What is it about?
We designed new peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes for detection of the clinically-important fungal pathogen Candida albicans. One of these probes targeted a previously unreported variable segment of the large subunit ribosomal RNA. In addition to quantitative comparisons of PNA probes hybridized against C. albicans and a panel of related yeasts, we also evaluated DNA helper probes under low-salt conditions for their use as a low-cost means for enhancing the fluorescence intensity of PNA probes.
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Why is it important?
Our results reinforce the significant practical and diagnostic advantages of PNA probes over their DNA counterparts for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and indicate that one probe (P-Ca726) may be used advantageously for the rapid and specific identification of C. albicans in clinical and related applications, especially when combined with flow cytometry.
Perspectives
As a food microbiologist, I am committed to addressing the needs for detection of various pathogens across "Farm-to-Fork-to-Physician" and "consumption to disease" continua. This work provides additional tools that may be valuable in detecting C. albicans by microbiologists of all stripes - environmental, food or clinical.
Dr Byron F Brehm-Stecher
Iowa State University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Design and Evaluation of Peptide Nucleic Acid Probes for Specific Identification of Candida albicans, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2014, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02417-14.
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