Advancing Point-of-Care Testing for Helicobacter pylori toward CRISPR-Cas-Enabled Diagnostics

Area of Science:

• Biomedical diagnostics
• Molecular biology
• Point-of-care testing

Background:

• Helicobacter pylori infection affects nearly half the world's population and is a primary risk factor for gastric cancer.
• Current diagnostic methods (endoscopy, PCR) are invasive, costly, and impractical for widespread screening, especially in resource-limited areas.
• Effective H. pylori eradication relies on timely and accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of H. pylori point-of-care testing (POCT).
• To focus on CRISPR-Cas based diagnostics and advancements in substrate engineering and signal transduction.
• To outline design principles for next-generation POCT aligning with WHO ASSURED criteria.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of H. pylori POCT evolution.
• Focus on CRISPR-Cas systems, substrate engineering (paper, polymers, hydrogels), and multi-modal signal transduction (optical, electrochemical).
• Analysis of design principles for next-generation POCT platforms.

Main Results:

• CRISPR-Cas systems represent a revolutionary approach to H. pylori diagnostics.
• Advancements in substrate engineering and multi-modal signal transduction enhance POCT performance.
• Key design principles for next-generation POCT are identified.

Conclusions:

• Next-generation H. pylori POCT platforms should meet WHO ASSURED criteria for global accessibility.
• Improved POCT can accelerate early detection, reduce health disparities, and enhance H. pylori infection management.
• Transformative POCT solutions are crucial for combating H. pylori-related diseases worldwide.