Aptamer-based Cas14a1 biosensor for amplification-free live pathogenic detection

CRISPR-Cas systems have been employed to detect a large variety of pathogenic microorganisms by simply changing the guide RNA sequence. However, these platforms usually rely on nucleic acid extraction and amplification to achieve good sensitivity. Herein, we developed a new platform for the highly specific and sensitive detection of live staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) based on an Aptamer-based Cas14a1 Biosensor (ACasB), without the need for nucleic acid extraction or amplification. First, the S. aureus specific aptamer was hybrid with a blocker DNA. After the live S. aureus was added, the blocker can be released upon bacteria-aptamer binding. Finally, the released blocker can activate Cas14a1 protein by binding with the sgRNA to generate a change of fluorescent intensity. The ACasB indicates high specificity and sensitivity: it can directly distinguish 400 CFU/ml live S. aureus cells. Comparable to qPCR, the Cas14a1-aptamer biosensor can detect S. aureus with 100% accuracy in complex samples. Therefore, this ACasB for the on-site detection of live S. aureus can broaden its applications in food safety and environmental monitoring.