Phys.org – Biotechnology

A CRISPR Fingerprint of Pathogenic C. Auris Fungi for Precision Diagnostics

Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have unveiled dSHERLOCK, a digital CRISPR‑based diagnostic that can detect and quantify Candida auris from swab samples in under 40 minutes while simultaneously identifying antifungal resistance mutations. The platform merges SHERLOCK’s single‑nucleotide precision with single‑molecule microarray detection and a machine‑learning algorithm to produce rapid, quantitative readouts. Validation with patient swabs showed reliable detection of C. auris and differentiation of azole and echinocandin resistance signatures. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the test promises a one‑pot workflow that could replace week‑long laboratory analyses.