title: DNA microarray for direct identification of bacterial pathogens in human stool samples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish and evaluate a quick and accurate DNA microarray method to detect intestinal pathogens directly from human diarrheal stool samples as an alternative to traditional culture methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primers and 21 oligonucleotide probes based on sequences of the bacterial 16SrRNA gene were arrayed on microarray slides. Hybridization between probes and amplicons was performed. To determine the consistency of DNA microarray and culture method, 1,500 samples of clinical diarrheal stool and 200 samples of normal stool from healthy individuals were examined in a double-blind fashion. Basic information from patients was collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data showed that the probes of the assay were successful in discriminating 14 genera or species of intestinal pathogens. The limit of detection was approximately 10(3) CFU/ml for one species of pathogen. Of the 1,500 clinical cases, 32.7% of the patient stools were positive for bacteria. Using stool culture as a control, gene-chip sensitivity was 100%, specificity 95.2%, and index of accurate diagnosis 0.952.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggested that DNA microarray with its high efficiency and accuracy could be used as an alternative to the culture method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, NanFang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhengguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Haoxuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shiyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods