one NLS is present, each may be selected independently of the others, such that a single NLS may be present in more than one copy and/or in combination with one or more other NLSs present in one or more copies. In some embodiments, an NLS is considered near the N- or C-terminus when the nearest amino acid of the NLS is within about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, or more amino acids along the polypeptide chain from the N- or C-terminus. Non-limiting examples of NLSs include an NLS sequence derived from: the NLS of the SV40 virus large T-antigen, having the amino acid sequence PKKKRKV (SEQ ID NO: 2); the NLS from nucleoplasmin (e.g., the nucleoplasmin bipartite NLS with the sequence KRPAATKKAGQAKKKK (SEQ ID NO: 3)); the c-myc NLS having the amino acid sequence PAAKRVKLD (SEQ ID NO: 4) or RQRRNELKRSP (SEQ ID NO: 5); the hRNPA1 M9 NLS having the sequence NQSSNFGPMKGGNFGGRSSGPYGGGGQYFAKPRNQGGY (SEQ ID NO: 6); the sequence RMRIZFKNKGKDTAELRRRRVEVSVELRKAKKDEQILKRRNV (SEQ ID NO: 7) of the IBB domain from importin-alpha; the sequences VSRKRPRP (SEQ ID NO: 8) and PPKKARED (SEQ ID NO: 9) of the myoma T protein; the sequence PQPKKKPL (SEQ ID NO: 10) of human p53; the sequence SALIKKKKKMAP (SEQ ID NO: 11) of mouse c-abl IV; the sequences DRLRR (SEQ ID NO: 12) and PKQKKRK (SEQ ID NO: 13) of the influenza virus NS1; the sequence RKLKKKIKKL (SEQ ID NO: 14) of the Hepatitis virus delta antigen; the sequence REKKKFLKRR (SEQ ID NO: 15) of the mouse Mx1 protein; the sequence KRKGDEVDGVDEVAKKKSKK (SEQ ID NO: 16) of the human poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; and the sequence RKCLQAGMNLEARKTKK (SEQ ID NO: 17) of the steroid hormone receptors (human) glucocorticoid. In general, the one or more NLSs are of sufficient strength to drive accumulation of the DNA/RNA-targeting Cas protein in a detectable amount in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. In general, strength of nuclear localization activity may derive from the number of NLSs in the nucleic acid-targeting effector protein, the particular NLS(s) used, or a combination of these factors. Detection of accumulation in the nucleus may be performed by any suitable technique. For example, a detectable marker may be fused to the nucleic acid-targeting protein, such that location within a cell may be visualized, such as in combination with a means for detecting the location of the nucleus (e.g., a stain specific for the nucleus such as DAPI). Cell nuclei may also be isolated from cells, the contents of which may then be analyzed by any suitable process for detecting protein, such as immunohistochemistry, Western blot, or enzyme activity assay. Accumulation in the nucleus may also be determined indirectly, such as by an assay for the effect of nucleic acid-targeting complex formation (e.g., assay for DNA or RNA cleavage or mutation at the target sequence, or assay for altered gene expression activity affected by DNA or RNA-targeting complex formation and/or DNA or RNA-targeting Cas protein activity), as compared to a control not exposed to the nucleic acid-targeting Cas protein or nucleic acid-targeting complex, or exposed to a nucleic acid-targeting Cas protein lacking the one or more NLSs. In preferred embodiments of the herein described Cas9 effector protein complexes and systems the codon optimized Cas9 effector proteins comprise an NLS attached to the C-terminal of the protein. In certain embodiments, other localization tags may be fused to the Cas protein, such as without limitation for localizing the Cas to particular sites in a cell, such as organelles, such mitochondria, plastids, chloroplast, vesicles, golgi, (nuclear or cellular) membranes, ribosomes, nucleolus, ER, cytoskeleton, vacuoles, centrosome, nucleosome, granules, centrioles, etc.

Optimization of CRISPR-Cas Systems

In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods for developing or designing CRISPR-Cas systems. In an aspect, the present invention relates to methods for developing or designing CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. The present invention in particular relates to methods for improving CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. Key characteristics of successful CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics involve high specificity, high efficacy, and high safety. High specificity and high safety can be achieved among others by reduction of off-target effects.

Accordingly, in an aspect, the present invention relates to methods for increasing specificity of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. In a further aspect, the invention relates to methods for increasing efficacy of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. In a further aspect, the invention relates to methods for increasing safety of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to methods for increasing specificity, efficacy, and/or safety, preferably all, of CRISPR-Cas systems, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics.

In certain embodiments, the CRISPR-Cas system comprises a CRISPR effector as defined herein elsewhere.

The methods of the present invention in particular involve optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality, as described herein further elsewhere. Optimization of the CRISPR-Cas system in the methods as described herein may depend on the target(s), such as the therapeutic target or therapeutic targets, the mode or type of CRISPR-Cas system modulation, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapeutic target(s) modulation, modification, or manipulation, as well as the delivery of the CRISPR-Cas system components. One or more targets may be selected, depending on the genotypic and/or phenotypic outcome. For instance, one or more therapeutic targets may be selected, depending on (genetic) disease etiology or the desired therapeutic outcome. The (therapeutic) target(s) may be a single gene, locus, or other genomic site, or may be multiple genes, loci or other genomic sites. As is known in the art, a single gene, locus, or other genomic site may be targeted more than once, such as by use of multiple gRNAs.

CRISPR-Cas system activity, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics may involve target disruption, such as target mutation, such as leading to gene knockout. CRISPR-Cas system activity, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics may involve replacement of particular target sites, such as leading to target correction. CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics may involve removal of particular target sites, such as leading to target deletion. CRISPR-Cas system activity, such as CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutics may involve modulation of target site functionality, such as target site activity or accessibility, leading for instance to (transcriptional and/or epigenetic) gene or genomic region activation or gene or genomic region silencing. The skilled person will understand that modulation of target site functionality may involve CRISPR effector mutation (such as for instance generation of a catalytically inactive CRISPR effector) and/or functionalization (such as for instance fusion of the CRISPR effector with a heterologous functional domain, such as a transcriptional activator or repressor), as described herein elsewhere.

Accordingly, in an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising selection of one or more (therapeutic) target, selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system functionality, and optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality. In a related aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising (a) selecting one or more (therapeutic) target loci, (b) selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system functionalities, (c) optionally selecting one or more modes of delivery, and preparing, developing, or designing a CRISPR-Cas system selected based on steps (a)-(c).

In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises genomic mutation.

In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises single genomic mutation. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises multiple genomic mutation. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises gene knockout. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises single gene knockout. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises multiple gene knockout. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises gene correction. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises single gene correction. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises multiple gene correction. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises genomic region correction. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises single genomic region correction. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises multiple genomic region correction. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises gene deletion. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises single gene deletion. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises multiple gene deletion. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises genomic region deletion. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises single genomic region deletion. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises multiple genomic region deletion. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises modulation of gene or genomic region functionality. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises modulation of single gene or genomic region functionality. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises modulation of multiple gene or genomic region functionality. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises gene or genomic region functionality, such as gene or genomic region activity. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises single gene or genomic region functionality, such as gene or genomic region activity. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises multiple gene or genomic region functionality, such as gene or genomic region activity. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises modulation gene activity or accessibility optionally leading to transcriptional and/or epigenetic gene or genomic region activation or gene or genomic region silencing. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises modulation single gene activity or accessibility optionally leading to transcriptional and/or epigenetic gene or genomic region activation or gene or genomic region silencing. In certain embodiments, CRISPR-Cas system functionality comprises modulation multiple gene activity or accessibility optionally leading to transcriptional and/or epigenetic gene or genomic region activation or gene or genomic region silencing.

The methods as described herein may further involve selection of the CRISPR-Cas system mode of delivery. In certain embodiments, gRNA (and tracr, if and where needed, optionally provided as a sgRNA) and/or CRISPR effector protein are or are to be delivered. In certain embodiments, gRNA (and tracr, if and where needed, optionally provided as a sgRNA) and/or CRISPR effector mRNA are or are to be delivered. In certain embodiments, gRNA (and tracr, if and where needed, optionally provided as a sgRNA) and/or CRISPR effector provided in a DNA-based expression system are or are to be delivered. In certain embodiments, delivery of the individual CRISPR-Cas system components comprises a combination of the above modes of delivery. In certain embodiments, delivery comprises delivering gRNA and/or CRISPR effector protein, delivering gRNA and/or CRISPR effector mRNA, or delivering gRNA and/or CRISPR effector as a DNA based expression system.

Accordingly, in an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising selection of one or more (therapeutic) target, selecting CRISPR-Cas system functionality, selecting CRISPR-Cas system mode of delivery, and optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality.

The methods as described herein may further involve selection of the CRISPR-Cas system delivery vehicle and/or expression system. Delivery vehicles and expression systems are described herein elsewhere. By means of example, delivery vehicles of nucleic acids and/or proteins include nanoparticles, liposomes, etc. Delivery vehicles for DNA, such as DNA-based expression systems include for instance biolistics, viral based vector systems (e.g. adenoviral, AAV, lentiviral), etc. the skilled person will understand that selection of the mode of delivery, as well as delivery vehicle or expression system may depend on for instance the cell or tissues to be targeted. In certain embodiments, the α delivery vehicle and/or expression system for delivering the CRISPR-Cas systems or components thereof comprises liposomes, lipid particles, nanoparticles, biolistics, or viral-based expression/delivery systems.

Accordingly, in an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising selection of one or more (therapeutic) target, selecting CRISPR-Cas system functionality, selecting CRISPR-Cas system mode of delivery, selecting CRISPR-Cas system delivery vehicle or expression system, and optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality.

Optimization of selected parameters or variables in the methods as described herein may result in optimized or improved CRISPR-Cas system, such as CISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutic, specificity, efficacy, and/or safety. In certain embodiments, one or more of the following parameters or variables are taken into account, are selected, or are optimized in the methods of the invention as described herein: CRISPR effector specificity, gRNA specificity, CRISPR-Cas complex specificity, PAM restrictiveness, PAM type (natural or modified), PAM nucleotide content, PAM length, CRISPR effector activity, gRNA activity, CRISPR-Cas complex activity, target cleavage efficiency, target site selection, target sequence length, ability of effector protein to access regions of high chromatin accessibility, degree of uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets, epigenetic tolerance, mismatch/budge tolerance, CRISPR effector stability, CRISPR effector mRNA stability, gRNA stability, CRISPR-Cas complex stability, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR-Cas complex immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA dose or titer, gRNA dose or titer, CRISPR-Cas complex dose or titer, CRISPR effector protein size, CRISPR effector expression level, gRNA expression level, CRISPR-Cas complex expression level, CRISPR effector spatiotemporal expression, gRNA spatiotemporal expression, CRISPR-Cas complex spatiotemporal expression.

In certain embodiments, selecting one or more CRISP-Cas system functionalities comprises selecting one or more of an optimal effector protein, an optimal guide RNA, or both.

In certain embodiments, selecting an optimal effector protein comprises optimizing one or more of effector protein type, size, PAM specificity, effector protein stability, immunogenicity or toxicity, functional specificity, and efficacy, or other CRISPR effector associated parameters or variables as described herein elsewhere.

In certain embodiments, the effector protein is a naturally occurring or modified effector protein.

In certain embodiments, the modified effector protein is a nickase, a deaminase, or a deactivated effector protein.

In certain embodiments, optimizing size comprises selecting a protein effector having a minimal size.

In certain embodiments, optimizing a PAM specificity comprises selecting an effector protein having a modified PAM specificity.

In certain embodiments, optimizing effector protein stability comprises selecting an effector protein having a short half-life while maintaining sufficient activity, such as by selecting an appropriate CRISPR effector orthologue having a specific half-life or stability.

In certain embodiments, optimizing immunogenicity or toxicity comprises minimizing effector protein immunogenicity or toxicity by protein modifications.

In certain embodiments, optimizing functional specific comprises selecting a protein effector with reduced tolerance of mismatches and/or bulges between the guide RNA and one or more target loci.

In certain embodiments, optimizing efficacy comprises optimizing overall efficiency, epigenetic tolerance, or both.

In certain embodiments, maximizing overall efficiency comprises selecting an effector protein with uniform enzyme activity across target loci with varying chromatin complexity, selecting an effector protein with enzyme activity limited to areas of open chromatin accessibility.

In certain embodiments, chromatin accessibility is measured using one or more of ATAC-seq, or a DNA-proximity ligation assay.

In certain embodiments, optimizing epigenetic tolerance comprises optimizing methylation tolerance, epigenetic mark competition, or both.

In certain embodiments, optimizing methylation tolerance comprises selecting an effector protein that modify methylated DNA.

In certain embodiments, optimizing epigenetic tolerance comprises selecting an effector protein unable to modify silenced regions of a chromosome, selecting an effector protein able to modify silenced regions of a chromosome, or selecting target loci not enriched for epigenetic markers.

In certain embodiments, selecting an optimized guide RNA comprises optimizing gRNA stability, gRNA immunogenicity, or both, or other gRNA associated parameters or variables as described herein elsewhere.

In certain embodiments, optimizing gRNA stability and/or gRNA immunogenicity comprises RNA modification, or other gRNA associated parameters or variables as described herein elsewhere. In certain embodiments, the modification comprises removing 1-3 nucleotides form 3′ end of a target complimentarity region of the gRNA. In certain embodiments, modification comprises an extended gRNA and/or trans RNA/DNA element that create stable structures in the gRNA that compete with gRNA base pairing at a target of off-target loci, or extended complimentary nucleotides between the gRNA and target sequence, or both.

In certain embodiments, the mode of delivery comprises delivering gRNA and/or CRISPR effector protein, delivering gRNA and/or CRISPR effector mRNA, or delivery gRNA and/or CRISPR effector as a DNA based expression system. In certain embodiments, the mode of delivery further comprises selecting a delivery vehicle and/or expression systems from the group consisting of liposomes, lipid particles, nanoparticles, biolistics, or viral-based expression/delivery systems. In certain embodiments, expression is spatiotemporal expression is optimized by choice of conditional and/or inducible expression systems, including controllable CRISPR effector activity optionally a destabilized CRISPR effector and/or a split CRISPR effector, and/or cell- or tissue-specific expression system.

The above described parameters or variables, as well as means for optimization are described herein elsewhere. By means of example, and without limitation, parameter or variable optimization may be achieved as follows. CRISPR effector specificity may be optimized by selecting the most specific CRISPR effector. This may be achieved for instance by selecting the most specific CRISPR effector orthologue or by specific CRISPR effector mutations which increase specificity. gRNA specificity may be optimized by selecting the most specific gRNA. This may be achieved for instance by selecting gRNA having low homology, i.e. at least one or preferably more, such as at least 2, or preferably at least 3, mismatches to off-target sites. CRISPR-Cas complex specificity may be optimized by increasing CRISPR effector specificity and/or gRNA specificity as above. PAM restrictiveness may be optimized by selecting a CRISPR effector having to most restrictive PAM recognition. This may be achieved for instance by selecting a CRISPR effector orthologue having more restrictive PAM recognition or by specific CRISPR effector mutations which increase or alter PAM restrictiveness. PAM type may be optimized for instance by selecting the appropriate CRISPR effector, such as the appropriate CRISPR effector recognizing a desired PAM type. The CRISPR effector or PAM type may be naturally occurring or may for instance be opitimized based on CRISPR effector mutants having an altered PAM recognition, or PAM recognition repertoire. PAM nucleotide content may for instance be optimized by selecting the appropriate CRISPR effector, such as the appropriate CRISPR effector recognizing a desired PAM nucleotide content. The CRISPR effector or PAM type may be naturally occurring or may for instance be opitimized based on CRISPR effector mutants having an altered PAM recognition, or PAM recognition repertoire. PAM length may for instance be optimized by selecting the appropriate CRISPR effector, such as the appropriate CRISPR effector recognizing a desired PAM nucleotide length. The CRISPR effector or PAM type may be naturally occurring or may for instance be opitimized based on CRISPR effector mutants having an altered PAM recognition, or PAM recognition repertoire. Target length or target sequence length may for instance be optimized by selecting the appropriate CRISPR effector, such as the appropriate CRISPR effector recognizing a desired target or target sequence nucleotide length. Alternatively, or in addition, the target (sequence) length may be optimized by providing a target having a length deviating from the target (sequence) length typically associated with the CRISPR effector, such as the naturally occurring CRISPR effector. The CRISPR effector or target (sequence) length may be naturally occurring or may for instance be opitimized based on CRISPR effector mutants having an altered target (sequence) length recognition, or target (sequence) length recognition repertoire. For instance, increasing or decreasing target (sequence) length may influence target recognition and/or off-target recognition. CRISPR effector activity may be optimized by selecting the most active CRISPR effector. This may be achieved for instance by selecting the most active CRISPR effector orthologue or by specific CRISPR effector mutations which increase activity. The ability of the CRISPR effector protein to access regions of high: chromatin accessibility, may be optimized by selecting the appropriate CRISPR effector or mutant thereof, and may take into account the size of the CRISPR effector, charge, or other dimensional variables etc. The degree of uniform CRISPR effector activity may be optimized by selecting the appropriate CRISPR effector or mutant thereof, and may take into account CRISPR effector specificity and/or activity, PAM specificity, target length, mismatch tolerance, epigenetic tolerance, CRISPR effector and/or gRNA stability and/or half-life, CRISPR effector and/or gRNA immunogenicity and/or toxicity, etc. gRNA activity may be optimized by selecting the most active gRNA. This may be achieved for instance by increasing gRNA stability through RNA modification. CRISPR-Cas complex activity may be optimized by increasing CRISPR effector activity and/or gRNA activity as above. The target site selection may be optimized by selecting the optimal position of the target site within a gene, locus or other genomic region. The target site selection may be optimized by optimizing target location comprises selecting a target sequence with a gene, locus, or other genomic region having low variability. This may be achieved for instance by selecting a target site in an early and/or conserved exon or domain (i.e. having low variability, such as polymorphisms, within a population). Alternatively, the target site may be selected by minimization of off-target effects (e.g. off-targets qualified as having 1-5, 1-4, or preferably 1-3 mismatches compared to target and/or having one or more PAM mismatches, such as distal PAM mismatches), preferably also taking into account variability within a population. CRISPR effector stability may be optimized by selecting CRISPR effector having appropriate half-life, such as preferably a short half-life while still capable of maintaining sufficient activity. This may be achieved for instance by selecting an appropriate CRISPR effector orthologue having a specific half-life or by specific CRISPR effector mutations or modifications which affect half-life or stability, such as inclusion (e.g. fusion) of stabilizing or destabilizing domains or sequences. CRISPR effector mRNA stability may be optimized by increasing or decreasing CRISPR effector mRNA stability. This may be achieved for instance by increasing or decreasing CRISPR effector mRNA stability through mRNA modification. gRNA stability may be optimized by increasing or decreasing gRNA stability. This may be achieved for instance by increasing or decreasing gRNA stability through RNA modification. CRISPR-Cas complex stability may be optimized by increasing or decreasing CRISPR effector stability and/or gRNA stability as above. CRISPR effector protein or mRNA immunogenicity or toxicity may be optimized by decreasing CRISPR effector protein or mRNA immunogenicity or toxicity. This may be achieved for instance by mRNA or protein modifications. Similarly, in case of DNA based expression systems, DNA immunogenicity or toxicity may be decreased. gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity may be optimized by decreasing gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity. This may be achieved for instance by gRNA modifications. Similarly, in case of DNA based expression systems, DNA immunogenicity or toxicity may be decreased. CRISPR-Cas complex immunogenicity or toxicity may be optimized by decreasing CRISPR effector immunogenicity or toxicity and/or gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity as above, or by selecting the least immunogenic or toxic CRISPR effector/gRNA combination. Similarly, in case of DNA based expression systems, DNA immunogenicity or toxicity may be decreased. CRISPR effector protein or mRNA dose or titer may be optimized by selecting dosage or titer to minimize toxicity and/or maximize specificity and/or efficacy. gRNA dose or titer may be optimized by selecting dosage or titer to minimize toxicity and/or maximize specificity and/or efficacy. CRISPR-Cas complex dose or titer may be optimized by selecting dosage or titer to minimize toxicity and/or maximize specificity and/or efficacy. CRISPR effector protein size may be optimized by selecting minimal protein size to increase efficiency of delivery, in particular for virus mediated delivery. CRISPR effector, gRNA, or CRISPR-Cas complex expression level may be optimized by limiting (or extending) the duration of expression and/or limiting (or increasing) expression level. This may be achieved for instance by using self-inactivating CRISPR-Cas systems, such as including a self-targeting (e.g. CRISPR effector targeting) gRNA, by using viral vectors having limited expression duration, by using appropriate promoters for low (or high) expression levels, by combining different delivery methods for individual CRISP-Cas system components, such as virus mediated delivery of CRISPR-effector encoding nucleic acid combined with non-virus mediated delivery of gRNA, or virus mediated delivery of gRNA combined with non-virus mediated delivery of CRISPR effector protein or mRNA. CRISPR effector, gRNA, or CRISPR-Cas complex spatiotemporal expression may be optimized by appropriate choice of conditional and/or inducible expression systems, including controllable CRISPR effector activity optionally a destabilized CRISPR effector and/or a split CRISPR effector, and/or cell- or tissue-specific expression systems.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising selection of one or more (therapeutic) target, selecting CRISPR-Cas system functionality, selecting CRISPR-Cas system mode of delivery, selecting CRISPR-Cas system delivery vehicle or expression system, and optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality, optionally wherein the parameters or variables are one or more selected from CRISPR effector specificity, gRNA specificity, CRISPR-Cas complex specificity, PAM restrictiveness, PAM type (natural or modified), PAM nucleotide content, PAM length, CRISPR effector activity, gRNA activity, CRISPR-Cas complex activity, target cleavage efficiency, target site selection, target sequence length, ability of effector protein to access regions of high chromatin accessibility, degree of uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets, epigenetic tolerance, mismatch/budge tolerance, CRISPR effector stability, CRISPR effector mRNA stability, gRNA stability, CRISPR-Cas complex stability, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR-Cas complex immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA dose or titer, gRNA dose or titer, CRISPR-Cas complex dose or titer, CRISPR effector protein size, CRISPR effector expression level, gRNA expression level, CRISPR-Cas complex expression level, CRISPR effector spatiotemporal expression, gRNA spatiotemporal expression, CRISPR-Cas complex spatiotemporal expression.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising optionally selecting one or more (therapeutic) target, optionally selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system functionality, optionally selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system mode of delivery, optionally selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system delivery vehicle or expression system, and optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality, wherein specificity, efficacy, and/or safety are optimized, and optionally wherein optimization of specificity comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector specificity, gRNA specificity, CRISPR-Cas complex specificity, PAM restrictiveness, PAM type (natural or modified), PAM nucleotide content, PAM length, wherein optimization of efficacy comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector activity, gRNA activity, CRISPR-Cas complex activity, target cleavage efficiency, target site selection, target sequence length, CRISPR effector protein size, ability of effector protein to access regions of high chromatin accessibility, degree of uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets, epigenetic tolerance, mismatch/budge tolerance, and wherein optimization of safety comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector stability, CRISPR effector mRNA stability, gRNA stability, CRISPR-Cas complex stability, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR-Cas complex immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA dose or titer, gRNA dose or titer, CRISPR-Cas complex dose or titer, CRISPR effector expression level, gRNA expression level, CRISPR-Cas complex expression level, CRISPR effector spatiotemporal expression, gRNA spatiotemporal expression, CRISPR-Cas complex spatiotemporal expression.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising selecting one or more (therapeutic) target, selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system functionality, selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system mode of delivery, selecting one or more CRISPR-Cas system delivery vehicle or expression system, and optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality, wherein specificity, efficacy, and/or safety are optimized, and optionally wherein optimization of specificity comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector specificity, gRNA specificity, CRISPR-Cas complex specificity, PAM restrictiveness, PAM type (natural or modified), PAM nucleotide content, PAM length, wherein optimization of efficacy comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector activity, gRNA activity, CRISPR-Cas complex activity, target cleavage efficiency, target site selection, target sequence length, CRISPR effector protein size, ability of effector protein to access regions of high chromatin accessibility, degree of uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets, epigenetic tolerance, mismatch/budge tolerance, and wherein optimization of safety comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector stability, CRISPR effector mRNA stability, gRNA stability, CRISPR-Cas complex stability, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR-Cas complex immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA dose or titer, gRNA dose or titer, CRISPR-Cas complex dose or titer, CRISPR effector expression level, gRNA expression level, CRISPR-Cas complex expression level, CRISPR effector spatiotemporal expression, gRNA spatiotemporal expression, CRISPR-Cas complex spatiotemporal expression.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising optimization of selected parameters or variables associated with the CRISPR-Cas system and/or its functionality, wherein specificity, efficacy, and/or safety are optimized, and optionally wherein optimization of specificity comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector specificity, gRNA specificity, CRISPR-Cas complex specificity, PAM restrictiveness, PAM type (natural or modified), PAM nucleotide content, PAM length, wherein optimization of efficacy comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector activity, gRNA activity, CRISPR-Cas complex activity, target cleavage efficiency, target site selection, target sequence length, CRISPR effector protein size, ability of effector protein to access regions of high chromatin accessibility, degree of uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets, epigenetic tolerance, mismatch/budge tolerance, and wherein optimization of safety comprises optimizing one or more parameters or variables selected from CRISPR effector stability, CRISPR effector mRNA stability, gRNA stability, CRISPR-Cas complex stability, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, gRNA immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR-Cas complex immunogenicity or toxicity, CRISPR effector protein or mRNA dose or titer, gRNA dose or titer, CRISPR-Cas complex dose or titer, CRISPR effector expression level, gRNA expression level, CRISPR-Cas complex expression level, CRISPR effector spatiotemporal expression, gRNA spatiotemporal expression, CRISPR-Cas complex spatiotemporal expression.

It will be understood that the parameters or variables to be optimized as well as the nature of optimization may depend on the (therapeutic) target, the CRISPR-Cas system functionality, the CRISPR-Cas system mode of delivery, and/or the CRISPR-Cas system delivery vehicle or expression system.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method as described herein, comprising optimization of gRNA specificity at the population level. Preferably, said optimization of gRNA specificity comprises minimizing gRNA target site sequence variation across a population and/or minimizing gRNA off-target incidence across a population.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method for developing or designing a CRISPR-Cas system, optionally a CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutic, comprising (a) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, and from said selected target sites subselecting target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population, or (b) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, or selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population, and optionally estimating the number of (sub) selected target sites needed to treat or otherwise modulate or manipulate a population.

Optionally validating one or more of the (sub) selected target sites for an individual subject, optionally designing one or more gRNA recognizing one or more of said (sub) selected target sites.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method for developing or designing a gRNA for use in a CRISPR-Cas system, optionally a CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutic, comprising

(a) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, and from said selected target sites subselecting target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population, or (b) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, or selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population, and optionally estimating the number of (sub) selected target sites needed to treat or otherwise modulate or manipulate a population, optionally validating one or more of the (sub) selected target sites for an individual subject, optionally designing one or more gRNA recognizing one or more of said (sub) selected target sites.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method for developing or designing a CRISPR-Cas system, optionally a CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutic in a population, comprising (a) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, and from said selected target sites subselecting target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population, or (b) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, or selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population, and optionally estimating the number of (sub) selected target sites needed to treat or otherwise modulate or manipulate a population, optionally validating one or more of the (sub) selected target sites for an individual subject, optionally designing one or more gRNA recognizing one or more of said (sub) selected target sites.

In an aspect, the invention relates to a method for developing or designing a gRNA for use in a CRISPR-Cas system, optionally a CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutic in a population, comprising (a) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, and from said selected target sites subselecting target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population, or (b) selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein said target sites have minimal sequence variation across a population, or selecting for a (therapeutic) locus of interest gRNA target sites, wherein a gRNA directed against said target sites recognizes a minimal number of off-target sites across said population,

and optionally estimating the number of (sub) selected target sites needed to treat or otherwise modulate or manipulate a population, optionally validating one or more of the (sub) selected target sites for an individual subject, optionally designing one or more gRNA recognizing one or more of said (sub) selected target sites.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to method for developing or designing a CRISPR-Cas system, such as a CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutic, optionally in a population; or for developing or designing a gRNA for use in a CRISPR-Cas system, optionally a CRISPR-Cas system based therapy or therapeutic, optionally in a population, comprising: selecting a set of target sequences for one or more loci in a target population, wherein the target sequences do not contain variants occurring above a threshold allele frequency in the target population (i.e. platinum target sequences); removing from said selected (platinum) target sequences any target sequences having high frequency off-target candidates (relative to other (platinum) targets in the set) to define a final target sequence set; preparing one or more, such as a set of CRISPR-Cas systems based on the final target sequence set, optionally wherein a number of CRISP-Cas systems prepared is based (at least in part) on the size of a target population.

In certain embodiments, off-target candidates/off-targets, PAM restrictiveness, target cleavage efficiency, or effector protein specificity is identified or determined using a sequencing-based double-strand break (DSB) detection assay, such as described herein elsewhere. In certain embodiments, off-target candidates/off-targets are identified or determined using a sequencing-based double-strand break (DSB) detection assay, such as described herein elsewhere. In certain embodiments, off-targets, or off target candidates have at least 1, preferably 1-3, mismatches or (distal) PAM mismatches, such as 1 or more, such as 1, 2, 3, or more (distal) PAM mismatches. In certain embodiments, sequencing-based DSB detection assay comprises labeling a site of a DSB with an adapter comprising a primer binding site, labeling a site of a DSB with a barcode or unique molecular identifier, or combination thereof, as described herein elsewhere.

It will be understood that the guide sequence of the gRNA is 100% complementary to the target site, i.e. does not comprise any mismatch with the target site. It will be further understood that “recognition” of an (off-) target site by a gRNA presupposes CRISPR-Cas system functionality, i.e. an (off-) target site is only recognized by a gRNA if binding of the gRNA to the (off-) target site leads to CRISPR-Cas system activity (such as induction of single or double strand DNA cleavage, transcriptional modulation, etc).

In certain embodiments, the target sites having minimal sequence variation across a population are characterized by absence of sequence variation in at least 99%, preferably at least 99.9%, more preferably at least 99.99% of the population. In certain embodiments, optimizing target location comprises selecting target sequences or loci having an absence of sequence variation in at least 99%, %, preferably at least 99.9%, more preferably at least 99.99% of a population. These targets are referred to herein elsewhere also as “platinum targets”. In certain embodiments, said population comprises at least 1000 individuals, such as at least 5000 individuals, such as at least 10000 individuals, such as at least 50000 individuals.

In certain embodiments, the off-target sites are characterized by at least one mismatch between the off-target site and the gRNA. In certain embodiments, the off-target sites are characterized by at most five, preferably at most four, more preferably at most three mismatches between the off-target site and the gRNA. In certain embodiments, the off-target sites are characterized by at least one mismatch between the off-target site and the gRNA and by at most five, preferably at most four, more preferably at most three mismatches between the off-target site and the gRNA.

In certain embodiments, said minimal number of off-target sites across said population is determined for high-frequency haplotypes in said population. In certain embodiments, said minimal number of off-target sites across said population is determined for high-frequency haplotypes of the off-target site locus in said population. In certain embodiments, said minimal number of off-target sites across said population is determined for high-frequency haplotypes of the target site locus in said population. In certain embodiments, the high-frequency haplotypes are characterized by occurrence in at least 0.1% of the population.

In certain embodiments, the number of (sub) selected target sites needed to treat a population is estimated based on based low frequency sequence variation, such as low frequency sequence variation captured in large scale sequencing datasets. In certain embodiments, the number of (sub) selected target sites needed to treat a population of a given size is estimated.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises obtaining genome sequencing data of a subject to be treated; and treating the subject with a CRISPR-Cas system selected from the set of CRISPR-Cas systems, wherein the CRISPR-Cas system selected is based (at least in part) on the genome sequencing data of the individual.

In certain embodiments, the ((sub) selected) target is validated by genome sequencing, preferably whole genome sequencing.

In certain embodiments, target sequences or loci as described herein are (further) selected based on optimization of one or more parameters consisting of; PAM type (natural or modified), PAM nucleotide content, PAM length, target sequence length, PAM restrictiveness, target cleavage efficiency, and target sequence position within a gene, a locus or other genomic region.

In certain embodiments, target sequences or loci as described herein are (further) selected based on optimization of one or more of target loci location, target length, target specificity, and PAM characteristics. As used herein, PAM characteristics may comprise for instance PAM sequence, PAM length, and/or PAM GC contents. In certain embodiments, optimizing PAM characteristics comprises optimizing nucleotide content of a PAM. In certain embodiments, optimizing nucleotide content of PAM is selecting a PAM with a motif that maximizes abundance in the one or more target loci, minimizes mutation frequency, or both. Minimizing mutation frequency can for instance be achieved by selecting PAM sequences devoid of or having low or minimal CpG.

In certain embodiments, the effector protein for each CRISPR-Cas system in the set of CRISPR-Cas systems is selected based on optimization of one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of; effector protein size, ability of effector protein to access regions of high chromatin accessibility, degree of uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets, epigenetic tolerance, mismatch/budge tolerance, effector protein specificity, effector protein stability or half-life, effector protein immunogenicity or toxicity.

In certain embodiments, optimizing target (sequence) length comprises selecting a target sequence within one or more target loci between 5 and 25 nucleotides. In certain embodiments, a target sequence is 20 nucleotides.

In certain embodiments, optimizing target specificity comprises selecting targets loci that minimize off-target candidates.

In certain embodiments, the gRNA is a tru gRNA, an escorted gRNA, or a protected gRNA.

It will be understood that the CRISPR-Cas systems according to the invention as described herein, such as the CRISPR-Cas systems for use in the methods according to the invention as described herein, may be suitably used for any type of application known for CRISPR-Cas systems, preferably in eukaryotes. In certain aspects, the application is therapeutic, preferably therapeutic in a eukaryote organism, such as including but not limited to animals (including human), plants, algae, fungi (including yeasts), etc. Alternatively, or in addition, in certain aspects, the application may involve accomplishing or inducing one or more particular traits or characteristics, such as genotypic and/or phenotypic traits or characteristics, as also described herein elsewhere.

For the invention as described herein, the following criteria may be taken into account when optimizing the respective parameters or variables.

CRISPR Effector Choice

1. Size:

Currently, CRISPR single nuclease effectors demonstrating high efficiency mammalian genome editing range from 1053 amino acids (SaCas9) to 1368 amino acids (SpCas9). While smaller orthologs of Cas9 do exist and cleave DNA with high efficiency in vitro, Cas9 orthologs smaller than SaCas9 have shown diminished mammalian DNA cleavage efficiency. The large size of current single effector CRISPR nucleases is challenging for both nanoparticle protein delivery and viral vector delivery strategies. For protein delivery, payload per particle is a function of 3-D protein size, and for viral delivery of single effectors, large gene size limits flexibility for multiplexing or use of large cell-type specific promoters. Considerations relating to delivery are described detailed further herein below.

2. Protein Search:

The ability of the CRISPR effector to access regions of high chromatin complexity can be viewed in two ways 1) this increases the versatility of the CRISPR effector as a tool for genome editing or 2) this may be undesirable due to cellular dysregulation resulting from perturbation of the genomic structure of cells contacted with the CRISPR effector.

There have been reports that the most active Cas9 guides are ones that target low nucleosomal occupancy positions: elifesciences.org/content/5/e12677, and elifesciences.org/content/5/e13450; however, over a longer time scale, cleavage can still occur (also cleavage can occur during replication when the nucleosomal occupancy is moved). Considerations relating to choice of Cas9 and modifications thereof are described detailed further herein below.

3. Efficacy:

Overall efficiency: robust and uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets in regions of open chromatin is generally desirable for all single effector nucleases. On the other hand, robust and uniform enzyme activity across genomic targets with varying chromatin complexity and epigenetic marks may not be desirable for research and therapeutic applications. It has been shown that Cas9 shows robust cleavage of methylated DNA, and this increases the utility of the enzyme. On the other hand, CRISPR effector binding or cleavage at loci enriched for epigenetic marks may dysregulate cellular processes. A further aspect to be considered is whether enzymes that do not disturb chromatin structure are desirable. If cleaving a locus in a terminally differentiated cell, it may be desirable to utilize enzymes that are not capable of penetrating silenced regions of the genome. Alternatively, when cleaving a locus in a precursor of a differentiated cell type, then it may be advantageous to be able to penetrate regions of the genome inactive at the time of editing.

4. Specificity:

Mismatch/Bulge tolerance: Naturally occurring Cas9 orthologs: naturally occurring CRISPR effectors show tolerance of mismatches or bulges between the RNA guide and DNA target. This tolerance is generally undesirable for therapeutic applications. For therapeutic applications, patients should be individually screened for perfect target guide RNA complementarity, and tolerance of bulges and mismatches will only increase the likelihood of off-target DNA cleavage. High specificity engineered variants have been developed, such as eSpCas9 and Cas9-HF1 for Cas9; these variants show decreased tolerance of mismatches between DNA targets and the RNA guide (relevant to mismatches in approximately the PAM distal 12-14 nucleotides of the guide RNA given 20nt of guide RNA target complementarity).

5. PAM Choice:

Natural PAM vs. Modified PAM: Targets for each single effector CRISPR DNA endonuclease discovered so far require a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) flanking the guide RNA complimentary region of the target. For the DNA endonucleases discovered so far, the PAM motifs have at least 2 nucleotides of specificity, such as 2, 3, 4, 5 or more nucleotides of specificity, such as 2-4 or 2-5 nucleotides of specificity, which curtails the fraction of possible targets in the genome that can be cleaved with a single natural enzyme. Mutation of naturally occurring DNA endonucleases has resulted in protein variants with modified PAM specificities. Cumulatively, the more such variants exist for a given protein targeting different PAMs, the greater the density of genomic targets are available for use in therapeutic design (See population efficacy).

Nucleotide content: Nucleotide content of PAMs can affect what fraction of the genome can be targeted with an individual protein due to differences in the abundance of a particular motif in the genome or in a specific therapeutic locus of the genome. Additionally, nucleotide content can affect PAM mutation frequencies in the genome (See population efficacy). Cas9 proteins with altered PAM specificity can address this issue (as described further herein).

Influence of PAM length/complexity on target specificity: Cas9 interrogates the genome by first binding to a PAM site before attempting to create a stable RNA/DNA duplex by melting the double stranded DNA. Since the complexity of the PAM limits the possible space of targets interrogated, a more complex PAM will have fewer possible sites at which off-target cleavage can occur.

