Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnostics

Abstract Accurate point-of-care (PoC) detection of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) can support rapid and cost-effective clinical decision-making in tasks such as diagnosing pathogenic genetic variants, identifying pathogen resistance, or tracing viral lineage differentiation. Traditional nucleic a...

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Main Authors: K. A. V. Kohabir, E. A. Sistermans, R. M. F. Wolthuis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Communications Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00933-4
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author K. A. V. Kohabir
E. A. Sistermans
R. M. F. Wolthuis
author_facet K. A. V. Kohabir
E. A. Sistermans
R. M. F. Wolthuis
author_sort K. A. V. Kohabir
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Accurate point-of-care (PoC) detection of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) can support rapid and cost-effective clinical decision-making in tasks such as diagnosing pathogenic genetic variants, identifying pathogen resistance, or tracing viral lineage differentiation. Traditional nucleic acid diagnostics involving PCR and sequencing lack PoC applicability. CRISPR-based diagnostics (CRISPRdx) offer the necessary operational simplicity and ability to integrate specific nucleic acid sequence detection with isothermal amplification. However, achieving single-nucleotide fidelity is not self-evident and often requires empirical optimization. This Review explores recent strategics aimed at refining CRISPRdx specificity for SNV detection including various ways of tactical guide RNA (gRNA) design, fine-tuned effector selection, and improved reaction conditions. While the approaches described here are functional and can be occasionally combined, they often require optimizations to support specific clinical aims. Looking ahead, leveraging computational and AI tools for gRNA design, and harnessing newly discovered CRISPR systems, will broaden applicability and improve precision detection of CRISPRdx in diverse clinical settings.
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spelling doaj-art-60bd83872ea5489d8ddf00abe7c462422025-08-20T03:37:41ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Medicine2730-664X2025-07-015111210.1038/s43856-025-00933-4Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnosticsK. A. V. Kohabir0E. A. Sistermans1R. M. F. Wolthuis2Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC—Locatie Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC—Locatie Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC—Locatie Vrije UniversiteitAbstract Accurate point-of-care (PoC) detection of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) can support rapid and cost-effective clinical decision-making in tasks such as diagnosing pathogenic genetic variants, identifying pathogen resistance, or tracing viral lineage differentiation. Traditional nucleic acid diagnostics involving PCR and sequencing lack PoC applicability. CRISPR-based diagnostics (CRISPRdx) offer the necessary operational simplicity and ability to integrate specific nucleic acid sequence detection with isothermal amplification. However, achieving single-nucleotide fidelity is not self-evident and often requires empirical optimization. This Review explores recent strategics aimed at refining CRISPRdx specificity for SNV detection including various ways of tactical guide RNA (gRNA) design, fine-tuned effector selection, and improved reaction conditions. While the approaches described here are functional and can be occasionally combined, they often require optimizations to support specific clinical aims. Looking ahead, leveraging computational and AI tools for gRNA design, and harnessing newly discovered CRISPR systems, will broaden applicability and improve precision detection of CRISPRdx in diverse clinical settings.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00933-4
spellingShingle K. A. V. Kohabir
E. A. Sistermans
R. M. F. Wolthuis
Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnostics
Communications Medicine
title Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnostics
title_full Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnostics
title_fullStr Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnostics
title_full_unstemmed Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnostics
title_short Recent advances in CRISPR-based single-nucleotide fidelity diagnostics
title_sort recent advances in crispr based single nucleotide fidelity diagnostics
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00933-4
work_keys_str_mv AT kavkohabir recentadvancesincrisprbasedsinglenucleotidefidelitydiagnostics
AT easistermans recentadvancesincrisprbasedsinglenucleotidefidelitydiagnostics
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