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Rafanomezantsoa LC, Sabourin E, Guennouni Sebbouh N, Sitterlé E, Ben Halima N, Raveloarisaona YS, Quesne G, Dannaoui E, Bougnoux ME. Agreement between two real-time commercial PCR kits and an in-house real-time PCR for diagnosis of mucormycosis. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0358523. [PMID: 38916337 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03585-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a severe and emerging invasive fungal infection associated with high mortality rates. Early diagnosis is crucial for initiating specific antifungal treatment, with molecular tools currently representing the most efficient diagnostic approach. Presently, a standardized in-house real-time PCR method is widely employed for diagnosing mucormycosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the agreement for the Mucorales DNA detection between two commercial real-time PCR assays-the Fungiplex Mucorales Real-Time PCR Kit and the MycoGENIE Aspergillus-Mucorales spp. Real-Time PCR Kit-in comparison with the in-house PCR. We retrospectively analyzed 58 samples previously identified as positive for Mucorales using the in-house PCR. These samples, obtained from 22 patients with proven or probable mucormycosis, were tested with both commercial kits. Additionally, samples from 40 patients without mucormycosis served as negative controls. Our findings revealed that the MycoGENIE Kit demonstrated superior performance in detecting Mucorales DNA in samples identified as positive by the in-house PCR. Notably, we observed minimal variability in cycle threshold (CT) values when comparing the results of the MycoGENIE Kit with those of the in-house PCR, with an average difference of 1.8 cycles. In contrast, the Fungiplex Kit exhibited a larger discrepancy in CT values compared to the in-house PCR, with an average difference of 4.1 cycles. The MycoGENIE Kit exhibited very good agreement (kappa of 0.82) with the in-house PCR for detecting Mucorales DNA across various sample types. These findings are important for the choice of kits that could be used to diagnose mucormycosis in clinical microbiology laboratories. IMPORTANCE Early diagnosis of mucormycosis is crucial for initiating effective treatment. The detection of Mucorales DNA by PCR in serum has revolutionized the diagnosis of this infection. However, the use of in-house methods can be time consuming. The availability of a commercial kit eliminates the need for in-house assay development, reducing laboratory workload and ensuring consistent performance across different healthcare settings. Currently, there are several commercial assays available, but many have limited evaluation. In this study, we compared two commercial kits and found that the MycoGENIE Kit offers a promising alternative to the in-house method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lovanirina Clémencia Rafanomezantsoa
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Estelle Sabourin
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Guennouni Sebbouh
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Sitterlé
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Nada Ben Halima
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Yannick Sonjah Raveloarisaona
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Gilles Quesne
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Eric Dannaoui
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
- Dynamyc Research Group, Paris Est Créteil University (UPEC, EnvA), Paris, France
| | - Marie-Elisabeth Bougnoux
- Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malades, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
- Biologie et Pathogénicité fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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Lamoth F, Kontoyiannis DP. PCR diagnostic platforms for non- Aspergillus mold infections: ready for routine implementation in the clinic? Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2024; 24:273-282. [PMID: 38501431 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2024.2326474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While Aspergillus spp. remain the predominant cause of invasive mold infections, non-Aspergillus molds, such as the Mucorales or Fusarium spp., account for an increasing proportion of cases. The diagnosis of non-Aspergillus invasive mold infections (NAIMI) is challenging because of the low sensitivity and delay of conventional microbiological tests. Therefore, there is a particular interest to develop molecular tools for their early detection in blood or other clinical samples. AREAS COVERED This extensive review of the literature discusses the performance of Mucorales-specific PCR and other genus-specific or broad-range fungal PCR that can be used for the diagnosis of NAIMI in diverse clinical samples, with a focus on novel technologies. EXPERT OPINION PCR currently represents the most promising approach, combining good sensitivity/specificity and ability to detect NAIMI in clinical samples before diagnosis by conventional cultures and histopathology. Several PCR assays have been designed for the detection of Mucorales in particular, but also Fusarium spp. or Scedosporium/Lomentospora spp. Some commercial Mucorales PCRs are now available. While efforts are still needed for standardized protocols and the development of more rapid and simpler techniques, PCR is on the way to becoming an essential test for the early diagnosis of mucormycosis and possibly other NAIMIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Lamoth
- Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Bellanger AP, Gbaguidi-Haore H, Berceanu A, Gouzien L, El Machhour C, Bichard D, Lanternier F, Scherer E, Millon L. Use of the Mucorales qPCR on blood to screen high-risk hematology patients is associated with better survival. Med Mycol 2024; 62:myae030. [PMID: 38533663 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myae030] [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] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Our objective was to determine whether the twice-weekly screening of high-risk hematology patients by Mucorales qPCR on serum affects the prognosis of mucormycosis. Results from all serum Mucorales qPCR tests performed on patients from the hematology unit from January 2017 to December 2022 were analyzed. Patients with positive results were classified as having proven, probable or 'PCR-only' mucormycosis. One-month mortality for the local cohort was compared with that of a national cohort of cases of mucormycosis collected by the French surveillance network for invasive fungal disease ('Réseau de surveillances des infections fongiques invasives en France' (RESSIF)) from 2012 to 2018. From 2017 to 2022, 7825 serum Mucorales qPCR tests were performed for patients from the hematology unit; 107 patients with at least one positive Mucorales qPCR (164 positive samples) were identified. Sixty patients (70 positive samples, median Cq = 40) had no radiological criteria for mucormycosis and were considered not to have invasive fungal disease (70/7825, 0.9% false positives). It was not possible to classify disease status for six patients (12 positive samples, median Cq = 38). Forty-one patients (82 positive samples, median Cq = 35) had a final diagnosis of mucormycosis. In comparison with the RESSIF cohort, the local cohort was independently associated with a 48% lower one-month all-cause mortality rate (age-, sex-, and primary disease-adjusted hazard ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.94; P 0.03). Proactive screening for invasive mold diseases in high-risk hematology patients, including twice-weekly Mucorales qPCR on serum, was associated with mucormycosis higher survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Pauline Bellanger
- Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
- Chrono-Environment UMR CNRS- 6249, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Houssein Gbaguidi-Haore
- Chrono-Environment UMR CNRS- 6249, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
- Infection Control Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Ana Berceanu
- Hematological Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Laura Gouzien
- Intensive Care Unit, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France
| | - Chaima El Machhour
- Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Damien Bichard
- Pharmacy Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Fanny Lanternier
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Emeline Scherer
- Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
- Chrono-Environment UMR CNRS- 6249, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Laurence Millon
- Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
- Chrono-Environment UMR CNRS- 6249, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
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Lax C, Nicolás FE, Navarro E, Garre V. Molecular mechanisms that govern infection and antifungal resistance in Mucorales. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0018822. [PMID: 38445820 PMCID: PMC10966947 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00188-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThe World Health Organization has established a fungal priority pathogens list that includes species critical or highly important to human health. Among them is the order Mucorales, a fungal group comprising at least 39 species responsible for the life-threatening infection known as mucormycosis. Despite the continuous rise in cases and the poor prognosis due to innate resistance to most antifungal drugs used in the clinic, Mucorales has received limited attention, partly because of the difficulties in performing genetic manipulations. The COVID-19 pandemic has further escalated cases, with some patients experiencing the COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, highlighting the urgent need to increase knowledge about these fungi. This review addresses significant challenges in treating the disease, including delayed and poor diagnosis, the lack of accurate global incidence estimation, and the limited treatment options. Furthermore, it focuses on the most recent discoveries regarding the mechanisms and genes involved in the development of the disease, antifungal resistance, and the host defense response. Substantial advancements have been made in identifying key fungal genes responsible for invasion and tissue damage, host receptors exploited by the fungus to invade tissues, and mechanisms of antifungal resistance. This knowledge is expected to pave the way for the development of new antifungals to combat mucormycosis. In addition, we anticipate significant progress in characterizing Mucorales biology, particularly the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis and antifungal resistance, with the possibilities offered by CRISPR-Cas9 technology for genetic manipulation of the previously intractable Mucorales species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Lax
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco E. Nicolás
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Thornton CR. The potential for rapid antigen testing for mucormycosis in the context of COVID-19. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2024; 24:161-167. [PMID: 37405409 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2233906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mucormycosis is a highly aggressive angio-invasive disease of humans caused by Mucorales fungi. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, mucormycosis was a rare mycosis typically seen in immunocompromised patients with hematological malignancies or in transplant recipients. During the second wave of the pandemic, there was a dramatic increase in the disease, especially in India where a unique set of circumstances led to large numbers of life-threatening and disfiguring rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) infections. AREAS COVERED The review examines mucormycosis as a super-infection of COVID-19 patients, and the risk factors for COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) that drove the ROCM epidemic in India. The limitations of current diagnostic procedures are identified, and the measures needed to improve the speed and accuracy of detection discussed. EXPERT OPINION Despite increased awareness, global healthcare systems remain unprepared for further outbreaks of ROCM. Current diagnosis of the disease is slow and inaccurate, negatively impacting on patient survival. This is most evident in low- to middle-income countries which lack suitably equipped diagnostic facilities for rapid identification of the infecting pathogens. Rapid antigen testing using point-of-care lateral-flow assays could potentially have aided in the quick and accurate diagnosis of the disease, allowing earlier intervention with surgery and Mucorales-active antifungal drugs.
