Establishment of a technique using CRISPR to detect microorganisms in veterinary samples

• Grant number: 24/08937-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Schenkman
• Grantee: Deborah Mirela de Melo Romano
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10599-3 - The Antimicrobial Resistance Institute of São Paulo (The Aries Project), AP.CEPID

Abstract

Livestock plays a significant role in the world's socio-economy, but the spread of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms among animals can cause economic crises and public health problems. A common method used by producers to prevent diseases in herds is the application of antimicrobials; however, this approach is associated with the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Animal trypanosomiasis is an example, because in addition to being one of the greatest obstacles to the development of livestock systems, the etiological agent, protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma, usually present resistance to trypanocides. The sensitive and specific diagnosis performed at the point of care is one of the suggestions to avoid the indiscriminate use of these medications. However, the identification of infections in animals through traditional methods is difficult and requires large equipment and qualified professionals. The CRISPR/Cas system is a defense mechanism of prokaryotic cells, which has become an efficient tool in biotechnology due to its excellent ability to cleave nucleic acids. sRNAs are expressed under specific conditions, making them good biomarkers for diagnosing diseases. Thus, the objective of this work is to develop a CRISPR/Cas-based technique to detect pathogen sRNAs in biological fluids of livestock animals, using Trypanosoma vivax as a model microorganism.