PCR-Based Approach Targeting Mucorales-Specific Gene Family for Diagnosis of Mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is an aggressive, life-threatening infection caused by fungi in the order Mucorales. The current diagnosis of mucormycosis relies on mycological cultures, radiology and histopathology. These methods lack sensitivity and are most definitive later in the course of infection, resulting in the prevention of timely intervention. PCR-based approaches have shown promising potential in rapidly diagnosing mucormycosis. The spore coating protein homolog encoding genes are uniquely and universally present among Mucorales. Thus, genes are potential targets for the rapid diagnosis of mucormycosis. We infected mice with different Mucorales known to cause human mucormycosis and investigated whether could be PCR amplified from biological fluids. Uninfected mice and those with aspergillosis were used to determine the specificity of the assay. was detected as early as 24 h postinfection in plasma, urine, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from mice infected intratracheally with , , , , or but not from samples taken from uninfected mice or mice infected with Detection of from urine samples was more reliable than from plasma or BAL fluid. Using the receiver operating characteristic method, the sensitivity and the specificity of the assay were found to be 90 and 100%, respectively. Finally, was PCR amplified from urine samples of patients with proven mucormycosis. Thus, PCR amplification of is a promising target for the development of a reliable, sensitive, and simple method of early diagnosis of mucormycosis.