Journal of virological methods
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Comparative Study
Comparative performance of CRISPR-Cas12a assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection tested with RNA extracted from clinical specimens.
COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection continue to cause the morbidity and mortality in many countries. Limitations of the gold standard qRT-PCR for diagnosis of this infection includes need for expensive equipment, specialized molecular laboratory, and experienced staff. Currently, CRISPR-based diagnostic method was approved by the U. ⋯ The assays with E, N2 and S genes yielded acceptable sensitivity of detection (≥ 95 %) whereas N1 and S genes provided outstanding specificity of detection (100 %). Preferably, multiple target genes should be detected by using CRISPR-Cas12a to ensure the most effective SARS-CoV-2 detection. Therefore, the N1 and S genes would be attractive target genes for SARS-CoV-2 detection based on CRISPR-Cas12a.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by infection with a novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2), has led to escalating morbidity and mortality in all nations and cities. SARS-CoV-2 lies within the same coronavirus family as SARS-CoV (2003) and MERS-CoV (2012), though there are genetic and epidemiological differences between the viruses, as well as different clinical presentations in the patients. Despite this, Hong Kong has so far managed to control the pandemic very successfully. Here we offer a Hong Kong perspective on different aspects of the pandemic virus (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease : public health (diagnosis and control), food safety (reducing transmission in the workplace) and animal vectors (controlling potential reservoirs of the virus and their movements).