Comparison of a new quantitative ompA-based real-Time PCR TaqMan assay for detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in respiratory specimens with four conventional PCR assays.

ABSTRACT: Chlamydia pneumoniae, an important respiratory pathogen, is difficult to culture, and detection rates by conventional PCRs vary considerably. A new quantitative ompA-based real-time PCR assay based on TaqMan technology for detection of C. pneumoniae in respiratory samples is described, and its performance in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility is compared with those of four published conventional PCRs (one single-step PCR targeting a cloned PstI fragment; two nested PCRs, one targeting the 16S rRNA gene followed by hybridization and the other targeting the ompA gene; and a touchdown enzyme time-release [TETR] PCR also targeting the 16S rRNA gene). Both ompA-based PCRs showed the best analytical sensitivity. All five assays could detect even lower target levels from spiked sputum, with

SUBMITTER: Apfalter P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC149699 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature