**Strand Displacement Amplification for Multiplex Detection of Nucleic Acids**

Lingwen Zeng, Omar Mukama, Xuewen Lu, Shilin Cao and Donghai Lin

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80687

### **Abstract**

The identification of various targets such as bacteria, viruses, and other cells remains a- prerequisite for point-of-care diagnostics and biotechnological applications. Nucleic acids,- as encoding information for all forms of life, are excellent biomarkers for detecting pathogens, hereditary diseases, and cancers. To date, many techniques have been developed- to detect nucleic acids. However, most of them are based on polymerase chain reaction- (PCR) technology. These methods are sensitive and robust, but they require expensive- instruments and trained personnel. DNA strand displacement amplification is carried- out under isothermal conditions and therefore does not need expensive instruments. It- is simple, fast, sensitive, specific, and inexpensive. In this chapter, we introduce the principles, methods, and updated applications of DNA strand displacement technology in the- detection of infectious diseases. We also discuss how robust, sensitive, and specific nucleic- acid detection could be obtained when combined with the novel CRISPR/Cas system.-

**Keywords:** nucleic acids, isothermal amplification, strand displacement, CRISPR/Cas, multiplex detection-
