Engineered crispr-cas systems and methods for sensitive and specific diagnostics

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an engineered type III CRISPR-Cas system for sensitive and sequence specific detection of nucleic acid in a sample. For example, the engineered type III CRISPR-Cas system may be implemented as an assay for testing SARS-CoV-2 virus (or other target nucleic acid in the sample) that can be performed quickly, such as in one hour or less. Nucleic acid recognition by type III systems may trigger Cas10-mediated nuclease activity and/or polymerase activity, which may generate pyrophosphates, protons and cyclic oligonucleotides. The nuclease activity and/or the one or more products of the Cas10-polymerase are detected using colorimetric, visible fluorometric, and/or instrumented fluorometric detection.

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