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Engineering CRISPR for Point-of-Care Tests.

CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics have emerged as powerful and programmable platforms that enable sensitive and specific detection for disease management and epidemiological surveillance. Advances in CRISPR engineering and assay design are driving the emergence of next-generation detection platforms that are highly sensitive, rapid, and amenable to field deployment. These engineering breakthroughs have the potential to reshape point-of-care tests (POCT) and transform how emerging and persistent health threats are monitored in decentralized and resource-limited settings. Herein, we systematically review the recent advancements in CRISPR engineering strategies aimed at improving detection sensitivity and specificity, eliminating the dependence on preamplification, and enabling robust POC deployment. The discussed strategies encompass both the rational engineering of CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) and the optimization of downstream signaling modules for molecular diagnostic applications. We further highlight key challenges and future perspectives that may inspire impactful research directions and accelerate the advancement of CRISPR engineering strategies toward robust, field-deployable POCT platforms.

CRISPR-Cas Systems

Development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR-based dual-platform targeted sequencing framework for precise differentiation of lumpy skin disease virus.

BACKGROUND: Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) shares over 96% genomic identity with goatpox and sheeppox viruses, presenting severe diagnostic challenges due to cross-reactivity. METHODS: To address this bottleneck, we established a targeted sequencing framework integrating multiplex PCR with short-read and long-read platforms. By sequentially screening target pathogens, identifying low-homology genes, and designing short and gradient long-fragment primer pools, we evaluated these dual-platform panels using highly homologous poxvirus samples. RESULTS: The short-read panel stably detected target viruses at inputs as low as 5.26 ×101 copies/μL. Under strict alignment criteria, LSDV mapping rates reached 42.91%, suppressing non-target signals to 3.05%. The Nanopore-Targeted Sequencing (NTS) long-amplicon strategy successfully eliminated homologous interference. By applying length-dependent diagnostic thresholds (≥ 100 reads for short amplicons; ≥ 50 reads for long amplicons), precise species-level identification was achieved, maintaining near-zero cross-reads (0-5) in ultra-long regions. Crucially, the field-deployable NTS workflow enabled complete detection in approximately 4 h. CONCLUSION: This complementary strategy seamlessly meets both laboratory demands for high-sensitivity enrichment and frontline requirements for rapid typing, providing a reliable tool for LSDV surveillance, mutation tracking, and outbreak control.

Capripoxvirus differentiation

Gravity-driven millifluidic platform for magnetic solid-phase extraction of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei DNA from complex shrimp hepatopancreas.

Effective detection of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) in aquaculture is currently hindered by the lack of field-deployable extraction methods capable of processing complex, inhibitor-rich hepatopancreatic tissue. This study presents a gravity-driven millifluidic platform for the rapid extraction of EHP genomic DNA using an optimized, surfactant-compatible magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) chemistry. Utilizing 5% PEG 8000 and 2.0 M NaCl, the platform facilitates the selectively capture of DNA from inhibitor-rich crustacean lysates. The 3D-printed device employs a tilting rocking plate to generate passive, gravity-driven flow, maintaining homogeneous magnetic bead suspension and maximizing solid-phase capture efficiency without external pumps. The integrated platform achieved a DNA yield of 2804.33 ± 15.31 ng/μL, a 5.9-fold increase over manual magnetic bead extraction. TaqMan quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation targeting the EHP SSU rRNA gene was developed. Using a standard curve spanning 101 to 107 plasmid copies (Ct = -3.611 log10 [copy] + 42.309, R2 = 0.998, amplification efficiency 89.2%), the on-chip MSPE achieved a validated analytical limit of detection (LOD) of 1 spore per reaction (100% detection rate, n = 21), whereas a commercial CTAB-based DNA extraction kit failed to achieve a validated LOD even at 10 spores (85.7%, 18/21). Nested PCR targeting the SWP gene was employed for field evaluation. A pilot study across two cohorts (N = 40) demonstrated consistent detection of confirmed EPH-positive cases; however, the small sample size precludes definitive diagnostic accuracy claims. With a total processing time under 30 min, this platform provides a high-efficiency extraction module. Future work will couple the device with isothermal amplification (e.g., LAMP or RPA) to realize a sample-to-answer system for resource-limited aquaculture.

