Getting the measure of syphilis: qPCR to better understand early infection.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Until recently, PCR had been used to detect but not quantify Treponema pallidum. To understand infection kinetics of this uncultivable organism, a real-time PCR assay was developed to quantify 47 kDa membrane lipoprotein gene DNA (tpp47).

Methods

Assay specificity was determined against DNA from humans, skin organisms and sexually transmitted pathogens. tpp47 DNA (Nichols strain) was used to construct a standard curve for T pallidum quantification. Blood and ulcer samples were obtained from 99 patients being investigated or screened for syphilis and tpp47 was quantified.

Results

The assay was specific, not cross-reactive with other organisms tested and sensitive, with a detection limit of a single copy of tpp47 DNA. For ulcer samples, the assay was 1

SUBMITTER: Tipple C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3252622 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature