Development of CRISPR-based rapid diagnostic platforms for emerging zoonotic viruses in low-resource settings.

Emerging zoonotic viruses, such as Ebola, Nipah, and SARS-CoV-2, pose an escalating threat to global public health, particularly in low-resource regions where healthcare infrastructure is limited.These viruses, often transmitted from wildlife to humans, can lead to severe outbreaks with high mortality rates and rapid transmission.Early and accurate detection is critical to controlling their spread, but current diagnostic platforms typically require expensive equipment, centralized laboratories, and trained personnel, which are often unavailable in under-resourced areas.CRISPR-based diagnostic technologies have emerged as promising tools for addressing these limitations due to their programmability, specificity, and potential for point-of-care deployment.Platforms such as SHERLOCK and DETECTR leverage Cas13 and Cas12 enzymes to identify viral RNA or DNA with high sensitivity and specificity.Recent advances in lateral flow readouts, lyophilized reagents, and isothermal amplification methods further enhance their field usability.This paper explores the design, development, and deployment of CRISPR-based diagnostic platforms tailored for low-resource settings.Emphasis is placed on optimizing assay stability, reducing cost, enabling rapid detection under ambient conditions, and ensuring ease of use by non-specialist health workers.Case studies involving SARS-CoV-2 and Lassa virus demonstrate the platforms' potential for decentralized outbreak response.By integrating synthetic biology, portable microfluidics, and community-based surveillance systems, CRISPR diagnostics offer a scalable solution for real-time monitoring and containment of zoonotic threats.Their adaptation to low-resource environments is a critical step toward equitable global health security and pandemic preparedness.