CRISPR-based genetic diagnostics in microgravity.

Monitoring astronauts' health during space missions poses many challenges, including rapid assessment of crew health conditions. Sensitive genetic diagnostics are crucial for examining crew members and the spacecraft environment. CRISPR-Cas12a, coupled with isothermal amplification, has proven to be a promising biosensing system for rapid, on-site detection of genomic targets.

Rapid and sensitive on-site genetic diagnostics of pest fruit flies using CRISPR-Cas12a.

Background: Bactrocera zonata, a major fruit pest species, is gradually spreading west from its native habitat in East Asia. In recent years it has become a significant threat to the Mediterranean area, with the potential of invading Europe, the Americas, and Australia. To prevent it spreading, monitoring efforts in cultivation sites and border controls are carried out.

Differential Detection of the Tobamoviruses Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV) and Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) Using CRISPR-Cas12a.

CRISPR/Cas12a-based detection is a novel approach for the efficient, sequence-specific identification of viruses. Here we adopt the use of CRISPR/Cas12a to identify the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a new and emerging tobamovirus which is causing substantial damage to the global tomato industry. Specific CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) were designed to detect either ToBRFV or the closely related tomato mosaic virus (ToMV).

Genetically Encoding Ultrastable Virus-like Particles Encapsulating Functional DNA Nanostructures in Living Bacteria.

DNA nanotechnology is leading the field of molecular-scale device engineering, accumulating to a dazzling array of applications. However, while DNA nanostructures' function is robust under settings, their implementation in real-world conditions requires overcoming their rapid degradation and subsequent loss of function. Viruses are sophisticated supramolecular assemblies, able to protect their nucleic acid content in inhospitable biological environments.