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White PL. Developments in Fungal Serology. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2023; 17:1-12. [PMID: 37360856 PMCID: PMC10099008 DOI: 10.1007/s12281-023-00462-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The true incidence of fungal disease is hampered by conventionally poor diagnostic tests, limited access to advanced diagnostics, and limited surveillance. The availability of serological testing has been available for over two decades and generally underpins the modern diagnosis of the most common forms of fungal disease. This review will focus on technical developments of serological tests for the diagnosis of fungal disease, describing advances in clinical performance when available. Recent Findings Despite their longevity, technical, clinical, and performance limitations remain, and tests specific for fungal pathogens outside the main pathogens are lacking. The availability of LFA and automated systems, capable of running multiple different tests, represents significant developments, but clinical performance data is variable and limited. Summary Fungal serology has significantly advanced the diagnosis of the main fungal infections, with LFA availability increasing accessibility to testing. Combination testing has the potential to overcome performance limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Lewis White
- Public Health Wales Mycology Reference Laboratory and Cardiff University Centre for Trials Research/Division of Infection and Immunity, UHW, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW UK
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Calero AL, Alonso R, Gadea I, Vega MDM, García MM, Muñoz P, Machado M, Bouza E, García-Rodríguez J. Comparison of the Performance of Two Galactomannan Detection Tests: Platelia Aspergillus Ag and Aspergillus Galactomannan Ag Virclia Monotest. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0262621. [PMID: 35262395 PMCID: PMC9045373 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02626-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of nonculture-based biomarkers such as the determination of galactomannan is sought for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. To investigate the comparative yield of two tests for the detection of galactomannan in patients with or without proven or probable invasive aspergillosis. Overall, 327 samples (327 patients) were analyzed in a retrospective/prospective study performed in 3 hospitals in Madrid, comparing the determination results in serum or bronchoalveolar lavage of two techniques for galactomannan detection, namely, Platelia Aspergillus Ag (Bio-Rad) and Aspergillus galactomannan Ag Virclia Monotest (Vircell S.L.), following the manufacturer's instructions. Both techniques can automate the process, but the second technique has the advantage of individual processing and assembly of each sample without the need for the additional expense of single-dose strips in controls. In total, 288 of the 327 tests performed showed concordant results between both techniques. The agreement between both methods was к = 0.722, and the correlation between indices was ρ = 0.718. Only 39 samples showed discordant results. In those 39 cases, there were 15 patients with proven or probable invasive aspergillosis criteria. For the samples with clinical criteria as a reference, the areas under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were 0.962 for Platelia and 0.968 for VirClia. The VirClia test has been proven to be an alternative for diagnosis due to its friendlier automated format than that of the usual Platelia routine test. The VirClia test also allows individual action and, therefore, a more immediate clinical response. IMPORTANCE Invasive mycoses are increasingly present in immunosuppressed or hospitalized patients with serious illnesses, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Invasive aspergillosis is an infection caused, in a percentage greater than 50%, by the genus Aspergillus. It is vitally important to make an early diagnosis that leads to the application of antifungals in the initial stage of the infection. Therefore, tools are required to help with the early diagnosis of the infection. This comparative study of two enzyme immunoassays is based on the detection of galactomannan antigen in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage samples. A new design based on chemiluminescence and presented in an automated single-dose format is compared to a conventional ELISA technique marketed for years. The results obtained from the prospective and retrospective study indicate a high correlation and degree of agreement between both techniques, as well as in their diagnostic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Leyva Calero
- Department of Biochemistry, Immunology and Molecular Parasitology, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Roberto Alonso
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Gadea
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fundación Jimenez Díaz, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Marta Martín García
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fundación Jimenez Díaz, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Muñoz
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Machado
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emilio Bouza
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio García-Rodríguez
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital La Paz, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain
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Alenichev M, Levin A, Yushina A, Kostrikina E, Lebedin Y, Andreeva I, Grigorenko V, Krylov V, Nifantiev N. Nano-biosensor based on the combined use of the dynamic and static light scattering for Aspergillus galactomannan analysis. SENSING AND BIO-SENSING RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbsr.2022.100475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Recent Advances and Novel Approaches in Laboratory-Based Diagnostic Mycology. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7010041. [PMID: 33440757 PMCID: PMC7827937 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
What was once just culture and microscopy the field of diagnostic mycology has significantly advanced in recent years and continues to incorporate novel assays and strategies to meet the changes in clinical demand. The emergence of widespread resistance to antifungal therapy has led to the development of a range of molecular tests that target mutations associated with phenotypic resistance, to complement classical susceptibility testing and initial applications of next-generation sequencing are being described. Lateral flow assays provide rapid results, with simplicity allowing the test to be performed outside specialist centres, potentially as point-of-care tests. Mycology has responded positively to an ever-diversifying patient population by rapidly identifying risk and developing diagnostic strategies to improve patient management. Nowadays, the diagnostic repertoire of the mycology laboratory employs classical, molecular and serological tests and should be keen to embrace diagnostic advancements that can improve diagnosis in this notoriously difficult field.
