title: Detection of the oomycete Pythium insidiosum by real-time PCR targeting the gene coding for exo-1,3-β-glucanase.
abstract: Pythiosis is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by Pythium insidiosum. Early and accurate diagnosis is the key to prompt treatment and an improved prognosis for patients with pythiosis. An alternative to microbiological and immunological approaches for facilitating diagnosis of pythiosis is the PCR-based assay. Until recently, the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region was the only target available for PCR-based detection of P. insidiosum. Failure to detect P. insidiosum by PCR amplification using the rDNA-specific primers has been reported. PinsEXO1, encoding an exo-1,3-β-glucanase, is an alternative, novel and efficient target for identification of P. insidiosum by conventional PCR. In this study, we aimed to develop a real-time (RT)-PCR approach targeting PinsEXO1 and compare its performance with conventional PCR for the detection of P. insidiosum. Both conventional and RT-PCR assays were positive for all 35 P. insidiosum strains tested, whilst all 58 control fungi were negative. The turnaround time for conventional PCR was 10 h, whilst that for RT-PCR was 7.5 h. The lowest amounts of genomic DNA template required for successful amplification by conventional and RT-PCR were 1 and 1 × 10(-4) ng, respectively. In conclusion, the RT-PCR assay retained 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detection of P. insidiosum. It showed a substantially improved analytical sensitivity and turnaround time that could improve diagnosis of pythiosis. The assay could also facilitate quantitative DNA analysis and epidemiological studies of P. insidiosum.
authors: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.|Molecular Medicine Program, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Angsana
authors: A
authors: Keeratijarut
authors: Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Tassanee
authors: T
authors: Lohnoo
authors: Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Wanta
authors: W
authors: Yingyong
authors: Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Thidarat
authors: T
authors: Rujirawat
authors: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Chutatip
authors: C
authors: Srichunrusami
authors: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Pornpit
authors: P
authors: Onpeaw
authors: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Piriyaporn
authors: P
authors: Chongtrakool
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors: T Tristan
authors: TT
authors: Brandhorst
authors: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Theerapong
authors: T
authors: Krajaejun
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011775:Pythium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase