Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Molecular diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid: comparison of primer sets for Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complex

Full text
Author(s):
Marilena dos Anjos Martins ; Kate Bastos Santos Brighente [2] ; Terezinha Aparecida de Matos [3] ; Jose Ernesto Vidal [4] ; Daise Damaris Carnietto de Hipólito [5] ; Vera Lucia Pereira-Chioccola [6]
Total Authors: 6
Document type: Journal article
Source: Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases; v. 19, n. 1, p. 62-67, 2015-02-00.
Abstract

Aim:This study evaluated the use of polymerase chain reaction for cryptococcal meningitis diagnosis in clinical samples.Materials and methods:The sensitivity and specificity of the methodology were evaluated using eight Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattiispecies complex reference strains and 165 cere- brospinal fluid samples from patients with neurological diseases divided into two groups: 96 patients with cryptococcal meningitis and AIDS; and 69 patients with other neurological opportunistic diseases (CRL/AIDS). Two primer sets were tested (CN4-CN5 and the multiplex CNa70S-CNa70A/CNb49S-CNb-49A that amplify a specific product for C. neoformansand another for C. gattii).Results:CN4-CN5 primer set was positive in all Cryptococcusstandard strains and in 94.8% in DNA samples from cryptococcal meningitis and AIDS group. With the multiplex, no 448-bp product of C. gattiiwas observed in the clinical samples of either group. The 695 bp products of C. neoformanswere observed only in 64.6% of the cryptococcal meningitis and AIDS group. This primer set was negative for two standard strains. The specificity based on the negative samples from the CTL/AIDS group was 98.5% in both primer sets.Conclusions:These data suggest that the CN4/CN5 primer set was highly sensitive for the identification of C. neoformans/C. gattiispecies complex in cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with clinical suspicion of cryptococcal meningitis. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/13939-8 - Study of a group of fungal and parasitic infections aiming the improvement of techniques of characterization and immune-molecular diagnosis
Grantee:Vera Lúcia Pereira Chioccola
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants