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Establishing PCR for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from keratitis patients

Hillenbrand, Maria Elizabeth (2010) Establishing PCR for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from keratitis patients. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a corneal pathogen and may cause corneal ulceration. The goal of this study was to determine the potential of PCR for detecting P. aeruginosa in corneal specimens from patients with keratitis. Study Aims: 1) To establish a specific real-time PCR assay to detect P. aeruginosa. 2) To determine a secondary target for P. aeruginosa that may provide a universal target for other bacterial pathogens. 3) To validate both assays for diagnostic testing with true positive and true negative clinical samples.Methods: 1) Analytical studies were conducted by testing P. aeruginosa and other bacteria isolated from patients with keratitis with a PCR assay designed to amplify the ecfX gene of P. aeruginosa. The outcome parameters were limit of detection, and amplification efficiency. 2) Similarly, P. aeruginosa isolates were tested for the 16S rRNA gene using the same parameters. 3) Validation of both assays was done by testing 20 cornea samples known to be positive for P. aeruginosa and 20 clinical samples known to be negative for P. aeruginosa DNA. Descriptive statistics were determined. PAGE analysis was performed to confirm the presence of amplified product.Results: 1) Amplification efficiency of the ecfX assay was 96.6%, with a limit of detection of 33.6 copies of target DNA/µl. All 21 P. aeruginosa isolates were detected, with no detection of the 35 non-P. aeruginosa isolates. 2) Amplification efficiency of the 16S rRNA assay was 103.4%, with a limit of detection of 8.12 copies /µl. All 21 P. aeruginosa isolates were detected. 3) The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and efficiency for the ecfX and 16S rRNA assays were, [75%, 95%, 94%, 79%, and 85%], and [70%, 100%, 100%, 77%, and 85%], respectively. PAGE analysis supported specificity of the DNA amplified products. Conclusions: Both real-time PCR assays used in this study detected P. aeruginosa DNA from keratitis patient samples. These results indicate that aside from culture, PCR may be a useful adjunct method in the diagnosis of keratitis patients. Public Health Relevance: Real-time PCR can be used to detect P. aeruginosa from patients with keratitis to help preserve vision.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Hillenbrand, Maria Elizabethmah174@pitt.eduMAH174
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairKowalski, Regis Pkowalskirp@upmc.eduKOWALSK
Committee CoChairAyyavoo, Velpandivelpandi@pitt.eduVELPANDI
Committee MemberMartinson, Jeremy Jjmartins@pitt.eduJMARTINS
Committee MemberWadowsky, Robert MRobert.Wadowsky@chp.edu
Committee MemberShanks, Robert M Qshanksrm@upmc.eduRMS68
Date: 28 June 2010
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 21 April 2010
Approval Date: 28 June 2010
Submission Date: 12 April 2010
Access Restriction: 5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Degree: MS - Master of Science
Thesis Type: Master's Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: keratitis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; real-time PCR
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04122010-203551/, etd-04122010-203551
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:36
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2016 14:35
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/7076

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