The next generation in plant/pathogen diagnostics: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-mediated identification

Funding period: 2023-2026

Lead: Leonardo Galindo González

Total GRDI funding: $75,000

While DNA barcoding is the standard for identification of plant species, new technologies can provide increased sensitivity, efficiency and accuracy. CRISPR-Cas9 has traditionally been used for mutational analysis and gene regulation, but new Cas enzymes (Cas12 and Cas13) have shown their value in diagnostics. We are using a CRISPR-Cas12 system that is able to target specific genomic variation between species, producing fluorescence to detect the variations. The assay can be performed with lab or without lab equipment and produces results in less than an hour once DNA is available. The assay is being developed in Amaranthus species of concern.