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The Journal of the Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology |
Biblioraphy Information
| ArticleTitle |
Applications of Molecular Diagnostic Techniques for Infectious Diseases |
| Language |
J |
| AuthorList |
Kiyofumi Ohkusu, Takayuki Ezaki |
| Affiliation |
Department of Microbiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine |
| Publication |
J.J.C.M.: 18 (3), 163-176, 2008 |
| Received |
June 6, 2008 |
| Accepted |
|
| Abstract |
In recent years, molecular microbiology techniques have been proven to be useful supplement to conventional assays not only to characterize organisms from culture, but also to directly detect pathogens from clinical samples. PCR-based diagnostics have been effectively developed for a wide range of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. When culture results remain negative and the clinical suspicion for infection remains high, broad-range PCR and DNA sequencing can be extremely useful. This is especially true when patients have received antimicrobial therapy prior to sample collection (e.g., acute meningitis, culture-negative endocarditis) or when the likely agents are fastidious, slow-growing or uncultivable microorganisms. Furthermore, some pathogens may not be difficult to cultivate but may require special media, growth conditions, or lengthy incubation. Therefore molecular detection and identification should be considered to isolate these organisms, notably in settings where bacteria were microscopically visible in clinical samples but had not been cultured. This review is intended to explore the application of molecular diagnostic techniques for infectious diseases in certain clinical contexts. The overall goal of this article is to assess how these techniques can be integrated to enhance diagnostic capabilities for infectious diseases. Finally, we should put emphasis on the point that close collaboration between physician and clinical microbiologist is required in all cases where molecular diagnostics is contemplated because assays need to be individualized according to the clinical settings. |
| Keywords |
molecular diagnostics, conventional PCR, broad-range PCR, sequencing, 16S rRNA |
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