6. crRNA Processing Capabilities of the Enzyme:

Multiplexing: For multiplexing, crRNA processing capabilities are desirable, as a transcript expressed from a single promoter can contain multiple different crRNAs. This transcript is then processed into multiple constituent crRNAs by the protein, and multiplexed editing proceeds for each target specified by the crRNA. On the other hand, the rules for RNA endonucleolytic processing of multi crRNA transcripts into crRNAs are not fully understood. Hence, for therapeutic applications, crRNA processing may be undesirable due to off-target cleavage of endogenous RNA transcripts.

Target Choice:

1. Target Length:

Although most protospacer elements observed in naturally occurring Cas9 CRISPR arrays are longer than 20nt, protospacer complimentary regions of resulting crRNA products are often processed to 20nt (Cas9) or do not confer specificity beyond 20nt. Extension of the target complimentary region of the guide RNA beyond 20nt likely is positioned outside of the footprint of the protein on the guide RNA and is often processed away by exonucleases (See protected guide RNAs for further discussion).

2. Efficiency Screening:

Screening for CRISPR effector efficacy has been performed by studying the efficacy of knockdown of cell surface proteins using different DNA targets. These studies show some evidence that position dependent nucleotide content in CRISPR effector targets and flanking nucleotides affects the efficacy of target cleavage.

3. Specificity Screening:

Unbiased investigation of genome-wide CRISPR nuclease activity suggests that most off-target activity occurs at loci with at most three mismatches to the RNA guide. Current approaches for CRISPR effector target selection rank off-target candidates found in the reference human genome by both the number and position of RNA guide mismatches, with the assumption that loci containing less than 3 mismatches or containing PAM distal mismatches are more likely to be cleaved. However, in a population of individuals, this strategy is complicated by the existence of multiple haplotypes (sets of associated variants), which will contain different positions or numbers of mismatches at candidate off-target sites (See: population safety).

Guide RNA Design

Several technologies have been developed to address different aspects of efficacy and specificity 1. Tru guide trimming 1-3 nt off from 3′ end of the target complimentary region of the gRNA often decreases activity at off-target loci containing at least one mismatch to the guide RNA. Likely, with fewer nucleotides of base-pairing between the off-target and gRNA, each mismatch has a greater thermodynamic consequence to the stability of the CRISPR effector-gRNA complex with the off-target DNA.

Percentage of successfully cleaved targets may be reduced in using tru guides: i.e., some sites that worked with a 20nt guide may not cut efficiently with a 17nt guide; but the ones that do work with 17nt generally cleavage as efficiently.

Protected guide utilize an extended guide RNA and/or trans RNA/DNA elements to 1) create stable structures in the sgRNA that compete with sgRNA base-pairing at a target or off-target site or 2) (optionally) extend complimentary nucleotides between the gRNA and target. For extended RNA implementations, secondary structure results from complementarity between 3′ extension of the guide RNA and another target complimentary region of the guide RNA. For trans implementations, DNA or RNA elements bind the extended or normal length guide RNA partially obscuring the target complimentary region of the sgRNA.

Dosage

The dosage of the CRISPR components should take into account the following factors

1. Target Search: CRISPR effector/guide RNA-enzyme complexes use 3-D stochastic search to locate targets. Given equal genomic accessibility, the probability of the complex finding an off-target or on-target is similar.

2. Binding (Target Dwell Time): Once located, the binding kinetics of the complex at an on-target or an off-target with few mismatches differs only slightly. Hence, target search and binding are likely not the rate-limiting steps for DNA cleavage at on-target or off-target loci. ChIP data suggests that complex dwell time does decrease accompanying increasing mismatches between the off-target locus and RNA guide, particularly in the PAM-proximal ‘seed’ region of the RNA guide.

3. Cutting (Thermodynamic barrier to assuming an active conformation): a) A major rate-limiting step for CRISPR effector enzymatic activity appears to be configuration of the target DNA and guide RNA-protein complex in an active conformation for DNA cleavage. Increasing mismatches at off-target loci decrease the likelihood of the complex achieving an active conformation at off-target loci. b) The difference between binding and cutting is why ChIP has very low predictive power as a tool for evaluating the off-target cleavage of Cas9. c) If the probability of finding an off-target or on-target is similar, then the difference in rate of on and off-target cleavage is likely due to the fact that the probability of cleavage at an on target sites is greater than off target sites. (See temporal control). The stochastic search means that Cas9 suggests that an incorrect model is to view Cas9 as preferentially cleaving the on-target site first and only moving onto off-target sites after on-target cleavage is saturated; instead, all sites are interrogated at random, and the probability of progression to cutting after PAM binding is what differentiates the propensity of on vs. off-target cutting. 4. Repetition in DNA modification at an individual locus: NHEJ repair of DNA double strand breaks is generally high fidelity (Should find exact error rate). Hence, it is likely that a nuclease must cut an individual locus many times before an error in NHEJ results in an indel at the cut site. The probability of observing an indel is the compounding probability of observing a double strand break based on 1) target search probability, 2) target dwell time, and 3) overcoming the thermodynamic barrier to DNA cleavage. 5. Enzyme concentration: Even at very low concentrations, search may still encounter an off-target prior to an on-target. Thereafter, the number and location of mismatches in an off-target, and likely the nucleotide content of the target will influence the likelihood of DNA cleavage.

Thinking about on/off target cleavage in probabilistic terms, each interaction that Cas9 has with the genome can be thought of as having some probability of successful cleavage. Reducing the dose will reduce the number of Cas9 molecules available for interacting with the genome, and thus will limit the additive probability of repeated interactions at off-target sites.

Temporal and Spatial Control of the CRISPR System

Various technologies have been developed which provide additional options for addressing efficacy, specificity and safety issues. More particularly these options can be used to allow for temporal control. More particularly these technologies allow for temporal/spatial control (as described further herein):

1. Double nickases 2. Escorted guides 3. Split-effector protein 4. “self-inactivating” systems or “governing guides”

Delivery

Through this disclosure and the knowledge in the art, CRISPR-Cas systems, or components thereof or nucleic acid molecules thereof (including, for instance HDR template) or nucleic acid molecules encoding or providing components thereof may be delivered by a delivery system herein described both generally and in detail.

The CRISPR system components can either be delivered as nucleotide sequences for constitutive or transient in vivo expression, as active components as a combination of both.

1. Vector delivery: where in vivo expression is envisaged, different types of DNA-based expression cassettes can be envisaged 2. Particle delivery: appropriate delivery vehicles can be selected for the delivery of RNA and/or protein components.

Vector delivery, e.g., plasmid, viral delivery: The CRISPR enzyme, for instance a Cas9, and/or any of the present RNAs, for instance a guide RNA, can be delivered using any suitable vector, e.g., plasmid or viral vectors, such as adeno associated virus (AAV), lentivirus, adenovirus or other viral vector types, or combinations thereof. Cas9 and one or more guide RNAs can be packaged into one or more vectors, e.g., plasmid or viral vectors. In some embodiments, the vector, e.g., plasmid or viral vector is delivered to the tissue of interest by, for example, an intramuscular injection, while other times the delivery is via intravenous, transdermal, intranasal, oral, mucosal, or other delivery methods. Such delivery may be either via a single dose, or multiple doses. One skilled in the art understands that the actual dosage to be delivered herein may vary greatly depending upon a variety of factors, such as the vector choice, the target cell, organism, or tissue, the general condition of the subject to be treated, the degree of transformation/modification sought, the administration route, the administration mode, the type of transformation/modification sought, etc.

Such a dosage may further contain, for example, a carrier (water, saline, ethanol, glycerol, lactose, sucrose, calcium phosphate, gelatin, dextran, agar, pectin, peanut oil, sesame oil, etc.), a diluent, a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier (e.g., phosphate-buffered saline), a pharmaceutically-acceptable excipient, and/or other compounds known in the art. The dosage may further contain one or more pharmaceutically acceptable salts such as, for example, a mineral acid salt such as a hydrochloride, a hydrobromide, a phosphate, a sulfate, etc.; and the salts of organic acids such as acetates, propionates, malonates, benzoates, etc. Additionally, auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, gels or gelling materials, flavorings, colorants, microspheres, polymers, suspension agents, etc. may also be present herein. In addition, one or more other conventional pharmaceutical ingredients, such as preservatives, humectants, suspending agents, surfactants, antioxidants, anticaking agents, fillers, chelating agents, coating agents, chemical stabilizers, etc. may also be present, especially if the dosage form is a reconstitutable form. Suitable exemplary ingredients include microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, polysorbate 80, phenylethyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, sulfur dioxide, propyl gallate, the parabens, ethyl vanillin, glycerin, phenol, parachlorophenol, gelatin, albumin and a combination thereof. A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients is available in REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (Mack Pub. Co., N.J. 1991) which is incorporated by reference herein.

In an embodiment herein the delivery is via an adenovirus, which may be at a single booster dose containing at least 1×10 5 particles (also referred to as particle units, pu) of adenoviral vector. In an embodiment herein, the dose preferably is at least about 1×10 6 particles (for example, about 1×10 6 -1×10 12 particles), more preferably at least about 1×10 7 particles, more preferably at least about 1×10 8 particles (e.g., about 1×10 8 -1×10 11 particles or about 1×10 8 -1×10 12 particles), and most preferably at least about 1×10 10 particles (e.g., about 1×10 9 -1×10 10 particles or about 1×10 9 -1×10 12 particles), or even at least about 1×10 10 particles (e.g., about 1×10 10 -1×10 12 particles) of the adenoviral vector. Alternatively, the dose comprises no more than about 1×10 14 particles, preferably no more than about 1×10 13 particles, even more preferably no more than about 1×10 12 particles, even more preferably no more than about 1×10 11 particles, and most preferably no more than about 1×10 10 particles (e.g., no more than about 1×10 9 articles). Thus, the dose may contain a single dose of adenoviral vector with, for example, about 1×10 6 particle units (pu), about 2×10 6 pu, about 4×10 6 pu, about 1×10 7 pu, about 2×10 7 pu, about 4×10 7 pu, about 1×10 8 pu, about 2×10 8 pu, about 4×10 8 pu, about 1×10 9 pu, about 2×10 9 pu, about 4×10 9 pu, about 1×10 10 pu, about 2×10 10 pu, about 4×10 10 pu, about 1×10 11 pu, about 2×10 11 pu, about 4×10 11 pu, about 1×10 12 pu, about 2×10 12 pu, or about 4×10 12 pu of adenoviral vector. See, for example, the adenoviral vectors in U.S. Pat. No. 8,454,972 B2 to Nabel, et. al., granted on Jun. 4, 2013; incorporated by reference herein, and the dosages at col 29, lines 36-58 thereof. In an embodiment herein, the adenovirus is delivered via multiple doses.

In an embodiment herein, the delivery is via an AAV. A therapeutically effective dosage for in vivo delivery of the AAV to a human is believed to be in the range of from about 20 to about 50 ml of saline solution containing from about 1×10 10 to about 1×10 10 functional AAV/ml solution. The dosage may be adjusted to balance the therapeutic benefit against any side effects. In an embodiment herein, the AAV dose is generally in the range of concentrations of from about 1×10 5 to 1×10 50 genomes AAV, from about 1×10 8 to 1×10 20 genomes AAV, from about 1×10 10 to about 1×10 16 genomes, or about 1×10 11 to about 1×10 16 genomes AAV. A human dosage may be about 1×10 13 genomes AAV. Such concentrations may be delivered in from about 0.001 ml to about 100 ml, about 0.05 to about 50 ml, or about 10 to about 25 ml of a carrier solution. Other effective dosages can be readily established by one of ordinary skill in the art through routine trials establishing dose response curves. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,404,658 B2 to Hajjar, et al., granted on Mar. 26, 2013, at col. 27, lines 45-60.

Among vectors that may be used in the practice of the invention, integration in the host genome of a cell is possible with retrovirus gene transfer methods, often resulting in long term expression of the inserted transgene. In a preferred embodiment the retrovirus is a lentivirus. Additionally, high transduction efficiencies have been observed in many different cell types and target tissues. The tropism of a retrovirus can be altered by incorporating foreign envelope proteins, expanding the potential target population of target cells. A retrovirus can also be engineered to allow for conditional expression of the inserted transgene, such that only certain cell types are infected by the lentivirus. Cell type specific promoters can be used to target expression in specific cell types. Lentiviral vectors are retroviral vectors (and hence both lentiviral and retroviral vectors may be used in the practice of the invention). Moreover, lentiviral vectors are preferred as they are able to transduce or infect non-dividing cells and typically produce high viral titers. Selection of a retroviral gene transfer system may therefore depend on the target tissue. Retroviral vectors are comprised of cis-acting long terminal repeats with packaging capacity for up to 6-10 kb of foreign sequence. The minimum cis-acting LTRs are sufficient for replication and packaging of the vectors, which are then used to integrate the desired nucleic acid into the target cell to provide permanent expression. Widely used retroviral vectors that may be used in the practice of the invention include those based upon murine leukemia virus (MuLV), gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV), Simian Immuno deficiency virus (SIV), human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), and combinations thereof (see, e.g., Buchscher et al., (1992) J. Virol. 66:2731-2739; Johann et al., (1992) J. Virol. 66:1635-1640; Sommnerfelt et al., (1990) Virol. 176:58-59; Wilson et al., (1998) J. Virol. 63:2374-2378; Miller et al., (1991) J. Virol. 65:2220-2224; PCT/US94/05700). Zou et al. administered about 10 μl of a recombinant lentivirus having a titer of 1×10 9 transducing units (TU)/ml by an intrathecal catheter. These sort of dosages can be adapted or extrapolated to use of a retroviral or lentiviral vector in the present invention.

In an embodiment herein the delivery is via a plasmid. In such plasmid compositions, the dosage should be a sufficient amount of plasmid to elicit a response. For instance, suitable quantities of plasmid DNA in plasmid compositions can be from about 0.1 to about 2 mg, or from about 1 μg to about 10 μg per 70 kg individual. Plasmids of the invention will generally comprise (i) a promoter; (ii) a sequence encoding a CRISPR enzyme, operably linked to said promoter; (iii) a selectable marker; (iv) an origin of replication; and (v) a transcription terminator downstream of and operably linked to (ii). The plasmid can also encode the RNA components of a CRISPR complex, but one or more of these may instead be encoded on a different vector.

The doses herein are based on an average 70 kg individual. The frequency of administration is within the ambit of the medical or veterinary practitioner (e.g., physician, veterinarian), or scientist skilled in the art. It is also noted that mice used in experiments are typically about 20 g and from mice experiments one can scale up to a 70 kg individual.

In some embodiments the RNA molecules of the invention are delivered in liposome or lipofectin formulations and the like and can be prepared by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Such methods are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,972, 5,589,466, and 5,580,859, which are herein incorporated by reference. Delivery systems aimed specifically at the enhanced and improved delivery of siRNA into mammalian cells have been developed, (see, for example, Shen et al FEBS Let. 2003, 539:111-114; Xia et al., Nat. Biotech. 2002, 20:1006-1010; Reich et al., Mol. Vision. 2003, 9:210-216; Sorensen et al., J. Mol. Biol. 2003, 327:761-766; Lewis et al., Nat. Gen. 2002, 32:107-108 and Simeoni et al., NAR 2003, 31, 11:2717-2724) and may be applied to the present invention. siRNA has recently been successfully used for inhibition of gene expression in primates (see for example. Tolentino et al., Retina 24 (4): 660 which may also be applied to the present invention.

Indeed, RNA delivery is a useful method of in vivo delivery. It is possible to deliver Cas9 and gRNA (and, for instance, HR repair template) into cells using liposomes or particles. Thus delivery of the CRISPR enzyme, such as a Cas9 and/or delivery of the RNAs of the invention may be in RNA form and via microvesicles, liposomes or particles. For example, Cas9 mRNA and gRNA can be packaged into liposomal particles for delivery in vivo. Liposomal transfection reagents such as lipofectamine from Life Technologies and other reagents on the market can effectively deliver RNA molecules into the liver.

Means of delivery of RNA also preferred include delivery of RNA via nanoparticles (Cho, S., Goldberg, M., Son, S., Xu, Q., Yang, F., Mei, Y., Bogatyrev, S., Langer, R. and Anderson, D., Lipid-like nanoparticles for small interfering RNA delivery to endothelial cells, Advanced Functional Materials, 19:3112-3118, 2010) or exosomes (Schroeder, A., Levins, C., Cortez, C., Langer, R., and Anderson, D., Lipid-based nanotherapeutics for siRNA delivery, Journal of Internal Medicine, 267:9-21, 2010, PMID: 20059641). Indeed, exosomes have been shown to be particularly useful in delivery siRNA, a system with some parallels to the CRISPR system. For instance, El-Andaloussi S, et al. (“Exosome-mediated delivery of siRNA in vitro and in vivo.” Nat Protoc. 2012 December; 7 (12): 2112-26. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2012.131. Epub 2012 Nov. 15.) describe how exosomes are promising tools for drug delivery across different biological barriers and can be harnessed for delivery of siRNA in vitro and in vivo. Their approach is to generate targeted exosomes through transfection of an expression vector, comprising an exosomal protein fused with a peptide ligand. The exosomes are then purify and characterized from transfected cell supernatant, then RNA is loaded into the exosomes. Delivery or administration according to the invention can be performed with exosomes, in particular but not limited to the brain. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) may be conjugated with CRISPR Cas and delivered to the brain along with high density lipoprotein (HDL), for example in a similar manner as was done by Uno et al. (HUMAN GENE THERAPY 22:711-719 (June 2011)) for delivering short-interfering RNA (siRNA) to the brain. Mice were infused via Osmotic minipumps (model 1007D; Alzet, Cupertino, CA) filled with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or free TocsiBACE or Toc-siBACE/HDL and connected with Brain Infusion Kit 3 (Alzet). A brain-infusion cannula was placed about 0.5 mm posterior to the bregma at midline for infusion into the dorsal third ventricle. Uno et al. found that as little as 3 nmol of Toc-siRNA with HDL could induce a target reduction in comparable degree by the same ICV infusion method. A similar dosage of CRISPR Cas conjugated to α-tocopherol and co-administered with HDL targeted to the brain may be contemplated for humans in the present invention, for example, about 3 nmol to about 3 μmol of CRISPR Cas targeted to the brain may be contemplated.

Zou et al. ((HUMAN GENE THERAPY 22:465-475 (April 2011)) describes a method of lentiviral-mediated delivery of short-hairpin RNAs targeting PKCγ for in vivo gene silencing in the spinal cord of rats. Zou et al. administered about 10 μl of a recombinant lentivirus having a titer of 1×10 9 transducing units (TU)/ml by an intrathecal catheter. A similar dosage of CRISPR Cas expressed in a lentiviral vector may be contemplated for humans in the present invention, for example, about 10-50 ml of CRISPR Cas in a lentivirus having a titer of 1×10 9 transducing units (TU)/ml may be contemplated. A similar dosage of CRISPR Cas expressed in a lentiviral vector targeted to the brain may be contemplated for humans in the present invention, for example, about 10-50 ml of CRISPR Cas targeted to the brain in a lentivirus having a titer of 1×10 9 transducing units (TU)/ml may be contemplated.

Anderson et al. (US20170079916) provides a modified dendrimer nanoparticle for the delivery of therapeutic, prophylactic and/or diagnostic agents to a subject, comprising: one or more zero to seven generation alkylated dendrimers; one or more amphiphilic polymers; and one or more therapeutic, prophylactic and/or diagnostic agents encapsulated therein. One alkylated dendrimer may be selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneimine), poly(polypropylenimine), diaminobutane amine polypropylenimine tetramine and poly(amido amine). The therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic agent may be selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, small molecules and combinations thereof.

Anderson et al. (US20160367686) provides a compound of Formula (I):

and salts thereof, wherein each instance of R L is independently optionally substituted C 6 -C 40 alkenyl, and a composition for the delivery of an agent to a subject or cell comprising the compound, or a salt thereof; an agent; and optionally, an excipient. The agent may be an organic molecule, inorganic molecule, nucleic acid, protein, peptide, polynucleotide, targeting agent, an isotopically labeled chemical compound, vaccine, an immunological agent, or an agent useful in bioprocessing. The composition may further comprise cholesterol, a PEGylated lipid, a phospholipid, or an apolipoprotein.

Anderson et al. (US20150232883) provides a delivery particle formulations and/or systems, preferably nanoparticle delivery formulations and/or systems, comprising (a) a CRISPR-Cas system RNA polynucleotide sequence; or (b)Cas9; or (c) both a CRISPR-Cas system RNA polynucleotide sequence and Cas9; or (d) one or more vectors that contain nucleic acid molecule(s) encoding (a), (b) or (c), wherein the CRISPR-Cas system RNA polynucleotide sequence and the Cas9 do not naturally occur together. The delivery particle formulations may further comprise a surfactant, lipid or protein, wherein the surfactant may comprise a cationic lipid.

Anderson et al. (US20050123596) provides examples of microparticles that are designed to release their payload when exposed to acidic conditions, wherein the microparticles comprise at least one agent to be delivered, a pH triggering agent, and a polymer, wherein the polymer is selected from the group of polymethacrylates and polyacrylates.

Anderson et al (US20020150626) provides lipid-protein-sugar particles for delivery of nucleic acids, wherein the polynucleotide is encapsulated in a lipid-protein-sugar matrix by contacting the polynucleotide with a lipid, a protein, and a sugar; and spray drying mixture of the polynucleotide, the lipid, the protein, and the sugar to make microparticles.

In terms of local delivery to the brain, this can be achieved in various ways. For instance, material can be delivered intrastriatally e.g. by injection. Injection can be performed stereotactically via a craniotomy.

Enhancing NHEJ or HR efficiency is also helpful for delivery. It is preferred that NHEJ efficiency is enhanced by co-expressing end-processing enzymes such as Trex2 (Dumitrache et al. Genetics. 2011 August; 188 (4): 787-797). It is preferred that HR efficiency is increased by transiently inhibiting NHEJ machineries such as Ku70 and Ku86. HR efficiency can also be increased by co-expressing prokaryotic or eukaryotic homologous recombination enzymes such as RecBCD, RecA.

In the following, the different variables and how they influence the design of a CRISPR-based therapeutic are described more in detail.

Specificity

1. Select Most Specific Guide RNA

(a) Guide Specificity

While early reports were fairly contradictory on the ability to accurately predict guide RNAs with limited off-target activity, statistical analysis based on a large number of data has made it possible to identify rules governing off-target effects. Doench et al. (Nat Biotechnol. 2016 February; 34 (2): 184-91) describe the profiling of the off-target activity of thousands of sgRNAs and the development of a metric to predict off-target sites.

Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the methods of the invention involve selecting a guide RNA which, based on statistical analysis, is less likely to generate off-target effects.

(b) Guide Complementarity

It is generally envisaged that the degree of complementarity between a guide sequence and its corresponding target sequence should be as high as possible, such as more than about 50%, 60%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97.5%, 99%, or 100%; However, in particular embodiments, a particular concern is reducing off-target interactions, e.g., reducing the guide interacting with a target sequence having low complementarity. It has been shown that certain mutations result in the CRISPR-Cas system being able to distinguish between target and off-target sequences that have greater than 80% to about 95% complementarity, e.g., 83%-84% or 88-89% or 94-95% complementarity (for instance, distinguishing between a target having 18 nucleotides from an off-target of 18 nucleotides having 1, 2 or 3 mismatches). Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the guide is selected such that the degree of complementarity between a guide sequence and its corresponding target sequence is greater than 94.5% or 95% or 95.5% or 96% or 96.5% or 97% or 97.5% or 98% or 98.5% or 99% or 99.5% or 99.9%, or 100%. Off target is less than 100% or 99.9% or 99.5% or 99% or 99% or 98.5% or 98% or 97.5% or 97% or 96.5% or 96% or 95.5% or 95% or 94.5% or 94% or 93% or 92% or 91% or 90% or 89% or 88% or 87% or 86% or 85% or 84% or 83% or 82% or 81% or 80% complementarity between the sequence and the guide, with it advantageous that off target is 100% or 99.9% or 99.5% or 99% or 99% or 98.5% or 98% or 97.5% or 97% or 96.5% or 96% or 95.5% or 95% or 94.5% complementarity between the sequence and the guide.

(c) Select Guide/Enzyme Concentration

For minimization of toxicity and off-target effect, it will be important to control the concentration of Cas9 protein and guide RNA delivered. Optimal concentrations of Cas9 protein and guide RNA can be determined by testing different concentrations in a cellular or non-human eukaryote animal model and using deep sequencing the analyze the extent of modification at potential off-target genomic loci. For example, for the guide sequence targeting 5′-GAGTCCGAGCAGAAGAAGAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 41) in the EMX1 gene of the human genome, deep sequencing can be used to assess the level of modification at the following two off-target loci, 1: 5′-GAGTCCTAGCAGGAGAAGAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 42) and 2: 5′-GAGTCTAAGCAGAAGAAGAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 70). The concentration that gives the highest level of on-target modification while minimizing the level of off-target modification should be chosen for in vivo delivery.

2. Select Most Specific Enzyme

(a) Enzyme Modifications to Enhance Specificity

Suitable Cas9 enzyme modifications which enhance specificity may selected. Example Cas9 enzyme modification which enhance specificity are describe above under the section labeled “Modified Cas9 enzymes.”

Selecting Suitable PAM Recognition

The requirement of a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) of most CRISPR effector proteins, ensures another level of specificity in that only the target which is preceded by the relevant motif for the enzyme, will be cleaved. Thus, in particular embodiments, where available it may be of interest to select an effector protein with a stringent PAM so as to reduce off-target effects. Such an effector protein may be a Cas9 ortholog or an effector protein having altered specificity.

On the other hand, the use of a Cas9 effector protein can be limited by its protospacer adjacent motif (PAM), in that it will only be able to robustly cleave target sites preceded by said motif.

Cas9 mutants can be designed that have increased target specificity as well as accommodating modifications in PAM recognition, for example by choosing mutations that alter PAM specificity and combining those mutations with nt-groove mutations that increase (or if desired, decrease) specificity for on-target sequences vs. off-target sequences. In one such embodiment, a PI domain residue is mutated to accommodate recognition of a desired PAM sequence while one or more nt-groove amino acids is mutated to alter target specificity. Kleinstiver involves SpCas9 and SaCas9 nucleases in which certain PI domain residues are mutated and recognize alternative PAM sequences (see Kleinstiver et al., Nature 523 (7561): 481-5 doi: 10.1038/nature14592, published online 22 Jun. 2015; Kleinstiver et al., Nature Biotechnology, doi: 10.1038/nbt.3404, published online 2 Nov. 2015), see also Hirano et al. (2016), Molecular Cell, 61 (6): 886-894, doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.02.018; and Anders et al. (2016), Molecular Cell, 61 (6): 895-902, doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.02.020. Modification of PAM specificity has been performed by a structure-guided saturation mutagenesis screen to increase the targeting range of Cpf1 (Linyi et al. 2016, BioRxiv, dx.doi.org/10.1101/091611) and similar methods may be applied to Cas9 The Cas9 methods and modifications described herein can be used to counter loss of specificity resulting from alteration of PAM recognition, enhance gain of specificity resulting from alteration of PAM recognition, counter gain of specificity resulting from alteration of PAM recognition, or enhance loss of specificity resulting from alteration of PAM recognition.

The methods and mutations can be used with any Cas9 enzyme with altered PAM recognition. Non-limiting examples of PAMs included NGG, NNGRRT, NN [A/C/T]RRT, NGAN, NGCG, NGAG, NGNG, NGC, and NGA.

Accordingly, these variants increase the targeting range, providing a useful addition to the CRISPR/Cas genome engineering toolbox. At the same time, the provision of Cas9 effector proteins with alternative PAM specificity allows for the selection of a particular variant with optimal specificity for a particular target sequence.

3. System Approaches to Reduce Off-Target Effects:

(a) Double Nickase

Alternatively, to minimize the level of toxicity and off-target effect, a Cas9 nickase can be used with a pair of guide RNAs targeting a site of interest. Guide sequences and strategies to minimize toxicity and off-target effects can be as in WO 2014/093622 (PCT/US2013/074667); or, via mutation as described herein.

The invention thus contemplates methods of using two or more nickases, in particular a dual or double nickase approach. In some aspects and embodiments, a single type nickase may be delivered, for example a modified nickase as described herein. This results in the target DNA being bound by two nickases. In addition, it is also envisaged that different orthologs may be used, e.g, a nickase on one strand (e.g., the coding strand) of the DNA and an ortholog on the non-coding or opposite DNA strand. The ortholog can be, but is not limited to, a Cas9 nickase such as a SaCas9 nickase or a SpCas9 nickase or a StCas9. It may be advantageous to use two different orthologs that require different PAMs and may also have different guide requirements, thus allowing a greater deal of control for the user. In certain embodiments, DNA cleavage will involve at least four types of nickases, wherein each type is guided to a different sequence of target DNA, wherein each pair introduces a first nick into one DNA strand and the second introduces a nick into the second DNA strand. In such methods, at least two pairs of single stranded breaks are introduced into the target DNA wherein upon introduction of first and second pairs of single-strand breaks, target sequences between the first and second pairs of single-strand breaks are excised. In certain embodiments, one or both of the orthologs is controllable, i.e. inducible.

(a) Escorted Guides

The methods provided herein may also involve the use of escorted Cas9 CRISPR-Cas systems or complexes, especially such a system involving an escorted Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system guide. By “escorted” is meant that the Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system or complex or guide is delivered to a selected time or place within a cell, so that activity of the Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system or complex or guide is spatially or temporally controlled. For example, the activity and destination of the Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system or complex or guide may be controlled by an escort RNA aptamer sequence that has binding affinity for an aptamer ligand, such as a cell surface protein or other localized cellular component. Alternatively, the escort aptamer may for example be responsive to an aptamer effector on or in the cell, such as a transient effector, such as an external energy source that is applied to the cell at a particular time. The principle of escorted guides and embodiments thereof are described in detail in WO2016094874 incorporated by reference herein.

Aptamers are biomolecules that can be designed or selected to bind tightly to other ligands, for example using a technique called systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX; Tuerk C, Gold L: “Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment: RNA ligands to bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase.” Science 1990, 249:505-510). Nucleic acid aptamers can for example be selected from pools of random-sequence oligonucleotides, with high binding affinities and specificities for a wide range of biomedically relevant targets, suggesting a wide range of therapeutic utilities for aptamers (Keefe, Anthony D., Supriya Pai, and Andrew Ellington. “Aptamers as therapeutics.” Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 9.7 (2010): 537-550). These characteristics also suggest a wide range of uses for aptamers as drug delivery vehicles (Levy-Nissenbaum, Etgar, et al. “Nanotechnology and aptamers: applications in drug delivery.” Trends in biotechnology 26.8 (2008): 442-449; and, Hicke B J, Stephens A W. “Escort aptamers: a delivery service for diagnosis and therapy.” J Clin Invest 2000, 106:923-928.). Aptamers may also be constructed that function as molecular switches, responding to a que by changing properties, such as RNA aptamers that bind fluorophores to mimic the activity of green fluorescent protein (Paige, Jeremy S., Karen Y. Wu, and Samie R. Jaffrey. “RNA mimics of green fluorescent protein.” Science 333.6042 (2011): 642-646). It has also been suggested that aptamers may be used as components of targeted siRNA therapeutic delivery systems, for example targeting cell surface proteins (Zhou, Jiehua, and John J. Rossi. “Aptamer-targeted cell-specific RNA interference.” Silence 1.1 (2010): 4). The aptamers used in this aspect are designed to improve gRNA delivery, including delivery across the cellular membrane, to intracellular compartments, or into the nucleus. Such a structure can include, either in addition to the one or more aptamer(s) or without such one or more aptamer(s), moiety(ies) so as to render the guide deliverable, inducible or responsive to a selected effector. In particular embodiments, a gRNA is designed that responds to normal or pathological physiological conditions, including without limitation pH, hypoxia, O2 concentration, temperature, protein concentration, enzymatic concentration, lipid structure, light exposure, mechanical disruption (e.g. ultrasound waves), magnetic fields, electric fields, or electromagnetic radiation. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the escort aptamer has binding affinity for an aptamer ligand on or in the cell, or the escort aptamer is responsive to a localized aptamer effector on or in the cell, wherein the presence of the aptamer ligand or effector on or in the cell is spatially or temporally restricted.

Once intended alterations have been introduced, such as by editing intended copies of a gene in the genome of a cell, continued CRISPR/Cas9 expression in that cell is no longer necessary. Indeed, sustained expression would be undesirable in certain cases in case of off-target effects at unintended genomic sites, etc. Thus time-limited expression is of interest.

Inducible expression offers one approach, but in addition Applicants have engineered a Self-Inactivating Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system that relies on the use of a non-coding guide target sequence within the CRISPR vector itself. Thus, after expression begins, the CRISPR system will lead to its own destruction, but before destruction is complete it will have time to edit the genomic copies of the target gene (which, with a normal point mutation in a diploid cell, requires at most two edits). Simply, the self inactivating Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system includes additional RNA (i.e., guide RNA) that targets the coding sequence for the CRISPR enzyme itself or that targets one or more non-coding guide target sequences complementary to unique sequences present in one or more of the following: (a) within the promoter driving expression of the non-coding RNA elements, (b) within the promoter driving expression of the Cas9 gene, (c) within 100 bp of the ATG translational start codon in the Cas9 coding sequence, (d) within the inverted terminal repeat (iTR) of a viral delivery vector, e.g., in an AAV genome.

Examples of inducible systems are light responsive systems. Light responsiveness of an inducible system are achieved via the activation and binding of cryptochrome-2 and CIB1. Blue light stimulation induces an activating conformational change in cryptochrome-2, resulting in recruitment of its binding partner CIB1. This binding is fast and reversible, achieving saturation in <15 sec following pulsed stimulation and returning to baseline <15 min after the end of stimulation. These rapid binding kinetics result in a system temporally bound only by the speed of transcription/translation and transcript/protein degradation, rather than uptake and clearance of inducing agents. Cryptochrome-2 activation is also highly sensitive, allowing for the use of low light intensity stimulation and mitigating the risks of phototoxicity. Further, in a context such as the intact mammalian brain, variable light intensity may be used to control the size of a stimulated region, allowing for greater precision than vector delivery alone may offer.

In particular embodiments, energy sources such as electromagnetic radiation, sound energy or thermal energy can induce the guide. Advantageously, the electromagnetic radiation is a component of visible light. In a preferred embodiment, the light is a blue light with a wavelength of about 450 to about 495 nm. In an especially preferred embodiment, the wavelength is about 488 nm. In another preferred embodiment, the light stimulation is via pulses. The light power may range from about 0-9 mW/cm 2 . In a preferred embodiment, a stimulation paradigm of as low as 0.25 sec every 15 sec should result in maximal activation.

In particular embodiments, the system is chemically inducible. Exemplary designs of chemical inducible systems include: 1. ABI-PYL based system inducible by Abscisic Acid (ABA) (see, e.g., stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sigtrans; 4/164/rs2), 2. FKBP-FRB based system inducible by rapamycin (or chemicals related based n rapamycin) (see, e.g., www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v2/n6/full/nmeth763.html), 3. GID1-GAI based system inducible by Gibberellin (GA) (see, e.g., www.nature.com/nchembio/journal/v8/n5/full/nchembio.922.html). Another chemical inducible system is an estrogen receptor (ER) based system inducible by 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT) (see, e.g., www.pnas.org/content/104/3/1027.abstract). A mutated ligand-binding domain of the estrogen receptor called ERT2 translocates into the nucleus of cells upon binding of 4-hydroxytamoxifen. In further embodiments of the invention any naturally occurring or engineered derivative of any nuclear receptor, thyroid hormone receptor, retinoic acid receptor, estrogen receptor, estrogen-related receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, progesterone receptor, androgen receptor may be used in inducible systems analogous to the ER based inducible system.

In particular embodiments, the chemical inducible system is based on change in sub-cellular localization. The polypeptide can include a DNA binding domain comprising at least five or more Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) monomers and at least one or more half-monomers specifically ordered to target the genomic locus of interest linked to at least one or more effector domains are further linker to a chemical or energy sensitive protein. This protein will lead to a change in the sub-cellular localization of the entire polypeptide (i.e. transportation of the entire polypeptide from cytoplasm into the nucleus of the cells) upon the binding of a chemical or energy transfer to the chemical or energy sensitive protein. This transportation of the entire polypeptide from one sub-cellular compartments or organelles, in which its activity is sequestered due to lack of substrate for the effector domain, into another one in which the substrate is present would allow the entire polypeptide to come in contact with its desired substrate (i.e. genomic DNA in the mammalian nucleus) and result in activation or repression of target gene expression.

Another inducible system is based on the design using Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel-based system inducible by energy, heat or radio-wave (see, e.g., www.sciencemag.org/content/336/6081/604). These TRP family proteins respond to different stimuli, including light and heat. When this protein is activated by light or heat, the ion channel will open and allow the entering of ions such as calcium into the plasma membrane. This influx of ions will bind to intracellular ion interacting partners linked to a polypeptide including the guide and the other components of the Cas9 CRISPR-Cas complex or system, and the binding will induce the change of sub-cellular localization of the polypeptide, leading to the entire polypeptide entering the nucleus of cells. Once inside the nucleus, the guide protein and the other components of the Cas9 CRISPR-Cas complex will be active and modulating target gene expression in cells. This type of system could also be used to induce the cleavage of a genomic locus of interest in a cell; and, in this regard, it is noted that the Cas9 enzyme is a nuclease. The light could be generated with a laser or other forms of energy sources. The heat could be generated by raise of temperature results from an energy source, or from nano-particles that release heat after absorbing energy from an energy source delivered in the form of radio-wave.

Photoinducibility provides the potential for spatial precision. Taking advantage of the development of optrode technology, a stimulating fiber optic lead may be placed in a precise brain region. Stimulation region size may then be tuned by light intensity. This may be done in conjunction with the delivery of the Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system or complex of the invention, or, in the case of transgenic Cas9 animals, guide RNA of the invention may be delivered and the optrode technology can allow for the modulation of gene expression in precise brain regions. A culture medium for culturing host cells includes a medium commonly used for tissue culture, such as M199-earle base, Eagle MEM (E-MEM), Dulbecco MEM (DMEM), SC-UCM102, UP-SFM (GIBCO BRL), EX-CELL302 (Nichirei), EX-CELL293-S(Nichirei), TFBM-01 (Nichirei), ASF104, among others. Suitable culture media for specific cell types may be found at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) or the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC). Culture media may be supplemented with amino acids such as L-glutamine, salts, anti-fungal or anti-bacterial agents such as Fungizone®, penicillin-streptomycin, animal serum, and the like. The cell culture medium may optionally be serum-free.

Temporal precision can also be achieved in vivo. This may be used to alter gene expression during a particular stage of development. This may be used to time a genetic cue to a particular experimental window. For example, genes implicated in learning may be overexpressed or repressed only during the learning stimulus in a precise region of the intact rodent or primate brain. Further, the invention may be used to induce gene expression changes only during particular stages of disease development. For example, an oncogene may be overexpressed only once a tumor reaches a particular size or metastatic stage. Conversely, proteins suspected in the development of Alzheimer's may be knocked down only at defined time points in the animal's life and within a particular brain region. Although these examples do not exhaustively list the potential applications of the invention, they highlight some of the areas in which the invention may be a powerful technology.

