Crispr: A diagnostic tool for diseases

Abstract

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins are adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea. This system targets the genomes of invading pathogens in the bacteria for degradation and incorporates the fragments in the CRISPR cassettes. Because of its capacity to detect DNA and RNA, CRISPR/Cas system has emerged as a significant technique in molecular biology and has been adapted for genome editing. Also, it is been used in pathogen diagnostics, gene therapy, epigenetic regulation, and library construction. Although, CRISPR Cas system techniques have some limitations, they are the most promising diagnostic methods of the modern science and make it easy to use when combined with other techniques such as isothermal nucleic acid technique. Diagnostic methods such as real-time qPCR and isothermal nucleic acid amplification rely on a chain of reactions to detect pathogens. A single error in the preparation or experimental process can result in non-specific amplification. Furthermore, qPCR techniques are costly because they require skilled personnel and state-of-the-art equipment to carry out a series of procedures. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop diagnostic methods that are simple and fast to utilize, particularly at the point of treatment. To answer this call, in the past decade, CRISPR/Cas system tools have been developing and actively used in detecting nucleic acids in pathogenic materials. In this review, we will shed light on the discovery of CRISPR/Cas and the CRISPR/Cas adaptive immune systems. Here, we will present a brief history of the classification of CRISPR/Cas systems, their applications in disease control, CRISPR/Cas13 nomenclature, and diagnostic tools. Additionally, we will discuss how the CRISPR/Cas13 system can detect noninfectious diseases. Further, we will conclude with the broader impact of CRISPR technologies on preventing pathogens, a serious human health threat.