TY - JOUR
T1 - Bis(methyl)gliotoxin proves to be a more stable and reliable marker for invasive aspergillosis than gliotoxin and suitable for use in diagnosis
AU - Domingo, Maria P.
AU - Colmenarejo, Cristina
AU - Martínez-Lostao, Luis
AU - Müllbacher, Arno
AU - Jarne, Carmen
AU - Revillo, María J.
AU - Delgado, Pilar
AU - Roc, Lourdes
AU - Meis, Jacques F.
AU - Rezusta, Antonio
AU - Pardo, Julian
AU - Gálvez, Eva M.
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - The virulence factor gliotoxin (GT) and its inactive derivative, bis(methylthio)gliotoxin (bmGT), are produced by pathogens of the genus . Aspergillus. Here we report the detection of GT and bmGT in serum of humans at risk of invasive aspergillosis (IA) as well as in cultures of fungal isolates derived from patients with proven infection with . A. fumigatus. Although both compounds are readily recoverable from spiked human serum or plasma, only bmGT is retained in whole blood, indicating that bmGT may be the better marker for in vivo detection. Accordingly, bmGT was found more frequently than GT in samples from patients at risk of IA and incultures of clinical isolates of . A. fumigatus. In some cases, bmGT was detected before mycologic evidence ofinfection was gained. Importantly, neither GT nor bmGT was found in serum from healthy donors or from neutropenic patients without any sign of infection. Thus, bmGT presence might provide a more reliable indicator of . A. fumigatus infections than GT. Due to its simplicity and sensitivity, a diagnostic technology based on this test could be easily adopted in clinical laboratories to help in the diagnosis of this often fatal fungal infection.
AB - The virulence factor gliotoxin (GT) and its inactive derivative, bis(methylthio)gliotoxin (bmGT), are produced by pathogens of the genus . Aspergillus. Here we report the detection of GT and bmGT in serum of humans at risk of invasive aspergillosis (IA) as well as in cultures of fungal isolates derived from patients with proven infection with . A. fumigatus. Although both compounds are readily recoverable from spiked human serum or plasma, only bmGT is retained in whole blood, indicating that bmGT may be the better marker for in vivo detection. Accordingly, bmGT was found more frequently than GT in samples from patients at risk of IA and incultures of clinical isolates of . A. fumigatus. In some cases, bmGT was detected before mycologic evidence ofinfection was gained. Importantly, neither GT nor bmGT was found in serum from healthy donors or from neutropenic patients without any sign of infection. Thus, bmGT presence might provide a more reliable indicator of . A. fumigatus infections than GT. Due to its simplicity and sensitivity, a diagnostic technology based on this test could be easily adopted in clinical laboratories to help in the diagnosis of this often fatal fungal infection.
KW - Bis(methylthio)gliotoxin
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Gliotoxin
KW - Invasive aspergillosis
KW - Secondary metabolites
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860753912&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2012.01.012
DO - 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2012.01.012
M3 - Article
SN - 0732-8893
VL - 73
SP - 57
EP - 64
JO - Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
JF - Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
IS - 1
ER -