(c) Protected Guide RNAs

In one aspect, it is of interest to further enhance the specificity of Cas9 given individual guide RNAs through thermodynamic tuning of the binding specificity of the guide RNA to target DNA. This is a general approach of introducing mismatches, elongation or truncation of the guide sequence to increase/decrease the number of complimentary bases vs. mismatched bases shared between a genomic target and its potential off-target loci, in order to give thermodynamic advantage to targeted genomic loci over genomic off-targets. Thus it can be of interest to modify the guide sequence by secondary structure to increase the specificity of the Cas9 CRISPR-Cas system whereby the secondary structure can protect against exonuclease activity. This can be ensured by hybridizing a “protector RNA” to a guide sequence, wherein the “protector RNA” is an RNA strand complementary to 5′ end of the guide RNA (gRNA), to thereby generate a partially double-stranded gRNA. Protecting the mismatched bases with a perfectly complementary protector sequence decreases the likelihood of target DNA binding to the mismatched basepairs at 3′ end. In particular embodiments, additional sequences comprising an extended length may also be present. The principle of using protected guide RNAs is described in detail in WO/2016/094867, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Guide RNA (gRNA) extensions matching the genomic target provide gRNA protection and enhance specificity. Extension of the gRNA with matching sequence distal to the end of the spacer seed for individual genomic targets thus provides enhanced specificity. In particular embodiments, stable forms arise from protective states, where the extension forms a closed loop with the gRNA seed due to complimentary sequences in the spacer extension and the spacer seed. Thus, the protected guide concept also includes sequences matching the genomic target sequence distal of the 20mer spacer-binding region. Thermodynamic prediction can be used to predict completely matching or partially matching guide extensions that result in protected gRNA states as described in WO/2016/094867.

An extension sequence which corresponds to the extended length (ExL) may optionally be attached directly to the guide sequence at 3′ end of the protected guide sequence. The extension sequence may be 2 to 12 nucleotides in length. Preferably ExL may be denoted as 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 nucleotides in length. In a preferred embodiment the ExL is denoted as 0 or 4 nucleotides in length. In a more preferred embodiment the ExL is 4 nucleotides in length. The extension sequence may or may not be complementary to the target sequence. An extension sequence may further optionally be attached directly to the guide sequence at the 5′ end of the protected guide sequence as well as to the 3′ end of a protecting sequence. As a result, the extension sequence serves as a linking sequence between the protected sequence and the protecting sequence. Without wishing to be bound by theory, such a link may position the protecting sequence near the protected sequence for improved binding of the protecting sequence to the protected sequence.

(d) Formation of a RISC Through Guide Engineering

In some embodiments, the guide may be a protected guide (e.g. a pgRNA) or an escorted guide (e.g. an esgRNA) as described herein. Both of these, in some embodiments, make use of RISC. A RISC is a key component of RNAi. RISC(RNA-induced silencing complex) is a multiprotein, specifically a ribonucleoprotein, complex which incorporates one strand of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) fragment, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) or microRNA (miRNA), which acts as a template for RISC to recognize a complementary messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. The mRNA is thus cleaved by one of the components of the RISC.

As such, the formation of a RISC is advantageous in some embodiments. Guide RNAs according to various aspects of the present invention, including but not limited to protected and/or escorted guide RNAs, may be adapted to include RNA nucleotides that promote formation of a RISC, for example in combination with an siRNA or miRNA that may be provided or may, for instance, already be expressed in a cell. This may be useful, for instance, as a self-inactivating system to clear or degrade the guide.

Thus, the guide RNA may comprise a sequence complementary to a target miRNA or an siRNA, which may or may not be present within a cell. In this way, only when the miRNA or siRNA is present, for example through expression (by the cell or through human intervention), is there binding of the RNA sequence to the miRNA or siRNA which then results in cleavage of the guide RNA an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) within the cell. Therefore, in some embodiments, the guide RNA comprises an RNA sequence complementary to a target miRNA or siRNA, and binding of the guide RNA sequence to the target miRNA or siRNA results in cleavage of the guide RNA by an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) within the cell.

RISC formation through use of escorted guides is described in WO2016094874, RISC formation through use of protected guides is described in WO/2016/094867.

(e) Use of Inducible Systems

In an aspect the invention provides a (non-naturally occurring or engineered) inducible CRISPR protein according to the invention as described herein (CRISPR-Cas system), comprising: a first CRISPR protein fusion construct attached to a first half of an inducible dimer and a second CRISPR protein fusion construct attached to a second half of the inducible dimer,

wherein the first Cas9 fusion construct is operably linked to one or more nuclear localization signals, wherein the second CRISPR protein fusion construct is operably linked to one or more nuclear export signals, wherein contact with an inducer energy source brings the first and second halves of the inducible dimer together, wherein bringing the first and second halves of the inducible dimer together allows the first and second CRISPR protein fusion constructs to constitute a functional CRISPR protein (optionally wherein the CRISPR-Cas system comprises a guide RNA (gRNA) comprising a guide sequence capable of hybridizing to a target sequence in a genomic locus of interest in a cell, and wherein the functional CRISPR-Cas system binds to the target sequence and, optionally, edits the genomic locus to alter gene expression).

In an aspect of the invention in the inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the inducible dimer is or comprises or consists essentially of or consists of an inducible heterodimer. In an aspect, in inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the first half or a first portion or a first fragment of the inducible heterodimer is or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of an FKBP, optionally FKBP12. In an aspect of the invention, in the inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the second half or a second portion or a second fragment of the inducible heterodimer is or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of FRB. In an aspect of the invention, in the inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the arrangement of the first CRISPR fusion construct is or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of N′ terminal CRISPR part-FRB-NES. In an aspect of the invention, in the inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the arrangement of the first CRISP fusion construct is or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of NES-N′ terminal CRISP part-FRB-NES. In an aspect of the invention, in the inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the arrangement of the second CRISP fusion construct is or comprises or consists essentially of or consists of C′ terminal CRISP part-FKBP-NLS. In an aspect the invention provides in the inducible CRISPR-Cas-Cas system, the arrangement of the second CRISP fusion construct is or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of NLS-C′ terminal CRISP part-FKBP-NLS. In an aspect, in inducible CRISPR-Cas system there can be a linker that separates the CRISP part from the half or portion or fragment of the inducible dimer. In an aspect, in the inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the inducer energy source is or comprises or consists essentially of or consists of rapamycin. In an aspect, in inducible CRISPR-Cas system, the inducible dimer is an inducible homodimer.

In an aspect, the invention provides a (non-naturally occurring or engineered) inducible CRISPR-Cas system, comprising: a first CRISPR fusion construct attached to a first half of an inducible heterodimer and a second CRISPR fusion construct attached to a second half of the inducible heterodimer, wherein the first CRISPR fusion construct is operably linked to one or more nuclear localization signals, wherein the second CRISPR fusion construct is operably linked to a nuclear export signal, wherein contact with an inducer energy source brings the first and second halves of the inducible heterodimer together, wherein bringing the first and second halves of the inducible heterodimer together allows the first and second CRISPR fusion constructs to constitute a functional CRISPR (optionally wherein the CRISPR-Cas system comprises a guide RNA (gRNA) comprising a guide sequence capable of hybridizing to a target sequence in a genomic locus of interest in a cell, and wherein the functional CRISPR-Cas system edits the genomic locus to alter gene expression).

Accordingly, the invention comprehends inter alia homodimers as well as heterodimers, dead-CRISPR or CRISPR protein having essentially no nuclease activity, e.g., through mutation, systems or complexes wherein there is one or more NLS and/or one or more NES; functional domain(s) linked to split Cas9; methods, including methods of treatment, and uses.

An inducer energy source may be considered to be simply an inducer or a dimerizing agent. The term ‘inducer energy source’ is used herein throughout for consistency. The inducer energy source (or inducer) acts to reconstitute the enzyme. In some embodiments, the inducer energy source brings the two parts of the enzyme together through the action of the two halves of the inducible dimer. The two halves of the inducible dimer therefore are brought tougher in the presence of the inducer energy source. The two halves of the dimer will not form into the dimer (dimerize) without the inducer energy source.

Thus, the two halves of the inducible dimer cooperate with the inducer energy source to dimerize the dimer. This in turn reconstitutes the CRISPR by bringing the first and second parts of the CRISPR together.

The CRISPR protein fusion constructs each comprise one part of the split CRISPR protein. These are fused, preferably via a linker such as a GlySer linker described herein, to one of the two halves of the dimer. The two halves of the dimer may be substantially the same two monomers that together that form the homodimer, or they may be different monomers that together form the heterodimer. As such, the two monomers can be thought of as one half of the full dimer.

The CRISPR protein is split in the sense that the two parts of the CRISPR protein enzyme substantially comprise a functioning CRISPR protein. That CRISPR protein may function as a genome editing enzyme (when forming a complex with the target DNA and the guide), such as a nickase or a nuclease (cleaving both strands of the DNA), or it may be a dead-CRISPR protein which is essentially a DNA-binding protein with very little or no catalytic activity, due to typically mutation(s) in its catalytic domains.

The two parts of the split CRISPR protein can be thought of as the N′ terminal part and the C′ terminal part of the split CRISPR protein. The fusion is typically at the split point of the CRISPR protein. In other words, the C′ terminal of the N′ terminal part of the split CRISPR protein is fused to one of the dimer halves, whilst the N′ terminal of the C′ terminal part is fused to the other dimer half.

The CRISPR protein does not have to be split in the sense that the break is newly created. The split point is typically designed in silico and cloned into the constructs. Together, the two parts of the split CRISPR protein, the N′ terminal and C′ terminal parts, form a full CRISPR protein, comprising preferably at least 70% or more of the wildtype amino acids (or nucleotides encoding them), preferably at least 80% or more, preferably at least 90% or more, preferably at least 95% or more, and most preferably at least 99% or more of the wildtype amino acids (or nucleotides encoding them). Some trimming may be possible, and mutants are envisaged. Non-functional domains may be removed entirely. What is important is that the two parts may be brought together and that the desired CRISPR protein function is restored or reconstituted.

The dimer may be a homodimer or a heterodimer.

One or more, preferably two, NLSs may be used in operable linkage to the first CRISPR protein construct. One or more, preferably two, NESs may be used in operable linkage to the first Cas9 construct. The NLSs and/or the NESs preferably flank the split Cas9-dimer (i.e., half dimer) fusion, i.e., one NLS may be positioned at the N′ terminal of the first CRISPR protein construct and one NLS may be at the C′ terminal of the first CRISPR protein construct. Similarly, one NES may be positioned at the N′ terminal of the second CRISPR construct and one NES may be at the C′ terminal of the second CRISPR construct. Where reference is made to N′ or C′ terminals, it will be appreciated that these correspond to 5′ and 3′ ends in the corresponding nucleotide sequence.

A preferred arrangement is that the first CRISPR protein construct is arranged 5′-NLS-(N′ terminal CRISPR protein part)-linker-(first half of the dimer)-NLS-3′. A preferred arrangement is that the second CRISPR protein construct is arranged 5′-NES—(second half of the dimer)-linker-(C′ terminal CRISPR protein part)-NES-3′. A suitable promoter is preferably upstream of each of these constructs. The two constructs may be delivered separately or together.

In some embodiments, one or all of the NES(s) in operable linkage to the second Cas9 construct may be swapped out for an NLS. However, this may be typically not preferred and, in other embodiments, the localization signal in operable linkage to the second Cas9 construct is one or more NES(s).

It will also be appreciated that the NES may be operably linked to the N′ terminal fragment of the split CRISPR protein and that the NLS may be operably linked to the C′ terminal fragment of the split CRISPR protein. However, the arrangement where the NLS is operably linked to the N′ terminal fragment of the split Cas9 and that the NES is operably linked to the C′ terminal fragment of the split CRISPR protein may be preferred.

The NES functions to localize the second CRISPR protein fusion construct outside of the nucleus, at least until the inducer energy source is provided (e.g., at least until an energy source is provided to the inducer to perform its function). The presence of the inducer stimulates dimerization of the two CRISPR protein fusions within the cytoplasm and makes it thermodynamically worthwhile for the dimerized, first and second, CRISPR protein fusions to localize to the nucleus. Without being bound by theory, Applicants believe that the NES sequesters the second CRISPR protein fusion to the cytoplasm (i.e., outside of the nucleus). The NLS on the first CRISPR protein fusion localizes it to the nucleus. In both cases, Applicants use the NES or NLS to shift an equilibrium (the equilibrium of nuclear transport) to a desired direction. The dimerization typically occurs outside of the nucleus (a very small fraction might happen in the nucleus) and the NLSs on the dimerized complex shift the equilibrium of nuclear transport to nuclear localization, so the dimerized and hence reconstituted CRISPR protein enters the nucleus.

Beneficially, Applicants are able to reconstitute function in the split CRISPR protein. Transient transfection is used to prove the concept and dimerization occurs in the background in the presence of the inducer energy source. No activity is seen with separate fragments of the CRISPR protein. Stable expression through lentiviral delivery is then used to develop this and show that a split CRISPR protein approach can be used.

This present split CRISPR protein approach is beneficial as it allows the CRISPR protein activity to be inducible, thus allowing for temporal control. Furthermore, different localization sequences may be used (i.e., the NES and NLS as preferred) to reduce background activity from auto-assembled complexes. Tissue specific promoters, for example one for each of the first and second CRISPR protein fusion constructs, may also be used for tissue-specific targeting, thus providing spatial control. Two different tissue specific promoters may be used to exert a finer degree of control if required. The same approach may be used in respect of stage-specific promoters or there may a mixture of stage and tissue specific promoters, where one of the first and second Cas9 fusion constructs is under the control of (i.e. operably linked to or comprises) a tissue-specific promoter, whilst the other of the first and second Cas9 fusion constructs is under the control of (i.e. operably linked to or comprises) a stage-specific promoter.

The inducible CRISPR protein CRISPR-Cas system comprises one or more nuclear localization sequences (NLSs), as described herein, for example as operably linked to the first CRISPR protein fusion construct. These nuclear localization sequences are ideally of sufficient strength to drive accumulation of said first CRISPR protein fusion construct in a detectable amount in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that a nuclear localization sequence is not necessary for CRISPR-Cas complex activity in eukaryotes, but that including such sequences enhances activity of the system, especially as to targeting nucleic acid molecules in the nucleus, and assists with the operation of the present 2-part system.

Equally, the second CRISPR protein fusion construct is operably linked to a nuclear export sequence (NES). Indeed, it may be linked to one or more nuclear export sequences. In other words, the number of export sequences used with the second CRISPR protein fusion construct is preferably 1 or 2 or 3. Typically 2 is preferred, but 1 is enough and so is preferred in some embodiments. Suitable examples of NLS and NES are known in the art. For example, a preferred nuclear export signal (NES) is human protein tyrosin kinase 2. Preferred signals will be species specific.

Where the FRB and FKBP system are used, the FKBP is preferably flanked by nuclear localization sequences (NLSs). Where the FRB and FKBP system are used, the preferred arrangement is N′ terminal CRISPR protein-FRB-NES: C′ terminal Cas9-FKBP-NLS. Thus, the first CRISPR protein fusion construct would comprise the C′ terminal CRISPR protein part and the second CRISPR protein fusion construct would comprise the N′ terminal CRISPR protein part.

Another beneficial aspect to the present invention is that it may be turned on quickly, i.e. that is has a rapid response. It is believed, without being bound by theory, that CRISPR protein activity can be induced through dimerization of existing (already present) fusion constructs (through contact with the inducer energy source) more rapidly than through the expression (especially translation) of new fusion constructs. As such, the first and second CRISPR protein fusion constructs may be expressed in the target cell ahead of time, i.e. before CRISPR protein activity is required. CRISPR protein activity can then be temporally controlled and then quickly constituted through addition of the inducer energy source, which ideally acts more quickly (to dimerize the heterodimer and thereby provide CRISPR protein activity) than through expression (including induction of transcription) of CRISPR protein delivered by a vector, for example.

Applicants demonstrate that CRISPR protein can be split into two components, which reconstitute a functional nuclease when brought back together. Employing rapamycin sensitive dimerization domains, Applicants generate a chemically inducible CRISPR protein for temporal control of CRISPR protein-mediated genome editing and transcription modulation. Put another way, Applicants demonstrate that CRISPR protein can be rendered chemically inducible by being split into two fragments and that rapamycin-sensitive dimerization domains may be used for controlled reassembly of the CRISPR protein. Applicants show that the re-assembled CRISPR protein may be used to mediate genome editing (through nuclease/nickase activity) as well as transcription modulation (as a DNA-binding domain, the so-called “dead CRISPR protein”).

As such, the use of rapamycin-sensitive dimerization domains is preferred. Reassembly of the CRISPR protein is preferred. Reassembly can be determined by restoration of binding activity. Where the CRISPR protein is a nickase or induces a double-strand break, suitable comparison percentages compared to a wildtype are described herein.

Rapamycin treatments can last 12 days. The dose can be 200 nM. This temporal and/or molar dosage is an example of an appropriate dose for Human embryonic kidney 293FT (HEK293FT) cell lines and this may also be used in other cell lines. This figure can be extrapolated out for therapeutic use in vivo into, for example, mg/kg. However, it is also envisaged that the standard dosage for administering rapamycin to a subject is used here as well. By the “standard dosage”, it is meant the dosage under rapamycin's normal therapeutic use or primary indication (i.e. the dose used when rapamycin is administered for use to prevent organ rejection).

It is noteworthy that the preferred arrangement of CRISPR protein-FRB/FKBP pieces are separate and inactive until rapamycin-induced dimerization of FRB and FKBP results in reassembly of a functional full-length CRISPR protein nuclease. Thus, it is preferred that first CRISPR protein fusion construct attached to a first half of an inducible heterodimer is delivered separately and/or is localized separately from the second Cas9 fusion construct attached to a first half of an inducible heterodimer.

To sequester the CRISPR protein (N)-FRB fragment in the cytoplasm, where it is less likely to dimerize with the nuclear-localized Cas9 (C)-FKBP fragment, it is preferable to use on CRISPR protein (N)-FRB a single nuclear export sequence (NES) from the human protein tyrosin kinase 2 (CRISPR protein (N)-FRB-NES). In the presence of rapamycin, CRISPR protein (N)-FRB-NES dimerizes with CRISPR protein (C)-FKBP-2xNLS to reconstitute a complete CRISPR protein, which shifts the balance of nuclear trafficking toward nuclear import and allows DNA targeting.

In some embodiments, a CRISPR enzyme may form a component of an inducible system. The inducible nature of the system would allow for spatiotemporal control of gene editing or gene expression using a form of energy. The form of energy may include but is not limited to electromagnetic radiation, sound energy, chemical energy and thermal energy. Examples of inducible system include tetracycline inducible promoters (Tet-On or Tet-Off), small molecule two-hybrid transcription activations systems (FKBP, ABA, etc), or light inducible systems (Phytochrome, LOV domains, or cryptochrome). In one embodiment, the CRISPR enzyme may be a part of a Light Inducible Transcriptional Effector (LITE) to direct changes in transcriptional activity in a sequence-specific manner. The components of a light may include a CRISPR enzyme, a light-responsive cytochrome heterodimer (e.g. from Arabidopsis thaliana ), and a transcriptional activation/repression domain. Further examples of inducible DNA binding proteins and methods for their use are provided in U.S. 61/736,465 and U.S. 61/721,283, and WO 2014/018423 A2 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

(f) Use of Inducible/Split Effector Enzymes

In some aspects or embodiments, an inducible system for providing a CRISPR protein may be used. In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein is capable, in the presence of an inducer energy source, of forming a CRISPR complex with a target sequence and polynucleotides engineered to complex with the CRISPR protein and the target sequence. In some embodiments, the inducible system comprises: a first fusion protein, or polynucleotides encoding it; and a second fusion protein, or polynucleotides encoding it. In some embodiments, the first fusion protein comprises a first portion of the CRISPR protein, a first half of an inducible dimer and one or more Nuclear Localisation Sequences (NLS); and the second fusion protein comprises a second portion of the CRISPR protein, a second half of the inducible dimer and one or more Nuclear Export Sequences (NES). In some embodiments, contact with the inducer energy source brings the first and second portions of the inducible dimer together, so as to bring the first and second portions of the CRISPR protein together, such that the CRISPR protein is thereby capable of forming the CRISPR complex. In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein or the CRISPR system is inducible. In some embodiments, the CRISPR protein may be provided as a single ‘part.’ In some embodiments, delivery of the CRISPR protein is in protein (including in RNP complex with the polynucleotides) or in nucleotide form (including in mRNA form). In some embodiments, polynucleotides encoding the first fusion protein and polynucleotides encoding second fusion protein are provided on same or different constructs. WO2015/089427 describes an inducible CRISPR-Cas system based on an inducible dimer, which can be a homodimer or heterodimer. The system is also described in Zetsche et al. (Nature Biotechnology 33:139-142 (2015) DOI: doi: 10.1038/nbt.3149). Basically, the CRISPR effector protein is split into two parts, each of which is fused to one half of an inducible dimer, whereby contact with an inducer energy source brings the first and second halves of the inducible dimer together, and bringing the first and second halves of the inducible dimer together allows the first and second CRISPR effector fusion constructs to constitute a functional CRISPR-Cas system, wherein the CRISPR-Cas system comprises a guide RNA (gRNA) comprising a guide sequence capable of hybridizing to a target sequence in a genomic locus of interest in a cell, and wherein the functional CRISPR-Cas system binds to the genomic locus. In particular embodiments, the functional CRISPR-Cas system edits the genomic locus to alter gene expression. In particular embodiments the first half is an FKBP and the second half is an FRB. An inducer energy source may be considered to be simply an inducer or a dimerizing agent as it acts to reconstitute the CRISPR effector protein.

Examples of inducers include light and hormones. A preferred example of first and second light-inducible dimer halves is the CIB1 and CRY2 system. The CIB1 domain is a heterodimeric binding partner of the light-sensitive Cryptochrome 2 (CRY2). In another example, the blue light-responsive Magnet dimerization system (pMag and nMag) may be fused to the two parts of a split Cas9 protein. In response to light stimulation, pMag and nMag dimerize and Cas9 reassembles. For example, such system is described in connection with Cas9 in Nihongaki et al. (Nat. Biotechnol. 33, 755-790, 2015). The inducer energy source may be heat, ultrasound, electromagnetic energy or chemical. In a preferred embodiment the inducer energy source may be an antibiotic, a small molecule, a hormone, a hormone derivative, a steroid or a steroid derivative. In a more preferred embodiment, the inducer energy source may be abscisic acid (ABA), doxycycline (DOX), cumate, rapamycin, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT), estrogen or ecdysone. The at least one switch may be selected from the group consisting of antibiotic based inducible systems, electromagnetic energy based inducible systems, small molecule based inducible systems, nuclear receptor based inducible systems and hormone based inducible systems. In a more preferred embodiment the at least one switch may be selected from the group consisting of tetracycline (Tet)/DOX inducible systems, light inducible systems, ABA inducible systems, cumate repressor/operator systems, 4OHT/estrogen inducible systems, ecdysone-based inducible systems and FKBP12/FRAP (FKBP12-rapamycin complex) inducible systems. Such inducers are also discussed herein and in PCT/US2013/051418, incorporated herein by reference.

Also, it is described in WO2015/089427 that the half of an inducible dimer can be linked to the effector protein with a linker. Optionally the CRISPR effector protein has reduced or no nuclease activity, e.g. contains one or more inactivating mutations. Further it is described that one or more functional domains can be associated with one or both parts of the effector protein, WO2015/089427 identifies split points within SpCas9 (such as in FIG. 1 ), incorporated herein by reference.

For orthologues, it should be readily apparent what the corresponding position for a potential split site is, for example, based on a sequence alignment. One can use the crystal structure of an ortholog if a relatively high degree of homology exists between the ortholog and the intended Cas9, or one can use computational prediction.

Further it is described that the first and second fusion constructs of the CRISPR effector protein can be delivered in the same or separate vectors. In particular embodiments, a first half of the inducible dimer is fused to one or more nuclear localization constructs while the second half is fused to one or more nuclear export signals.

The therapeutic methods which involve the use of the inducible dimer comprise the step of administering the vectors comprising the first and second fusion constructs to the subject and administering an inducer energy source to the subject. In particular embodiments, the inducer energy source is rapamycin. It is further envisaged that the methods can involve administering, a repair template, in the same or a different vector as the inducible dimer fragments. An exemplary treatment regimen with Rapamycin can last 12 days.

The use of the split Cas9 effector protein system described herein allows a further control of the CRISPR-Cas activity. More particularly the use of an inducible system allows for temporal control. In addition, the use of different localization sequences (i.e., the NES and NLS as preferred) can reduce background activity from auto-assembled complexes. Tissue specific promoters, allow for spatial control. Two different tissue specific promoters may be used to exert a finer degree of control if required.

f) Use of Self-Inactivating Systems

Once all copies of a gene in the genome of a cell have been edited, continued CRISPR/Cas9 expression in that cell is no longer necessary. Indeed, sustained expression is undesirable to avoid off-target effects and other toxicity issues. WO 2015089351 describes self-Inactivating CRISPR systems which rely on the use of a non-coding guide target sequence within the CRISPR vector itself. Thus, after expression begins, the CRISPR system will lead to its own destruction, but before destruction is complete it will have time to edit the genomic copies of the target gene (which, with a normal point mutation in a diploid cell, requires at most two edits). Accordingly, the methods may involve the use of a self inactivating CRISPR-Cas system which includes one additional RNA (i.e., guide RNA) that targets the coding sequence for the CRISPR enzyme itself or that targets one or more non-coding guide target sequences complementary to unique sequences present in within the promoter driving expression of the non-coding RNA elements, within the promoter driving expression of the Cas9 gene, within 100 bp of the ATG translational start codon in the Cas9 coding sequence, or within the inverted terminal repeat (iTR) of a viral delivery vector, e.g., in the AAV genome.

Similarly, self-inactivating systems which make use of “governing guides” are exemplified in relation to Cas9 in US2015232881A1 (also published as WO2015070083 (A1) referenced elsewhere herein and incorporated herein by reference, and may be extrapolated to Cas9. More particularly Methods and compositions that use, or include, a nucleic acid, e.g., a DNA, that encodes a Cas9 molecule or a gRNA molecule, can, in addition, use or include a “governing gRNA molecule.” The governing gRNA molecule can complex with the Cas9 molecule to inactivate or silence a component of a Cas9 system. The additional gRNA molecule, referred to herein as a governing gRNA molecule, comprises a targeting domain which targets a component of the Cas9 system. In an embodiment, the governing gRNA molecule targets and silences (1) a nucleic acid that encodes a Cas9 molecule (i.e., a Cas9-targeting gRNA molecule), (2) a nucleic acid that encodes a gRNA molecule (i.e., a gRNA-targeting gRNA molecule), or (3) a nucleic acid sequence engineered into the Cas9 components that is designed with minimal homology to other nucleic acid sequences in the cell to minimize off-target cleavage (i.e., an engineered control sequence-targeting gRNA molecule).

The targeting sequence for the governing gRNA can be selected to increase regulation or control of the Cas9 system and/or to reduce or minimize off-target effects of the system. For example, a governing gRNA can minimize undesirable cleavage, e.g., “recleavage” after Cas9 mediated alteration of a target nucleic acid or off-target cutting of Cas9, by inactivating (e.g., cleaving) a nucleic acid that encodes a Cas9 molecule. In an embodiment, a governing gRNA places temporal or other limit(s) on the level of expression or activity of the Cas9 molecule/gRNA molecule complex. In an embodiment, the governing gRNA reduces off-target or other unwanted activity.

The additional guide RNA can be delivered via a vector, e.g., a separate vector or the same vector that is encoding the CRISPR complex. When provided by a separate vector, the CRISPR RNA that targets Cas9 expression can be administered sequentially or simultaneously. When administered sequentially, the CRISPR RNA that targets Cas9 expression is to be delivered after the CRISPR RNA that is intended for e.g. gene editing or gene engineering. This period may be a period of minutes (e.g. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes). This period may be a period of hours (e.g. 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours). This period may be a period of days (e.g. 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 7 days). This period may be a period of weeks (e.g. 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks). This period may be a period of months (e.g. 2 months, 4 months, 8 months, 12 months). This period may be a period of years (2 years, 3 years, 4 years). In this fashion, the Cas enzyme associates with a first gRNA capable of hybridizing to a first target, such as a genomic locus or loci of interest and undertakes the function(s) desired of the CRISPR-Cas system (e.g., gene engineering); and subsequently the Cas9 enzyme may then associate with the second gRNA capable of hybridizing to the sequence comprising at least part of the Cas9 or CRISPR cassette. Where the gRNA targets the sequences encoding expression of the Cas9 protein, the enzyme becomes impeded and the system becomes self inactivating. In the same manner, CRISPR RNA that targets Cas9 expression applied via, for example liposome, lipofection, nanoparticles, microvesicles as explained herein, may be administered sequentially or simultaneously. Similarly, self-inactivation may be used for inactivation of one or more guide RNA used to target one or more targets.

In some embodiments, a single gRNA is provided that is capable of hybridization to a sequence downstream of a CRISPR enzyme start codon, whereby after a period of time there is a loss of the CRISPR enzyme expression. In some embodiments, one or more gRNA(s) are provided that are capable of hybridization to one or more coding or non-coding regions of the polynucleotide encoding the CRISPR-Cas system, whereby after a period of time there is an inactivation of one or more, or in some cases all, of the CRISPR-Cas systems. In some aspects of the system, and not to be limited by theory, the cell may comprise a plurality of CRISPR-Cas complexes, wherein a first subset of CRISPR complexes comprise a first chiRNA capable of targeting a genomic locus or loci to be edited, and a second subset of CRISPR complexes comprise at least one second chiRNA capable of targeting the polynucleotide encoding the CRISPR-Cas system, wherein the first subset of CRISPR-Cas complexes mediate editing of the targeted genomic locus or loci and the second subset of CRISPR complexes eventually inactivate the CRISPR-Cas system, thereby inactivating further CRISPR-Cas expression in the cell.

Thus the invention provides a CRISPR-Cas system comprising one or more vectors for delivery to a eukaryotic cell, wherein the vector(s) encode(s): (i) a CRISPR enzyme; (ii) a first guide RNA capable of hybridizing to a target sequence in the cell; (iii) a second guide RNA capable of hybridizing to one or more target sequence(s) in the vector which encodes the CRISPR enzyme; (iv) at least one tracr mate sequence; and (v) at least one tracr sequence. The first and second complexes can use the same tracr and tracr mate, thus differing only by the guide sequence, wherein, when expressed within the cell: the first guide RNA directs sequence-specific binding of a first CRISPR complex to the target sequence in the cell; the second guide RNA directs sequence-specific binding of a second CRISPR complex to the target sequence in the vector which encodes the CRISPR enzyme; the CRISPR complexes comprise (a) a tracr mate sequence hybridised to a tracr sequence and (b) a CRISPR enzyme bound to a guide RNA, such that a guide RNA can hybridize to its target sequence; and the second CRISPR complex inactivates the CRISPR-Cas system to prevent continued expression of the CRISPR enzyme by the cell. The CRISPR enzyme can be Cas9, particularly SpCas9, SaCas9, or StCas9.

Further characteristics of the vector(s), the encoded enzyme, the guide sequences, etc. are disclosed elsewhere herein. For instance, one or both of the guide sequence(s) can be part of a chiRNA sequence which provides the guide, tracr mate and tracr sequences within a single RNA, such that the system can encode (i) a CRISPR enzyme; (ii) a first chiRNA comprising a sequence capable of hybridizing to a first target sequence in the cell, a first tracr mate sequence, and a first tracr sequence; (iii) a second guide RNA capable of hybridizing to the vector which encodes the CRISPR enzyme, a second tracr mate sequence, and a second tracr sequence. Similarly, the enzyme can include one or more NLS, etc.

The various coding sequences (CRISPR enzyme, guide RNAs, tracr and tracr mate) can be included on a single vector or on multiple vectors. For instance, it is possible to encode the enzyme on one vector and the various RNA sequences on another vector, or to encode the enzyme and one chiRNA on one vector, and the remaining chiRNA on another vector, or any other permutation. In general, a system using a total of one or two different vectors is preferred.

Where multiple vectors are used, it is possible to deliver them in unequal numbers, and ideally with an excess of a vector which encodes the first guide RNA relative to the second guide RNA, thereby assisting in delaying final inactivation of the CRISPR system until genome editing has had a chance to occur.

Thus the target sequence in the vector must be capable of inactivating expression of the CRISPR effector protein. Suitable target sequences can be, for instance, near to or within the translational start codon for the Cas9 coding sequence, in a non-coding sequence in the promoter driving expression of the non-coding RNA elements, within the promoter driving expression of the Cas9 gene, within 100 bp of the ATG translational start codon in the Cas9 coding sequence, and/or within the inverted terminal repeat (iTR) of a viral delivery vector, e.g., in the AAV genome. A double stranded break near this region can induce a frame shift in the Cas9 coding sequence, causing a loss of protein expression. An alternative target sequence for the “self-inactivating” guide RNA would aim to edit/inactivate regulatory regions/sequences needed for the expression of the CRISPR-Cas9 system or for the stability of the vector. For instance, if the promoter for the Cas9 coding sequence is disrupted then transcription can be inhibited or prevented. Similarly, if a vector includes sequences for replication, maintenance or stability then it is possible to target these. For instance, in a AAV vector a useful target sequence is within the iTR. Other useful sequences to target can be promoter sequences, polyadenylation sites, etc.

Furthermore, if the guide RNAs are expressed in array format, the “self-inactivating” guide RNAs that target both promoters simultaneously will result in the excision of the intervening nucleotides from within the CRISPR-Cas expression construct, effectively leading to its complete inactivation. Similarly, excision of the intervening nucleotides will result where the guide RNAs target both ITRs, or targets two or more other CRISPR-Cas components simultaneously. Self-inactivation as explained herein is applicable, in general, with CRISPR-Cas9 systems in order to provide regulation of the CRISPR-Cas9. For example, self-inactivation as explained herein may be applied to the CRISPR repair of mutations, for example expansion disorders, as explained herein. As a result of this self-inactivation, CRISPR repair is only transiently active.

Addition of non-targeting nucleotides to 5′ end (e.g. 1-10 nucleotides, preferably 1-5 nucleotides) of the “self-inactivating” guide RNA can be used to delay its processing and/or modify its efficiency as a means of ensuring editing at the targeted genomic locus prior to CRISPR-Cas9 shutdown.

In one aspect of the self-inactivating AAV-CRISPR-Cas9 system, plasmids that co-express one or more sgRNA targeting genomic sequences of interest (e.g. 1-2, 1-5, 1-10, 1-15, 1-20, 1-30) may be established with “self-inactivating” sgRNAs that target an SpCas9 sequence at or near the engineered ATG start site (e.g. within 5 nucleotides, within 15 nucleotides, within 30 nucleotides, within 50 nucleotides, within 100 nucleotides). A regulatory sequence in the U6 promoter region can also be targeted with an sgRNA. The U6-driven sgRNAs may be designed in an array format such that multiple sgRNA sequences can be simultaneously released. When first delivered into target tissue/cells (left cell) sgRNAs begin to accumulate while Cas9 levels rise in the nucleus. Cas9 complexes with all of the sgRNAs to mediate genome editing and self-inactivation of the CRISPR-Cas9 plasmids.

One aspect of a self-inactivating CRISPR-Cas9 system is expression of singly or in tandem array format from 1 up to 4 or more different guide sequences; e.g. up to about 20 or about 30 guides sequences. Each individual self inactivating guide sequence may target a different target. Such may be processed from, e.g. one chimeric pol3 transcript. Pol3 promoters such as U6 or H1 promoters may be used. Pol2 promoters such as those mentioned throughout herein. Inverted terminal repeat (iTR) sequences may flank the Pol3 promoter—sgRNA(s)-Pol2 promoter-Cas9.

In particular embodiments one or more guide(s) edit the one or more target(s) while one or more self inactivating guides inactivate the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Thus, for example, the described CRISPR-Cas9 system for repairing expansion disorders may be directly combined with the self-inactivating CRISPR-Cas9 system described herein. Such a system may, for example, have two guides directed to the target region for repair as well as at least a third guide directed to self-inactivation of the CRISPR-Cas9. Reference is made to Application Ser. No. PCT/US2014/069897, entitled “Compositions And Methods Of Use Of Crispr-Cas Systems In Nucleotide Repeat Disorders,” published Dec. 12, 2014 as WO/2015/089351.

In particular embodiments, the gene editing systems described herein are placed under the control of a passcode kill switch, which is a mechanism which efficiently kills the host cell when the conditions of the cell are altered. This is ensured by introducing hybrid LacI-GalR family transcription factors, which require the presence of IPTG to be switched on (Chan et al. 2015 Nature Nature Chemical Biology doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1979 which can be used to drive a gene encoding an enzyme critical for cell-survival. By combining different transcription factors sensitive to different chemicals, a “code” can be generated, This system can be used to spatially and temporally control the extent of CRISPR-induced genetic modifications, which can be of interest in different fields including therapeutic applications and may also be of interest to avoid the “escape” of GMOs from their intended environment.

g) Use of “Off-Switches” and “On-Switches”

In particular embodiments, it may be possible to make use of specific inhibitors and/or agonist of Cas9. Off-switches and On-switches may be any molecules (i.e. peptides, proteins, small molecules, nucleic acids) capable of interfering with any aspect of the Cas9 effector protein. For instance, Pawluck et al. 2016 (Cell 167, 1-10) describe mobile elements from bacteria that encode protein inhibitors of Cas9. Three families of anti-CRISPRs were found to inhibit N. meningitidis Cas9 in vivo and in vitro. The anti-CRISPRs bind directly to NmeCas9. These proteins are described to be potent “off-switches” for NmeCas9 genome editing in human cells. Methods for identifying small molecules which affect efficiency of Cas9 are described for example by Yu et al. (Cell Stem Cell 16, 142-147, 2015). In certain embodiments small molecules may be used for control Cas9. Maji et al. describe a small molecule-regulated protein degron domain to control Cas9 system editing. Maji et al. “Multidimensional chemical control of CRISPR-Cas9” Nature Chemical Biology (2017) 13:9-12. In certain example embodiments, the inhibitor may be a bacteriophage derived protein. See Rauch et al. “Inhibition of CRISPR-Cas9 with Bacteriophage Proteins” Cell (2017) 168 (2): 150-158. In certain example embodiments, the anti-CRISPR may inhibit CRISPR-Cas systems by binding to guide molecules. See Shin et al. “Disabling Cas9 by an anti-CRISPR DNA mimic” bioRxiv, Apr. 22, 2017, doi: dx.doi.org/10.1101/129627.

