Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-Mediated Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Assay for Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
A clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) assay for multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is reported, which may prove effective for the accurate diagnosis of MDR bacterial pathogens, thus preventing severe infection by ensuring appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance are slower-moving pandemics than the fast-spreading coronavirus disease 2019; however, they have potential to cause a much greater threat to global health. Here, we report a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) assay for multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This assay was developed <i>via</i> a synergistic combination of the specific gene-recognition ability of the CRISPR system, superb sensitivity of SERS, and simple separation property of magnetic nanoparticles. This assay detects three multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, species <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, without purification or gene amplification steps. Furthermore, MDR <i>A. baumannii</i>-infected mice were successfully diagnosed using the assay. Finally, we demonstrate the on-site capture and detection of MDR bacteria through a combination of the three-dimensional nanopillar array swab and CRISPR-mediated SERS assay. This method may prove effective for the accurate diagnosis of MDR bacterial pathogens, thus preventing severe infection by ensuring appropriate antibiotic treatment.