Efficient, specific and direct detection of double-stranded DNA targets using Cas12f1 nucleases and engineered guide RNAs

To address the limitations of the CRISPR/Cas12f1 system in clinical diagnostics, which require the complex preparation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or in vitro transcripts (RNA), we developed a fluorescent biosensor named PDTCTR (PAM-dependent dsDNA Target-activated Cas12f1 Trans Reporter). This innovative biosensor integrates Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) with the Cas12f_ge4.1 system, facilitating the direct detection of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). PDTCTR represents a significant leap forward, exhibiting a detection sensitivity that is a hundredfold greater than the original Cas12f1 system. It demonstrates the capability to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) with excellent sensitivity of 10 copies per microliter (16.8 aM) and distinguishes single nucleotide variations (SNVs) with high precision, including the EGFR (L858R) mutations prevalent in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical evaluations of PDTCTR have demonstrated its high sensitivity and specificity, with rates ranging from 93%-100% and 100%, respectively, highlighting its potential to revolutionize diagnostic approaches for infectious diseases and cancer-related SNVs. This research underscores the substantial advancements in CRISPR technology for clinical diagnostics and its promising future in early disease detection and personalized medicine.