CRISPR-based Diagnostic Platform Detects African Swine Fever in 20 Minutes

Researchers from Shanxi Agricultural University and Capital Medical University have developed a new CRISPR-based diagnostic tool that can detect African swine fever (ASF) in just 20 minutes. The test's simplicity and reliability make it a powerful tool for early ASF detection and rapid response to potentially help curb future outbreaks and protect the swine industry.

ASF, which has a nearly 100% mortality rate in pigs, continues to threaten the industry due to the lack of effective vaccines or treatments. The new test, called sCRAM, offers a rapid and extraction-free diagnostic platform that could help farmers and veterinarians quickly identify and contain outbreaks. The researchers designed a one-tube reaction combining multienzyme isothermal amplification (MIRA) and a suboptimal PAM-mediated CRISPR-Cas12a system (37°C, 15 min) with a rapid nucleic acid release step (40°C, 5 min).

The process requires minimal preparation and produces results that can be seen under UV light or with lateral flow strips (LFS). Tests on 111 simulated and clinical samples of blood, plasma, and swabs showed 100% concordance with qPCR for UV readout and 98.20% for LFS readout, with 100% specificity and no cross-reactivity with other common swine pathogens. The findings of the study show promising results for use in the field, especially in areas with limited laboratory resources.

For more information, read the abstract from SSRN eLibrary.