Pathogens In Clinical Specimens Research Articles

High-throughput screening of bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens using 16S rDNA qPCR and fragment analysis

Molecular-based detection of bacterial pathogens directly from clinical specimens permits rapid initiation of effective antimicrobial treatment and adequate patient management. Broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA qPCR) is used in many diagnostic laboratories as a complement to cultural identification of bacterial pathogens. However, efforts for automation of 16S rDNA PCR workflows are needed in order to reduce turnaround times and to enhance reproducibility and standardization of the technique. In this retrospective method evaluation study, clinical specimens (N = 499) from patients with suspected bacterial infections were used to evaluate 2 diagnostic semiautomated workflows for rapid bacterial pathogen detection. The workflows included automated DNA extraction (QIASymphony), 16S rDNA qPCR, fragment or melting curve analysis, and amplicon sequencing. Our results support the use of the 16S rDNA qPCR and fragment analysis workflow as it enabled rapid and accurate identification of bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens.

Molecular characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from Sudanese patients: A cross-sectional study

Background:16S rRNA gene sequence analysis is a robust tool for characterization of new pathogens in clinical specimens with suspected bacterial disease. The aim of this study was to characterizePseudomonas aeruginosaisolated from clinical specimens by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene.Methods:Forty bacterial isolates were obtained from different clinical specimens (wound, urine and sputum) using enrichment selective media and biochemical tests to characterize and identify the bacteria asP. aeruginosa.DNA was extracted fromP. aeruginosausing the Chelex method. A universal primer was used to amplify 16S rRNA genes by a conventional PCR technique. The amplified PCR products were sequenced, and the sequences were viewed by Finch TV program version 1.4.0. The identity and similarity of the nucleotide sequence of the isolated strains was detected by comparing them with published sequences using BLASTn. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using Phylogeny.fr software.Results:Sequence analysis by BLASTn displayed high similarity and identity withP. aeruginosafrom China KX461910, Australia JN609194 and with otherP. aeruginosaisolates from the GenBank database.Conclusions:Our observation of isolates from different origin sites, further show the utility of 16s rRNA PCR amplification. This reveals the high specify of the primers and accuracy of the PCR. Thus, 16S rRNA sequencing can be used to identify genetically atypicalP. aeruginosaisolates from different origins.

Molecular detection of fungal pathogens in clinical specimens by 18S rDNA high-throughput screening in comparison to ITS PCR and culture

The rising incidence of invasive fungal infections and the expanding spectrum of fungal pathogens makes early and accurate identification of the causative pathogen a daunting task. Diagnostics using molecular markers enable rapid identification of fungi, offer new insights into infectious disease dynamics, and open new possibilities for infectious disease control and prevention. We performed a retrospective study using clinical specimens (N = 233) from patients with suspected fungal infection previously subjected to culture and/or internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR. We used these specimens to evaluate a high-throughput screening method for fungal detection using automated DNA extraction (QIASymphony), fungal ribosomal small subunit (18S) rDNA RT-PCR and amplicon sequencing. Fungal sequences were compared with sequences from the curated, commercially available SmartGene IDNS database for pathogen identification. Concordance between 18S rDNA RT-PCR and culture results was 91%, and congruence between 18S rDNA RT-PCR and ITS PCR results was 94%. In addition, 18S rDNA RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing detected fungal pathogens in culture negative (N = 13) and ITS PCR negative specimens (N = 12) from patients with a clinically confirmed fungal infection. Our results support the use of the 18S rDNA RT-PCR diagnostic workflow for rapid and accurate identification of fungal pathogens in clinical specimens.

Current Bioinformatics resources in combating infectious diseases.

Bioinformatics tools and techniques analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data are increasingly used for the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases. It is of interest to review the application of bioinformatics tools, commonly used databases and NGS data in clinical microbiology, focusing on molecular identification, genotypic, microbiome research, antimicrobial resistance analysis and detection of unknown disease-associated pathogens in clinical specimens. This review documents available bioinformatics resources and databases that are used by medical microbiology scientists and physicians to control emerging infectious pathogens.

Culture-independent analysis of liver abscess using nanopore sequencing.

The identification of microbial species has depended predominantly upon culture-based techniques. However, the difficulty with which types of organisms are cultured implies that the grown species may be overrepresented by both cultivation and plate counts. In recent years, culture-independent analysis using high-throughput sequencing has been advocated for use as a point-of-care diagnostic tool. Although it offers a rapid and unbiased survey to characterize the pathogens in clinical specimens, its accuracy is reduced by the high level of contamination of human DNA. In this paper, we propose using a culture-independent analysis for a Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strain within a liver abscess using nanopore sequencing. Owing to the highly-contaminated cell population within a liver abscess, we managed to reduce the confounding effects of human DNA through the use of DNase and differential centrifugation. Genomic DNA was sequenced through the use of Nanopore MinION sequencer and analyzed using a suite of bioinformatics approaches. K. pneumoniae was successfully identified along with antibiotic-resistant genes. Our results indicate that, by integrating real-time nanopore sequencing and bioinformatics software, real-time pathogen identification in a liver abscess can be achieved.

Direct Detection and Identification of Prosthetic Joint Pathogens in Synovial Fluid (SF) by Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing

BackgroundDetection and identification of microorganism(s) involved in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can inform surgical management and directed antibiotic therapy. Metagenomic shotgun sequencing is a powerful tool with the potential to change how many PJIs are diagnosed as it allows direct detection and identification of pathogens in clinical specimens. In the largest series to date, we utilized a metagenomics-based approach applied to SF to define potential microbial etiologies of failed total knee arthroplasties (TKAs).MethodsSynovial fluid was collected from 112 failed TKAs [74 PJI and 38 aseptic implant failure (AF)] via preoperative arthrocentesis. Cell count and differential, standardized culture and DNA-based metagenomic shotgun sequencing were performed. Human DNA was depleted using the MolYsis basic kit prior to DNA extraction, whole genome amplification, and sequencing. Taxonomic assignment of reads and pathogen identification was achieved using a pipeline incorporating k-mer- and marker gene-based classification software. A scheme for analysis and filtration of false-positives was created and applied, incorporating cut-offs for the number of reads, quality scores, and coverage across a reference genome. Patients were classified as having PJI using the IDSA criteria and expert review. Analyses were recorded as percent agreement, with 95% confidence intervals (CI), of metagenomics to SF culture.ResultsMetagenomic analysis identified the known pathogen in 54 (90%) (CI, 79.5%–96.2%) of the 60 culture-positive PJIs analyzed and one (2%) (CI, 0.0%–8.9%) potential polymicrobial infection not detected by culture. For the 14 culture-negative PJIs tested, metagenomics showed 79% (CI, 49.2%–95.3%) agreement for negative findings; potential pathogens were identified in three (21%) (CI, 4.7%–50.8%) culture-negative PJI cases, with one being polymicrobial. Of the 37 culture-negative AF cases, metagenomics showed 97% (CI, 85.8%–99.9%) agreement with negative culture and identified one (3%) (CI, 0.0%–14.2%) potential pathogen. For the one culture-positive AF case, metagenomic results were negative, suggesting possible culture contamination.ConclusionMetagenomic shotgun sequencing performed on SF can be used to diagnose PJI and may be particularly useful for culture-negative PJI.Disclosures R. Patel, ASM: Board Member, None; CD Diagnostics, BioFire, Curetis, Merck, Hutchison Biofilm Medical Solutions, Accelerate Diagnostics, Allergan, and The Medicines Company: Grant Investigator, Grant recipient; Curetis: Consultant, Monies paid to my employer; A patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication with royalties paid by Samsung to Mayo Clinic, and a patent on an anti-biofilm substance issued: Patents, Patents, any money is paid to my employer; Actelion: DSMB, Money paid to my employer; ASM and IDSA: Editor’s stipends, Editor’s stipends; NBME, Up-to-Date and the Infectious Diseases Board Review Course: NBME, Up-to-Date and the Infectious Diseases Board Review Course, Honoraria; Roche, ASM, and IDSA: Travel reimbursement, Travel reimbursement

Laboratory Diagnosis of Enteric Fever: A Review Update

The diagnosis of typhoid fever on clinical presentations alone is difficult, as the presenting symptoms are diverse and similar to those observed with other febrile illnesses, especially during the first weeks of the infection. Therefore, laboratory-based investigations are essential for supporting the diagnosis of the disease. The “gold standard” for diagnosis of typhoid fever is the isolation of Salmonella typhi from appropriate samples including blood, bone marrow aspirates, stool, urine and rose spots. This facility is not available in many areas where the disease is endemic. Serodiagnosis depends upon the 100-year-old Widal test, and other serological diagnostic tools have limitations because of their low sensitivity and/or specificity. The development of molecular methods for diagnosis of infectious diseases, including typhoid fever has improved the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis. One of the molecular methods, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most sensitive and rapid method to detect microbial pathogens in clinical specimens. Antigen detection has not been investigated for well over three decades and detecting an immune response specific for typhoid fever has been done only with antibody detection. There is an urgent need for the rational design and evaluation of effective and appropriate diagnostics for typhoid fever which must include the emerging threat of S. typhi. However, monitoring of antibiotic susceptibility patterns will ensure that signs of developing resistance are detected early and that the appropriate action is taken. Therefore, this present review has been designed to describe the different diagnostic procedure of typhoid fever. Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases 2016;3(2):43-51

An Improved Barcoded Oligonucleotide Primers-based Next-generation Sequencing Approach for Direct Identification of Viral Pathogens in Clinical Specimens

ObjectiveTo provide a feasible and cost-effective next-generation sequencing (NGS) method for accurate identification of viral pathogens in clinical specimens, because enormous limitations impede the clinical use of common NGS, such as high cost, complicated procedures, tremendous data analysis, and high background noise in clinical samples. MethodsViruses from cell culture materials or clinical specimens were identified following an improved NGS procedure: reduction of background noise by sample preprocessing, viral enrichment by barcoded oligonucleotide (random hexamer or non-ribosomal hexanucleotide) primer-based amplification, fragmentation-free library construction and sequencing of one-tube mixtures, as well as rapid data analysis using an in-house pipeline. ResultsNGS data demonstrated that both barcoded primer sets were useful to simultaneously capture multiple viral pathogens in cell culture materials or clinical specimens and verified that hexanucleotide primers captured as many viral sequences as hexamers did. Moreover, direct testing of clinical specimens using this improved hexanucleotide primer-based NGS approach provided further detailed genotypes of enteroviruses causing hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and identified other potential viruses or differentiated misdiagnosis events. ConclusionThe improved barcoded oligonucleotide primer-based NGS approach is simplified, time saving, cost effective, and appropriate for direct identification of viral pathogens in clinical practice.

Public health impacts of culture independent diagnostic testing in Australia

Culture independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) for detection of pathogens in clinical specimens have become widely adopted in Australian pathology laboratories. Pathology laboratories are the primary source of notification of pathogens to state and territory surveillance systems. Monitoring and analysis of surveillance data is integral to guiding public health actions to reduce the incidence of disease and respond to outbreaks. As with any change in testing protocol, the advantages and disadvantages of the change from culture based testing to culture independent testing need to be weighed up and the impact on surveillance and outbreak detection assessed. This article discusses the effect of this change in testing on surveillance and public health management of pathogens in Australia, with specific focus on gastrointestinal pathogens.

Application of next generation sequencing for the detection of human viral pathogens in clinical specimens

BackgroundNext generation sequencing (NGS) is a new technology that can be used for broad detection of infectious pathogens and is rapidly becoming an essential platform in clinical laboratories. It is not known how NGS will displace or enhance gold standard methodologies in infectious disease diagnosis. ObjectivesTo investigate the feasibility and application of NGS technology in public health laboratories and compare NGS technology with conventional methods. Study designIllumina MiSeq system was used to detect viral pathogens alongside other conventional virology methods using typical clinical specimen matrices. Sixteen clinical specimens and two CDC proficiency panels containing seventeen specimens were analyzed. ResultsKnown pathogenic viral nucleic acid was positively identified in all clinical specimens, correlating and building upon results obtained by more conventional laboratory methods. Sequencing depths ranged from 0.008X to 319 and genome coverage ranged from 0.6% to 99.9%. To substantiate the described methods used to analyze data derived from clinical specimens, the results of a clinical proficiency panel are also presented. DiscussionOur results reveal true scarcity of known pathogenic viral nucleic acids in clinical specimens. NGS outperforms more conventional detection methods in this study by turnaround time as well as the improved depth of knowledge in regards to serotyping and drug resistance.

A novel comprehensive set of fungal Real time PCR assays (fuPCR) for the detection of fungi in immunocompromised haematological patients—A pilot study

Fungal infections are recognized in an increasing number of patients with immunological deficits and are associated with high rates of mortality (Brown et al., 2012a). In this pilot-study, a rapid Real time PCR (fuPCR) was designed for the detection and differentiation of fungal pathogens in clinical specimens of haematological patients. The fuPCR, targeting the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) of rDNA region, is comprised of seven multiplex reactions, which were shown to be specific and sensitive for a comprehensive spectrum of clinically relevant fungal species. This was validated by testing respective fungal DNAs in each fuPCR reaction and 28 respiratory samples of fungal pneumonia-proven patients. Clinical sample sets of throat swab, EDTA-blood and blood sera from 50 patients with severe haematological malignancies, including haematopoietic stem cell transfer (HSCT), and samples from 30 healthy individuals were then analysed. In a first step, 198 samples of immunosuppressed patients were solely examined by fuPCR; and 50.8% (33/65) respiratory swabs, 4.8% (3/63) EDTA blood samples and 1.4% (1/70) blood serum samples were tested positive. In a second step, 56 respiratory samples of immunosuppressed patients and 30 of healthy individuals were simultaneously analysed by fuPCR and standard cultivation techniques. By both methods 30.4% (17/56) swabs of the immunocompromised patients were tested positive, 37.5% (21/56) were tested negative and 32.1% (18/56) were tested fuPCR positive and culture negative. In analysing the blood samples of the immunocompromised patients 5.4% (3/56) EDTA blood samples and 16.1% (9/56) sera samples were tested fuPCR-positive, whereas all samples of 30 healthy individuals with no signs of immunological deficits were tested negative by fuPCR.38.9% (14/36) of the fungi detected in respiratory samples of the immunosuppressed patients, belonged to Candida spp., 47.2% (17/36) to Saccharomyces spp., 5.6% (2/36) to Cladosporium spp. and 8.3% (3/36) to Alternaria spp., whereas cultivation only identified Candida spp. (10/17) and Saccharomyces spp. (7/17).In this pilot study a novel fuPCR assay was developed and validated for the simultaneous and comprehensive detection of fungal pathogens in clinical respiratory specimens of haematological patients. Future work will focus on the validation of the blood-stream detected fungi in pathogenicity of these patients.

Development of a bead-based suspension array for the detection of pathogens in acute respiratory tract infections.

We developed a high-throughput bead-based suspension array for simultaneous detection of 20 respiratory tract pathogens in clinical specimens. Pathogen-specific genes were amplified and hybridized to probes coupled to carboxyl-encoded microspheres. Fluorescence intensities generated via the binding of phycoerythrin-conjugated streptavidin with biotin-labeled targets were measured by the Luminex 100 bead-based suspension array system. The bead-based suspension array detected bacteria in a significantly higher number of samples compared to the conventional culture. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of atypical pathogensatypical pathogens or viruses between the bead-based suspension array and real-time PCR. This technology can play a significant role in screening patients with pneumonia.

