Rapid and accurate detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant with a CRISPR-Cas12a reaction in the RT-qPCR pot

Gene sequencing in back of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is the current approach for discriminating infections produced by different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants in the clinic. However, sequencing is often a time-consu...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ruiz, Raúl, Montagud-Martínez, Roser, Dorta-Gorrín, Alexis, Pablo-Marcos, Daniel, Gozalo, Mónica, Calvo-Montes, Jorge, Navas, Jesús, Rodrigo, Guillermo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/361532
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/361532
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85190167695
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Fluorescence
SARS-CoV-2
Genetics
Probes
Infectious diseases
Descripción
Sumario:Gene sequencing in back of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is the current approach for discriminating infections produced by different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants in the clinic. However, sequencing is often a time-consuming step, which hinders the deployment of a very fast response during a pandemic. Here, we propose to run a CRISPR-Cas12a reaction after completing the RT-qPCR and in the very same pot to detect with high specificity genetic marks characterizing variants of concern. A crRNA was appropriately designed to detect the S gene of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant. A significant response with >20-fold dynamic range was obtained for the Omicron BA.1 S gene, while the Delta S gene did not produce any detectable signal. The sensitivity of the method was analyzed with a series of diluted samples and different Cas12a nucleases. A correlation between the RT-qPCR CT values and the CRISPR-Cas12a reaction signals was observed. Variant discrimination with the CRISPR-Cas12a reaction was possible in some minutes with high accuracy from patient samples. In conclusion, CRISPR-Cas systems seem ready to be exploited in the clinic to boost personalized diagnoses and accelerate epidemiological surveillance in a cost-effective way.