CrisprBits develops PathCrisp for early detection of antibiotic resistance

New Delhi: Bengaluru-based biotechnology startup CrisprBits Private Limited, has developed PathCrisp, a platform for CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics for  early detection of antibiotic resistance in hospital-acquired infections. 

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge, requiring early and accurate detection of resistance markers in hospital-acquired infections, particularly in ICU settings. A recent analysis in The Lancet found that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) contributed to nearly 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021, with over a million directly caused by resistant infections. India alone has reported over a million AMR associated deaths in 2019.

Carbapenems, a class of antibiotics, often serve as the last line of defense against multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections. However, New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase(NDM) driven carbapenem resistance is a major concern in hospitals across India, contributing significantly to the antimicrobial resistance burden. This enzyme enables bacteria to break down carbapenems and other beta-lactam antibiotics, severely limiting treatment options and posing a significant challenge in clinical settings.

CrisprBits’ latest study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, showcases PathCrisp’s ability to detect carbapenem resistance in bacterial samples from patients. In the study, the PathCrisp platform was used to test the presence or absence of NDM in DNA isolated from 49 clinical bacterial samples. The data showed 100% concordance with other techniques used as the gold standard (PCR-Sanger sequencing) for the same. The study was a collaborative research between CrisprBits, with Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher learning, Puttaparthi, and Asoka University, NCR region.

Commenting on the platform, Dr. Reety Arora, Principal Scientist at CrisprBits and corresponding author of the study, said, “With the growing need for rapid AMR detection, PathCrisp emerges as a reliable molecular diagnostic tool for clinical applications  PathCrisp offers a fast and accurate alternative to traditional methods, leveraging CRISPR-Cas technology for unparalleled precision and instrument-light adaptability making it well suited for point of care diagnostics. The test provides an end-to-end solution, delivering results within two hours. It operates at a constant temperature, eliminating the need for a thermocycler, and works directly on various samples, including bacterial cultures.”

“The rising burden of carbapenem-resistant infections is driving up healthcare costs, prolonging hospital stays, and increasing ICU admissions and mortality. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as bacterial culture and PCR-based testing, can take 24–72 hours, delaying critical treatment decisions. In this scenario, a rapid and highly accurate test like PathCrisp, developed by CrisprBits, can enable direct detection from clinical samples without expensive equipment or prolonged culture processes, ensuring early recognition and targeted therapy. It is an exciting development with the potential to change clinical practice.” says Dr. Ramakrishna Prasad, Global Medical Director, Swasti & Co-Chair, WONCA SouthAsia Region – Research, a leading medical expert in infectious disease in Bangalore.

“The simple workflow of PathCrisp makes it highly versatile, with potential applications across healthcare, one-health, and surveillance settings. As the platform continues to evolve, it is poised to become a robust point-of-care diagnostic tool” notes Vandana Hegde, Head of Business Development at CrisprBits. 

Future R&D efforts will focus on adapting PathCrisp for low-resource settings by developing lyophilized reagents for room-temperature stability. Additionally, smart engineering approaches will be explored to create a multiplexed version, expanding its diagnostic capabilities.