CRISPR as a next-generation environmental biosurveillance tool for air, land, and water.

Journal: Trends in biotechnology
Published Date: Dec 19, 2025

Abstract

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based environmental biosurveillance (CRISPR-eBx) offers a portable, specific, sensitive, and cost-effective platform for detecting organisms from environmental nucleic acids. Applications are broad, ranging from pathogen detection to monitoring invasive and endangered species across a range of environmental sources, including water, soil, and air. However, if CRISPR-eBx is to be deployed for novel biological/gene targets and environmental sources, key challenges must be addressed. This review synthesizes recent developments at the intersection of CRISPR technology, computational science, synthetic biology, and biosurveillance. We highlight promising innovations and identify knowledge gaps to present a strategic road map for establishing CRISPR-eBx as a next-generation, frontline biosurveillance solution.

Authors

  • Benjamín Durán-Vinet
    Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
  • Jo-Ann L Stanton
    Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
  • Gert-Jan Jeunen
    Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
  • Xavier Pochon
    Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand; Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
  • Anastasija Zaiko
    Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand; Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
  • Neil J Gemmell
    Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.

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