Recyclable CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene disruption and deletions in Histoplasma

Targeted gene disruption is challenging in the dimorphic fungal pathogen Histoplasma due to the low frequency of homologous recombination. Transformed DNA is either integrated ectopically into the genome or maintained extra chromosomally by de novo addition of telomeric sequences. Based on a system developed in Blastomyces, we adapted a CRISPR/Cas9 system to facilitate targeted gene disruption in Histoplasma with high efficiency. We express a codon-optimized version of Cas9 as well as guide RNAs from a single ectopic vector carrying a selectable marker. Once the desired mutation is verified, one can screen for isolates that have lost the Cas9 vector by simply removing the selective pressure. Multiple mutations can then be generated in the same strain by retransforming the Cas9 vector carrying different guides. We used this system to disrupt a number of target genes including RYP2 and SRE1 where loss-of-function mutations could be monitored visually by colony morphology or color, respectively. Interestingly, expression of two guide RNAs targeting the 5’ and 3’ ends of a gene allowed isolation of deletion mutants where the sequence between the guide RNAs was removed from the genome. Whole-genome sequencing showed that the frequency of off-target mutations associated with the Cas9 nuclease was negligible. Finally, we increased the frequency of gene disruption by using an endogenous Histoplasma regulatory sequence to drive guide RNA expression. These tools transform our ability to generate targeted mutations in Histoplasma.