Fighting oral bacteria is elementary with SHERLOCK-based detection tool

Thanks to a novel tool that detects bacteria in saliva using SHERLOCK, the evolution of CRISPR, you may soon be able to leave the dentist after a checkup with more comprehensive information about the health of your mouth. The accurate tool is much faster than existing methods and may lead to the early detection and treatment of mouth and other diseases.

Researchers from the Forsyth Institute, Massachusetts, have adapted the gene-editing CRISPR-based technology to identify oral bacteria in around 30 minutes.

Oral health is a key indicator of overall health. Previous studies have shown that the microorganisms in your mouth play a role in oral diseases such as cavities and gum disease. There is also an association between oral health and other diseases, such as heart and respiratory diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

The gene-editing technology CRISPR has been responsible for many advancements in biomedicine. An evolution of CRISPR, SHERLOCK (Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing) is a diagnostic tool that’s recently arrived on the scene. It can detect the unique genetic fingerprints encoded in almost any DNA or RNA sequence from any organism or pathogen.

It works by programming special CRISPR-Cas enzymes to detect a specific nucleic acid (involved in storing and expressing genomic information). The CRISPR-Cas enzyme is activated when the nucleic acid is identified, generating a fluorescent signal.

Image source: Sherlock Biosciences.