Advances in the application of CRISPR-Cas technology in rapid detection of pathogen nucleic acid

Abstract

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) are widely used as gene editing tools in biology, microbiology, and other fields. CRISPR is composed of highly conserved repetitive sequences and spacer sequences in tandem. The spacer sequence has homology with foreign nucleic acids such as viruses and plasmids; Cas effector proteins have endonucleases, and become a hotspot in the field of molecular diagnosis because they recognize and cut specific DNA or RNA sequences. Researchers have developed many diagnostic platforms with high sensitivity, high specificity, and low cost by using Cas proteins (Cas9, Cas12, Cas13, Cas14, etc.) in combination with signal amplification and transformation technologies (fluorescence method, lateral flow technology, etc.), providing a new way for rapid detection of pathogen nucleic acid. This paper introduces the biological mechanism and classification of CRISPR-Cas technology, summarizes the existing rapid detection technology for pathogen nucleic acid based on the trans cleavage activity of Cas, describes its characteristics, functions, and application scenarios, and prospects the future application of this technology.

Epidemiology and diagnosis technologies of human metapneumovirus in China: a mini review

“…Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) have been widely applied in gene editing areas [39]. According to the genetic characteristics of the Cas gene in prokaryotes, the Cas protein families have been divided into three types [40].…”

Advances and Challenges in Cytomegalovirus Detection Methods for Liver Transplant Donors

“…As researchers delve deeper into the capabilities of Cas12, Cas13, and Cas14 in trans-cleavage activity and continue to innovate in nucleic acid detection within the rapidly evolving field of CRISPR-Cas applications, it presents an exciting avenue for exploration. Moreover, biosensing platforms based on CRISPR-Cas systems hold tremendous potential to revolutionize pathogen diagnosis [83,84]. These advancements collectively usher in a new era of precision diagnostics and pathogen detection.…”