title: Novel and sensitive qPCR assays for the detection and identification of aspergillosis causing species.
abstract: Despite concerted efforts, diagnosis of aspergillosis is still a great challenge to clinical microbiology laboratories. Along with the requirement for high sensitivity and specificity, species-specific identification is important. We developed rapid, sensitive and species-specific qPCR assays using the TaqMan technology for the detection and identification of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus terreus. The assays were designed to target orthologs of the Streptomyces factor C gene that are only found in a few species of filamentous fungi. Fungi acquired this gene through horizontal gene transfer and divergence of the gene allows identification of species. The assays have potential as a molecular diagnosis tool for the early detection of fungal infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus terreus, which merits future diagnostic studies. The assays were sensitive enough to detect a few genomic equivalents in blood samples.
authors.affiliation: University of Debrecen Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine Debrecen Hungary.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paholcsek
authors.affiliation: University of Debrecen Department of Microbial Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology Debrecen Hungary.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leiter
authors.affiliation: University of Debrecen Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine Debrecen Hungary.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markovics
authors.affiliation: University of Debrecen Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine Debrecen Hungary.
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biró
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D005656:Fungal Proteins
keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; Aspergillus terreus; Streptomyces factor C gene; aspergillosis; qPCR