2021/10/25 by Cai He, He, C, Chung‐Chih Lin +31
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Biomolecules (q-bio.BM) #CRISPR and Genetic Engineering #FOS: Biological sciences #Quantitative Methods (q-bio.QM) #SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research #SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2110.12723
openalex publication_date 2021/10/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The increasing prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with spike mutations has raised concerns owing to higher transmission rates, disease severity, and escape from neutralizing antibodies. Rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants provides crucial information concerning the outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 variants and possible lines of transmission. This information is vital for infection prevention and control. We used a Cas12a-based RT-PCR combined with CRISPR on-site rapid detection system (RT-CORDS) platform to detect the key mutations in SARS-COV-2 variants, such as 69/70 deletion, N501Y, and D614G. We used type-specific CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) to identify wild-type (crRNA-W) and mutant (crRNA-M) sequences of SARS-CoV-2. We successfully differentiated mutant variants from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 with a sensitivity of 10-17 M (approximately 6 copies/μL). The assay took just 10 min with the Cas12a/crRNA reaction after a simple RT-PCR using a fluorescence reporting system. In addition, a sensitivity of 10-16 M could be achieved when lateral flow strips were used as readouts. The accuracy of RT-CORDS for SARS-CoV-2 variant detection was 100% consistent with the sequencing data. In conclusion, using the RT-CORDS platform, we accurately, sensitively, specifically, and rapidly detected SARS-CoV-2 variants. This method may be used in clinical diagnosis.