The DRSC/TRiP-FGR is pleased to support collaborations on pooled CRISPR screens using the method recently, reported in eLife by Viswanatha et al. (PDF download file below).

From the abstract: "... Here, we developed a site-specific integration strategy for library delivery and performed a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in Drosophila S2R+ cells. Under basal growth conditions, 1235 genes were essential for cell fitness at a false-discovery rate of 5% ... We additionally performed context-specific fitness screens for resistance to or synergy with trametinib, a Ras/ERK/ETS inhibitor, or rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, and identified key regulators of each pathway. The results present a novel, scalable, and versatile platform for functional genomic screens in low-redundancy animal cells."

Interested to design a CRISPR pooled drop-out or selection screen to interrogate a cellular function you are interested in? Please contact the Director S. Mohr. We are actively seeking collaborations on this exciting new approach.

See also this November 2018 report in which CRISPR pooled-format screening identifies a transporter for the steroid hormone ecdysone:

Okamoto N, Viswanatha R, Bittar R, Li Z, Haga-Yamanaka S, Perrimon N, Yamanaka N. A Membrane Transporter Is Required for Steroid Hormone Uptake in Drosophila. Dev Cell. 2018 Nov 5;47(3):294-305.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.09.012. Epub
2018 Oct 4. PubMed PMID: 30293839