Serum bactericidal assay for the evaluation of typhoid vaccine using a semi-automated colony-counting method

Typhoid fever, mainly caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), is a life-threatening disease, mostly in developing countries. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is widely used to quantify antibodies against S. Typhi in serum but does not provide information about functional antibody titers. Although the serum bactericidal assay (SBA) using an agar plate is often used to measure functional antibody titers against various bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens, it has rarely been used for typhoid vaccines because it is time-consuming and labor-intensive. In the present study, we established an improved SBA against S. Typhi using a semi-automated colony-counting system with a square agar plate harboring 24 samples. The semi-automated SBA efficiently measured bactericidal titers of sera from individuals immunized with S. Typhi Vi polysaccharide vaccines. The assay specifically responded to S. Typhi Ty2 but not to other irrelevant enteric bacteria including Vibrio cholerae and Shigella flexneri. Baby rabbit complement was more appropriate source for the SBA against S. Typhi than complements from adult rabbit, guinea pig, and human. We also examined the correlation between SBA and ELISA for measuring antibody responses against S. Typhi using pre- and post-vaccination sera from 18 human volunteers. The SBA titer showed a good correlation with anti-Vi IgG quantity in the serum as determined by Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.737 (P < 0.001). Taken together, the semi-automated SBA might be efficient, accurate, sensitive, and specific enough to measure functional antibody titers against S. Typhi in sera from human subjects immunized with typhoid vaccines.

PCR-based detection of pathogens in clinical rheumatology

In the differential diagnostics of autoimmune-mediated rheumatic diseases, rheumatologists often have to consider infections (e. g. Lyme arthritis) or reactive diseases (e. g. reactive arthritis after urogenital bacterial infections). Furthermore, infections with an atypical presentation or caused by atypical pathogens (opportunistic infections) can complicate the immunosuppressive therapy of autoimmune diseases. For this purpose not only conventional microbiological culture methods but also PCR-based methods are increasingly being applied for the direct detection of pathogens in clinical specimens. The aim of this overview is to present commonly used PCR methods in the clinical practice of rheumatology and to describe their benefits and limitations compared to culture-based detection methods.

Next-Generation Sequencing for Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Management: A Report of the Association for Molecular Pathology

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies are increasingly being used for diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases. Herein, we review the application of NGS in clinical microbiology, focusing on genotypic resistance testing, direct detection of unknown disease-associated pathogens in clinical specimens, investigation of microbial population diversity in the human host, and strain typing. We have organized the review into three main sections: i) applications in clinical virology, ii) applications in clinical bacteriology, mycobacteriology, and mycology, and iii) validation, quality control, and maintenance of proficiency. Although NGS holds enormous promise for clinical infectious disease testing, many challenges remain, including automation, standardizing technical protocols and bioinformatics pipelines, improving reference databases, establishing proficiency testing and quality control measures, and reducing cost and turnaround time, all of which would be necessary for widespread adoption of NGS in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Trend Recognition for Unusual Pathogens in Clinical Specimens