Aquaculture diagnostics

RT-RPA Assisted CRISPR/Cas12a Based One-Pot Rapid and Visual Detection of the Pan-Dengue Virus.

Globally ≤ 4 billion of the population are at potential risk of contracting dengue virus (DENV) infection. Seasonal outbreaks of dengue are frequently reported causing a high healthcare burden. Undiagnosed DENV can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of DENV relies on molecular methods, which are impractical in resource-constrained settings (RCSs). Dengue can be caused by any of the four distinct DENV serotypes. Therefore, a simple method for rapid diagnosis of Pan-DENV serotypes is of utmost importance at RCSs. A fluorescence detection platform for Pan-DENV using RT-RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a was developed targeting nonstructural 1 (NS1) gene for DENV-1, 2, and 3, and envelope (E) gene for DENV-2. Further, crRNA specific to DENV serotypes were designed to facilitate CRISPR/Cas12a detection. Analytical sensitivity was determined using synthetic RNA and DENV serotypes genome. Clinical validation of the assay was performed using RNA extracted from AES/AFI clinical samples. The developed CRISPR/Cas12a-based detection platform can detect all four serotypes of DENV viz 1-4 in a single pot using fluorescence detection. This assay showed the limit of detection ≥ 781 zg reaction- 1, ≥ 1.81 ag reaction-1, ≥ 62.5 fg reaction-1, and ≥ 2.5 pg reaction-1 for synthetic DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 template, respectively. Our assay demonstrated the analytic sensitivity of ≥ 10 ng reaction-1 for DENV-1 and DENV-4, and ≥ 0.5 ng reaction-1 for DENV-3 and DENV-4 genomes. This assay showed no cross-reactivity with other related etiologies tested causing AFI/AES. With 76 clinical samples (DENV PCR positive = 16, DENV PCR negative = 60), the assay demonstrated 93.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity with an overall accuracy of 98.7% for detection of the Pan-DENV serotypes. Our assay displayed comparable results to that of RT-PCR. The ease of interpretation and rapid detection of the Pan-DENV, represents the potential of the developed assay as an ideal point-of-care test. This assay upon field-deployment could help in reducing healthcare burden, provide differential diagnosis and support initiating early and prompt treatment to patients at RCS.

Dengue Virus

Multimodal Deep Learning and Foundation Models for Early Detection and Forecasting of Plant Diseases.

Plant diseases destroy 20-40% of global food production annually, posing a critical threat to food security for a projected population of 9.7 billion by 2050. Conventional diagnostic approaches relying on expert visual assessment are slow, costly, and unsuitable for modern agricultural scales. While deep convolutional neural networks demonstrated early promise, single-modality, image-centric systems consistently fail under real-world field conditions characterized by variable lighting, co-occurring infections, and cultivar diversity. This review synthesizes a decade of progress across four interconnected frontiers: the evolution of deep learning architectures for plant disease detection; the adaptation of foundation models including CLIP, SAM, and DINOv2 to agricultural contexts; the development of multimodal fusion frameworks integrating imagery, environmental, genomic, and hyperspectral data; and the transition from static disease diagnosis to descriptive comparison of reported metrics, which suggested that multimodal approaches frequently reported improved diagnostic performance relative to corresponding single-modality baselines, although direct cross-study comparison was limited by methodological heterogeneity. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines identifies eligible comparative studies. Descriptive comparison of reported performance metrics across these studies indicated that multimodal approaches generally achieved higher accuracy and sensitivity than single-modality models, particularly for pre-symptomatic disease detection. Eight critical research gaps are identified, including the absence of a unified agricultural foundation model and limited climate-aware forecasting under non-stationary climate projections. A structured research agenda is proposed to accelerate translation from laboratory performance to globally equitable, field-deployable crop protection systems.

convolutional neural networks

SCAN: A sample-to-answer cross-priming isothermal assay for on-site virus detection with RT-qPCR sensitivity and genomically similar virus differentiation specificity.

