Tools for detection of Mycoplasma amphoriforme: a primary respiratory pathogen?

J Clin Microbiol. 2014 Apr;52(4):1177-81. doi: 10.1128/JCM.03049-13. Epub 2014 Jan 29.

Abstract

Mycoplasma amphoriforme is a recently described organism isolated from the respiratory tracts of patients with immunodeficiency and evidence of chronic infection. Novel assays for the molecular detection of the organism by real-time quantitative PCRs (qPCRs) targeting the uracil DNA glycosylase gene (udg) or the 23S rRNA gene are described here. The analytical sensitivities are similar to the existing conventional M. amphoriforme 16S rRNA gene PCR, with the advantage of being species specific, rapid, and quantitative. By using these techniques, we demonstrate the presence of this organism in 17 (19.3%) primary antibody-deficient (PAD) patients, 4 (5%) adults with lower respiratory tract infection, 1 (2.6%) sputum sample from a patient attending a chest clinic, and 23 (0.21%) samples submitted for viral diagnosis of respiratory infection, but not in normal adult control subjects. These data show the presence of this microorganism in respiratory patients and suggest that M. amphoriforme may infect both immunocompetent and immunocompromised people. Further studies to characterize this organism are required, and this report provides the tools that may be used by other research groups to investigate its pathogenic potential.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
  • Mycoplasma / genetics
  • Mycoplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Mycoplasma Infections / diagnosis*
  • Mycoplasma Infections / microbiology
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Uracil-DNA Glycosidase / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
  • Uracil-DNA Glycosidase