Rapid detection of Mycobacterium leprae for the diagnosis of leprosy: comparison between loop-mediated isothermal amplification and PCR..
- Author:
Jong Pill KIM
1
;
Young Hoon KO
Author Information
1. Institute for Leprosy Research, Korean Hansen Welfare Association, Korea. dr_jpkim@hotmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
LAMP;
Mycobacterium leprae;
leprosy;
diagnosis
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Diagnosis*;
DNA;
Humans;
Leprosy*;
Mycobacterium leprae*;
Mycobacterium*;
Polymerase Chain Reaction*;
Sensitivity and Specificity
- From:Korean Leprosy Bulletin
2005;38(1):25-34
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel nucleic acid amplification method that amplifies DNA with high specificity, efficiency, and speed under isothermal conditions. To evaluate the usefulness of LAMP for diagnosing leprosy, we compared the results of LAMP method and PCR, using samples that were previously tested by PCR. We used the species-specific primers designed by targeting the 18KDa antigenic protein gene for the LAMP and PCR, for detection of Mycobacterium leprae directly from biopsy samples of patients. Doing LAMP and PCR, when the results of PCR ware regarded as standard, we observed the results of LAMP were equal to those of PCR. So we are thought the LAMP method is rapid, taking only 1 h, compared with about 4 h for PCR. In addition, it is performed under isothermal conditions and no special apparatus is needed, which makes it more economical and practical than PCR. Although further improvement is necessary for the wide spread use, the LAMP method might be applicable to diagnosis of leprosy.
