Development and Clinical Evaluation of A PCR Assay Targeting the Metalloprotease Gene (mprA) of B. pseudomallei

• Published in: Zoonoses and public health Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 44 - 50
• Main Authors: Neubauer, H., Sprague, L. D., Joseph, M., Tomaso, H., Al Dahouk, S., Witte, A., Kinne, J., Hensel, A., Wernery, R., Wernery, U., Scholz, H. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2007
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei - isolation & purification; camel; DNA Primers; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Gene Amplification; Humans; Melioidosis; metalloprotease mprA; Metalloproteases - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Sensitivity and Specificity; Species Specificity
• ISSN: 1863-1959; 1863-2378
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.01008.x

Summary
A PCR assay targeting the metalloprotease gene (mprA) of Burkholderia pseudomallei was developed for the specific detection of this organism in pure cultures and clinical samples. All other closely related organisms including B. mallei the causative agent of glanders, and B. thailandensis tested negative. Burkholderia pseudomallei DNA was successfully amplified from paraffin‐embedded lung tissue of a camel with a generalized B. pseudomallei infection. The developed PCR assay can be used as a simple tool for the specific and sensitive detection of B. pseudomallei.