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Gudisa R, Harchand R, Rudramurthy SM. Nucleic-Acid-Based Molecular Fungal Diagnostics: A Way to a Better Future. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:520. [PMID: 38472992 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14050520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The world has seen a tremendous increase in the number of fungal infections during the past two decades. Recently, the World Health Organisation released the pathogen priority list for fungal infections, signifying the importance of these infections in the fields of research and public health. Microbiology laboratories demand an upgrade in the diagnostic system to keep up with the increased burden of these infections. Diagnosis of fungal infections using conventional techniques has always faced limitations in terms of specificity, sensitivity, and turnaround time. Although these methods are the core pillars of the diagnosis, there is an increased need for molecular approaches. Molecular techniques have revolutionised the field of fungal diagnostics. The diverse array of molecular techniques, including techniques like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), have emerged as a cornerstone in fungal diagnostics. Molecular techniques have transformed fungal diagnostics, providing powerful tools for the rapid and accurate identification of pathogens. As these technologies continue to evolve, their integration into routine clinical practice holds the promise of improving patient outcomes through timely and targeted antifungal interventions. This review will cover the molecular approaches involved in fungal diagnostics, moving from the basic techniques to the advanced-level nucleic-acid-based molecular approaches providing a high throughput and decreased turnaround time for the diagnosis of serious fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra Gudisa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Ritika Harchand
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Shivaprakash M Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
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Jenks JD, White PL, Kidd SE, Goshia T, Fraley SI, Hoenigl M, Thompson GR. An update on current and novel molecular diagnostics for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023; 23:1135-1152. [PMID: 37801397 PMCID: PMC10842420 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2267977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Invasive fungal infections cause millions of infections annually, but diagnosis remains challenging. There is an increased need for low-cost, easy to use, highly sensitive and specific molecular assays that can differentiate between colonized and pathogenic organisms from different clinical specimens. AREAS COVERED We reviewed the literature evaluating the current state of molecular diagnostics for invasive fungal infections, focusing on current and novel molecular tests such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), digital PCR, high-resolution melt (HRM), and metagenomics/next generation sequencing (mNGS). EXPERT OPINION PCR is highly sensitive and specific, although performance can be impacted by prior/concurrent antifungal use. PCR assays can identify mutations associated with antifungal resistance, non-Aspergillus mold infections, and infections from endemic fungi. HRM is a rapid and highly sensitive diagnostic modality that can identify a wide range of fungal pathogens, including down to the species level, but multiplex assays are limited and HRM is currently unavailable in most healthcare settings, although universal HRM is working to overcome this limitation. mNGS offers a promising approach for rapid and hypothesis-free diagnosis of a wide range of fungal pathogens, although some drawbacks include limited access, variable performance across platforms, the expertise and costs associated with this method, and long turnaround times in real-world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Jenks
- Durham County Department of Public Health, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - P Lewis White
- Public Health Wales Microbiology Cardiff, UHW, United Kingdom and Centre for trials research/Division of Infection/Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sarah E Kidd
- National Mycology Reference Centre, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tyler Goshia
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie I Fraley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Austria
| | - George R Thompson
- University of California Davis Center for Valley Fever, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Antifungal Activity of Isavuconazole and Comparator Agents against Contemporaneous Mucorales Isolates from USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020241. [PMID: 36836355 PMCID: PMC9960003 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020241] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Isavuconazole is the only US FDA-approved antifungal for treating invasive mucormycosis. We evaluated isavuconazole activity against a global collection of Mucorales isolates. Fifty-two isolates were collected during 2017-2020 from hospitals located in the USA, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and/or DNA sequencing and susceptibility tested by the broth microdilution method following CLSI guidelines. Isavuconazole (MIC50/90, 2/>8 mg/L) inhibited 59.6% and 71.2% of all Mucorales isolates at ≤2 mg/L and ≤4 mg/L, respectively. Among comparators, amphotericin B (MIC50/90, 0.5/1 mg/L) displayed the highest activity, followed by posaconazole (MIC50/90, 0.5/8 mg/L). Voriconazole (MIC50/90, >8/>8 mg/L) and the echinocandins (MIC50/90, >4/>4 mg/L) had limited activity against Mucorales isolates. Isavuconazole activity varied by species and this agent inhibited at ≤4 mg/L 85.2%, 72.7%, and 25% of Rhizopus spp. (n = 27; MIC50/90, 1/>8 mg/L), Lichtheimia spp. (n = 11; MIC50/90, 4/8 mg/L), and Mucor spp. (n = 8; MIC50, >8 mg/L) isolates, respectively. Posaconazole MIC50/90 values against Rhizopus, Lichtheimia, and Mucor species were 0.5/8 mg/L, 0.5/1 mg/L, and 2/- mg/L, respectively; amphotericin B MIC50/90 values were 1/1 mg/L, 0.5/1 mg/L, and 0.5/- mg/L, respectively. As susceptibility profiles varied among Mucorales genera, species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing are advised whenever possible to manage and monitor mucormycosis.
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