CRISPR-based detection of Helicobacter pylori in stool samples

Abstract

Background:

Noninvasive detection of Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in clinical practice. However, few noninvasive methods have been applied in epidemiological studies due to the requirement for expensive equipment and complicated processes. The aim of this study was to establish a reliable, fast, and inexpensive noninvasive method based on Magigen CRISPR-Cas12a technology for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in stool specimens.

Method:

A novel detection method based on Magigen CRISPR-Cas12a technology was established and validated with 41 stool specimens collected from Zhujiang Hospital and compared with reliable Helicobacter pylori detection assays, such as the rapid urease test and urea breath test.

Result:

A CRISPR-Cas12a system-based method was established, and its sensitivity and specificity were evaluated. Utilizing a lateral flow biosensor, the limit of detection was 5 copies/μl, and our method could successfully distinguish Helicobacter pylori from other pathogens, suggesting no cross-reactivity with other pathogens. Furthermore, lateral flow biosensor strips were utilized to test stool specimens, which could display the detection results in an accessible way.

Conclusion:

Our CRISPR-Cas12a system-based method successfully detected Helicobacter pylori in stool specimens. It is a rapid, simple, and inexpensive method for the detection and screening of Helicobacter pylori, which makes it a very promising supplemental test. However, its sensitivity and specificity compared with those of the gold standard test still need to be examined.

Author:

Enming Qiu¹, Shaoqin Jin², Zhuo Xiao³, Qianyun Chen¹, Qiaohui Wang⁴, Huayong Liu³, Chanfang Xie³, Chong Chen³, Zhou Li¹, Shuai Han¹

1. General Surgery Center, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

2. Department of Gastroenterology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

3. Guangzhou Pluslife Technology Co, Ltd, Guangzhou, China

4. The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Correspondence

Zhou Li and Shuai Han, General Surgery Center, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 253. Gongye Middle Avenue, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510280, China.

Emails: gzlizhou@smu.edu.cn; gzhanbo0624@smu.edu.cn

Chong Chen, Guangzhou Pluslife Technology Co., Ltd., Room 406, A01,No. 78. Luntou Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China.

Email: noah.chen@pluslife.com

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