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Scientific Illustration: CRISPR – A Revolution in Genetics

Created for Scientific American

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The project

A new technique for gene editing, based on bacterial defenses, CRISPR is revolutionizing genetic engineering, accelerating research and showing promise for new therapeutics. AXS created this scientific illustration to explain how CRISPR works, utilizing the Caspase 9 enzyme to disable or modify genes.

Created for
Scientific American Magazine (January 2014)

More

Illustration

Cyborg Tadpole cover for Nature Publishing Volume 642 Issue 8069, 26 June 2025

Scientific illustration

Nature Journal

Detail from a medical illustration for Scientific American article

Medical illustration

Scientific American Magazine

Illustrations for Human Virome article written by David Pride for the Scientific American December 2020 issue. 2D and 3D assets created by AXS. Final layout by Scientific American. Illustrates the the difference viruses found in the human virome, colour coded as orange if the virus is known to cause human illness.

Medical illustration

Scientific American Magazine

Double spread illustration comparing antibiotics vs phages and the evolution of resistant bacteria on left. Three types of phage therapy are explored on right panel.

Scientific illustration

Scientific American Magazine

3D illustration for Eupraxia's presentation deck, explaining how it's controlled-release drug delivery technology works. The illustration features a knee with osteoarthritis (OA), particles diffusing medication into the joint space and a closeup view of drug molecules diffusing from the crystal core, through the polymer shell.

Medical illustration: Analgesic Drug Delivery for Osteoarthritis

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The illustration has 4 panels depicting certepetide's mechanism of action. Certepetide is a 9 amino acide cyclic peptide that is Lisata's investigational agent. The first panel in the illustration depicts certepetide binding to an integrin on tumor/tumor vascular endothelium. The second panel shows proteolytic cleavage of certepetide. The third panel depicts the resulting CendR fragment binding to neuropilin-1 (NRP1). Panel 4 depicts the resulting tumor penetration (CendR pathway activation involving microvesicles that encapsulate co-administered anti-cancer drugs).

Scientific illustration: Certepetide Anticancer MOA

Pharmaceutical client

MOA illustration showing immune suppresed tumor microenvironment at the top. Tumor cells overexpress CD200 and bind to CD200R1 on NK, CD8 and CD4 t-cells to inhibit DOK2/RasGap signaling and subsequent immune response. The bottom right of the illustration shows the reversal of immune suppression mediated by 23ME-0610 mAb binding to CD200R1 on immune cells and free up downnstream signaling. This reactivates the anti-tumor immune response.

Scientific illustration: Cancer Immunotherapy MOA

Pharmaceutical client

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Paying Homage to Nature's 10

Nature Magazine

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Microbiome Scientific Illustration for Nature

Nature

Inside spread (poster) of Immune Thrombocytic Purpura or ITP brochure with medical illustrations. Understanding the role of TPO or thrombopoietin in normal platelet formation. TPO binds TPO receptor on the megakaryocyte progenitor to induce proliferation and maturation into platelet producing megakaryocyte. Macrophages clear aged or damaged platelets. JAK-STAT pathway leads to platelet production. In ITP pathogenesis, immune system dysregulation via either autoantibody mediated pathway or cytotoxic t-cell mediate pathway, results in inbited platelet production and accelerated platelet destruction by macrophages.

Autoimmune Disease Medical Illustration

Biopharmaceutical client

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Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Scientific Illustration

Scientific American

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Scientific Illustration: CRISPR - A Revolution in Genetics

Scientific American