CRISPR-Based Assay Offers Point-of-Need Flu Detection

Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Princeton University, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created a low-cost paper strip test that can identify different types and subtypes of seasonal flu, including drug-resistant strains.

This innovative test, detailed in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, utilizes CRISPR technology to distinguish between influenza A and B, as well as subtypes H1N1 and H3N2. The test's simplicity and affordability could dramatically increase the number of people tested for flu each year, currently less than one percent of those infected.

Cameron Myhrvold, co-senior author of the study, envisions the test's potential: "Ultimately, we hope these tests will be as simple as rapid antigen tests, and they'll still have the specificity and performance of a nucleic acid test that would normally be done in a laboratory setting."

The test is based on SHINE technology, developed by Pardis Sabeti's lab in 2020. Unlike traditional diagnostic methods requiring specialized equipment and freezer storage, SHINE can be conducted at room temperature in about 90 minutes, with researchers aiming to reduce this to 15 minutes.

Ben Zhang, co-first author, highlights the significance of the paper strip readout: "Using a paper strip readout instead of expensive fluorescence machinery is a big advancement, not only in terms of clinical care but also for epidemiological surveillance purposes."

The test's ability to differentiate between flu strains could have significant implications for treatment and public health interventions. Jon Arizti-Sanz, another co-first author, explains: "Being able to tease apart what strain or subtype of influenza is infecting a patient has repercussions both for treating them and public health interventions."

Looking ahead, the team is adapting SHINE to detect avian and swine influenza strains, including the H5N1 virus currently affecting cattle. This adaptability demonstrates SHINE's potential to respond rapidly to emerging viral threats, offering a powerful tool in the fight against infectious diseases.