We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Molecular Assay Used to Diagnose Buruli Ulcer.

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 29 Oct 2012
A simple diagnostic test for the causative agent of Buruli Ulcer has been reported, which could be used at point of care facilities, in resource-poor settings.

The quick and inexpensive diagnostic test can identify Mycobacterium ulcerans, the bacterium responsible for Buruli Ulcer (BU), and could replace the current laboratory diagnosis based on microscopy, which has to be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and other tests in reference laboratories.

Scientists at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (Accra, Ghana) employed the methodology based on the loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. More...
Four sets of Primers, targeting the mycolactone encoding plasmid genome sequence of M. ulcerans were designed. The BU-LAMP assay was developed and tested on five M. ulcerans strains from patients in Ghana and two reference isolates. The BU-LAMP assay protocol was optimized for maximum efficiency, using the Loopamp DNA amplification kit (Eiken Chemical; Tokyo, Japan).

The assay was tested on other closely related, mycolactone-producing mycobacterial strains; M. marinum, M. liflandii and M. pseudoshotsii, as well as experimentally infected laboratory animal and clinical samples. The results revealed a high specificity of the BU-LAMP assay for selectively detecting M. ulcerans. Compared to the conventional PCR, the new assay is cheaper, simpler, and ten times more sensitive. The test results can be obtained within one hour. The DNA concentration at the visual detection limit was estimated to be 48 pg/μL. However, by measuring the optical density (OD) value of BU-LAMP products at 350 and 450 nm, the scientists were able to detect positivity when using DNA concentrations as low as 0.5 fg/μL.

The authors concluded that the BU-LAMP method shows promise as a diagnostic tool at point of care facilities in BU endemic communities. Unlike the conventional PCR method that requires the use of a thermal cycler, purified DNA samples are not a requirement. DNA amplification occurs within one hour and the resulting product is a turbid solution, indicative of product amplification. Sample confirmation can therefore be done visually with the naked eye, and the intensity of the fluorescence observed is indicative of amount of DNA present. The study was first published online on January 12, 2012, in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases.

Related Links:

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Eiken Chemical



New
Gold Member
Hematology Analyzer
Medonic M32B
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
Automatic Hematology Analyzer
LABAS F9000
New
Autoimmune Liver Diseases Assay
Microblot-Array Liver Profile Kit
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: A diagnostic test can distinguish patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who can be cured with surgery alone (Photo courtesy of University of Turku)

Novel Diagnostic Tool to Revolutionize Treatment Guidance of Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a solid tumor type commonly treated with surgery. However, there has been no clinically available method to determine which patients can be cured with surgery... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The microfluidic device for passive separation of platelet-rich plasma from whole blood (Photo courtesy of University of the Basque Country)

Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The 3D paper-based analytical device has shown high clinical accuracy for adult-onset immunodeficiency (Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University)

Paper-Based Device Accurately Detects Immune Defects in 10 Minutes

Patients with hidden immune defects are especially vulnerable to severe and persistent infections, often due to autoantibodies that block interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a key molecule in immune defense.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The Check4 gene-detection platform (Photo courtesy of IdentifySensors)

Electronic Biosensors Used to Detect Pathogens Can Rapidly Detect Cancer Cells

A major challenge in healthcare is the early and affordable detection of serious diseases such as cancer. Early diagnosis remains difficult due to the complexity of identifying specific genetic markers... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.