A multiplex RPA coupled with CRISPR-Cas12a system for rapid and cost-effective identification of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) poses a severe nosocomial threat, prompting a need for efficient detection methods. Traditional approaches, such as bacterial culture and PCR, are time-consuming and cumbersome. The CRISPR-based gene editing system offered a potential approach for point-of-care testing of CRAB. We integrated recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and CRISPR-Cas12a system to swiftly diagnose CRAB-associated genes, and . This multiplex RPA-CRISPR-Cas12a system eliminates bulky instruments, ensuring a simplified UV lamp-based outcome interpretation. Operating at 37°C to 40°C, the entire process achieves CRAB diagnosis within 90 minutes. Detection limits for and genes are 1.3 × 10 ng/μL, exhibiting exclusive CRAB detection without cross-reactivity to common pathogens. Notably, the platform shows 100% concordance with PCR when testing 30 clinical strains. In conclusion, our multiplex RPA coupled with the CRISPR-Cas12a system provides a fast and sensitive CRAB detection method, overcoming limitations of traditional approaches and holding promise for efficient point-of-care testing.