Diagnostic application of a polymerase chain reaction assay for the Whipple's disease bacterium to intestinal biopsies

Gastroenterology
A von HerbayM Maiwald

Abstract

The uncultured Whipple's disease bacterium (Tropheryma whippelii) was characterized in 1991-1992 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The aim of this study was to develop a PCR assay for diagnostic purposes. Modified primers for PCR and a specific probe for hybridization were designed. The specificity of this PCR assay was tested using 37 bacterial control strains and intestinal biopsy samples from 16 patients without Whipple's disease. The sensitivity was tested in 88 intestinal biopsy samples from 35 patients with Whipple's disease. PCR and hybridization were negative in all 37 bacterial controls and in all 16 patients without Whipple's disease. Before therapy, DNA of T. whippelii was detected in all 30 patients with Whipple's disease from whom formalin-fixed biopsy material was available, whereas Bouin-fixed material was negative. During and after treatment, PCR was negative in 23 of the 24 patients who were followed up. Generally, conversion to negative occurred within 1 year. Despite negative intestinal PCR, symptomatic cerebral Whipple's disease appeared in 3 patients. This PCR assay is specific and sensitive and is applicable as a diagnostic test. However, PCR from in...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 26, 2008·Digestion·Klaus MönkemüllerPeter Malfertheiner
Jun 5, 2008·Journal of Medical Case Reports·Felix GundlingJoachim Mossner
Jun 4, 2016·Transplant Infectious Disease : an Official Journal of the Transplantation Society·S M VindigniC J Damman
Feb 15, 2001·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·M Maiwald, D Relman
Jan 5, 2002·Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology·Zhongxing LiangDidier Raoult
Mar 13, 2010·Southern Medical Journal·Christos St BasagiannisSpiros D Ladas
Jun 9, 2018·Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy·Kathleen WeigtVerena Moos
Mar 21, 2002·Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics·F Fenollar, D Raoult
Jan 5, 2007·The New England Journal of Medicine·Jeremy JonesOphyr Mourad
Jul 4, 2001·Clinical Microbiology Reviews·F Dutly, M Altwegg
Oct 25, 2012·Internal and Emergency Medicine·Federico BiagiGino R Corazza
Mar 10, 2006·Current Infectious Disease Reports·Klaus MönkemüllerPeter Malfertheiner
Apr 5, 2011·European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·V Moos, T Schneider
Jan 1, 1997·Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology·D SchillingJ F Riemann
Jan 1, 1997·Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology·A von HerbayM Maiwald
Feb 17, 1998·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·M MaiwaldA von Herbay
Jan 13, 2004·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Florence FenollarDidier Raoult
Jan 28, 2003·Lancet·Thomas Marth, Didier Raoult
Aug 5, 2010·The Surgeon : Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland·G G A Hutchins, H I Grabsch

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.