CRISPR-driven diagnostics: Molecular mechanisms, clinical efficacy and translational challenges

Abstract

Background: In the realm of public health, among the primary perils menacing human well-being, the issue of pathogen infection persists as a significant concern. Precise and timely diagnosis of diseases constitutes the bedrock for effective therapeutic interventions and epidemiological monitoring. Hence, it is crucial to develop quick, sensitive, and highly effective methods for identifying pathogen and their variants.

Material and methods: This article reviews the recent research progress in the CRISPR/Cas system for detecting nucleic acids, with an emphasis on CRISPR/Cas9, CRISPR/Cas12, and CRISPR/Cas13. Initially, we provided a concise overview of the nucleic acid detection mechanism utilizing the CRISPR/Cas system. Subsequently, we dissect the molecular mechanisms of CRISPR tools, compare their clinical efficacy against traditional methods, and explore frontier innovations such as amplification-free detection and AI integration.

Conclusion: Ultimately, we argue that CRISPR diagnostics must evolve beyond technical optimization to embrace ecological adaptability, ensuring that precision medicine serves as a bridge-rather than a barrier-to global health equity.

Keywords

bacteria / CRISPR/Cas / detect / nucleic acid test

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