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Wang Z, Guo L, Tan X, Deng J, Gong S, Li D, Zhang J, Ruan C, Sun W, Peng Z, Hu Y. Development of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays for the Rapid and Accurate Diagnosis of Exserohilum turcicum for Field Applications. PLANT DISEASE 2024; 108:1461-1469. [PMID: 38240714 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-10-23-2101-sr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is one of the most devastating foliar diseases of maize. Rapid and accurate diagnosis for this disease is urgently needed but still limited. Here, we establish a field-deployable diagnostic method to detect E. turcicum based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays. A software application called K-mer Elimination by Cross-reference was used to search for the specific sequences belonging to E. turcicum by comparing the whole genome sequence between E. turcicum and other known maize pathogens. Five LAMP primer sets were designed based on specific and single-copy fragments of E. turcicum. Post-LAMP analyses indicated that only the primer set, Et9468_set1, was the most suitable, producing a ladder-like amplification pattern in the agarose gel electrophoresis and a strong fluorescence signal in the presence of SYBR Green I. The LAMP assay using Et9468_set1 primers demonstrated a high level of specificity in distinguishing E. turcicum from six other common fungal pathogens of maize, as well as 12 more fungal and oomycete strains including the epiphytic fungi from maize leaves and other crop pathogens. Moreover, it exhibited remarkable sensitivity by detecting five copies per reaction, which was approximately 104 times more sensitive compared with conventional PCR. The LAMP assay successfully detected E. turcicum in field maize leaves without DNA extraction, demonstrating its suitability for rapid on-spot detection of NCLB. Our study provides a direct LAMP diagnostic method to detect E. turcicum, which enables on-site pathogen detection in the field and the development of preventive strategies for NCLB management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenan Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Lifang Guo
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Xiaoshan Tan
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Jili Deng
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Shengjie Gong
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Dayong Li
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Natural Enemies, Institute of Biological Control, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Changchun Ruan
- Engineering Research Center of Natural Enemies, Institute of Biological Control, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Wenxian Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Zhao Peng
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Ying Hu
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- Engineering Research Center of Natural Enemies, Institute of Biological Control, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
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Roy M, Borden J, Kasper DJ. Subcutaneous pythiosis in human treated successfully with antimicrobial treatment, debridement and immunotherapy. BMJ Case Rep 2024; 17:e258587. [PMID: 38499351 PMCID: PMC10953300 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Pythiosis is caused due to a filamentous eukaryotic micro-organism called Pythium insidiosum and the disease occurs commonly in horses and cattle. Subcutaneous pythiosis infection in humans is rare with no clear clinical guidelines for treatment. We present a case of a man in his 20s with non-resolving ulcers noted over lower extremity after exposure to swamp water draining animal remains. The patient received several courses of oral antibiotics with no improvement in symptoms before getting admitted to our institution. A diagnosis of subcutaneous pythiosis was made after deep wound culture following debridement detected P. insidiosum by use of PCR. Due to the rare incidence of such infection in humans and no clear guidelines available for treatment, the case was discussed with infectious disease specialists outside our institution and with veterinary physicians. An emergent approval for use of immunotherapy in conjunction with surgical debridement and antimicrobials was obtained from Food and Drug administration. The patient underwent successful treatment of infection and skin graft following treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moni Roy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, USA
| | - Joel Borden
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, USA
| | - Douglas J Kasper
- Division of Infectious diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, USA
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Nucleic Acid-Based Detection of Pythium insidiosum: A Systematic Review. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 9:jof9010027. [PMID: 36675848 PMCID: PMC9863793 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Pythiosis, a life-threatening infectious condition caused by Pythium insidiosum, has been increasingly reported in humans and animals worldwide. Antifungal drugs usually fail to control the pathogen. The surgical removal of an infected organ is the treatment of choice. Many affected patients die due to advanced infection. A timely and accurate diagnosis could lead to a better prognosis in pythiosis patients and save their lives. Although a standard culture method is available in microbiological laboratories, it is time-consuming, laborious, and insensitive for P. insidiosum identification. Immunological assays have been developed to improve the diagnosis of pythiosis. However, immunological methods are commercially unavailable and primarily detect anti-P. insidiosum antibodies, which constitute indirect evidence of pythiosis, making it challenging to differentiate a past from a recent infection. Moreover, such immunological tests cannot diagnose patients with a local infection, such as in the eye. Nucleic acid-based tests (NATs) are efficient for the direct and rapid detection of P. insidiosum DNA in trace-amount or culture-negative specimens. The reagents and equipment required for NATs are usually available in molecular diagnostic laboratories. Herein, we provide a systematic review to comprehensively present the principal and clinical usages, advantages, and limitations of such NATs in the detection of P. insidiosum. Various NATs have been established to detect P. insidiosum, which can be classified into amplification-based (i.e., PCR assays, isothermal tests, and next-generation sequencing methods) and non-amplification-based (i.e., DNA hybridization) techniques. This concise review on NATs constitutes an up-to-date reference with which healthcare professionals can learn about and decide upon which detection method is suitable for their respective laboratory environments.
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Gurnani B, Kaur K, Agarwal S, Lalgudi VG, Shekhawat NS, Venugopal A, Tripathy K, Srinivasan B, Iyer G, Gubert J. Pythium insidiosum Keratitis: Past, Present, and Future. Ophthalmol Ther 2022; 11:1629-1653. [PMID: 35788551 PMCID: PMC9255487 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-022-00542-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pythium insidiosum (PI) is an oomycete, a protist belonging to the clade Stramenopila. PI causes vision-threatening keratitis closely mimicking fungal keratitis (FK), hence it is also labeled as "parafungus". PI keratitis was initially confined to Thailand, USA, China, and Australia, but with growing clinical awareness and improvement in diagnostic modalities, the last decade saw a massive upsurge in numbers with the majority of reports coming from India. In the early 1990s, pythiosis was classified as vascular, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, systemic, and ocular. Clinically, morphologically, and microbiologically, PI keratitis closely resembles severe FK and requires a high index of clinical suspicion for diagnosis. The clinical features such as reticular dot infiltrate, tentacular projections, peripheral thinning with guttering, and rapid limbal spread distinguish it from other microorganisms. Routine smearing with Gram and KOH stain reveals perpendicular septate/aseptate hyphae, which closely mimic fungi and make the diagnosis cumbersome. The definitive diagnosis is the presence of dull grey/brown refractile colonies along with zoospore formation upon culture by leaf induction method. However, culture is time-consuming, and currently polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is the gold standard. The value of other diagnostic modalities such as confocal microscopy and immunohistopathological assays is limited due to cost, non-availability, and limited diagnostic accuracy. PI keratitis is a relatively rare disease without established treatment protocols. Because of its resemblance to fungus, it was earlier treated with antifungals but with an improved understanding of its cell wall structure and absence of ergosterol, this is no longer recommended. Currently, antibacterials have shown promising results. Therapeutic keratoplasty with good margin (1 mm) is mandated for non-resolving cases and corneal perforation. In this review, we have deliberated on the evolution of PI keratitis, covered all the recently available literature, described our current understanding of the diagnosis and treatment, and the potential future diagnostic and management options for PI keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Gurnani
- Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, 605007, India.
| | - Kirandeep Kaur
- Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, 605007 India
| | - Shweta Agarwal
- Dr G Sitalakshmi Memorial Clinic for Ocular Surface Disorders, CJ Shah Cornea Services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, 18 College Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600006 India
| | | | - Nakul S. Shekhawat
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Anitha Venugopal
- Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu India
| | | | - Bhaskar Srinivasan
- Dr G Sitalakshmi Memorial Clinic for Ocular Surface Disorders, CJ Shah Cornea Services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, 18 College Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600006 India
| | - Geetha Iyer
- Dr G Sitalakshmi Memorial Clinic for Ocular Surface Disorders, CJ Shah Cornea Services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, 18 College Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600006 India
| | - Joseph Gubert
- Department of Microbiology, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, 605007 India
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Peronosporales Species Associated with Strawberry Crown Rot in the Czech Republic. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040346. [PMID: 35448577 PMCID: PMC9024537 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The symptoms of crown rot on strawberry plants are considered typical for the pathogen Phytophthora cactorum, which causes high losses of this crop. However, an unknown number of related species of pathogens of Peronosporales cause symptoms quite similar to those caused by P. cactorum. To determine their spectrum and importance, strawberry plants were sampled from 41 farms in the Czech Republic. The cultures were isolated from the symptomatic plants using the baiting method, with subsequent cultivation on a semiselective medium. Isolates were identified to the species level using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) barcoding after preliminary morphological determination. In total, 175 isolates of 24 species of Phytophthora, Phytopythium, Pythium, and Globisporangium were detected. The most represented was Phytophthora cactorum, with 113 (65%) isolates, which was recorded in 61% of farms, and the Pythium dissotocum complex with 20 (11%) isolates, which was recorded in 27% of farms. Other species were represented in units of percent. Large differences between farms in the species spectra were ascertained. The differences between species in cardinal growth temperatures and different management of the farms are discussed as a main reason for such a diversification. Regarding the dissimilar sensitivity of various species of Peronosporales against fungicides, the proper determination of the cause of disease is of crucial significance in plant protection.
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Yolanda H, Krajaejun T. Global Distribution and Clinical Features of Pythiosis in Humans and Animals. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020182. [PMID: 35205934 PMCID: PMC8879638 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pythiosis is a difficult-to-treat infectious disease caused by Pythium insidiosum. The condition is unfamiliar among healthcare workers. Manifestation of pythiosis is similar to other fungal infections, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. The geographical extent of pythiosis at a global scale is unclear. This study aimed to analyze the clinical information recorded in the scientific literature to comprehensively project epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, and future trends of pythiosis. From 1980 to 2021, 4203 cases of pythiosis in humans (n = 771; 18.3%) and animals (primarily horse, dog, and cow; n = 3432; 81.7%), with an average of 103 cases/year, were recruited. Pythiosis case reports significantly increased in the last decade. Pythiosis spanned 23 tropical, subtropical, and temperate countries worldwide. Some patients acquired pythiosis from a trip to an endemic country. Strikingly, 94.3% of human cases were in India and Thailand, while 79.2% of affected animals were in the U.S.A. and Brazil. Clinical features of pythiosis varied. Vascular and ocular pythiosis were only observed in humans, whereas cutaneous/subcutaneous and gastrointestinal infections were predominant in animals. Mortality depended on host species and clinical forms: for example, none in patients with ocular pythiosis, 0.7% in cows with a cutaneous lesion, 26.8% in humans with vascular disease, 86.4% in dogs with gastrointestinal pathology, and 100% in several animals with disseminated infection. In summary, this study reports up-to-date epidemiological and clinical features of pythiosis in humans and animals. It increases awareness of this life-threatening disease, as the illness or outbreak can exist in any country, not limited to the endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Yolanda
- Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta 14440, Indonesia
| | - Theerapong Krajaejun
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +662-201-1452
