An H1N1 virus biosensor based on enzyme activity-gated PER-CRISPR/Cas12a cascade signal amplification

The biosensor demonstrates a detection limit of 25 fM for H1N1 influenza virus nucleic acids.

• The biosensor employs a molecular lock-key mechanism to specifically recognize H1N1 RNA, releasing enzyme activity inhibition.
• A cascade signal amplification system initiates a three-level signal from enzyme activity activation to CRISPR cleavage.
• It has a linear detection range from 1 pM to 1 μM, indicating its sensitivity.
• The platform can be adapted to detect other pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, by modifying specific nucleic acid sequences.
• This work offers a potential new tool for rapid and accurate epidemic prevention and control.

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