Descripción del proyecto
Avanzar en el potencial diagnóstico de CRISPR-Cas
La tecnología CRISPR-Cas permite modificar el genoma y llevar a cabo diagnósticos. El mecanismo de defensa bacteriano CRISPR-Cas utiliza generalmente una molécula corta de ARN que guía una proteína efectora Cas (o un complejo de proteínas) hasta una secuencia diana coincidente. Se han caracterizado con gran detalle varios tipos de CRISPR-Cas. En cuanto a las aplicaciones de diagnóstico, el sistema CRISPR-Cas de tipo III tiene un gran potencial. Aunque un planteamiento de diagnóstico con varios pasos establecido recientemente suscitó un gran interés, hay margen de mejora. El proyecto SCOPE, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, introduce una ARN polimerasa termoestable para agilizar todo el proceso en un solo paso. El objetivo del proyecto es aportar una prueba de concepto de la viabilidad técnica de esta propuesta para permitir el diagnóstico de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.
Objetivo
Monitoring of human health and the prevention/treatment of (infectious) diseases strongly depend on accurate and efficient detection, identification and tracking of pathogens or biomarkers. Key features of such a diagnostic tool that enable this are speed, accuracy and availability at the point-of-care. Current molecular diagnostic solutions do not meet these requirements due to the fact that they often need to be performed in a centralized fashion. However, the incredible advances in CRISPR-Cas technology in recent years provide an opportunity to change this. By taking advantage of the innate specificity of CRISPR-Cas we have previously developed a highly sensitive and accurate proof-of-concept diagnostic tool with promising results. The potential for implementation is unfortunately impaired by the fact that the workflow comprises of multiple steps that increases hands-on time, room for human error and the undesirable implications this has. To mitigate this, we propose a solution that entails developing a novel approach based on a thermostable RNA polymerase that allows for the condensation of the current workflow into a shorter 1-step protocol. Once such a protocol has been developed, an assay will be developed for one of the causative pathogens of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Technical feasibility of the assay will be demonstrated, in collaboration with an academic hospital, by characterizing the developed assay on relevant clinical samples. This will provide insight into the real-life performance when compared to the current gold standard (PCR) as well as ease-of-use in a relevant context. Furthermore, the feasibility of the value proposition and potential for commercialization will be thoroughly assessed. Not only will this ERC-PoC project shed light on the potential for our improved CRISPR-Cas based diagnostic tool in the context of COPD, a sense of broad applicability in other human Point-of-Care diagnostics applications will be gained.
Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS clasifica los proyectos con EuroSciVoc, una taxonomía plurilingüe de ámbitos científicos, mediante un proceso semiautomático basado en técnicas de procesamiento del lenguaje natural.
CORDIS clasifica los proyectos con EuroSciVoc, una taxonomía plurilingüe de ámbitos científicos, mediante un proceso semiautomático basado en técnicas de procesamiento del lenguaje natural.
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Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsInstitución de acogida
6708 PB Wageningen
Países Bajos