In particular embodiments, intracellular DNA is removed by genetically encoded DNai which responds to a transcriptional input and degrades user-defined DNA as described in Caliendo & Voigt, Nature Communications 6:6989 (2015).

Efficacy

1. Selection of Most Active Enzyme

Enzyme Stability

The level of expression of a protein is dependent on many factors, including the quantity of mRNA, its stability and rates of ribosome initiation. The stability or degradation of mRNA is an important factor. Several strategies have been described to increase mRNA stability. One aspect is codon-optimization. It has been found that GC-rich genes are expressed several-fold to over a 100-fold more efficiently than their GC-poor counterparts. This effect could be directly attributed to increased steady-state mRNA levels, and more particularly to efficient transcription or mRNA processing (not decreased degradation) (Kudla et al. Plos Biology dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0040180). Also, it has been found that ribosomal density has a significant effect on the transcript half-life. More particularly, it was found that an increase in stability can be achieved through the incorporation of nucleotide sequences that are capable of forming secondary structures, which often recruit ribosomes, which impede mRNA degrading enzymes. WO2011/141027 describes that slowly-read codons can be positioned in such a way as to cause high ribosome occupancy across a critical region of 5′ end of the mRNA can increase the half-life of a message by as much as 25%, and produce a similar uplift in protein production. In contrast, positioning even a single slow-read codon before this critical region can significantly destabilise the mRNA and result in an attenuation of protein expression. This understanding enables the design of mRNAs so as to suit the desired functionality. In addition, chemical modifications such as those described for guide sequences herein can be envisaged to increase mRNA stability.

2. Selection of Most Active Guide

Guide Stability

In certain embodiments, the methods make use of chemically modified guide RNAs. Examples of guide RNA chemical modifications include, without limitation, incorporation of 2′-O-methyl (M), 2′-O-methyl 3′phosphorothioate (MS), or 2′-O-methyl 3′thioPACE (MSP) at one or more terminal nucleotides. Such chemically modified guide RNAs can comprise increased stability and increased activity as compared to unmodified guide RNAs, though on-target vs. off-target specificity is not predictable. (See, Hendel, 2015, Nat Biotechnol. 33 (9): 985-9, doi: 10.1038/nbt.3290, published online 29 Jun. 2015). Chemically modified guide RNAs further include, without limitation, RNAs with phosphorothioate linkages and locked nucleic acid (LNA) nucleotides comprising a methylene bridge between the 2′ and 4′ carbons of the ribose ring.

Rahdar et al. describe methods to ensure stabilization in the tracer hybridization region (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2015, 22; 112 (51): E7110-7. doi: 10.1073).

3. Select Best Target Site in Gene

a) Selection within a Target Gene

Studies to date suggest that while sgRNA activity can be quite high, there is significant variability among sgRNAs in their ability to generate the desired target cleavage. Efforts have been made to identify design criteria to maximize guide RNA efficacy. Doench et al. (Nat Biotechnol. 2014 December; 32 (12): 1262-1267 and Nat Biotechnol. PubMed PMID: 26780180) describe the development of a quantitative model to optimize sgRNA activity prediction, and a tool to use this model for sgRNA design. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the methods provided herein comprise identifying an optimal guide sequence based on a statistical comparison of active guide RNAs, such as described by Doench et al. (above). In particular embodiments, at least five gRNAs are designed per target and these are tested empirically in cells to generate at least one which has sufficiently high activity.

Note that there is mention of a manual entitled “]”]How to design CRISPR crRNA for gene disruption “from integrated technologies which apparently mentions concept of “targeting an early 5′ exon of your gene reduces the chances of functional [off-target]” but this link is no longer working.

b) Identification of Suitable Guide Sequence

Currently RNA guides are designed using the reference human genome; however, failing to take into account variation in the human population may confound the therapeutic outcome for a given RNA guide. The recently released ExAC dataset, based on 60,706 individuals, contains on average one variant per eight nucleotides in the human exome (Lek, M. et al. Analysis of protein-coding genetic variation in 60,706 humans. Nature 536, 285-291 (2016)). This highlights the potential for genetic variation to impact the efficacy of certain RNA guides across patient populations for CRISPR-based gene therapy, due to the presence of mismatches between the RNA guide and variants present in the target site of specific patients. To assess this impact, we use the ExAC dataset to catalog variants present in all possible targets in the human reference exome that either (i) disrupt the target PAM sequence or (ii) introduce mismatches between the RNA guide and the genomic DNA, which can collectively be termed target variation ( FIG. 1 ). For treatment of a patient population, avoiding target variation for RNA guides administered to individual patients will maximize the consistency of outcomes for a genome editing therapeutic. The demonstration of the impact of target variation is illustrated in the examples section herein.

Ideally, personalized genomic medicine would tailor RNA-guided endonuclease therapeutics for each patient. However, it would likely be cost-prohibitive and infeasible from a regulatory standpoint to design an individual RNA guide for each patient receiving a genome editing therapy. The analysis of the impact of genetic variation on the efficacy and safety of RNA-guided endonucleases motivates the following framework to streamline the design and testing of genome editing therapeutics ( FIG. 4 ). First, use of RNA guides for platinum targets would ensure perfect targeting for 99.99% of patients. Second, these RNA guides need to be further selected to minimize the number of off-target candidates occurring on high frequency haplotypes in the patient population. Third, low frequency variation captured in large scale sequencing datasets can be used to estimate the number of guide RNA-enzyme combinations required to effectively and safely treat different sizes of patient populations. Growth of large scale sequencing datasets will improve the accuracy of these estimates. Fourth, pre-therapeutic whole genome sequencing of individual patients will be needed to select a single approved guide RNA-enzyme combination for treatment. This combination should be a perfect match to the patient's genome and be free of patient-specific off-target candidates. This framework, in combination with rapidly accumulating human sequencing data, which will further refine these selection criteria, will enable the design and validation of genome editing therapeutics minimizing both the number of guide RNA-enzyme combinations necessary for approval and the cost of delivering effective and safe gene therapies to patients.

Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the methods provided herein comprise one or more of the following steps: (1) identifying platinum targets, (2) selection of the guides to minimize the number of off-target candidates occurring on high frequency haplotypes in the patient population; (3) select guide (and/or effector protein) based low frequency variation captured in large scale sequencing datasets to estimate the number of guide RNA-enzyme combinations required to effectively and safely treat different sizes of patient populations, and (4) confirm or select guide based on pre-therapeutic whole genome sequencing of individual patient. In particular embodiments, a “platinum” target is one that does not contain variants occurring at ≥0.01% allele frequency.

Methods for Determining On/Off-Target Activity and Selecting Suitable Target Sequences/Guides

In certain example embodiments, parameters such as, but not limited to, off-target candidates, PAM restrictiveness, target cleavage efficiency, or effector protein specific may be determined using sequencing-based double-strand break (DSB) detection assays. Example sequencing-based DSB detection assay sChIP-seq (Szilard et al. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 18, 299-305 (2010); Iacovoni et al. EMBO J. 29, 1446-1457 (2010)), BLESS (Crosetto et al. Nat. Methods 10, 361-365 (2013); Ran et al. Nature 520, 186-191 (2015); Slaymaker et al. Science 351, 84-88 (2016)), GUIDEseq (Tsai et al. Nat. Biotech 33, 187-197 (2015)), Digenome-seq (Kim et al. Nat. Methods 12, 237-43 (2015)), IDLV-mediated DNA break capture (Wang et al. Nat. Biotechnol. 33, 179-186 (2015), HTGTS (Frock et al. Nat. Biotechnol. 33, 179-186 (2015)), End-Seq (Canela et al. Mol. Cell 63, 898-911 (2016), and DSBCapture (Lensing et al. Nat. Methods 13, 855-857 (2016). Additional methods that may be used to assess target cleavage efficiency include SITE-Seq (Cameron et al. Nature Methods, 14, 600-606 (2017), and CIRCLE-seq (Tsai et al. Nature Methods 14, 607-614 (2017)).

Methods useful for assessing Cpf1 RNase activity include those disclosed in Zhong et al. Nature Chemical Biology Jun. 19, 2017 doi: 10.1038/NCHEMBIO.2410 and may be similarly applied to Cas9. Increased RNase activity and the ability to excise multiple CRISPR RNAs (crRNA) from a single RNA polymerase II-driven RNA transcript can simplify modification of multiple genomic targets and can be used to increase the efficiency of Cas9-mediated editing.

1. Bliss

Other suitable assays include those described in Yan et al. (“BLISS: quantitative and versatile genome-wide profiling of DNA breaks in situ” BioRxiv, Dec. 4, 2016 doi: dx.doi.org/10.1101/091629) describe a versatile, sensitive and quantitative method for detecting DSBs applicable to low-input specimens of both cells and tissues that is scalable for high-throughput DSB mapping in multiple samples. Breaks Labeling In Situ and Sequencing (BLISS), features efficient in situ DSB labeling in fixed cells or tissue sections immobilized onto a solid surface, linear amplification of tagged DSBs via T7-mediated in vitro transcription (IVT) for greater sensitivity, and accurate DSB quantification by incorporation of unique molecular identifiers (UMIs).

2. Curtain

A further method, referred to herein as “Curtain” has been developed which may also be useful in assessing certain parameters disclosed herein, the method allowing on target and off target cutting of a nuclease to be assessed in a direct and unbiased way using in vitro cutting of immobilized nucleic acid molecules. Further reference is made to U.S. Provisional 62/351,744 entitled “Unbiased Detection of Nucleic Acid Modifictions” filed on Jun. 17, 2016 and U.S. Provisional No. 62/377,525 entitled “Unbiased Detection of Nucleic Acid Modifications” filed on Aug. 19, 2016.

This method may also be used to select a suitable guide RNA. The method allows the detection of a nucleic acid modification, by performing the following steps: i) contacting one or more nucleic acid molecules immobilized on a solid support (immobilized nucleic acid molecules) with an agent capable of inducing a nucleic acid modification; and ii) sequencing at least part of said one or more immobilized nucleic acid molecules that comprises the nucleic acid modification using a primer specifically binding to a primer binding site. This method further allows the selection of a guide RNA from a plurality of guide RNAs specific for a selected target sequence. In particular embodiments, the method comprises contacting a plurality of nucleic acid molecules immobilized on a solid support (immobilized nucleic acid molecules) with a plurality of RNA-guided nuclease complexes capable of inducing a nucleic acid break, said plurality of RNA-guided nuclease complexes comprising a plurality of different guide RNA's, thereby inducing one or more nucleic acid breaks; attaching an adapter comprising a primer binding site to said one or more immobilized nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleic acid break; sequencing at least part of said one or more immobilized nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleic acid break using a primer specifically binding to said primer binding site; and selecting a guide RNA based on location and/or amount of said one or more breaks.

In particular embodiments, the method comprises determining one or more locations in said one or more immobilized nucleic acid molecules comprising a break other than a location comprising said selected target sequence (off-target breaks) and selecting a guide RNA based on said one or more locations. In particular embodiments, step v comprises determining a number of sites in said one or more immobilized nucleic acid molecules comprising off-target breaks and selecting a guide RNA based on said number of sites. In a further embodiment, step iv comprises both determining the location of off-targets breaks and the number of locations of off-target breaks.

Safety

1. Select Protein with Shortest Half-Life

a) Inherent Half-Life of the Effector Protein

The extended presence of an effector protein after having performed its function at the target site is a potential safety concern, both for off-target effects and direct toxicity of the effector protein. It has been reported that upon direct delivery to the cell by LNP, CRISPR effector proteins degrade rapidly within the cell (Kim et al. Genome Res. 2014 June; 24 (6): 1012-1019). Where the effector protein is to be expressed from a plasmid, strategies to actively reduce the half-life of the protein may be of interest.

b) Use of Destabilized Domains

In certain embodiments, the methods provided herein involve the use of a Cas9 effector protein which is associated with or fused to a destabilization domain (DD). The technology relating to the use of destabilizing domains is described in detail in WO2016/106244, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Destabilizing domains (DD) are domains which can confer instability to a wide range of proteins; see, e.g., Miyazaki, J Am Chem Soc. Mar. 7, 2012; 134 (9): 3942-3945, and Chung H Nature Chemical Biology Vol. 11 Sep. 2015 pgs 713-720, incorporated herein by reference. DD can be associated with, e.g., fused to, advantageously with a linker, to a CRISPR enzyme, whereby the DD can be stabilized in the presence of a ligand and when there is the absence thereof the DD can become destabilized, whereby the CRISPR enzyme is entirely destabilized, or the DD can be stabilized in the absence of a ligand and when the ligand is present the DD can become destabilized; the DD allows the Cas9 effector to be regulated or controlled, thereby providing means for regulation or control of the system. For instance, when a protein of interest is expressed as a fusion with the DD tag, it is destabilized and rapidly degraded in the cell, e.g., by proteasomes. Thus, absence of stabilizing ligand leads to a DD-associated Cas9 being degraded. Peak activity of the Cas9 effector is relevant to reduce off-target effects and for the general safety of the system. Advantages of the DD system include that it can be dosable, orthogonal (e.g., a ligand only affects its cognate DD so two or more systems can operate independently), transportable (e.g., may work in different cell types or cell lines) and allows for temporal control.

Suitable DD-stabilizing ligand pairs are known in the art and also described in WO2016/106244. The size of Destabilization Domain varies but is typically approx.-approx. 100-300 amino acids in size. Suitable examples include ER50 and/or DHFR50. A corresponding stabilizing ligand for ER50 is, for example, 4HT or CMP8. In some embodiments, one or two DDs may be fused to the N-terminal end of the CRISPR enzyme with one or two DDs fused to the C-terminal of the CRISPR enzyme. While the DD can be provided directly at N and/or C terminal(s) of the Cas9 effector protein, they can also be fused via a linker, such as a GlySer linker, or an NLS and/or NES. A commercially available DD system is the ClonTech, ProteoTuner™ system; the stabilizing ligand is Shield1. In some embodiments, the stabilizing ligand is a ‘small molecule’, preferably it is cell-permeable and has a high affinity for its corresponding DD.

2. Select Least Immunogenic RNP

When administering an agent to a mammal, there is always the risk of an immune response to the agent and/or its delivery vehicle. Circumventing the immune response is a major challenge for most delivery vehicles. Viral vectors, which express immunogenic epitopes within the organism typically induce an immune response. Nanoparticle and lipid-based vectors to some extent address this problem. Yin et al. demonstrate a therapeutic approach combining viral delivery of the guide RNA with lipid nanoparticle-mediated delivery of the CRISPR effector protein (Nature Biotechnology 34:328-33 (2016)). Ziris et al. describes cationic lipid mediated delivery of Cas9:guideRNA nuclease complexes to cells. The CRISPR effector proteins, which are of bacterial origin, also inherently carry the risk of eliciting an immune response. This may be addressed by humanizing the Cas9 effector protein.

3. Introduce Modifications in Guide RNA to Minimize Immunogenicity

Chemical modifications of RNAs have been used to avoid reactions of the innate immune system. Judge et al. (2006) demonstrated that immune stimulation by synthetic siRNA can be completely abrogated by selective incorporation of 2′-O-methyl (2′OMe) uridine or guanosine nucleosides into one strand of the siRNA duplex (Mol. Ther., 13 (2006), pp. 494-505). Cekaite et al. (J. Mol. Biol., 365 (2007), pp. 90-108) observed that replacement of only uridine bases of siRNA with either 2′-fluoro or 2′-O-methyl modified counterparts abrogated upregulation of genes involved in the regulation of the immune response. Similarly Hendel et al. tested sgRNAs with both backbone and sugar modifications that confer nuclease stability and can reduce immunostimulatory effects (Hendel et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 33 (2015), pp. 985-989).

Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the methods comprise modifying the guide RNA so as to minimize immunogenicity using one or more of these methods.

Identify Optimal Dosage to Minimize Toxicity and Maximize Specificity

It is generally accepted that the dosage of CRISPR components will be relevant to toxicity and specificity of the system (Pattanayak et al. Nat Biotechnol. 2013 September; 31 (9): 839-843). Hsu et al. (Nat Biotechnol. 2013 September; 31 (9): 827-832) demonstrated that the dosage of SpCas9 and sgRNA can be titrated to address these issues. In certain example embodiments, toxicity is minimized by saturating complex with guide by either pre-forming complex, putting guide under control of a strong promoter, or via timing of delivery to ensure saturating conditions available during expression of the effector protein.

Identifying Appropriate Delivery Vector

In some embodiments, the components of the CRISPR system may be delivered in various form, such as combinations of DNA/RNA or RNA/RNA or protein RNA. For example, the Cas9 may be delivered as a DNA-coding polynucleotide or an RNA--coding polynucleotide or as a protein. The guide may be delivered may be delivered as a DNA-coding polynucleotide or an RNA. All possible combinations are envisioned, including mixed forms of delivery.

In some aspects, the invention provides methods comprising delivering one or more polynucleotides, such as or one or more vectors as described herein, one or more transcripts thereof, and/or one or proteins transcribed therefrom, to a host cell.

Vectors

Conventional viral and non-viral based gene transfer methods can be used to introduce nucleic acids in mammalian cells or target tissues. Such methods can be used to administer nucleic acids encoding components of a nucleic acid-targeting system to cells in culture, or in a host organism. Non-viral vector delivery systems include DNA plasmids, RNA (e.g. a transcript of a vector described herein), naked nucleic acid, and nucleic acid complexed with a delivery vehicle, such as a liposome. Viral vector delivery systems include DNA and RNA viruses, which have either episomal or integrated genomes after delivery to the cell. For a review of gene therapy procedures, see Anderson, Science 256:808-813 (1992); Nabel & Felgner, TIBTECH 11:211-217 (1993); Mitani & Caskey, TIBTECH 11:162-166 (1993); Dillon, TIBTECH 11:167-175 (1993); Miller, Nature 357:455-460 (1992); Van Brunt, Biotechnology 6 (10): 1149-1154 (1988); Vigne, Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience 8:35-36 (1995); Kremer & Perricaudet, British Medical Bulletin 51 (1): 31-44 (1995); Haddada et al., in Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, Doerfler and Böhm (eds) (1995); and Yu et al., Gene Therapy 1:13-26 (1994).

Methods of non-viral delivery of nucleic acids include lipofection, nucleofection, microinjection, biolistics, virosomes, liposomes, immunoliposomes, polycation or lipid: nucleic acid conjugates, naked DNA, artificial virions, and agent-enhanced uptake of DNA. Lipofection is described in e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,049,386, 4,946,787; and 4,897,355) and lipofection reagents are sold commercially (e.g., Transfectam™ and Lipofectin™). Cationic and neutral lipids that are suitable for efficient receptor-recognition lipofection of polynucleotides include those of Felgner, WO 91/17424; WO 91/16024. Delivery can be to cells (e.g. in vitro or ex vivo administration) or target tissues (e.g. in vivo administration).

Plasmid delivery involves the cloning of a guide RNA into a CRISPR effector protein expressing plasmid and transfecting the DNA in cell culture. Plasmid backbones are available commercially and no specific equipment is required. They have the advantage of being modular, capable of carrying different sizes of CRISPR effector coding sequences (including those encoding larger sized proteins) as well as selection markers. Both an advantage of plasmids is that they can ensure transient, but sustained expression. However, delivery of plasmids is not straightforward such that in vivo efficiency is often low. The sustained expression can also be disadvantageous in that it can increase off-target editing. In addition excess build-up of the CRISPR effector protein can be toxic to the cells. Finally, plasmids always hold the risk of random integration of the dsDNA in the host genome, more particularly in view of the double-stranded breaks being generated (on and off-target).

The preparation of lipid: nucleic acid complexes, including targeted liposomes such as immunolipid complexes, is well known to one of skill in the art (see, e.g., Crystal, Science 270:404-410 (1995); Blaese et al., Cancer Gene Ther. 2:291-297 (1995); Behr et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 5:382-389 (1994); Remy et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 5:647-654 (1994); Gao et al., Gene Therapy 2:710-722 (1995); Ahmad et al., Cancer Res. 52:4817-4820 (1992); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,186,183, 4,217,344, 4,235,871, 4,261,975, 4,485,054, 4,501,728, 4,774,085, 4,837,028, and 4,946,787). This is discussed more in detail below.

The advantages and disadvantages of Plasmid delivery are described by Plasmid delivery involves the cloning of a guide RNA into a CRISPR effector protein expressing plasmid and transfecting the DNA in cell culture. Plasmid backbones are available commercially and no specific equipment is required. They have the advantage of being modular, capable of carrying different sizes of CRISPR effector coding sequences (including those encoding larger sized proteins) as well as selection markers. Both an advantage of plasmids is that they can ensure transient, but sustained expression. However, delivery of plasmids is not straightforward such that in vivo efficiency is often low. The sustained expression can also be disadvantageous in that it can increase off-target editing. In addition excess build-up of the CRISPR effector protein can be toxic to the cells. Finally, plasmids always hold the risk of random integration of the dsDNA in the host genome, more particularly in view of the double-stranded breaks being generated (on and off-target). The preparation of lipid: nucleic acid complexes, including targeted liposomes such as immunolipid complexes, is well known to one of skill in the art (see, e.g., Crystal, Science 270:404-410 (1995); Blaese et al., Cancer Gene Ther. 2:291-297 (1995); Behr et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 5:382-389 (1994); Remy et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 5:647-654 (1994); Gao et al., Gene Therapy 2:710-722 (1995); Ahmad et al., Cancer Res. 52:4817-4820 (1992); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,186,183, 4,217,344, 4,235,871, 4,261,975, 4,485,054, 4,501,728, 4,774,085, 4,837,028, and 4,946,787). This is discussed more in detail below.

The use of RNA or DNA viral based systems for the delivery of nucleic acids takes advantage of highly evolved processes for targeting a virus to specific cells in the body and trafficking the viral payload to the nucleus. Viral vectors can be administered directly to patients (in vivo) or they can be used to treat cells in vitro, and the modified cells may optionally be administered to patients (ex vivo). Conventional viral based systems could include retroviral, lentivirus, adenoviral, adeno-associated and herpes simplex virus vectors for gene transfer. Integration in the host genome is possible with the retrovirus, lentivirus, and adeno-associated virus gene transfer methods, often resulting in long term expression of the inserted transgene. Additionally, high transduction efficiencies have been observed in many different cell types and target tissues.

The tropism of a retrovirus can be altered by incorporating foreign envelope proteins, expanding the potential target population of target cells. Lentiviral vectors are retroviral vectors that are able to transduce or infect non-dividing cells and typically produce high viral titers. Selection of a retroviral gene transfer system would therefore depend on the target tissue. Retroviral vectors are comprised of cis-acting long terminal repeats with packaging capacity for up to 6-10 kb of foreign sequence. The minimum cis-acting LTRs are sufficient for replication and packaging of the vectors, which are then used to integrate the therapeutic gene into the target cell to provide permanent transgene expression. Widely used retroviral vectors include those based upon murine leukemia virus (MuLV), gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV), Simian Immuno deficiency virus (SIV), human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), and combinations thereof (see, e.g., Buchscher et al., J. Virol. 66:2731-2739 (1992); Johann et al., J. Virol. 66:1635-1640 (1992); Sommnerfelt et al., Virol. 176:58-59 (1990); Wilson et al., J. Virol. 63:2374-2378 (1989); Miller et al., J. Virol. 65:2220-2224 (1991); PCT/US94/05700).

In applications where transient expression is preferred, adenoviral based systems may be used. Adenoviral based vectors are capable of very high transduction efficiency in many cell types and do not require cell division. With such vectors, high titer and levels of expression have been obtained. This vector can be produced in large quantities in a relatively simple system. Adeno-associated virus (“AAV”) vectors may also be used to transduce cells with target nucleic acids, e.g., in the in vitro production of nucleic acids and peptides, and for in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy procedures (see, e.g., West et al., Virology 160:38-47 (1987); U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,368; WO 93/24641; Kotin, Human Gene Therapy 5:793-801 (1994); Muzyczka, J. Clin. Invest. 94:1351 (1994). Construction of recombinant AAV vectors are described in a number of publications, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,414; Tratschin et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:3251-3260 (1985); Tratschin, et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 4:2072-2081 (1984); Hermonat & Muzyczka, PNAS 81:6466-6470 (1984); and Samulski et al., J. Virol. 63:03822-3828 (1989).

The invention provides AAV that contains or consists essentially of an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR system, e.g., a plurality of cassettes comprising or consisting a first cassette comprising or consisting essentially of a promoter, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein (putative nuclease or helicase proteins), e.g., Cas9 and a terminator, and a two, or more, advantageously up to the packaging size limit of the vector, e.g., in total (including the first cassette) five, cassettes comprising or consisting essentially of a promoter, nucleic acid molecule encoding guide RNA (gRNA) and a terminator (e.g., each cassette schematically represented as Promoter-gRNA1-terminator, Promoter-gRNA2-terminator . . . Promoter-gRNA (N)-terminator (where N is a number that can be inserted that is at an upper limit of the packaging size limit of the vector), or two or more individual rAAVs, each containing one or more than one cassette of a CRISPR system, e.g., a first rAAV containing the first cassette comprising or consisting essentially of a promoter, a nucleic acid molecule encoding Cas, e.g., Cas9 and a terminator, and a second rAAV containing a plurality, four, cassettes comprising or consisting essentially of a promoter, nucleic acid molecule encoding guide RNA (gRNA) and a terminator (e.g., each cassette schematically represented as Promoter-gRNA1-terminator, Promoter-gRNA2-terminator . . . Promoter-gRNA (N)-terminator (where N is a number that can be inserted that is at an upper limit of the packaging size limit of the vector). As rAAV is a DNA virus, the nucleic acid molecules in the herein discussion concerning AAV or rAAV are advantageously DNA. The promoter is in some embodiments advantageously human Synapsin I promoter (hSyn). Additional methods for the delivery of nucleic acids to cells are known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, US20030087817, incorporated herein by reference.

In another embodiment, Cocal vesiculovirus envelope pseudotyped retroviral vector particles are contemplated (see, e.g., US Patent Publication No. 20120164118 assigned to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center). Cocal virus is in the Vesiculovirus genus, and is a causative agent of vesicular stomatitis in mammals. Cocal virus was originally isolated from mites in Trinidad (Jonkers et al., Am. J. Vet. Res. 25:236-242 (1964)), and infections have been identified in Trinidad, Brazil, and Argentina from insects, cattle, and horses. Many of the vesiculoviruses that infect mammals have been isolated from naturally infected arthropods, suggesting that they are vector-borne. Antibodies to vesiculoviruses are common among people living in rural areas where the viruses are endemic and laboratory-acquired; infections in humans usually result in influenza-like symptoms. The Cocal virus envelope glycoprotein shares 71.5% identity at the amino acid level with VSV-G Indiana, and phylogenetic comparison of the envelope gene of vesiculoviruses shows that Cocal virus is serologically distinct from, but most closely related to, VSV-G Indiana strains among the vesiculoviruses. Jonkers et al., Am. J. Vet. Res. 25:236-242 (1964) and Travassos da Rosa et al., Am. J. Tropical Med. & Hygiene 33:999-1006 (1984). The Cocal vesiculovirus envelope pseudotyped retroviral vector particles may include for example, lentiviral, alpharetroviral, betaretroviral, gammaretroviral, deltaretroviral, and epsilonretroviral vector particles that may comprise retroviral Gag, Pol, and/or one or more accessory protein(s) and a Cocal vesiculovirus envelope protein. Within certain aspects of these embodiments, the Gag, Pol, and accessory proteins are lentiviral and/or gammaretroviral.

In some embodiments, a host cell is transiently or non-transiently transfected with one or more vectors described herein. In some embodiments, a cell is transfected as it naturally occurs in a subject optionally to be reintroduced therein. In some embodiments, a cell that is transfected is taken from a subject. In some embodiments, the cell is derived from cells taken from a subject, such as a cell line. A wide variety of cell lines for tissue culture are known in the art. Examples of cell lines include, but are not limited to, C8161, CCRF-CEM, MOLT, mIMCD-3, NHDF, HeLa-S3, Huh1, Huh4, Huh7, HUVEC, HASMC, HEKn, HEKa, MiaPaCell, Panc1, PC-3, TF1, CTLL-2, CIR, Rat6, CVI, RPTE, A10, T24, J82, A375, ARH-77, Calu1, SW480, SW620, SKOV3, SK-UT, CaCo2, P388D1, SEM-K2, WEHI-231, HB56, TIB55, Jurkat, J45.01, LRMB, Bcl-1, BC-3, IC21, DLD2, Raw264.7, NRK, NRK-52E, MRC5, MEF, Hep G2, HeLa B, HeLa T4, COS, COS-1, COS-6, COS-M6A, BS-C-1 monkey kidney epithelial, BALB/3T3 mouse embryo fibroblast, 3T3 Swiss, 3T3-L1, 132-d5 human fetal fibroblasts; 10.1 mouse fibroblasts, 293-T, 3T3, 721, 9L, A2780, A2780ADR, A2780cis, A172, A20, A253, A431, A-549, ALC, B16, B35, BCP-1 cells, BEAS-2B, bEnd.3, BHK-21, BR 293, BxPC3, C3H-10T1/2, C6/36, Cal-27, CHO, CHO-7, CHO-IR, CHO-K1, CHO-K2, CHO-T, CHO Dhfr−/−, COR-L23, COR-L23/CPR, COR-L23/5010, COR-L23/R23, COS-7, COV-434, CML T1, CMT, CT26, D17, DH82, DU145, DuCaP, EL4, EM2, EM3, EMT6/AR1, EMT6/AR10.0, FM3, H1299, H69, HB54, HB55, HCA2, HEK-293, HeLa, Hepalclc7, HL-60, HMEC, HT-29, Jurkat, JY cells, K562 cells, Ku812, KCL22, KG1, KYO1, LNCap, Ma-Mel 1-48, MC-38, MCF-7, MCF-10A, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-435, MDCK II, MDCK II, MOR/0.2R, MONO-MAC 6, MTD-1A, MyEnd, NCI-H69/CPR, NCI-H69/LX10, NCI-H69/LX20, NCI-H69/LX4, NIH-3T3, NALM-1, NW-145, OPCN/OPCT cell lines, Peer, PNT-1A/PNT 2, RenCa, RIN-5F, RMA/RMAS, Saos-2 cells, Sf-9, SkBr3, T2, T-47D, T84, THP1 cell line, U373, U87, U937, VCaP, Vero cells, WM39, WT-49, X63, YAC-1, YAR, and transgenic varieties thereof. Cell lines are available from a variety of sources known to those with skill in the art (see, e.g., the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.)). In some embodiments, a cell transfected with one or more vectors described herein is used to establish a new cell line comprising one or more vector-derived sequences. In some embodiments, a cell transiently transfected with the components of a CRISPR system as described herein (such as by transient transfection of one or more vectors, or transfection with RNA), and modified through the activity of a CRISPR complex, is used to establish a new cell line comprising cells containing the modification but lacking any other exogenous sequence. In some embodiments, cells transiently or non-transiently transfected with one or more vectors described herein, or cell lines derived from such cells are used in assessing one or more test compounds.

In some embodiments it is envisaged to introduce the RNA and/or protein directly to the host cell. For instance, the CRISPR effector can be delivered as CRISPR effector-encoding mRNA together with an in vitro transcribed guide RNA. Such methods can reduce the time to ensure effect of the CRISPR effector protein and further prevents long-term expression of the CRISPR system components.

In some embodiments the RNA molecules of the invention are delivered in liposome or lipofectin formulations and the like and can be prepared by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Such methods are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,972, 5,589,466, and 5,580,859, which are herein incorporated by reference. Delivery systems aimed specifically at the enhanced and improved delivery of siRNA into mammalian cells have been developed, (see, for example, Shen et al FEBS Let. 2003, 539:111-114; Xia et al., Nat. Biotech. 2002, 20:1006-1010; Reich et al., Mol. Vision. 2003, 9:210-216; Sorensen et al., J. Mol. Biol. 2003, 327:761-766; Lewis et al., Nat. Gen. 2002, 32:107-108 and Simeoni et al., NAR 2003, 31, 11:2717-2724) and may be applied to the present invention. siRNA has recently been successfully used for inhibition of gene expression in primates (see for example. Tolentino et al., Retina 24 (4): 660 which may also be applied to the present invention.

Indeed, RNA delivery is a useful method of in vivo delivery. It is possible to deliver Cas9 and gRNA (and, for instance, HR repair template) into cells using liposomes or nanoparticles. Thus delivery of the CRISPR enzyme, such as a Cas9 and/or delivery of the RNAs of the invention may be in RNA form and via microvesicles, liposomes or particle or particles. For example, Cas9 mRNA and gRNA can be packaged into liposomal particles for delivery in vivo. Liposomal transfection reagents such as lipofectamine from Life Technologies and other reagents on the market can effectively deliver RNA molecules into the liver.

Means of delivery of RNA also preferred include delivery of RNA via particles (Cho, S., Goldberg, M., Son, S., Xu, Q., Yang, F., Mei, Y., Bogatyrev, S., Langer, R. and Anderson, D., Lipid-like nanoparticles for small interfering RNA delivery to endothelial cells, Advanced Functional Materials, 19:3112-3118, 2010) or exosomes (Schroeder, A., Levins, C., Cortez, C., Langer, R., and Anderson, D., Lipid-based nanotherapeutics for siRNA delivery, Journal of Internal Medicine, 267:9-21, 2010, PMID: 20059641). Indeed, exosomes have been shown to be particularly useful in delivery siRNA, a system with some parallels to the CRISPR system. For instance, El-Andaloussi S, et al. (“Exosome-mediated delivery of siRNA in vitro and in vivo.” Nat Protoc. 2012 December; 7 (12): 2112-26. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2012.131. Epub 2012 Nov. 15.) describe how exosomes are promising tools for drug delivery across different biological barriers and can be harnessed for delivery of siRNA in vitro and in vivo. Their approach is to generate targeted exosomes through transfection of an expression vector, comprising an exosomal protein fused with a peptide ligand. The exosomes are then purify and characterized from transfected cell supernatant, then RNA is loaded into the exosomes. Delivery or administration according to the invention can be performed with exosomes, in particular but not limited to the brain. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) may be conjugated with CRISPR Cas and delivered to the brain along with high density lipoprotein (HDL), for example in a similar manner as was done by Uno et al. (HUMAN GENE THERAPY 22:711-719 (June 2011)) for delivering short-interfering RNA (siRNA) to the brain. Mice were infused via Osmotic minipumps (model 1007D; Alzet, Cupertino, CA) filled with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or free TocsiBACE or Toc-siBACE/HDL and connected with Brain Infusion Kit 3 (Alzet). A brain-infusion cannula was placed about 0.5 mm posterior to the bregma at midline for infusion into the dorsal third ventricle. Uno et al. found that as little as 3 nmol of Toc-siRNA with HDL could induce a target reduction in comparable degree by the same ICV infusion method. A similar dosage of CRISPR Cas conjugated to α-tocopherol and co-administered with HDL targeted to the brain may be contemplated for humans in the present invention, for example, about 3 nmol to about 3 μmol of CRISPR Cas targeted to the brain may be contemplated. Zou et al. ((HUMAN GENE THERAPY 22:465-475 (April 2011)) describes a method of lentiviral-mediated delivery of short-hairpin RNAs targeting PKCγ for in vivo gene silencing in the spinal cord of rats. Zou et al. administered about 10 μl of a recombinant lentivirus having a titer of 1×10 9 transducing units (TU)/ml by an intrathecal catheter. A similar dosage of CRISPR Cas expressed in a lentiviral vector targeted to the brain may be contemplated for humans in the present invention, for example, about 10-50 ml of CRISPR Cas targeted to the brain in a lentivirus having a titer of 1×10 9 transducing units (TU)/mlmMay be contemplated.

Dosage of Vectors

In some embodiments, the vector, e.g., plasmid or viral vector is delivered to the tissue of interest by, for example, an intramuscular injection, while other times the delivery is via intravenous, transdermal, intranasal, oral, mucosal, or other delivery methods. Such delivery may be either via a single dose, or multiple doses. One skilled in the art understands that the actual dosage to be delivered herein may vary greatly depending upon a variety of factors, such as the vector choice, the target cell, organism, or tissue, the general condition of the subject to be treated, the degree of transformation/modification sought, the administration route, the administration mode, the type of transformation/modification sought, etc.

Such a dosage may further contain, for example, a carrier (water, saline, ethanol, glycerol, lactose, sucrose, calcium phosphate, gelatin, dextran, agar, pectin, peanut oil, sesame oil, etc.), a diluent, a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier (e.g., phosphate-buffered saline), a pharmaceutically-acceptable excipient, and/or other compounds known in the art. The dosage may further contain one or more pharmaceutically acceptable salts such as, for example, a mineral acid salt such as a hydrochloride, a hydrobromide, a phosphate, a sulfate, etc.; and the salts of organic acids such as acetates, propionates, malonates, benzoates, etc. Additionally, auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, gels or gelling materials, flavorings, colorants, microspheres, polymers, suspension agents, etc. may also be present herein. In addition, one or more other conventional pharmaceutical ingredients, such as preservatives, humectants, suspending agents, surfactants, antioxidants, anticaking agents, fillers, chelating agents, coating agents, chemical stabilizers, etc. may also be present, especially if the dosage form is a reconstitutable form. Suitable exemplary ingredients include microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, polysorbate 80, phenylethyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, sulfur dioxide, propyl gallate, the parabens, ethyl vanillin, glycerin, phenol, parachlorophenol, gelatin, albumin and a combination thereof. A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients is available in REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (Mack Pub. Co., N.J. 1991) which is incorporated by reference herein.

In an embodiment herein the delivery is via an adenovirus, which may be at a single booster dose containing at least 1×10 5 particles (also referred to as particle units, pu) of adenoviral vector. In an embodiment herein, the dose preferably is at least about 1×10 6 particles (for example, about 1×10 6 -1×10 12 particles), more preferably at least about 1×10 7 particles, more preferably at least about 1×10 8 particles (e.g., about 1×10 8 -1×10 11 particles or about 1×10 8 -1×10 12 particles), and most preferably at least about 1×10° particles (e.g., about 1×10 9 -1×10 10 particles or about 1×10 9 -1×10 12 particles), or even at least about 1×10 10 particles (e.g., about 1×10 10 -1×10 12 particles) of the adenoviral vector. Alternatively, the dose comprises no more than about 1×10 14 particles, preferably no more than about 1×10 13 particles, even more preferably no more than about 1×10 12 particles, even more preferably no more than about 1×10 11 particles, and most preferably no more than about 1×10 10 particles (e.g., no more than about 1×10 9 articles). Thus, the dose may contain a single dose of adenoviral vector with, for example, about 1×10 6 particle units (pu), about 2×10 6 pu, about 4×10 6 pu, about 1×10 7 pu, about 2×10 7 pu, about 4×10 7 pu, about 1×10 8 pu, about 2×10 8 pu, about 4×10 8 pu, about 1×10 9 pu, about 2×10 9 pu, about 4×10 9 pu, about 1×10 10 pu, about 2×10 10 pu, about 4×10 10 pu, about 1×10 11 pu, about 2×10 11 pu, about 4×10 11 pu, about 1×10 12 pu, about 2×10 12 pu, or about 4×10 12 pu of adenoviral vector. See, for example, the adenoviral vectors in U.S. Pat. No. 8,454,972 B2 to Nabel, et. al., granted on Jun. 4, 2013; incorporated by reference herein, and the dosages at col 29, lines 36-58 thereof. In an embodiment herein, the adenovirus is delivered via multiple doses.

