Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detection

Abstract CRISPR technology holds significant promise for advancing nucleic acid assays. However, current CRISPR diagnostic techniques, reliant on indiscriminate trans-cleavage mechanisms, face challenges in developing multiplex detection formats. Moreover, chaotic trans-cleavage activity often resul...

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Main Authors: Mei Lin, Zhiqiang Qiu, Mengen Hao, Weiwei Qi, Ting Zhang, Yuting Shen, Hongrui Xiao, Chaoyue Liang, Longxu Xie, Yongzhong Jiang, Meng Cheng, Tian Tian, Xiaoming Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60917-9
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author Mei Lin
Zhiqiang Qiu
Mengen Hao
Weiwei Qi
Ting Zhang
Yuting Shen
Hongrui Xiao
Chaoyue Liang
Longxu Xie
Yongzhong Jiang
Meng Cheng
Tian Tian
Xiaoming Zhou
author_facet Mei Lin
Zhiqiang Qiu
Mengen Hao
Weiwei Qi
Ting Zhang
Yuting Shen
Hongrui Xiao
Chaoyue Liang
Longxu Xie
Yongzhong Jiang
Meng Cheng
Tian Tian
Xiaoming Zhou
author_sort Mei Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract CRISPR technology holds significant promise for advancing nucleic acid assays. However, current CRISPR diagnostic techniques, reliant on indiscriminate trans-cleavage mechanisms, face challenges in developing multiplex detection formats. Moreover, chaotic trans-cleavage activity often results from mismatched targets, leading to specificity issues. To address these limitations, here we exploit a double-key recognition mechanism based on CRISPR-Cas12a cis-cleavage and invasive hybridization identification of released sticky-end DNA products. By integrating multiplexed nucleic acid amplification, the double-key Cas12a detection mechanism, and a lateral flow detection platform, we develop a method termed Cas12a cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay (cc-LFA). We demonstrate that the cc-LFA exhibited superior specificity compared to three mainstream trans-cleavage-based CRISPR diagnostic techniques, achieving single-base resolution detection free from high-concentration wild-type DNA background interference. cc-LFA is also applied for highly specific detection of multiple respiratory pathogen samples and precise multiplexed detection of nine high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes, achieving over 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity, respectively. Additionally, we present a portable device to automate nucleic acid amplification and strip detection procedures, showcasing the potential of cc-LFA for future applications in decentralized laboratory scenarios.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-25c176db76f64d27b3dec0ccbe619db22025-08-20T04:01:36ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-60917-9Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detectionMei Lin0Zhiqiang Qiu1Mengen Hao2Weiwei Qi3Ting Zhang4Yuting Shen5Hongrui Xiao6Chaoyue Liang7Longxu Xie8Yongzhong Jiang9Meng Cheng10Tian Tian11Xiaoming Zhou12School of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversityGuangzhou Hybribio Medicine Technology LtdHubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Life sciences, South China Normal UniversityAbstract CRISPR technology holds significant promise for advancing nucleic acid assays. However, current CRISPR diagnostic techniques, reliant on indiscriminate trans-cleavage mechanisms, face challenges in developing multiplex detection formats. Moreover, chaotic trans-cleavage activity often results from mismatched targets, leading to specificity issues. To address these limitations, here we exploit a double-key recognition mechanism based on CRISPR-Cas12a cis-cleavage and invasive hybridization identification of released sticky-end DNA products. By integrating multiplexed nucleic acid amplification, the double-key Cas12a detection mechanism, and a lateral flow detection platform, we develop a method termed Cas12a cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay (cc-LFA). We demonstrate that the cc-LFA exhibited superior specificity compared to three mainstream trans-cleavage-based CRISPR diagnostic techniques, achieving single-base resolution detection free from high-concentration wild-type DNA background interference. cc-LFA is also applied for highly specific detection of multiple respiratory pathogen samples and precise multiplexed detection of nine high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes, achieving over 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity, respectively. Additionally, we present a portable device to automate nucleic acid amplification and strip detection procedures, showcasing the potential of cc-LFA for future applications in decentralized laboratory scenarios.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60917-9
spellingShingle Mei Lin
Zhiqiang Qiu
Mengen Hao
Weiwei Qi
Ting Zhang
Yuting Shen
Hongrui Xiao
Chaoyue Liang
Longxu Xie
Yongzhong Jiang
Meng Cheng
Tian Tian
Xiaoming Zhou
Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detection
Nature Communications
title Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detection
title_full Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detection
title_fullStr Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detection
title_full_unstemmed Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detection
title_short Cas12a Cis-cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra-specific nucleic acid detection
title_sort cas12a cis cleavage mediated lateral flow assay enables multiplex and ultra specific nucleic acid detection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60917-9
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