BackgroundRaoultella is primarily an environmental bacterium and is rarely identified as a soft tissue pathogen in humans. Further investigation is warranted when an increase is identified in multiple tissue specimens in a short time period of time. An increase in the number of tissue specimens identified with Raoultella species was observed during the months of July and August 2014.MethodsA look-back of Raoultella isolated from all clinical specimens from January through August 2014 was completed. Patient demographic information was organized on a detailed line list including collection date, location, collection time, specimen source, physician and date of result. Operating room procedures for collecting tissue specimens were directly observed. The microbiology department performed direct observations for processing tissue specimens from receipt to isolate identification. A case control study was developed to compare patients with negative tissue results.ResultsConclusionsThe investigation identified a pseudo-outbreak of Raoultella from a contaminated bottle of saline used in the laboratory to moisten tissue samples prior to plate inoculation. Trend recognition is vital to identify pseudo-outbreaks that can result in the unnecessary administration of antibiotics. BackgroundRaoultella is primarily an environmental bacterium and is rarely identified as a soft tissue pathogen in humans. Further investigation is warranted when an increase is identified in multiple tissue specimens in a short time period of time. An increase in the number of tissue specimens identified with Raoultella species was observed during the months of July and August 2014. Raoultella is primarily an environmental bacterium and is rarely identified as a soft tissue pathogen in humans. Further investigation is warranted when an increase is identified in multiple tissue specimens in a short time period of time. An increase in the number of tissue specimens identified with Raoultella species was observed during the months of July and August 2014. MethodsA look-back of Raoultella isolated from all clinical specimens from January through August 2014 was completed. Patient demographic information was organized on a detailed line list including collection date, location, collection time, specimen source, physician and date of result. Operating room procedures for collecting tissue specimens were directly observed. The microbiology department performed direct observations for processing tissue specimens from receipt to isolate identification. A case control study was developed to compare patients with negative tissue results. A look-back of Raoultella isolated from all clinical specimens from January through August 2014 was completed. Patient demographic information was organized on a detailed line list including collection date, location, collection time, specimen source, physician and date of result. Operating room procedures for collecting tissue specimens were directly observed. The microbiology department performed direct observations for processing tissue specimens from receipt to isolate identification. A case control study was developed to compare patients with negative tissue results. Results ConclusionsThe investigation identified a pseudo-outbreak of Raoultella from a contaminated bottle of saline used in the laboratory to moisten tissue samples prior to plate inoculation. Trend recognition is vital to identify pseudo-outbreaks that can result in the unnecessary administration of antibiotics. The investigation identified a pseudo-outbreak of Raoultella from a contaminated bottle of saline used in the laboratory to moisten tissue samples prior to plate inoculation. Trend recognition is vital to identify pseudo-outbreaks that can result in the unnecessary administration of antibiotics.

Illuminating meningococcal diagnosis with LAMP

Traditional PCR-based assays have enabled reasonably rapid detection of pathogens in clinical specimens with better sensitivity than culture-based microbiology.1 Unfortunately, actual use of PCR is limited by the requirements for laboratory personnel expertise, sophisticated laboratory equipment, and the high cost of commercial PCR reagents, which make the use of this technique rare outside urban medical centres in high-income countries.2 Therefore, many PCR-based tests are only available at reference laboratories.

Efficacy and safety of garenoxacin tablets on bacterial pneumonia: postmarketing surveillance in Japan.

We performed a postmarketing surveillance study to determine the efficacy and safety of the oral quinolone antibacterial agent, garenoxacin (Geninax(®) Tablets 200 mg), against bacterial pneumonia. Between October 2009 and March 2011, patients with community-acquired pneumonia visited 174 facilities in Japan; we collected survey forms from 739 patients of these patients who were suspected with bacterial pneumonia on the basis of factors, e.g., the presence of purulent sputum or suspected presence of bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens. We examined the safety in 730 patients and the efficacy in 535 patients. The efficacy rate of garenoxacin for bacterial pneumonia was 92.8% (479/516 patients). The eradication rates for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, the major pathogens of bacterial pneumonia, were 98.5% (65/66 strains) and 100% (65/65 strains), respectively. The incidence of adverse drug reactions (including abnormal laboratory tests) was 7.9% (58/730 patients). Among the main adverse drug reactions, abnormal laboratory tests were observed in 2.1% patients (15/730), hepatobiliary disorders were observed in 1.8% patients (13/730), and skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders were observed in 1.6% patients (12/730). In conclusion, garenoxacin showed an efficacy rate of greater than 90% for bacterial pneumonia and is considered to be useful in daily practice.

임상미생물 검출을 위한 광대한 범위와 특이도를 가지는 16S rRNA PCR법 개발

16S rRNA gene PCR법은 환자 검체로부터 병원성 미생물을 검출 및 동정에 사용되어진다. 본 연구는 대량의 임상미생물 진단을 위해 bacterial 16S rRNA 부위 유전자 서열을 이용하여 광대한 범위와 높은 특이도를 가지는 primer을 포함한 PCR법을 개발하였다. 10개 표준 균주 16S rRNA 보존 부위의 유전자 서열을 기반으로 primer set를 구축하였다. 98명 환자 검체에서 임상 미생물을 분리하였다. 98개 균주는 phenotypic 방법을 이용하여 확인하고, 개발된 primer set와 universal primer set를 이용한 PCR법으로 확인하였다. 획득한 PCR 산물은 forward primer, reverse primer, 그리고 자동화 DNA 분석기를 이용하여 각 균주의 16S rRNA 유전자 서열을 분석 및 확인하였다. 본 연구에서 개발된 primer set와 universal primer set의 임상미생물 검출에 대한 효율성을 평가하였고, 또한 phenotypic 방법과 분자생물학적 방법을 비교했다. 분리된 98개 균주를 대상으로 개발된 primer set로 16S rRNA PCR을 진행하여 778 bp 크기의 단일밴드로 증폭 되었음을 확인했다. 총 98개중 94개 균주(95.9%)는 phenotypic 결과와 동일함을 확인했다. 새로 개발된 primer set를 이용한 결과는 universal primer set를 이용한 98개 균주(100%)의 결과와 동일함을 확인하였다. 개발된 16S rRNA gene PCR법은 임상미생물 검출 및 동정에서 신속성, 정확성, 그리고 검사 비용 절감의 장점을 가진다. 개발된 primer set는 병원성 미생물 동정에서 효율성을 확인했다. Broad-range and specific 16S rRNA gene PCR is used for detection and identification of bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens from patients with a high suspicion for infection. We describe the development of a broad-range and specific PCR primer, based on bacterial 16S rRNA, for use in routine diagnostic clinical microbiology services. The primers were designed by using conservative regions of 16S rRNA sequences from 10 strains. Ninety-eight clinical strains were isolated from clinical patient specimens. A total of 98 strains of bacteria were identified by phenotypic methods; PCR with newly designed primers and universal primers. All purified PCR products were sequenced using both forward and reverse primers on an automated DNA analyzer. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of the newly designed primers and the universal primers for the detection of bacteria, and both these techniques were compared with phenotypic methods for bacteria detection. When we also tested 98 strains of clinical isolates with newly designed primers, about 778 bp DNA fragments were amplified and identified from all strains. Of the 98 strains, 94 strains (95.9%) correspond in comparison with phenotypic methods. The newly designed primers showed that the identities of 98 (100%) strains were the same as those obtained by universal PCR primers. The overall agreement between the newly designed primers and universal primers was 100%. The primer set was designed for rapid, accurate, and cheap identification of bacterial pathogens. We think the newly designed primer set is useful for the identification of pathogenic bacteria.

Mathematical modeling of functionalized-microsphere based assays for rapid DNA detection: From sample preparation to results

Functionalized microspheres are frequently used in the detection of biomolecules. A fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved in enzymatic assays is required to estimate a method's utility. The mathematical methodology is illustrated through a theoretical analysis to assess the performance of a diagnostic method based on the horseradish peroxidase catalyzed reaction to detect pathogens in clinical specimens. The first part of the analysis focuses on the collection of target DNA molecules onto a functionalized fiber in a lysis micro-reactor (LMR). Expressions are derived for hybridization rates that include convective transport. In the next step the fiber is contacted with functionalized chitosan microspheres containing horse radish peroxidase. Chitosan microspheres are conjugated to the fiber with the target DNA acting as a unique tether. The final step is the release of chitosan microspheres in a chromogenic substrate and monitoring absorption changes. The analysis provides estimates of the method sensitivity and processing time and we show that DNA with a concentration as low as 10−4 copies per milliliter can be detected in less than 30min. The modeling methodology presented can readily be extended to similar enzymatic, microsphere-based assays for quantitative purposes and feasibility studies.