Field-deployable viral diagnostics using CRISPR-Cas13

TLDR

CRISPR technology enables highly sensitive, multiplexed nucleic acid detection, including lateral‑flow readouts and field‑deployable viral diagnostics, leveraging enzymes such as Cas12a for genome editing and DNA cleavage. The platform combines an improved CRISPR‑based detection assay with a sample‑preparation protocol to allow rapid, visual detection of specific viral strains in clinical samples. Cas12a’s single‑strand DNA threading activity was harnessed to detect human papillomavirus in patient samples with high sensitivity. Science, pp.

Abstract

Taking CRISPR technology further CRISPR techniques are allowing the development of technologies for nucleic acid detection (see the Perspective by Chertow). Taking advantages of the distinctive enzymatic properties of CRISPR enzymes, Gootenberg et al. developed an improved nucleic acid detection technology for multiplexed quantitative and highly sensitive detection, combined with lateral flow for visual readout. Myhrvold et al. added a sample preparation protocol to create a field-deployable viral diagnostic platform for rapid detection of specific strains of pathogens in clinical samples. Cas12a (also known as Cpf1), a type V CRISPR protein, cleaves double-stranded DNA and has been adapted for genome editing. Chen et al. discovered that Cas12a also processes single-stranded DNA threading activity. A technology platform based on this activity detected human papillomavirus in patient samples with high sensitivity. Science , this issue p. 439 , p. 444 , p. 436 ; see also p. 381