A team of scientists from the Broad Institute
of MIT and Harvard and few other Institutes
has adapted a CRISPR protein that targets
RNA (rather than DNA) as a rapid, inexpensive,
highly sensitive diagnostic tool with the
potential for a transformative effect on research
and global public health.
In a study published in Science the scientists
describe how this RNA-targeting CRISPR enzyme
was harnessed as a highly sensitive detector
– able to indicate the presence of as little
as a single molecule of a target RNA or DNA
molecule.
The researchers dubbed the new tool SHERLOCK
(Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter
unLOCKing); this technology could one day
be used to respond to viral and bacterial
outbreaks, monitor antibiotic resistance,
and detect cancer.
The Scientsts demonstrate the method's versatility
on a range of applications, including:
Detecting the presence of Zika virus in patient
blood or urine samples within hours;
Distinguishing between the genetic sequences
of African and American strains of Zika virus;
Discriminating specific types of bacteria,
such as E. coli;
Detecting antibiotic resistance genes;
Identifying cancerous mutations in simulated
cell-free DNA fragments; and
Rapidly reading human genetic information,
such as risk of heart disease, from a saliva
sample.
Because the tool can be designed for use as
a paper-based test that does not require refrigeration,
the researchers say it is well suited for
fast deployment and widespread use inside
and outside of traditional settings -- such
as at a field hospital during an outbreak,
or a rural clinic with limited access to advanced
equipment.
