Finding the switches that control immune genes

The work of IGI scientists “Discovery of stimulation-responsive immune enhancers with CRISPR activation” was recently published in Nature. The researchers used CRISPR activation to find DNA “switches” that control key genes in the immune response and autoimmune disease. Post-doc Benjamin Gowen and PhD student Dimitre Simeonov were the lead authors. IGI Scientific Director Jacob Corn and IGI affiliate Alexander Marson jointly supervised the work. Important contributions were made by several Corn Lab members and alumni, including Mandy Boontanrart, Nicolas Bray, Therese Mitros, Jordan Ray, Gemma Curie, Nicki Naddaf, Julia Chu, and Hong Ma.  A summary of the research was featured by the UCSF News Center.