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Bagga B, Vishwakarma P, Sharma S, Jospeh J, Mitra S, Mohamed A. Sensitivity and specificity of potassium hydroxide and calcofluor white stain to differentiate between fungal and Pythium filaments in corneal scrapings from patients of Pythium keratitis. Indian J Ophthalmol 2022; 70:542-545. [PMID: 35086234 PMCID: PMC9023980 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_1880_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To assess the sensitivity of potassium hydroxide and calcofluor white (KOH+CFW) mount in the diagnosis of Pythium keratitis and concordance among microbiologists. Methods: Three microbiologists evaluated the microscopic images of KOH + CFW mounts of confirmed cases of Pythium and fungal keratitis seen between January 2019 and February 2021. The filaments were compared using specific differentiating features. The sensitivity and specificity of KOH + CFW in diagnosing Pythium infection were evaluated along with concordance among the microbiologists. Results: Sixty consecutive cases with confirmed growth of fungus or Pythium insidiosum (n = 29) were evaluated. The sensitivity of KOH + CFW in the correct identification of Pythium filaments ranged from 79.3% to 96.5% among three microbiologists. There was good interobserver (k = 0.76–0.90) and intraobserver (k = 0.70–0.97) agreements among three microbiologists. The differentiating findings (P < 0.0001) suggestive of Pythium filaments were the absence of septae in 23 (79.3%) and collapsed walls in 22 (75.9%) cases. Conclusion: KOH + CFW has good sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of Pythium keratitis with good interobserver and intraobserver concordance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Savitri Sharma
- Jhaveri Microbiology Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Joveeta Jospeh
- Jhaveri Microbiology Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sanchita Mitra
- Jhaveri Microbiology Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Ashik Mohamed
- Ophthalmic Biophysics, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Garg N, Ahmad FJ, Kar S. Recent advances in loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for rapid and efficient detection of pathogens. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2022; 3:100120. [PMID: 35909594 PMCID: PMC9325740 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2022.100120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Significance of LAMP method in rapid disease diagnosis is highlighted. Different detection methods for amplicon visualization are explained. Advancements in LAMP technique for disease identification are summarized. Trends in development of LAMP disease diagnosis are discussed.
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method has been demonstrated to bea reliable and robust method for detection and identification of viral and microbial pathogens. LAMP method of amplification, coupled with techniques for easy detection of amplicons, makes a simple-to-operate and easy-to-read molecular diagnostic tool for both laboratory and on-field settings. Several LAMP-based diagnostic kits and assays have been developed that are specifically targeted against a variety of pathogens. With the growing needs of the demanding molecular diagnostic industry, many technical advances have been made over the years by combining the basic LAMP principle with several other molecular approaches like real-time detection, multiplex methods, chip-based assays.This has resulted in enhancing thethe sensitivity and accuracy of LAMP for more rigorous and wide-ranging pathogen detection applications. This review summarizes the current developments in LAMP technique and their applicability in present and future disease diagnosis.
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History and Perspective of Immunotherapy for Pythiosis. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9101080. [PMID: 34696188 PMCID: PMC8539095 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus-like microorganism Pythium insidiosum causes pythiosis, a life-threatening infectious disease increasingly reported worldwide. Antimicrobial drugs are ineffective. Radical surgery is an essential treatment. Pythiosis can resume post-surgically. Immunotherapy using P. insidiosum antigens (PIA) has emerged as an alternative treatment. This review aims at providing up-to-date information of the immunotherapeutic PIA, with the focus on its history, preparation, clinical application, outcome, mechanism, and recent advances, in order to promote the proper use and future development of this treatment modality. P. insidiosum crude extract is the primary source of immunotherapeutic antigens. Based on 967 documented human and animal (mainly horses) pythiosis cases, PIA immunotherapy reduced disease morbidity and mortality. Concerning clinical outcomes, 19.4% of PIA-immunized human patients succumbed to vascular pythiosis instead of 41.0% in unimmunized cases. PIA immunotherapy may not provide an advantage in a local P. insidiosum infection of the eye. Both PIA-immunized and unimmunized horses with pythiosis showed a similar survival rate of ~70%; however, demands for surgical intervention were much lesser in the immunized cases (22.8% vs. 75.2%). The proposed PIA action involves switching the non-protective T-helper-2 to protective T-helper-1 mediated immunity. By exploring the available P. insidiosum genome data, synthetic peptides, recombinant proteins, and nucleic acids are potential sources of the immunotherapeutic antigens worth investigating. The PIA therapeutic property needs improvement for a better prognosis of pythiosis patients.
