Introductory Genome Engineering Workshop

live training

Introductory Genome Engineering Workshop

Target Audience:
VIB PhD student
VIB postdoc
VIB staff scientist
VIB technical support
Flemish academic or researcher
Location:

2 sessions in Ghent VIB-UGent Locus Building, 2 sessions in Park Inn Hotel Leuven 

General context

After organizing several successful symposia on genome engineering and CRISPR in the last years, VIB Training now offers a hands-on genome engineering workshop. After an introduction to CRISPR (history, biology and applications), we will focus on two experiments:

  • NHEJ experiment in maize
  • HDR editing experiment in yeast
Learning outcomes

NHEJ experiment:

  • Designing amplicons before conducting experiment and general QC
  • gRNA design (design rules, efficiency, predicting indel outcomes...)
  • Performing and analyzing genotyping results with Sanger-based approaches
  • Off-target analysis

HDR editing experiment:

  • gRNA design, choice and rationale, importance of PAM distance in HR editing
  • donor design
  • predictions don’t always reflect reality , understand different reasons for variable efficiencies between gRNAs
  • learn about challenges of HDR editing and different ways to surmount them
Approach

The training will be a combination of lectures by internal experts, practicals and discussion on the obtained results. There will be 4 half-a-day sessions, 2 in Leuven and 2 in Ghent, and in between there will be some assignments for the participants (genotyping, summarize results, reading assigned articles and preparing short presentations in groups). Note that if you register, we expect you to participate in all 4 sessions.

Event intended for

PhD students, technicians and postdocs interested in learning more on the practical aspects of genome engineering. Preferably those with little or no experience in CRISPR.

Extra information
  • This course is free for VIB participants
  • Registration fee for non-VIB academics is 100 euro including VAT.
  • This course is not open for industry.
  • Lunch will be provided.
  • Note that upon no show without valid justification you will be blacklisted for the VIB training program for 1 year. Click here for more information.

Trainers

Sibylle Vonesch
Sibylle Vonesch
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, BE

Sibylle Vonesch obtained her PhD from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, in 2015. During her doctoral studies with Ernst Hafen, she employed genome-wide approaches to study how intra-species genome variation shapes hereditary traits. In 2015, she joined Lars Steinmetz’s group in Heidelberg, Germany, as a postdoctoral researcher, where her work focused on genomics and the development of multiplexed genome editing technologies in the yeast S. cerevisiae. In 2021, she established the Laboratory for Genome Editing and Systems Genetics at KU Leuven and the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology. Her team develops CRISPR-based high-throughput genome editing tools for microbes and applies them in large-scale genetic screens to study fundamental principles in molecular and complex trait genetics. 

Contact Sibylle Vonesch :
Thomas Jacobs
VIB Training & Conferences - Speaker picture - Thomas Jacobs
VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, BE

Program

Perform a NHEJ experiment – part 1 (23 March 2022 (10h – 14h), Leuven)

Design a gRNA and target site for knock-out of maize genes.

Assignment: 

  • Test genotyping primers and propose gRNAs for KO
  • Genotype supplied sample DNA and bring results to class

 

Perform a NHEJ experiment – part 2 (20 April 2022 (10h – 14h), Ghent)

Evaluation of sequencing results.

Assignment: Summarize results and prepare report on indel efficiency and off-target effects.

 

HDR editing experiment – part 1 (2 May 2022 (10h -14h), Leuven)

Insertion of PTCs and missense alleles via single nucleotide changes in the yeast ADE2 gene:

  • gRNA design for HDR mediated precision editing, efficiency and off-target potential
  • importance of PAM distance for HR editing, alternative Cas nucleases
  • donor design

Assignment: Read assigned HDR boosting article and prepare short presentation in groups.

 

HDR editing experiment – part 2 (19 May 2022 (10h – 14h), Ghent)

Determine efficiency (visual read-outs and sequencing results) with different guides/target sites and compare.

Comparison predicted/obtained efficiencies, reasons for variable efficiencies between guides.

Discussion on strategies to boost HDR

Practical info

Location & Venue

23 March 2022 - 02 May 2022

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson

Martelarenlaan 36
3010 Leuven
Belgium

20 April 2022 - 19 May 2022

Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II

Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium

Public transport

23 March 2022 - 02 May 2022

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Public transport

The hotel is located 300m from Leuven Central Station, just a short 5 minute walk.

20 April 2022 - 19 May 2022

Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Public transport

From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.

Bike

23 March 2022 - 02 May 2022

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Bike

Bike parking Leuven

Using your bike for longer distances? Check Cycle Highways.

20 April 2022 - 19 May 2022

Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Bike

Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
 

Shared bicycles:

Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic

There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.

Route description

23 March 2022 - 02 May 2022

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Parking

Underground P1-Parking Station Leuven, Martelarenlaan 4, 3010 Leuven or parking De Bond, Martelarenlaan 18, 3010 Leuven.

20 April 2022 - 19 May 2022

Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Parking

Route description

There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket  - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.

Venue contact

23 March 2022 - 02 May 2022

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Location contact

+32 16 61 66 02

sales.leuven@parkinn.com

20 April 2022 - 19 May 2022

Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II