Rosa Márquez in the laboratory

A research group at the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio, UV-CSIC), has developed a method to detect viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, using the CRISPR gene editing technique. The developed system combines the speed of antigen tests and the precision of PCR. Its versatility allows the detection of other types of infections and even mutations and biomarkers in humans.

Specifically, this novel system allows the detection of both several regions of the same virus and different types of coronaviruses and combines the speed of diagnosis of antigen tests with the precision of PCR techniques. The versatility of this method, which allows the detection of other viruses and even human genetic biomarkers, has led to the filing of a European patent.

The system developed at I²SysBio by the BioSystems Design group, led by researcher Guillermo Rodrigo, is a new method for detecting nucleic acids, based on Cas9, a protein that is revolutionizing biotechnology thanks to its association with the CRISPR technique and its role as molecular scissors. CRISPR/Cas9, which uses RNA guides and the Cas9 protein to target selected areas of DNA and cut them.

The I²SysBio team has verified the potential of this method, recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples. CRISPR/Cas9 allows multiplexed detection of different sequences: for each of them, a specific guide sequence and reporter molecule can be designed. Furthermore, CRISPR systems allow genetic sequences to be discriminated with high resolution (with the precision of a PCR) and can be coupled to rapid isothermal amplification methods (with the speed of an antigen test).

According to Rosa Márquez-Costa, predoctoral researcher in the project, “there are other detection techniques with CRISPR systems, but they make use of a non-specific cutting enzymatic activity, which limits multiplexed detection. Our system is not based on the cutting of chains of nucleic acids, but on molecular reconfigurations that occur thanks to specific interactions, with which different sequences can be detected in the same reaction. human.

The University of Valencia and the CSIC have jointly submitted a European patent application to protect this method. In its development, the I²SysBio research team has had the support of the PTI Global Health platform (CSIC), the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), Banco Santander, the Generalitat Valenciana and the Next Generation EU funds of the Government of Spain. In addition, they have prepared an informative video with funding from the General CSIC Foundation through its Science Account program.