Question:
Running title: DNA microarray identified pathogens of Purulent meningitis
Title:
Rapid pathogen identification using a novel microarray-based assay with Purulent meningitis in Cerebrospinal Fluid
Hou, Y., Zhang, X., Hou, X., Wu, R., Wang, Y., He, X., … & Wang, Z. (2018). Rapid pathogen identification using a novel microarray-based assay with purulent meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid. Scientific reports, 8(1), 15965. Write a report on it, and give a brief introduction and methodology to the paper.
Answer:
Introduction:
Meningitis inflammation is occasioned with a frequent presentation of headaches, neck pain, and stiff neck symptoms. It has a high mortality incidence causing an estimate of 420,000 deaths based on 2010 statistics and mortality of 303,000 deaths in the year 2013. Purulent meningitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Its normal clinical assessment entails usage of cerebrospinal fluid analyzed using CSF culture method. Purulent meningitis is attributed to various bacterial organisms which include S. pneumonia, B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and other bacteria. CSF culture method often takes a long duration to ascertain positive and negative results. Infections link to Central Nervous system can display false positive results in an instance of purulent meningitis. Bacterial infections linked to CNS indicate increased levels of protein concentration, low glucose levels, and other bacterial pathogens. Further drug-resistant purulent meningitis has been identified. Other rapid methods of assessment are thus paramount to clearly identify positive tests of purulent meningitis. This experimental study assessed usage of microarray technology in assessing and detecting bacteria. Total of five pris of primers and 156 oligonucleotides were used in this study. Methods: The study used key parameters in the inclusion and exclusion criteria of patients and the inclusion of controls for the study. The study used standard bacteria strains to evaluate the specificity of oligonucleotides. The cerebrospinal fluid was obtained from the lumbar puncture. CSF culture testing and microarray scanning was performed. Results & Analysis: 87.5% positive tests using DNA microarray compared to 58.3% using CSF culture test was found on purulent meningitis. Of the 58.3% had positive culture confirmed purulent meningitis while 37.5% not confirmed by culture tests but showed positive clinical signs and positive on DNA microarray. Discussion: Various bacterial infections were noted. Gene copies assessment was undertaken to assess specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy which showed that microarray is specific to detection. The experimental study concluded that microarray method is an effective method of assessing purulent meningitis.
Key Questions
What is the fate of unknown microorganism in the analysis as they can be a factor of creation in the final assessment sequencing such as saprotrophs, symbionts or secondary colonizers in the final assessment of purulent meningitis?
How RNA (16S rRNA) was able to distinguish between closely related bacterial species between geniuses and species of the bacterial species?
Could have the effect of lower CSF sensitivity be a factor of concern on results obtained?