title: Identification of Balamuthia mandrillaris by PCR assay using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene as a target.
abstract: Balamuthia mandrillaris is an opportunistic pathogen that causes granulomatous amebic meningoencephalitis in animals, including humans. Based on sequence analysis of mitochondrial small-subunit-rRNA genes, we developed primers that amplify a Balamuthia-specific PCR product. These primers will be useful for retrospective analyses of fixed tissues and possible identification of Balamuthia in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1292, USA. booton.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Gregory C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Booton
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: Govinda S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Visvesvara
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fuerst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D016840:Lobosea / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S