Multi-centric validation of an in-house-developed beacon-based PCR diagnostic assay kit for Chlamydia and Neisseria and portable fluorescence detector.

Objective: The development of an accurate, sensitive, specific, rapid, reproducible, stable-at-room-temperature and cost-effective diagnostic kit, and a low-cost portable fluorescence detector to fulfil the requirements of diagnostic facilities in developing countries.

Methods: We developed the 'Chlamy and Ness CT/NG kit' based on molecular beacons for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseriagonorrhoeae (NG). Multi-centric evaluation of the CT/NG kit was performed using the commercially available nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)-based FTD Urethritis basic kit for comparison from December 2014 to November 2016.

Diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae using molecular beacon.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an important sexually transmitted diseases (STD) causing pathogen worldwide. Due to absence of an affordable diagnostic assay, routine screening of gonococcal infection becomes impossible in developing countries where infection rates are maximum. Treatment is given on the basis of symptoms alone which leads to spread of infection.

Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor is required for Chlamydia trachomatis development.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is a clinically significant human pathogen and one of the leading causative agents of sexually transmitted diseases. As obligate intracellular bacteria, C.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against Pkn1, a novel potential immunogen, in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected Macaca nemestrina and human patients.

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is an important cause of sexually transmitted genital tract infections (STIs) and trachoma. Despite major research into chlamydial pathogenesis and host immune responses, immunoprotection has been hampered by the incomplete understanding of protective immunity in the genital tract. Characterized vaccine candidates have shown variable efficacy ranging from no protection to partial protection in vivo.

An insight into the drug resistance profile & mechanism of drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Among the aetiological agents of treatable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Neissseria gonorrhoeae is considered to be most important because of emerging antibiotic resistant strains that compromise the effectiveness of treatment of the disease - gonorrhoea. In most of the developing countries, treatment of gonorrhoea relies mainly on syndromic management rather than the aetiological based therapy. Gonococcal infections are usually treated with single-dose therapy with an agent found to cure > 95 per cent of cases.

Prevalence of Chlamydia infection among women visiting a gynaecology outpatient department: evaluation of an in-house PCR assay for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Background: Screening women for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in developing countries is highly desirable because of asymptomatic infection. The existing diagnostic methods in developing countries are not effective and their sensitivity fall below 45.0% which leads to further spread of infection.

Comparison of an in-house PCR assay, direct fluorescence assay and the Roche AMPLICOR Chlamydia trachomatis kit for detection of C. trachomatis.

To improve the control of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in India, a rapid, specific and cost-effective method is much needed. We developed an in-house PCR assay by targeting a unique genomic sequence encoding a protein from the C. trachomatis phospholipase D endonuclease superfamily that produces an amplified fragment of 368 bp.