New PCR Variants Evaluated for Global Diagnostics of Leishmaniasis
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 04 Nov 2014 |
|
![Image: Leishmania detection sensitivity – Percentage of positivity in the different hsp70-PCRs (G, F, N, C), evaluated in the total of 98 clinical pre-confirmed cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis case samples (All) and in different subsets (Bone marrow, Blood/BC[buffy coat], Lymph node, Skin biopsy) (Phot courtesy of Montalvo et al., September 2014, and the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease).](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_labmedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2014-11-04/MMS-122.jpg "Image: Leishmania detection sensitivity – Percentage of positivity in the different hsp70-PCRs (G, F, N, C), evaluated in the total of 98 clinical pre-confirmed cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis case samples (All) and in different subsets (Bone marrow, Blood/BC[buffy coat], Lymph node, Skin biopsy) (Phot courtesy of Montalvo et al., September 2014, and the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease).")
Image: Leishmania detection sensitivity – Percentage of positivity in the different hsp70-PCRs (G, F, N, C), evaluated in the total of 98 clinical pre-confirmed cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis case samples (All) and in different subsets (Bone marrow, Blood/BC[buffy coat], Lymph node, Skin biopsy) (Phot courtesy of Montalvo et al., September 2014, and the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease).
A study of three new PCR variants based on the leishmanial hsp70 gene, evaluated directly on clinical samples, has demonstrated the new tools to be globally applicable for Leishmania species-level typing in various geographical, clinical, and sampling contexts.
In the diagnosis of leishmaniasis, identification of the causative Leishmania species is also important for treatment and prognosis, as well as for epidemiology (including documentation of sympatric and imported species), identification of new non-human reservoir hosts, and for establishing the link in cases of treatment failure. Three new PCR variants based on the hsp70 (heat-shock protein 70) gene had recently been developed and validated directly (without the need for culturing) on New World clinical samples from Peru.
Now, an international team, led by Prof. Gert Van der Auwera of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) at Antwerp (Belgium), has evaluated the performance of these PCRs on a set of 133 pre-confirmed positive or negative clinical samples (42 cutaneous and 56 visceral leishmaniasis patients, and 35 negative cases) – all from Old World countries: Italy, Sudan, Israel, and Tunisia. Samples were retrospective (had been previously collected) and included bone marrow, blood, buffy coat, lymph node aspirates, and lesion biopsies.
Results showed that the three new PCRs were more sensitive than those previously described for hsp70, and their respective restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses were more efficient for species identification. Also, in 79% of the confirmed positive samples, the species could be identified directly from original sample DNA.
The study described by Montalvo AM et al. in the September 2014, issue of the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease suggests that these PCRs have potential for becoming a global reference method for identification of Leishmania species in clinical specimens.
Related Links:
Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) at Antwerp
.jpg)
In the diagnosis of leishmaniasis, identification of the causative Leishmania species is also important for treatment and prognosis, as well as for epidemiology (including documentation of sympatric and imported species), identification of new non-human reservoir hosts, and for establishing the link in cases of treatment failure. Three new PCR variants based on the hsp70 (heat-shock protein 70) gene had recently been developed and validated directly (without the need for culturing) on New World clinical samples from Peru.
Now, an international team, led by Prof. Gert Van der Auwera of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) at Antwerp (Belgium), has evaluated the performance of these PCRs on a set of 133 pre-confirmed positive or negative clinical samples (42 cutaneous and 56 visceral leishmaniasis patients, and 35 negative cases) – all from Old World countries: Italy, Sudan, Israel, and Tunisia. Samples were retrospective (had been previously collected) and included bone marrow, blood, buffy coat, lymph node aspirates, and lesion biopsies.
Results showed that the three new PCRs were more sensitive than those previously described for hsp70, and their respective restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses were more efficient for species identification. Also, in 79% of the confirmed positive samples, the species could be identified directly from original sample DNA.
The study described by Montalvo AM et al. in the September 2014, issue of the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease suggests that these PCRs have potential for becoming a global reference method for identification of Leishmania species in clinical specimens.
Related Links:
Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) at Antwerp
Platinum Member
Automated Coagulation Analyzer
Hemolumi H6
Gold Member
Clinical Chemistry Assay
Sorbitol Dehydrogenase (SDH)
Automated Urinalysis Solution
UN-9000
New
Gastrointestinal Panel
Xpert® GI Panel
Latest Microbiology News
- Collaboration Targets Blood-Based Ebola Detection Outside Central Laboratories
- Study Finds Frequent Overlap in Antibodies to Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Pathogens
- Early-Life Gut Microbiome Changes May Help Assess Type 1 Diabetes Risk
- FDA Breakthrough-Designated Urine Panel Aims to Shorten Pathogen and Susceptibility Testing
- Expanded Newborn Screening Program Increases Detection of Congenital Cytomegalovirus
- Genetic Studies Uncover Mechanisms Driving Drug Resistance in Superbugs
- Magnetic Nanoparticles Enable More Sensitive Beta-Lactam Allergy Testing
- Diagnostic Stewardship Guide Targets Testing Overuse and Hospital Cost Pressures
- Infant Skin Microbiome Show Links to Later Eczema and Food Allergies
- Research Strengthens Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak Readiness with Faster Diagnostics
- Gut Microbiome Classifier Improves Colorectal Cancer Risk Stratification
- New Diagnostic Workflow Identifies Bloodstream Pathogens and Antibiotic Response in Hours
- Genetic Marker Identifies Emerging Resistance to Frontline Malaria Drugs
- Surveillance and Susceptibility Testing Track Rising Candida Auris in U.S.
