CRISPR-cas systems based molecular diagnostic tool for infectious diseases and emerging 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases, the persistent potential for destabilising pandemics, remain a global threat leading to excessive morbidity and mortality. The current outbreak of pneumonia caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) illustrated difficulties in lack of effective drugs for treatment. Accurate and rapid diagnostic tools are essential for early recognition and treatment of infectious diseases, allowing timely implementation of infection control, improved clinical care and other public health measures to stop the spread of the disease. CRISPR-Cas technology speed up the development of infectious disease diagnostics with high rapid and accurate. In this review, we summarise current advance regarding diverse CRISPR-Cas systems, including CRISPR-Cas9, CRISPR-Cas12 and CRISPR-Cas13, in the development of fast, accurate and portable diagnostic tests and highlight the potential of CRISPR-Cas13 in COVID-19 Pneumonia and other emerging infectious diseases diagnosis.

Keywords:

• CRISPR-Cas
• diagnostics
• infectious diseases
• COVID-19

Acknowledgements

This paper was conceived and designed by XXH and YZF. XXH, QKL, ZZ, LFY, XY, LY and YZF wrote the paper. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Education Fund of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College [YGZJGWT1907], The Research Plan from the Nanan Health and Family Planning Commission [Grant No. 2017-38], The General Programme of Chongqing Science and Technology Commission [cstc2018jcyjAX0667].