Researcher Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center Rishon LeZion, HaMerkaz, Israel
Pest detection at the genetic level rapidly replaces traditional assays relying on morphology. PCR and derived approaches have become the gold standard for accurate genetic assays, but these are time-consuming and require trained personnel and expensive equipment. An alternative approach that has been introduced recently is genetic detection based on CRISPR-Cas systems, which offer cheap, simple, and rapid diagnostics while maintaining high rates of specificity and sensitivity. We use the CRISPR-Cas12a system to identify and distinguish between several fruit flies, some of which are invasive and some local. We envision a method where pests could be easily identified on-site without the need to send samples to a centralized facility for detection.