In an embodiment herein, the delivery is via an AAV. A therapeutically effective dosage for in vivo delivery of the AAV to a human is believed to be in the range of from about 20 to about 50 ml of saline solution containing from about 1×10 10 to about 1×10 10 functional AAV/ml solution. The dosage may be adjusted to balance the therapeutic benefit against any side effects. In an embodiment herein, the AAV dose is generally in the range of concentrations of from about 1×10 5 to 1×10 50 genomes AAV, from about 1×10 8 to 1×10 20 genomes AAV, from about 1×10 10 to about 1×10 16 genomes, or about 1×10 11 to about 1×10 16 genomes AAV. A human dosage may be about 1×10 13 genomes AAV. Such concentrations may be delivered in from about 0.001 ml to about 100 ml, about 0.05 to about 50 ml, or about 10 to about 25 ml of a carrier solution. Other effective dosages can be readily established by one of ordinary skill in the art through routine trials establishing dose response curves. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,404,658 B2 to Hajjar, et al., granted on Mar. 26, 2013, at col. 27, lines 45-60.

In an embodiment herein the delivery is via a plasmid. In such plasmid compositions, the dosage should be a sufficient amount of plasmid to elicit a response. For instance, suitable quantities of plasmid DNA in plasmid compositions can be from about 0.1 to about 2 mg, or from about 1 μg to about 10 μg per 70 kg individual. Plasmids of the invention will generally comprise (i) a promoter; (ii) a sequence encoding a CRISPR enzyme, operably linked to said promoter; (iii) a selectable marker; (iv) an origin of replication; and (v) a transcription terminator downstream of and operably linked to (ii). The plasmid can also encode the RNA components of a CRISPR complex, but one or more of these may instead be encoded on a different vector.

The doses herein are based on an average 70 kg individual. The frequency of administration is within the ambit of the medical or veterinary practitioner (e.g., physician, veterinarian), or scientist skilled in the art. It is also noted that mice used in experiments are typically about 20 g and from mice experiments one can scale up to a 70 kg individual.

The dosage used for the compositions provided herein include dosages for repeated administration or repeat dosing. In particular embodiments, the administration is repeated within a period of several weeks, months, or years. Suitable assays can be performed to obtain an optimal dosage regime. Repeated administration can allow the use of lower dosage, which can positively affect off-target modifications.

RNA Delivery

In particular embodiments, RNA based delivery is used. In these embodiments, mRNA of the CRISPR effector protein is delivered together with in vitro transcribed guide RNA. Liang et al. describes efficient genome editing using RNA based delivery (Protein Cell. 2015 May; 6 (5): 363-372).

RNA delivery: The CRISPR enzyme, for instance a Cas9, and/or any of the present RNAs, for instance a guide RNA, can also be delivered in the form of RNA. Cas9 mRNA can be generated using in vitro transcription. For example, Cas9 mRNA can be synthesized using a PCR cassette containing the following elements: T7_promoter-kozak sequence (GCCACC SEQ ID NO: 23)-Cas9-3′ UTR from beta globin-polyA tail (a string of 120 or more adenines). The cassette can be used for transcription by T7 polymerase. Guide RNAs can also be transcribed using in vitro transcription from a cassette containing T7_promoter-GG-guide RNA sequence.

To enhance expression and reduce possible toxicity, the CRISPR enzyme-coding sequence and/or the guide RNA can be modified to include one or more modified nucleoside e.g. using pseudo-U or 5-Methyl-C.

mRNA delivery methods are especially promising for liver delivery currently.

Much clinical work on RNA delivery has focused on RNAi or antisense, but these systems can be adapted for delivery of RNA for implementing the present invention. References below to RNAi etc. should be read accordingly.

CRISPR enzyme mRNA and guide RNA might also be delivered separately. CRISPR enzyme mRNA can be delivered prior to the guide RNA to give time for CRISPR enzyme to be expressed. CRISPR enzyme mRNA might be administered 1-12 hours (preferably around 2-6 hours) prior to the administration of guide RNA.

Alternatively, CRISPR enzyme mRNA and guide RNA can be administered together. Advantageously, a second booster dose of guide RNA can be administered 1-12 hours (preferably around 2-6 hours) after the initial administration of CRISPR enzyme mRNA+guide RNA.

In particular embodiments, pre-complexed guide RNA and CRISPR effector protein are delivered as a ribonucleoprotein (RNP). RNPs have the advantage that they lead to rapid editing effects even more so than the RNA method because this process avoids the need for transcription. An important advantage is that both RNP delivery is transient, reducing off-target effects and toxicity issues. Efficient genome editing in different cell types has been observed by Kim et al. (2014, Genome Res. 24 (6): 1012-9), Paix et al. (2015, Genetics 204 (1): 47-54), Chu et al. (2016, BMC Biotechnol. 16:4), and Wang et al. (2013, Cell. 9; 153 (4): 910-8).

In particular embodiments, the ribonucleoprotein is delivered by way of a polypeptide-based shuttle agent as described in WO2016161516. WO2016161516 describes efficient transduction of polypeptide cargos using synthetic peptides comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), to a histidine-rich domain and a CPD. Similarly these polypeptides can be used for the delivery of CRISPR-effector based RNPs in eukaryotic cells.

Particles

In some aspects or embodiments, a composition comprising a delivery particle formulation may be used. In some aspects or embodiments, the formulation comprises a CRISPR complex, the complex comprising a CRISPR protein and-a guide which directs sequence-specific binding of the CRISPR complex to a target sequence. In some embodiments, the delivery particle comprises a lipid-based particle, optionally a lipid nanoparticle, or cationic lipid and optionally biodegradable polymer. In some embodiments, the cationic lipid comprises 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP). In some embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer comprises ethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. In some embodiments, the delivery particle further comprises a lipoprotein, preferably cholesterol. In some embodiments, the delivery particles are less than 500 nm in diameter, optionally less than 250 nm in diameter, optionally less than 100 nm in diameter, optionally about 35 nm to about 60 nm in diameter.

Several types of particle delivery systems and/or formulations are known to be useful in a diverse spectrum of biomedical applications. In general, a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit with respect to its transport and properties. Particles are further classified according to diameter. Coarse particles cover a range between 2,500 and 10,000 nanometers. Fine particles are sized between 100 and 2,500 nanometers. Ultrafine particles, or nanoparticles, are generally between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. The basis of the 100-nm limit is the fact that novel properties that differentiate particles from the bulk material typically develop at a critical length scale of under 100 nm.

As used herein, a particle delivery system/formulation is defined as any biological delivery system/formulation which includes a particle in accordance with the present invention. A particle in accordance with the present invention is any entity having a greatest dimension (e.g. diameter) of less than 100 microns (μm). In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension of less than 10 μm. In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension of less than 2000 nanometers (nm). In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension of less than 1000 nanometers (nm). In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension of less than 900 nm, 800 nm, 700 nm, 600 nm, 500 nm, 400 nm, 300 nm, 200 nm, or 100 nm. Typically, inventive particles have a greatest dimension (e.g., diameter) of 500 nm or less. In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension (e.g., diameter) of 250 nm or less. In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension (e.g., diameter) of 200 nm or less. In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension (e.g., diameter) of 150 nm or less. In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension (e.g., diameter) of 100 nm or less. Smaller particles, e.g., having a greatest dimension of 50 nm or less are used in some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, inventive particles have a greatest dimension ranging between 25 nm and 200 nm.

In terms of this invention, it is preferred to have one or more components of CRISPR complex, e.g., CRISPR enzyme or mRNA or guide RNA delivered using nanoparticles or lipid envelopes. Other delivery systems or vectors are may be used in conjunction with the nanoparticle aspects of the invention.

In general, a “nanoparticle” refers to any particle having a diameter of less than 1000 nm. In certain preferred embodiments, nanoparticles of the invention have a greatest dimension (e.g., diameter) of 500 nm or less. In other preferred embodiments, nanoparticles of the invention have a greatest dimension ranging between 25 nm and 200 nm. In other preferred embodiments, nanoparticles of the invention have a greatest dimension of 100 nm or less. In other preferred embodiments, nanoparticles of the invention have a greatest dimension ranging between 35 nm and 60 nm. It will be appreciated that reference made herein to particles or nanoparticles can be interchangeable, where appropriate.

It will be understood that the size of the particle will differ depending as to whether it is measured before or after loading. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the term “nanoparticles” may apply only to the particles pre loading.

Nanoparticles encompassed in the present invention may be provided in different forms, e.g., as solid nanoparticles (e.g., metal such as silver, gold, iron, titanium), non-metal, lipid-based solids, polymers), suspensions of nanoparticles, or combinations thereof. Metal, dielectric, and semiconductor nanoparticles may be prepared, as well as hybrid structures (e.g., core-shell nanoparticles). Nanoparticles made of semiconducting material may also be labeled quantum dots if they are small enough (typically sub 10 nm) that quantization of electronic energy levels occurs. Such nanoscale particles are used in biomedical applications as drug carriers or imaging agents and may be adapted for similar purposes in the present invention.

Semi-solid and soft nanoparticles have been manufactured, and are within the scope of the present invention. A prototype nanoparticle of semi-solid nature is the liposome. Various types of liposome nanoparticles are currently used clinically as delivery systems for anticancer drugs and vaccines. Nanoparticles with one half hydrophilic and the other half hydrophobic are termed Janus particles and are particularly effective for stabilizing emulsions. They can self-assemble at water/oil interfaces and act as solid surfactants.

Particle characterization (including e.g., characterizing morphology, dimension, etc.) is done using a variety of different techniques. Common techniques are electron microscopy (TEM, SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry_(MALDI-TOF), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dual polarisation interferometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Characterization (dimension measurements) may be made as to native particles (i.e., preloading) or after loading of the cargo (herein cargo refers to e.g., one or more components of CRISPR-Cas system e.g., CRISPR enzyme or mRNA or guide RNA, or any combination thereof, and may include additional carriers and/or excipients) to provide particles of an optimal size for delivery for any in vitro, ex vivo and/or in vivo application of the present invention. In certain preferred embodiments, particle dimension (e.g., diameter) characterization is based on measurements using dynamic laser scattering (DLS). Mention is made of U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,709,843; 6,007,845; 5,855,913; 5,985,309; 5,543,158; and the publication by James E. Dahlman and Carmen Barnes et al. Nature Nanotechnology (2014) published online 11 May 2014, doi: 10.1038/nnano.2014.84, concerning particles, methods of making and using them and measurements thereof.

Particles delivery systems within the scope of the present invention may be provided in any form, including but not limited to solid, semi-solid, emulsion, or colloidal particles. As such any of the delivery systems described herein, including but not limited to, e.g., lipid-based systems, liposomes, micelles, microvesicles, exosomes, or gene gun may be provided as particle delivery systems within the scope of the present invention.

CRISPR enzyme mRNA and guide RNA may be delivered simultaneously using particles or lipid envelopes; for instance, CRISPR enzyme and RNA of the invention, e.g., as a complex, can be delivered via a particle as in Dahlman et al., WO2015089419 A2 and documents cited therein, such as 7C1 (see, e.g., James E. Dahlman and Carmen Barnes et al. Nature Nanotechnology (2014) published online 11 May 2014, doi: 10.1038/nnano.2014.84), e.g., delivery particle comprising lipid or lipidoid and hydrophilic polymer, e.g., cationic lipid and hydrophilic polymer, for instance wherein the cationic lipid comprises 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) or 1,2-ditetradecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and/or wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises ethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol (PEG); and/or wherein the particle further comprises cholesterol (e.g., particle from formulation 1=DOTAP 100, DMPC 0, PEG 0, Cholesterol 0; formulation number 2=DOTAP 90, DMPC 0, PEG 10, Cholesterol 0; formulation number 3=DOTAP 90, DMPC 0, PEG 5, Cholesterol 5), wherein particles are formed using an efficient, multistep process wherein first, effector protein and RNA are mixed together, e.g., at a 1:1 molar ratio, e.g., at room temperature, e.g., for 30 minutes, e.g., in sterile, nuclease free 1× PBS; and separately, DOTAP, DMPC, PEG, and cholesterol as applicable for the formulation are dissolved in alcohol, e.g., 100% ethanol; and, the two solutions are mixed together to form particles containing the complexes).

Nucleic acid-targeting effector proteins (such as Cas9) mRNA and guide RNA may be delivered simultaneously using particles or lipid envelopes. Examples of suitable particles include but are not limited to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,301,923.

For example, Su X, Fricke J, Kavanagh D G, Irvine D J (“In vitro and in vivo mRNA delivery using lipid-enveloped pH-responsive polymer nanoparticles” Mol Pharm. 2011 Jun. 6; 8 (3): 774-87. doi: 10.1021/mp100390w. Epub 2011 Apr. 1) describes biodegradable core-shell structured nanoparticles with a poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) core enveloped by a phospholipid bilayer shell. These were developed for in vivo mRNA delivery. The pH-responsive PBAE component was chosen to promote endosome disruption, while the lipid surface layer was selected to minimize toxicity of the polycation core. Such are, therefore, preferred for delivering RNA of the present invention.

Liu et al. (US20110212179) provides bimodal porous polymer microspheres comprising a base polymer, wherein the particle comprises macropores having a diameter ranging from about 20 to about 500 microns and micropores having a diameter ranging from about 1 to about 70 microns, and wherein the microspheres have a diameter ranging from about 50 to about 1100 microns.

Berg et al. (US20160174546) a nanolipid delivery system, in particular a nano-particle concentrate, comprising: a composition comprising a lipid, oil or solvent, the composition having a viscosity of less than 100 cP at 25. degree. C. and a Kauri Butanol solvency of greater than 25 Kb; and at least one amphipathic compound selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated lipid, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, a heteroatomic hydrophilic lipid, a heteroatomic hydrophilic fatty acid, a heteroatomic hydrophilic alcohol, a diluent, and combinations thereof, wherein the compound is derived from a starting compound having a viscosity of less than 1000 cP at 50. degree. C., wherein the concentrate is configured to provide a stable nano emulsion having a D50 and a mean average particle size distribution of less than 100 nm when diluted.

Liu et al. (US20140301951) provides a protocell nanostructure comprising: a porous particle core comprising a plurality of pores; and at least one lipid bilayer surrounding the porous particle core to form a protocell, wherein the protocell is capable of loading one or more cargo components to the plurality of pores of the porous particle core and releasing the one or more cargo components from the porous particle core across the surrounding lipid bilayer.

Chromy et al. (US20150105538) provides methods and systems for assembling, solubilizing and/or purifying a membrane associated protein in a nanolipoprotein particle, which comprise a temperature transition cycle performed in presence of a detergent, wherein during the temperature transition cycle the nanolipoprotein components are brought to a temperature above and below the gel to liquid crystalling transition temperature of the membrane forming lipid of the nanolipoprotein particle.

Bader et al. (US20150250725), provides a method for producing a lipid particle comprising the following: i) providing a first solution comprising denatured apolipoprotein, ii) adding the first solution to a second solution comprising at least two lipids and a detergent but no apolipoprotein, and iii) removing the detergent from the solution obtained in ii) and thereby producing a lipid particle.

Mirkin et al., (US20100129793) provides a method of preparing a composite particle comprising the steps of (a) admixing a dielectric component and a magnetic component to form a first intermediate, (b) admixing the first intermediate and gold seeds to form a second intermediate, and (c) forming a gold shell on the second intermediate by admixing the second intermediate with a gold source and a reducing agent to form said composite particle.

In one embodiment, particles/nanoparticles based on self assembling bioadhesive polymers are contemplated, which may be applied to oral delivery of peptides, intravenous delivery of peptides and nasal delivery of peptides, all to the brain. Other embodiments, such as oral absorption and ocular delivery of hydrophobic drugs are also contemplated. The molecular envelope technology involves an engineered polymer envelope which is protected and delivered to the site of the disease (see, e.g., Mazza, M. et al. ACSNano, 2013. 7(2):1016-1026; Siew, A., et al. Mol Pharm, 2012. 9(1):14-28; Lalatsa, A., et al. J Contr Rel, 2012. 161(2):523-36; Lalatsa, A., et al., Mol Pharm, 2012. 9(6):1665-80; Lalatsa, A., et al. Mol Pharm, 2012. 9(6):1764-74; Garrett, N. L., et al. J Biophotonics, 2012. 5(5-6):458-68; Garrett, N. L., et al. J Raman Spect, 2012. 43(5):681-688; Ahmad, S., et al. J Royal Soc Interface 2010. 7:S423-33; Uchegbu, I. F. Expert Opin Drug Deliv, 2006. 3(5):629-40; Qu, X., et al. Biomacromolecules, 2006. 7(12):3452-9 and Uchegbu, I. F., et al. Int J Pharm, 2001. 224:185-199). Doses of about 5 mg/kg are contemplated, with single or multiple doses, depending on the target tissue.

In one embodiment, particles/nanoparticles that can deliver RNA to a cancer cell to stop tumor growth developed by Dan Anderson's lab at MIT may be used and/or adapted to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention. In particular, the Anderson lab developed fully automated, combinatorial systems for the synthesis, purification, characterization, and formulation of new biomaterials and nanoformulations. See, e.g., Alabi et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013 Aug. 6; 110 (32): 12881-6; Zhang et al., Adv Mater. 2013 Sep. 6; 25 (33): 4641-5; Jiang et al., Nano Lett. 2013 Mar. 13; 13 (3): 1059-64; Karagiannis et al., ACS Nano. 2012 Oct. 23; 6 (10): 8484-7; Whitehead et al., ACS Nano. 2012 Aug. 28; 6 (8): 6922-9 and Lee et al., Nat Nanotechnol. 2012 Jun. 3; 7 (6): 389-93.

The lipid particles developed by the Qiaobing Xu's lab at Tufts University may be used/adapted to the present delivery system for cancer therapy. See Wang et al., J. Control Release, 2017 Jan. 31. pii: S0168-3659 (17) 30038-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.01.037. [Epub ahead of print]; Altno{umlaut over (g)}lu et al., Biomater Sci., 4 (12): 1773-80, Nov. 15, 2016; Wang et al., PNAS, 113 (11): 2868-73 Mar. 15, 2016; Wang et al., PloS One, 10 (11): e0141860. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141860. eCollection 2015 Nov. 3, 2015; Takeda et al., Neural Regen Res. 10 (5): 689-90, May 2015; Wang et al., Adv. Healthc Mater., 3 (9): 1398-403, September 2014; and Wang et al., Agnew Chem Int Ed Engl., 53 (11): 2893-8, Mar. 10, 2014.

U.S. patent application No. 20110293703 relates to lipidoid compounds are also particularly useful in the administration of polynucleotides, which may be applied to deliver the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention. In one aspect, the aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds are combined with an agent to be delivered to a cell or a subject to form microparticles, nanoparticles, liposomes, or micelles. The agent to be delivered by the particles, liposomes, or micelles may be in the form of a gas, liquid, or solid, and the agent may be a polynucleotide, protein, peptide, or small molecule. The aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds may be combined with other aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds, polymers (synthetic or natural), surfactants, cholesterol, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, etc. to form the particles. These particles may then optionally be combined with a pharmaceutical excipient to form a pharmaceutical composition.

US Patent Publication No. 20110293703 also provides methods of preparing the aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds. One or more equivalents of an amine are allowed to react with one or more equivalents of an epoxide-terminated compound under suitable conditions to form an aminoalcohol lipidoid compound of the present invention. In certain embodiments, all the amino groups of the amine are fully reacted with the epoxide-terminated compound to form tertiary amines. In other embodiments, all the amino groups of the amine are not fully reacted with the epoxide-terminated compound to form tertiary amines thereby resulting in primary or secondary amines in the aminoalcohol lipidoid compound. These primary or secondary amines are left as is or may be reacted with another electrophile such as a different epoxide-terminated compound. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, reacting an amine with less than excess of epoxide-terminated compound will result in a plurality of different aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds with various numbers of tails. Certain amines may be fully functionalized with two epoxide-derived compound tails while other molecules will not be completely functionalized with epoxide-derived compound tails. For example, a diamine or polyamine may include one, two, three, or four epoxide-derived compound tails off the various amino moieties of the molecule resulting in primary, secondary, and tertiary amines. In certain embodiments, all the amino groups are not fully functionalized. In certain embodiments, two of the same types of epoxide-terminated compounds are used. In other embodiments, two or more different epoxide-terminated compounds are used. The synthesis of the aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds is performed with or without solvent, and the synthesis may be performed at higher temperatures ranging from 30-100° C., preferably at approximately 50-90° C. The prepared aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds may be optionally purified. For example, the mixture of aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds may be purified to yield an aminoalcohol lipidoid compound with a particular number of epoxide-derived compound tails. Or the mixture may be purified to yield a particular stereo- or regioisomer. The aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds may also be alkylated using an alkyl halide (e.g., methyl iodide) or other alkylating agent, and/or they may be acylated.

US Patent Publication No. 20110293703 also provides libraries of aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds prepared by the inventive methods. These aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds may be prepared and/or screened using high-throughput techniques involving liquid handlers, robots, microtiter plates, computers, etc. In certain embodiments, the aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds are screened for their ability to transfect polynucleotides or other agents (e.g., proteins, peptides, small molecules) into the cell.

US Patent Publication No. 20130302401 relates to a class of poly(beta-amino alcohols) (PBAAs) has been prepared using combinatorial polymerization. The inventive PBAAs may be used in biotechnology and biomedical applications as coatings (such as coatings of films or multilayer films for medical devices or implants), additives, materials, excipients, non-biofouling agents, micropatterning agents, and cellular encapsulation agents. When used as surface coatings, these PBAAs elicited different levels of inflammation, both in vitro and in vivo, depending on their chemical structures. The large chemical diversity of this class of materials allowed us to identify polymer coatings that inhibit macrophage activation in vitro. Furthermore, these coatings reduce the recruitment of inflammatory cells, and reduce fibrosis, following the subcutaneous implantation of carboxylated polystyrene microparticles. These polymers may be used to form polyelectrolyte complex capsules for cell encapsulation. The invention may also have many other biological applications such as antimicrobial coatings, DNA or siRNA delivery, and stem cell tissue engineering. The teachings of US Patent Publication No. 20130302401 may be applied to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention.

In another embodiment, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are contemplated. An antitransthyretin small interfering RNA has been encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles and delivered to humans (see, e.g., Coelho et al., N Engl J Med 2013; 369:819-29), and such a system may be adapted and applied to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention. Doses of about 0.01 to about 1 mg per kg of body weight administered intravenously are contemplated. Medications to reduce the risk of infusion-related reactions are contemplated, such as dexamethasone, acetaminophen, diphenhydramine or cetirizine, and ranitidine are contemplated. Multiple doses of about 0.3 mg per kilogram every 4 weeks for five doses are also contemplated.

Zhu et al. (US20140348900) provides for a process for preparing liposomes, lipid discs, and other lipid nanoparticles using a multi-port manifold, wherein the lipid solution stream, containing an organic solvent, is mixed with two or more streams of aqueous solution (e.g., buffer). In some aspects, at least some of the streams of the lipid and aqueous solutions are not directly opposite of each other. Thus, the process does not require dilution of the organic solvent as an additional step. In some embodiments, one of the solutions may also contain an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). This invention provides a robust process of liposome manufacturing with different lipid formulations and different payloads. Particle size, morphology, and the manufacturing scale can be controlled by altering the port size and number of the manifold ports, and by selecting the flow rate or flow velocity of the lipid and aqueous solutions.

Cullis et al. (US20140328759) provides limit size lipid nanoparticles with a diameter from 10-100 nm, in particular comprising a lipid bilayer surrounding an aqueous core. Methods and apparatus for preparing such limit size lipid nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Manoharan et al. (US20140308304) provides cationic lipids of formula (I)

or a salt thereof, wherein X is N or P; R′ is absent, hydrogen, or alkyl; with respect to R 1 and R 2 , (i) R 1 and R 2 are each, independently, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycle or R 10 ; (ii) R 1 and R 2 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocyclic ring; or (iii) one of R 1 and R 2 is optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, or heterocycle, and the other forms a 4-10 member heterocyclic ring or heteroaryl with (a) the adjacent nitrogen atom and (b) the (R) a group adjacent to the nitrogen atom; each occurrence of R is, independently, —(CR 3 R 4 )—; each occurrence of R 3 and R 4 are, independently H, halogen, OH, alkyl, alkoxy, —NH.sub.2, alkylamino, or dialkylamino; or R 3 and R 4 , together with the carbon atom to which they are directly attached, form a cycloalkyl group, wherein no more than three R groups in each chain attached to the atom X* are cycloalkyl; each occurrence of R.sup.10 is independently selected from PEG and polymers based on poly(oxazoline), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(glycerol), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide] and poly(amino acid)s, wherein (i) the PEG or polymer is linear or branched, (ii) the PEG or polymer is polymerized by n subunits, (iii) n is a number-averaged degree of polymerization between 10 and 200 units, and (iv) wherein the compound of formula has at most two R 10 groups; Q is absent or is —O—, —NH—, —S—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)N(R 4 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —S—S—, —OC(O)O—, —O—N·dbd·C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )·dbd·N—O—, —OC(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)O—, —C(O)S—, —C(S)O— or —C(R 5 )·dbd·N—O—C(O)—; Q 3 and Q 2 are each, independently, absent, —O—, —S—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —SC(O)—, —C(O)S—, —OC(S)—, —C(S)O—, —S—S—, —C(O)(NR5)-, —N(R5)C(O)—, —C(S)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, or —OC(O)O—; Q 3 and Q 4 are each, independently, H, —(CR 3 R 4 )—, aryl, or a cholesterol moiety; each occurrence of A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 is, independently, —(CR 5 R 5 —CR 5 ·dbd·CR 5 )—; each occurrence of R 5 is, independently, H or alkyl; M 1 and M 2 are each, independently, a biodegradable group (e.g., —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —SC(O)—, —C(O)S—, —OC(S)—, —C(S)O—, —S—S—, —C(R 5 )·dbd·N—, —N·dbd·C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )·dbd·N—O—, —O—N·dbd·C(R5)-, —C(O)(NR5)-, —N(R5)C(O)—, —C(S)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —OC(O)O—, —OSi(R 5 ).sub.2O—, —C(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)O—, or —OC(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)—); Z is absent, alkylene or —O—P(O)(OH)—O—; each— attached to Z is an optional bond, such that when Z is absent, Q 3 and Q 4 are not directly covalently bound together; a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; b is 0, 1, 2, or 3; c, d, e, f, i, j, m, n, q and r are each, independently, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10; g and h are each, independently, 0, 1 or 2; k and l are each, independently, 0 or 1, where at least one of k and l is 1; and o and p are each, independently, 0, 1 or 2, wherein Q 3 and Q 4 are each, independently, separated from the tertiary atom marked with an asterisk (X*) by a chain of 8 or more atoms. The cationic lipid can be used with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with oligonucleotides, to facilitate the cellular uptake and endosomal escape, and to knockdown target mRNA both in vitro and in vivo.

LNPs have been shown to be highly effective in delivering siRNAs to the liver (see, e.g., Tabernero et al., Cancer Discovery, April 2013, Vol. 3, No. 4, pages 363-470) and are therefore contemplated for delivering RNA encoding CRISPR Cas to the liver. A dosage of about four doses of 6 mg/kg of the LNP every two weeks may be contemplated. Tabernero et al. demonstrated that tumor regression was observed after the first 2 cycles of LNPs dosed at 0.7 mg/kg, and by the end of 6 cycles the patient had achieved a partial response with complete regression of the lymph node metastasis and substantial shrinkage of the liver tumors. A complete response was obtained after 40 doses in this patient, who has remained in remission and completed treatment after receiving doses over 26 months. Two patients with RCC and extrahepatic sites of disease including kidney, lung, and lymph nodes that were progressing following prior therapy with VEGF pathway inhibitors had stable disease at all sites for approximately 8 to 12 months, and a patient with PNET and liver metastases continued on the extension study for 18 months (36 doses) with stable disease.

However, the charge of the LNP must be taken into consideration. As cationic lipids combined with negatively charged lipids to induce nonbilayer structures that facilitate intracellular delivery. Because charged LNPs are rapidly cleared from circulation following intravenous injection, ionizable cationic lipids with pKa values below 7 were developed (see, e.g., Rosin et al, Molecular Therapy, vol. 19, no. 12, pages 1286-220 December 2011). Negatively charged polymers such as RNA may be loaded into LNPs at low pH values (e.g., pH 4) where the ionizable lipids display a positive charge. However, at physiological pH values, the LNPs exhibit a low surface charge compatible with longer circulation times. Four species of ionizable cationic lipids have been focused upon, namely 1,2-dilinoleoyl-3-dimethylammonium-propane (DLinDAP), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-keto-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLinKDMA), and 1,2-dilinoleyl-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLinKC2-DMA). It has been shown that LNP siRNA systems containing these lipids exhibit remarkably different gene silencing properties in hepatocytes in vivo, with potencies varying according to the series DLinKC2-DMA>DLinKDMA>DLinDMA>>DLinDAP employing a Factor VII gene silencing model (see, e.g., Rosin et al, Molecular Therapy, vol. 19, no. 12, pages 1286-220 December 2011). A dosage of 1 μg/ml of LNP or CRISPR-Cas RNA in or associated with the LNP may be contemplated, especially for a formulation containing DLinKC2-DMA.

Preparation of LNPs and CRISPR Cas encapsulation may be used and/or adapted from Rosin et al, Molecular Therapy, vol. 19, no. 12, pages 1286-220 December 2011). The cationic lipids 1,2-dilinoleoyl-3-dimethylammonium-propane (DLinDAP), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxyketo-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLinK-DMA), 1,2-dilinoleyl-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLinKC2-DMA), (3-o-[2″-(methoxypolyethyleneglycol 2000) succinoyl]-1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycol (PEG-S-DMG), and R-3-[(ω-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) 2000) carbamoyl]-1,2-dimyristyloxypropyl-3-amine (PEG-C-DOMG) may be provided by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (Vancouver, Canada) or synthesized. Cholesterol may be purchased from Sigma (St Louis, MO). The specific CRISPR Cas RNA may be encapsulated in LNPs containing DLinDAP, DLinDMA, DLinK-DMA, and DLinKC2-DMA (cationic lipid:DSPC:CHOL:PEGS-DMG or PEG-C-DOMG at 40:10:40:10 molar ratios). When required, 0.2% SP-DiOC18 (Invitrogen, Burlington, Canada) may be incorporated to assess cellular uptake, intracellular delivery, and biodistribution. Encapsulation may be performed by dissolving lipid mixtures comprised of cationic lipid:DSPC:cholesterol:PEG-c-DOMG (40:10:40:10 molar ratio) in ethanol to a final lipid concentration of 10 mmol/l. This ethanol solution of lipid may be added drop-wise to 50 mmol/l citrate, pH 4.0 to form multilamellar vesicles to produce a final concentration of 30% ethanol vol/vol. Large unilamellar vesicles may be formed following extrusion of multilamellar vesicles through two stacked 80 nm Nuclepore polycarbonate filters using the Extruder (Northern Lipids, Vancouver, Canada). Encapsulation may be achieved by adding RNA dissolved at 2 mg/ml in 50 mmol/l citrate, pH 4.0 containing 30% ethanol vol/vol drop-wise to extruded preformed large unilamellar vesicles and incubation at 31° C. for 30 minutes with constant mixing to a final RNA/lipid weight ratio of 0.06/1 wt/wt. Removal of ethanol and neutralization of formulation buffer were performed by dialysis against phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4 for 16 hours using Spectra/Por 2 regenerated cellulose dialysis membranes. Nanoparticle size distribution may be determined by dynamic light scattering using a NICOMP 370 particle sizer, the vesicle/intensity modes, and Gaussian fitting (Nicomp Particle Sizing, Santa Barbara, CA). The particle size for all three LNP systems may be ˜70 nm in diameter. RNA encapsulation efficiency may be determined by removal of free RNA using VivaPureD MiniH columns (Sartorius Stedim Biotech) from samples collected before and after dialysis. The encapsulated RNA may be extracted from the eluted nanoparticles and quantified at 260 nm. RNA to lipid ratio was determined by measurement of cholesterol content in vesicles using the Cholesterol E enzymatic assay from Wako Chemicals USA (Richmond, VA). In conjunction with the herein discussion of LNPs and PEG lipids, PEGylated liposomes or LNPs are likewise suitable for delivery of a CRISPR-Cas system or components thereof.

Preparation of large LNPs may be used and/or adapted from Rosin et al, Molecular Therapy, vol. 19, no. 12, pages 1286-220 December 2011. A lipid premix solution (20.4 mg/ml total lipid concentration) may be prepared in ethanol containing DLinKC2-DMA, DSPC, and cholesterol at 50:10:38.5 molar ratios. Sodium acetate may be added to the lipid premix at a molar ratio of 0.75:1 (sodium acetate:DLinKC2-DMA). The lipids may be subsequently hydrated by combining the mixture with 1.85 volumes of citrate buffer (10 mmol/l, pH 3.0) with vigorous stirring, resulting in spontaneous liposome formation in aqueous buffer containing 35% ethanol. The liposome solution may be incubated at 37° C. to allow for time-dependent increase in particle size. Aliquots may be removed at various times during incubation to investigate changes in liposome size by dynamic light scattering (Zetasizer Nano ZS, Malvern Instruments, Worcestershire, UK). Once the desired particle size is achieved, an aqueous PEG lipid solution (stock=10 mg/ml PEG-DMG in 35% (vol/vol) ethanol) may be added to the liposome mixture to yield a final PEG molar concentration of 3.5% of total lipid. Upon addition of PEG-lipids, the liposomes should their size, effectively quenching further growth. RNA may then be added to the empty liposomes at an RNA to total lipid ratio of approximately 1:10 (wt:wt), followed by incubation for 30 minutes at 37° C. to form loaded LNPs. The mixture may be subsequently dialyzed overnight in PBS and filtered with a 0.45-μm syringe filter.

Preassembled recombinant CRISPR-Cas9 complexes comprising Cas9 and crRNA may be transfected, for example by electroporation, resulting in high mutation rates and absence of detectable off-target mutations. Hur, J. K. et al, Targeted mutagenesis in mice by electroporation of Cas9 ribonucleoproteins, Nat Biotechnol. 2016 Jun. 6. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3596. [Epub ahead of print]

In terms of local delivery to the brain, this can be achieved in various ways. For instance, material can be delivered intrastriatally e.g. by injection. Injection can be performed stereotactically via a craniotomy.

Enhancing NHEJ or HR efficiency is also helpful for delivery. It is preferred that NHEJ efficiency is enhanced by co-expressing end-processing enzymes such as Trex2 (Dumitrache et al. Genetics. 2011 August; 188 (4): 787-797). It is preferred that HR efficiency is increased by transiently inhibiting NHEJ machineries such as Ku70 and Ku86. HR efficiency can also be increased by co-expressing prokaryotic or eukaryotic homologous recombination enzymes such as RecBCD, RecA.

In some embodiments, sugar-based particles may be used, for example GalNAc, as described herein and with reference to WO2014118272 (incorporated herein by reference) and Nair, J K et al., 2014, Journal of the American Chemical Society 136 (49), 16958-16961) and the teaching herein, especially in respect of delivery applies to all particles unless otherwise apparent. This may be considered to be a sugar-based particle and further details on other particle delivery systems and/or formulations are provided herein. GalNAc can therefore be considered to be a particle in the sense of the other particles described herein, such that general uses and other considerations, for instance delivery of said particles, apply to GalNAc particles as well. A solution-phase conjugation strategy may for example be used to attach triantennary GalNAc clusters (mol. wt. ˜2000) activated as PFP (pentafluorophenyl) esters onto 5′-hexylamino modified oligonucleotides (5′-HA ASOs, mol. wt. ˜8000 Da; Østergaard et al., Bioconjugate Chem., 2015, 26 (8), pp 1451-1455). Similarly, poly(acrylate) polymers have been described for in vivo nucleic acid delivery (see WO2013158141 incorporated herein by reference). In further alternative embodiments, pre-mixing CRISPR nanoparticles (or protein complexes) with naturally occurring serum proteins may be used in order to improve delivery (Akinc A et al, 2010, Molecular Therapy vol. 18 no. 7, 1357-1364).

Nanoclews

Further, the CRISPR system may be delivered using nanoclews, for example as described in Sun W et al, Cocoon - like self - degradable DNA nanoclew for anticancer drug delivery ., J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Oct. 22; 136 (42): 14722-5. doi: 10.1021/ja5088024. Epub 2014 Oct. 13.; or in Sun W et al, Self - Assembled DNA Nanoclews for the Efficient Delivery of CRISPR - Cas 9 for Genome Editing ., Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2015 Oct. 5; 54 (41): 12029-33. doi: 10.1002/anie.201506030. Epub 2015 Aug. 27.

In some embodiments, delivery is by encapsulation of the Cas9 protein or mRNAform in a lipid particle such as an LNP. In some embodiments, therefore, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are contemplated. An antitransthyretin small interfering RNA has been encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles and delivered to humans (see, e.g., Coelho et al., N Engl J Med 2013; 369:819-29), and such a system may be adapted and applied to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention. Doses of about 0.01 to about 1 mg per kg of body weight administered intravenously are contemplated. Medications to reduce the risk of infusion-related reactions are contemplated, such as dexamethasone, acetaminophen, diphenhydramine or cetirizine, and ranitidine are contemplated. Multiple doses of about 0.3 mg per kilogram every 4 weeks for five doses are also contemplated.

LNPs have been shown to be highly effective in delivering siRNAs to the liver (see, e.g., Tabernero et al., Cancer Discovery, April 2013, Vol. 3, No. 4, pages 363-470) and are therefore contemplated for delivering RNA encoding CRISPR Cas to the liver. A dosage of about four doses of 6 mg/kg of the LNP every two weeks may be contemplated. Tabernero et al. demonstrated that tumor regression was observed after the first 2 cycles of LNPs dosed at 0.7 mg/kg, and by the end of 6 cycles the patient had achieved a partial response with complete regression of the lymph node metastasis and substantial shrinkage of the liver tumors. A complete response was obtained after 40 doses in this patient, who has remained in remission and completed treatment after receiving doses over 26 months. Two patients with RCC and extrahepatic sites of disease including kidney, lung, and lymph nodes that were progressing following prior therapy with VEGF pathway inhibitors had stable disease at all sites for approximately 8 to 12 months, and a patient with PNET and liver metastases continued on the extension study for 18 months (36 doses) with stable disease.

However, the charge of the LNP must be taken into consideration. As cationic lipids combined with negatively charged lipids to induce nonbilayer structures that facilitate intracellular delivery. Because charged LNPs are rapidly cleared from circulation following intravenous injection, ionizable cationic lipids with pKa values below 7 were developed (see, e.g., Rosin et al, Molecular Therapy, vol. 19, no. 12, pages 1286-220 December 2011). Negatively charged polymers such as RNA may be loaded into LNPs at low pH values (e.g., pH 4) where the ionizable lipids display a positive charge. However, at physiological pH values, the LNPs exhibit a low surface charge compatible with longer circulation times. Four species of ionizable cationic lipids have been focused upon, namely 1,2-dilinoleoyl-3-dimethylammonium-propane (DLinDAP), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-keto-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLinKDMA), and 1,2-dilinoleyl-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLinKC2-DMA). It has been shown that LNP siRNA systems containing these lipids exhibit remarkably different gene silencing properties in hepatocytes in vivo, with potencies varying according to the series DLinKC2-DMA>DLinKDMA>DLinDMA>>DLinDAP employing a Factor VII gene silencing model (see, e.g., Rosin et al, Molecular Therapy, vol. 19, no. 12, pages 1286-220 December 2011). A dosage of 1 μg/ml of LNP or CRISPR-Cas RNA in or associated with the LNP may be contemplated, especially for a formulation containing DLinKC2-DMA.

Preparation of LNPs and CRISPR Cas encapsulation may be used and/or adapted from Rosin et al, Molecular Therapy, vol. 19, no. 12, pages 1286-220 December 2011). The cationic lipids 1,2-dilinoleoyl-3-dimethylammonium-propane (DLinDAP), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxyketo-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLinK-DMA), 1,2-dilinoleyl-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLinKC2-DMA), (3-O-[2″-(methoxypolyethyleneglycol 2000) succinoyl]-1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycol (PEG-S-DMG), and R-3-[(ω-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) 2000) carbamoyl]-1,2-dimyristyloxypropyl-3-amine (PEG-C-DOMG) may be provided by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (Vancouver, Canada) or synthesized. Cholesterol may be purchased from Sigma (St Louis, MO). The specific CRISPR Cas RNA may be encapsulated in LNPs containing DLinDAP, DLinDMA, DLinK-DMA, and DLinKC2-DMA (cationic lipid:DSPC:CHOL:PEGS-DMG or PEG-C-DOMG at 40:10:40:10 molar ratios). When required, 0.2% SP-DiOC18 (Invitrogen, Burlington, Canada) may be incorporated to assess cellular uptake, intracellular delivery, and biodistribution. Encapsulation may be performed by dissolving lipid mixtures comprised of cationic lipid:DSPC:cholesterol:PEG-c-DOMG (40:10:40:10 molar ratio) in ethanol to a final lipid concentration of 10 mmol/l. This ethanol solution of lipid may be added drop-wise to 50 mmol/l citrate, pH 4.0 to form multilamellar vesicles to produce a final concentration of 30% ethanol vol/vol. Large unilamellar vesicles may be formed following extrusion of multilamellar vesicles through two stacked 80 nm Nuclepore polycarbonate filters using the Extruder (Northern Lipids, Vancouver, Canada). Encapsulation may be achieved by adding RNA dissolved at 2 mg/ml in 50 mmol/l citrate, pH 4.0 containing 30% ethanol vol/vol drop-wise to extruded preformed large unilamellar vesicles and incubation at 31° C. for 30 minutes with constant mixing to a final RNA/lipid weight ratio of 0.06/1 wt/wt. Removal of ethanol and neutralization of formulation buffer were performed by dialysis against phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4 for 16 hours using Spectra/Por 2 regenerated cellulose dialysis membranes. Nanoparticle size distribution may be determined by dynamic light scattering using a NICOMP 370 particle sizer, the vesicle/intensity modes, and Gaussian fitting (Nicomp Particle Sizing, Santa Barbara, CA). The particle size for all three LNP systems may be ˜70 nm in diameter. RNA encapsulation efficiency may be determined by removal of free RNA using VivaPureD MiniH columns (Sartorius Stedim Biotech) from samples collected before and after dialysis. The encapsulated RNA may be extracted from the eluted nanoparticles and quantified at 260 nm. RNA to lipid ratio was determined by measurement of cholesterol content in vesicles using the Cholesterol E enzymatic assay from Wako Chemicals USA (Richmond, VA). In conjunction with the herein discussion of LNPs and PEG lipids, PEGylated liposomes or LNPs are likewise suitable for delivery of a CRISPR-Cas system or components thereof.

A lipid premix solution (20.4 mg/ml total lipid concentration) may be prepared in ethanol containing DLinKC2-DMA, DSPC, and cholesterol at 50:10:38.5 molar ratios. Sodium acetate may be added to the lipid premix at a molar ratio of 0.75:1 (sodium acetate:DLinKC2-DMA). The lipids may be subsequently hydrated by combining the mixture with 1.85 volumes of citrate buffer (10 mmol/l, pH 3.0) with vigorous stirring, resulting in spontaneous liposome formation in aqueous buffer containing 35% ethanol. The liposome solution may be incubated at 37° C. to allow for time-dependent increase in particle size. Aliquots may be removed at various times during incubation to investigate changes in liposome size by dynamic light scattering (Zetasizer Nano ZS, Malvern Instruments, Worcestershire, UK). Once the desired particle size is achieved, an aqueous PEG lipid solution (stock=10 mg/ml PEG-DMG in 35% (vol/vol) ethanol) may be added to the liposome mixture to yield a final PEG molar concentration of 3.5% of total lipid. Upon addition of PEG-lipids, the liposomes should their size, effectively quenching further growth. RNA may then be added to the empty liposomes at an RNA to total lipid ratio of approximately 1:10 (wt:wt), followed by incubation for 30 minutes at 37° C. to form loaded LNPs. The mixture may be subsequently dialyzed overnight in PBS and filtered with a 0.45-μm syringe filter.

Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA™) constructs and other nanoparticles (particularly gold nanoparticles) are also contemplated as a means to delivery CRISPR-Cas system to intended targets. Significant data show that AuraSense Therapeutics' Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA™) constructs, based upon nucleic acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles, are useful.

Literature that may be employed in conjunction with herein teachings include: Cutler et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011 133:9254-9257, Hao et al., Small. 2011 7:3158-3162a, Zhang et al., ACS Nano. 2011 5:6962-6970, Cutler et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012 134:1376-1391, Young et al., Nano Lett. 2012 12:3867-71, Zheng et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2012 109:11975-80, Mirkin, Nanomedicine 2012 7:635-638 Zhang et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012 134:16488-1691, Weintraub, Nature 2013 495: S14-S16, Choi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2013 110 (19): 7625-7630, Jensen et al., Sci. Transl. Med. 5, 209ra152 (2013) and Mirkin, et al., Small, 10:186-192.

Self-assembling nanoparticles with RNA may be constructed with polyethyleneimine (PEI) that is PEGylated with an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide ligand attached at the distal end of the polyethylene glycol (PEG). This system has been used, for example, as a means to target tumor neovasculature expressing integrins and deliver siRNA inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGF R2) expression and thereby achieve tumor angiogenesis (see, e.g., Schiffelers et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2004, Vol. 32, No. 19). Nanoplexes may be prepared by mixing equal volumes of aqueous solutions of cationic polymer and nucleic acid to give a net molar excess of ionizable nitrogen (polymer) to phosphate (nucleic acid) over the range of 2 to 6. The electrostatic interactions between cationic polymers and nucleic acid resulted in the formation of polyplexes with average particle size distribution of about 100 nm, hence referred to here as nanoplexes. A dosage of about 100 to 200 mg of CRISPR Cas is envisioned for delivery in the self-assembling nanoparticles of Schiffelers et al.

The nanoplexes of Bartlett et al. (PNAS, Sep. 25, 2007, vol. 104, no. 39) may also be applied to the present invention. The nanoplexes of Bartlett et al. are prepared by mixing equal volumes of aqueous solutions of cationic polymer and nucleic acid to give a net molar excess of ionizable nitrogen (polymer) to phosphate (nucleic acid) over the range of 2 to 6. The electrostatic interactions between cationic polymers and nucleic acid resulted in the formation of polyplexes with average particle size distribution of about 100 nm, hence referred to here as nanoplexes. The DOTA-siRNA of Bartlett et al. was synthesized as follows: 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid mono(N-hydroxysuccinimide ester) (DOTA-NHSester) was ordered from Macrocyclics (Dallas, TX). The amine modified RNA sense strand with a 100-fold molar excess of DOTA-NHS-ester in carbonate buffer (pH 9) was added to a microcentrifuge tube. The contents were reacted by stirring for 4 h at room temperature. The DOTA-RNAsense conjugate was ethanol-precipitated, resuspended in water, and annealed to the unmodified antisense strand to yield DOTA-siRNA. All liquids were pretreated with Chelex-100 (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA) to remove trace metal contaminants. Tf-targeted and nontargeted siRNA nanoparticles may be formed by using cyclodextrin-containing polycations. Typically, nanoparticles were formed in water at a charge ratio of 3 (+/−) and an siRNA concentration of 0.5 g/liter. One percent of the adamantane-PEG molecules on the surface of the targeted nanoparticles were modified with Tf (adamantane-PEG-Tf). The nanoparticles were suspended in a 5% (wt/vol) glucose carrier solution for injection.

Davis et al. (Nature, Vol 464, 15 Apr. 2010) conducts a RNA clinical trial that uses a targeted nanoparticle-delivery system (clinical trial registration number NCT00689065). Patients with solid cancers refractory to standard-of-care therapies are administered doses of targeted nanoparticles on days 1, 3, 8 and 10 of a 21-day cycle by a 30-min intravenous infusion. The nanoparticles consist of a synthetic delivery system containing: (1) a linear, cyclodextrin-based polymer (CDP), (2) a human transferrin protein (TF) targeting ligand displayed on the exterior of the nanoparticle to engage TF receptors (TFR) on the surface of the cancer cells, (3) a hydrophilic polymer (polyethylene glycol (PEG) used to promote nanoparticle stability in biological fluids), and (4) siRNA designed to reduce the expression of the RRM2 (sequence used in the clinic was previously denoted siR2B+5). The TFR has long been known to be upregulated in malignant cells, and RRM2 is an established anti-cancer target. These nanoparticles (clinical version denoted as CALAA-01) have been shown to be well tolerated in multi-dosing studies in non-human primates. Although a single patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia has been administered siRNAby liposomal delivery, Davis et al.'s clinical trial is the initial human trial to systemically deliver siRNA with a targeted delivery system and to treat patients with solid cancer. To ascertain whether the targeted delivery system can provide effective delivery of functional siRNA to human tumours, Davis et al. investigated biopsies from three patients from three different dosing cohorts; patients A, B and C, all of whom had metastatic melanoma and received CALAA-01 doses of 18, 24 and 30 mg m −2 siRNA, respectively. Similar doses may also be contemplated for the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention. The delivery of the invention may be achieved with nanoparticles containing a linear, cyclodextrin-based polymer (CDP), a human transferrin protein (TF) targeting ligand displayed on the exterior of the nanoparticle to engage TF receptors (TFR) on the surface of the cancer cells and/or a hydrophilic polymer (for example, polyethylene glycol (PEG) used to promote nanoparticle stability in biological fluids).

U.S. Pat. No. 8,709,843, incorporated herein by reference, provides a drug delivery system for targeted delivery of therapeutic agent-containing particles to tissues, cells, and intracellular compartments. The invention provides targeted particles comprising polymer conjugated to a surfactant, hydrophilic polymer or lipid.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,845, incorporated herein by reference, provides particles which have a core of a multiblock copolymer formed by covalently linking a multifunctional compound with one or more hydrophobic polymers and one or more hydrophilic polymers, and contain a biologically active material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,913, incorporated herein by reference, provides a particulate composition having aerodynamically light particles having a tap density of less than 0.4 g/cm 3 with a mean diameter of between 5 μm and 30 μm, incorporating a surfactant on the surface thereof for drug delivery to the pulmonary system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,309, incorporated herein by reference, provides particles incorporating a surfactant and/or a hydrophilic or hydrophobic complex of a positively or negatively charged therapeutic or diagnostic agent and a charged molecule of opposite charge for delivery to the pulmonary system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,158, incorporated herein by reference, provides biodegradable injectable particles having a biodegradable solid core containing a biologically active material and poly(alkylene glycol) moieties on the surface.

WO2012135025 (also published as US20120251560), incorporated herein by reference, describes conjugated polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymers and conjugated aza-macrocycles (collectively referred to as “conjugated lipomer” or “lipomers”). In certain embodiments, it can envisioned that such conjugated lipomers can be used in the context of the CRISPR-Cas system to achieve in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo genomic perturbations to modify gene expression, including modulation of protein expression.

In one embodiment, the nanoparticle may be epoxide-modified lipid-polymer, advantageously 7C1 (see, e.g., James E. Dahlman and Carmen Barnes et al. Nature Nanotechnology (2014) published online 11 May 2014, doi: 10.1038/nnano.2014.84). C71 was synthesized by reacting C15 epoxide-terminated lipids with PEI600 at a 14:1 molar ratio, and was formulated with C14PEG2000 to produce nanoparticles (diameter between 35 and 60 nm) that were stable in PBS solution for at least 40 days.

An epoxide-modified lipid-polymer may be utilized to deliver the CRISPR-Cas system of the present invention to pulmonary, cardiovascular or renal cells, however, one of skill in the art may adapt the system to deliver to other target organs. Dosage ranging from about 0.05 to about 0.6 mg/kg are envisioned. Dosages over several days or weeks are also envisioned, with a total dosage of about 2 mg/kg.

In some embodiments, the LNP for delivering the RNA molecules is prepared by methods known in the art, such as those described in, for example, WO 2005/105152 (PCT/EP2005/004920), WO 2006/069782 (PCT/EP2005/014074), WO 2007/121947 (PCT/EP2007/003496), and WO 2015/082080 (PCT/EP2014/003274), which are herein incorporated by reference. LNPs aimed specifically at the enhanced and improved delivery of siRNA into mammalian cells are described in, for example, Aleku et al., Cancer Res., 68 (23): 9788-98 (Dec. 1, 2008), Strumberg et al., Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 50 (1): 76-8 (January 2012), Schultheis et al., J. Clin. Oncol., 32 (36): 4141-48 (Dec. 20, 2014), and Fehring et al., Mol. Ther., 22 (4): 811-20 (Apr. 22, 2014), which are herein incorporated by reference and may be applied to the present technology.

In some embodiments, the LNP includes any LNP disclosed in WO 2005/105152 (PCT/EP2005/004920), WO 2006/069782 (PCT/EP2005/014074), WO 2007/121947 (PCT/EP2007/003496), and WO 2015/082080 (PCT/EP2014/003274).

In some embodiments, the LNP includes at least one lipid having Formula I:

wherein R 1 and R 2 are each and independently selected from the group comprising alkyl, n is any integer between 1 and 4, and R3 is an acyl selected from the group comprising lysyl, ornithyl, 2,4-diaminobutyryl, histidyl and an acyl moiety according to Formula II:

wherein m is any integer from 1 to 3 and Y is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion. In some embodiments, a lipid according to Formula I includes at least two asymmetric C atoms. In some embodiments, enantiomers of Formula I include, but are not limited to, R—R; S—S; R—S and S—R enantiomer.

In some embodiments, R1 is lauryl and R2 is myristyl. In another embodiment, R1 is palmityl and R2 is oleyl. In some embodiments, m is 1 or 2. In some embodiments, Y is selected from halogenids, acetate or trifluoroacetate.

In some embodiments, the LNP comprises one or more lipids select from: β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-palmityl-N-oleyl-amide trihydrochloride (Formula III):

β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-lauryl-N-myristyl-amide trihydrochloride (Formula IV):

and

ε-arginyl-lysine-N-lauryl-N-myristyl-amide trihydrochloride (Formula V):

In some embodiments, the LNP also includes a constituent. By way of example, but not by way of limitation, in some embodiments, the constituent is selected from peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, polynucleotides, nucleic acids, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the constituent is an antibody, e.g., a monoclonal antibody. In some embodiments, the constituent is a nucleic acid selected from, e.g., ribozymes, aptamers, spiegelmers, DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is gRNA and/or mRNA.

In some embodiments, the constituent of the LNP comprises an mRNA encoding a CRISPR effector protein. In some embodiments, the constituent of the LNP comprises an mRNA encoding a Type-II, Type-V, or Type-VI CRISPR effector protein. In some embodiments, the constituent of the LNP comprises an mRNA encoding an RNA-guided DNA binding protein. In some embodiments, the constituent of the LNP comprises an mRNA encoding an RNA-guided RNA binding protein.

In some embodiments, the constituent of the LNP further comprises one or more guide RNA. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to vascular endothelium. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to pulmonary endothelium. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to liver. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to lung. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to hearts. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to spleen. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to kidney. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to pancreas. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to brain. In some embodiments, the LNP is configured to deliver the aforementioned mRNA and guide RNA to macrophages.

In some embodiments, the LNP also includes at least one helper lipid. In some embodiments, the helper lipid is selected from phospholipids and steroids. In some embodiments, the phospholipids are di- and/or monoester of the phosphoric acid. In some embodiments, the phospholipids are phosphoglycerides and/or sphingolipids. In some embodiments, the steroids are naturally occurring and/or synthetic compounds based on the partially hydrogenated cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene. In some embodiments, the steroids contain 21 to 30 C atoms. In some embodiments, the steroid is cholesterol. In some embodiments, the helper lipid is selected from 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPhyPE), ceramide, and 1,2-dioleoylsn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE).

In some embodiments, the at least one helper lipid comprises a moiety selected from the group comprising a PEG moiety, a HEG moiety, a polyhydroxyethyl starch (polyHES) moiety and a polypropylene moiety. In some embodiments, the moiety has a molecule weight between about 500 to 10,000 Da or between about 2,000 to 5,000 Da. In some embodiments, the PEG moiety is selected from 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphoethanolamine, 1,2-dialkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, and Ceramide-PEG. In some embodiments, the PEG moiety has a molecular weight between about 500 to 10,000 Da or between about 2,000 to 5,000 Da. In some embodiments, the PEG moiety has a molecular weight of 2,000 Da.

In some embodiments, the helper lipid is between about 20 mol % to 80 mol % of the total lipid content of the composition. In some embodiments, the helper lipid component is between about 35 mol % to 65 mol % of the total lipid content of the LNP. In some embodiments, the LNP includes lipids at 50 mol % and the helper lipid at 50 mol % of the total lipid content of the LNP.

In some embodiments, the LNP includes any of β-3-arginyl-2,3-diaminopropionic acid-N-palmityl-N-oleyl-amide trihydrochloride, β-arginyl-2,3-diaminopropionic acid-N-lauryl-N-myristyl-amide trihydrochloride or ε-arginyl-lysine-N-lauryl-N-myristyl-amide trihydrochloride in combination with DPhyPE, wherein the content of DPhyPE is about 80 mol %, 65 mol %, 50 mol % and 35 mol % of the overall lipid content of the LNP. In some embodiments, the LNP includes β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-pahnityl-N-oleyl-amide trihydrochloride (lipid) and 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (helper lipid). In some embodiments, the LNP includes β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-palmityl-N-oleyl-amide trihydrochloride (lipid), 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (first helper lipid), and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-PEG2000 (second helper lipid).

In some embodiments, the second helper lipid is between about 0.05 mol % to 4.9 mol % or between about 1 mol % to 3 mol % of the total lipid content. In some embodiments, the LNP includes lipids at between about 45 mol % to 50 mol % of the total lipid content, a first helper lipid between about 45 mol % to 50 mol % of the total lipid content, under the proviso that there is a PEGylated second helper lipid between about 0.1 mol % to 5 mol %, between about 1 mol % to 4 mol %, or at about 2 mol % of the total lipid content, wherein the sum of the content of the lipids, the first helper lipid, and of the second helper lipid is 100 mol % of the total lipid content and wherein the sum of the first helper lipid and the second helper lipid is 50 mol % of the total lipid content. In some embodiments, the LNP comprises: (a) 50 mol % of β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-palmityl-N-oleyl-amide trihydrochloride, 48 mol % of 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine; and 2 mol % 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-PEG2000; or (b) 50 mol % of β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-palmityl-N-oleyl-amide trihydrochloride, 49 mol % 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine; and 1 mol % N (Carbonyl-methoxypolyethylenglycol-2000)-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero3-phosphoethanolamine, or a sodium salt thereof.

In some embodiments, the LNP contains a nucleic acid, wherein the charge ratio of nucleic acid backbone phosphates to cationic lipid nitrogen atoms is about 1:1.5-7 or about 1:4.

In some embodiments, the LNP also includes a shielding compound, which is removable from the lipid composition under in vivo conditions. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is a biologically inert compound. In some embodiments, the shielding compound does not carry any charge on its surface or on the molecule as such. In some embodiments, the shielding compounds are polyethyleneglycoles (PEGs), hydroxyethylglucose (HEG) based polymers, polyhydroxyethyl starch (polyHES) and polypropylene. In some embodiments, the PEG, HEG, polyHES, and a polypropylene weight between about 500 to 10,000 Da or between about 2000 to 5000 Da. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is PEG2000 or PEG5000.

In some embodiments, the LNP includes at least one lipid, a first helper lipid, and a shielding compound that is removable from the lipid composition under in vivo conditions. In some embodiments, the LNP also includes a second helper lipid. In some embodiments, the first helper lipid is ceramide. In some embodiments, the second helper lipid is ceramide. In some embodiments, the ceramide comprises at least one short carbon chain substituent of from 6 to 10 carbon atoms. In some embodiments, the ceramide comprises 8 carbon atoms. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is attached to a ceramide. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is attached to a ceramide. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is covalently attached to the ceramide. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is attached to a nucleic acid in the LNP. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is covalently attached to the nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the shielding compound is attached to the nucleic acid by a linker. In some embodiments, the linker is cleaved under physiological conditions. In some embodiments, the linker is selected from ssRNA, ssDNA, dsRNA, dsDNA, peptide, S-S-linkers and pH sensitive linkers. In some embodiments, the linker moiety is attached to the 3′ end of the sense strand of the nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the shielding compound comprises a pH-sensitive linker or a pH-sensitive moiety. In some embodiments, the pH-sensitive linker or pH-sensitive moiety is an anionic linker or an anionic moiety. In some embodiments, the anionic linker or anionic moiety is less anionic or neutral in an acidic environment. In some embodiments, the pH-sensitive linker or the pH-sensitive moiety is selected from the oligo (glutamic acid), oligophenolate(s) and diethylene triamine penta acetic acid.

In any of the LNP embodiments in the previous paragraph, the LNP can have an osmolality between about 50 to 600 mosmole/kg, between about 250 to 350 mosmole/kg, or between about 280 to 320 mosmole/kg, and/or wherein the LNP formed by the lipid and/or one or two helper lipids and the shielding compound have a particle size between about 20 to 200 nm, between about 30 to 100 nm, or between about 40 to 80 nm.

In some embodiments, the shielding compound provides for a longer circulation time in vivo and allows for a better biodistribution of the nucleic acid containing LNP. In some embodiments, the shielding compound prevents immediate interaction of the LNP with serum compounds or compounds of other bodily fluids or cytoplasma membranes, e.g., cytoplasma membranes of the endothelial lining of the vasculature, into which the LNP is administered. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the shielding compounds also prevent elements of the immune system from immediately interacting with the LNP. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the shielding compound acts as an anti-opsonizing compound. Without wishing to be bound by any mechanism or theory, in some embodiments, the shielding compound forms a cover or coat that reduces the surface area of the LNP available for interaction with its environment. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the shielding compound shields the overall charge of the LNP.

In another embodiment, the LNP includes at least one cationic lipid having Formula VI:

In some embodiments, R 1 and R 2 are different from each other. In some embodiments, R 1 is palmityl and R 2 is oleyl. In some embodiments, R 1 is lauryl and R 2 is myristyl. In some embodiments, R 1 and R 2 are the same. In some embodiments, each of R 1 and R 2 is individually and independently selected from the group consisting of C12 alkyl, C14 alkyl, C16 alkyl, C18 alkyl, C12 alkenyl, C14 alkenyl, C16 alkenyl and C18 alkenyl. In some embodiments, each of C12 alkenyl, C14 alkenyl, C16 alkenyl and C1 8 alkenyl comprises one or two double bonds. In some embodiments, C18 alkenyl is C18 alkenyl with one double bond between C9 and C10. In some embodiments, C18 alkenyl is cis-9-octadecyl.

In some embodiments, the cationic lipid is a compound of Formula X:

In some embodiments, Y − is selected from halogenids, acetate and trifluoroacetate. In some embodiments, the cationic lipid is β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-palmityl-N-oleyl-amide trihydrochloride of Formula III:

In some embodiments, the cationic lipid is β-arginyl-2,3-diamino propionic acid-N-lauryl-N-myristyl-amide trihydrochloride of Formula IV:

In some embodiments, the cationic lipid is ε-arginyl-lysine-N-lauryl-N-myristyl-amide trihydrochloride of Formula V:

In some embodiments, the sterol compound is cholesterol. In some embodiments, the sterol compound is stigmasterin.

In some embodiments, the PEG moiety of the PEGylated lipid has a molecular weight from about 800 to 5,000 Da. In some embodiments, the molecular weight of the PEG moiety of the PEGylated lipid is about 800 Da. In some embodiments, the molecular weight of the PEG moiety of the PEGylated lipid is about 2,000 Da. In some embodiments, the molecular weight of the PEG moiety of the PEGylated lipid is about 5,000 Da. In some embodiments, the PEGylated lipid is a PEGylated phosphoethanolamine of Formula VII, wherein each of R 3 and R 4 is individually and independently linear C13-C17 alkyl, and p is any integer from 18, 19 or 20, or from 44, 45 or 46 or from 113, 114 or 115. In some embodiments, R 3 and R 4 are the same. In some embodiments, R 3 and R 4 are different. In some embodiments, each of R 3 and R 4 is individually and independently selected from the group consisting of C13 alkyl, C15 alkyl and C17 alkyl. In some embodiments, the PEGylated phosphoethanolamine of Formula VII is 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy (polyethylene glycol)-2000] (ammonium salt):

In some embodiments, the PEGylated phosphoethanolamine of Formula VII is 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy (polyethylene glycol)-5000] (ammonium salt):

In some embodiments, the PEGylated lipid is a PEGylated ceramide of Formula VIII, wherein R 5 is linear C7-C15 alkyl, and q is any integer from 18, 19 or 20, or from 44, 45 or 46 or from 113, 114 or 115. In some embodiments, R 5 is linear C7 alkyl. In some embodiments, R 5 is linear C15 alkyl. In some embodiments, the PEGylated ceramide of Formula VIII is N-octanoyl-sphingosine-1-{succinyl[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)2000]}:

In some embodiments, the PEGylated ceramide of Formula VIII is N-palmitoyl-sphingosine-1-{succinyl[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)2000]}

In some embodiments, the PEGylated lipid is a PEGylated diacylglycerol of Formula IX, wherein each of R 6 and R 7 is individually and independently linear C11-C17 alkyl, and r is any integer from 18, 19 or 20, or from 44, 45 or 46 or from 113, 114 or 115. In some embodiments, R 6 and R 7 are the same. In some embodiments, R 6 and R 7 are different. In some embodiments, each of R 6 and R 7 is individually and independently selected from the group consisting of linear C17 alkyl, linear C15 alkyl and linear C13 alkyl. In some embodiments, the PEGylated diacylglycerol of Formula IX 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycerol [methoxy (polyethylene glycol) 2000]:

In some embodiments, the PEGylated diacylglycerol of Formula IX is 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)2000]:

In some embodiments, the PEGylated diacylglycerol of Formula IX is:

In some embodiments, the LNP includes at least one cationic lipid selected from of Formulas III, IV, and V, at least one sterol compound selected from a cholesterol and stigmasterin, and wherein the PEGylated lipid is at least one selected from Formulas XI and XII. In some embodiments, the LNP includes at least one cationic lipid selected from Formulas III, IV, and V, at least one sterol compound selected from a cholesterol and stigmasterin, and wherein the PEGylated lipid is at least one selected from Formulas XIII and XIV. In some embodiments, the LNP includes at least one cationic lipid selected from Formulas III, IV, and V, at least one sterol compound selected from a cholesterol and stigmasterin, and wherein the PEGylated lipid is at least one selected from Formulas XV and XVI. In some embodiments, the LNP includes a cationic lipid of Formula III, a cholesterol as the sterol compound, and wherein the PEGylated lipid is Formula XI.

In any of the LNP embodiments in the previous paragraph, wherein the content of the cationic lipid composition is between about 65 mole % to 75 mole %, the content of the sterol compound is between about 24 mole % to 34 mole % and the content of the PEGylated lipid is between about 0.5 mole % to 1.5 mole %, wherein the sum of the content of the cationic lipid, of the sterol compound and of the PEGylated lipid for the lipid composition is 100 mole %. In some embodiments, the cationic lipid is about 70 mole %, the content of the sterol compound is about 29 mole % and the content of the PEGylated lipid is about 1 mole %. In some embodiments, the LNP is 70 mole % of Formula III, 29 mole % of cholesterol, and 1 mole % of Formula XI.

Exosomes

Exosomes are endogenous nano-vesicles that transport RNAs and proteins, and which can deliver RNA to the brain and other target organs. To reduce immunogenicity, Alvarez-Erviti et al. (2011, Nat Biotechnol 29:341) used self-derived dendritic cells for exosome production. Targeting to the brain was achieved by engineering the dendritic cells to express Lamp2b, an exosomal membrane protein, fused to the neuron-specific RVG peptide. Purified exosomes were loaded with exogenous RNA by electroporation. Intravenously injected RVG-targeted exosomes delivered GAPDH siRNA specifically to neurons, microglia, oligodendrocytes in the brain, resulting in a specific gene knockdown. Pre-exposure to RVG exosomes did not attenuate knockdown, and non-specific uptake in other tissues was not observed. The therapeutic potential of exosome-mediated siRNA delivery was demonstrated by the strong mRNA (60%) and protein (62%) knockdown of BACE1, a therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease.

To obtain a pool of immunologically inert exosomes, Alvarez-Erviti et al. harvested bone marrow from inbred C57BL/6 mice with a homogenous major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype. As immature dendritic cells produce large quantities of exosomes devoid of T-cell activators such as MHC-II and CD86, Alvarez-Erviti et al. selected for dendritic cells with granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for 7 d. Exosomes were purified from the culture supernatant the following day using well-established ultracentrifugation protocols. The exosomes produced were physically homogenous, with a size distribution peaking at 80 nm in diameter as determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and electron microscopy. Alvarez-Erviti et al. obtained 6-12 μg of exosomes (measured based on protein concentration) per 10 6 cells.

Next, Alvarez-Erviti et al. investigated the possibility of loading modified exosomes with exogenous cargoes using electroporation protocols adapted for nanoscale applications. As electroporation for membrane particles at the nanometer scale is not well-characterized, nonspecific Cy5-labeled RNA was used for the empirical optimization of the electroporation protocol. The amount of encapsulated RNA was assayed after ultracentrifugation and lysis of exosomes. Electroporation at 400 V and 125 μF resulted in the greatest retention of RNA and was used for all subsequent experiments.

Alvarez-Erviti et al. administered 150 μg of each BACE1 siRNA encapsulated in 150 μg of RVG exosomes to normal C57BL/6 mice and compared the knockdown efficiency to four controls: untreated mice, mice injected with RVG exosomes only, mice injected with BACE1 siRNA complexed to an in vivo cationic liposome reagent and mice injected with BACE1 siRNA complexed to RVG-9R, the RVG peptide conjugated to 9 D-arginines that electrostatically binds to the siRNA. Cortical tissue samples were analyzed 3 d after administration and a significant protein knockdown (45%, P<0.05, versus 62%, P<0.01) in both siRNA-RVG-9R-treated and siRNARVG exosome-treated mice was observed, resulting from a significant decrease in BACE1 mRNA levels (66% [+ or −] 15%, P<0.001 and 61% [+ or −] 13% respectively, P<0.01). Moreover, Applicants demonstrated a significant decrease (55%, P<0.05) in the total [beta]-amyloid 1-42 levels, a main component of the amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's pathology, in the RVG-exosome-treated animals. The decrease observed was greater than the β-amyloid 1-40 decrease demonstrated in normal mice after intraventricular injection of BACE1 inhibitors. Alvarez-Erviti et al. carried out 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) on BACE1 cleavage product, which provided evidence of RNAi-mediated knockdown by the siRNA.

Finally, Alvarez-Erviti et al. investigated whether RNA-RVG exosomes induced immune responses in vivo by assessing IL-6, IP-10, TNFα and IFN-α serum concentrations. Following exosome treatment, nonsignificant changes in all cytokines were registered similar to siRNA-transfection reagent treatment in contrast to siRNA-RVG-9R, which potently stimulated IL-6 secretion, confirming the immunologically inert profile of the exosome treatment. Given that exosomes encapsulate only 20% of siRNA, delivery with RVG-exosome appears to be more efficient than RVG-9R delivery as comparable mRNA knockdown and greater protein knockdown was achieved with fivefold less siRNA without the corresponding level of immune stimulation. This experiment demonstrated the therapeutic potential of RVG-exosome technology, which is potentially suited for long-term silencing of genes related to neurodegenerative diseases. The exosome delivery system of Alvarez-Erviti et al. may be applied to deliver the CRISPR-Cas system of the present invention to therapeutic targets, especially neurodegenerative diseases. A dosage of about 100 to 1000 mg of CRISPR Cas encapsulated in about 100 to 1000 mg of RVG exosomes may be contemplated for the present invention.

El-Andaloussi et al. (Nature Protocols 7,2112-2126 (2012)) discloses how exosomes derived from cultured cells can be harnessed for delivery of RNA in vitro and in vivo. This protocol first describes the generation of targeted exosomes through transfection of an expression vector, comprising an exosomal protein fused with a peptide ligand. Next,—El-Andaloussi et al. explain how to purify and characterize exosomes from transfected cell supernatant. Next, El-Andaloussi et al. detail crucial steps for loading RNA into exosomes. Finally, El-Andaloussi et al. outline how to use exosomes to efficiently deliver RNA in vitro and in vivo in mouse brain. Examples of anticipated results in which exosome-mediated RNA delivery is evaluated by functional assays and imaging are also provided. The entire protocol takes ˜3 weeks. Delivery or administration according to the invention may be performed using exosomes produced from self-derived dendritic cells. From the herein teachings, this can be employed in the practice of the invention.

In another embodiment, the plasma exosomes of Wahlgren et al. (Nucleic Acids Research, 2012, Vol. 40, No. 17 e130) are contemplated. Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles (30-90 nm in size) produced by many cell types, including dendritic cells (DC), B cells, T cells, mast cells, epithelial cells and tumor cells. These vesicles are formed by inward budding of late endosomes and are then released to the extracellular environment upon fusion with the plasma membrane. Because exosomes naturally carry RNA between cells, this property may be useful in gene therapy, and from this disclosure can be employed in the practice of the instant invention.

Exosomes from plasma can be prepared by centrifugation of buffy coat at 900 g for 20 min to isolate the plasma followed by harvesting cell supernatants, centrifuging at 300 g for 10 min to eliminate cells and at 16 500 g for 30 min followed by filtration through a 0.22 mm filter. Exosomes are pelleted by ultracentrifugation at 120 000 g for 70 min. Chemical transfection of siRNA into exosomes is carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions in RNAi Human/Mouse Starter Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). siRNA is added to 100 ml PBS at a final concentration of 2 mmol/ml. After adding HiPerFect transfection reagent, the mixture is incubated for 10 min at RT. In order to remove the excess of micelles, the exosomes are re-isolated using aldehyde/sulfate latex beads. The chemical transfection of CRISPR Cas into exosomes may be conducted similarly to siRNA. The exosomes may be co-cultured with monocytes and lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors. Therefore, it may be contemplated that exosomes containing CRISPR Cas may be introduced to monocytes and lymphocytes of and autologously reintroduced into a human. Accordingly, delivery or administration according to the invention may be performed using plasma exosomes.

Liposomes

The lipid, lipid particle, or lipid bilayer or lipid entity of the invention can be prepared by methods well known in the art. See Wang et al., ACS Synthetic Biology, 1, 403-07 (2012); Wang et al., PNAS, 113 (11) 2868-2873 (2016); Manoharan, et al., WO 2008/042973; Zugates et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,071,082; Xu et al., WO 2014/186366 A1 (US20160082126). Xu et provides a way to make a nanocomplex for the delivery of saporin wherein the nanocomplex comprising saporin and a lipid-like compound, and wherein the nanocomplex has a particle size of 50 nm to 1000 nm; the saporin binds to the lipid-like compound via non-covalent interaction or covalent bonding; and the lipid-like compound has a hydrophilic moiety, a hydrophobic moiety, and a linker joining the hydrophilic moiety and the hydrophobic moiety, the hydrophilic moiety being optionally charged and the hydrophobic moiety having 8 to 24 carbon atoms. Xu et al., WO 2014/186348 (US20160129120) provides examples of nanocomplexes of modified peptides or proteins comprising a cationic delivery agent and an anionic pharmaceutical agent, wherein the nanocomplex has a particle size of 50 to 1000 nm, the cationic delivery agent binds to the anionic pharmaceutical agent, and the anionic pharmaceutical agent is a modified peptide or protein formed of a peptide and a protein and an added chemical moiety that contains an anionic group. The added chemical moiety is linked to the peptide or protein via an amide group, an ester group, an ether group, a thioether group, a disulfide group, a hydrazone group, a sulfenate ester group, an amidine group, a urea group, a carbamate group, an imidoester group, or a carbonate group. More particularly these documents provide examples of lipid or lipid-like compounds that can be used to make the particle delivery system of the present invention, including compounds of the formula B 1 -K 1 -A-K 2 -B 2 , in which A, the hydrophilic moiety, is

each of R a , R a ′, R a ″, and R a ′″, independently, being a C 1 -C 20 monovalent aliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 20 monovalent heteroaliphatic radical, a monovalent aryl radical, or a monovalent heteroaryl radical; and Z being a C 1 -C 20 bivalent aliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 20 bivalent heteroaliphatic radical, a bivalent aryl radical, or a bivalent heteroaryl radical; each of B 1 , the hydrophobic moiety, and B 2 , also the hydrophobic moiety, independently, is a C 12-20 aliphatic radical or a C 12-20 heteroaliphatic radical; and each of K 1 , the linker, and K 2 , also the linker, independently, is O, S, Si, C 1 -C 6 alkylene

in which each of m, n, p, q, and t, independently, is 1-6; W is O, S, or NR C ; each of L 1 , L 3 , L 5 , L 7 , and L 9 , independently, is a bond, O, S, or NR d ; each of L2, L 4 , L 6 , L 8 , and L 10 , independently, is a bond, O, S, or NR e ; and V is OR f , SR g , or NR h R i , each of R b , R c , R d , R e , R f , R g , R h , and R i , independently, being H, OH, a C 1 -C 10 oxyaliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 10 monovalent aliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 10 monovalent heteroaliphatic radical, a monovalent aryl radical, or a monovalent heteroaryl radical and specific compounds:

Additional examples of cationic lipid that can be used to make the particle delivery system of the invention can be found in US20150140070, wherein the cationic lipid has the formula

wherein p is an integer between 1 and 9, inclusive; each instance of Q is independently O, S, or NR Q ; R Q is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, a nitrogen protecting group, or a group of the formula (i), (ii) or (iii); each instance of R 1 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, halogen, —OR A1 , —N(R A1 ) 2 , —SR A1 , or a group of formula:

L is an optionally substituted alkylene, optionally substituted alkenylene, optionally substituted alkynylene, optionally substituted heteroalkylene, optionally substituted heteroalkenylene, optionally substituted heteroalkynylene, optionally substituted carbocyclylene, optionally substituted heterocyclylene, optionally substituted arylene, or optionally substituted heteroarylene, or combination thereof, and each of R 6 and R 7 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, a nitrogen protecting group, or a group of formula (i), (ii) or (iii); each occurrence of R A1 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, an oxygen protecting group when attached to an oxygen atom, a sulfur protecting group when attached to an sulfur atom, a nitrogen protecting group when attached to a nitrogen atom, or two RAI groups, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, are joined to form an optionally substituted heterocyclic or optionally substituted heteroaryl ring; each instance of R 2 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, a nitrogen protecting group, or a group of the formula (i), (ii), or (iii); Formulae (i), (ii), and (iii) are:

each instance of R′ is independently hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl; X is O, S, or NR X ; R X is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, or a nitrogen protecting group; Y is O, S, or NR Y ; R Y is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, or a nitrogen protecting group; R P is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, an oxygen protecting group when attached to an oxygen atom, a sulfur protecting group when attached to a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen protecting group when attached to a nitrogen atom; RL is optionally substituted C 1-50 alkyl, optionally substituted C 2-50 alkenyl, optionally substituted C 2-50 alkynyl, optionally substituted heteroC 1-50 alkyl, optionally substituted heteroC 2-50 alkenyl, optionally substituted heteroC 2-50 alkynyl, or a polymer; provided that at least one instance of R Q , R 2 , R 6 , or R 7 is a group of the formula (i), (ii), or (iii); in Liu et al., (US20160200779, US 20150118216, US20150071903, and US20150071903), which provide examples of cationic lipids to include polyethylenimine, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) starburst dendrimers, Lipofectin (a combination of DOTMA and DOPE), Lipofectase, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. (e.g., LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. 2000, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. 3000, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. RNAiMAX, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. LTX), SAINT-RED (Synvolux Therapeutics, Groningen Netherlands), DOPE, Cytofectin (Gilead Sciences, Foster City, Calif.), and Eufectins (JBL, San Luis Obispo, Calif.). Exemplary cationic liposomes can be made from N-[1-(2,3-dioleoloxy)-propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), N-[1-(2,3-dioleoloxy)-propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium methylsulfate (DOTAP), 3.beta.-[N—(N′,N′-dimethylaminoethane) carbamoyl]cholesterol (DC-Chol), 2,3,-dioleyloxy-N-[2 (sperminecarboxamido)ethyl]-N,N-dimethyl-1-propanamin-ium trifluoroacetate (DOSPA), 1,2-dimyristyloxypropyl-3-dimethyl-hydroxyethyl ammonium bromide; and dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB); in WO2013/093648 which provides cationic lipids of formula

in which Z=an alkyl linker, C 2 -C 4 alkyl, Y=an alkyl linker, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, R 1 and R 2 are each independently C 10 -C 30 alkyl, C 10 -C 30 alkenyl, or C 10 -C 30 alkynyl, C 10 -C 30 alkyl, C 10 -C 20 alkyl, C 12 -C 18 alkyl, C 13 -C 17 alkyl, C 13 alkyl, C 10 -C 30 alkenyl, C 10 -C 20 alkenyl. C 12 -C 18 alkenyl, C 13 -C 17 alkenyl, C 17 alkenyl; R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or —CH 2 CH 2 OH, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkyl; n is 1-6; and X is a counterion, including any nitrogen counterion, as that term is readily understood in the art, and specific cationic lipids including

WO2013/093648 also provides examples of other cationic charged lipids at physiological pH (DODAC), N,N-distearyl-N,N-including N,N-dioleyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride dimethylammonium bromide (DDAB); N-(1,2-dimyristyloxyprop-3-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-N-hydroxyethylammonium bromide (DMRIE) and dioctadecylamidoglycyl carboxyspermidine (DOGS); in US20160257951, which provides cationic lipids with a general formula

or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, a C 2 -C 6 alkenyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, a C 2 -C 6 alkynyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, or a C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, or R 1 and R 2 form a 3- to 10-membered heterocyclic ring together with the nitrogen atom bonded thereto, wherein the heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α and optionally contains one or more atoms selected from a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, and a sulfur atom, in addition to the nitrogen atom bonded to R 1 and R 2 , as atoms constituting the heterocyclic ring; R 8 is a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α; or R 1 and R 8 together are the group —(CH 2 ) q —; substituent group α consists of a halogen atom, an oxo group, a hydroxy group, a sulfanyl group, an amino group, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 halogenated alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfanyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylamino group, and a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyl group; L 1 is a C 10 -C 24 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a C 10 -C 24 alkenyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a C 10 -C 24 alkynyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , or a (C 1 -C 10 alkyl)-(Q) k -(C 1 -C 10 alkyl) group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 ; L 2 is, independently of L 1 , a C 10 -C 24 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a C 10 -C 24 alkenyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a C 3 -C 24 alkynyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 1 -C 10 alkyl)-(Q) k -(C 1 -C 10 alkyl) group optionally substituted with having one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 10 -C 24 alkoxy)methyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 10 -C 24 alkenyl)oxymethyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 3 -C 24 alkynyl)oxymethyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , or a (C 1 -C 10 alkyl)-(Q) k -(C 1 -C 10 alkoxy)methyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 ; substituent group β 1 consists of a halogen atom, an oxo group, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 halogenated alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfanyl group, a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyl group, a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyloxy group, a C 3 -C 7 alkoxyalkoxy group, a (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy) carbonyl group, a (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy) carboxyl group, a (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy) carbamoyl group, and a (C 1 -C 6 alkylamino) carboxyl group; Q is a group of formula:

when L 1 and L 2 are each substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 and substituent group β 1 is a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfanyl group, a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyl group, or a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyloxy group, the substituent or substituents selected from substituent group β 1 in L 1 and the substituent or substituents selected from substituent group β 1 in L 2 optionally bind to each other to form a cyclic structure; k is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7; m is 0 or 1; p is 0, 1, or 2; q is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and r is 0, 1, 2, or 3, provided that p+r is 2 or larger, or q+r is 2 or larger, and specific cationic lipids including

and in US20160244761, which provides cationic lipids that include 1,2-distearyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DSDMA), 1,2-dioleyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DODMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-dilinolenyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLenDMA), 1,2-di-.gamma.-linolenyloxy-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (.gamma.-DLenDMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-keto-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLin-K-DMA), 1,2-dilinoleyl-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-K—C 2 -DMA) (also known as DLin-C2K-DMA, XTC2, and C2K), 2,2-dilinoleyl-4-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-K-C3-DMA), 2,2-dilinoleyl-4-(4-dimethylaminobutyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-K-C4-DMA), 1,2-dilinolenyloxy-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLen-C2K-DMA), 1,2-di-.gamma.-linolenyloxy-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (.gamma.-DLen-C2K-DMA), dilinoleylmethyl-3-dimethylaminopropionate (DLin-M-C2-DMA) (also known as MC2), (6Z,9Z,28Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,9,28,31-tetraen-19-yl 4-(dimethylamino) butanoate (DLin-M-C3-DMA) (also known as MC3) and 3-(dilinoleylmethoxy)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine (DLin-MP-DMA) (also known as 1-B1 1).

In one embodiment, the lipid compound is preferably a bio-reducible material, e.g., a bio-reducible polymer and a bio-reducible lipid-like compound.

In embodiment, the lipid compound comprises a hydrophilic head, and a hydrophobic tail, and optionally a linker.

In one embodiment, the hydrophilic head contains one or more hydrophilic functional groups, e.g., hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate, amide, ester, ether, carbamate, carbonate, carbamide and phosphodiester. These groups can form hydrogen bonds and are optionally positively or negatively charged, in particular at physiological conditions such as physiological pH.

In one embodiment, the hydrophobic tail is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, acyclic or cyclic, aromatic or nonaromatic hydrocarbon moiety, wherein the saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, acyclic or cyclic, aromatic or nonaromatic hydrocarbon moiety optionally contains a disulfide bond and/or 8-24 carbon atoms. One or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced with a heteroatom, such as N, O, P, B, S, Si, Sb, Al, Sn, As, Se, and Ge. The lipid or lipid-like compounds containing disulfide bond can be bioreducible.

In one embodiment, the linker of the lipid or lipid-like compound links the hydrophilic head and the hydrophobic tail. The linker can be any chemical group that is hydrophilic or hydrophobic, polar or non-polar, e.g., O, S, Si, amino, alkylene, ester, amide, carbamate, carbamide, carbonate phosphate, phosphite, sulfate, sulfite, and thiosulfate.

The lipid or lipid-like compounds described above include the compounds themselves, as well as their salts and solvates, if applicable. A salt, for example, can be formed between an anion and a positively charged group (e.g., amino) on a lipid-like compound. Suitable anions include chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, citrate, methanesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, acetate, malate, tosylate, tartrate, fumarate, glutamate, glucuronate, lactate, glutarate, and maleate. Likewise, a salt can also be formed between a cation and a negatively charged group (e.g., carboxylate) on a lipid-like compound. Suitable cations include sodium ion, potassium ion, magnesium ion, calcium ion, and an ammonium cation such as tetramethylammonium ion. The lipid-like compounds also include those salts containing quaternary nitrogen atoms. A solvate refers to a complex formed between a lipid-like compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable solvents include water, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and ethanolamine.

Delivery or administration according to the invention can be performed with liposomes. Liposomes are spherical vesicle structures composed of a uni- or multilamellar lipid bilayer surrounding internal aqueous compartments and a relatively impermeable outer lipophilic phospholipid bilayer. Liposomes have gained considerable attention as drug delivery carriers because they are biocompatible, nontoxic, can deliver both hydrophilic and lipophilic drug molecules, protect their cargo from degradation by plasma enzymes, and transport their load across biological membranes and the blood brain barrier (BBB) (see, e.g., Spuch and Navarro, Journal of Drug Delivery, vol. 2011, Article ID 469679, 12 pages, 2011. doi: 10.1155/2011/469679 for review).

Liposomes can be made from several different types of lipids; however, phospholipids are most commonly used to generate liposomes as drug carriers. Although liposome formation is spontaneous when a lipid film is mixed with an aqueous solution, it can also be expedited by applying force in the form of shaking by using a homogenizer, sonicator, or an extrusion apparatus (see, e.g., Spuch and Navarro, Journal of Drug Delivery, vol. 2011, Article ID 469679, 12 pages, 2011. doi: 10.1155/2011/469679 for review).

Several other additives may be added to liposomes in order to modify their structure and properties. For instance, either cholesterol or sphingomyelin may be added to the liposomal mixture in order to help stabilize the liposomal structure and to prevent the leakage of the liposomal inner cargo. Further, liposomes are prepared from hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine or egg phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and dicetyl phosphate, and their mean vesicle sizes were adjusted to about 50 and 100 nm. (see, e.g., Spuch and Navarro, Journal of Drug Delivery, vol. 2011, Article ID 469679, 12 pages, 2011. doi: 10.1155/2011/469679 for review).

A liposome formulation may be mainly comprised of natural phospholipids and lipids such as 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl choline (DSPC), sphingomyelin, egg phosphatidylcholines and monosialoganglioside. Since this formulation is made up of phospholipids only, liposomal formulations have encountered many challenges, one of the ones being the instability in plasma. Several attempts to overcome these challenges have been made, specifically in the manipulation of the lipid membrane. One of these attempts focused on the manipulation of cholesterol. Addition of cholesterol to conventional formulations reduces rapid release of the encapsulated bioactive compound into the plasma or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) increases the stability (see, e.g., Spuch and Navarro, Journal of Drug Delivery, vol. 2011, Article ID 469679, 12 pages, 2011. doi: 10.1155/2011/469679 for review).

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, Trojan Horse liposomes (also known as Molecular Trojan Horses) are desirable and protocols may be found at cshprotocols.cshlp.org/content/2010/4/pdb.prot5407.long. These particles allow delivery of a transgene to the entire brain after an intravascular injection. Without being bound by limitation, it is believed that neutral lipid particles with specific antibodies conjugated to surface allow crossing of the blood brain barrier via endocytosis. Applicant postulates utilizing Trojan Horse Liposomes to deliver the CRISPR family of nucleases to the brain via an intravascular injection, which would allow whole brain transgenic animals without the need for embryonic manipulation. About 1-5 g of DNA or RNA may be contemplated for in vivo administration in liposomes.

In another embodiment, the CRISPR Cas system or components thereof may be administered in liposomes, such as a stable nucleic-acid-lipid particle (SNALP) (see, e.g., Morrissey et al., Nature Biotechnology, Vol. 23, No. 8, August 2005). Daily intravenous injections of about 1, 3 or 5 mg/kg/day of a specific CRISPR Cas targeted in a SNALP are contemplated. The daily treatment may be over about three days and then weekly for about five weeks. In another embodiment, a specific CRISPR Cas encapsulated SNALP) administered by intravenous injection to at doses of about 1 or 2.5 mg/kg are also contemplated (see, e.g., Zimmerman et al., Nature Letters, Vol. 441, 4 May 2006). The SNALP formulation may contain the lipids 3-N-[(methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) 2000) carbamoyl]-1,2-dimyristyloxy-propylamine (PEG-C-DMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol, in a 2:40:10:48 molar percent ratio (see, e.g., Zimmerman et al., Nature Letters, Vol. 441, 4 May 2006).

In another embodiment, stable nucleic-acid-lipid particles (SNALPs) have proven to be effective delivery molecules to highly vascularized HepG2-derived liver tumors but not in poorly vascularized HCT-116 derived liver tumors (see, e.g., Li, Gene Therapy (2012) 19, 775-780). The SNALP liposomes may be prepared by formulating D-Lin-DMA and PEG-C-DMA with distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), Cholesterol and siRNA using a 25:1 lipid/siRNA ratio and a 48/40/10/2 molar ratio of Cholesterol/D-Lin-DMA/DSPC/PEG-C-DMA. The resulted SNALP liposomes are about 80-100 nm in size.

In yet another embodiment, a SNALP may comprise synthetic cholesterol (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (Avanti Polar Lipids, Alabaster, AL, USA), 3-N-[(w-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) 2000) carbamoyl]-1,2-dimyristyloxypropylamine, and cationic 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (see, e.g., Geisbert et al., Lancet 2010; 375:1896-905). A dosage of about 2 mg/kg total CRISPR Cas per dose administered as, for example, a bolus intravenous infusion may be contemplated.

In yet another embodiment, a SNALP may comprise synthetic cholesterol (Sigma-Aldrich), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC; Avanti Polar Lipids Inc.), PEG-cDMA, and 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-(N,N-dimethyl)aminopropane (DLinDMA) (see, e.g., Judge, J. Clin. Invest. 119:661-673 (2009)). Formulations used for in vivo studies may comprise a final lipid/RNA mass ratio of about 9:1.

The safety profile of RNAi nanomedicines has been reviewed by Barros and Gollob of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (see, e.g., Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 64 (2012) 1730-1737). The stable nucleic acid lipid particle (SNALP) is comprised of four different lipids—an ionizable lipid (DLinDMA) that is cationic at low pH, a neutral helper lipid, cholesterol, and a diffusible polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipid. The particle is approximately 80 nm in diameter and is charge-neutral at physiologic pH. During formulation, the ionizable lipid serves to condense lipid with the anionic RNA during particle formation. When positively charged under increasingly acidic endosomal conditions, the ionizable lipid also mediates the fusion of SNALP with the endosomal membrane enabling release of RNA into the cytoplasm. The PEG-lipid stabilizes the particle and reduces aggregation during formulation, and subsequently provides a neutral hydrophilic exterior that improves pharmacokinetic properties.

To date, two clinical programs have been initiated using SNALP formulations with RNA. Tekmira Pharmaceuticals recently completed a phase I single-dose study of SNALP-ApoB in adult volunteers with elevated LDL cholesterol. ApoB is predominantly expressed in the liver and jejunum and is essential for the assembly and secretion of VLDL and LDL. Seventeen subjects received a single dose of SNALP-ApoB (dose escalation across 7 dose levels). There was no evidence of liver toxicity (anticipated as the potential dose-limiting toxicity based on preclinical studies). One (of two) subjects at the highest dose experienced flu-like symptoms consistent with immune system stimulation, and the decision was made to conclude the trial.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has similarly advanced ALN-TTR01, which employs the SNALP technology described above and targets hepatocyte production of both mutant and wild-type TTR to treat TTR amyloidosis (ATTR). Three ATTR syndromes have been described: familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) and familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy (FAC)—both caused by autosomal dominant mutations in TTR; and senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA) cause by wildtype TTR. A placebo-controlled, single dose-escalation phase I trial of ALN-TTR01 was recently completed in patients with ATTR. ALN-TTR01 was administered as a 15-minute IV infusion to 31 patients (23 with study drug and 8 with placebo) within a dose range of 0.01 to 1.0 mg/kg (based on siRNA). Treatment was well tolerated with no significant increases in liver function tests. Infusion-related reactions were noted in 3 of 23 patients at ≥0.4 mg/kg; all responded to slowing of the infusion rate and all continued on study. Minimal and transient elevations of serum cytokines IL-6, IP-10 and IL-1ra were noted in two patients at the highest dose of 1 mg/kg (as anticipated from preclinical and NHP studies). Lowering of serum TTR, the expected pharmacodynamics effect of ALN-TTR01, was observed at 1 mg/kg.

In yet another embodiment, a SNALP may be made by solubilizing a cationic lipid, DSPC, cholesterol and PEG-lipid e.g., in ethanol, e.g., at a molar ratio of 40:10:40:10, respectively (see, Semple et al., Nature Biotechnology, Volume 28 Number 2 Feb. 2010, pp. 172-177). The lipid mixture was added to an aqueous buffer (50 mM citrate, pH 4) with mixing to a final ethanol and lipid concentration of 30% (vol/vol) and 6.1 mg/ml, respectively, and allowed to equilibrate at 22° C. for 2 min before extrusion. The hydrated lipids were extruded through two stacked 80 nm pore-sized filters (Nuclepore) at 22° C. using a Lipex Extruder (Northern Lipids) until a vesicle diameter of 70-90 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering analysis, was obtained. This generally required 1-3 passes. The siRNA (solubilized in a 50 mM citrate, pH 4 aqueous solution containing 30% ethanol) was added to the pre-equilibrated (35° C.) vesicles at a rate of ˜5 ml/min with mixing. After a final target siRNA/lipid ratio of 0.06 (wt/wt) was reached, the mixture was incubated for a further 30 min at 35° C. to allow vesicle reorganization and encapsulation of the siRNA. The ethanol was then removed and the external buffer replaced with PBS (155 mM NaCl, 3 mM Na 2 HPO 4 , 1 mM KH 2 PO 4 , pH 7.5) by either dialysis or tangential flow diafiltration. siRNA were encapsulated in SNALP using a controlled step-wise dilution method process. The lipid constituents of KC2-SNALP were DLin-KC2-DMA (cationic lipid), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC; Avanti Polar Lipids), synthetic cholesterol (Sigma) and PEG-C-DMA used at a molar ratio of 57.1:7.1:34.3:1.4. Upon formation of the loaded particles, SNALP were dialyzed against PBS and filter sterilized through a 0.2 μm filter before use. Mean particle sizes were 75-85 nm and 90-95% of the siRNA was encapsulated within the lipid particles. The final siRNA/lipid ratio in formulations used for in vivo testing was ˜0.15 (wt/wt). LNP-siRNA systems containing Factor VII siRNA were diluted to the appropriate concentrations in sterile PBS immediately before use and the formulations were administered intravenously through the lateral tail vein in a total volume of 10 ml/kg. This method and these delivery systems may be extrapolated to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention.

The lipid, lipid particle, or lipid bilayer or lipid entity of the invention can be prepared by methods well known in the art. See Wang et al., ACS Synthetic Biology, 1, 403-07 (2012); Wang et al., PNAS, 113 (11) 2868-2873 (2016); Manoharan, et al., WO 2008/042973; Zugates et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,071,082; Xu et al., WO 2014/186366 A1 (US20160082126). Xu et provides a way to make a nanocomplex for the delivery of saporin wherein the nanocomplex comprising saporin and a lipid-like compound, and wherein the nanocomplex has a particle size of 50 nm to 1000 nm; the saporin binds to the lipid-like compound via non-covalent interaction or covalent bonding; and the lipid-like compound has a hydrophilic moiety, a hydrophobic moiety, and a linker joining the hydrophilic moiety and the hydrophobic moiety, the hydrophilic moiety being optionally charged and the hydrophobic moiety having 8 to 24 carbon atoms. Xu et al., WO 2014/186348 (US20160129120) provides examples of nanocomplexes of modified peptides or proteins comprising a cationic delivery agent and an anionic pharmaceutical agent, wherein the nanocomplex has a particle size of 50 to 1000 nm, the cationic delivery agent binds to the anionic pharmaceutical agent, and the anionic pharmaceutical agent is a modified peptide or protein formed of a peptide and a protein and an added chemical moiety that contains an anionic group. The added chemical moiety is linked to the peptide or protein via an amide group, an ester group, an ether group, a thioether group, a disulfide group, a hydrazone group, a sulfenate ester group, an amidine group, a urea group, a carbamate group, an imidoester group, or a carbonate group. More particularly these documents provide examples of lipid or lipid-like compounds that can be used to make the particle delivery system of the present invention, including compounds of the formula B 1 -K 1 -A-K 2 -B 2 , in which A, the hydrophilic moiety, is

each of R a , R a ′, R a ″, and R a ″″, independently, being a C 1 -C 20 monovalent aliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 20 monovalent heteroaliphatic radical, a monovalent aryl radical, or a monovalent heteroaryl radical; and Z being a C 1 -C 20 bivalent aliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 20 bivalent heteroaliphatic radical, a bivalent aryl radical, or a bivalent heteroaryl radical; each of B 1 , the hydrophobic moiety, and B 2 , also the hydrophobic moiety, independently, is a C 12-20 aliphatic radical or a C 12-20 heteroaliphatic radical; and each of K 1 , the linker, and K 2 , also the linker, independently, is O, S, Si, C 1 -C 6 alkylene

in which each of m, n, p, q, and t, independently, is 1-6; W is O, S, or NR C ; each of L 1 , L 3 , L 5 , L 7 , and L 9 , independently, is a bond, O, S, or NR d ; each of L2, L 4 , L 6 , L 8 , and L 10 , independently, is a bond, O, S, or NR c ; and V is OR f , SR g , or NR h R i , each of R b , R c , R d , R c , R f , R g , R h , and R i , independently, being H, OH, a C 1 -C 10 oxyaliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 10 monovalent aliphatic radical, a C 1 -C 10 monovalent heteroaliphatic radical, a monovalent aryl radical, or a monovalent heteroaryl radical and specific compounds:

Additional examples of cationic lipid that can be used to make the particle delivery system of the invention can be found in US20150140070, wherein the cationic lipid has the formula

wherein p is an integer between 1 and 9, inclusive; each instance of Q is independently O, S, or NR Q ; R Q is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, a nitrogen protecting group, or a group of the formula (i), (ii) or (iii); each instance of R 1 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, halogen, —OR A1 , —N(R A1 ) 2 , —SR A1 , or a group of formula:

L is an optionally substituted alkylene, optionally substituted alkenylene, optionally substituted alkynylene, optionally substituted heteroalkylene, optionally substituted heteroalkenylene, optionally substituted heteroalkynylene, optionally substituted carbocyclylene, optionally substituted heterocyclylene, optionally substituted arylene, or optionally substituted heteroarylene, or combination thereof, and each of R 6 and R 7 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, a nitrogen protecting group, or a group of formula (i), (ii) or (iii); each occurrence of R A1 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, an oxygen protecting group when attached to an oxygen atom, a sulfur protecting group when attached to an sulfur atom, a nitrogen protecting group when attached to a nitrogen atom, or two R A1 groups, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, are joined to form an optionally substituted heterocyclic or optionally substituted heteroaryl ring; each instance of R 2 is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, a nitrogen protecting group, or a group of the formula (i), (ii), or (iii); Formulae (i), (ii), and (iii) are:

each instance of R′ is independently hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl; X is O, S, or NR X ; R X is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, or a nitrogen protecting group; Y is O, S, or NR Y ; R Y is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, or a nitrogen protecting group; R P is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, an oxygen protecting group when attached to an oxygen atom, a sulfur protecting group when attached to a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen protecting group when attached to a nitrogen atom; R L is optionally substituted C 1-50 alkyl, optionally substituted C 2-50 alkenyl, optionally substituted C 2-50 alkynyl, optionally substituted heteroC 1-50 alkyl, optionally substituted heteroC 2-50 alkenyl, optionally substituted heteroC 2-50 alkynyl, or a polymer; provided that at least one instance of R Q , R 2 , R 6 , or R 7 is a group of the formula (i), (ii), or (iii); in Liu et al., (US 20160200779, US20150118216, US20150071903, and US20150071903), which provide examples of cationic lipids to include polyethylenimine, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) starburst dendrimers, Lipofectin (a combination of DOTMA and DOPE), Lipofectase, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. (e.g., LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. 2000, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. 3000, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. RNAiMAX, LIPOFECTAMINE.RTM. LTX), SAINT-RED (Synvolux Therapeutics, Groningen Netherlands), DOPE, Cytofectin (Gilead Sciences, Foster City, Calif.), and Eufectins (JBL, San Luis Obispo, Calif.). Exemplary cationic liposomes can be made from N-[1-(2,3-dioleoloxy)-propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), N-[1-(2,3-dioleoloxy)-propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium methylsulfate (DOTAP), 3.beta.-[N—(N′,N′-dimethylaminoethane) carbamoyl]cholesterol (DC-Chol), 2,3,-dioleyloxy-N-[2 (sperminecarboxamido)ethyl]-N,N-dimethyl-1-propanaminium trifluoroacetate (DOSPA), 1,2-dimyristyloxypropyl-3-dimethyl-hydroxyethyl ammonium bromide; and dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB); in WO2013/093648 which provides cationic lipids of formula

in which Z=an alkyl linker, C 2 -C 4 alkyl, Y=an alkyl linker, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, R 1 and R 2 are each independently C 10 -C 30 alkyl, C 10 -C 30 alkenyl, or C 10 -C 30 alkynyl, C 10 -C 30 alkyl, C 10 -C 20 alkyl, C 12 -C 18 alkyl, C 13 -C 17 alkyl, C 13 alkyl, C 10 -C 30 alkenyl, C 10 -C 20 alkenyl. C 12 -C 18 alkenyl, C 13 -C 17 alkenyl, C 17 alkenyl; R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or —CH 2 CH 2 OH, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkyl; n is 1-6; and X is a counterion, including any nitrogen counterion, as that term is readily understood in the art, and specific cationic lipids including

WO2013/093648 also provides examples of other cationic charged lipids at physiological pH including N,N-dioleyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride (DODAC), N,N-distearyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromide (DDAB); N-(1,2-dimyristyloxyprop-3-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-N-hydroxyethylammonium bromide (DMRIE) and dioctadecylamidoglycyl carboxyspermidine (DOGS); in US20160257951, which provides cationic lipids with a general formula

or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, a C 2 -C 6 alkenyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, a C 2 -C 6 alkynyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, or a C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α, or R 1 and R 2 form a 3- to 10-membered heterocyclic ring together with the nitrogen atom bonded thereto, wherein the heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α and optionally contains one or more atoms selected from a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, and a sulfur atom, in addition to the nitrogen atom bonded to R 1 and R 2 , as atoms constituting the heterocyclic ring; R 8 is a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group α; or R 1 and R 8 together are the group —(CH 2 ) q —; substituent group α consists of a halogen atom, an oxo group, a hydroxy group, a sulfanyl group, an amino group, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 halogenated alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfanyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylamino group, and a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyl group; L 1 is a C 10 -C 24 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β1, a C 10 -C 24 alkenyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β1, a C 3 -C 24 alkynyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β1, or a (C 1 -C 10 alkyl)-(Q) k —(C 1 -C 10 alkyl) group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β1; L 2 is, independently of L 1 , a C 10 -C 24 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β1, a C 10 -C 24 alkenyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a C 3 -C 24 alkynyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 1 -C 10 alkyl)-(Q) k —(C 1 -C 10 alkyl) group optionally substituted with having one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 10 -C 24 alkoxy)methyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 10 -C 24 alkenyl)oxymethyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , a (C 3 -C 24 alkynyl)oxymethyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 , or a (C 1 -C 10 alkyl)-(Q) k —(C 1 -C 10 alkoxy)methyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 ; substituent group β 1 consists of a halogen atom, an oxo group, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 halogenated alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfanyl group, a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyl group, a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyloxy group, a C 3 -C 7 alkoxyalkoxy group, a (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy) carbonyl group, a (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy) carboxyl group, a (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy) carbamoyl group, and a (C 1 -C 6 alkylamino) carboxyl group; Q is a group of formula:

when L 1 and L 2 are each substituted with one or more substituents selected from substituent group β 1 and substituent group β 1 is a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 6 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfanyl group, a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyl group, or a C 1 -C 7 alkanoyloxy group, the substituent or substituents selected from substituent group β 1 in L 1 and the substituent or substituents selected from substituent group β 1 in L 2 optionally bind to each other to form a cyclic structure; k is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7; m is 0 or 1; p is 0, 1, or 2; q is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and r is 0, 1, 2, or 3, provided that p+r is 2 or larger, or q+r is 2 or larger, and specific cationic lipids including

and in US20160244761, which provides cationic lipids that include 1,2-distearyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DSDMA), 1,2-dioleyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DODMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLinDMA), 1,2-dilinolenyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLenDMA), 1,2-di-.gamma.-linolenyloxy-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (.gamma.-DLenDMA), 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-keto-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DLin-K-DMA), 1,2-dilinoleyl-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-K-C2-DMA) (also known as DLin-C2K-DMA, XTC2, and C2K), 2,2-dilinoleyl-4-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-K-C3-DMA), 2,2-dilinoleyl-4-(4-dimethylaminobutyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-K-C4-DMA), 1,2-dilinolenyloxy-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLen-C2K-DMA), 1,2-di-.gamma.-linolenyloxy-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-[1,3]-dioxolane (.gamma.-DLen-C2K-DMA), dilinoleylmethyl-3-dimethylaminopropionate (DLin-M-C2-DMA) (also known as MC2), (6Z,9Z,28Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,9,28,31-tetraen-19-yl 4-(dimethylamino) butanoate (DLin-M-C3-DMA) (also known as MC3) and 3-(dilinoleylmethoxy)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine (DLin-MP-DMA) (also known as 1-B1 1).

In one embodiment, the lipid compound is preferably a bio-reducible material, e.g., a bio-reducible polymer and a bio-reducible lipid-like compound.

In embodiment, the lipid compound comprises a hydrophilic head, and a hydrophobic tail, and optionally a linker.

In one embodiment, the hydrophilic head contains one or more hydrophilic functional groups, e.g., hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate, amide, ester, ether, carbamate, carbonate, carbamide and phosphodiester. These groups can form hydrogen bonds and are optionally positively or negatively charged, in particular at physiological conditions such as physiological pH.

In one embodiment, the hydrophobic tail is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, acyclic or cyclic, aromatic or nonaromatic hydrocarbon moiety, wherein the saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, acyclic or cyclic, aromatic or nonaromatic hydrocarbon moiety optionally contains a disulfide bond and/or 8-24 carbon atoms. One or more of the carbon atoms can be replaced with a heteroatom, such as N, O, P, B, S, Si, Sb, Al, Sn, As, Se, and Ge. The lipid or lipid-like compounds containing disulfide bond can be bioreducible.

In one embodiment, the linker of the lipid or lipid-like compound links the hydrophilic head and the hydrophobic tail. The linker can be any chemical group that is hydrophilic or hydrophobic, polar or non-polar, e.g., O, S, Si, amino, alkylene, ester, amide, carbamate, carbamide, carbonate phosphate, phosphite, sulfate, sulfite, and thiosulfate.

The lipid or lipid-like compounds described above include the compounds themselves, as well as their salts and solvates, if applicable. A salt, for example, can be formed between an anion and a positively charged group (e.g., amino) on a lipid-like compound. Suitable anions include chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, citrate, methanesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, acetate, malate, tosylate, tartrate, fumarate, glutamate, glucuronate, lactate, glutarate, and maleate. Likewise, a salt can also be formed between a cation and a negatively charged group (e.g., carboxylate) on a lipid-like compound. Suitable cations include sodium ion, potassium ion, magnesium ion, calcium ion, and an ammonium cation such as tetramethylammonium ion. The lipid-like compounds also include those salts containing quaternary nitrogen atoms. A solvate refers to a complex formed between a lipid-like compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable solvents include water, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and ethanolamine.

Other Lipids

Other cationic lipids, such as amino lipid 2,2-dilinoleyl-4-dimethylaminoethyl-[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-KC2-DMA) may be utilized to encapsulate CRISPR Cas or components thereof or nucleic acid molecule(s) coding therefor e.g., similar to SiRNA (see, e.g., Jayaraman, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 8529-8533), and hence may be employed in the practice of the invention. A preformed vesicle with the following lipid composition may be contemplated: amino lipid, distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), cholesterol and (R)-2,3-bis(octadecyloxy) propyl-1-(methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) 2000) propylcarbamate (PEG-lipid) in the molar ratio 40/10/40/10, respectively, and a FVII siRNA/total lipid ratio of approximately 0.05 (w/w). To ensure a narrow particle size distribution in the range of 70-90 nm and a low polydispersity index of 0.11±0.04 (n=56), the particles may be extruded up to three times through 80 nm membranes prior to adding the guide RNA. Particles containing the highly potent amino lipid 16 may be used, in which the molar ratio of the four lipid components 16, DSPC, cholesterol and PEG-lipid (50/10/38.5/1.5) which may be further optimized to enhance in vivo activity.

Michael S D Kormann et al. (“Expression of therapeutic proteins after delivery of chemically modified mRNA in mice: Nature Biotechnology, Volume: 29, Pages: 154-157 (2011)) describes the use of lipid envelopes to deliver RNA. Use of lipid envelopes is also preferred in the present invention.

In another embodiment, lipids may be formulated with the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention or component(s) thereof or nucleic acid molecule(s) coding therefor to form lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Lipids include, but are not limited to, DLin-KC2-DMA4, C12-200 and colipids distearoylphosphatidyl choline, cholesterol, and PEG-DMG may be formulated with CRISPR Cas instead of siRNA (see, e.g., Novobrantseva, Molecular Therapy-Nucleic Acids (2012) 1, e4; doi: 10.1038/mtna.2011.3) using a spontaneous vesicle formation procedure. The component molar ratio may be about 50/10/38.5/1.5 (DLin-KC2-DMA or C12-200/distearoylphosphatidyl choline/cholesterol/PEG-DMG). The final lipid: siRNA weight ratio may be ˜12:1 and 9:1 in the case of DLin-KC2-DMA and C12-200 lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), respectively. The formulations may have mean particle diameters of ˜80 nm with >90% entrapment efficiency. A 3 mg/kg dose may be contemplated.

Tekmira has a portfolio of approximately 95 patent families, in the U.S. and abroad, that are directed to various aspects of LNPs and LNP formulations (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,982,027; 7,799,565; 8,058,069; 8,283,333; 7,901,708; 7,745,651; 7,803,397; 8,101,741; 8,188,263; 7,915,399; 8,236,943 and 7,838,658 and European Pat. Nos 1766035; 1519714; 1781593 and 1664316), all of which may be used and/or adapted to the present invention.

The CRISPR Cas system or components thereof or nucleic acid molecule(s) coding therefor may be delivered encapsulated in PLGA Microspheres such as that further described in US published applications No. 20130252281 and 20130245107 and 20130244279 (assigned to Moderna Therapeutics) which relate to aspects of formulation of compositions comprising modified nucleic acid molecules which may encode a protein, a protein precursor, or a partially or fully processed form of the protein or a protein precursor. The formulation may have a molar ratio 50:10:38.5:1.5-3.0 (cationic lipid:fusogenic lipid:cholesterol:PEG lipid). The PEG lipid may be selected from, but is not limited to PEG-c-DOMG, PEG-DMG. The fusogenic lipid may be DSPC. See also, Schrum et al., Delivery and Formulation of Engineered Nucleic Acids, US published application No. 20120251618.

Nanomerics' technology addresses bioavailability challenges for a broad range of therapeutics, including low molecular weight hydrophobic drugs, peptides, and nucleic acid based therapeutics (plasmid, siRNA, miRNA). Specific administration routes for which the technology has demonstrated clear advantages include the oral route, transport across the blood-brain-barrier, delivery to solid tumours, as well as to the eye. See, e.g., Mazza et al., 2013, ACS Nano. 2013 Feb. 26; 7 (2): 1016-26; Uchegbu and Siew, 2013, J Pharm Sci. 102 (2): 305-10 and Lalatsa et al., 2012, J Control Release. 2012 Jul. 20; 161 (2): 523-36.

US Patent Publication No. 20050019923 describes cationic dendrimers for delivering bioactive molecules, such as polynucleotide molecules, peptides and polypeptides and/or pharmaceutical agents, to a mammalian body. The dendrimers are suitable for targeting the delivery of the bioactive molecules to, for example, the liver, spleen, lung, kidney or heart (or even the brain). Dendrimers are synthetic 3-dimensional macromolecules that are prepared in a step-wise fashion from simple branched monomer units, the nature and functionality of which can be easily controlled and varied. Dendrimers are synthesised from the repeated addition of building blocks to a multifunctional core (divergent approach to synthesis), or towards a multifunctional core (convergent approach to synthesis) and each addition of a 3-dimensional shell of building blocks leads to the formation of a higher generation of the dendrimers. Polypropylenimine dendrimers start from a diaminobutane core to which is added twice the number of amino groups by a double Michael addition of acrylonitrile to the primary amines followed by the hydrogenation of the nitriles. This results in a doubling of the amino groups. Polypropylenimine dendrimers contain 100% protonable nitrogens and up to 64 terminal amino groups (generation 5, DAB 64). Protonable groups are usually amine groups which are able to accept protons at neutral pH. The use of dendrimers as gene delivery agents has largely focused on the use of the polyamidoamine. and phosphorous containing compounds with a mixture of amine/amide or N—P(O 2 )S as the conjugating units respectively with no work being reported on the use of the lower generation polypropylenimine dendrimers for gene delivery. Polypropylenimine dendrimers have also been studied as pH sensitive controlled release systems for drug delivery and for their encapsulation of guest molecules when chemically modified by peripheral amino acid groups. The cytotoxicity and interaction of polypropylenimine dendrimers with DNA as well as the transfection efficacy of DAB 64 has also been studied.

US Patent Publication No. 20050019923 is based upon the observation that, contrary to earlier reports, cationic dendrimers, such as polypropylenimine dendrimers, display suitable properties, such as specific targeting and low toxicity, for use in the targeted delivery of bioactive molecules, such as genetic material. In addition, derivatives of the cationic dendrimer also display suitable properties for the targeted delivery of bioactive molecules. See also, Bioactive Polymers, US published application Ser. No. 20/080,267903, which discloses “Various polymers, including cationic polyamine polymers and dendrimeric polymers, are shown to possess anti-proliferative activity, and may therefore be useful for treatment of disorders characterised by undesirable cellular proliferation such as neoplasms and tumours, inflammatory disorders (including autoimmune disorders), psoriasis and atherosclerosis. The polymers may be used alone as active agents, or as delivery vehicles for other therapeutic agents, such as drug molecules or nucleic acids for gene therapy. In such cases, the polymers' own intrinsic anti-tumour activity may complement the activity of the agent to be delivered.” The disclosures of these patent publications may be employed in conjunction with herein teachings for delivery of CRISPR Cas system(s) or component(s) thereof or nucleic acid molecule(s) coding therefor.

Supercharged Proteins

Supercharged proteins are a class of engineered or naturally occurring proteins with unusually high positive or negative net theoretical charge and may be employed in delivery of CRISPR Cas system(s) or component(s) thereof or nucleic acid molecule(s) coding therefor. Both supernegatively and superpositively charged proteins exhibit a remarkable ability to withstand thermally or chemically induced aggregation. Superpositively charged proteins are also able to penetrate mammalian cells. Associating cargo with these proteins, such as plasmid DNA, RNA, or other proteins, can enable the functional delivery of these macromolecules into mammalian cells both in vitro and in vivo. David Liu's lab reported the creation and characterization of supercharged proteins in 2007 (Lawrence et al., 2007, Journal of the American Chemical Society 129, 10110-10112).

The nonviral delivery of RNA and plasmid DNA into mammalian cells are valuable both for research and therapeutic applications (Akinc et al., 2010, Nat. Biotech. 26, 561-569). Purified+36 GFP protein (or other superpositively charged protein) is mixed with RNAs in the appropriate serum-free media and allowed to complex prior addition to cells. Inclusion of serum at this stage inhibits formation of the supercharged protein-RNA complexes and reduces the effectiveness of the treatment. The following protocol has been found to be effective for a variety of cell lines (McNaughton et al., 2009, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106, 6111-6116) (However, pilot experiments varying the dose of protein and RNA should be performed to optimize the procedure for specific cell lines):

(1) One day before treatment, plate 1×10 5 cells per well in a 48-well plate. (2) On the day of treatment, dilute purified +36 GFP protein in serumfree media to a final concentration 200 nM. Add RNA to a final concentration of 50 nM. Vortex to mix and incubate at room temperature for 10 min. (3) During incubation, aspirate media from cells and wash once with PBS. (4) Following incubation of +36 GFP and RNA, add the protein-RNA complexes to cells. (5) Incubate cells with complexes at 37° C. for 4h. (6) Following incubation, aspirate the media and wash three times with 20 U/mL heparin PBS. Incubate cells with serum-containing media for a further 48 h or longer depending upon the assay for activity. (7) Analyze cells by immunoblot, qPCR, phenotypic assay, or other appropriate method.

David Liu's lab has further found +36 GFP to be an effective plasmid delivery reagent in a range of cells. As plasmid DNA is a larger cargo than siRNA, proportionately more +36 GFP protein is required to effectively complex plasmids. For effective plasmid delivery Applicants have developed a variant of +36 GFP bearing a C-terminal HA2 peptide tag, a known endosome-disrupting peptide derived from the influenza virus hemagglutinin protein. The following protocol has been effective in a variety of cells, but as above it is advised that plasmid DNA and supercharged protein doses be optimized for specific cell lines and delivery applications:

(1) One day before treatment, plate 1×10 5 per well in a 48-well plate. (2) On the d ay of treatment, dilute purified b36 GFP protein in serumfree media to a final concentration 2 mM. Add 1 mg of plasmid DNA. Vortex to mix and incubate at room temperature for 10 min. (3) During incubation, aspirate media from cells and wash once with PBS. (4) Following incubation of b36 GFP and plasmid DNA, gently add the protein-DNA complexes to cells. (5) Incubate cells with complexes at 37 C for 4 h. (6) Following incubation, aspirate the media and wash with PBS. Incubate cells in serum-containing media and incubate for a further 24-48 h. (7) Analyze plasmid delivery (e.g., by plasmid-driven gene expression) as appropriate.

See also, e.g., McNaughton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106, 6111-6116 (2009); Cronican et al., ACS Chemical Biology 5, 747-752 (2010); Cronican et al., Chemistry & Biology 18, 833-838 (2011); Thompson et al., Methods in Enzymology 503, 293-319 (2012); Thompson, D. B., et al., Chemistry & Biology 19 (7), 831-843 (2012). The methods of the super charged proteins may be used and/or adapted for delivery of the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention. These systems of Dr. Lui and documents herein in conjunction with herein teaching can be employed in the delivery of CRISPR Cas system(s) or component(s) thereof or nucleic acid molecule(s) coding therefor.

Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs)

In yet another embodiment, cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are contemplated for the delivery of the CRISPR Cas system. CPPs are short peptides that facilitate cellular uptake of various molecular cargo (from nanosize particles to small chemical molecules and large fragments of DNA). The term “cargo” as used herein includes but is not limited to the group consisting of therapeutic agents, diagnostic probes, peptides, nucleic acids, antisense oligonucleotides, plasmids, proteins, particles, including nanoparticles, liposomes, chromophores, small molecules and radioactive materials. In aspects of the invention, the cargo may also comprise any component of the CRISPR Cas system or the entire functional CRISPR Cas system. Aspects of the present invention further provide methods for delivering a desired cargo into a subject comprising: (a) preparing a complex comprising the cell penetrating peptide of the present invention and a desired cargo, and (b) orally, intraarticularly, intraperitoneally, intrathecally, intrarterially, intranasally, intraparenchymally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously, dermally, intrarectally, or topically administering the complex to a subject. The cargo is associated with the peptides either through chemical linkage via covalent bonds or through non-covalent interactions.

The function of the CPPs are to deliver the cargo into cells, a process that commonly occurs through endocytosis with the cargo delivered to the endosomes of living mammalian cells. Cell-penetrating peptides are of different sizes, amino acid sequences, and charges but all CPPs have one distinct characteristic, which is the ability to translocate the plasma membrane and facilitate the delivery of various molecular cargoes to the cytoplasm or an organelle. CPP translocation may be classified into three main entry mechanisms: direct penetration in the membrane, endocytosis-mediated entry, and translocation through the formation of a transitory structure. CPPs have found numerous applications in medicine as drug delivery agents in the treatment of different diseases including cancer and virus inhibitors, as well as contrast agents for cell labeling. Examples of the latter include acting as a carrier for GFP, MRI contrast agents, or quantum dots. CPPs hold great potential as in vitro and in vivo delivery vectors for use in research and medicine. CPPs typically have an amino acid composition that either contains a high relative abundance of positively charged amino acids such as lysine or arginine or has sequences that contain an alternating pattern of polar/charged amino acids and non-polar, hydrophobic amino acids. These two types of structures are referred to as polycationic or amphipathic, respectively. A third class of CPPs are the hydrophobic peptides, containing only apolar residues, with low net charge or have hydrophobic amino acid groups that are crucial for cellular uptake. One of the initial CPPs discovered was the trans-activating transcriptional activator (Tat) from Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) which was found to be efficiently taken up from the surrounding media by numerous cell types in culture. Since then, the number of known CPPs has expanded considerably and small molecule synthetic analogues with more effective protein transduction properties have been generated. CPPs include but are not limited to Penetratin, Tat (48-60), Transportan, and (R-AhX-R4) (Ahx=aminohexanoyl).

U.S. Pat. No. 8,372,951, provides a CPP derived from eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) which exhibits highly cell-penetrating efficiency and low toxicity. Aspects of delivering the CPP with its cargo into a vertebrate subject are also provided. Further aspects of CPPs and their delivery are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,575,305; 8; 614,194 and 8,044,019. CPPs can be used to deliver the CRISPR-Cas system or components thereof. That CPPs can be employed to deliver the CRISPR-Cas system or components thereof is also provided in the manuscript “Gene disruption by cell-penetrating peptide-mediated delivery of Cas9 protein and guide RNA”, by Suresh Ramakrishna, Abu-Bonsrah Kwaku Dad, Jagadish Beloor, et al. Genome Res. 2014 Apr. 2. [Epub ahead of print], incorporated by reference in its entirety, wherein it is demonstrated that treatment with CPP-conjugated recombinant Cas9 protein and CPP-complexed guide RNAs lead to endogenous gene disruptions in human cell lines. In the paper the Cas9 protein was conjugated to CPP via a thioether bond, whereas the guide RNA was complexed with CPP, forming condensed, positively charged particles. It was shown that simultaneous and sequential treatment of human cells, including embryonic stem cells, dermal fibroblasts, HEK293T cells, HeLa cells, and embryonic carcinoma cells, with the modified Cas9 and guide RNA led to efficient gene disruptions with reduced off-target mutations relative to plasmid transfections.

Implantable Devices

In another embodiment, implantable devices are also contemplated for delivery of the CRISPR Cas system or component(s) thereof or nucleic acid molecule(s) coding therefor. For example, US Patent Publication 20110195123 discloses an implantable medical device which elutes a drug locally and in prolonged period is provided, including several types of such a device, the treatment modes of implementation and methods of implantation. The device comprising of polymeric substrate, such as a matrix for example, that is used as the device body, and drugs, and in some cases additional scaffolding materials, such as metals or additional polymers, and materials to enhance visibility and imaging. An implantable delivery device can be advantageous in providing release locally and over a prolonged period, where drug is released directly to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the diseased area such as tumor, inflammation, degeneration or for symptomatic objectives, or to injured smooth muscle cells, or for prevention. One kind of drug is RNA, as disclosed above, and this system may be used and/or adapted to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention. The modes of implantation in some embodiments are existing implantation procedures that are developed and used today for other treatments, including brachytherapy and needle biopsy. In such cases the dimensions of the new implant described in this invention are similar to the original implant. Typically a few devices are implanted during the same treatment procedure.

US Patent Publication 20110195123, provides a drug delivery implantable or insertable system, including systems applicable to a cavity such as the abdominal cavity and/or any other type of administration in which the drug delivery system is not anchored or attached, comprising a biostable and/or degradable and/or bioabsorbable polymeric substrate, which may for example optionally be a matrix. It should be noted that the term “insertion” also includes implantation. The drug delivery system is preferably implemented as a “Loder” as described in US Patent Publication 20110195123.

The polymer or plurality of polymers are biocompatible, incorporating an agent and/or plurality of agents, enabling the release of agent at a controlled rate, wherein the total volume of the polymeric substrate, such as a matrix for example, in some embodiments is optionally and preferably no greater than a maximum volume that permits a therapeutic level of the agent to be reached. As a non-limiting example, such a volume is preferably within the range of 0.1 m 3 to 1000 mm 3 , as required by the volume for the agent load. The Loder may optionally be larger, for example when incorporated with a device whose size is determined by functionality, for example and without limitation, a knee joint, an intra-uterine or cervical ring and the like.

The drug delivery system (for delivering the composition) is designed in some embodiments to preferably employ degradable polymers, wherein the main release mechanism is bulk erosion; or in some embodiments, non degradable, or slowly degraded polymers are used, wherein the main release mechanism is diffusion rather than bulk erosion, so that the outer part functions as membrane, and its internal part functions as a drug reservoir, which practically is not affected by the surroundings for an extended period (for example from about a week to about a few months). Combinations of different polymers with different release mechanisms may also optionally be used. The concentration gradient at the surface is preferably maintained effectively constant during a significant period of the total drug releasing period, and therefore the diffusion rate is effectively constant (termed “zero mode” diffusion). By the term “constant” it is meant a diffusion rate that is preferably maintained above the lower threshold of therapeutic effectiveness, but which may still optionally feature an initial burst and/or may fluctuate, for example increasing and decreasing to a certain degree. The diffusion rate is preferably so maintained for a prolonged period, and it can be considered constant to a certain level to optimize the therapeutically effective period, for example the effective silencing period.

The drug delivery system optionally and preferably is designed to shield the nucleotide based therapeutic agent from degradation, whether chemical in nature or due to attack from enzymes and other factors in the body of the subject.

The drug delivery system of US Patent Publication 20110195123 is optionally associated with sensing and/or activation appliances that are operated at and/or after implantation of the device, by non and/or minimally invasive methods of activation and/or acceleration/deceleration, for example optionally including but not limited to thermal heating and cooling, laser beams, and ultrasonic, including focused ultrasound and/or RF (radiofrequency) methods or devices.

According to some embodiments of US Patent Publication 20110195123, the site for local delivery may optionally include target sites characterized by high abnormal proliferation of cells, and suppressed apoptosis, including tumors, active and/or chronic inflammation and infection including autoimmune diseases states, degenerating tissue including muscle and nervous tissue, chronic pain, degenerative sites, and location of bone fractures and other wound locations for enhancement of regeneration of tissue, and injured cardiac, smooth and striated muscle.

The site for implantation of the composition, or target site, preferably features a radius, area and/or volume that is sufficiently small for targeted local delivery. For example, the target site optionally has a diameter in a range of from about 0.1 mm to about 5 cm.

The location of the target site is preferably selected for maximum therapeutic efficacy. For example, the composition of the drug delivery system (optionally with a device for implantation as described above) is optionally and preferably implanted within or in the proximity of a tumor environment, or the blood supply associated thereof.

For example the composition (optionally with the device) is optionally implanted within or in the proximity to pancreas, prostate, breast, liver, via the nipple, within the vascular system and so forth.

The target location is optionally selected from the group comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of (as non-limiting examples only, as optionally any site within the body may be suitable for implanting a Loder): 1. brain at degenerative sites like in Parkinson or Alzheimer disease at the basal ganglia, white and gray matter; 2. spine as in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); 3. uterine cervix to prevent HPV infection; 4. active and chronic inflammatory joints; 5. dermis as in the case of psoriasis; 6. sympathetic and sensoric nervous sites for analgesic effect; 7. Intra osseous implantation; 8. acute and chronic infection sites; 9. Intra vaginal; 10. Inner ear—auditory system, labyrinth of the inner ear, vestibular system; 11. Intra tracheal; 12. Intra-cardiac; coronary, epicardiac; 13. urinary bladder; 14. biliary system; 15. parenchymal tissue including and not limited to the kidney, liver, spleen; 16. lymph nodes; 17. salivary glands; 18. dental gums; 19. Intra-articular (into joints); 20. Intra-ocular; 21. Brain tissue; 22. Brain ventricles; 23. Cavities, including abdominal cavity (for example but without limitation, for ovary cancer); 24. Intra esophageal and 25. Intra rectal.

Optionally insertion of the system (for example a device containing the composition) is associated with injection of material to the ECM at the target site and the vicinity of that site to affect local pH and/or temperature and/or other biological factors affecting the diffusion of the drug and/or drug kinetics in the ECM, of the target site and the vicinity of such a site.

Optionally, according to some embodiments, the release of said agent could be associated with sensing and/or activation appliances that are operated prior and/or at and/or after insertion, by non and/or minimally invasive and/or else methods of activation and/or acceleration/deceleration, including laser beam, radiation, thermal heating and cooling, and ultrasonic, including focused ultrasound and/or RF (radiofrequency) methods or devices, and chemical activators.

According to other embodiments of US Patent Publication 20110195123, the drug preferably comprises an RNA, for example for localized cancer cases in breast, pancreas, brain, kidney, bladder, lung, and prostate as described below. Although exemplified with RNAi, many drugs are applicable to be encapsulated in Loder, and can be used in association with this invention, as long as such drugs can be encapsulated with the Loder substrate, such as a matrix for example, and this system may be used and/or adapted to deliver the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention.

As another example of a specific application, neuro and muscular degenerative diseases develop due to abnormal gene expression. Local delivery of RNAs may have therapeutic properties for interfering with such abnormal gene expression. Local delivery of anti apoptotic, anti inflammatory and anti degenerative drugs including small drugs and macromolecules may also optionally be therapeutic. In such cases the Loder is applied for prolonged release at constant rate and/or through a dedicated device that is implanted separately. All of this may be used and/or adapted to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention.

As yet another example of a specific application, psychiatric and cognitive disorders are treated with gene modifiers. Gene knockdown is a treatment option. Loders locally delivering agents to central nervous system sites are therapeutic options for psychiatric and cognitive disorders including but not limited to psychosis, bi-polar diseases, neurotic disorders and behavioral maladies. The Loders could also deliver locally drugs including small drugs and macromolecules upon implantation at specific brain sites. All of this may be used and/or adapted to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention.

As another example of a specific application, silencing of innate and/or adaptive immune mediators at local sites enables the prevention of organ transplant rejection. Local delivery of RNAs and immunomodulating reagents with the Loder implanted into the transplanted organ and/or the implanted site renders local immune suppression by repelling immune cells such as CD8 activated against the transplanted organ. All of this may be used and/or adapted to the CRISPR Cas system of the present invention.

As another example of a specific application, vascular growth factors including VEGFs and angiogenin and others are essential for neovascularization. Local delivery of the factors, peptides, peptidomimetics, or suppressing their repressors is an important therapeutic modality; silencing the repressors and local delivery of the factors, peptides, macromolecules and small drugs stimulating angiogenesis with the Loder is therapeutic for peripheral, systemic and cardiac vascular disease.

The method of insertion, such as implantation, may optionally already be used for other types of tissue implantation and/or for insertions and/or for sampling tissues, optionally without modifications, or alternatively optionally only with non-major modifications in such methods. Such methods optionally include but are not limited to brachytherapy methods, biopsy, endoscopy with and/or without ultrasound, such as ERCP, stereotactic methods into the brain tissue, Laparoscopy, including implantation with a laparoscope into joints, abdominal organs, the bladder wall and body cavities.

Implantable devices may also include cells, such as epidermal progenitor cells that have been edited or modified to express the CRISPR-Cas systems disclosed herein. See. Yue et al. “Engineered Epidermal Progenitor Cells Can Correct Diet-Induced Obesity and Diabetes” Cell Stem Cell (2017) 21 (2): 256-263.

Implantable device technology herein discussed can be employed with herein teachings and hence by this disclosure and the knowledge in the art, CRISPR-Cas system or components thereof or nucleic acid molecules thereof or encoding or providing components may be delivered via an implantable device.

Aerosol Delivery

Subjects treated for a lung disease may for example receive pharmaceutically effective amount of aerosolized AAV vector system per lung endobronchially delivered while spontaneously breathing. As such, aerosolized delivery is preferred for AAV delivery in general. An adenovirus or an AAV particle may be used for delivery. Suitable gene constructs, each operably linked to one or more regulatory sequences, may be cloned into the delivery vector.

Viral Capsid Particles

In an aspect, the invention provides a particle delivery system comprising a hybrid virus capsid protein or hybrid viral outer protein, wherein the hybrid virus capsid or outer protein comprises a virus capsid or outer protein attached to at least a portion of a non-capsid protein or peptide. The genetic material of a virus is stored within a viral structure called the capsid. The capsid of certain viruses are enclosed in a membrane called the viral envelope. The viral envelope is made up of a lipid bilayer embedded with viral proteins including viral glycoproteins. As used herein, an “envelope protein” or “outer protein” means a protein exposed at the surface of a viral particle that is not a capsid protein. For example envelope or outer proteins typically comprise proteins embedded in the envelope of the virus. Non-limiting examples of outer or envelope proteins include, without limit, gp41 and gp120 of HIV, hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and M2 proteins of influenza virus.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the non-capsid protein or peptide has a molecular weight of up to a megadalton, or has a molecular weight in the range of 110 to 160 kDa, 160 to 200 kDa, 200 to 250 kDa, 250 to 300 kDa, 300 to 400 kDa, or 400 to 500 kDa, the non-capsid protein or peptide comprises a CRISPR protein.

The present application provides a vector for delivering an effector protein and at least one CRISPR guide RNA to a cell comprising a minimal promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding the effector protein and a second minimal promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding at least one guide RNA, wherein the length of the vector sequence comprising the minimal promoters and polynucleotide sequences is less than 4.4Kb. In an embodiment, the virus is an adeno-associated virus (AAV) or an adenovirus. In another embodiment, the effector protein is a CRISPR anzyme. In a further embodiment, the CRISPR enzyme is Cas9.

In a related aspect, the invention provides a lentiviral vector for delivering an effector protein and at least one CRISPR guide RNA to a cell comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding Cas9 and a second promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding at least one guide RNA, wherein the polynucleotide sequences are in reverse orientation.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the virus is lentivirus or murine leukemia virus (MuMLV).

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the virus is an Adenoviridae or a Parvoviridae or a retrovirus or a Rhabdoviridae or an enveloped virus having a glycoprotein protein (G protein).

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the virus is VSV or rabies virus.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the capsid or outer protein comprises a capsid protein having VP1, VP2 or VP3.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the capsid protein is VP3, and the non-capsid protein is inserted into or attached to VP3 loop 3 or loop 6 .

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the virus is delivered to the interior of a cell.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the capsid or outer protein and the non-capsid protein can dissociate after delivery into a cell.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the capsid or outer protein is attached to the protein by a linker.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the linker comprises amino acids.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the linker is a chemical linker.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the linker is cleavable.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the linker is biodegradable.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the linker comprises (GGGGS) 1-3 , ENLYFQG, or a disulfide.

In an embodiment, the delivery system comprises a protease or nucleic acid molecule(s) encoding a protease that is expressed, said protease being capable of cleaving the linker, whereby there can be cleavage of the linker. In an embodiment of the invention, a protease is delivered with a particle component of the system, for example packaged, mixed with, or enclosed by lipid and/or capsid. Entry of the particle into a cell is thereby accompanied or followed by cleavage and dissociation of payload from particle. In certain embodiments, an expressible nucleic acid encoding a protease is delivered, whereby at entry or following entry of the particle into a cell, there is protease expression, linker cleavage, and dissociation of payload from capsid. In certain embodiments, dissociation of payload occurs with viral replication. In certain embodiments, dissociation of payload occurs in the absence of productive virus replication.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, each terminus of a CRISPR protein is attached to the capsid or outer protein by a linker.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the non-capsid protein is attached to the exterior portion of the capsid or outer protein.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the non-capsid protein is attached to the interior portion of the capsid or outer protein.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the capsid or outer protein and the non-capsid protein are a fusion protein.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the non-capsid protein is encapsulated by the capsid or outer protein.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the non-capsid protein is attached to a component of the capsid protein or a component of the outer protein prior to formation of the capsid or the outer protein.

In an embodiment of the delivery system, the protein is attached to the capsid or outer protein after formation of the capsid or outer protein.

In an embodiment, the delivery system comprises a targeting moiety, such as active targeting of a lipid entity of the invention, e.g., lipid particle or nanoparticle or liposome or lipid bilayer of the invention comprising a targeting moiety for active targeting.

With regard to targeting moieties, mention is made of Deshpande et al, “Current trends in the use of liposomes for tumor targeting,” Nanomedicine (Lond). 8(9), doi: 10.2217/nnm.13.118(2013), and the documents it cites, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Mention is also made of WO/2016/027264, and the documents it cites, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. And mention is made of Lorenzer et al, “Going beyond the liver: Progress and challenges of targeted delivery of siRNA therapeutics,” Journal of Controlled Release, 203:1-15 (2015), and the documents it cites, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

An actively targeting lipid particle or nanoparticle or liposome or lipid bilayer delivery system (generally as to embodiments of the invention, “lipid entity of the invention” delivery systems) are prepared by conjugating targeting moieties, including small molecule ligands, peptides and monoclonal antibodies, on the lipid or liposomal surface; for example, certain receptors, such as folate and transferrin (Tf) receptors (TfR), are overexpressed on many cancer cells and have been used to make liposomes tumor cell specific. Liposomes that accumulate in the tumor microenvironment can be subsequently endocytosed into the cells by interacting with specific cell surface receptors. To efficiently target liposomes to cells, such as cancer cells, it is useful that the targeting moiety have an affinity for a cell surface receptor and to link the targeting moiety in sufficient quantities to have optimum affinity for the cell surface receptors; and determining these aspects are within the ambit of the skilled artisan. In the field of active targeting, there are a number of cell-, e.g., tumor-, specific targeting ligands.

Also as to active targeting, with regard to targeting cell surface receptors such as cancer cell surface receptors, targeting ligands on liposomes can provide attachment of liposomes to cells, e.g., vascular cells, via a noninternalizing epitope; and, this can increase the extracellular concentration of that which is being delivered, thereby increasing the amount delivered to the target cells. A strategy to target cell surface receptors, such as cell surface receptors on cancer cells, such as overexpressed cell surface receptors on cancer cells, is to use receptor-specific ligands or antibodies. Many cancer cell types display upregulation of tumor-specific receptors. For example, TfRs and folate receptors (FRs) are greatly overexpressed by many tumor cell types in response to their increased metabolic demand. Folic acid can be used as a targeting ligand for specialized delivery owing to its ease of conjugation to nanocarriers, its high affinity for FRs and the relatively low frequency of FRs, in normal tissues as compared with their overexpression in activated macrophages and cancer cells, e.g., certain ovarian, breast, lung, colon, kidney and brain tumors. Overexpression of FR on macrophages is an indication of inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis; accordingly, folate-mediated targeting of the invention can also be used for studying, addressing or treating inflammatory disorders, as well as cancers. Folate-linked lipid particles or nanoparticles or liposomes or lipid bilayers of the invention (“lipid entity of the invention”) deliver their cargo intracellularly through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Intracellular trafficking can be directed to acidic compartments that facilitate cargo release, and, most importantly, release of the cargo can be altered or delayed until it reaches the cytoplasm or vicinity of target organelles. Delivery of cargo using a lipid entity of the invention having a targeting moiety, such as a folate-linked lipid entity of the invention, can be superior to nontargeted lipid entity of the invention. The attachment of folate directly to the lipid head groups may not be favorable for intracellular delivery of folate-conjugated lipid entity of the invention, since they may not bind as efficiently to cells as folate attached to the lipid entity of the invention surface by a spacer, which may can enter cancer cells more efficiently. A lipid entity of the invention coupled to folate can be used for the delivery of complexes of lipid, e.g., liposome, e.g., anionic liposome and virus or capsid or envelope or virus outer protein, such as those herein discussed such as adenovirus or AAV. Tf is a monomeric serum glycoprotein of approximately 80 KDa involved in the transport of iron throughout the body. Tf binds to the TfR and translocates into cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. The expression of TfR is can be higher in certain cells, such as tumor cells (as compared with normal cells and is associated with the increased iron demand in rapidly proliferating cancer cells. Accordingly, the invention comprehends a TfR-targeted lipid entity of the invention, e.g., as to liver cells, liver cancer, breast cells such as breast cancer cells, colon such as colon cancer cells, ovarian cells such as ovarian cancer cells, head, neck and lung cells, such as head, neck and non-small-cell lung cancer cells, cells of the mouth such as oral tumor cells.

Also as to active targeting, a lipid entity of the invention can be multifunctional, i.e., employ more than one targeting moiety such as CPP, along with Tf; a bifunctional system; e.g., a combination of Tf and poly-L-arginine which can provide transport across the endothelium of the blood-brain barrier. EGFR, is a tyrosine kinase receptor belonging to the ErbB family of receptors that mediates cell growth, differentiation and repair in cells, especially non-cancerous cells, but EGF is overexpressed in certain cells such as many solid tumors, including colorectal, non-small-cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the ovary, kidney, head, pancreas, neck and prostate, and especially breast cancer. The invention comprehends EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibody(ies) linked to a lipid entity of the invention. HER-2 is often overexpressed in patients with breast cancer, and is also associated with lung, bladder, prostate, brain and stomach cancers. HER-2, encoded by the ERBB2 gene. The invention comprehends a HER-2-targeting lipid entity of the invention, e.g., an anti-HER-2-antibody (or binding fragment thereof)-lipid entity of the invention, a HER-2-targeting-PEGylated lipid entity of the invention (e.g., having an anti-HER-2-antibody or binding fragment thereof), a HER-2-targeting-maleimide-PEG polymer-lipid entity of the invention (e.g., having an anti-HER-2-antibody or binding fragment thereof). Upon cellular association, the receptor-antibody complex can be internalized by formation of an endosome for delivery to the cytoplasm. With respect to receptor-mediated targeting, the skilled artisan takes into consideration ligand/target affinity and the quantity of receptors on the cell surface, and that PEGylation can act as a barrier against interaction with receptors. The use of antibody-lipid entity of the invention targeting can be advantageous. Multivalent presentation of targeting moieties can also increase the uptake and signaling properties of antibody fragments. In practice of the invention, the skilled person takes into account ligand density (e.g., high ligand densities on a lipid entity of the invention may be advantageous for increased binding to target cells). Preventing early by macrophages can be addressed with a sterically stabilized lipid entity of the invention and linking ligands to the terminus of molecules such as PEG, which is anchored in the lipid entity of the invention (e.g., lipid particle or nanoparticle or liposome or lipid bilayer). The microenvironment of a cell mass such as a tumor microenvironment can be targeted; for instance, it may be advantageous to target cell mass vasculature, such as the tumor vasculature microenvironment. Thus, the invention comprehends targeting VEGF. VEGF and its receptors are well-known proangiogenic molecules and are well-characterized targets for antiangiogenic therapy. Many small-molecule inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases, such as VEGFRs or basic FGFRs, have been developed as anticancer agents and the invention comprehends coupling any one or more of these peptides to a lipid entity of the invention, e.g., phage IVO peptide(s) (e.g., via or with a PEG terminus), tumor-homing peptide APRPG such as APRPG-PEG-modified. VCAM, the vascular endothelium plays a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammation, thrombosis and atherosclerosis. CAMs are involved in inflammatory disorders, including cancer, and are a logical target, E- and P-selectins, VCAM-1 and ICAMs. Can be used to target a lipid entity of the invention., e.g., with PEGylation. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) belong to the family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases. They are involved in tissue remodeling, tumor invasiveness, resistance to apoptosis and metastasis. There are four MMP inhibitors called TIMP1-4, which determine the balance between tumor growth inhibition and metastasis; a protein involved in the angiogenesis of tumor vessels is MT1-MMP, expressed on newly formed vessels and tumor tissues. The proteolytic activity of MT1-MMP cleaves proteins, such as fibronectin, elastin, collagen and laminin, at the plasma membrane and activates soluble MMPs, such as MMP-2, which degrades the matrix. An antibody or fragment thereof such as a Fab′ fragment can be used in the practice of the invention such as for an antihuman MT1-MMP monoclonal antibody linked to a lipid entity of the invention, e.g., via a spacer such as a PEG spacer. αβ-integrins or integrins are a group of transmembrane glycoprotein receptors that mediate attachment between a cell and its surrounding tissues or extracellular matrix. Integrins contain two distinct chains (heterodimers) called α- and β-subunits. The tumor tissue-specific expression of integrin receptors can be been utilized for targeted delivery in the invention, e.g., whereby the targeting moiety can be an RGD peptide such as a cyclic RGD. Aptamers are ssDNA or RNA oligonucleotides that impart high affinity and specific recognition of the target molecules by electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and hydro phobic interactions as opposed to the Watson-Crick base pairing, which is typical for the bonding interactions of oligonucleotides. Aptamers as a targeting moiety can have advantages over antibodies: aptamers can demonstrate higher target antigen recognition as compared with antibodies; aptamers can be more stable and smaller in size as compared with antibodies; aptamers can be easily synthesized and chemically modified for molecular conjugation; and aptamers can be changed in sequence for improved selectivity and can be developed to recognize poorly immunogenic targets. Such moieties as a sgc8 aptamer can be used as a targeting moiety (e.g., via covalent linking to the lipid entity of the invention, e.g., via a spacer, such as a PEG spacer). The targeting moiety can be stimuli-sensitive, e.g., sensitive to an externally applied stimuli, such as magnetic fields, ultrasound or light; and pH-triggering can also be used, e.g., a labile linkage can be used between a hydrophilic moiety such as PEG and a hydrophobic moiety such as a lipid entity of the invention, which is cleaved only upon exposure to the relatively acidic conditions characteristic of the a particular environment or microenvironment such as an endocytic vacuole or the acidotic tumor mass. pH-sensitive copolymers can also be incorporated in embodiments of the invention can provide shielding; diortho esters, vinyl esters, cysteine-cleavable lipopolymers, double esters and hydrazones are a few examples of pH-sensitive bonds that are quite stable at pH 7.5, but are hydrolyzed relatively rapidly at pH 6 and below, e.g., a terminally alkylated copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and methacrylic acid that copolymer facilitates destabilization of a lipid entity of the invention and release in compartments with decreased pH value; or, the invention comprehends ionic polymers for generation of a pH-responsive lipid entity of the invention (e.g., poly(methacrylic acid), poly(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate), poly(acrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid)). Temperature-triggered delivery is also within the ambit of the invention. Many pathological areas, such as inflamed tissues and tumors, show a distinctive hyperthermia compared with normal tissues. Utilizing this hyperthermia is an attractive strategy in cancer therapy since hyperthermia is associated with increased tumor permeability and enhanced uptake. This technique involves local heating of the site to increase microvascular pore size and blood flow, which, in turn, can result in an increased extravasation of embodiments of the invention. Temperature-sensitive lipid entity of the invention can be prepared from thermosensitive lipids or polymers with a low critical solution temperature. Above the low critical solution temperature (e.g., at site such as tumor site or inflamed tissue site), the polymer precipitates, disrupting the liposomes to release. Lipids with a specific gel-to-liquid phase transition temperature are used to prepare these lipid entities of the invention; and a lipid for a thermosensitive embodiment can be dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. Thermosensitive polymers can also facilitate destabilization followed by release, and a useful thermosensitive polymer is poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Another temperature triggered system can employ lysolipid temperature-sensitive liposomes. The invention also comprehends redox-triggered delivery: The difference in redox potential between normal and inflamed or tumor tissues, and between the intra- and extra-cellular environments has been exploited for delivery; e.g., GSH is a reducing agent abundant in cells, especially in the cytosol, mitochondria and nucleus. The GSH concentrations in blood and extracellular matrix are just one out of 100 to one out of 1000 of the intracellular concentration, respectively. This high redox potential difference caused by GSH, cysteine and other reducing agents can break the reducible bonds, destabilize a lipid entity of the invention and result in release of payload. The disulfide bond can be used as the cleavable/reversible linker in a lipid entity of the invention, because it causes sensitivity to redox owing to the disulfideto-thiol reduction reaction; a lipid entity of the invention can be made reduction sensitive by using two (e.g., two forms of a disulfide-conjugated multifunctional lipid as cleavage of the disulfide bond (e.g., via tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine, dithiothreitol, L-cysteine or GSH), can cause removal of the hydrophilic head group of the conjugate and alter the membrane organization leading to release of payload. Calcein release from reduction-sensitive lipid entity of the invention containing a disulfide conjugate can be more useful than a reduction-insensitive embodiment. Enzymes can also be used as a trigger to release payload. Enzymes, including MMPs (e.g. MMP2), phospholipase A 2 , alkaline phosphatase, transglutaminase or phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, have been found to be overexpressed in certain tissues, e.g., tumor tissues. In the presence of these enzymes, specially engineered enzyme-sensitive lipid entity of the invention can be disrupted and release the payload. an MMP2-cleavable octapeptide (Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gln) can be incorporated into a linker, and can have antibody targeting, e.g., antibody 2C5. The invention also comprehends light- or energy-triggered delivery, e.g., the lipid entity of the invention can be light-sensitive, such that light or energy can facilitate structural and conformational changes, which lead to direct interaction of the lipid entity of the invention with the target cells via membrane fusion, photo-isomerism, photofragmentation or photopolymerization; such a moiety therefor can be benzoporphyrin photosensitizer. Ultrasound can be a form of energy to trigger delivery; a lipid entity of the invention with a small quantity of particular gas, including air or perfluorinated hydrocarbon can be triggered to release with ultrasound, e.g., low-frequency ultrasound (LFUS). Magnetic delivery: A lipid entity of the invention can be magnetized by incorporation of magnetites, such as Fe3O4 or γ-Fe2O3, e.g., those that are less than 10 nm in size. Targeted delivery can be then by exposure to a magnetic field.

Also as to active targeting, the invention also comprehends intracellular delivery. Since liposomes follow the endocytic pathway, they are entrapped in the endosomes (pH 6.5-6) and subsequently fuse with lysosomes (pH<5), where they undergo degradation that results in a lower therapeutic potential. The low endosomal pH can be taken advantage of to escape degradation. Fusogenic lipids or peptides, which destabilize the endosomal membrane after the conformational transition/activation at a lowered pH. Amines are protonated at an acidic pH and cause endosomal swelling and rupture by a buffer effect Unsaturated dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) readily adopts an inverted hexagonal shape at a low pH, which causes fusion of liposomes to the endosomal membrane. This process destabilizes a lipid entity containing DOPE and releases the cargo into the cytoplasm; fusogenic lipid GALA, cholesteryl-GALA and PEG-GALA may show a highly efficient endosomal release; a pore-forming protein listeriolysin O may provide an endosomal escape mechanism; and, histidine-rich peptides have the ability to fuse with the endosomal membrane, resulting in pore formation, and can buffer the proton pump causing membrane lysis.

Also as to active targeting, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) facilitate uptake of macromolecules through cellular membranes and, thus, enhance the delivery of CPP-modified molecules inside the cell. CPPs can be split into two classes: amphipathic helical peptides, such as transportan and MAP, where l