Split crRNA with CRISPR-Cas12a enabling highly sensitive and multiplexed detection of RNA and DNA

The CRISPR-Cas12a system has revolutionized nucleic acid testing (NAT) with its rapid and precise capabilities, yet it traditionally required RNA pre-amplification. Here we develop rapid fluorescence and lateral flow NAT assays utilizing a split Cas12a system (SCas12a), consisting of a Cas12a enzyme and a split crRNA. The SCas12a assay enables highly sensitive, amplification-free, and multiplexed detection of miRNAs and long RNAs without complex secondary structures. It can differentiate between mature miRNA and its precursor (pre-miRNA), a critical distinction for precise biomarker identification and cancer progression monitoring. The system’s specificity is further highlighted by its ability to detect DNA and miRNA point mutations. Notably, the SCas12a system can quantify the miR-21 biomarker in plasma from cervical cancer patients and, when combined with RPA, detect HPV at attomole levels in clinical samples. Together, our work presents a simple and cost-effective SCas12a-based NAT platform for various diagnostic settings. CRISPR-Cas12a nucleic acid detection largely involves pre-amplification and is limited in its ability to directly detect RNA. Here, authors present a split Cas12a system that enables direct, highly sensitive, and cost-effective detection of both DNA and RNA without amplification.