Genomically similar viruses often differ in pathogenicity and host tropism due to specific mutations, and failure to distinguish them risks misdiagnosis and ineffective control. Molecular methods can differentiate such viruses but require laboratory settings and skilled personnel, while field-deployable immunological methods suffer from cross-reactivity. To address this challenge, we developed SCAN (Sample-to-answer Cross-priming isothermal amplification Assay with Nucleic acid strip), a general framework for on-site detection of genomically similar viruses. Comparative bioinformatics of isolation and sequencing data identifies key conserved differential determinants for primer design, ensuring specificity and reducing non-specific amplification. A one-tube cross-priming isothermal amplification (CPA) enables rapid target amplification without thermal cycling, and the products are visually detected on a nucleic acid strip. All steps are integrated into a handheld, lightweight device (9.9&#x202f;&#xd7;&#x202f;4.4&#x202f;&#xd7;&#x202f;3.3&#x202f;cm, <200&#x202f;g) that also prevents aerosol contamination. Using transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV), the latter a natural mutant of TGEV, as a model, SCAN achieves a detection limit of 102 copies/&#x3bc;L with sensitivity comparable to RT-qPCR and supports sample-to-answer testing within 80&#x202f;min and simple operations. With verified high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, as well as field usability, SCAN provides a generalizable route for developing point-of-care tests (PoCT) that require precise field differentiation of closely related pathogens.

Cross-priming isothermal amplification

Amplification of RNA for identification of Zika and HCV in whole blood.

Direct RNA amplification from whole blood is fundamentally limited by rapid enzymatic degradation and inhibitory matrix effects. Here, we present a blood drying protocol that enables sensitive and robust RNA detection without the need for extraction, purification, or cold-chain logistics. Using whole blood, the platform achieves high detection sensitivity, down to 10 copies per microliter for Zika virus and 1 international unit per microliter for hepatitis C virus (HCV). We further demonstrate that the protocol can be scaled to larger blood volumes and achieve single-copy sensitivity without any sample loss. This is accomplished through thermal treatments of the sample combined with a primer-limited reverse transcription step, which together stabilize RNA within a dried blood matrix and permit spatially resolved enzymatic amplification. The system supports multiplexed detection from a single sample, enabling simultaneous identification of multiple targets. Separately, we introduce a concept wherein the very few copies of the preserved RNA within the matrix can be accessed repeatedly for molecular analysis. Furthermore, we demonstrated the detection of Zika and HCV using a portable fluorometer for point-of-care (POC) uses. With lyophilized reagents and minimal instrumentation such as a heater and an inexpensive portable fluorometer, this platform enables robust, reusable, and field-deployable diagnostics, advancing toward truly accessible on-site RNA testing in urgent care or low-resource settings from whole blood.

Humans

A CRISPR-Based Rapid Detection Assay for Crayfish Plague (Aphanomyces astaci) From Environmental Samples.

Crayfish plague, caused by Aphanomyces astaci (Aa), is an infectious disease invasive in Europe, where its rapid spread has resulted in sharp declines of native crayfish species. Monitoring currently relies on a highly sensitive, but costly and time-consuming qPCR approach. Here, we designed a simplified, rapid and cost-efficient molecular assay for on-site detection of Aa. The novel rapid assay employs a combination of isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification and CRISPR-Cas12a-based detection that can be coupled with fluorescence or lateral flow visualisation. We demonstrate that the novel assay can detect A. astaci from tissue and environmental DNA with higher sensitivity than the available qPCR assay and readily distinguishes Aa from its non-pathogenic sister taxon A. fennicus. We tested two genomic marker sites for Aa that discriminate closely related oomycetes and incorporate field-deployable lateral flow and fluorescence readouts. Our work will make crayfish plague monitoring broadly accessible to practitioners and non-academic stakeholders as a tool to curb further Aa-driven loss of Europe's imperilled freshwater crustaceans and strengthen preparedness against future incursions of the pathogen in other regions.

Cas12a