Margaret Littlejohn

This study evaluates how viral genomic variability affects CRISPR-Cas13b efficacy against hepatitis B virus, showing that mismatched guide RNAs reduce antiviral activity and that sequence specificity is not the sole determinant of efficacy.

The paper identifies a novel HDV-like agent in ducks, showing genetic divergence but structural and functional similarities to HDV, challenging current understanding of HDV origins.