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Unveiling Australia’s fastest next-gen mpox diagnostic tool  

20 September 2023

In response to the 2022 global outbreak of the monkeypox virus (MPXV), researchers have harnessed cutting-edge genetic technology to develop Australia’s first-of-its-kind tool for the detection of the virus.

At a glance
Collaborative team led by WEHI and Doherty Institute reveals powerful new diagnostic tool for MPXV.
MPXV-CRISPR can detect the virus faster than current methods, with precision accuracy.
It’s the first CRISPR-based diagnostic method in Australia specifically designed for MPXV.

In a collaborative study published in The Lancet Microbe, the team of scientists, led by WEHI and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), revealed MPXV-CRISPR – a powerful diagnostic tool capable of detecting MPXV in clinical samples with acute precision and at a faster rate than any other method, thanks to the power of CRISPR technology.

It is the first CRISPR-based diagnostic method in Australia specifically designed to target genetic sequences found only in MPXV.

Emerging applications of CRISPR technology

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.

Matthew O’Neill, a senior research assistant at WEHI and co-first author of 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. In parallel, MPXV-CRISPR can detect the virus in just 45 minutes,” O’Neill said.

The University of Melbourne’s Dr Soo Jen Low, a research officer at the Doherty Institute and co-first author of the study, said CRISPR-based diagnostic tools were 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. 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,” Dr Low said.

“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.”

Future portable diagnostic device

In line with the WHO standards where diagnostic tests should be accurate, accessible and affordable, the team is working on adapting MPXV-CRISPR into a portable device, that could, one day, be deployed at points of care around the country for rapid, on-site detection of monkeypox virus.

Dr Shivani Pasricha, a senior research officer at WEHI, junior laboratory head at the Doherty Institute, and co-senior author of the paper, said MPXV-CRISPR has the potential to revolutionise the way we manage mpox, making a meaningful impact on public health.

“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,” Dr Pasricha said.

The research is the result of a collaboration between WEHI, the Doherty Institute, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Monash University.

 

 

Related topics
Media Enquiries
References
Rapid detection of monkeypox virus using a CRISPR-Cas12a mediated assay: a laboratory validation and evaluation study
Journal
Lancet Microbe
DOI
10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00148-9
Full details
WEHI Authors
James Cooney
James Cooney
William Kerry
William Kerry
Matthew O'Neill
Matthew O'Neill
Shivani Pasricha
Shivani Pasricha
Prof Marc Pellegrini
Prof Marc Pellegrini
Dr Lachlan Whitehead
Dr Lachlan Whitehead
Lewis Williams
Lewis Williams
Prof Deborah Williamson
Prof Deborah Williamson
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