Tinea capitis and onychomycosis are prevalent pediatric fungal infections for which current diagnostic methods remain slow, costly, and inaccessible, leading to frequent empiric treatment and delays in appropriate care. This project aims to develop a rapid, low-cost point-of-care molecular diagnostic assay using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) followed by CRISPR-Cas12a detection to accurately identify dermatophyte species. Conserved TOPII gene regions were targeted for primer and guide RNA design across Microsporum, Epidermophyton, and Trichophyton genera. Preliminary results demonstrate successful amplification and CRISPR-mediated detection of Trichophyton species with high specificity and no cross-reactivity.
Colorimetric LAMP detection produced visible signals within 20–25 minutes. Future work involves developing a guide RNA for the emerging, terbinafine-resistant T. indotineae and integrating Nanopore sequencing to refine primer design and confirm assay specificity. This assay has the potential to significantly improve diagnostic accessibility, reduce overtreatment, and streamline clinical decision-making in dermatology.