Toward a systems-level analysis of infection biology: a new method for conducting genetic screens in human cells.
Loss-of-function genetic screens have facilitated great strides in our understanding of the biology of model organisms but have not been possible in diploid human cells. A recent report by Brummelkamp's group in Science describes the use of insertional mutagenesis to generate loss-of-function alleles in a largely haploid human cell line and demonstrates the versatility of this method in screens designed to investigate the host/pathogen interaction. This approach has strengths that are complementary to existing strategies and will facilitate progress toward a systems-level understanding of infectious disease and ultimately the development of new therapeutics.
Stanley
Sarah A
SA
Infectious Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
Hung
Deborah T
DT
D000818:Animals; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering