Boosting the squalene content in thraustochytrids by genetic engineering using CRISPR–Cas9 System

Project team: Alok Kumar Patel (project leader), Christakopoulos Paul, Iqra Mariam, Leonidas Matsakas, Ulrika Rova

Partners:

Duration: 2021-2023

Funded by Kempestiftelserna

For many years, shark-based squalene-adjuvanted vaccines have been used to treat or prevent vital diseases such as different strains of influenza and coronaviruses (H1N1, H5N1, H7N9, H7N7, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV, influenza, and rabies). More than three million deep-sea sharks are estimated to be killed every year to meet the requirements of the shark liver oil market. In this project, we are establishing the first CRISPR-CAS 9 based genetic engineering approach to improve non-animal-based squalene production in thraustochytrids to replace the COVID 19 vaccine adjuvant candidate obtained from shark.