Culture-Independence for Surveillance and Epidemiology
Culture-independent methods in microbiology (quantitative PCR (qPCR), sequencing, microarrays, direct from sample matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS), etc.) are disruptive technology. Rather than providing the same results as culture-based meth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2013-09-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/2/3/556 |
| _version_ | 1818473763523526656 |
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| author | Benjamin C. Kirkup |
| author_facet | Benjamin C. Kirkup |
| author_sort | Benjamin C. Kirkup |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Culture-independent methods in microbiology (quantitative PCR (qPCR), sequencing, microarrays, direct from sample matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS), etc.) are disruptive technology. Rather than providing the same results as culture-based methods more quickly, more cheaply or with improved accuracy, they reveal an unexpected diversity of microbes and illuminate dark corners of undiagnosed disease. At times, they overturn existing definitions of presumably well-understood infections, generating new requirements for clinical diagnosis, surveillance and epidemiology. However, current diagnostic microbiology, infection control and epidemiology rest principally on culture methods elegantly optimized by clinical laboratorians. The clinical significance is interwoven; the new methods are out of context, difficult to interpret and impossible to act upon. Culture-independent diagnostics and surveillance methods will not be deployed unless the reported results can be used to select specific therapeutics or infection control measures. To cut the knots surrounding the adoption of culture-independent methods in medical microbiology, culture-dependent methods should be supported by consistent culture-independent methods providing the microbial context. This will temper existing biases and motivate appropriate scrutiny of the older methods and results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T04:27:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be540a31aba740f28c4137595541914c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T04:27:43Z |
| publishDate | 2013-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-be540a31aba740f28c4137595541914c2022-12-22T02:12:15ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172013-09-012355657010.3390/pathogens2030556Culture-Independence for Surveillance and EpidemiologyBenjamin C. KirkupCulture-independent methods in microbiology (quantitative PCR (qPCR), sequencing, microarrays, direct from sample matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS), etc.) are disruptive technology. Rather than providing the same results as culture-based methods more quickly, more cheaply or with improved accuracy, they reveal an unexpected diversity of microbes and illuminate dark corners of undiagnosed disease. At times, they overturn existing definitions of presumably well-understood infections, generating new requirements for clinical diagnosis, surveillance and epidemiology. However, current diagnostic microbiology, infection control and epidemiology rest principally on culture methods elegantly optimized by clinical laboratorians. The clinical significance is interwoven; the new methods are out of context, difficult to interpret and impossible to act upon. Culture-independent diagnostics and surveillance methods will not be deployed unless the reported results can be used to select specific therapeutics or infection control measures. To cut the knots surrounding the adoption of culture-independent methods in medical microbiology, culture-dependent methods should be supported by consistent culture-independent methods providing the microbial context. This will temper existing biases and motivate appropriate scrutiny of the older methods and results.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/2/3/556culture-independencenext generation sequencingdiagnostics |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin C. Kirkup Culture-Independence for Surveillance and Epidemiology Pathogens culture-independence next generation sequencing diagnostics |
| title | Culture-Independence for Surveillance and Epidemiology |
| title_full | Culture-Independence for Surveillance and Epidemiology |
| title_fullStr | Culture-Independence for Surveillance and Epidemiology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Culture-Independence for Surveillance and Epidemiology |
| title_short | Culture-Independence for Surveillance and Epidemiology |
| title_sort | culture independence for surveillance and epidemiology |
| topic | culture-independence next generation sequencing diagnostics |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/2/3/556 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminckirkup cultureindependenceforsurveillanceandepidemiology |