Diagnostic tool for mpox uses CRISPR technology

Australian scientists have harnessed the power of CRISPR technology to create a powerful diagnostic tool for the detection of mpox (monkeypox) virus (MPXV). Described in The Lancet Microbe, the tool was the outcome of a collaboration between The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Monash University.

MPXV-CRISPR is understood to be the first CRISPR-based diagnostic method in Australia specifically designed to target genetic sequences found only in MPXV. As a result, it is reportedly capable of detecting MPXV in clinical samples with acute precision and at a faster rate than any other method.

While the CRISPR technology is most known for its genome editing capability, new applications have emerged, including leveraging it for the design of powerful and highly sensitive diagnostic tools. Dr Soo Jen Low, a Research Officer at the Doherty Institute and co-first author on the new study, said CRISPR-based diagnostic tools are like super-precise detectives that can quickly find specific clues (in this instance, genetic material) related to the presence of specific pathogens.

“To work, MPXV-CRISPR has to be ‘programmed’ to recognise the virus,” Low said. “We used a database of 523 MPXV genomes to carefully engineer ‘guides’ to bind to the specific part we are looking for on the viral DNA. Getting this right was crucial for the success of our diagnostic tool.

“In essence, when viral DNA is present in a clinical sample, the CRISPR system is guided to the target and subsequently emits a signal to indicate the presence of the virus. Our testing method can achieve sensitivity and precision levels comparable to the gold-standard PCR methods, but in a fraction of the time.”

Matthew O’Neill, a Research Assistant at WEHI and co-first author on the paper, explained that the speed at which this new technology can provide a diagnosis is one of the groundbreaking features of MPXV-CRISPR.

“Currently, mpox diagnostics rely largely on centralised laboratory settings, where test results might not be available for up to several days after sample collection, depending on geographical and logistical considerations,” O’Neill said. “In parallel, MPXV-CRISPR can detect the virus in just 45 minutes.”

The team is currently working on adapting MPXV-CRISPR into a portable device that could, one day, be deployed at points of care around the country for rapid, onsite detection of MPXV. Dr Shivani Pasricha, a Senior Research Officer at WEHI, Junior Laboratory Head at the Doherty Institute and co-senior author on the paper, said the tool has the potential to revolutionise the way we manage mpox.

“By improving access to quick and reliable diagnoses around Australia, including in places with limited resources and in remote areas, this decentralised approach to testing could enable faster treatment and improve patient outcomes, while fast-tracking our capacity to manage future outbreaks,” Pasricha said.

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