Tools for detection of Mycoplasma amphoriforme: a primary respiratory pathogen?
Mycoplasma amphoriforme is a recently described organism isolated from the respiratory tracts of patients with immunodeficiency and evidence of chronic infection. Novel assays for the molecular detection of the organism by real-time quantitative PCRs (qPCRs) targeting the uracil DNA glycosylase gene (udg) or the 23S rRNA gene are described here. The analytical sensitivities are similar to the existing conventional M. amphoriforme 16S rRNA gene PCR, with the advantage of being species specific, rapid, and quantitative. By using these techniques, we demonstrate the presence of this organism in 17 (19.3%) primary antibody-deficient (PAD) patients, 4 (5%) adults with lower respiratory tract infection, 1 (2.6%) sputum sample from a patient attending a chest clinic, and 23 (0.21%) samples submitted for viral diagnosis of respiratory infection, but not in normal adult control subjects. These data show the presence of this microorganism in respiratory patients and suggest that M. amphoriforme may infect both immunocompetent and immunocompromised people. Further studies to characterize this organism are required, and this report provides the tools that may be used by other research groups to investigate its pathogenic potential.
Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Department of Infection, Royal Free Campus, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Clare L
CL
Ling
Katarina
K
Oravcova
Thomas F
TF
Beattie
Dean D
DD
Creer
Paul
P
Dilworth
Naomi L
NL
Fulton
Alison
A
Hardie
Michelle
M
Munro
Marcus
M
Pond
Kate
K
Templeton
David
D
Webster
Sarita
S
Workman
Timothy D
TD
McHugh
Stephen H
SH
Gillespie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D051981:Uracil-DNA Glycosidase / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; D051981:Uracil-DNA Glycosidase