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Lee SI, Sung H, Hong SB, Lim CM, Koh Y, Huh JW. Usefulness of ICU criteria for diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in nonhematologic critically ill patients. Med Mycol 2020; 58:275-281. [PMID: 31204780 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myz062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening disease in the intensive care unit (ICU). The ICU criteria were proposed to diagnose IPA in critically ill patients. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of ICU criteria for diagnosis and treatment of IPA in nonhematologic patients in the ICU. We retrospectively reviewed 103 ICU patients with positive galactomannan test in blood and respiratory tract from January 1, 2016, to May 31, 2017. We excluded patients with hematologic malignancy. We divided the treatment and non-treatment groups according to the IPA treatment. We compared the baseline characteristics and outcomes between two groups and the agreement with ICU criteria. There were 49 patients in treatment groups and 54 patients in non-treatment groups. There were more cases of solid organ transplantation (P = .003), immunosuppressive therapy (P < .001) and bacterial viral coinfection (P = .048) in the treatment group compared to nontreatment group. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality, the use of ventilator, and septic shock between the two groups. The agreement rate between the putative group and treatment was low (59.2%). There was no statistically significant difference in outcome between the putative and colonization groups according to the ICU criteria in each group. The treatment of IPA based on the symptom, radiologic finding and galactomannan test did not showed the better outcome. Also, the treatment based on the ICU criteria didn't show the difference of outcome. The new criteria for diagnosis of IPA in critically ill patients are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-I Lee
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.,Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Heungsup Sung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Bum Hong
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae-Man Lim
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Younsuck Koh
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Won Huh
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
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Kumar M, Mugunthan M. β-d-Glucan and Aspergillus Galactomannan assays in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. Med J Armed Forces India 2019; 75:357-360. [PMID: 31719727 PMCID: PMC6838501 DOI: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With an increase in the number of patients who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised there has been an increase in invasive fungal infection (IFI) in the past few decades with its associated high morbidity and mortality, ranging from 60% to 90%. The critical problem is the identification of the causative fungus and initiation of appropriate therapy. Hence, there is a requirement for better diagnostic methods for IFI. Detection of markers for the presence of fungi during early stage of the infection, such as constituents of the cell wall or fungal DNA, is essential for timely diagnosis of IFI. Galactomannan (GM) which is a cell wall surface antigen is the most studied diagnostic marker, followed by 1,3 β-d-Glucan (BG) which is seen in deep layers of cell wall. METHODS We have assessed the effectiveness of Galactomannan/β-d-Glucan for the early diagnosis of IFI in immunosuppressed patients in our tertiary care setting. RESULTS The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of GM assay were 45%, 93%, 86% and 63% respectively, while the BG assay showed a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 85%, Positive predictive value (PPV) 84% and Negative predictive value (NPV) 79%. CONCLUSION BG assay is better for detection of IFI in patients with immunosuppression. However, a combination of both BG and GM assays would be the best approach as BG assay is highly sensitive, while the GM assay is highly specific for diagnosing IFI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahadevan Kumar
- Professor, Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India
| | - M. Mugunthan
- Resident, Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India