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Immunological Cross-Reactivity of Proteins Extracted from the Oomycete Pythium insidiosum and the Fungus Basidiobolus ranarum Compromises the Detection Specificity of Immunodiagnostic Assays for Pythiosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060474. [PMID: 34208304 PMCID: PMC8231275 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pythiosis, a life-threatening disease caused by Pythium insidiosum, has been increasingly diagnosed worldwide. A recently developed immunochromatographic test (ICT) enables the rapid diagnosis of pythiosis. During the 3-year clinical implementation of ICT in Thailand, we collected the laboratory reports of 38 animals with suspected pythiosis and detected ICT false-positive results in three horses and a dog with basidiobolomycosis. P. insidiosum and Basidiobolus ranarum cause infections with indistinguishable clinical and microscopic features. This study investigated cross-reactive antibodies by probing P. insidiosum and B. ranarum crude extracts and cell-free synthesized I06 protein (encoded in P. insidiosum genome, not other fungi) against a panel of pythiosis, basidiobolomycosis, rabbit anti-I06 peptide, and control sera by Western blot analyses. ICT false-positive results occurred from the cross-reactivity of anti-B. ranarum antibodies to the 15, 50, 60, and 120 kDa proteins of P. insidiosum, not double infections caused by both pathogens. Notably, ICT could help to screen pythiosis, and the positive test requires confirmation by culture or molecular method. The detection specificity of ICT requires improvement. The crude extract containing multispecies antigens needs replacement with a refined P. insidiosum-specific protein. We proposed that the 55 kDa I06 protein is an excellent candidate for developing a more specific serodiagnostic test for pythiosis.
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Mar Htun Z, Laikul A, Pathomsakulwong W, Yurayart C, Lohnoo T, Yingyong W, Kumsang Y, Payattikul P, Sae-Chew P, Rujirawat T, Jittorntam P, Jaturapaktrarak C, Chongtrakool P, Krajaejun T. Identification and Biotyping of Pythium insidiosum Isolated from Urban and Rural Areas of Thailand by Multiplex PCR, DNA Barcode, and Proteomic Analyses. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:242. [PMID: 33804838 PMCID: PMC8063814 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pythium insidiosum causes pythiosis, a fatal infectious disease of humans and animals worldwide. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to improve the clinical outcome of pythiosis. Diagnosis of P. insidiosum relies on immunological, molecular, and proteomic assays. The main treatment of pythiosis aims to surgically remove all affected tissue to prevent recurrent infection. Due to the marked increase in case reports, pythiosis has become a public health concern. Thailand is an endemic area of human pythiosis. To obtain a complete picture of how the pathogen circulates in the environment, we surveyed the presence of P. insidiosum in urban (Bangkok) and rural areas of Thailand. We employed the hair-baiting technique to screen for P. insidiosum in 500 water samples. Twenty-seven culture-positive samples were identified as P. insidiosum by multiplex PCR, multi-DNA barcode (rDNA, cox1, cox2), and mass spectrometric analyses. These environmental strains of P. insidiosum fell into Clade-II and -III genotypes and exhibited a close phylogenetic/proteomic relationship with Thai clinical strains. Biodiversity of the environmental strains also existed in a local habitat. In conclusion, P. insidiosum is widespread in Thailand. A better understanding of the ecological niche of P. insidiosum could lead to the effective prevention and control of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zin Mar Htun
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand;
- Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine, Mandalay 05024, Myanmar
| | - Aree Laikul
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand;
| | | | - Chompoonek Yurayart
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Tassanee Lohnoo
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Wanta Yingyong
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Yothin Kumsang
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Penpan Payattikul
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Pattarana Sae-Chew
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Thidarat Rujirawat
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Paisan Jittorntam
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Chalisa Jaturapaktrarak
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.L.); (W.Y.); (Y.K.); (P.P.); (P.S.-C.); (T.R.); (P.J.); (C.J.)
| | - Piriyaporn Chongtrakool
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand;
| | - Theerapong Krajaejun
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
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