Integrating Genomic Data with the Development of CRISPR-Based Point-of-Care-Testing for Bacterial Infections

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance contribute to global mortality. Despite many infections being preventable and treatable, the lack of reliable and accessible diagnostic tools exacerbates these issues. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-based diagnostics has emerged as a promising solution. However, the development of CRISPR diagnostics has often occurred in isolation, with limited integration of genomic data to guide target selection. In this review, we explore the synergy between bacterial genomics and CRISPR-based point-of-care tests (POCT), highlighting how genomic insights can inform target selection and enhance diagnostic accuracy. Recent Findings: We review recent advances in CRISPR-based technologies, focusing on the critical role of target sequence selection in improving the sensitivity of CRISPR-based diagnostics. Additionally, we examine the implementation of these technologies in resource-limited settings across Asia and Africa, presenting successful case studies that demonstrate their potential. Summary: The integration of bacterial genomics with CRISPR technology offers significant promise for the development of effective point-of-care diagnostics.