Secreted small RNAs of <i>Naegleria fowleri</i> are biomarkers for diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.

ABSTRACT: Rapid and accurate diagnostics are needed to effectively detect and treat primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by the free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. Delayed diagnosis and similarities to other causes of meningitis contribute to a case mortality rate of >97%, and current testing requires a spinal tap to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Thus, there is an unmet medical need for a non-invasive liquid biopsy diagnostic method. We sequenced N. fowleri extracellular vesicles (EVs) and identified microRNAs, tRNAs and other small RNAs in N. fowleri-EVs. From these data we selected two prevalent small RNAs as biomarker candidates. We developed an RT-qPCR assay and both small RNAs were detected in N. fowleri-EVs and amoeba-conditioned media. In the mou

SUBMITTER: Russell AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11761746 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature