Gene-edited vero cells as rotavirus vaccine substrates.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus (RV) is a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis globally and can cause substantial morbidity associated with gastroenteritis in children <5 years of age. Orally administered live-attenuated RV vaccines offer protection against disease but vaccination efforts have been hampered by high manufacturing costs and the need to maintain a cold chain. METHODS: A subset of Vero cell host genes was identified by siRNA that when knocked down increased RV replication and these anti-viral host genes were individually deleted using CRISPR-Cas9. RESULTS: Fully-sequenced gene knockout Vero cell substrates were assessed for increased RV replication and RV vaccine antigen expression com..