title: Ribosomal RNA gene sequencing for early diagnosis of Blastomyces dermatitidis infection.
abstract: Prompt detection and identification of fungal pathogens at the genus and species level is critical in order to provide timely antifungal therapy. Here, we highlight the vital role of molecular diagnostics in achieving a fast and definitive diagnosis of disseminated blastomycosis in a diabetic patient presenting as a brain mass initially thought to be tumoral in nature. A broad-range PCR amplification and sequencing of the fungal ribosomal RNA genes on brain biopsy tissue obtained during elective craniotomy revealed a final microbial identification of Ajellomyces dermatitidis (telemorph of Blastomyces dermatitidis).
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Sejal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morjaria
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Vaios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hatzoglou
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banaei
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Service, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Yi-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Electronic address: figueroc@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Cesar J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Figueroa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001758:Blastomyces / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
keywords: Blastomyces dermatitidis; fungal RNA sequencing; fungal diagnostics