Advances in the application of molecular diagnostic techniques for the detection of infectious disease pathogens (Review)

Abstract

Infectious diseases are a major global cause of morbidity and mortality, seriously affecting public health and socioeconomic stability. Since infectious diseases can be caused by a wide variety of pathogens with similar clinical manifestations and symptoms that are difficult to accurately distinguish, selecting the appropriate diagnostic techniques for the rapid identification of pathogens is crucial for clinical disease diagnosis and public health management. However, traditional diagnostic techniques have low detection rates, long detection times and limited automation, which means that they do not meet the requirements for rapid diagnosis. Recent years have seen continuous developments in molecular detection technology, which has a higher sensitivity and specificity, shorter detection time and increased automation, and performs an important role in the early and rapid detection of infectious disease pathogens. The present study summarizes recent progress in molecular diagnostic technologies such as PCR, isothermal amplification, gene chips and high-throughput sequencing for the detection of infectious disease pathogens, and compares the technical principles, advantages and disadvantages, applicability and costs of these diagnostic techniques.

Multiplex detection of bacterial pathogens by PCR/SERS assay

“…22,30–32 In the realm of molecular diagnostics, a sensitivity of 100 copies is considered quite good for many applications. 33–35 For highly sensitive diagnostic tests such as the detection of trace amounts of pathogens, even greater sensitivity might be necessary to detect lower quantities of targets, such as single-digit or even single-copy detection. 36 To improve the sensitivity of the PCR/SERS assay for DNA targets, the following two factors should be considered: (i) optimization of the PCR amplification, including the primer design, PCR thermal cycle conditions, PCR buffer and components; and (ii) optimization of the SERS-active substrates that could enhance the Raman signal intensities.…”

Usefulness of polymerase chain reaction tests in Chagas disease studies

“…Digital droplet PCR is a technique in which the amplification reaction is conducted for individual nucleic acid molecules in thousands of independent PCR reactions, previously divided into droplets from a sample. The advantage of ddPCR is its ability to provide absolute quantification without the need for a standard curve (Liu et al, 2023). However, it has some limitations, including the high cost of instruments, the requirement for well-trained personnel, and a tendency to yield false-positive results.…”

Exploring Disease Management and Control through Pathogen Diagnostics and One Health Initiative: A Concise Review

“…Given the potential for transmission and environmental dissemination, ESKAPE infections, which are well known for their antibiotic resistance in human healthcare, indirectly connect with the One Health paradigm. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be identified in animals and the environment, while being largely linked with humans, demonstrating how interrelated humans, animals, and environmental health are [36][37][38].…”