- Plasma Cell-Free DNA Test Enables Earlier Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections
- FDA Clears One-Hour Panel for Bloodstream Infection and AMR Detection
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
First-of-Its-Kind Rapid Blood Test Gains CE Mark to Support Prehospital Stroke Triage
Rapid stroke identification before hospital arrival is critical because treatment efficacy declines with every minute of delay. However, definitive assessment typically requires hospital-based imaging,... Read more
Multi-Cancer Blood Test Expands Detection to Cancers Lacking Routine Screening Options
Many lethal cancers lack routine screening and are often diagnosed only after symptoms emerge, limiting curative options. Standard programs in the United States cover a small subset of malignancies, leaving... Read more
Blood Test Could Guide Drug Selection to Prevent Repeat Heart Attacks and Strokes
Secondary prevention after myocardial infarction or stroke relies on antiplatelet therapy, yet responses vary widely and both recurrent thrombosis and bleeding remain persistent risks. In the United Kingdom,... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Mpox Analysis Reveals Substantial Suspected False Positives Associated with Contamination
Reliable confirmation of mpox can be difficult where multiple rash-causing illnesses co-circulate and laboratory capacity is limited. Although PCR is central to case detection, contamination during specimen... Read more
Liquid Biopsy Shows Promise for Detecting and Monitoring Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is one of the most serious cancers affecting people with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), yet timely recognition remains difficult. Clinicians often struggle... Read more
Blood-Based MRD Test Predicts Recurrence Risk After Lung Cancer Surgery
Assessing recurrence risk after surgery for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer remains challenging, complicating adjuvant therapy and surveillance decisions. Blood-based molecular residual disease... Read more
Multiomic Blood Test Supports Noninvasive Monitoring and Subtyping in Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains difficult to detect early and monitor during treatment, particularly in patients with homologous recombination defects. Clinicians also have limited noninvasive... Read moreHematology
view channel
New Donor Genetic Marker May Help Predict Stem Cell Transplant Success
Donor selection for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation plays a major role in relapse risk and survival for patients with blood cancers and other blood disorders. Despite advances in genotyping, uncertainty... Read more
Updated Ferritin Thresholds Improve Detection of Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is one of the most common health conditions worldwide, yet its nonspecific symptoms can delay diagnosis for months. Variation in testing practices and ferritin thresholds may contribute... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Werfen Expands Automated APS Testing with FDA-Cleared and CE-Marked IgA Reagent
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder associated with thrombosis and pregnancy complications, but its symptoms can overlap with those of other conditions, complicating diagnosis.... Read more
Blood Biomarker May Predict Colitis Risk in Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitors can trigger immune-related colitis that leads to severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and treatment interruptions. Clinicians currently lack validated tools to identify which patients... Read more
Blood EBV Activity Biomarkers May Predict Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Months Ahead
Predicting relapse in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains difficult, limiting opportunities for timely intervention and monitoring. Although many people harbor latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), growing evidence... Read more
Pathology
view channel
Tumor Blood Vessel Features May Help Predict Colorectal Cancer Survival
Colorectal cancer outcomes vary widely, and tumor biology remains a key determinant of prognosis. Because neoplasms depend on a vascular supply, differences in intratumoral vessels may influence survival.... Read more
Multimodal AI Improves Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk Prediction Beyond Standard Genomic Testing
Predicting which patients with early-stage breast cancer will develop distant recurrence remains difficult, complicating decisions about long-term therapy and surveillance. Widely used genomic assays are... Read more
Machine Learning Cytology Tool Improves Cancer Cell Identification
Cytological screening remains central to early cancer detection, but its accuracy depends heavily on expert interpretation of stained cells. Under conventional microscopy, malignant and reactive cells... Read more
Tumor Budding Grading May Predict Chemotherapy Benefit in Resected Lung Squamous Cancer
Outcomes after resection for lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) vary substantially, and the uneven benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy complicates postsurgical treatment decisions. Pathologic markers that... Read moreTechnology
view channel
ADLM Calls for CLIA Updates to Support Safe AI Use in Laboratory Medicine
Clinical laboratories increasingly use artificial intelligence to verify, interpret, and report results, but safeguards under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) were designed in 1992.... Read more
Multimodal AI Framework Aims to Guide Cancer Immunotherapy Decisions
Cancer immunotherapy has reshaped oncology, but heterogeneous responses and immune-related toxicities continue to complicate routine decision-making. Standard biomarkers, including programmed death-ligand... Read more
New Multipurpose Centrifuge Combines High Capacity with Sustainable Cooling
Laboratories often need centrifugation that accommodates multiple vessel formats while maintaining controlled temperatures to protect sensitive samples. Intuitive controls and repeatable operation can... Read more
Bacterial Vesicle Expression System Streamlines Production of Cancer Diagnostic Proteins
Recombinant proteins are central to many cancer diagnostics and therapies, but numerous targets remain difficult and costly to produce because they are unstable, toxic to microbial hosts, or require precise folding.... Read moreIndustry
view channel
Siemens Healthineers and Novo Collaborate to Expand Access to Noninvasive Liver Testing
Metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatohepatitis (MASH), affect millions and are linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes,... Read more
Mayo Clinic and Thermo Fisher Launch Multi-Omics Venture to Identify Early Disease Signals
Many diseases begin developing years before symptoms emerge, making early detection difficult for healthcare systems and clinical laboratories. Linking molecular changes with longitudinal health data could... Read more
Sputum-Based Lung Cancer Test Technology Granted Hong Kong Patent
Asia accounts for nearly two-thirds of lung cancer cases worldwide, with an estimated 1.6 million new diagnoses across the region each year. Against this substantial disease burden, a newly granted patent... Read more