Gene editing approaches to combat infectious diseases: Therapeutic innovations and diagnostic platforms

Infectious diseases remain a formidable global health burden, exacerbated by rising antimicrobial resistance, emerging viral outbreaks, and the persistent limitations of conventional therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. This review explores the revolutionary potential of gene editing technologies—most notably CRISPR-Cas systems, base editing, and prime editing—as transformative tools in the fight against infectious diseases. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms and precision capacities of these platforms, the article delineates how gene editing enables not only the direct eradication of viral and bacterial pathogens but also the modulation of host genetic responses to enhance immunity. Key applications include CRISPR-based excision of latent HIV reservoirs, base editing for hereditary viral susceptibility correction, and prime editing for monogenic disease interventions, all backed by compelling preclinical and early clinical evidence. Furthermore, the integration of gene editing with innovative delivery systems, such as engineered bacteriophages, lipid nanoparticles, and viral vectors, underscores its adaptability across both ex vivo and in vivo therapeutic landscapes. The review also illuminates CRISPR’s frontier role in developing next-generation diagnostics, offering unprecedented speed, specificity, and portability through platforms like SHERLOCK and DETECTR, especially vital in pandemic response and low-resource settings. Importantly, gene drives and synthetic biology applications in vector control—particularly against malaria and dengue—signal a paradigm shift in public health strategy, though accompanied by ethical, ecological, and regulatory complexities. Looking ahead, the synthesis of CRISPR with artificial intelligence, mRNA delivery platforms, and wearable diagnostics heralds a new era of personalized, programmable, and precision medicine. This article thus positions gene editing not merely as an ancillary tool but as a central pillar in the future architecture of infectious disease prevention, treatment, and global health resilience.