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Carroll CS, Amankwa LN, Pinto LJ, Fuller JD, Moore MM. Detection of a Serum Siderophore by LC-MS/MS as a Potential Biomarker of Invasive Aspergillosis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151260. [PMID: 26974544 PMCID: PMC4790926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening systemic mycosis caused primarily by Aspergillus fumigatus. Early diagnosis of IA is based, in part, on an immunoassay for circulating fungal cell wall carbohydrate, galactomannan (GM). However, a wide range of sensitivity and specificity rates have been reported for the GM test across various patient populations. To obtain iron in vivo, A. fumigatus secretes the siderophore, N,N',N"-triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) and we hypothesize that TAFC may represent a possible biomarker for early detection of IA. We developed an ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for TAFC analysis from serum, and measured TAFC in serum samples collected from patients at risk for IA. The method showed lower and upper limits of quantitation (LOQ) of 5 ng/ml and 750 ng/ml, respectively, and complete TAFC recovery from spiked serum. As proof of concept, we evaluated 76 serum samples from 58 patients with suspected IA that were investigated for the presence of GM. Fourteen serum samples obtained from 11 patients diagnosed with probable or proven IA were also analyzed for the presence of TAFC. Control sera (n = 16) were analyzed to establish a TAFC cut-off value (≥6 ng/ml). Of the 36 GM-positive samples (≥0.5 GM index) from suspected IA patients, TAFC was considered positive in 25 (69%). TAFC was also found in 28 additional GM-negative samples. TAFC was detected in 4 of the 14 samples (28%) from patients with proven/probable aspergillosis. Log-transformed TAFC and GM values from patients with proven/probable IA, healthy individuals and SLE patients showed a significant correlation with a Pearson r value of 0.77. In summary, we have developed a method for the detection of TAFC in serum that revealed this fungal product in the sera of patients at risk for invasive aspergillosis. A prospective study is warranted to determine whether this method provides improved early detection of IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra S. Carroll
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | | | - Linda J. Pinto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Jeffrey D. Fuller
- Provincial Laboratory for Public Health and Microbiology, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2R7
| | - Margo M. Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, V5A 1S6
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Comparison of Nonculture Blood-Based Tests for Diagnosing Invasive Aspergillosis in an Animal Model. J Clin Microbiol 2016; 54:960-6. [PMID: 26791366 PMCID: PMC4809952 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.03233-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The European Aspergillus PCR Initiative (EAPCRI) has provided recommendations for the PCR testing of whole blood (WB) and serum/plasma. It is important to test these recommended protocols on nonsimulated “in vivo” specimens before full clinical evaluation. The testing of an animal model of invasive aspergillosis (IA) overcomes the low incidence of disease and provides experimental design and control that is not possible in the clinical setting. Inadequate performance of the recommended protocols at this stage would require reassessment of methods before clinical trials are performed and utility assessed. The manuscript describes the performance of EAPCRI protocols in an animal model of invasive aspergillosis. Blood samples taken from a guinea pig model of IA were used for WB and serum PCR. Galactomannan and β-d-glucan detection were evaluated, with particular focus on the timing of positivity and on the interpretation of combination testing. The overall sensitivities for WB PCR, serum PCR, galactomannan, and β-d-glucan were 73%, 65%, 68%, and 46%, respectively. The corresponding specificities were 92%, 79%, 80%, and 100%, respectively. PCR provided the earliest indicator of IA, and increasing galactomannan and β-d-glucan values were indicators of disease progression. The combination of WB PCR with galactomannan and β-d-glucan proved optimal (area under the curve [AUC], 0.95), and IA was confidently diagnosed or excluded. The EAPRCI-recommended PCR protocols provide performance comparable to commercial antigen tests, and clinical trials are warranted. By combining multiple tests, IA can be excluded or confirmed, highlighting the need for a combined diagnostic strategy. However, this approach must be balanced against the practicality and cost of using multiple tests.
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