The Nature sub-journal RNA editing tool is a quick and easy tool for detecting COVID-19 and other diseases

Jie Yang, a postdoctoral researcher at Rice University, has led an effort to transform the Cas13 genome editing tool into a highly sensitive detector for detecting the presence
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

A new engineering method based on CRISPR has pinpointed the RNA
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

The new platform has been very successful
compared to PCR detection.

The study will be published today (September 22, 2022) in the journal Nature Chemical Biology
.

Cas13, like its more well-known cousin Cas9, is part of
bacteria' natural defense system against phage invasion.

Gao said: "The engineering Cas13 protein in this work can be easily adapted to other previously established platforms
.

Wild-type Cas13 extracted from Merriam-Webster's fine treponemata cannot detect viral RNA levels within cells in 30 to 60 minutes, but the enhanced version created by Rice University does so in about half an hour, and the detected SARS-CoV-2 concentration is much
lower than in previous tests.

The key is a well-hidden, flexible hairpin ring
near the active part of Cas13.

"We can see that the increased activity is 5 to 6 times higher than that of wild-type Cas13," Yang said
.

The lab hopes to apply its technique to paper strips in home COVID-19 antibody tests, but with much
higher sensitivity and accuracy.

The researchers are also working on improving detection methods for Zika virus, dengue fever and Ebola virus, as well as predictive biomarkers
for cardiovascular disease.

"Different viruses have different sequences," Yang said
.

But since the project began in time for the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 naturally became a priority
.

"We are very excited about this work that combines structural biology, protein engineering, and biomedical device development," Gao added
.

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