Advances in CRISPR-based Biosensors for Virus Disease Detection: Across Viral Families

The discovery of clustered regularly ınterspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)–CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems as potent molecular instruments has transformed biosensing for the detection of viruses. These programmable nucleases, originally derived from bacterial immune mechanisms, offer high specificity, sensitivity and adaptability, making them ideal for diagnosing a wide range of viral infections. CRISPR-based diagnostics, including DNA endonuclease-targeted CRISPR trans reporter (DETECTR) and specific high-sensitivity enzymatic reporter unlocking (SHERLOCK), have been developed for rapid, cost-effective and field-deployable detection of both DNA and RNA viruses. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR–Cas biosensing technologies, categorizing detection methods for viral families such as Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Retroviridae and others. It explores key detection platforms, including fluorescence, electrochemical and colorimetric biosensors, highlighting their integration with isothermal amplification techniques and nanomaterials to enhance detection performance. Additionally, the chapter discusses recent advancements, challenges in clinical translation and potential future directions, including regulatory considerations and the integration of CRISPR with artificial intelligence and microfluidics. These innovations position CRISPR–Cas biosensors as transformative tools for molecular diagnostics, offering unprecedented speed and precision in viral detection, with implications for outbreak management, global health security and personalized medicine.