Assessment of Aspergillus fumigatus in guinea pig bronchoalveolar lavages and pulmonary tissue by culture and realtime polymerase chain reaction studies.
In this study we pursued a diagnostic target in Aspergillus fumigatus (AF) by using qualitative Realtime PCR combined with proprietary DNA primers and a hydrolysis probe specific for this fungal target. Qualitative Realtime PCR is a diagnostic tool that utilizes Realtime PCR technology and detects the presence or absence target specific DNA within a predetermined detection range. Respiratory tissue and fluids from experimentally infected guinea pigs were tested by extracting DNA from the samples which were amplified and detected using AF specific DNA primers and probe. This study included qualitative evaluations of all specimens for the presence of the DNA of AF. The findings in the tissues after AF infection were compared to the numbers of spores in aerosolized samples used to inoculate the animals. Results demonstrated that the specific probe and primer set could detect the presence or absence of AF DNA in the sample. The qualitative detection limit of the assay ranged from 6 × 10(4) copies to 6 copies. Since blood cultures are rarely positive for Aspergillosis, our data indicate that qualitative Realtime PCR, in combination with the appropriate DNA primers and probe can serve as an effective diagnostic tool in the early detection of fungal infections.
RealTime Laboratories, Inc, 4100 Fairway Court, #600, Carrollton, TX 75010, USA.
Dennis G
0000-0002-7965-6672
DG
Hooper
RealTime Laboratories, Inc, 4100 Fairway Court, #600, Carrollton, TX 75010, USA.
Vincent E
VE
Bolton
S&S BioConsulting, LLC, Austin, TX 78660, USA.
John S
JS
Sutton
Your Energy Systems, 5050 El Camino Real, #110, Los Altos, CA 94022, USA.
Frederick T
FT
Guilford
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
David C
DC
Straus
Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.|South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Laura K
LK
Najvar
Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.|Division of Pharmacotherapy, University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Nathan P
NP
Wiederhold
Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.|South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
William R
WR
Kirkpatrick
Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.|South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Thomas F
TF
Patterson
D000818:Animals; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal