CRISPR Breakthrough Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Virus Replication in Early Lab Tests [View all]

The team in Tuesday's study used an enzyme, CRISPR-Cas13b, that binds to relevant RNA sequences on the novel coronavirus and degrades the genome it needs to replicate inside human cells.

Lead author Sharon Lewin from Australia's Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity told AFP that the team had designed the CRISPR tool to recognize SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

"Once the virus is recognized, the CRISPR enzyme is activated and chops up the virus," she said.

https://www.sciencealert.com/cell-study-suggests-we-might-be-able-to-stop-sars-cov-2-from-replicating

Kind of a badly written article that confuses transmissiion with replication among other things, but this looks like it might provide a viable treatment down the line. It might even arrive in time for a deadlier coronavirus epidemic.