Design principles and applications of a CRISPR activation system for facile genetic overexpression in Candida albicans

Here, we sought to assess target-specificity and detect potential off-target effects of a novel CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) system in Candida albicans. We used the CRISPRa system to target ALS1 for overexpression, and we also created a CRISPRa strain that does not target any gene for overexpression for use as a control. Differential gene expression analysis between the CRISPRa-ALS1 strain and the non-targeting strain allowed us to determine if ALS1 was the only gene overexpressed by our CRISPRa-ALS1 strain, or if the system non-specifically targeted other genes as well. Differential gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for a CRISPRa-ALS1 overexpression strain and a non-targeting CRISPRa control strain.