Cas12a/Guide RNA-Based Platform for Rapid and Accurate Identification of Major Mycobacterium Species

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections exhibit similar clinical symptoms; however, the therapies for these two types of infections are different. Therefore, the rapid and accurate identification of M. tuberculosis and NTM species is very important for the control of tuberculosis and NTM infections. In the present study, a Cas12a/guide RNA (gRNA)-based platform was developed to identify M. tuberculosis and most NTM species. By designing species-specific gRNA probes targeting the rpoB sequence, a Cas12a/gRNA-based platform successfully identified M. tuberculosis and six major NTM species (Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium gordonae, and Mycobacterium fortuitum) without cross-reactivity. In a blind assessment, a total of 72 out of 73 clinical Mycobacterium isolates were correctly identified, which is consistent with previous rpoB sequencing results. These results suggest that the Cas12a/gRNA-based platform is a promising tool for the rapid, accurate, and cost-effective identification of both M. tuberculosis and NTM species.