Selective endpoint visualized detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus with CRISPR/Cas12a assisted PCR using thermal cycler for on-site application

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major cause of seafood-associated food poisoning. It is of great significance to develop an accurate, simple and cost-effective method to identify infected seafood, especially for on-site application. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) remains the golden standard for nucleic acid detection. But traditional methods heavily reply on sophisticated instrument and specialized operators, which limits the application for on-site detections. Here we developed a novel, specific and visualized detection method for PCR based on CRISPR/Cas12a system. On a low-cost thermal cycler, amplification reaction can be conducted easily. The CRISPR/Cas12a system was specifically designed to evaluate amplicons, eliminating false positive results. Besides the negative samples remained colorless, the positive samples generated obvious green fluorescence, which could be easily distinguished by the naked eye using a homemade UV device. The presented detection method was verified by detecting shrimp samples. The limit of detection is 1.02 × 102 copies/μL. This presented method provided a new strategy for specific endpoint detection of PCR and advanced its application in field for food safety assurance.